Filthy Rich Fae by. Geneva Lee | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Filthy Rich Fae (Filthy Rich Fae, #1)

Author: Geneva Lee

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 392

Publication Date: 6/25/24

Categories: Romance, Urban Fantasy, Series, Enemies to Lovers, Paranormal

“You made a bargain…
Your soul for his—and now, you are 
mine.”

Cate Holloway knows the unspoken rule of New avoid the powerful Gage crime family at all costs. Of course, that was before her brother got caught in their chaos. Now 

Cate has no choice but to confront the dark and forbidding prince of New Orleans himself and beg for her brother’s life.

But Lachlan Gage is as lethal as he is beautiful…and the only currency he’s interested in is her soul.

Because Lachlan isn’t just some ruthless criminal. He’s fae. And he has his own secret reasons for binding her to him.

Tricked and desperate, Cate is torn between humanity and the breathtaking Otherworld. A place filled with shadows and secrets, with members of each fae court plotting against her just as her captor’s motives for trapping her become more mysterious.

And if she can’t break this sinister bargain in the next thirty days, she’ll be bound to the inscrutable yet infuriatingly tempting fae prince and his deadly world…forever.


Content Warning: violence, mentions of sexual assault/rape

I saw this book on Kindle Unlimited, loved the cover and also wanted to read something with Fae and so I borrowed it. Here are my thoughts:

Likes:

+ Pleasantly surprised that this was an urban fantasy set in New Orleans! There is just something so dark and mysterious about New Orleans and I can definitely see vampires, fae, and all the other monsters living there.

+ I like Cate and her need to help people even though she barely has anyone in her life. She is an orphan who was passed around in foster care and got close to Channing who is now her brother. She tries her best to look out for him but his choices in life has gotten him trouble with the Gage family, who run New Orleans.

+ The cast of characters are great! I like that even though Lachlan Gage is a dangerous man, he has a dysfunctional family who Cate gets kind of close to, especially with his sister.

+ The romance is the slowest burn ever and I will say I thought with a title with the word “Filthy” in it, I thought it was going to be super spicy but it actually wasn’t! That was surprising, but there was spice but I found it pretty mild or not as detailed as I thought it would be. But I did love the connection that was growing between Cate and Lachlan, even with all the drama happening around them, and the slow burn between them. Their banter was fun and I love how she never backed down with him.

+ Love the twist at the end and look forward to book two!

Dislikes:

~ Just wanted a little more spice! It’s a closed door kinda story.

Final Thoughts:

I think this hit the spot for what I was craving for at the moment which was an urban fantasy story with a sexy Fae, lots of banter, some Fae politics, found family, and a MC with a secret background. All the tropes I love in one place! I’ll definitely be reading the next book.

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Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

WWW Wednesday | 10/16/24

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam over on Taking on a World of Words.

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?

Well, Fall break has come and gone and oh it was nice to sleep in and just relax. Can you believe Halloween is in 2 weeks? Which means it’s almost November, which means it’s almost my birthday (which is right before election day – yay me – talk about anxiety for my birthday! lol). But that means it’s also almost Christmas – which means…my husband comes home for good! 😅 It’s been quite a 2 years of parenting alone but you know what? It’s also an accomplishment and I’m like, YEAH, I DID THAT! Yay for me! As I tell my kids all the time, you can do hard things and yes I tell myself this all the time when I’m feeling frustrated or discouraged.

Anyway…what have I been reading – take a look!

What are you currently reading?

Stranger Skies by. Pascale LaCelle – 8% – finally started back reading this one! Will be finished this week I hope.

The Games Gods Play by. Abigail Owen – 20% – I’ll get to this one when I finish some arcs.

The Whispering Night by. Susan Dennard – 11% – will be working on this one too this week!

Dating and Dragons by. Kristy Boyce – 6% – hoping to finish this one soon!

A Queen’s Game by. Katharine McGee – 2% – just started this one!

Dark Water Daughter by. H.M. Long – 7% – I’m determined to finish this one before I have to return it!

What have you just finished reading?

What are you going to read next?

What are you reading right now?

Wisteria by. Adalyn Grace | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Wisteria (Belladonna, #3)

Author: Adalyn Grace

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 419

Publication Date: 8/20/24

Categories: Romance, Fantasy, Series, Enemies to Lovers, Gothic, Young Adult

#1 New York Times bestselling author Adalyn Grace delivers a sensational conclusion to the deathly and decadent Belladonna trilogy, with dramatic twists and a seductive new romance that will set readers’ hearts ablaze. 

Blythe Hawthorne has never let anyone tell her what to do—not society, not her overprotective father, and certainly not the man she’s bound herself to, no matter how rude and insufferable he is. In fact, she’s determined to be a thorn in his side for the rest of her days, even as he ensures that her life in his palace is anything but a fairytale. But as Blythe discovers a new side of herself linked to his past, she’ll have to decide if she’s willing to let an unexpected spark ignite…and to discover the truth about who she really is.


I really enjoyed the first two books of this series and definitely wanted to continue the story. Also how could I resist this book cover? It’s one of the prettiest book covers this year! I finally finished the book and here are my thoughts:

Likes:

+ Blythe and Aris take center stage in this story. There is so much animosity between them, it’s amazing they both can stand to be in the same room together. Aris is such a grump though, I could see why Blythe was frustrated with him all the time.

+ The story is beautifully written – from the world building, the setting and just how the characters are fully fleshed out. We already know Blythe from when she was introduced in the other books but this is her story. I love how strong her character is even with an illness.

+ The love story is tragic and bittersweet. There are some moments of heat between them but very few.

Dislikes:

~ I think their love story is too tragic, which is fine – I mean the love between Fate and Life is sad. But I wanted more romance between Blythe and Aris since they spent most of the book fighting and hating one another. Especially because I love how much they hated one another – I wanted the payoff but I didn’t feel satisfied.

~ I didn’t love Chaos but that is what “chaos” does, it disrupts everything but still, I just didn’t love the ending.

Final Thoughts:

I’m a little bummed this one fell short of my expectations but I think the whole series overall is great. Blythe and Aris deserved a story and I think that Fate and Life finding each other again and again is beautiful and bittersweet.

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Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read By This Author:

Belladonna by. Adalyn Grace | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Foxglove by. Adalyn Grace | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

New Book Releases This Week | 10/15/24

Happy book birthday to these new releases! Check out this list today:

A Winter Wish by. Emily Stone

When an unexpected inheritance forces two total opposites to work together, Lexie must decide if Theo is going to push her out—or pull her in for the kiss of a lifetime—in this heartwarming holiday novel from the author of Always, in December and One Last Gift

When Lexie learns of her father’s death, she doesn’t know how to feel; they’ve barely spoken in the last ten years. And she’s even more confused when she discovers he’s left her half of his holiday travel company, a successful niche business specializing in trips that explore the holiday traditions of cultures all over the world.

Meanwhile, the other half of the company has been left to her father’s handsome but bad-tempered young executive, Theo. And the will stipulates that the two of them must find a way to run the company together for a year before they decide its fate.

Lexie intends to leave once the year is over, even though, as a wanderer herself, she finds the company’s mission more compelling than she first thought. And a work trip to sizzling Spain reveals a chemistry between Lexie and Theo that is impossible to deny.

There may have been some snap judgments made about each other. But mixing business and pleasure isn’t always a good idea.

Goodreads | Amazon


Bull Moon Rising by. Ruby Dixon

The special first edition hardcover will include a gorgeous, shimmering jacket with effects, brilliantly illustrated four-color endpapers, striking and detailed-stained edges, and a beautiful foil-stamped case.

In a world of magical artifacts and fantastical beings, a woman determined to save her family joins forces with an unlikely partner, in this steamy romantasy by USA Today bestselling author Ruby Dixon.

As a Holder’s daughter, Aspeth Honori knows the importance of magical artifacts . . . which is why it’s a disaster that her father has gambled all theirs away. Now that her family is in danger of losing their hold—and their heads—if anyone finds out the truth, Aspeth decides to do something about it. She’ll join the Royal Artifactual Guild and the adventurers who explore ancient underground ruins to retrieve the coveted arcane items.

It’s a great plan—with one big problem. The guild won’t let her train because she’s a woman. Aspeth needs a chaperone of some kind. The best way to get around this problem? Marry someone who will let her become an apprentice. Who better than a surly guild member who requires a favor of his own? He’s a minotaur (it’s fine) who is her teacher (also fine) . . . and he’s about to go into rut (which is where it gets tricky). He also has no idea she’s a noble (oops), and he’ll want nothing to do with her if he discovers her real identity.

Now Aspeth just has to pass the guild tests, thwart a fortune hunter, and save her hold—oh, and survive a rut with her monstrous, horned husband, whom she might be falling in love with.

It’s time to dig deep. Literally.

Goodreads | Amazon


Tangleroot by. Kalela Williams

Noni Reid has grown up in the shadow of her mother, Dr. Radiance Castine, renowned scholar of Black literature, who is alarmingly perfect at just about everything.

When Dr. Castine takes a job as the president of the prestigious Stonepost College in rural Virginia, Noni is forced to leave her New England home and, most importantly, a prime internship and her friends. She and her mother move into the “big house” on Tangleroot Plantation.

Tangleroot was built by one of Noni’s ancestors, an enslaved man named Cuffee Fortune―who Dr. Castine believes was also the original founder of Stonepost College, and that the school was originally formed for Black students. Dr. Castine spends much of her time trying to piece together enough undeniable truth in order to change the name of the school in Cuffee’s honor―and to force the university to reckon with its own racist past.

Meanwhile, Noni hates everything about her new home, but finds herself morbidly fascinated by the white, slaveholding family who once lived in it. Slowly, she begins to unpeel the layers of sinister history that envelop her Virginia town, her mother’s workplace, her ancestry―and her life story as she knew it. Through it all, she must navigate the ancient prejudices of the citizens in her small town, and ultimately, she finds herself both affirming her mother’s position and her own―but also discovering a secret that changes everything.

Goodreads | Amazon


I Was Told There Would Be Romance by. Marie Arnold

For fans of Never Have I Ever and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before comes a hilarious and heartfelt YA contemporary about a young Haitian girl navigating high school, friendship, and crushes. Fifteen-year-old Fancy Augustine is a Haitian American girl with simple desires. She’d like to trade in her floppy, oversize boobs for cute, perky ones. She’d love a boyfriend. And she’s desperate for an invite to the biggest event of the school Imani Park’s birthday party. When Fancy learns her BFF, Tilly, has received a coveted invite and has a secret boyfriend, she is (understandably) devastated and wholeheartedly determined to do whatever it takes to get her own happily ever after.

So what if she makes a deal with the devil (Imani) that guarantees her an invite—but only if she can bring a boyfriend? And what’s so bad about letting her crush, Rahim, believe that she can create a voodoo potion for him in exchange for him posing as her boyfriend? And, yeah, maybe she’s destroying her friendship with Tilly and falling hopelessly behind in her schoolwork, but Fancy knows it’ll all be worth it in the end. Plus, it’s not like Fancy’s parents would really make good on their threats of sending her back to Haiti…right?

Goodreads | Amazon

Are you getting any new books this week?

Happy Reading!

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Books With a Creepy House | TTT | Top Ten Tuesday | 10/15/24

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 I Was Assigned to Read in School

Books With Creepy House

The topic today was Books I Was Assigned to Read in School but there was nothing in school that stuck with me except maybe the usual Lord of Flies and Catcher in the Rye and Shakespeare but that’s about it. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Hatchet Girls by. Diana Rodriguez Wallach | ARC Review – Lizzie Borden’s house 🪓

Do you like spooky house books? I love it even though sometimes it creeps me out a little too much – but I like the thrill of it! lol

What’s on your TTT?

Find me here: Instagram (bookstagram📚) | Twitter (X) | Etsy (shop)


Top Ten Tuesday Topics:

SEPTEMBER~~
September 3: Books Involving Food (That are Not Cookbooks) (Submitted by Cathy @ WhatCathyReadNext and Hopewell’s Public Library of Life)
September 10: Books That Provide a Much-Needed Escape (bonus points if you tell us why!)
September 17: Ten Characters Authors Surprisingly Redeemed (which characters did you not like at first, but grew to love by the end of the book?) (submitted by Deanna @ A Novel Glimpse)
September 24: Books on My Fall 2024 To-Read List

OCTOBER~~
October 1: Books I Read/Avoided Because of the Hype (and did you make the right choice?)
October 8: Bookish Brags (or Confessions!) (what are you proud of or… not-so proud of in your bookish life?) (submitted by Lydia @ https://lydiaschoch.com)

October 15: Books I Was Assigned to Read in School (These can be books you loved or hated. Or just tolerated. Bonus points if you give us a tiny review of your thoughts!)
October 22: How My Reading Habits Have Changed Over Time (submitted by Lydia @ https://lydiaschoch.com)
October 29: Halloween Freebie

Stacking the Shelves | 10/14/24

I’ve seen Stacking the Shelves on a few blogs and I decided to do it to replace my book haul posts because, why not? It is hosted by Reading Reality and this is how the meme is described: Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! And audiobooks. Don’t forget audiobooks!so go check out her blog!”

Book Purchases – (ebook or physical)

Why are books so expensive? lol…I bought nothing these past few weeks. Plus I really need to what I have on my kindle and shelf!


Library Haul – (physical and online library):

Reckless by. Lauren Roberts

The kingdom of Ilya is in turmoil…

After surviving the Purging Trials, Ordinary-born Paedyn Gray has killed the King, and kickstarted a Resistance throughout the land. Now she’s running from the one person she had wanted to run to.

Kai Azer is now Ilya’s Enforcer, loyal to his brother Kitt, the new King. He has vowed to find Paedyn and bring her to justice.

Across the deadly Scorches, and deep into the hostile city of Dor, Kai pursues the one person he wishes he didn’t have to. But in a city without Elites, the balance between the hunter and hunted shifts – and the battle between duty and desire is deadly.

Be swept away by this kiss-or-kill romantasy trilogy taking the world by storm.

>>I finished reading this one and gave it 3 stars<<

**********

Dark Water Daughter by. H.M. Long

A stormsinger and pirate hunter join forces against a deathless pirate lord in this swashbuckling Jacobean adventure on the high-seas.

Mary Firth is a Stormsinger: a woman whose voice can still hurricanes and shatter armadas. Faced with servitude to pirate lord Silvanus Lirr, Mary offers her skills to his arch-rival in exchange for protection – and, more importantly, his help sending Lirr to a watery grave. But her new ally has a vendetta of his own, and Mary’s dreams are dark and full of ghistings, spectral creatures who inhabit the ancient forests of her homeland and the figureheads of ships.

Samuel Rosser is a disgraced naval officer serving aboard The Hart, an infamous privateer commissioned to bring Lirr to justice. He will stop at nothing to capture Lirr, restore his good name and reclaim the only thing that stands between himself and madness: a talisman stolen by Mary.

Finally, driven into the eternal ice at the limits of their world, Mary and Samuel must choose their loyalties and battle forces older and more powerful than the pirates who would make them slaves.

Come sail the Winter Sea, for action-packed, high-stakes adventures, rich characterisation and epic plots full of intrigue and betrayal.

>>I hope I get to read this one before my borrowing time is due!<<


NetGalley Haul

Dating and Dragons by. Kristy Boyce

From the author of the nationally bestselling Dungeons and Drama comes another gaming romance that’s sure to win you over!

After moving to a new high school, Quinn is desperate for friends, so she joins a D&D group with their own livestream and serious rules—most no dating fellow party members.

But when sparks fly with a cute but irritating player, and ex-friends from an old campaign start stirring up trouble, she’ll need to figure out where her loyalties—and heart—lie beyond the game.

***

Something Like Fate by. Amy Lea

During a summer in Italy, two best friends discover whether true love is up to destiny or free will in this winning romantic comedy by the international bestselling author of Woke Up Like This.

For generations, the fortune-telling women in Lo Zhao-Jensen’s family have foreseen The One—the great loves of their lives—before ever meeting them. Except for Lo, who has zero psychic abilities. Just memories of old rom-coms and a lot of poor judgment when it comes to love.

Until now.

When Lo finally has the vision she’s been waiting for, her delighted aunties are convinced she’ll meet The One on her backpacking trip in Italy. Vero amore, here she comes.

Along for the summer is Lo’s best friend and confidant, Teller Owens, her opposite in every way. Upon arrival in Venice, Lo is saved from a runaway trolley by Caleb, a fellow backpacker. It’s a meet-cute so swoony, it has to be fate. But with each destination, Lo’s complicated feelings for Teller are becoming harder to ignore. From the cobblestone streets of Rome to the rocky cliffs of Amalfi, Lo begins to wonder if fate has other plans.

***


The Scorpion and the Night Blossom by. Amélie Wen Zhao

In a world invaded by demons, one girl will face the ultimate test when she is forced to enter into an ancient, deadly competition for the chance to save her mother’s soul… before she loses her forever. From the New York Times bestselling author of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night comes the beginning of a dark and opulent fantasy duology, perfect for fans of Throne of Glass.

Nine years ago, the war between the Kingdom of Night and the Kingdom of Rivers tore Àn’yīng’s family apart, leaving her mother barely alive and a baby sister to fend for. Now the mortal realm is falling into eternal night, and mó—beautiful, ravenous demons—roam the land, feasting on the flesh of humans and drinking their souls.

Àn’yīng is no longer a helpless child, though. Armed with her crescent blades and trained in the ancient art of practitioning, she has decided to enter the Immortality Trials, which are open to any mortal who can survive the journey to the immortal realm. Those who complete the Trials are granted a pill of eternal life—the one thing Àn’yīng knows can heal her dying mother. But to attain the prize, she must survive the competition.

Death is common in the Trials. Yet oddly, Àn’yīng finds that someone is helping her stay alive. A rival contestant. Powerful and handsome, Yù’chén is as secretive about his past as he is about his motives for protecting Àn’yīng.

The longer she survives the Trials, the clearer it becomes that all is not right in the immortal realm. To save her mother and herself, Àn’yīng will need to figure out whether she can truly trust the stranger she’s falling for or if he’s the most dangerous player of all . . . for herself and for all the realms.

***

Everything I Promised You by. Katy Upperman

An emotionally raw and romantic YA novel perfect for fans of Laura Nowlin’s If He Had Been with Me.

Their love was written in the stars, but how is Lia to move on when death trumps fate? 

When Lia’s mom was 17, she had her fortune told and learned her only daughter was fated to fall in love with her best friend’s son. Life unfolded exactly as predicted, and despite the army-brat lifestyle bringing them in and out of each other’s orbit, Lia and Beckett were meant to be. Or so they thought.

When a freak heart attack steals Beck’s life, Lia is devastated and unmoored. She lived her life by her mom’s old fortune; if she was fated to be with Beck, and Beck is gone, who is she supposed to be? And is there room in her broken heart for life, let alone another love?

**********

Murder Between Friends by. Liz Lawson

Two years ago, the murder of a neighbor tore three best friends apart–now the killer is going to walk free and the ex-friends are going to have to face the past–and each other–in another twisty thriller from the New York Times bestselling co-author of The Agathas

Grace, Henry, and Ally grew up together on the same block. They used to be best friends–until Grace’s testimony put Henry’s brother, Jake, away for killing their English teacher. Now, two years later, Ally and Henry hate Grace, and Grace is doubting what she thinks she saw that night. 

It feels like everyone’s getting a second chance, then, when due to a mistrial, Jake is suddenly released. And Henry knows his brother is innocent, but when Grace reaches out to say she’s rethinking what she saw the night of the murder, Jake’s reaction is confusing. He doesn’t want Henry—or Grace–getting involved.

For Ally not getting involved isn’t an option, and there’s nothing Grace can say to convince Ally she’s not the enemy. But can Ally afford to push Grace out when she’s one of the only other people willing to believe in Jake’s innocence?  

The clock is ticking. Jake’s new trial date is about to be set, and he’s sure to be foud guilty again unless there’s new evidence to prove he’s innocent. Grace, Henry, and Ally are going to have to decide whether you can trust an old friend now that they’re your enemy.

*****

Unhallowed Halls by. Lili Wilkinson

A teen girl travels to an exclusive boarding school located deep within the Scottish moorlands after a deadly incident at her old school, but the wood-paneled halls of Agathion are built over centuries of secrets—including an ancient society which may have ties to demonic magic—in this dark academia fantasy perfect for fans of Curious Tides.

 Page Whittaker has always been an outcast. And after the deadly incident that destroyed her single friendship at her old school, she needs a fresh start. Which is why when she receives a scholarship offer from Agathion College, an elite boarding school folded deep within the moors of Scotland, she doesn’t even consider turning it down.

Agathion is everything Page has ever a safe haven full of dusty books, steaming cups of tea and rigorous intellectual debate. And for the first time in her life, Page has even managed to become part of a close group of friends. Cyrus, Ren, Gideon, Lacey and Oak help her feel at home in Agathion’s halls–the only problem is, they’re all keeping secrets from her. 

Page doesn’t know it yet, but her perfect new school has dark roots–roots that stretch back to its crooked foundation, and an ancient clandestine society with rumored ties to demonic magic. Soon, Page will be forced to learn that not everyone at Agathion is who they say they are. Least of all, her friends.

Agathion claims to teach its students history…but some histories should stay buried.

**********

Pride or Die by. CL Montblanc

In this delightful dark comedy debut, when the members of an LGBTQ+ club find themselves accidentally framed for attempted murder, it’s up to them to clear their names before it’s too late.

It’s kind of hard to graduate high school when you’re the prime suspect in an attempted murder.

Seventeen-year-old Eleanora Finkel just wants to finish her senior year and get the hell out of Texas. But when her club meeting inconveniently coincides with an attack on the school’s head cheerleader, she and her friends find themselves in the hot seat.

In order to clear their names and ensure the survival of their club for future queer teens, they’ll have to track down the real culprit themselves. But Eleanora is far from a professional detective; she’s riddled with anxiety, annoyingly attracted to the case’s cute victim, and her trusty crochet hook feels insufficient for fighting off a murderer. Can this ragtag group of unlikely sleuths find their way out of an entire freaking murder mystery before one of them is next?

**********

The Rival by. Emma Lord

Rivals-to-lovers gets an academic send-up in this charming and irresistible romantic comedy from Emma Lord, New York Times bestselling author of Tweet Cute and Begin Again!

At long last, Sadie has vanquished her lifelong academic rival — her irritatingly charming, whip smart next door neighbor, Seb — by getting the coveted, only spot to her dream college. Or at least, so she thinks. When Seb is unexpectedly pulled off the waitlist and admitted, Sadie has to compete with him all over again, this time to get a spot on the school’s famous zine. Now not only is she dealing with the mayhem of the lovable, chaotic family she hid her writing talents from, as well as her own self doubt, but she has to come to terms with some less-than-resentful feelings for Seb that are popping up along the way.

But the longer they compete, the more Sadie and Seb notice flaws in the school’s system that are much bigger than any competition between them. Somehow the two of them have to band together even as they’re trying to crush each other, only to discover they may have met their match in more ways than one.

**********


Kindle Unlimited

Filthy Rich Fae by. Geneva Lee

“You made a bargain…
Your soul for his―and now, you are mine.”

Cate Holloway knows the unspoken rule of New Orleans: avoid the powerful Gage crime family at all costs. Of course, that was before her brother got caught in their chaos. Now Cate has no choice but to confront the dark and forbidding prince of New Orleans himself and beg for her brother’s life.

But Lachlan Gage is as lethal as he is beautiful…and the only currency he’s interested in is her soul.

Because Lachlan isn’t just some ruthless criminal. He’s fae. And he has his own secret reasons for binding her to him.

Tricked and desperate, Cate is torn between humanity and the breathtaking Otherworld. A place filled with shadows and secrets, with members of each fae court plotting against her just as her captor’s motives for trapping her become more mysterious.

And if she can’t break this sinister bargain in the next thirty days, she’ll be bound to the inscrutable yet infuriatingly tempting fae prince and his deadly world…forever.

*******

Burning Crowns (Twin Crowns, #3) by. Catherine Doyle & Katherine Weber

Twin queens Rose & Wren survived the Battle for Anadawn and brought back magic to their kingdom. But danger lurks in Eana’s shadows.

Wren is troubled. Ever since she performed the blood spell on Prince Ansel, her magic has become unruly. Worse, the spell created a link between Wren and the very man she’s trying to forget: Icy King Alarik of Gevra. A curse is eating away at both of them. To fix it they must journey to the northern mountains—under the watchful guard of Captain Tor Iversen—to consult with the Healer on High.

Rose is haunted. Waking one night to find her undead ancestor Oonagh Starcrest by her bed, she receives a warning: surrender the throne—or face a war that will destroy Eana. With nowhere to turn and desperate to find a weapon to defeat Oonagh, Rose seeks help from Shen-Lo in the Sunkissed Kingdom, but what she finds there may break her heart.

As Oonagh threatens all Rose and Wren hold dear, it will take everything they have to save Eana–including a sacrifice they may not be prepared to make.


What’s new on your shelf or kindle?

Goodreads Monday: Heir by. Sabaa Tahir

Happy Monday!

Goodreads Monday is a weekly meme where you chose a random book from your Goodreads TBR and show it off. This meme is hosted by Budget Tales Book Blog.

Title: Heir

Author: Sabaa Tahir

Pages: 512

Links: Goodreads | Amazon

Publication Date: 10/1/24

Synopsis:

Prepare for the action-packed, ruthless, and romantic new fantasy from the #1 New York Times bestselling and National Book Award winning author Sabaa Tahir about love, legacy, and vengeance.

An orphan.
An outcast.
A prince.
And a killer who will bring an empire to its knees.

Growing up in the Kegari slums, AIZ has seen her share of suffering. An old tragedy fuels her need for vengeance, but it is love of her people that propels her. Until one hot-headed mistake lands her in an inescapable prison, where the embers of her wrath ignite.

Banished from her tribe for an unforgiveable crime, SIRSHA is a down-on-her-luck tracker who speaks to the earth, air, and water to trace her marks. Destitute, she agrees to hunt down a killer who has murdered children across the Empire. All she has to do is carry out the job and get paid. But then, she falls for a charismatic and inconvenient fugitive who keeps getting in her way.

QUIL is the crown prince of the Empire, nephew of a famed and venerated empress, but he’s loathe to pick up the mantle when his aunt steps down. As the son of the most hated emperor in the history of his people, he, better than anyone, understands that power corrupts. When a vicious new enemy threatens the survival of the Empire, Quil must ask himself if he can rise above his tragic lineage and be the heir his people need.

Beloved storyteller Sabaa Tahir masterfully interweaves the lives of three young people as they grapple with the burdens of power, the treachery of love and the devastating consequences of unchecked greed. Get ready for a dark and breathless journey that will captivate readers and that may cost these young people their lives―and their hearts. Literally.

Do you have plans to read this book? Let me know in the comments below!

The Wren in the Holly Library by. K.A. Linde | Book Review

Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Wren in the Holly Library ( Oak & Holly Cycle, #1)

Author: K. A. Linde

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 495

Publication Date: 6/4/24

Categories: Romance, Urban Fantasy, Romantasy, LGBT+


The instant New York Times bestseller

Can you love the dark when you know what it hides?

Some things aren’t supposed to exist outside of our imagination.

Thirteen years ago, monsters emerged from the shadows and plunged Kierse’s world into a cataclysmic war of near-total destruction. The New York City she knew so well collapsed practically overnight.

In the wake of that carnage, the Monster Treaty was created. A truce…of sorts.

But tonight, Kierse—a gifted and fearless thief—will break that treaty. She’ll enter the Holly Library…not knowing it’s the home of a monster.

He’s charming. Quietly alluring. Terrifying. But he knows talent when he sees it; it’s just a matter of finding her price.

Now she’s locked into a dangerous bargain with a creature unlike any other. She’ll sacrifice her freedom. She’ll offer her skills. Together, they’ll put their own futures at risk.

But he’s been playing a game across centuries—and once she joins in, there will be
no escape…

Content Warning: violence, abuse, being drugged

I bought this because of the beautiful cover and sprayed edges. For some reason I had a hard time reading the hard cover – maybe because I’m just used to ebooks right now. So when I saw it was on Kindle Unlimited I borrowed it and I read it much faster. Here are my thoughts :

Likes:

+ I enjoyed the urban fantasy world building. The story is set in a sort of dystopian NYC, where now monsters live among humans. There are turf wars with different monsters and humans and Kierse is a thief who takes jobs to make money. She takes one job that changes the course of her life forever. I liked meeting all the different characters and monsters and some of their back stories. Graves is a very interesting character, but very mysterious until the end.

+ The magic system is interesting and I liked how we got to see how Graves and Kierse used their magic to train for the job. I like an urban fantasy with different creatures living in it because of all the different powers everyone has.

+ I liked learning about Kierse and her found family of friends. She’s had a tough upbringing, but mostly everyone in the book has a story to tell. I did like her bond with her friends, I just wish they were featured more in the story.

+ Everything was going great until 30% into the story. But I did like the LGBT+ representation

Dislikes:

~ One moment I was invested in the world building and then everything got stagnant. Kierse was training to do this job of retrieving a spear for Graves but I wish there was more fight in her. I thought she was too nice, after her friends was targeted and almost killed. I just needed more from Kierse.

~ Speaking of needing more – the romance was not something I loved either. There was hardly any chemistry built up between Kierse and Graves and so when they finally do get together, it’s spicy but I felt nothing. And is there a love triangle brewing? I don’t know. I guess I’m not very sure about how Kierse feels.

~ For the second half the book, the writing was just not working for me and I had to push through.

My Final Thoughts:

There was great world building with this one but it left me wanting way more from the characters from the second half of the book. I think there was too much going on in the story. I also didn’t love the romance, even though this is the type of story where I would be devouring a romance such as this. I didn’t feel it between Kierse and Graves. I’m not sure if I’ll be reading book two but this one did have potential, I’m just bummed it fizzled out for me in the end.

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Weekly Wrap Up | 10/13/24

Aloha friends!

It was a much needed Fall break for me and the kids but it did start off so busy. We did a Halloween event, then we also went to Dave and Busters and a cat cafe. We went to watch The Wild Robot which was AMAZING, but my face hurt from crying lol. Then we did some shopping at Target and the rest of the week we stayed home and chilled. So it’s back to our weekend routines sigh…when is Thanksgiving break? Haha, I’ll be waiting for that!

Blog Posts:

Books I Read:

  • The Wren in the Holly Library by. K.A. Linde
  • Filthy Rich Fae by. Geneva Lee
  • Wisteria by. Adalyn Grace

Currently Reading:

  • The Games Gods Play by. Abigail Owen
  • The Whispering Night by. Susan Dennard
  • Stranger Skies by. Pascale Lacelle
  • Darkly by. Marisha Pessl

Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

  • Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat – I LOVE this Brat roll out, seriously, and this remix album, so good. It’s been on repeat! I guess it’s a Brat autumn for me lol. 🍎🍁

  • The Wild Robot – oh my heart…this movie gutted me! It’s SOOOOOOO beautifully done, the illustrations, the colors, the animations are just everything. And all that from the book cover design? Like they really looked at the cover of the book and was like ta-da, here’s a movie that captures all of that. I was floored. I cried so many times (ok I am pms-ing) but still…I almost sobbed at one point. My daughter had to kept rubbing my hand lol. My kids and I loved it – 5/5! I can’t wait to watch it again and again on streaming.

How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!

Monthly Wrap Up | September 2024

September was such a busy month for me but I also had to read so many arcs for October and I’m happy to say I did finish them on time! 😅 I’m actually happy that September is over – it was long, tiring, and I hope October is more chill – but with the holidays coming, I doubt it will be. Anyway I read a lot of books and posted some of them on my blog for this month.

Here is how my book ratings went in September:

What I Posted: 14 Books

5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

4 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫:

3 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️:

2.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️💫

2 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️

I read a lot and posted 14 books for September on my blog but I noticed most of them are 3-3.5 star reads. The Thirteenth Child is one of my favorite books this year, but yeah everything else was just okay.

I did listen to 1 audiobook – yay! It’s hard for me to the audiobooks but I try to do 1-3 a year.

How was your month?