Tag: fantasy romance

Book Review: Foxglove (Belladonna #2) by Adalyn Grace

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 464 pages
Author: Adalyn Grace
Publisher: Little, Brown Books
Release Date: August 22nd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The captivating sequel to the Gothic-infused Belladonna, in which Signa and Death face a supernatural foe determined to tear them apart.

A duke has been murdered. The lord of Thorn Grove has been framed. And Fate, the elusive brother of Death, has taken up residence in a sumptuous estate nearby. He’s hellbent on revenge after Death took the life of the woman he loved many years ago…and now he’s determined to have Signa for himself, no matter the cost.

Signa and her cousin Blythe are certain that Fate can save Elijah Hawthorne from prison if they will entertain his presence. But the more time the girls spend with Fate, the more frightening their reality becomes as Signa exhibits dramatic new powers that link her to Fate’s past. With mysteries and danger around every corner, the cousins must decide if they can trust one another as they navigate their futures in high society, unravel the murders that haunt their family, and play Fate’s unexpected games–all with their destinies hanging in the balance.

Dangerous, suspenseful, and seductive, this sequel to the story of Signa and Death is as utterly romantic as it is perfectly deadly.

THE PIVOT.

Y’all. This is how you do a middle book. I loved it! I took my time devouring every word and tabbing all of my favorite little moments. I love the lush, gothic vibes and how dark and devious everything is. This is painted in morally gray and I am here for it all.

I loved getting to see more of Signa and Death (and if I had to lodge one minor complaint I wanted more of them!!). A lot happens with their relationship, and with the addition of Fate, I honestly never knew exactly where this plot was going to go. I had a few ideas and when those started to come to fruition I was GIDDY. I AM SO EXCITED FOR THE NEXT BOOK IT IS UNFATHOMABLE.

Anyways, incredible mysterious plot. Some fantastically swoony moments. Twists and turns and all the things that I love about this series. I love Adalyn Grace’s writing style. This is not a book to miss!

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: one vague open door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: false imprisonment, loss of life, murder, attempted murder, near death experiences

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: A City of Flames (A City of Flames #1) by Rina Vasquez

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 456 pages
Author: Rina Vasquez
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 31st, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Nara desires justice for her father’s murder; hunting dragons might bring her peace

Or pain as she learns the ugly truth.

When a fire dragon attacks her village, the perfect opportunity to take revenge on the creatures that killed her father arises. But the dragon she’s intent to capture seems fascinated by Nara, a detail not missed by those around her. The strange event leads to an invitation to join the venators—the order of people who slay dangerous magical creatures—like her father before her.

The offer is a dream come true.

After all, who wouldn’t jump at the chance to destroy the cruel, dangerous creatures that enslaved humans for thousands of years up until three centuries ago? But Nara is about to learn a dangerous secret; history is written by the winner. Those she hunts might not be her enemies, and those she thinks she can trust might just want to kill her.

CAN’T WAIT FOR BOOK TWO.

I randomly found this scrolling reels one evening and immediately downloaded it to start reading. And I was not disappointed. Bring on all of the dragon shifter romances.

Nara is a great FMC. I loved her tenacity and strength and how she was open to her world view changing as she learned new facts. Nara was easy to root for and I look forward to seeing her character arc in the next book.

I adored the snarky banter and light enemies to lovers vibe in the romance. There’s a bit of a love triangle that didn’t phase me much too. It all worked well into the plot and the reveals at the end lined up in a way that has me anxious to read the next book. I looooved that this was slow burn and not a rush to get to the spice just because. Showing that build in the relationship and actually giving time to it has me all the more connected.

Looking forward to following this journey to the next book!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: light
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of loved ones, battle scenes, murder, weapons and creature violence

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

ARC Book Review: Welcome to Fae Cafe (High Court of the Coffee Bean #1) by Jennifer Kropf

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Urban Fantasy Romance
Length: 405 pages
Author: Jennifer Kropf
Publisher: Winter Publishing House
Release Date: October 3rd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

There are ten golden rules to follow if you want to survive an encounter with a fae.

On a cozy fall morning, Kate Kole is nestled in a coffee shop in the city of Toronto reading her favourite novel when she accidentally kills a guy who’s being rude to the coffee shop’s cashier. Unfortunately for Kate, the person she killed was a fae assassin of the North Corner of Ever, visiting the human realm in secret.

From there, four deadly fae assassins come to the human realm to hunt her down for breaking a fairy law and killing one of their own. Leading them is Prince Cressica Alabastian, the most feared and deadly fae assassin of the North and heir to the North Corner of Ever.

After the assassins arrive in the human realm, things go terribly wrong. To Prince Cressica’s horror, his assassins unwittingly get roped into running a cozy café on Kate Kole’s behalf. To blend in, the fae assassins are forced to learn how to do basic human activities like cleaning up after themselves, driving without road rage, reading popular fantasy books at book club without getting into alpha male fights over what they’re reading, and in general, be nice, all to blend into regular human society.

With a temper like no other, and deadly power that’s unmatched, Prince Cressica seeks to get revenge on Kate Kole. But as he aims to strike where it will hurt her the most, the Prince finds himself enchanted by his human target in more ways than one. And when the darkness of the Ever Corners comes knocking at the human realm’s door, he needs to make a choice that could cost him everything.

Thank you to Book of Matches Media and the author for an eARC.

THIS WAS GREAT.

I picked this up for its unique premise and it did not disappoint. I loved the urban fantasy vibes and watching four fae assassin’s try to figure out life in Toronto. I laughed multiple times at the things they went through and thought the author did a fantastic job of bringing the humor to this type of novel.

The grump x sunshine romance between Cress and Kate was fun to watch. I liked their banter and especially in the second half when the romance picked up a bit more (I do wish there had been more throughout). There’s lots of good fall and winter moments and Cress is one of those protective fae heroes we love to see. I thought the ending was interesting and wrapped up a few specific plot lines while leaving room for more story (I’m hoping we get a book for each assassin??).

It is definitely in the cozy genre. There is some intense action sprinkled throughout, but a lot of it is Kate figuring out life while the assassin’s figure out her. It’s a great combination and I just genuinely enjoyed how different this was than my usual reads.

Overall audience notes:

  • Cozy Urban Fantasy
  • Language: some throughout
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: blood/gore depiction, loss of loved ones

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: Where Oceans Burn (Where Oceans Burn #1) by Casey L. Bond

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 467 pages
Author: Casey L. Bond
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: October 13th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

With these three virtues, we shall rise. With these three, we shall conquer.

Truth. Honor. Blood.

To my people, the sky-reigning Empyreans, Intention Day is sacred…

Truth…
To me, it’s the day my carefully crafted lie crumbles and my truth gives way to my ruin. The intense power surging through my veins is revealed, immediately coveted by those eager to exploit me for what they deem a greater good. If they have their way, the future I long for will be ripped away. But I am a warrior born to fly. To fight. Not to be caged and controlled.

The great scale of the goddess Neera has tipped out of my favor. The pans teeter between weighty punishment and deadly opportunity. My choices? Capture my most formidable enemy before next Intention Day, or forfeit my wings.

Honor…
But life’s loftiest plans are often a breath away from disaster, and tragedy strikes as unpredictably as a bolt of lightning. When I find myself at the mercy of my greatest enemy, the terror known as the Shark of the Sea, the monster who killed the person I loved most, I accept my fate. My death. But the Shark does not lash out in revenge for all I’ve done. He tells me his true name is Crest. And while he calls me a Scourge, he honors his orders to guard me.

Blood…
Forced together, Crest reveals that the truth only exists in the place between our perspectives and shares his hope to garner peace before the land is further soaked with the blood of sky and sea. The longer I am among his kind, the more I wonder if he might be right. Could an alliance be the salvation of both our peoples?

I am Elira, great Scourge of the Sky.
He is Crest, cunning Shark of the Sea.
Together… we could be unstoppable.

I HAVE THOUGHTS.

I feel really mixed on this one.

On one hand, the writing is excellent. But on the other, every scene was extended or explained just a touch too long making this book about 100 pages more than absolutely necessary. I liked the premise and set-up a lot. A good dose of enemies to lovers and righting wrongs and this is filled with plenty of reasons I pick up fantasy books like this.

I did think the Oracle/Seer angle took away from the story. It was causing a lot of telegraphing because of how often they were popping up. The gods then felt distant and not quite clicking with the main plot. There was little to no action for what should have been more interactive scenes between the two warring groups. I hope there’s a bit more intensity in the next read.

Elira and Crest have a nice super slow build happening. I appreciated a lot of the aspects of their relationship dynamic because of the way the story was put together. It’s realistic and not rushed so that alone makes me want to give book two a go.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: med-high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of loved ones, war themes, loss of life, attempted murder, near drowning

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph