The Belles of Wrath by Jaysea Lynn Arc review

 

The Belles of Wrath by Jaysea Lynn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️ 2 Spice

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

I'm going to start off by saying I read the first book a while ago and was wondering if I should have reread that one first before reading this ARC of book 2, and I can tell you, hand on heart, there is no need. It was very clear that this is interconnected with the first book but can happily be picked up and read all on its own without you feeling like you are missing part of the information. I would say, as someone who has read both, it's TOTALLY worth reading the first book even if you don't need to because Lilly's story is a fantastic start to this series. Now back to book 2.

This book, much like the first, makes me feel some sort of feelings that I have never felt with other books. It totally holds up to everything I want as a reader. Is there a storyline? Yes. Are there good characters? Yes. Is it easy to read? Yes. Is it emotionally impactful? Yes. And will it stay with you after reading it? Yes. But there is something about this book that just gets you.

What happens after we are gone.... We have all thought about this.... We all have different ideas and theories, but none of us know for sure. But this book gives you a world of what could be there.... a system and deeply detailed world and a beautiful idea of the beyond once you've taken your last breath. I can't help but find myself pulled in and enraptured by the idea and hoping maybe that would be waiting for me. I found the world comforting and something I would have never even thought up myself in my wildest of dreams, but when you are reading about it and getting to see the full scope of this world, it seems so real that I hope it was fact for those moving on.

Death in books is normally the end, where you as a reader are left hollow inside.... crying and totally torn up because the character you loved is gone and the book is just about done. But with this book, death is the start, the place it begins and takes you, which is so unique.

The story has so many layers, and I think a lot of lessons can be learned about pain and trauma, how someone can lose themselves in it and cut themselves off. The book gives great examples of letting people in, talking to friends and seeking help from professionals, taking little steps to try and work through stuff, that it's OK to not be perfect and just take it one day at a time, and that was pure gold to me.

Now, I would like to note this book has all the heart and feels of a cosy monster romance, but the book has many places and times where it can be dark. Our lead is carrying a lot of the weight of her life and trauma with her, and you see, as you follow the story, her working through some of the hardest things that can happen to a person. You see her at her worst, where her thoughts are so painful that it will make your own chest ache, to slowly learning her worth and working through her trauma.

She had such a strength to her, but I think sometimes, as readers, when you think of strength, you think of someone able to fight or sass, but her strength is so much more than just that. She had weathered so much, and she was still trying to put one foot in front of the other, still trying even when it was so hard, and I think she was so amazingly strong, even knowing she could not see it. She was so likeable, and I just wanted to wrap her in a hug and make everything right. Penny, for me, was a great FMC.

The story in this book was very clear. I loved the corporate take on one of the things going on in the book and how this affected all those within the pages of the book, and the slow unfolding of it over the course of the book. The romance side ran side by side with that, with a sprinkling of tasteful but hot spice nearer the end that really did top the whole thing off.

While the book had a lot of impactful stuff going on with the darker stuff and stuff going on in Hell, the book was not just doom and gloom and pain. No, it was overwhelmingly funny at times and had more heartwarming moments than pain. The found family in this book is top class, and the great unfolding love story made me smile so hard it ached.

I would say that I would have loved more happening in some parts. There were a few patches where it felt too drawn out and would make me have to pause and start again, and there were a few times I felt there might have been too much information given at one time when it needed a little breather in between. But other than that, for me, it was a really great read.

I would say, going into this book, if you are after something with more action and blood and gore, this is not for you. I would say this is more cosy with a side of dark than a full dark read.

I would say, for me, it was monster romance (or demon romance) with a cosy slice-of-life feel, with massive emotional depth and a sprinkle of spice and a bucket of trauma and darkness.

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(The Mythical Mates of Arcane Cove, #1) Witches and Wine by Carly Spade Arc review

 

Witches and Wine by Carly Spade
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

This was a fun, cosy, small-town monster romance with a very cool mythology spin that I haven't seen in my usual monster romance books.

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

Now, going into this book, we are introduced to Dion, aka Dionysus. I love his clear Jake the Lad feel; it's clear how everyone who knows him sees him as carefree, brash, all about pleasure and less about responsibility. Honestly, while reading this book, he was totally the life and fun of the book. More than once, he had me laughing, but you totally see a massively different side to him that he clearly is not used to.

Chelsea is our FMC. She has just moved to Arcane Cove and is restarting there. She comes across as someone who is put together and tightly wound, who struggles to let her hair down.

Getting into this book was pretty easy, honestly. The writing style is smooth and has a great flow to it, covering dual POVs. There is a very clear storyline from start to end with a clear progression. I would say the speed of the story is fast due to the book not being huge, so some events have less weight and depth, and the reactions are shorter. Showing the events' effects on a character does not seem long enough or just seems too short overall. I would have loved a little more reaction from our FMC to one of these events.

That being said, this also means you are not stuck in a bind of misunderstanding or groaning about being stuck in a moment for too long; everything kept moving.

I loved the fun lightness of the book, the direction the book went in and the sprinkling of drama, but what this book had a lot of was spice. Clearly descriptive and fun spice! It was a little more on the vanilla side, and only one spice scene was a little more adventurous, but I love my warmer, fun spice when inside my cosy town monster romance books, so I was totally all in for it. It was clear and fitting and also did not totally take over the book.

I liked the ending, but I was surprised to feel that the ending was fun, yet it might have left a little open-ended part. So I am not sure if that will follow into the next book, but that really left me excited too.

Overall, a small-town monster romance hit for me!! Magic, wine and horns all the way, thank you very much

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Rifting Hearts and Roars by Katie Gabbert Downey review

 

Rifting Hearts and Roars: A Cozy Monster Romance by Katie Gabbert Downey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 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.

I am a sucker for a cosy, spicy monster romance, so the moment I saw this on BookSirens, I was like, yep, sign me up, please....

The book starts off nice and slowly, introducing us to our FMC, Lir. She comes across as someone who is not tied down and is emotionally uninvested in complicating her life with romance and, well, people if she can help it. At first, she comes across a little bit like a porcupine in a way. The writing style is easy and uncomplicated, which made reading the book fast and easy, all the things I love when looking for this sort of book.

This book has a clear story from the get-go. It's what throws our FMC into the main story of the book, and soon you are introduced to a whole new alien world, beings and dangers. I felt like our female main character, Lir, struggled with choice-making, and at one time I did think a choice she made was epically stupid, but I think, given I was in her place and in her frame of mind, I don't think I would really make the best choices when scared either. I felt like she became more likeable as the story went on, and I really loved the exchanges between Lir and Somnus. The playfulness and differences between the pair really made this book fun.

For over half the book, you are mostly getting to grips with this alien planet, and you are really getting to see more of Lir and Somnus, her getting to grips with how her life has turned upside down and what of her future, and him working out what to do with her and his own confusing feelings. It really held up to the cosy side of the book.
There was a time skip that threw me off, as for a moment I had not known there was one, and when it said it, it felt a little jarring. There was one more moment of transition in the book that also felt a little like that too, but other than that, I had no problems with the writing.

The book really picked up after the halfway mark, and I'm not talking silly stuff that feels like fluff. I'm talking about action, gore and seeing a side of what this alien race is like in the main city, and it really picked the book up and the tempo. You meet new characters, and it made the book feel bigger, and our girl Lir got to really see what sort of environment she was in and how different it was from her home.

I loved the action and seeing a different side of Somnus and getting a bigger idea of the political workings of his people. The author was not shy about the gore, and I felt like there was a great balance of story, gore, spice and action that left me feeling totally pleased, zooming through the book in only a few hours. I normally know how much I like a book by how fast I read it, and I ate this book up. I think any reader who loves monster romance will find this one a totally enjoyable read.
If I was to nitpick, I would say I would have loved more at the end. I felt like there was a feeling of openness to the end, like there was this want for Lir to be happy in her choice and... closure, but I felt like while I loved the ending, there was this... what now? Rather than a "The End" sort of feel.

Anyway, to sum up, I found this to be a unique, spicy monster romance with a sprinkle of gore and a solid storyline. I finished reading thinking about what I think would happen now, and that for me is always a sign of a good book.

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Crowned by Roses by Elizabeth Helen review

 

Crowned by Roses by Elizabeth Helen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

You have no idea how much I have been waiting for this book and also dreading this book all at the same time. The Beasts of the Briar series has been one of my favourite series to read, and getting my hands on the last book was like both a blessing and a joy to know how it finally all ends, and an epic curse because, oh my god, how can it all be about to end!! Noooo was my mindset the moment I got my hands on it. That said, massive thank you to the authors for giving me an ARC. You have no idea how happy I was to get it.

The book picked up a little while after the last book, and you feel it, the heavy weight and gloom, the after-effects of what just happened and its ripple effect throughout the characters. The writing was, as always, impeccably written, easy and smooth like butter, so that you almost glide through the pages, even as the characters try and work themselves out and pick themselves up. That weight really gives you that feeling, really gets you in the mindset of the moment and the edginess of what happens now.

Then the book starts really moving, which, as always, is where even more magic happens. The whole book from the start had this massive question mark over it, so as you read it, that weight of are we going to do this, are we going to be OK, are we going to make it, all but sits on your chest as you read.... It gives the book depth and you a feeling you can't shake off the whole way. At this point, I did not think I would see much growth in the characters anymore because we are on the last hurdle, but I was so totally wrong because even at the end, they improve and strive to try and be more than they are, try and keep hold of themselves and hope, and it was honestly really beautiful.

The world inside this book had slowly, and I had thought, been totally detailed and explored to me, but I might as well have thrown that idea out of my head because coming into this book, the places we knew are dark and harsh and not at all how we had them before. You get to see a world holding onto the edge and about ready to be turned into a true hellscape for all, and we got to see a place never seen before so far in this series, and I was.... breathless and so shocked by it that there was still so, so much I could be taken in by and given by this book.

I was not left feeling like I was rehashing or reliving the same thing over and over that might have happened in other series this long that I have read, where the WOW has gone, where storylines felt like they had been put in the washing machine on repeat. Nope, this book was like slipping into the series, but nothing was nailed down. It was all topsy-turvy and so new.

The books, over the course of reading them, had grown darker, and in our great journey to get here, we had gained and lost people we loved. We had given pieces of ourselves and sobbed and cried, laughed and loved, been scared, begged and pleaded, and most of all, we have been whisked away from our lives into this world and felt things that moved us. This book and series had all that, so much so it oozed from the words and pages.

This book was a masterpiece of light and dark and holding out hope, and I felt like I had earned that ending. I had bled and cried for the ending, and it was oh so worth it.

The book had a perfect level of action, story, love and spice, and the ending gave me goosebumps and tears and a warm feeling. I would have loved more, but I think I would have loved more no matter how much the story gave me because I never wanted to reach the end of it.

I wanted a never-ending story to just slip into and stay in. I have no doubt that this will stay in my number one all-time favourite series for a VERY long time. It gave me magic, gave me both heartache and love, gave me loss and gain, and most of all, gave me a world to lose myself in, to find comfort in.

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Dustwalker Dustwalker by Tiffany Roberts review

 

Dustwalker by Tiffany Roberts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

OK.... wow, I was not expecting that. Where do I start? So, I don't read a load of dystopia/post-apocalyptic books, so I was excited to give this one a read. I kind of felt like I wanted to mix it up, have something different, and boy, did I get what I was asking for.

Honestly, to start off, the story seemed pretty simple. Our lead Lara's life is a hard one, and her only family is Tabitha, but she has gone missing. I sort of thought that was the scope of the story, her mission to find her sister, but nope, that was simply a drop of water in the sea. The book's story was WAY more than that. I found the story to be rich and layered.

There were moments where I was in tears and other times so mad I thought I was going to combust into flames. I loved the dark and gritty nature of the story and the little glimmers and pockets of happiness that seemed even brighter given the state of this horrible world we are given. The details and descriptions of the world really did make everything just pop out. There were a few patches that were a little draggy, but otherwise, I was happy.

The shiny amazingness of this book should have been the amazing storyline, which I LOVED, but it was Ronin. He was such an amazing character, and watching the change in him and the interactions with Lara, I felt moved and warm in such a dark place. He really uplifted the whole book.

Romance in this book was so different from what I expected, but it was amazing. The spice was there but never once overshadowed the story. It never became the focal point, and honestly, a few times I felt like the spice in the book was saying something in that moment, which made it so meaningful.... I'm in pain.... make me forget, or.... no matter what you are, I love you. There was a level to it that I rarely see, which made the spice a hit for me. I felt like the story had a lot of underlying lessons to learn as well, which made it more impactful.

The last 40 percent of the book was outstanding and action-packed as we drew to the end. There was a lot going on, but it was the last 10 percent of the book that had me all but bouncing in my seat, gasping and crossing my fingers, and I loved it....

Then that ending....

I was emotionally destroyed. It was so flipping good, but it really hit me in the feels, and I was all but sobbing. My daughter had to come over to see if I was OK, I was crying so hard. But I think the ending made total sense, and I understood it and, in a way, loved it even as I was crying ugly tears.

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(DreamTogether Breeding Program) Satyrs Ever After: A Bred by the Satyrs Sequel by Lyonne Riley review

 

Satyrs Ever After: A Bred by the Satyrs Sequel by Lyonne Riley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 Spice

This is a super short novella, but after rereading the original book again, I went on to read this one to see how it held up to the first book, which I liked, and it's quick, fun, and spicy. It was really easy to fly through in one sitting, and because I had just reread the original, everything was still fresh in my mind, which made jumping back into their lives even more fun.

I would say it was more on the cozy sort of side, giving us a glimpse into the lives of Bree, Arthur, Jack, and Bennett from the original book. So we see what their lives are like a few years later and their family, while also introducing Danny. I really enjoyed getting to see where everyone had ended up and how their relationships and lives had changed since the original book.

I have to say, it was fun and a sweet, light read. I would have loved more, but with it being such a short novella, I knew there was only so much it could give. There was a story here, and it was wrapped up well with all the spice and the lives they are all living. It felt like a nice little extra for people who enjoyed the original book and wanted to spend a bit more time with the characters.

I also liked seeing how Jack had grown since the original book, which was probably the biggest surprise for me. Seeing that change in him and where he is now was something I really enjoyed.

Overall, I really liked the book. It's short, cozy, VERY spicy, and a fun little return to characters I already enjoyed. I just wish it had been a little longer because I would happily have read more.

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(Rose Falls, #1) Our Monstrous Hearts by Delilah Thorne review

 

Our Monstrous Hearts by Delilah Thorne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐ / ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 3 or 4 Stars, I'm stumped!
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice
⚠️ Please check the trigger warnings!!

If you're looking for cute, cozy monster smut with a super sexy monster lead.... leave now!... No, turn and run, like full speed, because this, my friend, is not for you.

If you're after horrifying, monstrous, and horrible, stomach-turning acts and descriptions, then stay. This book is.... well, not for the faint of heart or the sane, I think (I know it says a lot about me lol). I was not really sure when I started what I was going to get, which was my first mistake, bypassing the page and a half of trigger warnings because BOY did I need to read them.

The book opens right up into just gag-worthy information about what is going on, and I was, well, surprised to say the least. But that then moved into getting an idea of our main female lead, Cassandra, and the horror of what her life is, and I was like, well, I started the book now, might as well sit comfy on the ride.

The book, for starters, is short, so it moves at a quick pace. Do I like that? No, but I understand it due to the limited number of pages, and it was clear the author worked hard to try and make it feel much longer than it was.

The story is DARK. Not like, oooh, look, it's a shadow. NO, I mean I fell into a void of dark and could not find the light switch. There was never a moment where I was like, "Oh, look, so sweet," that didn't have to stop as I realised that due to the dark nature of the book, even a little tenderness or less horror was still dark. But due to the content and story of the book, it made those pockets seem so much brighter, but clearly it was a ploy and a good one.

Also, do not get me started on the spice in this book.... It's there alright.... just hanging around with the gore and darkness lol.

There was a storyline, but I think the shock factor made it really hard to see much else but that at times. But I was not moaning, well.... maybe gagging, but hey, I was reading at lightning speed, so I can't say it was BAD due to the fact I stayed glued to it the moment I picked it up.

I will say, due to it being a short book, it makes the characters feel less fleshed out and flat. Some of the wording at times felt choppy, like picking words out of a dictionary and throwing them in, but otherwise the book was easy reading. There were 2 times I felt confused by a transition within the pages too.

I can honestly say this book was not really built to make you like anyone. It felt like... I do wonder what it would have become if it was 400 or 500 pages and not 140. I do feel that for such a short book, there was a lot in it.

In truth, I don't even know what to rate this at all.

I'm a little stumped.

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Grotesque Grotesque by Allison Paige review

 

Grotesque by Allison Paige
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐½ 3.5 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 Spice

Ate the book up in one sitting; it's not a massive book. It's super easy to read and has a nice trigger warning at the beginning, which let me know what I was in for.

The book started off pretty much with that spooky vibe and a little insight into our lead Sorcha's family history, but not a lot before we are thrown into this spooky manor, where I spent my time trying to work out if the house was the problem or our girl was paranoid.

The storyline was there, but it was woven in with the spice, of which there was A LOT, like enough to start a house fire. I would say the spice totally took up more of the book than anything else. The storyline was pretty simple but still really fun to read.
I would say the book did not have a lot of substance, but honestly, it was amusing and fun. There were darker moments, and the end really took a turn into the dark, gory side of things.I would say this book was a walking red flag, or what not to do in a horror movie lol, but it's just an easy, fun read.

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(Cruel Fates, #2) Once Written in Gilded Blood by K.M. Moronova review

 

Once Written in Gilded Blood by K.M. Moronova
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

⭐⭐ 2 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice
After the first book, pulling up the willpower to read book two was a full workout, but here we are again.
I struggled from the get-go. At points, everything felt draggy, and the characters were whiny and so see-through it was really hard to be invested in the book. I felt like a lot of this could have been dealt with if some characters opened their mouths and talked.
I hated that our FMC, Alira, went from super strong starting this series to meek and stayed that way until it was fitting for the story, and it felt cheap and left a lot to be desired. It was hard to like anyone, really, and the one character I did like was not in the story throughout.
There were questions left unanswered, and the end felt... flat. I was not even pulled in by the spice. In fact, I felt like the spice was thrown in willy-nilly.
I did read it, but at times it was a FIGHT to keep what I was reading in my head. It's sad because the writing style was easy to read, but even the little wins I found could not hold this book up.

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(Cruel Fates, #1) Once Upon a Demon's Heart by K.M. Moronova review

 

Once Upon a Demon's Heart by K.M. Moronova
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

⭐⭐ 2 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

Disclaimer to my friends who really liked this: I am so, so, so sorry. I tried so, so hard, I swear lol. Please keep in mind we all have different likes and dislikes, and this one was a little hard for me.

I'm going to start off by saying the book itself is really small, so it should not have taken long to read. The writing is really easy to read, the words all but slip off the page, and the story is so easy to follow that you will not need to really overthink it. That being said, there are a few actiony moments where the smooth, easy writing seems to have a few confusing humps where it could be unclear or confusing, like something needed changing or adding. Still, it was a super easy, quick read...

The level of easy is one of my problems. One of the big twists at the end, I called it within the start of the book. Like, I could see the twist from 100 feet back, blindfolded and wearing earplugs. It was that easy to spot.

The book is classed as enemies to lovers, but honestly, it felt hard to really call this one that. I felt like it was lust-forward. Some behaviours felt more childish or just mean for the sake of being mean, with no real weight to them. This is in no way a slow burn if you're hoping for that either. The lust and spice burned that right out of the water.

While the spice is not bad, it's just not really well placed and felt more like a crutch to keep the book afloat. More travel than story going on. I did not hate the book, but the problems sort of made it a mid read rather than a good read.

The FMC, Alira, is portrayed as all but a strong fighter and powerful, but after the start she felt super watered down, which left a bitter taste in my mouth, honestly.

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The Hunter by Tiffany Roberts review

 

The Hunter by Tiffany Roberts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

I can't believe the series is over. I have found so much enjoyment from the Vrix series and the Spider's Mate series. I have been waiting for this book since I finished book two, and I was not disappointed.

I read the book in record time, and Lacey and Telok had to be the two who carried a lot more pain and past trauma than the others in the series, I would say. The banter and jabs between these two at times could be so amusing and funny, and other times sad, but it makes way for a really fun read. There is a storyline in the book, but honestly, I think it plays second to the relationship and spice, which might leave people a little sad if you are after a more story-focused read.

There is a lot of action and drama in the story, and an already fleshed-out world from the past books. I would have loved more story and for it to have gone in a different direction. I felt there were far too many of the same moments of travelling, and it needed more going on, but honestly, I could not be mad or sad about it due to the fact I really loved the book and the series as a whole.

I totally enjoyed the banter and seeing this found family and growth, and most of all, the spice. It's butterfly-worthy sort of spice. I love the world that the book is set in and the characters. I did not like the fact it's over, and the ending left me a little sad as I wanted more.

I think the book at times lacked depth, but overall, a quick, funny read with spice.

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(Bride of the Shadow King, #3) Heart of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes review

 

Heart of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

⭐ 1 Star
🌶️ 2 Spice

Reading this was painful and draggy, and I had to fight tooth and nail to get through it. I fought like a gladiator to avoid DNFing and calling it a day. I pushed through, but this book, much like the second book, felt like wading through quicksand at times.

I spent chapters upon chapters disliking everyone and everything, while desperately wishing that the characters I had grown to like throughout the series would wake up, smell the coffee, grow a spine, and stop acting like sheep. I was practically pulling my hair out and screaming for a redo, or just anything that would make some of their choices make sense.

At times, I genuinely felt like I was losing brain cells trying to follow some of the characters' actions and decisions. Everything just felt lacklustre. There were also things left completely open and unresolved, which made the ending even more frustrating for me.

I normally avoid giving bad reviews if I can help it, and I always try to find redeeming qualities in a book, but I struggled with this one. Whenever I found something I liked, the things I disliked seemed to wash it away.

I'm glad I finished it and completed the series, but I definitely won't be rereading this one. Even the spice couldn't save this ending for me.

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(Bride of the Shadow King, #2) Vow of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes review

 

Vow of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

⭐⭐ 2 Stars
🌶️ 1 Spice

Well.... I am sort of unsure where to begin. The book starts where book one left off, and honestly, I was super hopeful. I enjoyed the first book, but book 2 missed the mark for some pretty large reasons. Did I hate the book outright? No. It was OK at points, and there were places that I liked. I read it in a few hours, which is always a good thing, but I could not overlook some of the bigger problems, and let me start with my main one.

There is a lot of back and forth and dragginess at times, not only between characters and the leads, but it also bleeds into the story as well. I found myself on repeat. An event happened in book one, and it happened again in book 2 with little difference, but the event left a bitter taste in my mouth. Our leads' reactions after it honestly felt totally underplayed. Like, if I had been in her shoes, I would have gone crazy, but she had little reaction, which felt wrong and left the whole thing feeling, well... not good.

Then there is something else that happened two times in the same book, and it felt like those quests in World of Warcraft where you get your quest, go do the thing, and come back, but rather than getting a different quest, you end up with the same quest again. It left me totally underwhelmed, and some of the biggest events in the book just did not feel as important or grand, or fill me with fear, because it was lacklustre.

The leads had ZERO growth. In fact, I felt like some lost brain cells and regressed to ignoring logical and rational thinking. Our King had to be one of the worst for this. I wanted to yeet my book out the window and scream, but I held out for him to wake up. Instead, I was stuck on a merry-go-round, and that was not solely on him but other characters as well.

The book gives you information, but it's not really what you need. The stuff you need is guesswork and in the wind, and I was fast approaching putting the book down and not carrying on. Sadly, I hate DNFing a book, so I held out.

The fact is, the book has a great idea for the story. The direction and picture are clear, but it was sorely and poorly done at times. There were points I did really like, but overall, it was hard to see that when you were being drowned by problems.

I don't even want to get started on our FMC. Really, I might well be here for days and pull my own hair out.

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(Bride of the Shadow King, #1) Bride of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes review

 

Bride of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️ 1 Spice

I was not sure what I was getting myself into when I started this book, but I found it pretty easy to get into. I felt no real holdback, apart from finding the wording at first a little jarring, but that might be because before starting this I had read a large series where the writing was very different from this.

Now, to get down to it. This book opened, and within seconds it clearly portrayed the life and care our FMC, Faraine, got. I totally felt for her. How she was looked at and treated made me mad, but it felt well placed and not just thrown in and not backed up by the behaviours of those around her. (I hate her father and a few others in her direct life.) She really does the whole blend in and don't make waves as best she can, and it irked me that she was all but living like a shadow.

I liked the way the author detailed the workings of what was going on and the clear ways of explaining the world and reasoning for things without throwing out so many facts at once that I might get bored.

I found the storyline interesting. I felt like the story had weight, but I felt at times the lust-forward vibe did push me into the Ugh! department. While I sort of wish it had been drawn out more, I get that the book moved fast, and without that pull between our leads, it would have left a weird, loose connection and made the story a little weird.

I am EPICLY confused about an event that happened that led our FMC into the drama. I would have liked more information... If I had been the lead, I would have been hunting for answers and not just following the commands of my father, but I guess it fits with her personality.

It was a fast, fun read with touches of darker plots and more amusing moments. Was it perfect? No. But was it horrible? Also no. I enjoyed it and finished the whole thing in only a few hours.

There were moments I was losing my mind, screaming, wanting Faraine to speak up, to reach out, to just do something, but it's only the first book, so I hope we see some growth.

Sadly, by the end I really felt for our MMC, Vor, and the ending itself left you needing to know what happened next. Overall, a solid book.

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(Beasts of the Briar Book 6) Stolen by Shadows by Elizabeth Helen review

 

Stolen by Shadows by Elizabeth Helen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

EMOTIONAL DAMAGE 100 PERCENT

Going into this book, I knew right away it was going to be a painful start, given where the last book left off. I knew some of my favourite characters were currently not in their right minds, and I was so right. The first 40 percent of the book was a test of my will, and as always, the book was amazingly written. But it's very clear that this series, which started off lighter with thick storylines and side quests to boot, has slowly grown darker and darker, with more emotional pain and trauma than you could shake a stick at.

This book really covered the feeling of powerlessness, being controlled and used, and having no way out in sight. That really had me screaming. I was being thrown from pillar to post and all but pulling my hair out, but by midway, I started to see the light, and I was skipping and twirling and just totally happy that things were starting to pay off. This brilliant story was giving and not only taking from me emotionally. There was a large part of this story where I was giddily happy, like I was seeing rainbows and happiness, and I was enraptured. Things were going my way... for a moment, I was so happy!! Clearly I missed the signs.

This book felt much darker than the others. It felt more draining on my soul. There were some epic moments where I was screaming and groaning, and other moments where I was so light and happy, and I was overwhelmed by the sheer spectacularness of the book, let alone the series.

The characters at this point feel as real as you and me. We know them, we have watched them change and become stronger and smarter, and they are part of us. They make us laugh and cry, and that is one of the reasons this book got me.

I was taking my time reading this book, knowing I had a little while to wait for the last book in the series, and just taking a slow ride through. At some point, the hard start of this book eased into this... beautiful hopefulness, and I was lured... hoodwinked... into a place where I thought I was safe and loved and it was going to be bright and beautiful...

But I was blind.

The story led me into an inferno of pain and grief and did it in such a way that I felt like my own heart was breaking. I was overwhelmed and struggling to take in what was happening and hoping it was a cruel joke. And I can't even be angry or hate it because it worked so well. It gave everything such weight to the story and, most of all, a level of knowing that this is not just bad, this is... life and death. Everyone is standing on a knife edge.

This book is a masterpiece of emotional storytelling that can either hold your hand or push you off the edge of a cliff. Richly detailed, with the story always being the main focus and goal. The book has a mix of love, family, epic story, emotions, and more, but everything has a reason and value, and nothing feels like fluff.

I want to be mad. I want to moan, but I can't due to how well it was done... how much the book cost me, stayed with me, and held me to it.

Overall, a fantastic read that left me broken and hurting. It gave me the world for but a moment, but showed me the cost of battle and to never forget, if things look good before the end... bad things can follow.

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Pucking Feral: Part Two by Lenore Rosewood review

 

Pucking Feral: Part Two by Lenore Rosewood
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐ 3 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 Spice

Where do I start but by saying I am a MASSIVE fan of the author's other series, Ghost Alpha Unit Series (the first 3 books that cover Ivy's story). I loved the series from start to end, so when I heard the author was making a new series with the same characters I loved in a different setting and stuff, I was all in. I really did like the first book in the Pucking Feral series, so I could not wait for the next book.

This book is big. It's not a small book. I have never been put off by a large book, but I felt like there was very little in the book other than romance, interaction between each other, and spice. There was only a little bit of underlying story going on here and there. Now, don't get me wrong, I love seeing my favourite characters with each other, but I have to remind myself this is not Ghost Alpha and is a new series, even if it uses the same characters. So, keeping that in mind, book two did not hold up.

There were a lot of pages with little going on. It needed more action or something to wow readers. The longer the book went on, the more I felt like it dragged. I have heard a few readers are not happy that it's not pure RH and has MM in the book. I am totally happy and fine with that. I love the MM parts as much as I love Ivy with Wraith and any of the others. I loved the togetherness, but I do think this one missed the mark for me.

The story was too... empty for me, and the spice and romance could not hold the book up. Any time there was a little story to be seen, it was over too fast. It needed more stakes. Spice and romance are great, but for me, they can't be the foundation or purely the story... I needed more.

I am sad that I could not love this one as much as I loved other books by this author, but I did not outright hate it. I read it, it's just overall not as wowing as I had hoped it would be.

Wraith, as always, was one of my favourites in the book, but I enjoyed all of them as always. I just wished I could have seen more of a plot with depth and a solid foundation to add the spice and romance to.

Overall, the book was OK, but not my favourite.

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(Beasts of the Briar, #5) Frozen by Stardust by Elizabeth Helen review

 

Frozen by Stardust by Elizabeth Helen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

The overarching storyline that runs throughout this series, again in this book, is fantastic. Hands down, so deeply thought out, planned out, and put to paper. Each book just gives the story and series a deeper level, with more turns and twists, and for me, it's one of the more intricate and detailed storylines that does not just fizzle out but burns hot throughout each book.

I could not count how many layers this thing has, and each book, while following the story, also feels like a puzzle piece fitting into this huge puzzle, but also feels like a whole part all on its own, and that just really wows me and blows my mind. I really loved the book, as I have with those before this one, and each time I read a book in this series, I am left with overwhelming breathlessness at how much it swooped me up and carried me away. There is nothing I can really fault about the level of work, magic, and wonder put into creating such an overwhelming world that seems boundless and endless with each book.

Now let's move on to nitpicking, lol.

This book does not lack in emotional depth and moments that make you feel like your own heart and soul are being sucked out of your body and stomped on by a herd of angry goats. Well, this book does all that and more, yay lol. There are many moments in this book that made me want to curl up and cry or reach into the book and give someone a hug or, more often than not, throat punch a certain person or two. The book, like the rest of the series I have read so far, really knows how to get your heart going in good and bad ways, and it all makes for a great read.

One of the harder parts of the book was getting through Farron's POV. Don't get me wrong, the authors did a bang-up job showcasing the change in him, but this Farron's mental state, inner monologue, and actions at times gave me the heebie-jeebies and even the ick at times. I struggled because of the change and was holding out and praying he would go back to what I knew of him from before. It did make reading his chapters harder, or parts where he had more of a focal role, because I was just screaming, it's like the invasion of the body snatchers, someone get him back, lol.

Dayton in this book, I mean, I have to say, over the course of this series so far, my heart has really gone out to him. Like, can he not catch a break? I mean, he had happiness for a moment, and then something else happens, and I just want to wrap him in a hug and get him to counselling at this point. It's been a horrible roller coaster, but even with what he's been through, he's trying so hard to hold onto who he is and not lose himself, and I loved that in this book.

Caspian and Keldarion took centre stage in this one, and seeing the two of them and getting a better understanding of their past and what is going on inside of them really gave you a clearer picture of things. I have to say, at times I wanted to headbutt Kel and Cas because they are very much like cat and dog at times, but it also made me sigh and laugh, and poor Rose is stuck as the go-between.

I really loved the ending of the book. While there is still a cliffhanger vibe, it did not leave me broken as much as the last book, but before the end, an event happened that had me screaming and cursing Sira out. She really makes me wild at times. Overall, the book was amazing, but I did struggle now and then with Farron, as I said, and it made me lag more than I should while reading the book.

There is so much to love about this book and the series so far as a whole, and it's really hard to say, "This is why I loved it," because it's everything. It all works in tandem with each other.

The spice did not stand out as much to me in this book. Please don't get me wrong, it's hot, very detailed, and fits with the story, but given this book is massive and the ongoing plot, the story dominated and had me hooked, making the spice feel small compared to it at times.

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(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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