It’s been three days since I finished this book, and I can’t stop thinking about it. The cover is my phone’s lock screen. I’ve talked far too much about it to the two people around me willing to listen, and checked the author’s Instagram page multiple times for any extra content and sequel news I can find. The new book I’ve started hasn’t managed to take my mind off of this one. In between writing this, I’ve already given in and reread all of my favorite scenes. The chances of me doing that repeatedly while I wait for the sequel are high.

I can’t remember the last time a book had such a monumental impact on me. You see people say books have altered their brain chemistry. I think this one actually did alter mine.

I don’t know if I can do it justice, either. The story is thrilling, the world-building creative and impressively thorough, and the characters. Gods, the characters. To put it simply, they’re phenomenal. I absolutely adore these boys. I liked Niko from the start, and was increasingly curious about Elliott because I knew there had to be more to him. And there was. In the end, while I love both of them to pieces, I might love Elliott just a tiny bit more. If Niko and I have one thing in common, it’s that we both want to give him a hug and protect him from the big, bad world. It’s what he deserves.

I also love the way they continually subverted expectations, both as individuals and as a couple. It’s hard to explain without spoilers, and I’m not sure I could do it well anyway, with one exception. You wouldn’t expect a bounty hunter and an assassin to be so exceedingly tender with one another, yet they are. I think my heart grew three sizes every time they had a soft, sweet moment.

Niko pulling Elliott down into his lap to give him a hug might actually be my favorite thing ever, especially when they stay like that for a while. And don’t even get me STARTED on Elliott calling Niko “lover”. It made me so absurdly happy every time, and now I’ll never be able to look at Taylor Swift’s song or album the same way.

Funnily enough, I didn’t feel this way immediately. Through the first half of the book, I was conflicted. It was a fun read, I knew I was enjoying it, but there were details I was unsure about. I also remember thinking there just wasn’t that inexplicable spark I needed to truly fall in love with the characters and their story.

And then chapter eleven happened. Even though the story took one of a few paths I had suspected it might, something else happened, too. I don’t know exactly what. Only that, suddenly, I had a very different perspective. I was rooting for these boys, I loved them more than words could ever say, and I was more invested in their story than I had been in anything else in quite a while. I was in it for the long haul.

Now, yes, there are still a couple of things I could nitpick. The first half of the book was somewhat formulaic. The big bad felt more than a little bit shallow, like evil just for the sake of being evil. But the book as a whole was fun, and I think—I hope—the story will evolve as the trilogy continues. So, I’ve decided I don’t care. It doesn’t need to be perfect if it can get a reaction out of me, and this one made me feel the full range of emotions. It might well end up being my favorite read of the year.

All of that to say, I’m Team Starhawk (IYKYK), and my new goal in life is to get as many people to read this as possible, because my boys deserve the world.

Representation:

First things first, I have to say—having a character whose name is one letter off from Astarion AND a character who gives off such strong Astarion vibes in the same book was a WILD TIME. I didn’t even know the Minotaur had a name beyond his title until this book.

Beyond that, once again, Katee took characters I really hadn’t cared about before and made me care. I might not be invested in Ariadne and Asterion* the way I am the other couples and throuples of the series, but I do like them, more than I ever thought I would. He follows her around like a big, hulking lovesick puppy and tries not to murder (too many) people because murder makes her sad, and it was actually, weirdly sweet. Apparently Katee can convince me of just about anything.

(*My phone even tried autocorrecting his name to Astarion. Send help.)

The best part of this book were the tiny little tidbits I got of our past stars of the show. It was nice to see Psyche and Eros again, even briefly, and to get a glimpse of Ares and her boys. I miss all of them. Granted, I didn’t get to see my favorite sisters or their boys because

the lower city is locked down

—and that’s definitely for the best—but at least I got something. (My ideal situation is all of them surviving the series and Katee giving us bonus chapters of each ship in the aftermath. I will beg.)

As for the actual plot, I was NOT expecting

the barrier to come down

so soon??? We’ve still got three books left!! I am concerned!!! And I have no idea what the hells to expect from here on out.

I do know I love Icarus, though. My poor, sweet baby boy. Katee wasn’t kidding about the Astarion fanfic. I’m looking so very forward to reading more of it.

Representation:

When someone on Reddit said “sapphic zombie apocalypse book”, I couldn’t run to KU fast enough. I dove into it immediately, and I have no regrets. It might be a slower book, but the complex leads and their incredibly sweet allies to friends to lovers relationship were more than enough to make up for the story’s occasional dragging moment. The truth about the hoodie nearly had me squealing because it was so cute, and I’m pretty sure I’m always going to think of Saff and Maddie now when I see or smell popcorn.

Even at its lower points, the story kept my attention. More than once, I sat down thinking I’d read a couple of chapters, then got sucked in and ended up reading six, seven or more. I would plan to stop at the end of a chapter, and then be too curious about what happened next to actually stop. You know a book is good when.

Additionally, I think this is the first time I’ve read anything featuring a blind character, and it definitely added a new depth to the story for me. The shifts in narration were interesting, going back and forth between one protagonist that could offer physical descriptions and one that had to work around their absence. I feel like I can’t describe it in a way that does it justice, but it was done well. (It also got me thinking about how terrifyingly terrible it would be to be blind in an apocalypse. As if the apocalypse wouldn’t be nightmarish enough on its own. Nine hells.)

But yeah, all in all, I really, really liked this book. I got so much more from it than I expected going in, and that makes me happy. Good job, Nicole Maser.

Representation:

When a book is centered more on its characters than any sort of overarching plot, those characters need to be compelling. Unfortunately, I felt no chemistry between Minnie and Rosier, and I didn’t feel anything for them, either. In Teeth and Tarot, Lance and Reagan’s dynamic was appealing. I liked them, I enjoyed their story, and that held up on a reread, even when the attachment I remembered feeling the first time turned out not to be so strong.

Here, though? Nothing of the sort. I kept reading out of curiosity, and because there was no reason not to, and then the book was over but my opinion was the same.

Beyond that, the ending as a whole was unsatisfying. Minnie didn’t

get her revenge

or

break her curse

. She didn’t do much of anything except

almost die in a rather dumb way

* and then

run away to Hell with a guy she pegged once

. That last bit seemed very impulsive on her part, and more like a bandaid over a bullet wound than a real resolution.

(*Also, I have to say it.

This was so cringe for me, and embarrassing for her. She talked such a big game to the le Fays, and then went down in one hit, in approximately two seconds. Yikes.

)

There’s more I could say—about how this story doesn’t line up with the one outlined at the end of the first book, how it feels more like a slice-of-life piece about magic roommates but still manages to be bland and go basically nowhere, how both leads share traits with some of my favorite characters but fell too flat on their own for me to love them—but I’ve been working on this review for hours and I’m ready to be done with it. (Sorry not sorry.)

I don’t want to say that this book was bad, because it wasn’t. There was nothing inherently wrong with or terrible about it. But there was nothing memorable about it, either; nothing that will allow it to stand out in my mind as I read other things. And that might actually be even more tragic.

As of now, I’m undecided on whether or not I’ll stick around for the rest of the series.

Representation:

I just want to find another Windsor book I love as much as I loved the first one. Is that so much to ask?

Apparently, yes.

This book was good, but it wasn’t satisfying the way the first one was. I liked Faye, but I wasn’t attached to her or Dion the way I am to Raven and Ares. Honestly, Dion’s “I’m a monster” attitude got old fast, once I knew the truth. He made himself out to be way worse than he actually is, so after a while, I could only roll my eyes at him.

I liked the progression of their relationship, how they brought out the best in their partner and helped each other heal, but that wasn’t enough for me to truly be invested in the two of them. It also didn’t help that every time I turned around, Dion was jumping to the conclusion that Faye was thinking of Eric, dreaming of Eric, seeing Eric behind his back. Come on, dude. I get having insecurities, but if you love your wife so much, how about you TRUST HER?

And then there was the inevitable third act breakup. Are romance authors aware that they can write a solid book without including one? Because I’m sure it’s possible. This one in particular was poorly written, it felt unnecessary, and more than anything, it felt like an injustice to both leads.

Faye buying the cottage was clearly a trauma response, and that’s valid. I don’t see anything wrong with her buying it, or keeping that she did buy it to herself. What doesn’t make sense to me is that, although it’s meant to be a “just in case” safe haven, she decorated it as extensively as her and Dion’s actual house, and chose to spend recreational time there when absolutely nothing was wrong between the two of them, as if that wasn’t going to blow up in her face at some point. And what I really, really didn’t like is how Dion reacted to the discovery. Yeah, sure, it doesn’t look good at first glance, but again: TRUST YOUR WIFE. She has given you NO REASON not to. Put your trauma aside for five seconds and remember that she has trauma of her own. Honestly, the whole conflict seemed dismissive of her side of the story, and the resolution felt very skewed in his favor, too. The answer is not for her to sell the cottage to appease him (I’m not actually sure if this happened), or for him to force a separation that neither of them want because he thinks it’s what’s best for her (I know this did). The answer, in my opinion, is to keep the cottage, talk things out, and above all, GO TO THERAPY. Each of them needs an individual therapist to help work through their own issues, and then they need a couples therapist to help make sure those issues don’t negatively impact the relationship. But what do I know.

In favor of ending on a happier note, I will say I quite liked seeing more of both Ares and Raven in this book (even if it wasn’t actually the two of them together), how Raven is thriving, and how the other Windsor girls welcomed Faye into their squad with open arms. Windsor Girls Anti-Poker Night is such an iconic name, too. I love to see all of it. (Now I just need actual Ares and Raven couple content, and we’ll be golden. Please, Catharina!!! I’m asking for ONE THING.)

Current ranking of the series:

Representation:

It took two chapters for me to be hooked on Ares and Raven, and I fell completely in love with them as the book went on. Between that, and how intrigued I was by the foundation set for Luca and Val, I had high hopes for their book. I couldn’t wait to start it.

So imagine my disappointment when I felt absolutely nothing for the two of them at all. There were cute moments and funny ones, sure, but I never truly got attached. For far too much of the story, it didn’t feel like they had any real chemistry, and Luca wasn’t being charming; he was being an asshole. Even when things shifted somewhere around the halfway point, when I could finally see a connection forming and Luca found his footing as both a lead and a lover, I was never rooting for them. I wasn’t invested. And that’s really the crux of the issue here, I think. Everything else I could say comes back to this.

Well, almost everything. If there’s one thing I loved in both books, it was seeing the other Windsors come together to support the two leads when the going got rough. They’ve got such a great dynamic. I love the siblings, and how wholly they welcomed first Raven and now Val into their circle. This might well be my favorite part of these books, and I’m looking so forward to more of these moments as I continue the series.

On the other hand, if there’s one thing I didn’t love in either book, it’s Grandma’s actions in the final third. Once again, I’ve got beef with Grandma.

I fully expected something to happen that would lead to Luca and Val breaking the  newlywed rules and suffering the consequences. But even so, I hated the way Grandma evicted Luca without a single bit of remorse. I was proud of him for talking back to her as he complied, for telling her that he hoped these rules were worth losing a grandson because he would never come back and he would never forgive her. I just wish he’d actually stood his ground. I wish he and Val had cut ties with her and moved to Canada for a fresh start, away from her and all of her crap. It would’ve been so satisfying, even more so if the siblings took their side and followed suit. That there was a brief mention of them refusing to come to family dinner isn’t enough. Grandma needs to face some real consequences for her actions. I don’t care if she says she had their best interests at heart. I don’t care if Val is technically right about her and Luca’s relationship only getting stronger as a result. The fact that they forgave her so easily and are now back in the family like nothing ever happened means Grandma won’t learn a gods-damned thing. It means she’ll just keep being a manipulative, controlling asshole, because none of her grandkids will properly stand up to her. And I’m salty about it.

Alright, I think I’m about done. This book wasn’t inherently good or bad, but it also wasn’t anything I’d hoped it would be. I really hope I enjoy the next one more.

Current ranking of the series:

Representation:

This book was a random KU pick I started without any expectations, just some hope for a fun time, and it took me completely by surprise. The characters were so well-written, Raven and Ares’s chemistry so incredible, that I was hooked by the end of chapter two. I can’t remember the last time that happened. I proceeded to devour the rest of the book in less than two days, my other current read and all other hobbies pushed aside because I needed to know what happened next. It was such an unbelievably fun time and one hell of a wild ride, and I loved it.

Raven gives me Stella vibes (from Ana Huang’s Twisted Lies), and Stella is one of my favorite romance leads, so I loved that. Her dynamic with Ares felt reminiscent of Stella’s with Christian in the best way, despite Ares essentially being Christian’s polar opposite. I want to say “maybe that’s why I loved them so much”, but I don’t think they needed any help. The thrill of watching them fall in love and eventually realize the full extent of their feelings was more than enough, no comparisons needed. I especially loved Ares’s side of the story, because he was so obviously smitten from the get-go and only grew to adore her more as time passed. Romance men simping for their woman is my favorite thing, and he absolutely delivered.

HE’S SO SWEET. And the two of them together are so adorable. Even after finishing the book, thinking of them puts the cheesiest grin on my face. 🧁🩷

Moving past my mushy feelings, one thing that seriously impressed me was how well these two communicated with one another. They talked through their issues, listened and empathized with one another, and handled everything maturely. Not once was an issue blown out of proportion or exploited for drama, and it was so refreshing.

The only thing that really bothered me was in the last third of the book, when one character went completely against the values they’d been preaching until that point.

Grandma insisted on taking Hannah in because she was pregnant with the first next-gen Windsor, because of the importance of family. But she knows how horrible Hannah and the Du Pont parents are to Raven, who she says she loves like one of her own and has for a long time, long before she married Ares. Now Raven is actually a Windsor, she’s actually a part of this family that’s supposed to prioritize each other above all else, and Grandma chooses Hannah instead? She has Hannah move in with Raven and Ares and tells them to “work through their issues”, as if it’s that simple? When she knows neither of them want it, and the situation will devastate Raven? What the hell??? This woman is the matriarch of the family, and it had been said more than once that she ruled it with an iron fist. It would’ve been so easy for her to tell Hannah no. To tell her that she gets nothing from them because she walked away from Ares. That she isn’t a Windsor, they don’t accept her or her child as a Windsor, the only children accepted as legitimate will be Raven’s, and she needs to leave and not come back. In my opinion, it’s what she should’ve done. I admit, seeing the siblings come together to support Raven in the aftermath was sweet, as was her reunion with Ares, and seeing him put Hannah in her place once and for all was immensely satisfying, but still. Grandma should’ve nipped this in the bud before it could get so horrible, and I’m disappointed she didn’t.

Other than that? 10/10. I remember thinking a couple of times that things with Hannah felt a bit formulaic—that every time Raven and Ares were happy, she would show up like clockwork to be a meddling asshole, Raven would start to doubt, and Ares would do whatever he could to reassure her. I remember wondering, each of those times, if I thought the book deserved five stars. Now, having finished it, having fallen so in love with the characters and had such a fun time reading, I’ve decided I don’t care. It made me feel a full range of emotions, it had me excited to read—something that’s only just coming back after far too long away—and that’s enough. That more than makes up for the rest.

I’m so glad I took a chance on this book, I really am. Catharina Maura is a damn good writer, and I can’t wait to read more from her. If the rest of the Windsor books are anywhere near as delightful, I can easily see her becoming a new favorite. I plan to marathon them here soon and find out. Fingers crossed!

I spent a lot of time thinking about how to rate this book while reading the second half of it, and have finally settled on a four. Because, yeah, I had some issues, but it was fun to read. A whole lot of fun, right when I needed it most.

Said issues range from petty complaints about the love interest’s name to genuine criticisms of the protagonist and certain scenes. Most all of the holiday royals we meet or see mentioned have solid names that also serve as subtle nods to their respective holiday, and Hex seems rather lame in comparison. It feels more like a name for a black cat, or for someone’s goth OC whose main personality trait is Being Goth, than one for an actual character you want people to take seriously. I can’t help but think there are a multitude of Halloween-themed or related names that would’ve been better.

Moving from petty to genuine, I never got attached to Coal the way I did to Hex, Kris and Iris. I can’t pinpoint exactly what I disliked about him, if anything, or if something got in the way of me liking him. All I know is that, while his character development was quite impressive, he didn’t make a lasting impression on me like the others did. He was just… there. My favorite thing about him was the interactions he had with characters I did like. I know that sounds bad, and I feel bad about it, but it’s true.

Continuing that, I have what might well be the oddest critique of a book I’ve ever made—the sex scenes were incredibly vague. I don’t mean this in an “I’m disappointed they weren’t spicier” way. I mean, quite literally, they were vague, and it was weird. Not a single mention of any words one might expect in such scenes, anatomical or otherwise. On multiple occasions, I had to reread paragraphs to figure out exactly what was going on, and I’ve read enough filthy smut that I really don’t think it was a me problem. It felt like the author was afraid of giving too much detail, so she tried to give as little as possible instead. I think she would’ve been better off writing fade-to-black, and then some cute cuddle scenes afterward. I would’ve been perfectly happy with that. In fact, I would’ve been thrilled. (Honestly, I’m salty we didn’t get any cute cuddle scenes in the book as is. I wanted to see the boys being soft, and I was denied. Rude.)

And yet, I did still enjoy the book. Coal and Hex had great chemistry, and I loved watching them fall in love. There was considerably more plot and world-building than I was expecting, which was a nice surprise. A hidden world of holiday kingdoms nestled within our own is such a fun idea, one I believe was set up quite well, and I’m looking forward to seeing more of other holidays in future books.

I also really, really hope I get to see more of Hex, because I adore him. I liked him as soon as he was introduced, and then I read a bit more, and suddenly, he was my favorite character. I don’t know what happened, only that he’s a precious cinnamon roll that absolutely must be protected. And I would really like to be his friend. And give him a hug. 🖤🖤🖤

Representation:

I’ve been so curious about this book for so long. As it turns out, it wasn’t in any way what I expected, but quite entertaining all the same. I like Eve. I like Azazel. I really like their dynamic, even if some of the finer details had me skeptical for a while. Katee made the whole thing work in the end, I enjoyed the ride, and the ending was cute, too. That’s enough for me.

Also, we got more Ramanu in this book than we have in any of the others aside from their own, and it was DELIGHTFUL. They are truly the star of this series, as far as I’m concerned. (And I Did Not expect them to show up with Lenora at the end?! THE WAY I LOST MY MIND. I need to go reread their book YESTERDAY.)

Final ranking of the series:

My ranking has absolutely nothing to do with how often Ramanu shows up in each book. That’s just a funny little coincidence.

Representation:

Above all else, I love this quote. It might be my favorite Katee quote that isn’t snarky banter or a spicy comeback. I’ll definitely be taking it with me into the new year. 🧡

Beyond that, this had all the makings of a five-star read, except that I never truly got attached to it. I love Belladonna and Rusalka, but I don’t love them. I enjoyed their story and their romance, but I never went feral over it. (Not like I did with Lenora and Ramanu, who I now miss more than ever.) That’s not a bad thing, either, it just means not-quite-as-high of a rating.

I did quite like the setup for the next book, though. I’m so curious about Eve. 👀

Current ranking of the series:

Representation: