Tag: fantasy romance

Book Review: Sea of Charms (Spellshop #3) by Sarah Beth Durst

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Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: Cozy Fantasy Romance
Length: 370 pages
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Publisher: Bramble
Release Date: July 28th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Marin is a supply runner with her own boat that she sails from island to island, delivering whatever anyone will pay her to deliver: letters, flour, even the occasional enchanted lemur. It’s a lonely life, but it’s hers, and she wouldn’t trade the freedom of the sea for anything. Her only companion is a sea serpent, Perri, whom she saved from a fisherfolk’s net.

One day, she sails to Alyssium and discovers the city is on fire. There’s been a revolution, and the empire has fallen. Marin, with Perri, begins transporting refugees, finding them new homes where they can start over. One such refugee is Dax, a composer who refuses to leave behind his instruments, no matter how much she tries to emphasize the gravity of the situation. Intrigued by his stubbornness, his passion for stories, and his charming smile, Marin discovers perhaps she isn’t saving him ― maybe it’s the other way around.

From the acclaimed author of The Spellshop, Sea of Charms is a delightful cosy fantasy for fans of Travis Baldree and TJ Klune.

Thank you to Bramble for the gifted ARC.

THE USUAL WHIMSY.

I’ve read quite a few Sarah Beth Durst books and they definitely all have the same vibes. Take that note as you will.

I liked the seafaring adventure of this one. With the island hopping, whimsical creatures and a woman trying to outrun the things that have happened to her. I thought the romance was super sweet with Dax. He is clearly down bad and has such a genuine, kind soul and that was a just what Marin needed.

Thematically I liked it too. There’s some topics that are relevant to today that I thought were woven in well without feeling heavy handed. They also fit the nature of the story itself so it’s easy to see the cross over without getting pulled out of the story.

I wish Marin hadn’t been as wishy washy about Dax for as long as she was though. It got old to hear the same reasoning again and again about why she thought they couldn’t be together and not letting Dax express his opinions on the matter. And this was a 13 hour audiobook. I just don’t think it needed to be that long either.

Overall audience notes:

  • Cozy fantasy romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: mild

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Book Review: The Ballad of Falling Dragons (Moonfall #2) by Sarah A. Parker

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 704 pages
Author: Sarah A. Parker
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Release Date: May 19th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The Ballad of Falling Dragons is the much-anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestselling phenomenon When the Moon Hatched, featuring an immersive, vibrant world with mysterious creatures, a unique magic system, and a love that blazes through the ages.

“Moonbeam. A moonfall is coming.”

Raeve’s thirst for vengeance continues to burn, as does her love for Kaan Vaegor—a staunch beacon from a past she’s yet to face. With Rekk’s blood still fresh on her hands, she learns the world will face its most devastating moonfall yet, forcing her to pick a path:

Chase death.

Or life.

Desperate to save his kingdom from ruin, Kaan’s crown has never felt so heavy. His many larks to scattered friends and family remain unanswered, and time is running out.

As allies merge and enemies surge with bloodlusting agendas of their own, secrets brew hot enough to burn, but none so mighty as the truth nesting within the icy depths of Raeve’s long forgotten past.

Something … Other.

Something with the knowledge to change it all.

BEAUTIFUL SEQUEL.

This is one of my most anticipated sequels in 2026 and I’m grateful this held up!! I did listen to the audiobook instead of eyeball reading. The audiobook was wonderful. Different narrators for different POV’s. Good accents. No complaints. I *do* think I might have enjoyed eyeball reading this more? It is so intricate and complicated that I would have probably caught more (sad it wasn’t on KU this go round).

The progression and addition of more POV’s was exactly what I was hoping for. I love getting a larger lay of the land and more of how the magic system x dragons work in context. The new POV’s were intriguing for a variety of reasons and I can’t wait to see how those continue to develop in the future books (how many books are we going for here??).

I’m obsessed with the main romance too. I love the tension between them and how down bad Kaan is for Raeve. Also super duper appreciate that while a spicy romantasy it is not spice > plot. There is absolutely a ton of story and plot and I have missed having such a complicated story to read. Bring back these kind of epically intricate and also have amazing romantic storylines too.

This is a series I am happy to own copies of, can’t wait for more!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate – high
  • Romance: 3-4ish open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: animal cruelty/death, blood/gore, torture, traumatic childbirth, threat of sexual assault, murder, suicidal thoughts

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Book Review: What Echoes in the Dark (What Blooms From Death #2) by S.M. Gaither

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 566 pages
Author: S.M. Gaither
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: January 27th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Months ago, Bellanova Halestorn brought her world back from the dead.

But life is a fragile thing.

The magic reviving the decayed realm of Noctaris is unstable. Unpredictable. Worse, the one who helped Nova begin to balance that realm—Aleksander—is gone, his body overtaken by the vengeful divine being known as Lorien Blackvale.

As the survivors of her ravaged world look to her for salvation, Lorien offers Nova a dangerous bargain: Undo the curse that ruined him centuries ago, restore the scattered pieces of his true self, and she can have Aleks back.

Desperate to save the man she loves, Nova agrees.

But every step she takes uncovers secrets far more dangerous than Lorien himself. Secrets about her past, about a fanatical order hellbent on controlling the Vaeloran cycle…and about Aleksander’s true nature.

Because his Light is changing.

Something darker is waking.

And saving her world from that darkness might mean losing him for good

BETTER THAN BOOK ONE.

I’ve been sitting on the fence about picking up book two but I’m glad I did! I think this one was better than the first. I like the drama and tension between Aleks and Nova. The push and pull with wild circumstances keep them circling around each other until things burst. A bit of the spice was out of pocket but I thought was preferable to the management of it in book one.

I also liked the background I got on the antagonist and how that affected the overall plot. More things started to click and that drove my engagement level. There’s a strong found family that I love seeing work together and fight for peace. Some of the other world building pieces were lost to me (more than likely because I read What Blooms From Death over a year ago).

This was definitely enough for me to pick up the conclusion and to continue reading Gaither’s books. Her Shadows & Crowns series still remains my overall favorite.

Overall audience notes:

  • Romantasy
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 6ish open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: loss of life, mentions of past child abuse

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Book Review: The Crownless Queen (The Blood and Water Saga #4) by Cassidy Clarke

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy + Romance
Length: 845 pages
Author: Cassidy Clarke
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: May 23rd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

ANIMA, GODDESS OF LIFE, IS A TRAITOR TO HER KIND.

After losing the kingdom of Nyx to her chaos-hungry brother, Anima has pledged herself wholly to protecting her mortal friends…starting by returning her host’s body to its rightful owner. But when she discovers her power wasn’t the only thing released during the ritual, she must join forces with the ruling family of Arborius—including its most withdrawn, secretive. prince—to try and halt Tenebrae’s vengeful hand before it smothers the life from her beloved island.

SOREN ATLAS IS ENTERING A BATTLEFIELD SHE’S NEVER DARED BREACH BEFORE.

Freed from Anima’s influence on her body, the long path to recovery has begun. But to win her Arborian relatives’ support in taking back Atlas’s throne, she must brave the heart of a mountain to convince a stone-hearted king, an arrogant prince, and their faithless people to fight alongside an Heir with no crown. Because if they are to have any hope of defeating the god holding her family hostage, the kingdom of Tallis must agree to part with a weapon none have seen since its the fabled god-killer.

ELIAS LOCH IS CARRYING A BURDEN HE WASN’T BUILT TO BEAR.

His best friend has sacrificed himself. His people are scattered and leaderless. His dreams are haunted by chaos’s song. And if that wasn’t enough, the ring on his battlemate’s finger has crowned him with a new, terrifying the future King Consort of Atlas. With his goddess issuing commands that twist his conscience, a potential ally fraying the threads of his belief, and new vows calling the old into question, the time has come to choose which he will the convictions of his heart, or the demands of his faith.

MISSING SOMETHING.

I have loved this series (and still do) but I felt like this book was missing one key piece for me. It’s EIGHT HUNDRED FOURTY FIVE PAGES and I was missing at least four other POV’s from other characters of previous books and I didn’t like that at all. This book was heavily focused on Soren, Anima and Elias and I wanted to see what others were up to as well. With the gaps between books I worry how much I’ll remember now.

I still genuinely enjoyed the plot. Cassidy Clarke has a quality of writing that makes it easy to come back to. I love the conversation dynamics and banter between characters and there was a new romance added that I could not get enough of.

I think this progressed the larger arcs to some degree. I’m still obsessed with everyone here and I can’t wait for the finale!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: moderate

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