petrichorlibrary's reviews
60 reviews

The Moon's Daughter by Leena Kazak

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

This was such a good read! The world building was so immersive and gave the book such a lush, mythical, dark vibe I could not get enough of. Layna’s journey is a wild ride of myth, fate, power, and identity with the perfect amount of forbidden romance and betrayal sprinkled in. I really loved the lore that comes to light throughout, I’m always game for messy royal-court-arranged-marriage drama. The fantasy and magic is so powerful, I was so hooked by the end and canNOT wait for the next book!!

Ocean of Sin and Starlight by Karina Halle

5.0

Grave Matter by Karina Halle

dark emotional mysterious

5.0

Okayyyy Karina does it again. I usually read fantasy and am not one to branch out but I love Karina's books so much and the dark psych aspect of this book just drew me in. Plus, mushrooms. I enjoyed this book a lot, it was jarring at times with the horror and gore, but didn't feel gratuitously overdone and was well balanced with some more realistic aspects. Books with any sort of modernity tend to turn me off, but I knew this was a more contemporary book going in so I was still able to enjoy the parts I came for which were the dark/science-y/spicy parts, and I was not disappointed in the slightest.

Sweet Briar by Joline Pearce

adventurous dark emotional

5.0

Not a second of filler in this scorching Sleeping Beauty retelling. I flew through this book because it was impossible to stop reading. The story telling is so fast paced but so rich in detail, I feel like I just went on the most whirlwind adventure of my life. The romance in this book is everything I love; forced proximity, forbidden, a combination of rough and tender with a morally dark grey knight who is protective and broody. I loved the dual POVs and felt like it added so much more perspective to the story being able to see what Briar and Killian were experiencing. The ending was sneaky because it felt so satisfying and still left me wanting more. I’m so anticipating the next installment of this series to get more fantastical fairytale spice.

In the Wake of the Wicked by V.B. Lacey

adventurous emotional

5.0

I couldn't get enough of this book!!! It's Wicked meets Hunger Games and gave all of the deadly witchy faction-based tournament vibes I was hoping for. There's high stakes, amazing characters, a really intriguing magic system, magical rivalries, plot twists galore, I could literally go on and on. There was so much packed into this book since it's a standalone but by the end I felt so close to the characters and the story and wanted more just so I could keep hanging out with them. Rose and Leo (gave me major Titantic vibes with their names but that's besides the point) had the best banter and such a sweet way of connecting and progressing from strangers to friends, and helping each other through all the wild things they encounter together. Adding another to the list of fictional places I want to live in bc Veridia City was so so magical to spend a few days in!

Shift: Book 1: Stag's Heart by S.L. Thorne, S.L. Thorne

adventurous

4.0

Talk about epic worldbuilding!! This book is a heavy read, it’s fairly long and is absolutely packed with details about the characters and the world they live in, down to their politics, religion, customs and everything else. I love books about court politics and royal intrigue and this book delivered that in such an interesting way. There is a lot going on in this book, but the plot flows beautifully throughout the exploration of this world. The mystery unfolding along with the building of relationships and the rich descriptions of just about everything in this book made it so immersive and so fun to read. Caelerys is such a sweet soul of a main character, she is so relatable and so admirable at the same time. I loved getting to know her throughout this story and watching her relationships with family and friends develop as she navigates a new world and discovers herself along the way. If you’re looking for an enchanting world with amazing characters, beautiful creatures and an intriguing court life, I highly recommend taking the time to dive into this book.

A Kingdom of Flame and Fury: Whitney's Version by Whitney Dean, Whitney Dean

adventurous dark

It's not often that you get to read one of your favorite books for the first time again. WO W. A Kingdom of Flame and Fury blew me away the first time I read it and after reading the new version, I will never recover.

This book has secrets, soulmates, and all the spice. From the very first page, it is thrilling and dark and addicting. Raven is an absolute force of a main character. She's smart, strong, beautiful, witty and powerful but she is also haunted by questions about herself and a fear that she will never be loved or truly accepted. We get to watch her unravel the truth of her mysterious history, discover parts of herself that she never knew existed, and fall into a love that not only consumes her but saves her as well. The dynamic between Raven and Zeke is so alluring it makes this book impossible to put down. Their instant connection, banter, heat and protectiveness over each other were so enjoyable for me and just hit everything I love in a romance story. This story is dark, emotional, and gripping; it delivers constant excitement, turmoil, action, romance and magic. Whitney's Version provides so much additional insight and depth, making this such a satisfying reread. If you're a lover of dark fantasy romance, this is an absolute need for your shelf.

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith

adventurous dark emotional inspiring medium-paced

5.0

I loved this book so immensely!!! Deadly games, forbidden romance, GHOST CAT??? Did this book come from my dreams? Kaylie’s writing is absolutely enthralling, the detail and emotion behind everything is just mind blowing. The way she incorporates mental health into her story is so illuminating and inspiring, it resonated so so much with me and made me feel so seen. 

I grew so emotionally attached to the characters, this is one of those books I felt sad to finish because I felt like I was leaving my friends. Ophelia and Blackwell have officially been adopted into my most favorite book couples ever, she’s such a badass and he is just beyond anything my little banter loving heart can handle. 

This book is truly so special, it made me feel so many feelings and I did not want it to end. I cannot wait to read the next book and get more of this series, this family, and all the unhinged lore I know is coming 🖤

Frost Bound by Frost Kay

adventurous emotional slow-paced

5.0

This one really scratched the arranged marriage-forced proximity-enemies to lovers-touch her and die-hidden identity itch I didn’t know I had right now. It was packed with political intrigue, really rich world building that I cannot wait to read more of, and alllll the tension, sharp banter, and “my wife” I love in an arranged marriage trope. The female lead, Dahlia, is sassy and strong, and you will absolutely fall in love with Neve, promise. The ending left me with my jaw hanging and I cannot stop thinking about what’s going to happen in the next book. The stakes are high for real in this one and I cannot wait to see where it goes!

A Sea of Wrath and Scoria by Whit Stanfield

adventurous dark

5.0

Still gasping for air over this one! I’ve been dying for this sequel and it delivered every second of scorching spicy siren chaos I was waiting for. Whit’s writing is so fantastic, I’m not kidding when I say my jaw dropped multiple times during this book. The story gets so much deeper, so much is explained and yet the unanswered questions have me desperate for the next book already. I love love love Maren and Kye so much, they are the perfect combination of badass, female ragey FMC and foul-mouthed, sarcastic, tattooed MMC ever. Their love story, fierce protectiveness of each other and growth as a couple are just the perfect cherry on top of how unbelievably hot they are. This was one of those books that I truly did not want to end, I could read about Maren and Kye’s history and all their adventures until the end of time. I cannot wait for the next book