Elements & Flame: An Amber Mountain Novel

by Jillian Beane

After losing a hard fought battle, Suleima finds a new home in the wilderness outside a small town to heal her wounds and recover her Elemental magic.
A small town which houses a werewolf pack.
When that past begins to encroach on her new territory, she and her friends, new and old, must figure out a way to win this time.
Will her dragon shifter best friend and the Alpha of the pack be enough to permanently remove the evil that threatens?
Rumors of a flower hidden in a cave could be what they need to tip the scales in their favor. But to get to this cave, she must face challenges that threaten everything that she has ever known.

**** Action Adventure Fantasy with Slow Burn Romance. Werewolves, Magic, Dragon shifters, Mythical Creatures. Join the characters in their Epic Journey to the top of a mountain.

Genres: Fantasy

222 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 4, 2024

Reviews

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recovery and Preparation . . .

Suleima has fought long and hard, sustained severe injuries, and needs solace now to recharge her Elemental magic powers. She finds a place in the wilderness near a werewolf pack where she sensed there was no imminent danger. The broken ribs made every breath painful. Finding an abandoned cabin was even better, hidden deep in the woods and well camouflaged. Just the same, she took the time to add a protection ward around the place. It wasn’t the strongest, but she had too little energy to expend for something better right now. She placed another ward around the cabin door and walls. Tomorrow was soon enough to look for the healing herbs she would need.

Six months pass, the wards are holding and movement in the forest is what she would expect. The joints of her left arm were still stiff, even after all this time has passed. But she felt better with every day that passed. She would replenish supplies today as she walked further and further gathering her strength back. She was tired and once more needed to recharge her energy.

She had sensed predators earlier, but allowed herself to be distracted and they had closed in on her… werewolves! She noted the unusual markings of the Alpha. But she felt no aggression from them. A woman stepped forward. But suddenly Suleima sensed 2 of the pack members in the back edge of the group in danger and she ran toward them yelling, “Stay back!” She had no time to explain, just dodged those wolves who tried to stop her. Her hand grabbed the air and, shouting “Reveal”, the glamour dropped from the Orc and exposed him to the wolves as she tied him up with vines until the final vine wrapped around his neck, jerked up, and broke his neck. The Alpha stepped forward to defend her from attack by 3 aggressive wolves. Then the woman introduced them as The Amber Mountain Pack who heard of her and wanted to introduce themselves. They were also aware of her past troubles and were offering to assist her if she needs them. Then they left.

What she may need to win the next round may put her life in danger. Can she count on her new allies? Or will the new evil defeat her?

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elements & Flame picks up with Suleima having to charge her magic after using it. It sort of got a little annoying with Suleima having to charge her magic powers all the time. But I did enjoy how Suleima’s powers were performed though. I was kept on the edge of my seat as Suleima faced all the challenges to obtain what she needed to fight the ultimate battle.

I also felt as if the story was rushed not knowing how Suleima came to be in the predicament she found herself in. I would like to have known more about Suleima and who she was and where she came from. I would like to have known how she found out she had powers. I would like to have known if she ever had any formal training on how to use her powers or if they sort of came naturally to her.

After saying all of this I also have to say that I did enjoy the story very much and would like to read more from Suleima’s world. I do love it when paranormal creatures live in the same world and work together.

Suleima needed a lot of help to face the ultimate battle and she did get the help she needed from a pack of werewolves. I liked the Alpha of the pack Gage very much but so did Suleima I believe. The werewolves were not the only ones to show up to help fight the battle as other magical creatures showed up for the battle.

Gage was a good person. He is someone who takes care of his pack or anyone who needs help. He is not afraid to stand up and fight. I could imagine Gage standing up for Suleima when she was facing her challenge to obtain what she needed for the ultimate battle. I could see him standing slightly behind her and maybe growling under his breath just a little at anyone challenging her.

The descriptions were so vividly written I could see everything as if I were there witnessing it all. The world-building was done well also. I can’t wait to read more from this world.

Grab a copy of Elements & Flame today!

[Rachael Rooklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 rounded up to 4. I found this book to be a cute, fun read for the weekend. I really liked the MMC and the side characters the most. At times I felt like the FMC got on my nerves. I also feel like this book could’ve done with some flashback chapters because it seems like we were thrown into the middle of a series rather than a first book. I would’ve liked to see how the FMC trained and saw the villain become evil but other than that it was a fun read.

[Bolarinwa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Thrilling Fantasy Adventure!

This book is a must-read for fantasy lovers! With epic battles, elemental magic, werewolves, and dragon shifters, it delivers an action-packed journey filled with danger, friendship, and a slow-burn romance. Suleima’s fight for survival and the quest for a legendary flower will keep you hooked until the last page. Perfect for fans of mythical creatures and high-stakes adventure!

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short enjoyable fantasy read. The story involves elemental magic, shifters, friends and enemies, challenges, and staying true to yourself in the face of adversity. I think there may be more to come from these characters and I will be happy to spend more time in Jillian Beane’s fictional world. Thank you to Author Collective 20 and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

[Bonita Soley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Witches, dragons, werewolves - good versus evil - and a plethora of unnaturals in the battle. Action packed and imaginative.

[SKP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elements & Flame is a fast paced adventure with very like-able characters. I like that there is a little bit of everything, elemental magic, shifters, and magical creatures.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jonas Heggestad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elements and flame is an easy read, fast paced novel about a girl that is facing a great threat to not only her, but the world itself. I love the prologue and the first chapter, you kinda jump right into the middle of a story, without knowing fully what has happened and what’s waiting. The author introduces the main character, the magic and the world in a short but informative way. I feel dragged into the story and get to know quite fast what kind of magic and fantasy world we’re stepping into. Not knowing what happened before also intrigues me to continue reading and find out what acctually lead us to this part of the story.
For now, this fantasy world is not as big as Tolkien’s per se, but has potential and opportunities to explore what’s out there in the future books. All in all, a short but great start to the elemental series. I would recommend it to younger readers who may want to start a fantasy series.

[Susan May · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. I thought it was well written and it has some great characters. I also enjoyed the werewolves. I usually stay away from stories with wetewolves because of the spice level but this one was perfect. There is also a wide variety of creatures in this which I love.
Suleima went to her cabin to recover from a battle. She hoped her enemy wouldn't find her. While she was out gathering herbs she ended up meeting the local pack. They agreed to work together in the upcoming fight. There was a group stealing powers that didn't belong to them. So Suleima and Guage the alpha went on a mission to climb a mountain and retrieve a rare flower that Suleima needed for a potion to defeat Darren. Along the way Suleima would have to complete a challenge for each of the elements. If she passed and proved herself worthy then she would get what she desired. They woluld have to succeed because they had no oter ideas. My favorite parts were of Dynasara the dragon shifter and Suleima driving in the truck. I guess Dynasara wasn't fond of riding in vehicles.
A great story and I can't wait for more from this talented author.

[Meredith Whitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this fun and quick story filled with delightful characters and a myriad of magical creatures. The author's twist on the MMC as an Alpha wolf without the typical a-hole persona was a refreshing surprise, adding a unique layer to the narrative.

While the constant need for Suleima to recharge her magic became a noticeable aspect, it didn't significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the story. However, I echo the sentiments of other reviewers regarding the desire for more character development and backstory. Suleima's past and the conflicts she faces are intriguing, and delving deeper into these aspects would have added layers of complexity to the narrative.

Despite these minor critiques, the book left me intrigued and eager for more. The promise of a next installment has me hooked, as I'm eager to explore the unfolding developments in the characters' lives and uncover the mysteries hinted at throughout the story.

[Shannon Heck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suleima has been resting and recharging her magical powers after an epic battle against a former friend corrupt on power. She soon learns that another battle is coming, and she must gather as much support as she can from old allies and new. This book is full of magic and mythical characters, which I love. There's a quest where Suleima grows closer to the alpha of the nearby werewolf pack, and there is definitely romance in the future, which I also love. However, there are a couple of things holding me back from a 5 star review. I felt dropped into the middle of a story that had already started. Yes, we got a recap of what had happened before, but it just felt incomplete. There is also some repetitiveness in the writing. Definitely 4 out of 5 stars and some encouragement to write a prequel!

[R. Reynold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elements & Flame is an interesting tale, filled with fun characters and fantastic world building. The magic system in particular is intriguing, easy to follow with well-established rules that are both consistent, and not too complex or confusing. The world of Elements & Flame is populated with an ample supply of mythical and fantastical beings, bringing the fantasy element to life, and the plot is an age-old tale of good vs evil, darkness vs light. At one point, two of the characters journey to find an important artifact, and their trip is filled with peril, danger and unexpected attacks, I was on the edge of my seat as both characters were threatened, and the real danger of that situation came through. Elements & Flame is a compelling story, set in a fun world populated with interesting and well-rounded characters, I am interested to see where they go next.

[Tanvi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 1 picks up just where the prequel ends, focusing on Suleima's recovery, following the battle.

I liked the writing and the characters and the story was engrossing. I liked that Suleima's character had a chance to grow and learn new things with magic and without.

I would have loved the book more if the book was a Dual POV as it became a little confusing when the POV shifted abruptly but it was manageable.

[Carla Zanghellini · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love how the story evolves. Sometimes a slow paced story gives me a moment of calm from the hectic life of these days. I love elemental magic stories for their connection to nature.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Heather Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent storyline. Fun characteres. Could have used more chemistry. Also, more back story would have been helpful.

[Tami Winbush · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suleima has been through hell before this book even began and rest was the only thing she wanted. But, that's not the way life goes. She barely rests when Dirrin's minions come searching for her. But with the help of Gage (alpha of the local wolf pack) she's able to get to the last piece of the spell that will finally take Dirrin down for good. But, as in all good books, it's not nearly as easy as you'd think it'd be. When the ultimate battle of the book comes, you'll be holding your breath every step of the way. Will Dirrin win, or will she and Gage come out on top?

I guess you'll have to read this excellent book to find out.