Category: Serena’s Reviews

Serena’s Review: “Kill the Beast”

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Book: “Kill the Beast” by Serra Swift

Publishing Info: Tor Books, October 2025

Where Did I Get this Book: ARC from the publisher!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: The night Lyssa Cadogan’s brother was murdered by a faerie-made monster known as the Beast, she made him a promise: she would find a way to destroy the immortal creature and avenge his death. For thirteen years, she has been hunting faeries and the abominations they created. But in all that time, the one Beast she is most desperate to find has never resurfaced.

Until she meets Alderic Casimir de Laurent, a melodramatic dandy with a coin purse bigger than his brain. Somehow, he has found the monster’s lair, and―even more surprising―retrieved one of its claws. A claw Lyssa needs in order to forge a sword that can kill the Beast.

When the witch Ragnhild decrees that Alderic and Lyssa must gather the other ingredients to forge the weapon together, or else the spell will fail, Lyssa gets more than she bargained for. Alderic is ill-equipped for the task at hand, and almost guaranteed to get himself killed.

But as the two of them search for the materials that will be the Beast’s undoing, Alderic reveals hidden depths: dark secrets that he guards as carefully as Lyssa guards hers. Before long, and against Lyssa’s better judgment, they begin to forge a blooming friendship―one that will either lead to the culmination of Lyssa’s quest for vengeance, or spell doom for them both.

Review: Between the “Beauty and the Beast”-esque title and the lovely cover art on the front, it was a no-brainer that I would check this one out! But, surprise surprise, reading through the book description, this one sounded like something very different than yet another fairytale retelling (as much as I do love them).

I think this turned out to be a fairly decent debut book. It didn’t blow me away, but it also presented a solid story, an interesting world, and a refreshingly different male lead character. One of the biggest themes of the story revolves around rage and how this can drive a person past the point of wise decision-making. Our main character, Lyssa, is almost entirely driven by anger. At times, yes, this did make her character feel a bit one-dimensional, and I don’t know if there was enough focus on the end results of her violence, but I also thought that the author picked a lane here and committed to it, which I always appreciate.

As I said, I really liked Alaric. We’ve all read the million and one brooding “shadow daddies” that seem to pop up in every fantasy book you read nowadays. So it’s always refreshing to see an MMC who breaks that mold. What’s more, I appreciated the fact that the relationship that builds between Alaric and Lyssa was different from the sort that we typically find in this sort of book. That said, I do think most readers will look at the title, the genre, and the book description and, perhaps, have expectations for how things will play out that may not be met.

The writing and pacing were also good. I was able to easily slide into this world and felt fairly connected to the story throughout. Like I said, it wasn’t blowing me away (and I think some of the comparisons to T. Kingfisher and Naomi Novik might be doing more harm than good), but I think it all showed great promise for an author whose next work could be even better. I’ll definitely be giving it a shot!

Rating 8: Full of rage and wit, this one had just enough twists from what we’ve come to expect from fairytale fantasy to feel fresh and new!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Kill the Beast” can be found on these Goodreads lists: Gorgeous covers I love and Novels with Bisexual Protagonists.

Serena’s Review: “Savage Blooms”

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Book: “Savage Blooms” by S.T. Gibson

Publishing Info: Orbit, October 2025

Where Did I Get this Book: ARC from the publisher!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: Adam has been in love with his best friend Nicola since college, but the closest he can come to admitting his feelings is inviting her to travel with him to Scotland in search of a legendary cave from his grandfather’s bedtime stories. When a storm washes out the road, Adam and Nicola find themselves at the mercy of Eileen, an eccentric aristocrat, and Finley, her brooding groundskeeper. The Americans quickly get more than they bargained for as they become entangled in Eileen and Finley’s world of mind games, kink, and ancient enchantment.

Review: Oof, this book was not what I expected and not what I wanted. Yes, I did see the word “kink” snuck in there at the very end of the book description, and while kink isn’t really my thing, I’m not for writing off entire books based on one piece of it. Well, more fool me, as the percentage of this book summary that focused on plot versus erotica was WAY out of line with what the book actually had to offer.

I was led to believe that this was going to be a Gothic fantasy set in the Scottish countryside. I was promised mystery, I was promised enchantment, I was promised misty nights and shadowy doors. But no, what I got was page after page of spicy scenes with practically no plot to speak of. This book could have been set anywhere, at any time, about any random characters, and it hardly would have mattered.

Now look, there is nothing wrong with erotica in principle. That said, it needs to be incredibly clear right from the start (and this includes the book summary!!) that that is what readers are getting. When I say there was no plot here, I mean there was really no plot here. What little plot we got felt like it was there just to move characters from one sexy-times room to another sexy-times room. The erotic scenes were pages long and took up well over fifty percent of the book, I’d say.

Beyond that, when we did come up for air and have a moment to get to know these characters, I found them all to be incredibly unlikable. None of these people felt like they were in a healthy place in their own lives, let alone in various combinations of “relationships” (if we can even call what we’re seeing here “relationships”). It was incredibly toxic and messy, but not in a fun way. More in a frustrating, “get your shit together” way where I just wanted to smack everyone across the back of the head.

It’s hard to know how much to focus on editing when reviewing ARC books since they are early copies and still going through the publishing process. But this one was above average with its errors. And it was across the board: spelling errors, missing words, and inconsistencies in basic facts given in the plot. It was incredibly distracting. Of course, much of this could change in the finished book, but even for an ARC, this book was in a poor state.

I know that Gibson is a beloved author, so I’ll be curious to see how this is received. Frankly, it feels like one of those books that fans might gaslight themselves into thinking is good, just for the author’s sake. Because as it stands, this isn’t something I’d recommend to just about anyone.

Rating 5: Don’t sell me straight erotica under the guise of “Gothic fantasy” and expect it to go well.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Savage Blooms” can be found on these Goodreads lists: 2025 Gothic and Creepy Fruit.

Serena’s Review: “Dealing with a Desperate Demon”

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Book: “Dealing with a Desperate Demon” by Charlotte Stein

Publishing Info: St. Martin’s Griffin, October 2025

Where Did I Get this Book: ARC from the publisher!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: Nancy has just about given up on finding her special person when Jack Jackson—big, scary and the town loser—walks into her bookstore. He’s apparently even more desperate for help in the romance department than she is. And after a bit of gentle persuasion, he finally accepts her guidance in securing his dream girl. Practice dates, lessons in tenderness—you name it, she can teach it.

There’s just one his dream girl might have more than an issue with his dating skills. Because Jack isn’t just a little clueless; he’s actually the demonic son of Satan, from the deepest depths of hell. He’s spent his entire long underlife dragging evildoers to their fates, while really trying not to live up to his Dad’s expectations.

Now, it isn’t just about getting a date with his dream girl. He needs to become a better man to win over the woman he’s been cosmically bound to, in a Beauty and the Beast style pact. If he fails, everyone he cares for will face a terrible fate. Luckily for him, Nancy may well be the witch she’s always tried to pretend she wasn’t. She can save him, he knows it—and she’s starting to know it too. Even if every day spent with him is an agonising reminder that she isn’t the girl he’s fated for.

But as the deadline approaches she’s starting to wonder… Could it be that she’s finally found her Prince? Or is she about to lose her heart to hell?

Review: This book was a bit of a hit-and-miss experience for me, similar to the first book in this world that I read by this author. Like that book, the strengths lie in the cozy vibes that are strewn throughout. Indeed, the book routinely comments on the fact that this town is known as one of the coziest places on earth! That vibe carries through the descriptions of the town itself, from the characterization of our main couple, all the way down to the homey, approachable style of writing. If nothing else, this book was a fun read to simply sink into while holding a mug of steaming tea.

After reading the first book, it was easy enough to spot potential candidates for upcoming sequels, and Nancy was one whom I was particularly interested in! Who doesn’t want to read more about the lovely bookstore owner who has forgotten her own magic? Unfortunately, as a main character, Nancy was less charming than I found her to be in the first book. By no means was she unlikable, and I’d even say I enjoyed her personal arc of rediscovering her own magic. However, she also came across as incredibly obtuse and dense at times, particularly with regard to the romance. A fairly major plot point is her giving the romantic interest “dating tips” for the mysterious girl he’s interested in. “Mysterious”… right. But apparently, to poor, dull Nancy, it truly was a mystery—which boggled the mind.

This was a problem I had in the first book as well. In theory, we’re supposed to be reading about adult characters who have lived adult lives. But, perhaps in pursuit of “coziness,” the author seems prone to dumbing down her characters to a point where I struggle to find them believable as mature people. In both that book and this one, the leading ladies read too much like rather dimwitted teenagers with very little understanding of other people and romance in general.

I liked Jack better, for the most part. His shtick became a bit tiresome after a while, but I still liked his stumbling attempts to charm Nancy. That said, the curse of the nicknames struck again, and I inwardly cringed every time he called Nancy “kid.” Of course, this particular nickname didn’t help my ongoing struggles to envision Nancy as an adult woman.

The pacing was also fairly slow at the start of this book. Things did pick up toward the middle, but it was still a slight slog getting to that point. Fans of the first book will likely be happy to go along, as the pacing is helped by familiarity with the world and some of the side characters. But for new entrants, it takes a bit of time to fully feel invested in the story.

Overall, this was a sweet, cozy fall read. It didn’t blow me away, and I did struggle with the main character at times, but I think the romance itself was nice. I’m rather picky with my cozy reads, so I think more tried-and-true fans of this subgenre are going to gobble this one up!

Rating 7: Full of charm and coziness, this one will likely appeal to readers looking for a sweet, fall read. That said, I felt like the main character was unnecessarily childish at times and the pacing was slow to start.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Dealing with a Desperate Demon” can be found on these Goodreads lists:

Serena’s Review: “Druid Cursed”

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Book: “Druid Cursed” by C. J. Burright

Publishing Info: Entangled: Amara, October 2025

Where Did I Get this Book: from the publisher!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: Every fifty years, Kellen Ravenwood escapes his magical prison for seven days. This Samhain is his last chance to break the curse, or he’ll be bound forever. All he needs is a sacrifice: the blood of Maggie O’Malley, the last living descendant of the witch who cursed him.

Maggie, desperate for cash after a brutal divorce, jumps at the chance to win a $500,000 prize at a mysterious Irish estate. She never expected ancient rituals, strange magic, or Kellen, the dangerously charming man who claims she’s the key to his freedom.

But Maggie won’t be anyone’s sacrifice. And if there’s another way to break the curse, she’ll find it.

Because some destinies are meant to be rewritten.

And some love stories are worth defying fate for.

Review: I was excited to check out this book when I was approached by the publicist. I think it always would have been interesting to me, but it just so happened that I was in the middle of a run of “Baldur’s Gate 3” where I was romancing the druid, Halsin, and bemoaning the fact that druids really aren’t seen in fantasy books all that much. And low and behold, here we get a book referencing druids right there in the title!

I really like the cover on this one, but I have to say, I do think it’s a bit misleading for the type of book you’re picking up. At some point I knew this was a paranormal romance, but by the time I picked it up, when I glanced at the cover, I was assuming we were back in good ole “second world” fantasy. Nope! Main character is a divorcée out to win big cash and get on her with her life. What she doesn’t expect, of course, is to find herself caught up in an ancient curse and drawn into another romantic entanglement right off the bat.

To that last point, while I ultimately really enjoyed this book for what it is (a fun paranormal romance!), I do think that the instalove straight after divorce thing was a bit much. The story was saved by its fun writing and solid characters, but from afar, the love story happened incredibly quickly and was all the more strange for the fact that she had just gotten divorced and would, rightly, probably need a bit of a break from love.

That said, the story was so fast paced and full of action and romance that I barely had time to really linger on the timing of it all. For one thing, there is a certain tone to paranormal romances that lends them a sort of propulsive energy. Thins happen quickly, and that’s all for the best!

The book also had a tough sell trying to straddle the worlds of dark, gothic fantasy and fun, cozy romance. I perhaps would have liked to lean in a bit more towards the gothic side of things at times, but overall, I was impressed the author was able to pull off this balancing act at all! This duality was best expressed in the dialogue, switching between the modern lingo that Maggie uses and the more old-fashioned and formal way of speaking that Kellen employs.

Overall, I thought this was a fun paranormal romance. I think the combination of gothic, Irish estate full of strange magic alongside a more lighthearted character and romance worked well. I also really enjoyed the side characters (perhaps more than the main characters??). If you’re looking for a fun, fast read, I think this is definitely one to check out this spooky season!

Rating 8: Curses, magic, and romance, oh my! Quite the balancing act to pull off combining dark, gothic vibes and cozy romantasy, but this book does it!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Druid Cursed” isn’t currently on any Goodreads lists, but it should be on Paranormal Romance Outside the Box.

Serena’s Review: “The Sleepless”

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Book: “The Sleepless” by Jen Williams

Publishing Info: Wednesday Books, September 2025

Where Did I Get this Book: Netgalley!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: Elver is the guardian of the wild and dangerous monster forest. Saved from the brink of death by a god, her skin will poison anyone she touches.

Artair is on a mission—one that takes him face-to-face with Elver at her most ruthless. But her defenses are useless when she discovers he’s the only human impervious to her deadly gift. For Artair isn’t human: he’s one of the Sleepless, cursed to share his body with an evil spirit.

Lucian inhabits their body while Artair sleeps, and he is hell-bent on manipulating Elver for his dark purposes. But Elver is harbouring secrets too, and she has her own reasons for feigning an alliance with these two souls.

Caught in the crossfire of gods, monsters, and a dangerous magic they can barely understand, it is only a matter of time before the paths the three of them choose to take will set alight the very foundations of their world.

Review: I’ve had to take some time to really sit and think about how I feel about this book due to one very important factor: I didn’t plan ahead and see that I was going to be reading two love triangle books in a row. As my least favorite romance trope, it was easy to anticipate this affecting my reading experience here.

So, to get it out of the way, I still didn’t love the love triangle, but it was much better done than in “Never Ever After.” The concept of both “romantic interests” being in one body, while not completely new (ahem..“Belladona”), was interesting enough and added some interesting dynamics to the love story. Secondly, the romance was definitely a subplot to the main story, so it didn’t feel like it was overtaking the plot. Indeed, readers who go in with a “romantasy” title in mind may find themselves disappointed, as the characters only begin to head in this direction towards the end of the book. And even there, several twists are thrown in that put a wrench in affairs.

All of that said, I really enjoyed the world that was set up here. Jen Williams doesn’t skimp on the fantasy elements; there are gods, monsters, curses, magical powers, etc. All that classic fantasy goodness. Because there was so much, I will say that none of these features were particularly deep, but I think they set an interesting stage upon which the story takes place. Throughout the book, the reader is constantly being fed new little pieces of lore and information.

As for the main character, she was fine. I appreciate that her POV was written in a way that read as true to her age (seventeen). As an adult, increasingly I’ve struggled to connect with younger characters, but I think Williams is a strong enough writer overall to pull it off. The male POV character felt a bit older in some ways, though I believe he is supposed to be around the same age. Of course, both characters have experienced life in very different ways, so these differences were important.

I enjoyed the plot overall, and I was definitely invested in the story throughout. In particular, I think the end opened up some really interesting doors for the second book. So, while I was blown away by anything here, I did enjoy myself (and I think YA fantasy readers will likely love it!) and I’m intrigued enough that I plan on checking out the next book in the series.

Rating 8: Luckily for me, the love triangle was understated and played out in a unique manner. Other than that, I enjoyed the world-building and am intrigued by the twists and turns introduced at the very end!

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Sleepless” can be found on this Goodreads list: Romantasy TBR 2025 (though I’m not sure it really belongs here…)

Serena’s Review: “Never Ever After”

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Book: “Never Ever After” by Sue Lynn Tan

Publishing Info: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, October 2025

Where Did I Get this Book: ARC from the publisher!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: Life in the Iron Mountains is harsh and unforgiving. After the death of her beloved uncle, Yining has survived by becoming a skilled thief and an even better liar. When she acquires an enchanted ring that holds the key to a brighter future, it is stolen by her step-aunt, and Yining must venture into the imperial heart of the kingdom to seize it back.

Amid the grandeur of the palace, Yining catches the eye of the ruthless and ambitious prince, who tempts her with a world she’s never imagined. But nothing is as it seems, for she’s soon trapped in a tangle of power, treachery, and greed—her only ally the cunning advisor from a rival court who keeps dangerous secrets of his own. To break free, she must unravel the mystery of her past and fight for a future that both frightens and calls to her.

Review: Unfortunately, I’m starting to think that this author just isn’t for me. This is incredibly disappointing since so many other fantasy readers absolutely love her work, and, on paper, I should, too! I mean, the book summary alone on this one (love triangle aside) definitely sounds up my alley! A fairytale re-telling but mixed and reimagined with Chinese folklore? Sign me up! But somewhere within the actual reading experience, I’m missing what others love so much about these books.

To start with the positives, objectively I can see the appeal of the storytelling and writing. There’s no denying Sue Lynn Tan has a way with words, and when the writing is focused on the worldbuilding, lore, or the action of the plot itself, I was easily drawn in to the story. While I think the mixing of the “Cinderella” story with some of the Chinese folklore bits were a bit clunky at times, not naturally aligning as well as they could have, I also think the ambition was well served in the end with a story that was compelling and interesting. Readers who are looking for a new take on a very well-trod fairytale are sure to appreciate the twists and turns offered up in this one.

However, I’m a character reader first and foremost, and I think that’s always where I bounce of Tan’s stories. There’s nothing wrong with her FMCs, but I also never feel particularly invested in their stories either. Like my previous experiences with these leads, Yining is just kind of…there. The story happens, she participates, but I just couldn’t seem to care to strongly one way or the other. I turned the page because the plot was interesting enough, but not because I was particularly excited about what came next for Yining.

Predictably, I also had low tolerance for the indecision regarding the love interests. The romance in this one is definitely low key, which is probably one of the better points in its favor for me, considering how I feel about love triangles. But even with that being the case, I still struggled to not zone out whenever Yining began to reflect on either of these two characters. I also feel like the ending is set up in a way that is incredibly overplayed at this point. Perhaps the author will surprise me and change things up in the sequel, but as it stands, it feels like the entire dynamic of this love triangle has been done before and often. I don’t think I’ll read it to find out, but I may scroll through some other reviews to see how it plays out.

Ultimately, I think much of this was a “me” problem. I don’t connect with this author’s characters for whatever reason, and love triangles are almost always a huge turn off. That said, I appreciated the mixing of “Cinderella” with Chinese folklore, and I think fans of this author in general will probably really enjoy this one.

Rating 7: The highlights include the mixing of Chinese folklore and the classic fairytale “Cinderella.” The lowlights were the love triangle and my general “meh” towards the main character herself.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Never Ever After” can be found on this Goodreads list: Epic High Fantasy/Romance/Mythology in 2025

Serena’s Review: “A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience” and “A Honeymoon of Grave Consequence”

This post may contain affiliate links for books we recommend.  Read the full disclosure here.

Book: “A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience” by Stephanie Burgis

Publishing Info: August 5, 2024

Where Did I Get this Book: from the author!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: Margaret Dunhaven may have been forced into marriage with the sinister vampire lord of Shadowcroft Manor in order to fulfill a family obligation, but she’s not about to stay trapped there for long. The beastly man doesn’t even have any decent tea leaves in his kitchen!

However, when she realizes that she’s not the only one who’s been forced into this marital union, it’s time to join forces with her unwanted new husband. If they can combine her scholarly skills with his ancient history, then, working together, they might just manage to reclaim her inheritance, break his curse, and find their freedom.

…Just so long as they don’t fall in love along the way.

A witty and sparkling 17,000-word gothic fantasy novella that puts a new twist on Beauty and the Beast in an alternate-history version of late 19th century England.

Review: There are some books where I can read the first page and know I will love a book, and this was one of them. For this sort of story (historical fantasy fiction), the story really lives and dies on the basis of the author’s ability to successfully capture a certain…historical??…style of writing. I’m sure there’s a better word for it, but we all know it when we see it: the verbose, often witty style best established by Jane Austen. And here, Burgis nails it right from the start!

The other factor necessary for the success of this sort of story is the narrator. And here, Margaret Dunhaven would sit comfortably next to Amelia Peabody and Emily Wilde: smart, witty, and a bit condescending (in the most endearing way) to those around her. And, like those other famous heroines, Margaret is perfectly balanced by the more steady, reserved love interest, in this case, a reclusive vampire.

The main plot is not particularly note worthy, and that’s kind of the point. Instead, the focus of this short novella is on the lovely relationship between Margaret and Lord Riven. It was sweet, romantic, and incredibly well done considering the restricted page count. That’s not to say that the action portion of the plot was not interesting, just that of all the elements this was the section that was touched on least and wrapped up fairly quickly at the very end.

I immediately picked up the second book when finishing this one, so let’s just straight on to that one below!

Rating 8: Proof that great things can be found in small packages: a lovely romance, a fantastic historical setting, and a powerhouse of a leading lady!

Book: “A Honeymoon of Grave Consequence” by Stephanie Burgis

Publishing Info: Five Fathoms Press, September 2025

Where Did I Get this Book: from the author!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: Margaret, Lady Riven, never expected to find herself married, much less enjoying a honeymoon with her vampiric husband. Obviously, they’ve only agreed to stay married for logical, practical reasons, but Lord Riven has kept his promise to supply her with excellent tea and even better company as they travel together across the continent. Unfortunately, her newfound notoriety has traveled along with them – so she’s delighted when they arrive at a secluded inn deep within the Black Forest, far from high society.

However, the inn is full of lethal supernatural creatures who find Margaret’s arrival anything but welcome—and for all of Margaret’s academic prowess, she’s infamously inept at making friends. When a new threat appears in her own mirror, she realizes that the greatest danger is to her heart…and she’ll have to rely on a remarkable assortment of newfound allies to help her save the immortal vampire who holds it.

This book is a little longer than the first, and those extra pages were put to perfect use! The romance and main characters continued to shine, but I appreciated the added depth brought to the world, the main story, and some of the themes explored.

To start with the world, our main couple goes on their honeymoon (surprise, surprise) and pretty much end up in the middle of a deep, dark woods in a run down hotel full of found family monsters. It’s just as lovely as it sounds. But what could have turned into an excessively quirky or aggressively cozy story was instead focused on the deep struggles of being a “monster” in a world mostly made up of humans. I was so happy that we were going to explore this more, since in the first book it was fairly simply explained that monsters existed, humans know about them, and that’s it. But the entire plot of this story is centered around the tensions that still exist between populations so diametrically at odds.

This theme extends from the broader conflict of the main story down to the personal arc of a new side character who is introduced (a newly changed monster struggling to accept her new self). But I was surprised and gratified to see the exploration of this theme expand to Margaret herself, a human who is now living primarily in a world of monsters. While Margaret has already been established as a strong-willed, confident woman (rightfully so), this story looked at some of the hidden depths, the insecurities and misunderstandings that would arise. I particularly enjoyed the way Margaret’s views of her own marriage changed over the course of the book.

I’ll also add that, as compared to the first book, this one had a much stronger main storyline, complete with a grand confrontation and rescue at the end. Of course, this doesn’t play out the way one would typically expect, and was all the better for it!

I very much enjoyed the first book, and I think this one took the strengths from that one and built it into something even better! These are short, lovely stories that I highly recommend to fans of “Emily Wilde” in particular!

Rating 9: Make room at the table, Emily Wilde and Amelia Peabody! A new historical fantasy heroine has arrived on the scene! This series is a perfect blend of historical fantasy and swoon worthy romance; a joy to read!

Serena’s Review: “Bitten”

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Book: “Bitten” by Jordan Stephanie Gray

Publishing Info: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, September 2025

Where Did I Get this Book: ARC from the publisher!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: After a vicious werewolf attack on the night of her seventeenth birthday party, Vanessa Hart loses everything she loves in a split second. Her best friend, her father, and even her home.

Bitten and imprisoned without explanation, Vanessa endures an agonizing transformation into the very beast that maimed her, and her captors make it clear she cannot escape: she will either swear her life to the Wolf Queen’s Court, or she will die.

With no other choice, Vanessa joins their enchanted Castle Severi—where flowering vines grow through the walls, gifts are bestowed by the stars, and a claw can break through skin as easily as silk—but she hasn’t forgotten what they stole from her.

Vanessa still seeks vengeance, scheming in the shadows even as she finds herself mesmerized by the golden prince Sinclair Severi, who threatens to steal her heart though he is promised to her nemesis. And by his brooding, disgraced cousin, Calix, whose smoldering gaze hides even darker secrets. Immersed in the magic of their whimsical yet cruel society, Vanessa soon learns not all is as it seems.

The Court is at war, and she may simply be a pawn in its lethal game.

Review: This was one of those frustrating reads where I wanted to like it a lot more than I actually did. Part of this could be on me, as I’m an adult reading a YA fantasy book. But I also don’t think it’s only that, as there are plenty of YA stories that I still enjoy. However, this one frustrated me more often than it did anything else.

Part of that frustration stems from the fact that I did enjoy the overall world-building and setup for the plot that we got in the early parts of the book. True, much of this world felt familiar, especially if you’ve read many paranormal books. But I don’t think familiarity is an automatic mark against it, and I think it’s use of the werewolves combined a healthy balance of trademark plot points and new political/cultural flourishes. To that last point, I do wish there had been a bit more fleshing out to be had with regards to just why this society operates the way it does. I don’t need a straight, blow-by-blow explanation or anything, but as it stands, much of it felt too close to “that’s just how it is” rather than tied to any lore-centric reason for why things have come to be done in certain ways.

However, what started out as an interesting plot fueled by revenge and anger quickly devolved towards the middle part of the book. And it was here that I had the most problems. I don’t think even as a teen reader myself I would have enjoyed the sheer avalanche of mean girl drama that overtook this portion of the story. At best it was tedious and at worst it was stereotypical. This could have been saved, perhaps, had Vanessa had a stronger POV. But while I didn’t actively dislike her, she didn’t have enough going for her to counterbalance some of the silliness of the high school drama going on around her. At times, her inner monologue became incredibly repetitive even.

I’ll also note that this book rates high on the gore factor and the explicitness of its romantic interactions. And my discomfort with that comes down fully to the fact that I’m now an adult reading this. I’m by no means saying that teens should only read closed-door romances or anything like that! But, as an adult myself, it does feel a bit voyeuristic and icky to be reading fairly explicit romance scenes between teen characters. This is especially true in books that are set in a high school setting. It’s easy enough to turn my brain off in a more general fantasy novel where the teenage protagonist is taking care of her family in a cabin and fighting dragons and what have you; in every way that matters, that kind of character is an adult in that world. But when the main character is literally in school and then I get whacked down into a pretty graphic romance scene…yeah, it just feels icky. But again, this would be a very different experience if I was an actual teen reader picking this one up, so take this all with a huge grain of salt! More so, this is just a note of forewarning for other adult fantasy readers who may struggle in a similar way.

Overall, this was only an ok read. I think the author has potential, and I did enjoy the paranormal werewolf aspects of the story, even if they felt fairly familiar at times. That said, Vanessa herself wasn’t a very strong main character and the teenage drama of it all was a big “no” for me. I think this is one that may appeal greatly to its target audience, but I don’t think I’d recommend it to adult fantasy fans.

Rating 7: I’m not the audience for this book, and that was clear throughout. However, there were some interesting world-building moments and werewolves are always a good time!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Never Ever After” can be found on this Goodreads list: Epic High Fantasy/Romance/Mythology in 2025

Serena’s Review: “Wild Reverence”

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Book: “Wild Reverence” by Rebecca Ross

Publishing Info: Saturday Books, September 2025

Where Did I Get this Book: ARC from the publisher!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: Born ​in the firelit domain of the under realm, Matilda is the youngest goddess of her clan, blessed with humble messenger magic. But in a land where gods often kill each other to steal power and alliances break as quickly as they are forged, Matilda must come of age sooner than most. She may be known to carry words and letters through the realms, but she holds a secret she must hide from even her dearest of allies to ensure her survival. And to complicate matters . . . there is a mortal boy who dreams of her, despite the fact they have never met in the waking world.

Ten years ago, Vincent of Beckett wrote to Matilda on the darkest night of his life―begging the goddess he befriended in dreams to help him. When his request went unanswered, Vincent moved on, becoming the hardened, irreverent lord of the river who has long forgotten Matilda. That is, until she comes tumbling into his bedroom window with a letter for him.

As Fate would have it, Matilda and Vincent were destined to find each other beyond dreams. There may be a chance for Matilda to rewrite the blood-soaked ways of the gods, but at immense sacrifice. She will have to face something she fears even more than losing her magic: to be vulnerable, and to allow herself to finally be loved.

Review: When I started reading this one and immediately fell in love with it (as I always do with Ross’s books it seems), I realized something: In many ways, Ross has taken up the reigns from Juliet Marillier in regards to these sorts of whimsical, lyrical, heartbreakingly romantic fantasy tales. Of course, Marillier is still writing, but her books are terribly difficult to get nowadays (her most recent one only released in Australia), so this makes Ross’s much more accessible titles all the more appealing. This little aside probably doesn’t mean much if you’re not familiar with Juliet Marillier’s works. But if that’s the case, and you enjoy Rebecca Ross and are looking for more, definitely give Marillier’s extensive back catalog a look!

It’s always a bit worrying when an author returns to a world/story that feels complete (I feel like Ava Reid’s “A Theory of Dreaming” is a good example of how it can go wrong). So when I heard that this was a prequel to “Divine Rivals,” I had concerns. But Ross proves here that there is a correct formula for making this work! For one thing, this book would be perfectly approachable to readers who have no knowledge of “Divine Rivals” and the world that was set up in that duology. Indeed, this book takes place so far in the past from those events that almost nothing is recognizable between one and the other. There are only the barest references to characters and places that show up in those books, and even these are of the sort that feel earned to this book alone, and not simply as empty “easter eggs” for fans of the other series.

The other factor that makes this successful as a prequel is the fact that the focus is on characters, places, and conflicts wholly unreferenced in the other duology. From my memory, there are only two gods mentioned in this book that showed up in the other books. And, indeed, the two gods at the heart of the conflict in “Divine Rivals” were some of the more obscure parts of that series, for better or worse. So getting a clearer look into what these pantheons looked like centuries in the past felt like being introduced to a fully unique world and lore.

And boy does Ross make up for that obscurity here! Not only does she create one pantheon, but two! Each with their own cultures, stories, and hierarchies. And then on top of those, she builds up the complicated dynamics that exist between them. Matilda’s story is told slowly and carefully, with the first third of the book devoted to her childhood and early adolescence. But what could have felt as slow pacing as we await the main action of the plot, instead felt like crucial world building and the introduction of a whole host of side characters, all of whom I wished to spend more time with, ultimately.

Matilda was fantastic, to put it simply. She’s a child between worlds and we see both the strengths and insecurities this brings to her. Because of how disconnected the two pantheons are, much of her existence has been shrouded in secrets and unknowns. There were a number of interesting twist and turns throughout the story that explored the tricky ways that her unique place between these worlds allowed her to manipulate events in surprising ways, even to her! I also enjoyed her internal journey, one that begins in fear, moves into a place where she has been taught how gods “should” behave, and then slowly comes into her own power, embracing that which her peers have deemed weaknesses.

Vincent is also a great romantic lead. He gets less page time than Matilda, but what we do see from him is so, so good. I was never quite as enraptured with the love story from “Divine Rivals” as other readers were, instead preferring the quieter, more adult romance found in other titles by Ross. So I was thrilled to see a return to that sort of love story play out here. Matilda and Vincent’s relationship hit on all of the right notes, mutual wariness that lead to deep feelings based on more than simple passion.

The conflict was also incredibly well done, with antagonists ranging from the mortal to the immortal. Once the plot starts up, it never really stops, with Matilda literally running from one action scene to another. And yet, at the same time, the story always felt keenly focused, precisely tuned to Matilda and Vincent and there journeys through these troubled times.

So, yes, I loved this book. In many ways, it was a return to the sort of love stories that I look for from Rebecca Ross. But it was also an incredibly well-drawn, detailed fantasy world with a twisting and intricate plot that will keep you on your toes throughout. If you’re a fan of Ross, than this is a must read! And I also strongly recommend it to romantasy fans and readers looking for a fairytale-like fantasy standalone!

Rating 10: Where romantasy meets epic fantasy, Ross is the reigning queen of the genre!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Wild Reverence” can be found on these Goodreads lists: Best Books of 2025 and “Matilda”.

Serena’s Review: “The Summer War”

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Book: “The Summer War” by Naomi Novik

Publishing Info: Del Rey, September 2025

Where Did I Get this Book: Netgalley!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: Celia discovered her talent for magic on the day her beloved oldest brother Argent left home. Furious at him for abandoning her in a war-torn land, she lashed out, not realizing her childish, angry words would suddenly become imbued with the power of prophecy, dooming him to a life without love.

While Argent wanders the world, forced to seek only fame and glory instead of the love and belonging he truly desires, Celia attempts to undo the curse she placed on him. Yet even as she grows from a girl to a woman, she cannot find the solution—until she learns the truth about the centuries-old war between her own people and the summerlings, the immortal beings who hold a relentless grudge against their mortal neighbors.

Now, with the aid of her unwanted middle brother, Celia may be able to both undo her eldest brother’s curse and heal the lands so long torn apart by the Summer War.

Review: There’s no point in building up to a point that is probably already a given, but I really loved this story. Like I have for every other piece of writing by Naomi Novik that I’ve read over the years!

One of the more interesting aspects of this one, however, is its length. Last fall, I read a collection of short stories that Novik released which included the original, short story version of “Spinning Silver.” While enjoyable, it was also clear how much the final version of the story benefited by being elongated into a full length novel. Here, we have something in-between: not a short story, but still a shorter, novella length piece of fantasy fiction. And, while I still would love to explore a longer version of this story, I think that has more to do with the fact that I simply want more of Novik’s writing full stop, not that this particular narrative required further depth; for all of its shorter length, the story felt complete, impactful, and fully realized.

One factor that stood out in particular was the choice to center sibling and family relationships as the emotional core of the story, rather than the more typical romantic plotline. And while I love a good romance (and Novik in particular has always written excellent ones), it was also a breath of fresh air to see this sort of acknowledgement that romantic love is not the be-all, end-all of character motivations. Indeed, sibling relationships can be some of the most complicated ones there are, as we see here!

This also read as an original fairytale, from start to finish. It’s hard to put a finger on exactly what quality of writing it is, but there’s a distinctive style of fairytale fantasies that always feels easily identifiable when you’re reading it. Some combination of whimsical, lyrical, and character-focused, perhaps? Whatever it is, this one had it in spades! I enjoyed the world-building we had, though this is definitely an area of the book that I’d love to revisit in a longer story, just to get further into the details and history of this world.

Perhaps my one critique is that there were moments where some of the characterization felt a bit off. The subplot romance that we do have comes on quickly, just dipping its toes into the water of “instalove.” As this romance doesn’t include our main character, this ultimately didn’t bother me as much, but it is there. There were also moments where Celia reads as older than she is. However, again, this is fairly standard for fairytales where children are often the main characters and must act and think in ways that are, perhaps, more mature than one would expect.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novella! Of course, I’m always left wanting more when it comes to Novik’s writing, but I think this one does a good job of standing on its own two feet, even for a shorter tale. Fans of fairytale fantasies who want a more manageable read than the typical tome should definitely give this one a try!

Rating 9: Atmospheric and heart-wrenching, Novik introduces a wholly original feeling fairytale that only leaves you wanting more!

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Summer War” can be found on this Goodreads list: 2025 Adult Fantasy Releases