Tag: fantasy romance

Book Review: The Goddess Eye (The Blood and Water Saga #1) by Cassidy Clarke

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 651 pages
Author: Cassidy Clarke
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 25th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

RAQUEL ANGELOV is going home.
To keep yet another Atlas royal from falling to a deity’s influence, Raquel must return to a place she was banished from long ago…Skyhaven, a community of Tempest-blessed zealots that exists outside all kingdom borders. But she vowed never to return for a reason, and when seeking the God of Nature’s relic puts her in the path of a dangerous old “friend,” it will take all her strength to escape from Skyhaven a second time…and to protect the Atlas princes who followed her there.

THE ATLAS BROTHERS are fighting a new war.
Taunted and tempted by deities intent on their own purposes, Kallias and Finnick Atlas are in for the fight of their lives. Long-kept secrets and long-held grudges threaten the vows sworn between them, and if the brothers can’t find their way through the kingdom of their enemies, Atlas may lose its last line of defense..and its last remaining successors.

SOREN ATLAS loves both her kingdoms…but torn loyalties are the perfect seeds for chaos to bloom.
On the run from mercenaries who would see the host of a goddess dead or worse, Soren and Elias find themselves taking shelter somewhere they never thought they’d see again…home. But things in Nyx are not the same as they were. Corrupted magic has crept its way across the Atlas border and brought Tenebrae’s influence with it, wiping out entire towns without a single soldier in sight. With the Chaos God gaining ground, the weight of a goddess’s soul breaking her body piece by piece, and both of her families in danger, Soren must find a way to save one without sacrificing the other…and without falling prey to the song of discord winding its way through the very heart of Nyx.

THE EMOTIONAL DESTRUCTION.

I HAVE NOT RECOVERED. How does Cassidy Clarke right these massive fantasy books that don’t feel long at all? I am in love with all of these characters and now I’m sad I have to wait for book four. READ THIS SERIES.

I love how heavily character driven this series is. I am deeply and emotionally attached to each and every one and I love how many POV’s we get. This book was the most romantic book of the bunch. I loved the increase focus on some of the couples and where there stories are taking them. While this book HURT it also had this softer quality that I’m absolutely sure is gearing up for some destruction in future books.

This is such a hidden gem of the indie fantasy world and I beg of you to give it a try. There’s MEDDLING GODS, politicking, battles, ROMANCE, magic and world building that is well crafted and not overwhelming. I love this series so much.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: torture, whipping, loss of life, loss of loved ones, physical and weapons violence

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Book Review: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

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Rating: ★★★★
Genre: Paranormal Romance 
Length: 336 pages
Author: Sangu Mandanna
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: August 23rd, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A warm and uplifting novel about an isolated witch whose opportunity to embrace a quirky new family–and a new love–changes the course of her life.

As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don’t mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she’s used to being alone and she follows the rules…with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos pretending to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously.

But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and…Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he’s concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.

As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn’t the only danger in the world, and when a threat comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn’t know she was looking for….

FULL OF HEART.

I’ve seen this compared to The House on the Cerulean Sea and is definitely a comparison I can follow. This had a lot of those vibes but in a new story that I adored all the same.

I loved the found family between the girls, Mika, and everyone else in the house. Mika needed most to find somewhere to belong with people who knew everything about her and wouldn’t have to leave. I love that she got that chance and how we saw the ups and downs of allowing someone into our lives. It’s not always steps forward, but it’s worth it in the end for the right people.

The romance could have used a little more oomph for me. I did like it, but I thought it was missing something. Maybe a bit more between them would have helped me feel fully connected to Mika and Jamie.

I liked the plot and it moved with a steady pace for a read like this. There were some surprises and a great ending that was filled with sweetness and hope in new beginnings. I’d love to read another book by this author!

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: open but then fade to black
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: mention of death of parent, emotionally detached parent, sibling abuse

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Book Review: The Jasad Heir (The Scorched Throne #1) by Sara Hashem

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 523 pages
Author: Sara Hashem
Publisher: Orbit Books
Release Date: July 18th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Ten years ago, the kingdom of Jasad burned. Its magic outlawed; its royal family murdered down to the last child. At least, that’s what Sylvia wants people to believe.

The lost Heir of Jasad, Sylvia never wants to be found. She can’t think about how Nizahl’s armies laid waste to her kingdom and continue to hunt its people—not if she wants to stay alive. But when Arin, the Nizahl Heir, tracks a group of Jasadi rebels to her village, staying one step ahead of death gets trickier.

In a moment of anger Sylvia’s magic is exposed, capturing Arin’s attention. Now, to save her life, Sylvia will have to make a deal with her greatest enemy. If she helps him lure the rebels, she’ll escape persecution.

A deadly game begins. Sylvia can’t let Arin discover her identity even as hatred shifts into something more. Soon, Sylvia will have to choose between the life she wants and the one she left behind. The scorched kingdom is rising, and it needs a queen.

In this Egyptian-inspired debut fantasy, a fugitive queen strikes a deadly bargain with her greatest enemy and finds herself embroiled in a complex game that could resurrect her scorched kingdom or leave it in ashes forever.

EVERYTHING I LOVE.

I loved this book. It sang to everything I love about adult fantasy books. An intricate plot with complicated world building. An interesting magic system with hidden identities. A super slow burn romance with the forbidden enemy. All things I will soak up every dang time.

The audiobook was really great and I think that helped with some reviews saying it’s a bit slow. I didn’t have that issue and I liked seeing Sylvia’s story. She is ANGRY (and it comes across that way in the narration), rightfully so, but she also doesn’t have all of the facts. I loved seeing this beginning character arc and the ending was exactly what I hoped for to set up for book two.

I’m a sucker for this kind of romance. It’s slow, it’s dangerous, and the characters don’t even see it coming. Working with the enemy in a forced proximity situation is my lifeblood.

A great first book for a new series I will absolutely be looking forward to the sequel.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: heated kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: battle themes, loss of loved ones, murder, weapons violence, near death experiences

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Book Review: Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Publisher: Red Tower Books
Release Date: September 5th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

ASSISTANT WANTED:Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem, terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits.

With ailing family to support, Evie Sage’s employment status isn’t just important, it’s vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer—naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie.

But just when she’s getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat…and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain—and his entire nefarious empire—out.

Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work…and ensure he makes them pay.

After all, a good job is hard to find.

WHAT A DELIGHT.

I have been seeing some serious hype for this and I’m happy it didn’t disappoint! I was smitten from the get-go with Evie and the Villain and I love how quirky and different this was in the fantasy romance genre. I liked that it was still villainy but it felt a little lighter. Not weighed down with world building, but more of the focus on the office romance and the spy in the midst.

The mutual pining between Evie and the Villain was next level. I ADORED them. I love how protective the Villain became and how Evie had perfect little quips about not falling for the bad guy and how that utterly failed.

I enjoyed the plot. There’s betrayals and good turns, I love a ball scene, round it out with an evil king and I am excited to see where book two leads.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, attempted murder, murder, loss of a parent (recounted)

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