Unbound by. Penelope Bloom | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Unbound (Confluence Academy, #1)

Author: Penelope Bloom

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 592

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

Publisher: Forever

Categories: New Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Academia, Series

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Content Warning: violence, death

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

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

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

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

Final Thoughts:

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

Read if you like:

war academy
trials
enemies to lovers romance

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A Magic So Deadly by. Vasilisa Drake | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: A Magic So Deadly (Kingdom of Dark Magic, #2)

Author: Vasilia Drake

Pages: 479

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 6/30/26

Categories: Romantasy, Vampires and Witches, Series

She has become everything she ever wanted… and everything she despises.

Samara wakes in a prison cell as her worst nightmare: She’s a vampire, cursed with bloodlust that horrifies her. And though she now has the magic she’s always desperately craved, it’s a secret she must guard with her undead life.

Because this same magic marks her as an enemy of all vampires. Especially Raphael—their king.

Now, as a vampire, Samara is haunted by an inescapable thirst. In her sleep, she claws at her throat, trying to ease the pain. But when she’s around Raphael, her fangs ache for a deeper reason she can’t explain.

A mystical bond ties Samara to Raphael as her sire, preventing her from fleeing before he can discover her identity as the very witch he’s been hunting for centuries. Instead, she must journey with him to the Southern Vampire Kingdom. A journey that has her sharing both his carriage… and his bed.

There, Raphael offers her another bargain: Yield to her vampire nature and master her abilities, and he will help her break the bond.

But if she lowers her guard too much, if her control over the powers she barely understands slips and Raphael learns she’s the necromancer…

He’ll be forced to kill her.

A Magic So Deadly is the second book in the Kingdom of Dark Magic series, filled with a slow burn romance, unique magic systems, and forced proximity.

Content Warning: violence, death, self-harm

World Building: In this sequel, Samara’s time is mostly spent in Raphael’s kingdom, but there is a moment in the end where we get to meet another vampire ruler. But Thea is on her mission somewhere else but I’m not going to lie, I was mostly reading to see how Samara and Raphael’s romance was going to grow.

Characters: Samara is now a vampire, and she’s trying to come to terms with it. But she learns something which she feels she can twist to enact her revenge against Raphael. Raphael is trying to give her as much space as he can but also needs to force her to accept her new self so she can survive. There is an intriguing new character, Julian, that comes in at the end.

Romance: I was here for the romance since book one had barely any. And Raphael gives Samara space but that man is crazy about her, which made me crazy about him! I love that he won’t let her go and now we get to see him expressing all his yearning and feelings that he has been holding back. I devoured it. I loved watching them getting to know one another and finally acting on their desires. Loved their spicy scenes – it’s so sensual in a vampire way (bloody haha, but not too bad), which again I devoured, it’s what I expect from a vampire romance!

Story: I did enjoy seeing Samara learn to accept being a vampire. There is some political intrigue and something brewing in the background that Thea is involved in, and a betrayal that shocked me. There is an unexpected plot twist at the end and of course it had to be a cliffhanger so now I have to wait for book three. But like I said, I wanted to read this book because I wanted to see the romance to develop and that goal was definitely achieved.

Final Thoughts:

All my stars are for Raphael haha, and his devotion to Samara. I love a vampire who’s fallen first and will do anything to be with the one he loves. Most of the story was about their relationship but that cliffhanger ending shocked me – now I have to wait, but I honestly have so much faith in Raphael’s love for Samara that even this change of plans won’t stop him from loving her! Now I just want to see her have that same love for him and do the right thing.

Read if you like:

slow burn
vampire romance

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A Bargain So Bloody by. Vasilia Drake | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating:

Title: A Bargain So Bloody (Kingdom of Dark Magic, #1)

Author: Vasilia Drake

Pages: 498

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 6/30/25

Categories: Romantasy, Vampires and Witches, Series

She’s trapped in a magical prison. To break out, she’ll make a deal with the most dangerous prisoner of them all.

Sentenced for a crime she didn’t commit, Samara is bullied by guards and tormented by the screams of her fellow prisoners. She’s resigned herself to enduring her fifteen-year term… until she learns that the freedom she’s been promised is the cruelest lie of all.

Now she’s faced with a choice: resign herself to dying in the cold walls of Castle Greymere, or do the unthinkable and escape. But no one leaves Greymere alive. So to break out of the prison? She’ll have to use one of the undead.

Raphael is the worst kind of a vampire with a thirst for blood, the mortal enemy of witches, the same breed that killed her mother. And most importantly, he’s unspeakably powerful, his supernatural strength tamed only by the enchanted cuffs forced on him.

He’s her only chance at a life outside the prison walls.

The deal is Samara unlocks his shackles, and he’ll help her escape. But although Raphael agreed to help her leave Greymere, he never promised to let her go…

A Bargain So Bloody is the first book in an exciting new romantasy series, perfect for readers who love slow burn romance with morally grey heroes who fall first and hard and heroines who find their own strength.

Content Warning: violence, death, self-harm

World Building: There is a Witch Kingdom that is surrounded by Vampire Kingdoms and we get to spend time in the Witch Kingdom and the Western Vampire Kingdom. Samara has been a prisoner at Greymere, since she was a child. She is a null (no magic) and she’s basically the prison master’s slave until a prisoner appears and makes a bargain with her so she can help set him free. I was very intrigued with this world of vampires and witches.

Characters: Samara and Raphael escape the prison and go on a a quest to find a grimoire. They are both morally grey characters which made things very interesting. Sam has a secret past though, where she has memories of her mother and another life but we don’t know much more than that. She also hates vampires deeply and being with one opens her eyes to her enemy. Raphael is a powerful vampire, and realize he is more than he seems. There are some other interesting characters like Thea and Demos.

Romance: There isn’t much romance, this is very much a slow burn and enemies to lovers because Sam hates vampires. But I liked seeing them get to know one another, their banter and the tension between them. It’s a vampire romance, so there are some sensual scenes that had to do with blood drinking but not spice. I think it’s evident though that Raphael feels something strongly for Samara, and what I love about him is he gives her space. I did want more to happen, but it was a quick read.

Story: I like the world building, and the escape from the prison. I thought Sam and Raphael were interesting characters. The romance was slow but I didn’t mind because Samara was exploring Raphael’s home and finding out about vampires, grimoires and witches. I enjoyed the friendship Sam builds with Thea. There is a twist at the end that made me read book two right away.

Final Thoughts:

It did feel like nothing much was happening in the book after they escape from prison but I still felt like it was a quick read. I love a vampire romantasy though especially when the vampire falls first. It’s a slow burn romance between Samara and Raphael and I enjoyed the build up. I also found the world building interesting and look forward to reading more books in this series.

Read if you like:

slow burn
vampire romance

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Dominion by. Jean Kwok | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Dominion (The Silk and Iron Trilogy, #1)

Author: Jean Kwok

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 448

Publication Date: 7/14/26

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons

Categories: Romantasy, Series, Chinese Mythology

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!

In a world divided into four rival Dominions, power is everything—and Rubi Morningtail has almost none. Three years after the Annihilation destroyed her homeland and shattered her memories, she lives as an Azure refugee in the Dominion of the Silver Tyger, scraping by as a ribbon dancer and hiding her little bit of singing magic. When she wounds a massive battle tyger on her doorstep, she draws the notice of Blake Axefire—supreme metal mage, leader of the royal tyger warriors, and the last man an Azure should trust. His sentence? Cast her into the Bonding, a brutal trial where tygers choose their riders and slaughter the rest. Surviving is unthinkable.

But survive she does. Now she’s stuck on Blake’s elite team racing to reseal the Anchors to the demon realm. With rebels striking, demons rising, and the Dominions at each other’s throats, Rubi must unlock the truth of her magic and her past…while resisting her dangerous attraction to the ruthless warrior who could be her redemption—or her ruin.

Content Warning: violence, death

World Building: I like a lot of things about this world. It is based on Chinese mythology, it has magic, and dominions with different elemental magic. Each dominion has lore and their own rulers. There is a traumatic event in the past that destroys one dominion and now everything is in chaos as the Serpent Lord is trying to surface and take over the world. There is also a prophecy – so yes there came a point in my reading where I thought there was a lot going on.

Characters: Rubi is a dancer, with amnesia. She loves her close friends like Edith and Quinn. But when a tyger from Silver Dominion comes into her life, her whole world changes. I did like her skill as a dancer and singer (that’s where her magic is) but her past is a mystery until the end. I did like that she had some fight in her. Blake is the Silver king’s Twin Blade, basically his second in command and soon to be heir. But Blake is put into the worst of positions when it comes to everything in his life, poor guy. For the most part I liked every character I met in this book, and I was suspicious of some, including Blake. I love Flame, who is Rubi’s tyger.

Romance: The romance was predictable, but I was still enjoying how Rubi and Blake fall for one another until things take an unexpected turn at the end. Which makes me curious about what will happen in book two! I loved their interactions and loved them together, even if it seemed they fell in love too fast – I had a theory about it, but the ending disproved my theory. I’m interested to see what the author does with this romance! I am conflicted because of what happened at the end of this book.

Story: I think this story starts off really strong. It’s easy to read, even though there is a lot of world-building but it’s written in a way it’s not hard to grasp. But things start to get out of control when too many things start happening and some things felt rushed. There is a big to do about an event called the Culling, where warriors will be selected to help repair the dominions to keep the Serpent Lord out – but the Culling wasn’t much of an event. It was anticlimactic, which was disappointing. I did love the ending where there was more action and reveals and twists. But I did read this book in two sittings, it was hard to put down. It’s fast paced, and I thought it was a fun read because of the tygers. The synopsis compares it to Fourth Wing and The Hunger Games, but I think it’s more comparable to Dire Bound.

Final Thoughts:

I thought this was a fun read and exactly what my brain needed at the moment – something easy to read and consume, not bogged down with heavy world-building. It has magic, interesting kingdoms (dominions), romance, spice and some secret reveals. It has found family and tygers that mind speak. I especially loved all the action at the end. But there were some things that felt rushed in the story, especially big events, which I wished was more focused on. I still liked it even with all the issues, because I kind of went into it not wanting to think so hard so I just went with whatever was happening. The ending kind of blind-sided me but that makes me just more eager to read book two and find out what will happen with Rubi.

Read if you like:

magic, tygers, demons
bonding, trials, pairing (mates)
romantasy

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Our Wicked Gifts by. Kathryn Foxfield | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Our Wicked Gifts

Author: Kathryn Foxfield

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 422

Publication Date: 7/7/26

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Categories: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Romance, Fantasy

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!

The daughter of a sinister magical family who made a deal with the devil must stop the man killing them off, one by one, in this deliciously dark fantasy thriller that’s House of Hollow meets Succession, laced with a kiss-or-kill romance.

Cicely is the black sheep daughter of the powerful Winter family, who made a deal with the devil in exchange for riches and ruthless magic. Soren is the boy her family banished to the underworld. Their fates intertwine when Cicely’s loathsome Uncle Dorian winds up dead at a masquerade ball.

Once overlooked for her lowly gift of discovering secrets, Cicely is now her family’s only chance at survival, tasked with finding the killer before he takes out every last Winter. With time running out, Cicely narrows her sights on Soren, who she suspects is back for vengeance.

Yet the more Cicely investigates Soren–and gets to know him–the more she begins to question how much family loyalty is worth. After all, when it comes to being a Winter, one can have love or power, but rarely both…

Content Warning: violence, death

World Building: The story is set in a contemporary world but with some fantasy because of the magic and deal with the devil the Winter Family has made. There is also a place called the Ruin which is where their magic comes from or something to that effect and I likened it to hell or the underworld. The Winters are wealthy and powerful and they are trying to hold onto that power, no matter the cost.

Characters: I love the complicated characters in the Winter Family. Told through Cecily, we see every aspect of her flawed family. Her mother who is like the queen of their family, her siblings who are more favored in their mother’s eyes. Her uncle Dorian and his family add to the dysfunction as well – and all of them have some kind of magical power because of the deal with the devil their ancestor made. Then there is Soren, a boy that the family killed to keep a secret, but he isn’t quite dead yet and has come back to cause havoc to the Winter family. Cecily herself is someone who loves her family, wants badly for her mom to love her as much as she loves her siblings, but also realizes how wrong her family is for wielding their power the way they do – yet Cecily will do the same if need be. It made for a lot of drama – fun drama though!

Romance: Cecily is the only one who can go into the Ruin and come back out, so it’s not a surprise that the boy she is falling for is dead and part of the Ruin. Soren wants revenge on her family, and Cecily knows her family isn’t good and she’s trying to uncover all the secrets but there are some hard choices that have to be made where Soren is concerned. I feel like the ending left it open for a book two and I hope there is one so I can see if Cecily and Soren’s romance progresses.

Story: I was very into this story. The Winters are trying to stay the top dog but lately it hasn’t been easy with so many scandals brewing. Most of them are not good people, and when their power starts to crack and someone starts murdering members of the family, it leads to a search for who is trying to kill them. I enjoyed the different magic each family member had, I thought it was unique. I enjoyed the complicated relationship between all of them, how they kind of despise one another but it’s family over everything and everyone. I liked the mystery and the suspense! There were some moments in the middle where it slowed down a little but it does pick up again. There are a few twists and the ending feels like it’s setting up for a book two, which I hope is the case.

Final Thoughts:

I thought this was a fun young adult story with magic, so much family secrets and drama, a murder mystery and even a little romance. I hope there is a book two!

Read if you like:

rich family drama
magic

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Winged Game by. Sophie Kim | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: The Winged Game

Author: Sophie Kim

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 544

Publication Date: 6/30/26

Publisher: Del Rey

Categories: Romance, Fantasy, Sports 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 Del Rey for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Fantasy meets sports romance in this sizzling slow-burn novel from the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The God and the Gumiho, in which the disgraced star of a brutal magical sport must team up with the rival who destroyed her career.

Carriwitchet, the violent, rugby-esque game played atop winged beasts, was once Taissa Cho’s whole life, and she was once the United Kingdom’s most promising player. Until her nemesis, rival player Kion Locke, destroyed her career in a single moment. Expelled from the sport in disgrace, Taissa has spent the last two years dreaming of nothing but revenge and relishing watching Kion’s team plummet to the bottom of the league.

So when Taissa is offered the chance to redeem herself and her career, she can’t refuse—even if the offer is coming from the very man who ruined everything in the first place. It’s close to a dream come true . . . except for that pesky clause in her contract that demands she and Kion enter a fake relationship in order to garner some much-needed positive PR for the team. This could not be a worse match. Taissa and Kion only have two things in their love of the game, and their undying hatred for each other.

Yet as a mysterious illness befalls the winged creatures of the entire league—putting both the beasts’ lives and the very sport itself at stake—the athletes find themselves partnering up in other ways, determined to crack the case of the eerie sickness. As their investigation takes them on a whirlwind adventure, Kion and Taissa are prepared for anything . . .

Anything, that is, but their fake-for-the-cameras relationship to maybe, just maybe, become something real after all.

Content Warning: violence

World Building: This is a fantasy/sci-fi sports romance story and I loved it! Carriwitchet is a game played with high stakes – different teams and different winged creatures, like dragons, wyverns, hippogriffs and more. I felt like the game was explained really well and I enjoyed all the action of the sport. And though it is fantasy, it is written in our current year and has many modern day elements like the social media comments.

Characters: Taissa was once a very popular Carriwitchet player until her rival, Kion took her down by exposing her. Both Taissa and Kion are alike – top players of the sport, quick tempers, but Taissa is a lot more impulsive while Kion rarely shows emotions. Both of them though have their own demons and I love how they bickered, but eventually when the air clears and they finally listen to one another – they become the best together. A strong part of this story is the found family element which Kion has with his teammates, a team he is trying desperately to save. When Taissa is added to the mix, there is a lot of distrust, but I loved seeing how it breaks down when they finally accept her onto the team. The winged creatures are fun because they have a voice in this story, especially Cronus – Taissa’s decrepit creature – he was so grumpy, I love him! But I love how everyone has an emotional story and it made me invested in their stories.

Romance: The romance is rivals to lovers, these two hated one another just from a misunderstanding. And though I usually hate when a misunderstanding or miscommunication happens, I didn’t mind this one because it happens to Kion who was going through some trigger to a trauma. I love how we watch Taissa and Kion for from hate, to love. It’s so entertaining! There is a little spice and yes I do wish it had more just because Taissa and Kion had such good chemistry even as rivals.

Story: I was surprised this was a standalone but also love it because of that. Not only did this have found family and a rivals to lovers romance, but there is a mystery in the story as well. Taissa and Kion have to figure out who cursed their team before they lose their team altogether, so the stakes were high. I also loved the humor in this story!

Final Thoughts:

I loved this story because it had so much action, the rivals to lovers romance was so funny and entertaining, and each character had an emotional background and I was rooting for all of them very hard. It has humor, winged creatures who can mind speak and even mystery! I was thoroughly entertained!

Read if you like:

sports romance, but fantasy
found family
friendship
mystery

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Light Wielder by. Rachel Schneider | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Light Wielder (Fire & Metal, #2)

Author: Rachel Schneider

Pages: 485

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 6/9/26

Categories: Romantasy, Series

It’s been four years since Jovie betrayed Acker, fracturing their relationship. Her decision to take King Edmond’s magic, sparing his life at Acker’s request, has sparked a brutal war. The Kenta and Strou forces ally against the Roison and Alaha, with Maile perched dangerously on the edge of their battles.

Jovie is determined to keep the innocent Maile people from a conflict she helped start―even if it means suppressing the Matching Bond and sacrificing any hope of repairing her relationship with Acker. Yet, visions of him continue to haunt her dreams.

Acker is resigned to aid in his father’s war while in an arranged marriage with a wife who detests him. Though still pained by Jovie’s deception, he can’t stop his thoughts from turning to her. And Acker has found a way to slip into Jovie’s dreams despite her attempts to stifle the Matching Bond. There he watches her, torn between his loyalties and desire.

When he discovers the chilling reason behind the return of his father’s magic, as well as Edmond’s dangerous new alliance, Acker must finally decide which war he wants to fight: the one for his king or the one for his heart.

Content Warning: violence, death

World Building: Four years have passed and Acker and Jovie are living separate lives. Acker is married, but the Bond with Jovie is undeniable. Jovie is queen of Maile and doing a great job of it too. We are back in this world of politics and magic, but this time Acker realizes his dad really does need to be taken down and works to make that happen.

Characters: Acker is stuck in a loveless marriage and still drawn to Jovie because they are each other’s Match, and he goes and gets her. Jovie is actually doing well as queen of Maile, which was nice to see. Of course when the two of them are together there is drama because of what she did to him in book one. I did like the secondary characters, especially Messer and Beau.

Romance: If you don’t like having one of the main characters married and still wanting someone else, then this isn’t for you. It’s messy! I didn’t love that Acker was married to someone else. Acker and Jovie are enemies especially after what she did to him at the end of book one. Acker is married but it is a loveless marriage and he still wants Jovie. Both of them still want each other badly, but also are okay with having revenge hookups with other people, which again, I don’t think I loved. But I was actually surprised how tame the spice was in this book between Acker and Jovie. I was also maybe hoping for more of the emotional connection between them.

Story: I enjoyed the politics. I don’t know how I feel about the time jump – it’s a 4 year time jump and I feel like it definitely let Acker deal with his anger towards Jovie off page. I was expecting more enemies to lovers interactions between them but felt like he worked on the anger issues by the time the story starts. There are some strange things that happen in the story, one involving a spicy scene, but I guess I should not have been surprised!

Final Thoughts:

I think this was a pretty good follow up to book one, especially after the major plot twist that happened in that book. I just don’t think the 4 year time jump worked for me in this one. I think it’s too long of time gone by – but it did bring a calmer than expected Acker into the story, I suppose? But I wanted to see what a betrayal would have done to him right after. By the time they reunite, I feel like Acker has accepted everything and he just wants Jovie. At least Jovie feels bad about what she did. I did enjoy the politics and I think Messer was a stand-out character and maybe his story will be told next?

Read if you like:

magic
enemies to lovers
politics

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Metal Slinger by. Rachel Schneider | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️🌶️

Heart of Mischief by. Emma Noyes | ALC and ARC Review | Audiobook and Ebook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating:

Title: Heart of Mischief (Soul of Shadow, #2)

Author: Emma Noyes

Narrator(s): Emily Pike Stewart

Format: audiobook (NetGalley)

Pages: 400 Listening Time: Approximately 12 hours

Publication Date: 3/10/26

Publisher: Macmillan Young Listeners

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Norse Mythology

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 Young Listeners for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The thrilling sequel to Soul of Shadow, a contemporary romantasy for fans of Twilight, and Teen Wolf, where love, magic, gods, and monsters collide with devastating consequences – featuring beautiful color, designed endpapers and a foil case stamp for a stunning package.

I will make myself strong.
I will find Elias.
I will kill Elias.
I will never trust a boy with my heart again.

These are the vows Charlie Hudson made the day after Elias Everhart betrayed her, nearly killing everyone she loves most. One month later, revenge is still her priority, even as she navigates a harsh new reality: one where her brother and friends can now see Asgard, making them just as susceptible to its dazzling delights – and deadly dangers – as she is.

But when two bodies turn up in the forest outside town, and Elias waltzes back into her life with an offer to help find out what’s happening, Charlie finds herself accepting his offer—but only because feigning an alliance is her best chance to figure out how to kill him. And if it feels like the more time she spends with him, the more her heart softens, it must be a trick of the unusually warm fall air. Because there’s no way she would make the grave mistake of falling for Elias Everhart twice… right?

Content Warning: violence, death

+ I had an immersive experience with this book – I listened to it as an audiobook and also read parts of it as an ebook. The audiobook is so good, 5 stars goes to the narrator who really had me invested in this story! I’m glad I had the ebook as well because the Norse names for places and creatures was helpful seeing in written form.

+ I love this series because it’s a young adult contemporary fantasy but with Norse Mythology which is different from what’s out there right now. I get to learn more about the mythology and it’s full of monsters, and action. In this story we also get to see Helheim, Loki’s domain.

+ Though this is young adult, I feel like as an older adult reading it and listening to it, it’s a fun book! I really enjoy the family themes of the book, which lends a lot of emotion to the story. Charlie and Mason’s relationship, which is strained from the ending of book one, is something Charlie tries to fix in this book. Also, they both have conflicted feelings about learning that they are Loki’s children – why did he not want them? We don’t get more answers in this one, but I hope it will all be explained in book three. I also enjoy the teenage friendships in this story – Charlie has a good group of friends behind her but she is trying to work through a lot of guilt after events in book one.

+ I know Elias tried to kill her and her friends in book one but this boy is so flirtatious, I don’t blame Charlie for falling for him again. I love them together and he seems changed plus we get to know more of his backstory. I’m definitely rooting for them!

+ Henry, the gnome, how can you not love him?

+~ I think with this sequel, because it’s more about Charlie training with Elias, and her friend Abigail trying to decode the riddle, most of the action comes at the end of the book. I didn’t mind it though because I liked seeing Elias hanging out with Charlie and her friends. Plus there are a lot of complicated feelings there that Charlie has to work through. Also, as a sequel, I didn’t feel like this was filler, the story actually does move along.

Final Thoughts:

This series has been so enjoyable so far! I love the characters, the family and friendship themes, all the Norse mythology and the romance. I’m excited to see what comes next in book three!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Soul of Shadow by. Emma Noyes | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Library of Amorlin by. Kalyn Josephson| ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating:

Title: The Library of Amorlin (The Age of Beasts, #1)

Author: Kalyn Josephson

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 448

Publication Date: 3/3/26

Publisher: Erewhon Books

Categories: 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 Erewhon Books for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A brilliant con artist and a secretive librarian collide in New York Times bestselling author Kalyn Josephson’s enchanting new adult fantasy debut packed with twists, tricks, and magical creatures, perfect for fans of S.A. MacLean’s The Phoenix Keeper and The Book that Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence.

Kasira used to be a masterful con choosing her target, building trust, judging the precise moment to make her move. Now, she’s working off a lengthy prison sentence by hunting dangerous magical creatures on behalf of the fanatical kingdom of Kalthos.

But Kasira’s past catches up to her when the ambassador from Kalthos arrives at her camp with a her freedom in exchange for infiltrating and destabilizing the magical institution meant to protect all six kingdoms—the Library of Amorlin.

When Kasira assumes the role of the new Assistant Librarian, she enters an enchanting world brimming with books and beasts, tempting her with a life she can never have. But Kasira’s real future depends on her long con to bring down the Librarian. Unfortunately, Allaster is as prickly as he is handsome, and his monstrous secrets are about to catch up with them both . . .

Content Warning: death, violence

+ First off, I love this book cover and might have to get the book trophy for my shelf. It’s one of the reasons why I requested this book on NetGalley. Also, it’s about a library? So I had to read it.

+ The world building is great. The Library of Amorlin is a neutral, and independent body of the 6 kingdoms surrounding it. There is a political battle going on – a religion that deems beasts to be monsters and sympathizing with them a sin, is sweeping the kingdoms. The Library is a place of study, and sanctuary to some of these wild beasts in the land. It’s not a library in the common sense, but a place to research and study the beasts and other things about all the kingdoms. The Librarian in this space is powerful and almost it’s own ruler of the Library, it’s Assistant, the second in command. But an Ambassador from one of these kingdoms will do anything and everything to infiltrate the Library, and take it for it’s own uses and power. There is magic in the Library, which makes this story very magical and the beasts adds to the fantasy.

+ Kasira, is our morally grey con-artist. Love her or hate her, she kept me on my toes and I was wary of her. As a kid she was taunted for being a beast sympathizer, as an adult she turned into a beast killer. But she grew up an orphan and joined a crew of con-artists to survive until a con went wrong and killed her friend. Kasira will do anything to survive. Allaster can sense something isn’t right with her and he’s right about her motives but she worms her way into everything at the Library to make them believe her con. I sympathized with her rough upbringing but oh did she frustrate me the longer she was at the Library. Her character couldn’t stop conning and lying and my patience was wearing so thin with her! But I pushed through the story because I had to see what she would choose in the end and I wasn’t disappointed.

+ I also loved the secondary characters, like the spirit leopard, Iylis! May, who is First Mage, and others.

+ There are so many twist, turns, political intrigue and moments I was surprised. But I loved it all – it kept me on my toes and I could not put the book down. I love how the con-woman was being conned and I wanted to see who was going to win out at the end! The way it ends felt satisfying but there are some things left open since this is a series.

+~ There is barely any romance in this story and maybe it’s coming in book two but this is light on the romance, with no spice at all. There are some moments of closeness. But Kasira is a liar and Allaster is distrustful (rightly so), so it all comes down to the end but I’m rooting for these two and hope Kasira can help Allaster out!

Final Thoughts:

I could not put this book down! If you like fantasy that is detailed on the world-building, but easy to read and light on the romance – definitely try this one out. I loved the magical Library and all the beasts they are protecting. I loved the politics, twist and turns that kept me on my toes and the morally-grey FMC who I didn’t trust but like Allaster, hoping I could trust by the end. I even enjoyed the very little romance between Kasira and Allaster, she with her schemes, and he with his love for the Library and everything in it. I’m looking forward to book two!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From this Author:

Book Review: The Storm Crow ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

ARC Review | The Crow Rider (The Storm Crow, #2) ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Midnight on the Celestial by. Julia Alexandra | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Midnight on the Celestial

Spice Rating:

Author: Julia Alexandra

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 3/3/26

Publisher: St Martin’s Press

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Mystery, Horror, Paranormal

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

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

Roe Damarcus has never been afraid of the dead. Her power to summon spirits has awed the guests of her esteemed family’s galas for as long as she can remember. Her future is certain, and her gift will be another shining jewel in the Damarcus legacy.

But when she fails her realm’s trial to keep her magic and is deemed too dangerous for society, she faces a harrowing choice: give up her gift or serve a punishment sentence aboard the Celestial, a luxurious magical cruise ship where staff members compete for guest votes to earn a coveted retrial.

As a concierge, Roe juggles the demands of affluent guests, cruel bosses, and the suspicion that an infuriatingly handsome silks performer, Ivander, is determined to keep her from a retrial.

But the true dangers surface after her shift ends when the Celestial transforms into halls of nightmares that kill staff members after dark. Faced with the reality of serving aboard, Roe begins to question the ship, trials, and the system that put her there. But the moment Roe sinks into the ship’s dark history, she’s wrongly framed for a guest’s murder. Vowing to conjure her own second chance, Roe will use whatever power she has to uncover the secrets of the ship, her family, and their entwined bloody past… before she becomes the Celestial’s next victim.

Content Warning: torture, death, gore

+ I didn’t know what to expect with this book but it was like horror and magic on the Titanic, which I thought was a very fascinating combination. It was more gory than I expected. I enjoyed the horror elements because it made things unpredictable on the ship.

+ I thought the magic system was very interesting. Some people are born with magic and they are called Morphics, but they have to show control of their magic. If they have no control and don’t pass their trial they can choose to have their magic extracted fully or they can serve time on the Celestial, which is an interesting cruise ship where non-Morphic tourists get to experience magic in a “safe” way. The Morphics serving time on the Celestial get a chance for a retrial, as long as they are on good behavior and people on the ship vote for them.

+ Rosaline/Roe’s magic is resurrection, which is very rare and dangerous. She ends up on the ship by choice, but finds out it’s hard work and they get tortured each night by the bosses who extract a tiny bit of magic from Morphics on the ship to keep it powered. Roe meets Ivander, who is supposed to show her the ropes on the ship, but they kind of have a little enemies to lovers relationship going on – barely enemies…more like dislike to like. It’s a slow and sweet romance though. Roe also meets all of Ivander’s friends, good kids, who all have a different story of why they ended up on the ship.

~ The pacing was a bit off. I was engaged for the first half, especially when learning about the ship and then the second half, I struggled to stay invested. Roe and her friends work on the ship and we get to see a lot of that happen, then they undergo this torture every night from the Bosses on the ship, it’s a bit repetitive. I wanted to know more about why the horror happens on the ship and why it’s contained to certain parts. Also wanted the story to lean more into the horror.

~ The ending feels rushed but it is a standalone, so I think that’s why things were wrapped up quickly.

Final Thoughts:

I thought the magic ship idea was really creative. I also found the magic interesting and I like the horror elements. I was invested in the first half of the story but I kind of struggled in the second half. The world-building on the ship was much stronger than when the story shifts to being on land, so the ending feels a bit rushed but overall, a good debut.