Format: Hardcover, 416 pages
Release Date: November 25, 2025
Publisher: ACE
Source: Publisher
Genre: Fantasy / Romance
A new romantasy, following a thief whose dramatic encounter with an assassin and a crown bodyguard (who has dangerous secrets to keep) launches her into a world of swirling palace intrigue, from New York Times bestselling author Chloe Neill.
Fox is a thief with morals—she steals from those who can afford it and takes only a little at that. But she has no choice. Fox and her closest companion are indentured servants to an unscrupulous wealthy woman in the stronghold. Unable to pay off their debts with the work they’re given, they steal in the hopes of one day being free—truly free.
While searching for an easy mark, Fox identifies a would-be assassin with her rare magical ability and then helps a royal bodyguard fend off his vicious attack on the prince. Soon, that good deed embroils her in a vast and shimmering world of imperial politics, long-lost magic, and improbable romance. But Fox longs for freedom, and must decide if love is its own kind of cage.
Fox is a thief with morals—she steals from those who can afford it and takes only a little at that. But she has no choice. Fox and her closest companion are indentured servants to an unscrupulous wealthy woman in the stronghold. Unable to pay off their debts with the work they’re given, they steal in the hopes of one day being free—truly free.
While searching for an easy mark, Fox identifies a would-be assassin with her rare magical ability and then helps a royal bodyguard fend off his vicious attack on the prince. Soon, that good deed embroils her in a vast and shimmering world of imperial politics, long-lost magic, and improbable romance. But Fox longs for freedom, and must decide if love is its own kind of cage.
Ember Eternal is the first installment in author Chloe Neill's Souls Burn Brightest series. This is Chloe Neill's romantasy debut, part political thriller, part slow-simmering romance, all wrapped in a magic system that's as inventive as it is haunting. If you're craving a tale where loyalty is currency, freedom is a thief's gamble, and love burns hotter than forbidden fire, this one's for you. At its core, Ember Eternal thrusts us into the life of Fox, a street-smart thief who's equal parts cunning and cautious.
Bound in indentured servitude to an enigmatic noblewoman known only as the Lady—to settle her family's mounting debts—Fox operates on a code: steal only from the rich, take only what's needed, never get noticed, and never get caught. Oh, and let's not forget that she can see the Anima (departed souls). Her world is one of gritty survival in a sprawling empire divided into fractious regions, where the air hums with the tension of simmering rebellions and the weight of ancient pacts.
Fox isn't alone in her shadows; she's fiercely loyal to her best friend Wren, whose banter and unbreakable bond provide some of the book's most genuine sparks of warmth. Fox and Wren are sisters in all that matters. The inciting incident—a chaotic market skirmish where Fox unwittingly aids a royal bodyguard in thwarting an assassination attempt on a highborn prince—yanks her from the fringes into the viper's nest of palace intrigue. Suddenly, our reluctant heroine is navigating gilded corridors, unraveling secrets about her own shadowed past, and dodging daggers both literal and metaphorical.
Neill escalates the stakes from personal survival to empire-shaking conspiracies, blending high-fantasy elements like crown politics and moral ambiguity with the intimate pulse of character-driven drama. Without spoiling the twists, the plot unfolds like a well-orchestrated heist: methodical buildup, pulse-pounding action, and revelations that reframe everything you thought you knew. Fox is a morally gray delight—resourceful enough to pick a lock with a hairpin and a prayer, yet haunted by the ghosts of her choices and dreams of a family she lost 10 years ago.
Her growth arc—from wary outsider to someone daring to claim her power to being the main thorn in the villain's goals—is the emotional heartbeat of the book. Wren, as her foil and confidante, steals scenes with her dry wit and unyielding support. Wren's own twisted story intersects with Galen, the gruff protector of the Prince, who goes toe-to-toe in a battle of wits and humor. The prince—Nik as to avoid spoilers—is a brooding standout, all sharp edges and hidden depths.
His chemistry with Fox crackles from their first charged encounter, evolving into a romance that's as much about mutual respect as it is about magnetic pull. He tries hard to put aside the bad history of his family's name to prove he's more capable than his brothers of the Emperor Eternal. But it's the magic system that truly enchants—a tripartite cosmology of realms: Terra, the mortal plane of dust and decree; Aetheric, a shimmering domain of spirits and anima where souls flicker like eternal flames; and Oblivion, the void-haunted abyss tied to forgotten gods.
Before I forget, I can't mention Luna, Fox's Guardian, who has her own agenda (no spoilers because it all ties into the events surrounding the ending of the book), but rarely fails to rise to the occasion when Fox is in dire need of help. If you're a fan of A Court of Thorns and Roses meets The Priory of the Orange Tree, then this story is definitely for you. As a recommendation: If you have read the author's previous series, this series will be very different. It's a different world, new characters, and perhaps a new direction in the author's writing career as well.
OOh nice! I love Chloe's books! I've read almost everything of hers I think, except for her high fantasy series. I tried that one but didn't mesh with the story but I've been excited for this one for the last year and then some. Glad to hear it was an enjoyable read. It sounds like one I will enjoy! Glad to hear it was a winner. Nice review!
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