When Old Secrets Catch Fire, Everything Will Burn.

I recently finished reading Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole. This is book #1 in the Kindred's Curse Saga.

~POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT~

  Rating: 4/5 stars

"In a mortal world colonized by the gods and ruled over by the Descended, their cruel offspring, Diem Bellator yearns to escape the insular life of her poor village.

Her mother’s sudden disappearance—and the discovery of a dangerous secret about her past—offer Diem an unexpected opportunity to enter the dark world of Descended royalty and unlock the web of mysteries her mother left behind.

With the dying King’s handsome, mysterious heir watching her every move, and a ruthless mortal alliance recruiting her to join the growing civil war, Diem will have to navigate the unwritten rules of love, power, and politics in order to save her family—and all of mortalkind."

Diem Bellator is a mortal healer living in a poor village in a kingdom ruled by the Descended--offspring of the gods known to be cruel and brutal to her kind. After her mother suddenly disappears, Diem begins to learn dangerous secrets about her past that allow her to gain entry into the world of the Descended royalty. She always thought she was a simple mortal healer, but as her world is completely flipped upside down she must learn to navigate court politics and power plays, all while trying to solve the puzzle her mother left behind and juggle the attentions of a mortal rebellion recruitment and the ever watchful eye of the Crown Prince.

I think this book does a fantastic job of setting the world up. There is a distinct dichotomy between the Descended kingdom of Lumnos (the rich) and the mortal realm over which they rule (the impoverished). Penn Cole does a great job of describing both sides, and when the characters are in one of them, you can truly see it. The strict rules the characters have to abide by also severely enraged me. How they can intermingle, but not procreate or else death to the baby, among other numerous laws... The world also includes several other kingdoms outside of Lumnos, and you get to meet characters from these realms. The other books in this series expand upon the world-building beautifully, which you will see as you read on. It is a fantastic experience.

Listen... I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I love dark, broody, asshole men. And our MMC in this book, Luther, did not fail to disappoint. The best part about him is that he likes it when women are kind of mean to him... And I love that about him. He likes a feisty gal. Our Prince can definitely be a regal pain in the ass, but he is overly protective and loyal as fuck. I absolutely adored him from the minute he entered the group chat.

Henri, on the other hand, is sweet and charming. The complete opposite of Luther. I absolutely cherished him throughout most of this book--although I found his beliefs in the rebellion to be rather radical and fueled by anger and hatred. If you're going to rebel against the crown "for your people," then maybe it shouldn't be in the name of revenge? Idk Henri, get your priorities straight, my man. He was definitely giving me Dain from Fourth Wing vibes, but worse... And I disliked him more as the book went on.

Now Diem... This woman is a fucking fiery badass. She will speak her mind and doesn't give a flying fuck who hears it. Which gets her into trouble, but sometimes also works in her favor. I feel like I had mixed feelings about her. I was annoyed at all of her stupid decision-making, but I also loved her short temper and quick judgment calls from the heart. She knows her mind and is quick with a dagger. But she also lies to herself.... A lot, which is fucking annoying as shit. The connection she and Luther formed was a favorite of mine, and I looked forward to their scenes in this book.

There are also a ton of side characters in this book that make it fantastic--Teller, Lily, even the villainous ones like Vance. They're all written so well.

Overall, this book was a great start to a fantastic series. The world-building and characters are solid. I just love this world Penn Cole has created, and I am excited to keep delving into it.

Check out Spark of the Everflame, and discover what happens when the spark catches fire.