A GOOD STANDALONE.

BLOG || INSTAGRAM

After a friend’s recommendation I found an audio copy ready to download and here we are. A quick romantasy standalone that I very much enjoyed! It’s got your classic vibes and tropes for the spare ending up with the prince, but it was a good time nonetheless. I liked Jaoven and Iona. There was good banter and I easily saw the chemistry between them. I appreciated how often they ended up in the same location to build those interactions because that can be tricky in a standalone fantasy.

There’s no magic system and I found the world building easy to follow. It’s an uncomplicated fantasy that heavily focuses on the romance (no complaints, jus commentary). I liked being whisked away to this setting and got through this quickly.

What did bother me was why in the world Lisenn was so terrible? I hate when there’s an antagonist with no backstory. Or any obvious reason for why they’re awful. Lisenn does a bunch of crap and I wish I just knew WHYYY.

Otherwise, good book.

Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy Romance
- Language: a little
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: medium
- Trigger/Content Warnings: abusive sister relationship, torture 

LOVED.

BLOG || INSTAGRAM

I just have no complaints about this. Listening to it was wonderful. I adore dual POV narration and it was narrated fantastically. This is probably my favorite of the series right now. I loooved the way that Benedict truly kept pursuing Thea. It was sweet and fiery. I couldn’t get enough of him telling her that she was going to end up with him. It just WORKED. The enemies to lovers vibes hit perfectly, the banter had me swooning and I was in love with all of it.

There were even more tropes that are easily favorites of mine: one bed (but still sweet!) and ALL the forced proximity. Benedict never gave up and Thea started to truly realize her worth. I really enjoyed her journey and the love from those around her to help buoy Thea up and see the potential she already possesses.

It’s charming and full of delight. Must read for regency fans.

Overall audience notes:
- Regency Romance
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: low
- Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of parents 

I loved reading both of these novellas. I LOVE Roma and Juliette and Benedikt and Marshall. Seeing them all happy and in love (while also solving some murder mysteries) was charming.

FINISHED.

BLOG || INSTAGRAM

This was a good book. It was a lot more romantic than I feel like previous ones have been (which was a slight detriment to the large plot, that I’ll get into in a second) but I do love romance and there were a lot of great couples here. Still forever obsessed with Cordelia and James, EVEN IF I WANTED TO SHAKE THE CHARACTERS AROUND A BIT. But, I digress.

This is my fourth completed Shadowhunter series and I kind of feel like…if you’ve read one series, you’ve read them all? Maybe blasphemous but there’s just not anything new. A bad shadowhunter pairs up with a demon, a portal to hell is open and there’s a few action scenes. Rinse and repeat for each dang series. I just wish it would have evolved in someway.

I enjoy the characters and stories that go along. I’m happy that I went with the audiobook because I didn’t feel like physically picking this up (audio was great by the way). I think I might just be finished with Shadowhunter books for now.

Overall audience notes:
- YA Urban Fantasy Romance
- Language: some
- Romance: one vague open + closed door
- Violence: medium
- Trigger/Content Warnings: light blood/gore depiction, loss of life, possession, near death experiences, magical, physical and weapons violence 

GIMME MORE.

BLOG || INSTAGRAM

This book was fantastic. I just thoroughly enjoyed reading every page and feel like this was exactly what the series needed to add a little umph.

I looove Eira. and I love her growth. She really puts forth a lot of effort into acknowledging her mistakes and trying to do better. I love how tightly knit her friendships are with Noelle and Alyss and that they work as a TEAM and lean on each other when needed. Good friends never gets old in books.

The romance was young adult angsty. And surprisingly I was here for it all. I liked the give and take. The actual conversations surrounding their true feelings between Cullen and Eira. Even the different ways things went I thought worked. It made sense for the plot and I am expecting even more romantic entanglements in the future.

I thought the setting for this was fun too. It was like the Olympics but make it fantasy. I enjoyed seeing all of the nations together and going through different competitions and the quieter moments where groups started connecting.

This book was just what I needed. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Overall audience notes:
- YA Fantasy + Romance
- Language: a little
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: physical, magical, and weapons violence, loss of loved ones, near death experiences 

Thank you Emma St. Clair for the eARC.

CLASSIC.

BLOG || INSTAGRAM

Ohhh I needed this read. I ADORED IT. It very much has that classic fairytale vibe that used to be super popular and that was easily one of my favorite aspects of it. The commoner and the royal getting a whirlwind romance and all the goodness in-between.

There’s an undeniable connection between Phillip and Alessia from the get-go. I thought it was just the SWEETEST. Hanging out in a small town, sea-side, talking late into the night and falling in love? Absolutely smitten over here. They had some ups and downs (of course) but I appreciated the way you could see the growth in both of them as each had to cope with a different life before them.

The side characters made this book. I loved them all. All of the close sibling dynamics, the group of grandpa’s, even the Queen played her part well too. Everyone was well written out and only added to how much I was enjoying reading this.

I am always here for forced proximity and lots of kissing, and oh there was LOTS of kissing. This whole book was incredibly romantic. I’ll be here swooning for the foreseeable future.

Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: low
- Trigger/Content Warnings: a father with liver failure, loss of parents (off-page) 

3.5 stars

LONG.

BLOG || INSTAGRAM

I’m mostly enjoying this series, but even at 3x audio speed I was feeling the drag of some of the story. I felt the same about book one which means I’m really hoping for the last book to bring this home.

I do like the multi-POV setup. There’s so much happening in many different parts of this world that multi works best to get an understanding of everything across the kingdoms. There’s plenty of politicking, and a lack of action. As a rebellion group I kept thinking the sisters would end up in more scuffles and that there wouldn’t be as much hanging out.

Beatriz is still my favorite of the bunch and I like how morally gray she became throughout. Daphne definitely makes you want to shake her to knock some understanding into her brain, but I didn’t find it annoying. It fit with the story and how each of the sisters are taking their own journey to seeing the evil around them.

I’ll still read the next book, but I will be going the library/audio route again.

Overall audience notes:
- YA Fantasy
- Language: a little
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: medium
- Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, murder, near death experiences, weapons violence, poisoning, physical altercations 

Thank you to Park Row for an ARC.

DEFINITELY ENCHANTING.

BLOG || INSTAGRAM

I liked this a lot more than I could have hoped when I took a chance on reading it. It very much has Encanto vibes but make it all about flowers and adult. I thought the magical realism aspects were woven in beautifully. I loooved all of the flower discussion and gardening and learning about the uniqueness of each bloom. That itself was really charming.

This was much more romance than I was expecting (yay!). I loved Ben and his entire demeanor and sense of self. He was sweet and I thought he and Harlow had some great chemistry. It’s fast paced without feeling like insta-love and I’m so glad there was an happy ending for them.

Lots of emotions and pulling at the heart strings as Harlow had to take a long hard look at what her life was like before she came back home and the newness of things that occurred over the book. Did she always handle it in the best way? No, but I liked that and appreciated the stumbling that it took to get to where she landed. The road isn’t easy, but hopefully worth it.

I was caught up in the the bit of mystery that was added and how the third act was going to be resolved. I LOVED the whole family, sisters, cousins, aunts, etc. Strong and tight family bonds are some of my favorite things in books and this had a great group. It’s a magical, good read and one to check out!

Overall audience notes:
- Magical Realism + Romance
- Language: some strong
- Romance: two almost open scenes, + 1 very brief/vague open
- Violence: low
- Trigger/Content Warnings: a loved one with memory loss (side character)

 

Full review to come!

This book was honestly completely fine. But that’s also all I can really say about it. I have no raging issues to throw down nor do I have anything that I felt like was the best ever. So while it might be middle of the road for me it might be a better read for you.

It’s very easily a Beauty and the Beast retelling. A little too similar for me. Yet once again that was my thought about it, if you love a pretty true rundown this would be a great pick. I liked the characters and that Contessa confronted her own thoughts and feeling about Nate. She was open to changing her mind when she received new information and that’s something I appreciate with characters.

This is NOT a fantasy. I’d say urban fantasy or something akin to magical realism. It’s set in London and the magic system isn’t well explained but there do seem to be people with “talents” that help with random things? That was never full explained. I did like the London/Regency setting and time period.

The relationship is good overall too. The enemies to lovers isn’t full blown and they do take the time to get to know one another before forming ALL opinions. There was a nice ending that wrapped things up.