Book Review: Servant of the Earth (The Shards of Magic #1) by Sarah Hawley

December 17, 2025December 9, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 464 pages
Author: Sarah Hawley
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: November 12th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In the underground Fae realm, only the strongest and most ruthless have power—but a young human woman forced into a life of servitude is about to change everything.

Kenna Heron is best known in her village for being a little wild—some say “half feral”—but she’ll need every ounce of that ferocity to survive captivity in the cruel Fae court.

Trapped as a servant in the faeries’ underground kingdom of Mistei, Kenna must help her new mistress undertake six deadly trials, one for each branch of magic: Fire, Earth, Light, Void, Illusion, and Blood. If she succeeds, her mistress will gain immortality and become the heir to Earth House. If she doesn’t, the punishment is death—for both mistress and servant.

With no ally but a sentient dagger of mysterious origins, Kenna must face monsters, magic, and grueling physical tests. But worse dangers wait underground, and soon Kenna gets caught up in a secret rebellion against the inventively sadistic faerie king. When her feelings for the rebellion’s leader turn passionate, Kenna must decide if she’s willing to risk her life for a better world and a chance at happiness.

Surviving the trials and overthrowing a tyrant king will take cunning, courage, and an iron will… but even that may not be enough.

NOTHING NEW, BUT I LIKED IT?

I know you’ve seen plenty of moments when someone compares a book to ACOTAR. Aaaand this is going to be another review in that vein. Human woman lands herself in hot fae land, is part of a trial based competition and a few others things you’ll recognize. That’s not an automatic turn off for me because I don’t mind that plot. BUT, this one didn’t sweep me away. I’ll try the second book though.

I liked how strong willed Kenna was through the horrors of the court. She’s resilient and focused which makes for a character who doesn’t bring the frustration. There was something missing from the plot though and I think it was because Kenna felt like a side character to a story already happening? I don’t know, it wasn’t clicking.

The romance did exactly what I expected. And while I usually LOVE this kind of trope/plot it didn’t hit as well here. I think the spice started to feel gratuitous and since [redacted because of spoilers] was happening I wasn’t connected and skipped a lot.

But there’s enough woven in between my issues that have me intrigued and hopeful that the follow up will have better focus.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: moderate
Romance: 3+ open door
Violence: high
Content Warnings: brutal/bloody executions and torture, emotional and physical abuse, body horror, sexual assault and violence

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Book Review: Sleigh Bells and Snowstorms by Claire Kingsley

December 16, 2025November 23, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 292 pages
Author: Claire Kingsley
Publisher: Always Have, LLC
Release Date: November 6th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From USA Today Bestselling author Claire Kingsley, the stand-alone small-town/romcom/romantic suspense/Christmas romance you didn’t know you needed.

Handsome, charismatic, and charming, Jensen Lakes is an enigma in a designer suit. But his playboy reputation is a persona—one of many—that he uses in his unique line of work.

A priceless heirloom goes missing right before the holidays, and Jensen is hired to find it. Tracking down the perpetrator will be simple. He’ll be in and out before Santa hits chimneys.

Natalie Thatcher needs a break. She’s a dedicated sister, aunt, and nurse, but her life is no Christmas carol. Between bills, mounting home repairs, and holiday shopping still to be done, most days she feels like a tangled strand of lights.

Jensen follows his quarry to Tilikum, and the Christmas-clad town throws him for a loop. As does Natalie. He enlists her aid—who better to help him navigate the local quirks than the captivating woman next door? Despite their chemistry and sizzling banter, love isn’t on his Christmas list. Or hers.

But as danger mounts, Jensen finds himself in an unexpected position—falling in love with his partner. And when her life is on the line, he’ll risk everything to keep her safe.

And get her home for Christmas.

A handsome charmer falls hard for a sassy small-town girl. Adventure, witty banter, Christmas coziness, and a holiday happily ever after that will leave your heart full.

Sleigh Bells and Snowstorms can be read as a stand-alone romance.

I’D RECOMMEND IT.

Do I think this was mostly completely unbelievable? YUP. But that also became its charming attribute as well. I liked that the plot made little real world sense and settled in to a fun and semi-adventurous holiday romp.

Amidst so many holiday romances I love when I come across one with a differnt edge. I liked the suspense and thief elements and how Jensen pulled Natalie into his orbit. There were a lot of genuine sweet holiday moments and I liked seeing Jenson let his guard down. There’s a insta-connection vibe to this story that honestly wasn’t a major turn off.

I liked the fast pace and feeling like I was in a small wintry town in late December. You’ll fly through this and I think it hit all of my check boxes for a lovely holiday romance. I also really liked that the spice wasn’t long winded and focused more on the story.

Overall audience notes:

Holiday Romantic Suspense
Language: mild
Romance: 2-3ish quick open door
Violence: moderate
Content warnings: gun violence, kidnapping, loss of life

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Book Review: Stranger Skies (Drowned Gods #2) by Pascale Lacelle

December 15, 2025December 4, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 608 pages
Author: Pascale Lacelle
Publisher: McElderry Books
Release Date: November 5th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Ninth House meets The Hazel Wood in this riveting sequel to the New York Times bestselling dark academia fantasy Curious Tides, following Emory, Baz, Romie, and Kai on their desperate quests through space and time! Opening locked doors has a price—even for those who hold a key. After going through the door that called to them both in dreams, Emory and Romie find themselves in the the same verdant world written of in Song of the Drowned Gods, albeit a twisted, rotting version of it. A sinister force has awoken with their arrival, intent on destruction as it spills across realms, and now Emory and Romie must stop it before it reaches their own shores. Meanwhile, Baz and Kai are desperate to follow their friends through the door to other worlds, but a mishap pulls them back in time instead—where they come face to face with Cornus Clover himself, famed author of Song of the Drowned Gods. Stuck together in the past, they must navigate a very different Aldryn as they unravel the school’s darkest secrets. Across time and worlds, Emory, Romie, Baz, and Kai find their fates eerily interwoven with the heroes from Clover’s book. But when stories can’t be trusted, friendships are put to the test, and deadly enemies are not always as they seem, they must decide who gets to be a hero—and who is desperate enough to see themselves become a villain.

SO BORED.

I thought this was the most unnecessarily long book and honestly I still feel confused about the trajectory and plot and most things in between. I was reading Rhythm of War at the same time as this and I don’t know if my love for that book over shadowed this so much that I just never got into it.

The romances were written well and I liked the characters. Those were never the issue. The dark academia aspects disappeared and it fell into a time travel fantasy, which is FINE, but honestly, not my favorite.

Overall audience notes:

YA Fantasy
Language: mild
Romance: kisses
Violence: moderate

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Book Review: Highland Holiday by Kasey Stockton

December 14, 2025November 18, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 324 pages
Author: Kasey Stockton
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 12th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

One rejected kiss. Two clashing personalities. And a snowstorm that traps them in an isolated cottage.

Callie Winter is the kind of person who holds everything together—for her family, her friends, her coworkers. But this Christmas, she’s hoping to catch her breath in the Scottish Highlands and maybe rediscover a little joy along the way. A kiss with a charming stranger in a pub? The perfect holiday distraction.

Until he rejects her.

Gavin Mackenzie doesn’t do flings, especially not with tourists who’ll be gone before the snow melts. He’s got enough on his plate—keeping the old family cottage running, managing the quiet that sometimes feels like loneliness, and pretending he’s just fine, thank you very much. The last thing he needs is a whirlwind American trying to kiss him in a pub… or move into his personal space.

But when a snowstorm leaves them stranded together, Callie’s forced to stay with the last man she wants to face. She’s prickly and wounded. He’s charming but distant. And neither of them are prepared for the slow burn that starts to crack their walls.

In between the cocoa and the Christmas tree, they’ll both have to face what they’re really afraid of: asking for what they need… and trusting someone else to give it.

A grumpy-sunshine, snowed-in holiday romance about messy feelings, unexpected healing, and the kind of love that doesn’t need fixing—just the courage to claim it.

SOFT.

If that’s what you need right now, pick this one up. It’s a soft romance filled with a beautiful setting in the Scottish highlands.

I loved the depression rep for Gavin. It was discussed well and was incredibly relatable and I loved the topic and way he expressed those emotions. Even more so, I loved how Callie allowed him those feelings without pity but with genuine support.

And I liked the journey with Gavin’s parents too. There was another intensely relatable situation here and without spoiling, it was something I can appreciate.

The romance takes a little bit to find the swoon but I think the second half did a great job. I loved all of the Christmas and holiday vibes and the close knit friendships that were present.

Overall audience notes: