Flame and Sparrow (Flame and Sparrow Duology Book 1)

by S.M. Gaither

For everyone who’s ever been told they’re ‘too much’— Go ahead and burn as brightly as you want to.

😭🖤

Once, when I was a child, I accidentally set fire to a god.

i like this start

Soon I could no longer remember a time before the hate. Before the burning.

amen girl. amen

Myself, I’d fully lost my appetite for praying and begging some time ago.

me too girl

I would never pray to them again. Instead, I was going to help destroy them and all of their servants—one shrine, one statue, one temple at a time.

god, i fuck with her so hard

Destruction. Revenge. They were the only paths to closure for me.

this is exactly the type of character i needed right now

sometimes what was considered monstrous changed depending on the lighting.

oof

“I spat at the feet of your god before I destroyed his temple,” I said, “and I would do it again if given the chance.

AAAHHH GIRL🧎🏻‍♀️‍➡️

But somehow, I was not burning.

oh????

“Oh,” I said. “Oh?” Andrel repeated, breathlessly. “What do you mean oh?

Im with ya dude. Oh??

“This feels like a bad idea, doesn’t it?” I asked Moth,

i love Moth. he’s my new favorite character. if anything happens to him, i will RIOT

I carried a gift from the God of Ice to help ward off some of the darkness—a

i like him too. he’s chaotic

Moth’s cries faded entirely into the distance.

NOT MOTH

Moth was here as well, curled up asleep on the far end of the table,

OH THANK GOD

“So the God of Ice is a show-off and a snitch,” I muttered into my cup.

still funny

It was reflex—and maybe a touch of panic—that swung my hand forward, tossing the water from my cup toward his face.

OH SHIT HAHAH

“Was that a compliment?” “No.” The reply came insultingly quickly.

😂

“Be still, miran-achth.”

🤭

“Come see me again soon,” he said, “and maybe we can chat more in less…constricting surroundings.”

i kinda fuck with this guy

he turned away, chuckling, and said, “I was already planning on thinking of you.”

OOOOP

And did you enjoy yourself last night?” “Last night?” “While thinking of me.”

OOOOOP

“Well?” I pressed for some reason. “Did you?” “Immensely,” he said.

AHH

He lifted his hand, trailed his fingers lightly across my cheek. “I don’t think you want to hear my answer.”

🤭🤭🤭🤭

“So let’s keep the danger in mind,” he murmured, “and please believe me, Little Sparrow, when I tell you that I could set fire to every inhibition you possess, and when we are finished it will only be you and I among the ashes. I will be the only thing you can think of, and it will not be disdain that you feel toward me, I can promise you that.”

hot DAMN

I want to do regrettable things with him.

FUCK ITTTTT

“Is it not exhausting to be angry all the time?”

i mean… yeah

Her lips moved, and on them I read the same advice she’d given me last night— Burn brightly.

god i hope she doesn’t betray us. i really like her too

If they wanted a show, I would fucking give them one.

yes bitchhhhh

“Well, I would tell you to feel free to think of this mouth while I’m gone,” I said, “but I’m sure you were already planning to think about it.” His gaze finally fixed on me, burning with possibility and promise as he said, “Among other things.”

WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS HERE

A monster, but a monster who had gifted me the sun. Who had offered me healing in every way he could after my trials…and then let me go when he saw no other way to aid in that healing. He was still the villain. I couldn’t forget that. It was just… In my head, I’d written our story much differently.

he’s not that bad girl… we cannot kill him, like what but then again.. i know what that undeniable need for revenge feels like

Darkness overtook our surroundings—a swift, supernatural darkness that swallowed up the moon and stars along with everything else.

OH SHITTTTTTT

“I am a most generous god, after all.”

mmmm

“Well, with all due respect—which is none—fuck him and his stupid pointy ears and beautiful face. If I were you, I would never speak of him again. Or to him, for that matter.”

honestly you’re so right bro

His voice lowered. Still annoyingly calm compared to mine, but clearly frustrated. “Tonight I just needed to make sure you were okay.”

FORGIVE HIM RIGHT NOW

“He’s never done anything like this before.” “If he did it once, he’ll do it again.”

ain’t that the fucked up truth

“Put your daggers away, my Sparrow. You’re not on trial at the moment.

“I don’t know how to put them away.”

fuck

“Sometimes we hold on to painful things, I think, because letting them go feels like letting go of the person who gave them to us.”

fuckkkkk

“This is a bad idea,” I gasped into his mouth. “For so many reasons,” he agreed, and kissed me again.

got me giggling & kicking me feet

“Is that I became the God of Fire because I wanted to burn it all down. The ones who had sent those assassins after my family. Every person those killers loved, every home they had ever had—all of it.” His fists clenched and his eyes flashed briefly with their wild, fiery glow. “And so I did.”

they are a mirror of each other. how… romantic?

“How could you do something like that?” I was trying—and failing miserably—to comprehend all the messy layers of him.

girl. you’re about to kill all the Gods because you *think* one of them killed your sister. you’re no different

anger was a strange well to draw from; the more you drank of it, the thirstier you became.

“So perhaps I’ll just stand among the ashes with you,” he said, “and admire your work.” “I could allow that.”

“You have more questions about the gods and their wild sexual escapades, don’t you?” “Maybe.”

i mean shit, i would

a smile crossed his lips. “I’m guessing you know why the always-punctual God of Fire is late for the meeting he and I were supposed to have this morning?”

😂

I rolled my eyes but found myself fighting off a laugh; he had that effect on me.

me too girl. any scene Valas is in, i’m giggling

“She remained here for a short time.”

easy call. it’s her sister

“The failed ascendant was your sister.”

yup. called that

I had nothing to place in the offering bowl beside it—but

girl he literally gave you something. the glass sparrow.

Which made the weapons—and potential weapons—hidden in my room uncomfortable, to say the least.

yeah. you’re mad they hid shit from you but, you’re doing the exact same thing