The Lion & the Deathless Dark by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: The Lion & the Deathless Dark (Crowns of Nyaxia, #5)

Author: Carissa Broadbent

Pages: 560

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 8/4/26

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Vampires, Gods, Series

Some blood tastes like vengeance. Some blood tastes like grief. Some blood tastes like nothing at all.

Under an eternal night, the world has been ravaged by ten years of war between humans and vampires. Kyrene scrapes by as a bounty hunter, bearing a blessed sword from the goddess of justice. But in the wake of a devastating loss, Kyrene commits a crime that makes her a target for mortals and gods alike – and she is still desperate for vengeance.

Her only chance at survival – and revenge – is making a deal with her enemy, the silver-tongue vampire prince, Septimus, who offers her one final to slay the gods themselves.

Together, Kyrene and Septimus must hunt the ultimate marks, all while navigating a web of prophecies and curses. Septimus is calculating and mysterious, masking secrets bloodthirsty enough to consume them both. Yet, most dangerous of all, Kyrene finds an unexpected kinship in him.

But their growing attraction is deadly in a world where the only currency is blood. And Kyrene will stop at nothing to fulfill her ultimate to kill the goddess of vampires, even if it means sacrificing love for revenge.

Content Warning: violence, death, gore, grief

What can I say about another book in the Crowns of Nyaxia that has made me care about the characters, grips me with the story telling and then made me gasp at the end and now I NEED the next book. I can’t even believe the next book will be the last in the series. I have loved this series from book one and it has never disappointed me, which is absolutely amazing. So the thought of it coming to an end in the next book actually makes me sad.

I loved the storytelling which is a given with all the books in this series. The characters, Kyrene, the FMC is filled with rage, wields a godly sword just hacking away at enemies and Gods. She is the Vindica Ultis. There is violence, lots of blood and even sometimes gore. She has no fear, but has so much trauma and a secret that shocked me. Septimus, the Bloodborn cursed MMC, where’s white, smokes vanilla scented cigarillos to keep his curse at bay, has self-control (mostly), wears glasses and reads to Kyrene. What can I say but that I loved both of them, down to their raw, flawed state. Both are anti-heroes, Kyrene has the title and the sword, but she doesn’t have the desire to be the good hero everyone sees her to be. She doesn’t do emotional attachment, which made me hurt for her when she allows herself to feel grief. And Septimus, who wants the curse to end with him, to spare the rest of his family. Both want to kill the Gods for different reasons and they team up to try and carry out this goal.

The romance is slow burn and so good! The banter between Kyrene and was Septimus was great, she’s wild and he’s always in control so seeing her try to always make it lose it is so much fun. And that scene where he drinks her blood? Perfection.

So much of this story was devastating, and the ending is emotional with the twist leaving me needing the next book right away. I was rooting for Kyrene so, so hard. I wanted her and Septimus to achieve their goal and create the world they dreamed.

One thing I found fascinating and different was the machines! I was not expecting this story to have machinists and even a god who was made of parts. But I love how each book opens up the world in this series.

Quotes From the Book:

“What’s life without a few regrets?” – The Lion and the Deathless Dark by. Carissa Broadbent

“Monsters recognize monsters.” – The Lion and the Deathless Dark by. Carissa Broadbent

Final Thoughts:

I love this series and this book was everything I expected it to be. It opened the world of this series even more, it is violent, devastating and emotional. And the only regret I have is I wish I didn’t read it until the next book came out because now I have to wait so long, hopefully not too long! I’m also pretty sure I’m going to be so sad when this series ends because I have loved all the characters and the romance. I’m ready to see what happens to these Gods and if Kyrene and Septimus can take them down.

Read if you like:

Crowns of Nyaxia series
slow burn romance
vampires and Gods
female rage

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review– 4.5 stars/2 🌶️

The Songbird & the Heart of Stone by. Carissa Broadbent| ARC Review – 4.5 stars

Six Scorched Roses by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review – 4.5 stars

The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review – 4.5 stars

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review – 5 stars

**I’m pretty sure I read Slaying the Vampire Conqueror but never wrote a review so I will be re-reading and doing a review soon**

**I also read Daughter of No Worlds, up to book 2 but never wrote reviews because I just started my blog I believe so I will be doing a re-read of those and reviewing them also!**

Nest of Tongues by. Randy Ribay | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Nest of Tongues

Author: Randy Ribay

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 8/11/26

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Categories: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Vampires, Filipino Mythology/Folklore

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

Thank you to Random House Books for Young Readers for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A lyrical, evocative horror about vampires from the Philippines . . . and a hunter on their tail. A brother and sister fight to protect their secrets, their community, and most of all, each other, in this evocative novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Patron Saints of Nothing.

As Filipino vampires known as manananggal, Lily and her brother Caleb understand the value of a secret. After all, to hide is to survive. To lie is to live. They’d never harm another person—but people only believe their worst fears around creatures of myth. So the siblings stay quiet. They follow their community’s rules.

Until a monster hunter turns up and kills a fellow manananggal, anyway.

Until Caleb is marked as the hunter’s next prey.

Suddenly, he and Lily realize there’s always been more at stake than the lives of their people. Because when doing everything “right” is still a death sentence, what can they take as truth? As the hunter nears, the siblings must decide if they’ll be driven from the only home they’ve ever known . . . or fight to protect a community that may already be lost.

Content Warning: violence, death

+ I was ecstatic to get my hands on this arc because I read one book from this author and loved it. Plus this one was about the manananggal (I’m Ilocano so all I ever knew them as was the Aswang). So the fact that all these scary Filipino mythology and folklore monsters was being feature in a book was exciting to me! I loved learning all about the different creatures and monsters I didn’t know about and was delighted when I read something familiar like the white lady apparition that seems to be common in Filipino ghost stories.

+~ I love that the manananggal was the good guys in this book. I like how it explores the theme of good and evil. I mean there are always two sides to a story right? So most of the story is a mystery about who this bayani could be that is killing the manananggals and it’s a race to stop them before it kills Caleb. And Lily is not about to let that happen. Also, I loved their Lola (grandmother) she made me laugh a few times, and there were times I wished Lily treated her with a little more respect, but I get it – families are complicated, which is explored in the story as well.

+~ Mysteries always feel a little bit slow to me, so there were times I wish it moved faster. There is action, mostly in the second half, and secrets that are revealed in the end. Mostly, I just enjoyed being immersed in the Filipino-American culture that was featured in the book, especially the family and community elements.

+~ This is a young adult book and yes Lily and Caleb, are very young adult in the way they act and speak. These kids curse a lot, which is realistic, but it was a lot more than I was expecting and a bit too much for me at times. But I did enjoy how close they were as siblings, they looked out for one another. Lily was a protective big sister and would do anything to keep Caleb safe.

Final Thoughts:

I’m very excited to see a story based on Filipino mythology and folklore since that’s what I grew up with. Some of the creatures in the book were monsters my parents used to tell me about so I felt seen by that. I’m glad more people will get to learn something about these stories and creatures from this book. I enjoyed the sibling bond, family and community elements that are themes in the book, even if some of these family connections were complicated. There was a little more cursing than I would have liked in a young adult book, but I do think the teens were portrayed very well. I did like the second half of the story more because it had more action and secret reveals. Overall, I think this is a young adult book that people can learn from and also enjoy if they are into vampires, mystery and mythology.

Read if you like:

Filipino mythology/folklore
sibling bond, family
young adult mystery

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Book Review | Patron Saints of Nothing – 5 stars

The Serpent’s Throne by. Kathryn Ann Kingsley | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️.5

Title: The Serpent’s Throne (Bloodlines, #3)

Author: Kathryn Ann Kingsley

Pages: 298

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 7/10/26

Categories: Romantasy, Dark Romance, Vampires, Fae, Series

I swore I’d kill Raziel Nostrom. Now he owns my heart…

After a shattering betrayal, Nadi and Raziel flee into the Wild—the endless labyrinth of caves that is home to the fae.

Nadi trained for years to infiltrate and kill a ruthless family of vampires. Now she faces an even deadlier challenge—returning to her own family with their most hated enemy by her side.

In a realm of flickering lights and terrifying monsters, the desire that binds her to Raziel only grows stronger. Enemies and allies wish to tear them apart, but she still craves his razor-sharp smile, his touch, his bite…

In the city above, Raziel’s siblings are building a new world, where vampires rule with no restraint and no mercy. Soon their power will be untouchable.

Nadi and Raziel only have each other. Two shattered and broken things, in a world that wants them dead. Two perfect assassins, sharpened to a killing edge and hungry for revenge.

Their love was forged in blood. And it will end in blood…

Content Warning: violence, death

World Building: Nadi and Raziel are in the home of the fae, the Wild – which is an underground labyrinth. They make plans and need to escape, I like the symbolism of Raziel being deep underground in Fae territory and needing to climb all the way up to the surface to carry out his vengeance. In the Wild, we meet some of the Fae in power and learn about them and their motivations.

Characters: Nadi has chosen her side, and it’s Raziel so she does everything to take his family down. Raziel has gone beyond anger, he is the Serpent and will do anything to take down his family and rule. He has always been morally black, but I love how Nadi grounds him, just enough – I like how he knows what he is good at and had some sanity while he seemed like he was going insane. Kalo was interesting and we get to know more about him – at times I didn’t know what side he was really on but I did like his growth.

Romance: Nadi and Raziel are like Bonnie and Clyde and they will go down together with a world burning around them. I love how they were each other’s ride or die til the end! They have seen the best and worst of one another, and they are committed – I love that about them! Nadi sees all his red flags and things, I want that. 😅 Surprisingly this is the least spicy book among the three in the series, but I didn’t mind it because there was a lot of killing going on, no time for spice!

Story: This is a great ending to the trilogy! I like how Nadi and Raziel went about carrying out their plans and vengeance. They were in it 100% and I admired that about them even though Raziel is a little crazy. These two are made for each other, I love their crazy moments and heartfelt ones too. I enjoyed the journey Nadi and Raziel go through to finally achieve their goal. And the ending had a little twist I definitely wasn’t expecting.

Final Thoughts:

I was cheering Nadi and Raziel on because I wanted to see them get vengeance too. I liked learning about the Fae, the politics, the violence and the vengeance. I love the romance, I was all about them being crazy and crazy for each other. I really enjoyed this series and hope to read more from this author!

Read if you like:

mafia vampire vibes
revenge
romance

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

The Serpent’s Sin by. Kathryn Ann Kingsley | Book Review – 4 stars/ 3 🌶️

The Serpent’s Bride by. Kathryn Ann Kingsley | Book Review – 3.5 stars/ 3 🌶️

A Magic So Deadly by. Vasilisa Drake | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: A Magic So Deadly (Kingdom of Dark Magic, #2)

Author: Vasilia Drake

Pages: 479

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 6/30/26

Categories: Romantasy, Vampires and Witches, Series

She has become everything she ever wanted… and everything she despises.

Samara wakes in a prison cell as her worst nightmare: She’s a vampire, cursed with bloodlust that horrifies her. And though she now has the magic she’s always desperately craved, it’s a secret she must guard with her undead life.

Because this same magic marks her as an enemy of all vampires. Especially Raphael—their king.

Now, as a vampire, Samara is haunted by an inescapable thirst. In her sleep, she claws at her throat, trying to ease the pain. But when she’s around Raphael, her fangs ache for a deeper reason she can’t explain.

A mystical bond ties Samara to Raphael as her sire, preventing her from fleeing before he can discover her identity as the very witch he’s been hunting for centuries. Instead, she must journey with him to the Southern Vampire Kingdom. A journey that has her sharing both his carriage… and his bed.

There, Raphael offers her another bargain: Yield to her vampire nature and master her abilities, and he will help her break the bond.

But if she lowers her guard too much, if her control over the powers she barely understands slips and Raphael learns she’s the necromancer…

He’ll be forced to kill her.

A Magic So Deadly is the second book in the Kingdom of Dark Magic series, filled with a slow burn romance, unique magic systems, and forced proximity.

Content Warning: violence, death, self-harm

World Building: In this sequel, Samara’s time is mostly spent in Raphael’s kingdom, but there is a moment in the end where we get to meet another vampire ruler. But Thea is on her mission somewhere else but I’m not going to lie, I was mostly reading to see how Samara and Raphael’s romance was going to grow.

Characters: Samara is now a vampire, and she’s trying to come to terms with it. But she learns something which she feels she can twist to enact her revenge against Raphael. Raphael is trying to give her as much space as he can but also needs to force her to accept her new self so she can survive. There is an intriguing new character, Julian, that comes in at the end.

Romance: I was here for the romance since book one had barely any. And Raphael gives Samara space but that man is crazy about her, which made me crazy about him! I love that he won’t let her go and now we get to see him expressing all his yearning and feelings that he has been holding back. I devoured it. I loved watching them getting to know one another and finally acting on their desires. Loved their spicy scenes – it’s so sensual in a vampire way (bloody haha, but not too bad), which again I devoured, it’s what I expect from a vampire romance!

Story: I did enjoy seeing Samara learn to accept being a vampire. There is some political intrigue and something brewing in the background that Thea is involved in, and a betrayal that shocked me. There is an unexpected plot twist at the end and of course it had to be a cliffhanger so now I have to wait for book three. But like I said, I wanted to read this book because I wanted to see the romance to develop and that goal was definitely achieved.

Final Thoughts:

All my stars are for Raphael haha, and his devotion to Samara. I love a vampire who’s fallen first and will do anything to be with the one he loves. Most of the story was about their relationship but that cliffhanger ending shocked me – now I have to wait, but I honestly have so much faith in Raphael’s love for Samara that even this change of plans won’t stop him from loving her! Now I just want to see her have that same love for him and do the right thing.

Read if you like:

slow burn
vampire romance

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A Bargain So Bloody by. Vasilia Drake | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating:

Title: A Bargain So Bloody (Kingdom of Dark Magic, #1)

Author: Vasilia Drake

Pages: 498

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 6/30/25

Categories: Romantasy, Vampires and Witches, Series

She’s trapped in a magical prison. To break out, she’ll make a deal with the most dangerous prisoner of them all.

Sentenced for a crime she didn’t commit, Samara is bullied by guards and tormented by the screams of her fellow prisoners. She’s resigned herself to enduring her fifteen-year term… until she learns that the freedom she’s been promised is the cruelest lie of all.

Now she’s faced with a choice: resign herself to dying in the cold walls of Castle Greymere, or do the unthinkable and escape. But no one leaves Greymere alive. So to break out of the prison? She’ll have to use one of the undead.

Raphael is the worst kind of a vampire with a thirst for blood, the mortal enemy of witches, the same breed that killed her mother. And most importantly, he’s unspeakably powerful, his supernatural strength tamed only by the enchanted cuffs forced on him.

He’s her only chance at a life outside the prison walls.

The deal is Samara unlocks his shackles, and he’ll help her escape. But although Raphael agreed to help her leave Greymere, he never promised to let her go…

A Bargain So Bloody is the first book in an exciting new romantasy series, perfect for readers who love slow burn romance with morally grey heroes who fall first and hard and heroines who find their own strength.

Content Warning: violence, death, self-harm

World Building: There is a Witch Kingdom that is surrounded by Vampire Kingdoms and we get to spend time in the Witch Kingdom and the Western Vampire Kingdom. Samara has been a prisoner at Greymere, since she was a child. She is a null (no magic) and she’s basically the prison master’s slave until a prisoner appears and makes a bargain with her so she can help set him free. I was very intrigued with this world of vampires and witches.

Characters: Samara and Raphael escape the prison and go on a a quest to find a grimoire. They are both morally grey characters which made things very interesting. Sam has a secret past though, where she has memories of her mother and another life but we don’t know much more than that. She also hates vampires deeply and being with one opens her eyes to her enemy. Raphael is a powerful vampire, and realize he is more than he seems. There are some other interesting characters like Thea and Demos.

Romance: There isn’t much romance, this is very much a slow burn and enemies to lovers because Sam hates vampires. But I liked seeing them get to know one another, their banter and the tension between them. It’s a vampire romance, so there are some sensual scenes that had to do with blood drinking but not spice. I think it’s evident though that Raphael feels something strongly for Samara, and what I love about him is he gives her space. I did want more to happen, but it was a quick read.

Story: I like the world building, and the escape from the prison. I thought Sam and Raphael were interesting characters. The romance was slow but I didn’t mind because Samara was exploring Raphael’s home and finding out about vampires, grimoires and witches. I enjoyed the friendship Sam builds with Thea. There is a twist at the end that made me read book two right away.

Final Thoughts:

It did feel like nothing much was happening in the book after they escape from prison but I still felt like it was a quick read. I love a vampire romantasy though especially when the vampire falls first. It’s a slow burn romance between Samara and Raphael and I enjoyed the build up. I also found the world building interesting and look forward to reading more books in this series.

Read if you like:

slow burn
vampire romance

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Black River by. Ruby Jean Cottle | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Black River (#1)

Author: Ruby Jean Cottle

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 432

Publication Date: 6/9/26 (first published 8/25/25)

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

Categories: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance

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

Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This limited deluxe edition is printed with gorgeous stenciled edges and a stunning foil-stamped case!

JUST ONE TASTE CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING.

All seventeen-year-old Dusty wants is to escape into books and the Adirondack wilderness that surrounds her small town. But in the dead of night, strange things have been happening in Black River.

Animals are being ravaged by something unnatural. And Dusty wakes up one day with dirt on her feet, changed and starving. When new kid Will arrives, Dusty feels an attraction unlike anything she’s felt before. She wants him . . . or she wants his blood. As Dusty realizes she’s transforming into something she can’t control, she reluctantly turns to the only person she somehow knows will understand: the annoyingly attractive Eli Blake.

Together, Dusty and Eli must uncover the mystery of their town and their new, insatiable desires. Have they become vampires or some other kind of monster?

Whatever they are, they’re not the only ones.

Content Warning: violence, death

World Building: Set in a small town, Dusty likes to keep to herself and her best friends until things.

Characters: Dusty’s mom left their family and it’s left a lingering trauma in Dusty but she tries to stay strong for her younger sister who she loves a lot. Dusty is known in town, and has a few popular friends, but she likes to keep to herself. I loved her relationship with her best friend Mali. There is also a boy named Will, who is a new kid and also keeps to himself, and he and Dusty make a connection. But there is also another boy named Eli who Dusty has a connection to also.

Romance: I thought for a moment this was going to be a love triangle but things are clearer near the end of the book. The romance between Will and Dusty is a very slow burn, with challenges coming between them. I was definitely waiting to see their relationship grow and see what direction it would go.

Story: I think for me, this story was too slow. I loved the paranormal elements, the vampires, but trying to figure out how they became vampires took awhile. Most of the story was about how Dusty acclimated to life as a new vampire. Things pick up and get very interesting at the 90% mark, and that was a little too late for me. Also the story ended abruptly, but I believe this is book one, so there will be a continuation to the story.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, this was an okay read for me. I loved Dusty and her story but the mystery of the vampirism and how it happens took too long to unfold, for me. I did like the small town setting and the sweet little romance brewing between Dusty and Will but even that was a slow burn.

Read if you like:

small town mystery
vampires

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Fury Bound by. Sable Sorensen | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Fury Bound (The Wolves of Ruin, #2)

Author: Sable Sorensen

Pages: 608

Format: ebook (own)

Publication Date: 5/5/26

Categories: Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy, Series, Wolves

Revenge demands sacrifice. Don’t miss this action-packed, jaw-dropping, dark and romantic sequel to Dire Bound.

CROWNED BY DESTINY. CONSUMED BY VENGEANCE.

Against all odds, Meryn Cooper has inherited the crown—and a deadly war. As the Kingdom of Nocturna splinters under the weight of generations of lies, it is up to Meryn, her bonded direwolf Anassa, and their allies to bring the country back from the brink.

But the commoners, the Bonded, and the nobles are distrustful of their new queen and Meryn is caught in a deadly game of politics. Meanwhile, Meryn’s beloved younger sister, Saela, is more at risk than ever.

Confusingly, the one person Meryn can trust is Stark Therion—the dark, dangerous Alpha she thought hated her as much as she loathed him. Yet, his loyalty is unshakeable. His presence is intoxicating. And with his guidance, Meryn can seize an unthinkable level of power.

With enemies closing in and shadows stirring in her dreams, Meryn stands to lose her kingdom—and her heart.

Blood will spill. Bonds will break. Fate will be tested.

Content Warning: violence, death

World Building: Back in the world of Dire Bound, Meryn needs to prove she can be the new queen of Nocturna. But Killian isn’t giving up his throne that easily. Meryn doesn’t stay put in Nocturna though because there is a quest in this story. It brings her, Stark and her crew across the last to Astreona where we get to learn more about Siphons (vampires). So there is a lot of travel in this story but I like that the world is opened up, especially when it comes to learning about Siphons and gods and goddesses.

Characters: Meryn is trying to assert herself as queen even if she doesn’t really know what she is doing – but there are a lot of challenges in the way. One challenge is to convince the packs to stay with her, which is tough because many are loyal to Killian. Also, Stark’s mother, comes in and takes over things, trying to assert her authority while Meryn is new to being a queen. So Meryn has a lot to deal with, along with figuring out how to help her sister who is now a Siphon. I hope there is still more growth because some of her actions were questionable. Stark is true to his word and sticks by Meryn’s side throughout everything and their relationship grows a lot but something happens that will make book three very interesting. I think one of the new characters I enjoyed a lot was Lucien, who is King of Astreona and a Siphon.

Romance: There is romance because it’s hard for Meryn and Stark to deny the bond and yes there is spice, but I didn’t feel like they had chemistry for some reason. Maybe I just wanted more banter between them or more scenes, just more build-up? More tension, more yearning – Not sure. I am glad they got together, but I was expecting more. Now what happens in book three after the ending though? We shall see!

Story: I thought it started well, with Meryn trying to figure out how to convince people to accept her rule. But Killian is a problem and then the story goes in a new direction with the Siphons, gods and goddesses. I didn’t mind where the story went and actually thought Lucien was an interesting character and the whole quest of finding Tears was interesting. There is more politics, and the world opens up. But I do feel like the pacing was off a bit. There were times I was into the story and then some moments it lost me so I would put it down to come back to it. I also didn’t like how some characters were being killed off – because I didn’t feel the emotions of the loss from Meryn. I think overall the story lacked emotionally connection. The ending is a plot twist I wasn’t expecting and not sure that I love but I guess we’ll see what happens in book three.

Final Thoughts:

I think this sequel was solid and there were some things I liked and others I didn’t. I think what it was missing most for me was emotional connection. Also, I was expecting more from the romance and though I like that it progressed, I felt like the tension and yearning was missing. I did enjoy the politics, and how the world building opens up. The ending is a very interesting plot twist that I don’t really love, but I’m willing to read book three to see how it plays out.

Read if you like:

wolves and vampires
romantasy
political intrigue

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Direbound by. Sable Sorensen | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

To Break Such a Bond by. Mallory Wilde | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: To Break Such a Bond

Author: Mallory White

Format: ebook

Pages: 167

Publication Date: 12/20/25

Categories: Novella, Vampires, Romance, Indie Author

“I don’t want to scare you,” he said, “but if you want, I can prove it.” She stuck her chin out, straightened her shoulders.

“I’m not afraid,” she said. “Prove it.”

1980s, London

Val has spent decades carefully controlling his desires – the desire for blood, and for human connection. The past has taught him that indulging in one will lead to losing control over the other, and he can’t let himself hurt anyone else. So he stays in the shadows, the world slipping by as he watches – until the day Margot strikes up a conversation with him. He becomes attached to her before he can stop himself, and in a moment of weakness he invokes magic that binds them together – the supposedly eternal, unbreakable kind of bond.

Finding a way to release Margot from the bond means reestablishing ties with vampire society that he’d long ago severed and risking the solitude he’s come to see as his salvation – not to mention trying to explain all of this to a human who thought she was just engaging in a little flirtatious banter. But Val won’t let his own foolishness ruin Margot’s life, even if that means he has to do the one thing he fears the most – letting someone else into his world.

Content Warning: mentions of death

Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy of this book! I was pleasantly surprised with this novella. Val is a vampire but kind of a reluctant one and then one night he meets Margot. He’s attracted to her and accidentally puts a thrall on her. Now he needs to break it so he goes with her on a little trip to find out how to do it. For a book under 200 pages I thought this packed a lot of emotion and romance. The story is well written and my only complaint is that it is too short! There is some steam, but the spice is closed door.

Final Thoughts:

If you are looking for a contemporary vampire romance that is a really quick read but still fun and full of romance – definitely try this one out.

Read if you like:

vampires
romance
novella

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Lies that Summon the Night by. Tessonja Odette | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: The Lies that Summon the Night (Songs for the Sinless, #1)

Author: Tessonja Odette

Format: ebook – borrowed (Libby)

Pages: 301

Publication Date: 2/17/26

Categories: Romantasy, Vampires, Series

Lies, beauty, and seduction mingle in the first book of an enthralling romantasy series where making art is considered a sin, and the shadows born from it aren’t the only danger to the creators—from the bestselling author of Curse of the Wolf King .

From the art of liars, the monsters came…

Ever since art gave life to bloodthirsty shadows, creative works have been forbidden and the talented creators sacrificed to the Sinless—the immortal royals who feast on human blood in return for their protection.

Inana’s secret storytelling nearly got her killed once, and she’ll be damned if she’s ever caught again. With a bounty on her head, she keeps to the city’s dark underbelly where she earns a meager living from thrill-seeking patrons desperate to hear her illicit fiction. Until Dominic, a Shadowbane, catches one of her performances. . .

Dominic is a half-Sinless monster hunter as fearsome as his prey. But to complete his hunt, he needs an artist to summon the shadows . . . he needs Inana. Dominic delivers an ultimatum: serve him or he’ll claim her bounty. When survival is all Inana has left, the choice is clear. At least until she can betray him and leave him for dead.

As their tense alliance leads them into the heart of danger, dark secrets unravel—about each other, their world, and the threats they face. But the greatest risk of all is the desire growing between them. There’s something more sinful than lust at play, and it could bring the world to its knees.

Content Warning: violence, death

+~ The world-building in this story is very detailed and dense – to the point at some parts of the story I had to really sit with what was explained to me and process it to understand what was happening. It’s fascinating that this world is one where Sinless are the upperclass and they are basically vampires. “Sinless” and “vampires” aren’t usually two works I would put together but that’s how it is in this world. The sinners in this world…creators, artists, even people that procreate are sinners, which I thought was quite a mind bend and I had to suspend my belief a lot. I thought it was very creative though because I’ve never heard a vampire story like this one. But like I said, there is a lot of information to process.

+ One thing that I really enjoyed was this cast of characters who I guess could be a found family, but I don’t see the affection between them yet. They are put together to survive though and I loved their interactions because together, they were funny at times. Inana’s skill is storytelling, Harlow draws, and the Bard plays his instrument and all of this combined is to draw Shades to them so that they can be captured. I really didn’t believe the skills of these Summoners would be something special, but I was wrong and the author managed to make believe how their skills could draw an enemy close in order to make them go away.

+ The romance brewing between Inana and the Shadowbane, Dominic, is filled with tension and yearning on his part. He’s been void of feelings for so long that Inana is bringing to surface emotions he hasn’t felt in awhile. And he is kind of shadow-daddy but a unique one because his Shades are Lust, Pride and Sloth. I love Sloth because he’s basically a shadow dog! Lust and Pride are funny “characters” also. And during the spicy scenes, Lust and Pride, get to play along too which makes it very interesting!

+ I did like the twist in the end and look forward to seeing what happens next. This book is only 301 pages, so it’s a quick read!

Final Thoughts:

I enjoyed how creative this vampire story is and I didn’t know what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised with the magic and romance. I do think the world-building is very detailed and made if sometimes hard to get into – but I just needed time to process information. It’s a lot of information in a very short book though, but I still thought it was all fascinating and makes me want to learn more. I look forward to reading book two after that ending and hopefully see this world open up.

Read if you like:

vampires
dense but creative world-building
spicy romantasy
quick read

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Tethered by. Elayna R. Gallea | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating:

Title: Tethered (The Binding Chronicles, #1)

Author: Elayna R. Gallea

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 416

Publication Date: 2/13/23

Categories: Romantasy, Vampire, Series,Young Adult/New Adult

What could be worse than an arranged marriage to a vampire prince?

When Luna is sold into marriage to the Prince of Darkness, she thinks she knows what to expect. Arranged marriages happen all the time, right? Wrong. No one could have prepared her for the reality of being married to the vampire prince.

Ever since the day he was Made, Sebastian has been living according to Queen Marguerite’s rules. After all, he’s only alive because of her. When she orders him to marry and Bind himself to Luna, a human hailing a neighboring kingdom, he has no choice. He agrees to the marriage but never expects to feel anything for Luna.

When their Binding Ceremony goes awry, and they are magically Tethered, everything is thrown into upheaval. Unable to leave each other’s presence, they must learn to live with each other. Or die.

Tethered is a slow-burn arranged marriage epic romantic fantasy and is filled with forced proximity, magical bindings, vampires, and world-building.

Tethered takes place in the same world as Of Earth and Flame. It can be enjoyed on its own or alongside The Ithenmyr Chronicles.

NOTE: This series is upper YA/NA and has moderate steam. There are some instances of violence, language, and mature situations. Recommended for ages sixteen and up.

Content Warning: violence

I’ve been seeing this one recommended to me on KU, maybe because I’m reading so many vampire books? Also it’s an indie book that is getting traditional published and a new book cover on September 8th, so I was curious. Anyway, I borrowed it a few weeks ago and finally finished it.

+~ Luna is arranged to marry the Prince of Darkness, a vampire prince, shadow daddy named Sebastien. He doesn’t want the marriage either, but his mother is forcing him to do it. But not only are they married and bound, the person who married them tethered them also – which means they cannot be no more than 30 feet apart from one another or else they face the physical consequences of it, even death. So this is forced proximity at it’s maximum. Where Bastien goes, Luna must go and vice versa. Bastien tries to track down the person that married them, Ciro, so he can undo the tether but it’s a mystery to where he went. There is some political intrigue and even a murder mystery, but I wasn’t as invested as I hoped I would be.

+~ World-building is a bit light. But it makes this a very quick read. Now as for the characters – I didn’t connect to them at all. Luna comes off childish at times and acting immature but this is a young adult book so she is acting her age.

+~ I liked the tether trope but Bastien falls for Luna right away. Personally, I felt things moved to fast for that. I feel like I barely know Luna and Bastien, I would like a little more depth to them before they fall for one another but I guess the forced proximity did it’s job. There is no spice, there are a lot of kisses but no spice.

Final Thoughts:

This one was okay. It doesn’t help that I just read some very good vampire romantasy before this one and I compared it to those. I would like more depth to the characters, but I don’t think I’ll continue to the series. It has tons of potential and maybe the other books are better, but I didn’t have enough of a connection to the characters to want to read more about them.

Read if you like: