Tag: Romance

Kate’s Review: “Lore Olympus: Volume Ten”

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Book: “Lore Olympus: Volume Ten” by Rachel Smythe

Publishing Info: Inklore, June 2026

Where Did I Get This Book: I own it

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: “The Mortal Realm—it’s dying.”

After years of yearning, the big day has finally arrived: Hades and Persephone are getting married! It’s the ceremony of the century, and practically all the gods are invited to celebrate the happy couple. The wedding, full of love and joy, provides a much-needed respite for the pantheon . . . but the newlyweds have no time for a honeymoon.

The king and queen of the Underworld begin unprecedented dives into the dream world to find the god that Kronos took hostage—and, hopefully, to get answers on defeating the furious titan once and for all. During their explorations, they begin to suspect that Persephone’s powers over spring may have been altered. Their theory is proven correct with deadly consequences: When Persephone returns to the Mortal Realm, she ushers in not the regular change of seasons, but a never-ending winter.

And while the gods worry about the total annihilation of the Mortal Realm, Apollo uses the chaos as cover for an attempt to kill Zeus. He claims his dying father’s throne and decrees that the only way to save the Mortal Realm is if Persephone—and her power—belong to him. The others reject his outrageous demand, proposing instead that whoever can fix the failing seasons will be named interim ruler of Olympus. Hope now rests with the struggling goddess to find a way to stop the treacherous Apollo and save humankind—or else be separated from Hades forever.

Review: It’s been a couple of years since I started my “Lore Olympus” journey, and I can’t believe that we are nearing the end of the series, ten volumes in. It’s been a wild and fulfilling ride and has given me all of the feelings as I’ve read it, and we are now at “Lore Olympus: Volume Ten”, with only one more to go after it. I feel like we have so much to address, but I’m still soaking it all in. And “Volume Ten” continues the streak of magnificence.

First and foremost, for the Persephone/Hades fangirl who has lived within me since I was a kid, THEY ARE FINALLY GETTING MARRIED!!! This volume kicks off with their decision and their wedding, and it’s everything I had hoped it would be. Smythe made it romantic, gentle, and captured the excitement as well as the haste given that they are marrying because they love each other AND to combine their partnership to help run the Underworld, which is still dealing with a vengeful Kronos who has kidnapped a mystery deity and is holding them hostage deep in the depths, so much so that they have to use Morpheus to help try and dream dive to track them down. We also have some new crazy developments regarding Zeus’s philandering ways, and how Persephone gets roped into helping him with the consequences of some of them (and we also get to meet Dionysus; if you know, you know). There are some bumps in the road here and there, but it’s never drawn out for melodrama’s sake and it feels real and reasonable. It’s also interesting to see them work as a team in trying to parse out where to find Kronos and this mysterious entity.

I will admit that it took a bit longer than I expected for us to get to the second half of the original myth, with Persephone’s absence setting off an eternal winter and therein explaining the turning of the seasons, and I was curious to see how, exactly, Smythe planned to do it. But I enjoyed the way that it all starts to unfold in this volume (still, really close to the end? There’s just one volume left, right?) and how it relates to Persephone’s new role and the active choices she has made for herself up until this point. One of the biggest gripes I’ve seen about “Lore Olympus” (or any kind of Persephone/Hades retelling that isn’t steeped in trauma) is the romance and relationship between Persephone and Hades being romanticized while demonizing Demeter when she is merely a ‘grieving mother’ whose daughter was kidnapped to be a bride against her will in the original story, and that centering the romance element is wrong or damaging and removes agency. Which I’ve never agreed with (I actually helped write a literary analysis with my friend David critiquing a thesis about this very thing), and in “Lore Olympus” specifically I have felt that Smythe has done a really good job of making Persephone’s agency a priority. The way that the original myth gets reimagined here with Persephone realizing her Spring bringing powers have been taken from her due to her own (positive, mind you!) actions as opposed to it merely being a grieving Demeter continues to bolster that, and it sets up higher stakes and a last gambit by Apollo, whose coup is now fully underway with an assassination attempt on Zeus, and who still wants to possess Persephone because he feels entitled to her. As we are setting up the final arc to take down Apollo (and Ouranos, who is encouraging all of this). Does it seem a little crammed in? Yeah, maybe a little, especially since there was such a long arc previously in regards to Kronos, but at the same time I’d argue that Apollo has to be the final big bad in this, even if Ouranos has been shoehorned in a bit. Everything has been put in place, the players are all there, and this penultimate volume has set it up properly.

Now it’s time for the Hera report, as Hera is my favorite in this series and I can tell you that she, too, is going through it. She is still hearing Kronos in her head, and she finally has to come to terms with her lingering trauma in regards to the part she had to play with him and how she has a trauma bond with him to a degree because of it. I really love what this comic has done with Hera, and now we are finally, FINALLY, seeing her open up a little bit and start to try and unpack all of that baggage when Kronos keeps nipping at her heels and when Zeus is down for the count and other people she loves are in danger. Hera’s journey has been just as gratifying as those of Persephone and Hades, and I’m just as invested in her outcome as I am in theirs.

We are nearing the end of “Lore Olympus” and Volume Ten has gone into the last storylines strong. Can’t wait to see how it all plays out.

Rating 9: We are nearing the end of the series and we get a great mix of romance, emotional unpacking, and a set up for a final showdown for power, with Persephone and Hades in the middle of it all.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Lore Olympus: Volume Ten” is included on the Goodreads list “Best Comics and Graphic Novels of 2026”.

Serena’s Review: “Storm Breaker”

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Book: “Storm Breaker” by Nisha J. Tuli

Publishing Info: Entangled: Mayhem Books, May 2026

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

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

Book Description: For nineteen-year-old Poet Graves, New Manhattan has always promised safety―if she obeys. Raised within the ruling Houses and betrothed to a powerful heir, she enters Amery Academy knowing her future has already been decided.

But Amery is nothing like she imagined. Its trials are brutal, its loyalties conditional, and its rules designed to expose weakness. As Poet struggles to survive, she must hide the truth that could get her executed: the storms don’t fear her―they answer back.

When a dangerous outsider from beyond the city walls enters the academy, Poet is drawn to him despite everything she’s been taught to believe. He threatens the life she’s been promised. And choosing him could cost her not just her future, but her freedom.

Review: It’s fun that dystopian novels are having a bit of a resurgence, it seems. Kate, of course, is doing her timely Hunger Games read-through, and there have been several new romance/romantasy dystopian books coming out that I’ve enjoyed reading. Not least of which was Seek the Traitor’s Son by the OG Veronica Roth, which I read and loved recently! That being the case, I was excited to check out another such novel when the publisher approached me about reviewing this book.

So, while this book didn’t blow me away, I will say that it is a dystopian novel that will please those who deeply love dystopian novels. That is, if you’re familiar with the tropes and storylines that come with this sort of book and that’s your jam, well, this one has that all in spades. On the other hand, this isn’t the most original story that’s ever existed, so if you’re looking for a fresh take on the dystopian romance story, this probably isn’t it.

To start with what I liked, I feel like this book was very fast-paced, very readable, and very approachable to readers who aren’t necessarily super familiar with genre conventions. The world-building isn’t super complex, but it’s easy to understand what’s going on here and who the major players are. This, of course, leaves a lot of room in the story for characterization and the romance plotline to take over as the main features. Thus, how well this book works for you will largely come down to how you feel about Poet and the MMC.

For me, however, I thought Poet was a weaker example of a female main character. In many ways, she read as very familiar and very YA, using the worse interpretation of that term. Many YA heroines are excellent, but there is also an unfortunate habit of writing them to be inconsistent, inscrutable, and rather unlikable. And we saw that all here. Poet makes decision after decision that not only makes no sense for her as a character but also makes no sense for pretty much anyone ever. It could be argued that this is part of her growth, but if so, I found it to be an unsatisfying arc. Look, adults continue to learn and grow too. But Poet was learning some pretty basic lessons that had me viewing her as a sixteen-year-old teen (on the young side, even) rather than an adult woman.

The romance was also just OK. It was a hard sell when I was struggling so much already to enjoy Poet, and unfortunately, the MMC didn’t do enough to compensate. I didn’t hate him by any means (which should probably be chalked up to a huge win given how I feel about other MMC characters in romantasies), but he was also just kind of there much of the time.

I know this author is fairly beloved for her YA books, and maybe I’d feel better about her writing if I had started there. Unfortunately, I went into this one with the promise of reading an adult dystopian romance, and with that came different expectations, especially with regards to characterization. Ultimately, it’s hard to read an adult spicy romance novel when the main character feels like she’s 16.

Rating 7: Fans of this author will likely love this. But it read as too YA for what I was expecting going in, especially with regards to the portrayal of the FMC.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Storm Breaker” can be found on these Goodreads lists: YA Dystopian Books With Female Lead and Apocalypses and Dystopias.

Serena’s Review: “Seek the Traitor’s Son”

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Book: “Seek the Traitor’s Son” by Veronica Roth

Publishing Info: Tor Books, May 2026

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

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

Book Description: Elegy Ahn did not ask for destiny to find her.

She is happy with her life as a soldier, defending her small country from the Talusar, a powerful nation who worships a deadly Fever. A fever that blesses half of its victims with mysterious gifts.

But then she’s summoned to hear a prophecy–her, and the most ruthless of Talusar generals, Rava Vidar. Brought face to face, they learn that one of them will lead their people to victory over the other…but they don’t know which. And at the center of both of their fates: a man. A man that, Elegy is told, she will fall in love with.

In just one day, Elegy’s old life–her job, her purpose, and her future–is over. She and Rava are destined to collide, with the fate of their nations hanging in the balance. And when they do, only one will be left standing.

Elegy intends to make sure it’s her.

Review: A book box I’m subscribed to announced that this would be their featured book one month. I, of course, was super excited. I was dismayed to see how many people were skipping it in the comments, however! What’s worse, many of them were referencing being burned by the “Divergent” trilogy all those years ago. And look, I get it. I, too, have been burned by authors and have had a hard time going back. But Veronica Roth has been so solid and so good in the adult fantasy genre over the last years that it’s truly saddening to see how many fantasy readers out there are completely sleeping on her latest books based on a trilogy that came out over a decade ago. So, all of this to say, if you’re one of those reluctant Roth readers, this is your sign to give her another shot because this book was absolutely fantastic!

There is so much to love about this book that it’s hard to figure out where to start. But let’s start with the world-building and genre-blending. It’s truly impressive to really look at the complicated Venn diagram of different types of stories that make up this book. You have science fiction, futuristic dystopia, classic hero’s quest fantasy, romance, and so much more. And all of these elements are seemingly blended together in a way that is seamless and natural.

At its heart, the story revolves around an ongoing war between two factions of the world and their differing views on a deadly virus that has run rampant. For one, this virus is a religious experience and brings with it fantastical powers to those who survive (this is the fantasy side of the novel). The other sees the virus as nothing more than a killer and has done everything they can to protect themselves from exposure, including devoting much time to the progress of science (the science fiction side). So, of course, the story spends a decent amount of time on the conflicting views of these two sides and the very complicated cultures that have sprouted out from this one differing point of view. But what could have been simplistic and moralistic is instead presented carefully and realistically, with both sides being made up of stronger and weaker individuals, just as fallible to human foibles regardless of their own perspective.

However, beyond the exploration of this theme itself, the molding together of science fiction, fantasy, dystopia, and romance leaves the novel in a place where the reader is getting the best of so many worlds. We get the creativity of science fiction, the whimsy of fantasy, the horror of dystopia, and the swooniness of romance all in one book. So when the story isn’t rollicking through exciting action sequences, the romance and character work are right there waiting to pick up the reins. And that’s not even touching on the prophecy that drives the plot or the excellent character arcs that make up the majority of the prose.

The story is broken up between three characters, but there are two that primarily carry the story. Elegy’s story is that of a reluctant hero, someone called upon by a prophecy but who very much doesn’t want to change a life she loves. As the story continues, themes of grief, love, and the burdens of leadership are all central to her arc. Theren, the other main character, was just as compelling. I don’t want to get into much regarding his story as there are some big twists and turns throughout, but suffice it to say, his story explores themes that you typically don’t see touched upon in a character like this, and it was done so, so well. The third POV character, Hela, felt a bit secondary to the other two, but her story also introduces a plotline that feels like it will be the driving force of the story as a whole, so I’m excited to see more from her in the future.

And, of course, I absolutely loved the romance. Elegy and Theren have many obstacles to their relationship, and they’re the sort of obstacles that you don’t often see dealt with in romance novels. These aren’t fluffy “enemies” who instantly fall in lust and that’s that. No, they are both adults who have been through hard things that impact the way they each form connections with others. But for all of the more serious aspects of this relationship, it also had the lovely, swoonworthy moments that one looks for in a romance story.

This book did so many things all at once. What’s more, it did so many things all at once and was excellent at all of them. Looking back at my review, it’s already quite long, and I didn’t even get into any of the sibling or parent relationships that also make up a huge portion of the emotional stakes of the story. Or really how the prophecy works. Or the true interplay of the virus with these societies. Or…or…or. So, I’ll just leave it here: I loved it, I can’t wait for the next one, and genre fiction fans should definitely give it a read!

Rating 10: Truly masterful, Roth tackles deep themes of grief and destiny while also weaving together a lovely romance and packages it all into a futuristic dystopian world stricken by warfare.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Seek the Traitor’s Son” can be found on these Goodreads lists: Epic High Fantasy/Romance/Mythology in 2026 and Dystopias I Would Like To Make An Exception For.

Serena’s Review: “Across the Vanishing Sky”

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Book: “Across the Vanishing Sky” by Catherine Cowles

Publishing Info: Bloom Books, March 2026

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

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

Book Description: Braedyn Winslow never expected to return to Starlight Grove—the town that took everything from her. Not after her best friend, the one who’d sacrificed so much for her, vanished without a trace. But with a young son to raise and a past that won’t stay buried, Brae is back…and determined to uncover the truth.

She just didn’t count on the brooding, reclusive mountain man living next door.

Dex Archer is the stuff of local legend—silent, rugged, and surrounded by whispers of his and his brothers’ violent father. But Brae sees through the scowl and his parentage to the man beneath: fiercely loyal, unexpectedly kind…and just dangerous enough to protect her when someone starts warning her off her search.

The closer she gets to the truth, the harder it is to stay away from Dex. And as things get more perilous, Brae realizes the only person she can rely on is the one man who swore never to trust again.

Only someone isn’t happy that Brae has been digging, and they’ll do anything to stop her. But Dex? He’ll do anything to save her, even slip back into the dark…

Review: I went into this not having read the previous series that it’s a spinoff of (I think?) or anything by this author at all. But since reading Devney Perry’s Shield of Sparrows last year, I went back and read some of her contemporary romance novels and really enjoyed them. Thus, with my interest in this genre restoked, I was happy to check this one out when the publisher sent an ARC my way.

First off, I can tell why this author is popular. Her writing is the kind that I would call supremely “readable.” Everything flows easily, and she quickly sets up the characters, stakes, and a steady pace that is maintained throughout. Even when there isn’t a ton of actual action on the page, the story still felt like it was constantly progressing, and I made my way through this entire book fairly quickly and easily. There were, perhaps, a few too many modern slang terms/modes of speaking that did throw me off a bit. But I know that this is purely a subjective dislike on my part, and as the book is a contemporary work, I guess I can’t complain, objectively, about using language like this—even if it does throw me out of a book to some extent.

Oddly, I ended up enjoying the mystery/thriller portions of this book more than the romance. As I was reading, I kept flipping pages mostly to find out what had happened to her best friend and to find out how the current thriller situation would resolve. That being the case, I was less invested in the romance itself. Partly, I think this has to do with the strength of the mystery, but I also think it speaks to some weakness in the romance itself. Neither of these characters is bad or anything, but it felt like their connection happened incredibly quickly, especially given the tense circumstances that would, rightly, direct most people’s attention elsewhere from romantic entanglements.

Overall, this was a fun read, but just an okay romance novel. I’m definitely curious to check out other books by this author to see if the love stories might work better in those. But if you enjoy this author and you want to check out a contemporary romance with a solid mystery/thriller subplot, then this one might be for you!

Rating 7: While I enjoyed the mystery aspects of this book, the romance developed too quickly for me to feel truly invested in it.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Across the Vanishing Sky” can be found on these Goodreads lists: 2026 Adult Romance Releases and 2026 – Contemporary Romance (1st in Series).

Serena’s Review: “The Sun and the Starmaker”

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Book: “The Sun and the Starmaker” by Rachel Griffin

Publishing Info: Sourcebooks Fire, February 2026

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

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

Book Description: Nestled deep in the snowy mountains of the Lost Range, the small village of Reverie endures on a miracle. Beyond the reach of the Sun, Reverie is dependent upon the magic of the mysterious Starmaker: every morning, he trudges across a vast glacier and pulls in sunlight over the peaks, providing the village with the light it needs to survive.

Aurora Finch grew up on tales of the Starmaker’s magic, never imagining she’d one day meet him. But on the morning of her wedding, a fateful encounter in the frostbitten woods changes everything. The Starmaker senses a powerful magic within her and demands she come study under his guidance. With her newfound abilities tied to the survival of the village, Aurora is swept away to his ice-covered castle at the mountain’s peak.

The Starmaker is as cold and distant as the dark woods, leaving Aurora to explore his enchanted castle with only an immortal rabbit for company. Yet the more she discovers about the sorcerer, the stronger their ruinous attraction grows, pulling her closer to the secrets he refuses to share. A deadly frost approaches, and Aurora must uncover what the Starmaker is hiding before she is left in an endless winter that even the Sun cannot touch.

Review: I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I received a surprise ARC of this book. I’ve read this author in the past, and while I didn’t hate those reads, they also didn’t quite connect with me. But this book took me completely by surprise!

Right from the start, the author manages to perfectly lock in on the sort of whimsical style of writing that exemplifies the fairytale genre. And while there are familiar elements to be found here, it was a wholly unique fairytale on top of that! From the location (a remote village trapped in a deep valley in the mountains) to the magic (rare individuals draw in the light from the sun and “hook” it to a lamppost to light the village every day) to the side companions (girls made of snow, eternal bunnies, etc.), everything about this book was lush and lovely.

To top it off, the story follows an excellent main character. Her feelings and reactions to the situations she found herself in were so grounded. She feels rage, terror, and grief. But the story remains rooted in its message of hope in the face of tragedy and the worth of love above all. So every moment of anger is quickly tempered by a character who is empathetic to those around her as well, not simply caught up in her own experiences. And when she falters, not only is it relatable, but following her path back to her roots is compelling.

And, of course, there’s a lovely romance at its heart. I do wish, perhaps, that a bit more was done here. While I really like the romance and the romantic interest, and the book did deliver a solid love story in the end, I was always left wanting just a bit more…something. I did like the attention that went into drawing out the history of the Starmaker, elaborating on his own experiences approaching the same situation our lead character is now going through. Through his eyes, we see the very different approaches people can take when facing what feels like an impossible situation. I also think the banter between these two characters was well done. Their gripes with one another felt rooted in the differences in their personalities and experiences; they weren’t simply bantering because that is what is expected in romance novels nowadays.

I also really liked the lore of this world and the secondary story regarding the Sun and the original Starmaker. Not going to lie, towards the end of the book, I was in tears at times, and perhaps not in the moments you’d expect. I do wish that the end of the book clarified a few factors a bit more, as I was left with some questions about the future of this little village and its magic. But, as it so often is with fairytales, this was also a completely satisfying little read on its own. I definitely recommend this one for fans of fairytale romances, especially in these last bits of the winter season!

Rating 8: A lovely exploration of love, grief, and, above all, hope in the face of impossible odds.

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Sun and the Starmaker” can be found on these Goodreads lists: YA Cozy Fantasy and Can’t Wait Sci-Fi/Fantasy of 2026.

Serena’s Review: “A Secret in the Garden”

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Book: “A Secret in the Garden” by Jeneane O’Riley

Publishing Info: Bloom Books, February 2026

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

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

Book Description: Some secrets were never meant to be unearthed.

Perched on a windswept cliff, Blackwood Manor looms like a dark monument to a mysterious family. Behind its grand iron gates, one part of the estate has been left to rot since the tragic death of Hester Blackwood: the once-glorious conservatory, now choked by vines and shattered glass. The rest of the family is gone—only her brooding son, Jasper, remains, the heir to a weapons empire.

Desperate to save her job and out of options, botanist Eliza Arnold makes a bold gamble—drive to the manor and beg the elusive millionaire for a donation. Jasper agrees…on one chilling condition: restore the conservatory. Alone. No help. No leaving.

But the manor is not empty.

As Eliza battles thorns and secrets, a magnetic tension builds between her and Jasper—dark, dangerous, and impossible to ignore. And something else stirs among the roots and ruins…whispers in the walls, confusing disturbances, and a presence watching her every move.

The deeper Eliza digs, the more she uncovers a garden of grief, longing…and desire. Because in Blackwood Manor, even buried things can bloom again.

Review: I’ve had a lot of luck with gothic fantasy novels recently, so I guess I was due for one to not hit for me eventually. And, perhaps not surprisingly, it was the contemporary one that did it. To be fair, there are plenty of contemporary romances that I do really enjoy; this one just didn’t hold up.

Much of this book didn’t work for me, so I’m struggling a bit with the positives. I’ll say that the overall concept was appealing. Gothic fantasy/romances often have a similar premise: some call to action brings in the protagonist to a mysterious manor/castle/what-have-you where they discover much is not as it seems, including, often, the truth regarding some sort of brooding caretaker. So this one set up in a similar way, and the book took no time in getting our main character on location. The story moves quickly, so I was well into it before really settling into why it wasn’t working.

I think my problems with this book come down to two factors: structure of the plot and characterization. To start with the plot, quite quickly the book settles into a pattern of every day: Eliza gardens and Jasper broods. For all that we’re meant to believe there is a great mystery brewing here, the story itself does very little to move this plot forward. Honestly, it all became very tiresome, very quickly. Gothic novels are usually a bit on the slower pace, devoting a lot of time to the development of atmosphere and tension before the inevitable payoff, often late in the story. But here, nothing that was going on contributed to this atmosphere. Instead, it all felt tedious, and I was left frustrated that Eliza was so passive with regards to the mysteries surrounding her circumstances.

And this leads into my primary issue with the book: the characters and the romance itself. First, Eliza. Like I said, she’s an incredibly passive character, and even if you try to make the case that this is part of her emotional arc, I don’t think it makes her a particularly compelling or sympathetic character to follow. While the story sets up a deeper backstory for her, one that includes past traumas that would reflect her behaviors today, I don’t think enough was done to really address these things. Eliza’s thoughts and choices, particularly with regards to the romantic interest, remained deeply unhealthy throughout.

And look, I’m not a dark romance fan for a reason. I get that it works for others, but it very much doesn’t for me. And I think this book strayed a bit too far in this direction for my particular taste. See, there is a very important distinction to be found between fantasy romance and contemporary romance, for me. In a fantasy world, life is often violent, dangerous, and cruel. In this way, the characters that people these worlds have very different views of life and the ways in which death plays a role in their everyday life. In a romantasy, for example, if a romantic lead is slightly murderous, this is often completely reasonable, even necessary, for survival in this world; an attractive trait, to boot, for the heroine in these books. But here, we have a contemporary setting, a romantic interest who seems quite murderous at times, and a passive heroine who seems not only not warned off by these toxic traits, but actively turned on by it all. And combined with her other traumas, I was left feeling like Eliza needed therapy more than a boyfriend. And if she did find love, Jasper is the last person she should be turning to.

Beyond this, the romance itself was very insta-lust-y. Jasper has been a recluse, but for some reason, he’s immediately into Eliza. And like I said, Eliza’s interest in him is portrayed as quite unhealthy, the speed of which it occurs only solidifying this point.

Now, much of what I described above is probably quite tame as far as contemporary dark romance goes, so it’s all quite subjective. If you enjoy this style of romance, all of these complaints may actually be points in its favor.

That said, I also think the writing itself was quite juvenile at times, too often spiraling into repetitive thoughts spinning through our heroine’s head again and again. At best, I felt distanced from the story itself, and at worst, downright bored. Even for dark romance readers, I have to imagine there are better options out there.

Rating 6: Unfortunately, even the gothic setting couldn’t save this one for me. The characters were unlikable in different ways, and the romance relied too heavily on insta-lust.

Serena’s Review: “Tea and Alchemy”

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Book: “Tea and Alchemy” by Sharon Lynn Fisher

Publishing Info: 47North, January 2026

Where Did I Get this Book: audiobook from Netgalley!

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

Book Description: Cornwall, 1854. The people of Roche have always whispered about the recluse in the black granite tower that looms above the moorland. But one young woman is driven to discover the truth behind the old tales.

Her life overshadowed by family tragedy, Mina Penrose escapes her lonely days by working at The Magpie, a cozy tearoom on the village’s edge. Lately she’s been seeing shapes in the sodden leaves that hint at the future. After one such omen, Mina stumbles upon a murdered man on the heath. Villagers immediately suspect Harker Tregarrick, a living, breathing mystery who never ventures beyond the bounds of his centuries-old estate.

Until the day after the murder, when the handsome and compelling recluse visits The Magpie…leading to a meeting that will change both their fates. Captivated by a man around whom danger and rumors of death swirl, Mina has never felt more alive. Can she uncover Harker’s heartbreaking history—and the truth about the murder—before tragedy strikes again?

Review: It’s been a few years since I read Salt & Broom, but I still remember it every once in a while when I think back on some of my favorite retellings of classic tales. That being the case, I was very excited to see another similar-sounding title coming out by this author, featuring characters with names drawing from Dracula. Is it a re-telling? No. But does it capture some of the same spirit and mix it with a sweet romance? Why yes, it does.

To that point, other than the names, the presence of something resembling a vampire—though never identified as that—and the overall gothic nature of the story, there isn’t much tying this to Dracula. And, honestly, I was fine with that, but readers will be better served going in without expectations of a re-telling. Instead, the wonderful gothic environment and the dramatic romance of it all (both location and actual love story) were more than enough to draw me in and keep me invested. Beyond that, there was a surprisingly creepy mystery at the heart of it all, one that unspooled slowly while also nicely building up the tension and horror of this being.

I also really enjoyed both of our main characters and their love story. This was a split-POV story, but erred toward more chapters from Mina’s perspective. Both perspectives were interesting. Beyond their burgeoning love story, I enjoyed following Mina’s arc as she dealt with the fraying relationship between herself and her brother. We don’t often see sibling relationships explored in this way, especially when combined with the exploration of the limited gender roles offered to each of them during this time. Given how little of the story was really dedicated to this subplot, I think it was really well done. Harker’s story was a bit more straightforward, but I enjoyed learning more about his family and his history.

My only niggling complaint would be the rather abrupt manner in which things were wrapped up in the end. The conflict itself was fairly succinct, and then some of the solutions to other challenges appeared too quickly and easily. But as I loved how it all ended up, these pacing issues were barely an issue. If you have enjoyed this author before or like gothic romances, this is definitely one to check out!

Rating 8: Dramatic in both atmosphere and romance, this gothic fantasy is sure to please!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Tea and Alchemy” is on this Goodreads list: Fantasy/Romantasy.

Joint Review: “Mate”

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Book: “Mate” by Ali Hazelwood

Publishing Info: Berkley, October 2025

Where Did We Get This Book: the library!

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: Serena Paris is orphaned, pack-less, and one of a kind. Coming forward as the first Human-Were hybrid was supposed to heal a centuries-long rift between species. Instead, it made her a target, prey to the ruthless political machinations between Weres, Vampyres, and Humans. With her enemies closing in on her, she has only one option left—if he’ll have her.

As Alpha of the Northwest pack, Koen Alexander commands obedience. His authority is so absolute, only a fool would threaten his mate. It doesn’t matter if Serena doesn’t reciprocate his feelings, nothing will stop him from keeping her safe.

But power-hungry Vampyres and Weres are not the only threats chasing Serena. Sooner or later, her past is bound to catch up with her—and Koen might be the only thing standing between her and total annihilation…

Previously Reviewed: “Bride”

Serena’s Thoughts

I deeply disliked this book. Part of the reason comes down to the natural comparisons to its predecessor, but some of it also includes a spoiler for the book. I think it’s a pretty obvious part of the story (a big part of the problem actually is how obvious it is), but I wanted to give people a heads up before they read on!

Anyways, so yes, I really, really didn’t enjoy this one. For one thing, I don’t think either Serena or Koen hold up well in comparison to Misery and Lowe. For her part, Serena was almost too similar to Misery to come across well. She felt like a non-stop snark fest from the start to finish, but somehow missing the heart that Misery brought to her wit. What’s worse, much of Serena’s character arc involved exploring some of her very damaged perceptions of self. Indeed, these themes were so strongly touched on in the first half of the book, that I was confidently waiting for the scenes where she was forced to confront these toxic views of herself. And I waited, and I waited, and nothing really came of it, except for more snark, of course.

As for Koen, the very first scene with him set him up in a fairly poor light, and it just never recovered. Beyond this initial poor impression, the story also included a series of flashbacks that also painted him a very negative light. The conflict that was set up in Koen and Serena’s relationship was incredibly contrived (and equally conveniently hand-waved away at the end) and easily explained between adults. Of course, it wasn’t. But beyond failing basic communication, Koen was unnecessarily cruel to Serena again and again. For absolutely zero reason. He only started behaving better late in the book, and by that point, my dislike had hardened pretty solidly.

I also really, really hated the romance itself. I’m not into the whole breeding kink as it is, but even if I was, I don’t think I would have enjoyed this version of it. For one thing, it boggles the mind that readers are expected to buy that not only one but TWO werewolf doctors failed to recognize the incredibly common condition of heat in a female werewolf and instead proclaimed her as dying of a super rare and unlikely condition. Perhaps there was meant to be some commentary on healthcare services and women, but if there was, it didn’t land.

Beyond this, from a love story perspective, the heat thing combined with the fated mates trope sucked the romance entirely out of the story for me. At no point did I feel any true connection between Koen and Serena. Instead, we had two characters who were biologically drawn to and tied to one another, and the story never did much to advance their relationship beyond this. Indeed, even by the time we got to the steamy bits (and there was much of this, though all crammed into the last quarter of the book, which hurt the pacing), it never felt like there was much of an impetus behind their coming together beyond these biological factors. As such, it felt like lots of steamy sex scenes, but no actual romance.

So yeah, I didn’t like this one. Perhaps if readers are fans of the fated mates trope and heat/breeding kinks, they might enjoy it more than me. But even those aspects aside, I think Koen and Serena were weak characters and the plot, for what there was, was all over the place and solidly an afterthought to the spice. This was a stark contrast to the first book, where we not only had solid leading characters, but a developed love story and a plot worth caring about.

Kate’s Thoughts

Okay, so…… I didn’t hate this book as much as Serena did. There were definitely things about it that I liked, and I will start with those because a few of said things I found to be pretty interesting. The biggest thing that I DID like was the way that Hazelwood brings in pack politics and dynamics, and the offshoot fringe group (led by a megalomaniac named Constantine) that had a huge run on power in the past that shook the Northwest Pack (the group that Koen leads) to its core, involving lots of violence, death, enslavement, and bad tensions between Weres and humans. Which has left a huge mark on the group as time has gone on. This kind of thing is always interesting to me, with cult stuff and fringe extremists catching my eye in basically anything I’m reading, watching, consuming. I enjoyed that aspect of the book (incredibly predictable plot reveals about it aside). And Serena’s (character) characterization didn’t bother me as much as it did Serena (blogger), as I’ve just kind of come to expect this from Hazelwood in many of her female main characters: they’re going to be quippy, they’re going to be cute, and they’re going to be hand wringing about their attraction to the guy they can’t believe they feel attracted to.

But generally, I do agree with a fair amount of the other stuff that she said at least a little bit (I do think that the misogyny in medicine leading to a crap diagnosis landed more than she did, but I also think that it was kind of ludicrous just as a plot device to lead to Koen’s magic dick banging it all out for our characters). I also really didn’t enjoy Koen as a male main character, as he is hostile and he is a huge jerk to her throughout a lot of the narrative. I get why it was happening within the narrative, but it was still just kind of a rough character to have to follow and root for romantically, especially since Hazelwood CAN write standoffish and conflicted male main characters that don’t feel like flat out assholes. I’m guessing that there is an audience for this kind of character in a exploring this type of dynamic through fantasy, and I’m not going to yuck anyone else’s yum in that regard because explore away! But it rarely clicks with me.

I also think that overall I just wasn’t as entertained by the story as other books that Hazelwood has written. And I do think that it’s because 1) I’m not really an Omegaverse reader (though I’m not against it, don’t misunderstand me), and 2) the characters just didn’t hit because of the lack of chemistry and the way I just couldn’t gel with Koen. Not to mention some predictability in the plot points. There is almost assuredly an audience for this book, but I was just kind of bored. I still appreciate Hazelwood exploring all sorts of sub-genres, but with the huge swath of story types they will almost certainly not all be winners for me. “Mate” fits into that category.

Serena’s Rating 4: I have a clear memory of coming up for air about halfway through and realizing that I was actively hate reading the book. As I continued, nothing swayed me from this perspective.

Kate’s Rating 5: I liked some of the lore, but the main plot at hand was just kinda middling for me.

Reader’s Advisory

“Mate” is included on these Goodreads lists: Gimme a Beast and (because I can) “Serena”.

Kate’s Review: “Lore Olympus: Volume Nine”

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Book: “Lore Olympus: Volume Nine” by Rachel Smythe

Publishing Info: Inklore, October 2025

Where Did I Get This Book: I own it

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: “The Underworld has a queen!”

Persephone and Hades are finally reunited when the banished goddess of spring returns to the Underworld to claim her rightful place as queen. Now that Hades and Persephone have defeated and imprisoned the power-hungry Kronos once more, nothing can keep them apart, and years of being separated have only made their desire for each other grow. But the other Olympians can’t help but meddle, pushing the pair to make things official with a coronation—and a wedding.

Ignoring the others who try to define their relationship, Hades and Persephone choose to take things at their own pace and focus on rebuilding the Underworld. They begin by investigating how Kronos was first able to escape, and they learn the horrifying truth that he has captured a powerful young god whose abilities help Kronos project his thoughts outside of Tartarus—thoughts he uses to plague Hera’s every waking moment. Though Kronos’s physical form is locked away, Olympus will never be free until they can rescue the child from the furious Titan’s grasp.

To save the realms, Persephone must figure out her fertility goddess powers and embrace her role as Queen of the Underworld—even as it takes her further from her mother’s expectations and her former place in the Mortal Realm.

This edition of Smythe’s original Eisner Award–winning webcomic Lore Olympus features a brand-new, exclusive short story from creator Rachel Smythe and brings the Greek pantheon into the modern age in a sharply perceptive and romantic graphic novel.

Review: Given that last month was Horrorpalooza, I didn’t really have the theme that would fit the newest volume of “Lore Olympus”, but never fear! I didn’t forget! How could I forget my favorite adaptation of the Hades and Persephone myth? “Lore Olympus: Volume Nine” is here, and after a pretty intense previous volume where so much happened, we have a little bit of a breather. Persephone isn’t fighting any Titans this time around! Instead we get a focus on romance, healing, and other characters who deserve a little bit of the limelight.

After the huge confrontation between Persephone and Kronos, which basically saved Olympus, The Mortal Realm, and the Underworld (as well as Hades, Hecate, and all of the people Kronos had possessed in the Underworld), she and Hades are now trying to slowly and carefully figure out how to rebuild the Underworld, and how to approach their relationship. It’s a calmer volume and a quieter follow up to the action packed previous one, but I love that Smythe wants to give the reader a little breathing room, as well as wanting to be deliberate with how to build up their relationship now that so many obstacles are out of the way. Sure, there is still the issue with Demeter, who does NOT approve, and there is still the fact that Persephone has PTSD after her sexual assault by Apollo, but none of it feels insurmountable if the two of them are willing to support and adapt to each other. But Smythe is also sure to start giving us hints to what is coming next in this story, which brings back Kronos, Tartarus, and the war between the Olympians and the Titans that still has bad blood. It’s a good balance of breathing room as well as foundation for what’s next, and I enjoyed having both aspects.

But not only do we have a lovely and tender easing into a romantic relationship after a lot of pain and trauma, we also have some more great character development for other gods and goddesses who have appeared and played their parts, but haven’t had moments to shine on their own. Seeing Aphrodite have some development was great, especially since she is so often reduced to beautiful, vain, and vapid. I loved learning more and Thanatos and his tumultuous relationship with Hades, who basically raised him but had no idea on how to do it in a supportive and loving way. I REALLY loved seeing Psyche get some more story, especially as she has finally married Eros and has a larger part to play. And the most engaging and enjoyable character exploration in this was seeing Minthe again, no longer a plant, and dealing with her personal issues in ways that are surprising and incredibly gratifying. It’s so awesome that Smythe wanted to take the time for all of these characters, and made the story that much richer.

“Lore Olympus: Volume Nine” continues the fantastic reimagining of Persephone and Hades, and has started to set up the final storyline. I hear that we only have two volumes left until it’s all finished, and Smythe has laid out a very intriguing path forward. Can’t wait for the next one.

Rating 9: I love this series so much, and I love the focus of this volume being on Hades and Persephone building a healthy relationship after all of the trauma they have experienced. Also, more emotional character development for other characters!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Lore Olympus: Volume 9” is included on the Goodreads list “October 2025 Most Anticipated Romance Releases”.

Previously Reviewed:

Kate’s Review: “Road Trip With a Vampire”

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

Book: “Road Trip With a Vampire” by Jenna Levine

Publishing Info: Berkley, September 2025

Where Did I Get This Book: I received an eARC from NetGalley

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: A vampire who can’t remember his past and a witch with secrets of her own hit the road in this zany, cross-country romantic comedy from beloved author Jenna Levine.

Reformed bad witch Grizelda “Zelda” Watson had hoped to never see another vampire again when she slipped away to sunny California for a fresh start. She’d grown tired of them and their nonsense ages ago. But when a vampire with amnesia unexpectedly shows up on her doorstep with a letter from her old friend Reggie, and asks for her help, she can’t say no. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Peter Elliott is tall and gorgeous, looks great in yoga shorts, and has the kind of dark hair and surly expression Zelda’s been a sucker for for hundreds of years.

Peter isn’t completely harmless—he is fanged, after all—but he’s harmless enough, and soon becomes the only person in Zelda’s new life who knows the truth about what she is. If she can help him decipher the cryptic notes in his journal, the only clues to his lost memories, she might as well try before sending him on his way.

But when an alarming message from Peter’s past coincides with a clear sign that Zelda can’t keep running from her own, they embark on a cross-country road trip for answers—only to find what they’re looking for in each other.

Review: Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this novel!

I had high hopes after “My Vampire Plus One” that the next book in the series by Jenna Levine would focus on the witch Zelda that had been hinted at in the story of Reggie and Amelia. I love vampires, but I may love witches more, and the thought of a bad girl witch turned yoga enthusiast having her time to shine absolutely tickled me. And when I saw that “Road Trip With a Vampire”, the third (and final! SOBS FOREVER!) book in Levine’s Vampire series was focusing on that very topic, I was stoked as hell. And then it was going to be a road trip romance?! SURELY THERE WOULD ONLY BE ONE BED AT THE INEVITABLE HOTEL!!!! I was eager to leap into the book, and my high hopes were pretty well met. Finally a witch was having her time to shine!

Romance novels can be hit or miss for me, and sometimes the tropes that are chosen can be tricky if they feel like they are a bit too well worn or overused in a genre. I know that some people have a pretty hard time with amnesia plot lines, and I also know that witch stuff can sometimes feel twee. But Levine’s characters of Zelda and Peter are both very likable, and I enjoyed learning their back stories through flashbacks, found media (like newspaper clippings about Zelda’s many many antics over the years, sometimes with my beloved Reggie), and their slow melding of storylines through these devices. It made for the tropes that could feel repetitive or cliché easier to swallow.

As for chemistry, I don’t think that it was AS strong as the first two books, but that being said I was ultimately rooting for them to figure it out, even if the conflict that almost always has to happen to tear the couple apart until an inevitable happily ever after was a little shakier this time around. Hell, even the reconciliation aspects felt a bit stalled, and dragged a fair amount to the point I was like ‘okay you two let’s just get it together’. BUT, ultimately I did like them and it was kind of fun having the romance be between a witch and a vampire this time around instead of another vampire and human angle. And the steamy and sexy scenes were pretty good, so that made up for any lagging that was happening in the last fourth of the book (not just sexy blood play, but sexy magic play as well!!!).

We also got to get a bit more outside of the vampire lore from the first two books and had some additional witchcraft world building! I enjoyed seeing Zelda go from her morally grey past as Grizelda, whose mischievousness went a little too far and became a wake up call, to Zelda, a more zen and compassionate yoga instructor who is just trying to make good as best she can. I liked the magic parts, and how she would have to use it in various situations, even when it wasn’t exactly voluntary. Heck, I even would have loved more of it!

I’m sad that this series is ending, but I think that it ends on a pretty good note, wrap up wise. I will be very curious to see what Jenna Levine does next, and definitely think that if you are looking for a charming autumn romance read with a little bit of spooky this is a fun book to pick up.

Rating 8: Another fun and steamy paranormal romance from Jenna Levine, rounding out her vampire romance series and ending it on a cute note.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Road Trip With a Vampire” is included on the Goodreads lists “A Dash of Spice: Autumn Romance Reads”, and “Witchy Fall Vibes”.