Tag: Book blog

Book Review: The Dragon Wakes with Thunder (The Night Ends with Fire #2) by K.X. Song

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 448 pages
Author: K.X. Song
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: August 19th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A young woman who wields the unimaginable power of the dragon spirit must decide who to support—and who to love—in this enthralling fantasy that reimagines the legend of Mulan.

The explosive sequel to The Night Ends with Fire!

The war may be over, but Hai Meilin is still paying a heavy toll. In spite of securing victory for the kingdom of Anlai, she is imprisoned upon her return. Her crime? Wielding a sword as a woman.

In the palace, Meilin is an outcast and a social pariah. But beyond the imperial walls, the legend of the woman warrior has taken on a life of its own. To the east, a new rebel leader needs Meilin to helm his people’s revolution. In the south, a former enemy prince, now a prisoner of war, seeks Meilin’s aid in restoring balance to the Three Kingdoms. And back home in Anlai, Liu Sky, Meilin’s commander and first love, requires Meilin by his side in his bid for the throne.

Pulled in all directions by those who seek to use her for their own ends, Meilin vows that this time, she will not be so quick to trust. Yet there is one she cannot help but listen to—for he dwells within her.

Beyond any human machinations, the sea dragon Qinglong has his own plans for the spirit realm. During the last war, Meilin wielded his power to cheat death and attain victory for Anlai; now the dragon has come to collect his dues. Meilin’s mother warned her long The spirits demand blood. And Qinglong is ravenous.

I DECIDED I LOVED THIS.

I didn’t know how I was feeling about this for the first half but once I settled in I decided that I genuinely enjoyed this conclusion and thought the big bullet points were executed well to wrap up the necessary storylines.

And that romance?? That’s exactly what my dark heart loves reading. I liked the angst and tension and a good dose of will they/won’t they. Meilin was a fantastic FMC. I appreciated her journey and arc. There were many memorable lines and sentiments about power, and having the strength to get through the hard things.

It’s a genuinely solid duology and I look forward to whatever K.X. Song writes next!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Violence: high

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ARC/ALC Book Review: Fire to the Stars by Morgan J. Watchorn

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Morgan J. Watchorn
Publisher: Knopf Books
Release Date: August 4th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In a kingdom cursed to turn people into dragons, two teens from opposite worlds, each with nothing left to lose, form an uneasy alliance. Told in dual perspectives, this sweeping debut follows their search for redemption and the slow-burning bond that could save them both.

Every month, the kingdom of Florent braces for the Ignition: a solar event that turns ordinary humans into vicious dragon shifters. And anyone can be a dragon’s next victim.

Claire knows this all too well because the Ignition consumed her and her father, her town, and the life she thought she’d have. Now, she’s scraping by on her wits as part of a sisterhood of thieves—lying, stealing, her heart locked tight—until she tracks down a disgraced dragon slayer who may be the one person who can give her back the life she once had.

Abel has been shunned by the prestigious Slayers Guild for conducting research that’s too…unorthodox to condone. But there’s no one Claire trusts more than a rulebreaker, and that research might be the one thing that could help her. So when Abel reveals he is hunting again, Claire tries to hire him under false pretenses. Abel, however, is reluctant to accept a job from a criminal, no matter how charming she is. And yet…he really needs the money.

Together, Claire and Abel will race through Florent and uncover dangerous secrets in their quests for forgiveness—and survival. But that knowledge may cost them the very thing they’ve grown desperate to protect: each other.

Thank you to Get Underlined for the gifted copy and PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook.

GREAT READ.

🎧: I loved the audiobook! The dual narrators were amazing and did a fantastic job. Highly recommend this format!

I also did eyeball read a chunk of this and enjoyed that format too. You really can’t go wrong with your formatting decisions.

Now to the book! I thought this was a great upper young adult fantasy romance standalone. There is some content I would advise for younger teens so older teens are more the right audience (but as always, do your own research!).

I loved that from the get go Abel and Claire are stuck with each other. I love a reluctant allies x forced proximity moment. Especially for a standalone this helped the progression of their relationship and getting to actually see it on page. Some good banter and care taking moments too.

Also this book has DRAGONS. And I thought a very interesting dynamic surrounding them too. The major plot reveals at the end made everything click together and I thought it was an interesting world and magic system (with only a few holes). I enjoyed the side characters and the traveling journey didn’t bug me all that much. I felt like things were still progressing well enough that it kind of fades into the background.

With characters I liked seeing grow and change from past mistakes and a mystery worth solving, I definitely recommend this book to others!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: very light innuendo; quick fade to black scene
  • Violence: moderate – high
  • Content warnings: loss of life, mentions of torture (recounted), physical/weapon altercations, mild blood/gore

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Book Review: A Beguiled Gentleman (The Bradley Brothers #1) by Audra Wells

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 316 pages
Author: Audra Wells
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: May 6th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Hannah Gibbons is no stranger to being seen as little more than her dowry—a prize to be claimed by eager suitors for their own gain and a tool to be used by her parents to elevate their social status. So whenever Hannah’s impetuous nature strikes, her parents assume their name sullied, and pack up and move away to start fresh. But now Hannah has more at stake—friendships, and even love, are on the table, and she is determined not to lose it this time.

Lord Noah Bradley, a man of kindness and quiet integrity, has long dreamed of marrying, but when his heartfelt proposal to Miss Margaret Lewiston is rejected, his spirit is shattered. Left to face the sting of heartbreak, he struggles to regain his footing as life’s unexpected challenges—both in his relationships and his work—threaten to overwhelm him. But his new friendship with Miss Hannah Gibbons begins to help him find comfort and solace.

Will Noah’s heart find new hope in the woman who has become his greatest ally? Or will he remain too lost in the shadows of his past to recognize the love right in front of him?

THIS WAS SWEET.

Audra Wells is easily one of my favorite historical romance authors. Her books hit so well every time and I adored the soft and gentle nature in Noah. And I loved his mindset about being who he wanted to be and figuring things out on his own. Noah had this endearing quality that was easy to love. I wish he was a bit less oblivious to Hannah (and a little less of his ex) though.

Hannah was easy to love. I loved her quirky nature and relatable characteristics. There was a genuine nature to the friends to lovers trope that I did like a lot.

Truly though it was a charming read with many memorable moments. It was swoony and fast paced and so much ground was covered. I loved the hints towards future books and I am just happy to be here with another Audra Wells series.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low

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ARC/ALC Book Review: Lost and Found (Spunes, OR #3) by Tarah DeWitt

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Tarah DeWitt
Publisher: Platkus / Macmillan Audio
Release Date: August 4th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A stunning novel of romance and redemption filled with heartbreak and hope from the ‘master of emotion’ (Rachel Lynn Solomon) Tarah DeWitt

Bea always wanted to be a mom, but she never expected she’d have to lose her best friend to do it. Armed with nothing but her best friend’s eggs and a bucket list to complete, Bea’s world is a sea of changes.

When Silas steps in to give her a place to live when she needs it, Bea is half-relieved she has a longtime friend in her corner. A firefighter living in the wake of an accident, Silas has his own challenges to work through that have left him cautious and vulnerable in equal measure. At first, they expect nothing. But as these two former sunshines knit together in a love that has been unfulfilled till now, a new beginning comes out of the ashes of the past. One that will lead to a love that can withstand all the slings and arrows, joys and triumphs, that life can throw.

Thank you MacMillan Audio for the audiobook and St. Martin’s for the ebook.

HOW DO I CONVEY MY LOVE.

Oh gosh y’all. This one had me BROKEN UP. AND THAT EPILOGUE? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Honestly this book consists of MULTIPLE triggers that make my anxiety spiral and give me a case of the hives, but for Tarah DeWitt I had to try. And grateful I stuck it out!! Please be mindful of the content warnings though before going in. This is on the heavier side.

Any who. I am obsessed with Silas and Bea. I loved the long time friends to lovers trope mixed in with grief and pain and hope and pockets of joy. It’s the definition of how life isn’t linear and it’s okay to take a few steps backward before being able to move forward. I think there were a lot of difficult conversations and character relationship themes that were approached well and felt realistic and vulnerable. The banter was playful and sweet and oh my goodness is Silas just a smitten man. I liked the flashback chapters too and loved that they moved the plot forward in meaningful ways.

I adore this whole family and loved getting a bunch of glimpses of them throughout too. The Byrd’s added that layer of compassion and humor as the siblings took care of each other. Even if the focus was on Silas and Bea this go round.

I really just can’t recommend this book enough. Or any of Tarah DeWitt’s books. They are beautiful and full of genuine characters making mistakes, and falling in love, and living life. Another favorite!!

🎧: The audiobook is STELLARRRRR. I listened and eyeball read this one but you can’t go wrong with the narrators!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 4ish open door
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings: grief/depression depiction, losing a loved one to cancer, IVF journey, panic attacks (on page), mentions of body injury (from a fire)

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