Book Review: Ashwalker (The Emberfall Trilogy #1) by S.M. Gaither

October 1, 2026August 31, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 578 pages
Author: S.M. Gaither
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: June 14th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Long ago, dragons were unleashed as weapons of mass destruction, igniting a war that shattered the Empire of Kaldra. Now, the survivors of that once-great realm cower behind fortified walls, while the beasts terrorize the wilds between the broken kingdoms.

Arowyn Vale survives as an ashwalker—one of the few reckless enough to brave the burned-out roads between the walled cities, smuggling everything from supplies to secrets. But when she reluctantly saves a dying dragon hatchling on a routine run, she draws the eye of the ruler of Mouren, a brutal realm directly in the heart of dragon territory.

Once upon a time, King Reave Callahan’s people wielded powerful magic, bonding with dragons in order to crush their enemies with wing and flame. But now, that magic is fading, and law decrees that anyone who manages to bond with a dragon must serve the Mouren crown—even a gutter-born, half-feral ashwalker from the slums of an enemy kingdom.

Dragged into Reave’s glittering but cutthroat court, Arowyn must navigate a treacherous new life built upon secrets, ancient magic, and shifting alliances. As her connection to the hatchling deepens—and with the Mouren king watching her with a gaze full of both danger and desire—she will have to make a

To become a weapon of the kingdom that broke her world…

Or to burn it all down from within.

MY NEW OBESSION.

It’s been a minute since I feel like I have LOVED a SM Gaither book. But that feeling is back and I must tell you to get on this book NOWWWWW.

I have been begging that romantasy universe to bring back the slow burn. And I was stunned in the best ways to find that this was a slow burn. I think it could have been dragged out even longer but I was just happy to get this much. There was immaculate banter and heat that built chapter over chapter. I loved that Raeve and Arowyn got to actually know each other and let down those walls and communicate. That man is down baaaad.

And I love Gaither’s fierce heroines. Arowyn is not different. That woman gets up again and again to stand stronger each time. I loved her relationship with her dragon. The female friendships are incredible too. I love the loyalty they offer each other. There were many notable side characters that I am 100% attached to now.

The pacing and action beats were just right. It took me a week to read this purely because I was savoring it. Every time I picked it up I was locked into every word. I loved the world building and the reveals caused me to have to know what happens next. I must have book two! I need answers!!

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: moderate
Romance: 2ish open door
Violence: high
Content warnings: mass loss of life, weapons/physical violence, war themes

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Book Review: Grave Flowers by Autumn Krause

September 28, 2026October 9, 2025 GoodeyReads2 Comments

Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Autumn Krause
Publisher: Peachtree Teen
Release Date: September 2nd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A twisty, dark royalcore fantasy that takes the courtly intrigue of Hamlet and infuses it with the vicious ambition of the Boleyn family. For readers who love Holly Black and Sarah J. Maas.

Marry the prince, then kill him.

Princess Madalina and her twin sister, Inessa, were born attached at the hand and separated right after. That’s the only time the sisters ever held hands. The girls’ personalities have been shaped in the Sinet family’s drive to make their kingdom more than what it is: unrespectable and loathsome, a damp place where deceit fills the palace walls like mold.

Madalina is different from her family. She’s considered the weak one and only finds peace in the garden, tending her magical flowers, which are pejoratively called grave flowers because they are ideal for torture and torment. Secretly, she dreams of escape and a new life.

Then Inessa, who was betrothed to the heir of a wealthy kingdom—Prince Aeric—gets trapped in Bide, a terrifying purgatory, and begs Madalina to set her free. Now, not only must Madalina take her sister’s place as Aeric’s bride-to-be, but she also must finish Inessa’s secret mission: Inessa wasn’t just sent to marry Prince Aeric, but to kill him, too, and solidify a profitable pact with his traitorous uncle.

On behalf of her family, Madalina will need to resist the infuriatingly clever prince—as well as her own heart—if she’s to free her sister and finish the job.

GREAT FOR THE SEASON.

Do you need something haunting and delightfully dark for the fall season? Look no further. This is a hidden young adult historical fantasy you should take a try on. I liked the audiobook and the characters were a hoot too. It’s a great clash of dark and moody and humor too (like My Lady Jane vibe-ish).

The flowers were super interesting and a great part of the magic system. I loved seeing how those slowly caused chaos over the book and the reveals they brought out in the end. I thought the romance could have used some more oomph because it hung out in the background too much. By the end I didn’t feel invested in what the relationship.

Otherwise though, not a bad read. I would read another book from this author.

Overall audience notes:

YA Fantasy
Language: low
Romance: kisses
Violence: mild
Content warnings: murder, loss of life

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Book Review: Unending (The Unseelie Duology #2) by Ivelisse Housman

September 23, 2026October 9, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 400 pages
Author: Ivelisse Housman
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Release Date: September 23rd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In this high-octane conclusion to the Unseelie duology, two sisters discover that the things that make them different can lend them more power than they ever imagined.

Isolde Graygrove has always put her changeling twin sister first. But ever since Seelie returned from the faerie realms with a newfound confidence in her magic and secrets she’s keeping even from her twin, Isolde can’t help but wonder: who is she, if not her sister’s protector?

Seelie knows there are some problems even magic can’t solve. Like the distance between her and Isolde, the terror of her growing and unfamiliar emotions for Raze, or the fact that the world’s last firedrake has imprinted on her like a baby duckling. Still, she can’t help but try.

When Seelie accidentally splinters the three realms, tangling the human and faerie worlds together into something new, the vicious faerie Gossamer is determined to take full advantage of the chaos unleashed. Seelie and Isolde will need to spill their secrets, decide who they can trust, and navigate the sinister glamour of the faerie courts to save humankind and fae alike.

GOOD CONCLUSION.

I liked this one! It was a good hidden gem for young adult fantasy. The multiple POV dynamic worked well and I felt as if things wrapped up well and it was satisfying to finish the audiobook.

The strong bond between these sisters was my favorite part. I love seeing such a tight relationship and how the ups and downs don’t damage the core of the connection. There was a bit of romance for both FMC’s and I thought it was sweet and didn’t overwhelm the plot (because this felt like it should be more FANTASY than ROMANCE). The twists were enjoyable and it was an easy read to move through.

I look forward to reading another book from this author.

Overall audience notes:

YA Fantasy
Language: mild
Romance: closed door
Violence: mild

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ARC Book Review: Harbinger by Geneva Lee

September 22, 2026August 27, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 500 pages
Author: Geneva Lee
Publisher: Red Tower
Release Date: September 22nd, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Arden Icaros was never supposed to matter. From the poorest of five noble bloodlines, she prefers life on the family farm with dirt under her nails over the fine dresses at court. She just needs to get through one boring ceremony, inherit her earth magic, and return home.

Instead, she’s handed a dagger and with it, an impossible choice.

Now Arden is branded an omen of war, half the nobility wants her dead, and assassins are tracking her every move.

Her only chance of survival lies with the most feared man in Antares.

They call him Bishop. No one remembers the name he had before he dedicated his life to his order. Empowered to execute first and question later, Bishop is ruthless, terrifying, and utterly loyal to the kingdom that wants Arden dead.

He should kill her.

Instead, he offers her sanctuary.

But the longer Arden stays under Bishop’s protection, the more dangerous he becomes. Because Bishop has secrets powerful enough to topple kingdoms…and a need for Arden that could ruin them both.

Thank you Red Tower / Entangled for the gifted ARC.

SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN.

I eyeball read this one which may have been part of the downfall. As it takes me longer to physically read a book I sometimes notice a lot more, and in this case, the world building has left me questioning way too much. I am fully aware I might not need all of the information in the first book, that’s FINE. But what I do expect is to have some good basic understanding of what’s happening and why it’s happening in the confines of the system.

Instead I was trying to figure out what a scion is, why the bad guy was doing the bad guy things, where this random character came from that’s apparently evil, why is the FMC making obviously stupid decisions, will the love interest tell her anything, why is war coming, wait a second I thought you were dead. AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

I’ll give it points for not really being spice forward. There’s an attempt at a plot and storyline even if it doesn’t make total sense and is filled with long chapters of training montages.

Will I read book two? I don’t know. Might wait for reviews. Would definitely only do it on audio. This was another case of the ending being the most interesting part of the book.

Overall audience notes: