Secret of the Syphon – Past Midnight Book Reviews & More

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Ignite the Infernos (Secret of the Syphon, #2)

Author: Ivy Asher

Pages: 339

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 9/8/26

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

After her family curse is lifted, Ever’s on the run from her enemy, a shifter who’s both her foe and her fate, in this slow-burn sequel to Spark the Flames.

With one murderous act, Ever Tenebrae has freed the Syphons. But breaking the curse was only the beginning of the daunting journey ahead . . .

Ever’s once again on the run from the Horde and the dragon prince who’s become something far more dangerous than a mere enemy. Aeson Noctis is on the hunt, and the deeper he digs through the sands of the Scorch, the more truths he uncovers.

Though the road’s fraught with peril, Ever will have to move quickly if she’s to reunite with her people and ensure their survival. Staying hidden should’ve been easy for the Syphons, but their protection weakens as the bond between Ever and Aeson grows stronger each day.

Now, with old adversaries closing in and new threats rising from the shadows, Ever must decide once and for all who to trust. Because the Syphons’ secrets are coming to light, and what’s revealed could save them—or lead to their ultimate destruction.

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

+ After reading book one, I went straight into book two without taking a break! Ever is on the run, and Aeson is on the chase because that’s his bonded. And even though Aeson was on the chase, I really wanted Ever to go back home to her sister and the Syphons so she could catch them up on everything going on. Would it have been easy for Ever to just trust Aeson and tell him everything? Definitely. But the people who killed her family were still out there living among The Horde, so I totally get why she can’t trust him with everything yet.

+ I feel like we get to see more of Ever’s bad-assery in this sequel. She’s leading Aeson on a chase and he is flustered. Ever bends a little eventually because she knows she needs help. She knows what she’s doing and as she said, has the ovaries to do it. I love her bravery but yes she can be frustrating because all Aeson wants to do is love her and all she knows how to do is run. We finally get to meet her sister and get to know her better. They have some issues to work out but their bond and love is strong. I loved getting to know their found family of wyverns and sorcai.

+ The romance is complicated because of all the trust issues between Ever and Aeson. He wants her to bend and let him in. She wants to because of her dragon’s needs but she’s also afraid because letting someone in means the potential to get hurt and she’s been hurt a lot. I’m rooting so hard for them though. They bicker and fight, but they also have some tension filled spicy scenes that are fun. And I actually like how there isn’t many spicy scenes between them – just the right amount because they really have a lot to work through. Clearly, he is crazy about her but wants her to choose him not because of the bond. I feel like the payoff for their romance is going to be so good because Ever is right, she is his mate, but he is not her master. And he is sticking by her even when she pisses him off 😅 – he’s a good man!

+ There is more political intrigue in this one because the Dukes and other powerful people of The Horde want a chance to meet Ever and court her too. There are power plays and people making moves and still Ever is trying to weed out who massacred her family – they get somewhere at the end but it leaves the story with another plot twist.

Final Thoughts:

I absolutely devoured books one and two back to back and I cannot wait for book three. I want more of this world, more of Ever and Aeson bickering and having steamy scenes, but I also want to know more about her twin and the Syphons. The secrets are coming out and they are so intriguing – I can’t wait to see how this all plays out. I will be waiting patiently for book three!

Read if you like:

dragon shifters
urban fantasy
strong and stubborn FMC & MMC
enemies to lovers
political intrigue

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Spark the Flames by. Ivy Asher | Book Review – 4.5 stars/ 2 🌶️

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!

Read if you like: