Kissed by the Gods by. Caty Rogan | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Kissed by the Gods (The Eternal Wars, #1)

Author: Caty Rogan

Pages: 544

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 9/24/25

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Series



Survivor. Rebel. Weapon.

Leina has spent a lifetime submitting, starving amid wheat fields reserved for the king, standing by while his men crush her loved ones. When soldiers come for her brother, her divine fury erupts in a bloody massacre.

She expects to be executed for her crimes—her people have met bloody ends for far, far less. Instead, Ryot, a gods-blessed warrior born to privilege, delivers her to a military fortress renowned for its brutality.

There, a gift from a goddess drags Leina into a realm of war, where her survival depends on her ability to ride a winged horse.

As Ryot pushes her to master the power she never asked for, a battle rages within her heart. Each lesson, every touch, binds them tighter—but love is a dangerous weakness in a world designed for war.

Soon, Leina must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice to protect the family she has found … and the one she left behind. Because while her divine gift could save the kingdom, it could also shatter its very foundation.

With immersive lush writing, an unflinching heroine, and an inventive fantasy world, Kissed by the Gods is the gripping fantasy debut you won’t want to miss.

Featuring iconic romance tropes:
He falls first
Forbidden romance
Found family
Trial by combat
She saves him
Spicy slow burn
Feminine rage

Content Warning: violence, death

I finally got to this book which I’ve been meaning to read for some time. I just knew it would be heavier world building so I needed to get into the right state of mind. Here are my thoughts:

+ Leina is filled with rage. Most of her family have been killed, her little brothers torn from her, life has not been easy and now the Gods want something from her? I would be pissed too! Her people in Selencia have been oppressed and no one knows, except the people in Aish apparently. Though a lot of this story is about Leina training to be the warrior the Gods want her to be, we get to see her weaknesses and strengths. She’s very stubborn but willing to train and learn to get better.

+ The found family trope in this story is so good! The secondary characters are great. Leina is ripped away from her own family and she is grieving many of them so having Ryot and his group basically adopt her was so cool to watch. Leina might be filled with rage but she did come from a big family and community that loved one another and I like how she easily fit in with the guys and also made friends with the few girls she’s met.

+~ I loved the action and the faravars (winged horses)! The battle scenes were great, but most of them do come at the end of the book. I did find that because the first half of this book was mostly Leina in training, it did move a bit slow and most of it was predictable because I’ve read a lot of stories like this. But I still appreciated the world building and learning about the Altors and vanguard. I got invested and cared about the characters, plus I’d like to see Leina reach her full potential. I’d also like to learn more about the magic.

+~ It’s a forbidden romance between master and student but I knew it would be doomed because I figured out one of the secrets a bit early. I do like Ryot for the most part, he seems like a good guy who cares about his people but again, we shall see what happens in book two after that ending. For the most part though, I enjoyed the romance and spice between them.


Quotes From the Book:

“Because if there’s one thing a baseborn serf knows, and knows well, it’s how to reap. Only, instead of wheat, I reap death.” – Kiss of the Gods by. Caty Rogan

Final Thoughts:

This is a great way to start a series with interesting world building and characters I started to care for. I think there is still a lot to learn about this world, especially when it comes to the magic and history of Selencia. The first part did move slowly because of the world building and Leina in constant training to be the warrior she is destined to be. And yes the story was predictable and I guessed a few of the secrets but I’m excited to see Leina grow even more. Plus it ends on quite a cliffhanger and I need to see what happens next with Leina, Ryot and their friends and family.

Read if you like:

  • female rage
  • warrior training/trials
  • found family
  • forbidden romance

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble


Weekly Wrap Up | 8/9/26

Aloha friends!

+ Kids are back in school which has left me a little more time to read and blog. I even watched a show on Amazon Prime and have to catch up on House of Dragon before my expired subscription to HBO MAX kicks in.

Blog Posts:

Books I Finished

  • Dangerous Haven by. Luna Pierce
  • Nest of Tongues by. Randy Ribay
  • Conform by. Ariel Sullivan
  • Kissed by the Gods by. Caty Rogan
  • The Lion & the Deathless Dark by. Carissa Broadbent
  • Immortal Rose by. Alexandra Bracken

Currently Reading:

  • In the Veins of the Drowning by. Kalie Cassidy
  • The Best I Never Had by. Amy Buchanan
  • The Calamities by. Chuck Wendig
  • Bonfire & Bliss Bookstore by. Brittanee Nicole
  • Want Me, Take Me, Haunt Me, Make Me by. Isabel Crowley

Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

+ Olivia Rodrigo You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love

+ Ariana Grande – Petal

+ SB 19

+ Sterling Point (Amazon Prime) – I decided to watch this because I saw a tiktok video that showed how the opening song on episode one was Maggots for Brains by Olivia Rodrigo and I was intrigued. Binged it in 2 days. Loved it! It’s a young adult drama with romance, but very coming of age and it has family secrets – but it’s fun and the way it’s shot, the dialogue felt realistic which I loved. It’s funny, awkward but so heartfelt and emotional at times too. It felt so refreshing!


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

Love and Lies by. Lena Kiefer | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Love and Lies (Westwell, #1)

Author: Lena Kiefer

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 368

Publication Date: 8/11/26 (first published 6/22/22)

Publisher: Atria Books

Categories: Contemporary, Romance, Forbidden Romance, New Adult, Mystery

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

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


Their families rule New York’s high society. Their love could burn it to the ground. The first book in the internationally bestselling Westwell series.

Helena Weston has one goal when she returns to her glittering New York City life: clear her sister’s name. Two years ago, Valerie and her fiancé, Adam Coldwell, were found dead after their champagne-soaked engagement party—and ever since, the powerful Coldwells have blamed Valerie and the Westons for the tragedy. Determined to uncover what really happened that night, Helena throws herself into the same ruthless circle that destroyed her sister’s reputation…only to find herself face-to-face with the one person she should hate the most.

Jessiah Coldwell has spent years trying to survive his brother’s death—and break free from the world that whispered while they buried him. When Helena Weston storms back into his orbit, he knows she’s dangerous. She’s angry, impossible, and a walking reminder of everything his family lost. But she’s also the only one who sees him for who he is—and who understands the pain he’s been trying to outrun.

As the lines between loyalty and longing begin to blur, long-buried secrets rise to the surface—threatening to destroy them both. But some fates you can’t escape, and in a city where love and lies are two sides of the same coin, they’ll have to decide how much they’re willing to risk for the truth—and for each other.

Content Warning: death, mention of drug use, grief, complicated parental relationships, violence, mention of kidnapping

+ This story gave me Romeo and Juliet vibes plus some Gossip Girl. Helena Weston is back in New York City, after the death of her older sister Valerie due to a supposed overdose, and her family’s reputation has taken a big hit. But she wants to find out the truth about the night her sister and her fiancé, Adam, died. Jessiah, is the younger brother of Adam, and he hates the Weston family – blaming Valerie for his brother’s death. Helena hates Jessiah’s family for dragging Valerie’s name through the mud. So it’s very “two houses in Verona”, the feud between the two families is very Romeo and Juliet.

+~ I like how Helena and Jessiah both have depth to their. They both understand the pressures of belonging to families in high society with power. They have rules to follow, although Jessiah has a reputation for breaking them. Helena is more restricted because her parents threaten to send her back to England in order to control her. They are both experiencing grief. Now I would like to see them fight back against their parents a little more, especially Helena. There were some other interesting characters like Elijah, Jessiah’s youngest brother who has panic attacks. And I enjoyed Jessiah’s close friends – he seems to know some good people. I wish Helena had the same.

+ Because this is very Romeo and Juliet, it’s a forbidden romance. Two people who was taught to hate one another, meet and realize there is chemistry between them. Not only chemistry but they have shared grief, so they understand one another on levels other people cannot. But as with Romeo and Juliet, they cannot be together. Jessiah’s mom is doing everything she can to ruin Helena’s family for revenge. There is some spice, and I was definitely hoping there was a way they could be together.

+~ Helena is doing her best to find leads into her sister’s death. She wants to prove Valerie wasn’t the one who supplied the drugs that killed her and Adam, but this puts Helena in some dangerous situations. I also feel like once the romance really kicked in between Helena and Jessiah, the investigation was pushed to the side. So I did wish there was more to it because I too want to know if Valerie was innocent or not!

+~ There were some phrases I thought sounded strange when I read them but then I did some research and apparently this was a German publication that got translated. So that makes lots of sense!

Final Thoughts:

I thought this was a solid first book in a romance series that set the groundwork with the forbidden romance. The setting of high society New York City is always enticing and filled with power plays and drama. There is no lack of it here and I was really rooting for Helena and Jessiah to be able to be together. But we shall see what happens in book two after that ending. I hope there will be more leads about Valerie’s death.

Read if you like:

  • Romeo and Juliet – forbidden romance
  • high society NYC
  • mystery

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Dreamland by. Olivie Blake | ARC and ALC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Dreamland

Author: Olivie Blake

Format: eBook (NetGalley) and audiobook (netgalley)

Pages: 368

Listening Hours: approx. 12 hrs 45 min

Publication Date: 8/11/26

Publisher: Tor Books & Macmillan Audio

Categories: Horror, Fantasy, Gothic, Contemporary, Mystery Thriller, 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 & Macmillan Audio for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

From New York Times bestselling author Olivie Blake comes a tantalizing story of power, seduction, and the omens you’ll ignore when everything you’ve dreamed of feels just within reach.

The headlines are calling it the “summer of exsanguination” in LA—girls are being murdered, the Santa Ana winds are blowing a strange energy into the city, and all signs point to fire season.

More pressing for Anya Morris, though, is the drudgery of living at home, working part time at the family store, and contending with her mother’s disdain for the acting career Anya knows she’s destined for but that feels more impossible by the day.

It’s in this suffocating late summer heat that Anya receives a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, an invitation to work for the de Witt family, one of LA’s most influential film dynasties. Soon, she’s spending her days and nights at their strange villa high in the Hollywood hills, where she meets Jude, a recluse who is both the family’s heir apparent and its most closely guarded secret.

There’s a magnetism to Jude that Anya cannot resist, despite warning signs that scream like sirens in the night. Because the villa holds generations of bloodstained history, and an occult family curse may even live within its walls—or within Jude himself.

In this city, everyone cuts a deal with the devil. When Anya comes face to face with a devil of her own, she’ll learn just how far she’s willing to go to get everything she’s ever wanted.

Content Warning: murder, gore, violence

World Building: Set in present day, Los Angeles, Anya is half white and Filipino, struggling to become an actress. She gets a job offer by a powerful family in the movie industry, that pays good, but the job is a little strange. Anya loves the perks of being on the inside though even if she’s basically a baby-sitter for a grown man. I really enjoyed Anya’s Filipino family that was represented. But another thing is happening in this story, there are murders happening around Los Angeles, and Anya might somehow gotten herself tangled in the middle of it all. So there is a very dark undercurrent to this story.

Characters: Anya is a morally gray character who is trying to break into the movie industry but also dealing with feelings of inadequacy because her mom expects more from her. But we learn just how far she will go to see her dreams come true. I also liked how she had a complicated relationship with her mom and how that plays out. Jude, is a very mystery character – but is he a killer? We are in his thoughts and head a lot, which got confusing because there are two voices in his head! There are other characters from the De Witt family that is central to this story.

Romance: I was not expecting any romance in this and it’s definitely not the kind that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. I was kind of disgusted and scared for Anya at the same time. There is spice, but like I said, it’s a confusing situation because Anya is attracted to the mystery of Jude, but also enticed by his darkness because she thinks there is a darkness in her too.

Story: This story is wild, chaotic and weird. It’s a story about power and how much one will do for it. Was it easy to follow? No, not really. Because at times it felt like a fever dream! Of course so much is revealed at the end, but I couldn’t tell if Jude’s reality and his thoughts were something I could trust. And though I liked Anya, she would slip into delusions, as if her life was a movie script. I did like how the murder mystery is played out but again, it was not straight forward.

Narrator(s): It is dual narrators and both did such an amazing job, especially the male narrator who had to voice a mentally unstable character! He brought the right amount of crazy and creepiness to the character. The female narrator did so good with the Filipino accents, I felt like I was listening to my own family. I actually switched back and forth from ebook to audiobook and I have to say the audiobook really added something more to the story compared to when I just read it as an ebook.

Final Thoughts:

This was unique, strange, confusing, weird and not exactly for me. But did I listen to this audiobook to the end? Yes, because the narrators did a fantastic job keeping me interested and I had to find out who was committing the murders. There were some things I liked about the story, Anya trying to navigate her world as half white and half Filipino – and her complicated relationship with her mom. Trying to figure out Jude was a little harder. I enjoyed the murder mystery too but overall, I think people who want a story where that is a little out there will enjoy this one more than I did.

Read if you like:

  • murder mystery – serial killer

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

The Atlas Six by. Olivie Blake | Book Review – 4 stars

Deviant King (Deluxe Edition) by. Rina Kent | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Title: Deviant King (#1) Deluxe Edition

Author: Rina Kent

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 362

Publication Date: 8/11/26 (first published 10/21/2019)

Publisher: Bloom Books

Categories: New Adult, Bully Romance, Dark 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 Bloom Books for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!


The villain isn’t supposed to be king.

I have a simple plan.
Finish Royal Elite School and get into my dream university.
One glance from the school’s king blows my plan up in smoke.
One glance and he suffocates my air.
One glance and he issues his death sentence.
His first words spiral my life into irreparable chaos.
“I will destroy you.”
Everything about Aiden King is black.
Black mind.
Black heart.
Black soul.
I should’ve remained quiet and endured the time I have left.
I didn’t.
I made the irrevocable mistake of provoking the king on his throne.
The devil in his hell.
And now, I’ll pay the price.
Being hated by Aiden King is dangerous.
But being wanted by him is lethal.

This book is part of a trilogy and not standalone. The entire trilogy is available.

Content Warning: violence, sexual assault, bullying, so much more – read the trigger warnings

I wanted to read something different and realized I never read a Rina Kent book so I requested it. Now I am not the biggest fan of bully romance, but did I read this in one sitting? Yes, probably because Aiden, the MMC is so unhinged, I had to see how bad he got. I couldn’t quite look away and wanted Elsa, the FMC, to build a backbone and stand up to Aiden, but of course, she would fall for him ~ but point blank this guy is just crazy. Again, read the trigger warnings because some of his behavior is just disgusting.

I think this story would have been more believable though, if the characters were older, even if they were just new adults in their early 20’s, but these characters are in high school students acting like they run the world (world being their elite high school) and I just wasn’t buying it. I say it’s New Adult because it’s spicy.

I did like some of Aiden’s friends because they tried to help Elsa – they weren’t as crazy as Aiden.

Final Thoughts:

This was not for me – Aiden needs to be locked up somewhere! I just couldn’t believe these were high school students, even if they were at an elite school. It was too dark for me, so if you are into very dark romance with all the trigger warnings – you might enjoy this one.

Read if you like:

  • bully romance
  • dark romance

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Killing Rules by. Bree Despain | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Killing Rules

Author: Bree Despain

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 416

Publication Date: 8/4/26

Publisher: Entangled: Mayhem Books

Categories: Young Adult, Horror, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Paranormal, 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 Entangled: Mayhem Books for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!


Seventeen-year-old Harper Westbrook isn’t afraid of monsters…she is one.

For the past three years, she’s been one of the Blood Bound―girls and women cursed with a bloodlust only satisfied by killing terrible men. Once every three months, she trades in her pom-poms for a lethal throwing axe. Her life is led by a strict set of rules to keep her dark secret as hidden as the bodies she buries.

And her number one rule? Stay away from Grayson Jones.

The boy she was totally falling for until the night her curse manifested, everything went horribly wrong, and she killed his father. It was self-defense. Or at least that’s what she keeps telling herself.

Grayson is an investigative reporter for their school paper, and he’ll stop at nothing to find the truth behind his father’s gruesome death.

As he follows new clues down darker and darker paths―to an unbelievable world of mythical beasts and the men who hunt them―Grayson doesn’t realize he’s on a collision course with Harper’s biggest secrets. Now, she must stop him before he exposes her family to the Hunters, even if it means risking her life and heart.

Because who could ever love a monster like her?

Content Warning: violence, death, injuries, gore, murder

The Killing Rules is about a popular cheerleader named Harper who has a very dark and gruesome secret. She’s a monster, a blood beast. She kills bad men.

This story is a little bit gory, there is a murder mystery and but there is even a romance. I think the first half builds a bit slowly because of the mystery of Grayson’s dad being murdered and other murders that are occurring in town. Harper is living a double life as the popular girl and a killer, plus if her ex-friend/crush Grayson knew her secret he would look at her differently – it’s why she pushed him away when his dad was killed. Everything picks up in the second half where there are a few twists, like Harper isn’t the only one going around killing people – so who is it? Also we learn about blood beasts and hunters!

I liked Harper, she couldn’t control what she was and I kind of love that the monster in her only killed bad people. This story kinda gave me vibes and energy of the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Final Thoughts:

This had mystery, action, gore and romance. I liked how it explored friendship, family, and feminine rage. I also enjoyed the second half with the twist and turns. Definitely check this out if you like YA thrillers!

Read if you like:

  • young adult thrillers
  • horror, gore

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

WWW Wednesday | 8/5/26

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?


My kids are back in school today so summer is over for us, boo! But the kids were getting restless at home – my kids hate waking up early but they do like being challenged with school work which I’m glad about. It will give me a little more quiet time in the middle of the day so that will be nice.

What are you currently reading?

Because I Killed Him by. Erin Birde – 5% – no progress

In the Veins of the Drowning by. Kalie Cassidy – 5% – no progress

Every Spiral of Fate by. Tahereh Mafi – 5% – no progress

The Best I Never Had by. Amy Buchanan – arc – 22%

The Lion & the Deathless Dark by. Carissa Broadbent – 10%

Nest of Tongues by. Randy Ribay – arc – 10%


What have you just finished reading?

Kissed by the Gods by. Caty Rogan – 4 stars/2 🌶️

Conform by. Ariel Sullivan – 4 stars/1 🌶️

Dangerous Haven by. Luna Pierce – alc – 3.5 stars/3 🌶️

The Killing Rules by. Bree Despain – arc – 3.5 stars

Vow of Eternal Night by. Lily Crozier – arc – 3.5 stars/🌶️.5

Daybreak by. Autumn Woods – 4.5 stars/2 🌶️


What are you going to read next?

Prophecy & Power by. Amy Yorke

Want Me, Take Me, Haunt Me, Make Me by. Isabel Crowley

Bonfire & Bliss Bookstore by. Brittanee Nicole

The Queen’s Bodyguard by. Lauren Blackwood

The House That Eats the Dead by. Max Dody

The Calamities by. Chuck Wendig


What are YOU reading right now?

Conform by. Ariel Sullivan | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: Conform (Reform, #1)

Author: Ariel Sullivan

Pages: 416

Format: ebook (Libby)

Publication Date: 10/14/25

Categories: Dystopian Romance, Love Triangle, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Series


In the far future, one young woman finds herself torn between two loves—and two sides of a rebellion boiling under the surface—in the first novel of a sweeping dystopian romance trilogy.

Centuries after a catastrophic world war nearly decimated the human population, a city arose from the ashes, ruled by an elusive and technologically advanced group called the Illum.

At twenty-seven, Emeline lives in limbo, wasting away her days in a job sorting ancient human art for destruction and waiting to be selected as a Mate for a procreation contract. Where others look forward to being chosen, Emeline has never felt like she fit into a society where a person’s worth is determined by constantly monitored genes, health, and the ability to procreate. She’s struggled to keep her discomfort secret, but when she is finally chosen, her Mate is revealed to be a member of the Illum named Collin, a man who seems to be harboring secrets of his own.

It is the first time an Illum has taken a Mate in decades, leaving Emeline—and others—baffled as to why she was chosen. Soon, she is swept into the dangerous game of Courting, filled with ballgowns, lavish dinners, and watchful eyes, where one wrong move can mean elimination. While parts of this elite lifestyle are unexpectedly appealing, the more embroiled she becomes, the more she sees its dark underbelly—and a rebellion rising in secret. Collin is confusing, both cold and protective, and worse, she finds herself drawn to the very last person she should be falling for: Hal, one of the resistance leaders.

As she draws closer to both Collin and Hal, the Illum exercise their power in increasingly brutal ways, forcing Emeline to question everything—most of all whether she’ll have to give up her heart and even her life to stop them.

Content Warning: violence

I have been wanting to read this book for awhile, but I read Beneath first which I absolutely loved, so I wasn’t sure what to expect with Conform since Beneath takes place 100 years before this book.

So 100 years after Beneath and the Illum is in control of the Elite and everyone else. The Illum runs everything and one of the things they are focused on is procreation. It’s got some Handmaid Tales vibes especially when it comes to procreation and the roles of women. Emeline is selected to be the Mate but not for an Elite, instead she’s chosen for an Illum which hasn’t happened in a very long time. But the salvation she thought she would attain by becoming a Mate is not what happens, instead she is trapped between power players with her life always at risk.

I had lukewarm feelings about Emeline, she’s been sheltered and taught all the rules she needs to follow to be a good Mate. So I understand why she is naive about a lot of things, but one of her strengths is her stubbornness. Unfortunately her stubbornness and naivety is a bad combination because her actions has messed things up for her and people she have started to care about. I did like her backstory, being Elite and given away by her family because she’s a Defect. Defects are chosen as mates to Elites to prevent inbreeding. I was rooting for Emeline to gain some leverage and power in this world among the Illum and Elites but she’s not quite there yet and makes the mistake of thinking she could stay a step ahead of the Illum. I honestly don’t know how she thought she could with all her lack of knowledge. So even though I didn’t totally love her character, I’m hoping she grows a lot more in book two.

My favorite character had to be Gregory, who is Emeline’s disgraced brother and is tortured by not being able to be with the one person he loves. Justice for Gregory! Collin, Emeline’s Mate is a mystery – I’ve been developing some theories about him but we’ll see if I’m right. As for Hal, he’s a rebel who falls for Emeline but again, I feel like there is more to him and this first book hasn’t given us a lot of depth to these characters yet.

And yes there is a love triangle, even though Emeline and Collin’s relationship is always so tense, she doesn’t deny that she is attracted to him. As for Hal, she knew him for one week…so…again, Emeline is sheltered and a guy started paying attention to her and she fell fast. I really just wanted to shake her sometimes. It’s one of those love triangles that made me tense because I didn’t want her getting caught but she’s so naive and aren’t used to the games being played.

Speaking of getting caught – my favorite thing about this book is the growing tension and it builds as the story goes on until the very end. I was so tense by the end of this book, there are twists and betrayal! The Illum is a powerful group, especially Collin but I feel like we need to know more about them. I would love more world-building and hope we get it in book two. This world and their rules for procreation and the things the women go through in this book and what their roles are reduced to is diabolical.


Quotes From the Book:

“When everyone above the surface believes everyone below is uncivilized and defective and you all believe everyone above is immoral and self-serving, who wins? How can anyone win when you all hate one another?” – Conform by. Ariel Sullivan

“There was no good or bad guy. There were no saviors, just varying shades of morally corrupt people with different lines in the sand.” – Conform by. Ariel Sullivan

Final Thoughts:

This is a solid start to this series, it definitely sets the stage for this fragile balance between the Illum and Elites, plus the rebellion that is threatening to burn all of it down. This world of the powerful and the powerless is filled with so much tension, the race to the end of the book was gripping and I couldn’t put it down. I don’t know how I feel about the love triangle because I think there is more to learn about Collin. Also, I would love to see more growth for Emeline and more world building. Emeline meant well, but she was too naive for her own good, I need more from her. I’m excited to see what happens in book two and am kind of excited that the author is writing two series at one time with Beneath and Conform.

Read if you like:

  • love triangle
  • dystopian romance
  • political intrigue; rebellion
  • betrayal

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble


Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Beneath by. Ariel Sullivan | Book Review – 4.5 stars/2 🌶️

Purple Book Covers| TTT | Top Ten Tuesday | 8/4/26

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: Cover Freebie (Pick any topic related to book covers. You can make up your own topic or pick one from the list of previous ones!)

Purple Book Covers

Since there have been so much lately! It’s one of my favorite book cover colors.


  • Sharpest Court by. Kiera Azar
  • Captive Traitor King by. Brigid Kemmerer
  • The Winged Game by. Sophie Kim
  • The Tempest Blade by. Danielle L. Jensen
  • Our Perfect Storm by. Carley Fortune
  • Dangerously Ours by. Krista & Becca Ritchie
  • The False Vow by. Lydia Gregovic
  • Storm Breaker by. Nisha J. Tuli
  • The Beckett Effect by. Nashae Jones

Infinite Shores by. Pascale Lacelle

What’s on your TTT?

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Top Ten Tuesday Topics:

July 7: Book Titles That Include the Word “[insert word of your choice here]” (Pick a word and share ten book titles that include that word!)
July 14: Books I Want to Read by New to Me Authors (Share books from your to-read list that are written by authors you’ve never read before.)
July 21: Books That Live in My Head Rent-Free (Stolen from Emma @ damppebbles.com)
July 28: Books I HAD to Have Immediately but Still Haven’t Read (this is a throwback topic from 2022)
August 4: Cover Freebie (Pick any topic related to book covers. You can make up your own topic or pick one from the list of previous ones!)
August 11: Books I Was Reading On This Day Over the Last Ten Years (Stolen from Anne @ HeadFullofBooks) (This might be tricky if you don’t use a reading tracker like Goodreads, but the idea is to share what you were reading on August 11th of 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016. If you have no idea, pick a book you loved that you read at any time during each of the last ten years. And if you still have no idea, pick a book you loved that was published during each of the last ten years. Make this work for you!)

New Book Releases This Week | 8/4/26

Happy book birthday to these new releases this week!

Steelborn by. Taylor J. LaRue

nter a world ruled by tyrants and thieves, where magic is outlawed, revolution brews, desire is dangerous, and an impossible cure may prove deadlier than the curse. This deluxe hardcover publication features stunning edges, illustrated endpapers, foil-stamped case cover, and special effects on the jacket.

Never run. Never bow. Never die.

Reya Connery became the Crimson Dagger, the most notorious thief in Rhiterra, by following a strict set of rules. There is no honor among thieves. A good blade is key to any negotiation. Only the dead keep secrets. And Reya has a secret that must be kept at all costs. But when a heist goes wrong on the eve of paying off her debt to a ruthless crime lord, Reya may need a new set of rules. And a lot of coin. Fast.

Enter Caelan Halcyon, an immortal warrior whose magic makes him a valuable target – if the curse inching closer to his heart doesn’t kill him first. There’s just one person who might be desperate enough to try and get their hands on the fabled cure in time to save his life, someone whose legend claims they can steal the Crimson Dagger. A male of honor, Caelan loathes everything the beautiful, cocky thief represents, yet knows that Reya is his last hope for survival.

Their search takes them to the edge of the known world, where Reya discovers that there is far more at stake than her and Caelan’s own lives. Now, Reya must confront deadly foes, her growing attraction to the immortal who is as lethal as his jawline is perfect, and the rage she’s spent a lifetime trying to bury. This time, her daggers aren’t going to cut it, and the fate of all magic-born hangs in the balance.


The Lion & the Deathless Dark by. Carissa Broadbent

Some blood tastes like vengeance. Some blood tastes like grief. Some blood tastes like nothing at all.

Under an eternal night, the world has been ravaged by ten years of war between humans and vampires. Kyrene scrapes by as a bounty hunter, bearing a blessed sword from the goddess of justice. But in the wake of a devastating loss, Kyrene commits a crime that makes her a target for mortals and gods alike – and she is still desperate for vengeance.

Her only chance at survival – and revenge – is making a deal with her enemy, the silver-tongue vampire prince, Septimus, who offers her one final to slay the gods themselves.

Together, Kyrene and Septimus must hunt the ultimate marks, all while navigating a web of prophecies and curses. Septimus is calculating and mysterious, masking secrets bloodthirsty enough to consume them both. Yet, most dangerous of all, Kyrene finds an unexpected kinship in him.

But their growing attraction is deadly in a world where the only currency is blood. And Kyrene will stop at nothing to fulfill her ultimate to kill the goddess of vampires, even if it means sacrificing love for revenge.


Gingerbread Bones by. Lindsay Lovise

They’re being hunted…

When sixteen-year-old Georgie and her troublemaking brother are shipped off to the wilderness for their stepmother’s newest reality show, Georgie is convinced it’ll be the worst experience of her life. Two weeks. No phones. Hiking. Camping. Cameras catching every humiliating second.

Then she meets Mack Gray. Tattooed, unreadable, and―among a cast of kids already branded as trouble―he’s the one she’s sure is dangerous.

One night, the counselors are chanting affirmations around the fire. By morning, they’re gone.

But the kids are not alone.

Georgie can feel it, stalking them from the shadows―watching, waiting, picking them off one by one. Whatever it is, it isn’t just hunting.

It’s playing.

And in this game, there seems to be only one ending: no one gets out alive.


Vow of Eternal Night by. Lily Crozier

Clara Wagner has always known that monsters are real, and the worst of them is Prince Raleigh of Rostenburg. But when he decides it’s time to marry, Clara inadvertently finds herself at the center of his attention.

Forced to accept Raleigh’s proposal, Clara would do anything to escape her fate. So when the prince provides an ultimatum―lift his vampiric curse before the end of the year, or become his bride for eternity―Clara knows what she must do.

Heal the prince. Stay alive. Try not to fall in love.


Prince of the Sun by. Emma Noyes

One hundred years ago, the elves appeared on Earth.

Beautiful, brilliant, and filled with unearthly grace, they swarmed the libraries and universities: Harvard, Yale, Oxford, Beijing. They made for the humans’ fountains of knowledge with eerie precision, as if they’d spent millennia studying Earth before their arrival.

Once there, the Elf King made an announcement: we’re looking for something, and once we find it, we will leave you in peace.

Quinn Kallister doesn’t believe him. Seven years ago, she watched her father be murdered and her brother kidnapped by a pair of elves. Since then, she fought to gain admission to Harvard for one reason: to find the answers no one will give her. To do that, she must spy on Daerios Ariar, the most powerful and terrifying of the Sun Princes. Quinn is set on gaining the prince’s trust and learning the elves’ secrets—until an unwanted attraction begins to form between them that neither can deny.


Eyes of Kings by. Chloe Gong

The action-packed finale to Chloe Gong’s New York Times bestselling Flesh & False Gods trilogy—inspired by Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra—brings readers the ultimate showdown for power among gods and men.

War beckons in the kingdom of Talin. On one side sits Calla Tuoleimi and Anton Makusa, and on the other, the recently dethroned August Shenzhi and Calla’s own predecessor Sinoa Tuoleimi. Neither will rest until the opposition is buried.

Calla assumed victory would be easy. She wears the divine crown after a violent coup, wielding the most powerful weapon in the kingdom. Then the provinces start to whisper of the old gods returning to earth, and suddenly the game board is flipped upside-down.

Anton thought he aligned himself with victory. When he swore to serve as Calla’s general, he understood the battle they were waging. But he fears Calla is no longer herself with the crown. Rather, he fears that Calla is returning to who she once was.

August would sacrifice anything for victory. He has waited his entire life for the throne, and surrender is not an option. In the face of age-old immortals challenging his terrain and the possibility of betrayal from his closest and most cherished guard, he must be careful who he trusts.

Because when the war ends, there can only be one king.


The Killing Rules by. Bree Despain

Seventeen-year-old Harper Westbrook isn’t afraid of monsters…she is one.

For the past three years, she’s been one of the Blood Bound―girls and women cursed with a bloodlust only satisfied by killing terrible men. Once every three months, she trades in her pom-poms for a lethal throwing axe. Her life is led by a strict set of rules to keep her dark secret as hidden as the bodies she buries.

And her number one rule? Stay away from Grayson Jones.

The boy she was totally falling for until the night her curse manifested, everything went horribly wrong, and she killed his father. It was self-defense. Or at least that’s what she keeps telling herself.

Grayson is an investigative reporter for their school paper, and he’ll stop at nothing to find the truth behind his father’s gruesome death.

As he follows new clues down darker and darker paths―to an unbelievable world of mythical beasts and the men who hunt them―Grayson doesn’t realize he’s on a collision course with Harper’s biggest secrets. Now, she must stop him before he exposes her family to the Hunters, even if it means risking her life and heart.

Because who could ever love a monster like her?


Lost and Found by. Tarah DeWitt

Bea always wanted to be a mom, but she never expected she’d have to lose her best friend to do it. Armed with nothing but her best friend’s eggs and a bucket list to complete, Bea’s world is a sea of changes.

When Silas steps in to give her a place to live when she needs it, Bea is half-relieved she has a longtime friend in her corner. A firefighter living in the wake of an accident, Silas has his own challenges to work through that have left him cautious and vulnerable in equal measure. At first, they expect nothing. But as these two former sunshines knit together in a love that has been unfulfilled till now, a new beginning comes out of the ashes of the past. One that will lead to a love that can withstand all the slings and arrows, joys and triumphs, that life can throw.


Adversary to the Villain by. Hannah Nicole Maehrer

HR Update: The position of “adversary to the villain” has been filled. Evie Sage does not recall applying.

Evie has always tried to be helpful, loyal, and only mildly involved in treason. But with a dangerous prophecy threatening the very magic of Rennedawn—not to mention the race to claim its necessary artifacts before King Benedict does—things are starting to feel…less like a career path and more like a serious problem.

The prophecy won’t stop pointing in Evie’s direction. The Villain’s magic keeps choosing her. And honestly, if you’re going to be accused of evil anyway, you might as well commit.

Unfortunately, the more Evie leans into her alleged villain era, the more her boss starts acting like the hero of a completely different story. Trystan is getting closer—closer than is wise, advisable, or even remotely professional—and looking at her like she’s already chosen a side. His.

Which is deeply inconvenient, because if Evie can’t save the kingdom’s magic, she might just become its greatest threat.

The hilarious fantasy romance series doesn’t end at Adversary to the Villain! The thrilling conclusion to the series is coming soon!


Cursed by the Dawn by. Logan Karlie

Esmer Havenfall thought freeing Erebus from his five-hundred-year imprisonment would end her nightmare. Instead, it has only just begun. Now bound by fate and darkness, Esmer and Erebus are no longer just dreamers—they are Shadow Weavers, wielders of a power both divine and damning. And something is already clawing its way through the Dream Realm’s cracks.

Raelion, the demon king lurking within Mithras, is poised to destroy the world. His corruptive curse spreads like a plague, twisting dreams into nightmares and turning humans into monsters. If Esmer and Erebus are to survive, they must achieve the forge an army from the broken and unravel ancient horrors before it’s too late. But when Esmer and Erebus are abruptly cast from the Dream Realm into a kingdom teetering on the edge of ruin, they quickly learn that something monstrous has already slipped through—and their love might be the first thing it devours.


Flickerstate by. F.A. Davidson

Norah Sullivan has just discovered she’s a a person who can manipulate probability. The same day Norah’s navigation manifests, she and her father are swarmed by possibility beasts. When a possibility beast bites you, your risk of death skyrockets. And pretty soon, her father gets sick. 

Desperate to find a cure, Norah applies to the Academy of Navigation, where there are rumors of restricted information on beast bites hidden in research archives. Once on campus, Norah learns that only senior research assistants are allowed in the archives—and you can only become one by winning a team trial designed to push your navigation abilities to the brink.

She’ll need to rely on her roommates, as well as her peer mentor, the handsome Vik Souza, to win the competition. But trouble arises at every turn. There are tensions in the group, romantic complications, and unexplained student disappearances. As Norah gets deeper into the competition, she realizes not everything is as it seems, and the stakes are much higher than she ever could have imagined.


A Bargain So Bloody by. Vasilisa Drake

She’s trapped in a magical prison. To break out, she’ll make a deal with the most dangerous prisoner of them all.

Sentenced for a crime she didn’t commit, Samara is bullied by guards and tormented by the screams of her fellow prisoners. She’s resigned herself to enduring her fifteen-year term… until she learns that the freedom she’s been promised is the cruelest lie of all.

Now she’s faced with a choice: resign herself to dying in the cold walls of Castle Greymere, or do the unthinkable and escape. But no one leaves Greymere alive. So to break out of the prison? She’ll have to use one of the undead.

Raphael is the worst kind of a vampire with a thirst for blood, the mortal enemy of witches, the same breed that killed her mother. And most importantly, he’s unspeakably powerful, his supernatural strength tamed only by the enchanted cuffs forced on him.

He’s her only chance at a life outside the prison walls.

The deal is Samara unlocks his shackles, and he’ll help her escape. But although Raphael agreed to help her leave Greymere, he never promised to let her go…


Release Date: 8/6/26

When the Universe Sings by. Gillian Eliza West

There is only one rule in the trust no one.

Juniper knows it all too well. After her home planet was destroyed and eleven years on Ebyd III, a Galactic Federation mechanical prison, the only thing she might fear now is death. Taking a chance at freedom, she climbs into the ventilation shaft of a docked pleasure barge only to be discovered by the mistress of the ship. Given the choice between certain death on Ebyd III and the unknown, she joins as their new silks dancer.

When Captain Asher Ruciyah seeks someone to complete his crew for a mysterious mission, Juniper is hired as their climber to round out their numbers. As part of this new crew intent on stealing one of the universe’s most powerful weapons, Juniper discovers she wants something more than revenge on the man who took everything from her.

But nothing and no one is as it seems, especially in a galaxy filled with lies, deceit, and false identities. Juniper will learn that revenge isn’t as simple as she thought it would be and sometimes it’s not one person, but an entire universe against you.


Are you getting any new books this week?

Happy Reading!

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