The Wraith King is a new fantasy romance from Juliette Cross! First off, this cover is such a stunner, I’ve been obsessed with it since it was revealeThe Wraith King is a new fantasy romance from Juliette Cross! First off, this cover is such a stunner, I’ve been obsessed with it since it was revealed. Secondly, Juliette Cross is an auto-read author for me, whether it’s her paranormal, her small town, or fantasy…I’m picking up everything she writes.
We follow light and dark fae here and a prophecy quest. Una is a princess of light fae and is being held prisoner in a cell when the story starts. Goll is a wraith prince whose father, the demon king, has him held captive in a cage because of an oracle’s premonition. When Goll sees Una being offered up, he breaks free and saves them both. Years later they meet again. Their kingdoms are at war and she’s abducted to force her father to surrender. A bargain of sorts is struck between Goll and Una, they’ll marry and she’ll produce an heir to end the war and save her people.
I had really high expectations for this read, I think it is a good start to a new series. The first half did take me a while to get into it, but the middle to second half did grab my attention more once the quest begun. This world, along with the fantasy creatures who live in it, seems very big and I am excited to see more of that explored as the series progresses. The couple goes quickly from strangers/enemies to all-in and I wasn’t as sold as they were with one another. I wanted a little bit more there between them. I did really love Una’s character, but Goll I didn’t feel like I got enough from. I’m definitely picky with fantasy reads and while not a favorite for me of the books I’ve read from this author, I think this was solid and I am curious to see where this series will go. I could see the influences for this world and characters and I think a lot of readers will enjoy this one!
3.5 star read for me! I received an ARC, all thoughts in this review are my own. ...more
3.5 stars. I don’t know, I just wasn’t blown away by this one. Very repetitive and long, I just wanted the plot and story to get moving. I have heard 3.5 stars. I don’t know, I just wasn’t blown away by this one. Very repetitive and long, I just wanted the plot and story to get moving. I have heard the 2nd book is better/gets the story going, but this one felt like a chore to get through and I wasn’t pulled in with the characters or story so I probably won’t continue on. Not a favorite fantasy romance for me personally but I did just come off an amazing book (Quicksilver) so there is that too.
Just a note, this does deal with captor captivity type situations, forced bonds, and those sorts of things, etc. ...more
I went into this book completely blind (never read the synopsis, legit knew nothing but what the cover looked like) and I’m so glad I did! I was so enI went into this book completely blind (never read the synopsis, legit knew nothing but what the cover looked like) and I’m so glad I did! I was so entertained and pulled in and just had the best time with this fantasy romance!
“My soul was on fire, and I didn't care if I burned for all eternity. So long as I was burning with him, then so be it.”
So I’ll keep my review vague because I feel like it’s more fun just jumping in! The characters, the world, the magic, the quicksilver, the places, the weapons, I’m so intrigued by it all and cannot wait to see where this series goes! And the ending!?! I can’t wait for book 2 now! ...more
2.5 stars. Dark Restraint is book 7 in the Dark Olympus series, which is loosely (like extreme loosely) Greek mythology characters but in this politic2.5 stars. Dark Restraint is book 7 in the Dark Olympus series, which is loosely (like extreme loosely) Greek mythology characters but in this political, contemporary-ish setting. I was interested in this one because it was Ariadne and the Minotaur.
I’ve read the whole series and I should honestly stop because they just don’t hold my attention anymore. This one in particular had a ton of overarching plot and political aspect happening. Basically the way this world works is that the Greek mythology people these characters “are”, are simply just roles they get or inherit. The characters in this one just never pulled me in sadly.
If I didn’t have the audio, I wouldn’t have made this a priority. So basically, if you are intrigued, maybe try the audio from your library instead. ...more
I had heard so much about The Veiled Kingdom and kept seeing it all over my IG feed, so I decided to give it a try! This was my first read by this autI had heard so much about The Veiled Kingdom and kept seeing it all over my IG feed, so I decided to give it a try! This was my first read by this author and it was just okay for me. I wanted more of a balance between fantasy and romance. Which I guess this author is popular for more stream and romance over world building and fantasy (which is what I wanted more of).
Nyra is a princess on the run and she runs right into the arms of the rebels to the kingdom. She’s turned into a bit of a rebel herself since she’s running from her father, the king. She starts training with Dacre, his sister Wren, and the rest of their crew. Dacre is the son of the commander of the rebels which makes things complicated as well.
“Tonight, I wasn’t a princess or anything else that I pretended to be. I was his. No matter what happens. I was his.”
This really drops you into the story, I just wanted more of the world and fantasy elements. I didn’t really feel the connection between the characters, all of a sudden he’s possessive over her training and really into wanting her. He does call her “little traitor” which was fun and there is only one bed, and the heroine has scars. Not sure I’ll try anything else from this author, their style might just not be for me....more
This was so delicious and I only wish it was longer (since it’s novella length)! This is a twist on Medusa and Beauty and the Beast, it’s sapphic, we This was so delicious and I only wish it was longer (since it’s novella length)! This is a twist on Medusa and Beauty and the Beast, it’s sapphic, we have lethal women, a demoness, a human, a gothic castle, so many snakes. Stopppp, but also give me more. The audiobook was especially fantastic, it’s pretty much a graphic audio with sound effects and just an overall amazing delivery for the story....more
3.5 stars! Heat of the Everflame is the 3rd book in the Kindred’s Curse series. This is a fantasy romance series that must be read in order.
After com3.5 stars! Heat of the Everflame is the 3rd book in the Kindred’s Curse series. This is a fantasy romance series that must be read in order.
After coming off the high of book 2, this book just wasn’t on the same level. There were moments I liked, moments that just felt uninteresting, a lot of predicable moments, moments that dragged (maybe this book should have been split in two), but sweet moments too. Each book has ended on a cliffhanger so you definitely want to read these in order, we follow the same character/s throughout and follow the heroine’s POV in this series.
This book is another continuation of Diem’s story, her friends, family, discoveries, and survival along the way. In this book we get a lot more traveling time and seeing new places. This book is long and it feels it at times. There was a lack of surprise with a lot of moments in this book because they were easy to see coming. There are specific things that seem to happen in every book in this series that just have started to get old: certain sayings repeated or characters repeatedly getting interrupted before they can finish a thought. Because this book is so much longer, a lot does happen in this book and we explore a lot of new places. I feel like the pacing was off in this book because of all the time spent on different things. Some moments with Diem are kind of a bit much now, a little too overpowered if you know what I mean, and some characters have started to get tiresome. But I do like the series overall and think it’s solid and easy to read, while books 1 and 3 I kind of feel the same about, book 2 was the best so far! I’m invested to see where the series ends with book 4 later this spring! Now for some quotes I highlighted:
“I did not know what it was to need until I met you.”
“I treasure your darkness as much as your light. Show me your worst, my darling, and I’ll show you how far my love can go.”
“Desire? Desire is a pathetic word for what I feel for you. I require you. I am sustained by you. You are the flame that fuels my fire. Don’t you dare question that—not for a second.”...more
This book is like Game of Thrones with the court politics, the different houses, and alllll the “you are my queen” energy you could want, you know befThis book is like Game of Thrones with the court politics, the different houses, and alllll the “you are my queen” energy you could want, you know before it ended up going to shit there at the end. I’m so glad I continued on with this series because Glow of the Everflame was even better than the first book! But you obviously have to read the first book to get to this one, so just trust the process and the setup and continue on like I did. lol This is part of a new adult fantasy romance series and it gives slow burn, found family, self acceptance, fighting for justice, survival, touch her and die energy, royals, scars, court politics, intrigue, secrets, and all the protectiveness!
This book continues on from the cliffhanger we got at the end of book 1, so I don’t want to say too much, but trust me it has all the good stuff. We see a lot more of royals and politics, advisors, characters consumed by duty, a war that is most definitely coming, a gryvern, loyalties, lies and secrets, sloooow burn sizzle, training, fighting. This readability of this series just makes it easy to fly through these books. The fantasy, the world, the magic are all so interesting. Now it doesn’t have the most jaw-dropping surprises, most everything you can see coming, but it doesn’t make it any less entertaining! And there were a lot of times where it’s like “omg let so-and-so finish their sentence” with interruptions before getting to something good, but then it makes sense to keep the story going. Overall just a fun time that also ends on a cliffhanger so I’ll be diving into book 3 asap, but here’s some quotes I highlighted!
“He looked at me like I was the sun and the moon and the stars, all the light in the world, shining a path for him out of the lonely dark.”
“War is coming, Diem. Time to pick a side.”
“I don’t just want a piece of you—I want them all. I want every breath, every laugh, every tear. Every taste of your mouth, every inch of your skin. I want to kneel at your feet, soaked in the blood of your enemies, then worship your body until you scream my name. Yes, Diem, I want to serve you—in every way a man can.”...more
3.5 stars! I’ve been seeing this book everywhere for the past month and kept getting it recommended to me, so I decided to jump in and see what it was3.5 stars! I’ve been seeing this book everywhere for the past month and kept getting it recommended to me, so I decided to jump in and see what it was all about! Spark of the Everflame is the first book in the Kindred’s Curse series and the start of a new fantasy romance series. 3 books are out currently and the 4th (and last) book is coming out in a couple months!
I wasn’t sure what this book was supposed to be categorized as, wasn’t sure if it’s supposed to be adult or YA or what. Not that it matters but this first book does read young. So if you’re like me and wondering where it fits or what to expect, I’d say it’s new adult vibes personally. The heroine is your typical, sassy and brash female fantasy lead who gets herself into trouble with the things she says and the rash things she does. We follow her POV throughout the book, she’s a healer and after the disappearance of her mother, she starts to learn more about the people and world around her that she was kind of sheltered from before.
In this book we have mortals and Descended. Basically, many millennia ago, nine immortal siblings crafted a magical pact after seeking refuge in the mortal world following the violent destruction of their own world, they each fell in love with mortal citizens and bound their lives to them, their offspring became the Descended who have ruled over the realms since. Diem is a healer who lives with her father and brother, her mother has been missing for six months and Diem is starting to take over her role as a healer to the Descended royals. She ends up meeting and helping Princess Lilian and Prince Luther, the King’s niece and nephew. She is also balancing her childhood friend and sorta-boyfriend Henri who wants more from her and she is slowly learning has his own secrets from her too.
“What if our story isn’t over, Diem Bellator? What if it’s only beginning?”
Soo I wasn’t wow-ed by this book, but I’m intrigued enough to continue on! I feel like this book does set up plenty that I want to see how it plays out. The world isn’t super developed yet but it has potential and the magic is intriguing as well. Definitely slow burn, following the heroine’s journey so far, the romance hasn’t really kicked in yet, good side characters, so yeah I’m intrigued for the ride! Plus it’s on KU, so I feel like that is always a win. ...more
This series was such a fun time that I became super invested in! Book 1 was okay for me but this series does start to make sense and get better if youThis series was such a fun time that I became super invested in! Book 1 was okay for me but this series does start to make sense and get better if you continue on! Book 2 is still my fav in the series, but this book was solid as well!
Basically this is an angel romance series and I loved the exploration of soul bonds, soul mates, reincarnation, and just all the celestial things! I definitely recommend continuing on if you had certain feelings about book 1. lol ...more
4.5 stars! So I finished the first book in this series and thought it was okay with some interesting things happening, but now this second book made m4.5 stars! So I finished the first book in this series and thought it was okay with some interesting things happening, but now this second book made me appreciate book 1 even more! So if you are tempted to stop at the first book because you don’t think it’s for you, well don’t! ...more
3.5 stars! Mixed feelings about this one! This is an angel romance between Leigh and Jarod. She’s a 19/20 year old angel who is trying to earn her mis3.5 stars! Mixed feelings about this one! This is an angel romance between Leigh and Jarod. She’s a 19/20 year old angel who is trying to earn her missing feathers to complete her wings. In doing so she’ll be able to ascend to Elysium, the land of angels where everyone wants to be. She can earn feathers by helping out people on earth and when she finds out that if she helps Jarod, a 25 year old leader of the Parisian mafia, do one act of kindness she can earn 100 feathers…well she is all in! So off she goes to Paris to help this bad boy find his way and try to persuade him to make good choices. She just doesn’t account for falling for him along the way.
This book felt way longer than it needed to be. It did drag in parts because it just felt like the story wasn’t moving forward for the plot or characters. I like a story centered around a main character finding out secrets about their life and basically everything they’ve ever been told is kinda not what it seems. So this definitely has that going. I don’t read a whole ton of angel romances but found this one interesting! It is a Romeo and Juliet retelling (with a bit of a twist) so take that for what it is lol I will say the characters felt young at times, this is new adult but sometimes it read younger than that. I also wasn’t a fan of the women hating women type of nonsense we have going on. This whole series is on hoopla and libby, so there is that!...more
This is the 3rd book in the Wraith Kings series and while the first two books follow the same couple, this book follows a new couple! Radiance is stilThis is the 3rd book in the Wraith Kings series and while the first two books follow the same couple, this book follows a new couple! Radiance is still my favorite in the series and I kind of had the same issues with this book that I did with the second book, Eidolon. There are moments I enjoyed in here, but the length of the book was felt and the plot of it all started to lose my interest.
I did like how we have a human hero and a kai heroine. Anhuset is the cousin of Brishen, the hero of books 1 and 2, and she’s a strong kai warrior! I loved seeing some of the moments in here with her training Ildiko and working with her. Serovek is human and I liked how he falls first and is so pulled towards Anhusent and her strength. He sees her as more than just a strong warrior too, which was fun! This is definitely more slow burn and does have a bit of a road trip adventure to it too!...more
Eidolon is the follow up to Radiance and while I loved parts of this book, and of course our couple Brishen and Ildiko, there were a lot of parts of tEidolon is the follow up to Radiance and while I loved parts of this book, and of course our couple Brishen and Ildiko, there were a lot of parts of this that I wasn’t into. This sadly just felt off with the pacing and I lost interest in a lot of the plot because it felt like it dragged on at times.
Basically this follows up Radiance and we see a continuation of the same couple’s story, so definitely not meant to read on its own. Brishen is Kai and Ildiko is a human and they made their arranged marriage work. Brishen finds out about becoming a Wraith King and what is expected of him after never planning on having to take over the throne. They’re forced to make tough decisions for their kingdom and people and I did love seeing how strong their relationship and bond is through it all. Their romance is the strongest part about this book so definitely no complaints at all from me about that aspect of the book!...more
4.5 stars! The Throne of Broken Gods is the 2nd book in the Gods & Monsters series and a direct follow-up to The Book of Azrael. So like you can’t jus4.5 stars! The Throne of Broken Gods is the 2nd book in the Gods & Monsters series and a direct follow-up to The Book of Azrael. So like you can’t just jump into this book on its own and it also means I’m not going to say much about this one because you need to read the first one first! ...more
I’d been meaning to get to this book since last year and I’m so glad I finally did! The Book of Azrael is an epic fantasy, with a legit enemies setup,I’d been meaning to get to this book since last year and I’m so glad I finally did! The Book of Azrael is an epic fantasy, with a legit enemies setup, we get fantastic world building, a badass villainous heroine, a massively broody literal GOD for a hero, allll the forced proximity, fast-paced plot, loads of interesting side characters, a complex high fantasy, the fated quality to it all, and a deliciously drawn outtttt slow burn (it just gets to the delicious sizzle and we haven’t even scorched yet, which I’m glad since this series is not complete lol). Just all the things I obsess over!
World Ender meets Ender of Worlds. Dianna and Liam were perfection together. I loved the legit hate, the banter, how both are tortured in their own ways, how they connect and bond, how truly alone she has been and makes all of her choices to protect her beloved sister, how he has the weight of literal worlds on his shoulders and past traumas and losses to go along with it. We have pinky promises, ancient relics, legends, myths, and prophecies! We have the makings of an epic battle royale between gods, celestials, and monsters amongst realms, worlds, and universes!
This is fast-paced adventure as these natural enemies end up having to work together. I just couldn’t get enough of the entire story, I love rich world building like this in fantasies, and I’m just buckled in for the rest of the ride and to see what happens next! Andddd that this was the author’s debut?! So impressed....more
I really enjoyed the first book in this series (River of Shadows), but this book was a bit of a miss for me sadly. Basically this picks up where the fI really enjoyed the first book in this series (River of Shadows), but this book was a bit of a miss for me sadly. Basically this picks up where the first book left off, so you definitely need to read that one first. This is a fantasy romance with Finnish mythology inspiration, it definitely has Hades & Persephone and Beauty & the Beast vibes!
The plot for this one was just kind of all over the place, I don’t know how else to explain it. Now the wild shadows scene was something lol! The audio is on hoopla!...more
Midnight Ruin is the 6th book in the Dark Olympus series and while this series has had some hits and misses for me, this one was a fun time. I’ve founMidnight Ruin is the 6th book in the Dark Olympus series and while this series has had some hits and misses for me, this one was a fun time. I’ve found the audios just hit right when I want to mix up my reading or take a break from other reads.
The greek mythology has kind of fallen to the wayside and it’s all about the political intrigue of this complex world. And of course the spice. This one is MFM and just a fun time. We have both a friends to lovers romance happening and then a second chance situation happening too, plus a triad situation. It works for them, the audio worked for me.
I received an audio ALC from Dreamscape Media via NetGalley, all thoughts in this review are my own! ...more
This was a lot of fun! I originally read Morning Glory Milking Farm a few years ago when it came out and had a great time, so I didn’t realize until vThis was a lot of fun! I originally read Morning Glory Milking Farm a few years ago when it came out and had a great time, so I didn’t realize until very recently that the author put out this additional book! This one is from the hero’s POV and it was just so sweet and fun to be back in Cambric Creek and see his POV. Violet and Rourke are just so sweet together and I loved seeing his thoughts throughout their story! Both books, and most of this author’s, are on hoopla and Libby and the audio was great! ...more