(Beasts of the Briar #4) Broken by Daylight by Elizabeth Helen review

 

Broken by Daylight by Elizabeth Helen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

Starting book 4 was so exciting. I have not read book 4 before, so I was going in with a high level of excitement, and our characters were like broken bits all here, there, and everywhere. Getting the POV from each of them gave you an understanding of where they are... and their mental frame of mind, and let me tell you, some of them are, like, not in a good place, and that made for a strong and great opening. I pretty much went into this book with my heart in my mouth due to how book 3 ended, and I was so flipping fearful of what was to come and if my poor heart could take it!! I was a total mess, but the book just pulled me right in and would not let go.

I was wowed by the fact that the book has this huge, RICH, and deep story, but in this book it was like having three stories branched off. The different POVs each led me down a different path and had different problems, and it was so, so, so good. I could not get enough. It was a nonstop roller coaster of stuff going on, with no chance to get bored or for the story to drag. I felt like I was free falling and hitting all the plot branches on the way down.

Following Dayton and Rosalina's POVs was by far a test of my own heart... I wanted to reach into the book and throw a person right out of it and hit them with a stick or something. I mean, you know a book is good when you want to go all Hulk smash on an antagonist while your poor heart threatens to break at what is going on. Following Dayton and Rosalina was an emotional test for me, but I loved every moment.

The whole book is not only jam-packed, it's spilling out the seams. With each turn you hit more story... more plot... there was little to none of the filler. It was rich, detailed, and wickedly all woven together, leaving you wild and guessing as more secrets and truths came to light. I could guess about the story all day, but it was not just that, but the magic... the growth and emotions all within the package. It's so hard to get a story that has everything I want, but this book had it to a level I thought unreachable.

As the story moved along, I felt like everything climbed up and up, and I was honestly unsure how it could keep going, and then BANG...

The last 15 percent of this book just DESTROYED me. I was in shock and awe... I cried and pleaded, and it was a whole new level even for me. By the end, I felt blown away but also in fear of what was to come. Hands down, one of the most epic books I have read to date. I have no idea how the rest of the series is going to trump this.

And this only covers the story. I mean, honestly, the characters in this book at this point all but feel as real to me as those walking about in real life due to the level of detail and how, over the last 4 books, they have all but become this living thing. Even the side characters have this amazing level of love put into them, and on top of that, with the spice and so many other things all within the book, it just makes it so much more than you could hope for.

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Forged by Malice by Elizabeth Helen reread and review

 

Forged by Malice by Elizabeth Helen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

Again, another amazing book in this series. I will say I did not like this as much as books 1 and 2, but I still VERY much loved it.

OK, so the story carries on from the last book, of course. The series overall seems to have this massive, detailed, woven story that I guess will arc through the whole series, but each book also has a clear story going on that is different, rather than just dragging out the same thing over and over. I love how rich and detailed everything is. Where there is light and happiness, there is also a heap of darkness, mystery, secrets, and just a lot going on. The fantasy side of this book and the last books is so good. I feel like the magic is growing with each passing book, and it makes for a great level of excitement and keeps you excited.

It's not too over the top that you can't keep up, but not so basic that you get bored. There is a great amount of wonder and magic, and it's placed on each page, and I eat it up. The love, friendship, and emotional feels in this book, like the others before it, are top-level stuff. You feel for the characters, and honestly, there were also a lot of characters in this book that made me downright rage and had me screaming at the pages.

There is a lot of spice, but it's sprinkled throughout the book. The spice has a lot of emotion and feeling behind it, and it's detailed to the point of needing a new fan or AC. I love the great mix of overwhelming story, emotion, and spice. The story is never in second place. The characters are detailed and rich and never feel samey or flat.

The ending of this book had me screaming. There is one female in this book who made me understand why having a great villain can age me, lol. I wish maybe the outcome with Ez would have been a little different. Out of everyone, he is normally the one not to trust others, so some of his actions seemed a little out of place, but I get that his regret and inner feelings play a large part in this book. I also guessed something that everyone else is SO not getting, so I'm pretty much screaming at my favorite characters at this point.

I hate cliffhangers, but I am so glad I have the next book ready and waiting to read, so off I pop.

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Woven by Gold by Elizabeth Helen Reread & Review

 

Woven by Gold by Elizabeth Helen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)
🌶️🌶️🌶️ (3 spice)

Reread: August 11, 2026
This is my second read of this book, and I have to say, I loved it just as much the second time around! I think there were things I missed during my first read that I totally picked up on this time, which made the reread even better.
Full review below.

Book two picks up right where book one left off and wow. The way we’re drawn straight into Rosalina’s struggle, watching her try to make it through one day at a time, had me feeling everything. I was emotional, invested, and completely hooked from the start.

✨ Oh my stars, the spice in this book?
The heat could set a house ablaze let alone me! 🔥🔥🔥
It’s so well-written, perfectly placed, and utterly addictive, but it never overshadows the story. The balance between plot and passion is chef’s kiss.

The longing and yearning?
Painful… and deliciously satisfying. 💔❤️‍🔥

This book is packed with action, drama, and emotion. I was never bored not for a second. Every scene moves the story forward. There’s zero filler; everything is rich with purpose and meaning.
I loved exploring new places in the realm, especially getting a deeper view of Farron and the Autumn Realm. Returning characters and new faces added so much flavor. Some I adored. Some I loved to hate. All were vivid and unforgettable.

Honestly, I might love this book even more than the first one… and I thought book one was perfection. 😍

The character interactions were seamless. The conversations, reactions, and emotional beats felt real, grounding this magical world in such a believable way. And learning more about the Fae princes? Easily one of my favorite parts. Book one introduced them beautifully, but book two gives them so much more depth and dimension. I was obsessed. ✨

This story had me in a chokehold.

It was rich, beautifully detailed, and deeply enjoyable. I flew through the pages, completely lost in every moment. Book two might even have more going on than book one and I loved every second of it. Fast-paced, full of drama, but never overwhelming. It was brilliant chaos at times, hot slow-burning yearning at others, and then moments of emotional depth that absolutely wrecked me. 😭🔥
The book also shines in its exploration of relationships romance, family, friendship. Every bond felt layered, meaningful, and alive.

And that ending?
Just… WOW.
I was blown away. This wasn’t just a joy to read it was a masterpiece. I feel lucky I got to disappear into this world.

Would I recommend this book?
Absolutely. I can’t even put into words how strongly I recommend it. It’s the perfect second book in this series. 💖

Would I reread it?
Without a doubt. I want to reread it again and again until I know the words by heart. 📖

How I’d sum it up:
A breathtaking masterpiece of fantasy, romance, and action stunning from start to finish.

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Bonded by Thorns by Elizabeth Helen review

 

Bonded by Thorns by Elizabeth Helen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)
🌶️🌶️🌶️ (3-spice)

(Reread 10th August 2026
Finished reading Bonded by Thorns.
I'm not going to do a full review, as I already have one, but I just wanted to add that even after reading this book again, I love it just as much as I did the first time.
This book feels like it was handmade just for me, and once again, I consumed it as fast as I possibly could. I absolutely love this book! Read on for full review. )

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

There are truly no words that can fully express how much I loved this book. From the very first page to the last, I was completely captivated happily lost in the pages of something that felt like magic. I’ll try my best to put my thoughts together, though I already know I’ll be screaming about this book for a long time to come.

From the very beginning, I was pulled in. The opening is fun, engaging, and instantly relatable especially if, like me, you see reading as your escape from real life. Rosalina immediately felt like me her love for books, the way she disappears into stories, the magic she seeks in the pages. That connection made everything that followed even more impactful.

The writing style? Smooth as butter. Rich, dreamy, and so easy to read that I devoured the book without even realizing I’d reached the end. It had Beauty and the Beast vibes in all the right ways, but don’t be fooled this book is so much more than a retelling. It’s its own kind of fairytale. My magical place.

You can always tell when an author truly loves both writing and reading because that love, that passion, that wonder is woven into every single page. That’s exactly what happened here. You could feel it in the characters, the worldbuilding, and the storytelling. This book made me feel everything every hurt, every joy, every stolen touch and unspoken longing. 💔✨

What truly blew me away was how this book reveals the beauty in the broken. It shows you how much magic lives in the darkness, the cracks, and the imperfect things if only you’re brave enough to look for it. This story made me want to cry and laugh and scream all at once.

The pacing was perfect never too fast to be overwhelming and never too slow to feel draggy. Every chapter pulled you deeper. And the worldbuilding? Chef’s kiss. Intricate, vivid, and layered without ever being overwhelming. I’ve read a lot of fantasy, but this one made me feel like I was right there, breathing it in.

The characters were so well-developed. Normally in books like this, one or two characters shine while the others fade into the background but not here. Every single character had depth, voice, and presence. They felt real. The dialogue was brilliant funny, emotional, and yes, sometimes downright hot 🔥. And don’t even get me started on the inner thoughts some had me giggling out loud or swooning on the spot.

The family dynamics were spot on. The mix of love and pain, the way it captured the complexity of caring deeply for people who sometimes hurt you that hit me hard. Even when home life is messy, that love can still be real. That truth was beautifully portrayed.

🌶️ The spice? OOF. Let me fan myself. 🔥🔥🔥
It was hot, charged, electric, and so emotionally loaded. But most importantly it didn’t overpower the story. The spice was woven in with such care that it felt like an extension of the character growth and plot, not just thrown in for shock value. It was steamy and meaningful. The perfect balance.

I usually include a list of things I didn’t love at the end of my reviews, but... I honestly don’t have one. I loved this book. Every single part.

Special shoutout to Marigold, who had me laughing so hard I nearly cried. Comedy queen. 👑😂

Would I recommend this book?

YES! I’d shout it from rooftops. Read it now.

Would I reread it?

Already have. Twice. It’s that good. I finished and immediately flipped back to the beginning.

How would I sum it up?

A magical, dark, emotionally rich fantasy that mixes gritty depth with spark, yearning, and beauty. This isn’t just one of my favorite reads of the year it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read. 💖

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Wench Wench by Erynne Rivers review

 

Wench by Erynne Rivers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️ 2 Spice

Where to start? I had never heard of the book before a month ago, and on a whim I grabbed it. Slipping into this book was easy. The writing style was very simple, from a third-person limited POV rather than first-person POV, but I was totally fine with that. We follow Marian throughout. There was a clear and simple introduction into the book and its world and workings. It felt both familiar and totally new due to it being Robin Hood inspired, but with a whole new spin on the original.

Now, I have to say there is a fine line between a story being easy and simplistic, where it is not overly detailed and you do not need to give it all your focus, and it being so simple that the story has little depth and the characters and world feel too washed down. This book was pretty simple, but not to the point that it felt depthless. I found the story fun with a great spin. I loved that there were some key things I think we today could take away from the book, from us hurting the natural world to some other points, but overall the bones of the book and story were really good. I do have to say that the first 50 percent of the book was not as good as the last half, but it totally picked up after the halfway mark.

I will not lie, during the first half there was something about our FMC and her attitude that really rubbed me up the wrong way. Given that she had lived with and seen what those around her are like, and that they are, well..... not good, you would think she would be less quick to judge, given that most of the people in her life at home are not great and clearly big old liars. Also, she is so set on something (don't want to spoil it), and I was screaming, what are you going back to? Are you CRAZY? Have you lost your mind? Also, at times she came across as selfish, and that shocked me given her past. I would think she would be less like that. I have to say, some of her actions really made me MAD with a capital M. I had to close the book, go outside, and take a long breath before coming back.

At some points I felt like begging her to rub her brain cells together and stop acting silly, but thankfully, I think after the halfway point I saw it... I started to see true growth. Slowly, things that I really did not like about her shifted and changed. She began to become someone stronger and more clear-headed, wanting to follow a path of her choosing and not the life she had been caged in. There was something really empowering about it, and I don't think I have had such a 180 on a lead in a long time.

I do think there were a few characters that were underdeveloped and needed more to really make them pop, but there were other characters that I really started to like, including Allen. He was such a sweetheart. Robin was a good MMC. He stayed pretty true to his core character, and honestly, he did not tick me off, which was great.

The story, while fun to follow, also had a shimmer of romance under the story that bloomed over time. Not a fast, in-your-face thing, but I also would not call it a slow burn due to it being lust-forward at times. There was a sprinkle of spice, but it's not mega overly detailed and there are not pages of it. It was maybe 2 to 3 patches, and I think it added to the story.

I will say, if you're after HOT HOT spice, this will not be for you, but overall, a solid read.

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(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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Bred by the Wolfman by Lyonne Riley review

 

Bred by the Wolfman by Lyonne Riley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐½ 3.5 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

Quick, fun, and drama filled.

I would say this might be a monster romance book, but you also get a lot of real life relationship drama in books like these, and this one is no different.

It is a pretty easy read, and honestly, there is not a lot of focus needed to get through it. There were a few things I simply hated, but that is more down to me not liking those particular tropes. I know plenty of other readers who do enjoy them.

The story is pretty simple, and there is a lot of spice and relationship focused content in this book, but not a lot else really.

Overall, it was a quick, easy read that kept me entertained, even if it was not anything particularly groundbreaking.



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Games with the Orc by Kathryn Moon review

 

Games with the Orc by Kathryn Moon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

Well... what can I say but... if you like your books to be 80 percent spice and the rest story, then this is for you.

Everything in me said I should dislike it, but here I am giving it 4 stars because it was quick, fun, and mostly dirty. I think if the book had been longer, there could have been a real story added, lol. But alas, I will have to live with just the smut.

I do not think this book will be for everyone. The spice leans more toward the softer BDSM side, and there are whole chapters dedicated to it. It is not just sprinkled throughout the story; it is the core of the book.

I think if you like the Cambric Creek series by C. M. Nascosta and books with a similar vibe, then you will definitely enjoy this one.

If you are looking for a short, easy, mindless, spice heavy read with just enough story to tie it all together, then I think you will have a great time with this book.

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(Naga Brides, #1) Viper by Naomi Lucas review

 

Viper by Naomi Lucas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐½ 3.5 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

Do you like your flags red? Do you like your males monstrous? And still like a little story as well? Then you have come to the right place, my friend.

I started reading this book and kept rolling between liking it and disliking it, then back again. Here is the thing, maybe I like my male leads more on the cinnamon roll side and less on the "he sees a female, clubs her over the head, and throws her over his shoulder" sort of side.

I still stayed and read the WHOLE thing, and it was quick and super entertaining. It is a great book to kill some time with and mindlessly read if you want something fast, spicy, and packed with a few very big red flags throughout.

I use the word plot loosely because I would say the smut and the story sort of go hand in hand. So if you want something with a much stronger focus on the story, this might not be the book for you.

If you are after a cozy read with a soft, caring male lead... run. Run away. This book is totally not for you.

While it was quick and fun to read, I would say there were a few things that really ticked me off. So if you are anything like me, you are going to have to take a big breath, cover one eye, and pretend you do not see it... that your blood is not boiling. 😂

But honestly, it was a fun, quick read. I liked the overall idea of the story, and I hope it gets even better as the series goes on.

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Breathless Breathless by Cat Wynn review

 

Breathless by Cat Wynn
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

⭐ 1 Star
🌶️ 1 Spice

Ugh, I wanted to pull my own hair out and beat our FMC with it. I do not think I have ever met such an unlikable lead in my life. The fact is, it does not matter if you give her a heartbreaking backstory that is meant to pull at your emotions. If she acts like a complete butt hole, has the personality of a brat who always wants her own way, and constantly disregards what everyone else wants, that does not make for a good lead. She infuriated me to no end. I wanted to scream at her.

The fact is, she begins the book with a social disorder and trauma that stops her from going outside and interacting with the outside world. However, when the plot decides it is necessary, she magically overcomes all of this with no real character growth to support it. To make matters worse, later on, when she is faced with someone with a similar disposition, she instantly dismisses it in favor of her own feelings.

There were moments where I 100 percent felt for her. My heart genuinely bled for her. But she would immediately throw all of that away by making another awful decision or acting in a way that made her incredibly difficult to like.

The truth is, she was not too bad at the start of the book, but by the halfway point, I was just about ready to DNF and throw in the towel.

Sadly, here I am after finishing it instead, wondering... what on earth was this? The story could have been GREAT. I mean SOOO good. But instead, I got a patchy storyline where several moments felt like they had been thrown in randomly, with no rhyme or reason. It felt like the story was trying to patch over massive plot holes but only ended up making everything feel even less coherent. It left me with so many questions, and even by the end a lot of things were still unanswered. I was left confused, muttering, "What??" and scratching my head.

With there being more unlikable characters than likable ones, reading this book felt a bit like having my fingernails pulled out. I struggled not to skim read and had to force myself to keep going at every turn. Every time things started looking up, the rug was pulled out from under my feet, and I was right back to square one.

Now, if I overlook my raging dislike for several of the characters and cover one eye to ignore the massive problems with the story, I am still left with subpar spice that honestly might as well not have been there.

It is really, really hard to enjoy a book when almost everything is pushing you toward Dislike Town at breakneck speed.

There were a couple of things that were not totally horrible. The FMC's best friend was solid, even if I wish she had been developed more to feel like a real person rather than just someone who appeared when needed. Then there was the MMC. He was not totally horrible either... though at this point I feel like I am grasping at straws.

Sadly, to sum it all up... nope.

It was very nearly a DNF for me. I hardly ever give out 1 star ratings, but I genuinely struggled to find enough positives to rate it any higher.

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Sheer Cupidity by Raven Kennedy review

 

Sheer Cupidity by Raven Kennedy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐½ 3.5 Stars
🌶️🌶️ 2 Spice

This book does not follow directly after the original three books. Instead, it is a standalone spin off set in the same world, and I think it wraps up the overall series well.

I loved Belren in the original series, and I hated how things ended for him in book 3. I was honestly so upset. So getting to read book 4 and finally have the closure I wanted so badly was fantastic, and I was totally here for it.

There is still plenty of fun, sass, and banter, but there is a little less of it than in the first three books. I actually found that the slightly more serious tone mixed with the comedy and banter worked really well. I think the book balanced those elements nicely.

I will say I would have loved a bigger bang at the end and a little more wow, but overall, I found the book easy to read and enjoyed it as a standalone story.

I do think the book could have been a little shorter, as there were parts that felt like unnecessary filler, but otherwise it was a fun and super easy read.

There was a little spice, but it really did not do much for me. No need for ice water here, but overall it was a solid read.

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Crimes of Cupidity by Raven Kennedy review

 

Crimes of Cupidity by Raven Kennedy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐½ 3.5 Stars
🌶️🌶️ 2 Spice

It seems like Emelle's story has come to an end, and honestly, as the third book in the series, it had all the key things the previous books did. Banter, sass, and an easy story to follow.

That being said, I did have a few problems with this one, the biggest being our FMC. I felt like there were a few things she would have done FIRST, well before making some of the choices she did. It felt a little out of character for her. I also felt like she gave up at one point and just moved on like it was nothing, which pulled me out of my little happy reading bubble.

That said, it was still really fun to read and easy to follow. I never struggled to understand what was going on.

The spice throughout the series has never really wowed me, but I have been fine with that because I love the fun vibes. However, this book took a more serious turn, and I felt that the jokey nature of the series clashed quite hard with what was happening. Again, that pulled me out of the story a little.

Overall, I thought the series was a lot of fun. I think book 2 is still my favorite, with book 3 being my least favorite. I would have liked the humor to have been better placed at times. If you are going to create a unique, funny book but also include really heartbreaking moments and emotional pain, then I think you need to pull back on the jokes and sass during those heavier scenes unless they blend together naturally.

Overall, it was a solid read. I finished it in a short amount of time and would happily read it again.

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Bonds of Cupidity by Raven Kennedy review

 

Bonds of Cupidity by Raven Kennedy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️ 2 Spice

Book 2 of this series was much bigger than the first one, and boy was I glad. There was so much more going on in this one than in book 1. It was still really easy to read and not too complicated. There were still lots of laughs, sass, and banter, but there was also so much more drama. There were even a few moments where I was genuinely worried about what might happen, so book 2 totally upped the stakes, and I was completely here for it.

The spice was definitely stronger in this one than in the first book, but it is not simply filled with smut. I would say the spice is still on the lighter side. It fits the story really well, but if you are after something that is spice heavy and enough to have you fanning yourself, this series is probably on the lower end of the scale.

I would say my favorite part was still the story itself. I loved seeing where it was leading and wondering what was going to happen next. As I said before, I have never read a book centered around a cupid before, so I am really enjoying the fun, cheesy uniqueness of it.

I do think book 2 took a much more serious turn and raised the stakes, so I cannot wait to see what book 3 has in store for me.

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Signs of Cupidity by Raven Kennedy review

 

Signs of Cupidity by Raven Kennedy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️Half a Spice

First time reading a book with a cupid in it, and honestly, it was a lot of fun.

I loved the banter and really liked the way the book was set up, giving us a better idea of our lead and her life before anything big happened. I really felt for her, and she was a TOTAL sass bag. I was absolutely here for it.

The book is pretty simple to read, very easy to follow, and the storyline is easy to grasp. It was mindless fun, but it had enough substance to keep me reading and wanting to find out what happened next.

I will say, if you are hoping to read something with SUPER RICH DEPTH, maybe this one is not for you. But if you are after a quick, fun, and super easy read with great banter and enough going on to keep you entertained, then this book is definitely for you.

I finished the whole book in about 3 to 4 hours, and it was just really easy to fly through, needing very little brain power.

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For Whom the Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn review

 

For Whom the Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐½ 3.5 Stars
🌶️🌶️ 2 Spice

What an unusual book. Hells bells, did I not know what I was getting into when I started this one.

I had never heard of this book before and happened to pick up a second hand copy by chance. Unsure what to read next, I grabbed it without even reading the back because I wanted to surprise myself.

Well... it was NOT what I expected at all.

This book covers a detailed interpretation of the afterlife, and honestly, I flipping loved the way it was imagined and how the author portrayed it. The idea that the end does not always have to be a true ending, that sometimes it can simply be the beginning of something new, a chance to heal and become more, was a premise I absolutely adored. It made for a fascinating and unique reading experience.

Bal was a massive GREEN FLAG. Honestly, he was as sweet as honey, and I was overwhelmed by how much joy his personality brought to the story. The way he and Lily bounced off one another was wonderful. The characters, settings, and details were fun to read about, and I found the book easy to follow. Some of the characters really stood out, and I loved the friendships and family dynamics. It was heartwarming and, at times, very emotional.

That said, I did have some problems with the book.

For one, given the subject matter, it felt strange to have such cozy, fluffy vibes while also touching on some very dark lives and experiences. The afterlife itself was portrayed beautifully, but where was the WOW after that? Where were all the events I wanted to see unfold? Where was the action? Where were the moments that could have elevated this from good to unforgettable?

Now, I love a cozy read, but this book felt like it had the potential to be so much more. I felt like I spent a lot of time reading about... not much really. It often felt more like a day to day slice of life story, despite having all these fascinating ideas sitting right there, begging to be explored.

That left me a little sad.

I felt like the book was building toward something bigger that never fully arrived. I have a lot of unanswered questions and quite a few things I wish had been explored further. There was so much untapped potential here. The book is fairly long, and there was plenty of room to dig deeper into some of those ideas, but sadly it never quite happened.

I do not hate the book. Not at all. But I was disappointed.

Honestly, if the book had fully committed to being a cozy read and never hinted at all these bigger possibilities, I probably could have given it 4 stars. But because it kept teasing me with glimpses of something more and never fully delivered on them, I have to settle on 3.5 stars.

I think readers who enjoy stories that stay relatively gentle and never really peak into something larger will probably love this. But if you are anything like me and felt teased by all the missed potential, welcome to the club.



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A Spark So Bright by Emma Hamm review

 

A Spark So Bright by Emma Hamm
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐ 3 Stars
🌶️ 1 Spice

This is book 3 in the series.

It was a quick, easy read, and I got through the whole thing in just a few hours. Was it one of my favorites in the series? No. I think the first book still remains my favorite of the bunch.

I thought the book was okay, but I did have some fairly big problems with it. The SA content in the book was a lot for me(not detailed on page fyi) . I have read plenty of books with traumatic backstories and difficult experiences for characters, but this one just did not sit right with me. Maybe it was the way it was portrayed, which at times felt more like a crutch to unlock her powers rather than something explored with the depth I expected.

I also did not really connect with Rose. I struggled to fully invest in her story and found myself drifting at times. Thankfully, the author has a very easy writing style, so it was still simple to read and get through.

I do not think I hated the book, but it definitely landed more on the "meh" side for me. I was very much on the fence throughout most of it.

I also think the first part of the book felt a little all over the place. There was a lot of information and events thrown in to catch readers up to the same timeline as the first two books, and honestly, I just was not really here for it.

One thing I did like was Gunnar. He was smart, kind, and a genuine gentleman. I honestly felt a little bad for him at times because he was often just trying to do the right thing. He was definitely the highlight of the book for me and the character I found most likable.

I was also not particularly invested in the spice. There was not much of it in the book, but given the circumstances and themes being explored, I completely understood why.

Overall, it was an okay read. Not bad, not amazing. Just okay.

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(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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