The Bourbon Bride (Southern Gods, #1) by Adrian R. Hale Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

I have returned to my never-ending pile of Stuff Your Kindle Day downloads... It is very much a Hades and Persephone retelling and I am always a sucker for those. After having her debut in society, Paige's family attempt to throw her into the arms of a man who hurt her in the past. As she scrambles to find a solution to save her from this fate, her mind turns to Hayes, the man she met the very night of her debut. Paige and Hayes each have their own motivations for pursuing on another, and after a chance encounter that sets off their own schemes, their relationship takes a number of turns.

Paige's mother is truly the worst in every capacity, and anytime she popped up, I was begging for her to go away. She is certainly a thorn in Paige's side, and that thorn definitely gets stuck into Hayes's side as the book goes on. I do wish there were more side characters to be friends for Paige - she was pretty alone through the entire book besides the first few chapters. Hayes had his brothers make a number of appearances and their presence was able to humanize him and give him development outside of his relationship with Paige.

I really enjoyed the side plot of Garrison and his past with Paige - it was intense, and the author was able to weave it into the story without overpowering the main plot. It was great to see a female lead stand up for herself consistently and not have to have others speak for her. Especially considering what he put her through, it was important to see Paige be the one to tackle her own feelings and show Garrison that he was not going to get what he wanted from her. Plus, it gave us protective Hayes, which was certainly a plus to see throughout the book.

The spice in this book was present but not overpowering, and with Paige's lack of experience, it made sense that things did not get too out of hand. There was still plot to the story once it was introduced, and the author kept the balance fairly well without sacrificing the story's other side plots. Regarding the pacing of their relationship, I was hoping to see more slow-burn action, and while that was present for the first half of the book, it went from zero to one hundred fairly quickly. The miscommunication trope... oh how I loathe you... accompanied by the sudden betrayal right in the last few chapters, Paige and Hayes quickly went from the perfect relationship to being at odds. 

That cliffhanger!! I actually screamed when I turned the page only to discover the book was over. I had a lot of fun reading this book and it absolutely flies by if you have the chance to sit down and power through the story. Considering I was truly stunned by the abrupt ending, I will be finding myself seeing this series through to the next installment.

You can add The Bourbon Bride on Goodreads now, and follow the author 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!

Divine Rivals (Letters of Enchantment, #1) by Rebecca Ross Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

After many months of staring at this book on my shelf, I decided it was time to see what all of the hype was about - and I have to say, I was not disappointed. It has been far too long since I have come across a young adult fantasy series that pulled me in so quickly. With this being a duology, I had high hopes that the pacing and character development would move swiftly, and the author certainly delivered in both departments. There was never a point where I felt as though the story lagged, and every chapter kept the pace of the story without sacrificing lead or side character involvement. I teared up a number of times while reading this, and I can honestly say that it truly went above my expectations.

The gods are at war and Iris's brother is on the front line - as she tirelessly works to earn the columnist promotion while awaiting news from her brother, her life takes a number of turns. Affected by a series of less-than-desired events, Iris's most personal thoughts are suddenly in the hands of someone she least expects - Roman Kitt, the very boy vying for the columnist promotion she has in her sights. As articles in various papers cause commotion among citizens, the myths they heard as children seem more real than ever, and the magical war is closer than they could have imagined.

Iris and Roman's rivalry in order to gain the columnist position had such a great workplace competition vibe to it, and I loved how even when they were competing in getting assignments, there was a subtle undertone of caring from both of them toward one another. You could feel the desire to say more or do more, and watch as their actions were hindered either by their own hand or by outside forces. Ross allows readers to dive into both of their minds with dual perspectives, and with the addition of the letters, it made their character development and relationship all the more appealing and had me invested.

Attie and Marisol were such great side characters, especially considering Iris seemed to lean towards being a lone wolf in her typical life. They created a support system for her when she needed it the most, and I grew to appreciate they way they looked out for her. Roman's tragic past and Iris's current tragedies somehow completed each other - while they suffered in their own ways, they were able to lean on one another and continue forward without losing themselves in their grief or struggles.

For fans of A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid, this young adult fantasy will take readers to the front lines of a war centuries in the making. I look forward to seeing what Ross has in store, especially after that cliffhanger. The historical fiction aspect of this story definitely adds a level of seriousness to the plot, and in combination with magical typewriters and a tense relationship in the making, Divine Rivals explores the consequences of love and war.

You can add Divine Rivals on Goodreads now, and follow the author 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!

The Divine Flesh by Drew Huff ARC Review

This is a spoiler-free review! This is an ARC review - The Divine Flesh will be available on March 4, 2025. Please read trigger warnings - reader discretion is advised.

I would first like to thank NetGalley and Dark Matter INK for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. There is an insane amount of body horror in this book, and after the excellence that was The Substance (2024), I was excited to see what the genre had in store for us this year. This book was so much more intense than I expected - the author does not hold back, and brings the readers in for a ride they did not see coming. The fascinating concept of the Divine Flesh and Jennifer existing together a single body truly adds a level of self-awareness and power dynamics to their characterizations.

The internal struggle we see not only with the Divine Flesh and Jennifer, but a multitude of side characters, was a great touch by Duff. We are able to contextualize the significance their actions have on the outside world, and how their power struggle influences a domino effect on a number of people. The intensity of change in which every character had to experience, whether it being trapped, hunted, or seeking a common goal, was absolutely more than I expected. This book went places I never expected, and the author truly pushed the boundaries of body horror and everything in between.

Jennifer and the Divine Flesh being one individual while simultaneously being two entirely different beings really drove the story to its true conflict point, and without their internal battle with each other, so many consequences could have been avoided. The Divine Flesh's reasoning to be separated from Jennifer differed from Jennifer's own reasoning to be separated, and with that came the downfall of so many individuals. Daryl's involvement with both the Divine Flesh and Jennifer could be considered the major factor that lead to the explosion of events in this book, and his presence throughout the story has significant impact on Jennifer and the Divine Flesh's actions.

Horror enthusiasts will be thrilled by Huff's work, and the squeamish should proceed with caution. The tone of the book is heavy and extreme - every single action had an immediate consequence that could lead to even more potent reaction from another character. Every single page had presented with something new and absolutely unimaginable - there were so many instances where I could not believe what I was reading. Every page felt as through I was exposed to something so completely out of the park, and Huff's ability to create so many nuanced characters while still upholding the integrity of the book's main theme kept me drawn in.

Emotionally, these characters are put through the ringer, and physically, they are completely transformed by the end of this book. Much like how humans evolve and grow, these characters are challenged beyond their wildest expectations and realities in order to get to their final form. Literary fiction and body horror merge together to form a symbiotic connection, much like Jennifer and the Divine Flesh's beginning relationship.

You can add The Divine Flesh on Goodreads now, and follow the author 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!

The Wolf and the Witch (Witch Walker, #3) by Charissa Weaks Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my reviews of The Witch Collector and City of Ruin on my blog, now!

I have such a growing attachment to this series - it is such a great combination of fantasy, romance, and action - I truly speed through these, and the characters make the series even more entertaining the more you get to know them. After the ending of City of Ruin, I have been itching to get back into the series and see how everyone would recover from those events. The alternating perspectives throughout the novella really showcased Weaks' ability to connect multiple stories together without losing the integrity of the project as a whole.

Nephele's development throughout the series is a major highlight for me, and the way he is an absolute animal (literally and figuratively) had me kicking my feet. You can see the clear dimensions of the character, while the author is still able to keep some things a mystery. I absolutely loved seeing how Neri and Nephele interacted throughout this novella, and it was a treat to witness how strong their bond became as their story continued. The way they spoke about one another and to each other... oh I was eating it up and my jaw dropped several times.

The smut in this book... absolutely insane, the author out did herself. There was just enough that it earned the romantasy genre tag, and my goodness, the author knows how to write. The banter is sensational - Neri and Nephele's relationship is so intriguing and is one of the main reasons I have fallen into this series. They completely draw you in and make you entirely invested in their development - their tension is off the charts and you can physically feel their attraction come off the page. Weaks turned up the notch when it came to their more intimate scenes, and if this is only a small glimpse into their relationship, I can only imagine what happens in the next installment.

For fans of The Divine and the Cursed, this series is a must-read. A fantastic fantasy romance series that will pull the reader in and have them longing to see the characters have the endings they deserve. I honestly would have loved if this was longer! As a novella, I understand why the author chose to do so, but I would have read an entire full-length novel about Neri and Nephele. With phenomenal pacing and intriguing plots, the Witch Walker series is the romantasy lover's next read.

You can add The Wolf and the Witch on Goodreads now, and follow the author 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!

Valuing Only Us (A Sullivan Young Story, #1) by Cory Desmond Wolfe ARC Review

This is a spoiler-free review! This is an ARC review - Valuing Only Us will be available on January 22, 2025.

I would first like to thank NetGalley and Pine Hollows Projects for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. The premise of this book reminded me of HBO's Industry meets Tom and Greg from HBO's Succession, so naturally I was intrigued. The author chose to break the book in quarters, which meshed well with the environment of the story in maintaining the sense of how the book was paced. Alec and Ted are given alternating perspectives, and with different backgrounds and current complications, they are dealing with their own successes and failures while attempting to maintain their relationship.

The writing style reads a touch too stoic and mechanical for my taste - while we do have dual perspectives, one in first person and the other in third person, and read much like someone listing off things that they did throughout the day, rather than having a more natural flow. I had a hard time connecting to Alec and Ted, and found their actions to be all over the place - with the short chapters, it became a quick turnaround of small details, rather than a more fleshed-out chapter for each character.

The stakes in this book were not high enough for me - there did not seem to be a sense of urgency until well beyond the 80% mark. Alec and Ted's relationship was much more distant than I expected it to be, and the fact that they basically kept so much from each other had me wondering why they were even together. The side characters had minor importance until around the same point in the book, and did not add much to the story until actual problems arose for Ted and Alec. The plot was inconsistent with the goals of the characters, and riddled with abandoned ideas - Alec and Ted's relationship needed to be expanded upon in order for the reader to truly grasp on why they were so drawn to each other.

In my honest opinion, the concept of this story is definitely compelling, but needs some work in order to really grab the reader's attention. Some proof-reading and edits would serve this book well, and style choices needed to be locked down. As I previously noted, the choice of having one character's perspective in first person and the other's in third person was a bold choice, but left me more thrown after every chapter switch, as it was always an adjustment in reading perspective.

You can add Valuing Only Us on Goodreads now, and follow the author 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!

Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #2) by Maggie Stiefvater Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

Almost 11 years later and I have returned to this series!! It appears freshman year high school me was very ambitious (and new to BookTube) and was reading everything in sight. I will admit, it took a few chapters to re-orient myself back into this series, but everything began to click back into place and came together. 

To be completely honest, every single time they mentioned werewolves, I could only think of Twilight - these wolves seem so opposite compared to others in literature. They are more "people turning into wolves" instead of "people shifting into wolves as they wish" - and considering the emotional toll it takes on these characters, I am glad they only have to deal with themselves and not any other supernatural creatures. The premise that the werewolves do not remember their time as wolves is honestly terrifying - I would never be able to cope with not knowing what happened for a number of months every single year.

Grace and Sam are attached at the hip and seem to be unable to spend a moment without each other - understandable considering what they have been through, and since they are teenagers, completely expected. Isabel's presence in this book was a point of annoyance for me - I just could not get into her character, and her perspective portions in this book were nowhere near as intriguing as Grace, Sam, or Cole's portions. I wish I could have enjoyed her involvement more, and Cole's inner battle throughout the book was a serious reality check for the rest of the characters.

There were a lot of moments in this book where I felt as though the pacing was suffering - too often I wanted to put the book down and I had to push myself through the slowing plot. That being said, the actual main plot of this installment was intriguing, and really picked up towards the end of the book. It is unfortunate that this reads more like a filler book rather than an load-bearing sequel. I wanted to see more come from this, and it simply fell flat in my opinion. I was hesitant on my opinion on Cole, but he warmed up to me by the end of the book and I found an appreciation in his character.

The last ten or so chapters were honestly the most intriguing part of this book, and this was essentially the only time that I was locked in and was ready to see what happened. Stiefavter's writing suffered mildly, more in the actual flow than in her characterizations. I hope to see the writing improve in the remainder of the series, but I can imagine that if it continues to follow this structure, the storytelling may be impacted negatively.

I do not have any particular attachment to these characters compared to characters of other series, but I am aiming to see this series through, whether it takes another eleven years or not. The idea of Cole and Isabel as a couple does not draw me further into the series, but does not exactly cause me to walk away either. Sam's characterization shows that he is able to be vulnerable in his life and honestly he seems like he would love to just bake bread all day and hang out with Grace. One day I will return to these books, but for now, I think I will take another break.

You can add Linger on Goodreads now, and follow the author 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!

You Could Do Damage by K.C. Mills ARC Review

This is a spoiler-free review! This is an ARC review - You Could Do Damage will be available on February 25, 2025.

I would first like to thank NetGalley and Black Odyssey Media for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. The premise of this book reminds me so much of those vertical romance ads you see on TikTok, especially being an arranged marriage. This appeared to be a more dangerous version of Terms and Conditions by Lauren Asher, and since I ate that book up, I was intrigued to see how crime would come into play.

With dual perspective chapters, readers are able to go into Nari and Kincaid's minds, and of course with knowing how both parties feel, we as readers form our own opinions on how things were handled by the characters. I would have loved to see more of Nari's background - it felt as though we only had a glimpse of what she has been through, and I think it would have made some of the chapters more impactful if we had known more.

Kincaid is always truthful with Nari, and I found a great appreciation for that - often in mafia romances or crime romances, you see the male lead keep secrets from the female lead in an attempt to protect them, and yet Kincaid never lies to Nari. He is upfront about the arranged marriage from the beginning, and is always ready to answer any questions or negotiate terms with Nari when prompted. He is very protective of Nari, and there are some consequences to that in the sense that Nari learns more about what Kincaid truly deals with and how dangerous he can be when in particular situations.

Nari is too trusting to some and not trusting enough to others - this creates a more complex character study for her, but her overall sense as a character was that she is a little awkward and unsure of herself. Her past is muddled and there are a number of things that have impacted her sense of self, but she seems to trust Kincaid very quickly once they cross paths.

The ending felt very rushed and the betrayal seemed to come out of nowhere... I was not a fan of how the final two chapters were handled. I think the author was setting up some conflict between Nari and Kincaid, but it fell short in being well-developed. If this first installment was longer, then I could see the conflict carrying out in a more detailed fashion, but since it has been set up as a cliffhanger, readers are left with these two new revelations and no resolution until the sequel is available.

You can add You Could Do Damage on Goodreads now, and follow the author 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!

Nights of Obedience (Vines & Venom, #1) by Rachel Mays Review

This is a spoiler-free review! Reader discretion is advised - for a list of complete content warnings, you can visit the author's website.

Emilie's family has thrown her into an arranged marriage to a widowed king in order to gain his favor, and even thought that is simply not what she wants for her life, she wants to make the most of the situation. When she arrives to meet Cyrus, her future husband, there is more to him and the kingdom than meets the eye - his brother, Ladon, poses an unruly bump in the road for her as she attempts to acclimate to being a future queen. The world building threw me off in the beginning chapters - I could not get a firm grasp of how modern the fantasy world was - they have kingdoms but also devices. In my mind, I was picturing a more technologically advanced kingdom in The Priory of the Orange Tree.

Cyrus is in his early forties.. potential age gap alert!! I know he is not the enemy in our enemies-to-lovers, but I have to say I was hooked on him for a bit. He is really only present for the first third of the book and then sprinkled throughout, but he is a character that I enjoyed and definitely added to Emilie's character development. Ladon... he reminds me so much of Rowan from the Throne of Glass series, and his attitude shift regarding Emilie is so gradual as they are in each other's presence more throughout the book.

The trauma Emilie and Ladon go through in this book truly had me jaw on the floor - I did not expect the amount of hardship they would endure. Mays does a great job of diving into both of their minds as they make sense of everything that is done to them, and with dual perspective chapters, we see how they feel internally and how they watch each other deal with it in their own ways. Reyna is such an evil character, but she is fleshed out in the most intense way that we do nothing but root against her since her introduction - I have not felt this type of anger towards a character in such a long time.

Emilie and Ladon's characterizations and perspectives really grab the reader and pull them in - you see the constant struggle they both go through, and while they have very different views on the world and on the situation they are in, they pair very well together. I do not think they would have been able to accomplish what they did in this book without being so differently from one another, they balanced each other out very well. I was shocked by the things they were put through, and the author was able to address their different reactions and how they coped very well - you could tell that a lot of care was taken when creating these characters.

I devoured this book - it reads so well and the pacing never leaves you wanting to set it down. This book was intense in more ways than one, but it was handled with a lot of grace. The relationship between Ladon and Emilie was just entrancing, and I could not help but love them since the moment they first met each other. The fantasy aspect of this book is not overwhelming, and it is easy to follow without overpowering the story. I will absolutely be finishing this duet, I just have to know how everything ends. For fans of The Divine and the Cursed by J.E. Reed, this is the perfect next read for you!

You can add Nights of Obedience on Goodreads now, and follow the author 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!