Reign & Ruin by J.D. Evans delivered a compelling blend of political intrigue within a Middle Eastern inspired world, scorching romance, and a meticulously crafted magic system that kept me engrossed from start to finish.
Romantic Fantasy
Book Review: Ice and Ivy (Mages of the Wheel #4) by JD Evans
TL;DR Review – A delightful grumpy/sunshine romance, an insightful exploration into PTSD and a path to healing from trauma. Synopsis: A wildflower alone is all the more beautiful for the barrenness from which it grows. A single note more glorious for the silence around it. She is a void, the empty balance of magic.When the […]
Book Review: The Treasured One (The Golden Children Book 1) by Hannah Levin
TL;DR – All the faerie flavor of ACOTAR, but a brighter, more upbeat story and characters you can’t help but love. Synopsis: Forced to choose between loyalty and love… Avery is a Golden Child with the ability to heal any illness or injury. She lives a sheltered life, dutifully healing hopefuls from around the globe. […]
Book Review: Siren and Scion (Mages of the Wheel Book #3) by JD Evans
TL;DR Review – A riveting look at blooming love in the wake of trauma. Complex characters, epic action, and a wonderful expansion of the world. Synopsis: She was beautiful the way the ocean was beautiful. In a new way every time one looked. She is water, bright and alluring, fathomless and profound. He is a […]
Book Review: Storm and Shield (Mages of the Wheel #2) by JD Evans
TL;DR Review: More magic, more action, and all the spice and steam you could ask for. A spectacular “opposites attract” romance. Synopsis: “All you see is that I run. Why haven’t you realized I always come back?” She is lightning and storm. A spy, driven out of her home by a tyrant ruler. He is […]
Review: The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
With The Spellshop, Durst brings us a tale of bravery and change in the face of life altering events and she does so through characters that are endlessly relatable by virtue of highlighting how we all are but an echo chamber of all those who came into our lives and left something behind, all the events that shaped us into who we are, and all those feelings that we sort through each day regardless how ugly or good they might be. And, finally, this is a book about how sometimes settling or even languishing into certain roles is more dangerous than squaring your shoulders and trying the daunting thing.
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
Synopsis Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people. Thankfully, as a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she and her assistant, Caz―a magically sentient spider plant―have spent the last decade sequestered among the empire’s most precious spellbooks, preserving their magic for the city’s elite. When a revolution begins and the library goes up […]
Review: The Hunter’s Gambit by Ciel Pierlot
The Hunter’s Gambit is cathartic as hell and an excellent read. There’s more blood and gore spilled than a lift in the Overlook Hotel.
Book Review: Reign and Ruin (Mages of the Wheel #1) by JD Evans
TL;DR Review: The perfect blend of romantic and epic fantasy. Clever, engaging characters, an enthralling story line, and a lava-hot romance. Synopsis: “All magic is beautiful…and terrible. Do you not see the beauty in yours, or the terror in mine? You can stop a heart, and I can stop your breath.” She is heir to a Sultanate […]
Review: Mist Gallows (The Prophecies of Ragnarok #3) by Meri Benson and Marie Sinadjan
Synopsis Are you ready for the battle of a lifetime? The end has begun. Ragnarok has arrived as prophesied. The Great Winter has brought Midgard to its knees, and it’s only a matter of time before the gods and their armies clash on Vigrid one last time. Desperate to save the realms, Victor leads his […]
Review: Evocation by S.T. Gibson
File this immediately under urban romantasy and strap in because, baby, there’s going to be some serious hormones flying.
Review: Shattered Fate (Zodiac #3) by Azshure Raine
Synopsis: War is on the horizon after the devastation wrought by the wayward power of death. The Wicked King’s blood remains unchecked. A new Titan walks Gaea and a Clock buried deep beneath the sands of a city lost to time counts down. Eternity sleeps. Fate remains locked away. And the thirteenth cycle edges ever […]