(Sorrowsong University, #2) Daybreak by Autumn Woods review

 

Daybreak by Autumn Woods
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐½ 3.5 Stars
🌶️🌶️½ 1.5 Spice

I pretty much skipped to book two the moment I finished the first book, and lords above, the emotion levels in this book are just top tier. There is so much pain and grief, having to deal with loss, and nonstop real-life pressure on top of trying to be an adult while dealing with things that were never your job in the first place.

I really loved the family and friendships. They were outstanding and at times really made me cry. Reading about people trying to keep their heads above water and just get through one breath to the next was so well done.

The story was clean and clear, but I had some problems with book two that I did not have with the first book. For one, the first book had a lot more action, mystery, and just more happening, while this book seemed to lean on the back and forth between Ophelia and Alex, more from her side than his, and it got real old fast.

I felt like rather than progressing the story and focusing on the new problems, we were stuck in the same issues that were in book one, and that felt sort of cheap. It was like rather than moving forward, we just threw in another stalker, and that rubbed me up the wrong way more than once.

Our lead had no real growth since the first book, which was also sad because I do not count just jamming that growth right at the end. It made the ending feel rushed.

I felt like the book was good, but also full of a lot of nothing when it could have been packed with more action and more real-life substance instead of relying on the leads' relationship and back and forth as a crutch.

Please do not get me wrong. It was not a horrible book, but it was not at the same level as book one with what was going on. The story was there, but recycling the same problem from book one lowered its impact, and not having enough action hurt it as well.

The romance, the hurt, the longing, and the yearning could fill the sea, but the spice again needed to match it, and for me, it just did not.

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(Sorrowsong University, #1) Nightshade by Autumn Woods review

 

Nightshade by Autumn Woods
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️ 2 Spice

Holy cow, this book has so much going for it. For starters, it is very much a story-driven book. The story was always the focal point, and I was playing Cluedo, trying to work out who did it and who I could trust the whole time. The author really did the whole red herring thing well, where I was sure it was one person, only to be like... maybe I'm wrong, is it this one instead? It had this high-stakes mystery crime feel that really was the standout of the book.

But it was not a one-trick pony. No, no, no. The emotional range this book had was outstanding. I felt like the author was flipping top tier with the way she wrote emotions. It made the characters stand out and gave them such a rich feel.

Our female lead is a mess and doing her best to put one foot in front of the other, and it shows. The pain and her struggles come through so clearly. She could, at times, be her own worst enemy, but she is drowning in a pain she cannot get out of, and it was put onto the page so well that it made my heart ache.

Then there is Alex. The world is pushing down on him, and he has this great front that he wears so people do not see the physical struggle and weight he is under. There are so many layers and so much going on, even in the background, and it made the book really stand out.

Now, if you're wondering why not 5 stars, I did have a few problems. First, there were some real cringe moments that made me want to hide my own face, but I could mostly overlook those. Our FMC was also very quick to jump to "IT'S YOU!" without really stopping to think, and given she is not a stupid person, I felt like it was a little out of character. So were a few of her actions throughout the book.

But the biggest thing that brought the book down for me was the spice. It was underwhelming and sort of patchy and rushed at times. I mean, the author gave me yearning, longing, and emotional struggle so well that I was sobbing, and then... lukewarm, blurry spice. It sort of let the book down when everything else was so detailed and vivid.

So I could not give it 5 stars, but it more than earned 4. It was a really good book overall.

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The Poison Daughter by Sheila Masterson review

 

The Poison Daughter by Sheila Masterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐½ 4.5 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

OK, this book was a total overachiever. I was not sure what I was expecting when I started it. I had seen a lot of people saying it was good, but I ummed and ahhed over the whole thing before finally picking it up. Honestly, the book sucked you in from the very first chapter.

I totally loved our female lead, Harlow. She was tough and smart, and not someone you could just brush over. Her backstory… lords, it had me holding my poor bleeding heart and wanting nothing more than to give her a big hug and some sort of happily ever after. I mean, seriously.

Where to really start? This plot was in full-time work mode. I mean, there were more parts to this story than a LEGO set for adults. I felt like with each passing chapter there were more twists and turns, and the book was both dark and gritty, with death and a long list of trigger warnings that you totally need to check before going into this book.

I found myself totally stunned by the way the story moved and just how hard the plot was working. There were a lot of characters, a lot to follow, lies, and secrets. I felt like I needed a pad of paper and a full-time detective on my payroll to help me work out who I could and could not trust. It was a journey and a half, to say the least.

There was spice, and the whole enemies-to-lovers vibe in this book was right there, with detailed spice, but the story always remained the focus. There were a few moments where I had some hiccups and was mad at one person or another, or a choice that was made, but I think it all added to the book. The relationships, the push and pull, and the nonstop surprises all made this a great story.

The pain in this book was also so well done. I think I cried maybe two or three times throughout the book, but there were many moments where I was so gripped and wanted everything to be OK, or for something that had happened to be untrue. I was gripped with grief and rage, and it was done so, so well that I ate the book up in what felt like no time at all.

As for what I did not like, I felt there were a few things that needed to be tied up before the ending. I also felt like there was one large thing that was totally not dealt with by the end. Other than that, I loved the book. I would have given it 5 stars, but due to the loose ends, I think 4.5 stars is where I land.

Side note… I needed so much more of KYRIN. Like, for real!!!

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(Monster Match #1) Swipe Right for Monsters by R. O'Leary

 

Swipe Right for Monsters by R. O'Leary
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

⭐⭐ 2 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice (shrugs)

Book 1 of the Monster Match series. This is the first time I have heard of this author or picked up one of her books.

OK, so the book opened up fast, funny, and super easy to get into, but dear lords, she is the most whiny, self-centred, and unlikeable female I think I've read about. It was hard to push through and swallow some of her thoughts and the way she acted, and it made me sort of think she should live alone and only have a cat at this point. The poor MMCs were fighting to hold this book up on their backs alone, and she was dragging it down at breakneck speed.

This is a why choose monster romance, so there are many MMCs in this book, and while they are all different, I think the book was far too short to really flesh them out and make them pop and stand out on the page. I also felt like nothing about this felt like romance from her POV, and more like using people and getting what she wanted, so it did not give me light and cozy vibes.

The males were more of the highlight than anything else, but the ending felt rushed and really lacklustre overall. I felt like, one, the book needed more pages, or two, fewer MMCs to really give us a good story with spice. I was excited by the glimpses of the storyline, but the ending just zoomed over it like it was nothing, and it felt totally flat.

I think the spice was OK, but due to the unfeeling nature of it all, I got fewer butterflies and more of a yawn sort of vibe. I find that if the tension and some sort of emotional connection are not there, then I rarely like the spice, even if it's fleshed out and full of heat.

I LOVE why choose romance, but I do think if your book is on the shorter side, you are going to struggle to do a why choose well. Making multiple characters stand out, giving them personalities, and then also telling a good story takes time, and I think this book showcased what can happen when you are not given enough pages to really take your time.

The whole book for me was fast and just OK, but I felt like if it had been given more time, and the FMC had been given a kick up the butt, I would have liked it more. The book was not horrible, it was just... not a standout for me.

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(Let's Split Up, #1) Let's Split Up by Bill Wood (DNF)

 

Let's Split Up by Bill Wood


DNF

This is my first DNF of the year. I very rarely give up on a book, honestly.

OK, so let me start by saying I got about halfway through, maybe a little more than that...

It was easy to read. There was nothing hard about the writing style, and the story premise was a good one, but maybe this was just not the trope for me. The book is listed as a young adult mystery, thriller, slash horror. I felt like the story leaned a little more towards the younger side, and I don't know, something just did not click for me. It made what I was reading feel really draggy.

I might try it again another time, but for right now, it's a DNF.

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(The Sacred Stones, #3) A Reign of Rose by Kate Golden review

 

A Reign of Rose by Kate Golden
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐½ 3.5 Stars
🌶️🌶️½ 1.5 Spice

Where to start… OK, again, this whole series has been easy to read. There is nothing super difficult or overwordy with this book, or the whole series to be honest, so reading one book a day was really easy. I liked that a lot.

I also really like having easy world building. The kingdoms and their rulers were simple to follow and warranted little brain power. With this being the last book in the series, we saw a few new places and some of the places we already knew. It’s not over the top detailed like you might see in a high fantasy book series, but it’s also not bare bones and hard to imagine either. I would say it happily skipped down the line between the two, which made zooming through the book, and the whole series, easy.

Now all the characters at this point are totally fleshed out, as best you’re going to get. The main characters, of course, are the ones you know the most about and have a clear understanding of why they are the way they are. There was clear growth for a few of them, more than others, throughout the series and this book.

Some of the highlights for me in this book had to be the friendships, found family, love, and overall the willingness to protect and look after each other. I loved that the spice was NEVER the main focus, and it was the story that stayed at the forefront of the whole series and this book. Overall, I enjoyed the book.

I totally loved Acorn, and I wished we saw more of her. I also loved that our lead, Arwen, did something in this book that really made me like her so much more!!

Now onto some of the problems I had, starting with a few characters getting little growth all the way to the last few chapters. That ticked me off. Loose ends?? Like why do that to me? Why give me something and leave loose ends? Ahhhhh. There were patches of the story that totally confused me and left me feeling a little whip-lashed. Also, one thing happened in this book more than once, and it got old fast. It left each event feeling less impactful.

Overall, it was a fun series, and I am glad I read it. I struggled between 3.5 stars and 4 stars with this one because there was a list of things I did like, even if there were many things I did not like as well, which made rating it hard. But I think the whole series overall would be a solid 3.5, slipping towards a 4.

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A Promise of Peridot by Kate Golden review

 

A Promise of Peridot by Kate Golden
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐½ 3.5 Stars
🌶️ 1 Spice

The story follows 10 days from the last book's end, so right away you're back into the story. While book one was simply our FMC Arwen's POV, book two is now dual POV with our FMC and the MMC, Kane. I loved getting to see both POVs. I would say seeing things from both sides can sometimes make you lose a little bit of the magic by knowing what the MMC feels, but given how different our FMC, Arwen, is after the events of the last book, I really, really needed a break now and then from her, and Kane helped. Even with him dealing with his own stuff, it was nice.

The story is in full swing. As I said with the first book, the story is not super deep or confusing, but there is a lot going on. You do not have to worry about getting too overwhelmed with it though, which is great. There is a little bit of spice sprinkled in, but not over the top. Really, the focus is the story and the relationships going on in the book.

But I did have some big problems with this book that I did not have with the last one...

Arwen's mood and behaviour really dragged me down in this book. While I get why in parts, I also found her to be a hypocrite. She was upset with the MMC for lying and all that, which I understood, but then she was totally fine lying to her friend and withholding things. Nope, not on in my book, and it brought me down.

Then I felt like a few things in the book were just cheap drama, adding gas to an already lit fire, and I was just not into that. It sort of dampened my enjoyment of the book. And what in the world was that ENDING?! I wanted to pull my hair out. Like WHAT!! Sadly, I cannot say anything without giving it away, but that ending left me totally confused.

There is a lot to like about the book, from action and family drama to romance and backstabbing. The list goes on. I really did like the book, but I felt like some things were put in just to prolong the pain, and other stuff just worked to confuse the whole thing.

I would say the first half of the book was more of a 3 star read, and the second half leaned more towards a 4 star read. There were good parts and bad parts for me, but overall, counting it all together, it was a good read.

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(The Sacred Stones, #1) A Dawn of Onyx by Kate Golden review

 

A Dawn of Onyx by Kate Golden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️ 1 Spice

Well, that was unexpected. I was not expecting much when I started this book. I had been given the series a while back, and I had not gotten around to reading it. I am not sure why I never picked it up before now, but I am so glad I randomly decided to start reading it.

The book was super easy to get into and follow. It is told through a single POV from our FMC, Arwen. From the beginning, you are given a clear view of the world we are stepping into, but in an easy way. There was not so much information that you lost interest or your head wanted to pop. Nope, it was woven into the story and the introduction of our FMC and her life.

I found the writing style super easy to read and follow. It was clean, story driven, and not spice driven, which was FANTASTIC!! There is weight to the story, many layers, and lots going on.

For our MMC, we have Kane. He is a total sass bag, and seeing the two of them banter and get to know each other was a lot of fun. This is not a slow burn, but I also felt there was instant lust, even if our FMC wanted to put a pillow over his face while he slept. So I cannot really call it a slow burn, but it was not overly rushed either.

There was very little spice, so if you are hoping for a book filled with that, sadly this is not it. It definitely has the romantasy side covered with a little light spice, but the story always remained the main focus, which I was really happy about.

I felt like the book moved at a steady pace and was not rushed. The events had emotional weight, although it was not one of the more emotionally impactful books I have read. Overall, I was really impressed with the world, the story, and the characters.

I did have one moment where I was like, WHAT... hang on. I grabbed my book map and started trying to work out the travel times and how one character got somewhere a day after she did. I was trying to work out the locations and distances, but I just ended up confused and scratching my head.

I felt like a few of the side characters were a little flat, but that might simply be because they are side characters. I am also hoping the author develops them more in the next book.

Overall, I was really happy with this book and can honestly say I will be reading the next one.

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Haunt by Meg Alivien review

 

Haunt by Meg Alivien
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️ 1 Spice

Achingly sweet and sad, I have to say that book three in this series had to be one of the more emotional ones. I really liked the storyline of the book.

What happens in the afterlife? When you do not move on and you are stuck with your own unfinished business or guilt? When it feels like all you can do is watch everyone else move forward while you are stuck in the same place?

There were many moments in this book where I felt grief and sadness. The story really tried to capture what life would be like for a ghost while also keeping the sweet, cozy romance that the rest of the books in this series have. I feel like with each book you get more of a sense that everyone is welcome, no matter what or who they are, which is so lovely. There was something really warm and heartfelt about this one that I could not help but like.

I found both leads really likeable, and even if the MMC, Theo, was a little prickly at times, he grew with each chapter, and it was so lovely to see.

I will say that I felt like there was some missing information that should have been in this book, but I cannot really talk about that without spoiling it. So all I will say is that without it, I was left wondering what happened to our FMC, Kennedy, to get her to this point. There were a few other small things as well.

I did feel this book had much, much less spice than the others, but it totally fit the story, so I was really happy with that. It was tasteful, fitting, and left me smiling.

Overall, a really good read.

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(Monster Boyfriends #2) Hunt by Meg Alivien review

 

Hunt by Meg Alivien
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐ 3 Stars (I was fighting between 3 and 3.5 stars.)
🌶️🌶️ 2 Spice

I read the first book in this series, I think, maybe at the end of last year, so I was happy to finally get my hands on book 2. I sort of remembered the basic story from the first book, so going into the second I already had a good idea of who everyone was. Even though this book follows two different characters, I already had a basic idea of them and what their personalities would be like.

This book has a cozy vibe, with a small town, supernatural elements, basic drama, and emotional moments. It’s an easy to read book, and it only took me a few hours to get through without any real stop start. The story is pretty soft, honestly. It’s not massively hard to follow. It’s a monster romance, but if you removed that aspect, it would very much just be a contemporary romance.

I loved the sass and banter between our FMC and MMC. It was amusing and totally gave an opposites attract sort of vibe. I really loved how hard working our FMC was and how much she loved her mum. I also loved watching the change and growth of our MMC. Aiden had a pretty big turnaround, and I loved seeing that.

I will say I did not like this one as much as I liked the first, but that was mostly because any real growth from our FMC happened right at the end, which felt a little bit like a copout to me. At times, the FMC really grated on my last nerve because of some of her behavior and the way she lashed out. Now, I love a sassy FMC and I love banter. I am totally there for it. But I dislike snapping at people and bullying them just because you feel bad inside. That totally left a bad taste in my mouth. If I had seen more growth before the 90 percent mark, I might have given her a little more leeway.

There also was not a clear reason for why our lead was the way she was. There was no rhyme or reason behind it, and it left me trying to work out why. Overall, I felt like I was missing a key piece of information.

The spice was okay but, honestly, a little underwhelming at times. I loved the moments where there was more emotional connection because they made your heart flutter and pulled you into what was happening. But most of the spice felt watered down and, at times, lacked that emotional connection.

Overall, not a horrible read, but not the best either.

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(DreamTogether Breeding Program #4) Bred by the Satyrs by Lyonne Riley review

 

Bred by the Satyrs by Lyonne Riley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 Spice

And the last book went out with a bang. Why choose, cozy, slice of life, and buckets of drama and spice.

I think this might be the longest of the four books in this series, which was a great idea because I do not think it would have been as fun if it had been shorter. One of the main problems with why choose books that have multiple MMCs is that they can all start to feel the same or come across a little flat. I found that I knew everyone in this book, and they all had clear personalities.

While it is not the best why choose book I have ever read, it was quick, fun, packed with spice and drama, and had a clear storyline, even if it was not especially deep.

I could easily eat this book up while drinking a cup of tea and eating a biscuit. Given the length of the book, I think the author did a great job of fitting so much into it. Sure, there were things I would have loved to see changed or expanded on, but overall it was an easy read.

If you like a quick, dirty, fun read with more than one monster love interest, then this might be the book for you.

The highlights for me had to be the upped stakes in this book. Everything felt more important, and the ending had a much bigger payoff. I also loved getting to see a different group of monsters in each book. That was one of my favorite parts of the whole series.

The only thing I really wished for was that the books had been longer. I would have happily read another hundred pages or so if it meant getting even more time with the characters and story.

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(DreamTogether Breeding Program #3) Bred by the Minotaur by Lyonne Riley review

 

Bred by the Minotaur by Lyonne Riley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

And that's book 3 read in record time! The books in this series are pretty short so far, ranging from around 150 to maybe 250 pages at the most. They are simply drama filled monster romances with lots of spice.

I think this one might be my new favorite out of the three books. It has, by far, been the cutest and coziest in terms of overall feel, and I really loved Milo. Adorable!

The MMC was a total cinnamon roll, and I saw no red flags, which was a welcome change. I loved the family vibes and the way the relationship progressed. It had a sweetness to it that I really enjoyed.

If I was going to pick a hole in it, I would say it lacks the depth of longer books simply because it is so short. But for what it is, and for the length of the book, I really cannot be disappointed. It is quick, sweet, and packed with plenty of spice.



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(DreamTogether Breeding Program #2) Bred by the Dragon by Lyonne Riley review

 

Bred by the Dragon by Lyonne Riley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

Spice heavy, monster romance, emotional, slice of life sort of read.

This happens to be the second book in the DreamTogether Breeding Program series. I would say I liked this one a touch better than the first due to one trope from the first book not being in this one. Thank heavens!

This book is shorter than the first, and honestly, it does not give me a lot to review apart from being a short, easy, spicy read.

If you are after something with a lot of depth or a strong storyline, this is probably not for you. But I do think these books, and the one before it, make great in between reads. If you have just finished something really deep and emotional and need a break with something fun, mindless, and easy to fly through, this series definitely gives you that.

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