Tag: fantasy romance

ARC/ALC Book Review: The Wind Weaver (Reign of Remnants #1) by Julie Johnson

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 544 pages
Author: Julie Johnson
Publisher: Ace Publishing
Release Date: April 8th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Magic and adventure swirl through this spellbinding romantasy where a young woman reignites the embers of an ancient prophecy, unleashing a storm that could save her realm or doom them all.

Fear of maegic plagues war-torn Anwyvn. Halflings like Rhya Fleetwood are killed on sight. But Rhya’s execution is interrupted by an unexpected savior—one far more terrifying than her would-be killers. The mysterious and mercenary Commander Scythe. In the clutches of this new enemy, Rhya finds herself fighting for her life in the barren reaches of the Northlands. Yet the farther she gets from home, the more she learns that nothing is as it seems—not her fearsome captor, not the blight that ravages her dying realm, not even herself.

For Rhya is no ordinary halfling. The strange birthmark on her chest and the wind she instinctively calls forth means she is a Remnant, one of four souls scattered across Anwyvn, fated to restore the balance of maegic…or die trying.

But mastering the power inside her is only the beginning. Desire for the Commander—a man she can never trust, a man with plans of his own—burns just as fiercely as the tempests beating against her rib cage for release. Rhya must choose: smother the flames…or let them consume her.

Thank you to PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook and MTMC Tours and Ace Publishing for the physical copy.

I’LL READ THE NEXT ONE.

I had a good time reading/listening to this book. Do I think it was anything groundbreaking? No. It wasn’t anything I haven’t read before, yet that also lent towards my enjoyment level. I know what I like in romantasy and this held many of those key aspects.

*I will note I struggled with the audiobook a bit because I think the narrator made the FMC come off way more abrasive than necessary and struggled on the male voices. I liked the story and characters more when I was reading physically.

The romance was a nice long slow burn. WHICH I APPRECIATE SO MUCH. I am kind of exhausted by how much spice some books have just to start the series of. I want the burn, I want the building chemistry and soft moments that bond the couple together. But also I have thoughts on the romance??? And I’m not going to be naming names at this time, I will be getting my hands on book two as quickly as I can though…

ANYWHO. I thought the world building was executed well without superfluous info dumping. The elemental magic system was explained well and I liked the pacing. There’s a fairly good balance between the slow and fast. I really fell in love with the found family scenes and the story line definitely has enough to keep me going.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 1-2 almost open door scenes
  • Violence: moderate – high
  • Content warnings: loss of life, battle/war themes

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Book Review: Reign of Darkness (The Fallen Kingdoms #2) by K.B. Benson

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 540 pages
Author: K.B. Benson
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: January 16th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Darkness is a vicious evil no mortal can escape. But I’m no stranger to darkness, and I never intend to be free.

With new, unfathomable power, Ari won’t rest until she gets her revenge. But she is blinded by her vengeance, and when Caelum arrives in Eida, she never imagined he’d take it for his own.

Blood fills the streets. Death lingers in the air. Caelum has come to steal Ari’s power and build an army filled with monsters and magic. An army he has every intention of unleashing on the human world.

Unless she stops him.

Fiercely loyal to the realm he calls home, Graeden will do whatever it takes to protect it. But as an insurrection forms against the Starfallen’s new queen, Graeden finds his loyalty is no longer fixed firmly on the realm or the crown.

Unable to douse the fire Ari stirs within him, Graeden finds it isn’t enough to protect her. He wants her. All of her. The one person in the entire realm he can’t have.

As Caelum pushes the realm toward its destruction, there is only one way for Ari and Graeden to keep those they love safe, and they must both decide what they’re willing to risk … and who they’re willing to kill.

Reign of Darkness is the second book in KB Benson’s The Fallen Kingdoms series, an upper YA high fantasy. If you like slow-burn romance, action-packed battles, dragons and monsters, and unique magic systems, then you’ll love this fast-paced, page-turning series. Grab your copy and reenter Eida!

PACING ISSUES.

I really enjoyed book one and have been excited for this continuation. Unfortunately I feel like this severely lacked in plot movement and over the course of 500 pages, not a lot happened.

Ari spent most of the book arguing with Caelum and almost taking him out, but not yet. Rinse and repeat. Graeden and the romance were on the sideline too. There was a fantastically steamy make-out scene, but it almost felt out of left field after Ari and Graeden hadn’t spent much time together.

I don’t know now if I want to pick up book three. It is written well, it’s more a plot choices that were frustrating.

Overall audience notes:

  • New Adult Fantasy Romance
  • Language: very low
  • Romance: make-out
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: Nightweaver by R.M. Gray

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 482 pages
Author: RM Gray
Publisher: Merlin’s Pen Publishing
Release Date: October 13th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Violet Oberon had never stepped foot on land.

Six hundred years after the Nightweavers claimed human lands for their own, the ocean is a haven for seventeen-year-old Violet and her family. Notorious pirates of the Western Sea, the Oberon clan are undefeated in battle—until an Underling murders Violet’s brother, and she discovers there are monsters more fearsome than the Nightweavers that have taken them captive.

When the son of a wealthy Nightweaver shows Violet and her family mercy, offering employment at his estate rather than enslavement, Violet vows not to forget that he is everything she hates. But as she adjusts to her new role as a kitchen maid at Bludgrave Manor, she finds that hatred is a curious thing. Arrogant, entitled, right hand to the wicked prince, William Castor might be the key to avenging her brother-and reclaiming her freedom.

But mercy always comes with a price. As Violet hunts the Underling responsible for her brother’s death, dark secrets threaten to unravel everything she thought she knew about the Nightweavers, herself, and her world. Torn between family loyalty and a chance at revenge, the cost of learning the truth about her brother’s murder could be her life.

STARTED STRONG.

I genuinely went in with the best of hopes for this one. And the first 40% were solid. I was intrigued by the magic system and world and all things pirates. A burgeoning romance was upon the pages and things seem settled for an amazing read.

And then I thought some aspects went downhill. The rest of the book was in one location and I needed more movement. There was also a lot of world building and magic explanations that felt info-dumping because we didn’t really see those in action. Having the book only in one place stopped a lot of expansion opportunities.

Then we had the love interest disappear for a bit on his own adventure which left the progress there become stagnant. I still don’t know if I like them together honestly. It does appear there will be a second book? I don’t have plans to pick it up though.

The last 25%ish picked up with some good twists and reveals. The villain monologues went on a bit but I was surprised by some scenes. I think I’m most obsessed with Captain Shade who absolutely needs his own POV.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: March 2025

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I finally see the sun! And I am no longer a husk. I made it through another wide range of books and survived getting all 15+ ARCs read and posted about on my pages!

Happy reading y’all.

  • Of Song and Darkness by Jessica Spruill
  • [ARC] A Dance of Lies (A Dance of Lies #1) by Brittney Arena
  • [Novella] En Route to Romance by Laura Langa
  • Dawn of Vengeance (The Droseran Saga #2) by Ronie Kendig
  • Magnolia Parks (Magnolia Parks Universe #1) by Jessa Hastings
  • [ARC/ALC] Beautiful Exiles (Sparrow Falls #4) by Catherine Cowles
  • Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave (Finlay Donovan #5) by Elle Cosimano
  • [ARC] Love Bites (Timber Creek #2) by Aimee Vance and B. Perkins
  • Oathbound (The Legendborn Cycle #3) by Tracy Deonn
  • [ARC] All’s Fair in Love and Blackmail by Gracie Ruth Mitchell
  • The Sword of Kaigan by M.L. Wang
  • It All Comes Back to You by Melissa Wiesner
  • [Reread] The Winner’s Curse (The Winner’s Trilogy #1) by Marie Rutkoski
  • If I Never Remember (Remember Me #1) by Meagan Williamson
  • Something Like Fate by Amy Lea
  • [ARC] Petals and Plot Twists (Only Magic in the Building) by Jenny Proctor
  • The Cupid Chronicles (Only Magic in the Building) by Courtney Walsh
  • [Reread] The Winner’s Crime (The Winner’s Trilogy #2) by Marie Rutkoski
  • [Reread] The Winner’s Kiss (The Winner’s Trilogy #3) by Marie Rutkoski
  • [ARC] A Time Traveler’s Masquerade (A McQuivey’s Costume Shop Romance) by Sian Ann Bessey
  • Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales (Emily Wilde #3) by Heather Fawcett
  • Things I Wish I Said by Gracie Graham
  • Wormwood Abbey (The Secrets of Ormdale #1) by Christina Baehr
  • The Lost Ticket by Freya Sampson
  • Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker
  • Never Planned on You by Lindsay Hameroff
  • Empire of Shadows (Raiders of the Arcana #1) by Jacquelyn Benson
  • [ARC] What Blooms From Death (What Blooms From Death #1) by S.M. Gaither
  • [ARC/ALC] Lady Knight (The Diamonds #2) by Amalie Howard
  • Off the Hook (Never Harbor #1) by Julie Olivia
  • The Deathly Grimm (The Forest Grimm Duology #2) by Kathryn Purdie
  • Misfortune and Mr. Right (Only Magic in the Building) by Savannah Scott
  • [ARC] Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
  • Tomb of the Sun King (Raiders of the Arcana #2) by Jacquelyn Benson
  • [ARC] The Voice We Find (Fog Harbor #3) by Nicole Deese

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