Tag: fantasy romance

Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: September 2023

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THE BER MONTHS HAVE ARRIVED. Now if I could just get the weather to cooperate. I only had one absolute dud of a book this month and plenty of great reads. A little slower for me as I read some BIG fantasy books.

Happy reading!

Favorites of September:

  • Reign
  • Emma Lion Vol. 3
  • ACOTAR Reread
  • Mrs. Nash’s Ashes
  • The Goddess Eye
  • Heat of the Everflame
  • A Little Magic
  • Once Upon a Broken Heart Reread
  • Can’t Help Falling
  • Heidi Lucy Loses Her Mind
  • ACOMAF Reread
  • Things We Left Behind
  • Her Radiant Curse
  • Faking the Fall
  • Two Twisted Crowns
  • Shadow and Silence
  • Blade Breaker

Least Favorites:

  • Main Character Energy
  • Reign (American Royals #4) by Katharine McGee
  • The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion (Vol. 3) by Beth Brower
  • Best Friends, Back Ups & Something More by Ranee S. Clark
  • Just a Football Star (Tate Brothers #2) by Deb Goodman
  • [Reread] A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR #1) by SJM
  • Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adler
  • The Goddess Eye (The Blood and Water Saga #3) by Cassidy Clarke
  • Hold Back the River by Ashley Dill
  • Neve A Hero (Monsters #2) by Vanessa Len
  • The Fall Back Plan (Sweater Weather #2) by Melanie Jacobson
  • Savage Bred (The Royal Rose Chronicles #3) by Victoria McCombs
  • [ALC] The Ex-Mas Holidays by Zoe Allison
  • [ARC] Heat of the Everflame (Kindred’s Curse #3) by Penn Cole
  • Knife of Dreams (Wheel of Time #11) by Robert Jordan
  • A Little Magic by Lindsey Lanza
  • A Multitude of Dreams by Mara Rutherford
  • [Reread] Once Upon a Broken Heart (Once Upon a Broken Heart #1) by Stephanie Garber
  • [ARC] Welcome to Fae Cafe (High Court of the Coffee Bean #1) by Jennifer Kropf
  • Can’t Help Falling (Sweater Weather #3) by Courtney Walsh
  • The Curse of Saints (The Curse of Saints #1) by Kate Dramis
  • [ARC] Heidi Lucy Loses Her Mind (Happily Every Homicide #2) by Gracie Ruth Mitchell
  • [Reread] A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOTAR #2) by Sarah J. Maas
  • Things We Left Behind (Knockemout #3) by Lucy Score
  • Codename Charming (Palace Insiders #2) by Lucy Parker
  • Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim
  • The Long Game (The Long Game #1) by Elena Armas
  • [ARC] Codes of Courage (Heirs of Falcon Point #1) by A.L. Sowards
  • Faking the Fall (Sweater Weather #4) by Julie Christianson
  • Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Torzs
  • [ARC] Two Twisted Crowns (The Shepherd King #2) by Rachel Gillig
  • [ALC] Silence and Shadow (Blood and Moonlight #2) by Erin Beaty
  • Main Character Energy by Jamie Varon
  • How Jenna Became My Dilemma (Famously in Love #2) by Kortney Keisel
  • Blade Breaker (Realm Breaker #2) by Victoria Aveyard
  • Easy as Pie (Sweater Weather #5) by Carina Taylor

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Book Review: Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Magical Realism Mystery + Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Adrienne Young
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: September 27th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A deeply atmospheric story about ancestral magic, an unsolved murder, and a second chance at true love.

Emery Blackwood’s life changed forever the night her best friend was found dead and the love of her life, August Salt, was accused of murdering her. Years later, she is doing what her teenage self swore she never would: living a quiet existence on the misty, remote shores of Saoirse Island and running the family’s business, Blackwood’s Tea Shoppe Herbal Tonics & Tea Leaf Readings.

But when the island, rooted in folklore and magic, begins to show signs of strange happenings, Emery knows that something is coming. The morning she wakes to find that every single tree on Saoirse has turned color in a single night, August returns for the first time in fourteen years and unearths the past that the town has tried desperately to forget.

August knows he is not welcome on Saiorse, not after the night everything changed. As a fire raged on at the Salt family orchard, Lily Morgan was found dead in the dark woods, shaking the bedrock of their tight-knit community and branding August a murderer. When he returns to bury his mother’s ashes, he must confront the people who turned their backs on him and face the one wound from his past that has never healed—Emery.

The town has more than one reason to want August gone, and the emergence of deep betrayals and hidden promises spanning generations threaten to reveal the truth behind Lily’s mysterious death once and for all.

I THINK THIS IS HER BEST.

There was something about this writing style that fit Adrienne Young so perfectly that I had a hard time putting it down. From the first few chapters I was wrapped up in the wildness of Saoirse island and the stories it held.

I did like the multiple points of view. I think it works well for a story like this and gives those extra angles needed to fully understand motives and desires. I do wish there was a touch more from Lily. I had a hard time believing her reasoning behind her choices, but that’s a small complaint compared to how much I loved everything else.

The second chance romance brought the pain. I wanted these two to make up and move forward because I loved them so. They push and pull of that cord that finally snapped between them was everything I want in angst and slowburn style romances.

Mystery wise my inklings were on the right track but I liked that some stuff was still surprising too. I loved the atmosphere and the small town witchy vibes. I wanted a bit more closure in the ending (a personal preference), but otherwise, fantastic. Can’t wait for more.

Overall audience notes:

  • Magical Realism Romance + Mystery
  • Language: a little strong
  • Romance: 2ish scenes; low explicit
  • Violence: med-high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: multiple murders, arson, attempted murder, blackmail, loss of a parent(s) (recounted), grief depiction

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Book Review: House of Beating Wings (The Kingdom of Crows #1) by Olivia Wildenstein

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Rating: ★★★★
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Length: 490 pages
Author: Olivia Wildenstein
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: September 27th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Free the crows, Fallon, and they will make you queen.

Until an oracle predicted my regal future, I’d never imagined myself rising above the curve of my round ears. After all, I was the magicless halfling loved by beasts but loathed by every pure-blooded faerie at court. Well . . . by all but one.

Dante Regio, prince of Luce, had owned my heart since he gave me my first kiss. If gathering a slew of iron relics could help me overthrow the current monarch and crown his brother to rule at my side, then treasure hunting I’d go.

If only the oracle had warned me what winged demon I was releasing into the world.

And that I’d become this demon’s obsession.

I’M SOLD.

Well hi there new fantasy romance indie book. I LIKED YOU A LOT.

This was a pretty good start. I liked the beginning but there was a particular scene I’m still thinking really didn’t need to be added. And after that point things slowed down a bit so I was in limbo wondering how I would feel about the book overall.

The second half showed up big time. It had many things I always turn back to in fantasy romance reads. I love hidden identities, a FMC who’s realizing her own worth and power, changing alliances and allllll of those secrets revealed. I do think Fallon was a bit on the naïve and super oblivious side, but I’ll cut her some slack to make it up in the next book.

I enjoyed the plot too. It’s a good mix of warring kingdoms, with new people rising to the throne and even kingdoms you didn’t see coming. I can’t wait to further explore those politics and dynamics in the series too. This was just a really nice beginning and my first book by this author.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some
  • Romance: one open door; innuendo throughout
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: blood/gore depiction, loss of life, loss of loved ones, physical and magical altercations

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Book Review: Dark Night Golden Dawn (The Immortal Orders #1) by Allison Carr Waechter

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Rating: ★★
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 408 pages
Author: Allison Carr Waechter
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: March 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In a city where the elite are powerful as gods, the season is about to begin. The Immortal Orders will gather, pair and create a spectacle for all of Nuva Troi to witness.

Harlow Krane is a sorcière who wants nothing more than to recover from her most recent breakup in peace. When the season begins, her Order needs her help to save their ancestral occult district from being taken over by the Illuminated, the most powerful immortals in Nuva Troi. They offer to back off—if Harlow agrees to pair with their most eligible bachelor, Finn McKay. But Harlow has been burned by Finn before.

Finn McKay is one of the Illuminated. Rich, powerful, and he isn’t afraid of anyone—except for his parents. When they push him towards Harlow Krane, he knows their purposes are sinister at best. For the past seven years, Finn has done everything in his power to stay away from Harlow and he won’t break his resolve now, even if it means defying his parents. As the season begins, it’s clear something is dangerously wrong but besides Finn, only Harlow seems to notice.

With magic behaving strangely, the balance of power between the Immortal Orders and humans grows deadlier by the day. Harlow and Finn must work together to keep ancient grudges from resurfacing and take back their lives in the process. If they can get over their past, the whole world may have a brighter future.

Dark Night, Golden Dawn is Book One in The Immortal Orders Trilogy, a blazing hot fantasy romance, set in a contemporary world of magic, deception, and betrayal. 

WOW THIS DID NOT WORK FOR ME.

I feel like I read a completely different book than everyone else. Nope nooooooooope no.

A nagging issue I had with this, is that it felt like a contemporary romance shoved into a fantasy world? And not as a compliment. Because than the fantasy elements fell flat and I think a lot more world building could have been focused on. It was this weird zone.

It is definitely a romance which awesome. Things moved way too quickly. Was this supposed to be enemies to lovers? Furthest thing from that. Second chance? Yes that trope was efficient. When the couple is already completely back together before the halfway point I have no connection to them. It just turned into a let’s bang everywhere scenario that y’all know I never love.

There’s some sweet family and sister dynamics. Good friendships and connections. I never really liked the FMC either though which played a big part in me skimming way too much of this book.

I won’t be continuing the series.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: multiple open door scenes; med-high explicit
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: emotional abusive boyfriend (recounted multiple times), depression, gaslighting, suicide attempt, animal cruelty, fatphobia, homophobia

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