Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole

Series: Kindred's Curse (#1)

Format: 405 pages, Paperback

Published: November 7, 2024 by Headline

Fantasy/library

Wow this one is hard to review. I liked it because it was light and I breezed through it. But the more I think the more I dislike it and wanted to change my rating....

I also assume the library bought this one cos someone has watched booktok, and every booktok book I try is a fail.

The main character is just so dang stupid. Like HELLO, you are obvi one of THEM! Omg, the whole oh she was sick and her eyes changed color...ok so why is she the only person in the world?

I hope people does not tote this as a romantasy. The main character has a bestie, and they have done the deed before, and does it like once. He is a side character of no importance. Because she meets a prince, who is dark and brooding, and lacks personality.

Nothing happens between them except for brooding looks and at the end I am supposed to believe they have feelings for each other?

Oh I changed my mind and rated it a 2 instead. I just do not like the main character at all. I also read that she gets even more stupid so no thank you

All her life, healer Diem Bellator has yearned to escape her tiny village in Emarion, a realm ruled over by cruel demigods known as the Descended. Although her parents have always tried to shield her from their brutality, Diem's world changes forever when her mother goes missing, leading her to uncover a dangerous secret that links her family to the dreaded Descended in ways she never imagined.

The journey to unravel the web of mysteries Diem's mother left behind is long and treacherous, and it soon leads her into the dark domain of those who rule her world: the Descended's royal palace itself.

With the dying king's handsome, enigmatic heir watching her every move, and a ruthless rebel alliance urging her to join the looming civil war, Diem must reevaluate everything she thought she knew to save her loved ones - and finally discover the truth about her world.

Audio: The Lady in Glass by Anne Bishop

Narrated by: Alexandra Harris, Gary Littman

Length: 14 hrs and 10 mins

Release date: 02-27-24 by Penguin Audio

Urban fantasy&fantasy&fairytale/from audible

The Lady and the Glass - A weird tale about humanity that seems to have gone wrong and they find a woman in a glass coffin and stare at her beauty

Bear Trap - It was short, but good. A girl is taken and put in a bear trap.

Not A Princess - A witch wants to be a princess, but it was more about the kid she tried to make into one

The Weapon - About war and being cannon fodder

Hotting Fuggam and the Dragon - A nice little tale about a stranger coming to town and a girl trying to deal with him

Tunnel - This is why I should write reviews for short stories at once cos I do not remember this one

Match Girl - This one I remember because it was a hard listen. It deals with SA, abuse and more. A very very dark and sad fairytale

Rapunzel - Another Rapunzel story and how she came to be

The Wild Heart - Sleeping beauty and another one with a trigger warning. Things go dark

The Fairest One of All - Again, when I listen to many at once some blend in to each other and I only remember the stepmom dying

By the Time the Witchblood Blooms-Which one was this? I remember smex?

The Khaldharon Run - I am just not a Black Jewels fan

The Price - I actually enjoyed this one. Huh. A woman solves a few murders

The Voice - Trigger warning of SA again. Another dark and disturbing one. How one girl in the village is without a voice and takes on other´s feelings, even when she does not want to. And how one girl grows up realising how wrong this is. Good, but yes dark

Home for the Howlidays - Meg and Simon! And the holidays, and danger

The Dark Ship - I have read this one before, but it a good one that takes place in the world of The Others, but in Cal Romano

Friends and Corpses- A freaky place where the dead do not know they are dead so Cecily hunts them down. Throw in a mystery

Truth and Story - Not remembering

Stands A God Within the Shadows - A woman in a tower, why is she there? The story unfolds

She Moved Through The Fair - A ghost story, and someone wants money....

A Strand in the Web - An interesting sci-fi one where spaceships are out fixing worlds to atone, and one girl is stuck on a ship that is failing.

Some are better than other ones, some are a LOT darker than other ones. Some are funny, some are sad. You know, like every anthology out there. Bishop is a great writer so even those dark sad ones are really good. Even if they make you sick to your stomach.

I totally wanted this one for the Simon and Meg story, but even if I liked that one so many other ones shone through.

Great narration, it does have Alexandra Harris too!

A master of bringing fantasy worlds to life, this collection showcases Bishop’s impressive range, from rarities of her earliest writing to the Realms of the Blood, from darker fairytale retellings to the Landscapes of Ephemera, and from standalone stories of space exploration and fantastical creatures to the contemporary fantasy terrain of the World of the Others.

Includes previously published and unpublished tales, as well as two brand-new stories, written especially for this “Friends and Corpses,” a murder mystery in which the corpse has some decidedly unusual qualities, and “Home for the Howlidays,” a heartwarming return to the Blood Prophet Meg Corbyn and the shapeshifting Simon Wolfgard from The Others.

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10/21/2025 What’s something you rebelled against as a kid?

Oh I never rebelled.  The only rebellion I had was like NO I will not wear a warm jacket, snowpants, gloves....you know teen years. Stupid ahole I was, I am lucky I did not freeze to death. I still remember what I wore when it was mid winter. Idiot. And I had a 10 min walk to the bus and then you had to stand there waiting too.

10/28/2025 What was your favorite Halloween (or cosplay) costume? *Bonus for photos!

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Carole´s Monday: Hex around and find out

Author: Molly Harper
Narrator: Amanda Ronconi & Teddy Hamilton
Title: Hex Around and Find Out
Series: Moonshadow Cove #2
Genre: Paranormal Romance, UF, Fantasy, Mystery
Format: Audiobook 
Published: October 2, 2025
Where I Got It: Audible

Summary: 

As the middle sister in a trio of sea witches, Cora Seaworth has spent most of her life hidden away at her family’s magical cottage on Moonshadow Cove. She’s claimed her own corner of the library, cozied up with her favorite novels and a ghost cat named Nicodemus. She’s the deep thinker among her more tempestuous sisters, so she isn’t prepared to be swept up in a real-life romantic adventure in the form of sexy local baker Iggy Galinsky.

Iggy is tired of his reputation as the Island’s unreliable charmer and a man of many talents but no true calling outside his family’s bakery. Sure, it’s mostly true, but it still hurts his feelings. His carefree life gets serious fast when he meets the beautiful, mysterious Cora Seaworth. Before long, they’re working together with Cora’s sisters, various ghosts and the unfathomable creature lurking at the bottom of the cove to defeat an ancient enemy. If they don’t prevail, it’s not just their love that’s at stake, but Starfall Point’s entire magical community.

Review:

Eeek! We are back!!!! This time with the next sibling of the Seaworth family. 

Cora has spent the majority of her life at Moonshadow Cove with her sisters. She spends most days locked in the library amongst the books. Iggy has many talents, but he has no true calling. His reputation on the Island is unreliable and a charmer. Sure, it is true, but he does have a dream but he lacks the confidence to go for it. His carefree life is about to end when he meets Cora and learns her secret. He gets dragged into the magical world and will try and help save Cora and her family from an ancient enemies knocking on their door. Will they save the Cove? Will Iggy grow up enough to be the man Cora needs? Can Cora even trust in love?

Make sure you at least read book 1 of this series. I would say the other series (this is a spin off) is important too, but the author gives us enough background of the other series so just at least read book 1 of this series. 

Awwwww I love this author and I love these narrators. Eeeee. They are the perfect trio. 

Cora is a woman of my own heart. She is my favorite of the sisters methinks. 

The chemistry between Iggy and Cora are immediate, but Cora pushes him away to protect him BUT also to protect herself. He has a bad reputation on the island as a charmer and being unreliable. He disappears without a word for days. She can't bring him into the fold because she can't fully trust him. 

The lust was quick, but it did a little bit for the love to come into play and I was here for it. It was a nice pace. 

I did like getting to know James better. It's sounding like James and the older sister will be the couple in the next book. We shall see. 

Oooo I'm curious if we'll see some sort of resolution with Iggy's twin sister. That girl is an angel and deserves happiness. *fingers crossed*

The narration was lovely as per normal. I can't imagine this series done by anyone else. 

Issues? Mmmmmmmmmmmm the solutions seemed too easy. Hopefully we get some sort of battle or something in the next one. It felt too comfy if that makes sense. I also wasn't a huge fan of Iggy. If I was Cora I would've been hesitant too. BUUUUT I did warm up to him by the end. 

All-in-all, I really liked this one. I can't wait for the next book!

4 stars. 

Favorite Character(s): Cora

Least Favorite Character(s): Our baddies and Iggy at the beginning

 Challenge(s):

- Audiobook #49