Book Review: Threshing Day (The Empyrean #3.5) by Rebecca Yarros

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Novella
Length: 208 pages
Author: Rebecca Yarros
Publisher: Red Tower
Release Date: September 29th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Welcome to Threshing Day, the brutal, high-stakes trial where would-be riders at Basgiath War College fight to earn the bond of a dragon or die trying. Amid ruthless competition and dragon fire, these thirteen cadets must survive a battlefield where desperate rivals will do anything to gain an advantage and dragons decide one’s ultimate fate―and where a single choice can forge a rider…or destroy them.

Xaden Riorson, the powerful leader. Rhiannon Matthias, the clever friend. Dain Aetos, the dutiful rule-follower. Liam Mairi, the kindhearted protector. Ridoc Gamlyn, the jokester. Sawyer Henrick, the underdog. Garrick Tavis, the dependable aide. Imogen Cardulo, the impulsive fighter. Bodhi Durran, the second-in-command. Mira Sorrengail, the fearless rider. Brennan Sorrengail, the brilliant tactician. Aaric Graycastle, the restless royal. Sloane Mairi, the determined sister.

On Threshing Day, there’s only one rule: don’t die.

TIS GOOD.

I don’t have a lot of thoughts but I did like this novella. It had some interesting tidbits and a few of the stories stood out as maybe important for book four? This mostly came across as filler for me but I might change my thoughts on that on my eventual reread + book four.

I haven’t reread these books recently so admittedly not every facet or character was fresh in my mind so I had a hard time figuring out how worth it the information was to the series. I think knowing the character line up before going in would be more helpful.

Definitely recommend going with the audiobook with different narrators for the different stories. I liked it a lot!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Novella
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: none(?) I think
  • Violence: moderate

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: The Sound of Summer (The House on Harrison Blvd #1) by Meagan Williamson

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 360 pages
Author: Meagan Williamson
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: July 15th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Some sounds are impossible to ignore…

From the time he was a child, Everett Dawson has known he was different. But under his carefully curated persona as a successful country music artist, no one else in the world ever would. That all changes the night of his Nashville show when he loses control onstage for everyone to see. A mistake that has him fleeing the nearest exit and stumbling upon a woman breaking into his venue.

Trapped in the middle of her own mid-life crisis, Summer Rogers is convinced she makes nothing but impulsive decisions. Including the one where she offers to nanny for the newfound single dad with a career he’s desperate to salvage.

Accepting help goes against everything Everett believes in. But with a tour on the line, it’s his only option. He needs childcare. She needs financial freedom. It’s strictly professional… until secrets spill, boundaries blur, and sparks fly.

I’M NOT SURE.

I’ve really enjoyed Williamson’s previous two books but something went awry in this one. I think the focus on the physical aspects of the relationship over anything else kept taking me out of the story. It was spicier than I was expecting (not over the top, but didn’t flow well with the plot).

I sort of liked the characters? I did see the growth and acceptance woven into multiple storylines and that was nice to see. And I didn’t have issues with the writing style (aka I’ll continue to read Williamson’s books). There’s some sweet moments and good conversations at least.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemoprary Romance
  • Language: mild+
  • Romance: 3ish open doors
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: loss of a partner (recounted), discussion of learning disabilities

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: Ashwalker (The Emberfall Trilogy #1) by S.M. Gaither

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 578 pages
Author: S.M. Gaither
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: June 14th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Long ago, dragons were unleashed as weapons of mass destruction, igniting a war that shattered the Empire of Kaldra. Now, the survivors of that once-great realm cower behind fortified walls, while the beasts terrorize the wilds between the broken kingdoms.

Arowyn Vale survives as an ashwalker—one of the few reckless enough to brave the burned-out roads between the walled cities, smuggling everything from supplies to secrets. But when she reluctantly saves a dying dragon hatchling on a routine run, she draws the eye of the ruler of Mouren, a brutal realm directly in the heart of dragon territory.

Once upon a time, King Reave Callahan’s people wielded powerful magic, bonding with dragons in order to crush their enemies with wing and flame. But now, that magic is fading, and law decrees that anyone who manages to bond with a dragon must serve the Mouren crown—even a gutter-born, half-feral ashwalker from the slums of an enemy kingdom.

Dragged into Reave’s glittering but cutthroat court, Arowyn must navigate a treacherous new life built upon secrets, ancient magic, and shifting alliances. As her connection to the hatchling deepens—and with the Mouren king watching her with a gaze full of both danger and desire—she will have to make a

To become a weapon of the kingdom that broke her world…

Or to burn it all down from within.

MY NEW OBESSION.

It’s been a minute since I feel like I have LOVED a SM Gaither book. But that feeling is back and I must tell you to get on this book NOWWWWW.

I have been begging that romantasy universe to bring back the slow burn. And I was stunned in the best ways to find that this was a slow burn. I think it could have been dragged out even longer but I was just happy to get this much. There was immaculate banter and heat that built chapter over chapter. I loved that Raeve and Arowyn got to actually know each other and let down those walls and communicate. That man is down baaaad.

And I love Gaither’s fierce heroines. Arowyn is not different. That woman gets up again and again to stand stronger each time. I loved her relationship with her dragon. The female friendships are incredible too. I love the loyalty they offer each other. There were many notable side characters that I am 100% attached to now.

The pacing and action beats were just right. It took me a week to read this purely because I was savoring it. Every time I picked it up I was locked into every word. I loved the world building and the reveals caused me to have to know what happens next. I must have book two! I need answers!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 2ish open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: mass loss of life, weapons/physical violence, war themes

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: Ghost Business (Boneyard Key #2) by Jen DeLuca

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Jen DeLuca
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: September 9th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Clashing ghost tours lead to a sizzling romantic rivalry in the second romance in the new series from USA Today bestselling author Jen DeLuca.

Boneyard Key, Florida, is the only home Sophie has ever known. Her love for its supernatural history has flourished into a career, as she guides the one and only ghost tour through the town’s can’t-miss haunted spots. And while her bank account isn’t full by any means, her heart is. Or at least, it was.

But there’s a newcomer in town. The son of a Fortune 500 businessman, former theater kid Tristan has grown his tours from a fraternity fundraiser to a multicity ghost tour conglomerate. It’s doing well, but not well enough—if he can’t prove that he’s solidly in the black by the fall, Dad’s going to pull his funding, spelling the end of his career. Boneyard Key, with its haunted reputation, seems like the perfect place to boost his bottom line.

When the two ghost tours clash, Sophie’s expletive-filled rant goes viral, and the rivals strike up a deal. Whoever has the most successful business by summer’s end stays, while the loser must ghost. But the more Tristan comes to appreciate Boneyard Key, the more Sophie comes to appreciate Tristan, and what starts as begrudging respect becomes something spicier. Can they put their feuding businesses aside to make room for a chance at love, or is Boneyard Key too small for two ghost tours?

LACKED SOMETHING.

I feel like the magic is missing in this series. Another book in and I am not feeling the CLICK. That little bit of something that makes me swoon an fall in love with the romance. It was perfectly fine and ended well enough (third act wasn’t a total anger inducing event).

I do enjoy the small town and paranormal aspects. They are woven in well and the side characters are a charming inclusion to the story. I did like the job aspect of a walking ghost tour and the hurricane was something I haven’t read [at least recently in my mind] which was another layer that fit the Florida setting well.

I know I’ll find myself reading the next book and hoping for the best!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3ish open door
  • Violence: low

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph