6.18k reviews for:

Heat of the Everflame

Penn Cole

4.21 AVERAGE

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?! 😭

The ending of this book has me staring off into the abyss. I’m not sure if I’m more upset about the ending or the fact that I have to wait until *hopefully* next year to find out what happens 🫠

This series is a true slow-burn, high stakes, romantasy, where the romance is more of a sub-plot but the yearning between the two mc’s makes it to where it’s never far from your mind. If I wasn’t already completely obsessed with Luther after the first two books, this one definitely sealed the deal. The man’s a freaking poet. He has some of the best declarations of love that I’ve ever read. He had me swooning multiple times throughout the book. 

We finally get to see Diem really come into her powers and figure out where she belongs within the descendants world, even though her place among them is not welcomed by most. I loved the multi-realm adventure aspect because it allowed us to truly see how much Diem wants to make Emarion a better place, for both the mortals and descendants, she just has to figure out how. And with how the book ended, I’m intrigued to see how she turns everything around in the next book. 

Also, just want to take a moment and say that this series has some of the best side characters. Taran and Alixe are absolute gold and I love how Penn Cole makes even the smallest of side characters stand out. 

If you’re a lover of Fourth Wing, ACOTAR, or Throne of Glass, add this series to your tbr. I promise, you will be won’t be disappointed. 
adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Book was too long. Would have enjoyed more if it was split into two 
adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious fast-paced
adventurous dark tense medium-paced

This book was the best book in the series by far. It was a little long for me personally, at a whopping 1000 pages. I still enjoyed it, because the author did a lot of wonderful world building and kept it interesting. Diem did not drive me crazy the entire time like the other books. The ending was really good, I didn't see it coming. Ugh I'm only disappointed that I have to wait until 2026 to read the next one.
adventurous tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous challenging emotional tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Edit, edit, edit! 1,000+ pages to tell a story that could told in less than 400. How did the incredible plot that has built up in the first two book flop so hard in this one?

The only saving grace is that I love Taran.
He is my king.
adventurous emotional fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated