Roseanna M. White

Ahh, all the love for this new romantasy from Roseanna M. White! I absolutely loved the first book in this series & fell just as hard for this second one. Fire & ice shape this new world in the Awakened universe, & Aflame completely drew me in. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Opposites attract, a new queen fighting to restore her kingdom, awakened abilities, & threats from within & without—it’s a race against time as Kyrja & Nik try to outwit her father & those determined to show more destroy their one chance at a new kingdom.

I loved this creative story! If you’ve read the first book, you’ll remember the sea & wind magic. This one takes place 150 years later & shifts to another continent where fire & ice clash, & a ruthless king rules with an iron fist. Told from multiple viewpoints, these endearing characters completely pulled me in.

Princess Valkyrja (Kyrja) is the third-born, dismissed as “pretty & useless” by her father & siblings. Nikanor (Nikk) is a thane, one of the farmers & miners who keep the kingdom running. Their fast friendship deepens after tragedy strikes & Kyrja becomes heir, forcing her to confront just how oppressive her father’s rule truly is. As she & Nik awaken powerful new abilities, they must build something better, a kingdom based on equality. Meanwhile, the Blessed who wield ice magic must reckon with the Cursed, fire-wielding Awakened who’ve secretly lived within the volcano, maintaining the fragile balance of Fjordlandi.

Daemon’s lived in the volcano for 150 years, & the arrival of a newcomer gives him hope of finally being seen as an equal. I loved his wounded-hero, gruff personality.

This book completely pulled me in! I adored meeting Perla, Daemon, Elianne, & Raf alongside Kyrja & Nik. The setting, so reminiscent of Iceland, was incredible. I could feel the icy cold, picture a land locked in frost, & almost feel the heat of molten lava from the volcano. The contrast & imagery were beautifully done. The sizzling chemistry & sweet romance between Kyrja & Nik was so good. And I loved the subtle faith thread, the themes and allusions to God through The Giver, woven seamlessly throughout.

Highly recommend this must-read romantasy filled with twists & turns. Can’t wait for the next book in the series! Aflame can easily be read as a standalone but is even more enjoyable if you’ve read the previous books in the series. I received an advanced copy from the author with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions are completely my own & provided voluntarily. show less

"Humans love without the vision of what will come. They love on faith. That makes it both more beautiful...and more terrible."

I have always loved Roseanna M White's historical fiction and now am enthralled with her romantic fantasy. It is a little longer than her usual books but so worthwhile. Not a single page is wasted in this fabulous world where the land, sea, and sky meet. The spin on "merfolk" in this story was fascinating and magic woven throughout the story was wonderful, refreshing, show more and honoring of the Triada, the allegorical Trinity. Faith thread ran strong in the story, especially in Seidon's life; it was delightful to see a king depend wholly and solely on the grace and mercy gifted by the Creator. Seidon's faithful and steadfast voice mingled with Arden's impulsive and passionate voice perfectly while Jade's determined but scared voice added depth and layers. And the banter between Seidon and Arden was amazing.
This is one of my favorite books of 2025 and I recommend it to anyone who loves epic romantic fantasy adventures. It looks like there are more novels to come and I cannot wait to meet people of other nations who inhabit this world. Bravo, Roseanna M White!

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of WhiteCrown Publishing and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own. show less

"Forgiveness isn't a ticket you buy, a one-time thing bought and paid for. Forgiveness is the train you choose to ride through life's journey. You have to stay on it, even though sometimes you don't know where it's taking you. You have to trust it to protect you from the elements that rage outside - and inside."

This is a different Roseanna M White book, which just proves how versatile and proficient she is as an author. She still stays in the historical genre but this book takes us deep into show more the heart of Chicago during the Roaring 20s. The glamour and glitz of the nightlife, danger and secrecy of the mafia, unwavering loyalty of family, and one man's passion to live out God's calling combine perfectly to produce an unforgettable tale of true worth, forgiveness, and love. If you enjoy historical romance, you will definitely want to read this newest by Roseanna M White.

Though I'm not a fan of love triangles, Sabina, Lorenzo, and Roman's relationships are intricately layered with many dimensions that I felt empathy for each one of the characters. Sally comes into the plot halfway through the story and adds another emotional layer to the dark underworld. It's fascinating to see the mafia world through the eyes of those who grew up in it (Sabina and Lorenzo), want to destroy it (Roman), and are helplessly shackled to it (Sally). In the midst of all the lies, murders, betrayals, bribery, alcohol, and exploitation, a shining light of redemption cuts through that darkness and calls each of the characters to forgiveness and unconditional love. Though not a suspense book, the fast-paced plot involving the mafia and Roman's dogged pursuit of the mafia boss had me on the edge of my seat. Lorenzo's total devotion to Sabina is remarkable and his stance to love the family but not the family business is admirable.

I received the book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are solely my own. show less

I haven't worked out why the cover sets off my “unconvincing violinist” radar. But I’m glad I didn’t let that put me off. This is my favourite of the trilogy.

In September of 1914 Willa, is sent to Wales to steal a cipher from the Belgium violinist, Lukas de Wilde. Lukas was forced to abandon his search for his family in German-occupied Belgium after he was shot, and is desperate with worry. Meanwhile his fourteen-year-old Margot and their mother are hiding under an assumed-name in show more Brussels.

Because I read The Number of Love first (unaware of its connection to this book), I knew where Willa, Lucas and Margot would all be in three years time-- but I still really enjoyed this.

Oh, I rolled my eyes at a few things, like Willa being such a brilliant violinist even though she’s never had any lessons ever, or Lucas supposedly having been a player -- without more details about his past behaviour, I wasn’t as convinced by references to his current behaviour being out-of-character as I suspect I was meant to be.

But once I decided to just accept that Willa is a musical genius, I loved all the scenes about playing the violin and the way the story captures Willa’s and Lukas’ passion for music. I enjoyed their banter and flirting. And I liked getting to meet a slightly-younger Margot and to fill in some of the pieces in her story.

“How do you say ‘idiot’ in French?”
He grinned. “Mon amour. Try it out.”
She rolled her eyes instead -- apparently even she knew that it meant ‘my love’.
[...]
“What was he working on? Your father, I mean.”
He flicked a gaze down at her, one that shone with intelligence that he quickly covered with a charming grin. “I could not tell you if I wanted to, mon amour. I am a musician, not a mathematician. And it was all mathematics.”
So then, he had some sense when it came to baring his soul to strangers. Good for him, if bad for her. She returned the grin. “Did you just call me an idiot? I ought to storm away.” show less