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.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Predatory Natures by. Amy Goldsmith | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Predatory Natures

Author: Amy Goldsmith

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 432

Publication Date: 7/8/25

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Categories: Young Adult, Thriller, Contemporary Fantasy, Horror

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!

A teen girl’s dream job aboard a luxury train derails when she discovers the strange cargo being transported—a mysterious and beautiful greenhouse—but its flowering façade may hide deadly thorns beneath, in this atmospheric and lush novel from the author of Those We Drown.

Lara Williams is desperate to get away. When she gets a job working aboard the luxury train The Banebury for her gap year, she this is her chance to reinvent herself, after the incident that wrecked her relationships and her college prospects several months ago.

At first, the train is everything Lara expected—a five-star escape from her past, demanding customers and all. Even after she learns that her ex-friend, Rhys, who she definitely did not have feelings for before their relationship imploded, is one of her new coworkers, she’s determined to make things work.

But on the first night of their journey, the trip takes a strange turn when two mysterious carriages, filled with an array of beautiful and rare plants, are attached to the end of the train in the middle of the night. With them come a pair of siblings. Gwen and Gwydion are wealthy, Welsh, and alluring as they are odd–not to mention, incredibly protective of their botanical cargo.

The siblings claim the plants they’re transporting are for research, yet Lara can’t shake the feeling that there’s something…otherworldly about them. Something that calls to her, night after night, whispering in her dreams.

Soon, Lara will you can’t outrun your troubles. You have to grab them by their roots. And if she can’t dig up the secrets of the Banebury, they might just consume her whole…

Content Warning: plant horror, death, possessive relationship

+ I really like the setting of this luxury train on it’s way through Europe and Lara is working on the train meeting knew people and one person from her past, Rhys, is on the train also. They used to be close friends in high school until some things changed.

+ The setting of the train already lends a mystery to the story but then as more people leave and join the journey and Lara finds something in one of the cars – plants, she’s wondering what is going on. I liked the sense of suspicion around the people on the train and the different personalities Lara encounters. I found the plants fascinating and the Welsh mythology tied to it very interesting. As people start getting hurt and dying on the train, Lara and Rhys try to figure out what’s going on before it’s too late.

+ Lara has a history and there are flashbacks to it throughout the story because she’s on the train with Rhys who is a link to her past. Her story was a parallel to the mythology about the plants so I did like that. In those flashbacks, she’s dating a boy who changes her, molds her into what he wants her to be, is very possessive of her and we see how far Lara has come in her self journey.

~ The beginning was a bit slow because it’s setting the scene and we’re meeting all the workers and passengers on the train, but also because of the flashbacks. I didn’t mind it too much, but it did feel like the story moved slowly because of it. The flashback events do ramp up though and it coincides with what is happening on the train so I did like that.

Final Thoughts:

I enjoyed the luxury train setting and the mysterious siblings and the plants! I also did like how Lara’s personal situation and growth was a parallel with the Welsh mythology about the goddess of flowers. I think for a young adult thriller, this was enjoyable and if you like trains and some Little Shop of Horrors vibe, you’ll enjoy this one.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Den of Liars by. Jessica S. Olson | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️

Title: Den of Liars

Author: Jessica S. Olson

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 7/1/25

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Heist, Fantasy, Casino, Magic

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 & Friends for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A young thief attempting a daring casino heist during a high-stakes tournament is torn between two warring brothers in Den of Liars, a thrilling YA fantasy romance by acclaimed author Jessica S. Olson.

Lola St. James is the world’s best kept secret. When her father’s loss in the Liar’s Dice Tournament–a high-stakes competition where players are forced to gamble with their deepest secrets–made her a target, she was rescued by the Thief, the notorious leader of the Tentacles. But the Thief’s kindness came with a Lola’s heart. In the years that followed, she and the Thief formed a bond like no other, able to feel each other’s emotions because of their shared heart.

Now, living under the pseudonym Astra, she is determined to prove herself and become a full-fledged Tentacle. But when a critical heist goes sideways, the only way forward is for Lola to compete in the Liar’s Dice Tournament herself. Lola is confident in her ability to pull off any heist, but the Thief’s mysterious brother, the Liar, runs the game and he turns out to be more than she bargained for. As her attraction for him grows and illusions run wild, she will be forced to confront the secrets of her past, the truth of the brothers’ shared history, and the lies she tells herself.

Content Warning: violence

+ This story starts with a heist and ends with secrets coming unraveled and I had a great time with it! This is set in a casino which I found fun and dark. This is a world revolving around magic and secrets. The magic system is unique and there is a competition taking place to win an Unbreakable Lie. A game always makes things interesting!

+ Lola was saved by the Thief (Enzo), but now they have a mission to infiltrate the world of the Liar (Nic), so they can find the moonshard to break Enzo’s curse. Lola is a pretty good thief but even she isn’t strong enough to withstand some of the Liar’s magic or how much she comes to learn about him and desire him later on. I liked Lola, she was strong and wanted to prove her worth, but she’s also gone through some trauma. When she’s caught in the web of lies around her she has to make a choice on whether she wants to know the full truth. And that’s a hard choice to make. There is lots of growth for her from beginning to end.

+ Enzo and Nic are brothers but something major came between them and they hate each other. I loved getting to know these two different guys and getting a glimpse of their back story also. Enzo being the edgier of the two and addicted to thieving, and Nic who can weave a spell and make people love him with his lies. This is not a love triangle – I feel like it’s pretty obvious Enzo and Lola treat each other like siblings. Whereas Nic and Lola want each other but can’t be with one another because of mistrust, lies and Enzo.

+ It’s enemies to lovers and forced proximity but I really enjoyed how the story explored trust, lies and questioning who was manipulating who. It’s not spicy but there are some scene filled with heat and tension that was really good. Obviously, neither Lola or Nic, trust each other enough to take a chance on each other which is sad but I’m looking forward to see if that changes in book two (and I am assuming there will be one or else I’ll be crushed).

~ I would have liked more information about the magic and moonshard. We get a little bit of a backstory, very little. There is a lot more in this world to explore, like trying to find Laurel, Nic’s ex and someone important to the brothers finding this moonshard. Also, I’d like to know if Lola and her dad ever reunite and we can learn more about Lola’s past. Basically all of these things would give more information about the moonshard and magic so I hope we get that in book two.

Final Thoughts:

I read this one in two days. I got sucked into this magical, dark, casino world and the feud between two brothers, and Lola, a girl with a secret identity at the middle of the web of lies. I loved the tension in the romance between Lola and Nic and I hope there is a sequel so I can find out what happens next!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

BLOG TOUR} A Forgery of Roses by. Jessica S. Olson | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Embrace the Serpent by. Sunya Mara | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Embrace the Serpent

Author: Sunya Mara

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 6/24/25

Publisher: HarperCollins

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

The Serpent King has come to find his bride, and with his arrival festivities sweep through the city. Inside and outside the Rose Palace await women from across the six kingdoms determined to become his new bride-to-be—all except for eighteen-year-old Saphira.

After escaping life as a palace ward under the cruel djinn Lady Incarnadine, Saphira now works as the apprentice to the unscrupulous jewelsmith Galen. Out of fear of being discovered, she hides her rare gift for harnessing the magic in gemstones and lets Galen take credit for her craft.

But when Galen makes a boast that ruffles the court, Lady Incarnadine punishes him with an impossible task—one that threatens to drag Saphira back into Incarnadine’s grasp. Desperate to avoid this fate, Saphira strikes a dangerous deal with Rane, the enigmatic huntsman sent by the Serpent King to find the best jewelsmith in the empire.

Rane promises that if Saphira crafts a mysterious piece for his master, the Serpent King will grant her a new identity and freedom. But when their plans go awry and the only way out is to marry the Serpent King, Saphira becomes entangled in the dangerous affairs of kingdoms and empires—caught between the cunning, handsome Rane and her cold, serpentine husband.

Content Warning: violence

+ I didn’t know what to expect from this story but I was pleasantly surprise and I read it in one day. Saphira is a jewelsmith and I love her talent with the gems. She has a mysterious history that is revealed as the story moves along. But the Serpent King has come to town looking for a wife, or at least that is what the Rose Palace believes.

+ The world-building is not heavy, this is a light fantasy. I did want more world building about the different kingdoms but I think there was a general feeling for what was happening. This world is filled with djinn, golems, magic and different kinds of creatures. I actually enjoyed it and I especially enjoyed Grimney who is Saphira’s golem! He was so charming!

+ There is a marriage of convenience in the story and a little but of deception with the romance but I thought the romance was sweet by the end! There is no spice, and there is a very closed door scene but other than that this is a clean romance.

+ I actually can’t believe this is a standalone because it could have been a series if the world-building was heavier but it was kind of refreshing to have it be a standalone. I liked the happy ending!

~ Though I like that this is a light fantasy, but I also think it would have been nice to create more tension with Mirandel who knew Saphira in her past but they had a falling-out. They had some interesting interactions but I thought there could be more there in their storyline. It would be interesting to see a sequel about her actually.

Final Thoughts:

This book has magic, deception, a marriage of convenience, a cute golemn named Grimney and a sweet romance. I really enjoyed it and read it in one setting. I think for a light fantasy it was very enjoyable.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

All Paths Lead to Paris by. Sabrina Fedel | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: All Paths Lead to Paris

Author: Sabrina Fedel

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 6/17/25

Publisher: Delacorte Romance

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Coming of Age, Contemporary, Fake Dating

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!

When a fashion influencer with a luxe Parisian life and a fake musician boyfriend meets a “normal” guy and begins to date him on the sly, she must rethink all of her lies—and consider whether they might have a little too much truth in them.

Seventeen-year-old Aurie McGinley lives an envied life as a fashion influencer in Paris, sharing a manager with, and fake dating up-and-coming musical god Remy St. Julien. Girls throw themselves at Remy, but he’s always just been her best friend. She doesn’t have time for a real boyfriend.

Until she bumps into normal guy, Kylian, while fleeing paparazzi. Kylian is the type of guy her mother wants her to date. In fact, her family would rather she focus on school and getting into an elite college than showcasing the latest runway haute couture. Aurie begins to think Kylian is the guy for her, too.

She’s fake dating one guy, while actually dating another—all while keeping up a constant, live video diary. But then a fake kiss with Remy turns steamy and her head is scrambled. Could her best friend really be the one for her? Aurie must tune out everyone else’s expectations to focus on herself and discover what she really wants.

Content Warning: paparazzi

+ This young adult romance is set in Paris, and Aurie is a fashion influencer who documents her daily life and it is her rise to fame. She is fake-dating her best-friend, a famous musician named Remy. They got together to chase more fame but now she’s wondering what is happening to their friendship.

+ This is a really quick, light, fluffy read. I love the setting of Paris and learning about the education system and the tests they have to take. Of course the French food being featured in the book sounds delicious. The romance involves Aurie fake-dating two boys, until she dates one for real. But you can kind of tell where this story is going from the beginning and I did like that both boys were nice.

+ Aurie is trying to figure her life out. She’s a successful influencer but she still has parents who want her to attend college. But with parents who are divorced, one in America and one in France, she has to make some hard choices. She also can’t make those choices until she finishes the test that all highschoolers in France have to take, the Le Bac. But Aurie has a problem with learning math and has a disability called dyscalculia, which I never even heard of so I learned something.

~ The fake dating both boys occurs almost 60% into the book and doesn’t actually make me believe she has feelings for Kylian at all.

Final Thoughts:

I did like the author’s first book better than this one, but this one did have it’s charm and it’s set in Paris. This one is a cute, easy, light young adult romance.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

All Roads Lead to Rome by Sabrina Fedel | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Beautiful Maddening by. Shea Ernshaw | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Beautiful Maddening

Author: Shea Ernshaw

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 304

Publication Date: 6/3/25

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Categories: Young Adult, Contemporary Fantasy, 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 Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Shea Ernshaw comes a haunting romantic contemporary fantasy about a teen navigating her family’s love curse that blooms with their enchanted tulips every year.

Seventeen year-old Lark Goode wants only one to escape her small town of Cutwater and the history of her family name. It’s a history that began during the Dutch tulip mania of 1636, when Lark’s ancestor stole the last remaining tulip bulbs and fled to America. But when the tulips bloomed on American soil, madness sprouted from their snowy white petals.

The madness was love.

Now, generations later, the Goodes remain cursed—the unnatural flowers outside their home causing locals to fall helplessly in love with anyone carrying Goode blood in their veins. While her brother embraces the strange power, Lark wants nothing more than to be free from it.

But when she meets a boy who seems unaffected by the family curse, Lark finds herself falling headlong into a feeling she’s spent her whole life trying to avoid. Yet, all curses and magic come with a price, and the town of Cutwater soon sinks into a dangerous sickness tied to Lark and the ill-fated tulips.

To save the town, Lark will need to sacrifice everything—even true love—to break the spell. Because in the Goode family, love has a way of destroying everything.

Content Warning: parental neglect, trespassing, flood

+ This is a really interesting book that starts off with two teens who are twins, Archer and Lark. They live in a very small town and their family name is cursed because of the tulips that grow in their yard. Yes, magical tulips. Apparently the tulips have so much pheromone that anyone who is carrying the tulip will have people fall in love with them. It’s why Archer can get the girls he wants, it’s how he survives. It’s why Lark wants to leave the town and never look back because how can she tell how really loves her if the tulip draws people to her?

+ Lark meets a boy, Oak, who claims he is from another town over, and that the tulips don’t affect him. During Spring when the tulips are in bloom, the town is in a frenzy. The romance between Lark and Oak is insta-love and heavy but written beautifully because who isn’t scared and vulnerable when falling in love? The author captures all of it – the feelings, fear, not being sure, the questions, the push and pull, the running away, and the wanting. Questioning love was the whole point of the story. We see Lark and her aversion to love because how her parents left them. And with her romance with Oak, she doesn’t know if it’s the tulips or if it’s real. And is it love or obsession?

~ If you don’t like insta-love and angst you might not like this. It actually triggered memories of my first real heartbreak when I was young, but in a good way since I can look back without any bad feelings. So in essence, this story did it’s job in capturing young love and heartbreak and questioning what love is. I mean, who knows what it is in your teen years. But everyone at that age thinks they know.

~ The parents were just non-existent in this book. They left these kids to fend for themselves! Who does that? Addictive tulips or not…talk about parental neglect.

~ I would have loved to get more information about the family curse, and where it originates. Also the ending is an interesting choice for sure!

Final Thoughts:

Oh to be young and in love dealing with all the unknowns, fears and obsession. It’s not fun when you aren’t sure it’s reciprocated and to make matters worse, you add magic, potent tulips that enhances the feelings? Sounds like madness. I think the young adults will enjoy this one. It was a bit too dramatic for me, but I did love how the author captured the madness of falling in love.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

A Wilderness of Stars by. Shea Ernshaw | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Book Review: The Wicked Deep ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book Review | Winterwood ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Forgery of Fate by. Elizabeth Lim | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: A Forgery of Fate

Author: Elizabeth Lim

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 480

Publication Date: 6/3/25

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Dragons

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

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

A breathtaking romantic fantasy inspired by Beauty and the Beast about a girl who paints the future and a cursed dragon lord, bound by love and deception in a plot to bring down the gods.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Six Crimson Cranes!

Truyan Saigas didn’t choose to become a con artist, but after her father is lost at sea, it’s up to her to support her mother and two younger sisters. A gifted art forger, Tru has the unique ability to paint the future, but even such magic is not enough to put her family back together again, or stave off the gangsters demanding payment in blood for her mother’s gambling debts.

Left with few options, Tru agrees to a marriage contract with a mysterious dragon lord. He offers a fresh start for her mother and sisters and elusive answers about her father’s disappearance, but in exchange, she must join him in his desolate undersea palace. And she must assist him in a plot to infiltrate the tyrannical Dragon King’s inner circle, painting a future so treasonous, it could upend both the mortal and immortal realms. . . .

Content Warning: gambling debt, violence

+ I always expect this author to write a beautiful story and she never disappoints. Here we are again in a world of water dragons and it’s as magical as ever. There is even a cameo from someone in the Six Crimson Cranes duology so I think it’s safe to say this is the same world. A lot of this story takes place in the undersea which is so unique.

+ Truyan, or Tru, paints forgeries to help her family survive. But she also has the ability to paint prophecies and it’s this talent that gets her into a marriage of convenience with the Demon Prince who is actually not a demon but half human and half dragon. I love Tru, she’s quick thinking, loves her family, a bit sassy but filled with hope and strength.

+ The romance is a slow burn. Elang, is closed off, a grump, but he’s keeping some secrets and by the end their love story is an epic one. I loved them together and was rooting for them.

+ The story had a lot of action and the sea creatures like the turtles, were amazing characters. I even loved Shani who is the most infuriating, mischievous demon but definitely matches sass with Tru. I thought their reluctant friendship was so heartwarming (after from betrayal and secrets). I loved that Tru was a good person and didn’t give up on Shani, even after everything.

~ I felt the romance was too slow building – it was amazing by the end of the book but maybe a hint of Elang’s feelings earlier would have been nice because this is a standalone.

~ I love the world-building but maybe wanted a tad bit more in the undersea just to get a full grasp of the world.

Final Thoughts:

Elizabeth Lim’s novels are magical! I love the writing, the characters, the magic, the theme of family, and the slow building romance with it’s yearning at the end did crazy things to my heart. This is another wonderful book from this author and I look forward to everything else she writes next.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Six Crimson Cranes by. Elizabeth Lim | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Dragon’s Promise by. Elizabeth Lim | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Her Radiant Curse by. Elizabeth Lim | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Arc Review: Spin the Dawn (The Blood of Stars #1) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Unravel the Dusk (The Blood of Stars, #2) | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Wandering Wild by. Lynette Noni | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Wandering Wild

Author: Lynette Noni

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 330

Publication Date: 5/20/25

Publisher: Blackstone Publishing, Inc.

Categories: Young Adult, Survival, Adventure, Romance, Celebrity 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 Blackstone Publishing, Inc. for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

She hates him. He needs her. Can they survive when all they have is each other?

Zander Rune was the darling of Hollywood until he fell from glory and was labelled a problematic bad boy. His public image needs fixing—fast—or he’ll lose the role of a lifetime, and all his dreams with it.

Charlie Hart is a regular teenage girl who despises everything Zander represents. But thanks to her scheming best friend and an ill-timed social media competition, Charlie finds herself pretending to be Zander’s biggest fan on a four-day reality TV adventure led by renowned survivalist Rykon Hawke.

When their trip goes horribly wrong, Charlie and Zander are left stranded in the wilderness. No Rykon, no film crew, no rescue. The only way they’ll survive is if they trust each other. But in order to do so, both will have to let go of the ghosts of their pasts, and just maybe find themselves—and one another—in the process.

Content Warning: near death experience, near drowning, snakes, mention of drunk driving, mention of being drugged, mention of suicide attempt, death of parents, cancer, grief

+ I’ve been really enjoying books from this author – her writing style is easy to get into and flows so well. I like how there was a lot of action in this book and moments that were filled with so much tension.

+ Zander and Charlie have been through some trauma in their lives so being on this survival adventure bonds them even more though it doesn’t start of that way. Charlie doesn’t want to be on this trip but she’s doing it for her best friend, whereas Zander really needs this to change his Hollywood bad-boy image so he can get a role he is coveting. I liked seeing the journey of the relationship even though it’s only a 4 day adventure.

+ I love the themes of friendships and even the hardships both character have experienced. I like that the both of them have their own issues and this trip really pushed them quickly to face them. In the end they are better for it, but I love that Charlie has Ember and Zander has Summer and Maddox.

+ The romance isn’t a focus, which is nice, it’s sweet.

~ It is an insta-love story, I mean Zander and Charlie only know one another for 4 days! But they go through more than what couples do in 4 days, so I do think it’s believable that they could fall for one another that fast, especially after near-death experiences with one another.

~ The twist in the story didn’t leave me feeling happy for Zander or Charlie. I thought that really sucked for them. I’m glad they could get over it quickly but it sucked, even though Zander got what he wanted. Kind of wish that wasn’t glazed over so quickly.

Final Thoughts:

I found this to be a very entertaining read especially with the survival adventure going on and Zander and Charlie needing to stay alive because of unforeseen circumstances. I thought the romance was sweet and I love the theme of friendship. I think the author did a great job with her debut into contemporary young adult fiction and look forward to reading more.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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His Mortal Demise| Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice:

Title: His Mortal Demise ( The Last Bloodcarver, #2)

Author: Vanessa Le

Format: hardcover (owned)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 3/16/25

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy/Sci-Fi, Series, Romance

These Violent Delights meets Divine Rivals in the explosive finale to The Last Bloodcarver duology — with a riveting medical magic system and lush Vietnam-inspired romantasy world.

Kochin is a heartsooth — a rare being with the ability to heal any wound. Any wound, that is, except death.

Intent on defying nature and bringing Nhika back to life, Kochin keeps her body in a life-preserving casket and waits for a miracle. Stricken with grief and descending into madness, Kochin realizes the answer to his desperate quest can only lie in one place: Yarong, the lush yet battle-ridden island the first heartsooths called home.

Months later, Nhika wakes in a familiar manor-house, with Kochin nowhere to be found. As she traces his footsteps across Theumas, she discovers the haunting path he walked to bring her back, and a world changed by war.

When Kochin discovers the true and grisly way to resurrect a person from the grave, he must decide exactly how much he is willing to sacrifice, in order to reunite with the woman he loves…

Don’t miss this stunning dual-POV follow up to THE LAST BLOODCARVER, where morals will be tested, hearts pushed to the limit, and fates determined once and for all. Vanessa Le’s jaw-dropping sequel is a bloody and luscious spectacle to be devoured in one sitting.

Content Warning: violence, death, war

+ I loved The Last Bloodcarver and with the way it ended I knew I had to read book two. It picks up right after the events of book one which was pretty devastating. Nhika gave her life for Kochin and now he is trying to save her too but it looks like an impossible mission.

+ Kochin has changed after the events of book one and now with losing Nhika he feels like a madman who’s grieving her and yet not able to let go. He goes to war just to see if he can find a way to bring her back to life. He loves her so much and I felt heartbroken for him.

+ This does a happy ending but I was worried for a moment. I love when Kochin reunites with Nhika – they belong together and I just love their relationship so much.

~ There is war breaking out in Theumas and it’s where Kochin believes he has to go to find the answers to bring Nhika back to life but this is told in flashbacks and I didn’t love that, mostly because I don’t usually love flashback in most books. It got a little confusing until the story came together later on in the book.

Final Thoughts:

Overall this was a solid conclusion to this duology and I really enjoy how unique this story is with the heartsoothing. I love that we get to see Kochin’s journey through grief and madness until he is reunited with Nhika. I love them together. I didn’t love the flashbacks but I was satisfied with the ending. I look forward to reading more from this author!