Tag: entangled

Book Review: Threshing Day (The Empyrean #3.5) by Rebecca Yarros

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Novella
Length: 208 pages
Author: Rebecca Yarros
Publisher: Red Tower
Release Date: September 29th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Welcome to Threshing Day, the brutal, high-stakes trial where would-be riders at Basgiath War College fight to earn the bond of a dragon or die trying. Amid ruthless competition and dragon fire, these thirteen cadets must survive a battlefield where desperate rivals will do anything to gain an advantage and dragons decide one’s ultimate fate―and where a single choice can forge a rider…or destroy them.

Xaden Riorson, the powerful leader. Rhiannon Matthias, the clever friend. Dain Aetos, the dutiful rule-follower. Liam Mairi, the kindhearted protector. Ridoc Gamlyn, the jokester. Sawyer Henrick, the underdog. Garrick Tavis, the dependable aide. Imogen Cardulo, the impulsive fighter. Bodhi Durran, the second-in-command. Mira Sorrengail, the fearless rider. Brennan Sorrengail, the brilliant tactician. Aaric Graycastle, the restless royal. Sloane Mairi, the determined sister.

On Threshing Day, there’s only one rule: don’t die.

TIS GOOD.

I don’t have a lot of thoughts but I did like this novella. It had some interesting tidbits and a few of the stories stood out as maybe important for book four? This mostly came across as filler for me but I might change my thoughts on that on my eventual reread + book four.

I haven’t reread these books recently so admittedly not every facet or character was fresh in my mind so I had a hard time figuring out how worth it the information was to the series. I think knowing the character line up before going in would be more helpful.

Definitely recommend going with the audiobook with different narrators for the different stories. I liked it a lot!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Novella
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: none(?) I think
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: Mayhem and the Mortal by Shanora Williams

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 512 pages
Author: Shanora Williams
Publisher: Red Tower
Release Date: March 17th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

One mission. One curse. No escape.

Zaira doesn’t want a hero. She needs a weapon.

To save her sister from a soul-devouring curse, she has to cross The Shallows—a nightmare landscape of ruined magic, shifting paths, and vicious creatures that eat people alive.

Her guide? Thane Valkor: sorcerer, assassin, walking red flag. His name clears rooms. His magic kills quietly. And whatever he’s really after, it’s not salvation.

He promises to help. He might even mean it.

But Zaira knows better than to trust a liar with a blade and ice in his veins.

She just doesn’t have a choice.

I LIKED IT!

Thanks to a random story I saw I went and downloaded this book! It was a fun romantasy and while I did think it’s a standalone, I’ll read the sequel!

I liked the dynamic between the romantic leads. Zaira is a strong empath and truly leads with kindness and in a brutal world and magic system I thought it was a great opposition to things happening around (and to) her. While it totally frustrated me at times, I was also interested to see how her character arc would be shaped over the novel.

The romance is very much grump x sunshine. Thane is a force and I liked getting more of his background too. I do think the spice started a little early and I’m still not 100% sold on the relationship. I’m hopeful to see how book two increases the connection.

I liked the world. I liked the magic system and it was all around a good read. I’m not a huge fan of travel adventure style plots so that became repetitive for me, otherwise though, I think you should pick this up!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy romance
  • Language: mild – moderate
  • Romance: 3ish open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: near death experiences, murder, torture, kidnapping, creature encounters

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ARC Book Review: Storm Breaker (Storm Breaker #1) by Nisha J. Tuli

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Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: NA Dystopian Fantasy Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Nisha J. Tuli
Publisher: Entangled: Mayhem Books
Release Date: May 5th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From the publisher who brought you Fourth Wing comes your next romantasy obsession…

For nineteen-year-old Poet Graves, New Manhattan has always promised safety―if she obeys. Raised within the ruling Houses and betrothed to a powerful heir, she enters Amery Academy knowing her future has already been decided.

But Amery is nothing like she imagined. Its trials are brutal, its loyalties conditional, and its rules designed to expose weakness. As Poet struggles to survive, she must hide the truth that could get her executed: the storms don’t fear her―they answer back.

When a dangerous outsider from beyond the city walls enters the academy, Poet is drawn to him despite everything she’s been taught to believe. He threatens the life she’s been promised. And choosing him could cost her not just her future, but her freedom.

A gripping dystopian romance filled with forbidden power, ruthless challenges, and a heroine who refuses to burn quietly―perfect for fans of Divergent and The Hunger Games.

Thank you to the publisher for a gifted ARC.

IT WAS ALRIGHT.

I wasn’t initially planning to read this but when a book shows up on your doorstep you take a chance! I did like this more than Trial of the Sun Queen. But overall my vibe here was…predictable. From the first few chapters I could map the whole book and I wish it had brought something more to the story to overlook that fact.

I didn’t mind the FMC, Poet. She goes through a coming of age that works for the story. I think her arc had a good start and I that will only grow in the sequel.

The romance was fine. I would have a few more quiet moments. I think some of the pacing or scene line ups didn’t flow well and that’s my hold up. Even though I knew where it was going I still liked the ending because it led to an opening I wanted to see.

This book luckily didn’t become a hate read, it was just missing that element that feels engaging and like I HAVE to keep reading to know what happens next. I’m at least interested to hear about the next book.

Note, I don’t consider this YA, more NA.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Dystopian Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 1-2ish low explicit open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: loss of life, weapons violence, assault, near death experiences

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Book Review: A Stage Set for Villains by Shannon J. Spann

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Rating: ★★★★.25
Genre: Fantasy + Romance
Length: 530 pages
Author: Shannon J. Spann
Publisher: Entangled: Mayhem Books
Release Date: February 3rd, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The gods are dead. All that’s left are the Players…

The performers of the Playhouse are as worshipped as they are feared, their enchanting shows bending hearts, minds, and even reality itself. Vicious, godlike, lethal. Eighteen-year-old Riven Hesper knows the dangers better than anyone, after her own encounter with a Player resulted in a curse that is slowly killing her.

When the Playhouse announces the spectacle of a lifetime—a chance for one mortal to steal a Player’s immortality—Riven sees her last chance to live. Desperate for answers, she infiltrates the competition. There, she finds Jude, the Playhouse’s brilliant, merciless Lead Player, whose charm is as dangerous as his Craft, and strikes a deadly bargain to save her life.

But with time running out and the Playhouse’s secrets unraveling into a disturbing picture, Riven faces a grim possibility: she might not be the hero of her story after all. In fact, she may be the villain.

Because the Playhouse doesn’t just tell stories. It rewrites them.

And Riven’s might end in blood.

Caraval meets One Dark Window in this lush and dark fantasy.

Thank you Entangled for the gifted ARC.

A GOOD DIFFERENT.

I know this is being marketed as a romantasy but I’d like to say that wasn’t quite it. It’s much more FANTASY with a smaller romantic plot line. Which isn’t bad at all, but not knowing that going in was a small let down thinking I would get more swoon.

One of the best things though were the plot reveals!! When one of the bigger ones landed I was flabbergasted. It made so many pieces CLICK that I was in awe. The formatting for this book was really cool. I don’t know how that comes across in the audiobook but I’m glad I eyeball read this one.

I enjoyed the journey and themes. It has a dark theater vibe I was here for and the characters played their parts well. AND, it’s a standalone! AND AND it’s closed door. There’s only kisses which (while I still wished there was more swoon) I was appreciative that it wasn’t spice heavy because I feel that’s harder to find sometimes nowadays.

The banter was top tier and I tabbed multiple passages that made me snicker in the best way. I enjoyed the FMC, Riven a lot. She’s feisty and kind of mean and means business. Her brash personality was such a good play off of Jude’s. I loved them together and needed more!!

Anyways, fantastic debut, I’ll be looking out for Spann’s next book.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: loss of life,

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