What Fury Brings by. Tricia Levenseller | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Title: What Fury Brings (Wrath and Fury, #1)

Author: Tricia Levenseller

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 368

Publication Date: 9/23/25

Publisher: FEIWEL

Categories: Fantasy, Dark Romance, Revenge Fantasy

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

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

There’s a shortage of men in the kingdom of Amarra. After a failed rebellion against the matriarchy, most noblemen in the country are dead. Now the women of Amarra must obtain their husbands (should they want one) by kidnapping them from other kingdoms.

Olerra, a warrior princess vying for the throne, is determined to prove her worth by kidnapping a husband. And not just any husband. To outmaneuver her treacherous cousin, she needs the best. Fortunately, the second-born prince of their greatest enemy is widely known for both his looks and his sweet, docile temperament. He’s the perfect choice to secure her claim to the throne.

Sanos, heir to the Kingdom of Brutus, has nothing but contempt for the idea of a society run by women. Trained from birth to fight, lead, and follow in his father’s overbearing footsteps, his path has always been set. Until he takes his younger brother’s place in a drunken prank and finds himself kidnapped, carted off to the Amarran Palace, and informed that he is to become the husband of Queen Potential Olerra. Sanos needs to escape before anyone learns his real identity, but the more he gets to know his captor, the less sure he is of what he truly wants.

Content Warning: violence, physical abuse, mentions of sexual assault, kidnapping, dubious consent, auctioning/selling men/children, mentions of grooming and underage sexual partners, animal death, penis guillotine

+ I went into this arc, seeing the reviews for it online being very polarizing. People either love it or hate it and it made me very curious as to why. The world building is different – especially for a romantasy. We hear romantasy and think certain tropes, but this is most definitely a reversal of the gender roles and this is a dark romantasy. Olerra is from the kingdom of Amarra where the women are in power. And I don’t mean they just are the rulers of this place, oh no, they housebreak their men – yes, that’s what the call it. Men are the subordinate, they are the househusband, they are used for breeding, they are punished if out of line, they are the whores, and they are the ones being bought. Personally, I thought it was very eye opening and I wanted to see how this story played out.

+ Olerra, as a character, she’s powerful. She fights with men, wins against them, she’s a commander of the military, she’s a big woman and she’s ambitious. I kind of got a kick out of her husband-hunting/kidnapping and being the one to save him in the end. Is she perfect? No. Because she does punish Sanos, put him on display, plays on his lust for her – but this is a role reversal, this is how Olerra has been raised. Readers of dark romance have seen similar scenarios take place in the traditional roles of men and women. The man doing the kidnapping, displaying the woman, etc…so it was really fascinating to see Olerra do all of this to Sanos, who is not a weak man himself. He’s a warrior and fighter just like her, and she emasculates him so she can be viewed as powerful among her people.

+ I like how this book bent my brain because I’m so used to the usual gender roles in all the romantasy I read – and I read a LOT of them. So this book was so good at challenging my thoughts on what I’m used to reading, things I just readily accept about female and male characters. I thought Amarra being a mirror to the Brutes was interesting. The society in Amarra is the result of men doing what they do to women – but instead of flourishing as an open society (which they do – they accept different sexualities), they treat the men as women have been treated. They treat criminals like an eye for an eye – male rapists get their privates removed. The women don’t seem to have evolved but are carrying out revenge. Instead of Amarra’s women taking the high road and saying, this won’t happen here – they do it full force, exactly what’s been done to them, because that’s “what fury brings“. But not going to lie, I was kind of scared for these men!

+~ There is spicy scenes and one that includes bondage. So it’s spicy but might also make some readers uncomfortable because of dubious consent.

~ This is marketed as a romantasy but I felt like the romance was under-developed. It’s enemies to lovers, clearly – the enemies being very obvious, Sanos has been kidnapped and is being forced to marry Olerra. It’s definitely Stockholm Syndrome but again…I’ve read this in regular romance and didn’t mind it. He eventually has feelings for her but I felt like it was all lust. Would have loved to see some tender moments between them, that shows that feelings, more than lust, were growing.

~ Please heed the trigger warnings – this is a dark romance. Stockholm syndrome anyone? There are mentions of grooming, buying young boys and it’s gross and uncomfortable.

~ I kind of wanted to see at the end how Olerra and Sanos would rule Amarra and Brutish because they both win their crowns so would book two show progress as Sanos points out things Olerra can change in Amarra and vice versa? I’m very curious! I did feel Olerra did exactly say all the things she would change as Queen, she mentioned not being as cruel as her cousin. But that doesn’t mean much. Would also like to see Sanos change some things in Brute.

Final Thoughts:

This is a dark romance fantasy where the gender roles have swapped in Amarra and women in take their revenge on men. I like that it was like holding up a mirror to how men treat women but it doesn’t mean what they are doing in Amarra is right. Men sell young women in many dark books – well the Amarran women sell young boys in this book. It’s ugly, but I think that is the point of the mirror. Men do it…but women could do it too. Sanos basically falls for his kidnapper – but we’re not new to stories like this, are we? Nope. Just new to who does the kidnapping and who is doling out punishment in this book. Either way, it’s wrong to live like this or behave this way and I think that’s what I got out of this story. Now there were many uncomfortable moments in this story but I also found it a quick read and there were even some funny moments. So I think you have to read this one at your own risk, read some reviews on this one, and definitely check out the trigger list before going into it. Overall, I found it a fascinating read but did want more out of the romance and maybe see both main characters commit to doing more to change how their kingdoms treat people.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From this Author:

The Darkness Within Us by. Tricia Levenseller | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Blade of Secrets by. Tricia Levenseller | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Shadows Between Us | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Daughter of the Pirate King – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Daughter of the Siren King – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Warrior of the Wild – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Robin on the Oak Throne by. K.A. Linde | Audiobook Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: The Robin on the Oak Throne (The Oak and the Holly Cycle, #2)

Author: K.A. Linde

Narrator: Stephanie Németh-Parker

Format: audiobook (Libby)

Pages: 480 / Audio Reading Time (approx.): 19h

Publication Date: 6/16/25

Categories: Romantasy, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Series

The only thing worse than fearing a monster is falling for one …

Kierse McKenna just shattered the Monster Treaty. Again.

It wasn’t entirely her fault. The job was supposed to be steal a goblin-made bracelet off of the Queen of the Nymphs in her own palace. Trade the bracelet for a way to uncover the truth about her past. Except everything goes sideways.

And then he shows up to save her.

Graves—the warlock who ensnared her, betrayed her, and left her to fend for herself. He’s a villain. A monster draped in charm and shadows. And gods help her, he always knows exactly what she wants.

But Graves never does anything for free. He has a job for his favorite little thief. One that will pit her against the most powerful monsters in existence, including his mortal enemy, the Oak King.

An ancient artifact has been located, and only together can they hope to steal it. She just has to let him in.

But once she lets a monster in, he’s impossible to forget … and even harder to resist.

Content Warning: violence

+ There is one narrator for this audiobook and she really did a great job doing all the voices – and this is a big cast, so credit to her! I gave the first book The Wren in the Holly, 3 stars. I didn’t love it but I wanted to see if hearing the second book as an audiobook would make me enjoy this series more. I did like listening to it as an audiobook and I enjoy the world building of this urban fantasy world.

+ Kierse is a fun character – I like her personality. With everything going on, I feel like she stayed constantly upbeat. Graves was his usual dangerous self and the two of them have a few spicy scenes together. They have trust issues between them because of what happened in book one but they can’t deny their physical attraction to one another and they act on it a few times.

~ Kierse is trying to find a magical object, but she’s also trying to remember things from her past that have been repressed and for the first half of the story this is what is happening – but it was a slog to get through. The beginning is fine, but the middle was boring. It does pick up again in last 25% of the book, but I just wish things were happening. I felt like they kept coming to dead ends.

~ Not sure where this story is headed but I think I might stop the reading the series.

Final Thoughts:

This series isn’t for me. I thought listening to is as an audiobook would help me enjoy it more and I did enjoy it more than book one and even thought it would be a higher rating, but the middle was slow and boring. If you liked book one, you will definitely like this one but for me, I won’t continue the series.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read By This Author:

The Wren in the Holly Library by. K.A. Linde | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Heir of Storms by. Lauryn Hamilton Murray | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice:

Title: Heir of Storms (Storm Weaver, #1)

Author: Lauryn Hamilton Murray

Format: hardcover – owned

Pages: 416

Publication Date: 6/3/25

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Magic

The very day Blaze came into the world, she almost drowned it. A Rain Singer born into one of the most powerful fire-wielding families in the empire, Blaze’s birth summoned a devastating storm that left thousands dead. She’s been hidden away ever since with a dark secret: the same torrential power that branded her an outcast disappeared that fateful day. And she’s not sure she wants it back.

When an unexpected invitation arrives for Blaze and her twin brother, Flint, to compete as future rulers of the empire, she’s suddenly thrust into the limelight again — and into battle. Threats abound at the Golden Palace, where intrigue and romance await with not one but two handsome suitors: the enchanting Crown Prince and a dangerously alluring newcomer at court.

As Blaze explores her untapped power, she discovers the throne may be within her grasp. But in order to take it, she’ll have to leave behind the stories that others have told about her, and find the courage to write her own.

Content Warning: violence, grief, death

+ I finally read my gorgeous Fairyloot edition of this book. It’s the prettiest book on my shelf!

+ This book has a lot going on in it like court intrigue, trials, balls, elemental magic, family and friendship bonds. I loved how the story flowed and it had great pacing. Once I got into the world-building I couldn’t put the book down.

+ Blaze is from a family with fire magic, but she doesn’t have that. Her power actually flooded the kingdom when she was younger which actually caused many deaths. So people who don’t know her only know of her devastating power and how it devastated families – they hate her, or are afraid of her but she has no choice now since the Gods have branded her as an Heir. So she has to take part in trials, while undergoing people’s perceptions of her. I like that she has an awesome family, and for someone who had no friends before the trials, she starts to make friends with the help of her twin brother, Flint. There is a lot of growth for Blake who starts off wanting to hide from people and in the end claiming her power.

+ There is a love triangle romance but I don’t want to spoil it so I’ll say it’s done pretty well. It’s young adult so there are only kisses in this story. Hal is the Crown Prince and takes an interest in Blaze. But then his half-brother, Fox, shows up and he’s got quite a reputation of his own. I liked the interactions between Fox and Blaze because he gets under her skin. We’ll see what happens in the next book.

~ There isn’t nothing new in this story, it’s the usual young adult fantasy story but I really did enjoy it a lot.

Final Thoughts:

I thought this was a fun young adult fantasy which had a lot of the things I enjoy in this genre: elemental magic, court intrigue, romance, fun side characters, and family themes. I look forward to reading book two.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Nightblood Prince by. Molly X. Chang | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️

Title: The Nightblood Prince

Author: Molly X. Chang

Format: hardcover – owned

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 7/1/25

Categories: Romantasy, Young Adult, Vampires, Chinese-Inspired, Love Triangle

Two princes. One prophecy. A fate she cannot outrun.

The night Fei was born, a prophecy was made: she would one day become the Empress of All Empresses.

Torn from her family as a child and raised in the palace to one day marry the Crown Prince of the most powerful empire in the land, Fei has only ever known loneliness. When the opportunity arises to seize her own destiny for the first time in her life, Fei sets out to hunt a legendary tiger, knowing it might cost her everything. What she doesn’t expect is to fall under the mercy of Yexue, the beautiful runaway prince from a rival kingdom. Blessed by the night, harboring a dangerous magic, and capable of commanding an army of deadly vampires, Yexue could be the key to Fei gaining more than just her freedom.

But to outrun destiny, Fei must spark a wave of events that will change the world as she knows it. Torn between two princes and plagued by nightmares of bloodshed, she finds that the stars might be more inescapable—and more irresistible—than she ever considered before. . . .

Content Warning: violence, misogyny, sexism, war

I have the Fairyloot edition of this book and just the gorgeousness of the book makes me want to give it 5 stars but this isn’t only about the cover! So here are my thoughts about the story itself.

I now understand what some book reviewers say they are here for “the vibes”. If I had to rate this one on vibes and the book cover, it would be 5 stars. A girl with a prophecy making her the empress of empresses, and anyone who marries her becomes the emperor of emperors? That alone will cause drama. Fei is born to a poor family but because a seer gave her a prophecy at birth, she is elevated to future wife of the emperor’s son, Siwang. They are raised from birth together and in essence become the best of friends.

But as Fei gets older and the emperor insists on their marriage, she realizes being an empress is not the life she wants. So she does something to try and get the emperor’s favor so she can ask to be free. Fei, is a naive 18 year old girl, who’s lived in the palace all her life and thinks the emperor will let her go. She learns the hard way, some strong life lessons in power and who has it, and who doesn’t – her. Thing is Fei gets what she wants, but it’s the grass isn’t always greener on the other side kind of situation. It does help her character grow though, in some ways.

For most of the book, I liked Fei. She’s young, she’s naive, but she has a strong will and is determined to shape her future the way she wants. I liked that she tried. But in the second half of the book she’s one year older, and her hormones must have been raging because she reunites with Siwang and fights all her feelings for him but something happens between them. Yet in the next few days she’ll run into the Prince from Lan, Yexue, and starts feeling things for him too. I was irritated with her for her feelings going all over the place, but after awhile, I was like, okay girl, two hot princes want you – you got this. 😅. I’m here for the love triangle drama.

Now Siwang is strong, intelligent, poised, and the perfect prince. Whereas Yexue had more personality because he is the bad boy prince, he’s a vampire, plus he’s funny, cares for his people and will actually help Fei pursue her freedom. These boys are OBSESSED with her and with power. But I get all her questioning thoughts about if they are obsessed because of her personality or the prophecy? I liked her choice in the end but also…what was that ending? Is there going to be a sequel?

The chapters are short – sometimes just one page or a paragraph! It moved quickly but at times felt a bit choppy and personally I needed more world building. But for readers who don’t like heavy world-building this is perfect for you. And this is more romance than fantasy. I would love more backstory about Lan and Yexue’s past. It gave Mulan vibes at one point of the story when it comes to the training of the army.

Final Thoughts:

This book is gorgeous, it’s a quick read and I had a fun time with it. It’s definitely for the readers who like light world-building and more romance than fantasy in their romantasy. And it is young adult, so Fei acts like it. I was reading for the vibes and the love triangle drama but personally would like book two (if there is one) to have more world-building!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Broken Souls and Bones by. L.J. Andrews | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Broken Souls and Bones (Stonegate, #1)

Author: L.J. Andrews

Format: borrowed (Libby)

Pages: 470

Publication Date: 4/29/25

Categories: Romantasy, Series, Viking-Inspired

Together they’ll restore a divided kingdom—or burn it down—in this new romantasy from USA Today bestselling author and TikTok sensation LJ Andrews.

Lyra Bien intended to live a quiet life to avoid the attention of the magic-obsessed king in the fortress of Stonegate. Until Roark Ashwood—the prince’s silent guard and rumored killer for the crown—invades her village and uncovers the truth behind the silver scars in her eyes. To save her best friend from death, she’s forced to reveal her abilities, and is immediately claimed by the crown as the next melder.

To be the King’s melder is to be revered and feared in equal measures, but above all it is a slow death sentence. Lyra is determined to find a way to free herself and her friends from bondage. But first she must get more information from the silent, brooding sentry who first took her captive: Roark.

As Lyra gets closer to Roark, she soon learns he’s nothing like she assumed—and in fact everything she needs. The more they work as allies, the harder it becomes to ignore the growing passion between them. After a sinister truth is revealed, Roark and Lyra must choose to stand against all they know, or accept their dark destiny.

Content Warning: violence, bodily injuries

+ I didn’t know this was the same author who wrote The Ever King series, which I love. But I shouldn’t have been surprised – I finished this book in three days (only because I was reading another book at the same time).

+ This is a viking-inspired romantasy and I found it refreshing especially with the unique magic system in place. The magic consists of bone magic – and there are some gruesome parts in this book where Lyra has to plunge her hand into a would to use her magic. Or she can manipulate someone’s bones – yikes! What a weapon to have! I found it fascinating and hope to learn more about it. There is political drama, secrets also and a few plot twists.

+ Our MMC, Roark, can’t speak and uses sign language so it was interesting to see him and Lyra go from enemies to lovers but I was definitely rooting for them the whole way. He is basically her bodyguard and with all the forced proximity their desire and like for one another grows substantially. I liked how protective he was of her but we shall see what happens in book two!

+ I loved the side characters like Emi and Prince Thane. I like the camaraderie and sense of family that Lyra observes between Thane, Emi and Roark. Lyra has her own found family as well with Kael and the other people in their group.

~ I did find it a little challenging to figure out what was happening with the magic they were using. I definitely could visualize it when they did it, especially bone craft but I think there is a lot more to learn about all the crafts and I hope we get that in book two. Lyra has all three, she’s a melder, but she learned the magic a little too fast I think for someone who was hiding that part of her and never used it before.

~ There is a major plot twist but I will admit I was confused for a minute as to what was happening. A lot was happening at the end of this story that shocked me. And it ends in a cliffhanger, of course!

Final Thoughts:

I’ve been in a reading slump and I feel like this pushed me out of it! I like that it was viking-inspired instead of all the same romantasy settings I’ve been reading lately and the magic system is unique, though would love to learn more about it. I loved Lyra and Roark’s romance story but with that cliffhanger ending and I can’t wait to see what happens in book two!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From this Author:

The Mist Thief by. L.J. Andrews | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Ever Queen By. L.J. Andrews | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Ever King By. L.J. Andrews | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A Forbidden Alchemy by. Stacey McEwan | Audiobook Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: A Forbidden Alchemy

Author: Stacey McEwan

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

Format: audiobook (audible)

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

Publication Date: 7/1/25

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

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

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

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

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

Content Warning: violence, death

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

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

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

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

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

Final Thoughts:

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

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Ledge by. Stacey McEwan | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Warrior Princess Assassin by. Brigid Kemmerer | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

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

Author: Brigid Kemmerer

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 408

Publication Date: 8/12/25

Publisher: Avon

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Final Thoughts:

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

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Direbound by. Sable Sorensen | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Title: Direbound (The Wolves of Ruin, #1)

Author: Sable Sorensen

Format: borrowed (KU)

Pages: 610

Publication Date: 2/26/25

Categories: Romantasy

Only the worthy survive the Bonding Trials. She’ll risk her life—and her heart—to be one of them…

Meryn Cooper has never dreamed of being one of the Bonded, the King’s elite warriors who form mental links with massive, vicious direwolves. She’s made peace with her life scraping by in poverty in the shadows of the castle. But then her younger sister Saela is kidnapped, stolen across the border by the immortal monsters her country has spent centuries fighting.

And Meryn’s world falls apart.

Desperate to cross the front and save her sister, Meryn enlists in the army—only to discover that there are Bonding Trials this year, where all soldiers are forced to risk their lives in an attempt to connect with a direwolf. It’s too late to turn back; Meryn is thrown into the deadly competition against her will.

Now, she’ll need to survive the next four months of training at the castle if she wants a chance of finding Saela. Everything here is a test, from the brutal classes where one mistake means death, to the glittering court parties where every smile hides a knife.

To make things worse, Meryn is bound to a feral direwolf who refuses to communicate. The other trainees would love to spill her common blood. And her gorgeous instructor, Stark Therion, is as malicious as the wolves himself.

Everyone is out to get her—everyone but the dangerously handsome crown prince, Killian Valtiere. But if she loses her heart to him, she may also lose her life.

And the castle is hiding dark secrets…

Content Warning: gruesome violence, kidnapping

+ Another hyped booktok book to cross off my TBR list! Meryn is a ring fighter. She has a mother with mental health issues, a young sister she dotes on and a man who loves her. But when her sister goes missing, Meryn has to do everything to get her back and she joins the military. Except right at the time she joins, the kingdom calls a Bonded trial which bonds competitors with dire wolves, if they pass the trials. It’s not something she wants, she just wants to find her sister, but everything changes at the trials. She’s a strong character but sometimes doesn’t make the best decisions but she’s gone through a lot and I did see growth at the end.

+ These story has a lot of things going on – the trials, and then the training for those that bonded to direwolves. During all of this is Meryn needing to find her sister, secrets being revealed, betrayals and of course a hot, training instructor who Meryn butts heads with all the time. There are fated mate bonds, and I loved the found family trope. I loved the direwolves also.

+ The romance present in the beginning of the book but takes a turn for Meryn. There is lot of spice between them but then someone else is introduced. So it will be interesting to see what happens there. It felt like there was a start for it to be a love triangle but I was wrong.

+ I did enjoy the twists at the end of the story and the ending is a cliffhanger.

~ I did find the beginning to be a little bit slow and it is a book over 600 pages. I feel like it picks up at the halfway point. But the pacing was uneven.

~ I can’t say there is anything new in this book but if you like the usual romantasy tropes, then this book will cure your craving. If you don’t like dragons (because it’s sorta similar to Fourth Wing with all the tropes) then you might find direwolves more your thing!

Final Thoughts:

I thought this was a fun read because I don’t think I’ve read anything with direwolves, so that was slightly different. All the tropes from the romantasy genre are there, but that’s nothing bad since I enjoy most of the tropes! I loved the twist and turns at the end. I do think the pacing was uneven, it was slow then picked up then slow again then finished strong. Overall, I was entertained and will read book 2!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Night Prince by. Lauren Palphreyman | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: The Night Prince (Wolf King, #2)

Author: Lauren Palphreyman

Format: borrowed (KU)

Pages: 499

Publication Date: 4/1/25

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Politics, Werewolves, Romantasy, Enemies to Lovers

Aurora is caught between powerful alphas as they fight for the Wolf Throne. But darker forces are rising. . .

The highly anticipated sequel to The Wolf King. Pre-order now!

Aurora may have survived the Wolf King. But his bite marks her skin, and in accordance with Wolf Law, that makes her his property. Now, he wants her back.

To beat him and take his throne, Aurora and Callum must form a dangerous alliance with one of the most feared Wolves in the Kingdom, Blake. He is their enemy, but he has entangled his life with Aurora’s—meaning she cannot harm him without forfeiting her own life.

As she fights to break their connection, she suspects Blake is keeping secrets about a dark power that rises in the north, and the unsettling nature of the bond between them. It seems there is a bigger game at play than who sits on the Wolf Throne—one that threatens both the Kingdom of Wolves, and the Kingdom of Men.

With her wolf awakening, enemies closing in, relationships tested, and secrets revealed—Aurora may be the only one who can stop an ancient evil from rising.

If she can figure out who to trust.

If she can figure out where she, and her heart, belong.

If she can stay alive.

Content Warning: violence, mentions of torture, death, whipping

+ I read this book right after book one because of that ending! This take off right after the events of book one.

+ Aurora is still caught in the middle of everything but one relationship gets even more muddled. The one with Blake. Blake is sarcastic, total red flags, he’s not morally grey – he’s morally black, he is manipulative. But he’s the only one who tells her anything, he’s the one who wants her to push and fight back. I’m obsessed!

+ Book one was a enemies to lovers with Callum because he is the “enemy” as in the werewolf, but he’s a really good guy and I can see why Aurora adores him. There was no fighting between them. But the true enemies to lovers (the kind filled with hate) is between Aurora and Blake. Their bond is made closer and they both eventually see the dark side of one another and that’s why I love seeing their relationship grow. He’s fighting it and she’s disgusted by it…but it is inevitable and I hope they are end game. I don’t really want this to be polyamory because I feel like Callum deserves a Queen by his side, but I don’t think it is Aurora.

+ I did figure out one of the big reveals, sort of early in this book but it’s okay because I still think the moment when it happens is epic. I’ve been waiting for Aurora’s character to grow and she pushes back much more in this book, but she also retreats inside herself many times – she is growing though. But the other reveal in the story was a shocker to me.

+ So many things happen at the end of this book, that I was hoping book three would be coming out SOON but I have to wait until 2026. Also, I love all the new people we meet like Lochlan, Jack – I wonder if there will be spinoffs for any of these characters?

~ The love triangle feelings are heightened and complicated in this one and there is a lot for Aurora to work out. Callum has been protecting her so well and that is his nature, but Aurora needs to grow so there is a lot of turmoil between them as she tries to find her place in this new world of werewolves.

~ My biggest issue with this book? I wanted more Aurora and Blake! There is a lot of Aurora and Callum but I wanted more of Blake. Yes, he is manipulative but in this book we learn more about what happened to him in the past. And I liked getting to know him in his lands. There is also a lot of dreaming parts I think to make up for the fact that Aurora and Blake don’t get to spend much real time together since she is still with Callum. But their bond grows through these dreams…I just wish they didn’t have to dream so much and they can be together more outside of it.

Final Thoughts:

I’m addicted to this series, and I’m not ashamed to say I think it’s because of Blake. I should want Aurora to be with good, protective, kind Callum – but of course instead I want her to end up with the really messed up, hot, sinister, manipulative wolf.😅 There is just something about this series: werewolves, kilts, and Scottish accents (and no I haven’t listened to the audiobook but since they are wearing kilts, these guys have Scottish accents in my head lol). It’s fun! I might just have to re-read this book a few times until book three gets released!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Metal Slinger by. Rachel Schneider | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Metal Slinger (Fire & Metal, #1)

Author: Rachel Schneider

Format: borrowed (KU)

Pages: 497

Publication Date: 5/12/24

Categories: Romantasy, Friends to Lovers, Enemies to Lovers

Brynn has spent the better part of her life waiting for the chance to attend the annual market hosted by the Kenta, the very same people who exiled the Alaha to live a life over the sea. A rite of passage for all young guards, she’s not sure what to expect from it, but breaking a century- long peace treaty certainly isn’t on her map.

Neither is the encounter with an enemy soldier.

Returning home to Alaha, she’s confronted with the aftermath of the day’s events. The future is uncertain as the threat of hunger looms over the people. With rumors of a growing rebellion, Brynn and her closest friends promise to stick together.

When an unexpected visitor arrives, Brynn’s loyalty will be tested as she learns of a world of magic and treachery. Once her enemy, always her enemy, right? But the dark, knowing eyes of a stranger make her question everything…

…including her heart.

Content Warning: violence

I’ve been seeing this book on booktok but saw it Kindle Unlimited before – I heard that a traditional publisher was picking this book up so I downloaded to see what the hype was about.

+ The beginning was good and I was definitely hooked. I was intrigued by these group of people who have been exiled from land. In Alaha, their home is an island without land. So I thought that was really interesting! Brynn is training to be a guard and is almost finished. To top it off, her best friend, Kai, who is also the son of the leader of their people, wants to marry her. All should be good until something happens that puts their people in danger of starvation.

+ The magic system is interesting. People have elemental magic. But you need land to activate and use magic.

+ Brynn seems like a strong and beautiful female. She’s good with a sword and as the story moves on we find out things about her past like she has magic and that her family is still alive. Without spoiling the story because there is a plot twist that changes what I think about Brynn/Jovi, let’s just say she is unexpected.

+ Brynn has crushed on Kai since they were young so that’s a friends to lovers match there. But then she meets Acker. He is the typical dark haired, hot, mysterious, guy who embodies danger and all that (he’s good at killing)…and he has metal magic. He also fills the gaps of her missing memories about her childhood because he knew her as Jovi. They get to know one another and there is desire between them. I thought they fell too fast for one another but I blamed it on the bond they have. There are some spicy scenes between them.

~ There is a lull in the middle of this book. For awhile, Brynn/Jovi and Acker is floating in the middle of the ocean trying to find land. They get to know each other but not much is happening. Even when they get to land, I don’t feel like the world-building was strong. There are kingdoms with a fragile peace treaty and Acker and Jovi being on these lands trying to get to Kenta (Acker’s kingdom), threatens the peace. But I wanted to know more about these kingdoms.

~ I liked Acker and Jovi’s growing relationship but I did feel something was missing because it was moving so fast. Did she really just dismiss her feelings for Kai so suddenly? Acker fell fast and hard for her too. I wanted build-up, but because they are Matched and have a bond, so it’s undeniable? I wanted more of an emotional connection but I wasn’t feeling it.

~ The plot twist. This is what all the hype is about with this book…so let’s talk about it. It comes with a sudden flashback at the end of the book during a build to a climactic moment but though I felt stunned, it felt kinda off, and I was confused. The way it’s executed means a lot of things happens off page, and we, the reader don’t get that information. It also paints Jovi in a very different light than how I saw her throughout the book – which is the goal, I guess? But it leaves me with SO many questions that won’t be answered until the next book or not? We shall see, maybe now I don’t trust the author since she didn’t trust me?😅 Throughout this whole book there is no show of motivation for her to do what she did at the end – it’s a whole secret until then, she’s lying the whole time. And fine, I don’t mind being lied to for shock value, but make it make sense. I like a good unreliable narrator but Brynn/Jovi is not that, doesn’t even give us a hint that she’s unreliable. The were just a few indications that did give me pause in the book and maybe foreshadowed this was going to happen – I questioned how fast she fell for Acker but chalked it up to insta-love and also, wondered why with her at the border of her kingdom, she wouldn’t go right away and see the mom she hasn’t seen in forever.

Final Thoughts:

If you are a high-fantasy reader, go into this one with low expectations. If you love romantasy and all the usual tropes, you will enjoy this one. You kind of have to go with the flow with this one and not think too hard on connecting dots. I was half and half on this one. I knew it was a romantasy with a lot of hype – so I wanted to see what the hype and plot twist was about. The plot twist had potential but I did not like how it was executed. I did like the beginning when the story is set with the characters, and the world of Alaha, but then there is a lull in the middle as our main characters are floating on the sea trying to find land. Pacing wise, this felt choppy. I had to re-read some parts a few times in the book because I felt like I missed something.

Will I read book two? Yes, I think I will read it because I want to see what happens to Brynn/Jovi and Acker after that wild ending. There is a snippet at the end of the ebook for book two, and it looks like it takes place after a few years have passed, so I think that’s interesting. But when I read book two I will go in with trust issues. 😅