Heavenly Bodies (Heavenly Bodies, #1) by Imani Erriu Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

I remember seeing blurbs for this book on TikTok ages ago and adding it to my TBR shelf because it intrigued me so much. Three and a half years later, I should have known that my memories of the blurbs may have combined with other blurbs I have seen over the years. Looking back at my track record with TikTok recommendations, I should have known that I did not have a good chance of finding my next favorite romantasy series. The premise of the series is well-intended and I love the aspect of incorporating Greek mythology into the world, but I felt as though the plot lacked some serious development and character arcs that could have pushed this over from a "sure, read it" to a "definitely need to read" when it comes to recommendations.

Elara's journey was certainly the most gripping aspect of this book - I could very much get a sense that her character development was more thought out compared to the other characters. Yes, she is the female lead, but I am still a firm believer that all characters should be treated equally when it comes to development, especially when the majority of side characters were playing some part in aiding her and Enzo on their quest. That being said, watching Elara's development was refreshing in the sense that she was able to acknowledge her own disadvantages and was able to open up about past experiences that lead her to making certain choices. I felt like she was written slightly more "modern" compared to other characters - at one point she notes while reading a book that she "hates when the female characters lose their powers in the end" - and I could not agree more - but it did feel slightly out of scope for the setting of the book.

Enzo is much more mysterious, and he has that brooding, reluctant aura that tends to draw readers in. I enjoyed that he had this guarded exterior when Elara came along - he did not trust her, and while we knew her intensions were well-intended, she was keeping a few secrets, so it was fair that he did not immediately become vulnerable around her. His personality throughout the book was the one with the most depth in my opinion - he became more intriguing to me than Elara as his actions and development definitely captured me while reading. Elara's development was definitely up there, but there was just something missing in her story that was not pushing me over the line from enjoying her to rooting for her.

While this is not what I expected from this book - was I expecting greatness? No, but I was expecting a much more intricate story with well-developed lore. I did appreciate the guide in the beginning of the book that detailed pronunciation and the basics of who everyone was, but I typically prefer for that to be worked into the story rather than just information being provided to the reader. I will likely continue on with this series to see it through and can only hope that the storytelling improves with the next installment.

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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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Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, #3) by Rebecca Yarros Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my reviews of Fourth Wing and Iron Flame on my blog, now!

Does Rebecca Yarros think she is Carrie Bradshaw and is being paid by the word? Is there a word count that her publisher is making her reach? There is no other explanation on why this book was nearly 800 pages long and yet there was maybe one instance of an actual plot point occurring. If you cut out the first 700 pages of this book and only kept the last six chapters, you would not be missing out on anything, other than the migraine the other sixty chapters that this book would have given you. I do not even know what I expected from this book considering Iron Flame destroyed some of my brain cells, but this installment was full of... nothing. Every "twist" that took Violet fifteen chapters to figure out was predictable and frankly, lame.

I will admit that the vodka cranberries I had on the plane while reading this book may have influenced how I felt about the ending, but good grief I was wishing I was one of the people who fell off of the parapet by the time I was through with this third installment. Yarros continues her attempt to write fantasy while it is clearly evident she wants to write a romance, but wants to be in the fantasy market. I can think of no other alternative on why she and her writing skills have attempted to take on a fantasy series, let alone planning to make it five books. What more could she possibly have to say? This series definitely should have been a trilogy or four books at the absolute maximum. When authors waste hundreds of pages full of paragraphs upon paragraphs of the same descriptions over and over again, it makes the story redundant and cheap.

Echoing my statement from my review of Iron Flame - Xaden is still the only character worthy of reader interest. Every single other character seems to just float around the plot without contributing, with the exception of Violet, when she is not breaking her bones or falling off her dragon every other chapter. Sure, the side characters provide some comedic relief, but every time one of them is injured or literally dies, I am unaffected - I should be sobbing my eyes out and be attached to these characters, but Yarros makes them so one-dimensional that you forget their name when you get to the next page.

Violet Sorrengail, have you heard of common sense? Have you heard of context clues? Have you heard of self-preservation? I continue to question this girl's intelligence at every turn, and she continues to quite literally throw herself off of her dragon whenever it is convenient for her and her own agenda. Her allegiance to Xaden is admirable, but that is honestly the only good quality she has going for her lately. Her family was such a large presence in the second book, and yet in this third installment, they became pushed to the side, so much so that at one point, I forgot their names. Yarros continues to build up these scenarios, only to abandon them in favor of having Violet and Xaden engage in yet another break up that will last for three chapters until they break another table.

I still cannot stand the way that all of the dragons speak to one another and how they speak to their riders. It feels unnatural and the conversation never flows organically, making the writing feel choppy or surface-level. I literally do not care if any of these characters or dragons live or die at this point simply because the story is being dragged out - nearly three thousand pages later and we have moved a pebble compared to the mountains of plot that should have been rolling since Fourth Wing. I simply cannot even begin to imagine what torturous writing is in store for readers in the final two books of this series. My only option to to keep reading so I can put this series to rest and never think about it again.

Once again - stop making everyone's second signet so obvious!!! It is not making the reading journey fun when I can literally identify major reveals from miles away, and have to read 600 pages to get to the point when even the main character does not realize what her second signet is. I am so over the bare minimum writing capabilities of this author, and I genuinely cannot believe this went through rounds of editing and this is what they thought was worthy of publishing. Sure, if you push aside the entry-level writing and two-dimensional plot and are here solely for the vibes, I can see how you could rate this book higher. But as a veteran of fantasy and someone who has read her fair share of subpar books to epic fantasies, Onyx Storm proves yet again that Yarros is in over her head.

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Iron Flame (The Empyrean, #2) by Rebecca Yarros Review

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

All of these characters were put through the ringer once again, and yet Iron Flame fails to make me care about any of them. Violet and Xaden's chemistry is certainly something, but with communication issues as horrendous as theirs, it is hard to become attached to their relationship. The side characters were given more development than our leading lady and my attention faded quickly - I read this book quickly not because it kept me captivated, but because I was desperate for it to be over.

Violet Sorrengail is about as perceptive as a rock, and that is giving her some grace. For a girl who is notoriously known for knowing everything and being excellent when training as a scribe, the girl cannot connect the dots to save her life unless someone is literally feeding her the information. Every revelation she had during this second installment was something so obvious and not at all shocking if you paid attention to anything in these books. Violet does not seem to understand that she actually needs to harness her signet in order to use it properly, and her throwing around lightning without a true purpose will get her nowhere except six feet under if she continues at this rate. I would ask someone to knock some sense into her, but as we all saw, people are constantly attempting that task at every turn.

Xaden's actions are arguably the most understandable out of every single character in this series. He seems to be the only one with a true purpose and actual goals set in mind - his secret keeping is literally required in order for things to play out in his favor, and with him and Violet constantly fighting the same fight months later, he still does not reveal anything to her without having her figure it out herself (or with his help). That being said, he really is great at not revealing information, whereas Violet has a mouth as big as Texas when it comes to giving up information to her squad members. I really need that girl to get her act together. Xaden and Violet's relationship feels like a nothing-ship, they basically screw each other and then fight the other 23 hours in a day.

Dain - they could never make me like you. The constant attempts to save his character and make him have a redemption arc was weak and ill-fitting of his character. It would have been much better to continue with his development as a character that Violet could channel her rage toward. He felt like a constant annoyance throughout this book, and I was begging the author to just make him disappear without explanation as it would be a mercy to my eyes to never have to read his name ever again. And yet, he continues to pop up at the most inconvenient times. Sure, he was able to explain himself to Violet at times, but boy oh boy the man is approaching levels of pick-me status that only Adam Kent from the Shatter Me series has achieved.

This book was way longer than it needed to be, and honestly a lot slower than it should have been. I have seen glaciers in Alaska move at a faster pace than the plot of this book. So many long and monologue-like paragraphs in this book, and yet it feels as though nothing of substance came out of it for the readers or for the characters. Sorry to all of my friends and coworkers that ate this book up, but I am so glad I borrowed this from the library and did not spend actual cash money to purchase this book. The actual realization that this is planned to be a five book series astounds me because what else could Yarros write about that she already did not explore in the first two books - Violet and Xaden fighting and keeping secrets? An obvious signet reveal? People thought to be dead are actually not dead? She needs to stop recycling plot points and produce some new ideas.

From someone who enjoyed Fourth Wing, this sequel was incredibly disappointing. I will likely continue on with this series to see it through as it is published, but I do not have any hopes for it to improve as the next installments are released unless Yarros does some serious improvements on her writing style and character development. With an ending that was predictable yet still a touch heartbreaking, The Empyrean series is desperate to hold onto readers at the cost of good storytelling.

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Den of Liars (Den of Liars, #1) by Jessica S. Olson ARC Review

This is a spoiler-free review! Den of Liars will be available on July 1, 2025.

I would first like to thank NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review. I love a good heist novel, and considering the past few mystery books I read have been lacking in heists, I was so excited to get approved for this galley. Right from the start, readers are introduced to an exciting world that was more modern than I expected. The pacing for world-building is quick but not confusing, and while it took me a second to familiarize myself with all of the new places and books of importance, the story was not overloading the reader with new information every two seconds.

Lola is such an interesting character, and you can tell that she is headstrong from the second she shows up on the page - with the brief prologue, readers are given the tone of her character and she holds true to her determination as the story goes on. Her backstory definitely plays into her character and the choices that she makes along the way. The character of the Liar and the Thief intrigued me so much - it was exciting to see how they differed while also seeing how similar they were. The pull between those two characters and Lola keeps the reader entertained and longing for something mischievous to come into play.

The heists are one thing, but when one goes array, the only way to continue on for Lola is to participate in the Dice Tournament - which poses an entirely new risk to Lola as she journeys on to become a true member of the Tentacles, the Thief's gang. As their bond has grown over their time together, she is determined to prove herself and be taken seriously by the Thief. With their bond already formed, it was interesting to see how Lola still was not a member of the Tentacles despite being able to pull off a number of schemes and heists with the Thief.

I am such a major fan of the main lead falls for the villain, so I was thrilled to see hinting of that trope throughout the book and just mentioned in the summary. It plays out such a complex relationship as there is always more to the villain's story than appears in the beginning. With the Thief seeking revenge against his brother, the Liar, Lola is now right in the middle of their sibling feud, and when pulled between them, whose side will she choose?

For fans of Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody and Caraval by Stephanie Garber, this new and exciting young adult romance brings action, romance, and intrigue to a unique story. There is something new at every turn, and readers can expect to be in for page-turning surprises. I cannot wait to see what the rest of the series has in store, and will certainly be keeping my eye out for any works by Olson.

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Finale (Caraval, #3) by Stephanie Garber Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my reviews of Caraval and Legendary on my blog, now!

I wanted to enjoy this as much as I enjoyed Caraval and Legendary - but there was just something about this book that made it feel as though it was dragging on for the majority of the story until we reached the two-thirds point. Scarlet still grinds my gears, and even with her presence in this book being more tolerable than her minimal presence in the previous book, I still found myself rolling my eyes every single time she showed up. Tella continues to be the superior sister, and while she now finds herself placing trust in someone she did not expect to, she still holds true to herself.

With everyone's relationships seemingly on the rocks since the end of Legendary, the characters are now working towards mending those bonds and deciding if who they thought they loved truly are the ones they want to end up with. There is a lot of back and forth between the couples of Tella and Legend and Scarlett and Julian, which does create an interesting dynamic as perspectives switch throughout the book. Julian's character somewhat stays on the back burner until his true purpose comes into play, so his and Scarlett's relationship became less interesting to me as not nearly as much time is spent on them compared to Legend and Tella.

The actual plot of this plot felt like it was a little all over the place - at times it felt as though the story was dragging for chapters on end, and then suddenly everything was happening all at once and so much information was being thrown at the reader. The last third of the book definitely saved the plot - I was pretty locked in at the end, and was glad to see that actual moves were being made in order to accomplish the main goal. The Fates storyline was definitely the most intriguing part of the book, and to be quite honest, one of the best aspects of the series in general.

I wish there was more tension throughout this installment - while you could tell that the stakes were high in terms of the fantasy plot, the romances seemed to take a back seat and I felt disconnected from them at times. That being said, Tella's pull between Legend and Jacks was really enjoyable and I am such a huge fan of Jacks - to be upfront, the main motivation for me to finish this series to to be able to read Once Upon a Broken Heart, and now I am only one novella away from diving in. Jacks and his general mysterious aura really pulled me in, and the way he interacts with Tella makes the story more juicy and gives it a bit of a bite.

Even though the game of Caraval is over, you can definitely feel its impact on the characters in this book - they are still reeling from the consequences of the game, and the characters must make decisions that affect everyone around them. It was a different type of thrill compared to the game, but I did enjoy the difference and how it felt like a final chapter closing on both Tella and Scarlett's stories that allowed them both to have a proper conclusion. If you are looking for an entrance into the world of fantasy, the Caraval series may be the perfect books to pick up.

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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.

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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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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.

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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.

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