Tag: fantasy romance

Book Review: The Songbird & the Heart of Stone (Crowns of Nyaxia #3) by Carissa Broadbent

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 500 pages
Author: Carissa Broadbent
Publisher: Bramble Romance
Release Date: November 19th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

New York Times bestselling author and BookTok sensation Carissa Broadbent returns with a brand new novel in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, Songbird and the Heart of Stone, where A Court of Thorns and Roses meets Dante’s Inferno, in an epic fantasy romance of love and treachery between mortals and gods. Features beautiful case art and a detailed map.

In the descent to the underworld, a bride of the sun must choose between the light of her redemption… or a dark love that defies the gods themselves

Mische lost everything when she was forcibly Turned into a vampire – her home, her humanity, and most devastating of all, the love of the sun god to whom she had devoted her life. Now, sentenced to death for murdering the vampire prince who Turned her, redemption feels impossible.

But when Mische is saved by Asar, the bastard prince of the House of Shadow with a past as brutal as his scars, she’s forced into a mission worse than execution: a journey to the underworld to resurrect the god of death himself.

Yet, Mische’s punishment may be the key to her salvation. In a secret meeting, her sun god commands her to help Asar in his mission, only to betray him… by killing the very death god she’ll help resurrect.

Mische and Asar must travel the treacherous path to the underworld, facing trials, beasts, and the vengeful ghosts of their pasts. Yet, most dangerous of all is the alluring call of the darkness – and her forbidden attraction to Asar, a burgeoning bond that risks invoking the wrath of gods.

As her betrayal looms, the underworld closes in and angry gods are growing restless. Mische will be forced to choose between the redemption of the sun or the damnation of the darkness.

GOOD, BUT REPETITIVE.

I loved being back in this world and seeing Mische again. I adored her character from the first duo and was looking forward to seeing her journey through this book. And I totally did enjoy it, buuut I also had some issues with this one too.

My main issue was that the plot seemed repetitive. I thought each layer started to blend together and the same creature was attacking over and over again. There were good and softer (and spicier) moments woven throughout the journey that I looooved. I just wish we had more of those. Or a different kind of action.

BUT THE ENDING? I am a forever fan of wild cliffhangers and this one DELIVERED. It very much hyped me for the next book and I can’t wait to see what chaos ensues now.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate – high
  • Romance: 1-2 open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content Warnings: discussion of grooming and child abuse

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: The Arrow and the Alder by Barbara Kloss

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 460 pages
Author: Barbara Kloss
Publisher: Whimsical Publishing
Release Date: May 6th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Josephine doesn’t trust authority, particularly that of the immortal kith. They’re devious, cruel, and as far as she’s concerned, they deserve the curse that’s plagued their kingdom with mists and monsters. So when the High Lord visits Josephine’s village, looking for an enchanted coat—a coat she discovers buried beneath the floorboards of her home—she’s unwilling to hand it over. She wants answers the High Lord won’t give. When he threatens her family, she flees with the coat to protect them, accidentally stumbling into the cursed kith kingdom itself, and into the hands of a mysterious stranger.

The kith prince, Alder, has been imprisoned for two years, and only just escaped. He wants nothing more than to return home, but he’s a disgraced prodigal, and to show his face in the Weald Court again, he must earn back the queen’s trust. When he overhears the High Lord speaking of an enchanted coat that contains the very light stolen from their lands, he knows it’s his chance for atonement. But obtaining the coat from the mortal girl is proving more difficult than anticipated. She’s the only one who can touch it, but journeying with her could expose secrets he wants to keep hidden.
With the High Lord in pursuit, Josephine and Alder must work together, and the more Josephine learns about the coat, the more she questions everything she’s ever believed about her heritage, and the kith. Meanwhile, the curse is spreading into mortal lands, and if they don’t uncover how to release the coat’s power soon, there will be nothing left of either kith or mortal worlds.

THE ARROW AND THE ALDER is an upper young adult, closed-door romantic fantasy. This enemies-to-lovers tale features a rebel huntress, a fugitive prince, and a curse that will consume their worlds.

THIS WAS SO GOOD.

I’m a huge Barbara Kloss fan and have been impatiently waiting for her next book and once again, it absolutely delivers. I loved this one!!!! If you’re a standalone reader, PICK IT UUUUUP.

I loved the heated chemistry between Josephine and Alder. Good heavens they were MADE for each other. The glances and banter and protectiveness all coalesced into this beautiful romance that I was feral to read.

The pacing is on point and there’s never a dull moment. The rise and fall of different scenes created effortless movement. I couldn’t believe how much was packed into a less than 500 page fantasy. FLAWLESS OKAY.

I’m obsessed. This is easily one of my new favorite fantasies of 2025.

Overall audience notes:

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

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: November 2025

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Celebrating another turn around the sun! I hit it hard with holiday romances and found a couple new gems! Future reviews will be out soon or check my socials to see more breakdowns.

  • Princess of Blood (The Shards of Magic #2) by Sarah Hawley
  • [ARC] We Fell Apart (We Were Liars) by E. Lockhart
  • [ARC] Coldwire (Coldwire #1) by Chloe Gong
  • Check the Halls (The Ottawa Otters #2) by K.M. Gillis
  • The Things Gods Break (The Crucible #2) by Abigail Owen
  • [ARC] The Wild Card (Sheet Cake #4) by Emma St. Clair
  • Soul Searching (Sweetwater Peak #1) by Lyla Sage
  • How He Got the Girl (Sweeter Than Fiction #2) by Amanda Schimmoeller
  • Mate (Bride #2) by Ali Hazelwood
  • Moth Dark by Kika Hatzopoulou
  • My Merry Mistake (Holidays with Hart #3) by Courtney Walsh
  • Thorn Season (Thorn Season #1) by Kiera Azar
  • A Wraith Beneath the Tides (Beyond the Tides #1) by Emilia Jae
  • Smoke and Scar (Shattered Crown #1) by Gretchen Powell Fox
  • The Princess Knight by Cait Jacobs
  • About Last Christmas by Rachel Scott McDaniel
  • Never Over by Clare Gilmore
  • [ALC] Arrow of Fortune (The Raiders of the Arcana #3) by Jacquelyn Benson
  • Highland Holiday by Kasey Stockton
  • [ARC/ALC] The Marriage Method by Mimi Matthews
  • That’s A Great Question, I’d Love to Tell You by Elyse Myers
  • Big Nick Energy by Kristen Bailey
  • Sleigh Bells and Snowstorms by Claire Kingsley
  • [ALC] Moms of Mayhem (Mayhem Hockey Club #1) by Aimee Vance
  • Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend (Catching Feelings #1) by Kate Watson
  • Brimstone (Fae & Alchemy #2) by Callie Hart
  • Silent Heist by Jenessa Fayeth
  • [ARC/ALC] Better in Black (Shadowhunter Chronicles) by Cassandra Clare
  • [ARC] The Bodyguard Affair by Amy Lea
  • [Novella] The Holidate Switch by Torie Jean
  • [ARC/ALC] Dawn of the Firebird by Sarah Mughal Rana
  • [Novella] Mistletoe Fall Out by Larissa Hommes
  • A Little Holiday Fling by Farrah Heron
  • [Novella/ARC] How to Kiss on Christmas Morning by Jenny Proctor
  • [Novella] Merrily Ever After by Catherine Walsh
  • Eclipse of the Crown (Villains & Virtues #3) by A.K. Caggiano
  • Please Don’t Go (Midnight Strike #1) by E. Salvador
  • [Novella] Snow Place Like Home (Home Sweet Holidays) by Laura Pavlov
  • [Novella] Merry and Bright (Home Sweet Holidays) by Ali Rosen
  • [Novella] All Wrapped Up in You (Home Sweet Holidays) by Rosie Danan

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: The Princess Knight by Cait Jacobs

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 512 pages
Author: Cait Jacobs
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Release Date: October 14th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A princess desperate to win back the prince who broke her heart follows him to his kingdom’s prestigious military academy—and in doing so, falls in love, saves the realm, and continues to look fabulous in this delightful debut fantasy.

Domhnall and Clía are an ideal match—or so everyone says. They are prince and princess of neighboring kingdoms. An alliance the gods will smile on. Until Domhnall ruins everything by refusing to propose.

Heartbroken but determined, Clía makes the perfect plan: Follow Domhnall to Caisleán Cósta, the military academy he’s attending. Show she can protect her kingdom. Secure the betrothal. Sure, the castle has a brutal reputation. But how hard can dueling really be?

Warrior Ronan promised himself he’d never lose his focus. He fought and sacrificed for his place at Caisleán Cósta, and he has no time for blonde princesses who waltz intro arenas like they’re attending a ball. Even if she and her otter-like pet are…well, cute.

He doesn’t want to be intrigued by Clía. But her hunger to prove herself is something he understands. He tells himself there’s no harm training her. Even if his heart does race around her. Even if Domhnall is his best friend.

But as they say, love is a battlefield—and unfortunately for them all, a very real war is looming on the horizon. It’s a fight that will threaten all their kingdoms…and test all their hearts. 

Thank you to Harper Voyager for the gifted copy.

IT’S GOT SOME CHARM.

I will say the best part of this book was noticing all of the Legally Blonde moments woven into a fantasy setting. I thought that concept worked out really well here and was fun to see.

Where it kind of let me down was the length. It just felt long. And I think some of the pacing could have been tightened up (or more romance added in) and the balance would have been a bit more even. I liked Clia well enough and that she really put herself into a new atmosphere and learned a lot.

I would have loved more swoon with Ronan. They had a sweet friends to lovers dynamic that needed some oomph.

It was a good debut though. I would read another book from this author!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: moderate

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph