Tag: fantasy romance

Book Review: The Princess Knight by Cait Jacobs

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Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 512 pages
Author: Cait Jacobs
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Release Date: October 14th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A princess desperate to win back the prince who broke her heart follows him to his kingdom’s prestigious military academy—and in doing so, falls in love, saves the realm, and continues to look fabulous in this delightful debut fantasy.

Domhnall and Clía are an ideal match—or so everyone says. They are prince and princess of neighboring kingdoms. An alliance the gods will smile on. Until Domhnall ruins everything by refusing to propose.

Heartbroken but determined, Clía makes the perfect plan: Follow Domhnall to Caisleán Cósta, the military academy he’s attending. Show she can protect her kingdom. Secure the betrothal. Sure, the castle has a brutal reputation. But how hard can dueling really be?

Warrior Ronan promised himself he’d never lose his focus. He fought and sacrificed for his place at Caisleán Cósta, and he has no time for blonde princesses who waltz intro arenas like they’re attending a ball. Even if she and her otter-like pet are…well, cute.

He doesn’t want to be intrigued by Clía. But her hunger to prove herself is something he understands. He tells himself there’s no harm training her. Even if his heart does race around her. Even if Domhnall is his best friend.

But as they say, love is a battlefield—and unfortunately for them all, a very real war is looming on the horizon. It’s a fight that will threaten all their kingdoms…and test all their hearts. 

Thank you to Harper Voyager for the gifted copy.

IT’S GOT SOME CHARM.

I will say the best part of this book was noticing all of the Legally Blonde moments woven into a fantasy setting. I thought that concept worked out really well here and was fun to see.

Where it kind of let me down was the length. It just felt long. And I think some of the pacing could have been tightened up (or more romance added in) and the balance would have been a bit more even. I liked Clia well enough and that she really put herself into a new atmosphere and learned a lot.

I would have loved more swoon with Ronan. They had a sweet friends to lovers dynamic that needed some oomph.

It was a good debut though. I would read another book from this author!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: The Shadows Rule All (Dominions #3) by Abigail Owen

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 512 pages
Author: Abigail Owens
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Release Date: November 12th 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

This electrifying conclusion combines danger, action, and a heart-pounding romance wrapped up in a gorgeous cover package.

I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THIS ONE.

I wanted to finish this series even after feeling the second book was very lackluster. And while I never got upset I was reading this book I also don’t think I ever recovered from the middle book and wanted to get through this quickly to call it done.

Different aspects and plot choices were the same from book one and this is my biggest struggle with romance series vs. standalone. I think in fantasy books having the burn carry over into the next book is more beneficial because things feel less repetitive. Slow burns are okay!!

Anyways, past that tangent I don’t have much of anything else. It’s fine.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: vague open door
  • Violence: high

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Book Review: For No Mortal Creature by Keshe Chow

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 480 pages
Author: Keshe Chow
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: October 7th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A teen girl with the power of resurrection must venture into the afterlife, but to survive the death realm, she’ll need the help of her two mortal enemies–both of whom she is inexplicably drawn to–in this romantic, gothic fantasy inspired by Wuthering Heights.

When Jia Yi suddenly finds herself alive again after being stabbed through the heart by an enemy’s sword, she realizes she possesses a rare power: the ability to move between the living realm and the shrouded world of ghosts. Ghosts including Lin, her ex-best friend and former love, whose betrayal she still hasn’t recovered from.

At first, Jia wants nothing to do with Lin, or any ghosts–metaphorical or otherwise. But when her beloved grandmother abruptly passes away, Jia is forced to travel into the afterlife to save her.

To survive the treacherous death realm, Jia will need to rely on both Lin and her longtime enemy, the cold and enigmatic Prince Essien Lancaster. Only, she isn’t sure whether she can trust either of them. With tensions high and new and old connections blooming, Jia must confront the ghosts of her past…or risk becoming one herself.

Thank you GetUnderlined for the gifted finished copy.

OH ALL THE THOUGHTS.

I will start with this though, I loved this much more than The Girl with No Reflection. If you’ve been interested in this author, start here instead!! I was way more engaged and wrapped up in the story telling. The plot was extremely interested with moving through different realms of the afterlife and how the power of resurrection was used to further move the story along.

I also really liked the complexity of the love triangle. It didn’t bug me, EXCEPT for the ending. Without spoiling I will say it ends well, there’s a HEA. But I think I ended up on the wrong side of the triangle??? And I don’t hate the other guy I just had a very specific idea about the ending. I don’t know.

Anyways, solidly good book. I’m so glad I gave this one a chance and I look forward to future books from Keshe Chow. I appreciate that they are standalones too so everything gets wrapped up in one story.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: many instances of death, loss of life, grief

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Book Review: Holly (Belladonna #3.5) by Adalyn Grace

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance Holiday Novella
Length: 384 pages
Author: Adalyn Grace
Publisher: Little Brown Books
Release Date: September 30th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

This Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition features an alternate jacket and case cover, full color endpapers, illustrations throughout, bonus content, and is printed in a festive colored ink!

A mysterious and magical holiday novella set in the romantic, Gothic-infused world of Belladonna, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Adalyn Grace. Features a special endpaper design, a printed case cover, and colorful interior art!

Something strange is happening at Wisteria Gardens, the magical manor that Blythe and Aris call home. All they want is a peaceful holiday season with their family, but a group of restless spirits is determined to threaten their festivities. With a new mystery to solve, Signa, Death, Blythe, and Fate must uncover what happened to Wisteria’s ghostly inhabitants and help the spirits move on before it’s too late.

WHAT A DELIGHT.

Turns out, I’m charmed by fantasy holiday novellas (I’ve always bin a stan of ACOFAS so this tracks). There’s something delightful about getting past all of the nitty gritty that a dark fantasy takes you on to then read about your favorite characters in a lighter setting.

I loved seeing everyone again. I thought the plot was simple but effective. There’s a solid mystery that gets solved while also potentially setting up for another book? I would read about this cast all day so I’m sat.

It’s sweet, heated, a little emotional and I think if you’ve enjoyed the series you’ll like this installment too.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Fantasy Romance Holiday Novella
  • Language: mild+
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Violence: mild

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