The hype around this book did not disappoint. I went in pretty blind not really knowing what to expect, and stumbled into a lush romantasy packed with danger, banter, and so much emotional damage I’m going to have my therapy bills forward to Devney Perry. 

Everything about this book just felt new and exciting to me. The concept of the crux was really interesting (i may or may not have compared the crux to the grasshoppers from a bug’s life when describing this to my husband and frankly i stand by that) and the political intrigue added layers of mystery, and with all the relationship dynamics going on this just felt like an explosion of dark and twisty goodness I could not put down. Odessa is a very relatable character to me in so many ways and I really connected with her journey and her struggles and her growth and just ugh my baby girl 🥹

I loved Odessa. I loved the Guardian. I loved Evie. And I’m really glad that (redacted) got (redacted) by a (redacted). The end shook me to my core and I’ve never needed a sequel more. 

Wow wow wow. I don’t even know where to start with this review because there was so much about this book that I loved. There are high stakes quests, epic love stories, and so much delicious drama I could not get enough of. I think what I loved most about this book is the emotional depth and how seamlessly Leena weaves in grief, sadness, and anger with love, joy, and devotion. The characters don’t fit into a box, they grow so much throughout the story and the love shared between sisters, friends, lovers, and even strangers was enough to move me to tears. 

“Fire raged in her eyes. Fury underscored every line of her body. He looked at her and saw himself.”

This is such an incredible continuation of this series and delivered every ounce of female rage, witty banter, and emotional damage that I knew I would get and was still blown away by. 

And, the shaving scene. Amen. 

file under: books that altered my brain chemistry

this was SO good! absolutely riveting from start to finish - this was giving better, hotter, old fashioned, less annoying hannah/dexter vibes and i was living for it. Alina is such an unapologetic badass, she and Silas had a good push and pull and the banter and spice were top tier.

i was so wrapped up in the story that i didn't realize there was going to be subsequent books until i had already finished and actually kicked my feet when i saw more was coming. looove these characters and the world building was so well executed, cannot wait for more

This book picks up right where the first left off, with Ayla and Zayne traveling to Mer. There’s a ton of new characters in the mix, so many secrets and trails to follow and dots to connect and I was eating it up!!! Ayla and Zayne’s relationship continues to grow deeper (and spiiicier 🥵) and I genuinely love them so much. There’s so much tenderness and protectiveness between them it just turns my heart into a puddle. 

We learn so much more about the Isle of Fae and the magic system of this world throughout the book, and there are some crazy revelations and twists along the way that just add layers of intricacies and had me salivating for more.

Showed up for the steam, the shadow daddy and the redhead FMC and stayed for literallyyyy everything 🤤 I think because this book is on the shorter side I wasn’t expecting it to grip me so fiercely but I really fell in love with it. Ayla is an absolute force and I saw myself in her so often, not just in her strength but her vulnerability. The chemistry and banter between her and Zayne pulled me in so fast and I just adored them together. The emotional components beneath the story were beautiful and made the characters feel so real. There was a really sweet found family trope that I loved and made me wish the book was longer bc I wanted more of Rhett and Vanessa!! The world building felt expansive and immersive, and I’m excited to explore more of the court lore we got a taste of in this book. I absolutely devoured this steamy little snack (no one tell my boss i read most of it in a single shift) and cannot wait for more Ayla & Zayne 😍

It’s been a while since I’ve read a “stay up past my bedtime cause I just can’t get enough” book but I was kicking my feet a hundred miles an hour over this one!! The draaaama! Missing parents, ex-fiancés, curse breaking quests, a hot stoic commander and a jealous best friend? A LOVE SQUARE? I’ll get the popcorn.

Loved this story, loved Vivienne and basically every member of this crew. The high seas fantasy vibes were top tier. I love books that can get me to enjoy tropes I don’t normally for (friends to lovers or ex-romances don’t usually have me GIGGLING LIKE THIS). The story felt fast paced and exciting but still imbued with so much intricate detail and some slower moments that packed emotion and nuance into the action. This was such an adventurous and fun read, I ate up every second of the banter and tension and I am so hyped for this series!!

The vibes are immaculate with this one! This book introduces a really interesting magic/political system with a lot of questions around it that l'm excited to see answered in further books. 

Wren is relatable and funny as a main character and I enjoyed the dual POV with Gabriel, who I really loved be he was so much more emotive and passionate than your typical ~broody MMC~ and I am honestly such a sucker for a man with a bonded familiar.

Given was pretty fast paced but still packed with tons of adventure, high-stakes fantasy, and such a good slow burn romance.

UMBRA FAN CLUB 🤘🏻🦊🖤

In a shocking twist the surprises no one, Kaylie Smith has killed it once again!!! 

This was one of my most anticipated reads for this year because I loved Phantasma oh so dearly, I adore Kaylie’s writing so I knew I would absolutely eat this up and I was not disappointed for a second. 

The magic, the games, the 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 👀, and the drama had me flipping pages like a feral animal. I saw so much of myself in Genevieve’s stubborn brand of softness (little sisters know) and I always love a good marriage-for-show romance, but add in a tattooed shadow daddy with a lip ring who calls her “trouble” and says “she’s mine”??? i may never get off my knees for Rowin Silver. 

I loved getting to dive back into the world I loved so much in Phantasma but with new perspectives and new unhinged immortal generational beef channeled into homic🗡️dal games. The Silver family is my new obsession and I’m going to need so much more of them. Maybe if we all say pretty please Kaylie will write Sevin’s book next 🤭

Evie’s books never fail to give me butterflies (but the butterflies have 🗡️) 

She writes fantasy world building and slow burn forbidden romance like no other, and Scarlight is no exception. The vibes are immaculate, the hexmark magic system is really interesting and refreshingly unique, and the ANGST 😮‍💨 

Bryn’s whirlwind journey to the Baersladen with three striking royal brothers is nothing short of an absolute soap opera, and I loved watching her grow from spoiled princess to someone who will chase a missing lamb for weeks. Rangar is the morally gray possessive MMC of every fantasy girlie’s dreams (but he’s not my favorite Barendur brother 🤭🤭🤭) 

I actually don't know how I'm going to recover from this series. I fell down a rabbit hole with this one and truly don't want to come out.

We get more of allll my favorite things in book 3 - more of Em and Creon's addictively alluring relationship, more Underground, more rebellion and political intrigue, more revelations about this world and its crazy deep history. But there's also a ton of new and mind blowing developments that had me scrambling for the next book and SO relieved I didn't have to wait.

The emotional difficulties woven into the characters' struggles are so real, so relatable, so raw. There are some really powerful messages about withstanding generational trauma and battling mental health issues. Emelin and Creon's (and Lyn. and Tared. and Naxi. and EVERYONE) journey in this book is phenomenal. Watching them navigate their past wounds, their impossible circumstances, and the war brewing around them alongside trying to protect their new and fragile romance was gut-wrenchingly beautiful and I will never stop rooting for this little found family

And while the romance is a huge pull for me, the adventure aspect of this book had me absolutely feral as well. Ancient ruins, deadly creatures, and a plague-ridden continent create an atmosphere dripping with danger and intrigue but also bursting with whimsy and magic. There's so much more to this world than we already know, and every time more is revealed I just fall more in love. The world building in this series is truly so captivating and immersive.

I can't say enough good things about this series and this book in particular, I think this was my favorite of the whole series!