Shimmery jacket with holographic foilGorgeous designed endpapersFoil case design with a quote from the novelStunning holographic edgesQuantities are limited for this deluxe editionĚýso be sure to preorder now!
James Anderson had a plan.ĚýOr half of one. All that matters is that he managed to do what his older brother, the famous Aaron Warner Anderson, never infiltrate Ark Island, the last refuge of The Reestablishment. In the past decade no outsider has breached the stronghold of the authoritarian regime, but James isĚýin. In a prison cell, sure, but as far as James is concerned, a win is a win.
It’s been ten years since the fall of The Reestablishment. Ten years since the notorious duo—Juliette Ferrars and Aaron Warner Anderson—led a worldwide rebellion and established the New Republic of the West. But after a decade of unsettling quiet, The Reestablishment is ready to make a devastating move, and they have the perfect person for the job.
Rosabelle Wolff had a plan.ĚýShe always has a plan. On Ark Island, where constant surveillance is packaged as security, even emotions must be experienced with caution. A trained assassin, her every movement is monitored by synthetic intelligence—and when she’s given an order to kill, she never hesitates.
Brimming with pulse-pounding action and torturous romance,ĚýWatch MeĚýis an explosiveĚýjourney through a dystopian landscape where enemies-to-lovers has never felt moreĚýimpossible. Step into a beloved and breathtaking world that demands an answer to a desperate questionâ€�
Who are we when no one is watching? ]]>
this doesn't mean that i didn't enjoy the book, but it wasn't my favorite either.
"he is what's wrong with me. after so many years being dead inside, james makes me feel alive."
"watch me" follows james anderson, the youngest of the three anderson brothers. in the original shatter me series, james is 11 years old and is now age 21. this book follows james and a new addition to the series, rosabelle wolff, the female main character in a duel pov novel!
older james is kind of a glorified "gym bro" honestly. he mainly lives off of protein shakes, and his humor that he's learned from spending lots of his years growing up around kenji kishimoto. james was raised by aaron and juliette for most of his life, always feeling as though he has to live up to their expectations and frequently falls short or feels inadequate as everyone tends to still see him as a child.
rosabelle is living under what's left of the reestablishment (which is trying to rebuild once again) and cares for her younger sister, clara, who is very ill. the two are treated so so poorly by the reestablishment, often starving and going without proper care or concern for their wellbeing. my heart aches for them and their situation :(
james meets rosabelle when he goes on his own mission in an attempt to try and prove himself and also gain intel on their enemy. little does he know, she's got secrets and a mission of her own!
my biggest problem with this book is that it's a typical "insta lust/love" marketed as an enemies to lovers. james is almost instantly in awe of rosabelle, and she eventually also feels something towards james (but it doesn't take long for either of them to form feelings). i think we've kind of lost the plot of enemies to lovers a bit in recent years, and it makes it hard to love the pair when we know both of their thoughts and feelings already through the duel pov. it feels almost lackluster at times like their chemistry sort of exists? but also doesn't? i don't know how to best describe it.
all in all, i had fun reading this book! i'm hoping the rest of the series will continue to develop into something great like what we saw with "shatter me". i think klaus is a really interesting villian, and rosabelle's conflict with what she wants to do, and who she wants to be is really going to play a huge role moving forward and that'll be super cool to witness when it unfolds!
i really loved getting glimpses into some of our favorite characters and their lives now! kenji is still the same lovable character he was in the original series, and aaron and juliette continue to be absolutely adorable and i love them so much! <3]]>
author: Tahereh Mafi
name: dani �
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/10
date added: 2025/04/10
shelves:
review:
i really wanted to love this book. i really did.
this doesn't mean that i didn't enjoy the book, but it wasn't my favorite either.
"he is what's wrong with me. after so many years being dead inside, james makes me feel alive."
"watch me" follows james anderson, the youngest of the three anderson brothers. in the original shatter me series, james is 11 years old and is now age 21. this book follows james and a new addition to the series, rosabelle wolff, the female main character in a duel pov novel!
older james is kind of a glorified "gym bro" honestly. he mainly lives off of protein shakes, and his humor that he's learned from spending lots of his years growing up around kenji kishimoto. james was raised by aaron and juliette for most of his life, always feeling as though he has to live up to their expectations and frequently falls short or feels inadequate as everyone tends to still see him as a child.
rosabelle is living under what's left of the reestablishment (which is trying to rebuild once again) and cares for her younger sister, clara, who is very ill. the two are treated so so poorly by the reestablishment, often starving and going without proper care or concern for their wellbeing. my heart aches for them and their situation :(
james meets rosabelle when he goes on his own mission in an attempt to try and prove himself and also gain intel on their enemy. little does he know, she's got secrets and a mission of her own!
my biggest problem with this book is that it's a typical "insta lust/love" marketed as an enemies to lovers. james is almost instantly in awe of rosabelle, and she eventually also feels something towards james (but it doesn't take long for either of them to form feelings). i think we've kind of lost the plot of enemies to lovers a bit in recent years, and it makes it hard to love the pair when we know both of their thoughts and feelings already through the duel pov. it feels almost lackluster at times like their chemistry sort of exists? but also doesn't? i don't know how to best describe it.
all in all, i had fun reading this book! i'm hoping the rest of the series will continue to develop into something great like what we saw with "shatter me". i think klaus is a really interesting villian, and rosabelle's conflict with what she wants to do, and who she wants to be is really going to play a huge role moving forward and that'll be super cool to witness when it unfolds!
i really loved getting glimpses into some of our favorite characters and their lives now! kenji is still the same lovable character he was in the original series, and aaron and juliette continue to be absolutely adorable and i love them so much! <3
]]>
author: Robin Hobb
name: dani �
average rating: 4.29
book published: 1995
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/03
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
Eira Isolde is one of the nine fae heiresses of The New Reign, burdened by a constant fear of their own inexplicable powers. But when she’s sent to live in a mortal kingdom because of it, it seems that The Fates have a different plan for her in mind—one that involves fellow heiress Meilin Azelie, a dagger-wielding pianist with whom she is suddenly, and indescribably, consumed by.
When a nefarious king reveals the dark web of deceit he has Eira and Meilin ensnared in, the pair find themselves stripped of their powers, forced to become pawns in the Demir Trials; a twisted game pinning them against the rest of The New Reign. The price of victory is a heavy thing, and with nine heiresses fighting for survival, the path to conquest is one carved out in blood. In the midst of it all, with their thrones and lives on the line, Eira and Meilin know that one wrong move could see everything they know and love reduced to ash—including one another.]]>
first of all, i want to send a huge thank you to kayla and her publisher for the e-arc!
those who burn the brighest is kayla morton's debut novel. it is a sapphic ya fantasy that takes place in a seelie realm in which 9 heiresses called "the new reign" were all born in the same year. this phenomenon had never occurred before, and the king who rules over the lands is determined to harbor all of their power for himself.
something i really love about this book is that there is a full pronunciation guide in the beginning, and each chapter has a name rather than simply being "chapter ___" which i think is really fun!
i think the writing flows really well, especially considering this is a debut novel. it is easy to follow, although leaving some unanswered questions just as any novel would in order to fuel the story further which allows the reader to think critically on the storyline and what's next. i think the world is really complex, and i'm curious to see if a sequel will follow this one!
eira is such a strong main character, i love seeing her growth on these pages. without spoiling anything, meilin is also such a strong character and the two of them clash while also being such a great pair. i really would love to see more of them if there is another book!
definitely a book i think you guys should check out! if you need convincing, just look at the stunning cover art and you'll want to read just based on that alone :) ]]>
author: Kayla Morton
name: dani �
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/30
date added: 2025/03/31
shelves: arc-reads
review:
"a symphony of ice and fire. she wielded the flames but was born of the snow."
first of all, i want to send a huge thank you to kayla and her publisher for the e-arc!
those who burn the brighest is kayla morton's debut novel. it is a sapphic ya fantasy that takes place in a seelie realm in which 9 heiresses called "the new reign" were all born in the same year. this phenomenon had never occurred before, and the king who rules over the lands is determined to harbor all of their power for himself.
something i really love about this book is that there is a full pronunciation guide in the beginning, and each chapter has a name rather than simply being "chapter ___" which i think is really fun!
i think the writing flows really well, especially considering this is a debut novel. it is easy to follow, although leaving some unanswered questions just as any novel would in order to fuel the story further which allows the reader to think critically on the storyline and what's next. i think the world is really complex, and i'm curious to see if a sequel will follow this one!
eira is such a strong main character, i love seeing her growth on these pages. without spoiling anything, meilin is also such a strong character and the two of them clash while also being such a great pair. i really would love to see more of them if there is another book!
definitely a book i think you guys should check out! if you need convincing, just look at the stunning cover art and you'll want to read just based on that alone :)
]]>
Alice Law has only ever had one goal: to become one of the brightest minds in the field of Magick. She has sacrificed everything to make that a reality—her pride, her health, her love life, and most definitely her sanity. All to work with Professor Jacob Grimes at Cambridge, the greatest magician in the world—that is, until he dies in a magical accident that could possibly be her fault.
Grimes is now in Hell, and she’s going in after him. Because his recommendation could hold her very future in his now incorporeal hands, and even death is not going to stop the pursuit of her dreams. Nor will the fact that her rival, Peter Murdoch, has come to the same conclusion.]]>
author: R.F. Kuang
name: dani �
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/24
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes.
Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves.
When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He’s torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who’s nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail. But there’s something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.]]>
my life was in fact, changed after reading this...
"i am living proof that the capitol always wins."
haymitch abernathy, your story is so tragic and so beyond important. a voice that 100% needed to be heard.
sunrise on the reaping ties so much detail into the other books within the hunger games series, and there is so much symbolism that helps to tie the 10th games and lucy gray baird into haymitch's games (the 50th) and even the games which katniss and peeta took part in. this story brings together all of the books to some combination, along with its own heart wrenching story that will probably leave you crying for pretty much most of the book. there is such a beauty to this world and suzanne collins is so outstanding as a writer.
the 50th hunger games is the second quarter quell, and president snow decides that in order to further use the games as entertainment for the capitol and to push its propaganda on its citizens, there will be double the amount of kids reaped than in a typical hunger games. 48 children, ripped from their families across the 12 districts.
this story will quite literally rip your heart out. haymitch suffers through SO MUCH loss and devastation within and outside of the games. definitely a story worth the read!
spoilers ahead!
haymitch losing literally everyone he ever loved or was close with is so insanely depressing and i hate president snow for everything he's done to all of these poor kids over the years. the way he was about to be happy with lenore dove only to have her ripped away from him like his family and friends :(
i really love that we get to see wiress, mags, and beetee! beetee's story literally broke me like wdym the capitol reaped his son illegally just to punish him :( like wtf. and the way ampert died literally made me sick.
maysilee donner was such a wonderful character and i loved her sisterly found family relationship with haymitch. they both deserved to have a friend through the games, and i'm glad they could find each other. louella and lou lou storyline is so much like katniss and rue which hurts so bad.
lucy gray baird crumbs being everywhere to haunt the narrative was so beautiful. i miss her so bad and i wish her and lenore dove could've met :( ]]>
author: Suzanne Collins
name: dani �
average rating: 4.65
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/24
date added: 2025/03/24
shelves:
review:
pre-read thoughts: my life will forever be changed after this.
my life was in fact, changed after reading this...
"i am living proof that the capitol always wins."
haymitch abernathy, your story is so tragic and so beyond important. a voice that 100% needed to be heard.
sunrise on the reaping ties so much detail into the other books within the hunger games series, and there is so much symbolism that helps to tie the 10th games and lucy gray baird into haymitch's games (the 50th) and even the games which katniss and peeta took part in. this story brings together all of the books to some combination, along with its own heart wrenching story that will probably leave you crying for pretty much most of the book. there is such a beauty to this world and suzanne collins is so outstanding as a writer.
the 50th hunger games is the second quarter quell, and president snow decides that in order to further use the games as entertainment for the capitol and to push its propaganda on its citizens, there will be double the amount of kids reaped than in a typical hunger games. 48 children, ripped from their families across the 12 districts.
this story will quite literally rip your heart out. haymitch suffers through SO MUCH loss and devastation within and outside of the games. definitely a story worth the read!
spoilers ahead!
haymitch losing literally everyone he ever loved or was close with is so insanely depressing and i hate president snow for everything he's done to all of these poor kids over the years. the way he was about to be happy with lenore dove only to have her ripped away from him like his family and friends :(
i really love that we get to see wiress, mags, and beetee! beetee's story literally broke me like wdym the capitol reaped his son illegally just to punish him :( like wtf. and the way ampert died literally made me sick.
maysilee donner was such a wonderful character and i loved her sisterly found family relationship with haymitch. they both deserved to have a friend through the games, and i'm glad they could find each other. louella and lou lou storyline is so much like katniss and rue which hurts so bad.
lucy gray baird crumbs being everywhere to haunt the narrative was so beautiful. i miss her so bad and i wish her and lenore dove could've met :(
]]>
On an island built from ash and shrouded in fire, phoenix racing is a sport just as profitable as it is deadly.
Seventeen-year-old Kel Varra and her team of underdogs, the Crimson Howlers, are desperate to win the annual races and the fortune that comes with it. But the Howlers need a new rider, which leads Kel to join forces with Warren “Coup� Coupers � an arrogant rival she can’t get out of her head.
As tensions rise on and off the track, Kel's home is mistakenly burned down, and she’s forced to take a job from a mysterious tech mogul with an unsettling interest in her phoenix, Savita. This sets in motion a conspiracy that threatens everyone Kel cares for, especially Coup, for whom her embers of resentment are quickly igniting into something dangerously new.
Heart-pounding pages full of steamy romance, fiery confessions, political scheming, and volatile magic culminate ina final twist readers will never see coming.]]>
author: Mikayla Bridge
name: dani �
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
In this Southern gothic horror novel, four unlikely allies in a small town investigate a local teen's disappearance, and what they discover festering at the core of their community is far more sinister and ancient than they could’ve ever imagined. For fans of She is a Haunting, True Detective, Mexican Gothic, and Midsommar.
When Dawson Sumter goes missing, all he leaves behind is a smattering of blood in room 4 of the debt-ridden motel owned by Neera Singh's family. Disappearances like this aren't uncommon in the rural Georgia town of Carrion, especially every thirteen years when a periodical cicada brood returns from underground, shrieking their deafening screams.
For Neera, Dawson is another reminder that in this corner of the South, the rich only get richer, and the poor―well, nothing good comes their way.
Neera sets out to investigate Dawson’s whereabouts―if he even still lives―along with three other teens: Isaiah, son of a prominent judge and clandestine true crime podcaster; Reid, son of the wealthiest man in the region; and Sam, estranged daughter of the local hitman. As they find themselves entangled in a messy web of secrets and lies, they discover the riches of the adjacent Lake Clearwater community may have a terrifying source of power dating back to the town’s founding and an ancient urban legend about three devils, each more sinister than the next. How deep does the rot go, and can they find a way to escape its reach?]]>
author: Xan Kaur
name: dani �
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
On a hunt for the key to keeping Uterni’s queen on the throne, Keeva meets Maeve. The princess is intrigued by the lone woman in the fen, but she has her own mission to complete and no time for anything, or anyone.
Maeve yearns to believe she has a chance at a regular life and is curious enough to push the boundaries of what she’s always known, revealing a deception that has kept her a pariah in a world she fears as much as it fears her.Both must unravel lies and come face-to-face with the truth to create a future they can call their own, perhaps even one that includes each other.]]>
author: Sam Ledel
name: dani �
average rating: 4.04
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/14
shelves: currently-reading, arc-reads, netgalley
review:
]]>
Bound in an unwanted marriage, Freya spends her days gutting fish, but dreams of becoming a warrior. And of putting an axe in her boorish husband’s back.
Freya’s dreams abruptly become reality when her husband betrays her to the region’s jarl, landing her in a fight to the death against his son, Bjorn. To survive, Freya is forced to reveal her deepest secret: She possesses a drop of a goddess’s blood, which makes her a shield maiden with magic capable of repelling any attack. It was foretold such a magic would unite the fractured nation of Skaland beneath the one who controls the shield maiden’s fate.
Believing he’s destined to rule Skaland as king, the fanatical jarl binds Freya with a blood oath and orders Bjorn to protect her from their enemies. Desperate to prove her strength, Freya must train to fight and learn to control her magic, all while facing perilous tests set by the gods. The greatest test of all, however, may be resisting her forbidden attraction to Bjorn. If Freya succumbs to her lust for the charming and fierce warrior, she risks not only her own destiny but the fate of all the people she swore to protect.]]>
freya is the wife of an abusive pos, with magical powers gifted to her by the gods which have so far went undetected throughout her entire life due to her father demanding she keep it a secret.
upon discovery, lots of things happen. starting with the death of one horrible marriage, and the beginning of another one. this time though, there's a twist. her new husband's son whom she'd met at the start is evidently her dream man because she cannot stop talking about being drawn to him.
harboring these feelings for snorri's son, bjorn in secret, freya has to conform to her new life now that her powers have come to light. a majority of the people in her life want to use her powers for their own gains and successes, which make things really difficult for her but she has to obey.
as freya's sworn protector, bjorn and her grow closer with every passing day. needless to say, there's a lot of building up to this relationship which i really enjoyed despite them having an insta-lust situation going on. i think bjorn is super cool, i mean fire wielder ?!?!?! slay!
i think this story having a great deal of norse mythology mixed into it is super cool!
there's a lot though that as the reader, we still are unaware of. there's mentions of prophecy that we still need details and expansion on. i wish that while building the world, we could've gotten a little more information mixed in on the gods and what a lot of the things that are mentioned mean.
the ending is absolutely INSANE because I DID NOT EXPECT THAT ?!?!?!?!
i mean i should have, but i'm oblivious sometimes.
i wanted to pick this up sooner but never got the chance to, but that just means i'm this much closer now to hopefully getting to read book two which is very exciting :) ]]>
author: Danielle L. Jensen
name: dani �
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/14
date added: 2025/03/14
shelves: arc-reads, netgalley
review:
first and foremost, i think this cover is so insanely cool!
freya is the wife of an abusive pos, with magical powers gifted to her by the gods which have so far went undetected throughout her entire life due to her father demanding she keep it a secret.
upon discovery, lots of things happen. starting with the death of one horrible marriage, and the beginning of another one. this time though, there's a twist. her new husband's son whom she'd met at the start is evidently her dream man because she cannot stop talking about being drawn to him.
harboring these feelings for snorri's son, bjorn in secret, freya has to conform to her new life now that her powers have come to light. a majority of the people in her life want to use her powers for their own gains and successes, which make things really difficult for her but she has to obey.
as freya's sworn protector, bjorn and her grow closer with every passing day. needless to say, there's a lot of building up to this relationship which i really enjoyed despite them having an insta-lust situation going on. i think bjorn is super cool, i mean fire wielder ?!?!?! slay!
i think this story having a great deal of norse mythology mixed into it is super cool!
there's a lot though that as the reader, we still are unaware of. there's mentions of prophecy that we still need details and expansion on. i wish that while building the world, we could've gotten a little more information mixed in on the gods and what a lot of the things that are mentioned mean.
the ending is absolutely INSANE because I DID NOT EXPECT THAT ?!?!?!?!
i mean i should have, but i'm oblivious sometimes.
i wanted to pick this up sooner but never got the chance to, but that just means i'm this much closer now to hopefully getting to read book two which is very exciting :)
]]>
The secret of her divine heritage revealed, Freya finds herself on a path that will see thousands of lives lost to the magic in her blood. Desperate to avoid this dark fate, she risks an alliance with Skaland’s greatest enemy to seek answers from the seer who foretold her future—the same seer who sent Bjorn to kill her.
While Freya still seethes with rage over Bjorn’s betrayal, the blood oaths that bind her demand that she keep him close as she hunts for a way to avert the looming war. Her magic draws her to the front lines of an old enmity, embroiling her with Nordeland’s Unfated—children of the gods who serve the king she was raised to fear. The same king who, unlike Bjorn, is now willing to fight at her back. For despite the desire that burns hot between Bjorn and Freya, his growing distrust of her chosen path threatens to drag them further apart.
As war approaches, gods and mortals must choose their weapons. Yet the fiercest battle will be the one Freya wages within herself. With the magic of two goddesses burning in her veins, she must weave the threads of destiny to decide her own fate: Will she be the shield that protects her people or the curse that destroys them?]]>
author: Danielle L. Jensen
name: dani �
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/14
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
Take your first steps into the epic.
Yscalin, land of sunshine and lavender, will soon be ablaze.
It has been centuries since the Draconic Army took wing, almost extinguishing humankind.
Marosa Vetalda is a prisoner in her own home, controlled by her cold father, King Sigoso. Over the mountains, her betrothed, Aubrecht Lievelyn, rules Mentendon in all but name. Together, they intend to usher in a better world.
A better world seems impossibly distant to Estina Melaugo, who hunts the Draconic beasts that have slept across the world for centuries.
And now the great wyrm Fýredel is stirring, and Yscalin will be the first to fall . . .
A story of human resilience in the face of dire circumstances, Among the Burning Flowers leads readers through the gripping and tragic circumstances that pave the way for the opening of the million-copy bestseller The Priory of The Orange Tree.
Richly illustrated with magical artwork by Rovina Cai (@rovinacai).]]>
author: Samantha Shannon
name: dani �
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/11
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
Bree Matthews is alone. She exiled herself from the Legendborn Order, cut her ancestral connections, and turned away from the friends who can’t understand the impossible cost of her powers. This is the only way to keep herself—and those she loves—safe.
But Bree’s decision has come with a terrible price: an unbreakable bargain with the Shadow King himself, a shapeshifter who can move between humanity, the demon underworld, and the Legendborn secret society. In exchange for training to wield her unprecedented abilities, Bree has put her future in the Shadow King’s hands—and unwittingly bound herself to do his bidding as his new protégé.
Meanwhile, the other Scions must face war with their Round Table fractured, leaderless, and missing its Kingsmage, as Selwyn has also disappeared. When Nick is detained by the Order’s Merlins, he invokes an ancient law that requires the High Council of Regents to convene at the Northern Keep and grant him an audience. No one knows what he will demand of them...or what secrets he has kept hidden from the Table.
As a string of mysterious kidnappings escalates and Merlins are found dead, it becomes clear that no matter how hard Bree runs from who she is, the past will always find her.]]>
author: Tracy Deonn
name: dani �
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/10
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
Spending her days pretending to be nothing more than a vapid young socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. When a rescue goes wrong, she decides to throw the witch hunters off her scent and gain the intel she desperately needs by courting the handsome Gideon Sharpe � a notorious and unforgiving witch hunter loyal to the revolution � who she can't help but find herself falling for.
Gideon loathes the decadence and superficiality Rune represents, but when he learns the Crimson Moth has been using Rune’s merchant ships to smuggle renegade witches out of the republic, he inserts himself into her social circles by pretending to court her right back. He soon realizes that beneath her beauty and shallow façade, is someone fiercely intelligent and tender who feels like his perfect match. Except, what if she’s the very villain he’s been hunting?
Kristen Ciccarelli’s The Crimson Moth is the thrilling start to a romantic fantasy duology where the only thing more treacherous than being a witch� is falling in love.]]>
author: Kristen Ciccarelli
name: dani �
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/06
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
Ash waited three thousand years for a consort who could break the Betrayer’s chains. Instead of one lover, he found Sachi and Zanya—the primordial powers that embody creation and destruction, reborn as humans. Now, his ancient enemy has returned to threaten everything he loves.
In the wake of her dazzling manifestation, Zanya seethes with magic and restless energy. Her command of the Endless Void will be a potent weapon in the coming war. To harness it, she’ll need to embrace the darkness within—but the scars of the past are holding her back.
Sachi’s unprecedented connection to the Dream deepens, leading her beyond the veil of reality…and into the heart of the Betrayer’s stronghold. Torn from her lovers, Sachi must use all her wit and cunning to survive the Betrayer’s treacherous court. Because he doesn’t simply want her. He covets the slumbering power she possesses—and plans to take it for his own.
Even if it ends their world.]]>
author: Kit Rocha
name: dani �
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/05
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
Barring that, I only dream of one thing—revenge.
Veyka Pendragon was crowned queen in a farce fit for any circus. Now, as her traitorous court plots around her, the new Queen of the Elemental Fae must take revenge on the humans who betrayed her while also guarding a dangerous secret.
The arrival of her betrothed, the storied Brutal Prince, is merely another cog in the wheels of time and space spinning around her.
Arran Earthborn is the strongest terrestrial fae in millennia. If Veyka wishes to keep the peace her ancestors fought and died for, she must join with him soon.
But the Brutal Prince has not earned his name by playing nice. The torture he exacts will enrage and enflame her—and endanger a secret that would rip their world to shreds.
The days are slipping by.
Very soon I will have to choose�
The crown that destroyed my life but protects my kingdom�
Or settling the scores that haunt my every step.
Crown of Earth and Sky is a twisted mythology retelling of the Arthur legend. It is a high-steam fantasy romance with dark elements.]]>
author: Emberly Ash
name: dani �
average rating: 3.85
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/05
shelves: currently-reading
review:
]]>
For three thousand years, an ancient dragon god has protected the borders of the Sheltered Lands. In return, he makes only one demand: every one hundred years, the mortal ruler must send their heir to serve as his consort…for as long as they can survive.
Sachielle of House Roquebarre is the thirty-first consort to be sacrificed to the monster who guards the mountain passes. She is young, beautiful—and she has three secrets.
First: she’s a disposable orphan trained in seduction.
Second: her handmaid, Zanya, is an assassin and the only person she has ever loved.
Third—and most dangerous: she’s cursed. Sachi and Zanya have five weeks to murder the Dragon in his bed. If they fail, the mortal king’s curse will steal not just Sachi’s life, but her very soul.
The Dragon has only one secret: he is nothing like what they have been told. And he will do whatever it takes to possess them both.
]]>
upon meeting the dragon, ash, things do not go as planned for sachi and zanya. ash isn't at all whom their captors had said he was, he's kind and gentle and the complete opposite of what they expected. needless to say, this revelation turns things upside down for all three of them.
something i loved about this book is how sachi and zanya are polar opposites, but will do anything for each other. throwing ash into the mix makes things a lot more interesting for both of them, and feelings clash and grow as the story goes on. however, i would have loved more buildup to said feelings!
there is a good amount of story building, romance, and even betrayal that fuels the story and makes things interesting. ESPECIALLY, in the last few chapters. so much happens and i'm really curious to see how those events will carry the story further into the next book.
thank you netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review!
]]>
author: Kit Rocha
name: dani �
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/05
date added: 2025/03/05
shelves: arc-reads, netgalley
review:
consort of fire follows princess sachielle who is essentially taking part in an arranged marriage with the feared dragon lord who hasn't had a consort in years due to unfortunate events occurring with his last consort. along with sachi comes her handmaid and secret lover, zanya, who is a born fighter sent to murder sachi's betrothed in exchange for saving her life which is slowly coming to an end.
upon meeting the dragon, ash, things do not go as planned for sachi and zanya. ash isn't at all whom their captors had said he was, he's kind and gentle and the complete opposite of what they expected. needless to say, this revelation turns things upside down for all three of them.
something i loved about this book is how sachi and zanya are polar opposites, but will do anything for each other. throwing ash into the mix makes things a lot more interesting for both of them, and feelings clash and grow as the story goes on. however, i would have loved more buildup to said feelings!
there is a good amount of story building, romance, and even betrayal that fuels the story and makes things interesting. ESPECIALLY, in the last few chapters. so much happens and i'm really curious to see how those events will carry the story further into the next book.
thank you netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review!
]]>
Give him your heart. Grasp your destiny. Get out alive.
Clever thief Felix seizes an opportunity to steal a helmet in Pompeii. But as he's chased by a mysterious patrician, Felix discovers the helmet is not only a priceless artefact but a relic of the god Mercury. When Felix touches it, pieces of his forgotten past begin to simmer.
Loren, an aspiring councilman and temple attendant, is plagued by nightmares of Pompeii's destruction. Nightmares that feature Felix, who stumbles into Loren's temple as an earthquake rocks the city.
Loren knows they have mere days to uncover Felix's ties to the relic and to Loren's own dreams if they have any hope of saving Pompeii from the boiling fury of Mount Vesuvius. But the Ancient Roman world is ruled by bloody politics and unstoppable destinies, with dangerous, desperate people lurking in every shadow.
Felix and Loren will have to piece together their fates - and their growing feelings for one another - to make it out of a burning city alive.]]>
author: Cass Biehn
name: dani �
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/28
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold onto. Jude learned this lesson when she released her control over the wicked king, Cardan, in exchange for immeasurable power.
Now as the exiled mortal Queen of Faerie, Jude is powerless and left reeling from Cardan’s betrayal. She bides her time determined to reclaim everything he took from her. Opportunity arrives in the form of her deceptive twin sister, Taryn, whose mortal life is in peril.
Jude must risk venturing back into the treacherous Faerie Court, and confront her lingering feelings for Cardan, if she wishes to save her sister. But Elfhame is not as she left it. War is brewing. As Jude slips deep within enemy lines she becomes ensnared in the conflict’s bloody politics.
And, when a dormant yet powerful curse is unleashed, panic spreads throughout the land, forcing her to choose between her ambition and her humanity�
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black, comes the highly anticipated and jaw-dropping finale to The Folk of the Air trilogy.]]>
i really love the idea that this story remained a political fantasy throughout it's entirety, and despite their being a romance aspect involved it doesn't overtake the storyline which i loved to see it add to the depth and beauty that is holly black's storytelling of the high court in elfhame.
this story continues following the events taking place at the end of the wicked king, so if you haven't read the first two books, probably come back later when you have! :)
anyways, jude duarte is now in exile in the mortal world after cardan sent her away. taryn comes to her with a story in which she needs jude's help with, allowing jude to pose as her twin and escape the mortal world and head back into faerie. a lot of things happen once she's back in faerie. like, quite a lot. and i really love the direction that the story takes in this book.
cardan really shines in his character development, and jude of course develops and shines so much more in each and every book. i absolutely love the two of them together, and seeing how their feelings finally come to light was EVERYTHING to me. i understand the hype now. i really do. they're such a badass couple and i just love their dynamic and their confessions and AHHH !!!!
definitely a series worth the hype and worth checking out for sure <3
]]>
author: Holly Black
name: dani �
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/19
date added: 2025/02/19
shelves:
review:
holy shit, this entire series is absolutely perfect.
i read the first and second book and loved them, and the same can be said for this one!
i really love the idea that this story remained a political fantasy throughout it's entirety, and despite their being a romance aspect involved it doesn't overtake the storyline which i loved to see it add to the depth and beauty that is holly black's storytelling of the high court in elfhame.
this story continues following the events taking place at the end of the wicked king, so if you haven't read the first two books, probably come back later when you have! :)
anyways, jude duarte is now in exile in the mortal world after cardan sent her away. taryn comes to her with a story in which she needs jude's help with, allowing jude to pose as her twin and escape the mortal world and head back into faerie. a lot of things happen once she's back in faerie. like, quite a lot. and i really love the direction that the story takes in this book.
cardan really shines in his character development, and jude of course develops and shines so much more in each and every book. i absolutely love the two of them together, and seeing how their feelings finally come to light was EVERYTHING to me. i understand the hype now. i really do. they're such a badass couple and i just love their dynamic and their confessions and AHHH !!!!
definitely a series worth the hype and worth checking out for sure <3
]]>
In a mortal world colonized by the gods and ruled over by the Descended, their cruel offspring, Diem Bellator yearns to escape the insular life of her poor village.
Her mother’s sudden disappearance—and the discovery of a dangerous secret about her past—offer Diem an unexpected opportunity to enter the dark world of Descended royalty and unlock the web of mysteries her mother left behind.
With the dying King’s handsome, mysterious heir watching her every move, and a ruthless mortal alliance recruiting her to join the growing civil war, Diem will have to navigate the unwritten rules of love, power, and politics in order to save her family—and all of mortalkind.
Spark of the Everflame is the first book in The Kindred's Curse Saga, a four-book fantasy romance series. This slow burn, enemies-to-lovers epic is perfect for lovers of magic, dragons, angst, and banter and will appeal to fans of books like A Court of Thorns and Roses, From Blood and Ash, Gild, and The Serpent & the Wings of Night.]]>
author: Penn Cole
name: dani �
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/15
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
You must be strong enough to strike and strike and strike again without tiring.
The first lesson is to make yourself strong.
After the jaw-dropping revelation that Oak is the heir to Faerie, Jude must keep her brother safe. To do so, she has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne. Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were easy to control. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her even as his fascination with her remains undiminished.
When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her own life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a Faerie world.]]>
i really should've discovered this series sooner. i mean, i KNEW about them but didn't read them. my mistake though because i fear i really missed out on some great writing and characters.
let's get into the story: jude duarte is essentially hand of the king (had to use the GOT reference lol), and she masterminds a lot of the choices behind the throne through cardan. it's so ironic that two characters who have hated each other so intensely so far are forced to work together, and that's part of the beauty of this book series being a true enemies to lovers. i really love the dynamic they have, it keeps me wondering what will happen next: a kiss in passion or kiss of betrayal ! (iykyk ;o)
a lot happens in this book and without spoiling anything in this section of the review, things get very crazy and there are lots of twists and turns, especially towards the end... because WOW.
definitely a great sequel like i said, and i'm excited for book three. like, so excited.
spoilers ahead be warned!
the enemies to lovers were enemies to lovers-ing SO HARDDDDD.
jude and cardan have this dynamic where they go back and forth between wanting to be with each other because of their deep desires they can't bring themselves to voice or realize exist, and their hatred for one another that fuels so much of their story and choices. i love the brief moments where we can see cardan let down his guard and his hatred around jude and allow himself to feel for her what he genuinely does, and same for jude.
i'm really curious to know why cardan married her if he simply wanted to exile her... like, i feel like there's so much more to that decision than us as readers understand up to this point, and it's definitely more than jude can fathom too. it was the ultimate betrayal for her, finally gaining power only to be stripped of it in the next moment. i feel for her, having been sent back to a life which she didn't enjoy at all :/ might go back to hating cardan for the time being because wow he's insane for that! (please redeem yourself though cardan i beg)
i was honestly shocked by the ghost's betrayal, as well as taryn's yet again. AND THE FACT CARDAN THOUGHT IT WAS JUDE AND TRUSTED HER MAKES IT WORSE LIKE UGHHHHHH WHYYYYYY
anyways, going to read book three now so stay tuned <3
]]>
author: Holly Black
name: dani �
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/13
date added: 2025/02/13
shelves:
review:
wow what an amazing sequel! the wicked king is a lot like the cruel prince in the sense that it is very much a story that builds the plot throughout and has so so much world-building and political moments that really drive the story forward. it can seem slow at times, but still a lot of intriguing things are happening to the point where i didn't really notice if the pacing changed at all. i really love how holly black tells the story in such a captivating way where readers don't want to put these books down.
i really should've discovered this series sooner. i mean, i KNEW about them but didn't read them. my mistake though because i fear i really missed out on some great writing and characters.
let's get into the story: jude duarte is essentially hand of the king (had to use the GOT reference lol), and she masterminds a lot of the choices behind the throne through cardan. it's so ironic that two characters who have hated each other so intensely so far are forced to work together, and that's part of the beauty of this book series being a true enemies to lovers. i really love the dynamic they have, it keeps me wondering what will happen next: a kiss in passion or kiss of betrayal ! (iykyk ;o)
a lot happens in this book and without spoiling anything in this section of the review, things get very crazy and there are lots of twists and turns, especially towards the end... because WOW.
definitely a great sequel like i said, and i'm excited for book three. like, so excited.
spoilers ahead be warned!
the enemies to lovers were enemies to lovers-ing SO HARDDDDD.
jude and cardan have this dynamic where they go back and forth between wanting to be with each other because of their deep desires they can't bring themselves to voice or realize exist, and their hatred for one another that fuels so much of their story and choices. i love the brief moments where we can see cardan let down his guard and his hatred around jude and allow himself to feel for her what he genuinely does, and same for jude.
i'm really curious to know why cardan married her if he simply wanted to exile her... like, i feel like there's so much more to that decision than us as readers understand up to this point, and it's definitely more than jude can fathom too. it was the ultimate betrayal for her, finally gaining power only to be stripped of it in the next moment. i feel for her, having been sent back to a life which she didn't enjoy at all :/ might go back to hating cardan for the time being because wow he's insane for that! (please redeem yourself though cardan i beg)
i was honestly shocked by the ghost's betrayal, as well as taryn's yet again. AND THE FACT CARDAN THOUGHT IT WAS JUDE AND TRUSTED HER MAKES IT WORSE LIKE UGHHHHHH WHYYYYYY
anyways, going to read book three now so stay tuned <3
]]>
"I live for you," I say sadly.
Eo kisses my cheek. "Then you must live for more."
Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of Mars livable for future generations.
Yet he spends his life willingly, knowing that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better world for his children.
But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity already reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and sprawling parks spread across the planet. Darrow—and Reds like him—are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class.
Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, a proving ground for the dominant Gold caste, where the next generation of humanity's overlords struggle for power. He will be forced to compete for his life and the very future of civilization against the best and most brutal of Society's ruling class. There, he will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies... even if it means he has to become one of them to do so.]]>
author: Pierce Brown
name: dani �
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/07
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
The Ravani kingdom was born of a prophecy, carved from unforgiving desert sands and ruled by the Ravence bloodline: those with the power to command the Eternal Fire.
Elena Aadya is the heir to the throne—and the only Ravence who cannot wield her family’s legendary magic. As her coronation approaches, she will do whatever it takes to prove herself a worthy successor to her revered father. But she doesn’t anticipate the arrival of Yassen Knight, the notorious assassin who now claims fealty to the throne. Elena’s father might trust Yassen to be a member of her royal guard, but she is certain he is hiding something.]]>
author: Aparna Verma
name: dani �
average rating: 3.64
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/06
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
Ravence has fallen. Her enemies have ravaged her people. And now Elena Aadya Ravence must decide how far she will go to reap her revenge. As she is pulled into a bitter war that will decide the fate of her kingdom, a new tyrant rises to reclaim his home, and Elena finds that perhaps her hunger isn't enough.
And his knows no bounds.
In the thrilling sequel to The Phoenix King, deadly secrets are uncovered, new alliances are forged, and an exiled princess will rise from the ashes of the old world as the burning queen.]]>
author: Aparna Verma
name: dani �
average rating: 5.00
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/06
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
The only route through a storm-ravaged world, the Bridge Kingdom enriches itself and deprives its rivals, including Lara's homeland. So when she’s sent as a bride under the guise of peace, Lara is prepared to do whatever it takes to fracture its impenetrable defenses. And the defenses of its king.
Yet as she infiltrates her new home and gains a deeper understanding of the war to possess the bridge, Lara begins to question whether she’s the hero or the villain. And as her feelings for Aren transform from frosty hostility to fierce passion, Lara must choose which kingdom she’ll save� and which kingdom she’ll destroy.
Passionate and violent, The Bridge Kingdom is a seductive fantasy perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash and A Court of Thorns and Roses.]]>
author: Danielle L. Jensen
name: dani �
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/06
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
Thrown into a desolate land of sickness and unnatural beasts, Kai wakes in the woods with no idea who she is or how she got there. All she knows is that if she cannot reach the Sea of Devour, even this hellscape will get worse. But when she sees the village blacksmith fight invaders with unspeakable skill, she decides to accept his offer of help.
Too bad he’s as skilled at annoying her as he is at fighting.
As she searches for answers, Kai only finds more questions, especially regarding the blacksmith who can ignite her body like a flame, then douse it with ice in the next breath.
And no one is what—or who—they appear to be in the kingdom of Vinevridth, including the man whose secrets might be as deadly as the land itself.]]>
author: Rachel Howzell Hall
name: dani �
average rating: 2.73
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/06
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.
Jude was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.
To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.
As Jude becomes more deeply embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, she discovers her own capacity for trickery and bloodshed. But as betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.]]>
at first, i didn’t understand the jude and cardan hype� but trust me, i do now. i really do.
the cruel prince is a true fantasy filled with so much political ideology and a large focus on world-building. it has a true slowburn enemies to lovers subplot throughout the series where the enemies ACTUALLY are enemies and not insta-love made to feel like enemies to lovers which i so much appreciate and prefer. they’re basically enemies this entire book, and probably will be moving forward for awhile.
i really love the way this book is written, the story is captivating and the characters have a lot of depth and description to really get a feel for who they are. there’s some pretty big twists and drama that i really enjoy as well.
jude is such a strong character and i love her already! cardan is well� growing on me. me being shocked that the cruel prince is actually a cruel prince is honestly kind of hilarious-
i’m definitely going into the next book super excited to see where the story goes, and i’ll probably fly through it like i did with this one. definitely a book/series i’m gonna recommend reading :)
spoilers timeeee
the plot twist at the ending absolutely blew me away. i was sort of expecting it but also not at the same time because of how great the writing makes you think you know what’ll happen when in reality, you don’t.
i just KNOW cardan and jude are gonna give more enemies to lovers excellence in the next book. especially knowing that cardan hates that he wants her, and after the moment they had in the court of shadows and then jude’s betrayal i am going insane i need to know what happens asap]]>
author: Holly Black
name: dani �
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/04
date added: 2025/02/04
shelves:
review:
going into this book, i honestly didn’t have any expectations or prior knowledge about the story other than everyone on the internet obsessing over jude and cardan. i figured i might as well see what this series is about after all this time :)
at first, i didn’t understand the jude and cardan hype� but trust me, i do now. i really do.
the cruel prince is a true fantasy filled with so much political ideology and a large focus on world-building. it has a true slowburn enemies to lovers subplot throughout the series where the enemies ACTUALLY are enemies and not insta-love made to feel like enemies to lovers which i so much appreciate and prefer. they’re basically enemies this entire book, and probably will be moving forward for awhile.
i really love the way this book is written, the story is captivating and the characters have a lot of depth and description to really get a feel for who they are. there’s some pretty big twists and drama that i really enjoy as well.
jude is such a strong character and i love her already! cardan is well� growing on me. me being shocked that the cruel prince is actually a cruel prince is honestly kind of hilarious-
i’m definitely going into the next book super excited to see where the story goes, and i’ll probably fly through it like i did with this one. definitely a book/series i’m gonna recommend reading :)
spoilers timeeee
the plot twist at the ending absolutely blew me away. i was sort of expecting it but also not at the same time because of how great the writing makes you think you know what’ll happen when in reality, you don’t.
i just KNOW cardan and jude are gonna give more enemies to lovers excellence in the next book. especially knowing that cardan hates that he wants her, and after the moment they had in the court of shadows and then jude’s betrayal i am going insane i need to know what happens asap
]]>
Now they are both rising stars in the new regime, despite backgrounds that couldn't be more different. Annie's lowborn family was executed by dragonfire, while Lee's aristocratic family was murdered by revolutionaries. Growing up in the same orphanage forged their friendship, and seven years of training have made them rivals for the top position in the dragonriding fleet.
But everything changes when survivors from the old regime surface, bent on reclaiming the city.
With war on the horizon and his relationship with Annie changing fast, Lee must choose to kill the only family he has left or to betray everything he's come to believe in. And Annie must decide whether to protect the boy she loves . . . or step up to be the champion her city needs.]]>
author: Rosaria Munda
name: dani �
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/03
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it's to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister's death. But she gets her vengeance in a way nobody expected—she kills him through the psychic link between pilots and emerges from the cockpit unscathed. She is labeled an Iron Widow, a much-feared and much-silenced kind of female pilot who can sacrifice boys to power up Chrysalises instead.�
To tame her unnerving yet invaluable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest and most controversial male pilot in Huaxia�. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily. She will miss no opportunity to leverage their combined might and infamy to survive attempt after attempt on her life, until she can figure out exactly why the pilot system works in its misogynist way—and stop more girls from being sacrificed.]]>
author: Xiran Jay Zhao
name: dani �
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/03
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
Faron Vincent can channel the power of the gods. Five years ago, she used her divine magic to liberate her island from its enemies, the dragon-riding Langley Empire. But now, at seventeen, Faron is all powered up with no wars to fight. She’s a legend to her people and a nuisance to her neighbors.
When she’s forced to attend an international peace summit, Faron expects that she will perform tricks like a trained pet and then go home. She doesn’t expect her older sister, Elara, forming an unprecedented bond with an enemy dragon—or the gods claiming the only way to break that bond is to kill her sister.
As Faron’s desperation to find another solution takes her down a dark path, and Elara discovers the shocking secrets at the heart of the Langley Empire, both must make difficult choices that will shape each other’s lives, as well as the fate of their world.
"By turns hopeful and devastating, So Let Them Burn is a masterful debut with a blazing heart. I was captivated from beginning to end by Cole’s sharp, clever prose and by her protagonists—two remarkable sisters with an unforgettable bond." � Chelsea Abdullah, author of The Stardust Thief]]>
author: Kamilah Cole
name: dani �
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/03
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
When a fatal mistake leads to Yeeran’s exile from the Elven lands, they are both forced into the terrifying wilderness beyond their borders. There they encounter the the fae court.
The fae haven’t been seen for a millennium. But now Yeeran and Lettle are thrust into their seductive world � torn between their loyalty to each other, their elven homeland, and their hearts. . .]]>
author: Saara El-Arifi
name: dani �
average rating: 3.53
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/03
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
With no other options, Rin joins forces with the powerful Dragon Warlord, who has a plan to conquer Nikan, unseat the Empress, and create a new Republic. Rin throws herself into his war. After all, making war is all she knows how to do.
But the Empress is a more powerful foe than she appears, and the Dragon Warlord’s motivations are not as democratic as they seem. The more Rin learns, the more she fears her love for Nikan will drive her away from every ally and lead her to rely more and more on the Phoenix’s deadly power. Because there is nothing she won’t sacrifice for her country and her vengeance
The sequel to R.F. Kuang’s acclaimed debut THE POPPY WAR, THE DRAGON REPUBLIC combines the history of 20th-century China with a gripping world of gods and monsters, to devastating effect.]]>
author: R.F. Kuang
name: dani �
average rating: 4.36
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/30
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
After saving her nation of Nikan from foreign invaders and battling the evil Empress Su Daji in a brutal civil war, Fang Runin was betrayed by allies and left for dead.Ěý
Despite her losses, Rin hasn’t given up on those for whom she has sacrificed so much—the people of the southern provinces and especially Tikany, the village that is her home. Returning to her roots, Rin meets difficult challenges—and unexpected opportunities. While her new allies in the Southern Coalition leadership are sly and untrustworthy, Rin quickly realizes that the real power in Nikan lies with the millions of common people who thirst for vengeance and revere her as a goddess of salvation.Ěý
Backed by the masses and her Southern Army, Rin will use every weapon to defeat the Dragon Republic, the colonizing Hesperians, and all who threaten the shamanic arts and their practitioners. As her power and influence grows, though, will she be strong enough to resist the Phoenix’s intoxicating voice urging her to burn the world and everything in it?Ěý]]>
author: R.F. Kuang
name: dani �
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/30
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.
True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.
Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.]]>
author: Erin Morgenstern
name: dani �
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/25
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
author: Naomi Novik
name: dani �
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2006
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/25
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
He is the very thing she’s spent her whole life pretending to be.
Only the extraordinary belong in the kingdom of Ilya—the exceptional, the empowered, the Elites.
The powers these Elites have possessed for decades were graciously gifted to them by the Plague, though not all were fortunate enough to both survive the sickness and reap the reward. Those born Ordinary are just that—ordinary. And when the king decreed that all Ordinaries be banished in order to preserve his Elite society, lacking an ability suddenly became a crime—making Paedyn Gray a felon by fate and a thief by necessity.
Surviving in the slums as an Ordinary is no simple task, and Paedyn knows this better than most. Having been trained by her father to be overly observant since she was a child, Paedyn poses as a Psychic in the crowded city, blending in with the Elites as best she can in order to stay alive and out of trouble. Easier said than done.
When Paeydn unsuspectingly saves one of Ilyas princes, she finds herself thrown into the Purging Trials. The brutal competition exists to showcase the Elites� powers—the very thing Paedyn lacks. If the Trials and the opponents within them don’t kill her, the prince she’s fighting feelings for certainly will if he discovers what she is—completely Ordinary.]]>
author: Lauren Roberts
name: dani �
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/16
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...]]>
author: Cassandra Clare
name: dani �
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2007
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/16
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
I want someone with a soul as black as night. Someone who would burn the world down for me and not lose a single minute of sleep over it.
Trauma nurse Aly Cappellucci doesn’t need any more kinks. She likes the one she’s landed on just fine. To her, nothing could top the masked men she follows online. Unless one of those men was shirtless, heavily tattooed, and waiting for her in her bedroom. She dreams about being hunted by one in particular, of him chasing her down and doing deliciously dark things to her willing body. She never could have guessed that by sending one drunken text, those dreams would become her new reality.
I want things most people don’t, craving darkness and depravity instead of light and love.
Josh Hammond has spent his life avoiding the limelight, but his online persona is another story. At night, he posts masked thirst traps for his millions of fans to drool over, but one follower has caught his eye: Aly. After reading a comment begging him to break into her house wearing a mask, he decides to take her up on her offer.
Together, Aly and Josh live out their darkest fantasies, unaware that Aly has captured the attention of someone else. Someone with far more sinister intentions than a little light stalking. As Josh turns from predator to protector and the stakes heighten, he must ask himself how far he’s willing to go for the woman he’s obsessed with.]]>
author: Navessa Allen
name: dani �
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/14
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
Will he steal her heart... or her chance at the throne?
Daughter and heir to the throne, Mancella Cliff yearns for a life without bloodshed. But as a child, she emerged from the Broken Citadel with the power to summon animals—only after killing them with her bare hands. Her magic is a constant reminder of the horrors her father, the ruler of the realm, has forced upon her to strengthen their power.
Silver is a charming thief struggling to survive in a world torn apart by Mancella’s father’s reign. When a mysterious benefactor recruits him for the heist of a lifetime, a chance to rob the castle, Silver relishes the opportunity for a real future—and revenge. But he'll have to manipulate Mance and earn her trust to pull it off.
As the deception and carnage mount, Mance must find a way to save her realm without becoming the ruthless monster she's been bred to be. And when Silver discovers that his actions are fueling the violence that Mance wants to prevent, he'll have to choose between his ambition and the girl he’s falling for.]]>
author: D.L. Taylor
name: dani �
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/14
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
November 12, 1944. This house holds on to souls for a lifetime. I thought I had given it to my husband when I vowed to love him until the end of time. I lied. Nothing could have prepared me for the day my phantom appeared outside my window. He was terrifying, yet hypnotizing, and I couldn’t deny my intrigue. I never intended to fall into a whirlwind romance with my stalker. Especially because he’s so much more than that. A criminal. A mobster. The man who offers me solace from the monster in Parsons Manor. There are many that haunt these halls, yet it’s only my husband I fear.]]>
author: H.D. Carlton
name: dani �
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/14
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.
Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.
Shadow and Bone is the first installment in Leigh Bardugo's Grisha Trilogy.]]>
author: Leigh Bardugo
name: dani �
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/14
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
I thought surviving my first year in Bloodwing's deadly halls would be enough. I was wrong.
I accidentally woke a dragon–a creature of myth, of death, of fire.
Now every highblood house wants control over me and the dragon's legacy I carry. But here's the I have no control. I'm bluffing my way through every encounter, trying to keep everyone from realizing that I'm not the one pulling the dragon's strings.
And then there's Blake Drakharrow. I thought he was on my side, that I might even be able to trust him. But he betrayed me. Now I'm his only blood source. How messed up is that? In a place like Bloodwing, where power and survival are everything, this bond may well be the death of us both. Unless I can find a way to end it.
In this world of vampires, dragons, and lies, there are no happy endings. Just legends–and the darkness it takes to make them.
Set in a richly crafted world of vampire courts and dragon lore, On Wings of Blood blends dark academia, a brooding bully with Draco Malfoy energy, forbidden romance, heart-pounding enemies-to-lovers tension, banter, and dangerous intrigue. A full list of Trigger Warnings may be found in the book's interior. ]]>
"because for now, the world outside didn't exist. there was only her. for the first time in a long time, i felt as if i wasn't lost. i wasn't broken. i was exactly where i was meant to be."
WOW. let's get into it. there's a lot to talk about!
the bond that burns is the second installment in the bloodwing academy series. it continues to follow the story of medra pendragon, who is now going through more than ever. her fate is uncertain, and with that, comes her rocky relationship with blake and those of higher status who mean to do her harm. as medra adapts to her unfortunate circumstances, she is subjected to so many uncovered secrets, betrayal, and a love that she would have never expected blooms.
both books were amazing, but this one definitely takes the cake. after learning so much about the world in book one, we dive into more character-driven story developments, which i loved. the world is interesting in itself, but the characters and developments that fuel the plot in this one keep you hooked.
i don't know how i'm supposed to wait until may to find out what happens because genuinely i wish i had book three right now. briar does an incredible job of creating a sense of attachment to the characters, and i love so much about this book! the character developments, the shock factors, the ending being absolutely insane... yeah i need more asap.
spoiler time!! feel free to stop reading here unless you want spoilers!
my favorite thing to say about the first like 40% of this book was "well no blake, this isn't you."
he was VERY aggravating at the beginning, and it made me question the fate of his relationship with medra given how angry she was towards him with how awful he acted.
i was so incredibly glad to see blake change his ways about halfway through the book, and begin to show genuine love and care towards medra. i think it shocked her to see that side of him, and i personally loved it. the two of them have such a passionate relationship and deep down, a love like no other (even if they don't always see it that way).
i really loved how in the end, she stood by him and despite knowing he betrayed her, she didn't want to lose him. this really makes me hyped for the next book, i need more of them right now! i really long to see wholesome blake who confides in medra and doesn't harbor anymore secrets (hopefully).
i think it was absolutely insane that he can transform into a dragon... OH and NOT HIS EYE TOO ?!?!?!?! i just know he's going to be on a vengeance streak next book. i surprisingly also really liked kage, especially knowing he's more of a friend to medra than anything else (or well, he was at least).
i'm semi-confused by the addition of florence's pov though. i mean, i get it but at the same time i wish it just remained a dual pov. i'm curious to see how the next book will fit her pov in, especially given the major change in her story now! ]]>
author: Briar Boleyn
name: dani �
average rating: 4.22
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/13
date added: 2025/01/13
shelves: arc-reads
review:
i am literally speechless right now. like actually, my jaw is on the floor.
"because for now, the world outside didn't exist. there was only her. for the first time in a long time, i felt as if i wasn't lost. i wasn't broken. i was exactly where i was meant to be."
WOW. let's get into it. there's a lot to talk about!
the bond that burns is the second installment in the bloodwing academy series. it continues to follow the story of medra pendragon, who is now going through more than ever. her fate is uncertain, and with that, comes her rocky relationship with blake and those of higher status who mean to do her harm. as medra adapts to her unfortunate circumstances, she is subjected to so many uncovered secrets, betrayal, and a love that she would have never expected blooms.
both books were amazing, but this one definitely takes the cake. after learning so much about the world in book one, we dive into more character-driven story developments, which i loved. the world is interesting in itself, but the characters and developments that fuel the plot in this one keep you hooked.
i don't know how i'm supposed to wait until may to find out what happens because genuinely i wish i had book three right now. briar does an incredible job of creating a sense of attachment to the characters, and i love so much about this book! the character developments, the shock factors, the ending being absolutely insane... yeah i need more asap.
spoiler time!! feel free to stop reading here unless you want spoilers!
my favorite thing to say about the first like 40% of this book was "well no blake, this isn't you."
he was VERY aggravating at the beginning, and it made me question the fate of his relationship with medra given how angry she was towards him with how awful he acted.
i was so incredibly glad to see blake change his ways about halfway through the book, and begin to show genuine love and care towards medra. i think it shocked her to see that side of him, and i personally loved it. the two of them have such a passionate relationship and deep down, a love like no other (even if they don't always see it that way).
i really loved how in the end, she stood by him and despite knowing he betrayed her, she didn't want to lose him. this really makes me hyped for the next book, i need more of them right now! i really long to see wholesome blake who confides in medra and doesn't harbor anymore secrets (hopefully).
i think it was absolutely insane that he can transform into a dragon... OH and NOT HIS EYE TOO ?!?!?!?! i just know he's going to be on a vengeance streak next book. i surprisingly also really liked kage, especially knowing he's more of a friend to medra than anything else (or well, he was at least).
i'm semi-confused by the addition of florence's pov though. i mean, i get it but at the same time i wish it just remained a dual pov. i'm curious to see how the next book will fit her pov in, especially given the major change in her story now!
]]>
I didn't sign up for this.
A half-fae in a school of highblood vampires? That's a recipe for torment.
I'm Medra Pendragon—last of the dragon riders, or so they tell me. Funny thing is, there are no dragons left. Not a single one. But somehow, that hasn't stopped the vampires from deciding I'm worth capturing. Now I'm stuck at Bloodwing Academy, where the highbloods run everything and blightborn like me? We're just blood in their veins, pawns in their games.
But that's not even the worst part. Enter Blake Drakharrow. Cold, arrogant, and way too gorgeous for his own good. He's been tormenting me since the moment we met, and now, thanks to some ancient ritual, we're betrothed. He acts like he owns me, but I'm not going down without a fight.
Bloodwing isn't just a school—it's a battlefield. Highbloods fight for power, and if you're weak? You're dead.
Between deadly competitions, lies that could get me executed, and a dragon-shaped secret looming over my head, all I have to do is survive. Easy, right? Except I'm starting to think the real danger isn't the academy—it's what I'm becoming in this twisted game of power.
And Blake? He might just be the one who pushes me over the edge.
They think they can control me. They think they can use me.
But they have no idea what they've awakened.
Bestselling epic fantasy author Briar Boleyn returns with a new series perfect for fans of hate to love romance, heart-pounding action, and dark magic.
On Wings of Blood is a dark academia fantasy romance featuring a bully villain with Draco Malfoy energy who (eventually) gets the girl, all the tension and banter, and a tantalizingly dangerous blend of court and school intrigue all set in an intricately crafted world with unique vampire and dragon lore. Bloodwing Academy may have crossover characters from the world of Blood of a Fae, but can be read completely independently. If you're a fan of original mythology, unique world-building, and character-driven romantasy books such as Crowns of Nyaxia, From Blood and Ash, and A Court of Thorns and Roses, you won't want to miss out on this riveting new saga. ]]>
eek! i was so excited to finally start reading this book!
thank you so much to briar for yet another wonderful book and to netgalley for the arc.
now, let's get into it.
medra pendragon thought she was dead... until she wasn't.
waking up in a strange world with no idea where she is, medra must learn to adapt and survive.
while you do not have to read Queen of Roses to understand this story because there is context given throughout the book about her past, it would be helpful to read if you want to understand who she is prior to her arrival in this world.
medra is forced to attend bloodwing academy, a school primarily filled with vampire nobles and non-vampires are also attending in coexistence. bloodwing is a very prestigious school, and medra does not belong there. everyone knows it, but especially her who clings to memories of her past life while also adjusting to this new one.
during her time in bloodwing, medra attends classes while also building relationships with those around her. this story definitely has major harry potter vibes, and is FOR SURE a slowburn mixed with dark academia and everyone's favorite thing... dragons (and vampires)! ]]>
author: Briar Boleyn
name: dani �
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/09
date added: 2025/01/09
shelves: arc-reads, netgalley
review:
"blake drakharrow was beautiful in a way i didn't want to admit. in a way that made my blood simmer and my mind spin with confusion. how could someone so vile be so compelling?"
eek! i was so excited to finally start reading this book!
thank you so much to briar for yet another wonderful book and to netgalley for the arc.
now, let's get into it.
medra pendragon thought she was dead... until she wasn't.
waking up in a strange world with no idea where she is, medra must learn to adapt and survive.
while you do not have to read Queen of Roses to understand this story because there is context given throughout the book about her past, it would be helpful to read if you want to understand who she is prior to her arrival in this world.
medra is forced to attend bloodwing academy, a school primarily filled with vampire nobles and non-vampires are also attending in coexistence. bloodwing is a very prestigious school, and medra does not belong there. everyone knows it, but especially her who clings to memories of her past life while also adjusting to this new one.
during her time in bloodwing, medra attends classes while also building relationships with those around her. this story definitely has major harry potter vibes, and is FOR SURE a slowburn mixed with dark academia and everyone's favorite thing... dragons (and vampires)!
]]>
A second dragon has awoken–her heart tainted and her power commandeered by two ruthless highbloods whose cruelty knows no bounds.
My dearest friend teetered on the brink of death. A dragon saved her, but now she's tied to him in a way I can scarcely understand. What will this new bond do to the woman I've come to love as a sister?
And then there’s Blake. Once my relentless tormentor—he betrayed me again, nearly condemning Nyxaris to a cursed, stone-cold fate. Now something has shifted in him. His gray eyes hide a secret he’s desperate to keep.
I saved Blake’s life, despite everything. Yet now my every heartbeat questions where we go from here.
With Bloodwing Academy in turmoil and a new headmaster no one saw coming, only one thing is This is going to be one hell of a term.
At Bloodwing Academy, power comes with blood, and betrayal is as common as ambition. This dark fantasy series tackles mature themes. Readers are advised to consult the trigger warnings before embarking on this intense, morally gray/black journey through the realm of Sangratha!]]>
author: Briar Boleyn
name: dani �
average rating: 4.75
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/02
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
Paedyn Gray and Kai Azer return to the Kingdom of Ilya�
And Paedyn has a life-altering choice to make. Whatever she decides will determine her fate—and the fate of those around her—forever.
In the ultimate battle of love and loyalty, who wins?]]>
author: Lauren Roberts
name: dani �
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/16
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
James Anderson had a plan. Or half of one. All that matters is that he managed to do what his older brother, the famous Aaron Warner Anderson, never did: infiltrate Ark Island, the last refuge of The Reestablishment. In the past decade no outsider has breached the stronghold of the authoritarian regime, but James is in. In a prison cell, sure, but as far as James is concerned, a win is a win.
It’s been ten years since the fall of The Reestablishment. Ten years since the notorious duo � Juliette Ferrars and Aaron Warner Anderson � led a worldwide rebellion and established the New Republic of the West. But after a decade of unsettling quiet, The Reestablishment is ready to make a devastating move, and they have the perfect person for the job.
Rosabelle Wolff had a plan. She always has a plan. On Ark Island, where constant surveillance is packaged as security, even emotions must be experienced with caution. A trained assassin, her every movement is monitored by synthetic intelligence—and when she’s given an order to kill, she never hesitates.
Brimming with pulse-pounding action and torturous romance, Watch Me is an explosive journey through a dystopian landscape where enemies-to-lovers has never felt more impossible. Step into a beloved and breathtaking world that demands an answer to a desperate question�
Who are we when no one is watching?]]>
author: Tahereh Mafi
name: dani �
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/17
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
out and she wants to get out of the town of Laverne. Although she desires to go to art school,
her parents insist on sending her to a prestigious liberal arts college called Farthington, tucked
away in the remote hills of Tennessee. Lee Ann’s soon encounters a group of girls led by the
popular, who aren’t very welcoming of this newcomer.
As if this weren’t enough of a challenge, she finds herself at the center of a paranormal
disturbance that hangs over the school involving a restless and angry spirit named Cassie who
died tragically at a nearby waterfall known as Whispering Falls. As this spirit identifies with Lee
Ann the disturbances intensify as Lee Ann continues to be an object of ridicule. With the help of
her old friends, Felicity, Jasmine, David, and Katrina and her newfound friend, Connor, she
realizes she must solve a mystery surrounding Cassie’s tragic death. First, she must overcome
the anger that clouds her ability to help others. Will she be able to unravel the secrets of the
falls before things get out of hand? Find out in this exciting and revelatory chapter in the Loop
Breaker series!]]>
author: Russ Thompson
name: dani �
average rating: 4.50
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/14
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
With the help of the town psychic, Felicity, Lee Ann seeks to aid the lost souls to break out of the loop they are caught up in as they constantly repeat the last moments of their lives. On the anniversary of the tragic events, Felicity helps Lee Ann to let go of her fear and grief, which are blocking her natural ability to help the lost souls, enabling her to help them cross over to a new plane of existence. Once the town’s residents learn about the real story of Thief’s Hollow, the town of Laverne is forced to face the truth, reaping confusion and debate. LeeAnn however had begun the healing process as she releases the grief and trepidation that had haunted her, settling into her new life.]]>
author: Russ Thompson
name: dani �
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/14
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
Love kills kingdoms�
Back in Grim’s castle on Nightshade, Isla is reeling in the wake of a brutal battle and the devastating truths it exposed. Her future—and the fate of the world—now hinge on a heart split in two.
Past Isla, who fell in love with the ruler of Nightshade, fights to resist feelings she considers treasonous. The Isla of the present, who has seen the ruin her powers can cause, will do anything to save Lightlark and its king.
As the line between enemy and friend is tested, Isla is more desperate than ever to understand the oracle’s final prophecy and change her heartrending fate. But a storm is coming. And with it, a long-buried evil greater than anything the realms have faced before.
With the clock ticking on her destiny and the survival of two warring kingdoms hinging on her own shattered heart, Isla Crown will either save the world—or destroy it.]]>
author: Alex Aster
name: dani �
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/13
shelves: to-read
review:
update 2: my copy arrives today
]]>
Wren is a nightmare, a deadly manifestation of the frightening dreams of humans. She is forever bound toĚýthe insidious Para Warwick, the only night creature who can cross the boundary between the dream and waking realms. When she fails to retrieve information on a weapon that could finally end Warwick’s reign and is severely punished, she makes a snap decision toĚýaid the growing rebellion in finding it. Here, she meets Alaric, another nightmare hell-bent on atoning for his sins. Though wildly suspicious of one another, they form a tentative pact to take down Warwick once and for all.Ěý
The waking world is no better off. Prince Caine Fallon, Warwick's ignorant human son, prepares to wed Ila Enevoldson, the young queen from a neighboring kingdom. But Ila is more than she seems. She is a weaver, a protector of the ancient Boundary that separates the realms, and she has lost a precious weapon entrusted to her. She will do anything to retrieve it, including agreeing to an engagement with the son of her sworn enemy.ĚýĚý
When Caine catches Ila opening a portal to the dream realm and follows her through, he finds himself in a universe stranger than he could have imagined, where his father is more monstrous than he could have fathomed. Their destinies collide with those of the two lethal nightmares, and they are forced to band together to stop the vicious dictator—and prevent the very fabric of reality from unravelling.Ěý
From TikTok sensation Sophia Slade (@theneonvulture), a stunning new voice in epic fantasy, comes thisĚýdark, romantic tale about a world split in two and the four misguided souls who must come together save it, for fans of Holly Black and Hannah Whitten.Ěý]]>
author: Sophia Slade
name: dani �
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/18
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
Joined by Arlo, Fawn, and even her sworn enemy Roman, she embarks on a quest to locate her lost love where she learns valuable lessons about courage, sacrifice, and trust.
Amidst facing creatures with mind-controlling powers, Elena tries to grapple with haunting nightmares and identifying her true enemy, but a devastating revelation compels her to pursue a dangerous journey to secure the one thing everyone wants from her. Even if it kills her.]]>
elena is faced with a whole lot of difficulties throughout this book considering her situation at the end of book one: she has to overcome them with the help of her friends, arlo and roman. there is a lot of character growth from everyone, which i really enjoyed seeing. something i really loved that was surprising is how elena and roman grew to enjoy each other’s company over time like i needed them to be friends and NOW THEY ARE :,) and arlo and roman friendship too!!
elena’s quest to find rhett is thrilling and leaves you wondering “what’s next� with each turn of a page
i was kinda surprised by how things ended up going with elena and rhett, and i’m curious to see what will end up happening in the next book omg
i really enjoyed book one, and i was really excited for this one so when i picked it up i was glad to have loved it just as much :)
*i might add more to this but here’s my basic review for now*�
]]>
author: Selene Jones
name: dani �
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/05/10
date added: 2024/05/14
shelves: arc-reads
review:
the mind of belaria takes place directly after the heart of belaria ends (so be sure to check it out first since there will be mentions of events from book 1 in this review <3)
elena is faced with a whole lot of difficulties throughout this book considering her situation at the end of book one: she has to overcome them with the help of her friends, arlo and roman. there is a lot of character growth from everyone, which i really enjoyed seeing. something i really loved that was surprising is how elena and roman grew to enjoy each other’s company over time like i needed them to be friends and NOW THEY ARE :,) and arlo and roman friendship too!!
elena’s quest to find rhett is thrilling and leaves you wondering “what’s next� with each turn of a page
i was kinda surprised by how things ended up going with elena and rhett, and i’m curious to see what will end up happening in the next book omg
i really enjoyed book one, and i was really excited for this one so when i picked it up i was glad to have loved it just as much :)
*i might add more to this but here’s my basic review for now*�
]]>
Fifteen-year-old Jessie, a quirky loner obsessed with the nineties, is diagnosed as autistic just weeks before starting high school. Determined to make a fresh start and keep her diagnosis a secret, Jessie creates a list of goals that range from acquiring two distinct eyebrows to getting a magical first kiss and landing a spot in the school play. Within the halls of Holy Trinity High, she finds a world where things are no longer black and white and quickly learns that living in color is much more fun. But Jessie gets more than she bargained for when two very different boys steal her heart, forcing her to go off-script.]]>
author: Jackie Khalilieh
name: dani �
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/05/07
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
WOW. that's all i can really say.
duna finds out A LOT about her history in this one, and has to come to terms with it all so suddenly.. i feel like she took a little bit less of the "girlboss" role she's had previously and more of a quieter one where she struggles with the fine line of what's real and what's not because of her past. there is a whole rollercoaster of emotions to experience here, and a lot of good story progression too!!
one thing i absolutely loved about this book is the fact that duna and cathal are FINALLY TOGETHER (i have waited the entire series to finally see them happy honestly) so many wholesome moments with them :,)
i cannot wait to see how this story will end (i'm so not ready omg) ]]>
author: Isabella Khalidi
name: dani �
average rating: 4.33
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/21
date added: 2024/04/25
shelves: arc-reads
review:
the plains of wrath is book four in the series so be sure to check out the other three before you start this one since they can't be read as standalones<3
WOW. that's all i can really say.
duna finds out A LOT about her history in this one, and has to come to terms with it all so suddenly.. i feel like she took a little bit less of the "girlboss" role she's had previously and more of a quieter one where she struggles with the fine line of what's real and what's not because of her past. there is a whole rollercoaster of emotions to experience here, and a lot of good story progression too!!
one thing i absolutely loved about this book is the fact that duna and cathal are FINALLY TOGETHER (i have waited the entire series to finally see them happy honestly) so many wholesome moments with them :,)
i cannot wait to see how this story will end (i'm so not ready omg)
]]>
A heart to protect. A debt to repay. A game to win.
After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister Scarlett from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend’s true name.
The only chance of uncovering Legend’s identity is to win Caraval, so Tella throws herself into the legendary competition once more—and into the path of the murderous heir to the throne, a doomed love story, and a web of secrets…including her sister's. Caraval has always demanded bravery, cunning, and sacrifice. But now the game is asking for more. If Tella can’t fulfill her bargain and deliver Legend’s name, she’ll lose everything she cares about—maybe even her life. But if she wins, Legend and Caraval will be destroyed forever.
Welcome, welcome to Caraval...the games have only just begun.]]>
author: Stephanie Garber
name: dani �
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/23
date added: 2024/04/23
shelves:
review:
rtc :)
]]>
After surviving the Purging Trials, Ordinary-born Paedyn Gray has killed the King, and kickstarted a Resistance throughout the land. Now she’s running from the one person she had wanted to run to.
Kai Azer is now Ilya’s Enforcer, loyal to his brother Kitt, the new King. He has vowed to find Paedyn and bring her to justice.
Across the deadly Scorches, and deep into the hostile city of Dor, Kai pursues the one person he wishes he didn’t have to. But in a city without Elites, the balance between the hunter and hunted shifts � and the battle between duty and desire is deadly.
Be swept away by this kiss-or-kill romantasy trilogy taking the world by storm.]]>
author: Lauren Roberts
name: dani �
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/04/23
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
Adena and Paedyn have always been inseparable. Fate brought them together when they were young, but friendship ensured they would always protect each other and the home they built in the slums of Loot. But now Paedyn—an Ordinary—has been selected for the Purging Trials, which means almost certain death.
Now alone in Loot, Adena must fend for herself. After attempting to steal, she's rescued by a mysterious man from the market. Mak's shadowy past and secretive power set him apart from the other low-level Elites of Loot. And as the pair team up to see their loved ones before the Trials, the quest tests their loyalty, their love, and their lives.]]>
author: Lauren Roberts
name: dani �
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/04/23
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
Isla Crown has secured the love of two powerful rulers and broken the curses that plagued the six realms for centuries, but few know the true origins of her powers.
Now, in the wake of a crushing betrayal, Isla finds herself struggling to win respect as the newly crowned leader of two separate realms. Worse, her fellow rulers haven’t ceded victory quietly, and there are others in Isla’s midst who don’t believe her ascent to power was earned.
As certain death races toward Lightlark and secrets from the past begin to unravel, Isla must weigh her responsibility to her people against the whims of the most dangerous traitor of all: her heart.
Alex Aster’s intricate world expands after the riveting culmination of the Centennial games, delving more deeply into Isla’s memories of her past, as her future hurtles toward two possible fates.]]>
i already know alex is gonna rip our hearts out with this one.]]>
author: Alex Aster
name: dani �
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/01/07
date added: 2024/04/23
shelves:
review:
UPDATE: alex did indeed rip my heart out. rtc <3
i already know alex is gonna rip our hearts out with this one.
]]>
Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett's father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.
But this year, Scarlett's long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval's mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season's Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.
Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.
Welcome, welcome to Caraval . . . beware of getting swept too far away.]]>
author: Stephanie Garber
name: dani �
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2024/03/19
date added: 2024/04/23
shelves:
review:
rtc
]]>
author: Isabella Khalidi
name: dani �
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/04/14
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
“I see forever with you by my side. Because long after these scars have faded away to nothing, I'll still be standing beside you. You and I? We're eternal.�
Beware the dread curse of Three�
In the aftermath of the war between Pendrath and its neighbors, peace has finally come to Camelot. But for Morgan Le Fay and her friends, the calm is short-lived. A storm grows on the horizon. As a terrible evil that has been waiting hundreds of years begins to sweep through the land, Morgan and Draven must race to the aid of their allies, leaving their youngest and most vulnerable new family member in the care of trusted friends.
The sword, the spear, the grail’s mystery�
As the tide of war takes them across kingdoms and into greater peril, Morgan and Draven embark on a quest to destroy the three objects of untold power–the grail, the sword, and the spear. Together, the pair will find answers to questions lost in the mists of time. Answers to questions so terrible, they never even thought to ask.
Blood calls to blood, the dark shall rise,
Forged by the gods under sacred skies.
For the love between these bonded mates is not just an everlasting one forged in blood.
You might even call it divine.]]>
while i did like this book, i did not find myself enjoying it as much as i did the others (don’t take this negatively pls) but idk if it was a mix of hopes and expectations that didn’t really feel settled to me or what it was, but i was not as immersed in this book as the previous three.
i felt as thought there were a lot of plot points that kind of were just wanting to “have an ending to them� that kind of felt underdeveloped. as well as character deaths that felt like they didn’t necessarily have to happen, but also it makes sense in war times that people do die unexpectedly. there was also a lot of confusion to me where i feel like the context could have developed more as well.
while i haven’t read iron flame but have seen spoilers, it felt as though some of the intimate scenes have inspiration from scenes from that book, as well as the name “silver one� which i noticed back i think in book 2 or 3? which there’s nothing wrong with that and a lot of people probably love it, but at the same time i don’t particularly enjoy seeing those similarities ]]>
author: Briar Boleyn
name: dani �
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/04/07
date added: 2024/04/10
shelves: arc-reads, netgalley
review:
as many of you know, i LOVED the first 3 books in this series, the story of morgan and draven is one that caught my attention from the very beginning of the series and i really have enjoyed following their journey.
while i did like this book, i did not find myself enjoying it as much as i did the others (don’t take this negatively pls) but idk if it was a mix of hopes and expectations that didn’t really feel settled to me or what it was, but i was not as immersed in this book as the previous three.
i felt as thought there were a lot of plot points that kind of were just wanting to “have an ending to them� that kind of felt underdeveloped. as well as character deaths that felt like they didn’t necessarily have to happen, but also it makes sense in war times that people do die unexpectedly. there was also a lot of confusion to me where i feel like the context could have developed more as well.
while i haven’t read iron flame but have seen spoilers, it felt as though some of the intimate scenes have inspiration from scenes from that book, as well as the name “silver one� which i noticed back i think in book 2 or 3? which there’s nothing wrong with that and a lot of people probably love it, but at the same time i don’t particularly enjoy seeing those similarities
]]>
Now Salama volunteers at a hospital in Homs, helping the wounded who flood through the doors daily. Secretly, though, she is desperate to find a way out of her beloved country before her sister-in-law, Layla, gives birth. So desperate, that she has manifested a physical embodiment of her fear in the form of her imagined companion, Khawf, who haunts her every move in an effort to keep her safe.
But even with Khawf pressing her to leave, Salama is torn between her loyalty to her country and her conviction to survive. Salama must contend with bullets and bombs, military assaults, and her shifting sense of morality before she might finally breathe free. And when she crosses paths with the boy she was supposed to meet one fateful day, she starts to doubt her resolve in leaving home at all.
Soon, Salama must learn to see the events around her for what they truly are—not a war, but a revolution—and decide how she, too, will cry for Syria’s freedom.]]>
author: Zoulfa Katouh
name: dani �
average rating: 4.48
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/04/01
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
Everything in the Kingdom of Arrow is a lie.
Leith of Grey thought coming to this new land and volunteering to fight in the gladiator arena—vicious, bloodthirsty tournaments where only the strongest survive—would earn him enough gold to save his dying sister. He thought there was nothing left to lose.
He was wrong—and they took everything. His hope. His freedom. His very humanity.
All Leith has left is his battle-scarred body, fueled by rage and hardened from years of fighting for the right to live another day.
Then Leith meets Maeve, an elven royal who is everything he despises. Everything he should hate. Until the alluring princess offers him the one thing he needs most: a chance to win the coveted title of Bloodguard—and his freedom.
But in a kingdom built on secrets and lies, hope doesn’t come cheap.
Nor will his ultimate revenge…]]>
UPDATE #3: delayed again until june.. not quite sure why
UPDATE #2: my preorder got pushed back to april delivery so i think release got pushed again?? � amazon shows april 16th now!
UPDATE: the fact we aren’t getting this book until march now is killing me. i’m so so interested in reading this since it’s from the male’s pov ]]>
author: Cecy Robson
name: dani �
average rating: 3.57
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/03/30
shelves: to-read
review:
UPDATE #4: delayed yet again until october.. was so excited to read this but with it continuing to get delayed idk anymore
UPDATE #3: delayed again until june.. not quite sure why
UPDATE #2: my preorder got pushed back to april delivery so i think release got pushed again?? � amazon shows april 16th now!
UPDATE: the fact we aren’t getting this book until march now is killing me. i’m so so interested in reading this since it’s from the male’s pov
]]>
When House Atreides is betrayed, the destruction of Paul’s family will set the boy on a journey toward a destiny greater than he could ever have imagined. And as he evolves into the mysterious man known as Muad’Dib, he will bring to fruition humankind’s most ancient and unattainable dream.]]>
author: Frank Herbert
name: dani �
average rating: 4.33
book published: 1965
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/03/18
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
And a deadly game that could break them forever.
Duna's whole life was a lie. A clever manipulation of her memories by the one person that she should have been able to trust. He claims that it was the only way to keep her safe, but Fate always has a way of catching up. Now, Duna's path has brought her back to the one place where it all began, the Forgotten Kingdom - her home.
An ancient evil stirs, once more. A single tip of the scales and it will be released from its cage into the human realms, where nothing will be able to stop its total destruction of the mortal world. Nothing - but a secret prophecy long foretold on the eve of battle.
When rumors of war reach Duna, she finds herself facing her biggest regret, where she will do anything to protect the man of her heart. Even become his greatest enemy.
When lives are at stake, can true love ever survive?
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
This book contains an intense slow-burn dark romance, high spice and angst, with forced proximity, one bed, and an over-the-top morally gray shadow wielding MMC. It is for mature audiences only due to strong language, scenes of violence and death, and explicit adult content. 18+ recommended.
The Sands of Titans is book 3 in the Forgotten Kingdom Chronicles and CANNOT be read as a standalone. Make sure to read The Snows of Nissa (book 1) and The Storms of Fury (book 2) before starting.]]>
this review will not be spoiler free! this is book three in the series, so i definitely recommend checking out the first two books prior to reading this one since they directly follow the same storyline :)
“just know this, i would rather live a single moment with you by my side than an eternity without you in it.�
the sands of titans follows duna damaris, as she uncovers secrets about her past that were hidden from her for most of her life. she learns where her origins are, despite it coming as a major shock to her system.
it has been one year since duna has seen her lost love, cathal ragnar. the two mourn the loss of one another through their respective chapters in the story, and are eventually reconnected when duna returns once again.
the two struggle to come to terms with their feelings, feeling more hatred towards one another than anything else. because let’s be real, talking through so many emotions at once can be REALLY difficult especially when there’s been so much time that has passed.
upon reconnecting, cathal comes to a major realization. the pair are eternally bonded, because they’re mates. ]]>
author: Isabella Khalidi
name: dani �
average rating: 4.15
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/02/26
date added: 2024/02/26
shelves: arc-reads
review:
i am at a loss for words.
this review will not be spoiler free! this is book three in the series, so i definitely recommend checking out the first two books prior to reading this one since they directly follow the same storyline :)
“just know this, i would rather live a single moment with you by my side than an eternity without you in it.�
the sands of titans follows duna damaris, as she uncovers secrets about her past that were hidden from her for most of her life. she learns where her origins are, despite it coming as a major shock to her system.
it has been one year since duna has seen her lost love, cathal ragnar. the two mourn the loss of one another through their respective chapters in the story, and are eventually reconnected when duna returns once again.
the two struggle to come to terms with their feelings, feeling more hatred towards one another than anything else. because let’s be real, talking through so many emotions at once can be REALLY difficult especially when there’s been so much time that has passed.
upon reconnecting, cathal comes to a major realization. the pair are eternally bonded, because they’re mates.
]]>
Snowflakes are falling.
Invitations are arriving.
And holiday magic is swirling in the capital city of the Meridian Empire.
It’s Great Holiday Eve Eve. Scarlett Dragna is planning a spectacular Holiday celebration for the city. Donatella is searching for the perfect gift. Julian is looking ridiculously handsome in green. And Legend . . .
Well, sadly Legend is not fond of the Great Holiday. Tella is hoping her perfect gift will change his mind. Unfortunately, she hasn’t found this perfect gift just yet. But it is Great Holiday Eve Eve . . . surely there’s some holiday magic swirling around.
Welcome, welcome back to the world of Caraval, where even holidays are not as they seem.
Set after Stephanie Garber's #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling Caraval series, this delightful novella will take readers on the ultimate holiday adventure full of clockwork boys, poisoned candy, impish snow globes, merriment, and―if Tella gets her way―love.
Gorgeously illustrated by Rosie Thorns, SPECTACULAR is the perfect edition for collectors, readers, dreamers, and lovers of holiday magic.]]>
author: Stephanie Garber
name: dani �
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/01/09
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
Morgan Pendragon has another name now: Morgan Le Fay. As her true heritage slowly emerges from the mists of the past, Morgan renounces one possible future as the new ruler of the fierce Siabra fae and the wife of the Prince of Claws and vanishes through a portal–returning to Camelot and the Rose Court where her friends and younger brother lie in mortal peril from Arthur's cruel wiles.
But back in the Court of Claws, Kairos Draven won't allow his beloved to disappear from his life so easily. His bond with Morgan goes beyond blood, love, life, and even time itself and neither one of them can relinquish its power or its pull.
Yet Morgan is no ordinary woman. Not only is she beginning to manifest remarkable abilities, but the powers of the gods themselves run through her veins, bestowing her with an unimaginable power and an unthinkable claim over all of Aercanum and beyond...
A claim which some will stop at nothing to put a halt to.]]>
let me just begin by saying, i absolutely love this series and the world that briar has created, the main characters are lovely and surprise, there’s a BOOK FOUR coming in 2024!!]]>
author: Briar Boleyn
name: dani �
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2023/11/06
date added: 2023/12/09
shelves: arc-reads, netgalley
review:
”i’ve waited my entire lifetime for morgan,� i said simply. “i’ll go after her even if she doesn’t want me. even if she runs in the opposite direction. i’ll follow her to the ends of aercanum, and i’ll never stop.�
let me just begin by saying, i absolutely love this series and the world that briar has created, the main characters are lovely and surprise, there’s a BOOK FOUR coming in 2024!!
]]>
The odds are against him. He's been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined -- every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favor or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute... and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.]]>
author: Suzanne Collins
name: dani �
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/12/06
shelves: to-read
review:
update: getting the book soon!! BUT i watched the movie a second time and im even more in love with it than i was the first time (if that’s even possible)
]]>
A bounty to collect.
Until temptations of the flesh scorched the line between love and hate.
Leni:
I was the villain in stilettos and red lips.
Trained in the art of seduction and death.
As a clinical psychologist, I was an expert in the intricacies of the mind.
Yet my own was a labyrinth of suppressed traumas, ghosts, and untapped grief.
Faced with betrayal, I never expected to find salvation at the other end of my barrel—in someone who also desired my death.
He was a man without a past.
Hands drenched in the blood of those before me.
Yet his touch was the spark my heart needed to feel.
Where Silas would set the world on fire, I would walk through the flames.]]>
leni and silas both respectively get paid to carry out hits on people. when leni receives a hit on silas, her world turns upside down as for the first time in her life, she struggles with making the kill.
silas hayes is charismatic and flirty, and could care less that leni wants to kill him� he still wants her to become his. throughout the story, the pair grapples with people out to kill them� and this brings them closer to one another.
the two of them are very sexual there's no doubt about that, but they also have such perfect chemistry with one another, and they have their wholesome moments too which i loved so much. their bonding over time, learning each other's stories and helping each other through everything was so precious to me <3
and that ENDING AND EPILOGUE??? OMG.
also, so excited for kai's book next!! ]]>
author: Elle Maldonado
name: dani �
average rating: 3.81
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2023/11/26
date added: 2023/12/01
shelves: arc-reads
review:
leni and silas are THAT COUPLE, they’re hot, flirty, and everything i could’ve hoped for!! like i loved derek and eva so much don’t get me wrong, but silas and leni’s story was simply outstanding.
leni and silas both respectively get paid to carry out hits on people. when leni receives a hit on silas, her world turns upside down as for the first time in her life, she struggles with making the kill.
silas hayes is charismatic and flirty, and could care less that leni wants to kill him� he still wants her to become his. throughout the story, the pair grapples with people out to kill them� and this brings them closer to one another.
the two of them are very sexual there's no doubt about that, but they also have such perfect chemistry with one another, and they have their wholesome moments too which i loved so much. their bonding over time, learning each other's stories and helping each other through everything was so precious to me <3
and that ENDING AND EPILOGUE??? OMG.
also, so excited for kai's book next!!
]]>
Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again...
Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was�.
Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.]]>
author: Ali Hazelwood
name: dani �
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/11/27
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
Alizeh, the heir to the Jinn throne, is destined to free her people from the half-lives they’ve been forced to live under human rule. When Kamran, the heir to the human throne, falls in love with her, he’s forced to question everything he’s been taught about Jinn.
Kamran’s grandfather lays dead at the hand of Cyrus, ruler of the neighboring kingdom of Tulan. Cyrus has stolen Alizeh away to his homeland and plans to marry her there, giving her everything she needs to become the Jinn queen—and when she assumes the throne he will have fulfilled his own bargain with the devil.
Alizeh wants nothing to do with Cyrus’s deal or the devil. But without a way to escape Tulan, and with the fulfillment of her own destiny tantalizingly close, she’ll have to decide whether she can set aside her emotions to become the queen her people need.
Kamran, meanwhile, is picking up the pieces in Ardunia. Facing betrayal at every turn, all he knows is that he must go to Tulan to avenge his grandfather. He can only hope that Alizeh will be waiting for him there—and that she hasn’t yet become the queen of Tulan.
Full of explosive magic, searing romance, and heartbreaking betrayal, this breathtaking sequel to This Woven Kingdom is from the award-winning and bestselling author of the Shatter Me series and is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Sabaa Tahir, and Tomi Adeyemi.]]>
author: Tahereh Mafi
name: dani �
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/11/27
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
I owed my brother my life. My loyalty.
He’d saved me from pain and lifelong scars more times than I could count, taking the brunt of the demons haunting me.
When the time came to return the favor and settle a debt, I never imagined my sacrifice would
leave me bound in marriage to a woman who would consume my heart.
Amalia Montesinos.
I fell for her fire. Her rage.
The soft pieces of her very few knew.
Loving her was never part of the contract.
My purpose was clear—ensure she inherited her empire, then go our separate ways.
But I had lived at the edge of death for so long that I’d forgotten what it felt like to be alive.
Until her.
My wife.
I’d be damned if I ever let her go.]]>
author: Elle Maldonado
name: dani �
average rating: 3.87
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/11/25
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
Nolan's loss to an unknown rook-ie shocks everyone—especially Mallory. What's even more confusing? His desire to cross pawns again. What kind of gambit is Nolan playing? The smart move would be to walk away. Resign. Game over. But Mallory's victory opens the door to sorely needed cash prizes and, despite everything, she can't help feeling drawn to the enigmatic strategist....
As she rockets up the ranks, Mallory struggles to keep her family safely separated from the game that wrecked it in the first place. And as her love for the sport she so desperately wanted to hate begins to rekindle, Mallory quickly realizes that the games aren't only on the board, the spotlight is hotter than she imagined, and the competition can be fierce(-ly attractive. And intelligent...and infuriating...)]]>
author: Ali Hazelwood
name: dani �
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/11/10
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
Now 20 years later, Chloe is a psychologist in private practice in Baton Rouge and getting ready for her wedding. She finally has a fragile grasp on the happiness she’s worked so hard to get. Sometimes, though, she feels as out of control of her own life as the troubled teens who are her patients. And then a local teenage girl goes missing, and then another, and that terrifying summer comes crashing back. Is she paranoid, and seeing parallels that aren't really there, or for the second time in her life, is she about to unmask a killer?
In a debut novel that has already been optioned for a limited series by actress Emma Stone and sold to a dozen countries around the world, Stacy Willingham has created an unforgettable character in a spellbinding thriller that will appeal equally to fans of Gillian Flynn and Karin Slaughter.]]>
� chloe davis is a very unreliable narrator, simply from the fact that she is a psychologist who claims she “can take care of herself� and “doesn’t need help� when she clearly has a problem that she should be able to realize with her background in the medical field. it just frustrates me idk. while i didn’t question her thought process throughout the book, that did have me questioning her as a person!
anywayssss, chloe davis has had a rough past. her father has been in jail, found to be the serial killer in her once quiet community. when the killings being to happen again, chloe relies on what she knows about her past to attempt to solve these murders happening in the present.
reasonably so, she isn’t very trusting of others so i truly felt her shock finding out all of the things that she did. i really enjoyed how the story kept moving forward and didn’t really take “pauses� over time to info-dump a lot.
one of the main things that threw me off is how literally NO ONE suspected cooper the WHOLE TIME LIKE WDYM??? i thought he was sus from the beginning but apparently no one else did ]]>
author: Stacy Willingham
name: dani �
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2023/11/05
date added: 2023/11/06
shelves:
review:
while this kept me really interested in the story, i was also pretty frustrated with this at the same time.
� chloe davis is a very unreliable narrator, simply from the fact that she is a psychologist who claims she “can take care of herself� and “doesn’t need help� when she clearly has a problem that she should be able to realize with her background in the medical field. it just frustrates me idk. while i didn’t question her thought process throughout the book, that did have me questioning her as a person!
anywayssss, chloe davis has had a rough past. her father has been in jail, found to be the serial killer in her once quiet community. when the killings being to happen again, chloe relies on what she knows about her past to attempt to solve these murders happening in the present.
reasonably so, she isn’t very trusting of others so i truly felt her shock finding out all of the things that she did. i really enjoyed how the story kept moving forward and didn’t really take “pauses� over time to info-dump a lot.
one of the main things that threw me off is how literally NO ONE suspected cooper the WHOLE TIME LIKE WDYM??? i thought he was sus from the beginning but apparently no one else did
]]>
If you are looking for a dark, bloody and gritty fantasy novel, "Curse of the fallen city" by A.K. Lockwood is just for you. This book is my debut, originally submitted to several Polish publishers, but the terms of collaboration proposed to me were not suitable, so I decided to publish this novel independently, trying to maintain the best quality of the book.
The story is set in a world full of wars and conflicts, where every decision has its consequences. However, despite the heavy atmosphere, reading this novel is „pure pleasure, according to the editors from publishing houses�. The novel is full of action, descriptions of battles, and side plots. The pace of the action is rapid, and the adventure is epic.
The main character finds himself in the midst of a centuries-old conflict between mysterious organizations. As you travel with him through dangerous places and meet his unexpected allies, you delve into an intriguing world where every decision has consequences. This book will completely captivate you, and you won't be able to put it down until the very end. The action is fast-paced, and the whole story is presented in a truly cinematic style.
It is a mix of fantasy/action/adventure genres with a strong emphasis on action.
Readers who enjoy geopolitics in their books will also find something for themselves. This thread is presented in a simple and understandable way, making it easy for even novice readers to identify with it.
One of the biggest strengths of this novel is also the dynamic and exciting fight scenes that will not leave you indifferent. I didn't spare the characters and tried to lead the reader through brutal clashes that will certainly be remembered for a long time.
Short story of the
The Twenty-Year War brought the old continent to ruin. Kingdoms, ravaged by poverty and mistrust towards their neighbors, closed themselves behind an iron curtain, severing all diplomatic ties. Five years after the war, we find ourselves in the city of Braga, once a trading center of the Merkucjan kingdom. There, we meet Angus, a former officer of an elite scouting unit, who, trying to find his place in the new reality, uses the skills acquired in the army to make ends meet by carrying out small jobs for the city's inhabitants. He does not expect that the next job offer will forever change his life, entangling him in the whirlwind of mysterious conspiracies and placing him at the very center of a hidden conflict, in which secretive organizations have been fighting each other for centuries. How will he find his way in this new situation?
Please support the debut author by leaving a comment and rating.
Every vote counts for us!
Contact the [email protected]
If you want to stay up to date with the author's work, be sure to follow his Facebook
]]>
this book wasn’t awful, but also wasn’t really for me.
i’m not sure if it was the translation from the original language to english that was throwing me off or what, but a lot of the dialogue was certainly confusing because of it. sometimes i would be reading and simply be like “what??� because it got so hard to understand what the real dialogue was supposed to say. i think that a better translation would have made this better at least in some ways.
let me just say, i do think the story has potential to go somewhere but at the same time it feels like it falls flat a lot or some of the things that happen are underdeveloped and predictable. although, i was a little shocked by the twist at the end i will say that!
because of the above, there weren’t really many takeaways of the storyline for me other than angus, the main character is supposed to be investigating some suspicious activity going on, and ends up being the subject of betrayal by someone he thought was a friend. he meets a girl, flavia, who is supposed to be the love interest i believe but there isn’t a sole focus on the romance between them building� it just kinda happens quickly rather than developing first.
]]>
author: A.K. Lockwood
name: dani �
average rating: 4.05
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2023/10/26
date added: 2023/10/26
shelves: arc-reads, netgalley
review:
thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
this book wasn’t awful, but also wasn’t really for me.
i’m not sure if it was the translation from the original language to english that was throwing me off or what, but a lot of the dialogue was certainly confusing because of it. sometimes i would be reading and simply be like “what??� because it got so hard to understand what the real dialogue was supposed to say. i think that a better translation would have made this better at least in some ways.
let me just say, i do think the story has potential to go somewhere but at the same time it feels like it falls flat a lot or some of the things that happen are underdeveloped and predictable. although, i was a little shocked by the twist at the end i will say that!
because of the above, there weren’t really many takeaways of the storyline for me other than angus, the main character is supposed to be investigating some suspicious activity going on, and ends up being the subject of betrayal by someone he thought was a friend. he meets a girl, flavia, who is supposed to be the love interest i believe but there isn’t a sole focus on the romance between them building� it just kinda happens quickly rather than developing first.
]]>
If I ever caught on fire, Dahlia Muñoz would fan the flames with a smile.
So, when she returns to Lake Wisteria, I fully intend to avoid the interior designer.
At least until my meddling mother exploits my savior complex.
The faster I help Dahlia find her creative spark, the sooner she will leave town.
But while I was busy getting rid of Dahlia, I overlooked one potential issue.
What happens if I want her to stay?
Dahlia
People say the devil has many faces, but I know only one.
Julian Lopez—my childhood rival and family frenemy.
I vow to steer clear of him while recovering from my broken engagement, but then the billionaire makes an irresistible offer.
Renovate a historic house together and triple our profits.
Our temporary truce becomes compromised as we face years� worth of denied attraction and mixed emotions.
Giving into our desire is inevitable…but falling in love?
That isn’t part of the plan.
Love Redesigned is a steamy, small town romance about two family friends-turned-childhood rivals. It is the first book in the standalone Lakefront Billionaires series and has a happy ending.]]>
author: Lauren Asher
name: dani �
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/10/26
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
An outcast her entire life, Corvina Clemm is left adrift after losing her mother. When she receives the admission letter from the mysterious University of Verenmore, she accepts it as a sign from the universe. The last thing she expects though is an old, secluded castle on top of a mountain riddled with secrets, deceit, and death.
An enigma his entire life, Vad Deverell likes being a closed book but knowing exactly everything that happens in the university. A part-time professor working on his thesis, Vad has been around long enough to know the dangers the castle possesses. And he knows the moment his path crosses with Corvina, she's dangerous to everything that he is.
They shouldn't have caught each other's eye. They cannot be. But a chill-inducing century-old mystery forces them to collide. People have disappeared every five years over the past century, Corvina is getting clues to unraveling it all, and Vad needs to keep an eye on her.
And so begins a tale of the mysterious, the morbid, the macabre, and a deep love that blossoms in the unlikeliest of places.]]>
author: RuNyx
name: dani �
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/10/26
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
author: Sophie Lark
name: dani �
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/10/26
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
Galaxy "Alex" Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale's freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug-dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. In fact, by age twenty, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she's thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world's most prestigious universities on a full ride. What's the catch, and why her?
Still searching for answers, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale's secret societies. Their eight windowless "tombs" are the well-known haunts of the rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street's biggest players. But their occult activities are more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive. They tamper with forbidden magic. They raise the dead. And, sometimes, they prey on the living.
Ninth House is the long-awaited adult debut by the beloved author of Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows. Leigh Bardugo will take her place alongside Lev Grossman and Deborah Harkness as one of the finest practitioners of literary fantasy writing today.]]>
author: Leigh Bardugo
name: dani �
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/10/26
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
The Cults that worship the dragons lost to history have renewed their determination to bring back their lost gods and urge on the coming apocalypse. Fresh from danger, the Misfits have no choice but to stand and fight. The soldiers of Gorvayne have laid siege and have their beloved city surrounded. It doesn't take them long to realize that the war on the port city is the start of many worries, for evil does not sleep.
Once again, the Misfits are forced into a race against time. They've stopped the cults before, but the question remains:
Will they be able to stop them again?
The Whispered Tales series is perfect for fans of Six of Crows, Lord of the Rings, Skyrim, and Dungeons & Dragons]]>
a waltz through flames begins essentially directly after the tidings of misfits ends. so, you definitely want to read that one first before starting this, otherwise you’ll be lost
the story continues to follow linda, intoh, rooster, helai, and cassius, BUT there’s so much more character details in their chapters and their stories really shine throughout the entire book! i really enjoyed getting to know where these characters come from and their struggles throughout life more in this book, and they’re all so lovable to me!! (except intoh for me, i’m iffy about him still)
this story is FULL of action and chaos, as the misfits work to decipher the secrets behind their marks in a new setting, leaving volendam behind for the time being.
the author does a wonderful job of setting the scene and keeping the story and dialogue interesting, especially considering how this novel still follows 5 povs!! jordan executes all the povs perfectly, and the story is such a wild ride that you won’t want to miss!
huge thank you for the arc in exchange for an honest review<3 ]]>
author: Jordan Dugdale
name: dani �
average rating: 4.47
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2023/10/20
date added: 2023/10/21
shelves: arc-reads
review:
this book was AMAZING!!
a waltz through flames begins essentially directly after the tidings of misfits ends. so, you definitely want to read that one first before starting this, otherwise you’ll be lost
the story continues to follow linda, intoh, rooster, helai, and cassius, BUT there’s so much more character details in their chapters and their stories really shine throughout the entire book! i really enjoyed getting to know where these characters come from and their struggles throughout life more in this book, and they’re all so lovable to me!! (except intoh for me, i’m iffy about him still)
this story is FULL of action and chaos, as the misfits work to decipher the secrets behind their marks in a new setting, leaving volendam behind for the time being.
the author does a wonderful job of setting the scene and keeping the story and dialogue interesting, especially considering how this novel still follows 5 povs!! jordan executes all the povs perfectly, and the story is such a wild ride that you won’t want to miss!
huge thank you for the arc in exchange for an honest review<3
]]>
Cassie Greenberg loves being an artist, but it’s a tough way to make a living. On the brink of eviction, she’s desperate when she finds a too-good-to-be-true apartment in a beautiful Chicago neighborhood. Cassie knows there has to be a catch—only someone with a secret to hide would rent out a room for that price.
Of course, her new roommate Frederick J. Fitzwilliam is far from normal. He sleeps all day, is out at night on business, and talks like he walked out of a regency romance novel. He also leaves Cassie heart-melting notes around the apartment, cares about her art, and asks about her day. And he doesn’t look half bad shirtless, on the rare occasions they’re both home and awake. But when Cassie finds bags of blood in the fridge that definitely weren’t there earlier, Frederick has to come clean...
Cassie’s sexy new roommate is a vampire. And he has a proposition for her.]]>
author: Jenna Levine
name: dani �
average rating: 3.46
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/10/20
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
All Talasyn has ever known is the Hurricane Wars. Growing up an orphan in a nation under siege by the ruthless Night Emperor, Talasyn has found her family among the soldiers who fight for freedom. But she is hiding a deadly secret: light magic courses through her veins, a blazing power believed to have been wiped out years ago that can cut through the Night Empire's shadows.
Prince Alaric, the emperor's only son and heir, has been forged into a weapon by his father. Tasked with obliterating any threats to the Night Empire's rule with the strength of his armies and mighty Shadow magic, Alaric has never been bested. That is until he sees Talasyn burning brightly on the battlefield with the magic that killed his grandfather, turned his father into a monster, and ignited the Hurricane Wars. In a clash of light and dark, their powers merge and create a force the likes of which has never been seen.
Talasyn and Alaric both know this war can only end with them. But a greater threat is coming, and the strange new magic they can create together could be the only way to overcome it. Thrust into an uneasy alliance, they will confront the secrets at the heart of the war and find, in each other, a searing passion--one that could save their world...or destroy it.
An exquisite fantasy brimming with unforgettable characters, sizzling enemies-to-lovers romance, and richly drawn worlds, The Hurricane Wars marks the breathtaking debut of an extraordinary new writer.]]>
author: Thea Guanzon
name: dani �
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/10/15
shelves: to-read
review:
update: i caved and bought it!
going to read this eventually because i’ve heard it’s inspired by reylo
]]>
The Diamond
Death walks alongside me,
But the reaper is no match for me.
I'm trapped in a world full of monsters dressed as men, and those who aren't as they seem.
They won't keep me forever.
I no longer recognize the person I've become,
And I'm fighting to find my way back to the beast who hunts me in the night.
They call me a diamond,
But they've only created an angel of death.
The Hunter
I was born a predator,
With ruthlessness ingrained in my bones.
When what's mine is stolen from me in the night,
Like a diamond hidden within a fortress,
I find that I can no longer contain the beast.
Blood will paint the ground as I tear apart this world to find her.
And bring her back to where she belongs.
No one will escape my wrath,
Especially not those who have betrayed me.
Warning: This is the second and final installment to the Duet. You must read Haunting Adeline first.]]>
author: H.D. Carlton
name: dani �
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/10/15
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
A vampire marked by a shadow woman possessing his blood.
A thief with a price on her head for attempts to assassinate the sultan of Shoma.
A man who lost his name.
And two lizardfolk. One seeks the knowledge of immortality. The other seeks a life that is their own.
When the ground opens up and sends them underground, the five strangers land inside a cavern overrun by rakken � grotesque, mutated rats worshiping a god whose return would bring about the end of days. As they fight their way to the surface, they’re each branded with dark magic that connects them. Now a sudden urge pulls them to Volendam, a city of many secrets.
But when they arrive, will they find a cure for their branded curse or trigger the awakening of the dragons of Vilanthris?]]>
the tidings of misfits consists of FIVE different character povs.. yes i said five. and let me tell you, the author writes each character beautifully and creates such a complex world that will keep you interested as it moves from character to character and gives insight to their stories!
i personally thought the five povs was going to be a bit much at first, but i really ended up liking it and it is written so well that i didn’t find myself getting lost during the pov switches.
this story follows intoh, cassius, rooster, helai, and linda. this group will eventually band together in search of a town called volendam, which holds many mysteries that the misfits attempt to uncover. volendam is full of secrets, and *small spoiler* continues to have secrets even at the end of the book.
my favorite character was definitely cassius, the vampire of the group, but i kept calling him cassian for the longest time just because i’m so used to acotar and the characters from that world ]]>
author: Jordan Dugdale
name: dani �
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2023/10/11
date added: 2023/10/12
shelves: arc-reads
review:
despite me taking literally FOREVER to read this, i really ended up enjoying this world and the characters in it!
the tidings of misfits consists of FIVE different character povs.. yes i said five. and let me tell you, the author writes each character beautifully and creates such a complex world that will keep you interested as it moves from character to character and gives insight to their stories!
i personally thought the five povs was going to be a bit much at first, but i really ended up liking it and it is written so well that i didn’t find myself getting lost during the pov switches.
this story follows intoh, cassius, rooster, helai, and linda. this group will eventually band together in search of a town called volendam, which holds many mysteries that the misfits attempt to uncover. volendam is full of secrets, and *small spoiler* continues to have secrets even at the end of the book.
my favorite character was definitely cassius, the vampire of the group, but i kept calling him cassian for the longest time just because i’m so used to acotar and the characters from that world
]]>
They took too much.
Left too little.
I had nothing to lose...until him.
**
I didn't expect him.
I didn't want to fall in love.
But I can't let him go.
Logan Bennett makes the world a safer place.
He's brilliant.
He's a hero.
He locks away the sick and depraved.
But while he's saving lives, I'm taking them. Collecting the debts that are owed to me.
Ten years ago, they took from me. They left me for dead.
They should have made sure I stayed dead.
Now I'm taking from them.
One name at a time.
I've trained for too long.
I've been patient.
I can't stop now.
Revenge is best served cold...
They never see me coming, until I paint their walls red.
Logan doesn't know how they hurt me. He doesn't know about the screams they ignored. He doesn't know how twisted that town really is.
He just knows people are dying.
He doesn't know he's in love with their killer.
No one suspects a dead girl.
And Logan doesn't suspect the girl in his bed.
They're looking for a monster.
Not a girl who loves red.
Not a girl in love.
I'm a faceless nightmare.
At least until I tell them the story they've pretended never happened.
But in the end, will Logan choose them? Or will we watch them burn together?
**Graphic**Adult language**Some triggers could be too much for the easily disturbed reader**Sexual content**Fucked up moral compass; read at your own risk.]]>
author: S.T. Abby
name: dani �
average rating: 4.62
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/10/02
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
author: Ana Huang
name: dani �
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/10/01
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
The choice to take it must be yours alone."
On the barren desert world of Tatooine, young Anakin Skywalker toils by day and dreams by night . . . of traveling the stars to worlds he's only heard of in stories. When Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi, cross paths with Anakin, it marks the beginning of the drama that will become legend. Courageous to the point of recklessness, Anakin comes of age in a time of great upheaval. The attempted assassination of Senator Padme Amidala thrusts the Republic close to the edge of disaster-and brings Anakin and Padme into a secret romance as intense as it is forbidden.
As combat escalates across the galaxy, the stage is set for an explosive endgame. Tormented by unspeakable visions, Anakin edges closer to the brink of a decision with profound ramifications. It remains only for Darth Sidious to strike the final staggering blow against the Republic-and to ordain a fearsome new Sith Lord: Darth Vader.
THE PHANTOM MENACE
by Terry Brooks, based on the story and screenplay by George Lucas
ATTACK OF THE CLONES
by R. A. Salvatore, from a story by George Lucas and a screenplay by George Lucas and Jonathan Hales
REVENGE OF THE SITH
by Matthew Stover, based on the story and screenplay by George Lucas]]>
author: Terry Brooks
name: dani �
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2006
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/09/24
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
She thought she had gained her freedom, only to be thrown back into another gilded cage. Locked away in the harem of her captor, Duna must hide her identity as a dangerous plan unravels right before her very eyes, one that if discovered could threaten the very foundation of the ancient Three Kingdoms.
He let her go once, she will not escape him a second time.
Her life hangs in the air as she makes a deal with a merciless ruler - one word from his beguiling lips and the monster from her nightmares will come for her. Her sanity and willpower are tested when the dark, enigmatic man of her past returns with a lethal determination - he will have his fill of her, no matter the cost.
The Storms of Fury is the second novel in an adult dark fantasy series the Forgotten Kingdom Chronicles and is not meant to be read as a standalone. It contains strong language, explicit adult scenes, scenes of violence and death. It is intended for mature audiences only.]]>
WOW. let me just tell you, i loved the snows of nissa and this sequel, the storms of fury did NOT disappoint!
the storms of fury begins directly after the snows of nissa ends, so if you haven’t read tson, do that first then come back to tsof to understand what is happening better!
the action and plot of this book begins from the very first page. duna is once again, a prisoner, at the mercy of someone else. duna would do absolutely anything to rid herself of her current circumstances. little did she know, her current situation would be a lot more complicated than she originally believed it to be.
struggling to keep from lashing out, cathal searches far and wide in order to find duna again. he would burn the world down if it meant he could one day find her and finally be hers once and for all.
little did duna know, their relationship would be a lot more complex than she ever thought to be possible. she would do anything to keep him safe. to keep him alive.
the storms of fury has a wonderful plot with tons of action, foreshadowing, and a romance full of spice! if you’re debating whether or not to read this series, i have a few words for you: the mmc wields shadows! that should be reason enough]]>
author: Isabella Khalidi
name: dani �
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2023/09/11
date added: 2023/09/12
shelves:
review:
”you will never be free of me, even when death takes you.� “i will follow you into the very pits of the underworld and drag you back into the land of the living if that is what it takes to have you by my side until the end of time.�
WOW. let me just tell you, i loved the snows of nissa and this sequel, the storms of fury did NOT disappoint!
the storms of fury begins directly after the snows of nissa ends, so if you haven’t read tson, do that first then come back to tsof to understand what is happening better!
the action and plot of this book begins from the very first page. duna is once again, a prisoner, at the mercy of someone else. duna would do absolutely anything to rid herself of her current circumstances. little did she know, her current situation would be a lot more complicated than she originally believed it to be.
struggling to keep from lashing out, cathal searches far and wide in order to find duna again. he would burn the world down if it meant he could one day find her and finally be hers once and for all.
little did duna know, their relationship would be a lot more complex than she ever thought to be possible. she would do anything to keep him safe. to keep him alive.
the storms of fury has a wonderful plot with tons of action, foreshadowing, and a romance full of spice! if you’re debating whether or not to read this series, i have a few words for you: the mmc wields shadows! that should be reason enough
]]>
For those of you who don't like to add titles you haven't actually 'read', you can place 2023 on Ĺ·±¦ÓéŔÖ on an 'exclusive' shelf. Exclusive shelves don't have to be listed under 'to read', 'currently reading' or 'read'. To create one, go to 'edit bookshelves' on your 'My Books' page, create a shelf name such as 'review-of-the year' and tick the 'exclusive' box. Your previous and future 'reviews of the year' can be collected together on this dedicated shelf.
Concept created by Fionnuala Lirsdottir.
Description: Fionnuala Lirsdottir
Cover art: Paul Cézanne, Bibémus Quarry, c.1895
Cover choice and graphics by Jayson]]>
goal:
]]>
author: Various
name: dani �
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/09/11
shelves:
review:
2023 reads�
goal:
]]>
Stoic, broody, and arrogant, elite bodyguard Rhys Larsen has two rules: 1) Protect his clients at all costs 2) Do not become emotionally involved. Ever.
He has never once been tempted to break those rules...until her.
Bridget von Ascheberg. A princess with a stubborn streak that matches his own and a hidden fire that reduces his rules to ash. She's nothing he expected and everything he never knew he needed.
Day by day, inch by inch, she breaks down his defenses until he's faced with a truth he can no longer deny: he swore an oath to protect her, but all he wants is to ruin her. Take her.
Because she's his.
His princess.
His forbidden fruit.
His every depraved fantasy.
***
Regal, strong-willed, and bound by the chains of duty, Princess Bridget dreams of the freedom to live and love as she chooses.
But when her brother abdicates, she's suddenly faced with the prospect of a loveless, politically expedient marriage and a throne she never wanted.
And as she navigates the intricacies-and treacheries-of her new role, she must also hide her desire for a man she can't have.
Her bodyguard.
Her protector.
Her ultimate ruin.
Unexpected and forbidden, theirs is a love that could destroy a kingdom...and doom them both.
Do not become emotionally involved. Ever.]]>
i LOVED this book so much!! rhys and bridget have such an amazing story together, one that i’m so glad i got to experience for the first time.
bridget von ascheberg is the sweetest, most selfless girl ever and i love her so much <3 she grew so much as a character from the start of this book, and the way she overcame so many challenges in order to get her happy ending makes this book even better.
rhys. larsen. best bodyguard-turned-boyfriend ever!! i really love rhys� character development as he began to open up more and more with bridget and finally accept himself. the way he never imagined finding love and then realizing he’s found everything and more that he could ever want. YES :,)
i am so beyond excited that rhys and bridget got their happy ending together!! i mean, i knew they would but i can still be super ecstatic for them, right? and the bonus scene?! them getting a cat, LOVE. them as a couple and married is everything i ever needed in my life tbh ]]>
author: Ana Huang
name: dani �
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2023/05/25
date added: 2023/09/11
shelves:
review:
“i’m as much yours as you are mine, princess, and a law isn't keeping me away�
i LOVED this book so much!! rhys and bridget have such an amazing story together, one that i’m so glad i got to experience for the first time.
bridget von ascheberg is the sweetest, most selfless girl ever and i love her so much <3 she grew so much as a character from the start of this book, and the way she overcame so many challenges in order to get her happy ending makes this book even better.
rhys. larsen. best bodyguard-turned-boyfriend ever!! i really love rhys� character development as he began to open up more and more with bridget and finally accept himself. the way he never imagined finding love and then realizing he’s found everything and more that he could ever want. YES :,)
i am so beyond excited that rhys and bridget got their happy ending together!! i mean, i knew they would but i can still be super ecstatic for them, right? and the bonus scene?! them getting a cat, LOVE. them as a couple and married is everything i ever needed in my life tbh
]]>
The inspiration for the upcoming original series on Prime Video, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
The Return of the King is the third part of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic adventure The Lord of the Rings.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.
The Dark Lord has risen, and as he unleashes hordes of Orcs to conquer all Middle-earth, Frodo and Sam struggle deep into his realm in Mordor.
To defeat Sauron, the One Ring must be destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom. But the way is impossibly hard, and Frodo is weakening. The Ring corrupts all who bear it and Frodo’s time is running out.
Will Sam and Frodo succeed, or will the Dark Lord rule Middle-earth once more?]]>
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: dani �
average rating: 4.67
book published: 1955
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/09/10
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
The inspiration for the upcoming original series on Prime Video, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
The Two Towers is the second part of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic adventure The Lord of the Rings.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.
Frodo and his Companions of the Ring have been beset by danger during their quest to prevent the Ruling Ring from falling into the hands of the Dark Lord by destroying it in the Cracks of Doom. They have lost the wizard, Gandalf, in a battle in the Mines of Moria. And Boromir, seduced by the power of the Ring, tried to seize it by force. While Frodo and Sam made their escape, the rest of the company was attacked by Orcs. Now they continue the journey alone down the great River Anduin—alone, that is, save for the mysterious creeping figure that follows wherever they go.]]>
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: dani �
average rating: 4.60
book published: 1954
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/09/10
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit.
In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.]]>
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: dani �
average rating: 4.52
book published: 1954
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/09/10
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
Everything Morgan Pendragon knows and loves is gone as she wakes in the dangerous court of the Siabra. The man she was falling in love with is dead, and in his place is a man she barely knows. Surrounded by liars and knives in the dark, all Morgan wants to do is run the other way but Kairos Draven is determined to keep her by his side.
As Morgan and Draven's lives become even more irrevocably entwined, little do they know the sins of the past are coming for them both…]]>
thank you to netgalley for the arc!! <3
court of claws is book two in the blood of a fae series! this book begins shortly after book one ends. except, morgan pendragon wakes up and finds herself in a whole new place.
this place, the court of umbral flames, is the home of the siabra people. better know as, draven’s home court. morgan awakens alone in a room, and finds herself lost as to her current situation. she learns that draven is the prince of claws, and is holding her captive in his suite for the moment while attempting to build an image that the two are romantically involved with one another.
along the way, morgan meets a few side characters, one of them being a young boy named beks� who helps her to escape captivity for a moment and explore within the palace’s hidden tunnels!
the main focus of this story is the three trials for the throne. currently, the throne is unoccupied due to some issues within draven’s past with his family. so, volunteers must attempt to ascend to power by winning these challenges. only one can become the emperor/empress though!
along the way, morgan and draven face many challenges within the court and not only that, but also with one another and trying to accept their fates.
this book was AMAZING! the beginning is a little slow i’ll admit, and draven was feeling kind of tamlin-esque at the start but then realizing what was really happening made the whole situation make so much more sense. i really loved seeing more draven and his history, since book one didn’t allow us much insight into his character.
i did get really frustrated with morgan most of the time, from her continuing nativity to being downright nasty towards draven. like i understand her, i do, but i also believe she overreacts most of the time. i’m excited to see where her character goes in book three, as she’s becoming a stronger person and more independent than ever before!
there were twists and turns that i never would have expected, and these characters really have a special place with me. draven and morgan together has to be my favorite part of this though, they’re simply too cute and i hope for them to continue their journey together in book three.
so excited to read book three and get answers after how this book ends. I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS. literally need to know what happens next.
**major spoilers**
i am SO ANGRY at how morgan let draven go despite everything. i understand her anger like i said above, but they’re literally meant for one another and are married and ugh. i wish draven told her about the marriage so maybe she wouldn’t be as mad?? idk. and BEKS?? sobbing. deserved better.
“believe me, she’s done worse. but she knows if she dares to lay a hand on my wife, it will spell her immediate end.�
i absolutely adore draven every time he referred to morgan as his wife. like THATS MY MAN !?! morgan if you don’t want him, i’ll take him fr. them being bonded is everything to me.
speaking of bonds, nightclaw being able to talk to morgan through her mind?? LOVE. and the fact he’s a cat and got saved?? love even more. best supporting character!!
quotes i love:
“you’re a force of destiny morgan pendragon. or should i call you morgan venator?� real! kairos draven venator ]]>
author: Briar Boleyn
name: dani �
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2023/09/08
date added: 2023/09/10
shelves: arc-reads, netgalley
review:
”if only it didn’t have to be this way. you’re all i think about. you’re all i see. i’m so tied to you i barely know who i am anymore.�
thank you to netgalley for the arc!! <3
court of claws is book two in the blood of a fae series! this book begins shortly after book one ends. except, morgan pendragon wakes up and finds herself in a whole new place.
this place, the court of umbral flames, is the home of the siabra people. better know as, draven’s home court. morgan awakens alone in a room, and finds herself lost as to her current situation. she learns that draven is the prince of claws, and is holding her captive in his suite for the moment while attempting to build an image that the two are romantically involved with one another.
along the way, morgan meets a few side characters, one of them being a young boy named beks� who helps her to escape captivity for a moment and explore within the palace’s hidden tunnels!
the main focus of this story is the three trials for the throne. currently, the throne is unoccupied due to some issues within draven’s past with his family. so, volunteers must attempt to ascend to power by winning these challenges. only one can become the emperor/empress though!
along the way, morgan and draven face many challenges within the court and not only that, but also with one another and trying to accept their fates.
this book was AMAZING! the beginning is a little slow i’ll admit, and draven was feeling kind of tamlin-esque at the start but then realizing what was really happening made the whole situation make so much more sense. i really loved seeing more draven and his history, since book one didn’t allow us much insight into his character.
i did get really frustrated with morgan most of the time, from her continuing nativity to being downright nasty towards draven. like i understand her, i do, but i also believe she overreacts most of the time. i’m excited to see where her character goes in book three, as she’s becoming a stronger person and more independent than ever before!
there were twists and turns that i never would have expected, and these characters really have a special place with me. draven and morgan together has to be my favorite part of this though, they’re simply too cute and i hope for them to continue their journey together in book three.
so excited to read book three and get answers after how this book ends. I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS. literally need to know what happens next.
**major spoilers**
i am SO ANGRY at how morgan let draven go despite everything. i understand her anger like i said above, but they’re literally meant for one another and are married and ugh. i wish draven told her about the marriage so maybe she wouldn’t be as mad?? idk. and BEKS?? sobbing. deserved better.
“believe me, she’s done worse. but she knows if she dares to lay a hand on my wife, it will spell her immediate end.�
i absolutely adore draven every time he referred to morgan as his wife. like THATS MY MAN !?! morgan if you don’t want him, i’ll take him fr. them being bonded is everything to me.
speaking of bonds, nightclaw being able to talk to morgan through her mind?? LOVE. and the fact he’s a cat and got saved?? love even more. best supporting character!!
quotes i love:
“you’re a force of destiny morgan pendragon. or should i call you morgan venator?� real! kairos draven venator
]]>
Until one girl, Vega Jane, discovers a map that suggests a mysterious world beyond the walls. A world with possibilities and creatures beyond her imagining.
But she will be forced to fight for her freedom. And unravelling the truth may cost Vega her life.]]>
author: David Baldacci
name: dani �
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/09/08
shelves:
review:
]]>
One year ago, Amelie had it all.
Almost engaged to her high school sweetheart, close to her childhood best friend, and cooking at her dad's restaurant: her life was exactly what she’d ordered.
Until Ian, an opinionated wedding-hater, popped up out of nowhere and proved she might like something off menu.
***
One year later, Amelie has lost it all.
She’s unemployed, single, and taking a break from her friendship. As for Ian? He’s gone too.
When she visits Ian's hometown to teach at a week-long cooking conference, she hopes for a fateful meet-cute. But their reunion is far from joyful when Amelie discovers Ian is the son of her father's business rival.
Even bigger fiasco? He only wants friendship.
Amelie has one week to change his mind, and if the truth of why her whole life fell apart remains hidden, their love story might even end with a wedding.
The Wedding Menu is a steamy, dual-timeline, laugh out loud romcom about weddings, secrets, and French delicacies. It features two friends who should be rivals but keep choosing each other against all odds.]]>
huge thank you to the author, letizia lorini for the arc <3
this book was so beautiful. everything was honest perfect about it, i especially love how the chapters are organized in the past and then in the present as well. the topics and story being told in this book are so raw and real, and definitely very relatable for a lot of people.
amelie preston is a talented chef who’s been cast aside by more people than she can count. she’s constantly putting others above herself and therefore, is suffering through her life. when she meets ian roberts, her whole world is spun upside-down. he’s everything she could ever want and more, but she has a huge problem� she’s “engaged� already.
ian is relentless, wishing to stop at nothing to get amelie to realize her worth and to ultimately, want him as he does her. he’s not a fan of marriage, which is quite literally amelie’s opposite. ian wants and encourage amelie to put herself first, all while giving her all the love and affection she could want.
amelie is overwhelmed with the decisions in her life and struggles to make the best choices for herself even when being faced with the perfect option. after her and ian have a falling out, they reconnect and the spark between them only reignites from there.
amelie and ian are ADORABLE. especially ian, but i love amelie almost as much. the two of them made me smile the happiest smiles and shed tears along with them. they definitely have quite the journey together, one that will keep you turning pages for hours because it’s just so beautiful and amazing that you have to keep reading.
this book is the perfect mix of love, emotional damage and spice and i loved every bit of it. ian roberts is the standard!! he’s cute, funny, amazing, and definitely charming. amelie is such a relatable girly and both will become yet another character to love!
if you see this, please give this read! i promise you won’t regret it. thank you again to the author for the arc!]]>
author: Letizia Lorini
name: dani �
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2023/08/31
date added: 2023/08/31
shelves: arc-reads
review:
”i lost you, amelie. you’ve never been mine, but i lost you already. and i’m here to get you back, because if i don’t, it’ll break my heart.�
huge thank you to the author, letizia lorini for the arc <3
this book was so beautiful. everything was honest perfect about it, i especially love how the chapters are organized in the past and then in the present as well. the topics and story being told in this book are so raw and real, and definitely very relatable for a lot of people.
amelie preston is a talented chef who’s been cast aside by more people than she can count. she’s constantly putting others above herself and therefore, is suffering through her life. when she meets ian roberts, her whole world is spun upside-down. he’s everything she could ever want and more, but she has a huge problem� she’s “engaged� already.
ian is relentless, wishing to stop at nothing to get amelie to realize her worth and to ultimately, want him as he does her. he’s not a fan of marriage, which is quite literally amelie’s opposite. ian wants and encourage amelie to put herself first, all while giving her all the love and affection she could want.
amelie is overwhelmed with the decisions in her life and struggles to make the best choices for herself even when being faced with the perfect option. after her and ian have a falling out, they reconnect and the spark between them only reignites from there.
amelie and ian are ADORABLE. especially ian, but i love amelie almost as much. the two of them made me smile the happiest smiles and shed tears along with them. they definitely have quite the journey together, one that will keep you turning pages for hours because it’s just so beautiful and amazing that you have to keep reading.
this book is the perfect mix of love, emotional damage and spice and i loved every bit of it. ian roberts is the standard!! he’s cute, funny, amazing, and definitely charming. amelie is such a relatable girly and both will become yet another character to love!
if you see this, please give this read! i promise you won’t regret it. thank you again to the author for the arc!
]]>
Orphaned as a baby, nineteen-year-old Signa has been raised by a string of guardians, each one more interested in her wealth than her well-being—and each has met an untimely end. Her remaining relatives are the elusive Hawthornes, an eccentric family living at Thorn Grove, an estate both glittering and gloomy. Its patriarch mourns his late wife through wild parties, while his son grapples for control of the family’s waning reputation, and his daughter suffers from a mysterious illness. But when their mother’s restless spirit appears claiming she was poisoned, Signa realizes that the family she depends on could be in grave danger and enlists the help of a surly stable boy to hunt down the killer.
Ěý
However, Signa’s best chance of uncovering the murderer is an alliance with Death himself, a fascinating, dangerous shadow who has never been far from her side. Though he’s made her life a living hell, Death shows Signa that their growing connection may be more powerful—and more irresistible—than she ever dared imagine.]]>
author: Adalyn Grace
name: dani �
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/08/25
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
author: Paxtyn Ferdelman
name: dani �
average rating: 3.82
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/08/23
shelves: to-read
review:
]]>
War left Duna orphaned and forced her to pick up a sword. For years she's been her own master, making herself into an impenetrable wall to keep the Kingdom safe. With her heart locked away, she's determined that nothing stand in her way. Not even the ruthless commander with the face of a god.
Her body was made for sin, and he wants to be her damnation.
He's the legendary General, a lethal weapon wielding the mortal armies of Tyros. No one dares to challenge him. Until she comes along, a woman as fierce as she is beautiful—and very forbidden. He's betrothed to another, the daughter of a mighty ruler and a woman that can ruin his life. He knows he should stay away, so why can't he stop thinking about her?
When the princess of an empire is kidnapped, they are forced together on a rescue mission. Tensions run high, limits are tested, and lines are blurred as an ancient secret unravels right before their very eyes, one with the power to bring down entire nations and change Fate itself.
Who will be the first to fall?
The Snows of Nissa is the first novel in an adult dark fantasy romance series the Forgotten Kingdom Chronicles and contains strong language, explicit adult scenes, scenes of violence and death. It is intended for mature audiences only.]]>
the snows of nissa is book one in a four book series following fmc, duna who is a highly skilled soldier with a rough past. duna has been alone for the last five years, knowing no one other than those met from her time spent in the army. duna is strong, fierce, and always has something to say as a comeback. she is definitely a great fmc, and her story is always interesting to read through.
before i get too far into rambling on about this book, i do want to mention it is written in third person and also has some pretty detailed ]]>
author: Isabella Khalidi
name: dani �
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2023/08/22
date added: 2023/08/22
shelves: arc-reads
review:
”i will gladly die a thousand more excruciating deaths if that is the price that i must pay so that i may finally, one day, hold you in my arms. there is nothing that i wouldn’t surrender for you, nothing that i wouldn’t endure just to have you gaze upon me with love in your eyes.�
the snows of nissa is book one in a four book series following fmc, duna who is a highly skilled soldier with a rough past. duna has been alone for the last five years, knowing no one other than those met from her time spent in the army. duna is strong, fierce, and always has something to say as a comeback. she is definitely a great fmc, and her story is always interesting to read through.
before i get too far into rambling on about this book, i do want to mention it is written in third person and also has some pretty detailed
]]>
Made for me.
Born to ruin me.
Evangelina:
I lived my life surrounded by luxuries, love, and attention.
While at the mercy of lies, death, and deceit.
I was tired of being just a pretty face.
The woman who always had to prove her worth.
When tragedy tears yet another gash in my heart, he was there to help mend my grief.
But there was a mystery hidden behind those alluring diamond eyes.
A whisper of ghosts and trauma from his past.
Red flags I knew I shouldn’t ignore.
Yet I couldn’t help the feelings blossoming within me or the fire that scorched my skin under his touch.
Derek Cain held promises of love and protection.
But what if he was who I needed saving from?
Derek:
As a child, I knew nothing but hate and pain.
I was a soulless, unlovable bastard bred into a killer.
Bound by blood to the world’s most obscure and elite society of global puppeteers.
For years, I fantasized about taking revenge on the man who’d abandoned me.
And when his time finally came, that’s when I saw her .
His weakness.
Detective Evangelina Cruz was mine to taint, use, and ruin.
Until the lines of vengeance and obsession blurred.
And she consumed my every thought.
Though my secrets would destroy her, I’d bathe the world in blood before letting her go.
Would the love we forged in darkness prevail in the light of truth?]]>
our main characters, derek and eva, are both badass in every way possible. derek is a tattooed “bad boy� with a rough past filled with secrets and lies, and eva is a police detective who catches the eyes of many people, and sometimes blurs the rules when it comes to someone she loves and trusts. these two are so wonderful together and compliment one another really well, definitely two very well written characters :)
this book is definitely a rollercoaster of different emotions! there’s so much tension between derek and eva even from the moment they meet, and things continue to develop as the story progresses. i absolutely loved all of the fun jokes they would throw at one another throughout the book.
this is so worth the read! especially if you love dark romance/mafia romance type books. i will say, i’ve never read a dark romance before, but i will for sure be reading anything else elle writes in the future. definitely an author i will be supporting now and moving forward!
wrapping things up, i just wanna say a huge thank you to elle for trusting us with her debut novel <3 and a huge thank you to the amazing arc team that i’m so lucky to be a part of. i can’t wait to read book 2 in november!!]]>
author: Elle Maldonado
name: dani �
average rating: 3.78
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2023/07/08
date added: 2023/08/22
shelves: arc-reads
review:
this book was amazing!! if i’m being honest i would have never guessed this was a debut novel, elle is insanely talented. the writing was wonderful, and this novel captures every aspect of not only a beautiful romance (with lots of spice mixed in), but an action-packed storyline as well!
our main characters, derek and eva, are both badass in every way possible. derek is a tattooed “bad boy� with a rough past filled with secrets and lies, and eva is a police detective who catches the eyes of many people, and sometimes blurs the rules when it comes to someone she loves and trusts. these two are so wonderful together and compliment one another really well, definitely two very well written characters :)
this book is definitely a rollercoaster of different emotions! there’s so much tension between derek and eva even from the moment they meet, and things continue to develop as the story progresses. i absolutely loved all of the fun jokes they would throw at one another throughout the book.
this is so worth the read! especially if you love dark romance/mafia romance type books. i will say, i’ve never read a dark romance before, but i will for sure be reading anything else elle writes in the future. definitely an author i will be supporting now and moving forward!
wrapping things up, i just wanna say a huge thank you to elle for trusting us with her debut novel <3 and a huge thank you to the amazing arc team that i’m so lucky to be a part of. i can’t wait to read book 2 in november!!
]]>
To keep the Princess safe, Elena’s father sends her away with only Rhett’s protection and soon, her animosity transforms into something unexpected. As Elena learns to defend herself, she finds herself feeling differently about Rhett amidst impending war.
Elena changes from a reluctant bride to fierce warrior and must decide what matters more, love, or her destiny.]]>
i have so many words to say about this book, but to sum it up; i loved it so much! the story is pretty fast-paced and never leaves a dull moment. literally would have read the entirety of this book in one day, that’s how much i loved it and i would finish a page and automatically want to jump to the next one.
the heart of belaria follows princess elena who is supposed to become queen in the coming months and must choose a prince to become her husband. elena is very stubborn and tends to always be shut down by those around her because they believe her to be weak and too immature to make decisions. thus, her parents chose the man she is to marry for her. *cue rhett’s appearance in her life*
i absolutely adore elena as the fmc and the narrator. i love being able to see and feel the emotions that she’s going through during the entire novel. seeing her go from feeling small and lacking power to becoming someone who is confident and comfortable in her own skin is such an empowering thing to witness.
now onto my favorite topic of them all, RHETT. literally one of my favorite characters! rhett is charming, flirty, and protective when it comes to elena. he is chosen to marry elena by her parents, and seems to grow into his fate more easily than elena does. let me tell y’all, you’re going to love him! trust me.
elena and rhett had me feeling like every emotion ever from laughing and smiling, to being frustrated and upset all at the same time and i adored them together. definitely two of my new favorite characters :,)
this novel is a ya fantasy romance so if you’re looking for a story that is captivating and entertaining to read but without tons of spice, this would be perfect story for you! for me, the story was so beautifully told that i could care less if there was spice or not, not every novel or couple needs it in detail to explain their love for one another.
speaking of showings of love, there’s so many wonderful moments between elena and rhett that i simply love so much. i don’t want to spoil anything, but their moments alone together are EVERYTHING.
going to stop rambling on now, because i could go on forever. i definitely think this is worth the read, i enjoyed it so much and i’m so glad to have received an arc of this.
so excited for release day and hopefully another book coming soon because i need so many answers after the ending lol ]]>
author: Selene Jones
name: dani �
average rating: 4.62
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2023/08/15
date added: 2023/08/15
shelves: arc-reads
review:
huge thank you to selene for the arc of her debut novel <3
i have so many words to say about this book, but to sum it up; i loved it so much! the story is pretty fast-paced and never leaves a dull moment. literally would have read the entirety of this book in one day, that’s how much i loved it and i would finish a page and automatically want to jump to the next one.
the heart of belaria follows princess elena who is supposed to become queen in the coming months and must choose a prince to become her husband. elena is very stubborn and tends to always be shut down by those around her because they believe her to be weak and too immature to make decisions. thus, her parents chose the man she is to marry for her. *cue rhett’s appearance in her life*
i absolutely adore elena as the fmc and the narrator. i love being able to see and feel the emotions that she’s going through during the entire novel. seeing her go from feeling small and lacking power to becoming someone who is confident and comfortable in her own skin is such an empowering thing to witness.
now onto my favorite topic of them all, RHETT. literally one of my favorite characters! rhett is charming, flirty, and protective when it comes to elena. he is chosen to marry elena by her parents, and seems to grow into his fate more easily than elena does. let me tell y’all, you’re going to love him! trust me.
elena and rhett had me feeling like every emotion ever from laughing and smiling, to being frustrated and upset all at the same time and i adored them together. definitely two of my new favorite characters :,)
this novel is a ya fantasy romance so if you’re looking for a story that is captivating and entertaining to read but without tons of spice, this would be perfect story for you! for me, the story was so beautifully told that i could care less if there was spice or not, not every novel or couple needs it in detail to explain their love for one another.
speaking of showings of love, there’s so many wonderful moments between elena and rhett that i simply love so much. i don’t want to spoil anything, but their moments alone together are EVERYTHING.
going to stop rambling on now, because i could go on forever. i definitely think this is worth the read, i enjoyed it so much and i’m so glad to have received an arc of this.
so excited for release day and hopefully another book coming soon because i need so many answers after the ending lol
]]>
There was a time when our world was open and free. Those days seem like something out of a dream. Now, I live in a walled community, protected by guards from the wilderness beyond. Everything felt safe, until the last few years. That’s when the rumours started. And then I saw with my own eyes they were true�
Children are being taken all over the country. Snatched from their homes, never to be seen again. As I look up at the stormy sky beyond the Perimeter fence, I realise I have to do something. I may only be seventeen, but I know where all those children are.
James Grey and his terrifying followers are hiding the missing ones in an old fortress. They’ve been training them to fight, creating an army that’s growing stronger day by day. My best friend Luc is by my side. Everything seems strange between us, since the night we kissed, but he’s pledged to help me in my quest to stop this madness.
Although fighting to end the clearing means returning to the last place on earth I ever want to go. It means allowing the chilling hooded figures to take us too. Luc and I are willing to sacrifice our own freedom in order to save so many others� but will we succeed?]]>
honestly, this one was better than the first one!
i think for me, i was more interested in the storyline with fred and jessie’s kids since we knew about them from the previous book.
the dual pov was really cool to see liss� pov in the close as a prisoner and then seeing how riley is trying to make her way to find them. i was shocked at the reaction received from FJ though like seriously i never imagined him being the way he was. i’m hoping the next one will elaborate more on it??
i was pretty annoyed with riley in this one though, simply because she automatically assumed luc didn’t want to be anything more than friends WITHOUT even letting him talk like girl you can’t speak his feelings for him� hoping that in the next one things will be sorted out between them!
i think this book left off in a really good spot in order to build the next one, and it had good suspense which i enjoyed.
going to try and read the last one if i can get it! ]]>
author: Shalini Boland
name: dani �
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2013
rating: 3
read at: 2023/08/14
date added: 2023/08/15
shelves: arc-reads, netgalley
review:
received from netgalley in exchange for an honest review
honestly, this one was better than the first one!
i think for me, i was more interested in the storyline with fred and jessie’s kids since we knew about them from the previous book.
the dual pov was really cool to see liss� pov in the close as a prisoner and then seeing how riley is trying to make her way to find them. i was shocked at the reaction received from FJ though like seriously i never imagined him being the way he was. i’m hoping the next one will elaborate more on it??
i was pretty annoyed with riley in this one though, simply because she automatically assumed luc didn’t want to be anything more than friends WITHOUT even letting him talk like girl you can’t speak his feelings for him� hoping that in the next one things will be sorted out between them!
i think this book left off in a really good spot in order to build the next one, and it had good suspense which i enjoyed.
going to try and read the last one if i can get it!
]]>