(Moonfall, #2) The Ballad of Falling Dragons by Sarah A. Parker

 

The Ballad of Falling Dragons by Sarah A. Parker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars (Honestly, I would give it 6 if I could.)
🌶️🌶️ 2 Spice

Yep, this book was written to destroy me and leave me curled up and weeping in the middle of the night, I swear to you.

I really enjoyed book one of this series. Book two looked at book one, rubbed its little hands together, and laughed maniacally while proclaiming it would bathe in the tears of everyone who read it. Well, bravo, because it had me tearing up and sobbing more than once.

I found the writing in this one even better than the first. It is so beautifully woven, both gorgeous and dark, and so involved that you need all your brain cells firing to truly appreciate the masterpiece this book is.

This book also had a lot more POVs, and I was totally fine with that. I actually felt like it helped break the story down, making it feel more layered and giving it even greater depth overall. The character growth of our lead was incredible to watch, and it made so many moments hit even harder because we got to see so much more of her as a whole.

The secrets, lies, and pain in this book could bring most people to their knees, but it was done so well and was so amazing to read. I will admit there were points where I was cursing like a sailor as my heart was ripped out and booted across my living room while I begged and pleaded for a different outcome. Did I get that outcome? Absolutely not. Instead, it just added to everything, including the steady downfall of my mental stability. Lol.

This story has an abundance of everything. Family, friendship, love, betrayal, grief in many forms, and even spice. But the best way to sum it up is that the story itself is operating on a WHOLE other level. It is working full time, taking no breaks, and giving you absolutely everything it has.

I got goosebumps. I could be laughing one minute and sobbing the next. Then suddenly I would be excited, hopeful, or completely devastated. It was a full emotional assault that left me totally invested and hopelessly in love with what I was reading.

So far this year, this is my favorite read. But honestly, it is more than that. I genuinely think this is one of the best books I have EVER read, and I am hopelessly in love with this series.

Also, I have SO many questions, and I really hope the next books answer them and somehow manage to live up to my ridiculously high expectations!

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When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker review

 

When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐½ 4.5 Stars
🌶️🌶️ 2 Spice

What a roller coaster I just got myself onto. Where, oh where, do I start? Not going to lie, this book threw me through some emotional hoops. From the VERY start, it pulled me right into its world, and it was not a slow lead in. Nope. I was dragged into its pages wide eyed and totally unprepared for what was about to unfold before me.

This book had one great opening. I am talking a fantastic introduction to a very deep fantasy world. I would say if you are more on the easy fantasy side, where you like to sit back, relax, and drift through the pages like a pleasant little stroll, this is not your read.

If, however, you are after a book that sits somewhere between medium and hard fantasy, where you have to focus on what is going on and really get to grips with the world, then this is absolutely for you.

Let me put it simply. You need your full brain switched on for this one, or you are not getting the most out of it. Normally I can read well into the early hours of the morning on minimal brain power. Not with this book. OH NO. The moment my concentration started to drift, I knew I needed to be giving it one hundred percent if I wanted to truly appreciate it.

Once I got into a real flow, I realized just how much was going on. This plot was PLOTTING. Working overtime and then some.

For the first half of the book, I was convinced I had it figured out. I was enjoying our strong female lead, Raeve. She was smart, skilled, and had sass for days, and I was completely here for it. I was practically sitting in the stands with pom-poms, cheering her on and thinking this was going to be a really cool read.

And then... BANG.

The plot smirked at me and told me to hold on tight as it ripped my heart out and kicked it into a ditch.

I sobbed. I blinked. I stared into space.

The story suddenly kicked into high gear, and after one major event I felt like I had been thrown into freefall without wings. The plot started throwing curveballs and secrets so shocking that I was gasping out loud.

I was blindsided. Completely.

Honestly, I do not think I can fully explain how flabbergasted I felt half the time. My brain was constantly trying to piece things together, making theories, only to throw them out and start all over again. It was all wrapped up in this beautiful, dark, and fascinating world, and by the end I felt emotionally wrung out in the best possible way.

I loved being surprised. I loved being thrown into complete chaos. I genuinely do not think I would have guessed some of these twists even if I read another thousand books.

There is so much going on story wise. As I have said, this plot is working two jobs and doing both exceptionally well.

But beyond the plot, I loved the way the world unfolded before me. It felt detailed, but not in an overwhelming way. I never felt like I was being handed an encyclopedia and told, "Good luck."

Instead, I felt like I was learning the world naturally. A little information here, a little more there, and then suddenly a lightbulb moment where everything clicked into place. It felt immersive and rewarding.

That being said, there were a few moments where I wanted more information. Sometimes I struggled to form a completely clear picture of certain things, but overall it was fantastic.

As for the characters, what can I even say?

Raeve is an enigma wrapped inside another enigma. We learn a lot about her, yet somehow it still feels like so much of her remains hidden. It is like knowing someone while only seeing one side of them and sensing that seventy percent of who they are is still out of reach. It made her incredibly compelling to read about.

I also loved Kaan. Getting his POV and watching his story unfold felt like watching a beautiful painting slowly come together. The emotion, the angst, the pain... I felt all of it.

Overall, this was a GREAT read.

The reason I did not give it five stars is that I got lost a couple of times and had to stop and reread sections. I also felt that there were a few points where I needed more information, and I was a little disconnected from Vega's POV at the start.

But overall, I am really pleased with this book and cannot wait to move on to the next one in the series.

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Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir review

 

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🚫 Zero Spice lol

This book is light years away from my normal day to day read, but turns out that did not matter because fudging hell, I loved it!!

The book starts off pretty easy. There is humor and mystery, and honestly, I felt like I slipped into the book as easily as breathing. It is hard to even put into words why the book worked so well, but I will start with my highlights.

The premise of the story itself, the high stakes, the risks, and this massive unknown all work brilliantly. As someone who is not particularly science minded, I would say that even with all the information and technical details sprinkled throughout the book, I was still completely invested.

I normally dislike books that use flashbacks or things that pull me away from the main story, but here it felt like I was living inside Grace's struggling mind as he worked to understand for himself what in the world had happened to get him here. It made for the BEST mystery. I spent almost the whole flipping book convinced of one thing, only to reach the end and go OMG!!! I was wrong. It completely flipped everything on its head, and I loved it. It had me gasping and feeling awful for Grace when he learned the truth too.

While Grace was, of course, the lead, and I really enjoyed his character, Rocky totally stole the top spot for me. He was so likable, and watching him become a little sassier, more fun, and more outspoken as the story went on had me rolling around giggling. I loved watching the pair bounce off one another, learn together, and simply try to do the best they could.

I was honestly shocked by how much I liked this book because it somehow felt like it had both a lot going on and not much going on at the same time. It is such a weird feeling. Normally when I read a book there are so many characters that I need notes to remember important names, but here the story is limited and contained because of the environment and situation.

The flashbacks give you lots of people, places, and events, but they all exist within Grace's memories. In reality, you are stuck on a small ship and almost completely alone. I felt like the author handled the back and forth between those two elements incredibly well, and I could not have been happier with it.

A few things I struggled with were that some of the science became a little overwhelming for me, and I had to reread those sections. I also would have loved a more emotional reaction from Grace in a few places. There were moments where I felt he should have had a bigger outburst or more emotional turmoil. I know I would have been climbing the walls.

Also, that ending... OMG!!! Perfect. I really liked how it ended, but I did have one massive question and one moment that made me gasp. I cannot say much more because I do not want to spoil anything for people who have not read it.

Overall, a fantastic science fiction book!!

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A Witch and Her Vampire by Emberly Wyndham ARC review

 

A Witch and Her Vampire by Emberly Wyndham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

Thank you to the author and Booksirens for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own and given honestly.

Guess who is back!!! Yep, we are finally here, the last book of the Coven Crest Academy series. The moment I saw the book pop up, I all but threw the book I had been reading aside and raced to my PC like there was a time limit on getting my greedy little hands on book 4, the final book in the series. And yes, I am also sobbing at the idea of this being my last time in this amazingly cozy world.

This book follows Maeve, who will absolutely ruin your day if you tick her off and might strike you with lightning if you cross her, being the only storm witch in the academy, and Severin, who is moody and broody with a side helping of serious, mixed with an “I do not need to sparkle to dazzle you” kind of energy.

Where do I even start with Maeve? She is hardworking and struggles to gain control and grasp the future she wants. I found her totally relatable and easy to follow. She went through so much growth over the course of the book and honestly pulled out the sass and boss lady energy more than once, which had me screaming GO GIRL!!

Meanwhile, Severin came across as so contained and moody at times that I had no idea how these two were going to work together, but clearly I should never have doubted it because these two were such a hoot together that I gobbled up every scene they shared. The pair bounced off each other like some strange competitive sport.

The cozy vibes in this book are absolutely “bring a blanket and warm drink” levels of comfort, but do not be fooled.

The emotion in this book had me sobbing like I had just dropped my ice cream, wiping away tears while yelling “I am not crying, YOU are crying!” because I genuinely freaked out over how many feelings this book pulled from my little soul.

This book had such a fantastic balance of cozy moments, pain, angst, and fantasy slice of life that I all but forgot it was make believe at times. Seeing the deep, unbreakable love and friendship, seeing how moving on and growing up can be both beautiful and painful, with fears of the unknown and fears of losing the things you hold dear, hit me so hard in the emotions that I was rolling around wishing the story would never end.

Now I cannot miss talking about the spice. This book has just the right amount. I was blushing and giddy, and it felt so well placed within both the book and the series that it never overshadowed the actual story.

But here is the thing. The spice is not what keeps me attached to this book or this series, and that shocked me. Why? Because while the spice is good, like the other books, it comes down to one simple thing: how this series makes you feel while reading it.

I could curl up on the sofa and completely slip away into a safe, fun place where friendships are true, magic is real, and love runs bone deep. To me, that is the sign of a fantastic book and an amazing series.

I am horribly sad it is over, and honestly, if I could, I would beg at the author's feet for just one more book, though I know it would never feel like enough.

This whole series earned far more than five stars from me, and I know it will stay with me for years and become one of my forever comfort reads.

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(Flame and Thorns, #1) Empire of Flame and Thorns by Marion Blackwood review

 

Empire of Flame and Thorns by Marion Blackwood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐½ 3.5 Stars
🌶️🌶️ 2 Spice

The banter and sass in this book could keep my little heart going for an eon.

Where should I start? The book is fun pretty much from the get go. There is lots happening, and the storyline was THICK in this one, but not so much that I was losing track of what was going on.

I have to say that the lead, at times, REALLY ticked me off due to her being so focused on people liking her that she all but curled in on herself. After a while, that started to get old fast, but I did understand why she was like that. She had a lot of baggage and distrust from the people who should have understood her. I loved it when she stood up for herself and just shone.

Now, I sort of called the ending of this book right from the start, but it did not take away from how much I liked the story. I would say the first half is slower paced, while the second half slowly starts to race toward the ending, where it becomes one thing after another.

Overall, it was a fun read, but it was not outstanding for me. Still good, though. The spice in the book was a highlight, even if it was not the main focus. Mostly, it helped break the book up a little. I do feel like more could have been done with the trials, and at times, it all felt a little like schoolyard bullying.

Here is one of my biggest problems. EVERYONE IS OLD. Like, these characters have lived for centuries, and yet no one seems to ask questions or learn from anything. I felt more like I was reading about twenty somethings rather than people who are centuries old. Maybe it is just me, I do not know, but I thought there should have been more substance there.

Also, there were a few questionable things in this book that really did not fit and had me doing mental math and coming up blank. I cannot really go into some of the problems because I do not want to spoil it for others, but those points definitely stuck out to me and left me a little miffed.

Either way, it was a fun little read and a great jumping off point for a series.

The absolute joy I got from Draven and Selena's ongoing banter battles made me giggle. It was one of my favorite things in the book. I would say things really picked up during the fourth trial for me. It felt like an explosion of even more events and action, and it was super fun.

I also would have loved to learn more about the side characters. Overall, a solid read.

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(Monstrous Shifters) A Game of Cat and Witch by Ruby Rune review

 

A Game of Cat and Witch by Ruby Rune
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

The first thing this book slapped me in the face with was the cozy, funny vibes I got right from the start. I am a sucker for a cozy book with a dash of spice, so I was all in. Sign. Me. Up.

When all a witchy girl dreams of is getting a familiar and some chicken nuggets, does she get that? Nope! Not for her. Say hello to Avery. This book really shows the pressure and pain of feeling like an outsider among your own people, and at times, it’s hard seeing her struggle with that. But it also makes her feel very three-dimensional and stand out.

Now, Felix is like wildfire in this book. He is confident and sassy, and watching these two banter and fight like cat and dog was so funny at times that I thought I would cry laughing.

I did have one small problem. While I felt like Avery and Felix were really well fleshed out and practically came off the page, I felt like a lot of the side characters around them were a little too two-dimensional. I loved the main character, but what about Maya and Wren?? Tell me more about them, I want more!!

The story turns out to be much more than just some cozy read, though. Nope. There is a kick ass storyline, mystery, secrets, and surprisingly good action. I honestly thought I was going into a super fluffy, funny read all the way through, but while it starts off more easygoing, it slowly slips into a much darker and deeper story, which I personally found amazing!

There is banter and fun, but there is a lot more than that too. I found myself flying through the pages and genuinely having a really good time. I would say it is not the most serious read I have ever picked up, but it was absolutely worth reading.

There were a few moments where I felt more could have been done, or where something could have been expanded on a little more to help develop another character. But overall, it was a quick and easy read.

There is spice in the book, and it is good, but honestly? I found myself enjoying the storyline even more than the spice. Together though, they balanced each other out really well.

That ending though!!! Sweet Lord, it had me clutching me pearls and scared to death, but what an ending!! Can't wait to see what's next.

P.S. Dust bunnies for the win!

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(The Wolves of Ruin, #2) Fury Bound by Sable Sorensen review

 

Fury Bound by Sable Sorensen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐ 3 Stars
🌶️🌶️ 2 Spice

I will start by saying I loved Dire Bound, so I was over the moon to get the second book into my grubby little hands, and I started reading it the moment the book mail arrived.

Now here is where I plead with you not to judge me for what I am about to say next, but… I did not like Fury Bound as much as I liked the first book.

The first book was in a single POV, but this second book is now dual POV, which is normally my favorite. But I felt that because of this, it gave up a lot of the mystery and tension between our leads. I felt like everything that had been built in the first book was sort of knocked down here. Hearing some of Stark’s thoughts honestly did not help the book for me at all.

The book started right where the first left off, which was great, but my problem was that the first 30 percent or so of the book did not feel impactful at times. Our lead felt more like a doll in a dollhouse while someone else moved the pieces around, and it sort of devalued her as a character.

I felt like we got a lot of new names and people introduced, and while I was happy about some of them, I also felt a lot added very little to the book overall. Now please do not get me wrong, I by no means hated this book. Not at all. It was well written, easy to read, and enjoyable. But I just could not hold it to the same level as the first book because too many things paled in comparison.

I felt like the leads needed a slower build up because nothing really felt like real love. It felt more like lust, want, and maybe a mix of them not being able to help themselves due to outside factors. For me, that also impacted how I felt about the spice. It was alright, but was I burning for what I was reading? No. The last spicy scene I honestly hardly remember because it seemed totally crazy to me that they would be doing that at that moment after everything that had happened.

Not sure about anyone else, but if my world is falling apart at the seams, spicy time is not exactly high on my to do list.

Now there were things I did like about this book. Seeing more of the world was fantastic, and learning some really key information while seeing how in the dark everyone was about the siphons was a massive highlight for me. The adventure and banter were saving graces, and I totally loved it when our lead Meryn was thinking strategically and really showing who she was. I think throughout parts of this book she felt more like a side character due to how inactive she was in her own role.

I also felt like the last few chapters were rushed in an attempt to create a big explosive ending, but instead of leading to epicness, it sort of felt like the story was sliding downward. Honestly, I almost wish I had stopped reading at page 577 and let that be the ending I sat with until the next book. It felt a little too déjà vu with her trust being broken all over again.

While this was not a horrible read, it was not up there with the first book for me. I enjoyed it, but when book one felt amazing and had so many strong elements, I could not help holding book two to the same standard. I wanted it to be either just as good or even better, which I know is a big ask.

Instead, this book felt stop start at times. Some events felt unnecessary, and some plot points overwhelmed the story. We went from direwolves, kings and queens, and siphons to gods and goddesses in very quick succession. There was also unnecessary spice at strange moments.

Overall, I gave the book 3 stars and 2 spice. I am hoping book three pulls me back to what I loved because right now my faith in the series is a little shaken.

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(The Wolves of Ruin, #1) Dire Bound by Sable Sorensen reread review 2026

 

Dire Bound by Sable Sorensen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
2025 Review plus 2026 reread review
Holy moly! 😳 What a fantastic read! 👏 Where the hell should I start? I feel totally lost for words. The story in this book is just spectacular!! I love the struggles and the desire to push forward and protect. The view of family life that is not always conventional, family comes in many forms and dynamics. The strong female lead was super enjoyable, but she was by no means perfect and made rash and stupid choices that had me pulling out my hair.

I had feelings for a person in the book, and I felt like I was going mad, wondering if maybe I was being mean because I felt distrust and icky about them, but that’s what good books are about: reading, getting lost in its words and its world, questioning everything you thought was true, and being left speechless and wanting more.

I absolutely 💯 was gripped by this book and its characters for better or worse. The things I didn’t like about this book didn’t make me dislike it; they were told in such a way that they added to the big wow at the end. The spice in this book is sprinkled throughout, but honestly, I was more in love with the story and what was going on than the smut side, which really shocked me.

I absolutely love the direwolves in this world 🐺, and enjoyed learning about the world the author wove and created into such a lush and brilliant fantasy realm. I would have loved to see more use of power and more combat scenes ⚔️. I felt the book had so much to give, and it hit all the right spots for me, even my epic rages and screaming at the lead seemed worth it for such a great start to a series.

Fantastic! I don’t know how I’m going to wait for the next book. 😍🔥

2026 Reread Review

As I recently got the second book in this series, I decided to reread this one before starting the next.

I still very much love this book the second time around just as much as I did the first, but I do think I had a few more thoughts after rereading it. One thing I noticed more this time was that while our lead is strong and determined, she is also often her own worst enemy.

I do understand it, given the life she had and how suddenly everything changed for her, but I do think the story would have gone very differently if she had given others more of a chance. She might have seen the truth much earlier.

Overall, though, my first review still very much stands!!

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Karma by K.A. Knight Review

 

Karma by K.A. Knight
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐ 3 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

This was a hard one for me. I am a MASSIVE fan of Den of Vipers, so I kind of hoped I would love this one too.

After reading what the book is about, I was glad to see a strong female lead and three hot male leads. The book was jam packed with gore, action, and childhood trauma that could sink a ship. The writing was easy to follow, and the pacing was really fast. I felt like it jumped from one thing to another, spice here, then more drama and spice, rinse and repeat. So you can probably guess my disappointment when the book sadly felt more like a Temu version of Den of Vipers.

Now please do not get me wrong. Did I hate it? No. Did I love it? Also no. It was an okay read. A lot happened, and it was interesting, but here are the things that stood out to me.

It is hard for characters to grow when they are already at the top of their game. It is hard to take things seriously when there is nonstop gore and action, but no real after effects or consequences. The spice was there and frequent, but it felt a bit lackluster due to there not being much emotional connection or range between the characters.

I did love the sass and the strength of our female lead, but honestly, at times it was hard to keep going. By the end, I finished it just to get it done.

It was easy and fun, but not something I would reread, sadly.

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(Daughter of the Earth, #3) Triumph of the Elderoak by K.M. Gordon review

 

Triumph of the Elderoak by K.M. Gordon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars
🌶️🌶️½ 2.5 Spice

I have never cried so much in my life. What a way to finish a series. I was sobbing so hard. I even read a few parts to my teen daughter, and she was sobbing too.

It was so good, but also heartbreaking and painful at times. I really, really wish I had reread the first two books in the series before starting the final one, but honestly, the ending was everything.

I am talking heart stopping, high stakes. No softly, softly here. No, everything is going to be ok. This was an end of battle where it could go either way. Loss, blood, and pain. I was scared out of my mind almost from the get go, and I did not relax the whole way through.

The story had bumps and twists and turns, and some amazing, I mean OMG, moments where I was screaming no way, I did not see that coming. There were small pockets of downtime where I could breathe and try to relax my clenched hands and put my heart back together. You also get some fantastic interactions and spice that fits the story but never overshadows it.

This was a start to end, story driven series, and the spice was a lovely bonus. The love in this book comes in many forms, from family to your other half, to friendship, and more beyond that. There is also some shocking character growth that had me completely dazed.

I loved it. I am struggling to even explain how much I enjoyed this series, but for me it got better with each book. I think those who love Dungeons & Dragons would really enjoy this, and also those who love more story driven fantasy books with great world building and so much action that you will never get bored.

LOVED!!!!

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(Duskwalker Brides, #1) A Soul to Keep by Opal Reyne review

 

A Soul to Keep by Opal Reyne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Reread: 2026 I read the book last year and thought I would try the audiobook. LOVED IT, super fun to listen to. Thankfully, it was duo-narrated, which really made the book stand out, and WOLFGANG as the male lead… massive thumbs up. I've never read or listened to the rest of the series, and I'm considering maybe trying book 2.

First read:2025 I was recommended this book by a friend, and I was a little unsure at first but wow, I am so glad I read it.

To start with: what a hell of a story! A world of humans and demons can be hard to make feel fresh after so many books portray it this way and that, and honestly, I thought there were no new ways left to make it unique. But this? This was fantastic. I was sucked in pretty much from the first word.

I really loved learning and getting to grips with everything going on. While the book is on the darker side and pretty open about it… it didn’t feel that dark while reading, which is kind of wild considering what actually goes on in the story.

The SPICE in this book was GIVING inferno I honestly thought I might catch on fire! But weirdly, despite how many spicy parts there were, it didn’t feel like that was all there was. There was a great balance of story and spice.

Call me crazy, but I couldn’t help but feel for the characters seriously, I got butterflies of my own. Orpheus? I couldn’t help but totally love him. It was easy to fall down that rabbit hole… and before you knew it, you were too far gone to turn back.

If you love monster spice books, this is a big must-read. Fantastic read, and I’d totally read it again in a heartbeat.

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Shadow Trials by Evelyn Hart review

 

Shadow Trials by Evelyn Hart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars
🌶️half spice

Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own and given honestly.

Would you like a book that keeps you up all night, that has a plot so plotting all other plots pale compared to it, how about so much action you think you're in a MMORPG and currently raiding at 1am, how about horror and trauma to boot, strong main character and lore for days. Well, look no further because this book has all that in abundance. And for the low, low price of your sadness and tears, knowing once you reach the end, you have to wait for the next book, it can all be yours.


I just got slammed in the face with a plot so rich and detailed that I feel like I slipped into the book's world myself. I have read so many books, and honestly, sometimes it's hard to see a plot in books. Sometimes I am underwhelmed by them, well, not this book, this book slammed down the plot and was like, “Are you ready to lose yourself? Are you ready for more story than you can shake a stick at... well, here I am.” I was not disappointed. I was consumed by the world laid before my feet and the characters, the build-up and history; it was just amazing.

I would say almost from the get-go, the book was dark and gritty and gives you a great introduction to our female lead, Fiona. She is totally a badass. I love that she is smart and strong; I love myself a good female lead, and I felt like I got that in spades with Fiona. I loved getting to know her and her story; I found it really easy to put myself in her shoes and just go with the story. There was friendly banter, epic character interactions, and a well-written build-up to something spectacular, and it was so easy to read. I think the only time I really paused was when I was taking in information on things I didn't know about yet, otherwise, I ate it all up.

Oh, this is action-packed to the brim. My cup runneth over, and I revelled in it. I was totally spoiled, in fact, and so pleased. The whole story was dripping with dark grittiness, there were shocks and an unapologetic way about it that had me reading long into the wee hours of the morning. I found myself totally consumed by a need to know what happened next and how it would all end, and not wanting it to end all at once. I was on the edge of my seat with anticipation, waiting for each big revelation yet dreading what it would bring. While I was grinning at the action, there were also dark themes and gore...and sometimes I was sobbing my little heart out in the dead of night. This book, at times, really had my emotions on the run around, and a few times I thought my heart was being pulled out of my own chest. It was phenomenally written, and done so well that honestly, there was hardly anything I struggled with or did not like. The only thing that threw me off now and then were the many names, which I sometimes had to pause and check my notes for. Otherwise, the book was perfect for me!!



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(Courts & Kings #1) Court of Nightmares by K.A. Knight review

 

Court of Nightmares by K.A. Knight
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐½ 3.5 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 5 Spice

PLEASE READ THE TRIGGER WARNINGS!! Lol.

I struggled with rating this one, spinning between 3.5 stars or 4 stars. I had read this book once before, but I never reviewed it, and I felt the need to do so this time.

The opening of this book is dark and fantastic. It has a great introduction to the world and our FMC, Althea. I zipped through the first few chapters like I was possessed, and I loved the gritty darkness. I totally felt for our FMC and was invested in what came next.

I am a massive why choose fan. I love these books because I hate love triangles or squares, as sometimes the one you want does not get chosen. Why choose gives me what I need, so I am all for them. But this book had seven, which is a lot of men, and sometimes I did struggle to keep track of who was who. I did enjoy getting their backstories and getting to know them, which made things easier as the book went on.

The storyline of the book was great, like top notch, and I was super excited. Sadly, I quickly realized that the spice was leading the charge in this book. There was instant want and connection followed by hot and heavy spice all the way through, with some moments that honestly had me blinking in stunned silence.

I felt like all that spice made me less interested in it because it was so constant and packed throughout the book. The story ended up feeling more like an afterthought instead of the main focus. That being said, the book has an easy writing style, so I still zoomed through it. It is packed with blood, gore, and spice, and it is hard not to enjoy reading it on some level.

I would have loved some bigger balance changes where the story took the lead, and everything else followed, but it is what it is. I did get a bit tired of certain things, but honestly, by the end, it felt like mindless fun.

A manic bundle of fun with death, blood, and gore. A storyline that was good, but overshadowed by the insane amount of spice. Some key elements needed slower pacing to really unfold instead of being thrown at you at full speed. There was a lot of cute and fun stuff to love and a story screaming to take the lead, but spice won this time.

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