Tag: fantasy romance

Cait’s Greats 2023: Fantasy Favorites

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Y’all know this is my favorite genre. I live and breath fantasy books. Below you’ll find my five stars from 2023. I hope you find some good books for your TBR! Find me on Instagram (@goodeyreads) if you have any questions about any of them!

It’s interesting to me that this is smaller than my contemporary category, though I read twice as many fantasies. It’s a coveted spot to make it on this list.

And I know some of these might lean towards dystopian or paranormal/urban, I did my what I could in putting them in the category I thought would work best.

A few things to note:

  • I don’t include rereads on this list! But I did read Divine Rivals and Fourth Wing twice this year.
  • Scroll down to see which books are open, closed or sweet romances!

Open Door:

  • Six Scorched Roses
  • Lady of Darkness
  • The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King
  • Fourth Wing
  • Jade Shards
  • The Endless War
  • Celestial
  • Spark of the Everflame
  • The Shards of Ophelia
  • The Bones of Benevolence
  • Glow of the Everflame
  • A Fate Inked in Blood
  • Heat of the Everflame
  • Two Twisted Crowns
  • The Hurricane Wars
  • Iron Flame
  • Bride

Closed Door / Fade to Black:

  • Dragonfire
  • Wildheart
  • The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi
  • To Poison a King
  • Light Bringer
  • Assistant to the Villain
  • The Goddess Eye
  • The Fragile Threads of Power
  • The Unmaking of June Farrow
  • An Heir of Frost
  • Divine Rivals
  • What the River Knows
  • Bring Me Your Midnight
  • Foxglove
  • Silence & Shadow
  • Blade Breaker
  • Reign
  • The Scarlet Veil

Sweet (kisses/make-outs):

  • Tress of the Emerald Sea
  • The Jasad Heir
  • Yumi and the Nightmare Painter
  • Babel
  • The Sunlit Man
  • The Binding Season
  • Into the Churn
  • A Tournament of Crowns
  • Last Violent Call
  • The Isle of the Gods
  • Foul Heart Huntsman
  • Realm Breaker
  • Face the Night
  • Her Radiant Curse
  • Vengeance of the Pirate Queen
  • Drift
  • Sinner’s Isle
  • Lost Kingdom
  • This Dark Descent
  • Well of Dreams
  • Powerless

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Book Review: To Bleed a Crystal Bloom (Crystal Bloom #1) by Sarah A. Parker

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 486 pages
Author: Sarah A. Parker
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: July 24th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

What a pretty flower to keep locked in a big, rocky tower.

Nineteen years ago, I was plucked from the heart of a bloody massacre that spared nobody else.

Small. Fragile.
An enigma.

Now ward to a powerful High Master who knows too much and says too little, I lead a simple life, never straying from the confines of an imaginary line I’ve drawn around the castle grounds.
Stay within. Never leave.
Out there, the monsters lurk. Inside, I’m safe … though at a cost far greater than the blood I drip into a goblet daily.
Toxic, unreciprocated love for a man who’s utterly unavailable.

My savior. My protector.
My almost executioner.

I can’t help but be enamored with the arcane man who holds the power to pull my roots from the ground.

When voracious beasts spill across the land and threaten to fray the fabric of my tailored existence, the petals of reality will peel back to reveal an ugly truth. But in a castle puddled with secrets, none are greater than the one I’ve kept from myself.

No tower is tall enough to protect me from the horror that tore my life to shreds.

IT KIND OF WORKED FOR ME?

I have felt super conflicted over my thoughts on this one.

One one hand, I really did like this overall. It is dark, it is a bit twisted, but the author did a good job of conveying that and it was written in a way that didn’t bug me too much. I could see great potential for Orlaith’s character development and the whole Rapunzel theme was perfect.

I did think the “heat” scenes in the middle of the book were way out of left field? And forced the steam rather than a natural development. It was kind of weird, I don’t understand why it was there and could have used a whole lot less of it.

The reader is kept in the dark as much as Orlaith and I liked that plot choice. I was kept enough in the loop to keep me going and that was fine with me. I figured more would be explained throughout the series and was getting a big enough taste to want to read those books.

There’s some plot holes involving Orlaith’s drug addiction and other tidbits that I thought were thrown to the side and needed more closure about, small plot things kept jutting out to me that left a little flustered.

But now after seeing some reviews and speaking with friends who’ve read the second book I’ve decided, at this time, not to pick it up. I have some major thoughts on the romance arc (that I won’t go into here because of spoilers) that I would need answered to give the whole series a go.

Overall audience notes:

  • Dark Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: high innuendo; 1-2 open scenes
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: abusive relationship, PTSD, agoraphobia, panic attacks, nightmares/night terrors, self-harm, drug use, drug addiction, blood/gore depiction

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Book Review: Fates Illuminated (Call of the Norns #1) by Aimee Vance

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Time Travel Romance
Length: 300 pages
Author: Aimee Vance
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 26th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The dawn of Shelbie’s 31st birthday found her melancholy, adrift in a world where she felt bound to be always a side character, never the star of her own story.

All of that changed when she spontaneously booked a trip to Sweden with an itinerary full of hiking and horseback riding – two things that weren’t exactly in her comfort zone.

She expected to see the Northern Lights, nurse sore muscles, and, heaven forbid, pee in the woods. Those things she had time to prepare for, even if none of her preparations went as she had planned.

What she didn’t expect, though, was for her Fate to be tied to a much larger story, one that had unfolded long ago, and would immerse her in a world of people and things she’d only ever read about in novels.

BUT, VIKINGS?

When you think of a Viking book, what comes to mind? I’d say something with intensity, action and passion. I got maybe some passion here and I am missing out on the rest.

There was no conflict? Shelbie shows up at a different time, and every single person she meets is nice. Everyone is ready to help and she frolics around making birthday cakes and watching friendly competitions.

I DID love most of the side characters though. And would love to see more of them. A unique group of people who all were bringing something for the story. Even it wasn’t wholly moving the plot forward.

Romance wise, it’s a bit instant. I wanted more lead-up. Domari and Shelbie did grow on me but I think I’m supposed to feel more invested at this point. The ending left a lot for me to consider and enough so that I do want to give book two a chance. I’m curious how it’s going to go, hopefully well, and I’ll probably be back with another review soon.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: multiple open; low-med explicit
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: small physical altercations

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Book Review: Keeper of Enchanted Rooms (Whimbrel House #1) by Charlie N. Holmberg

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Fiction/Fantasy Romance
Length: 347 pages
Author: Charlie N. Holmberg
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 1st, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Rhode Island, 1846. Estranged from his family, writer Merritt Fernsby is surprised when he inherits a remote estate in the Narragansett Bay. Though the property has been uninhabited for more than a century, Merritt is ready to call it home—until he realizes he has no choice. With its doors slamming shut and locking behind him, Whimbrel House is not about to let Merritt leave. Ever.

Hulda Larkin of the Boston Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms has been trained in taming such structures in order to preserve their historical and magical significance. She understands the dangers of bespelled homes given to tantrums. She advises that it’s in Merritt’s best interest to make Whimbrel House their ally. To do that, she’ll need to move in, too.

Prepared as she is with augury, a set of magic tools, and a new staff trained in the uncanny, Hulda’s work still proves unexpectedly difficult. She and Merritt grow closer as the investigation progresses, but the house’s secrets run deeper than they anticipated. And the sentient walls aren’t their only concern—something outside is coming for the enchantments of Whimbrel House, and it could be more dangerous than what rattles within.

I LIKED IT.

I consider this a soft four stars. Some miscommunication popped up that made me want to shake a few people, but otherwise this was a pretty delightful and enchanting read.

The plot was a fantastic idea. I loved the idea of a sentient house (with secrets of its own) and a whole society dedicated to taking care of those situations. There’s reverse grump x sunshine here that also worked so well. I adored Hulda and Merritt’s dynamic. It was charming, a bit humorous and sweet.

I don’t think the extra chapters following an antagonist really changed anything? That could have been covered in a sit down between characters and the pace would have been a bit more steady.

It’s a cozy story and the audio narration was great. There’s a good mix of action and intrigue and I liked how things came together in the end. I liked the whimsical nature and I’m curious to see where book two will go.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical fiction / Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: brief mentions of child abuse, murder, physical injuries

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