Book Review: Metal Slinger (Fire & Metal #1) by Rachel Schneider

February 11, 2025January 18, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 497 pages
Author: Rachel Schneider
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: May 12th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Brynn has spent the better part of her life waiting for the chance to attend the annual market hosted by the Kenta, the very same people who exiled the Alaha to live a life over the sea. A rite of passage for all young guards, she’s not sure what to expect from it, but breaking a century- long peace treaty certainly isn’t on her map.

Neither is the encounter with an enemy soldier.

Returning home to Alaha, she’s confronted with the aftermath of the day’s events. The future is uncertain as the threat of hunger looms over the people. With rumors of a growing rebellion, Brynn and her closest friends promise to stick together.

When an unexpected visitor arrives, Brynn’s loyalty will be tested as she learns of a world of magic and treachery. Once her enemy, always her enemy, right? But the dark, knowing eyes of a stranger make her question everything…

…including her heart.

POINTS FOR THE BLINDSIDE.

I, your humble reader, have read over 1,000 fantasy books. AND NOT ONE has had this kind of twist. I am reeeeeeling from it y’all. I LOVE IT. I loved the chaos it caused and how wild the ending became and how I must have my hands on book two NOW.

There were a few issues with the world building and magic system that didn’t make sense. I was able to overlook these enough because of how much I enjoyed having a unique fantasy romance to read.

The romance is heated and tender and I enjoyed the way relationships were conveyed in this world. I liked all of the characters and found the pacing was steady. It flew by and is absolutely worth the download.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: mild
Romance: 2-3 open door
Violence: moderate

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: January 2025

February 1, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

We made it through 3438753 days of January. Here’s what I read!

[Reread] A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses #2) by Sarah J. Maas
[ARC] Beyond the Crescent Sky (The Balkan Legends #2) by A.L. Sowards
[ALC] The Favorites by Layne Fargo
Our Deadly Designs (This Dark Descent #2) by Kalyn Josephson
[ARC/ALC] Gate to Kagoshima (Ancestor Memories #1) by Poppy Kuroki
[ARC] Of Flames and Fallacies (The Arterian Series #1) by Courtney Whims
Let You Love Me (Boys of Riverside #5) by Gracie Graham
Morbidly Yours (Love in Galway #1) by Ivy Fairbanks
Familiar Stranger by Caitlin Moss
[ARC/ALC] The Rival by Emma Lord
All to Pieces (The Seddledowne #3) by Susan Henshaw
[ARC/ALC] The Beasts We Bury (The Broken Citadel #1) by D.L. Taylor
A Language of Dragons by S.F. Williamson
A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young
Where the Black Line Ends by Meagan Williamson
[ARC] A Heart Devoted (The Penn-Leiths of Thistle Muir #5) by Nichole Van
[Reread] Iron Flame (The Empyrean #1) by Rebecca Yarros
[ARC/ALC] Rebel Witch (The Crimson Moth #2) by Kristen Ciccarelli
Seeing Miss Heartstone by Nichole Van
Know Your Newlywed by Elena Armas
Metal Slinger (Fire & Metal #1) by Rachel Schneider
The Heart of the Rebellion by Sian Ann Bessey
Four Weekends and a Funeral by Ellie Palmer
A Tribute of Fire (The Eye of the Goddess #1) by Sariah Wilson
When Alec Met Evie (The Appies #6) by Jenny Proctor
Onyx Storm (The Empyrean #3) by Rebecca Yarros
Class Clown (The Thornback Society #4) by Aspen Hadley
The Legend of Meneka (The Divine Dancers Duology #1) by Kritika H. Rao
Better Than Revenge by Kasie West
[ARC] Guarding the Mountain Man’s Secret (Brothers of Sapphire Ranch #7) by Misty M. Beller
[Short Story] The Situationship by Abby Jimenez
[ARC] Book Boyfriend by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
Unromance by Erin Connor
A Forbidden Fate (A Forbidden Fate #1) by Kaven Hirning
[Novella] Spirit of the Wood (Green Rider #7.5) by Kristen Britain
Smoke and Mirrors (Silver and Bone #2) by Claudia Cain
[Reread] The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
The Check Down (Lacey Bros #1) by Brandy Pelletier

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Book Review: The Legend of Meneka (The Divine Dancers Duology #1) by Kritika H. Rao

February 1, 2025January 25, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Kritika H. Rao
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Release Date: January 21st, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In this sweeping crossover of romantic fantasy and Hindu mythology, acclaimed author Kritika H. Rao reimagines the famous tale of a celestial dancer tasked with seducing a human sage, but when she finds herself falling in love with her mark, she will be forced to choose between loyalty to her home and being true to herself—perfect for readers of Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Kaikeyi, and Circe.

Across the mortal and immortal realms, celestial dancers known as apsaras are revered for their beauty, allure, and enchanting magic. But Meneka knows that is not all they are. Trained as a weapon—a warrior—Meneka despises leaving each of her marks in thrall to her potent illusions. With every seduction Lord Indra, king of heaven, demands of her for his political gain, she craves her freedom more and more.

When a mortal sage’s growing powers threaten Indra’s supremacy in his own realm, Meneka seizes a rare opportunity. She strikes a deal—if she can seduce this dangerous man, Indra will allow her to forgo future missions. But upon meeting the sage, Kaushika, Meneka finds herself captivated by his energy, ignited by his empathy and passion, even though he threatens everything she’s ever known. Can she overthrow the man who is—little by little—stealing her heart, or is Kaushika seducing her instead? As war looms in the skies, Meneka must choose between her duty to protect her home, and the sage who is showing her what true love can mean.

Romantic, spellbinding, and empowering, The Legend of Meneka breathes new life into Hindu mythology to weave a lustrous tale of a woman discovering the cosmic power within herself. This first book in the Divine Dancers duology is a completely unputdownable adventure for lovers of romantasy and myth retellings.

Thank you to Harper Voyager and Storygram Tours for my gifted copy.

TOO LUSTY FOR ME.

I really wanted to love this one and I do think the second half got a lot better. There seemed to be more of a plot and the action was amping up enough to hold my attention more.

The romance did grow on me on some aspects. I like the general idea of having to seduce the enemy and Kaushika was a worthy foe. Seeing Meneka have some growth as she met other mortals and fell in love with Kaushika were some of the better moments here.

What wasn’t clicking was the fact the entire book and major theme revolved around lust. It’s just not something that worked for me and it kept taking me out of the story. Even amidst scenes I did like, and I enjoyed Meneka as a character, ultimately I’m not sure I’ll continue the series.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: mild
Romance: multiple open door; innuendo throughout
Violence: mild – moderate

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Book Review: The Night Hunt by Alexandra Christo

January 29, 2025January 8, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Alexandra Christo
Publisher: Fiewel Friends
Release Date: October 10th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From Alexandra Christo, the author of To Kill a Kingdom, comes The Night Hunt, a dark fantasy romance about a monstrous girl who feeds on fear and the Gods-cursed boy who falls in love with her.

Atia is a monster who feeds on fear. As the last of her kind, she hides in the shadows of the world to escape the wrath of the unpredictable Gods. Silas is a Herald, carrying messages and ferrying the dead as punishment for a past he can’t remember. Stripped of his true name, he yearns to recover his identity.

Atia would never dream of allying with someone like him, but when she breaks a sacred law and the Gods send monsters to hunt her, Silas offers an irresistible deal: he’ll help avenge her family and take on the Gods who now hunt her, if she helps him break his curse and restore his humanity. All they need to do is kill three powerful creatures: a vampire, a banshee, and one of the very Gods who destroyed both their lives. Only together can they finally rewrite their destinies.

I LIKED IT.

This book doesn’t have great ratings, but I enjoyed it? I did listen to it so that might have swayed me, but if you’re in need of a quick young adult fantasy standalone, I’d say give this a go.

I loved all of the mythology aspects and how they were used in this setting and world. The monsters concept was great and I feel like this had some interesting concepts I haven’t read recently.

There’s a little bit of a romance that grew on me. An unlikely partnership turned more is one of my favorite romance tropes. I also liked the found family pieces too. I love a group of people who come together and find peace and friendship with each other.

I thought it had an awesome closing fight scene and battle. I haven’t picked up a book by Christo since To Kill a Kingdom and maybe I’ll pick up the next!

Overall audience notes: