ARC Book Review: The Enemy’s Daughter by Melissa Poett

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Melissa Poett
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Release Date: May 6th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A stunning reimagining of Tristan and Isolde set in a dystopian world woven with magic. An addictive debut YA enemies-to-lovers romantasy—perfect for fans of Rebecca Ross and Sarah Underwood as well as books like Curious Tides, The Hurricane Wars, and Belladonna.

It’s been thirty-seven years since the Republic was destroyed. Now two settlements—the five clans and the Kingsland—fight for control of the untainted land. Though the five clans are outnumbered, they’ve finally struck, killing Kingsland’s brutal leader.

In the war that follows, Isadora, an eighteen-year-old healer, risks her life to help injured soldiers. But when she stops an attack from Tristan, a Kingsland assassin, his soldiers shoot her with a poisoned arrow. As Isadora lies dying, Tristan does the unimaginable: He offers to save her life using a rare magic.

In choosing to live, Isadora is unknowingly bound to the mysterious Tristan. Worse, even acknowledging the attraction between them allows him to glean fragments of her memories and the very knowledge he needs to destroy the five clans. But their magical connection works both ways. So to save her people, Isadora will have to open her heart to her most cunning enemy. Because in a race for ultimate survival, she’ll need to destroy Tristan and his people first.

Thank you Book Sparks and Quill Tree Books for a gifted copy.

OOOMPH.

The first half of this? Good. I liked the bones of the plot, I liked the romantic twists and I thought the world building was easy to follow. The dystopian edge with a hint of fantasy was distinct and worked well. It is a standalone and does wrap up main storylines okay enough.

I think this was missing a lot. With love confessions before even the halfway point hit, my interest immediately tanked. The exploration of feelings and chemistry wasn’t all the way there and my investment level waned because I was behind on all the things they were apparently feeling.

Everything plot wise is very easy. I can’t say that one thing wasn’t highly forecasted or was the only option to move the pages forward. Had this been a duology with an expansion of the world and relationship I truly think this could have been grand.

I’d be curious to see what the author writes next though.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Dystopian Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: Winds of Change (The Descended Trilogy #1) by Bailey Estep

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Paranormal
Length: 502 pages
Author: Bailey Estep
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: December 15th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Human “Magic, and witches, and terrible people who lived here in Rollingwood a long time ago.”One phrase is all it takes for Devyn to become embroiled in a centuries-old war that might not be as over as everyone thought. She moved to Rollingwood looking for a fresh start, but what she found might be more than she bargained for.Witch Amelia knows something evil is coming to Rollingwood. Or coming back. Long-standing rivalries must shift to make room for new alliances, but her coven doesn’t believe her, and she can’t fight it alone.Protector Eric’s friend disappeared from Rollingwood after sending him a cryptic message. It’s his duty as a Protector to uncover what happened and keep the town safe. He’s expecting a challenge, but nothing could have prepared him for Devyn. He knows he can’t be distracted, but the question does she need to be protected, or is she a threat he never saw coming?Protector. Witch. Human?

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

NOT QUITE.

Well, I was hopeful, but unfortunately this book didn’t work for me. Things started off fine, that typical oh no I have unknown powers in a small town mood, and I rolled with it. I liked having the multiple POV and getting a feel for the town and the history that is currently causing chaos.

The struggles came apparent fairly quickly after that though. There were odd timeline jumps that disrupted the flow of the story which kept throwing me off. The romance was FAST and I wish there had been more exploration of their relationship and connection rather than racing to kisses and confessions. I also didn’t feel that deeply for anyone and the plot itself was incredibly predictable to any supernatural show I’ve seen.

Bummed this one didn’t work out.

Overall audience notes:

  • New adult paranormal
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate

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ALC Book Review: Jilted by Vi Keeland

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 266 pages
Author: Vi Keeland
Publisher: Bramble
Release Date: May 6th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From #1 New York Times bestseller Vi Keeland comes a brand new slow burn, swooning romance where 27 Dresses meets The Hating Game.

Weddings. I spend every working minute talking and writing about them, when just the thought of one makes me want to scream. After my fiancé abandoned me at the altar last year, my dream job at Bride magazine has turned into a reoccurring nightmare.

To add insult to injury, the bridezilla at my latest assignment, somehow roped me into filling in for a missing bridesmaid. Of course, I had to get paired with the most gorgeous groomsman. Wilder Hayes is perfect—except when he opens his mouth and we end up bickering all evening. That is, until the coat closet incident.

At least I’ll never have to see him again. Or so I think… Until I walk into work on Monday and find out Wilder isn’t just a jerk, he’s also my boss’s son. And I’ll be spending the rest of the season working with him at every single wedding I cover this year.

Can the jilted bride and the man who is afraid of love find a way to heal each other?

Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the gifted audiobook.

THAT’S A NO FOR ME.

I had been warned before listening to this that it might not work for me. I went in level headed and admittedly did like it for the first 50%ish. The bones of the plot were good. The MMC was a rugby player and uber charming. I didn’t mind the FMC, all is hunky-dory.

But after the halfway mark things went downhill. So much so that I’m quite confident this is the only book I will read from this author. I’m good with that. I didn’t like the heaviness of the spice and the third act??? NOPE. One of my most frustrating tropes.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 4+ open door; high explicit
  • Content warnings: cheating (not the main characters), Parkinson’s disease, loss of a parent (recounted)

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Book Review: Inheritance (The Inheritance Cycle #4) by Christopher Paolini

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 860 pages
Author: Christopher Paolini
Publisher: Knopf Books
Release Date: November 8th, 2011
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It began with Eragon… It ends with Inheritance.

Not so very long ago, Eragon — Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider — was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders.

Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chance.

The Rider and his dragon have come further than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaësia? And if so, at what cost?

This is the spellbinding conclusion to Christopher Paolini’s worldwide bestselling Inheritance cycle.

WHAT WAS THAT.

Yeah yeah yeah this book was a pretty good conclusion and wrapped up most of the plot lines and things ALMOST ended as they should, but I can’t help my romantic brain, why did the author have to do this to me? This didn’t even feel like an eventually matter, it’s just straight unrequited forever. Booooooo.

Anyways, I did love all of the dragon content, and the evolution of Eragon has been great. I liked the other POV’s we saw and that Murtaugh got some good moments as well because I do plan to read his book.

That’s about all I can dive into without fully spoiling everything at the end of this first era of the series. I’m not mad I read these, they’re verrrrry long winded though and I’m glad I did them on audio.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: none
  • Romance: unrequited nonsense
  • Violence: moderate-high

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