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?
Life is sorta back to normal – in laws are gone so “vacation” is kinda over! This week is going back to school shopping and picking up my son’s class scehdule so…yeah school will be back in session in 2 weeks.
Format: eBook (NetGalley) and audiobook (netgalley)
Pages: 480
Listening Hours: approx. 16 hrs
Publication Date: 7/21/26
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Series, LGBT+
Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
Thank you to Roaring Brook Press for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Return to the spellbinding world of Heir of Storms in the explosive second installment to the Storm Weaver trilogy, perfect for fans of Red Queen,Throne of Glass, and The Rose Bargain.
Having survived three treacherous trials to win her crown, Blaze is now Queen of the Aquatori. But before she can take the throne, she must set out to find the Eye of the Soul, one of the realm’s most powerful weapons, before another claims its power for themself.
Her journey will take her deep into the forests of Ostacre and into a temporary alliance with the infuriating but undeniably compelling Fox. She can’t help but feel drawn to him. . . but can she trust him? Fortune favors the brave, but will it protect the Storm Weaver on her most dangerous mission yet?
Narrated by not just Blaze, but her brother, Flint, and the newly-discovered Shadow Magi, Elva, the epic journey that began in Heir of Storms continues in the sweeping adventure of Tides of Fortune.
Content Warning: violence
World Building: There are 3 POVs in this sequel – Blaze, Flint and Elva. Elva’s POV gives us insight into what is happening with Hal and the kingdom he is ruling, but his grip on his power is fragile. Blaze and Fox are together and antagonizing one another, and Flint finds himself with Spinner and Sheen. There is a lot of traveling in this story which is very different than book one.
Characters: I think there is a lot of growth in these characters in this sequel because they are split up and dealing with their own situations. Flint is hilarious, and dealing with Sheen and Spinner makes things interesting. Blaze is trying to trust Fox, and I feel like they learn so much more about one another. As for Elva and Hal, Elva has to make some hard choices, but their story was sad.
Romance: There are three romances taking place. Of course my favorite is Blaze and Fox, who have a very enemies to lovers type of relationship. I was always looking forward to Blaze’s POV because of their banter. Flint has an interesting development in his love life. And there is Elva and Hal, and they have their own challenges.
Story: This is definitely different from book one, and I found it a little harder to get into. I think because there was a lot of travel and I didn’t feel like much was happening. But there was a lot of character development, which is fine, but it just felt slower and took me longer to read. I still love Blaze and Fox the best, whenever I read her POV, I felt like the story moved faster because I cared about them so much more.
Narrator(s): Loved the narrators voices, and their accents were great.
Final Thoughts:
I think this is a solid sequel and there is more character development. It did go a bit more slowly for me, compared to when I was reading the first book. The narrators did a great job and I loved their voices.
Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
Thank you to Lyla Andrews for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
An Arcane Education is a dark academia romance with fantasy elements, a slow burn professor/student relationship, atmospheric gothic vibes, and found family. Perfect for fans of Nocticadia, Gothikana, and Blood & Betrayals.
Magic. Wealth. Beauty. Reputation.
Here, all of them amount to the one thing everyone Power.
Welcome to Arcadia Academy. Trust no one.
The day I’m attacked is the day I discover magic is real – and I have the power to wield it.
Two days after the incident, I receive an invitation to the graduate program at Arcadia Academy, an elite, mysterious school of magic hidden on an island somewhere off the coast of the Pacific Northwest. With the courage to finally leave behind the mundane life of responsibility I never asked for, I enroll at the prestigious institution, determined to find my place and prove myself.
Unfortunately, my goal isn’t as simple as it seems. New to the world of magic, years behind my classmates, and struggling to control my powers, I’m barely surviving – until the strict, enigmatic, and devastatingly handsome Professor Alaric Vale offers to tutor me. But the longer we spend together, the harder it becomes to deny the forbidden spark burning between us.
Furthermore, not everything is as it seems at Arcadia Academy, with its crawling ivy, ancient stone buildings, and dense forests shrouded in fog. Everyone has secrets to hide, some darker than others. Darker still are the strange plant aberrations occurring in the depths of the forest – ones seemingly related to Professor Vale’s suspicious top-secret research.
When my personal investigations lead to me becoming the talk of campus as a primary suspect in another student’s death, I’m forced to prove my innocence, all while learning to control my magic, concealing the secrets I share with Professor Vale, and uncovering a shocking mystery related to my own past.
Content Warning: death
World Building: Vivian is invited to attend Arcadia Academy where she finds out magic is real and she has it. She has plant powers. The academy is on an island and students of different species and magic attend the school, and though Vivian is a Freshman because she just learned about magic, she is a graduate student as well. Vivian has always been a caretaker of her sibling so she’s never really had time to herself but at the academy she learns to make friends, and even go to a party or two – but then she finds out her dad (who died before she could meet him) went to that academy and learns that not all is as it seems on campus. But for the first 20% of this book it is just world building and learning about the classes and academy.
Characters: I like Vivian, she’s a graduate student but has to learn the basics of magic. She has a difficult time controlling her magic so she takes the initiative to seek help for that. Living away from home is also a challenge, especially because her roommate is a grumpy vampire named Max. Vivian is a good student, a good person, and smart. She does make a few friends eventually but I would love to know more about them. Alaric is the hot professor on campus and he’s hiding a few secrets but he and Vivian are drawn to one another.
Romance: There is a student/professor romance in this one that I thought for the most part was pretty good. I wish there was a little more chemistry between them but maybe because it’s Alaric’s personality – he’s focused on academics and doesn’t display much emotion. There is spice and things are more interesting because of their status as student and professor, but there were some things I questioned about Alaric.
Story: This is a slow moving story, especially the first 25% where it’s world-building. I felt like most of the story in the was about Vivian going to school, being in class, and making friends and not much was happening. Even after finishing it I thought the mystery about what Alaric is studying and keeping secret is way too vague. He just tells Vivian he can’t tell her for sake of her safety but I wanted to know something, just even a crumb of information to keep me interested. After Vivian starts settling into campus life she does take on the mystery of her father being a student once at the academy and she tries to do an investigation but again, it really doesn’t go anywhere. This story is easy to read and it is atmospheric – it definitely gives the dark academia vibes, something sinister is happening but we just have no clue as to what – which was the frustrating part for me. Also, the names Clarissa and Callista had me confused in one scene because she talked to these girls one after the other and I had to re-read that section. 😅
Final Thoughts:
If you like dark academia you will enjoy this one, but for me, I just needed a little more from it. It’s almost got a cozy vibe to it but all the dark academia elements are there also, which I enjoyed. I wanted more information about Vivian’s dad and Alaric’s research but since this is a series, it’s probably being drawn out. Even though I found some parts of this to be too slow for me, I did like how it was easy to read, and love the new friend group for Vivian. The romance was spicy and enticing because of the forbidden aspect of student and professor but even with their relationship I wanted a little more chemistry – but maybe it’s just Alaric’s personality. Overall, a solid start to a series.
+ It was a busy week since my in-laws were still here after the bar mitzvah. They just left on Friday but we got to take advantage of guest parking at their hotel and the kids went night swimming at the beach and at the pool for two nights in a row. They had so much fun! I had fun too, it felt like a mini vacation.
+ Today, my hubby is going to the Philippines for a work trip. But it’s back to school shopping time for me and the kids.
+ Olivia Rodrigo – You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love – still listening to this
+ World Cup Final
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!
Categories: Romantasy, Dark Romance, Vampires, Fae, Series
I swore I’d kill Raziel Nostrom. Now he owns my heart…
After a shattering betrayal, Nadi and Raziel flee into the Wild—the endless labyrinth of caves that is home to the fae.
Nadi trained for years to infiltrate and kill a ruthless family of vampires. Now she faces an even deadlier challenge—returning to her own family with their most hated enemy by her side.
In a realm of flickering lights and terrifying monsters, the desire that binds her to Raziel only grows stronger. Enemies and allies wish to tear them apart, but she still craves his razor-sharp smile, his touch, his bite…
In the city above, Raziel’s siblings are building a new world, where vampires rule with no restraint and no mercy. Soon their power will be untouchable.
Nadi and Raziel only have each other. Two shattered and broken things, in a world that wants them dead. Two perfect assassins, sharpened to a killing edge and hungry for revenge.
Their love was forged in blood. And it will end in blood…
Content Warning: violence, death
World Building: Nadi and Raziel are in the home of the fae, the Wild – which is an underground labyrinth. They make plans and need to escape, I like the symbolism of Raziel being deep underground in Fae territory and needing to climb all the way up to the surface to carry out his vengeance. In the Wild, we meet some of the Fae in power and learn about them and their motivations.
Characters: Nadi has chosen her side, and it’s Raziel so she does everything to take his family down. Raziel has gone beyond anger, he is the Serpent and will do anything to take down his family and rule. He has always been morally black, but I love how Nadi grounds him, just enough – I like how he knows what he is good at and had some sanity while he seemed like he was going insane. Kalo was interesting and we get to know more about him – at times I didn’t know what side he was really on but I did like his growth.
Romance: Nadi and Raziel are like Bonnie and Clyde and they will go down together with a world burning around them. I love how they were each other’s ride or die til the end! They have seen the best and worst of one another, and they are committed – I love that about them! Nadi sees all his red flags and things, I want that. 😅 Surprisingly this is the least spicy book among the three in the series, but I didn’t mind it because there was a lot of killing going on, no time for spice!
Story: This is a great ending to the trilogy! I like how Nadi and Raziel went about carrying out their plans and vengeance. They were in it 100% and I admired that about them even though Raziel is a little crazy. These two are made for each other, I love their crazy moments and heartfelt ones too. I enjoyed the journey Nadi and Raziel go through to finally achieve their goal. And the ending had a little twist I definitely wasn’t expecting.
Final Thoughts:
I was cheering Nadi and Raziel on because I wanted to see them get vengeance too. I liked learning about the Fae, the politics, the violence and the vengeance. I love the romance, I was all about them being crazy and crazy for each other. I really enjoyed this series and hope to read more from this author!
Title: Vows of Blood and Deception (The Hirathean Path, #2)
Author: Aria Ashbrook
Pages: 544
Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)
Publication Date: 7/7/26
Categories: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Series
She won the Goddess’s blessing. She got everything she asked for. So why does it feel like she’s lost it all?
Rose Kultavaris survived the Retterheld. She reclaimed her magic. Her title. Her place at court. But victory can be a hollow thing.
The palace celebrates her as the gifted, yet behind gilded doors alliances shift, secrets surface, and the past refuses to stay buried. The pretty crown Prince Kyor chose over her remains firmly on his arrogant head – and every time their paths cross, the tension between them threatens to burn down the High Hold itself.
In transpired that the Goddess’s “gift” did not restore Rose’s life anywhere near as neatly as promised.
Old betrayals cut deeper than any blade, while new truths shatter everything she thought she knew. Rose is more alone than ever, and her power, now reclaimed, proves far more dangerous than anything else she has faced.
In a court built on lies and ambition, Rose must decide what she truly vengeance, love, or something far more dangerous … freedom.
Vows of Blood and Deception is the second in a dark, spicy slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romantasy series, perfect for fans of Fourth Wing, The Serpent and the Wings of the Night, and Throne of Glass.
Content Warning: violence
World Building: In this sequel, the world opens up and instead of trials there is a quest. Rose needs to find the Issen so they can teach her about the ice magic she has and has to hide. She needs to figure this out before she hurts someone with it. So Rose and some of her friends go on a journey that is filled with some danger, but mostly them getting to know one another more.
Characters: Rose has ice magic and needs to learn more about it. Kyor is back, and he wants Rose back but they have a lot things to work through, most especially trusting one another. He is so stubborn! I love the found family. Rose’s friends Benny, and Ruben are fun! Caz is someone we get to know more about. I think there was growth for all the characters.
Romance: Things are complicated for Kyor and Rose, but clearly he is obsessed with her and she can’t stop loving him though she is angry with him too. So it takes a lot for them to act on their desires. Every time they make progress, something breaks them again, but I think by the end of this book, they are committed even though it seems like there is no hope between them. They are trying so I’m rooting for them! I just wish Kyor could say why he won’t turn his back on his horrible father.
Story: I do think this story moved forward but I did hope they would run into the Issen like in the middle of the story but that wasn’t the case. So for me, this sequel felt a little bit like filler – it was a back and forth between Rose and Kyor for sure. I did enjoy Benny and Ruben though! Also, the dire wolves were great. They brought some humor to the story. It ends with a cliffhanger but I hope we see Kyor grow a little more.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, I enjoyed this one though I wish we got to see Rose get answers about her magic. So yes this did feel like filler, but I did enjoy Benny, Ruben and the dire wolves. The romance was a lot of back and forth but I like that they are trying to work through their challenges and problems. It ends with a cliffhanger so I look forward to reading book three.
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?
I had the busiest week and weekend because of my son’s bar mitzvah and yay it’s done! My in laws are still here, they leave Friday so we are still spending time with them. But my kids go back to school in 3 weeks so I need to get things in order! It just never ends does it? 😅 I am finally getting back to reading, reviewing and posting!
Categories: Romance, Series, Romantasy, Why Choose, Fantasy
From the Queen of the Never After retellings comes a modern-day Lancelot & Guinevere filled with serious yearning, hate-to-love you vibes and a happily ever after
Some sins are worth the fall . . .
Lance Calloway fights when they tell him to fight. Bleeds when they tell him to bleed. Breaks when they tell him to break.
Six years in an unsanctioned cage, and the one line he’s never crossed? Loyalty to his best friend, no matter the cost.
Then he’s asked to protect her.
Genevieve DeGrance didn’t ask for any of this.
She came to Rosebrook Falls to be with the mayor’s son. But nothing in this town is what it seems. Especially not the dangerous fighter who watches her every move like a threat.
She hates him. He can’t stand her. And yet . . .
The more time Lance spends guarding Genevieve, the harder it becomes to remember she belongs to someone else.
And the more she uncovers about Rosebrook Falls, the more she realizes the only honest person in her life is the one man she’s forbidden to want.
In a town built on secrets and lies, falling for each other could destroy them both.
But staying away might be the one fight Lance can’t win.
💫 Why you will love this book 💫 💜 forbidden love 🌙 enemies to lovers 💜 best friend’s girl 🌙 morally grey hero 💜 forced proximity 🌙 yearning that ruins lives 💜 slow burn with SPICE 🌙 mafia style romance
Content Warning: death, violence
+ This is book two in the Defying the Stars series. Book one was a Romeo and Juliet retelling and now book two is a Lancelot and Guinevere retelling. I kind of love these different retellings! And Lance and Genevieve did not disappoint, even though there is cheating – but hey it tracks with the love triangle between Arthur, Lancelot and Guinevere. So if you don’t like cheating, then this might not be for you.
+ I like Lance’s story. He is best-friends with Art, who is Genevieve’s boyfriend. But they have a history, they are brothers at heart, but something happens – Art does something, and Lance helps him out. But the debt lasts too long and in the process, Lance loses himself. He is used, abused, has trauma and all because he wanted to help his best-friend out. Lance is a good guy. Genevieve, has a story too, but I think Lance’s character was stronger. I actually love all the other characters like Lance’s siblings and Romeo’s too and can’t wait to see what their stories will be.
+ I didn’t mind the cheating because Art was not a good friend to Lance, or a good boyfriend to Genevieve. True, they still shouldn’t have gone behind his back, but I didn’t like Art, so I didn’t mind. 😅 I loved Lance and Genevieve together. Their relationship is beautiful and spicy – there are a few spicy scenes between them but I still gave it only 2 chili peppers because I didn’t think there was anything too freaky between them, but some might rate it a 3 because of how many scenes there are, if that makes sense.
~ For the most part I loved the dual narration for this audiobook but I did love Lance’s voice more than Genevieve’s.
Final Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this modern retelling of Lancelot and Guinevere – there are secrets, betrayal, family drama, a gossip social media account keeping tabs on people, and a love triangle. The narrators did a great job, especially the voice for Lance! I’m really enjoying these loose retellings of different romance classics, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Title: A Magic So Deadly (Kingdom of Dark Magic, #2)
Author: Vasilia Drake
Pages: 479
Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)
Publication Date: 6/30/26
Categories: Romantasy, Vampires and Witches, Series
She has become everything she ever wanted… and everything she despises.
Samara wakes in a prison cell as her worst nightmare: She’s a vampire, cursed with bloodlust that horrifies her. And though she now has the magic she’s always desperately craved, it’s a secret she must guard with her undead life.
Because this same magic marks her as an enemy of all vampires. Especially Raphael—their king.
Now, as a vampire, Samara is haunted by an inescapable thirst. In her sleep, she claws at her throat, trying to ease the pain. But when she’s around Raphael, her fangs ache for a deeper reason she can’t explain.
A mystical bond ties Samara to Raphael as her sire, preventing her from fleeing before he can discover her identity as the very witch he’s been hunting for centuries. Instead, she must journey with him to the Southern Vampire Kingdom. A journey that has her sharing both his carriage… and his bed.
There, Raphael offers her another bargain: Yield to her vampire nature and master her abilities, and he will help her break the bond.
But if she lowers her guard too much, if her control over the powers she barely understands slips and Raphael learns she’s the necromancer…
He’ll be forced to kill her.
A Magic So Deadly is the second book in the Kingdom of Dark Magic series, filled with a slow burn romance, unique magic systems, and forced proximity.
Content Warning: violence, death, self-harm
World Building: In this sequel, Samara’s time is mostly spent in Raphael’s kingdom, but there is a moment in the end where we get to meet another vampire ruler. But Thea is on her mission somewhere else but I’m not going to lie, I was mostly reading to see how Samara and Raphael’s romance was going to grow.
Characters: Samara is now a vampire, and she’s trying to come to terms with it. But she learns something which she feels she can twist to enact her revenge against Raphael. Raphael is trying to give her as much space as he can but also needs to force her to accept her new self so she can survive. There is an intriguing new character, Julian, that comes in at the end.
Romance: I was here for the romance since book one had barely any. And Raphael gives Samara space but that man is crazy about her, which made me crazy about him! I love that he won’t let her go and now we get to see him expressing all his yearning and feelings that he has been holding back. I devoured it. I loved watching them getting to know one another and finally acting on their desires. Loved their spicy scenes – it’s so sensual in a vampire way (bloody haha, but not too bad), which again I devoured, it’s what I expect from a vampire romance!
Story: I did enjoy seeing Samara learn to accept being a vampire. There is some political intrigue and something brewing in the background that Thea is involved in, and a betrayal that shocked me. There is an unexpected plot twist at the end and of course it had to be a cliffhanger so now I have to wait for book three. But like I said, I wanted to read this book because I wanted to see the romance to develop and that goal was definitely achieved.
Final Thoughts:
All my stars are for Raphael haha, and his devotion to Samara. I love a vampire who’s fallen first and will do anything to be with the one he loves. Most of the story was about their relationship but that cliffhanger ending shocked me – now I have to wait, but I honestly have so much faith in Raphael’s love for Samara that even this change of plans won’t stop him from loving her! Now I just want to see her have that same love for him and do the right thing.
Title: A Bargain So Bloody (Kingdom of Dark Magic, #1)
Author: Vasilia Drake
Pages: 498
Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)
Publication Date: 6/30/25
Categories: Romantasy, Vampires and Witches, Series
She’s trapped in a magical prison. To break out, she’ll make a deal with the most dangerous prisoner of them all.
Sentenced for a crime she didn’t commit, Samara is bullied by guards and tormented by the screams of her fellow prisoners. She’s resigned herself to enduring her fifteen-year term… until she learns that the freedom she’s been promised is the cruelest lie of all.
Now she’s faced with a choice: resign herself to dying in the cold walls of Castle Greymere, or do the unthinkable and escape. But no one leaves Greymere alive. So to break out of the prison? She’ll have to use one of the undead.
Raphael is the worst kind of a vampire with a thirst for blood, the mortal enemy of witches, the same breed that killed her mother. And most importantly, he’s unspeakably powerful, his supernatural strength tamed only by the enchanted cuffs forced on him.
He’s her only chance at a life outside the prison walls.
The deal is Samara unlocks his shackles, and he’ll help her escape. But although Raphael agreed to help her leave Greymere, he never promised to let her go…
A Bargain So Bloody is the first book in an exciting new romantasy series, perfect for readers who love slow burn romance with morally grey heroes who fall first and hard and heroines who find their own strength.
Content Warning: violence, death, self-harm
World Building: There is a Witch Kingdom that is surrounded by Vampire Kingdoms and we get to spend time in the Witch Kingdom and the Western Vampire Kingdom. Samara has been a prisoner at Greymere, since she was a child. She is a null (no magic) and she’s basically the prison master’s slave until a prisoner appears and makes a bargain with her so she can help set him free. I was very intrigued with this world of vampires and witches.
Characters: Samara and Raphael escape the prison and go on a a quest to find a grimoire. They are both morally grey characters which made things very interesting. Sam has a secret past though, where she has memories of her mother and another life but we don’t know much more than that. She also hates vampires deeply and being with one opens her eyes to her enemy. Raphael is a powerful vampire, and realize he is more than he seems. There are some other interesting characters like Thea and Demos.
Romance: There isn’t much romance, this is very much a slow burn and enemies to lovers because Sam hates vampires. But I liked seeing them get to know one another, their banter and the tension between them. It’s a vampire romance, so there are some sensual scenes that had to do with blood drinking but not spice. I think it’s evident though that Raphael feels something strongly for Samara, and what I love about him is he gives her space. I did want more to happen, but it was a quick read.
Story: I like the world building, and the escape from the prison. I thought Sam and Raphael were interesting characters. The romance was slow but I didn’t mind because Samara was exploring Raphael’s home and finding out about vampires, grimoires and witches. I enjoyed the friendship Sam builds with Thea. There is a twist at the end that made me read book two right away.
Final Thoughts:
It did feel like nothing much was happening in the book after they escape from prison but I still felt like it was a quick read. I love a vampire romantasy though especially when the vampire falls first. It’s a slow burn romance between Samara and Raphael and I enjoyed the build up. I also found the world building interesting and look forward to reading more books in this series.
Past Midnight Book Reviews & More 