ARC Book Review: Darkness Births the Stars by Sarah Lee Wohn

September 6, 2025August 27, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★.75
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 700 pages
Author: Sarah Lee Wohn
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: September 3rd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Their forbidden love tore the world apart.
Now two broken gods might be the only ones able to heal it.

Haunted by his past and the evil forces he commanded, Noctis, once the God of Darkness, cannot forget Rada, the former Goddess of Light—and the queen who ruled at his brother’s side. Condemned to mortality, thought dead to the whole world, Noctis craves one last meeting …

Stripped of her magic and exiled for treason, Rada has built an idyllic new life on a farm at the edges of the realm. But her peace is shattered one stormy night when Noctis—the enemy who caused her downfall, the lover she betrayed in turn—appears at her door, wounded and desperate.

When a sinister attack reveals the powers of Chaos are stirring once more, Noctis’s dark past begins to unravel. As desire and duty entwine, Rada faces an impossible choice. Can she become the ally of the man who broke her heart to save everything she holds dear?

Inspired by Nordic mythology, this first book in a series follows star-crossed lovers, their fall from grace and their quest for redemption. Sizzling, tension-filled romance, high-stakes magical battles, and morally-grey characters make this the perfect read for fans of Gild, The Cruel Prince and When the Moon Hatched.

Are you prepared to touch the Darkness?

Thank you to the author and MTMC Tours for the gifted copy.

I KIND OF WANT BOOK TWO.

I was really into this for probably the first 30-40%. The length hadn’t started to show and the story was interesting! But then I started to see some cracks.

There is no way this needed to be 750 pages. Some condensing would have made the plot move steadier and still allowed for the same growth and arcs. And something that tends to bug me is when flashback chapters are used to add spice. It flirts with that line I have about needing plot > spice if the flashbacks aren’t truly adding much to the story. NOW there were some scenes that absolutely did add more world system set up. It wasn’t a total lost cause.

The MC’s were probably my favorite of the book. I enjoyed Noctis and Rada the most. Especially Noctis with his brooding ways and self sacrificing nature when it comes to anything involving Rada. I love villainous love interests and he plays the part expertly.

While it was a bit of a slog to get to the last quarter I think the book started to shine again. I enjoyed the ending and the hinted set-up for the next book (I definitely thought this was a standalone so you’ve been warned!!). No big cliffhanger at least.

For a debut, it was good. I genuinely could see the effort and care for the story, even with my hang-ups. I’m curious about book two and how this will spiral the plot.

Overall audience notes:

Romantasy
Language: moderate – strong
Romance: 4ish+ long open door
Violence: high

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Book Review: Songbird of the Sorrows (Mythos of the Empyrieos #1) by Braidee Otto

September 3, 2025August 7, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Braidee Otto
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 18th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Ask no questions. Obey your orders. Respect your masters. But most of all… Love no one.

Born without breath, Aella’s life began with a solemn promise etched in fate. Ousted from the Palace of Sorrows and gifted to the Aviary at a young age, she was shaped to fit the mold they made for her.

Spy. Thief. Princess. Songbird.

After Aella completes her training and passes the Naming ceremony, she is assigned to the prestigious Alpha Flight, led by none other than her former flame. Everything about Raven calls to her. He is brave, loyal, and lethal. But love is forbidden within the Aviary.

When Alpha Flight is tasked with infiltrating the eastern kingdom’s royal trials to seek a weapon hidden deep within its court, Aella struggles with the expectations placed on her.

As old sparks reignite and the harsh realities of the realm reveal themselves, she must decide whether to follow orders or defy them.

SO MANY THOUGHTS.

I’m kind of bouncing all over about this one so this review might read a little more chaotically than usual.

The first half of this book I enjoyed. I felt pretty engaged with what was happening. I liked the trajectory and the main character + side characters. All good things.

And then, something felt off about the second half and I don’t know how to describe it. I wasn’t in love with everything happening and the romance had a forced spice aspect that didn’t click with me either. They were kind of a second chance moment? But with no great background on that first chance they were feeling a lot more chemistry than I ever was.

The ending did have a few interesting aspects that almost have me wondering if I should try the second book. I might wait for reviews though before I try it out.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: moderate
Romance: 3+ open door
Violence: high
Content Warnings: blood/gore, PTSD, sexual assault, substance abuse, torture

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: August 2025

August 31, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

IT’S FOOTBALL SEASON. But also, here are all the books I read in August! I’m still on track to hit 400, just need to stay focused.

[ARC/ALC] For the Record by Emma Lord
[ARC] The Legacy of Ophelia (The Curse of Ophelia #5) by Nicole Platania
The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam (Hart and Mercy #3) by Megan Bannen
In the Veins of Drowning (The Siren Mage #1) by Kalie Cassidy
The Americana Playbook by Cathryn Carter
[Novella] Devotion of the Heart by Nichole Van
Problematic Summer Romance (Not in Love #2) by Ali Hazelwood
Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
[ARC] You & Me, For Real by Hayley Elliot
[ARC] A Sea View Christmas (On Devonshire Shores #3.5) by Julie Klassen
The Jasad Crown (The Scorched Throne #2) by Sara Hashem
Isles of the Emberdark (Cosmere) by Brandon Sanderson
A Promise So Bold and Broken (Compelling Fates Saga #2) by Sophia St. Germain
Glorious Rivals (The Grandest Game #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
A Summer Without You by Caitlin Moss
Accomplice to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain #3) by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Between These Broken Hearts (These Hollow Vows #4) by Lexi Ryan
Anywhere With You by Ellie Palmer
Deadwood (Secrets of the Serpentine #1) by Karley Brenna
Wrath of the Dragons (Fear the Flames #2) by Olivia Rose Darling
A Beguiled Gentleman (The Bradley Brothers #1) by Audra Wells
Immortal Consequences (The Souls of Blackwood Academy #1) by I.V. Marie
One More Made Up Love Song (Midnight Rush #2) by Jenny Proctor
[ARC/ALC] Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson
[ARC/ALC] If Looks Could Kill by Julie Berry
The Blonde Who Came in From the Cold (Blonde Identity #2) by Ally Carter
[ARC] Darkness Births the Stars by Sarah Lee Wohn
[ARC/ALC] Wild Reverence (Letters of Enchantment #0) by Rebecca Ross
[ARC] Stuck With You (Cal’s Garage #1) by Stacy Williams
The Dragon Wakes with Thunder (The Night Ends with Fire #2) by K.X. Song
Love is a War Song by Danica Nava
A Love Most Fatal (Morelli Family #1) by Kath Richards
[Novella] A Churn in the Virtual Society (Into the Churn #3.5) by Hayley Reese Chow
[ARC] What Fury Brings by Tricia Levenseller

ARC Book Review: One More Made Up Love Song (Midnight Rush #2) by Jenny Proctor

August 31, 2025August 22, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 341 pages
Author: Jenny Proctor
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 29th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Rule #1: Do not fall in love with your very famous boss. Rule #2: See Rule #1.

As the personal assistant of rockstar Freddie Ridgefield, Ivy Conway knows most women would love to have her job. It definitely has its perks. She gets to travel, the pay is great, and she’s among the first to hear Freddie’s new music.

The only problem? When she got the job, Ivy promised herself she would never fall in love with her boss. And it’s taking everything in her to stay true to her word.

Then Freddie kisses Ivy—an impulsive move to save himself from a little bit of bad press—and everything changes. Now, the whole world thinks they’re in love.

Even more Ivy could swear Freddie felt the same fireworks she did when he pressed his lips to hers.

What starts as an accidental publicity stunt quickly turns into something more, but fame makes everything more complicated. As Freddie’s spotlight grows to include her—and her family—Ivy starts to wonder if the life Freddie can offer her is worth the life she’ll give up. And how she’ll ever survive without him if it isn’t.

One More Made Up Love Song is a fake-dating rockstar romance with all the crackling chemistry and tension you want in a closed-door romcom. Perfect for fans of romance with a little less heat.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

MY NEWEST OBESSION.

GOSH I LOVED IT SO MUCH. This was exactly what friends to lovers, boss x assistant trope romance that I WAAAAAANT. The subtle moments about took me out because it was beautifully nuanced and left this sense of longing and yearning that I CRAVE. CRAVE Y’ALL. Bring back these kind of romances and I will be a happy camper forever.

I can’t even begin to list all of the scenes I loved. The pining was intense and I could not get enough of the glances and touches and the KISSES THAT LIT MY KINDLE ON FIRE.

And I really appreciated the strong friendships for both Freddie and Ivy. There’s something magical about the side characters adding genuine connection to the story that makes it even better. One of my new favorites from Jenny Proctor.

Overall audience notes: