Book Review: Savage Lands (Savage Lands #1) by Stacey Marie Brown

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Urban/Dystopian Fantasy Romance
Length: 423 pages
Author: Stacey Marie Brown
Publisher: Blackstone
Release Date: October 20th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Almost twenty years after the barrier between Earth and the Otherworld fell in the Fae Wars, Budapest is balancing on the precipice. A battle for dominance is brewing between the elite fae and the privileged humans in Eastern Europe. The prejudice between the sides is bubbling with hate and violence.

Nineteen-year-old human, Brexley, has grown up in privilege, but not without heartbreak. After being orphaned, she is taken in by General Markos, living in a walled city rife with power grabs and ruthless political games. Then one night the course of her life changes, and Brexley is thrown into the most feared prison in the east. Halalhaz, the House of Death—where you go in but don’t come out.

She must learn to live with the worst of fae and human criminals. The rule of hierarchy puts humans on the bottom, where the only way to survive each day is to make alliances with the fae.

Here she meets the sexy, vicious legend, Warwick Farkas. A myth among man and fae. He is as brutal, cruel, arrogant, and as lethal as the lore says he is, ruling the prison with unchallenged authority. Brexley can’t deny an intense draw to him, one that might cost her life.

If The Games don’t take her out first—A fight to the death where only one survives.

Thank you Bibliolifestyle and Blackstone Publishing for the gifted copy.

BUT WHY.

I only picked this up because a pretty special edition came across my email and I figured, why not? Reviews are great ya know?

WELL NOW I KNOW.

Honestly, the bones of the book are good. I liked the set up and structure and character dynamics throughout. All of those pieces were solid and I could see where things were going (in a good way) but I won’t be picking up book two.

It was like this author thought the only way to make her book “sexy” or “hot” was to throw in such out of pocket innuendo comments on every single page. I cringed and rolled my eyes too many times throughout going, WHY IS THAT REMARK RIGHT HERE. It was odd and didn’t enhance the book whatsoever.

I imagine the future installments follow the same path which is why I just think it’s best to stop here.

Overall audience notes:

  • Urban/Dystopian Fantasy Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 1ish open door + insanely high innuendo
  • Violence: torture, loss of life, brutal altercations

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Book Review: Wings of Starlight by Allison Saft

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Allison Saft
Publisher: Disney Press
Release Date: February 4th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Brimming with magic and romance, a young fairy queen must form an unlikely alliance or risk an unspeakable danger destroying all she holds dear in this standalone YA novel from New York Times bestselling author Allison Saft.

It’s been centuries since a warm-season fairy in Pixie Hollow has crossed into the Winter Woods, and while most fear the legends of monsters lurking in the frozen lands, Clarion, can’t help being intrigued by Winter’s stoic beauty. But under the watchful eyes of the current monarch and the court’s seasonal ministers, Clarion has little time to dwell on daydreams while the days to her coronation dwindle away.

That is, until reports of a monster crossing from Winter into Spring make their way to the palace. Clarion sees defeating this threat as an opportunity to prove that she is worthy of her new role. But instead of finding a monster at the edge of Winter, she finds Milori, a young guardian of the Winter Woods. Together, they form an unlikely bond as they race to save their lands.

But as their alliance warms to something more, they will discover there is a reason a warm-season fairy and a winter fairy must not be together. And the cost could be just as deadly as the monsters that prowl the Winter Woods.

Discover the origin of the sweeping, star-crossed romance between the queen of Pixie Hollow and the lord of the Winter Woods.

NOT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING?

I can’t call this a romance based off of how the ending came about, unless this wasn’t a standalone?? But apparently this follows a movie?? So I honestly don’t know what to think. I am not a Tinkerbell fan girl so I don’t know much about her story or anything.

This book was perfectly fine, just never engaging. I didn’t feel much of anything listening. I liked the plot set-up and the characters were fine, but I want the emotional attachment too.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: mild

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Book Review: Brimstone (Fae & Alchemy #2) by Callie Hart

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Rating: ★★★★.5
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 672 pages
Author: Callie Hart
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: November 18th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Saeris Fane doesn’t want power. The very last thing she needs is her name whispered on an entire court’s lips, but now that she’s been crowned queen of the Blood Court, she’s discovering that a queen’s life is not her own. A heavy weight rests upon her shoulders.

Her ward – and her brother – need her back in her homeland . . . but the changes that have strengthened Saeris have also made her weak. Born under blazing suns, Saeris will surely die if she makes her way home through the Quicksilver. Which means that, once again, she must send someone else in her stead . . .

‘Keep your mouth shut. Stick to the shadows. And for the love of all seven Gods, do NOT crack any jokes.’

Kingfisher of the Ajun Gate has defeated armies and survived all manner of horrors, but traveling back to Zilvaren with Carrion Swift might just be the death of him. The male just will not shut up. Hidden dangers await them down the narrow alleyways of the Silver City. Unfolding secrets pose impossible threats. Fisher must wrangle the smuggler and accomplish his goals quickly if he wants to see his mate again.

A darkness falls across Yvelia. The realm and their friends are in danger. Together, Saeris and Fisher will pass through fire and brimstone to save them.

A DANG GOOD SEQUEL.

We all know that sequels can be very hit or miss. BLESSED BE. This was not one of those cases. I thoroughly enjoyed this book a lot and especially the duet narration.

I thought the plot maintained a fairly steady pace and I was consistently engaged in what was going on. I liked the expansion of the world and magic system and the forces between vampires and fae. And I’m obsessed with Carrion. I could read a bonus novella about him and would love every minute.

What my one tidbit in this book that stood out negatively was the fact that the main couple is endgame. They were endgame by the end of the first book and I think that took out some of the romantic tension I enjoy seeing. If it’s a series, at least draw it out until somewhere in book two??? Please???

It’s a good ending with a major cliffhanger reminiscent of other romantasy books I’ve loved. I’ll definitely be after reading book three when it drops.

Overall audience notes:

  • Romatasy
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 5+ open door
  • Violence: high

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ARC Book Review: The Cowboy’s Game (Pride and Pranks #3) by Cindy Steel

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 356 pages
Author: Cindy Steel
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: February 18th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He’s coaching her love life…and losing control of his own.

Jake Evans knows a thing or two about heartbreak. Recently divorced and raising his four-year-old daughter on his own, the cowboy has sworn off women for good. When a job opens up at a dude ranch in his hometown, he comes running, emotional baggage in tow.

An unexpected bonus? Spending the summer with his childhood best friend.

Shelby Tucker was always better at sinking three-pointers than navigating relationships. With a promising new job on the horizon, her life needs a change. She’s determined to stop sitting on the sidelines while life happens all around her. 

First thing to tackle? Dating.

But after one too many cringeworthy moments, Shelby turns to the one person she trusts completely. Jake reluctantly agrees to coach Shelby through the dating world, certain his heart is safe where it is. Soon they’re back to their old routines—placing bets, shooting hoops, and putting Jake’s strategies into play. 

Except this time, every touch lingers. What once felt safe now feels dangerous. And the line between practice and something real is blurring fast.

When an accident threatens to fracture Jake’s carefully rebuilt life, he’s forced to confront the one truth he’s been the woman he’s never allowed himself to date might be the one he can’t live without.

★ The Cowboy’s Game is a closed-door romantic comedy full of heart, sizzle, and witty banter, but without explicit content.

This is the third full-length novel in the Pride and Pranks Series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but you will see character crossovers!

Thank you to the author for a gifted eARC.

WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO NOW.

This book was 10000% worth the wait. I kept wanting to put this book down to hold on longer but could not stop reading it because JAKE and SHELBY? ARE YOU KIDIDNG ME? I am absolutely positive I am still a puddle from the first kiss alone. I’ve been burned by multiple friends to lovers romances lately and this took on a different dynamic and let me tell y’all again, IT WORKED.

I LOVED the setting. The dude ranch x cowboy vibe was aesthetically pleasing on all fronts. It’s got this perfectly sexy and heated vibe while still being closed door. You can feel the dawning tension and chemistry turn to romance from the moment Shelby is back in Jake’s life. AND OMG, the hat scene??? IS THIS MY NEW FAVORITE MICRO TROPE? BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE.

And I think this did a beautifully job of balancing the light with the heavy. Jake has a lot of baggage and things to work through and I loved seeing his anger and joy and frustration and hope. He comes to the realizations and truths he needs to and leaves what’s not serving him in the past. It’s one of the best male character romance arcs I’ve ever read.

Seeing the characters from previous books is always a good time and all of the ranch shenanigans only added to the plot. I am a smitten fool for this book and Cindy Steel’s writing.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: very low
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: absent father, car crash (side character, harmed but okay), parental abandonment, divorce

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