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, The World of the White Rat)

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.