Tag: urban fantasy

ARC Book Review: Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Urban Fantasy Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Stephanie Garber
Publisher: Flatiron
Release Date: October 7th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It starts with a class in an old movie theater.

Folklore 517: Local Legends and Urban Myths, taught by a woman called the Professor. Most students believe the Professor’s stories are just fiction, but Holland St. James has always been convinced that magic is real. When she tracks down a local legend named the Watch Man, who can supposedly tell you when you’ll die, the world finally makes sense. Except that the Watch Man tells her she will die at midnight tomorrow unless she finds an ancient object called the Alchemical Heart.

With the clock ticking, Holland is pulled deeper into this magical world in the heart of Los Angeles—and into the path of a magnetic stranger. Everything about him feels like a bad idea, but he promises Holland that her sister sent him to protect her. As they chase clues and stories that take them closer to the Alchemical Heart, Holland realizes everyone in this intoxicating new world is lying to her, even this stranger. And if she can’t figure out whom to trust, not even the Alchemical Heart will save her.

Thank you to Flatiron for an eARC.

CARAVAL REPEAT?

This one was interesting for me. I’m a big fan of Stephanie Garber’s Caraval/Once Upon a Broken Heart series. LOVED both of them and I knew going into this to expect something different. And while yes, that was the case, it also felt like a repeat of Caraval? Just add in older characters and an urban fantasy setting instead. I haven’t decided how that makes me feel about my overall impression of the book.

The romance was 100% lacking on the swoon. Now that I understand this is a series I CAN see what the author is going after but I don’t think that will all click until book two [hopefully]. I didn’t know what direction I was supposed to lean in and that made me pause a few too many times throughout. I will say this was a kisses only adult romance and I appreciated that it wasn’t unnecessarily spice forward.

I’m definitely going to continue the series because I do have questions. I think the folklore aspects were interesting and the POV change made me think too. I have my eyes on a few characters and want to see how they fold into the larger plot. This was a decent beginning but lacking that punch of something to give it an edge.

Overall audience notes:

  • Urban fantasy
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: mild-moderate

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ALC Book Review: Soul of Shadow (Soul of Shadow #1) by Emma Noyes

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Urban Fantasy Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Emma Noyes
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Release Date: July 29th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A thrilling Norse mythology inspired contemporary romantasy sure to excite fans of The Vampire Diaries and Atlas Six.

Charlie Hudson just wants to get through junior year. Since the death of her twin sister two years earlier, she’s drifted through life, going through the motions at school and parties and even at home. The spark that once burned so brightly within her has all but flickered out.

Until her classmate goes missing in the forest, leaving nothing behind but a pair of shoes and strange symbols carved into a tree.

Drawn to the disappearances by forces she can’t explain, she finds herself investigating the mysterious, alluring newcomer in town, Elias Everhart. With piercing eyes and sharp wit, he dances around her questions, only intriguing her further. Elias has a secret. More than one.

But what Charlie doesn’t know is that those secrets will lead her to a place she never a world hiding in plain sight, made of magic, gods, and monsters – and a first love fated to fall apart.

In Emma Noyes’s Soul of Shadow, truths and temptations lurk in the darkness, and for Charlie, the only thing more dangerous than facing her past, is the boy with the power to change her future.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook.

GOSH DARN IT.

This is *my bad* for not reading the summary and realizing this was an urban fantasy. i can sometimes get past that fact when they are in another realm for long periods of time or it’s woven in well, buuuut I didn’t find that here. Charlie and her friends were written in such a manner that it came off as “trying too hard to be cool,” with vaping, drinking, partying, etc.

And this was pitched to me as a *shadow daddy* book (I don’t love that term) and I also don’t love that term referring to teens??? It all felt iffy.

I didn’t hit a hate reading level on this, just a sort of disconnect. The Norse gods were an intriguing aspect and I wish we’d have seen more of them (though maybe that’s a book two thing?? but this book didn’t convince me to read book two??).

It’s not poorly written by any means, it’s just not a book for me. I thought the audiobook narration was good too, so if you try it out, I do recommend that format.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Urban Fantasy Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: heated kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: murder, kidnapping, loss of life

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Book Review: The Things We Water by Mariana Zapata

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Rating: ★★★★.25
Audience: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Romance
Length: 717 pages
Author: Mariana Zapata
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: May 2nd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Once upon a time, a girl found a magical puppy, and her life was never the same again.

Nina Popoca needs help.

So, so much of it.

The only place she can find that help is on a sprawling ranch in Colorado. A place hiding more than a community filled with magical creatures trying to live their lives in safety and in peace. A village that might hold the answers to questions she’s had her entire life.

And if that ranch is owned by her best friend’s hunky cousin?

…there are worse things in the world than having to live right by Henri Blackrock.

SHE DID IT.

I would absolutely read more paranormal romances from MZ. I loved this one!

My one little issue is the length. I really felt it this time around. The 720 pages could have been tightened up a bit but otherwise it’s a fantastic book.

I adored Henri and Nina. They are some beautiful souls. Spark fueled banter, chemistry for days and all of these soft tender moments that brought the connections between them. AND THE JEALOUS MOMENTS? Gosh those send me every dang time y’all. A perfectly well placed possessive scene? GIVE IT TO ME ALWAYS.

I loved seeing all of the different mythical creatures (of which I will not mention any, go read it!!). They all added a little something to the story and the setting. There’s also a big theme surrounding motherhood and that got me in the feels a few times. Wanting to do right by your children and making those hard but loving decisions to give them everything you can. It delivers a beautiful and impactful novel.

Now I’ll just be sitting here waiting for the next MZ release.

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: 2-3 open door
  • Violence: mild

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Book Review: Winds of Change (The Descended Trilogy #1) by Bailey Estep

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Paranormal
Length: 502 pages
Author: Bailey Estep
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: December 15th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Human “Magic, and witches, and terrible people who lived here in Rollingwood a long time ago.”One phrase is all it takes for Devyn to become embroiled in a centuries-old war that might not be as over as everyone thought. She moved to Rollingwood looking for a fresh start, but what she found might be more than she bargained for.Witch Amelia knows something evil is coming to Rollingwood. Or coming back. Long-standing rivalries must shift to make room for new alliances, but her coven doesn’t believe her, and she can’t fight it alone.Protector Eric’s friend disappeared from Rollingwood after sending him a cryptic message. It’s his duty as a Protector to uncover what happened and keep the town safe. He’s expecting a challenge, but nothing could have prepared him for Devyn. He knows he can’t be distracted, but the question does she need to be protected, or is she a threat he never saw coming?Protector. Witch. Human?

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

NOT QUITE.

Well, I was hopeful, but unfortunately this book didn’t work for me. Things started off fine, that typical oh no I have unknown powers in a small town mood, and I rolled with it. I liked having the multiple POV and getting a feel for the town and the history that is currently causing chaos.

The struggles came apparent fairly quickly after that though. There were odd timeline jumps that disrupted the flow of the story which kept throwing me off. The romance was FAST and I wish there had been more exploration of their relationship and connection rather than racing to kisses and confessions. I also didn’t feel that deeply for anyone and the plot itself was incredibly predictable to any supernatural show I’ve seen.

Bummed this one didn’t work out.

Overall audience notes:

  • New adult paranormal
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate

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