ALC Book Review: The Swan’s Daughter by Roshani Chokshi

January 8, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Roshani Chokshi
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Release Date: January 6th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In this lush and romantic novel from New York Times bestselling author Roshani Chokshi, a prince is only as good as his beating heart and a maiden is only as good as her honest word. But when love and the truth become impossibly tangled, the two must figure out how to survive together, or fall completely apart.

To find love is a curse …

Prince Arris knows that marriage means murder. Thanks to a poorly worded wish to a sea witch, all one needs to rule the Isle of Malys is the heart and hand of the kingdom’s heir. Historically, this has been construed quite literally.

Thus, Arris expects that the day after his marriage and murder he will wake up as a sentient tree alongside the rest of his predecessors. His only chance at a long life is finding true and lasting love. When Arris’s parents announce a tournament of brides to compete for his hand and heart, a slew of eligible, lovely and (possibly murderous) bachelorettes make their way to Rathe Castle. Amidst glittering balls in ozorald caves, strolls through menageries of daydream trees and pearl crocodiles, tea time on glass boats and kisses that leave his head spinning, Arris cannot tell who is here out of love for him…or lust for power.

Until he meets Demelza.

As a veritas swan, Demelza’s song wrings out the truth. Forced into hiding, Demelza strikes a deal. Arris will provide her with safekeeping in exchange for her truth-telling song to sort through his potential brides.

While Arris is used to dodging death threats and Demelza is accustomed to fighting for her voice to be heard, to survive the tournament of brides requires a different kind of bravery. And perhaps the bravest thing one can do is not merely protect one’s life, but find the courage to chase a life worth living.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook.

THIS WAS FUN.

I went purely off of the cover x author on this one without knowing a single thing about the book. And it was fun! It’s kind of in the same vein as Assistant to the Villain where it’s fantasy but has a more humorous and cheeky air to it. With that frame of mind I enjoyed the story.

This doesn’t scream ROMANCE to me but it is heavily featured in the plot and alongside that is a whimsical plot with Arris trying to find a bride that won’t kill him. I loved Demelza and her ability to forge her own path and what her love story was going to look like.

I actually really enjoyed Demelza’s parents too. It was a different vibe than I usually read in fantasy and it made them all the more interesting. The rotating POV’s worked well too and I thought it wrapped things up well for a standalone.

Overall audience notes:

YA Fantasy Romance
Language: low
Romance: kisses
Violence: mild

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Monthly Reading Wrap-up: December 2025

January 3, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

How is it the end of 2025 already? I love that I somehow wrapped up the book so *evenly* with 40 books read and a grand total of 420 for the year! There were a lot of Sanderson novellas this month and I’m looking forward to all of the awesome books coming in 2026.

Red Tempest Brother (The Winter Sea #3) by H.M. Long
[Novella] You Better Not Pout (Home for the Holidays) by Mia Sosa
Ruin the Friendship by K. Sinko
The Last Wish of Bristol Keats (The Courting of Bristol Keats #2) by Mary E. Pearson
[Novella] I Hate Dragons by Brandon Sanderson
[Novella] Dreamer by Brandon Sanderson
Falling in a Sea of Stars (Green Rider #8) by Kristen Britain
A Bond so Fierce and Fragile (Compelling Fates Saga #3) by Sophia St. Germain
[Novella] I’m Gonna Get You Back by Elena Armas
[Novella] Perfect State by Brandon Sanderson
The Rebel and the Rose (The City of Fantome #2) by Catherine Doyle
[Novella] Mitosis (The Reckoners #1.5) by Brandon Sanderson
[Novella] Firstborn by Brandon Sanderson
Gilded in Vengeance by Lyssa Mia Smith
Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage by Christen Krumm
[Novella] The Holiday Club by Ashley Manley
[ARC] Tailored Realities by Brandon Sanderson
The Strength of the Few (Hierarchy #2) by James Islington
[ARC/ALC] In Your Dreams (When in Rome #4) by Sarah Adams
The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes by Chane Cleeton
[ARC] To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before the Graphic Novel by Jenny Han
Love Arranged (Lakefront Billionaires #3) by Lauren Asher
The Sacred Space Between by Kalie Reid
Seven Deadly Thorns by Amber Hamilton
Pick Me by Victoria Schade
I’ll Be Home for Christmas by Jenny Bayliss
[ARC/ALC] Room to Breathe by Kasie West
Planes, Reins, and Automobiles (Catching Feelings #2) by Kate Watson
[ARC] House of Shadows (Royal Houses #2) by K.A. Linde
[ARC] Silver & Blood (Silver & Blood #1) by Jessie Mihalik
Anne of Avenue A (For the Love of Austen #3) by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding
Lessons in Falling by Christy Schillig
Some Kind of Famous by Ava Wilder
Mourner for Hire by Caitlin Moss
The Tempest Blade (The Bridge Kingdom #6) by Danielle L. Jensen
Love’s Racing Line by Hope Snyder
Everything’s Coming Up Rosie by Courtney Walsh
Bound by Ali Hazelwood
Fallen Gods (Fallen Gods #1) by Rachel Van Dyken
The Governess and the Rogue (Somerset Stories #6) by Mimi Matthews

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Book Review: Thorn Season (Thorn Season #1) by Kiera Azar

December 23, 2025November 11, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 464 pages
Author: Kiera Azar
Publisher: Storytide
Release Date: September 2nd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Shadow and Bone meets The Selection in this first book in Kiera Azar’s sharp, sexy, and twisty debut YA romantasy trilogy!

In the Kingdom of Daradon, a persecuted few are Wielders, in possession of a magical Spectre–a shimmering thread that can extend beyond their visible body to give a loving caress, pick a lock . . . even kill. Feared for this ability, Wielders have always been Hunted.

Alissa Paine, heiress and daughter of a Hunter family . . . is also a Wielder. At eighteen, Alissa knows she’s escaped execution thus far only due to painful self-control and the efforts of her beloved father.

Summoned to the harsh and glittering royal court for the debutante season, Alissa finds herself caught in a web of intrigue and betrayal—and caught between two equally dangerous one a brutal ruler with the handsome face of a fairy-tale prince, who would destroy her if he knew the truth—and the other a beguiling foreign ambassador with secret agendas of his own.

With the threat of discovery lurking around every corner—and romance becoming an increasingly dangerous temptation—Alissa will find that she has more to lose than her secrets. It’s Rose Season at the palace, but to survive she’ll need to become the most vicious of thorns. . . .

Thank you to LibroFM for the gifted audiobook.

IT WAS GOOD.

Which honestly, could be the review. It wasn’t a book that STOOD OUT LOUDLY, but that I had an easy time picking up and liking the progression of the plot. I enjoyed the FMC, Alissa, and definitely want to see what happens to her in the next book.

The romance has some great turns though. It kept me on my toes and I love the crisscrossing paths. When it comes to a series, I don’t expect (nor really want) the end game to be in my face, give me some mystery, keep the build coming.

Overall audience notes:

YA Fantasy Romance
Language: mild
Romance: kisses
Violence: moderate

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: November 2025

December 1, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Celebrating another turn around the sun! I hit it hard with holiday romances and found a couple new gems! Future reviews will be out soon or check my socials to see more breakdowns.