bookish_selkie's Reviews (2.14k)

A Fate Forged in Fire follows Aemyra, a blacksmith with special powers who is secretly a lost queen waiting to be called out of the shadows. When the moment finally comes, she must face reigning Prince Fiorean and his family. Aemyra is willing to risk it all for her people, but she lacks support and a dragon to call her own. As Aemyra battles for the throne and seeks a dragon, she gets to know the prince who vexes her. Can two rivals for the throne ever be anything more? 

I enjoyed A Fate Forged in Fire! At first, I struggled with the world-building and slow pace of the story. When it picked up and things began to click into place, I was along for the ride. Aemyra is a fierce and dedicated queen. I enjoyed the queer rep, though the end of her relationship with Sorcha was a little disappointing. Aemyra and Fiorean have excellent chemistry between them. Of course, I absolutely loved Aemyra’s dragon! 

A Fate Forged in Fire kept me guessing until the end and that cliffhanger made me eager for the sequel! With plenty of betrayals, romantic moments, and action-packed fight scenes, it is not one to miss. Readers who enjoy strong heroines, dragons, and romance will enjoy A Fate Forged in Fire.  
 
Thank you to Hazel McBride, Delacorte Press, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Knight and the Moth is a new and compelling fantasy from Rachel Gillig. Sybil is a Diviner with the power to interpret omens. She has traded a decade of her life to serve the abbess, allowing herself to be drowned in a magical spring to bring on the prophetic visions. When a young boy king and his entourage arrives, she meets a knight unlike any she’s met before. As Sybil uncovers more secrets about what she’s always known, she must choose whether to stay with the abbess or finally seek answers. 

I loved The Knight and The Moth! It is such an atmospheric and beautifully written book. Sybil, Rory, and the gargoyle were my favorite characters! The gargoyle’s dialogue is witty and heartfelt. Sybil and Rory’s banter was delightful. The magical adventures are perfectly balanced with the growing romance between them. The omens and magic system were intriguing and I loved when the truth behind Sybil’s powers were revealed. 

The ending left me incredibly eager for book two! I already can’t wait to see what happens next. 

Readers who seek adventure, magic with a price, hilarious companion characters, and romance must check out The Knight and the Moth. 

Thank you to Rachel Gillig, Orbit Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Come As You Are is another fantastic YA from Dahlia Adler. I love Dahlia Adler’s writing and was immediately drawn in from the cover! Evie is ready for a fresh start at a boarding school, only to discover to her horror that she’s been placed in the boys’ dorm. Evie is not willing to mess up her new chance, so she is determined to make it work. When Evie meets Salem, they decide to work together. Salem will help Evie be more daring and Evie will help him clean up his act. As they become closer, will Evie be brave enough to acknowledge what’s growing between them? 

Evie and Salem have a great friendship between them and I enjoyed watching the sparks fly as they grew closer. Evie has a complex relationship with her sister (and parents) and I didn’t see quite as much resolution with that as I hoped, though it is certainly realistic. There are excellent side characters such as Sabrina, Salem’s sister, and Salem’s roommate Matt. Come As You Are has lots of satisfying tropes such as good girl/bad boy, sunshine/grump, and soft-but-only-for-her.   

Readers who love good girl/bad boy dynamics, compelling characters, and satisfying YA will enjoy Come As You Are.   

Thank you to Dahlia Adler, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Flirty Dancing is an absolute must read for readers who love Dirty Dancing (but wished it was a little more LGBTQ+!). Archer is a former accountant who has risked it all to find his place in New York. As he quickly runs out of money, he decides he can take one last job to prove that he belongs there. At Shady Queens, a queer-friendly resort, Archer is shocked to discover Mateo. Mateo is an infamous dancer who he once looked up to. As he gets to know the elusive Mateo, Archer must decide whether he's willing to risk it all for dance. 

Flirty Dancing was a lighthearted and delightful romance. I loved how Archer was brave enough to pursue his dreams one last time and chose to make the most of it at Shady Queens. Shady Queens seems like a fantastic place to visit and I enjoyed the side characters very much. I wish I could see Archer and Mateo dance! Mateo had excellent character growth and I enjoyed seeing the sparks fly between him and Archer. 

Readers who love Dirty Dancing, Broadway, and slow-burn queer romance will enjoy Flirty Dancing. 

Thank you to Jennifer Moffatt, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.