A review by bribreez
Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole

emotional hopeful mysterious tense slow-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

4.5

*Thank you to Atria for sending me this book, I greatly appreciate it! As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5⭐️

Diem Bellator was a talented healer who was trained under her mother’s tutelage, had a great family, but in the world she lived in, it was one where you were either a mortal or a Descended. This story had the equivalent of gods as royalty, people trying to survive living in the Mortal City, and a mystery that unfolds as Diem’s mother goes missing. Little things started to add up more and more in the way that it seemed to connect back to Diem and in ways that revealed more about who she was really. Diem’s story wasn’t the only one in this story, but also connected to none other than the infuriating Prince Luther who initially frustrated her. As the story continued, more secrets were revealed, and the slow burn romance was slowly built up to a great crescendo. 

Not everything was as it seemed in Diem’s life. For one thing, the way certain people in Diem’s life acted secretive especially when it came to Diem having to take the flame root powder that “helped” with her hallucinations. There was some unmistakable coincidences that added up to hinting that Diem wasn’t the person she had always believed to be. In fact, the whole time I was reading (especially in the beginning) I had my own thoughts as to maybe the possibility that Diem might have…certain qualities that would change the direction of her life entirely. 

I’m a sucker for a slow burn romance, and the way Penn Cole wrote Diem and Luther’s story was full of tension! Despite Diem saying that she “hated” Luther, one could see the subtle ways both of them had the beginnings of an attraction towards one another. Diem and Prince Luther were from different worlds, and yet, once they met, it set off a chain reaction of feelings ranging from anger, frustration, and…a whole lot of something that led to ROMANCE! 

If there’s one thing I really admired about Diem, it was her willingness to fight no matter what. From the societal expectations of a woman being submissive and obedient to following the rules set forth by the Descended, Diem wasn’t necessarily one to follow the rules. For starters, when it came to Diem’s relationship with Henri, while it initially seemed like two life long friends having formed a romance, Diem came to the realization that her and Henri weren’t exactly the right match. Diem wanted to be independent, make her own choices as opposed to the ones made by her family, or being on a predetermined path like being a healer. For Diem, joining the Guardians was the first time she decided to make a choice that had no bearing from her parent’s decisions. Instead, Diem joined something that in her mind would change the lives of others, and fight the injustices she saw throughout Mortal City. Whether it came to fighting actual evils in the world or fighting against the role society expected of her, Diem never gave up, and constantly pushed against whatever was in her way. 

Penn Cole absolutely created a magical world with Diem and Luther’s story! I wanted a fantasy story and this book was entirely unique with the world building, the characters, the magic system, and strong characters that were cool. Diem Bellator had a mysterious ability that unknown to her  at the beginning of the story, later revealed more of itself as the story progressed. Diem was mixed up in the middle of everything from joining the Guardians, to reconsidering her life’s choices, and having a strong attraction to the stubborn prince who she couldn’t stop thinking about. I really loved how the whole story was a slow build up since it really set the stage of both Diem and Luther’s story, and obviously the tension that was created in this book in particular. While there wasn’t much romance in this story, the times that were sprinkled in I very much enjoyed. There was tension and attraction between Luther and Diem that I obviously loved, and Diem wasn’t afraid to say what she wanted to Luther even going as far to insult him! Lowkey though, Luther liked Diem having the guts to be rude to him haha. The more I read, the more I fell in love with the story, and Diem and Luther. I feel like with this being the first book it set up the future books perfectly that will expand more, and leave me wanting more. With the way this book ended, I was wholeheartedly caught off guard, and my jaw DROPPED WITH THE PLOT TWIST!!! Diem will face even more obstacles in the next book, but I’m confident it will be a adventure filled with secrets, more mystery, magic, and a specific dark and brooding Prince who we will see more of. Highly recommend!