Tag: audiobook

Book Review: In the Veins of Drowning (The Siren Mage #1) by Kalie Cassidy

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Kalie Cassidy
Publisher: Little Brown & Company
Release Date: July 15th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The monster is always slain…

Imogen Nel is in hiding. Hiding from a cruel kingdom that believes Sirens are monstrous, blood-hungry creatures. Hiding from a king and his captain who viciously hunt her kind. Hiding from her own alluring abilities. By keeping herself from the sea, Imogen’s bloodlust is dulled, and her black wings remain hidden beneath her skin.

When a neighboring king comes to visit, Imogen can no longer hide. He knows precisely what she is, and he believes she can save both their kingdoms from an even greater monster. But Imogen’s power threatens to violently reveal itself, and the two form a blood bond that protects them both. They flee the kingdom together, traversing waters teeming with the undead. As the lines between duty to their people and desire for each other begin to blur, Imogen worries her own ancestral powers may not be enough to kill what hunts her—the only way to defeat a monster may be to become one herself.

FANTASTIC DEBUT

This wasn’t initially on my radar but I’m so happy I read it!! I love a siren book and this was such an interesting concept and had a few siren aspects that I don’t think I’ve read before which made for an engaging listen an a book hard to put down.

The romance had an edge of insta-adjacent that was hard for me to get on bored with initially but I’m grateful that this grew on me. I loved the darker edge to the story, it made the chemistry all the more heated and ambiance immaculate. Mixed with complicated political moments and some intense action the writing style was beautifully executed. I will absolutely be back for book two.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3ish open door
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Annabel Monaghan
Publisher: GP Putnam’s Sons
Release Date: May 26th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From The New York Times bestselling author of Nora Goes Off Script , a romance about a single mother who’s offered a Pretty Woman -type deal that’s too good to refuse.

If they begin by pretending, can they end with something real?

Dolly Brick has never met a problem she couldn’t solve. Not when her mom left when she was twelve, and not at thirty-nine when she moves with her son back to Whitfield, Rhode Island for the summer to keep her dad and brother from losing the family home.

So when she comes across Stewart Whitfield—annoyingly handsome scion of the Whitfield family—with a flat tire and at the wrong end of a very public, very humiliating breakup, it’s in her nature to help. But Stewart’s proposed arrangement ends up being more than either of them bargained for, because as public dinners and high society benefits turn into sunset boat rides and swinging on the porch, Dolly starts to feel something more than helpful. She’s never relied on anyone besides herself, can she really start now?

LOOOOVED.

Oh this made for the perfect kind of Sunday morning reading this book! What a gem. And I’m not usually sold on a millionaire romance, THIS SHALL BE THE EXCEPTION. I loved the chemistry between Dolly and Stewart. They end up in this chaotic fake dating situation together and I could not get enough of all the little banter and tender moments between them.

It felt like a genuine adult romance with legitimate adult problems. I liked the discussions around the themes and the progression of the romance because of all of the forced proximity moments. I adored the way Stewart interacting with Dolly’s son and the *fancy* moments Dolly got to be a part of. Dolly was an FMC I wanted to cheer on and I loved her character a lot. Probably because this is the definition of eldest daughter core.

The third act made me a little cranky (and it also took so long???), but I digress. I was smitten enough not to knock the rating. This is definitely one of my favorite Annabel Monaghan books now and is perfect for summer!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: a sister with cancer (recounted, she survived), a brother with a TBI, panic attacks on page, parental abandonment

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Book Review: We Who Will Die (Empire of Blood #1) by Stacia Stark

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 423 pages
Author: Stacia Stark
Publisher: Avon Books
Release Date: December 30th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From the bestselling author of the Kingdom of Lies series comes a slow-burn romantasy set in a Roman-inspired world ruled by merciless vampires. Filled with breathtaking combat, vengeful gods, and magical creatures, We Who Will Die is the epic first installment in an enthralling new series perfect for fans of Carissa Broadbent, Jasmine Mas, and Rebecca Yarros.

Life in the perilous Thorn district is a constant battle for Arvelle and her younger brothers. And the vampire standing on her doorstep is about to turn their world upside down.

Faced with an unthinkable choice, Arvelle makes a magically binding vow to do the impossible: kill the emperor, an ancient vampire created by the god Umbros. But first, she must enter the Sundering—an arena where only the fastest, strongest, and deadliest survive long enough to be selected for the emperor’s elite guard.

She quickly draws the ire of the Primus, the powerful figure charged with protecting the emperor. But the vampire under the armor is the last person Arvelle expects to encounter in the emperor’s court.

With her brothers’ lives in the balance, Arvelle has no choice but to ally with the man who once shattered her heart… and with the emperor’s sadistic son, Rorrik—two vampires whose motives are impossible to pin down. Rorrik holds the key to understanding the powers Arvelle is developing—abilities that would put a price on her head if discovered by the emperor.

To survive the arena and complete her mission, Arvelle must get to the bottom of a conspiracy that will change everything she thought she knew about herself—and the two vampires who are deeply entwined with her destiny…

Thank you LibroFM for the gifted audiobook.

I GET IT.

I’ve been sitting on this audiobook for just a little bit because there was a lot of hype surrounding it amongst my friends (and I don’t know why that makes me nervous) BUT LO AND BEHOLD. I enjoyed it and I’m excited to read book two!

Y’all know duet narration is my kryptonite so bless this audiobook for making it such a great listen. I liked the narrators and that they did a good job in executing the storyline.

I didn’t quite understand why Arvelle would be chosen to kill the emperor when she had no big marketable skills? But I mostly rolled with it and liked seeing her slowly grow (and I hope that continues in the next book).

The romance was…a little meh to me? BUT I can’t really say why without spoiling it so I think I’ll have to keep that to myself and see if I’m right. If I am, then I think I’d love this book even more. The wait is on to see!

For the world building and magic, I didn’t know just how brutal this was going to be but I’m here for it. I love a gritty dark fantasy and this hit those marks. I liked how the vampires functioned in society and the gladiator vibes could be felt throughout.

Overall audience notes:

  • Dark Fantasy Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 2ish open door
  • Violence: high ++
  • Content warnings: blood & gore, loss of loved ones, murder, animal cruelty, grief

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Book Review: Heir of Storms (Storm Weaver #1) by Lauren Hamilton Murray

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Lauren Hamilton Murray
Publisher: Roaring Books Press
Release Date: June 3rd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

RED QUEEN meets SHADOW AND BONE in this explosive start to a YA romantasy trilogy about dangerous magic, forbidden love, and a cut-throat competition for the throne in an empire where crowns are not inherited — they’re won.

The very day Blaze came into the world, she almost drowned it. A Rain Singer born into one of the most powerful fire-wielding families in the empire, Blaze’s birth summoned a devastating storm that left thousands dead. She’s been hidden away ever since with a dark secret: the same torrential power that branded her an outcast disappeared that fateful day. And she’s not sure she wants it back.

When an unexpected invitation arrives for Blaze and her twin brother, Flint, to compete as future rulers of the empire, she’s suddenly thrust into the limelight again — and into battle. Threats abound at the Golden Palace, where intrigue and romance await with not one but two handsome suitors: the enchanting Crown Prince and a dangerously alluring newcomer at court.

As Blaze explores her untapped power, she discovers the throne may be within her grasp. But in order to take it, she’ll have to leave behind the stories that others have told about her, and find the courage to write her own.

NOTHING NEW.

But I didn’t hate reading it? It’s one of those series starters that you enjoy long enough to be convinced to read book two. Do I think it followed stereotypical young adult fantasy monikers? Absolutely. There were some good dynamics between characters and the quest for the throne though. I liked the competitions and learning more about the magic system and world.

I think the romance could have been a little more heavy handed or at least less insta-love. Either change would have resulted in more connection. It did set up for one of my preferred romance plot lines though so I look forward to seeing that result.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate

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