Tag: fantasy romance

Book Review: Song of the Forever Rains (Mousai #1) by E.J. Mellow

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 423 pages
Author: E.J. Mellow
Publisher: Montlake
Release Date: July 1st, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From the award-winning author of the Dreamland series comes a new dark romantic fantasy about a young woman finding hope in her powers of destruction.

The Thief Kingdom is a place hidden within the world of Aadlior. Many whisper of its existence, but few have found this place, where magic and pleasure abound. There, the mysterious Thief King reigns supreme with the help of the Mousai, a trio of revered and feared sorceresses.

Larkyra Bassette may be the youngest of the Mousai, but when she sings her voice has the power to slay monsters. When it’s discovered the Duke of Lachlan is siphoning a poisonous drug from the Thief Kingdom and using it to abuse his tenants, Larkyra is offered her first solo mission to stop the duke. Eager to prove herself, Larkyra accepts by posing as the duke’s potential bride. But her plans grow complicated when she finds herself drawn to Lord Darius Mekenna, Lachlan’s rightful heir. Soon she suspects Darius has his own motivations for ridding Lachlan of the corrupt duke. Larkyra and Darius must learn to trust each other if there is to be any hope of saving the people of Lachlan—and themselves.

Welcome to the world of Aadilor, where lords and ladies can be murderers and thieves, and the most alluring notes are often the deadliest. Dare to listen?

NOT TOO SHABBY.

Eek. It’s a standalone fantasy series. This is my struggle bus. I like more full blown epics and not a fantasy love story shoved into one book. They’re hit or miss and this one landed somewhere in between.

I enjoyed the general world building and magic system. The dynamics were good and easy to follow, even in audiobook format. I especially loved the sister bonds here!! The support and caring between all three of them was incredible. I liked that the Dad was evil-ish but not to his girls? There’s great aspects in those points.

The main character didn’t do much for me. She spent most of the book ALMOST doing things, but then talking herself out of them. At the end she finally picked up her magic and did something with it (which led to a lackluster villain expiration but that’s another story).

Romance wise, it was sweet. I thought there was a pretty good burn. It’s got some banter and a little bit of misplaced opinions about each other that unravel when they finally get a chance to talk to one another. I liked that they worked together. I don’t know, I just needed more from this in many places.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some
  • Romance: brief open door
  • Violence: mild
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: domestic abuse, magical possession resulting in self harm

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ARC Book Review: The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King (Crowns of Nyaxia #2) by Carissa Broadbent

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 600 pages
Author: Carissa Broadbent
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 14th, 20223
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Love is a sacrifice at the altar of power.

In the wake of the Kejari, everything Oraya once thought to be true has been destroyed. A prisoner in her own kingdom, grieving the only family she ever had, and reeling from a gutting betrayal, she no longer even knows the truth of her own blood. She’s left only with one certainty: she cannot trust anyone, least of all Raihn.

The House of Night, too, is surrounded by enemies. Raihn’s own nobles are none too eager to accept a Turned king, especially one who was once a slave. And the House of Blood digs their claws into the kingdom, threatening to tear it apart from the inside.

When Raihn offers Oraya a secret alliance, taking the deal is her only chance at reclaiming her kingdom–and gaining her vengeance against the lover who betrayed her. But to do so, she’ll need to harness a devastating ancient power, intertwined with her father’s greatest secrets.

But with enemies closing in on all sides, nothing is as it seems. As she unravels her past and faces her future, Oraya finds herself forced to choose between the bloody reality of seizing power – and the devastating love that could be her downfall.

Thank you to Book of Matches Media and Carissa Broadbent for an eARC.

INCREDIBLE.

I went in to this with some VERY high levels of hype and I was NOT DISAPPOINTED. I can NOT handle when the MMC is absolutely gone for the FMC. And Raihn WAS GONE. There’s even dual POV SO WE GET BOTH SIDES.

I CAN’T STOP THE CAPS I’M SORRY (but not really).

There was this beautiful slow build to the plot and romance that kept me wholly engaged. And about the 45% mark I was GLUED to my screen. I devoured the rest of the book needing to know all the answers and finding that amazing ending. I loooove how Raihn and Oraya both worked on their relationship. There was plenty to apologize for and concessions to be made and these two found love in a hopeless place AND I LOVE THEM SO MUCH.

And the Vincent story line?? That about made me cry. It was EMOTIONAL. I am in absolute awe of how Carissa Broadbent took this character’s story line and gave it such an impactful and raw telling. That was not easy to do and she absolutely nailed it.

The high levels of action will have you fearing for everyone’s lives and desperately flying through pages to see who comes out on the other side. I loved all of the reveals, betrayals, big moments, little moments, and 100+ things I highlighted and bookmarked.

YOU MUST READ THIS SERIES.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: multiple open; high explicit
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: discussion of rape and sexual assault (off screen), blood play, violence against children, complicated father/daughter relationship

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ARC Book Review: A Shadow Crown (The Halfling Saga #2) by Melissa Blair

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 480 pages
Author: Melissa Blair
Publisher: Union Square Co.
Release Date: April 9th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The highly anticipated second installment of the fantasy saga that took BookTok by storm sees Keera navigate political scheming, backstabbing, and her own grief as she moves against the cruel king that holds her kingdom hostage.

To the kingdom, Keera is the king’s Blade, his most feared and trusted spy and assassin. But in the shadows, she works with Prince Killian and his Shadow—the dark, brooding Fae, Riven, who sets her blood on fire. Together, they plot to topple the crown that sits upon the king’s head.

A secret can only survive as long as its conspirators, and when nothing is as it seems, all are in danger. Keera swore she would never open her heart again after a loss she barely survived. But she will soon find she has more to lose than she ever imagined.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for the ALC.

NOT WHAT I HOPED FOR.

I very much enjoyed book one. So much so, I jumped at the chance to read this early. And now I’m a bit bummed because I was hoping for more.

There was a lot of good political intrigue and the story line did progress. I liked seeing more of those aspects and watching this found family come together. I think the audiobook is superb and plan to listen to the next one too. The narrator does an incredible job of bringing this story to life.

I felt like the romance took too much of a backseat, and practically anytime they were together it seemed to turn to some kind of physicality and I wanted different lines of connection to be happening too. There was a big betrayal, where’s some extensive groveling?!

Keera is a great flawed heroine and I do like her. She has her struggles and her triumphs and there was some good character growth for her too. I do have plans to continue the series and see what happens next.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 2-3 open; mild-high explicit
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, murder, near death experiences, alcoholism, loss of a partner (recounted)

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Book Review: Dragonfire (The Starchaser Saga #6) by Renee Dugan

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 550 pages
Author: Renee Dugan
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 1st, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A call to arms. A race against time. A choice that will change the future.

With her cabal divided, a price on her head, and her power put to the test, Cistine leads the desperate search for Maleck with a kingdom’s worth of enemies seeking them both. Finding him might be the key to winning the war. It might also spell Cistine’s doom.

Risking uncharted territory, Ashe, Aden, and Kristoff seek aid from the dragon legions in wild Oadmark. Only they stand a chance of bringing down the enemy’s abominable hordes. But to gain their alliance, Ashe must prove beyond all doubt who she is—as a warrior and as a Wingmaiden.

Amidst a storm of schemes, missing friends, broken hearts and uncertain horizons, the cabal faces the grim possibility of a world that can’t be redeemed, and Cistine fights to carry the burden no one else does: the weight of the power in her veins, and a weapon that could turn the tide of the war.

A power that could demand her love, her cabal, and even her own life to save the kingdoms from destruction.

NEW FAVORITE OF THE SERIES.

Ohhhhh my goodness, I LOVED THIS BOOK. It took my breath away. At this point I am so immersed in these characters lives that each book is a journey I am chomping at the bit to read through.

I love all of these characters and that it’s multi-POV. Getting to see everyone’s mindset and where they are internally helps create these immerse character depths that I loooove. The romances and friendships are top tier and the sincere bonds of this found family group have me misty eyed.

While amidst the well placed (and written) action scenes that had me holding my breath, there were also ALL the sweet and tender moments too. Good heavens these are my favorite things about a well written fantasy book. I love being enthralled by every aspect.

I can’t speak to much else other than my intense love for this series or I could spoil how things have changed over 6 books. Just know: YOU MUST READ THIS SERIES.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, war themes, torture, depictions of grief and depression

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