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Those Who Burn The Brightest
“It is not the intensity of the flame, but whom you burn it for, that matters…”
Eira Isolde is one of the nine fae heiresses of The New Reign, burdened by a constant fear of their own inexplicable powers. But when she’s sent to live in a mortal kingdom because of it, it seems that The Fates have a different plan for her in mind—one that involves fellow heiress Meilin Azelie, a dagger-wielding pianist with whom she is suddenly, and indescribably, consumed by.
When a nefarious king reveals the dark web of deceit he has Eira and Meilin ensnared in, the pair find themselves stripped of their powers, forced to become pawns in the Demir Trials; a twisted game pinning them against the rest of The New Reign. The price of victory is a heavy thing, and with nine heiresses fighting for survival, the path to conquest is one carved out in blood. In the midst of it all, with their thrones and lives on the line, Eira and Meilin know that one wrong move could see everything they know and love reduced to ash—including one another.
Eira Isolde is one of the nine fae heiresses of The New Reign, burdened by a constant fear of their own inexplicable powers. But when she’s sent to live in a mortal kingdom because of it, it seems that The Fates have a different plan for her in mind—one that involves fellow heiress Meilin Azelie, a dagger-wielding pianist with whom she is suddenly, and indescribably, consumed by.
When a nefarious king reveals the dark web of deceit he has Eira and Meilin ensnared in, the pair find themselves stripped of their powers, forced to become pawns in the Demir Trials; a twisted game pinning them against the rest of The New Reign. The price of victory is a heavy thing, and with nine heiresses fighting for survival, the path to conquest is one carved out in blood. In the midst of it all, with their thrones and lives on the line, Eira and Meilin know that one wrong move could see everything they know and love reduced to ash—including one another.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 20, 2025
19 people are currently reading
1641 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
Want to read
March 16, 2025I just have to click "want to read" when I see a pretty sapphic cover. It's the law.
Want to read
May 22, 2025every time a new sapphic book is announced, a fairy is born
March 31, 2025
"a symphony of ice and fire. she wielded the flames but was born of the snow."
first of all, i want to send a huge thank you to kayla and her publisher for the e-arc!
those who burn the brighest is kayla morton's debut novel. it is a sapphic ya fantasy that takes place in a seelie realm in which 9 heiresses called "the new reign" were all born in the same year. this phenomenon had never occurred before, and the king who rules over the lands is determined to harbor all of their power for himself.
something i really love about this book is that there is a full pronunciation guide in the beginning, and each chapter has a name rather than simply being "chapter ___" which i think is really fun!
i think the writing flows really well, especially considering this is a debut novel. it is easy to follow, although leaving some unanswered questions just as any novel would in order to fuel the story further which allows the reader to think critically on the storyline and what's next. i think the world is really complex, and i'm curious to see if a sequel will follow this one!
eira is such a strong main character, i love seeing her growth on these pages. without spoiling anything, meilin is also such a strong character and the two of them clash while also being such a great pair. i really would love to see more of them if there is another book!
definitely a book i think you guys should check out! if you need convincing, just look at the stunning cover art and you'll want to read just based on that alone :)
first of all, i want to send a huge thank you to kayla and her publisher for the e-arc!
those who burn the brighest is kayla morton's debut novel. it is a sapphic ya fantasy that takes place in a seelie realm in which 9 heiresses called "the new reign" were all born in the same year. this phenomenon had never occurred before, and the king who rules over the lands is determined to harbor all of their power for himself.
something i really love about this book is that there is a full pronunciation guide in the beginning, and each chapter has a name rather than simply being "chapter ___" which i think is really fun!
i think the writing flows really well, especially considering this is a debut novel. it is easy to follow, although leaving some unanswered questions just as any novel would in order to fuel the story further which allows the reader to think critically on the storyline and what's next. i think the world is really complex, and i'm curious to see if a sequel will follow this one!
eira is such a strong main character, i love seeing her growth on these pages. without spoiling anything, meilin is also such a strong character and the two of them clash while also being such a great pair. i really would love to see more of them if there is another book!
definitely a book i think you guys should check out! if you need convincing, just look at the stunning cover art and you'll want to read just based on that alone :)
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October 12, 2025dnf
pending
June 15, 2023a Young Adult fantasy with f/f and enemies-to-lovers with fae courts and heiresses, coming from Lake Country Press.
May 6, 2025
2.5 stars.
I did not enjoy this nearly as much as I was hoping to.
I'm going to preface with what I did like.I liked the Eira and Meilin, that's about it. Being in Eira's head was fun and interesting, getting to see her interact with the people around her, Meilin and make the best of the situation she was in made reading the first part of the book a breeze to get through. Meilin,even though we only got to see her through Eira's eyes, was quick witted and observant and the complete opposite of Eira. I do think that the book would have benefitted more from a Meilin pov though.
There's quite a bit that I didn't like about the book, starting with the world building. The writing style was solid, a bit lyrical but easy to follow, the descriptions of the characters and settings were detailed too which is why I'm quite stumped as to why the fantastical elements just weren't given the same attention. Even now that I'm done with the book, the world the book is set in still feels like a murky mess, so do the magic system and the world politics.
Another issue I had was the plot pacing. I loved the first part of the book where we got introduced to Eira and Meilin and got to see them grow from wary strangers to reluctant friends to a secret third thing. However, this first part made the book seem like a romance that just happened to have a fantasy setting and the fact that it spans for 70% of the book only to thrust us suddenly into the trials aspect did not make this a fun reading experience. The way the last 30% of the book is written also really just confused me.
I understand that the author probably planned for this first book to be longer and had to cut it into a series to be published which is why it's so abrupt. Most likely more will be explained in the next book but with the experience I had reading this, I'm honestly not leaning towards picking up the next book.
I did not enjoy this nearly as much as I was hoping to.
I'm going to preface with what I did like.I liked the Eira and Meilin, that's about it. Being in Eira's head was fun and interesting, getting to see her interact with the people around her, Meilin and make the best of the situation she was in made reading the first part of the book a breeze to get through. Meilin,even though we only got to see her through Eira's eyes, was quick witted and observant and the complete opposite of Eira. I do think that the book would have benefitted more from a Meilin pov though.
There's quite a bit that I didn't like about the book, starting with the world building. The writing style was solid, a bit lyrical but easy to follow, the descriptions of the characters and settings were detailed too which is why I'm quite stumped as to why the fantastical elements just weren't given the same attention. Even now that I'm done with the book, the world the book is set in still feels like a murky mess, so do the magic system and the world politics.
Another issue I had was the plot pacing. I loved the first part of the book where we got introduced to Eira and Meilin and got to see them grow from wary strangers to reluctant friends to a secret third thing. However, this first part made the book seem like a romance that just happened to have a fantasy setting and the fact that it spans for 70% of the book only to thrust us suddenly into the trials aspect did not make this a fun reading experience. The way the last 30% of the book is written also really just confused me.
I understand that the author probably planned for this first book to be longer and had to cut it into a series to be published which is why it's so abrupt. Most likely more will be explained in the next book but with the experience I had reading this, I'm honestly not leaning towards picking up the next book.
April 1, 2025
i'm stuck between 2.5 and 2.75 for this one, i've rounded up to 3. i really, really wanted to enjoy this. i've been supporting the author's journey for a few years now and i am so happy she has gotten published and i continue to support her in her publishing journey.
however, as a reader, this book just fell flat for me. meilin and eira felt very two-dimensional; even their relationship with each other felt like a mystery to me. it didn't make sense why they even began to like each other. it doesn't help that there was quite a lot of "weeks passed" moments in this book. it really took away from the momentum of the story and the build up of the romance. this made the pacing feel off as well— i got over halfway through the book before realizing it all felt like filler chapters, with nothing really advancing the plot (and, to be honest, the plot itself seemed a bit murky to me. it wasn't clear what exactly the story was supposed to be). i didn't even really understand the world much beyond the fae heiresses and a treaty?
i also just didn't vibe with the writing style. and that's not necessarily on the author, as style is often just a preference. but i felt like sometimes, some bits were trying a bit too hard to sound poetic instead of it happening naturally in the prose. it just made it kind of a struggle to get through. related to that is the constant reference to both eira and meilin as "the heiress" instead of their names. i understand wanting to use descriptor terms to avoid using pronouns when it can be confusing with both characters having the same pronouns, but referring to them both as "the heiress" on different occasions was also confusing.
and "confusing" is a good word to sum up my feelings about this book. it unfortunately only gets worse through the second part, as the descriptions of the action and the disjointed dream chapters just left me feeling confused on what was real and what was happening. even when eira came back to reality it was still difficult to determine what was actually happening
overall, though i wish i could say otherwise, this book felt like a first draft to me. maybe a genre other than fantasy, that relies so much on worldbuilding, will be executed better by the author. i do still want to support her and read her future works. but this book specifically was a disappointment. i'm glad others are enjoying it and i encourage everyone to get their own copy to support the author/an indie publisher and form their own opinions. i also believe there is supposed to be a book 2 that will be published if this one does well, so maybe book 2 will be a better read and add more to the world?
thank you to the publisher for the arc!
however, as a reader, this book just fell flat for me. meilin and eira felt very two-dimensional; even their relationship with each other felt like a mystery to me. it didn't make sense why they even began to like each other. it doesn't help that there was quite a lot of "weeks passed" moments in this book. it really took away from the momentum of the story and the build up of the romance. this made the pacing feel off as well— i got over halfway through the book before realizing it all felt like filler chapters, with nothing really advancing the plot (and, to be honest, the plot itself seemed a bit murky to me. it wasn't clear what exactly the story was supposed to be). i didn't even really understand the world much beyond the fae heiresses and a treaty?
i also just didn't vibe with the writing style. and that's not necessarily on the author, as style is often just a preference. but i felt like sometimes, some bits were trying a bit too hard to sound poetic instead of it happening naturally in the prose. it just made it kind of a struggle to get through. related to that is the constant reference to both eira and meilin as "the heiress" instead of their names. i understand wanting to use descriptor terms to avoid using pronouns when it can be confusing with both characters having the same pronouns, but referring to them both as "the heiress" on different occasions was also confusing.
and "confusing" is a good word to sum up my feelings about this book. it unfortunately only gets worse through the second part, as the descriptions of the action and the disjointed dream chapters just left me feeling confused on what was real and what was happening. even when eira came back to reality it was still difficult to determine what was actually happening
overall, though i wish i could say otherwise, this book felt like a first draft to me. maybe a genre other than fantasy, that relies so much on worldbuilding, will be executed better by the author. i do still want to support her and read her future works. but this book specifically was a disappointment. i'm glad others are enjoying it and i encourage everyone to get their own copy to support the author/an indie publisher and form their own opinions. i also believe there is supposed to be a book 2 that will be published if this one does well, so maybe book 2 will be a better read and add more to the world?
thank you to the publisher for the arc!
March 25, 2025
— 3.75/5 ★ // arc review (no spoilers)
(I’d like to thank the author and the publishers for accepting my request to read this arc in exchange for an honest review ♡)
This was a delightful read and it was one of my first sapphic fantasies which made it even more special to me! The writing was very enjoyable to read through, as it felt easy to read whilst also managing to show great detail and description, helping it to feel more immersive. Something I also appreciated was the fact that Morton didn’t shy away from “graphic” descriptions of injuries/situations which elevated the plot significantly. It’s because of this that I sympathised with the characters more and was so eager to turn the page to see what happened next.
The worldbuilding is good, but I do think there could be more. I do, however, understand that there is a sequel planned (As long as this book does well, so pick it up!), so it’s entirely possible that the world, environment, and culture will become more fleshed out then. It has a lot of promise, so I look forward to seeing where it may lead.
The first half was admittedly my favourite half of the story, it felt much more romantic, whereas the second half definitely felt like it leaned more into the fantasy side of things. (Not necessarily a bad thing, but it did feel a little disjointed when it should’ve flowed smoothly.) Again, if this book has a sequel (or even more follow-ups depending), then I can imagine it to regain this flow.
One serious criticism I do have though, is that the ending definitely felt murky and confusing to me. I didn’t understand what happened in a lot of the scenes towards the end, which unfortunately caused the ending to not completely land with me. This, as well as the romantic “first half” and fantasy “second half” feeling, are my only main critiques, but I did find it a very enjoyable read, nonetheless.
This is a story for those who love complicated relationships where the timeline of the relationship basically goes from enemies-to-crush-to-situationship-to-enemies-to-??? There was pining and longing and miscommunication and emotional constipation, so if you’re into that and forbidden relationships then you will definitely like this.
Overall, this is a really good story from a debut author and I really hope she can continue to grow and develop this series!
(Also, please take notice of the trigger warnings, they’re there for a reason!)
(I’d like to thank the author and the publishers for accepting my request to read this arc in exchange for an honest review ♡)
This was a delightful read and it was one of my first sapphic fantasies which made it even more special to me! The writing was very enjoyable to read through, as it felt easy to read whilst also managing to show great detail and description, helping it to feel more immersive. Something I also appreciated was the fact that Morton didn’t shy away from “graphic” descriptions of injuries/situations which elevated the plot significantly. It’s because of this that I sympathised with the characters more and was so eager to turn the page to see what happened next.
The worldbuilding is good, but I do think there could be more. I do, however, understand that there is a sequel planned (As long as this book does well, so pick it up!), so it’s entirely possible that the world, environment, and culture will become more fleshed out then. It has a lot of promise, so I look forward to seeing where it may lead.
The first half was admittedly my favourite half of the story, it felt much more romantic, whereas the second half definitely felt like it leaned more into the fantasy side of things. (Not necessarily a bad thing, but it did feel a little disjointed when it should’ve flowed smoothly.) Again, if this book has a sequel (or even more follow-ups depending), then I can imagine it to regain this flow.
One serious criticism I do have though, is that the ending definitely felt murky and confusing to me. I didn’t understand what happened in a lot of the scenes towards the end, which unfortunately caused the ending to not completely land with me. This, as well as the romantic “first half” and fantasy “second half” feeling, are my only main critiques, but I did find it a very enjoyable read, nonetheless.
This is a story for those who love complicated relationships where the timeline of the relationship basically goes from enemies-to-crush-to-situationship-to-enemies-to-??? There was pining and longing and miscommunication and emotional constipation, so if you’re into that and forbidden relationships then you will definitely like this.
Overall, this is a really good story from a debut author and I really hope she can continue to grow and develop this series!
(Also, please take notice of the trigger warnings, they’re there for a reason!)
June 25, 2025
solid debut, and i will always support a sapphic romance, but i found myself constantly confused throughout the book, as though it didn’t quite know what it wanted to be—a cozy romantic fantasy, or a story about death trials. many of the fantasy elements were underdeveloped, which led to a condensed ending that could’ve had more of an impact if expanded on. nevertheless, i still enjoyed the author’s writing and the interactions between eira and meilin!
May 16, 2025
Dazzling. Eira and Meilin’s chemistry sparkles amidst an intriguing political fantasy landscape. Kayla Morton is a debut author to watch.
April 30, 2025
Read if: you’re a fan of sapphic YA fantasy, love a chaotic sort of rivals to domestic sort of lovers relationship, or don’t mind being a bit confused at the end of a book.
Firstly I want to say this author is clearly a good writer and this is a good debut novel. The writing is lyrical and easy to read, the characters are interesting and likeable, the premise of this world is fascinating and a good setup for a YA fantasy romance. I especially loved the sections describing domestic Eira and Meilin and I could really picture Eira’s cottage, and Meilin’s mansion in the woods, and their nights sitting around talking and laughing. If there is a sequel I will definitely give it a go
My main issue with this book was that I felt it could have been longer. This book’s premise and writing style was good which is why I wanted a bit more from it. I always felt like I’d missed something important and the editing and pace of this book just didn’t work for me. I really enjoyed the pacing in the first half and then I felt the second half was just trying to squeeze in too much.
I enjoyed the relationship between the characters at the start but I would have appreciated more time to establish that relationship. The relationship between the two main characters is super cute and I really loved the time we got to spend with them, but I would have liked to spend a bit more establishing them as individuals, and showing their bond growing. I would have also liked to spend more time with the side characters and get to know them a little more, but this may be something intentionally left for a sequel.
The world is interesting but again, more time to establish the lore and the rules of this world before we jumped into the action would have greatly helped me as a reader and would have allowed me to understand the ending a little more. I know the ending was supposed to be a little confusing (and as a fan of the locked tomb series I won’t ever take points away from a book for a fast paced confusing ending if executed well) and that was fine as it’s clearly leading to a sequel but if more time was spent establishing the world I think the ending would have had a greater pay off. Several times throughout this book I wished it was duo POV between Eira and Meilin as I think Meilin’s perspective could have really added a lot of context to this book and again, set up the stakes a bit more for the ending.
I hope we get to see more of Eira and Meilin as well as the rest of the cast of interesting and mysterious characters. I think with just a little more time and editing this could have easily been a 4 or 5 star book. If this books sounds interesting to you, I would definitely suggest you give it a go!
Thank you to Kayla Morton and Lake Country Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Firstly I want to say this author is clearly a good writer and this is a good debut novel. The writing is lyrical and easy to read, the characters are interesting and likeable, the premise of this world is fascinating and a good setup for a YA fantasy romance. I especially loved the sections describing domestic Eira and Meilin and I could really picture Eira’s cottage, and Meilin’s mansion in the woods, and their nights sitting around talking and laughing. If there is a sequel I will definitely give it a go
My main issue with this book was that I felt it could have been longer. This book’s premise and writing style was good which is why I wanted a bit more from it. I always felt like I’d missed something important and the editing and pace of this book just didn’t work for me. I really enjoyed the pacing in the first half and then I felt the second half was just trying to squeeze in too much.
I enjoyed the relationship between the characters at the start but I would have appreciated more time to establish that relationship. The relationship between the two main characters is super cute and I really loved the time we got to spend with them, but I would have liked to spend a bit more establishing them as individuals, and showing their bond growing. I would have also liked to spend more time with the side characters and get to know them a little more, but this may be something intentionally left for a sequel.
The world is interesting but again, more time to establish the lore and the rules of this world before we jumped into the action would have greatly helped me as a reader and would have allowed me to understand the ending a little more. I know the ending was supposed to be a little confusing (and as a fan of the locked tomb series I won’t ever take points away from a book for a fast paced confusing ending if executed well) and that was fine as it’s clearly leading to a sequel but if more time was spent establishing the world I think the ending would have had a greater pay off. Several times throughout this book I wished it was duo POV between Eira and Meilin as I think Meilin’s perspective could have really added a lot of context to this book and again, set up the stakes a bit more for the ending.
I hope we get to see more of Eira and Meilin as well as the rest of the cast of interesting and mysterious characters. I think with just a little more time and editing this could have easily been a 4 or 5 star book. If this books sounds interesting to you, I would definitely suggest you give it a go!
Thank you to Kayla Morton and Lake Country Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2025
Thank you to the author for this free ARC, I am so incredibly in love with the characters that you've created. Eira and Meilin have my heart and I cannot wait to read the next in the series next year !
Friends, if you're looking for your next romantasy with doomed enemies to lovers sapphic lovers, this is THE book for you !
Friends, if you're looking for your next romantasy with doomed enemies to lovers sapphic lovers, this is THE book for you !
June 7, 2025
3.75 stars - I really liked the potential of this book and the yearning! I liked being inside Eira’s head and seeing her perspective throughout the story. I’m interested to see if there is a sequel and how it’ll play out next and I hope to see more world building and more tension because I loved the ideas in this!
August 20, 2025
2.5-2.75
I really wanted to like this book. Loved the premise and the cover is gorgeous.
However, it’s a TON of repetitive descriptions that act as fillers. There was a lot written and said but not a lot happened.
Then we get to the end of the book things pick up at the 85% mark during the trials but it’s ALL convoluted. It had such a great opportunity to be creative and unique but it’s just not laid out well for the reader. The pacing is not done well at all. At the last 10% we get into some things *finally* happening then it abruptly ends.
I’m assuming (at least I desperately hope so) there’s gonna be a sequel. If not then I’m just floored. But, I really hope we get more interactions and relationship moving forward between Eira and Meilin. I loved their chemistry in the middle of the book and want more from/with them.
Just disappointed because I wanted more from this book.
I really wanted to like this book. Loved the premise and the cover is gorgeous.
However, it’s a TON of repetitive descriptions that act as fillers. There was a lot written and said but not a lot happened.
Then we get to the end of the book things pick up at the 85% mark during the trials but it’s ALL convoluted. It had such a great opportunity to be creative and unique but it’s just not laid out well for the reader. The pacing is not done well at all. At the last 10% we get into some things *finally* happening then it abruptly ends.
I’m assuming (at least I desperately hope so) there’s gonna be a sequel. If not then I’m just floored. But, I really hope we get more interactions and relationship moving forward between Eira and Meilin. I loved their chemistry in the middle of the book and want more from/with them.
Just disappointed because I wanted more from this book.
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June 5, 2025Thank you to the author for the ARC.
Unfortunately, I DNF'd this book at 30%. I had absolutely nothing to do on a 6 hour plane ride and I would have rather stared out the window than slug through this book. The plot was erratic and I had a hard time following what was going on. There was nothing that grabbed me and made me want to keep reading. A sapphic/fantasy premise seemed cool but was poorly executed in the world building + character interactions.
Unfortunately, I DNF'd this book at 30%. I had absolutely nothing to do on a 6 hour plane ride and I would have rather stared out the window than slug through this book. The plot was erratic and I had a hard time following what was going on. There was nothing that grabbed me and made me want to keep reading. A sapphic/fantasy premise seemed cool but was poorly executed in the world building + character interactions.
January 26, 2026
can we please get a lesbian book with a GOOD plot and thats not boring PLEASEEEEEE
Want to read
April 1, 2024i cannot wait to read this!!
April 16, 2025
Eira is a fae heiress living in disguise as a mortal under King Durante’s watch. She is one of the nine heiresses of the New Reign, who are prophecised to bring about a seismic shift to the fae court, and each heiress has been told all her life that the other heiresses of the other courts are to be her mortal enemy. Eira mostly doesn’t question or resist this until she meets Meilin and feels drawn to her, while also keeping her own identity as a fellow heiress a secret. The heiresses are eventually brought together in the deadly Demir Trials, from which only one is meant to survive.
THOSE WHO BURN THE BRIGHTEST is a sapphic YA fantasy and while I did enjoy the writing style every now and then, a lot of it felt very confusing to me and I hope it isn’t a skill issue. I wanted to love this story, but a lot of the time, I felt like I was competing with Eira in who was more clueless as to what was going on. It’s one thing to spare the reader an info dump, but this book withheld a lot of information from the reader because the protagonist herself was never given the full picture, and while I understand why the narrative might necessitate that, it made for very murky reading. I enjoyed the beginning and the ending, and—speaking as someone who isn’t crazy about “cosy fantasy/fiction”—the cosy domestic chapters following the budding relationship between Eira and Meilin, but most of the middle was puzzling and trippy. I think this novel does have potential and could properly shine if it had gone through a few more rounds of drafts and editing, but its current execution feels fragmentary.
Thank you to the author for sending me an advance copy of THOSE WHO BURN THE BRIGHTEST in exchange for an honest review
THOSE WHO BURN THE BRIGHTEST is a sapphic YA fantasy and while I did enjoy the writing style every now and then, a lot of it felt very confusing to me and I hope it isn’t a skill issue. I wanted to love this story, but a lot of the time, I felt like I was competing with Eira in who was more clueless as to what was going on. It’s one thing to spare the reader an info dump, but this book withheld a lot of information from the reader because the protagonist herself was never given the full picture, and while I understand why the narrative might necessitate that, it made for very murky reading. I enjoyed the beginning and the ending, and—speaking as someone who isn’t crazy about “cosy fantasy/fiction”—the cosy domestic chapters following the budding relationship between Eira and Meilin, but most of the middle was puzzling and trippy. I think this novel does have potential and could properly shine if it had gone through a few more rounds of drafts and editing, but its current execution feels fragmentary.
Thank you to the author for sending me an advance copy of THOSE WHO BURN THE BRIGHTEST in exchange for an honest review
June 29, 2025
I so wanted to like this book. The premise sounded like something. I would usually love and eat up, LGBT fantasy novel with a mystery to unravel as you read, yet the book just fell short to me.
I want to start by saying I absolutely love the writing style. I thought it was so beautifully written, but sadly this was about the only thing I enjoyed. Throughout reading I found myself utterly confused. It felt like a lot happened but nothing was properly explained. I often found myself thinking I had accidentally skipped or skimmed over some lines and missed something important that would unveil the plot to me, and I would go back and reread hoping for some clarity, but finding nothing. If someone asked me to tell them right this second what happened in the book and what the story was I would find it extremely difficult to answer them, and I only finished the book 2 minutes before beginning to write this review.
It also seemed like any time something interesting began to happen it just… didn’t. There would be a supposed to build up to something exciting or an action packed scene, then the chapter would end and suddenly we would be in a completely new scene and a new place in the book. I think that as it came to the climax of the story and we began the trials that the chapters might have been intentionally confusing to show what the main character was feeling, but sadly it became too confusing for me to understand what was happening and the entire last third of the book was almost unreadable to me.
I fear that because of my confusion the characters also felt flat to me. Eira and Meiling met and hated each other (or at least Meiling hated Eira) then suddenly they were best friends and Eira had feelings when no apparent buildup was given within the text. Even the villain was boring to me - the concept of the ‘good’ fae being from Seelie and the ‘bad’ fae being for a place called Unseelie was so corny it took me straight out of the story.
Overall, this was a disappointing read which again makes me sad because I can see how much talent the author has and as I mentioned before I do enjoy the writing style. As this is her debut novel I will be reading her next one and I hope that me being confused is a one off thing with just this book by her.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
I want to start by saying I absolutely love the writing style. I thought it was so beautifully written, but sadly this was about the only thing I enjoyed. Throughout reading I found myself utterly confused. It felt like a lot happened but nothing was properly explained. I often found myself thinking I had accidentally skipped or skimmed over some lines and missed something important that would unveil the plot to me, and I would go back and reread hoping for some clarity, but finding nothing. If someone asked me to tell them right this second what happened in the book and what the story was I would find it extremely difficult to answer them, and I only finished the book 2 minutes before beginning to write this review.
It also seemed like any time something interesting began to happen it just… didn’t. There would be a supposed to build up to something exciting or an action packed scene, then the chapter would end and suddenly we would be in a completely new scene and a new place in the book. I think that as it came to the climax of the story and we began the trials that the chapters might have been intentionally confusing to show what the main character was feeling, but sadly it became too confusing for me to understand what was happening and the entire last third of the book was almost unreadable to me.
I fear that because of my confusion the characters also felt flat to me. Eira and Meiling met and hated each other (or at least Meiling hated Eira) then suddenly they were best friends and Eira had feelings when no apparent buildup was given within the text. Even the villain was boring to me - the concept of the ‘good’ fae being from Seelie and the ‘bad’ fae being for a place called Unseelie was so corny it took me straight out of the story.
Overall, this was a disappointing read which again makes me sad because I can see how much talent the author has and as I mentioned before I do enjoy the writing style. As this is her debut novel I will be reading her next one and I hope that me being confused is a one off thing with just this book by her.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2025
WHEW. This was a wild ride.
★ 4 (3.50) ★
THOSE WHO BURN THE BRIGHTEST is a high YA fantasy with a strong and flawed FMC, narrated in 3rd person limited. It features a sapphic main couple, a complex world building, deadly trials and lots, lots of yearning. If you like all these things and don't mind being a bit confused by the end, then I highly recommend this book!
The first striking characteristic of this book is the lyrical but easily flowing prose. Dear author, I hope one day my prose is as great as yours! The imagery used to describe thoughts, feelings and especially colors was also impressive.
Only thing that bugged me a little was the tendency to overexplain every single detail. Some things, in my opinion, should be left up to reader interpretation or hinted at through body language or reactions. Authors, please trust your readers!
Themes such as being deprived of agency, feeling out of place and unwanted, absent parenting, depression and betrayal were treated mindfully, but also explicitly enough (often through evocative imagery) to shake a reader out of their comfort and relate to them.
One little important thing to add: the author provides an exhaustive list of content warnings in the first pages of the book, together with a little guide! I think that's honestly great, especially for more sensitive readers who'd like to know what to expect.
Be mindful: SPOILERS AHEAD!
The story revolves around 3 acts. The first serves the purpose of getting to know our main characters, Eira and Meilin, and to see their relationship flourish. I especially liked this part because the characters had a lot of chemistry, enjoyable banter and a cozy, domestic vibe. They found each other at their worst moment and became part of each other's daily life in a beautiful way, making their tragic circumstances a little easier to bear. Not to mention I love how hard the MC fell for the LI. Eira's feelings are often depicted (in a very graphic way) as a beast in her stomach longing to reach Meilin, and it just feels right for her character. Eira is a young fae girl who feels very strongly, be it love or anger or despair, and in an especially graphic and physical way. I loved that about her.
We also get cozy with some world building and some of the systems of the fae and mortal world. The nine courts, the mortal world called Exilis and Erebus, a mortal kindgom somewhere in-between, where all the heiresses have been sent prior to their eighteenth birthday as a safety measure for the fragile equilibrium between the kingoms of the New Reign.
I also totally digged Eira's relationship with Alfie, like a little doomed found family. I wish they could be happy. (I'm not over the fact it was most likely not real...)
The second and third act, on the other hand... didn't really do it for me.
More than half of the second act felt like a fever dream, confusing and hazy. I understand this was probably the author's intention, but not being able to grasp what was happening for several chapters straight was not a fulfilling experience. It was like picking up the scattered fragments of a vase, among dream sequences and pools of blood and gore (it is very gory and horrific and sometimes kinda read as trauma porn...), and trying to piece the pattern back together, mostly unsuccessfully or unsatisfyingly so. Not to mention that a major plot twist happened during the second act and I do not know what led up to it at all, seemingly happening out of nowhere. The nine heiresses supposedly also trauma-bonded in some way during the trials, but we do not see that. It's like the narrative closes off, rarely allowing us to catch a glimpse of the actual situation. It's a confusing experience, most of it happening inside the MC's head. Again, I understand the reasons and i believe the author did a great job setting up and narrating scenes that don't make sense and describing the feelings it stirs in the MC... but I can't say I enjoyed it.
Despite all that, the heiresses and their powers were interesting enough. Each of them has something "wrong" within, something that contradicts their nature. It was a nice concept, maybe not developed enough.
Durante is also intriguing as a villain and honestly quite enraging. I didn't understand his motives fully, but I have the feeling there is more to him than what meets (Eira's) eye. I'm convinced that the baby in the prologue is indeed him, which would make him a pivotal figure in the history of this world.
What I enjoyed most, however, was the depiction of Eira's anger through the imagery of fire, which also happens to be her "wrongness": a fae of an ice court with fire in her veins. During the second act, Eira comes to accept her rage and becomes one with it, promising to use it to protect the one she loves against who's set to harm her. Accepting her flaws was a huge step forward in Eira's character development, a point of no return.
I was left with a lot of questions after the second act and I was hoping they'd be answered in the third act, which did not happen. Yes, there was an explanation, but it didn't answer my questions about what ACTUALLY happened during the trials or about the plot twist. Together with the epilogue, it promises a continuation to the story which I can only hope manages to tie all loose ends.
(Addition: something quite creative I noticed were the chapter titles. Putting aside the fact I LOVE chapter titles... the ones between chapters 19-26 were greek words that translated to the seven deadly sins, which were also the theme of each chapter. I'm a sucker for details like this. Good job, Author!)
[Addition #2: pet peeve of mine. At some point in act 2, the villain lists all the heiresses by name, last name and court name. Only the last name is the same as the court name. So reading "Eira Isolde, court of Isolde" where it could've just been "Eira of the court of Isolde" kind of bugged me... it's silly, i know!]
All in all, I was left utterly confused and on edge. Still, this was a page-turner. I believe the author is very talented and I can't wait to read more from her <3
Once again, I'd like to thank the author Kayla Morton and the publisher Lake County Press for this free ARC. The opinions in this review are my own honest ones. Be mindful of some light spoilers ahead!
I'd also like to apologize for the belated review, since some pressing health issues hindered me in my capacity to read for a few weeks.
---
🌸05/16/2025 — Finished!🌸
review in the works!
---
🌸03/21/2025 — Started!🌸
Thank you 3000 to author Kayla Morton and Lake Country Press for this e-ARC!
Sapphic fantasy + pretty cover... count me in! This is one of my most anticipated reads of 2025. I'm also very happy to get back into ARC reviewing.
★ 4 (3.50) ★
THOSE WHO BURN THE BRIGHTEST is a high YA fantasy with a strong and flawed FMC, narrated in 3rd person limited. It features a sapphic main couple, a complex world building, deadly trials and lots, lots of yearning. If you like all these things and don't mind being a bit confused by the end, then I highly recommend this book!
The first striking characteristic of this book is the lyrical but easily flowing prose. Dear author, I hope one day my prose is as great as yours! The imagery used to describe thoughts, feelings and especially colors was also impressive.
Only thing that bugged me a little was the tendency to overexplain every single detail. Some things, in my opinion, should be left up to reader interpretation or hinted at through body language or reactions. Authors, please trust your readers!
Themes such as being deprived of agency, feeling out of place and unwanted, absent parenting, depression and betrayal were treated mindfully, but also explicitly enough (often through evocative imagery) to shake a reader out of their comfort and relate to them.
One little important thing to add: the author provides an exhaustive list of content warnings in the first pages of the book, together with a little guide! I think that's honestly great, especially for more sensitive readers who'd like to know what to expect.
Be mindful: SPOILERS AHEAD!
The story revolves around 3 acts. The first serves the purpose of getting to know our main characters, Eira and Meilin, and to see their relationship flourish. I especially liked this part because the characters had a lot of chemistry, enjoyable banter and a cozy, domestic vibe. They found each other at their worst moment and became part of each other's daily life in a beautiful way, making their tragic circumstances a little easier to bear. Not to mention I love how hard the MC fell for the LI. Eira's feelings are often depicted (in a very graphic way) as a beast in her stomach longing to reach Meilin, and it just feels right for her character. Eira is a young fae girl who feels very strongly, be it love or anger or despair, and in an especially graphic and physical way. I loved that about her.
We also get cozy with some world building and some of the systems of the fae and mortal world. The nine courts, the mortal world called Exilis and Erebus, a mortal kindgom somewhere in-between, where all the heiresses have been sent prior to their eighteenth birthday as a safety measure for the fragile equilibrium between the kingoms of the New Reign.
I also totally digged Eira's relationship with Alfie, like a little doomed found family. I wish they could be happy. (I'm not over the fact it was most likely not real...)
The second and third act, on the other hand... didn't really do it for me.
More than half of the second act felt like a fever dream, confusing and hazy. I understand this was probably the author's intention, but not being able to grasp what was happening for several chapters straight was not a fulfilling experience. It was like picking up the scattered fragments of a vase, among dream sequences and pools of blood and gore (it is very gory and horrific and sometimes kinda read as trauma porn...), and trying to piece the pattern back together, mostly unsuccessfully or unsatisfyingly so. Not to mention that a major plot twist happened during the second act and I do not know what led up to it at all, seemingly happening out of nowhere. The nine heiresses supposedly also trauma-bonded in some way during the trials, but we do not see that. It's like the narrative closes off, rarely allowing us to catch a glimpse of the actual situation. It's a confusing experience, most of it happening inside the MC's head. Again, I understand the reasons and i believe the author did a great job setting up and narrating scenes that don't make sense and describing the feelings it stirs in the MC... but I can't say I enjoyed it.
Despite all that, the heiresses and their powers were interesting enough. Each of them has something "wrong" within, something that contradicts their nature. It was a nice concept, maybe not developed enough.
Durante is also intriguing as a villain and honestly quite enraging. I didn't understand his motives fully, but I have the feeling there is more to him than what meets (Eira's) eye. I'm convinced that the baby in the prologue is indeed him, which would make him a pivotal figure in the history of this world.
What I enjoyed most, however, was the depiction of Eira's anger through the imagery of fire, which also happens to be her "wrongness": a fae of an ice court with fire in her veins. During the second act, Eira comes to accept her rage and becomes one with it, promising to use it to protect the one she loves against who's set to harm her. Accepting her flaws was a huge step forward in Eira's character development, a point of no return.
I was left with a lot of questions after the second act and I was hoping they'd be answered in the third act, which did not happen. Yes, there was an explanation, but it didn't answer my questions about what ACTUALLY happened during the trials or about the plot twist. Together with the epilogue, it promises a continuation to the story which I can only hope manages to tie all loose ends.
(Addition: something quite creative I noticed were the chapter titles. Putting aside the fact I LOVE chapter titles... the ones between chapters 19-26 were greek words that translated to the seven deadly sins, which were also the theme of each chapter. I'm a sucker for details like this. Good job, Author!)
[Addition #2: pet peeve of mine. At some point in act 2, the villain lists all the heiresses by name, last name and court name. Only the last name is the same as the court name. So reading "Eira Isolde, court of Isolde" where it could've just been "Eira of the court of Isolde" kind of bugged me... it's silly, i know!]
All in all, I was left utterly confused and on edge. Still, this was a page-turner. I believe the author is very talented and I can't wait to read more from her <3
Once again, I'd like to thank the author Kayla Morton and the publisher Lake County Press for this free ARC. The opinions in this review are my own honest ones. Be mindful of some light spoilers ahead!
I'd also like to apologize for the belated review, since some pressing health issues hindered me in my capacity to read for a few weeks.
---
🌸05/16/2025 — Finished!🌸
review in the works!
---
🌸03/21/2025 — Started!🌸
Thank you 3000 to author Kayla Morton and Lake Country Press for this e-ARC!
Sapphic fantasy + pretty cover... count me in! This is one of my most anticipated reads of 2025. I'm also very happy to get back into ARC reviewing.
January 11, 2026
I really wanted this to be a 4 or 5 star book for me, I was really excited for it, the blurb was interesting and the cover is gorgeous, but overall it just sorta fell flat for me. The writing itself was really good which is why I've given it the rating I have, but there were a few writing quirks that made me frustrated while reading it, one being the choice to use "the heiress" or "the fae" in place of names. They're both fae and they're both heiresses. I don't understand why every other paragraph it said "the heiress" or "the fae" it made it confusing in scenes with both Eira and Meilin. I also didn't really understand why the book went the way it did or really what was going on at the end at all. I did enjoy the beginning when Eira and Meilin first got to know each other and the part where Eira fell into the catacombs was really cool, I wish it had more done with it at the beginning because I don't really understand why neither of them would care to investigate these catacombs under one of their houses. The overall plot felt a bit forced, and the villain felt comically evil to me, almost. I will read the second book when it comes out and maybe reread this one, maybe I'll understand it better. It always pains me to rate a debut lower, especially a sapphic one, but this book just wasn't it for me. I still think the writing style was lovely and that's why I think it's still worth reading and why I will read the next book or future books by this author, I just think the plot for this book needed a bit more help.
May 25, 2025
Digital Arc Provided by Lake County Press
Beginning with the positives, this book is a lot of fun.
The leading characters, Eira and Meilin, are the clear highlight of the book, shining their brightest in the novel’s first half as they meet, grow close and experience the mortal world around them.
Unfortunately, these strengths cannot entirely outweigh the issues I took with the rest of the novel. At times the writing, which falls into overly descriptive and at times repetitive statements, stalls the ease at which the story flows, causing confusion; especially within the novel’s second half, wherein a slew of new characters are introduced and we are thrust into a series of quick occurring events with little pause or time to understand what is happening.
It seems as if, in attempting to craft a high stake final act and push Eira into the position of concluding her arc, the story falls into an empty structure of event and personal struggle without offering enough space for each to properly have an effect beyond the constant repetition of it.
All that being said, 'Those who Burn Brightest' has it’s moments, and I would be remiss to say that I didn’t enjoy parts of it. But ultimately it stands as a novel that doesn't quite match the flame of it's title.
Beginning with the positives, this book is a lot of fun.
The leading characters, Eira and Meilin, are the clear highlight of the book, shining their brightest in the novel’s first half as they meet, grow close and experience the mortal world around them.
Unfortunately, these strengths cannot entirely outweigh the issues I took with the rest of the novel. At times the writing, which falls into overly descriptive and at times repetitive statements, stalls the ease at which the story flows, causing confusion; especially within the novel’s second half, wherein a slew of new characters are introduced and we are thrust into a series of quick occurring events with little pause or time to understand what is happening.
It seems as if, in attempting to craft a high stake final act and push Eira into the position of concluding her arc, the story falls into an empty structure of event and personal struggle without offering enough space for each to properly have an effect beyond the constant repetition of it.
All that being said, 'Those who Burn Brightest' has it’s moments, and I would be remiss to say that I didn’t enjoy parts of it. But ultimately it stands as a novel that doesn't quite match the flame of it's title.
March 27, 2025
Firstly wow, this book is just WOW!
The beginning was the book was instantly super interesting, I mean secrets, fae, heiresses in a sapphic fantasy book? Instantly sign me up!
While I was intrigued throughout the whole book, the pace really picked up half way through especially (without spoiling), reading the end of chapter 12… I couldn’t put it down, I wanted to know so much more about this world and the secrets everyone was hiding.
Kayla’s writing was so easy to read which I really appreciate for fantasy because I sometimes get so lost with stories but I found this one so easy to follow and just kept me on my toes the whole time!!
I still have so many unanswered questions, but hopefully all will be revealed in a potential sequel? I would love for this book to be apart of a series or at least duology and that’s coming from someone who prefers standalones!
Anyways I really enjoyed this book so much and hope this isn’t the last we get of Eira and Meilin🥹
The beginning was the book was instantly super interesting, I mean secrets, fae, heiresses in a sapphic fantasy book? Instantly sign me up!
While I was intrigued throughout the whole book, the pace really picked up half way through especially (without spoiling), reading the end of chapter 12… I couldn’t put it down, I wanted to know so much more about this world and the secrets everyone was hiding.
Kayla’s writing was so easy to read which I really appreciate for fantasy because I sometimes get so lost with stories but I found this one so easy to follow and just kept me on my toes the whole time!!
I still have so many unanswered questions, but hopefully all will be revealed in a potential sequel? I would love for this book to be apart of a series or at least duology and that’s coming from someone who prefers standalones!
Anyways I really enjoyed this book so much and hope this isn’t the last we get of Eira and Meilin🥹
May 17, 2025
I'm actually so sad that i didn't like this book as much as i thought that i was going to. I had to start it three times because it was getting the hook of me until i forced myself to continue with the story.
I have to say that i think it lacked of different things, first of all i felt so lost while reading the book. I didn't understand where we were, why were we there and what was the purpose. I believe the world setting was very confusing. For the first 20% the only thing that happened was the two FMC getting to know each other but i would have appreciated a few more scenes of them connecting. When we got to the 50% of the book everything changed drastically from one moment to another.
In the trials i really was so lost on everything, maybe it was a me problem. Also Eira was asleep most of that 50% of the book that was left. I really didn't feel that the bond between Meilin and Eira was strong as for Eira almost literally leaving everything behind at the end. I did love the prose of the author, it was very poetic. I have hope for the second part but once again, i didn't enjoy the book.
I have to say that i think it lacked of different things, first of all i felt so lost while reading the book. I didn't understand where we were, why were we there and what was the purpose. I believe the world setting was very confusing. For the first 20% the only thing that happened was the two FMC getting to know each other but i would have appreciated a few more scenes of them connecting. When we got to the 50% of the book everything changed drastically from one moment to another.
In the trials i really was so lost on everything, maybe it was a me problem. Also Eira was asleep most of that 50% of the book that was left. I really didn't feel that the bond between Meilin and Eira was strong as for Eira almost literally leaving everything behind at the end. I did love the prose of the author, it was very poetic. I have hope for the second part but once again, i didn't enjoy the book.
May 19, 2025
DNF, please take with a grain of salt!
I'm sad to say I couldn't finish it, I started it in March as an ARC reader and wanted to love it.
My one big highlight is the writing style, which is very lovely! And the concept is also very interesting, I found the synopsis very appealing.
However... I struggled to attach to any of the characters, and the flow of information was confusing, so that I couldn't decide if I'd had too much exposition or not enough knowledge.
I will be giving it another chance soon, so the review will eventually change once I have a more complete picture.
I would absolutely encourage anyone who finds the synopsis interesting to give the book a read and form your own opinion, I am sure many others might get hooked where I did not.
In the meantime, thank you for the opportunity to be an ARC reader!
I'm sad to say I couldn't finish it, I started it in March as an ARC reader and wanted to love it.
My one big highlight is the writing style, which is very lovely! And the concept is also very interesting, I found the synopsis very appealing.
However... I struggled to attach to any of the characters, and the flow of information was confusing, so that I couldn't decide if I'd had too much exposition or not enough knowledge.
I will be giving it another chance soon, so the review will eventually change once I have a more complete picture.
I would absolutely encourage anyone who finds the synopsis interesting to give the book a read and form your own opinion, I am sure many others might get hooked where I did not.
In the meantime, thank you for the opportunity to be an ARC reader!
April 23, 2025
Thank you for the eARC, and congratulations to the author. My review is honest and purely my own.
I found this book a struggle to get through, and I didn't have any affinity for Eira or Meilin. It didn't feel like they had chemistry, and while I love how this book started, I have to say I had no idea what was going on the whole time I was reading. I wasn't immersed the way I wanted to be. I'm not a person who needs a lot of worldbuilding, so I have no issue with that, but I do want to at least love the characters. And I didn't. But I think this book is written beautifully. I think that's why it would be hard to rate this book poorly. You can tell it was a labor of love. Maybe I'll enjoy something else by Kayla.
I found this book a struggle to get through, and I didn't have any affinity for Eira or Meilin. It didn't feel like they had chemistry, and while I love how this book started, I have to say I had no idea what was going on the whole time I was reading. I wasn't immersed the way I wanted to be. I'm not a person who needs a lot of worldbuilding, so I have no issue with that, but I do want to at least love the characters. And I didn't. But I think this book is written beautifully. I think that's why it would be hard to rate this book poorly. You can tell it was a labor of love. Maybe I'll enjoy something else by Kayla.
April 14, 2025
I sat down meaning to read the beginning and save the rest for my lunch break, instead I ended up devouring it in one sitting.
I absolutely adore Eira and Meilin, so excited to read how their journeys go in the next book. Eira’s thoughts in the last few chapters really stuck with me.
Some of the trials confused me, the writing felt a little rushed but there were some twists that really caught me off guard which I loved. Also, I need seven more stories on all the other heiresses, all of them were really well written and I hope to see more of them as the series goes on.
Huge shoutout to Kayla Morton for the ARC, can’t wait to be able to get a physical copy for my bookshelf!!
I absolutely adore Eira and Meilin, so excited to read how their journeys go in the next book. Eira’s thoughts in the last few chapters really stuck with me.
Some of the trials confused me, the writing felt a little rushed but there were some twists that really caught me off guard which I loved. Also, I need seven more stories on all the other heiresses, all of them were really well written and I hope to see more of them as the series goes on.
Huge shoutout to Kayla Morton for the ARC, can’t wait to be able to get a physical copy for my bookshelf!!
May 20, 2025
ARC- Honest Review 🫶
Thoroughly enjoyed this read, it was shorter than most fantasy books but I actually prefer that. The book was fast paced, but also there were cozy and cute scenes that we actually get to enjoy the “normal” day to day stuff- cleaning in Meilin’s mansion, spending time cooking and drinking at Eira’s cottage. I did see a review that said it was a little hard to follow mentions of “the heiress” which I am inclined to agree with- sometimes it felt a little confusing as they are both heiresses. Overall, it was an easy read, and I highly recommend Kayla’s debut novel! Excited to read the next one ❤️
Thoroughly enjoyed this read, it was shorter than most fantasy books but I actually prefer that. The book was fast paced, but also there were cozy and cute scenes that we actually get to enjoy the “normal” day to day stuff- cleaning in Meilin’s mansion, spending time cooking and drinking at Eira’s cottage. I did see a review that said it was a little hard to follow mentions of “the heiress” which I am inclined to agree with- sometimes it felt a little confusing as they are both heiresses. Overall, it was an easy read, and I highly recommend Kayla’s debut novel! Excited to read the next one ❤️
May 28, 2025
What a debut! Eira and Meilin are absolutely electric. Lush and fantastical, TWBTB is wonderfully immersive and so, so easy to lose yourself in. Morton's prose is hooky and clever, and the romance at the heart of it all is just really, really good on every level. This is the kind of story that I'd recommend to anyone looking for a solid entry point into the world of sapphic romance. And recommend it, I will!
December 8, 2025
Can't go wrong with a solid fantasy book, bonus points for being sapphic coded. I found the storyline was a bit ragged in some parts, especially towards the end. What was going on didn't seem to have much of an explanation and would change every other page which made it difficult to follow. But with enough implied information I connected enough dots to make it make sense/hoped I was assuming correctly. Overall I enjoyed the read!
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