Tag: fantasy romance

ARC Book Review: Sincerely, Secretary of Doom (High Court of the Coffee Bean #2) by Jennifer Kropf

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Urban Fantasy + Romance
Length: 410 pages
Author: Jennifer Kropf
Publisher: Winter Publishing House
Release Date: May 29th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The High Court of the Coffee Bean returns with a sassy, wicked streak.

Months after the deadly assassins-turned-baristas left the Four Corners of Ever behind for good, Doom comes knocking at Mor Trisencor’s door. And it’s wearing stilettos.

When the Fairy Post gets an unexpected, grand following in the human realm for its vintage feel and whimsical words, Mor gets busier than ever typing out articles, following up on leads of fairy mischief, and everything else that goes along with being a faeborn reporter. But his heavy workload comes to a screeching halt when he spots someone in the human realm that shouldn’t be there—an old foe of his. One he thought he would never see again. One he’d prayed to the sky deities that he wouldn’t cross paths with after the day Mor abandoned the Shadow Army, leaving a trail of flames and destruction in his wake. For the first time since the Fairy Post was published, the newspaper gets put on hold and Mor goes hunting.

Mor can think of nothing else but stopping this foe before ripples of doom begin to stir up the human realm.

Violet Miller is a journalist with a mysterious past her amnesia forbids her from remembering. But when she gets let go from her job at the most prestigious news station in the city, her unexplained past becomes the least of her problems. She thinks it’s all over for her as a journalist, until she sees a job posting for a secretary position at a niche, laughable “old school style” newspaper called the Fairy Post.

The day Violet shows up at Mor’s house—or, creepy, dark cathedral is more like it—is the day that everything changes for her. Before Violet even has a chance to ask about the job, she’s mistakenly marked as Mor’s lover by his “enemies” and she finds herself in the crosshairs of a battle of inhuman creatures who’d rather “stab first and ask questions later.”

This marks the beginning of a love-hate relationship (mostly hate) between a fae assassin born of the Shadows, and a lipstick-wearing, mascara wielding human born to be in the spotlight.

While reading this second installment of the High Court of the Coffee Bean series, you may find yourself craving macaroons, listening to the wind for signs of fairy magic, and wishing you had a “creepy, dark, creaking, abandoned cathedral” of your own to call home.

Thank you to Book of Matches Media and Jennifer Kropf for the gifted copy.

A DELIGHT.

I think this series is so much fun. I love how unique it is in the urban fantasy sphere and the cozy vibes really play well into the story. I love this entire group of fae and they crack me up with the antics and shenanigans.

I’m not usually one to read an amnesia book, but this is definitely an exception to the rule. I loved how it played out and how the flashback chapters wove into the present timeline. There’s a good amount of backstory that makes so many things make sense as you go along.

The romance was sweet and I liked how it unfolded. I think I would have loved just a bit more romance, but I digress. I loved all of the banter and sass and even the nine-tailed fox.

I’m definitely looking forward to book three!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Cozy Urban Fantasy
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low-moderate

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: Captured by Chaos by Kathryn Marie

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: E.J. Mellow
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 21st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Protect the Peace.

On the Isle of Kazola, peace has always been protected by The Onyx Guard, an elite force of genetically modified soldiers.

Kasha has lived her life in the Onyx Guard. But when she is passed over for an advancement and forced to follow the Alpha promoted in her place, she must find a way to put her anger aside and work with him.

Because their team is on the hunt for Elliot Wells, an elusive killer who has terrorized Kazola for years. And there is more to his twisted deviance that meets the eye.

Along the journey, Kasha must learn to face her past, accept her new reality, and trust others…or else the deaths will continue, and everything she has built for herself might just slip away.

This New Adult Paranormal Fantasy & Romance tale takes readers on an epic journey of found family, a swoon-worthy rivals to lovers slow burn, and a unique twist on werewolves and vampires that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

HMM.

I went in with high hopes about this one but was pretty dashed as things went on. As a ME thing,, I love a good amount of dialogue and the start of this book didn’t have a lot. The inner monologue of Kasha was good for a bit then I needed more.

The idea of the combined shifter + vampire lore was unique! I did like that and the general world building and magic system. It’s clearly explained and easy to follow. I liked the urban setting that combined some technology aspects with old world things too.

Romance was, I don’t know if I can even call it rivals to lovers? There’s not actually any rivalry. Just a general miscommunication (not in a bad way) that gets solved pretty quickly that then leads to a romance. It has some sweet moments, but I wasn’t swept away with Nolan and Kasha like I wanted to be.

I enjoyed all of the found family and side characters too. There was a great tight knit bond between Kasha and her group and I am always here for unconditional support. There’s another small plot thing or two that I struggled with. I’m on the fence about continuing the series at this time.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: light
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, serial killer, sexual assault & rape (recounted), therapy sessions

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

ARC Book Review: The Hemlock Queen (The Nightshade Crown #2) by Hannah F. Whitten

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 450 pages
Author: Hannah F. Whitten
Publisher: Orbit
Release Date: April 9th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In the second installment of New York Times bestselling author Hannah Whitten’s lush, romantic epic fantasy series, a young woman who can raise the dead must navigate the dangerous and glamorous world of the Sainted King’s royal court. 

The corrupt king August is dead. Prince Bastian has seized the throne and raised Lore—a necromancer and former smuggler—to his right hand side. Together they plan to cut out the rot from the heart of the sainted court and help the people of Dellaire. But not everyone is happy with the changes. The nobles are sowing dissent, the Kyrithean Empire is beating down their door, and Lore’s old allies are pulling away. Even Prince Bastian’s changed. No longer the hopeful, rakish, charismatic man Lore knows and loves, instead he’s reckless, domineering and cold. 

And something’s been whispering in her ear. A voice, dark and haunting, that’s telling her there’s more to the story than she knows and more to her power than she can even imagine. A truth buried deep that could change everything. 

With Bastian’s coronation fast approaching and enemies whispering on all sides, Lore must figure out how to protect herself, her prince, and her country before they all come crumbling down and whatever dark power has been creeping through the catacombs is unleashed.

Thank you to Orbit Books for the gifted ARC.

OOOOOH Y’ALL.

Do I have thoughts.

First, this is a really solid middle book. It didn’t have me in a chokehold like book one, but it also didn’t have a second book meltdown. The plot keeps moving and the meddling gods cause way more chaos and I am here for it all. I enjoy Lore as the main character and like her balance of softness and strength.

Nowww. The romance. I am just not feeling it like I was in book one. I think there was a bit less of a connection and I didn’t get enough moments throughout. Nor do I know where this is heading and that has left me befuddled too. I’m a wee bit concerned on how things will shake out in the last book.

I didn’t mind the plot and while yes, there’s some repetitive nature to it, I still felt like I had an enjoyable time reading the story. It goes by pretty quickly and has a more young adult writing style with adult content. There’s a great amount of upheaval that occurred at the end and I thought it left off at a spot that had me wanting to know what happens next.

Overll audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 1-2 open door; mentions of closed door
  • Violence: high

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: Oathbound (The Royal Rose Chronicles #1) by Victoria McCombs

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 304 pages
Author: Victoria McCombs
Publisher: Enclave Publishing
Release Date: January 1st, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Beware the waters. The dangerous deep brings ruin to all.

Emme has spent her life avoiding anything to do with pirates. But the fates are cruel, and now a hidden sickness leads her to partner with pirates for the one thing that can save her—a cure on an island none are certain exists.

The pirate captain’s secrets are darker than the deep and threaten to kill them all. His obligations are tinged with betrayal, for his oathbind must be fulfilled. To ignore it is to invite peril of unimaginable destruction.

As the adventure unfolds, the sea takes more than she expects and the sea gives more than he wants.

A BIT SOFT.

I don’t know that I’ve ever called a pirate, high seas adventure fantasy, soft. But that’s the only word that keeps triggering in my mind after finishing. I don’t fully think it was a bad thing for me, just different. Nobody wanted to unalive anybody and I had a hard time grasping that ideal with the way the story is set up.

The romance is super soft, minimal angst, added in with some drama. Once I got that vibe I thought it was cute. Emme and Arn were clearly into each other and they learned to work together and solve problems with the rest of the crew.

For the plot, it’s a typical pirate adventure with mysterious sea creatures, ship battles and hidden treasure. I still had a good time reading it and didn’t have any noticeable issues. It’s a solid younger YA read and I do have plans to continue the series and see some other points of view.

Audiobook note: I thought the narrators voice overall was great. BUT this is dual POV between Arn and Emme and the voice did not change enough between the chapters that I felt confused at times as to whose POV I was listeing to.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, loss of a parent, creature attacks, murder, alcohol consumption

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph