"He was bleeding inside, but his skin was smooth and unblemished."

*A huge thank you to Tia for allowing me to read an ARC of The Phantom Flame!! All thoughts and comments are my own.*

The Phantom Flame is book two in the Brimstone and Fire series. The series has to be read in order and the following has spoilers from book 1, Of Blood, Bones, and Truth. TPF starts three years after the events of OBBT. Cassian is in one the Hells, healed but altered after his pact with Zalmelloth. Kellan, Vaida, and Selwyn have been left to grieve what they've all lost, not knowing what's become of Cassian and Pontius. What follows is a powerful tale of heartache, grief, friendship, and above all, hope.

Ledvina wrote a masterclass in loss. The ebb and flow of grief, the need to forget, if only for a few moments, the anger, and the longevity that it sits with you. All of it written in such a beautifully sad way that she brought me to tears countless times through the course of the story. (Several times while I was reading on public transportation. Crying in a mask? Do not recommend.)

This story has a great balance of character and relationship development along with plot. As on OBBT there are mysteries to unravel, as well as a dangerous quest, that keeps the story engaging and moving. My favorite soft boys are not in for an easy time in this story, but their journey separately and together in top tier. While Kellan and Cassian will always have my whole heart, the standout relationship for me is Kellan and Vaida's friendship. Ledvina writes such moving platonic relationships that showcase the necessity of those types of bonds.

There is a new POV in this book. Beck steps in to the spotlight, shining a light on the innerworkings of The Phantom Flame, along with POVs from Kellan and Cassian. Beck is mentioned and makes a brief appearance in OBBT, but truly gets to shine and come into his own in TPF. Beck's life has not been easy, and he continually gets thrust into bad situations by those controlling his destiny. How he holds onto a piece of himself throughout it all is equal parts impressive and heartbreaking. There are multiple new characters introduced, who are all extremely compelling. Zal stands out as especially funny and mysterious. I still can't get a handle on zir motivations.

The Phantom Flame is an outstanding follow-up to Of Blood, Bones, and Truth! While there is a cliffhanger, it's easier to handle than the one in OBBT. I still need book three my life depends on it though! The Brimstone and Fire series has quickly become one of my favorites, and I love every bit of these stories. I cannot recommend this series enough!! The Phantom Flame is an absolute must read!

"It was spilling over, his grief; a cup so long overfull that even the slightest shake would send the contents crashing over the sides. Beck could sense it. The delicate dance Kellan was doing to maintain that balance, to the keep the cup from spilling over."

"He'd loved, unashamedly and unabashedly. It had been so brief, enough that he'd not been given time to appreciate it, to understand it. But he'd known, if they'd had time, it would have been perfect. It would have been everything he wanted, but didn't deserve."

"He'd lay his heart in her hands if it could still beat outside his body; he knew she'd take care of it."fantasy-paranormal Abigail118 6

I have been waiting for this book for so long, and I was not disappointed at all! Getting to be back in this world and with these characters was a breath of fresh air. This book did have me sobbing, but there were also so many moments that put a smile on my face.

I know I already said this, but I was so happy to be back with these characters!! I truly missed my sweet boys so much, and though they have changed since the last book, I still love them so much. I am also obsessed with the side characters in this series, and was so happy to meet some new ones. I can’t wait to see more of them!

Ledvina also expanded this incredible world beautifully. The imagery is out of this world, and I enjoyed exploring new spots as well as being back in the world I loved so much from the first book.

Lastly, the writing in The Phantom Flame that dealt with grief was so tragically beautiful. It made me cry at times, but it was just what my soul needed. I am so glad that I was able to read this series, and truly can’t wait to see where the rest of this series. T.M Ledvina is one of my favorite authors, even with those killer cliffhangers.1 Adrienne | spellbound.archives2

“He’d never been this powerful before. It felt good. But it didn’t feel right.”
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