The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Crowns of Nyaxia, #1) by Carissa Broadbent Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

Finally, and adult vampire fantasy book that actually has a solid balance of romance and fantasy - I could cry. I have had this book on my TBR for what feels like forever and it was high time that I finally picked it up and saw what all of the hype was about. Oraya was adopted by the Nightborn vampire king after being found alone and was raised among vampires as a human. In order to prove herself worthy of more than she appears, she decides to compete in the Kejari to solidify her presence and power. Along the way, she makes an unlikely ally in a vampire she wants nothing to do with, yet cannot stay away from. As she encounters attacks she never saw coming, Oraya must decide if her victory is worth the price.

Broadbrent does an excellent job is creating the most interesting dynamic between Oraya and her adopted father - I could literally feel their bond off of the page, and it was refreshing to see how he had his own way of caring for her while still being a king with a brutal past. She very much understands what he has done in order to secure his throne, and she knows that without that brutality, vampires would not be the creatures they are.

The intensity of the Kejari is tangible - I was on the edge of my seat. The pacing is essentially electric and the reader feels as though they are competing alongside the others and fighting for their lives. Oraya's determination as a human in a world of vampires is amplified by her position as the king's adopted daughter - while she is basically out-ranking everyone else, she has the illegitimacy haunting her, allowing others to speak freely towards her and doing everything in their power to take her out of the running.

Raihn... where do I even begin with this man... he is everything that Oraya cannot stand, and yet they gravitate towards one another like they belong in each other's solar systems. The banter was fantastic to witness - they both do not take anyone's B.S. and challenge each other to the fullest capacity. Raihn's vampiric nature is everything opposite to Oraya's humanistic characteristics, making their balance something so intense and complex - she cannot stand what vampires are doing to humans, and he cannot understand why she is set on competing with centuries-old vampires for the chance for a single wish.

You can feel Raihn and Oraya's struggles to come to turn with their feelings towards one another while also battling their own struggles - with attacks coming from all sides, they are forced to not only compete in Kejari, but compete for their lives and their own desires as those around them attempt to shatter the world they live in. I truly appreciated how much their actions impacted their emotions, and seeing how they decided to put their own needs above others in a number of situations.

The pacing of this book was insane at the end - I felt as though I was being swung around in the air at twenty miles per hour - they hits just kept coming. To echo what some other reviews note, a number of the plot twists were certainly able to be spotted from a mile away, but there were a few at the end that caught me off guard so much so that my jaw dropped and I had to take a minute to process what just occurred. The alliances and friendships in this book were so interesting - all were complex with layers, even when ulterior motives were at play. I cannot wait to see what is in store for these characters, and considering this series is going to be compiled of three duologies, I will have plenty to dive into.

God of Pain (Legacy of Gods, #2) by Rina Kent Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my review of God of Malice on my blog, now!

My TikTok For You Page has been harassing me to continue on with this series, and I have finally succumbed to the constant onslaught of videos. I love a good dark college romance, but it actually cracks me up that these twenty-year-old boys think they are the scariest individuals to walk the planet... like you are glorified frat boys at best. It will never fail to make me laugh when the male lead of the book claims he terrorizes their university campus and it turns out that they are not even legal drinking age in the United States.

Annika is out here locked in the Heathens mansion during initiation, meanwhile everyone and their mother is out there either terrorizing freshmen or somehow finding their soulmate. That does not stop her from having some...fun...that night - when a masked man shows up in her room and causes a curiosity that she just cannot shake, she takes her interest into her own hands and sets up to basically annoying the man into hanging out with her. You could tell that the banter was there on her side, but Creighton, our leading man of few words, would turn that banter itno a punish faster than Annika could shut her mouth.

Annika and Creighton are yapper4silent core - she does not shut up and he barely says a word - a match made in heaven. "Little violet," however, is one of the worst nicknames I have ever come across, and the fact that Creighton uses it basically every other sentence started to drive me insane. It was interesting to see the backstory on why Creighton does not speak so much, and the fact that other characters were so impressed that he actually would have conversation with Annika showed how much he cared about her. I do wish that he did not use silencing Annika as a way to get what he wanted from her - a majority of the time, it felt as though he knew he could do whatever he wanted with her by threatening her every single time she spoke.

The plot of this book... I will not lie, did not have me in a chokehold, or even a tight grip, to be honest. I tore through this book mostly because the chapters are so short and you can fly right through it like it is nothing, but other than that, I was not on the edge of my seat waiting to see what highs and lows would hit Annika and Creighton -- they seemed to do a pretty good job at rustling each other's feathers on their own. It felt as though every character was out to destroy their relationship - with the exception of a few, there was at least one point for everyone that made them not want Annika and Creighton to be together - it got old, fast.

I personally did not enjoy Annika's characterization - she felt a little all over the place. She would either be so rigid during one chapter, and then do whatever someone told her to do the next. While she did have some vulnerable moments that took her out of these polar opposites, I just could not connect to her character. When it came to Creighton, I was more so amused with the way he viewed himself as this mighty, controlling man, when in reality it was mostly a protective front as he worked to seek revenge for past events. The spicier scenes were not anything special, and it honestly felt a little recycled after the first couple times.

While this series shows promise, I wish I was able to lock into the story more and improve the rating from God of Malice - after over 500 pages, I should have felt some sort of connection to Creighton and Annika. Instead, I am viewing it as a stepping stone in the series as I continue on and see what relationship Kent has in store for us next. If you are looking for a fast-paced mildly forbidden romance, God of Pain could be your next read.

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We Are Villains by Kacen Callender ARC Review

This is a spoiler-free review! We Are Villains was released on March 25, 2025 and is now available for purchase at select retailers.

I would first like to thank NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I have really been in the mood for a mystery book and when the approval came through on NetGalley, I was quick to download and get started. The premise reminded me of a few other mystery books I have read in the past, and I was interested to see where things were headed for Milo as he attempted to uncovered who killed his friend, Arianna.

Much like Boys with Sharp Teeth by Jenni Howell, our protagonist is on the hunt to determine who killed his friend, and is willing to go to extreme lengths to reveal the truth and get justice by any means necessary. Milo appears to be a wallflower and tends to stay in the shadows of others, but as more attention is drawn to him as the days go on, he is thrown into a whirlwind of events that have consequences for everyone. As readers learn more about Milo and his life outside of Yates, we are also exposed to his relationships with the students and how he views himself as an individual and on a deeper level.

The perspective changes nearly every chapter, and with short chapters, it became more of a challenge to keep track of who was talking - especially considering the perspectives are written in first person. While I do appreciate multiple perspective books, it felt as though this should have been limited to three perspectives instead of the larger amount that we had in the book. There were a number of characters who were more interesting to read about, and I would have loved to dive deeper into the more sinister individuals rather than dwell on some characters that in my eyes were not nearly as intriguing.

As this is a young adult book, I expected a certain ceiling or threshold that the author would reach without going into adult territory, but I fear that they kept this book hovering over more middle grade than young adult. I felt a little out of my element when reading this, and wish that the maturity was turned up a tad - considering this is a murder mystery, I wanted the stakes to be higher in certain scenarios. That being said, there were definitely chapters or events that fell into the young adult category, but it would have been great if the book felt more cohesive when detailing particular actions or diving into characters and their personalities.

This is a super quick read and you will be able to tackle it in a couple of hours - I was entertained, but felt as though it was missing a little something that would push it over the edge into something memorable for me. The mystery element was played well, and I have to say it definitely kept me intrigued throughout the entirety of the story.

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The Rose in the Shadows (House of Hyrax, #1) by Arcadia Rayne Review

This is a spoiler-free review! 

I would first like to thank NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review. After suddenly appearing, Theadora Moore is found to be the last Descendant of Hyrax, and she is thrown into royal politics and attempts on her life. With no memory of who she is or how she ended up here, she must navigate life as a royal and tune into the magic that very much but a target on her back. Prince Clayton Vail is weary to trust this girl who has already caused an amount of destruction without intention, and he must determine if her presence at court will be one of distraction or duty.

The amnesia trope is something I have actually rarely come across - sure, there have been points in books where characters have lost their memories after being cursed or drinking potions, but I do not recall more than a few times where the lead has had no memory from the beginning. It creates such a unique challenge for not only the lead, but for the supporting characters who have to discover if Thea is able to be trusted. Watching her grow into herself and work to discover how she ended up with such a target on her back and searching for answers.

Clay's immediate mistrust of Thea is not unexpected - in fact, if he trusted her immediately, I would have been weary of Clay's reasoning abilities. As he continues to side eye her throughout the days and warn everyone within a hundred foot vicinity that she should not be so easily welcomed, we also see the longing gazes and beginnings of protectiveness towards her. I loved his character - I would not go as far to say that he is stand-offish, but rather as heir, he must be cautious on who he interacts with and opens up to. The bickering between Thea and Clay was definitely a highlight of this book, and truly showed how their relationship developed over time.

Thea may be a stranger to her own memories, but that does not hinder the way she interacts with those in court or her boldness when it comes to making a scene for the good of the people. She is strong-headed and often times it does have consequences, not only for herself, but for others. I do think a lot of the supporting characters do place a lot of strong feelings on her - she is incredibly new to the idea that she is a princess, and yet she is under scrutiny at every turn. That being said, supporting characters like Iris have been by her side essentially since the beginning, and you can tell that she does have a support system in place, no matter how small it is.

The action in this book is certainly captivating, and I found myself truly enjoying the intensity - it reminded me a lot of Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard in that regard. There were so many instances where I felt as though I could not turn the page fast enough - sure, there is world-building in the beginning, but even so, there is action right from the start. The author had a clear vision of what she wanted to convey with this story, and I appreciate the fact that she took the time to development side characters without sacrificing the main plot or Thea's development. Both Thea and Clay have such strong presences in this book, and are the main drawing point for me to continue reading this series and seeing where it goes. If you are looking for an adult fantasy to keep you on the edge of your seat, The Rose in the Shadows is definitely for you.

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Jet (Marked Men, #2) by Jay Crownover Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my review of Rule on my blog, now!

After reading the first book and watching Marked Men: Rule + Shaw, I knew that I wanted to continue on with this interconnected series - I love a tortured leading man, and Crownover does a pretty decent job in exploring a number of serious topics and issues in this series without glossing over the trauma some of the characters have experienced. The premise of this second installment certainly intrigued me - the fact that Jet and Ayden were roommates is a trope that I have only read a handful of times, and I was excited to see where it would lead these characters.

With Jet being a musician and me still riding the wave of the Stage Dive series by Kylie Scott as I continue with that interconnected series as well, I enjoyed how much emphasis the author put on Jet's commitment to his music career and band. Often with musician-centered romances, the leading man will either abandon his band in favor of his girl, or somehow decide that music is not the life for him. Jet tells Ayden multiple times how important music is to him, and there are so many instances of Ayden realizing that she misjudged Jet's passions or work ethic because she did not understand what went into a successful music career.

Ayden as a character has me wading somewhere in the middle of she is tolerable and that I wanted to knock some sense into her. I understand that she has been through a lot, and considering what is alluded to in her past, I can see why she wanted to have a fresh start and be away from a family that seemed to only take advantage of her. That being said, she can clearly communicate her feelings and frustrations when necessary, so it was somewhat annoying to see her abandon her way of effectively communicating in place of passive aggressive comments and avoiding conflict when it was staring at her in the face.

Jet was a more well-rounded lead compared to Rule, in my opinion. Rule felt more reckless and temperamental compared to Jet, and it was nice to see a male lead that was at least able to regulate his emotions. Sure, both of them have gotten into their fair share of brawls and fist fights, but for different reasons and caused by different circumstances. Jet seems to play the long game whereas Rule acted in the moment, and it is a defining feature that separates their characters and personalities. I enjoyed how much Jet was ready to go to bat for his passions and career, while also recognizing that his actions affect other people - especially when it came to his relationship with Ayden and the complicated feelings that had for one another.

Rule and Shaw make a number of appearances throughout the book, and I would recommend reading this series in order if you do not want to be spoiled for the events of Rule. I enjoyed the callbacks to prior events, and Crownover was able to sprinkle these into Jet without overtaking Ayden and Jet's stories. For this book, we definitely saw more of Jet's support system in place of Ayden's, and while hers was still present, his life and burdens definitely kept the story moving along for me compared to Ayden's plot lines. Sure, Ayden's trials and tribulations were certainly burdensome and taking a toll on her, but I wish it was not mostly thrown into the book over halfway through.

If you are looking for some new adult college romance that tackles a number of issues while still incorporating a solid romance, this series is right up your alley. These books are quick and easy to read - a perfect series to dive into if you are in need of serious drama and fun, messy romance.

 

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Forbidden Obsession (Boneless Redemption Duet, #1) by Isabella Alexander Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

Guys... I have led myself astray once again after a download binge from a past Stuff Your Kindle Day. I do not even think I have the words to express how much this book was just simply... not a book. The idea of any type of plot was firmly thrown out of the window, and when you thought there was about to be at least a skeleton of structure in this book, it was abandoned in favor of some of the worst smut scenes I have laid my eyes on. The male and female leads were not likeable or enjoyable, and I spent the majority of the book begging for it to be over.

Penelope Cattaneo is a college student that has caught the eye of Dominic Lucas, an Italian professor with desire to dish out justice in place of continuing his family's torrid legacy and reign. The minute he laid his eyes on Penelope, she was the only thing he could focus on, and not for nothing, Penelope's life arguably became better and worse because of it. Penelope's traumatic past still has its claws in her, and with her current familial issues, the presence that Dominic brings into her life somehow becomes the only stable constant.

I literally felt like I was holding myself hostage while reading this book - I cannot bring myself to DNF a book, so I had to see it through, no matter how much interest I was losing in the story. The author attempts to make these intense plot devices seem shocking, but it is nothing to write home about, and I found myself more amused at the attempt than invested in these characters. I am not sure what else I could have expected from a book like this, but I was at least hoping for some more solid plot work, considering the mafia involvement.

The smut scenes were basically unbearable - the dialogue was ridiculous, and the descriptions felt as though they were pulled from Wattpad circa 2013, and not in the good way. Sure, some of the scenes have some actual meat to them, but for the most part, they fall flat or are utilized in an attempt to distract the reader from the lack of plot in the book. It is an incredibly short book, and yet it took me longer to finish it compared to a 400-page book. If you are looking for a quick, spicy read, Forbidden Obsession may be the filler you are looking for - I will probably read the final installment just to see how it ends.

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Play (Stage Dive, #2) by Kylie Scott Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my review of Lick on my blog, now! Lick is now available to stream on Passionflix.

I had a mixed review of Lick, and while I truly enjoyed the film adaptation, my experience reading Play felt like I was reading a different series. As much as I love interconnected stand-alones, it read as if it was still David and Evelyn's story - they are present for a majority of the book, and a decent amount of events occur that are centered around them as a couple, with Mal and Anne suddenly taking a step to the side. Mal was the highlight of Lick for me, but in his own book, I found myself questioning how I considered him a favorite. His light-heartedness and comedic relief were present in the beginning of this book, but died off and he became a different person.

Anne... where do I even begin with this girl. I do not understand the way she thinks approximately 60% of the time. She gets mad at something one minute, then does not care the next, and considering the way people constantly treat her like a doormat, you would think she would learn to grow up and stand up for herself. I understand that she wants to give people the benefit of the doubt, but it often lands her with the short end of the stick, and she is always surprised with that outcome when it just happens over and over again. It would have been great to see her become more developed through this book - you could tell the author attempted to strengthen her character in the second half of the book, but the process felt abandoned and short-lived.

I wanted Anne to have more friends - instead, she had a boss that was jealous of Mal the entire book, reporters wanting to learn every detail about her relationship, and people in her life that just took advantage of her. Evelyn's friend group was at least more established and she had a lot of support, and while Anne did interact with a lot of the band members, it still felt like she was isolated from others in this story. Mal was pretty involved with Anne - you could tell that he enjoyed her company and actually liked her - but with him as the only constant, it made their agreement feel more contractual than real. While their feelings did mature and they were able to work through everything, their bedroom relationship was wild and definitely complicated what they had started.

The spicy scenes were definitely better than the ones in Lick, and they felt more intimate than David and Evelyn's scenes - not that they were poorly done, but I do think Anne and Mal had more tangible chemistry than Evelyn and David. I found the balance of actual plot and spicy scenes to be pretty well established, and the pacing of this book felt much smoother compared to the first installment. There were definitely some questionable actions throughout the book, but overall, I did enjoy the book and will continue on with this series. If you are looking for a fake relationship romance, this will certainly satisfy that craving.

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Wildcard (Warcross, #2) by Marie Lu Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my review of Warcross on my blog, now!

I absolutely loved Warcross, and since science fiction is a genre that I am trying to get back into, I was excited to finally see this duology through and explore the consequences of the ending of the first installment. Hideo and Emika's relationship is put to the test through a number of obstacles and betrayals, and as Emika learns to navigate a world that is changing the NeuroLink algorithm, she must also discover the possible endgame of her decisions.

Hideo's actions now have unimaginable consequences for everyone using NeuroLink, and while the ethics of his decisions are certainly questionable, Lu writes his character in a way that you cannot help but feel for him and gain an understanding of why he did what he did. Complex characters are always a joy to read and experience, as not everyone is perfect or is going to be the hero in the story. Emika's admiration for him as a creator and feelings towards him as a possible romantic partner complicate her rationale in fixing what he has done, and her inner struggle was well established throughout this final installment.

Emika made some questionable decisions in my eyes - she somehow did not seem as collected as she was in Warcross, and I found myself growing slightly agitated with the decisions she was making throughout the book. I wanted to her to really lock into the tasks at hand, but she seemed a little aloof. She was also entirely too trusting this book, and considering how the first book ended, I would have expected her to have her guard up and be incredibly weary of any new people that inserted themselves into her life.

The fellow Phoenix Riders made great contributions to the story, and it was enjoyable to see their characterizations more fleshed out - while Emika's story is certainly intriguing, I loved getting to know these other characters more, in additional to seeing how their lives were affected by the NeuroLink change. Lu ahas always done a great job at incorporating side characters into her stories without overpowering the main leads, and Wildcard is not exception - I felt as though I had such a solid grasp of who everyone was, and as their motives changed throughout the story, you could see the pattern of their thought processes influence their actions.

Echoing my original sentiment included in my review of Warcross, I had such a fun time reading this book - there were times where I did feel as though the story was moving a little slower than I would have liked, but the overall vibe of this installment kept me drawn in and eager to see what happened next. It did take me longer to get though this book compared to the first, but I believe that was mostly due to it being about a year and a half since I read Warcross. There were a number of times where I was yelling at the pages, especially during moments where people were revealed to be more sinister than they wanted to be perceived as to others. 

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Accidental Puck Bunny by Eliza Beth Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

I downloaded this forever ago on a Stuff Your Kindle Day, and since I have been riding on the hockey romances, I figured I should jump to another one and keep the ball rolling. When Declan needs to turn his image around in order to sing for a better hockey team, his PR team decides a fake relationship is exactly what he needs in order to win the public favor and get back in good graces with the hockey world. Hattie, an up-and-coming cookbook author, just so happens to spark a connection with Declan, and falls into a situationship turned fake relationship in order for them to both get what they want - what could possibly go wrong?

This book is riddled with pop culture references, which is not my cup of tea - considering it was published in 2023, I would have hoped that the writing style of 2013 would have been long abandoned. I understand some millennials have an attachment to Harry Potter, but I am begging them to let it go!! Hattie's self confidence seems to appear and then disappear throughout the book - I could not get a read on her, considering she seemed shy in the beginning but then suddenly became super confident after meeting Declan. And with a friend like Brooke, I was surprised to see that she was not as outgoing as I expected her to be. I would have loved to see a smoother transition of her self-confidence throughout the book, it would have enhanced her characterization.

To be honest, Declan's characterization was the best by far - he has a much clearer journey compared to the rest of the characters, and I enjoyed his perspective chapters a lot more than I enjoyed Hattie's chapters. He was easier to be sympathetic towards, and that may be because of how much more of a backstory we got of Declan's and his current internal struggles. Brooke and Jax were fun side characters, but I will say that Brooke annoyed me beyond belief - it felt as though she would just abandon Hattie at any chance she got to go and try to hook up with a hockey player, and Hattie was usually just left sitting by herself or going home. Jax was a decent comedic relief when the story needed one, but he was not in the book enough for me to actually form a solid opinion on his character.

The writing is... something. I truly believe this should have gone through another round of editing or two before being published - at times, the writing felt choppy and unfinished. You can somewhat tell where the author wanted to take the story, and then it would either cut off completely or change perspectives. This was more so for a light and quick read - it reads like every other TikTok blurb book you see about hockey romances, and while I am a sucker for fake relationships, it never truly felt as though their relationship was fake, so the stakes felt low and the miscommunication was not my favorite aspect.

If you are also riding the hockey romance train, this could be a palette cleanser in between series or just a quick read to throw you into the genre before you embark into a planned reading schedule. The concept for this book was there, but I would not reach for it again unless the author acquired some serious editors to go through it. The story moves quickly, but at the cost of characterization and to be quite honest, plot. The author sacrifices a lot of pages in place of smut, and while it was decent, it was not something that had such a wow factor that I could forgive the plot being put on the back burner.

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The Mistake (Off-Campus, #2) by Elle Kennedy Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my review of The Deal (Off-Campus, #1) and The Chase (Briar U, #1) on my blog, now! You do not have to read the Off-Campus series before the Briar U series, but it does include characters and relationships that may be spoiled for you.

With hockey season in full swing, I figured now was as good as time as any to dive back into this series after a few years break. This series is more of a filler read for me than anything else - I am not attached to the characters, and really only think about returning to the series when I need something quick and light to read in between longer reads. That being said, if that is something you are on the hunt for, this series may be just the thing for you.

After a disastrous encounter that leaves Grace and Logan on bad terms during Grace's freshman year, Logan is determined to win her back if it is the last thing he does - no matter the cost. As Grace navigates her sophomore year with Logan seemingly at every corner attempting to woo her and get back in her good graces - no pun intended - she also needs to reevaluate some of her friendships and her own insecurities that come with possibly dating a guy who has ran through half of the female student body.

Logan truly does do a 180 change after he realizes the massive mistake he made with Grace, and while I can appreciate the fact that he took it upon himself to change and try to win her back, he was low-key kind of stalking her around campus. Obviously, this was nowhere near the extent of being crazy obsessed with her, but he certainly made it his mission to be everywhere she was and was not taking no for an answer every time she turned him down. The man is certainly determined, I will give him that.

Ramona is probably one of the most annoying friends I have seen in a book in some time - she is insecure, needy, and just straight up annoying. I understand that she explains some of her actions in the book, but to me, it came across as her somehow ending up blaming Grace for her own insecurities, when she should have been doing some self-reflecting of her own. I am glad that Grace was not willing to forgive her easily and decided that they needed to have some distance, even after being friends for years. This makes some room for Grace to become friends with Hannah and the other guys in Logan's friend group, which are an improvement compared to only having Ramona as a friend.

The plot moves incredibly fast and is full of dual perspective realizations that, to the surprise of no one, Grace and Logan cannot stop thinking about one another. The each have their fair share of moments of jealousy, and the development of their relationship after Logan's error in judgement moved faster than I expected it to - he groveled, but he should have groveled more. I found the focus of their relationship was a little off-center, as Grace kept wanting to take things to the next level when they were still figuring things out, whereas Logan was looking to be a relationship man.

I have to say this book is nothing memorable in my opinion - it is a quick, feel good read that you can read in a couple of hours and forget about. I would have loved to see a more epic form of romance between Grace and Logan, but it read more like they were thrown together and just kept moving after realizing that seeing other people either would not work out or was sabotaged before it could get any further. I express the same sentiment towards The Deal - they are fun books, but nothing I would write home about. I am sure I will probably return to this series when I need a light refresher in the future, but my overall opinion is that the writing could immensely improve, and the characterization needs some serious work.

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Boys with Sharp Teeth by Jenni Howell ARC Review

This is a spoiler-free review! This is an ARC review - Boys with Sharp Teeth will be available on April 8, 2025. 

I would first like to thank NetGalley and Roaring Book Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. The premise of this book - and its gorgeous cover - drew me in immediately, and I was thrilled that a paranormal mystery would be making its way into my pile. This book does not waste any time in introducing the main character and the haunting reason on why she has enrolled in Huntsworth Academy. Right off the bat, I was reminded of how I felt when reading The Secret History by Donna Tartt - there was something sinister in the air, and you could tell that there were secrets hidden between the walls of this school and its students.

Marin has infiltrated this prestigious school in order to uncover her cousin's murderer, and in order to do so, she has enrolled under the alias Jamie Vane, and is quick to associate herself with the group of students she suspects of being guilty. With Henry, Adrian, and Baz at the top of her list, she begins her quest to gain evidence and confessions to the crime that took her cousin from her, all while trying not to tip them off or reveal her true identity. However, things are not as they seem at this school, and something much more unnerving has encompassed the lives of some of these students. As Marin grows closer to her peers, she unknowingly thrusts herself into a paranormal conundrum that has its talons in the very individuals she seeks answers from.

Henry and Adrian's relationship is so incredibly complex and as readers, we are able to see how co-dependent and intricate it is, even without necessarily having their perspectives throughout the book. We see their lives tethered together through Marin's eyes and the slow progression of Marin herself being weaved into their intimate and alluring dependency. My mind kept referring to the trio as the evil Challengers - everything from their interactions to their intimacies are convoluted and go well beyond the surface level. Adrian and Henry go in tandem with one another - where one is, the other follows - and this certainly causes some riffs as the story goes on and Marin develops differing relationships with the boys.

I fell in love with the setting of this book - Howell does an excellent job immersing the reader into the story and making you feel as though you are walking the halls or attending the parties with the students. The introduction of paranormal elements was a great choice - much like Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, we are able to enter a dark academia setting while experiencing something greater than mortal beings. This addition to the story only solidified my interest and captured me into the plot - we discover everything as Marin does, and it allows us to stay oblivious to the true nature of some of the students until the very moment the information is revealed and we are thrust into the mortifying truth.

Boys with Sharp Teeth was one of my most anticipated 2025 reads and it truly lived up to all of my expectations. Rarely do I see a young adult mystery that captures the true horrors of what people are capable of while also diving into the unknown and paranormal. This is the perfect book for those looking to ease into the genre without being overloaded with information. Howell's incorporation of Decartes and classical literature elevated the undertones of this novel to the fullest extent, and makes me even more excited to Meditations, which has been sitting on my shelf for a few months begging me to crack it open.

You can add Boys with Sharp Teeth on Goodreads now, and follow the authors to stay up to date on releases and publications.

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Scythe & Sparrow (The Ruinous Love Trilogy, #3) by Brynne Weaver Review

This is a spoiler-free review! Please check trigger warnings before reading - reader discretion is advised. You can read my review of Butcher & Blackbird and Leather & Lark on my blog, now!

He's a doctor and she's a serial killer - y'all know I was shaking in my seat waiting for this book to become available. I absolutely loved Butcher & Blackbird, but had mixed feelings about Leather & Lark, so I needed this final installment to really deliver. Right off the bat, Rose and Fionn had me cackling - Rose is incredibly unserious, and Fionn takes everything extremely seriously, making them the perfect match. When a less-than-perfect murder attempt goes awry, Rose finds herself in the care of Fionn. I loved this forced proximity situation - Rose and Fionn had such great banter and the tension was literally dripping off of the page.

Rose's characterization definitely resembled Sloane's compared to the other characters in the series, and I appreciated how the author was able to really show her and Fionn's feelings as they spent more time together. Especially considering Rose's affliction for the casual murder and body disposal, her care-free nature and sarcasm truly showed another side of the coin regarding her personality. Fionn's more restricted actions and his constant need to want to control his vices complicated Rose's more impulsive personality, and her presence actually allowed him to embrace his more darker callings.

Everyone from the first two installments decided to make their presences known, and I was pleased to see them return and have significant interactions with Fionn and Rose. The bonds the girls make with one another is always a great touch, and watching the brothers reconnect and hash out some old disagreements showed true sibling relationships. The supporting characters, especially those in the crochet group, allowed Rose to gain some interaction outside of Fionn. Considering she was no longer with her circus friends, this was a great touch to continue to show her social personality compared to Fionn's loner tendencies.

I will never look at cotton candy the same way again. First it was the cookies and cream ice cream, then the pizza, and now this. Weaver really knows how to make the most insane creative choices to have her readers' jaws on the floor. I truly thought it was going to go in another direction, and while it was not as bad as I expected, I still had to take a lap around the room after reading that scene. All of the spicier scenes with Rose and Fionn were close to the same leave as Sloane and Rowan, and it was a definite improvement compared to the scenes in Leather & Lark.

The action portion of this book had me invested and intrigued - I could feel the stakes rise as the plot continued, and Rose's safety was certainly at high risk as we approached multiple obstacles and antagonists in this story. Having the other couples involved in some of the action allowed the ensemble to be utilized, and Weaver's incorporation of these characters made the action even more engaging. Watching revenge being dished and wrongs being avenged by multiple characters was entertaining and fit in well with their character development.

This was a great way to round out the trilogy, and I especially enjoyed the epilogues - I felt as though they were truly able to tie everything together in the end. I definitely have some mixed feelings about this series, but overall I had a great time with all of these characters, and while I am sad that it is over, I look forward to reading more of Weaver's work in the future.

You can add Scythe & Sparrow on Goodreads now, and follow the authors to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter (X), and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!