New Helen Scheuerer book? Immediately add to cart. I adored the main character of Kiss of the Black Flame so much! Helen sure knows how to write a fabulous main character! Keep reading this book review of Kiss of the Black Flame for my full thoughts.
Summary
Saige Grayson has always believed stories could heal—even when her own body refuses to. As the most promising bookbinder in the capital, she’s learned to work through chronic pain and crushing debt, restoring other people’s treasures while trying not to fall apart herself. But when the man she owes decides her rare talent is worth more than her payments, Saige is traded to the Azkari—an immortal race forged by the gods for war—and imprisoned in their ancient stronghold.
Her only chance of survival lies with Archer, a fallen Azkari general imprisoned beside her —cursed, dangerous, and impossible to ignore. He offers her a way out, and in return, Saige must help him retrieve and restore an ancient book. But the book is made of living magic, powerful enough to stop a great evil—or unleash it. And as Saige works with Archer, the tome begins to awaken something dark and dangerous—both in the realm and within her.
As their enemies close in and buried memories resurface, Saige and Archer must decide what they’re willing to their freedom, their fragile trust…or the spark that could ignite the world.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
I was so excited for Kiss of the Black Flame ever since I read the novella, The Bookbinder. I love the idea of magical tomes and having to restore them. Talk about a unique magic system! One of my favorite elements of Kiss of the Black Flame was the main character. Saige is such a fierce individual who will stop at nothing to protect her friends. She’s made some mistakes she’s still paying for and is hiding her chronic pain from most around her. But, for Archer and Saige, they both need someone to see them for who they are underneath the stony masks and false smiles (Archer and Saige not the other way around). I also adored Saige’s friends who I met in the novella as well!
I loved Saige, but I also loved how Archer opens up within Kiss of the Black Flame. He’s been so alone for so long, hundreds of years, that if you love the idea of someone being their first contact, scrap of kindness, this is for you! They are so different, but also similar in their desire to be seen. And they don’t know if they can even begin to trust each other. The world building foundation is laid out a bit later than I normally like, but I’m very familiar with the Helen Scheuerer foundation, book one openers, and ENDINGS! Kiss of the Black Flame is about when the want we have to protect someone breaks us.
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How scary it would be for someone to see us, truly, and to face that fear in the face. To not run. At the same time, Kiss of the Black Flame is a story about how power twists families. How it can change people we know into ghosts of who they used to be. Find Kiss of the Black Flame on Goodreads, Storygraph, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.