When the Universe Sings by. Gillian Eliza West | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Title: When the Universe Sings

Author: Gillian Eliza West

Pages: 318

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 8/6/26

Categories: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Romance, LGBT+

There is only one rule in the trust no one.

Juniper knows it all too well. After her home planet was destroyed and eleven years on Ebyd III, a Galactic Federation mechanical prison, the only thing she might fear now is death. Taking a chance at freedom, she climbs into the ventilation shaft of a docked pleasure barge only to be discovered by the mistress of the ship. Given the choice between certain death on Ebyd III and the unknown, she joins as their new silks dancer.

When Captain Asher Ruciyah seeks someone to complete his crew for a mysterious mission, Juniper is hired as their climber to round out their numbers. As part of this new crew intent on stealing one of the universe’s most powerful weapons, Juniper discovers she wants something more than revenge on the man who took everything from her.

But nothing and no one is as it seems, especially in a galaxy filled with lies, deceit, and false identities. Juniper will learn that revenge isn’t as simple as she thought it would be and sometimes it’s not one person, but an entire universe against you.

Content Warning: violence, death, grief, attemped sexual assault

+ Whatever this is, I want more of it! This space, sci-fi romance genre is so refreshing for someone like me who reads so much romantasy. The story is told with 2 POVs, Juniper and Asher. I loved the world building, and the different species of people from various planets in the galaxy. I especially love Asher’s crew who is planning to do a heist or two to find a special stone, the found family element was great.

+~ Juniper is a young woman with lots of trauma and she doesn’t talk much and honestly, I didn’t blame her. She has had to endure a lot. I love her character but there were some moments where her fears didn’t make her think rationally or trust people she should trust. Again, it’s from her trauma, but things could been really messed up because of her distrust. I love how things end for her though! Asher is a Captain, and he’s also from Juniper’s traumatic past. But wow did I love the way he loves her! Some things could have been fixed with a little communication but it was hard to get past Juniper’s wall of trauma.

+ I love the romance. It is enemies to lovers, and fated mates but I like how it is done. Because Juniper has a wall Asher can’t get past it takes awhile before Juniper acknowledges how much she desires him. And the spice? Beautifully done, especially that mating bond scene at the end – that’s how to do a mating ritual! 🔥 It was hot but beautiful and meaningful too. I loved how Asher yearns for Juniper and eventually she lets him in.

~ This is a standalone and it’s a quick read at barely over 300 pages. I wanted more because I love this world and the romance! I wish this was a series. I love Asher and Juniper so much that I wish there was more time to see them getting to know one another. I want even more of the crew, and Crux/Kal, I want him to have a happy ending because he’s such a good friend! There is another book in this world coming but will these characters make a cameo? I hope so.

Quotes From the Book:

“In a thousand lifetimes, June, I would choose you. With or without this bond.” – When the Universe Sings by. Gillian Eliza West

Final Thoughts:

I wasn’t planning on reading this but for some reason I needed something different from the typical romantasy and took a chance on this one and I’m so glad I did. I loved it and I just we had more books about these characters! I enjoyed the found family, the characters, the story and the world-building. The romance is so good and the spice was spicing, I love Asher and Juniper. I hope we get more books in this world and these characters come back for a cameo.

Read if you like:

sci-fi/fantasy romance
enemies to lovers
fated mates
found family
standalone

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review– 4.5 stars/2 🌶️

The Songbird & the Heart of Stone by. Carissa Broadbent| ARC Review – 4.5 stars

Six Scorched Roses by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review – 4.5 stars

The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review – 4.5 stars

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review – 5 stars

**I’m pretty sure I read Slaying the Vampire Conqueror but never wrote a review so I will be re-reading and doing a review soon**

**I also read Daughter of No Worlds, up to book 2 but never wrote reviews because I just started my blog I believe so I will be doing a re-read of those and reviewing them also!**

Immortal Rose by. Alexandra Bracken | ARC and ALC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️.5

Title: Immortal Rose (#1)

Author: Alexandra Bracken

Format: eBook (Avon) and audiobook (Avon)

Pages: 496

Listening Hours: approx. 20 hrs

Publication Date: 8/18/26

Publisher: Avon

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Series, Fae

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!

Members of the ancient House Rosebourne have a strange gift born of a fairy ancestor: the ability to infuse fragrance with magic capable of manipulating mind, body, and emotion.

When a shocking murder leaves the kingdom of Albion vulnerable to a coup, royal spymaster Hugh Thornton seeks the one person who can help: Viola Lockwood, the last living Rosebourne and secret heir to a fraught legacy.

Livid at the silver-eyed aristocrat who had her thrown in jail to force her compliance, Viola nevertheless comes to an agreement with him. In exchange for crafting Immortal Rose, the singular perfume capable of saving Albion, illegitimate Viola can seize the life—and fortune—that should have been hers.

As Hugh and Viola race to find the perfume’s lost fairy ingredient, hidden deep in Albion’s dark underbelly, neither can deny the scorching attraction building between them—especially as the attempts on Viola’s life grow increasingly brazen.

But a terrible truth lurks in the heart notes of their kingdom—and while every bargain has a cost, Immortal Rose may demand more than Hugh and Viola can ever pay.

Content Warning: death, violence, gore

+ The narrators for the alc were fantastic! They really brought the story to life with their voices and I loved the accents they used for this regency romance, fantasy, mystery story. I did listen to the alc but also read the ebook when I couldn’t listen.

+ It feels like the story is set in an alternate regency London, but with magic and people with rare Fae bloodlines like Viola Lockwood. Her bloodline gives her the talent of enhanced smelling capabilities. Magic is sold in perfume and her bloodline is one of those can make the perfume. But Viola has had a rough upbringing and she finds herself in a bad situation, to stay in prison or to work for Lord Foxcourt (Hugh) to produce the perfume that has been keeping the king alive. The world building and magic was really interesting.

+~ I did find parts of this story to be slow going, because there is a mystery taking place and lots of parts to the puzzle. Who poisoned the king? Plus there is a race against time to save him. Viola and Hugh also have to avoid being killed in the process since someone is out there trying to stop their progress. So the pacing was up and down through but there is so much more action, twists and turns at the end which was fun.

+~ This is a very slow burn, to the point I was begging for something to happen with Viola and Hugh. Now the payoff is fun in the end, but still, it’s steamy not spicy. The romance though is something to be invested in especially when the yearning becomes unbearable for the both of them. Just seeing Hugh trying to keep it together around Viola was entertaining, but his confessions were everything!

+ I adored the characters, especially Hugh’s interesting staff and the found family trope.

Final Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this one despite the pacing that was slow at times. I loved the found family trope. I also adored Viola and Hugh and seeing them go from enemies to lovers, their yearning was palpable, I just wish they could cave into their desires! The twist and turns at the end were fun, there was even some unexpected gore. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Read if you like:

marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers
magic
mystery
found family

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Silver in the Bone by. Alexandra Bracken | ARC Review – 3.5 stars

The Mirror of Beasts by. Alexandra Bracken | ARC Review – 4 stars

Lore by. Alexandra Bracken | Book Review – 4 stars

Bonfire & Bliss Bookstore by. Brittanée Nicole | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Title: Bonfire & Bliss Bookstore (Hope Harbor, #2)

Author: Brittanée Nicole

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 432

Publication Date: 8/11/26

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons

Categories: Contemporary, Romance, Fall Romance

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

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

Settle in with a warm glass of cider and FALL in love beside the bonfire on a crisp autumn evening in this friends-to-lovers fake dating romance about a jilted romance bookstore owner and her handsome failed-writer best friend, from the romance superstar author of The Boston Bolts hockey series.

These old flames are ready to catch fire.

After a very public failed engagement, Penny Darling, proud owner of Bonfire and Bliss Books, is done with love. She’d rather cozy up by the fire with a pumpkin spiced-anything and one of her book boyfriends than a real one any day.

So when her old high school best friend, author Jake “Monty” Montgomery, tells the town busybodies that he’s her new boyfriend and volunteers them to co-host Hope Harbor’s famed Maple Festival, Penny is more than hesitant.

Until Monty admits the real reason he returned his latest book release failed and if he doesn’t turn in something amazing soon, his career as an author is over. Convinced that Penny’s obsession with romance novels makes her an expert on the subject, Monty begs Penny to teach him how to be the perfect romantic hero so he can finally write one. In return, Penny’s “boyfriend” will put a stop to neighbors’ pitying looks and matchmaking.

But as pretend kisses in the apple orchard turn into searing ones beneath the autumn moon, Penny begins to wonder if Monty could really love her, or if she’s destined for another broken heart.

Content Warning: grief, divorce

+ I know we are still in summer but with fall around the corner, I wanted to add some holiday romances to my reading pile. I love the book cover of this one, it screams FALL, and looked like a cozy romance so I requested but I was in for a big surprise. This cover looks sweet but the story was more spicy than I expected! It is set in a small town called Hope Harbor, and I do want to say I did not read book one, but picked this up anyway and I didn’t feel like I needed to read book one – I wasn’t feeling lost at anytime reading this. So I think it’s safe to say they are standalones in a romance series. But I adored the town and the community – I love the quirks of the characters. It definitely gave a cozy, safe, sweet vibe to the story! I thought it was funny that Penny as the owner of a bookstore was giving very interesting romance books to women in town, I love her, she knows her romance tropes and wasn’t afraid to share the knowledge.

+ Penny owns Bonfire and Bliss Bookstore and she’s a sweetheart. Monty is her friend who is back in town because he needs inspiration to write. He’s an author and his books haven’t been selling. Penny and Monty used to be close friends when they were younger but drifted apart when he moved to NYC. They still keep in contact but the moment he comes home, sparks fly. They decide to fake date, to help the community get off Penny’s back to date again after her failed engagement to her ex. And the fake dating would help spark Monty’s inspiration to write. Penny also challenged him to dig in deeper with his characters…so they are using their fake dating as inspiration.

+ Penny and Monty are flaming hot when their fake dating leads to some interesting ways to liven up his writing. He plays the role perfectly and gives Penny everything that she wants. And I went into this thinking I was getting some 2 chili pepper kind of spice, when oh no…I even learned something new in this one which I didn’t think was even possible with how much spicy books I’ve read over the years. 😅 But I loved their relationship because these are two good people, Monty is the sweetest and clearly worships her, they were best friends at one point in their life, and so their scenes together showed the trust between them and I was happy for them in any way they got their pleasure. It was a fun time too! Also he wears glasses…I feel like I’ve been reading more MMC with glasses lately, which I adore.

+~ There is barely any conflict in this story. Monty deals with some personal stuff to do with his family, and it does affect him and Penny eventually but it’s not a huge third-act break-up. Just a situation that is fixed with an apology, and grand gesture, like I said, these two are so sweet on one another.

Final Thoughts:

This is perfect for fall if you are looking for a romance that is sweet yet very spicy. Very spicy in the sense that Penny makes a list of things she’s read about in romance books and wants to try and Monty helps her out with the list enthusiastically. 😅 Though it was more spicy than I expected, I loved the small town setting and the quirky and funny people in the community of Hope Harbor. I thought the friends to lovers romance between Penny and Monty was heart-mealting and I was rooting for them all the way, spice and all! This was a fun read.

Read if you like:

fall romance
spicy
small town romance
friends to lovers

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

These Vile Hearts by. Melody Robinette | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: These Vile Hearts

Author: Melody Robinette

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 8/11/26

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Fae

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!

A delightfully wicked, fizzy debut romantasy–an enemies to lovers tale about a desperate mortal woman and a cursed fae prince

Maddox Sinclair has run out of options. No job means no health insurance —a death sentence for a type one diabetic like herself. She flees to the forest to make a desperate deal with a dryad kill the Redwood King and be cured of the illness that threatens her life.

In the redwood treetops, Prince Castor, is cursed– anyone who loves him is doomed to die. Like Maddox, he has made an equally unwise pact with his brother, the Redwood get a mortal to fall in love with him by solstice and be free of his curse forever.

When Maddox mistakes Castor for the king, sparks fly and troubles ensue. Each must decide what is more important—survival and freedom, or the love they (kind of, almost) feel in their traitorous, vile hearts.

Darkly funny and brimming with magic, These Vile Hearts by Melody Robinette manages to be both wicked and warm, beguiling and moving—a richly woven story of survival and fate.

Content Warning: drug use, drinking, violence, death

Maddox has nothing to lose, she’d aged out of getting Medicare for her Type 1 diabetes, her parents are dead and she bounced around in foster homes, her best friend/roommate is moving to another city and now she’s homeless. So she makes a pact with a dryad, the queen of the Myrtlewood – kill the Redwood King and she will be cured from her illness and live a comfortable, normal life.

Castor is the cursed Redwood Prince and he is miserable. People that love him, die. So he makes a pact with his brother, the king, make a mortal woman fall in love with him by the solstice and the curse will be broken.

I really found this fae story refreshing because of the dryads. I loved the world building and description of the woods, their magic and their heartwood. And the story was funny because of Maddox and her personality, she’s desperate and though she should be afraid, life has made her fearless. She will do anything to live. She is the total opposite of Castor, who is drowning in misery, drinking and smoking away his days and nights, and will do anything to break the curse. In that, they shared a common goal – doing whatever it takes. But Castor is a softie at heart, he has scary powers sure, but poor guy just wants to be loved.

I was hooked on the story, waiting to see if Maddox would fall in love with Castor (but she only had 2 weeks to do so), or would Maddox be able to kill the king? I could not put down the book. It at times gave me Moulin Rouge vibes and Romeo and Juliet.

It’s an enemies to lovers romance, and I love the build up between up. Though there is attraction and one closed door spice scene, both of them wronged the other so it complicates things between them. I’m not sure if there will be a sequel – it seems like the ending leaves it open for one and I would love to see if Maddox’s new fate will change their relationship.

Final Thoughts:

I had fun reading this one because of Maddox: she is brave, outspoken, and funny. I could not put it down and I found the world building about the dryads and their home so fascinating. It at least felt different from all the other fae books I’ve been reading. And I was definitely hooked on the possibility of Maddox either falling in love with Castor or killing the king. I enjoyed all the twists and turns in the story. I like how Maddox and Castor are both broken characters but with one another they found a little bit of comfort. I do hope there is a book two because I’d like to see more from this world.

Read if you like:

fae – dryads
enemies to lovers romance
political intrigue

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Kissed by the Gods by. Caty Rogan | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Kissed by the Gods (The Eternal Wars, #1)

Author: Caty Rogan

Pages: 544

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 9/24/25

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Series

Survivor. Rebel. Weapon.

Leina has spent a lifetime submitting, starving amid wheat fields reserved for the king, standing by while his men crush her loved ones. When soldiers come for her brother, her divine fury erupts in a bloody massacre.

She expects to be executed for her crimes—her people have met bloody ends for far, far less. Instead, Ryot, a gods-blessed warrior born to privilege, delivers her to a military fortress renowned for its brutality.

There, a gift from a goddess drags Leina into a realm of war, where her survival depends on her ability to ride a winged horse.

As Ryot pushes her to master the power she never asked for, a battle rages within her heart. Each lesson, every touch, binds them tighter—but love is a dangerous weakness in a world designed for war.

Soon, Leina must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice to protect the family she has found … and the one she left behind. Because while her divine gift could save the kingdom, it could also shatter its very foundation.

With immersive lush writing, an unflinching heroine, and an inventive fantasy world, Kissed by the Gods is the gripping fantasy debut you won’t want to miss.

Featuring iconic romance tropes:
He falls first
Forbidden romance
Found family
Trial by combat
She saves him
Spicy slow burn
Feminine rage

Content Warning: violence, death

I finally got to this book which I’ve been meaning to read for some time. I just knew it would be heavier world building so I needed to get into the right state of mind. Here are my thoughts:

+ Leina is filled with rage. Most of her family have been killed, her little brothers torn from her, life has not been easy and now the Gods want something from her? I would be pissed too! Her people in Selencia have been oppressed and no one knows, except the people in Aish apparently. Though a lot of this story is about Leina training to be the warrior the Gods want her to be, we get to see her weaknesses and strengths. She’s very stubborn but willing to train and learn to get better.

+ The found family trope in this story is so good! The secondary characters are great. Leina is ripped away from her own family and she is grieving many of them so having Ryot and his group basically adopt her was so cool to watch. Leina might be filled with rage but she did come from a big family and community that loved one another and I like how she easily fit in with the guys and also made friends with the few girls she’s met.

+~ I loved the action and the faravars (winged horses)! The battle scenes were great, but most of them do come at the end of the book. I did find that because the first half of this book was mostly Leina in training, it did move a bit slow and most of it was predictable because I’ve read a lot of stories like this. But I still appreciated the world building and learning about the Altors and vanguard. I got invested and cared about the characters, plus I’d like to see Leina reach her full potential. I’d also like to learn more about the magic.

+~ It’s a forbidden romance between master and student but I knew it would be doomed because I figured out one of the secrets a bit early. I do like Ryot for the most part, he seems like a good guy who cares about his people but again, we shall see what happens in book two after that ending. For the most part though, I enjoyed the romance and spice between them.

Quotes From the Book:

“Because if there’s one thing a baseborn serf knows, and knows well, it’s how to reap. Only, instead of wheat, I reap death.” – Kiss of the Gods by. Caty Rogan

Final Thoughts:

This is a great way to start a series with interesting world building and characters I started to care for. I think there is still a lot to learn about this world, especially when it comes to the magic and history of Selencia. The first part did move slowly because of the world building and Leina in constant training to be the warrior she is destined to be. And yes the story was predictable and I guessed a few of the secrets but I’m excited to see Leina grow even more. Plus it ends on quite a cliffhanger and I need to see what happens next with Leina, Ryot and their friends and family.

Read if you like:

female rage
warrior training/trials
found family
forbidden romance

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Prince of the Sun by. Emma Noyes | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Prince of the Sun

Author: Emma Noyes

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 368

Publication Date: 8/4/26

Publisher: Emma Noyes

Categories: Urban Fantasy, New Adult, Romance, Academia

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

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

Legally Blonde meets A Deal with the Elf King in the debut spicy standalone adult romantasy from the acclaimed author of How to Hide in Plain Sight, the Sunken City series, and the Soul of Shadow trilogy.

One hundred years ago, the elves appeared on Earth.

Beautiful, brilliant, and filled with unearthly grace, they swarmed the libraries and universities: Harvard, Yale, Oxford, Beijing. They made for the humans’ fountains of knowledge with eerie precision, as if they’d spent millennia studying Earth before their arrival.

Once there, the Elf King made an announcement: we’re looking for something, and once we find it, we will leave you in peace.

Quinn Kallister doesn’t believe him. Seven years ago, she watched her father be murdered and her brother kidnapped by a pair of elves. Since then, she fought to gain admission to Harvard for one reason: to find the answers no one will give her. To do that, she must spy on Daerios Ariar, the most powerful and terrifying of the Sun Princes. Quinn is set on gaining the prince’s trust and learning the elves’ secrets—until an unwanted attraction begins to form between them that neither can deny.

Content Warning: eating disorder, death, kidnapping

World Building: This is a standalone so for a world that has to be explained in 300+ pages, I thought this was detailed enough. One hundred years ago elves descended on Earth and they went to prestigious libraries in search of something. Quinn witnessed her father be killed by an elf and her brother was kidnapped so she turned in into a mission to find out why this happened – she also hated elves because of it. While at Harvard, she’s studying linguistics and decides it’s where she can spy on the elves and gather intel. What she didn’t expect was befriending and falling for a Sun Elf prince, Daerios. The story is set mostly at Harvard and but it does take us briefly into the elf world, Elaërion. I loved that Quinn was a brilliant linguist and could speak all dialects of elvish.

Characters: Quinn is a smart 19 year old, focused on trying to find out why elves came to Earth and how it ties into her father’s death. She’s brave, funny, and smart but she is also a recovering anorexic and throughout the story when things got difficult, it was a challenge for her to not resort to her old coping mechanisms. Daerios is one of the princes of the Sun Elves and though he comes off as the party boy who embarrasses his family, he turns out to be a softy and someone dealing with his own grief and trauma too. I also loved the side characters, Cara – Quinn’s roommate and Daerios’ best friend Berendir, they were so funny!

Romance: I love the romance even though Quinn is 19 and Daerios is over 100 years old, he’s stuck in a 19 year old body, but the two of them were so cute together. The banter was funny and they had sparks that Quinn was trying to deny at first, but the two of them were inevitable.

Story: I couldn’t put this one down and loved how though there were some dark topics like death, trauma, and anorexia – this still felt like a fun read because of the humor, especially when Cara and Berendir were in the picture and the romance. I loved seeing Quinn and Daerios fall for one another despite the odds against them. I also really enjoyed Quinn’s investigation into the what the elves were looking for. It’s a standalone so the climactic scene at the end did feel a bit rushed but I didn’t mind it much and I thought it was kind of fitting for this type of story.

Final Thoughts:

I had fun reading this one! I loved the romance between Quinn and Daerios with the banter, spice, and falling in love. I loved their best-friends who brought the humor. I also enjoyed all the world-building, the academia, and learning about the elves. I know this is a standalone but I would love more stories set in this world!

Read if you like:

standalone
elves
urban fantasy
romance

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Heart of Mischief by. Emma Noyes | ALC and ARC Review | Audiobook and Ebook – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Soul of Shadow by. Emma Noyes | ARC Review – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Anatomy of Magic by. Alexis L. Menard | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️.5

Title: The Anatomy of Magic (#1)

Author: Alexis L. Menard

Pages: 479

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 6/30/26

Categories: Steampunk Fantasy, Romance, Magic, Series

Enter a world of forbidden magic . . . where falling in love could be the last mistake you ever make.

Nina Veyr has a dangerous secret—illegal magical abilities she cannot explain. If the city of Valveron’s enforcers found her, she would be executed . . . or worse. For years, Nina has stayed in the shadows, picking pockets and smuggling enchanted relics to get by. Then she steals from the wrong man.

Max Antonin is the most powerful crime boss in the city. Cold, deadly, and breathtakingly attractive, Max has his sights set on Nina, and nothing will stand in his way. But when Nina is framed for a shocking murder, Max offers to help her find the true killers. She knows she can’t trust him—that deals with a devil always come at a cost. But there’s no way she can survive on her own.

As they follow a trail of bodies into the city’s underworld, Nina feels a dangerous attraction pulling her ever closer to him. But can she trust her life and her heart to the city’s most ruthless criminal?

Content Warning: violence, death, medical horror

World Building: The world building for this story really fascinated me – it’s got steampunk elements. There is magic and science, which took some time to grasp but for the most part I think it was explain pretty well. There was lots of political intrigue which made the story move quick. I didn’t expect the body horror – the medical experiments done on people. We also get to explore the underground crime world in Valveron.

Characters: Nina is a surgeon’s assistant but on the side she is delivering dead bodies to make money. The money is needed to help her mom who isn’t in good health. But then she is framed for the murder of a top official and things go haywire for her. Max, is one of the Cursed – basically a modified Vampire, with elemental powers. He is a tortured MMC with a dark past and a crime boss. Together Nina and Max become reluctant allies looking to find the “buyer” of these bodies because it might give them all the answers they are searching for. There are a few other characters we meet that form Max’s found family, and I loved a few of them.

Romance: Nina and Max are enemies then reluctant allies turned into lovers and I thoroughly enjoyed watching them fall in love because it doesn’t start off on the right foot. I love their banter and I didn’t mind that this wasn’t as spicy as I was expecting. There was only one spicy scene. But I love their forced proximity, and the build-up between them was great. I love seeing Max open up because Nina sees past his scars and happy that Nina has someone that cares about her.

Story: There is a lot of world building and it took a little time to understand the magic/science system in this story but I actually found it refreshing and something way different than the books I’ve been reading. The steampunk elements made it even more interesting. I enjoyed the characters, the found family and the banter and romance. The ending makes me eager to see what will happen in book two!

Final Thoughts:

This is the first book I’ve read from this author but definitely not the last and I’ll be checking out her last series because I had so much fun reading this one. I liked the magic and science (though there is a lot of information to process about it), and the steampunk fantasy setting. I love the banter and romance between Nina who is a woman that doesn’t give up and Max who is a tortured man – I love them together! There was lots of action, and political intrigue to make this story move fast. I’m looking forward to book two.

Read if you like:

steampunk fantasy
enemies to lovers romance
found family
magic and science
criminal underworld

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️.5

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

Author: Kathryn Ann Kingsley

Pages: 298

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 7/10/26

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Content Warning: violence, death

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

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

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

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

Final Thoughts:

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

Read if you like:

mafia vampire vibes
revenge
romance

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

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

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

To Drown a Witch by. Lindsey Olsson | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: To Drown a Witch (#1)

Author: Lindsey Olsson

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 7/14/26

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Content Warning: violence, death, drowning, alcoholism

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

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

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

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

Final Thoughts:

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

Read if you like:

mystery
twist and turns
witches

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A Magic So Deadly by. Vasilisa Drake | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: A Magic So Deadly (Kingdom of Dark Magic, #2)

Author: Vasilia Drake

Pages: 479

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 6/30/26

Categories: Romantasy, Vampires and Witches, Series

She has become everything she ever wanted… and everything she despises.

Samara wakes in a prison cell as her worst nightmare: She’s a vampire, cursed with bloodlust that horrifies her. And though she now has the magic she’s always desperately craved, it’s a secret she must guard with her undead life.

Because this same magic marks her as an enemy of all vampires. Especially Raphael—their king.

Now, as a vampire, Samara is haunted by an inescapable thirst. In her sleep, she claws at her throat, trying to ease the pain. But when she’s around Raphael, her fangs ache for a deeper reason she can’t explain.

A mystical bond ties Samara to Raphael as her sire, preventing her from fleeing before he can discover her identity as the very witch he’s been hunting for centuries. Instead, she must journey with him to the Southern Vampire Kingdom. A journey that has her sharing both his carriage… and his bed.

There, Raphael offers her another bargain: Yield to her vampire nature and master her abilities, and he will help her break the bond.

But if she lowers her guard too much, if her control over the powers she barely understands slips and Raphael learns she’s the necromancer…

He’ll be forced to kill her.

A Magic So Deadly is the second book in the Kingdom of Dark Magic series, filled with a slow burn romance, unique magic systems, and forced proximity.

Content Warning: violence, death, self-harm

World Building: In this sequel, Samara’s time is mostly spent in Raphael’s kingdom, but there is a moment in the end where we get to meet another vampire ruler. But Thea is on her mission somewhere else but I’m not going to lie, I was mostly reading to see how Samara and Raphael’s romance was going to grow.

Characters: Samara is now a vampire, and she’s trying to come to terms with it. But she learns something which she feels she can twist to enact her revenge against Raphael. Raphael is trying to give her as much space as he can but also needs to force her to accept her new self so she can survive. There is an intriguing new character, Julian, that comes in at the end.

Romance: I was here for the romance since book one had barely any. And Raphael gives Samara space but that man is crazy about her, which made me crazy about him! I love that he won’t let her go and now we get to see him expressing all his yearning and feelings that he has been holding back. I devoured it. I loved watching them getting to know one another and finally acting on their desires. Loved their spicy scenes – it’s so sensual in a vampire way (bloody haha, but not too bad), which again I devoured, it’s what I expect from a vampire romance!

Story: I did enjoy seeing Samara learn to accept being a vampire. There is some political intrigue and something brewing in the background that Thea is involved in, and a betrayal that shocked me. There is an unexpected plot twist at the end and of course it had to be a cliffhanger so now I have to wait for book three. But like I said, I wanted to read this book because I wanted to see the romance to develop and that goal was definitely achieved.

Final Thoughts:

All my stars are for Raphael haha, and his devotion to Samara. I love a vampire who’s fallen first and will do anything to be with the one he loves. Most of the story was about their relationship but that cliffhanger ending shocked me – now I have to wait, but I honestly have so much faith in Raphael’s love for Samara that even this change of plans won’t stop him from loving her! Now I just want to see her have that same love for him and do the right thing.

Read if you like: