Stone Bound by. Jocelyn James | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: Stone Bound

Author: Jocelyn James

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 350

Publication Date: 9/4/26

Publisher: Jocelyn James

Categories: Romantasy, Dark Academia, New Adult

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

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

In Anvarus, every life is divided into sectors, assigned not by choice but by the will of the Infidium. When Peyton Lancaster comes of age, she expects to follow in her father’s footsteps in the Science Sector. Instead, she is forcibly placed into Anvarus’s brutal military academy, stripped of the future she has spent her entire life preparing for and thrown into a world built on discipline, survival, and obedience.

Her situation becomes even more complicated when she discovers her commanding officer is Jude Augustine—the future prince of Anvarus, her childhood best friend, and the boy who abandoned her when she needed him most. Forced into the same chain of command, old wounds resurface alongside a tension neither of them is prepared to navigate.

Jude knows he should treat her like every other cadet, but the moment he sees her name on his roster, instinct overrides reason. He is compelled to protect her at all costs. Peyton refuses to be protected. Determined to prove she is not a liability, she throws herself into training, but her refusal to blindly comply with the academy’s rigid expectations begins to draw dangerous attention.

As the Twelfth Moon Trials approach—where cadets must fight one-on-one for the chance to earn a temper stone—Peyton finds herself walking a knife’s edge between defiance and survival. During the Trials, she nearly dies, and in that moment Jude watches his entire future fracture before his eyes. Peyton survives, but she does not leave the arena unchanged. Her temper stone awakens an ancient, forbidden power—one the Infidium would execute her for possessing.

Now Jude must balance the weight of the crown he is destined to inherit with his growing need to shield Peyton from a kingdom that would destroy her if it discovered the truth. As Peyton struggles to control a power that threatens to consume her, their loyalty to the throne, to the kingdom, and to each other is tested in ways neither of them anticipated.

In a city carved from stone and ruled by secrets, power is never freely given—and love may be the most dangerous rebellion of all.

Content Warning: violence, death

+~ I loved this book cover and title so I was intrigued about this book. It starts off with 18 year olds taking a test to determine what sector they will be in and Peyton is trying into alchemy to follow her dad’s footsteps but when that doesn’t happen and she’s thrown into the sector that basically is the military she is devastated but has to learn quick to survive. I like a story with a military academy and trials, but I didn’t understand why as new students they get thrown into sparring without being taught how to spar first. Jude is Peyton’s childhood best friend but now the leader of her unit and he does no teaching at all which was confusing. So there were moments in the book like that where there needed to be more detail or explanation about something. There were also some things mentioned at one part of the book and never touched on again so it felt disjointed in some areas.

+~ I like that there is magic but we need to learn more about the magic. So the world building is interesting but I just needed more information. I loved the found family aspect of the story but what happened with Peyton’s best friend Davina? They are close in the beginning, then get thrown into the same sector and then barely have scenes together. That was strange to me.

+ I like Peyton as a character, she has a lot of growth and is a very resilient character.

+~ For the most part I thought this was a quick read but there were grammatical errors so more editing would really be great. I had to stop and reread a phrase. Also, I enjoyed the ex-childhood friends to lovers storyline, it’s what made me keep reading but there were some awkward dialogue or moments between Peyton and Jude.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, I think this one has tons of potential, especially for an indie author, it just needs some polish. I found it to be a quick read and I enjoyed the romance for the most part but would like more information on the world building and magic.

Read if you like:

military academy
trials
ex-childhood to lovers

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Winterveil by. Ava Reid | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Winterveil

Author: Ava Reid

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 448

Publication Date: 9/15/26

Publisher: HarperCollins

Categories: Dystopian, Cold War, Dark Academia, Sci-Fi, Young Adult, LGBT+, 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 HarperCollins for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

There is no application process for Valeran Academy, but it boasts the brightest – and precociously criminal – students in the nation.

A disgraced politician from a powerful American dynasty.

A coldly brilliant strategist who will sacrifice anything to win.

A former pageant queen with a talent that could change the world.

A prodigious female soldier with an enigmatic past – and a dangerous secret.

With eerie war simulations, cutthroat competitions and foreboding new technology, Valeran trains its students to be elite assets in a Cold War that has dragged on for nearly a century. But as a sinister conspiracy takes shape and these four are drawn together for a mysterious mission, their loyalties are tested, their convictions shaken and they all begin to are they ushering in a new era of freedom, or tyranny?

Content Warning: violence, death, sexual harassment/assault, mentions of abusive parent

Set in 2037, the Cold War, with Russia (USSR) is still going on and USA is still trying find ways to win the war. Already I had to suspend my belief a lot, so I was wary about this book and didn’t think i would like it. But to my surprise, I could not put it down.

I like the different teenagers that are assembled at Valeran Academy to supposedly help end this war. They are misfits, some of them are criminals of a different variety, which made things very interesting. The main four characters are Nadiya, Giselle, Klaudia and Julian. They are all flawed which I enjoyed. I got attached to the three girls because they had fascinating backgrounds and skills. I loved Nadiya and Giselle’s growing relationship and I was drawn to Klaudia and her ice princess personality. Julian was at times detestable and I don’t know if that was on purpose but I don’t know that he can redeem himself in my eyes in the sequel. But I did like his rivalry with Klaudia.

Valeran Academy is a secret institute training the best of minds to help with the war efforts and they train students through simulations. They have other classes to round out their education but the simulations are what will ultimately help them with their missions. The kids are vying for top rankings so they can get a good job after graduation maybe with the CIA or other government sectors but the competition is fierce.

There were some instances that made me feel uncomfortable in the story, but I’ve noticed with the two books I’ve read from this author, that this is a common feeling while reading her books. It can get dark, for example there are teachers being inappropriate with the students. Or Julian and some of his thoughts about Klaudia, especially during a certain scene. It definitely gave the tone that Valeran Academy and the people that run it, though it is all for protecting the USA, have some sinister motives. Also, some of the aspects about the simulations did go over my head because we are in it with them, it seems so real, and I still don’t know how Giselle can do what she does – she doesn’t either so I’m hoping it will be explained more in book two.

Despite that, I flew through this book because of Klaudia and her intelligence, Nadiya and her protectiveness and Giselle with her rare skill or powers (not sure yet). I like the high stakes and puzzles as this team has to figure out their mission.

Final Thoughts:

This was a quick read for me, I really liked the pacing. And although I didn’t care much about the Cold War and what the government was doing to end it, I cared a lot about the characters especially Nadiya, Giselle and Klaudia. I think they are what made the book so enjoyable. They are complex and I admired their intelligence and what they brought to the table. They had different traumas, and fascinating backgrounds. Okay, I guess Julian is a part of the team with his charm, but there are things about him I just don’t like. The only part I did like about him was his rivalry with Klaudia. The story has high stakes, fierce competition, and some betrayal. I’ll definitely be reading book two to see how the story progresses!

Read if you like:

dystopian
dark academia
complex characters

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

A Theory of Dreaming by. Ava Reid | ARC Review – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A Study in Drowning by. Ava Reid | Book Review – ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sorrow and Strangers by. Jeanette Rose & Alexis Rune | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Title: Sorrow and Strangers (Avalon University, #2))

Author: Jeanette Rose & Alexis Rune

Format: eBook (Simon Maverick) and paperback (Simon Maverick)

Pages: 754

Publication Date: 9/8/26

Publisher: Simon Maverick

Categories: Dark Academia, Dark Romance, Fantasy, Series

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

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

Fear. Fury. And Fire.

To Know is Never Enough.

Summer Tuatha De Daanan reluctantly returns to Avalon University for her second year after spending the summer with her vampire best friend in Draculea. She’s a shell of her former self, and the peace promised to her has never felt further from her reach. All Summer wants is to keep her head down and get through the year cloaked in her depression, but looming threats linger, and she quickly finds herself thrust into a dangerous position once again; entangled with a friend turned enemy, the protector of her beloved family, and the target of two very powerful kings.

Unwilling to suffer any further loss, Summer must push through her emotions to prepare herself for the enemies who threaten everything she holds dear. Through runic training with the revered and brooding Headmaster Emrys, combat with the aloof and strong-willed Max, and improving her mental walls with the dark and mysterious stranger, each step pulls her further from the edge of despair. Yet, nothing will be simple for Summer, and the more she trains, the more she discovers who she truly is, forcing her to confront her inner darkness. The beast within that purrs for her enigmatic stalker.

A darkness that is waiting to be explored. A darkness that will not be denied.

Content Warning: grief, violence, *read the trigger warnings at the start of the book*

+~ I think this sequel is more character driven than plot driven, which was a little frustrating because I needed more plot. It’s a long book and if constant spice is not your thing, you might want to skip this one because there is a lot of it. We are back at the school but we hardly see these characters go to school, it’s everything to do with outside school hours like partying and training at the gym. I wanted more plot, but it happens at the end of the book. It’s one of those addictive reads that don’t require much brain power though, I even guessed who Stranger was earlier in the book.

+ The portrayal of grief in this book is so real. A little too real that I was missing Connor so much in this book. He really was the character I loved the most in book one and I can’t even believe he’s gone. Summer is grieving in the beginning of the book and she goes through it. She’s wasting away before Alice’s eyes and goes through all the stages of grief.

+~ Summer as a character was never one who I totally loved, not even in book one. So there are a lot of moments in this book she was testing my patience especially with the back and forth with Stranger. Again, her mental state was going through some trauma, but it was whiplash. I would really love to know more about Summer. I need more about her history, being Seelie, what makes her powerful and I’m sure that’s coming in book three but I need more.

+ My favorite characters in this book are Alice and Rafe, the secondary characters who I feel deserves books of their own. Alice is an amazing best friend who is there for Summer thick and thin, through the grief, through the boy drama (she’s the no-judgment best friend), I love her. Rafe is Connor’s brother and I love the Morningside family, they are just good people including Rafe even though he’s going through a hard transition in his life. I also loved Mira, a new character. Stranger is also very intriguing and we get to know him a bit more in this one, he’s still a major stalker though but he has a lot of patience with Summer.

+~ The romance between Summer and Stranger, it’s inevitable, and it’s tumultuous. It’s toxic. There is a lot of spice in this one, and it felt like it was half the story. The spice with Max, it was exciting at first and then got stale because it was repetitive. At least the ones with Stranger were different but it was hard seeing Summer go back and forth between them, putting boundaries and then breaking them without putting up any real fight. My favorite romance in the story was actually Rafe and Mira’s! Sure it was insta-lust and love but those two had the romance I was waiting for between Summer and Stranger.

Final Thoughts:

After reading two books in the series, I think it’s safe to say, the books will always be long. I miss Connor and the book did accomplish relaying the “sorrow” and grief Summer was experiencing after losing him. I would love more world building and a plot that isn’t overshadowed by the spice. The highlights of the book for me were Alice, Rafe and Mira. I also find Stranger fascinating and I can’t wait to learn more about Uncle Luc and Hell.

But if you loved book one, you will love this one too because you will get more of Summer and her boy drama, and lots of spice. For me I just needed a little more world building and a little less spice and hope I get that in book three.

Read if you like:

relationship drama, dark romance
lots of spicy scenes
found family

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Blood & Betrayals by. Jeanette Rose and Alexis Rune | Book Review – 2.5 stars/3 🌶️

Pretty Vicious: The Order by. Lexi Davis | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Pretty Vicious (The Order, #1)

Author: Lexi Davis

Pages: 303

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 1/13/26

Categories: Secret Societies, Dark Romance, New Adult, Series

Laurel just wanted to survive college, keep her father fed, and fly under the radar.

Delivering pizzas was supposed to be the safe kind of side hustle, until the night she witnesses a murder at Ashford House, the most elite and secretive fraternity on campus.

Now she’s a prisoner of The Order, a blood-bound society that controls everything from politics to police. They rule with ritual, obedience, and violence, and they’ve decided Laurel doesn’t get to leave.

At the center of it all is Carrson Ashford, heir to the powerful Ashford legacy.
Cold. Commanding. Infuriatingly magnetic.
Under the rules of The Order, he “bonds” her, marking Laurel as his.

Body. Mind. Soul.

But Laurel isn’t here to be claimed. Not without a fight.
To save her father and her future, Laurel must navigate a twisted realm of initiation rites, brutal secrets, and a bond that may destroy them both.

In this world, there’s one rule: obey or die.

But love doesn’t follow rules. And neither does Laurel.

★ Dark academia meets Southern Gothic in this emotionally intense, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, morally gray, twisted college romance filled with secrets, violence, and impossible love. Perfect for fans of Penelope Douglas, LJ Shen, Shantel Tessier, and Sierra Simone.

Content Warning: violence, death, assault, mention of rape, alcoholism, physical and emotional abuse, prostitution, *check triggers in book*, suicide, suicidal ideation

I’ve been slowly going back to contemporary dark romances after being picky about which ones to read for a few years now. But the sound of a Southern Gothic dark romance sounded so intriguing so I got this one on Kindle Unlimited and was pleasantly surprised.

Laurel is in the wrong place at the wrong time and that leads to Carrson Ashford, son of a powerful man, to take her and make her his Bonded to save her life. Laurel is thrust into this dark, strange, creepy world of The Order – a secret society of men and women who basically produces the people that will someday run the world in every aspect – financial, world leaders, and more. And Carrson is poised to inherit it all but nothing comes easy in The Order. Success comes at the hands of killing and lots of blood, so Carrson is now a good person – but Laurel sees something redeemable in him.

The Handmaid’s Tale is mentioned in this book a few times because the role of women in The Order is basically to procreate, and the rules for them are diabolical. But Laurel is questioning their culture and rules since she is forced to bond to Carrson. But this is a very dark world, a very dark upbringing for anyone who belongs and grew up in The Order.

I was wary about Carrson because he’s an alpha-male, a killer, and sometimes an a-hole but surprisingly Laurel softens him up. Which is why I actually enjoyed their romance. He becomes protective and possessive of her but not in a way to dominate her. There is more to Carrson than what he presents and we actually get a good insight to his heinous upbringing. Even the spicy scene to me was particularly tame for a dark romance but I loved it because it showed he had restraint and had come to care a lot for her. So I’m rooting for them to make it!

Final Thoughts:

I am surprised I enjoyed this one! The characters have depth, and the spice was meaningful instead of degrading or too dark. It’s a very dark story so please check the warnings beforehand! I am totally rooting for Laurel and Carrson’s love story and I hope we see them make changes to The Order as the story progresses in the series.

Read if you like:

dark romance
secret society

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Conform by. Ariel Sullivan | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: Conform (Reform, #1)

Author: Ariel Sullivan

Pages: 416

Format: ebook (Libby)

Publication Date: 10/14/25

Categories: Dystopian Romance, Love Triangle, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Series

In the far future, one young woman finds herself torn between two loves—and two sides of a rebellion boiling under the surface—in the first novel of a sweeping dystopian romance trilogy.

Centuries after a catastrophic world war nearly decimated the human population, a city arose from the ashes, ruled by an elusive and technologically advanced group called the Illum.

At twenty-seven, Emeline lives in limbo, wasting away her days in a job sorting ancient human art for destruction and waiting to be selected as a Mate for a procreation contract. Where others look forward to being chosen, Emeline has never felt like she fit into a society where a person’s worth is determined by constantly monitored genes, health, and the ability to procreate. She’s struggled to keep her discomfort secret, but when she is finally chosen, her Mate is revealed to be a member of the Illum named Collin, a man who seems to be harboring secrets of his own.

It is the first time an Illum has taken a Mate in decades, leaving Emeline—and others—baffled as to why she was chosen. Soon, she is swept into the dangerous game of Courting, filled with ballgowns, lavish dinners, and watchful eyes, where one wrong move can mean elimination. While parts of this elite lifestyle are unexpectedly appealing, the more embroiled she becomes, the more she sees its dark underbelly—and a rebellion rising in secret. Collin is confusing, both cold and protective, and worse, she finds herself drawn to the very last person she should be falling for: Hal, one of the resistance leaders.

As she draws closer to both Collin and Hal, the Illum exercise their power in increasingly brutal ways, forcing Emeline to question everything—most of all whether she’ll have to give up her heart and even her life to stop them.

Content Warning: violence

I have been wanting to read this book for awhile, but I read Beneath first which I absolutely loved, so I wasn’t sure what to expect with Conform since Beneath takes place 100 years before this book.

So 100 years after Beneath and the Illum is in control of the Elite and everyone else. The Illum runs everything and one of the things they are focused on is procreation. It’s got some Handmaid Tales vibes especially when it comes to procreation and the roles of women. Emeline is selected to be the Mate but not for an Elite, instead she’s chosen for an Illum which hasn’t happened in a very long time. But the salvation she thought she would attain by becoming a Mate is not what happens, instead she is trapped between power players with her life always at risk.

I had lukewarm feelings about Emeline, she’s been sheltered and taught all the rules she needs to follow to be a good Mate. So I understand why she is naive about a lot of things, but one of her strengths is her stubbornness. Unfortunately her stubbornness and naivety is a bad combination because her actions has messed things up for her and people she have started to care about. I did like her backstory, being Elite and given away by her family because she’s a Defect. Defects are chosen as mates to Elites to prevent inbreeding. I was rooting for Emeline to gain some leverage and power in this world among the Illum and Elites but she’s not quite there yet and makes the mistake of thinking she could stay a step ahead of the Illum. I honestly don’t know how she thought she could with all her lack of knowledge. So even though I didn’t totally love her character, I’m hoping she grows a lot more in book two.

My favorite character had to be Gregory, who is Emeline’s disgraced brother and is tortured by not being able to be with the one person he loves. Justice for Gregory! Collin, Emeline’s Mate is a mystery – I’ve been developing some theories about him but we’ll see if I’m right. As for Hal, he’s a rebel who falls for Emeline but again, I feel like there is more to him and this first book hasn’t given us a lot of depth to these characters yet.

And yes there is a love triangle, even though Emeline and Collin’s relationship is always so tense, she doesn’t deny that she is attracted to him. As for Hal, she knew him for one week…so…again, Emeline is sheltered and a guy started paying attention to her and she fell fast. I really just wanted to shake her sometimes. It’s one of those love triangles that made me tense because I didn’t want her getting caught but she’s so naive and aren’t used to the games being played.

Speaking of getting caught – my favorite thing about this book is the growing tension and it builds as the story goes on until the very end. I was so tense by the end of this book, there are twists and betrayal! The Illum is a powerful group, especially Collin but I feel like we need to know more about them. I would love more world-building and hope we get it in book two. This world and their rules for procreation and the things the women go through in this book and what their roles are reduced to is diabolical.

Quotes From the Book:

“When everyone above the surface believes everyone below is uncivilized and defective and you all believe everyone above is immoral and self-serving, who wins? How can anyone win when you all hate one another?” – Conform by. Ariel Sullivan

“There was no good or bad guy. There were no saviors, just varying shades of morally corrupt people with different lines in the sand.” – Conform by. Ariel Sullivan

Final Thoughts:

This is a solid start to this series, it definitely sets the stage for this fragile balance between the Illum and Elites, plus the rebellion that is threatening to burn all of it down. This world of the powerful and the powerless is filled with so much tension, the race to the end of the book was gripping and I couldn’t put it down. I don’t know how I feel about the love triangle because I think there is more to learn about Collin. Also, I would love to see more growth for Emeline and more world building. Emeline meant well, but she was too naive for her own good, I need more from her. I’m excited to see what happens in book two and am kind of excited that the author is writing two series at one time with Beneath and Conform.

Read if you like:

love triangle
dystopian romance
political intrigue; rebellion
betrayal

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Beneath by. Ariel Sullivan | Book Review – 4.5 stars/2 🌶️

Daybreak by. Autumn Woods | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Daybreak (Sorrowsong University, #2)

Author: Autumn Woods

Pages: 479

Format: ebook (own)

Publication Date: 7/28/26

Categories: New Adult, Dark Academia, Dark Romance, Romance, Mystery, Series

Alex’s Corbeau-Green’s world is burning down around him, and Ophelia Winters is desperate to prove she didn’t light the fire.

When Ophelia first accepted a scholarship from Sorrowsong, an elite university in the Scottish Highlands, she wanted nothing more than to destroy Alex and his family at any cost. But that was before she knew him, before they became each other’s everything. Now, after an unthinkable betrayal and the disappearance of his father, Alex is forced to return to New York, desperate to forget what they had, and salvage the damage done to his family. In Scotland, Ophelia is left reeling, alone . . . and watched.

With a new anonymous tormentor threatening to release evidence that Ophelia and Alex committed a murder on campus, it’s clear that they’re going to need each other once again. But can they find a way to trust each other, and repair the love that they had? And even if they can—will it be enough this time to keep them alive?

Content Warning: mentions of abuse, death, grief, illness, mental health, depression, stalker

I loved Nightshade so I had to get this book ASAP.

I have to say this book is less dark academia and mystery than the first book and more romance. I did feel like the mystery of the stalker and where Alex’s dad was hiding out got a little lost in the romance between Ophelia and Alex. I would have loved more breadcrumbs about the stalker and Alex’s dad. The stalker reveal felt a bit anticlimactic too and the way the situation played out was just sad.

Speaking of Alex, if I was rating this book just because of him alone, it’s 5 stars. He is dealing with depression, dealing with his horrible father in hiding and trying to keep his mom and sisters safe. Plus he is so madly in love with Ophelia and needs her so bad…it broke my heart so bad to see him try and hold on and not fall apart. I feel like this is Alex’s book. It shined a light on his troubles, his vulnerabilities and the story really focuses on mental health and depression. I don’t know if I’ve loved a male character as I love Alex – he’s just so gentle with the women in his life. Okay, maybe he is just outnumbered and they wear him down 😅 but the way he loves them is just amazing and all I wanted was for him to feel loved back. He’s just trying his best and I needed him to have a happy ever after with Ophelia.

And the romance? Ugh, my heart…Alex and Ophelia are my favorite young couple and they have the best banter. And I love their inside jokes and things only that is special to them like the crossword puzzles, and the “until midnight” sayings. 🥰 They are the cutest couple ever when they aren’t trying to push the other away. They even try to have a long distance romance. They are two broken people, who find each other in the midst of grief, depression, revenge and secrets. They had so much to work to do in their relationship…and I love that they DO work things out. There is spice, but with them I feel like their spicy moments are fun and heartfelt.

Also, the secondary characters are great. Ophelia finally has friends, and I love Colette, she is so funny! I also love how Bella who isn’t her “friend” actually, tells her off because sometimes Ophelia needed it! She’s found a family with Alex’s mom and sisters, she grows and accepts help and open up to people. And Vincenzo? He is such a goofball and made me laugh.

Quotes From the Book:

“Right people, wrong universe. That’s what she thinks about us.” – Daybreak by. Autumn Woods

“To be loved by Alex Corbeau-Green is unlike anything I’ve ever known.” – Daybreak by. Autumn Woods

“A relationship won’t fix your depression, no matter how much you love her.” – Daybreak by. Autumn Woods

“She’s everything. She’s the words, the clues, the black spaces that hold the whole puzzle together.” – Daybreak by. Autumn Woods

Final Thoughts:

This is Alex’s book and I love Alex so I’m biased. The romance is a 5 star, the whole book and how it flowed I’d actually give 4 stars so I’m settling at 4.5. This sequel is filled with trauma, heartache, mental health issues like depression, but so much love also and even some hope. Alex’s love is amazing – he loves his mom and sisters like crazy and his love for Ophelia? Never ending. As for Ophelia, she grows, finds friendship and even a family (Alex’s family) – she learns to open up to others. Did the mystery about the stalker and even Alex’s dad become a little lost among the romance drama? I think it did a little. The stalker reveal felt anticlimactic and overall it was a sad situation. I wish it played out differently. But despite that issue this story had me in a chokehold because of the romance and Mr. Alex Corbeau-Green. Alex and Ophelia has been through so much and I’m glad they get their happily ever after! Can’t wait to see what this author writes next.

Read if you like:

Alex Corbeau-Green 🥰 yearning
mystery
romance with dark themes – mental health

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Nightshade by. Autumn Woods| Book Review – 4.5 stars/2 🌶️

Song For Another Home by. Bora Lee Reed | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Song For Another Home

Author: Bora Lee Reed

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 7/21/26

Publisher: 37 Ink

Categories: Historical Fiction, Korean War

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

Thank you to 37 Ink for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko meets Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing in this powerful story of family separation and reunion, as well as love and war from a Reese’s Book Club LitUp fellow.

When news hits that the Americans have entered the war between North and South Korea, everyone believes the war is all but over. Surely it is only a matter of time before Oksoon’s dad and brother will return from the south where they have gone to look for opportunities. As they wait, they are surprised to see the Chinese have also now entered the war, bombing their capital city Pyeongyang. They must quickly decide if they too should flee south toward Seoul or wait for their family. With winter closing in and very few resources left, the trek won’t be easy—and their father is the head of the family, after all. But neither will it be easy living under a communist regime.

Meanwhile, far to the south near Jinju, Oksoon’s cousin Junho flees the war to find refuge at the Lord’s Beloved Home for Children. As the orphanage struggles to keep its doors open, Junho is put in charge of drafting letters to rich American benefactors, convincing them to send money to Korea. But when the enigmatic orphanage director brings her aristocratic niece to stay at the Home, Junho finds himself caught between his impulse for survival and his growing affections, which put him at risk of being expelled from the only safe place he knows.

Movingly rendered, Song for Another Home highlights the tension between personal dreams and duty to family, the power of resilience, and how choices made in a brief moment have consequences that reverberate for lifetimes.

Content Warning: death, sexual harassment, violence, starvation, suicidal ideation

World Building: Set in Korea during the Korean war between North and South. There are two POVs told in 3rd person. Oksoon and her family flee Pyongyang because of the war but also they are in search of her father and older brother. Junho is Oksoon’s cousin who ended up helping at at orphanage because who fled to avoid going into the military. Both characters have different stories to tell, each dealing with the effects of the war on the people, and their situations but their stories merge by the end.

Characters: I was drawn most to Oksoon because she’s a young woman desperately hoping to find her father and brother while helping her mom and other brother survive their trek from Pyongyang. They meet people along the way, others who are suffering but trying to make the best of things until again they are torn from their safe place. I felt for Oksoon and her family, but mostly for her from beginning to end. Her mom is a strong lady who is trying to keep her kids close and help them survive. Her brother also is trying to help where he can. Junho had an interesting situation at the orphanage which had it’s own dramas with the director trying to find funding for the place and her niece, who comes to help at the orphanage but hiding a secret. The Boatman was an interesting character, as well as Dolly who was a prostitute.

Story: I did find the story riveting but also the ending left me so empty because I was just super sad for Oksoon and the circumstances that led to the decision at the end. I was also mostly drawn to her story. Junho story at the orphanage was important too but for some reason I kept looking forward to Oksoon’s story. The story explores so many themes like family, duty and even women’s roles back then. Overall the story captures the realities of living in a war very well – the strength and determination to survive, families split apart, death, dying, prostitution, lack of food and resources…just everyone trying their best to survive such a harsh reality. It didn’t go into the explanation of the war, it’s more about what happens to the victims of war.

Final Thoughts:

This story captures the ugly side of war, where it comes down to the people caught in the crossfire. Oksoon and her family makes a harrowing journey south to find her father and brother. Junho is pretty much safe at an orphanage but it still isn’t easy when everyone is starving and desperate to keep the place open. I was mostly drawn to Oksoon’s story but overall, I thought this was a riveting read.

Read if you like:

historical fiction

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

An Arcane Education by. Lyla Andrews | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: An Arcane Education (Arcadia Academy, #1)

Author: Lyla Andrews

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 363

Publication Date: 7/20/26 (paperback)

Publisher: Lyla Andrews

Categories: Dark Academia, Romantasy, 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 Lyla Andrews for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

An Arcane Education is a dark academia romance with fantasy elements, a slow burn professor/student relationship, atmospheric gothic vibes, and found family. Perfect for fans of Nocticadia, Gothikana, and Blood & Betrayals.

Magic. Wealth. Beauty. Reputation.

Here, all of them amount to the one thing everyone Power.

Welcome to Arcadia Academy. Trust no one.

The day I’m attacked is the day I discover magic is real – and I have the power to wield it.

Two days after the incident, I receive an invitation to the graduate program at Arcadia Academy, an elite, mysterious school of magic hidden on an island somewhere off the coast of the Pacific Northwest. With the courage to finally leave behind the mundane life of responsibility I never asked for, I enroll at the prestigious institution, determined to find my place and prove myself.

Unfortunately, my goal isn’t as simple as it seems. New to the world of magic, years behind my classmates, and struggling to control my powers, I’m barely surviving – until the strict, enigmatic, and devastatingly handsome Professor Alaric Vale offers to tutor me. But the longer we spend together, the harder it becomes to deny the forbidden spark burning between us.

Furthermore, not everything is as it seems at Arcadia Academy, with its crawling ivy, ancient stone buildings, and dense forests shrouded in fog. Everyone has secrets to hide, some darker than others. Darker still are the strange plant aberrations occurring in the depths of the forest – ones seemingly related to Professor Vale’s suspicious top-secret research.

When my personal investigations lead to me becoming the talk of campus as a primary suspect in another student’s death, I’m forced to prove my innocence, all while learning to control my magic, concealing the secrets I share with Professor Vale, and uncovering a shocking mystery related to my own past.

Content Warning: death

World Building: Vivian is invited to attend Arcadia Academy where she finds out magic is real and she has it. She has plant powers. The academy is on an island and students of different species and magic attend the school, and though Vivian is a Freshman because she just learned about magic, she is a graduate student as well. Vivian has always been a caretaker of her sibling so she’s never really had time to herself but at the academy she learns to make friends, and even go to a party or two – but then she finds out her dad (who died before she could meet him) went to that academy and learns that not all is as it seems on campus. But for the first 20% of this book it is just world building and learning about the classes and academy.

Characters: I like Vivian, she’s a graduate student but has to learn the basics of magic. She has a difficult time controlling her magic so she takes the initiative to seek help for that. Living away from home is also a challenge, especially because her roommate is a grumpy vampire named Max. Vivian is a good student, a good person, and smart. She does make a few friends eventually but I would love to know more about them. Alaric is the hot professor on campus and he’s hiding a few secrets but he and Vivian are drawn to one another.

Romance: There is a student/professor romance in this one that I thought for the most part was pretty good. I wish there was a little more chemistry between them but maybe because it’s Alaric’s personality – he’s focused on academics and doesn’t display much emotion. There is spice and things are more interesting because of their status as student and professor, but there were some things I questioned about Alaric.

Story: This is a slow moving story, especially the first 25% where it’s world-building. I felt like most of the story in the was about Vivian going to school, being in class, and making friends and not much was happening. Even after finishing it I thought the mystery about what Alaric is studying and keeping secret is way too vague. He just tells Vivian he can’t tell her for sake of her safety but I wanted to know something, just even a crumb of information to keep me interested. After Vivian starts settling into campus life she does take on the mystery of her father being a student once at the academy and she tries to do an investigation but again, it really doesn’t go anywhere. This story is easy to read and it is atmospheric – it definitely gives the dark academia vibes, something sinister is happening but we just have no clue as to what – which was the frustrating part for me. Also, the names Clarissa and Callista had me confused in one scene because she talked to these girls one after the other and I had to re-read that section. 😅

Final Thoughts:

If you like dark academia you will enjoy this one, but for me, I just needed a little more from it. It’s almost got a cozy vibe to it but all the dark academia elements are there also, which I enjoyed. I wanted more information about Vivian’s dad and Alaric’s research but since this is a series, it’s probably being drawn out. Even though I found some parts of this to be too slow for me, I did like how it was easy to read, and love the new friend group for Vivian. The romance was spicy and enticing because of the forbidden aspect of student and professor but even with their relationship I wanted a little more chemistry – but maybe it’s just Alaric’s personality. Overall, a solid start to a series.

Read if you like:

dark academia
mystery
student/professor romance

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Unbound by. Penelope Bloom | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Unbound (Confluence Academy, #1)

Author: Penelope Bloom

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 592

Publication Date: 7/21/26 (first published: 5/27/26)

Publisher: Forever

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

Nineteen-year-old Nessa Thorne expects death when she volunteers for Empire’s selection. Instead, she’s thrust into Confluence Academy, where students harness elemental magic and bond powerful beasts—from wolves to ancient dragons—forging themselves into the Empire’s most lethal weapons.

Students are branded by water, air, earth, or fire. But Nessa’s mark is different. A silver spiral—the mark of an unbound. It’s a power so dangerous her kind were hunted to extinction centuries ago—or so the Empire claims.

To survive, she must hide what she is in a castle that reeks of blood, where students kill each other for advantage and failing to tether an elemental means death.

Nessa’s greatest threat may be the only other volunteer—Raith Hollow, a powerful fire affinity whose scorching gaze follows her every move and whose secrets could topple kingdoms.

Alliances are forged in blood, enemies circle like vultures, and forbidden desires close in. Death once seemed like release from her tragic past. Now it’s not an option. She’ll embrace her terrible potential or watch everything she’s fought for burn.

At Confluence Academy, students leave as weapons… or they don’t leave at all.

Content Warning: violence, death

World Building: Set at Confluence Academy, this story had all the usual elements found in fantasy academia stories lately. There is a young woman, Nessa, with more powers than others but she has to keep it secret. An enemies to lovers develops between her and a guy who has fire elemental powers and secrets. But a lot of the story revolves around their training at the school plus people trying to team up and take Nessa out. There are also trials to pass, which involved a lot of dangerous situations.

Characters: Nessa is the girl with a tragic past and powers she needs to keep secret because people would want to get rid of her or use her. Raith is the hot, tough guy at the school who she has an enemies to lovers relationship with. He ends up being protective of her but he also has a secret. The secondary characters, Nessa’s new friends, were a fun group. I also Bastian, an air elemental, is a mystery – I can’t tell if he is there as a friend to Nessa or if he will be an enemy later on. I kind of needed more from his character. I did enjoy the beasts that people were tethered too, like Nessa’s beast is a dragon and he is sassy which I thought was funny.

Romance: The romance is a slow burn and it does lead to some steamy scenes but I did appreciate Nessa and Raith getting to know each other before acting on their desires. I feel like their bond grew stronger and stronger as the story moved along.

Story: First off, this story is too long. There were so many parts that could have been cut out because it was repetitive. I think the story has too many elements that are found in other romantasy stories set in an academy and not enough to make it stand out from the rest. It was predictable and I found myself skimming. It’s not anything new I’ve read before but even if it wasn’t new, I just wanted something a little different so it kept me interested. I was in and out of this story, wishing something more was happening and I did enjoy when there was action, or even more steam in the relationship – something to get me excited about what was happening. More of the plot reveals itself in the second half but I wish it hooked me from the beginning.

Final Thoughts:

I wanted more from some of the characters, and wish the story was shorter. I just couldn’t stay fully invested and found myself skimming some pages that felt repetitive. I did like the slow burn romance and the creatures that students were tethered to but overall this was just an okay read for me.

Read if you like:

war academy
trials
enemies to lovers romance

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Ruinous Ends by. I.V. Marie | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating:

Title: Ruinous Ends (The Souls of Blackwood Academy, #2)

Author: I.V. Marie

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 480

Publication Date: 7/14/26

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Dark Academia, Romance, Paranormal, Series, LGBT+

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

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

The Decennial is over, but for the students of Blackwood Academy, the fight for the afterlife has just begun.

The infamous school was hiding more secrets—and lies—than any of the Decennial’s participants could have imagined. And there’s still so much that remains buried beneath its ancient foundations. Now the future of the academy, and all the souls within it, rests in the hands of six former pupils:
The charmer and the golden boy . . .
The traitor and the girl desperate to save her . . .
The Chosen One and the one who would choose her over and over again . . .

Any of them could be the hero the afterlife needs . . . or the villain who will destroy it for good. Because the truth is, Blackwood’s biggest secret has yet to come to light—and when it does, it will shake the institution to its core.

Content Warning: violence, death

This is the conclusion to The Souls of Blackwood Academy duology and we are back with the crew from book one, but this time they are separated. With them separated I didn’t feel like the found family trope was as strong as it was in book one. I think that’s why I wasn’t as into this book as I was into book one, I missed them all together. Also, because there are multiple POVs, I did find it hard to reconnect to these characters except for my favorites like Olivier and Emilio. But I did like how each little group was doing what they needed to do to save the afterlife.

There are a few romances going on – I love Olivier and Emilio still, they are sweet together. August and Wren have the romance that is full of angst and yearning, August will do anything for Wren which was admirable. Masika is still pining for Catherine, but they can’t work that out until near the end.

I felt like the beginning was a bit slow but things in the second half of the book really picks up with some twists and turns.

Final Thoughts:

For me, I thought it was a solid ending, but the first half was slower than the second half. I enjoyed the romances especially Olivier and Emilio’s. Overall, I think if you loved book one, you will love this conclusion.

Read if you like: