**Disclaimer: I was given a free e-book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.**
Title Glow of the Fireflies
Author Lindsey Duga
Description from Amazon
Briony never planned to go back to the place she lost everything.
Firefly Valley, nestled deep within the Smoky Mountains, is better kept in her past. It’s been six years since an unexplained fire gave Briony amnesia, her mother disappeared, and her dad moved them away.
But now her grandmother needs a caretaker, and Briony’s dad insists she be the one to help. The moment she returns, she feels a magical connection to the valley, as if it’s a part of her somehow.
And when she meets a hot guy named Alder who claims he was her childhood friend but now mysteriously keeps his distance, Briony starts piecing together her missing past…and discovers her mother didn’t leave to start a new life somewhere. She’s trapped in the hidden world within the valley.
Now, Briony will do whatever it takes to rescue her, even if it means standing up against dangerously powerful gods. But when saving her mother comes with the ultimate sacrifice–Alder’s death–how can she choose?
Release Date October 1, 2019
Initial Thoughts
I liked Kiss of the Royal by Lindsey Duga so when I saw this book was coming out, I eagerly applied. Unfortunately, this one got lost in the chaos that was my reading and reviewing schedule for a little while – but, my excitement never waned.
Some Things I Liked
- Alder. He was my favorite and I won’t have anyone tell me otherwise. He was so sweet and such a great character to pair with Briony.
- “For fox sake.” Best. Quote. Ever. I don’t want to give all the details of why I loved this one (due to profanity 😂), but I literally say this all day long at work. This sentence (not the NSFW version). I sit next to a guy who likes to wear these socks that say “Zero Fox Given” and we have some colleagues that enjoy the profane version of “for fox sake” so naturally, we combined the two and I just died when I read it here. I loved it.
- Folklore and world building. I loved this world. I thought it was so interesting and I’d love to know more about what inspired Lindsey Duga. Some of the elements felt familiar, but not in a cliché way. They felt unique and I loved the world.
Something I Wasn’t Crazy About
- This is totally a me thing – but I don’t love fantasy / contemporary mash ups. I would have preferred fewer contemporary elements.
Series Value
This book was perfect as a standalone. I don’t think a sequel would do it justice. I really like Lindsey Duga’s writing style, but, I want to see her create new characters and places. This story feels complete already.
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed this book. I am actually quite disappointed that I let it sit unread in my NetGalley queue for so long. This was a really unique story and I loved the characters. I’m so glad I read it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommendations for Further Reading
- Kiss of the Royal by Lindsey Duga – if you liked the writing style here, check out Lindsey’s other books!
- Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw – if you liked the dynamic between Alder and Briony as well as the magic system, check out this new release by Shea Ernshaw.
- Cupid’s Match by Lauren Palphreyman – if you liked the contemporary / fantasy mix in this story, check out this book by Lauren Palphreyman.
Books Over Everything 