Book Review: Red Tempest Brother (The Winter Sea #3) by H.M. Long

October 30, 2026December 2, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 409 pages
Author: H.M. Long
Publisher: Titan Books
Release Date: July 8th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The epic naval fantasy trilogy concludes, as Sam, Mary and Benedict play a deadly game of war and espionage on the high-seas. Perfect for fans of pirate-infested waters, magical bestiaries and battling empires, by authors such as Adrienne Young, L. J. Andrews and Naomi Novik.

In the wake of the events of Black Tide Son, Hart flees into pirate-infested waters to shelter on the island where former rogue James Demery and the Fleetbreaker, Anne Firth, now rule.

Reeling from their discoveries about the truths of the Mereish-Aeadine war, Mary and Sam hover on the precipice of a terrible, world-altering choice – they can stay silent and maintain their good names, or they can speak out, and risk igniting total war across the Winter Sea.

Meanwhile, Benedict captains The Red Tempest, a lawless ship of deserters and corrupted mages in search of an Usti spy with incendiary stolen documents. Benedict is determined to make the truth known, consequences be damned.

As rumours spread of a new Ghistwold sprouting in the Mereish South Isles, May and Sam sail once more into intrigue, espionage and an ocean on the brink of exploding into conflict. They must chart a course toward lasting, final peace, at the heart of the age-old battle for power upon the Winter Seas.

I DON’T KNOW Y’ALL.

I remember liking the first two books in this series but not with an overwhelming sense of having to pick up book three ASAP. I’ve still been looking forward to RTB though and feel like I’ve been disappointed. I can’t decide if that’s because of my mood or this just wasn’t that great of a conclusion.

The plot was fairly rinse and repeat. Run over here, try to capture someone, get in a bind, get out, and do it again. All waiting for the final showdown.

And this also reminds me that I don’t recommend the audiobook for this one. With only one narrator for three POV’s, let me tell y’all, I got so lost trying to figure out which male POV (of twin brothers mind you) I was in and that threw me off multiple times.

Not the ending I was hoping for, maybe I’ll read more from this author?

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy + Romance
Language: mild
Romance: closed door
Violence: moderate

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Book Review: Immortal Rose (Immortal Rose Duology #1) by Alexandra Bracken

October 27, 2026August 31, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Fantasy Romance
Length: 496 pages
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: August 18th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From Alexandra Bracken, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Lore, comes a stunningly original adult fantasy. Set in a sumptuous world ruled by magical perfume, this achingly romantic, slow-burn love story will shatter your heart and leave you breathless.

Members of the ancient House Rosebourne have a strange gift born of a fairy ancestor: the ability to infuse fragrance with magic capable of manipulating mind, body, and emotion.

When a shocking murder leaves the kingdom of Albion vulnerable to a coup, royal spymaster Hugh Thornton seeks the one person who can help: Viola Lockwood, the last living Rosebourne and secret heir to a fraught legacy.

Livid at the silver-eyed aristocrat who had her thrown in jail to force her compliance, Viola nevertheless comes to an agreement with him. In exchange for crafting Immortal Rose, the singular perfume capable of saving Albion, illegitimate Viola can seize the life—and fortune—that should have been hers.

As Hugh and Viola race to find the perfume’s lost fairy ingredient, hidden deep in Albion’s dark underbelly, neither can deny the scorching attraction building between them—especially as the attempts on Viola’s life grow increasingly brazen.

But a terrible truth lurks in the heart notes of their kingdom—and while every bargain has a cost, Immortal Rose may demand more than Hugh and Viola can ever pay.

Thank you to LibroFM for the gifted audiobook.

THIS WAS GOOD!

I can’t say I knew what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised how locked into this book I became. I thought the historical + fantasy vibes were working really well. The added perfume/scent based magic was cool and I found that unique to most magic systems I’ve come across recently. There’s a few world building questions I have about the *faeries* but it didn’t bug me as much as I thought it would.

I am curious how this will stretch out into a duology. I felt like with a few tweaks things could have been wrapped up well. The romance had progressed at a decent pace and I was invested in their interactions. The plot was moving too and seemed to be coming to a climax but then the addition of the *twist* towards the cliffhanger leads me to guess at how the story will expand for another 400+ pages. I’m hopeful at least.

We love when a romance gives a good slow burn. And we love when the FMC is resilient and full of perseverance. I loved the moments of banter and thought provoking statements too.

The side characters/found family were wonderful. I loved getting more tidbits about them and their presence added to the story. I loved the regency setting. The audiobook is great too! I would have loved even more chapters from Hugh. Can’t wait for book two!

Overall audience notes:

Historical fantasy romance
Language: mild
Romance: 2-3ish open door
Violence: moderate
Content warnings: loss of life, near death experiences, moderate blood/gore, child abuse, domestic abuse, sexual assault

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Book Review: By the Flames of Her Fury (The Veridian Empire #4) by V.B. Lacey

October 26, 2026October 23, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 580 pages
Author: V.B. Lacey
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 22nd, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Pirates of the Caribbean meets The Mummy in the epic conclusion to the Veridian Empire series of interconnected standalones.

The world wants her power. She wants her vengeance.

Vera Duma has spent a year tracking down the man who stole her freedom and tortured her with magical experiments. She doesn’t care what her retribution costs, even if it means leaving behind everything she’s ever loved.

But the hunt leads somewhere she never expected: a kingdom hidden from the rest of the world for a thousand years, whose rulers believe Vera is the one prophesied to raise them from the dark. They have answers to questions she’s sought her whole life, and an agenda she’s too desperate to see clearly.

Her quest becomes more complicated when Everett Swift, the boy she fell in love with in their captivity, follows her into this new world. Their past love is rekindled as the kingdom’s secrets begin to unravel, and Vera must decide what she’s fighting for before her power is used to unleash something far more dangerous.

Because when her fury ignites, the world will either rise from its ashes…or burn with her.

By the Flames of Her Fury is the fourth and final book in the Veridian Empire series of interconnected fantasy standalones. This book includes a summary of books 1-3 for those who haven’t read them. While it’s advised to read books 1-3 first, it’s not necessary. By the Flames of Her Fury follows a phoenix Shifter FMC and the man she fell in love with in captivity as they go on a revenge quest against their captor, but get caught up in a lost kingdom full of secrets darker than they bargained for. Perfect for lovers of Pirates of the Caribbean, The Mummy, and the Ever Seas series by LJ Andrews, this book is full of no spice second chance romance, epic quests with mythical creatures, feminine rage, a powerful female cast, and a beautiful found family.

Thank you RB Media for the gifted audiobook.

GOOD CONCLUSION.

I’ll miss this series! I had a really good time with every book and I thought this wrapped up the larger arc well. You don’t have to read these in order but it is recommended because the characters and plot does build upon itself in some ways.

I love a man down bad, and Everett embodied that rope fantastically. I loved his nature. He’s soft while being strong and protective. He knows what he wants and is patient and kind too. I also loved Vera. The running away thing kind of bugged me but I did like seeing how all of the things came together.

The Pirates of the Caribbean x The Mummy vibes were 100% present and I loved seeing those little touches woven in. This found family is a strong one and their pop-ups were some of my favorite moments too.

There were a few times where I thought things were going to end and then it kept going?? I wish it had been a bit tighter but that was my only complaint. The audiobook is wonderful and I love that format for this series. I also SUPER appreciate knowing a consistently closed door fantasy author that hits the romance genre so well.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: low
Romance: closed door
Violence: high
Content warnings: torture, imprisonment, loss of life

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Book Review: Kissed by the Gods (The Eternal Wars #1) by Caty Rogan

October 25, 2026January 17, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★/5
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 556 pages
Author: Caty Rogan
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 24th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Leina has spent a lifetime submitting. Kneeling. Enduring.

Then soldiers come for her brother, and divine fury surges through her veins. She expects execution for the bodies she left in her wake. Her people have met bloody ends for far, far less.

Instead, Ryot, a godsworn warrior born to privilege and raised in order, drags her into a world that was never meant for her. One of divine armies and death demons, winged war horses and monsters, sacred power and royal secrets.

A kiss from a goddess changes everything.

No longer a criminal, Leina is a prize. The kingdom’s most powerful men want what the goddess touched. Leina wants only one thing, though: freedom for her people. And she’ll trade herself for the strength to destroy the kingdom that broke them.

Conscripted into a war she never asked for, fighting for gods she doesn’t believe in, Leina must decide how far she’s willing to go and what she’s willing to lose. Because her power is more than a threat to the kingdom’s buried secrets.

It’s a death sentence.

WELL OKAY THEN.

This was totally worth the hype. And I am often reluctant to pick up a book if the hype seems out of bounds but here we are!!

I loved this journey. I felt like I got everything at such a fantastic pace. From understanding the world and how the magic system bends to the intricacies of life as an Altor. I don’t know much about the antagonists yet but I look forward to that expansion in book two.

The romance grew on me. I think there was a little lacking in the swoon factor for me but by the end I was pretty attached to Leina and Ryot. I appreciate a good slow burn and moments together before the heat gets turned up.

And the found family?? Oh I adored them all. It’s a brutal world they are trying to survive and I liked the soft and loving banter that existed between everyone. And the war horses?? They were many nuanced pieces that made this an incredible read.

I’m a fan of a brutal cliffhanger so let me tell y’all I about threw my kindle on this one. WHICH IS A GOOD THING. Gosh dang it someone give me book two ASAP.

Overall audience notes: