A Curse of Crimson Tears by. Julie J. Morris| Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: A Curse of Crimson Tears (#1)

Author: Julie J. Morris

Format: ebook (borrowed – Kindle Unlimited)

Pages: 413

Publication Date: 1/1/26

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Indie Author


Enemies collide when a deadly curse awakens beneath the waves. Forced to fight side by side, two sworn rivals discover that the sea holds secrets far more dangerous than their hatred for each other. Dark magic rises from the deep, betrayal brews behind every tide, and the ocean whispers truths no one was meant to hear. As their powers grow and their attraction intensifies, the line between enemy and ally blurs. But the curse binding them has a price and breaking it could destroy them both. A cursed sea. Forbidden desire. Two enemies bound by fate. When magic stirs and danger strikes, one choice will decide whether they survive… or drown in the darkness coming for them.

Content Warning: violence

I saw this book on tiktok and wanted to give it a try since I’m trying to read more indie authors this year!

  • secret identities
  • sibling relationship – family themes
  • magic
  • Elves

+ Elva has a big family, she and her siblings are trying to help out their mom, working to help support the family. Her brother, Elijah, signs her up to work in the Healing sector, which she did not approve, and Elijah works on a ship. I did like the family themes, because it’s realistic to argue and fight with family, but in the end, it’s family.

+~ The first part moves slow. The world building is basically Elva and her family going to work. She’s in the healing sector with her friend Ellie but it’s not what she wants to do. But so much time is spent on this that I was losing interest and didn’t connect to the characters. Elijah’s job and experience was a little more harrowing on the ship. But I needed more – and it came at the halfway mark when more was starting to be revealed. Apparently, Elva has a secret identity, along with everyone around her. This is when we get to learn about the Elves, what happened in the past and what’s happening now. So the pacing for this book had me struggling. I did appreciate learning more about the light and dark Elves, the rift between them, and how they are working together now and the curse. I like the secrets and betrayal.

~ There isn’t much romance but there is spice. The thing is it happens out of the blue, with no emotional build-up. It’s just a hook up between Elva and someone else, which felt so random. At least Elijah’s romance, which is not even touched upon until the second half of the book feels more like an emotional connection.

~ Speaking of emotional connections – this has a big cast of characters. But I needed more from the characters because I found it hard to connect to any of them.

Final Thoughts:

I did find the first part way too slow, with not much going on. I’m glad things picked and we learn more once everything is revealed but by then I didn’t build any connections to the characters. And if there will be more romance in the series, I hope there is a build-up to it and not just straight into the spice. Overall, I found this one to have lots of potential, especially when we get to know about the world of Elves, so hopefully book two concentrates on the curse, the betrayal, and giving more depth to the characters.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Songbird of the Sorrows by. Braidee Otto | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: Songbird of the Sorrows (Myths of Empyrieos, #1)

Author: Braidee Otto

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 2/3/26 (first published on 6/18/24)

Publisher: The Dial Press

Categories: Fantasy, Romance

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to The Dial Press for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!


An outcast princess turned spy embarks on a mission to infiltrate a rival kingdom, but the secrets she uncovers force her to decide whether to follow orders or defy them.

Ask no questions. Obey your orders. Respect your masters. But most of all, love no one.

Spy. Thief. Princess. Songbird.

Princess Aella was ousted from the Palace of Sorrows as a child, shattering her world and forcing her to abandon the truth of her royal lineage. Instead, she was raised in The Aviary, which disguises itself as a school for orphaned children but is actually a secret order designed to train its students as spies for an intelligence network embedded throughout the Empyrieos.

Now twenty-three years old and having completed her final tests, Aella is summoned to join Alpha Flight, the Aviary’s elite team of assassins that’s led by none other than her former flame, Raven. Everything about him calls to her—he’s brave, loyal, and lethal. But is Raven worth breaking the rules and risking everything she’s worked so hard to achieve?

Before she can decide, the Alpha Flight team is sent on a dangerous mission that tests Aella’s resolve in every way. Her role is crucial and she must assume her former title of Princess of the Sorrows, the identity she once had to forsake, to compete in the bridal trials held by the Prince of Eretria. As old sparks reignite and the harsh realities of the realm reveal themselves, the mission begins to unravel, and Aella must decide if she is brave enough to disobey her superiors in order to do what she believes is right.

Songbird of the Sorrows is the first book in Myths of the Empyrieos, an epic romantic fantasy series that follows a feisty heroine through trials, a perilous heist, court intrigue, kingdom politics, and a journey of self-discovery, true love, and redemption.

Content Warning: torture, sexual assault, drugged, death, violence

I thought this book started off really good. I liked the world building. It’s explained pretty well how there was a God War and how the many different islands came to be and their kingdoms. Aella is an outcast princess turned into a spy. She went through very harsh training at the Aviary, who’s leader is called the Eagle. I liked all the bird names they used for each spy! When Aella is given her first assignment, it’s ironically to be the princess she already is. Aella, does have a somewhat secretive history and it is revealed little by little.

There are some interesting cast members in this story. Raven, her former lover, is back – she hadn’t heard from him in a year, but now while back together – the attraction is back. The interesting thing about this love story is I didn’t feel the love, I felt the second-chance romance of it all, without the romance. They are two trained spy assassins on a mission and Raven makes it clear the mission is what matters the most, no matter how many times they put aside the rules and hook up. So I wasn’t really into Raven.

I did love Aella’s friend Nyssa and her new friend Myna and even Titaia. They made a good trio who went undercover in another kingdom to partake in a deadly bridal trial, as a distraction, so the rest of the crew could find this infamous weapon people are looking for. I also loved the captain of The Nightingale – he was a fun character.

I felt like the middle of the story slowed down when Aella and her crew go to Eretia. The competition happens kind of quick, and I didn’t feel the high stakes of the trials until afterwards. After the trials is when things pick up again, and the story finishes off strong. There is betrayal, and a new, interesting character at the end that helps set up book two.

There are a few words that are hard to remember or say in this story so I had to look it up.

Final Thoughts:

I enjoyed the world-building and the assassin spy crew that Aella and her friends are a part of. I liked the beginning and end, but found the middle (the deadly trials) kind of slow and it felt low-stakes. I didn’t love Aella with Raven but I’m intrigued by Xan, the new character we meet at the end of the book. So I’m looking forward to reading book two.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Stolen Midnights by. Katherine Quinn | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: Stolen Midnights (#1)

Author: Katherine Quinn

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 464

Publication Date: 2/3/26

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Categories: Romantasy, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Delacorte Press for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!


This magical new YA romantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of To Kill a Shadow will steal your heart. Set in Andalay, a world where the ruling Fates bestow gifts among the favored, a thief must join forces with the palace darling after he unwittingly steals a necklace with the power to change everything.

When Damien, a cold and hardened thief, is hired to steal a gift from the powerful Fates meant for Andalay’s sweetheart, Wren Hayes, he finds himself entangled in a web of secrets.

The gift? A locket containing his own phototroph.

Once the locket is opened, hidden truths unravel, ones that shed light on the ruthless ways of the upper-class society. Yearning for the three Fates and the magical gifts they bestow, the lords of Andalay will go to any length to keep their power—including murder.

Brought together by destiny, and fighting a temptation that neither understand, Wren and Damien navigate a seedy world where the truth can destroy not only their lives, but the city itself.

Content Warning: violence, death

Wren doesn’t have good standing in society or among her family, and when her birthday magic gift isn’t given to her, it makes her reputation even worse. Damien, is a thief, and he is the one who stole Wren’s magic gift, a locket – with his picture inside it. But the question is why? When another thief steals it from him he reluctantly joins forces with Wren to find this gift.

Wren and Damien are from different classes, she’s a pampered young lady from a rich family and Damien is from the streets. They clash in personalities, but I found their bickering pretty fun. There is an attraction growing between them but Damien runs from her each time he feels more for her, and she gets upset with him a lot about it. There is a tiny bit of spice, there are barely details in the act of it.

But with this quest to find the missing gift, Wren stumbles onto something more sinister that involves the Fates (the ones that gift the magic), and the high lords in society – including her own father. There are a few twists and turns at the end that was a surprise and it ends in a cliffhanger.

Final Thoughts:

I thought this was a fun, young adult fantasy with a surprise ending I didn’t expect. I love Wren and Damien’s back and forth banter – they are both pretty stubborn. But I love the rich girl/poor boy trope so I was invested in their romance. I also thought the mystery about the high lords and the operation they were hiding really added to the mystery. Overall, a pretty good start to the series.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

To Shatter the Night by. Katherine Quinn | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

To Kill a Shadow by. Katherine Quinn | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

WWW Wednesday | 1/28/25

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam over on Taking on a World of Words.

The idea is pretty simple, every week you dedicate a post to the three W’s:

What are you currently reading?

What have you just finished reading?

What are you going to read next?

I am working on arcs from NetGalley but also arcs from indie authors! Glad to be supporting the indie authors and I wish I can read everyone’s book, but I can’t. 😅. But I’m trying to fit them into my reading schedule by requesting less from NetGalley. Now if only I can fit my physical TBR into my schedule lol – reader problems!!

What are you currently reading?

Dawn of the North by. Demi Winter – 33% – this one has such heavy world-building, I had to try to remember this big cast of characters but it is finally flowing for me!

Keeper of Lost Children by. Sadeqa Johnson – 12%

I, Medusa by. Ayana Gray – chapter 2

The Summer of Lost Things by. Jenn Bennett – 31%

Dawn in Ruins by. Magda Mizzi – Chapter 1 – let’s try this one again, and see if I can finish it this time. I wasn’t in the mood for it during the holidays.

What have you just finished reading?

A Curse of Crimson Tears by. Julie J. Morris– ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Masquerade of Mirrors by. Samantha Hartwood – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (arc)

Goodbye and Everything After by. Mae Coyiuto – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (arc)

Maybe This Once by. Sophie Sullivan – ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (arc)

Second Chance Romance by. Olivia Dade – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Still Fighting by. Syianne Horne – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (arc)

Fated Skates by. Victoria Schade – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (alc – audiobook)

What are you going to read next?

A Whisper of Winds and Leaves by. M.B. Reese

The Poet Empress by. Shen Tao

A Vow in Vengeance by. Jaclyn Rodriguez

Mate by. Ali Hazelwood

What are YOU reading right now?

Second Chance Romance by. Olivia Dade | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Second Chance Romance (Harlot’s Bay, #2)

Author: Olivia Dade

Format: ebook (borrowed – Libby)

Pages: 395

Publication Date: 11/25/25

Categories: Contemporary, Romance, Second Chance Romance


In the second installment of USA Today bestselling author Olivia Dade’s Harlot’s Bay series, a mistaken obituary leads to the reunion of two former high school crushes. Sparks fly in this hilarious grumpy/grumpy romance, packed with Dade’s signature body positivity and a delicious amount of spice.

Karl and Molly were never together. There was a time, right after high school, where it seemed like they might finally cross the line from friends to lovers…but instead, a foolish misunderstanding meant they never spoke again. Molly went to LA and got married. Karl stayed in Harlot’s Bay and bought a bakery.

The only connection the pair has shared over the years is painfully one-sided: Now divorced, Molly narrates monster romance audiobooks, and Karl is an ever-diligent listener, clinging to his only piece of the one that got away.

Still, Molly hasn’t totally left Harlot’s Bay behind. When she hears that Karl’s obituary has run in the local paper, unexpected grief prompts her to hop on the next flight to Maryland…where she finds Karl very much alive, the victim of nothing but an accidental obituary.

As the pair reunite, they finally hash out their missed connection. True, Molly isn’t quite ready to trust again, but Karl is determined to prove himself worthy of her faith and devotion. And as her remaining time in Harlot’s Bay ticks down, Molly, the habitual cynic, just might find that Karl, the cranky town curmudgeon, is impossible to leave behind a second time.

Content Warning:

I didn’t read book one in this series, but I wanted to try out an Olivia Dade book and this caught my eye so I borrowed it.

+ Harlot’s Bay is a small town, one that Molly wants to eventually escape. We get to see how Molly and Karl evolve as friends in high school to how they fell apart and reconnect again. I love the setting of Harlot’s Bay – the community seems wholesome yet quirky, and Karl is a staple there with his bakery. Molly does escape to California, and she comes back to Hartlot’s Bay due to a misunderstanding which I thought was funny.

+ Both Karl and Molly are strong characters, they know who they are, which is refreshing. Karl is grumpy, swears a lot, but he’s a good guy who just wants Molly. He goes out of his way to try and make her feel comfortable, build trust in him, and gives her time even though he stubbornly wants her to move back to Harlot’s Bay. Molly is someone who doesn’t trust easily because of her father. She’s been married and divorced and still has to deal with her ex. But I love how she’s an audiobook narrator! And the fact that Karl listened to the smutty books and was a fan was so funny and cute. These two are quite a couple and they just work!

+ The romance was cute – Karl asks Molly to stay until the school reunion and give him a chance. Karl isn’t the type to know how to express his feelings, he’s grumpy, but he and Molly completed one another because she can be grumpy too. They try to build trust between one another by going on dates and doing trust exercises. I love how he gave her space and time. But one thing is undeniable, there are lots of sparks between them, so things do get spicy.

+ There is a little bit of romance. Lucan is the Vicar’s adopted son, and he’s been tasked to keep his eye on Isola. Isola doesn’t like him because an incident in the past, but during the Tribunal, they spend more time with one another and decide to team up. Being around one another makes their attraction grow. I was definitely rooting for Lucan and Isola but we’ll have to see what happens in book two.

~ They both had communication issues, so I didn’t finish this as quick as I thought I would because they were taking so long to communicate how they feel.

Final Thoughts:

I mostly enjoyed this one but I did take longer to finish this – I really thought I could finish it in three days, but I think the trust exercises and lack of communication took me out of the story a little bit. But I did love the Harlot’s Bay community, there are so many fun character and funny moments. I also like the plus-size representation and though Karl and Molly had communication issues, he really was in love with her and would do anything to make her stay. I loved that about him! I’ll definitely try out more books from this author.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Bookish Discoveries I Made in 2025 | TTT | Top Ten Tuesday | 1/27/26

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Please check out her website for more TTT topics!

This week’s topic is:

Bookish Discoveries I Made in 2025

(New-to-you authors you discovered, new genres you learned you like, new bookish resources you found, friends you made, local bookshops you found, a book club you joined, etc.)

New to Me Authors

  • A Vow of Shadow & Blood by. Charlene Antrobus
  • Good Spirits by. B.K. Borison
  • Hollow by. Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti
  • Alchemised by. SenLinYu
  • The Wolf and the Crown of Blood by. Elizabeth May
  • The Housemaid by. Freida McFadden
  • The Death-Made Prince by. Lisette Marshall
  • Ship of Spells by. H. Leighton Dickson
  • Drive Me Crazy by. Lizzy Dent

Coffin Moon by. Keith Rosson

What’s on your TTT?

Find me here: Instagram (bookstagram📚) | TikTok | Etsy | youtube

Top Ten Tuesday Topics:

January 6: Best Books I Read in 2025
January 13: Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the First Half of 2026
January 20: Goals for 2026 (Bookish or not! Share your reading goals, personal goals, etc.)
January 27: Bookish Discoveries I Made in 2025 (New-to-you authors you discovered, new genres you learned you like, new bookish resources you found, friends you made, local bookshops you found, a book club you joined, etc.)

New Book Releases This Week | 1/27/26

Happy book birthday to these new releases this week!

We Who Have No Gods by. Liza Anderson

In a world of witches, a human woman must hunt or be hunted in this explosive gothic dark academia fantasy filled with war-bent rivals, guarded secrets, and simmering chemistry.

Vic Wood knows her priorities: scrape by on her restaurant wages, take care of her younger brother Henry, and forget their mother ever existed. But Vic’s careful life crumbles when Henry reveals that their long-missing mother belonged to the Acheron Order—a secret society of witches tasked with keeping the dead at bay. What’s worse, Henry inherited their mother’s magical abilities while Vic did not, and Henry has been chosen as the Order’s newest recruit.

Determined to keep him safe, Vic accompanies Henry to the isolated woods in upstate New York that play host to the sprawling and eerie Avalon Castle. When she joins the academy despite lacking powers of her own, she risks not only the Order’s wrath, but also her brother’s. And then there is Xan, the head Sentinel—imposing, ruthless, and frustrating—in charge of protecting Avalon. He makes no secret that he wants Vic to leave.

As she makes both enemies and allies in this mysterious realm, Vic becomes caught between the dark forces at play, with her mother at the heart of it all. What’s stranger is that Vic begins to be affected by the academy—and Xan—in ways she can’t quite understand. But with war between witches threatening the fabric of reality, Vic must decide whether to risk her heart and life for a world where power is everything.

King of Ravens by. Clare Sager

He’ll do anything to keep her. She’d do anything to escape.

Rhiannon is dying—of what, she doesn’t know. Kept protected by her family in their remote seaside cottage, she spends her days searching for a cure. Her world is torn apart, however, when a fae King of the Dead invades her home.

Cold and cruel, Drystan offers her a choice: descend to the underworld as his bride or watch her family die. Trapped in a twisted bargain, Rhiannon is thrust into a world of withered gods, scheming courtiers, and ancient magic, but she refuses to be a pawn in a game she never agreed to play. She attempts over and over to run away, until Drystan offers her a new bargain: escape his deadly labyrinth, and he will set her free. Fail, and become his bride.

But in a court where every promise has teeth, Annon must make an impossible choice: return to the home she’s always loved or claim her place in a world where she might finally belong.

The Re-Do List by. Denise Williams

Willow experienced all her big firsts with her high school sweetheart. Now, reeling from their very public breakup, she wants to get a re-do on those important moments. While dog-sitting for her brother during his deployment, she has a chance to start over and spending time with his best friend gives her the confidence to start checking items off her “Re-Do list.”

Deacon promised his best friend two things when Cruz left for a that he’d look out for Willow, and that he’d keep his hands off Cruz’s baby sister. “Operation Re-Do” is innocent enough at Deacon likes Willow and he’s willing to help her out any way he can. But when the list of firsts turns from a first dance to first kisses and more, Deacon can’t deny the connection he feels to Willow.

As Deacon’s and Willow’s firsts turn to seconds, thirds, and fourths, this pair can’t get enough of each other—and they support each other through new challenges. But they are both aware there’s an end date to Willow’s time in town… and even if she were to stay, Deacon doesn’t know how to choose between his loyalty to his closest friend and the woman he’s fallen in love with. With no more romantic moments on her list for them to re-do, can these two still find a way to stay together?

The Wolf and the Crown of Blood by. Elizabeth May

A thrilling and incredibly sexy new dark romantasy series from Sunday Times bestselling author Elizabeth May.

A princess and a war-weary god met in the ashes of a broken city, forging a pact in blood and sacrifice.

Now, centuries of fragile peace are on the brink of collapse…

Bryony Devaliant was born to die — again and again. In Vartena, royal blood is the currency of peace, with every monarch sacrificed and resurrected to appease the gods. But when rebellion stirs, the god-king sends his deadliest weapon to restore order: an immortal assassin known only as the Wolf.

Evander has perfected the art of killing over centuries — until his latest target becomes the one person he cannot destroy. When forbidden desire burns between the assassin and the sacrificial princess, their connection threatens the fragile boundary between gods and mortals. And when that boundary shatters, empires crumble. Because when gods fall in love with mortals, mortals are always the ones to break.

Inspired byBeauty and the BeastandEros and Psyche, this dark, seductive tale is perfect for fans of Raven Kennedy’sPlated Prisonerseries, with the wit and spice of Callie Hart’sQuicksilver. Packed with dark fairytale vibes, gothic romance, and tropes like enemies to lovers, forced proximity, death pacts, and villain-gets-the-girl, this is a story where love is as deadly as it is irresistible.

King of Beasts by. Catherone Doyle

King Alarik Felsing.

A lone wolf.

A frozen heart …

Deep in the mountains of a snow-swept kingdom, an ancient beast is stirring. When a beautiful young wrangler arrives to try and tame it, she is not expecting to tame the beast that lives inside the king too. But sometimes, all it takes is an unexpected spark to melt even the iciest of hearts …

A stunning new romantasy novel filled with magic, tantalizing romance and thrilling action.

Are you getting any new books this week?

Happy Reading!

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We Who Have No Gods by. Liza Anderson | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: We Who Have No Gods

Author: Liza Anderson

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 1/27/26

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Categories: Urban Fantasy, Dark Academia, Witches, Horror

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Ballantine Books for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!


In a world of witches, a human woman must hunt or be hunted in this explosive gothic dark academia fantasy filled with war-bent rivals, guarded secrets, and simmering chemistry.

Vic Wood knows her priorities: scrape by on her restaurant wages, take care of her younger brother Henry, and forget their mother ever existed. But Vic’s careful life crumbles when Henry reveals that their long-missing mother belonged to the Acheron Order—a secret society of witches tasked with keeping the dead at bay. What’s worse, Henry inherited their mother’s magical abilities while Vic did not, and Henry has been chosen as the Order’s newest recruit.

Determined to keep him safe, Vic accompanies Henry to the isolated woods in upstate New York that play host to the sprawling and eerie Avalon Castle. When she joins the academy despite lacking powers of her own, she risks not only the Order’s wrath, but also her brother’s. And then there is Xan, the head Sentinel—imposing, ruthless, and frustrating—in charge of protecting Avalon. He makes no secret that he wants Vic to leave.

As she makes both enemies and allies in this mysterious realm, Vic becomes caught between the dark forces at play, with her mother at the heart of it all. What’s stranger is that Vic begins to be affected by the academy—and Xan—in ways she can’t quite understand. But with war between witches threatening the fabric of reality, Vic must decide whether to risk her heart and life for a world where power is everything.

Content Warning: death, gore, violence

+ This story hooked me right away! Vic and Henry has been on the run since their mother, a powerful witch, was murdered. But now The Order have found them and want Henry to study at Avalon Castle, where other witches are admitted there for training and learning. But while Henry has found his place there, Vic, has to figure out where she belongs. I like the dark academia and the witches learning about their powers, and how to fight different monsters. I also like the friendships Vic make at the school.

+ My favorite part of this story I think are the monsters! The monsters are creepy, scary and brought so much suspense and even a little horror. I loved it.

+ I also like the secrets and betrayals in this story. The Order has an enemy, The Brotherhood, and the leaders of both used to be friend’s with Vic’s mother. Now tensions have ramped up ever since Vic has come to the castle so I thought it was interesting to see how she tied into everything.

+~ There is romance but not much spice, and I think the romance took a backseat, which was fine. But I would love to see more between Xan and Vic. I wanted more banter and chemistry.

~ Vic and Henry are siblings and there are times we see their relationship but it’s clear that they are drifting apart. Henry wants her to leave to castle for safety, but Vic wants to be there to protect him. But from the beginning I didn’t feel a strong bond between them.

Final Thoughts:

I enjoyed this one, especially the action filled parts where Vic encounters these scary monsters around the castle! I wasn’t expecting the creepy, horror and suspenseful vibes, but I loved it. I liked seeing Vic grow as a character and the ending makes me definitely want to find out what will happen in book two!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Weekly Wrap Up | 1/25/26

Aloha friends!

Another week is over and here’s what happened:

+ What is happening in this country (USA) is not okay. My heart hurts, I feel sick, angry, anxious, worried. This is NOT okay.

+ The other thing that took up half the week for me? Is the BTS Concert Tour ticket sales. I knew it would be rough, I’m a new fan (my sister is the bigger fan) but I really wanted to get tickets for her because unlike me – she hardly goes to concerts and said this was the one she wanted to go to. So I locked in (I’m always the one buying tickets anyway), did my research, but a membership for presale (yes I paid $22 so I can do presale!😅). Checked out all the dates and when Thursday came – tried my luck. Now I knew it was going to be impossible for one, the tickets for cities I wanted went on sale during my drive time dropping off the kids to school and picking them up! But I barely got into LA ticket sales after waiting a whole hour – only nose bleeds were left so I got 2 tickets. It’s in the 500’s section – nose bleeds…like up by the roof nosebleeds! My sister felt nervous about how high we would be – and I had the same concerns because I had anxiety during Lady Gaga and that was in an arena – imagine a stadium?!

So I locked in again and knew I had to do general sale yesterday. Started at 7am going from ticket queue to ticket queue. I thought 30k in line on Thursday was bad….nope, yesterday I was 104k in line or 70k…but there was one city people kept saying had tickets on twitter – Foxborough. I am in Hawaii…it’s a long flight that would cost a lot. But I got 13K in line and snagged pretty good tickets in the 100 section, lower bowl, back row so I can stand and not bother anyone. I felt relieved but worried about plane fare then a friend messaged me saying her friend had Stanford tickets, in the 100 section for sale. My Foxborough tix were affordable – only $500 for 2 tickets total! These new tickets…$800 each! I was like oh no way…but my sister said, with the cheaper airfare, it would be equivalent to a trip to Foxborough so she told me to get them.

By the time I paid for the tix, got them transferred, and finally ate something – I was weary, my body hurt, so exhausted from being tense all day (for three days). And then the news in Minneapolis made me want to cry. So yes I’m happy we got tickets to BTS and it’s 2 days after my sister’s 50th bday, so I’m happy for her…but my heart hurts.

+ I type all this and today said wow I can’t believe it’s still January! I feel like I’ve been traumatized with highs and lows this month alone. Not how I expected 2026 to start! I’m praying there is something that turns this ship around. RIP to Alex Pretti.

Blog Posts:

Books I Finished

  • Heart of Mischief by. Emma Noyes
  • Maybe This Once by. Sophie Sullivan
  • Masquerade of Mirrors by. Samantha Hartwood
  • Second Chance Romance by. Olivia Dade
  • A Queen of Crowned in Flames by. Hazel McBride

Currently Reading:

  • A Promise of Lies by. Claire Sager
  • A Curse of Crimson Tears by. Julie J. Morris
  • Dawn of the North by. Demi Winters
  • Keeper of Lost Children by. Sadeqa Johnson
  • Goodbye and Everything After by. Mae Coyiuto
  • A Vow in Vengeance by. Jaclyn Rodriguez

Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

  • Heated Rivalry (HBO Max) – episode 1-2 – want to see what the hype is about!

How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!

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Bound to the Broken Crown by. Astoria Hope | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: Bound to the Broken Crown (Magebound Courts, #1)

Author: Astoria Hope

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 441

Publication Date: 1/27/26

Publisher:

Categories: Romantasy, Dark Fantasy

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Victory Editing for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!


A prince cursed to destroy everything he touched. Until he touched her.

Isca never dreamed her gift for sensing emotions would draw the eyes of princes—let alone the Assembly of Mages. Brought to court under the guise of diplomacy, she quickly learns her secret task: soothe the beast raging under Prince Emrys’ skin and deliver his heir back to the Assembly to forge into a weapon. Refusal means her family’s ruin.

But Emrys is not the monster she expected. Yes, he’s volatile. Yes, he’s destructive and dangerous. Beneath the curse, she glimpses the man—giving, fiercely protective, and unbearably lonely.

To the Assembly, Isca is a tool. To Emrys, she’s a temptation he cannot afford. He pushes her away to protect her, even as his eyes betray the truth: she is the only thing keeping him from drowning.

He could break her with a touch. She could bind him with a heartbeat. While their enemies scheme to use them as pawns, desire threatens to undo every wall they’ve built.

Together, she and Emrys could shatter the Assembly’s chains. But that would mean laying bare her betrayal—the one thing with the power to destroy both the man and the monster.

Bound to the Broken Crown is book 1 of the Magebound Courts Trilogy featuring a tormented cursed prince, the empathic mage sent to calm his inner beast, and their slow-burn romance. This book contains spicy content and graphic combat violence, Suitable for readers aged 18+

Content Warning: violence, death

Bound to the Broken Crown has all the elements usually found in a romantasy: magic, enemies to lovers, a Prince with a curse, and a woman to save him.

Isca, has magic that can sense and manipulate emotions, so she is tasked by the Mage Assembly, to be a diplomat and help two princes rule their kingdom of Darreth. They also want her to procreate with one of them because she has magic and the line of royal mages is dying out. Isca knows that if she doesn’t do this, her family will be threatened.

Isca turns out to be really good at diplomacy. It helps that one of the twin princes, Nisien is actually nice. Where as Emrys is grumpy, violent and cursed. He’s prone to killing people when he loses control of the beast inside of him. Of course Isca’s drawn to Emrys. What happens between them is a slow burn, enemies to lovers romance. I enjoyed their tumultuous love story, which ends in a happy ending. He becomes obsessed with her but loathes the curse within him so he tries to stay away. There is spice, but not a lot of it.

I did like learning about Isca and her family. She really grows when she leaves them and is in Darreth. There is a found family there for her with the princes and her lady’s maid, but the people also gravitate to her and she has really found her footing as a diplomat.

I do wish there was more world-building and political intrigue. I also wanted to know more about Emry’s curse but there was barely information on what it is. Despite all that I think this was enjoyable as a light fantasy read. It’s a quick read and the focus is more on the romance. But I did get invested in the side characters like Nisien and another prince, Owain, from another kingdom so I hope there will be books about them.

Final Thoughts:

This was a quick read which was kind of nice, without too much heavy world-building and a story focused on the enemies to lovers romance between Isca and Emrys. Overall, I enjoyed it and look forward to reading the other books in the series.

Book Links:

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