THIS ENDS IN EMBERS

Faron and Elara return in this duology closer following 2024’s So Let Them Burn—and their magic and relationships face even greater tests.

As the Childe Empyrean, a magical vessel and protector of San Irie, Faron Vincent was revered like a deity by her people and trusted by the gods to be a conduit of their power. And then she betrayed them. To save Elara, her sister whose bond with a dragon posed a potentially fatal threat, Faron joined forces with the deity Iya—who waged war on and sought to claim San Irie—to help build his army and enact his plan of destroying more nations. Racked with guilt, Faron has no faith she’ll ever be able to return home. But that doesn’t stop her from trying to take down the very entity she chose over her people, to end his days of chaos and spare other nations. Elara, now in the role of Maiden Empyrean, will do everything in her power to rebuild San Irie and bring her sister back, no matter the cost. Will the sisters survive a war when they’re forced to be on rival sides? Cole maintains her fresh and engaging prose as the primarily Black characters grapple with inner turmoil, external conflict, human relationships, and supernatural bonds. Readers will be better served by having read the first installment.

Complex connections, higher stakes, and more dire repercussions combine to make this a compelling read.