The Nora Theory

The Kindred’s Curse Saga captured my heart and soul. It’s heart-wrenching, and exciting, with an expansive magical system and a world full of things to love. While the characters, world, magical system, and plot are all very different, this series made me feel the same way I felt the first time I read the Throne of Glass series.

This saga is a character-driven, plot-heavy, enemies-to-lovers romantasy. Diem is a mortal healer, working in an impoverished, oppressed community under the Descended, magical beings that descend from a god-like group known as the Kindred. The Descended King of Lumnos is ill, and Diem’s mother was the healer in charge of treating him, until her mysterious disappearance.

When Diem takes over the job, she meets Prince Luther, a tall, dark, and handsome Descended who stands for everything she has been taught to hate. With her childhood best friend and occasional hookup Henri becoming increasingly radicalized in his hatred of the Descended, and her desire to protect her little brother Teller at all costs, Diem is trapped in a world of constant danger.

The first book, Spark of the Everflame, was a bit of a slow start, which is common in high fantasy novels. It takes some time to get acquainted with the magical system and the world-building, but by the time I settled in with the realm and its characters, I was irrevocably hooked.

One of my favorite things about this series is the main character, Diem. I just love an inappropriately angry heroine and Diem fits that mold perfectly. Give me your rage and destruction. Give me your Aelins, your Nestas, and your Diems. I want irresponsibility. I want imperfection. I want someone I can see myself in.

At times, Diem is being very obtuse in the course of the story. There are a great many moments where she misses something, especially if it’s something emotional, that seems utterly obvious to the reader. It can be frustrating, and it may have readers shouting at their Kindles, but it also makes her feel like a very authentic character.

I honest-to-god swooned at some of the dialogue in these books. At one point the male protagonist says, “I want every breath, every laugh, every tear. Every taste of your mouth, every inch of your skin. I want to kneel at your feet, soaked in the blood of your enemies, then worship your body until you scream my name…I want to serve you — in every way a man can.” I die. Spectacular. The Kindred’s Curse Saga won my heart with this line alone, and there’s more where that came from.

The platonic relationships in this book touched my heart just as much as the romantic ones which is something that I always love. There is a heavily present found family theme, and the side characters in this book are just as strong as the protagonists. Among these side characters, there is casual LGBTQ representation as well. It’s not made a big deal in this world, these characters are just there existing, and loving who they love, and I love that.

This series is not super spicy, more focused on plot and character than the steamy scenes, but there is some spice. A warning, however. It is a slow, slow burn. These characters dance circles around their feelings, try to make each other jealous, and face a great many serious obstacles in their journey to love. Patience is required (or a fierce mania in which you abandon all adult responsibilities and read all three books in a matter of days). But the reward is utterly worth it and feels well earned.

Heat of the Everflame, the third book in the series, is a thousand pages long, but didn’t feel like it for a second. These wonderful characters and the completely enthralling plot made each page fly by.

I was constantly on the absolute edge of my seat with this series. There were some seriously shocking plot twists and incredible action, not to mention the hellish cliffhangers. I can’t sleep until I find out what happens next, which is unfortunate because the final book in the series isn’t set to be published for months.

The final book in the series, Burn of the Everflame, is coming on June 1st. Which is mercifully a Saturday. I will be spending all weekend reading this book.

Spice: 1.5

Writing: 5

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