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

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

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating:

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

Author: I.V. Marie

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 480

Publication Date: 7/14/26

Publisher: Delacorte Press

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

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

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

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

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

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

Content Warning: violence, death

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

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

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

Final Thoughts:

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

Read if you like:

mulitiple POVs
multiple romances

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Immortal Consequences by. I.V. Marie | Book Review – 3.5 stars/1 🌶️

Of Venom and Vengeance by. Mikayla Bridge | ARC and ALC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating:

Title: Of Venom and Vengeance

Author: Mikayla Bridge

Format: eBook (NetGalley) and audiobook (NetGalley)

Pages: 432

Narrator: Safiyya Ingar

Listening Hours: approx. 11 hrs 54 min

Publication Date: 7/7/26

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) / Macmillan Young Listeners

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, 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 Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) / Macmillan Young Listeners for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A deliciously dark standalone set in the same world as the YA romantic fantasy Of Flame and Fury, where star-crossed enemies gamble with their hearts, empires, and the fate of a lost god.

On an island marred by pageantry and pain, power comes at an impossible price.

Inna is the perfect heiress to the Pallo crime poised, cunning, untouchable. Behind this glamorous facade, she hunts for the sinister truth of her sister’s death. Despite the cover-up she’s been led to believe, Inna can feel an enemy lurking in the shadows.

Rylan has sculpted himself into a talented thief for one retribution for his family, who were murdered by Inna’s mother. Armed with illusion magic, Rylan plans to steal an ancient riddle from the Pallo vault, one that leads to a sleeping god. Whoever wakes the Serpent King will be granted any wish they desire. Rylan means to claim this power, and with it, Inna’s ruin.

But when Inna catches Rylan sneaking past her family’s security, they enter into a perilous alliance that neither intends to keep —even as bitter attraction unravels into something more.

Though some hearts aren’t meant to be stolen, and love knows nothing of blood-red revenge.

Content Warning: violence

World Building: So I want to say when I picked this up – I actually thought this was book two of Of Flame and Fury which I loved! And so I was very confused when all this book was talking about was sprites, and harnessing their magic and the legend of the Serpent King. It was only when I looked at the synopsis again and this said it was a standalone in the same “world” as Of Flame and Fury that I had to stop my mind from searching and connecting to anything from that book. Honestly, this didn’t even feel like it was in the same world as the first book. Inna is a Pallo, a notorious crime family who is using the magic of sprites to conduct their business. Ryland, wants revenge on the Pallo’s for killing his. Eventually I thought the sprite magic was interesting (once I realized this was nothing like book one).

Characters: Inna is the daughter of a powerful woman, and went through something traumatic, and she lost her sister Erika. Now she is determined to find out more about who killed her. Celesse is her guard/best-friend/and ex-girlfriend. The two of them have a very complicated relationship which gets even worse when Ryland enters the picture. Ryland wants to take down Inna’s family but first he needs her help to find information on how to find the Serpent King. Another important character is, Fernan, Inna’s uncle who might be conducting some shady business.

Romance: Inna and Celesse used to be lovers and now things are complicated but Celesse is very much still in her life – so I felt like it took some time to really believe Inna had feelings for Ryland. I don’t think I was focused as much on the romance though than I was in Inna’s family dynamics and everything else going on in the story.

Story: Once I realized this was a whole different story than what I was expecting, I had to resettle and get into this story about Inna and her family, sprite magic, and Ryland wanting revenge. And I did get into it during the second half of the book. I enjoyed the complicated relationships, the heist and the betrayals. I know the synopsis said this was a standalone, but I feel like that ending is left open to more adventure? I guess we will see.

Narrator(s): The narrator did a great job voicing all the characters.

Final Thoughts:

My reading experience would have been better if I realized this was a totally separate story from Of Flame and Fury. But once I realized my mistake I started to enjoy the story much more. It does mean though that if you haven’t read Of Flame and Fury, you won’t feel lost picking this up, which is a good thing! I did enjoy Inna and Ryland and how they were enemies then reluctant allies. I liked all the family drama and betrayals too. The sprite magic was very interesting too so I look forward to see what this author writes next.

Read if you like:

enemies to lovers
young adult fantasy
heist
reluctant allies

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Of Flame and Fury by. Mikayla Bridge | ARC Review – 4 stars

You Won’t Forget Me by. Mazey Eddings | ARC and ALC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: You Won’t Forget Me

Author: Mazey Eddings

Format: eBook (NetGalley) and audiobook (netgalley)

Pages: 336

Listening Hours: approx. 11 hrs

Publication Date: 6/9/26

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin & Macmillan Audio

Categories: Romance, Contemporary, Queer

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!

Cubby Clark’s life is falling apart. All she’s ever cared about is making music, but on the brink of hitting it big, Cubby’s on-again-off-again boyfriend and lead of her band, Connor, abandons the group. What’s worse, his solo career rockets to overnight stardom based on a hit single about how bad she was in bed. With a fractured band, a toxic ex airing her dirty laundry in every interview, and a horrible case of writer’s block, the only thing she can take comfort in is her best friends and fellow bandmates, Darcy and Harry.

But, when an inadvertently romantic picture of Cubby and Harry goes viral the same night Cubby and Darcy hook-up (something obviously very normal for these two totally heterosexual gal pals) Cubby and her band find themselves in the spotlight as tabloids eat up the rumored love triangle between Cubby, Harry, and Connor.

Thrust by their label into a whirlwind tour, all Cubby wants is to turn to Darcy for support. But ever since the passionate hook-up they never talk about, there’s nothing but tension and distance between the usually inseparable pair. Under the pressure of newfound fame, an extremely dirty tour bus, and long buried feelings, Cubby and Darcy have a single summer to unravel the truth of what they mean to one another, or face losing the other forever.

World Building: Cubby is in a band and all they want to do is make music and make it big but it’s been awhile they’ve been trying. But they finally make a good song and they go on tour. I felt like this story followed the band life, the chaos, the bad and good, with some romance drama.

Characters: Cubby used to be the girlfriend of the lead singer of the band but when he leaves them in limbo, it’s Cubby who writes the music that gets the band back on track. She’s also going through a lot questioning her sexuality (which she didn’t think would be hard since she has two moms), her crush on her best friend Darcy, and even maybe feeling something for bandmate Harry who she is now fake-dating for publicity. Cubby feels a lot and it shows throughout the story. Darcy is her best friend and she stays that way but her relationship with Cubby is complicated because of their attraction and Darcy’s fears of coming out. I thought the band members all had their own quirks which was fun.

Romance: This is a best friends to lovers queer romance. The romance is messy because Cubby is dealing with her bad relationship with her ex, her feelings for Darcy and maybe for Harry. There is a lot of push and pull throughout the story but I like the questions Cubby and Darcy bring up about taking their relationship public. I feel like the thing with Harry didn’t need to be there though, it just made things even more confusing for Cubby and I felt bad for Harry but I guess it’s realistic when someone is trying to figure out their sexuality. I was happy for Darcy and Cubby at the end.

Story: This is a queer romance and I felt like the band life and journey took a big focus of the story, but I enjoyed how the romance was as chaotic as their tour life.

Narrator: The narrator did such a great job with bringing the story to life and there are even songs in there that was sung, which is always interesting to me because it makes me wonder if that’s how the song is supposed to sound? But great job overall!

Final Thoughts:

I enjoyed this audiobook, the narrator did such a great job with getting me invested in the characters. Also I love a story about a band that’s trying to make it big because it’s filled with different personalities and drama just comes with it. The romance was at times messy, with a lot of back and forth but I think it was realistic especially when Cubby and Darcy was trying to figure out what they were to one another and how brave they wanted to be with going public. Overall, I enjoyed this one!

Read if you like:

friends to lovers, queer romance
music band drama

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Well, Actually by. Mazey Eddings | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶️🌶️

Tilly in Technicolor by. Mazey Eddings | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dhampira by. Amy Pennza | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Title: Dhampira (#1)

Author: Amy Pennza

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 496

Publication Date: 6/16/26

Publisher: Ace

Categories: Romantasy, Why Choose, 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 Ace for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A long-lost noble of the ruthless vampire court discovers she might not need to choose between her two suitors in this blood-pounding new romantasy from the USA Today bestselling author of the Bitten and Bound series.

Corinthe has spent a lifetime longing for excitement outside her sleepy human village. As a dhampir born of a human mother and vampire father, her unique abilities make her desired by those who lurk across the Feyline—the boundary that keeps the magical realm in perpetual twilight where vampires hold dominion. To stay safe, she’s concealed her supernatural strength and taste for blood from her human neighbors, but when her yearning for excitement accidentally exposes her gifts, she is captured to sell to the highest bidder.

Terrified, she expects the worst. But rescue comes in the form of Vander, a handsome stranger who whisks her from the auction stage and across the Feyline . . . where he reveals himself to be a vampire knight of King Rasimir’s court. Notorious for his cruelty, the deranged king is determined to extend his rule to the farthest reaches, and Vander has been tasked with delivering Corinthe to him.

Now a pawn in the vampire court, Corinthe learns that Rasimir intends to marry her off to the arrogant Prince Lorcan and exploit her daywalking abilities for his own gain. But a wedding isn’t the only obstacle in her path to freedom. While Vander burns with dangerous charm, Lorcan watches her with hungry eyes. And both men claim they can help her—if she can trust them.

Content Warning: violence, death,

World Building: Corinthe is rescued by a vampire, Vander, and her world is changed forever. The world in Dhampira is full of fantasy and different species like vampires, werewolves, witches, trolls, pixies, elves and so much more. Even though it’s full of these species and creatures, I didn’t feel like there was heavy world-building. There is magic use in this story which was interesting but also at times confusing, because it had to do with root words. But the world itself was straightforward where there is a land called Nocta ruled by a vampire king, and there is a secret rebellion against him.

Characters: I did find Corinthe interesting – she learns more about her past when she is brought to Nocta. She has to learn to deal with the vampire king, who is going mad, but also she is arranged to be married to Prince Lorcan. Lorcan and she don’t really get a long at first but that changes later on. She’s more friendly with Vander, who is the captain of the guard and who she shared a journey with to Nocta. Both men play a significant role in her growth, they train her and they both feel something for her. I do wish there was more depth to some of the characters like Vander, or we got to learn more about Corinthe’s mom. At the end we get to meet some important werewolves and witches but maybe there will be more in the second book.

Romance: This is a Why Choose romance, and Corinthe is very open to her situation with Vander and Lorcan. Vander is playful and mischievous, much more light-hearted. Lorcan is closed-off, more cold. I do think the love confessions came a bit too quick, it was at the end of the story, but I feel like maybe it could have waited? Would have loved more of a build-up. But I’m happy it works out for all parties involved. Because it’s a Why Choose romance, the spicy scenes are quite spicy if you aren’t into threesomes.

Story: There are some vampire politics, a secret rebellion, and lots of training for Corinthe but for some reason, but I do wish I felt the danger more from the king. The story moves quick but it does have the usual romantasy tropes. I do wish to learn more about the werewolves and the witches.

Final Thoughts:

This story has a lot of the romantasy elements and tropes – magic, politics, rebellion, different creatures and species, a spicy why choose romance and for the most part I enjoyed it. I would like to learn more about the world – the elves, werewolves and witches but hopefully in the books to come.

Read if you like:

why choose romance – spicy

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Seek the Traitor’s Son by. Veronica Roth | ALC Review | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️ (closed door)

Title: Seek the Traitor’s Son

Author: Veronica Roth

Narrator(s): Imani Jade Powers, Max Meyers; Rebecca Soler; Steve West

Format: audiobook (NetGalley)

Pages: 432 Listening Time: Approximately 20 hours

Publication Date: 5/12/26

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Categories: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Romance, Dystopian, 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 Macmillan Audio for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A new epic romantic, dystopian fantasy begins in Seek the Traitor’s Son, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth

Elegy Ahn did not ask for destiny to find her.

She is happy with her life as a soldier. She spends her days fighting the Talusar, whose deadly Fever and mysterious gifts threaten her small country’s very existence.

But then she’s summoned to hear a prophecy–her, and the most ruthless of Talusar generals, Rava Vidar. Brought face to face, they learn that one of them will lead their people to victory over the other…but they don’t know which. And at the center of both of their fates: a man. A man that, Elegy is told, she will fall in love with.

In just one day, Elegy’s old life–her job, her purpose, and her future–is over. She and Rava are destined to collide, with the fate of their nations hanging in the balance. And when they do, only one will be left standing.

Elegy intends to make sure it’s her.

Content Warning: memories of torture, violence, death

+ I haven’t read a Veronica Roth series since the Divergent series and Carve the Mark series (which I never finished but not because it wasn’t good) and I thought why not try this one since dystopian is making a comeback. There are four narrators for this book and it really is an amazing audiobook because of all the fantastic job did they for all the characters. I loved the pacing of this story, I was invested and wanted to hear more even when I stopped it.

+ The world building is really fascinating. It’s a futuristic dystopian setting with spaceships, but I found it really interesting that Elegy didn’t believe in aliens! As the story goes on though, there is a possibility that maybe there is something out there. The Talusar is a nation that is powerful, that worships a virus – and it wants to take over Sedra (spelling not sure because I listened to this as an audiobook). But when people are infected with the virus, they either die or change and gain powers – I thought that was kind of cool. There is a prophecy that the Augurs have given to Elegy, a daughter of Sedra, and one to Rava, a warrior from Talusar. But there is a man named Theren (sp?) who is crucial to these women’s lives. He is from Talusar, but becomes Elegy’s knight until a big event happens. There is a lot Theren goes through to eventually get back to Elegy.

+ There is political intrigue and a race to find out what Rava is up to and also if this prophecy will come true and who will be the victor. Elegy is interesting because she doesn’t want to responsibility of being the heroine in a prophecy, so she has to grapple with that.

+ I love the secondary characters like Hela, Elegy’s sister/best-friend and a bunch of the other characters we meet. It’s a well rounded cast that gives depth to the story. Even Rava, as the villain, is an interesting character.

+~ There is a romance that builds slowly between Elegy and Theren, and I think it’s an interesting relationship because of what he’s been through – he’s a bit broken. And he feels guilt for leaving Elegy in the past. I love that they find comfort in one another, but I don’t know if it happens fast or maybe it’s because I’m listening to it as an audiobook, that I feel like it happens too fast? I might have to read the ebook to get a better feel for it but I was rooting for them until the end.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, I really enjoyed this audiobook! The narrators were great and the world building and political intrigue is fascinating. I wish I had the ebook so I could follow the story closer and remember all the characters names, but I look forward to reading book two in this series.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Divergent by. Veronica Roth – 5 stars

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Allegiant by. Veronica Roth

Carve the Mark – 4 stars

She Drinks the Light by. Yasmin Angoe | ALC and ARC Review | Audiobook and Ebook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating:

Title: She Drinks the Light

Author: Yasmin Angoe

Narrator(s): Ashley J. Hobbs

Format: audiobook (NetGalley)

Pages: 336 Listening Time: Approximately 7 hours 50 min

Publication Date: 3/3/26

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends Audio Publisher: Macmillan Young Listeners

Categories: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fantasy, Paranormal, 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 Feiwel & Friends and Macmillan Young Listeners for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

For fans of Sinners and Immortal Dark, a teen girl must uncover her family’s deadly secrets in order to save her best friend and her island in this heart-pounding YA debut.

Addae has spent her whole life on the Golden Isle, a private island off the coast of South Carolina that has been in her family for centuries. Island residents don’t really fraternize with mainlanders, and for good reason. Golden Isle was founded by the Kinfolk, descendants—including Addae and her Nana Ama, the island matriarch—of escaped enslaved Black people.

But the Isle and the Kinfolk have secrets that must be protected from the outside world. Secrets of spirituality, mythology that are deeply rooted in their West African culture, beliefs, and traditions. The Kin are bound to protect the Golden Isle and, in turn, it protects them.

When Addae’s best friend Naria goes missing and one of the Kin turns up drained of blood, Addae’s way of life is threatened. It looks like the work of the Adze, West African supernatural beings that drink human blood in order to survive—also known as vampires.

Believing Naira is alive, Addae travels to the mainland. But as Addae gets closer to finding Naria, she uncovers deep secrets about Nana Ama’s past, and about her own… secrets that could change how she feels about the Golden Isle and her lineage.

Torn between two worlds, Addae will have to decide how far she is willing to go—and who she is willing to cross—to save her best friend, and even herself.

Content Warning: violence, death, slavery history, cursing

** I listened to this as an ALC but I also had the ebook arc, and I’m glad I had the ebook because the audiobook had issues and I don’t know if it’s on my end, but many chapters would cut out or skip. Parts of the audio would go silent and come back again. I did mostly listen to it though because I love how the narrator brought the story to life. But for me, this ALC copy wasn’t the best and it was helpful that I had the ebook. **

+ Addae lives on Golden Isle, off the coast of South Carolina and her family’s West African roots are preserved on this island. Her grandmother, her only guardian used to be a slave so she has come a long way to owning her own island. So there is a lot of anger, resentment and a need to protect themselves and the island from mainlanders. But when Addae’s best-friend Naira goes missing, she has to find help on the mainland where she discovers her cousin was involved with a boy, Luke, who’s family was all about collecting artifacts and maybe wanted something from Golden Isle. I think there is a lot of growth for Addae. She didn’t like that Naira wanted to leave the island because she didn’t see any reason to want to be anywhere else, or that she was dating a white boy. But her search for Naira opens her eyes to a lot of things. Also, her relationship with her grandmother is one of respect, but there is a lot of secrets between them that gets revealed in the end.

+ I don’t know much about West African culture, but I did hear some familiar mythological names like Anansi (I used to read my kids the story about Anansi the spider) and Nyame. I kind of got excited that those names were familiar to me and it made me more interested in the story to see what more I could learn about them. Also I didn’t expect the paranormal elements in the story, the vampires and zombies.

~ The first half off the book is slower than the second half. We meet Addae, and see her life on the island with her grandmother and other families. But Naira goes missing, and she goes missing for awhile. It seems people are quick to say she is gone except Addae. So Addae is basically trying to find Naira on her own until she runs into Luke’s sister, Hailey. Still, there doesn’t seem much urgency in finding Naira and except for some stories of strange sighting or going-ons, there are no leads. I found that part slow. But things pick up in the second half because it’s like the story turns in another direction.

~ The ending feels rushed because so many things are revealed and happening at once. I do wish more hints about vampires were dropped earlier in the book.

Final Thoughts:

I love the West African history and heritage that was represented in this story and it also doesn’t shy away from slavery that was part of South Carolina’s past. I do think pacing was an issue, first half went a little too slow but it switches up and picks up but then the ending feels rushed. I really liked the family and vampire elements of the story. I thought Addae had a lot of character growth throughout the book. Definitely check this one out if you are into vampire stories.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Masquerade of Mirrors by. Samantha Hartwood | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Masquerade of Mirrors (Halls of Glass)

Author: Samantha Hartwood

Format: eBook

Pages: 592

Publication Date: 2/17/26

Publisher: indepdent

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Dark Academia, LGBT+

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

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

The only thing more dangerous than falling for a lie
is falling for the liar.

Don’t look at the desert. Don’t think about the desert. Never step onto the sand. Taera has followed these rules her entire life—until he arrives.

Impossibly gorgeous, with a face masked in magic, Nikolai kidnaps Taera and drags her deep into the dunes. He says she’s powerful and needs to be trained…if she ever wants to see her family again.

Thrust into a deadly school of illusions and lies, Taera can’t trust anyone. Especially not her breathtaking, ruthless captor. Top student and notorious liar, his secrets run deeper than the sand. He’s her worst nightmare—and everything she craves.

The cutthroat Halls of Glass have a mind of their own. Trapped within their looping corridors, Taera is surrounded by hostile students and forced to rely on Nikolai.

Taera knows she shouldn’t fall for his illusions. But magic requires a partnership, and he’s the only mage who can handle her wild, untamed power.

And the only way he’ll help her is if she pretends to be his.

Masquerade of Mirrors is a fast-paced, slow-burn fantasy romance. Taera and Nikolai’s story is for readers who love crackling chemistry, daring escape plans, and as many lies as truths. This book is highly addictive and contains adult content.

Content Warning: violence

+ I found the world building very interesting! Set in a desert with mages and magicians, Taera is terrified of what the desert storm brings – a sickness with no cure. But also, she’s traumatized by an event where a mage came and did something to her mother, so she’s terrified of mages/magicians. These magic wielders often where an illusion so you never know their true face, and Taera was taught to fear them until one magician takes her to the Hall of Glass, a training school where magic wielders (Conduits) and Sources go to train their powers and learn about magic. Most of the story takes place in the school, but there are moments we get elements of the desert.

+~ I found Taera an interesting FMC who is naive because she hasn’t left her village. She has a lot to learn about people, and magic. I liked seeing her grow, but there were times her character frustrated me. As far as Nikolai, he’s handsome, desired, powerful, a liar and a thief. I did enjoy some of the other secondary characters like Omi, and Annie. There was just a lot of times Taera didn’t know what was going on and she’s being bullied, and Nikolai just lets it happen because he’s not a good guy. So there were times, I didn’t like that Taera clung to him even when he was being horrible. But we do learn more about his past, which is a bit tragic. He has done a lot in his young life to be drowning in regret and guilt, and he has to choose to lose himself completely in pursuit of power to change what he can’t.

+ The romance is very much a focus and it’s enemies to lovers, who are forced to one room, and one bed. It’s hard not to be charmed by Nikolai – everyone wants him, and Taera falls hard for him. Even when he’s not treating her good! But it’s her love that helps him and changes him so by the end I was rooting for their romance. There are some fun spicy scenes between them.

~ The story does turn into a dark academia school drama, which at points made me wonder if this was young adult – but it’s not. Taera is 24, but she’s never been in a setting where there are students who are cutthroat and all about drama. They bully her and sometimes Nikolai doesn’t care about it. Also, it was frustrating how Nikolai explained nothing to Taera about the school. He kidnaps her, and tells her to do this or that, but never explains anything. He hands her a book to study! Thank goodness for Omi who helped her.

~ I don’t think the story about the desert sickness ever gets addressed and I felt like the situation with Omi was easily pushed aside. I needed them to be face to face to discuss what happened so I hope if there are more books in this world, Omi’s story could be told?

Final Thoughts:

I really thought the world building was unique. I loved learning about the magic system involving conduits and sources. Would love to learn more about the mysteries of the desert, the Labyrinth and the school. It does turn into an academic drama that at times felt like a young adult book. The romance definitely had me invested, and I’m glad there is growth in Taera and Nikolai. Overall, I enjoyed this one.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Author Website

The Book of Blood & Roses by. Annie Summerlee | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: The Book of Blood & Roses (The Castillo Chronicles, #1)

Author: Annie Summerlee

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 368

Publication Date: 1/13/26

Publisher: Del Rey

Categories: Dark Academia, Vampires, LGBT+, Romance, Fantasy, New Adult

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

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

In book one of a seductive sapphic paranormal fantasy, a vampire hunter goes undercover at a mysterious university and falls in love with her roommate, an alluring vampire.

“Then her red eyes are on mine, gentle, deadly. She takes her time kissing my neck. I pull her closer and say: Bite me.”

In the mists of the Scottish Highlands is a university where vampire students study alongside humans.

Rebecca Charity is a vampire hunter undercover at the university, searching for the mysterious Book of Blood and Roses, a lost compendium of ways to kill vampires. If she finds it, she’ll be one step closer to avenging her parents, who were slain by those creatures of the night.

But when Rebecca arrives, she finds something unexpected: a coffin. Her new roommate is Aliz Astra, scion of one of the most powerful vampire families… and the most beautiful woman Rebecca has ever met.

The maddeningly gorgeous Aliz is everything that Rebecca has always hated, but also everything she ever wanted, and now Rebecca doesn’t know if she wants to kiss or kill her.

When Aliz rescues her from a vampire attack one moonlit night, she accidentally makes Rebecca her familiar. Now, they must work together to break the curse, but as they get closer to solving the mystery, Rebecca and Aliz get closer, too.

But can a vampire hunter ever fall in love with a vampire?

Content Warning: violence

A vampire hunter goes undercover at a university home to vampires. Her task? To find the book of Blood & Roses because it has all the answers on how to hurt vampires, or so she’s been told. Rebecca has to make friends, but she is on edge being surrounded by her enemies.

This story has a sapphic romance which is very enemies to lovers, especially on Rebecca/Cassie’s part because she is undercover and really hates vampires. So her falling for Aliz, who is a vampure and has a reputation around campus, and is her roommate that sleeps in a coffin, is really against Rebecca’s values! It’s a major conflict for her but the attraction between them is undeniable and soon they can’t get enough of one another and things get spicy too.

There are some twists and it was fun to see everything connect in the end.

Rebecca as a character was very strong in her hate of vampires and I needed her to chill out for a moment especially if she was going undercover. I thought her hate for them was going to make her blow her cover right away. It was nice to see her finally relent a little, the forced proximity to Aliz helped a lot with that though.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, I thought this was an entertaining story about vampires with a sapphic enemies to lovers love story. If you like academic settings and a romance between and hunter and vampire, you might enjoy this one.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

An Arcane Inheritance by. Kamilah Cole | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: An Arcane Inheritance

Author: Kamilah Cole

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 432

Publication Date: 12/30/25

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Categories: New Adult, Dark Academia, Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Magical Realism, LGBT+, 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 Sourcebooks for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A modern-day dark academia fantasy with a twist, perfect for fans of Babel and A Deadly Education.

Warren University has stood amongst the ivy elite for centuries, built on the bones―and forbidden magic―of its most prized BIPOC students…hiding the rot of a secret society that will do anything to keep their own powers burning bright. No matter who they must sacrifice along the way.

Ellory Morgan is determined to prove that she belongs at Warren University, an ivy league school whose history is deeply linked to occult rumors and dark secrets. But as she settles into her Freshman year, something about the ornate buildings and shadowy paths feels strangely…familiar. And, with every passing day, that sense of déjà vu grows increasingly sinister.

Despite all logic, despite all reason, despite all the rules of reality, Ellory knows one thing to be true: she has been here before. And if she can’t convince brooding legacy student Hudson Graves to help her remember a past that seems determined to slip through her fingers as if by some insidious magic…this time, she may lose herself for good.d

Content Warning: violence, racism, classism

+ I was intrigued with this story right away. Ellory is a Jamaican immigrant, who’s parents sent her to America to live with her Aunt, so she could get a better life and education. She’s studied so hard but even with good grades, money was never easy to come by so she worked – saved and now is a 21 year old freshman at Warren University. Ellory wants to be a lawyer to make her family proud. I found Ellory so relatable. Her immigrant story is like many in this country and her trying to get a good education is her ticket to success.

+ There are many issues that are brought up throughout the story from colonialism, elitism, racism, and classism. It’s interesting to see how Ellory tries to uncover secrets of Warren University’s past to expose how the wealthy and privilege get away with atrocities. A few elements are woven together in this story and I think it worked, at least for me! I loved the dark academia, and the creepy atmosphere of the library and some other parts of campus. There is a sinister feel that is there throughout the story as Ellory tries to figure out what is going on with missing memories she is experiencing and feelings of being in another space/time. There are mentions of magic and alchemy and maybe a secret society at work. It gave me Legendborn and Inception vibes.

+ I loved how realistic Ellory’s life as a college student was from the studying, going to parties, living off of coffee and trying to make new friends. Now as strange things happen to her on campus and she does more digging though, she comes off as an unreliable narrator – because what are these memories, or missing memories and dejavu she has been experiencing?

+ I did like the slow burn love story between Ellory and Hudson. Clearly there is something there, a sense of dejavu and we don’t know why until the end. But they are rivals in their constitutional law class and I thought their interactions, the bickering and arguing was fun. Also, the reveal at the end was devastating but made me love their romance more.

~ As much as I was hooked onto this book, I did have some issues. This story leads up to a very unexpected and surprising plot twist but I would have liked more information on the secret society, and the magic leading up to it. Things felt vague, maybe on purpose, but I wish we got a just a little more information just so when the plot twist happens it doesn’t feel confusing or weak. I had to sit with it for a moment just to make sure it made sense in my head.

~ I wanted more between Ellory and Hudson. I loved that they were rivals, and then he starts helping her with trying to find out what’s going but I wanted a few more kisses in there! But that’s a personal preference. They are rivals, but except for their first meeting and a few descriptions about why they are rivals, we don’t see it in action. I just wanted more interactions between them since it is very important to the twist.

Final Thoughts:

I could not put this book down because I needed to find out what was going on. I liked Ellory and Hudson and the whole atmosphere of Warren University with the gothic library, and dark secret past. I do wish we had more information about the magic since there is a huge plot twist in this story that involves magic. Also would have loved more interaction with Ellory and Hudson because their love story is wonderful, and one of the main reasons everything devastating happens in this story. Overall, even with the issues I had with it I was very entertained.