Book Review: The Robin and the Oak Throne (The Oak and the Holly Cycle #2) by K.A. Linde

June 17, 2026June 25, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★.75
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 642 pages
Author: K.A. Linde
Publisher: Red Tower
Release Date: June 17th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The only thing worse than fearing a monster is falling for one…

Kierse McKenna just shattered the Monster Treaty. Again.

It wasn’t entirely her fault. The job was supposed to be steal a goblin-made bracelet off of the Queen of the Nymphs in her own palace. Trade the bracelet for a way to uncover the truth about her past. Except everything goes sideways.

And then he shows up to save her.

Graves—the warlock who ensnared her, betrayed her, and left her to fend for herself. He’s a villain. A monster draped in charm and shadows. And gods help her, he always knows exactly what she wants.

But Graves never does anything for free. He has a job for his favorite little thief. One that will pit her against the most powerful monsters in existence, including his mortal enemy, the Oak King.

An ancient artifact has been located, and only together can they hope to steal it. She just has to let him in.

But once she lets a monster in, he’s impossible to forget…and even harder to resist.

BEFUDDLED.

We’ll get to the good stuff first. I do think this book progressed well off of book one. I liked the expansion of the plot and world, getting to see more settings and characters, and the romance had good developmental moments too. I genuinely had a good time listening to this audiobook and the cliffhanger brings the damage.

BUT.

Y’all, there was like 8? Maybe more (idk I lost count)? open door scenes and that kept taking away from the story. They started to feel out of pocket and used to call the book *spicy*. Not to mention there was a k!nk involved that is not my cup of tea and I felt meh over it all.

This has turned me off of wanting to pick up book three if this is the way things will continue to progress.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: high
Romance; way too many scenes
Violence: high

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Book Review: Their Will Undone by R.J. Valldeperas

June 16, 2026June 9, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: R.J. Valldeperas
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: June 2nd, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A debut YA fantasy must-read for fans of The Winner’s Curse, What the River Knows, and This Woven Kingdom.

When a maiden is selected to marry the emperor, her journey to the palace will see her fighting both a spark of magical power and her growing feelings for her broody escort in this romantic fantasy duology opener, inspired by a true story from the Inca empire.

In the Amaru Empire, it’s considered an honor to be chosen for the annual harvest. But when guards stole Nina’s brother away, it devastated her family. So, when the guards returned for Nina’s sweet sister, she threw herself into their clutches instead. And Nina has spent every moment since then in the acllahuasi, a gilded cage where women are trained to become servants or wives.

When Kasik, an obedient lieutenant in Amaru’s army, is sent to the acllahuasi to retrieve the emperor’s new wife, it’s only the promise of his own command—and a chance to escape his controlling father—that forces him to accept.

Kasik has no reason to trust Nina, nor she to trust him. But, as they begin their journey, their chemistry is hard to ignore. Also hard to ignore? The tugging sensation of magic in Nina’s chest, awakening more questions than she can possibly answer as she travels with a handsome stranger to her unknown fate.

Thank you HarperCollins for the gifted book and LibroFM for the gifted audiobook.

SAVED BY THE SECOND HALF.

🎧 The audiobook was good. I liked the narrator. This was dual POV though so I would have loved it had been dual narrators too. Luckily it was fairly easy to tell the POV’s apart.

This book started off iffy for me when I clocked into the insta-attraction/love. I’m someone who pretty much only ever wants a slow burn and I was confused by the supposed chemistry between Kasik and Nina when they are by all accounts, enemies. Luckily this connection started to disperse as conflict arose and different scenarios actually brought some needed stressors. I’m more endeared now to the story after the second half and I think it’s much better set up for the sequel.

I did enjoy the main characters and the different perspectives they come from. There’s a good battle of wills and understanding that all the information before them is not actually all of the answers. I liked the complicated political dynamics and trying to find the right answer for all involved. The feminine rage doesn’t overwhelm the story and added an edge that I was here for.

Overall audience notes:

YA Fantasy Romance
Language: mild
Romance: kisses
Violence: moderate

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Book Review: A Vow in Vengeance (Immortal Desires #1) by Jaclyn Rodriguez

June 13, 2026February 21, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 471 pages
Author: Jaclyn Rodriguez
Publisher: Slowburn
Release Date: January 13th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Deadly tarot, wicked schemes, dangerous alliances . . . can you survive the Forge?

Sexy, action-packed, and brimming with magic, A Vow in Vengeance is an unputdownable romantasy debut.

Rune Ryker has nothing left to lose. Everything’s been stolen by the Immortals—her family, her home, her freedom. But she’s done playing by their rules.

Each year, humans are forced to journey into the Immortal Realms, but twenty-year-old Rune orchestrates her own selection, determined to find her family and destroy anyone who stands in her way. Rune is used to doing whatever it takes to survive, and now she must endure the Forge, a cutthroat college for the Immortal druids’ elusive tarot magic. When Rune’s magic reveals itself to be the rarest and most powerful, she must live with its only other wielder—Prince Draven. As arrogant as he is ruthlessly ambitious, he’s the last person she can trust.

Rune’s abilities also draw the eyes of the most dangerous druids in the realms. Some want to use her. More want her dead. Draven offers to train her . . . for a price. As Rune becomes ensnared in Draven’s dangerous games, she learns there are secrets at the heart of the kingdom that some will kill to protect.

And Rune and Draven’s growing attraction may be the spark to ignite a brewing war.

SO THIS WAS GOOD?

Not gonna lie, this wasn’t really on my radar until my aunt messaged me and said I would like this one and she was right!! I just sat here glued to my headphones devouring the duet narration and all of the things this book held.

I reallllly liked the main characters. Flawed and grumbly with a good sense of self. The chemistry between Rune and Draven was fantastic. There was a solid level of slow burn where I actually go to enjoy them banter and get to know each other. And Draven is such a big softie?! I’m kind of obsessed with him honestly.

The plot wasn’t anything new but the writing worked so well that it wasn’t a deterrent. I liked the tarot card magic system and the general ideas behind the plot and themes. It felt like an easy read with well balanced world and character building.

I am a little worried with how book two will go because having an end game couple so solidified in book one doesn’t often work well for me in book two but I am crossing my fingers it doesn’t go that way and I can’t wait to pick it up!!

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: moderate
Romance: 3ish open door
Violence: high
Content warnings: attempted sexual assault, brief mentions of suicide, weapons and physical violence

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Book Review: The Night Prince (Wolf King #2) by Lauren Palphreyman

June 12, 2026June 24, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 500 pages
Author: Lauren Palphreyman
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: March 31st, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Aurora is caught between powerful alphas as they fight for the Wolf Throne. But darker forces are rising. . .

Aurora may have survived the Wolf King. But his bite marks her skin, and in accordance with Wolf Law, that makes her his property. Now, he wants her back.

To beat him and take his throne, Aurora and Callum must form a dangerous alliance with one of the most feared Wolves in the Kingdom, Blake. He is their enemy, but he has entangled his life with Aurora’s—meaning she cannot harm him without forfeiting her own life.

As she fights to break their connection, she suspects Blake is keeping secrets about a dark power that rises in the north, and the unsettling nature of the bond between them. It seems there is a bigger game at play than who sits on the Wolf Throne—one that threatens both the Kingdom of Wolves, and the Kingdom of Men.

With her wolf awakening, enemies closing in, relationships tested, and secrets revealed—Aurora may be the only one who can stop an ancient evil from rising.

If she can figure out who to trust.

If she can figure out where she, and her heart, belong.

If she can stay alive.

The highly anticipated sequel to The Wolf King. A romantasy for fans of enemies to lovers, shifters, forbidden romance, villains you love to hate (or maybe just love!), and werewolves. Contains strong language and sexual situations.

WELL I’LL CONTINUE.

I fully accept the peer pressure on reading this one because it was an absolute step up from book one (for me) and now I must have book three!!

I loved the continuation of this book. I thought the plot was expanded greatly and the world building and magic system started to click even more. I liked the dark politics and subtle twists and turns that led to awesome reveals. A few things went the way I was hoping on multiple fronts (staying vague because going into this not knowing is the best!!) that really sold this story.

I love love love that it’s duet narration. It is my favorite audiobook narration style and it makes the characters shine.

I do wish that the FMC, Aurora, would do a bit more. She keeps being called a damsel and distress, and you know what?? SHE IS. I’ll give in that the end of this book made that look like it’ll be changing soon so I’m hopeful.

Overall audience notes: