The Lion & the Deathless Dark by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: The Lion & the Deathless Dark (Crowns of Nyaxia, #5)

Author: Carissa Broadbent

Pages: 560

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 8/4/26

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Vampires, Gods, Series

Some blood tastes like vengeance. Some blood tastes like grief. Some blood tastes like nothing at all.

Under an eternal night, the world has been ravaged by ten years of war between humans and vampires. Kyrene scrapes by as a bounty hunter, bearing a blessed sword from the goddess of justice. But in the wake of a devastating loss, Kyrene commits a crime that makes her a target for mortals and gods alike – and she is still desperate for vengeance.

Her only chance at survival – and revenge – is making a deal with her enemy, the silver-tongue vampire prince, Septimus, who offers her one final to slay the gods themselves.

Together, Kyrene and Septimus must hunt the ultimate marks, all while navigating a web of prophecies and curses. Septimus is calculating and mysterious, masking secrets bloodthirsty enough to consume them both. Yet, most dangerous of all, Kyrene finds an unexpected kinship in him.

But their growing attraction is deadly in a world where the only currency is blood. And Kyrene will stop at nothing to fulfill her ultimate to kill the goddess of vampires, even if it means sacrificing love for revenge.

Content Warning: violence, death, gore, grief

What can I say about another book in the Crowns of Nyaxia that has made me care about the characters, grips me with the story telling and then made me gasp at the end and now I NEED the next book. I can’t even believe the next book will be the last in the series. I have loved this series from book one and it has never disappointed me, which is absolutely amazing. So the thought of it coming to an end in the next book actually makes me sad.

I loved the storytelling which is a given with all the books in this series. The characters, Kyrene, the FMC is filled with rage, wields a godly sword just hacking away at enemies and Gods. She is the Vindica Ultis. There is violence, lots of blood and even sometimes gore. She has no fear, but has so much trauma and a secret that shocked me. Septimus, the Bloodborn cursed MMC, where’s white, smokes vanilla scented cigarillos to keep his curse at bay, has self-control (mostly), wears glasses and reads to Kyrene. What can I say but that I loved both of them, down to their raw, flawed state. Both are anti-heroes, Kyrene has the title and the sword, but she doesn’t have the desire to be the good hero everyone sees her to be. She doesn’t do emotional attachment, which made me hurt for her when she allows herself to feel grief. And Septimus, who wants the curse to end with him, to spare the rest of his family. Both want to kill the Gods for different reasons and they team up to try and carry out this goal.

The romance is slow burn and so good! The banter between Kyrene and was Septimus was great, she’s wild and he’s always in control so seeing her try to always make it lose it is so much fun. And that scene where he drinks her blood? Perfection.

So much of this story was devastating, and the ending is emotional with the twist leaving me needing the next book right away. I was rooting for Kyrene so, so hard. I wanted her and Septimus to achieve their goal and create the world they dreamed.

One thing I found fascinating and different was the machines! I was not expecting this story to have machinists and even a god who was made of parts. But I love how each book opens up the world in this series.

Quotes From the Book:

“What’s life without a few regrets?” – The Lion and the Deathless Dark by. Carissa Broadbent

“Monsters recognize monsters.” – The Lion and the Deathless Dark by. Carissa Broadbent

Final Thoughts:

I love this series and this book was everything I expected it to be. It opened the world of this series even more, it is violent, devastating and emotional. And the only regret I have is I wish I didn’t read it until the next book came out because now I have to wait so long, hopefully not too long! I’m also pretty sure I’m going to be so sad when this series ends because I have loved all the characters and the romance. I’m ready to see what happens to these Gods and if Kyrene and Septimus can take them down.

Read if you like:

Crowns of Nyaxia series
slow burn romance
vampires and Gods
female rage

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nest of Tongues by. Randy Ribay | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Nest of Tongues

Author: Randy Ribay

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 8/11/26

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Categories: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Vampires, Filipino Mythology/Folklore

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

Thank you to Random House Books for Young Readers for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A lyrical, evocative horror about vampires from the Philippines . . . and a hunter on their tail. A brother and sister fight to protect their secrets, their community, and most of all, each other, in this evocative novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Patron Saints of Nothing.

As Filipino vampires known as manananggal, Lily and her brother Caleb understand the value of a secret. After all, to hide is to survive. To lie is to live. They’d never harm another person—but people only believe their worst fears around creatures of myth. So the siblings stay quiet. They follow their community’s rules.

Until a monster hunter turns up and kills a fellow manananggal, anyway.

Until Caleb is marked as the hunter’s next prey.

Suddenly, he and Lily realize there’s always been more at stake than the lives of their people. Because when doing everything “right” is still a death sentence, what can they take as truth? As the hunter nears, the siblings must decide if they’ll be driven from the only home they’ve ever known . . . or fight to protect a community that may already be lost.

Content Warning: violence, death

+ I was ecstatic to get my hands on this arc because I read one book from this author and loved it. Plus this one was about the manananggal (I’m Ilocano so all I ever knew them as was the Aswang). So the fact that all these scary Filipino mythology and folklore monsters was being feature in a book was exciting to me! I loved learning all about the different creatures and monsters I didn’t know about and was delighted when I read something familiar like the white lady apparition that seems to be common in Filipino ghost stories.

+~ I love that the manananggal was the good guys in this book. I like how it explores the theme of good and evil. I mean there are always two sides to a story right? So most of the story is a mystery about who this bayani could be that is killing the manananggals and it’s a race to stop them before it kills Caleb. And Lily is not about to let that happen. Also, I loved their Lola (grandmother) she made me laugh a few times, and there were times I wished Lily treated her with a little more respect, but I get it – families are complicated, which is explored in the story as well.

+~ Mysteries always feel a little bit slow to me, so there were times I wish it moved faster. There is action, mostly in the second half, and secrets that are revealed in the end. Mostly, I just enjoyed being immersed in the Filipino-American culture that was featured in the book, especially the family and community elements.

+~ This is a young adult book and yes Lily and Caleb, are very young adult in the way they act and speak. These kids curse a lot, which is realistic, but it was a lot more than I was expecting and a bit too much for me at times. But I did enjoy how close they were as siblings, they looked out for one another. Lily was a protective big sister and would do anything to keep Caleb safe.

Final Thoughts:

I’m very excited to see a story based on Filipino mythology and folklore since that’s what I grew up with. Some of the creatures in the book were monsters my parents used to tell me about so I felt seen by that. I’m glad more people will get to learn something about these stories and creatures from this book. I enjoyed the sibling bond, family and community elements that are themes in the book, even if some of these family connections were complicated. There was a little more cursing than I would have liked in a young adult book, but I do think the teens were portrayed very well. I did like the second half of the story more because it had more action and secret reveals. Overall, I think this is a young adult book that people can learn from and also enjoy if they are into vampires, mystery and mythology.

Read if you like:

Filipino mythology/folklore
sibling bond, family
young adult mystery

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Book Review | Patron Saints of Nothing – 5 stars

These Vile Hearts by. Melody Robinette | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: These Vile Hearts

Author: Melody Robinette

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 8/11/26

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Fae

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Content Warning: drug use, drinking, violence, death

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

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

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

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

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

Final Thoughts:

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

Read if you like:

fae – dryads
enemies to lovers romance
political intrigue

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Kissed by the Gods by. Caty Rogan | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

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

Author: Caty Rogan

Pages: 544

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 9/24/25

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Series

Survivor. Rebel. Weapon.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Content Warning: violence, death

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

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

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

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

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

Quotes From the Book:

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

Final Thoughts:

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

Read if you like:

female rage
warrior training/trials
found family
forbidden romance

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Dreamland by. Olivie Blake | ARC and ALC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Dreamland

Author: Olivie Blake

Format: eBook (NetGalley) and audiobook (netgalley)

Pages: 368

Listening Hours: approx. 12 hrs 45 min

Publication Date: 8/11/26

Publisher: Tor Books & Macmillan Audio

Categories: Horror, Fantasy, Gothic, Contemporary, Mystery Thriller, Romance

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

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

From New York Times bestselling author Olivie Blake comes a tantalizing story of power, seduction, and the omens you’ll ignore when everything you’ve dreamed of feels just within reach.

The headlines are calling it the “summer of exsanguination” in LA—girls are being murdered, the Santa Ana winds are blowing a strange energy into the city, and all signs point to fire season.

More pressing for Anya Morris, though, is the drudgery of living at home, working part time at the family store, and contending with her mother’s disdain for the acting career Anya knows she’s destined for but that feels more impossible by the day.

It’s in this suffocating late summer heat that Anya receives a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, an invitation to work for the de Witt family, one of LA’s most influential film dynasties. Soon, she’s spending her days and nights at their strange villa high in the Hollywood hills, where she meets Jude, a recluse who is both the family’s heir apparent and its most closely guarded secret.

There’s a magnetism to Jude that Anya cannot resist, despite warning signs that scream like sirens in the night. Because the villa holds generations of bloodstained history, and an occult family curse may even live within its walls—or within Jude himself.

In this city, everyone cuts a deal with the devil. When Anya comes face to face with a devil of her own, she’ll learn just how far she’s willing to go to get everything she’s ever wanted.

Content Warning: murder, gore, violence

World Building: Set in present day, Los Angeles, Anya is half white and Filipino, struggling to become an actress. She gets a job offer by a powerful family in the movie industry, that pays good, but the job is a little strange. Anya loves the perks of being on the inside though even if she’s basically a baby-sitter for a grown man. I really enjoyed Anya’s Filipino family that was represented. But another thing is happening in this story, there are murders happening around Los Angeles, and Anya might somehow gotten herself tangled in the middle of it all. So there is a very dark undercurrent to this story.

Characters: Anya is a morally gray character who is trying to break into the movie industry but also dealing with feelings of inadequacy because her mom expects more from her. But we learn just how far she will go to see her dreams come true. I also liked how she had a complicated relationship with her mom and how that plays out. Jude, is a very mystery character – but is he a killer? We are in his thoughts and head a lot, which got confusing because there are two voices in his head! There are other characters from the De Witt family that is central to this story.

Romance: I was not expecting any romance in this and it’s definitely not the kind that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. I was kind of disgusted and scared for Anya at the same time. There is spice, but like I said, it’s a confusing situation because Anya is attracted to the mystery of Jude, but also enticed by his darkness because she thinks there is a darkness in her too.

Story: This story is wild, chaotic and weird. It’s a story about power and how much one will do for it. Was it easy to follow? No, not really. Because at times it felt like a fever dream! Of course so much is revealed at the end, but I couldn’t tell if Jude’s reality and his thoughts were something I could trust. And though I liked Anya, she would slip into delusions, as if her life was a movie script. I did like how the murder mystery is played out but again, it was not straight forward.

Narrator(s): It is dual narrators and both did such an amazing job, especially the male narrator who had to voice a mentally unstable character! He brought the right amount of crazy and creepiness to the character. The female narrator did so good with the Filipino accents, I felt like I was listening to my own family. I actually switched back and forth from ebook to audiobook and I have to say the audiobook really added something more to the story compared to when I just read it as an ebook.

Final Thoughts:

This was unique, strange, confusing, weird and not exactly for me. But did I listen to this audiobook to the end? Yes, because the narrators did a fantastic job keeping me interested and I had to find out who was committing the murders. There were some things I liked about the story, Anya trying to navigate her world as half white and half Filipino – and her complicated relationship with her mom. Trying to figure out Jude was a little harder. I enjoyed the murder mystery too but overall, I think people who want a story where that is a little out there will enjoy this one more than I did.

Read if you like:

murder mystery – serial killer

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

The Atlas Six by. Olivie Blake | Book Review – 4 stars

Vow of Eternal Night by. Lily Crozier | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️.5

Title: Vow of Eternal Night

Author: Lily Crozier

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 8/4/26

Publisher: Entangled: Amara

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Vampires, Gothic

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

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

Clara Wagner has always known that monsters are real, and the worst of them is Prince Raleigh of Rostenburg. But when he decides it’s time to marry, Clara inadvertently finds herself at the center of his attention.

Forced to accept Raleigh’s proposal, Clara would do anything to escape her fate. So when the prince provides an ultimatum―lift his vampiric curse before the end of the year, or become his bride for eternity―Clara knows what she must do.

Heal the prince. Stay alive. Try not to fall in love.

Content Warning: death, grief, violence

Set in world (I think in Austria) where vampires and other monsters are real, Clara is forced to be engaged to Prince Raleigh of Rostenburg. But they have a bargain, if Clara can figure out how to cure Raleigh from his vampirism, he will let her go.

This is a slow burn, low spice vampire romance with lots of gothic vibes. I actually loved Clara and Raleigh’s interactions – they are both grumpy characters which made things entertaining. She is not afraid of him and adjusts to her situation of captivity pretty well I think. Raleigh is not a very aggressive and alpha male type of vampire but yet at times can still be scary because he is what he is. He left her alone a lot, which was one of my issues. I would have loved to see them getting to know each other better and have more of a build up to the romance. It has one spice scene and though I loved their bickering at times, I wanted more. The story gave Beauty and Beast vibes, which I enjoyed and is told like a fairytale.

There is found family, secrets, betrayals and I was really interested to see how this would all play out and if Clara could break Raleigh’s curse. There is also action and some vampire fights which I thought were fun. I’m a sucker for relics like silver crosses being a weapon against vampires!

Final Thoughts:

I thought this was a fun retelling of Beauty & the Beast, but with a vampire twist. It has a great gothic and fairytale atmosphere and the main characters were entertaining in the interactions. I just wanted a little more from the romance and maybe it was a bit predictable but I still had fun reading it, especially because of the action scenes. This is a pretty solid debut!

Read if you like:

standalone
vampires
Beauty and the Beast retelling

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Ravenous by. Kresley Cole | ARC and ALC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Title: Revenous (Immortals Untold, #1)

Author: Kresley Cole

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 352

Listening Hours: 12 hours 56 min

Narrator: Robert Petkoff

Publication Date: 7/28/26

Publisher: Bloom Books

Categories: Romantasy, Fantasy, 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 Bloom Books for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Beyond the mortal world lies the Skein, a realm of mythic beauty and savage desire ruled by creatures of legend. Here, vampires, witches, demons, and wolves wage war―and hunt their pleasures just as fiercely.

Now, the Accession has begun, an ancient cycle of chaos and destiny that reignites old hostilities and forges fated bonds too hot to resist.

A witch queen on the rise defies the brutal wolf king who stands in her way. But when fate twists their battlefield into a bed of temptation, sworn enemies become something far more perilous. Lovers.

A vampire princess trades her crown for freedom, only to be bound to a scarred Berserker, a man whose possessive touch both terrifies and tempts her.

An incubus spy and a cunning vampiress strike a dangerous bargain for survival, and profit, but lust becomes the one gamble neither expected.

And when a wolf and an enchantress from opposing clans dare to make peace, their forbidden attraction could doom the Skein…or spark a love that defies the gods.

Brimming with intrigue, bloody mayhem, and scorching heat, Ravenous plunges readers into the world of Immortals Untold―where magic kills, surrender triumphs, and immortal hungers can never be sated…

Content Warning: violence, death, someone wanting to commit incest

This author has been around a long time and she used to write paranormal romance – the one series I was hooked on was The Arcana Chronicles though I have yet to read the last book. So I was going into this story with hope the series would be like that one…but here are my thoughts.

World Building: This world has everything: berserkers, witches, valkyries, vampires, shifters, demons…I don’t remember if the fae appeared in the book but they were mentioned. The Accession has started which means everyone is at one another’s throats, or being bound to one another. I think the Skein – this world, is fascinating but things moved on too quickly because there are so many POVs that I felt like I didn’t get a good feel of each place.

Characters: There are 15 POVs. Yes…15…and I almost DNF’d this book because of it but it is in third person so it helped a little. I actually couldn’t listen to the audiobook because of this. There is one narrator and he had to do all 15 and I just wasn’t feeling it. I didn’t DNF but I skimmed to the characters that I was interested in, which were Lia and Arctos – a vampire and a berserker which made for such a strange combination but they respected one another’s space and was the only one not doing anything sexual. Inkletter (I could not get over his name, he went by Ink thank goodness) and Nadje (Incubus and vampire) had a spicy start that actually made me laugh out loud because of how his body part was described. Thane and Ditch are a wild pair (werewolf and witch)…anyway there are too many POVs so connecting with some characters was difficult. Also Lia’s brother is awful, he is trying to mate with her, I was wondering if we were in the Game of Thrones! I almost couldn’t read this book because of it but I pushed on to see if there was someone who would finish him! 😅

Romance: With such a large cast, there was lots of spice in this one, lots of insta-lust situations. I think that’s why I gravitated towards Lia and Arctos who are just trying to get past being enemies to being friends since they were forced to marry. I’d like to see how their relationship grows. The one couple that did love each other was already married, Torben and Dagny – I did love them! Lowell and Meera’s story though infuriated me by the end. Thane and Ditch are the wild ones, wild for one another which was amusing with how they tease one another.

Story: This was chaotic. Did I almost DNF? Yes. But did I also skim and push through? Yes! I’ve only read one series from this author and yes it also had a big cast, but for some reason that felt more streamlined than this was. Also, I don’t remember the writing being like this where it made me cringe a lot – just some of the sexual situations and descriptions made me cackle out loud. Now did I find a spot in this chaotic story that kind of drew me in? Yes, with Lia and Arctos story because they were the only ones not in a sexual haze. With them I could focus on world building and the politics. So even in the chaos, I was slightly entertained, I just had to find the characters that I connected to.

Final Thoughts:

This wasn’t quite what I expected and I couldn’t finish the book as an audiobook because there were so many POVs to follow, so having the ebook helped a lot. I think there are some good concepts in this book, especially with the political intrigue happening with each of the species and having them bond outside of their species makes things even more complicated but also interesting. I just wish there wasn’t so much going and POVs to follow. Also some of the writing and language just didn’t work for me. This is one of the series where I’m not sure if I will pick up the next book, it will probably depend on my mood and reviews from other readers. If you like all of this author’s body of work, I think you will like this because you are used to her writing. It was just different from what I read from her so for me it was a mess, but a sometimes entertaining mess.

Read if you like:

multiple POVs
a world with different species
insta-lust romances

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️.5

Title: The Anatomy of Magic (#1)

Author: Alexis L. Menard

Pages: 479

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 6/30/26

Categories: Steampunk Fantasy, Romance, Magic, Series

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

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

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

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

Content Warning: violence, death, medical horror

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

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

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

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

Final Thoughts:

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

Read if you like:

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

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Tides of Fortune by. Lauryn Hamilton Murray | ARC and ALC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating:

Title: Tides of Fortune (Storm Weaver, #2)

Author: Lauryn Hamilton Murray

Format: eBook (NetGalley) and audiobook (netgalley)

Pages: 480

Listening Hours: approx. 16 hrs

Publication Date: 7/21/26

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

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

Return to the spellbinding world of Heir of Storms in the explosive second installment to the Storm Weaver trilogy, perfect for fans of Red Queen, Throne of Glass, and The Rose Bargain.

Having survived three treacherous trials to win her crown, Blaze is now Queen of the Aquatori. But before she can take the throne, she must set out to find the Eye of the Soul, one of the realm’s most powerful weapons, before another claims its power for themself.

Her journey will take her deep into the forests of Ostacre and into a temporary alliance with the infuriating but undeniably compelling Fox. She can’t help but feel drawn to him. . . but can she trust him? Fortune favors the brave, but will it protect the Storm Weaver on her most dangerous mission yet?

Narrated by not just Blaze, but her brother, Flint, and the newly-discovered Shadow Magi, Elva, the epic journey that began in Heir of Storms continues in the sweeping adventure of Tides of Fortune.

Content Warning: violence

World Building: There are 3 POVs in this sequel – Blaze, Flint and Elva. Elva’s POV gives us insight into what is happening with Hal and the kingdom he is ruling, but his grip on his power is fragile. Blaze and Fox are together and antagonizing one another, and Flint finds himself with Spinner and Sheen. There is a lot of traveling in this story which is very different than book one.

Characters: I think there is a lot of growth in these characters in this sequel because they are split up and dealing with their own situations. Flint is hilarious, and dealing with Sheen and Spinner makes things interesting. Blaze is trying to trust Fox, and I feel like they learn so much more about one another. As for Elva and Hal, Elva has to make some hard choices, but their story was sad.

Romance: There are three romances taking place. Of course my favorite is Blaze and Fox, who have a very enemies to lovers type of relationship. I was always looking forward to Blaze’s POV because of their banter. Flint has an interesting development in his love life. And there is Elva and Hal, and they have their own challenges.

Story: This is definitely different from book one, and I found it a little harder to get into. I think because there was a lot of travel and I didn’t feel like much was happening. But there was a lot of character development, which is fine, but it just felt slower and took me longer to read. I still love Blaze and Fox the best, whenever I read her POV, I felt like the story moved faster because I cared about them so much more.

Narrator(s): Loved the narrators voices, and their accents were great.

Final Thoughts:

I think this is a solid sequel and there is more character development. It did go a bit more slowly for me, compared to when I was reading the first book. The narrators did a great job and I loved their voices.

Read if you like:

fantasy
romance
banter

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Heir of Storms by. Lauryn Hamilton Murray | Book Review – 4 stars

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

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️.5

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

Author: Kathryn Ann Kingsley

Pages: 298

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 7/10/26

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Content Warning: violence, death

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

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

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

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

Final Thoughts:

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

Read if you like: