A Spell to Wake the Dead by. Nicole Lesperance | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: A Spell to Wake the Dead

Author: Nicole Lesperance

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 8/26/25

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Categories: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Witchcraft, Cult, Romance

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

Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Two teen girls must uncover the dark, occult secrets lurking in their Cape Cod town to solve a series of murders—and save themselves from the same fate—in this twisty, witchy thriller.

When Mazzy and her best friend Nora sneak down to the beach one moonlit night to cast a spell, they don’t expect to find a dead body. But as the tide rolls in, it carries the remains of a woman who is missing her hands and teeth.

The girls know they should leave the investigation to the police, but they can’t shake the weird, supernatural connection they feel with the dead woman. Using spellwork and divination, they set out to find answers of their own. But after they uncover a rash of local disappearances stretching back years—and both girls start having occult visions and hearing ghostly, whispering voices—Mazzy worries that she and Nora are in danger.

Then, Nora finds a second body. And a whispering voice is telling her where to find more. With everything spiraling, Mazzy needs to figure out who to trust and how to sever this supernatural connection—or she and Nora might be the next bodies to wash up on the beach.

Content Warning: violence, murder, death, kidnapping, ritual, possession

+ Mazzy and Nora are best friends and dabble with witchcraft. One night they are doing a spell when they stumble upon a dead body, and then a few others. The girls try to make sense of going on and realize maybe they are next.

+ I loved Mazzy and Nora’s friendship (even with the challenges they faced), also their friend Elliot who Mazzy has a crush on. The story doesn’t focus on the romance, but I like how it’s woven in between the mystery and thrills happening throughout this book.

+ Some mysteries are too slow for me but I liked the pacing in this one because of the witchcraft and then the rumors about a cult in the town that could be behind the murders. The girls get tangled up in all of it and it’s fun to see where it all ends up! It was a nice blend of mystery, horror, suspense and thriller.

+ This book is atmospheric and set in Cape Cod. It captured the small coastal town feel, and even felt creepy especially with these bodies being found in the water. I just love how it blended the witchcraft and coastal vibes.

~ Mazzy already has a crush on Elliot when the book starts and it’s noted something was changed between them so it was just getting to the part of both of them admitting it. I did wish we knew a little more about Elliot because he is helping these girls a lot on figuring out this cult.

Final Thoughts:

This is the perfect book for the fall season when you are looking for something witchy and thrilling to read. I enjoyed it!

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

Once a Villain by. Vanessa Len | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating:

Title: Once a Villain (Monsters, #3)

Author: Vanessa Len

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 416

Publication Date: 8/19/25

Publisher: HarperTeen

Categories: Series, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Time Travel, LGBT+

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

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

The finale in the contemporary fantasy Only a Monster trilogy from Vanessa Len—which New York Times bestselling authors Holly Black, Chloe Gong, and Stephanie Garber called “delightful,” “captivating,” and “unputdownable”—will take Joan into the darkest timeline in the monster world, as she fights to restore the world she remembers.

Joan has failed to stop Eleanor.

Now, Eleanor rules over a cruel new timeline where monsters live openly among humans, preying on them and subjugating them.

Nick – once a hero to humans, and Joan’s first love – is tormented by the choice he made to save her over the timeline itself. And Aaron – the ruthless heir to a powerful monster family – now finds himself a world where monsters have power beyond imagining, while his feelings for Joan grow.

But, wrenched between love and rivalry, the three of them must negotiate their fractured pasts to survive the new world and restore what was lost. Because only they remember that there was once a better timeline.

To save the world they love, they’ll have to outmaneuver an all-seeing queen who controls time itself. Lethal consequences await any failure in this final breathless race against time.

Content Warning: violence

+ This is the conclusion to the Monsters series and we jump right into the story after all the events that happened in book two. Like the previous books, this story moves quickly, which I like! There are now in the timeline that Joan’s sister, Eleanor, has created and it’s a messed up timeline. Eleanor is Queen but there is electric cars and technology in a time that seems like it’s the 1600’s – so Joan and her friends have a goal to take down Eleanor and fix the timeline.

+ The found family of their friend group is back minus Tom but he reappears later in the story.

+ I always wanted more of Aaron Oliver in this series and it happens in this third book. He takes more of a roll since he’s the head of the family in this timeline.

+ There are some twists I was not expecting in this story and actually made my jaw drop because they kept happening one after the other in the last half of the book. But overall, I think most questions were answered and this was a solid conclusion!

~ It turned into a love triangle and one that was frustrating! Some things happen and immediately Joan is turning from one boy to another and I wasn’t happy with that. But things are resolved by the end of the story, not sure how I feel about it but all parties were happy so that’s what matters.

~ The ending is wild! There was one thing happening after the other at the end, and some of it felt rushed.

Final Thoughts:

This was a great conclusion to the series and I think most people who love the series should be happy with it. I like the fast moving pace, and having more of Aaron in this book. I think there were some parts in the end that moved too fast and it felt rushed but the twists did surprise me. Overall, I think this series was entertaining!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Never a Hero by. Vanessa Len | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Only a Monster by. Vanessa Len | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Theory of Dreaming by. Ava Reid | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating:

Title: A Theory of Dreaming (A Study in Drowning, #2)

Author: Ava Reid

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 416

Publication Date: 7/29/25

Publisher: HarperCollins

Categories: Dark Academia, Series, Fantasy, Romance, Politics, Young Adult

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

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

Return to the immersive, lush, and dreamlike world of the instantly bestselling dark academia fantasy A Study in Drowning as the aftermath of their first discovery pulls Effy and Preston on a final adventure and brings their haunting love story to its end in this stunning sequel and final book in the duology.

All stories come to an end.

Effy learned that when she defeated the Fairy King. Even though she may never know exactly what happened at Hiraeth, she is free of her nightmares and is able to pen a thesis with Preston on the beloved national fairy tale Angharad. She has finally earned a spot at the literature college, making her the first woman in history to enroll.

But some dreams are dangerous, especially when they come true. The entire university—and soon the entire nation—is waiting for her to fail. With the Fairy King defeated and Myrddin’s legacy exposed, Effy can no longer escape into fantasy. Who is she without her stories?

With Effy under threat, Preston is surprised to discover a rage simmering inside him, ringing in his ears like bells. He begins to dream of a palace under the sea, a world where he is king—visions that start to follow him even in waking.

As the war between Llyr and Argant explodes, Effy and Preston find themselves caught in the crossfire: Effy losing her dreams and Preston losing himself in his.

Are dreams ever truly just dreams?

Content Warning: violence, drug addiction, attempted drug overdose, mentions of child abuse/father-daughter incest

+ The dark academia setting is done really well in this series – especially if you like strictly academia (it’s a hit or miss for me, I have to be in the mood). Effy and Preston are students and very serious about their studies. Effy is immersed in her thesis but she still has her same insecurities about being at the university, and she delves deeper into a depression that Preston and those around don’t really see coming. Preston on the other hand is working with one of his teachers on dreaming but is also dealing with racism against him being half Argantian especially with a war between Llyr and Argant brewing.

+ Effy and Preston’s romance is so sweet but filled with so much angst and fears, especially for Preston who fears he will lose Effy. He is so protective of her.

+ I liked the themes of prejudice that Preston is dealing with because of his ethnicity and Effy dealing with sexism because she’s the only female in her classes. I like how Effy’s research has uncovered how a woman’s writing was overshadowed by a man. There are lots of themes to explore in this one.

~ It took me awhile to get into the story because I didn’t remember much of what happened in book one, but I finally got into it 30% in. It’s a lot of academia, both characters doing research on their own so at times I was bored. Also, the dreaming parts? At times I was confused, at times I was wondering what it had to do with everything.

~ There is mention of an incestuous, abusive relationship mentioned in a letter but still. It’s dark.

~ There is a lot of communication issues between Effy and Preston. I think they are sweet together but they could have helped one another if they talked to one another. I also think I expected more from Effy’s character. She’s smart, and she stayed in the class even when she really didn’t want to be there, she’s brave but she was also mentally declining.

Final Thoughts:

Effy and Preston was dealing with a lot of challenges in their personal lives and there are lots of dark themes that the book tries to tackle. Overall, it was a slow start, sometimes confusing, sometimes boring (because I was not in the mood for a very strong academia book) but I think Effy and Preston’s sweet, angsty love kept me reading.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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

Between These Broken Hearts by. Lexi Ryan | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️

Title: Between These Broken Hearts

Author: Lexi Ryan

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 464

Publication Date: 7/22/25

Publisher: Storytide

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Series, 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 Storytide for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Forbidden romance, mysterious prophecies, and the battle to save the fae realm come to a captivating conclusion in the #1 New York Times bestselling saga begun with Abriella in the These Hollow Vows duology and continued with Jas and Felicity in Beneath These Cursed Stars.

Princess Jasalyn has eleven days to live.

Jasalyn is facing the repercussions of a deadly bargain. Her life, and the future of the shadow court, are forfeit on her birthday unless she can stop the evil fae king Mordeus. She needs to face her greatest fears and find him before she runs out of time, but even after everything, Kendrick won’t let her face this alone.

Shape-shifter Felicity has vanished.

Felicity disappeared from King Misha’s dungeons, and her friends have been searching for her to no avail. But even if she’s found, Felicity will never be able to escape the oracle’s tragic prophecy for her and her family. In her lonely battle with fate, Misha is the last person she can ask to stand by her side, but the first one she’ll need.

Content Warning: violence, death

This is the conclusion to the These Hollow Vows series and I think it was a good conclusion which tied up lots of loose ends.

Jas is running out of time and they are all racing against time to try and figure out how to save her. She goes through so much in this book and she even tries her best to defeat the enemies alone but it’s obvious she can’t do that. I love her blooming relationship with Kendrick. They have both been tested and I was rooting for their love.

As for Felicity, she has a role in this prophecy about her being the one to kill her evil father – but the consequence is losing her brother Kendrick so she has some tough decisions to make. As for her romance with Misha, I was also rooting for them! I did want Felicity to stop discounting herself, because it’s a big issue between her and Misha. But I love both romance storylines going on. I am also glad Felicity gets to finally hear her real brother out, Konner.

Final Thoughts:

I thought this was a solid conclusion to this series! The loose ends are tied up, some of them with a sad ending, but there is so much love and hope as well. The trauma and growth Jas went through is amazing and Felicity’s growth and strength was admirable too. I enjoyed both girls’ stories and romances. If you loved the previous books in the series, I’m sure you will enjoy this one.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

These Hollow Vows | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

These Twisted Bonds by. Lexi Ryan | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Beneath These Cursed Stars by. Lexi Ryan ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Soul of Shadow by. Emma Noyes | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Soul of Shadow

Author: Emma Noyes

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 7/29/25

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Categories: Young Adult, Mystery, Urban Fantasy, Romance, Norse Mythology

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

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

Charlie Hudson just wants to get through junior year. Since the death of her twin sister two years earlier, she’s drifted through life, going through the motions at school and parties and even at home. The spark that once burned so brightly within her has all but flickered out.

Until her classmate goes missing in the forest, leaving nothing behind but a pair of shoes and strange symbols carved into a tree.

Drawn to the disappearances by forces she can’t explain, she finds herself investigating the mysterious, alluring newcomer in town, Elias Everhart. With piercing eyes and sharp wit, he dances around her questions, only intriguing her further. Elias has a secret. More than one.

But what Charlie doesn’t know is that those secrets will lead her to a place she never a world hiding in plain sight, made of magic, gods, and monsters – and a first love fated to fall apart.

In Emma Noyes’s Soul of Shadow, truths and temptations lurk in the darkness, and for Charlie, the only thing more dangerous than facing her past, is the boy with the power to change her future.

Content Warning: violence

+ There are missing kids in town and Charlie is curious about them when a new boy comes to town, Elias, and he starts getting close to her brother. When he explains he’s a creature from Norse mythology and he opens her eyes to it all around them, Charlie’s world is changed.

+ I did like the Norse mythology in this urban fantasy book. I thought Elias was an interesting character, a very mischievous. And I felt like the world building was dark and at the end filled witha lot of action. He’s a dark character but kind of easy to also fall in love with, which is what is happening with Charlie. But clearly he is not one to trust.

+ Charlie and her friends are going through high school and focusing on things like the homecoming dance when Elias shows up and throws Charlie’s life in disarray. But I like her friendship group and her issues with her older brother. I think this story would appeal to teen readers rather than adult YA readers.

~ When I first read this I kind of did not get how Charlie and her siblings being in the circus as kids tied into the missing kids at school and then Norse mythology. So I had to push through with the story and I am glad I stuck with it but I do think there was too much to follow in the beginning. Once Elias comes into the picture and the Norse mythology information comes through then it makes more sense.

~ The pacing is a bit uneven because it will slow down when Charlie is doing all this research on google about norse mythology. There is a lot to learn.

~ Like I said above, this would appeal more to younger readers so if you are not into young adult, this might not be for you.

Final Thoughts:

After kind of a confusing start to the book, I got settled in and the Norse mythology tying into the contemporary world really fascinated me. I think Elias is a great character because he’s an attractive and charming guy, but for sure he’s a character you couldn’t trust. I liked all the action at the end of the book and wonder what will happen next. I do think it will appeal to younger YA readers and yes the pacing was slow at some parts but overall I thought this was an entertaining read.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Love at Full Tilt by. Jenny L. Howe | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating:

Title: Love at Full Tilt

Author: Jenny L. Howe

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 7/22/25

Publisher: Delacorte Romance

Categories: Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult

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

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

In this joyful celebration of fandoms, whirlwind romance, and plus-size girls, love is the ultimate roller coaster ride.

Lia Baker has spent the last few months wishing time would stand still. Soon her friends will head off to college while she’s left behind, buried under her mom’s anxiety and working a job she doesn’t want. But life throws her for a loop when she wins a spot in the fiftieth-anniversary scavenger hunt at Fableland, a legendary theme park. The contest is a golden ticket to a world where her favorite stories come to life and a chance for her to write some new ones of her own.

Everything seems perfect, especially after she teams up with Mason, a cute rival who knows as much about Fableland as she does. Together, they’re unstoppable. But as Mason’s sweet smile starts to melt her focus, Lia realizes that she may have to choose between the future she wants to rewrite—and a love she hadn’t planned for.

Content Warning: fat-shaming

+ This was a cute young adult romance which takes place at an amusement park, just like Disneyland, and there is a competition for super-fans about the park. The winner can win $50,000 and Lia is determined to win it so she can choose her own future instead of the one her parents are pushing on her.

+ Lia is at this amusement park with her two best friends before they go to college. So I like the friendship themes that arise during this trip even if they are challenging issues for Lia and her friends, especially because Lia feels like they are leaving her behind. She’s also dealing with issues from home because her mom has anxiety and Lia being away from has triggered her much more. Lia is trying to figure out her future and her parents are assuming she already knows her path. Another issue that is brought up in the book is Lia’s weight – she’s plus-sized but is mostly confident in her skin until she gets heckled for it, which sucks.

+ The romance between Lia and another contestant, Mason, is really cute and it happens during a week. It is very much a whirlwind romance but I do like that the romance extends after the vacation!

~ I definitely think younger me would have loved this book more – teens will enjoy it!

~ I do think at times Lia came off a little bit selfish. Her friends went on the trip with her to have fun before they left for college and make memories, but Lia was on a mission to win this contest and they tried to compromise and it mostly worked out. But when they would argue, Lia made it seem like her friends weren’t being good friends.

Final Thoughts:

This story definitely brought many coming of age issues like friends going to college vs. you staying home, your dreams vs. your parents’ dreams, body-weight issues, friendship themes and all of this set at an amusement park. The competition was fun and this was a quick read. Overall, I thought this was a cute young adult romance.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Love Unmasked by. Becky Dean | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating:

Title: Love Unmasked

Author: Becky Dean

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 7/15/25

Publisher: Delacorte Romance

Categories: Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult

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

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

From the author of Hearts Overboard comes a swoony mystery-filled romance in which a girl on a school trip to Venice gets swept off her feet by a mask-wearing stranger…but does she know him already? Lose yourself in the masquerade—because sometimes, the greatest adventure begins when you unmask your heart.

People pleaser Evie Whitmore can’t believe her art and architecture class trip has brought her to Venice—home of gondolas and crumbling palazzos, and the inspiration for both her art and her hidden passion, Elven Realms, a series of novels set in the very city she’s about to explore.

Rumors about an underground Elven Realms fan club swirl, and Evie, wearing a costume and mask, sneaks out at night to find it. There’s no way she can tell anyone what she’s doing—not her friends, and certainly not Gabriel Martinez, the bad boy loner she’s been partnered with on the trip.

But Evie’s not the only one on this clandestine quest. She collides with someone else in disguise—a stranger whose eyes hold secrets. He calls himself Angelo, and he too loves the novels. Venice is a labyrinth, and as they unravel clues together, their connection deepens. Who is Angelo, really? And who does Evie want him to be?

Content Warning:

+ Evie is on a trip in Venice, Italy with her art class but she has another ulterior motive for being there which involves her favorite novel series, Elven Realms. Everything is going to plan until she is paired up with the new guy, Gabriel Martinez, who doesn’t seem to like her at all.

+ This one was a little predictable but I did love the setting of Venice, Italy and Evie wearing a mask around the mysterious and romantic city, trying to find clues about an Elven Realms event.

+ The romance was cute, he’s grumpy and she’s sunshine. This one is definitely for the teen readers and young YA crowd.

~ This story was a little bit too young for me. This one is definitely for the teen readers and young YA crowd. Also I kept wondering how she couldn’t recognize Gabriel behind the mask. They spent basically all day together!

Final Thoughts:

My favorite thing about this book was the setting of Venice, Italy. How nice to be on a class trip there. Overall, I think younger young adults would enjoy this one.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Of Flame and Fury by. Mikayla Bridge | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating:

Title: Of Flame and Fury

Author: Mikayla Bridge

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 416

Publication Date: 7/15/25

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Dystopian

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

Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

On an island built from ash and shrouded in fire, phoenix racing is a sport just as profitable as it is deadly.

Seventeen-year-old Kel Varra and her team of underdogs, the Crimson Howlers, are desperate to win the annual races and the fortune that comes with it. But the Howlers need a new rider, which leads Kel to join forces with Warren “Coup” Coupers – an arrogant rival she can’t get out of her head.

As tensions rise on and off the track, Kel’s home is mistakenly burned down, and she’s forced to take a job from a mysterious tech mogul with an unsettling interest in her phoenix, Savita. This sets in motion a conspiracy that threatens everyone Kel cares for, especially Coup, for whom her embers of resentment are quickly igniting into something dangerously new.

Heart-pounding pages full of steamy romance, fiery confessions, political scheming, and volatile magic culminate in a final twist readers will never see coming.

Content Warning: injuries, violence

+ My favorite thing about this story is the phoenixes and how they are used in racing competitions. Kel’s phoenix Savita, is the only thing she has now after the death of her father, and her bond with Savita is special even though phoenixes are creatures to show affection. I felt like the little Savita gave to Kel was a lot compared to how phoenixes are portrayed and I loved how that was enough for Kel.

+ I also enjoyed the found family trope in this story because Kel doesn’t really have anyone except Savita and her friend Dira. Their found family grows when Coup and his brother Bekn joins the team even though there is animosity between Kel and Coup.

+ The romance is not the main focus but I like how it goes from dislike to like. Coup has the charmisma and Kel is the grumpy one. They are forced to pretend they have a budding romance for the press, but behind closed doors and behing Kel’s animosity they train together and learn more about one another. I was rooting for them and wish there was more time to explore their feelings but I was kind of broken hearted for them at the end.

+ This story is faced paced because of the action-packed phoenix races which I enjoyed a lot! There is high stakes which adds to the tension in the story and some secrets too. Also there is a twist I wasn’t expecting.

~ The world building is interesting but sometimes confusing. It’s a fantasy but more like a dystopian world…I think? That’s how it feels like when reading it because of the tech that they use so would that be sci-fi? It’s hard to put into a category. Also out of the blue comes these rebels – a group that want phoenixes un-collared and to fly free. I think we needed more information about them.

~ Is there a sequel because of that ending? This needs a sequel!

Final Thoughts:

This book is fast-paced, action packed, fun but filled with danger, secrets, and phoenixes. I liked that Savita is a wild phoenix and not easily controlled even though she is collared. The found family and romance had me invested and I really hope there is a sequel after that ending. I did have minor issues with it like needing more world-building but I enjoyed reading this story regardless.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Love Spells Trouble by. Nia Davenport | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Love Spells Trouble

Author: Nia Davenport

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 7/8/25

Publisher: Bloomsbury YA

Categories: YA, Romance, Contemporary Fantasy, Witches

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

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

You Should See Me in a Crown meets Black girl magic in an enchanting romcom about a reluctant witch caught up in a fake dating scheme.

Witches and humans have always had issues. Cayden is well aware of that: Her witch mom was shunned by her high-society family when she fell in love with a Cayden’s human dad, and now her family bakery is in trouble due to wealthy witches gentrifying their neighborhood. So when Cayden realizes she unknowingly went on a date with witch it-boy Khy Carter, it feels like things can’t get any worse. But then her father’s bakery has an influx of new customers hoping to get a glimpse of Khy’s new girl, and a solution to her family’s problems appears: Cayden absolutely cannot be with a Coven boy, but that doesn’t mean she can’t pretend to. The two start fake dating to save her family’s business, but even though she’s doing this for her family, Cayden knows she’s also betraying them. Her parents may have put love before everything else, but is Cayden willing to do the same?

+ This book is set in Houston, Texas but witches are part of the community. Cayden is half witch on her mother’s side. I really enjoyed the world-building because it felt normal that witches was part of this contemporary world. Cayden’s dad, a non-witch, runs a bakery and her mom runs an animal rescue which already gave me good vibes. How wholesome is a family that runs a bakery and an animal rescue? It definitely appealed to me!

+ Cayden meets a handsome young man, Khy (Mekhi), and they hit it off well. I love the sparks between them but when she finds out he is basically rich, witch royalty she tries to push him away but they’ve been caught in photos so now the press thinks Khy and her are dating. They aren’t but then they come up with a plan to help her dad’s bakery business by agreeing to fake date and have that attention help with that. I love Khy! I thought their love story was sweet, I was definitely rooting for them!

+ I love the theme of family in this book. Cayden is close to hers but her grandparents on her mom’s side had shunned her parents when they got married just because her dad was not a witch. Cayden has a nice extended family with cousins, grandparents (dad’s side) and uncles and aunts and I related to that a lot!

+ This was a quick read, which I also enjoyed! It flowed nicely.

~ There wasn’t a big emphasis on the powers of the witches. There were some demonstrations here and there on their abilities but it wasn’t a main focus and I think that was fine.

Final Thoughts:

For a young adult romance I thought it was super cute and I loved that this community of witches mixed in with non-witches felt so normal. The romance was sweet and the family themes were nice. It’s a quick, wholesome and heartwarming story perfect for ya and teen readers.