Five Broken Blades by. Mai Corland | Audiobook Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Five Broken Blades (The Broken Blades, #1)

Author: Mai Corland

Narrator: Donald Chang, Greg Chun, Zion Jang, Sophie Oda, Jaine Ye, Roger Yeh

Format: audiobook (borrowed)

Pages: 352 / Audio Reading Time: 7 hours 28 minutes

Publication Date: 5/6/24

Categories: Fantasy, Series, Romance, LGBT+

It’s the season
for treason…

The king of Yusan must die.

The five most dangerous liars in the land have been mysteriously summoned to work together for a single objective: to kill the God King Joon.

He has it coming. Under his merciless immortal hand, the nobles flourish, while the poor and innocent are imprisoned, ruined…or sold.

And now each of the five blades will come for him. Each has tasted bitterness―from the hired hitman seeking atonement, a lovely assassin who seeks freedom, or even the prince banished for his cruel crimes. None can resist the sweet, icy lure of vengeance.

They can agree on murder.

They can agree on treachery.

But for these five killers―each versed in deception, lies, and betrayal―it’s not enough to forge an alliance. To survive, they’ll have to find a way to trust each other…but only one can take the crown.

Let the best liar win.

Content Warning: violence, sexism

I don’t know if it was a good idea to listen to this as an audiobook only because I can’t keep the names straight in my head. There are a bunch of characters but it did help that each chapter was in the POV of a different character. There are five blades plus one (a prince who is along for the job). Plus the chapters are short so it kept the story moving along. The narrators did such a great job, it made the listening of this audiobook enjoyable!

These five blades are tasked to kill the King of Yusan. Each of them have their own motivations in wanting to take on this job, and each has their own way of wanting to accomplish the task. Most of the story is about them meeting one another on their way to do this job, they are suspicious of one another but eventually come to trust each other and come up with a plan. But there is a twist in the end.

During this story there are three romances brewing – one a second chance romance between two guys, a prince and one of the assassins. They have a past love affair but things happen and now here they are again – the attraction is still there. Royo and Aeri was very much opposites attract and I thought they were fun, because Royo is such a grump but definitely a forced proximity situation (actually for all couples)! As for Sora and Ty, she hates him because he’s the son of the spymaster she works for, yet Ty’s always been in love with her so I thought their story was fun to watch too.

I feel like Sora’s story stood out to me the most because she’s like Poison Ivy plus she’s trying to save her sister.

Like any long story with tons of characters, it was at first hard to follow. It’s why I feel like maybe I should have read this book instead of listened to it, but the narrators did such a great job.

Final Thoughts:

I finally can knock this one off my TBR list and I already borrowed the book two in audiobook! Even though there were lots going on in the story and with lots of characters to remember, I found it entertaining and want to see what happens next in the series.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Filthy Rich Vampire by. Geneva Lee | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Filthy Rich Vampire

Author: Geneva Lee Albin (Geneva Lee)

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 429

Publication Date: 5/24/22

Categories: Romance, Contemporary, Paranormal, Series, Vampires

Newly edited, and for the first time in print, discover the smash-hit series.

Julian Rousseaux has a problem. He’s single, and for the world’s wealthiest vampires, the social season is about to begin. Julian would rather stake himself than participate in the marriage market. But as the eldest eligible Rousseaux, he’s expected to find a wife before the season ends―whether he likes it or not.

When cellist Thea literally stumbles into his life at a gala, he knows she’s the last person he could ever fall in love with. She’s too innocent, too kind, and way too human. But now that she knows about his world, she’s also a walking target. She needs protection. He needs a fake girlfriend to discourage overzealous vampire matchmaking.

So, Julian makes Thea an irresistible offer: pretend to be his lover and he’ll change her life. For one year, they’ll attend the season’s social events together in exchange for his protection and a way out of her mother’s crippling medical debt.

She can’t say no. But the vampire world is impossibly decadent and darker than Thea ever imagined, and Julian’s filthy rich vampire family wants her out of the way. But with each moment they share, new dangers emerge: a desire as forbidden as their stolen touches, an awakening of a long-dead heart, and secrets that could tear them both apart.

Sensual, dangerous, provocative ― step into a daring new world of dark magic, primal attraction, and breathtaking romance.

Content Warning: violence

I read Filthy Rich Fae last year and really enjoyed and while waiting for book two I decided to pick up this series the author wrote before FRF. This one is called Filthy Rich Vampire and was written three years ago.

I thought it was just okay. Thea is a cellist and runs into Julian, a vampire royal, at a party. Something happens and she sees things that she’s not supposed to and honestly Julian comes clean really fast in the beginning, telling her he’s a vampire and yes they are real.

This is an insta-lust and insta-love story – things take place in the span of a week! So with that said, I didn’t love Thea. She’s a young college student with dreams and Julian comes along, who is 1000 years old and okay he’s sexy and gorgeous and rich but…one week? Girl…I was like, red flag, red flag!! 😂. I needed her friends to give her a harsher pep-talk but Thea was gone – head over heels for Julian. She comes off so young and immature that I was not into it, I needed Thea to think more logically. It’s drama-filled with not a lot of depth. There are lots of spicy scenes but even the whole sex issue is filled with drama and issues.

Final Thoughts:

It started off good and then ended up being not for me. I just needed more from the writing. It’s insta-lust, insta-love, angsty, dramatic, and spicy. Was I there for the drama? Maybe. But I needed more depth and yes, did I download book two just to see if Thea as a character grow? I did 🤦🏻‍♀️ but I already have a bad feeling about the book after reading two chapters LOL. We’ll see if I DNF the book. I was just kind of surprised because I did enjoy Filthy Rich Fae but this one I did not.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Filthy Rich Fae by. Geneva Lee | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Queen of Shadows and Ruin by. Nisha J. Tuli | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Queen of Shadows and Ruin ( The Nightfire Quartet, #4)

Author: Nisha J. Tuli

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 491

Publication Date: 3/6/25

Publisher: Second Sky

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Series

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

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

Zarya must become the darkness…

Soaring through the sky to the frozen mountains of Andhera, Zarya knows that only she can save her home from annihilation. Ruthless armies hunt her friends and toxic dark magic spreads through the land, consuming all it touches. To fight back, she and Rabin must find dangerous new allies.

In a palace of black marble, Zarya finally meets her father—the mysterious Raja Abishek. She approaches warily. For years she was told to fear this man, that he seeks to steal her power. But Abishek welcomes her with open arms, with gifts and lavish celebrations.

Rabin is sure the king can help them, turning the tide of war and decay. And when the magic binding Zarya’s heart to Rabin begins to fail, only Abishek can offer a cure. Zarya dreads the thought of placing their lives in his hands… But can she hesitate, when Rabin might be torn from her forever?

As Zarya makes her choice, ancient magic breaks loose, and her world shatters. In a ruined and long forgotten city, her love for Rabin will be tested to its limits. An army of shadows marches against her, destroying all in its path, and everything Zarya loves will be lost, unless she can face the darkness inside her—and release its devastating power.

An absolutely gripping fantasy romance that’s perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Rebecca Yarros, and Carissa Broadbent, Queen of Shadows and Ruin is the epic final volume in the Nightfire Quartet.

Content Warning: violence

+ Zarya and Rabin are together but they are visiting with her her father, Abishek, and her suspicions about him are spot on but she’s also trying to keep an open mind. They both have to navigate being in his kingdom, but Rabin is trying to convince himself that Abishek means them no harm. His instincts are very wrong. I do feel like this was the biggest challenge to befell Zarya and Rabin and they come through it all in the end. There are some spicy scenes between them.

+ Yasen, Zarya’s bestie, is with her in the beginning but they do split apart in the book because they he and Miraan have to return to Ishaan because of what’s happening there. So I think it’s nice that Yasen has his own big role in this story.

+ A lot of loose ends get tied up and there is even a few twists in the story.

~ I thought the story was a bit too long and dragged in the middle, especially because Abishek is trying to keep Zarya and Rabin in Andhera, and that was repetitive. Clearly, he was lying to them but Zarya gave him the benefit of the doubt. But I felt like that part could have moved faster.

Final Thoughts:

I think this books was a bit long and the middle slowed down but it does finish off with more action. But I do think this is a good conclusion to the Nightfire Quartet because it tied up all the loose ends. Zarya and Rabin’s love is as strong as ever as they rise to all the challenges against them. Overall, this was a solid addition to the series.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Heart of Night and Fire by. Nisha J. Tuli | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (Nightfire Quartet, #1)

Dance of Stars and Ashes by. Nisha J. Tuli | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Nightfire Quartet, #2)

Storm of Ink and Blood by. Nisha J. Tuli | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (Nightfire Quartet, #3)

*****

Trial of the Sun Queen by. Nisha J. Tuli | Book Review (Artefacts or Ouranos, #1) ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rule of the Aurora King by. Nisha J. Tuli | Book Review (Artefacts or Ouranos, #2) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fate of the Sun King by. Nisha J. Tuli | ARC Review(Artefacts or Ouranos, #3) ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom by. Amélie Wen Zhao | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Scorpion and the Night Blossom (The Three Realms Duology, #1)

Author: Amélie Wen Zhao

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 3/4/25

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Chinese 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 Delacorte Press for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

n a world invaded by demons, one girl will face the ultimate test when she is forced to enter into an ancient, deadly competition for the chance to save her mother’s soul… before she loses her forever. From the New York Times bestselling author of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night comes the beginning of a dark and opulent fantasy duology, perfect for fans of Throne of Glass.

Nine years ago, the war between the Kingdom of Night and the Kingdom of Rivers tore Àn’yīng’s family apart, leaving her mother barely alive and a baby sister to fend for. Now the mortal realm is falling into eternal night, and mó—beautiful, ravenous demons—roam the land, feasting on the flesh of humans and drinking their souls.

Àn’yīng is no longer a helpless child, though. Armed with her crescent blades and trained in the ancient art of practitioning, she has decided to enter the Immortality Trials, which are open to any mortal who can survive the journey to the immortal realm. Those who complete the Trials are granted a pill of eternal life—the one thing Àn’yīng knows can heal her dying mother. But to attain the prize, she must survive the competition.

Death is common in the Trials. Yet oddly, Àn’yīng finds that someone is helping her stay alive. A rival contestant. Powerful and handsome, Yù’chén is as secretive about his past as he is about his motives for protecting Àn’yīng.

The longer she survives the Trials, the clearer it becomes that all is not right in the immortal realm. To save her mother and herself, Àn’yīng will need to figure out whether she can truly trust the stranger she’s falling for or if he’s the most dangerous player of all . . . for herself and for all the realms.

Content Warning: violence, death

+ This author is becoming a must-read for me. I love her last series and now this one has started off amazingly. The world-building sucked me in! I love the magic, and martial arts.

+ Àn’yīng has been through some trauma at the hands of the Kingdom of Night which is run by mó (demons). She’s the caretaker for her family now that her father is gone, and to save her mother she takes part in the Immortal Trials in order to win the pill of immortality for her. But it’s a challenge to pass the trials when her competition wants her dead.

+ Àn’yīng meets someone on her way to the trials and the enemies to lovers trope going on between them is so good. Yu’chén is powerful, gorgeous, and gets on her nerves. To make it worse she finds out he is half mó. Àn’yīng hates demons because a demon killed her father and harmed her mother, so she’s warring with her feelings about Yu’chén throughout the whole book. The spice is mild but the angst and tension between them is intense. I loved it from beginning to end. I am rooting for them.

+ The trials taking place gives us more insight into the Immortals and the history of the war going on between the kingdoms. I love the twist and reveal at the ending of the book and it makes me very curious to see what will happen next.

~ The romance seems doomed as things play out but please I hope this does not become a love-triangle. I’m vested in Àn’yīng and Yu’chén, I love the two of them together, but with the way this book ended, it makes me curious as to another character who has gotten close to Àn’yīng.

~ Would love to see some growth with Àn’yīng. I could see why she was angry and distrustful, because of her trauma, but she was always kind of weak in the competition compared to everyone else. With what is revealed at the end, I wonder if she gets stronger when it comes to magical powers? I do love her fighting skills.

Final Thoughts:

I loved this book and read it in two days. I was hooked with the world-building, the murder mystery, and the tension-filled romance. This was a quick, entertaining read with some twists and I am excited to see what happens in the next book. I have watched K-drama but never C-drama, but as I read this, I could see this being a drama show I would totally watch just to see Yu’chén come to life! Loved it and can’t wait for book two.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night by. Amélie Wen Zhao | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White by. Amélie Wen Zhao | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Red Tigress by. Amélie Wen Zhao | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book Review | Blood Heir ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This Time it’s Real by. Ann Liang | Audiobook Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: This Time it’s Real

Author: Ann Liang

Narrator: Mimi Chang

Format: audiobook (borrowed)

Pages: 352 / Audio Reading Time: 4 hours 13 minutes

Publication Date: 2/7/23

Categories: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Coming of Age

When seventeen-year-old Eliza Lin’s essay about meeting the love of her life unexpectedly goes viral, her entire life changes overnight. Now she has the approval of her classmates at her new international school in Beijing, a career-launching internship opportunity at her favorite magazine…and a massive secret to keep.

Eliza made her essay up. She’s never been in a relationship before, let alone in love. All good writing is lying, right?

Desperate to hide the truth, Eliza strikes a deal with the famous actor in her class, the charming but aloof Caz Song. She’ll help him write his college applications if he poses as her boyfriend. Caz is a dream boyfriend — he passes handwritten notes to her in class, makes her little sister laugh, and takes her out on motorcycle rides to the best snack stalls around the city.

But when her relationship with Caz starts feeling a little too convincing, all of Eliza’s carefully laid plans are threatened. Can she still follow her dreams if it means breaking her own heart?

Get ready to fall in love in this hilarious romcom about a girl who begins a fake relationship with the famous actor in her class, perfect for fans of Meg Cabot and Jenny Han.

Content Warning: bullying

Eliza has been hopping from school to school internationally because of her mom’s job but now she is back in Beijing and at a new school. She writes a fake love story that goes viral and she’s unprepared for all the companies trying to get interviews with her and she sees it as an opportunity. Now she needs a fake boyfriend and there is Caz Song – he is popular, he’s an actor and of course gorgeous. They make a deal to help one another.

I thought this was a really cute fake-dating young adult story but with depth. Eliza is always questioning her relationships (friendships, etc…) – due to the fact she’s always moving so when she and Caz starts having feelings, she pulls away. There is also the issue of her lying with this fake relationship. Also she’s very anxious and awkward compared to Caz. Caz is much more carefree but he has his own problems. His parents are doctors and never home, he is lonely even though adored by the public.

I also liked Eliza’s point of view of being Chinese and yet feeling not Chinese enough in Beijing because she doesn’t speak the language well and she’s been away. I enjoyed all the cultural references and theme of family, which I could relate to even though I’m not Chinese.

Final Thoughts:

I thought the narrator did a great job with telling this story. This was a cute, fake-dating romance set in Beijing, China that explores themes of family, friendship and love. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from this author.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

A Song to Drown Rivers by. Ann Liang | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Under the Surface by. Diana Urban | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Under the Surface

Author: Diana Urban

Format: hardcover (borrowed)

Pages: 354

Publication Date: 8/13/24

Categories: Young Adult, Contemporary, Thriller, Suspense, Paris

An epic survival-thriller about four teens who get lost in the Paris catacombs for days—a gripping and propulsive story of love, danger, betrayal, and hope… even when all seems lost.

Ruby is terrified to cave to her feelings for Sean and risk him crushing her heart.

Sean is pumped to spend a week with Ruby in Paris on their senior class trip, and he’ll wait however long until she’s ready to take things further.

But when Ruby’s best friend sneaks out the first night to meet a mysterious French boy, Ruby goes after her with two classmates, but caves to another temptation: attending mystery boy’s exclusive party in the Paris catacombs, the intricate web of tunnels beneath the city, home to six million long-dead Parisians. Only they never reach the party.

Underground, as something sinister chases them, they get lost in the endless maze of bones, uncovering dark secrets about the catacombs… and each other. And if they can’t find a way out, they’ll die in the dark beneath the City of Light.

Aboveground, Sean races to find the girl he loves as a media frenzy over the four missing teens begins.

From award-winning author and rising YA star Diana Urban comes a twisty tale of four teens lost in the dark beneath the City of Light and the race to find them.

Content Warning: claustrophobia, death, murder, violence

I’ve read two of Diana Urban books and honestly, she’s definitely who I turn to if I want to read a young adult thriller!

Ruby is on a class trip in Paris and right away, we are immersed in the sights of the Eiffel Tower, and friend drama with some of the other kids on the trip. The story moves quickly and one minute these kids are having drama, Ruby is crushing on her friend Sean and wondering if something will happen between them and then Boom!- four of these girls on the trip are lost in the catacombs under Paris!

I love how fast moving this story is – I read it in a few hours. I also enjoyed the history about the catacombs which is really the perfect place to right a thriller! It’s dark, makes the reader feel claustrophobic, it’s 200 miles long and as these four girls and their guide, Julien, come to found it – it’s so easy to get lost in there. There were a few twists and turns I didn’t expect and honestly I was just along for the ride, and what a ride it was!

There were times I felt like I was holding my breath in this book, which means it did the job when it came to the thrilling part! The ending is bittersweet though .

Final Thoughts:

If you like YA thrillers, you might enjoy this one. It’s dark, intense, got lots of friendship drama and it is fast-paced! Can’t wait to read more from this author.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Lying in the Deep by. Diana Urban | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

These Deadly Games by. Diana Urban | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by. Suzanne Collins | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games, #0)

Author: Suzanne Collins

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 541

Publication Date: 5/19/20

Categories: Young Adult, Dystopian, Series

It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capital, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.

The odds are against him. He’s been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined — every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favor or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute… and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.

Content Warning: death, violence, murder, hanging, death of children

I finally read this prequel to The Hunger Games and this is what I thought:

+ I liked getting to know Coriolanus Snow’s background. Yes…he is who becomes President Snow in The Hunger Games. This is his story, how he is living in Capitol poverty and ashamed of it and trying to hide it. It’s interesting to see how it shapes him.

+ This is in the early days of the first few Hunger Games so it’s interesting to see how different it is compared to when Katniss is a participant. In this book, the Hunger Games isn’t as sophisticated and high-tech yet, but it’s still very cruel – maybe moreso because all they do is throw these kids into the zoo of all places and then try to lure them out with food to kill one another. I did learn more about why the games were started, and why they felt like it was a good way to keep the peace.

+ Lucy Gray is the sunshine in this story. She is quirky, unconventional, she doesn’t seem like someone who could kill and win the Hunger Games but she surprises everyone. The romance between Lucy and Coryo is surprising and yet…not…because he didn’t seem like a psychotic, power-hungry person yet. Not when he was with Lucy and thinking of running off with her. But things change so much.

~ The story was slow moving except for the last part of the book. It took me almost two weeks to finish. I wish it moved faster. Also I didn’t feel like the Hunger Games was as focused on. This was all about who Coryo is and what shaped him.

~ The crazy thing is I didn’t even see Coryo as scary in the beginning. He was ashamed of his station and wanted the best for his family and to survive. Wanting best for your family is a good thing, right? But there was a feeling that the Capitol hated him and he didn’t know why. I was hoping he would actually turn against them instead when he met Lucy and in District 12 but nope, that experience and then some pushed him harder into his convictions about the Capitol and the Hunger Games. He believed the Capitol was right and the Hunger Games were a necessity, unfortunately. Slowly we see him try to justify all his bad actions and even kind of lose it in the end because of Lucy Gray.

Quotes from the book:

“No one would ever let him have enough.”
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by. Suzanne Collins

“His terror was a private thing, not meant for public display.”
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by. Suzanne Collins

“If the people who were supposed to protect you played so fast and loose with your life…then how did you survive?
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by. Suzanne Collins

“Who are human beings? Because who we are determine the type of governing we need.”
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by. Suzanne Collins

“I’m being erased, he thought. And to erase me, they must erase the Games.”
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by. Suzanne Collins

“It was never meant to be anything more than theoretical. And who but the vilest monsters would stage it?”
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by. Suzanne Collins

Final Thoughts:

I expected this one to be fast moving and intense like the The Hunger Games series but it wasn’t so for me it was an okay read. The beginning was slow, even through the games, and it only picks up at the end. I did like getting to know Coriolanus Snow more and I like how Lucy Gray was sunshine to his dark life. I thought this book gave me good insight into the man who will become President Snow in the series but I did expect more.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A Journey to Us by. Lady B | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: A Journey to Us

Author: Lady B

Format: ebook (own- gifted to me)

Pages: 280

Publication Date: 5/10/24

Categories: Romance, Adult, Contemporary

Jasmine believed she found her anchor in the charismatic and mysterious Daniel. But as the glimmering facade begins to crumble at a friend’s wedding, Jasmine is thrust into a heart-wrenching revelation of betrayal. Shattered illusions, stolen glances, and a web of emotions unravel in a tale of love, trust, and the haunting echoes of a broken promise. Will she rise from the ruins, or will the shadows of the past forever eclipse the chance for a new dawn?

Years later, as Jasmine walks down the aisle, the Best Man standing tall beside the groom locks eyes with her – Daniel, the man who once ignited a flame in her heart. In that fleeting gaze, buried emotions resurface, unveiling a tumultuous journey of love and loss. The haunting question Can the heart mend when the very person who broke it stands at the precipice of her forever?

—

A Journey to Us is written in British English spellings, e.g. ‘mum’ instead of ‘mom’ and ‘realised’ instead of ‘realized’. This may appear incorrect to some readers when compared to US English books, but they are not typos.

Content Warning: accident, grief, medical issue, depression

A friend of mine sent me this book and asked me to read and review it so here it goes:

Jasmine and Daniel meet in an unexpected way and the book basically is about the journey of them getting together, hanging out, becoming friends and then trying to be something more, facing challenges in their relationship and dealing with it. It’s a realistic romance – so at times I found it triggering but I’m sure many people who have been in relationships would be able to relate to this story.

The two of them have personal challenges to deal with, whether it’s trust or insecurities, or just actually opening up to one another and telling each other the truth. At times I wish they would just tell one another their true feelings because miscommunication is one of my least favorite things in a romance. They have a push and pull kind of relationship that got a little frustrating for me.

This story spans three years, in under 300 pages, and most of the time they are not in a relationship but are just friends. So I did wish we got more happy romance scenes between them as a couple. There is hardly any spice and it’s closed door but you can tell it’s a very romantic moment for them when they finally do take their relationship there. I did like the diversity in the characters though and their chemistry was nice. They are very sweet with one another and have good banter.

Warning, this book has a sad ending. The ending is rushed though, so I didn’t quite feel the emotional impact it was supposed to hit me with.

Final Thoughts:

I’ll say that this isn’t my usual type of book to read but if you like a romance story that is focused on the ups and downs of trying to be in a relationship, and some drama, then you will enjoy this one. It’s also one without spice, so it’s sweet and romantic but has a tragic ending.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Spells, Strings and Forgotten Things by. Breanne Randall | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things

Author: Breanne Randall

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 3/4/25

Publisher: Dell

Categories: Romance, Contemporary Fantasy, Witches, Paranormal

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

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

A young witch cursed with sacrificing memories to cast spells must decide how much she’s willing to lose to save her town in this thrilling tale of magic, love, and self-discovery—from the New York Times bestselling author of The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic.

In the small town of Gold Springs, Calliope Petridi and her two sisters carefully guard the secret of their magic and the price they must pay to practice memories. The more powerful the magic, the greater the memory required.

Luckily, all Calliope wants to do is forget. Forget the mother who left them without a trace. Forget the cracks in her relationships with her judgmental oldest sister, Thalia, and her distant middle sister, Eurydice. Forget about the very cost of her magic. And most of all, forget the way the love of her life shattered her heart two years ago.

But when an ancient evil awakens in their town, the fragile thread that holds the sisters together breaks. As their magic slowly begins to fade, Calliope accidentally binds herself to an annoyingly handsome leader of a rival coven infamous for their ruthless pursuit of power.

Battling a sizzling chemistry to a man she can’t trust, Calliope needs to confront her sisters and the painful memories of her past, dark family secrets, and ancient magic in order to keep the town and all she loves safe. But will she have anything left of herself?

Content Warning: violence

+ This book gave me a combination of vibes of different shows/movies like Charmed, Practical Magic and Pride and Prejudice. Three Petridi sisters, Thalia, Calliope and Eurydice, who’s mother left them, are conflicted about magic. They have a history in their family as being Lightcraft witches and their purpose is to protect the Dark Oak, a tree that is holding enormous power. Out of all the sisters, only Calliope still practices magic, but they are cursed because using magic requires sacrificing a memory.

+ I love the sisters and their bond even though it’s complicated and they fight. It’s real. Calliope is the main character and she is the wild one. She’s bi-sexual, she’s a free spirit, impulsive, messy, and chaotic. But she loves her family and will do anything to protect them.

+ The romance is great because Calliope accidentally binds herself to a Shadowcrafter named Lucien. He’s gorgeous, worldly, powerful, her total opposite and he too loves his sister and will do anything to protect her. Their romance is full of bickering, and tension, which makes the spice all the more satisfying. He comes off as a Mr.Darcy with some of the way he professes his feelings to Calliope (which I loved because I recognized but weird because Lucien is not Mr. Darcy). And the ending is totally from the Pride and Prejudice movie!

+ There is a diverse cast of characters in this small town, which was fun.

~ There were too many times things became convenient in the story. Like spells just came to the sisters (the ones who haven’t used it in years), because it’s rooted in them – which is great but believable? Not sure about that. There were a lot of things the characters didn’t know but then everything happened to work out.

~ The ending gets a little wild and had too much going on. I honestly didn’t understand the “strings” at some point but I went with it. And no, I would never forgive Malik, if I was Lucien! Like how can your friend betray you and then all is well afterwards?

Final Thoughts:

Calliope embodies exactly how I felt reading this book – kind of wild. I love the small town vibes and the sisters’ bond. I enjoyed the romance between Calliope and Lucien with their opposites attract, her being messy and him needing control. She’s sunshine and he’s grumpy so I loved them together. But the story had a lot going on especially at the end and I found some things happening that was a but too convenient. For the most part, I found this story really entertaining because it was kind of chaotic and yet a little bit cozy at the same time, if that makes sense.

Book Links:

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Rebel Witch by. Kristen Ciccarelli | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Rebel Witch (The Crimson Moth, #2)

Author: Kristen Ciccarelli

Format: ebook (own)

Pages: 464

Publication Date: 2/18/25

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Series, New Adult, Witches

The stakes are even higher in this epic, romantic conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Crimson Moth duology.

A WITCH…
Rune Winters is on the run. Ever since the boy she loved, Gideon Sharpe, revealed who she was and delivered her into enemy hands, everyone wants her dead. If Rune hopes to survive, she must ally herself with the cruel and dangerous Cressida Roseblood, who’s planning to take back the Republic and reinstate a Reign of Witches—something Cressida needs Rune to accomplish.

A WITCH HUNTER…
Apparently it wasn’t enough for Rune to deceive Gideon; she’s now betrayed him by allying herself with the witch who made his life a living hell. Gideon won’t allow the Republic to fall to the witches and be plunged back into the nightmares of the past. In order to protect this new world he fought for, every last witch must die—especially Rune Winters.

AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE…
When Rune makes Gideon an offer he can’t refuse, the two must pair up to accomplish dangerous goals. The more they’re forced into each other’s company, the more Gideon realizes the feelings he had for Rune aren’t as dead and buried as he thought. Now he’s faced with a terrible choice: sacrifice the girl he loves to stop a monster taking back power, or let Rune live and watch the world he fought so hard for burn.

In Kristen Ciccarelli’s Rebel Witch, the exciting conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology, love has never been so deadly.

Content Warning: violence, self harm

I almost forgot that this book came out this week! Once I remembered (the day after it was released), I bought the ebook because this is a book I’ve been waiting to read since I read book one, Heartless Hunter, last year.

+ The romance is the main thing I was here for – the enemies to lovers between Rune and Gideon is taken to the next level in this book after all the events that happened in book one. I wanted to see how they would come together, how they would push their prejudices and grievances aside to be with one another and it didn’t disappoint. The cat and mouse game between them, the jealousy, the lack of trust, it’s all there but this time their love is going to win over all the political games taking place.

+ Rune is finding out how horrible Cressida is and when Cressida takes things a step further, Rune makes her decision. I always felt Rune was stuck in the worst predicament especially because she’s not cutthroat like Cressida – she’s a bleeding heart. She wants to help her people, the witches who are oppressed, but she also can realize how the world would look if Cressida became ruler over everything. I liked seeing her trying to face the situation she was facing: of stay and be tortured with a life she didn’t want, or flee so far away from the problems that it won’t touch her (except when she thinks about the witches she left behind). And then there is Gideon, how does she leave him?

+ Gideon is in his own predicament. His task is to kill Rune, but how can he when he is in love with her? He makes quite and effort though. One thing I love about him and Rune is they do try to kill one another haha…but they just can’t seem to pull the trigger. I loved their fighting, arguing, and interactions! I love them.

+ The story is filled with political drama with Cressida trying to wage war and Gideon and his side trying to stop her. It’s fast paced, and has an unexpected twist at the end.

~ I will say because this book was fast-paced (I read it in one sitting), as I was nearing the end I was scared it was going to be a rushed ending. And it is rushed…but I’m just glad there was a happy ending.

Final Thoughts:

This conclusion is fast-paced, and with kind of a rushed ending. I do wish it was a trilogy only because I love Rune and Gideon so much! Rune and Gideon will be added to my list of favorite enemies to lovers romance couples. I love their push and pull, cat and mouse game, angsty romance and seeing them happy at the end was everything. This is a great conclusion to the duology that is The Crimson Moth series.