Tag: Fantasy (Page 1 of 110)

BOOK REVIEW: The Curse of Ophelia (The Curse of Ophelia #1) by Nicole Platania

January 19, 2023 / Arielle / 1 Comment

The Curse of Ophelia (The Curse of Ophelia #1)
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
The war is over.
The curse is lifted.
Malakai is gone.

It’s been two years since Ophelia has seen the boy she loves. When a treaty was signed ending the war and lifting the curse on Mystique Warriors, Malakai left to attempt the sacred ritual known as the Undertaking.

He never returned, and the Undertaking was forbidden. Ophelia’s world crumbled around her.

Since then, she has pursued a fruitless search for answers. When the deadly curse resurfaces only on her, Ophelia finds solace in the idea that when she dies, she may finally be reunited with her lost love. Then, a messenger appears, telling her that she alone may be the one to save her people.

With her closest friends by her side, Ophelia embarks on a race against death—one that will not only challenge her physically, but make her question the Mystique leaders, the Angels, and her belief in love.

Can she win the fight against fate before the curse takes her life, or will the betrayals exposed along the way kill her first?

With influence from Greek Mythology, this debut is the first in a New Adult Fantasy Romance series full of heart-wrenching love, shattering betrayals, and fighting for what you believe in. Fans of Throne of Glass, From Blood and Ash, and The Bridge Kingdom will love it.

Review

I’m back and ready to flail. As most of you know I have been reading Dramione NONSTOP for the past, ohhhhh, year and a half now. For all of December and the first half of this month I have been back to actual books and I am not stopping any time soon. I forgot how much I missed walking in the shoes of all of these different characters in all of these other worlds, so, so much. This book was no exception.

As the first of a series, I was gladly thrust into an entirely new world full of complex governing structures, territories where people excelled at different things, and even other kinds of beings. Honestly there’s still a bit I don’t quite understand in the bigger scheme of things but I think that was intentional as the journey we went on with our main group of characters was to a specific place with a specific purpose. I have a feeling that we’ll be seeing other lands and many more new characters as the series progresses.

Speaking of, while this story as a whole was a great balance of both plot and character-driven, I think the characters were my favorite part. I have always been that way. Obviously, a unique and well-developed plot (which this book definitely has) is very important but to me, having characters who are easy to relate to or even easy to love and hate is super important–always has been and always will be. Ophelia, our main character here is perfectly imperfect. She is a warrior at heart and because of that, she can be hot-headed and stubborn to a fault. Because she is still in a state of grief and mourning (a few different things) for the majority of this book, we get to see her as more than a larger-than-life Warrior figure–we see her humanity. We see her friends surrounding her, trying to help her and keep her sane. Cyph, Tolek, Rina, and even her sister Jezebel each play different roles in her life and keep her from breaking as best as they can. The found family trope is something that has always appealed to me because it means that these characters have CHOSEN to be a family. They don’t feel obligated because they are blood-related. they want to be there because…they just want to. I feel like I’m getting too deep into this but I just really love these characters so much, lol.

Anywayyyy this book has it all. Badass characters, romance that will make you ache, writing that I can’t believe came from a debut author, and a plot that I’m dying for more of. You won’t want to miss out on this one!

Huge thank you to Nicole Platania for allowing me to read an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!♥

BOOK REVIEW: Silk (The Princess & The Spy #3) by Lisette Marshall

December 16, 2022 / Jen / 0 Comments

Silk (The Princess & The Spy #3)
by Lisette Marshall
Purchase on: Amazon,
Book Depository
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
They escaped the darkness of foreign lands. But now the familiar faces at home hide the deepest shadows of all…

The Princess…

Back in Rock Hall, with the horrors of the Floating Castle weeks behind her, Viviette is finally safe from the man she was supposed to marry. But here at home, the danger is coming from within… Just when happiness lies at her fingertips, a brutal murder rips all her hopes and dreams apart, leaving her reeling in a world that will never be the same again.

The Spy…

Rock Hall has never held secrets for Jaghar. His masked service has always traced every word, every look, every footstep. But the king’s violent death is a menacing mystery even to him – a mystery that puts the future of an entire kingdom on the line. If he cannot solve it soon enough, not Velvet but her uncle will be crowned the next ruler of the Peaks.

A fight for the crown…

With the wrong man about to take the throne and Trystan’s murderer still on the loose, the princess and the spy find themselves tangled in a web of political deceit and deadly revenge. They must play the game well, and play it fast. Because if they fail, they may not only lose their kingdom – but each other too.

Silk is the riveting finale of The Princess & The Spy, a steamy fantasy romance trilogy taking place in the dangerous, passionate world of the Five Kingdoms. Perfect for readers of enemies to lovers fantasy and adult fairy tale romances, it tells a story of deadly intrigue, dark secrets and sizzling forbidden love.

Review:

Silk was a wonderful conclusion to The Princess & the Spy Trilogy! Fantasy lovers that are a fan of tortured heroes, fearless heroines, and steamy moments may fall hard for this book! With a fabulous HEA and tons of heart, this story was a lot of fun!

‘You’ll stay with me, won’t you? Whatever happens?’
‘Velvet…’ The joyless smile on his lips nearly made her burst out in tears again. ‘I’ll never not be on your side. I promise.’

Viviette and Jaghar were back home, but again mystery was laced throughout the pages. With a murder to solve and their enemy unknown, they had to work harder than ever to find out what was going on. Trials tested and pushed them to their limits, but Viviette and Jaghar kept proving themselves worthy. They were both so clever and smart, and while I was nervous a future between them wouldn’t work, I kept the hope alive!

‘It’ll be alright. Stay with me. I don’t want to let go of you tonight.’
He pulled her back against his chest, wrapping the blankets around them with trembling arms. ‘But tomorrow…’
‘Tomorrow,’ Viviette said, nestling herself against him and closing her eyes, ‘we fight.’

With this story, I guessed one of the huge twists. But I definitely didn’t guess the next part of it or what one of our favorite characters would do eeps! So much was more than meets the eye and this story kept me on my toes and turning those pages faster. As the story unfolded, I loved how so many questions were answered and that we were given a fabulous ending to this trilogy! But at the same point, so much is still going on in the Five Kingdoms and I can’t wait to see other series set in this world! If you’re looking for a completed fantasy series to binge and are a fan of star crossed lovers, then definitely check this one out!

BOOK REVIEW: Leather (The Princess & The Spy #2) by Lisette Marshall

December 15, 2022 / Jen / 0 Comments

Leather (The Princess & The Spy #2)
by Lisette Marshall
Purchase on: Amazon,
Book Depository
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
She must be a queen. He could never be a king. When duty tears them apart, will their love survive the dark secrets that threaten them?

Steamy medieval fantasy romance ◆ Forbidden love ◆ Arranged marriage

The Princess…
Never did Viviette expect to find this much happiness in the shadows of Rock Hall. And now she must lose it all again – her mask, her freedom, the man she was never allowed to love in the first place… When her father announces her engagement to the widowed king of a neighbouring nation, she has no choice but to leave her home and heart behind and travel to the castle where she is to marry.

The Spy…
Jaghar always knew their affair couldn’t last. He always knew his loyalty to her father would keep them apart. But when the news of assassins on Velvet’s trail reaches him, loyalty is the last thing on his mind. He must protect her, even if he has to follow her deep into foreign territory to keep her safe – and even if it forces him to face the man who’ll take his place by her side.

A buried secret…
But in the idyllic Riverlands, danger is lurking around every corner. A knight with vicious intentions. A palace like a prison. And then there’s the mysterious disappearance of the king’s first wife… With darkness closing in and the desire between them still burning bright, how long can duty hold the princess and the spy apart?

Leather is the second book of The Princess & The Spy, a steamy fantasy romance trilogy taking place in the dangerous, passionate world of the Five Kingdoms. Perfect for readers of enemies to lovers fantasy and adult fairy tale romances, it tells a story of deadly intrigue, dark secrets and sizzling forbidden love.

Review:

Leather was a fabulous continuation of the Princess & The Spy Trilogy! Not only was this book extremely steamy again, but it also had political intrigue, creepy foreshadowing and a few twists that left me reeling! Fantasy lovers definitely need to check out this trilogy!

‘I did what I thought was best for you.’
‘But you didn’t bother asking what I thought was best for me.’

Viviette and Jaghar were both forced to put duty ahead of their own needs, when she was told by her father that she was to be married to another. My heart ached for them. Because regardless of what was expected of them, they still wanted each other. Unfortunately that just couldn’t be. So as the story unfolded, we found them again searching for clues, trying to discover the bigger picture and I loved watching them work as a team. Together they seemed unstoppable, even with so many obstacles in their way! And when some twists not only left them blindsided, but me too, I was left gasping and hoping for blood or retribution!

‘Tell me if you want to get out of here,’ he muttered. The words left a bitter taste of treason on his tongue, but for once, with the mixture of rage and concern burning in his veins, he couldn’t bring himself to care.

Jaghar was definitely my favorite in this book. I loved how he could be so smart, calm, collected, clever, and selfless. It not only made me fall harder for him, but my heart ached for life to be fair to him. It seemed like an impossible feat at times since who he cared for was to be married to another. But that didn’t matter when it came to protecting Viviette. The things he did in this story to keep her safe?! *Swoon* Jaghar was amazing! Viviette stepped up her game too and I loved how she tried her best to do what was expected of her but at the end of the day she did what she thought was right. My respect for her climbed even higher.

‘I never told you…’ His voice was hoarse, but the words fell from his lips easily as if he had written them out in his mind. ‘I never really told you – what you do to me, what you’ve been doing to me since the day you came storming into that corridor to eavesdrop on your own bloody father—’
A smile broke through on her face at the memory.

With mystery, intrigue, sacrifice, romance and the stakes being even higher, Leather was a fantastic addition to The Princess & The Spy Trilogy! I’m definitely thankful that this series is complete because I have to know how Jaghar and Viviette’s story ends! Fans of steamy Fantasy should check this one out!

BOOK REVIEW: Velvet (The Princess & The Spy #1) by Lisette Marshall

December 14, 2022 / Jen / 0 Comments

Velvet (The Princess & The Spy #1)
by Lisette Marshall
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
She despises his coldness. He loathes her nosy questions. But when a war threatens their small kingdom, they have no choice but to work together...

The Princess...

Three years at a foreign court have completed Viviette’s education as crown princess of the Peaks. Now the threat of war forces her to return home: back to the thorny intrigues of Rock Hall, and to a father who still believes she’s a helpless little girl. Despite his concerns, Viviette is determined to protect him and her kingdom – even if it means she must cooperate with the cold, bitter Spymaster she hates nearly as much as their enemies. And even if it means using the most dangerous weapon she has: her body.

The Spy...

Jaghar is already dealing with a looming war, a spurned lover and an old enemy stirring up memories he never wanted to confront again. The last he needs is the return of his king’s daughter, with her rebellious streak and her endless questions. But the princess is no longer a little girl he can easily ignore… And as she manipulates herself into the diplomatic machinations of the kingdom, she awakens something in him too – something he thought the pain of his past had killed for good.

A threat of war…

Armies are gathering at the Peaks' borders. Dark conspiracies are taking shape in the shadows of Rock Hall. Someone must budge – or someone must die. But even with the king's life on the line, the princess and the spy cannot deny the forbidden fire flaring up between them…

Velvet is the first book of The Princess & The Spy, a steamy fantasy romance trilogy taking place in the dangerous, passionate world of the Five Kingdoms. Perfect for readers of enemies to lovers fantasy and adult fairy tale romances, it tells a story of deadly intrigue, dark secrets and sizzling forbidden love.

Content warning: Velvet is an adult fantasy romance. Featuring a broody, experienced hero and a curious, rebellious heroine, the story contains generous doses of consensual steam and other mature themes.

Review:

‘You’ll make one hell of a queen, Velvet.’

The Princess & The Spy was a seductive tale of mystery and intrigue! I devoured this book way too quickly and can’t wait to do that with the rest of this completed trilogy! If you like your fantasy steamy, fun and with some grittiness to it too, then you definitely need to add this one to your tbr!

Her eyes were like bright stars even in the darkness, measuring him with so much interest that he suddenly started worrying what else she might see.

Viviette came back three years later, after studying in another court, so she would be more mature and act appropriately. Truth be told, she was already wise above her years but her father and his spymaster always saw her as just a little girl. And while her father still saw her that way, events led the spymaster to see her in a completely different light. Viviette was strong, determined and wanted to learn to rule. She could be so clever at times and I absolutely adored her!

‘You can always turn back, Princess,’ he muttered.
Viviette closed her eyes. She hadn’t expected such tenderness, not from a man like him.

The spymaster Jaghar, could be such a mask of indifference. He was the king’s right hand man and was to keep him and his daughter safe. Yet the Viviette that returned after three years, wasn’t the one he was familiar with anymore. She shocked, surprised him and even got him to show his emotions time and again. And as parts of the story unfolded and we were given a full picture of what truly went on behind the scenes at the castle, and how they obtained their secrets, it pushed Jaghar and Viviette closer together. While there was a strong attraction there, they both thought that the other one couldn’t want them. All the while the stakes around them kept getting higher!

‘Look me in the eyes,’ she muttered, ‘and tell me you don’t want me to make you.’
He didn’t open his eyes. He would be lost if he opened them.
‘That is an order, Spymaster.’
Jaghar inhaled slowly, bracing himself, and looked up. Her face was close enough to kiss her, if kissing her wouldn’t violate every last limit between them.

With secret passages, seductive moments, and characters that were so easy to love, The Princess & The Spy was a spellbinding adventure! While I guessed how one thing was going to play out, there were still so many other parts of it that were such an unknown. This book kept me on my toes and was so fun to discover what was going to happen next. Plus I loved that this story not only made me laugh but I also found myself gasping out loud quite a few times! Such a huge hit, I can’t wait to binge the next two books!

‘You – you won’t hurt me, will you?’
‘Princess,’ he said, kissing her neck as he lowered himself between her legs, ‘I would rather die than hurt you.’

PS I didn’t even see the title of this book coming at all lol!

BOOK REVIEW: Once Upon a Broken Heart (Once Upon a Broken Heart #1) by Stephanie Garber

December 12, 2022 / Jen / 2 Comments

Once Upon a Broken Heart (Once Upon a Broken Heart (Once Upon a Broken Heart #1)
by Stephanie Garber
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks,
Book Depository
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Once Upon a Broken Heart marks the launch of a new series from beloved author Stephanie Garber about love, curses, and the lengths that people will go to for happily ever after

For as long as she can remember, Evangeline Fox has believed in true love and happy endings…until she learns that the love of her life will marry another.

Desperate to stop the wedding and to heal her wounded heart, Evangeline strikes a deal with the charismatic, but wicked, Prince of Hearts. In exchange for his help, he asks for three kisses, to be given at the time and place of his choosing.

But after Evangeline’s first promised kiss, she learns that bargaining with an immortal is a dangerous game ― and that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she’d pledged. He has plans for Evangeline, plans that will either end in the greatest happily ever after, or the most exquisite tragedy...

Review:

Once Upon a Broken Heart was a magically, unique story. The world was phenomenal and came alive from the pages. Everything captured your attention and you were left not sure what was true or not. Yet it was all beautiful and breathtaking. I would love to live in this world! The characters completely fascinated me and I fell in love. But beware because darkness was hidden here and there, but it didn’t even matter because this story will creep up on you and own every part of you!

“I believe there are far more possibilities than happily ever after or tragedy. Every story has the potential for infinite endings.”

That first chapter pulled me in. I loved Evangeline Fox and her broken heart. She thought her true love was cursed and she would do anything to stop the wedding. He was marrying her step sister and it was breaking her heart. Beyond desperate, Evangeline went to the chapel of the Prince of Hearts. Jacks. She made a deal with a Fate to stop the wedding. Yet the outcome and everything afterwards was nothing Evangeline could ever fathom. And it set her on a path she didn’t even realize she couldn’t control.

He gave her a real smile, revealing a pair of dimples that briefly made him look more angel than devil. But she imagined even angels would need to beware of him. She could picture him flashing those deceptive dimples as he tricked an angel into losing its wings just so he could play with the feathers.

Evangeline was someone I instantly liked! Her shattered heart reached out to me and I felt her pain. And as we watched her, I loved her tenacity, her strength and her ability to see the goodness in others. Her heart was pure and she always tried her best. But most of all, I loved her cleverness. I wanted Evangeline to find happiness. Especially since she felt so alone. After making the deal with Jacks, I was beyond curious where it would lead Evangeline!

“Do you stare at everyone like that, or just me?” Jacks looked up. Vivid blue eyes met hers.
It shouldn’t have made her blood rush the way that it did.

Jacks was hilarious without even trying. His humor gripped me and I laughed at the most inappropriate times. It made me fall for him even harder. Yet Jacks was someone I’m still trying to understand. Yes he had his goals. He seemed to know what he wanted. But I would catch glimmers of hope and moments where Evangeline would make him pause. He didn’t seem to expect much from his future, but it felt like Evangeline made him see himself as more. So my heart cried for Jacks. I just wanted goodness in his life and for that goodness to be Evangeline!

He held on to her as if she were a grudge, his body rigid and tense, as if he really didn’t want her there, and yet his arms were tight around her waist as though he had no intention of ever letting her go.

Jacks and Evangeline together were everything. I loved that Jacks would go and mess with Evangeline, that he seemed to change the tune of their story. I was all for it. But I would also question why he did certain things. At times he cut me. And I would have died to know his thoughts. But then in that next moment he would go above and beyond. Jacks was a mystery. Whose looks set me on fire. And who melted my heart every time he called Evangeline, Little Fox.

“Jacks, what did you do?” she whispered. “It’s not what I did, Little Fox. It’s what you’ve done. And tomorrow night, you get to do even more.”

I questioned so much, practically everything. I trusted no one except Evangeline. While I desperately wanted to trust Jacks, I kept reminding myself that wouldn’t be wise. No matter how much I was falling for him. And even when he told us the truth, I questioned what was he keeping from us. This book had so many twists and mysteries and they kept me on my toes! So many of the side characters shined brightly too. One of my favorites was Lala. She fascinated me to no end. And even the Prince did too.

Evangeline didn’t know if she wanted to laugh or cry.
She knew what Jacks was. She hadn’t been foolish enough to believe that she was different or special and that he wouldn’t destroy her. But maybe she’d believed it a little.

Prophecies, truths, and fairy-tales all swirled together and made Once Upon a Broken Heart feel so magical. With characters that were easy to love and a beautiful story, this book will sweep you away! This world will always be one of my most favorites! And that ending, oh how tricky this story was. Make for sure you have the next book, because you’ll desperately need it!