Oh Marion Blackwood, how you’ve turned my world upside down! It’s not entirely your fault, though. My own lack of research led me astray when I eagerly picked up this book. Imagine my surprise when I thought the fourth installment releasing this month was the grand finale! Instead, I’m left in suspense, knowing there’s an incomplete saga with the fifth book tantalizingly set to release next year. I can manage that cliffhanger, but what absolutely breaks my heart is discovering that only the first book is available in audio. It feels so cruel! I need to listen and read simultaneously due to my CVA, meaning I often find myself double buying these literary gems—what can I say, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do! I’ve reached out to the author about whether future books will be available on audio as well, but alas, silence reigns. The thought of not finishing this captivating series is utterly unbearable, especially since it has definitively pulled me out of my blistering fantasy reading slump! The writing is exquisite, and I was completely ensnared by the characters. Picture this: The Hunger Games infused with Fae and Dragon Shifters! The narrative unfolds during a time when Dragon Shifters dominate, relegating the Fae to a town where their existence is strictly governed by the Iceheart Dynasty (Dragon Clan), dictating their labor and sustenance. Every 150 years, the Atonement Trials are held—an exhilarating series of competitions to identify the strongest Fae. The triumphant trio earn their freedom, having redeemed the sins of their ancestors. Our fierce heroine, Dakota, must fight tooth and nail against her fellow Fae to secure her place among the winners while grappling with her intense feelings for Draven, a relentless Dragon Shifter determined to see her fail. It’s a tale drenched in adventure, yearning, forbidden love, and an agonizing cliffhanger that will leave you breathless!
BOOK 136 OF 2025📚
EMPIRE OF FLAME AND THORNS
By: Marion Blackwood
STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#2025readingchallenge #goodreads #readingwithrese
