ARC Book Review: Gilded Wicked Mirrors (Wicked Mirrors #1) by Hazel St. Lewis

August 6, 2024July 8, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 440 pages
Author: Hazel St. Lewis
Publisher: Hidden Siren
Release Date: August 6th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In New Swansea, a glittering city once inhabited by vampires, power rests not with the royal class but with the Bargainers—deities trapped in magic mirrors, who exchange power, wealth, and knowledge for a cost . . . often a wretched one.

Quinnevere Ashelle wants nothing to do with the Bargainers, but at twenty-three, she is getting too old to make it into the Royalle Ballet, and with only one shot left, she’ll do anything—including make a twisted deal with an evil god. The agreement is passionately kiss her archnemesis, Prince Emrys, and she will receive her dream spot in the Royalle Ballet.

Unfortunately, when Quinn’s deal with the Bargainer backfires, her beloved friend turns up dead, entirely drained of blood, and with puncture wounds matching the long-extinct vampires.

Feeling utterly responsible, Quinn vows to get vengeance and use her medical examiner skills to solve the murder, but she is far outmatched in this world of immortals—especially when she discovers she’s being hunted, as is the killer’s next target. If she wants to survive, she must team up with the devilishly attractive but wicked Prince Emrys to track down the murderer before she gets cornered herself.

***Author’s note: Gilded Wicked Mirrors is a New Adult Romantasy featuring enemies to lovers, knife to throat, and deadly bargains. The steam level is mild, but the sequels will be much spicier. This single-POV fantasy romance is perfect for fans of Crescent City’s gritty investigations and Caraval’s lush world.

Thank you Book of Matches Media and Hazel St. Lewis for the gifted ARC!

FELT FRESH.

This book really had my attention. While you can definitely draw some similarities to other fantasies I’ve read, I did feel like much of this was unique and had a different vampire twist that has me wanting book two ASAP.

I loved that Quinn was a dancer and part-time mortician. The combination of athleticism and science are things I personally enjoy and those character dynamics were a cool part of this plot. Found family is a big aspect of the book too and I loved all of these side characters.

The romance was a bit lusty for me in the beginning, but luckily grew on me. When that backed off and I got to see the banter between Quinn and Emrys I was much more interested in watching their connection grow. I think the slow burn settled in well and I can’t wait to see how the relationship continues in book two.

All of the mirrors, and vampires and other world building aspects created a complex city full of mystery. I liked that it had plenty of action balanced with soft moments that made it easy to turn the pages.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: high
Romance: 2ish brief open door
Violence: high
Content Warnings: blood/gore depiction, murder, loss of loved ones

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Book Review: Off the Beaten Path (The Mountains are Calling #1) by Madison Wright

August 6, 2024March 14, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Madison Wright
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: January 26th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Wren Daniels is in over her head.

Between organizing a charity auction and trying to renovate a cabin she can’t afford, she’s barely keeping her head above water. The only bright spot is her new friend she met on an anonymous dating app four months ago. That is, until she discovers he’s the last person she would have expected—her grumpy neighbor who she’s never gotten along with.

Holden Blankenship likes his life just the way it is.

After his wife left him, he spent years putting his life back together. Now he’s got his daughter who is the light of his world, his family, and surprisingly, an anonymous friend. But when his anonymous friend turns out to be his neighbor who drives him crazy, he’s not sure what to make of it. Especially when her contractor backs out of her cabin renovation project and he finds himself offering to help her. Now Wren is getting under his skin in a completely different way and turning all his carefully laid plans upside down.

As Wren continues to show up for Holden and Holden keeps proving to Wren that he’s not really as standoffish as he seems, the lines between friendship and more start to blur.

Their relationship may have gotten off to an unusual start, but some of the best things in life are just a little off the beaten path.

ALL THE STARS.

Good heavens I could not put this book down, I LOVED IT SO MUCH. It’s that perfect level of sexy without being spicy. That reallll good sweet spot where gosh dang those kissing scenes were fire. FIRE. And I absolutely adored that this was dual POV. I loved both Holden and Wren. They were this beautiful blend of messy and heartfelt and human. And June??? Are you kidding me. Loved her too. The new little family they built MELTED MY COLD HEART.

And I loved the setting. I’m really into the mountain and woods and all things rainy and foresty. I must go cozy up in my own cabin now. This had the best small town vibes. No overwhelming drama, just some quirky side characters and antics but also how they all came together?! I can’t. Like I said, this book got me in the feels good.

Loved it all. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. This is an incredible gem of a read I’ll be begging others to pick up.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: none
Romance: heated kisses

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Book Review: Ruling Destiny (Stolen Beauty #2) by Alyson Noel

August 5, 2024June 24, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: NA Fantasy + Historical Romance
Length: 496 pages
Author: Alyson Noel
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Release Date: June 6th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The second I stepped through the doors of Gray Wolf Academy, my world disintegrated. Here, time is malleable. It can be manipulated, shifted. Changed. And for those of us who Trip—or travel through time—the possibilities are infinite and perilous.

Now my life is caught in the secrets of everyone around me. Arthur, the eccentric billionaire who rules this school. Killian, who could be the only honest person here…or the biggest liar. And Braxton, magnetic, gorgeous, and unfathomable. The only thing I trust about him is our electric connection.

Whether we’re Tripping through Renaissance Italy or thieving from a ball in Regency England, my life’s become a web of lies and strange truths. And beneath the surface is an elaborate puzzle, filled with cryptic symbols and priceless treasures scattered across history—all somehow connected to my strange ability to see through time.

But Arthur has a dangerously ambitious agenda. And if what my dad taught me is true, I’m not just a threat to everyone at Gray Wolf.

…I’m a threat to time itself.

WELL.

I honestly don’t know what to think of this series but this ending was wild enough that I’ll give it four stars (I was hovering around 3-3.5). The audiobooks are good at least and I’m entertained to some degree.

First, these are definitely upper YA, basically NA reads. Which is fine for me, I read it all, but worth noting for those who don’t.

This kind of went the same way as Stealing Infinity. Go to a location, steal some stuff, don’t die, make it back. And that repetitive nature wore me down for a lot of the book. The romantic love triangle though? Has me in a chokehold. I’m honestly still not quite sure where this is going and I like that I keep flipping back and forth right now. Bring the drama.

I’m curious enough to see what happens next and I wonder how things will continue to play out. Hopefully this series wraps up in the next book???

Overall audience notes:

NA Historical Fiction/Sci-Fi Romance
Language: some strong
Romance: two almost scenes with vague descriptions
Violence: moderate
Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, loss of loved ones, physical altercations

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Book Review: The Sacrifice of One (Camilla Crim #1) by Emily Fortney

August 4, 2024April 13, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 353 pages
Author: Emily Fortney
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 26th, 2016
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Camilla Crim runs her calloused fingers over the mutilated skin on the inside of her arm. This is where she’s been branded with the Warwick W – marking her as little better than a slave. It’s been twelve years since Quinten Warwick invaded her territory and turned its vast wooded land into a national, standardized farm big enough to feed the whole country.
Now seventeen, Camilla’s days waste away on the farm, where discipline is enforced with whippings and beatings. Her reward? A pitiful payout of money rings, most of which goes to cover her father’s drinking habit. Camilla’s life is bleak, but it’s all she knows.
When her only real family, her brother, Tuor, is arrested by Warwick Militia for a heinous crime she knows he didn’t commit, Camilla is shaken. She must discover the truth and free her brother. But as Tuor’s demise draws near, will Camilla find relief in learning the truth surrounding her brother’s crime? Or will she accept that one must be sacrificed for the good of many?

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

NOT QUITE.

I was intrigued by the opening scenes of this book, but ultimately a repetitive plot had me wishing for more. I liked Camilla as the FMC, mostly. She was strong willed and really loyal to her brother. Sometimes it led her to do some ridiculous things, but maybe that starts to change in future books? Hopefully so. I think most of the characters needed more development because I closed this book not feeling truly connected to anyone.

The very very subtle potential romance had my attention. I liked the initial dynamics and think that now the truth is out there could be some good development there as well too. I think that a lot of the bones were good, even if I don’t feel pulled to pick up the next book. I missed the world building and better understanding of what was happening. When some reveals happened I was confused as to how they fit the actual magic system.

Overall audience notes: