ARC/ALC Book Review: Mortal Things (Mortal Things #1) by Marie Lu

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Marie Lu
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux
Release Date: October 27th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Set in a world of insatiable immortals, their eternal rivalries, and the humans trapped between them, MORTAL THINGS is a cinematic and sweeping new fantasy from #1 New York Times-bestselling author Marie Lu, perfect for fans of Heartless Hunter and A Darker Shade of Magic.

Rose Lin Fairchild didn’t believe in gods, but one chose her anyway.

Rose despises Raven, the god of Death. His mysterious commands. His mercurial moods. His closed heart. But most of all, she loathes that she was forced to become his Harbinger, a human mercenary tasked to fulfil their god’s every want and whim. Still, she would do it again, because being a Harbinger is the only thing keeping her best friend alive.

When a murder rocks the world of the gods, Rose is suddenly thrust into the immortal realm’s spotlight as Raven’s heir. This is her chance to free her friend once and for all. But in order for her to ascend, she must first prove herself to the other gods—and the one person standing in her way is a fellow Harbinger.

Étienne Beauchard is notorious for his sly wit and charming good looks. Rose can’t stand that he is the one assigned to test her abilities, but as their initial hostility evolves into an intense attraction, they find that the gods’ secrets go deeper than they ever expected. Something is wrong in the immortal world, something that threatens to break their bond and engulf them all in war.

As Rose and Étienne fight to uncover the truth and trust each other with their hearts, they realize that everything hinges on the same How far would you go to save the person you love?

Thank you FS&G and Macmillan Audio for the gifted copy and ALC.

IT GOT BETTER?

I’m a big Marie Lu fan so I’m always jumping up and down when I get my hands on a book early. But unfortunately, this one was kind of a let down. I’m hoping with the next book I’ll feel differently.

The audiobook was great though. I had no issues with that format and liked the narrator a lot.

It took me a bit to get into because of the amount of info dumping about all of the gods, harbingers and urban setting. There is an immortal plane too so I didn’t feel like the urban setting bugged me. The vibe felt fantastical which I tend to love more often. Once I got a grasp of things I do think things felt more settled and it made me curious enough to for sure want to read the sequel.

I was hoping for a little more romance. I don’t think there was enough lead up and by the time there were love confessions I hadn’t fully gotten there myself. The age bracket I believe is young adult but it did feel older? Not a bad thing. Just another thing I noted.

It was lacking the emotional punch that I hope shows up in book two.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: a lot of conversation surrounding death

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: Immortal Rose (Immortal Rose Duology #1) by Alexandra Bracken

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Fantasy Romance
Length: 496 pages
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: August 18th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From Alexandra Bracken, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Lore, comes a stunningly original adult fantasy. Set in a sumptuous world ruled by magical perfume, this achingly romantic, slow-burn love story will shatter your heart and leave you breathless.

Members of the ancient House Rosebourne have a strange gift born of a fairy ancestor: the ability to infuse fragrance with magic capable of manipulating mind, body, and emotion.

When a shocking murder leaves the kingdom of Albion vulnerable to a coup, royal spymaster Hugh Thornton seeks the one person who can help: Viola Lockwood, the last living Rosebourne and secret heir to a fraught legacy.

Livid at the silver-eyed aristocrat who had her thrown in jail to force her compliance, Viola nevertheless comes to an agreement with him. In exchange for crafting Immortal Rose, the singular perfume capable of saving Albion, illegitimate Viola can seize the life—and fortune—that should have been hers.

As Hugh and Viola race to find the perfume’s lost fairy ingredient, hidden deep in Albion’s dark underbelly, neither can deny the scorching attraction building between them—especially as the attempts on Viola’s life grow increasingly brazen.

But a terrible truth lurks in the heart notes of their kingdom—and while every bargain has a cost, Immortal Rose may demand more than Hugh and Viola can ever pay.

Thank you to LibroFM for the gifted audiobook.

THIS WAS GOOD!

I can’t say I knew what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised how locked into this book I became. I thought the historical + fantasy vibes were working really well. The added perfume/scent based magic was cool and I found that unique to most magic systems I’ve come across recently. There’s a few world building questions I have about the *faeries* but it didn’t bug me as much as I thought it would.

I am curious how this will stretch out into a duology. I felt like with a few tweaks things could have been wrapped up well. The romance had progressed at a decent pace and I was invested in their interactions. The plot was moving too and seemed to be coming to a climax but then the addition of the *twist* towards the cliffhanger leads me to guess at how the story will expand for another 400+ pages. I’m hopeful at least.

We love when a romance gives a good slow burn. And we love when the FMC is resilient and full of perseverance. I loved the moments of banter and thought provoking statements too.

The side characters/found family were wonderful. I loved getting more tidbits about them and their presence added to the story. I loved the regency setting. The audiobook is great too! I would have loved even more chapters from Hugh. Can’t wait for book two!

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical fantasy romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: 2-3ish open door
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: loss of life, near death experiences, moderate blood/gore, child abuse, domestic abuse, sexual assault

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: By the Flames of Her Fury (The Veridian Empire #4) by V.B. Lacey

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 580 pages
Author: V.B. Lacey
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 22nd, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Pirates of the Caribbean meets The Mummy in the epic conclusion to the Veridian Empire series of interconnected standalones.

The world wants her power. She wants her vengeance.

Vera Duma has spent a year tracking down the man who stole her freedom and tortured her with magical experiments. She doesn’t care what her retribution costs, even if it means leaving behind everything she’s ever loved.

But the hunt leads somewhere she never expected: a kingdom hidden from the rest of the world for a thousand years, whose rulers believe Vera is the one prophesied to raise them from the dark. They have answers to questions she’s sought her whole life, and an agenda she’s too desperate to see clearly.

Her quest becomes more complicated when Everett Swift, the boy she fell in love with in their captivity, follows her into this new world. Their past love is rekindled as the kingdom’s secrets begin to unravel, and Vera must decide what she’s fighting for before her power is used to unleash something far more dangerous.

Because when her fury ignites, the world will either rise from its ashes…or burn with her.

By the Flames of Her Fury is the fourth and final book in the Veridian Empire series of interconnected fantasy standalones. This book includes a summary of books 1-3 for those who haven’t read them. While it’s advised to read books 1-3 first, it’s not necessary. By the Flames of Her Fury follows a phoenix Shifter FMC and the man she fell in love with in captivity as they go on a revenge quest against their captor, but get caught up in a lost kingdom full of secrets darker than they bargained for. Perfect for lovers of Pirates of the Caribbean, The Mummy, and the Ever Seas series by LJ Andrews, this book is full of no spice second chance romance, epic quests with mythical creatures, feminine rage, a powerful female cast, and a beautiful found family.

Thank you RB Media for the gifted audiobook.

GOOD CONCLUSION.

I’ll miss this series! I had a really good time with every book and I thought this wrapped up the larger arc well. You don’t have to read these in order but it is recommended because the characters and plot does build upon itself in some ways.

I love a man down bad, and Everett embodied that rope fantastically. I loved his nature. He’s soft while being strong and protective. He knows what he wants and is patient and kind too. I also loved Vera. The running away thing kind of bugged me but I did like seeing how all of the things came together.

The Pirates of the Caribbean x The Mummy vibes were 100% present and I loved seeing those little touches woven in. This found family is a strong one and their pop-ups were some of my favorite moments too.

There were a few times where I thought things were going to end and then it kept going?? I wish it had been a bit tighter but that was my only complaint. The audiobook is wonderful and I love that format for this series. I also SUPER appreciate knowing a consistently closed door fantasy author that hits the romance genre so well.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: torture, imprisonment, loss of life

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: Big Nick Energy by Kristen Bailey

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 361 pages
Author: Kristen Bailey
Publisher: Storm Publishing
Release Date: October 21st, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

One woman, two Nicks, and a Christmas season that’s about to get very complicated.

When librarian Kay bumps into her ex-boyfriend Nick at a Christmas market, she thinks fate is finally giving her a second chance with her first big love. But then she gets spectacularly tangled in a Christmas tree-netting machine and meets another Nick entirely. One who cuts her free, dresses her wounds, and makes her pulse race in ways that thoroughly confuse her.

Finance Nick is successful, settled, and ready to talk five-year plans. Farmer Nick makes handcrafted furniture, supports local charities, and sees the creative spirit Kay has kept hidden behind her library desk. But how is a girl to choose?

Soon she’s spending her days delivering books to children’s hospitals and care homes with farmer Nick, before dashing home to whip off her reindeer onesie and glam up for romantic dates at the ballet with finance Nick.

But the countdown to Christmas is on, and Kay can’t keep this up forever. Somehow she must navigate London’s most complicated love triangle, avoid getting any more pine needles stuck in her hair – and work out once and for all which Nick has her heart.

A laugh-out-loud festive rom-com that fans of Love Actually and The Holiday will adore.

NOT IT.

I’ve enjoyed Kristen Bailey’s previous holiday romances but this one bugged me too much to love it.

My biggest gripe was that the FMC, Kay, was incredibly frustrating. She calls herself a “special kind of idiot” when she finally clues in [at 95%] and I was like YEAH YOU HAVE BEEN GIRL. WHY WERE YOU WITH THE WRONG MAN FOR 95% OF THIS BOOK.

If the break up had come much sooner I might have gotten more on board. It just left the other side of this love triangle lacking in a lot of ways because she wasn’t technically single even though she tried to maintain that thought process throughout the book. It became increasingly frustrating.

There’s good holiday cheer and themes that I did like. But as a romance, it didn’t work.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary holiday romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: low

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph