Author: Jen (Page 29 of 209)

I ♥ Paranormal, Dystopian, Romance, YA, NA & some Fantasy and Science Fiction. I ♥ not being able to knock that darn smirk off my face, crying my eyes out or feeling every emotion under the sun with characters. I ♥ cheesecake, wakeboarding, snowboarding, being a mommy & wife, dancing, singing and being a beach bum addict!
Find me on: Goodreads

BOOK REVIEW: One More Secret (Hidden Secrets Trilogy #1, Carson Brothers #2) by Stina Lindenblatt

September 15, 2023 / Jen / 2 Comments

One More Secret (Hidden Secrets Trilogy #1, )
by Stina Lindenblatt
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
A steamy, dual-timeline romance about a survivor of domestic abuse starting her life over in a small town and the protective ex-Marine determined to save her…

After being wrongfully imprisoned for the death of her abusive husband, all Jessica Smithson wants is to start a new life where no one knows her true identity. Maple Ridge is the perfect place to hide from the media circus battling to know who really rid her of the man. A question she can’t answer.

The last thing she expects to find in the small idyllic mountain town is the good-looking and very persistent Troy Carson. From the moment he sees her, the ex-Marine is determined to help Jess with her anxiety attacks and to get to know her better. He’s determined to help her renovate the old house she bought—a house with secrets hidden behind the walls.

Heat simmers and grows between the pair, but Jess can’t risk getting too close to Troy. Can’t risk her own secrets being revealed.

So much is at stake if the truth gets out.

THE CARSON BROTHERS
ONE MORE CHANCE (Lucas & Simone, standalone)
ONE MORE SECRET (Troy & Jessica, book 1 of the Hidden Heart Trilogy)
ONE MORE BETRAYAL (Troy & Jessica, book 2 of the Hidden Heart Trilogy; coming Jan 2024)
ONE MORE TRUTH ((Troy & Jessica, book 3 of the Hidden Heart Trilogy; coming May 2024)

Review:

One More Secret was a small town romance that was filled with new beginnings, struggle and hope. While this is the second book in the Carson Brothers series, you can easily start with this book just like I did! After finishing this I bought One More Chance, so I’m excited to go back and read one of the other brother’s story! One More Secret brimmed with heart, second chances, and was an emotionally gritty and rugged read.

Savannah Townsend was gorgeous. Unforgettable. The two words my husband called me the first time we met.
Jessica Smithson is the one with the scars on her face. The scars the media never found out about.
I’m safe now. They’ll never find me.

With Jessica leaving prison, this story started off with a bang. She had served 5 of her 25 year sentence, since she had been convicted of killing her abusive ex-husband. The glimpses we got of her thinking about the past was beyond heartbreaking and more cruel and frightful than I ever could have imagined. Upon release, she moved to a quiet little town to start her new life. Somewhere that no one would know her, hopefully. The media had swarmed around her story, and she just wanted to disappear. As Jessica slowly started to put roots down, I was so proud of her. She tried to work, while avoiding triggers, and bought a house. But within that house, she found a box filled with items and journals. The journals told the story of Angelique D’Aboville who was a SOE agent in France during World War II. As Jessica and Angelique’s stories unraveled, I saw so many similarities between the two of them. And there came a point where I was just as invested in Angelique’s life and desperately didn’t want to leave my time with her. I had to know what happened next.

He puts his hand gently on my arm. My muscles instinctively tighten under his touch. He’s not my dead husband. He’s not my dead husband. He’s not my dead husband.

Jessica, previously Savannah Townsend, had so many insecurities because of how she was physically and emotionally damaged. Not only from her ex-husband, but also from her time in a maximum-security penitentiary. So each time she took the tiniest step forward, I was so nervous for her. That she would have another PTSD episode. That someone would figure out who she was. That her whole world would get blown up all over again. So I got why she was terrified of everything. I understood why she was so challenging for others to get to know her. And why her walls were higher than almost anyone I have read about. I wanted to connect with her, but it was challenging. Her past wasn’t her fault. Yet it was embedded into every single aspect and moment of her life. Thankfully Troy stepped into her life, and was the hugest of help.

But the effect Troy has on me makes me wonder if I was wrong. Maybe I’m not quite as broken as I believed. Not all my bits were smashed into a million tiny pieces and discarded.
And that’s… that’s kind of a relief. Not that I’m in any rush for that. Not yet.

Troy was someone that was so easy to fall in love with. He was kind, patient and had the most wonderful heart. He noticed signs of Jessica suffering from PTSD, and as someone who lost their friend to the battle of it, he wasn’t going to walk away from her. He tried his best and did everything he could to help her with it. It was beyond amazing the lengths he went to, to help Jessica mentally. And all the while, he tried to be just her friend. Even though he was attracted to her. Yet Troy definitely took some routes that make me nervous for him. And will probably bite him down the road. So I’m thinking all of my happy thoughts for him!

But even after what we just did, I don’t feel any closer to her. There’s still the wall between us.
And I’m not sure how I feel about that.

We also got the story from Troy’s POV, and he had an uphill battle trying to get to know Jessica. This story took place over several months and I loved watching an acquaintance slowly start to turn into a friendship between them. And as more time passed, that friendship started to slowly blossom to more. The length that it took to get there felt realistic to me. But even when Troy and Jessica pushed the limit of their friendship, and that was steamy!, Troy still didn’t feel like he completely knew her. And I understood his sentiment. I felt the same way in regards to being able to connect with her. It took me till about 4/5ths of the way into the story till I made that connection with her. And I’m so grateful I did!

I can’t see him right now as the enemy. He’s just a man who looks as though his own world is caving in on him in a way I hope to never understand.

This book wove two stories together. One of Jessica in the present, and another from the journals that Jessica found about Angelique the SOE agent during World War II. The lengths Angelique would go and risk her life left me terrified. There were moments that were so terrifying that it felt like if she took a breath too big, she could die. Nowhere felt safe and I questioned all of those around her. So by our 4th chapter with her, I was obsessed. I officially didn’t want to leave the past and had to know what happened next in her story. Angelique was so easy to like and connect with. As we got to know those around her, I became obsessed with Schmidt. Yet he was a part of everything she hated and was working against, but I kept holding out hope that there was more to him the meets the eye. I kept my fingers crossed that he would be one of the good guys! So where their story ended left me so excited for that next book! And I’m keeping my fingers crossed that sparks start to fly and that they can be more. The romantic in me just can’t help but wish for that haha.

“Please be okay. Please be okay. Please be okay.” My voice is a shaky whisper, a prayer, a plea.

Suspense wove its way into the end of these two stories, and one scene even made me cry. And that ending?! It was a brutal cliffhanger for both Jessica and Angelique! We’re left mid scene in perilous situations for both of them and I need that next book now please! If you’re looking for a memorable journey that intertwines the past and the present, definitely pick this one up! It brimmed with feelings that were both raw and real. And I’m looking forward to continuing this series!

PS I adored Butterscotch and Bailey! They were the cutest!

PPS There was a festival scene that had me screaming out loud because I was so happy with something Troy did haha!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

BOOK REVIEW: Fall of Ruin and Wrath (Awakening #1) by Jennifer L Armentrout

September 13, 2023 / Jen / 6 Comments

Fall of Ruin and Wrath (Awakening #1)
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
SHE LIVES BY HER INTUITION. HE FEEDS ON HER PLEASURE.

Long ago, the world was destroyed by gods. Only nine cities were spared. Separated by vast wilderness teeming with monsters and unimaginable dangers, each city is now ruled by a guardian―royalty who feed on mortal pleasure.

Born with an intuition that never fails, Calista knows her talents are of great value to the power-hungry of the world, so she lives hidden as a courtesan of the Baron of Archwood. In exchange for his protection, she grants him information.

When her intuition leads her to save a traveling prince in dire trouble, the voice inside her blazes with warning―and promise. Today he’ll bring her joy. One day he'll be her doom.

When the Baron takes an interest in the traveling prince and the prince takes an interest in Calista, she becomes the prince’s temporary companion. But the city simmers with rebellion, and with knights and monsters at her city gates and a hungry prince in her bed, intuition may not be enough to keep her safe.

Calista must choose: follow her intuition to safety or follow her heart to her downfall.

Breathtaking suspense and scorching romance meet in this immersive new fantasy from a mega-bestselling force, Jennifer L. Armentrout.

Review:

Fall of Ruin and Wrath was a dark and sensual romtansy that was so easy to get lost in. Within those first few pages I had no clue what was going on, but I was terrified. So take those first few chapters to immerse yourself in this new world. It’s lethal, archaic and shrouded in mystery. With a dystopian background, that was laced with high fantasy, Fall of Ruin and Wrath easily became an instant favorite!

“We keep meeting under the strangest circumstances,” he noted. “I’m beginning to think fate is afoot.”
“Fate?” I laughed. “You believe in fate?”
“You don’t?”

Calista aka Lis was a paramour to Claude who was a Caelestia; half Hyhborn and half lowborn. And while I’ve read almost every single book by JLA, over the last decade, Lis was unlike any other heroine that we have met from Armentrout. Her intuition guided where she went in life and the decisions she made. She also had the ability to see things happen before they did. Like how someone would die, or horrific events on the horizon. And I was fascinated to watch her listen into others thoughts, without needing to touch them. Yet my heart twisted for Lis. I questioned whether she truly knew how to have a strong mental bond with others. She seemed to struggle with that outside of her “brother”, Grady. Maybe it was because of her gifts? Or maybe it was because of her childhood? Or maybe it even had to do with how she ended up as a paramour and nothing truly felt like hers? But regardless, she seemed to have connections with those around her physically, instead of emotionally.

“Hold still.”
“I am holding still, but . . . you’re on your knees, your fingers are near my dick, and you’re currently gloriously nude, so . . .”
Undoing the final button, I rolled my eyes. “You can’t even stand on your own two feet and you’re currently regrowing eyeballs. The last thing you need to be thinking about is me on my knees, your dick, or my nudity.”
“I’ve regrown my eyes, na’laa.”
My chin jerked up.

Lis’ intuition one night led her to rescue a Hyhborn. Hyhborn’s weren’t mortal, they were scions of the Gods. And the scene she was led to was terrifying, yet I couldn’t help but noticing that I loved her thoughts. They were real and honest, making it so easy to connect with her. And the Hyhborn we met?! I. Was. Obsessed! Thorne was a book boyfriend many will fall hard for. I loved that he could be sarcastic and also oh so polite. His manners as he murdered those to keep Lis safe had me cracking up. Thorne was truly lethal, yet at the same time he was so much fun. He loved to push Lis’ buttons and get a rise out of her while being addictively possessive. Add to all of that that he was capable of admitting when he was wrong. Well. It was impossible not to love everything there was about him.

“Na’laa?”
I stopped as something . . . something like hope swelled inside me. Hope for what? I really couldn’t say as I looked over my shoulder at him.
The Lord stood with his back to me, shoulders a tense straight line. “Be careful.”

Around Thorne, Lis could touch him and just be in the moment. She never got pulled into her brain or saw future events she would prefer not to see. Like she did when she touched other lowborns and Caelestias. So the sexual tension between Lis and Thorne was done fabulously. It was a slow burn that was filled with the most fabulous banter. It was impossible not to smile at so many of the moments between them. And while Thorne and Lis were worlds apart, it always felt like there was something pulling them together. As though there was a higher power connecting them. So because of that, I loved watching the tentative trust build. That they could be comfortable with each other. That it felt like Lis was finally making an emotional connection with someone. And of course how steamy they could be together too *fans face*.

I connected with him, and my intuition came alive, showing me the future— the excruciating crack of bone in my right arm, then my left. The phantom pain traveled to my throat. I felt it all.
His death.
And I . . . I smiled.

Yes there were other characters outside of Lis and Thorne, but I am rather obsessed with those two. I’m still unsure of how to feel towards Naomi, who was her first friend outside of Grady. And I would love if Lis threw an apple at Claude’s head, like Alex. Yes he took care of Lis as he used her as his own personal lie detector, but I loathed that he called her Pet. There was also a man named Hymel that I kept hoping would die on every page he appeared lol. Ohhh then there were two friends of Thorne that we didn’t spend a lot of time with, yet I adored both of them. I can’t wait to get to know them better! They had found family written all over them! But on top of those we met, there was a whole world and political intrigue that I’m not even touching on. It was fascinating and better left for you to discover on your own!

“Don’t.”
My gaze flew back to him.
“I would warn against attempting to run,” he advised, walking past me.
“Because you will stop me?”
“Because I will give chase.” He unhooked the straps holding the short sword to his back as he crossed into the bedchamber. “And I will capture you.”

Fall of Ruin and Wrath was laced with a fascinating world, characters that will steal you heart, mysteries that are intertwined with secrets, and moments that will leave you on the edge of your seat! There were so many moments that were impossible to stop smiling or screaming from excitement. Especially when it came to Thorne. That last page was the most perfect stopping point. Yet I am definitely counting down until the next book is released and we can be back in this world!

PS The shower scene was one of my favorite moments. Nope, it’s not what you think it is *side smirk*.

Other Favorite Quotes:

My senses opened to him. I saw nothing in his eyes or in my mind.
But I felt something.
A warning.
A reckoning.
A promise of what was to come.
And I knew.

“Apologies, my pet. I do get a bit animated when I speak. Got it from my mother.”
“‘ Pet’?” Prince Thorne queried softly.
The back of my neck tingled, and it had nothing to do with intuition.

I froze. Tiny hairs lifted along the nape of my neck as the air thickened and the flames stilled. That mouth of mine had surely gotten me in trouble this time.
But Prince Thorne . . . he smiled.
My stomach dipped.
The smile he bestowed was not tight or cold. It was wide and real, showing a hint of teeth and softening the icy, unreal beauty of his features.

“Do you finally think of me as a monster?”
I closed my eyes.
“You should,” he said softly. “The blood that is on my hands will never wash off. I wouldn’t even attempt to do so.”

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

BOOK REVIEW: Aloha: An Anthology for Maui

September 12, 2023 / Jen / 4 Comments

Aloha: An Anthology for Maui Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
ALOHA is a charity romance collection of swoon-worthy, never-before-seen short stories from over FIFTY of your favorite bestselling authors, all with a twist of Hawaii. All royalties from the collection will be donated to Maui Food Banks and the Maui Fire Relief Fund to help support the survivors of the devastating fires. ALOHA will only be available for a limited time, so one-click your copy before it's gone.

AUTHORS INCLUDE: K.A. Linde, Adriana Locke, Alessandra Torre, Penny Reid, Rachel Van Dyken, Willow Winters, Brittainy Cherry, Aleatha Romig, Heidi McLaughlin, Crystal Perkins, Helena Hunting, Jessica Ashley, L.B. Dunbar, Ren Alexander, Skye Warren, Tara Brown, Tia Louise, Diana Peterfreund, Jamie K. Schmidt, Alexandria Bishop, Maria Luis, Kasey Metzger, Julia Kent, Karina Halle, Trilina Pucci, Carly Phillips, Aarti V Raman, Jill Ramsower, Amber Kelly, Eric R. Asher, Julie Leto, Lucy Eden, Kimberly Reese, Kayti McGee, Lauren Rowe, Pepper Winters, M. Robinson, J.L. Baldwin, Brittany Holland, Angelina M. Lopez, Jiffy Kate, Lex Martin, MJ Fields, Emma Louise, Catalina Snow, Dee Lagasse, Cary Hart, Aly Martinez, Fiona Cole, Jay McLean, Jana Aston, Emma Scott

All royalties from this project will be donated to organizations working in Maui to bring relief to the survivors of the Maui fires. We aren't affiliated or endorsed by these charities. We are authors who are helping the best way that we can.

Reviews:

Amber Kelly: Changing Tides ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

This island changed me.

Changing Tides was a beautiful story of finding oneself after your heart is broken. Avie was dumped the day before their Hawaiian vacation, so she went on the vacation with her best friend Amiya instead. Of course the setting was breathtaking and I could see it all unfolding before my eyes like I was watching a movie. While snorkeling she met Sebastian who stole my heart. Sebastian and Avie clicked and there was no denying the chemistry between them. I loved their brief time together and how steamy it was. And there was even a moment that was so sweet *cries*. Yet those final few sentences, oh my heart! I will desperately be counting down until Sandcastle Cover Series is released in 2024!

Our night of passion will forever be a beautiful memory of my time here in paradise, but that’s where it needs to stay.
In my memory.

Jana Aston: Crazy Little Meet Cute ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Georgina Reeves made me laugh from that first page! Her thoughts were absolutely hilarious and I felt for her. She was attending her ex-boyfriend and stepsister’s wedding. And wellllll, she said she had a plus one yet her boyfriend didn’t exist. So her attempt at finding Ben were laugh out loud funny. But OMG Jana I NEED MORE! This story was adorable, cute and so much fun! I laughed, smirked and the world around me disappeared. Can this please be a full length book?! Please?! I would love more of these characters!

I eye him. I want to believe I’ve had a change of luck, so very badly. “What’s your name?”
“Ben,” he quips, a playful smirk on his face.
“It’s not,” I reply, snaking my hand into his jacket pocket to nab his lanyard.
He doesn’t stop me.

Lauren Rowe: Horny and Healing in Hawaii ★ ★ ★ ★

This story started off with a bang! Julia was supposed to marry the love of her life, but before the wedding she found out he was cheating on her. And the texts she read out loud?! Wow lol! I was cheering her on! Julia ended up going on her honeymoon alone, yet there was a man in her bungalow. Since they were double booked, Mateo and Julia decide to make the best of it. Their time together was steamy and I was so happy that their story ended with a HEA!

“What happens in Hawaii stays in Hawaii?”
“Exactly. A fun distraction to make us forget . . .” I stop speaking, as emotion unexpectedly rises up inside me. I take a deep breath and finish my sentence. “All the lies and deceit. Even if it’s only for one night.”
His chest heaves. He rises from the couch and extends his hand.

I will update my post as I share more reviews from this book ♥.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Grab Your Copy!
✦ Amazon → https://geni.us/Amazonoha

✦ B&N → https://geni.us/NookAloha

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BOOK REVIEW: House of Striking Oaths (The Kingdom of Crows #3) by Olivia Wildenstein

September 11, 2023 / Jen / 2 Comments

House of Striking Oaths (The Kingdom of Crows #3)
by Olivia Wildenstein
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
I WILL BECOME QUEEN OF LUCE... OR DIE TRYING.

There are few people I loathe more than Dante Regio, but my aunt Bronwen, my former grandfather Justus, and my Shabbin grandmother Meriam sit right alongside the Faerie monarch on my list of despicable beings. Especially after they assist the pointy-eared ruler with my kidnapping.

Locked in an obsidian underworld no Crow can reach, not even their king, I soon learn things aren't as they seem. People aren't as they seem. And history... I'm still attempting to reconcile the truth with what I was previously told.

My new allies have an agenda, but I have one of my own. Though there's overlap-we all agree Dante must die-what I desire more than anything is to return to Lore before he levels the kingdom to find me... or loses his humanity trying.

I may favor crowns over coffins, but I refuse to live in a world where my mate only exists as a bird.

Strap in for one last romantic and pulse-pounding adventure in a world governed by magic and hearts.

Review:

“Long live”— I lean all my weight into my arms—“ the Crows.”

House of Striking Oaths was an action packed ride from start to finish. This romantasy was filled with life, death, betrayal, love and allies in the most unlikely of places. Stepping into this story, realize that there is still one more book to be released. Why I thought it was trilogy is beyond me haha. While lots of things were wrapped up by the end of this book, there was also a lot that needed to be solved. So I’m counting down till we get a HEA for those we love in House of Shifting Tides. And I’m keeping my fingers crossed we get an epilogue of just Fallon and Lore, because I need to see them both completely happy pretty please!

I catch the new spark that animates my violet eyes.
I will set myself free.

Stepping into this story, there was so much up in the air. Readers will be happy to know that we got a lot of answers! They made sense, but I was shocked that I didn’t see quite a few things coming. Who was using Brownwen’s eyes. About her mother. A marriage I couldn’t even fathom. We learned a lot in this story. Not only what people’s intentions were, but also the rules for magic. And how past deals affected the present. The alliances, motives and actions of others were all laid out on the table for us. And that led to dangerous games being played within the pages.

I will murder them all.

But the pages were also filled with torture, regret, and anger that will burn you alive. Death needed to happen to those that didn’t deserve to live. Like Dante. I hated him. He was a sociopath filled with lies who was so easy to hate. I kept waiting for the moment he got what he deserved. But there was also someone in the story who Wildenstein was able to flip my feeling around for. Trust was earned, that I never thought could be. And that left me feeling like I needed to go back and re-read those first two books because my assumptions tainted the story in a certain way. And I was completely wrong!

“Ready to become mine, Serpent-charmer?”
I tilt my head, and although Nonna taught me not to provoke purelings, I cannot help but hiss, “I’ll never be yours.”

Fallon came into her magic and it was fascinating watching her learn how to do things. But I definitely had a hiccup with Fallon. I understood that she had so much rage, but why she didn’t play nice with Dante so Antoni didn’t suffer was beyond me. Why she wasn’t smarter and more careful for her friend’s life made me want to shake her. Hard. Thankfully as the story progressed, I loved that she stood up for those she loved. She had so much fire in her! Yet her and Lore struggled since he was still keeping secrets from her. And that hurt ugh. Thankfully Lore loved Fallon with all of his heart and was willing to do whatever it took to save her. His love for her was larger than life! And I loved seeing the softer side of him too, like when he was giving Pheebs relationship advice haha. Ohhh plus the scenes between Fallon and Lore were sooo hot!

He kisses one corner of my lips, then hovers his mouth over the other and murmurs, “My heart.”

Bargains were formed. Forgiveness was given. Plans were put in place that had the hugest of risks. And they were sent on the most impossible of quests. This book will definitely keep you entertained! And as we watched the story unfold, it didn’t matter that some things came to pass that were horrific, fate had a way of achieving what it wanted. No matter how much one tried to evade it. Also, there was something setup in this book, for a future spinoff decades down the road and I am so excited that option was given! Closing this story, the epilogue left me in tears. I desperately need that next book. There was something that needed to be “fixed”. And it hurt. So I’m counting down till that next book is released!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

BOOK REVIEW: A Kingdom This Cursed and Empty (Kingdom of Lies #2) by Stacia Stark

September 8, 2023 / Jen / 2 Comments

A Kingdom This Cursed and Empty (Kingdom of Lies #2)
by Stacia Stark
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Risk everything for your kingdom...Or be destroyed by it.

In a world darkened by deceit, the truth is a light that won't be dimmed. Even when it illuminates Lorian's betrayals more starkly than I could ever want to see.

They call him the Bloodthirsty Prince.

His reign of terror has left a trail of blood across this continent. A trail that intertwines with my own past-not even my parents were spared from his merciless slaughter.

To save my brother's life, I agreed to another bargain with the fae prince. Now, I'm forced to work with him. Forced to travel to the fae lands. Forced to spend my every waking moment with the man who betrayed me. All because King Sabium has woven a deadly tapestry of manipulation, using those we least suspect for his wicked schemes.

There are no lines I won't cross to protect the people I love. So I'll work with former enemies. I'll manipulate, blackmail, and deceive potential allies. I'll swallow my pride, bury my shattered heart, and cooperate with the fae to prepare for the coming war.

Because there are creatures far more monstrous than the fae.

And some of them masquerade as men.

Review:

His lies had hurt the most.

With secrets swirling, danger on the horizon, and perilous journeys, A Kingdom This Cursed and Empty was a fabulous continuation of the Kingdom of Lies Series! There were scenes that will have you on the edge of your seat. Steamy moments that will tug at your heart. And an addictive storyline and world that continues to build and grow. Fans of romantasy definitely need to have this series in their life!

“Why would you do this?” she asked.
The question burrowed deep into my chest. I clenched my teeth. “Figure it out.”

Prisca was a heroine we could easily love and respect. She was smart, had grown so much and her strength and courage gave her a backbone of steel. Yet Prisca was struggling. Not only with learning that she was fated to become the queen. Since she didn’t see herself being worthy enough to rule the hybrids. But also with accepting what Lorian was. She was raised to see the Fae as the nightmares and monsters of the world. He was supposed to have been the one who killed her biological parents. And she had been falling for him all along, none the wiser. But as their journey progressed, she still confided in him. Trained with him. And she saw how much he cared and wanted her to be the best she could be. She just needed to learn to accept what he was.

He’d asked if I remembered how he’d made me feel.
Some days, it was the only thing I could think about.
“Please,” I said quietly.

Lorian was protective, lethal, deadly and would do anything to keep Prisca safe. He would hand her the world if he could, yet he lied to her. And according to her, destroyed her past. Yet as a skeptic I kept hoping there was more to the story, because I am ever so hopeful and can only be positive when it comes to Lorian haha. He may be the villain to others, but he could never be that to Prisca. So I loved as we watched him let her grow. That he stood by her as she figured out how to rule and deal with powerful people. And the words he would say to Prisca *screaming while jumping up and down*?! Lorian’s words to Prisca were beautiful, powerful and elicited so much emotion! Lorian was the ultimate book boyfriend!

“This is never going to work. You and I. We’re doomed. You know that.”
He sighed, and I closed my eyes, basking in the feel of his breath against my neck.
“I know.” He slowly drew back. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t wish for you with every fucking breath for the rest of my life.”

While the odds were continually stacked higher against them, they fought with everything they had. I cried tears for Lorian. I was terrified for some of the situations Prisca was put in. And through it all, Lorian and Prisca had the most fabulous banter! It was laced with even more emotion now! They were from opposite ends, even if they were fighting a common enemy. They could never be together, so my heart cried trying to figure out how it’ll all work out in the end. So I loved their steamy moments and that they were detailed, explicit, and absolutely fabulous! And when you get to the part where Lorian lists things, try not to have your heart explode!

He smiled, as if he’d expected nothing less.
I smiled back. One day, I would make him pay for everything I suspected he had done to Lorian.

We got so many answers to questions, yet we were also left with many more questions. And as the world expanded and we met others, I was completely enthralled. I was happily surprised to see that we got this story in a few different point of views. Prisca was still the main one, and of course Lorian too. But we also got some moments with the Queen. Those moments made me contemplate everything I knew. I did not expect to feel compassion towards her or learn all that we did. There were quite a few times where my mouth was left hanging open. And there was even one moment I cried tears for the Queen, I am still shocked. So where this story ended with her left me terrified. With political intrigue, and dangerous ploys, I can’t wait to see what happens next with the Queen!

The war had barely begun. And we were already losing.

A Kingdom This Cursed and Empty was laced with friendship, love, quests, forgiveness, battles, death and it was so easy to devour! With a star-crossed lovers romance, forced proximity and a found family, just know that this story ended with a fabulous cliffhanger. Don’t mind me over here panicking until that next book is in my hands! I absolutely love this world and these characters and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

I just wanted her to be mine.

PS My favorite new character we met was Drakoryx, by far!

PPS Is anyone else keeping their fingers crossed that Asinia & Demos become a couple?

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*