Tag: prh audio

ARC/ALC Book Review: Rules for Ruin (The Crinoline Academy #1) by Mimi Matthews

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Rating: ★★★★.5
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Mimi Matthews
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: May 20th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

No one betrays the Academy. But now Euphemia must decide: break the rules for her enemy, or let the rules break her heart.

On the outskirts of London sits a seemingly innocuous institution with a secretive aim—train young women to distract, disrupt, and discredit the patriarchy. Outraged by a powerful politician’s systematic attack on women’s rights, the Academy summons its brightest—and most bitter—pupil to infiltrate the odious man’s inner circle. A deal is struck: bring down the viscount, and Miss Euphemia Flite will finally earn her freedom.

But betting shop owner Gabriel Royce has other plans. The viscount is the perfect pawn to insulate Gabriel’s underworld empire from government interference. He’s not about to let some crinoline-clad miss destroy his carefully constructed enterprise—no matter how captivating he finds her threats.

From the rookeries of St. Giles to the ballrooms of Mayfair, Euphemia and Gabriel engage in a battle of wits and wills that’s complicated by a blossoming desire. Soon Euphemia realizes it’s not the broken promises to her Academy sisters she should fear. . . . It’s the danger to her heart.

Thank you to the author and Berkley for the gifted copy and PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook.

OH I AM SMITTEN.

First things first. Gentleman Jim is my ALL TIME favorite Mimi Matthews book and the MMC in Rules for Ruin? Dear Gabriel Royce? HAS THE SAME VIBES. So clearly this read went well for me. Gosh I loved him.

I have read nearly all of MM’s backlist and I love that this felt like a wholly new series starter. The unique set up for the characters and future books was awesome. I loved the institution turned training ground and how that influences the story line. The distinct darker atmosphere of the story was top notch too. I loved the hidden moments, putting all of the clues together and sneaking about in the dark.

And the romance? SWOON. We love a protective MMC. Also bless the fact that this was dual POV. I loved being in both Effie and Gabriel’s headspace. The push and pull between them was delicious. The banter and moments where they leaned on each other as they learned more about themselves. The kisses were [as always] heated and utterly romantic. I am a puddle for these two.

I loved how everything came together and those who deserved their due received it. I will happily sit here waiting for book two. Mimi Matthews never misses.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: mild

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ARC/ALC Book Review: The Wind Weaver (Reign of Remnants #1) by Julie Johnson

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 544 pages
Author: Julie Johnson
Publisher: Ace Publishing
Release Date: April 8th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Magic and adventure swirl through this spellbinding romantasy where a young woman reignites the embers of an ancient prophecy, unleashing a storm that could save her realm or doom them all.

Fear of maegic plagues war-torn Anwyvn. Halflings like Rhya Fleetwood are killed on sight. But Rhya’s execution is interrupted by an unexpected savior—one far more terrifying than her would-be killers. The mysterious and mercenary Commander Scythe. In the clutches of this new enemy, Rhya finds herself fighting for her life in the barren reaches of the Northlands. Yet the farther she gets from home, the more she learns that nothing is as it seems—not her fearsome captor, not the blight that ravages her dying realm, not even herself.

For Rhya is no ordinary halfling. The strange birthmark on her chest and the wind she instinctively calls forth means she is a Remnant, one of four souls scattered across Anwyvn, fated to restore the balance of maegic…or die trying.

But mastering the power inside her is only the beginning. Desire for the Commander—a man she can never trust, a man with plans of his own—burns just as fiercely as the tempests beating against her rib cage for release. Rhya must choose: smother the flames…or let them consume her.

Thank you to PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook and MTMC Tours and Ace Publishing for the physical copy.

I’LL READ THE NEXT ONE.

I had a good time reading/listening to this book. Do I think it was anything groundbreaking? No. It wasn’t anything I haven’t read before, yet that also lent towards my enjoyment level. I know what I like in romantasy and this held many of those key aspects.

*I will note I struggled with the audiobook a bit because I think the narrator made the FMC come off way more abrasive than necessary and struggled on the male voices. I liked the story and characters more when I was reading physically.

The romance was a nice long slow burn. WHICH I APPRECIATE SO MUCH. I am kind of exhausted by how much spice some books have just to start the series of. I want the burn, I want the building chemistry and soft moments that bond the couple together. But also I have thoughts on the romance??? And I’m not going to be naming names at this time, I will be getting my hands on book two as quickly as I can though…

ANYWHO. I thought the world building was executed well without superfluous info dumping. The elemental magic system was explained well and I liked the pacing. There’s a fairly good balance between the slow and fast. I really fell in love with the found family scenes and the story line definitely has enough to keep me going.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 1-2 almost open door scenes
  • Violence: moderate – high
  • Content warnings: loss of life, battle/war themes

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ARC/ALC Book Review: Lady Knight (The Diamonds #2) by Amalie Howard

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: YA Historical Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Amalie Howard
Publisher: Joy Revolution
Release Date: April 1st, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Bestselling author Amalie Howard delivers the unputdownable companion novel to Queen Bee, Lady Knight, which follows the daughter of a duke defying the rules of high society in regency-era London with the help of friends, including the resident rake.

Lady Zenobia “Zia” Osborn, a duke’s daughter, is frustrated that her entire life has been predetermined. What good is skill or intelligence if one is forced to suffocate it because of one’s sex? She’d much rather make her mark on the world than bat her eyelashes for the ton.

Zia only comes alive in the Lady Knights, a clandestine social club for rebellious girls. In it, she is free to compose music, fence, read controversial literature, and save orphans from destitution by any means necessary. Aside from her closest confidantes, no one knows about Zia’s indecorous other life. . . .

Until Mr. Rafi Nasser, a rogue with secrets of his own, finds out. Shocked yet intrigued by his best friend’s younger sister, he agrees to keep Zia’s secret—if only to help her avoid utter scandal.

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

I HAVE SOME THOUGHTS.

Let me tell y’all what I loved most about this book…any time Rafi and Zia were on the page together. Off the charts chemistry, incredible banter, and the best kind of heated interactions. I loved loved loved them so much. Their time together continually saved this book for me.

Now for what bugged me, the side quests and most of the rest of the plot. The themes were kind of shoved down my throat rather than woven in and it felt like the only thing anyone could talk about. And all of the Frankenstein commentary was boring.

There were some good scenes scattered throughout I enjoyed about friendships and family connections and following what makes you happy. I did love all of the painting and music composition aspects.

This was my first book by this author (I haven’t read the first book in this series and had no issues. This can easily be read as a standalone), and I’m unsure if I’ll pick up another?

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Historical Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses

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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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