Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to the e-ARC for review purposes!

All I can really say to start is: WOW!

This book was way better than I expected it to be. When I started it, I was enjoying it and eager to read more but about halfway through I literally could NOT put it down.

The magic system is really unique and interesting, which is really hard to pull off with how saturated the market is with fantasy novels. The world-building is fantastic as well. The plot moves forward in an exciting way the entire book. I think the author did a great job at building the world, giving some background to the magic system while also moving the plot forward at a satisfying pace. With NO SPOILERS, let me just say there is a twist in this book that made me *GASP* out loud. I had to apologize to the other people in the room because I just couldn't help it!

Now here comes the most important bit: CHARACTERS! I am a character-centered reader through and through and these characters are fantastic. I must love the characters (or at the very least be interested in them) to really enjoy a novel and let's just say I won't be forgetting any of these characters any time soon. I'm dying for more of them and will be looking out for the next novel!

I loved this so much that I immediately pre-ordered a signed copy from the author's website because this is a book I 100% need in my collection. Not only is the story fantastic but the cover is GORGEOUS!

It has been hard to give a spoiler free review, hence the shorter review. It is also sometimes hard for me to review books that I really love because a lot of times I just simply love them and don't have many critiques or praises because the love is just pure and based off vibes. With that being said the vibes are immaculate!

If you get anything from this review it should be this: CHECK OUT THIS BOOK! Request your local library order it, purchase a copy yourself, however you want to do it: just don't miss out on this fantastic story!

The sheer number of times that I giggled, kicked my feet, gasped, and screamed while reading this book is embarrassing. Paul Winters you've created a gem.

A perfect blend of queer story telling and world-building fantasy. For those who loved "Lord of the Rings" and "His Dark Materials" but wished to see a more central queer story versus oft times hidden themes, this is the book for you! A romantic fantasy that focuses most on actually creating the fantasy and telling the story to drive the plot. Cas, the magical protagonist, remains true to his purpose even in the face of an entire kingdom set against him. Together with his sister, Elena, and his love interest, Darion, long-buried secrets will be revealed to dangerous and devastating effect. A masterful creation and I cannot wait until book 2!!!

This was so good! The world building and magic system so interesting.
So much happened, so many twists and turns that kept me gripped.
Cas Nightbrook is a thief in the brutal city of Analon, his only goals are protecting his younger sister and avenging his parents’ murder at the hands of the crown.
Darion Thorne keeps showing up in places Cas doesn’t expect.
Cas and Darion are so sweet, I enjoyed how their relationship developed and its pacing. So sweet.....1st, no 2nd kiss 🫶.
Can't wait until the next book.

What did I just read? That was amazing!!!!

I was so hesitant to read this arc, as I didn't want to get into another fantasy series, but I am so happy I did. I loved this way more than I expected to.

There is a really cool magic system in this world. The way the author revealed bits of and the world was really well done and moved the story along at a strong pace. At then end of every chapter, I just wanted to keep going to find out what happens next. The story is addicting.

The characters is where this book shines. Cas and Darion have so much chemistry. They made me so happy to read about. I also loved Cas's relationship with his sister Elena. He's the older brother trying to protect her, but he isn't stifling her either. Even the side characters feel like they're real people no matter how short a time they are on page.

My only "critique" would be that although this is a fantasy story with very high stakes, it almost read like a cozy fantasy because of how easily resolved some of the plot points were. It didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book at all, but I was surprised to get those vibes.

Overall, I can't recommend this enough. I loved the writing, the world, the characters. I cannot wait for the next book to come out. And in the meantime, I will be checking out the author's other work.

**Thank you Netgalley and Maelstrom Press for providing this ebook. All opinions are my own.**

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for giving me this ARC!

4.25⭐️ 2.5🌶️
Wow, I genuinely can’t believe this author isn’t more popular. This is the first book I’ve read from a NetGalley ARC, and honestly, I was anxious about it. But Embers of Analon blew me away. The world building is so immersive yet done in a way that didn’t bore me to death, the love was palpable and the plot was addictive. If you haven’t heard of this author, I highly recommend adding this to your TBR for when it releases. That cliffhanger though!!!! I already can’t wait for book 2.

I want to thank NetGalley for allowing me to read this masterpiece in its ARC form!

I absolutely LOVED this book and cannot wait for the second one to come out!

I adore how it delivers a sweeping epic adventure filled with magic, magical races, a rebel army, and a young adult striving to fulfill his mother’s dying wish while also craving revenge. The writing is so fluid that the world-building unfolds seamlessly—you don’t even realize how much you’re learning as the story progresses. It’s incredibly immersive, and I could vividly picture the world in my mind.

I also loved the inclusion of maps—they really help ground the story and show where everything is, especially key locations. The appendix is the icing on the cake, particularly the sections explaining the political structure, magic system, and embers. It makes everything so much easier to understand and adds depth without overwhelming the reader.

There are both closed-door and open-door spice scenes—consider yourself warned! LOL

**Personal thoughts (may contain mild spoilers!):**

* The first spice scene between Cas and Darion… OMG. The time play was something else. IYKYK.
* The reveal of Darion’s parentage left me speechless—even though I was piecing clues together
like a detective. I have a feeling Cas and Elena’s heritage will be just as shocking, if not more,
especially with those subtle hints in the final chapters.

I truly can’t say this enough: this book is incredibly well written, and I loved it. I will absolutely be recommending it to others when it’s published in June!

Such an addictive read and honestly one of my favourite fantasy books I’ve picked up in ages. The character relationships were so well written it was easy to relate the protagonist.
The story pace was perfect and writing spot on, I barely put the book down and now that I'm finished I'm in desperate need of the next

4.5 stars, rounding to 5!
Thank you to the author & NetGalley for this ARC!

This was a wonderfully fast-paced, action-packed, fantasy romance! One major strength of this book is that the world building and magic system, while intricate and unique, are incredibly accessible. Explanations unfolded in a way that was not overwhelming, but easy to understand/grasp. At times though, the dialogue did feel more aligned to the YA category.

The romance in the book put a permanent grin on my face; while I usually prefer a much slower-burn, Cas & Darion’s attraction and growing care for one another felt honest & organic.

Overall, a very enjoyable read and I will be keeping an eye out for the next installment.