Tag: romantasy

Book Review: Dawn of the North (The Ashen #3) by Demi Winters

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 588 pages
Author: Demi Winters
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: February 3rd, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A new age begins in the Kingdom of Íseldur in this sizzling third installment of the Viking-inspired Ashen romantasy the series.

The lost Volsik heir has finally returned to the people of Íseldur, and even with the warrior who’s captured her heart standing by her side, Silla’s task is monumental. She must earn the loyalty of the northern jarls to drive Ivar Ironheart from the throne and restore peace in the kingdom. But the secret she vigilantly guards threatens to ruin all her plans: A shard of a god lives in her mind, twisting her thoughts and deeds to His will.

Meanwhile, held captive on the mysterious isle of Zagadka, Saga Volsik fights to return to her sister in Íseldur. But when King Ivar sets his sights on the Zagadkians, she’s forced to make an impossible choice: fight for the man who stole her—and is now hell-bent on marrying her—or let the innocent people of his kingdom die.

As a poisonous mist threatens the realm, the sisters will delve into the unknowns of their magic to battle against evil. Return to the land of ice and fire, where a god awakens, a queen finds her power, and sisters must unite against the darkness threatening their realm.

Thank you LibroFM for the gifted audiobook.

STILL GREAT.

I am loving how good this whole series has been. I’ve missed epic, longer series with multiple POVs, romances and complicated plots that keep me locked into the story from start to finish.

I can’t talk a whole lot about the characters in this one because I don’t want to spoil anything but I do continue to enjoy the trajectory of all of the situations. There’s fantastic swoony and protective moments and if you love higher spice, that’s here too (I do think it started to get out of pocket for me).

The plot continues to twist and turn while being easy to follow. I love the politicking and intense action and the complexity of everyone’s character arcs. The rotating POV’s work well and the audiobook is a great listen. I can’t wait for the next book!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: mild+
  • Romance: 6-7ish open door
  • Violence: high

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Book Review: A Vow in Vengeance (Immortal Desires #1) by Jaclyn Rodriguez

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 471 pages
Author: Jaclyn Rodriguez
Publisher: Slowburn
Release Date: January 13th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Deadly tarot, wicked schemes, dangerous alliances . . . can you survive the Forge?

Sexy, action-packed, and brimming with magic, A Vow in Vengeance is an unputdownable romantasy debut.

Rune Ryker has nothing left to lose. Everything’s been stolen by the Immortals—her family, her home, her freedom. But she’s done playing by their rules.

Each year, humans are forced to journey into the Immortal Realms, but twenty-year-old Rune orchestrates her own selection, determined to find her family and destroy anyone who stands in her way. Rune is used to doing whatever it takes to survive, and now she must endure the Forge, a cutthroat college for the Immortal druids’ elusive tarot magic. When Rune’s magic reveals itself to be the rarest and most powerful, she must live with its only other wielder—Prince Draven. As arrogant as he is ruthlessly ambitious, he’s the last person she can trust.

Rune’s abilities also draw the eyes of the most dangerous druids in the realms. Some want to use her. More want her dead. Draven offers to train her . . . for a price. As Rune becomes ensnared in Draven’s dangerous games, she learns there are secrets at the heart of the kingdom that some will kill to protect.

And Rune and Draven’s growing attraction may be the spark to ignite a brewing war.

SO THIS WAS GOOD?

Not gonna lie, this wasn’t really on my radar until my aunt messaged me and said I would like this one and she was right!! I just sat here glued to my headphones devouring the duet narration and all of the things this book held.

I reallllly liked the main characters. Flawed and grumbly with a good sense of self. The chemistry between Rune and Draven was fantastic. There was a solid level of slow burn where I actually go to enjoy them banter and get to know each other. And Draven is such a big softie?! I’m kind of obsessed with him honestly.

The plot wasn’t anything new but the writing worked so well that it wasn’t a deterrent. I liked the tarot card magic system and the general ideas behind the plot and themes. It felt like an easy read with well balanced world and character building.

I am a little worried with how book two will go because having an end game couple so solidified in book one doesn’t often work well for me in book two but I am crossing my fingers it doesn’t go that way and I can’t wait to pick it up!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3ish open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: attempted sexual assault, brief mentions of suicide, weapons and physical violence

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Book Review: Because the Beasts Came (Wells of Istri #1) by Madeline James

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 630 pages
Author: Madeline James
Publisher: Spellbound Worlds
Release Date: April 9th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She’s already broken, but this mission may be what shatters her.

A young guardian bearing the burden of a kingdom torn to shreds, Iryana works tirelessly from the shadows to keep her clan’s outpost standing. After the beasts ravaged the lands and the gangs claimed what was left, the survivors can only cling to the scattered settlements, fighting desperately to hold their borders.

But they’re losing.

Her clan’s only hope lies beyond their brittle the ancient magic of the metal-wells, and the ruthless military gangs that control them. Iryana has no choice but to infiltrate a nearby brigade, earn their volatile trust, and see her magic forged in one of their closely guarded wells.

Unfortunately, surviving among liars and killers proves to be harder and more mystifying than expected.

Their cruel and calculating leader sees value in her when no one else does. The bitter soldier with haunted eyes and a devastating smile wants her gone but can’t seem to stop saving her life. As each passing day brings her deeper within the brigade, two devastating paths forward present themselves and her deep-rooted cracks become impossible to conceal.

Iryana came to the fortress to save her family—she never expected someone would try to save her.

Perfect for fans of The Bridge Kingdom and The Serpent & The Wings of Night, Because the Beasts Came is the first book in a romantic fantasy duology within the Wells of Istri world. Full of aching tension, a brutal world of monsters and fragile hope, and a heroine torn between duty, desire, and survival, you won’t be able to put this book down.

Thank you to MTMC Tours and the author for a gifted copy.

WHY SO LONG?

I went into this with decent hopes and am left wondering if it’s worth reading book two? There’s no way this needed to be 600+ pages without more character exploration. Every single character lacked depth. I didn’t have an attachment to anyone.

I was genuinely invested for the first 30%ish. I thought the world building was going well and liked the military training grounds idea. I think overall the writing style was good, just needed dialed in.

I’m always here for a slow burn but the fact of the matter is we didn’t get more than maybe one interaction with the leads until after halfway? And their dynamic was lackluster. No chemistry or banter or anything swoony. There was also a weird situation with the guy’s brother? It wasn’t a love triangle, but it wasn’t good either.

There’s a few more things that made me cranky but it is what it is.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: one open door (literally the last pages)
  • Violence: moderate-high
  • Content warnings: physical/emotional abuse

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Book Review: The Wicked and the Damned (Dark Inheritance Trilogy #2) by Rebecca Robinson

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Rebecca Robinson
Publisher: Saga Press
Release Date: February 24th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In the exhilarating second romantasy novel in Rebecca Robinson’s Dark Inheritance Trilogy, a fiery couple forced apart must navigate a deadly maze of politics and power to reunite across a continent at war.
Torn from her husband Reid’s arms and dragged back to her homeland in chains, Vaasa is no longer a ruler, but a political pawn. Now under the control of Ozik—a cunning Zetyr witch with a stranglehold on her magic—she faces annulment, forced betrothal, and a kingdom that no longer feels like her own. As Ozik’s machinations aim to install himself as the true power behind the Asteryan throne, Vaasa is forced to take part in his game.

Meanwhile, across the continent, Reid is done playing politics. But waging war is never simple, and a soldier’s fury cannot stand up against Icruria’s bureaucracy. With allies fading and time slipping away, Reid may have no choice but to infiltrate Asterya on his own to find the woman he loves and bring her home.

As Vaasa’s magic begins to flare, she desperately seeks control, even if Ozik is the only one who can offer it. She then finds a cryptic final message from her mother about a precious missing necklace that might just be the answer to finally freeing her magic from Ozik. Yet when a ghost from Vaasa’s past reemerges among the suitors vying for her hand, escape might be within reach—but will it demand a betrayal that real love may not survive?

Thank you Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook.

ALMOST LOST ME.

To be honest, I was worried in the first half. I am just not a fan of keeping a couple apart for so long after they’ve pretty much claimed end game. And then with the addition of a not-an-actual-love-triangle I was almost throwing my phone.

But hey, things picked up and it ended up being a good sequel where I’m absolutely looking forward to the conclusion. I appreciated that this kept of plot > spice element and the politics and world were intense. This whole book was intense. I loved the moments between Reid and Vaasa because the chemistry is still off the charts.

🎧 I liked the audiobook narrator but my only wish was that this had a second narrator for Reid’s chapters. I know he didn’t have as many as Vaasa, yet I think it would have added a bonus element to the story.

A really solid and [currently] underrated series. Y’all check it out!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 2-3ish open door
  • Violence: high

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