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Rise of the Firebird #1
A Single Captive Spark
In the brutal aftermath of a human-changeling war, a twist of fate throws two enemies together to fight for their love and survival in a sweeping dark fantasy of betrayal, magic, and romance.
In the centuries-long battle between humans and changelings, those who are taken by the changelings do not live. They do not return. They are simply gone. And for the humans left behind, there is only the brutal reign of the Irskan king.
Having spent her life in the castle, Fionna has protected herself and her younger sister by securing a position as a servant. But when the rebels mistake Fionna for the Irskan princess, she becomes a hostage of Helio, the cruel changeling leader whose mismatched eyes haunt her dreams. Drawn to Helio even as she attempts to escape the rebels, Fionna finds herself questioning everything she once believed about his cause.
For Helio, undying loyalty to the rebels saved him from the ravages of war. But his hostage blunder has put his people in peril. He may possess secret magic, but even he is not immune to Fionna’s charms. Uncovering what she knows about the castle may prove to be his most dangerous mission yet.
In this sweeping dark fantasy, a dangerous game of love, loyalty, and betrayal will decide the fate of a nation.
In the centuries-long battle between humans and changelings, those who are taken by the changelings do not live. They do not return. They are simply gone. And for the humans left behind, there is only the brutal reign of the Irskan king.
Having spent her life in the castle, Fionna has protected herself and her younger sister by securing a position as a servant. But when the rebels mistake Fionna for the Irskan princess, she becomes a hostage of Helio, the cruel changeling leader whose mismatched eyes haunt her dreams. Drawn to Helio even as she attempts to escape the rebels, Fionna finds herself questioning everything she once believed about his cause.
For Helio, undying loyalty to the rebels saved him from the ravages of war. But his hostage blunder has put his people in peril. He may possess secret magic, but even he is not immune to Fionna’s charms. Uncovering what she knows about the castle may prove to be his most dangerous mission yet.
In this sweeping dark fantasy, a dangerous game of love, loyalty, and betrayal will decide the fate of a nation.
301 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
March 29, 2026
Hi so this was really great. This is an actual enemies to lovers and I’m here for it. I really like the world building and history we get in here. We get a lot without it feeling like an info dump which is always a plus. Also loved the anxiety representation as a girlie with anxiety. I loved Fionna so much. Also the twist? Very twisty. I was SHOOK. Emberly is a goddess and I can’t wait for everyone to read this book.
June 9, 2026
this book is a mess
I kept expecting it to get better and the story was decent, just poorly told. Spoiler alert! It ends in either a cliffhanger or an ending I’m too dumb to understand. No mention of a forthcoming second book, so I guess I’m dumb.i shouldn’t have finished the book because now I’m both dumb and mad that I wasted my day.
I kept expecting it to get better and the story was decent, just poorly told. Spoiler alert! It ends in either a cliffhanger or an ending I’m too dumb to understand. No mention of a forthcoming second book, so I guess I’m dumb.i shouldn’t have finished the book because now I’m both dumb and mad that I wasted my day.
June 9, 2026
“Magic needed harmony to thrive, and even if peace was achieved today, harmony was still a vague, distant hope.”
This book is based in a world where humans and changelings (or the children of Síofra) are enemies, although not is all it seems to be in Irska…
Fionna, our FMC, is a human that acts as a servant to Princess Aurelle. Both her parents have passed, and she’s managed to get a job for herself and her sister, Treasa, in the castle in the hopes they don’t draw too much attention to themselves.
Our MMC, Helios, is a changeling who is the commander for the rebellion. Unknowingly, he kidnaps Fionna, mistaking her for the princess.
Here, it becomes very clear there’s a lot of hate on Helios’s side and Fionna is only concerned with keeping her sister safe and will pick whichever side allows her to do that. As the story goes on, we see both sides realising that they both want the same thing, peace, and start working towards a common goal despite hating each other for over three decades.
I had a suspicion early on that Fionna is not quite who she / we think she is and although this was minutely explored, I hope book 2 reveals more details.
I’m always interested in reading books that fall under Amazon’s “First Reads” where authors I haven’t heard of pop up and I can give them a go. I’m curious to see more world development in book 2 and Fionna & Helios’s relationship develop further.
This book is based in a world where humans and changelings (or the children of Síofra) are enemies, although not is all it seems to be in Irska…
Fionna, our FMC, is a human that acts as a servant to Princess Aurelle. Both her parents have passed, and she’s managed to get a job for herself and her sister, Treasa, in the castle in the hopes they don’t draw too much attention to themselves.
Our MMC, Helios, is a changeling who is the commander for the rebellion. Unknowingly, he kidnaps Fionna, mistaking her for the princess.
Here, it becomes very clear there’s a lot of hate on Helios’s side and Fionna is only concerned with keeping her sister safe and will pick whichever side allows her to do that. As the story goes on, we see both sides realising that they both want the same thing, peace, and start working towards a common goal despite hating each other for over three decades.
I had a suspicion early on that Fionna is not quite who she / we think she is and although this was minutely explored, I hope book 2 reveals more details.
I’m always interested in reading books that fall under Amazon’s “First Reads” where authors I haven’t heard of pop up and I can give them a go. I’m curious to see more world development in book 2 and Fionna & Helios’s relationship develop further.
June 7, 2026
confused
I think the storyline was good but the problem I had is figuring out the difference in the characters…human? soifran? Rebel? Etc. The glossary could have been at the beginning of the book so it could be easily accessed.
I think the storyline was good but the problem I had is figuring out the difference in the characters…human? soifran? Rebel? Etc. The glossary could have been at the beginning of the book so it could be easily accessed.
June 8, 2026
I hated this. Ew
June 4, 2026
A Single Captive Spark had a solid balance of world-building—enough to make the setting feel immersive without becoming overwhelming. I loved the dual POV and enjoyed getting both perspectives throughout the story.
The romance, however, felt a little rushed for me. This was very much insta-love/lust, and I found myself wanting more development and emotional buildup between the characters. The first kiss especially caught me off guard; it felt so out of place that I actually went back and reread the page to make sure I hadn’t missed something.
Overall, an enjoyable fantasy with an intriguing world, but I wished the romance had been given a little more room to grow.
The romance, however, felt a little rushed for me. This was very much insta-love/lust, and I found myself wanting more development and emotional buildup between the characters. The first kiss especially caught me off guard; it felt so out of place that I actually went back and reread the page to make sure I hadn’t missed something.
Overall, an enjoyable fantasy with an intriguing world, but I wished the romance had been given a little more room to grow.
May 26, 2026
As a massive Emberly Ash fan, I admittedly went into this one with unreasonably high expectations. And unfortunately, my expectations did not live up to reality.
There’s really good bones in this book, but it doesn’t feel fully fleshed out. We needed something more, especially in terms of the romance. Why does he want to protect her so badly? Why is she just going along with everything? Where are the stakes?
Also, the mmc is apparently a shifter, but there’s no like actual explanation for that and it’s just casually mentioned and you’re just supposed to accept it and go along with it.
I wanted to love this book just like I love her others, but this one fell so flat for me.
Thank you so much to Emberly Ash, 47North, and NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There’s really good bones in this book, but it doesn’t feel fully fleshed out. We needed something more, especially in terms of the romance. Why does he want to protect her so badly? Why is she just going along with everything? Where are the stakes?
Also, the mmc is apparently a shifter, but there’s no like actual explanation for that and it’s just casually mentioned and you’re just supposed to accept it and go along with it.
I wanted to love this book just like I love her others, but this one fell so flat for me.
Thank you so much to Emberly Ash, 47North, and NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 19, 2026
I felt like almost absolutely nothing happened in this book until the end.
I listened to most of the book on audio and I really enjoyed the dual narration and the narrators' voices. However, nothing of the story stuck with me and I rewound and listened to it over multiple days.
I did finish up the last part of the book eyeball reading and it was mildly intriguing, but still not enough for me to rate the book very highly.
So there was nothing specifically wrong with this book, it just happened to be a miss for me.
Thank you Brilliance Publishing for the ALC and Amazon early reads for the gifted copies. My thoughts are entirely my own.
I listened to most of the book on audio and I really enjoyed the dual narration and the narrators' voices. However, nothing of the story stuck with me and I rewound and listened to it over multiple days.
I did finish up the last part of the book eyeball reading and it was mildly intriguing, but still not enough for me to rate the book very highly.
So there was nothing specifically wrong with this book, it just happened to be a miss for me.
Thank you Brilliance Publishing for the ALC and Amazon early reads for the gifted copies. My thoughts are entirely my own.
July 16, 2026
I spend enough time trying to read it that I'm logging it as read even though I DNF'd. I gave it to about 35-40% and just couldn't care anymore. I wanted to care about the characters but there wasn't enough worldbuilding in advance so the WHY of the whole thing didn't make much sense. Also, the romance part was dumb and unnecessary. If that's the author's whole deal, I apologize as I got this for free from Prime Reading and wasn't familiar with any previous works and based on this, I certainly won't be reading more.
July 5, 2026
Interesting fantasy world. I'll probably read the next one as I am interested in where this story leads.But it does have a bit of YA feel which is a negative for me.
July 2, 2026
Interesting concept, could be better
3.5 🌟 I enjoyed the premise and the subplot between the main characters, but I just felt like the story wasn’t moving further for such a long time I was skimming quite a lot by the last 30%. Fionna and Helio are interesting characters, well thought out and the writing is good, however I needed more, faster.
3.5 🌟 I enjoyed the premise and the subplot between the main characters, but I just felt like the story wasn’t moving further for such a long time I was skimming quite a lot by the last 30%. Fionna and Helio are interesting characters, well thought out and the writing is good, however I needed more, faster.
June 11, 2026
It was ok. It wasn’t amazing and it wasn’t bad. Just ok.
I think some of the plot got mired down in the FMC captivity and her tremendous growth in perspective from very few interactions with others. It wasn’t realistic for me.
I think some of the plot got mired down in the FMC captivity and her tremendous growth in perspective from very few interactions with others. It wasn’t realistic for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2026
3.75
A case of misten identity has Fionna kidnapped by the rebels. She has lived most of her life sheltered behind the castle walls and the more she learns about the rebel cause the more she starts the question the version of history she’s been told. She is placed under the guard of Helio, he is loyal to the rebels but quickly finds himself fiercely protective over the wellbeing of Fionna.
I really enjoyed the little journal and history excerpts at the start of each chapter, it was a cool way to give insight to the history of the conflict without having to world build all that.
Insta-love isn’t my favorite trope but I’ll let it slide for Emberly.
When you finish the book and stare at the wall wondering what happens next?! Well lucky for us book 2 is on the way!
Thank you Emberly Ash for an ARC copy of A Single Captive Spark!
A case of misten identity has Fionna kidnapped by the rebels. She has lived most of her life sheltered behind the castle walls and the more she learns about the rebel cause the more she starts the question the version of history she’s been told. She is placed under the guard of Helio, he is loyal to the rebels but quickly finds himself fiercely protective over the wellbeing of Fionna.
I really enjoyed the little journal and history excerpts at the start of each chapter, it was a cool way to give insight to the history of the conflict without having to world build all that.
Insta-love isn’t my favorite trope but I’ll let it slide for Emberly.
When you finish the book and stare at the wall wondering what happens next?! Well lucky for us book 2 is on the way!
Thank you Emberly Ash for an ARC copy of A Single Captive Spark!
July 19, 2026
I listened to the audiobook as an arc and appreciated this being a dual narration. I think dual narration automatically adds another dynamic to the story and better immerses you into the story and characters.
For the story, it took me 2-3 times of stopping and restarting to finally get into it. I felt like the summary of the story was more engaging than the stories ability to pull me into the plot. The concept sounds good and gave me vibes of Silk & Iron with a mistaken identity and a relationship forged between the protector and the FMC. However, it didn’t follow through in keeping my attention or making me fall in love with the characters. It was a decent romantasy and if you want a quicker romantasy that continues its plot after the first book, this would be a good option.
For the story, it took me 2-3 times of stopping and restarting to finally get into it. I felt like the summary of the story was more engaging than the stories ability to pull me into the plot. The concept sounds good and gave me vibes of Silk & Iron with a mistaken identity and a relationship forged between the protector and the FMC. However, it didn’t follow through in keeping my attention or making me fall in love with the characters. It was a decent romantasy and if you want a quicker romantasy that continues its plot after the first book, this would be a good option.
July 24, 2026
I really wanted to like this book, but I feel like it needs to be developed this just a little bit more. We have two people want a human who wants to get her and her sister out of this kingdom and we have this changeling mail who wants to wipe out the existence of humans both of them were betrayed by each other‘s races and unknowingly the fee email kidnapped the human and somehow they fall in love. The reason why I say somehow is because there was no actual steps that I find led to them becoming matches or mates. But if you like magic adventure and a underdevelopment romantic story, I would say read it.
July 23, 2026
I liked, but did not love, this book. The characters were great, but I felt like the story developed slowly and then all at once. Plot, romance, traits of the characters, all of it. But still, I liked the storyline and found it to be a pretty compelling read, so I plan on reading the next book.
Side note, did anyone else catch all the Irish references? I feel like the Republic of Eerin and “Síofra” sounded very Irish or Gaelic.
Side note, did anyone else catch all the Irish references? I feel like the Republic of Eerin and “Síofra” sounded very Irish or Gaelic.
Did Not Finish
July 25, 2026Did not finish at 62%. There is a lot of telling and not showing. I got annoyed.
July 24, 2026
Needed “more” in the first half to really explain the tie between H and F, it felt rushed. The story has potential though, interested in how book 2 picks up but there will be a 5 month wait until its published.
July 18, 2026
I'm glad I got this book for free. As someone who grew up in Middle Earth, in Narnia, and on Pern, I realize I'm not the target audience for this book, which is nothing but than a thin imitation of those classics. The plot was barely existent, the writing was tedious, and the "big twist" was pretty obvious from the start. The only question was how the author would choose to reveal it. I won't be buying the second one.
netgalley-arcs-read-2026
July 14, 2026Soft DNF at 53%
Unfortunately, I am really not feeling this story.
I find the male narrator really difficult to listen to, its very aggressive and abrasive sounding. Currently, the story is not grabbing my attention.
I am uncertain if my issues with the story are due to narration or not so will likely try an eyeball read to see if that helps.
Unfortunately, I am really not feeling this story.
I find the male narrator really difficult to listen to, its very aggressive and abrasive sounding. Currently, the story is not grabbing my attention.
I am uncertain if my issues with the story are due to narration or not so will likely try an eyeball read to see if that helps.
July 11, 2026
It was just eh for me. Not interesting enough to read the next one. Definitely missed the mark
Review of advance copy
“When two hearts beat as one, then magic shall truly be freed.”
Well it looks like I accidentally made my foray into the Romantasy genre. I have nothing against romance or fantasy (I read both) but I’ve noticed that when the two are combined, the book as a whole tends to lean more into the romance at the detriment of the fantasy elements. Now I will be upfront and admit that I haven’t read any of the new popular books for which this new genre “Romantasy” was officially coined, but based on reviews and summaries I can tell that overall they tend to be heavy in the romance category and light on the creative fantasy. And A Single Captive Spark was no exception.
I originally picked up this book because it was featured in the “Amazon First Reads” program and the title sounded interesting. It was billed as “fantasy” and less than 300 pages so I thought it would be an easy and entertaining read. I started it somewhat impulsively after being hooked by an intriguing first chapter. The world building was a little vague but the chapter intros (a quote from someone in the fictional world) gave more insight as the book went along. The main action/conflict also happened almost immediately so by chapter three I was thrust into the plot and it was hard for me to look away. The quick chapters were definitely a plus for propelling the story along.
The story takes place in the fictional world of Irska, a land where magic exists but is quelled by the constant conflict and disunity among the community. The ruling class of Irskan humans built walls around the kingdom to keep the humans separated from the once-magical Siofran people. There are no physical differences between the humans and Siofran, but the Siofran supposedly have magic inside them waiting to get out. Harmony is the key to unleashing the magic, so the Irskan nobles do everything in their power to keep it in check—meaning enforcing strict laws and regulations via menacing paramilitary taskforces. It has a lot of potential, but the world-building kind of stops there. The magic is only partially explained, mostly through the chapter intros. I felt like this could have been elaborated more, but maybe the author plans to flesh it out more in the sequel. Overall the magic and fantasy take a backseat to the main event: the romance between the two main characters, Fionna and Helio. The book switches back and forth between their first-person narratives (although not equally: we see a lot more from Fionna’s perspective) and gives us more insight to the opposing sides of the conflict; humans vs. Siofran. Fionna is human and Helio is Siofran.
However, for those readers picking this up expecting an enemies-to-lovers romance, you may be a little disappointed. Yes technically the two main characters “hate” each other because they have lived on opposing sides of the 300-year-long conflict between their people groups, but upon meeting their attraction is instantaneous. Are they supposed to be enemies? Yes. Are they really though? Uh, no. We are led to believe that Helio is a merciless torturer for the Siofran but he never once shows anything but admiration and adoration for Fionna. While Fionna pretends to dislike him yet dreams about him constantly. So in my opinion I would label this as more of a “star-crossed lovers” scenario because they only thing really keeping them apart is which side of the conflict they are on. For readers more interested in the romance than the fantasy, this book may be for you. In my opinion it was hard to really root for their relationship because their feelings formed so quickly and yet the story kept pulling them apart for inane reasons and they kept trying to convince themselves of their hatred for one another. I think it would have been stronger for them to admit their feelings from the start, and then try to hide it from the opposing factions while secretly working together for peace. There would have been plenty of tension and longing that way instead of one minute passionately kissing and the next swearing that they hate each other. It felt very teen-angst when they are supposed to be around thirty years old (or at least Helio is? I just now realized I have no idea how old Fionna is supposed to be). Overall the romance had too many issues for me to enjoy and the fact that it drew away from the fantasy elements just made it worse.
The strongest aspect of the whole book was the original inspiration: the author mentions at the end of the book that she was influenced by the Irish Troubles and modelled the conflict after the civil war between the Nationalists and the Unionists in Ireland. I enjoyed the chapter intros that featured a quote from a different character each time, sharing perspectives from both sides and even differing experiences and opinions within those sides. There was a lot of potential with that, but unfortunately it was lost along the way with the poorly explained magic system and the annoying will-they-won’t-they romance. Also the author used the word “fecking” as the curse word of choice, which is apparently commonly used in Ireland and not seen as a true swear word. I could not get past the fact that it sounded like a silly version of the f-word and was used so frequently by every single character that you could open to a random page and find it there. In general I’m tired of seeing these words all the time in recent fiction. I understand you want to emphasize a moment with that word, but when you use it every other sentence it weakens the impact and just feels lazy.
Overall this book was okay. The writing was mediocre, the plot had a lot of potential but didn’t really follow through (maybe it will in the sequel?), and the romance tried hard but ultimately didn’t win me over. Fans of Romantasy will probably enjoy it, certainly readers who care more about romance than fantasy. But be warned: it ends on a cliffhanger and the sequel has not been published yet. My real rating is around 2.5 stars but since it didn’t take much effort to read and I was genuinely intrigued for most of the book (I kept hoping it would improve much to my chagrin) I will round up to 3 stars.
Well it looks like I accidentally made my foray into the Romantasy genre. I have nothing against romance or fantasy (I read both) but I’ve noticed that when the two are combined, the book as a whole tends to lean more into the romance at the detriment of the fantasy elements. Now I will be upfront and admit that I haven’t read any of the new popular books for which this new genre “Romantasy” was officially coined, but based on reviews and summaries I can tell that overall they tend to be heavy in the romance category and light on the creative fantasy. And A Single Captive Spark was no exception.
I originally picked up this book because it was featured in the “Amazon First Reads” program and the title sounded interesting. It was billed as “fantasy” and less than 300 pages so I thought it would be an easy and entertaining read. I started it somewhat impulsively after being hooked by an intriguing first chapter. The world building was a little vague but the chapter intros (a quote from someone in the fictional world) gave more insight as the book went along. The main action/conflict also happened almost immediately so by chapter three I was thrust into the plot and it was hard for me to look away. The quick chapters were definitely a plus for propelling the story along.
The story takes place in the fictional world of Irska, a land where magic exists but is quelled by the constant conflict and disunity among the community. The ruling class of Irskan humans built walls around the kingdom to keep the humans separated from the once-magical Siofran people. There are no physical differences between the humans and Siofran, but the Siofran supposedly have magic inside them waiting to get out. Harmony is the key to unleashing the magic, so the Irskan nobles do everything in their power to keep it in check—meaning enforcing strict laws and regulations via menacing paramilitary taskforces. It has a lot of potential, but the world-building kind of stops there. The magic is only partially explained, mostly through the chapter intros. I felt like this could have been elaborated more, but maybe the author plans to flesh it out more in the sequel. Overall the magic and fantasy take a backseat to the main event: the romance between the two main characters, Fionna and Helio. The book switches back and forth between their first-person narratives (although not equally: we see a lot more from Fionna’s perspective) and gives us more insight to the opposing sides of the conflict; humans vs. Siofran. Fionna is human and Helio is Siofran.
However, for those readers picking this up expecting an enemies-to-lovers romance, you may be a little disappointed. Yes technically the two main characters “hate” each other because they have lived on opposing sides of the 300-year-long conflict between their people groups, but upon meeting their attraction is instantaneous. Are they supposed to be enemies? Yes. Are they really though? Uh, no. We are led to believe that Helio is a merciless torturer for the Siofran but he never once shows anything but admiration and adoration for Fionna. While Fionna pretends to dislike him yet dreams about him constantly. So in my opinion I would label this as more of a “star-crossed lovers” scenario because they only thing really keeping them apart is which side of the conflict they are on. For readers more interested in the romance than the fantasy, this book may be for you. In my opinion it was hard to really root for their relationship because their feelings formed so quickly and yet the story kept pulling them apart for inane reasons and they kept trying to convince themselves of their hatred for one another. I think it would have been stronger for them to admit their feelings from the start, and then try to hide it from the opposing factions while secretly working together for peace. There would have been plenty of tension and longing that way instead of one minute passionately kissing and the next swearing that they hate each other. It felt very teen-angst when they are supposed to be around thirty years old (or at least Helio is? I just now realized I have no idea how old Fionna is supposed to be). Overall the romance had too many issues for me to enjoy and the fact that it drew away from the fantasy elements just made it worse.
The strongest aspect of the whole book was the original inspiration: the author mentions at the end of the book that she was influenced by the Irish Troubles and modelled the conflict after the civil war between the Nationalists and the Unionists in Ireland. I enjoyed the chapter intros that featured a quote from a different character each time, sharing perspectives from both sides and even differing experiences and opinions within those sides. There was a lot of potential with that, but unfortunately it was lost along the way with the poorly explained magic system and the annoying will-they-won’t-they romance. Also the author used the word “fecking” as the curse word of choice, which is apparently commonly used in Ireland and not seen as a true swear word. I could not get past the fact that it sounded like a silly version of the f-word and was used so frequently by every single character that you could open to a random page and find it there. In general I’m tired of seeing these words all the time in recent fiction. I understand you want to emphasize a moment with that word, but when you use it every other sentence it weakens the impact and just feels lazy.
Overall this book was okay. The writing was mediocre, the plot had a lot of potential but didn’t really follow through (maybe it will in the sequel?), and the romance tried hard but ultimately didn’t win me over. Fans of Romantasy will probably enjoy it, certainly readers who care more about romance than fantasy. But be warned: it ends on a cliffhanger and the sequel has not been published yet. My real rating is around 2.5 stars but since it didn’t take much effort to read and I was genuinely intrigued for most of the book (I kept hoping it would improve much to my chagrin) I will round up to 3 stars.
July 30, 2026
** Actual opinion is 2.5 stars. I received this book for free from a giveaway. My review is my own.
I love the premise of this book, the spin on changelings, some action beats, and the general dynamic are great.
Everything is sabotaged by the writing. This book suffers from an incredibly serious case of "telling," even when the things have already been shown (sometimes even shown well).
The word, or some derivation of, 'feck' occurs 151 times in this book, so approximately every two pages, an extreme overuse, especially considering that the actual f bomb also drops freely elsewhere. Strangely enough, not many other curses are used.
That, however, is not my main gripe. I curse plenty, and sure, maybe in this world, we can assume that word is very popular. My true problem is with the use of the word 'anxiety'. Occurring 54 times in this book, averaging once every 5.5 pages, and maybe twice being pertinent. This book has damaged my ability to tolerate this word; it is beaten to an absolutely bloody death, until it has lost all meaning and thoroughly smacked the reader out of any and all sense of immersion. Physical symptoms, compulsions, and mannerisms are already shown; the constant naming of the thing is pure telling.
The same pattern repeats with several other words/phrases (hyper-vigilance, calculations, "I recognized"). We do not need the narrator constantly explaining things we just saw, and even things shown well. It comes across as either insecurity or arrogance on the author's part. Either someone needs to praise this author's good writings more, or we readers are thought of as too stupid to understand.
The romance is worse. One month is not enough time for the claimed depth, trauma bonding, or 'true love'. Infatuation is declared rather than built.
Padding also runs rampant throughout, which is ironic because while this book is in serious need of a ruthless cutting, it's also in need of some more building between the MC's. Constant reminders of the story read 50 pages ago undercut most scenes. The book insists on self-awareness, placing no trust in the reader.
Overall, these are good bones: an interesting world, strong moments, and a wonderful premise. Ruined by editorial failure and the serious need for a thesaurus: over-explaining, word-repetition, and a romance that moves faster than even most hormone-induced high schoolers during prom season. Needs a ruthless pass that cuts the insecurity chorus and lets more time, or at least interaction, pass between the love interests to match the emotional claims.
I love the premise of this book, the spin on changelings, some action beats, and the general dynamic are great.
Everything is sabotaged by the writing. This book suffers from an incredibly serious case of "telling," even when the things have already been shown (sometimes even shown well).
The word, or some derivation of, 'feck' occurs 151 times in this book, so approximately every two pages, an extreme overuse, especially considering that the actual f bomb also drops freely elsewhere. Strangely enough, not many other curses are used.
That, however, is not my main gripe. I curse plenty, and sure, maybe in this world, we can assume that word is very popular. My true problem is with the use of the word 'anxiety'. Occurring 54 times in this book, averaging once every 5.5 pages, and maybe twice being pertinent. This book has damaged my ability to tolerate this word; it is beaten to an absolutely bloody death, until it has lost all meaning and thoroughly smacked the reader out of any and all sense of immersion. Physical symptoms, compulsions, and mannerisms are already shown; the constant naming of the thing is pure telling.
The same pattern repeats with several other words/phrases (hyper-vigilance, calculations, "I recognized"). We do not need the narrator constantly explaining things we just saw, and even things shown well. It comes across as either insecurity or arrogance on the author's part. Either someone needs to praise this author's good writings more, or we readers are thought of as too stupid to understand.
The romance is worse. One month is not enough time for the claimed depth, trauma bonding, or 'true love'. Infatuation is declared rather than built.
Padding also runs rampant throughout, which is ironic because while this book is in serious need of a ruthless cutting, it's also in need of some more building between the MC's. Constant reminders of the story read 50 pages ago undercut most scenes. The book insists on self-awareness, placing no trust in the reader.
Overall, these are good bones: an interesting world, strong moments, and a wonderful premise. Ruined by editorial failure and the serious need for a thesaurus: over-explaining, word-repetition, and a romance that moves faster than even most hormone-induced high schoolers during prom season. Needs a ruthless pass that cuts the insecurity chorus and lets more time, or at least interaction, pass between the love interests to match the emotional claims.
July 18, 2026
There were several elements of this book that I truly enjoyed. Fiona is a compelling protagonist, and I found the unique excerpts at the beginning of each chapter to be incredibly engaging, they added a wonderful layer to the world-building.
However, my experience was a bit mixed, partly due to the audiobook formatting. I struggled a bit with the male narrator's thick accent, which made it difficult to fully immerse myself in his perspective. Because this impacted my overall enjoyment, I actually came close to DNF’ing the book around the 60% mark. I ended up pausing it to read something else, but because I have greatly enjoyed this author’s previous work - The Frost Witch and The Halfling Prince are two of my favorite reads this year - I wanted to return and finish it.
Plot and Character Dynamics
While the backdrop of a rebellion is exciting, I had a hard time fully connecting to the overarching storyline. The plot is deeply character-driven and hyper-focused on Fiona. Even during the male lead's POV chapters, the narrative centers heavily on her. Fiona's primary motivation is to protect and escape with her sister, but because she often lets things happen around her, her agency felt a bit muted. We are told she is planning behind the scenes, but because we don't get to see the cunning details of those plans in her internal monologue, the plot felt a bit loose.
I also found myself wishing for a bit more development between the romantic leads. The dynamic leaned toward "insta-love," but because the characters spend so much time apart, the chemistry didn't quite get the page-time it needed to fully mature.
Standout Moments and the Ending
My absolute favorite part of the book was when Fiona is at the house interacting with the family; the tension with the rebellious teenage boy was brilliantly written and incredibly engaging. I would have loved to see more of that friction and those conflicting rebellion feelings come to a head against Fiona.
The story definitely picks up the pace toward the end, and I enjoyed the final act much more as things began to develop rapidly. However, Fiona's constant second-guessing of who to trust, combined with prophetic dreams that aren't fully explained to the reader, gave the narrative an almost unreliable narrator feel.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, this felt like a bit of a "near miss" for me. The ending leaves us with a lot of unanswered questions, and I found myself wishing for another chapter or two to wrap up this installment's arc. That being said, the climax did its job: I am curious enough to see what happens next. When the sequel drops, though, I think I will opt to physically read it rather than listen to the audio.
However, my experience was a bit mixed, partly due to the audiobook formatting. I struggled a bit with the male narrator's thick accent, which made it difficult to fully immerse myself in his perspective. Because this impacted my overall enjoyment, I actually came close to DNF’ing the book around the 60% mark. I ended up pausing it to read something else, but because I have greatly enjoyed this author’s previous work - The Frost Witch and The Halfling Prince are two of my favorite reads this year - I wanted to return and finish it.
Plot and Character Dynamics
While the backdrop of a rebellion is exciting, I had a hard time fully connecting to the overarching storyline. The plot is deeply character-driven and hyper-focused on Fiona. Even during the male lead's POV chapters, the narrative centers heavily on her. Fiona's primary motivation is to protect and escape with her sister, but because she often lets things happen around her, her agency felt a bit muted. We are told she is planning behind the scenes, but because we don't get to see the cunning details of those plans in her internal monologue, the plot felt a bit loose.
I also found myself wishing for a bit more development between the romantic leads. The dynamic leaned toward "insta-love," but because the characters spend so much time apart, the chemistry didn't quite get the page-time it needed to fully mature.
Standout Moments and the Ending
My absolute favorite part of the book was when Fiona is at the house interacting with the family; the tension with the rebellious teenage boy was brilliantly written and incredibly engaging. I would have loved to see more of that friction and those conflicting rebellion feelings come to a head against Fiona.
The story definitely picks up the pace toward the end, and I enjoyed the final act much more as things began to develop rapidly. However, Fiona's constant second-guessing of who to trust, combined with prophetic dreams that aren't fully explained to the reader, gave the narrative an almost unreliable narrator feel.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, this felt like a bit of a "near miss" for me. The ending leaves us with a lot of unanswered questions, and I found myself wishing for another chapter or two to wrap up this installment's arc. That being said, the climax did its job: I am curious enough to see what happens next. When the sequel drops, though, I think I will opt to physically read it rather than listen to the audio.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Well, Emberly Ash has done it again.
She wrote a book that completely pulled me in, kept me turning pages, and then left me desperately wanting more by the time I reached the end. Thankfully, this time she showed a little mercy and did not leave me with a completely gut-wrenching cliffhanger. Progress, I suppose.
Now let's get down to the nitty-gritty.
The world-building in A Single Captive Spark was fabulous. The story takes place in a country divided between humans and changelings. The changelings once welcomed humans, only to have that trust shattered when the humans turned against them. The history, tensions, and prejudices between the two groups felt believable and were woven so naturally into the story that the world never felt like a lecture. It simply existed around the characters, making everything feel richer and more immersive.
The plot hooked me immediately. A woman is kidnapped because she's believed to be a princess, except she isn't. She's the servant. Enter a rebel leader who made the mistake... or perhaps he didn't. Watching everything unfold from there was incredibly entertaining.
But the real heart of this story is the characters.
Fionna and Helio were fantastic. Fionna is some of the best anxiety representation I have read in a fantasy novel. Her struggles felt authentic, nuanced, and thoughtfully written. It never felt exaggerated or simplified, just real. As someone who appreciates seeing characters with genuine challenges, I loved how Emberly Ash handled her.
Both Fionna and Helio are carrying the weight of traumatic childhoods, and they come from opposite sides of a conflict that has shaped their entire lives. Watching them slowly find common ground despite everything stacked against them was one of my favorite parts of the book. Their interactions felt natural, layered, and emotionally honest.
The pacing was also spot on. There was plenty of action to keep the story moving, but the quieter moments were given room to breathe. Those slower scenes allowed the characters to develop and deepen in ways that made the bigger moments hit even harder.
This was a fantastic start to what promises to be an amazing series. I loved the world, I loved the characters, and I am already impatiently waiting for the next book. If you're looking for fantasy filled with rebellion, changelings, and complicated characters, this one absolutely belongs on your TBR.
She wrote a book that completely pulled me in, kept me turning pages, and then left me desperately wanting more by the time I reached the end. Thankfully, this time she showed a little mercy and did not leave me with a completely gut-wrenching cliffhanger. Progress, I suppose.
Now let's get down to the nitty-gritty.
The world-building in A Single Captive Spark was fabulous. The story takes place in a country divided between humans and changelings. The changelings once welcomed humans, only to have that trust shattered when the humans turned against them. The history, tensions, and prejudices between the two groups felt believable and were woven so naturally into the story that the world never felt like a lecture. It simply existed around the characters, making everything feel richer and more immersive.
The plot hooked me immediately. A woman is kidnapped because she's believed to be a princess, except she isn't. She's the servant. Enter a rebel leader who made the mistake... or perhaps he didn't. Watching everything unfold from there was incredibly entertaining.
But the real heart of this story is the characters.
Fionna and Helio were fantastic. Fionna is some of the best anxiety representation I have read in a fantasy novel. Her struggles felt authentic, nuanced, and thoughtfully written. It never felt exaggerated or simplified, just real. As someone who appreciates seeing characters with genuine challenges, I loved how Emberly Ash handled her.
Both Fionna and Helio are carrying the weight of traumatic childhoods, and they come from opposite sides of a conflict that has shaped their entire lives. Watching them slowly find common ground despite everything stacked against them was one of my favorite parts of the book. Their interactions felt natural, layered, and emotionally honest.
The pacing was also spot on. There was plenty of action to keep the story moving, but the quieter moments were given room to breathe. Those slower scenes allowed the characters to develop and deepen in ways that made the bigger moments hit even harder.
This was a fantastic start to what promises to be an amazing series. I loved the world, I loved the characters, and I am already impatiently waiting for the next book. If you're looking for fantasy filled with rebellion, changelings, and complicated characters, this one absolutely belongs on your TBR.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. I had a little bit of trouble getting into it at the beginning, and I think that's because each chapter started with a quote from a different person from the imaginary land of Irska. It was a little disorienting.
Fiona and Helio are the main characters of the book, sort of star-crossed lovers, if you will. Fiona is a companion and servant of the princess, while Helio is a rebel leader. He kidnaps Fiona, thinking that she’s the princess, only to find out that she is not. There's a strong pull between them, but they both fight it. Helio despises the humans, and yet, he cannot shake the feelings that he’s developing for Fiona, despite her being one. From the beginning, it's clear there's something different about Fiona. Her parents died when she was a child, and there seems to be something about her background that the reader suspects, but she does not. Helio promises Fiona that he will not allow anyone to harm her (since he’s not the only one who despises humans), and he does all that he can to ensure that she is not killed.
There's an unspoken understanding between the two of them that, despite the evident feelings they have for one another, there can never be anything more between them because she is a human and he is one of the rebel leaders. Both have to fight against the desires of their hearts to do what is good for others.
Just when you think they might be able to overcome their differences and find a way to be together, Fiona makes a decision that will help the rebels but will force more distance between them. It’ll only be temporary, but it’s impossible to know how long. I found the way it was worded was a bit confusing, but I’m pretty sure I understood what happened.
This book was so, so good, and I cannot wait for the sequel!
Fiona and Helio are the main characters of the book, sort of star-crossed lovers, if you will. Fiona is a companion and servant of the princess, while Helio is a rebel leader. He kidnaps Fiona, thinking that she’s the princess, only to find out that she is not. There's a strong pull between them, but they both fight it. Helio despises the humans, and yet, he cannot shake the feelings that he’s developing for Fiona, despite her being one. From the beginning, it's clear there's something different about Fiona. Her parents died when she was a child, and there seems to be something about her background that the reader suspects, but she does not. Helio promises Fiona that he will not allow anyone to harm her (since he’s not the only one who despises humans), and he does all that he can to ensure that she is not killed.
There's an unspoken understanding between the two of them that, despite the evident feelings they have for one another, there can never be anything more between them because she is a human and he is one of the rebel leaders. Both have to fight against the desires of their hearts to do what is good for others.
Just when you think they might be able to overcome their differences and find a way to be together, Fiona makes a decision that will help the rebels but will force more distance between them. It’ll only be temporary, but it’s impossible to know how long. I found the way it was worded was a bit confusing, but I’m pretty sure I understood what happened.
This book was so, so good, and I cannot wait for the sequel!
June 1, 2026
My girl has gone trad! 🎉
⛓️💥This is Emberly Ash's first traditionally published novel, it's an Amazon First Reads pick, and I am absolutely thrilled that she's basically already written book two because I am going to need that ending as soon as possible.
⛓️💥Fionna was such a wonderful heroine. She's the embodiment of "bloom where you're planted,” someone who has been thrust into difficult circumstances both before the story begins and throughout the events of the book, yet continually chooses to make the best of them. She's sharp-minded, quick-witted, compassionate, and resilient. One of the things I love most about Emberly's female protagonists is that they take up space unapologetically, and Fionna is no exception. Her personal mantra, "Calm as a lake. Strong as a tree. I bend but don't break," perfectly captures who she is.
⛓️💥Then there's Helio. Intense. Guarded. Ruthless. Observant to a fault. The man misses absolutely nothing. Yet beneath all that steel is someone surprisingly thoughtful, and watching those layers peel back was one of my favorite parts of the story. Fionna and Helio complement each other beautifully, and I loved every scene they shared.
⛓️💥This story packs so much into under 300 pages: sibling dynamics, found family, rebellion chaos, firebird legends, suppressed magic, castle shenanigans, betrayals, and a richly imagined new world based on a historical era close to my heart. If you've been hesitant to start a new fantasy series because of intimidating page counts, this is the perfect place to jump in.
🖤A Single Captive Spark releases July 1, 2026, but you can request it on NetGalley or grab it through Amazon First Reads if you have access and don't want to wait.
🙏Thank you, Emberly, for the incredible story and the beautiful physical ARC. I can't wait to return to Irska and see what happens next.
⛓️💥This is Emberly Ash's first traditionally published novel, it's an Amazon First Reads pick, and I am absolutely thrilled that she's basically already written book two because I am going to need that ending as soon as possible.
⛓️💥Fionna was such a wonderful heroine. She's the embodiment of "bloom where you're planted,” someone who has been thrust into difficult circumstances both before the story begins and throughout the events of the book, yet continually chooses to make the best of them. She's sharp-minded, quick-witted, compassionate, and resilient. One of the things I love most about Emberly's female protagonists is that they take up space unapologetically, and Fionna is no exception. Her personal mantra, "Calm as a lake. Strong as a tree. I bend but don't break," perfectly captures who she is.
⛓️💥Then there's Helio. Intense. Guarded. Ruthless. Observant to a fault. The man misses absolutely nothing. Yet beneath all that steel is someone surprisingly thoughtful, and watching those layers peel back was one of my favorite parts of the story. Fionna and Helio complement each other beautifully, and I loved every scene they shared.
⛓️💥This story packs so much into under 300 pages: sibling dynamics, found family, rebellion chaos, firebird legends, suppressed magic, castle shenanigans, betrayals, and a richly imagined new world based on a historical era close to my heart. If you've been hesitant to start a new fantasy series because of intimidating page counts, this is the perfect place to jump in.
🖤A Single Captive Spark releases July 1, 2026, but you can request it on NetGalley or grab it through Amazon First Reads if you have access and don't want to wait.
🙏Thank you, Emberly, for the incredible story and the beautiful physical ARC. I can't wait to return to Irska and see what happens next.
February 1, 2026
I loved being back in a world of Emberly’s creation. I will never get tired of her writing.
A Single Captive Spark is firmly planted in a society divided into two factions, humans and “changelings”. With the suppression of magic as a result of a violent conflict centuries ago, walls are built to divide (“protect”) races, and Irska lives under the reign of a human king set on supremacy and division. The rebellion has built since magic was leashed; over 300 years of hate and blame are coming to a head. This story was inspired by a historical event, but it feels all too relevant today.
Emberly is a master crafter of MCs. Women who look and feel like women, not carved away to fit societal ideals. Who are not perfect, sculpted, poised, pristine women who have it all together. They are real, they are struggling, they are relatable. They show a strength and fortitude, a humanity, a perseverance through hardships, abuse, and oppression, and still have it within them to find a way to stand up for what is right, to hope, to be kind, to keep going, to love. Men who fight their own demons, battle the world’s injustices, search for their purpose, and value these women exactly as they are, not seeing them as subordinates to be ruled, directed, fixed, or perfected.
All of that shows up in this story. There is plenty of action in the book, I just wish we’d had more of it between Fionna and Helio. It’s definitely a slow burn build with very well done momentary flashes of spice. As for plot, we’re rich!
I look forward to learning more about Fionna’s path (especially in the aftermath of that cliffhanger) in book two!
**As always, I’m grateful to Emberly, 47North, and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given freely.**
A Single Captive Spark is firmly planted in a society divided into two factions, humans and “changelings”. With the suppression of magic as a result of a violent conflict centuries ago, walls are built to divide (“protect”) races, and Irska lives under the reign of a human king set on supremacy and division. The rebellion has built since magic was leashed; over 300 years of hate and blame are coming to a head. This story was inspired by a historical event, but it feels all too relevant today.
Emberly is a master crafter of MCs. Women who look and feel like women, not carved away to fit societal ideals. Who are not perfect, sculpted, poised, pristine women who have it all together. They are real, they are struggling, they are relatable. They show a strength and fortitude, a humanity, a perseverance through hardships, abuse, and oppression, and still have it within them to find a way to stand up for what is right, to hope, to be kind, to keep going, to love. Men who fight their own demons, battle the world’s injustices, search for their purpose, and value these women exactly as they are, not seeing them as subordinates to be ruled, directed, fixed, or perfected.
All of that shows up in this story. There is plenty of action in the book, I just wish we’d had more of it between Fionna and Helio. It’s definitely a slow burn build with very well done momentary flashes of spice. As for plot, we’re rich!
I look forward to learning more about Fionna’s path (especially in the aftermath of that cliffhanger) in book two!
**As always, I’m grateful to Emberly, 47North, and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given freely.**
June 29, 2026
Spoil Free Reviews
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Author: @emberlyashauthor
POV: Duel 1st person
Gene: Political Romantasy
Triggers: Riots, violence, captor/captive dynamics, mildly open door scenes, etc.
Read Time: 7 - 11 hours
Expected Publishing Date: 7/1/2026
I received an advance review copy from the author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
❤️ World Building: The world building was fantastic and indepth, but doesn’t bog down the story in any way. The political dynamics are super engaging, and the magic system is also interesting.
❤️ The Characters: While I love both Fionna and Helio, their relationship is fought with lots of hurdles that they have to overcome. I also enjoyed the layers of the side characters, they had a lot of depth to them that sometimes is missing from other stories I’ve read.
❤️ The Story: The story was captivating, full of twists and turns that left me guessing. It was full of high stakes missions, but it also described the suffering of someone with major anxiety and OCD. It was a solid read!
❤️🔥Overall: This is a great start to what I can tell will be a wonderful series.
🐦🔥Firebird Fact Inspired by Helio: The Firebird is prominently featured in the folklore of the Indians of Puget Sound. With a name translated as “Pretty Bird” in English, it is portrayed as a magical, wise being with the ability to communicate in the human language. Pretty Bird is credited with bringing fire to the tribe. The Firebird is said to have appeared to the tribe at a time when they had no fire. Fire was in existence then but for reasons unexplained, the ability to have or procure fire eluded this particular tribe. Hence, the Indians of Puget Sound had to suffer cold nights and eat raw meat. (www.tsemrinpoche.com)
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Author: @emberlyashauthor
POV: Duel 1st person
Gene: Political Romantasy
Triggers: Riots, violence, captor/captive dynamics, mildly open door scenes, etc.
Read Time: 7 - 11 hours
Expected Publishing Date: 7/1/2026
I received an advance review copy from the author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
❤️ World Building: The world building was fantastic and indepth, but doesn’t bog down the story in any way. The political dynamics are super engaging, and the magic system is also interesting.
❤️ The Characters: While I love both Fionna and Helio, their relationship is fought with lots of hurdles that they have to overcome. I also enjoyed the layers of the side characters, they had a lot of depth to them that sometimes is missing from other stories I’ve read.
❤️ The Story: The story was captivating, full of twists and turns that left me guessing. It was full of high stakes missions, but it also described the suffering of someone with major anxiety and OCD. It was a solid read!
❤️🔥Overall: This is a great start to what I can tell will be a wonderful series.
🐦🔥Firebird Fact Inspired by Helio: The Firebird is prominently featured in the folklore of the Indians of Puget Sound. With a name translated as “Pretty Bird” in English, it is portrayed as a magical, wise being with the ability to communicate in the human language. Pretty Bird is credited with bringing fire to the tribe. The Firebird is said to have appeared to the tribe at a time when they had no fire. Fire was in existence then but for reasons unexplained, the ability to have or procure fire eluded this particular tribe. Hence, the Indians of Puget Sound had to suffer cold nights and eat raw meat. (www.tsemrinpoche.com)
July 12, 2026
I loved Emberly Ash’s The Frost Witch, so I was really excited to dive into her newest release, A Single Captive Spark. A botched kidnapping, mysterious magic, a corrupt ruler, and a race of changeling rebels determined to eliminate a cruel regime? It had all the ingredients for a story I should have loved. Unfortunately, it just didn't come together for me the way I had hoped.
Sadie Provost did a wonderful job bringing Fionna to life with her narration. I enjoyed Fionna's role as the princess's companion who unexpectedly finds herself kidnapped by mistake. Her fierce love for her sister and the way she's forced to confront the truth about her world led to some satisfying character growth.
Helio, however, never clicked for me. I found him to be a fairly flat love interest, and Kevin Marron's narration unfortunately didn't help. His delivery felt abrupt with the pacing making it difficult for me to connect with Helio's character and emotional journey.
Ultimately, I think what was missing was a real sense of danger. The story establishes a frightening prince in the background, but I never truly felt his threat when he appeared. Likewise, Helio is introduced as Fionna's captor. He is tasked with torturing her for information, but their relationship shifts toward romance so quickly that much of the tension disappears. I kept waiting for higher stakes, more emotional conflict, and stronger chemistry between them, but those moments never fully materialized.
While there were elements I enjoyed, particularly Fionna's character arc and the intriguing premise, the execution didn't quite live up to the promise for me.
Thank you to Emberly Ash, Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for the ALC!
3.5 stars rounded down
Sadie Provost did a wonderful job bringing Fionna to life with her narration. I enjoyed Fionna's role as the princess's companion who unexpectedly finds herself kidnapped by mistake. Her fierce love for her sister and the way she's forced to confront the truth about her world led to some satisfying character growth.
Helio, however, never clicked for me. I found him to be a fairly flat love interest, and Kevin Marron's narration unfortunately didn't help. His delivery felt abrupt with the pacing making it difficult for me to connect with Helio's character and emotional journey.
Ultimately, I think what was missing was a real sense of danger. The story establishes a frightening prince in the background, but I never truly felt his threat when he appeared. Likewise, Helio is introduced as Fionna's captor. He is tasked with torturing her for information, but their relationship shifts toward romance so quickly that much of the tension disappears. I kept waiting for higher stakes, more emotional conflict, and stronger chemistry between them, but those moments never fully materialized.
While there were elements I enjoyed, particularly Fionna's character arc and the intriguing premise, the execution didn't quite live up to the promise for me.
Thank you to Emberly Ash, Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for the ALC!
3.5 stars rounded down
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