Committing to the TBR

Woo hoo! We are done with Glow of the Everflame now! I can’t believe I’ve finished the second book already, but here we are. Glow was a longer read for me than Spark. I don’t know if that’s because of the immense amount of world-building Penn Cole is weaving in, but wow– this world is incredibly easy to fall into.

That said, Book 2 didn’t totally live up to the high expectations that Spark set for me. This is strictly personal though. A few reasons: this was the slowest slow burn I’ve ever read (I’m suffering), and the world-building felt jam-packed into a short amount of narrative time. I was just as overwhelmed as Diem at the ball! So yes, this one gave me slightly a middle book slump energy and took me longer to get through– but ultimately? Still incredibly satisfying.

Diem

In Glow, we see Diem thrown headfirst into a world of political intrigue, betrayal, and a crown she never even wanted in the first place. I truly feel for her. She’s fiery, bold, and caught in a storm she didn’t create- but she is the one who can save Emarion.

She’s also an unreliable narrator in the best way: she has no idea what’s going on, and neither do we. And that somehow works. She’s slowly stepping into her leadership role, especially during The Challenging. That scene where she annihilates that bastard who killed his own hald-descended child? BAD. ASS. I almost cried.

But by the end of this book, Diem still feels stuck at a crossroads. People keep making decisions for her. She needs to take the reins- and I need her to start making her own choices as a Queen, a woman, and a badass that she is!

Luther & Henri

Fuck Henri. That’s the whole section. I’m doubling down. He’s giving Chaol energy in the worst ways: not trusting Diem, potentially hiding things from her, and not fully accepting who she is. Nope. Done. Bye. I’ve seen this film before and I didn’t like the ending!

Luther, though? Slowly warming up to me. Very slowly. Just like this slow burn romance that is testing every ounce of my patience. If we don’t start getting some real heat in Book 3, I might DNF out of pure romantic frustration.

That said, I do feel like we’re on the cusp of something good. They promised honesty, which is great… but where is the honesty for Diem? Everyone’s been hiding things from her, and I want her to be met with the same vulnerability she’s shown others. I kept begging for these two to finally do the damn thing and break the tension. But I know we had to wrap up the Henri plot first (ugh). Still, we better not start Diem and Luther’s story on shaky, secretive ground. The tension can’t slow burn forever. I’m begging.

Boats & Hoes

The second that I saw Diem on a boat, I knew things were about to pop off. But did I expect a whole assassination attempt on every crowned monarch of Emarion? Absolutely not.

Diem survives The Challenging, completes her Rite of Coronation, and then? BAM. Henri, Luther, Vance, & Aurilie, still lurking in the shadows, helping in ways that ultimately hurt her. I get that he thinks he’s helping the cause– hurting the Descended as vengeance– but it’s just more manipulation. Two sides of the same coin.

By the end, the stakes are sky-high… but I still feel like I have more questions than answers. Especially after that epilogue. I’m screaming.

Final Thoughts

Fate vs. Choice continues to be at the heart of this series, and it’s honestly what’s keeping me latched to Diem’s story. I need her to grab fate by the throat and choose something- anything- for herself instead of being a pawn in everyone else’s game. She’s earned that much.

And with the way Book 2 ends (yes, I’m still yelling about that epilogue) we’re clearly in for another emotional rollercoaster of deception.

So while Glow didn’t quite live up to the electric energy of Spark, I’m continuing on. The world is bigger, the danger is louder, the secrets are deeper, and Diem? She’s standing at the edge of something massive.

Here’s hoping Book 3 finally gives her agency she’s been denied– and finally gives us the payoff this slow burn has been teasing since page one.

Let’s light that Everflame all the way up. 🔥

My Rating: 3.75/5