The Dagger and the Flame by Catherine Doyle

This digital ARC was gifted to me by Margaret K. McElderry Books through NetGalley. This in no way impacts the rating of the book. All of my reviews contain my honest opinions.

Title: The Dagger and the Flame

Series: The City of Fantome

Author: Catherine Doyle

Release Date: October 1, 2024

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, YA

Source: digital, NetGalley

TW: violence, fire/fire injury, blood, death, moderate sexual content, death of parent, domestic abuse, drug use

Synopsis

From the number one bestselling author Catherine Doyle comes the most fiery enemies-to-lovers romantasy of the year. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Leigh Bardugo and Stephanie Garber.

In the dark underbelly of a beautiful city, two rival assassins are pitted against each other in a deadly game of revenge, where the most dangerous mistake of all is falling in love…

In Fantome, a kingdom of cobbled streets, flickering lamplight, beautiful buildings, and secret catacombs, Shade-magic is a scarce and deadly commodity controlled by two enemy the Cloaks and the Daggers – the thieves and the assassins. On the night of her mother’s murder, 17-year-old Seraphine runs for her life. Seeking sanctuary with the Cloaks, Sera’s heart is set on revenge. But are her secret abilities a match for the dark-haired boy whose quicksilver eyes follow her around the city?

Nothing can prepare Sera for the moment she finally comes face-to-face with Ransom, heir to the Order of Daggers. And Ransom is shocked to discover that this unassuming farmgirl wields a strange and blazing magic he has never seen before… Among rumours of monsters stalking the streets and the rival guilds grappling for control of Fantome’s underworld, Sera and Ransom are drawn together by something more than just magic and must face a deadly choice - forgiveness or vengeance? Kiss or kill? Dagger or Flame?

Thoughts

I just finished reading "The Dagger and the Flame" by Catherine Doyle, and I'm absolutely blown away! From the moment I picked it up, I was completely hooked. The story grabbed me right from the start, and I found myself utterly obsessed with the main characters, Sera and Ransom.

What really drew me in was the concept of shadow magic being used by rival factions of assassins and thieves. It's such a unique and captivating idea that I knew I had to read this book as soon as I heard about it. And let me tell you, the execution exceeded all my expectations!

The plot twists were genuinely surprising and masterfully written. Even when I managed to guess a twist, I found myself excitedly thinking "I knew it!" rather than feeling disappointed. The author's ability to keep me on the edge of my seat was truly impressive.

Now, let's talk about the romance. The tension between Sera and Ransom was absolutely electric. Their enemies-to-lovers journey had me swooning throughout the entire book. It's one of the best examples of this trope that I've read in a long time.

I also have to mention how much I enjoyed the side characters. They were all so well-developed and added so much depth to the story. And don't even get me started on the lore of the city and the saints – it was fascinating and left me wanting to know more about this world.

To sum it up, I'm beyond excited for the next book in the series. I simply can't wait to find out what happens next! If you're a fan of fantasy romance with a dash of intrigue and magic, I highly recommend giving "The Dagger and the Flame" a read. You won't be disappointed!