Daggermouth by. H.M. Wolfe | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Daggermouth (#1)

Author: H.M. Wolfe

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 566

Publication Date: 12/5/25

Categories: Dark Dystopia, Dark Romance

He Is Her Ruin. She Is His Rebellion.
The first thing you’ll learn in New Found Haven is mercy no longer exists. Showing mercy is a weakness, and weakness will get you killed.

The second thing is this—the Veyra are always watching. From the highest glass atrium in the Heart to the windowless slum dens of the Boundary, no movement goes unseen.

The last lesson is the hardest, but you must remember it.
Love outside of your ring is a death sentence.

The city is carved into rings of privilege and poverty, ruled by the masked elite who will do whatever it takes to hold onto power.

Obedience is demanded. Rebellion is crushed.

Greyson Serel has spent his life caught between two worlds. Publicly, he’s the flawless heir to the presidency. Privately, he’s entangled in secrets that could topple the regime. But when he’s forced into a political marriage meant to bind him tighter to the governments brutal laws, he finds himself shackled to a bride who is as lethal as she is unwilling.

Shadera is a mercenary raised to kill, not to wed. Yet when her bullet misses its mark, survival leaves her bound to the very man she was sent to eliminate. Trapped inside the corrupt heart of the city, she becomes both prisoner and wife, her every step watched, her every move tested.

Their union is no love story—It’s a battlefield. As secrets come to light and betrayals fester within the walls of power, Greyson and Shadera must decide between annihilating one another or burning the city to the ground together.

In a world where passion sparks rebellion and loyalty is paid for in blood, their forced bond may be the spark that ignites a revolution. Or the fire that consumes them both.

DAGGERMOUTH is a dark dystopian romance perfect for readers who love true enemies to lovers, The Hunger Games, marriage of inconvenience, The Handmaid’s Tale, rise of the oppressed, and political intrigue that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

DAGGERMOUTH is book one of a duology.

Content Warning: death, violence, torture, abuse, misogyny, mentions of rape

Interestingly enough I saw this book cover on Kindle Unlimited and it caught my eye because I didn’t quite like it lol…but I was intrigued? And it had high reviews so my curiosity won out. I’m so glad I got this book!

+ The world building is very interesting, this city is run by the elite that live in the Heart, with outer rings like the Boundary and the Cardinal. Cardinals live to serve the elites in the Heart and the Boundary is considered the trash of society. As Maximus Serel, the President of the Heart, squeezes resources going to the Boundary, there are many people who want to take him down. Shadera, who is an assassin, part of the Daggermouths, takes a contract to kill Maximus’ heir and executioner, Greysen. When things take a turn, this story took me on a very tense journey.

+ The twist and turns in this book, especially in the second half is diabolical! And the ending made me silent scream/gasp (it was late at night and people were sleeping) because I was not expecting it. And then I had to wake up in the morning and read that ending again to make sure I didn’t dream it! 😅 I was speechless. There are so many secrets, and betrayals, I loved it. I also love how this story explored complicated (really messed up) family dynamics.

+ This is told in third person, with multiple POVs. Each character has an important part to play. And even though it’s a big cast, I actually enjoyed getting to know everyone. Every single character in this book was flawed and made me eager to know them. I know Shadera and Greysen are the main characters, but so many others like Lisa and Callum, have meaningful stories and journeys too!

+ There are a lot of dark topics in this book like abuse and oppression – it is violent. It is a story about rebellion. At some points I felt as hopeless as the characters who were fighting against Maximus. He is SO evil. I think he might be the character I hate the most in all the books I’ve read in 2025 – I wanted him GONE. Shadera and Greysen have so much trauma, so many scars, emotional and physical. They thrive and survive on pain. It’s a heavy story, so check the triggers.

+ There is romance – Shadera and Greysen are enemies to lovers, and forced into an engagement. For the most part, until maybe the end there is attraction, but things are complicated and they stay mostly enemies, but come to an understanding. There is more of an emotional connection growing at the end so it will be interesting to see how that plays out in book two. But Lira and Callum, their second chance romance in the ugly world they live in was beautiful and devastating. There is some spice and one scene takes place after a very interesting, chaotic scene!

~ There were some typos but I didn’t mind it too much. This whole story takes place in like a week, which is crazy! Yes, there is groundwork done by Maximus, terrorizing people in New Found Haven, so we come into the story when people are fed up and trying to dismantle his reign of terror. It starts when it’s all staring to unravel and the rebellion is about to go down. We learn who is in on it, but there are some people who didn’t get enough book time that I wanted to know more about. I hope we get to explore more of these characters in book two.

~ I’m hoping there is no love triangle. Shadera does have someone she is close to in the beginning but she’s someone who doesn’t let anyone in close emotionally. I am team Greysen right now, because I want to see their relationship grow, they’ve been through a lot of chaos and trauma together, in one crazy week. So I feel like there needs to be more time between them.

Final Thoughts:

I could not put this book down and I was stunned by the end of this book. This story started off tense and then it ended in a way that left me flabbergasted. I literally had to cover my mouth and let out a soft gasp/silent scream at the end of this book (people were asleep in my house). I even woke up in the morning the next day and reread that ending to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. 😂 My heart was broken, but also I was shocked and I feel like with all the books I read, that’s hard to do to me. 😅 I was highly entertained and I cannot wait for book two.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Coldwire by. Chloe Gong | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating:

Title: A Curious Kind of Magic

Author: Chloe Gong

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 496

Publication Date: 11/4/25

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Categories: Young Adult, Sci/Fi, Dystopian, Cyberpunk

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

Thank you to Margaret K. McElderry Books for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The future is loading…

To escape rising seas and rampant epidemics, most of society lives “upcountry” in glistening virtual reality, while those who can’t afford the subscription are forced to remain in crumbling “downcountry.”

But upcountry isn’t perfect. A cold war rages between two powerful nations, Medaluo and Atahua—and no one suffers for it more than the Medan orphans in Atahua. Their enrollment at Nile Military Academy is mandatory. Either serve as a soldier or risk being labelled a spy.

Eirale graduated the academy and joined NileCorp’s private forces downcountry, exactly as she was supposed to. Then Atahua’s most wanted anarchist frames her for assassinating a government official, and she’s given a choice: cooperate with him to search for a dangerous program in Medaluo or go down for treason.

Meanwhile, Lia is finishing her last year upcountry at Nile Military Academy. Paired with her academic nemesis for their final assignment, Lia is determined to beat him for valedictorian and prove her worth. But there may be far more at stake when their task to infiltrate Medaluo and track down an Atahuan traitor goes wrong…

Though Eirale and Lia tear through Medaluo on different planes of reality, the two start to suspect they are puzzle pieces in a larger conspiracy—and the closer they get to the truth, the closer their worlds come to a shattering collision.

Content Warning: violence

+ This is such a compelling, tense read, it was hard to put down! It starts off with some action, which I loved and it took off from there. I was sucked into a cyberpunk world and it didn’t let go of me.

+ In this story there are two POVs, Eirale and Lia. We follow their journeys until they meet. I did suspect in the middle of the book what was happening but I needed to read to the end to get the explanation because this is sci-fi so this story was definitely giving my brain a work out. I guessed correctly on what was going on but the realization with what was happening was still mind-blowing and devastating. I did find myself at first gravitating more towards Eirale’s story, but eventually I was invested in Lia’s also.

+ There is a lot of action, some fighting scenes, and our main characters are on two different missions. I couldn’t put this book down because I needed to see what brought these characters together and the pay-off is well worth the wait. There are twists, betrayals, company and government corruption and I feel like this story is timely with it’s talk about tech and AI. The world-building is very cyberpunk and dystopian. There is a lot of virtual life which was hard for me to wrap my head around, but I went with it.

+ There is a tiny bit of romance in this story which isn’t the main focus but I loved it! I also love the found family element for both Eirale and Lia.

~ I’ve read a few book from this author and I always kind of go in with caution now because her stories have heavy world-building and it definitely makes me use more brain power. But this is the type of story where I have to take time to settle in before I’m invested. I think Eirale’s storyline kept me in it until Lia’s story got more interesting. I actually loved how both characters’ stories come together.

~ I’m not a big sci-fi reader, and this one did confuse me many times because this is the type of book I need to see visually. I actually think this would make a great movie or show. So there were a few explanations I had to re-read to make my non-sci-fi mind understand what was going on. There is a lot of tech jargon. But I did eventually get it…at least the gist of it! Also the upcountry, downcountry and different places in the story at times confused me because I didn’t know if the characters were upcountry (virtual world) and what not.

Final Thoughts:

My brain put in a lot of work to follow this book but overall, I really enjoyed it. There were times I was confused but once I was hooked, I couldn’t put it down. I love the build-up to that ending and I’m hoping to see what happens next in the series!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From this Author:

Immortal Longings by. Chloe Gong | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Foul Lady Fortune by. Chloe Gong | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Foul Heart Huntsman by. Chloe Gong | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Our Violent Ends by. Chloe Gong | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

These Violent Delights | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Moth Dark by. Kika Hatzopoulou | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating:

Title: Moth Dark

Author: Kika Hatzopoulou

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 10/28/25

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

Categories: Urban Fantasy, Dystopian, Sci-fi, Romance, Young Adult, 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 G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

From the bestselling author of Threads that Bind and Hearts that Cut comes a brand-new compulsive romantasy about a girl obsessed with the dark and the shadowy magical prince she falls in love with, perfect for fans of Holly Black and Laini Taylor.

The dark has come alive . . .

Six years ago, vicious creatures began to crawl out of the dark crevices of the world, and with it Sascia’s fascination with the darkness was born. Now eighteen, that fascination has become an obsession, and while exploring an area known for its connection to the Darkworld, Sascia sees a person climb out of the darkness. But Nugau is no ordinary person, they’re a genderfluid elf prince with one mission . . . to kill Sascia.

Except, the second time they meet, Nugau is younger and doesn’t recognise Sascia. And the third time, Nugau stumbles out of the darkness with poison running through their veins, expressing their undying love for her.

Piecing together the puzzle, Sascia makes two shocking the timelines of her world and Nugau’s are not linear, and she is inexplicably enmeshed in a war between humanity and elves. But with their worlds at battle, is it worth fighting for each other . . . ?

Content Warning: violence

+ I was captivated by this book cover and the premise sounded good so I requested it . I’m glad I did because this was such a fascinating story set in a dystopian world who has seen a phenomenon of dark spots growing. Scacia is from New York City and has an internship working with a company that is studying all things from the Dark. But clearly Scacia has a connection to it more so than other people and even she is curious as to why that is. I loved the secondary characters who were the other kids she was doing research him and her cousin Danny who is her bestie. And also Mooch – a creature that is always helping her!

+ The story is told in present time but flashbacks to moments in Scacia’s past where she encountered the Dark. I don’t usually like flashbacks, but I think it worked in this one because it’s a fast-moving story.

+ I found the Dark so fascinating. I love the world building. We learn about the types of plants, animals and creatures that live in the Dark. These creatures come through these Dark spots or portals and now a war is brewing between them and the humans. Scacia’s job is to stop this war. There are a few trials she has to get through in the Dark though and that’s where all the action comes in.

+ The romance is supposed to be enemies to lovers but we find out there has been different timelines where Scacia’s has met the elf prince, and in different forms too. The Dark is home to a people that are gender fluid and I loved how Nugau changed on a whim, according to how they were feeling. The romance between them, even though it started with some animosity on Nugau’s part, was lovely.

~ It is a fast moving story and a standalone but at times I wish there was more time spent in the Dark. I felt like the trials happened so quick, I wanted more suspense.

~ Also, I’m bad at following jumping timelines. And in this story it explores a knotted timeline.

Final Thoughts:

I loved the creativity of this story and the gender fluidity of the humanoid creatures (or elves). This story had a combination of dystopian, fantasy, and sci-fi which worked so well together! It has action, romance, family themes, and I enjoyed it a lot.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Red City by. Marie Lu | ALC Review | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Red City (The New Alchemists, #1)

Author: Marie Lu

Narrator(s): André Santana; Eunice Wong; Natalie Naudus; Sid Sagar

Format: audiobook (NetGalley)

Pages: 432. Listening Time: Approximately 15 hours 20 min

Publication Date: 10/14/25

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Categories: Urban Fantasy, Dystopian, Alchemy, Romance, Organized Crime

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

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

The Godfather meets The Magicians in the sweeping adult debut from #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu. Perfect for fans of V.E. Schwab, Red City is a dark and deadly contemporary fantasy of magical warfare, star-crossed ambition, and the pursuit of perfection at any cost, set in a glittering alternate Los Angeles.

Alchemy is the hidden art of transformation. An exclusive power wielded by crime syndicates that market it to the world’s elites in the form of sand, a drug that enhances those who take it into a more perfect version of themselves: more beautiful, more charismatic, simply more.

Among the gleaming skyscrapers and rolling foothills of Angel City, alchemy is controlled by two rival syndicates. For years, Grand Central and Lumines have been balanced on a razor’s edge between polite negotiation and outright violence. But when two childhood friends step into that delicate equation, the city―and the paths of their lives―will be irrevocably transformed.

The daughter of a poor single mother, Sam would do anything to claw her way into the ranks of Grand Central in search of a better life. Plucked away from his family as a boy to become a Lumines apprentice, Ari is one of the syndicates’ brightest rising stars. Once, they might have loved each other. But as the two alchemists face off across opposite sides of an ever-escalating conflict, ambition becomes power, loyalty becomes lies, and no transformation may be perfect enough for them both to survive the coming war.

Content Warning: violence, torture, grooming, death

+ Marie Lu did her thing with this adult fiction debut! I listened to this as an audiobook and usually, I struggle with audiobooks but this one had me riveted. The voices were perfect for the characters and I could not stop listening to this.

+ Los Angeles is run by organized crime using alchemy. There are two main syndicates, the Lumines and Grand Central and there have been calculated moves against each other over the years but now it’s come to real blows and violence and Ari and Sam are caught in the crossfire of these groups. I loved the world building – I actually hope this becomes a show because I think it would be so cool to see mafia style alchemists battle out in the streets of LA.

+ The story follows Ari and Sam from childhood, both didn’t have ideal ones, but they are “saved” from it by being noticed. Ari is taken from his family and raised by the head of the Lumines. Sam is noticed by the head of Grand Central – both Ari and Sam keep alchemy a secret from one another but in essence they are best friends, at least as kids. As they grow, alchemy pulls them in opposite directions and without knowing it until years later, they are enemies.

+ Ari is described as the light of the party. People gravitate towards him, he is like the sun when surrounded by people. And it’s a good power to have since his main job is persuading and convincing powerful people to make deals. Whereas, Sam is invisible – has always felt invisible but now with alchemy and sand she can use it to be powerful in her own way. No one notices her, and she can do things without being caught. I love how they are opposites – love how their powers are so different and how they used them to their advantage.

+ This is an organized crime novel so it is brutal, and violent. There were so many creative and different ways these alchemists could torture and kill someone! I loved the politics and the war between the to sides.

+ I loved the storyline between Sam and her mother. I thought that packed the emotional punch this story needed.

+~ The romance isn’t easy. This story is dark. Ari has been in love with Sam since childhood but they go their separate ways. It’s not happily ever after for them and they both know it – that isn’t their path in life. They both signed their fates to a life of manipulation and killing if need be. So Ari’s first sexual encounter is not with Sam, but someone who actually wants to teach him so he can use it to manipulate people. As for Sam, she is groomed by Will, the leader of Grand Central’s son. He mentions he’s wanted to be intimate when he first saw her – she was 15 and there is a 9 age year gap. They don’t do anything until she’s much older but still…she is obsessed with him because he was her “savior” and that was uncomfortable. Do Ari and Sam come back together at least to speak about their past? Yes, but even with Ari telling Sam how he felt back then didn’t feel like they could bridge that gap between them now because they are both different people. They have killed, they have done bad things and I think they need to get to know each other again.

~ The only part that dragged for me in the story is the parts where it was full on alchemy studies, which is in the beginning. It’s setting up the story and showing how important it was for Ari and Sam to learn alchemy but all the science went over my head. Also, When Sam and Ari graduate and go on with their lives I wanted to know more about Ari. I had a good grasp of Sam, her motivations, her upbringing but Ari still remains a little bit of a mystery.

Final Thoughts:

I loved this one and that’s a surprise for me because audiobooks are not my favorite way of consuming a book. But I loved the narrators who kept me hooked to the story. The story itself was so entertaining I could not stop listening to it. I am so invested in this world of alchemy and organized crime, I have to see what happens next for Sam and Ari. I’ll be impatiently waiting for book two!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Skyhunter | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Book Review | The Kingdom of Back – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Warcross by. Marie Lu – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wildcards by. Marie Lu – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Young Elites by. Marie Lu – ⭐️⭐️⭐️

To Cage a Wild Bird by. Brooke Fast | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: To Cage a Wild Bird (Divided Fates, #1)

Author: Brooke Fast

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 9/9/25; deluxe edition 3/3/26

Publisher: Avon

Categories: Dystopia, Romance, Series

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

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A deadly prison. A forbidden romance. A fight for survival.

THERE’S ONLY ONE RULE IN OBEY OR DIE.

In Dividium, all crimes are punishable by life in prison. A prison that’s a life sentence in more ways than one. Where the wealthy can hunt the inmates for sport.

Raven’s mission is infiltrate the infamous and deadly Endlock Prison to save her brother.

There’s just one Raven has a target on her back. Her reputation as the most ruthless bounty hunter in Dividium precedes her, and the inmates she’s sent to Endlock want their revenge.

So when the prison guard she’s sworn to hate becomes her only chance to survive, Raven has no choice but to trust the one person she shouldn’t…

Content Warning: violence, death, sexual harassment, torture, hunting humans for sport

+ Raven is a bounty hunter and her skill helps her survive in one of the deadliest prisons in Dividium. This is set in a dystopian world where society is divided in three different tiers. People in the Lower Sector have been suffering while everyone above them have it less challenging. The world building was typical dystopian, but most of the story takes place in the prison so I can’t say too much about the world outside of it. The prison has it’s share of evil guards and Raven realizes too late that the people she put in prison were not going to be happy to see her. Also, Upper Sector people come to the prison and pay to hunt criminals. There is a rebel group called the Collective who is trying their best to help people and make a difference.

+ I liked Raven. Raven’s goal in life is to always protect her younger brother and when a rebel group tells her she can go to the prison to free him, she takes her chances. I like that she was smart and kept her cool, plus she’s brave and wasn’t afraid to get into a fight.

+~ The romance is forbidden but that adds to the tension. Plus Vale for the most part of the story was a bit mysterious – we didn’t know much about him but it seemed Raven’s new friends trusted him a lot. There’s some spice and I actually was rooting for the two of them because both seem like good people. But they did fall kind of fast.

+ Raven meets a bunch of people in prison because she’s supposed to figure a way out. I liked this found family she is brought into.

~ I do think the story was predictable but that’s why I read it so quick. It had the known elements of dystopian romance – which I enjoyed. But I did want more out of Raven, Vale but maybe we get more out of them in book two. Also want to feel that it is high stakes – it’s a prison break and yes hunting criminals added to the suspense, but I wanted more tension I think.

Final Thoughts:

This is the type of book you can binge and read quickly! It’s got all the dystopian elements – oppressed people and a secret rebellion, it’s set in a prison, and has a forbidden guard/prisoner spicy romance. Overall, I enjoyed it, but I hope we get more out of the main characters in book two.

**Book is available now on Kindle Unlimited but deluxe edition will be published on 3/3/26**

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Of Flame and Fury by. Mikayla Bridge | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating:

Title: Of Flame and Fury

Author: Mikayla Bridge

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 416

Publication Date: 7/15/25

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Dystopian

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

Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

On an island built from ash and shrouded in fire, phoenix racing is a sport just as profitable as it is deadly.

Seventeen-year-old Kel Varra and her team of underdogs, the Crimson Howlers, are desperate to win the annual races and the fortune that comes with it. But the Howlers need a new rider, which leads Kel to join forces with Warren “Coup” Coupers – an arrogant rival she can’t get out of her head.

As tensions rise on and off the track, Kel’s home is mistakenly burned down, and she’s forced to take a job from a mysterious tech mogul with an unsettling interest in her phoenix, Savita. This sets in motion a conspiracy that threatens everyone Kel cares for, especially Coup, for whom her embers of resentment are quickly igniting into something dangerously new.

Heart-pounding pages full of steamy romance, fiery confessions, political scheming, and volatile magic culminate in a final twist readers will never see coming.

Content Warning: injuries, violence

+ My favorite thing about this story is the phoenixes and how they are used in racing competitions. Kel’s phoenix Savita, is the only thing she has now after the death of her father, and her bond with Savita is special even though phoenixes are creatures to show affection. I felt like the little Savita gave to Kel was a lot compared to how phoenixes are portrayed and I loved how that was enough for Kel.

+ I also enjoyed the found family trope in this story because Kel doesn’t really have anyone except Savita and her friend Dira. Their found family grows when Coup and his brother Bekn joins the team even though there is animosity between Kel and Coup.

+ The romance is not the main focus but I like how it goes from dislike to like. Coup has the charmisma and Kel is the grumpy one. They are forced to pretend they have a budding romance for the press, but behind closed doors and behing Kel’s animosity they train together and learn more about one another. I was rooting for them and wish there was more time to explore their feelings but I was kind of broken hearted for them at the end.

+ This story is faced paced because of the action-packed phoenix races which I enjoyed a lot! There is high stakes which adds to the tension in the story and some secrets too. Also there is a twist I wasn’t expecting.

~ The world building is interesting but sometimes confusing. It’s a fantasy but more like a dystopian world…I think? That’s how it feels like when reading it because of the tech that they use so would that be sci-fi? It’s hard to put into a category. Also out of the blue comes these rebels – a group that want phoenixes un-collared and to fly free. I think we needed more information about them.

~ Is there a sequel because of that ending? This needs a sequel!

Final Thoughts:

This book is fast-paced, action packed, fun but filled with danger, secrets, and phoenixes. I liked that Savita is a wild phoenix and not easily controlled even though she is collared. The found family and romance had me invested and I really hope there is a sequel after that ending. I did have minor issues with it like needing more world-building but I enjoyed reading this story regardless.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Silver Elite by. Dani Francis| Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Silver Elite ( #1)

Author: Dani Francis

Format: hardcover (owned)

Pages: 528

Publication Date: 5/6/25

Categories: New Adult, Forbidden Romance, Romantasy, Dystopian, Fantasy/Sci-fi

In the first book of a searing new dystopian trilogy, a young woman must conceal her psychic powers—and her attraction to her handsome, infuriating commanding officer—as she works undercover to take down a brutal government from within.

The world is divided. On the Continent, you’re either a Prime—immune to the biotoxin that nearly wiped out the Earth’s population 150 years ago—or a Modified, one who was enhanced by the toxin, developing powerful psychic gifts.

As conflict rages between the two sides, Wren Darlington lives in hiding. Occasionally running the odd op for the rebel Uprising against the Primes’ oppressive rule, she must keep a low profile. After all, if the enemy finds out that she is a Mod with a staggering four psychic abilities, she won’t just be sent to the labor camps. She’ll be executed—immediately and without trial.

When a careless mistake puts Wren in the crosshairs of the Continent’s military, she is taken captive and forced to join their most elite Silver Block. Unwittingly, they’ve handed her the perfect opportunity for the Uprising to strike a devastating blow from inside their ranks. That is, if she can keep her powers hidden, survive training, and prove herself to Cross Redden, her maddeningly cocky commanding officer.

Despite the explosive chemistry between them, Cross doesn’t trust her—even as he seems determined to destroy the remaining shreds of Wren’s self-control. Yet as the war between Primes and Mods escalates, and as Wren and Cross find themselves unable to stay away from each other, they must decide how far they’re willing to go for their secrets—and how much of the Continent is worth saving.

Content Warning: violence, death, executions, mention of labor camps

+ I hate to admit I was highly influenced to buy this book because of tiktok 😅. I heard nothing about it until everyone started praising it on tiktok and then I was like oh a dystopian? I haven’t read one in awhile so I bought it on release day. I had very high expectations because of hype and honestly I should have read it after the hype went down a little. Totally my fault! But I did read it in one day.

+ Nostalgia has me loving the parts of this story that was dystopian. There are warring sides, the government versus the rebels – I still don’t know who the good guys are since they both have committed crimes. A military academy program to become Silver Block or Silver Elite (top special ops) and a young woman named Wren who is forced into the program even though she is secretly the enemy. It’s either that or be put into the labor camps. There is even a found family element I enjoyed as Wren goes through this program, she makes friends but also makes some enemies.

+ The romance is insta-lust between Wren and her commanding officer, Cross, who is hot but also the evil General’s son. She tries to fight her attraction to him but she doesn’t put up much of a fight. They want each other and get together to scratch the itch until later in the story things change a little. There is spice but I didn’t feel like it was overboard. It’s an enemies to lovers and a forbidden romance situation.

+ Wren going through the program is what takes up most of the story. She partakes in tests, has classes, makes friends and enemies and hooks up with Cross. But because she is Modified, she doesn’t want to actually be a Silver Elite, so she goes undercover for the rebellion. It’s a tight rope she’s walking as she falls for Cross but she also has to remember that her parents were part of the rebellion, so where does she belong? It will be interesting to see what happens next.

~ Some issues I had with the book: this is being compared to an adult Hunger Games – it is not like Hunger Games except for the government fighting with the rebellion. This is it’s own dystopian world and story and it’s pretty light on the world-building so far. Is it predictable? Yes. But it’s easy to read, it’s on those stories that you can binge.

~ There were times I felt Wren moved on so easily. There are a few deaths in this book and I feel like how she and everyone else casually moved on after one of them didn’t sit right with me. I wanted more emotion.

~ The insta-lust relationship lacked emotional connection. I’m all for a young woman getting it on with her hot commanding officer, but I wanted the romance and emotional connection too. It gets better at the end but I still had moments where I was wondering if Wren was going to maybe make a better connection with her new academy friend, Kaine. Of course there is more to Cross and maybe book two will explore him more, but I also want to know more about Kaine.

Final Thoughts:

So it didn’t meet my high expectations – by the end I was feeling it was a 3.5 star book but I did read it in one night so I bumped it to 4. I found it entertaining but it was more romantasy or should I say romantopian 😅? The romance is insta-lust but it does grow into more by the end of the book. The story is predictable but I did like the whole premise of people being modified and having different powers and the politics are definitely going to get complicated for Wren so I’d like to see how she handles that and everything else in book two.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Sunrise on the Reaping by. Suzanne Collins | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Sunrise on the Reaping

Author: Suzanne Collins

Format: hardcover (own)

Pages: 382

Publication Date: 3/18/24

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

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

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

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

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

Content Warning: violence towards children, death, murder

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

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

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

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

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

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

Final Thoughts:

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

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From this Author:

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

The Hunger Games by. Suzanne Collins ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Catching Fire by. Suzanne Collins ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mockingjay by. Suzanne Collins ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thunderhead by. Neal Shusterman | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Thunderhead (Arc of a Scythe, #2)

Author: Neal Shusterman

Format: hardcover (own)

Pages: 504

Publication Date: 1/19/18

Categories: Dystopia, Young Adult, Sci-fi/Fantasy, Series

Rowan has gone rogue, and has taken it upon himself to put the Scythedom through a trial by fire. Literally. In the year since Winter Conclave, he has gone off-grid, and has been striking out against corrupt scythes—not only in MidMerica, but across the entire continent. He is a dark folk hero now—“Scythe Lucifer”—a vigilante taking down corrupt scythes in flames.

Citra, now a junior scythe under Scythe Curie, sees the corruption and wants to help change it from the inside out, but is thwarted at every turn, and threatened by the “new order” scythes. Realizing she cannot do this alone—or even with the help of Scythe Curie and Faraday, she does the unthinkable, and risks being “deadish” so she can communicate with the Thunderhead—the only being on earth wise enough to solve the dire problems of a perfect world. But will it help solve those problems, or simply watch as perfection goes into decline?

Content Warning: violence

I finally finished Thunderhead! And I would have been finished earlier if I was reading it as an ebook but that was my fault for letting that expire. Thank goodness I actually have the hardcover books on my shelf huh?😅

There are a lot of things happening in Thunderhead and it follows a bunch of different characters throughout. Rowan’s character goes through a lot whereas Citra is doing well with Scythe Curie at her side. Another character, Greyson, has a big role in the events that transpire in this story.

I found Thunderhead’s thoughts really fascinating especially because in our real world we are on the verge of AI being everywhere. I also found what was going on in the Scythedom really interesting because of the power plays taking place and how I feel like it represents the Vatican. It really is amazing to imagine the world becoming the way it is portrayed in this book. The medical science and convenience of some things – like not needing to work – sound amazing. But the story explores the other side to this conversation too. The story is complex and the world-building is great.

The book is long and I was bummed Rowan and Citra was apart for almost all of it! But overall I was entertained.

The ending was unexpected and crazy. I’ll be jumping into book three hopefully next month.

Quotes from the book:

“I have pondered the records of the mortal age and long ago determined the two sides of the coin. While freedom gives rise to growth and enlightenment, permission allows evil to flourish in a light of dat that would otherwise destroy it.”
Thunderhead by. Neal Shusterman

Final Thoughts:

What a sequel to Scythe! I love reading the Thunderhead’s thoughts and I really wasn’t expecting the story to take the turn it did. It was great to be in Rowan and Citra’s world again but it’s one that is collapsing under the strain of what’s happening in the Scythedom. I can’t want to see how this story ends.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Book Review | Scythe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games, #0)

Author: Suzanne Collins

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 541

Publication Date: 5/19/20

Categories: Young Adult, Dystopian, Series

It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capital, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.

The odds are against him. He’s been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined — every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favor or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute… and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.

Content Warning: death, violence, murder, hanging, death of children

I finally read this prequel to The Hunger Games and this is what I thought:

+ I liked getting to know Coriolanus Snow’s background. Yes…he is who becomes President Snow in The Hunger Games. This is his story, how he is living in Capitol poverty and ashamed of it and trying to hide it. It’s interesting to see how it shapes him.

+ This is in the early days of the first few Hunger Games so it’s interesting to see how different it is compared to when Katniss is a participant. In this book, the Hunger Games isn’t as sophisticated and high-tech yet, but it’s still very cruel – maybe moreso because all they do is throw these kids into the zoo of all places and then try to lure them out with food to kill one another. I did learn more about why the games were started, and why they felt like it was a good way to keep the peace.

+ Lucy Gray is the sunshine in this story. She is quirky, unconventional, she doesn’t seem like someone who could kill and win the Hunger Games but she surprises everyone. The romance between Lucy and Coryo is surprising and yet…not…because he didn’t seem like a psychotic, power-hungry person yet. Not when he was with Lucy and thinking of running off with her. But things change so much.

~ The story was slow moving except for the last part of the book. It took me almost two weeks to finish. I wish it moved faster. Also I didn’t feel like the Hunger Games was as focused on. This was all about who Coryo is and what shaped him.

~ The crazy thing is I didn’t even see Coryo as scary in the beginning. He was ashamed of his station and wanted the best for his family and to survive. Wanting best for your family is a good thing, right? But there was a feeling that the Capitol hated him and he didn’t know why. I was hoping he would actually turn against them instead when he met Lucy and in District 12 but nope, that experience and then some pushed him harder into his convictions about the Capitol and the Hunger Games. He believed the Capitol was right and the Hunger Games were a necessity, unfortunately. Slowly we see him try to justify all his bad actions and even kind of lose it in the end because of Lucy Gray.

Quotes from the book:

“No one would ever let him have enough.”
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by. Suzanne Collins

“His terror was a private thing, not meant for public display.”
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by. Suzanne Collins

“If the people who were supposed to protect you played so fast and loose with your life…then how did you survive?
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by. Suzanne Collins

“Who are human beings? Because who we are determine the type of governing we need.”
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by. Suzanne Collins

“I’m being erased, he thought. And to erase me, they must erase the Games.”
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by. Suzanne Collins

“It was never meant to be anything more than theoretical. And who but the vilest monsters would stage it?”
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by. Suzanne Collins

Final Thoughts:

I expected this one to be fast moving and intense like the The Hunger Games series but it wasn’t so for me it was an okay read. The beginning was slow, even through the games, and it only picks up at the end. I did like getting to know Coriolanus Snow more and I like how Lucy Gray was sunshine to his dark life. I thought this book gave me good insight into the man who will become President Snow in the series but I did expect more.