Honest Book Review of Burn of the Everflame
Author: Penn Cole
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It pains me to say this, but it was painful to read this.
I have never been so mad about reading a book. I would read [Iron Flame]and [Onyx Storm] all over again, and if you’ve read my review of that book, you KNOW what I mean.
I waited SO long for Burn of the Everflame. After everything that started in Spark of the Everflame, I was invested. I wanted Diem’s story. I wanted Luther. I wanted the Descended, the politics, the war, the secrets, and everything Penn Cole had slowly been building throughout this series.
And after finally finishing the last book?
I feel cheated.
I keep seeing 4 and 5 star reviews and I’m sitting here wondering…
Did we read the same book?!
Because I desperately wanted to love this.
At a Glance ✨
Three Books of Buildup...For This?
By the time we finished [Glow of the Everflame] and [Heat of the Everflame], there were SO many moving pieces.
Orthecae. The conflict between mortals and Descended. Diem’s powers. The politics between the realms. Luther and Diem.
And an entire WAR.
The groundwork was already there. Burn didn’t need to manufacture drama.
Yet somehow, so much of this massive finale was spent on…
Miscommunication.
I swear, 75% of this book felt like one giant Diem miscommunication trope.
And I was LOSING MY MIND.
Mortals vs. Descended...Again
Then we had the arguments between mortals and Descended.
Diem defends mortals.
The Descended disagree.
Argument.
Diem does something.
More arguing.
Repeat.
WE GET IT.
This conflict absolutely belonged in the story, but I needed it to evolve. Instead, it felt like we kept having slightly different versions of the same conversation.
Meanwhile…
THERE IS A WAR HAPPENING.
Can we maybe get back to that?!
Diem and Luther Tested My Patience
Here’s the funny part.
I LOVE a slow burn romance.
Diem and Luther are one of the reasons this series works so well as a [Slow Burn Fantasy Romance]. Give me the tension, yearning, and waiting.
Slow burn? YES.
Miscommunication being used to keep an already established relationship in turmoil?
NO.
I wanted to reach into this book, lock these two in a room, and say:
TALK. TO. EACH. OTHER.
Please. I am begging you.
And just wait until the spoiler section because one particular reveal made this entire situation even more frustrating.
I Wanted More Plot With My Romance
Listen, I read romantasy for the romance too. But this romance made this the longest book of my soul. Way too drawn out and heavily focused on it.
Give me the tension. Give me the emotional devastation. Give me a little smut. I’m literally the person who wrote Top 15 Spicy Fantasy Romance Books That Have a Plot.
But that’s the important part:
That have a plot.
Burn of the Everflame felt much more romance and emotionally driven than action and political intrigue driven.
Normally, I wouldn’t have a problem with that. But after three books building toward Orthecae, a war, conflict between the realms, Diem’s powers, and everything happening between mortals and Descended, I expected the final book to lean HARD into those storylines.
Instead, so much of the page time went toward Diem and Luther’s relationship, emotional conflict, miscommunication, and romance.
I wanted the balance flipped.
Give me the romance and spice, absolutely.
But I also wanted WAR.
Political maneuvering.
Betrayals.
Huge revelations.
Those moments where something from three books ago suddenly clicks and you’re sitting there thinking:
OH MY GOD. THAT’S WHY THAT HAPPENED.
The foundation for an incredible fantasy finale was already there.
I just wanted Burn to spend more time cashing in on everything the first three books had built instead of making the romance feel like the main event while the war and political intrigue waited in the background.
The Pacing Felt Like Driver's Ed
And the pacing?
What was happening?!
The best way I can describe it is that Burn of the Everflame would rev the engine, slam on the gas for two hot seconds, and I’d think:
YES. HERE WE GO.
Then we’d immediately slam on the brakes.
Then GAS.
Oh wait…
BRAKE.
It felt like the plot was in driver’s ed for the first time. 😂
I actually had a similar issue with [Written in Starlight], where the pacing made it difficult for me to stay invested in the story. And unfortunately, Burn gave me that same stop and start feeling.
Every time the plot finally started gaining momentum, we’d slow back down for another argument, another miscommunication, or another conversation we’d basically already had.
That’s probably a huge reason this book felt so incredibly long. The exciting moments WERE there. We just couldn’t maintain the momentum long enough for the story to really take off.
By the end, I didn’t need another stop and start.
I needed someone to take the student driver sign off this plot and HIT THE GAS.
I Wanted the Payoff From the First Three Books
After three books of buildup, I wanted everything to finally come crashing together.
I wanted WAR.
Political maneuvering.
Huge revelations.
Those moments where something from three books ago suddenly makes sense and you’re sitting there thinking:
OH MY GOD. THAT’S WHY THAT HAPPENED.
The foundation was already there. The Descended. The realms. Diem’s powers. The politics. Orthecae. The history between mortals and Descended.
I just wanted Burn to cash in on everything [Spark of the Everflame], [Glow of the Everflame], and [Heat of the Everflame] had spent so much time building.
And Then Orthecae Was Over So Quickly?!
After THREE BOOKS of buildup, I expected the conclusion with Orthecae to be a massive part of Burn.
Instead…
That was it?!
For a book this long, THAT was the storyline I wanted more of.
I wanted the war and final confrontation to breathe. I wanted more tension, consequences, and payoff.
It almost felt backward.
The repetitive conflicts were stretched out while one of the biggest conflicts of the entire series felt rushed.
And I have a LOT more to say about Orthecae in the spoiler section. 😂
But I Actually Enjoyed the Ending
After all that complaining…
I actually liked the ending.
It was bittersweet, but the bittersweetness worked for me.
It finally gave me some of the emotion I’d been waiting for and reminded me why I cared about these characters in the first place.
There are some VERY specific reasons the ending worked for me, but we’re going to save those for the spoiler section.
Honestly?
The ending is probably what saved this book for me.
So...Did Everyone Else Read a Different Book?
I’m genuinely happy so many readers loved Burn of the Everflame.
But I keep seeing glowing 4 and 5 star reviews thinking…
WHAT DID I MISS?!
I wanted to be one of those readers.
But I’m not going to rate a book based on popularity.
I don’t care if everyone else gives it 5 stars, if it’s one of the biggest releases of the year, or if I loved every other book in the series.
If I didn’t love it, I’m going to say I didn’t love it.
My reviews are based on my experience reading the book, and apparently my experience with Burn was VERY different from a lot of other readers. 😂
And that’s okay.
Why I Landed Where I Did
There ARE things I enjoyed.
I still love these characters. I still love this world. And that bittersweet ending gave me enough emotional payoff that I couldn’t completely write this book off.
But I can’t ignore everything that frustrated me.
The endless miscommunication.
The repetitive arguments.
The pacing.
The missed opportunities for payoff.
The rushed conclusion with Orthecae.
And, of course…
The longest book of my soul.
I still love the Kindred’s Curse Saga, and I’m glad I finished it.
I just really, REALLY wish I loved Burn of the Everflame nearly as much as everyone else seems to.
Apparently everyone else was reading Burn of the Everflame while I was reading The Longest Book of My Soul. 😭😂
And now…
Let’s talk spoilers.
Because THAT is where I really have some things to say.
My Lasting Thoughts
At the end of the day, Burn of the Everflame just wasn’t for me.
Clearly, there are PLENTY of readers who loved this book, and I can absolutely understand why. The romance is emotional, the characters are easy to get attached to, and if you’ve loved Diem and Luther’s journey from the beginning, you’re going to want to see how their story ends.
Would I still recommend giving it a try?
Of course!
My 2.5 stars might be someone else’s 5 stars, and that’s the fun of reading.
But I will say this: if you were already frustrated with some of the pacing, Diem’s decisions, or relationship drama in Heat of the Everflame, there’s a good chance you’ll have some of those same frustrations with Burn.
For me, those issues became even bigger in the final book.
I’m still glad I finished the Kindred’s Curse Saga. I’m still glad I got to see how Diem and Luther’s story ended.
I just wish I had enjoyed the journey there a little more.
The series may still have my heart, but Burn of the Everflame definitely tested it. 😂
You've Been Warned.
Everything below contains major spoilers, plot twists, betrayals, and emotional damage.
⚠️ MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD ⚠️
Okay, I behaved myself during the spoiler free portion.
Now I need to TALK ABOUT IT. 😂
If you haven’t finished Burn of the Everflame, STOP HERE. Major spoilers ahead.
Chapter 38...FINALLY
It takes until Chapter 38 for Diem to finally admit her feelings for Luther.
CHAPTER. THIRTY. EIGHT.
And even then, she STILL doesn’t tell him about the mating bond.
This is exactly what I meant about the miscommunication driving me insane. We’ve spent multiple books building Diem and Luther’s relationship. We’re in the final book. There is literally a WAR happening.
Can we please just communicate?!
And somehow this gets even more frustrating later.
Wondering how spicy your next read is before you pick it up? Check out my [Spice Library], where I rate fantasy romance books from Closed Door to 5 Peppers. 🌶️
Henri Killing Diem's Father
Now THIS I loved.
Finding out that Henri killed Diem’s father was one of those reveals that immediately got my attention. Even better was getting Henri’s POV when he killed him.
Give me complicated motivations. Give me morally questionable decisions. Give me another character’s perspective that changes how I see something.
I wanted more moments like this.
Diem's Powers Confused Me
Someone please explain how Diem can seemingly harness the magic of NINE REALMS so effortlessly while Luther, who has had his powers his entire life, had to actually practice his illusions.
I know Diem is powerful, but I wanted a learning curve.
Let her struggle. Let her lose control. Let there be consequences for trying to wield that much magic.
Instead, it sometimes felt like Diem could use whatever power the story needed her to have.
And this becomes an even bigger problem later.
Diem and Her Hero Complex
Of course Diem releases the gwyverns.
I understand WHY she does it, but this was another example of Diem seeing something that needs saving and immediately deciding:
I must personally fix this. Right now. By myself.
Girl. 😂
Her hero complex has always been part of her character, but by this book, I wanted to see more growth from it.
Orthecae Wasn't What I Expected
First…
How did Diem get captured by Orthecae THAT easily?
We’ve just established that this woman can harness nine realms of magic, yet Orthecae manages to capture her surprisingly easily.
If he’s that powerful, SHOW ME.
I wanted to finally meet Orthecae and think:
Oh. We’re screwed.
Instead, I think the book humanized him too much.
I love a complicated villain, but after three books of buildup, I wanted Orthecae to feel terrifying. Giving him so many recognizable emotions and motivations took away some of that evil for me.
And then, naturally…
Diem tries to convert him.
Because of course she does. 😂
Sometimes somebody is allowed to just be the bad guy, Diem.
Chapter 63 Made Me Want to SCREAM
Remember that mating bond Diem wouldn’t tell Luther about?
We finally get to Chapter 63 and she reveals it.
FINALLY.
Except…
LUTHER ALREADY KNEW.
He knew the entire time and was simply giving Diem space to tell him when she was ready.
Which is incredibly sweet.
BUT ALSO…
THEN WHAT WERE WE DOING?!
We went through all that secrecy, tension, internal conflict, and miscommunication…
FOR WHAT?!
The thing Diem was terrified to tell Luther wasn’t even a secret.
This perfectly sums up my biggest frustration with Burn. We spent SO much time creating relationship tension around something that ultimately wasn’t even an issue.
The mating bond should have been one of my favorite parts because I am a sucker for a good [Fated Mates fantasy romance], but somehow this one had me yelling, “THEN WHAT WERE WE DOING?!” 😂
Wait...Her Powers Are Back?
Then we get to the final conflict and Diem loses her powers.
That’s HUGE.
Except suddenly, right when she needs them…
They’re back?
Maybe I missed something, but I was genuinely confused.
How did she lose them? What specifically caused them to return? Were they actually gone or just blocked?
It felt like she suddenly had exactly what she needed just in time to kill Orthecae.
For such an important moment, I needed a much clearer explanation.
Especially after already questioning how easily she could harness nine realms of magic.
And That's It for Orthecae?!
This is where I really felt cheated.
We’ve spent three books building toward Orthecae, yet his conclusion felt surprisingly quick.
That’s what makes the length of Burn so frustrating.
We had endless pages for miscommunication.
We had repeated arguments about mortals and Descended.
We had an entire mating bond secret that Luther already knew about.
But the villain we’ve spent three books preparing for?
THAT’S where we’re rushing?!
I wanted more war, more tension, and a bigger payoff.
Teller's Death...WHY?!
And then we have Teller.
I knew a book like this wasn’t going to end without losing someone important, but Teller’s death HURT.
Diem losing her brother added so much to the bittersweet feeling of the ending. After everything she fought for and everything she sacrificed to protect the people she loved, she still couldn’t save everyone.
And maybe that’s why Teller’s death worked for me even though I absolutely hated that it happened.
It had consequences.
It made the war actually COST something.
There wasn’t a magical fix where everyone we cared about somehow survived.
Diem wins, but she doesn’t walk away from everything untouched.
And poor Teller ended up being part of that cost.
I did NOT want it to be him. 😭
But I Really Did Like the Ending
After all that complaining…
I actually liked the ending.
And honestly, this is where the book finally got me emotionally.
Teller’s death already made the ending hurt, but then Diem dies too.
And I actually liked how this was handled.
Diem spends this entire series trying to save everyone, putting herself in danger, and believing that she should be the one to pay the price if it means protecting the people she loves.
So when the sacrifice finally requires her life, she pays it.
She actually dies.
For a moment, I really thought Penn Cole was going THERE.
And as painful as that would have been, I appreciated that the sacrifice wasn’t immediately treated like some loophole Diem could magically escape. She had to actually pay the price.
And then she comes back.
Normally, bringing a character back after a big sacrificial death can completely cheapen the moment for me.
But here?
I liked it.
Diem still made the sacrifice. She still gave her life. She was willing to lose everything to save everyone else.
Her coming back afterward didn’t erase that choice for me.
And after Teller’s death, I’m also glad Penn Cole didn’t leave us with THAT much emotional damage. 😭
That’s why I think the bittersweet ending worked so well.
Diem wins, but she doesn’t walk away without consequences.
She loses Teller.
She sacrifices herself.
She actually pays the price that has been hanging over this story.
But ultimately, she gets another chance at life.
After spending most of this book frustrated with Diem, this was one of those moments where I remembered why I’ve rooted for her throughout the series.
I wouldn’t call the ending completely happy.
But I also wouldn’t change it just because parts of it hurt.
It finally gave me the emotion and sacrifice I had been waiting for throughout Burn, and it reminded me why I cared about these characters so much in the first place.
Honestly?
The ending is probably what saved this book for me.
There were things I genuinely loved. Henri’s POV was one of them. I still love Luther. I still care about Diem, even though this woman tested EVERY ounce of my patience. And despite all my complaints, I liked where Penn Cole ultimately left these characters.
I just wish the journey getting there had focused more on the incredible storylines already sitting right there instead of creating so much unnecessary relationship drama.
Because apparently we had plenty of pages for Diem and Luther not communicating…
But explaining how Diem suddenly got her powers back just in time to kill Orthecae?
That’s where we needed to start conserving pages. 😂
This was truly the longest book of my soul.
Before You Go...How Spicy Do You Actually Like Your Books? 🌶️
After all that emotional damage, miscommunication, war, and Diem testing every ounce of my patience, let’s end on something a little more fun. 😂
Think you know your perfect romance spice level?
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