I received a copy of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Nemesis by Anna Banks is a fantastic, fast-paced fantasy where politics and magic reign. Told in alternating points of view, the story opens with Sepora running away from her dictator father and into the enemy kingdom where Tarik is preparing to take his father’s role as emperor when his father succumbs to the plague crippling his people. When their paths cross, lies are told to hide Sepora’s true identity and an uneasy friendship begins.

Sepora & Tarik ♥︎
Sepora is an easy character to like. She’s a trained fighter, a princess, and the last known Forger. It is the last ability that is the catalyst for her running away. Her father wants to use her as a weapon, forging Spectorium (a magical metal like substance that has multiple uses) and keeping it from the other kingdoms who rely on it.

Tarik however is who won my heart. Tarik is the loving son of the king of Theoria. He is grieving for his father at the onset of the book, and yet he pushes that aside in a desperate attempt to find a cure for his people. A wasting type plague has infected them, and almost all infected succumb as his father did.

When an Enemy Becomes an Ally
While fleeing her kingdom, Sepora is captured and sold into the new king Tarik’s harem. This I thought was an interesting twist. With Sepora’s silvery eyes, it is likely she will be found out. However no one has seen the princess of Spectoria in many years, even Tarik. So she hides in plain sight.

Tarik is like a human lie detector and detects that Sepora is lying about something but doesn’t know what. As a result, he keeps her close to him, even admitting her into his council. Yet he never fully trusts her, and as a result this creates a whole lot of lies with the truth sprinkled in.

Underwhelming with a Strong Conclusion
Nemesis is a hard one to decide if I loved or just liked it. The majority of the book is spent with world-building, introducing the different characters, species, and countries, AND the abilities that some are born with (like Sepora’s Forging ability). There’s some light romance, NOT INSTA-LOVE (yay!) but enemy to friends to lovers trope. But the ending!!!! GAH! I loved it. It fit the story and had me purchasing book 2 and immediately reading it. If you enjoy YA fantasy with a light dose of romance, I recommend it.

I received an eARC of this book from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Rise of the Witch by Rebecca Ethington is the first book in her new series Phoenix's Ashes about shifters. But not just any shifters, DRAGON shifters. DRAGONS!!! Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE dragons?! Surely at some point this has been mentioned, but in case not…..I LOVE DRAGONS!!!! Y’all this book is fan-freaking-tastic! If you enjoy urban fantasy and don’t mind (or really love) reverse harems, you’ve got to read this book.

A Phoenix and Her Dragons
Rise of the Witch opens with a vivid scene of Elliot, Ellie for short, and a cliff. This swan dive leaves Ellie open to those that hunt her. You see, Ellie’s shifter is unique. She’s a phoenix, the only one of her kind. Her entire life Ellie has been forced to hide. Hide herself. Hide her phoenix. Hide her true nature. Why? Because some want her blood, which if legend is true, holds the key to immortality. Just shy of 18, Ellie is becoming frustrated with her guardian and friend. She wants a little freedom. She thinks she knows what she needs to know about the shifter world, yet she couldn’t be more wrong. And she finds this out the morning after her swan dive.

In less than 24 hours, Ellie meets not one, not two, but three dragon shifters after spending her entire life hiding from them. Killian, Jarron, and Drake are brothers who could not be more different from each other. Killian is the eldest, heir to the Dragon King, and on the outside seems merciless and cold. Jarron is the middle brother, beautiful, and a smooth talker. Drake is the youngest and shyest of the three, yet more relatable to Ellie than his elder brothers. Personally I couldn’t choose a favorite if I tried. At first I really liked Drake, then towards the middle I fell for Jarron, and in the end my heart broke for Killian. Luckily I don’t have to choose 😉

The Circus, a Dragon King, and Mates
A majority of the book is set in a circus. This circus has been Ellie’s home her entire life. Suvi, a witch, is the owner of the circus and Ellie’s guardian. I loved this setting. I’ve always enjoyed the performers and sideshows. Ellie herself performs on the silks and reading this through her eyes it’s like you are flying. The circus provides ample protection from the outside world and keeps Ellie moving so she never settles in one place. Important for someone in hiding.

Who is she hiding from? The Dragon King, Ceres. Ceres is responsible for the death of her father and thousands of fae. He is cruel and wants to rule forever. His main focus is to find the phoenix and drink her blood, becoming immortal himself. However fate has provided Ellie with not one, but three mates who will protect her at all costs.

I’ve never been a big fan of reverse harems. I’m a one man kind of girl. However it works in this urban fantasy setting, especially with how Suvi settles the dragons who are ready to fight for Ellie. Suvi says that she needs all three of them if they are to defeat Ceres which happens to be everyone’s goal. The chemistry among Ellie and her dragons will heat your cheeks, however with Ellie still being under 18, not much happens except for some steamy kissing. That being said I do expect Ethington to ramp up the heat in the coming books, as she’s warned her readers on her social media.

Melting Point
Overall I loved Rise of the Witch! This is the first new series Rebecca Ethington has released in several years and I was ecstatic to get my hands on it. It was well worth the wait. These dragons are hot! Ellie’s struggle with having three mates, the dragons’ struggle with protecting her and defeating their father culminate in an explosive ending. I’m SO thankful book 2 comes out in just a few weeks. I’m not sure I could handle waiting longer. If you enjoy urban fantasy, reverse harems with a slow burn romance, I highly recommend you grab a copy of this one ASAP. It does not disappoint!

I received an eARC of this book from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

What a ride!!!! Strain of Vengeance by Michelle Bryan is the final book in the Bixby Series and I couldn’t be more pleased. My emotions were everywhere reading this book, and Bryan kept me on the edge of my seat, holding my breath til the very last page. Picking up just a few days after the end of Strain of Defiance, Bixby and the survivors from the Grand are now on a desperate search and rescue mission to find those who were taken.

Sam, Luke, and Bixby
Love triangles…..I have a love-hate relationship with them. Yet it works in this series. Bixby is in love with two men. She can willingly admit it to herself. She thought Sam was dead. She grieved and was ready to move on. And she does with Luke. Luke is a perfect opposite to the crass Bixby. He centers and grounds her, forces her to feel again, and loves her fiercely even when she’s mean to him. He sees her unlike anyone else. Can you tell who I root for? 😉

When Sam reappears, alive and….well he’s not exactly good, Bixby is hopelessly confused. Her heart loves both men, but her head says she should love Sam. He was her first everything. But while Sam was missing, he was subjected to the aliens and no one knows the consequences of that.

This entire triangle was set up in book 2 and touched on, but Bixby really confronts it during this book. Facing up to the fact that she loves both men, and is ready to make a decision. As a reader, it is pretty clear early on who she is going to choose which ramps up the angst surrounding these characters. My heart physically ached for all involved.

The End?
In this final installment of the series, Bixby and her crew (which has grown to include Sam and other characters they met at the farm and research facility) are on a final mission: Find the hive, destroy the queen bee….erhm alien. I LOVE the world-building here. Each book in the series as Bixby and the other characters learn about these parasites that infected their world, we the reader learn as well. Bryan introduces and evolves these aliens at every plot point and encounter. I LOVE it!!!

And the suspense?! Holy guacamole!!! I was on the edge of seat and holding my breath a majority of the time I was reading. I couldn’t get the pages on my Kindle to turn fast enough. Between the fast pace and the suspense of the hybrids/aliens hunting the characters, I’m surprised my heart didn’t just give out.

And that ending?!?!



My Conclusion
I have loved every book in the Bixby Series, but I think that Strain of Vengeance is my favorite of the three. Bixby and her crew have come full circle. The post-apocalyptic world is on the edge of dying and the characters are focused on surviving. And that ending?! Have I already mentioned it 😉 Seriously though, it is perfection. I was crying, then squealing, then cursing….all in the span of like 10 minutes. My poor husband was quite concerned for my mental wellbeing 😂 Overall, I give this 10 stars!!!! If you are a fan of the series OR you haven’t started it yet, now is the time to do so. I highly recommend this to anyone that enjoys post-apocalyptic sci-fi.

I received an eARC of this book from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Please note that there may be spoilers to prior books in this review. Read at your own risk.

Sioban Davis has done it again! I devoured The Warrior Princess forgoing sleep to finish it in the wee hours of the morning. SO worth it!!! Picking up right where The Secret Heir left off, Davis throws the reader right into the action without a time gap and little recap (so if you haven’t read the previous books you will be lost). Alinthia has been taken by the government, and the boys are in the hands of General Arantu. Things couldn’t be worse for them, or could it? It’s Davis so we know it will 😉

Alinthia and Her Protectors
I really felt for Alinthia in this book. Not only is she dealing with being captured, she is separated from her protectors and betrayed by her best friend. She’s grieving and angry, ready for a fight. However her predicament really prevents that. As the reader, it’s interesting to read how Alinthia handles not only her capture, but her separation. Instead of wallowing, which let’s face it most would, she faces it head on with determination. She never doubts her ability to escape and save her protectors which is admirable, if not a little cocky and reckless.

Her protectors on the other hand are at the mercy of Arantu and his daughter. Their storyline is dark and agonizing at times to read. Torture just doesn’t seem like an adequate word for what happens to them, specifically Dane. My heart broke over and over again, and it physically ached while my stomach turned at what I was reading. I’ll admit that even though I finished this book in one sitting, I had to step away a few times and skim a couple because it was too much for me. However Davis captures the raw pain of the characters beautifully.

Betrayal and Power
Most of this book takes place on two worlds: Earth with Alinthia and Alinthia’s home world with her protectors. I was curious as to how this would balance out. This series is billed as a reverse harem romance yet the boys are off planet and separated from Alinthia a majority of the story. My curiosity was satisfied 😀 In the previous books a few chapters are told from the boys’ POV and the same here.

As I already mentioned, Alinthia is dealing with betrayal, but she isn’t the only one. The boys are dealing with their handler’s betrayal and learning that everything they’ve been taught to believe isn’t true. The prophecy was twisted to fit Arantu’s agenda. Everything they thought they knew as fact is now put into question.

And Alinthia….well she is pushed to her breaking point. Her powers are becoming stronger and without the boys there to guide her she has to rely on the one person she doesn’t trust. I love how Davis shows Alinthia’s cunning here. It’s a character trait that was already present, but really fleshed out as Alinthia trains in the government facility.

More Please?
Overall I loved The Warrior Princess….well as much as you can say you love a book filled with torture 😉 Alinthia’s growth, the boys torture, the confrontation with Arantu….it’s all written perfectly with emotion that bleeds off the pages. I cannot wait to read the next installment and see how Davis handles the healing and aftermath of the events in this one. If you enjoy science fiction romance, I highly recommend it!

I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Why oh WHY?!?! I’m feeling all the emotions right now! Smoke and Iron by Rachel Caine is the much anticipated 4th book of The Great Library and picks up right were Ash and Quill left us hanging. Without spoiling that one, I’ll just say that Jess and Dario’s harebrained plan has left the friends split up and being tortured….yeah good going guys 🙄

Jess, Morgan, and KHALILA
Told in multiple POV this time, Smoke and Iron plays out much like I thought it would AND not at all like I expected. Jess is in the hands of the Archivist and pretending to be something he is not. It takes all of his cunning and then some to pull it off. But pull it off he does and it is magnificent. I caught myself holding my breath through most of his chapters.

Morgan is with the Obscurists. I loved her scenes. Not only do we finally get a peek into what they do inside the Iron Tower, but we also meet new characters: Anissa and Eskander. Anissa is kind and sweet, but pulls no punches. She isn’t very powerful, but what she lacks in power she more than makes up for in stealth. Eskander however is scary powerful. That’s all I’ll say about him, because…..



And KHALILA!!! Sheesh does she step up this book or what?! I’ll be honest. The first time Khalila was introduced into the series, I kind of overlooked her. She didn’t seem to be an important character, other than to be smarter than Jess and drive Dario mad with want. Well…she does all that and more. As the reader, you get to be in her head and see the turmoil she is going through along with her resolve. Seriously she makes me want to fight a revolution!

Revolution on the Horizon
The plot of this book is complicated and simple all at the same time. Jess is trying to infiltrate and kill the Archivist. It’s crazy, but if it saves more books and the people that protect them, it’s worth it. While in the previous books, the Archivist was on the outskirts, just out of reach, he is present in this book and within Jess’s grasp. The big bad becomes fully fleshed out and honestly he’s a bit scary because of the power he wields.

Despite being scary, the people are beginning to see through him and question his decisions. As a reader, you realize he’s inferior and his time is coming to end long before the characters. Caine does a fantastic job of foreshadowing and playing into the reader’s anticipation. I seriously couldn’t set the book down because it is SO fast paced.

My Final Thoughts
Overall I really enjoyed Smoke and Iron! It was a quick, fast-paced read that kept me guessing until the very end. And the end 😭 I’m not over it yet. I need the next book. The world-building, the characters, I need to know what happens next. What more could they possibly go through?! If you’ve enjoyed the first three books, don’t wait to read the next one. It’s satisfying and still leaves you wanting more.

I received a copy of this book via the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Post-nuclear war society. Dictators. Pirates. Revenge. Romance. SPACE!!! Y’all this book is fantastic 😀 The Heights of Perdition by C.S. Johnson is the first book in her The Divine Space Pirates series. It is unputdownable (is that a word?). I could not read it fast enough. If you enjoy dystopias and science fiction, I highly recommend it.

Aeris and Captain Chainsword
Aeris, or Aerie, St. Cloud is a graduating comrade of the State government and daughter to the general (second-in-command). Willful and at times considered disobedient, Aerie wants nothing more than to be a part of the military to show her father and unit (family) that she can do it. However her father disagrees as does the other generals. She is placed in a job and told that she can reapply in a year. Then she’s kidnapped inadvertently by the infamous ghost of Captain Chainsword and her life is turned upside down. I like Aerie. She’s got spunk. Despite learning that her truth isn’t exactly true, Aerie perseveres and honestly thrives. I loved reading her character’s growth. It was believable, raw, and honest.

Captain Chainsword isn’t really a ghost. He’s Exton Shepherd, a former comrade of the State who was disillusioned and left. Now he works with the rebels trying to build a better world, but he’s also hell-bent on revenge for his father’s death. I won’t say too much about the why and how as it plays a large role in the plot. I love Exton! He sees himself as damaged and without a heart, but he feels so much for his crew, the people he saves, even the stowaway he took when he was after a tree. It says a lot about his character how he treats Aerie when he first finds her, even knowing she works with his enemy.

The Perdition
The space ship itself needs mentioning 😀 The setting on the Perdition is fantastic. Every detail is laid out by Johnson and I felt like I was there. It kind of reminds me of the Star Ship Enterprise….I know different universe but still. It’s massive with many levels and plays a vital role in this book.

My Final Thoughts
Overall I really enjoyed The Heights of Perdition. Aerie’s plight and her white lie wind up driving the plot. My heart broke for her as she learned about Exton and his crew, his father, and the real mission behind the Perdition. And Exton….he just makes my heart ache. Oh and the cliffhanger?!?! Let’s just say I’m glad that the series is already finished 😉 I highly recommend this series for anyone that enjoys science fiction and dystopias with a touch of romance.

Fall of the Dragon by Rebecca Ethington picks up right where book one of Phoenix's Ashes left off. The tension is palpable on the pages as the dragons and phoenix come face to face with the dragon king for the first time….well at least it’s Ellie’s first time. The plot is faster paced this time, and the stakes seem higher as Ellie learns more about her heritage and what it really means being the phoenix.

Ellie and her Dragons
I like Ellie’s development in this book. She was a bit immature and naive in Rise of the Witch. However here she knows more about the shifter world that was kept from her growing up. She makes wiser decisions and is rightfully (and finally) scared of her fate. I also enjoyed how she fought the mate bond. She fights it in the first book, but in reality it was more that she was freaked out by it. In this installment, she accepts the bond and what it means, but doesn’t give into it. Instead she wants to know her dragon mates, what they stand for and how to protect them.

Her dragons….Killian, Jarron, and Drake. What can I say about these males? Several reviewers for the first book pointed out how possessive they are. And it’s true, they are possessive. I guess I overlooked that in the first book because, well dragons. Dragons in mythology are possessive creatures with hordes. It stands to reason they’d be the same with their mate. Of all the dragons I can’t pick a favorite. Drake is the sensitive, younger brother who seems to be most intuitive of Ellie’s needs. Jarron is the ladies man and can’t seem to help himself with the flirting. He really does it just to see Ellie smile which in turn makes me smile.

And then there’s Killian. If you’ve read Rise of the Witch, you are aware where his relationship with Ellie currently stands. It isn’t good 😬 Killian is probably the hardest of Ellie’s mates to like. Killian is the eldest brother, the dragon king’s heir, and one scary dude to boot. However, in this book Ethington really grows his character. We get an insight into his thoughts and feelings which he rarely shows to others. He’s got a big heart and is trying to do right, all while trying to break the cycle of abuse he was raised with.

Dragons, Vampires, and Fae
What I love most about this series is Rebecca Ethington‘s world-building. I love how (so far) we’ve encountered many different types of paranormal creatures, all living in this urban fantasy world. While this series focuses on the dragons, there are also vampires and fae. I love how they are tied into this world and what Ethington does with them. I kind of can’t wait to see Callay’s role in the upcoming books.

While Ellie is still learning all there is to know about this world she was hidden from, we the readers also get a glimpse. Sometimes (because the POV alternates among Ellie and her dragons) we know things before Ellie. Y’all I love irony 😀

My Final Thoughts
Overall I really enjoyed Fall of the Dragon. If possible, I think I enjoyed it more than the first book. The continued world-building, the fast plot, and the building romance have me hooked. If you enjoy slow-burn romance, reverse harems, and urban fantasy, I highly recommend this series.

3.5★ rounded up

I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

When I received an early copy of The Guardian by Sarah Fine, I couldn’t wait to start it. In fact, I stopped reading what I was on so that I could immediately start this one. And y’all it did NOT disappoint! Picking up a few months after the events of The Serpent, we find Ernie trying to right a wrong before being swept away by another immortal dealer for a not so fun adventure.

I should note that if you have NOT read "The Serpent", there may be minor spoilers to that story in this review. Read at your own risk.

Ernie’s Immortal and Lonely
Ernie is exactly how I remember her. She’s a fighter, has a strong moral code, and is still searching for her father. While she thought he’d left her as a child, she’s now learned that he was forced to and also became an immortal dealer in the process. Now that Ernie has inadvertently followed in his footsteps, she’s determined to find him. It beats the alternative….missing Gabe.

So one of things I found myself struggling with in this installment is that none of the characters I was excited to explore and see more of were present, particularly Gabe…you know the love interest. This made for a long read if you were expecting more romance, which I kind of was. However (without spoiling anything) the relationship between Gabe and Ernie becomes more relatable and realistic as the book progresses.

A Splinter Dimension
Yep, Fine went there. In this installment, Ernie learns that Earth is not the only place when she gets thrown into another dimension after an encounter with the Chicken dealer. It was an interesting twist, kind of like a pocket dimension with a Frankenstein-ish atmosphere. A majority of the book takes place here and a lot of backstory about the dealers is revealed when Ernie finds something she has desperately been looking for.

Final Thoughts
Overall, while I enjoyed The Guardian, I didn’t love it like I did The Serpent. Too much was missing until the very end. But that ending….it was explosive (no pun intended). I’ll definitely be watching for the next one and hope that Fine builds on what she introduced in the first two installments. If you enjoy urban fantasy with a taste (and I do mean just a little taste) of romance, I highly recommend it.

I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

To say I was excited when I found out that Jennifer L Armentrout was writing a spin-off series to Lux is an understatement. I was bouncing off my seat giddy! The Darkest Star doesn’t disappoint either. It delivered a unique tale that both honored the original series with some cameos and easter eggs AND continued the world-building. Set roughly five years after the end of Opposition, The Darkest Star follows Evie Dasher and how she finds out that everything in her life is a lie.

The Daughter of a Hero
Evie Dasher is your typical teen, well typical in the sense that she survived an alien invasion and may suffer from PTSD. You get the picture ;) Evie is a fun character and one that I quickly figured out was about to have a large wrench thrown into her seemingly perfect life. Raised by a single, work-obsessed mom, Evie finds herself alone most of the time. She's a rule follower, not impulsive, and enjoys photography.

When the story opens, Evie has been convinced to go to a local Luxen bar with her friend. Using fake IDs which just the thought of gives Evie palpitations, they get in AND this is where the story gets interesting. A handsome character, who if you’ve read the Lux series you’ll recognize instantly, enters the scene…..LUC!!!! Y’all I was SO excited to see him. I knew this series would feature him, but



Luc is everything he was when we first met him in the Lux series and more. He’s older, hotter, cagier, just more everything. He’s still annoying, manipulative, but dare I say it he’s shown he has feelings! The back and forth between him and Evie is the angst you’ve come to know and love from Armentrout.

Secrets and Lies
All the secrets and lies that surround Evie begin to unravel as an unknown player has entered the game. Humans are being killed, and it is made to look like a Luxen did it. Yet Luc knows better, as does Evie. Evie begins to question everything: her dad’s role in the Luxen invasion, her mom’s knowledge of it, the Luxen at her school, even her friends and memories.

I loved the additional world-building here. We are seeing a post-Luxen invasion world. People still live in fear, the Luxen are forced to wear a power-suppressing wrist band (my mind immediately went to the Star of David Jews wore in Germany during WWII, don’t ask me why), and they are segregated. New laws to “protect” humans and Luxen alike have been passed. These people are living in fear daily, always looking over their shoulders. It made for an interesting, fast-paced read.

My Final Thoughts
The Darkest Star was everything I wanted and more from the Luxen world. Armentrout delivers a new story with new characters and new troubles while staying true to the original world she built in Lux. Y'all it's fantastic!!! If you enjoy urban fantasy or paranormal romance, I highly recommend you get yourself a copy ASAP.

Perfect companion to The Imdalind Series! Ilyan by Rebecca Ethington is the conclusion fans of the series have been waiting for. Not only that it sets up the new spinoff series, making me even more excited than I already was. At the end of [b:Crown of Cinders|32059737|Crown of Cinders (Imdalind, #7)|Rebecca Ethington|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1475781146s/32059737.jpg|52702197], readers are left wondering what happened during the years Ilyan was missing. Where was he? What happened to him? What was going on that Jocelyn couldn’t find him? This book answers those questions.

Ilyan is not the same person I knew and loved from the original series. He is lost, almost like a young child, and frustrated that his memory is gone. Becoming known as Jan Kowalski, Ilyan struggles to grasp to the few memories that filter in. He tries to decipher what they mean and clings to the few clues he receives. There is one theme to his memories though and that’s a woman whom he loved deeply. Tortured and beaten, Ilyan slips into comas for years at a time, while his magic slowly heals him.

The book revolves around Ilyan and his missing memories but also around the events taking place in the world outside the hospital. He catches glimpses of it on the news, and his nurse also filters information to him. The world isn’t how it should be. After the dome and vily escaped into the world, chaos erupted and the world fell into war. It’s a dystopian mixed with the urban fantasy I’ve come to love from Ethington. While the first part of the book was slow moving as Ilyan tried to remember who he was and learned to control his magic, the second half more than made up for it.

Overall I really enjoyed Ilyan. I found myself horrified at what my beloved character went through and rooting for him to remember Jocelyn. Every memory was perfect. Some are familiar but from Ilyan’s perspective (which I LOVED) and some were new. What made this book great though was how it sets up the new series. It introduces the villain, the dystopian-like world post-Sain/Edmond, and why Ilyan has stepped down from his role. For anyone that loves the series this is a must read!