daniobsessivelyreads's reviews
786 reviews

Bride of Ashes by Alaya Wells

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adventurous challenging dark emotional fast-paced

5.0

**๐‘จ๐‘น๐‘ช ๐‘น๐’†๐’—๐’Š๐’†๐’˜** ๐‘ฉ๐’“๐’Š๐’…๐’† ๐’๐’‡ ๐‘จ๐’”๐’‰๐’†๐’” ๐’ƒ๐’š ๐‘จ๐’๐’‚๐’š๐’‚ ๐‘พ๐’†๐’๐’๐’” ๐‘ฉ๐’“๐’Š๐’…๐’† ๐’๐’‡ ๐‘จ๐’”๐’‰๐’†๐’” (๐‘ฒ๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ๐’…๐’๐’Ž ๐’๐’‡ ๐‘บ๐’‰๐’‚๐’…๐’๐’˜ ๐’‚๐’๐’… ๐‘น๐’–๐’Š๐’ ๐‘ฉ๐’๐’๐’Œ 1)

Release Date: March 1, 2025

5โญ๏ธ5๐ŸŒถ

Reyla marries a Fae King Merrick, whom she's never met before, because she agreed to marry him, sight-unseen, in order to secure an army that would save her friends and countrymen. 

Lord Lorant aka Lore aka The Viper is the personal bodyguard and best friend to the High Fae King Merrick. He is doing everything in his power not to have feelings for his best friend's wife, but it seems that he can't stay away from the fiery red-haired warrior of a woman. 

King Merrick is not without his own secrets. He seems very interested and drawn to his new bride, but he often pulls away and seems to be hiding may things from her. He also requests that she spend time with his body guard, so that they can all be friends.

The tension in this book is 6 out of 5. I could NOT wait to see what happened between these three. There is another book in this arc, and I'm NOT waiting patiently for it!!

Ms. Alaya Wells (@alayawellswrites) any news on this front? Please keep me informed! I beg of you! Also, thank you for this amazing ARC read!

Themes/Tropes:
๐ŸArranged Marriage
๐ŸBody guard romance
๐ŸEnemies to lovers
๐ŸClass Systems
๐ŸShadow Daddy
๐ŸFinding love aft
๐ŸDragon riders
๐ŸThruple/Love Triangle


TW:
โœจViolence
โœจPoverty/hunger
โœจGrief
โœจMourning the loss of prior love
โœจExplicit spicy content
โœจPower hungry courtiers who attempt killing each other and the royals
Get Lost with You by Sophie Sullivan

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adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

4.0

**๐‘จ๐‘น๐‘ช ๐‘น๐’†๐’—๐’Š๐’†๐’˜**  ๐‘ฎ๐’†๐’• ๐‘ณ๐’๐’”๐’• ๐’˜๐’Š๐’•๐’‰ ๐’€๐’๐’– (๐‘น๐’๐’„๐’Œ ๐‘ฉ๐’๐’•๐’•๐’๐’Ž ๐‘ณ๐’๐’—๐’† #2) ๐’ƒ๐’š ๐‘บ๐’๐’‘๐’‰๐’Š๐’† ๐‘บ๐’–๐’๐’๐’Š๐’—๐’‚๐’

Release Date: February 11, 2025

4โญ๏ธ2.5๐ŸŒถ

This small town friends-to-lovers is so sweet and adorable. I definitely needed this as a pick me up read between some dark and emotional reads. This book had all the comfy cozy small-town vibes with all the second chance romance thrown in.

Jillian is a divorcee with an 8 year old daughter who is living with her parents in the small town of Smile after her divorce. She had moved away in her early twenties to follow a businessman who turned out to be a piece of poop,. Once she figured that out, she moved back to beautiful small town she calls home. 

Levi, Jillian's childhood crush, moves back to Smile to help his parents as they get older. He moved away at 17 to go to a prestigious culinary school. Then he built his career as a professional chef and many big name restraunts, until he had enough of the big city and wanted to move back to Smile to be with his family and friends.

Levi has been in love with Jillian since he was 13, but she's the younger sister of his two best friends. Jillian has been in love with him since before she could remember. He went to culinary school when she was only 15 and after a disastrous attempt at a first kiss.

As adults, they realize they both still have feelings for each other. But they must relearn each other as they are now. 


Themes/Tropes:
๐ŸSecond chance romance
๐ŸChildhood crush turns romance
๐ŸSmall town romance
๐ŸBig city to small town
๐ŸDivorcee looking for love again
๐ŸRom Com
๐ŸRomance with best friends sister

TW:
โœจGaslighting Ex-husband
โœจVerbal abuse
โœจParent abandoning a child
โœจModerate sexual content
โœจFatphobic ex-husband
King: A Conclusion to Consort by Rachel Grey

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adventurous challenging dark emotional fast-paced

5.0

**๐‘จ๐‘น๐‘ช ๐‘น๐’†๐’—๐’Š๐’†๐’˜** ๐‘ฒ๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ ๐’ƒ๐’š ๐‘น๐’‚๐’„๐’‰๐’†๐’ ๐‘ฎ๐’“๐’†๐’š (๐‘ต๐’๐’ƒ๐’๐’† ๐‘น๐’†๐’„๐’Œ๐’๐’๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ ๐‘ฉ๐’๐’๐’Œ 2)

Release Date: February 15, 2025

5โญ๏ธ4๐ŸŒถ

I loooooved loved loved this little duology. You know when you read something and it immediately sucks you in to it's little world, that's what these books did for me. I can definately tell Rachel Grey wrote these for HERSELF. She was unapologetic about the nitty gritty details of forced consent and finding love again after being $exually abused. Outside of the gritty parts, there was so much magic, cottagecore vibes, magical creatures, and strong characters of both sexes.

I very much enjoyed reading Durin and Rue's conclusion to their fight against evil in their world. Plus, Durin finally learning more about shifters/heats/knots! 

Themes/Tropes:
๐ŸFated Mates
๐ŸFae/Elves/Shifters/Ogres/Other
๐ŸKnotting
๐ŸMating Heats
๐ŸEvil Queen
๐ŸCottagecore
๐ŸMagical Kingdom

TW:
โœจForced marriage
โœจForced sexual acts
โœจGrey consent
โœจGang #ape
โœจHeats/knotting
Consort by Rachel Grey, Rachel Grey, Grayson Ball

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dark emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

**๐‘จ๐‘น๐‘ช ๐‘น๐’†๐’—๐’Š๐’†๐’˜** ๐‘ช๐’๐’๐’”๐’๐’“๐’• ๐’ƒ๐’š ๐‘น๐’‚๐’„๐’‰๐’†๐’ ๐‘ฎ๐’“๐’†๐’š (๐‘ต๐’๐’ƒ๐’๐’† ๐‘น๐’†๐’„๐’Œ๐’๐’๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ ๐‘ฉ๐’๐’๐’Œ 1) 

Release Date: December 1, 2024

4.5โญ๏ธ5๐ŸŒถ

I loved this Omegaverse story with Fae/Shifters! I was IN this story! There are some stories that I just listen to, this one I was engaged and needed to know what happens to these characters.

Durin is a young Fae who realizes that the noble Fae are not so noble. He promises himself that he will bring down those in power that misuse it. He tells no one of his plan, except for his best friend and illusionist Fae Farris. Once he exacts some of his revenge, the Queen takes him as her personal soldier and Consort, despite the fact that he hates everything about her.

Rue is a young wolf shifter who is late blooming into her Omega position. However, she has no interest whatsoever in being the mate for an Alpha. She most definitely does not want to be a mate to the Prime Alpha. So, she and her mother decide to hide her Omega scent for as long as possible. Maybe even until another Prime is in power. She and her mother find their way away from the pack, but cross paths with Durin, at least for a short time.

Themes/Tropes:
๐ŸFated Mates
๐ŸFae/Elves/Shifters/Ogres/Other
๐ŸKnotting
๐ŸMating Heats
๐ŸEvil Queen
๐ŸCottagecore
๐ŸMagical Kingdom

TW:
โœจForced marriage
โœจForced sexual acts
โœจGrey consent
โœจGang #ape
โœจHeats/knotting
The Beasts We Bury by D.L. Taylor

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adventurous challenging emotional medium-paced

3.0

**๐‘จ๐‘น๐‘ช ๐‘น๐’†๐’—๐’Š๐’†๐’˜** ๐‘ป๐’‰๐’† ๐‘ฉ๐’†๐’‚๐’”๐’•๐’” ๐‘พ๐’† ๐‘ฉ๐’–๐’“๐’š ๐’ƒ๐’š ๐‘ซ.๐‘ณ. ๐‘ป๐’‚๐’š๐’๐’๐’“ (๐‘ป๐’‰๐’† ๐‘ฉ๐’“๐’๐’Œ๐’†๐’ ๐‘ช๐’Š๐’•๐’‚๐’…๐’†๐’, #1)

Release Date: February 4, 2025

3โญ๏ธn/a๐ŸŒถ

I DNFed this a few chapters in. I wasn't engaged with the characters. The characters seemed rather simple, and the world building was not what I needed it to be. I like the premise of the FMC collecting the souls of the beasts she kills, but I needed more depth to the rest of the story.

Thank you to @netgalley for this ARC read!
Cursed in Love by Emily Colin

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adventurous emotional funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

**๐‘จ๐‘น๐‘ช ๐‘น๐’†๐’—๐’Š๐’†๐’˜** ๐‘ช๐’–๐’“๐’”๐’†๐’… ๐’Š๐’ ๐‘ณ๐’๐’—๐’† ๐’ƒ๐’š ๐‘ฌ๐’Ž๐’Š๐’๐’š ๐‘ช๐’๐’๐’Š๐’

Release Date: February 14, 2025

4.5โญ๏ธ3๐ŸŒถ

Rune Whitlock lives in the small town of Sapphire Springs, and she has premonishes of the immediate future. However, she's cursed so that no one ever believes her when she tells them she can see the future. She grew up being shuttled from one foster care house to the next, until she landed at a house with a true monster. She was able to defend herself and ruin him, but at the cost of her legal reputation.

As an adult, she works as a graphic designer for a small company. Then she's put on a project with Donovan Frost, a grumpy data engineer who as limited people skills. Their banter soon turns into more, but is quickly derailed by his half-brother cop that he does not get along with. The fact that Donovan thinks she has a thing with his half-brother is not a real issue, because she has seen that if they were to get married that he would die on their wedding day or shortly after.

The local book club of elderly ladies turns out to be a witch coven in disguise, and they help her discover her parentage and grim past. She's never known why she has premonitions, but they are happening more and more frequently. Along with many other odd witchy occurrences around her.

The book is very cozy fantasy with practical magic vibes, charmed vibes, and cottagecore vibes. I highly recommend this for all cozy fantasy readers!

Themes/Tropes:
๐ŸPractical Magic Vibes
๐ŸCharmed Vibes
๐ŸCozy Fantasy
๐ŸUrban Fantasy
๐ŸRom Com
๐ŸOrphaned at a young age
๐ŸBound Magic that needs to be unleashed

TW:
โœจGraphic murder
โœจSexual assault of a minor (past)
โœจAbandonment/orphaned
โœจGaslighting
โœจChild Abuse
โœจArson

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Ruins of Starlight by B.C. FaJohn

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adventurous challenging dark fast-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

**๐‘จ๐‘น๐‘ช ๐‘น๐’†๐’—๐’Š๐’†๐’˜** ๐‘น๐’–๐’Š๐’๐’” ๐’๐’‡ ๐‘บ๐’•๐’‚๐’“๐’๐’Š๐’ˆ๐’‰๐’• ๐’ƒ๐’š ๐‘ฉ.๐‘ช. ๐‘ญ๐’‚๐‘ฑ๐’๐’‰๐’ (๐‘ช๐’†๐’๐’†๐’”๐’•๐’Š๐’‚๐’ ๐‘ซ๐’†๐’—๐’๐’•๐’Š๐’๐’ #1)

Release Date: February 11, 2025

5โญ๏ธ3๐ŸŒถ

I love B. C. FaJohn! She always delivers the darkest and broodiest of males. Who always have the most formidable of powers, but have a soft spot for that one FMC. 

Morgana has been on her own for a while; however, her brother went missing while in service to the Anarcists in the Shadow Realm. While searching for him, she finds Astor torturing someone that may have had information about her brother. Astor turns out to be the nameless faceless Crown Prince who is looking for a cure to his Shadow Magic that is slowly poisoning him from the inside out. 

The tension and slow burn between Astor and Morgana is delicious! They both have a very dark past and neither of them hesitate to use their darker side to get what they want. 

I highly recommend this book for all From Blood and Ash fans or A Court of Thrones and Roses fans!

Themes/Tropes:
๐ŸVictorian Era Fantasy
๐ŸShadow Daddy
๐Ÿ Grumpy-grumpy 
๐ŸShadow Mommy
๐ŸSearching for lost family
๐ŸEnemies to lovers
๐ŸDark and Broody Past

TW:
โœจDrug Abuse
โœจFighting sequences
โœจPhysical child abuse (past)
โœจAbuse by a parent
โœจMurder
โœจTorture
โœจSexual slavery (past)
A Crown of Victory and Vengeance by Vera Raye

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adventurous challenging emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

**๐‘จ๐‘น๐‘ช ๐‘น๐’†๐’—๐’Š๐’†๐’˜** ๐‘จ ๐‘ช๐’“๐’๐’˜๐’ ๐’๐’‡ ๐‘ฝ๐’Š๐’„๐’•๐’๐’“๐’š ๐’‚๐’๐’… ๐‘ฝ๐’†๐’๐’ˆ๐’†๐’‚๐’๐’„๐’† ๐’ƒ๐’š ๐‘ฝ๐’†๐’“๐’‚ ๐‘น๐’‚๐’š๐’†  (๐‘ป๐’‰๐’† ๐‘ช๐’–๐’“๐’”๐’† ๐’๐’‡ ๐‘บ๐’Š๐’๐’—๐’†๐’“ ๐‘บ๐’†๐’„๐’“๐’†๐’•๐’” ๐’‚๐’๐’… ๐‘ช๐’“๐’–๐’†๐’ ๐‘บ๐’‰๐’‚๐’…๐’๐’˜๐’” #2)

Release Date: February 25, 2025

5โญ๏ธ4๐ŸŒถ

This book has landed Vera Raye as one of my must read authors. This is the second book in The Curse of Silver Secrets and Cruel Shadows series, and I cannot get enough! The first book ended on a cliffhanger of epic proporations. Evie has called into question everything she knows and loves due to the betrayal in the first book. Zandyr did what he had to, but now things he should have done everything differently. The conflict between these two is so FIREY!

The Blood Brotherhood Dynasty is preparing for war against the Serpents. But when Zandyr leaves for war, he leaves his new wife to try and keep the capital safe from the underhanded, cold-hearted advisors that have done nothing for the common people of Pheonix Peak. Banu and Valuta have convinced the Blood Brotherhood Court that they only want the best for them, but they're really spinning everything to their own advantage. Including, defaming Evie to the point that all the common people believe her to be nothing more than a shallow gold digger that just wants Zandyr for his title.

The political machinations in this book, plus the spicy tension, plus the battles and training sequences! I ate up every crump and was not hungry afterwards. I highly recommend this series for Jennifer Armentrout, Sarah Maas, Danielle Jensen, and Elise Kova fans!

Themes/Tropes:
๐ŸEnemies-to-lovers
๐ŸArranged Marriage
๐ŸFated Mates
๐ŸRival Kingdoms at war
๐ŸPolitical backstabbing
๐ŸGrumpy-grumpy
๐ŸHidden princess

TW:
โœจMurder
โœจBattle sequences
โœจGore
โœจPolitical betrayal/slander
โœจIndifferent parents
โœจParental Abandonment (past)
Iron & Embers by Helen Scheuerer

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adventurous emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

**๐‘จ๐‘น๐‘ช ๐‘น๐’†๐’—๐’Š๐’†๐’˜** ๐‘ฐ๐’“๐’๐’ & ๐‘ฌ๐’Ž๐’ƒ๐’†๐’“๐’” ๐’ƒ๐’š ๐‘ฏ๐’†๐’๐’†๐’ ๐‘บ๐’„๐’‰๐’†๐’–๐’†๐’“๐’†๐’“ (๐‘ป๐’‰๐’† ๐‘จ๐’”๐’‰๐’†๐’” ๐’๐’‡ ๐‘ป๐’‰๐’†๐’›๐’Ž๐’‚๐’“๐’“ #1 )

Release Date: January 28, 2025

5โญ๏ธ4๐ŸŒถ

This book sucked me in from the moment the lost princess turned assassin via going to school to become a full Alchemist who can poison or heal someone in a moment. Wren has only ever wanted to go to Drevenor school to hone her skills with herbs, poisons, and potions. Prior to the war, she had been an apprentice in Thezmarr to become a healer, but after the war her focus became revenge. In the five years since the war ended, she has spent her time tracking down and poisoning all those who took her friends and family. 

Torj is a Warsword who has been enamored with her since before the war when they were living in Thezmarr together, but her path for vengeance did not allow for love and romance. So, he watched over her from afar.

Torj and Wren are forced to work together when Torj is posted as her personal bodyguard after an attempt on another royals life has put all royals in jeopardy. Torj is not thrilled with this post, because he has been avoiding Wren since she ruined his mission two years ago with her plans for vengeance.  

Themes/Tropes:
๐ŸWarrior-Warrior relationship
๐ŸBodyguard Romance
๐ŸLost Princess Trope
๐ŸThrone of Glass vibes
๐ŸSnape vibes
๐ŸDark Acadamia Potion/Poison school
๐ŸHarry Potter/Hunger Games Vibes

TW:
โœจLoss of family members
โœจMurder by violence
โœจMurder by poisoning
โœจBattle Sequences
โœจPhysical Trials

Expand filter menu Content Warnings