Fly With Me is Andie Burke’s outstanding debut!! I devoured this book and immediately preordered a copy. Olive is an ER nurse with a fear of flying and she’ll only get on a plane to fulfill a promise to her brother Jake. When a medical emergency occurs on the flight, Olive must leap into action despite her fear. After saving the man’s life, Olive meets Stella. Stella is an incredible pilot who has been constantly overlooked for promotion. They end up driving together the rest of the way to their destination and a connection sparks. As they embark on a fake-dating scheme, what will Olive and Stella do when the relationship starts to feel very real? 

I loved Fly With Me!! I definitely had Frank Sinatra’s voice singing the title in my head every time I thought about it. Olive and Stella have such a sweet romance! I was swooning over Olive’s descriptions of Stella. Their relationship is so beautifully written. I loved how supportive of each other they were, especially when they connected over caring for family members. Stella’s dad has Parkinson’s and Olive is responsible for her brother’s hospital care. Olive helps Stella with her professional goals and to see her value. Stella helps Olive overcome her fears and supports her through difficult family situations. The romantic tension between them is always fierce and I loved seeing their strict rules fall to pieces the more they got to know each other. Their romantic scenes together were fantastic! 

Burke did an excellent job of portraying the many emotions that occur when someone is chronically ill or not going to recover. Olive is so caring; I loved that Stella was able to look after her and help when Olive’s family was being awful to her. Stella needs Olive just as much though and seeing their connection deepen was lovely. Burke creates nuanced family dynamics portraying grief, trauma, and healing. The relationship between Stella and her dad was very moving. I was impressed with how the dialogue and writing was always funny and very witty, even when dealing with serious topics. 

I would highly recommend Fly With Me to readers who enjoy queer love stories, fake-dating, and excellent writing. Readers who enjoy Alison Cochrun (Kiss Her Once For Me), Ashley Herring Blake (Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail) and Alexandria Bellefleur (The Fiancée Farce) would love this book. I’m really looking forward to seeing what Andie Burke writes next! 

Thank you so much to Andie Burke, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.  

The Midnight Kingdom is the incredible sequel to The City of Dusk. I love Tara Sim’s writing and The Midnight Kingdom is an excellent installment to the trilogy. The opening places readers right where we left off in The City of Dusk. The city is poised on collapse, the group has split, and they must find a way back together to harness their powers to defeat the gods. Angelica fights for control of her destructive powers on a sensitive diplomatic mission. Risha traverses the land of the dead and hopes for a miracle to restore someone lost to her. Taesia finds herself in the realm of eternal night and finds some unlikely allies to help her in quest. But how long can she resist the pull of the god of the realm? A battle for their world is coming…

The Midnight Kingdom would be ideal for readers who love complicated fantasy world-building and compelling characters. The web of relationships between all the POV characters and the supporting cast was beautifully done. Initially, it took me a little bit to get my bearings in the complex world-building again. Once that clicked, I felt completely invested in the story and characters. Sim’s writing is inclusive and the world-building is very impressive. Multiple realms, POV characters, and different magic all flow seamlessly together. The dialogue was also hilarious, especially the banter between Angelica and Cosima. I was particularly invested in Angelica, Nik, and Taesia’s journeys as they fought for their families and themselves against vengeful gods and goddesses.

I would recommend this series for readers who enjoy M.A. Carrick (Rook & Rose trilogy) and Andrea Stewart (The Bone Shard trilogy). If you enjoy high-stakes politics, complex fantasy world-building and rebellion against the gods then you will love this installment! I’m looking forward to the final book in the series!! 

Thank you so much to Tara Sim, Orbit Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.  

To Seduce A Siren was a great romance featuring sirens and berserkers! The biggest reason I dropped a star was because one of my least favorite tropes (miscommunication) was used multiple times between Astrid and Talon. However, I still really enjoyed their story! Especially the steamy scenes, which were excellent! I’m excited to read the continuation of Sigrid’s story, she was such a fun and memorable character. I hope to learn more about Reed’s backstory as well. Looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the Dangerous Tides series!

Godly Heathens is one of my new favorites of 2023. I was completely blown away! I have really enjoyed H.E. Edgmon’s previous work, but this felt like it was on a different level. Gem is a nonbinary Seminole teen living in a small town in Georgia. Not much changes here, until the day Willa Mae arrives. High school is hard enough without someone showing up to tell you that you’re actually a god with powerful magic. It soon becomes clear that Willa Mae isn’t lying and Gem will have to try and reconnect with their memories and magic in order to save themself from people who blame them for their actions in previous lives. 

Godly Heathens is an action-packed adventure that is impossible to put down! Gem is such a morally gray character who is trying to do their best in an impossible situation. The LGBTQ+ representation is excellent (especially nonbinary rep)! I also really appreciated the mental health rep and the realizations Gem has about their mental health. I loved the slow reveal of the story behind the gods and Gem's past lives. The flashbacks were very well-done. Edgmon's writing is funny, mindful of grief and trauma, and shows a way towards hope. The characters feel so tangible and genuine. I particularly loved Willa Mae and Enzo!! The connections between them all are solidified while battling enemies and trying to use magic that comes with a price. The ending was a brutal cliffhanger, needless to say I can’t wait to read the sequel!! 

Readers who enjoy contemporary fantasy, queer found family, morally gray characters, witty banter, and action-packed scenes will love this book. 

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

Labyrinth’s Heart is the much anticipated conclusion of the Rook & Rose trilogy. What an incredible journey it has been! I appreciated the recap at the beginning, because so many story threads come together in this book. The Rook & Rose series has such deep magical world-building and history. It is so impressive how much intricate culture is created and utilized as part of the plot. 

One thing I love about M.A. Carrick’s writing is the lovable and complicated characters. Ren, Tess, Vargo, Grey, and so many more characters utterly stole my heart. Even those with a smaller role to play felt so distinct and real. Readers who love morally gray characters who will do anything for the people they love must read this trilogy! 

In Labyrinth’s Heart, dark secrets are revealed and alliances must be forged to control an old magic that threatens their world. The magical and non-magical politics are always fascinating. Carrick weaves politics into many story threads and yet it all flows very smoothly. They are masterful at spinning a multitude of stories together into one cohesive story thread. With so many threads to conclude, at times the pacing varied but overall felt strong. 

I did not want this book to end! I loved my time with these characters and the magnificent world of the Rook & Rose series. I can't wait to see what M.A. Carrick writes next! Readers who enjoy excellent & morally gray characters, intense magical world-building, and satisfying conclusions should check this series out. 

Thank you so much to M.A. Carrick, Orbit Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the Serpent & Dove trilogy and couldn’t wait to read Shelby Mahurin’s latest book! The Scarlet Veil follows Célie Tremblay, who is trying to make a name for herself as the first huntswoman in the legendary Chasseurs. However, her fiancé Jean Luc is also their captain, making the task even harder. Célie feels coddled and overprotected by the people she loves most. When she discovers a murder, Jean Luc tries to shut her out of the investigation. Célie must use all of her skills and knowledge of stories to survive the adventure that happens next… 

I enjoyed Célie in the Serpent & Dove trilogy, but I felt like I got to know and love a whole new side of her in The Scarlet Veil. I loved The Scarlet Veil so much that I actually read it twice before writing this review! One of my favorite parts was seeing Célie’s immense character growth and her bravery in deciding what relationships/things no longer worked for her. The world-building was exquisite. The sensory detail makes you feel as if you’re there beside Célie. Mahurin creates atmospheric and vivid scenes as Célie struggles to find out who she is and decides who she wants to be. The Scarlet Veil is the perfect book for readers who love excellent characters and witty dialogue. As the plot unfolds, the tension between Célie and her love interest is scorching. It is SO good! The characters are engaging and I loved getting to know them (especially Michal, Mila, and Odette). The cameos from Serpent & Dove characters were fantastic and felt seamless. 

Célie is a character who I think many readers will relate to, myself included, as she deals with trauma and finds the courage to pursue her dreams. The ending left me on the edge of a cliff, so I’ll just have to keep rereading it until the sequel comes out. I can’t wait to find out what happens next!! Readers who enjoy Renée Adieh (The Beautiful), Sarah J. Maas, and Stephanie Garber (The Ballad of Never After) should check out The Scarlet Veil. 

Thank you so much to Shelby Mahurin, Harper Audio, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.