A Light in the Flame: A Flesh and Fire Novel

⚔️Genre: fantasy romance💫Tropes: gods and monsters, fate/prophecy, betrayal, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, betrayal"Then drown with me."⭐️5/5🌶️3.5/5This book has EVERYTHING!!I was crying, i was laughing, i was hitting myself repeatedly with the book and screaming into the abyssI’ve always felt that Jennifer manages to create some amazing dialogue!! I was tabbing the absolute shit out out this with all of the quotes I wanted to include (but I’ve only included a small section)The relationship between Ash and Sera was so beautiful!! They really went through a whirlwind of curveballs and emotional discoveries but their ✨LOVE✨ (BECAUSE I KNOW IT IS JENNIFER DONT TEST ME) prevailedI’m so mad at the ending!! I need the next book right now or I might riot 🥹✨

“I know you’re strong and can fight. That you’re brave. Needing me or anyone to look out for you doesn’t mean you’re weak, that you can’t defend yourself, or that you’re afraid. We all need someone to watch over us.”Heat crawled up my throat. “Do you?”“Desperately,” he whispered.For the past couple of days, I have been trying to come up with words to describe exactly how this book has made me feel but I keep coming up short. No words will ever do it justice, but I will say, never have I felt more SEEN by anyone. This book was the biggest privilege to read. It emotionally and physically wrecked me, but it also healed me. My soul was opened, bruised and pieced back together. It was heart breaking and beautiful and worth every tear because for the first time in the longest while I feel as though I can finally breathe again. Up until this book I was holding my breath without realising and the biggest weight has been lifted off my shoulders. It still feels like I am on that healing path, only now the light at the end of the tunnel does not feel that far away. Jennifer you are an artist with words.I remember going into ASITE with a bit of a hesitancy because I was unsure of what I would meet and if it would be too similar of a story line to FBAA. Within the first few pages Jennifer proved me wrong. Sera and Nyktos has grown into one of my all-time favourite couples now and reading their own journey, internal and external struggles, their stance towards life was an absolute heart wrencher in the best way possible. When I read, I want to feel all the emotions and if there is one thing you are sure to get from Jen’s books is just that. With ALITF these two have gained their spot right next to Poppy and Casteel.Reading about Sera’s own journey with her mental health, I kept wanting to shout thank you Jennifer. I have never read a character who portrays the internal and external realities of living with and trying to deal with anxiety and depression so close to home. Her story to find her own self, and in the long run her own self-worth will cut deep but so right. When I was reading her journey, it really did bring the healing, strength and calm that I so desperately needed. She is every bit the Queen, we know her to become.Nyktos has truly “taken my breath with his.” With ALITF his character has gained so much more depth and layer. Not only did we get to experience the full Primal mode much to our own delight, but we also got those glimpses into his vulnerable and playful self which was just utter perfection and filled my heart in so many ways that I will forever be thankful to JLA for bringing him to life.There are many things that Jennifer always exceeds my expectations with her books but one of those things is creating characters that always feels so larger than life that ultimately takes over my thoughts. If you enjoyed getting to know them in ASITE, you will fall head over heels in love with them in this one. There were so many more moments that I kept wanting to experience again repeatedly. I honestly cannot choose a favourite, but they all equally got their moment to shine.The plot is also shaping up to be the ultimate ride and she is dropping those Easter eggs and hints left, right and centre. You get answers and ultimately are left with so many more questions. No greater feeling than experiencing those connections between the two stories tie together.A Light in the Flame exceeded all my expectations and then some. This has earned itself the title as one, if not Jennifer's best novel to date. It was real, raw, honest and filled with emotion that left me fully satisfied yet in true JLA fashion still somehow yearning for more. This book has become my new lifeline.

A Light in the Flame continues where the previous book left off, Sera and Nyktos are not in a good place and they've been hit with a monumental problem. The world-building is epic, but there's a lot of unpack so at times it is at a slower pace but throw in some smutty, spicy scenes, some inner monologues, more Jadis and Reaver and some more talk about deep connections being made and who cares.Nyktos and Sera are very similar as characters, personalities and in some ways their lives since they both have lived mostly alone. Nyktos in his attempt to protect people from Uncle Kolis whilst it was chosen for Sera. They're two lonely souls who want to find that one person, protect the ones they care about and want to help and save people, every decision they make is ruled by this which leads to many intense conversations between them.Lots of inner monologue from Sera to begin with, definitely more of a slower burn and pace but we are getting her point of view and how she feels about things and who she is but it was so deeply emotional and just had you wanting to right all the wrongs she's been forced to face. But most importantly, she is being seen, heard, cared for more than she has ever been in her entire life by the Primal she was raised to kill and it changes her. Sera is the vessel, she has the embers of life inside her and they must come out but can they do so in time?Lots of character growth and development from both Nyktos and Sera. Sera finds it hard to be the person she once was and I really enjoyed how even though she has betrayed him, Nyktos understands and cares for her. He is just such a pure soul inside and he deserves to be the true Primal of Life.I enjoyed meeting more of the Primals and Gods, more of the characters who live in the Shadowlands, cameos from the FBAA series and of course the evil overlord himself, Kolis. We got more interactions with Nektas and these scenes were definitely one of the highlights.JLA still left us with a cliffhanger of epic proportions that has me wishing the for the year to pass by fast so I can read the next book.