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 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

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 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Night Prince by. Lauren Palphreyman | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: The Night Prince (Wolf King, #2)

Author: Lauren Palphreyman

Format: borrowed (KU)

Pages: 499

Publication Date: 4/1/25

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Politics, Werewolves, Romantasy, Enemies to Lovers

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

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

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

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

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

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

If she can figure out who to trust.

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

If she can stay alive.

Content Warning: violence, mentions of torture, death, whipping

+ I read this book right after book one because of that ending! This take off right after the events of book one.

+ Aurora is still caught in the middle of everything but one relationship gets even more muddled. The one with Blake. Blake is sarcastic, total red flags, he’s not morally grey – he’s morally black, he is manipulative. But he’s the only one who tells her anything, he’s the one who wants her to push and fight back. I’m obsessed!

+ Book one was a enemies to lovers with Callum because he is the “enemy” as in the werewolf, but he’s a really good guy and I can see why Aurora adores him. There was no fighting between them. But the true enemies to lovers (the kind filled with hate) is between Aurora and Blake. Their bond is made closer and they both eventually see the dark side of one another and that’s why I love seeing their relationship grow. He’s fighting it and she’s disgusted by it…but it is inevitable and I hope they are end game. I don’t really want this to be polyamory because I feel like Callum deserves a Queen by his side, but I don’t think it is Aurora.

+ I did figure out one of the big reveals, sort of early in this book but it’s okay because I still think the moment when it happens is epic. I’ve been waiting for Aurora’s character to grow and she pushes back much more in this book, but she also retreats inside herself many times – she is growing though. But the other reveal in the story was a shocker to me.

+ So many things happen at the end of this book, that I was hoping book three would be coming out SOON but I have to wait until 2026. Also, I love all the new people we meet like Lochlan, Jack – I wonder if there will be spinoffs for any of these characters?

~ The love triangle feelings are heightened and complicated in this one and there is a lot for Aurora to work out. Callum has been protecting her so well and that is his nature, but Aurora needs to grow so there is a lot of turmoil between them as she tries to find her place in this new world of werewolves.

~ My biggest issue with this book? I wanted more Aurora and Blake! There is a lot of Aurora and Callum but I wanted more of Blake. Yes, he is manipulative but in this book we learn more about what happened to him in the past. And I liked getting to know him in his lands. There is also a lot of dreaming parts I think to make up for the fact that Aurora and Blake don’t get to spend much real time together since she is still with Callum. But their bond grows through these dreams…I just wish they didn’t have to dream so much and they can be together more outside of it.

Final Thoughts:

I’m addicted to this series, and I’m not ashamed to say I think it’s because of Blake. I should want Aurora to be with good, protective, kind Callum – but of course instead I want her to end up with the really messed up, hot, sinister, manipulative wolf.😅 There is just something about this series: werewolves, kilts, and Scottish accents (and no I haven’t listened to the audiobook but since they are wearing kilts, these guys have Scottish accents in my head lol). It’s fun! I might just have to re-read this book a few times until book three gets released!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Metal Slinger by. Rachel Schneider | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Metal Slinger (Fire & Metal, #1)

Author: Rachel Schneider

Format: borrowed (KU)

Pages: 497

Publication Date: 5/12/24

Categories: Romantasy, Friends to Lovers, Enemies to Lovers

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

Neither is the encounter with an enemy soldier.

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

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

…including her heart.

Content Warning: violence

I’ve been seeing this book on booktok but saw it Kindle Unlimited before – I heard that a traditional publisher was picking this book up so I downloaded to see what the hype was about.

+ The beginning was good and I was definitely hooked. I was intrigued by these group of people who have been exiled from land. In Alaha, their home is an island without land. So I thought that was really interesting! Brynn is training to be a guard and is almost finished. To top it off, her best friend, Kai, who is also the son of the leader of their people, wants to marry her. All should be good until something happens that puts their people in danger of starvation.

+ The magic system is interesting. People have elemental magic. But you need land to activate and use magic.

+ Brynn seems like a strong and beautiful female. She’s good with a sword and as the story moves on we find out things about her past like she has magic and that her family is still alive. Without spoiling the story because there is a plot twist that changes what I think about Brynn/Jovi, let’s just say she is unexpected.

+ Brynn has crushed on Kai since they were young so that’s a friends to lovers match there. But then she meets Acker. He is the typical dark haired, hot, mysterious, guy who embodies danger and all that (he’s good at killing)…and he has metal magic. He also fills the gaps of her missing memories about her childhood because he knew her as Jovi. They get to know one another and there is desire between them. I thought they fell too fast for one another but I blamed it on the bond they have. There are some spicy scenes between them.

~ There is a lull in the middle of this book. For awhile, Brynn/Jovi and Acker is floating in the middle of the ocean trying to find land. They get to know each other but not much is happening. Even when they get to land, I don’t feel like the world-building was strong. There are kingdoms with a fragile peace treaty and Acker and Jovi being on these lands trying to get to Kenta (Acker’s kingdom), threatens the peace. But I wanted to know more about these kingdoms.

~ I liked Acker and Jovi’s growing relationship but I did feel something was missing because it was moving so fast. Did she really just dismiss her feelings for Kai so suddenly? Acker fell fast and hard for her too. I wanted build-up, but because they are Matched and have a bond, so it’s undeniable? I wanted more of an emotional connection but I wasn’t feeling it.

~ The plot twist. This is what all the hype is about with this book…so let’s talk about it. It comes with a sudden flashback at the end of the book during a build to a climactic moment but though I felt stunned, it felt kinda off, and I was confused. The way it’s executed means a lot of things happens off page, and we, the reader don’t get that information. It also paints Jovi in a very different light than how I saw her throughout the book – which is the goal, I guess? But it leaves me with SO many questions that won’t be answered until the next book or not? We shall see, maybe now I don’t trust the author since she didn’t trust me?😅 Throughout this whole book there is no show of motivation for her to do what she did at the end – it’s a whole secret until then, she’s lying the whole time. And fine, I don’t mind being lied to for shock value, but make it make sense. I like a good unreliable narrator but Brynn/Jovi is not that, doesn’t even give us a hint that she’s unreliable. The were just a few indications that did give me pause in the book and maybe foreshadowed this was going to happen – I questioned how fast she fell for Acker but chalked it up to insta-love and also, wondered why with her at the border of her kingdom, she wouldn’t go right away and see the mom she hasn’t seen in forever.

Final Thoughts:

If you are a high-fantasy reader, go into this one with low expectations. If you love romantasy and all the usual tropes, you will enjoy this one. You kind of have to go with the flow with this one and not think too hard on connecting dots. I was half and half on this one. I knew it was a romantasy with a lot of hype – so I wanted to see what the hype and plot twist was about. The plot twist had potential but I did not like how it was executed. I did like the beginning when the story is set with the characters, and the world of Alaha, but then there is a lull in the middle as our main characters are floating on the sea trying to find land. Pacing wise, this felt choppy. I had to re-read some parts a few times in the book because I felt like I missed something.

Will I read book two? Yes, I think I will read it because I want to see what happens to Brynn/Jovi and Acker after that wild ending. There is a snippet at the end of the ebook for book two, and it looks like it takes place after a few years have passed, so I think that’s interesting. But when I read book two I will go in with trust issues. 😅

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Wolf King by. Lauren Palphreyman | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: The Wolf King (Wolf King, #1)

Author: Lauren Palphreyman

Format: borrowed (KU)

Pages: 475

Publication Date: 9/14/25

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Politics, Werewolves, Romantasy, Enemies to Lovers

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

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

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

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

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

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

And will Aurora ever get home?

Does she even want to?

Content Warning: violence

+ I kept seeing this book on KU and then finally saw someone say on here how much they loved it. So I downloaded because I felt like I was in a romantasy slump (I took a break to finish arcs), and was craving a good romantasy. And I’m so glad I read this one, because I devoured it!

+ Princess Aurora is about to be married to a horrible man so when the alpha from a werewolf clan kidnaps her she goes willingly – telling herself she is saving her people but secretly knowing she is saving herself. from her future husband. Aurora was raised to be poised, and in control of her emotions but once she is free from her duties she learns she has to toughen up in a different way because now she’s surrounded by werewolves and they have their own hierarchy of doing things.

+ This is a romantasy and Callum, alpha of Highfell, is charming! Yes he is the enemy because he kidnapped her and basically wants to hold her hostage but he was very easy to fall in love with because he’s a good guy, loves to tease Aurora even when she throws a fit, and clearly they have a physical attraction that’s hard to deny. I thought their relationship was very sweet and he’s very protective of her. It does get spicy between them.

+ I really enjoy the politics of the werewolves and how they are fighting the humans. Even though there are a few characters to learn, I didn’t have a hard time keeping track of them. I actually felt like there were so many intriguing characters, like Blake. Blake…he is mysterious, dangerous, can’t trust him, very full of red flags and yet, I’m wondering if this is turning into a love triangle? Not sure I want that to happen. And what does that say about me that I want to know more about the really bad boy instead of Aurora staying with the really good guy?! 😅 But it’s hard not to fall for these werewolves in kilts! Anyway, there is a lot of politics and right now Aurora is the pawn and I want to see how this ends up for her character.

~ I think I want to see a little more fight and growth in Aurora and I’m sure it is coming. I’m grateful for Callum and his goodness because she would’ve been passed around and bartered if not for his protection! But eventually I want to see her take power into her own hands.

~ I really hope it’s not a love triangle, but why am I not set on Callum being her love interest? Because of Blake.😅

Final Thoughts:

I needed a romantasy to read this week and this came through! I devoured it and the second book (review coming) in 2 days. And now I have to wait for book three which bums me out so bad. 😅 I’ve always been a fan of fae and vampires more than werewolves but this one is so fun, it might be because of the kilts and the charm! I enjoyed the politics, the werewolf hierarchy drama, Aurora being a human princess among wolves, the romance, the spice and Blake. So glad I finally read this one!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Silvercloak by. L.K. Steven | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Silvercloak (Silvercloak Saga, #1)

Author: L.K. Steven

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 464

Publication Date: 7/29/25

Publisher: Del Rey

Categories: Fantasy, Magic, LGBT+, Romance, Romantasy, 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 Del Rey for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

In this addictive new fantasy series set in a world where magic is fueled by pleasure and pain, an obsessive detective infiltrates a brutal gang of dark mages—knowing that one wrong move will get her killed. . . .

Two decades ago, the Bloodmoons ruthlessly murdered Saffron Killoran’s parents, destroying her idyllic childhood. Hell-bent on revenge, she lies her way into Silvercloak Academy—the training ground for her city’s elite order of detectives—with a single goal: to bring the Bloodmoons to justice.

But when Saff’s deception is exposed, rather than being cast out, she’s given a rare opportunity: to go undercover and tear the Bloodmoons down from the inside.

Descending into a world where pleasure and pain are the most powerful currencies, Saff must commit some truly heinous deeds to keep her cover—and her life. Not only are there rival gangs and sinister smuggling rings to contend with, but there’s also her growing feelings for the kingpin’s tortured son, with his vicious pet fallowwolf, his dark past, and the curious prophecy foretelling his death at Saffron’s hand.

With each day testing her loyalties further, Saff finds her web of lies becoming harder to spin. And when one false step could destroy everything and everyone she’s ever loved . . . the detective who’s dedicated her life to vengeance just might die for it.

Content Warning: violence, death, drug use, torture

+ Silvercloak introduces us to a world of magic, and to fill this magic well in each person is pleasure and pain. The world-building is amazing – it is lush, detailed and violent. There are mages who uses wands and spells for their magic. There are Silvercloaks who are in essence the good guys, and then the Bloodmoons who are the bad guys – run by Lyrian who acts like a cold-hearted mob boss. Saff is training to be Silvercloak but gets assigned to be deep undercover as a Bloodmoon to gather intel so that their organization can be finally taken down.

+ Saff is an undercover Silvercloak and caught in a mess. Lyrian runs a tight ship and Levan, his son is ruthless and keeping an eye on Saff. She does her best with what skills she has but this being her first real undercover mission – she is not that savvy and makes so many mistakes. I found her to be a fascinating character with her immunity to magic. Levan is even more fascinating with his hard exterior, violent tendencies and yet love for fantasy books. The attraction between them is automatic because in this world, pleasure and pain seem to be there for the taking with anyone they choose. There are a few spicy scenes and it gets creative when using wands and magic! I thought that was fun plus because it’s a world of pleasure – this is a queer community, both Saff and Levan are bisexual.

+ The side characters were great too – I felt like Saff’s friends gave us a lot of insight into her life and world before becoming a Bloodmoon. And the Bloodmoons are interesting too especially when Saff starts to dig into why they do what they do.

+ There is a lot of violence in this book because that is what Bloodmoons are. I liked the twist at the end and it makes me eager to know what will happen in book two. Also I usually don’t enjoy time jumping but this one was easy to follow.

~ I wasn’t 100% on Saff’s reasons for joining the Bloodmoon (the made up reason), clearly someone like Lyrian who has his “eyes” everywhere knows she is a rat – he knows, he just doesn’t have proof but I just kept wondering, why not just kill her? She really doesn’t bring anything to the table here and they were suspicious of her the whole time, but that’s what made the twist more interesting.

~ Clearly this is an enemies to lovers romance but I am still not sure about Levan and how he feels about Saff. Also because they can refill their magic wells with pleasure – I didn’t feel like they had a budding romantic connection at all, more like okay I can help you replenish with this. Do I hope they have a romance? I’m not sure yet.

~ As I mentioned, Saff isn’t the most experienced undercover Silvercloak so there were times I wanted to shake some sense into her. Also, this is adult fantasy but feels young adult or maybe new adult.

Final Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this one, especially the world-building which was detailed. I love the magic and wand wielding. There were some pretty violent and bloody scenes in this one but I thought it was fitting since the Bloodmoons are an organized crime unit. They lived up to their reputation. This was entertaining and I’m looking forward to see what happens in book two!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Tricks of Fortune by. Lina Chern | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating:

Title: Tricks of Fortune (Katie True, #2)

Author: Lina Chern

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 7/1/25

Publisher: Bantam

Categories: Cozy Mystery, Tarot, Sequel

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

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

Tarot card reader extraordinaire Katie True flexes her investigative muscles when her family becomes the prime suspect in a local murder in this exciting mystery from the author of Play the Fool

“A delicious blend of suspense and madcap humor” – Library Journal, starred review of Play the Fool

Katie True has finally gotten her crap together. It’s a miracle after the wild events of the last year, but she has her own tarot reading room now. The small space might be her sister’s unused real estate office, but it’s a start. Moreover, adulthood isn’t as exciting as Katie imagined, and it’s not long before she begins to miss the action of using her tarot cards for investigating murder, rather than answering trivial questions.

But when a murder of a veteran police officer shakes the small town, Katie is compelled to use her newfound investigative skills. Luckily, her partner-in-solving-crime, Detective Jamie Roth, is assigned to the case. Katie may be a useful resource in the investigation, as her family is quite close with the deceased after he saved baby Katie from the scene of a car crash.

It may take more than a tarot reading to solve this one, as Katie must dig deeper into her own past and rekindle a former friendship to help her this time around. Lina Chern brings another charming whodunit, following the same delightful characters, with a new thrilling murder to solve.

Content Warning:

+ I read book one of this series, Play the Fool and really enjoyed it. So I picked up the sequel and tarot reading, Katie True is back and now she’s navigating life being known as the girl from the accident and trying to help solve a murder of the cop from that accident.

+ In the first book Katie was kind of lost in life and an under achiever and I liked seeing her growth. Now Katie is more settled in this sequel and she’s dating Jaime, who’s a detective. This one is definitely more cozy than the first book.

~ If you love cozy mysteries, you will enjoy this book but for me, I missed the action, twists and turns that I loved in book one.

~ This one moved to slow for me and it left me uninvested in the story.

Final Thoughts:

I enjoyed book one more than this one because Katie’s character had room to grow. I feel like this one moved too slowly for me and I didn’t connect to the characters. If you like cozy mysteries, definitely give this series a try.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Play the Fool by. Lina Chern | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Bond That Burns by. Briar Boleyn| Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: The Bond That Burns (Bloodwing Academy, #2)

Author: Briar Boleyn

Format: ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

Pages: 395

Publication Date: 12/27/24

Categories: Romantasy, Dark Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Bully Romance

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

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

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

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

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

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

Content Warning: violence, death, bullying; the book has an extensive list of trigger warnings

I read book two since it was on kindle limited and I was like why not – I just finished book one, let’s push on.

+ Still love Medra’s friendships with Florence, Theo and Visha. Also her growing bond with the dragon, Nyxaris, who has a right to mistrust vampires and everyone else.

+ There is more dragons in this story than learning about vampire lore. Now the story has focused on figuring out what happened to dragons in the past since of course Nyxaris conveniently doesn’t remember much. It’s a mystery that Medra promised Nyyxaris she would learn about and provide the dragon with that missing information.

+ Loved that Kage was featured more in this book – I honestly wish he was the love interest.

~ I do not like Blake. I just couldn’t stand his downward spiral in this book. This is where the bully romance really shows (more than in book one). He is going through a change (something of course I figured out right away once it was hinted in the book) – but he is losing control because of his need for Medra. He is possessive, jealous, angry, but she’s trying her best to push him away (uncessfully), but he is such an ass to her. Maybe growth will come for him in book three but I don’t know if I’ll read it, I can’t stand to hear him say everything is his fault and then he messes up again. Come on Blake! Medra needs to grow also – why is she always getting betrayed by the end of the story? Like no one is steps ahead in this story except Viktor, Blake’s uncle and he’s the villain!

~ The romance is now not so enemies to lovers. She “hates” him but loves to have sex with him. So they are in the enemies with benefits stage, I guess? I don’t know because this is the first time I have actually skipped all the smut in a book because I just couldn’t stand the characters being with one another! 😅. I got tired of the back and forth.

~ Medra finally mentions a tiny bit about her past. Crumbs. Why haven’t we learned more about her fae upbringing yet? Why the long wait? Why is her mother’s spirit in a knife? She brings her along randomly and they can talk in Medra’s head when she has the knife, but it’s so strange. Just gives us more information about Medra!

~ Blake’s sister is still feral. Then Mr. Rodriguez who was supposedly a nice teacher thinks to create a secret society dragon hunter on his own – like what? More things happen but actually they all happen at the end and then there’s a cliffhanger. And why are all the good people getting hurt and dying?

~ The writing isn’t my favorite. It’s simple to read but some things just doesn’t flow well and there is just too much going on.

Final Thoughts:

I was happy this book was shorter than the first, but at least in book one Blake only had hints of being horrible and there was more academia, trials, drama and politics to keep the story moving. This one focused more on the bully romance and I hate a bully so I do not like Blake in this book at all, so much so that I dislike the romance between him and Medra a lot. I did like Medra’s friendships but I hope there is LOTS of growth for Blake and Medra in book three but I kind out doubt there will be. If I read book three it won’t be for the romance, but for the dragons, Kage Tanaka and maybe to learn something more about Medra’s past.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

On Wings of Blood by. Briar Boleyn ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pigeon-Blood Red by. Ed Duncan| Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice:

Title: Pigeon-Blood Red (Pigeon-Blood Red, #1)

Author: Ed Duncan

Format: ebook

Pages: 250

Publication Date: 9/2/2016

Categories: Suspense, Crime, Mystery, Thriller

For underworld enforcer Richard “Rico” Sanders, it seemed like an ordinary job: retrieve his gangster boss’s stolen goods, and teach the person responsible a lesson.

But the chase quickly goes sideways and takes Rico from the mean streets of Chicago to sunny Honolulu. There, the hardened hit man finds himself in uncharted territory, when innocent bystanders are accidentally embroiled in a crime.

As Rico pursues his new targets, hunter and prey develop an unlikely respect for one another.

Soon, he is faced with a momentous decision: follow his orders to kill the very people who have won his admiration, or refuse and endanger the life of the woman he loves?

Content Warning: violence

+ I was asked to read and review this book even though it’s not really the type of genre I usually read but I was open to trying it.

+ I liked how some of the story is set in Honolulu, Hawaii, since I’m from here. The author definitely described Waikiki really well! And though Hawaii is known as paradise, there is a dark underbelly to paradise, and I think this crime story fit well in this setting.

+ I thought the story moved quickly and it is pretty straightforward as we follow Rico doing his job. There is a lot of action and it’s also only 250 pages long so it’s a quick read.

~ It’s not a genre I usually read so I wasn’t totally into the story.

Final Thoughts:

This is definitely not the type of book genre I read these days, though I did have a phase of reading crime thrillers years ago. So I didn’t enjoy it like I do other books but it is well written so if you like fast moving crime thrillers, you might enjoy this book!