While the Dark Remains by. Joanna Ruth Meyer | Audiobook Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating:

Title: While the Dark Remains

Author: Joanna Ruth Meyer

Narrator: Kimberly Woods

Format: audiobook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 450 / Audio Reading Time (approx.): 14h 45m

Publication Date: 8/1/25

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Brynja spent her childhood as a captive performer in Tenebris, the imposing mountain palace of King Kallias. Every night she risked death for the king’s entertainment until his rebellious son, Prince Ballast, helped her escape. Now twenty, Brynja has never forgotten the brutal king. Or forgiven him. Under the cloak of a three-month-long Winter Dark, Brynja is returning to Tenebris for revenge.

Accompanied by a rival court, including the alluring Prince Vil, Brynja poses as diplomatic royalty to barter peace between nations. No one is better equipped to infiltrate the palace than Brynja—she remembers every hidden passage like a bad dream. But her quest to destroy Kallias is complicated by her feelings for Prince Ballast, whom she isn’t sure she can still trust. And Kallias’s own quest to mine a catastrophic weapon of war buried in the mountain’s heart will threaten them all, and force Brynja to face the darkest parts of herself.

The lives of everyone she loves depend on the choices she must make. So, too, does the fate of the world.

Content Warning: violence, violence towards children

+ There is one narrator for this audiobook and I thought she did a great job with doing all the character voices.

+ I thought the world-building was pretty good. Three different kingdoms, with some animosities between them. The main kingdom this story takes place is in Tenebris who is ruled by King Kallias. He’s a cruel king who uses children as entertainment. These kids are abused and even killed if they don’t please him. Brynja and her friends Saga and Vil, part of the Skanda delegation to Tenebris, are going there under the pretense to make a trade deal, but their ultimate goal is to end his reign.

+ Brynja is an interesting character – she was one of these children in King Kallias’ collection of kids. Her talent was as an acrobat. At her time in Tenebris she befriends, Ballast, who is one of the king’s sons. Brynja does escape Tenebris eventually but coming back brings back bad memories of her time there. While she was at Tenebris, she also befriends Saga who is from Skanda, and in a way when they escape, Saga’s family becomes her found family.

+ The romance between Brynja and Ballast doesn’t really pick up until the end because of their complicated past. It’s a real slow burn and almost an enemies to friendship to lovers kind of story.

+ I enjoyed the politics and there is a plot twist that explains more about Brynja’s past and changes some relationships in the book.

~ This story is told in flashbacks which I don’t usually love and it happens a lot in the story but I did not have a hard time following even though I was listening to it as an audiobook. But I just don’t love the back and forth knowing what year we are in and the years are like 4150 or something like that.

~ The beginning is a bit slow as Brynja, Saga and Vil travel to Tenebris. There is a lot of stories about their gods which I think could be cut back a little because my attention wavered when those stories were told.

~ Brynja got sick a lot in this story when her anxiety hit. I don’t know why that stood out to me but I would always think – she’s gonna be sick, again?! 😅

Final Thoughts:

I enjoyed the audiobook though I did think the story was a tad bit too long especially with all the time jumping I had to pay attention too. I like the world-building though and was invested in Brynja’s journey back to the place she was traumatized and learning more about her past. The plot twist was there for shock value but I’m glad it didn’t end in a cliffhanger but was at least explained afterwards.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A Spell to Wake the Dead by. Nicole Lesperance | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: A Spell to Wake the Dead

Author: Nicole Lesperance

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 8/26/25

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

Categories: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Witchcraft, Cult, 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 G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Two teen girls must uncover the dark, occult secrets lurking in their Cape Cod town to solve a series of murders—and save themselves from the same fate—in this twisty, witchy thriller.

When Mazzy and her best friend Nora sneak down to the beach one moonlit night to cast a spell, they don’t expect to find a dead body. But as the tide rolls in, it carries the remains of a woman who is missing her hands and teeth.

The girls know they should leave the investigation to the police, but they can’t shake the weird, supernatural connection they feel with the dead woman. Using spellwork and divination, they set out to find answers of their own. But after they uncover a rash of local disappearances stretching back years—and both girls start having occult visions and hearing ghostly, whispering voices—Mazzy worries that she and Nora are in danger.

Then, Nora finds a second body. And a whispering voice is telling her where to find more. With everything spiraling, Mazzy needs to figure out who to trust and how to sever this supernatural connection—or she and Nora might be the next bodies to wash up on the beach.

Content Warning: violence, murder, death, kidnapping, ritual, possession

+ Mazzy and Nora are best friends and dabble with witchcraft. One night they are doing a spell when they stumble upon a dead body, and then a few others. The girls try to make sense of going on and realize maybe they are next.

+ I loved Mazzy and Nora’s friendship (even with the challenges they faced), also their friend Elliot who Mazzy has a crush on. The story doesn’t focus on the romance, but I like how it’s woven in between the mystery and thrills happening throughout this book.

+ Some mysteries are too slow for me but I liked the pacing in this one because of the witchcraft and then the rumors about a cult in the town that could be behind the murders. The girls get tangled up in all of it and it’s fun to see where it all ends up! It was a nice blend of mystery, horror, suspense and thriller.

+ This book is atmospheric and set in Cape Cod. It captured the small coastal town feel, and even felt creepy especially with these bodies being found in the water. I just love how it blended the witchcraft and coastal vibes.

~ Mazzy already has a crush on Elliot when the book starts and it’s noted something was changed between them so it was just getting to the part of both of them admitting it. I did wish we knew a little more about Elliot because he is helping these girls a lot on figuring out this cult.

Final Thoughts:

This is the perfect book for the fall season when you are looking for something witchy and thrilling to read. I enjoyed it!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A Forbidden Alchemy by. Stacey McEwan | Audiobook Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: A Forbidden Alchemy

Author: Stacey McEwan

Narrator:
Billie Fulford-Brown (Narrator), Joshua Riley (Narrator)

Format: audiobook (audible)

Pages: 480 / Audio Reading Time (approx.): 16 hours and 46 minutes

Publication Date: 7/1/25

Categories: Romantasy, Magic, Enemies to Lovers, Fantasy, Romance

This stunning slow-burn romantasy follows a fated pair who uncover a world-changing secret and are thrust into a violent class war, navigating love, loss, and devastating betrayals.

Nina Harrow and Patrick Colson are twelve years old when they are whisked away from the shadows of their disenfranchised mining towns to dazzling Belavere City to discover their magical potential. Those who pass Belavere’s test will become Artisans, wielders of powerful elemental magic destined to fulfill the city’s grand ambitions. For Nina, the Artisan School symbolizes a dream and an escape from her harsh reality, while Patrick yearns to return to his Craftsman family, whose extraordinary physical strength serves the idium mines keeping the city alive.

And then they uncover a devastating Artisans aren’t born, they’re chosen. They part ways on very different paths, leaving them to carry the burden of this secret alone.

In the years that follow, a Craftsman revolution ignites, thrusting Nina and Patrick into opposing factions of a brewing war. Now an elite Artisan with the very rare talent for charming earth, Nina has turned her back on the fight, haunted by the loss of her found family. But fate intervenes when she is captured by Patrick’s rebel group. Despite the years and conflict that separates them, Patrick hasn’t forgotten Nina. He desperately seeks her help for a mission that could shift the tides against Belavere City. Reluctantly, she agrees, battling the sparks flying between them. But when Nina’s first love reappears, asking her to betray Patrick for the sake of the Artisans, Nina faces an impossible choice that could alter the fate of their world.

Content Warning: violence, death

+ The narrators are amazing on this audiobook. The accents are fantastic!

+ The world building is really good in this story. There is a magic system that is really interesting – where people can either be Crafters or Artisans. Miners are rebelling against the Lords who is looking for the Alchemist, which is someone who has considerable power.

+ I really enjoyed Nina and Patrick’s story of how they met, parted and met again. In between that time, both of them have lived different lives – Nina training as an earth charmer and falling for Theo, who is a son of a prominent Lord. When Nina and Patrick meet again, it’s under different circumstances but it starts off a romance where Patrick is falling hard. Patrick is a strong character, harsh because of the conditions he’s had to live in, but I love how he protects his own – he loves his family and community, and is falling for Nina and will do anything for her. Nina feels strongly about him too, even though Theo makes an appearance again, but it gets a little complicated between all of them. It is a slow burn between Nina and Patrick though with a little heat.

+ There are a few twists and turns in this story that kept me attention engaged. There is a lot of secrets and a betrayal. The ending is really good too but ends in a cliffhanger!

~ Nina at times wasn’t my favorite especially in the end. I don’t know if it was because I felt disconnected from her character due to me listening to this as an audiobook?

Final Thoughts:

This is the first book in a series I think and it’s a really good start. I loved learning about this unique world with magic, and miners rebelling against the House of Lords. Patrick is a very compelling character but I think I wanted a little more from Nina. Their romance is a slow burn, but Patrick falls hard, and we’ll see what happens next after that ending. This audiobook version was very entertaining and the narrators sounded really good with their accents. I look forward to reading the next book in the series!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Ledge by. Stacey McEwan | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Warrior Princess Assassin by. Brigid Kemmerer | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Title: Warrior Princess Assassin (Braided Fate, #1)

Author: Brigid Kemmerer

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 408

Publication Date: 8/12/25

Publisher: Avon

Categories: Romance, Fantasy, Political Intrigue, Why Choose, Romantasy

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

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

WARRIOR. King Maddox Kyronan’s fire magic has earned him a ruthless reputation on the battlefield, but now his kingdom is slowly burning. Ky’s only chance to save his people is to enter a marriage alliance with the neighboring nation of Astranza, and hope that the royal family’s power to manipulate the weather will help his land flourish once more. He just needs to ensure no one finds out how the blaze began.

PRINCESS. With war looming on the horizon, Princess Jory’s home needs the protection of the fearsome warrior king, but she is hiding a dangerous her family’s magic is fading. Tempting as it is to reject her duties and run away with her childhood friend, Asher, Jory knows that she is the kingdom’s last hope. When she meets her intended, Jory is surprised to discover that beneath Ky’s daunting exterior is a compassionate and sharp-witted man who sets her heart aflame. But what will he do when he realizes she’s deceiving him?

ASSASSIN. Asher’s done what he must to survive, even if that means getting his hands dirty. Once a young nobleman in Astranza’s palace, where he and Jory caused mischief together, now he’s part of the Hunter’s Guild, employing much darker skills. When a lucrative job comes his way, Asher can’t say no—until he discovers the targets. Someone wants Ky and Jory dead. With the Guild watching, Asher must decide what he’s willing to do to protect the woman he loves.

A tale of three complex characters torn between chasing, betraying, and falling in love with each other, Warrior Princess Assassin marks the beginning of a thrilling new fantasy trilogy filled with enchantment, adventure, and passionate romance.

Content Warning: violence, mentions of slavery, mentions of abuse

+ I went into this one not expecting much but a good story because I enjoy this author’s work and I was hooked from chapter one. It’s filled with tropes that aren’t unique – a princess about to be married off to the king of a neighborhood kingdom for an alliance that would benefit both sides and her best friend is an assassin. Also there is someone who is trying to foil this alliance.

+ There are three POVs in this story: The Warrior is Maddox Kyronan (Ky) who has fire magic and needs help with the dying crops on his lands. The Princess is Marjoriana (Jory) who has wants to rebel and not be forced into an arranged marriage but she has no choice, because her kingdom needs an army (Ky’s), against another kingdom. And then there is the Assassin – Asher, who is Jory’s best friend. I thought the characters were interesting, but I think I was mostly fascinated with Asher who has been through hell, my heart broke for him.

+ The court politics was present and kept things intriguing in the beginning until the focus of the story came to the relationship between Asher, Ky and Jory. It does come back in the end which will set off things for book two.

+ While reading this, I thought this was heading towards an intense love triangle but I was wrong. Jory doesn’t have to choose either and in the end gets both of them. And because they are joining into a throuple, the spice was spicy. It is a slow burn though and most of it happens at the end of the story. I have a feeling this is going to get spicier in book two. But I was really intrigue with how this story started off between the three of them – it’s filled with tension and mistrust. It kept me hooked!

~ I think because the story focused on the characters, the politics kind of of disappeared in the middle of the story. It does return at the end to set up the next book.

~ Jory is the weakest link in this story. She is naive, she is inexperienced – yes, she shows moments of being bold but I wanted more from her. I think that will present itself in book two also, but the star of this book to me is Asher. So I hope Jory gets to shine a bit. She is the soft one between them and maybe the anchor since both men are a bit broken in their own way. She is the innocence and heart I think they miss and crave.

Final Thoughts:

I read this one in two days, so I was hooked because of the characters. It’s a romantasy filled with the typical tropes but it’s the characters that are the focus in this book one, not the political intrigue, though it is there. The tension and yearning in the three main characters in this why choose situation was addicting, even though the spice doesn’t really present itself almost at the end of the book. I think we need a little more from Jory’s character and more politics in book two but overall, I want to see what happens next to this throuple. I am rooting for Asher and hopes he gets the love and healing he deserves.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Defy the Night by. Brigid Kemmerer | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Defend the Dawn by. Brigid Kemmerer | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Curse so Dark and Lonely by. Brigid Kemmerer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Heart so Fierce and Broken by. Brigid Kemmerer ⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Vow So Bold and Deadly by. Brigid Kemmerer | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Forging Silver into Stars by. Brigid Kemmerer | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Letters to the Lost by. Brigid Kemmerer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

More Than We Can Tell by. Brigid Kemmerer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Soul of Shadow by. Emma Noyes | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Soul of Shadow

Author: Emma Noyes

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 7/29/25

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Categories: Young Adult, Mystery, Urban Fantasy, Romance, 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 Wednesday Books for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Charlie Hudson just wants to get through junior year. Since the death of her twin sister two years earlier, she’s drifted through life, going through the motions at school and parties and even at home. The spark that once burned so brightly within her has all but flickered out.

Until her classmate goes missing in the forest, leaving nothing behind but a pair of shoes and strange symbols carved into a tree.

Drawn to the disappearances by forces she can’t explain, she finds herself investigating the mysterious, alluring newcomer in town, Elias Everhart. With piercing eyes and sharp wit, he dances around her questions, only intriguing her further. Elias has a secret. More than one.

But what Charlie doesn’t know is that those secrets will lead her to a place she never a world hiding in plain sight, made of magic, gods, and monsters – and a first love fated to fall apart.

In Emma Noyes’s Soul of Shadow, truths and temptations lurk in the darkness, and for Charlie, the only thing more dangerous than facing her past, is the boy with the power to change her future.

Content Warning: violence

+ There are missing kids in town and Charlie is curious about them when a new boy comes to town, Elias, and he starts getting close to her brother. When he explains he’s a creature from Norse mythology and he opens her eyes to it all around them, Charlie’s world is changed.

+ I did like the Norse mythology in this urban fantasy book. I thought Elias was an interesting character, a very mischievous. And I felt like the world building was dark and at the end filled witha lot of action. He’s a dark character but kind of easy to also fall in love with, which is what is happening with Charlie. But clearly he is not one to trust.

+ Charlie and her friends are going through high school and focusing on things like the homecoming dance when Elias shows up and throws Charlie’s life in disarray. But I like her friendship group and her issues with her older brother. I think this story would appeal to teen readers rather than adult YA readers.

~ When I first read this I kind of did not get how Charlie and her siblings being in the circus as kids tied into the missing kids at school and then Norse mythology. So I had to push through with the story and I am glad I stuck with it but I do think there was too much to follow in the beginning. Once Elias comes into the picture and the Norse mythology information comes through then it makes more sense.

~ The pacing is a bit uneven because it will slow down when Charlie is doing all this research on google about norse mythology. There is a lot to learn.

~ Like I said above, this would appeal more to younger readers so if you are not into young adult, this might not be for you.

Final Thoughts:

After kind of a confusing start to the book, I got settled in and the Norse mythology tying into the contemporary world really fascinated me. I think Elias is a great character because he’s an attractive and charming guy, but for sure he’s a character you couldn’t trust. I liked all the action at the end of the book and wonder what will happen next. I do think it will appeal to younger YA readers and yes the pacing was slow at some parts but overall I thought this was an entertaining read.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Arcana Academy by. Elise Kova | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Arcana Academy (Arcana Academy, #1)

Author: Elise Kova

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 576

Publication Date: 7/22/25

Publisher: Del Rey

Categories: Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Political Intrigue, Dark Academia, Magic

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!

A woman who wields magical tarot cards lands herself in a false engagement with the headmaster of a mysterious academy in this first installment of an enthralling romantasy series from the bestselling author of A Deal with the Elf King.

Clara Graysword has survived the underworld of Eclipse City through thievery, luck, and a whole lot of illegal magic. After a job gone awry, Clara is sentenced to a lifetime in prison for inking tarot cards-a rare power reserved for practitioners at the elite Arcana Academy.

Just when it seems her luck has run dry, the academy’s enigmatic headmaster, Prince Kaelis, offers her an escape-for a price. Kaelis believes that Clara is the perfect tool to help him steal a tarot card from the king and use it to re-create an all-powerful card long lost to time.

In order to conceal her identity and keep her close, Kaelis brings Clara to Arcana Academy, introducing her as the newest first-year student and his bride-to-be.

Thrust into a world of arcane magic and royal intrigue, where one misstep will send her back to prison or worse, Clara finds that the prince she swore to hate may not be what he seems. But can she risk giving him power over the world-and her heart? Or will she take it for herself?

Content Warning: violence, death, grief

+ I haven’t read an Elise Kova book in awhile, but I had to read this one because of it’s premise. Tarot card forgery, magic, and an arcana academy sounded very intriguing!

+ In this world of Arcana, a deck of cards is all you need to fight and defend yourself and Clara is talented in making tarot forgeries which is illegal. And it ends her up on the most notorious prison, Halazar. Clara has a second chance now, posing as the second prince’s fiance and attending Arcana Academy. While she’s there working with him to execute his plans of changing the world, she’s also trying to find her sister Arina, who was at the academy and has disappeared. I thought the setting of Arcana Academy was lush, dark, mystery and even opulent for a school. Clara makes some new friends and enemies.

+ I found the magic of the tarot card deck really fascinating! Also throughout the story, Prince Kaelis has a plan to steal some Major Arcana cards from his father, the king, so at some parts of the story it felt like a heist, which I thought was fun and engaging. I also liked the politics. There is still so much secrecy about some of the characters in this book that I hope will be revealed in book two. Also there is a found family trope.

+ The romance was full of tension but I didn’t feel it was a main focus of the book for awhile. Prince Kaelis has an agenda and though Clara is helping him to keep herself from going back to prison, she doesn’t fully trust him either but is definitely attracted to him. He is the misunderstood, brooding prince with a bad reputation, but he is also headmaster at Arcana Academy. The attraction grows between them – reluctantly, since they are enemies, but by the end they do become lovers. There is some spice, where clearly they choose to keep this relationship casual and physical but I think that works out fine since Clara has a lot going on.

~ The story is under 600 pages, but I did read it in two days. The pacing is slow but not in a way that I got too bored. I was steadily curious throughout. I think there was so much information about how the tarot magic worked that sometimes it tended to get info-dumpy and I still was confused about some things because I felt like I needed actual visuals of these cards. But I was also equally fascinated and wanted to learn more!

~ The romance though fun at moments, wasn’t a lot. I wish Kaelis and Clara had more interactions. Clara is really focused on her studies, finding her sisters, and trying to forge cards for Kaelis.

~ There is so many more secrets to be revealed and there is a cliffhanger ending. So now I will be eagerly waiting impatiently for book two!

Final Thoughts:

I thought this was a really good start to a new series and I found the magic system fascinating even though sometimes confusing. I enjoyed the enemies to lover romance, the politics and the found family and I’m always a sucker for a dark academia book. The cliffhanger ending makes me eager for book two!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

A Duel with the Vampire Lord by. Elise Kova | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A Dance with the Fae Prince (Married to Magic #2) by. Elise Kova| Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A Deal with the Elf King | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Jasad Crown by. Sara Hashem | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Jasad Crown (The Scorched Throne, #2)

Author: Sara Hashem

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 692

Publication Date: 7/15/25

Publisher: Orbit

Categories: Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Political Intrigue

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

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

In the thrilling conclusion to the Egyptian-inspired Scorched Throne duology, a fugitive queen must risk everything and everyone she loves for the chance to restore her lost kingdom of Jasad.

Held deep in a mountain refuge, Sylvia has been captured by the Urabi, who believe the Jasad Heir can return their homeland to its former power. But after years of denying her legacy and a forbidden alliance with Jasad’s greatest enemy, Sylvia must win the Urabi’s trust while struggling to hide the dangerous side effects her magic is having on her mind.

In a rival kingdom, Arin must maneuver carefully between his father’s desire to put down the brewing rebellion and the sacred edicts Arin is sworn to uphold. He is determined to find Sylvia before it’s too late, but Arin’s search unravels secrets that threaten the very core of his beliefs about his family and the destruction of Jasad.

War is inevitable, but Sylvia cannot abandon her people again. The Urabi plan to raise the Jasadi fortress, and it will either kill Sylvia or destroy the humanity she’s fought so hard to protect. For the first time in her life Sylvia doesn’t just want to survive. She wants to win.

The fugitive queen is ready to reign.

Content Warning: violence, death, grief, parental abuse

+ This is part two in The Scorched Throne series and what I loved about the first book was Arin and Sylvia/Essiya. I wanted to see what would happen to them in the conclusion and what a conclusion it is.

+ The enemies to lovers romance in this series is top notch. The tension between Arin and Essiya is so good. And they are always fighting and I don’t mean arguing but physical fighting. And I wanted more in this book but I felt like we still got bread crumbs. There are some exceptional moments though where Arin is telling Essiya what lengths he would go to save her, be with her, love her. It made me melt! It hurts my heart just knowing what they had to go through in this story. But what a love story it turned out to be!

+ Sylvia/Essiya was the compelling character in book one because of who she was and what she was hiding. She’s still amazing in this one – strong, impulsive, but learning to be a leader. It’s Arin that stole my heart in book two. He has to deal with a lot of truths, betrayals, guilt and with his brilliant mind, with him always trying to figure out a puzzle or plan for the future – he of course has to figure out how to save Essiya. I loved both their personal journeys, but more so Arin’s.

+ The world-building was great and the twists in the story did surprise me. I love this lush world of magic, with magical creatures and beasts coming to life.

~ Like book one, I felt like this book again was too long. This is longer than book one, coming in just under 700 pages. I wonder why this was never made into a trilogy because it definitely could have been! Also, I’m starting to question if I just don’t enjoy long books?

~ Because I felt like it was too long, the pacing was uneven. The beginning was slow, it took me a few days to get through it, I was trying to get my bearings and remember who Sefa and Marek were. This time they have their own POVs. I was not-so-patiently waiting for Arin and Essiya to be in scenes together. And then I would be riveted to the story and then it would slow down again. The second half was much better. The ending plot-twist felt a little rushed and I wish there was more to explore that which is why I wish this would have been a trilogy!

Final Thoughts:

Even though it was too long and the pacing was uneven, the Arin and Essiya love story really bumped up my rating from 3.5 to 4 stars. I love them together and was rooting for them hard. I loved the world building and the twists in the story. This was a good conclusion to the duology. If you like fantasy and romance (not so much romantasy – there is no smut in this) then you will enjoy this series.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

The Jasad Heir by. Sara Hashem | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Silvercloak by. L.K. Steven | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Silvercloak (Silvercloak Saga, #1)

Author: L.K. Steven

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 464

Publication Date: 7/29/25

Publisher: Del Rey

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

In this addictive new fantasy series set in a world where magic is fueled by pleasure and pain, an obsessive detective infiltrates a brutal gang of dark mages—knowing that one wrong move will get her killed. . . .

Two decades ago, the Bloodmoons ruthlessly murdered Saffron Killoran’s parents, destroying her idyllic childhood. Hell-bent on revenge, she lies her way into Silvercloak Academy—the training ground for her city’s elite order of detectives—with a single goal: to bring the Bloodmoons to justice.

But when Saff’s deception is exposed, rather than being cast out, she’s given a rare opportunity: to go undercover and tear the Bloodmoons down from the inside.

Descending into a world where pleasure and pain are the most powerful currencies, Saff must commit some truly heinous deeds to keep her cover—and her life. Not only are there rival gangs and sinister smuggling rings to contend with, but there’s also her growing feelings for the kingpin’s tortured son, with his vicious pet fallowwolf, his dark past, and the curious prophecy foretelling his death at Saffron’s hand.

With each day testing her loyalties further, Saff finds her web of lies becoming harder to spin. And when one false step could destroy everything and everyone she’s ever loved . . . the detective who’s dedicated her life to vengeance just might die for it.

Content Warning: violence, death, drug use, torture

+ Silvercloak introduces us to a world of magic, and to fill this magic well in each person is pleasure and pain. The world-building is amazing – it is lush, detailed and violent. There are mages who uses wands and spells for their magic. There are Silvercloaks who are in essence the good guys, and then the Bloodmoons who are the bad guys – run by Lyrian who acts like a cold-hearted mob boss. Saff is training to be Silvercloak but gets assigned to be deep undercover as a Bloodmoon to gather intel so that their organization can be finally taken down.

+ Saff is an undercover Silvercloak and caught in a mess. Lyrian runs a tight ship and Levan, his son is ruthless and keeping an eye on Saff. She does her best with what skills she has but this being her first real undercover mission – she is not that savvy and makes so many mistakes. I found her to be a fascinating character with her immunity to magic. Levan is even more fascinating with his hard exterior, violent tendencies and yet love for fantasy books. The attraction between them is automatic because in this world, pleasure and pain seem to be there for the taking with anyone they choose. There are a few spicy scenes and it gets creative when using wands and magic! I thought that was fun plus because it’s a world of pleasure – this is a queer community, both Saff and Levan are bisexual.

+ The side characters were great too – I felt like Saff’s friends gave us a lot of insight into her life and world before becoming a Bloodmoon. And the Bloodmoons are interesting too especially when Saff starts to dig into why they do what they do.

+ There is a lot of violence in this book because that is what Bloodmoons are. I liked the twist at the end and it makes me eager to know what will happen in book two. Also I usually don’t enjoy time jumping but this one was easy to follow.

~ I wasn’t 100% on Saff’s reasons for joining the Bloodmoon (the made up reason), clearly someone like Lyrian who has his “eyes” everywhere knows she is a rat – he knows, he just doesn’t have proof but I just kept wondering, why not just kill her? She really doesn’t bring anything to the table here and they were suspicious of her the whole time, but that’s what made the twist more interesting.

~ Clearly this is an enemies to lovers romance but I am still not sure about Levan and how he feels about Saff. Also because they can refill their magic wells with pleasure – I didn’t feel like they had a budding romantic connection at all, more like okay I can help you replenish with this. Do I hope they have a romance? I’m not sure yet.

~ As I mentioned, Saff isn’t the most experienced undercover Silvercloak so there were times I wanted to shake some sense into her. Also, this is adult fantasy but feels young adult or maybe new adult.

Final Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this one, especially the world-building which was detailed. I love the magic and wand wielding. There were some pretty violent and bloody scenes in this one but I thought it was fitting since the Bloodmoons are an organized crime unit. They lived up to their reputation. This was entertaining and I’m looking forward to see what happens in book two!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Embrace the Serpent by. Sunya Mara | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Embrace the Serpent

Author: Sunya Mara

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 6/24/25

Publisher: HarperCollins

Categories: Young Adult, 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 HarperCollins for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Serpent King has come to find his bride, and with his arrival festivities sweep through the city. Inside and outside the Rose Palace await women from across the six kingdoms determined to become his new bride-to-be—all except for eighteen-year-old Saphira.

After escaping life as a palace ward under the cruel djinn Lady Incarnadine, Saphira now works as the apprentice to the unscrupulous jewelsmith Galen. Out of fear of being discovered, she hides her rare gift for harnessing the magic in gemstones and lets Galen take credit for her craft.

But when Galen makes a boast that ruffles the court, Lady Incarnadine punishes him with an impossible task—one that threatens to drag Saphira back into Incarnadine’s grasp. Desperate to avoid this fate, Saphira strikes a dangerous deal with Rane, the enigmatic huntsman sent by the Serpent King to find the best jewelsmith in the empire.

Rane promises that if Saphira crafts a mysterious piece for his master, the Serpent King will grant her a new identity and freedom. But when their plans go awry and the only way out is to marry the Serpent King, Saphira becomes entangled in the dangerous affairs of kingdoms and empires—caught between the cunning, handsome Rane and her cold, serpentine husband.

Content Warning: violence

+ I didn’t know what to expect from this story but I was pleasantly surprise and I read it in one day. Saphira is a jewelsmith and I love her talent with the gems. She has a mysterious history that is revealed as the story moves along. But the Serpent King has come to town looking for a wife, or at least that is what the Rose Palace believes.

+ The world-building is not heavy, this is a light fantasy. I did want more world building about the different kingdoms but I think there was a general feeling for what was happening. This world is filled with djinn, golems, magic and different kinds of creatures. I actually enjoyed it and I especially enjoyed Grimney who is Saphira’s golem! He was so charming!

+ There is a marriage of convenience in the story and a little but of deception with the romance but I thought the romance was sweet by the end! There is no spice, and there is a very closed door scene but other than that this is a clean romance.

+ I actually can’t believe this is a standalone because it could have been a series if the world-building was heavier but it was kind of refreshing to have it be a standalone. I liked the happy ending!

~ Though I like that this is a light fantasy, but I also think it would have been nice to create more tension with Mirandel who knew Saphira in her past but they had a falling-out. They had some interesting interactions but I thought there could be more there in their storyline. It would be interesting to see a sequel about her actually.

Final Thoughts:

This book has magic, deception, a marriage of convenience, a cute golemn named Grimney and a sweet romance. I really enjoyed it and read it in one setting. I think for a light fantasy it was very enjoyable.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Lovely Dark and Deep by. Elisa A. Bonnin | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Lovely Dark and Deep

Author: Elisa A. Bonnin

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 3/25/25

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Categories: Dark Academia, Magic, LGBT+, Young Adult, Mystery, Contemporary Fantasy, Horror

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

From author Elisa A. Bonnin comes Lovely Dark and Deep, a YA dark academia novel exploring magic, loneliness, and the power of found family.

Hidden off the coast of Washington, veiled in mist, there is an island that does not appear on any map. And on that island is Ellery West.

Ellery West has always been home for Faith. After an international move and a childhood spent adjusting to a new culture and a new language, the acclaimed school for magic feels like the only place she can be herself. That is, until Faith and another student walk into the forest, and only Faith walks out.

Marked with the red stripe across her uniform that designates all students deemed too dangerous to attend regular classes, Faith becomes a social pariah, an exile of Ellery West. But all she has to do is keep her head down for one more year to graduate, and she gets to keep her magic. Because when students fail out of Ellery West, they have their magic taken away. Forever. And Faith can’t let that happen.

Except terrifying things are still happening to students, and the dark magic that was unleashed in the forest still seems to be at work. To stop it, Faith and the other Red Stripes will have to work together, risking expulsion from the magical world altogether.

Content Warning: some horror

+ Ellery West is a boarding school for magic users and Faith has been there awhile, but something happened and she gets blamed for the death of her friend, Sydney. Now she’s back but she’s an outcast and lives with the other outcasts. They call themselves the Red Stripes and I did enjoy the found family that they created.

+ Faith is Filipino which is awesome (representation) and she’s going through some things with school and not wanting to disappoint her family again. She’s haunted by what happened in the forest that time she and Sydney went in but is someone now trying to send her a message? She’s having nightmares, and thinks someone is watching her. I love the diverse characters of the Red Stripes and how they welcome Faith as one of their own. They help her try to figure what is going on and has her back.

+ The setting of the school Ellery West is perfect for dark academia. There is a forest at the school where something is not right. The magic system is cool – students have magical powers with different affinities.

~ There are flashbacks in this story that didn’t always work for me. I kind of wish we got a book before this one that explored this friendship that Faith had with Sydney and what happened in the woods.

~ I wanted it darker. But that’s just my preference – I actually think young adult and teens are the perfect audience for this book.

Final Thoughts:

This story has magic, some light horror, mystery, diversity and a found family. For me I wanted it to be a bit darker and it might have been a bit too young for me but I think fans of YA Dark Academia will enjoy this one a lot. It is definitely more for teens and younger young adults.