ericas_bookshelf's reviews
901 reviews

The Faithless by C.L. Clark

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Just as epic and jaw dropping as book one! Luca and Touraine have my entire heart and if they don’t get their happily ever after in book 3 I will be distraught. Also, Sabine?? I love her. I love her. I love her. 

Basically, this author is an auto buy for me now. There’s so much to digest and analyze with this series and I love that so, so much. 

The Unbroken by C.L. Clark

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Lies that Break Us by Rae Douglas

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Quick disclaimer: I was a beta reader for this book and have a friendship with the author. However, me being friends with the author doesn’t make this book any less stellar. 

I thoroughly enjoyed Clara & Deniz’s dynamic, it’s exactly the kind I look for in a dark romance. Both of them of them are stubborn, highly motivated, and hate how much they want the other. It makes for such a deliciously angsty romance! Both of them are bisexual as well, which we love! 

The Fall That Saved Us by Tamara Jerée

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

“You defied Hell for me.”
“I’d do it again.”


where is my hot demon girlfriend 😭😭😭

Iron Heart by Nina Varela

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Feast of Fools by Naomi Loud

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

I started this book amidst one of the worst reading slumps of my life, truly hoping it would fix me. AND GUESS WHAT IT DID. 

Gemini and Veil’s dynamic is incredibly entertaining. And Gemini is so different from a lot of MMC’s in dark romance, which is what I love most about him. He wears flashy clothes, dyes his hair to match his outfits, and wears eyeliner. I LOVE HIM OK. He can burn my wardrobe anytime he wants. Now I loved A Dance Macabre, but I fear I loved this one even more?? Could it be because this one is dedicated to Spike from Buffy The Vampire Slayer? Perhaps.


I just adore this world Naomi has crafted. It’s dark, gory, and delightfully twisted, and I can’t get enough! 

*huge thank you and forehead kisses to the author for an early arc!


***SPOILER BELOW***
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I also want to note how well done the tricked pregnancy trope was handled. Naomi has mentioned this on their IG, so I knew going in what to expect. As per usual with Naomi, they did a remarkable job handling it. I particularly enjoyed that abortion was mentioned as an option for said pregnancy.

Crier's War by Nina Varela

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This is an absolute masterpiece of a fantasy, but with a romance that quite literally is filled with so much yearning and angst I was SWEATING. And, not only is the prose and romance stunning, Nina crafted such a unique world with technology and magic interspersed. It’s fascinating and unforgettable. 

She also manages to flawlessly weave in what the queer experience can be like for so many. As a queer person, I felt very seen by both Ayla & Lady Crier, but particularly Lady Crier and her arc in this book. I am beyond eager to dive into Iron Heart, wow. 

P. S. This snippet from the authors note has me crying happy tears 🥹

“To the queer readers: for reading this book, but also just for existing. Some people will try to tell you your story doesn’t matter. That is the biggest lie you will ever hear. Reader, everything you feel and experience and create is vital to this world. Never sit down; never shut up. Nobody else wants to write about us, so: screw it. We’ll do it ourselves. We will write ourselves into every genre. We will make it impossible for anyone to pretend we don’t exist.“ 

The Ties That Bind Us by Eden Rose, Eden Emory

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Mangos and Mistletoe by Adriana Herrera

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

The Sugarplum Faeries Feast by Bex Deveau

funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0