Our Wicked Gifts by. Kathryn Foxfield | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Our Wicked Gifts

Author: Kathryn Foxfield

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 422

Publication Date: 7/7/26

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Categories: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Romance, 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 Random House Books for Young Readers for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The daughter of a sinister magical family who made a deal with the devil must stop the man killing them off, one by one, in this deliciously dark fantasy thriller that’s House of Hollow meets Succession, laced with a kiss-or-kill romance.

Cicely is the black sheep daughter of the powerful Winter family, who made a deal with the devil in exchange for riches and ruthless magic. Soren is the boy her family banished to the underworld. Their fates intertwine when Cicely’s loathsome Uncle Dorian winds up dead at a masquerade ball.

Once overlooked for her lowly gift of discovering secrets, Cicely is now her family’s only chance at survival, tasked with finding the killer before he takes out every last Winter. With time running out, Cicely narrows her sights on Soren, who she suspects is back for vengeance.

Yet the more Cicely investigates Soren–and gets to know him–the more she begins to question how much family loyalty is worth. After all, when it comes to being a Winter, one can have love or power, but rarely both…

Content Warning: violence, death

World Building: The story is set in a contemporary world but with some fantasy because of the magic and deal with the devil the Winter Family has made. There is also a place called the Ruin which is where their magic comes from or something to that effect and I likened it to hell or the underworld. The Winters are wealthy and powerful and they are trying to hold onto that power, no matter the cost.

Characters: I love the complicated characters in the Winter Family. Told through Cecily, we see every aspect of her flawed family. Her mother who is like the queen of their family, her siblings who are more favored in their mother’s eyes. Her uncle Dorian and his family add to the dysfunction as well – and all of them have some kind of magical power because of the deal with the devil their ancestor made. Then there is Soren, a boy that the family killed to keep a secret, but he isn’t quite dead yet and has come back to cause havoc to the Winter family. Cecily herself is someone who loves her family, wants badly for her mom to love her as much as she loves her siblings, but also realizes how wrong her family is for wielding their power the way they do – yet Cecily will do the same if need be. It made for a lot of drama – fun drama though!

Romance: Cecily is the only one who can go into the Ruin and come back out, so it’s not a surprise that the boy she is falling for is dead and part of the Ruin. Soren wants revenge on her family, and Cecily knows her family isn’t good and she’s trying to uncover all the secrets but there are some hard choices that have to be made where Soren is concerned. I feel like the ending left it open for a book two and I hope there is one so I can see if Cecily and Soren’s romance progresses.

Story: I was very into this story. The Winters are trying to stay the top dog but lately it hasn’t been easy with so many scandals brewing. Most of them are not good people, and when their power starts to crack and someone starts murdering members of the family, it leads to a search for who is trying to kill them. I enjoyed the different magic each family member had, I thought it was unique. I enjoyed the complicated relationship between all of them, how they kind of despise one another but it’s family over everything and everyone. I liked the mystery and the suspense! There were some moments in the middle where it slowed down a little but it does pick up again. There are a few twists and the ending feels like it’s setting up for a book two, which I hope is the case.

Final Thoughts:

I thought this was a fun young adult story with magic, so much family secrets and drama, a murder mystery and even a little romance. I hope there is a book two!

Read if you like:

rich family drama
magic

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Of Venom and Vengeance by. Mikayla Bridge | ARC and ALC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating:

Title: Of Venom and Vengeance

Author: Mikayla Bridge

Format: eBook (NetGalley) and audiobook (NetGalley)

Pages: 432

Narrator: Safiyya Ingar

Listening Hours: approx. 11 hrs 54 min

Publication Date: 7/7/26

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) / Macmillan Young Listeners

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, LGBT+

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

Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) / Macmillan Young Listeners for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A deliciously dark standalone set in the same world as the YA romantic fantasy Of Flame and Fury, where star-crossed enemies gamble with their hearts, empires, and the fate of a lost god.

On an island marred by pageantry and pain, power comes at an impossible price.

Inna is the perfect heiress to the Pallo crime poised, cunning, untouchable. Behind this glamorous facade, she hunts for the sinister truth of her sister’s death. Despite the cover-up she’s been led to believe, Inna can feel an enemy lurking in the shadows.

Rylan has sculpted himself into a talented thief for one retribution for his family, who were murdered by Inna’s mother. Armed with illusion magic, Rylan plans to steal an ancient riddle from the Pallo vault, one that leads to a sleeping god. Whoever wakes the Serpent King will be granted any wish they desire. Rylan means to claim this power, and with it, Inna’s ruin.

But when Inna catches Rylan sneaking past her family’s security, they enter into a perilous alliance that neither intends to keep —even as bitter attraction unravels into something more.

Though some hearts aren’t meant to be stolen, and love knows nothing of blood-red revenge.

Content Warning: violence

World Building: So I want to say when I picked this up – I actually thought this was book two of Of Flame and Fury which I loved! And so I was very confused when all this book was talking about was sprites, and harnessing their magic and the legend of the Serpent King. It was only when I looked at the synopsis again and this said it was a standalone in the same “world” as Of Flame and Fury that I had to stop my mind from searching and connecting to anything from that book. Honestly, this didn’t even feel like it was in the same world as the first book. Inna is a Pallo, a notorious crime family who is using the magic of sprites to conduct their business. Ryland, wants revenge on the Pallo’s for killing his. Eventually I thought the sprite magic was interesting (once I realized this was nothing like book one).

Characters: Inna is the daughter of a powerful woman, and went through something traumatic, and she lost her sister Erika. Now she is determined to find out more about who killed her. Celesse is her guard/best-friend/and ex-girlfriend. The two of them have a very complicated relationship which gets even worse when Ryland enters the picture. Ryland wants to take down Inna’s family but first he needs her help to find information on how to find the Serpent King. Another important character is, Fernan, Inna’s uncle who might be conducting some shady business.

Romance: Inna and Celesse used to be lovers and now things are complicated but Celesse is very much still in her life – so I felt like it took some time to really believe Inna had feelings for Ryland. I don’t think I was focused as much on the romance though than I was in Inna’s family dynamics and everything else going on in the story.

Story: Once I realized this was a whole different story than what I was expecting, I had to resettle and get into this story about Inna and her family, sprite magic, and Ryland wanting revenge. And I did get into it during the second half of the book. I enjoyed the complicated relationships, the heist and the betrayals. I know the synopsis said this was a standalone, but I feel like that ending is left open to more adventure? I guess we will see.

Narrator(s): The narrator did a great job voicing all the characters.

Final Thoughts:

My reading experience would have been better if I realized this was a totally separate story from Of Flame and Fury. But once I realized my mistake I started to enjoy the story much more. It does mean though that if you haven’t read Of Flame and Fury, you won’t feel lost picking this up, which is a good thing! I did enjoy Inna and Ryland and how they were enemies then reluctant allies. I liked all the family drama and betrayals too. The sprite magic was very interesting too so I look forward to see what this author writes next.

Read if you like:

enemies to lovers
young adult fantasy
heist
reluctant allies

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Of Flame and Fury by. Mikayla Bridge | ARC Review – 4 stars

WWW Wednesday | 7/1/26

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?

It’s JULY. 🤯. I can’t believe we are at the start of the next half of the year. I have a lot going on this month, the biggest thing is my son’s bar mitzvah coming up in 10 days! We are excited to have it happen and my son is happy to soon be done with it – he’s been studying and practicing so hard for almost a year now. We have family coming down to attend the event. So I will be busy – but when am I not busy? 😅. This year has been kind of crazy!

What are you currently reading?

The False Vow by. Lydia Gregovic – (arc) 20% – finally back to reading this one and have more progress

Because I Killed Him by. Erin Birde – 5%

Ruinous Ends by. I.V. Marie – arc – 35%

To Drown a Witch by. Lindsey Olsson – arc – 3%

What have you just finished reading?

Love and Lies by. Lena Kiefer – (arc) 3.5 stars/2 🌶️

Dreamland by. Olivie Blake – (arc/alc) 3 stars/2 🌶️

In Stormy Weather by. Chelsea Curto – (arc) 4 stars/2 🌶️

The Ice Beyond by. Olivia Wildenstein (arc) 3 stars/2 🌶️

Of Venom and Vengeance by. Mikayla Bridge (arc/alc) 3.5 stars

What are you going to read next?

Dominion by. Jean Kwok

Prophecy & Power by. Amy Yorke

Night Witch by. Jaymin Eve

What are YOU reading right now?

New Book Releases This Week | 6/30/26

Happy book birthday to these new releases this week!

Witch Season by. Julia Bianco

Betrayed the man I loved. Married my enemy. Used as a pawn.
But I carry the powers of Death. And I’m just getting started.

I was sent to bring down an empire. Instead, I helped my ex gain a crown. Now I’m married to the new emperor. And the man I love wants nothing to do with me. But if there’s no rules, I’ll make some of my own.

With Anya as Caiden’s captive and my newfound magic barely under control, every move I make is a risk. But that doesn’t mean I’m not plotting death for those who deserve it.

I know I need to stay away from Brevan. But as his secrets spill, I can’t. If I succumb to my feelings for him, it could cost us everything.

But then again, I’ve always been willing to burn it all down to see this empire fall.

This is book 2 in the Vow of Death Trilogy. It contains violence, spice, and dark themes, Mind the Cliff.

The Winged Game by. Sophie Kim

Fantasy meets sports romance in this sizzling slow-burn novel from the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The God and the Gumiho, in which the disgraced star of a brutal magical sport must team up with the rival who destroyed her career.

Carriwitchet, the violent, rugby-esque game played atop winged beasts, was once Taissa Cho’s whole life, and she was once the United Kingdom’s most promising player. Until her nemesis, rival player Kion Locke, destroyed her career in a single moment. Expelled from the sport in disgrace, Taissa has spent the last two years dreaming of nothing but revenge and relishing watching Kion’s team plummet to the bottom of the league.

So when Taissa is offered the chance to redeem herself and her career, she can’t refuse—even if the offer is coming from the very man who ruined everything in the first place. It’s close to a dream come true . . . except for that pesky clause in her contract that demands she and Kion enter a fake relationship in order to garner some much-needed positive PR for the team. This could not be a worse match. Taissa and Kion only have two things in their love of the game, and their undying hatred for each other.

Yet as a mysterious illness befalls the winged creatures of the entire league—putting both the beasts’ lives and the very sport itself at stake—the athletes find themselves partnering up in other ways, determined to crack the case of the eerie sickness. As their investigation takes them on a whirlwind adventure, Kion and Taissa are prepared for anything . . .

Anything, that is, but their fake-for-the-cameras relationship to maybe, just maybe, become something real after all.

When Dealing with Dragons by. Dana Swift

Bonding with dragons gave humans magic to craft metal―now, two school rivals have to work together to protect a priceless secret, all while fighting their growing attraction to each other, from Dana Swift, author of Cast in Firelight.

Copper-crafter Farren Walsh is set on following in her father’s footsteps to become a dragon veterinarian. The only thing more powerful than her love for these magnificent creatures is her hate for those who exploit them for their precious metal. That includes her classmate, an arrogant dragon racer named James Murphy, whose silver-crafting family represents the worst of human greed and dragon abuse―plus, he’s the biggest competition for the college scholarship she desperately needs.

When James strongarms his way into interning at her family’s dragon sanctuary for the summer, it puts everything at risk. Farren isn’t just the plain copper-crafter she seems. She’s hiding a secret that could not only change her life, but their society as a whole. And James, trying to find refuge from his controlling father, harbors his own secret, years-long crush on Farren. Hating James might be harder than she thought, but Farren can’t risk getting too close: the fate of an endangered species is at stake.

When Dealing with Dragons is a delightful young adult dual-POV romantasy about cross-class romance, finding family, and creating a better world for creatures big and small.

The Anatomy of Magic by. Alexis L. Menard

Enter a world of forbidden magic . . . where falling in love could be the last mistake you ever make.

Nina Veyr has a dangerous secret—illegal magical abilities she cannot explain. If the city of Valveron’s enforcers found her, she would be executed . . . or worse. For years, Nina has stayed in the shadows, picking pockets and smuggling enchanted relics to get by. Then she steals from the wrong man.

Max Antonin is the most powerful crime boss in the city. Cold, deadly, and breathtakingly attractive, Max has his sights set on Nina, and nothing will stand in his way. But when Nina is framed for a shocking murder, Max offers to help her find the true killers. She knows she can’t trust him—that deals with a devil always come at a cost. But there’s no way she can survive on her own.

As they follow a trail of bodies into the city’s underworld, Nina feels a dangerous attraction pulling her ever closer to him. But can she trust her life and her heart to the city’s most ruthless criminal?

The Housewife by. Natalie Barelli

From bestselling indie thriller writer Natalie Barelli comes a new deliciously dark novel about a woman who married the man of her dreams, only for him to become her worst nightmare.

Jodie always dreamed of being a housewife. And after a whirlwind romance, she marries renowned psychologist Dr. Roy Davies and moves into his perfect Beverly Hills home. But the fairy tale fades fast. Roy is distant, his friends view her as a gold-digger, and the house still reveres his late wife, Deborah, whose presence still looms over everyone and everything.

When Jodie learns Deborah became a recluse before death, she begins to suspect Roy was behind it. And the deeper she digs, the darker Roy’s past appears―obsessive, controlling, unfaithful. Increasingly convinced he had something to do with Deborah’s death, Jodie knows she should go to the police, but that would require revealing her own secret. A secret that could destroy her.

But Jodie won’t be silenced. Because the truth about Roy is worse than she imagined―and now, trapped in a house built on lies, she must find a way out before she becomes the next perfect wife to vanish.

The River She Became by. Emily Varga

A high stakes, action-packed romantasy from bestselling author Emily Varga where a relic-hunter searches for an ancient fae object to restore the magic to her world, but must learn to trust her own powers—and her heart.

This limited luxe edition features gorgeous foil design on the cover and case, a dazzling edge and interior page design and an exclusive map—available while supplies last!

I’m going across the River. And I’m going to save us all.

Yaseema is a brilliant scholar and loyal servant of the Empire—or so they think. By day, she catalogs the fae relics of her conquered kingdom. But by night, she reclaims the artefacts in secret to restore magic to her dying land.

Until she finds the long lost key to cross the River into the fae world and save her people. But a ruthless realm awaits her there, ruled by monsters wearing beautiful skin—especially the cold-eyed captain who sees through her lies. But even he isn’t what he seems—under the guise of upholding a cruel regime, he works to overthrow it from the inside. To succeed, he needs the same lost relic Yaseema the crown of an ancient Fae Queen.

With magic that is a mystery even to her, Yaseema can help him find the crown and save his family from a fate worse than death. Unless she steals it first to help her own.

To survive, they must work together to outwit ancient curses, battle creatures born of nightmares, and find a power that could resurrect their worlds. But as secrets unravel and loyalties blur, they face the greatest danger of losing their heart to each other.

Perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and The Mummy, this thrilling start to a new fantasy duology bursts with dangerous romance, heart-stopping twists, and a heroine who dares to steal back her future.

Are you getting any new books this week?

Happy Reading!

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

Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the Second Half of 2026 | TTT | Top Ten Tuesday | 6/30/26

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:

Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the Second Half of 2026

ACOTAR 6 by. Sarah J Maas & 7 of course!

There are more I want to add on this list but it would be too much – just so many books coming out in the second half of 2026 that I want to read!

What’s on your TTT?

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

Rewrite the Stars by. Lindsay Hameroff | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Rewrite the Stars

Author: Lindsay Hameroff

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 7/7/26

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Categories: Contemporary, Romance, Beach Read, Women’s Fiction, Small Town 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 St. Martin’s Griffin for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A sparkling romance between an ex-actress and her contractor, reminding us that it’s never too late to rewrite our destiny.

Semi-retired actress Marissa Morgan has played many parts in her life. But these days, her primary role is mother of two. Since hitting pause on her career, she’s worked hard to give her kids a normal childhood and shield them from the spotlight. So when her ex-husband announces his high-profile engagement and a media storm ensues, Marissa and her kids flee Los Angeles for a summer at her recently inherited Poconos lake house.

The long-vacant house needs major TLC, so Marissa hires a home renovation company to do repairs. But when the project hits a snag and Marissa finds herself sharing space with the crew, including Jesse, the handsome (and vaguely familiar) foreman, her plans for a drama-free summer hit choppy water.

Jesse doesn’t expect Marissa to remember him; they were just kids when they last played together at the lake. But he’s never forgotten her; he’s spent the last two decades quietly following her career, even as his own dreams fell apart. And now that she’s stumbled back into his sleepy hometown, Jesse’s predictable life has gotten a lot more complicated.

As the summer days pass, Marissa finds herself centering her own needs for the first time in years—and that includes giving into her mounting attraction to Jesse. Soon, she finds herself wondering if their fling could become something more.

After an unexpected career opportunity falls into Marissa’s lap, it feels like the stars have finally aligned. But when new complications arise, the pair wonder how they’ll fit into each other’s future. Can Marissa and Jesse chart a new course together, or is it too late to rewrite the script for a happily ever after?

Content Warning: divorce

+ Marissa is an actress who had big acclaim before she got married and had kids. She’s been a stay at home mom for years now and she’s afraid to get back into acting, but with her ex-husband in the tabloids again, she decides to go to the lake house in a small town in the Poconos (Pennsylvania), to get away from all the chaos. While there she meets the man who is helping to renovate the house and sparks fly.

+ I totally related to Marissa on the motherhood elements of this story – the whole stay at home mom thing. Marissa has a lot more on her plate than I do though, like a playboy ex-husband who tries to manipulate her by using the kids, and a son who is autistic. I love how the story navigated all aspects of Marissa’s life. I love how Marissa learns to put herself first.

+ The romance is such a Hallmark movie kind of romance, Marissa is a famous actress and she escapes to a small town, where she has immediate sparks with the carpenter who is doing the flooring in her house. But I love that they knew each other briefly as kids. Marissa is a good person, I thought she was even too nice to her ex-husband, but I can see how he used the kids to get to her. Jesse though is a walking green flag, he’s good with her kids, loves his family and dog and he’s just an all around nice guy. There is spice, which kept it fun.

+ Loved the autistic representation in Levi, Marissa’s son.

Final Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this one and related to the motherhood aspects of the story. I love that Marissa learns to put herself first after putting everyone else first for a few years. The romance was cute with a little spice! The setting is perfect to make this a summer read or beach read. I hope to read more from this author!

Read if you like:

motherhood
small town romance
actress and a regular guy
summer romance

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Weekly Wrap Up | 6/28/26

Aloha friends!

+ I am deep in the planning and organizing my son’s Bar Mitzvah, which is happening in 2 weeks! I can’t believe the moment is upon us, I feel like it’s been years of Sunday School but now he is almost done. wow. 🥹. I feel like I didn’t do my best planning his Bar Mitzvah but I’ve learned a lot and will do better for my daughter’s Bat Mitzvah in 3 years. But lately I’m busy with to-do lists, shopping for things, etc…

Blog Posts:

Witch Season by. Julia Bianco | ARC Review 3.5 stars/🌶️🌶️
Books on My Sumer 2026 To-Read List | TTT | Top Ten Tuesday | 6/23/26
New Book Releases This Week | 6/23/26
WWW Wednesday | 6/24/26
The Winged Game by. Sophie Kim | ARC Review 4.5 stars/🌶️
Broken Dove by. Dani Francis | Book Review 3.5 stars/🌶️🌶️

Books I Finished

Broken Dove by. Dani Francis
Our Wicked Gifts by. Kathryn Foxfield
In Stormy Weather by. Chelsea Curto
Love and Lies by. Lena Kiefer
Dreamland by. Olivie Blake

Currently Reading:

The False Vow by. Lydia Gregovi
The Ice Beyond by. Olivia Wildenstein
Ruinous Ends by. I.V. Marie
Because I Killed Him by. Edith Birde

Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

+ Voicemails for Isabelle (Netflix) – I saw people raving about this on TikTok so I watched it. 😩 Oh my heart, it hurt. It’s such a good, funny, and emotional rom-com though! Loved it!

+ Olivia Rodrigo – You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love – still listening to this and…did I get tickets for the Daisy Chain Festival? I did!!!! But I’m kinda worried because I’ve never been to a music festival and I’m bringing my kids.

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!

Instagram | Tiktok

Broken Dove by. Dani Francis | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Broken Dove (Silver Elite, #2)

Author: Dani Francis

Pages: 593

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Publication Date: 5/12/26

Categories: Dystopian, Romance, Series

In the heart-pounding sequel to the New York Times bestselling dystopian romance Silver Elite, lines will be crossed, loyalties will be tested, and the fight for the Continent is only just beginning as Wren Darlington finds herself caught in the middle of two wars: one for the fate of her home and another for the fate of her heart.

LINES WILL BE CROSSED.

After blowing her cover as a double agent within Silver Elite and fleeing the Prime-controlled capital, Wren Darlington is finally safe behind allied lines. As her lover and former commander Cross Redden works to disrupt the Primes from inside their ranks, Wren turns her focus toward assisting the Uprising in overthrowing their rule once and for all.

LOYALTIES WILL BE TESTED.

Though she’s back among her own people, trust is hard-won and hidden agendas abound on the Mod base. And beyond those walls, Wren can’t help but worry that Cross is keeping secrets of his own . . . secrets that could jeopardize everything. Complicating matters even further is her shocking reunion with hotshot fighter pilot and undercover operative Grayson Blake. Once her closest friend in Silver Elite, Gray seems to understand Wren on a level she never thought possible.

AND THE FIGHT FOR THE CONTINENT IS ONLY JUST BEGINNING.

With the war between Mods and Primes growing more brutal by the day, and with her own role in the conflict becoming more essential than ever, Wren must confront some gut-wrenching questions. Who is she fighting for . . . and who is she willing to lose?

Content Warning: violence, death, mention of rape

World Building: Back in the fight for the Continent – Wren is now at the Dagger with other Mods like herself, reuniting with Grayson. Cross is still with his family and the Primes. I do feel like the world opened up more in this sequel but most of the story still takes place indoors. But I did like when they went on missions.

Characters: Wren needs to prove her loyalty to the leaders of the Mods but she’s also guarding the secret of her parents. She grows a lot though and has to deal with a forbidden romance, lost and betrayal. Grayson becomes a main character which I wasn’t expecting, it did make things interesting though. Cross wasn’t in this book much because he was separated from Wren for almost all the story, so I cannot say much about his growth. There is a big secondary cast in this story which I enjoyed getting to know and they each added a lot to the story.

Romance: For me, I have a feeling Cross and Wren will be end game, because you cannot tell me they won’t be after knowing each other (at least in their minds) since they were kids! This forbidden romance is a challenge for them but I didn’t think it was going to break them ~ but I guess it had to happen? Still didn’t expect Wren being with someone else, even though I don’t hate the guy, I just have loyalty towards Cross! 😅 So I will reserve judgment until book three and see what happens. But I didn’t love the triangle, and at times I was frustrated with Wren – because Cross is getting punished for her and she knows he is after seeing his bruises yet. He can’t always be there for her…but he does his best!

Story: The beginning of this book was slow. So slow that I was wondering why people were raving about this book. I feel like it started getting interesting at the 300-ish page mark. A lot of the slow parts was just more training and Wren trying to fit in at the Dagger. I get it, they can’t trust her, but it only was interesting when she went on missions. Pacing was off for me. But there are lots of twists and turns near the end though, so I think that’s why people were raving about this book. I did enjoy the second half way more than the first half.

Final Thoughts:

The beginning was a little too slow for me and then the pacing was a little off until all the twists and turns nearing the end. I did like that the world opened up but I didn’t love the love triangle and Cross was barely in this book. I did like the secrets and betrayals, and all the missions because it brought the action but again, that came in the second half of the book. Overall, I think this was a solid sequel. Will I still read book three? Yes, just to see Wren and Cross get together again, hopefully. 😅

Read if you like:

love triangle
twists and turns (second half of story)

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Silver Elite by. Dani Francis| Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️🌶️

The Winged Game by. Sophie Kim | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: The Winged Game

Author: Sophie Kim

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 544

Publication Date: 6/30/26

Publisher: Del Rey

Categories: Romance, Fantasy, Sports 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 Del Rey for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Anything, that is, but their fake-for-the-cameras relationship to maybe, just maybe, become something real after all.

Content Warning: violence

World Building: This is a fantasy/sci-fi sports romance story and I loved it! Carriwitchet is a game played with high stakes – different teams and different winged creatures, like dragons, wyverns, hippogriffs and more. I felt like the game was explained really well and I enjoyed all the action of the sport. And though it is fantasy, it is written in our current year and has many modern day elements like the social media comments.

Characters: Taissa was once a very popular Carriwitchet player until her rival, Kion took her down by exposing her. Both Taissa and Kion are alike – top players of the sport, quick tempers, but Taissa is a lot more impulsive while Kion rarely shows emotions. Both of them though have their own demons and I love how they bickered, but eventually when the air clears and they finally listen to one another – they become the best together. A strong part of this story is the found family element which Kion has with his teammates, a team he is trying desperately to save. When Taissa is added to the mix, there is a lot of distrust, but I loved seeing how it breaks down when they finally accept her onto the team. The winged creatures are fun because they have a voice in this story, especially Cronus – Taissa’s decrepit creature – he was so grumpy, I love him! But I love how everyone has an emotional story and it made me invested in their stories.

Romance: The romance is rivals to lovers, these two hated one another just from a misunderstanding. And though I usually hate when a misunderstanding or miscommunication happens, I didn’t mind this one because it happens to Kion who was going through some trigger to a trauma. I love how we watch Taissa and Kion for from hate, to love. It’s so entertaining! There is a little spice and yes I do wish it had more just because Taissa and Kion had such good chemistry even as rivals.

Story: I was surprised this was a standalone but also love it because of that. Not only did this have found family and a rivals to lovers romance, but there is a mystery in the story as well. Taissa and Kion have to figure out who cursed their team before they lose their team altogether, so the stakes were high. I also loved the humor in this story!

Final Thoughts:

I loved this story because it had so much action, the rivals to lovers romance was so funny and entertaining, and each character had an emotional background and I was rooting for all of them very hard. It has humor, winged creatures who can mind speak and even mystery! I was thoroughly entertained!

Read if you like:

sports romance, but fantasy
found family
friendship
mystery

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

WWW Wednesday | 6/24/26

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?

Haven’t been doing much but keeping my kids fed, keeping the house clean and preparing for my son’s bar mitzvah that is coming up in about 2 weeks. So I’m trying to get that organized! I’ll be happy when it will be done but right after I have to do school shopping because my kids go back on August 3rd.

I feel like I’ve been reading slowly since back from my vacation and I have no urge to read any faster lol…still on vacation mode I think!