BOOKS | Review: A Honeymoon of Grave Consequence by Stephanie Burgis

Name: A Honeymoon of Grave Cosequence (The Unexpected Adventures of Lady and Lord Riven #2)

Author: Stephanie Burgis

Publisher: Five Fathoms Press

Date published: September 2025

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, romance, vampires, historical

Rating: 5/5

Thank you to the author for sending me an early review copy of this book! 

Margaret, Lady Riven, never expected to find herself married, much less enjoying a honeymoon with her vampiric husband. Obviously, they’ve only agreed to stay married for logical, practical reasons, but Lord Riven has kept his promise to supply her with excellent tea and even better company as they travel together across the continent. Unfortunately, her newfound notoriety has traveled along with them - so she’s delighted when they arrive at a secluded inn deep within the Black Forest, far from high society.
However, the inn is full of lethal supernatural creatures who find Margaret’s arrival anything but welcome - and for all of Margaret’s academic prowess, she’s infamously inept at making friends. When a new threat appears in her own mirror, she realizes that the greatest danger is to her heart... and she’ll have to rely on a remarkable assortment of newfound allies to help her save the immortal vampire who holds it.

- From Goodreads. 

This was a very heartwarming and charming follow-up to A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience, I really enjoyed that this story was a little longer and we got to spend more time with Lord and Lady Riven and see how their relationship was developing. It was also fun to explore a new location and meet quite an eclectic set of new characters! There was an intriguing mystery to solve, some exciting confrontations and of course more delightful romance.

Margaret and Lord Riven's relationship is definitely my favourite part of these books, they work so well together, have such great chemistry and obviously care so deeply about each other. Every scene between them is so wonderful to read.

If we ever get more in this world, I will definitely be reading it, I would love to see more of Lady and Lord Riven's adventures, and I'll certainly continue to read more from Stephanie Burgis as she has a very engaging and clever writing style. I would recommend this series for you if you love other fun and charming fantasy romance series like the Emily Wilde trilogy by Heather Fawcett, or the Love's Academic series by India Holton.

BOOKS | Review: Blood Sanctuary: Part Two by Vela Roth

Name: Blood Sanctuary: Part Two (Blood Grace #4)

Author: Vela Roth

Publisher: Five Thorns Press

Date published: April 2022

Genre: Fiction, adult, romance, fantasy, vampires

Pages: 480

Rating: 5/5

 

When an ancient evil rises, can they save the peace talks and their love?
Lio and Cassia spend their nights in each other’s arms, but sit on opposite sides of the negotiation table. Their clandestine partnership has brought his immortal kin and her fellow humans close to a treaty after generations of violence. Lives hang in the balance. Failure means war. Peace would bring the future they hope for, when their love will no longer be forbidden.
Just when success is within reach, they realize their plan has played into the enemy’s hands. A threat lurks within the delegation, an old nemesis with magic unlike any they have ever faced. Together, are they strong enough to stop the destruction of everything they love?

- From Goodreads. 

This was a very thrilling and action-packed part of this series, it definitely felt like the stakes were raised! The plot became a lot more intense and I really wasn't sure how the main characters would get out of the complicated situation they found themselves in. The ending was certainly a surprise, and I thought it was a great climax and wrapped things up well, setting up a very interesting storyline for the rest of the series. I'm very curious to see where it goes from here!

I thought the side characters were all written very well and had real depth. I really love Callen and Perita and their love story and I hope we see them again in future books. I also thought the First Prince was a really empathetic character and it was emotional to see the pain he had been going through. I hope we see more of him too and see what happens with his story.

I love how Lio and Cassia continue to be so devoted to each other and how you can really tell they would do anything for each other. They're a wonderful couple to follow and you really believe they could get through anything together.

I really recommend this series so far, it's so fascinating and compelling and there's so much world and plot to dive into and explore and so many interesting characters to follow. I'm excited to keep reading! 

BOOKS | Review: Blood Sanctuary: Part One by Vela Roth

Name: Blood Sanctuary: Part One (Blood Grace #3)

Author: Vela Roth

Publisher: Five Thorns Press

Date published: March 2022

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, romance, vampires

Pages: 474

Rating: 5/5

Their love could last for all time - unless the king’s assassins cut her life short...
Cassia has reunited with her beloved Lio in the land of eternal night. She longs to become an immortal Hesperine like him so they can stay together forever. But she’s torn between their happiness and her duty to the kingdom her human father rules. To free herself from the king, she must convince his ambassadors to ally with the Hesperines, despite centuries of conflict.
Lio will die if Cassia leaves him, but he won’t force her to stay by revealing their blood bond. While they negotiate for peace in public, he tempts her in private with the promise of everlasting passion. But their future may end before it begins when enemies within the embassy threaten her with a lethal spell.

- From Goodreads.

This was another very enjoyable installment in this series. Not everyone may enjoy the slow pace, but I really like how it takes its time to set each part of the plot in motion, helping us really understand the world and everything taking place in it, and I think all the plot twists and surprises are even more exciting due to the slow build up of the tension.

I loved how Lio and Cassia's relationship continued to grow and build in this book. Each problem they faced, even when it was due to their own feelings and insecurities, they found a way to work through it together and to talk through how they were feeling. I really loved reading about them together and look forward to seeing how their relationship develops in the future books.

The world-building continued to be very impressive in this book, it was very intricate and detailed, and I especially enjoyed the wonderful descriptions as we continued to learn more about the Hesperine's home and see all the magic of the land they had created for their sanctuary.

Overall, I'm continuing to really enjoy this series and I'm excited to keep reading and see what happens next and eventually see how it all wraps up! Lio and Cassia's journey is really compelling and I'm always curious to see how they face each obstacle and overcome them together. 

BOOKS | Review: The Tales of Arcana Fortune by Hafsa A. Jawad

Name: The Tales of Arcana Fortune

Author: Hafsa A. Jawad

Publisher: Independently published

Date published: June 2025

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, romance, fairy tales

Pages: 466

Rating: 4/5

Seven nights, Seven tales
Young healer Serena Rose has always dreamed of fairytales, but the chances of finding true love living alone in the a cottage by the wood are... slim. Instead, she spends her days chasing down mischievous woodland critters, brewing tonics, and taking care of her family's ancient records of fairytales, many of which have been outlawed in the kingdom of Lumina where she resides.
However her quiet life is upended when she is approached by a dark haired stranger searching for a book in her family’s collection, The Tales of Arcana Fortune. In between searching for more information on the book, and fighting their budding attraction, they accidentally free a malicious immortal sealed with an ancient spell.
Cursed to be trapped in a different fairytale each night, Serena must find a way through her trials all the while trying not to lose her life, her freedom, and her heart.

- From Goodreads. 

This was a very delightful story and I think anyone who enjoys fairy tales will have a great time reading it. I thought it was quite clever how the fairy tales used in the book became a part of the story and how they slowly began to change and become more relevant to the main characters as the curse they were in came to understand them better and gave them more difficult challenges.

I thought the villain of the story was a great character, even though he was clearly a sinister enemy, he was still interesting, and it was fascinating to learn more of his story, and his interactions with the main characters were always exciting to read.

The romance was really sweet and lovely, their affection for each other did happen quite quickly and occasionally felt very sudden, but mostly it was just so nice to see them face the challenges of the curse together and grow to trust and understand each other.

I would definitely recommend this if you're looking for a very sweet and comforting love story with plenty of fairytale adventure and nostalgia. 

 

BOOKS | Review: The Wraith King by Juliette Cross

Name: The Wraith King (The Rise of Northgall #1)

Author: Juliette Cross

Publisher: Independently published

Date published: September 2024

Genre: Fiction, adult, romance, fantasy

Pages: 454

Rating: 3/5

A brutal, bloody war against the ruthless Wraith King has cost the light fae more than innocent lives. Una Hartstone, Princess of Issos, learns the price the Wraith King demands to end the war once and for all. Her. In exchange for the safety of her people, she agrees to give her life - and her body - to her greatest enemy.
Gollaya Verbane is determined to fulfill his destiny and his god’s prophecy. When his seer points to the Princess of Issos as the key to the rise of the dark fae, he demands her submission. But when she finally yields, he realizes Una is much more to him than a priceless weapon.
A mystery that has haunted Una for years awakens when she is abducted and dragged back to Näkt Mir. The palace hides many dark secrets... and at least one traitor. A traitor determined to take King Goll’s throne - and all he possesses. What he doesn’t know is that Una’s magick is more powerful than he can imagine, and that Goll will burn the whole world to save her.

- From Goodreads. 

This was an enjoyable story and had a lot of potential but unfortunately did not quite meet that potential. I liked the premise of the princess agreeing to marry the king of an enemy kingdom and to give him an heir to end the war and bring peace to both of their kingdoms, but the execution of the plot was not as great as it could have been. I think it could have been as good as Radiance by Grace Draven, which I really love, but it just had some parts that let it down and fell a bit flat for me.

The romance was good, I liked that they were such different people but once they had time to know and understand each other they made good companions for each other. However, I think it would have been good to spend a little more time building their emotional connection, as I think a lot more time was spent on their attraction to each other and their physical connection. Their attraction was written well and I did believe it, but it did also feel quite sudden, and I think a little more time spent not focused on that aspect of their relationship would have helped to build the tension for the more physical scenes. Speaking of which, there were some intimate moments between them where the phrases or descriptions did pull me out of the momet, and I think a few different choices in phrasing could have kept the moments more immersive, but that could be down to personal preference.

I did find the world very interesting, especially the differences between the dark and the light fae and how they interpreted the old myths of their world. I was curious to learn more and would be happy to discover more from other books set in the world. I think the plot and writing did keep me invested enough to continue reading from this author and series, even though it was not perfect for me.

BOOKS | Review: The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst

Name: The Enchanted Greenhouse (Spellshop #2)

Author: Sarah Beth Durst

Publisher: Tor UK

Date published: July 2025

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, romance, cosy

Pages: 384

Rating: 5/5

Terlu Perna broke the law because she was lonely. She cast a spell and created a magically sentient spider plant. As punishment, she was turned into a wooden statue and tucked away into an alcove in the Great Library of Alyssium.
When Terlu wakes up, she finds herself on a nearly-deserted island full of hundreds of magical greenhouses. The only other human on the island is a grumpy – but surprisingly sweet – gardener. He offers Terlu a place to sleep, clean clothes and freshly baked honey cakes – at least until she’s ready to sail home.
But Terlu can’t return and doesn’t want to. And when she learns that the magic that sustains the greenhouses is failing – causing the death of everything within them – Terlu knows she must stay and help. Even if that means breaking the law again. Assisted by the gardener, a sentient rose and a winged cat, Terlu must uncover the spell that will save the island – and possibly also find a fresh chance at love and happiness along the way.

 - From Goodreads. 

This was such a cute and wholesome book, and it definitely lived up to the expectations set by The Spellshop as to how enjoyable it would be to read.

The world continued to be very creative, the greenhouse was such a fun and magical setting and all the different creatures and plants that lived inside were so inventive. It really was so enjoyable just to read the descriptions of each different part of the greenhouse and to see what new and exciting things we would see in each one.

The characters were also just as loveable as in The Spellshop. Terlu was so sweet and empathetic in the way she worried about being too much and failing the people she cared about, and she was so kind and thoughtful, it was so lovely to see her find a place where she really felt like she belonged with people who really appreciated her. Yarrow was such a wonderful love interest, and very relatable with the way he didn't like to talk too much or to be around a lot of people for too long. It was really sweet to see them balance each other out and learn how to respect each other's needs and be a comfort to each other.

This book was very delightful and heartwarming to read and I was happy the whole time I was reading it. I will definitely be looking forward to reading any further books set in this world as I am sure it will be wonderful getting immersed in this cosy and fantastical world again. 

BOOKS | Review: Eidolon by Grace Draven

Name: Eidolon (Wraith Kings #2)

Author: Grace Draven 

Publisher: Independently published

Date published: April 2016

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, romance

Pages: 323

Rating: 5/5

In a bid for more power, the Shadow Queen of Haradis has unleashed a malignant force into the world. Her son Brishen, younger prince of the Kai royal house, suddenly finds himself ruler of a kingdom blighted by a diseased darkness and on the brink of war. His human wife Ildiko must decide if she will give up the man she loves in order to secure his throne.
Three enemy kingdoms must unite to save each other, and a one-eyed, reluctant king must raise an army of the dead to defeat an army of the damned.

- From Goodreads. 

This was definitely different to Radiance, with a lot more drama, angst and action, but it was still a great story, although it probably won't become as much of a comfort read as Radiance has become for me.

It was interesting to learn more about the world in this book, especially the politics and relationships between the different kingdoms. We saw some of it in the first book, but it was good to see it in more detail in this one.

It was certainly a more angst-filled storyline for Brishen and Ildiko, but it was clear they always cared for each other throughout the story and wanted to look after each other, and it was lovely to see them get through the difficulties and be stronger together at the end.

I think there were some wonderful new characters introduced, and we got to see more of Kirgipa, who we only saw briefly during the first book, and was a very sweet, likeable character. I really liked the start of the relationship that began between her and another new character, Necos. He was very kind and protective and I thought the two of them together were very wholesome. I would have loved to see more of them, and I did not expect to enjoy another perspective or point of view outside of Brishen's and Ildiko's, but I really liked all of Kirgipa's parts in the story.

Overall, it was a very thrilling and captivating story and a great conclusion to the conflict that was begun in the first book. I really love the characters and world and would always be happy to read more, even when it's just a cosy story about the characters with less focus on the plot. 

BOOKS | Review: My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine

Name: My Roommate is a Vampire (My Vampires #1)

Author: Jenna Levine

Publisher: Penguin

Date published: August 2023

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, romance, vampires

Pages: 341

Rating: 5/5

Cassie Greenberg loves being an artist, but it’s a tough way to make a living. On the brink of eviction, she’s desperate when she finds a too-good-to-be-true apartment in a beautiful Chicago neighborhood. Cassie knows there has to be a catch - only someone with a secret to hide would rent out a room for that price.
Of course, her new roommate Frederick J. Fitzwilliam is far from normal. He sleeps all day, is out at night on business, and talks like he walked out of a regency romance novel. He also leaves Cassie heart-melting notes around the apartment, cares about her art, and asks about her day. And he doesn’t look half bad shirtless, on the rare occasions they’re both home and awake. But when Cassie finds bags of blood in the fridge that definitely weren’t there earlier, Frederick has to come clean...
Cassie’s sexy new roommate is a vampire. And he has a proposition for her.

- From Goodreads. 

This was such a fun, entertaining book! It was delightful in its humour and I laughed out loud multiple times. And although it was very lighthearted, the charaters still felt sincere and their feelings still felt meaningful.

Both Cassie and Frederick were very loveable characters. It was endearing how out of place Frederick was and how eager he was to learn about the world around him, and it was so sweet how earnest and serious he was about his attraction and feelings for Cassie. And it was wonderful to see how Cassie went from feeling so lost and unhappy with her circumstance to really finding somewhere she could fit in and where people believed in her and her passion and creativity.

I loved that it was a less serious vampire story and that the author had a lot of fun with it, I will definitely look forward to reading more from Jenna Levine and more in this world. I'm curious to see how she expands on this world and what her new characters will be like.

BOOKS | Review: Daughter of Winter and Twilight by Helen Corcoran

Name: Daughter of Winter and Twilight (Queen of Coin and Whispers #2)

Author: Helen Corcoran

Publisher: The O'Brien Press

Date published: September 2023

Genre: Fiction, young adult, fantasy

Pages: 576

Rating: 5/5

 

'Magic was dormant - never dead'
To some, Emri - the adopted heir and daughter of two queens - is a living reminder that her birth father tried to usurp the Edaran throne. While Emri grapples with a diplomatic visit from her estranged cousin, Melisande, the two girls are attacked by a magical force and spirited away. They must put their differences aside when Emri comes face to face with a goddess she’s always considered a myth: Lady Winter.
Trapped deep within a mountain temple alongside other young royals, they face a race against time to complete Lady Winter’s trials... or die. 

- From Goodreads. 

This was a wonderful follow-up to Queen of Coin and Whispers. It took the world that was established in that first book and really expanded on it while also taking the plot in a new and exciting direction. Since the existence of magic and the gods were mentioned in the first book, but were not actually present, it was intriguing to see them actually become real and undeniable for the characters and to see their reactions to that.

The jump in time from the first book was also really interesting and it was fascinating to see how the characters we knew from the first book had grown and changed and what had happened to them in that time, as well as to meet new characters who had not even existed during the first book's plot.

I really liked Emri, the main character for this book, I think you could really feel and understand all her emotions, and it was very easy to root for her. It was also interesting to see Lia and Xania from her point of view as parents to her, when in the first book we had seen their story from their perspectives. I think we still got a strong sense of their characters and personalities and they still felt like the characters we knew in the first book, but of course a little older and more experienced.

The romance was a bit more in the background in this book, but I still enjoyed the romance we did get, and I thought it was well done that we saw Emri get to know and begin to like her potential future partner, without it being rushed and how it was clearly shown to be just the beginning of what had the potential to become a very sweet and loving relationship.

I would definitely recommend this if you enjoyed Queen of Coin and Whispers, and if you have not read that yet, I recommend both if you enjoy books with intriguing political plot lines and well thought-out worlds and well-rounded characters. If you like Samantha Shannon's Roots of Chaos series, I think you will like this too. 

BOOKS | Review: A Dawn with the Wolf Knight by Elise Kova

Name: A Dawn with the Wolf Knight (Married to Magic #5)

Author: Elise Kova

Publisher: Orion

Date published: August 2024

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, romance, werewolves

Pages: 470

Rating: 4/5 

As one of the last surviving witches, Faelyn’s sole duty is to keep the protective barriers on the forests where the lykin roam - creatures who can shed flesh for fur - sparing nearby humans from their violent, beastly natures. When she has an unlikely encounter with the rare, primordial spirit of the moon, Faelyn finds herself not only the object of the Wolf King’s desire, but essential to his ability to keep his crown.
Taken to the magical land of Midscape, the Wolf King claims her as his bride to control the moon spirit’s magic that now resides within Faelyn. But Faelyn refuses to resign herself and the spirit Aurora to a life of servitude underneath the king’s cruel rule. Faelyn hatches a dangerous plan for them both to escape and help comes from an unlikely ally.
Evander is the king’s blisteringly handsome, loyal knight, right hand, and Faelyn’s sworn protector... on the outside. But appearances are not what they seem. He plots against the king’s brutality at every turn and helping Faelyn escape will serve these ends. But altruism for Faelyn and the trapped moon spirit isn’t his only motivation... Evander is hiding secrets, and they might change Faelyn’s life forever.
A desperate plot to escape. A brutal king. Ancient powers. And a sworn protector who can’t keep his hands off her... Will she be taken as the Wolf King’s bride? Or will she manage an escape that will free her heart and change her fate forever? 

- From Goodreads. 

This story once again felt different to the previous books in the series and I enjoyed following the plot as it felt quite unique.

The characters felt unique too and it was interesting getting to know our main character and her love interest and following how they came to fall in love while struggling with the circumstances keeping them apart and the secrets they had to keep from each other.

I thought the magical spirit side characters were wonderful, they had great personalities and had such heartfelt connections with Faelyn, I really enjoyed any scenes that involved them.

I thought the story had a great, action-packed ending, and a very lovely epilogue that wrapped things up well. It was a little sad to finish the book as for now this is the last in the series and I have enjoyed reading the whole series. I think the first book is still my favourite, but all of them have been fun, athough in the middle with Vampire Lord I did struggle a little with the story. If there are ever any more books in this world I would be excited to read them as the world building was fascinating throughout the series and I think there is plenty of room for more interesting stories set in the same world, and I would be curious to see what happens in the future of the world as the events of the books made a lot of changes and I think it would be intriguing to see the after effects.

BOOKS | Review: A Duet with the Siren Duke by Elise Kova

Name: A Duet with the Siren Duke (Married to Magic #4)

Author: Elise Kova 

Publisher: Silver Wings Press

Date published: August 2023

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, romance, sirens

Pages: 440

 Rating: 4/5

This review contains minor spoilers. 

She sold her soul to a siren and now he's come to collect.
Victoria risks everything to leave a dangerous marriage and gain a second chance at life. But when her escape goes awry, she finds herself caught in the strong embrace of a mysterious siren, forced to temporary salvation or immediate death.
And so, a cursed deal is struck.
Five years later, Victoria is alive - and the world's finest ship captain. But her debt to the siren looms while her conniving ex has demanded a king's ransom as the final price of her freedom. Victoria refuses to cause her family to suffer any more on her behalf, and is determined to make things right before her time is up. But that time is cut short.
The siren comes for her. Six months early.
Taken to the magical and deadly Eversea, home of the sirens, Victoria discovers she's the sacrifice upon which all sirens pin their hopes. If they want to appease an angry god and save a world on the brink of destruction, then they need her. Which gives her the perfect leverage.
Victoria strikes a new deal - the Siren Duke will help save her family, and she'll fulfill his demands. It's a good bargain until a flicker of passion ignites in the scarred remnants of Victoria's heart, threatening all she's worked for. As the sacrifice for the God of Death, she's meant to give up everything that draws her to the world of the living. But that's impossible when all she can think about is how this handsome siren's song, and his hands, make her feel very much alive.
In a realm of ancient magic, submerged secrets, and forgotten gods, can love find a place among shattered hearts as they race against time and the blossoming of forbidden desires? Or will the delicate songs of their hearts be silenced once and for all?

- From Goodreads. 

I enjoyed this more than the previous book in the series. While they both had intriguing world building, I think the development of the characters and the plot was done better in this one. There were still a couple of moments where the characters were a little frustrating, but mostly I was really interested in their journey and hoping they found their happy ending. 

This story actually felt quite different to the others in the series, especially towards the end, which was refreshing as I was worried some parts of the stories were getting repetitive in the last book. Although the ending did have a bittersweet touch to it, and overall this might be the saddest story in the series so far, it was definitely unexpected and interesting.

I'm definitely invested in the world and I'm quite curious about what will happen in the next book. It was clever how this book included little references to the other books in the series and weaved them together in the conclusion, but still kept the story functioning as a stand alone with a satisfying conclusion for the characters involved. Personally I think it's best to read the books in the order they were published, but I think you could read them in any order and not be too confused.

I would recommend this book, and series overall, if you like fantasy romance with complex and intriguing world building. I'm very curious to see how things wrap up in the next book and to see what I feel about the new characters and their relationship that will be introduced to us in that one. 

BOOKS | Review: This Cursed Light by Emily Thiede

Name: This Cursed Light (The Last Finestra #2)

Author: Emily Thiede

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Date published: December 2023

Genre: Fiction, young adult, romance, fantasy

Pages: 437

Rating: 3/5

This review contains minor spoilers. 

When the gods make the rules, the players must choose: Sacrifice their love to save the world, or choose love and let it burn?
Six months after saving their island from destruction and almost losing Dante, Alessa is ready to live happily ever after with her former bodyguard. But Dante can't rest, haunted by a conviction that the gods aren't finished with them yet. And without his powers, the next kiss from Alessa could kill him.
Desperate for answers, Dante enlists Alessa and their friends to find the exiled ghiotte in hopes of restoring his powers and combining forces with them to create the only army powerful enough to save them all. But Alessa is hiding a deadly consequence of their last fight - a growing darkness that's consuming her mind - and their destination holds more dangers than anyone bargained for. In the mysterious city of the banished, Dante will uncover secrets, lies, and ghosts from his past that force him to ask himself: Which side is he on?
When the gods reveal their final test, Dante and Alessa will be the world's last defense. But if they are the keys to saving the world, will their love be the price of victory?

- From Goodreads. 

While the first book was not perfect, I had fun reading it, and was looking forward to reading this second book, but unfortunately I did find this one disappointing. The plot felt like it lost momentum and while it could have gone down a lot of different interesting paths, which was why I was so curious to read this book, I wasn't very excited by the path it chose to take. It did still manage to have quite a dramatic climax, but I was just left feeling like the story could have done more.

I was still invested in the two main characters' journeys and their romance, I hoped that they could work through their problems and find a happy ending together, although I did feel that we spent so much time on other characters that we did not get to follow their character development as in deth as I would have liked. Also, apart from the main two characters, I didn't like many of the others, or find them interesting or distinct enough from each other. I thought Kaleb had an interesting start to his character development in the first book but not much happened with him in this book, and I did not really understand why Alexandra's brother was forgiven so easily for what he did in the first book so I didn't really enjoy his parts in this book. Along with that, one of the new characters, Talia, was too unlikeable for me, I think she was supposed to be a little unlikeable while still being a character you could understand, but I just found I didn't enjoy her presence in the story.

I can imagine other people enjoying this book more than me, and it did still have occasional good moments, but overall I don't think it lived up to its potential and it didn't follow on from the first book in the way that I hoped it would. 

BOOKS | Review: The Half King by Melissa Landers

Name: The Half King (The Half King #1)

Author: Melissa Landers

Publisher: Transworld (Penguin)

Date published: Originally November 2024, this edition 2025

Genre: Fiction, young adult, fantasy, romance

Pages: 480

Rating: 4/5

A king by day. Shadow by night...
Long ago, the kingdom’s noble houses rebelled against the goddess... and for their treachery, the firstborn of each noble family was cursed.
One with perilous beauty.
One with destructive knowledge.
One with insatiable bloodlust.
But the royal house Mortara received the worst affliction of all. For while the king exists during the day, he fades into nothingness at night... until his twenty-first birthday, when he will be lost to the shadows forever.
Now an acolyte has arrived at court. Like all the second-born children, she’s destined to serve the goddess and become a Seer... only Cerise Solon has no gift of foretelling. In fact, she has no magical gift at all.
Instead, she’s surrounded by courtiers and priests – smiling sycophants whose hearts are filled with secrets and lies. And at the centre sits His Majesty Kian Hannibal Mortara, with his haunting eyes, sharp tongue, and an unerring ability to send her pulse skittering.
As the spectre of his twenty-first birthday – and the full force of his curse – approaches, the kingdom holds its breath.
There’s only one way to save a dying king... and it lies with the one person who’s hiding the biggest secret of all. Cerise.

- From Goodreads. 

This story had a lot of twists and turns which made for an exciting plot! There was definitely always something happening. I figured out a couple of the plot twists, but not all of them, so the storyline still suprised me.

Kian and Cerise were both interesting characters and I enjoyed their romance, they did fall for each other very quickly, but it was very sweet so that did not really stop me from enjoying it, and I liked how after arguments and disagreements, Kian helped Cerise to learn that it would not mean the end of their relationship and they could talk through things and understand each other, it was very refreshing to read.

This was not a perfect story, but it was certainly enjoyable and the suspense of the mysteries and challenges they had to face kept me reading! I will definitely read the next book to find out what happens next. 

BOOKS | Review: Paladin's Grace by T. Kingfisher

Name: Paladin's Grace (The Saint of Steel #1)

Author: T. Kingfisher

Publisher: Orbit

Date published: First published February 2020, this edition published April 2025

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, romance

Pages: 384

Rating: 5/5

 

Whilst foraging for startleflower, perfumer Grace finds herself pursued by ruffians and rescued by a handsome paladin in shining armour. Only, to outwit her hunters they must pretend to be doing something very unrespectable in an alleyway.
Stephen, a broken paladin, spends his time knitting socks and working as a bodyguard, living only for the chance to be useful. But that all changes when he saves Grace and witnesses an assassination attempt gone wrong. Now, Stephen and Grace must navigate a web of treachery and poisoners, while a cryptic killer stalks one step behind.

- From Goodreads. 

This was such an enjoyable story, it had a really brilliant sense of humour that was balanced well with the more serious moments, loveable characters, and fascinating world-building.

I really loved the romance between Grace and Stephen, they had both been through some really terrible things in their pasts, so it was understandable why they both felt uncertain and struggled with believing they could be in a relationship, but it was very heartwarming seeing them eventually being able to find comfort and trust in each other. I think the way the attraction between them and their feelings for each other were slowly built was well done and was written and paced very well and the story ended in a satisfying place for them.

I think the side characters were written very well and I am quite curious to see more of each paladin in further books in the series.

I will definitely be continuing with the series as I am intrigued to see how the story continues, learn more about the characters and the world, and I will definitely enjoy reading more of T. Kingfisher's writing style. 

BOOKS | Review: The Lord of Stariel by A.J. Lancaster

Name: The Lord of Stariel (Stariel #1)

Author: A.J. Lancaster 

Publisher: Camberion Press

Date published: October 2018

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, romance, faeries, cosy

Pages: 322

Rating: 5/5

The Lord of Stariel is dead. Long live the Lord of Stariel. Whoever that is. Everyone knows who the magical estate will choose for its next ruler. Or do they?Will it be the lord’s eldest son, who he despised? His favourite nephew, with the strongest magical land-sense? His scandalous daughter, who ran away from home years ago to study illusion? Hetta knows it won’t be her, and she’s glad of it. Returning home for her father’s funeral, all Hetta has to do is survive the family drama and avoid entanglements with irritatingly attractive local men until the Choosing. Then she can leave. But whoever Stariel chooses will have bigger problems than eccentric relatives to deal with. Winged, beautifully deadly problems. For the first time in centuries, the fae are returning to the Mortal Realm, and only the Lord of Stariel can keep the estate safe. In theory.

- From Goodreads. 

This was such a lovely, cosy fantasy, the concept of the sentient land that the family has a connection to was so interesting and I loved how at first Hetta felt so distanced from it and her family, but slowly began to feel closer to it and to feel like she really belonged amongst her family there. It was very heartwarming to see her find her place and her confidence.

The romance was also very sweet, I think the author built the chemistry well, along with the tension, and I think the mystery around the love interest and the secrets he had really added to that.

All the side characters felt well fleshed-out and full of personality too, and they all felt well-defined and distinctive from each other, even though there were quite a lot of them.

I am really curious to see how the story continues in the next book, as although I think it wrapped up Hetta's journey of returning to Stariel and finding her place there in a satisfying way, it still left plenty of plot lines unresolved and I think it will be exciting to see what happens in the rest of the series. I'm especially fascinated to see which of the faerie characters we will meet and what part they will play.

Overall this was a very charming and fun book to read and obviously I'll be continuing with the series, and I would like to read more from this author in general as I very much enjoyed their writing style. 

BOOKS | Review: Tales of a Monstrous Heart by Jennifer Delaney

Name: Tales of a Monstrous Heart (Tales of a Monstrous Heart #1)

Author: Jennifer Delaney

Publisher: Gollancz

Date published: August 2024

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, romance, gothic, academia

Pages: 468

Rating: 4/5

Be careful of the dark and those that call it friend.
Katherine Woodrow is Fey, and all she wants is to graduate from the Institute of Magic. But when the prejudiced mortal council threaten her position at the institute, she is left with only one option: accept a Mage Partnership with the elusive Lord Blackthorn.
Emrys Blackthorn is a riddle Kat is fearful of solving. The mysterious, cursed war hero with his stormy eyes and unpredictable ways leaves Kat with more questions than answers. What she does know is that she is irresistibly drawn to him... No matter how forbidden it might be.
When a string of murders and fey disappearances herald the return of dark magic, Kat and Emrys are thrown into a world of ancient books that hide hideous monsters, dark fiends who play with nightmares and mortal men who wish nothing more than to see them both burn.
But what haunts them both are secrets even ghosts dare not whisper, while insidious shadows lick their teeth and sharpen their claws, waiting for the moment that all tales will come to light - even the monstrous ones. 

- From Goodreads. 

This book had a wonderfully intense atmosphere, it was very gothic, with a lot of sinister details. I thought the world-building and magic system were fascinating and the magic especially made for some thrilling moments.

Katherine and Emrys were both intriguing characters and I think their dynamic was very compelling and it was exciting to follow their relationship and see it grow and change as they got closer. Both of them had their secrets and mysteries, so it was interesting to see them decide if they could trust each other and tell each other the truth.

My only real problem with the book was that it felt like it could have used another round of editing. There were some quite easy to spot grammar mistakes, but it was more that it felt like some descriptions and explanations of events were hard to understand, and I also could not always follow why characters were unhappy with each other or how they had reached certain conclusions. It seemed like with a little more time spent on the editing, these bumps in the story could have been smoothed out. 

Overall though, I still enjoyed the book and found myself speeding through it quite quickly. I was eager to find out how the mysteries unravelled and I was invested in the romance. I will definitely be picking up the next book. I would recommend this if you like Howl's Moving Castle, Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson, and stories with sentient houses and dark, gothic romance. 

BOOKS | Review: The Book of Gold by Ruth Frances Long

Name: The Book of Gold (The Feral Gods #1)

Author: Ruth Frances Long 

Publisher: Hodderscape

Date published: November 2024

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, historical, romance

Pages: 336

Rating: 4/5

There's only one thing notorious thief Lyta loves more than a big her little brother, Kit. But when Kit is arrested for producing seditious pamphlets, he stands to lose not only his printing press, but possibly his life.
In exchange for her brother's freedom, Lyta strikes a daring bargain with the king - she will steal the infamous Book of a mysterious manuscript reputed to be hiding vast magical power within.
It's just the kind of challenge Lyta relishes, but she didn't bargain for a secretive scholar, her brother's interference, or the return of handsome and brooding Captain Sylvian Chant, once her lover and partner in crime, now an incorruptible royal bodyguard...

- From Goodreads. 

The story of this book was a great adventure, it almost didn't give you a moment to catch your breath! It had a very fun heist plot line, and a wonderful collection of characters to form the heist crew.

I enjoyed that as the story went on there continued to be mysteries and twists and surprises in the plot, it definitely kept me on my toes. Ben's storyline was fascinating with his connection to the gods, and I thought the way his relationship developed with Kit was very sweet.

Meanwhile Sylvian and Lyta's second-chance romance was intense in a great way, with so much tension and both of them struggling to come to terms with their past and yet still caring for each other so much. Sylvian's backstory of what had happened to him while he and Lyta had been apart was so compelling and heartbreaking.

I think the only problem I had with the book was Lyta being stubborn to the point where it became a bit frustrating at times. I don't mind when characters have flaws and aren't perfect of course, as it makes them more realistic and sometimes quite relatable, but it's also great to see them grow and change and Lyta's parts of the book could be difficult to read when you thought she was learning and had come to a realisation about something but then she would go back to thinking or acting the same way she did at the beginning of the book. I only felt this frustration a few times throughout the book though and most of the time I still liked her as much as the other characters.

Overall, this was a thrilling and intriguing book and I will definitely be reading the next one as I am curious to find out what will happen with all the characters and especially with Lyta and Sylvian's relationship. 

BOOKS | Review: Labyrinth's Heart by M.A. Carrick

Name: Labyrinth's Heart (Rook & Rose #3)

Author: M.A. Carrick

Publisher: Orbit

Date published: August 2023

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy

Pages: 632

Rating: 5/5 

May you see the face and not the mask.
Ren came to Nadežra with a plan. She would pose as the long-lost daughter of the noble house Traementis. She would secure a fortune for herself and her sister. And she would vanish without a backward glance. She ought to have known that in the city of dreams, nothing is ever so simple.
Now, she is Ren, con-artist and thief. But she is also Renata, the celebrated Traementis heir. She is Arenza, the mysterious pattern-reader and political rebel. And she is the Black Rose, a vigilante who fights alongside the legendary Rook.
Even with the help of Grey Serrado and Derossi Vargo, it is too many masks for one person to wear. And as the dark magic the three of them helped unleash builds to storm that could tear the very fabric of the city apart, it's only a matter of time before one of the masks slips - and everything comes crashing down around them.

- From Goodreads. 

This was a really fantastic third and final book in the Rook & Rose trilogy. It really kept up the tension and surprises right to the end and the ending wrapped up everything perfectly. With each book I've thought I knew what we were leading towards for the climax, but usually what I think is going to happen at the end happens halfway through and then the book takes you on a completely unexpected journey! It made things very exciting!

The books also did a great job of having a new villain or challenge for the characters in each one, while still following the overall arc of the series plot. It kept things refreshing while also making sure each book flowed well into the next.

I loved that the themes that had slowly been developing over the first two books really got explored in this final book and came to conclusions that felt very thoughtful. The story really showed that you can choose your own family and find people who really love and understand you, no matter where you come from or what struggles you faced in your past. It showed that you can find strength and courage even when everything around you seems terrifying and hopeless. I think it balanced the different roles of friendship, romance, and family really well and I felt it was really emotional at the end.

I think each character got their moment to shine and that was impressive considering how large the cast was by the end. I loved Ren and Grey even more with each book and I felt the ending they got really was right for them and and made me really happy.

Overall, this was a wonderful book and excellent conclusion to the series. I would definitely recommend it if you enjoy the incredibly detailed world building of Samantha Shannon's books, and the intricate politics of The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison and the complicated but also loveable characters of both. I think this will certainly become a favourite series of all time for me! 

BOOKS | Review: The Liar's Knot by M.A. Carrick

Name: The Liar's Knot (Rook & Rose #2)

Author: M.A. Carrick

Publisher: Orbit

Date published: December 2021

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, romance

Pages: 639

Rating: 5/5

Trust is the thread that binds us... and the rope that hangs us.
In Nadezra, peace is as tenuous as a single thread. The ruthless House Indestor has been destroyed, but darkness still weaves through the city’s filthy back alleys and jewel-bright gardens, seen by those who know where to look.
Derossi Vargo has always known. He has sacrificed more than anyone imagines to carve himself a position of power among the nobility, hiding a will of steel behind a velvet smile. He'll be damned if he lets anyone threaten what he's built.
Grey Serrado knows all too well. Bent under the yoke of too many burdens, he fights to protect the city’s most vulnerable. Sooner or later, that fight will demand more than he can give.
And Ren, daughter of no clan, knows best of all. Caught in a knot of lies, torn between her heritage and her aristocratic masquerade, she relies on her gift for reading pattern to survive. And it shows her the web of corruption that traps her city.
But all three have yet to discover just how far that web stretches. And in the end, it will take more than knives to cut themselves free...

- From Goodreads. 

This was an excellent second book in this trilogy. It did not suffer at all from the problem some middle books have where the action and intensity dips, in fact it felt like enough happened that this could have been a final book in a series! It definitely met the expectations set by the first book and I'll be excited to find out how things wrap up in the third!

I think all the character development was done very well in this book. Each character had a different personal journey but they still all linked to each other's stories, and even the smaller side characters had good development. I still cared about each main character and became even more deeply invested in them.

I enjoyed that we got more romance in this book with a couple of different relationships, I think the main romance was paced perfectly and felt like it meant a lot to the characters involved. It was very lovely and sweet and I cared a lot about their happiness together.

The character of the Rook was still very enigmatic even as we came to know more about them. It was fun to see how different characters interacted with them and how everyone was curious to solve the mystery of who they were. They had a great part to play in the story and I'm intrigued to see how that will continue in the next book.

The mysteries of the plot were still very fascinating in this book and it was thrilling to see how it all came to a conclusion at the end, I was pretty anxious to see how all the characters made it out of the situation at the end!

Obviously I loved this book just as much as the first and I will definitely be moving right onto the third and final book! I'm certainly nervous to see how it resolves and how it ends for each character, but I am sure it will be a thrilling adventure! 

 

BOOKS | Review: The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick

Name: The Mask of Mirrors (Rook & Rose #1)

Author: M.A. Carrick 

Publisher: Orbit

Date published: January 2021

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy

Pages: 643

Rating: 5/5

Fortune favors the bold. Magic favors the liars.
Ren is a con artist who has come to the sparkling city of Nadežra with one goal: to trick her way into a noble house, securing her fortune and her sister's future.
But as she's drawn into the elite world of House Traementis, she realizes her masquerade is just one of many surrounding her. And as nightmare magic begins to weave its way through the City of Dreams, the poisonous feuds of its aristocrats and the shadowy dangers of its impoverished underbelly become tangled... with Ren at their heart.

- From Goodreads. 

This was an incredible book. It had a bit of a slow start, but it was good to have some time to slowly get to know the characters and setting, as it was quite an intricate world with a lot of detail to take in. Once we got to about halfway through, the plot started to get more intense and action-packed and it was a struggle to put the book down at all as it became even more intriguing and exciting.

There were a lot of fascinating mysteries, and it was interesting to see how all the threads of the plot came to intertwine and how the different mysteries were connected. The mystery of who the Rook could be was especially intriguing and I loved following Ren as she tried to figure it out.

Ren was a great character to follow in general, she was very clever and resourceful and also also had a good heart, I really loved the bond she had with Tess and it was great to see how much they cared about each other.

Captain Serrado was another favourite character for me, his backstory and his conflicted feelings about his position were really compelling and I was always excited to see more from his perspective.

This really was a fantastic story and I will be excited to continue on and find out what happens in the next book! 

BOOKS | Review: Dragonfall by L.R. Lam

Name: Dragonfall (Dragon Scales #1)

Author: L.R. Lam

Publisher: Hodderscape

Date published: May 2023

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, dragons, romance

Pages: 432

Rating: 4/5

Long ago, humans betrayed dragons, stealing their magic and banishing them to a dying world. Centuries later, their descendants worship dragons as gods. But the 'gods' remember, and they do not forgive.
Thief Arcady scrapes a living on the streets of Vatra. Desperate, Arcady steals a powerful artifact from the bones of the Plaguebringer, the most hated person in Lumet history. Only Arcady knows the artifact's magic holds the key to a new life among the nobles at court and a chance for revenge.
The spell connects to Everen, the last male dragon foretold to save his kind, dragging him through the Veil. Disguised as a human, Everen soon learns that to regain his true power and form and fulfil his destiny, he only needs to convince one little thief to trust him enough to bond completely - body, mind, and soul - and then kill them.
Yet the closer the two become, the greater the risk both their worlds will shatter.

- From Goodreads. 

This did have a bit of a slow start and took a little time to get into because there was a lot of explanation of the world and its history. It was necessary to understand the story, but it felt a little clunky at the beginning and some of the descriptions were difficult to picture in my head. However things did begin to move along more smoothly as the story went on and I soon found myself more invested and intrigued by the plot.

It was a very exciting plot, I couldn't tell exactly what was going to happen and it all felt very unique. The world-building also felt very new and it was fascinating to explore. I also liked the way the characters discussed gender and how we got different perspectives on how they felt about it.

Arcady and Everen's relationship was interesting and I will be curious to see how it develops in the next book, as they began to build a foundation in this book but did not really have the chance to explore any romance because of their situation and how neither of them could really be truthful with each other and could not really be on the same side. I'm looking forward to seeing how that changes.

Although it did have a slow start, I ended up really enjoying this book and I am very much looking forward to reading the second one. I would also like to read more from L.R. Lam in general as I'm curious to see what their other books are like. I'd definitely recommend giving this book a try if you are looking for a unique dragon story! 

BOOKS | Review: The Geographer's Map to Romance by India Holton

Name: The Geographer's Map to Romance (Love's Academic #2)

Author: India Holton

Publisher: Penguin Books

Date published: April 2025

Genre: Fiction, adult, romance, fantasy, historical

Pages: 354

Rating: 5/5

 

Professor Elodie Tarrant is an expert in magical disasters. Nothing fazes her - except her own personal disaster, that is: Professor Gabriel Tarrant, the grumpy, unfriendly man she married for convenience a year ago, whom she secretly loves.
Gabriel is also an expert in magical disasters. And nothing fazes him either - except the walking, talking tornado that is his wife. They’ve been estranged since shortly after their wedding day, but that hasn’t stopped him from stoically pining for her.
When magic erupts in a small Welsh village, Elodie and Gabriel are accidentally both assigned to the case. With the fate of the country in their hands, they face perilous conditions like explosions, domesticated goats, and only one bed.
These geography professors are lost. But can they find their way into each other’s hearts - and save the day?

- From Goodreads. 

This book was as absolutely delightful as the first one. India Holton just has such a brilliant way of writing, the humour in this series has been so excellent, I laughed out loud at multiple scenes! She also just has such a wonderful way of writing romance, leaning into clichés and tropes, keeping it fun and lighthearted, but also letting you get swept away with lovely sweet romantic moments that really show you the connection and feelings between the characters.

I loved how the author continued the world building in this book, the magical creatures, specifically birds, were so creative in the last book, and the way the magic of the world was expanded in this book into the magic of the land and nature was so inventive too! I'm so curious to see how it's further explored in the next book.

Elodie and Gabriel were such wonderful characters, I thought the story of how they, amusingly, became inconveniently married was so unique and it was so interesting to see how they viewed things from their different perspectives and how they eventually realised how they'd both been seeing things differently, it was written so perfectly. They were so loveable and I really adored their relationship.

Of course I will be reading the next book, I cannot get enough of this world, the characters and how India Holton writes these romances, it's all such perfection. 

BOOKS | Review: Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett

Name: Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales (Emily Wilde #3)

Author: Heather Fawcett

Publisher: Orbit

Date published: February 2025

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, romance, cosy, academia

Pages: 368

Rating: 5/5

Emily Wilde has spent her life studying faeries. A renowned dryadologist, she has documented hundreds of species of Folk in her Encyclopaedia of Faeries. Now she is about to embark on her most dangerous academic project studying the inner workings of a faerie realm - as its queen.
Along with her former academic rival - now fiancé - the dashing and mercurial Wendell Bambleby, Emily is immediately thrust into the deadly intrigues of Faerie as the two of them seize the throne of Wendell's long-lost kingdom, which Emily finds a beautiful nightmare, filled with scholarly treasures.
Emily has been obsessed with faerie stories her entire life, but at first she feels as ill-suited to Faerie as she did to the mortal world - how could an unassuming scholar like herself pass for a queen? Yet there is little time to settle in - Wendell's murderous stepmother has placed a deadly curse upon the land before vanishing without a trace. It will take all of Wendell's magic - and Emily's knowledge of stories - to unravel the mystery before they lose everything they hold dear.

- From Goodreads.

This was another excellent book in the Emily Wilde series, I could honestly read an endless amount of stories about Emily and Wendell's adventures. They're never predictable, and have a wonderful amount of humour, romance and fascinating folklore. I think the way stories and legends of the faeries were used in this book was especially clever and it was exciting the way the stakes had raised over the series as we spent the majority of the story in faerie for the first time, but Emily and Wendell were still as endearing as ever. 

I think it was lovely how the author managed to include all the familiar and loveable characters from the previous books without it feeling forced, and also introduced us to other interesting new characters who were all very intriguing. I think this along with the creativity in the world building means that there would always be more to explore in the world and it wouldn't be possible to grow tired of new stories within it. Even though this book felt it wrapped up the story that was started in the first book well, there is plenty of room for more, and I would always be happy to come back to this world, especially if that meant seeing more of Emily and Wendell, who I just adore. Their relationship was just as heartwarming as in the previous two books, and I can't get enough of how devoted they are to each other.

I will definitely continue to read more of Heather Fawcett's books, I think she has a brilliant writing style and her books always have a wonderful imagination. I will be very excited to see what she comes out with next.

BOOKS | Review: Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage

Name: Done and Dusted (Rebel Blue Ranch #1)

Author: Lyla Sage

Publisher: Quercus

Date published: June 2023

Genre: Fiction, adult, romance, contemporary, small town, cowboys

Pages: 340

Rating: 4/5

She’s off-limits, but he’s never been good at following the rules.
For the first time in her life, Clementine “Emmy” Ryder has no idea what she’s doing. She’s accomplished everything on her to-do list. She left her small hometown of Meadowlark, Wyoming; went to college; and made a career for herself by doing her favorite thing: riding horses. But after an accident makes it impossible for her to get back into the saddle, she has no choice but to return to the hometown she always wanted to escape.
Luke Brooks is Meadowlark’s most notorious bad boy, bar owner, and bachelor. He’s also the unofficial fifth member of the Ryder family. As Emmy’s older brother’s best friend, Luke spent most of his childhood antagonizing her. It’s been years since he’s seen her, but when she walks into his bar and back into his life, he can’t take his eyes off her. Despite his better judgment, he wants to do a whole lot more than just look at her.
Emmy’s got too much on her mind to think about romance. And Luke knows he should stay away from his best friend’s younger sister. But what if Luke is just what Emmy needs to get her spark back? Or will they both go up in flames?

- From Goodreads.

This was such a fun and comforting book. It was very easy to read, had some great humourous moments and some really emotional ones too, it almost had me tearing up at one point!

The setting of Meadowlark was wonderful, it felt very real, I could picture it so clearly and you could really feel the strong sense of community there. The description of the nature and the landscape of the area were especially lovely.

The characters were great, Emmy was very likeable and it was wonderful to see her slowly recover from her riding accident and find the confidence to get back on a horse. I think I would even have liked for the book to spend more time on that part of her story, but it was still heartwarming. I also don't remember ever reading a main character with ADHD, at least not explicitly on page, and I liked that Emmy got to talk about her diagnosis, how it made her feel and how it was affecting her, and that the love interest Luke listened to her and made her feel safe and comfortable and calm and like she could talk about anything with him.

Luke was a great love interest, I liked that he was so surprised by his feelings for Emmy but was not afraid to be honest about them. I also liked that although he had his troubles in the past and had made mistakes, he was trying to do better and become a better person.

I think one of the only things that frustrated me was Emmy's oldest brother's behaviour, I know the protective older brother is a pretty classic romance trope, but it felt pretty old-fashioned the way it was done and some of the moments with him were difficult to read.

Overall though this was a very enjoyable book and I will definitely be continuing in the series. I am looking forward especially to learning more about Wes, Emmy's other brother, as he seemed very sweet and thoughtful. I would recommend this if you're looking for a fun cowboy romance!

BOOKS | Review: Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis

Name: Wooing the Witch Queen (Queens of Villainy #1)

Author: Stephanie Burgis

Publisher: Tor Bramble

Date published: February 2025

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, romance, witches, cosy

Pages: 304

Rating: 5/5

Queen Saskia is the wicked sorceress everyone fears. After successfully wrestling the throne from her evil uncle, she only wants one thing: to keep her people safe from the empire next door. For that, she needs to spend more time in her laboratory experimenting with her spells. She definitely doesn’t have time to bring order to her chaotic library of magic.
When a mysterious dark wizard arrives at her castle, Saskia hires him as her new librarian on the spot. “Fabian” is sweet and a little nerdy, and his requests seem a little strange – what in the name of Divine Elva is a fountain pen? – but he’s getting the job done. And if he writes her flirtatious poetry and his innocent touch makes her skin singe, well…
Little does Saskia know that the "wizard" she’s falling for is actually an Imperial archduke in disguise, with no magical training whatsoever. On the run, with perilous secrets on his trail and a fast growing yearning for the wicked sorceress, he's in danger from her enemies and her newfound allies, too. When his identity is finally revealed, will their love save or doom each other? 

- From Goodreads.

This was just such a delightful book. The writing was perfect for the genre, with a humourous narrative voice that was really fun to read. The world building was just the right amount of detailed, with some fascinating backstory about the world, not too much that it would have bogged us down in exposition, but still enough to leave me curious enough to learn more about the world in future books in the series.

The characters were just brilliant, from the main characters right down to the crow companions that lived with Saskia in her castle, I loved everyone.

The romance between Saskia and Felix was truly wonderful. The build up of both their feelings and attraction growing for each other was done perfectly and you could really feel the tension between them. I really liked the dynamic of Saskia being the more confident, dominant and fearsome character, while Felix was more nervous, quiet and gentle. I think they really complimented each other and brought out the best in each other. 

Overall this was just a lovely romance that I sped through quickly as I enjoyed it so much. I will definitely continue to read more from Stephanie Burgis and continue on with this series.

BOOKS | Review: A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience by Stephanie Burgis

Name: A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience (The Unexpected Adventures of Lady and Lord Riven #1)

Author: Stephanie Burgis

Publisher: Five Fathoms Press

Date published: August 2024

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, romance, vampires, historical

Pages: 72

Rating: 4/5

Margaret Dunhaven may have been forced into marriage with the sinister vampire lord of Shadowcroft Manor in order to fulfill a family obligation, but she's not about to stay trapped there for long. The beastly man doesn't even have any decent tea leaves in his kitchen!
However, when she realizes that she's not the only one who's been forced into this marital union, it's time to join forces with her unwanted new husband. If they can combine her scholarly skills with his ancient history, then, working together, they might just manage to reclaim her inheritance, break his curse, and find their freedom.
...Just so long as they don't fall in love along the way.

- From Goodreads.

This was very delightful and fun to read. The narration had a great, entertaining voice and the world was explained quickly in an understandable way which was good considering it was such a short story.

The author also did a good job of introducing us to the characters and giving us a good picture of who they were in a short amount of time. Margaret and Lord Riven were both very loveable characters and the romance that developed between them was very charming.

The only fault I did find with the story was that it could have been just a little longer to immerse us in the world a little bit more and to give us a bit more time to see the characters getting to know each other, I think just a little more could have been added while still staying within the constraints of a novella and it would have been perfect.

I would definitely recommend this if you love a fun vampire fantasy romance and want something quick to read, and if you like books like the Emily Wilde series by Heather Fawcett and Elise Kova's Married to Magic series, I think you'd like this too. I'll certainly be going on to read more from Stephanie Burgis, and I will be curious to see what her longer books are like.