In the Wake of the Ruined by. Kalie Cassidy | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: In the Wake of the Ruined (The Siren Mage, #2)

Author: Kalie Cassidy

Pages: 432

Format: ebook (Libby)

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Series

The realm has a new queen… and a new monster.

Imogen can no longer hide. She has claimed her ancestral crown, and now the corrupted bond she shares with the ancient deity Eusia is stronger than ever. Though she is determined to sever it, doing so is no easy feat. The threat of war looms. Shifting alliances, a hunger for magic, and her feelings for Theodore, King of Varya, attempt to thwart her at every turn.

Meanwhile, Theodore is battling the strain of his own crown and commitments. When Imogen suddenly appears on his ship, every dutiful resolution he’s ever made threatens to snap. As they draw nearer to ending Eusia, lurking dangers and their perilous desire for one another prove more insurmountable than they could have imagined.

Will the chaos, ruin, and death that Imogen was prophesied to usher into the realm be the end of all things, or the beginning?

Content Warning: death, violence

+~ I was eager to read this sequel after enjoying book one. Imogen has to find Eusia and end her for good, but to find her she needs help. She’s also looking for her friend Agatha. Theodore is about to marry someone else, a political marriage with Halla, to keep the peace. Though I understood Theo’s duty, I did not like him marrying someone else other than Imogen.

+ Imogen is afraid that her monster will hurt people she loves so she tries to stay away but she needs help to find Agatha and kill Eusia. She gets Lachlan to help her since he loves Agatha. And Imogen has to ask Halla for help to take down Eusia – but can she trust her? I didn’t like Halla but I could see how Imogen didn’t have much options.

~ As much as I loved Imogen and Theo in book one, I really hated him needing to marry Halla. I don’t care if it was just a half-marriage and they weren’t bonded. Imogen has to be around them and they even have spicy scenes while he is married. I get it’s a political marriage but it still felt wrong – even though Theo yearns for Imogen so badly and has some pretty words expressing his feelings. I hated the back and forth between them.

+~ There are a few betrayals in this book which I did enjoy but I felt like even though goals are met at the end, everything felt dark even when Theo and Imogen get their happy ending. I did like how the story touched on the complicated relationships with mothers, but overall it really felt like a sad story.

Final Thoughts:

This one was just okay mostly because I didn’t love the romance, and that’s what I did love in book one and made me want to keep reading the duology. I felt like most of the loose ends were tied up but I thought it was interesting how they kind of left Halla with a magic book and her anger. Will there be more books in this world? I feel like there could be.

Read if you like:

fantasy
political marriage
political intrigue

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

In the Veins of the Drowning by. Kalie Cassidy | Book Review – 4 stars/2 🌶️

One-Word Reviews for the Last Ten Books I Read | TTT | Top Ten Tuesday | 11/3/26

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:

One-Word Reviews for the Last Ten Books I Read

New Year’s Grieve by. Elizabeth Foscue – unhinged
The Book of Azrael by. Amber V. Nicole – betrayal
The Throne of Broken Gods by. Amber V. Nicole – heartbreak

The Dawn of the Cursed Queen by. Amber V. Nicole – spicy
The Wrath of the Fallen by. Amber V. Nicole – Death
Match of Fate: Novel Haven – gamers

Splintered Kingdom by. Gretchen Powell Fox – found family
Shadow and Son by. Gretchen Powell Fox – growth
Threshing Day by. Rebecca Yarros – dragons

Firstborn by. M.J. Hastings – stubborn

What’s on your TTT?

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New Book Releases This Week | 11/3/26

Happy book birthday to these new releases this week!

Twelve Dark Hours by. Amber Hamilton

The New York Times bestselling author of Seven Deadly Thorns, Amber Hamilton returns with a dark academia romantasy inspired by Cinderella.

Vesper Fontaine and Lonan Duval have always been rivals. Competition for top student at Gossemort Academy, school of magic, is cutthroat. They both keep dangerous secrets, and tonight those secrets could get them killed.

It’s hours until The Ridding–a high-stakes, one-night-only test, in which students will be locked in the school and challenged to survive until dawn. Three trials will challenge them, and only the best (and most loyal) will survive.

Then an unexpected element enters The Ridding–a mysterious prince claiming to be Vesper’s bloodmate. But what happens when your fated mate is a fate worse than death? As the clock ticks closer to dawn, the trials grow darker, and hope wanes. To survive the night, Vesper and Lonan may have to put their trust in their worst enemy.

Dangerous Impulses by. Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The Naturals are BACK! #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Lynn Barnes delivers the highly anticipated new installment in her beloved Naturals series.

Cassie Hobbes joined the FBI’s Naturals program at seventeen because she had an incredible ability to read people. Since then, Cassie, fellow profiler Dean, emotion‑reader Michael, lie‑detector Lia, and statistical genius Sloane have caught serial killers, outsmarted masterminds, and saved countless lives.

Now, eight months after the most twisted, traumatizing case of their lives and still dealing with the psychological fall-out, the Naturals decide to take on a joyful mission for playing matchmaker. With Christmas fast approaching, how hard could it be for an emotion‑reader, a deception detector, two profilers, and a statistician armed with a wealth of data on romantic relationships to secure a happily ever after for two people who are already very obviously in love?

Turns out…very. Because to bring their FBI mentors back together, the Naturals will first have to solve the mystery of why Special Agent Veronica Sterling can’t let herself have the very thing she wants the most. Profiling a profiler is tricky business, and it soon becomes clear that to solve this mystery, the Naturals need to uncover the past. Add in a puzzling series of interconnected crime scenes, an UNSUB with a fondness for snow, and a cold case on the verge of heating up, and it’s shaping up to be a killer Christmas.

Sharpest Court by. Kiera Azar

Alissa Paine has fled her home, the Kingdom of Daradon – forced to say goodbye to her old old life in order to escape the clutches of both the cruel, tyrannical King Erik to whom she was once betrothed, and the Hunters who persecute Wielders like Alissa.

But she has not left Daradon empty-handed, and Alissa has in her possession an object that Erik greatly desires – a mysterious and ancient spellmade compass which has the potential to reshape the world, if Alissa – or Erik – can unlock its secrets.

Seeking refuge in the Ansoran Empire, Alissa is able to demonstrate her Wielding powers openly for the first time in her life. But Ansora is not a safe haven, and Alissa is quickly forced to navigate the rules and customs of another dangerous ruler. And even with her former ally, Kiel Arcus, by her side, Alissa soon learns that, while she may have been raised in the kingdom of thorns, she is yet to enter the sharpest court….

Defy the Dusk by. Danielle L. Jensen

When darkness means certain death and survival depends on reaching the dawn, the woman whose magic broke the world will carve another path: defy the dusk. From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom comes the first book in a gritty post-apocalyptic fantasy duology.

In the Sundered world, there are two options: Ride the dawn, or face what rises in the night.

Twenty years ago, Lirien’s magic fractured the world and unleashed nocturnal creatures that brought civilization to its knees. Amidst the carnage came salvation: The most powerful survivors were invited to board Dawnrider, a high-speed rig that would deliver those aboard into a new era.

The rest of humanity was left to die.

Instead, a king rose from the darkness to lead them.

In the years since, Lirien has dedicated her magic to Dawnrider while secretly plotting to overthrow the tyrant who rules the rig with an iron fist. But just as Lirien is ready to strike against him, she is violently abducted by Vox—the king of the feralists.

The mercurial Vox gives her two choices: Fight the creatures that hunt the night or be fed to them. Lirien agrees to join his ranks, but embarks on a strategy of seduction that will return her to Dawnrider.

Yet as Vox pushes the limits of her magic, Lirien begins to question whether defying the dusk is the true path to salvation. Intoxicated by both Vox and his war against the night, Lirien must decide where her loyalties truly lie—and how far she’s willing to go for redemption.

Moon Cursed by. Holly Renee

A cursed sea king, a stolen bride, and a fate meant for another.

They say madness dwells in the ocean’s depths…and in the eyes of the Drowned King. Cursed to take a human bride and break her mind the moment she sees his face, the Drowned King spends his life in torment, watching. Waiting.

Lou was never meant to be chosen. Branded from birth as a saltwitch, she has always been seen as the cursed shadow of her moonblessed twin. Now, veiled and bound in marriage to a man she must never see, she’s thrust into a life of ancient gods and unraveling fate…and unspeakable desire.

Yet even as fear becomes tangled with a perilous longing for the Drowned King’s heated touch, the truth of her choosing looms over her like a siren’s song. It rages louder with every breath she takes as whispers travel through the kingdoms: rumblings of war, of ancient goddesses awakening, of a queen with saltwater on her lips who will change everything.

There is no stopping fate, for though she was never meant to be chosen, the moon has already summoned the tide.

Recruitment by. K.A. Riley

In the Valta, no matter what month you were born, everyone is assigned the same birthday. November 1st. It’s the anniversary of the day when the government declared war on the Eastern Order. The day you turn seventeen, the Recruiters come to take you away. And no one ever hears from you again.

It’s October 31st. Today, Kress is sixteen years old. Tomorrow, she’ll be taken.

The good news? So will her best friend, Cardyn, and Brohn, the handsome, enigmatic boy she’s avoided all her life.

The bad news? Recruitment isn’t what any of them expected.

Weeks of training await. Military and psychological tests, escape rooms, hand-to-hand combat. The Recruits are told they’re the key to winning the war. But with each day that passes, things begin to make less sense.
If only Kress had been able to bring her trained raven, Render, with her.
If only none of them had ever had to come to this place.

Of Blades and Wings by. Eliza Raine (deluxe)

Fae fantasy meets Vikings in this enemies-to-lovers romance about a broken ice-fae princess who must earn her Valkyrie wings, a villainous fire-fae who will stop at nothing to get his revenge, and an ancient war that could see their whole world burn.

Princess Madivia is broken. Her fae magic doesn’t work, her illness will kill her, and nobody knows she exists.So when the gods select her to leave her tower in the Ice Court and train to be a Valkyrie at Featherblade, she is sure they’ve made a terrible mistake.So is every other fae at Featherblade. All except the disgraced fire-fae Valkyrie, Kain. His burning gaze never leaves her.

Nobody knows what he did to have his wings taken away, but he is as dangerous as the deadly world Maddy has been drawn into.And she has the key to his revenge.If he discovers her secret, it won’t just be Maddy’s life that is in danger. She knows she should avoid him.But, the only thing harder than becoming a Valkyrie? Conquering her searing fascination with the unhinged fire-fae.If she is to survive Featherblade, she must earn her wings. If she is to survive Kain, she must make a choice that could burn their world to ash.This is the first book in the Flame Cursed Fae romantasy series, and is inspired by Norse mythology and sexy fae Vikings. It has villain gets the girl and obsessive burn-the-world-down-for-her (literally) hero vibes. The romance is slow burn and builds in steam and delicious tension.

Souls in Ruin by. Jacqueline White (Deluxe)

A marriage forged in blood. A kingdom bathed in silence. And a princess whose soul refuses to shatter.

When Princess Mireille is wed to a foreign king with cold eyes and colder intentions, she expects distance, perhaps cruelty, not chains. Kept imprisoned within her own kingdom’s walls, she learns her father’s past sins are not easily buried, but neither is she.

As her world twists into something unrecognizable, Mireille finds herself caught between two powerful beings—one who wants her obedience, and one who wants what little soul she has left.

Yet, Mireille was not born to kneel.

Souls in Ruin is the first book in a dark fantasy series about survival, obsession, and the quiet fury of a woman who refuses to be forgotten. For readers who love myth-drenched romance, morally dark men, and heroines who rise from ruin.

This book ends on a cliffhanger. For CWs, please check the author’s website.

The Serpent’s Pet by. May Sage

Ophelia

I moved to Vliss to escape the barbaric forced marriage law my kingdom has implemented for all single magic users, only to land in the predatory claws of the monsters ruling Hemlock University.
In this empire, a person’s value is branded on their skin, constantly on display. I don’t have a mark and people like Titus Graves believe that means I ought to kiss their boots and beg for their mercy.
If they think I’m prey, they’re in for a hell of a surprise.

Titus

The only thing that ever mattered to me was survival. From the day I was born, I’ve had to fight for my position in life, earning every crumb through force, scheming, or hexes.
Then Ophelia crashed into my world. No mark, no rank, no wealth, no title, and unapologetically claiming what the rest of us would have killed for.
She fails to understand that by crushing the rest of Hemlock under her talons, she’ll end up attracting the wrong kind of attention. The imperial lords will either use or destroy her if she isn’t careful. Someone needs to show Ophelia her place in this world.
Either by my side or at my feet.

Imperial Games is a series of dark academia romantasy unsuitable for sensitive readers.

Captive Traitor King by. Brigid Kemmerer

CAPTIVE. Asher has always sworn loyalty to Jory, the princess he’s loved from afar—but now the King of Incendar has claimed a place in his heart too. Someone wants them both dead, and only Asher’s blade can keep them safe. Yet his past won’t let him go, and he must decide if he can break free—or remain prisoner to his old scars.

TRAITOR. Princess Jory of Astranza agreed to marry the King of Incendar to secure peace, but betrayal runs closer than she ever imagined. With her own brother unmasked as her enemy, two kingdoms teeter on the edge. To protect her people, she must take the throne. But there are still dark secrets to unravel that will force Jory to confront where her true allegiance lies.

KING. Maddox Kyronan has discovered trust—and something more—with his reluctant bride and her deadly protector, but the fragile alliance between their nations threatens to unravel. His people are starving. His enemies are circling in. Torn between the crown and his heart, Ky risks losing it all.

As buried truths surface and tensions reach a breaking point, Jory, Asher, and Ky must confront the desires that could save their kingdoms—or shatter them forever.

TROPES:
Why Choose/polyamorous romanceSecret MagicHidden IdentityHurt/ComfortRoyal-Political SchemingBetrayal/Redemption

Release Date: 11/5/26

Christmas in Caville by. Alix Nichols

An enemies-to-lovers Christmas romantic comedy set in a snowy Normandy village, with hijinks, a disdainful donkey, and enough spice to melt the snow.

He moved to Caville to hide.
She came home to sell up and leave.
Christmas had other plans.

Heritage consultant Vivie Falde has one Christmas wish: sell her late parents’ manor before the holidays make everything worse.

But Caville has seen better days, buyers have vanished, and Vivie’s realtor friend seems more concerned about her own imaginary asthma than about closing a sale.

Then there’s the neighbor. Greg is gorgeous and grumpy, and he swears he’s just a burned-out lawyer from Monaco looking for peace and quiet. Vivie has four other theories, each more sinister than the last.

And after one late-night “mistake,” staying away from him becomes considerably harder.

When the new mayor and the young priest of Saint Rita’s launch an ambitious Christmas revival, Vivie sees her chance to make Caville irresistible to buyers. Greg sees cameras, crowds, and nosy reporters. Worse, the one woman he can’t stop thinking about is also the one most likely to unwittingly expose him.

His solution? Sabotage the festivities and keep Vivie at arm’s length.

But the more they clash, the hotter the sparks, and the harder it gets to remember why she wanted to leave, or why he wanted to be alone…

Saint Rita is the patroness of impossible causes. This Christmas, she has three: a dying village, a woman who can’t go home, and a man who can’t be found.

Includes open-door love scenes and a guaranteed happily-ever-after.

Apprentice to the Villain by. Hannah Nicole Maehrer

NOTICE TO STAFF: There has been a disturbing increase in cheeriness, sprightly behavior, and overall optimism of late. Please resume your former dark, ominous terrors at your earliest convenience. ―Mgmt

Evie Sage has never been happier to be the assistant to The Villain. Who would have thought that working for an outrageously handsome (shhh, bad for his brand) evil overlord would be so rewarding? Still, the business of being bad is demanding, the forces of good are annoyingly persistent, and said forbidding boss is somewhat…er, out-of-evil-office.

But Rennedawn is in grave trouble, and all signs―Kingsley’s included―point to catastrophe. Something peculiar is happening with the kingdom’s magic, and it’s made The Villain’s manor vulnerable to their enemies…including their nemesis, the king.

Now it’s time for Evie to face her greatest challenge: protecting The Villain’s lair, all of his nefarious works, and maybe (provided no one finds out) the entire kingdom. No pressure, Evie.

It’s time to step out of her comfort zone and learn new skills. Like treason. Dagger work. Conspiring with the enemy. It’s all so…so…delightfully fun.

But what happens when the assistant to The Villain is ready to become his apprentice?

Experience Apprentice to the Villain like never before with the SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION―bonus content from the author, gorgeous full-color endpapers, a lux linen cloth hardcover with foiled treatment, and unique foiled edges. Available only in the US and Canada while supplies last.

Are you getting any new books this week?

Happy Reading!

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Deal Breaker by. Susie Tate | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Deal Breaker (Aristocrats of London, #2)

Author: Susie Tate

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 328

Publication Date: 11/3/26

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons

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

From the USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling author comes an enemies-to-lovers, brother’s best friend, age-gap, grumpy/sunshine contemporary romance featuring family secrets, red carpet drama, and a hero who will move heaven and earth to protect his girl.

Everyone loves Poppy. She’s pure sunshine with an infectious snort-laugh, and nobody is immune to her outrageous flirting. Nobody, that is, except her much older brother’s best friend, former Scottish rugby star and grumpy fun-sponge, Rory Wallace.

The last thing Rory wants is a woman who represents everything he cameras, chaos and constant attention. The irony is that although Lady Poppy Sterling flirts with the world, the man she’s had a crush on since childhood can’t stand her. At least that’s what he tells himself…

It’s only when Rory’s betrayal leaves Poppy vulnerable to both paparazzi and predators that he realizes too late what he stands to lose. Her celebrity lifestyle might be his dealbreaker, but his failure to protect her? That’s hers.

Content Warning: harassment, paparazzi

+ I thought this started off well – I love the FMC Poppy who is extroverted, bubbly, the life of the party and a light in many people’s lives. She is awesome. Now the guy in love with her, Rory is a former rugby player who won a championship – he’s a wanker – literally. He is possessive, insecure, grumpy and just mean sometimes. Poppy is helping Rory and his friends do a fundraiser to raise money for a friend of his who has a terminal disease, so this forces them to spend time together after time apart.

+ I love Poppy and I hated seeing people judge her because of her outgoing personality. They think she’s stupid, when she’s not. I’m glad she stands up to Rory at least, even if she doesn’t stand up to her parents and brother. I enjoyed a lot of the side characters. And even though this is a series and I never read book one, which I assume is Rafe and Clara’s story, I didn’t feel totally lost.

~ I tried to like Rory but I don’t think he went through enough pain and groveling to deserve Poppy. He’s mean to her, scolds her, demeans her (to her face!) and then is apologetic for being an ass to her. And this is a cycle, it’s not a one time thing – he lets her down countless times. He’s lucky that Poppy is in love with him, because I did not love him. I felt like he was emotionally abusing Poppy, with his back and forth. I just kept thinking what is wrong with him? Is it the age gap that he think he can treat her like that? He acts pretty immature for an older guy. Did he redeem himself at the end? Not enough in my eyes. I did like the bonus chapter though, which finally shows his softer side. I think this is the first time I really disliked an MMC this much though, which is too bad.

~ Also, the conflict between Rory and Poppy was rooted in an event that he misremembered, and yet he held a grudge against her for 5 years because of it, ghosted her…so it’s basically a miscommunication trope that I did not like. Add that to the list of why I didn’t like Rory for Poppy.

Final Thoughts:

I read this pretty quick and it would have been a 4 star rating if I liked the MMC. But I couldn’t stand his back and forth, being mean to Poppy then telling her he loves her, just to disappoint her again and again. He was so clueless, he was annoying me. And I guess it’s realistic that some men are that way, but I didn’t want him for Poppy, because she’s right, she deserves someone who loves everything about her. Does he try to make amends? Sure, but he lost me after his one too many mean remarks about her. So outside of the MMC, I loved Poppy and the secondary characters and the heartfelt story about Connor raising money to help cure the disease he had. So overall, I enjoyed the story, just not the MMC.

Read if you like:

sports romance

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Of Blades and Wings by. Eliza Raine | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: Of Blades and Wings (Flame Cursed Fae, #1)

Author: Eliza Raine

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 288

Publication Date: 11/3/26

Publisher: Scarlett Press

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Series, Valkyries

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

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

A princess with hidden abilities must train to become a Valkyrie, an elite guardian, without being tempted away from duty by an alluring fallen warrior with no loyalty to the realm in the first book in a Viking fae romantasy trilogy.

She wants to earn her Valkyrie wings. He wants to burn every Valkyrie to ash.

Princess Madivia is the fae Ice Court’s best kept secret; only her family knows what she can really do—and how dangerous it is for her to leave her tower. Then destiny comes for her. Maddy has been selected by the gods themselves to train at Featherblade to become a Valkyrie, an elite guardian of Odin against the lethal Frost Giants.

Trainees, or rooks, have a series of trials to pass to earn their wings. Maddy must get stronger, bond with an ancient animal gifted to her by the gods, and survive the Wild Hunt—all without revealing her hidden powers. Above all, she must determine who she can trust. At the bottom of that list is Kain the Ruinous, disgraced fire fae, villain of Featherblade…and Maddy’s obsession.

She knows she should avoid him. He’s lethal, unhinged, and feeds on fear. But when he’s standing before her, fire in his eyes and heat blazing from his cursed skin, Maddy fears she would let the world go up in flames if he told her to. And if she’s not strong enough, that may be exactly what happens.

Content Warning: violence, death

+ This book and the series is out on Kindle Unlimited, but I believe this is going trad with a hardcover, so I got the arc to check out what it’s about since I do love stories about Valkyries and Norse mythology.

+~ Maddy is a princess but she was in hiding. Her sister was supposed to be chosen to be a valkyrie but instead they find out about Maddy and she goes. Maddy has a debilitating condition, she faints randomly so that makes it a challenge while she trains to become a valkyrie but she is resilient.

~ I like a story about training but this one didn’t hold my interest at all. All she does is train, and like with any story she deals with bullies and her shortcomings. There is one fallen valkyrie with no wings, a fire fae named Kain, who is bad news but Maddy can’t help herself and is attracted to him. But I just wish there was something more compelling to the training part of the story since the whole book is mostly about that.

~ It’s a slow burn for sure but there is nothing about Kain that I find appealing yet. I feel like they didn’t spend much time together in the book except for at the ending. There is a fantasy as far as the steam and spice goes but that’s it.

+~ I do like this was a quick read, because I could only read so much about the training going on. I couldn’t really connect to the characters until the ending when Kain wants something from Maddy and they finally interact more. I needed more from the characters and the storyline. But the ending does have some nice action.

Final Thoughts:

I know the series is already out so I may pick up book two just to see if any of the story progresses, and there is growth for the characters but for book one, this was lackluster and I just needed more story, more depth to the characters – just more. I do like Norse mythology and Valkyries so I liked learning about it in the book but just overall this fell flat for me.

Read if you like:

Valkyrie
training
Norse mythology

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Monthly Wrap Up | October 2026

October felt like a really long month! I got a lot of reading done. I really devoured some book series I wasn’t expecting to read! And they were so good.

I read 29 books in October:

Sharpest Court by. Kiera Azar (arc)
Bloodbound by. J.A. Good (arc)
The Taming by. Eve Hollenbeck (arc)
Cursed City by. Kate Golden
Hunt the Dragons by. Miranda Lyn
Hide the Witches by. Miranda Lyn
Mortal Things by. Marie Lu (arc)
White Mountain by. Ruby Jean Cottle (alc)
Veins of Power by. Becky Jane Fox
The Love Code by. Connie Kitson (arc)
Make Me by. Natasha K. Lauren (arc)
Deal Breaker by. Susie Tate (arc)
Deathbringer by. Sonia Tagliareni
The Lost Guardian by. Natalia Hernandez (arc)
Firstborn by. M.J. Hastings
Recruitment by. K.A. Riley (arc)
Threshing Day by. Rebecca Yarros
Splintered Kingdom by. Gretchen Powell Fox
Shadow and Son by. Gretchen Powell Fox (arc)
Match of Fate: Novel Haven by. Annabelle Stehl (arc)
The Book of Azrael by. Amber V. Nicole
The Throne of Broken Gods by. Amber V. Nicole
The Dawn of the Cursed Queens by. Amber V. Nicole
The Wrath of the Fallen by. Amber V. Nicole
New Year’s Grieve by. Elizabeth Foscue (alc)
Deathsworn by. Meg Smitherman (arc)
Of Blades and Wings by. Eliza Raine (arc)
Tame the Dark by. Ella Fields
A Court of Splintered Harmony by. Sarah J. Maas

Reviews I Posted On My Blog:

5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Threshing Day by. Rebecca Yarros | Audiobook Review

4.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

4 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫:

3 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️:

2.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️💫

2 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️

How was your month?

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A Court of Splintered Harmony by. Sarah J. Maas | Audiobook Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: A Court of Splintered Harmony (ACOTAR, #6)

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Pages: 352

Listening Hours: 11 hours 45m (approx.)

Narrator (s): Elizabeth Evans

Format: audiobook (Libby)

Publication Date: 10/27/26

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Series, Fae

Romance, danger, and intrigue await you in the breathtaking sixth book in the #1 bestselling Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series.

What was broken will be remade.

Deep in the heart of the continent, Koschei the Deathless is stirring. Though he’s been bound to a mountain lake for millennia, the insidious threat of his return now spreads across the Fae territories, attracting powerful allies hell-bent on reclaiming what was once theirs: the human lands.

The Night Court will not stand idly by while innocents are attacked. But with Prythian still piecing itself together in the wake of the devastating Hybern War, the task of uniting is proving more difficult by the day.

To make matters worse, those who rule and protect the Night Court are reeling from recent betrayals and revealed truths. The rifts dividing them seem insurmountable.

But to defeat Koschei’s creeping shadow, they must find a way back to each other and resurrect their former alliances. To survive, they must find a way to repair the splintered harmony all around them.

Content Warning: death, violence

+ I thought the narrator did a great job especially since there is a big cast of characters.

+~ There are multiple POVs in this book and everyone is going through something. That’s why it’s called “splintered harmony” because yeah….everyone is playing a wrong chord in this one and but I didn’t mind it. Things are going to get worse before it gets good again. I will say that this book is basically a set up for the next one, A Court of Forgotten Melody, which is coming out in January. The beginning is a bit slow only because if you are like me and didn’t re-read any book in ACOTAR or Crescent City then you were left trying to remember things. 😅. There are lots of names, most I remembered, some I forgot who they were. And not only names but places, and events that took place – so it took me a few chapters in to get situated.

+ I do believe each POV contributed something pretty good to the story except maybe Mor’s? I feel like there was a lot of Azriel in this story and we get to learn more of his past, and how he is struggling presently with feeling left out, or feeling like he’s an unwanted demon (childhood trauma). Azriel is acting out and being a bad boy 🫢 and he doesn’t give af. Anyway, his choices has pissed some people off. So I’m eager to see how his story develops.

+ Nesta gets so much hate but again this story proves why she’s my favorite of all. And if you didn’t read book 3 of Crescent City, you might want to before reading this one. Her actions in book 3 of Crescent City come back to haunt her though and creates a riff with Cassian ~ they work things out but something about Cassian and her didn’t work for me which surprises me because I LOVE them together. But there is so much more to Nesta and her story, I can’t wait to see where it leads.

+~ Feyre and Rhys are happy, very much in love but trying to prevent a coming war between Koschei and the humans. They are trying to unite Prythian but so many are tired of war. They pull some power trips in this book which surprised me because it rubbed me the wrong way, but it’s on theme with this being “splintered”. They are parents now so it makes things more scary for both of them because they love him so much and is afraid for the future they leave behind for him.

+~ Elain 🤦🏻‍♀️…I will just say…I hope we get more of her in book 7 because I need her to have her transformation. She’s the one who’s been protected since book 1 and maybe she got comfortable with that but it’s time for her to grow. I’m ready for her to just burst out of her shell.

+~ Lucien – I don’t feel like there was much of him in this book. But he was there for some significant parts and I’m very curious to see how his story develops.

+ I do like the questioning of mating bonds in this one only because Feyre and Rhys has almost a perfect relationship, their mating bond was truly meant to be. But Nesta and Cassian…are they right for one another? And Elain with Lucien is a big problem since she doesn’t even want to talk to the guy. I think mating bonds are beautiful when it works but I also like this complicated side and glad the story touches on what if it doesn’t work or the people are not compatible?

+~ All in all, this book was messy. Messy feelings, messy situations and so much drama. Most of the story was about each character, and their feelings and struggles, they are fighting with one another, there is discord – they are splintered. And it only had one major action scene. So at times it felt like filler and the bonus scenes felt like a recap.

Final Thoughts:

I think the narrator did a great job but I do need to re-read the physical copy to see if I missed anything. Everyone is going through something, it’s messy and dramatic and I was kinda there for the reality tv vibes of it 😅. Some of the alliance talks felt a bit slow but the drama with everyone makes things more interesting. Nesta was my favorite and will always be. Will these people come together in unity again to stop Koschei? I guess we shall see in book 7!

Read if you like:

ACOTAR series
Fae
political intrigue
romance
messy drama

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

A Court of Thorns and Roses by. Sarah J. Maas | Book Review | Re-read – 4.5 stars

A Court of Mist and Fury by. Sarah J. Maas | Book Review | Re-read – 5 stars

A Court of Wings and Ruin by. Sarah J. Maas | Book Review | Re-read – 4 stars

A Court of Frost and Starlight by. Sarah J. Maas – 3.5 stars

A Court of Silver Flames | Book Review – 5 stars

House of Flame and Shadow by. Sarah J. Maas | Book Review – 3.5 stars

House of Sky and Breath by. Sarah J. Maas | Book Review – 3.5 stars

Book Review | House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City, #1) – 4 stars

**I’ve read all of Throne of Glass but that was before my blog**

Sharpest Court by. Kiera Azar | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Sharpest Court (Thorn Season, #2)

Author: Kiera Azar

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 544

Publication Date: 11/3/26

Publisher: Storytide

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 Storytide for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Content Warning: violence, death

+ This is book two in the Thorn Season series and I was very eager to find out what happened after book one! The world in this story really opens up as Alissa has to navigate different courts while trying to make sure Erik never gets her back again. There is so much political intrigue, and betrayal in this one. It was a tense read.

+~ Alissa is doing what she does best – survive, but using her wit and courtier trained tongue. There were times I was so frustrated with her because she relied on her words and tone to fight her battles but I wish she knew how to control her specter (magic power) better. She does train to learn how to do that but I just felt like her skills at court weren’t working for her in this book like it did in the first one.

+ I always want a little bit of spice in my romantasies but this one barely had any spice. It’s a slow burn romance! The good thing about that is the tension between Alissa and Kiel is great, and oh I love Kiel. He’s patient, he gives her space and will always be there for her in any way he can be. I’m ready to see them have a real romance!

+ So much happens in this book, and throughout I just had a feeling of dread. I felt like Alissa was trapped and Erik set it real good. Erik is such a good villain that I hate him and I cannot wait to see Alissa take him down – I hope it’s a good take down. A few things are going on in the story along with the political intrigue, there is also a mission to search for a magical object. There are a few twists and reveals in this book, especially the ending!

Final Thoughts:

The story definitely moved forward with more reveals, more kingdoms to explore, betrayal and a tiny bit of romance with lots of yearning. I can’t wait to see how this series will end. Also I just have to add the deluxe books for this series are so pretty!

Read if you like:

political intrigue
slow burn romance
no spice romance
evil villain

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Thorn Season by. Kiera Azar | ARC Review – 4 stars

Captive Traitor King by. Brigid Kemmerer| ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Title: Captive Traitor King (Braided Fate, #2)

Author: Brigid Kemmerer

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 11/3/26

Publisher: Avon

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Why Choose, 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 Avon for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

As buried truths surface and tensions reach a breaking point, Jory, Asher, and Ky must confront the desires that could save their kingdoms—or shatter them forever.

TROPES:
Why Choose/polyamorous romanceSecret MagicHidden IdentityHurt/ComfortRoyal-Political SchemingBetrayal/Redemption

Content Warning: violence, death

+ Things pick up right where book one ended and Ky doesn’t know if he can trust Asher or Jory but he feels a strange protectiveness over them. Jory wants to send Asher, her assassin, to kill her brother so she can take the throne but Ky says they need a solid plan. The Draegs are causing havoc and are trying to take Jory for their own. There are a few reveals in the end and a twist in the story that I find really interesting and off course this one ends in a cliffhanger.

+ Asher is still my favorite character out of the three. He is traumatized and has such a vulnerability to him while also being a stealthy assassin who will do anything for Jory. I feel like Ky – I’m protective over him and only wish good things to happen to him. Ky is a leader for his people, strong and violent when he needs to be but soft when it comes to Asher and Jory. Jory is attracted to both men, but again, protective over Asher. We see a little more of her spunk at the end of this book but at times she’s very impulsively. So Ky is who brings her back to earth.

+ The romance is polyamorous and filled with yearning, longing and vulnerability. They choose each other, they genuinely are happy to be in this threesome and it works out. Ky is the protector and he is always so patient with Asher and notices things about him that Jory might miss. Asher adores Jory, but is attracted to Ky and is opening up more under his patience. Jory enjoys both of them – Asher gives her comfort, and she’s attracted to Ky’s dominance. So it works for all of them, and the spice is spicy between them but again filled with so much patience.

Final Thoughts:

I think this sequel was more focused on the relationship between Ky, Asher and Jory as they figure things out. I think the polyamorous relationship between the three is a beautiful, fragile thing that is being treated with care and patience. I will say I hate Asher’s past handlers, I hope they get dealt with in book three. Also there is a twist at the end that is very interesting and I can’t wait to see how it plays out!

Read if you like:

political intrigue
polyamory romance/why choose
secrets

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Warrior Princess Assassin by. Brigid Kemmerer | ARC Review – 4 stars/ 3🌶️

Defend the Dawn by. Brigid Kemmerer | ARC Review – 4 stars

Destroy the Day by. Brigid Kemmerer | Book Review – 3.5 stars

Defy the Night by. Brigid Kemmerer | ARC Review – 4 stars

Forging Silver into Stars by. Brigid Kemmerer | ARC Review – 3.5 stars

A Vow So Bold and Deadly by. Brigid Kemmerer | Book Review – 3.5 stars

Book Review: A Curse So Dark and Lonely – 4 stars

Book Review | A Heart So Fierce and Broken – 3 stars

Book Review | Call It What You Want – 4 stars

Recruitment by. K.A. Riley | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Recruitment (The Resistance Trilogy, #1)

Author: K.A. Riley

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 439

Publication Date: 11/3/26 (first published 11/28/18)

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Categories: Dystopian, Young Adult, 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 Sourcebooks Fire for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

It’s October 31st. Today, Kress is sixteen years old. Tomorrow, she’ll be taken.

The good news? So will her best friend Cardyn, and Brohn, the handsome, enigmatic boy she’s avoided all her life. The bad news? Recruitment isn’t what any of them expected.

If only Kress had been able to bring her trained raven, Render, with her. If only none of them had ever had to come to this place.

Content Warning: violence, simulated death

This dystopian story follows Kress, a girl turning seventeen who will now be taken for training to fight in a war. Most of the story is straight forward and follows the training process the seventeen year olds are put through. Something interesting about Kress is she has a bird, named Render, that is attached to her. We get to know the other people in her group as they go through these trials together.

There were parts of the story that was just lagging with nothing much happening and there wasn’t anything new about the training that got me interested. Things pick up near the end with a twist in the story but by then I wasn’t really invested in it.

I didn’t connect to the characters, but I think I’m just not the target audience for this story but I think teen readers would relate more to this one.