Meisl didn’t just write a book—she cast a spell. And I’m not talking about the whimsical kind with glitter and floating candles. No, this is the soul-stirring, ugly-crying, “I see too much of myself in this protagonist” kind of magic. The kind that reminds you books can still knock the wind out of you—in the best, most emotionally destabilizing way.

On the surface, this is Sylvie’s story. A girl born with a visible mark that her Viking-inspired society takes as divine proof that she’s cursed (basically public enemy number one with a smile too kind for this cruel world). But underneath the worldbuilding (which, by the way, is lush and dripping with Norse lore), this is a story about the radical, messy, breathtaking journey to become— to reclaim your voice, your power, and your place in a world that’s tried to make you small.

Yes, Sylvie is the classic black sheep; but not the edgy, dagger-wielding kind. No, she’s the people-pleasing, soft-spoken, please-don’t-hurt-me kind, and let me tell you... watching her unravel, rage, and rise? Chef’s kiss. Also, pain. Lots of it. But the kind that heals something in you as it breaks.

Enter Haldor: blue-eyed, golden-boy protector and the kind of best friend we all secretly want to pine after us. And Tara, the chaotic bestie who is the human embodiment of “bad idea, let’s do it anyway.” Together, they light up the early chapters with laughter and loyalty.

But THEN. Sylvie, tired of perfection and aching for more, sneaks out with Tara to join a forbidden celebration. Enter Axle— a feral, honey-eyed warrior with vibes so intense, I think I flinched when he showed up on page. He’s morally gray, protective in the “touch her and ☠️” kind of way, and honestly, I’m obsessed.

I won’t spoil the rest, but let me say this: the book is less about romance (though what’s there is swoon-worthy), and more about the glorious, fiery journey of stepping into your own power. The transformation arc? Immaculate. The tension? Sharp enough to slice you open. The prose? Lyrical without being fussy. The pacing? Addictive. It’s not heavy on spice, but it doesn't need to be, the emotional stakes are scorching on their own.

This isn’t just a story. It’s a reckoning. A reclamation. A mirror held up with brutal honesty and the promise that what’s broken can still burn brighter.

Perfect for fans of Throne of Glass, The Bridge Kingdom, and ACOTAR— especially those craving soul-deep transformation with a side of blades, betrayal, and yearning.

⚔️ Allies to lovers
💖 Friends to lovers
🌚 Morally gray MMC
☠️ “Touch her and bleed” energy
🥷 Secret identities
🦍 Protective/possessive MMC
🤺 Trials (Book 1 is prep—Book 2 is go-time)
👩‍❤️‍👨 Fated mates

** be sure to check your trigger warnings**

Thank you to the author for the ARC. This review reflects my own, very honest, very emotional spiral through the pages of this wildly promising debut. I’m ready for book two… just as soon as I recover. 😅👏

And by worse, I mean emotionally devastating in the best possible way. 🥹

Read your trigger warnings first!

I thought I was already emotionally unwell after surviving the Rayne-Moore University series (Speak and Stutter wrecked me), but clearly, I had no idea how much lower I could be dragged, and how much l'd enjoy it.

In this expansion of the Rayne-Moore universe, the Duchess & Devil series kicks down the door and announces, "Hope you weren't emotionally stable." This book holds nothing back. What starts as a cautionary tale about Sabrina Winters, a former Rayne-Moore student whose night of fun turns into lifelong trauma, spirals into something darker, deeper, and disturbingly addictive.

Now an adult, Sabrina copes with a well-dressed smile, a tendency to self-destruct, and a full-time, ex-military bodyguard who's probably just as emotionally repressed as she is. (Spoiler: I adore him.) Her coping mechanisms? Bad. Her chemistry with said bodyguard? Worse. In the best way.

But beneath the spice, violence, and vengeance, Darling cuts deep with questions that linger long after the last page: What does love look like when you've been shattered by every form of it? Romantic, familial, platonic - even the elusive act of loving yourself. Can healing be found on a path lined with blood and barbed wire? And my personal favorite: How do you learn to love who you've become... when you're not sure that person deserves redemption?

This book is more than just tension and trauma; it's a dark, razor-sharp journey of survival and transformation. Yes, it will make you swoon. Yes, it will make you cry. And yes, it will absolutely make you sweat. The spice is filthy in the most cathartic way.

I was not ready, and I loved every soul-destroying second of it.

If you're a dark romance fan, run to this book - but don't skip Speak and Stutter first.

While this is its own series, the emotional depth and character callbacks pack more of a punch with the full background. (Plus, spoilers.)

This story serves up everything: rich, layered plotlines dripping with intrigue served through multiple POV‘s, heartbreak, and danger— plus enough spice to burn the wallpaper off your bedroom walls. 🫠 But at its core? It’s the journey of a survivor. A woman who didn’t just lose years of her life to trauma, she lost her voice. And now? She’s crawling her way back to power, teeth bared and unapologetically feral.

In true dark romance fashion, this book wades deep into the shadows, dragging you through themes that hit raw and personal. You’ll ask yourself questions you weren’t ready for and get rewarded for your suffering with some absolutely unholy heat. And bless Darling for skipping the cursed euphemisms (you know the ones: the ones that compare female anatomy to laundry or not so dry desserts). We are free from the tyranny of the M-word. 🙌👏

At its heart, this is the story of a woman who reclaims herself— however messy, morally gray, or beautifully twisted that self may be. She doesn’t just find her new sense of self; she becomes her own weapon of retribution. And helping her along the way? Three devastatingly hot, deliciously damaged men who are just as screwed-up as she is. It's sexy, it's unhinged, it's everything.

This book is a ride. A bloody, beautiful, batshit rollercoaster. Buckle in tight, besties— and maybe throw down some newspaper, because things are going to get messy. 🤭

I highly recommend this one if you're a fan of dark romance, revenge arcs, or just love watching a woman burn the world down and then strut through the ashes. Definitely not for dark romance beginners, but if you like your stories twisted and your heroines feral, this is the one.

Pro tip: for the full immersive chaos, listen to the audiobook. Blue Nose Audio absolutely nailed the duet narration, with Joe Arden and Heather Firth breathing fire, madness, and vengeance into every line.

The False Queen was quite the debut for A Cursed Queen series!

Humble does an excellent job of getting you invested in the characters and storyline fairly early on in book one. I thoroughly enjoyed the Lord in history that brought this world even more to life.

With this one, you can expect  flawless world building that is both enjoyable and picturesque. This tail is chock full with slow burn, tension, well paced high stakes moments, and reveals you might not be able to guess…

I very much so enjoyed the dynamic between the FMC and MMC through the storyline as we will get a lot of push and pull, which makes for excellent banter and you know how we love that.  However, do know that this is a very slow burn with minimal spice. This factor did not impact my enjoyment of the story any bit as we are provided with intricate world building, betrayal, and tons of political intrigue.  

I would definitely recommend this read or fans of the bridge kingdom and powerless series (minus the trials).

“I am the girl who wove the storm that shook the world. And I’m coming for my crown.”

“Never doubt the tides of Fortune whether they break or bind.“

“It wasn’t a question of your possessing power, but of unlocking it. The answer was always inside of you. You just had to find it.”

A puppet master.
A rain singer.
An earth cleaver.
And a deadly game for ultimate power.

In this breathtaking debut YA romantasy— perfect for fans of The Hunger Games, The Red Queen, and Shadow & Bone, readers are swept into a vividly wrought world where elemental magic rules, bloodlines bind, and betrayal runs as deep as desire.

At the center of it all is our fierce and unforgettable heroine Blaze, the last of her kind and an unlikely hero, thrust into a brutal series of trials where the stakes are nothing short of survival— and power. With secrets stitched into every alliance, and enemies lurking behind charming smiles, she must navigate a perilous game of politics, pretend romance, and personal reckoning.

Fake dating? Check.
Backstabbing? Absolutely.
A soul-deep journey of empowerment wrapped in magic and heartbreak? Prepare yourself.
And the ending? A ruthless, breath-stealing cliffhanger that will leave you clawing for the next book in the tantalizing Storm Weaver trilogy.

Though marketed as YA, this novel transcends the category. As a notoriously selective reader (snob, because let’s  call a spade… a spade) of the genre, I was wholly captivated, nay, SPELLBOUND by a fresh & original storyline and a cast of characters that feel heartbreakingly real. The elemental caste system is haunting, the world-building bloody and bold, and the romance, while age-appropriate, pulses with tension and longing that that you feel in your bones (and toes 🤭).

For those who crave immersive magic, high-stakes intrigue, and raw, romantic ache— this is the start of a journey you won’t want to miss. Fans of the Ahriman series? You’ll feel right at home.

Hamilton Murray has really set this trilogy off with a BLAZE-ing start. And I for one cannot wait to see what she delivers next.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan publishers, and the author for a copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review. 

3.75 ⭐️

Richly imagined and brimming with tension, this book delivers a high fantasy experience with compelling characters and unforgettable dynamics.

The world-building is absolutely top-tier —vivid, immersive, and beautifully layered. I felt genuinely drawn into the universe the author created, and the emotional depth of the FMC’s relationship with her best friend stood out. Their bond, and the heartbreak that followed its unraveling, was written with sincerity and weight.

The deliciously slow-burning tension between the FMC and the MMC: this back-and-forth had me kicking my feet on more than one occasion. Their chemistry is sharp, witty, and full of that addicting kind of push and pull that makes you unable to look away. Alongside a villainous show-stealer of a Queen. If you’re a fan of Red Queen-esque flair, she’ll absolutely captivate you (her verbal sparring with the MMC was a highlight all its own 🤭).

Thomson’s writing in this novel leans into the classic high fantasy style, which I adored. There’s something so rich and elegant about the prose that perfectly matches the epic scope of the story. While I didn't get to enjoy it as leisurely as I’d hoped (ARC life is real), I still appreciated the story’s depth and style.

A heads-up: this is a very slow burn. Things don’t heat up until about 70% in, but when they do… whew. We’re talking will it fit moment and some unexpected spice (with toys 🫣). It was a fun surprise!

I do wish the romantic development between the leads had been explored more emotionally and physically (not full on habanero but maybe some sparring type tension). And the ending felt a bit too easy— like the FMC was a little too quick to accept the major twist.

All in all, this is a fantasy romance I’d absolutely recommend— especially for fans of The Legend of Zelda. If you’ve ever wanted to see a Ganondorf/Zelda dynamic brought to life in a dark, magical world, this odd couple will not disappoint.

This book didn’t just pull me in— it dragged me, breathless and willing, through every page! From the very first sentence, I was immersed in a world so vivid… so visceral, it felt like stepping through a portal  into something dangerously alive.

Mal Blackburn is pure fire; fierce, defiant, and burning with the kind of rage that makes you want to stand up and scream with her. She’s the embodiment of every woman who’s ever been underestimated and she owns it. Watching her evolve, break, and rise again was nothing short of exhilarating.

The forbidden love? It simmers. It's , the kind of tension that coils in your chest and refuses to let go. Their chemistry is undeniable, full of stolen glances, reckless touches, and the kind of need that feels like war.

And then there's the rebellion. The betrayal. The relentless call to resist. This story doesn’t shy away from the hard themes like duty, sacrifice, oppression, power, and it weaves them into every character, every twist, every quiet moment before all hell breaks loose again.

The characters don’t just live on the page— they haunt you. Every one of them is layered, flawed, unforgettable. And just when you think you know what’s coming, the author rips the rug out from under you with secrets you never saw coming.

I especially appreciated the way the author organically whoa the world building in throughout the entire novel through letters from a character that set the curse which bound the fates of Mal & Ash. Not only was this a creative and effective tool to use, but also pulls you that much deeper into their world.

This book is cinematic. Bold. Unapologetically powerful. It demands the spotlight. If a publisher doesn’t snatch this up, it’ll be one of the greatest missed opportunities in the genre.

Book 2 of the Kingdom of Gods series can't get in my hands fast enough. I need more… more fire, more betrayal, more of that forbidden heat that will have to burn all of this in opposition down in order to survive. This is the kind of story that stays with you.

Thank you so much to the author for a copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review.

In the hauntingly seductive first installment of Ink, Blood & Other Afflictions, we’re pulled into a tangled web of obsession, power, and possession, following a magnetic Nikolai, a fierce Vera, and the enigmatic and murderous Goddess who shares her body.

Dark, deliciously twisted, and burning with tension, this story delivers the perfect mix of spice and suspense. I devoured all 60 pages in just over an hour, but time disappeared while I was deep in this world. The plot is tight, the stakes are high, and the chemistry is absolutely lethal.

I’m hooked! Aching for more of these beautifully broken characters and the shadowy paths they walk. Bring on the next chapter—I need my next fix.

In this installment of the Untamed Rangers series, a series full of Insta love romances and Rangers with filthy mouths, we follow the story of Calla and Sawyer.

Calla is a 19 year old college student who finds herself at the mercy of a workplace creep. This is when we meet Sawyer, a single dad who’s nearly twice her age, built like the Brawny man himself, with ruggedly good looks. Our Ranger steps in to save the day more than once throughout this 80 page adventure.

This was a thrilling and fast paced adventure, there’s nothing sweet about it— aside from his undying love and need to protect our FMC. Oh and our wonderfully heartwarming HEA.

This is a perfectly quick steamy ride, don’t miss your chances to take it free with KU!

Thank you to the author for a copy of this ebook in exchange for this honest review.

Imagine, your parents take you to a fire station when you’re seven years old and tell you that they’d be coming right back. They can’t tell you where they’re going (maybe for a carton of cigarettes and a gallon of milk?)  but they make a promise that they’ll return for you soon. The only thing they leave you with is a deep seated fear of the sea, a necklace with a star shaped Ruby amulet, and a prayer for when you’re in times of trouble. The next day you’re placed in foster care to never see or hear from them again. 

Now fast-forward 19 years. You’re 26 and running a bookshop (aptly named tales and tomes… love that name can’t quite figure out why 🤭) with your best friend and Foster sister Lynn. One night you go to lock up, go home and decide to take a decompressing bath before bed when suddenly you find sand on your bathroom floor! Being someone with thalassophobia, your natural reaction is to drive 10 hours away in a panic.

It is in this seedy motel with questionably stained carpets  in California, that you remember the few things your parents left you along with many stories. In your moment of need and panic you hold onto that amulet and you say your prayer to a goddess, pleading for help and sanctuary from impending doom. Which then lands you… In hell.

Needless to say, this was a fun read. However, I will say it was not my favorite of the series so far.

While, we do see a myriad of characters that are introduced to us in book one return,  Sirena’s story is very much her own. My favorite part of the series definitely being the return Utor, our cinnamon roll lethal weapon of an MMC. Who’s massive… heart (🤭) definitely steals the show. 

The bedlam that ensues upon Sirena‘s arrival to hell, takes us on many adventures through the hellscape and back. We get new villains, new side characters, and an FMC that doesn’t wait for somebody to save her… Almost obnoxiously so (Violet, anyone?) armed with a sharp tongue that had me giggling more than once. 

The love that blossoms between Utor and Sirena is one for the ages. I found myself noting quotes from Utor‘s dialogue to save in order to provide reference to any potential future suitors. 😮‍💨 his unwavering love for the FMC is what had me unable to put this book down.

Some other highlights of the second installment of the brimstone court series were getting to see Millie and Asmodus again and being able to get to know Utor better. There was also an exploration of “one does not define the many“ that was woven throughout the story in different forms which I felt was a lovely touch.

This being said I still would recommend if you were a fan of the first book, or just looking for a read in the genre that has a completely original feel, to give this one a try before we get the third installment! 

Thank you to the author for a copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review.