Let’s Talk Bookish: Literary Palette Cleansers | 5/23/25

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:

May 23: Literary Palette Cleansers

Prompts: Do you ever feel like you need a reading reset? Maybe you’ve been reading dense literary fiction, or in a reading slump. Are there certain books you read to help reset? Do you ever take a break from reading? Do you find yourself needing those literary palate cleansers at certain times of year?

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Do you ever feel like you need a reading reset?

I need a reading reset once a week I think! At the end of the year I slow down on reading and try to give me a whole month break – if I can’t do that because I’m addicted to reading, I at least give myself 2 weeks without reading.

Maybe you’ve been reading dense literary fiction, or in a reading slump. Are there certain books you read to help reset?

I read a lot of fantasy or romantasy and when I do too much of that, I switch over to contemporary romance or a thriller/horror. Thrillers are always a good palette cleanser haha and a short book is good since fantasies are so long sometimes.

Do you ever take a break from reading?

YES. I have to take a break if I read more than 13 books a month. I always feel like more than 13 books a month is pushing my limit. I’ve been only reading more this year because of how stressed I feel with reality. So I’m allowing myself to go overboard but I also tell myself not to read for a week if I’ve read too much.

Do you find yourself needing those literary palate cleansers at certain times of year?

I don’t think I need them at certain times of the year – just certain times of the month! I saw a tiktoker say her mood reading is based on her menstrual period cycle 😅 and I think she is totally onto something!!!

May Topics:

~~May 2: Bookish Fandoms~~

Prompts: There are very popular bookish fandoms out there, especially in the romance fantasy genre (Maas, Yarros, LOTR, etc.). Are you part of a bookish fandom? If you are, what do you love about it? If not, do you think you’d ever want to be part of one? Does being part of the online book community help you connect to fandoms?

May 9: Motivation to Read (Jillian @ The Bookish Butterfly)

Prompts: How do you motivate yourself to sit down and concentrate on reading? Do you have a set reading time/schedule that works best for you to focus? Do you have tips/tricks that you would recommend others try?

May 16: What is one book that everyone else seemed to love except you? (Isabella @ The Ink Bound Reader)

Prompts: Have you ever experienced what seems like the whole book community raving about a book, only to discover it’s not all that? What are some story elements that put you off while reading? What about books others dislike that you love? Feel free to share examples of which books everyone loved and you didn’t, and vice versa! 🤭

May 23: Literary Palette Cleansers

May 30: Freebie

Prompts: It’s the fifth Friday of the month, so this week is a freebie! Use this week to revisit an old LTB topic, or write about something you’re interested in! You can check out a bunch of topics on our blogs (Dini’s & Aria’s) and Rukky’s blog for more ideas!

A Forgery of Fate by. Elizabeth Lim | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: A Forgery of Fate

Author: Elizabeth Lim

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 480

Publication Date: 6/3/25

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Dragons

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

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

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

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

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

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

Content Warning: gambling debt, violence

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

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

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

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

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

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

Final Thoughts:

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

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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

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

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

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

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

Bound in Inked Flame by. Ava Larksen| Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Bound in Inked Flame (Of Crows and Thorns Saga, #1)

Author: Ava Larksen

Format: ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

Pages: 731

Publication Date: 2/27/25

Categories: New Adult, Romantasy, Dark Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Crime Families

When I signed myself away in marriage, I should have read the fine print. Ink fades—blood binds.

I’m a prisoner, trapped behind gilded gates, my freedom traded for safety. Magic pulses beneath my skin, wild and forbidden. In our world of ruling Houses, wielding such power means death. One slip, one spark—everyone I love dies.

As a princess of the Great House, I should have been untouchable. But in a cruel twist of fate, a ruthless family of enforcers claims the right to choose any bride. Now I’m to marry the infuriating Graysen Crowther. Our loathing is legendary, but with only a wall between us each night, hatred burns into something far more treacherous. One touch and I might lose something far worse than my life—my traitorous heart.

As my control fractures and betrayal tightens its noose, my only chance at survival lies in escaping to seek the monster who holds the truth about my magic. Yet when a bargained kiss unleashes an unbreakable bond, dark suspicion whispers through my bones that I’m caught in a blood-soaked web.

For in this deadly game of power, where trust is a luxury I can’t afford, Graysen moves like someone who’s been playing long before I knew there was a game.

And his secret might prove more lethal than any forbidden magic.

BOUND IN INKED FLAME is the first book in the OF CROWS AND THORNS SAGA, an epic dark romantasy. Perfect for readers who crave plot-heavy, character-driven sagas drenched in atmosphere and rich world-building—where dark mysteries unravel alongside a slow-burn romance and heart-wrenching choices that threaten to destroy everything. Please note this book ends on a cliffhanger. For content warnings, please check the author’s website.

Content Warning: violence, death, sexual assault, attempted rape

+ I picked this up on a whim because of the cover, the synopsis and some 5 star ratings. 30% into the book I almost DNF’ed this book. Why did I push through? I wanted to know what power Nelle had and I like a good complicated drama with families who hate each other, I wanted to see how that would turn out. Plus the loathing between Nelle and Graysen was palpable and I wanted to see how slow or quick they turned into lovers.

+ Nelle Wychthorn, is from a great House. Graysen Crowther, is from an old but lower House. And they are bound to marry each other, but they cannot marry until she turns 20. For now, they spend one day a year with one another, until now when her older sister is about to be engaged to a man from another House and there will be weekend festivities and Graysen must attend. These two HATE each other, I like that she gave as good as he gave but she was still the younger of the two, she’s 19 and I think he’s like 25? Or something like that.

+ This is an interesting world – the Horned Gods rule these crime families, but this world is apart from the real world, there is a scene where the FMC and MMC even go to New York City. Any person who is “other”, which is someone with powers, is supposed to be given to the Horned Gods at birth. Some people though, like the Crowthers have minimal magic that the Gods do allow like having truesight.

+ I enjoy a story with crime families that don’t like each other and it’s very true here in this one. The Wychthorns are the top dog of houses, and everyone bows to them because they have favor from the Horned Gods. But I like seeing the different drama families had with one another. The biggest one being between Nelle and Graysen’s family which really puts a wrench in their love story. I liked when Nelle’s sisters or Graysen’s brothers (especially Caidan) were in the story.

+~ The romance is enemies to lovers. I love the tension and fighting between Nelle and Graysen – they hate each other a lot. I like that she fights him, but then starts to care for him and I can see why she would if he’s the only relationship she’s had – bad as it has started out, he is still the only one she’s ever spent time with. In that sense, their relationship is a bit dark and toxic because she knows nothing else except him. And this isn’t a slow burn when it comes to spice…now will there be love? I don’t know, when you think Graysen will just let go and admit he cares, he withdraws back into himself again. There is a lot of betrayal in this story also and by the end of this book I was hoping Nelle never forgives Graysen. It will take a lot for ME to forgive him, he will need to grovel bad.

~ I read this 700+ pager in one day, because I had time but I did also almost DNF’ed this because of nothing much happening in the first 30% of the book. I just wasn’t feeling it and the world building felt so vague. There was focus on Nelle and Graysen’s spice, but I wanted more than that. I stuck around but still, I almost gave up a few times because some things became repetitive.

~ The book has a part where a character mentions reading smut on a Kindle and it took me out of the story, it called me out lol (and I almost DNF’ed right then and there). I think it was the mention of a real-time device in a fantasy world that was a little jarring. Also Nelle is 19 and secretly so powerful but then she would talk like a brat and say “As if…” and I’m so old that it just reminded me of the movie Clueless! 🤭 So then I would think this FMC is ridiculous. I get it she’s young, she didn’t have much control over things even though she tried, she’s sassy and doesn’t like being told what to do. But she’s super powerful and we are reminded of it over and over. I did wish many times that she was older than 19, like 23 or something and was out of the brat stage.

~ Pacing. Sometimes the spicy scenes would take chapters and they really only had one weekend together. But I wanted to learn more about the families and the Gods. Yes, the smut drew me in but it still could have been shortened. So it would go from Nelle’s sexual awakening and them fighting (again/always) to them remembering oh yeah they are there for her sister’s engagement festivities and the Horned Gods were coming so Nelle better keep this secret power inside her in check. There was some good action here and there and then the big event at the end, but pacing could have been better and it could have been less repetitive.

~ I need Nelle to get ruthless and stay ruthless after all the stuff happening to her. She was literally a child when all this drama happened and she was being blamed without even knowing it. I was warming up to Graysen (okay so he’s sexy, hot and protected her – BUT he still pissed me off). And after that ending, I need Nelle to cut him off and punish him and his family for a little bit. I don’t know if I will forgive him – there was a strange mention of a better option vaguely in the story (so many things were vague!), but is there another option out there for her?

Final Thoughts:

I am so surprised I read this in one day after wanting to DNF it a few times but I saw so much potential with the world building. I was drawn to this world of crime lords all fighting and betraying one another. I like that there is an enemies to lovers romance, but I don’t know if I can forgive you now Graysen Crowther. So much could be cut out to make this story move faster and be tighter. I need Nelle to grow up a little and stop acting like a brat, learn some lessons! I need Graysen to grovel 😅 for forgiveness (look I get why he is the way he is, I just need to see if there’s another option for Nelle). I even read the snippet from book two at the end because it has that addictive factor. So I have very mixed feelings about this one but I’m still going to read book two unless that one gets repetitive too and I have to DNF, but I hope some things are cleaned up and it’s shorter. I am definitely here for the drama!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

WWW Wednesday | 5/21/25

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?

I kind of don’t know what to read right now because I’m waiting for my copy of The Knight and the Moth to come in. So I’m trying to read more July arcs, but I have a lot of fantasy arcs so I do need to break them up with other genres. I actually can’t believe I read 5 contemporary books this past week! But they are so much shorter (thank goodness) than the recent romantasy books, it’s really nice to just get through something under 400 pages!

What are you currently reading?

Thorn Season by. Kiera Azar – 3%

The Jasad Crown by. Sara Hashem – 15%

Fallen Court: Filthy Rich Fae by. Geneva Lee – 2%

What have you just finished reading?

Predatory Natures by. Amy Goldsmith ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Give Me a Reason by. Jayci Lee ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Love Unmasked by. Becky Dean – ⭐️⭐️⭐️

For the Record by. Emma Lord – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bound in Inked Flame by. Ava Larksen – ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Enchantra by. Kaylie Smith ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Maid for Each Other by. Lynn Painter – ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Well, Actually by. Mazey Eddings ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What are you going to read next?

Summer in the City by. Alex Aster

Great Big Beautiful Life by. Emily Henry

The Knight and the Moth by. Rachel Gillig – Waiting for my copy to come in.

Mayra by. Nicky Gonzalez

What are YOU reading right now?

Enchantra by. Kaylie Smith| Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice:🌶️🌶️

Title: Enchantra ( Wicked Games, #2)

Author: Kaylie Smith

Format: ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

Pages: 448

Publication Date: 4/8/25

Categories: Romantasy, Series, Dark Romance, Fantasy

Ready or Not meets Throne of the Fallen in a spicy, enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance, where an Italian getaway turns deadly after a young woman is trapped in her host family’s cursed game.

Ready or not, the game has begun.

Genevieve Grimm has felt adrift ever since her sister became the head of the family. So when a mysterious friend of their mother’s invites her to Italy, she accepts. She arrives at his grand palace, expecting passion and magic, decadence and luxury… perhaps even a midnight ball.

She doesn’t expect the owner’s ruthlessly handsome son to slam the door in her face. Rowin Silver is tall, dark, and exceptionally rude, and invitation or not, he demands Genevieve leave and never come back. But Genevieve follows nobody’s orders, especially those of arrogant rich boys. She slips inside—and immediately discovers her mistake.

Rowin and his family are caught in an insidious game of hide and seek, where only one can win. The rest will be trapped in Hell… until the competition begins again.

Genevieve must either join the hunt or forfeit any hope of escaping. But to her dismay, her best chance of survival lies with Rowin. Since lovers may play as a pair, Rowin and Genevieve agree to form an alliance under the guise of a fake courtship. However, as they race through the game’s elaborate labyrinth, trapped among gleaming gold and shining marble, their loathing gives way to irresistible attraction. Only Rowin is keeping secrets, especially when it comes to his ruthless family, and Genevieve can’t help but wonder if she’s trapped in two treacherous games: Enchantra and the one Rowin is playing with her heart.

Content Warning: violence

+ I read Phantasma and enjoyed it but didn’t quite love the ending. But Enchantra was fun from beginning to end.

+ Genevieve is someone we meet in Phantasma and compared to her sister, Ophelia, she was definitely the more stubborn one. She brings that attitude here to Enchantra. She’s trying to find out more about her family’s past and opens an invitation addressed to her mom, who has passed away. On a trip to Italy she decides to go to Enchantra and gets trapped there. But that doesn’t stop her from being difficult.

+ Rowin is a Wraith and he and his family is cursed to play a deadly game at Enchantra for entertainment but also to gain immunity from living in Hell. Genevieve’s presence messes with his plans and convinces her the only way to keep her alive is for them to marry right away and enter the games as a couple. I loved Rowin – he was patient enough with Vivi, but also didn’t back down from her. And I love how he cared about his family.

+ The romance between Vivi and Rowin was filled with arguments, but moments of getting to know each other as they hid from Rowin’s blood thirsty siblings. Yes these games happen in a span of like a week but I think they go through a lot, plus the desire is there between them with some spicy scenes thrown in. But I love how the story ends – how they decide what to sacrifice and how they fall in love.

+ One of my favorite things about this book is Rowin’s family, The Silvers. He has a lot of siblings with very different personalities and powers. They were a rowdy, lethal, funny bunch that kept me very interested in the story. It also gave Vivi a found family. Also I liked the games in this book compared to the one in Phantasma. In Enchantra it was like a very deadly hide-and-seek!

~ Sometimes Vivi was TOO stubborn. Like girl, pay attention, Rowin is trying to keep you from dying. But all she wants to do is fight everything and everyone.

Final Thoughts:

I liked this one better than Phantasm and the introduction of Rowin’s family makes me think we are going to get a few books about these very interesting siblings of his! I enjoyed the games, the Silver family, the romance and spice between Rowin and Vivi (even though she could be super stubborn). I look forward to reading more books from this world!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Phantasma by. Kaylie Smith | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Weekly Wrap Up | 5/18/25

Aloha friends!

Another week is over and here’s what happened:

+ We are counting down the school days. Only 9 days left for my kiddos so yes they are excited and are sleeping in later, not wanting to go to school haha. But 9 more days!

+ Didn’t do much this week but the usual. My hubby’s friend’s husband passed suddenly last week so it’s been that kinda vibes – sad, reflective – and we got not so good news about my mom’s bladder cancer. She still is stage 1 but they are worried the cancer cells are moving towards her one ureter/kidney that she has left. She’s 72 years old and it’s not news we want to hear. She’s still in the fight of it though, but aging doesn’t help, she just gets so tired of going to the doctors, and doing chemo or procedures to remove the cells.

+ I’m counting down to my South Korea trip – but I have so many things to do days before my flight that ugh…that I’m just checking things off my list on by one and trying not to stress.

I hope you all have a great week!

Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

Damiano David – his new album FUNNY little FEARS – why is he so hot? Like he is the vampire of my dreams! And his voice – beautiful.

Videos I Posted to Youtube:

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!

Instagram | Tiktok | Youtube

Wandering Wild by. Lynette Noni | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Wandering Wild

Author: Lynette Noni

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 330

Publication Date: 5/20/25

Publisher: Blackstone Publishing, Inc.

Categories: Young Adult, Survival, Adventure, Romance, Celebrity Romance

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

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing, Inc. for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Final Thoughts:

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

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Prison Healer by. Lynette Noni | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Gilded Cage by. Lynette Noni | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Blood Traitor by. Lynette Noni | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Let’s Talk Bookish: What is one book that everyone else seemed to love except you? | 5/16/25

This week’s topic is:

May 16: What is one book that everyone else seemed to love except you? (Isabella @ The Ink Bound Reader)

**********

Have you ever experienced what seems like the whole book community raving about a book, only to discover it’s not all that?

Yes. 😅 The latest one is Onyx Storm. I love the series, but this book I didn’t love like the first book. I might have to do a re-read because I’m wondering if it was because I was in a bad mood? But yes there are a lot of people who loved it and I didn’t but hey…reading is subjective and we are all not going to love the same books. Plus I’m a mood reader so yeah…also I’ve found I don’t love cozy romance as much as others do.

What are some story elements that put you off while reading?

Miscommunication, a FMC who is always making mistakes and never learning her lesson; lately so many romantasy has the same, predictable things happening – secret identity/secret powers – so now I’m trying to find romantasy that is unique but that’s hard to do.

What about books others dislike that you love?

Yes there are some – like I said reading is subjective so it’s fine if people dislike what I like – that’s how it’s supposed to work I think!

Feel free to share examples of which books everyone loved and you didn’t, and vice versa!

I know lots of people didn’t Shatter Me by. Tahereh Mafi and yes it was very different but I was intrigued enough to read the second book and then fell in love with Warner! But people definitely hated this one!

I didn’t love Deep End by. Ali Hazelwood, like everyone did – I gave it 3 stars I believe. There were parts I enjoyed like the sports romance of it all but I felt cold about the two characters. I didn’t like that she always cried and I didn’t like that he came off just bland to me even if they were both into BDSM.

Just for the Summer by. Abby Jimenez was so popular I had to read it and it was the first book I read from her and didn’t love it. It was just okay for me.

The Grandest Game by. Jennifer Lynn Barnes, is part of a beloved series The Inheritance Games or a spinoff of it and I loved The Inheritance Games series but I think I outgrew it? I’m not sure, but I wasn’t into this one.

May Topics:

~~May 2: Bookish Fandoms~~

May 9: Motivation to Read (Jillian @ The Bookish Butterfly)

May 16: What is one book that everyone else seemed to love except you? (Isabella @ The Ink Bound Reader)

May 23: Literary Palette Cleansers

May 30: Freebie

His Mortal Demise| Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice:

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

Author: Vanessa Le

Format: hardcover (owned)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 3/16/25

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Content Warning: violence, death, war

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

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

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

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

Final Thoughts:

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

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

The Last Bloodcarver by. Vanessa Le | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Fate Forged in Fire by. Hazel McBride | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: A Fate Forged in Fire

Author: Hazel McBride

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 416

Publication Date: 5/27/25

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Dragons

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

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

To become the first queen in centuries, a powerfully blessed blacksmith must use her wits and fire magic to overthrow the corrupt powers ruling her kingdom—while also fighting her growing desire for one of her dragon-riding adversaries—in the first book of a sizzling Celtic-inspired fantasy romance duology.

Once a territory built on matriarchal rule and values, Tìr Teine has since grown frail from a long line of fruitless kings. The most recent of which have ruled under the influence of the True Religion, an oppressive group who have steadily poisoned the region with their anti-magic teachings.

Born to rule and blessed by fire, Aemyra has begrudgingly lived in hiding rather than risk her life in court, waiting in anticipation for the current king’s death so she can bond to his dragon, claim her throne, and protect her people. But when the king dies and Aemyra is ready to take what is rightfully hers, her ambitious plan is foiled and she is thrust into a game of vicious politics and plots.

Her biggest adversary is Prince Fiorean, a dragon-rider and one of the most powerful fire wielders in the territory. Cold, arrogant, and blindly supportive of his corrupt family, he is everything Aemyra despises. But as chaos engulfs the court, they find themselves reluctantly entwined, forced to forge an uneasy alliance—one that quickly ignites into something more dangerous than either of them expected.

Behind enemy lines and slowly falling for her so-called adversary, Aemyra uncovers just how far the rot of corruption has spread, and what she may have to sacrifice to claim her throne.

Content Warning: misogyny, violence, war, death, attempted forced hysterectomy, family trauma

+ This gives Game of Thrones and House of Dragon vibes but no incest (thank goodness)! I think it mostly resembles House of Dragon with the political intrigue and world-building which has a territory that used to worship Goddesses and practice magic and is now overrun with men practicing the True Religion, they are called the Chosen or Covenantors. Also there is a mad king – sound familiar? Anyway, I actually enjoyed the GoT/HoD vibes a lot – this world is merciless and cutthroat.

+ Aemyra is not only the rightful Queen in hiding but she is going to fight for her throne. Thing is she’s also naive, impulsive and arrogant. She has a lot to learn about being Queen. I think people reading this might either love or hate her. Growing up being groomed as the future Queen left her making impulsive decisions, thinking everything would fall her way easily. She finds out quickly that the path to winning the throne is not easy at she thought it would be. I like her strength and the things that she had to go through with the Chosen, made me root for her a lot. She is basically fighting for women’s rights.

+ I love the dragons and Aemyra’s bond with her twin brother, Adarian who is the more level-headed and softer side of the two of them. Her dad is a morally grey character who I don’t fully trust but it will be interesting to see what happens her relationship with him in the next book.

+ The romance is a slow build and I went back and forth hating and loving Fiorean to hating him by the end! But that’s what makes me want to read book two – because these two took enemies to lovers to the next level. Their sword fighting and fire fighting battles are intense, and the ending was even more so. There is some spice with knife play but since it’s a slow burn it doesn’t happen until later in the book.

+ There was good action throughout the book, culminating with a fierce battle at the end.

~ One issue I had was reading the Gaelic words. Yes, there is a vocabulary list to help readers, thank goodness but I did get frustrated at times.

~ This is an enemies to lovers to enemies romance for now. Prince Fiorean doesn’t show much emotion but when he does confess to how he feels about Aemyra – it’s so good. But still, I felt like leading up to their spicy scene, there wasn’t much build-up, just a lot of hate between them, would have liked more hints of attraction. So if you expect them to be wooing one another, that doesn’t happen, this is a vicious court they are living in and I’d say the lust wins out first. We’ll see what happens when the emotions come in.

Final Thoughts:

I didn’t know what to expect with this book but I can say that by the end of it I was addicted and will be looking forward to book two. What I love most about it is how it gives House of Dragon vibes with the dragons, political intrigue and ruthlessness of the world. I think I’ve been craving a book just like this for awhile. I was thoroughly entertained by this book and the betrayal at the end left me needing book two asap.