With Hearts of Flame (Deluxe Limited Edition): A Dark Academia Romantasy Novel of Vampires and Dragons Featuring Stenciled Edges and Illustrated Endpapers (Bloodwing Academy, 4)
Briar Boleyn
To Snap a Silver Stem: A Novel – An Explosive Dark Fantasy Sequel and Rapunzel Retelling of Enemies to Lovers Romance (Crystal Bloom, 2)
by Sarah A. Parker
About this book
Orlaith is no longer the sheltered girl hiding behind a safety line. After the harrowing events of the series opener, she finds herself thrust into a treacherous political landscape where the stakes are nothing less than the survival of her continent. Surrounded by murderous beasts and shadowed by those who crave her destruction, she must play the part of a compliant pawn. Yet, beneath the gowns and the carefully practiced smiles, she is a woman fueled by a singular, burning desire: to make her captor bleed.
This explosive sequel to To Bleed a Crystal Bloom masterfully weaves a dark fantasy narrative rooted in a twisted Rapunzel retelling. As a gripping paranormal romance, it leans heavily into the enemies-to-lovers trope, delivering an intense, slow-burn obsession that is as toxic as it is addictive. The tension between Orlaith and her hunter is palpable, marked by a psychological chess match where every secret unearthed threatens to shatter their fragile reality.
Prepare for a visceral, atmospheric journey where shifting loyalties and buried truths collide. This is a story of atonement, where fear is no longer a shackle but a weapon. If you crave dark, poetic prose and high-stakes angst, this series is your next obsession.
- Publication Date
- May 25, 2026
- ASIN
- 0063476541
Reader Reviews
January 11, 2024
\"There is nowhere you can hide. Nowhere you can go. Even if this were to stop beating,\" he says, threading his hand over my rioting heart, \"I'd follow.\" \"Past and present meld and drift and reach down my throat, gripping my heart in a crushing fist. What have I done? Get away. I have to get away.\" I am loving this series even more after finishing this second book! Orlaith’s development in battling her past trauma while trying to put all the pieces together and navigating the world she has...
August 1, 2023
3.5 Stars I'm honestly not sure what I've read. The writing is poetic with lots of descriptive adjectives but I'm left feeling very confused. Like with the first, this ends on a huge cliffhanger. Of course I want to see how this plays out but I'm wondering if half of the book was even needed. One POV seems completely unnecessary and random. The slow burn of the story is a little much and I'd prefer less flowery writing. But that's just me. I really hope the third book picks up with the pacing....
August 17, 2022
Okay, first thing I want to say is I loved the first book in this series and read it over and over. Was soooo excited to for the second book, couldn’t wait, counted down the days, etc. I have to say I was disappointed with this one for several reasons, which I’ll list, but I hate that I’m giving this 3 stars because the first book was definitely 5 stars all the way. Things I liked: -Orlaith grew as a person, though maybe even too fast. She went from not being able to step outside her safety...
August 10, 2022
While we spent the first book of the Crystal Bloom series really diving into Orlaith's character and personal journey, To Snap a Silver Stem takes that groundwork and goes right into the MASSIVE amount of action happening throughout the course of the book. I literally couldn't put it down. The path Orlaith takes--every decision and thought she has is refreshingly honest, believable. This is not a book that glosses over trauma and how people heal from it (and that goes not just for Orlaith but...
March 16, 2025
I liked this book much better than the first book. A little action. A little spice. But my goodness this girl just falls into the palms of these men using her still, and it drives you a little mad. Gi can’t wait to start the next book. There were a few answers in this book but still so much mystery. And the ending… yup I am so glad book 3 is waiting for me to open it tomorrow. The book is poetically written and the world building holds true. )
