The Dagger and the Flame Readalong: Day 1!

Gorgeous photo by  @lonely_reader!

Happy Monday, fairies!

I hope you all had a lovely weekend filled with books! 📚

Welcome to day one of our YA readalong of The Dagger and the Flame by Catherine Doyle!  I am so excited to be reading this enemies to lovers fantasy with you all!

Since today is the first day, we’ll be reading from the beginning to the end of Chapter 6.  It’s time to get cosy and dive in!

When you’ve finished today’s section, catch up with me in the comments down below so we can discuss the beginning of the book. Happy reading!

---

Please be warned, the following section will include spoilers for The Dagger and the Flame by Catherine Doyle from the beginning to the end of Chapter 6. Please only read on if you have finished reading this section!

–!SPOILERS!–

I’m already loving how this world has been set up. From that intro the Cloaks sound a bit more… morally good? Maybe? And the Daggers sound like they can be quite brutal! We’ll see though!

We meet Seraphine and Pippin, her dog. I need more fantasy dogs in my life.

I got too excited about the cat, is her mum testing on it? She seems to be turning it into a bigger cat and I know I’m supposed to be against it but I’m imagining a giant cuddly house cat and how warm and snuggly it would be and I can’t! 😍

For real though, it sounds like Seraphine’s mum is messing with dangerous things.

I love this world so far, the Daggers consume a volatile substance called Shade. The Cloaks don’t consume shade but wear it. They consider themselves more noble but anyone who dabbles in Shade is tempting fate.

Her mother is a smuggler so Sera has always been around Shade but, smart gal, has never dared to experiment with it.

We get a bit of a backstory, her mother was marked. Gaspard Du Fort – leader of the Daggers wanted her dead… and he got his wish.

Alone now, Sera’s only option is to seek sanctuary with the Order of Cloaks. Interestingly, she lies and tells them her mother died from the plague. She definitely knows she was up to no good! Either way, she’s safe… for now.

We’re switching perspectives and step into the mind of Ransom. Sera didn’t imagine it, someone was following her and now we know why. Sera is also marked. Ransom is part of the Order of Daggers and Gaspard Du Fort has ordered a kill on Seraphine. There could be hope for Ransom yet? He’s considering why Gaspard wants her dead…

For now, he’s only tasked with watching her, so let’s hope Seraphine gets her magic Shade cloak sooner rather than later – it might give her a better chance!

Back to Sera and she’s making friends already! I like Bibi and Val, they seem quite bubbly – definitely a fun addition to the book! They want to know more about her and Sera conveniently skips over the part about her mother being killed by the Daggers and her now having her own mark.

Ohhh, interesting! Sera wants revenge. She doesn’t tell anyone though. Gotta be honest, I think she could use the help!

Sera finds House Armand different to what she imagined and I can’t help but agree. Maybe they are more noble after all? They definitely seem pretty welcoming all things considered!

Sera has a beau back at the farm, but Theo (the Shadowsmith) also seems to have caught her eye. That’s interesting… I was hoping we’d see a little enemies to lovers develop between her and Ransom!

The Cloaks are masters of thievery and todays task for Sera is to watch and learn. Watching Val and Bibi work has her pacing, they make it look really easy. She gets in her head a little bit and starts to think it might be some kind of initiation test. Except right as she’s plucking up the courage to steal something, she spots a figure in her periphery.

Before she has too much time to ponder on what she saw – or didn’t see – Val and Bibi are back. Sera hangs back as they head home to let Pippin catch up to them… and those seconds on her own is all it takes!

Ransom is here.

She doesn’t really know who he is yet though, but she knows he’s handsome!

It’s only once he’s left and she realises the autumnal eyed gentleman knew her name that she starts to get suspicious…

Oooooh, this is a fun development… Ransom broke a rule. Never talk to the mark. Sounds like he shouldn’t have let Sera see him either but he was somehow compelled. He’ll be in a lot of trouble if Du Fort finds out. Speaking of… he wants to see him.

He fills in Du Fort on what he’s discovered of Seraphine so far, omitting the bit about talking to her. Is Du Fort threatened by her? Why does he seem so put out by Sera being clever. She could end up being a thorn in his side so she needs to tie up a loose end, and on that, the order is officially given. Ransom is ordered to kill her.

He seems to feel like he owes Du Fort, but he’s miserable in the life Du Fort gave him?

They’re interrupted by Nadia. Pascal Loren – untouchable – has been killed. Not only that, Nadia and Lark speak of some kind of monster in the city? And there are signs Pascal isn’t the only one who met his end at their hands…

---

What a start! I already love this world. I’m intrigued by the introduction of monsters and worried for Sera now that Ransom has been ordered to kill her!

Any theories so far on who’s behind the monster attacks?
Do you think Ransom will actually kill her?
Why do you think Gaspard Du Fort wants her dead? She’s surely not a threat!

Can’t wait to read more with you all tomorrow!

Love,
Shannon