Wild Reverence by. Rebecca Ross | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: Wild Reverence (Letter of Enchantment, #0)

Author: Rebecca Ross

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 544

Publication Date: 9/2/25

Publisher: Saturday Books

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Series, Prequel

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

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

Born in the firelit domain of the under realm, Matilda is the youngest goddess of her clan, blessed with humble messenger magic. But in a land where gods often kill each other to steal power and alliances break as quickly as they are forged, Matilda must come of age sooner than most. She may be known to carry words and letters through the realms, but she holds a secret she must hide from even her dearest of allies to ensure her survival. And to complicate matters . . . there is a mortal boy who dreams of her, despite the fact they have never met in the waking world.

Ten years ago, Vincent of Beckett wrote to Matilda on the darkest night of his life―begging the goddess he befriended in dreams to help him. When his request went unanswered, Vincent moved on, becoming the hardened, irreverent lord of the river who has long forgotten Matilda. That is, until she comes tumbling into his bedroom window with a letter for him.

As Fate would have it, Matilda and Vincent were destined to find each other beyond dreams. There may be a chance for Matilda to rewrite the blood-soaked ways of the gods, but at immense sacrifice. She will have to face something she fears even more than losing her magic: to be vulnerable, and to allow herself to finally be loved.

Content Warning: death, violence

+ I love Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows so when I saw this was a prequel to the series, I was intrigued! Wild Reverence is a story about the gods, and one in particular, Matilda. The storytelling is exceptional, beautiful, and poetic. It’s definitely what I come to expect from this author. She has a magical way of telling a story and I am always entranced by her books.

+ Matilda is such a fascinating character. She’s born to a Skyward father and and Underling mother, but Matilda wasn’t gifted any godlike powers that made her a threat to anyone. She was just there, just a nobody, but her character goes through a lot and being able to cross into realms was one of the most powerful characteristics she had – she just doesn’t know it until later.

+ I really enjoyed learning about this world of Gods. The world building as expected in a Rebecca Ross book is done so well. We even get a glimpse of how Enva and Dacre (the gods at war in Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows), and a hint of how their story begins. I love how we get a real sense of gods being all powerful, and caring about the human world really. And vice-versa with humans, some worshipping them, and some indifferent to them, not wanting to bend their whole lives to worshipping gods.

+ The romance starts off with Matilda and Vincent in their younger years. And the romance really doesn’t take off until later in their adulthood. It’s a sweet romance filled with yearning, longing, devotion, loyalty – a love that spans realms and time. I was rooting so hard for them.

+ Love the epilogue and how it ties into Divine Rivals!

~ I’m not sure why but the beginning of this book did not hook me right away. It was a slow build and I think I was looking for Enva and Dacre and not focusing on Matilda, who didn’t seem significant until her character grows. It took me a few days to really get invested in Matilda’s story but once I did, I could not put the book down.

~ Speaking of Enva and Dacre, I actually did want to see more of them in this prequel. I feel like they remain such a mystery still.

Final Thoughts:

It took me a few days to settle down with this book, the world-building is about Gods we have never heard of (except for Enva and Dacre really) so there was a bit of information and building to do. But when it finally clicked in my head I didn’t want to put down the book. We get to see this different realms, and learn of different Gods, learn about Matilda who seems insignificant at first but becomes one of the main Gods who’s impact is greatly seen in Divine Rivals. I loved Matilda’s journey from nobody to someone to reckon with – all while she stayed good and not power-hungry. All she wanted to do was lead a simple life with Vincent, the mortal man who she had a connection with as a child and now as an adult. I was rooting for their love story across realms and time – it’s heartbreaking and beautiful. Overall, this is a beautifully written prequel to the Letters of Enchantment series.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From this Author:

Ruthless Vows by. Rebecca Ross | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Divine Rivals by. Rebecca Ross | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sisters of Sword and Song by. Rebecca Ross | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A Fire Endless by. Rebecca Ross | Audiobook Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A River Enchanted by. Rebecca Ross | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book Review: The Queen’s Rising ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: The Fallen & the Kiss of Dust

Author: Carissa Broadbent

Format: borrowed (Kindle Unlimited) – but I will buying myself a hardcopy!

Pages: 638

Publication Date: 8/5/25

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Vampires, Gods, Series

New York Times bestselling author and BookTok sensation Carissa Broadbent returns with a brand new novel in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk.

Mische made the ultimate sacrifice to save those she loves – and plunged the world into an eternal night. Now, imprisoned by the gods and obsessed with revenge, Asar is desperate to find her again.

When a goddess offers them a final path to redemption – and back to each other – Asar and Mische embark on an extraordinary mission. Together, they must seize the power of the god of death so Asar may do the ascend to true divinity.

Their journey will take them through mortal and immortal realms, alongside both old friends and ruthless enemies. But as the underworld teeters on the brink of collapse and the gods prepare for a war, Asar and Mische must decide what they are willing to sacrifice for the power to defy death. In a game of vengeful gods and ancient betrayals, there are some debts that even love may not be able to repay.

Content Warning: violence, war, death, grief

We are back in the world of Nyaxia and I really have to commend the author on the world building of this underworld that Asar was taking care of for years. I love that the dead get a place to still belong and feel safe because of Asar and Mische. I love how it expands the world of this series and this time Asar and Mische really get into it with the Gods! These Gods are mad at what Mische did at the end of book one and they send their Sentinels – fearsome godlike warriors that even scared me, after her. They seek justice and that means ending Mische.

The action that was present in The Songbird & the Heart of Stone continues here in The Fallen and there is another quest! Asar and Mische goes through it in this book – there are monsters to fight, Sentinels, death, saving one another, again and again. I don’t even know how many times Mische passes out (she did this a lot in book one too 😅). And talk about growth for Mische – from an obedient worshipper of Atroxus to becoming almost a goddess in her own right. Yes there was some points in this story which frustrated me like when she could have told Raihn, her best-friend, what was going on but she chose not to. But I can see why she was afraid of involving people in the mess she thinks she created.

There are a lot of themes tackled in this one, especially grief, guilt and power (owning it and believing in yourself). I kind of love how while everything got worse and worse, Mische would always try to reassure Asar that they WILL fix it. It got down to the wire where Mische had lost basically everything but Vincent was there for the pep-talk she needed.

And then there is the romance. Asar practically rips the world apart to get to Mische! I wanted more romance in the previous book and wow, did I get it in this one. Their love knows no bounds, come on, their vows? 😭 Both of them will go to the ends of the earth and back again just to save one another. I feel like I haven’t read a romance like this in awhile, where it made me emotional.

Oh, and let’s talk about emotional – why oh why does Vincent always make me emotional?! I thought his interactions with Mische were so funny because she’s sunshine and he’s…Vincent! I love him – morally gray and all. Ugh…but I’m glad he was there, trying to get Mische to get up and fight when everything seemed hopeless. But his relationship with Oraya, the mistakes, the things unsaid, UGHHHH…always makes me shed a tear. And also, Luce? Our good doggy always helping them out even when things get crazy!

The fight between the Gods don’t seem to ever end, and will it ever? Looks like there will be a book five and I can’t wait to see what it will be about because this is a series, since book one, I am invested in. The world-building is detailed, lush and keeps expanding! The characters – all different and fleshed out, none of them perfect, but I love that about them. And the romance, it’s devastating and beautiful.

I didn’t do a re-read of any of the books when going into this one and I didn’t need to. That’s how this world and the books have stuck with me. But I miss Vincent, Oraya and Raihn so much, I might have to back and read book one and two.

Final Thoughts:

What an “end” to Asar and Mische’s story. I’m sure we’ll see them again in the next book but what these two had to go through in their lives and to find one another and hold on no matter the circumstances devastated me in a good way. I love their love. And I love this series. I love Vincent, Oraya and Raihn, and Luce! I can’t wait to read the next book and see how this world keeps expanding and find new characters to love.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read by This Author:

The Songbird & the Heart of Stone by. Carissa Broadbent| ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Six Scorched Roses by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Den of Liars by. Jessica S. Olson | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️

Title: Den of Liars

Author: Jessica S. Olson

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 7/1/25

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Heist, Fantasy, Casino, Magic

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

Thank you to Feiwel & Friends for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A young thief attempting a daring casino heist during a high-stakes tournament is torn between two warring brothers in Den of Liars, a thrilling YA fantasy romance by acclaimed author Jessica S. Olson.

Lola St. James is the world’s best kept secret. When her father’s loss in the Liar’s Dice Tournament–a high-stakes competition where players are forced to gamble with their deepest secrets–made her a target, she was rescued by the Thief, the notorious leader of the Tentacles. But the Thief’s kindness came with a Lola’s heart. In the years that followed, she and the Thief formed a bond like no other, able to feel each other’s emotions because of their shared heart.

Now, living under the pseudonym Astra, she is determined to prove herself and become a full-fledged Tentacle. But when a critical heist goes sideways, the only way forward is for Lola to compete in the Liar’s Dice Tournament herself. Lola is confident in her ability to pull off any heist, but the Thief’s mysterious brother, the Liar, runs the game and he turns out to be more than she bargained for. As her attraction for him grows and illusions run wild, she will be forced to confront the secrets of her past, the truth of the brothers’ shared history, and the lies she tells herself.

Content Warning: violence

+ This story starts with a heist and ends with secrets coming unraveled and I had a great time with it! This is set in a casino which I found fun and dark. This is a world revolving around magic and secrets. The magic system is unique and there is a competition taking place to win an Unbreakable Lie. A game always makes things interesting!

+ Lola was saved by the Thief (Enzo), but now they have a mission to infiltrate the world of the Liar (Nic), so they can find the moonshard to break Enzo’s curse. Lola is a pretty good thief but even she isn’t strong enough to withstand some of the Liar’s magic or how much she comes to learn about him and desire him later on. I liked Lola, she was strong and wanted to prove her worth, but she’s also gone through some trauma. When she’s caught in the web of lies around her she has to make a choice on whether she wants to know the full truth. And that’s a hard choice to make. There is lots of growth for her from beginning to end.

+ Enzo and Nic are brothers but something major came between them and they hate each other. I loved getting to know these two different guys and getting a glimpse of their back story also. Enzo being the edgier of the two and addicted to thieving, and Nic who can weave a spell and make people love him with his lies. This is not a love triangle – I feel like it’s pretty obvious Enzo and Lola treat each other like siblings. Whereas Nic and Lola want each other but can’t be with one another because of mistrust, lies and Enzo.

+ It’s enemies to lovers and forced proximity but I really enjoyed how the story explored trust, lies and questioning who was manipulating who. It’s not spicy but there are some scene filled with heat and tension that was really good. Obviously, neither Lola or Nic, trust each other enough to take a chance on each other which is sad but I’m looking forward to see if that changes in book two (and I am assuming there will be one or else I’ll be crushed).

~ I would have liked more information about the magic and moonshard. We get a little bit of a backstory, very little. There is a lot more in this world to explore, like trying to find Laurel, Nic’s ex and someone important to the brothers finding this moonshard. Also, I’d like to know if Lola and her dad ever reunite and we can learn more about Lola’s past. Basically all of these things would give more information about the moonshard and magic so I hope we get that in book two.

Final Thoughts:

I read this one in two days. I got sucked into this magical, dark, casino world and the feud between two brothers, and Lola, a girl with a secret identity at the middle of the web of lies. I loved the tension in the romance between Lola and Nic and I hope there is a sequel so I can find out what happens next!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

BLOG TOUR} A Forgery of Roses by. Jessica S. Olson | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Nightshade by. Autumn Woods| Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Nightshade (Sorrowsong University, #1)

Author: Autumn Woods

Format: ebook (borrowed – KU)

Pages: 416

Publication Date: 1/27/25

Categories: Romance, Academia, New Adult, Mystery, Enemies to Lovers

When Ophelia Winters accepts a scholarship at a prestigious Scottish university to prove that her parents’ death was the fault of Cain Green, an American aviation tycoon, her plan is simple; keep her grades up and her head down. The last thing she wants is to wind up in a mafia war or step on the toes of royalty.

Her plan gets off to a rocky start when the mysterious man that almost kills her on her first day turns out to be Cain’s eldest son. As far as she’s concerned, Alex Corbeau-Green is a younger version of his billionaire father. A monster hiding beneath a beautiful facade.

Loneliness has been Ophelia’s only dependable companion for years, but when anonymous threats and mysterious occurrences start to haunt her time at Sorrowsong, she wonders if she really can survive there on her own.

Between being paired together for a project and ending up as each other’s alibi for a murder, avoiding Alex becomes increasingly impossible. She begins to fall for the soft heart that hides beneath his hard exterior.

Tormented by a malicious stalker and growing closer to Alex, Ophelia’s desperation for revenge wavers for the first time. Can she really bring herself to pull the trigger on Cain now that she knows the family it’ll split into two?

Content Warning: violence, stalking, bullying

+ I randomly picked this off of Kindle Unlimited because of the cover, and the synopsis. And I devoured it in one night! 😳 It’s a dark academia, new adult story that includes an atmospheric setting in Scotland at a place called Sorrowsong University where the students are divided into four houses and the students that attend are the rich of the rich. There are even kids from Mafia families there. Ophelia is there for revenge but then she meets Alex Corbeau-Green and her world is changed.

+ The setting is in Scotland and it’s dreary, cold, wet and the buildings are drafty, old, and barely has a wifi signal. But it lends to the mystery that takes place in the story. Ophelia is trying to figure out who caused the event that killed her parents and that’s why she’s at the school. She has a suspect in mind but after someone starts stalking her at school she has to go back to the drawing board and find more evidence.

+ Ophelia is alone after her parents death and she craves attention and affection but she doesn’t know how to make friends, or how to allow people to be close to her. She definitely doesn’t fit in with the rich kids but I like that she doesn’t let that stop her from talking to kids. She is determined to find more evidence about her parents death and I did feel for her – she’s so alone.

+ Now let me talk about Alex. Alex was a major red flag when they met, too hot, tatted, rich, friends with the Mafia kids, he smokes and then we find out he has like 6 sisters and a mom with mental health issues and he takes care of them the best he can from overseas?! Oh and he plays rugby. The more the story went on and he interacts with his sisters, and you can see how loyal he is to his friends and then how he’s trying not to fall for Ophelia but he’s always there taking care of her. I fell for him – I can see why Ophelia fell too even though she tried to stay away from him. Book boyfriend alert!

+The banter between Ophelia and Alex is so good. At one point they were flirting with emails and crossword references (because she loves crossword puzzles!) – swoon! I can’t get enough of them! And it’s a slow burn, they don’t really do anything until later – they start off as enemies and even when they turn into lovers I didn’t feel it was too graphic. And their spicy scenes were fade to black. I thought their romance was beautiful with both of them being vulnerable and opening up to one another (at least Alex did).

~ The book was predictable – I could tell who instigated Ophelia’s parents death pretty quick but I still enjoyed getting from the beginning to the end of the book. The end leaves our lovers in some heartbreaking drama but I know when they fix it in book two, it’s going to be epic or I hope it will. There is also another twist at the end which I thought was good.

~ Ophelia was not the best investigator for this murder mystery. She got caught several times trying to find evidence and she’s not one to really ask for help since she is a lonely girl – who does she really know and trust? She did make some friends but we’ll see what happens after that ending.

Final Thoughts:

I’m going to say all the stars for this book I’m giving to Alex (and all his yearning) and his patience with all the females in his life 🥺, the enemies to lovers romance and the BANTER that was taking place in this story. I was eating it all up. Yes, the story was predictable but I enjoyed it anyway and need to know when book two is coming out!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Sunrise on the Reaping by. Suzanne Collins | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Sunrise on the Reaping

Author: Suzanne Collins

Format: hardcover (own)

Pages: 382

Publication Date: 3/18/24

Categories: Young Adult, Dystopia, Sci-Fi/Fantasy

When you’ve been set up to lose everything you love, what is there left to fight for?

As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes.

Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves.

When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He’s torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who’s nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail. But there’s something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.

Content Warning: violence towards children, death, murder

+ This is Haymitch’s story and everyone knew it would be crazy because of how he was an alcoholic in The Hunger Games (Katniss’ era) and now we learn what drove him to drown himself in the bottle. And it is brutal.

+ I like how we get to see Haymitch – happy and carefree even with the struggles the districts are going through. He has this way of being charming and like nothing bothers but when we are in his head, we see so many things are weighing on him like wondering about his family, his love Lenore, and dying. He’s an interesting character because he’s not the hero, like Katniss. He’s not there to save anyone really, he really things he’s going to die in the games, but he comes out the winner anyway.

+ The action picks up halfway into the book and these games are brutal. Just some of the ways these kids die is gruesome. And I like that Haymitch isn’t this hero like Katniss was – he’s this regular guy who really just thought he was going to die in the games. The fact that he survives is a torture I can’t even imagine especially with what happens after the games, so much survivor’s guilt and nightmares. And the poem from Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven, being used in the book did not help my emotions – it’s my favorite and it broke my heart while Haymitch’s was breaking. When I read the epilogue, I shed a tear.

+ Having just read The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, I love how Lenore Dove ties into the Covey and Lucy Gray! Also there were so many familiar faces from The Hunger Games, like young Effie, Plutarch, Betee, Mags and Cesar. It was nice to see their younger selves. There are a lot of new tributes but you can’t get attached because it is the Hunger Games. 😢

~ I think the part where Haymitch gets to the Capitol and they meet other tributes was a bit slower than the rest of the book but that could be because I was anticipating the start of the games. It was the perfect opportunity to show us who were rebels and how Haymitch became a part of everything.

~ I’m someone who doesn’t love songs in a book only because I don’t know how they sound. Of course I love the “are you, are you, coming to the tree…” song because it was sung in the movie. This one has a few songs, not as much as TBOSAS but it’s there plus the poems.

Final Thoughts:

This was exactly what I was expecting for Haymitch’s story. It left me angry and heartbroken. Only something tragic and horrific could turn that bright, young man into what he is by the time Katniss enters the games. Snow’s punishment for his defiance broke him and for that I hate Snow even more.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From this Author:

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by. Suzanne Collins | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Hunger Games by. Suzanne Collins ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Catching Fire by. Suzanne Collins ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mockingjay by. Suzanne Collins ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Holy Terrors by. Margaret Owen | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Holy Terrors (Little Thieves, #3)

Author: Margaret Owen

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 560

Publication Date: 4/1/25

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

Categories: Fantasy, Series, Romance, LGBT+, Young Adult, Mystery

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

Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

It’s been nearly two years since Vanja brought down the cult she started, and she’s still paying the price. As the Pfennigeist, she bucks the law in order to help the desperate and haunt the corrupt all across the empire—and no matter what, she works alone.

But an impossible killer is tearing through royalty, and leaving Vanja’s signature red penny on every victim. Suddenly the Pfennigeist is no longer a folk hero but a nightmare. When even the Blessed Empress falls, the empire’s seven royal families must gather to elect her successor within a matter of weeks, or risk the collapse of reality itself… even though it puts every house in the killer’s sights.

Vanja tells herself she’s wading into the royalty’s vicious games only to save the name she made, and the loved ones also in jeopardy. But the Order of Prefects has also put their sharpest official on the case, the one who swore he’d always find Vanja—until she broke his heart. Journeyman Prefect Emeric Conrad may no longer be the boy Vanja knew, but they’ll have to work together one last time to have any chance of surviving the deadly catastrophe coming for them all.

With bloody conspiracy, sinister magic, and old adversaries closing in, it will take everything Vanja has to save not just the people she loves, but the future she’s fought for. In this thrilling final chapter of the Indie Next series Little Thieves, New York Times-bestselling author Margaret Owen shows us the pain and beauty of choosing which demons to face, and which to forgive.

Content Warning: mention of sexual assault, death, murder, violence

+ Holy Terrors brings us back to the world of Little Thieves and I went into this one not doing a re-read…all I remembered was Vanja and Emeric breaking my heart in book two and I needed to know what happens to them. I didn’t need to do a re-read, it picked up where it left off and everything was coming back to me because this story is so unique.

+ My favorite girl, Vanja is back. Her life as the Pfennigeist is full of adventure – she’s a thief, always running from one con to another. She’s helping people along the way and trying to forget Emeric and the choice she made in book two. I love her personality and attitude – she’s someone who is broken, trying to find desperately who and what she is and what she wants in this life. She’s always running but this is the time she has to face the music. There is so much growth in her – I was proud of her!

+ My favorite gods Death and Fortune are back and funny as ever. I love how they mother Vanja as much as they can. Another character that grew on me is Benno, love him! There were some interesting characters in this book and all of them are needed to solve this case of royals dying.

+ The romance – this is the first book this year that made me cry. Vanja and Emeric, my loves. They have both moved on after Vanja left him at the end of book two. He’s engaged. She’s had other lovers. But it’s undeniable when they come together again that they are just messy and meant to be. But Vanja has to learn to stop running, and Emeric has to realize why she ran. I loved all her self reflections because Vanja did some hard work looking inwards and facing her demons. I love them so much. My favorite part of this story was them.

+ Outside the romance there is a major event happening and Vanja is the number one suspect, until they realize it’s not. The whole crew is led on a merry chase trying to figure out what is happening and catch the main killer. There are a lot of twists and turns. It also showcases how amazing Vanja and Emeric are, like Sherlock Homes haha! I did enjoy the mystery but there is a lot of names – names that are long and hard to pronounce, so at times I found that to be too much. At least everything happens in one place, at conclave.

~ There are also some events at the climax of the story where something happens, and it has to do with time and a different timeline, gets very fantastical but it was a little confusing but maybe because I was rushing to the end with everything that is happening. I might have to read that ending again just to make sure I understood what happened.

Final Thoughts:

My favorite part of this conclusion is Vanja and Emeric making their way back to one another. I never knew this story would be so emotional. Their story made me cry. I was so proud to see Vanja grow, she came such a long way from book one and she deserved to have happiness. This world of Little Thieves is so unique with the world-building, the mystery, magic and characters. I love all of it. This book had lots of twists and turns and even some parts that confused me at the end but overall this is a fantastic conclusion to a really amazing trilogy.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve read From This Author:

Little Thieves by. Margaret Owen | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Painted Devils by. Margaret Owen | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oathbound by. Tracy Deonn | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Oathbound (The Legendborn Cycle, #3)

Author: Tracy Deonn

Format: ebook (own)

Pages: 656

Publication Date: 3/4/25

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Series

Severed from the Legendborn. Oathbound to a monster.

Bree Matthews is alone. She exiled herself from the Legendborn Order, cut her ancestral connections, and turned away from the friends who can’t understand the impossible cost of her powers. This is the only way to keep herself—and those she loves—safe.

But Bree’s decision has come with a terrible price: an unbreakable bargain with the Shadow King himself, a shapeshifter who can move between humanity, the demon underworld, and the Legendborn secret society. In exchange for training to wield her unprecedented abilities, Bree has put her future in the Shadow King’s hands—and unwittingly bound herself to do his bidding as his new protégé.

Meanwhile, the other Scions must face war with their Round Table fractured, leaderless, and missing its Kingsmage, as Selwyn has also disappeared. When Nick is detained by the Order’s Merlins, he invokes an ancient law that requires the High Council of Regents to convene at the Northern Keep and grant him an audience. No one knows what he will demand of them…or what secrets he has kept hidden from the Table.

As a string of mysterious kidnappings escalates and Merlins are found dead, it becomes clear that no matter how hard Bree runs from who she is, the past will always find her.

Content Warning: violence, kidnapping

I took my time reading this book and let me tell you, even at 600+ pages, I didn’t want it to end.

+ The characters and relationships that are built between them are so good. New characters were introduced, Elijah (he’s okay) and Zoe. I enjoyed her growing relationship with Zoe who was hostile with her at first. There are multiple POVs in this book and I really loved Mariah and Natasia’s perspectives! I even think the Shadow King is an interesting villain.

+ There are a few things going on in this story. Bree is with the Shadow King, and is there to help him get his crown but also, girls with Rootcraft magic are going missing. There are things happening with the Scions also and the Morgaines and then there is Sel going through demonia. I remember thinking in book two that I really wished Bree had someone to help her with her powers and this books gives her that but in the most dangerous way ever.

+ Bree has really been through hell and back in this series so far. This story is her turning point – she’s in a place where she needs to heal and figure out what to do with all this power she has. Does she embrace it or throw it all away? Bree is a complex character and I actually have to remind myself she’s still young, she’s 17! So does she make some mistakes? Yes, she still does and some people like Valec call her out on it. Is she better at controlling her emotions? For the most part, I think so.

+ And yes because there is so many characters, let’s talk about my favorite boys: Nick and Selwyn. 😩 First Selwyn – he has his own hellish path he’s on, and wow…he is barely in this book but the ending is…🤯. As for Nick, when he reunites with Bree, I screamed I think lol. They are apart for half of the book but when he is with her, oh my goodness. Oh my goodness, Nick! He is her person in every way, but I can’t forget about Sel even though he was hardly with Bree in this book. From Legendborn, I have been team Selwyn but Nick is such a sweet guy! I swear this is the one time I was thinking, maybe they can be a throuple? 😅. But who knows what will happen with Sel after that ending!

~ I need Selwyn’s perspective. He was barely in this book but he will have to be in book four more because of what happened at the end of this book but please…I need more Selwyn! It was interesting to have his mom’s POV as she observed him, but I just want his perspective.

~ The beginning of this was a little slow but I forced myself to not rush and settle into the story. There is a lot of information to absorb and if you didn’t re-read the series like me, I had to get my bearings but that was easy enough the more I read and was immersed into this world.

Quotes From This Book:

“Greedy men collect what they cannot understand, and weak men destroy what they cannot control.”
Oathbound by. Tracy Deonn

“Bree isn’t the thought; she’s the action.”
Oathbound by. Tracy Deonn

“We’ve kissed enough that I know how you like to be kissed.”
Oathbound by. Tracy Deonn

“It is a rare being who keeps wading into the war of life with a fractured weapon.”
Oathbound by. Tracy Deonn

Final Thoughts:

This one started off a little slow for me because I had to get used to the different POVs which was kind of unexpected but then I loved it as I read more. I love the relationships these characters have with one another – it is so good. Bree’s journey has never been easy has it? And it isn’t easy in this book also but she’s finally come to a place of healing and I can’t wait to see what book four has in store for her. She’s strong and her growth has been amazing. As for the romance – I’m rooting for both guys 😅. I’ve been team Selwyn because I’m an enemies to lovers kinda girl but Nick made me swoon in this book. Sel is kind of scary right now and who knows what will happen with him in the next book. As for the next book though, I need Alice to be okay. I’ll be waiting patiently for the next one!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Legendborn | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bloodmarked by. TracyDeonn | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom by. Amélie Wen Zhao | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Scorpion and the Night Blossom (The Three Realms Duology, #1)

Author: Amélie Wen Zhao

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 3/4/25

Publisher: Delacorte Press

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

n a world invaded by demons, one girl will face the ultimate test when she is forced to enter into an ancient, deadly competition for the chance to save her mother’s soul… before she loses her forever. From the New York Times bestselling author of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night comes the beginning of a dark and opulent fantasy duology, perfect for fans of Throne of Glass.

Nine years ago, the war between the Kingdom of Night and the Kingdom of Rivers tore Àn’yīng’s family apart, leaving her mother barely alive and a baby sister to fend for. Now the mortal realm is falling into eternal night, and mó—beautiful, ravenous demons—roam the land, feasting on the flesh of humans and drinking their souls.

Àn’yīng is no longer a helpless child, though. Armed with her crescent blades and trained in the ancient art of practitioning, she has decided to enter the Immortality Trials, which are open to any mortal who can survive the journey to the immortal realm. Those who complete the Trials are granted a pill of eternal life—the one thing Àn’yīng knows can heal her dying mother. But to attain the prize, she must survive the competition.

Death is common in the Trials. Yet oddly, Àn’yīng finds that someone is helping her stay alive. A rival contestant. Powerful and handsome, Yù’chén is as secretive about his past as he is about his motives for protecting Àn’yīng.

The longer she survives the Trials, the clearer it becomes that all is not right in the immortal realm. To save her mother and herself, Àn’yīng will need to figure out whether she can truly trust the stranger she’s falling for or if he’s the most dangerous player of all . . . for herself and for all the realms.

Content Warning: violence, death

+ This author is becoming a must-read for me. I love her last series and now this one has started off amazingly. The world-building sucked me in! I love the magic, and martial arts.

+ Àn’yīng has been through some trauma at the hands of the Kingdom of Night which is run by mó (demons). She’s the caretaker for her family now that her father is gone, and to save her mother she takes part in the Immortal Trials in order to win the pill of immortality for her. But it’s a challenge to pass the trials when her competition wants her dead.

+ Àn’yīng meets someone on her way to the trials and the enemies to lovers trope going on between them is so good. Yu’chén is powerful, gorgeous, and gets on her nerves. To make it worse she finds out he is half mó. Àn’yīng hates demons because a demon killed her father and harmed her mother, so she’s warring with her feelings about Yu’chén throughout the whole book. The spice is mild but the angst and tension between them is intense. I loved it from beginning to end. I am rooting for them.

+ The trials taking place gives us more insight into the Immortals and the history of the war going on between the kingdoms. I love the twist and reveal at the ending of the book and it makes me very curious to see what will happen next.

~ The romance seems doomed as things play out but please I hope this does not become a love-triangle. I’m vested in Àn’yīng and Yu’chén, I love the two of them together, but with the way this book ended, it makes me curious as to another character who has gotten close to Àn’yīng.

~ Would love to see some growth with Àn’yīng. I could see why she was angry and distrustful, because of her trauma, but she was always kind of weak in the competition compared to everyone else. With what is revealed at the end, I wonder if she gets stronger when it comes to magical powers? I do love her fighting skills.

Final Thoughts:

I loved this book and read it in two days. I was hooked with the world-building, the murder mystery, and the tension-filled romance. This was a quick, entertaining read with some twists and I am excited to see what happens in the next book. I have watched K-drama but never C-drama, but as I read this, I could see this being a drama show I would totally watch just to see Yu’chén come to life! Loved it and can’t wait for book two.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night by. Amélie Wen Zhao | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White by. Amélie Wen Zhao | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Red Tigress by. Amélie Wen Zhao | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book Review | Blood Heir ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Songbird & the Heart of Stone by. Carissa Broadbent| ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Songbird & the Heart of Stone (Crowns of Nyaxia, #3)

Author: Carissa Broadbent

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 448

Publication Date: 11/19/24

Publisher: Bramble

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Series, Vampires, Gods

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

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

New York Times bestselling author and BookTok sensation Carissa Broadbent returns with a brand new novel in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, Songbird and the Heart of Stone, where A Court of Thorns and Roses meets Dante’s Inferno, in an epic fantasy romance of love and treachery between mortals and gods.

Mische lost everything when she was forcibly Turned into a vampire—her home, her humanity, and most devastating of all, the love of the sun god to whom she had devoted her life. Now, sentenced to death for murdering the vampire prince who turned her, redemption feels impossible.

But when Mische is saved by Asar, the bastard prince of the House of Shadow with a past as brutal as his scars, she’s forced into a mission worse than execution: a journey to the underworld to resurrect the god of death himself.

Yet, Mische’s punishment may be the key to her salvation. In a secret meeting, her sun god commands her to help Asar in his mission, only to betray him… by killing the god of death.

Mische and Asar must travel the treacherous path to the underworld, facing trials, beasts, and the vengeful ghosts of their pasts. Yet, most dangerous of all is the alluring call of the darkness—and her forbidden attraction to Asar, a burgeoning bond that risks invoking the wrath of gods.

As her betrayal looms, the underworld closes in, and angry gods are growing restless. Mische will be forced to choose between the redemption of the sun or the damnation of the darkness.

Content Warning: death, violence, grooming

I love this series and was so surprised there was going to be a book three but I am so happy there is and that I was gifted an arc! Once I saw I was approved I had to push all books aside and read it. Here are my thoughts:

Likes:

Did I read this in two days? Yes I did! More like a day and a half because I was hooked but in a different way from how I was addicted to the first two books in this series. This is Mische’s story, Raihn’s best-friend/charge, and I was so intrigued about her. Whereas, the first two books was a story about the different vampire houses and had an intense trial – this book is about Mische’s upbringing with worshipping a God and how that worship shaped her life. There isn’t a trial in this story but a very big, dangerous quest which is filled with the dead and other monsters in the path to the underworld.
Mische was groomed as a young child to love and please a God and now that she’s a vampire she is questioning her self-worth and dealing with the dualities inside of her – the powers of both a Shadow vampire and a Dawndrinker who is devoted to Atroxus. I actually love how the author exposes her devotion to supposedly something good and show how in actuality it was harming her. It’s a toxic relationship she has with her God. What I like about Mische is her optimism and sunshine quality even if she’s only faking it to make it. She has some deep seated self-hatred and guilt festering inside her and that was sad to see.
Asar has an interesting history also – the bastard heir of the House of Shadow vampire king. He is the grumpy to Mische’s sunshine. He’s quiet, sarcastic, and has had a difficult upbringing as well as some traumas that have shaped him. He and Mische understand guilt and wanting redemption so badly, it consumes them. I like how he helped show Mische how the love for her God was harming her.
It’s such a slow, slow burn, I was craving for a nugget of romance in the beginning but this one is a slow build and I honestly didn’t mind because of the quest Asar and Mische is carrying out which is filled with so much action and danger. But when the romance finally presents itself, it’s good! I love them together.
There is a lot of background story about Mische’s past, Asar’s past and Nyaxia’s past! I find this world so fascinating and was very hooked to every detail of it. I love how the Descent is the way to the Underworld – it’s filled with spirits, monsters, wraiths, and it is filled with danger. This world keeps growing and I love it.

Dislikes:

I wanted more romance but I also liked that this wasn’t an insta-love kind of deal. They actually work as partners (even though technically they are enemies), the romance isn’t the main thing in this story, and I was surprised I didn’t mind it but by the midway point I wanted more flirting – but that’s just me.
Their quest takes them into the Descent which is the in-between space between the mortal world and the underworld. The door to the Descent is a house that is sentient, called Morthryn, but there are times where I was easily confused as to where the characters were. They always find their way back to Morthryn but sometimes I was disoriented trying to figure out where they were.
This is clearly an ARC copy and with that said, there were many typos which will probably get corrected in the final publication but it did trip me up a few times while reading.

My Thoughts:

This being Mische’s story, I felt like it was a very true Mische story. Her sunshine personality shines through even in the darkest parts of Morthryn and the Descent and that’s what I adore about her. That even with all the things she’s gone through from being groomed by a God, turning into a vampire, losing the people she loves and now being away from her friends, warring with her self-worth and questioning her path – she is able to survive and keeps going. This one is filled with so much action, darkness and light, more world-building, a super slow burn of a romance and then that ending cliffhanger! I’ll be counting the days until the next book!

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Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Six Scorched Roses by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Blood Orchid by. Kylie Lee Baker | ARC Review

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Title: The Blood Orchid (The Scarlet Alchemist, #2)

Author: Kylie Lee Baker

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 10/22/24

Publisher: Inkyard Press

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, Chinese Mythology, Alchemy

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

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

Since Zilan entered the world of royal alchemists, she has learned that alchemy comes at a price. She has lost loved ones in her search for broader justice against the evil Empress and all she wants now is to find some way to bring them back. Resurrection is her specialty, after all.

In search of the myth of Penglai Island, where it’s rumored life can be fully restored, Zilan starts a new adventure. But when old threats come back to haunt her and the path to Penglai Island means facing down unpredictable, sometimes dangerous, alchemists, she wonders just how high of a price she may be willing to pay.

Content Warning: death, violence

I loved the first book in this duology, The Scarlet Alchemist. So I was so excited to get an arc for The Blood Orchid. Here are my thoughts:

Likes:

Zilan is on a mission to find a way to bring back her beloved, Hong, after the major sacrifice that occurred in book one. She is on the road with her brother Wenshu, who is in the body of Hong. The pressure to save everyone and fix everything is always on Zilan’s mind but with the help of her brother and an unlikely friend, she accomplishes what needs to be done.
Who knew Zheng Sili, Zilan’s enemy turned frenemy would grow on me? The two of them arguing and bantering was making me laugh so much throughout this story – it was refreshing!
Zilan’s mission to find this secret place, Penglai Island, introduces us to some Chinese mythology which is explained more in the author’s note. But I loved meeting all these different alchemists and seeing what happened when they were on the island.
The ending is bittersweet but I liked it. I love the world building of this whole series.

Dislikes:

Of course I wanted more of Hong because he and Zilan were amazing in book one. But he’s waiting for her in the in-between and though they had a few moments together, I understood Zilan had to focus on her mission.

My Thoughts:

This was a great conclusion to the series. I love this world of alchemists in historical China. The story got me hooked from book one with the wonderful world-building and fantastic characters. I love that it had so much humor in it! I can’t wait to read what this author writes next!