Flower and Thorn by. Rati Mehrotra | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Flower and Thorn

Author: Rati Mehrotra

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 10/17/23

Categories: Fantasy, Young Adult, Magic, Historical Fiction

One girl. One boy.
A promise broken.
A magic stolen.

Irinya has wanted to be a flower hunter ever since her mother disappeared into the mysterious mist of the Rann salt flats one night. Now seventeen, Irinya uses her knowledge of magical flowers to help her caravan survive in the harsh desert. When her handsome hunting partner and childhood friend finds a priceless silver spider lily–said to be able to tear down kingdoms and defeat an entire army–Irinya knows this is their chance for a better life.

Until Irinya is tricked by an attractive imposter.

Irinya’s fight to recover the priceless flower and to fix what she’s done takes her on a dangerous journey, one she’s not sure she’ll survive. She has no choice but to endure it if she hopes to return home and mend the broken heart of the boy she’s left behind.

Content Warning: violence

I was definitely intrigued about this title because it’s cover – it’s so beautiful!

+ I thought the world-building was very unique with the magical flowers! I love that Irinya is from a nomad group and I enjoyed seeing the community between her kul. There is a tiny bit of romance, it’s not the center of the story. It didn’t even need to be in the story but it did make me question some of the men in Irinya’s life.

+ There is some historical fiction in this story which was another interesting and eye opening. It brings up how the Portuguese was on India’s coasts and trying to take over the country. Something I didn’t realize because usually I think about how the British colonized India, and didn’t realize that the Portuguese did as well.

+ The story moves quickly and is a stand alone book. The story has themes about power, and familly/community.

~ I did find Irinya’s penchant for falling for a guy a bit quick. I don’t blame her for feeling all these new feelings for guys she’s just met but it really sets off a series of events that harms the people she care about! For the most part she was a strong character which I loved, except when it came to the guys that came into her life.

My Final Thoughts:

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book but after reading two of this author’s books I have to say I like how her characters engage with one another and I like the action in her stories. I thought it was a nice treat to have some historical information about India and I came away learning something new along with being intrigued about the magical flowers. If only flowers had that much power! I look forward to reading more from this author.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove by. Rati Mehrotra ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Starling House by. Alix E. Harrow | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Starling House

Author: Alix E. Harrow

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 10/3/23

Categories: Contemporary, Fantasy, Mystery, Sentient House, Romance, Gothic, Dark Fantasy, Magic

A grim and gothic new tale from author Alix E. Harrow about a small town haunted by secrets that can’t stay buried and the sinister house that sits at the crossroads of it all.

Eden, Kentucky, is just another dying, bad-luck town, known only for the legend of E. Starling, the reclusive nineteenth-century author and illustrator who wrote The Underland–and disappeared. Before she vanished, Starling House appeared. But everyone agrees that it’s best to let the uncanny house―and its last lonely heir, Arthur Starling―go to rot.

Opal knows better than to mess with haunted houses or brooding men, but an unexpected job offer might be a chance to get her brother out of Eden. Too quickly, though, Starling House starts to feel dangerously like something she’s never had: a home.

As sinister forces converge on Starling House, Opal and Arthur are going to have to make a dire choice to dig up the buried secrets of the past and confront their own fears, or let Eden be taken over by literal nightmares.

If Opal wants a home, she’ll have to fight for it.

Content Warning: violence, thieving. nightmares, monsters, incest, death of parent

I can’t believe this is the first book I’ve read from this author but I finally did it.

+ I like the small town vibes with secrets and a haunted house! The story is set in Eden, Kentucky and the Starling House is what they are known for. Starling House is a mysterious house and author Eleanor Starling used to live there but disappeared. There is lots of lore about the town and the house. Everyone has a version of the story about Starling House and different theories. It’s quite a mystery.

+ Opal is such a strong character – she is a survivor. She thieves, she lies, she does everything she can to keep her brother Jasper thriving – but they are close to being homeless. They have little to eat most times but they only have each other. She only wants to give her brother a good life. Arthur is the new guardian of Starling House and he’s a scary, anti-social recluse. They are both described as very not good looking people but I love that they look ordinary (because that’s REAL) and they fell for each other in all their imperfections.

+ I love the found family, the romance between Opal and Arthur, the sibling bond between Opal and Jasper, and the history of Starling House. The gothic, dark fantasy vibes are great, it’s very atmospheric – makes for a good book for fall.

~ I think the beginning was a bit slow for me (it’s a me thing – sometimes mysteries are just too slow for me), but the second half of the book, I was totally hooked until the end.

~ There was a lot going on at the ending and the way it was resolved was not what I was expecting. It was strange and maybe I needed to suspend my belief a bit more because I didn’t totally believe it. I did like Eleanor’s story and how we learn the truth of what happened but it also felt a bit anti-climatic for me.

My Final Thoughts:

This one is a great read for fall because it has all the right elements: it’s gothic, has a haunted house, and a small town with secrets. I did like the second half of the book more than the first but only because mysteries are not my favorite genre. This one had a great lore surrounding Starling House and it was definitely a fascinating story. If you are into gothic, fantasy contemporary tales about a sentient house, nightmares and monsters then you will definitely enjoy this one.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

King of Pride by. Ana Huang | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: King of Pride (Kings of Sin, #2)

Author: Ana Huang

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 358

Publication Date: 4/27/23

Categories: Romance, Contemporary, Adult, Opposites Attract

She’s his opposite in every way…and the greatest temptation he’s ever known.

Reserved, controlled, and proper to a fault, Kai Young has neither the time nor inclination for chaos—and Isabella, with her purple hair and inappropriate jokes, is chaos personified.

With a crucial CEO vote looming and a media empire at stake, the billionaire heir can’t afford the distraction she brings.

Isabella is everything he shouldn’t want, but with every look and every touch, he’s tempted to break all his rules…and claim her as his own.

***

Bold, impulsive, and full of life, Isabella Valencia has never met a party she doesn’t like or a man she couldn’t charm…except for Kai Young.

It shouldn’t matter. He’s not her type—the man translates classics into Latin for fun, and his membership at the exclusive club where she bartends means he’s strictly off limits.

But she can’t deny that, beneath his cool exterior, is a man who could make her melt with just a touch.

No matter how hard they try, they can’t resist giving into their forbidden desires.

Even if it costs them everything.

King of Pride is a steamy opposite attract, forbidden billionaire romance. It’s book two in the Kings of Sin series but can be read as a standalone.

Contains explicit content and profanity. Recommended for mature readers only.

Content Warning:

I have finally read King of Pride which is the second book in the Kings of Sin series and follows Isabella and Kai from book one! It took me awhile to finish this one not because it’s bad but because of my mood swings. So here’s what I thought:

+ I was intrigued by Kai and Isabella in book one, King of Wrath, because we get introduced to them there and there is definitely some interest between them – especially on Kai’s part I think. These two are complete opposites! Isabella is vivacious, a bit flighty, still searching for her path in life. Kai is controlled, sticks to his goals, doesn’t show much emotion and likes to win.

+ I like how Kai wasn’t a total alpha male. I felt like he gave Isabella space even though there were times he would feel some jealousy. And honestly once he admitted to himself how he liked her he was all in. Also he was a comforting figure when Isabella didn’t believe in herself. He’s smart, open to trying new things (with Isabella) and honestly this man was not afraid of his feelings for her which I appreciated! It was Isa who was afraid.

+ Isabella is a Filipina which is cool! Love the representation and I could totally relate to her family dynamics.

+ Their love story is sweet and spicy. The conflict was mostly about their separate lives and how to bridge it but I thought it was cute seeing them grow as friends and then taking the leap as lovers. And yes there are very spicy scenes that I was not expecting out of Kai! lol…he does seem like someone who is straight forward but I like how he had his little kinky moments.

~ I know Isabella having low self-esteem and struggling through life is realistic but the story of her ex boyfriend was a little dramatic and I kind of laughed because it was so out of left field! It’s not a funny story but – Like, what girl?! You’ve been hiding that story in you all this time? 🤦🏻‍♀️ It wasn’t needed and was only mentioned once! She was having enough trouble just figuring out her career and path in life and comparing herself to her successful brothers.

~ I felt like this book didn’t have that romance angst as the first one so it didn’t seem as passionate as Dante and Vivian but I still enjoyed it. There were no games between Isa and Kai – I really do love that about them.

My Final Thoughts:

I liked how different Isa and Kai are from Dante and Vivian and honestly Kai is a great guy. He’s the boring, driven, but caring guy who goes all in for the woman he loves! If you like the opposites attract trope then you will enjoy this one. I am very much looking forward to reading the next book!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

King of Wrath by. Ana Huang | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Throne of the Fallen by. Kerri Maniscalco | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Throne of the Fallen

Author: Kerri Maniscalco

Format: ebook (own)

Pages: 627

Publication Date: 10/3/23

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Adult

Sinner. Villain. Wicked.

The Prince of Envy has never claimed to be a saint. But when a cryptic note arrives, signaling the beginning of a deadly game, he knows it will take more than a hint of sin to win and save his falling demon court. Riddles, hexed objects, anonymous players, nothing will stand in his way, though none of his meticulous plans prepare him for her, the frustrating artist who ignites his sin like no other…

Virtuous. Darling. Liar.

The trouble with scoundrels and blackguards is that they haven’t a modicum of honor, a fact Miss Camilla Antonius learns after one desperate mistake allows Waverly Green’s most notorious rake to blackmail her. To avoid a ruinous scandal, Camilla is forced to enter a devil’s bargain with Envy, little expecting his game will awaken her true nature . . .

Together, Envy and Camilla must embark on a perilous journey through the Underworld—from glittering demon courts to the sultry vampire realm and beyond—while trying to avoid the most dangerous trap of all: falling in love.

Content Warning: violence, blood drinking (vampires)

We return to the Underworld and the domain of a few familiar naughty demon princes. This is Prince Envy’s story and it’s quite a story.

+ I like being back in this world that we were introduced to in Kingdom of the Wicked. I feel we get a better feel for kingdoms outside of Hell. In this story we get to venture to Faerie and even the domain of the vampires (which was kind of my favorite part of the book). I felt like the world building was much more rich in this book which I enjoyed. It was interesting how the book sort of read like a regency romance! It mentioned the gossip papers (very Bridgerton) but I think it worked for this story.

+ I’m so glad this book is in the adult genre – which I think KOTW should have been as well, at least New Adult. But I think it sits perfectly in the adult genre because now the author can write as many sex scenes as she wants without shocking her audience.

+ Camilla is a woman with lots of secrets. What is she? That was my question throughout the whole book but I think I figured it out halfway through since it only made sense. Camilla and Envy were quite a match. She was strong when she needed to be, but you could always kind of tell her secret meant she had hidden powers. Envy was interesting but oh so stubborn. I like how he cared for his people and his interactions with his brothers are always funny. I did like how Camilla and Envy were always testing one another and trying to push the other’s buttons when it came to their attraction, it brought heightened tension between them but I really was annoyed with Envy’s one night rule. As if he could stick to that rule with Camilla. Ha! This one has the spicy scenes that the KOTW was missing but it definitely builds up to it.

+ This story was centered on a game that was being played and Envy had to win to save his people. Camilla is also pulled into the game and you don’t quite know who the other players are until something happens to reveal them. But it did keep me reading to see how everything would play out.

~ This book was long and it took me 3 or 4 days to finish which was fine. I don’t mind reading a book slowly but I think because it was a story about a high stake game, I wanted it tighter and a faster paced. But this reads more like a mystery (which isn’t my favorite genre because of the slowness) so if you like mysteries you will enjoy this one.

~ I adore Camilla and Envy together but something was missing for me. Maybe because Envy’s sin is just jealousy which is fine…but hello Price Sloth! A house full of books? He’s the prince I want! Anyway no hate towards Envy I did like how he cared for his people.

My Final Thoughts:

This is a great edition to the world of KOTW and I wonder who’s book we will get next. I think Prince Lust and Sloth are the ones that intrigue me a lot but looks like Pride’s story would be next?

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Kingdom of the Wicked | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kingdom of the Cursed by. Kerri Maniscalco | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kingdom of the Feared by. Kerri Maniscalco | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Jasad Heir by. Sara Hashem | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Jasad Heir (The Scorched Throne, #1)

Author: Sara Hashem

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 523

Publication Date: 7/18/23

Categories: Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Political Intrigue

Ten years ago, the kingdom of Jasad burned. Its magic outlawed; its royal family murdered down to the last child. At least, that’s what Sylvia wants people to believe.

The lost Heir of Jasad, Sylvia never wants to be found. She can’t think about how Nizahl’s armies laid waste to her kingdom and continue to hunt its people—not if she wants to stay alive. But when Arin, the Nizahl Heir, tracks a group of Jasadi rebels to her village, staying one step ahead of death gets trickier.

In a moment of anger Sylvia’s magic is exposed, capturing Arin’s attention. Now, to save her life, Sylvia will have to make a deal with her greatest enemy. If she helps him lure the rebels, she’ll escape persecution.

A deadly game begins. Sylvia can’t let Arin discover her identity even as hatred shifts into something more. Soon, Sylvia will have to choose between the life she wants and the one she left behind. The scorched kingdom is rising, and it needs a queen.

In this Egyptian-inspired debut fantasy, a fugitive queen strikes a deadly bargain with her greatest enemy and finds herself embroiled in a complex game that could resurrect her scorched kingdom or leave it in ashes forever.

Content Warning: violence, trauma, death

The Jasad Heir is an adult fantasy novel with wonderful world building and the slowest slow burn enemies to lovers romance ever. Maybe not EVER…but it sure felt like it. And it will probably be even slower in book two!

Sylvia is the lost heir of a kingdom that was ruled by magic. It’s a kingdom that is no longer one because the surrounding kingdoms put an end to their magic use. Now having and using magic is a crime, so Sylvia stays undercover because if people found out she was the heir to Jasad who supposedly died in the uprising, well – that wouldn’t be good news for the kingdom of Nizahl. I really enjoyed the world building and learning about the different kingdoms. I like that there was two sides to the story of Jasad’s demise. I also love the political intrigue.

I really liked the cat and mouse game between Sylvia and Nizahl’s own heir, Arin. He is cold, doesn’t show much emotion, always steps ahead everyone else and constantly planning traps. Sylvia is his opposite in every way. It’s hard for her to hide her emotions and she is constantly in conflict about her situation. Her people are looking for her, they want someone to lead them but she wants nothing to do with it. She also has powers that are hindered by the magic cuffs her grandparent put on her when she was younger. So she’s constantly questioning her role and responsibilities, if she has any, to her people. I like that she’s not perfect, and wonders if she is truly a horribly selfish person and how being a leader is not something she wants. She’s been traumatized and comes from a scary place of hurt and fear. She can’t even stand people touching her. There is growth for her in the book though as she remembers more of her past, hears recollections of the massacre from both conflicting sides and starting to care for people in her life.

The romance between Arin and Sylvia is such a slow burn. For an adult book, I was hoping for more steam but I can see they have a few things to work between them since they are from rival kingdoms. Arin abhors magic, but Sylvia has tons of magic – so where does this leave them? We’ll see in book two but I really love the tension between them!

It is a long book, coming in at 529 pages so sometimes when a new character’s name would appear I would try to remember who that was because there is a lot of information about the different kingdoms, and many names to know. I think there is some pacing issues also because there was also a lull in the middle and that’s when I put it down to finally go to sleep and picked it up the next day again.

Quotes from the Book:

“When you choose who you are willing to fight for, you choose who you are.” ― Sara Hashem, The Jasad Heir

“You think your mind is a blank slate, where you can build your own networks of information from scratch, through pure logic and reason. You ignore that each child enters a completely unique world, founded on different truths. We build our reality on the foundation our world sets for us. You entered a world where magic is corrosive and Jasadis are inherently evil. I entered one where turning a shoe into a dove made my mother laugh. Have you considered, in that infinite mind of yours, that the truly brilliant people are the ones who understand the realities we build were already built for us?”
― Sara Hashem, The Jasad Heir

Tropes: enemies to lovers, slow burn

My Final Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this debut book and I’m glad I picked it up. I was very much into the political intrigue, world building and characters. The enemies to lovers slow burn was full of tension and that is one thing I’m crazy about in a fantasy with romance is tension! There were some pacing issues but I was still entertained and am looking foward to book two!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

All That Consumes Us by. Erica Waters | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: All That Consumes Us

Author: Erica Waters

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 416

Publication Date: 10/17/23

Publisher: HarperTeen

Categories: Young Adult, Horror, Suspense, Mystery, Secret Society, Dark Academia, 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 HarperTeen for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Everyone knows the students in Corbin College’s elite academic society, Magni Viri, have it all—free tuition, inspirational professors, and dream jobs once they graduate. So when Tara is offered a chance to enroll, she takes it.

But once she’s settled into the gorgeous Victorian dormitory the academy calls home, something strange starts to happen. She finally has the chance to write, but her stories are dark and twisted. When she’s not sleepwalking, she’s dreaming about being trapped in a coffin, buried alive. And she’s starting to feel an unseen presence stalking her through the halls of her dorm.

As Tara slowly loses her grip on everything she’s ever known, she discovers a terrible secret at the heart of Magni Viri, one that just might turn her dreams into nightmares, one that might destroy her before she has a chance to escape.

All That Consumes Us will pull readers into a hypnotizing, utterly lush and gothic reverie that blurs the lines of reality and shows that the addictive nature of ambition, and its inevitable price, always claim their due.

Content Warning: death, self-harm

I’ve read only one other book from this author called The River Has Teeth and I enjoyed it a lot. When I read the synopsis for this book it sounded so intriguing I had to request it.

I like that this book is set in college because I feel like there isn’t many young adult books set in college, but so many things happens to a young adult after high school. And we see it in this case with Tara who is trying her best to do good in her classes, hoping one day to be a novelist but she is a young woman who has to pay her own tuition and make things meet. Tara doesn’t have a wealthy family to help her pay for school so when she is invited to the secret society, Magni Viri, she feels this is her one chance to realize her big dreams.

The secret society gives the whole story its mystery. There is a backstory with the founding fathers of Magni Viri and we learn about it with Tara who is new to it all. The twist in the story is a good one and so unexpected. I found it creative and definitely gave all the dark academia vibes! Tara lives in a Victorian dormitory, there are woods around her and a graveyard. She also feels like she’s being haunted and obsessed with writing this novel – she feels like she’s becoming someone else which becomes really creepy.

I like the diverse cast of characters but I wish I felt like I could connect to them but I didn’t. I do like how each student had lofty ambitions and being part of Magni Viri was a chance to reach those goals – but at what cost? And was it all worth it to be so consumed by their passions that they would do anything to make their dreams come true.

Tropes: secret society

Why you should read it:

you want to read a modern gothic horror story
good twist in the story, dark academia vibes with ghosts, obsessions, strange things happening

Why you might not want to read it:

not into horror

My Thoughts:

I thought this one was fairly entertaining but maybe a little too slow for me in the beginning and I wish I could’ve connected to the characters. Once everything starts unraveling for Tara is when I got more engaged and I was trying to figure what was going on with these Magni Viri kids. I like that it’s a college setting and it has a diverse cast. I thought the twist in the story was good and I like how the characters question if everything they are doing to achieve their goals are worth it.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The River Has Teeth by. Erica Waters | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Unfortunately Yours by. Tessa Bailey | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Unfortunately Yours (A Vine Mess, #2)

Author: Tessa Bailey

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 6/6/23

Categories: Women’s Fiction, Contemporary, Chick-Lit, Romance

A down-on-her-luck Napa heiress suggests a mutually beneficial marriage of convenience to a man she can’t stand… only to discover there’s a fine line between love and hate.

After losing her job and her fiancé in one fell swoop, Natalie Vos returned home to lick her wounds. A few months later, she’s sufficiently drowned her sorrows in cabernet and she’s ready to get back on her feet. She just needs her trust fund to finance her new business venture. Unfortunately, the terms require she marry before she can have the money. And well, dumped, remember? But Natalie is desperate enough to propose to a man who makes her want to kill him–and kiss him, in equal measure.

August Cates may own a vineyard, but he doesn’t know jack about making wine. He’s determined to do his late best friend proud, no matter what it takes. Except his tasting room is empty, his wine is disgusting (seriously, he once saw someone gag), and his buddy’s legacy is circling the drain. No bank will give him the loan he needs to turn the business around… and then the gorgeous, feisty heiress knocks on his door. Natalie has haunted his dreams since the moment they met, but their sizzling chemistry immediately morphed into simmering insults.

Now, a quickie marriage could help them both. A sham wedding, a few weeks living under the same roof, and then they can go their separate ways–assuming they make it out alive. How hard could it be? There’s just one thing they didn’t account for: their unfortunate, unbearable, undeniable attraction.

Content Warning: PTSD, grief

If you read Secretly Yours, then you will have met these two characters, Natalie (Julian’s sister) and August, in that story. So this story starts off right away with Natalie and August already going at it with the sexual innuendos, but it’s an enemies to lovers romance so Natalie is always trying to take him down a notch and August likes the torture and tries to match her tit for tat (literally lol). He is obsessed with her breasts – and tells her every chance he gets.

I thought the two of them were so funny because both of them are hot-heads and want to get their way. August is an ex-Navy SEAL so he is a bit intense but funny too. Natalie was intense too when it came to finance – the two of them was chaos at times but fun chaos. And when they finally relieve the sexual tension between its explosive, dirty, loud, and intense as they both are. I thought it was cute how they finally admitted to feelings for one another though.

I think this was the perfect sequel to Secretly Yours and very different from Julian and Hallie. It has the same spice, and more laughs in this one. I do think if you didn’t read the first book, you’d be shocked at how Natalie and August are already off to the races with hating and wanting one another. So just be aware of that if you didn’t read the first book.

Tropes: fake dating, enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience

My Final Thoughts:

I think Natalie and August make a great couple because of how they can set each other down but not be too offended. It’s a turn on for them actually! This story has enough spice to keep things juicy and enough laughs to make you root for the both of them.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Secretly Yours by. Tessa Bailey | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Hook, Line and Sinker by. Tessa Bailey | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It Happened One Summer by. Tessa Bailey | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Blackwoods by. Brandy Colbert | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Blackwoods

Author: Brandy Colbert

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 10/3/23

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Categories: Young Adult, Contemporary, Family, Fiction

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

Thank you to Balzer + Bray for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

From Boston Globe/Horn Book Award–winning author Brandy Colbert comes the story of four generations of a Hollywood family—an unforgettable tale of ambition, fame, struggle, loss, and love in America.

The Blackwoods. Everyone knows their name. Blossom Blackwood burst onto the silver screen in 1962, and in the decades that followed, she would become one of the most celebrated actors of our time—and the matriarch of the most famous Black family in Hollywood. To her great-granddaughters, Hollis and Ardith, she has always just been Bebe. And when she passes away, it changes everything. Hollis Blackwood was never interested in fame. Still, she’s surrounded by it, whether at home with her family or at the prestigious Dupree Academy among Los Angeles’ elite.

When private photos of Hollis are leaked in the wake of Blossom’s death, she is thrust into the spotlight she’s long avoided—and finds that trust may be a luxury even she can’t afford. Ardith Blackwood has always lived in the public eye. A television star since childhood, she was perhaps closer with Blossom than anyone—especially after Ardith’s mother died in a drug overdose. Ever since, she has worked to be everything her family, her church, and the public want her to be. But as a family secret comes to light and the pressures from all sides begin to mount, she wonders what is left beneath the face she shows the world.

Weaving together the narratives of Hollis, Ardith, and Blossom, award-winning author Brandy Colbert tells an unforgettable story set in an America where everything is personal, and nothing is private.

Content Warning: racism

I was drawn to the synopsis of this book because I love the idea of a rich Black Hollywood family who has made it in the industry. This story follows three of the Blackwoods, Blossom – the woman who started it all, and Hollis and Ardith her great grand-daughters.

I felt like this book was like a soap opera or very much like a Danielle Steel novel where we follow a woman through the generations. The Blackwoods starts in present day and then there are flashbacks to Blossom Blackwoods life. I loved her backstory and her drive to be an actress no matter how long it took her to achieve success. She was a hard working, independent woman who relied on her mom and sister instead of the father of her child. It’s wonderful to see her drive to make her dreams come true.

I also thought Hollis’ and Ardith’s perspectives gave the reader a glimpse into how things have changed and the current issues they deal with today like dealing with the paparazzi and press hounding them. How everything in their lives can be exposed in the blink of an eye. But I loved the story about persevering and the bonds of family.

I don’t know if young adults will be drawn to this book. I felt like Blossoms story was more compelling than those of her granddaughters and I wanted more of her life story and even more about Ardith’s mother. I think this would have made an amazing adult fiction book. I also didn’t feel like the family secret was a big bombshell at all but I loved how the family came together to navigate it.

My Thoughts:

My favorite thing about this book is Blossom Blackwoods story from a girl in high school with dreams to being the matriarch of her family. She really didn’t give up even when she had a child out of wedlock, she had to travel from one coast to the other to work, she had to face racism in the industry, but she did it, with the support of her mom and sister – no matter how long it took. I feel like this could have been made into an epic family saga type of story because there are other stories here I want to know about like Ardith’s mom and her battle with addiction. Unfortunately, I didn’t really connect with the young adult aspect of the story but I think Blossom’s story makes up for all of that.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Never a Hero by. Vanessa Len | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Never a Hero (Monsters, #2)

Author: Vanessa Len

Format: ebook (own)

Pages: 528

Publication Date: 8/29/23

Categories: Young Adult, Series, Urban Fantasy, Time Travel, Paranormal

This sequel to the contemporary fantasy Only a Monster will take Joan deeper into the monster world, where treacherous secrets and even more danger await.

Despite all of the odds, Joan achieved the impossible. She reset the timeline, saved her family – and destroyed the hero, Nick.

But her success has come at a terrible cost.

She alone remembers what happened. Now, Aaron, her hard-won friend – and maybe more – is an enemy, trying to kill her. And Nick, the boy she loved, is a stranger who doesn’t even know her name. Only Joan remembers that there is a ruthless and dangerous enemy still out there.

When a deadly attack forces Joan back into the monster world as a fugitive, she finds herself on the run with Nick – as Aaron closes in.

As the danger rises – and Nick gets perilously closer to discovering the truth of what Joan did to him – Joan discovers a secret of her own. One that threatens everyone she loves.

Torn between love and family and monstrous choices, Joan must find a way to re-gather her old allies to face down the deadliest of enemies, and to save the timeline itself.

Vanessa Len’s stunning Only a Monster trilogy continues with this second instalment, a thrilling journey where a secret past threatens to unravel everyone’s future.

Content Warning: death

Ah, time travel! I’m always either loving it or hating it and in this sequel to Only a Monster, I was on the verge of hating it. But I’ll get into that.

There are a lot of things I like about this sequel. The story moves forward, though it felt like it was pulling teeth with trying to get answers about anything in this story – but I did like how Joan finally learns more about her bloodline and her powers. Nick, her soulmate is back, but he doesn’t know her anymore because of what she did to him in book one, but that doesn’t matter to soul mates because they seem to be forever drawn to one another. But where was Aaron Oliver? I wanted more of him in this book and we got less. He only really comes into the story halfway in! Is there a love triangle? I couldn’t tell in this book – it seems like Joan loves Nick, but she has a connection to Aaron (maybe a strong friendship? I don’t know. I was rooting for Aaron honestly). I love Tom and Jamie, so I’m glad we got more of them in this sequel.

The story moves fast for a book that clocks in at 528 pages because of all the time jumping but it also feels like the information moves too fast also. Joan is trying to figure out what is happening to the current timeline – and there are multiple timelines being discussed. And it was repetitive too. Also Joan was frustrating me. She can’t stay away from Nick, so then she endangers him and then endangers her monster friends by bringing Nick along because she wants to protect him. I get he’s not a monster killer anymore but after seeing what he did in the previous timeline and watch him kill my family – I would protect my friends and family. Soulmate or not! But I guess it’s hard to resist her love for him. Yet, she remembers feeling something for Aaron in the previous timeline. Though there is angst, there isn’t much romance going on in this one. Anyway, Joan and her friends trying to get information got annoying because a lot of people didn’t know anything or if they did, wouldn’t explain.

I liked the ending which is where a lot of the action is and the unexpected twist in the story makes me want to read book three. But I really wish there was more Aaron, less repetition and more action.

My Final Thoughts:

I think the first book was better and I hope the third book has more of Aaron because that’s who I wanted to read more about in this book. But there was a lot of Nick, so you Nick fans will love this one. I like the ending and will definitely read book three. Overall, this was an entertaining book and I’m curious to see what will happen in the next book after all that was revealed in this one.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Only a Monster by. Vanessa Len | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Heart of Night and Fire by. Nisha J. Tuli | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Heart of Night and Fire

Author: Nisha J. Tuli

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 379

Publication Date: 9/15/23

Publisher: Second Sky

Categories: New Adult, Series, Fantasy, Romance, Indian Mythology

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

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

A city of magic. A passion born in dreams. A secret that will set their world aflame.

Packed with enemies-to-lovers tension, heart-pounding action and devastating twists, The Nightfire Quartet is an epic fantasy romance that begins with a slow burn and builds in intensity. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout and Carissa Broadbent.

For years, Zarya has been trapped in a gilded prison. Her magic is forbidden, a dangerous secret—though nobody will explain why. Now she is ready to break free and find the truth.

Escaping to the dazzling city of Dharati, Zarya discovers a new world of enchantment and intrigue. With the help of seductive, blood-drinking rakshasa and magic-weaving Aazheri sorcerers, she searches for answers.

But the city is under siege. Every night, dark creatures attack. And since Zarya’s arrival they are growing stronger. To protect her new home, Zarya joins the fight.

As she battles on the walls and hunts through libraries for clues about her gifts, Zarya’s dreams are haunted by a mysterious stranger. Powerful, arrogant and handsome, Rabin sees through her secrets and ignites a desire she cannot resist. But can he be trusted?

When darkness threatens to overwhelm Dharati, Zarya is faced with a deadly choice. Will revealing her magic save the city? Or destroy everything she loves?

Enter a glittering new world inspired by Indian mythology and prepare to discover your new obsession.

Content Warning: violence, death

First I had to request this book because of that book cover and second, I found this author’s books on Kindle Unlimited this year and enjoyed them! So I wanted to see what this new series would be like and I was not disappointed.

The world-building is lush and inspired by Indian mythology. Vampire like people called Rakshasas that have silver hair and drink blood? Mages with elemental powers? A queen that is embodied in a tree? Monsters like birds that drop demon eggs?! I love this world of magic and fantasy, it’s so unique and vibrant.

Zarya is a character with a mysterious past. She was raised by a mage named Row who has gone missing which means she is essentially free to leave the barriers he used to keep her confined in. Her longing for new experiences is made reality when she goes to Dharati. She goes with her companion Aarav who she despises because he is like her watchdog. But she really blossoms in Dharati where she gets to experience so many things. She’s also in search of her past while she’s there and what she finds out is a big shock to everyone. I like how she’s willing to help, and loved to train with the soldiers and it was nice to see her actually become friends with Aarav. She also makes friends with Yasen, who didn’t like her at first.

Now Zarya has an instant attraction to Vikram, who is a Rakshasas but it’s a super slow burn between them. I felt like there was a light flirtation between them, nothing that would be serious. So when another guy, Rabin (tall, dark and mysterious) comes into play, I got even more interested in the story. I’m such a sucker for the bad boys but I love the twist in the story and can’t wait to see what happens in book two! I have a feeling it’s going to be spicy between her and Rabin. I do hope there is more character development in book two because though everyone was interesting – I’d have love to connect to Zarya more.

Tropes: girl with mysterious past, girl who comes into her powers

Why you should read it:

world-building, lush fantasy, inspired by Indian mythology
lots of magic and fighting monsters
Rabin and Narya

Why you might not want to read it:

Rabin only comes into the story in the second half of the story

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this one and can’t wait for book two just to see how the sparks fly between Rabin and Zarya! I love the world building in this story and look forward to reading the sequel.