Kiss of the Black Flame by. Helen Scheuerer| ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Kiss of the Black Flame (The Bookbinder’s Bargain, #1)

Author: Helen Scheuerer

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 464

Publication Date: 9/22/26

Publisher: Atria Books

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

Some bargains are sealed with blood…Others with fire…The deadliest are sealed with a kiss…

Saige Grayson has always believed stories could heal—even when her own body refuses to. As the most promising bookbinder in the capital, she’s learned to work through chronic pain and crushing debt, restoring other people’s treasures while trying not to fall apart herself. But when the man she owes decides her rare talent is worth more than her payments, Saige is traded to the Azkari—an immortal race forged by the gods for war—and imprisoned in their ancient stronghold.

Her only chance of survival lies with Archer, a fallen Azkari general imprisoned beside her —cursed, dangerous, and impossible to ignore. He offers her a way out, and in return, Saige must help him retrieve and restore an ancient book. But the book is made of living magic, powerful enough to stop a great evil—or unleash it. And as Saige works with Archer, the tome begins to awaken something dark and dangerous—both in the realm and within her.

As their enemies close in and buried memories resurface, Saige and Archer must decide what they’re willing to their freedom, their fragile trust…or the spark that could ignite the world.

Content Warning: violence, death

Archer is an Azkari general who has been trapped in prison with his half corporeal form for 200 years. With his enemy, Malevron, on the move he has to beat him to finding the Confluence – a book that contains all the knowledge about the Azkari people and their magic. He needs a bookbinder who has the talent to restore the book, and he’s found one but not the one he’s looking for. But Saige makes a pact with Archer because she needs help from thugs, but the bargain she makes is unknowingly more than she agreed to.

This is quite a story and I was hooked from the very beginning! I’ve read a few of this author’s books, but I didn’t read the last book of her last series only because sometimes trying to stick to a series longer than 3 books can be difficult when I’m short on time and motivation. But I’ve always loved her writing. This book reminds me why I was a fan of her work in the first place. It’s easy to read and the characters are easy to connect to and invest in. And there are a few things going on like a bargain, a journey, action, a quest, a book restoration, political intrigue, a slow burn romance and a story about family – found and bio. There are a few secrets and some betrayals, so there was always something happening in this story whether it was the quest to find the book and the events that came after it to restore the book. I loved learning about the Askari and hope we get to know more in book two.

Saige is 35 years old, which I absolutely love since I feel like there should be more older FMC’s in stories. I love the found family that Saige has with her adopted mother Yev and her best-friend, Raven. And I can’t forget Yev’s hound, Grim – he was adorable, especially when he was getting on Archer’s nerves. Saige is for the most part, mostly positive and has a happy disposition – even when bad things happen. But she does have a hard time asking people for help and has gotten into debt with a bad man. As for Archer, he is very grumpy, and has a few secrets. I thought his interactions with his friends, family, Saige and her family were funny because he’s such a grump!

The romance is a delicious slow burn because Archer and Saige are very much opposites and come into the bargain reluctantly. It goes from dislike to lovers to…enemies? It ends with a cliffhanger. But oh did I love Archer when he was a tortured general with tattoos of plants or flowers on his back. He also wears glasses and sketches with charcoal, but yes he is also a killing machine made for war. He was such a contradiction and a mystery but we do find out a lot about him at the end – some things I didn’t like knowing, so I don’t know how I felt about him at the end, I’ll wait until book two to judge him. Saige was an interesting character because I think she’s older? So she didn’t need a man and was very big about being independent but she didn’t deny she wanted Archer and I kind of like that she didn’t hide it. Their spicy moments were fun too.

Final Thoughts:

I devoured this one! I love so many things about it like the romance, the quest, the grumpy x sunshine characters, the found family and bio family. There was action, secrets, betrayals and I want more. Can’t wait for book two!

Read if you like:

found family
grumpy x sunshine romance
secrets and betrayal

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Fate & Furies by. Helen Scheuerer | Book Review – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Vows & Ruins by. Helen Scheuerer | Book Review– ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Blood & Steel by. Helen Scheuerer | Book Review – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fabric of Chaos by. Helen Scheuerer | Book Review – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

With Dagger and Song by. Helen Scheuerer | Book Review – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A Lair of Bones (Curse of the Cyren Queen #1) by. Helen Scheuerer | Book Review – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Ice Beyond by. Olivia Wildenstein | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: The Ice Beyond (The Empress of Thorns, #1)

Author: Olivia Wildensteiin

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 512

Publication Date: 9/22/26

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Categories: Romantasy, Age Gap, Werewolves, Vampires, Valkyries, Nordic-Inspired

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

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

HE DEFIED HIS PACK TO LOVE ME.

I had two childhood dreams: to shift into a wolf, and to win Nordin Stormsson’s forbidden heart.

My first dream shattered the day my mother confessed I wasn’t a shifter, but a valkyrie—stranded in a land far from my people. My second was crushed when Nordin rejected me…only to claim another as his mate.

Heartbroken, I crossed beyond the wards in search of my birth clan. My freedom came at a cost. Dragons, vampyrs, and enemy wolves stalked me through the dark. They weren’t the only ones who came after me, though.

Nordin came too. He seized me before they could, stealing my body and then my heart.

For a time, I dared to dream once more, to imagine a future with Nordin in the land of ice and wolves.

Until I uncovered my beloved’s most closely guarded secret.

A truth about my past.

One that ruined us all.

The Ice Beyond is the first book in a fiercely romantic, Norse-inspired fantasy filled with forbidden love, warring supernaturals, and a spirited heroine who must decide whether to cling to the life she was given or step into the legacy she never asked for.

Content Warning: violence

World Building: This is a Nordic-inspired romantasy, which mention the Nordic Gods like Loki and Fenrir. Zas is ready to shift into a werewolf when she comes of age but when it doesn’t happen, she finds out it’s because she is not a werewolf but something else. This world is not only filled with werewolves though but also vampires and valkyries.

Characters: Zas’s character has lots of potential, but would like more depth – she’s been raised by werewolves but is something else. But she’s young and acts that way because she’s been so sheltered and I wanted to see her grow more. Nordin is her “cousin”, and the one who found her when she was a child but now as she turns into a young woman, there is an attraction between them that he is trying not to act on because people in the pack think they are cousins (which they are not), and he is the Alpha’s son. I did like other characters like Zas’ adoptive mom, Eira and Nordin’s sister, Saga. There are a few characters we don’t know much about, like the vampires and I do want to know more about them.

Romance: So I wasn’t totally in love with the romance. It’s an age gap romance but Nordin is the one who found her when she was a child. He and Zas were raised as cousins, though they are not blood-related, but she is in love with him and wants to tell him badly. But when she is 20, she negotiates with the Alpha to change her age to 21 so she and Nordin can get physical. I didn’t care for that. I just couldn’t get over how he helped raise her and now wanted to sleep with her. And things do get spicy between them. While reading I was hoping another love interest would appear. Plus I just want to see her grow a little and do things for herself, because she seems so young and acts that way. Nordin has protected her since he met her…so some growth is needed.

Story: This story was easy to read even at 500 pages. I felt like the world building was on the lighter side, maybe because it was concentrated on the wolf pack, and I did enjoy that it didn’t take a lot of brain power to read through it. I liked learning about the pack, the politics, and the betrayal. But I wanted to also learn more about the vampires and valkyries which I am sure we will get more of in book two because of the way it ended. The romance wasn’t my favorite, but I kind of want to see what happens in book two before I totally judge the romance. One thing that threw me off, was a few times there was modern speech, like the word “unalived” was used.

Final Thoughts:

I think overall this is a solid start to a new series. There are some things I liked, and some things I didn’t. I will read book two when it comes out just to see what the vampires are all about and maybe we get more about the valkyries too.

Read if you like:

age gap romance
romantasy – werewolves, vampires, valkyries
easy read

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

House of Beating Wings by. Olivia Wildenstein | Book Review – 3 stars

House of Pounding Hearts by. Olivia Wildenstein | Book Review – 3.5 stars

Stone Bound by. Jocelyn James | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: Stone Bound

Author: Jocelyn James

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 350

Publication Date: 9/4/26

Publisher: Jocelyn James

Categories: Romantasy, Dark Academia, New Adult

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

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

In Anvarus, every life is divided into sectors, assigned not by choice but by the will of the Infidium. When Peyton Lancaster comes of age, she expects to follow in her father’s footsteps in the Science Sector. Instead, she is forcibly placed into Anvarus’s brutal military academy, stripped of the future she has spent her entire life preparing for and thrown into a world built on discipline, survival, and obedience.

Her situation becomes even more complicated when she discovers her commanding officer is Jude Augustine—the future prince of Anvarus, her childhood best friend, and the boy who abandoned her when she needed him most. Forced into the same chain of command, old wounds resurface alongside a tension neither of them is prepared to navigate.

Jude knows he should treat her like every other cadet, but the moment he sees her name on his roster, instinct overrides reason. He is compelled to protect her at all costs. Peyton refuses to be protected. Determined to prove she is not a liability, she throws herself into training, but her refusal to blindly comply with the academy’s rigid expectations begins to draw dangerous attention.

As the Twelfth Moon Trials approach—where cadets must fight one-on-one for the chance to earn a temper stone—Peyton finds herself walking a knife’s edge between defiance and survival. During the Trials, she nearly dies, and in that moment Jude watches his entire future fracture before his eyes. Peyton survives, but she does not leave the arena unchanged. Her temper stone awakens an ancient, forbidden power—one the Infidium would execute her for possessing.

Now Jude must balance the weight of the crown he is destined to inherit with his growing need to shield Peyton from a kingdom that would destroy her if it discovered the truth. As Peyton struggles to control a power that threatens to consume her, their loyalty to the throne, to the kingdom, and to each other is tested in ways neither of them anticipated.

In a city carved from stone and ruled by secrets, power is never freely given—and love may be the most dangerous rebellion of all.

Content Warning: violence, death

+~ I loved this book cover and title so I was intrigued about this book. It starts off with 18 year olds taking a test to determine what sector they will be in and Peyton is trying into alchemy to follow her dad’s footsteps but when that doesn’t happen and she’s thrown into the sector that basically is the military she is devastated but has to learn quick to survive. I like a story with a military academy and trials, but I didn’t understand why as new students they get thrown into sparring without being taught how to spar first. Jude is Peyton’s childhood best friend but now the leader of her unit and he does no teaching at all which was confusing. So there were moments in the book like that where there needed to be more detail or explanation about something. There were also some things mentioned at one part of the book and never touched on again so it felt disjointed in some areas.

+~ I like that there is magic but we need to learn more about the magic. So the world building is interesting but I just needed more information. I loved the found family aspect of the story but what happened with Peyton’s best friend Davina? They are close in the beginning, then get thrown into the same sector and then barely have scenes together. That was strange to me.

+ I like Peyton as a character, she has a lot of growth and is a very resilient character.

+~ For the most part I thought this was a quick read but there were grammatical errors so more editing would really be great. I had to stop and reread a phrase. Also, I enjoyed the ex-childhood friends to lovers storyline, it’s what made me keep reading but there were some awkward dialogue or moments between Peyton and Jude.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, I think this one has tons of potential, especially for an indie author, it just needs some polish. I found it to be a quick read and I enjoyed the romance for the most part but would like more information on the world building and magic.

Read if you like:

military academy
trials
ex-childhood to lovers

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

In the Veins of the Drowning by. Kalie Cassidy | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: In the Veins of the Drowning (The Siren Mage, #1)

Author: Kalie Cassidy

Pages: 377

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 7/15/25

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Series

The monster is always slain…

Imogen Nel is in hiding. Hiding from a cruel kingdom that believes Sirens are monstrous, blood-hungry creatures. Hiding from a king and his captain who viciously hunt her kind. Hiding from her own alluring abilities. By keeping herself from the sea, Imogen’s bloodlust is dulled, and her black wings remain hidden beneath her skin.

When a neighboring king comes to visit, Imogen can no longer hide. He knows precisely what she is, and he believes she can save both their kingdoms from an even greater monster. But Imogen’s power threatens to violently reveal itself, and the two form a blood bond that protects them both. They flee the kingdom together, traversing waters teeming with the undead. As the lines between duty to their people and desire for each other begin to blur, Imogen worries her own ancestral powers may not be enough to kill what hunts her—the only way to defeat a monster may be to become one herself.

Content Warning: self harm, violence, death, gore

I finally read this book and I don’t know why it took me so long to get to it. It starts off like most romantasy books, an FMC who is trapped and needs help fleeing the king that oppresses her. There are the usual tropes in this book that are found in romantasy but what stood out to me was how the Imogen and Theodore bicker! It was so much fun. I like how they are honest and tell each other off, to their faces. It’s kind of refreshing! So I loved the enemies to lovers romance in this one, or is it dislike to like? Whatever it is, I loved it even though Theo is reserved and dutiful at first, he very much so reminded me of Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice so it was fun to see Imogen getting under his skin. It was my favorite part of the whole story.

But there is also a lot going on in this story – Imogen is a Siren and bound to multiple people and she needs to break free of them, but doing so has it’s own consequences. I was very invested to see what path Imogen would choose and what choices she would make. There is political intrigue, travel, some action, romance, and secrets. I loved learning about the Sirens and the world building was good.

Final Thoughts:

I’m so glad I finally finished this one and I’m not sure why it took me so long to finally read it. It has a lot of things I enjoy in a romantasy like political intrigue, and romance of course, but what I really loved was Imogen and Theo. Seeing them interact and eventually fall for one another was very, funny and entertaining. I also want to see how this story plays out so I’m eager to read book two.

Read if you like:

romantasy
forced proximity

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

When the Universe Sings by. Gillian Eliza West | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Title: When the Universe Sings

Author: Gillian Eliza West

Pages: 318

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 8/6/26

Categories: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Romance, LGBT+

There is only one rule in the trust no one.

Juniper knows it all too well. After her home planet was destroyed and eleven years on Ebyd III, a Galactic Federation mechanical prison, the only thing she might fear now is death. Taking a chance at freedom, she climbs into the ventilation shaft of a docked pleasure barge only to be discovered by the mistress of the ship. Given the choice between certain death on Ebyd III and the unknown, she joins as their new silks dancer.

When Captain Asher Ruciyah seeks someone to complete his crew for a mysterious mission, Juniper is hired as their climber to round out their numbers. As part of this new crew intent on stealing one of the universe’s most powerful weapons, Juniper discovers she wants something more than revenge on the man who took everything from her.

But nothing and no one is as it seems, especially in a galaxy filled with lies, deceit, and false identities. Juniper will learn that revenge isn’t as simple as she thought it would be and sometimes it’s not one person, but an entire universe against you.

Content Warning: violence, death, grief, attemped sexual assault

+ Whatever this is, I want more of it! This space, sci-fi romance genre is so refreshing for someone like me who reads so much romantasy. The story is told with 2 POVs, Juniper and Asher. I loved the world building, and the different species of people from various planets in the galaxy. I especially love Asher’s crew who is planning to do a heist or two to find a special stone, the found family element was great.

+~ Juniper is a young woman with lots of trauma and she doesn’t talk much and honestly, I didn’t blame her. She has had to endure a lot. I love her character but there were some moments where her fears didn’t make her think rationally or trust people she should trust. Again, it’s from her trauma, but things could been really messed up because of her distrust. I love how things end for her though! Asher is a Captain, and he’s also from Juniper’s traumatic past. But wow did I love the way he loves her! Some things could have been fixed with a little communication but it was hard to get past Juniper’s wall of trauma.

+ I love the romance. It is enemies to lovers, and fated mates but I like how it is done. Because Juniper has a wall Asher can’t get past it takes awhile before Juniper acknowledges how much she desires him. And the spice? Beautifully done, especially that mating bond scene at the end – that’s how to do a mating ritual! 🔥 It was hot but beautiful and meaningful too. I loved how Asher yearns for Juniper and eventually she lets him in.

~ This is a standalone and it’s a quick read at barely over 300 pages. I wanted more because I love this world and the romance! I wish this was a series. I love Asher and Juniper so much that I wish there was more time to see them getting to know one another. I want even more of the crew, and Crux/Kal, I want him to have a happy ending because he’s such a good friend! There is another book in this world coming but will these characters make a cameo? I hope so.

Quotes From the Book:

“In a thousand lifetimes, June, I would choose you. With or without this bond.” – When the Universe Sings by. Gillian Eliza West

Final Thoughts:

I wasn’t planning on reading this but for some reason I needed something different from the typical romantasy and took a chance on this one and I’m so glad I did. I loved it and I just we had more books about these characters! I enjoyed the found family, the characters, the story and the world-building. The romance is so good and the spice was spicing, I love Asher and Juniper. I hope we get more books in this world and these characters come back for a cameo.

Read if you like:

sci-fi/fantasy romance
enemies to lovers
fated mates
found family
standalone

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review– 4.5 stars/2 🌶️

The Songbird & the Heart of Stone by. Carissa Broadbent| ARC Review – 4.5 stars

Six Scorched Roses by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review – 4.5 stars

The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review – 4.5 stars

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review – 5 stars

**I’m pretty sure I read Slaying the Vampire Conqueror but never wrote a review so I will be re-reading and doing a review soon**

**I also read Daughter of No Worlds, up to book 2 but never wrote reviews because I just started my blog I believe so I will be doing a re-read of those and reviewing them also!**

The Lion & the Deathless Dark by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: The Lion & the Deathless Dark (Crowns of Nyaxia, #5)

Author: Carissa Broadbent

Pages: 560

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 8/4/26

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Vampires, Gods, Series

Some blood tastes like vengeance. Some blood tastes like grief. Some blood tastes like nothing at all.

Under an eternal night, the world has been ravaged by ten years of war between humans and vampires. Kyrene scrapes by as a bounty hunter, bearing a blessed sword from the goddess of justice. But in the wake of a devastating loss, Kyrene commits a crime that makes her a target for mortals and gods alike – and she is still desperate for vengeance.

Her only chance at survival – and revenge – is making a deal with her enemy, the silver-tongue vampire prince, Septimus, who offers her one final to slay the gods themselves.

Together, Kyrene and Septimus must hunt the ultimate marks, all while navigating a web of prophecies and curses. Septimus is calculating and mysterious, masking secrets bloodthirsty enough to consume them both. Yet, most dangerous of all, Kyrene finds an unexpected kinship in him.

But their growing attraction is deadly in a world where the only currency is blood. And Kyrene will stop at nothing to fulfill her ultimate to kill the goddess of vampires, even if it means sacrificing love for revenge.

Content Warning: violence, death, gore, grief

What can I say about another book in the Crowns of Nyaxia that has made me care about the characters, grips me with the story telling and then made me gasp at the end and now I NEED the next book. I can’t even believe the next book will be the last in the series. I have loved this series from book one and it has never disappointed me, which is absolutely amazing. So the thought of it coming to an end in the next book actually makes me sad.

I loved the storytelling which is a given with all the books in this series. The characters, Kyrene, the FMC is filled with rage, wields a godly sword just hacking away at enemies and Gods. She is the Vindica Ultis. There is violence, lots of blood and even sometimes gore. She has no fear, but has so much trauma and a secret that shocked me. Septimus, the Bloodborn cursed MMC, where’s white, smokes vanilla scented cigarillos to keep his curse at bay, has self-control (mostly), wears glasses and reads to Kyrene. What can I say but that I loved both of them, down to their raw, flawed state. Both are anti-heroes, Kyrene has the title and the sword, but she doesn’t have the desire to be the good hero everyone sees her to be. She doesn’t do emotional attachment, which made me hurt for her when she allows herself to feel grief. And Septimus, who wants the curse to end with him, to spare the rest of his family. Both want to kill the Gods for different reasons and they team up to try and carry out this goal.

The romance is slow burn and so good! The banter between Kyrene and was Septimus was great, she’s wild and he’s always in control so seeing her try to always make it lose it is so much fun. And that scene where he drinks her blood? Perfection.

So much of this story was devastating, and the ending is emotional with the twist leaving me needing the next book right away. I was rooting for Kyrene so, so hard. I wanted her and Septimus to achieve their goal and create the world they dreamed.

One thing I found fascinating and different was the machines! I was not expecting this story to have machinists and even a god who was made of parts. But I love how each book opens up the world in this series.

Quotes From the Book:

“What’s life without a few regrets?” – The Lion and the Deathless Dark by. Carissa Broadbent

“Monsters recognize monsters.” – The Lion and the Deathless Dark by. Carissa Broadbent

Final Thoughts:

I love this series and this book was everything I expected it to be. It opened the world of this series even more, it is violent, devastating and emotional. And the only regret I have is I wish I didn’t read it until the next book came out because now I have to wait so long, hopefully not too long! I’m also pretty sure I’m going to be so sad when this series ends because I have loved all the characters and the romance. I’m ready to see what happens to these Gods and if Kyrene and Septimus can take them down.

Read if you like:

Crowns of Nyaxia series
slow burn romance
vampires and Gods
female rage

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review– 4.5 stars/2 🌶️

The Songbird & the Heart of Stone by. Carissa Broadbent| ARC Review – 4.5 stars

Six Scorched Roses by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review – 4.5 stars

The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review – 4.5 stars

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review – 5 stars

**I’m pretty sure I read Slaying the Vampire Conqueror but never wrote a review so I will be re-reading and doing a review soon**

**I also read Daughter of No Worlds, up to book 2 but never wrote reviews because I just started my blog I believe so I will be doing a re-read of those and reviewing them also!**

Kissed by the Gods by. Caty Rogan | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Kissed by the Gods (The Eternal Wars, #1)

Author: Caty Rogan

Pages: 544

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 9/24/25

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Series

Survivor. Rebel. Weapon.

Leina has spent a lifetime submitting, starving amid wheat fields reserved for the king, standing by while his men crush her loved ones. When soldiers come for her brother, her divine fury erupts in a bloody massacre.

She expects to be executed for her crimes—her people have met bloody ends for far, far less. Instead, Ryot, a gods-blessed warrior born to privilege, delivers her to a military fortress renowned for its brutality.

There, a gift from a goddess drags Leina into a realm of war, where her survival depends on her ability to ride a winged horse.

As Ryot pushes her to master the power she never asked for, a battle rages within her heart. Each lesson, every touch, binds them tighter—but love is a dangerous weakness in a world designed for war.

Soon, Leina must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice to protect the family she has found … and the one she left behind. Because while her divine gift could save the kingdom, it could also shatter its very foundation.

With immersive lush writing, an unflinching heroine, and an inventive fantasy world, Kissed by the Gods is the gripping fantasy debut you won’t want to miss.

Featuring iconic romance tropes:
He falls first
Forbidden romance
Found family
Trial by combat
She saves him
Spicy slow burn
Feminine rage

Content Warning: violence, death

I finally got to this book which I’ve been meaning to read for some time. I just knew it would be heavier world building so I needed to get into the right state of mind. Here are my thoughts:

+ Leina is filled with rage. Most of her family have been killed, her little brothers torn from her, life has not been easy and now the Gods want something from her? I would be pissed too! Her people in Selencia have been oppressed and no one knows, except the people in Aish apparently. Though a lot of this story is about Leina training to be the warrior the Gods want her to be, we get to see her weaknesses and strengths. She’s very stubborn but willing to train and learn to get better.

+ The found family trope in this story is so good! The secondary characters are great. Leina is ripped away from her own family and she is grieving many of them so having Ryot and his group basically adopt her was so cool to watch. Leina might be filled with rage but she did come from a big family and community that loved one another and I like how she easily fit in with the guys and also made friends with the few girls she’s met.

+~ I loved the action and the faravars (winged horses)! The battle scenes were great, but most of them do come at the end of the book. I did find that because the first half of this book was mostly Leina in training, it did move a bit slow and most of it was predictable because I’ve read a lot of stories like this. But I still appreciated the world building and learning about the Altors and vanguard. I got invested and cared about the characters, plus I’d like to see Leina reach her full potential. I’d also like to learn more about the magic.

+~ It’s a forbidden romance between master and student but I knew it would be doomed because I figured out one of the secrets a bit early. I do like Ryot for the most part, he seems like a good guy who cares about his people but again, we shall see what happens in book two after that ending. For the most part though, I enjoyed the romance and spice between them.

Quotes From the Book:

“Because if there’s one thing a baseborn serf knows, and knows well, it’s how to reap. Only, instead of wheat, I reap death.” – Kiss of the Gods by. Caty Rogan

Final Thoughts:

This is a great way to start a series with interesting world building and characters I started to care for. I think there is still a lot to learn about this world, especially when it comes to the magic and history of Selencia. The first part did move slowly because of the world building and Leina in constant training to be the warrior she is destined to be. And yes the story was predictable and I guessed a few of the secrets but I’m excited to see Leina grow even more. Plus it ends on quite a cliffhanger and I need to see what happens next with Leina, Ryot and their friends and family.

Read if you like:

female rage
warrior training/trials
found family
forbidden romance

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Vow of Eternal Night by. Lily Crozier | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️.5

Title: Vow of Eternal Night

Author: Lily Crozier

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 8/4/26

Publisher: Entangled: Amara

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Vampires, Gothic

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

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

Clara Wagner has always known that monsters are real, and the worst of them is Prince Raleigh of Rostenburg. But when he decides it’s time to marry, Clara inadvertently finds herself at the center of his attention.

Forced to accept Raleigh’s proposal, Clara would do anything to escape her fate. So when the prince provides an ultimatum―lift his vampiric curse before the end of the year, or become his bride for eternity―Clara knows what she must do.

Heal the prince. Stay alive. Try not to fall in love.

Content Warning: death, grief, violence

Set in world (I think in Austria) where vampires and other monsters are real, Clara is forced to be engaged to Prince Raleigh of Rostenburg. But they have a bargain, if Clara can figure out how to cure Raleigh from his vampirism, he will let her go.

This is a slow burn, low spice vampire romance with lots of gothic vibes. I actually loved Clara and Raleigh’s interactions – they are both grumpy characters which made things entertaining. She is not afraid of him and adjusts to her situation of captivity pretty well I think. Raleigh is not a very aggressive and alpha male type of vampire but yet at times can still be scary because he is what he is. He left her alone a lot, which was one of my issues. I would have loved to see them getting to know each other better and have more of a build up to the romance. It has one spice scene and though I loved their bickering at times, I wanted more. The story gave Beauty and Beast vibes, which I enjoyed and is told like a fairytale.

There is found family, secrets, betrayals and I was really interested to see how this would all play out and if Clara could break Raleigh’s curse. There is also action and some vampire fights which I thought were fun. I’m a sucker for relics like silver crosses being a weapon against vampires!

Final Thoughts:

I thought this was a fun retelling of Beauty & the Beast, but with a vampire twist. It has a great gothic and fairytale atmosphere and the main characters were entertaining in the interactions. I just wanted a little more from the romance and maybe it was a bit predictable but I still had fun reading it, especially because of the action scenes. This is a pretty solid debut!

Read if you like:

standalone
vampires
Beauty and the Beast retelling

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Ravenous by. Kresley Cole | ARC and ALC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Title: Revenous (Immortals Untold, #1)

Author: Kresley Cole

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 352

Listening Hours: 12 hours 56 min

Narrator: Robert Petkoff

Publication Date: 7/28/26

Publisher: Bloom Books

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

Beyond the mortal world lies the Skein, a realm of mythic beauty and savage desire ruled by creatures of legend. Here, vampires, witches, demons, and wolves wage war―and hunt their pleasures just as fiercely.

Now, the Accession has begun, an ancient cycle of chaos and destiny that reignites old hostilities and forges fated bonds too hot to resist.

A witch queen on the rise defies the brutal wolf king who stands in her way. But when fate twists their battlefield into a bed of temptation, sworn enemies become something far more perilous. Lovers.

A vampire princess trades her crown for freedom, only to be bound to a scarred Berserker, a man whose possessive touch both terrifies and tempts her.

An incubus spy and a cunning vampiress strike a dangerous bargain for survival, and profit, but lust becomes the one gamble neither expected.

And when a wolf and an enchantress from opposing clans dare to make peace, their forbidden attraction could doom the Skein…or spark a love that defies the gods.

Brimming with intrigue, bloody mayhem, and scorching heat, Ravenous plunges readers into the world of Immortals Untold―where magic kills, surrender triumphs, and immortal hungers can never be sated…

Content Warning: violence, death, someone wanting to commit incest

This author has been around a long time and she used to write paranormal romance – the one series I was hooked on was The Arcana Chronicles though I have yet to read the last book. So I was going into this story with hope the series would be like that one…but here are my thoughts.

World Building: This world has everything: berserkers, witches, valkyries, vampires, shifters, demons…I don’t remember if the fae appeared in the book but they were mentioned. The Accession has started which means everyone is at one another’s throats, or being bound to one another. I think the Skein – this world, is fascinating but things moved on too quickly because there are so many POVs that I felt like I didn’t get a good feel of each place.

Characters: There are 15 POVs. Yes…15…and I almost DNF’d this book because of it but it is in third person so it helped a little. I actually couldn’t listen to the audiobook because of this. There is one narrator and he had to do all 15 and I just wasn’t feeling it. I didn’t DNF but I skimmed to the characters that I was interested in, which were Lia and Arctos – a vampire and a berserker which made for such a strange combination but they respected one another’s space and was the only one not doing anything sexual. Inkletter (I could not get over his name, he went by Ink thank goodness) and Nadje (Incubus and vampire) had a spicy start that actually made me laugh out loud because of how his body part was described. Thane and Ditch are a wild pair (werewolf and witch)…anyway there are too many POVs so connecting with some characters was difficult. Also Lia’s brother is awful, he is trying to mate with her, I was wondering if we were in the Game of Thrones! I almost couldn’t read this book because of it but I pushed on to see if there was someone who would finish him! 😅

Romance: With such a large cast, there was lots of spice in this one, lots of insta-lust situations. I think that’s why I gravitated towards Lia and Arctos who are just trying to get past being enemies to being friends since they were forced to marry. I’d like to see how their relationship grows. The one couple that did love each other was already married, Torben and Dagny – I did love them! Lowell and Meera’s story though infuriated me by the end. Thane and Ditch are the wild ones, wild for one another which was amusing with how they tease one another.

Story: This was chaotic. Did I almost DNF? Yes. But did I also skim and push through? Yes! I’ve only read one series from this author and yes it also had a big cast, but for some reason that felt more streamlined than this was. Also, I don’t remember the writing being like this where it made me cringe a lot – just some of the sexual situations and descriptions made me cackle out loud. Now did I find a spot in this chaotic story that kind of drew me in? Yes, with Lia and Arctos story because they were the only ones not in a sexual haze. With them I could focus on world building and the politics. So even in the chaos, I was slightly entertained, I just had to find the characters that I connected to.

Final Thoughts:

This wasn’t quite what I expected and I couldn’t finish the book as an audiobook because there were so many POVs to follow, so having the ebook helped a lot. I think there are some good concepts in this book, especially with the political intrigue happening with each of the species and having them bond outside of their species makes things even more complicated but also interesting. I just wish there wasn’t so much going and POVs to follow. Also some of the writing and language just didn’t work for me. This is one of the series where I’m not sure if I will pick up the next book, it will probably depend on my mood and reviews from other readers. If you like all of this author’s body of work, I think you will like this because you are used to her writing. It was just different from what I read from her so for me it was a mess, but a sometimes entertaining mess.

Read if you like:

multiple POVs
a world with different species
insta-lust romances

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Anatomy of Magic by. Alexis L. Menard | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️.5

Title: The Anatomy of Magic (#1)

Author: Alexis L. Menard

Pages: 479

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 6/30/26

Categories: Steampunk Fantasy, Romance, Magic, Series

Enter a world of forbidden magic . . . where falling in love could be the last mistake you ever make.

Nina Veyr has a dangerous secret—illegal magical abilities she cannot explain. If the city of Valveron’s enforcers found her, she would be executed . . . or worse. For years, Nina has stayed in the shadows, picking pockets and smuggling enchanted relics to get by. Then she steals from the wrong man.

Max Antonin is the most powerful crime boss in the city. Cold, deadly, and breathtakingly attractive, Max has his sights set on Nina, and nothing will stand in his way. But when Nina is framed for a shocking murder, Max offers to help her find the true killers. She knows she can’t trust him—that deals with a devil always come at a cost. But there’s no way she can survive on her own.

As they follow a trail of bodies into the city’s underworld, Nina feels a dangerous attraction pulling her ever closer to him. But can she trust her life and her heart to the city’s most ruthless criminal?

Content Warning: violence, death, medical horror

World Building: The world building for this story really fascinated me – it’s got steampunk elements. There is magic and science, which took some time to grasp but for the most part I think it was explain pretty well. There was lots of political intrigue which made the story move quick. I didn’t expect the body horror – the medical experiments done on people. We also get to explore the underground crime world in Valveron.

Characters: Nina is a surgeon’s assistant but on the side she is delivering dead bodies to make money. The money is needed to help her mom who isn’t in good health. But then she is framed for the murder of a top official and things go haywire for her. Max, is one of the Cursed – basically a modified Vampire, with elemental powers. He is a tortured MMC with a dark past and a crime boss. Together Nina and Max become reluctant allies looking to find the “buyer” of these bodies because it might give them all the answers they are searching for. There are a few other characters we meet that form Max’s found family, and I loved a few of them.

Romance: Nina and Max are enemies then reluctant allies turned into lovers and I thoroughly enjoyed watching them fall in love because it doesn’t start off on the right foot. I love their banter and I didn’t mind that this wasn’t as spicy as I was expecting. There was only one spicy scene. But I love their forced proximity, and the build-up between them was great. I love seeing Max open up because Nina sees past his scars and happy that Nina has someone that cares about her.

Story: There is a lot of world building and it took a little time to understand the magic/science system in this story but I actually found it refreshing and something way different than the books I’ve been reading. The steampunk elements made it even more interesting. I enjoyed the characters, the found family and the banter and romance. The ending makes me eager to see what will happen in book two!

Final Thoughts:

This is the first book I’ve read from this author but definitely not the last and I’ll be checking out her last series because I had so much fun reading this one. I liked the magic and science (though there is a lot of information to process about it), and the steampunk fantasy setting. I love the banter and romance between Nina who is a woman that doesn’t give up and Max who is a tortured man – I love them together! There was lots of action, and political intrigue to make this story move fast. I’m looking forward to book two.

Read if you like: