The last Let’s Talk Bookish topic was about book hype, and I just wanted to showcase the latest books I read because of BookTok’s influence. I know these are hyped books, and there was a chance they weren’t going to appeal to me, but I always get so curious about hyped books! The same goes for books that are ranked low; I am too curious to find out why. Here are some of the latest books I read because of BookTok and what I thought of them.

Metal Slinger by. Rachel Schneider

Brynn has spent the better part of her life waiting for the chance to attend the annual market hosted by the Kenta, the very same people who exiled the Alaha to live a life over the sea. A rite of passage for all young guards, she’s not sure what to expect from it, but breaking a century- long peace treaty certainly isn’t on her map.

Neither is the encounter with an enemy soldier.

Returning home to Alaha, she’s confronted with the aftermath of the day’s events. The future is uncertain as the threat of hunger looms over the people. With rumors of a growing rebellion, Brynn and her closest friends promise to stick together.

When an unexpected visitor arrives, Brynn’s loyalty will be tested as she learns of a world of magic and treachery. Once her enemy, always her enemy, right? But the dark, knowing eyes of a stranger make her question everything…

…including her heart.

MY THOUGHTS: Gave this one 3 stars. The plot twist was what everyone was flabbergasted by on booktok so I had to see what the hype was about. As a romantasy, this is a fun read, but a bit choppy with the pacing and I had to reread some parts because I felt like I had missed something. As for the plot twist – I didn’t love how it was done. Will I still read the sequel? Yes, I gotta see how the author is going to explain that plot twist. My Review – Metal Slinger by. Rachel Sneider | Book Review

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The Wolf King by. Lauren Palphreyman

When a princess is kidnapped by an alpha , war rages between the humans and the wolves. But soon, forbidden attraction starts to grow. . .

Princess Aurora longs to escape the castle and the marriage that has been arranged for her.

But on the night before her wedding, at a dog fight where captured werewolves are made to fight for sport, she spares the life of a young wolf. It puts her on the radar of the powerful alpha who was going to kill him. And it changes everything.

That night, when the alpha escapes, he kidnaps her and takes her to the rugged lands north of the border — where the once warring werewolf clans are beginning to unite. He thinks that she is the key to winning the war against the humans.

Only, as they spend time around one another, forbidden attraction starts to grow. And as Aurora learns that not all wolves are bad, the alpha discovers that she is in danger from both his enemies, and those he once considered friends.

With monsters on both sides, a bloodthirsty war between humans and wolves raging, and undeniable passion growing between them — will their story end in love? Or tragedy?

And will Aurora ever get home?

Does she even want to?

MY THOUGHTS: The hype hasn’t been super huge with this one but I’ve seen it on KU and saw it here and there on booktok. It was someone in my blog comments that mentioned they were reading it and said it was good so I decided to try it and gave it 4 stars! I loved it! It’s a romantasy so there isn’t anything original but I loved the werewolves, the politics, and Blake. I liked the ending so much I borrowed book two right away on KU and kept reading! My Review – The Wolf King by. Lauren Palphreyman | Book Review

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The Night Prince by. Lauren Palphreyman

Aurora is caught between powerful alphas as they fight for the Wolf Throne. But darker forces are rising. . .

The highly anticipated sequel to The Wolf King. Pre-order now!

Aurora may have survived the Wolf King. But his bite marks her skin, and in accordance with Wolf Law, that makes her his property. Now, he wants her back.

To beat him and take his throne, Aurora and Callum must form a dangerous alliance with one of the most feared Wolves in the Kingdom, Blake. He is their enemy, but he has entangled his life with Aurora’s—meaning she cannot harm him without forfeiting her own life.

As she fights to break their connection, she suspects Blake is keeping secrets about a dark power that rises in the north, and the unsettling nature of the bond between them. It seems there is a bigger game at play than who sits on the Wolf Throne—one that threatens both the Kingdom of Wolves, and the Kingdom of Men.

With her wolf awakening, enemies closing in, relationships tested, and secrets revealed—Aurora may be the only one who can stop an ancient evil from rising.

If she can figure out who to trust.

If she can figure out where she, and her heart, belong.

If she can stay alive.

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MY THOUGHTS: Devoured this one but it’s only 4 stars because it needed more of Aurora and Blake together (and not only in the dreamscape). She’s still with the other guy and I’m bummed about it! Blake is a 5 star in my eyes lol…I’m obsessed with him and can’t wait for book 3! My Review – The Night Prince by. Lauren Palphreyman | Book Review

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Enigma by. RuNyx

Enigma, a twisted Hades and Persephone meets scorching dark academia romance—a tale of love and obsession between two rivals.

There are secrets she must uncover.

There are secrets he must keep.

Salem Salazar is fascinated with death. The black sheep of her scandal-ridden, wealthy family, she arrives at Mortimer University as a legacy on the hunt for answers about what happened to her perfect, older sister. There, she discovers that her sister is far from the only girl to have gone missing at Mortimer. Salem will do anything to discover what dark forces are killing Mortimer’s students…even if it means using herself as bait.

And Cazimir van der Waal has caught her scent. The mysterious artist and teaching assistant has a dark past, a hidden agenda, and a ravenous appetite for a beautiful, golden-eyed girl who seems determined to risk her life.

Where she is ice, he is fire. Where she is organization, he is chaos. Where she is precision, he is passion. Together they are explosive–their fates linked as secret societies and death stalk them both.

Enigma is a sensual, epic love story for those who also crave the frightful, the puzzling, the suspenseful, the dangerous and the dark.

Welcome to Mortimer.

MY THOUGHTS: Definitely borrowed this one because of booktok! Gave it 3.5 stars, I actually enjoyed it. It’s more romance focused but I wanted more about the secret societies and the murders. My Review – Enigma by. RuNyx| Book Review

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On Wings of Blood by. Briar Boleyn

What do you get if you mix Harry Potter with Fourth Wing, Zodiac Academy, a dash of Arthurian legend, and lots and lots of vampires? Bloodwing Academy.

I didn’t sign up for this.

A half-fae in a school of highblood vampires? That’s a recipe for torment.

I’m Medra Pendragon—last of the dragon riders, or so they tell me. Funny thing is, there are no dragons left. Not a single one. But somehow, that hasn’t stopped the vampires from deciding I’m worth capturing. Now I’m stuck at Bloodwing Academy, where the highbloods run everything and blightborn like me? We’re just blood in their veins, pawns in their games.

But that’s not even the worst part. Enter Blake Drakharrow. Cold, arrogant, and way too gorgeous for his own good. He’s been tormenting me since the moment we met, and now, thanks to some ancient ritual, we’re betrothed. He acts like he owns me, but I’m not going down without a fight.

Bloodwing isn’t just a school—it’s a battlefield. Highbloods fight for power, and if you’re weak? You’re dead.

Between deadly competitions, lies that could get me executed, and a dragon-shaped secret looming over my head, all I have to do is survive. Easy, right? Except I’m starting to think the real danger isn’t the academy—it’s what I’m becoming in this twisted game of power.

And Blake? He might just be the one who pushes me over the edge.

They think they can control me. They think they can use me.

But they have no idea what they’ve awakened.

MY THOUGHTS: This is a very hyped book on booktok so I read it and gave it 3 stars. I actually was going to DNF because of how it starts – kind of confusing, but I pushed through. Didn’t love the romance and actually wish the FMC would end up with someone else! Also thought there was a lot going on. Didn’t love it but could see some potential. My Review – On Wings of Blood by. Briar Boleyn| Book Review

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The Bond That Burns by. Briar Boleyn

At Bloodwing Academy, blood is currency, but a dragon’s legacy is priceless—and as dangerous as fire.

I thought surviving my first year in Bloodwing’s deadly halls would be enough. I was wrong.

I accidentally woke a dragon—a creature of myth, of death, of fire.

Now every highblood house wants control over me and the dragon’s legacy I carry. But here’s the truth: I have no control. I’m bluffing my way through every encounter, trying to keep everyone from realizing that I’m not the one pulling the dragon’s strings.

And then there’s Blake Drakharrow. I thought he was on my side, that I might even be able to trust him. But he betrayed me. Now I’m his only blood source. How messed up is that? In a place like Bloodwing, where power and survival are everything, this bond may well be the death of us both. Unless I can find a way to end it.

In this world of vampires, dragons, and lies, there are no happy endings. Just legends—and the darkness it takes to make them.

MY THOUGHTS: Okay this…I just didn’t like but I did give it 2.5 stars, rounding down though – I do not like Blake as the love interest at all. (Is Blake a popular name for guys in Romantasy right now? Because he’s the second Blake I read of this year!) On the fence if I will read book three – maybe I’ll read reviews and spoilers before seeing if I want to pick it up. My review – The Bond That Burns by. Briar Boleyn| Book Review

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Have you read any of these books? Are you on Tiktok? Are you part of booktok? I think it’s a great way to learn about new books from indie authors or new releases that aren’t featured on IG or bookstagram. So far I’ve had some hits and misses but it’s been fun seeing what books people are raving about on there!