Lit Wicks: Ilona Andrews

Welcome to Lit Wicks! This is where we pair an author’s backlist with candles to really immerse yourself in the reading experience. All of the candles featured in these post are from Etsy, which means there is often worldwide shipping and that you’re supporting independent crafters and sellers. The Etsy candle rabbit hole is one I have gone down many times.

For June, I’m pairing candles with the series of one of my favorite authors, Ilona Andrews! Their books often follow the same group of people over several books. Rather than focusing on individual titles, I’ll be picking candles that you can burn throughout your entire binge reading experience.

If you’re curious about what other authors have received the Lit Wicks treatment, check out our category page. And if you’d like to suggest an author’s backlist for a future Lit Wicks column, please email me!

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Kate Daniels series: This series was my introduction to Ilona Andrews. There’s magic! A lion shifter! Swords! Kate and her cohorts are a favorite amongst a lot of romance readers, and if you’re a fan, feel free to let us know in the comments why you love the series so much. Admittedly, I’m not caught up in the series, so keep any spoilers as vague as possible, please!

A couple of these candles are Curran-centric, though I don’t think many of you will mind.

Candle: Lemon Cakes Candle Co. — Not a Tame Lion 4oz. ($7.75)

There aren’t any photos of what the candles look like, but it does come in a bunch of different sizes and packaging options. The candle also has a wood wick, which I love, and seems to focus on warm, sweet scents.

Candle: Soy Much Brighter — Lion’s Den ($17)

I’m not sure of the size of this candle. I think it’s 8oz., but I’m not positive. The candle is described as having masculine notes of cedar, rosewood, and amber. It’s also vegan.

Candle: The Fragrance Lab — Bad Ass Bee 10oz.

This shop is on a short hiatus, but will reopen on the 11th of June. I, of course, needed a candle as an ode to Kate’s badassery. The candle has notes of vanilla and sugar, but the sweetness is cut by coffee.

Innkeeper Chronicles: The Innkeeper Chronicles features a magical bed and breakfast, an unorthodox innkeeper, a werewolf neighbor, a vampire soldier, and of course…a Shih-Tzu. What more could you want? I really wanted a majority of these scents to set the tone of the main character’s inn, its cozy charm, and a dash of magic.

Candle: In the Wick of Time — Waystone Inn 8oz. ($17). Available as wax melts ($6).

This store is new to me, but I added it to my favorites because I just love the scent variety they have. They’re nerdy and bookish and I’m here for it. This candle contains hints of warm, mulled cider, wood, and leather.

Candle: Dawn Candle Worx — Sunwashed Linen 8oz. ($9.50)

I think the scent of clean linen or just a fresh cotton smell is always a good choice for an “inn” or “bed and breakfast.” It just makes you want to fall back into a freshly made bed with fluffed pillows and crisp sheets. And coincidentally, that’s also a great spot to get some reading done.

Candle: Steam Wolf’s Mythos Candles — Lycanthrope 8oz. ($12)

I really like the gray color of this candle, since it’s not too common. Lycanthrope is supposed to smell like leather and black sea, which I suppose is way better than the scent of a wet dog. This candle scent also comes in a pack of tea lights and as wax melts.

Hidden Legacy series: This is, by far, my favorite series, and I’m so very excited we’ll be getting more of the Baylor clan! If you haven’t read this already, you should. I’ll wait. Magic, mysteries, family secrets, and true wuv. True wuv is really the most important part.

Candle: Branch and Co. Candle — Warmth ($30)

I feel like “warmth” embodies a lot of what the Hidden Legacy series is all about. Fire magic? Check. Fuzzies in your tummy from romantic banter? Check. A sweet and strong family dynamic? Check. If you’re curious what this candle smells like: cinnamon and citrus.

Candle: That Little Witch — Hocus Focus 8oz. ($22)

This candle has a wide range and depth of scents, from peppermint to bergamot with valerian root and sandalwood. I’m very curious how everything will mix together.

The Edge series: I get the sense that this series is the least popular or least read out of all of them, but it still holds a 4-star rating on Goodreads. It’s like asking me to choose my favorite Mexican restaurant; they’re all good.

There’s a backwoodsy setting that shares a magical barrier with the Weird, a parallel world that is inhabited by the paranormal and supernatural. What do you think of the series?

Candle: The Cheeky Nose — Catching Fireflies 8oz. ($13)

The setting of The Edge series reminds me a lot of where I grew up in rural north Florida. I don’t miss many things about that area, but I do miss seeing fireflies in the summer. Definitely tempted to purchase this for myself!

Candle: Bookish Burns — The Wild Hunt 4oz. ($7.62)

If you’re into book-inspired candles, this is a great shop to browse. I wanted something outdoorsy, but also tied into the hero, Declan. He’s definitely an alpha hero and this candle is supposed to smell like “ozone and masculinity.”

Those are the candles I picked for Ilona Andrew’s books! What did you think? Any scents you’d want to add? Let me know what you think!