Category: Serena’s Reviews

Serena’s Review: “Daughter of No Worlds”

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Book: “Daughter of No Worlds” by Carissa Broadbent

Publishing Info: Bramble, October 2025

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

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

Book Description: Ripped from a forgotten homeland as a child, Tisaanah learned how to survive with nothing but a sharp wit and a touch of magic. But the night she tries to buy her freedom, she barely escapes with her life.

Desperate to save the best friend she left behind, Tisaanah journeys to the Orders, the most powerful organizations of magic Wielders in the world. To join their ranks, she must complete an apprenticeship with Maxantarius Farlione, a handsome and reclusive fire wielder who despises the Orders. The Orders’ intentions are cryptic, and Tisaanah must prove herself under the threat of looming war. But even more dangerous are her growing feelings for Maxantarius. The bloody past he wants to forget may be the key to her future… or the downfall of them both.

Tisaanah will stop at nothing to save those she abandoned. Even if it means gambling in the Orders’ deadly games. Even if it means sacrificing her heart. Even if it means wielding death itself.

Even if it means wielding death itself.

Review: I’d been holding out on reading this one for a while, anticipating the fact that with Broadbent’s increasing popularity, it was only a matter of time before these indie-published books received the trad publishing treatment! And here we are! As I’ve never disliked a book by this author, it was also one of those refreshing experiences where I could start a book with full confidence that, whatever was in store, I had a fun read ahead!

There was a lot to like about this one, but it did highlight something for me about my experience reading this author. I love her romances; they are complicated, developed, and take the time to fully earn the happily-ever-afters we get by the end. That said, while this book has a lovely romance as well, it was further in the background of the main plot of this book than I’ve seen in other books. And my revelation was this: while the love stories are great, the books by this author I’ve loved the most often focus more on the arc of the main character and the world-building/plot elements! Looking back, I think this partly explains why I’ve often enjoyed the first books in her duologies more than the second, where the romance often comes more to the forefront.

I loved the journey our main character takes within this one. Her story is hard, with many of her experiences focusing on incredibly dark subjects. However, this makes her continued drive, determination, and bravery in the face of these struggles all the more compelling. And the book doesn’t handwave away her journey with a quick montage. From little things, like the reality that learning another language would be an impediment when traveling to a new nation and not a skill quickly learned, to the bigger stuff, like hard-learned lessons about revenge, violence, and the costs these things bring about—it was all so carefully done. Tisaanah felt incredibly well-developed, and, by the end, I would be happy to follow her story wherever it may go (and, believe me, there are a variety of options given by the end of the book!).

I also really enjoyed the world-building and magic that was introduced in this book. And man, was there a lot! By the end of this book, we’d traveled quite far—from one nation to another and back again. And throughout, the reader is fed more and more details about this world and its history. There were also a number of mysteries caught up in the magical elements, many of which were only revealed at the very end, leaving plenty of unanswered questions to be dealt with in the next book.

For all of this, I did enjoy the romance as well! This was definitely more of a subplot than readers may have come to expect from Broadbent, but I think it works all the better for it. Tisaanah and Max are both adults who have led lives with complicated histories, so when they meet, their focus is on more than romance. That being the case, their slow, often unwilling, descent into romance was full of tension and sweetness. There are many stumbling blocks now before them, and I’m excited to see where their love story goes from here.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! There was tons of action, and Tisaanah was a fantastic leading character. I enjoyed Max as well, but I’m hoping to see even more of him in future books to more fully explore his own backstory. Fans of Broadbent’s other books will likely love this one too!

Rating 9: Fierce yet tender, Daughter of No Worlds expands the boundaries of what can be done with the genre! Simply fantastic!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Daughter of No Worlds” can be found on these Goodreads lists: Under the Radar Indie Fantasy Romance and Romantasy Who did this to you?

Serena’s Review: “A Heart So Haunted”

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Book: “A Heart So Haunted” by Hollie Nelson

Publishing Info: Alcove Press, October 2025

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

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

Book Description: Landry is ready to clean house—not just Harthwait, but the traumatic memories and family entanglements that haunt her. Left reeling from her aunt’s sudden death, Landry knows she has to restore the old house and sell it for much needed cash. Preferably, before autumn arrives. But as renovations begin on Harthwait, she notices some motion sensors activate when no one is home, doors slam shut, and every night, at a quarter after midnight, the disembodied crying begins. Then, when she uncovers a hidden door during the renovations, she dares to open it.

Behind the door is a world of nightmares, some of which are hers, while others belong to a monster—who is trapped inside and desperate to get out. Both haunted by their pasts, Landry makes a deal with the monster, but as they develop feelings for each other, she realizes that the thing that looks like a beast may not be the most beastly thing after all.

This rich and spellbinding tale explores the idea of what we call home and who we call family.

Review: While I’m not as committed to celebrating the Halloween season as Kate, I do try to find a few books that both align with my typical reading genres while also touching on Halloween themes. And this one, with its promise of a haunted house and beastly love interest, felt like it neatly checked that box!

This was one of those cases where I think my expectations (and many other readers’, I suspect) were misaligned in a number of ways. Perhaps I wouldn’t have greatly enjoyed it more had I been more properly prepared for the sort of book I would be reading, but it would have at least been a bit less jarring. And, ultimately, I think the readers who are more likely to enjoy this one would have an easier time finding it.

As it stands, the book description and even the cover, though to a lesser extent, prep the reader for a gothic fantasy story featuring a darker tone that explores not only the romance but the nightmares that surround these two characters. And yes, technically we do get that. But this aligns way closer to the cozy fantasy genre than it does to gothic or horror fantasy. From the very start, the overall voice of the story is lighthearted. Even the “creepy” moments are treated with such a soft hand that I never felt even the teensiest bit of trepidation. And, like I said, there is nothing overtly wrong with this, but it wasn’t what I had been led to expect and it ultimately wasn’t what I wanted.

Perhaps I could have gotten on board more easily with this bait-and-switch of vibes if the story itself had been strong. But boy, did this one drag. I knew we were in trouble when in one of the early chapters, the characters hear a bump in the house… and then proceeded to talk about who should go check it out, whether they should go check it out, jokes about how neither wants to check it out… for pages! Before, you guessed it, finally going and checking it out! By which point, any suspense or tension had been so thoroughly killed that I was bored before we even got into the room in question.

This poor pacing continued throughout the story and really was my primary problem with it. Very little truly happens. And I mean, very little. Instead, pages and pages are devoted to the smallest of interactions and depictions of mundane scenes. This could easily have been edited down to a shorter novel or perhaps even a novella. And I’d argue it would have been stronger for it!

I also never felt invested in these characters. There were, perhaps, smidgens of interest to be found in the predicament of the MMC, but even that wasn’t enough to really hold my interest. And I will say that the romance itself was one of the stronger elements. However, there were also numerous side characters who felt so pointless that it almost boggled the mind. (One of these side characters was the other half of that early, pointless scene I described above, which didn’t endear me to him.)

Overall, this was a bit of a disappointment. I think the author has potential, and I did enjoy the romance. But the story felt bloated with unnecessary characters and drawn-out scenes that severely hampered the pacing and plotting of the main story itself. I will say, cozy fantasy readers who enjoy slower-paced books still might enjoy this one!

Rating 6: Bogged down by unnecessary side characters and drawn-out scenes, this one failed to capture my interest, ultimately.

Reader’s Advisory:

“A Heart So Haunted” isn’t currently on any Goodreads lists, but it should be on Gimme a Beast.

Serena’s Review: “Red City”

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Book: “Red City” by Marie Lu

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: Alchemy is the hidden art of transformation. An exclusive power wielded by crime syndicates that market it to the world’s elites in the form of sand, a drug that enhances those who take it into a more perfect version of themselves: more beautiful, more charismatic, simply more.

Among the gleaming skyscrapers and rolling foothills of Angel City, alchemy is controlled by two rival syndicates. For years, Grand Central and Lumines have been balanced on a razor’s edge between polite negotiation and outright violence. But when two childhood friends step into that delicate equation, the city―and the paths of their lives―will be irrevocably transformed.

The daughter of a poor single mother, Sam would do anything to claw her way into the ranks of Grand Central in search of a better life. Plucked away from his family as a boy to become a Lumines apprentice, Ari is one of the syndicates’ brightest rising stars. Once, they might have loved each other. But as the two alchemists face off across opposite sides of an ever-escalating conflict, ambition becomes power, loyalty becomes lies, and no transformation may be perfect enough for them both to survive the coming war.

Review: I’ve met Marie Lu twice now, and both times she was incredibly kind, interesting, and did a fantastic job selling me on the concept of her upcoming title. I was particularly interested in this one, as it was her first venture into writing adult fantasy. Beyond that, the familiar-yet-appealing premise of deadly rivals who fall in love will likely always hold some appeal. Unfortunately, all of this promise didn’t live up to the reality of the book.

Overall, my primary emotion while reading this book was boredom and disconnect. But before getting into my struggles, I do want to quickly touch on some aspects that did work for me. For one thing, of all the relationships and characters presented, I was by far the most invested in the complicated, painful nature of the relationship between Sam and her mother. We don’t often see a mother/daughter relationship explored in this way, and whenever we got back to Sam’s POV (my preferred of the two, by far), I was always intrigued by the added layers of complexity that were given to this dynamic.

Beyond that, I liked the idea of this world, with rival alchemical gangs duking it out in an alternative Los Angeles. Even here, however, while my curiosity was piqued, I never felt like aspects of this world and magic were ever fully drawn together. At times, it felt like disjointed pieces floating in a world full of potential, but not much more.

All of that said, I really struggled to keep reading this one. If I didn’t have an ARC copy, there’s a decent chance I would have DNF’d this. For one thing, I really hate books that are written in present tense. I think authors have been made to fear both third person and past tense, being told by publishers and various TikTok accounts that all readers care about in their books is the ability to self-insert, something they claim is only possible with first person and present tense. I simply don’t think this is true. And while it is definitely possible to write excellent novels using different perspectives and tenses, I do think that others flop more often than not. Sometimes readers will review a book and mention not being able to “connect” with the story, and my personal theory is that this often comes down to the wrong choice being made with regards to tense and perspective. Here, the present tense style repeatedly kicked me out of any ability to immerse myself in the story. Others may enjoy this style, but I found it to be restrictive more than anything for this story.

Beyond that, the pacing was incredibly slow, especially at the start of the book. I can get on board with a story that builds slowly, but to do that, I must feel invested in either the characters or the world pretty much from the start. Here, I just couldn’t get myself to care about either of these characters. Sam was by far the better one, especially with her strained relationship with her mother. But Ari was just a blank, with very little actual characterization holding him together. We’re told that he’s pretty and charming. But that’s pretty much it. I can take the author’s word on the prettiness, but the charm has to at least be present on the page, and we didn’t even get that.

The plotting was also strange. It’s clear that the romance is pretty much the central point of the book/series, but that made various plot points in this book feel as if they were just thrown in to elongate the book. For example, both characters end up getting together with other characters at points in the book. And, knowing where the book was going, I just couldn’t care less about any of this. I felt like my time was actively being wasted, being asked to care about relationships that were so clearly being set purely as stumbling blocks to the primary romance.

So, yeah. I didn’t enjoy this read. It felt like a chore more than anything. This was all the more disappointing as I think Lu is a very talented author, and I was super excited by the concept of this book going in. However, the execution just wasn’t there.

Rating 6: I really struggled to get through this one or to care about anything that was happening. But those less bothered by present-tense writing may enjoy it more!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Red City” can be found on this Goodreads list: All the New Fantasy Books Arriving in October 2025

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”

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

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!