Book Review: The Robin and the Oak Throne (The Oak and the Holly Cycle #2) by K.A. Linde

June 17, 2026June 25, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★.75
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 642 pages
Author: K.A. Linde
Publisher: Red Tower
Release Date: June 17th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The only thing worse than fearing a monster is falling for one…

Kierse McKenna just shattered the Monster Treaty. Again.

It wasn’t entirely her fault. The job was supposed to be steal a goblin-made bracelet off of the Queen of the Nymphs in her own palace. Trade the bracelet for a way to uncover the truth about her past. Except everything goes sideways.

And then he shows up to save her.

Graves—the warlock who ensnared her, betrayed her, and left her to fend for herself. He’s a villain. A monster draped in charm and shadows. And gods help her, he always knows exactly what she wants.

But Graves never does anything for free. He has a job for his favorite little thief. One that will pit her against the most powerful monsters in existence, including his mortal enemy, the Oak King.

An ancient artifact has been located, and only together can they hope to steal it. She just has to let him in.

But once she lets a monster in, he’s impossible to forget…and even harder to resist.

BEFUDDLED.

We’ll get to the good stuff first. I do think this book progressed well off of book one. I liked the expansion of the plot and world, getting to see more settings and characters, and the romance had good developmental moments too. I genuinely had a good time listening to this audiobook and the cliffhanger brings the damage.

BUT.

Y’all, there was like 8? Maybe more (idk I lost count)? open door scenes and that kept taking away from the story. They started to feel out of pocket and used to call the book *spicy*. Not to mention there was a k!nk involved that is not my cup of tea and I felt meh over it all.

This has turned me off of wanting to pick up book three if this is the way things will continue to progress.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: high
Romance; way too many scenes
Violence: high

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ARC Book Review: Shield of Sparrows (Shield of Sparrows #1) by Devney Perry

May 6, 2025April 22, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 528 pages
Author: Devney Perry
Publisher: Red Tower
Release Date: May 6th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Fear the monsters we make.

A swoon-worthy, spicy romantic fantasy filled with legends and monsters. The Witcher meets “Cinderella.” A princess is chosen to fulfill the terms of an ancient treaty and finds herself traveling with an infamous monster slayer.

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and Red Tower for the gifted copy.

WHO KNEW?

First off, I had no idea this book would show up on my doorstep but DANG I am happy that I got to read this early. The first physical book I’ve read in a hot minute and I enjoyed it. I’ve read a few DP contemporaries but dare I say fantasy might be her calling??

This was a SLOW BURN. OH HOW I HAVE MISSED SLOW BURNS. Gosh bring them back, I’m begging. Give me all the little moments, the actual get to know you moments, the moments without awkward lust. I was in love with how this was handled. There was actual time for connection and it has made me even more excited for book two.

The plot and world building was crafted well. It didn’t feel super info-dumpy and it was easy to get a handle on and understand. I like the magic system and the way it kept expanding as the book went on.

I had a few minor pacing quips but those last 50 pages or so the anxiety KICKED in. I love the chaos of those last moments in a fantasy book. I could flip a page and not guess who was going to make it out and who was going to land where by the end. This was beautifully written and GIMME BOOK TWOOOOOO.

Overall audience notes:

Romantasy
Language: moderate
Romance: 2-3 open door
Violence: high
Content warnings: blood/gore depiction, loss of life and loved ones

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Book Review: The Games Gods Play (The Crucible #1) by Abigail Owen

March 11, 2025September 26, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 634 pages
Author: Abigail Owen
Publisher: Entangled: Red Tower
Release Date: September 3rd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Percy Jackson for adults meets The Hunger Games with a slow burn romance between a contestant and Hades himself.

Every hundred years, the gods toy with us mere mortals.
And we let them.

The gods of myth are alive and well.
Once every century, they select a new ruler in a cutthroat competition, pushing mortal players to the limit. But this year, Hades is done sitting on the sidelines. And he’s picking a champion no one expects—in this modern mythic romantasy, she’ll fight for her life…
for the god of Death.

VIBE CHECK.

You know when you’re just here for the vibes? That’s this book. I loved it. I loved the mythology aspects and the competition was nice and brutal. For an 18 hour audiobook I had no time flying through this one. It is engaging and full of good twists and you know what, I’m here for the romance too.

I liked the pacing and all of the side characters. I think some aspects of the action scenes could have had a bigger punch, but I thought all of the different games were interesting and led to good character development for Lyra. She still has a ways to go, but y’all know I love a good arc over the course of an entire series. And I’m wildly obsessed with Hades.

I’ll absolutely pick up the next one. I need to know what happens next.

Overall audience notes: