Dawn of the North by. Demi Winters | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Dawn of the North (The Ashen, #3)

Author: Demi Winters

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 608

Publication Date: 2/2/26

Publisher: Delacorte Press

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

A new age begins in the Kingdom of Íseldur in this sizzling third installment of the Viking-inspired Ashen romantasy the series.

The lost Volsik heir has finally returned to the people of Íseldur, and even with the warrior who’s captured her heart standing by her side, Silla’s task is monumental. She must earn the loyalty of the northern jarls to drive Ivar Ironheart from the throne and restore peace in the kingdom. But the secret she vigilantly guards threatens to ruin all her plans: A shard of a god lives in her mind, twisting her thoughts and deeds to His will.

Meanwhile, held captive on the mysterious isle of Zagadka, Saga Volsik fights to return to her sister in Íseldur. But when King Ivar sets his sights on the Zagadkians, she’s forced to make an impossible choice: fight for the man who stole her—and is now hell-bent on marrying her—or let the innocent people of his kingdom die.

As a poisonous mist threatens the realm, the sisters will delve into the unknowns of their magic to battle against evil. Return to the land of ice and fire, where a god awakens, a queen finds her power, and sisters must unite against the darkness threatening their realm.

Content Warning: violence, death

I will say this about this book – for awhile I was not in the mood to read this. I tried but it is heavy world-building and my moods in January were up, down, anxious and I was not planning on re-reading any of the previous books. I looked back on my reviews of the past books and went from there.

+~ This is book three in The Ashen series, and unfortunately I did not get around to reading the novella before this book. With that said, I had a hard time remembering what happened in book two so definitely do a re-read beforehand because it will help a lot. I was trying to get into the for 30% of the book. Also because it’s heavy world-building I wasn’t in the mood to get through it, there are even footnotes, so I was pushing myself through it until things clicked. For anyone who loves detailed world-building, this book is fantastic and well-written. It follows Silla as she is trying to be a leader, and Saga as she is stuck with Kassandr and facing opposition there. Also we get moments with the Bloodaxe Crew.

+ Silla is a leader, or she’s trying to be and it comes with it’s challenges. She also has to deal with the God of Chaos inside of her – she does a really good job I’d say. Also Saga, her sister, is stuck with Kassandr and facing opposition there. With Saga we learn about the shapeshifters. Also we get moments with the Bloodaxe Crew which is always fun, they are what made me love this series in the first place. We also get a lot of time with Hekla (read Roots of Darkness, 2.5 for more of her story because I didn’t and should have) and what she’s going through. There is a lot going on with action, and character growth.

+ Silla and Rey are pretty solid in their love but Silla’s people want her to make an advantageous marriage since she is their leader. So though there are times Silla and Rey are apart, and some jealousy on Rey’s part – but despite that, these two are solid. Saga and Kass’s story drew me in more since I already knew Silla and Rey were pretty solid in their romance story. But Kass is a shifter and Saga is in enemy territory – I kind of love how their relationship progresses. We also get into Hekla’s situation with Eyvind, which again makes me wish I read the novella.

~ This book was long at 600 pages but for some reason, book two was 700 pages and I flew through that one. For some reason, this one moved more slowly for me maybe because there is a lot going on with all these different characters (it is a big cast) and I had to get caught up on being in this world again. Also when I was into Saga’s story it would switch to Silla’s and I wasn’t as invested. I did enjoy the ending though where there is lots of action and characters reuniting.

Final Thoughts:

If you love all the previous books in this series, you will love this one. I wasn’t in the right mood to read this one but even with pushing through, I started to get caught up in the story and really enjoyed the characters and the ending sets up everything for the next book. This story has romance, politics, action and characters you get attached to. This is a great edition to the series.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Kingdom of Claw by. Demi Winters | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Road of Bones by. Demi Winters | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

WWW Wednesday | 2/4/25

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

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

What are you currently reading?

What have you just finished reading?

What are you going to read next?

What are you currently reading?

Keeper of Lost Children by. Sadeqa Johnson – 30%

I, Medusa by. Ayana Gray – chapter 2 – no progress

Dawn in Ruins by. Magda Mizzi – Chapter 1 – no progress

Mate by. Ali Hazelwood – audiobook – 43%

She Drinks The Light by. Yasmin Angoe – audiobook – 1%

What have you just finished reading?

In Time With You by. Kristin Dwyer – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (arc)

Alchemy & Ashes by. Amy Yorke – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Summer of Lost Things by. Jenn Bennett – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (arc)

Lonely Hearts Day by. Kasie West – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (alc)

Dawn of the North by. Demi Winter – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (arc)

What are you going to read next?

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

The Poet Empress by. Shen Tao

A Vow in Vengeance by. Jaclyn Rodriguez

What are YOU reading right now?

New Book Releases This Week | 2/3/26

Happy book birthday to these new releases this week!

The Lies that Summon the Night by. Tessonja Odette

Lies, beauty, and seduction mingle in the first book of an enthralling romantasy series where making art is considered a sin, and the shadows born from it aren’t the only danger to the creators—from the bestselling author of Curse of the Wolf King .

From the art of liars, the monsters came…

Ever since art gave life to bloodthirsty shadows, creative works have been forbidden and the talented creators sacrificed to the Sinless—the immortal royals who feast on human blood in return for their protection.

Inana’s secret storytelling nearly got her killed once, and she’ll be damned if she’s ever caught again. With a bounty on her head, she keeps to the city’s dark underbelly where she earns a meager living from thrill-seeking patrons desperate to hear her illicit fiction. Until Dominic, a Shadowbane, catches one of her performances. . .

Dominic is a half-Sinless monster hunter as fearsome as his prey. But to complete his hunt, he needs an artist to summon the shadows . . . he needs Inana. Dominic delivers an ultimatum: serve him or he’ll claim her bounty. When survival is all Inana has left, the choice is clear. At least until she can betray him and leave him for dead.

As their tense alliance leads them into the heart of danger, dark secrets unravel—about each other, their world, and the threats they face. But the greatest risk of all is the desire growing between them. There’s something more sinful than lust at play, and it could bring the world to its knees.

A Stage Set For Villains by. Shannon J. Spann

The gods are dead. All that’s left are the Players…

The performers of the Playhouse are as worshipped as they are feared, their enchanting shows bending hearts, minds, and even reality itself. Vicious, godlike, lethal. Eighteen-year-old Riven Hesper knows the dangers better than anyone, after her own encounter with a Player resulted in a curse that is slowly killing her.

When the Playhouse announces the spectacle of a lifetime—a chance for one mortal to steal a Player’s immortality—Riven sees her last chance to live. Desperate for answers, she infiltrates the competition. There, she finds Jude, the Playhouse’s brilliant, merciless Lead Player, whose charm is as dangerous as his Craft, and strikes a deadly bargain to save her life.

But with time running out and the Playhouse’s secrets unraveling into a disturbing picture, Riven faces a grim possibility: she might not be the hero of her story after all. In fact, she may be the villain.

Because the Playhouse doesn’t just tell stories. It rewrites them.

And Riven’s might end in blood.

Queen of Faces by. Petra Lord

A desperate girl at a cutthroat magical academy faces a choice between life and death: become an assassin for the enchanted elite or watch her decaying body draw its last breath.

Anabelle Gage is trapped in a male body, and it’s rotting from the inside out. In Caimor, where the magical elite buy and swap designer bodies like clothes, Ana can’t afford to escape her tattered form. When she fails the entrance exam to the prestigious Paragon Academy, her last hope of earning a new body implodes. As the clock ticks down to her last breath, she’s forced to use her illusion magic to steal a healthy chassis—before her own kills her.

But Ana is caught by none other than the headmaster of Paragon Academy, who poses a brutal ultimatum: face execution for her crime or become a mercenary at his command. Revolt brews in Caimor’s smog-choked underworld, and the wealthy and powerful will stop at nothing to take down the rebels and the infamous dark witch at their helm, the Black Wraith.

With no choice but to accept, Ana will steal, fight, and kill her way to salvation. But her survival depends on a dangerous band of an impulsive assassin, a brooding bombmaker, and an alluring exile who might just spell her ruin. As Ana is drawn into a tangled web of secrets, the line between villain and hero shatters—and Ana must decide which side is worth dying for.

Dawn of the North by. Demi Winters

A new age begins in the Kingdom of Íseldur in this sizzling third installment of the Viking-inspired Ashen romantasy the series.

Stolen Midnights by. Katherine Quinn

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

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

The gift? A locket containing his own phototroph.

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

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

Love and Other Brain Experiments by. Hannah Brohm

Perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood and Christina Lauren, a STEM academic-rivals-to-lovers rom-com set at a New York conference about two neuroscientists who are forced to pretend they’re dating, leading to unexpected chemistry and a heartfelt journey of self-discovery.

Neuroscientist Dr. Frances Silberstein has success on the brain. As a grad student, she was offered a job by her brilliant boyfriend, but determined to make it on her own, she turned it—and him—down. Now, stuck in postdoc purgatory with no job security and no personal life to speak of, Frances is desperate to make a breakthrough. Her best shot is a summer conference packed with her field’s leading scientists. The only problem? It’s organized by her ex, who has found the success that’s eluded her. But backing out is not an option, because Frances desperately needs to network to save her career.

Enter Dr. Lewis North: her perceptive, meticulous, and inconveniently attractive rival. When their academic sniping gets mistaken for flirtatious chemistry, Frances doesn’t deny it—putting her integrity and career on the line. As soon as her prefrontal cortex is operational again, Frances realizes she needs to keep up the charade, or risk everything she’s worked for. Faking data is out of the question, but fake dating? That might just be the solution she needs.

But as Lewis starts to make her reward centers spark and a major setback has Frances questioning everything, she must confront what she’s willing to chase—for love, for science, and for the future she thought she wanted.

Heart’s Gambit by. J.D. Myall

A thrilling and romantic debut fantasy where competitors from two prominent, time-traveling Black families must fight in a deadly magical duel – and find themselves falling in love.

The Baldwins and the Davenports have been sworn enemies for centuries. Ever since Venus Davenport and Titus Baldwin, two enslaved kids, fell in love, tried to run away, and got caught by their mistress, Sabine, a powerful witch. Desperate for freedom, they struck a bargain, and she gifted their families the ability to exist outside of time, along with magic to survive and thrive.

Those gifts came at a price.

Once a generation, their families must put forth a competitor for a magical duel to the death to feed Sabine’s immortality. This time, Emma Baldwin – a wish spinner – and Malcolm Davenport – a maker of illusions – are chosen.

But when they meet to check out the competition, sparks fly. Soon, the two are exchanging letters, having secret meetings, and fighting off their cursed urges to hurt one another, all while trying not to fall in love. And if they are ever going to have a chance to be together, they only have one choice: to put an end to Sabine’s curse, once and for all.

J.D. Myall’s Heart’s Gambit is an irresistible journey of dazzling magic, unforgettable first love, and daring to dream of something more.

Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart by. Emma Simmerman

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder meets Tell Me Lies in this binge-worthy debut murder mystery about a college student whose senior year takes a deadly turn when her exes start turning up dead…

Every time a guy breaks my heart, I write him a eulogy in my journal. It’s kind of my thing—closure through creative mourning. They don’t actually die… or, at least, they didn’t.

Now? These guys aren’t just dead to me, they’re dead to everyone. And I’m the prime suspect.

With my senior year at Pembroke College—and my entire future—on the line, I’ve got no choice but to play detective. Unfortunately, that means teaming up with my long-standing frenemy, Asher, who is insufferable and somehow always there when I need him the least. We bicker, we banter, we occasionally almost hook up, but with the body count rising and my name all over the suspect board, there’s no time to get distracted.

Between college parties, messy exes, suspicious deaths, and a murder investigation I never asked to be a part of—one thing’s for this is not how I thought my last year would go.

Here’s to hoping I can find out who the real killer is… before someone ends up writing my eulogy.

Songbird of the Sorrows by. Braidee Otto

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

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

Spy. Thief. Princess. Songbird.

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

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

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

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

All We Once Had by. Katy Upperman

An emotional and heartfelt contemporary YA romance from the author of Everything I Promised You, exploring the complicated nature of grief, family, growing up, and the beauty of second chances.

Piper and her older sister could not be more different. Tati assumed guardianship when their parents were killed by a drunk driver, and some days Piper feels more kinship with her best friend and her family. Except Gabi isn’t speaking to Piper, just when Piper could really use a friend. Which is not how she expected to start the summer before senior year.

Escaping to their apartment complex’s pool for some space, Piper is stunned to see Henry. Her Henry. The boy who, three years ago, sat next to her at this same pool and offered the kind, calming presence she needed while she was deep in her grief. Together, they walked the beach, talked about their passions, and ultimately, shared a kiss. It was a perfect night. Except Piper hasn’t seen him since.

Henry is back in Florida to spend time with his dad and escape the relationship drama he left at home. Fate has brought Piper and Henry back together when their lives are most complicated with devastating secrets. With no one to confide in but each other, Piper and Henry must confront their painful pasts and the tumultuous present. Is this the start of another goodbye or a second chance at love?

Are you getting any new books this week?

Happy Reading!

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

Book Covers Featuring Cool/Pretty/Unique Typography | TTT | Top Ten Tuesday | 2/3/26

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:

Book Covers Featuring Cool/Pretty/Unique/etc. Typography

(Typography is the art of arranging letters so they look visually appealing and more interesting than, for example, the body text of this blog post you’re reading now. I did a similar post to this a few years ago, so if you need inspiration on what I’m talking about click here to have a look.)

The Summer of Lost Things by. Jenn Bennett
Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart by. Emma Simmerman
Terror at the Gates by. Scarlett St. Clair

The Fall of Iris Henley by. Jennifer Graham
Cold Wire by. Chloe Gong
Coffin Moon by. Keith Rosson

Wandering Wild by. Lynette Noni
The Thrashers by. Julie Soto
A Desert of Bleeding Sand by Lucia Damisa

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by. Grady Hendrix

What’s on your TTT?

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

Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart by. Emma Simmerman | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart

Author: Emma Simmerman

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 2/3/26

Publisher: Avon a

Categories: New Adult, 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 Avon a for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Every time a guy breaks my heart, I write him a eulogy in my journal. It’s kind of my thing—closure through creative mourning. They don’t actually die… or, at least, they didn’t.

Now? These guys aren’t just dead to me, they’re dead to everyone. And I’m the prime suspect.

Between college parties, messy exes, suspicious deaths, and a murder investigation I never asked to be a part of—one thing’s for this is not how I thought my last year would go.

Here’s to hoping I can find out who the real killer is… before someone ends up writing my eulogy.,

Content Warning: alcohol use, drug use, violence, death, murder, cheating

I went into this book thinking this was young adult – I bumped it up to New Adult because there is spice in this one, which I didn’t mind at all. I actually want more New Adult mystery thrillers like this one!

Sloane is in her senior year of college but this girl is messy. She’s had a few scandals, and has a reputation but all she’s looking for is love – except the guys she picks aren’t the best. And it doesn’t stop her from writing a eulogy for each on in her journal, whenever things fizzle out. But now her journal is missing and the guys she writes about are ending up dead. But who is the killer?

This one kept me on my toes and I didn’t figure out who the killer was, which fun! There are a few suspects that could credibly be the killer, but it was twisty enough to make me not see the betrayals coming.

The messy romance kept me invested. Sloane wants Wes, her friend who she hooked up with and who is back with his girlfriend. Asher, Wes’ cousin, is a total a-hole, but he makes a deal with Sloane to keep her secret of hooking up with Wes, if she fake dates him to make Wes jealous and she can convince him to give up being owner their family resort (which Asher wants). Sloane and Asher are frenemies to lovers but can it last? And what about Wes? Does she still want him? Wes is the nice guy, but when Sloane is with Asher – fireworks, they are always fighting, but I loved it, and the banter was funny!

Sloane is NOT good at picking her men, plus she’s always drinking, always partying, and at times I was tired of her antics. But I found all this college partying so accurate, and them hooking up with whoever is just realistic, so I cut Sloane some slack.

I don’t know how I feel about the ending – there is closure, but also, it felt rushed and I wanted something more concrete!

Final Thoughts:

This one is a fun, twisty mystery thriller that kept me on my toes. The messy romance was keeping me invested along with the murder mystery. There is spice, a little cheating too, but it’s too be expected with Sloane and her friends I think. Would have loved the ending to have more closure but I guess I can imagine what happens next in my own way. Overall, I enjoyed this one and look forward to reading more books from this author!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Monthly Wrap Up | January 2026

Why does January always feel like 90 days long? January started off nice with my daughter’s 9th birthday and then I don’t know what happened. The world going crazy, our government acting horribly – I had highs and lows all of January and I’m so tired of it.

My highs were my daughter’s birthday, and getting concert tickets for Bruno Mars and BTS. My lows? Everything else happening in this country – our country being run by crooks and offenders committing some heinous acts. This all happening in the first month of the New Year tells me what kind of year this is going to be. I am anxious.

As for books, I escaped into books. I worked through February arcs – I have more to complete. I took on reading some books by indie authors who have been finding me through this blog and tiktok.

I read 24 books and posted 26 book reviews in January.

Books I Read – 24 books

A War of Wyverns by. S.F. Williamson (ALC)
The Wicked and the Damned by. Rebecca Robinson (ARC)
Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart by. Emma Simmerman (ARC)
Shadows & Secrets by. Arcadia Rayne (kindle unlimited)
Stolen Midnights by. Katherine Quinn (ARC)
Fallen Stars by. Imani Erriu (ARC)
Songbird of the Sorrows by. Braidee Otto (ARC)
The Cure by. Pedro Urvi (ARC)
Love and Other Brain Experiments by. Hannah Brohm (ARC)
Goodbye and Everything After by. Mae Coyiuto (ARC)
Crown of War and Shadow by. J.R. Ward (ARC)
Wicked Onyx by. Debbie Cassidy (ARC)
Dragon Cursed by. Elise Kova
Silk & Iron by. Alexis Calder (ARC)
A Queen Crowned in Flames by. Hazel McBride (ARC)
Second Chance Romance by. Olivia Dade
Masquerade of Mirrors by. Samantha Hartwood (ARC)
A Curse of Crimson Tears by. Julie J. Morris (kindle unlimited)
Maybe This Once by. Sophie Sullivan (ARC)
Heart of Mischief by. Emma Noyes (ALC)
Fated Skates by. Victoria Schade (ALC)
The Summer of Lost Things by. Jenn Bennett (ARC)
Still Fighting by. Syianne Horne (ARC)
Alchemy & Ashes by. Amy Yorke (kindle unlimited)

Reviews I Posted On My Blog: 26 Books

5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Version 1.0.0

The Wolf and the Crown of Blood by. Elizabeth May | ARC Review

4 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫:

3 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️:

2.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️💫

2 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️

Book Tags:

Birthstone Book Covers: January – Garnet | 2026

Blog Tours:

Other:

How was your month?

Alchemy & Ashes by. Amy Yorke | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Alchemy & Ashes (The Shadowbound Duet, #1)

Author: Amy Yorke

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 495

Publication Date: 11/11/25

Categories: Romantasy, Fantasy, Romance, Series

Perfect for fans of Danielle L. Jensen, Carissa Broadbent, and Sarah J. Maas, Alchemy & Ashes is a high-stakes, enemies-to-lovers romantasy where two sisters’ plan to assassinate the king who killed their father goes awry when one of them falls in love with him.

The daughter of a failed rebellion. The king who killed her father. A love that could tear the kingdom apart.

Sylvie has always lived in her sister Adria’s shadow. But at the Great Festival, she finally has her chance to step into the by striking down God-King Ronan, the man who destroyed her family. Adria may have led the rebellion, but Sylvie will be the one to finish it.

Ronan has spent years rebuilding a kingdom broken by the war that claimed his father and shattered his faith. But peace has come at a price. Surrounded by enemies and burdened by secrets too dangerous to reveal, he’s losing of his court, his magic, and maybe even himself.

The closer Sylvie gets to Ronan, the more she’s drawn to the man she vowed to kill. Wanting him would mean betraying not just her sister, but her people and the memory of her parents. Trusting Sylvie could cost Ronan the throne—or his life. Because even if Sylvie refuses to strike, Adria won’t hesitate to finish the job.

The road to the throne runs through his heart. And only one sister will claim it.

Alchemy & Ashes is the first book in the Shadowbound Duet.

Content Warning: violence, death

I picked this one up randomly on Kindle Unlimited one day because of the cover and the synopsis. I was in the mood for a romantasy with all the usual tropes and this one has a few: a rebellion against the current ruling kingdom, a girl who’s plan is to get close to the God-King to kill him, trials, secrets and betrayals.

+ God-King Ronan is throwing the Great Festival, a festival that hasn’t been thrown in 10 years because the kingdoms have been warring. Now in this time of peace, he’s welcoming delegates from other kingdoms to come and partake in the festival and competition in different skills. Sylvie, her sister, guard and group attend this festival with an ulterior motive – to kill Ronan because he killed her father, and her people are starving under his rule, among other things on her list of grievances against him.

+ The world building was interesting and light – which was very easy to consume. There is a magic system based on what you are born with and also use of alchemy. There are different elemental powers people can be born with for example Sylvie is shadow-born, and can control shadows. Ronan is light-born and has powers of light and healing. He also has the power of feeling people’s emotions. There is an alchemist guild that stays a bit mysterious in the story until more is revealed at the end.

+ Sylvie is not like her siblings who are ruthless in battle and rule. Sylvie knows her limitations, she’s the spare and not skilled like the others, but her role is to get close to Ronan. Ronan, I thought was really unexpected. I was expecting him to be ruthless, but he’s not – he wants a peaceful world and is trying to achieve it. He’s kind of a softy! He is loved but also naive and too trusting at times, yet still powerful. I like that he is aware that all the war between their kingdoms have taken so much from everyone and that what he has done may not be forgivable but he’s looking for a way forward so the cycle of war ends. Unfortunately, Sylvie’s family is trying to start another war, and continue the cycle but I like how she learns for herself which side she should be on.

+ It does start of with a little insta-attraction but I love how the romance progressed because there is time for Sylvie and Ronan to get to know one another. There is an attraction growing between them though that eventually leads to some spicy scenes but I liked it because by then Sylvie has to make some hard choices about Ronan and her family. And it’s not an easy choice for Sylvie at all. I do hope we learn a little more about their power of communication that reveals itself in the second half of the story.

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

~ I don’t think we got much of the alchemy part of the story, so hoping that will be explored more in book two.

Final Thoughts:

This is an easy to consume romantasy with light world-building and with the addictive usual tropes. I actually enjoyed that the MMC wasn’t ruthless and powerful though – he was still powerful, but kind of a softy, which I appreciated. I usually like my kings with alpha energy, but I liked that Ronan was still the leader but willing to look for solutions and wanted peace. Because don’t we just all want peace? Plus he is crazy about Sylvie – I loved their romance and the spice. I would like to learn about the alchemy though so hopefully that is explored more in book two. And after that cliffhanger ending, I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Weekly Wrap Up | 2/1/26

Aloha friends!

Another week is over and here’s what happened:

+ Another week down and it’s now – FEBRUARY. Why does January always feel like the slowest and yet fastest month ever? January was torture. Today I have to take my kiddos to Sunday school since my hubby was called into work – during a govt shutdown of course. What else is new?! 🤦🏻‍♀️

+ My goal this week was to catch up on blog posts, reviews, and finishing my February arcs. I have one more arc to finish for February! But yes, just trying to get back on schedule.

Blog Posts:

We Who Have No Gods by. Liza Anderson | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
New Book Releases This Week | 1/27/26
Bookish Discoveries I Made in 2025 | TTT | Top Ten Tuesday | 1/27/26
Second Chance Romance by. Olivia Dade | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
WWW Wednesday | 1/28/25
Stolen Midnights by. Katherine Quinn | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Songbird of the Sorrows by. Braidee Otto | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
A Curse of Crimson Tears by. Julie J. Morris| Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Love and Other Brain Experiments by. Hannah Brohm | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Books I Finished

A Curse of Crimson Tears by. Julie J. Morris
Dawn of the North by. Demi Winters
Goodbye and Everything After by. Mae Coyiuto
Fated Skates by. Victoria Schade (audiobook)
Alchemy & Ashes by. Amy Yorke
Still Fighting by. Syianne Horne
The Summer of Lost Things by. Jenn Bennett

Currently Reading:

A Promise of Lies by. Claire Sager
Keeper of Lost Children by. Sadeqa Johnson
A Vow in Vengeance by. Jaclyn Rodriguez
She Drinks the Light by. Yasmin Angoe (audiobook)
I, Medusa by. Ayana Gray
Mate by. Ali Hazelwood (audiobook)
In Time with You by. Kristin Dwyer

*what is with these dark book covers? Such a somber palette! I’m excited that I got to read some books with some orange in the cover. I

Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

Heated Rivalry (HBO Max) – episode 3-5 – I loved Hunter and Kip’s episode! 🥺
The Wrecking Crew (Amazon Prime Video) – I don’t usually watch action movies these days but my cousin is in this movie as an extra so I had to watch it! It has Jason Momoa in it. It was fun to see my cousin in like 3 quick scenes.
Bridgerton Season 4 (part 1 – Netflix) – the Cinderella of it all?! I read the books so long ago I don’t remember much of them but remember all the historical romance tropes. But this season has so much romance?! I am loving it. I love Benedict and Sophie but also…hello Violet? (his mom – loved her story too!). And the villain Lady Penwood – UGH she’s so evil and good at it!

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 Other Brain Experiments by. Hannah Brohm | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Love and Other Brain Experiments

Author: Hannah Brohm

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 2/3/26

Publisher: Atria Books

Categories: STEM, Romance, Contemporary

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!

Content Warning: anxiety, panic attack

I thought the way the characters met was cute, and then right away we find out they are rivals in their field of study. Lewis did wrong Frances in the past but this is the first time they’ve met in person, all off the animosity Frances feels for him resurfaces. But then they both attend a conference together and get into a fake dating situation because Frances’ ex is there, and his fiancé assumes she and Lewis are together.

Some quick takeaways I got from this book while reading:

I would never make it in academia.
I never knew all the work post-docs go through with getting and losing funding for research, all the traveling, moving, competing, networking. It sounds exhausting!

With that said – I found the research Frances was doing very fascinating even though I barely understood it. I like how Frances’ motivation in her work stemmed from something that happened to her sister, who she loves so much. Frances as a character was very obsessive about her research, but also was riddled with anxiety and all these decisions about her career path and her life really weighs in on her. Eventually, it overwhelms her and she has to make some hard choices.

The romance is a nice slow burn and I was invested in seeing how Frances and Lewis worked together at fake dating. I love how they argued about science, but came together when it came to family, or supporting one another. There is even spice. There are some situations that challenge their relationship, but I thought the ending was very emotional, it gave me all the feels!

Final Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this and I wasn’t expecting to love it as much as I did. I loved the fake dating, the science talk even if it’s out of my comfort zone, all the insight into what goes in pursuing a career in science and academia, and the rivals to lovers romance with an emotional ending. I look forward to reading more books from this author!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: A Curse of Crimson Tears (#1)

Author: Julie J. Morris

Format: ebook (borrowed – Kindle Unlimited)

Pages: 413

Publication Date: 1/1/26

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Indie Author

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

Content Warning: violence

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

secret identities
sibling relationship – family themes
magic
Elves

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

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

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

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

Final Thoughts:

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