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 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Before I Let Go by. Kennedy Ryan | Audiobook Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Before I Let Go (Skyland, #1)

Author: Kennedy Ryan

Narrator: Wesleigh Siobhan (Narrator), Jakobi Diem (Narrator)

Format: audiobook (borrowed)

Pages: 384 / Audio Reading Time (approx.): 13 hours and 45 minutes

Publication Date: 11/15/22

Categories: Women’s Fiction, Contemporary, Second Chance Romance

Their love was supposed to last forever. But when life delivered blow after devastating blow, Yasmen and Josiah Wade found that love alone couldn’t solve or save everything.

It couldn’t save their marriage.

Yasmen wasn’t prepared for how her life fell apart, but she’s finally starting to find joy again. She and Josiah have found a new rhythm, co-parenting their two kids and running a thriving business together. Yet like magnets, they’re always drawn back to each other, and now they’re beginning to wonder if they’re truly ready to let go of everything they once had.

Soon, one stolen kiss leads to another…and then more. It’s hot. It’s illicit. It’s all good—until old wounds reopen. Is it too late for them to find forever? Or could they even be better, the second time around?

Content Warning: still birth, loss, divorce, grief, mental health issues

+ The narrators did such a good job with this audiobook, I was hooked!

+ I love how real this story is: a divorced couple who are still business partners and co-parenting, are around each other and start missing each other. There is a lot of trauma though and issues they have to work through but eventually they do.

+ Loved Yasmen’s friend group! They are relatable and reminded me of my friends.

+ I appreciate how mental health issues are a topic discussed throughout this book. Josiah didn’t look kindly about therapy until their son needs to go to a therapist. Yasmen is someone who couldn’t get out of her grief without therapy so I loved seeing Josiah breaking generational stigma about it.

~ I have a hard time with second chance romances, especially when there is so much trauma between two people. Yes, Yasmen and Josiah has so much desire for each other, sex is the only thing they are really good at together. Outside of that they had so much problems. There were times I was happy Yasmen and Josiah weren’t together and trying to move on. I didn’t like how Josiah looked down on her therapy, but I can see how he was hurt. But she was hurt too…she was grieving, she needed that therapy.

Final Thoughts:

This is a realistic second chance romance story with lots of trauma, problems, issues between two people who’s marriage has broken but they are fighting for a second chance with one another. I love how it explored themes of grief, loss, divorce, relationships, mental health issues and therapy. Overall, this was raw, heavy, but hopeful because I love that both Yasmen and Josiah open their eyes and see all of each other by the end. The main thing is they are willing to work on all their problems together this time around.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Give Me a Reason by. Jayci Lee | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: Give Me a Reason

Author: Jayci Lee

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 7/29/25

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Categories: Romance, Contemporary, Retelling

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

Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A Korean drama actress gets her second chance at love with the man she left in order to save her family–if she can work up the courage to risk her heart on forever…one last time.

For ten years, Anne Lee told herself that Frederick Nam was her past. In order to save her father from bankruptcy, she left Frederick for an acting career in Korea. This was the only way she could stop him from following her and ruining his future. It was the best way she could love him.

After Anne left, Frederick spent years loving her, missing her, and hating her until he decided to live his life for himself. He followed his dream and became a firefighter in Culver City. He didn’t need romance. He had his work and his friends.

When Anne returns to Los Angeles, she and Frederick are thrown together in the same wedding—she as her cousin’s bridesmaid and he as his friend’s groomsman. Even though he is angry and distant with her, Anne can no longer deny that she never got over him. Not even close.

With so much hurt and uncertainty between them, Anne and Frederick suffer their love in silence. But all it would take is a single leap of faith to bring them together…

Content Warning: death on a job

+ I didn’t know this was a Jane Austen Persuasion retelling until after I’ve read it so that was my fault but after I found out – it made lots of sense! And I love Persuasion so after reading this I can appreciate it a bit better. If you know Persuasion, there is a lot that both characters don’t get to express until way later, so there is miscommunication and in Give Me a Reason, it was that miscommunication that kind of gave me issues but now that I know it’s a retelling, I can see why it’s there.

+ Anne is a K-drama actress, who is back from South Korea, and planning to try out Hollywood and be near her family in California. She runs into her ex-boyfriend Frederick, the boy she’s always loved, but was encouraged to leave behind because of her aunt. But now that she’s back she realized all of the feelings she had for him never went away. Anne comes off very graceful, nice and polished.

+ Frederick has always been in love with Anne even though she broke his heart, left him, and was left to pick up the pieces. And once he sees her again and is forced to be around her because of his friend’s wedding that he is a part of, he is struggling to leave his feelings for her in the past. But he doesn’t want his heart broken again. He’s a hot captain for the fire department so I thought that was fun.

+ This story is basically about the yearning and longing between them. We are in their thoughts a lot and the moments they are in are super-charged because of all their feelings from the past coming to surface. The spice was just enough because this story really is about love.

~ Before knowing this was a Persuasion retelling, I didn’t like that his friends were trying to set Frederick up with Anne’s cousin. She is really close to her family, so I just didn’t like that she had to see them push her cousin and her ex-boyfriend together. Thing is no one knew they had a past except for her aunt and Frederick’s best friends. So I could see why they were trying to make a match with him and Bethanny (Anne’s cousin).

~ I did wish they confronted one another about the past much earlier so that maybe more of the book could have been them learning about who they are now, because 10 years have passed.

Final Thoughts:

I love this book cover and I love a Jane Austen retelling. I can say that really followed Persuasion pretty good and really captured the longing and yearning that was in that story. Frederick, I think really was the character who was coming undone by Anne’s presence and I felt for him. I’m just glad they worked it out in the end but I did find myself impatient with Anne’s reluctance to just tell him what happened until near the end.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

That Prince is Mine by. Jayci Lee | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

BLOG TOUR | Secret Crush Seduction by. Jayci Lee ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

BLOG TOUR} Temporary Wife Temptation by. Jayci Lee ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Dating Dare | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️💫

ARC Review | A Sweet Mess ⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Theory of Dreaming by. Ava Reid | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating:

Title: A Theory of Dreaming (A Study in Drowning, #2)

Author: Ava Reid

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 416

Publication Date: 7/29/25

Publisher: HarperCollins

Categories: Dark Academia, Series, Fantasy, Romance, Politics, Young Adult

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

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

Return to the immersive, lush, and dreamlike world of the instantly bestselling dark academia fantasy A Study in Drowning as the aftermath of their first discovery pulls Effy and Preston on a final adventure and brings their haunting love story to its end in this stunning sequel and final book in the duology.

All stories come to an end.

Effy learned that when she defeated the Fairy King. Even though she may never know exactly what happened at Hiraeth, she is free of her nightmares and is able to pen a thesis with Preston on the beloved national fairy tale Angharad. She has finally earned a spot at the literature college, making her the first woman in history to enroll.

But some dreams are dangerous, especially when they come true. The entire university—and soon the entire nation—is waiting for her to fail. With the Fairy King defeated and Myrddin’s legacy exposed, Effy can no longer escape into fantasy. Who is she without her stories?

With Effy under threat, Preston is surprised to discover a rage simmering inside him, ringing in his ears like bells. He begins to dream of a palace under the sea, a world where he is king—visions that start to follow him even in waking.

As the war between Llyr and Argant explodes, Effy and Preston find themselves caught in the crossfire: Effy losing her dreams and Preston losing himself in his.

Are dreams ever truly just dreams?

Content Warning: violence, drug addiction, attempted drug overdose, mentions of child abuse/father-daughter incest

+ The dark academia setting is done really well in this series – especially if you like strictly academia (it’s a hit or miss for me, I have to be in the mood). Effy and Preston are students and very serious about their studies. Effy is immersed in her thesis but she still has her same insecurities about being at the university, and she delves deeper into a depression that Preston and those around don’t really see coming. Preston on the other hand is working with one of his teachers on dreaming but is also dealing with racism against him being half Argantian especially with a war between Llyr and Argant brewing.

+ Effy and Preston’s romance is so sweet but filled with so much angst and fears, especially for Preston who fears he will lose Effy. He is so protective of her.

+ I liked the themes of prejudice that Preston is dealing with because of his ethnicity and Effy dealing with sexism because she’s the only female in her classes. I like how Effy’s research has uncovered how a woman’s writing was overshadowed by a man. There are lots of themes to explore in this one.

~ It took me awhile to get into the story because I didn’t remember much of what happened in book one, but I finally got into it 30% in. It’s a lot of academia, both characters doing research on their own so at times I was bored. Also, the dreaming parts? At times I was confused, at times I was wondering what it had to do with everything.

~ There is mention of an incestuous, abusive relationship mentioned in a letter but still. It’s dark.

~ There is a lot of communication issues between Effy and Preston. I think they are sweet together but they could have helped one another if they talked to one another. I also think I expected more from Effy’s character. She’s smart, and she stayed in the class even when she really didn’t want to be there, she’s brave but she was also mentally declining.

Final Thoughts:

Effy and Preston was dealing with a lot of challenges in their personal lives and there are lots of dark themes that the book tries to tackle. Overall, it was a slow start, sometimes confusing, sometimes boring (because I was not in the mood for a very strong academia book) but I think Effy and Preston’s sweet, angsty love kept me reading.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A Study in Drowning by. Ava Reid | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wrath of Dragons by. Olivia Rose Darling | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Wrath of the Dragons (Fear the Flames, #2)

Author: Olivia Rose Darling

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 544

Publication Date: 7/29/25

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Categories: Series, Fantasy, Romance, Dragons, Politics

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!

The second novel in Olivia Rose Darling’s thrilling and steamy romantic fantasy series, following Fear the Flames.

In the explosive sequel to the bestselling romantasy Fear the Flames, two fated lovers must unite against warring kingdoms to defend their home and crowns from those who wish to destroy them.

Cayden Veles, renowned Demon Commander of Vareveth, overthrew the throne to save Elowen Atarah, the woman he searched for since childhood. Now he’s determined to fulfill his quest for revenge against her father, even if it means forcing the only person he’s ever wanted into a marriage of political convenience.

Elowen Atarah has everything she thought she’d ever want. Finally reunited with her dragons, she now has an army to enact vengeance, but as events transpire, she begins contemplating if she wants more. As her father’s only living heir, the Imirath throne is her right and destiny. But fighting and winning a war will require trusting Cayden Veles, her partner in crime and now king to her queen; the man she both longs for and doubts, especially after opening her heart only to become a pawn in his game.

Navigating the shifting allegiances amongst all the kingdoms of Ravaryn will require all their strategy and strength, with devastating and bloody attacks on one side and cutthroat diplomacy for alliances on the other. But Elowen and Cayden must find a way to stand strong within the power they’ve gained, or risk losing everything.

Delving deeper into a vast and ever-changing world, Wrath of the Dragons will take you on a journey filled with epic battles and a tender, angsty love for the ages.

Content Warning: violence, death

~ I thought book one, Fear the Flames, was an okay read and I thought book two would be better but I had some issues with it.

+ I did like Cayden’s POV because there is a lot wrong with him and Elowen and before their wedding, he is trying to gain her trust and make things right again. That man is in love with her badly, but she has trust issues throughout most of this book. They eventually work through things. There is lots of flirting and desire between them but he was not going to take it to the next level unless their relationship was fixed which was sweet. There is lots of spice when they finally do take it there though.

+ The found family is a big trope in this series. Also there is finally more dragons. I wished for more dragons in book ones and was disappointed and now there is more dragons so that was nice.

+ Last 20% of this book is when the action picks up and the story moves quickly. And it ends with a cliffhanger kind of ending.

~ I could not get into this story no matter how many times I put it down and picked it up. The beginning bored me and it was mostly about Cayden and Elowen’s relationship. When it wasn’t that it was some politics and war I was not invested in. It was just too slow for me. I actually skimmed from 50% into the book until the end when all the action was taking place.

~ This book is under 600 pages, which is long.

Final Thoughts:

If you loved Fear of Flames, then you will love this sequel – especially the ending. For me, I didn’t love book one and so it only went a little more down for me in this sequel because I wasn’t invested and it was long and slow, until the last part of the book. This series isn’t for me so I don’t think I’ll be continuing the series.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Fear the Flames by. Olivia Rose Darling | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Well, Actually by. Mazey Eddings | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Well, Actually

Author: Mazey Eddings

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 8/5/25

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Categories: Contemporary Romance, LGBT+, Second Chance 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 St. Martin’s Griffin for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

An utterly delightful and sexy second-chance romance between a black cat and golden retriever with Mazey Edding’s signature sparkling voice!

Eva Kitt never expected to be the host of Sausage Talk, interviewing B-list celebrities over lukewarm hot dogs, instead of pursuing the journalism career she dreamed of. But when Eva’s impromptu public call out of her college ex goes viral, she’s thrust into the spotlight. It doesn’t help said ex is Rylie Cooper, a beloved social media personality that has built a platform on deconstructing toxic masculinity and teaching men how to be good partners.

Forced to confront Rylie on a live episode of Sausage Talk, he offers Eva a deal: allow him to take her on a series of dates to make up for his toxic behavior, then debrief them on his channel to show he’s changed. Eva refuses to play nice, but agrees to the scheme to advance her own career and continue defaming Rylie’s good name. When these manufactured dates start to feel real, Eva has to wonder if the boy that broke her heart has become the man that might heal it.

Content Warning: biphobia, misogyny, death of a family member

+ This is a second chance romance with a grumpy/sunshine trope but this time the woman is the grump, which I thought was fun. Eva Kitt is stuck and stagnant in her career goals, she hosts a show where she eats hot dogs while interviewing celebrities and that is far from her journalist dreams but she needs to make ends meet so she’s sticking it out. Until one drunken night she posts something that goes viral and basically changes her life, according to her, for the worse but in the end it was for the best.

+ Rylie Cooper is a famous podcaster and he’s the guy Eva blasted in a post that went viral. When both their jobs suggest they grab the opportunity of her viral success and put them together they come face to face again, and this time Rylie is trying his best to not lose her again. They agree to go on 6 dates for Rylie to win her back and she gets to critique the dates on his podcast. I thought it was interesting how Eva’s personality played out with the audience. Comments about Rylie was always about him being hot. Whereas Eva was hot but that didn’t matter – people said mean things about her because she came off as a bitch. I love Eva and her cynicism.

+ Eva is so spicy and Rylie is so sweet that the two of them together was fun. Eva comes off mean but it’s her armor. She’s had a lot of childhood experiences that made her feel invisible and unwanted. Rylie has his own issues too with grief and his sexuality, and when they finally get honest with one another, it’s a beautiful thing. The fact that he has the patience of a saint with Eva speaks volumes about how much he cares about her and I loved it. I loved their verbal banter and battles, the spicy scenes between them and just seeing them give love another chance.

~ Now I love Eva, but there were times I wanted her to drop the armor and just let Rylie hug her or something. But I totally relate to her also, I like armor. Still Rylie is so nice, even though he did show at times he did have limits, she did push his buttons a lot. She had to learn to accept affection and praise, and he was always there not judging her.

Final Thoughts:

I found this refreshing because of Eva – maybe I’m just reading too many female characters who are always the same but having her being the grump was fun. And I loved Rylie, who is the sunshine! I found both characters relatable and I loved how they faced their issues even if it was hard for both of them to admit some things. The banter and verbal battles was lots of fun, and the spicy scenes between just adds to it. I enjoyed this one!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From this Author:

Tilly in Technicolor by. Mazey Eddings | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Direbound by. Sable Sorensen | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Title: Direbound (The Wolves of Ruin, #1)

Author: Sable Sorensen

Format: borrowed (KU)

Pages: 610

Publication Date: 2/26/25

Categories: Romantasy

Only the worthy survive the Bonding Trials. She’ll risk her life—and her heart—to be one of them…

Meryn Cooper has never dreamed of being one of the Bonded, the King’s elite warriors who form mental links with massive, vicious direwolves. She’s made peace with her life scraping by in poverty in the shadows of the castle. But then her younger sister Saela is kidnapped, stolen across the border by the immortal monsters her country has spent centuries fighting.

And Meryn’s world falls apart.

Desperate to cross the front and save her sister, Meryn enlists in the army—only to discover that there are Bonding Trials this year, where all soldiers are forced to risk their lives in an attempt to connect with a direwolf. It’s too late to turn back; Meryn is thrown into the deadly competition against her will.

Now, she’ll need to survive the next four months of training at the castle if she wants a chance of finding Saela. Everything here is a test, from the brutal classes where one mistake means death, to the glittering court parties where every smile hides a knife.

To make things worse, Meryn is bound to a feral direwolf who refuses to communicate. The other trainees would love to spill her common blood. And her gorgeous instructor, Stark Therion, is as malicious as the wolves himself.

Everyone is out to get her—everyone but the dangerously handsome crown prince, Killian Valtiere. But if she loses her heart to him, she may also lose her life.

And the castle is hiding dark secrets…

Content Warning: gruesome violence, kidnapping

+ Another hyped booktok book to cross off my TBR list! Meryn is a ring fighter. She has a mother with mental health issues, a young sister she dotes on and a man who loves her. But when her sister goes missing, Meryn has to do everything to get her back and she joins the military. Except right at the time she joins, the kingdom calls a Bonded trial which bonds competitors with dire wolves, if they pass the trials. It’s not something she wants, she just wants to find her sister, but everything changes at the trials. She’s a strong character but sometimes doesn’t make the best decisions but she’s gone through a lot and I did see growth at the end.

+ These story has a lot of things going on – the trials, and then the training for those that bonded to direwolves. During all of this is Meryn needing to find her sister, secrets being revealed, betrayals and of course a hot, training instructor who Meryn butts heads with all the time. There are fated mate bonds, and I loved the found family trope. I loved the direwolves also.

+ The romance present in the beginning of the book but takes a turn for Meryn. There is lot of spice between them but then someone else is introduced. So it will be interesting to see what happens there. It felt like there was a start for it to be a love triangle but I was wrong.

+ I did enjoy the twists at the end of the story and the ending is a cliffhanger.

~ I did find the beginning to be a little bit slow and it is a book over 600 pages. I feel like it picks up at the halfway point. But the pacing was uneven.

~ I can’t say there is anything new in this book but if you like the usual romantasy tropes, then this book will cure your craving. If you don’t like dragons (because it’s sorta similar to Fourth Wing with all the tropes) then you might find direwolves more your thing!

Final Thoughts:

I thought this was a fun read because I don’t think I’ve read anything with direwolves, so that was slightly different. All the tropes from the romantasy genre are there, but that’s nothing bad since I enjoy most of the tropes! I loved the twist and turns at the end. I do think the pacing was uneven, it was slow then picked up then slow again then finished strong. Overall, I was entertained and will read book 2!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Between These Broken Hearts by. Lexi Ryan | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️

Title: Between These Broken Hearts

Author: Lexi Ryan

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 464

Publication Date: 7/22/25

Publisher: Storytide

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Series, Fantasy

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!

Forbidden romance, mysterious prophecies, and the battle to save the fae realm come to a captivating conclusion in the #1 New York Times bestselling saga begun with Abriella in the These Hollow Vows duology and continued with Jas and Felicity in Beneath These Cursed Stars.

Princess Jasalyn has eleven days to live.

Jasalyn is facing the repercussions of a deadly bargain. Her life, and the future of the shadow court, are forfeit on her birthday unless she can stop the evil fae king Mordeus. She needs to face her greatest fears and find him before she runs out of time, but even after everything, Kendrick won’t let her face this alone.

Shape-shifter Felicity has vanished.

Felicity disappeared from King Misha’s dungeons, and her friends have been searching for her to no avail. But even if she’s found, Felicity will never be able to escape the oracle’s tragic prophecy for her and her family. In her lonely battle with fate, Misha is the last person she can ask to stand by her side, but the first one she’ll need.

Content Warning: violence, death

This is the conclusion to the These Hollow Vows series and I think it was a good conclusion which tied up lots of loose ends.

Jas is running out of time and they are all racing against time to try and figure out how to save her. She goes through so much in this book and she even tries her best to defeat the enemies alone but it’s obvious she can’t do that. I love her blooming relationship with Kendrick. They have both been tested and I was rooting for their love.

As for Felicity, she has a role in this prophecy about her being the one to kill her evil father – but the consequence is losing her brother Kendrick so she has some tough decisions to make. As for her romance with Misha, I was also rooting for them! I did want Felicity to stop discounting herself, because it’s a big issue between her and Misha. But I love both romance storylines going on. I am also glad Felicity gets to finally hear her real brother out, Konner.

Final Thoughts:

I thought this was a solid conclusion to this series! The loose ends are tied up, some of them with a sad ending, but there is so much love and hope as well. The trauma and growth Jas went through is amazing and Felicity’s growth and strength was admirable too. I enjoyed both girls’ stories and romances. If you loved the previous books in the series, I’m sure you will enjoy this one.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

These Hollow Vows | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

These Twisted Bonds by. Lexi Ryan | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Beneath These Cursed Stars by. Lexi Ryan ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Soul of Shadow by. Emma Noyes | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Soul of Shadow

Author: Emma Noyes

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 7/29/25

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Categories: Young Adult, Mystery, Urban Fantasy, Romance, Norse Mythology

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

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

Charlie Hudson just wants to get through junior year. Since the death of her twin sister two years earlier, she’s drifted through life, going through the motions at school and parties and even at home. The spark that once burned so brightly within her has all but flickered out.

Until her classmate goes missing in the forest, leaving nothing behind but a pair of shoes and strange symbols carved into a tree.

Drawn to the disappearances by forces she can’t explain, she finds herself investigating the mysterious, alluring newcomer in town, Elias Everhart. With piercing eyes and sharp wit, he dances around her questions, only intriguing her further. Elias has a secret. More than one.

But what Charlie doesn’t know is that those secrets will lead her to a place she never a world hiding in plain sight, made of magic, gods, and monsters – and a first love fated to fall apart.

In Emma Noyes’s Soul of Shadow, truths and temptations lurk in the darkness, and for Charlie, the only thing more dangerous than facing her past, is the boy with the power to change her future.

Content Warning: violence

+ There are missing kids in town and Charlie is curious about them when a new boy comes to town, Elias, and he starts getting close to her brother. When he explains he’s a creature from Norse mythology and he opens her eyes to it all around them, Charlie’s world is changed.

+ I did like the Norse mythology in this urban fantasy book. I thought Elias was an interesting character, a very mischievous. And I felt like the world building was dark and at the end filled witha lot of action. He’s a dark character but kind of easy to also fall in love with, which is what is happening with Charlie. But clearly he is not one to trust.

+ Charlie and her friends are going through high school and focusing on things like the homecoming dance when Elias shows up and throws Charlie’s life in disarray. But I like her friendship group and her issues with her older brother. I think this story would appeal to teen readers rather than adult YA readers.

~ When I first read this I kind of did not get how Charlie and her siblings being in the circus as kids tied into the missing kids at school and then Norse mythology. So I had to push through with the story and I am glad I stuck with it but I do think there was too much to follow in the beginning. Once Elias comes into the picture and the Norse mythology information comes through then it makes more sense.

~ The pacing is a bit uneven because it will slow down when Charlie is doing all this research on google about norse mythology. There is a lot to learn.

~ Like I said above, this would appeal more to younger readers so if you are not into young adult, this might not be for you.

Final Thoughts:

After kind of a confusing start to the book, I got settled in and the Norse mythology tying into the contemporary world really fascinated me. I think Elias is a great character because he’s an attractive and charming guy, but for sure he’s a character you couldn’t trust. I liked all the action at the end of the book and wonder what will happen next. I do think it will appeal to younger YA readers and yes the pacing was slow at some parts but overall I thought this was an entertaining read.