Spark the Flames: A Romantasy: Secret of the Syphon, Book 1

Spinneretta

Good

"WARNING! CLIFFHANGER! This is a 5/5 on the trauma scale as far as cliffhangers go- you will definitely want book two as soon as possible, but it’s not yet ready in April 2025, so consider yourself warned! In a flash, Ever’s life was irrevocably changed at the age of six, when her father, mother, and brothers were brutally murdered in front of her, and the lives of the Syphons were changed forever. Now she is a dragon without a dragon or magic, a situation which led to her being captured by evil beings intent on draining her blood for their own ends. Her rash escape puts her into the hands of the Horde, the dragons who have been hunting down her kind, but also the ones who have the answers to ridding herself, and her kindred of the curse that has kept them trapped for decades. The start of an epic fantasy story, this has action, adventure, fated mates, lies, betrayal and more. It’s an excellent read, with well developed characters who are interesting, although they may also be annoying at times. Ever, our heroine, is strong, but handicapped by her desperate need to keep her family safe. Her life has been tough, the months before the book begins were torturous (literally), and her trust is non-existent. Aeson, our hero, is a mystery. The second son of the King, he’s big and strong, but as suspicious as Ever, though with considerably less reason that we know about. His apparent inability to communicate with Ever is as bad as her inability to trust. It all comes together to create an engrossing story, which will remind fans of the author of her sentinel world books. Like those, this is a deep dive into a fascinating post-apocalyptic future, where magic, myth, and technology combine to create an enticing world that grabs you, and makes you want to know just where it is all going next. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next in Ever and Aesop’s story, even as I’m mad about having to wait! If you’re a fan of contemporary and urban epic fantasy, then this book is sure to grip you in its clutches. ["

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April 1, 2025 Verified Purchase

L&S

Good start to a new series

"This was a good start to a new series from Ms. Asher. I've enjoyed her books, and this one ended up on the list as well. The FMC was written well. Her character was always on point, never wavering. She was very likable. Sometimes, FMC characters are written in a way that you have to grow to love them. Ms. Asher always writes FMCs in a way that makes them strong, independent, funny, and the best part ... not annoying. The MMC is not on my list of likable so far. I hope he wins me over in the continuing books. I love the supporting side characters. They're funny and loyal. I look forward to the next book. ["

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April 17, 2025 Verified Purchase

Christina Ward

LOVED THIS BOOK

"I picked up Spark of the Flames after seeing the Aurora Crate edition and being instantly intrigued — and I am so glad I did. This book was a wild, action-packed ride that kept me completely hooked from start to finish. The premise immediately grabbed me: dragons, vengeance, hidden identities, and a heroine on the run after witnessing the slaughter of her kind. Ever has been surviving under the radar, hunted by The Horde and determined to uncover the truth about what really happened to the Syphons. When she’s forced into close proximity with Aeson Noctis — powerful, overbearing, and very much dragon royalty — the tension skyrockets. One of the most unique aspects of this story is its utopian-meets-urban-fantasy setting. I wasn’t expecting the futuristic city elements blended with dragons, wyverns, and elemental magic, but it created such an interesting backdrop. The concept feels fresh and ambitious. I will admit the world building can feel overwhelming at times. Terminology is introduced quickly, and the magic system isn’t clearly explained — readers are left to piece things together through context. But honestly? I was so invested in the characters and the plot that I didn’t mind working a little harder to follow along. Ever is exactly the kind of protagonist I love: witty, independent, resourceful, and unwilling to be controlled. She doesn’t shrink herself for anyone — especially not Aeson. And speaking of Aeson… he’s powerful, mysterious, and frustrating in equal measure. The chemistry between them is intense and volatile. Their dynamic had me completely invested, sometimes raging right alongside Ever. Between the nonstop action, emotional tension, dragon politics, and simmering romance, this story never slows down. Even with the occasional confusion in world building, I had such a great time that it didn’t affect my overall enjoyment. Five stars from me — and I am absolutely counting down the days until the next book. ["

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March 31, 2026 Verified Purchase

Cara Barbardo

I’m HOOKED!!

"Well holy heck! Not only have a found a new author; I’ve also found what is now one of my favorite reads of this year! I was sucked into this world from the very get go. Good lawd, the action and pacing had me in a tizzy throughout the whole book! The pacing of this book was absolutely phenomenal - it just never stopped and loved every heart pounding second of it. The flow of the plot was so good, you never felt like there was lull and I was connected the entire way through. The world building is magnificent; full of so much vivid detail and imagery. The magi-tech system Asher created her is freaking amazing! There are so many interesting and unique nuances. The magic system as a whole was quite interesting. I feel like there is so much more to learn here, especially with the Syphon magic. The characters were interesting and so well developed. The FMC was strong and resilient while also being a bit fragile and sensitive. Ever is definitely a fighter after all that she has endured through her life. The MMC, Aeson, well heck; how do I describe this hunk of a dragon. He’s broody yet confident but yet so considerate. The dynamic between the two was such an amazing tension filled push and pull. Of course, the side characters are also intriguing and the banter was hilarious. Overall, I absolutely loved and devoured this book. It held me captive when I should have been doing life things. But I just could not put it down. With that ending, I am utterly on pins and needles waiting for the next installment to see what’s to come for Ever and Aeson! ["

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June 23, 2025 Verified Purchase

The Reading Chick

When does the next one come out?

"I haven’t loved all of Ivy Asher’s books, but this one hit all the right notes. It’s an epic fantasy with a strong female protagonist, the characters shift into dragons, the male lead is kind of quiet but strong and hot, and did I say there are dragons? The book starts off super fast. Ever has escaped from a stronghold where she’s tortured for her blood, the bad guys are after her and she chooses jumping off a cliff to a certain death instead of ending up back in her cell. Instead of dying she wakes up in a hospital where she’s told that the Horde has been called to retrieve her and again she must escape her fate. She’s been taught that the Horde (also dragons) killed her family and is her enemy, but when she comes face to face with them she sees a unit that acts loyal to their leader, is snarky, and makes her curious. The leader is Aeson Noctis, the King’s second son and he is fascinated with Ever. The fast paced action and quick-witted dialogue kept me turning pages, but it was the mystery of Ever’s origin story that I was really curious about. She’s a kind of dragon called a Syphon, and her brand was supposedly wiped out with the killing of the previous king’s reign. Her identity as a Syphon is mysterious, as is Ever’s mission, to kill the people who took the Syphon powers away from them. As a plot, it’s not a bad one, but everything Ever thinks she knows about what happened to her family is not necessarily as she believes it, which throws a big kink into her revenge. Oh, and then there’s the love interest, Aeson- she doesn’t count on falling for one of the Horde. As with most of Ivy Asher’s books, there are some great side characters, some of whom we want to know more about and don’t get to, but they do certainly add some much needed warmth and color. If the plot were only going to be about Ever’s need for revenge it would be kind of boring, but she develops some feelings for the people around her which makes her plotting even more tremulous. The reader is left hoping she knows the truth and her plans will be a redemption arc instead of Ever turning into an anti-hero. We’ll have to wait for the next book to find out which side of the coin she lands on. I can’t wait! ["

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June 3, 2025 Verified Purchase