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.
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.
Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly bookish meme originally created by Rukky @ Eternity Books and hosted by Aria @ Book Nook Bits, where every Friday, bloggers write discussion posts based on a weekly prompt and Dini @ dinipandareads has cohosted since the beginning of 2025.
This week’s topic is:
July 18: Reading Beyond Books
Prompts: What do you read other than books? Do you like non-novel forms of literature, like poetry and plays? Do you read a lot of news articles, op-eds, or essays? Do novels make up most of your reading, or is it a mix of those other kinds of writing? Do you ever listen to podcasts in place of audiobooks?
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What do you read other than books? Do you like non-novel forms of literature, like poetry and plays?
😬 Blogs! Um…does Twitter count?! lol…and email? Or mail? Once upon a time I liked poetry but I never read plays unless it was Shakespeare back in school
Do you read a lot of news articles, op-eds, or essays?
I do! If I find a link on social media and want to read more about the topic. I’ve read my sons essays to double check them! lol. I read a lot of stuff my daughter writes.
Do novels make up most of your reading, or is it a mix of those other kinds of writing?
Yes I only read novels these days.
Do you ever listen to podcasts in place of audiobooks?
I have no patience for podcasts and I barely have patience for audiobooks lol…but I have FINALLY listened to more than one audiobook in one year (this year).
July Topics:
July 4: Duologies vs. Trilogies
Prompts: Do you prefer duologies or trilogies, and why? What are the pros and cons of having two books vs. three books in a series? What are some of your favourite duologies and/or trilogies? Do you think there are benefits to these shorter series, compared to ones with 4+ books, or are fewer books limiting?
Prompts: Has the hype ever ruined a book for you? Has the hype ever made a book better for you? Do you like lesser-known reads, and finding a gem of a book that no one’s heard of? Or do you prefer to read the more popular, mainstream books? Where are the majority of the books you read, in terms of popularity?
July 18: Reading Beyond Books
Prompts: What do you read other than books? Do you like non-novel forms of literature, like poetry and plays? Do you read a lot of news articles, op-eds, or essays? Do novels make up most of your reading, or is it a mix of those other kinds of writing? Do you ever listen to podcasts in place of audiobooks?
July 25: The Elusive 5-star Read
Prompts: What makes a book a 5-star read for you? Do you give books 5 stars easily, or are you more selective with them? What are your all-time favourite “can’t-live-can’t-breathe-without-them” 5-star reads? Is there anything that makes a book automatically 5 stars for you? Or the opposite — what makes you drop to 4 stars?
The last Let’s Talk Bookish topic was about book hype, and I just wanted to showcase the latest books I read because of BookTok’s influence. I know these are hyped books, and there was a chance they weren’t going to appeal to me, but I always get so curious about hyped books! The same goes for books that are ranked low; I am too curious to find out why. Here are some of the latest books I read because of BookTok and what I thought of them.
Brynn has spent the better part of her life waiting for the chance to attend the annual market hosted by the Kenta, the very same people who exiled the Alaha to live a life over the sea. A rite of passage for all young guards, she’s not sure what to expect from it, but breaking a century- long peace treaty certainly isn’t on her map.
Neither is the encounter with an enemy soldier.
Returning home to Alaha, she’s confronted with the aftermath of the day’s events. The future is uncertain as the threat of hunger looms over the people. With rumors of a growing rebellion, Brynn and her closest friends promise to stick together.
When an unexpected visitor arrives, Brynn’s loyalty will be tested as she learns of a world of magic and treachery. Once her enemy, always her enemy, right? But the dark, knowing eyes of a stranger make her question everything…
…including her heart.
MY THOUGHTS: Gave this one 3 stars. The plot twist was what everyone was flabbergasted by on booktok so I had to see what the hype was about. As a romantasy, this is a fun read, but a bit choppy with the pacing and I had to reread some parts because I felt like I had missed something. As for the plot twist – I didn’t love how it was done. Will I still read the sequel? Yes, I gotta see how the author is going to explain that plot twist. My Review – Metal Slinger by. Rachel Sneider | Book Review
When a princess is kidnapped by an alpha , war rages between the humans and the wolves. But soon, forbidden attraction starts to grow. . .
Princess Aurora longs to escape the castle and the marriage that has been arranged for her.
But on the night before her wedding, at a dog fight where captured werewolves are made to fight for sport, she spares the life of a young wolf. It puts her on the radar of the powerful alpha who was going to kill him. And it changes everything.
That night, when the alpha escapes, he kidnaps her and takes her to the rugged lands north of the border — where the once warring werewolf clans are beginning to unite. He thinks that she is the key to winning the war against the humans.
Only, as they spend time around one another, forbidden attraction starts to grow. And as Aurora learns that not all wolves are bad, the alpha discovers that she is in danger from both his enemies, and those he once considered friends.
With monsters on both sides, a bloodthirsty war between humans and wolves raging, and undeniable passion growing between them — will their story end in love? Or tragedy?
And will Aurora ever get home?
Does she even want to?
MY THOUGHTS: The hype hasn’t been super huge with this one but I’ve seen it on KU and saw it here and there on booktok. It was someone in my blog comments that mentioned they were reading it and said it was good so I decided to try it and gave it 4 stars! I loved it! It’s a romantasy so there isn’t anything original but I loved the werewolves, the politics, and Blake. I liked the ending so much I borrowed book two right away on KU and kept reading! My Review – The Wolf King by. Lauren Palphreyman | Book Review
Aurora is caught between powerful alphas as they fight for the Wolf Throne. But darker forces are rising. . .
The highly anticipated sequel to The Wolf King. Pre-order now!
Aurora may have survived the Wolf King. But his bite marks her skin, and in accordance with Wolf Law, that makes her his property. Now, he wants her back.
To beat him and take his throne, Aurora and Callum must form a dangerous alliance with one of the most feared Wolves in the Kingdom, Blake. He is their enemy, but he has entangled his life with Aurora’s—meaning she cannot harm him without forfeiting her own life.
As she fights to break their connection, she suspects Blake is keeping secrets about a dark power that rises in the north, and the unsettling nature of the bond between them. It seems there is a bigger game at play than who sits on the Wolf Throne—one that threatens both the Kingdom of Wolves, and the Kingdom of Men.
With her wolf awakening, enemies closing in, relationships tested, and secrets revealed—Aurora may be the only one who can stop an ancient evil from rising.
If she can figure out who to trust.
If she can figure out where she, and her heart, belong.
If she can stay alive.
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MY THOUGHTS: Devoured this one but it’s only 4 stars because it needed more of Aurora and Blake together (and not only in the dreamscape). She’s still with the other guy and I’m bummed about it! Blake is a 5 star in my eyes lol…I’m obsessed with him and can’t wait for book 3! My Review – The Night Prince by. Lauren Palphreyman | Book Review
Enigma, a twisted Hades and Persephone meets scorching dark academia romance—a tale of love and obsession between two rivals.
There are secrets she must uncover. There are secrets he must keep.
Salem Salazar is fascinated with death. The black sheep of her scandal-ridden, wealthy family, she arrives at Mortimer University as a legacy on the hunt for answers about what happened to her perfect, older sister. There, she discovers that her sister is far from the only girl to have gone missing at Mortimer. Salem will do anything to discover what dark forces are killing Mortimer’s students…even if it means using herself as bait.
And Cazimir van der Waal has caught her scent. The mysterious artist and teaching assistant has a dark past, a hidden agenda, and a ravenous appetite for a beautiful, golden-eyed girl who seems determined to risk her life.
Where she is ice, he is fire. Where she is organization, he is chaos. Where she is precision, he is passion. Together they are explosive–their fates linked as secret societies and death stalk them both.
Enigma is a sensual, epic love story for those who also crave the frightful, the puzzling, the suspenseful, the dangerous and the dark.
Welcome to Mortimer.
MY THOUGHTS: Definitely borrowed this one because of booktok! Gave it 3.5 stars, I actually enjoyed it. It’s more romance focused but I wanted more about the secret societies and the murders. My Review – Enigma by. RuNyx| Book Review
What do you get if you mix Harry Potter with Fourth Wing, Zodiac Academy, a dash of Arthurian legend, and lots and lots of vampires? Bloodwing Academy.
I didn’t sign up for this.
A half-fae in a school of highblood vampires? That’s a recipe for torment.
I’m Medra Pendragon—last of the dragon riders, or so they tell me. Funny thing is, there are no dragons left. Not a single one. But somehow, that hasn’t stopped the vampires from deciding I’m worth capturing. Now I’m stuck at Bloodwing Academy, where the highbloods run everything and blightborn like me? We’re just blood in their veins, pawns in their games.
But that’s not even the worst part. Enter Blake Drakharrow. Cold, arrogant, and way too gorgeous for his own good. He’s been tormenting me since the moment we met, and now, thanks to some ancient ritual, we’re betrothed. He acts like he owns me, but I’m not going down without a fight.
Bloodwing isn’t just a school—it’s a battlefield. Highbloods fight for power, and if you’re weak? You’re dead.
Between deadly competitions, lies that could get me executed, and a dragon-shaped secret looming over my head, all I have to do is survive. Easy, right? Except I’m starting to think the real danger isn’t the academy—it’s what I’m becoming in this twisted game of power.
And Blake? He might just be the one who pushes me over the edge.
They think they can control me. They think they can use me.
But they have no idea what they’ve awakened.
MY THOUGHTS: This is a very hyped book on booktok so I read it and gave it 3 stars. I actually was going to DNF because of how it starts – kind of confusing, but I pushed through. Didn’t love the romance and actually wish the FMC would end up with someone else! Also thought there was a lot going on. Didn’t love it but could see some potential. My Review – On Wings of Blood by. Briar Boleyn| Book Review
At Bloodwing Academy, blood is currency, but a dragon’s legacy is priceless—and as dangerous as fire.
I thought surviving my first year in Bloodwing’s deadly halls would be enough. I was wrong.
I accidentally woke a dragon—a creature of myth, of death, of fire.
Now every highblood house wants control over me and the dragon’s legacy I carry. But here’s the truth: I have no control. I’m bluffing my way through every encounter, trying to keep everyone from realizing that I’m not the one pulling the dragon’s strings.
And then there’s Blake Drakharrow. I thought he was on my side, that I might even be able to trust him. But he betrayed me. Now I’m his only blood source. How messed up is that? In a place like Bloodwing, where power and survival are everything, this bond may well be the death of us both. Unless I can find a way to end it.
In this world of vampires, dragons, and lies, there are no happy endings. Just legends—and the darkness it takes to make them.
MY THOUGHTS: Okay this…I just didn’t like but I did give it 2.5 stars, rounding down though – I do not like Blake as the love interest at all. (Is Blake a popular name for guys in Romantasy right now? Because he’s the second Blake I read of this year!) On the fence if I will read book three – maybe I’ll read reviews and spoilers before seeing if I want to pick it up. My review – The Bond That Burns by. Briar Boleyn| Book Review
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Have you read any of these books? Are you on Tiktok? Are you part of booktok? I think it’s a great way to learn about new books from indie authors or new releases that aren’t featured on IG or bookstagram. So far I’ve had some hits and misses but it’s been fun seeing what books people are raving about on there!
Categories: Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Political Intrigue, Dark Academia, 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 Del Rey for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
A woman who wields magical tarot cards lands herself in a false engagement with the headmaster of a mysterious academy in this first installment of an enthralling romantasy series from the bestselling author of A Deal with the Elf King.
Clara Graysword has survived the underworld of Eclipse City through thievery, luck, and a whole lot of illegal magic. After a job gone awry, Clara is sentenced to a lifetime in prison for inking tarot cards-a rare power reserved for practitioners at the elite Arcana Academy.
Just when it seems her luck has run dry, the academy’s enigmatic headmaster, Prince Kaelis, offers her an escape-for a price. Kaelis believes that Clara is the perfect tool to help him steal a tarot card from the king and use it to re-create an all-powerful card long lost to time.
In order to conceal her identity and keep her close, Kaelis brings Clara to Arcana Academy, introducing her as the newest first-year student and his bride-to-be.
Thrust into a world of arcane magic and royal intrigue, where one misstep will send her back to prison or worse, Clara finds that the prince she swore to hate may not be what he seems. But can she risk giving him power over the world-and her heart? Or will she take it for herself?
Content Warning: violence, death, grief
+ I haven’t read an Elise Kova book in awhile, but I had to read this one because of it’s premise. Tarot card forgery, magic, and an arcana academy sounded very intriguing!
+ In this world of Arcana, a deck of cards is all you need to fight and defend yourself and Clara is talented in making tarot forgeries which is illegal. And it ends her up on the most notorious prison, Halazar. Clara has a second chance now, posing as the second prince’s fiance and attending Arcana Academy. While she’s there working with him to execute his plans of changing the world, she’s also trying to find her sister Arina, who was at the academy and has disappeared. I thought the setting of Arcana Academy was lush, dark, mystery and even opulent for a school. Clara makes some new friends and enemies.
+ I found the magic of the tarot card deck really fascinating! Also throughout the story, Prince Kaelis has a plan to steal some Major Arcana cards from his father, the king, so at some parts of the story it felt like a heist, which I thought was fun and engaging. I also liked the politics. There is still so much secrecy about some of the characters in this book that I hope will be revealed in book two. Also there is a found family trope.
+ The romance was full of tension but I didn’t feel it was a main focus of the book for awhile. Prince Kaelis has an agenda and though Clara is helping him to keep herself from going back to prison, she doesn’t fully trust him either but is definitely attracted to him. He is the misunderstood, brooding prince with a bad reputation, but he is also headmaster at Arcana Academy. The attraction grows between them – reluctantly, since they are enemies, but by the end they do become lovers. There is some spice, where clearly they choose to keep this relationship casual and physical but I think that works out fine since Clara has a lot going on.
~ The story is under 600 pages, but I did read it in two days. The pacing is slow but not in a way that I got too bored. I was steadily curious throughout. I think there was so much information about how the tarot magic worked that sometimes it tended to get info-dumpy and I still was confused about some things because I felt like I needed actual visuals of these cards. But I was also equally fascinated and wanted to learn more!
~ The romance though fun at moments, wasn’t a lot. I wish Kaelis and Clara had more interactions. Clara is really focused on her studies, finding her sisters, and trying to forge cards for Kaelis.
~ There is so many more secrets to be revealed and there is a cliffhanger ending. So now I will be eagerly waiting impatiently for book two!
Final Thoughts:
I thought this was a really good start to a new series and I found the magic system fascinating even though sometimes confusing. I enjoyed the enemies to lover romance, the politics and the found family and I’m always a sucker for a dark academia book. The cliffhanger ending makes me eager for book two!
Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Politics, Werewolves, Romantasy, Enemies to Lovers
Aurora is caught between powerful alphas as they fight for the Wolf Throne. But darker forces are rising. . .
The highly anticipated sequel to The Wolf King. Pre-order now!
Aurora may have survived the Wolf King. But his bite marks her skin, and in accordance with Wolf Law, that makes her his property. Now, he wants her back.
To beat him and take his throne, Aurora and Callum must form a dangerous alliance with one of the most feared Wolves in the Kingdom, Blake. He is their enemy, but he has entangled his life with Aurora’s—meaning she cannot harm him without forfeiting her own life.
As she fights to break their connection, she suspects Blake is keeping secrets about a dark power that rises in the north, and the unsettling nature of the bond between them. It seems there is a bigger game at play than who sits on the Wolf Throne—one that threatens both the Kingdom of Wolves, and the Kingdom of Men.
With her wolf awakening, enemies closing in, relationships tested, and secrets revealed—Aurora may be the only one who can stop an ancient evil from rising.
If she can figure out who to trust.
If she can figure out where she, and her heart, belong.
If she can stay alive.
Content Warning: violence, mentions of torture, death, whipping
+ I read this book right after book one because of that ending! This take off right after the events of book one.
+ Aurora is still caught in the middle of everything but one relationship gets even more muddled. The one with Blake. Blake is sarcastic, total red flags, he’s not morally grey – he’s morally black, he is manipulative. But he’s the only one who tells her anything, he’s the one who wants her to push and fight back. I’m obsessed!
+ Book one was a enemies to lovers with Callum because he is the “enemy” as in the werewolf, but he’s a really good guy and I can see why Aurora adores him. There was no fighting between them. But the true enemies to lovers (the kind filled with hate) is between Aurora and Blake. Their bond is made closer and they both eventually see the dark side of one another and that’s why I love seeing their relationship grow. He’s fighting it and she’s disgusted by it…but it is inevitable and I hope they are end game. I don’t really want this to be polyamory because I feel like Callum deserves a Queen by his side, but I don’t think it is Aurora.
+ I did figure out one of the big reveals, sort of early in this book but it’s okay because I still think the moment when it happens is epic. I’ve been waiting for Aurora’s character to grow and she pushes back much more in this book, but she also retreats inside herself many times – she is growing though. But the other reveal in the story was a shocker to me.
+ So many things happen at the end of this book, that I was hoping book three would be coming out SOON but I have to wait until 2026. Also, I love all the new people we meet like Lochlan, Jack – I wonder if there will be spinoffs for any of these characters?
~ The love triangle feelings are heightened and complicated in this one and there is a lot for Aurora to work out. Callum has been protecting her so well and that is his nature, but Aurora needs to grow so there is a lot of turmoil between them as she tries to find her place in this new world of werewolves.
~ My biggest issue with this book? I wanted more Aurora and Blake! There is a lot of Aurora and Callum but I wanted more of Blake. Yes, he is manipulative but in this book we learn more about what happened to him in the past. And I liked getting to know him in his lands. There is also a lot of dreaming parts I think to make up for the fact that Aurora and Blake don’t get to spend much real time together since she is still with Callum. But their bond grows through these dreams…I just wish they didn’t have to dream so much and they can be together more outside of it.
Final Thoughts:
I’m addicted to this series, and I’m not ashamed to say I think it’s because of Blake. I should want Aurora to be with good, protective, kind Callum – but of course instead I want her to end up with the really messed up, hot, sinister, manipulative wolf.😅 There is just something about this series: werewolves, kilts, and Scottish accents (and no I haven’t listened to the audiobook but since they are wearing kilts, these guys have Scottish accents in my head lol). It’s fun! I might just have to re-read this book a few times until book three gets released!
Categories: Romantasy, Friends to Lovers, Enemies to Lovers
Brynn has spent the better part of her life waiting for the chance to attend the annual market hosted by the Kenta, the very same people who exiled the Alaha to live a life over the sea. A rite of passage for all young guards, she’s not sure what to expect from it, but breaking a century- long peace treaty certainly isn’t on her map.
Neither is the encounter with an enemy soldier.
Returning home to Alaha, she’s confronted with the aftermath of the day’s events. The future is uncertain as the threat of hunger looms over the people. With rumors of a growing rebellion, Brynn and her closest friends promise to stick together.
When an unexpected visitor arrives, Brynn’s loyalty will be tested as she learns of a world of magic and treachery. Once her enemy, always her enemy, right? But the dark, knowing eyes of a stranger make her question everything…
…including her heart.
Content Warning: violence
I’ve been seeing this book on booktok but saw it Kindle Unlimited before – I heard that a traditional publisher was picking this book up so I downloaded to see what the hype was about.
+ The beginning was good and I was definitely hooked. I was intrigued by these group of people who have been exiled from land. In Alaha, their home is an island without land. So I thought that was really interesting! Brynn is training to be a guard and is almost finished. To top it off, her best friend, Kai, who is also the son of the leader of their people, wants to marry her. All should be good until something happens that puts their people in danger of starvation.
+ The magic system is interesting. People have elemental magic. But you need land to activate and use magic.
+ Brynn seems like a strong and beautiful female. She’s good with a sword and as the story moves on we find out things about her past like she has magic and that her family is still alive. Without spoiling the story because there is a plot twist that changes what I think about Brynn/Jovi, let’s just say she is unexpected.
+ Brynn has crushed on Kai since they were young so that’s a friends to lovers match there. But then she meets Acker. He is the typical dark haired, hot, mysterious, guy who embodies danger and all that (he’s good at killing)…and he has metal magic. He also fills the gaps of her missing memories about her childhood because he knew her as Jovi. They get to know one another and there is desire between them. I thought they fell too fast for one another but I blamed it on the bond they have. There are some spicy scenes between them.
~ There is a lull in the middle of this book. For awhile, Brynn/Jovi and Acker is floating in the middle of the ocean trying to find land. They get to know each other but not much is happening. Even when they get to land, I don’t feel like the world-building was strong. There are kingdoms with a fragile peace treaty and Acker and Jovi being on these lands trying to get to Kenta (Acker’s kingdom), threatens the peace. But I wanted to know more about these kingdoms.
~ I liked Acker and Jovi’s growing relationship but I did feel something was missing because it was moving so fast. Did she really just dismiss her feelings for Kai so suddenly? Acker fell fast and hard for her too. I wanted build-up, but because they are Matched and have a bond, so it’s undeniable? I wanted more of an emotional connection but I wasn’t feeling it.
~ The plot twist. This is what all the hype is about with this book…so let’s talk about it. It comes with a sudden flashback at the end of the book during a build to a climactic moment but though I felt stunned, it felt kinda off, and I was confused. The way it’s executed means a lot of things happens off page, and we, the reader don’t get that information. It also paints Jovi in a very different light than how I saw her throughout the book – which is the goal, I guess? But it leaves me with SO many questions that won’t be answered until the next book or not? We shall see, maybe now I don’t trust the author since she didn’t trust me?😅 Throughout this whole book there is no show of motivation for her to do what she did at the end – it’s a whole secret until then, she’s lying the whole time. And fine, I don’t mind being lied to for shock value, but make it make sense. I like a good unreliable narrator but Brynn/Jovi is not that, doesn’t even give us a hint that she’s unreliable. The were just a few indications that did give me pause in the book and maybe foreshadowed this was going to happen – I questioned how fast she fell for Acker but chalked it up to insta-love and also, wondered why with her at the border of her kingdom, she wouldn’t go right away and see the mom she hasn’t seen in forever.
Final Thoughts:
If you are a high-fantasy reader, go into this one with low expectations. If you love romantasy and all the usual tropes, you will enjoy this one. You kind of have to go with the flow with this one and not think too hard on connecting dots. I was half and half on this one. I knew it was a romantasy with a lot of hype – so I wanted to see what the hype and plot twist was about. The plot twist had potential but I did not like how it was executed. I did like the beginning when the story is set with the characters, and the world of Alaha, but then there is a lull in the middle as our main characters are floating on the sea trying to find land. Pacing wise, this felt choppy. I had to re-read some parts a few times in the book because I felt like I missed something.
Will I read book two? Yes, I think I will read it because I want to see what happens to Brynn/Jovi and Acker after that wild ending. There is a snippet at the end of the ebook for book two, and it looks like it takes place after a few years have passed, so I think that’s interesting. But when I read book two I will go in with trust issues. 😅
The idea is pretty simple, every week you dedicate a post to the three W’s:
What are you currently reading?
What have you just finished reading?
What are you going to read next?
Going to Vegas on Friday so I’ve been just getting things ready for my family to babysit my kiddos and our dog! Not looking forward to the weather in Vegas but I think we’ll be staying mostly indoors anyway. Looking forward to Lady Gaga!
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Please check out her website for more TTT topics!
This week’s topic is:
Books with Honorifics in the Title
(“…an honorific is a form of address conveying esteem, courtesy or respect. These can be titles prefixing a person’s name, e.g.: Mr., Mrs., Miss, Ms., Mx., Sir, Dame, Dr., Cllr, Lady, or Lord, or other titles or positions that can appear as a form of address without the person’s name, as in Mr. President, General, Captain, Father, Doctor, or Earl.” For more info, click here.) (Submitted by Joanne @ Portobello Book Blog)
July 1: Freebie/Throwback (Come up with a topic you’d like to do or go back and do an old topic you missed or just want to do again!) July 8: Books I’d Like to Re-read (Share either your favorite books that you enjoy re-reading or books that you’d like to read again!) (Submitted by Becky @ Becky’s Book Blog) July 15: Books with Honorifics in the Title (“…an honorific is a form of address conveying esteem, courtesy or respect. These can be titles prefixing a person’s name, e.g.: Mr., Mrs., Miss, Ms., Mx., Sir, Dame, Dr., Cllr, Lady, or Lord, or other titles or positions that can appear as a form of address without the person’s name, as in Mr. President, General, Captain, Father, Doctor, or Earl.” For more info, click here.) (Submitted by Joanne @ Portobello Book Blog) July 22: Books Set in/Take Place During X (Pick a place, time, era, etc. Examples: Books set in Europe/Italy/Australia/Chicago, books set in Regency England, books that take place during the 1900s, books set in imaginary worlds/post-apocalyptic/dystopian worlds, books set on the ocean, books set it castles, books that take place during WW2, etc.) July 29: Beach/Beachy Reads (Share books you’d take to the beach OR books that take place at the beach.) August 5: Genre freebie (Pick any genre you’d like and build a list around it. You can even narrow the topic if you’d like, such as: thrillers with unreliable narrators, fantasy romance with fae characters, or historical romance with suspense elements.) August 12: Books Guaranteed to Put an End to Your Book Slump (Which books would you recommend to someone (it’s me, I’m someone) dealing with the dreaded book slump? No book is grabbing their attention or making them excited to sit down and read and they are suffering for it.) August 19: Books with a High Page Count (Share those doorstop books!) August 26: Non-bookish Freebie (The sky is the limit here. Make a top ten list on any topic of your choosing, bookish or not!) September 2: Books With Occupations in the Title (Submitted by Hopewell’s Public Library of Life) September 9: Villains (favorite, best, worst, lovable, creepiest, most evil, etc.) September 16: Literary/Bookish Candles I’d Make (Pick a book and assign it a fragrance or fragrance combo that would make a nice candle.) (Submitted by Heather @ The Frozen Library) September 23: Books on My Fall 2025 to-Read List September 30: Book Covers that Give off Fall Vibes (Or, if you’re not a cover person, share the books in general that feel like Fall.)
Juliette Calloway lives in a world of luxury, legacies, and lies. The daughter of Rosebrook Falls’ most powerful family, her life is a carefully crafted performance, and she’s tired of being polished to perfection.
Roman Montgomery doesn’t exist. Not officially, anyway. He’s a shadow, a hidden weapon, the secret heir to an empire soaked in danger and a generations-old feud.
When their paths cross, sparks fly. No names. No pasts.
Just reckless smiles and an undeniable chemistry neither of them can shake.
Roman is charming. Mysterious. Infuriatingly flirty.
And Juliette? She’s simply…his.
When Roman is called back to claim his place as heir to the Montgomery empire, the truth crashes down: Their families are sworn enemies, and Roman’s very existence is a threat. Their love isn’t just forbidden, it’s impossible.
Now, every kiss feels like a betrayal. Every stolen moment a risk. And in a town built on secrets and blood, their passion might just be the most dangerous thing of all.
*Burning Daylight is a Contemporary Romance. It features mature themes and content that may be triggering for some. Reader Discretion is Advised. For a full list of content warnings, check the author’s website.*
This is a story about hunger. 1532. Santo Domingo de la Calzada. A young girl grows up wild and wily—her beauty is only outmatched by her dreams of escape. But María knows she can only ever be a prize, or a pawn, in the games played by men. When an alluring stranger offers an alternate path, María makes a desperate choice. She vows to have no regrets.
This is a story about love. 1827. London. A young woman lives an idyllic but cloistered life on her family’s estate, until a moment of forbidden intimacy sees her shipped off to London. Charlotte’s tender heart and seemingly impossible wishes are swept away by an invitation from a beautiful widow—but the price of freedom is higher than she could have imagined.
This is a story about rage. 2019. Boston. College was supposed to be her chance to be someone new. That’s why Alice moved halfway across the world, leaving her old life behind. But after an out-of-character one-night stand leaves her questioning her past, her present, and her future, Alice throws herself into the hunt for answers . . . and revenge.
This is a story about life— how it ends, and how it starts.
When Ophelia Winters accepts a scholarship at a prestigious Scottish university to prove that her parents’ death was the fault of Cain Green, an American aviation tycoon, her plan is simple; keep her grades up and her head down. The last thing she wants is to wind up in a mafia war or step on the toes of royalty.
Her plan gets off to a rocky start when the mysterious man that almost kills her on her first day turns out to be Cain’s eldest son. As far as she’s concerned, Alex Corbeau-Green is a younger version of his billionaire father. A monster hiding beneath a beautiful facade.
Loneliness has been Ophelia’s only dependable companion for years, but when anonymous threats and mysterious occurrences start to haunt her time at Sorrowsong, she wonders if she really can survive there on her own.
Between being paired together for a project and ending up as each other’s alibi for a murder, avoiding Alex becomes increasingly impossible. She begins to fall for the soft heart that hides beneath his hard exterior.
Tormented by a malicious stalker and growing closer to Alex, Ophelia’s desperation for revenge wavers for the first time. Can she really bring herself to pull the trigger on Cain now that she knows the family it’ll split into two? __________
Dark Academic Romance – Enemies to Lovers – Slow Burn – University Setting
This work is dark in places and contains several triggers throughout. Please heed the warnings before reading.
In the Finnish wilderness, more than wolves roam the dark forests. For Siiri and Aina, summer’s fading light is a harbinger of unwelcome change. Land-hungry Swedes venture north, threatening the peace; a zealous Christian priest denounces the old ways; and young women have begun to disappear.
Siiri vows to protect Aina from danger. But even Siiri cannot stop a death goddess from dragging her friend to Tuonela, the mythical underworld. Determined to save Aina, Siiri braves a dangerous journey north to seek the greatest shaman of legend, the only person to venture to the realm of death and return alive.
In Tuonela, the cruel Witch Queen turns Aina’s every waking moment into a living nightmare. But armed with compassion and cleverness, Aina learns the truth of her capture: the king of the underworld himself has plans for her. To return home, Aina must bargain her heart—as Siiri plots a daring rescue of the woman she loves the most.
In this sweeping fantasy adventure perfect for fans of Katherine Arden, Naomi Novik, and H.M. Long, hope and love can conquer even death itself.
*********
The first book in The Night Ends with Fire series.
Infused with magic and romance, this sweeping fantasy adventure inspired by the legend of Mulan follows a young woman determined to choose her own destiny—even if that means going against everyone she loves.
The Three Kingdoms are at war, but Meilin’s father refuses to answer the imperial draft. Trapped by his opium addiction, he plans to sell Meilin for her dowry. But when Meilin discovers her husband-to-be is another violent, ill-tempered man, she realizes that nothing will change for her unless she takes matters into her own hands.
The very next day, she disguises herself as a boy and enlists in her father’s place.
In the army, Meilin’s relentless hard work brings her recognition, friendship—and a growing closeness with Sky, a prince turned training partner. But has she simply exchanged one prison for another? As her kingdom barrels toward destruction, Meilin begins to have visions of a sea dragon spirit that offers her true power and freedom, but with a deadly price.
With the future of the Three Kingdoms hanging in the balance, Meilin will need to decide whom to trust—Sky, who inspires her loyalty and love; the sea dragon spirit, who has his own murky agenda; or an infuriating enemy prince who makes her question everything she once knew—about her kingdom and about her own heart.
Past Midnight Book Reviews & More 