Tag: fantasy romance

Book Review: An Empress of Air & Chaos (An Empress #1) by Noelle Rayne

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Rating: ★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 532 pages
Author: Noelle Rayne
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 10th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Under the light of the approaching Blood Moon, Emara Clearwater finds herself thrust into a world of supernatural magic. When her village is torn apart and everything she has ever known is shattered, she must navigate through a new world alongside her best friend, Cally. Meeting Witches with elemental magic, Shapeshifters and strikingly handsome Demon Hunters, it’s like she was always meant to find this world.
The Blacksteel brothers, members of a ferocious Clan of Demon Hunters, are bound by both blood and ancient oath to protect the kingdom from an army of demons. As the brothers grow closer to Emara, they will stop at nothing to protect her.
On her path of self-discovery, Emara finds herself questioning everything she has ever believed and must come to terms with some dark truths about her family’s past. Not only is she torn between what world she belongs to, but she also finds herself questioning matters regarding her heart. There is something about the Blacksteel brothers that unlock a part of Emara, that she kept suppressed for so long and she is finally beginning to feel it stir.
But there is a rising darkness…
A darkness that threatens to consume the Kingdom of Caledorna. An Army of Demons are on their way from the Underworld, instructed by their ruthless dark God, to find ancient relics that are the key to unlocking him from his cage.
And no one is safe.
Especially not Emara.
Emara must step into the light of the magic world or be swallowed by darkness forever.

NOT FOR ME.

I tried. I tried to enjoy this book but there were some issues that I just didn’t click with. I’ll be brief.

The writing itself was perfectly fine, BUT it came across as making the main characters seem much more juvenile and modern. The way some phrasing and style choices were used that I didn’t love.

And the love triangle romance seemed to be between the main character and two brothers. That’s got to be my least favorite iteration of this trope.

I will not be continuing this series.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: assault, murder, loss of loved ones

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Book Review: Reckless (The Powerless Trilogy #2) by Lauren Roberts

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 512 pages
Author: Lauren Roberts
Publisher: Simon Teen
Release Date: July 2nd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The kingdom of Ilya is in turmoil…

After surviving the Purging Trials, Ordinary-born Paedyn Gray has killed the King, and kickstarted a Resistance throughout the land. Now she’s running from the one person she had wanted to run to.

Kai Azer is now Ilya’s Enforcer, loyal to his brother Kitt, the new King. He has vowed to find Paedyn and bring her to justice.

Across the deadly Scorches, and deep into the hostile city of Dor, Kai pursues the one person he wishes he didn’t have to. But in a city without Elites, the balance between the hunter and hunted shifts – and the battle between duty and desire is deadly.

Be swept away by this kiss-or-kill romantasy trilogy taking the world by storm.

Thank you to Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook!

AHHHHHHH.

I am here for the vibes on this book y’all. The vibes are VIBING AND I LOVE IT. This is how enemies to lovers romances are supposed to feel. This banter and tension and the gosh dang it we’re supposed to hate each other BUT WE CAN’T. I will be brought to my knees by this romance and will go gladly.

The specific plot for this book wasn’t as strong as the first (like I said, five stars for vibes). It was mostly Paedyn and Kai playing cat and mouse. There were some delectable romantic moments though and I am all for those. And while the audiobook is incredible (highly recommend), I wish I was reading the physical copy purely to tab all of the quotes that sunk me.

I also loved having Kitt’s POV too. It was this delicate and dark balance of watching him trying to figure out the kingdom and his own mind. I can’t wait to see how that comes together in the last book.

An easy to devour second book that [to me] didn’t suffer the dreaded sequel issues. GIVE ME FEARLESS.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: Heart of the Raven Prince (Entangled with Fae #2) by Tessonja Odette

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 506 pages
Author: Tessonja Odette
Publisher: Crystal Moon Press
Release Date: August 13th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A Cinderella Retelling

A playboy prince in want of a decoy bride.
A servant girl desperate for a disguise…

Raven shifter Prince Franco is every social climbing debutante’s dream. He’s handsome, heir to the Lunar Court throne, and deliciously single. Every young woman wants to bed him, wed him, or steal a moment of his time. Except, of course, for Ember Montgomery.

Half fae Ember craves freedom from her conniving stepfamily. As if they weren’t enough to deal with, a chance encounter with the arrogant Prince Franco leaves her humiliated and in a fiery rage. Nothing could convince her the prince is anything but a rake. But when the opportunity to evade her scheming stepmother falls into her lap, she’ll pay the price—even if it means impersonating the prince’s newest flame…

To prove himself a worthy heir, Prince Franco must marry a princess. But after far too many unsatisfying trysts, he’s given up on love. With the social season in full swing, and bringing with it a horde of husband-hungry socialites, he’ll do anything to delay the pressures of both marriage and the crown. And what better solution than an alliance with a desperate servant girl glamoured as his false future bride?

Locked in a bargain, Ember must pose as a princess until midnight at the full moon ball. Until then, all she has to do is wear the glamour, pretend to court the prince, and above all else, not fall in love. But when feelings emerge on both sides, she starts to wonder if there’s more to their contrived courtship than either of them planned…

Can Ember and Franco find love when the masks come off? Or will illusions and lies prove stronger than their hearts?

UNDERWHELMING.

I’ve had this sitting on my TBR for a long time and I should have just taken it off. I am underwhelmed and maybe a little bitter I spent my time on this one.

Initially everything was FINE. But the further the book went the more I saw that the opportunities were there but the execution was not. Plot points throughout just didn’t click. And the amalgamation of them all left me unsatisfied. I didn’t MIND the main characters, Ember and Franco, but I also needed for from them.

The Cinderella retelling aspects were clearly identified and it was kind of interesting to see how it was reimagined. I think some more deviation would have helped rather than leaning so hard into the familiar story. I wanted that new feeling.

Things felt out of place and I won’t be continuing this series.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance Retelling
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 2 open door; moderate explicit
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: abusive stepmother, physical altercations and near death experiences, loss of a father

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ARC Book Review: Ash and Feather (Flame and Sparrow Duology #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: July 25th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The sequel to Flame and Sparrow.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

GREAT CONCLUSION.

I really liked this sequel y’all. It felt like an epic journey through so many different areas. I love how complex this world is. With the layers of gods, mortals, elves, creatures, etc. It has intense world building that I think is easy to follow and makes for a system that I am continually intrigued by.

I loved that this was dual POV. Getting both Karys and Dravyn’s view points was the extra little something I have been craving. I loved seeing deeper into their thoughts and insights and how they care for each other too. I adore the side characters and what they bring to the plot too.

The deep support systems make this entire cast characters to love. I liked the political maneuvering and I felt like I was watching my back at each moment wondering who was going to make it out of the final battle. I loved that there were moments of reconnection and communication between certain parties and the emotional journey that this took me on.

S.M. Gaither continues to be one of my favorite romantasy authors!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3 open door scenes
  • Violence: high

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