Tag: romantasy

Book Review: A Promise so Bold and Broken (Compelling Fates Saga #2) by Sophia St. Germain

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 458 pages
Author: Sophia St. Germain
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 30th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

After saving her rebel friends on the final day of the election, Elessia is on the run.

But the danger is far from over.

As she fights her guilt for betraying Loche, the man she foolishly believed could mend her broken soul, and wrestles with the unexpected emotions stirring within her for Merrick, her fiercely loyal guard, Elessia learns of the rebel’s true plans—plans that threaten every loved one she’s left behind.

But it’s the even greater peril looming on the horizon—the one that could shatter the very foundations of their world—that forces her to decide whether she is willing to embrace her birthright to the Rantzier name and, with the help of Merrick and his band of unwilling warriors, lead the journey to unite the warring factions of Havlands before it’s too late…

Or before the Fae king and human regent find her.

BETTER THAN THE FIRST.

This is definitely a hidden gem in the romantasy world. I love the way the love triangle has been working out and where things led to in this installment. I think that Elessia showed so more growth and I am continually enjoying seeing her journey. The action hits an uptick and the second half of this book really flew by.

I loved the addition of more characters and the complicated found family dynamics they created. The higher level of intensity is starting to set the scene for the next book. [So far] I have found the continuation just right, I’m still getting enough info about the world and magic while also loving on the romance. Elessia was a *touch* too oblivious for me in regard to the romance BUT Merrick? Hot dang I loved watching that man follow her around.

Very excited for the next book!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Romantasy
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3-4ish open door (slow burn, concentrated at the end)
  • Violence: high

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ALC Book Review: A Forsaken Prophecy (The Artisan Trilogy #2) by Stacey McEwan

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Stacey McEwan
Publisher: Simon Audio
Release Date: July 13th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In a world of high-class magic and gangster grit, a star-crossed couple must decide where their loyalties lie in the sizzling romantasy follow-up to BookTok star Stacey McEwan’s New York Times bestseller A Forbidden Alchemy.

In Belavere Trench, the Artisans and the Craftsmen are at war. Patrick, the last Alchemist, and Nina, the world’s only known earth Charmer, have been captured by the Artisans, putting Patrick’s rebel union in a precarious position.

Though he hasn’t forgiven Nina her betrayals, Patrick has other things to worry about. He is finally reunited with his father, a prisoner of the Artisans, and the group lands a narrow escape only with the help of Nina’s first love, Theo. Decoding an ancient prophecy, they set off in search of an infinite supply of idium that will determine the course of the war, should it prove more than a myth. Fleeing across Craftsman towns on the brink, they will encounter old friends – and enemies – in search of answers.

Thank you Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook.

I LIKED IT.

But not as much as book one. Something was missing.

🎧: I do like that this book had three separate narrators. That helped with the POV switches. I thought they did a good job and I liked listening, easily recommend this format.

Alright, back to the book itself. I do really appreciate that this wasn’t a spice forward romance. There’s still a lot of tension and will they/won’t they slow burn that I liked seeing between Nina and Patrick. I did NOT love that the love triangle-ish?? was present from the first book. This kind of story doesn’t need it.

I thought most of the pacing and movement was fine. I don’t know if the addition of new POV’s or the mostly travel based plot caused the detriment, but alas, I was hoping for a bit more. There’s a lot of action and intensity that helped a lot too. Some good reveals and turns as well.

I’ll absolutely be reading the conclusion.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 1 open door
  • Violence: high

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Book Review: In the Veins of Drowning (The Siren Mage #1) by Kalie Cassidy

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Kalie Cassidy
Publisher: Little Brown & Company
Release Date: July 15th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The monster is always slain…

Imogen Nel is in hiding. Hiding from a cruel kingdom that believes Sirens are monstrous, blood-hungry creatures. Hiding from a king and his captain who viciously hunt her kind. Hiding from her own alluring abilities. By keeping herself from the sea, Imogen’s bloodlust is dulled, and her black wings remain hidden beneath her skin.

When a neighboring king comes to visit, Imogen can no longer hide. He knows precisely what she is, and he believes she can save both their kingdoms from an even greater monster. But Imogen’s power threatens to violently reveal itself, and the two form a blood bond that protects them both. They flee the kingdom together, traversing waters teeming with the undead. As the lines between duty to their people and desire for each other begin to blur, Imogen worries her own ancestral powers may not be enough to kill what hunts her—the only way to defeat a monster may be to become one herself.

FANTASTIC DEBUT

This wasn’t initially on my radar but I’m so happy I read it!! I love a siren book and this was such an interesting concept and had a few siren aspects that I don’t think I’ve read before which made for an engaging listen an a book hard to put down.

The romance had an edge of insta-adjacent that was hard for me to get on bored with initially but I’m grateful that this grew on me. I loved the darker edge to the story, it made the chemistry all the more heated and ambiance immaculate. Mixed with complicated political moments and some intense action the writing style was beautifully executed. I will absolutely be back for book two.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3ish open door
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: Soulgazer (The Magpie and the Wolf Duology #1) by Maggie Rapier

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 480 pages
Author: Maggie Rapier
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: July 8th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Every legend has a beginning.

With their freedom on the line, a young woman and a rakish pirate take their fate into their own hands as they attempt to find a lost mythical isle with the power to save their entire world.

Saoirse yearns to be powerless. Cursed from childhood with a volatile magic, she’s managed to imprison it within, living under constant terror that one day it will break free. And it does, changing everything.

Horrified at her loss of control, Saoirse’s parents offer her hand to the cold and ruthless Stone King. Knowing she’ll never survive such a cruel man, Saoirse realizes there is only one path forward…she must break her curse. 

On the eve of her wedding, Saoirse seeks out the legendary Wolf of the Wild—Faolan, a feral, silver-tongued pirate. He swears to help rid her of the deadly magic, if she’ll use it to locate a lost mythical isle first. Crafted by the slaughtered gods, it’s the only land that could absorb her power.

But Saoirse knows better than to trust a pirate’s word. With the wrath of her disgraced father and scorned betrothed chasing them, Saoirse adds one last condition to protect if Faolan wants her on his ship, he’ll have to marry her first.

NOT QUITE WHAT I WAS HOPING FOR.

I have been eyeing this book since the day the cover was revealed. It had all of the vibes I could want but I decided to wait for the audiobook and go from there. I will say the audiobook was good! No issues there and I do plan to read book two through that avenue because I’m curious enough to see if Soulgazer improves on some key issues.

One of those being the WORLD BUILDING & MAGIC. Y’all I don’t even know where to begin. I finished this book and can NOT tell you one thing about the world. It was as if the author said look over here at the romance and ignore the fantasy because that’s all we got. And alongside that was a magic system with meddling gods and visions but that didn’t flow well together. I don’t necessarily have to have ALL of the answers in book one. I do need some kind of grasp though.

I liked the two romantic leads well enough. There’s some good banter and scenes that I thought were important and enjoyable. It’s not spice forward which I appreciated x100. Maybe book two will have more fantasy elements???

Overall audience notes:

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

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