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daniobsessivelyreads's reviews
825 reviews
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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:
No
**๐จ๐น๐ช ๐น๐๐๐๐๐** ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐ & ๐ญ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ (๐ป๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ #2)
Release Date: July 31, 2025
5โญ๏ธ5๐ถ
The tension in this book is absolutely delicious. Wren and the Bear Slayer have broken up at the end of the first book, and this book picks up right where the first one left off.
Torj, the Bear Slayer, has left to do his official Warsword duties and try and find the active rebels that are working to kill all of the monarchs. When Torj and Wilder are ambushed and injured, Wilder sends Torj to his girlfriend Thea, so she can take over his Warsword duties. Then Torj is back on guard duties for Wren, which is right where he swore he wouldn't be.
Torj convinced himself that the best thing for Wren was for him to leave, so that she couldn't be hurt by their bond. By leaving her and not telling her why, he broke her heart. Can they repair the broken trust? Now that they're working together again?
Wren is hard at work at her Alchemy school trying to find a cure to the poison that the rebels are using against all the magic wielding rulers, including herself. She also finds that the kingdom her family used to rule has started to grow life again, which means she and her sister must decide if they will rule it or left someone else take over and possibly destroy it or use it for evil.
The tension between Wren and Torj is at it's peak in this book. I thought the tension couldn't get any higher in the first book, but I was proven wrong with this installment.
I can't wait for the next book to see Wren and Torj in action against the rebels will be supreme I'm sure!
Themes/Tropes:
๐Warrior-Warrior relationship
๐Stay away to protect her
๐Bodyguard Romance
๐Lost Princess Trope
๐Throne of Glass vibes
๐Snape vibes
๐Dark Acadamia Potion/Poison school
๐Harry Potter Potions/School Vibes
TW:
โจLoss of family members
โจMurder by violence
โจMurder by poisoning
โจBattle Sequences
โจFighting with magic
Release Date: July 31, 2025
5โญ๏ธ5๐ถ
The tension in this book is absolutely delicious. Wren and the Bear Slayer have broken up at the end of the first book, and this book picks up right where the first one left off.
Torj, the Bear Slayer, has left to do his official Warsword duties and try and find the active rebels that are working to kill all of the monarchs. When Torj and Wilder are ambushed and injured, Wilder sends Torj to his girlfriend Thea, so she can take over his Warsword duties. Then Torj is back on guard duties for Wren, which is right where he swore he wouldn't be.
Torj convinced himself that the best thing for Wren was for him to leave, so that she couldn't be hurt by their bond. By leaving her and not telling her why, he broke her heart. Can they repair the broken trust? Now that they're working together again?
Wren is hard at work at her Alchemy school trying to find a cure to the poison that the rebels are using against all the magic wielding rulers, including herself. She also finds that the kingdom her family used to rule has started to grow life again, which means she and her sister must decide if they will rule it or left someone else take over and possibly destroy it or use it for evil.
The tension between Wren and Torj is at it's peak in this book. I thought the tension couldn't get any higher in the first book, but I was proven wrong with this installment.
I can't wait for the next book to see Wren and Torj in action against the rebels will be supreme I'm sure!
Themes/Tropes:
๐Warrior-Warrior relationship
๐Stay away to protect her
๐Bodyguard Romance
๐Lost Princess Trope
๐Throne of Glass vibes
๐Snape vibes
๐Dark Acadamia Potion/Poison school
๐Harry Potter Potions/School Vibes
TW:
โจLoss of family members
โจMurder by violence
โจMurder by poisoning
โจBattle Sequences
โจFighting with magic
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence
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:
No
**๐จ๐น๐ช ๐น๐๐๐๐๐** ๐จ ๐พ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐
๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฑ๐๐ (๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐
๐๐, #1)
4.5โญ๏ธ3๐ถ
Release Date: July 17, 2025
This book was everything you could want in a summer read. It was action packed and full of high seas adventures with morally grey characters. There were many moments that made me think of Pirates of the Caribbean. But as a whole I found the story new and different from all other fantasy romance I've read. I will be recommending this to any and all lovers of The Ever King by L. J. Andrews as well as fans of Romantasy in general.
Esmyra Blackwood was taken from her home as a baby by the notorious Captain Cyrus Blackwood the most fear pirate in all the Realms of Rymelle. As she's taken Maerinys, it sinks into the depths of the ocean never to be scene again.
Esmyra aka Esmi spends centuries as the loyal daughter/monster of Captain Cyrus Blackwood. She's the last known Siren who is capable of using her voice to control any and all humans. She can also shift into a sea monster at will and sink any and all sea vessels she wills.
Captain Blackwood tells no one he has a daughter, but everyone in the Realms knows he has a sea monster at his beck and call.
When Esmi learns that her adoptive father didn't save her from a life of poverty on the streets, but kidnapped her from her safe and happy home as a baby, she decides that she wants to try and find the lost kingdom of Mearinys without his approval.
Prince Draevyn Rowe is the second son to a tyrant king and also a fire wielder. His father has essentially treated him as no more than a tool since he had an accident with his magic as a child. His tyrant father king has tasked him with finding the lost Kingdom of Maerinys and all of it's lost gold and treasures.
Draevyn and Esmi cross paths and together, the two are forced to navigate a labyrinth of lies and secrets in search of the sunken kingdom.
Themes/Tropes:
๐Pirates of the Caribbean Vibes
๐Little Mermaid Vibes
๐Siren with the power to control all humans with her voice
๐Evil King
๐Lost Kingdom
๐Lost Atlantis Vibes
๐Lost Princess
TW:
โจViolence
โจMurder
โจKidnapping
โจIndifferent parents
โจDrowning
โจImprisonment
4.5โญ๏ธ3๐ถ
Release Date: July 17, 2025
This book was everything you could want in a summer read. It was action packed and full of high seas adventures with morally grey characters. There were many moments that made me think of Pirates of the Caribbean. But as a whole I found the story new and different from all other fantasy romance I've read. I will be recommending this to any and all lovers of The Ever King by L. J. Andrews as well as fans of Romantasy in general.
Esmyra Blackwood was taken from her home as a baby by the notorious Captain Cyrus Blackwood the most fear pirate in all the Realms of Rymelle. As she's taken Maerinys, it sinks into the depths of the ocean never to be scene again.
Esmyra aka Esmi spends centuries as the loyal daughter/monster of Captain Cyrus Blackwood. She's the last known Siren who is capable of using her voice to control any and all humans. She can also shift into a sea monster at will and sink any and all sea vessels she wills.
Captain Blackwood tells no one he has a daughter, but everyone in the Realms knows he has a sea monster at his beck and call.
When Esmi learns that her adoptive father didn't save her from a life of poverty on the streets, but kidnapped her from her safe and happy home as a baby, she decides that she wants to try and find the lost kingdom of Mearinys without his approval.
Prince Draevyn Rowe is the second son to a tyrant king and also a fire wielder. His father has essentially treated him as no more than a tool since he had an accident with his magic as a child. His tyrant father king has tasked him with finding the lost Kingdom of Maerinys and all of it's lost gold and treasures.
Draevyn and Esmi cross paths and together, the two are forced to navigate a labyrinth of lies and secrets in search of the sunken kingdom.
Themes/Tropes:
๐Pirates of the Caribbean Vibes
๐Little Mermaid Vibes
๐Siren with the power to control all humans with her voice
๐Evil King
๐Lost Kingdom
๐Lost Atlantis Vibes
๐Lost Princess
TW:
โจViolence
โจMurder
โจKidnapping
โจIndifferent parents
โจDrowning
โจImprisonment
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder
adventurous
inspiring
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:
No
**๐จ๐น๐ช ๐น๐๐๐๐๐** ๐ป๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐ฎ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐
Release Date: July 15, 2025
4โญ๏ธ1.5๐ถ
Terlu Perna is the primary librarian in the North Reading Room of the Great Library of Alyssium. Until she casts a spell and turns a spider plant sentient. Of course, this is against the law, but she only wanted someone to talk do.
The head Sorcerers decide as her punishment they will turn her into a statue and place her in the library, to serve as a warning to all for the dangers of using magic or spells without being a trained sorcerer.
When Terlu wakes up (which she never thought she would), she finds herself in a small town of greenhouses in the presence of one lone overwhelmed gardener. She finds out that she was sent here in the hopes that she could figure out a way to reanimate all the plants and greenhouses that have been magically sent into dormancy or death.
With the help of her young gardener and a sentient rose, Terlu embarks on a quest to save all the plants and greenhouses in this magical place.
Themes/Tropes:
๐Cottagecore
๐Cozy Fantasy
๐Paranormal Romance
๐Fantasy Romance
๐Practical Magic Vibes
TW:
โจStatue-a-fying
โจToo much cozy
Release Date: July 15, 2025
4โญ๏ธ1.5๐ถ
Terlu Perna is the primary librarian in the North Reading Room of the Great Library of Alyssium. Until she casts a spell and turns a spider plant sentient. Of course, this is against the law, but she only wanted someone to talk do.
The head Sorcerers decide as her punishment they will turn her into a statue and place her in the library, to serve as a warning to all for the dangers of using magic or spells without being a trained sorcerer.
When Terlu wakes up (which she never thought she would), she finds herself in a small town of greenhouses in the presence of one lone overwhelmed gardener. She finds out that she was sent here in the hopes that she could figure out a way to reanimate all the plants and greenhouses that have been magically sent into dormancy or death.
With the help of her young gardener and a sentient rose, Terlu embarks on a quest to save all the plants and greenhouses in this magical place.
Themes/Tropes:
๐Cottagecore
๐Cozy Fantasy
๐Paranormal Romance
๐Fantasy Romance
๐Practical Magic Vibes
TW:
โจStatue-a-fying
โจToo much cozy
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
**๐น๐ฌ๐ฝ๐ฐ๐ฌ๐พ** ๐ป๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐ต๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐๐ (๐ถ๐๐๐ ๐ผ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐ #2)
Release Date: September 13, 2022
4โญ๏ธ1๐ถ
The fairy tale gone wrong continues! This is the second book in the Once Upon a Broken Heart series, and things are continuing to go wrong. Evangeline, aka Little Fox, is no longer being accused of her new husband's death, but she's on the war path the find out who did.
Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, only has one goal, and that is to get Evangeline to fulfill her prophecy and open the Valery Arch. Ancient texts say that the arch is an ancient gateway to the Valery themselves or to a monster that was locked away long ago to stop it from killing everyone. Either way, Evangeline does NOT want to help Jacks achieve his one goal of opening it.
However, she needs Jacks help in order to fight off everyone that seems to be trying to assassinate her. Plus, she still has an unfulfilled bargain with him.
This series continues to be funny and light-hearted. With all the references to Grimm Fairy Tales and Disney stories, it makes for a very fun read. Plus, nothing seems to go right for Evangeline, and that keeps it interesting when you're used to reading Fated Mates and Happily Ever Afters.
Themes/Tropes:
๐Fairy Tale Retelling
๐Cinderella Vibes
๐Snow White Vibes
๐Grimm Fairy Tale Vibes
๐Making a deal with the Devil
๐Love potion/besotted
๐Shadow Daddy
๐Fates/Witches/Vampires
TW:
โจBack stabbing
โจCourt Politics
โจBetrayal
โจMistreatment by a step parent
โจToxic relationship
โจGaslighting
โจGraphic blood/death/murder
Release Date: September 13, 2022
4โญ๏ธ1๐ถ
The fairy tale gone wrong continues! This is the second book in the Once Upon a Broken Heart series, and things are continuing to go wrong. Evangeline, aka Little Fox, is no longer being accused of her new husband's death, but she's on the war path the find out who did.
Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, only has one goal, and that is to get Evangeline to fulfill her prophecy and open the Valery Arch. Ancient texts say that the arch is an ancient gateway to the Valery themselves or to a monster that was locked away long ago to stop it from killing everyone. Either way, Evangeline does NOT want to help Jacks achieve his one goal of opening it.
However, she needs Jacks help in order to fight off everyone that seems to be trying to assassinate her. Plus, she still has an unfulfilled bargain with him.
This series continues to be funny and light-hearted. With all the references to Grimm Fairy Tales and Disney stories, it makes for a very fun read. Plus, nothing seems to go right for Evangeline, and that keeps it interesting when you're used to reading Fated Mates and Happily Ever Afters.
Themes/Tropes:
๐Fairy Tale Retelling
๐Cinderella Vibes
๐Snow White Vibes
๐Grimm Fairy Tale Vibes
๐Making a deal with the Devil
๐Love potion/besotted
๐Shadow Daddy
๐Fates/Witches/Vampires
TW:
โจBack stabbing
โจCourt Politics
โจBetrayal
โจMistreatment by a step parent
โจToxic relationship
โจGaslighting
โจGraphic blood/death/murder
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder
adventurous
challenging
dark
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:
No
**๐จ๐น๐ช ๐น๐๐๐๐๐** ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐
Release Date: July 8, 2025
4.5โญ๏ธ3๐ถ
Saoirse touches a Fate Stone by accident at the age of five, and from then on she has been curse to see and hear spirits as well as have knowledge of the future that she does know how it appears.
When Saoirse comes of marriable age, her father takes her to the clan gathering with plans to marry her off to Stone King for a price. Her father hasn't treated her like a daughter since she killed her eldest brother accidentally with her powers when she was five.
However, she has no plans to be married off to a cruel king and be locked under his mountain fortress. She see's her way out when the legendary Wolf of the WildโFaolan, a feral, silver-tongued pirate makes it known that he is looking for the prophesied girl with eyes like the ocean. It is said that only she can a lost mythical isle with her powers.
She's unsure how she will find this mythical isle for the Wolf, but she's willing to try in order to get away from her planned marriage to the Stone King.
So, Saoirse embarks on an adventure across the high seas with her betrothed that is her betrothed in name only to find a lost island with her powers she doesn't know how to use.
This book was so intriguing and checked all the boxes for a pirate adventure and arranged marriage with forced proximity. I cannot wait for the next one!
Themes/Tropes:
๐Viking Pirate MMC
๐Shadow Daddy
๐Arranged Marriage
๐Forced Proximity
๐Fake dating
๐Powers locked away
๐Viking Princess
๐Forced Proximity
๐Cursed by the gods
๐Finding a curse for the curse
TW:
โจImprisonment/Isolation
โจUnfeeling/uncaring parents
โจViolence
โจMurder
โจSpicy content
Release Date: July 8, 2025
4.5โญ๏ธ3๐ถ
Saoirse touches a Fate Stone by accident at the age of five, and from then on she has been curse to see and hear spirits as well as have knowledge of the future that she does know how it appears.
When Saoirse comes of marriable age, her father takes her to the clan gathering with plans to marry her off to Stone King for a price. Her father hasn't treated her like a daughter since she killed her eldest brother accidentally with her powers when she was five.
However, she has no plans to be married off to a cruel king and be locked under his mountain fortress. She see's her way out when the legendary Wolf of the WildโFaolan, a feral, silver-tongued pirate makes it known that he is looking for the prophesied girl with eyes like the ocean. It is said that only she can a lost mythical isle with her powers.
She's unsure how she will find this mythical isle for the Wolf, but she's willing to try in order to get away from her planned marriage to the Stone King.
So, Saoirse embarks on an adventure across the high seas with her betrothed that is her betrothed in name only to find a lost island with her powers she doesn't know how to use.
This book was so intriguing and checked all the boxes for a pirate adventure and arranged marriage with forced proximity. I cannot wait for the next one!
Themes/Tropes:
๐Viking Pirate MMC
๐Shadow Daddy
๐Arranged Marriage
๐Forced Proximity
๐Fake dating
๐Powers locked away
๐Viking Princess
๐Forced Proximity
๐Cursed by the gods
๐Finding a curse for the curse
TW:
โจImprisonment/Isolation
โจUnfeeling/uncaring parents
โจViolence
โจMurder
โจSpicy content
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Murder
adventurous
challenging
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
**๐จ๐น๐ช ๐น๐๐๐๐๐** ๐จ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐
Release Date: July 1, 2025
4.5โญ๏ธ3๐ถ
This was a fresh and wanderlust fulfilling summer read! I don't know about you, but I cannot currently afford to spend the summer in the beautiful small town of Galway, Ireland, but 20 something Chelsea can and did.
Chelsea recently lost her job as an event planner and hostess at a quaint bed and breakfast in the suburbs of Boston. She lived in a little apartment in the upstairs of the B & B. But when the owners tell her they plan on retiring at the beginning of the summer, Chelsea is given only a couple of weeks to decide where live will take her next. The elderly couple offers her a position with her sister's hostile in Galway Ireland for the summer while she figures out what she wants to do next.
Chelsea arrives in Galway and is immediately underwhelmed by amenities and accommodations at the Wanderer Hostile, but the cheeky bartender Collin keeps ribbing her and her lack of enthusiasm for Ireland. Collin offers to take her on day trips around all the sites in Ireland on their days off to help her get the full Ireland experience. She resists his offer and all Ireland has to offer at first, but as the summer wears on she slowly starts to realize that Ireland may have more to offer her than Boston.
This was an amazing summer read, and checked all the wanderlust boxes for me!
Themes/Tropes:
๐Travel romance
๐Finding oneself
๐Summer read
๐Ireland tourist destinations
๐Contemporary romance
๐Grumpy-sunshine
๐Irish countryside
๐Temple bar district
TW:
โจImmediate need to travel to Ireland
Release Date: July 1, 2025
4.5โญ๏ธ3๐ถ
This was a fresh and wanderlust fulfilling summer read! I don't know about you, but I cannot currently afford to spend the summer in the beautiful small town of Galway, Ireland, but 20 something Chelsea can and did.
Chelsea recently lost her job as an event planner and hostess at a quaint bed and breakfast in the suburbs of Boston. She lived in a little apartment in the upstairs of the B & B. But when the owners tell her they plan on retiring at the beginning of the summer, Chelsea is given only a couple of weeks to decide where live will take her next. The elderly couple offers her a position with her sister's hostile in Galway Ireland for the summer while she figures out what she wants to do next.
Chelsea arrives in Galway and is immediately underwhelmed by amenities and accommodations at the Wanderer Hostile, but the cheeky bartender Collin keeps ribbing her and her lack of enthusiasm for Ireland. Collin offers to take her on day trips around all the sites in Ireland on their days off to help her get the full Ireland experience. She resists his offer and all Ireland has to offer at first, but as the summer wears on she slowly starts to realize that Ireland may have more to offer her than Boston.
This was an amazing summer read, and checked all the wanderlust boxes for me!
Themes/Tropes:
๐Travel romance
๐Finding oneself
๐Summer read
๐Ireland tourist destinations
๐Contemporary romance
๐Grumpy-sunshine
๐Irish countryside
๐Temple bar district
TW:
โจImmediate need to travel to Ireland
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
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
**๐น๐ฌ๐ฝ๐ฐ๐ฌ๐พ** ๐ถ๐๐๐ ๐ผ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐๐ (๐ถ๐๐๐ ๐ผ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐ #1)
Release Date: September 28, 2021
5โญ๏ธ1.5๐ถ
This is a Fairy Tale Princess story gone wrong. The mischievous Jacks is the Prince of Hearts, and Evangeline Fox makes a deal with him to stop the marriage between her love, Lucas, and her step sister and it all goes downhill from there.
Evangeline is only trying to do a good thing. Lucas has "obviously" been cursed or bespelled by someone, that's the only explanation as to why he would be marrying her step sister. But when she makes a deal with the Prince of Hearts to stop of the wedding, she finds that all of the wedding party has been turned to stone. To save her love and everyone at the wedding, she turns herself to stone in trade, and now she seems drawn to Jacks in situation after situation after she's magically turned back human after 6 weeks as a statue.
Evangeline is invited by her Empress and Princesses to go North with her step sister to go to the courting Ball for Prince Apollo of the North. Evangeline does, in fact, catch Prince Apollo's eye, but not in the way she had hoped. Jacks seems to be meddling in all of her affairs since she made that horrible deal with him.
This was such a fun a fresh read! With all the Fairy Tale tropes and innuendos, I found myself chuckling at every turn. Plus, it was definitely NOT your "fated mates" trope. I'm excited to see where Evangeline's story goes in the next installment by Ms. Garber.
Themes/Tropes:
๐Fairy Tale Retelling
๐Cinderella Vibes
๐Snow White Vibes
๐Grimm Fairy Tale Vibes
๐Making a deal with the Devil
๐Love potion/besotted
๐Shadow Daddy
๐Fates/Witches/Vampires
TW:
โจBack stabbing
โจCourt Politics
โจBetrayal
โจMistreatment by a step parent
โจToxic relationship
โจGaslighting
โจGraphic blood/death/murder
Release Date: September 28, 2021
5โญ๏ธ1.5๐ถ
This is a Fairy Tale Princess story gone wrong. The mischievous Jacks is the Prince of Hearts, and Evangeline Fox makes a deal with him to stop the marriage between her love, Lucas, and her step sister and it all goes downhill from there.
Evangeline is only trying to do a good thing. Lucas has "obviously" been cursed or bespelled by someone, that's the only explanation as to why he would be marrying her step sister. But when she makes a deal with the Prince of Hearts to stop of the wedding, she finds that all of the wedding party has been turned to stone. To save her love and everyone at the wedding, she turns herself to stone in trade, and now she seems drawn to Jacks in situation after situation after she's magically turned back human after 6 weeks as a statue.
Evangeline is invited by her Empress and Princesses to go North with her step sister to go to the courting Ball for Prince Apollo of the North. Evangeline does, in fact, catch Prince Apollo's eye, but not in the way she had hoped. Jacks seems to be meddling in all of her affairs since she made that horrible deal with him.
This was such a fun a fresh read! With all the Fairy Tale tropes and innuendos, I found myself chuckling at every turn. Plus, it was definitely NOT your "fated mates" trope. I'm excited to see where Evangeline's story goes in the next installment by Ms. Garber.
Themes/Tropes:
๐Fairy Tale Retelling
๐Cinderella Vibes
๐Snow White Vibes
๐Grimm Fairy Tale Vibes
๐Making a deal with the Devil
๐Love potion/besotted
๐Shadow Daddy
๐Fates/Witches/Vampires
TW:
โจBack stabbing
โจCourt Politics
โจBetrayal
โจMistreatment by a step parent
โจToxic relationship
โจGaslighting
โจGraphic blood/death/murder
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
**๐จ๐น๐ช ๐น๐๐๐๐๐** ๐ต๐๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฑ.๐ด. ๐ฒ๐๐๐๐ (๐ป๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ 4)
Release Date: June 26, 2025
4.5โญ๏ธ3๐ถ
I really enjoyed this latest installment in The Elf Queen series. Layala/Valeen is still as BA and frustrating as ever. While she has chosen between the two love interests, she still has feelings for the other one. The opening of the portal at the end of the last book has brought her sister into the picture aka the Goddess of Day, Katana. Katana is much softer and less feisty than her sister Valeen, and Thane seems to like that.
Will Thane set aside his love for Valeen, so that he can fall in love with her sister? We will see.
Setting all the love drama aside, the four Gods and Goddesses, Valeen, Hel, Thane, and Katana, have banded together to fight the Council of Gods and get their immortality back. After this fight is over Thane does not wish to return to the land of the gods, but wants to stay and be the High Fae King as he was born to be in this current life.
With all of the rebirths and previous lifes, it can get a little confusing, but I've very much enjoyed reading Valeen, Hel, Katana, and Thane's journey! I can't wait to see what is next from Ms. Kearl.
Themes/Tropes:
๐Love Triangle
๐Gods & Goddesses & Fae & Humans
๐Shadow Daddy
๐Fantasy War
๐Fated mates
๐Enemies to Lovers
๐Major plot twists
๐Fighting against fate
TW:
โจViolent murder
โจFighting/training sequences
โจCrass language
โจSpicy content
โจMention of sexual assault
โจPast lives
Release Date: June 26, 2025
4.5โญ๏ธ3๐ถ
I really enjoyed this latest installment in The Elf Queen series. Layala/Valeen is still as BA and frustrating as ever. While she has chosen between the two love interests, she still has feelings for the other one. The opening of the portal at the end of the last book has brought her sister into the picture aka the Goddess of Day, Katana. Katana is much softer and less feisty than her sister Valeen, and Thane seems to like that.
Will Thane set aside his love for Valeen, so that he can fall in love with her sister? We will see.
Setting all the love drama aside, the four Gods and Goddesses, Valeen, Hel, Thane, and Katana, have banded together to fight the Council of Gods and get their immortality back. After this fight is over Thane does not wish to return to the land of the gods, but wants to stay and be the High Fae King as he was born to be in this current life.
With all of the rebirths and previous lifes, it can get a little confusing, but I've very much enjoyed reading Valeen, Hel, Katana, and Thane's journey! I can't wait to see what is next from Ms. Kearl.
Themes/Tropes:
๐Love Triangle
๐Gods & Goddesses & Fae & Humans
๐Shadow Daddy
๐Fantasy War
๐Fated mates
๐Enemies to Lovers
๐Major plot twists
๐Fighting against fate
TW:
โจViolent murder
โจFighting/training sequences
โจCrass language
โจSpicy content
โจMention of sexual assault
โจPast lives
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence
emotional
medium-paced
**๐จ๐น๐ช ๐น๐๐๐๐๐** ๐บ๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐ซ
Release Date: June 24, 2025
5โญ๏ธ3๐ถ
I'm pretty sure this is the first ever self help book that I've reviewed, but the topic of conversation should be no surprise. Dr. Laura Berman has been a sex therapist and psychologist for many years, and many of her techniques for better connection and communication can be applied to everyone.
Many of the techniques for connecting with your sexual self can be done by yourself or with a partner. Dr. Bremen is also good at explaining how different types of drama, whether it be mental or physical, can manifest in your physical body and how in manifests in your sexual relationship with yourself and others. Then she goes on to give some techniques and examples on how to work through this trauma or at least recognize that it's there.
I found a lot of the things I learned in this book had more to do with mindfulness and self awareness than sex specifically. Essentially, this book explained meditating and mindfully meditating to move your energy to different parts of the body to help connect with yourself and your emotions.
She also gives lots of patient examples where the different techniques she used were applied. For example, a mother of 4 who grew up as the eldest of 7 had a lot of resentment for being the mother figure to everyone in her life including her siblings and parents. This book explained how she talked this mother through her anger and how to meditate to let go of that anger and become a better mother and partner for her family.
Another patient example was a father who had a history of drug and alcohol abuse. He and his wife had been distant for several years even though he had been sober for the past 3 years. Dr. Berman explained how even though he had been sober that he still felt that his past wrongs made him undeserving of love and affection and that feeling and resentment toward himself was causing problems in his marriage and his relationships with his family.
This book was very eye opening and helpful. Several of these mindfulness and meditating techniques I will have to try in my own life. Some of the techniques in the book can also be found on Dr. Berman's website listed below.
Berman's Website:
https://drlauraberman.com/sexmagic/
Another useful website for finding techniques and therapists for healing trauma of all kinds:
https://traumahealing.org/
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this audiobook! @netgalley
Themes/Tropes:
๐Connect to your energetic body to master the pleasure that is available to you
๐Confidently create deeper arousal and pleasure in yourself and your partner
๐Build more sexual energy and desire within and between you and another
๐Apply accessible strategies for improving emotional and physical intimacy
๐Remove the blocks of trauma and inhibition standing in the way of maximum pleasure
๐Move pleasurable sensations throughout your body to achieve mind-blowing orgasms
๐Use ancient techniques for sexual healing and manifesting your dreams
TW:
โจExplicit Spicy Content
โจTalk of Therapy Techniques
โจExamples of others
โจTalk therapy
โจCouples therapy
โจSexual therapy
Release Date: June 24, 2025
5โญ๏ธ3๐ถ
I'm pretty sure this is the first ever self help book that I've reviewed, but the topic of conversation should be no surprise. Dr. Laura Berman has been a sex therapist and psychologist for many years, and many of her techniques for better connection and communication can be applied to everyone.
Many of the techniques for connecting with your sexual self can be done by yourself or with a partner. Dr. Bremen is also good at explaining how different types of drama, whether it be mental or physical, can manifest in your physical body and how in manifests in your sexual relationship with yourself and others. Then she goes on to give some techniques and examples on how to work through this trauma or at least recognize that it's there.
I found a lot of the things I learned in this book had more to do with mindfulness and self awareness than sex specifically. Essentially, this book explained meditating and mindfully meditating to move your energy to different parts of the body to help connect with yourself and your emotions.
She also gives lots of patient examples where the different techniques she used were applied. For example, a mother of 4 who grew up as the eldest of 7 had a lot of resentment for being the mother figure to everyone in her life including her siblings and parents. This book explained how she talked this mother through her anger and how to meditate to let go of that anger and become a better mother and partner for her family.
Another patient example was a father who had a history of drug and alcohol abuse. He and his wife had been distant for several years even though he had been sober for the past 3 years. Dr. Berman explained how even though he had been sober that he still felt that his past wrongs made him undeserving of love and affection and that feeling and resentment toward himself was causing problems in his marriage and his relationships with his family.
This book was very eye opening and helpful. Several of these mindfulness and meditating techniques I will have to try in my own life. Some of the techniques in the book can also be found on Dr. Berman's website listed below.
Berman's Website:
https://drlauraberman.com/sexmagic/
Another useful website for finding techniques and therapists for healing trauma of all kinds:
https://traumahealing.org/
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this audiobook! @netgalley
Themes/Tropes:
๐Connect to your energetic body to master the pleasure that is available to you
๐Confidently create deeper arousal and pleasure in yourself and your partner
๐Build more sexual energy and desire within and between you and another
๐Apply accessible strategies for improving emotional and physical intimacy
๐Remove the blocks of trauma and inhibition standing in the way of maximum pleasure
๐Move pleasurable sensations throughout your body to achieve mind-blowing orgasms
๐Use ancient techniques for sexual healing and manifesting your dreams
TW:
โจExplicit Spicy Content
โจTalk of Therapy Techniques
โจExamples of others
โจTalk therapy
โจCouples therapy
โจSexual therapy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
**๐น๐ฌ๐ฝ๐ฐ๐ฌ๐พ** ๐ณ๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ (๐บ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐
๐ #8)
Release Date: October 28, 2024
4.5โญ๏ธ4๐ถ
This is the final installment in the Ash's story in this series, and it did not disappoint. Ash has found his reason for living again, and it may or may not be because of a certain Dark Dweller-High Druid Princess. Raven has been on the run from what she's done to the son of the King of the Russian Mafia, and Ash has decided to help her find a way to run from her problems.
Ash is still on his path for vengeance, but helping Raven has become his priority. Just when they think they can't run anymore, some familiar faces show up and bring the reinforcements, but just in time for them to break into the Evil Fae Queen's lair and break up all her evil doings.
This series has been action packed from start to finish. With twists and turns and betrayals. It doesn't lack for violence and gore, but it also brings aaaaalllll kinds of spicy content to balance out the violence. Just all around a very adult series, and I absolutely loved it! I do think we may see a few more installments in this series, but with other unresolved side characters.
Themes/Tropes:
๐Urban Fantasy
๐Revenge Plot
๐Post Apocalyptic Setting
๐Fae vs. Human War
๐Shadow Daddy
๐Fae Healer
๐Hidden Powers
๐One bed
๐Grumpy-grumpy
TW:
โจPTSD
โจDrug and Alcohol Abuse
โจPhysical violence
โจGrief
โจWar
โจProstitutions
โจSpicy content
โจSexual assault
Release Date: October 28, 2024
4.5โญ๏ธ4๐ถ
This is the final installment in the Ash's story in this series, and it did not disappoint. Ash has found his reason for living again, and it may or may not be because of a certain Dark Dweller-High Druid Princess. Raven has been on the run from what she's done to the son of the King of the Russian Mafia, and Ash has decided to help her find a way to run from her problems.
Ash is still on his path for vengeance, but helping Raven has become his priority. Just when they think they can't run anymore, some familiar faces show up and bring the reinforcements, but just in time for them to break into the Evil Fae Queen's lair and break up all her evil doings.
This series has been action packed from start to finish. With twists and turns and betrayals. It doesn't lack for violence and gore, but it also brings aaaaalllll kinds of spicy content to balance out the violence. Just all around a very adult series, and I absolutely loved it! I do think we may see a few more installments in this series, but with other unresolved side characters.
Themes/Tropes:
๐Urban Fantasy
๐Revenge Plot
๐Post Apocalyptic Setting
๐Fae vs. Human War
๐Shadow Daddy
๐Fae Healer
๐Hidden Powers
๐One bed
๐Grumpy-grumpy
TW:
โจPTSD
โจDrug and Alcohol Abuse
โจPhysical violence
โจGrief
โจWar
โจProstitutions
โจSpicy content
โจSexual assault
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence