Summer in the City by. Alex Aster | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Summer in the City

Author: Alex Aster

Format: hardcover (own)

Pages: 304

Publication Date: 3/25/25

Categories: Romance, Contemporary, Rom-Com

Twenty-seven-year-old screenwriter Elle has the chance of a lifetime to write a big-budget movie set in New York City. The only problem? She’s had writer’s block for months, and her screenplay is due at the end of the summer.

In a desperate attempt at inspiration, Elle ends up back in the city she swore she would never return to, in an apartment she could never afford (floor-to-ceiling windows, skyline views, and a new coffee shop to haunt included). It’s the perfect place to write her screenplay…until she realizes her new neighbor is tech “Billionaire Bachelor” Parker Warren, her stairwell hookup from two years ago. It’s been a lovers-to-enemies situation ever since.

When seeing him again turns into a full night of hate-fueled writing, Elle realizes her enemy/twisted muse might just be the key to finishing her screenplay… if she can stand being around her polar opposite. She writes anonymously, and he’s on the cover of every business magazine. He frequents fancy red carpeted events, and she doesn’t like leaving her emotional support five block radius.

One summer. One wall apart. He needs to fake a buzzy relationship during his company’s precarious acquisition. She needs to write a movie around a list of NYC locations. Both need a break from their unrelenting schedules, and a chance to rediscover the skyscraper glimmering, pizza crusted, sunlit charms of the city.

Summers always end, and so will this agreement. It’s all pretend. Promise.

Until it isn’t.

Content Warning: parental illness/death

+ I finally read my copy of this book and I’m glad I saved it for summer because I was definitely in the mood for it now.

+ Elle is an anonymous, famous screen-writer who hates New York City even though she went to college at Columbia. But it gives her bad memories of her mom being sick, so college wasn’t easy for her. She also had a fleeting moment with a stranger in a club who ended up being a very famous tech billionaire but she also has bad memories of that too, only because he came off like he wanted to buy her time. Fast-forward a few years and she bumps into him again but this time he convinces her to fake-date him for PR reasons and it will be his one free summer before his company gets sold and he gets busy.

+ I love how the fake-dating and Elle’s screen-writing project takes them all over New York City. The book transported me to the city and made me think of my own fond memories of the one trip I took there years ago. It’s definitely place that feels like anything can happen and the author captures that.

+ Parker is a green-flag fake boyfriend! Even if he came off like he was a jerk in their first meeting, every meeting after that showed how he was a nice guy. I loved him. As for Elle, she’s not going to be likable to many readers because she’s cynical and mad at Parker for nothing. She has major trust issues because of how her dad treated her mom. I can see why she is the way she is. I liked seeing these two people take the summer to get to know one another and it is a slow burn. All the spice comes near the end!

~ This was almost a 4-5 star read for me and then the fake-dating contract ends abruptly, because of Elle and that’s not the only conflict. There is another moment where Elle pulls away again, but I get why because things were happening too soon, too fast and too much, but she so tested my patience. Those two break-ups was unnecessary and brought my enjoyment of the book lower. Parker is a saint for being as patient with her as he was. I get that she had issues but this guy clearly is in love with her and wants to give her the world, patience and understanding that she doesn’t think she deserves. It could have ended perfectly with a happy ever after, but those two moments just ruined it for me.

Final Thoughts:

I saw that this book was going to made into a movie and I think it will be great as a rom-com film because of how it’s set in NYC. Even though I didn’t love the break-up moments, I still think overall this is a fun, perfect for summer reading, rom-com book. I also think I like this author’s contemporary book more than her fantasy series, and will be interested to see if she writes more.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Enigma by. RuNyx| Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Enigma (Bloodwing Academy, #2)

Author: RuNyx

Format: ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

Pages: 463

Publication Date: 4/29/25

Categories: Dark Romance, Dark Academia, Gothic

Enigma, a twisted Hades and Persephone meets scorching dark academia romance—a tale of love and obsession between two rivals.

There are secrets she must uncover.

There are secrets he must keep.

Salem Salazar is fascinated with death. The black sheep of her scandal-ridden, wealthy family, she arrives at Mortimer University as a legacy on the hunt for answers about what happened to her perfect, older sister. There, she discovers that her sister is far from the only girl to have gone missing at Mortimer. Salem will do anything to discover what dark forces are killing Mortimer’s students…even if it means using herself as bait.

And Cazimir van der Waal has caught her scent. The mysterious artist and teaching assistant has a dark past, a hidden agenda, and a ravenous appetite for a beautiful, golden-eyed girl who seems determined to risk her life.

Where she is ice, he is fire. Where she is organization, he is chaos. Where she is precision, he is passion. Together they are explosive–their fates linked as secret societies and death stalk them both.

Enigma is a sensual, epic love story for those who also crave the frightful, the puzzling, the suspenseful, the dangerous and the dark.

Welcome to Mortimer.

Enigma
*Dark academia romance
*Steamy suspense
*Rivals to lovers
*Secret societies
*Forbidden love

Content Warning: death, mentions of suicide,

I have never read a book by this author and finally got this one since it was on Kindle Unlimited:

+ Our main male character Caz is a tortured soul, he’s a TA, an artist with a pencil always in his hand but he’s got anger issues. When he zeroes in on Salem, it’s over, he is possessive and wants her bad. Salem has the same attraction towards him, but she really wants to wipe that smirk off his face. She can’t stop wanting this bad boy artist.

+ I do think this book was more romance focused but I didn’t mind because I thought Salem and Caz’s relationship was really addicting. He’s filled with passion and anger and she balances him even though she has a cold and icy personate, inside she’s really not and they complimented one another. His possessiveness is kind of toxic but it works out for them! It is spicy but nothing too overboard.

+ The atmosphere was gothic and dark academia which I enjoyed a lot. It was perfect for the mystery of the deaths on campus and rumors of a secret society. I also thought some side characters were really interesting and wanted to see more of, like Baron.

~ Didn’t really see the rivals to lovers between Salem and Caz. Caz is a teacher’s assistant, so I feel like they weren’t really competing for anything in class, maybe the scholarship? But even with that it wasn’t like they were in a fierce competition for it.

~ This story was more focused on the romance, and I feel like it needed more when it came to the mystery of the deaths and secret society department. Salem is studying criminology and I didn’t think she did much with the investigation except for a few things. Baron and Caz kept things really hush hush and there wasn’t a lot of information coming from them either.

Final Thoughts:

I wasn’t sure how I would like this one but it was a nice little escape and I enjoyed the dark romance between Caz and Salem. I also liked the dark academia setting, I just wish there was more about the secret societies and maybe a little more suspense.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Bond That Burns by. Briar Boleyn| Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: The Bond That Burns (Bloodwing Academy, #2)

Author: Briar Boleyn

Format: ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

Pages: 395

Publication Date: 12/27/24

Categories: Romantasy, Dark Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Bully Romance

At Bloodwing Academy, blood is currency, but a dragon’s legacy is priceless–and as dangerous as fire.

I thought surviving my first year in Bloodwing’s deadly halls would be enough. I was wrong.

I accidentally woke a dragon–a creature of myth, of death, of fire.

Now every highblood house wants control over me and the dragon’s legacy I carry. But here’s the I have no control. I’m bluffing my way through every encounter, trying to keep everyone from realizing that I’m not the one pulling the dragon’s strings.

And then there’s Blake Drakharrow. I thought he was on my side, that I might even be able to trust him. But he betrayed me. Now I’m his only blood source. How messed up is that? In a place like Bloodwing, where power and survival are everything, this bond may well be the death of us both. Unless I can find a way to end it.

In this world of vampires, dragons, and lies, there are no happy endings. Just legends–and the darkness it takes to make them.

Content Warning: violence, death, bullying; the book has an extensive list of trigger warnings

I read book two since it was on kindle limited and I was like why not – I just finished book one, let’s push on.

+ Still love Medra’s friendships with Florence, Theo and Visha. Also her growing bond with the dragon, Nyxaris, who has a right to mistrust vampires and everyone else.

+ There is more dragons in this story than learning about vampire lore. Now the story has focused on figuring out what happened to dragons in the past since of course Nyxaris conveniently doesn’t remember much. It’s a mystery that Medra promised Nyyxaris she would learn about and provide the dragon with that missing information.

+ Loved that Kage was featured more in this book – I honestly wish he was the love interest.

~ I do not like Blake. I just couldn’t stand his downward spiral in this book. This is where the bully romance really shows (more than in book one). He is going through a change (something of course I figured out right away once it was hinted in the book) – but he is losing control because of his need for Medra. He is possessive, jealous, angry, but she’s trying her best to push him away (uncessfully), but he is such an ass to her. Maybe growth will come for him in book three but I don’t know if I’ll read it, I can’t stand to hear him say everything is his fault and then he messes up again. Come on Blake! Medra needs to grow also – why is she always getting betrayed by the end of the story? Like no one is steps ahead in this story except Viktor, Blake’s uncle and he’s the villain!

~ The romance is now not so enemies to lovers. She “hates” him but loves to have sex with him. So they are in the enemies with benefits stage, I guess? I don’t know because this is the first time I have actually skipped all the smut in a book because I just couldn’t stand the characters being with one another! 😅. I got tired of the back and forth.

~ Medra finally mentions a tiny bit about her past. Crumbs. Why haven’t we learned more about her fae upbringing yet? Why the long wait? Why is her mother’s spirit in a knife? She brings her along randomly and they can talk in Medra’s head when she has the knife, but it’s so strange. Just gives us more information about Medra!

~ Blake’s sister is still feral. Then Mr. Rodriguez who was supposedly a nice teacher thinks to create a secret society dragon hunter on his own – like what? More things happen but actually they all happen at the end and then there’s a cliffhanger. And why are all the good people getting hurt and dying?

~ The writing isn’t my favorite. It’s simple to read but some things just doesn’t flow well and there is just too much going on.

Final Thoughts:

I was happy this book was shorter than the first, but at least in book one Blake only had hints of being horrible and there was more academia, trials, drama and politics to keep the story moving. This one focused more on the bully romance and I hate a bully so I do not like Blake in this book at all, so much so that I dislike the romance between him and Medra a lot. I did like Medra’s friendships but I hope there is LOTS of growth for Blake and Medra in book three but I kind out doubt there will be. If I read book three it won’t be for the romance, but for the dragons, Kage Tanaka and maybe to learn something more about Medra’s past.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

On Wings of Blood by. Briar Boleyn ⭐️⭐️⭐️

On Wings of Blood by. Briar Boleyn| Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: On Wings of Blood (Bloodwing Academy, #1)

Author: Briar Boleyn

Format: ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

Pages: 523

Publication Date: 11/30/24

Categories: Romantasy, Dark Romance, Enemies to Lovers

What do you get if you mix Harry Potter with Fourth Wing, Zodiac Academy, a dash of Arthurian legend, and lots and lots of vampires? Bloodwing Academy.

I didn’t sign up for this.

A half-fae in a school of highblood vampires? That’s a recipe for torment.

I’m Medra Pendragon—last of the dragon riders, or so they tell me. Funny thing is, there are no dragons left. Not a single one. But somehow, that hasn’t stopped the vampires from deciding I’m worth capturing. Now I’m stuck at Bloodwing Academy, where the highbloods run everything and blightborn like me? We’re just blood in their veins, pawns in their games.

But that’s not even the worst part. Enter Blake Drakharrow. Cold, arrogant, and way too gorgeous for his own good. He’s been tormenting me since the moment we met, and now, thanks to some ancient ritual, we’re betrothed. He acts like he owns me, but I’m not going down without a fight.

Bloodwing isn’t just a school—it’s a battlefield. Highbloods fight for power, and if you’re weak? You’re dead.

Between deadly competitions, lies that could get me executed, and a dragon-shaped secret looming over my head, all I have to do is survive. Easy, right? Except I’m starting to think the real danger isn’t the academy—it’s what I’m becoming in this twisted game of power.

And Blake? He might just be the one who pushes me over the edge.

They think they can control me. They think they can use me.

But they have no idea what they’ve awakened.

Content Warning: violence, death, bullying; the book has an extensive list of trigger warnings

Okay, I finally pushed through and read this book which is a sensation on booktok! And I have a few thoughts. Let’s start with the good.

+ I always love a dark academia type of book. I don’t know why, but I always have and I did enjoy it in this story as well. In Bloodwing Academy, there are four main vampire houses that rule. The blightblood who are not vampires but allowed into the school will be funneled into a certain house by the end of the year. The students learn different things like combat, healing, history, and more.

+ Medra Pendragon, is fae/human, but forced to be bound to a vampire prince, Blake Drakharrow, because of her dragon rider mark. For the most part I thought she is an interesting character who has lots of fight in her, and secrets. Because she dropped out of nowhere, she knew nothing about vampires and their world so she questioned a lot of the authority figures. It will be interesting to see what happens in book two.

+ I did find the world-building fascinating because I also do love a good vampire story. There was a lot to learn about the vampires, dragon riders and then there is Medra who is fae and just dropped out of her world into this vampire one.

+ I enjoyed the found family Medra created with her new friends at Bloodwing Academy especially since some of the highblood vampires, Blake’s friends, were trying to make her life hell.

~ This was almost a DNF in chapter one because I was lost and confused. And I put it aside for weeks but kept seeing tiktoks about it and I really wanted to know what the fuss was about so I finally PUSHED through the beginning and once Medra is at the academy things start to make sense. So I didn’t like how this book started.

~ I don’t love the romance. They are forced to be bound because of Blake’s uncle, and because this book was mostly world-building and learning about vampires since Medra is clueless about this world, I felt like they didn’t have much interaction. When they did interact I didn’t feel any chemistry and yet he’s obsessed with her. There is one real spicy scene between them, I think two fantasies, but just one real one and even then I felt it came on suddenly. And then he goes and messes it all up – really Blake? (And why is this hot, scary vampire named Blake?!) I’m reading book two just to see if he can redeem himself. Honestly, I wanted her to end up with Kage Tanaka!

~ I think there was too much going on in this story. There is Medra’s secret fae identity, she’s a dragon rider – how? Why? And then her mother that died at birth is in her thoughts, she is talking to her spirit, but that kind of goes away in the middle of the story? And Blake’s sister is going feral. Then Medra has to do all these trials, plus all the schooling she taking on. It just didn’t flow well for me. It felt all over the place.

Final Thoughts:

This would have been a DNF if I didn’t power through and in conclusion it’s one of those books that is entertaining if you like all the tropes like dark academia, enemies to lovers, found family and more. I didn’t love the writing style and it might be just me but I had trouble with the formatting of the text not having indentations (it was driving me crazy which made me want to DNF at first). I didn’t love the romance either – will there be someone else for Medra? Probably not, so let’s see if things change in book two and I am reading book two because of the dragon aspect of the story which only really emerged at the end of this book. I think it has a lot of potential but just didn’t love the execution of it.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Bound in Inked Flame by. Ava Larksen| Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Bound in Inked Flame (Of Crows and Thorns Saga, #1)

Author: Ava Larksen

Format: ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

Pages: 731

Publication Date: 2/27/25

Categories: New Adult, Romantasy, Dark Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Crime Families

When I signed myself away in marriage, I should have read the fine print. Ink fades—blood binds.

I’m a prisoner, trapped behind gilded gates, my freedom traded for safety. Magic pulses beneath my skin, wild and forbidden. In our world of ruling Houses, wielding such power means death. One slip, one spark—everyone I love dies.

As a princess of the Great House, I should have been untouchable. But in a cruel twist of fate, a ruthless family of enforcers claims the right to choose any bride. Now I’m to marry the infuriating Graysen Crowther. Our loathing is legendary, but with only a wall between us each night, hatred burns into something far more treacherous. One touch and I might lose something far worse than my life—my traitorous heart.

As my control fractures and betrayal tightens its noose, my only chance at survival lies in escaping to seek the monster who holds the truth about my magic. Yet when a bargained kiss unleashes an unbreakable bond, dark suspicion whispers through my bones that I’m caught in a blood-soaked web.

For in this deadly game of power, where trust is a luxury I can’t afford, Graysen moves like someone who’s been playing long before I knew there was a game.

And his secret might prove more lethal than any forbidden magic.

BOUND IN INKED FLAME is the first book in the OF CROWS AND THORNS SAGA, an epic dark romantasy. Perfect for readers who crave plot-heavy, character-driven sagas drenched in atmosphere and rich world-building—where dark mysteries unravel alongside a slow-burn romance and heart-wrenching choices that threaten to destroy everything. Please note this book ends on a cliffhanger. For content warnings, please check the author’s website.

Content Warning: violence, death, sexual assault, attempted rape

+ I picked this up on a whim because of the cover, the synopsis and some 5 star ratings. 30% into the book I almost DNF’ed this book. Why did I push through? I wanted to know what power Nelle had and I like a good complicated drama with families who hate each other, I wanted to see how that would turn out. Plus the loathing between Nelle and Graysen was palpable and I wanted to see how slow or quick they turned into lovers.

+ Nelle Wychthorn, is from a great House. Graysen Crowther, is from an old but lower House. And they are bound to marry each other, but they cannot marry until she turns 20. For now, they spend one day a year with one another, until now when her older sister is about to be engaged to a man from another House and there will be weekend festivities and Graysen must attend. These two HATE each other, I like that she gave as good as he gave but she was still the younger of the two, she’s 19 and I think he’s like 25? Or something like that.

+ This is an interesting world – the Horned Gods rule these crime families, but this world is apart from the real world, there is a scene where the FMC and MMC even go to New York City. Any person who is “other”, which is someone with powers, is supposed to be given to the Horned Gods at birth. Some people though, like the Crowthers have minimal magic that the Gods do allow like having truesight.

+ I enjoy a story with crime families that don’t like each other and it’s very true here in this one. The Wychthorns are the top dog of houses, and everyone bows to them because they have favor from the Horned Gods. But I like seeing the different drama families had with one another. The biggest one being between Nelle and Graysen’s family which really puts a wrench in their love story. I liked when Nelle’s sisters or Graysen’s brothers (especially Caidan) were in the story.

+~ The romance is enemies to lovers. I love the tension and fighting between Nelle and Graysen – they hate each other a lot. I like that she fights him, but then starts to care for him and I can see why she would if he’s the only relationship she’s had – bad as it has started out, he is still the only one she’s ever spent time with. In that sense, their relationship is a bit dark and toxic because she knows nothing else except him. And this isn’t a slow burn when it comes to spice…now will there be love? I don’t know, when you think Graysen will just let go and admit he cares, he withdraws back into himself again. There is a lot of betrayal in this story also and by the end of this book I was hoping Nelle never forgives Graysen. It will take a lot for ME to forgive him, he will need to grovel bad.

~ I read this 700+ pager in one day, because I had time but I did also almost DNF’ed this because of nothing much happening in the first 30% of the book. I just wasn’t feeling it and the world building felt so vague. There was focus on Nelle and Graysen’s spice, but I wanted more than that. I stuck around but still, I almost gave up a few times because some things became repetitive.

~ The book has a part where a character mentions reading smut on a Kindle and it took me out of the story, it called me out lol (and I almost DNF’ed right then and there). I think it was the mention of a real-time device in a fantasy world that was a little jarring. Also Nelle is 19 and secretly so powerful but then she would talk like a brat and say “As if…” and I’m so old that it just reminded me of the movie Clueless! 🤭 So then I would think this FMC is ridiculous. I get it she’s young, she didn’t have much control over things even though she tried, she’s sassy and doesn’t like being told what to do. But she’s super powerful and we are reminded of it over and over. I did wish many times that she was older than 19, like 23 or something and was out of the brat stage.

~ Pacing. Sometimes the spicy scenes would take chapters and they really only had one weekend together. But I wanted to learn more about the families and the Gods. Yes, the smut drew me in but it still could have been shortened. So it would go from Nelle’s sexual awakening and them fighting (again/always) to them remembering oh yeah they are there for her sister’s engagement festivities and the Horned Gods were coming so Nelle better keep this secret power inside her in check. There was some good action here and there and then the big event at the end, but pacing could have been better and it could have been less repetitive.

~ I need Nelle to get ruthless and stay ruthless after all the stuff happening to her. She was literally a child when all this drama happened and she was being blamed without even knowing it. I was warming up to Graysen (okay so he’s sexy, hot and protected her – BUT he still pissed me off). And after that ending, I need Nelle to cut him off and punish him and his family for a little bit. I don’t know if I will forgive him – there was a strange mention of a better option vaguely in the story (so many things were vague!), but is there another option out there for her?

Final Thoughts:

I am so surprised I read this in one day after wanting to DNF it a few times but I saw so much potential with the world building. I was drawn to this world of crime lords all fighting and betraying one another. I like that there is an enemies to lovers romance, but I don’t know if I can forgive you now Graysen Crowther. So much could be cut out to make this story move faster and be tighter. I need Nelle to grow up a little and stop acting like a brat, learn some lessons! I need Graysen to grovel 😅 for forgiveness (look I get why he is the way he is, I just need to see if there’s another option for Nelle). I even read the snippet from book two at the end because it has that addictive factor. So I have very mixed feelings about this one but I’m still going to read book two unless that one gets repetitive too and I have to DNF, but I hope some things are cleaned up and it’s shorter. I am definitely here for the drama!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Shield of Sparrows by. Devney Perry | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️

Title: Shield of Sparrows (#1)

Author: Devney Perry

Format: ebook (borrowed – KU) but I also have the hardcover 🤭

Pages: 528

Publication Date: 5/6/25

Categories: Romantasy, Magic, Fantasy, Romance, Series

Shield of Sparrows is a slow-burn, high-stakes romantasy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros―where enemies become lovers, monsters stalk a cursed realm, and a forgotten princess finds the strength to tear off her crown and become the warrior she was never meant to be.

The gods sent monsters to the five kingdoms to remind mortals they must kneel.

I’ve spent my life kneeling―to their will and to my father’s. As a princess, my only duty is to wear the crown and obey the king.

I was never meant to rule. Never meant to fight. And I was never supposed to be the daughter who sealed an ancient treaty with her own blood.

But that changed the fateful day I stepped into my father’s throne room. The day a legendary monster hunter sailed to our shores. The day a prince ruined my life.

Now I’m crossing treacherous lands beside a warrior who despises me as much as I despise him―bound to a future I didn’t choose and a husband I barely know.

Everyone wants me to be something I’m not―a queen, a spy, a sacrifice.

But what if I refused the role chosen for me? What if I made my own rules? What if there’s power in being underestimated?

And what if―for the first time―I reached for it?

Content Warning: violence, death

This was one of the most hyped books in the past few weeks and I fell into the hype and bought the book not knowing it would have been available on kindle unlimited anyway! So I read it on KU because it was easier for me and I put the book trophy on my shelf – it’s a gorgeous book.

+ I really enjoyed the world-building in this story. It’s a world of different kingdoms and there is some politics going on. This world is dangerous with wild creatures always being fought off and a migration of crux (deadly winged beasts) about to take place. There is magic, a lot of secrets and mystery in this story. There is also a mysterious illness affecting the wild animals, so Odessa is trying to help investigate that.

+ Princess Odessa Cross is the eldest child of the King of Quentis and always blending in the background and hiding. It’s her sister who was trained to be Queen and Odessa basically accepts this fate until fate is changed for her by the Prince of Turah who demands to marry her instead of her sister. Odessa is not trained in kingdom politics, or swordplay – her sister was trained to be a spy, not Odessa. She’s flawed, she asks lots of questions but she is not spy material or an assassin at that, but she tries hard and she’s a good person. I think there was a lot of growth for her in this first book.

+ The Guardian has a reputation and Odessa spends more time with him than her actual husband. So it’s not a surprise that an attraction grows between them. He is a protector, he is fierce and menacing and always drenched in blood after killing these beasts that have been attacking the kingdom of late. Odessa finds him irritating until he grows on her. But he trains her to fight, and he’s more than patient with her I’d say. This is a slow burn romance with hardly any spice. But I did love the romance once it got going and some of the secrets and truths are revealed.

~ This is a long book and it does move slowly because it is focused on world-building. But even with the world-building and learning about the different creatures that are terrorizing towns, some things were still left a mystery and will probably be more explained in book two. Things pick up in the second half of the book and the ending finishes with a lot of action. It leaves us with more questions for the sequel.

~ The romance was too much of a slow burn for me. I thought the romance was lovely but I still wanted some of the secrets to be revealed earlier because I could figure out what it was. Odessa spent a lot of time telling the Guardian, Ransom, how much she hated him. It got repetitive and I just wanted her to move on from that because he really wasn’t hateful. That man was keeping her alive!

~ Another thing about Odessa, she was thrown into this role of Shield of Sparrow without any training but wow was she bad at trying to find out information for her dad. And the way that everyone basically betrayed her made me wonder what good is all her questioning (she asks a lot of questions) if she can’t discern who to trust? Is she asking the right questions? She did grow up a princess and maybe not the favored one but I expected her to have some grasp of court politics or be wary of who to trust?

Final Thoughts:

I read this in a cloud of hype and I should have waited to get a better idea of this book without the hype. But after processing my thoughts though, I felt like this book moved too slow for me. I did like the world building – I like the monsters, the magic, the mystery of the disease in the animals, learning the characters and the politics. I even enjoyed the romance, once there was romance – it was too much of a slow burn for me. The second half of this book moved quicker and the ending was filled with action. I did enjoy it and I look forward to reading book two because of all the questions I was left with.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

King of Envy by. Ana Huang | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Title: King of Envy (Kings of Sin, #5)

Author: Ana Huang

Format: ebook (borrowed – KU)

Pages: 530

Publication Date: 4/29/25

Categories: Romance, Series, Dark Romance, Billionaire Romance

He had everything he could’ve wanted…except her.

Dangerous. Powerful. Reclusive.

Vuk Markovic is notorious for shunning human interactions. The scarred billionaire rarely talks, and he has no interest in relationships outside his small but trusted circle.

His only exception? Her . The beauty to his beast, the object of his obsession.

He saw her first. He wanted her first. But now, she’s engaged to his oldest friend—and the closer the wedding looms, the more he’s torn between loyalty and desire.

She should be his…and he might just risk it all to have her.

***
Beautiful. Successful. Glamorous.

To the world, supermodel Ayana Kidane leads the perfect life. Her career has skyrocketed, and she’s engaged to one of New York’s most eligible bachelors.

What people don’t know is that the engagement is only a business arrangement. He gets his inheritance when they marry; she gets the money she needs to leave her abusive agency.

Pretending to be in love should be easy—until she finds herself increasingly drawn to her fiancé’s enigmatic best man.

Vuk thrills and terrifies her in equal measure. She knows she should stay away, but when her wedding is thrown into chaos, he’s the only person she finds comfort in…

Until his past catches up with them and threatens everything they love.

Content Warning: violence, sexual assault, kidnapping

+ This is book #5 of the Kings of Sin series and I didn’t love the last two books. #4 was better than #3 but still I went into this one cautiously and I think this one was slight better than the last one at least when it came to the characters.

+ Ayana is a supermodel and about to marry someone she doesn’t love, but she’s friends with, Jordan. Jordan’s best-friend, Vuk, wants Ayana. So there is that complication which kind of gets solved at the wedding ceremony. I will say the romance between Ayana and Vuk was good. Vuk is all yearning and Ayana is looking at him in a new light when she gets to spend more time with him. Vuk doesn’t speak much, he mostly uses sign-language but when he does speak…it’s with Ayana which I thought was sweet. It’s clear Vuk was always in love with her so seeing them get together was my favorite part of this book.

+ This one is a slow burn, because Ayana is engaged to Jordan. But once she and Vuk give into one another’s attraction, it gets spicy.

~ Though I love Ayana and Vuk’s romance, this story is too long. It’s at 530 pages and really could have been 350 pages or no more than 400. None of the Brotherhood (organized crime) storyline kept my interest. It added a lot of violence and action but still, I was just okay about it and skimmed.

Final Thoughts:

If you like Beauty and the Beast vibes, you will enjoy this book. I did like it better than her last 2 books in this series but I do think it could have been shorter – it didn’t need to be over 500 pages long. I still think King of Wrath is my favorite book from this series, but I did love Ayana and Vuk as a couple in King of Envy.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

King of Sloth by. Ana Huang | Book Review (#4) ⭐️⭐️⭐️

King of Greed by. Ana Huang | Book Review (#3) ⭐️⭐️

King of Pride by. Ana Huang | Book Review (#2) ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

King of Wrath by. Ana Huang | Book Review (#1) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Amid Clouds and Bones by. Ella Fields | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Amid Clouds and Bones

Author: Ella Fields

Format: eBook (KU)

Pages: 403

Publication Date: 7/23/24

Categories: Romantasy, Spicy, Fae, Fantasy, Romance

A princess determined to survive an arranged marriage to a heartless faerie prince is saved by a twist of fate that could destroy their world in this all-new standalone fantasy romance.

As the half faerie daughter of a human king, my days were spent tucked out of sight—until the Seelie Fae sought an alliance with our kingdom. In exchange for my father’s help in defeating their Unseelie enemies, I would wed Atakan the heartless.

The Seelie prince loathed everyone, but none more than me. Throughout the years leading to our nuptials, each encounter grew more terrifying than the last as he demonstrated how he’d earned his infamous reputation.

Fear would only doom me faster. So I learned to hide it with games I soon became happy to play. I wasn’t supposed to crave a monster. But just when I’d thought I might tame the untameable, fate intervened.

And delivered me straight to his enemy.

This fast-paced standalone features true enemies to lovers, arranged marriage, high heat, and a cast of morally grey and villainous characters.

Content Warning: violence, grief, dark romance

This book jumps right away into the romance. It’s between Prince Mildred (half fae/human) and Prince Akatan of the Seelie. They positively loathe one another but to survive in his kingdom as his betrothed, she seduces him instead. They seduce each other, and yes it’s spicy.

And though I did enjoy the hate-seduction going on somewhat, it did feel dark. There isn’t a lot of world-building so the seduction/romance was the main focus. Mildred is caught in between this war with the Seelie and Unseelie, but the story focuses on her survival and her choice in how to survive is seducing her soon-to-be husband. But in between the power plays and insults to one another, they eventually fall for one another. But I almost didn’t believe Atakan because he’s a horrible person. 😅 There is also a love-triangle but once again it was Mildred getting caught up in the politics.

Now, Mildred is an interesting character. I loved that she has a close connection to her sister, but this girl was falling for guys pretty easily Atakan was the bad boy, and Vane the Unseelie king, is a supposed bad boy too but he was actually nice? She’s basically a pawn and I get she’s trying to survive her situation, but I kind of wanted more out of her. Sex was her power but I wanted more.

Final Thoughts:

I didn’t feel like this story got deep and that’s fine because once I realized it was more romance heavy then I stayed for the enemies to lovers vibes. It’s got Fae, lots of spice, two characters hate/loving one another, some political intrigue, shifters, and dragon creatures. Overall, it was a quick read and I was entertained.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Anathema by. Keri Lake | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Anathema (The Eating Woods, #1)

Author: Keri Lake

Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited)

Pages: 688

Publication Date: 9/10/24

Categories: Dark Fantasy, Horror, Romantasy, Gothic, Enemies to Lovers

A spellbinding gothic dark fantasy about a shunned woman who is forced beyond the mortal realm’s forbidden boundary, into a terrifying world of cursed souls and grotesque creatures.

Only the banished know what lies beyond the woods …

There are whispers about what lurks in Witch Knell—the forest where sinners go to die. The villagers call it The Eating Woods because what’s taken is never given back. Only those who’ve lost their senses would dare to go near it.

Or the banished.

Maevyth Bronwick knows better than to breach the misty labyrinth of trees, but a tragic turn of events compels her beyond the archway of bones, to a boundary no mortal has crossed before. One that cloaks a dark and fantastical world that’s as dangerous as it is alluring.

It’s there that he dwells, the cursed lord of Eidolon. The one tasked to keep her hidden from the magehood that seeks to crucify her in the name of an arcane prophesy. Zevander Rydainn, known to his prey as The Scorpion, is the coldest, most calculated assassin in all of Aethyria and he’d sooner toss his feisty ward to a pack of vicious fyredrakes than keep her safe.

If only he could.

Maevyth’s blood is the key to breaking his despised curse and vanquishing the slumbering evil in Witch Knell. Unfortunately for Lord Rydainn, fate has other plans for the irresistible little enchantress. And his growing obsession with her threatens to destroy everything.

Including himself.

Anathema is a full-length, gothic dark fantasy, the first book in The Eating Woods duology. Perfect for readers who enjoy a plot-heavy and atmospheric story with a unique magic system, a slow-burn romance and a touch of horror.

Content Warning: grief, trauma, child abuse, sexual abuse, abuse, violence, horror, sexual assault, threat of rape, body horror

I picked this book to read for my Spell the Month tbr challenge because the title starts with an A, so I can fulfill ones of the A’s for the month of January. So I went into this pretty blind!

I don’t think I’ve read a book this dark in a long while. This story is told between two POVs, Maevyth, who is a mortal and Zevander, who lives in another world. The mortal world Maevyth lives in is pretty horrible. Women have no rights, any girl caught in a scandal is left to the Eating Woods and it happens to her sister, Aleysia but Maevyth will not give her up. Zevander is a cold-hearted assassin and he has a lot on his plate: trying to break the curse upon him, trying to keep his family safe, and carrying out jobs for the king. When these two cross paths, it’s a slow, SLOW, burn filled with desire and challenges. But I did love their interactions when they were together! The romance comes together at the end but it really took a long time to get there.

As characters, I like Maevyth – she loves her sister, fights for her and she’s the sunshine to Zevander’s darkness. As for Zevander, he is a complicated man with such a traumatic past. Some of his trauma was too dark for me that I almost didn’t want to finish the book. The slow burn was so slow and this is not a short book, it’s just under 700 pages!

Also with the 600+ pages and so much going, I felt it was too long. I did find myself invested in Maevyth’s mysterious past and wanting Zevander to break the curse but there were times I did have to skim, like when Maevyth was training and learning all the lore about the Corvikae – there was just a lot of world building. I felt like more action in the middle would have moved the story faster.

But the author did a great job with the dark, horror (the spiders!, and body horror), gothic vibes. The atmosphere of this world is dangerous, brutal and very much not so kind to women. I also felt sick with the sexual and physical abuse that Zevander relives in memories and nightmares – poor guy.

Final Thoughts:

This one was almost too dark for me to read but I did like Maevyth and Zevander’s love story even though it was a very slow burn. I thought the world-building was fascinating even though the story was very long. Will I read book two? I think I will because I want to see how it goes for Maevyth and Zevander, and hello, that cliffhanger? I’m just too curious to see what will happen next but I just hope it isn’t 600+ pages long again.😬

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Yes No Maybe by. Jessica Sherry | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Yes No Maybe

Author: Jessica Sherry

Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited)

Pages: 330

Publication Date: 4/30/24

Categories: Romance, Contemporary, Slow Burn, Chick Lit

Teacher and fix-it queen Rowan Mackey avoids attention. Afflicted with serious burns as a teenager, she gets too many unwanted stares already. Consequently, her difficult dating history has taught her to dislike romance, too. So, it’s no surprise when her boyfriend’s extravagant public proposal goes sideways.

Longing for a safe, quiet life with Dean and believing his “independent together” arrangement is her best hope for companionship and a family, Rowan buys the perfect little house to fix things.

Problem is… she shares a property line with Jack Graham, a bestselling romance writer and party-centric playboy, who quickly becomes her next door nemesis. He makes it very clear—he doesn’t want a new neighbor. But when clashes with Rowan end his year-long writer’s block, he must explore his creative fascination with his reluctant muse under atypical Neighbor. Engaged. Off-limits.

These opposites attract, forging a surprise connection. Boundaries vanish as tension rises between them, and they face emotionally charged choices.

Will Rowan risk her safe life with Dean for a chance with the grumpy playboy next door? And will Jack change everything to find the inspiration he craves with the one woman he shouldn’t?

Content Warning: grief, trauma, memories of assault

I picked this book to read for my Spell the Month tbr challenge because the title starts with a Y, so I can fulfill that letter for the month of January. And I was so pleasantly surprise with this book!

Rowan lives with mental scars but very physical ones too – which came from an incident from childhood. It puts some people off so she’s had to struggle with dating and just putting herself out there in general but I really liked Rowan. She’s a teacher, and you know how kids can be cruel but she shows throughout this story how tough she is and caring. I like how she willingly takes in a foster kid even when it’s a challenge. She’s strong, and generous and I like that about her.

Jack is her neighbor and he’s a playboy. He’s also a famous romance writer and at first they do not get along. But what I loved about this story is that we get to watch their relationship progress from enemies, to friendship and ultimately to lovers but it’s not a rush. It’s definitely a slow burn.

The found family scenario with Rowan, Jack and the neighbors was so cute and heartwarming. I love how they had a newsletter.

There was a lot of issues when it came to Rowan and relationships but it was totally understandable. Jack made a few mistakes trying to show her how he felt but I liked seeing what these two people do to make things work.

Final Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this romance and I’m glad I picked it up even though I didn’t know anything about it or the author. I look forward to reading more books from her!