Tag: new adult fantasy romance

ALC/ARC Book Review: Cruel Is the Light (Cruel is the Light #1) by Sophie Clark

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Rating: ★★★.74
Audience: NA Historical Romantasy
Length: 496 pages
Author: Sophie Clark
Publisher: Knopf Books
Release Date: May 20th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

An epic new fantasy about a demon hunter and a foot soldier thrown together in a centuries-old war… and the forbidden love that could change the course of history.

A bloody war between demons and the Vatican has waged for more than a century, with two elite soldiers now at its center: Selene Alleva, a high-ranking exorcist running from a dark family legacy, and orphan Jules Lacroix, recruited by the Vatican and unrivalled on the battlefield.

When their paths cross over a series of unprecedented demon attacks, the distrust–and unwelcome attraction–they have for each other is immediate. But to get to the bottom of the breaches they strike an uneasy alliance to avoid suspicion. With Jules posing as Selene’s estranged fiance, they head to the Vatican in search of answers. But even as Selene questions who her most dangerous enemy is, Jules has begun to suspect that it’s him.

Now Jules’ very existence challenges every truth Selene thought she knew, and suggests a terrible conspiracy at the heart of the Vatican. Unable to ignore their growing feelings, the two must make an impossible choice between love and duty.

They say love conquers all – but can it win in a war between demons and exorcists? Or will it tear them apart…

Thank you to PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook and Get Underlined for the ARC.

I THINK I LIKED THIS?

I will say the audiobook production was fantastic. I loved all of the narrators and the seamless switches between characters.

Now, the book itself. Well, I think I’ve decided the bones of the story are good. I loved the historical elements and the combination of religion + politics + war looming scenario. There were many scenes I was all over. And I didn’t mind the characters either. I could get behind them and can see the growth coming for the series (duology?) too.

The pacing is what threw me off. It can’t quite decide if it wants to be quick or slow or somewhere in between. And that kept taking me out of the book. I did enjoy the romance. I liked the snarky star crossed enemies banter. It’s got an edge of insta-love that didn’t bother me all that much.

I do have plans to read book two, which honestly is a statement of its own that I liked it enough to continue.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Historical Romantasy
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: one fade to black; light innuendo
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: mild blood/gore, self harm (for magic use), loss of loved ones

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Book Review: The Shadow Bride (The Scarlet Veil #2) by Shelby Mahurin

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 624 pages
Author: Shelby Mahurin
Publisher: Harper Collins
Release Date: March 25th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In the thrilling conclusion of the duology set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Serpent & Dove series by Shelby Mahurin, a vampire and the woman who tried to kill him prove that true love can conquer anything, even Death. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Mass.

Célie’s life is over. She took her final breath trying to save the people she loves—including the powerful and enigmatic vampire king, Michal, who refused to let her go. When Célie wakes, she cannot walk in the sun; she can hear her friends’ heartbeats and she craves their blood. Michal has cursed her to the eternal existence of a vampire.

But Célie isn’t the only dead roaming the earth. Her sister, Filippa, has returned as a shadow of her former self, and other revenants are rising from their graves intent on revenge. The fragile balance between life and death has broken, awakening an even darker force—and he is coming for Célie, ready to claim her as his Bride. With the fate of their world at stake, Célie and Michal must set aside their searing attraction to mend the veil and right the balance, once and for all.

WELL I LOVED THIS.

This one found me at the right time because I just had a good time with this. 600 pages who? It did not matter because I was glued to my headphones devouring this story.

I loved Celie’s journey. With a substantial character arc woven throughout, you definitely got a feel for everything she went through. I loved that she maintained a soft, feminine nature while also showing how strong and filled with perseverance you can be too. It’s a beautiful balance.

And I was obsessed with the romance (it is very open door so I would not call this a YA book). I loved the heat and swoon and all of the between Michal and Celie.

I felt satisfied with how everything wrapped up with the ending. The characters had the conclusions I needed and getting a little epilogue was exactly what I was hoping for.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: 2-3 open door
  • Violence: high

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Book Review: The Rose Bargain (The Rose Bargain #1) by Sasha Peyton Smith

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Genre: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Sasha Peyton Smith
Publisher: Harper Collins
Release Date: February 4th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The Cruel Prince meets The Selection in this captivating duology opener brimming with heart-pounding romance, vicious competition, and beautiful, cruel fae, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Witch Haven, Sasha Peyton Smith.

Every citizen of England is granted one bargain from their immortal fae queen.

High society girls are expected to bargain for qualities that will win them suitors: a rare talent for piano in exchange for one’s happiest childhood memory. A perfect smile for one’s ability to taste.

But Ivy Benton’s debut season arrives with a shocking twist: a competition to secure the heart of the Queen’s fae son, Prince Bram. A prize that could save Ivy’s family from ruin… and free her sister from the bargain that destroyed her.

Yet every glittering fae deal has a rotting heart—and at the center of this contest is a dark plot that could destroy everything Ivy knows.

Sweepingly romantic and deceptively enchanting, this alternate history romantasy will enthrall readers of Holly Black, Stephanie Garber, and Adalyn Grace.

YO, WHAT.

This book had one moment where I absolutely shouted WHAT in my car and I love that for me. Bring me a book that has a shock factor and I am your girl. I adored this book a lot. The audiobook was great and this reminded me of why I enjoy fantasy romance so much. I will say it definitely leans into the new adult category over young adult if you were curious.

I loved the setting. I can’t get enough of historical fantasy and liked the twist that this one had. The bargains and fae and competition all aligned with the coup in progress and I enjoyed the betrayals and twists throughout. I don’t mind a love triangle involving brothers and this one had the right plot edge that I knew something else was going on and was excited to figure out what that happened to be. I do think one of the brothers was a little flat for 90% of the book but now I think that has opened up a lot more for book two.

An absolute gem in my mind. Fantastic book, can’t wait for more.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: one open door
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content Warnings: loss of life, torture, loss of loved ones

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ALC Book Review: The Scorpion and the Night Blossom (The Three Realms Duology #1) by Amelie Wen Zhao

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Amelie Wen Zhao
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Release Date: March 4th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In a world invaded by demons, one girl will face the ultimate test when she is forced to enter into an ancient, deadly competition for the chance to save her mother’s soul… before she loses her forever. From the New York Times bestselling author of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night comes the beginning of a dark and opulent fantasy duology, perfect for fans of Throne of Glass.

Nine years ago, the war between the Kingdom of Night and the Kingdom of Rivers tore Àn’yīng’s family apart, leaving her mother barely alive and a baby sister to fend for. Now the mortal realm is falling into eternal night, and mó—beautiful, ravenous demons—roam the land, feasting on the flesh of humans and drinking their souls.

Àn’yīng is no longer a helpless child, though. Armed with her crescent blades and trained in the ancient art of practitioning, she has decided to enter the Immortality Trials, which are open to any mortal who can survive the journey to the immortal realm. Those who complete the Trials are granted a pill of eternal life—the one thing Àn’yīng knows can heal her dying mother. But to attain the prize, she must survive the competition.

Death is common in the Trials. Yet oddly, Àn’yīng finds that someone is helping her stay alive. A rival contestant. Powerful and handsome, Yù’chén is as secretive about his past as he is about his motives for protecting Àn’yīng.

The longer she survives the Trials, the clearer it becomes that all is not right in the immortal realm. To save her mother and herself, Àn’yīng will need to figure out whether she can truly trust the stranger she’s falling for or if he’s the most dangerous player of all . . . for herself and for all the realms.

Thank you to PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook and Get Underlined for the gifted copy.

DON’T LET ME DOWN.

Here we are at the ending of another first book from AWZ. I have unfortunately felt let down two times over with the last book in her trilogy and previous duology. SO PLEASE. LET BOOK TWO BE GOOD. I liked this book y’all. I am maintaining hope.

The idea was a concept I’ve read before but I enjoyed the spin and take on the story line. There’s a little bit of a competition which moved the plot well enough. The romantic banter felt a little forced on the audiobook but when I was physically reading I liked it a lot more. It’s a good enemies vibe and there were enough movement and turns in the last few chapters that absolutely have me questioning where this will go.

The characters were well crafted, I do still very much enjoy the writing style and I’m looking forward to the sequel.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: one vague open door
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: loss of loved ones, war themes, creature attacks

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