Publisher: Quill & Flame Publishing House.
Release Date: July 29th, 2025.
Source: From publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Category: YA Fantasy/Portal Fantasy.
Series: The Flameheart Chronicles book one.
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Out of the pages, he comes.
Into the pages, she must go.
Seventeen-year-old Lia Corvine supports her fracturing family, no matter the cost. It’s irrelevant that her father’s absence eats away at her false smiles and reassurances, that insecurities plague her mind. Lia’s only reprieve is writing stories with her grandfather, where she can escape as a ranger to a floating kingdom with roguish Prince Kayce.
But everything crumbles when her grandfather suddenly passes away. As grief unleashes her barely-bound anxiety, it also unlocks Lia’s slumbering magic-and drags Kayce into reality.
However, when barriers fray and dreams come true, so do nightmares. Monsters lurk in the streets. Envious societies hunger for power. And Lia finds herself in the center of a nefarious plot. With ancient orders governing the magic her family never told her about, it seems her grandfather’s death was no accident. Only Lia can retrace his steps for answers. But even with Kayce by her side, can Lia embrace who she’s only allowed herself to be in fantasy?
For her kingdom’s sake, she must face the darkness within and without…before there are no stories left to tell.
Packed with immersive worlds, torturous slowburn romance, and mounting courage, the first installment in the Flameheart Chronicles grants a reader’s deepest wish–to step into the stories they call home and to fight for them.
My Thoughts:
4 stars.
I do love a good portal fantasy, and I also love books about books, so when I heard about Flameheart I couldn’t wait to read it, and I was not disappointed!
Seventeen-year-old Lia has been writing a story with her beloved grandfather for years. She loves the world they have created and visits it in her dreams. Lia’s world is shattered when she learns of the sudden death of her grandfather. When strange things start to happen, and the prince from the fictional world appears in her own, Lia uncovers the family secret that will change her life forever.
Flameheart was an action packed fantasy with a mystery thrown in, and a slow burn romance that had me hooked. The characters were realistic and depicted well. Although a compelling read, it was a bit darker due to the monsters and the mystery of who murdered Lia’s grandfather. It was also a heavier read than I was expecting, with Lia dealing with grief and anxiety, and the expectations she put on herself, pushing herself to be everything for her family, taking on much of the load. It was all handled very well though. I can’t handle books that are too dark, or too heavy, and I could handle this.
Flameheart was such a highly imaginative story. I was impressed with the level of imagination the authors had. I’m sure any book lover will enjoy it.
It is the first book in the series, and with how the book ended I cannot wait to see what happens in book two. I highly recommend for any YA fantasy lover who doesn’t mind stories that lean toward the darker, heavier side, but is still filled with hope.
Content warnings:
Recommend reading age 15+
Dealing with death/grief.
Anxiety rep.
The ‘P’ word is said twice.
Not spicy – kisses only.
Some violence/fight scenes. One nightmarish scene I found creepy and a little scary.
You can add it to your Goodreads here.
Rochelle L. Sharpe 