Really enjoyed this one! Might write a more in depth review later...happy with this installment. Can't wait to see where this story goes.

Review coming soon...

Before we start this review I want to put in a few reminders. This is a dark romance. This review will be a little more unhinged than my usual content. This is a standalone novel set in a made-up world where the side characters, and their books’ plot lines, intersect in each standalone novel. While it is not required it would be extremely helpful to have read all the previous books in this series to have full context and understanding going into Madness.

Let’s talk about Haidyn. When we met him in the previous novel I honestly thought he was the craziest out of the three Spade brothers. And maybe he is. This fictional man scared me. But seeing Saint through Haidyn’s eyes this time around completely changed my opinion on who the scariest Spade brother might actually be. I’m holding out on making a final opinion until we get both Kash and Adam’s books, but so far Haidyn has taken the lead as my favorite. 

Oddly enough there was something that felt toned down about this novel compared to the others. Or it could be that we’re six novels in and the shock of entering The Lords world has finally worn off. I think it could be a little bit of both, but I’m very thankful for the change in this reading experience. In the previous novels we more often than not saw on-the-page rape and torture of our main female characters. Those scenes were, needless to say, horrific to read, and it was a stark relief to not have to read about it with regards to our FMC this time around.

Though this book is still more dark and taboo than any typical romance so please don’t let my above statement fool you into a false sense of security. Haidyn and his girl do some messed up shit to survive, and just for fun in their free time. I think Haidyn is my kind of crazy because I didn’t even bat an eye at some of the stuff he had his girl doing. Minor spoiler ahead: one of my favorite scenes had to be him tying her up in his home gym. Hasn’t everyone fantasized about this at least once? No? Just me and Shantel Tessier? Cool, cool, cool. 

The spice and the smut, as always with The Lords, was off the mother fucking charts, but I was equally invested in the plot. Tessier doesn’t just give us good smut. She makes us think in between those scenes to try and connect the dots before it’s all laid out for us at the end. It was not a shock to me when we discovered who the puppet master in this novel was after they were revealed, but there were a few other moments that took me by surprise. I’ve learned to never trust a death when it comes to these books, and so far I’ve been right every time. Does that mean I made it through this story without crying? Absolutely not. 

I was so sold on Haidyn and his girl that there simply could be no other outcome. I loved that they matched each other's freak, and chose one another through it all. I sadly rented this book off kindle unlimited two days before my subscription expired, so I didn’t get a chance to soak this story in like I wanted to. I literally finished with seven minutes to go before it automatically returned, so I definitely will be partaking in a reread when I am able to get a physical copy. I cannot wait to build my LORDS collection and dive deeper into this world with every new book.

Thank you so much to TheNerdFam for providing me with a gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was genuinely so excited when I submitted my application for an early copy of this novel. The premise of surviving in the desert, desert magic, and two sworn enemies learning that they might have more in common than they have differences, was enough to make me jump at this opportunity. It didn’t hurt that this cover is absolutely stunning, and made me want to dive into this story even more.

This story focuses a lot on the concept of ‘other’. We meet clans who live solely in the wild desert, surviving by any bloody means necessary, and attempting to thwart the desert’s cruel beasts and unpredictable nature. While on the edge of the desert a civilization has risen with crowned rulers who thrive on their relative safety from the elements and beasts, and who have little to no threat of scarcity. Each of our main characters, throughout the course of the story, comes to exist in both realities, allowing the reader to experience the turmoil of wanting to escape the desert’s harsh and unforgiving lifestyle, while realizing that it is ultimately the only place these characters truly feel at home.

Our main characters are both gifted with desert magic, and are understood to be the most powerful magical beings alive. Peripheral characters may exhibit a touch of magic that allows them to communicate (to an extent) with animals, or be more deadly in a battle. I really enjoyed getting to experience the different modalities of magic, and see how it manifested in each of our characters.

This story has a great focus on animal companions, which brought a lot of levity to situations that might have otherwise felt heavy and burdensome. While these companions are not always marked safe from survivable injuries, the author doesn’t intentionally harm them as a way to manipulate her characters or the audience, which I appreciated.

Despite enjoying so much of the overall plot, including the trials and twists regarding certain character’s lineage, the writing wasn’t a home run for me. Thinking back it’s hard to articulate why it didn’t work. I found myself skimming large portions of this book so I could fulfill my obligation of writing a review.

This had so many elements of things I would normally devour: animal companions, wild magic, slow burn enemies to lovers, war torn political landscapes. Unfortunately something fell flat, and perhaps felt a little too juvenile, when it came to the writing, pacing, and overall tone of the novel. Although it didn’t work for me I do think plenty of fantasy and romantasy readers will thoroughly enjoy this one. From the action sequences, slow burn romance, magic, unraveling history, and two very distinct settings, this story is undoubtedly an adventure.

4.5/5

I just so happened to open my digital library app this week when Electric Idol (book 2) was released, and this series was being promoted. I've seen it all over tiktok (because I follow the author lol) and was really excited to get a chance to read this book.

I can't remember reading a Hades/Persephone retelling before this one, but now it's a must. I need more of these characters, in all the different worlds and universes imaginable. I loved the updated version of the Gods and Goddesses, and a fresh new take on the way they become who they are. I also really enjoyed the characterizations and world building throughout.

But mostly I enjoyed the feels this book gave me. It was heart melting, heart pounding, exciting, unexpected, and each page was highly anticipated. Am I a sap to say my favorite part was the puppies? Probably. I'm a dog person man, I just can't help it.

I loved this couple. I loved ( L O V E D ) the consent. This just ticked every box. I cannot wait to read more from this author. I'm already on Chapter 1 of the next book.

Thank you so much to Emilia Emerson who sent me an eARC of this book. 

If you follow my reviews you’ll know that I discovered this author over the summer through her omegaverse series, Forbidden Part One & Two, and Cherished. Cherished is a book that touched me in ways few books have since I became chronically ill. When I heard that A Pack For Autumn would feature a main female character who has PMDD and PCOS, two of my own diagnoses, I knew this story would be another that touched close to home. 

I should also mention, if you’re new here, that fall, Halloween, and autumn festivities are some of my very favorite things. This book truly had everything going for it and boy did it deliver. 

There was a surprise character in this story, who has officially been introduced in character art posted to the author’s Instagram page, so it doesn’t feel like a spoiler to mention them. Felix the cat made me smile from his first introductions. I always love when packs have pets, and while Felix is more of a free roamer, he takes so much credit for how much of the story unfolds. 

Like Emerson’s previous omegaverse, these characters are not shifters, but do share the other qualifications such as ABO designations and heightened senses. Our female MC is in search of solitude, taking up a job as the lighthouse keeper in the hopes that living on the edge of town would keep her away from its many overly friendly residents. She’s lost her parents, and had previous bad experiences with Alphas due to her health conditions. She’s accepted the fact that she’s not built for community and will always push people away when she encounters her dark days.

As someone who has struggled my entire adult life with PMDD, and was only officially diagnosed with PCOS this year (after an emergency surgery to save my ovary from an ovarian cyst) I completely related to our FMC’s struggles and headspace. It broke my heart to see our FMC suffer and hear how she talked about herself, knowing that’s probably how I look and sound to outsiders too. It made me stop and reconsider the ways I’ve treated myself in the past, and how frustrating it can be to get doctors to listen to me when I tell them, tearfully, over and over that something is wrong. 

Not only was the FMC’s chronic illness dealt with in a way that felt familiar, even delicately and respectfully, and didn’t shy away from how dark it can truly get, so too were the discussions about mental health, grief, and childhood trauma. Our FMC’s eventual pack of Alphas bring their own struggles into this relationship. One of my favorite things about these found families is how they learn to lean on one another for emotional support, and work through things they never could have solved on their own. 

At the end of the day, this story is about finding community. Even when you are adamantly NOT searching for it. While this story definitely qualifies as a cozy romance, don’t be fooled by the adorable cover. This book is spicy! Like…seriously. If you don’t enjoy reading explicit sex scenes this one is not going to work for you. I, however, had an absolute blast. I was shocked half the time from which characters got to get the girl first, to who ended up where… There were lots of kinks explored through this pack, with great inclusion of consent and after care. 

My one and only complaint, and this is truly a me only problem, is that I wanted more cozy fall vibes. Sure there is a festival the town is preparing for as the story progresses, but I crave more. Like I said in the beginning, this is my favorite time of year, so what might be considered too much by someone else’s standards is hardly enough for me. I think this had the perfect amount of fall activities to be considered an autumn read for the casual fall connoisseur, and I can already see myself sitting down with this book every year in the future to set the tone for the season. 

If you like spice (pumpkin and ya, know, the other kind). If you like found families, chronically ill FMC’s, and omegaverse antics you need to pick this book up. It’s set to release on November 13th.

But the fun doesn’t end there. This series will include 4 books, written by Emilia Emerson and Eliana Lee, alternating between characters. I am so locked in, it’s not even funny. See you soon, Winter!

Thank you so much to Callie Moss who sent me an eARC of this book.

Let’s get the trigger warnings for this book out of the way. For the full list of triggers please visit the author’s website: graphic on the page rape, torture, sex trade and slavery, violent and graphic murders. If that’s not your jam please check out one of my other, cozier reviews.

Despite being a self proclaimed dark romance girlie, I was nervous to request this book. The trigger warnings for this story are deadly serious. Do not skip them, unless you genuinely have zero reading triggers. I went into this book knowing I wanted to try and push myself, to see what I could be okay reading. Honestly I’m just as surprised to have received an eARC as I am that I was able to handle this content. I was shooting my shot with a new-to-me author, and I’m so thrilled with the unexpectedly good outcome.

Having read The LORDs series by Shantel Tessier, I prepared myself to the best of my ability before diving into this new story by a new-to-me author. With Shantel Tessier’s books, The Sinner is one that made me viscerally sick to read. I assumed Servitude to Serpents would have a similar, or worse, effect, but to my surprise I handled this book much better (despite its very concerning and dark content).

What made this story so compelling for me was the way the author effortlessly flowed between the past and the present with her characters. Our FMC has a metric ton of trauma from her childhood that sort of prepared her for being kidnapped and molded into a sex slave. The parallels between what was happening present day versus what she had already experienced were structured throughout the story flawlessly. This kind of back and forth between timelines also occurred, though more infrequently, for our MMC.

Despite having dual POV’s, our MMC remained a bit of a mystery to the reader. His story unfolds much slower, and deliberately so. Although he is clearly not a good, or safe, guy I did find myself rooting for him and realizing that yes, all men (even fictional ones) can be so freaking dumb! This man controls some of the highest, top secret weapons corporations in the world and yet he can’t decipher his own stupid heart. Unbelievable. And yet, unbelievably accurate to men everywhere.

I think to truly enjoy this story the reader needs to have prior experience with this genre. If you start here I fear you’ll be scared off for good. But if you’re already aware of the stakes, the emotional and physical toll these characters and scenes can leave long after you put the book down, I think you’ll be surprised by just how much you love this pairing.

This story felt eerily real, while at the same time very fantastical. I kept mentally arguing with myself, remembering that sex slavery is a real and present threat worldwide. The fantasy comes from falling in love with the man who purchases you and the potential for those feelings to be genuinely reciprocated. This story felt real because both our FMC and MMC questioned their sanity, and the morality of what they’re actually doing together.

It was far too easy to be swept up in this power imbalanced dark romance that brought me an odd sense of peace once I finished it. Our characters are not just morally grey. They are dynamically flawed individuals, who find healing and comfort from each other. The twists and turns had me on the very edge of my seat, never truly knowing who or where the ‘bad guy’ was. Because the truth is, everyone in this story is bad. Even our Pup and her Master. And somehow, that made this book so deliciously wicked and fun to explore.

One final note: if you’re looking for a book with great (safe) BDSM and consent representation, this is not that. If you’re looking for a book with safe examples of Master/slave/pup representation, this is not that. Please do not read this book as a guide or entry way into those practices. If you are looking for spice that makes you question your own sanity, then you’ve found the right book.