The Ordeals by. Rachel Greenlaw | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: The Ordeals (Killmarth Trials, #1)

Author: Rachel Greenlaw

Format: hardcover (own)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 10/7/25

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Dark Academia, Magic, Alchemy, Vampires

In this lush, atmospheric romantasy, an illusionist competes in a series of deadly trials for a spot at an elite magical college—that is, if another hopeful doesn’t kill her first.

Twenty-year-old Sophia DeWinter has only known life bound to her cruel uncle, the Collector, thanks to a blood bond he exacted from her as a child. When she learns of Killmarth College, an elite academy for magic wielders outside of the Collector’s control, she knows it is her only chance to finally break free. But to gain entry, she will have to compete against other illusionists, masquiers, botanists, and alchemists in a series of brutal trials that many hopefuls don’t survive—the Ordeals.

Sophia knows her skills as an illusionist are weak; she only makes it through the first challenge by teaming up with a powerful (and insufferably sexy) botanist, Alden Locke. To make it out alive, she will have to hone her magic and learn to identify who is a rival, who could be an ally, and who is a murderer.

Because now, not only does she have to protect her heart, but her very life. Hopefuls are being viciously picked off one by one between the challenges. In her haste to escape the Collector’s trap, Sophia may have fled straight towards her own death sentence.

Content Warning: violence

+ Sophia only chance to escape her guardian, The Collector, is to enter a trials to have a chance to be admitted into a magical college institution where scholars study and work on their different powers like illusionist, arborist, alchemist, or a masquier. But first Sophia has to figure out how to get in and make sure The Collector doesn’t stop her.

+ Sophia meets her romance interest, Alden, right away. And they have an instant connection and flirtation between them ensues. I love that even though their connection was instant, they become partners in the trials first, the flirtation continues but they really do have to concentrate on keeping alive especially since there are some unsolved murders going on. There is spice eventually though. I thought they were cute together. Both of them are nice, good people with some secrets, so they had to learn to trust one another.

+ I enjoyed the twists and turns of the story. There is a murder mystery in the middle of the learning and trials. I like the enemies being vampires. I also really enjoyed seeing Sophia make friends with Tessa and Greg. Their friendship was one of my favorite parts of this story.

~ I’ve read a lot of Dark Academia stories this year so it’s becoming hard to read the same genre and try to find anything new and fresh about it. The trials in this story brought the suspense into the story, but it didn’t feel different from other trials I’ve read in books all year.

~ This book was a nice length at 384 but it took me almost two weeks to finish I think because of the pacing, which was a little slow, and the fact that I’ve read so many books in this genre this year. I maybe should have saved this for next year.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, I did enjoy this one, even though the slow pacing made for a slower read. I especially loved Sophia’s friendship with Tessa and her romance with Alden. It will be interesting to see what happens in book two.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Compass and Blade by. Rachel Greenlaw | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Death-Made Prince by. Lisette Marshall | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: The Death-Made Prince (Runewitch Saga, #1)

Author: Lisette Marshall

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 547

Publication Date: 10/21/25

Categories: Fantasy, Dark Romance, Enemies to Lovers

A runewitch on the run has only one option join forces with the sarcastic, unpleasantly gorgeous necromancer she loathes

The man Thraga loved is dead, and her future is in shambles. When she’s sentenced to the gallows for killing her lover’s murderers, it’s a relief more than anything… until, the night before her execution, a necromancer is thrown into her cell.

Escaping with him is her only chance to bring Lark back to life – and also the start of all her troubles.

Because her new almost-ally is not just any man returned from death. Fire mage, rogue prince, and son of the man who killed her mother, sharp-tongued Durlain Averre is everything Thraga hates. Worse, he won’t revive her lover unless she joins him on a mission of his own first, using her forbidden rune magic to free his sister from the dungeons of an enemy king.

But their quest turns into a deadly chase when Thraga’s violent past catches up with her. And as the net of court intrigue and old fears closes around them, she begins to find out Lark was not at all the man she thought he was…

And neither is Durlain.

The Death-Made Prince is the first book of the Runewitch Saga, an epic enemies to lovers fantasy romance featuring two morally grey leads, OCD rep, and a Norse mythology-inspired world. While it is a slow burn romance, the first book does contain spicy content intended for 18+ readers.

Content Warning: violence, death, sexual assault, torture

+ I don’t really know what I expected from this book but I could not put it down. Thraga is in a prison cell when a man is thrown into the cell and her life changes forever.

+ The world-building is great because our characters Thraga and Durlain are on the run and also searching out information so that Durlain can save his sister. He needs Thraga because she is a runewitch – but runewitches are reviled in this world, so she has to keep it secret or she will be killed or worse, taken prisoner again and used. So we get to see a whole lot of this world as Thraga and Durlain are traveling thrown different towns and terrains. I love how that gave me a better sense of the world. It is a Norse-mythology inspired world, hence the runewitch but there is also necromancy. There is political intrigue, secrets and betrayals that added a lot to the story and made the stakes higher. There is violence, battles, and mentions of torture.

+ Thraga is a powerful runewitch and she is mourning the loss of her loved one, Lark. She decides to help Durlain because he agrees he could bring him back from the dead. She was with him for four years but we learn through her memories of him that what she thought was safety and protection was actually him placing her in a cage and making her think less of herself. I was so mad on her behalf and was really rooting for her to break from the memories and grow. Thraga is neurodivergent and also has OCD, and it’s represented really well in this story where even her thoughts started making me anxious. She really is a character who is finding her strength and I love that about this story. But there is a lot we still don’t know about her, especially after that ending!

+ Durlain, the MMC, is a prince and he’s already died once. He is a firemage and he has horns! Honestly I’ve read so many romantasy books where the MMC is downright gorgeous and I have been really, really craving an MMC that isn’t gorgeous but interesting and compelling. Durlain is that guy! He’s scarred (internally and externally), and he wears an eye-patch. He is flawed, sharp edges and angles, witty, cunning and intense – not gorgeous but he’s riveting. He’s everything I’ve been craving for lately! It’s like this author read my mind 😅. He’s doing all of this to find his sister, who loves dearly. He’s morally grey. He’s been tortured and killed and back for revenge and I was all for it!

+ The romance is a slow burn and enemies to lovers. Durlain’s people hate runewitches, and vice versa, so there is a lot of animosity there, but they are companions on this crazy journey and there is a lot of forced proximity. Durlain has a sharp tongue but Thraga gave back as good as he gave, which I loved for her because she was conditioned not to fight. I loved their interactions and verbal sparring! It’s a slow burn but eventually there is spice. But their situation is a challenging one because Durlain is used to pushing people away, he’s been through hell, literally, but Thraga has gotten under his skin. But I need book two because of what happened at the end!

~ I’m not usually one to like books where the characters go on a long journey. There is a lot of hopping around from place to place but in this story I didn’t mind it too much because we got the lay of the land as they traveled plus we meet some interesting people that are important to Thraga and Durlain’s goals.

~ There are a lot of characters they meet along the way and I did get confused at times who Durlain was impersonating, especially if it was one of his family members!

Final Thoughts:

I loved this one. Loved the enemies to lovers romance, loved the characters who are complex, and that ending…I need book two asap! Also, I’ve had one of her books, Court of Blood and Bindings on my Goodreads TBR list so maybe I’ll just jump into this series while I wait for book two.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Thorn Season by. Kiera Azar | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Thorn Season (Thorn Season, #1)

Author: Kiera Azar

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 464

Publication Date: 9/2/25

Publisher: Storytide

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Political Intrigue

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

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

In the Kingdom of Daradon, a persecuted few are Wielders – able to exert a physical power that extends beyond her visible a shimmering tendril that can pick a lock, a gentle coil that reaches out to give a loving caress, or an inexorable rope that will kill a man before he knows it is around his neck. Feared and mistrusted for this ability, Wielders have always been Hunted.

Alissa Paine – heiress of a noble lineage, daughter of a Hunter family – is also a Wielder. And as she approaches her eighteenth Season, Alissa knows she has escaped execution so far only through painful self-control, and the fragile efforts of her beloved father.

Summoned to the harsh and glittering royal court for the debutante season, Alissa finds herself trapped in a web of hidden intentions – and caught between two equally dangerous men. One is a brutal ruler with the handsome face of a fairytale prince, who would see her destroyed in an instant if the truth were known – and the other a beguiling foreign ambassador with secret agendas of his own.

It’s Rose Season at the palace, but Alissa knows that survival will depend on being the most vicious of the thorns…

Content Warning: violence, death, grief

+ I didn’t know what to expect with this one – honestly I requested the arc because I was so in love with the cover! But I love when a book cover is beautiful and the story is just as good! The political intrigue and mystery about a certain object really kept me on my toes, especially in the second half of this book.

+ Alissa is an heiress and King Erik has his eye on her. In this Kingdom of Daradon, Wielders are being hunted because they have power that isn’t allowed. Alissa’s families are renowned hunters, but they don’t know but only a select few that she’s a Wielder herself, just in hiding, except she hasn’t done a good job at that. Alissa is beautiful, cunning, has the King’s ear, plays court politics well, and she loves her father. I found her character fascinating. She’s tough, and I can’t see what happens for her next.

+ The court politics was really what kept me invested in this book. I enjoyed the mystery and plot twists. Alissa and the King seemed to be playing a cat and mouse game. The King is a real villain even though at first, it doesn’t seem like it. But his character is written so well, that I hate him so much. He is the kind of evil that comes in a pretty package.

+ There wasn’t a lot of romance in this story but I didn’t mind it at all. In the beginning I thought it would be a love triangle, but I don’t think it will be. But I could be wrong. Garrett, her ex-best friend is an interesting character with a rough childhood. And Keil, an ambassador from another kingdom where Wielders are allowed, looks like the one who will be Alissa love interest. They do a lot of flirting in this book but not much else.

~ Alissa talks about her specter a lot but I couldn’t fully grasp what it was except that it is power. I would have loved more history about it, and to learn more about what Wielders can do.

Final Thoughts:

It took my two days to read this book and the second half of the book had me hooked. I love the political intrigue and how Alissa navigates court. The politics, the magic, the complicated characters and the beginnings of a romance was melded together in an entertaining book. The power play between her and the King kept me riveted. I can’t wait to see what happens in book two!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

While the Dark Remains by. Joanna Ruth Meyer | Audiobook Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating:

Title: While the Dark Remains

Author: Joanna Ruth Meyer

Narrator: Kimberly Woods

Format: audiobook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 450 / Audio Reading Time (approx.): 14h 45m

Publication Date: 8/1/25

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Brynja spent her childhood as a captive performer in Tenebris, the imposing mountain palace of King Kallias. Every night she risked death for the king’s entertainment until his rebellious son, Prince Ballast, helped her escape. Now twenty, Brynja has never forgotten the brutal king. Or forgiven him. Under the cloak of a three-month-long Winter Dark, Brynja is returning to Tenebris for revenge.

Accompanied by a rival court, including the alluring Prince Vil, Brynja poses as diplomatic royalty to barter peace between nations. No one is better equipped to infiltrate the palace than Brynja—she remembers every hidden passage like a bad dream. But her quest to destroy Kallias is complicated by her feelings for Prince Ballast, whom she isn’t sure she can still trust. And Kallias’s own quest to mine a catastrophic weapon of war buried in the mountain’s heart will threaten them all, and force Brynja to face the darkest parts of herself.

The lives of everyone she loves depend on the choices she must make. So, too, does the fate of the world.

Content Warning: violence, violence towards children

+ There is one narrator for this audiobook and I thought she did a great job with doing all the character voices.

+ I thought the world-building was pretty good. Three different kingdoms, with some animosities between them. The main kingdom this story takes place is in Tenebris who is ruled by King Kallias. He’s a cruel king who uses children as entertainment. These kids are abused and even killed if they don’t please him. Brynja and her friends Saga and Vil, part of the Skanda delegation to Tenebris, are going there under the pretense to make a trade deal, but their ultimate goal is to end his reign.

+ Brynja is an interesting character – she was one of these children in King Kallias’ collection of kids. Her talent was as an acrobat. At her time in Tenebris she befriends, Ballast, who is one of the king’s sons. Brynja does escape Tenebris eventually but coming back brings back bad memories of her time there. While she was at Tenebris, she also befriends Saga who is from Skanda, and in a way when they escape, Saga’s family becomes her found family.

+ The romance between Brynja and Ballast doesn’t really pick up until the end because of their complicated past. It’s a real slow burn and almost an enemies to friendship to lovers kind of story.

+ I enjoyed the politics and there is a plot twist that explains more about Brynja’s past and changes some relationships in the book.

~ This story is told in flashbacks which I don’t usually love and it happens a lot in the story but I did not have a hard time following even though I was listening to it as an audiobook. But I just don’t love the back and forth knowing what year we are in and the years are like 4150 or something like that.

~ The beginning is a bit slow as Brynja, Saga and Vil travel to Tenebris. There is a lot of stories about their gods which I think could be cut back a little because my attention wavered when those stories were told.

~ Brynja got sick a lot in this story when her anxiety hit. I don’t know why that stood out to me but I would always think – she’s gonna be sick, again?! 😅

Final Thoughts:

I enjoyed the audiobook though I did think the story was a tad bit too long especially with all the time jumping I had to pay attention too. I like the world-building though and was invested in Brynja’s journey back to the place she was traumatized and learning more about her past. The plot twist was there for shock value but I’m glad it didn’t end in a cliffhanger but was at least explained afterwards.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A Forbidden Alchemy by. Stacey McEwan | Audiobook Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: A Forbidden Alchemy

Author: Stacey McEwan

Narrator:
Billie Fulford-Brown (Narrator), Joshua Riley (Narrator)

Format: audiobook (audible)

Pages: 480 / Audio Reading Time (approx.): 16 hours and 46 minutes

Publication Date: 7/1/25

Categories: Romantasy, Magic, Enemies to Lovers, Fantasy, Romance

This stunning slow-burn romantasy follows a fated pair who uncover a world-changing secret and are thrust into a violent class war, navigating love, loss, and devastating betrayals.

Nina Harrow and Patrick Colson are twelve years old when they are whisked away from the shadows of their disenfranchised mining towns to dazzling Belavere City to discover their magical potential. Those who pass Belavere’s test will become Artisans, wielders of powerful elemental magic destined to fulfill the city’s grand ambitions. For Nina, the Artisan School symbolizes a dream and an escape from her harsh reality, while Patrick yearns to return to his Craftsman family, whose extraordinary physical strength serves the idium mines keeping the city alive.

And then they uncover a devastating Artisans aren’t born, they’re chosen. They part ways on very different paths, leaving them to carry the burden of this secret alone.

In the years that follow, a Craftsman revolution ignites, thrusting Nina and Patrick into opposing factions of a brewing war. Now an elite Artisan with the very rare talent for charming earth, Nina has turned her back on the fight, haunted by the loss of her found family. But fate intervenes when she is captured by Patrick’s rebel group. Despite the years and conflict that separates them, Patrick hasn’t forgotten Nina. He desperately seeks her help for a mission that could shift the tides against Belavere City. Reluctantly, she agrees, battling the sparks flying between them. But when Nina’s first love reappears, asking her to betray Patrick for the sake of the Artisans, Nina faces an impossible choice that could alter the fate of their world.

Content Warning: violence, death

+ The narrators are amazing on this audiobook. The accents are fantastic!

+ The world building is really good in this story. There is a magic system that is really interesting – where people can either be Crafters or Artisans. Miners are rebelling against the Lords who is looking for the Alchemist, which is someone who has considerable power.

+ I really enjoyed Nina and Patrick’s story of how they met, parted and met again. In between that time, both of them have lived different lives – Nina training as an earth charmer and falling for Theo, who is a son of a prominent Lord. When Nina and Patrick meet again, it’s under different circumstances but it starts off a romance where Patrick is falling hard. Patrick is a strong character, harsh because of the conditions he’s had to live in, but I love how he protects his own – he loves his family and community, and is falling for Nina and will do anything for her. Nina feels strongly about him too, even though Theo makes an appearance again, but it gets a little complicated between all of them. It is a slow burn between Nina and Patrick though with a little heat.

+ There are a few twists and turns in this story that kept me attention engaged. There is a lot of secrets and a betrayal. The ending is really good too but ends in a cliffhanger!

~ Nina at times wasn’t my favorite especially in the end. I don’t know if it was because I felt disconnected from her character due to me listening to this as an audiobook?

Final Thoughts:

This is the first book in a series I think and it’s a really good start. I loved learning about this unique world with magic, and miners rebelling against the House of Lords. Patrick is a very compelling character but I think I wanted a little more from Nina. Their romance is a slow burn, but Patrick falls hard, and we’ll see what happens next after that ending. This audiobook version was very entertaining and the narrators sounded really good with their accents. I look forward to reading the next book in the series!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Ledge by. Stacey McEwan | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Warrior Princess Assassin by. Brigid Kemmerer | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Title: Warrior Princess Assassin (Braided Fate, #1)

Author: Brigid Kemmerer

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 408

Publication Date: 8/12/25

Publisher: Avon

Categories: Romance, Fantasy, Political Intrigue, Why Choose, Romantasy

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

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

WARRIOR. King Maddox Kyronan’s fire magic has earned him a ruthless reputation on the battlefield, but now his kingdom is slowly burning. Ky’s only chance to save his people is to enter a marriage alliance with the neighboring nation of Astranza, and hope that the royal family’s power to manipulate the weather will help his land flourish once more. He just needs to ensure no one finds out how the blaze began.

PRINCESS. With war looming on the horizon, Princess Jory’s home needs the protection of the fearsome warrior king, but she is hiding a dangerous her family’s magic is fading. Tempting as it is to reject her duties and run away with her childhood friend, Asher, Jory knows that she is the kingdom’s last hope. When she meets her intended, Jory is surprised to discover that beneath Ky’s daunting exterior is a compassionate and sharp-witted man who sets her heart aflame. But what will he do when he realizes she’s deceiving him?

ASSASSIN. Asher’s done what he must to survive, even if that means getting his hands dirty. Once a young nobleman in Astranza’s palace, where he and Jory caused mischief together, now he’s part of the Hunter’s Guild, employing much darker skills. When a lucrative job comes his way, Asher can’t say no—until he discovers the targets. Someone wants Ky and Jory dead. With the Guild watching, Asher must decide what he’s willing to do to protect the woman he loves.

A tale of three complex characters torn between chasing, betraying, and falling in love with each other, Warrior Princess Assassin marks the beginning of a thrilling new fantasy trilogy filled with enchantment, adventure, and passionate romance.

Content Warning: violence, mentions of slavery, mentions of abuse

+ I went into this one not expecting much but a good story because I enjoy this author’s work and I was hooked from chapter one. It’s filled with tropes that aren’t unique – a princess about to be married off to the king of a neighborhood kingdom for an alliance that would benefit both sides and her best friend is an assassin. Also there is someone who is trying to foil this alliance.

+ There are three POVs in this story: The Warrior is Maddox Kyronan (Ky) who has fire magic and needs help with the dying crops on his lands. The Princess is Marjoriana (Jory) who has wants to rebel and not be forced into an arranged marriage but she has no choice, because her kingdom needs an army (Ky’s), against another kingdom. And then there is the Assassin – Asher, who is Jory’s best friend. I thought the characters were interesting, but I think I was mostly fascinated with Asher who has been through hell, my heart broke for him.

+ The court politics was present and kept things intriguing in the beginning until the focus of the story came to the relationship between Asher, Ky and Jory. It does come back in the end which will set off things for book two.

+ While reading this, I thought this was heading towards an intense love triangle but I was wrong. Jory doesn’t have to choose either and in the end gets both of them. And because they are joining into a throuple, the spice was spicy. It is a slow burn though and most of it happens at the end of the story. I have a feeling this is going to get spicier in book two. But I was really intrigue with how this story started off between the three of them – it’s filled with tension and mistrust. It kept me hooked!

~ I think because the story focused on the characters, the politics kind of of disappeared in the middle of the story. It does return at the end to set up the next book.

~ Jory is the weakest link in this story. She is naive, she is inexperienced – yes, she shows moments of being bold but I wanted more from her. I think that will present itself in book two also, but the star of this book to me is Asher. So I hope Jory gets to shine a bit. She is the soft one between them and maybe the anchor since both men are a bit broken in their own way. She is the innocence and heart I think they miss and crave.

Final Thoughts:

I read this one in two days, so I was hooked because of the characters. It’s a romantasy filled with the typical tropes but it’s the characters that are the focus in this book one, not the political intrigue, though it is there. The tension and yearning in the three main characters in this why choose situation was addicting, even though the spice doesn’t really present itself almost at the end of the book. I think we need a little more from Jory’s character and more politics in book two but overall, I want to see what happens next to this throuple. I am rooting for Asher and hopes he gets the love and healing he deserves.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Defy the Night by. Brigid Kemmerer | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Defend the Dawn by. Brigid Kemmerer | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Curse so Dark and Lonely by. Brigid Kemmerer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Heart so Fierce and Broken by. Brigid Kemmerer ⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Vow So Bold and Deadly by. Brigid Kemmerer | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Forging Silver into Stars by. Brigid Kemmerer | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Letters to the Lost by. Brigid Kemmerer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

More Than We Can Tell by. Brigid Kemmerer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Jasad Crown by. Sara Hashem | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Jasad Crown (The Scorched Throne, #2)

Author: Sara Hashem

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 692

Publication Date: 7/15/25

Publisher: Orbit

Categories: Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Political Intrigue

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

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

In the thrilling conclusion to the Egyptian-inspired Scorched Throne duology, a fugitive queen must risk everything and everyone she loves for the chance to restore her lost kingdom of Jasad.

Held deep in a mountain refuge, Sylvia has been captured by the Urabi, who believe the Jasad Heir can return their homeland to its former power. But after years of denying her legacy and a forbidden alliance with Jasad’s greatest enemy, Sylvia must win the Urabi’s trust while struggling to hide the dangerous side effects her magic is having on her mind.

In a rival kingdom, Arin must maneuver carefully between his father’s desire to put down the brewing rebellion and the sacred edicts Arin is sworn to uphold. He is determined to find Sylvia before it’s too late, but Arin’s search unravels secrets that threaten the very core of his beliefs about his family and the destruction of Jasad.

War is inevitable, but Sylvia cannot abandon her people again. The Urabi plan to raise the Jasadi fortress, and it will either kill Sylvia or destroy the humanity she’s fought so hard to protect. For the first time in her life Sylvia doesn’t just want to survive. She wants to win.

The fugitive queen is ready to reign.

Content Warning: violence, death, grief, parental abuse

+ This is part two in The Scorched Throne series and what I loved about the first book was Arin and Sylvia/Essiya. I wanted to see what would happen to them in the conclusion and what a conclusion it is.

+ The enemies to lovers romance in this series is top notch. The tension between Arin and Essiya is so good. And they are always fighting and I don’t mean arguing but physical fighting. And I wanted more in this book but I felt like we still got bread crumbs. There are some exceptional moments though where Arin is telling Essiya what lengths he would go to save her, be with her, love her. It made me melt! It hurts my heart just knowing what they had to go through in this story. But what a love story it turned out to be!

+ Sylvia/Essiya was the compelling character in book one because of who she was and what she was hiding. She’s still amazing in this one – strong, impulsive, but learning to be a leader. It’s Arin that stole my heart in book two. He has to deal with a lot of truths, betrayals, guilt and with his brilliant mind, with him always trying to figure out a puzzle or plan for the future – he of course has to figure out how to save Essiya. I loved both their personal journeys, but more so Arin’s.

+ The world-building was great and the twists in the story did surprise me. I love this lush world of magic, with magical creatures and beasts coming to life.

~ Like book one, I felt like this book again was too long. This is longer than book one, coming in just under 700 pages. I wonder why this was never made into a trilogy because it definitely could have been! Also, I’m starting to question if I just don’t enjoy long books?

~ Because I felt like it was too long, the pacing was uneven. The beginning was slow, it took me a few days to get through it, I was trying to get my bearings and remember who Sefa and Marek were. This time they have their own POVs. I was not-so-patiently waiting for Arin and Essiya to be in scenes together. And then I would be riveted to the story and then it would slow down again. The second half was much better. The ending plot-twist felt a little rushed and I wish there was more to explore that which is why I wish this would have been a trilogy!

Final Thoughts:

Even though it was too long and the pacing was uneven, the Arin and Essiya love story really bumped up my rating from 3.5 to 4 stars. I love them together and was rooting for them hard. I loved the world building and the twists in the story. This was a good conclusion to the duology. If you like fantasy and romance (not so much romantasy – there is no smut in this) then you will enjoy this series.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

The Jasad Heir by. Sara Hashem | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Den of Liars by. Jessica S. Olson | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️

Title: Den of Liars

Author: Jessica S. Olson

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 7/1/25

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Heist, Fantasy, Casino, Magic

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

Thank you to Feiwel & Friends for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A young thief attempting a daring casino heist during a high-stakes tournament is torn between two warring brothers in Den of Liars, a thrilling YA fantasy romance by acclaimed author Jessica S. Olson.

Lola St. James is the world’s best kept secret. When her father’s loss in the Liar’s Dice Tournament–a high-stakes competition where players are forced to gamble with their deepest secrets–made her a target, she was rescued by the Thief, the notorious leader of the Tentacles. But the Thief’s kindness came with a Lola’s heart. In the years that followed, she and the Thief formed a bond like no other, able to feel each other’s emotions because of their shared heart.

Now, living under the pseudonym Astra, she is determined to prove herself and become a full-fledged Tentacle. But when a critical heist goes sideways, the only way forward is for Lola to compete in the Liar’s Dice Tournament herself. Lola is confident in her ability to pull off any heist, but the Thief’s mysterious brother, the Liar, runs the game and he turns out to be more than she bargained for. As her attraction for him grows and illusions run wild, she will be forced to confront the secrets of her past, the truth of the brothers’ shared history, and the lies she tells herself.

Content Warning: violence

+ This story starts with a heist and ends with secrets coming unraveled and I had a great time with it! This is set in a casino which I found fun and dark. This is a world revolving around magic and secrets. The magic system is unique and there is a competition taking place to win an Unbreakable Lie. A game always makes things interesting!

+ Lola was saved by the Thief (Enzo), but now they have a mission to infiltrate the world of the Liar (Nic), so they can find the moonshard to break Enzo’s curse. Lola is a pretty good thief but even she isn’t strong enough to withstand some of the Liar’s magic or how much she comes to learn about him and desire him later on. I liked Lola, she was strong and wanted to prove her worth, but she’s also gone through some trauma. When she’s caught in the web of lies around her she has to make a choice on whether she wants to know the full truth. And that’s a hard choice to make. There is lots of growth for her from beginning to end.

+ Enzo and Nic are brothers but something major came between them and they hate each other. I loved getting to know these two different guys and getting a glimpse of their back story also. Enzo being the edgier of the two and addicted to thieving, and Nic who can weave a spell and make people love him with his lies. This is not a love triangle – I feel like it’s pretty obvious Enzo and Lola treat each other like siblings. Whereas Nic and Lola want each other but can’t be with one another because of mistrust, lies and Enzo.

+ It’s enemies to lovers and forced proximity but I really enjoyed how the story explored trust, lies and questioning who was manipulating who. It’s not spicy but there are some scene filled with heat and tension that was really good. Obviously, neither Lola or Nic, trust each other enough to take a chance on each other which is sad but I’m looking forward to see if that changes in book two (and I am assuming there will be one or else I’ll be crushed).

~ I would have liked more information about the magic and moonshard. We get a little bit of a backstory, very little. There is a lot more in this world to explore, like trying to find Laurel, Nic’s ex and someone important to the brothers finding this moonshard. Also, I’d like to know if Lola and her dad ever reunite and we can learn more about Lola’s past. Basically all of these things would give more information about the moonshard and magic so I hope we get that in book two.

Final Thoughts:

I read this one in two days. I got sucked into this magical, dark, casino world and the feud between two brothers, and Lola, a girl with a secret identity at the middle of the web of lies. I loved the tension in the romance between Lola and Nic and I hope there is a sequel so I can find out what happens next!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

BLOG TOUR} A Forgery of Roses by. Jessica S. Olson | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Serpent and the Wolf by. Rebecca Robinson | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Serpent and the Wolf (Dark Inheritance Trilogy, #1)

Author: Rebecca Robinson

Format: eBook (borrowed)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 11/19/24

Categories: Romance, Fantasy, Romantasy, Slow-Burn, Witches, Magic

Perfect for fans of Raven Kennedy and Thea Guanzon, Rebecca Robinson’s thrilling romantasy debut combines high-stakes political intrigue and a steamy, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance.

All her life, Vaasa Kozár has been sharpened into a blade.

After losing her mother—her only remaining parent—to a mysterious dark magic that has since awakened within her, Vaasa is certain death looms. So is her merciless brother, who aims to eliminate Vaasa as a threat to his crown. In one last political scheme, he marries her off to Reid of Mireh, a ruthless foreign ruler, in hopes that he can use her death as a rallying cry to finally invade Reid’s nation. All Vaasa has to do is die.

But she is desperate to live. Vaasa enters her new marriage with every intent to escape it, wielding the hard-won political prowess and combat abilities her late father instilled in her. But to her surprise, Reid offers her a deal: help him win the votes to rise in power, and she can walk free. In exchange, he will share his knowledge about the dark magic running through her veins—and help keep it at bay.

This proposal may be too good to refuse, yet Vaasa and Reid’s undeniable attraction threatens to break the rules of their arrangement. As her brother’s lethal machinations take form, everything is at stake: Vaasa must learn to trust her new husband, but how can she, especially when their perfect political marriage begins to feel like the real thing?

Content Warning: violence, death, torture

+ I was excited to borrow this one because I heard good things about it and I can see why! It’s got a strong female main character, witches, magic, political intrigue and a simmering slow burn. But before the slow burn, I’d say this book starts off with a bang!

+ My favorite thing about this besides the romance between Vaasa and Reid is the witches! I love how Vaasa is hating everything about herself, hating her magic and power until she meets a coven of witches in Incuria (her new husband’s homeland) and she is accepted into it with open arms. I LOVE how the women were gentle with her but also pushed her to become better at controlling her power and become better at loving herself. I loved the sisterhood and it carried throughout the story.

+ The romance is a slow burner, and I think I would have loved the two of them to have more scenes. I liked how how Reid is the most powerful foreman, who is trying to become a headman, and has a ruthless reputation is anything but with her and he gives Vaasa a lot of distance. Vaasa needs a lot of space to grow and he gives her that which I think is the biggest green flag about him. There are spicy scenes but because these two have taken the time to really get to know one another, I felt like by then we know they are falling in love, even if it doesn’t seem like it because of the space they give one another.

+ Vaasa has experienced a lot of trauma and she grows a lot in this first book, and that was really nice to see.

~ An issue I had with the story was the pacing. It felt choppy. It started off strong, then it got slow then picked up in the end.

Final Thoughts:

I thought this was a pretty good debut and I really enjoyed the witches and sisterhood in the story. The pacing was an issue for me but I did still find most of the story entertaining.