Tag: romantasy

Book Review: Smoke and Scar (Shattered Crown #1) by Gretchen Powell Fox

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 466 pages
Author: Gretchen Powell Fox
Publisher: Hopewell Media
Release Date: March 11th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Birthed in shadow. Forged in fire.

A Splintered Kingdom

An ancient grudge has kept humans and the magical races of Arcanis at odds for centuries. The Arcane Crucible, a legendary series of trials that occurs every 25 years, offers a chance for peace.

A Haunted Warrior

Elyria Lightbreaker, once a celebrated fae war hero, is a shadow of her former self. Drowning in grief after losing the man she loved to the previous Crucible, now she must rise to stop his sister from falling to the same fate.

A Vengeful Knight

Hardened by loss and fueled by hate, Cedric Thorne’s lifelong goal to conquer the Crucible on humanity’s behalf is finally within reach. The only problem? Getting through the trials alive means working with Elyria—the very fae he blames for his parents’ deaths.

An Unwinnable Challenge

With alliances fragile as spun glass and betrayal lurking at every turn, Elyria and Cedric must navigate deadly trials that test their strength, spirit, and magic… as well as their increasingly complex feelings for each other.

This is the Arcane Crucible.

I’M TIRED.

Reallllll tired of the *lets go through a competition trial* trope. I think I’ve read too many back to back and now they all sound the same. And they used to be so good!!

The use of the trials feels like a weak plot device to move the story forward when nothing major has been happening. I was bored both during the trial and outside of it too. The romance had no sticking power and I won’t be continuing this series.

My positive note is that the audiobook is DUET. Which I will never stop saying is one of the best audio formats out there.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: high

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Book Review: A Wraith Beneath the Tides (Beyond the Tides #1) by Emilia Jae

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Rating: ★★★★.25
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 584 pages
Author: Emilia Jae
Publisher: Em’s Bookish Realm Press
Release Date: July 17th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN MEETS ATLANTIS THE LOST EMPIRE. –>

Raised in secret by the sea’s most feared pirate, Esmyra Blackwood knows nothing of her past or the origins of her mysterious powers.

In the mortal kingdom, Draevyn Rowe is the second-born son of the tyrant king, and the only known fire-wielder of their realm.

Esmyra and Draevyn’s journeys collide when she kidnaps him to force a trade with the king for her captain’s life. But when her barter is refused, she is instead tasked with unearthing a kingdom lost a thousand years prior. Together, the two are forced to navigate a labyrinth of lies and secrets in search of the sunken kingdom.

The tides are shifting, and with scheming gods and ancient rivalries at play, alliances will be forged and shattered. The two must decide who to trust, and how far they’re willing to go for the ones they love.

Esmyra will face a choice: Does their world deserve salvation… or will she be its reckoning?

PRETTY GOOD.

This had been sitting on my KU line-up for a bit and I’ve been excited to get to it. And I think it held up pretty well. I’ll read the next book.

It had a plot line that I feel like I haven’t read recently so while, at times, frustrating, it was also nice to see? I am curious where it’s going to lead and how the fallout will occur.

The romance [gratefully] was enough of a slow burn for me. I do think there needed to be something higher on the swoony factor to really sell me but maybe that’s coming in the sequel. I think there was some good banter between Esmyra and Draevyn and it definitely had enemies to lovers vibes.

I’m curious about the addition of a third POV and where that will lead. I have ideas I’d love to see, which one again, leads me to being hopeful about book two. We shall see!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Romantasy
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 1-2 open door
  • Violence: high

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Book Review: A Bond so Fierce and Fragile (Compelling Fates Saga #3) by Sophia St. Germain

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Romantasy
Length: 465 pages
Author: Sophia St. Germain
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 20th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Torture. Darkness. Loss.

That’s what the Fae king has planned to break her.

But Elessia is prepared to fight.

She is ready to fight her way out of the king’s claws, fight to save Havlands from rebels and Fae alike, and above all, fight to return to the one she loves.

But in the end, it’s her own life she might need to fight for the most, and even though her mate will do anything, including rip the entire world to shreds, to keep her safe, there is nowhere to hide when the gods themselves are after you.

STILL GOOD.

It’s been a minute since I’ve had the chance to read multiple books in a series in one year and I’ve enjoyed diving into this romantasy world. Each book has been solid and I’m looking forward to reading the conclusion soon.

I liked the addition of new POV’s into this one. Getting some more insight into decisions and personalities was helpful for the overall plot. What wasn’t helpful was the *spur of the moment* [how it felt] additions of spice & mate finding. It lacked a sense of build or genuineness I was missing to get on board.

There were some really great moments that moved the plot well, and I still love the main FMC, Elessia. Her relationship with Merrick is solid and I like the way they take care of each other.

This book got brutal and took it out on my heart. Which now has me all sorts of concerned for how the finale will wrap up, but I’ll remain hopeful!

Overall audience notes:

  • Romantasy
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 5+ open door
  • Violence: high

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Book Review: Heir of Illusion (Verran Isles #1) by Madeline Taylor

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Romantasy
Length: 458 pages
Author: Madeline Taylor
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: March 31st, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

An alliance between enemies. A weapon of untold power. And a bond that could rewrite fate.

Fall into the viral, propulsive dark romantasy everyone is reading. A fae assassin with the power of illusion, sworn to a king she despises. An enigmatic grim reaper, searching for freedom. Enemies collide in an unlikely alliance, brimming with desire and destruction.

She is not the pet they tamed.

Blessed with the power of illusion, Iverson Pomeroy has many tricks up her sleeve. However, none of them are a match for the enchanted collar at her throat that keeps her bound as assassin and mistress to a ruthless king. Forced to play the role of his obedient pet, she plots in secret to destroy him and claim the freedom she has always been denied.

She is the beast they let inside.

When a mysterious reaper, Thorne, arrives in the city with his sights set on the same weapon Ivy needs—the only artifact that can remove her collar—she must decide how far she’s willing to go.

And she will show no mercy.

With a tenuous alliance tying them together, Ivy learns there is more to her reluctant companion than meets the eye… He sparks her curiosity and ignites dangerous desires within her. But will the secrets they harbor destroy each other? And does it even matter, when anyone who so much as touches Thorne dies?

GREAT START.

I had a lot of fun with this one. I was confused for a bit on what was happening and I do think the world building stayed murky throughout. Not enough to deter me from picking up book two though.

I loved the audiobook. It’s duet narration which really made this cat and mouse game between the leads play off well. I liked the banter and heat. There’s a forbidden nature to it that I fell in love with and I’m excited to see how the romance continues.

It was very easy to pick and continue. I liked seeing some less common romantasy themes next to the usual suspects. It kept things interesting and brought out that yearning that I love so dearly. Also, y’all know I love a wild ending which this delivered!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 2-3ish open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: mentions of self harm, intense near death experiences, loss of life, attempted sexual assault, unwanted touching, emotional and physical abuse

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