Six Scorched Roses by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Six Scorched Roses (Crowns of Nyaxia #1.5)

Author: Carissa Broadbent

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 187

Publication Date: 3/21/23

Categories: Novella, Fantasy, Romance, Vampires, Series

Six roses. Six vials of blood. Six visits to a vampire who could be her salvation… or her damnation.

Lilith has been dying since the day she was born. But while she long ago came to terms with her own imminent death, the deaths of everyone she loves is an entirely different matter. As her town slowly withers in the clutches of a mysterious god-cursed illness, she takes matters into her own hands.

Desperate to find a cure, Lilith strikes a bargain with the only thing the gods hate even more than her village: a vampire, Vale. She offers him six roses in exchange for six vials of vampire blood–the one hope for her town’s salvation.

But when what begins as a simple transaction gradually becomes something more, Lilith is faced with a terrifying realization: It’s dangerous to wander into the clutches of a vampire… and in a place already suffering a god’s wrath, more dangerous still to fall in love with one.

Six Scorched Roses is a standalone fantasy romance novella set in the world of the Crowns of Nyaxia series, perfect for those who love dark, romantic tales with bite and fans of Sarah J. Maas or Jennifer L. Armentrout.

Content Warning: violence, illness

I don’t read novellas because they novellas always feel they are too short and sometimes doesn’t feel complete or has me wanting more. But I was craving a book about vampires and miss the Nyaxia world so I took a chance on this one.

+ Even though this is a novella clocking in at 187 pages, this feels like a full complete story! I remember mentions of Lord Vale and Lilith in the series so I love that this is their story.

+ I love how Lilith is a scientist and she’s trying to help her people who are dying from the plague. She does this by experimenting with vampire blood but first she needs to get it. She’s a brave woman who is not afraid to go to Lord Vale’s home and ask for his blood. Vale is a grumpy vampire who is kind of a recluse but only because he is trying to stay away from the turmoil in his homeland. I like how he and Lilith share a common love of knowledge.

+ It’s a novella so the romance has to happen quick but I love how she only interacts with him once a month to get his blood. During their interactions they come together to do the research together. When there is a steamy scene between them it’s really good and heartfelt which I was not expecting. I ended up falling in love with them.

~ My only complaint was that this is a novella and I could have read a full length novel about them because the characters are so intriguing.

My Final Thoughts:

I’m glad I finally gave this one a chance! It fulfilled my craving for a vampire, romantasy and plus it’s a book from a series I love. It felt complete as a novella.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

House of War and Bone by. Leia Stone | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: House of Ash and Shadow (#1)

Author: Leia Stone

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 304

Publication Date: 9/26/23

Categories: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Fae

“And what if I go dark?” I whimpered.
His face sobered. “Then I will jump into the shadows and pull you back to the Light.”

Seventeen-year-old Fallon Bane was born with a a single touch from another person will always cause her excruciating pain. Thus, she has accepted that she will die without ever being kissed, without even hugging her own father.

But when her beloved father falls ill, she breaks into the magical Gilded City to find a healer fae that can save him. When handsome healer Ariyon Madden agrees to help, everything she knows about herself and her curse changes. Because during her father’s healing, Ariyon reaches out and touches her bare skin. She waits for the agony… but it never comes.

For the first time in her life, she imagines a new future for herself. However, that fantasy is short-lived, because not only does Ariyon flee from her in disgust when he learns of her curse; he also reveals her existence to powerful fae who want to hurt her.

Fallon is then swept away to a magical academy, there she learns the terrifying truth about her family history and her dark magic. Her life and the future of fae everywhere hang in the balance, and all the while Fallon is dreaming of being touched by Ariyon Madden one more time before she dies…

Content Warning: violence

I’ve read a few Leia Stone books off and on through the years but I think the last book I read from her made me realize her books aren’t for me anymore. But I wanted to try out this one because I can’t resist the Fae but reading this has reinforced my stance on her books not being for me because I’m not the target audience.

This is a young adult romantasy and I can usually enjoy anything young adult but for some reason this just felt too young for me. It’s perfect for younger readers, but I’m too old for this one – I kept rolling my eyes and Fallon giggling and falling so easily for cute boys. The romance drama is very much something teenagers will love. It’s full of angst and there’s kind of a love triangle with two brothers but kind of not also because only one of them can touch her without activating her curse so we know who she is going to end up with.

Fallon is a cursed girl, who everyone loves but her mother was a dark magic wielder who hurt and killed people and they are afraid Fallon will be the same. But there are people on her side determined not to let her “go dark”. She goes to an academy where she’s supposed to learn about magic and how to control her powers. The story is pretty predictable and I skimmed through the halfway point to the end. My favorite character surprisingly was a bird name Yanric!

My Final Thoughts:

I’m giving it 3 stars because I would have devoured this book in my 20’s. But at my age now I want a little more depth to the characters and story. This one is good for a quick read, and if you are in the mood for some teenage romantasy. But it’s not for me and I won’t be continuing the series.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Dark Bite (Vampire Hunter Society, #1) by. Leia Scott | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Dark Bond by. Leia Stone | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King (#2)

Author: Carissa Broadbent

Format: ebook (KU)

Pages: 665

Publication Date: 4/14/2023

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Vampires, New Adult

Love is a sacrifice at the altar of power.

In the wake of the Kejari, everything Oraya once thought to be true has been destroyed. A prisoner in her own kingdom, grieving the only family she ever had, and reeling from a gutting betrayal, she no longer even knows the truth of her own blood. She’s left only with one certainty: she cannot trust anyone, least of all Raihn.

The House of Night, too, is surrounded by enemies. Raihn’s own nobles are none too eager to accept a Turned king, especially one who was once a slave. And the House of Blood digs their claws into the kingdom, threatening to tear it apart from the inside.

When Raihn offers Oraya a secret alliance, taking the deal is her only chance at reclaiming her kingdom–and gaining her vengeance against the lover who betrayed her. But to do so, she’ll need to harness a devastating ancient power, intertwined with her father’s greatest secrets.

But with enemies closing in on all sides, nothing is as it seems. As she unravels her past and faces her future, Oraya finds herself forced to choose between the bloody reality of seizing power – and the devastating love that could be her downfall.

Content Warning: violence, death

I’ve been waffling back and forth on how to rate this book because I loved it but also I had some issues with it (not major) so maybe it’s more like a 4.25 rating? I loved the first book because it was pretty ruthless and there was a competition, so it was a fast moving story.

After the events of book one, Oraya and Raihn are a bit broken. Raihn has gotten what he wanted but has hurt Oraya beyond belief. He’s killed Vincent, to become the new King of the House of Night. What I really love about this book is the struggle Oraya and Raihn have to deal with. Raihn is trying to be a better king, but how when there is no one he can really trust. And how does he mend things with Oraya? As for Oraya she has to reconcile all the lies and truths she knows of Vincent and deal with her grief at the same time. She loves him, but she hates him too and she needs to figure out how to move on in his life without him. Then there is the problem of Raihn, her husband, her best friend really, but also her enemy. He has broken her heart. The shining star in this book are the relationships between Raihn and Oraya, and also Oraya’s memories of Vincent.

Speaking of Raihn and Oraya – yes she has been so hurt by him, but under the hurt is the friendship they built in book one and I loved when that side of them would peek out from the pain between them. It’s quite a love story and one that shows no matter how times were going to get…even if they couldn’t say the words and even didn’t know it was love, that ultimately it was heading towards it. They are a great couple. They have each other’s back and I love that they are not fated mates. I like that they had to do very hard work and fight for their bond and love. I’m also glad we get two perspectives because the whole situation between them is complicated.

I love that Mische came back into the story because she’s a ray of sunshine in such a dark story. And yes, Vincent is a bad man, but he is one of my favorite characters. He was a ruthless king, saw humans as beneath him but his half-human daughter does something to him. And I liked all the complicated feelings Oraya has about him and I was so so sad for her and with her.

I did hear that this series is now going to be a 6 book series but that Raihn and Oraya’s story is concluded. With that said, there are some loose ends in the story, especially when it comes to Septimus and I’m sure he will be dealt with in the future books. I think Mische’s story is next though so that will be exciting to read. She deserves a great love story of her own.

As for the story-telling, I think there was a few lulls in the story because Oraya is in grieving mode and Raihn is in rebuilding mode. But I did love the action when it was there – especially when they visit Oraya’s cousin.

Tropes: enemies to lovers

Why you should read it:

you liked book one and want to be immersed in this world again
Oraya and Raihn
Oraya and Vincent (heartbreaking)

Why you might not want to read it:

didn’t enjoy the first one
some loose ends but it’s going to be a 6 book series

My Thoughts:

I’m sad that Raihn and Oraya’s story is over but super excited for Mische to get a spotlight because she deserves one. I think this was a good conclusion for Riahn and Oraya – I mean these two really battled it out between one another, between enemies and traitors, and each time they came back together. I’ll miss Vincent but I did feel like Oraya got closure about her feelings about him. Oraya found herself and learned to become powerful without him – which is what she deserved. This was an awesome book, some issues here and there but overall it was entertaining and it met my expectations!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kingdom of Blood and Salt by. Alexis Calder | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Kingdom of Blood and Salt (#1)

Author: Alexis Calder

Format: ebook (KU)

Pages: 330

Publication Date: 3/30/2023

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Fae, Shapeshifter, Vampire, Political, New Adult

An epic enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance perfect for fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout, Raven Kennedy, and Sarah J Maas.

After spending years training to defend my people from our enemies, I never expected that my enemy would be the one keeping me alive.

Athos is the last human city. A treaty with the Fae keeps the fae, the vampires, and the wolf shifters at bay, while we fight against the dragons at our border. Being a human in this world is dangerous and we all make sacrifices to survive.

When the delegation sent by the Fae King arrives to claim the human tributes required by our treaty, I never expected to forge a connection with their leader.

Ryvin is as dangerous as he is handsome. I know he’s my enemy, and I know I’m supposed to hate him, but with each passing day, he’s more difficult to resist.

But things are changing in Athos. Humans no longer want to bend to the Fae King.

Alliances blur and centuries of lies begin to unravel.

And I’m faced with a choice.

No matter how much I hate him, Ryvin might be the key to preventing war.

But it may mean sacrificing everything….

Kingdom of Blood and Salt is the first book in a fantasy romance trilogy with fae, vampires, and shifters. This enemies to lovers series contains violence, mature language, and spice. This is a NA/adult fantasy romance and steam level will increase as the series progresses. Mind the cliff.

Content Warning: violence, sexual assault

I wanted a Fae story and I got one with some vampires and shapeshifters on the side.

So this is the typical romantasy – an illegitimate human princess, Ara, meets a tall, dark, handsome stranger, Ryvin, who turns out to be part of the delegation from the enemy Fae kingdom of Konos. The attraction between them is instant. This is an enemies to lovers romance, and the animosity and desire between Ara and Ryvin was the most entertaining part of this book.

There wasn’t really anything new in this story compared to other books that are similar to ACOTAR and this genre. Ara is trying to be a dutiful princess, and out of all her sisters, she’s the one training to be a warrior but when secrets are unveiled, her world is shattered. Ryvin is the typical charming, possessive, sexy, shadow-wielding, Fae (or I think he’s Fae?). I enjoyed the sparks between them! She’s sassy and he can’t help but be attracted to her resistance of him. I think my favorite part was whenever the two of them were together and aggravated with one another.

There is spice but for some strange reason I felt like it could have been spicier? I think because their fighting was so good I just felt like the sex should have had a better pay off. But I think there is hope for it in the next book. I know it’s because they agreed it would be just the act and no feelings (even though there is definitely feelings!).

I also enjoyed the sisterhood between Ara, Cora, Lagina and Sophia. It would be nice to get to know all of them better. That goes for Ryvin and the kingdom of Konos. I will be reading book two just to learn more about Konos and maybe eventually the other kingdoms.

Tropes: enemies to lovers, princess is a sacrifice, shadow-wielding death Fae

Why you should read it:

you like stories about the Fae
enemies to lovers romance

Why you might not want to read it:

not into stories that are inspired by ACOTAR

My Thoughts:

I found this one entertaining but I often love stories about the Fae even if they are starting to sound alike! I enjoyed the bickering and spice between Ara and Ryvin because I like a good enemies to lovers romance with my romantasy stories. I think Ryvin is still mostly a mystery though, as is the kingdom of Konos. Another thing I liked is the relationship between Ara and her sisters. I didn’t feel like this book had anything outstanding and unique about it but I enjoyed it regardless.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Ledge by. Stacey McEwan | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Ledge (The Glacian Trilogy, #3)

Format: ebook (own)

Author: Stacey McEwan

Pages: 271

Publication Date: 10/30/21

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy

After being randomly selected as a human sacrifice, instead of death, Dawsyn finds herself on a quest to save her people from their icy prison…
—

In a place known as the Ledge, a civilization is trapped by a vast chasm and sheer mountain face. There is no way for anyone to escape the frozen wasteland without befalling a deathly drop. They know nothing of the outside world except that it is where the Glacians reside – mystical and vicious winged creatures who bring meagre rations in exchange for a periodic human sacrifice.

Dawsyn, ax wielder and only remaining member of her family, has so far avoided the annual culling, but her luck has run out. She is chosen and ripped from her icy home, the only world she knows. No one knows what will happen to her on the other side, least of all Dawsyn. Murdered? Enslaved? Worse?

Fortunately, a half-Glacian called Ryon offers to help them both escape, but how can she trust one of the very creatures that plagued her life? Dawsyn is a survivor, and she is not afraid to cut anyone down to live.

With a slow-burning romance, high stakes and even higher rewards, this richly created new fantasy series by popular TikToker Stacey McEwan will keep you gripped to the very end.

*Content warnings* gratuitous violence & death; death of a minor; suicide; attempted sexual assault

Content Warning: gratuitous violence & death; death of a minor; suicide; attempted sexual assault

Why did I choose to read this? I was on the east coast – cold…and saw this cover, read the synopsis and bought it on a whim. Why not read a book about the cold, while I’m cold? 😆 Here’s what I thought:

+ I enjoyed the beginning of this story a lot – the setting is cold, raw, and you get a really good sense of this place called the Ledge where people are dying, starving and trying hard to survive before these creatures called The Glacians come to take them away. I thought it was pretty unique.

+ This story of Dawsyn who is this ax wielding, strong young woman turns into a romantasy pretty fast. It’s a book under 300 pages, but once Ryon comes into the picture, you know where this is going, so it’s a bit insta-lovey but I didn’t mind it. I won’t call it a fated mates trope book because they don’t come out and say it – but if you like fated mates tropes, you will enjoy this one. Ryon and Dawsyn are meant to be and I like how they take care of one another. They have great chemistry in and out of bed!

+ Life on the Ledge is brutal and it makes sense that Dawsyn is always up for a fight and violent with no qualms about it. She has to deal with sexual assault, physical challenges when it comes to living in the brutal cold and it was interesting to see how much softer Ryon was than she is.

~+ I feel like there were some similarities to SJM books when it came to the pool of magic the Glacians used to get power – it reminded me of the Cauldron in ACOTAR. Also the Glacians have wings and can fly which reminds of Rhys – so although the Ledge part of the story felt unique, the rest reminded me of SJM stories, so if you are a fan of her books, you may enjoy this one.

~ I love Ryon and Dawsyn’s attraction to one another and yes they definitely have chemistry but I wish he would stop calling her “girl”. It annoyed me for some reason, even though I knew he said it to get under her skin.

~ I think there could have been more world building because the Ledge setting is fascinating and a lot of what made Dawsyn was because she survived this setting. I just needed more of it and especially when she and Ryon make the trek down the slope.

Tropes: survival of the fittest, instalove, secret bloodline

Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶

Why you should read it:

you like romantasy
the setting of the Ledge, with it’s brutal winter is great and you feel immersed in it
Dawsyn has a great survival story and a strong will to live

Why you might not want to read it:

needs more world-building
not into books similar to SJM stories

My Thoughts:

I read this one pretty quick and it helped that it’s under 300 pages. I love the setting and the brutal winter which shows just how amazing Dawsyn is for her to survive as long as she did alone. I enjoyed that it is a romantasy because that’s what I was looking for at the time I got this book and it delivered with Ryon and Dawsyn’s growing relationship and wild attraction to one another. I do think the story could use more world-building but other than that I look forward to reading book two.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon

House of Beating Wings by. Olivia Wildenstein | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: House of Beating Wings (Kingdom of Crows #1)

Author: Olivia Wildenstein

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 490

Publication Date: 9/27/22

Categories: New Adult, Fantasy, Fae, Romantasy, Magic

Free the crows, Fallon, and they will make you queen.

Until an oracle predicted my regal future, I’d never imagined myself rising above the curve of my round ears. After all, I was the magicless halfling loved by beasts but loathed by every pure-blooded faerie at court. Well . . . by all but one.

Dante Regio, prince of Luce, had owned my heart since he gave me my first kiss. If gathering a slew of iron relics could help me overthrow the current monarch and crown his brother to rule at my side, then treasure hunting I’d go.

If only the oracle had warned me what winged demon I was releasing into the world.

And that I’d become this demon’s obsession.

Content Warning:

I was in the mood for a romantasy so I picked this one up on Kindle Unlimited because I was curious about the crow storyline. Here’s what did and didn’t work for me:

+ I wanted a romantasy and I got it for sure. Seems like everyone in this kingdom wants to be with Fallon. There are a few guys she kisses in this book but we will see what happens in book two.

+ Fallon works at a tavern, which is cool that she helps her family out that way. She also has the power to bond with a water serpent animal. Her bond with the serpent is why the King wants her in the first place but apparently Fallon’s fate is tied to something else – waking up crows. I did like the secondary characters, especially Fallon’s best friends, they are fun.

+ The crows are fascinating, they seem to speak to Fallon through her mind. And the leader of the crows, Lore, is intriguing.

~ I think there may be a love triangle brewing? Fallon is in love with Dante, the prince and her old friend, but I do not like him at all. He’s the worst. She also spends some time with Antoni who’s slept with all her friends it seems, but she breaks his heart. And now Lore? Who knows what is going to happen there.

~ I felt like there were two separate stories going on. The first part was purely Fallon and her love-life. The second was her waking up the crows. So to me it felt a bit disjointed.

~ Fallon was not someone I connected with – actually she started to annoy me, maybe because she acted young and naive for her age. It could be because the story is disjointed or the writing isn’t my style?

Tropes: girl with secret powers, love triangle, family with secrets,

Spice Level: 🌶🌶

Why you should read it:

looking for a romantasy read which includes crows
interesting world-building

Why you might not want to read it:

annoying main character

My Thoughts:

My favorite thing about this book is probably Fallon’s best friends who brought humor into the story. I think the world building is interesting and it has so much potential but Fallon was annoying at times and I felt like the crows needed to be introduced a bit earlier into the story. For me the story didn’t flow well and I found myself skipping some parts to the end. I’m not sure if I’ll be reading the second book, if I do it’s mostly to find out all about this crow kingdom.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Witch Collector by. Charissa Weaks | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Witch Collector (#1)

Author: Charissa Weaks

Format: ebook (own)

Pages: 343

Publication Date: 11/01/21

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

Every harvest moon, the Witch Collector rides into our valley and leads one of us to the home of the immortal Frost King, to remain forever.

Today is that day—Collecting Day.

But he will not come for me. I, Raina Bloodgood, have lived in this village for twenty-four years, and for twenty-four years he has passed me by.

His mistake.

Raina Bloodgood has one desire: kill the Frost King and the Witch Collector who stole her sister. On Collecting Day, she means to exact murderous revenge, but a more sinister threat sets fire to her world. Rising from the ashes is the Collector, Alexus Thibault, the man she vowed to slay and the only person who can help save her sister.

Thrust into an age-old story of ice, fire, and ancient gods, Raina must abandon vengeance and aid the Witch Collector in saving the Frost King or let their empire—and her sister—fall into enemy hands. But the lines between good and evil blur, and Raina has more to lose than she imagined. What is she to do when the Witch Collector is no longer the villain who stole her sister, but the hero who’s stealing her heart?

Content Warning: violence

I have been eyeing this one for awhile and finally got it when it was $0.99 on Kindle! This is what did and didn’t work for me:

+ The cover is so pretty, it gives me winter vibes.

+ Raina is mute, so I love that she uses sign language and others around her (only a few) know how to sign with her too. Raina is also really brave and is a fighter even though her true skill as a witch is healing and scrying.

+ It’s an enemies to lovers romance but it’s one-sided. Raina’s plan is actually kill the Witch Collector, Alexus, but things don’t go as planned. Instead she reluctantly has to cooperate with him if they are going to save her sister and the Frost King. Alexus has been into her for a long time now, so it’s Raina who is fighting the attraction she is starting to feel with him. There are some sexy scenes between them and even one epic sex scene that was not just hot physically but emotionally (the thing that happened with the life threads). The two of them really grew on me.

+ World building is great! There is some back story about Alexus that shows the bigger picture of what they are dealing with. There are gods, evil princes and witches! The magic system is intriguing as well.

~ We get thrown into the story – we meet Raina and she wants to kill Alexus because he took her eldest sister years ago. But there is some backstory we are missing about Nephele (her sister) and the Frost King. I kind of wish maybe we knew their story first, because it seems very important to everything going on. That was my main issue. I felt like I was catching up to the story. And Alexus had to do a lot of explaining to Raina.

~ Raina does go from obsessing over killing Alexus to then sleeping with him. So…I thought it was a quick turn around. I think it was her sister at the end of the book that said Alexus knew Raina for only 2 weeks and he was ready to burn the world down for her! TWO WEEKS! 😅 He got through her defenses super fast but I guess all he really needed to do was explain the Nephele/Frost King situation.

Tropes: one-sided enemies to lovers, hiding great powers

Spice Level: 🌶🌶

Why you should read it:

a good romantasy read – it’s got equal parts romance and the fantasy world building is great
Raina is mute, great representation
entertaining – it has action and a fight with an evil prince

Why you might not want to read it:

slight pacing issues, a little slower in the middle
the romance happens in the span of 2 weeks, even though Alexus has been wanting her for longer than that

My Thoughts:

I think this was pretty enjoyable if you are looking for a romantasy to read. It’s got an enemies to lovers romance, a steamy scene or two, lots of magic and fighting against an evil prince, and I’m looking forward to reading book two, City of Ruin.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Frost by. C.N. Crawford | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Frost (Frost and Nectar, #1)

Author: C.N. Crawford

Format: ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 10/3/22

Categories: Fantasy, Fae, Romance, New Adult

On the worst birthday of my life, I come home to find my boyfriend in bed with another woman. Within hours, I’m drunk, homeless, and pledging to stay single forever. And that is when the dangerously sexy Seelie King rolls through town, looking for fae like me.

Every generation, the king holds a competition for Seelie queen. But for reasons he won’t explain, Torin is looking for a charade, not a real marriage. So when I drunkenly sling insults his way, I have his attention.

When Torin offers me fifty million to participate, I think, “What have I got to lose?” The answer turns out to be “my life,” because my competition will literally kill for the crown.

And the more time I spend with the seductive king, the harder it becomes to remember it’s all supposed to be fake. Now, my life—and my heart—are one the line.

Content Warning: violence

I am trash for fae books and this one has lots of tropes that are so much fun in a romantasy.

+ The tropes are many in this one: a girl who doesn’t know her past-she’s Fae but lived in the human world since she was a child and she was exiled from Faerie but don’t know why, a competition for the Seelie king’s hand, faerie is dying unless the king marries, and the king can’t fall in love because his love will kill. Oh and to top it off, the competition is like a reality dating show.

+ I like Ava a lot. She’s strong, she’s independent, and she’s not afraid of Torin and Faerie. She also has a fun friend Shalini by her side. I like Torin too! He seems like a good guy, just stuck with king responsibilities and a curse, of course!

+ I like the sexual tension between Ava and Torin and it will be interesting to see where it goes.

~ It’s short and moves quickly, a little rushed in the competition parts but that’s okay – I expect it with these series that drop releases more quickly than the bigger publishers.

~ I love Shalini and hopes she gets to do more in Faerie than just sitting in the room and reading books. What kind of an adventure is that?

Tropes: touch kills, love kills, a girl with a secret past, competition to marry king, reality dating show

Spice Level: 🌶

Why you should read it:

super quick read
lots of fun tropes and it’s a Fae story
Ava and Torin

Why you might not want to read it:

it’s a quick read but also scenes are rushed
the next book releases in a few months so maybe wait to binge the whole series

My Thoughts:

I was in the mood for a book set in Faerie and this author is definitely one I go to for a book with all the tropes I’m looking for and it’s New Adult. Also the wait for sequels won’t be long which also satisfies my craving. Overall a fun start to a new series, hopefully we get a little more depth to the story in the sequel.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Kingdom of the Feared by. Kerri Maniscalco | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Kingdom of the Feared (#3)

Author: Kerri Maniscalco

Format: ebook (own)

Pages: 393

Publication Date: 9/27/22

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Categories: Romance, Fantasy, Series, Supernatural

Emilia is reeling from the shocking discovery that her twin sister, Vittoria, is alive. But before she faces the demons of her past, Emilia yearns to claim her king, the seductive Prince of Wrath, in the flesh. Emilia doesn’t simply desire his body, she wants his heart and soul—but that’s something the enigmatic demon can’t promise her.

When a high-ranking member of House Greed is assassinated, Emilia and Wrath are drawn to the rival demon court. Damning evidence points to Vittoria as the murderer and she’s quickly declared an enemy of the Seven Circles. Despite her betrayal, Emilia will do anything to solve this new mystery and find out who her sister really is.

Together Emilia and Wrath play a sin-fueled game of deception as they work to stop the unrest that’s brewing between witches, demons, shape-shifters and the most treacherous foes of all: the Feared.

Emilia was warned that when it came to the Wicked nothing was as it seemed. But, have the true villains been much closer all along? When the truth is finally revealed, it just might end up costing Emilia her heart.

Two curses.
One prophecy.
A reckoning all have feared.

And a love more powerful than fate. All hail the king and queen of Hell.

Content Warning: sex, violence

Okay everyone, they should have stopped marketing this as YA since the last book. If you thought that was steamy…oh boy…this one takes it to the next level. Let’s dive into this book and see what did and didn’t work for me:

+ Wrath and Emilia are back and forget all the teasing and tension in book two. This is a book of full on Wrath and Emilia smut. Now they get to release their passions on one another and they sure do! They are horny for one another and show it everywhere it seems. 😅 I do admit, at some later points of the book I was skipping the sex scenes to get to the story. I love them together though. This book is as sinful as these princes of Hell.

+ This is Wrath and Emilia’s story basically told by Emilia, but really, it involves so many other characters. It’s a tangled web of secrets, curses and betrayals. I love the reveals in the story, especially because yay, finally we know what the heck is going on with Vittoria, the werewolves, the curse, and Emilia’s powers. It is ALL revealed! There was so much to unpack and I think the story did a great job at tying up loose ends and leaving some open for a spin-off.

+ I love the different princes, and I think this series has the potential for so many spin offs. Now I want to know about Pride and Vittoria…and what about Envy? Greed also has potential for his own story with a certain werewolf/demon. So many characters, so many more stories to tell? But this time it can’t be marketed as YA…just give it to us straight NA or Adult Fantasy…and throw in all the sexy scenes you want. I doubt we could handle a book about Lust. 😅 I also want to know more about Claudia! There is just so much potential and that mostly happens because there are characters we care about in the book. And that series definitely made us care about the characters.

+ Emilia really grows in this final book. She opens her eyes to the truth, no matter how much it hurts (physically and emotionally) and she makes some really hard choices. But I did admire how she found a way to keep Wrath….and her sister. She wanted it to work for her blood family and her new family.

~ I enjoy smut but I feel like they marketed this whole series wrong. It started off YA in book one…but clearly isn’t been NA since book two. I’m glad they are together and have good sex. I knew they have their happily ever after so my mind wanted to just get to the other threads of the story like Vittoria! So if you like smut, you will love this book. If you don’t – you will not enjoy this book.

~ The truth made me kinda sad…especially about Emilia and Vittoria’s upbringing. I can understand why it happened but just knowing how a person in their childhood really feels about them. I felt like that resolved too quick (at least for me). It was a betrayal that is heartbreaking.

Tropes: curses, good twin/evil twin, secret powers, fated

Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶🌶

Why you should read it:

you want some Wrath and Emilia smut
so many reveals about Vittoria and Emilia, the werewolves, and all the side characters are unique
an entertaining, solid conclusion that leaves the doors open to potential spin-offs

Why you might not want to read it:

not into smut

My Thoughts:

This whole series is entertaining and I think this is a great conclusion to this trilogy. I loved the world building, the characters and we get all the secret reveals! This book in particular has the smut we have all been waiting for and knew it was leading to. But I do wish this was marketed properly in the beginning of the series. I would have loved it too as a YA novel with less smut but strategically placed sexy scenes. But if you want spice – you get it in this book! Emilia and Wrath get their happily ever after and we get some things left open for potential spin offs. If that’s the case I need a few because there are many characters who deserve their own story. I look forward to seeing what this author writes next!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other books by this author that I have read and reviewed:

Kingdom of the Wicked by. Kerri Maniscalco – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kingdom of the Cursed by. Kerri Maniscalco – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

You are kerosene. Volatile. Noxious.”
~ Kerri Maniscalco, Kingdom of the Feared

And he is her fate. ‘As above, so below’. They are the balance. Lights and dark. One fallen from above, and one created in the underworld below.”
~ Kerri Maniscalco, Kingdom of the Feared

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Serpent and the Wings of Night (#1)

Author: Carissa Broadbent

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 532

Publication Date: 8/29/22

Publisher:

Categories: Romance, Young Adult, Fantasy, Romantasy

Human or vampire, the rules of survival are the same: never trust, never yield, and always – always – guard your heart.

The adopted human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king, Oraya carved her place in a world designed to kill her. Her only chance to become something more than prey is entering the Kejari: a legendary tournament held by the goddess of death herself.

But winning won’t be easy amongst the most vicious warriors from all three vampire houses. To survive, Oraya is forced to make an alliance with a mysterious rival.

Everything about Raihn is dangerous. He is a ruthless vampire, an efficient killer, an enemy to her father’s crown… and her greatest competition. Yet, what terrifies Oraya most of all is that she finds herself oddly drawn to him.

But there’s no room for compassion in the Kejari. War for the House of Night brews, shattering everything that Oraya thought she knew about her home. And Raihn may understand her more than anyone – but their blossoming attraction could be her downfall, in a kingdom where nothing is more deadly than love.

The Serpent and the Wings of Night is the first book in a new series of heart-wrenching romance, dark magic, and bloodthirsty intrigue, perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash and A Court of Thorns and Roses.

Content Warning: violence, sexual assault

I love it when I pick a book I know nothing about – I chose it because of the cover and interesting synopsis and the book turns out to be everything I’m craving for at the moment. I wanted vampires…and I got it! Here’s what did and didn’t work for me:

+ I wanted a book about vampires and I got it! I thought this world building of different vampire houses living among humans was very fascinating. Different types of vampires had characteristic to show what kind of vampires they were – and some of them have wings, which is great. I love me a vampire with wings! There is some good world building and would love to learn more about the other Houses. The action in the trials are so good too. I also love the twist in the end.

+ I like Oraya. She’s human, but raised by the ruthless vampire king Vincent. She’s been protected by him but also is aware at how human and vulnerable she is. Oraya never forgets she is human but she longs for vampire powers just so she can stop feeling so powerless. Oraya has gone through some trauma in her life and have learned to survive in her own way. I also like Raihn who is protective, always wears a smirk and at odds with Oraya most times but he loves it.

+ Raihn and Oraya are everything I want in a romantasy couple. They meet and have secrets, they can’t trust one another but Raihn has a way of befriending Oraya and getting under her walls. It’s a slow burn but not too slow – which I love. I don’t have to wait for book two for some steamy scenes – I felt like it came in the right time for Raihn and Oraya. I like how they become allies and partners to pass these trials, they learn more about one another and soon their attraction is undeniable.

+ The side characters like Mische did a lot to help show Oraya there were different kinds of vampires out there. There are the ones who are born and the ones who are Turned. She only grew up vampires who barely showed expression except when fueled by blood. Mische and Raihn were turned and still have a bit of their humanity to them which helps Oraya come to terms with her humanness.

~ Vincent! He was a character you didn’t to love or what until the end. I hope we learn more about Oraya’s background because it was quite a mystery.

Tropes: slow burn, survive the trials, rivals, vampire and human romance

Spice Level: 🌶 🌶🌶

Why you should read it:

slow burn romantasy ~ I love Raihn and Oraya together
lots of action, and some good twists
nice flow to the story, I read it in one day even though it was over 500 pages

Why you might not want to read it:

you don’t like romantasy
maybe you should wait to binge the series

My Thoughts:

This has everything I wanted in a book right now. It’s a romantasy so we get the fantasy, vampires, and we get some steamy romance. I love that nothing was rushed or too slow and it was paced so well it kept my attention. I wanted to read book two right after I read it but I can’t because it’s not out yet! I want to see what happens to Raihn and Oraya and if we find out more about Oraya’s background. I want to see what happens with the House of Night and what the House of Blood has up their sleeve…I can’t wait to read book two and hope the wait isn’t too long.