Hamlet & Juliet (The Star Crossed, #1) by Clare Edge ARC Review

This is a spoiler-free review! The version I am reading is an ARC - any changes made for the final publication are not reflected in this review. Hamlet & Juliet will be available to purchase on January 5, 2027. Content warnings are available on the author's website, here.

I would first like to thank NetGalley and Delacorte Press for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review. The concept of this book really drew me in - I loved my fair share of Shakespeare in high school, and while I have not been as great recently in making my way through his works, this was a nice way to revisit his plays in a new and enticing way. The fantasy aspect had certainly been one of the major components that pulled me in - since I have been on a fantasy kick, this immediately caught my eye. The author was able to incorporate a decent amount of Hamlet into her tale, and while not many details from Romeo & Juliet were transferred over into Juliet and Hamlet's story, the essence and background of the play was still there.

The aspect of having Juliet's lips and fingernails be black after she came back to life was a great decision - it allows for a physical and constant reminder to not only Juliet, but to the reader, that she has been through quite an unimaginable ordeal. She continues to carry the loss of Romeo with her throughout this story, both literally and figuratively. Readers have to watch her basically suffer in silence for a duration of this book until she is able to share her sufferings with Hamlet in a most unexpected way.

Hamlet's character has been affected by Death in a different way than Juliet - his father has passed and now his ghost torments Hamlet at every turn. With rumors of the Miracle of Verona surrounding Juliet as she and her mother arrive to his estate, he soon seeks out her in an attempt to put an end to these hauntings once and for all. As Juliet and Hamlet become more entangled in each other's sufferings, more things grow afoot in Denmark and Hamlet's story takes precedence over Juliet's in order to drive the plot forward. 

Once you are past the halfway mark, the pacing begins to pick up - and to be quite honest, it was moving a little too fast for my liking at some points. Incorporating aspects from Hamlet is certainly a daunting task, but for readers who have not read the play, I could see this being an issue. Luckily I read it in high school and remembered all of the key players so I was able to keep the momentum going without feeling lost about what to lock in as an important factor. There are more than enough supporting characters in Edge's first installment where they are able to uplift Hamlet and Juliet while having their own storylines that pushed the main one to its climax.

I had fun reading this creative retelling of two influential plays and appreciated the liberties the author took to make it her own while keeping the heart of the plays within the pages. I would have loved to see more character growth from Juliet's side - while growth was present, it was not on the same level as Hamlet's, which made the storytelling a bit uneven in my eyes. If you are looking for a fun new way to experience Shakespeare and enjoy fantasy, this upcoming duology could be right up your alley.

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The Heart of Betrayal (The Remnant Chronicles, #2) by Mary E. Pearson Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

Eleven years later and I have finally returned to continue on with this series, and I can honestly say I wish I picked up this second installment sooner! I have had the entire trilogy sitting on my bookshelf since high school and since I have been tackling my physical TBR pile like a madwoman, I knew this was just the book to keep the ball rolling. I have been in a fantasy kick as well, and I had a gut feeling that this book would somehow win me over from the mafia romance trance I have been in for the better part of 2025 and beginning of 2026. It definitely took me a second to reorient myself back into this world and remember what exactly transpired in The Kiss of Deception, but once I got a few chapters in, everything came back to me. While the beginning did feel a little slow to start, I want to blame it mostly on me waking up at four o'clock in the morning the day I first cracked this book open.

Lia - the princess of many names - has gone through horrors unimaginable after the events of the first installment, and now must navigate a new and dangerous game in order to try to save herself and her people, all while in the middle of romantic affections from Rafe and Kaden. The two men represent such different sides of her and her beliefs, and as she is constantly thrown between the two in order to survive and manipulate the Komizar, she must make a decision that will not only be the right one for herself, but for the future of her people as well. 

Kaden's attachment to Lia makes sense for everything that they have been through, but I found myself watching a one-sided attachment from Kaden's side. Sure, they had some chemistry, but it felt like Lia would only comply with some of Kaden's wishes because she just wanted to make everything they have gone through worth it and make it out alive. Rafe, on the other hand, has that natural energy and connection with Lia that I found myself rooting for. There was a very short period where the dark romance / forbidden romance lover in me came to the surface and thought that Lia and the Komizar may actually be an interesting pairing. However, that was quickly washed away some chapters later.

Side characters definitely helped propel this story forward - even with the perspectives of Rafe, Lia, and Kaden, the readers needed that additional aspect to get the full picture. These characters are truly put through it all, and unfortunately the brutality of the Komizar's reign looms over their shoulders, some more than others. I enjoyed seeing the other friendships that Lia formed as she got deeper into planning a way out that would have the best outcome not only for herself, but for those she cared about along the way. You can truly tell that she cares for others and her constant attempt to ensure safety for the most amount of people is prominent in her characterization throughout the book.

After a bit of a slow start, this book moved quickly and had me locked in when I was able to get a chance to sit down and really lock into the story. Especially with the ending Pearson left us with, I look forward to seeing the conclusion of the series along with the fates that lay ahead for Rafe, Lia, and Kaden. If you are looking for a more mature romantasy series that still hovers before reaching high fantasy, this series could be just the thing you are looking for.

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The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating [and Other War Crimes] (Guides to Villainy and Love, #1) by Tiffany Hunt Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

I thought this would be a fun dark romance with a solid comedic element to ease myself out of the more wilder dark romance books I've been dabbling in, so when my Libby hold finally came through, I was excited to see where this book would take me. The premise of the Dark Lord kidnapping a girl to become his wife certainly grabbed my attention, and considering my track record of devouring kidnapped mafia romances, I knew this would be up my alley.

While this book is definitely on the more mature side of romance, the writing still reads as though we are in a young adult novel - maybe it's the fact that there are chapter titles and the length of the chapters are short, but the stylistic choices somewhat took me out of my element. That being said, this was not necessarily a bad thing - it makes the pacing go quickly and adds some humor to the story - but rather something I just simply was not anticipating for this book.

I found myself wishing that the Dark Lord - Kazimir - was a touch more dark. While he certainly knew how to handle spies, bandits, and others who crossed his path, it felt as though the author could have made him a little more ruthless. Considering he has this notorious presence about him where he is truly to be feared, I expected him to be more cutthroat. Perhaps I was just looking for the descriptions to be more adult rather than glossing over some of his actions. I did love how devoted he became to Arabella as they spent more time together, especially when it came to magic lessons and some other more lucrative activities.

Arabella really held her ground throughout this entire book, which is more than I can say for some other fantasy female leads. Sure, she was kidnapped and basically forced to wed Kazimir - honestly, it was a better option than the life that she was currently living and the life that waited ahead for her. She is stubborn and hot-headed, but is extremely well-adjusted, all things considered. I found myself enjoying her perspective chapters just as much as I enjoyed her through the eyes of Kazimir in his chapters. Kazimir was no different, and he very much exuded the same amount of energy that Arabella gave, not only towards him, but towards others in the book.

The pacing moved so quickly - the chapters and short and with perspective changes, the reader remains engaged in the story. I appreciated that the perspectives were not constantly going back and forth; having multiple chapters in a row with the same perspective before switching over allowed us to actually stay in either Kazimir or Arabella's minds for long enough to actually see internal thoughts and development without getting whiplash. The plot could have had a touch of improvement, as I felt as though the first half of the book lacked a bit of momentum when it came to pushing the story further - it definitely picked up and once the ball started rolling, we really went through the ringer with these two. I am interested to see where the author takes us next, especially with the way we were left with an underlying feeling that something was amiss.

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Between Two Kings (Split or Swallow, #2) by Lindsay Straube Review

This review contains major spoilers - read with caution! A list of trigger warnings is available here - reader discretion is advised. You can read my review of Kiss of the Basilisk on my blog, now!

Never in my life have I felt a rage about a book ending like I felt when I was reading the final chapters of this installment. I truly feel like I was being rage-baited into thinking it was an acceptable ending when it was basically some of the laziest writing and plot development I have ever come across. Tem's character, while slightly annoying in book one, seemed to lose all common sense and reasoning. The character assassination that occurred with Caspen was like getting shot in the chest - everything that I loved about his character seemed to fly out the window as the author showed clear favoritism towards Leo. Caspen was notorious for loving Tem without reservation and all of her - he would do anything to have her and anything to keep her, and yet the author suddenly decided she was okay with him basically abandoning his feelings for her for the "good" of her? I wanted to pull my hair out.

Leo's presence in this book started off as a little bit of a forbidden love triangle yet soon became a nuisance to me the more he showed up with his lingering glances and being controlled by Evelyn. It was literally nauseating when he would come on the page because I knew it would be a chapter filled with his whining and Tem's internal monologue of how much she wanted him but could not have him. Caspen's clear distain toward the human king was so justified and I honestly wish Caspen was more brutal and straight up just took out Leo when he had the chance - so many issues would have been resolved. Sure, the humans probably would have revolted against the basilisks, but at this point, it would have been worth it. Tem was basically emotionally torturing Caspen every single time they had dinner with Leo and Evelyn, and yet she did not see anything wrong with what she was doing.

Let me tell you something - I was starting to root for a little action with Tem and Apollo solely because he was eons more intriguing than Leo. Sure, he is Caspen's brother, but good god, hsi scenes were always so alluring and he clearly was able to care for Tem in a way that Leo would not be able to, with the added benefit of having first rights to Tem. I would have supported a Tem, Caspen, and Apollo why-choose development over the actual ending of this forsaken book, Tem was running around those caves "resisitng" having sex with all these hot basilisks on the basis of her saying she only wanted Caspen, but clearly the girl's love for Leo was influencing her decision on that part. Sure, she engaged in mating season activities with other basilisks, but it was annoying to see her act righteous over refusing sex when it's literally the basis of the basilisk way.

The entire ordeal with the Senecas contesting Tem and Caspen's marriage would have been so good... if it ended up being worth it in the end. I absolutely cannot stand Rowe after everything he did in the first installment, and somehow we are supposed to accept that he would ever be considered a better choice than Caspen. And all that build up to him being more powerful now and alluding that he did something in order to achieve it, only for it to become an abandoned plot line?? So many plot were lost in the author's clear attempt to make readers want to have Leo be the chosen one for Tem instead of Caspen, and the book suffered for it.

There were a million other choices the author could have made for the ending that would have been satisfying on all fronts - instead, readers are presented with one of the most ludicrous ending imaginable. You are telling me, in the series about a girl who loves more than one person, that you could not end it as a "why not both?" and we could have lived happily ever after?? SHE LOVED THEM BOTH!! Never in my life have I ever rooted for a throuple - literally the first time ever - and yet this was the perfect opportunity make them all love each other. But no... apparently happiness cannot exist here and we have to KILL one of them?? And not even the more boring one?? I was a sobbing mess when I realized what was happening and at that point, wish I never read the book in the first place. Because why are you killing the hot, sexy Serpent King, making the Hybreed lose her basilisk side, and end up with the boring human king that could barely fight for her?? You're telling me I had to lose the man that responded to "You're not a god" with "Am I not? He should thank me for my benevolence." to the human king that cannot even stand up to a simple village girl that ran away from him for money??

One positive thing I will say - I love how unhinged these books are and how straight to the point - or smut - the book gets to the nasty within the first chapter. Mating season was absolutely crazy and honestly had some moments that had my jaw dropping - some things were not for me, but they aligned with the basilisk way so it was appropriate. Some scenes were super juicy and I ate them up but others felt so repetitive in the sense that the author would inserting them into the story to avoid addressing the plot.

Overall, I wish I could wipe my memory from ever deciding to read this sequel - at least then I would be able to live in ignorance and bliss without the knowledge of this atrocious ending. Will I read the prequel being published later this year? Probably, but I won't be happy about it. Especially considering I thought it was actually the third installment and not about other characters. If you want to send someone through the ringer, then you can make them read this series knowing they will be met with disappointment and anger. I do not even know how I will be able to move on after finishing this book.

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Kiss of the Basilisk (Split or Swallow, #1) by Lindsay Straube Review

This is a spoiler-free review! A list of trigger warnings is available here - reader discretion is advised.

I first heard of this book was it was originally the standalone Split or Swallow and was immediately intrigued - now as a series, I was even more drawn into what the author had in store for readers. Learning the powers of seduction from a basilisk in order to have the prince choose you as his wife? It's like The Selection but R-rated - right up my alley. As Tem navigates her teachings with her basilisk, who just so happens to be Caspen, the Serpent King, she is faced with her connection with Caspen and with the prince. The author wastes literally no times and dives right into a steamy adventure as Tem embarks on her journey to compete and train for the prince's choosing - my jaw literally dropped at how quickly we were being thrown into it.

There are a few reviews out there noting that this book is basically just five hundred pages of serpent smut, and to that I say - thank god!! I was having the time of my life. Going into this book I knew it was leaning heavily on the smut side, but I was pleasantly surprised on how balanced I found the smut and plot as I got deeper into the story. It was compelling, juicy, and just flat out fun to read. God forbid a girl wants to get our of her head and enjoy some wild and crazy storytelling. All the characters played such interesting roles to me, and even with smaller side characters, you could see that their presence was not there simply to fill the page, but to eventually support the plot.

I ate this book UPPPPP. Literally gobbled it up like my life depended on it. Literally every single page had me questioning if my eyes were truly reading what was written. Just when you think the author could not go any further, Tem is pushed even deeper into acts of seduction and secrecy. I have never been a big fan of "why not both?" / why choose books, but this is probably the first time that I have ever found myself actively rooting for Tem to be with Caspen and Leo. Her relationships with Caspen and Leo each have their own intriguing and alluring draw - it is like she is two different people. The power they could have together as a little throuple could be unmatched. And what's better than two boyfriends? Two husbands!! Girl, go get your men!!

Regarding the actual plot of the book, the author did a great job setting the scene right off the bat on the contestants training to win the prince's heart. This was the plot with the "least" amount of stakes in hindsight - so much more comes into play and it honestly feels like a little side plot compared to the issues at hand for Tem. That being said, it is never sidelined to the extent where it no longer remains prevalent to the story at hand - it is always playing a part in the overall journey. As relationships are tested and feelings arise, Tem is forced to confront her complicated feelings while learning more about herself than she ever thought possible. On top of being in uncharted territory when it comes to the power of seduction, Tem must learn to explore the history between the basilisks and the royals before their so-called peace comes to an end.

I absolutely cannot wait to dive into the second installment and already placed my hold on Libby. For fans of more intense smut, you will definitely be fed - and for those looking to dive a touch deeper into world of dark fantasy romance, this is the perfect gateway.

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The Last Storm (Rogue X Ara, #1) by J.D. Linton Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

I have been on yet another romance binge and needed a fantasy to cleanse the palette before diving right back into the romance genre - I downloaded this book - and the next two - on a Stuff Your Kindle Day a while back, and I figured now was a great time to finally crack it open. I am a big fan of a book with an enemies to lovers moment, and while I would not say Rogue and Ara are true enemies, they definitely have a distain for each other in the beginning that really lights s fire for their relationship.

Unexpected age gap win for me!!! I am not even joking when I say this but I was literally kicking my feet every single time Ara and Rogue would get into an argument or Rogue would be chasing this girl down whenever she tried to escape that castle. Forever grateful for a 26-year-old female lead because I was just tormented with a 15-year-old lead in another series and I though my brain was going to fall out of my skull. That being said, Ara has been so sheltered her entire life by her father, she often comes across as naive and impulsive - she does not understand the urgency of certain situations. She definitely turns a corner at one point and finally grasps the gravity of everything that is happening around her and takes accountability in attempt to held those around her.

Rogue's harshness towards Ara is more out of how he grew up rather than a trait he desires to exhibit, and watching him try to reign it in when he is with Ara was refreshing to see - though I did enjoy when he would acknowledge his harshness with pride. Ara shows similar traits to Rogue, but more in response to his actions and her uncertainty of the future - she is essentially attempting to protect herself by building walls, but that inhibits her abilities to get to her full potential and open up to Rogue. Watching their relationship develop and the banter between them blossom from stubbornness to grown fondness and teasing was very enjoyable. Their "hate" period could have lasted a touch longer than it did to really build up that tension, but I think the author did a decent job of setting up their hate to love.

The combination of Fae and dragon shifting was certainly something that I have not seen before - it was a unique premise, and I found that the author seemed to favor the Fae portion over diving too deep into the shifting aspect of the Fae's abilities. It turned out to all be for good reason in the book, but I did keep expecting the shifting to play a larger role. It would have been great to read more about the dragon shifters from the past to get an idea of what to expect - we get glimpses, but I really wanted to see this aspect further explored. I think this series has a lot of promise and it has definitely captured my attention enough that I will be continuing on with the next installment,

For fans of The Divine and the Cursed by J.E. Reed and The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent, this fantasy series takes its readers on a romantic and action-driven story as Rogue and Ara discover things about themselves, their people, and their past.

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The Crown of the Dark Prince (House of Hyrax, #2) by Arcadia Rayne ARC Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my review of The Rose in the Shadows on my blog, now! The Crown of the Dark Prince will be available on May 8, 2025.

I would first like to thank NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely loved The Rose in the Shadows, and was incredibly excited to dive back into the world and see what was in store for these characters. Thea is now even deeper into Athenian Court and Council member life, and as she continues her internal battle between following her feelings and looking for the truth, she finds herself more isolated than ever. After the events of The Rose in the Shadows, she is essentially moving through life with determination to understand what the God of the Dead has in store for her.

Her attraction to Clay and their complicated relationship continue in this installment, and the will-they-wont-they is addicting. Every interaction they have is like adding fuel to the fire to their story, and I found Thea's complex and guarded actions towards Clay an intriguing part of her character that made her more nuanced as the story went on. Clay's reactions to her approach were completely valid, and his determination toward understanding the situation really solidified him as a character and as a potential love interest.

The Dragon continues to be one of the most vile characters in this series and the introduction of another foe only causes Thea, Clay, and the rest of their friends to face even more difficulties and loss throughout this installment. Thea is truly put through the ringer at every chance, and I felt as though she could never catch a break - there would be fleeting moments where she was content or at ease, but two chapters later, she would be fighting for her life or trying to save someone. That being said, she certainly had her moments and needed to lock into her common sense skills - I think she would become so overwhelmed at the state of the madness that she was unable to focus on how to solve issues.

Friendships in this series have been at the root for logical thinking and holding each other accountable. The majority of the characters either go through something horrific or bear witness to something of that nature, and the outcome tends to impact their relationships with one another. Considering what occurred in The Rose in the Shadows, it comes to no surprise that particular characters are not acting like their usual selves, while other characters attempt to aid those affected in the best way possible. Secrets are uncovered and loyalties are put to the test as everyone seeks to end the suffering around them.

Once again the ending of this book was insane and now I cannot believe I have to wait for the third installment. I had a feeling things were going in that direction, but when it actually happened, I still could not believe what I was reading. Rayne does such a fantastic job at pulling readers into the story, and coming off the intense battles these characters fight in, it felt like another blow by a sword, in the best way possible. I absolutely will be continuing on with this series, and cannot imagine what trials and tribulations this group of friends will have to endure.

You can add The Crown of the Dark Prince on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

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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.

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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Immortal Dark (Immortal Dark Trilogy, #1) by Tigest Girma Review

This is a spoiler-free review! A list of content warnings is available at the beginning of the book.

Vampires!! I have not come across a vampire book that has sparked my interest in what feels like forever. Kidan, our female lead and narrator, is honestly not too likeable - I found her somewhat insufferable and incredibly impulsive as she continues to make rash decisions without any thought behind her actions. However, I find unreliable narrators and harsh main characters intriguing, and with her being coupled alongside an even more morally grey Susenyos, they made an entertaining pair. The persistent distain Susenyos and Kidan share for one another throughout this first installment is truly all-consuming - you see through Kidan's thoughts how she pushes herself to ignore his presence, yet she cannot stay away.

Susenyos is in the running for my top literary vampire - I loved the way Girma characterized him and kept his mystery looming over the story. I would have loved to see his perspective in this series, but I think having Kidan's sole perspective aids in the book's attempt to show her recklessness and how she centers herself - and her sister, June - at every turn. Susenyos has such an intriguing aura surrounding him, and while everyone at Uxlay University seems to cower at the sight of him, Kidan has no issues with getting on his nerves at any chance.

The side characters and their influence on the story and Kidan's own journey are so incredibly necessary for this story to work, and without them, this book would have gone in a completely different direction. While not every character is as they appear, Kidan's relationships outside of her search for her sister influence her actions, and in turn made her more well-rounded, while still maintaining her chaotic energy. She is forced to use them to her advantage in order to track down her sister and put away the draniac that took June from her - but not everyone is as trustworthy as they seem, and Kidan must navigate her new life at Uxlay University.

The human-vampire companionship aspect of this book is so much more than I expected it to be - it is intimate and full of power dynamics as they attempt to be equals in relationships that can only be seen as ticking time bombs. Kidan begins to risk everything she has ever stood for and been taught as she faces a series of murders and less-than-friendly faces in addition to Susenyos trying to get her out of inheriting her family home and drive her from the school. The dynamic between Susenyos and Kidan is intoxicating, I could not get enough of them- my jaw was dropping at nearly everything that came out of Susyenos's mouth.

Girma expertly details an extensive history in this first installment, and it adds so much to the book as a whole, as well as the background to the characters and the persistent struggles that they carry. I will say this is history-heavy as well as familial house-heavy - there was definitely a learning curve when I first cracked this book open, but reading the house names on the page and the texts being referenced made the background easier to understand once you settled in the story. Some moments are a bit hard to follow, and I did find myself flipping back a few pages a number of times to reorient myself to particular moments.

Immortal Dark perfectly blends dark academia, paranormal, and romantic aspects while pulling the reader in and holding them tightly. The enemies-to-lovers were truly enemy-ing it up to the fullest extent, and I had an absolute blast watching Kidan and Susenyos try to understand each other. I had heard rave reviews about this book, and was incredibly pleased to see that it lived up to the hype and solidified itself on my must-read recommendations to my friends. I cannot wait to see where this series takes us, and for fans of Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, you are surely in for a treat.

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A Deal with the Shadow King (Curse of the Fae, #1) by Anya J. Cosgrove Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

I have an ever-changing relationship with my Stuff Your Kindle Day books, and A Deal with the Shadow King has landed itself on the top-tier shelf. I absolutely had the time of my life reading this book and really enjoyed Nell's journey accompanied with the obstacles she faced after being thrust into a new world. After being sold to the Shadow King by her father, she is forced to spend every two weeks of four for a year in Faerie, à la Persephone-style.

One, Two, Three... they're all for me! I have not read a book with this type of dynamic before, and while I did not expect it going into the book, I really enjoyed the way that Nell found her footing and was able to explore what she wanted after being sheltered for so long. The romance in this book was top tier - I was absolutely living for her romantic relationships, and the tension was literally falling off the page. This certainly trends towards more of a dark fantasy romance, and even though it is labeled as young adult, it is more new adult after taking into consideration the spicier chapters.

The relationships she forms with a number of side characters felt organic and authentic - she was able to create close friendships and some mild rivalries without being influenced by others. Nell has a very solid sense of self, even when she is naive to many things after coming to Faerie from the Old World. Being able to witness her life in the Old World with her sister and her life in Faerie with new acquaintances and love interests was a great balance to her characterization, as well as development to show the two different sides of her life. Considering her sister, Cece, is such a large presence in her life, Nell''s strongest relationship remains with her sister, even when she is not with her in the Old World.

One was the dark fantasy love interest we so desperately needed - he is mysterious, harsh, cold, and incredibly intriguing. Every interaction he has with Nell makes her want to know more about him, and she definitely took that as a challenge. The fact that we are given multiple perspectives in this book made their unconventional relationship dynamic even more drawing - I could not stop myself from reading any faster. His past and current situation was explored well enough that the reader is still left in the dark as much as Nell is, and we discover so much about him as he begins to reveal more of himself to Nell, or if one of his brothers takes liberty to spill some juicy information.

This was such a great read - the combination of dark fantasy and romance blended so well together, and created such an intense world built upon bets, curses, and lust. I cannot wait to see what is in store for Nell in the next installment, and if it is anything like this introduction, I will be just as pleased. If you are on the hunt to widen your library of dark fantasy and up the maturity level, Nights of Obedience by Rachel Mays is the perfect next read.

You can add A Deal with the Shadow King on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

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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!