Desires of the Immersed by Caelan J. Peters

 

Blurb:

Taylor was a rich, popular, yet completely normal teenage girl until the guy she’d fallen for shoved her off a hundred-foot waterfall. Instead of dying, she emerges into a completely different world where she’s immediately captured and thrown into a brutal training camp. Here she’s forced to face the realities of her forgotten past along with the still all too clear memories that are forming her present. Lucca finally returned his lost fiancé to their own world only to find a war threatening to destroy his entire home country. And his mother seems to think he’s the only one who can stop it. He’d never planned on leading the ground force, and he’d never planned to allow the woman he loved to wander a war-torn world alone. But he might not have a choice.

Thoughts: 

I really enjoyed this book. By the time I was about half way through I couldn't set it down, and it became a life neglecting, sleep depriving, just one more chapter before I go to sleep type of book. That good. I truly didn't know who to root for in this book. Taylor was the main focus of the book, but who was the right person for her to trust? Was it Lucca? Cole? Dawn? Marcellous? The story slowly unravels, as we hop back in forth between the present and the past..almost Godfather 2 style. Sometimes the hop was a bit abrupt, as in I felt like I was pulled into another scene when I wanted to stay right where I was. It added to the suspense of the overall book though, and I think it was well done.

I don't know that I really liked Taylor at first, but I love when characters really come into their own. She is hardened by some pretty brutal training, but it's brutality has a purpose one that she learns to understand and eventually embraces.  The story ends with lots of questions still unanswered...not quite a cliff hanger, but I need answers. I can't wait to dig into book 2!!

Rating: 5 Stars!

Spice level: 1 -- no sex, just kissing.

Desires of the Immersed is available for purchase now.

If you're interested, Book 2: Orders of the Emboldened is also available for purchase. 

Book three is expected to release September, 2023

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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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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Tabula Smaragdina by Natalia Wawrzyńczak

 

Blurb:

Laura doesn’t believe in magic. All she cares about is a college scholarship and making her deceased father’s dreams come true.

It all changes when mistaken for the long foretold warrior, she is kidnapped to Pravia, a parallel magical world inhabited by creatures that she knows only from mythology. Laura wants nothing more than to go back home, but the only way to do that is to defeat the evil queen that seized the throne by trickery.

Laura is soon embroiled in the local intrigues and deceptions of three political factions. She can’t avoid the enormous expectations that the creatures of Pravia impose on her. The only friend she has is a vampire, Bastien. As a member of the opposite faction, he is despised by all the other creatures. In the land where even spies have spies, Laura has to choose who to trust.

War is in the air, and the prophecy is clear about a great battle… But can you win a battle not being the chosen one?

Thoughts:

You guys, I really loved this book...but please aware, it is high fantasy. There are unicorns and elves, and dryads, and a dragon queen...and so much more, and it was all put together so well.  This book offers a beautiful escape from reality.  There is a touch of European mythologies thrown in there from many different parts of Europe, such as the Tabula Smaragdina, the names of two of the dragons being Morrigan and Dagda, Mimir being a healer,  and we even have a cameo from Idunn. I think it was a missed opportunity to incorporate them in a more traditional way because other than their names, as they did not represent their mythological namesakes. Overall, the writing is descriptive with out being overly so, painting a lovely picture of a beautiful world.

In the story we have a magical story of a young lady who has a serious case of imposter syndrome. She is even labeled the destiny thief. Many people believe she is the warrior of fire who came to save them all by defeating their dragon queen.  She is whisked away from her normal life as a college student and thrown into a world of magic that she is hardly welcomed in. When they realize she doesn't have any fighting skills, and is even a slow learning when it comes to swords everyone begins to doubt her. Feeling lonely and looking for any friendship, she is seduced by a vampire that may or may not really be her friend. And truly...she just wants to go home. This book played with my emotions and was not predictable at all. If you like high fantasy with lots of character development and twists and turns you will love Tabula Smaragdina by Natalia Wawrzyńczak.

Tabula Smaragdina is available for purchase 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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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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Darkrunner RIsing by A.J. Larke

 

Blurb:

Reylyn Hummel is the only half-elf in the village, and it doesn't make her popular.  Her only friends are the Infernal, Hellzebub, and his feathered minions. When the villagers go too far, Hellzebub helps her escape in exchange for helping him get his thrown in the Lower Planes back from his sister, the overly-ambitious Celestial, Tiaphima. This lands Reylyn in Timbercrest, where all the rules about elves, humans, and orcs and about good and evil are different.  Where even she can have friends and family. Where having friends and family will be more dangerous and more difficult than being the villain of her village.

Reviewer trigger warnings: Death, abandonment

Thoughts:

First this was a story about a child, but not necessarily a children's book. There were dark elements right from the beginning that I would caution reader digression. Reylyn is a vulnerable child dealing with the trauma of a parent leaving and being left with an unloving father.  She is teased in her village by the village children because she is different, and the only kindness shown to her is by a infernal (think demon) Hellzebub...who she's adorably nick-named Bubby. 

Hellzebub gives her the power of fire, and before leaving her town for good she accidentally kills ALOT of people. I think this weighs heavily on Reylyn but being a child she's probably not sure to how to process this...I hope that the author works through this with her in future books.

When she gets to the new town Reylyn is shown kindness and acceptance and she really isn't sure what to do with it.  Hellzebub encourages her to make friends, and she does...and even manages to find herself a family. 

If you enjoy books that contain morally grey storylines that focus on character development instead of plot you would enjoy this book!

Dark Runner Rising releases 8/19/2022!

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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Wings in Captivity by C. Soto

 

Blurb:

Grimm is an assassin, a ghost in the night, coming to gift souls for the Reaper!

Once he sets his eyes on Tara, his spirited butterfly, he knows he must capture her and put her in his own cage.

While Tara is on the run from one monster, she catches the eye of another.

With the games they play, in the end, who will have captured who?

WARNING: This is a Dark Romance, captive story. Trigger warnings include but are not limited to: dubious consent, strong language, violence. Intended audience 18+ only.

You are warned....get your fans ready, clutch your pearls, this is a steamy review.

Wings in Captivity by C. Soto is a quick smutty read.  To read this book you'll need to be ok with reading about kidnapping, bondage, torture...fair warning.  As smutty reads go, we get into the thick of it quite quickly.  Grimm is home on an assignment, living in his small town where he gets some privacy and reprieve from his demanding job as an assassin. As a general rule, women in his small town are off limits...however when he sees Tara he recognizes many things in her.  She isn't from this town, and she's hiding from someone. He kidnaps her and begins to play his own games...and as she learns to live by his rules, she sees his more gentle side.

Thoughts: Overall this was a well paced quick dark read that kept the pages turning. There was an interesting storyline between the sex scenes that kept things interesting, and I specially enjoyed the overall character development.  If you're looking for a quick steamy read and are ok with all the warnings then go grab this book.

Rating: 4 stars

Steam: Max! 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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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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Driftworld Atlas

Blurb 

Like snowflakes in a snow globe, the worlds drift across creation. And, recording their tales, is the Driftworld Atlas.

When an eternal traveler finally awakens, he does so in a world that has been shattered to ash. Creation has been stained by a crime, and while his jumbled memories provide no answers, a single note is left to guide him forward. "Let's drink, come find me."

 

But to follow this message, he has to get help, from a witch who knows how to read the sea, trapped in a prison of her own making. The problem? Clearly his old habits, for why shouldn't he take in the demon needing his soul he found along the way? When unlikely connections emerge from the sea, threatening to put his search to an early end, the answer is simple. Because his biggest obstacle has always been himself – and old enemies don't wait.

Thoughts:

I initially was drawn in to this book based off the cover, and it's ethereal beginnings. In this story we follow the "eternal traveler" who looks at the world through this childlike, yet immortal wonderment. Everything seems to have a touch of humor, even serious and deadly situations, yet on the flipside small inconveniences....like being woken up, or having plans changed seem to upset him more.

Overall the book was a fun light hearted read, will quick dry humor. The writing style took some getting used to at the beginning, but I felt it evened out for a pretty enjoyable story. Readers who enjoy high fantasy would love the book.

Rating: 3.5 stars!

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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Droplets of Magic: A Review

 Book 4 of the Unstable Magic Series by Emily Bybee

Blurb:

Kira’s spells always end the same—rain and violent storms. She’s what’s called a Defect, and that means one of two things in the witch world—losing your magic or death. After faking her demise, Kira is in hiding. She risks exposure and travels the world, making the Defective magic that would get her killed into a gift by bringing rains to places that most need water.

The witch world has changed in the ten years Kira’s been gone. Kira doesn’t know that she has a much bigger part to play against an ancient danger that threatens the entire world. But the witches want her for their own greedy plans. Her only chance to escape the witch council is to hide in areas where her storms go unnoticed. After one last stop in Africa, she plans to disappear again.

But Kira’s past catches up with her and a decade old blood debt comes due. As if being prey to the witch world isn’t enough, her family’s history with the Russian Mafia causes an enemy who was once her childhood friend to hunt her down. She and her only ally Alex—a naïve American—team up to escape the underworld warlord. As Kira’s feelings for Alex grow, she fears he will be caught in the crossfire. To settle this debt, someone will have to die.

Thoughts:

This is book 4 in a series, and I wish I had read the other books first. Having said that, I still was able to understand the world well enough and many reviews say each book in this series could be read as a stand alone. I love the idea behind of intermixing a bit of science in the magic. Kira's gift is water, and she can manipulate water and even turn oxygen and hydrogen molecules in the air into water. Even with such a strong power, she is considered a defect.

This was a very much a cat and mouse type of book. Kira is being chased by the Russian Witch Mofia and her childhood friend and former betrothed Rurik. Rurik tracks her and hopes to use her for his own political gain. There are lots of tense moments and the story is well paced. I wish the relationships had been given more depth. We learn why Rurik despises Kira, and there's a secondary romance story between Alex and Kira that I just couldn't get into. It almost felt like instant love and I didn't see any thing that would make them attracted to each other beyond physical looks and proximity. This lack of connection between what I think is supposed to be a fantasy romance book is what brought my score down for this one. Even with a lower than normal score I felt it was a good book overall.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Droplets of Magic is available for purchase now and is available on Kindle Unlimited!! Click here!

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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Mother of Pearl by Blankah Madow: A Review

 Ya'll this adorable story I think is going to stick with me for a bit.  It was the absolute perfect escape. Read on.

Blurb:

Lured to a mystical land, Valeri must learn to harness a power deep within her.

Orphaned at a young age, sisters Valeri and Amelia shouldered the household responsibilities in their small village of Noor. Valeri was the hunter; Amelia the gatherer. While fishing one day, Valeri follows her instinct into the depths of the ocean despite a raging storm. She discovers the Mother of Pearl shell - which unbeknownst to her, unlocks the secrets of her ancestral power.

Knocked unconscious by the storm and washed ashore in a foreign land, she soon realizes she is thousands of miles from her sister, and there are wicked plans afoot. As she struggles to find a way to return home to her sister, Valeri befriends Prince Rulin at the magical court. In each other, they find purpose. But she must harness the newfound power within her blood first.

Valeri: Art Credit @siyana__art 

Thoughts:

Honestly, this blurb doesn't do this book justice. What I think I loved the most about this book was the MC secretly wishes she lived in a fairytale where a prince would save her.  Don't we all honey! She continuously digs deep and saves herself. And character development you guys. Valeri begins this book kinda lost and walking through the paces of every day, to finding her own direction making choices for herself and making changes for the betterment of her own life.The world building is gentle with out the dreaded info-dump and there were so many plots and twists. I love how the author pulls you in to read the next book with out a stressful cliffhanger.  Overall, well done! I can't wait for book 2!

Rating -- 4.5 stars!

Steam: 1 -- there was sex, but it was not described

Mother of Pearl by Blankah Madow releases August 23, 2022!

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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Queentide: A Review

Queentide is a fictitious dystopian novel that hits very close to home.

Blurb:

Australia in 2026 is not an easy place to be a woman.

Authoritarianism has crept into the country and women have lost their rights and voices. But Bodie and her militant granddaughter, Insley, are gambling everything to return them. They have set up a radical feminist group, Queentide, to steal the upcoming election and make Aboriginal politician, Kathleen, the next Prime Minister of an all-women Government. The ex-wife of a senior Minister, Lilith, vows to help them by sharing explosive secrets that will guarantee Queentide's success.

But two things might stop them. A state-backed, violent men's rights group and a bitter power struggle that threatens to tear Queentide apart. Can the women harness the storm and smash the patriarchy?Or will Queentide wreck itself?

Thoughts: 

I want to preface this review by letting you know, I am absolutely a feminist.  The last few weeks in the US with the court rulings has tipped me further towards the radical feminist side. So when I read books like this it just ignites my fury. So having said that.... I found this to be a difficult read.

 

In 2026 in Australia women had no voice, no control over their bodies, their lives, or their children. Poor behavior from men was often overlooked or excused and women were perceived guilty unless proven innocent.  When a woman left her marriage she very likely lost her children. Lilith bravely left her husband, and only seeing her children when he allowed her to. Bravely..she secretly began attending meetings with Queentide.  Where she met Brodie, an older woman with experience leading groups for women.

I personally read books that pull me out of reality so I can get a break however this book immersed me into a reality that was not far from where we are.   Women had no voice, men's poor behavior was excused.  Women were perceived guilty unless proven innocent, and when a woman left her marriage she very likely lost her children. Ya'll...we are only four years away from the reality in this book...and I know a lot of women fear the world this book built may be our not so distant future. 

I would have liked to have seen more intersectionalism in the book. There were lots of strong independent women in this book, with lots of tense moments.  Would Queentide be successful and get Kathleen elected, dispite all the odds stacked against her? Well I'm not going to tell you, go get the book. If you enjoy feminists books, or need a book to ignite your fury then this book is for you.

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 bookshop here, clicking these links won't cost you anything but any purchase helps support this blog. Thanks!

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