Tag: romantasy

Book Review: Rose in Chains (The Evermore Trilogy #1) by Julie Soto

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 464 pages
Author: Julie Soto
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: July 8th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

This beautiful DELUXE EDITION hardcover featuring gorgeous sprayed edges with stenciled art is only available for a limited first print run and while supplies last. This is a stunning special edition you will want to add to your collection.

YOUR NEXT ROMANTASY OBSESSION!

The war is over, the dark forces have won, and the hero who was supposed to save them is dead.

Captured as her castle is overrun by the enemy, Briony Rosewood knows that the world as she knows it is changed forever. The dark forces of Bomard have won and her people, the Eversuns, face imminent servitude, imprisonment or death. Her brother, fated to be heir twice over and unite the warring kingdoms, is dead.

Stripped of her Mind Magic and her freedom, Briony and the other survivors are quickly auctioned off to the highest bidders in an auction – and as the heir-apparent’s sister, she fetches the highest price.

After a fierce bidding war, she’s sold to none other than Toven a high ranking Bomardsun – and her long-time and ill-fated infatuation. Scion of a family known for their cruel control of Heart Magic, the Hearsts are ruthlessly ambitious, and Briony knows they will use her however they can to further their own interests.

Yet despite the horrors of her new world and the role she must learn to play within it, all is not lost. Help – and hope – may yet arise in the most unlikely of places…

CURIOUS ENOUGH TO CONTINUE.

This wasn’t originally on my radar until a friend recommended I give it a go, and you know what? I liked it! It’s definitely a dark atmosphere but those little touches of hope woven in make me curious to see the overall plot arc over the course of the series.

And I appreciated the slow burn between Briony and Toven. It was an ACTUAL slow burn with this increasing tension that was only catered to by the flashback moments. As someone who doesn’t like flashback chapters I can say that these seemed to continually add to the plot and backstory and made for even better world building.

I think there’s a lot of depth to these characters and even though the plot was repetitive in the middle I had an easy time wanting to pick this back up.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 1ish open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: mentions of non-consensual sex, sexual assault, selling humans, forced sterilization, on page deaths

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Book Review: The Silversmith (The Selvaren #1) by LJ Claren

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Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 480 pages
Author: LJ Claren
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: July 13th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Power is awakening. Love is a liability.

And the fate of the world rests in the hands of a grieving girl who never asked to be chosen.

Still reeling from the deaths of her father and brother, Ary Gold survives only by sheer will in the icy wilds of the North. But when friends arrive with stories of long-lost magic and a power buried in her newly discovered royal blood, Ary is thrust into a fate far larger than her sorrow.

The realm of Nyrida is under threat. An ancient shadow wielder is determined to claim Ary’s power and plunge the world into corrupted darkness. To stop him, Ary must marry the commander she’s been promised to—a man whose army could help them win the war—and train to fight alongside him.

But her fiercest challenge may not be on the battlefield.

Assigned to shape her into a warrior is a man cloaked in violence and secrets. Cold, commanding, and maddeningly unreadable, he isn’t her betrothed… but he may be her undoing. As sparks fly and loyalties are tested, Ary must decide whether to follow the path laid out for her—or risk everything for a love as wild and dangerous as the power awakening inside her.

WELL THAT WAS…SOMETHING.

I read this with a group of friends and I’m glad I did because this felt like pure chaos that I had to dissect with multiple people at once.

There were more good than bad moments. I liked the concept and bones and the reveals were handled [mostly] well. I felt like I kept learning more and more at just the right moments that did keep me wanting to read.

And while I looove a possessive grumpy alphahole type of love interest, the MMC was a bit…much? I don’t know. The way he was written came across as trying too hard and some of it honestly felt a little icky too. There were great moments woven in, but that was my overall impression.

A crucial moment was created by an idiotic decision from the FMC that made me want to throw my kindle across the room. Which left me feeling in the middle about most of this book. I don’t know if I’ll read book two? I’ll wait to see some reviews.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 1-2ish open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: attempted sexual assault, animal death

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ARC Book Review: To Dance with Death (The Edge of Glass #2) by Brittney Arena

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Rating: ★★★★.5
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Brittney Arena
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: August 4th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In the epic conclusion to the fantasy romance duology that began with A Dance of Lies, Vasalie must journey to the realms of the dead to restore the memories of her beloved prince and stop a mounting war.

Once a spy for the ruthless King Illian, Vasalie sacrificed herself to kill him and prevent a prophesied war. But Illian’s brother, Anton—the king she allied with and began to love—struck a deal with Moranya, the goddess of the underworld, to bring Vasalie back. The his compassion, his memories of her, and all the events of the past six weeks.

Now stripped of the truth, Anton believes his friends betrayed him and accepts Moranya’s offer to rule the kingdom of the dead. But with the kingdom he leaves behind on the brink of civil war, and her cruel father threatening to invade, Vasalie realizes only Anton can reunite a fractured realm.

To save her world and the man she was coming to love, Vasalie must journey to the underworld and reclaim him. But the Anton she finds is the worst version of the arrogant, debauched king she once thought he was. To restore him, she’ll have to restore his memories first… even if it means sacrificing her own heart.

Thank you to Del Rey for the eARC.

BEAUTIFUL CONCLUSION.

I just really love the way Brittney Arena writes. It’s delicate and raw and always brining these added touches that create an environment I can’t look away from. I was most attached to the themes and small moments I highlighted about life and loving someone at their best AND worst and how that can lead to a hopeful and peaceful life.

Vasalie exhibited the same strength from book one and took even further leaps to guide Anton back to her. I loved that their was still a lot of dancing content and friendly banter between Vasalie and Sundar. The halfway mark was a turning point that brought more of the plot lines moving and I loved the convergence.

I’m still smitten with Vasalie and Anton. I liked the banter and the somewhat reversed situation from the previous book. I have many moments playing through my mind on a loop that I just could not get enough of. Bring me the swoon and the yearning.

I would have loved a few more Anton chapters and I do think there was a small issue with the pacing.

Minor things that do not override how much I loved the journey. Brittney Arena has solidified herself as one of my favorite fantasy romance authors and I can’t wait for more.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: 1-2ish vague open door, emotional based
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: Wrath of the Dragons (Fear the Flames #2) by Olivia Rose Darling

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 544 pages
Author: Olivia Rose Darling
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: July 29th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The second novel in Olivia Rose Darling’s thrilling and steamy romantic fantasy series, following Fear the Flames.

In the explosive sequel to the bestselling romantasy Fear the Flames, two fated lovers must unite against warring kingdoms to defend their home and crowns from those who wish to destroy them.

Cayden Veles, renowned Demon Commander of Vareveth, overthrew the throne to save Elowen Atarah, the woman he searched for since childhood. Now he’s determined to fulfill his quest for revenge against her father, even if it means forcing the only person he’s ever wanted into a marriage of political convenience.

Elowen Atarah has everything she thought she’d ever want. Finally reunited with her dragons, she now has an army to enact vengeance, but as events transpire, she begins contemplating if she wants more. As her father’s only living heir, the Imirath throne is her right and destiny. But fighting and winning a war will require trusting Cayden Veles, her partner in crime and now king to her queen; the man she both longs for and doubts, especially after opening her heart only to become a pawn in his game.

Navigating the shifting allegiances amongst all the kingdoms of Ravaryn will require all their strategy and strength, with devastating and bloody attacks on one side and cutthroat diplomacy for alliances on the other. But Elowen and Cayden must find a way to stand strong within the power they’ve gained, or risk losing everything.

Delving deeper into a vast and ever-changing world, Wrath of the Dragons will take you on a journey filled with epic battles and a tender, angsty love for the ages.

SO I LOVED THIS?

Note: I read the first book when it was indie and the Wrath audiobook mentioned that I should go back and read the traditional version of Fear the Flames first because of the changes. I didn’t do that and honestly had no issues. Any continuity questions didn’t bug me enough to go back. I rolled with it and it was still amazing.

I just LOOOOVE a man down bad so dang hard. Cayden can truly see nothing in front of him but Elowen and I love that for him. This was heavy on the romance side and I was cool with allllll of it. There was also an uptick in action and intrigue and all the things. And there were some swoooooony scenes.

NOT TO MENTION the audiobook is DUAL narration which is always the superior choice. It really made the book and you have to read it this way. I’m looking forward to the next book!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 3-4+ open door
  • Violence: high

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