Tag: Book blog

Book Review: Sea of Charms (Spellshop #3) by Sarah Beth Durst

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Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: Cozy Fantasy Romance
Length: 370 pages
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Publisher: Bramble
Release Date: July 28th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Marin is a supply runner with her own boat that she sails from island to island, delivering whatever anyone will pay her to deliver: letters, flour, even the occasional enchanted lemur. It’s a lonely life, but it’s hers, and she wouldn’t trade the freedom of the sea for anything. Her only companion is a sea serpent, Perri, whom she saved from a fisherfolk’s net.

One day, she sails to Alyssium and discovers the city is on fire. There’s been a revolution, and the empire has fallen. Marin, with Perri, begins transporting refugees, finding them new homes where they can start over. One such refugee is Dax, a composer who refuses to leave behind his instruments, no matter how much she tries to emphasize the gravity of the situation. Intrigued by his stubbornness, his passion for stories, and his charming smile, Marin discovers perhaps she isn’t saving him ― maybe it’s the other way around.

From the acclaimed author of The Spellshop, Sea of Charms is a delightful cosy fantasy for fans of Travis Baldree and TJ Klune.

Thank you to Bramble for the gifted ARC.

THE USUAL WHIMSY.

I’ve read quite a few Sarah Beth Durst books and they definitely all have the same vibes. Take that note as you will.

I liked the seafaring adventure of this one. With the island hopping, whimsical creatures and a woman trying to outrun the things that have happened to her. I thought the romance was super sweet with Dax. He is clearly down bad and has such a genuine, kind soul and that was a just what Marin needed.

Thematically I liked it too. There’s some topics that are relevant to today that I thought were woven in well without feeling heavy handed. They also fit the nature of the story itself so it’s easy to see the cross over without getting pulled out of the story.

I wish Marin hadn’t been as wishy washy about Dax for as long as she was though. It got old to hear the same reasoning again and again about why she thought they couldn’t be together and not letting Dax express his opinions on the matter. And this was a 13 hour audiobook. I just don’t think it needed to be that long either.

Overall audience notes:

  • Cozy fantasy romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: mild

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ARC/ALC Book Review: Daughter of the Dark (Daughters of Auquis #1) by R.J. Valldeperas

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Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: R.J. Valldeperas
Publisher: Bramble
Release Date: September 15th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A Traitor’s Daughter, the Demons’ Slayer… the City’s Only Hope.

For Solana, survival has always meant staying sharp—and staying alone. With a blood-forged dagger as her only inheritance, she’s made herself Supay’s fiercest demon slayer, hunting muki—monsters born from human death—through the kingdom’s streets.

But the work comes with a curse of its every body she leaves behind swells the muki’s ranks. The city that raised her has been her cage for so long she’s stopped believing freedom is real.

Then a twist of fate drags her into the palace and crowns her Royal Demon Slayer, a title wrapped in silk and sharpened like a blade. The magic is dazzling. The secrets are darker. And whatever is poisoning Supay didn’t start in the alleys. It started behind gilded doors.

Worst of all is Reyes, the king’s right-hand man, a captain of the Masters, and her personal torturer turned mentor who’s dangerously hard to resist. Wanting him is a mistake. Trusting him could be fatal.
Because if Solana walks away, the kingdom falls. And if she stays, she may have to become the monster Supay needs.

Thank you Bramble for the gifted ARC & Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

NOT QUITE.

This is the second book from RJ Valldeperas that I’ve read this year and once again, I’m left kind of feeling…okay? about it, but not overwhelmingly positive.

The action is good, I liked the overall plot. The core themes are great. There’s magic and demon slaying and the complexity of the afterlife.

But the romance left me wanting and this being marketed as romantasy left me wanting a lot more. It was like the relationship was moved forward without seeing it on page so they were much further down the line than I was expecting. And I got confused by trying to figure out if this was a standalone? (Because book two has been announced but maybe it’s a series of standalones??).

By the end of this review I’ve decided I’ll look into book two because maybe that’ll be a hit for me? I’ll report back.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low-moderate
  • Romance: 2ish open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: loss of life, loss of loved ones

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Book Review: Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor #4) by Jessica Townsend

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: MG Fantasy
Length: 592 pages
Author: Jessica Townsend
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: June 24th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Discover the magical world of Nevermoor and the adventures of Morrigan Crow in this bestselling, award-winning series for fans of The Mysterious Benedict Society and His Dark Materials . Enter a place of hope and imagination in this Wundrous series…

Morrigan Crow is ready for a new adventure. In  The Mystery of Morrigan Crow , we will travel to places in Nevermoor that we’ve never seen, we’ll meet people from Morrigan’s past who will be very important in untangling the mystery of who she is…as she sides with someone very dangerous to learn more of the Wundrous Arts.

WORTH THE WAIT.

I really liked this one! I have been waiting for it for a few years and I felt like I could easily dive back into the world and these characters. It was nice to see Morrigan a touch older (13/14 now) and how her decisions and personality has grown over the series. I love that she’s relatable and someone you want to cheer for and that these books truly fit the middle grade audience.

The mystery of the plot kept me guessing and I honestly hardly noticed the length. I don’t want to go into too much detail for spoiler-sake since this is the fourth book. But if you’re reading this now, you can know that so far so good and it’s worth picking up!!

Overall audience notes:

  • MG Fantasy
  • Language: none
  • Romance: none
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: We Danced Among Shadows (Meadowbrook Ranch #2) by Ashley Dill

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 420 pages
Author: Ashley Dill
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: January 20th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

“If he took dancing from you, take it back. Every chance you get.”

Six years after losing his wife, Jesse Holmes has dedicated his life to his son and Meadowbrook Ranch. And he’s determined not to let grief or the bottle rule him ever again. But his foundation shakes when a ranch wedding stirs painful memories. On the cusp of a relapse, he finds comfort in a guest who stirs something else entirely—feelings he doubted he’d ever have again.

Hollie Aldridge appears to have it all—a rich husband, two beautiful daughters, and a luxurious lifestyle. But she’s keeping secrets. Isolated by long term abuse, Hollie doesn’t know how to reach out for help. When her husband leaves her, she fends for herself to keep the peace, protect her girls, and manage her family’s expectations.

Masking her grief, she flies to Texas for her sister’s wedding, hoping to avoid drama at all costs. Yet five minutes after she steps off the airplane, she’s thrown into crisis with a handsome cowboy whose wide-open vulnerability cracks her fortress walls. Stealing away after the wedding, they share a dance. And the memories of him haunt her for weeks to come.

When Hollie returns to the ranch to stay for the summer, Jesse’s unflinching pursuit turns her world upside down. But opening her heart requires exposing the betrayals she has protected for so many years. Will their connection be another secret she keeps hidden in the dark? Or the dawn of her healing?

We Danced Among Shadows, is a single dad, cowboy romance set in Central Texas and the second installment of Meadowbrook Ranch—an emotional series about trauma, healing, and love amid crisis.

A TENDER STORY.

I have continued to enjoy Ashley Dill’s books over the years and here we are again with another sweet gem. And the fact that this was set in a special to my heart spot? 1000% worked for me. I loved the ranch and rodeo and cowboy goodness.

There were many soft and tender moments as Jesse and Hollie both worked to show each other that a new chance at love was possible. I liked seeing them argue and communicate. It brings a realistic vibe to the plot that makes me feel more connected to the story. I enjoyed the side characters a lot too and thought they created a well rounded book.

It’s just a well rounded book and I look forward to Ashley Dill’s stories each time.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: make outs
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: divorce, infidelity, a loved one with cancer (recounted), su!cide attempt, loss of a spouse (recounted)

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