Heat of the Everflame Book Recap
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If you finished Glow of the Everflame and thought Diem’s life couldn’t possibly get more complicated, Heat of the Everflame basically says, “Hold my drink.”
Diem is now fighting for multiple kingdoms, learning that her magic is even stranger than she realized, discovering some seriously disturbing family secrets, and trying to keep Luther alive long enough for these two to finally figure themselves out. And yes, Luther continues proving exactly why he belongs in the Shadow Daddy Tropes category. If you haven’t already, this is the perfect time to check out my What Is a Shadow Daddy? article or take my Who’s Your Shadow Daddy? Quiz.
Even though this isn’t my favorite book in the series, this is a full spoiler recap, so we’re talking about everything. Auralie, Luther, Ophiucae, the Forgotten Crown, the romance, the betrayals, and that absolutely brutal ending.
Check out my other recaps on this series – Spark of the Everflame and Glow of the Everflame
Buy the Books
Diem Wakes Up as a Prisoner
Heat of the Everflame begins immediately after Diem’s disastrous coronation on Coeurîle in Glow of the Everflame.
Instead of waking up as the newly crowned Queen of Lumnos, Diem finds herself chained up in Arboros and being held by the Guardians of the Everflame.
Not exactly the royal celebration she had planned.
Vance reveals the first bombshell almost immediately: Auralie has been leading the Guardians all along, and she’s now being held prisoner in Fortos.
Diem has spent months desperately searching for her mother, only to discover that Auralie wasn’t simply missing—she was secretly helping run the rebellion. Apparently disappearing without explaining anything to your children was part of the plan.
Diem is furious, confused, and hurt, but she still decides she’s going to rescue her mother.
The Guardians also aren’t thrilled with Diem anymore. They see her relationship with the Descended as a betrayal of the mortals.
Diem, however, refuses to choose one side.
She wants equality for both.
And that becomes the central battle of this entire book.
Luther Comes to the Rescue
Just when Diem thinks she may be stuck with the Guardians, Sorae appears.
And riding on her back?
Luther.
Because naturally Luther Corbois isn’t going to let anyone kidnap his queen without showing up dramatically on a dragon-like creature.
A fight erupts between the Guardians, Sorae, Luther, and Diem. Several Descended die before Diem is captured again, but one of the Guardians, Cordellia, has begun questioning whether Diem might actually be telling the truth about wanting peace.
Eventually, Cordellia and Brecke secretly help Diem escape.
Diem doesn’t get very far before finding Luther, Alixe, and Taran, who have been searching for her.
During their escape, Luther finally admits something Diem really doesn’t appreciate hearing:
He knew Auralie was involved with the Guardians.
He had actually been working with her for years.
Cue Diem discovering that apparently everyone in her life had a secret group chat except her.
Diem and Luther Finally Admit They're in Love
Despite everything happening around them, Diem and Luther’s relationship finally moves forward.
And thank goodness, because we’ve been waiting.
While traveling together, Diem realizes something important about the magical compass she received in Glow of the Everflame. The compass is supposed to guide its owner toward their heart’s truest desire.
Earlier, Diem thought she wanted her old life back.
Henri.
Her family.
Her cottage.
Everything she had before becoming queen.
But when she and Luther realize they’ve both been using the compass to find each other, Diem finally understands the truth.
Her heart wants Luther.
The two confess their love for each other.
It’s one of those moments where you’re basically screaming, “FINALLY.”
Unfortunately, their peaceful little declaration lasts approximately five minutes because Vance and the Guardians show up again.
Taran Is Poisoned by Godstone
During the confrontation, Vance attacks Taran with godstone.
Godstone is deadly to the Descended, and no one knows how to cure the poisoning.
Diem refuses to accept that.
She sneaks back into Arboros looking for medicinal plants and manages to create a poultice that slows the poison, proving that her healer instincts haven’t disappeared just because she’s now throwing fire around and collecting Crowns.
Meanwhile, the group continues fleeing through Emarion.
When they enter another territory without permission, the King of Ignios hunts them down.
That’s when Diem’s magic changes again.
Instead of simply creating fire, she realizes that other people’s magic makes her stronger.
When Ignios attacks, Diem absorbs the energy surrounding her and becomes increasingly powerful.
Then Ignios throws a dagger toward Luther.
Diem dives between them.
She gets hit.
Because apparently protecting Luther with her own body is now another item on her queenly résumé.
Welcome to Umbros
The group eventually reaches Umbros, where Luther introduces Diem to an old contact named Zalaric.
Zalaric is another half-mortal who has spent years helping Luther rescue half-mortal children.
Diem is once again forced to confront the fact that Luther has quietly been saving people for years while everyone—including her—believed he was simply another cruel Descended prince.
Then the romance gets considerably hotter.
Diem and Luther finally get some private time together, but Luther refuses to fully undress or sleep with her.
Diem assumes he’s pulling away emotionally.
She gets frustrated.
He refuses to explain.
And now they’re fighting again.
Because these two apparently require at least one emotional crisis between every romantic scene.
Diem's Powers Keep Growing
Umbros reveals even more about Diem’s abilities.
She discovers she can:
- Read people’s thoughts.
- Block the Centenaries from entering her mind.
- Manipulate and absorb different forms of magic.
- Touch dangerous magical substances without being harmed.
- Heal injuries caused by godstone.
- Interact with dragonfyre.
At this point, it’s becoming very obvious that Diem isn’t simply another Descended.
She’s something else entirely.
Queen Yrselle of Umbros also helps Diem uncover more about the ancient Forging magic.
During Diem’s failed coronation, something changed.
Her blood touching the heartstone appears to have awakened ancient magic connected to the original Forging of Emarion.
And according to the prophecy, all nine Crowns must reunite for that magic to be restored.
That little detail becomes VERY important later.
Love the whole mortal girl surrounded by dangerously powerful people thing? Same. If that’s one of the reasons you’re hooked on Diem’s story, check out my Honest Book Review of Powerless to see if Lauren Roberts’ popular fantasy romance deserves a spot on your TBR.
The Truth About Luther's Injury
Eventually, Diem realizes Luther hasn’t been distancing himself because his feelings changed.
He’s dying.
Remember the godstone attack?
Luther was also injured and has been hiding the wound.
The poison has spread across his chest and into his veins.
Suddenly everything makes sense.
Why he wouldn’t undress.
Why he was exhausted.
Why he kept pulling away.
Diem is devastated.
She races back to Lumnos and desperately searches through Auralie’s healing notes for a cure.
When nothing works, she remembers the mysterious vial of dragonfyre she bought in Umbros.
With no other options, she gives it to Luther.
And it works.
Luther begins healing.
At this point, it’s pretty clear Diem isn’t simply falling for Luther anymore.
He’s become part of how she imagines her future.
Losing him would completely destroy her.
Diem Goes After Auralie
Once Luther is stable, Diem turns her attention back to Fortos.
Her mother is still imprisoned there.
Despite basically everyone telling her this is a terrible idea, Diem goes after her.
Classic Diem.
She eventually reaches the Fortos prison and discovers something horrifying.
The prison isn’t simply holding criminals.
Women.
Children.
Mortals.
Half-mortals.
They’re chained together and being treated horribly.
Finding Auralie is important, but seeing these prisoners reminds Diem that the war has become much bigger than her family.
She isn’t just fighting to save her mother.
She’s fighting to change Emarion.
Diem finally reunites with Auralie, and the reunion is complicated.
Auralie has been tortured.
She learns Andrei is dead.
Diem learns more about her biological father.
And then Diem discovers that Fortos plans to kill both her and Auralie.
Worse?
Remis betrayed her.
So much for his promises of loyalty.
Diem Becomes Queen of Fortos
Everything erupts into chaos.
Diem fights the Fortos King and his soldiers, and her magic continues becoming stronger.
The mysterious voice calling her Daughter of the Forgotten returns.
Eventually, Diem kills the King of Fortos.
And because of the magical laws governing the Crowns…
His Crown becomes hers.
Diem is now Queen of Lumnos and Fortos.
She immediately begins freeing the mortal prisoners, making it clear she isn’t interested in continuing the same system.
But gaining another Crown also makes Diem much more dangerous in the eyes of every other ruler.
Diem Finally Meets Her Biological Father
After Remis turns the Lumnos forces against her, Diem, Luther, and Auralie flee toward Montios and eventually head for the Forgotten Lands.
Then the mysterious voice Diem has been hearing throughout the series finally gets a face.
A powerful Descended man appears.
Auralie confirms the truth.
He is Diem’s biological father.
His name is Ophiucae.
And if Diem was hoping for a touching father-daughter reunion…
Absolutely not.
Auralie explains that she originally met Ophiucae while working as a spy.
Their relationship initially appeared loving.
Then Diem was born.
Ophiucae became obsessed with Diem’s blood and the power it might give him.
He wanted to use his own daughter to become stronger and achieve immortality.
Auralie fled with baby Diem and spent the rest of her life hiding her from him.
Suddenly, Auralie’s secrecy starts making a lot more sense.
Who Is the Daughter of the Forgotten?
Diem continues searching for answers and eventually learns the truth about the mysterious title everyone keeps giving her.
There weren’t originally nine Crowns.
There were ten.
The forgotten Kindred was named Omnos.
Omnos never surrendered his immortality like the others and was immune to their magic.
That terrified his siblings.
So the other Kindred lured him to Coeurîle—where his magic couldn’t protect him—and murdered him.
Then they erased him from history.
His lands became known as the Forgotten Lands.
Everyone believed his bloodline was gone.
They were wrong.
Diem is Omnos’s descendant.
THAT is why her magic is different.
That’s why she can resist other people’s powers.
That’s why she keeps gaining abilities.
And that’s why she’s being called the Daughter of the Forgotten.
Her purpose isn’t simply to rule Lumnos.
She’s potentially capable of restoring the balance that was destroyed when Omnos was betrayed.
Diem and Luther FINALLY Get Their Moment
After approximately three books of tension, arguments, almost-kisses, actual kisses, interrupted kisses, emotional breakdowns, and Luther generally being Luther…
We finally get there.
Diem starts seeing herself the way Luther sees her.
Strong.
Powerful.
Worthy of being queen.
Their emotional connection deepens until they finally sleep together in the Sophos library.
Yes.
The library.
As a book lover, I respect the choice.
More importantly, their relationship finally stops being something Diem is afraid will take away her independence.
She realizes loving Luther doesn’t weaken her.
It makes her feel more like herself.
If you love books like Heat of the Everflame but aren’t quite sure whether you’re reading romantasy or fantasy romance, you’re definitely not alone. Check out my Romantasy vs. Fantasy Romance guide to learn the difference—and figure out which one fits your reading taste best.
The Crowns Turn Against Diem
With everything she’s learned, Diem calls the rulers of Emarion together.
She wants them united against Ophiucae.
Unfortunately, the other Crowns are much more concerned about Diem.
She already controls multiple Crowns.
Her powers keep growing.
She’s descended from Omnos.
And if she gains enough Crowns, she’ll have enough votes to completely control decisions across the realms.
Basically…
She has become their worst nightmare.
A confrontation erupts.
Queen Yrselle dies.
Her Crown passes to Diem.
Diem now controls four Crowns.
She only needs one more to command the majority.
The remaining rulers panic.
Instead of helping Diem defeat Ophiucae, they imprison her on Coeurîle—the one place where she can’t use her magic.
That Ending...
Just when Diem thinks surrendering might at least keep her friends safe, the guards capture Luther, Teller, and Perthe too.
Sorae arrives.
Chaos breaks loose.
Teller manages to save Luther.
But Perthe is killed.
Then the King of Ignios attacks Diem.
He stabs her.
Diem collapses.
She can feel herself dying.
And instead of fear…
She feels strangely warm.
Peaceful.
Almost hopeful.
And that’s where Heat of the Everflame ends.
Excuse me?!
Diem is trapped on Coeurîle.
Her magic doesn’t work.
The Crowns have turned against her.
Ophiucae is still alive.
She now holds four Crowns.
And she has just been stabbed badly enough that the book leaves us questioning whether she survives.
Final Thoughts
Heat of the Everflame takes everything established in Spark and Glow and completely blows the world open.
Diem isn’t simply fighting for the Lumnos throne anymore.
She’s discovering that her entire bloodline was erased from history, that the division between mortals and Descended started with betrayal among the Kindred themselves, and that she may be the only person powerful enough to completely change Emarion.
And then there’s Luther.
Their romance finally becomes something real in this book. He isn’t simply the mysterious prince Diem can’t stop thinking about anymore. He’s her partner, her safe place, and someone who repeatedly proves he’d sacrifice everything for her.
Very Shadow Daddy behavior, Luther.
But the biggest revelation is Diem herself.
She began this series believing she was an ordinary mortal healer.
Now she’s the Daughter of the Forgotten, descendant of the lost tenth Kindred, wielder of multiple Crowns, and potentially the most powerful person in Emarion.
And somehow she’s going to have to survive that ending before she can do anything about it.
So if you’re heading into Burn of the Everflame, there’s one thing you definitely need to remember:
Diem isn’t trying to figure out whether she belongs in this world anymore.
She’s about to remake it.
