Tag: fantasy romance

Book Review: Voice of the Ocean by Kelsey Impicciche

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Kelsey Impicciche
Publisher: Blackstone
Release Date: April 22nd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From popular content creator Kelsey Impicciche, Voice of the Ocean follows a daring young siren who defies her people to save a human prince, unearthing ancient magic and igniting a dangerous romance amidst treacherous waters.

As the youngest daughter of the Siren queen, Celeste’s life is tightly controlled. Desperate to prove her worth, she intends to join the Chorus – an elite group of siren warriors. With her final test on the horizon, Celeste must finally gain control over her temperamental Song. But when Celeste encounters a seemingly harmless ship, helmed by the intriguing Prince Raiden Sharp, her path veers towards forbidden waters.

Believing the handsome sailor to be innocent of any wrongdoing, Celeste defies Siren law to save Raiden’s life – despite knowing he is the son of a king who has murdered many of her kindred. The penalty for Celeste’s betrayal should be death, but the queen offers her an alternative: right her wrong by assassinating the prince. Determined to first discover the truth behind the prince’s clandestine mission, Celeste agrees to become human.

The human world is nothing like she expected, nor is the prince the charming and noble man she assumed him to be. But as Celeste finds her place aboard the ship, friendships – and attraction – begin to grow. Will Celeste be able to save herself? Or will her choices unravel a kingdom, devastating sirens and humans alike?

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and Bibliolifestyle Tours for the gifted copy.

I LIKED IT!

I enjoyed reading this one! I have been looking forward to this story and the audiobook was fantastic. And I loved the FMC. She cries a lot (relatable) and goes through a great coming of age process that I look forward to seeing even more of in the next book. I loved seeing the growth and strengths and weaknesses.

Found family was a bit aspect of this book and I loved seeing those bonds form. A ragtag group of rascals from different spots in life and with a whole host of personalities. I loved getting to know everyone.

The romance is not at the forefront but I am intrigued by it. I loved the trope movement (of which I won’t go into detail to save from spoilers). I definitely need more of these two (and hooray for calling this book YA and actually having it be kisses only).

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Retelling
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: mild

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ARC Book Review: Shield of Sparrows (Shield of Sparrows #1) by Devney Perry

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 528 pages
Author: Devney Perry
Publisher: Red Tower
Release Date: May 6th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Fear the monsters we make.

A swoon-worthy, spicy romantic fantasy filled with legends and monsters. The Witcher meets “Cinderella.” A princess is chosen to fulfill the terms of an ancient treaty and finds herself traveling with an infamous monster slayer.

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and Red Tower for the gifted copy.

WHO KNEW?

First off, I had no idea this book would show up on my doorstep but DANG I am happy that I got to read this early. The first physical book I’ve read in a hot minute and I enjoyed it. I’ve read a few DP contemporaries but dare I say fantasy might be her calling??

This was a SLOW BURN. OH HOW I HAVE MISSED SLOW BURNS. Gosh bring them back, I’m begging. Give me all the little moments, the actual get to know you moments, the moments without awkward lust. I was in love with how this was handled. There was actual time for connection and it has made me even more excited for book two.

The plot and world building was crafted well. It didn’t feel super info-dumpy and it was easy to get a handle on and understand. I like the magic system and the way it kept expanding as the book went on.

I had a few minor pacing quips but those last 50 pages or so the anxiety KICKED in. I love the chaos of those last moments in a fantasy book. I could flip a page and not guess who was going to make it out and who was going to land where by the end. This was beautifully written and GIMME BOOK TWOOOOOO.

Overall audience notes:

  • Romantasy
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 2-3 open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: blood/gore depiction, loss of life and loved ones

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: April 2025

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New look who this?

I feel like this month got wildly out of hand. I even had MULTIPLE two star books sooooo that was fun. Anywho, here’s the list!

Version 1.0.0
  • Debt of My Soul by K.P. Haven
  • The Ragpicker King (The Chronicles of Castellane #2) by Cassandra Clare
  • [ALC] Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
  • [ALC/ARC] The Wind Weaver (Reign of Remnants #1) by Julie Johnson
  • Clean Out of Luck (Only Magic in the Building) by Carina Taylor
  • Out with the Tide (Never Harbor #2) by Julie Olivia
  • [ALC] The Love Haters by Katherine Center
  • Direbound (The Wolves of Ruin #1) by Sable Sorensen
  • [ARC] The Haven, the Hallow, & the Highborn (Roots of Magic Novella) by Jessa Grey
  • Daisy Haites (Magnolia Parks Universe #2) by Jessa Hastings
  • Fearless (The Powerless Trilogy #3) by Lauren Roberts
  • [ARC] Saving the Mountain Man’s Legacy (Brothers of Sapphire Ranch #8) by Misty M. Beller
  • [ALC] Enigma by RuNyx
  • Just Our Luck by Denise Williams
  • Off the Wall (Only Magic in the Building) by Julie Christianson
  • [ARC] The Ashfire King (The Sandsea Trilogy #2) by Chelsea Abdullah
  • The Shadow Bride (The Scarlet Veil #2) by Shelby Mahurin
  • I Knew He Was Trouble (Sweeter Than Fiction #1) by Amanda Schimmoeller
  • Swept Away by Beth O’Leary
  • The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor
  • A Proper Governess (Hearts of Harewood #2) by Kasey Stockton
  • The Book That Held Her Heart (The Library Trilogy #3) by Mark Lawrence
  • Signed, Sealed, and Smitten (Only Magic in the Building) by Melanie Jacobson
  • The Notorious Virtues (The Notorious Virtues #1) by Alwyn Hamilton
  • [ARC] Shield of Sparrows (Shield of Sparrows #1) by Devney Perry
  • Wild and Wrangled (Rebel Blue Ranch #4) by Lyla Sage
  • Voice of the Ocean by Kelsey Impicciche
  • [ARC] Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt
  • The Splendor of Fire (The Hebridean Shield #2) by Ashley Worrell
  • The Wolf King (Wolf King #1) by Lauren Palphreyman
  • The Escape Plan (Only Magic in the Building) by Katie Bailey
  • His Mortal Demise (The Last Bloodcarver #2) by Vanessa Le
  • Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine
  • Nightshade (Sorrowsong Duology #1) by Autumn Woods
  • Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green
  • [ALC] Jilted by Vi Keeland
  • [ARC] Every Hour Until Then (Timeless #5) by Gabrielle Meyer
  • [ALC] The Thrashers by Julie Soto

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Book Review: Direbound (The Wolves of Ruin #1) by Sable Sorensen

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Dark Fantasy Romance
Length: 650 pages
Author: Sable Sorensen
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: February 26th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Only the worthy survive the Bonding Trials. She’ll risk her life—and her heart—to be one of them…

Meryn Cooper has never dreamed of being one of the Bonded, the King’s elite warriors who form mental links with massive, vicious direwolves. She’s made peace with her life scraping by in poverty in the shadows of the castle. But then her younger sister Saela is kidnapped, stolen across the border by the immortal monsters her country has spent centuries fighting.

And Meryn’s world falls apart.

Desperate to cross the front and save her sister, Meryn enlists in the army—only to discover that there are Bonding Trials this year, where all soldiers are forced to risk their lives in an attempt to connect with a direwolf. It’s too late to turn back; Meryn is thrown into the deadly competition against her will.

Now, she’ll need to survive the next four months of training at the castle if she wants a chance of finding Saela. Everything here is a test, from the brutal classes where one mistake means death, to the glittering court parties where every smile hides a knife.

To make things worse, Meryn is bound to a feral direwolf who refuses to communicate. The other trainees would love to spill her common blood. And her gorgeous instructor, Stark Therion, is as malicious as the wolves himself.

Everyone is out to get her—everyone but the dangerously handsome crown prince, Killian Valtiere. But if she loses her heart to him, she may also lose her life.

And the castle is hiding dark secrets…

Fourth Wing meets The Hunger Games in dark action-packed fantasy series, perfect for romantasy fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses , The Serpent & the Wings of Night , When the Moon Hatched and Quicksilver!

GIMME BOOK TWO.

A friend asked me to buddy read this one with her and we both devoured it over the course of a weekend. It was pitched as a fourth wing but with wolves and I gotta say, that actually tracks (but it is not a copycat, do not fear). I loved that this wasn’t a shifter book, the humans bond with wolves in this military-esque fantasy romance that had me locked in.

I love a complicated romantic plot line. I love enjoying the journey of tiny moments and quiet moments, the angry proclamations and the jaw dropping reveals. I got it all here. If you’re reading this without reading the summary, skip it and just go read it!! Trust me!!

Even more surprising was the fact that I was blindsided by a few of the reveals (a few I could see coming, but wasn’t mad about). ANYWAYS, I loved all the twists and turns. There’s a good level of politicking mixed in with action and there’s a ball??? I mean come on, I had to read this book.

The ending left me without breath and begging for the next book. AHHHHHH.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 4-5 open door
  • Violence: very high
  • Content warnings: high levels of blood/gore/violence, kidnapped children, loss of loved ones, murder

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