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3.5 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

“I can sense your need. Feel it. Taste it. You’re drowning in it.�� His eyes slammed shut. “I’m fucking drowning in it.�� A sharp dart of desire sliced through me.

“Then drown with me.��

A Light in the Flame picks up where we left off in A Shadow in the Ember and despite loving the first book and giving it a 5⭐️ rating, I think the series started to lose its magic for me especially after TWOTQ.

Reminder: this review reflects my own reading experience and remember that readers will always have different experiences when it comes to reading a book. Quotes used in this review are out of context.

I had high hopes for ALITF because I immediately fell in love with Sera and Nyktos in ASITE and devoured that book in one sitting.

I think JLA conjured an intriguing fantastical world and that was one of my favorite elements about this series, but there are limits to how much world-building the series would continue to need. It can be overwhelming and hard to digest.

I had different expectations to how Sera and Nyktos's relationship would develop in the sequel but I was hoping the miscommunication between them wouldn't have been as present and that what mainly bothered me. Here it seemed they kept going through the same cycle at times.

The side characters always manage to provide the comic relief needed and it's always such joy to have our baby drakens around. I wish they were around more or played bigger roles in the story.

I did feel for Sera's despair and hopelessness and I loved that Nyktos was there most of the time to support her through this especially when her anxiety attacks strike. Sera's vulnerable side is more transparent not only to the readers but also the characters—and the anguish she feels is so acute because this is someone who lived her entire life as a weapon to be honed for one purpose only, and then realize she's not only a weapon but also a vessel whose death is inevitable. It's devastating for someone whose choice is always taken away and not considered. I think some readers might be bothered by Sera's edge softening a bit but for me I'm glad JLA did not shy away from showing that side of Sera and it doesn't take away from her charm as a heroine. It doesn't make her weak or boring.

This is something I truly miss about Poppy.

I'm glad that Sera and Nyktos maintain their individuality because that's the issue I had with Casteel's characterization being almost non-existent in TWOTQ and dependent on Poppy. Sera and Nyktos's arcs were balanced even though there was more focus on Sera's but that makes sense for the plot.

My heart does hurt for both of them. Their love story is somewhat tragic for two individuals who are not even familiar with the concept of love.

I just know that most readers, like me, ate up the spicy scenes between Sera and Nyktos. They were not only hot but also emotional and the tension just makes it more delicious.

“Fuck,�� Nyktos growled, his breath hot against my cheek. “You will be the death of me.��

Also, my other issue with this book is that it seemed the plot was going in circles sometimes and unlike book one, this was more repetitive. And similar to the world-building issue, I'm trying to word this correctly, but there shouldn't be as many new reveals especially as we're heading towards the end of Flesh and Fire and Blood and Ash series because I'm trying to connect the dots and I'm struggling.

But in terms of which series is faring better, I definitely think Flesh and Fire is winning readers over Blood and Ash. I think it would have been better if the two series were seperate and not interconnected.

On another note, I too wish Nektas smiled whenever my name was mentioned.
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It's release day! Let's see if this book will win me over after TWOTQ. I'll be reading it on the weekend but to everyone starting today: happy reading!
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Here for my favorite draken dilf: Nektas 🐉