A Flame Through Eternity by Anna Belfrage is a wonderful romance with a unique concept and a strong plot. Helle Madsen’s fate has always been linked to Jason Morris, a fate that has bound them together for over 3000 years. And even if Helle has her misgivings about the concept of reincarnation, she can’t avoid the disturbing feeling of being linked to an ancient past. Time has rolled by, but the two always end up reconnecting. However, there is one problem standing between Helle and Jason and their happiness — their ancient nemesis, Sam Woolf. Sam has only one mission, to disrupt the happiness of Helle and Jason. This time around do they stand a chance against an enemy as strong as Sam Woolf and can they keep him at bay permanently?

I love romance, but when it doesn’t come with the usual clichés and when it spells out an original plot, it becomes a joy, a thing of beauty and Anna Belfrage has just created this in A Flame Through Eternity. The idea of reincarnation is so beautifully written that any reader will find it hard not to believe in it. The female protagonist is well developed, and while she isn’t fully a proponent of “rebirth,” she can’t shake off the feeling that she is as ancient as the man she loves and the enemy who will do anything to destroy her happiness. The link between the ancient past and the present is skillfully written. The story is emotionally rich, with beautifully crafted scenes, and strong references to a past that lays the foundation for the conflict. The story is well-paced and filled with surprises. The unpredictability in the plot makes it a page-turner.

Helle and Jason are two souls destined for each other. In their first lives, they found each other, but it didn't quite end well. Jason's mother, Nefirie, didn't think Helle was good enough for her son. And then there was Samion - the obsessed maniac who wouldn't let Helle end up with anyone but himself. In that lifetime, Jason was able to kill Samion, but Helle died too. This started the series of reincarnations, with Jason trying to look for Helle and Samion plotting his revenge over a span of 3,000 years. Anna Belfrage's A Flame Through Eternity will make you believe in true love and destiny, over and over again.

I liked the concept of destiny - souls looking for each other and not stopping until they find each other again. I thought that was really romantic, although in Samion's case it was an obsession. Aside from the romance, I also liked the humor injected by the author every chance she got. The sex scenes were totally well-written and necessary, though in the end, I felt like they became an excuse because the characters couldn't think of anything else to solve the problem. I also liked the fact that the book was feminist and LGBT-friendly. I liked Nefirie's progressive view of women, but other than that, I hated her character. Overall, A Flame Through Eternity by Anna Belfrage is a good read and I would definitely be recommending this to others. Trigger warnings include physical and sexual abuse, gore, adultery, and suicide.