ARC Review | Of the Blood

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Title: Of the Blood (Heir of Blood and Fire, #1)

Author: Cameo Renae

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: ?

Publication Date: May 14, 2020

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult

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

One malicious prince. Two rival kingdoms. And an innocent girl caught in the crossfire.

Raised in a war-ravaged continent, temptation comes to Calla Caldwell in the form of a charming and mysterious stranger. Giving in to his intimate seduction, her world is forever changed by a single bite.

Calla quickly learns the handsome stranger is vampire prince, Trystan Vladu. His bite was an attempt to claim and save her from a plot of vengeance generations in the making. However, the claws of that ancient vendetta are scraping ever closer.
Thrust into a new nightmare by the Prince of the corrupt kingdom of Morbeth, Calla is captured, tortured, and starved in the dank confines of his dungeon. While in captivity, she takes part in a séance with a witch of light where she contacts a departed relative—a Princess of Incendia—who bequeaths a gift to Calla that will tip the scales of good and evil . . . if she can learn to harness it.

With a dark tapestry of secrets, lies, and murder unraveling around her, Calla must learn to embrace the power roiling through her veins, or be snuffed out by the strangling fist of a malevolent darkness.

Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this eARC.

Vampires, damphyrs, witches and even a pirate! This book pretty much had it all. Calla is bitten by a vampire prince and that leads her on a journey filled with danger and discovery.

I like the people Calla meets along the way like Kylan, Melaina and Markus. I thought these side characters brought a lot to the storyline because we learn a lot about vampires and the world they live in through their explanations to Calla.
The world building is interesting and I was curious about these different kingdoms of Morbeth and Incendia. We have vampires, witches, elementals, and even aquarians. Calla spends most of her time though with evil Prince Roehl in Morbeth but she does have some adventures after escaping Morbeth.
The cover of the book was what made me request this book, I like it a lot!

I like fast paced books that hit you with action in the first few pages but this book did that way too fast for me. One moment Calla is at a party, then she’s bitten by a vampire prince, Trystan, who was drawn to her because he felt a connection to her name on paper. Not going to lie, that made me wary of the story. I just didn’t believe it! 🤦🏻‍♀️ It’s too much of a major insta-connection, I won’t say insta-love because she meets other guys along the way.
Calla is made a vampire super quick but Trystan is barely in the book and she’s yet to complete a blood bond with him. But evil Prince Roehl, also wants her to have a blood bond with him. YET…when she finally escapes Roehl and hops aboard a pirate ship -she falls in lust with Sebastian Calloway. Go Calla…but I wasn’t feeling any of it. Apparently every man wants her because she’s special – she’s an elemental vampire royal but I wasn’t connecting to her at all. 🤷🏻‍♀️
This reads like a story for teens but it does have heated moments between Calla and some of the men she meets along the way.

This story wasn’t for me only because I felt no connection to Calla. I think the world building is great because it had a variety of supernaturals like witches, vampires, elementals and aquarians. I’m sure the love story will develop more in the next book and maybe Trystan will get more of a spotlight because I’m assuming she ends up bonding with him sometime down the series, at least he’d be my first choice for Calla. I’m not sure if I will continue with the series only but though it didn’t work out for me, I think this will book will appeal to many fantasy fans.

Mini Reviews | Kingdom of Runes, Books #1-3 by. Audrey Grey

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Oath Taker (Kingdom of Runes, #1)

After the Prince of Penryth saved her from captivity, seventeen-year-old Haven Ashwood spends her days protecting the kind prince and her nights secretly fighting the monsters outside the castle walls.

When one of those monsters kidnaps Prince Bell, Haven must ally with Archeron Halfbane and his band of immortals to rescue her friend.

Her quest takes her deep into the domain of a warped and vicious queen where the rules are simple: break her curse or die.

Lost in a land of twisted magic and fabled creatures, Haven finds herself unprepared, not just for the feelings she develops for Archeron, but for the warring powers raging inside her.

Her rare and forbidden type of magic may be their only hope . . . but mixing light and dark comes with a steep price.

Haven’s soul.

Faced with impossible love, heartbreaking betrayals, and a queen intent on destroying the realm, only one thing remains certain.

Haven must shatter the curse or it will devour everything she loves.

Author: Audrey Grey

Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited)

Pages: 317

Categories: Fantasy, New Adult, Romance

My Review:

I love Haven and Bell’s friendship. Haven is Prince Bellamy’s guard but she is also his best friend. She’s very protective of him her sole purpose in this series is to save him. I mean, that’s devotion!
Haven is a fighter but at some points she’s so cocky around more powerful beings than her. She’s rash at times with major tunnel vision (saving Bell) but Archeron, the Sun Lord is right to be aggravated with her at times. As for her feelings about him…warning, there IS a love triangle in this series.
The world building is detailed – we have mortal kingdoms, and immortal kingdoms. There is also the Netherworld which Stolas rules. The magic system is based on rune magic. There is a quest to save Prince Bell and to break a curse so the stories moves along quickly, plus at barely over 300 pages – it’s a quick read.
Triggers: violence and self-harm (because of how the rune magic is used)

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Title: Cursebreaker (Kingdom of Runes, #2)

All magic has a price.

Haven survived the Devourers, but she isn’t any closer to breaking the curse. Meanwhile, her forbidden magic rages brighter and more dangerous every day.

To control her powers and stand a chance against the Shade Queen, Haven made a bargain with two enemy immortals. Now her waking hours are spent fighting alongside the Sun Lord, but her dreams belong to the Shade Lord.

Only the closer she ventures into the wicked Shadow Kingdom the more her magic shows itself—and the more she struggles with whom to trust. The golden but wounded Sun Lord or the darkly charismatic Shade Lord.

Both are off-limits.

And both have the ability to save her . . . or destroy her.

With the Shade Queen closing in and Bell’s time nearly up, Haven will sacrifice everything to break the curse—but will it be enough to stop the mortal realm from falling into darkness forever?

Author: Audrey Grey

Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited)

Pages: 380

Categories: Fantasy, New Adult, Romance

My Review:

Bell has always been in Haven’s protective shadow even though he is a Prince and will rule one day. He is not good at fighting and always had Haven do it for him – so in his captivity he struggles but learns he can be without Haven. Bell is learning to find his own strength which is wonderful. He also meets the person who created the curse on the land in the first place.
We learn more about how the curse was created and more about Ravenna and her evil mother.
Haven gets into more harrowing danger and her hurt people, which annoyed me at times. When will she learn?! Ugh, that was frustrating about her. Her focus is still saving Bell but Archeron and she have an attraction happening. And the others in the group are becoming her friend. She shows heart in trying to help them instead of trying to deceive them. We learn about her past with evil Daimus as her captor. And then there is Stolas…uh huh…I can kind of guess how this is going to end.
This book kept giving me ACOTAR vibes…like MAJOR ACOTAR vibes with the whole Archeron and Stolas thing (Tamlin vs Rhys) and the curse. Like I just knew, she would end up with Stolas (Rhys)…I mean, at this point it’s reading like a fan fiction ACOTAR book! It bugged me but I love ACOTAR so much that I kept reading haha.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Title: King Maker (Kingdom of Runes, #3)

They broke the curse, but at what cost?

Haven and her crew may be considered heroes, but they arrive back in Penryth harboring dangerous secrets. Plagued by nightmares, Haven struggles to control her newfound magic while Bell shrinks under the weight of their shared lie.

When an emissary from Solissia shows up in Penryth and drafts Bell in a magical tournament, Haven is once again forced to follow the prince to foreign lands, this time to the bloodthirsty court of Archeron’s mother.

Trapped in a shifting landscape of dark politics, duplicitous immortals, and cruel sovereigns, Haven fights to keep Bell alive all without revealing their secret. But a terrible evil brews on the horizon. One that threatens the very fabric of the realm.

Haven might be their only hope of stopping the impending darkness. But first she must learn to accept her own darkness and follow her heart—no matter where it leads.

Author: Audrey Grey

Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited)

Pages: digital – ? /Amazon print version says 640

Categories: Fantasy, New Adult, Romance

My Review:

And yes…there goes the ACOTAR love triangle dilemma -Archeron becomes a villain, Stolas is now the hero. SIGH. I mean, I was loving Stolas anyway but it was just so similar. Did it really have to happen? Archeron was there for her in the beginning and he has to go out like this? Evil, broken hearted, and disfigured – damn.😔
Since the curse was broken in book two, we are now introduced to Archeron’s kingdom and his family. There is a trial, and the winner gets to rule over all nine kingdoms (and yes the Nine reminds me of LOTR! 🤦🏻‍♀️). This series actually reminds me a lot of other books out there.
I did love learning about Stolas’ sister who is as sassy as they come, but hey she is a Queen. Also Haven finally has more friends than just Bell now, yay – and her friendship with Bell gets tested but it needed to happen. Bell needed to come out through some struggles on his own and Haven needed to let him do it.
Despite the similarities to other books, it’s an entertaining series and I’m bummed the next book isn’t until November.

Overall, the three books in the series I read gives off major ACOTAR vibes with some differences, like this one has wyverns and rune magic. Haven does grow…slowly, she definitely learns the hard way which is so frustrating. She is not my favorite female lead, the battle in the end worked because she had help from her friends. I do enjoy the rune magic aspect of this world and how Haven has both dark and light magic. Will I read the next books, YES, I need to find out what happens with Archeron, how low will he go? There is also still a battle with Daimus coming, he definitely needs to be eliminated.

Book Review | In Bed with the Earl

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Title: In Bed with the Earl (Lost Lords of London, #1)

Author: Christi Caldwell

Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited)

Pages: 383

Categories: Historical Romance

To solve a mystery that’s become the talk of the ton, no clues run too deep for willful reporter Verity Lovelace. Not even in the sewers of London. That’s precisely where she finds happily self-sufficient scavenger Malcom North, lost heir to the Earl of Maxwell. Now that Verity’s made him front-page news, what will he make of her?

Kidnapped as a child, with no memories of his well-heeled past, Malcom prefers the grimy spoils of the culverts to the gilded riches of society. Damn the feisty beauty who exposed the contented tosher to a parade of fortune-hunting matchmakers. How to keep them at bay? Verity must pretend to be his wife. She owes him.

The intimacy of this necessary arrangement—Verity and Malcom thrust together in close quarters—soon sparks an irresistible heat. But when the charade ends, the danger begins. Will love be enough to protect them from a treacherous plot devised to ruin them?

In Bed with the Earl is the first book of a new historical romance series by Christi Caldwell called Lost Lords of London.

Verity and Malcom both have learned to struggle through life. Verity being the bastard daughter of an Earl and Malcom, being kidnapped from his family (his father was an Earl also). Malcom has been found and the title and all that come with it restored to him, but society doesn’t know much about this lost Earl. Verity is making ends meet by being a newspaper reporter except being a female reporter means no one takes her seriously. But she has her sister to care for so she will do anything to survive, even if it means hunting down the lost Earl to get his story.

I learned a lot in this story especially about toshers or sewer scavengers! It definitely opened my eyes to the way of life and how some people had to survive in London during those times. I found it interesting that Malcolm felt comfortable still doing that job even though he got his title and lands back. But his explanation to Verity made lots of sense, at least I do understand him wanting his sense of control.
On the other side of the spectrum was Verity, struggling to work an honest job as a female reporter. Her stories get stolen or they are not published at all or she gets to job of writing the gossip column. Yet Verity is a fighter. She definitely said what she wanted to say to her boss and that was entertaining.
Malcom story is sad! And when he remembers things about his past it’s heartbreaking but it also frees him.
I enjoyed that though Malcolm is an Earl, this story does not even venture into the usual ton life. There are no balls they attend, Malcolm is so reluctant to take this role as Earl, he wants to keep living the way he was living before he got the title. I felt like we had a glimpse of the commoner life in this story which was a nice change.

As far as chemistry goes, they do have it but I think I wanted more. Malcom is a hard character because of the trauma he experienced and it takes him awhile to open up but I felt like I needed a little more between the two to show the growing love especially when they have a fake-marriage situation.
Why do Christi Caldwell books seem so short when I read them?! Is it because I enjoy them so much I never want it to end? I always feel like by the time I read the last pages, it was rushed. HAHA…but thank goodness I have the next book in the series in my NetGalley shelf. 🤗

This is a great start to a new historical romance series! Malcolm’s story is heartbreaking and Verity’s tenacity and determination is something he could appreciate in the end. I also liked learning something new and can only imagine scavenging the sewers of London 😖. This story is about struggle and love and I’ll definitely be reading the next book asap.

Book Review | Sawkill Girls

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Sawkill Girls

Author: Claire Legrand

Format: Hardcover (own)

Pages: 447

Categories: Horror, Romance, Young Adult, Paranormal

Beware of the woods and the dark, dank deep.

He’ll follow you home, and he won’t let you sleep.

Who are the Sawkill Girls?

Marion: the new girl. Awkward and plain, steady and dependable. Weighed down by tragedy and hungry for love she’s sure she’ll never find.

Zoey: the pariah. Luckless and lonely, hurting but hiding it. Aching with grief and dreaming of vanished girls. Maybe she’s broken—or maybe everyone else is.

Val: the queen bee. Gorgeous and privileged, ruthless and regal. Words like silk and eyes like knives, a heart made of secrets and a mouth full of lies.

Their stories come together on the island of Sawkill Rock, where gleaming horses graze in rolling pastures and cold waves crash against black cliffs. Where kids whisper the legend of an insidious monster at parties and around campfires.

Where girls have been disappearing for decades, stolen away by a ravenous evil no one has dared to fight… until now.

I read this book last night and got halfway through before going to bed. I woke up with a nightmare because of a scene in the book that kinda grossed me out and took on an even more disgusting form in my dreams. 😫 I didn’t think this book would be creepy but the more I read I got sucked into this place called Sawkill Rock and the events happening there.

Girls have gone missing on Sawkill Rock and three girls share an interesting fate there. Marion is new to the island, she and her family are grieving the death of her father so this is a new start. Zoey moved there awhile ago to live with her father but things haven’t going so well there. And Val is queen bee of the island, gorgeous and popular with a hidden agenda.

Surrounding this place is an urban legend about the Collector. Is he real or just an urban legend with no substance to the stories? Will they figure out what is going before more girls disappear?

Creepy! The atmosphere of Sawkill was perfect for a chilling story. There things that definitely go bump in the night on Sawkill Rock, especially in the Mortimer household. There is a lot of mystery about Val and her family but we ultimately find out what their purpose is.
So much LGBTQIA+ representation! The asexual relationship between Zoey and Grayson was really well done for someone like me who is trying to learn more about people who identify as asexual. I don’t find a lot of books with asexual relationships.
This is a superhero story – that was surprising! There was woman power all over this book, mostly at the end. At first the girls are struggling, Val is abused/controlled, Zoey is bullied – Val does the bullying, Marion comes off as strange but they have powers within them and that was cool to see them work together.

The Collector was creepy as hell and disgusting. He is a killer, manipulator, abuser, he’s gross and at times I felt uncomfortable about the things he did. Like am I the only who thought it was sketchy that at times he was in the form of a “boy child” and then meet he was a doctor seducing Val…like…what was I reading?! Eww, I mean he was straight evil.
It’s quite atmospheric so if you don’t like that type of story, this one might not be for you. I mean at times moths would speak to the girls and I couldn’t tell if that was a good or bad thing haha. The beginning was a bit slow going as we try to figure out what in hell is happening on this crazy island with Marion hearing things, Zoey seeing things and Val…doing things. 😒
Though the story starts off like a mysterious paranormal story, the second half is like a superhero movie, maybe more like X-Men. It was an interesting turn and direction that worked for the most part – but it also threw me off at times. I just went with the flow. 🤷🏻‍♀️
There is insta-love. More like…insta-lust?
Triggers: abuse, murder

This story was atmospheric, creepy and at times strange – the Collector is a vile villain. The message of women empowerment came through hard and the LGBTQIA+ reps were awesome. Overall, this one definitely caught my curiosity, I could’ve done without some of the horror aspects but that’s just me, since I don’t read much horror.

ARC Review | Girl, Serpent, Thorn

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Title: Girl, Serpent, Thorn

Author: Melissa Bashardoust

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: May 12, 2020

Categories: Myth, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult

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

There was and there was not, as all stories begin, a princess cursed to be poisonous to the touch. But for Soraya, who has lived her life hidden away, apart from her family, safe only in her gardens, it’s not just a story.

As the day of her twin brother’s wedding approaches, Soraya must decide if she’s willing to step outside of the shadows for the first time. Below in the dungeon is a demon who holds knowledge that she craves, the answer to her freedom. And above is a young man who isn’t afraid of her, whose eyes linger not with fear, but with an understanding of who she is beneath the poison.

Soraya thought she knew her place in the world, but when her choices lead to consequences she never imagined, she begins to question who she is and who she is becoming…human or demon. Princess or monster.

Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this eARC.

This story is fascinating with it having Persian mythology elements. It reads like a fairy tale and has a queer love story.

Soraya is cursed, she kills with a touch. All she wants is to get rid of the curse and live a normal life. She gets a chance to make that dream come true but there are major consequences. This story is filled with hard choices, action and love as well.

I am not familiar with many Persian mythologies so this caught my attention right away. Soraya is cursed and she wants to be free from this curse but it isn’t so easy to lift the curse. She has to make some hard decisions and at some point you wonder if she has become a villain too.
The world building is wonderful. We are introduced to this world of divs – who are creatures with powers. A div was who cursed Soraya in the first place.
There are some surprises in the story and mostly because I was thinking of a fairy tale when a girl meets a boy (which she does)…but it doesn’t turn out the way you expect. I like that it took different turns and dark ones at that. This is a dark fairy tale, like I said Soraya makes some hard choices when it comes to her curse or her family.
I love the cover of this book – it’s gorgeous.

One of the surprises came with the romance part of the story and I liked that it didn’t turn out as I expected but I also felt like Soraya’s romantic interest in Parvaneh was quick. Soraya is attracted to Azad as first but that got nixed when he reveals himself!
As far as connecting with the characters, I didn’t feel a strong one to anyone in the story. I sympathized with Soraya and at times wanted to shake her – she is a complicated character and I liked that she owned up to her anger and jealousy.

Soraya walks a fine line between good vs evil and which way is right for her. She has been someone cursed, shunned for life to live alone, knowing she can kill with a touch and wondering why…why her? Why was she cursed? There are secrets to be revealed and the lives of her family are at stake. Soraya’s journey is filled with mistakes, and consequences but she learns to gain her power back too and right her wrongs. If you like your fairy tales a little dark with some twists and turns, you will love this story.

ARC Review | The Fiery Crown

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Fiery Crown (Forgotten Empires, #2)

Author: Jeffe Kennedy

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: Not Listed

Publication Date: May 26, 2020

Categories: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

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

A queen and her rebel prince turn from enemies to lovers while evil forces plot to destroy them in this lush romantic fantasy.

Following The Orchid Throne, Conri and Lia’s marriage of convenience has turned into an uneasy alliance. If only the two leaders could agree on something. Driven by revenge, Conri wants to attack Emperor Anure before the tyrant gets to them first. But Lia needs to keep Calanthe safe, and refuses to sacrifice her kingdom. Their ongoing battle for control has built up tension they’re both more than happy to release in bed, the only place where they find common ground. But Conri and Lia are developing deeper feelings for each other that are complicating matters. In the second book in the Forgotten Empires trilogy, Conri and Lia find their loyalties torn, and with Emperor Anure’s threat growing, will they be able to risk everything with each other before it’s too late?

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this eARC.

I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel to The Orchid Throne much better than it’s predecessor.

Lia and Conri are in a marriage of convenience. She needs Conri’s ruthlessness to help keep King Anure off her back but it seems inevitable – the King wants Lia and her orchid ring. As for the newlyweds everything is going well for them…in bed, but out of it, it’s always a fight between them. They are fighting their growing feelings for each other, thinking of the main plan to take down King Anure and exact the revenge Conri has been dreaming of but there is so much at stake. More than they care to admit.

The Fiery Crown starts off right after the events of book one. Lia and Conri are married and we learn that they are very compatible in bed but out of it they don’t know how to handle one another. They are constantly arguing and the sparks fly between them which is fun and frustrating at the same time.
King Anure is the common enemy they share and Conri and Lia are trying to come up with a good plan, with a low body count, to take the king out. We have a chance to see Conri and Lia question their main goals – Conri’s is vengeance and Lia lives her life for her island home, Callanthe. But this is the first time the both have started to question if there was something else they could value more…each other.
This book is much more fast pace than book one, thank goodness! There is plotting, arguing, action, a battle and then then ending when Lia goes through some very challenging moments. The story kept me on my toes and I like the twist in the second half of the book.
I loved learning more about Lia and her power as an elemental and her connection to the land. Also, I like seeing her come unravel because of Conri. She has been in a position of power and always putting on a mask that it’s refreshing when Conri strips her of control little by little.

Triggers: torture
Conri was a little infuriating at times but I understood his frustrations with Lia and his position in her court. I mean, how do you a tame a wolf? He is trying to do his job but Lia does a lot of things different. I’m glad his eyes are opened in the end and things are pretty much resolved between him and Lia but at times I was like…Conri…smh…🙄😝.

Lia and Conri are opposites in the way they rule, they buttheads a lot, but the spark and heat between them is undeniable. I love watching them go one step forward and two steps back in their relationship until finally – finally, they give in! 🥰 They are both leaders in their own right and Conri was infuriating trying not to love Lia yet still doing what he can to protect her. In this sequel Lia goes through some very painful moments but they both learn at the end of the book that there is hope and most importantly…love. And with that I am very much looking forward to the next book in this series!

Mini Reviews | Institute of the Shadow Fae Series (Books #1-4) by. C.N. Crawford

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Title: Court of Shadows (Institute of the Shadow Fae, #1)

Author: C.N. Crawford

Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited – borrowed)

Pages: 224

Categories: Urban Fantasy

A girls’ night out means three things to me: drinking whiskey with my best friend, keeping my magic hidden, and trying not to kill anyone. A supernatural gladiator like me isn’t supposed to exist anymore.

But my Friday night takes a bad turn when a lethally gorgeous fae–Ruadan–tries to assassinate me. He’s taken a vow of silence until he’s slaughtered the outlaws on his kill list. Outlaws like me.

Ruadan lets me live on one condition: I have to earn my place at the Institute of the Shadow Fae. As a powerful demi-fae, I can take the competition.

But things fall apart when I’m given an impossible choice: betray my mentor Ruadan, or my best friend dies. Now, I face a quandary my gladiatorial past did not prepare me for.

I think I was supposed to read this series before the Sea Fae series but here we are. Arianna is a demi-fae who was once a gladiator and slave to Baleros. She’s a whiskey drinking, kicking ass fae who has a secret past. Ruadan is a shadow fae with a vow of silence and Ariana becomes paired with him when she is recruited into the Institute of the Shadow Fae.

Arianna can seriously kick some ass. And I love reading the scenes when she is fighting! Noble fae call her a gutter fae and seriously, this girl is starving and struggling on the street! She has a human friend named Ciara (does this sound familiar?! If you read my review of the Sea Fae trilogy by this author duo then you know this is familiar). Arianna’s last “master” is coming for her and she needs to do a mission for him to keep Ciara safe.
Ruadan is a silent assassin with all this swirly dark shadow magic around him. I like how they learn to communicate and something is brewing between them of course. Of course he’s a quiet, gorgeous (aren’t they all?!) demi-fae as well.
We learn about the Shadow Fae who seem to be big with this author duo. We learn about their beginnings and who rules them. Plus I’m a sucker for books about institutes or academies and trials to pass. We meet some interesting novices and yay another female! The male novices are alpha…of course and treat Arianna like dirt.😒
This book is a very quick read (224 pages?!)…so quick I downloaded book two right away. So far…I’m interested in the story. And…cliffhangers, ugh…

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

Title: Court of Darkness (Shadow Fae, #2)

Author: C.N. Crawford

Format: eBook (KU-borrowed)

Pages: 236

Categories: Urban Fantasy, Romance

I would not say things are going well, exactly. I live in a burnt-out car under a bridge, surrounded by rubbish. When Ruadan shows up to bring me back to the Institute, I leap at the chance.

That is, until he throws me into the dungeons. I’m on the naughty list, and the mentor who once trained me is cold as ice. Now, I must pass every single trial, or the Institute’s executioners will rip me to pieces. Good thing I can handle it. I was the queen of the gladiator ring, and I do not go down easily.

The trials to become a Shadow Fae goes on but Arianna needs to kill Baleros and he can’t seem to die! I’m still enjoying the fight scenes a lot.
Ruadan can speak, thank goodness and he’s half incubi, a sex demon…well, well…which means there will be some hotness from here on out right? Right. 🔥🧯 lol
Ruadan and Arianna team up because he obviously has a soft spot for her. But what are these memories Arianna conjures up – what IS she? I mean everyone keeps asking and I am too – this better be good! 🤔
Another short one at 236 pages…like can we stop with the cliffhangers and maybe combine books one and two? lol

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Court of Night (Shadow Fae, #3)

Author: C.N. Crawford

Format: eBook (KU)

Pages: 238

Categories: Urban Fantasy, Romance

As a Knight of the Shadow Fae, I’m tasked with defending the Institute. I’m deep into a world of dark magic, orgiastic death cults, and demon roller discos.

But my new life begins with an impossible choice: turn over Ruadan within twenty-four hours, or my nemesis will unleash the Black Death.

Worse, my old gladiator master is threatening to reveal my identity. If the truth gets out, I’ll be out of the Institute faster than you can say “wrath of an incubus.”

If I can’t find and kill my oldest enemy in time, then it’s the Black Death for everyone, and I’ll be back on the run once more.

Love finding out what Arianna’s parentage is. It’s so bad ass and really fits her kick ass personality. She is a fighter but with such a lineage also very feared and it could come between her and Ruadan.
Speaking of the love-birds, I think they are sweet together(as a killing, kick-ass couple LOL). But I love them as a couple.
Some things were becoming redundant like Arianna always fighting herself aroused in wet clothing but can’t say I blame her – she’s hanging out with an incubus. 🤷🏻‍♀️ But I felt myself wanting to move on from her always wet clothing, these darn portals filled with water haha.
Also another short book with a cliffhanger, it was driving me a bit crazy…

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Court of Dreams (Shadow Fae, #4)

Author: C.N. Crawford

Format: eBook (KU)

Pages: 235

Categories: Urban Fantasy, Romance

Exiled from the Shadow Fae, I’m left out on London’s streets. The Knights of the Institute are dying of the plague, and they’re sure I’m to blame.

Desperate to speak to Ruadan, I invade the Institue. Then, things take a turn for the worse. Like, “tortured in a tiny prison cell” worse. Seems like Ruadan has completely betrayed me. But when I finally reunite with my dark demigod, it turns out I’d totally misunderstood his actions.

Once I’m out of jail, Ruadan and I have to fix this mess, and we’re thrown together once again. That means finding my father, and killing Baleros before the monster gets what he’s after: the skin off Ruadan’s corpse. If Baleros gets what he wants, then he’ll control the world, and I’ll lose Ruadan forever.

Arianna/Liora is trying to help the Shadow Fae again and yet…she’s banished again. Redundant yes, but I like how she keeps fighting to do the right thing. She may be death incarnate but she’s still a good person but she’s afraid Ruadan hates her.
Everything comes full circle for Liora – she has accepted everything about herself and she’s found parts of her past.
I’m so happy for Liora and Ruadan.
Aenor from the Sea Fae trilogy makes a cameo which makes me wish I read this series first!
Yes I read 4 books in one night because of the short installments and cliffhangers and that drove me crazy.

** Triggers: violence, abuse

I could’ve done without the short lengths of the books and the cliffhangers! But it was another urban fantasy series that made me escape from the real world and had a little bit of everything. I especially love the fight scenes because Arianna/Liora is great at kicking ass. And then there is the romance which was hot and sweet at the same time. I think I’m a new fan of this author duo.

Mini Reviews | Court of the Sea Fae Trilogy by. C.N. Crawford

My Rating for the whole series: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Title: Dark King ; Fallen King ; Rising Queen

Author: C.N. Crawford

Format: eBook (borrowed – KU)

Pages: Book #1 – 296 ; Book #2 – 272 ; Book #3 – 308

Catergories: Mythology, Urban Fantasy, Romance

A snarky fae, a sexy king, and forbidden desire deep as the sea. The first book in a three-book series.

Once, I was a fae princess with sea-magic at my fingertips. Now? I’m a hunted supernatural in a squalid shop, stripped of my power. My only comforts are stale cookies, Elvis records, and my hula-hoop. Until a lethally sexy fae king arrives and rips even those away.

After the brutal king throws me in prison, I strike a bargain with him: my freedom in exchange for helping him find a magic blade. What Lyr doesn’t know is that the blade might restore my stolen magic.

But as we journey, the gorgeous jerk is starting to make me feel things I’ve never felt. When Lyr touches me, desire ignites. I see raging passion in his eyes, too. If I give in, I risk losing my chance at reclaiming my power. Even worse… I could be forfeiting my life.

I started this series so I could make use of my Kindle Unlimited membership and I needed a light, quick urban fantasy read. I read this whole series in two days, that’s how quick it was. This is the first book I read from this author duo and this is how it went:

Dark King – Book #1: should be called Dark Queen because it introduces us to Aenor who is a thief struggling to survive in the street with her human Gina. Aenor once was a Morgan sea fae set to inherit a kingdom but those dreams are dashed when her home is destroyed. This means Aenor has great powers and Now all she has on her mind is revenge, to take down the being that destroyed her world, but who did it?

My Thoughts:

I don’t read a lot about the sea fae so I liked that I got to learn about sea creatures from mythology. Another thing is that Aenor is from the kingdom of Ys. I only heard about that legend in another book so seeing it here in depth was pretty cool!
Lyr, the demi-god is of course a hot alpha fae and there is an attraction between them but…what is up with his friends? 🙄 Anyway Lyr needs Aenor to find something and he seems into her…but is he really?
Aenor as a character is ballsy, can kick ass, hates men (because her mom was this crazy Queen who killed her husband and wore the blood stained dress for ages and told Aenor to never trust men – okay…lol 😳). Aenor is soft when it comes to her human Gina and also she is a defender of abused women – she kills dangerous men.
It’s a quick read, pure escapism, with hot gorgeous fae.

Life in a fae castle should be pretty sweet. Except, my lover wants to take my magic from me, and I made a deal with the devil. Literally.

Salem is the light-bringer, gorgeous as sin and just as evil. Some call him Lucifer. What do I call him? Whatever he tells me to, because he’s cast a mind-control spell over me. He hates me, but I have a plan. I’ll lead him to a sorcerer who can kill him.

But as I journey with the fallen god, I see him watching me, wanting me. And it’s mutual. Turns out fate has a sick sense of humor, because my destiny ties me to Salem. Still, I have to stop him before he gets what he wants. Because if I fail, he will unleash hell on earth.

Fallen King – Book #2: we find out the person who destroyed Aenor’s kingdom is Lucifer himself! He’s smooth, has more of a personality than Lyr does haha…and he has a backstory that isn’t the same stuff we here about him falling from the sky, he’s evil…la la la. Also, his name is Salem.

My Thoughts:

The chemistry between Salem and Aenor is much better than with her and Lyr. But prophecy said she has to kill him to protect the world and for him, he has to kill her to ascend back to heaven so….what to do?
We learn about Lucifer’s past when we ruled the kingdom of Mag Mel. Seriously, this guy has a past and I appreciate that he has a story. And he’s trying to find someone he cared about that Aenor supposedly killed so…there’s a lot these two have to work out huh?
I like Aenor’s battles so far in this series with mythological monsters. The series so far has a lot of action to keep it moving and much more sexual tension in this one. I mean…it is the devil Aenor’s dealing with.

My mate lies in a rotting cage at the bottom of the sea, and I’ll do anything to get him back. Maybe he’s the devil himself, but he made the ultimate sacrifice for me.

When my plan backfires, I’m left with a lethal hex surging in my veins. Now, I only have a few days to live. And Salem? He’s wrestling with a dark curse of his own, one that he says makes him burn..

He keeps saying this ends with one of us dead, that our story is a tragedy. But I’m determined to rewrite the tale fate has penned for us. If I can’t, he warns I could die at his hands.

Rising Queen – Book #3: Aenor and Salem can’t seem to let one another go. They fight more creatures, have more sexy times and they still have to decide who dies and gets their happily ever after. Can they find a way to be together and both get what they want?

My Thoughts:

Love Aenor and Salem together – he may be Lucifer but she can definitely keep up with him. And he keeps up with her also, I’m so glad they have their happy ending.
I loved Ossian who is Salem’s servant but becomes a good friend to Aenor.
I enjoyed the witches that were featured in this series alongside the sea fae, fallen angles, Shadow Fae and the legend of Ys. Having them leap into portals and different worlds kept the story moving at a fast pace.
All the books in this series were 300 pages and under which means…this could have easily been condensed into one book but I know Kindle Unlimited book series don’t work that way and that’s fine! All the cliffhangers in this series made me want to read the next volume.

**Triggers: violence

This series was pure fun urban fantasy about the sea fae and then some. It had everything from humor, adventure, fights, monsters, devils, gods, lust, and love. Overall, the whole series was entertaining and let me escape a bit.

ARC Review | Starbreaker (Endeavor, #2)

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Title: Starbreaker (Endeavor, #2)

Author: Amanda Bouchet

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 448

Publication Date: April 28, 2020

Categories: Sci-Fi, Romance, Space Opera

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

THEY NEVER WANTED TO BE HEROES

Captain Tess Bailey and Shade Ganavan are still the galaxy’s Most Wanted, and with revolution in the wind and the universe on the brink of catastrophic war, the situation couldn’t be more desperate. Despite the Dark Watch scouring the known sectors for them, rebel leaders have handed the crew of the Endeavor a delicate and dangerous mission: break into Starbase 12 and free renowned scientist Reena Ahern. She’s the only one who stands a chance of tipping the odds in their favor for the first time in decades.

BUT PULLING OFF THE IMPOSSIBLE IS WHAT THEY DO BEST

The clock is ticking. But as their attraction builds and secrets are revealed, Tess and Shade must decide if they trust each other enough to execute this impossible prison break. They could change the course of history, but they’ll be risking everything… They’ll just have to tackle one crisis at a time.

This is the second book in the Endeavor series and it takes off right away. We are back in space with Tess and Shade and there is more shady business going around.

Their relationship is constantly being tested and there are always curveballs thrown at them. Will they get through this mission?

I like Tess and Shade as a couple. Even when they have trust issues, at least they don’t give up on each other! They always have each other’s backs and they just make a good team.
So much action. Tess and crew get into harrowing situations all the time!
The world building is great – it’s in space but they visit different planets, like the jungle planet where some steamy scenes take place. But I just love how her version of space and different planets isn’t the usual dry landscapes that we are usually presented with when it comes to Sci-Fi.
I like the secondary characters that make Tess and Shade’s crew. They add humor and I found myself caring for them too.

I found the second half much more exciting than the first. I think because it’s been awhile I read the first book, I had to get my bearings in this one and it took awhile.
It’s definitely a mood read for me – I’d have enjoyed even more if I was in the mood to read about space. 🤷🏻‍♀️

This sequel is filled with space fights, romance and surprises so if you enjoyed the first book in the series, I think you will definitely enjoy this one as well.

Book Review |The Bride Test

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Title: The Bride Test (The Kiss Quotient, #2)

Author: Helen Hoang

Format: eBook (borrowed)

Pages: 296

Categories: Contemporary, Romance, Autism

Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, he feels irritation when people move his things or contentment when ledgers balance down to the penny, but not big, important emotions—like grief. And love. He thinks he’s defective. His family knows better—that his autism means he just processes emotions differently. When he steadfastly avoids relationships, his mother takes matters into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him the perfect bride.

As a mixed-race girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City, Esme Tran has always felt out of place. When the opportunity arises to come to America and meet a potential husband, she can’t turn it down, thinking this could be the break her family needs. Seducing Khai, however, doesn’t go as planned. Esme’s lessons in love seem to be working…but only on herself. She’s hopelessly smitten with a man who’s convinced he can never return her affection.

With Esme’s time in the United States dwindling, Khai is forced to understand he’s been wrong all along. And there’s more than one way to love.

I didn’t read The Kiss Quotient and honestly…I didn’t know I needed to. 😫 But now that I know, I better find it on my online library haha.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book and I was definitely surprised!

Khai is autistic and he is afraid he is incapable of loving someone but his mother has taken it upon herself to help him find a woman. She finds one in Vietnam.

Will Khai and Esme (My) fall in love before her time in the United States is up?

The autistic representation is something I haven’t read in a romance book before. It was so great to get the perspective of a character with autism and in a relationship.
There are sparks between Khai and Esme from the get-go! Obviously they are both attracted to each other because their personal thoughts were pretty steamy. But I thought it was great to be in their thoughts since they both had difficult expressing their feelings. Esme’s first language is not English and she felt shy using the words she did know, whereas Khai has challenges expressing himself because of his autism. They eventually learn how to communicate, but in the beginning it is a challenge.
I liked Quan a lot. 💕 He is patient with Khai and looks out for him when he can. Helps that he is hot and good with the ladies.
The after sex scene was funny yet eye-opening! I love that Khai had to get some advice because when Khai and Esme actually do the deed – it was like…oh. 🤭 Haha…but like I said, it’s a good thing because Khai really did need a talk on the subject.

Arranged marriages are tricky! I know it still happens but wow..poor Khai getting no choice in the matter, his mom just sprung it on him…like surprise, here’s this girl I found! 🤦🏻‍♀️ I’d be so mad if my parents did that to me. Yet I’m glad he found love with Esme!
At times I thought the chemistry between Khai and Esme lacking but I think because they had their own way of communicating and sometimes it wasn’t resonating with the other person. In the end they compliment each other because Esme learned to respect his boundaries. I mean that’s a good lesson in itself – we all need to respect people’s boundaries. And Khai had to respect her being a capable female.
Trigger: grief

This is the first book I’ve read from Helen Hoang and I am glad to see the autistic representation with Khai and how he navigates being in a romantic relationship. Overall I found the story enjoyable and I look forward to reading Quan’s book for sure!