Tag: fantasy romance

Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: October 2022

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Happy Halloween! Hope y’all have had an enjoyable reading month. I got to 42 books and some new favorites.

Favorites
– A Game of Hearts
– Foul Lady Fortune
– Nightwing
– Thank You for Listening
– Yours Truly
– It Starts With Us
– Faking Christmas
– How to Kiss Your Grumpy Boss

Least Favorites
– Dark Night Golden Dawn
– Kingdom of the Feared
– Wishtress
– So This is Christmas

  • [ARC] The Poison Season by Mara Rutherford
  • [Novella] Second Chance for Christmas by Anne Kemp
  • The Kiss Curse (Ex Hex #2) by Erin Sterling
  • A Crime of Passion Fruit (A Bakeshop Mystery #6) by Ellie Alexander
  • [ARC] Five Survive by Holly Jackson
  • From the Fields of Porthlenn (Cornish Romance #5) by Deborah M. Hathaway
  • Dark Night Golden Dawn (The Immortal Orders #1) by Allison Carr Waechter
  • Lux (Texas Reckoners #1) by Brandon Sanderson and Steven Michael Bohls
  • [ARC] A Game of Hearts by Joanna Barker
  • [ARC] The Empress of Time (The Keeper of the Night #2) by Kylie Lee Baker
  • House of Beating Wings (The Kingdom of Crows #1) by Olivia Wildenstein
  • Foul Lady Fortune (Foul Lady Fortune #1) by Chloe Gong
  • Smoke Show (Deadlights Cove #1) by B. Perkins and Aimee Vance
  • Kingdom of the Feared (Kingdom of the Wicked #3) by Kerri Maniscalco
  • Nightwing (The Starchaser Saga #3) by Renee Dugan
  • Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young
  • Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan
  • [Novella] Mr. October by Bethany Weaver
  • Where Oceans Burn (Where Oceans Burn #1) by Casey L. Bond
  • Sky Without Stars (System Divine #1) by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell
  • [ARC] Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
  • Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle
  • Shattered Sea (Tattered & Torn #4) by Catherine Cowles
  • Wild About Denali (Wild About Alaska #1) by Sara Blackard
  • It Starts With Us (It Ends With Us #2) by Colleen Hoover
  • An Heir Comes to Rise (An Heir Comes to Rise #1) by C.C. Penaranda
  • The Lost Letter by Mimi Matthews
  • Court of Blood and Bindings (Fae Isles #1) by Lisette Marshall
  • [ARC] Merry Ex-Mas by Courtney Walsh
  • Christmas Baggage (Christmas Escapes #1) by Deborah M. Hathaway
  • Wishtress by Nadine Brandes
  • The Make-Up (Falling for Franklin #2) by Hailey Gardiner
  • [ARC] The Call of the Sea by Sian Bessey
  • So This is Christmas (A Princess for Christmas #3) by Jenny Holiday
  • Legacy (Keeper of the Lost Cities #8) by Shannon Messenger
  • Host for the Holidays (Christmas Escapes #2) by Martha Keyes
  • [ARC] A Very Merry Bromance (Bromance Book Club #5) by Lyssa Kay Adams
  • Deja Brew (Deadlights Cove #2) by Aimee Vance and B. Perkins
  • A Queen Comes to Power (An Heir Comes to Rise #2) by C.C. Penaranda
  • [ARC] Faking Christmas (Christmas Escape #3) by Cindy Steel
  • [ARC] How to Kiss Your Grumpy Boss by Jenny Proctor
  • One Dark Window (The Shepherd King #1) by Rachel Gillig

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Book Review: The Sin of Saints (Benevolence & Blood #1) by Lauren M. Leasure

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Dark Fantasy
Length: 382 pages
Author: Lauren M. Leasure
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: June 28th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Growing up in Eserene’s slums, Petra’s life is marred by unimaginable tragedy. Things finally begin to look up when she meets Calomyr, member of the Royal Guard and keeper of just as much heartache as Petra.

Once again, though, her life is upended when her mother remarries a Lord, forcing Petra to undergo a brutal initiation ceremony in order to ascend to the Royal Court.

As Petra prepares for initiation, news of a drug-fueled fanatical rebel regime reaches the high walls of Eserene. No one seems to panic, so Petra doesn’t either.

Until the city is smoldering before her.

Outside the city walls, Petra must untangle a smoke-shrouded web woven long before she was born. She finds her entire life has been orchestrated for one purpose, a purpose kept hidden from her until she unveils the secret that thrums through her veins. As everything she thought she knew unravels, Petra is forced to confront ghosts she didn’t know she had – and the monsters and demons that now join them…

From author Lauren M. Leasure comes the sexy, action-packed first installment of the Benevolence & Blood Series.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED

This was a type of read where I couldn’t tell you what was happening for 90% of the book and I wasn’t mad about it at all. It felt like I was on the journey with Petra as discoveries became relevant to her and betrayals from others brought her to her knees.

I enjoyed this one so much. The past and present timeline chapter flipping worked well. It did slow the pace down a bit, but the continual need to know what happened next was always there. I liked seeing where Petra came from, and how that shaped all the stuff she was going through in the present.

This is definitely a dark read. I honestly can think of maybe two things that could be considered good that happened. It’s gritty and disturbing and I just need MORE.

I’m already chomping at the bit to get my hands on book two. This one felt a bit prequel-esque with the pacing style so I know the second is going to fling us through the ringer after those ending reveals. The writing was wonderful and there were some beautiful quote worthy lines.

Overall audience notes:

  • Dark Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: two open door
  • Violence: very high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of family, torture, sexual harassment, loss of parents, drug addiction, mass enslavement, kidnapping, physical altercations, weapons violence, explosions, loss of a sibling

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Book Review: Souls of Fire and Steel (Frozen Sun Saga #3) by Jill Criswell

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 450 pages
Author: Jill Criswell
Publisher: Blackstone
Release Date: September 14th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

To save her lover’s life, Lira of Stone swore allegiance to a demigod known as the Dragon. She’s transformed into his weapon—the Dragon’s deathbringer, using her gifts to conquer nations and unleash demons. Yet there’s a part of Lira not even the Dragon can stifle, and the soul-reader must find a way to free herself before he declares war against the gods.

After the warrior Reyker Lagorsson attempted to overthrow the Dragon, Reyker’s soul was fractured. Now, he’s a shadow of his former self, and his battle-madness grows stronger by the day. Reyker will stop at nothing to kill the Dragon and his mysterious death-bringer before his curse consumes him.

In the final installment of the Frozen Sun Saga, Lira and Reyker face off as enemies, confront their worst nightmares, and make their last stand against the Dragon. But can a god be killed? And if so, at what cost?

SATISFYING CONCLUSION.

I finally took the time to finish this series and I loved it! What a great YA fantasy trilogy y’all. If you only get this far in my review, I definitely recommend for your TBR.

This is heavy in the romance (YAY) so I appreciate that my two favs don’t have to spend a lot of time separated. Even if things aren’t running smoothly while they’re together I can’t stand when a couple is separated for too long. It makes a book drag.

The plot is solid. This series has one of my favorite villains. I kind of hate that I love him? He’s completely warped and consumed, yet the small tidbits of humanity make him layered. He keeps things interesting.

I wanted a bit more from the ending. I thought things were going to be a little different, and it all worked out by the VERY end, but the waiting was a little frustrating.

All in all. READ it. Viking inspired, plenty of action, a forbidden romance and more.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: torture, highly descriptive blood and gore, loss of loved ones

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Book Review: The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Crowns of Nyaxia #1) by Carissa Broadbent

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 532 pages
Author: Carissa Broadbent
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: August 30th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Human or vampire, the rules of survival are the same: never trust, never yield, and always – always – guard your heart.

The adopted human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king, Oraya carved her place in a world designed to kill her. Her only chance to become something more than prey is entering the Kejari: a legendary tournament held by the goddess of death herself.

But winning won’t be easy amongst the most vicious warriors from all three vampire houses. To survive, Oraya is forced to make an alliance with a mysterious rival.

Everything about Raihn is dangerous. He is a ruthless vampire, an efficient killer, an enemy to her father’s crown… and her greatest competition. Yet, what terrifies Oraya most of all is that she finds herself oddly drawn to him.

But there’s no room for compassion in the Kejari. War for the House of Night brews, shattering everything that Oraya thought she knew about her home. And Raihn may understand her more than anyone – but their blossoming attraction could be her downfall, in a kingdom where nothing is more deadly than love.

The Serpent and the Wings of Night is the first book in a new series of heart-wrenching romance, dark magic, and bloodthirsty intrigue, perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash and A Court of Thorns and Roses.

IT FINALLY HAPPENED.

I have been on this eternal quest to find a vampire book worthy of my own five star rating. AND IT’S HERE. 2022 IS THE YEAR. This book deserves all the love and I beg of you to give it a chance too!!

I enjoyed Broadbent’s first series, but this already feels leaps better in the writing and world building, characters, everything. Her storytelling is even more impressive and that’s what had me fall in love with this book.

Oraya was such a force. I loooove morally gray characters and this woman is swimming in the color. She was someone I easily wanted to root for and loved the start of her character arc. Watching her loyalty to one side, and the slow unraveling of everything she knew is only going to make book two that much better.

The romance with Raihn? AHH. Slow burn perfection. The movement from rivals to reluctant allies to friends to lovers was fantastic. There were so many good moments between these two. I could not get enough of them. I liked the way they communicated and opened up and slowly learned to lean on another another through the fearsome trials they were going through.

AND THAT ENDING. Well timed reveals and betrayals abound and I am HERE FOR IT. Throw in one of my all time favorite tropes that I can’t wait to see play out and I am an official fan girl for this series.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: two open door; med-high explicit
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: battle scenes, loss of life, creature attacks, physical and magical altercations, loss of loved ones

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