Their romance also has this doomed and tragic quality to it that makes it more gripping and intense, and I have to say that while I love Cas, I feel that Nyktos has more personality and individuality. She hears a rattle from above and finds a silver hawk–the same type as the one she saved the other day in the Red Woods and the hawk helps her in the fight against the Shades. I think some readers might be bothered by Sera's edge softening a bit but for me I'm glad JLA did not shy away from showing that side of Sera and it doesn't take away from her charm as a heroine. When Nyktos dances around the topic himself, Attes tells him that Hanan is throwing a fit in Dalos, and that no one has forgotten who Eythos was nor who Nyktos was meant to be.

Casteel and Poppy as well as Nektas and Sera are strong and lovable characters, who I’ve loved from the first page until now. The author did a splendid job with her, and I will be happy to read another book with her as the main character, as long as the long inner monologues are toned down a bit. Sera slams her hand against Nyktos’ chest, releasing pure, Primal essence into him, and shoving him backwards.I think the Flesh and Fire Books are as great as the Blood and Ash Books and I can’t wait to read where those two stories will lead us (I think there’ll be a big showdown between Poppy, Sera, Casteel and Nyktos against Kolis).

The romance could be described as a slow burn when it comes to admitting their feelings and talking about them, but it was not that slow when it came to sex. Nyktos also tells Sera that the Rot should disappear once the Embers of life are in him, which fills her with relief, because it means that there is a future for her realm/country. Ash being absolutely protective of a girl he never knew decided to let her feed from him when she required it. It means that the embers are really strong, but also it’s not something that anyone knew that Eythos could do.I love the intensity of the relationship and I’m so heartbroken for Nyktos; that he’s so afraid of love that he had that kardia taken out. She then realizes that while Delfai may be able to tell them how to remove the embers, that would mean that the deaths of Gods and Primals would happen the same way as it happened with Kolis, and she cannot have her life exchanged for others. She ends up reading, but then decides to drink wine and eventually pleasures herself, though she feels Nyktos’ presence in the shadows and hears his voice commanding her as she daydreams about what he would do to her while they are in bed together, before falling asleep.