Guinevere is traveling to reunite with her parents when she’s attacked by bandits, and sav4.25 ⭐️ This was so cute!!!! Amazing audiobook!
Summary:
Guinevere is traveling to reunite with her parents when she’s attacked by bandits, and saved by Oskar - a gruff but kindhearted half‑orc. From there, the two team up to get her safely to her family, and naturally, feelings start creeping in along the way. WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ cozy romantasy ✨ human x half‑orc ✨ strangers ➡️ travel companions ➡️ lovers ✨ grumpy x sunshine ✨ instant attraction with slow burn romance ✨ he falls first and hard ✨ one horse, one be ✨ 2.5/5 spice ...more
♾️ ⭐ I haven't felt this way about a story since Manacled! READ THIS ASAP!!!!
“I loathe you. And I long for you."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ dark romantasy ✨ MM en♾️ ⭐ I haven't felt this way about a story since Manacled! READ THIS ASAP!!!!
“I loathe you. And I long for you."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ dark romantasy ✨ MM enemies to lover ✨ captive x captor ✨ morally grey MMC ✨ cinnamon roll MMC ✨ slow burn ✨ opposites attract ✨ angst and yearning ✨ “I loathe you” ✨ touch him and die ✨ SPICY ✨ witchcraft and magic ✨ psychological horror elements ✨ gothic and macabre undertones ✨ hearing impaired rep ✨ dual timelines ✨ dual POV ✨ HEA ✨ TW: graphic torture, murder, death, necromancy, and more so be sure to read the authors trigger warnings beforehand. Shit get's dark.
My Thoughts:
Audiobook rating: 5⭐️ Absolutely perfect! Story rating: 5⭐️ So good that I fear I will never recover.
When I tell you this book had me sobbing, I mean it. Blotchy face, snot coming out of my nose, tears blurring my eyes, weeping. I was an emotional mess, and I enjoyed every minute of it!
Even In Death is a breathtaking story about the lengths you are willing to go to for love that will simultaneously make your stomach flutter and break your heart.
Out of the 50 books I’ve read this year, both traditional and indie, this is hands down the best book I've read/listened to all year!!!! I loved EVERYTHING about it! From the wonderful MCs, Finnian and Cassian, to their heart-wrenchingly beautiful romance, from the intriguing world building to the high-stakes plot, this is a story that I'll never forget. It's been two weeks since I listened to this audiobook and I honestly still cannot think about anything else. . . I haven't felt this way about a book in so long!
Finnian and Cassian’s story starts right in the middle of chaos.The Goddess Of ends with Finnian offering himself up to Cassian, the High God of Death and Curses, in place of his sister. And the present day storyline starts with Finnian's torture. Right away, we're thrown into this brutal, high-stakes situation. Finnian’s dealing with so much: surviving captivity, protecting Naia and his nephew, trying to free his father, and on top of all that, he’s fighting to keep his mind intact against a curse. And then there’s Cassian, who seems like this cold, merciless god at first. But really he's misunderstood, deeply wounded, and desperate for revenge. And as the story shifts between past and present, you really understand his character so much more.
I'm not going to lie, I honestly wondered how on earth we were going to move past the enemies part of the romance. But as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that their connection is something far more powerful. Their history? Complicated. Their chemistry? Off the charts. Their love? Painful, raw, and true. They’re like two souls caught in a storm, constantly pulled back to each other no matter how hard they try to stay apart. It's the kind of love that makes your chest ache in the best way. Cassian and Finnian would do anything for one another, even if it means hurting themselves. Their story is intense, emotional, devastating, and full of yearning - the best kind (at least to read about).
I truly loved Cassian and Finnian as a couple, but also as individual characters.
Finnian is commanding, fierce, and impossible not to respect. But underneath all that strength, he’s kind, just, and fiercely loyal. Once he cares about someone, that’s it, he’ll protect them with everything he has. I admired and respected his unwavering devotion to the people he loves. And the way he wrestles with guilt and grief? It felt so honest and relatable. He’s a badass on the outside and all heart on the inside.
"They have taken from you your whole life, Naia. Let this be the last time."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ urban fantasy romanc4.25 ⭐️ CALLING ALL ROMANTASY LOVERS!
"They have taken from you your whole life, Naia. Let this be the last time."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ urban fantasy romance ✨ mythology ✨ meddling gods, mages, humans ✨ magic and curses ✨ she's the first daughter of the High Goddess of the Sea who escapes a life of imprisonment ✨ he's the man who finds and helps her navigate the human world ✨ star crossed lovers ✨ he falls first ✨ force proximity ✨ slow burn ✨ 1.5/5 ...more
4 ⭐ I enjoyed this book so much and hope we get more stories set in this planet/realm!
"My beautiful little witch in the woods. You need to be apprecia4 ⭐ I enjoyed this book so much and hope we get more stories set in this planet/realm!
"My beautiful little witch in the woods. You need to be appreciated. You need to be touched. I think you need to be loved."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ cozy romantasy set in a haunted forest ✨ human healer FMC ✨ half Kylorr, half something else hero ✨ strangers to lovers ✨ she nurses him back to health ✨ he calls her “little witch” ...more
"Do you think something as fragile as fate would keep me from you? I defy the Stars."
WHAT TO EXPECT:4 ⭐ What a wild ride! That ending has me gasping!
"Do you think something as fragile as fate would keep me from you? I defy the Stars."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ romantasy ✨ celestial inspired world ✨ star crossed lovers ✨ prince x princess ✨ she's being held captive in the enemy kingdom ✨ he's the rakish prince forced to train her ✨ enemies to reluctant allies to lovers ✨ forced proximity ✨ hate to love ✨ slow burn ✨ he falls first ✨ banter ✨ soulmates ✨ touch him/her and d!3 ✨ shadow mommy ✨ training sessions ✨ prophecies and gods ✨ found family ✨ dream magic ✨ single POV ✨ cliffhanger
My Thoughts:
I enjoyed the overall story. A lot of heart pounding moments with an ending that had my head spinning. I love Enzo and Elara ...more
3.5 ⭐️ A fun, quick read with portal magic and magical matchmaking between a human x orc
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ monster romantasy novella ✨ she's a human who 3.5 ⭐️ A fun, quick read with portal magic and magical matchmaking between a human x orc
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ monster romantasy novella ✨ she's a human who gets sent to Faerie through a magic portal ✨ he's the orc warrior who finds her ✨ rescuer to lover ✨ magical matchmaking ✨ insta-love ✨ language barrier ✨ forced proximity ✨ 2.5/5 spice (open door and explicit) ✨ pierced peen, special fluids, knotting ✨ HEA
My Thoughts:
I got this during Stuff Your Kindle Day, and it was a fun read!
I really don't have much else to say about it. lol It was a campy fantasy monster romance. The heroine is a loser in the human world but gets magical powers in this one. The orc is obsessed with her and wants to bang her constantly. There's a bit of conflict between the orcs and ogres, but of course the ending is HEA. I don't quite understand the magic and gods in this fantasy world but it probably isn't explained as much in this novella as it would be in the other books of this series.
I'd recommend reading if you want a short, ridiculous yet fun palate cleanser....more
3.5 ⭐️ Allarion is officially the new king of the simps
"You would burn down his life, whereas I would incinerate the man himself. Let me bring you hi3.5 ⭐️ Allarion is officially the new king of the simps
"You would burn down his life, whereas I would incinerate the man himself. Let me bring you his cinders."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ fantasy monster romance ✨ he’s an ancient fae ✨ she’s a human barmaid ✨ arranged marriage ✨ fated mates ✨ he falls first ✨ insta-lust ✨ miscommunication ✨ denial of feelings ✨ slow burn ✨ size difference ✨ 3.5/5 ...more
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ new adult paranormal fantasy romance ✨ gothic medieval-esque world ✨ couples: Elm x Ione (main), Elspeth x Rav3 ⭐️ It was a fine sequel
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ new adult paranormal fantasy romance ✨ gothic medieval-esque world ✨ couples: Elm x Ione (main), Elspeth x Ravyn (side) ✨ forbidden romance ✨ forced proximity ✨ insta-lust ✨ slow burn ✨ 1/5 spice (one open door scene that's not explicit) ✨ secrets and lies ✨ magic has a price ✨ high stakes ✨ multiple POVs
My Thoughts:
It was an interesting sequel. Once again, I like the gothic vibes, moody/creepy atmosphere, unique magic system, and characters. The story is well put together and the plot was unique and intriguing. However . . .
While I actually like Ione and Elm, it was surprising they were the stars of this book. Elspeth is the main character of book 1 but takes a backseat in this story. I get why but it’s a bitter pill to swallow when you've invested your time into Elspeth, only for previous side characters to take over as the main protagonists. Again, I liked the new MCs but I just wasn’t as invested in them as I think we were expected to be. So yeah, I was disappointed that Elspeth didn’t play a big part in this book.
Also, the romance between Ione and Elm was infatuation to love at best. The transition from "I'm horny for you to I deeply care for you" was too sudden and not believable.
I was not a fan of all the different POVs. It’s hard going from the previous book that only has two POVs to five POVs.
The twists/reveals were once again not shocking. Everything came together nicely but either the foreshadowing was too obvious or the story wasn't complicated enough that I was able to predict everything.
Maybe it was my disappointment and disinterest as I continued to read, but I found the writing to be overly descriptive and wordy at times. So I ended up skimming a bit.
And a few other random annoyances. There was a moment when time freezes and Elm could have killed his brother but he didn't. Why? This felt like a major oversight. Also, Elspeth's uncle / Ione's dad should have been sentenced to death for his betrayals.
I was expecting to be blown away because of all the hype but I just wasn’t. However, I would recommend this to people who like fantasy with a bit of romance and want to read something different.
Favorite Quotes:
If he ever grew old enough to do so, he would tell this story to his children, with the firm lesson being don't ever strike bargains with beautiful women. _______
"You have a wonderful mouth. . . And now, it's all mine." _______
"I want you to know me very well, Ione Hawthorn. Which is" -he dipped her again, bowing over her and speaking against her throat- "a rather horrifying feeling, if I'm perfectly honest." _______
"You're beautiful." "No. That word is only for you." _______
"Don't die. I won't. Because if you do, and we never get the time we're owed, I'll hate you, Ravyn Yew. I'll love you and hate you forever." _______...more
There once was a girl clever and good, who tarried in shadow in the depths of the wood. There also was a kin4 ⭐️ An intriguing gothic fantasy romance
There once was a girl clever and good, who tarried in shadow in the depths of the wood. There also was a king - a shepherd by his crook, who reigned over magic and wrote the old book. The two were together, so the two were the same:
The girl, the King...and the monster they became.
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ ya/new adult paranormal fantasy romance ✨ gothic medieval-esque world ✨ Elspeth is one of the 'infected' and shares her mind with the 'Nightmare' ✨ Ravyn is the captain of the king's army and hunts the 'infected' ✨ reluctant allies to lovers ✨ fake engagement ✨ forced proximity ✨ insta-lust ✨ slow burn ✨ 1/5 spice (one open door scene that's quick and mostly fade to black) ✨ secrets and lies ✨ magic has a price ✨ high stakes
My Thoughts:
An intriguing gothic paranormal fantasy with a dash of romance.
Positives:
I enjoyed the gothic vibes. The world and magic system was fresh and interesting. The court politics were fascinating to watch unfold. I like the side characters and am excited to see what happens to each of them in the Next books.
Negatives:
I thought the plot twits/reveals were never surprises thanks to the obvious foreshadowing. So many things could have been avoided or solved if the Nightmare had just been forthcoming with Elspeth, which made his withholding information feel like a weak plot device. Elspeth overreacted towards Ravyn a lot, which came across as annoying and immature. The romance, while I liked it, was very insta-lust and I didn't quite believe the development and depth of their connection.
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Again, I did think it was a solid read but everyone was raving about it so I guess I’m a little disappointed that I’m not obsessed. Don’t get me wrong, I really like the gothic vibes and dark medieval-esque world. And the characters are interesting. I just thought this book would have a bigger impact on me. Maybe book 2 is better and solidifies this as a top tier series? Please tell me if book 2 makes this series better or worse ...more
"A girl who can only love broken things, and a boy so broken he can only love what he cannot have. A perfect match."
WHA2.5 ⭐️ I was . . . underwhelmed
"A girl who can only love broken things, and a boy so broken he can only love what he cannot have. A perfect match."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ fantasy romance ✨ vicious vampires and meddling gods ✨ quest to the underworld / Dante’s inferno vibes ✨ she's a vampire prisoner once blessed by the sun god ✨ he's the bastard son of the Shadowborn vampire king ✨ captor x captive ✨ enemies to lovers ✨ forced proximity ✨ cold/reserved x sunshine ✨ slow burn ✨ 2/5 spice ✨ action-packed ✨ high stakes ✨ skeleton dog companion ✨ heavy descriptions of world building ✨ found family ✨ secrets ✨ single POV ✨ cliffhanger ✨ TW: OW drama (an ex consistently shows up), violence, grief, religious indoctrination and manipulation, emotional abuse
‼️THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS‼️ but I will announce when they are about to happen.
My Thoughts:
Carissa Broadbent is an auto buy author for me. I love the Crowns of Nyaxia series and I was so excited for this next installment of the series. Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed and ultimately disappointed by this novel.
But before I disclose what ultimately led to my disappointment, here's what I enjoyed:
This world continues to fascinate me. Throughout the story, we learn more about the relationships between gods, humans, and vampires and dive deeper into divine politics, ancient power, and the precarious balance between the different realms. I specifically enjoyed learning about Mische's relationship with Atroxus (the sun god) and seeing first hand how the gods manipulate for their own pleasure and gain. Additionally, the journey into the underworld, which is inspired by Dante's Inferno, adds a haunting, horror-esque aspect to this story where the characters are forced to face the deepest, darkest parts of themselves.
I like Mische as a character and thought she was such a strong individual to embrace gentleness and kindness when she has been the subject of much cruelty and felt so much grief. It’s an admirable quality that makes her a standout character.
Asar is a sweetheart and has a quiet strength that complements Mische's own vulnerabilities. I like him, but I also don't really feel strongly about him either. I’m still waiting for that deeper emotional pull to make me care more about his personal stakes in the story.
Luce, Asar's skeleton dog sidekick, was the real MVP. Her unwavering loyalty and love to Asar was heartwarming, and it was so adorable when that loyalty and love started to extend to Mische as well. She's also a fearless protector - stepping in to save the day more than once, by fighting off enemies and offering support in moments of crisis. Her presence brought a sense of comfort and security to both Asar and Mische (and even the reader). I hope we get to see more of her in the next book.
So what didn't I enjoy?
The pacing of this book felt like a tedious pendulum, constantly swinging between intense action scenes and painfully slow moments of rest afterwards. This repetitive back-and-forth quickly became exhausting, making the entire experience feel monotonous. Also, the story supposedly spans several months, but the jumps in time made it feel like it only took a few weeks. The timeline was off and negatively impacted the flow of the narrative.
Mische passing out from exhaustion or deadly wounds was overkill. It’s just boring and predictable how many of the high stakes situations ended the same. Also, ending chapters with Mische passing out and starting the next one with her waking up felt like something a less experienced author would do. So I guess I was disappointed with this writing choice.
While I liked the continued world-building and the setting of the underworld, much of it felt overly abstract and took away from the core plot and drama. There were just so many descriptions but instead of grounding me into the story, it was so tedious to get through that I lost interest and ended up confused as to what was being described to me. And even though each level was supposed to be different, they all felt like variations of the same thing. This only added to the sense that the story wasn’t progressing.
While I like the MCs, I wasn't convinced of their romance. They go from indifference to suddenly having a deep emotional connection, which feels abrupt and unearned. I think there should have been more romantic buildup.
‼️MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD‼️ . . . . . . . . . . Do not keep reading unless you want the story spoiled! . . . . . . . . . . I mean it!!!! . . . . . . . . . .
The OW/ex drama didn't work for me, either. Asar's dead lover being the main villain hunting Asar and Mische through the underworld? Come on. ...more
♾️ ⭐️ This is one of the wittiest, sharpest, and most deliciously antagonistic romances I’ve ever read. I'm giving this infinity stars and honestly, t♾️ ⭐️ This is one of the wittiest, sharpest, and most deliciously antagonistic romances I’ve ever read. I'm giving this infinity stars and honestly, that still isn't enough
"Isn't forgetting you preferable to continuing to hate you?" "I'd rather you hate me than not think of me at all."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ fantasy romance ✨ healer x assassin ✨ hate at first sight ✨ mutual loathing ✨ enemies to (not quite) lovers ✨ forced proximity ✨ opposite attract ✨ the SLOWEST of slow burns ✨ he falls first and harder ✨ major denial of feelings ✨ “touch her and die” ✨ 1.5/5 spice ✨ the best banter ever!!! ✨ intellectual humor and overall fantastic writing ✨ magical adventures and shenanigans ✨ mystery ✨ cozy but also high stakes ✨ interesting magic and world ✨ first in a duology / open ending ✨ TW: graphic violence, torture, murder, medical content including fictional diseases affecting adults and children, and depictions of sick children in a hospital-like setting.
My Thoughts:
I AM IN LOVE!!!! Seriously, one of the best books I've ever read! I haven’t laughed this hard while reading in a long time. The banter?? Immaculate. The tension?! Juicy. The denial of attractions / feelings??? Olympic level.
I was already feral over the concept of a healer and an assassin (who absolutely hate each other) being forced to team up. But what blew me away was just how smart and funny this book is. It's like watching two hyper-competent prideful people try to out-snark, out-principle, and out-deny their way into falling in love.
Let’s talk about Osric (my favorite unhinged assassin ...more
"You are my everything, Meera. You're my light. You're my peace. You're my home. I'm going to be all those things for 3 ⭐️ Cute addition to the series
"You are my everything, Meera. You're my light. You're my peace. You're my home. I'm going to be all those things for you too, when you're ready to let me, and not a single moment earlier."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ book 6 (standalone) ✨ monster romance ✨ shades x hunters ✨ both MCs are quiet and misunderstood ✨ friends to lovers ✨ slow burn ✨ 2.5/5 spice ✨ gentle femdom ✨ mates ✨ HEA ✨ TW: grooming (past), attempted sexual assault (past),
My Thoughts:
Okay, Meera and Verner are super cute. Their friendship was soft and sweet and then their romance became super hot and heavy. I think the friends to lovers romance was perfect. Verner is so patient and gentle with shy Meera. So much so that she finally feels comfortable to open up to him, but also feels safe enough to fully embrace herself and grow into a strong, capable, unafraid person.
While I enjoyed the romance and the overall story, I will say that this one didn't really stick with me/wasn't super memorable. But no matter what, don't skip it! I do recommend it if you’re reading the series.
Update: I just listened to the audiobook, which was amazing (I love the narrators), and I realized why this book wasn't my favorite. Meera holding back on Verner and him being okay potentially waiting forever for her to understand/accept her feelings wasn't a dynamic I loved. I did like how Meera was able to find her voice and get her confidence back all while Verner was so supportive, but it just felt like there was an imbalance in the relationship until the end. Verner was such a cinnamon roll and would put aside his own desires for Meera's, and because she was still healing, she didn't do the same for him. I understand Meera and while Verner reacted the way he did, but I didn't necessarily enjoy reading it.
3 ⭐️ A sweet and sexy addition in the Monstrous World series
He held the whole world in his hand, and he wouldn't be foolish enough to let it go. She w3 ⭐️ A sweet and sexy addition in the Monstrous World series
He held the whole world in his hand, and he wouldn't be foolish enough to let it go. She was everything to him, the axis around which his world spun, his guiding star.
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ fantasy monster romance ✨ he’s a half orc blacksmith ✨ she’s a human heiress ✨ neurodivergent FMC ✨ hearing impaired MMC ✨ friends to lovers ✨ denial of feelings ✨ he falls first and hard ✨ slow burn ✨ forbidden romance ✨ 3.5/5 ...more
Update (01/10/24): I just listened to the audiobook and I'm bumping this up from 4-stars to 4.5-stars! I hon4.5 ⭐️ My second favorite in the series!
Update (01/10/24): I just listened to the audiobook and I'm bumping this up from 4-stars to 4.5-stars! I honestly love Verity and Theon. They're both ridiculous in their own ways but so perfect for each other. Theon truly being delulu, thinking Verity was his captive and her brazen responses to him made me laughing so damn much. I’m obsessed with their grumpy x sunshine dynamic as well! I will be re-listening to this one as much as Luxuria.
Update (01/29/25): I had to listen to the audiobook again because I couldn’t stop thinking about them. ...more
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ monster romance ✨ he’s a failed musician and human ✨ she’s a lieutenant in the Shade royal guard ✨ bl3 ⭐️ A fun addition to the series
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ monster romance ✨ he’s a failed musician and human ✨ she’s a lieutenant in the Shade royal guard ✨ black cat x golden retriever ✨ forced proximity ✨ denial of feelings ✨ slow burn ✨ possessive FMC ✨ obsessed MMC ✨ 3/5 ...more
"I can't let you go. I'll never do that. Not until I die."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ paranormal romance ✨ he's a gentleman4 ⭐️ My favorite of the series (so far)
"I can't let you go. I'll never do that. Not until I die."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ paranormal romance ✨ he's a gentleman Vampire warrior ✨ she's a flirtatious Valkyrie warrior ✨ insta lust ✨ captor x captive ✨ enemies to lovers ✨ he falls first and hard ✨ fated mates ✨ she's in denial ✨ forced proximity ✨ age gap (300 & 2000+) ✨ size difference ✨ 4/5 ...more