Cruel Seduction follows Aphrodite, Hephaestus (formerly Theseus), Pandora, and Adonis. Aphrodite and Hephaestus are coerced into an arranged marriage due to politics and family ties. As they struggle to navigate the balance of power between them, the Olympians are being targeted in the city due to a newly revealed assassination clause. Pandora (Theseus' best friend) and Aphrodite have an unconventional first meeting, yet can’t seem to stay away from each other.  Aphrodite initially seeks to use Pandora against Hephaestus. Adonis reunites with his ex Aphrodite after a painful break-up. Hephaestus schemes with Adonis on how to handle Aphrodite. Will Aphrodite and Hephaestus negotiate a truce to survive the Olympian chaos together?   

Katee Robert does an incredible job of always including LGBTQ+ rep in their books and it makes me so happy!! There is so much queer joy here and they explore the dynamics of the open poly knot in a beautiful way. I loved the emphasis on how important communication is. The focus was always on supporting each other and learning who could best provide what was needed in a situation. Pandora has a great personality and I loved how she refused to do anything other than go after what (and who) she wants. Aphrodite and Hephaestus (Theseus) have so many steamy scenes that are lightning-charged with tension as they explore the power dynamic between them. Adonis provides an important balance for Hephaestus and Aphrodite; he has a very caring and calm personality.  

Katee Robert puts their characters through it and I loved the moments of genuine vulnerability the characters share (Particularly THE hurt/comfort moment with Aphrodite.) Hephaestus’ energy of “I’m the only one who gets to kill you” was both hilarious and heartwarming. I also enjoyed when he was internally trying to decide if he wants to get to know Adonis more and thinks: “I don’t even like him!” It’s the classic trope of a character wondering why they’ve got heartburn when falling in love and Katee Robert nails it. I really enjoyed the cameos of other characters from the Dark Olympus series and look forward to seeing what happens next in Olympus!

Readers who enjoy the arranged marriage trope (but only so they can make each other miserable and then begrudgingly fall for each other), open poly knot rep, fantastic LGBTQ+ rep, and hurt/comfort will love Cruel Seduction. I listened to the audiobook and the narrators did an excellent job with the character voices and making them distinct. I feel like Alex Moorcock is the new Steve West of audiobook narrators! Check out Cruel Seduction and the Dark Olympus series if you like scorching romance, mythology retellings with spice, and unputdownable reads!

Thank you so much to Katee Robert, Dreamscape Media, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

In House of Odysseus, Claire North perfectly captures the voice of her narrator: the goddess Aphrodite. Aphrodite is powerful, clever, and effervescent. Written off by many, Aphrodite nonetheless holds influence whether mortals pray to her or not. One of Aphrodite’s favorite mortals, Helen of Troy, plays an important part in House of Odysseus. I appreciated how this story focuses on Helen’s tale after the war is over and Paris has been killed, because it feels like this period of time is typically not covered. Helen was forced to continue on after the final battle concluded and had to deal with the repercussions. Helen’s relationship with Menelaus was terrible to read, but I loved how she ended up with the upper hand. I enjoyed how skillfully Helen manipulates what people expect of her and uses that to her advantage.

Claire North artfully weaves together the stories of Penelope, Helen, and Elektra. North’s writing is detail-oriented and sets the scene beautifully. Readers will vividly feel the harshness of life on Ithaca and the tense political battles. Penelope is such a fantastic character and I loved how she was portrayed here. Penelope holds power in subtle ways and will fight to her last breath to maintain control of Ithaca. She never gives up on the hope of her husband and son’s return, while handling the suitors and invaders by outwitting them. Elektra was the character I knew the least about previously and I enjoyed learning her story, especially her bond with her brother. I also enjoyed how Athena, Artemis, and the Furies were also included in this tale.

Readers who enjoyed The Shadow of Perseus (Claire Heywood) and Psyche and Eros (Luna McNamara) would love this book! Claire North is quickly turning into an auto-buy author for me when it comes to Greek myths. I’d highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reimagined Greek mythology with excellent twists that focuses on powerful women’s stories.

Thank you so much to Claire North, Redhook Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you’re looking for a standard hockey romance, check out Meet Your Match! Maven and Vince have great chemistry and I liked their banter together. However, this is a pretty slow-burn romance. I was expecting some more angst/steamy scenes. The conflict regarding them being together felt a little forced. Meet Your Match is a good slow-burn hockey romance. I hope we get more books with other members of the team! 

To Win A Witch’s Heart is a magical F1-inspired racing romance. Excellent steamy scenes as per usual with the Dark Tides series. This was a fast-paced and enjoyable read. I liked the references to other books in the series. Looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the Dangerous Tides series!

"I'm the final girl."

I truly could not put this book down! Once you start, it will be very hard to stop. Charity is the final girl, the girl who always survives. Working at a horror camp that specializes in scaring their guests, Charity and her coworkers are always in control. Until one night, it becomes clear that there’s someone else in the woods with them…

You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight was spooky, thrilling, and delightfully fun. I really enjoyed the reveal about who is pulling strings behind the scenes all along. The dialogue was hilarious, especially the characters’ awareness of common horror tropes that will definitely get them killed. I loved Charity’s sweet relationship and the final twist truly took me by surprise. 

You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight has excellent queer rep, witty dialogue, and thrilling fun. Kalynn Bayron is an auto-buy author for me at this point! 

Inez has always lived in Buenos Aires, but one letter from Egypt changes her life. The letter explains that her parents vanished in the desert and are presumed dead. Inez does not accept this vague answer and sets out on her own to adventure to Egypt. Once there, she is met by the unimpressed Whit. Whit is her uncle’s assistant and tasked with buying her a return ticket to Buenos Aires. When Inez refuses to accept his offer, an epic journey begins as Inez sets out to find out what truly happened to her parents. Along the way, danger lurks in the shadows and Inez must decide who to trust with herself and her magic. 

Wow, What the River Knows is definitely one of my favorite books of the year! I loved Inez and Whit’s chemistry, the sizzling tension between them was incredible. Inez’s determination and inability to take no for an answer made her such a fierce and strong heroine. Whit is more morally gray, but fighting to get back to who he wants to be. Ibañez’s writing is vivid and captivating. She paints enchanting and cinematic views of Egypt, while portraying the danger that lurks in the shadows or just below the surface. The ending twists took me by surprise and made me very eager for the next book! What the River Knows is probably my favorite book yet from Isabel Ibañez and I would highly recommend it to anyone! 

Readers who enjoy high-stakes adventures, Egyptian history, enemies-to-lovers, and captivating writing will love this book. I can’t wait for the sequel!  

Thank you so much to Isabel Ibañez, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.  

Remy and Cam have been best friends forever. On a trip to Japan, Remy finally decides to tell Cam how she feels about him. But before she can, a magical love potion changes their lives forever. The potion has completely removed Cam’s memories of Remy and he no longer knows who she is. To regain his memories, Cam and Remy must travel through Tokyo together to try and reverse the potion’s effects. Will Remy ever be able to tell Cam how she feels? Will Cam regain his memories? The two must race against the clock to save their friendship and maybe something more…? 

Our Cursed Love was such a great book! Julie Abe’s writing is so atmospheric and vivid. Readers will feel like they’re also adventuring through a magical Tokyo tinged in pastels, and filled with magical sweet treats. I would love to learn more about the magic system, so I hope Abe returns to this world one day! Remy and Cam have a great relationship, even when Cam’s memories go missing. Abe’s writing is filled with charm and expertly navigates the friends-to-lovers trope. I loved the subtle references to titles like One Last Stop, Made in Korea, and more! Readers who enjoy Your Name, friends-to-lovers, and magic with lots of sweetness will love this book! 

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