A review by bribreez
A Light in the Flame, by Jennifer L. Armentrout
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
*SPOILERS MENTIONED AHEAD! Especially if you haven’t read the previous book, “A Shadow in the Ember”
5⭐️/ 4🌶️
Just as the last book ended on some major, eye opening, vital information, Sera and Nyktos’s story wasn’t by any means over. After the revelation that Sera wasn’t just someone who was carrying an ember of life in her, turned out she was the TRUE Primal of life, as well as had lived many past lives as she was originally Sotoria, the one that Kolis had fallen in love with LONG, LONG AGO! The beginning of this book, picked up right after the ending of ASITE (“A Shadow in the Ember) and I was ready to jump back into this world. With so much on the line from the lives of those living in the Shadowlands, the mortal realm, and even Sera’s own life, the obstacles were stacked against Sera and Nyktos. Not to mention that in order to save Sera life… she would need the love of the Primal she had originally intended to kill.
*Note: if you haven’t read the first book, I suggest not reading this as it won’t make any sense. Plus this is considered a spin off to the main series of “From Blood and Ash”, but this story takes place way before Poppy and Casteel story (although it is a lot more enjoyable and insightful if you’ve read the other books connected to it as well).
The story didn’t waste anytime not only jumping back into the plot, but of course the action, tension, romance, little bit of spice, and more problems! All within the first few chapters! I went into this book knowing that things were only going to get a lot worse before getting better. As well as Sera occasionally *ahem more like majority of the time putting herself in the midst of danger since she didn’t want to stay cooped up in the castle, and wanted to fight alongside the others. I’ll admit that I admire Sera’s tenacity and willingness to put herself before others in order to save them, but sometimes I wanted to shake her, and ask her, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” Like I love Sera, but she was constantly disregarding Nyktos in how he wanted her OUT OF DANGER, and worried what she would do next which would inevitably end with her being faced against Nyktos wrath! That being said, not all of Sera’s “plans” were as effective as she hoped just like when she snuck away and tried to go about her own to kill Kolis…. Ambitious plan I’ll give her that, but my worry for her grew steadily throughout the book. Meanwhile, Nyktos was not only dealing with putting out LITERAL FIRES! From trying to figure out who of the Primals initiated the attack at Castle Haides, which lead to the release of the entombed gods, many losses, and more. Nyktos and Sera had their plates full of problems and trying to find solutions to them all, but it wasn’t easy by any means.
I already loved Nyktos in the first book, but my love and admiration for him grew in this book. Nyktos wasn’t just your typical Primal, he was caring, treated everyone as his equal, provided everything for his people, and while Sera pushed his limits constantly, he was also very understanding to her emotional and well being. Nyktos could have easily been the type of character that dismissed others, used his power of being a Primal to crush those beneath him, but that’s wasn’t the case. I liked seeing the way Nyktos used his ability of sensing others emotions to better understand one’s emotional state in the moment, which proved to helpful especially when it concerned Sera. In addition, Nyktos always tried his best to ensure Sera’s safety despite her always ending up where he explicitly didn’t want her to be. Even without his literal ability to love, Nyktos had so much care and respect for those around him from his inner circle to the people in the Shadowlands that lived there. Plus, who doesn’t love when a Primal like Nyktos vowed to end, torture those who hurt Sera in any way… just me? Well guess my type of man is definitely Nyktos!
Ahem, now just like the previous book, this book didn’t disappoint in the tension and spice department. With that being said… OH. MY. GOSH! Some of the things that went down between Sera and Nyktos in this book took me not only by surprised.The dirty talk, pushing each other beyond the limits of wanting each other, and the dominant sides coming out from each Sera and Nyktos was WHOA! I was gasping at the spicy scenes I read such, Sera doing her “own thing” in her bedroom and somehow not only being aware of Nyktos being in the room, and the one that took me majorly by surprise was… when Nyktos was going to town on Sera and BIT HER IN THE LITERAL AREA OF HER UNMENTIONABLES SUCKING HER BLOOD WHILE GOING DOWNTOWN ON HER! LIKE?!?!?! I had to re-read that part a couple of times to ensure I read correctly, and quite honestly worried if Nyktos pierced something specifically. Yeah, that was a highly erotic yet interesting scene I didn’t think I was going to read, but also couldn’t get outta my head. Yeah so if you’re looking for spice in the midst of this heavy plot book, have no fear because, Sera and Nyktos provided some heavily passionate and spicy scenes!
I think one of my favorites parts of this book (obviously aside from Nyktos and Sera) was the Drakens! The scenes with Jadis and Reaver were lighthearted and sweet, especially the way Jadis became even more attached to Sera warmed my heart so much. Reaver was a serious/intense draken even in his mortal form, but I still found him to be interesting and there was that brotherly relationship he had with Jadis. Nektas became even more present in this book, and I loved it! Nektas was very protective and close to Nyktos, but he became even close to Sera throughout the story which was great as well. Nektas was also very observant, caring, wise, and had a bit of humor to him. Also the part when Nektas was literally outside Nyktos door asking if Sera was ok while Nyktos was caught in a very steamy moment with Sera was kind of hilarious haha. The Drakens were powerful, and amazing, but also when they were around Sera and Nyktos and the others in the castle, it showed some light moments between them all.
OH. MY. GOODNESS! I’M YET AGAIN BLOWN AWAY BY THE AMOUNT OF STUFF THAT WENT DOWN IN THIS BOOK! AHHH! I thought Sera and Nyktos were finally going to make some head away with the whole embers of life, and what not, but… oh boy based on the ending alone which by the way ended on ANOTHER CLIFF HANGER! AHH! Things got exponentially more difficult than what Sera and Nyktos realized. This whole book and the series has always been like a rollercoaster that takes me on an adventure from the action, big twists and turns, major reveals, and so much more! The plot twists came at and left me shocked (like most of the time). I’m simply blown away by what I just read, and as per usual I was at the edge of my seat, anxious, scared for the characters, but also excited at seeing Sera and Nyktos take on what came their way. The romance really grew in terms of the raw intimacy and feelings between Sera and Nyktos which I loved seeing, but also aside from the amazing spicy scenes, it was both of them truly coming to the realization that they felt a lot more for each other than in the previous book. Sera really grew more as a character in terms of what she was faced against and despite her causing me to worry with her not listening to Nyktos, I understood her need to be able to fight when she was capable, and for that I admire her strength and resilience, she’s honestly a favorite of mine, and I love her so much (Nyktos too!) I simply can’t get over what I read, and until I have the next book, I’m always going to be wondering what will happen next with Sera and Nyktos! THAT ENDING?! AHHHH COME ON! I’M IN A GLASS CASE OF EMOTION OVER HERE! (Sigh) with this long review, I devoured this book, fell more in love with Sera and Nyktos, and other characters. In addition, I can’t find any faults in the story, I just want more.