bribreez's reviews
607 reviews

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

*This book was gifted to me by The Nerd Farm and Second Sky Books. 

*Check Trigger Warnings before reading 

4.75⭐️/ 4🌶️

Welcome all to, Phantasma! The scary, spooky competition in which people everyone join to compete to win the ultimate grand prize, but in order to do so, you’ll have to face the nine trials, and face your darkest fears. For Ophelia Grimm, the last place she imagined doing was entering Phantasma, but when she finds out her sister, Genevieve has entered the competition, Ophelia goes after her, and hopes she can save her before anything happens to her. As they say, not everyone survives Phantasma. This dark fantasy romance has all the makings of a spooky, creepy, gothic vibe with a deadly competition, a necromancer/ phantom romance (imagine Danny Phantom vibes), forced proximity, and more! 

From the moment I read the synopsis and how it was comparable to, “A Court of Thorns and Roses”, elements of, “Caraval”, as well as having the male love interest like Danny Phantom, I wanted to read this immediately! I really loved how the story really pulled me into Ophelia’s story, and I was hooked right away. Between the passing of her mother, and taking on the new responsibilities of being a necromancer, Ophelia was adjusting to a new life, one she felt she wasn’t necessarily ready yet, but nonetheless took it on. When Ophelia’s sister, Genevieve runs off, Ophelia is left to believe that her sister might have entered Phantasma, the deadly competition that arrived in New Orleans. When faced with the possibility of danger lurking in any corner, Ophelia decided she too would enter Phantasma, and upon entering she came across a mysterious figure who would later become a… “helpful” guide throughout the trials. 

If you grew up in the generation of watching, “Danny Phantom”, then I think it’s safe to say we all had a crush on him! To read this book was not only amazing, but it was like we had a bit of that Danny Phantom vibes but he was morally gray, dark, and mysterious, and obviously a phantom. Blackwell was a man (phantom) that kept things close to the vest or in his case, his past was a big mystery that he needed help uncovering. With Ophelia entering Phantasma, she found herself alongside Blackwell, and the two helped each other out. Blackwell was an intriguing character who I never really knew what he was going to do next, but I also enjoyed his occasional flirtatious comments to Ophelia and being a bit of a sarcastic person who pushed Ophelia’s buttons. 

I don’t think I’ve ever read a story that had a character who had OCD before, and with Ophelia having OCD, it was eye opening to see how she dealt with it. For Ophelia, she referred to her OCD as the, “Shadow Voice”, the one that told her to do certain things like, knock three times on the headboard or else someone you love will die. I don’t think Ophelia necessarily knew she had OCD more so that she often had this compulsive need to do as the “Shadow Voice” said. I also think that with the story being set in a different time period, the disorder that Ophelia had wasn’t widely known so it makes sense as to why Ophelia often referred to the “Shadow Voice”.

Wow, I’m blown away by the way this story unfolded. This story had a deadly, spooky, dangerous competition that not only illustrated the different trials each contestant had to participate but also trying to stay alive! Ophelia went into Phantasm trying to save her sister, but came out of it knowing more about her family, herself, and obviously falling in love! This story consistently kept me hooked, and I absolutely loved both Ophelia and Blackwell! This story delved into Ophelia’s story as one where she literally and physically faced her inner demons. In addition, Ophelia found herself joining forces with an unlikely partner in Blackwell, the Phantom who mysteriously was tethered to Phantasma. This book was honestly amazing, and I loved every single moment of it! I can definitely see this being the fall/ Halloween pick of the year or even if you’re in the mood for something spooky with the gothic fantasy elements too. The plot twists in this story were ones that I didn’t see coming, and my goodness it added layers upon layers to the characters stories! Blackwell was indeed a morally gray man *ahem Phantom, but OH BOY DID I LOVE HIM! Ophelia was an intriguing character who I grew to love over the course of this story, and by the end I was wholeheartedly happy for her! I cannot express how much I truly enjoyed and loved this book! I could keep going, but suffice it to say, I will be eagerly waiting for the next book, and I love Blackwell and Ophelia so much! HIGHLY RECOMMEND! 

Dead Rinker by Ruth Stilling

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

*Thank you to Word Smith Publicity and Ruth Stilling for providing me with an ARC, much appreciated. As always, thoughts and opinions are my own. 

*Check Trigger warnings before reading.

4.5⭐️/ 5🌶️ (10x’s)

Once again, another new story within this beloved interconnected series that Ruth Stilling has marvelously created! Kate and Jensen a.k.a. JJ have been the two characters I’ve been most intrigued to learn more about. With the way Kate and Jensen always seem to be going at each other like a cat and dog, they never really got along, and it made me wonder, “what was the reason??” Kate and Jensen once had a moment where things could have turned into a steamy night, but through a misunderstanding it sprouted the tension and on Kate’s part, dislike. Now, when Kate and Jensen finally decided to have a hot night together, it seemed like it was one and done in Kate’s book, but Jensen was far from done. Jensen was determined to make Kate his, and little did he know, he was going to have Kate and…a bundle of joy as well! This sports romance had even more of the lovable found family, possessive boy obsessed, forced proximity, accidental pregnancy, he falls first and HARD, and no third act breakup! Ruth Stilling had once again knocked it out of the park with a stellar romance, but this time shining a light on Kate and Jensen as they navigated a whole new path set before them. 

Kate was an independent woman who focused all her energy on her career as a lawyer, and occasionally dated but never really settled down. The moment Kate met Jensen, she thought she’d found a handsome man to potentially spend the night with, but then things changed and she immediately disliked him. Funny now things went from that first meeting to the moment when Kate actually ended up sleeping with Jensen, and…TA DA ACCIDENTALLY PREGNANCY! I could tell that when Kate found out she was pregnant, it not only changed her life, but she had to come to terms with the reality that she was having a baby with JENSEN! Between the dislike but also still being attracted to him, and the occasional annoyance, Kate was juggling a lot on her mind, but thankful Jensen ended up showing her exactly how committed he was for both her in every way possible! 

Jensen was someone who I have been eagerly waiting to read about, and with his thing with Kate, I NEEDED TO KNOW ALL THE DETAILS! If you love the boy obsessed trope, but on another HIGHER LEVEL, Jensen Jones is the man that fits the bill! Jensen has always wanted Kate from their first meeting, and in the present, that man was wholeheartedly waiting for his chance to make Kate his girl! I actually really liked Jensen right away! Seeing how Jensen was around Kate, I got a great idea of how much he cared about her, but also how attentive and protective he was over her especially when he found out she was pregnant with his baby! If you thought Jon Morgan was obsessed with Felicity, psh, just read about Jensen and you’ll see just how much this man went above and BEYOND FOR KATE! So basically, Jensen was a fantastic fictional man and I was rooting for him to get Kate the whole time! 

I’m always fascinated to see when two characters find a way to be together or the way they fall in love. With Jensen and Kate they went from trying to figure out their future as parents, but more importantly, Kate coming to the realization that she wanted to be with Jensen in every way possible. From the beginning, Jensen was dead set on having Kate all for himself, but Kate was the one who was guarded and scared to let Jensen in. As much as I admire Kate’s independence, seeing her open up and be vulnerable with Jensen really showed how far she’s come from the person she originally was around him. I also loved seeing how despite Jensen’s obsessive and possessive nature over Kate he knew to take his time with her. Kate always believed she wasn’t worthy of being loved, but Jensen proved time and time again that she was loved by him, and would always stand by her side. I was really happy once I got to see Kate enjoy herself being with Jensen and overall being happy. 

If I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again, RUTH STILLING KNOWS HOW TO WRITE AMAZING AND FANTASTIC CHARACTERS AND STORY! Plus, the fictional men she writes about makes me want to have my very own! Kate and Jensen’s story has been one I have waiting for, and I can say that it not only kept me intrigued, but I also loved seeing those two finally get their happy ending together. Kate and Jensen changed over the course of the story, and ultimately became stronger and better as friends, and partners. I also loved seeing the friend group once again and no matter what, each character was supportive, caring, loving, and going beyond to ensure everyone was taken care of. Aside from the romance, banter, and Kate and Jensen’s connection, the found family in this series is one of the many reasons why I love this series so much! There’s a little bit of everything in this story from the swoon worthy romance, the obsessive/ possessive nature Jensen had over Kate, to Kate growing as a stronger woman, and seeing that she always had the love and support as well as affection from the person that mattered most to her, Jensen. You honestly can’t go wrong with reading a book by Ruth Stilling, and I will always recommend reading a book as she writes a variety of tropes in each of her books, but puts a unique spin on it. I’m excited to read Jessie’s book next as his story sounds a bit mysterious and I’m more than ready to dive into his backstory! Yay for Kate and Jensen’s story! 

Apollyon by Jennifer L. Armentrout

emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

3.75⭐️

The moment we have been waiting for since the first book…Alex finally became the, Apollyon! With great power, comes great responsibility, but in Alex’s case it might having the ability to control different elements and be the one to end Seth. With even more action, romance, found family, and Greek mythology inspired parts to the story, it was even more entertaining to read. Alex and Aiden have come a long way from the first book that showed them growing closer and falling in love. Everything from the previous books had built up continually to create an even more intriguing storyline that centered around the chaotic and sometimes dangerous lives of, Aiden, Alex, and her close friends. 

Since the last book and novella ended off on quite the cliffhanger and moment of Alex being the other Apollyon, this story was a slow build up. As much as I liked the previous books, the beginning half of this book started off slow, and not much happened other than Alex officially becoming an Apollyon. With Alex being the other Apollyon, it brought on more obstacles she needed to tackle head on from training, practicing her Apollyon powers, and more. This was a slight departure from the previous books in the way that the stakes were raised and now Seth was enemy number one! 

I feel like compared to the other books in this series, this book was probably my least favorite. I still enjoyed parts of the story, but as a whole, it didn’t keep my attention at certain points along the plot. I think this book did include some pertinent information that will later play a bigger role in the last book, but yeah as much as I love Alex and the rest of the characters, this book didn’t exactly land as a favorite for me.

Overall, I think this book did have its moments of intrigue and excitement, as well as important details that played into Alex’s story, but it wasn’t the story I was expecting. In a way, it felt like this book was a filler before the final book. I feel kind of bad saying that, but that’s my own thoughts after reading this book. Maybe others will find this book more enjoyable than I did or maybe it was the time I started reading this book that affected my reading experience. Regardless, I still liked parts of it and I’m excited to see how the series ends in the final book. 

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli

hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

4.25⭐️

A witch and a witch hunter…SAY NO MORE IM IN! A fantasy romance with a young girl who’s a witch living a double life. Rune Winters was known to many as the heiress of Wintersea house and hosted parties, attended lavish outings with nobility in society, but what no one knew was that Rune was actually in witch! In a world where witches were hunted, captured, tortured, and above all, hated, it wasn’t safe for any witch anymore. With witch hunters such as, Gideon Sharpe leading the charge of hunting down witches, Rune needed to be careful especially as she donned her secret persona of, “The Crimson Moth”, saving witches. At some point, Rune and Gideon found themselves playing a bit of a cat and mouse game trying to outsmart the other, but like the saying goes, keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. 

I feel like ever since I read the, “Serpent and Dove” series, I have fallen in love with the specific trope of a witch and a witch hunter falling in love! With Rune being a witch and Gideon being a witch hunter, it was already established they didn’t like each other, but add on to the fact that they try to outsmart the other, thus DEVELOP FEELINGS YES! I was already having high hopes going into this book, and I was pleasantly surprised by how Rune and Gideon were. 

To everyone else, Rune also hated witches, but in secret she was a witch, and helping other witches escape. In the eyes of high society, none would expect much from Rune, but she was clever, smart, and ready to do whatever was necessary to help other witches in need. I guess you could say that, Rune wanted to help because being a witch she knew the risks and especially losing her grandmother, it was a mission she took on wholeheartedly. Utilizing her charm and flirtatious abilities, Rune was also adept at getting information out of others that helped in her plans, but…when it came to Gideon Sharpe, a.k.a. her best friend’s older brother, he wasn’t an easy target like everyone else. 

Gideon Sharpe was Captain of the Blood Guards, a man willing to protect all from the evils of witches, and found himself trying to unmask the one known as, “The Crimson Moth”. Gideon was also Alex’s older brother so you could imagine that he was very protective of him, and ironically enough the one type of person ( a witch) Gideon didn’t want getting near his brother happened to be said brother’s best friend. Once Gideon started becoming more suspicious of Rune, that was when what I’d like to call the cat and mouse game began between them. Gideon was equally smart and observant that it made it harder for Rune to evade him, but naturally thinking quick on her feet she turned the tables on him a few times. Even seeing Gideon trying to trap Rune, he was also unknowingly developing deep feelings for her which I was like, “YOU LIKE RUNE!” Gideon tried to stay strong, but he couldn’t be swayed by the certain qualities of Rune’s personality. 

Overall, this was an interesting story like that had a little bit of everything, and things I wasn’t expecting. I actually liked how Gideon was Alex’s older brother so there was the, “best friends brother” trope, plus with Gideon and Rune not liking each other at first, it definitely made it more intriguing once they started to fall for each other. With the way witches used their powers it was unique, but also left them exposed for the Blood Guard to be able to identify them. The world Rune and Gideon lived in was experienced differently from their point of views. Rune tried to save as many witches as she could, whereas Gideon was devoted to capturing witches. The romance was a bit slow burn, and when I thought it reached a happy beginning, it definitely ended on a not so happy note. Rune and Gideon were now separated and on different sides in what I’m assuming will play into their stories in the next book. Rune and Gideon may have started to fall deep for each other in this book, but with the way the book ended on a bit of a reveal from a certain character, the losses Rune and Gideon experienced, there’s a storm coming and I’m hoping it’ll expand even more on what’s to come! 

Bridesmaid for Hire by Meghan Quinn

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

*Thank you to GoodGirlsPR and Meghan Quinn for sending me this book! I greatly appreciate! As always all opinions and thoughts are my own. 

4.25⭐️/3-4🌶️

Weddings are a time of celebration, a union between two people coming together to celebrate their love in the next step in their relationship. Most would think it’d bring people together, but for Maggie and Brody it was just a means of “helping” each other out. When Maggie is on vacation in Bora Bora, the last thing she expected was finding out that the owner of Hopper company was having his daughter’s wedding at the same resort she was staying in. The possibility of meeting said owner and potentially gaining a well known client for her event planning business, Maggie was ready for anything, even pretending to be her brother’s best friend’s girlfriend. Brody needed to ensure his business proposal went through as the main choice at Hopper, where he worked, and when he came face to face with his best friend’s sister, Maggie, he suddenly found himself with a fake girlfriend to help him out. An enemies to lovers romance with brother’s best friend, a destination wedding, and fake dating, sounds like a fun read to me! 

Maggie and Brody had always been around each other throughout their lives mainly because Maggie’s brother was Brody’s best friend. The enemies to lovers trope in this book was clear from the beginning with the way Maggie and Brody acted around each other with annoyance, disdain, but also some attraction. The thing that I found really interesting was when I found out that both Maggie and Brody once shared a steamy hook up session! That wasn’t all though! Both, Brody and Maggie secretly still had feeling for each other, but due to Brody not wanting to go against his best friend’s wishes of going after Maggie, Brody spent years distancing himself from her. I guess you could say that Brody inadvertently made himself to be the “bad guy” in Maggie’s eyes. So, with Maggie believing Brody wanted nothing to do with her, she also distanced herself from him and went on to disliking him. Overall, Maggie and Brody were enemies at the beginning of this book, but through their fake dating they went from wanting to annoy one another to admitting long felt feelings. 

One of the many things I liked about this story was the faking dating trope! Imagine, being in Brody or Maggie’s shoes, having to pretend you have a significant other, but really it the person you despise the most! (Gasp) I can’t imagine pretending to be in love with my “enemy”, but Maggie and Brody made it work. I think the good thing about the fake dating was seeing how Maggie and Brody’s past came into play. Specially, the moment when Brody and Maggie shared a steamy make out session during Maggie’s brother’s wedding. The wedding was a significant moment as it set off the change between Maggie believing Brody didn’t like her and Brody trying to adhere to his best friend’s wishes of not going after Maggie. Now, with Maggie and Brody pretending to be together, it was a combination of unknowingly bringing deep seated feelings they had for each other and making them a reality. 

Overall, this was a lighthearted and humorous story. Meghan Quinn always manages to bring humor and lovable characters to each of her books, and this one also showed another favorite trope of mine which was fake dating. With Maggie being Brody’s best friend’s little sister, there was also a little bit of the forbidden romance trope so it made things a bit more interesting between them. At first, I liked Maggie and Brody, but as I continued I didn’t necessarily feel a deep connection to either them. I would say, I laughed at certain points in the book, but I wasn’t as excited as I had hoped before starting this book. I did like the setting of the story as it felt like a mini vacation while reading. I also liked the tie in to Almond Bay with characters like Hattie who was Maggie’s best friend. Plus, I got the feeling that the next book in this series will MAYBE potentially involve a certain billionaire??…I could be wrong but that’s just the impression I got. Anyways, this was a good book, gave summer vibe, laughable moments, a secret years long crush, brother’s best friend, and a lighthearted romance. 

The Reason I Married Him by Meghan Quinn

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO GoodGirlsPR and Meghan Quinn for sending me this book, I’m forever thankful and appreciative! All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

5⭐️/ 4🌶️

Have I mentioned how much I truly love and adore Meghan Quinn and her books? Because, I SURE DO! We’re back in the small town of, Almond Bay and this time it’s all about, Wyatt and Aubree (Hattie’s sister), and how the two of them found themselves in quite an…interesting situation. When Wyatt’s left at the altar, he not only lost his fiancé, but also the person who would have helped him in gaining the cabin left behind by his grandfather. Meanwhile, Aubree was all focused on trying to make the farm better than ever, and in an effort for her sister, Cassidy’s dream. When Wyatt comes to Almond Bay, it wasn’t just to reconnect with family and friends, but also to offer Aubree his portion of the farm he also owned through his late brother who was married to Aubree’s older sister. In a means of getting what they wanted, Aubree and Wyatt entered into a…MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE! The same lovable small town setting, lovely, unique characters, Meghan Quinn’s amazing writing and humor, there was lots of love about this book right off the bat! 

I just love a marriage of convenience, and with the way this book took it, it made it even more entertaining and satisfying to see how it all unfolded between Aubree and Wyatt. Wyatt was such a nice, and likable man that all the townspeople liked him, especially helping in his case for his plan to ask Aubree to marry him. You can’t say no to a man when all the townspeople have nothing but good things to say about him! Wyatt was a great guy, all around nice and albeit still dealing with everything from his almost wedding to the fear of losing the beloved family cabin, but nonetheless, he had an upbeat personality. Aubree wasn’t a sunshine or bubbly like her sister, Hattie. Instead, Aubree was a grump, wasn’t very trusting or open with others, and with Wyatt in Almond Bay, she was very suspicious of him. Aubree and Wyatt couldn’t be any more different from each other, and yet…that’s always the best way to build a romance in my opinion! 

My oh my, this was such a fun book to read! The dynamic between Aubree and Wyatt was so clear with the reverse grumpy/sunshine that I LOVED IT! Aubree was an actual grump, and Wyatt was such an upbeat sunshine that often made Aubree wonder how he had such a calm and positive outlook on everything haha. The thing I also loved was the banter between Aubree and Wyatt like, how Aubree would be so annoyed with Wyatt, but Wyatt was never deterred by Aubree’s guarded personality. I also found myself laughing at the way Wyatt and Aubree’s conversations often turned into Wyatt being playful with Aubree and calling her his, “WIFE” YESSSS! Wyatt was the man for Aubree despite the initial irritation and reluctance from Aubree. Aubree just needed a man like Wyatt to support her, as well as show her that she could be open with someone she felt safe with. Suffice it to say, I very much enjoyed Aubree and Wyatt’s progression over the course of the story especially considering Aubree wanted nothing to do with Wyatt in the beginning, but we all knew they were bound to FALL IN LOVE! 

The Reverse grumpy/sunshine trope in this book was IMPECCABLE! Nothing like seeing the tables turned when it’s the woman who’s the grump and the man is the sunshine which was exactly what Aubree and Wyatt were. The thing I loved even more about the reverse grumpy/sunshine in this book was seeing Aubree gradually open up and show a bit of her fun, sassy side to Wyatt. With most of the town seeing Aubree as just grumpy and guarded, she wasn’t as bubbly or open like Hattie. I still loved seeing how in certain moments, Aubree showed her fun side, and wasn’t as guarded as people would believe she was. Wyatt had a way of coaxing the true side of Aubree which was she was that she had a sense of humor and often times indulged in Wyatt’s crazy, random questions that made for some humorous moments between them. Aubree struggled with expressing her true feelings, and often times closed herself off, but i genuinely believe that Wyatt was patient, understanding, and supportive of her that it went a long way to building the foundation of the friendship/ marriage. 

Meghan Quinn’s books just hit EVERY TIME FOR ME! This story had my favorite tropes, and the way Meghan wrote this marriage of convenience struck me as unique and different compared to others I’ve read before. I liked the build up between Aubree and Wyatt especially because, Aubree was initially wasn’t a fan of Wyatt. I loved how optimistic and charming Wyatt was, not to mention that he was an author and he knew all about the different tropes. Plus, I kind of felt like in some ways Wyatt broke the fourth wall in how he was basically listing out the very tropes in this book and was aware how he was living it out with Aubree haha. I love me a man who is sweet, writes for a living, and all around amazing which was Wyatt Preston! Aubree was an intriguing character because, there was a reason behind her grumpy exterior and getting to see her open up over the course of the book was eye opening. Aubree and Wyatt were the opposites of each other, and yet they just formed this unique dynamic that made me laugh, smile, swoon, and love them! Seeing Aubree and Wyatt fall in love was overall great to read about and I was along for the ride living it up! I loved being back in the small town of, Almond Bay and seeing the Hattie, Hayes, Ryland, and Mac again. I just felt happy reading this book. If you’re looking for a marriage of convenience with reverse grumpy/sunshine set within an endearing small town, this is the book! 

Born of Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

*Potential Spoilers Ahead! Don’t read if you haven’t read this book or previous book in this series! 

*Check Trigger warnings before reading 

5⭐️/ 5🌶️

This spin off series started off with two characters who unbeknownst to me at the time would become two of my all time favorites, Sera and Ash a.k.a. Nyktos! Sera and Ash have gone through A LOT! From a secret plot of trying to unalive Ash, finding out Sera had Sotoria’s soul living inside of her, Sera having the embers of life in her and therefore her life and everything was at stake, oh and a crazy, obsessive tyrant who was Ash’s uncle, Kolis, trying to get all the power he wanted. Phew, like I said a lot has happened over the course of this series, but through it all, Sera and Ash have come a long way from the first book to now the final book! Now, Sera was the new Primal of Life, and Ash was reunited with the love of his life. Ash may have found a way around to saving Sera, but there was still other things to deal with namely Kolis was still out there. This final book was filled with action, drama, suspense, plot twists, danger, romance, passion, unaliving left and right, and a whole lot of Sera and Ash being the ultimate Primal power couple! 

I had somewhat of an idea going into this book that it was going to show Sera dealing with her new role as Queen of the Gods, but it also tackled some of the heavier aspects from when Sera was imprisoned in Kolis’s palace. I don’t think people realize truly how much Sera became traumatized by Kolis and how her way of survival during that time meant she had to mentally and physically endure all that he did and acted towards her. With that in mind, this book did cover heavy topics so check trigger warnings before reading. Sera struggled with trying to keep a strong facade in front of Ash, but Ash being the best husband ever and able to detect Sera’s emotions, he could see what Sera wasn’t willing to talk about which was, her fear and all that Kolis did to her.

Also, can we take a moment to appreciate that JADIS AND REAVER WERE BACK! OMG I MISSED THOSE TWO DRAKENS! I mean, I also missed Nektas, but the little youngling drakens have a special place in my heart just as I’m sure many others adore them too. The first scene where Reaver and Jadis were reunited with Sera and Ash was a sentimental and emotional moment that I couldn’t help feeling awed in how much Reaver and Jadis had missed Sera and Ash. Any moment when Reaver and Jadis appeared in a scene, I was loved every moment of it, but also learning some wisdom from a young Reaver. 

With this being the final book in Sera and Ash’s story, there was a lot to unpack. I’ll admit that while reading this book took its toll on me sometimes with the amount of information about Sera, Ash, and the other characters revealed throughout the book. Nonetheless, I was able to understand and get the gist of things especially when it came to Sera figuring out her new abilities as the Primal of Life. The thing this book didn’t disappoint on was the way everything was balanced out from the mystery, action, romance, fantasy, drakens (duh), and the found family that Sera had with Ash and the others. When I think back to the overall book, I remember certain moments that stood out to me such as, seeing the close knit family Sera and Ash formed with those they were surrounded by, the impressive lengths Sera went to protest those she loved, and even in the midst of some epic action scenes, there was also still that ever present passionate love between Sera and Ash that was utter perfection. 

When I say this was an addictive story, I really do mean that because, I refused to stop reading! The way this story kept getting better with each page, I felt like I was constantly learning something new or even gasping in shock as well as genuinely feeling so much love for these characters that I’ve absolutely adore! Just when I thought I knew what to expect with Sera and Ash, I was once again proven wrong that there was even more that they needed to overcome and obviously deal with when it came to Sera being the Primal of Life and more. Phew, I cannot even begin to tell you how much went down in this book, but rest assured everything that happened was part of the bigger picture hence why this book was SO DANG THICK!

The best way I can describe this book was a mix of epic and a perfect send off to Sera and Ash’s story. This final book was the culmination of everything that was part of Sera and Ash’s story, but also giving even more in depth knowledge on the prophecy which later ties into Poppy’s story from, “The Blood and Ash” series. This book took me on a wild ride, and JLA didn’t disappoint! This was a lengthy book, but it was worth the book hangover after finishing it. The action in this story was by far so impressive and iconic with Sera and Ash’s skill worthy fighting styles coming together as they fought side by side as wife and husband! I got to see my favorite darkens, Reaver, Jadis, and Nektas, and see even more of the found family formed within Sera and Ash’s home. Everything from book one to this final book was worth the wait, and I’m still reeling from all the plot twists, and things that occurred from the beginning to the end. While Sera and Ash’s story may be over, but there’s more to happen in Poppy’s story, and just how much everything is connected. Crazy to think that before Poppy was even born, her grandparents were dealing with their own battles, Primals, and all sorts of things that little did she know would play into her future. Nonetheless, this was a FANTASTIC book and I can’t recommend this series highly enough! LONG LIVE THE QUEEN AND KING OF THE GODS, SERA AND ASH!!!

A Fire in the Flesh by Jennifer L. Armentrout

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

*POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD! DON’T READ IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE PREVIOUS BOOKS!

*Check Trigger warnings before reading 

4.75⭐️/ 5 🌶️

Oh my goodness! It has been quite some time since I last read about Sera and Nyktos! The last time we saw Sera, she was in the midst of being captured by Kolis, and it seemed like all hope was lost. This story picked up right where the last book ended on quite the cliffhanger, and I just had no idea what was going to happen next?! With more of Sera being a formidable force, this story showed Sera going beyond in order to save those she cherished and the man she loved, Nyktos.

As you would imagine, this book entailed a lot of things namely those being that Sera was captured, and imprisoned in Kolis’s palace. I’ll admit that the beginning seemed kind of slow, but there was still plenty of things happening that kept it intriguing. Also, this review is going to be covering things mentioned in the past books or this book specifically so, don’t read this if you haven’t read the books. Anyways, with Sera now in close confinement with Kolis it was a daunting challenge for her as she faced against the biggest obstacle in her life, trying to get Kolis to believe she truly was Sotoria and trying to save Nyktos a.k.a. Ash.   The thing with Sera and Sotoria’s souls was a bit confusing, but from my understanding, Sotoria’s soul was trapped inside Sera so while Sera wasn’t lying exactly about Sotoria being part of her, it wasn’t necessarily the whole truth when it came to telling that to Kolis. Sera’s only was of survival was playing into Kolis’s love and obsession for Sotoria. 

Honestly, I don’t know how Sera did it in this book because, between trying to make Kolis believe she was Sotoria and give him the hope that they could be together, it was at times difficult to stomach. Sera was willing to do anything in order to save and protect Nyktos a.k.a. Ash, but it wasn’t easy that was clear. This was a new side of Sera that I don’t think many people realize when reading this book. There were times Sera had to literally hold back on her snarky comments or fighting in order to appear “submissive” to appease Kolis. I could feel the uncomfortable feeling Sera often felt when in Kolis’s presence and having to put on this facade of being open to being with him. 

OMG JUST WHEN I THOUGHT THINGS WEREN’T GOING TO GO DOWN, IT HAPPENED EXACTLY AT THE PERFECT MOMENT! The majority of the beginning was as I mentioned having Sera imprisoned in Kolis’s palace and basically trying to get Kolis’s trust, but thankfully Sera’s moment to blast the Kolis away from her came at an epic time. The moment Sera unleashed the power of the embers unlike never before was epic, and more importantly gave her the chance to FREE ASH! OMG WHEN ASH AND SERA WERE REUNITED I WAS AO FREAKING HAPPY! MY FAVES WERE TOGETHER AGAIN! Definitely feel like once Ash and Sera were together again was when things started to pick up even more in the story as well as give me even more truth bombs that made me shocked! Plus, after what felt like FOREVER, I feel like the story became even better seeing Ash and Sera together. In the midst of all that, even more things came to light, and phew, it was a lot to take it but I was just soaking it all up, and along for the crazy ride! 

WHOA…once again JLA knew exactly what she was doing when she wrote this book! I’ll admit, at first I wasn’t exactly sure why the beginning half focused on Sera being imprisoned in Kolis’s palace, but after reading from JLA her reasoning why she did that it actually made a lot of sense. Seeing Sera in Kolis’s court, living where he was gave me insight to how Kolis was truly dark and twisted with his subjects, and how far he was willing to go in order to have Sera, who he believed was Sotoria, his lost love. Kolis was all kinds of messed up, but I was just glad for that epic takedown Sera accomplished against him, and FREED ASH! I’ll say that towards the end was when things got a lot better and I was thrown even more information that changed everything for Sera and Ash. I genuinely don’t see the book going in the direction that it did, but I LOVED IT! Once again, nothing could keep Sera and Ash apart! With Sera being The Primal of Life, and she was ascended by Ash, she was a stronger force to be reckoned with, but she was also still the same, loving, fierce Sera I’ve come to love! I’m really excited to see how the final book will play out from Ash and Sera assuming their roles as King and Queen of the Gods to dealing with Kolis, potentially other Primals who may not be fans of Sera being the new Primal of Life, and who knows what else the Fates will throw at Sera and Ash. One thing is clear though, that no matter what happens, Sera and Ash have each other’s backs, and I’m positive they will rein victory over anyone who dares to go against them. 

The Wren in the Holly Library by K.A. Linde

adventurous hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

4⭐️/ 2🌶️

*Check Trigger warnings before reading 

A thief who specialized in heists, stealing for her wealthy clientele, and evading the law, Kierse was use to living on the edge, but for the first time, she found herself caught when out trying to complete her latest job. When I heard that this book was a, “Beauty and the Beast” retelling, I thought I knew what to expect, but instead I was pleasantly surprised by the unique world K.A. Linde created. Kierse was a thief who coincidentally found herself taking on a new job from the man…or shall I say monster, the one she tried to rob from. This story had, forced proximity, roommates, monsters, magic, enemies to lovers, found family, heists, and mystery. 

This was an entirely new retelling of, “Beauty and the Beast”, that kept me on my toes the whole time. You’d think that with this retelling it’d be a clear picture of how the story would play out, but instead it showed a unique take. Kierse was a thief, she excelled in that arena of her life, but it also came with the knowledge that she toed the line of danger constantly. When Kierse was caught by the monster she was hired to rob from, her world changed, and even held some revelations she never knew about. I think Kierse’s character revealed not only how strong and resilient she was, but also how much she cared for her best friends, Ethan and Gen. Kierse wasn’t a damsel in distress, she was a fighter when necessary, detail oriented especially when planning ahead for an exit strategy, and had a mysterious ability that became clearer as the story progressed. 

Each part of this story focused more on the mystery of Kierse’s significance with her ability as well as touching on other characters story that were interwoven too. Kierse seemed like just a thief when you first meet her, but the more I read, the more I wondered, “what was she exactly?” Then add in the dark and mysterious man known as, Graves and I had even more questions. There seemed to be this grander scheme in the works while Kierse trained and prepared herself for the biggest heist of her like. With trying to evade capture, meeting Graves expectations, and ensuring her friends were safe, there was quite a bit on the line for Kiese. 

I went into this book expecting a, “Beauty and The Beast” retelling and that’s what I got but in an unexpected way. At first, I felt like the book wasn’t clear in terms of what was Kierse’s mission really was, specifically the significance behind why getting the spear was so vital to Graves. Once the story got a bit more in depth with Kierse’s training and her involvement with Graves, little by little certain details came into play towards the end of the book. So, with that in mind I would say this book was a bit of a build up to the big ending in how everything connected to Graves and how Kierse’s backstory was only the beginning. In addition, I feel like the big plot twist and reveals happened towards the very end so I would say that, be patient because the ending was exciting and intriguing. I didn’t see the plot twist/ reveal coming in this book, but it just makes me more curious to learn more about Kierse and Graves in the next book. I’m assuming there will be a second book, and it’ll expand more on Graves backstory as well as Kierse’s abilities. This was a bit of a slow build up in terms of the actual plot line, but there was still some action, intriguing magical stuff, found family, and a bit of that romance Kierse and Graves had going on. Overall, this was a good book, I liked the unique way the story combined Celtic mythology and how everything was interwoven together. 

Wilder by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

4.25⭐️/ 3🌶️

*Check Trigger Warnings Before Reading.

Traveling around the world, getting the opportunity to study at a prestigious program onboard a ship, and have all expenses paid under a scholarship just for the sake of tutoring a student? Seemed like the best thing to happen to Leah Baxter. Leah was a driven, intelligent young woman who thought she knew what to expect when tutoring her fellow classmate, but instead she found herself being the tutor to an X-Games champion and extreme sports influencer by the name of, Paxton Wilder. Paxton was all about pushing things to the limit and more with him and his friends performing dare defying things, but everything hung in the balance if only he had a trusted tutor which *ahem he got Leah as his tutor. This story had sports romance but a unique spin on it, close friend group, tutor/student, he’s a bit of a flirt, and she’s closed off.

Leah was in for the opportunity of a lifetime, and it became even more…wilder when she learned she’d be Paxton Wilder’s tutor. Leah knew what she was getting into when she accepted she’d be a tutor, and be able to attend such a prestigious program that would lead to even better opportunities for her future, but Paxton was someone who changed her outlook on everything. When first meeting Leah, she struck me as someone who was headstrong, intelligent, kind, and had some mysterious past that still affected her strongly. In addition, I got the impression that Leah wasn’t the kind of person to let loose and have fun as seen by the little note her mom left inside her luggage along with a certain “gift” haha. Through the story, little by little, Leah got to unwind, have fun, and explore different avenues she never knew she would.

Paxton was a daredevil who wasn’t afraid to push the limits, take on challenges, and do whatever was necessary to achieve it. Paxton was a bit of a wild card, but he also knew that not everyone was like him such as, Leah. Leah was the person to tutor Paxton, and everything hinged on Paxton getting good grades or else all the things he’d been working on with his group, The Renegades would be over. I liked Paxton, I thought he was charming, cool, a bit flirty at times, but he was an all around nice guy. When it came to being in front of the cameras, Paxton was use to slipping into his Renegades persona which was slightly different from the real him. As the story got deeper, Paxton turned out to be a lot different than I expected especially with Leah. 

Leah and Paxton were the opposites of each other. Leah was all about remaining in her safe, comfortable zone whereas, Paxton was all about pushing the boundaries and going the extreme route. Somehow, with Leah and Paxton being together as fellow classmates and Leah being Paxton’s tutor, they formed a unique connection that later gave way to their romance. I’d like to think that one thing Paxton and Leah did have in common was wanting to maintain control in their respective lives. Leah was so set on making the most out of the prestigious program so she would be prepared for grad school and for Paxton he always wanted to ensure all the stunts he and his friends did were one hundred percent ready in every aspect. Once it got to the romance portion between Paxton and Leah, it was a matter of both of them opening up to each other and getting to the root of who they really were. Leah’s story was a bit of a mystery to Paxton (and myself included) but once he discovered why Leah was often guarded to progress their relationship to the next level, it made him see things differently. I could tell Leah liked Paxton and hoped for more with him, but there was always something holding her back, and it took her a while to fully realize how much she grew to care for Paxton. 

Paxton wasn’t a stranger to death defying things, but for Leah it was a whole new world she never thought she’d be a part of. With Paxton, Penna, and Landon being the original Renegades, they were all about extreme sports and stunts so, when Leah became part of Paxton’s day to day life (and eventually girlfriend) it was no surprise that Leah found herself participating in the same things as well. The thing that I liked with this story was seeing Leah get out of her comfort zone and try new things like BASE jumping, parasailing, and more. I could relate to Leah in that I too often stick to what I’m comfortable with, but as I read this I saw Leah grow and become stronger in ways I think she didn’t expect. In addition, the action of all the stunts performed was fascinating and dare I say even made me want to try something maybe like, sky diving? Who knows, but I really liked seeing Leah trying new things as it helped with her trauma, and Paxton was a big part of that. 

Definitely haven’t read a book quite like this one. When it comes to Rebecca Yarros, I always love her books, and while this one wasn’t an all time favorite, I still very much enjoyed Paxton and Leah’s story. I went into this book thinking that Paxton was just going to be a cocky, flirty athlete, but he actually ended up being so boy obsessed over Leah that it was really sweet. Leah was a lovely character, and I liked seeing her character growth over the course of the story and stepping out of her comfort zone especially trying to work through her past trauma. Paxton and Leah’s romance seamlessly flowed together that I didn’t question how they went from classmates to lovers. With all the stunts that Paxton, Penna, and Landon performed there was a bevy of extreme sports, action, and it was so cool to read about that aspect of their lives. I didn’t expect the little added bit of mystery and suspense in the background, but it was something that added to the plot. As a whole, I think Paxton and Leah were great together, I loved seeing Paxton fall head over heels for Leah, and doing some really sweet things for her, and seeing Leah take a leap of faith in the name of love! I’m really curious to see how the other books will be such as, Landon and Penna’s own stories. If you’re looking for a unique sports romance book that focuses on extreme sports, found family, and boy obsessed vibes, then you should read this book.