Brimstone by. Callie Hart | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Title: Brimstone (Fae & Alchemy, #2)

Author: Callie Hart

Format: ebook (own)

Pages: 668

Publication Date: 11/18/25

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Series, Romantasy

Duty. Blood. Honour. Power.

Saeris Fane doesn’t want power. The very last thing she needs is her name whispered on an entire court’s lips, but now that she’s been crowned queen of the Blood Court, she’s discovering that a queen’s life is not her own. A heavy weight rests upon her shoulders.

Her ward – and her brother – need her back in her homeland . . . but the changes that have strengthened Saeris have also made her weak. Born under blazing suns, Saeris will surely die if she makes her way home through the Quicksilver. Which means that, once again, she must send someone else in her stead . . .

‘Keep your mouth shut. Stick to the shadows. And for the love of all seven Gods, do NOT crack any jokes.’

Kingfisher of the Ajun Gate has defeated armies and survived all manner of horrors, but traveling back to Zilvaren with Carrion Swift might just be the death of him. The male just will not shut up. Hidden dangers await them down the narrow alleyways of the Silver City. Unfolding secrets pose impossible threats. Fisher must wrangle the smuggler and accomplish his goals quickly if he wants to see his mate again.

A darkness falls across Yvelia. The realm and their friends are in danger. Together, Saeris and Fisher will pass through fire and brimstone to save them.

Content Warning: violence, death

One of my most anticipated reads for 2025 has published and I just finished reading – here’s what I thought:

+ I loved Quicksilver, book one, for a few reasons: Kingfisher’s sarcasm, the romance, and Carrion Swift. And I definitely was wanting to read book two because of the cliffhanger from book one. Once more we are in this world of Quicksilver, where the Fae, humans, vampires and alchemy are thrown together but even more so in book two.

+ There is no questioning this romance between Saeris and Fisher – they are fated mates, if it wasn’t clear in book one. They are wild for one another and love each other very, very much. There is lots of spice in this one – some bite play, some blood sucking (among other things lol), but I think what I enjoyed most about them in this book is that we get Fisher’s POV. And honestly I loved when we didn’t get his POV in book one because he was so sarcastic…but with his POV, we get to know him on another level. He’s a good man, who loves his woman and his friends, and will do anything to save them. There are many times these two are apart in the book but that’s okay, because you know they can hold their own, plus she had to grow.

+ There are secondary characters I love like Carrion who surprisingly enough doesn’t spend a lot of time with Saeris in this book, but he bonds with Fisher, which was so funny to see unfold. Why was their chemistry better with one another than Fisher and Saeris? Fisher can’t stand him but Carrion’s charm wins almost everyone over. Of course I love Onyx the fox, and then there is Archer, the sprite, who was so funny.

+ A lot is going on in this book and it clocks in under 700 pages. Saeris is dealing with being Queen of vampires; Fisher is dealing with friends he left behind in Ammontreith, protecting Saeris, and his home estate Cahlish – so many things. There is a lot of action, which made the story go by fast. The ending is another cliffhanger with the story taking a new direction!

~ I don’t know why but this one didn’t engage me as much as book one. Maybe I went into with too much hype? I was excited going into it but then the more I read, it felt a lot like the usual second book syndrome that feels like filler but it’s filler that is explaining a lot of things and yes I felt explanations was needed but…it also felt like it was info-dumping in between the adventures and action. Pacing was slow, then adventure, action, then slow, and repeat. There is a lot going on, lots of character and not all of it easy to follow sometimes.

~ Some things got repetitive but this is a ME issue because whenever it is the fated mates trope, I cannot stand when they keep calling one another “my mate”, if that makes sense. I already know he’s your mate, does it need to be repeated all the time? Another thing that was repetitive and didn’t need to be? The two of them smelling like they just had sex and everyone commenting on it every time 😅.

Final Thoughts:

I think it’s a solid sequel with lots going on. There is growth for Saeris and we learn another side to Fisher. There is a lot of action, which I enjoyed a lot and weirdly enough my favorite couple (friendship) to come out of this is Fisher and Carrion! I mean, how can anyone hate Carrion? The romance is what I expected to be, Fisher and Saeris are mates. There are a lot of things that are revealed, and a cliffhanger ending. It’s all the things I expect in a romantasy, I just wish it didn’t feel like a filler book but I get it, this is a big world and it’s opening up even more. Will definitely read book three to see what happens next in the story!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Quicksilver by. Callie Hart | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A Kiss of Hammer and Flame by. Amy De La Force | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating:

Title: A Kiss of Hammer and Flame (Fated for Hael, #1)

Author: Amy De La Force

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 12/2/25 (first published 7/3/25)

Publisher: Canelo Romance

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

An immortal bound in darkness. A shattered empire at war. And a blacksmith whose heart could tip the scales of fate.

When young blacksmith Cahra is commissioned to forge a sword, she uses her imagination to design a symbol. But this symbol invokes an age-old prophecy and awakens Hael – an immortal with the power to shape or shatter worlds – sealed away in a chamber deep in Hael’stromia, the lost capital at the heart of a civil war between three kingdoms.

Now hunted for the sword, Cahra must flee with the very stranger who commissioned it. But what does she truly know about the handsome and charming noble, Terryl?

On the run through the darkly magical Wilds, she is drawn ever closer to Hael, who visits and beguiles her in dreams. With tyrant kings vying to capture Hael and wield him as a weapon, she alone stands between Hael and their deadly ambitions. Will Cahra risk everything to free him in time to save the empire?

Content Warning: violence

+ I got this arc but it’s a book that is being republished with a super pretty sprayed edge. I have a soft spot for female blacksmiths in fantasy stories and in this one we have Cahra who has made a special sword for a lord. But that sword is tied to a prophecy and now her world has changed. Cahra is an orphan, who had a hard life, and everything seemed to be going sort of well until she makes this sword. I think Cahra was a strong character even though sometimes naive, but I feel like she handled some of the challenges, the prophecy and everything being revealed fairly well.

+ The story was interesting even if it’s filled with the usual romantasy tropes. But there was something about Cahra’s story that made me keep reading. Hael, the being inside the sword was very interesting. He reminded me of a jinn trapped in a bottle (but he is not), and the prophecy all ties into him being released and being a weapon that can help rule the three kingdoms. Plus he is tied to Cahra because of the prophecy and their relationship grows into something unexpected. I liked the action in the story which I feel kept the story moving. There are lots of secrets and also political intrigue that I enjoyed a lot – three kingdoms are trying to find this weapon, in order to rule over all, but there is even reveals that have to do with the Oracles.

+ Along Cahra’s journey she meets a few people but I really liked when she meets the Seers and Oracle. I felt like she was all alone, even if Lord Terryl was nice to her, so having these women take her in, kind of guide her and befriend was really nice to see.

~ The romance didn’t really have time to build in my opinion. Cahra and Terryl make a connection when they meet but things change later on. Cahra falls for Terryl because he’s nice and he touches her hand! I didn’t think that alone could do it but it did for her which was kind of frustrating.
She was agonizing over her feelings about him and then things take a different turn so I would have liked to see more build up with the romance.

Final Thoughts:

Surprisingly, I was really into Cahra’s story and journey, when usually in a romantasy – I’m there for the romance. The romance was not my favorite in this story but the political intrigue between three kingdoms and some Oracles really kept me engaged. Overall, I found this one entertaining but wish there was more build-up in the romance storyline. It’s a good start to a series and it will be interesting to see what happens in book two.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Courting of Bristol Keats by. Mary E. Pearson | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️

Title: The Courting of Bristol Keats (The Courting of Bristol Keats, #1)

Author: Mary E. Pearson

Format: audiobook & hardcover (libby & owned)

Pages: 547

Publication Date: 11/12/24

Categories: Fantasy, Romance

From NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Mary E. Pearson comes a thrilling romantic fantasy full of dangerous fae, dark secrets, and addictive romance– the first book in a duology.

After losing both their parents, Bristol Keats and her sisters struggle to stay afloat in their small, quiet town of Bowskeep. When Bristol begins to receive letters from an “aunt” she’s never heard of who promises she can help, she reluctantly agrees to meet—and discovers that everything she thought she knew about her family is a lie. Even her father might still be alive, not killed but kidnapped by terrifying creatures to a whole other realm—the one he is from.

Desperate to save her father and find the truth, Bristol journeys to a land of gods and fae and monsters. Pulled into a dangerous world of magic and intrigue, she makes a deadly bargain with the fae king, Tyghan. But what she doesn’t know is that he’s the one who drove her parents to live a life on the run. And he is just as determined as she is to find her father—dead or alive.

Content Warning: violence

I borrowed the audiobook for this earlier in the year but – I was not connecting to it. So when I saw it on sale on Book Outlet, I bought the hardcover but it sat on my shelf. Now with book two just out, I wanted to finally finish this book. I borrowed the audiobook again, hoping the second try would be better but at the 23rd chapter I switched to the hardcover and glad I did.

+ The world-building is interesting. It follows Bristol Keats, who has two sisters, and their parents are gone. She’s trying to make things meet in the town they live in but it’s challenging. Now this is a portal fantasy – because on the other side of this world, is the Fae world and we learn that they need Bristol to close a door. Elphame is the world of Faerie and it has all kinds of mystical creatures. While there Bristol learns that her father could be alive and asks Tyghan, for help to find him in exchange for her helping them close this door.

+ So while Bristol is in Elphame, she goes to school and trains with other girls. The girls become a found family for her which is nice since she was missing her sisters. There is a big cast of characters in this story which is what made it hard for me to follow on audiobook.

+~ I did enjoy the romance for the most part. Tyghan is drawn to Bristol even though he knows he shouldn’t get involved with her. But spending lots of time together makes their feelings grow and they give into their desires. Their relationship is a challenge though when Bristol finds out the truth about everything – Tyghan, her dad, her mom, and that she’s half fae. I did enjoy the romance drama. But there is one thing that I couldn’t get over, and that is Tyghan and her father were friends. I get that time goes slower in Elphame than in the mortal world, but STILL…I couldn’t get over that Bristol is basically together with her dad’s ex best-friend. And there were some things Tyghan said about her to him that made me not like Tyghan.

~ Bristol is trying to find her dad, but she doesn’t know the whole story about her parents, or Tyghan – she’s being kept in the dark. And because of that, when the secrets are revealed I was kind of irritated with Tyghan’s response and his court as well. It’s understandable that they don’t trust her, but none of them could understand why she would want to save her dad? I was irritated that Tyghan felt justified in lying to her.

~ I felt like too many things were going on in this story at times. I didn’t feel like it flowed well at times because there were so many characters and at times I forgot who’s perspective we were on. Pacing was off also, sometimes it was too slow, but it does pick up in the end. There were times where I felt like it was just thrown in, like Bristol going to classes and training. I wanted more of that, but this isn’t an academia story so I felt like it was just there for her to make friends. But I would have liked to see her learning something about magic and powers because she needs it to close this door. Also wanted more of scenes with her and her sisters. There were also some parts that was more telling than showing.

Final Thoughts:

I was expecting a lot because I loved Dance of Thieves and Vow of Thieves so much, and this fell flat for me. I did like some parts, and I’m curious to see how Bristol balances her love for Tyghan and her father. But there are a lot of things that didn’t work for me. Hopefully the sequel is better, but I’ll be going in with lower expectations.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

ARC Review | Vow of Thieves ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dance of Thieves by. Mary E. Pearson ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles, #1) by. Mary E. Pearson ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Heart of Betrayal (The Remnant Chronicles, #2) by. Mary E. Pearson ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Beauty of Darkness (The Remnant Chronicles, #3) by. Mary E. Pearson ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Housemaid by. Freida McFadden | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: (closed door)

Title: The Housemaid (The Housemaid, #1)

Author: Freida McFadden

Narrator: Lauryn Allman

Format: audiobook (Libby)

Pages: 329 Listening Time: approximately 10 hours

Publication Date: 4/26/22

Publisher: Bookouture

Categories: Thriller, Mystery, Suspense

“Welcome to the family,” Nina Winchester says as I shake her elegant, manicured hand. I smile politely, gazing around the marble hallway. Working here is my last chance to start fresh. I can pretend to be whoever I like. But I’ll soon learn that the Winchesters’ secrets are far more dangerous than my own…

Every day I clean the Winchesters’ beautiful house top to bottom. I collect their daughter from school. And I cook a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in my tiny room on the top floor.

I try to ignore how Nina makes a mess just to watch me clean it up. How she tells strange lies about her own daughter. And how her husband Andrew seems more broken every day. But as I look into Andrew’s handsome brown eyes, so full of pain, it’s hard not to imagine what it would be like to live Nina’s life. The walk-in closet, the fancy car, the perfect husband.

I only try on one of Nina’s pristine white dresses once. Just to see what it’s like. But she soon finds out… and by the time I realize my attic bedroom door only locks from the outside, it’s far too late.

But I reassure myself: the Winchesters don’t know who I really am.

They don’t know what I’m capable of…

An unbelievably twisty read that will have you glued to the pages late into the night. Anyone who loves The Woman in the Window, The Wife Between Us and The Girl on the Train won’t be able to put this down!

Content Warning: gaslighting, torture, body horror

+ The narrator did amazing doing the voices for this story! I like how she had an accent for Millie and a different voice for Nina – it helped me distinguish the main characters.

+ I like how this story was a quick read and it is engaging too! The story starts off with Millie’s perspective. She’s the new live-in housemaid for the Winchester’s but she has a mysterious past – all we know is that she used to be in prison. Throughout the story she’s grateful to have a job and a place to live but Nina, her employer is always gaslighting her! The only person nice to her in the house is Nina’s husband Andy.

+ The second half of the story we get Nina’s perspective and I thought it was a fun twist in this mysterious and suspenseful story. The ending is unexpected but I enjoyed this story a lot.

Final Thoughts:

I wanted to read this before the movie comes out and I’m glad I listened to it as an audiobook because it was really entertaining. I like the build up, the mystery and all the suspense at the end, plus the twist!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Coldwire by. Chloe Gong | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating:

Title: A Curious Kind of Magic

Author: Chloe Gong

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 496

Publication Date: 11/4/25

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Categories: Young Adult, Sci/Fi, Dystopian, Cyberpunk

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

Thank you to Margaret K. McElderry Books for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The future is loading…

To escape rising seas and rampant epidemics, most of society lives “upcountry” in glistening virtual reality, while those who can’t afford the subscription are forced to remain in crumbling “downcountry.”

But upcountry isn’t perfect. A cold war rages between two powerful nations, Medaluo and Atahua—and no one suffers for it more than the Medan orphans in Atahua. Their enrollment at Nile Military Academy is mandatory. Either serve as a soldier or risk being labelled a spy.

Eirale graduated the academy and joined NileCorp’s private forces downcountry, exactly as she was supposed to. Then Atahua’s most wanted anarchist frames her for assassinating a government official, and she’s given a choice: cooperate with him to search for a dangerous program in Medaluo or go down for treason.

Meanwhile, Lia is finishing her last year upcountry at Nile Military Academy. Paired with her academic nemesis for their final assignment, Lia is determined to beat him for valedictorian and prove her worth. But there may be far more at stake when their task to infiltrate Medaluo and track down an Atahuan traitor goes wrong…

Though Eirale and Lia tear through Medaluo on different planes of reality, the two start to suspect they are puzzle pieces in a larger conspiracy—and the closer they get to the truth, the closer their worlds come to a shattering collision.

Content Warning: violence

+ This is such a compelling, tense read, it was hard to put down! It starts off with some action, which I loved and it took off from there. I was sucked into a cyberpunk world and it didn’t let go of me.

+ In this story there are two POVs, Eirale and Lia. We follow their journeys until they meet. I did suspect in the middle of the book what was happening but I needed to read to the end to get the explanation because this is sci-fi so this story was definitely giving my brain a work out. I guessed correctly on what was going on but the realization with what was happening was still mind-blowing and devastating. I did find myself at first gravitating more towards Eirale’s story, but eventually I was invested in Lia’s also.

+ There is a lot of action, some fighting scenes, and our main characters are on two different missions. I couldn’t put this book down because I needed to see what brought these characters together and the pay-off is well worth the wait. There are twists, betrayals, company and government corruption and I feel like this story is timely with it’s talk about tech and AI. The world-building is very cyberpunk and dystopian. There is a lot of virtual life which was hard for me to wrap my head around, but I went with it.

+ There is a tiny bit of romance in this story which isn’t the main focus but I loved it! I also love the found family element for both Eirale and Lia.

~ I’ve read a few book from this author and I always kind of go in with caution now because her stories have heavy world-building and it definitely makes me use more brain power. But this is the type of story where I have to take time to settle in before I’m invested. I think Eirale’s storyline kept me in it until Lia’s story got more interesting. I actually loved how both characters’ stories come together.

~ I’m not a big sci-fi reader, and this one did confuse me many times because this is the type of book I need to see visually. I actually think this would make a great movie or show. So there were a few explanations I had to re-read to make my non-sci-fi mind understand what was going on. There is a lot of tech jargon. But I did eventually get it…at least the gist of it! Also the upcountry, downcountry and different places in the story at times confused me because I didn’t know if the characters were upcountry (virtual world) and what not.

Final Thoughts:

My brain put in a lot of work to follow this book but overall, I really enjoyed it. There were times I was confused but once I was hooked, I couldn’t put it down. I love the build-up to that ending and I’m hoping to see what happens next in the series!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From this Author:

Immortal Longings by. Chloe Gong | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Foul Lady Fortune by. Chloe Gong | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Foul Heart Huntsman by. Chloe Gong | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Our Violent Ends by. Chloe Gong | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

These Violent Delights | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Death-Made Prince by. Lisette Marshall | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: The Death-Made Prince (Runewitch Saga, #1)

Author: Lisette Marshall

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 547

Publication Date: 10/21/25

Categories: Fantasy, Dark Romance, Enemies to Lovers

A runewitch on the run has only one option join forces with the sarcastic, unpleasantly gorgeous necromancer she loathes

The man Thraga loved is dead, and her future is in shambles. When she’s sentenced to the gallows for killing her lover’s murderers, it’s a relief more than anything… until, the night before her execution, a necromancer is thrown into her cell.

Escaping with him is her only chance to bring Lark back to life – and also the start of all her troubles.

Because her new almost-ally is not just any man returned from death. Fire mage, rogue prince, and son of the man who killed her mother, sharp-tongued Durlain Averre is everything Thraga hates. Worse, he won’t revive her lover unless she joins him on a mission of his own first, using her forbidden rune magic to free his sister from the dungeons of an enemy king.

But their quest turns into a deadly chase when Thraga’s violent past catches up with her. And as the net of court intrigue and old fears closes around them, she begins to find out Lark was not at all the man she thought he was…

And neither is Durlain.

The Death-Made Prince is the first book of the Runewitch Saga, an epic enemies to lovers fantasy romance featuring two morally grey leads, OCD rep, and a Norse mythology-inspired world. While it is a slow burn romance, the first book does contain spicy content intended for 18+ readers.

Content Warning: violence, death, sexual assault, torture

+ I don’t really know what I expected from this book but I could not put it down. Thraga is in a prison cell when a man is thrown into the cell and her life changes forever.

+ The world-building is great because our characters Thraga and Durlain are on the run and also searching out information so that Durlain can save his sister. He needs Thraga because she is a runewitch – but runewitches are reviled in this world, so she has to keep it secret or she will be killed or worse, taken prisoner again and used. So we get to see a whole lot of this world as Thraga and Durlain are traveling thrown different towns and terrains. I love how that gave me a better sense of the world. It is a Norse-mythology inspired world, hence the runewitch but there is also necromancy. There is political intrigue, secrets and betrayals that added a lot to the story and made the stakes higher. There is violence, battles, and mentions of torture.

+ Thraga is a powerful runewitch and she is mourning the loss of her loved one, Lark. She decides to help Durlain because he agrees he could bring him back from the dead. She was with him for four years but we learn through her memories of him that what she thought was safety and protection was actually him placing her in a cage and making her think less of herself. I was so mad on her behalf and was really rooting for her to break from the memories and grow. Thraga is neurodivergent and also has OCD, and it’s represented really well in this story where even her thoughts started making me anxious. She really is a character who is finding her strength and I love that about this story. But there is a lot we still don’t know about her, especially after that ending!

+ Durlain, the MMC, is a prince and he’s already died once. He is a firemage and he has horns! Honestly I’ve read so many romantasy books where the MMC is downright gorgeous and I have been really, really craving an MMC that isn’t gorgeous but interesting and compelling. Durlain is that guy! He’s scarred (internally and externally), and he wears an eye-patch. He is flawed, sharp edges and angles, witty, cunning and intense – not gorgeous but he’s riveting. He’s everything I’ve been craving for lately! It’s like this author read my mind 😅. He’s doing all of this to find his sister, who loves dearly. He’s morally grey. He’s been tortured and killed and back for revenge and I was all for it!

+ The romance is a slow burn and enemies to lovers. Durlain’s people hate runewitches, and vice versa, so there is a lot of animosity there, but they are companions on this crazy journey and there is a lot of forced proximity. Durlain has a sharp tongue but Thraga gave back as good as he gave, which I loved for her because she was conditioned not to fight. I loved their interactions and verbal sparring! It’s a slow burn but eventually there is spice. But their situation is a challenging one because Durlain is used to pushing people away, he’s been through hell, literally, but Thraga has gotten under his skin. But I need book two because of what happened at the end!

~ I’m not usually one to like books where the characters go on a long journey. There is a lot of hopping around from place to place but in this story I didn’t mind it too much because we got the lay of the land as they traveled plus we meet some interesting people that are important to Thraga and Durlain’s goals.

~ There are a lot of characters they meet along the way and I did get confused at times who Durlain was impersonating, especially if it was one of his family members!

Final Thoughts:

I loved this one. Loved the enemies to lovers romance, loved the characters who are complex, and that ending…I need book two asap! Also, I’ve had one of her books, Court of Blood and Bindings on my Goodreads TBR list so maybe I’ll just jump into this series while I wait for book two.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

We Fell Apart by. E. Lockhart | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating:

Title: We Fell Apart (We Were Liars, #3)

Author: E. Lockhart

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 11/4/25

Publisher: Delacorte Press

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

The invitation arrives out of the blue.

In it, Matilda discovers a father she’s never met. Kingsley Cello is a visionary, a reclusive artist. And when he asks her to spend the summer at his seaside home, Hidden Beach, Matilda expects to find a part of herself she’s never fully understood.

Instead, she finds Meer, her long-lost, openhearted brother; Brock, a former child star battling demons; and brooding, wild Tatum, who just wants her to leave their crumbling sanctuary.

With Kingsley nowhere to be seen, Matilda must delve into the twisted heart of Hidden Beach to uncover the answers she’s desperately craving. But secrets run thicker than blood, and blood runs like seawater.

And everyone here is lying.

Content Warning: dementia, death, parental neglect

I read We Were Liars when it first published in 2014 and the tv series just came out on Amazon Prime so I did watch that and it refreshed my memory! I’m glad that show aired because jumping into We Fell Apart was easy as the Sinclair family and Beechwood was fresh in my mind.

We Fell Apart takes us back to Beechwood, just as the event of We Were Liars have concluded. Matilda gets an email from the dad she never knew and he asks her to come meet him at Hidden Beach, where he lives. Matilda has had quite a life with a mom who has basically chosen boyfriends over her – to the point after her mom decides to move away again with another guy, Matilda chooses to stay with her last boyfriend, a really nice guy who doesn’t mind having Matilda around.

Matilda goes to Hidden Beach and learns about this accident that happened with the Sinclairs. She meets her half-brother, his mom, and two other guys living at the run-down house. The summer is going by great but Matilda knows something isn’t right. Where is her dad? Why is the house so run-down? Why is June (Meer, her half-brother’s mom), not taking care of the boys and the house? What is going on at Hidden Beach.

I was sucked into this world again, and honestly love the family secrets in this world the Sinclairs built. The story moves quickly and the reveal in the end is shocking. It makes you question everyone’s motives and choices they’ve made to keep the secret they have been holding. I like Matilda and how she questions what is going on at the house. Also, there is a little romance but that’s not the focus. I thought it was also interesting how June thought she was this carefree, nonconforming wife because she didn’t want to be the Tipper Sinclair kind of housewife but in the end, was trapped in her own partnership with Kingsley. I felt like there were a lot of full circles with this book.

I did think the story moved too quickly though, it felt rushed and some moments – like when Holland (a Sinclair who befriends Matilda at the start of the book) takes her in and explains all about the Sinclairs. It was a lot of telling, and info-dumping.

Final Thoughts:

I actually enjoyed this one a lot because I had just watched the show and I was brought back to this place of summer, sun, family and most of all the secrets. Matilda knows something isn’t right at Hidden Beach and the reveal is devastating for her. I did like that there was a happy ending instead of another tragic one, though there is tragedy. Overall, a good addition to the series.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From this Author:

We Were Liars by. E. Lockhart ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Terror at the Gates by. Scarlett St. Clair | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Terror at the Gates (Blood of Lilith, #1)

Author: Scarlett St. Clair

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 495

Publication Date: 7/8/25

Categories: Urban Fantasy, Romance

She is the beginning and the end.

She is peace and chaos.

She is terror knocking at the gates.

Estranged from her powerful family, Lilith Leviathan finds refuge in Nineveh, a district in the city of Eden devoted to sin. There, she uses her magic to steal for a living, attracting the attention of the five governing families as well as the church, which expects women to remain pious and silent. When Lilith comes into possession of a beautiful blade, she thinks all her worries are over…until her usual buyer dies while inspecting it.

Frantic, Lilith turns to the only man who can help her: Zahariev, head of the Zareth family and ruler of Nineveh. His currency is information, and his power is extortion, though he’s always had a soft spot for Lilith. But when the dagger appears, he isn’t sure he can protect her from what’s to come.

Together, they embark on a mission to discover the true power running their world. As their lives intertwine, Lilith realizes Zahariev is more than just a friend, but their devotion to each other is a threat—to the truth, to the church, and to those who want to tear it all down.

Content Warning: violence, grief, death, mention of sexual assault and rape

+ I found the world-building in this story to be very interesting. Eden is separated into different district and each district has a head of family – kind of like organized crime but these families have are Elohim and have the blood of God in them. I thought the biblical fantasy was pretty unique! Especially since this Eden is full of sin. There of course is a ruling church in this story that of course, abuses woman, as we learn through our FMC, Lilith.

+ Lilith is from a ruling family but escaped her fate (marriage) for a little while and is struggling to get by in Nineveh which is run by Zahariev. But he’s keeping an eye out for her and helping her when he can despite her protests and calls for independence. She grew up pampered and rich, so this life is different for her but from what I gathered she’s made her own family with new friends, people that genuinely care about her. Lilith is stubborn, but also very loving, as expressed to her closest friends.

+ The romance is a very slow burn between Lilith and Zahariev but things eventually get spicy for them. It’s a forbidden romance, since they are from different ruling families, but it seems they have a friendship or understanding between one another. And clearly Zahariev is down bad for her – I love him! She’s stubborn and fights him but he is so patient with her. He takes care of her and keeps boundaries with her even if she wants him to break them. She has a good man and I’m glad realizes it by the end.

+~ Now part of this story is a mystery. There is a dagger that Lilith has found but she’s learned that wherever someone without Elohim blood sees is, they die. So Lilith is trying to figure out what the dagger is and realizes there is something big happening that involves the church, a secret order, and maybe Gods.

~ Lilith is a good person but a flawed one because there was a part of the story where she should have been there for a friend but because of her own grief and feelings of guilt, she couldn’t show up. I thought in my head, damn, she’s not a good friend but grief affects everyone in different ways. Still…that kind of stuck with me because she was not shy with telling her friends “I love you” constantly throughout the book! But when she had to show up and be there for one of them? Sigh…that was kind of frustrating.

~ Needed more world-building. What we got was a good start, it’s interesting – Eden? Organized crime? Blood of the Gods? But I don’t feel like I got a good sense of these head families that rule Eden. They are at peace right now, but Zahariev wants Lilith and that could start a war…why? Is Zahariev’s family the lowest rank? I had a lot of questions about a few things.

~ I think pacing was okay until the middle. There is the mystery about the dagger, murders and strange globs of slime that could be demons (that felt so random), which slows down the story until it ramps up in the end again. But what is up with the demon blobs? Maybe we will find out more in book two.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, I thought this was an interesting and entertaining read even though at times it felt like it was going all over the place. I love Zahariev and how he showed he cared for Lilith by trying to keep her safe and staying patient with her, even though she had no clue. I would love more details in the world-building and maybe some growth with Lilith so I’m looking forward to book two.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Starchaser by. R. M. Gray | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating:

Title: Starchaser (Nightweaver, #2)

Author: R.M. Gray

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 448

Publication Date: 11/4/25

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Series, Romance, Pirates

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

Thank you to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I am vengeance. Fury. Power.

Seventeen-year-old pirate Aster Oberon faces a stunning new reality, gifted with magical ability that she’s struggling to master. Worse, both she and Will—the Nightweaver who has captured her heart—have been cursed. In mere weeks, they will become ferocious Underlings, creatures forced to serve the evil Queen Morana. The only way to break the curse is by procuring Morana’s blood.

To track down the cure, Aster teams up with both Will and Titus, the infuriatingly handsome prince of the Eerie who secretly aims to overthrow his royal family’s tyrannical reign. The trio’s journey takes them to Castle Grim where danger is around every corner, and no one is who they seem.

Between deadly dinners, extravagant balls, and shifting desires toward Will and Titus, Aster will have to keep her daggers at the ready and determine who she can trust before the ticking clock of her curse runs out.

Layered with devastating revelations and twisty romance, this heart-pounding sequel to Nightweaver will leave readers racing toward the truth about Aster and her destiny.

Content Warning: violence, death, torture

+ I don’t know why I thought this was a duology but I was wrong, and I didn’t realize this until 50% into the book. But, despite my own misunderstanding of which book in the series this is, I actually enjoyed this sequel.

+ Aster, Titus and Will have a plan. But it involves sussing out who Morana’s spirit has possessed. Titus has a clue, but Aster’s power to see Sylks’s is what is supposed to help him confirm it. But Aster doesn’t see it, so who could it be? Time is running out before Will turns into a beast, and Titus marries Leo, so they have to figure this out quick. I did like the mystery and trying to figure out who it could be. I had my suspects but even I was thrown off. And that’s not the only thing Aster is trying to figure out because someone is after her, and she doesn’t know who it is.

+ There is also the bigger picture of taking down the kingdom but again, plans are changed with the not knowing of who Morana has been embodying. But there is a lot revealed at the end of the story, lots of twists. I also like that we learn more about Titus in this story!

+ The ending is wild. There are reveals, betrayals, and I need book three to know what will happen to Will and Titus!

+~ The love triangle. I don’t totally love it because I’m leaning a certain way and it’s between two best friends. Why does have to be between two best friends? I don’t like it. None of these people are perfect, Titus, turns into a killer, but Will is about to turn into one too. So…I’m gonna chose the guy who remembered her favorite color. 😅. But yikes…Aster doesn’t know what she feels. I guess we’ll see what happens in book three.

~ Aster is supposedly coming into her power but I actually didn’t see much of it in this sequel. Titus even says he’ll train her but we got only one or two scenes of that and that was it. I hope her power comes through in book three.

Final Thoughts:

There is a lot that happens in this sequel. We get a lot of twists, reveals, betrayal, and time ticking down on executing the plan Aster has with her friends. But I did want more out of Aster’s character in aspects to her power, which was pretty non-existent. If you like a love-triangle, you might enjoy this one, but because I’m leaning towards one guy in particularly and still don’t know how Aster feels about both of them, I’m not really enjoying this love triangle. Overall, this is a solid sequel and can’t wait to see what happens in book three!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From this Author:

Nightweaver by. R.M. Gray | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Immortal Consequences by. I.V. Marie | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️

Title: Immortal Consequences (The Souls of Blackwood Academy, #2)

Author: I.V. Marie

Format: hardcover (own)

Pages: 512

Publication Date: 7/29/25

Categories: Dark Academia, Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, LGBT+

Six students at Blackwood Academy, an enigmatic boarding school located at the edge of the afterlife, must compete for the once-in-eternity chance to change their fate—or risk remaining stuck in purgatory forever. An unputdownable debut full of hairpin twists, shock betrayals and world-defying love, for fans of The Atlas Six.

Welcome to Blackwood Academy: the legendary school located at the fringes of the afterlife, where students are fated to spend the rest of eternity shepherding lost souls. Once a pupil enters the school’s arched gates, there is no way out…except for the Decennial, a once-in-a-decade celebration that rewards nominees who pass its trials with a choice: formally graduate and join Blackwood’s magical elite, or venture into the unknown and cross over to the mysterious Other Side.

Wren Loughty is certain that this Decennial, she has what it takes to earn the nomination—unless, that is, her academic archrival Augustine Hughes steals her spot.

Irene Manette Bamford has never cared about playing by the rules. She’s willing to break whatever (and whoever) stands between her and getting the hell out of Blackwood, including her best and only friend, Masika Sallow.

Olivier Dupont gave up on securing the nomination ages ago. But after he meets Blackwood’s newest student, Emilio Córdova, he’ll do anything to keep Emilio from leaving him and crossing over to the Other Side—even if it means claiming the victory for himself.

All of them are determined to be Blackwood’s chosen candidate–and all of them would do anything to win. But none of them are prepared for what’s to come. Because this Decennial will be different. This time, the Decennial isn’t a celebration…it’s a competition. And there can only be one victor.

Six nominees. Four trials. Untold danger. Wren, August, Irene, Masika, Olivier and Emilio are about to learn: there are some fates worse than death.

Content Warning: violence, grief, death, trauma

+ I thought the world-building was very interesting. It’s an academy in the afterlife! So all these characters are deceased, which I thought was unique.

+ There are 6 POVs and the chapters for each are short, which moved the story quickly. These students are all competing in a Decennial trial where the rules have changed. So there is a lot of action in the middle of the book which was nice, and we see these character who aren’t friends in the beginning start to form some bonds with one another.

+~ There is romance! One is a rivals to lovers romance between Wren and August – I thought I would be into this one but I didn’t feel like I connected to either of them, not sure why. There is a closed door scene between them. Then there is Emilio and Olivier and I thought their romance was sweet. But it is young adult so there is teen drama, and angst.

~ Although I enjoyed the short chapters and the action helped moved the story, I think there were too many things going on because there are so many POVs to follow. And not only those POVs, there were other kids in the trial, not main characters, but sometimes a name was mentioned and I would be like…wait who is that? Some characters got on my nerves like Irene and Wren.

~ As unique as I thought the setting and the world-building was, I had questions – like how did these students get their unique set of powers in the afterlife? I also thought it was kind of crazy that these dead people could still die (even more? lol).

Final Thoughts:

I thought this story had interesting world-building but would love to know more about it. I don’t feel like I had a good grasp of some of it. There are a few characters to follow but the chapters are short and the story moves quickly. I think because there is a lot going on I couldn’t connect to the characters fully. But I did like the action that came during the trials. It’s a maybe for me on if I’ll end up continuing this series, definitely will be dependent on my mood.