A Curse of Breath and Blood by K.W. Foster

Looking for some new authors to mix into your reading? Girl...same. I am super excited to work with The Nerd Fam to get some fresh arcs to review. Stay tuned, there will be more!

Synopsis:

A queen turned mercenary. A long-lost love. An ancient evil reborn.

With her home kingdom destroyed and her family considered dead, Aelia Springborn makes a living, using her abilities to break minds for anyone with enough coin. Content to live a life in the shadows, her world is turned upside down when her former lover, Caiden Stormweaver, tracks her down at the edge of the world with a proposition she can’t refuse…. help him thwart her former husband, King Gideon, from obtaining the deadly army of the Alder King.

With a chasm of hurt between them, the pair strikes a deal; once their mission is complete, Aelia will wipe his memories of their relationship, releasing them both from their tumultuous past.

Bound by magic and aided by friends, Caiden and Aelia set off on a journey to save the continent from ultimate destruction. However, as their mission progresses, Aelia and Caiden find themselves reigniting the flames of their past.

But in Moriana, breaking a bargain is deadly.

Things become even more complicated when Aelia meets Tharan Greenblade, a charming playboy whom she cannot help but fall for. With the threads of their fates entwining, the trio will be forced into a high-stakes game that will test their loyalties and raise the dead.

Thoughts:

This was a fast moving book, and having just finished the entire Throne of Glass Series, a fast moving and quick read was welcomed. You won't find any lengthy info dumping here, and sometimes it was almost to the book's detriment.  We hit the ground running and there wasn't much explanation of magical systems or world building, and histories. We learned what we could as the story moved along, and I feel like readers might find the magical system either mysterious, or confusing.

Aelia is reunited with her former lover Caiden and she learns he has information to track down her sister who has been missing for five years. Caiden and Aelia work through some of their troubled past so they can work together to find her. Aelia is still a bit of an anomaly to me. She's had an awful history, specifically with men. She falls for them fast, and during her quest to find her sister she meets Tharan, and acknowledges she has feelings for both Tharan and Caiden. 

If you like, fantasy books with some spice, a love triangle, with a side of "who did this to you" I think you'll like this book.

A Curse of Breath and Blood will be available September 17, 2024 and can be purchased at Amazon and Bookshop.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book free for review.  This however does not affect my opinions, as I do not leave a review for each book I receive. There are links to Amazon, clicking these links won't cost you anything but any purchase helps support this blog.  Thanks!

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Full Moon Rising by Ruby Dixon

 

Have you ever been pulled in by a cover? That would be me and this book. I thought the cover was so pretty, and you guys, look at those sprayed edges. If you're a Ruby Dixon Fan already and have read any of her Ice Planet Barbarian books, then just pre-order it now.

Synopsis:

As a Holder’s daughter, Aspeth Honori knows the importance of magical artifacts . . . which is why it’s a disaster that her father has gambled all theirs away. Now that her family is in danger of losing their hold—and their heads—if anyone finds out the truth, Aspeth decides to do something about it. She’ll join the Royal Artifactual Guild and the adventurers who explore ancient underground ruins to retrieve the coveted arcane items.

It’s a great plan—with one big problem. The guild won’t let her train because she’s a woman. Aspeth needs a chaperone of some kind. The best way to get around this problem? Marry someone who will let her become an apprentice. Who better than a surly guild member who requires a favor of his own? He’s a minotaur (it’s fine) who is her teacher (also fine) . . . and he’s about to go into rut (which is where it gets tricky). He also has no idea she’s a noble (oops), and he’ll want nothing to do with her if he discovers her real identity.

Now Aspeth just has to pass the guild tests, thwart a fortune hunter, and save her hold—oh, and survive a rut with her monstrous, horned husband, whom she might be falling in love with.

It’s time to dig deep. Literally.

Thoughts:

Ya'll...I thought this one was cute. Aspeth acted very young, even though she was 30 in the book. She definitely was a sheltered aristocratic daughter, and was only slightly annoying in the beginning of the book.

Hawk was our big grump, and was facing a "rut" that his kind is subjected to every 5 years once they reach the age of 18. They lose their minds, and all they want to do is breed. Hawk wanted a partner instead of finding a prostitute willing to put up with him during the rutting season, and Aspeth needed a chaperone so she could join the guild. They both decide  entering a "fake marriage" was the solution,  both agreeing to divorce and go their separate ways once the rut was over.

Ya'll...we have all the spice that we expect from Ruby Dixon, it's a bit of a slow burn, but once we arrive it's all very spicy. 

All in all, a quick, fun easy, steamy read. 

Bull Moon's Rising is currently available for pre-order in this gorgeous special first edition copy. You can preorder  it on Amazon or Bookshop.  It's release date is October 15, 2024.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book free for review.  This however does not affect my opinions, as I do not leave a review for each book I receive. There are links to Amazon, clicking these links won't cost you anything but any purchase helps support this blog.  Thanks!

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New Book Releases for June 2024

Upcoming Sci-Fi/Fantasy Releases for June  2024

Ya'll Summer is right around the corner and here are a few new books that have caught my eye. I hope to snag these as I'm cozying up by the poolside, or relaxing in my hammock. Which one are you looking forward to the most?

Moonstorm by Yoon Ha Lee

Release Date: June 4, 2024

Genre: Y/A Sci-Fi

In a society where conformity is valued above all else, a teen girl training to become an Imperial pilot is forced to return to her rebel roots to save her world in this adrenaline-fueled sci-fi adventure—perfect for fans of Iron Widow and Skyward!

Hwa Young was just ten years old when imperial forces destroyed her rebel moon home. Now, six years later, she is a citizen of the very empire that made her an orphan.

Desperate to shake her rebel past, Hwa Young dreams of one day becoming a lancer pilot, an elite group of warriors who fly into battle using the empire’s most advanced tech—giant martial robots. Lancers are powerful, and Hwa Young would do anything to be the strong one for once in her life.

When an attack on their boarding school leaves Hwa Young and her classmates stranded on an imperial space fleet, her dreams quickly become a reality. As it turns out, the fleet is in dire need of pilot candidates, and Hwa Young—along with her brainy best friend Geum, rival Bae, and class clown Seong Su—are quick to volunteer.

But training is nothing like what they expected, and secrets—like the fate of the fleet’s previous lancer squad and hidden truths about the rebellion itself—are stacking up. And when Hwa Young uncovers a conspiracy that puts their entire world at risk, she’s forced to make a choice between her rebel past and an empire she’s no longer sure she can trust.

A Rivalry of Hearts by Tessonja Odette 

Release Date: June 12, 2024

Genre: Fantasy Romance/Gaslamp Fantasy

They say never bargain with the fae. They also say don’t get drunk on fae wine. Yet romance author Edwina Danforth has managed a blunder with both on her first visit to the infamous faelands. Now she's trapped in a magic-fueled bet she barely remembers with a man she’d be happier to forget. The terms? Whoever can bed the most lovers during their month-long dueling book tour wins a coveted publishing contract.

The win should be easy for Edwina. She’s known for penning scintillating tales of whirlwind romance. There’s just one problem: her imagination vastly exceeds her bedroom experience. But when failure means plummeting her career back into obscurity, losing isn’t an option.

Her handsome fae rival, William Haywood, poses an even greater challenge. Not only are his looks as aggravatingly perfect as his track record behind closed doors, but he has his own reasons for playing to win, and he won’t go down without a fight. Unless, of course, it’s a different kind of going down. In that case, he’s fair game.

Edwina and William clash in a rivalry of romance. But what happens when their objects of desire…turn out to be each other?

Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen 

Release Date: June 18, 2024

Genre: YA Fantasy

Mulan meets Iron Widow in this thrilling silkpunk fantasy about a girl who must disguise herself as a boy and enter the famed and dangerous Engineer’s Guild trials to unravel the mystery of her father’s murder.

Eighteen-year-old Aihui Ying dreams of becoming a world-class engineer like her father, but after his sudden murder, her life falls apart. Left with only a journal of her father’s engineering secrets and a jade pendant snatched from the assassin, a heartbroken Ying follows the trail to the capital and the prestigious Engineers Guild—a place that harbors her father’s hidden past—determined to discover why anyone would threaten a man who ultimately chose a quiet life over fame and fortune. 

Disguised as her brother, Ying manages to infiltrate the guild’s male-only apprenticeship trial with the help of an unlikely ally—Aogiya Ye-yang, the taciturn eighth prince of the High Command. With her father’s renown placing a target firmly on her back, Ying must stay one step ahead of her fellow competitors, the jealous guild masters, and the killer still hunting for her father’s journal. Complicating everything is her increasingly tangled relationship with the prince, who may have mysterious plans of his own. 

The secrets concealed within the guild can be as deadly as the weapons they build—and with her life and the future of her homeland at stake, Ying doesn’t know who to trust. Can she avenge her father even if it means going against everything he stood for, or will she be next in the mastermind’s line of fire?

Saints of Storm and Sorrow by Gabriella Buba  

Release Date: June 25, 2024

Genre: Fantasy/LGBTQ Fantasy

In this fiercely imaginative Filipino-inspired fantasy debut, a bisexual nun hiding a goddess-given gift is unwillingly transformed into a lightning rod for her people's struggle against colonization.

Perfect for fans of lush fantasy full of morally ambiguous characters, including The Poppy War and The Jasmine Throne.

María Lunurin has been living a double life for as long as she can remember. To the world, she is Sister María, dutiful nun and devoted servant of Aynila's Codicían colonizers. But behind closed doors, she is a stormcaller, chosen daughter of the Aynilan goddess Anitun Tabu. In hiding not only from the Codicíans and their witch hunts, but also from the vengeful eye of her slighted goddess, Lunurin does what she can to protect her fellow Aynilans and the small family she has created in the convent: her lover Catalina, and Cat's younger sister Inez.

Lunurin is determined to keep her head down—until one day she makes a devastating discovery, which threatens to tear her family apart. In desperation, she turns for help to Alon Dakila, heir to Aynila's most powerful family, who has been ardently in love with her for years. But this choice sets in motion a chain of events beyond her control, awakening Anitun Tabu's rage and putting everyone Lunurin loves in terrible danger. Torn between the call of Alon’s magic and Catalina’s jealousy, her duty to her family and to her people, Lunurin can no longer keep Anitun Tabu’s fury at bay.

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links in this post, clicking these links won't cost you anything but any purchase helps support this blog.  Thanks!

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Barbarian's Mate by Ruby Dixon

I hope you're ready for the next beautiful cover update to Ruby Dixon's Ice Planet Barbarian Series. This cover is gorgeous!

Synopsis:

'Resonance' is supposed to be a dream - that's when your soulmate is chosen for you. And everyone on the ice planet has hooked up with a big, hunky soulmate of their own...except me. So do I want a mate? Heck yeah. More than anything, all I've ever wanted is to be loved by someone.

Except that the soulmate chosen for me? My least favorite person on the darn ice planet. Haeden's the most cranky, disapproving, unpleasant, overbearing male alien...so why is it that my body sings when he gets close? Why is he working so hard to prove to me that he's not as awful as I think he is?

I hate him...don't I?

Thoughts:

I read this book immediately after finishing ACOSF, and maybe this book was the breather I needed right after that. If you're looking for depth, and soul, and emotional growth in a book...you're looking in the wrong place. The goal of anyone in this book is to find a mate, and make babies with them. That's their sole purpose.

There's a bit of an enemies to lovers feel to the book because they didn't like each other at first, but they end up working through that. She sets off on a tantrum and leaves the community and he chases after her, saves her, and then has lots of crazy sex. He has a tail. He knows how to use it, ya'll.

Overall, if you want to read a quick steamy story about a grumpy alien who's completely devoted to a mate who's not so sure about him at first. Did I mention tail action? TAIL ACTION.

Barbarian's Mate was originally released March 25, 2016, but this special edition cover is being released July 11, 2023 and is available on Amazon.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book free for review.  This however does not affect my opinions, as I do not leave a review for each book I receive. There are links to Amazon, clicking these links won't cost you anything but any purchase helps support this blog.  Thanks!

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A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows by Holly Renee

 

Synopsis:

Destiny or desire?

Where does your allegiance lie?

I am told my union to the crowned prince will determine the fate of the kingdom, but it isn’t my betrothed who haunts my dreams. It’s the half-breed prince who stands at his side.

He is darkness and sin, and when he whispers promises of wickedness in my ear, I crave a man who I can’t have.

Every thought I have is treasonous. The way my hands ache to touch him deceitful.

Even my dreams make me a traitor to the kingdom I am sworn to protect.

But when the kingdom is attacked, I am forced to make choices I’m not prepared for. Our lies and deception are entangled in the shadows and stars, and as they unravel so shall my fate. Betray a kingdom or betray my heart.

Thoughts:

I was supposed to read a different book when I started this, but it pulled me right in and I inhaled this one in about a day. It's on the shorter side, at only 259 pages so it's a quick fun read.

Adara was born Starblessed, and is supposed to marry Prince Gavriel, and become Queen of the fae. When she comes of age, she is collected and whisked away to a castle. She quickly realizes not everything is as they seem. The prince's half brother, Evren is a darker presence, but one she feels pulled to.

Adara seems to have almost no choice in her life, she is directed by her mother, and prophecy. She seems unhappy to go with the flow, but also helpless to get herself out of this situation. There is a lot of room for character development here, but we don't really see it in this book. Instead we get the fate she doesn't want, and a grumpy alpha male to whisk her away from it.

I'm not usually a big fan of a weaker female lead being lead by a alpha male, but the book moved so quickly I still couldn't set it down. The slow burn is satisfying, the forbidden love aspect brings it to another level..and bonus there's lots of spicey spice.

Overall, an enjoyable, fast paced, spicey, fantasy romance. I'm looking forward to book two.

A Kingdom of Stars is available on Amazon and Bookshop.

Disclaimer: I purchased a copy of this book myself for review.  There are links to Amazon, clicking these links won't cost you anything but any purchase helps support this blog.  Thanks!

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Frost by CN Crawford

 

Synopsis:

On the worst birthday of my life, I come home to find my boyfriend in bed with another woman. Within hours, I’m drunk, homeless, and pledging to stay single forever. And that is when the dangerously sexy Seelie King rolls through town, looking for fae like me.

Every generation, the king holds a competition for Seelie queen. But for reasons he won’t explain, Torin is looking for a charade, not a real marriage. So when I drunkenly sling insults his way, I have his attention.

When Torin offers me fifty million to participate, I think, “What have I got to lose?” The answer turns out to be “my life,” because my competition will literally kill for the crown.

And the more time I spend with the seductive king, the harder it becomes to remember it’s all supposed to be fake. Now, my life—and my heart—are on the line.

Thoughts:

This is the kind of romantasy book that is my all time favorite... we have a broody male fae king with a secret curse he can't tell anyone, and a tough independent female lead with a secret past we don't know much about. Combine this with a "Hunger Games" style contest to win a crown, and it's all win for me.

This book could easily have been read in one sitting. I really felt there was never a dull moment, or wordy explanations that take too long. We start right off with the heart break that is mentioned in the synopsis. Andrew is absolutely hated from the start, and of course while at her most vulnerable she meets Torin.

Because of his secret curse, Torin wants to marry someone he can't love, and he thinks he's found that in Ava. However, this is when the slow burn, forbidden romance slowly evolves...and we never really get much satisfaction in this book. The story leaves off here with a bit of a cliffhanger, and completely unresolved. As much as I usually don't like this in books, it actually worked for me, however I'm really glad book two comes out in less than two weeks.

I hope book two in this series keeps up the great momentum that was developed in book one.

Frost by CN Crawford is available on Amazon. Ambrosia, book two of her Frost and Nectar series releases February 20th. 

To learn more about CN Crawford head over to her website here.

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Disclaimer: I purchased a copy of this book myself for review.  There are links to Amazon, clicking these links won't cost you anything but any purchase helps support this blog.  Thanks!

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Death in a Dark Alley by Bradley Pay

 

Synopsis:

Tracey Lauch may be a murderer, but he is still a man. Although his childhood abandonment trauma began decades ago, now his compulsion to strangle women who resemble his mother has begun to evolve. Outrunning his past, embracing love in the present, and creating a future free of investigation proves increasingly complicated.

Isabelle’s life in Brazil is burdened with mistakes and abandonment, too – but not in the same way. She falls in love with all the wrong men at all the wrong times, and her best friend Frank shows his true colors when, over and over again, he is not there for her when she needs him most. Aside from the stark difference that Isabelle is not a murderer, she and Tracey both desire love, a life partner, and the warmth of a family. 

But what does Isabelle’s story have to do with Tracey? How can an innocent trip to Strasbourg, France, become a heart-stopping event that changes their lives forever?

Trigger Warnings: violence, sexual content

Thoughts:

This is book two in the Spectrum Series, book one being The Killings Begin. In this book, we are taken through the past history of some of the characters we met in book one. We find out how Lydia and Mari met. We meet Frank and learn about his history, his troubled past, his relationships. We meet Isabella and how she had a friendship with Frank. We also find out the struggles of Isabella and what she does to survive when she strikes off on her own. Frank takes Isabella on a trip to meet his Uncle Victor; Isabella and Victor have their own story. And we meet a whole host of other characters.

 We get just a bit more of the relationship between Tracey Lauch and Charlotte, and some of their travel adventures. Tracey is a wildly captivating man, but he has a darkness to him. Personally, I want more of Tracey’s story, what makes him tick, the reason he does what he does, the meaning behind his triggers. What makes Charlotte so special to Tracey?

I absolutely enjoyed this book. It was filled with drama, romance and intrigue. It is amazing how these books in the Spectrum series can stand on their own. Can't wait for the next one.

Death in a Dark Alley is Book Two in Bradley Pay's Spectrum Series and is available on Amazon and Bookshop.

Contirbuting Reviewer:

My name is Lissa I am a wife, mom aspiring author and new Florida transplant who loves all things books and coffee! Self proclaimed nerd who refuses to stop believing in Fairytales! If you want to follow along on my book review journey you can follow me on Instagram at @reviewsonwheels.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book free for review.  This however does not affect my opinions, as I do not leave a review for each book I receive. There are links to Amazon, clicking these links won't cost you anything but any purchase helps support this blog.  Thanks!

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Queen and Conqueror by Isabelle Olmo

If you enjoy fantasy with a side of feminism and diverse main characters and a head strong female main character grab this book!

Synopsis:

Almira was raised by a calculating father who forged her in political cunning. She’s prepared for this moment since childhood. Like pieces on a board, she lays out the players one by one.

One. King Alton, the brother-killer. The spare heir who killed his brother for lust of throne.

Two. The perfect seamstress. The people must admire a queen and welcome her with open arms. Even with a deadly armada behind her.

Three. The Queen’s Red Guard. The group of warrior women who have one purpose; to protect the queen at all costs. Even from her husband. Even from herself.

Queen & Conqueror is the first book in an epic feminist fantasy series told from the perspective of the women who rule and shape the future.

“Men will never be ready for women like us and it is not our job to ready them.

Rating: 

 Trigger warnings: death, child abuse, sexual content

Thoughts:

I want to be Alimira when I grow up you guys. She is volunerable, and headstrong, she second guesses herself, and she's just so real. She not only surrounded herself with women, she uplifted them, and they sometimes checked her.  Like the truest friends will.

---Almira smiled and nodded. "Men will never be ready for women like us, and it is not our job to ready them."---

I love the elements fantasy tied in with feminism and diversity. This book was so refreshing. Almira was born in nobility, raised to lead by her father as his only living child. He makes sure she has the education and the tools to accomplish whatever she sets her mind to. She forms her Queen's Guard..a group of completley badass women who are her armoured guards.

When her husband dies in a war, she divises a plan and submits a marriage proposal to the king who killed her husband. And ya'll...he accepts. His initial plan is not necessarily a kind one, but things slowly begin to warm up. They both are cautious about giving their hearts to each other...it was the SLOWEST of slow burns. So refreshing.

This book is filled with so many twists and turns and surprises. Of course I'm not going to tell you the juicy bits, but have tissues close by. Olmo really does a wonderful job pulling you into the characters and making you feel deeply connected to them.

If you enjoy a slow burn, or even an enemies to lovers with a side of strong women leads that is full of diversity then be sure to grab this book.

Queen and Conqueror can be purchased on Amazon.

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Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book free for review.  This however does not affect my opinions, as I do not leave a review for each book I receive. There are links to Amazon, clicking these links won't cost you anything but any purchase helps support this blog.  Thanks!

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Blood and Potions by Maya Morrison

 

Blurb:

An assassin who lives for the hunt. A vampire that loves the chase. A job that went wrong, and a bite that changes everything.

It was supposed to be a simple job. Steal an artifact from a top-secret location, and gain intel about my sister’s killer. Instead, one false move lands me in the hands of the renowned vampire overlord, Quillian Kingsley.

Quillian is cold, callous, and notoriously ruthless with his enemies, especially those he believes wronged him. I was prepared for my death...until he tasted my blood.

After days of interrogation, we come to a mutual agreement, and I agree to his terms by swearing a Blood Oath. I stay in Esneoh to help hunt down his enemies and play the role of his doting wife. And in kind, he will help me find my sister’s killer.
The job should have been easy; however, with every new kill and pursuit, I find myself drawn to the dark, dangerous, and sinfully gorgeous overlord.

There is just one problem - all roads point to him as one of the main suspects. And in this game of power, secrets, and lust, neither of us might come out alive when the truth unveils itself. 

Thoughts:

First of all...this book is steamy! 

The book jumps right in, introducing Meraki as the strong resilient assassin that she is.  The world is beautifully laid out with out the gross info dump.  Meraki is independent and a well trained assassin and thief, living in a world that I can't possibly imagine. She feels she owes her life to the Alokari, the organization she works for. They have trained her for this life, and she is one of their best.  Her sister early on failed the test, and she spends her life looking for clues to kill who ever killed her. 

When she first meets Quillian in a club the attraction is immediate. She doesn't know his name, so he's Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome. On a job to finally get the necklace that should hold clues to her sister's murder, she runs into Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome again...they were both there to take the necklace. She later learns he's a vampire, and he's immune to most of the tricks she knows.  He's able to subdue her, and he kidnaps her to learn about why she was there, what she knows and who she works for.  

Fast forward we end up with a fake relationship trope, and it's done very well.  The physical relationship felt easy, but the two of them slowly figure out if there is anything to their fake marriage beyond amazing sex...which there's a ton of.  If you enjoy the fake relationship type trope, with a bit of an emotional slow burn with a side of alphamale possessiveness, you will like this book. Be warned, this book ends on a HUGE plot twist and a bit of a cliffhanger.

Rating: 4 stars

Steam level: 9/10 ---- hot hot hot

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Eternal Rider by Larissa Ione

 

Ya'll sometimes when a book re-releases they come off outdated, or just feeling old...not this book.  Read on!

Blurb:

They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

His name is Ares, and the fate of mankind rests on his powerful shoulders. If he falls to the forces of evil, the world falls too. As one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, he is far stronger than any mortal, but even he cannot fight his destiny forever. Not when his own brother plots against him.

Yet there is one last hope. Gifted in a way other humans can't-or won't-understand, Cara Thornhart is the key to both this Horseman's safety and his doom. But involving Cara will prove treacherous, even beyond the maddening, dangerous desire that seizes them the moment they meet. For staving off eternal darkness could have a staggering cost: Cara's life.

Thoughts:

First of all....Ares.  

This is book six in Ione's Demonica Underworld Series, and book one in in her Horseman Series. This is the first book for me in this entire series, and Ione does a great job with world building and bringing me up to speed. You can easily start the series right here. This book was originally released in 2011, and was released this year again with an updated cover.  Being that this book is over a decade old, I felt that this book aged fairly well.

I really enjoyed this story of Cara and Ares.  Ares is a thousand's year old Horseman of the Apocalypse, who is desperately trying not to allow his seal to break.  If his seal breaks he becomes War, and will become evil bringing in his part of the apocalypse. Cara is down on her luck, her father recently passing away she is alone.  I really liked Cara in this story, she's a good natured person, loves animals and doesn't put up with Ares's crap. She stands her ground with him often which he doesn't know how to respond to since no one really does it. Ares struggles with allowing anyone to be close to him, but he softens towards Cara.  It's such a great story watching the two of them slowly open up to each other while navigating them possible impending doom of the apocalypse. 

If you enjoy fantasy romance with a slow burn type trope, you will enjoy Eternal Rider!

Rating: 4 stars

Spice Level: 7 -- descriptive consensual sex 

Eternal Rider by Larissa Ione is available now!

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book free for review.  This however does not affect my opinions, as I do not leave a review for each book I receive. There are links to Amazon, clicking these links won't cost you anything but any purchase helps support this blog.  Thanks!

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A Kingdom of Flame and Fury by Whitney Dean

 

Blurb: 

At ten years old, Raven was mysteriously willed to be the next ruler of Seolia, a kingdom nestled within the realm of The Four Kingdoms.

Orphaned as a baby, she has spent fifteen years ruling over a kingdom she believes she did not earn all while hiding secrets: she possesses dark magic and she thirsts for blood.

Now at almost twenty-five years old and with a sudden addiction to stealing life, Raven must fight through her new procured darkness to save her soul, but when a mysterious stranger arrives in her kingdom, she starts experiencing vivid dreams that detail who she truly is. As she slowly starts to unravel her story, what she uncovers at the end of the spool will change the course of her life and her kingdom forever.

Thoughts:

There's some good things, and some bad things in this novel, and I think I have a love/hate relationship with it. 

The good...this was a well paced book, with great world building. Raven's character and history I felt was fairly original, her not knowing her past or even why she had magic. We gradually get into her history...but I won't ruin it for you.  It unfolds nicely. Also...I love a good romance triangle.  We definitely get that, except...we always kind of know who is right for her.  Missed opportunity...the beauty of an achingly good triangle is that both could be really good for our MC.  Instead the author makes both of them kinda lame choices for her.

Queen...you don't need a man.

Things I didn't like. I am not a fan of insta-love.  There could have been any way to go about this, but they hardly knew each other and there were crazy sex scenes and love proclamations and they barely knew each other's names.  I also got annoyed at the scene repeats, the author would replay scenes from a different person's perspective. It seemed to slow the book down, and I didn't need to see what happened twice, and she did it A LOT.  The sex scenes dominated the book at the beginning making me think initially this was just some light smut...but there was a story there. Also...the book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger with lots of things being left unresolved. Brace yourself.

Overall this book just barely scrapes by with three stars for me. I just was not that into it. 

Steam factor 10/10.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced e-copy of this book free for review.  This however does not affect my opinions, as I do not leave a review for each book I receive. There are links to Amazon, clicking these links won't cost you anything but any purchase helps support this blog.  Thanks!

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