The False Vow by. Lydia Gregovic | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️ (fade to black)

Title: The False Vow (The Weaver Bride, #2)

Author: Lydia Gregovic

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 528

Publication Date: 9/29/26

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Mystery, 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!

Love will be tested in this high-stakes, spellbinding sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller The Weaver Bride—the perfect read for fans of The Rose Bargain and Thorn Season.

The gorgeous first edition of The False Vow will feature stunning, stenciled edges and printed endpapers!

Lovett Tamerlane is engaged.

A silkwitch whose magic can only be harnessed through marriage to a Weaver, Lovett was facing life in the cloisters when Eliot Lear offered the deal of a an invitation to the Vainglory to compete for wealthy Weaver heir Noé Allaire’s hand in marriage, in exchange for her solving his sister’s murder.

While they both got what they wanted, the competition was full of surprises. Lovett never expected to fall in love . . . and Eliot never anticipated that she’d betray him.

Now Lovett has one to take down Bastian Alaire and end his corrupt Weaver reign at any cost. But though the Vainglory may be over, danger still lurks at Fortblanche. And when Bastian presents Lovett with one last challenge—solve a murder that occurred within his walls, before the day of her wedding—she realizes the tests aren’t over. To pass this one, she’ll have to partner with the only person she hates more than her father-in-law his son, Noé.

But as Lovett will learn . . . sometimes love and hate are two sides of the same coin.

Content Warning: violence, death

This is book two in The Weaver Bride series and I was looking forward to see what happened to Lovett and Eliot. Well, a lot happens in this book, some very unexpected things. Lovett and Eliot are trying to figure out the murder of Sybil, so they can best Noé’s dad, the weaver king, Bastian. Lovett and Noé are engaged but she still loves Eliot which makes this a love triangle. And the silkwitches who competed for Noé’s hand are trying to kill Lovett.

My favorite part of this story was actually the romance even though it’s a love triangle and I actually wasn’t sure who Lovett was going to end up with. I was a little disappointed with Eliot’s character because it wasn’t what I expected after how close he was to Lovett in book one. But I guess people change. Noé is filled with so much yearning that his confessions at the end really melted my heart. I love seeing their relationship grow. And there is a fade to black steamy scene.

As for the story, I felt like the beginning was half was slow. I only really got into the story at probably the 40% mark. I liked the first book because of the trials but now that is missing, so what takes it’s place is people trying to kill Lovett. Lovett’s competition, now bridesmaids, are all trying to kill her under Bastian’s request and Lovett is trying to figure out Sybil’s murder. I liked getting to know some of the bridesmaids more like Anais and Manon. There was never a warm relationship between Lovett and the girls because it was a competition and Lovett is not someone who allows people to get close to her and vice versa (which is why I loved her with Noé).

Final Thoughts:

I feel like I was more attracted to the romance story in this one than the mystery because the murder mystery felt slow. But if you like mysteries I think you will enjoy this one. The romance is a love triangle, and I wasn’t expecting the direction it went but at the end I wasn’t mad at it and actually loved getting to know Noé more. That guy is filled with so much yearning. Overall, I think this is a solid sequel to The Weaver Bride.

Read if you like:

love triangle
murder mystery
magic

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

The Weaver Bride by. Lydia Gregovic | ARC Review – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Monstrous Kind by. Lydia Gregovic | ARC Review – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

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

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

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

Author: Helen Scheuerer

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 464

Publication Date: 9/22/26

Publisher: Atria Books

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Series

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

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

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

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

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

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

Content Warning: violence, death

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

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

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

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

Final Thoughts:

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

Read if you like:

found family
grumpy x sunshine romance
secrets and betrayal

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ignite the Infernos by. Ivy Asher| Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Ignite the Infernos (Secret of the Syphon, #2)

Author: Ivy Asher

Pages: 339

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 9/8/26

Categories: Urban Fantasy, Dragon Shifters, Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Series

After her family curse is lifted, Ever’s on the run from her enemy, a shifter who’s both her foe and her fate, in this slow-burn sequel to Spark the Flames.

With one murderous act, Ever Tenebrae has freed the Syphons. But breaking the curse was only the beginning of the daunting journey ahead . . .

Ever’s once again on the run from the Horde and the dragon prince who’s become something far more dangerous than a mere enemy. Aeson Noctis is on the hunt, and the deeper he digs through the sands of the Scorch, the more truths he uncovers.

Though the road’s fraught with peril, Ever will have to move quickly if she’s to reunite with her people and ensure their survival. Staying hidden should’ve been easy for the Syphons, but their protection weakens as the bond between Ever and Aeson grows stronger each day.

Now, with old adversaries closing in and new threats rising from the shadows, Ever must decide once and for all who to trust. Because the Syphons’ secrets are coming to light, and what’s revealed could save them—or lead to their ultimate destruction.

Content Warning: violence, death, mentions of torture, trauma, memories of trauma

+ After reading book one, I went straight into book two without taking a break! Ever is on the run, and Aeson is on the chase because that’s his bonded. And even though Aeson was on the chase, I really wanted Ever to go back home to her sister and the Syphons so she could catch them up on everything going on. Would it have been easy for Ever to just trust Aeson and tell him everything? Definitely. But the people who killed her family were still out there living among The Horde, so I totally get why she can’t trust him with everything yet.

+ I feel like we get to see more of Ever’s bad-assery in this sequel. She’s leading Aeson on a chase and he is flustered. Ever bends a little eventually because she knows she needs help. She knows what she’s doing and as she said, has the ovaries to do it. I love her bravery but yes she can be frustrating because all Aeson wants to do is love her and all she knows how to do is run. We finally get to meet her sister and get to know her better. They have some issues to work out but their bond and love is strong. I loved getting to know their found family of wyverns and sorcai.

+ The romance is complicated because of all the trust issues between Ever and Aeson. He wants her to bend and let him in. She wants to because of her dragon’s needs but she’s also afraid because letting someone in means the potential to get hurt and she’s been hurt a lot. I’m rooting so hard for them though. They bicker and fight, but they also have some tension filled spicy scenes that are fun. And I actually like how there isn’t many spicy scenes between them – just the right amount because they really have a lot to work through. Clearly, he is crazy about her but wants her to choose him not because of the bond. I feel like the payoff for their romance is going to be so good because Ever is right, she is his mate, but he is not her master. And he is sticking by her even when she pisses him off 😅 – he’s a good man!

+ There is more political intrigue in this one because the Dukes and other powerful people of The Horde want a chance to meet Ever and court her too. There are power plays and people making moves and still Ever is trying to weed out who massacred her family – they get somewhere at the end but it leaves the story with another plot twist.

Final Thoughts:

I absolutely devoured books one and two back to back and I cannot wait for book three. I want more of this world, more of Ever and Aeson bickering and having steamy scenes, but I also want to know more about her twin and the Syphons. The secrets are coming out and they are so intriguing – I can’t wait to see how this all plays out. I will be waiting patiently for book three!

Read if you like:

dragon shifters
urban fantasy
strong and stubborn FMC & MMC
enemies to lovers
political intrigue

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Spark the Flames by. Ivy Asher | Book Review – 4.5 stars/ 2 🌶️

Spark the Flames by. Ivy Asher| Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Spark the Flames (Secret of the Syphon, #1)

Author: Ivy Asher

Pages: 504

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 3/21/25

Categories: Urban Fantasy, Dragon Shifters, Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Series

When it comes to dragons, there’s no such thing as safe.

I learned that the hard way when my kith and kindred were slaughtered right before my eyes.

Everyone thinks the wyverns and the sorcai did it, but I know the truth.

I’ve been hiding from The Horde ever since, existing under their radar, surviving.

And then one day, they find me…he finds me. Aeson Noctis, the king’s second son and my new captor.

Aeson thinks he can force me back to Paragon City. He thinks he can use me and claim my power for his own.

But the dragons should’ve been more careful about who they let inside their city. I’m not some weak little pawn. I’m here looking for answers.

I’m here looking for revenge.

When it comes to dragons, there’s no such thing as safe. I know because I am one, and now I’m going to make The Horde pay for what they’ve done.

They thought they killed all the Syphons.

They thought they hunted down every one.

They thought wrong.

Content Warning: violence, death, mentions of torture, trauma, memories of trauma

+ I’ve been wanting to read this book since last year but decided to wait because it was part of a series. I finally picked it up because book two is out but now I wish I waited until book three came out because I enjoyed this book so much.

+ I really enjoy the world building in this series – it’s urban fantasy with dragon shifters and there are portals also. Ever is the FMC who is escaping her captors but ends up with The Horde, the rulers of this kingdom and also her enemy. Ever is a special type of dragon, a Syphon, who were all massacred years ago – or so everyone thought. Ever and her twin have been hiding out with the surviving Syphons and now they are trying to break the curse put upon them and figure out who they need to take their revenge on. This book was such a quick read filled with action, political intrigue and lots of tension. There are emotional moments too because of what Ever’s been through.

+ Ever is spunky, fierce, and she’s got so many walls up she can’t trust anyone but she’s also funny. I love her even if she can be frustrating because of the walls she puts up and the secrets she is hiding. I totally understand why she has her walls though! Aeson, is the Commander of The Horde army and he’s distrustful of Ever too but he also can’t get her out of his head. He wants to protect her, he wants her to bend to him but she is not the bending type. The two clash a lot, which was fun to witness. There is a strong found family trope in this story especially with Aeson and his Wing unit – they guard him with their lives. The people in his Wing are made up of some fun characters. I did like also getting to know Lorn also, Aeson’s brother, who is the heir. I can’t wait to get to know more of the Syphons and Ever’s sister.

+ I love the enemies to lovers romance between Ever and Aeson. Clearly, they are attracted to one another because of their dragons wanting to bond, which makes it very interesting but they both question the attraction – is it the dragons or is it them as people wanting to bond? I love how Aeson wants it to be because Ever wants him…same with Ever, but they still both have hidden agendas too. They have major trust issues they have to work out. So theirs is a complicated relationship but they do have a spicy scene filled with yearning and want – and I love how it built up to that and didn’t happen right away.

Final Thoughts:

I started this one and couldn’t put it down. I love the world building, the characters, the tension filled romance and I can’t wait to jump into book two!

Read if you like:

dragon shifters
urban fantasy
strong and stubborn FMC & MMC
enemies to lovers
political intrigue

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Wildborn by. Perri Torani | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: The Wildborn (Starborn, #1)

Author: Perri Torani

Pages: 606

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 6/28/26

Categories: Alien Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Series

To walk the path of a morazir, I will exist in three states of being:

Untouched.

Untaken.

Unconquered.

Airik, a battle-scarred warrior serving the cruel intergalactic empire of the Veynari, craves silence from the nightmares tormenting his mind. But while on post to decommission a failed experiment of a planet, a rogue human spacecraft crashes, and a reckless decision leaves him stranded—entangled with a woman he never should have saved.

Nora wakes light-years from Earth, broken in body and spirit, at the mercy of an alien soldier who refuses to let her die. Devastatingly beautiful, terrifyingly competent, and bound by a warrior’s oath that permits touch only to destroy, he’s the reluctant guardian angel she neither wants nor believes she deserves.

Trapped together, they’re forced to navigate a brutal landscape, vicious beasts, and the deadly remnants of an abandoned world. Duty demands Airik’s cold indifference. Yet Nora sparks something deliciously alive—and entirely forbidden—within him. What begins as necessity ignites a primal hunger: scorching, consuming, and impossible to resist.

But even if they survive, the Veynari—ever present and ruthless—won’t allow its warriors weakness like love. For Airik and Nora to be together, they must risk everything.

Content Warning: violence, death

+ I’m opening up to reading more Alien Romance and saw this as a popular one on Kindle Unlimited so I wanted to try it. Airik is a warrior for the Veynari but he’s also an outcast because of his parents’ love for each other – love is not something the Veynari do. So he’s this really tortured guy, trying to stay in his lane and do what he’s told until he ends up on another planet for a mission. He finds Nora, a human who has crash landed on this same planet. They are forced to be together and that’s how things grow between them.

+~ Nora and Airik are both broken people/species. They have trauma from their past and it was fitting that they met and fell in love. I thought it was fun to see how they learn how to communicate, it helps that Airik was already studying some English and learning about humans. He learns a lot more while around Nora and she learns about his species as well. I don’t think there is anything about Nora that stood out though, I was way more interested in Airik and his past. There is one secondary character in here that I was intrigued by and loved and that’s Torren, Airik’s best friend.

+~ I think I was going into this just thinking it was going to be a romp in space, a little smutty, but fun but I was wrong. There are a lot of tears shed between Nora and Airik, I actually wondered why they couldn’t stop crying, because it was a little too much for me. I didn’t expect this to be so emotional but I really felt for Airik. It’s a forbidden romance between two broken people who just want to be loved and belong somewhere. They want a future together but don’t know how to make that happen and by the end I was hoping they could be together someway, somehow. It’s an alien romance so the spice has some creative elements to it which makes it fun, but yeah, these two have a rough time of it trying to carve a path for a future together.

+~ I did enjoy the world building but I do think the length of this book was too long. Most of the time is spent on the planet with Nora and Airik spending time together, which is fine, and they get all their spicy scenes in, but I did wish some of it would have been cut out to make the story move faster. Pacing was an issue but there is a lot of action at the end though which I enjoyed.

Final Thoughts:

I thought this started off good, and I love when Nora and Airik meet and learn from one another, the spice was fun too but then the story got too long and started to drag a little before the action came in at the end to make things interesting again. So for an alien romance I thought this was not bad and I did find the world building really detailed. There was more emotion in this than I was expecting and I would like to read book two if it’s about Torren but I also hope it won’t be as long as this one but a tighter story.

Read if you like:

alien romance
sci-fi/fantasy
forbidden romance

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Wretched Divine by. Adalyn Grace | ARC and ALC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: The Wretched Divine (The Wretched Divine, #1)

Author: Adalyn Grace

Format: eBook (NetGalley) and audiobook (netgalley)

Pages: 512

Listening Hours: approx. 19 hrs 44 min

Narrator (s): Kristin Atherton; Major Curda; Marisa Calin; Shane East

Publication Date: 9/21/26

Publisher: FEIWEL & Macmillan Audio

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Series

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

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

Aurelie Chantelune was born to serve. Raised as a knight in a kingdom ravaged by demons, she’s spent her life honing her blade, driven by the memory of the monsters who tore her family apart and by the knowledge that she’s one of the few who can stop them.

If Aurelie can claim her first kill, she’ll inherit a legacy passed down through the Chantelune a soulbond with Yuriel, an angel whose power is vital to her kingdom’s survival. But when those she loves begin turning into the very monsters she’s sworn to destroy, Aurelie is forced to seek help from the last place she ever imagined. Desperate, she forges a second and far more dangerous bond with Severin, a demon she can hardly trust, but who claims to know how to end the war for good.

With their lives and fates entwined, Aurelie, Yuriel, and Severin must team up to hunt down a cure capable of turning demons back into humans. But the more they learn about one another and the deeper their relationships grow, the more Aurelie begins to question the war and her place in it. With both of her bonded on opposing sides, she’ll have to make a continue to stand with the angels, or risk everything by trusting a demon.

Content Warning: death, violence

+ Knights, angels and demons. The audiobook was fantastic and very entertaining. I loved all the narrators and their voices.

+~ The world-building is great and I really love how the story build and builds into the climax at the end but I did find the beginning a little slow. The pacing was a bit up and down because it starts off with a lot of action then it pulls back for when they are trying to find ingredients for the cure – which is where things slow down but we do get to know the characters more. But it finishes with twists, betrayals, and makes me want to read book two right away. There are a lot of questions in the book about who is the real villain – is it the angels or the demons? They have been locked in war for so long and everyone is tired, but revenge and hate runs deep on both sides so how can they stop killing each other?

+~ Aurelie is a knight and her life is dedicated to killing demons but when her father starts turning into a demon she does anything and everything to find a cure, even bonding with a demon. Thing is, she’s also bound to an angel, Yuriel. Some of Aurelie’s actions were questionable but I get that her motivation was to save her father after losing so many other people in her life already.

+ There are so many fascinating characters in this story like Yuriel the angel with a past, Severin – a very mischievous demon who likes to sing and make wine, Illaria – the princess who was almost Aurelie’s sister in law, and Vex the little vesper who is a big help to Aurelie and Yuriel. I was invested in everyone and some of the interactions were so funny, because Severin is such a trouble maker and Vex was funny too.

+~ This is more fantasy than romance, there are some spicy moments and even some confusing moments where Aurelie is enticed by Severin but also feels admiration for Yuriel, so I’m not sure if this will be a love triangle or a why choose or what. Or is it heading towards a throuple? I have no clue but oh the possibilities!

Final Thoughts:

I enjoyed this one, especially the second half of the book! The audiobook was wonderful and all the narrators did a great job voicing the characters. There is action, a little spice, secrets, betrayal, knights, angels and demons. I can’t wait for book two!

Read if you like:

knights
war between angels and demons

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Wisteria by. Adalyn Grace | Book Review – 3.5 stars

Foxglove by. Adalyn Grace | Book Review – 4 stars

Belladonna by. Adalyn Grace | Book Review – 5 stars

Heart of Thieves by. Jessica S. Olson | ALC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating:

Title: Heart of Thieves (The Devious, #2)

Author: Jessica S. Olson

Pages: 384

Format: audiobook

Listening Hours: 12 hours (approx.)

Narrator (s): Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick; Emily Ellet

Publisher: Macmillan Young Listeners

Publication Date: 9/15/26

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

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

Thank you to Macmillan Young Listeners for giving me a chance to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review!

A cunning thief turns the tables on the feuding brothers who betrayed her in this thrilling conclusion to the Den of Liars Duology, perfect for fans of Powerless and Lightlark.

Lola St. James is trapped in a web of lies and deceit. But that only makes her more determined to find the truth. The truth about her past. The truth about her magic. And the truth about the curse that binds her to two warring brothers who she both hates and loves.

With the Liar’s Dice Tournament now only a painful memory, Lola dons a new alter ego, Nocturne, and creates her own elaborate game designed to lure both the Liar and the Thief into her clutches, certain this is the only way to give them a chance to break their curses.

But Lola is not the only one with plans for the brothers. When a powerful figure from their past comes back to haunt them, will Lola’s love be enough to hold them all together? Or will the lies they’ve told tear them apart forever?

Content Warning: death, violence, loss of body autonomy

This is book two in The Devious serious and I really loved book one, Den of Liars, and wanted to see what happened next in the story. The narrators did such a great job, the female narrator was practically acting out all her scenes, especially a dramatic one at the ending! I loved the sound of the male narrator also but at times I couldn’t distinguish when it was Nic or Enzo speaking.

The world building really goes more into the magic in this sequel and conclusion. We learn about Laurel, Nic’s first love, and I totally didn’t like her. She’s controlling Nic, and making him out to be someone he is not. Lola is trying to help break the brothers’ curse but she has to accomplish this by keeping secrets and trust with Enzo is already so shaky. I honestly wish I had the ebook to read while reading because a lot of the magic and world-building kind of went over my head.

I did like Lola’s relationship with Enzo which was strictly platonic and more of a found family vibe. Whereas it was clear her relationship with Nic was a romance. But Lola is barely with Nic in this book because he is stuck in Laurel’s clutches. Speaking of relationships, the brothers never got along because of their past but it does end cordially and happily for them. The other loose end in the story was Lola’s dad, the crime lord who is looking for her. Things are complicated there but there is closure.

Overall, I’d say this was a solid conclusion.

Final Thoughts:

This one was filled with secrets, lies, betrayal, and some very interesting magic and world-building. There was only a little bit of romance. The narrators were fantastic, but story-wise I don’t think this held my attention like book one did. I think it was a pretty solid conclusion though.

Read if you like:

Den of Liars (first book)
magic
found family

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Den of Liars by. Jessica S. Olson | ARC Review -4.5 stars/1 🌶️

Winterveil by. Ava Reid | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Winterveil

Author: Ava Reid

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 448

Publication Date: 9/15/26

Publisher: HarperCollins

Categories: Dystopian, Cold War, Dark Academia, Sci-Fi, Young Adult, LGBT+, 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 HarperCollins for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

There is no application process for Valeran Academy, but it boasts the brightest – and precociously criminal – students in the nation.

A disgraced politician from a powerful American dynasty.

A coldly brilliant strategist who will sacrifice anything to win.

A former pageant queen with a talent that could change the world.

A prodigious female soldier with an enigmatic past – and a dangerous secret.

With eerie war simulations, cutthroat competitions and foreboding new technology, Valeran trains its students to be elite assets in a Cold War that has dragged on for nearly a century. But as a sinister conspiracy takes shape and these four are drawn together for a mysterious mission, their loyalties are tested, their convictions shaken and they all begin to are they ushering in a new era of freedom, or tyranny?

Content Warning: violence, death, sexual harassment/assault, mentions of abusive parent

Set in 2037, the Cold War, with Russia (USSR) is still going on and USA is still trying find ways to win the war. Already I had to suspend my belief a lot, so I was wary about this book and didn’t think i would like it. But to my surprise, I could not put it down.

I like the different teenagers that are assembled at Valeran Academy to supposedly help end this war. They are misfits, some of them are criminals of a different variety, which made things very interesting. The main four characters are Nadiya, Giselle, Klaudia and Julian. They are all flawed which I enjoyed. I got attached to the three girls because they had fascinating backgrounds and skills. I loved Nadiya and Giselle’s growing relationship and I was drawn to Klaudia and her ice princess personality. Julian was at times detestable and I don’t know if that was on purpose but I don’t know that he can redeem himself in my eyes in the sequel. But I did like his rivalry with Klaudia.

Valeran Academy is a secret institute training the best of minds to help with the war efforts and they train students through simulations. They have other classes to round out their education but the simulations are what will ultimately help them with their missions. The kids are vying for top rankings so they can get a good job after graduation maybe with the CIA or other government sectors but the competition is fierce.

There were some instances that made me feel uncomfortable in the story, but I’ve noticed with the two books I’ve read from this author, that this is a common feeling while reading her books. It can get dark, for example there are teachers being inappropriate with the students. Or Julian and some of his thoughts about Klaudia, especially during a certain scene. It definitely gave the tone that Valeran Academy and the people that run it, though it is all for protecting the USA, have some sinister motives. Also, some of the aspects about the simulations did go over my head because we are in it with them, it seems so real, and I still don’t know how Giselle can do what she does – she doesn’t either so I’m hoping it will be explained more in book two.

Despite that, I flew through this book because of Klaudia and her intelligence, Nadiya and her protectiveness and Giselle with her rare skill or powers (not sure yet). I like the high stakes and puzzles as this team has to figure out their mission.

Final Thoughts:

This was a quick read for me, I really liked the pacing. And although I didn’t care much about the Cold War and what the government was doing to end it, I cared a lot about the characters especially Nadiya, Giselle and Klaudia. I think they are what made the book so enjoyable. They are complex and I admired their intelligence and what they brought to the table. They had different traumas, and fascinating backgrounds. Okay, I guess Julian is a part of the team with his charm, but there are things about him I just don’t like. The only part I did like about him was his rivalry with Klaudia. The story has high stakes, fierce competition, and some betrayal. I’ll definitely be reading book two to see how the story progresses!

Read if you like:

dystopian
dark academia
complex characters

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

A Theory of Dreaming by. Ava Reid | ARC Review – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A Study in Drowning by. Ava Reid | Book Review – ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pretty Savage by. Lexi Davis | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️.5

Title: Pretty Savage (The Order, #2)

Author: Lexi Davis

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 389

Publication Date: 9/10/26

Categories: Dark Romance, Secret Society, Series

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

Getting sucked into a secret society was bad.
Falling for its ruthless heir was worse.

Now I’m part of a secret society preparing to brand me, bind me to him, and turn our most intimate promise into a public ritual.

Carrson will destroy anyone who threatens me. But the enemy is no longer one man. It’s the world that made him, the father he can’t escape, and the secrets buried in my own blood.

To survive, I have to learn The Order’s rules faster than they can use them against me. I must decide which truths to hide, which alliances to risk, and how far I’m willing to go to claim a future with the man I love.

Carrson thinks he’s the dangerous one.
He’s about to discover I can be savage too.

Pretty Savage is an obsessive secret society dark romance with a ruthless, morally gray hero who is only soft for her, touch-her-and-die possessiveness, dangerous rituals, forced bonding, an us-against-the-world romance, and an increasingly powerful heroine. It is the second book in The Order series and should be read after Pretty Vicious.

Want more from this world? Read the prequel Pretty Ruthless, set thirty years before the events of Pretty Vicious. She’s an outsider on the hunt for answers. He’s the cruel, reluctant ruler who will one day become Carrson’s father. When these two collide, sparks fly and blood spills.

You’re not ready for what happens next.

Content Warning: violence, voyeurism, secret society/cult, death, abuse, knife play, drug use

+ This is part two in The Order series and it continues right where book one leaves off – Laurel is taken to the enemy, Silas. And yes he’s a scary drug dealer but I kind of liked him because he didn’t harm Laurel – also I want to know his story and it definitely ties into the Order. His drug is becoming a problem for The Order, so it will be interesting to see how it plays into this civil war taking place in the group.

+ We learn more about The Order, which is a secret society but I think it’s a cult. We get a little more of a brief history of Carrson’s ancestor. The way the Order raise their kids to be powerful members in society is disgusting and horrible, but it’s all for “the cause”, they are raising politicians, presidents, etc…so they have to basically abuse them to teach them how to be tough. But I love that Laurel’s outsider presence is encouraging the girls to take a good look around them and try to rise up. The ending was an interesting cliffhanger which has me curious to see what happens next. We also learn more about Laurel’s dad which was an interesting twist.

+ Carrson and Laurel are solid. They might have a fight or two but I love how they work things out and how they love one another. They are ride or die for one another and I’m just hoping they can break free from the chains of The Order. There is a pretty spicy scene in this one that includes knife play.

~ This is dark romance and The Order is basically a cult, so there is one scene where Carrson and Laurel have to consummate their bond in from of others. It’s ritualistic, archaic, and disgusting. I felt horrible for Carrson and Laurel throughout the whole story!

Final Thoughts:

I think this sequel moves the story along nicely but it does get darker in this one, to the point of grossing me out a little with the voyeurism. But I do love Carrson and Laurel’s romance – they are there for one another, through thick or thin. I’m also very happy to see some of the girls in the Order waking up to what is going on around them and it will be interesting to see them grow more in the next book. I found this one to be a quick read and I look forward to the next book!

Read if you like:

secret society
dark romance
dark themes

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Pretty Vicious: The Order by. Lexi Davis | Book Review – 3.5⭐️/2 🌶️

White Raven by. Stacey Marie Brown | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: White Raven (Messengers of the Realm, #1)

Author: Stacey Marie Brown

Pages: 405

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 9/1/26

Categories: Dark Romance, Dark Fantasy, Series

“Harbingers of enlightened, bringers of darkness. Givers of life, tellers of death…significance

flies on the backs of raven wings for those who dare to listen to its meaning. For we are the

Messengers of the Realm.”

The White Raven was born to bring magic to the dying realm.

One hundred and ninety-nine years ago the Blood War between the Ravens and the Leatherwings divided the land into Day, Night, and Dusk, cursing the land with the blood of the dead. Abandoned by Odin and his favored pets, Huginn and Muninn, the ravens were stripped of their wings, and their positions as Messengers of the Realm.

Her blood holds the power to heal the land and unite the kingdoms.

Wrennlyn Stallard, the King’s only daughter had lived a life of privilege, kept sheltered in the walls of Silvervale. But on the night of her betrothal, her world shattered when their enemy from the Night Realm kidnapped her, taking her across the snowy terrain into the treacherous land, called the Shadow Rift, the land between the Day and Night.

His mission is to take her to the Night King.

Onyx had waited months to seize her, purposely getting captured to work as a thrall for the Day King. Cold, ruthless, and burning with vengeance, he wasn’t prepared for the pampered, prophesized girl to be defiant, clever, and maddeningly impossible to break. Killing her would be easy, but her life is vital to a much bigger plan.

Because everyone knows…who has the White Raven holds the power.

Content Warning: violence, death, kidnapping, cannibalism, attempted rape

+ I could not put this book down. I read it in one day! I haven’t read a book from this author since the Savage Lands series (I didn’t read book 5 due to lack of time or awareness of it), but I loved that series. White Raven is as dark, but this time it’s inspired by Nordic mythology and culture. There are Nordic Gods mentioned, runes, a land divided by Day Ravens, Night Ravens, and Leatherwings (bats). I hope we learn more about the Leatherwings next! Wrenn and her captor travel across these lands, encounter so much danger and I loved the tension from start to finish.

+ Wren is the prophesied White Raven – on her 19th birthday, she will come into powers and cure the land. She’s a Day Raven and everyone wants to marry her, or own her in some way, shape or form. She’s 18, kidnapped, saw her best friend die, and is learning how wrong she was about things outside of her kingdom. I was rooting for Wren because at any time she could have saved everyone the trouble and ended her life and to hell with the prophesy but she stayed strong. The plot twist at the ending cliffhanger is so juicy, I was left shocked.

+ There are a few members in this cast of characters. I loved her best friend, Sarina. Onyx is the FMC, and we don’t learn his name until way later, for a good chunk of the book we know he’s a thrall (slave). But when we do learn about Onyx and his life as a Night Raven, I liked getting to know his friends and crew, especially Bjorn – I love him! There is also a cute creature, a groundling, named Munch who I loved also.

+~ In this dark book there is hardly any romance. Wren has her dalliances here and there at court, but things change when she is kidnapped and everyone wants to take her in violent ways. Onyx and Wren are true enemies to lovers – they hate one another with a passion, but they are also attracted to one another because of forced proximity. There is one spicy scene which was surprising because I thought there would be more – but I think it fit because they are trully enemies stuck in a precarious situation.

Final Thoughts:

I couldn’t put this down! It was fast paced and full of action! It’s also very easy to read. I loved the world building, the dark world, even the horror elements. I hope we get to learn more about everything. The romance is very enemies to lovers, so I don’t know how I feel about it for now until either of them breaks down to one another, but it makes my anticipation for book two that much more exciting. The ending is a cliffhanger so I can’t wait to read what happens next!

Read if you like: