Glow of the Everflame, the second instalment in Penn Cole’s The Kindred’s Curse series, takes a step up from Spark of the Everflame in not only tension, conflicts, and character relationships, but in its length and story world expansion too. We have stepped into the world of the Descendent and there is a lot more going on than Diem and us mere mortal ever thought.

An unexpected gift offers the power to change everything—but keeping it could cost Diem her life. The threat of war has arrived at Diem’s doorstep, along with a new discovery that could save her people. To use it, she must survive the next thirty days by forming a devil’s bargain with the people she hates most: the royal family of House Corbois. But as she dives into the world of the Descended elite, Diem quickly realizes good and evil aren’t as simple as they seem. Old prejudices are challenged, and new loyalties blur the line between friend and foe. Meanwhile, her mother is still missing, and the secrets she left behind can no longer be ignored—and neither can the Guardians and their demands. Caught between an old flame and a sizzling new spark, Diem must confront the truth about who she is and what she wants before time runs out. War is coming, and dangerous enemies wait on all sides…but the most deadly battle Diem faces may be the one for her heart.

I want to start by getting something off my chest. I did not like Diem a lot of the time in this book. Here me out – she came across very childish and narrow-minded in my eyes, more so than she was in Spark of the Everflame (I don’t recall thinking she was juvenile in that novel, even if her actions are similar here). Her anger in several situations is justified, but as Diem learns more about the layers and complex situations going on, her emotional responses don’t seem as appropriate. Instead of dealing with things like an adult, she came across to me like she was throwing tantrums and only seeing things through a very small scope. I wanted more maturity from her, and I hope I get it in Heat of the Everflame. I also think there was a bit too much repetition in phrases and discussions from Diem that made her arguments and observations feel flat and dry. A little more line editing would have gone a long way.

I really like the other characters in this novel, in fact, most if not all of the other characters are interesting, complex, and provide great drama and conflict to fill the pages. I live for the animosity between these characters and sides of the families, I live for the adults acting like cunning, dangerous, well-rounded adults who are playing the politics through and fighting tooth and nail to get their fill. This political intrigue element to the novel kept me engaged and locked in, as well as the many characters with things to win and lose vying for Diem’s attention, spite, favour, and blood. If you like ACOTAR and the Inner Circle’s antics and friendships, then you will definitely find something you like here. In fact, those who hold A Court of Mist and Fury close to their hearts should pick up this series. Now that i think about it the series feel similar but different, so ACOTAR fans would easily be able to migrate across to The Kindred’s Curse series.

I think it comes as no surprise then that this is a good book recommendation for all you romantasy readers out there. If you’re a romance reader slowly getting into romantasy, this would be a good series to try – especially if you are a slow-burn romance fan. That might be the only downside to this book for some readers, but I quite like slow-burn as it lets everything else develop and shine as it should in a high fantasy series. Don’t get me wrong, we get some heat in Glow of the Everflame, but it is the kind that will leave you wanting more – and a good thing too as Heat of the Everflame is out ready for binging.