Spark the Flames by. Ivy Asher| Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Spark the Flames (Secret of the Syphon, #1)

Author: Ivy Asher

Pages: 504

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 3/21/25

Categories: Urban Fantasy, Dragon Shifters, Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Series

When it comes to dragons, there’s no such thing as safe.

I learned that the hard way when my kith and kindred were slaughtered right before my eyes.

Everyone thinks the wyverns and the sorcai did it, but I know the truth.

I’ve been hiding from The Horde ever since, existing under their radar, surviving.

And then one day, they find me…he finds me. Aeson Noctis, the king’s second son and my new captor.

Aeson thinks he can force me back to Paragon City. He thinks he can use me and claim my power for his own.

But the dragons should’ve been more careful about who they let inside their city. I’m not some weak little pawn. I’m here looking for answers.

I’m here looking for revenge.

When it comes to dragons, there’s no such thing as safe. I know because I am one, and now I’m going to make The Horde pay for what they’ve done.

They thought they killed all the Syphons.

They thought they hunted down every one.

They thought wrong.

Content Warning: violence, death, mentions of torture, trauma, memories of trauma

+ I’ve been wanting to read this book since last year but decided to wait because it was part of a series. I finally picked it up because book two is out but now I wish I waited until book three came out because I enjoyed this book so much.

+ I really enjoy the world building in this series – it’s urban fantasy with dragon shifters and there are portals also. Ever is the FMC who is escaping her captors but ends up with The Horde, the rulers of this kingdom and also her enemy. Ever is a special type of dragon, a Syphon, who were all massacred years ago – or so everyone thought. Ever and her twin have been hiding out with the surviving Syphons and now they are trying to break the curse put upon them and figure out who they need to take their revenge on. This book was such a quick read filled with action, political intrigue and lots of tension. There are emotional moments too because of what Ever’s been through.

+ Ever is spunky, fierce, and she’s got so many walls up she can’t trust anyone but she’s also funny. I love her even if she can be frustrating because of the walls she puts up and the secrets she is hiding. I totally understand why she has her walls though! Aeson, is the Commander of The Horde army and he’s distrustful of Ever too but he also can’t get her out of his head. He wants to protect her, he wants her to bend to him but she is not the bending type. The two clash a lot, which was fun to witness. There is a strong found family trope in this story especially with Aeson and his Wing unit – they guard him with their lives. The people in his Wing are made up of some fun characters. I did like also getting to know Lorn also, Aeson’s brother, who is the heir. I can’t wait to get to know more of the Syphons and Ever’s sister.

+ I love the enemies to lovers romance between Ever and Aeson. Clearly, they are attracted to one another because of their dragons wanting to bond, which makes it very interesting but they both question the attraction – is it the dragons or is it them as people wanting to bond? I love how Aeson wants it to be because Ever wants him…same with Ever, but they still both have hidden agendas too. They have major trust issues they have to work out. So theirs is a complicated relationship but they do have a spicy scene filled with yearning and want – and I love how it built up to that and didn’t happen right away.

Final Thoughts:

I started this one and couldn’t put it down. I love the world building, the characters, the tension filled romance and I can’t wait to jump into book two!

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