Tag: indie author

Book Review: When the Moon Hatched (Moonfall #1) by Sarah A. Parker

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 718 pages
Author: Sarah A. Parker
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: January 13th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The Creators did not expect their beloved dragons to sail skyward upon their end. To curl into balls just beyond gravity’s grip, littering the sky with tombstones. With moons.

They certainly did not expect them to fall.

As a valued Elding Blade of the rebellion group Fíur du Ath, Raeve’s job is to kill. To complete orders and never get caught. When a renowned bounty hunter is employed by The Crown to capture a member of the Ath, Raeve’s world is turned upside down. Blood spills, hearts break, and Raeve finds herself at the mercy of the Guild of Nobles—a group of dual-beaded elementals who intend to turn her into a political statement. Only death will set her free.

Crushed beneath a mourning weight, Kaan Vaegor took the head of a king and donned his melted crown. Now on a tireless quest to assuage the never-ebbing ache in his chest, his hunt for a moonshard lures him into the belly of Gore’s notorious prison where he stumbles upon something that rips apart his perception of reality. A shackled miracle with eyes full of rage and blood on her hands.

The echo of the past sings louder than the Creators themselves, and even Raeve can’t ignore the truths blaring at her from a warmer, happier time.
However.
There’s more to this song than meets the eye, and some truths …
They’re too poisonous to swallow.

When the Moon Hatched is a fast-paced fantasy romance for fans of witty banter and strong, sassy protagonists. Beneath the cover is an immersive, vibrant world with mysterious creatures, a unique magic system, and a love that blazes through the ages.

I AM AS SURPRISED AS YOU.

Well hey.

I wasn’t a big fan of this author’s previous series (never made it past book one), but I had multiple people mention this one to me and I really needed a five star, and this was that book!!

It in incredibly slow and intricate with beautiful writing that brought me deep into this world, the magic system and the lore of the lands (and did I mention, DRAGONS? All the dragon content y’all). While slower, do not mistake this for not also being dark and gruesome. There is some ACTION that is intense and heated and might make you cringe a bit. This is why I love dark fantasy.

The romance was the best kind of enemies to lovers slow burn. I was INVOLVED. And in an absolute puddle when pronouncements and those really hidden deep feelings started showing up and being spoken. The soft moments balanced beautifully with the heavy.

I am floored by the ending and the things happening. I love the set up for book two and scenes I know are coming. Very happy I took a chance on this. It was just the book I was looking for.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 3+ open door; mild innuendo
  • Violence: high; lots of blood and gore
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: are listed at the beginning of the book!

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ARC Book Review: The Haven, the Hallow, & the Highborn (A Roots of Magic Series Novella) by Jessa Grey

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 218 pages
Author: Jessa Grey
Publisher: Paper Heart Publishing
Release Date: April 15th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In facing her finest opponent, she will uncover her greatest strength.

Eedy Blackthorn wields a rare and mystical witch magic—she can become a conduit to harness the raw forces of lightning itself. But her abilities do not make up for her painful past. After a tragic accident claims her beloved father, Eedy inherits his seat on the mage-led council. Consumed by guilt over her father’s death and determined to honor his legacy, she refuses to be silenced, no matter how often the male-dominated council disregards her suggestions.

When a mysterious disruption in magic threatens the kingdom’s balance, Prince Caelum is sent to join the council. Discovering Eedy’s identity reawakens a grudge tied to her late father, who ridiculed his family for years. With old wounds resurfacing, every council debate between them crackles with tension. As they clash over how to restore the magical order, their arguments become charged with something neither of them is willing to name.

With duty and destiny colliding, Eedy and Caelum must navigate their forbidden feelings for each other while racing to restore the kingdom’s magic before the winter solstice. As the solution to the magical crisis becomes clear, the couple is faced with an impossible decision, one that will test the limits of Eedy’s power and the depths of Caelum’s heart.

Love, magic, and sacrifice intertwine in this rivals-to-lovers romantasy novella. This novella takes place a century before the start of the related Roots of Magic main series.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

I LIKED IT.

I didn’t have any set expectations for this because it’s an author I’ve never heard of but a novella seemed like an easy way to try a new author and it was good! I am intrigued enough to read a full novel and see more of this world and the characters.

This has a lore novella vibe where I feel a lot more will make sense with larger expansion of the world, magic system and characters. I did like the few characters I saw and I thought the writing was great.

It does have that more instant love (even though their “rivals”) which was my biggest issue. It felt rushed for the timeline, even when I could see the necessity of the decision for the plot. I just needed more between them to really feel the connection.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance Novella
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: one open door
  • Violence: mild – moderate

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ARC Book Review: What Blooms From Death (What Blooms From Death #1) by S.M. Gaither

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Rating: ★★★★.25
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 618 pages
Author: S.M. Gaither
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 17th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Princess Bellanova has spent years surviving on her own, forced to flee her palace in order to escape the curse that put the rest of her royal family into a death-like slumber and set their lands to rotting. After spending her exile honing her thievery skills alongside her innate necromancy powers, Nova has earned a reputation as one of the fiercest outlaws the kingdom has ever suffered.

But soon she’ll be the fiercest outlaw who ever died.

A death that will be on purpose.

For rumor has it that the true cause of her family’s demise—Luminor, the Blade of Light—is buried deep in the belly of the underworld. Stealing that blade back into the realm of the living will mean a chance at undoing the curses it left, restoring her family, her reputation, and her kingdom to life.

The only things standing in her way are the endless twists and turns of the underworld, its terrifying monsters, unpredictable magic…and Aleksander, the infamous Light King himself—keeper of the blade, and the one who wielded it on the night of her family’s ruin.

King Aleks has spent nearly a decade trapped in the underworld, a phantom of his former self, unable to truly die. When Nova crash lands into his purgatory—an inexplicably bright and lively being in a sea of endless dead things—he begins to dream of the world above for the first time in ages.

He needs her to get him back to that world above. She needs him to undo the curse. But as the two form a reluctant alliance that soon blooms into something dangerously deeper, they find themselves unraveling ancient magic and dark secrets that will have greater consequences than either of them could have ever imagined…

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

A GOOD STARTER.

I’ve continually enjoyed S.M. Gaither’s books over the years and this was no exception. I love the complicated world building that’s filled with so many layers that weave throughout that make this book feel epic. I loved the concepts brought up in WBFD and how that connected to the magic system. It led to some big reveals and I’m excited to see those unfold in future books.

I don’t know that I would call this enemies to lovers though. There wasn’t enough animosity for me to believe it, but I did think that Aleksander and Nova had solid chemistry. I would have loved even more on page time with them. By the end I was much more invested in their relationship and what the fallout is going to be in the sequel. And I just really enjoyed both characters on their own too (there were some Aleksander POV chapters and I am here for them all!!).

Brutal cliffhanger alert (my fav). S.M. Gaither doesn’t miss.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 4-5 open door
  • Violence: high

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Book Review: Taken With Trouble (Caught in Chaos #2) by Jenessa Fayeth

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 263 pages
Author: Jenessa Fayeth
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: December 10th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Serena Cruz

Being taken hostage by a criminal was not on my agenda for the week. The plan was to catch Liam Hawthorne, the billionaire con artist, and finally prove myself and gain the attention of my boss.

Liam caught me instead.

Forget the bounty, I’m killing him. However, it’s proving a rather difficult task–especially when he convinces me to help him.

He’s trying to con me, but I won’t be falling for it.

Unfortunately, ignoring his flirtations and kindness is getting harder. It’s possible the conman is…more than he seems.

Falling for him would be stupid, especially with bullets flying and lives in danger. So why do I melt every time he touches me?

Only one of us will make it out of this mess a free person, and it’s going to be me.

Liam Hawthorne

I’ve stolen many priceless and beautiful things, but nothing compares to FBI Agent Serena Cruz. I rather enjoy the company of the feisty woman intent on killing me…clearly I’ve been on the run for too long. Or has pulling guns on someone always been this seductive?

I digress. I took her to save her, though she doesn’t believe that. I can’t say I blame her when there’s someone trying to kill us at every turn.

It’s all my fault. I tried to be better, but instead, I dragged her into this mess and now our lives are both in danger.

I was fine when it was only my life on the line.

Serena Cruz has stolen my heart.

OKAY THIS WAS GREAT.

My first book by this author but certainly not my last. This really grew on me and by the end I was glued to my screen because I had been utterly charmed.

I WILL NOTE NOW, please read the first book in this series before this. My original understanding was that these were standalones. But the whole time I was reading Taken I thought I was missing some information and lo and behold, that shows up in book one.

Liam is such a golden retriever puppy. And I adored his energy. Apparently I really love this dynamic. The flirting and protectiveness and the history?? Stop it right now. The banter was great and I appreciated the fast paced that kept things moving. I want more spy rom-coms like this now. Fun and sweet with some hold your breath moments. Looking forward to more!

Overall audience notes:

  • Spy Rom-Com
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings: physical violence, weapons violence, kidnapping, attempted murder

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