"Never again would she smile when she wanted to cry. Never again would she be so weak."
"Lions aren't afraid of wolves."
"She meant nothing. She meant nothing to anyone, and it was that thought that cracked a fine line down her center."

After the death of her mother, Aheia finds herself stained by more blood than she can hide in the perpetual daylight of her home of Keloseros. She escapes the realm but pays the price: giving up her immortality and her powers--once a Mithra with light at her fingertips, she becomes near-mortal. Her desperate search for asylum leads her to the doorstep of the only place out of her abusive family's reach--a realm that deals in death and darkness unapologetically--Alijra. But nothing in this world is free, and to buy her way to dubious safety, she's forced to give up the only thing she has left to barter. Her soul in exchange for seven days in the devil's realm. Arioch, the ruler of the Nephilim, is eager to dangle his new little pet in front of the Mithra who have caused irreparable damage to his life, but he doesn't expect the effect Aheia's soul has on both of them once it's stamped on his arm. The pull between them is all-consuming--they crave each other, between sharp words and angry exchanges in an increasingly passionate bond that threatens to shatter the delicate balance of everything.

This book shattered the delicate balance that is my soul. Dead serious. I was not prepared for this book in any way. The author had no right to destroy me or see me in the way that she did. It was beautiful and I don't think I'll ever recover. Aheia's pain is portrayed so perfectly that you know exactly what the feeling is, even if you wish you could deny it. The fact that this is a dark fantasy should suggest that this isn't going to be a healthy perfect relationship and it's not. But it works because both Aheia and Arioch can give the broken pieces of the other exactly what they need.

I knew from the first time we got Arioch's point of view that I was going to love him even with his flaws... and I did. But not nearly as much as I loved the fierceness that resided in Aheia. She spoke to me on a level that a character hasn't in a long time and it was needed. But to the romance: it's dark, it's twisted, it's full of rage and hate, it's full of banter and tension. It's got it all. Mostly though this book has left me needing more so all I can say is stop everything you are doing and read it. Like right now. Stop reading this and go read Helfyre. ( )

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 (bonus)
🌶🌶🌶 /4

See the original cover of this for my full review.

This copy has been re-formatted to include a beautiful new cover & a world map. The shadow chapter pages have been removed to save paper / cost. ( )

A sort of Hades and Persephone story. Involves Mithras and Nephilim. Atheia is forced to run from her home after a disaster - she runs across the world and ends up running directly to Arioch, the leader of Alijra which is the stand-in for the Underworld. She gives up her soul, the only thing left to bargain with for safety.

This opens up a connection between Atheia and Arioch that explodes in steamy desire and creates loads of problems.

Well, it's not bad but there's some parts that fell flat for me personally. I enjoyed this overall and will look for the next installment.

**All thoughts and opinions are my own. Read using my own personal KU subscription.** ( )

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 (bonus)
🌶🌶🌶 /4

Enter a new world where the age-old battle between light and dark is not all that it seems.

Arioch is the ruler of hel, the angel of death, a powerful and dangerous figure charged with immense power.

Aheia is a daughter of the light, but she's been burned by it for most of her life. After a harrowing escape, she makes it to the border of Arioch's realm and exchanges her soul for asylum. What neither of them realized was the true value of that bargain.

"Don't believe the truths told to you by the light. The brightness you're used to casts the most viscous of shadows.":

Helfyre is the sizzling debut in the Agía Sahnta series where the author brings us along on an incredibly vibrant and intriguing world-building journey, all while introducing us to characters that will have you exploring the deepest depths of your own soul.

This is a dark romance set in a high fantasy realm. Nothing is at it seems, nothing is straightforward. But life never is. The author manages to weave a masterful story while also inviting us into some very hard looks at mental health, trauma, ptsd, and how shame can be used as both prison and freedom.

I can't recommend this book enough (just make sure to read the trigger warnings). After reading it for the first time I kept the following quotes saved so I could refer back to them again and again.

~ "Life is too long for shame. You are what you are and you like what you like."

~ "The blood of the covenant you chose over the water of the womb you were born from"

~"We're all broken. It's what gives us strength. Only the broken can grow." ( )

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 (bonus)
🌶🌶🌶 /4

See ebook edition for full review. ( )