Tides of Fortune by. Lauryn Hamilton Murray | ARC and ALC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating:

Title: Tides of Fortune (Storm Weaver, #2)

Author: Lauryn Hamilton Murray

Format: eBook (NetGalley) and audiobook (netgalley)

Pages: 480

Listening Hours: approx. 16 hrs

Publication Date: 7/21/26

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Series, 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 Roaring Brook Press for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Return to the spellbinding world of Heir of Storms in the explosive second installment to the Storm Weaver trilogy, perfect for fans of Red Queen, Throne of Glass, and The Rose Bargain.

Having survived three treacherous trials to win her crown, Blaze is now Queen of the Aquatori. But before she can take the throne, she must set out to find the Eye of the Soul, one of the realm’s most powerful weapons, before another claims its power for themself.

Her journey will take her deep into the forests of Ostacre and into a temporary alliance with the infuriating but undeniably compelling Fox. She can’t help but feel drawn to him. . . but can she trust him? Fortune favors the brave, but will it protect the Storm Weaver on her most dangerous mission yet?

Narrated by not just Blaze, but her brother, Flint, and the newly-discovered Shadow Magi, Elva, the epic journey that began in Heir of Storms continues in the sweeping adventure of Tides of Fortune.

Content Warning: violence

World Building: There are 3 POVs in this sequel – Blaze, Flint and Elva. Elva’s POV gives us insight into what is happening with Hal and the kingdom he is ruling, but his grip on his power is fragile. Blaze and Fox are together and antagonizing one another, and Flint finds himself with Spinner and Sheen. There is a lot of traveling in this story which is very different than book one.

Characters: I think there is a lot of growth in these characters in this sequel because they are split up and dealing with their own situations. Flint is hilarious, and dealing with Sheen and Spinner makes things interesting. Blaze is trying to trust Fox, and I feel like they learn so much more about one another. As for Elva and Hal, Elva has to make some hard choices, but their story was sad.

Romance: There are three romances taking place. Of course my favorite is Blaze and Fox, who have a very enemies to lovers type of relationship. I was always looking forward to Blaze’s POV because of their banter. Flint has an interesting development in his love life. And there is Elva and Hal, and they have their own challenges.

Story: This is definitely different from book one, and I found it a little harder to get into. I think because there was a lot of travel and I didn’t feel like much was happening. But there was a lot of character development, which is fine, but it just felt slower and took me longer to read. I still love Blaze and Fox the best, whenever I read her POV, I felt like the story moved faster because I cared about them so much more.

Narrator(s): Loved the narrators voices, and their accents were great.

Final Thoughts:

I think this is a solid sequel and there is more character development. It did go a bit more slowly for me, compared to when I was reading the first book. The narrators did a great job and I loved their voices.

Read if you like:

fantasy
romance
banter

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Heir of Storms by. Lauryn Hamilton Murray | Book Review – 4 stars

New Book Releases This Week | 7/21/26

Happy book birthday to these new releases this week!

(Release Date: 7/20/26)

An Arcane Education by. Lyla Andrews

An Arcane Education is a dark academia romance with fantasy elements, a slow burn professor/student relationship, atmospheric gothic vibes, and found family. Perfect for fans of Nocticadia, Gothikana, and Blood & Betrayals.

Magic. Wealth. Beauty. Reputation.

Here, all of them amount to the one thing everyone Power.

Welcome to Arcadia Academy. Trust no one.

The day I’m attacked is the day I discover magic is real – and I have the power to wield it.

Two days after the incident, I receive an invitation to the graduate program at Arcadia Academy, an elite, mysterious school of magic hidden on an island somewhere off the coast of the Pacific Northwest. With the courage to finally leave behind the mundane life of responsibility I never asked for, I enroll at the prestigious institution, determined to find my place and prove myself.

Unfortunately, my goal isn’t as simple as it seems. New to the world of magic, years behind my classmates, and struggling to control my powers, I’m barely surviving – until the strict, enigmatic, and devastatingly handsome Professor Alaric Vale offers to tutor me. But the longer we spend together, the harder it becomes to deny the forbidden spark burning between us.

Furthermore, not everything is as it seems at Arcadia Academy, with its crawling ivy, ancient stone buildings, and dense forests shrouded in fog. Everyone has secrets to hide, some darker than others. Darker still are the strange plant aberrations occurring in the depths of the forest – ones seemingly related to Professor Vale’s suspicious top-secret research.

When my personal investigations lead to me becoming the talk of campus as a primary suspect in another student’s death, I’m forced to prove my innocence, all while learning to control my magic, concealing the secrets I share with Professor Vale, and uncovering a shocking mystery related to my own past.

A Forsaken Prophecy by. Stacey McEwan

In a world of high-class magic and gangster grit, a star-crossed couple must decide where their loyalties lie in the sizzling romantasy follow-up to BookTok star Stacey McEwan’s New York Times bestseller A Forbidden Alchemy.

In Belavere Trench, the Artisans and the Craftsmen are at war. Patrick, the last Alchemist, and Nina, the world’s only known earth Charmer, have been captured by the Artisans, putting Patrick’s rebel union in a precarious position.

Though he hasn’t forgiven Nina her betrayals, Patrick has other things to worry about. He is finally reunited with his father, a prisoner of the Artisans, and the group lands a narrow escape only with the help of Nina’s first love, Theo. Decoding an ancient prophecy, they set off in search of an infinite supply of idium that will determine the course of the war, should it prove more than a myth. Fleeing across Craftsman towns on the brink, they will encounter old friends—and enemies—in search of answers.

Tides of Fortune by. Lauryn Hamilton Murray

Return to the spellbinding world of Heir of Storms in the explosive second installment to the Storm Weaver trilogy, perfect for fans of Red Queen, Throne of Glass, and The Rose Bargain.

Having survived three treacherous trials to win her crown, Blaze is now Queen of the Aquatori. But before she can take the throne, she must set out to find the Eye of the Soul, one of the realm’s most powerful weapons, before another claims its power for themself.

Her journey will take her deep into the forests of Ostacre and into a temporary alliance with the infuriating but undeniably compelling Fox. She can’t help but feel drawn to him. . . but can she trust him? Fortune favors the brave, but will it protect the Storm Weaver on her most dangerous mission yet?

Narrated by not just Blaze, but her brother, Flint, and the newly-discovered Shadow Magi, Elva, the epic journey that began in Heir of Storms continues in the sweeping adventure of Tides of Fortune.

Prince of Swords by. Elise Kova

Welcome back to Arcana Academy. Tarot magic, forbidden desire, battle, and betrayal collide for the power to change the world in the thrilling second book of this New York Times bestselling fantasy romance series.

I am terrified. Yet my heart skips a beat. This man might be a monster, but he is my monster.

Clara Graysword is Oricalis’s most wanted. Hunted and cornered, not even her mastery of tarot can save her this time . . . until the mysterious Worldkeepers appear. This secretive order may hold the key to changing Clara’s fate. If she dares to trust them.

But the most dangerous alliance of all is one she’s already deeply ensnared Prince Kaelis.

Kaelis, second-born prince of Oricalis and headmaster of Arcana Academy, is the one man she can’t escape—maybe she doesn’t want to escape. Ruthless, dangerous, and bound to Clara by destiny and desire, Kaelis tests her heart as much as her loyalty. Together, they grow closer to the most powerful secrets of the tarot . . . and to the truths they both hide that could destroy the passion that they no longer deny.

Hidden in plain sight within Arcana Academy, Clara walks the dagger’s edge. Revelations about Oricalis threaten everything she thought she knew, and every choice she makes is the difference between salvation and ruin.

To change the world, Clara must risk everything—her power, her beliefs, and her heart.

Unbound by. Penelope Bloom

Nineteen-year-old Nessa Thorne expects death when she volunteers for the Empire’s selection. Instead, she’s thrust into Confluence Academy, where students harness elemental magic and bond powerful beasts—from wolves to ancient dragons—forging themselves into the Empire’s most lethal weapons.

Students are branded by water, air, earth, or fire. But Nessa’s mark is different. A silver spiral—the mark of an unbound. It’s a power so dangerous that her kind were hunted to extinction centuries ago—or so the Empire claims. Nessa’s greatest threat may be the only other volunteer—Raith Hollow, a powerful fire affinity whose scorching gaze follows her every move and whose secrets could topple kingdoms.

Alliances are forged in blood, enemies circle like vultures, and forbidden desires close in. Death once seemed like release from her tragic past. Now it’s not an option. Nessa will embrace her terrible potential or watch everything she’s fought for burn.

At Confluence Academy, students leave as weapons … or they don’t leave at all.

Song For Another Home by. Bora Lee Reed

Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko meets Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing in this powerful story of family separation and reunion, as well as love and war from a Reese’s Book Club LitUp fellow.

When news hits that the Americans have entered the war between North and South Korea, everyone believes the war is all but over. Surely it is only a matter of time before Oksoon’s dad and brother will return from the south where they have gone to look for opportunities. As they wait, they are surprised to see the Chinese have also now entered the war, bombing their capital city Pyeongyang. They must quickly decide if they too should flee south toward Seoul or wait for their family. With winter closing in and very few resources left, the trek won’t be easy—and their father is the head of the family, after all. But neither will it be easy living under a communist regime.

Meanwhile, far to the south near Jinju, Oksoon’s cousin Junho flees the war to find refuge at the Lord’s Beloved Home for Children. As the orphanage struggles to keep its doors open, Junho is put in charge of drafting letters to rich American benefactors, convincing them to send money to Korea. But when the enigmatic orphanage director brings her aristocratic niece to stay at the Home, Junho finds himself caught between his impulse for survival and his growing affections, which put him at risk of being expelled from the only safe place he knows.

Movingly rendered, Song for AnotherHome highlights the tension between personal dreams and duty to family, the power of resilience, and how choices made in a brief moment have consequences that reverberate for lifetimes.

Yes, Chef by. Grace Reilly

The Bear meets It Happened One Summer in this delicious new romance from USA Today bestselling author Grace Reilly, in which a down-on-his-luck chef and a determined social media maven strike a reluctant deal to bring a beloved restaurant back to life.

If you can’t take the heat…get out of the kitchen.

After a public meltdown in the dining room of one of Manhattan’s most elite restaurants, Chef Jack Hartman is back in his South Florida hometown. Angry, grieving, and saddled with the unwanted storefront his late mentor left him, his life is spinning out of control. And that’s before Poppy Winfield, the blond, bubbly, utterly infuriating daughter of his former boss, shows up at his dock.

Poppy needs to escape. From her disapproving family, her horrible ex-boyfriend, and her reputation as someone who has never taken anything seriously. But more than that, she wants to prove herself—and she has just the plan to do it. Unfortunately, that plan involves Jack Hartman, the most arrogant, prickly, intimidating man she’s ever had the pleasure of throwing a shrimp at.

She knows Jack is desperate to come back from his unceremonious firing, so she proposes a deal: working together to open a revamped version of his mentor’s restaurant. He’ll handle the menu, and she’ll use her skill as a social media influencer to sell the hell out of its grand opening. If she and Jack can make the restaurant a success, it’ll be an accomplishment no one can deny—and a ticket for them both to return to New York.

Jack is intrigued, but only on his terms: if Poppy’s going to work for him, she must learn the ropes of the entire business. Including how to cook. From him.

As sparks fly both in and out of the kitchen and tensions reach a boiling point, Poppy and Jack are left wondering–could they be a perfect pairing? Or is this whole experiment a recipe for disaster?

Are you getting any new books this week?

Happy Reading!

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

Books That Live in My Head Rent-Free | TTT | Top Ten Tuesday | 7/21/26

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:

Books That Live in My Head Rent-Free

Beneath by. Ariel Sullivan – a recent read this year that was an emotional roller coaster.
The Winged Game by. Sophie Kim – a recent read that was fun because of the creatures!
White Lights by. Lauren Kate – a book that was so chaotic, I can’t help think about how crazy it was.

Alchemised by. SenLinYu – I felt like this was such a reading event in 2025 — hard to forget.
The Night Prince by. Lauren Palphreyman – this series has a chokehold on me. I’m obsessed with Blake.
Crown Me yours by. Liv Zander – an unexpected book that made me cry!

Weavingshaw by. Heba Al-Wasity – such a good book. Can’t wait for the sequel.
Starside by. Alex Aster – for some reason I can’t stop thinking about this one. Maybe because it was all action and then like 2-3 pages of spice at the end. LOL…kind of wild but I loved the quest.
The Library of Amorlin by. Kalyn Josephson – Loved this story, it was magical with the creatures but also so tense because of the morally gray FMC.

Daggermouth by. H.M. Wolfe – read this at the end of 2025 and loved it! Can’t wait for book two!

What’s on your TTT?

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An Arcane Education by. Lyla Andrews | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: An Arcane Education (Arcadia Academy, #1)

Author: Lyla Andrews

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 363

Publication Date: 7/20/26 (paperback)

Publisher: Lyla Andrews

Categories: Dark Academia, Romantasy, Series

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

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

Magic. Wealth. Beauty. Reputation.

Here, all of them amount to the one thing everyone Power.

Welcome to Arcadia Academy. Trust no one.

The day I’m attacked is the day I discover magic is real – and I have the power to wield it.

Content Warning: death

World Building: Vivian is invited to attend Arcadia Academy where she finds out magic is real and she has it. She has plant powers. The academy is on an island and students of different species and magic attend the school, and though Vivian is a Freshman because she just learned about magic, she is a graduate student as well. Vivian has always been a caretaker of her sibling so she’s never really had time to herself but at the academy she learns to make friends, and even go to a party or two – but then she finds out her dad (who died before she could meet him) went to that academy and learns that not all is as it seems on campus. But for the first 20% of this book it is just world building and learning about the classes and academy.

Characters: I like Vivian, she’s a graduate student but has to learn the basics of magic. She has a difficult time controlling her magic so she takes the initiative to seek help for that. Living away from home is also a challenge, especially because her roommate is a grumpy vampire named Max. Vivian is a good student, a good person, and smart. She does make a few friends eventually but I would love to know more about them. Alaric is the hot professor on campus and he’s hiding a few secrets but he and Vivian are drawn to one another.

Romance: There is a student/professor romance in this one that I thought for the most part was pretty good. I wish there was a little more chemistry between them but maybe because it’s Alaric’s personality – he’s focused on academics and doesn’t display much emotion. There is spice and things are more interesting because of their status as student and professor, but there were some things I questioned about Alaric.

Story: This is a slow moving story, especially the first 25% where it’s world-building. I felt like most of the story in the was about Vivian going to school, being in class, and making friends and not much was happening. Even after finishing it I thought the mystery about what Alaric is studying and keeping secret is way too vague. He just tells Vivian he can’t tell her for sake of her safety but I wanted to know something, just even a crumb of information to keep me interested. After Vivian starts settling into campus life she does take on the mystery of her father being a student once at the academy and she tries to do an investigation but again, it really doesn’t go anywhere. This story is easy to read and it is atmospheric – it definitely gives the dark academia vibes, something sinister is happening but we just have no clue as to what – which was the frustrating part for me. Also, the names Clarissa and Callista had me confused in one scene because she talked to these girls one after the other and I had to re-read that section. 😅

Final Thoughts:

If you like dark academia you will enjoy this one, but for me, I just needed a little more from it. It’s almost got a cozy vibe to it but all the dark academia elements are there also, which I enjoyed. I wanted more information about Vivian’s dad and Alaric’s research but since this is a series, it’s probably being drawn out. Even though I found some parts of this to be too slow for me, I did like how it was easy to read, and love the new friend group for Vivian. The romance was spicy and enticing because of the forbidden aspect of student and professor but even with their relationship I wanted a little more chemistry – but maybe it’s just Alaric’s personality. Overall, a solid start to a series.

Read if you like:

dark academia
mystery
student/professor romance

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Weekly Wrap Up | 7/19/26

Aloha friends!

+ It was a busy week since my in-laws were still here after the bar mitzvah. They just left on Friday but we got to take advantage of guest parking at their hotel and the kids went night swimming at the beach and at the pool for two nights in a row. They had so much fun! I had fun too, it felt like a mini vacation.

+ Today, my hubby is going to the Philippines for a work trip. But it’s back to school shopping time for me and the kids.

Blog Posts:

A Bargain So Bloody by. Vasilia Drake | Book Review – 3 stars
A Magic So Deadly by. Vasilisa Drake | Book Review – 4 stars/2 🌶️
Unbound by. Penelope Bloom | ARC Review – 3 stars/ 2 🌶️
New Book Releases This Week | 7/14/26
Books I Want to Read by New to Me Authors | TTT | Top Ten Tuesday | 7/14/26
Forsaking Midnight by. Emily McIntire | ALC Review – 3.5 stars/ 2 🌶️
WWW Wednesday | 7/15/26
To Drown a Witch by. Lindsey Olsson | ARC Review – 4 stars/1 🌶️
Prince of Swords by. Elise Kova | ARC Review – 4.5 stars/2 🌶️
Vows of Blood and Deception by. Aria Ashbrook | Book Review – 3.5 stars/ 2 🌶️
The Serpent’s Throne by. Kathryn Ann Kingsley | Book Review – 4 stars/1.5 🌶️

Books I Finished

Song For Another Home by. Bora Lee Reed
The Anatomy of Magic by. Alexis L. Menard
Forsaking Midnight by. Emily McIntire
Vows of Blood and Deception by. Aria Ashbrook
The Dark in Her Veins by. M.K. Lobb
Prince of the Sun by. Emma Noyes
An Arcane Education by. Lyla Andrews
Ravenous by. Kresley Cole

Currently Reading:

Roses & Ruin by. Hazel Cross
Gingerbread Bones by. Jennifer Lovise
Nightwitch by. Jaymin Eve

Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

+ Olivia Rodrigo – You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love – still listening to this

+ World Cup Final

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

The Serpent’s Throne by. Kathryn Ann Kingsley | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️.5

Title: The Serpent’s Throne (Bloodlines, #3)

Author: Kathryn Ann Kingsley

Pages: 298

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 7/10/26

Categories: Romantasy, Dark Romance, Vampires, Fae, Series

I swore I’d kill Raziel Nostrom. Now he owns my heart…

After a shattering betrayal, Nadi and Raziel flee into the Wild—the endless labyrinth of caves that is home to the fae.

Nadi trained for years to infiltrate and kill a ruthless family of vampires. Now she faces an even deadlier challenge—returning to her own family with their most hated enemy by her side.

In a realm of flickering lights and terrifying monsters, the desire that binds her to Raziel only grows stronger. Enemies and allies wish to tear them apart, but she still craves his razor-sharp smile, his touch, his bite…

In the city above, Raziel’s siblings are building a new world, where vampires rule with no restraint and no mercy. Soon their power will be untouchable.

Nadi and Raziel only have each other. Two shattered and broken things, in a world that wants them dead. Two perfect assassins, sharpened to a killing edge and hungry for revenge.

Their love was forged in blood. And it will end in blood…

Content Warning: violence, death

World Building: Nadi and Raziel are in the home of the fae, the Wild – which is an underground labyrinth. They make plans and need to escape, I like the symbolism of Raziel being deep underground in Fae territory and needing to climb all the way up to the surface to carry out his vengeance. In the Wild, we meet some of the Fae in power and learn about them and their motivations.

Characters: Nadi has chosen her side, and it’s Raziel so she does everything to take his family down. Raziel has gone beyond anger, he is the Serpent and will do anything to take down his family and rule. He has always been morally black, but I love how Nadi grounds him, just enough – I like how he knows what he is good at and had some sanity while he seemed like he was going insane. Kalo was interesting and we get to know more about him – at times I didn’t know what side he was really on but I did like his growth.

Romance: Nadi and Raziel are like Bonnie and Clyde and they will go down together with a world burning around them. I love how they were each other’s ride or die til the end! They have seen the best and worst of one another, and they are committed – I love that about them! Nadi sees all his red flags and things, I want that. 😅 Surprisingly this is the least spicy book among the three in the series, but I didn’t mind it because there was a lot of killing going on, no time for spice!

Story: This is a great ending to the trilogy! I like how Nadi and Raziel went about carrying out their plans and vengeance. They were in it 100% and I admired that about them even though Raziel is a little crazy. These two are made for each other, I love their crazy moments and heartfelt ones too. I enjoyed the journey Nadi and Raziel go through to finally achieve their goal. And the ending had a little twist I definitely wasn’t expecting.

Final Thoughts:

I was cheering Nadi and Raziel on because I wanted to see them get vengeance too. I liked learning about the Fae, the politics, the violence and the vengeance. I love the romance, I was all about them being crazy and crazy for each other. I really enjoyed this series and hope to read more from this author!

Read if you like:

mafia vampire vibes
revenge
romance

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

The Serpent’s Sin by. Kathryn Ann Kingsley | Book Review – 4 stars/ 3 🌶️

The Serpent’s Bride by. Kathryn Ann Kingsley | Book Review – 3.5 stars/ 3 🌶️

Vows of Blood and Deception by. Aria Ashbrook | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Vows of Blood and Deception (The Hirathean Path, #2)

Author: Aria Ashbrook

Pages: 544

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 7/7/26

Categories: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Series

She won the Goddess’s blessing. She got everything she asked for. So why does it feel like she’s lost it all?

Rose Kultavaris survived the Retterheld. She reclaimed her magic. Her title. Her place at court. But victory can be a hollow thing.

The palace celebrates her as the gifted, yet behind gilded doors alliances shift, secrets surface, and the past refuses to stay buried. The pretty crown Prince Kyor chose over her remains firmly on his arrogant head – and every time their paths cross, the tension between them threatens to burn down the High Hold itself.

In transpired that the Goddess’s “gift” did not restore Rose’s life anywhere near as neatly as promised.

Old betrayals cut deeper than any blade, while new truths shatter everything she thought she knew. Rose is more alone than ever, and her power, now reclaimed, proves far more dangerous than anything else she has faced.

In a court built on lies and ambition, Rose must decide what she truly vengeance, love, or something far more dangerous … freedom.

Vows of Blood and Deception is the second in a dark, spicy slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romantasy series, perfect for fans of Fourth Wing, The Serpent and the Wings of the Night, and Throne of Glass.

Content Warning: violence

World Building: In this sequel, the world opens up and instead of trials there is a quest. Rose needs to find the Issen so they can teach her about the ice magic she has and has to hide. She needs to figure this out before she hurts someone with it. So Rose and some of her friends go on a journey that is filled with some danger, but mostly them getting to know one another more.

Characters: Rose has ice magic and needs to learn more about it. Kyor is back, and he wants Rose back but they have a lot things to work through, most especially trusting one another. He is so stubborn! I love the found family. Rose’s friends Benny, and Ruben are fun! Caz is someone we get to know more about. I think there was growth for all the characters.

Romance: Things are complicated for Kyor and Rose, but clearly he is obsessed with her and she can’t stop loving him though she is angry with him too. So it takes a lot for them to act on their desires. Every time they make progress, something breaks them again, but I think by the end of this book, they are committed even though it seems like there is no hope between them. They are trying so I’m rooting for them! I just wish Kyor could say why he won’t turn his back on his horrible father.

Story: I do think this story moved forward but I did hope they would run into the Issen like in the middle of the story but that wasn’t the case. So for me, this sequel felt a little bit like filler – it was a back and forth between Rose and Kyor for sure. I did enjoy Benny and Ruben though! Also, the dire wolves were great. They brought some humor to the story. It ends with a cliffhanger but I hope we see Kyor grow a little more.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, I enjoyed this one though I wish we got to see Rose get answers about her magic. So yes this did feel like filler, but I did enjoy Benny, Ruben and the dire wolves. The romance was a lot of back and forth but I like that they are trying to work through their challenges and problems. It ends with a cliffhanger so I look forward to reading book three.

Read if you like:

a quest
found family

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Web of Vows and Vengeance by. Aria Ashbrook | Book Review – 3.5 stars/2 🌶️

Prince of Swords by. Elise Kova | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Prince of Swords by. Elise Kova (Arcana Academy, #2))

Author: Elise Kova

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 560

Publication Date: 7/21/26

Publisher: Del Rey

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Tarot Magic, Series

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!

I am terrified. Yet my heart skips a beat. This man might be a monster, but he is my monster.

But the most dangerous alliance of all is one she’s already deeply ensnared Prince Kaelis.

To change the world, Clara must risk everything—her power, her beliefs, and her heart.

Content Warning: violence, death

World Building: Back in the world of Arcana Academy, Clara is being hunted. We’re taken back to the prison and back to the academy, but this time Clara is trying to not get caught and she is willing to do anything to accomplish her goals of inking the World card and helping her sister Arina. Also instead of learning the tarot card magic, we see it being used more in fighting scenes and even some spicy scenes.

Characters: Clara is going through some tough things in this sequel – mostly, she’s trying to stop being super stubborn about accepting help. I do sympathize with her and understand why she didn’t trust anyone though – every someone helped her they ended up losing their lives. She goes through lots of loss in this book, and mistrust, but she does start to accept more help at the end. Kaelis is even more mysterious and dangerous in this book – there was this never ending nagging feeling inside me that I couldn’t trust him. It made me nervous for the whole plans of remaking the world! The secondary characters are great and add so much to the story but this book is a heartbreaker when it comes to some characters like Arina, Clara’s sister and others. My heart was broken more than once!

Romance: The romance is a roller coaster of emotions! There is mistrust and secrets between Clara and Kaelis, but they are forever drawn to one another. We learn more as to why that is, but oh my…the confessions between them about their feelings was making me squeal! There is spice, there is angst and so much yearning, and then there is the ending of this book which I will not spoil but made me need book three, ASAP.

Story: The story picks up right away from book one, I will say I felt like the pacing was a little up and down. It starts off with action, but when things settle and Clara has to learn who to avoid getting plus trying to figure out how to draw the World card – things do slow down. I still felt like it was a quick read despite the middle slow down and then the last half of the book? Amazing – I felt like I was racing to the end with a few plot twists revealing themselves and leaving me shocked.

Vibes: tarot magic, yearning, secrets

Final Thoughts:

What a sequel and though the middle does feel like it slows down a little, this story finishes off with a cliffhanger that has me needing to read book three asap. I love the twists and turns. There is growth in Clara – she goes through so much and though at times I didn’t agree with some of her choices, her intentions are good, and there is so much riding on her from every angle. The romance had me in my feelings – Kaelis was really something in this book, he reveals more of himself than I expected by the end of this book and it makes me so curious to see what will happen at the end of this series. I felt like this story was an emotional rollercoaster and I can’t wait to continue the series.

Read if you like:

tarot magic
secrets
found family
romance – yearning, angst

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Dragon Cursed by. Elise Kova | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Arcana Academy by. Elise Kova | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Duel with the Vampire Lord by. Elise Kova | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A Dance with the Fae Prince (Married to Magic #2) by. Elise Kova| Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A Deal with the Elf King | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

To Drown a Witch by. Lindsey Olsson | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: To Drown a Witch (#1)

Author: Lindsey Olsson

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 7/14/26

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Categories: Upper YA, Mystery, Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Paranormal, Witches, Series

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

Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A criminal and a royal guard are drawn into the hunt for a dangerous witch—and an unexpected romance—in this YA enemies-to-lovers romantasy, perfect for fans of Heartless Hunter.

In Orlonea, the Witch is feared above all else. Reborn into each generation, she is the only person with magic running innately through her veins, able to wield magic with a single thought.

So when guards across the city begin to drop dead, gruesomely murdered by violent and vicious magic, everyone knows the Witch has returned—and no one will be safe until she’s killed.

Toran is the Prince’s Crown, the most highly skilled fighter in the King’s Guard. Tasked with the responsibility of leading the hunt for the Witch, Toran tries to focus on his assignment to forget the ghosts of his past. And after he learns of Nes, a thief with an uncanny ability to sniff out magic, he forcibly recruits her into joining his hunt.

As the two face deadly magic and otherworldly threats, their mutual dislike soon turns to something more electric, and they find themselves drawn to each other in ways they’d never imagined. But the Witch is always a step ahead of them, and with bodies piling up, secrets threaten to come to light—secrets that could destroy everything from the fragile trust between them to the very city of Orlonea itself.

Content Warning: violence, death, drowning, alcoholism

World Building: The Witch is feared and there is a constant search for her – even though some girls and women are accused of being the witch and die because of it. Toran is the King’s Crown (the Prince’s protector and guard), and the king gives him a mission to bring the Witch to him – alive. But Toran doesn’t want to fail again so he asks Nes to help him. There are different kingdoms but this is set in Orlonea, there are royals, there is poverty, and a place called the Ditch where Nes has been living. The Ditch has someone who runs the streets named Phineas, he’s a crime lord and Nes used to work for him. There is magic in this world, and a drink that can give people powers but it is addictive and illegal.

Characters: Nes is someone from the Ditch and worked for Phineas, she also has a little bit of a mysterious past and she’s morally grey. We know her father is in the prison and her main goal is to get him out. She can also sense magic. Toran has connections to the King so he asks Nes for help to catch the Witch in exchange he will free her father. There are some other interesting characters like Genna, Suri, Quint and of course Phineas. There is mention of the Prince, but he doesn’t really appear in the story.

Romance: Well the romance was not what I expected – I was going along with it, I liked it a lot, Nes, the girl from the Ditch who got her hands dirty and Toran, the King’s Crown, who failed a mission and has a broken heart – I was rooting for these two. I thought they were cute together…and then the plot twist. And I have never loved a MMC and then hated him so fast in my life (I think 😅). One minute I was like aww…the next I was like WHAT?! But I loved the ending and cannot wait to see what happens in book two. This is promoted as young adult, but it is upper young adult because there is a spicy scene but it is not graphic.

Story: I was very surprised that the mystery part of this story kept me in it – usually I find mysteries slow. But I liked learning about this world where they hunt and fear the Witch. I like learning about Toran who has a past but that ending really messed with me. I didn’t expect the cat and mouse game that came in the second half, it hooked me. I had some suspicions about who could be the Witch, and I like how the story misdirected me a few times. Now, throughout the book we get some information, sometimes barely information (for example about the Prince who is mentioned but never seen) – I kept wondering and wanting to know more about these things to piece the puzzle together. So in book two I hope they will explain so much more about the Witch, her background, Toran and his past, the Prince and even the place where Toran failed his mission, Aeos, because all of these things factor in somehow to tie it all together, but since it’s book one we don’t have the full picture.

Final Thoughts:

I went into this enjoying the mystery of the first half, which is surprising since mysteries for me can feel slow but I was really getting invested into Nes and Toran’s story. Then the second half of this book had twists and turns, that had me rushing to the cliffhanger ending. There is so much more to learn about this world, and a lot of be explained, so I will be eagerly waiting for book two!

Read if you like:

mystery
twist and turns
witches

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

WWW Wednesday | 7/15/26

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?

I had the busiest week and weekend because of my son’s bar mitzvah and yay it’s done! My in laws are still here, they leave Friday so we are still spending time with them. But my kids go back to school in 3 weeks so I need to get things in order! It just never ends does it? 😅 I am finally getting back to reading, reviewing and posting!