Tag: new adult fantasy romance

Book Review: The Scarlet Veil (The Scarlet Veil #1) by Shelby Mahurin

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 640 pages
Author: Shelby Mahurin
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: September 26th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

This dark and thrilling vampire romance—set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Serpent & Dove series—is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas!

Célie Tremblay has always been a good girl: kind and beautiful, a daughter of whom every parent would be proud. She surprises the entire kingdom when she defies tradition to become the first huntswoman—including her new captain and fiancé, Jean Luc, who rules the huntsmen with an iron fist. He isn’t the only one concerned for Célie’s safety, however. Though her friends try to protect her from the horrors of her past, mysterious whispers still haunt her, and a new evil is rising in Belterra—leaving bodies in its wake, each one drained of blood.

Determined to prove herself in her new role, Célie tracks the killer to the lair of Les Éternels—ancient creatures only spoken about in nursery rhymes—and catches the attention of their king, a monster who hides his plans for her behind beautiful words and sharp smiles. Now Célie has new reason to fear the dark because the closer he gets, the more tempted she feels to give in to his dark hunger—and her own.

I AM HERE FOR IT.

And please, for all that is bookish, don’t let me down like books two and three of the previous series. I BEG. Because this was FANTASTIC. I knew from the first few hours of listening this was going to be a five star. I loved Celie’s journey and the stronger self she became by being forced outside of the box she’d be unknowingly forced into.

The romance is a SLOWWWW burn and I am obsessed. I can’t wait for this to continue throughout the series. I am hooked over these two and I liked the evolution of that relationship too. It’s not noticeable right away and subtly sneaks up on you as the book progresses.

I loved the overall plot and story. I found the book very well balanced between those hard, fast action moments and the softer, self discovery types (or maybe even a little romance) too. The ending had me SCREAMING and I am anxiously awaiting the next book.

Overall audience notes:

  • Upper YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: low innuendo; make-outs
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: blood/gore depiction, murder, loss of loved ones

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ARC Book Review: Heir (Heir Duology #1) by Sabaa Tahir

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 512 pages
Author: Sabaa Tahir
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Release Date: October 1st, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Prepare for the action-packed, ruthless, and romantic new fantasy from the #1 New York Times bestselling and National Book Award winning author Sabaa Tahir about love, legacy, and vengeance.

An orphan.
An outcast.
A prince.
And a killer who will bring an empire to its knees.

Growing up in the Kegari slums, AIZ has seen her share of suffering. An old tragedy fuels her need for vengeance, but it is love of her people that propels her. Until one hot-headed mistake lands her in an inescapable prison, where the embers of her wrath ignite.

Banished from her tribe for an unforgiveable crime, SIRSHA is a down-on-her-luck tracker who speaks to the earth, air, and water to trace her marks. Destitute, she agrees to hunt down a killer who has murdered children across the Empire. All she has to do is carry out the job and get paid. But then, she falls for a charismatic and inconvenient fugitive who keeps getting in her way.

QUIL is the crown prince of the Empire, nephew of a famed and venerated empress, but he’s loathe to pick up the mantle when his aunt steps down. As the son of the most hated emperor in the history of his people, he, better than anyone, understands that power corrupts. When a vicious new enemy threatens the survival of the Empire, Quil must ask himself if he can rise above his tragic lineage and be the heir his people need.

Beloved storyteller Sabaa Tahir masterfully interweaves the lives of three young people as they grapple with the burdens of power, the treachery of love and the devastating consequences of unchecked greed. Get ready for a dark and breathless journey that will captivate readers and that may cost these young people their lives―and their hearts. Literally.

Thank you Penguin Teen #penguinteenpartner for the gifted ARC.

I WILL NOT BE THE SAME.

This is one of those books that has altered my brain chemistry. It is one of the best books I’ve read this year. I feel like I won’t even do this review justice because of how phenomenal the entire book is.

I loved being back in this world and I loved getting to see my favorites from An Ember in the Ashes (highly recommend reading that series first!!). I loved all of the new characters. It’s a complex and diverse cast where this is not one weak point. Every single POV was engaging. I slowly devoured this because I wanted to savor it but also needed to know what was going to happen next.

And oh boy were there TWISTS. I was left staring into space multiple times while also flipping pages back and forth to make sure I had grasped what the heck just happened. Sabaa Tahir is an incredible writer and the wait for this book was worth it and more.

Also, ROMANCE. Good heavens it SENT ME. Every little lingering moment and touch and soft glance and heated exchange. It was an effortlessly created slow burn. I am obsessed.

There’s so many moments I would love to highlight that have engraved themselves on my soul. The deep, heart wrenching themes and the small pockets of joy. Handling what life has handed you with the strength to take the next step forward. This is one story that I will be thinking about for a long time.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: very vague open/fade to black
  • Violence: high
  • Content Warnings: loss of life and war themes, torture and kidnapping, weapons of mass destruction

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Book Review: The Stolen Throne (Dominions #2) by Abigail Owen

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 528 pages
Author: Abigail Owen
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Release Date: May 2nd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

My twin sister is the true queen of Aryd. She survives, hiding and clinging to life in the desert, while I reign as the false queen alongside the monstrous King Eidolon. There’s only one escape from this gilded prison: Reven. My Shadowraith. My heart. Only the shadows that he struggles to control are growing more sinister, more powerful.

It’s just a matter of time before they turn on him…and on me.

Even escape doesn’t mean true freedom, though, when we’re still on the run from Eidolon’s unstoppable armies. And when we discover there’s a traitor among us, I have no choice…I must become the queen I was never meant to be.

Because as one evil hunts me, the other loves me more than himself.

And my fate lies with both.

SECOND BOOK.

Well, I thought the first little bit and the ending were interesting and relevant. Don’t ask me what happened in the middle because honestly I’m a still a little confused and not sure what most of it has to do with the series as a whole. Things were really dragged out.

I also wish I was still felt attached to the romance. Things went from a separation to tiny dashes of love triangle vibes to commitments I wasn’t expecting. I don’t know. I liked them initially and now I’m not so sure.

That’s how this book made me feel, not so sure. I want to read the third because I’m curious how things will wrap up. I am somewhat invested in a few of the story lines and luckily it’s a great audiobook.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: very vague (no description) open scene
  • Violence: moderate – high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, battle themes, near death experiences, blood/gore depiction, possession

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ALC Book Review: The Darkness Within Us (The Shadows Between Us #2) by Tricia Levenseller

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Tricia Levenseller
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: July 9th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Chrysantha Stathos has won.

By hiding her intelligence and ambition behind the mask of a beautiful air-headed girl, she has gathered important secrets, earned her father’s constant care, and become a wealthy duchess—all by age nineteen. Now, she is only one elderly, dying duke away from having all the freedom, money, and safety she’s ever wanted.

Or so she thought.

Turns out her little sister somehow snatched the true victory away from her: Alessandra is wedding the Shadow King, the most powerful man in the world. Meanwhile, after the death of Chrysantha’s no-good, lecherous husband, a man claiming to be the duke’s estranged grandson turns up to inherit everything that should be hers.

Chrysantha is enraged. There is no way that she’s going to let some man take everything from her. Never mind that he’s extremely handsome and secretive and alluring with mysterious powers… No, Chrysantha wants Eryx Demos dead, and in the end, a Stathos girl always gets what she wants.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

THE RAGE.

The overwhelming feminist rage of this book about overwhelmed me. NOW. I totally understood and was behind much of it, I just think it became a bit much at some points where I was hoping to see growth and acknowledgement of the other things around her. And I didn’t love the way the book started off with Chrysantha. Rubbed me the wrong way.

ALSO NOTE: This is NOT YA. THIS IS NA. Definitely written for older audiences. I love NA, so that doesn’t bother me, but I’m pretty sure the marketing has been for YA and I wouldn’t feel comfortable handing this to a young teen.

ANYWHO. The characters did grow on me a lot. This is a TRUE enemies to lovers and really got my attention with the vitriol and sass between Chrysantha and Eryx. The slow burn brought them together and the beast that’s prowling makes a show for itself too. I was intrigued by much of this and I liked the general plot. I also loved that Chrysantha was able to reconnect with her sister. I loved seeing her and the king again too.

There’s some good themes and I did see the character growth eventually. I’m still a big fan of Levenseller’s books.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: closed door, innuendo throughout
  • Violence: moderate-high
  • Content Warnings: sexual assault (unwanted touching)

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