Release Day Review: One Shattered Crown by Rebecca Zanetti

Set in a steamy, neon-lit, high-tech world of magic, money, and explosive desire, this sultry, dark fairytale retelling offers a dystopian romantasy twist on Cinderella for fans of Lauren Asher, Harley Laroux, and Emily McIntire.

*** DELUXE SPECIAL EDITION HARDCOVER with stenciled edges, reversible dust jacket, foil stamping, and designed endpapers! Available only while supplies last.***

About the Book

ELLA

It’s the wedding of the year—a lavish union of two powerhouses. But I’m only here for vengeance against the woman who stole my position as sole heir to my late father’s company, TimeGem Moments, and shipped me off to boarding school. I’ve only made more enemies since. Tonight is my chance to reclaim control. Tonight, TimeGem’s diamond-powered servers are this girl’s best friend. Unless he ruins everything. Justice Beathach, the groom’s unbearably hot brother, with hands built for war and a mouth that spells destruction. He’s lethal, unyielding, and now has me in his crosshairs . . .

JUSTICE

Ella Rendale almost killed my brother once. Now, at his own wedding, she’s almost done it again. I don’t care if he’s forgiven her or if she’s been wronged. I care about one thing: the locked flash drive she leaves behind, spelling my destruction. She can run, she can hide, but when I find her, she’ll give me what I want. But someone else wants her even more than I do—they want her dead. When our enemies close in, I’m forced to protect her, turning the fire between us into an uncontrollable weapon. Now, she’s not just my quarry—she’s my obsession. And I’ll kill anyone who even thinks of taking her from me . . .

My Review

One Shattered Crown is the dark retelling of the Cinderella fairytale with fantastical world building, a smart and cunning heroine, and a possessive Irish mob enforcer Prince Charming.

The story has …
- a wickedly smart FMC
- a stoic & sexy MMC
- combustible chemistry
- secrets
- surprises
- danger
- mystery
- betrayal
- more betrayal

Ella is …
- smart as a whip
- loyal
- a spitfire
- an escape artist
- fighting for her birthright
- refuses to be caged

“A happy Ella is easier to manage than a pissed-off sprite who looks like Tinker Bell but acts like the Terminator.” 

Justice is …
- tall, Irish, & dangerous
- the anti-hero
- deadly
- cursed
- an alphahole
- can’t get Ella out of his system

“He’s lethal in a way no code could predict. The kind of danger you don’t see until it’s already in your bloodstream.” 

Ella and Justice are explosive together! Their hate-hate relationship makes for great chemistry. Ella refuses to bend and Justice will accept nothing less than her total surrender. I blushed and side-eyed my way through their scenes together and laughed every time Ella obliterated Justice’s expectations of her. The jagged edges of their puzzle pieces fit together perfectly.

My favorite part of the story is Ella’s godmother Aura and her two BFFs Mags and Jos. They are so much fun to watch and are so protective of Ella. I love these glittered up, capeless crusaders! I wish they had more page time. 

One Shattered Crown is the jewel in Rebecca Zanetti’s Grimm Bargains dark romance series! 

I highly recommend them all.

FTC Disclaimer: I voluntarily read a copy of the book generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my thoughts or feelings about the book or the content of my review.

Purchase Links*

Kensington Publishing Corp. | Rebecca Zanetti Website

About the Author

Rebecca Zanetti is the award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over eighty romantic suspense, dark paranormal, and contemporary romances, many of which have also appeared on the Publishers Weekly, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Apple bestseller lists and sold millions of copies worldwide. Her books have been featured in The Washington Post and New York Times Book Review and received numerous starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Library Journal, and Kirkus. Previously an art curator, Senate aide, lawyer, college professor, and a hearing examiner, Rebecca has ridden in a locked Chevy trunk, asked the unfortunate delivery guy to release her from a set of handcuffs, and discovered the best silver mine shafts in which to bury a body – all in the name of research. She lives in the Pacific Northwest and can be found online at RebeccaZanetti.com.

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Release Day Review: How (Not) to Renovate a Haunted House by Jenny L. Howe

In this spooky Summerween romance, an amateur ghost hunter and a supernatural skeptic team up for a haunted home renovation project. 

But is their relationship the real fixer upper?

About the Book

Amity Callaway is sick of being known as the weird girl. As annoyed as she is that her recently divorced mom just moved them across the country to the tiny, quirky town of Harlow’s Rest, Massachusetts, it could be the fresh start she needs.

Until Amity discovers their absolute disaster of a new house is supposedly haunted.

Theo Hargrave, amateur ghost hunter and son of the local general contractor, is a true believer. When he shows up on their property with his EMF reader in hand, Amity is ready to debunk all his theories. She’s definitely not staring at the small scar through his eyebrow or his ridiculously soft lips.

But even Amity can admit their home renovation is doomed. Nothing is going right, from the paint that refuses to dry to the fixtures that keep coming loose. So Amity and Theo strike a deal—his family’s construction expertise for her help investigating the house’s supernatural secrets. Even scarier than ghosts, though? Amity’s growing feelings for Theo.

Excerpt

 

Chapter 1

“Have you ever tried to stab something with a chef’s knife?”

Pausing the slasher movie we’re watching, I glance at my best friend and toss another fish-shaped cheddar cracker in my mouth.

Taylor sits against the tufted headboard of my bed, a pillow clutched against her chest. Her eyes flit to me. “Um . . . have . . . you?”

I nod. “That pumpkin last Halloween. Remember, Mom left the carving knife at my aunt’s? It was impossible.” I swing my fist through the air in a stabbing motion. “The tip doesn’t pierce anything. It’s not even sharp.”

Taylor snorts. “Sometimes you frighten me.” She tucks a lock of her fire engine–­red hair behind her ear, then submerges her hand in the bowl of similarly red fish beside her. Her black-­painted nails swim through the sea of candy like piranhas.

If anyone else said that to me, it would hurt. But it’s a badge of honor from my best friend. Being scared is her favorite extracurricular activity. The girl dreams of falling in love with a ghost (or other supernatural entity—­she’s not picky) someday. “I’m just saying that a chef’s knife is not a good weapon to murder people with.”

“What is, then?” Taylor’s left eyebrow arches.

“My cousin says, if you’re using kitchen utensils, it should be a slicing knife. But you use the blade, not the point.”

Taylor decapitates a fish with her teeth, then uses the body to take pretend notes. She mimes ending the last word with a flourish. “Use slicing knife to do murders. Noted.”

“Bobby’s a sous chef. He knows about this stuff.”

“Amity, it’s a movie. About a guy who keeps coming back to life after being blown up, set on fire, shot until he looks like Swiss cheese, and catapulted into space. I don’t think they’re going for realism.”

I shrug. “All I’m saying is that if they tried, it might actually be scary.”

“Someday, Callaway, I’m going to find something that freaks you out.” Taylor thrusts her hand into the air. “This is now my mission.”

“Best of luck, Prescott,” I deadpan.

When I was five, there was a three-­day span when I refused to go in my room at night because I was convinced a monster was waiting in my closet. My father kept telling me to stop being dramatic and that monsters weren’t real, but it was my mom who proved it to me. We geared up with flashlights and wore whatever outfit made us feel bravest (mine was my oversized Queen Elizabeth I T-shirt that I’d stolen from the back of her closet, hers was her favorite navy-­blue suit), and then we investigated the closet together, eventually discovering that the “monster” was a family of mice that had made a cozy home in the wall. That night taught me that even the scariest things can be disempowered if you just understand what they are.

I reach for more fish crackers, then organize them into rows of two on my palm. “You know, I think this is the first time we’ve ever broken the snack tradition.”
Since we started our Friday night sleepovers in sixth grade, Taylor and I have always created a menu that matches the theme of the movie. Tonight Taylor was supposed to finally experience Jaws, so we had sushi for dinner with Phish Food ice cream for dessert, and we’d gathered up every aquatic-­shaped snack we could think of. Only the movie was no longer streaming for free, though Taylor could have sworn otherwise. And neither of us was spending any of our money on a ridiculous killer shark, so he got replaced by some summer camp murder spree Taylor’s girlfriend Nadya promised was the best in the franchise. (It’s true, but the bar is like, so low it’s in Earth’s core.)

“There’s a lake,” Taylor counters, waving at the screen, where the killer is still frozen mid-­burst from the water’s placid surface.

“But no fish.”
Holding up a finger for me to wait a second, Taylor shimmies off the bed. She rummages through the top drawer of my desk for a moment, then she’s taping candy fish to the lower half of my flatscreen TV so it looks like they’re swimming in the lake, unperturbed by the murderous undead man introducing chaos (and corpses) into their ecosystem.

“Perfect. All is now right with the world.”

Taylor flops down next to me, a satisfied grin pulling at her round cheeks, and we resume the movie with our new homemade fish filter.

I let my head fall against her shoulder. “Do you really have to go away to college?” I mumble. UC Santa Barbara is her dream school, and I’m thrilled for her that she got in, but I’m used to having her in my backyard (literally, our properties share a fence). I’ll be living at home, since I get free tuition at the college my mom teaches at, and working part-­time as an assistant to the activities director at our local library. I could have gone to UCSB with Taylor, but it seemed like a bad life choice to shackle myself with student loans when I could get my degree for free. Plus, my mom’s school has a better history department and good connections to grad programs in library science and archives management, all of which I’ll need if I’m going to fulfill my dream of being an archivist.

“Dude, it’s hardly ‘away.’ ” Taylor throws some quotes around those words. “It’s not even a half hour’s drive. Besides, you’re going to be so busy being the next Indiana Jones that you’ll probably forget all about me.”

Taylor’s got this idea in her head that archivists and archaeologists are the same. “You don’t find rare manuscripts at dig sites,” I remind her for the four hundredth time. “Not usually, at least.”

Taylor shrugs. “Technicalities. I’m still getting you a fedora.” Her eyes narrow mischievously. “And a whip.”

I grab a crocheted Amelia Earhart from the shelf above my bed and toss her gently at Taylor’s head. She’s about the size of my palm, and entirely made of yarn and stuffing, so she’s the safest of projectiles. Amelia was my first “Great Women of History” crochet project freshman year of high school. She was for a class assignment, but I loved crocheting her so much that since then I’ve added about ten more (including, but not limited to, Harriet Tubman; Marie Curie; Frida Kahlo; and my two personal favorites, Queen Elizabeth I and Joan of Arc) to my collection. Taylor and my mom both think I should sell them online, but crocheting is something I do for me. To keep my hands—­and thus my brain—­busy when my thoughts get overwhelming.

“Don’t make Indy dirty.” I may not want to dig up bones and relics, but the man is still an icon. One of the hottest history nerds around. My mom finds it hilarious that I have posters of movies from her childhood up on my walls.

“I bet he knows how to use—­” Jane Austen is my next missile. Taylor catches her easily, then raises her hands in surrender. “Sorry. It was too easy.”

Taylor and Nadya love to turn everything into an innuendo. I do my best to play along with the jokes, but half the time, I don’t really get them. I have less than zero experience with relationships and sex and all that, and I end up flushed and uncomfortable when they come up, making me feel like a weirdo all over again.

Dating just seems more trouble to me than it’s worth. Relation­ships need you to open up. You have to give people way too many targets. Too many places where they can wound you.

And too many people take every shot they can. I learned that the hard way.

Taylor beans me in the head with Jane. “I don’t even know why we’re talking about this. My mom said I only had to live in the dorms for the fall. Then we can get that apartment together and you’ll never be rid of me!” She lets out one of her loud laughs that sound like an audition for a cartoon villain.

“And until then, we’ve got the Great Taco Mile,” I add. For the next two weeks, Taylor and I will be breaking in the Jeep her aunt gave her by trying every taco within driving distance of our houses. We’re going to document the whole thing on social media. Taylor’s hoping that we’ll go viral and become the next big foodie influencers, but I’m just excited to eat nothing but my favorite food for almost fourteen days.

“Do you think the parents would let us have one overnight? There are so many good tacos in San Diego. I found four spots we absolutely have to check out, and they’re all right on the beach.” Taylor flashes me a wide grin. “We can get a tan while we stuff our faces.”

I glance down at the fair white skin of my thick thighs and calves, what little of it isn’t hidden beneath my bike shorts and the fish socks pulled up to my knees. I can never get a real tan, no matter how often I go to the beach. “She’s been wound super tight lately, but I can try asking my mom,” I say.

“Ask me what?”

Taylor and I scream at the same time, upending our bowls of snacks. A school of orange and red fish swim across my comforter and crunch beneath my palms as I spin toward the door. My heart rams against my ribs.

My mom lurks in the half-­open doorway like a phantom (or creepy serial killer).

Excerpted from How (Not) to Renovate a Haunted House by Jenny L. Howe. Copyright © 2026 by Jenny L. Howe. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

My Review

This is my first read by Jenny L. Howe and I am thoroughly enchanted!

I got literal goosebumps while reading!

How (Not) to Renovate a Haunted House is an adorable read with relatable characters, an exciting storyline, and a super sweet (and clean) romance.

On the way to their new home state and still reeling from her parents’ divorce news, Amity scrolls through YouTube to dull the white noise in her head and combat the boredom of the road trip. Her gaze catches on a random video with a couple of cute amateur ghost hunters in front of a rundown house called the Harlow Homestead. It’s a very old house with a long and varied history of mysterious incidents and deaths and rumored paranormal activity. 

Some think the house is haunted by ghosts, others think they are just strange–but not out of the ordinary–coincidences. As the video ends, Amity discovers her mom has pulled up to their new home… the Harlow Homestead. Dun, dun, DUNNNNNNNN!!!! Good thing she doesn’t believe in ghosts… yet 😉

This was such a great read! I was immediately sucked into the story and couldn’t put the book down! I loved how well the author fleshed out the history and the lore surrounding the house and the town and how intricate each detail was. 

I am a HUGE small town romance fan and I absolutely love this quirky town of Harlow’s Rest. The people are lovely and the businesses are just as unique as the townsfolk. A particular favorite of mine is a diner/restaurant dedicated to a very popular 1980s movie! You’re gonna love it!

I love watching Amity and her mom’s relationship unfold and how it weathers the new life changes for both of them. I really admire it. It’s a relationship I would have loved to have had with my own mom. 

Amity and Theo are SO cute together. Their banter is funny and their awkward teenage chemistry is loveable and endearing. I loved how joyfully and exasperatingly they tried to convince each other of their own (non)beliefs. Just adorable! 

Theo is such a wonderful character. He is thoughtful, kind, a hard worker, and fully dedicated to discovering ghosts in the Harlow Homestead. I enjoyed learning about his family dynamic. The author really did a great job in portraying the highs and lows of that relationship. 

Amity is a beautifully crafted character. She had some big life changes happen to her that greatly affected her. I loved how fearless Amity seemed as she tried to make a place for herself in this new life, even though she felt anything but. 

I really loved the way the author addressed the vulnerabilities of a young woman as she tries to discover who she is and how she reconciles her thoughts and feelings about herself and her life choices with the societal standards and pressures many people–especially young people–place on themselves and others. I thought it was addressed beautifully and in a positive way.

I absolutely loved this coming-of-age story with a curvy FMC, supportive best friends, a strong and loving mom, and a boy who thinks she’s perfect just the way she is. It’s a cozy read light on romance, heavy on the spooky vibes, with a territorial squirrel, and lots of fun times. I laughed-snorted, smiled, ooo’ed and aww’ed, and shivered my way through the book. It was so good! I couldn’t put it down!

This story is very appropriate for young readers but also for readers of any age. 

I highly recommend How (Not) to Renovate a Haunted House to every reader!

FTC Disclaimer: I voluntarily read a print ARC generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my thoughts or feelings about the book or the content of my review.

Purchase Links

Penguin Random House*

About the Author

Photo Credit: Anastasia Aranovich Photography

Jenny L. Howe is a literature professor, amateur dog wrangler, and owner of too many Lego sets. Getting lost in love stories is her favorite form of escapism, and she still can’t believe that she gets to write her own and share them with the world. She is the author of romances for teens and adults, including her YA debut Love at Full Tilt. Learn more at www.jennylhowe.com

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Review: Legacy of Desire by Larissa Ione

The legacy continues…

It’s a gritty new world.

Three decades after the events of REAPER, the world is a different place. The secret is out. The existence of demons, vampires, shapeshifters, and angels has been revealed, and humans are struggling to adapt. Out of the chaos, The Aegis has risen to global power on the promise of containing or exterminating all underworlders, even if that means ushering in the End of Days.

Standing in their way is the next generation of warriors, the children of demons and angels and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

See how they become legends in their own right.

Legacy of Desire is Book #3 in Larissa Ione's Demonica Birthright series!

About the Book

Scotland, daughter of the Horseman of the Apocalypse known as War and a formidable warrior in her own right, has dedicated her life to fighting evil with her two demon best friends, Mace and Blade. Their extraordinary bond and uncanny ability to operate in perfect unison has made them legends as special operators with the Demonic Activity Response Team.

Afraid of ruining a good thing, the three teammates swore a pact to protect their friendship by declaring romantic involvement off-limits. But a recent near-tragedy changed things, and it’s getting harder for Mace and Blade to ignore their long suppressed feelings for Scotty. Especially after she announced her intention of losing her virginity and enlisted their help to find the right guy for the task.

So when a routine assignment goes wrong, landing one teammate in the hospital and the other in Scotty’s arms, the fallout puts their team, their reputations, and complete innocents, at risk. Scotty will need to make a choice, but how can she possibly decide between two males she loves equally? All the while, an enemy lurks in the shadows, poised to strike, and an angel finds himself at a crossroads that will test his faith and, perhaps, determine the very future of Heaven and all mankind.

Excerpt

Larissa Ione Website

My Review

Larissa Ione obliterates the status quo of the fantasy genre by charting her own path with the Demonica universe.

Legacy of Desire is not necessarily a Why Choose? but more of a Can’t Choose. This is a tough story filled with heart wrenching angst and it was a battle to get through. Scotty, Mace, and Blade have been inseparable since they were kids and they’ve only managed to grow closer as adults. Their working relationship takes a huge hit when uncomfortable feelings start to surface and choices are made that do irreparable damage. Like I said, heart wrenching.

I really felt for Mace in the book. Not only is he struggling with his feelings for Scotty and Blade’s perceived betrayal, he’s also battling some serious family trauma. The poor guy can’t catch a break. But Mace isn’t the only one with family trouble, Blade and Scotty both face personal battles with their families, and within themselves. Their struggles are real, their heartache is relatable, and their resilience is admirable. 

We’ve got relationship troubles, family drama, and loads of other surprise character appearances and storylines that will shock-and-awe the hell out of readers. 

As we move closer and closer to Satan’s release from his prison which will most likely kick off the next apocalypse, Heavenly and demonic forces are wheeling and dealing behind–and in front of–the scenes to either prevent it from happening, or usher it in with pomp and circumstance.

Legacy of Desire is an engaging and all-encompassing read packed full of surprises.  

Make sure you keep reading after the story ends because there is a jaw-dropping excerpt from the next book! It’s a doozy!

The Demonica Universe is one of my favorite worlds to read. Every book is a meticulously wrapped gift brimming with excitement, danger, passion, humor, and thrills. 

I highly recommend the entire series!

FTC Disclaimer: I voluntarily read a copy of the book generously provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my thoughts or feelings about the book or the content of my review.

Purchase Links*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books | Kobo

About the Author

Air Force veteran Larissa Ione traded in a career in meteorology to pursue her passion of writing. She has since published dozens of books, won numerous awards, and hit several bestseller lists, including the New York Times and USA Today. When she isn’t writing, she’s traveling overseas or in her RV, playing on her VR headset, or watching Big Bang Theory reruns. She believes in celebrating everything and would never be caught without a bottle of Champagne chilling in the fridge…just in case. She currently lives in Wisconsin with her retired U.S. Coast Guard husband, her son, and her very own rescued hellhounds, a Belgian Malinois named Duvel, and a Belgian Tervuren named Draak. Learn more at larissaione.com

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Release Day Review: Archangel's Eternity by Nalini Singh

Elena and Raphael return for the hauntingly poignant conclusion to New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh’s genre-defining Guild Hunter series.

Oh my gosh I cannot believe this is the last book in the series!!!  

I cried through the whole book and then I cried while writing the review. 

I love this series SO much! It breaks my heart to watch it end.

But I am so happy the Guild Hunter universe will be immortalized forever in print, and in my heart.

About the Book

A thousand years.

It’s been a millennium since Elena’s fateful first meeting with Archangel Raphael. She has survived war and loss, experienced beauty and cruelty. But no matter what, she has always held on to her mortal heart, as she and Raphael have held on to each other. Passionate and vibrant, they’ve built a life that has stood the test of time, growing ever stronger with each turn of the sun.

But change is coming—of a magnitude they could have never imagined—and it will forever alter the trajectory of their existence.

Even as they grapple with the cataclysmic shift in their personal lives, the Cadre of Ten, which has maintained a hard-won peace for centuries, begins to simmer with dangerous fault lines. The specter of madness looms in one archangel, the promise of war burns between two others, and in darkness far from mortal and immortal eyes stirs an ancient, slumbering power.

Suddenly, the future is terrifyingly uncertain . . . at the very moment that Elena and her archangel need to protect a treasure infinitely more precious than eternity.

My Review

Infinite Stars!

Archangel’s Eternity is a story for the eons.

Nalini Singh fundamentally changes my perspective on life, love, loss, and all the blessings and trials that goes along with it as she pens the last book in her extraordinary Guild Hunter series.

Nalini Singh writes her mother fucking ass off in the last installment to the Guild Hunter series. I have never cried harder than I did while reading this book. I have never grieved over a book as much as I’ve done here and I have never loved characters as much as I’ve loved Raphael, Elena, and every single character, large or small, friend or foe, as I have in these books. 

I am sitting here crying ugly tears as I gather my thoughts to put pen to paper on how to even form a coherent thought to write a review that’s not gibberish. How can I ever put into words how incredible this story is, especially as I read the last pages of the book while desperately willing it to never end?

I scribbled–sometimes incoherently–into a notebook as I read the book for the first time. So many of the outbursts I’ve included in here are from moments that really affected me. I decided to keep them in because I could write a million words and none of them would be good enough to describe how wonderful and heartbreaking this experience was and how incredible the story is. This is as close as I got. 

Someone recommended me Angel’s Blood (Guild Hunter #1) many years ago and after reading it, I was hooked! I had to know more about this crazy world of angels, vampires, and guild hunters. It’s truly a delight every time a new Guild Hunter book is published and I devour them right away, and constantly revisit the series and all these amazing characters through my many rereads. This quickly became my favorite series. 

While this is the end of an exceptional series, it is also a celebration of life, of accomplishment, of beauty, of completion, and of love. 

The emotions this story invokes are as heartbreaking as they are endearing.

The amount of love poured into this story is remarkable.

Beautiful story full of love, light and so much happiness.

To see all of this end? To see this beautiful universe cease to exist? It is like I have lost my best friend. My grief is insurmountable and inconsolable.

Saying goodbye is something I never thought I’d have to do with these wonderful characters that are like family in this remarkable and unforgettable world of wings and fantasy.

Knowing this is the very last story in the Guild Hunter series just breaks my heart.

I thought the time jumps were bad in previous books. That pain and grief is compounded in Archangels Eternity.

So many battles of the heart, of self, of arrogance, and pride.

What a beautiful love letter to life, to the human experience, to cherishing memories.

Time is a priceless commodity. Once it’s gone, you can’t get it back, so cherish every moment you can.

At 90% into reading the book, I was so much in my feelings.

Everything is so raw and feels like salt poured into never-sealing wounds.

The pain as the series winds down is excruciating.

Having so much invested in these characters, it warms my heart to see all the surprises and the beauty and well deserved happiness or comeuppance they so rightfully deserve.

My heart shattered into a million pieces but made whole by the beauty, laughter, love, and memories these stories have given me over the years.

The writing skill it takes to create characters so real and life like is an exquisite talent, Nalini Singh is a master at her craft

Seeing/watching these characters grow, change, and develop into who they are truly meant to be is a privilege and an honor.

This story is so powerfully written I felt the visceral pain of loss and regret. I felt the joy and happiness of life anew. I felt the grief that overshadowed a story written throughout millennia.

And I wouldn't have wanted to miss a single minute of this reading experience.

Infinity stars for Archangel’s Eternity.

While I am completely devastated and my heart irrevocably broken, I can take joy in the knowledge that these beautifully and lovingly crafted characters will live on forever in this world and in the next and mostly in our hearts

No greater love story has ever been told with as much passion, love, care, respect, consideration, compassion, and beauty as is that of our Raphael and his Elena. A love so profound that it will outlive an eternity.

Thank you Nalini for pouring your heart and soul into this series and especially into Archangel’s Eternity.

However, I refuse to say goodbye to characters I’ve loved for close to 20 years. For now I’ll just say, see ya later.

FTC Disclaimer: I voluntarily read a copy of the book generously provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my thoughts or feelings about the book or the content of my review.

Purchase Links*

Nalini Singh Website | Penguin Random House

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh is passionate about writing. Though she’s traveled as far afield as the deserts of China, the temples of Japan, and the frozen landscapes of Antarctica, it is the journey of the imagination that fascinates her most. She’s beyond delighted to be able to follow her dream as a writer.

She is the author of the Psy-Changeling novels, including Atonement Sky, Primal Mirror, and Resonance Surge. She is also the author of the Guild Hunter series, including Archangel’s Ascension, Archangel’s Lineage, and Archangel’s Resurrection, and four stand-alone thrillers: A Madness of Sunshine, Quiet in Her Bones, There Should Have Been Eight, and Such a Perfect Family. Learn more at nalinisingh.com

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Review: Crown of War and Shadow by J.R. Ward

Crown of War and Shadow is a brand new, sweeping, slow-burn romantasy from #1 New York Times bestseller J. R. Ward, perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Rebecca Yarros, and Jennifer Armentrout!

Crown of War and Shadow is the first book in the Kingdoms of the Compass series.

Crown of War and Shadow has

*Forced proximity/Only one bed

*Chosen mates

*Dark mercenary

*Who did this to you?

*Touch her and die

*I'll die for you

*Hidden magic

About the Book

An outcast burdened with a curse. A mercenary out for himself. A kingdom that must be saved.

In the deep, dark, dead of night, passions rise, and empires fall…

The Fulcrum is failing, and demons are slipping into the mortal world.

No one is safe.

Especially not Sorrel. An orphan and an outcast within the walls of her small village because of her mystical abilities. She wants to survive…and find somewhere she can call her true home. But Fate has other plans.

Sorrel has been chosen. Cursed.

She must cross the Badlands to return the Queen's crown and convince the fearsome female to save their world from destruction.

Well aware she’s no brave hero, Sorrel makes a dangerous deal with Merc, a brooding, commanding mercenary known only by his unscrupulous profession.

The deal? A night in his bed that she will never forget, in exchange for her safe passage.

But Merc has secrets of his own, and even though desire runs hot between them, adventure, danger, and betrayal lurk around every corner.

My Review

J.R. Ward brings a fresh voice to the romantasy genre in this epic tale of intrigue and prophecy.

I had some trepidation before picking up the book. I am a huge J.R. Ward fan and I absolutely LOVE her Black Dagger Brotherhood series and many of her other books, but some of her forays into other genres have not been as enjoyable so I wasn’t sure what to expect. 

Will this be a new story we haven’t heard of with an amazing plot and creative world building, or will it be a bandwagon book based on the current popularity of romantasy? 

I am thrilled to report that Crown of War and Shadow is that of the former!

I was immediately swept into the story as I learned of Sorrel’s hardships as an outcast trying to survive the harsh life of a poor orphan. But Sorrel’s got secrets. Big secrets. Forbidden secrets. Juicy secrets. 

One day a mercenary comes into town and takes an unnerving interest in Sorrel. Could he be her savior or her executioner? 

An attack on a couple of village children ignites a chain of events that rock Sorrel’s foundation to the core. The villagers blame Sorrel for the attack and despite the miracles she’s worked through her magic helping many families in the village, everyone’s out for her blood. Everyone except a mercenary with secret machinations of his own. 

Sorrel is shoved into a destiny she doesn’t understand and a responsibility too heavy to shoulder. With the help of her ruggedly handsome mercenary, Sorrel sets off to find the answers she seeks. The road ahead is full of danger and countless adversaries. Sorrel must learn to stop doubting herself and trust her instincts. 

What Fate has planned for Sorrel is far more dastardly than ever imagined. Safety is an illusion. Trust is deceptive. Victory is fleeting. And love is the biggest ass kicker of them all.

The mystery and suspense of the storyline had me on the edge of my seat! I spent my nights reading early into the morning hours because I couldn’t put the book down. When a secret was revealed, the story would bend Inception-style and completely shatter my reading experience with jaw-dropping precision! 

Crown of War and Shadow is an exciting read with a tenacious heroine, vibrant landscapes, and a meticulously crafted storyline that’ll leave readers breathless! 

FTC Disclaimer: I voluntarily read a copy of the book generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my thoughts or feelings about the book or the content of my review.

DELUXE EDITION―featuring gorgeous stenciled edges, a foil case stamp, a detailed map, and designed endpapers!

Purchase Links*

Hardcover | eBook | Audiobook

About the Author

J.R. Ward is the author of over thirty novels, including those in her #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling series, The Black Dagger Brotherhood. There are more than 15 million copies of Ward’s novels in print worldwide and they have been published in 25 different countries around the world. Learn more at jrward.com

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Review: Dawn of the North by Demi Winters

Dawn of the North is an epic saga packed full of action, intrigue, danger, mystery, secrets, betrayals, old enemies, new enemies, gods, monsters, and SO much more!

About the Book

A new age begins in the Kingdom of Íseldur in this sizzling third installment of the Viking-inspired Ashen romantasy the series.

The lost Volsik heir has finally returned to the people of Íseldur, and even with the warrior who’s captured her heart standing by her side, Silla’s task is monumental. She must earn the loyalty of the northern jarls to drive Ivar Ironheart from the throne and restore peace in the kingdom. But the secret she vigilantly guards threatens to ruin all her plans: A shard of a god lives in her mind, twisting her thoughts and deeds to His will.

Meanwhile, held captive on the mysterious isle of Zagadka, Saga Volsik fights to return to her sister in Íseldur. But when King Ivar sets his sights on the Zagadkians, she’s forced to make an impossible choice: fight for the man who stole her—and is now hell-bent on marrying her—or let the innocent people of his kingdom die.

As a poisonous mist threatens the realm, the sisters will delve into the unknowns of their magic to battle against evil. Return to the land of ice and fire, where a god awakens, a queen finds her power, and sisters must unite against the darkness threatening their realm.

My Review

The story is massive and the stakes are monumental as each character finds themselves facing adversity, hardships, trials and tribulations.

Silla: Trying to embrace her destiny as Eisa Volisk but wishing she could just be herself while constantly fighting the god of chaos in her mind, falling in love with Rey, and desperately trying to find her sister Saga.

Saga: Glad she is no longer under King Ivar’s tender mercies but is currently in a foreign land kidnapped by the roguish and deadly Kassandr, making plans to get back to Íseldur to find her sister Silla, carefully evaluating the Zagadka people as friend or foe while waiting for a knife in her back and fighting a deeply personal battle with herself.

Hekla: Trying to complete the job the Bloodaxe Crew was tasked with to eliminate the mist while dodging two suitors and the misogyny of the pig-headed warrior band that joined their cause in Roots of Darkness. Men, ugh! She is one of the toughest and most resilient warriors in the series.

Rey: Torn between protecting Silla and watching her walk into a birthright that’ll most certainly put her in more danger than ever before while navigating the sharks at court and preparing to join the in the fight against the mist, separating him from Silla. One must wonder if a more nefarious plot is afoot to cleave him from her side. Ha! He’d like to see them try, and so would Silla. 

Kassandr: Has brought trouble to his people but he did it to protect Saga. He wants to claim her for himself but faces an uphill battle with his father (the king) and brother to keep her in Zagadka all while secretly preparing the kingdom for the inevitable war he knows is coming despite the arrogant naysayers.

Eyvind: Second heir to Jarl Hakon, striving to get back in his father’s good graces after several “failures” but has been completely enchanted by the lovely–and magnificent–Hekla. He’s a bit of a mystery. 

Queen Signe: Wife of King Ivar, in mourning for her daughter and hungers for vengeance against Saga. Currently making plans of her own despite her husband’s scorned pride and war plans for retribution. Totally evil, cunning, duplicitous, and gravely underestimated.

And the list goes on and on and on… 

I was on the edge of my seat as I read chapter after chapter, hungrily devouring page after page. I knocked this thing out in 2 days. It was SO hard to put the book down to eat, sleep or do anything else. 

There are so many brilliantly crafted characters, dynamic landscapes, climactic story arcs, intricate plots and subplots, dangerous political climates, duplicity in all shapes and sizes, and SO many surprises! 

Demi Winters is a masterful storyteller and Dawn of the North her shining opus!

I cannot recommend this book enough! The Ashen series is a juggernaut in the fantasy genre and Dawn of the North is the absolute highest standard of excellence across all genres of literature.

FTC Disclaimer: I voluntarily read a copy of the book generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my thoughts or feelings about the book or the content of my review.

Purchase Links*

Penguin Random House | Demi Winters Website

About the Author

Lover of all things fairy tales, fantasy, and romance, Demi lives in British Columbia, Canada with her husband and two kids. When she’s not busy brainstorming fantastical worlds and morally gray love interests, Demi loves reading and cooking. Learn more at demiwinters.com

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.