Review: As someone new to the omegaverse scene, this book was definitely out of my comfort zone and took some getting used to, but I’m really glad that I read it!

“The Fake Mate” follows Mackenzie Carter and Noah Taylor, two wolf shifters who agree to be fake mates in a mutually beneficial business transaction. But when the fake-mate act turns into a friends-with-benefits situation, lines start to blur, and it becomes impossible to ignore their wolfish urges.

I could not get enough of Noah and Mackenzie’s grumpy alpha x sunshine omega dynamic. They have an irresistible bond and watching them come to that realization while they pretend to be mates at the hospital they both work at…absolute perfection. 

The dual points-of-view in this book are so good. Noah and Mackenzie both internally struggle with how they are perceived by others because of their designations - it was realistic within the context of the world and brought them closer together as they helped each embrace their alpha and omega characteristics. 

One qualm I had with this book is the pacing of Noah and Mackenzie’s relationship in the second half of the book. The beginning starts off slow as the two get to know each other and try to ignore their attraction. Once they become physically intimate, however, the pacing picks up and the storyline became a bit too spicy for my tastes. The character’s chemistry and their romantic tension, however, made that easy to overlook. 

If you’re looking to dip your toes into the omegaverse, I recommend giving this book a try! 

Review: The epic conclusion to Iris and Roman’s story is heart-wrenchingly beautiful. 

“Ruthless Vows” picks up two weeks after the events that transpired in the first installment as Iris Winnow heads westward with Attie to report on Dacre’s movements. Along the way she writes to Roman, who cannot remember his past since waking in Dacre’s realm. While writing articles to Dacre, he strikes up a relationship with his mysterious pen pal. As his memories begin to return, he begins to question whether he should stand with the god who healed him or risk betrayal to change the tides of the war. 

The same whimsical, atmospheric writing that I fell in love with in “Divine Rivals” carries over to this book. Nearly every line is as magical and profound as the last, easily transporting me back to Ross’ complex world. With the war coming to a head, she leans more into the fantastical while still weaving in elements of realism to deepen the lore surrounding the gods. I hungrily devoured each new tidbit until I ran out of pages to read. 

What captivated me most about “Divine Rivals” was Iris and Roman’s love story. Roman winning over Iris in person and via letter correspondence was everything. Ross begins this process again following Roman’s memory loss. The memory loss trope can be hard to pull off, but Ross executes it well by reversing Iris and Roman’s roles. Now Iris is the one pouring her heart into her letters to Roman and pining for him just as he did in the first book. Watching the two fall in love for a second time despite the war forcing them apart filled me with emotion and left me feeling satisfied. 

Review: Simply put, this book is heavy on steam with not enough substance. 

“Sanctuary of the Shadow” follows Harrow, the last living seer of her clan disguising her abilities as part of her act in a traveling circus. When a new attraction arrives with nonage, no memory of who or what he is, Harrow is instantly drawn to him. But thee Moree she discovers about his past and how it is intertwined with. Her own, thee Moree danger she finds herself in. 

This series has the potential to be great. Unfortunately, that potential isn’t fully realized in this book. Much of the world-building consisted of info-dumping without expansion in favor of focusing on spicy moments between the main couple. Normally, this wouldn’t present too much of an issue for me because I enjoy romantasy books, but the pacing of their relationship is so fast that it was hard for me to invest in their “insta-love”. 

All this being said, I really liked the general bones of this story with the existence of a magical circus harboring elementals. Raith, Harrow’s love interest, is an intriguing character having no memory of his past or his dark power, so I gravitated towards chapters written from his point-of-view. Above all else, I enjoyed the emphasis on female friendship through Harrow’s friendship with Mal. I am hopeful that Mal’s book will only build off of this one and fill in the gaps. 

Review: Bardugo’s spin on classic fairytales are a delight as always.

“The Language of Thorns” includes six short stories that are inspired by myth, folklore, and fairytales. Each are paired with stunning illustrations that really give it a storybook feel. 

In her author’s note, she shares that she was inspired to write this collection by “the note of trouble that I think many of us hear in familiar tales, because we know—even as children—that impossible tasks are on odd way to choose a spouse, that predators come in many guises, that a prince’s whims are often cruel.” She takes bits and pieces from old tales and reshapes them with her dark, gripping, and masterful writing to make us, as readers, question the classics we grew up with. New morals are attributed to each story and I was blown away when I was left to ruminate on them every. Single. Time.  

You do not have to read any of the Grishaverse books to pick this one up, which makes it perfect for new readers hoping to be introduced to Bardugo’s works and fans, like myself, who keep coming back for more!

Review: Emily and Wendell’s latest adventure is utterly enchanting!

“Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands” picks up shortly after the first installment, following genius scholar Emily Wilde and her colleague and former rival Wendell Bambleby as they seek out the door to his realm. 

To my excitement, this book continues to read like a journal but with more of Emily’s personal feelings recorded alongside her academic musings. Many of those feelings pertain to her relationship with Wendell as it further progresses. I absolutely LOVE that their romance is a slightly more prominent aspect of the storyline because their banter, devotion to one another, and dynamic is not only highly entertaining, but is what makes this novel shine.

I also really enjoyed Emily’s character development in this one. She is the same brilliant scholar we all know and love, but as the stakes get higher, she gradually lets down her walls and learns to listen to her heart in addition to her mind. It was a joy to see her embark on her own quest, cleverly outsmart those in her way, and make some new faerie friends along the way. 

I eagerly await book three in this magical series!

Review: I adored this cozy, atmospheric read from start to finish! 

 

“Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries” follows Emily Wilde, a genius scholar and meticulous researcher, as she journeys to a small town to write the world’s first encyclopaedia on faerie folklore. Not too long after, her handsome and charming academic rival Wendell Bambleby arrives and gets in the middle of her research. As she gets closer to discovering the secrets of the hidden ones, she begins to question who he truly is and what he really wants. 

 

Epistolary novels (works of fiction written in the form of journal entries, letters, or other documents) are few and far between these days, so I am ecstatic I love this one as much as I do! I enjoy this style of writing because it reveals so much in the way of characterization. For example, Emily’s thorough account of her time in the field complete with footnotes shows just how dedicated she is to her research and studies. Her entries also showcase some of her quirks—like how she prefers the company of books, her dog, and the fae to other people—which made me love her all the more. 

 

Wendell Bambleby is one of my favorite characters of all time. Seriously. He begins as Emily’s academic rival, but throughout the novel he wins her, and the reader, over with his irresistible charm. He is the sunshine to Emily’s grumpy and his attachment to her is incredibly endearing. Additionally, his good-natured teasing, sewing hobby, and neat freak personality, keep the book light while also making his character stand out. 

 

The romantic relationship that develops between Emily and Wendell is definitely a subplot, but I actually appreciated that it wasn’t the book’s focus because Emily wouldn’t be Emily if her research didn’t come first. I enjoyed getting the opportunity to explore her brilliant mind and absorb her vast knowledge on the fae through her journal. 

 

Fawcett really created something special and I know I’m not alone in saying that I cannot wait for what comes next!

Review: Diviak’s sports romance balances deep, emotional topics with heart fluttering moments. 

 

“The Signature Move” follows Logan Beckett and Averie “Ava” Laurier, two athletes who are forced to share a rink. Both are determined to ignore each other, but Waybrook isn’t a big enough town to stop their paths from colliding. When the captain of the Waybrook Winter Wolves hockey team and the world champion skater clash, it’s only a matter of time before anger harbored over divvied rink time melts into passion. 

 

This book has everything I love in a romance: dual pov, rivals to lovers, small town, and slow romantic development. When I say this is a slow burn, it is a slowwww burn. The beginning took a little bit to pick up, but once Logan and Ava finally gave in to their attraction, I could not get enough of their dynamic as a couple. They are characterized so differently with Ava being the sweetest, sunshine girl and Logan being more guarded and stoic. Their opposite personalities compliment each other and make their rivals-to-lovers romance more satisfying. 

 

I really appreciated the emphasis on found family in this book. Both characters experience abuse at the hand of a parent that causes anxiety and in Ava’s case, an eating disorder. Throughout the novel, Logan and Ava build a family of their own with each other and the friends/coaches/teammates they forge meaningful connections with in their close knit town. One qualm I had with this book is that not all the side characters are fleshed out—therefore I wasn’t as invested in them and their own plot lines—but I did like the roles they played in Logan and Ava’s story. 

Review: The conclusion to Lan and Zen’s story will overwhelm your tear ducts.

Following the events of the first installment, “Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White” revolves around Lan and Zen as they seek out a way save their kingdom from the Elantian colonizers. At the center of both of their journeys are the Demon Gods and the immense power they have. Only, they are no longer fighting together. Now on opposite sides, Lan and Zen will have to face each other and the choices they made to free their people. 

Inspired by ancient Chinese history and mythology “Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White” is just as lyrical and atmospheric as its predecessor. 

Having done all the heavy lifting in terms of world-building in the previous novel, Zhao focuses mainly on Lan and Zen’s relationship. Their star-crossed love was captivating, making it difficult to put this book down even as my heart was breaking. 

The internal struggle Zen faces throughout the book - losing himself completely to the Demon God devouring his soul, yet wanting to give Lan his heart - absolutely wrecked me. Seriously. Reading from Zen’s perspective was almost painful because I grew so attached to his character and understood the cause he sacrificed everything for, which is a testament to Zhao’s ability to heighten emotions in her readers.

Much like “Song of Silver, Flame Like Night,” this book’s ending is equally beautiful and devastating. While bittersweet, wrapping it up any other way would have been unsatisfying. Make sure you have tissues on hand!