Book: Hearts Burn Slow by Serenity Von
Reviewed by Anonymous
Rating: 3.5/5
Tropes: Romantasy, Portal Fantasy, Slow 🔥, Fated Mates, Chosen One, Sibling Villain, Choosing Herself First, Fae Prince MMC, Fantasy Writer FMC, Found Family
Review No Spoilers: If you love portal fantasy, fae, prophecy, forbidden secrets, and a romance that takes its time building, this one is definitely worth picking up!
Layni is a bestselling fantasy author whose books are inspired by the incredibly vivid dreams she’s had for years. But when she’s diagnosed with a brain tumor and faces life-saving surgery, she’s terrified that the dreams and the magic behind them could disappear forever. Then, just before her surgery, one of the people from those dreams literally walks into her living room. 👀
Calyx, a fae prince, reveals that the world Layni has been dreaming and writing about is real and it’s in serious danger. He believes Layni is the prophesied Fireheart, the only one capable of saving Fairy from destruction before the coming Eclipse.
Once Layni crosses into Fairy, though, things are nowhere near as simple as Calyx made them sound. Political intrigue, hidden agendas, secrets, and conflicting versions of the truth quickly make her question who she can actually trust. And when her dreams begin showing her a completely different path to saving the realm—one involving a mysterious purple-haired fae Layni finds herself caught between what she’s been told, what she sees in her dreams, and what her instincts are screaming at her.
I loved the concept of an author literally stepping into the world she created from her dreams. The whole setup gives this story such a fun, immersive “what if the fantasy world you wrote was actually real?” feeling. Add in fae politics, prophecy, magic, secrets, and a slow burning romantic connection, and there’s plenty here to keep you turning the pages.
Layni’s journey is especially intriguing as she learns that the truth isn’t always as straightforward as it seems and that sometimes trusting yourself can be just as dangerous as trusting the wrong person.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️