Tag: indie author

ARC Book Review: The Trials of Ophelia (The Curse of Ophelia #3) by Nicole Platania

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 645 pages
Author: Nicole Platania
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: March 19th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The Angels are calling, and so her hunt begins.

After the devastation on Daminius, Ophelia threw herself into restoration to cope with her losses. Two months later, answers to an ancient curse still evade her, a queen threatens her life, and war rages in the southern mountains. Despite her scars and the loved ones lost, Ophelia knows she must move forward for her people.

When a note arrives with the clue they’ve been hoping for, Ophelia and her friends embark on a journey that will test their bonds and their faith in the Angels.

Ophelia must unravel legends while navigating a budding romance and trying to hold the Mystiques together–even if it means sacrificing herself.

The Trials of Ophelia is the third installment in the new adult romantic fantasy series, The Curse of Ophelia. With roots in Greek mythology, heartrending love stories, found family, and a unique fantastical world, this series is perfect for fans of Carissa Broadbent, Chloe C. Peñaranda, and Sarah J Maas.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

LOVED IT.

I am just absolutely hooked on this series. I am in love with progression of both the story and the writing. Each book has gotten better and better and the way I love these characters is INTENSE.

The pacing here is slowed down a bit, but NOT in a bad way. There’s clearly a build to the last two books and I am anxious to see where those go. This also allowed for amazing character growth across the entire cast. I loved seeing both main romantic pairings (trying not to say specifics because spoilers) lean on each other and take steps on their own. This book is engaging and still has those intense action scenes where you’re not sure who’s going to make it back out.

PLUS. There were some amazing reveals that had me questioning the entire world and I love that. This world and magic system is growing even more and I love how the it’s been laid out. And I love that this book has spice without overshadowing the story. Emotional depth and connection is my favorite and there’s that in heaps here.

Another beautiful installment. I am obsessed with many scenes throughout (and my kindle highlights will back me up). If you’re now seeing this review, go back and start this series!! Absolutely worth it.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low-moderate
  • Romance: 2-3 open door; low-moderate explicit; light innuendo
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: depictions of alcohol/drug dependency, discussions of sexual assault (not on page), recounted child abuse, torture, PTSD

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Book Review: One Iridescent Night (The Iridescent Series #1) by Brianne Wik

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Brianne Wik
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 29th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When the clock strikes twelve, the magic is just beginning.

Between her cruel family, the loss of her mother, and the unexpected departure of her best friend Liam, young Evelyn was forced to endure a life full of loneliness, anxiety and mistreatment. 

Seven years later, seventeen-year-old Evelyn discovers that one magical night can shift everything she thought she knew.

Reunited with an all-grown-up (and oh-so-handsome) Liam, Evelyn finds herself unexpectedly introduced to her mysteriously magical grandmother that she never knew she had, and the dashing Prince Ryker, that she never thought she’d like. Caught between love and fear, Evelyn is thrust into a world she’s never known, with new threats she never expected and new changes she doesn’t understand.

Welcome to a world made dangerous by hidden magic, where a young girl must find her place and her voice while trying to survive the trauma she’s endured most of her life. One Iridescent Night takes you on an enchanted journey filled with hope, romance, and mystery.

INTRIGUED.

I’ll be the first person to say love triangles aren’t really my thing. I have to be in the right mood to deal with the drama that arises inevitably when so many parties are involved. I have had this sitting on my kindle for months and the mood hit and HERE WE ARE. I CAN’T DECIDE WHO I LIKE MORE.

I feel like both of the love interests are balanced well. I’m kind of waiting for one of them to snap (more or less) and to see some differentiation within Ryker and Liam. I’m hoping with the expansion of plot in the next book we’ll see some tough decisions made and that will give both of them larger character dynamics.

Evy was a good FMC. She’s on the softer side (nothing wrong with that! Just a note) and also carries that strength too. Going through hell and back and being able to find hope and mercy too is a pretty incredible feat.

I don’t know the last time I read a Cinderella retelling. With that fact I really liked this one! There’s clear allusions, yet it strays enough to keep things interesting and not a worn down fairy tale. I am very much interested enough to see how book two goes.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses + very light innuendo
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: domestic abuse, child abuse, whipping, loss of loved ones (on and off page)

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Book Review: The Heir and the Spare by Kate Stradling

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 300 pages
Author: Kate Stradling
Publisher: Eulalia Skye Press
Release Date: February 19th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

An evil princess, a ruthless persecutor, a wretched match.

Tormented at home and bullied during her studies abroad, second-born Iona of Wessett hides in the quiet corners of her father’s castle. Her art and music provide refuge, but her cruel sister Lisenn ever lurks like a monster stalking its prey.

Such has been her life for twenty years.

However, a promise of reprieve and retribution arrives when the neighboring kingdom of Capria proposes an alliance between their new crown prince and Wessett’s heir to the throne. The treaty will rid Iona of the toxic Lisenn, and the potential groom is none other than her erstwhile bully, Jaoven of Deraval. The marriage could not be more poetic: each deserves the misery the other might inflict.

Except that Jaoven, humbled by the war that elevated his rank, appears to have reformed, and the fate of both kingdoms now hinges on the disastrous union he’s about to make.

A GOOD STANDALONE.

After a friend’s recommendation I found an audio copy ready to download and here we are. A quick romantasy standalone that I very much enjoyed! It’s got your classic vibes and tropes for the spare ending up with the prince, but it was a good time nonetheless. I liked Jaoven and Iona. There was good banter and I easily saw the chemistry between them. I appreciated how often they ended up in the same location to build those interactions because that can be tricky in a standalone fantasy.

There’s no magic system and I found the world building easy to follow. It’s an uncomplicated fantasy that heavily focuses on the romance (no complaints, jus commentary). I liked being whisked away to this setting and got through this quickly.

What did bother me was why in the world Lisenn was so terrible? I hate when there’s an antagonist with no backstory. Or any obvious reason for why they’re awful. Lisenn does a bunch of crap and I wish I just knew WHYYY.

Otherwise, good book.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: abusive sister relationship, torture

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Book Review: A Song of Thieves (Thieves of Felshan #1) by Jacqlin Guernsey

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 372 pages
Author: Jacqlin Guernsey
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 3rd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The kingdom of Felshan is at its breaking point. The death of the prince seven years ago left the country vulnerable. In their grief, the King and Queen have all but abandoned their duties, leaving their daughter to hold the pieces together. The last hope for a peaceful future rests with Princess Adalena, the new, albeit hesitant, heir of Felshan. When the princess is kidnapped, a secret few must find her before a power grab for the throne dismantles the country for good.

Ari is a commissioned thief and spy, her skills honed by the very palace she once despised. Being asked to save the missing princess brings her head-to-head with the last person she’d ever choose—Roan Montgomery. Roan is captain of the Royal Guard, working through his own misery and troubled past while attempting to keep the peace in a crumbling Felshan.

Ari wants to be free. Roan wants to forget.

This treacherous quest will push Ari and Roan to their breaking point, pulling the duo intimately together in the process. The fate of the realm rests with these unlikely allies, who discover along the way that they themselves might be the ones who need saving.

A Song of Thieves is Book 1 of the Thieves of Felshan series.

SOLID START.

I am here for this series and am committed to reading book two now.

A small rocky start for me because I really prefer a little more dialogue in my reads, but as the story progressed I got invested in the characters, romance and plot and found myself actually almost finishing this in a day.

I loved the multiple POV’s. It was done well and only enhanced the story. I am curious about even more world building aspects from this and actually really liked that this didn’t have a complex magic system, it didn’t need it.

The romances have my attention. Some fantastic slow burns are brewing right now and I can’t wait to see those continue. I love when a couple isn’t fully together in the first book, draw it out, make me want more, and this has made me want more.

A good (maybe slightly predictable) plot, characters you’ll love and a story I think can be enjoyed by a lot of people.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a loved one, weapons violence, battle themes, kidnapping

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