Book Review: Beyond the Aching Door (The Fatebound Duology #1) by Victoria Mier

July 2, 2025May 23, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 541 pages
Author: Victoria Mier
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: March 26th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A mortal journalist. A mysterious series of drownings. An exiled Fey king. A forgotten Fatesong. A single, desperate chance to save magic from extinction.All Raegan Maeve Overhill wants is to survive another October. It’s the anniversary of the worst thing that ever happened to the unsolved disappearance of her father nearly two decades ago. But when mysterious drownings grip the city of Philadelphia, Raegan sets her mourning rituals aside for a career-making opportunity to lead her newspaper’s investigation.

Her hunt for answers takes her to the city’s shadowy places where magical beings appear in puddles, the Fair Folk offer bargains, and magic is very, very real. When Raegan uncovers a startling connection to her father’s disappearance, she knows she can’t just return to her normal life without finding the truth. To get it, though, she’ll need to make a deal with the dark, deadly and alluring Unseelie Fae King—and do her best to ignore their dangerous attraction to one another. Inspired by Welsh mythology, Slavic folklore and Arthurian legend, Beyond the Aching Door is an adult urban fantasy romance for fans of A Discovery of Witches and Dark Night, Golden Dawn. This spicy fae romantic fantasy is intended for readers 18+.

DID I READ A DIFFERENT BOOK?

After a few friends raved about this one I gave it a go and I’m so sad that it ended up not working for me.

Once again I have been plagued by another URBAN fantasy book masquerading as a true fantasy. If the modern world is present, it’s not FULL FANTASY (for my interpretation). And I really struggled with that. The first 200 pages were drawn out and had a repetitive quality to it that made reading tough.

The love interest does not have a personality. I wanted to love him (he gave me wannabe Rhys vibes), and it felt like we never got to KNOW him. The connection between him and Raegan was stilted even if I was loving the fated romance aspects.

I truly thought this was an interesting premise and many good bones were in place. Some of the execution lacked for me and these 550 pages felt longer than necessary.

Overall audience notes:

Urban fantasy romance
Language: moderate
Romance: one open door
Violence: moderate

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: June 2025

July 1, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

How is it already June???

Another month in the 30’s which has been kind of nice. I’ve slowed down a bit this summer and I’m spending time watching shows and being out in the sun.

Happy reading y’all!

[ARC] Seas the Dating Coach (Wilks Beach #1) by Laura Langa
[ARC/ALC] The Blood Phoenix (Fall of the Dragons #2) by Amber Chen
I’ll Paint You a Sunset Someday by Bex Alexander
[Graphic Novel] We Could Be Magic by Marissa Meyer
The Glittering Edge (The Idlewood Duology #1) by Alyssa Villaire
[ARC/ALC] Total Dreamboat by Katelyn Doyle
[ARC] Roots of Darkness (The Ashen #2.5) by Demi Winters
Love Unwritten (Lakefront Billionaires #2) by Lauren Asher
[Reread] Dark Shores (Dark Shores #1) by Danielle L. Jensen
Truly Medley Deeply (Sweet as Sugar Maple #5) by Kate Watson
[Reread] Dark Skies (Dark Shores #2) by Danielle L. Jensen
[ALC] A Far Better Thing by H.G. Parry
I’ll Pretend You’re Mine by Tashie Bhuiyan
On the Slopes of Tahoe (Love Along the Way #2) by J.A. Forde
Never Thought I’d End Up Here by Ann Liang
[ARC] Seashells and Other Souvenirs by Rachel Lawrence
Daisy Haites: The Great Undoing (Magnolia Parks Universe #5) by Jessa Hastings
[ALC] A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan
[ARC] Arcana Academy (Arcana Academy #1) by Elise Kova
My Fault (Culpables #1) by Mercedes Ron)
One Final Turn (Electra McDonnell #5) by Ashley Weaver
The Night Prince (Wolf King #2) by Lauren Palphreyman
The Love Playbook (Boys of Ann Arbor U #1) by Gracie Graham
Driving Maisie Crazy (Men of the Isles #2) by Deborah M. Hathaway
The Robin on the Oak Throne (The Oak and the Holly Cycle #2) by K.A. Linde
[ARC] Roads of Resistance (Falcon Point Historical #2) by A.L. Sowards
[ARC/ALC] Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods
We Were Liars (We Were Liars #1) by E. Lockhart
Salvacion by Sandra Proudman
[Reread] Tarnished Empire (Dark Shores #0.5) by Danielle L. Jensen
[ARC] Maid for Each Other by Lynn Painter
[ALC] Soul of Shadow by Emma Noyes

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ALC Book Review: A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan

June 29, 2025June 19, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 480 pages
Author: Stacey McEwan
Publisher: Saga Press
Release Date: July 1st, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

This stunning slow-burn romantasy follows a fated pair who uncover a world-changing secret and are thrust into a violent class war, navigating love, loss, and devastating betrayals.

Nina Harrow and Patrick Colson are twelve years old when they are whisked away from the shadows of their disenfranchised mining towns to dazzling Belavere City to discover their magical potential. Those who pass Belavere’s test will become Artisans, wielders of powerful elemental magic destined to fulfill the city’s grand ambitions. For Nina, the Artisan School symbolizes a dream and an escape from her harsh reality, while Patrick yearns to return to his Craftsman family, whose extraordinary physical strength serves the idium mines keeping the city alive.

And then they uncover a devastating truth: Artisans aren’t born, they’re chosen. They part ways on very different paths, leaving them to carry the burden of this secret alone.

In the years that follow, a Craftsman revolution ignites, thrusting Nina and Patrick into opposing factions of a brewing war. Now an elite Artisan with the very rare talent for charming earth, Nina has turned her back on the fight, haunted by the loss of her found family. But fate intervenes when she is captured by Patrick’s rebel group. Despite the years and conflict that separates them, Patrick hasn’t forgotten Nina. He desperately seeks her help for a mission that could shift the tides against Belavere City. Reluctantly, she agrees, battling the sparks flying between them. But when Nina’s first love reappears, asking her to betray Patrick for the sake of the Artisans, Nina faces an impossible choice that could alter the fate of their world.

Thank you Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook.

OH SNAP. I LOVED THIS.

I never finished this author’s previous series because I just wasn’t attached to book one. But this book one? GIMMMMMMME MORE. This was a hit and I loved it.

I actually liked the age progression for this one. It was quick but gave just the right amount of background information to build the world and characters so well. I loved the connection between Nina and Patrick. It’s was complex and heated and I adored the TRUE slow burn push and pull. The man is down bad, and I LOVE DOWN BAD.

Stacey McEwan does such a great job of creating a world filled with secrets that I love seeing unveiled. Even the ones you know are coming are well crafted and the story telling is just on point. This book had a continual incline on the action and hard hitting moments. This was an amazing combination of romance and magic and politicking and twists and turns and all the things. I must have book two!!

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: moderate
Romance: 2-3ish open door
Violence: high

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ARC Book Review: Roots of Darkness (The Ashen #2.5) by Demi Winters

June 19, 2025June 10, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance Novella
Length: 178 pages
Author: Demi Winters
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 10th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Traveling the Road of Bones was only the start of Hekla’s troubles.

The Bloodaxe Crew have arrived at the village of Istré—beleaguered and missing three of their members. They might be down in numbers, but Hekla ‘Rib Smasher’ is determined they’ll complete their job all the defeat the evil mist with a heartbeat and keep the citizens of Istré safe. What she didn’t expect is for Istré’s bull-headed chieftain to block her every move.

Exasperated, Hekla throws caution to the wind for a single passion-filled night. But to her horror, the mysterious, red-cloaked warrior to whom she’d spilled her deepest secrets, is the Bloodaxe Crew’s new temporary leader and ally—Eyvind Hakonsson.

Hekla must now learn to play by Eyvind’s rules while guarding her heart. But when it becomes clear that his plans align with the chieftain’s, Hekla takes matters into her own hands.

Nothing will stop her from keeping the innocent people of Istré safe—not even the man who haunts her thoughts.

Join Hekla and the remnants of the Bloodaxe Crew as they battle the evil, poisonous mist threatening the citizens of Istré—and perhaps all of Íseldur. This Ashen Series novella should be read after Kingdom of Claw.

Thank you to The Nerd Fam and the author for a gifted copy.

SUCH A GOOD STORY.

This was a novella I didn’t know I needed. I loved getting this deeper glimpse into Hekla and the way this excited me for book three. Hekla is a fierce FMC who has walked a hard road and I think getting her back story made me fall in love with her more. It made her character feel layered and complex and I hope we get to see more of her POV.

The romance was heated and a good example of making a one night stand trope work well for a short story. I am highly invested in these two and them finding a way to work together as the mist starts closing in. This is one of my favorite active fantasy romance series and I beg of you to pick it up.

Note this is a companion novella and must be read after book two!!

Overall audience notes: