Glow of the Everflame review

 

Book: Glow of the Everflame

Author: Penn Cole

Pages: 637

Date(s) Read: March 24^th, 2025 to July 7^th, 2025

Date Published: December 3^rd, 2024

Rating: 4/5

Characters: 5/5

Writing style: 4/5

Story: 4/5

Ending:  4/5

Cover: 4/5

Format: Hard Cover

Date Bought: March 20^th, 2025

Book Cost:  $18.92

Review:

Glow of the Everflame is an epic trek through Diem Bellators world. Though at 600 pages it could at times be long winded I enjoyed every bit of this story that is a worthy sequel to Spark of the Everflame. It has swoon worthy romance, a love triangle, found family, plenty of action and surprising reveals to keep you entertained throughout.

 

In Glow of the Everflame Diem contends with many challenges to the crown before she can even think of coronation. She struggles to keep straight who are her allies are and who are her enemies. While grappling with her drastic new circumstances she must learn to wield her powers amid inner turmoil.

 

This novel was quite the ride. So many things happen that I found my jaw dropping constantly. I loved Diem's character growth, her new allies and her relationship with her brother. Diem is a beautiful, strong but flawed heroine that is as lovable as she is fierce. Her inner struggle with all she's learned and all she felt before keep make her all the more compelling and leave a lot of room for her inner growth.

 

All in all it is a great book, but I'll admit it's very dense and at times I felt myself having to slowly amble through some parts that felt as if the author might have been paid by the word. That's not to say though that this isn't an excellent novel, just very long and arduous at times. If you enjoyed the first novel and find Diem as charming as I did then you'll have no regrets about picking this book up.

The Wind Weaver review

 

Book: The Wind Weaver

Author: Julie Johnson

Pages: 524

Date(s) Read: May 17^th, 2025 to July 2^nd, 2025

Date Published: April 8^th, 2025

Rating: 5/5

Genre:  Fantasy

Characters: 5/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 4/5

Format: Hard Cover

Date Bought: May 16^th, 2025

Book Cost: $22.83

Review:

Action, adventure, and romance suffuse this novel set in a lush, vibrant fantasy world. The Wind Weaver by Julie Johnson is an epic book that will leave you wanting more. In fact, I can safely say it's the best thing I've read this year and easily one of my top favorite romantsy books of all time.

 

In The Wind Weaver Rhya Fleetwood is captured by a group of soldiers, set to be killed for the crime of simply being Fae. Upon her imminent death she is taken by a soldier who decimates an entire brigade to rescue her. This sets Rhya and her unknown captor/rescuer on a perilous and grand journey where Rhya discovers she is a powerful remnant, one of four reincarnated vestiges of elemental power.

 

Rhya is beautiful, moral, lovable, bold, and valiant. On her journey to discover her hidden power, Rhya undergoes a tremendous amount of character growth that I thoroughly enjoyed. There was never a moment when I didn't cheer for her and eagerly await what she would do next. Surrounding Rhya are two wholly different men with hidden magic and motives, as well as a cast of lively and spirited characters that are easy to care for.

 

If you like fantasy, or romance then you need to run out and get this book. You will not believe how good it is.

Manor of Dreams review

 

Book :The  Manor of Dreams

Author: Christina Li

Pages: 352

Date(s) Read: May 10^th, 2025 to June 21^st, 2025

Date Published: May 6^th, 2025

Rating: 5/5

Genre:  Horror, Sapphic Love, Gothic Horror, Asian

Characters: 4/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  4/5

Cover: 5/5

Format: Hard Cover

Date Bought: April 3^rd, 2025

Book Cost: $20.29

Review:

The Manor is a dark, atmospheric look into the glitzy, glamorous life and the dark undercurrent to the sparking veneer that was Vivian Yin-Lowell. The Manor is a gothic horror that is part ghost story and part family drama with sapphic love at the center.

 

In The Manor actress Vivian Yin leaves her crumbling estate to her ex housekeepers daughter instead of her own children sparking the ignition in a several decades long family feud between the two families as the war over the property.

 

I found this story compelling, well paced and equally romantic as well as tragic. It's a beautiful Gothic horror about family and love. If you like all things gothic and horror with sapphic love you will eat this book up like I did.

A Curse Carved in Bone review

 

Book: A Curse Carved in Bone

Author: Danielle L. Jensen

Pages: 398

Date(s) Read: May 13^th, 2025 to June 20^th, 2025

Date Published: May 13^th, 2025

Rating: 5/5

Genre:  Fantasy, Romantasy

Characters: 5/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 5/5

Format: Hard Cover

Date Bought: April 27^th, 2025

Book Cost: $19.69

Review:

A Curse Carved in Bone is the thrilling sequel to A Fate Inked in Blood. This book picks up right where the previous book leaves off. It's fun, emotional, exciting, fast-paced, and has the perfect ending to a well-written duology. I enjoyed every moment and highly recommend this for fans of fantasy, romantasy, and Viking-themed novels.

 

In this pulse-pounding sequel, we see Freya fulfill her destiny and fight great battles. There's romance, shocking revelations, and drama abound in this novel. If you enjoyed the first book, you will absolutely love the conclusion to Freya's story.

 

I have one complaint, and it's a small one, her pining for her love interest in the second book can be quite heavy handed at times but it doesn't bring down what is already a phenomenal novel. I couldn't recommend this duology enough. It's one of the best romantasy's I've ever read.

Serpent & Dove review

 

Book: Serpent & Dove

Author: Shelby Mahurin

Pages: 519

Date(s) Read: March 16^th, 2025 to June 11^th, 2025

Date Published: October 11^th, 2022

Rating: 5/5

Genre:  Fantasy, Romantasy

Characters: 5/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  4/5

Cover: 3/5

Format: Soft Cover

Date Bought: March 8^th, 2025

Book Cost: $8.48

Review:

Serpent & Dove is a fast paced and fun romantasy that is absolutely addictive. This book was an unputdownable romantic fantasy that I just couldn't get enough of.

 

What happens when a witch hunter is forced to marry a witch? It's the ultimate enemies to lovers story that you'll love every moment of. The story is fun and action packed with lots of twists and turns as well as crazy reveals. The cast of characters are affable, diverse, intriguing, and lovable.

 

This novel is a bit of a tome at slightly over 500 pages, but this behemoth is paced at a break neck speed that goes by quickly. Compelling, entertaining, and exciting, this book is not to be missed for those who love romantasy tropes and a feisty femme fatale.

Blood on Her Tongue review

 

Book: Blood on Her Tongue

Author: Johanna van Veen

Pages: 368

Date(s) Read: April 29^th, 2025 to June 10^th, 2025

Date Published: March 25^th, 2025

Rating: 5/5

Genre:  Sapphic, Gothic, Horror, Stand-Alone

Characters: 4/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 3/5

Format: Soft Cover

Date Bought: January 28^th, 2025

Book Cost: $19.47

Review:

Blood on Her Tongue is a sapphic, gothic, horror, stand-alone novel that is both enchanting and gruesome. This novel is macabre, morbid, grisly and gory but it's also touching and beautiful.

 

In this frightful and decadent novel we follow Lucy as she returns to her twin sister, Sarahs, estate after she falls ill. When she arrives, she finds that her sister has become obsessed with a bog body found on the grounds and has started a mental health decline. As Lucy tries to figure out what is happening to her sister, she must contend with her sister's new, unearthly cravings and complicated marriage.

 

This novel was brilliant. It was both lurid and ghastly, but the characters and relationships are fascinating and compelling. I found myself at times grossed out enough to have to put the novel down, but the female lead was intriguing enough that I felt the need to finish the novel, which I am very glad I did. If I hadn't, I would have missed out on a highly satisfying and poignant gothic tale.

 

If you're looking for an atmospheric gothic horror novel with interesting relationship dynamics, this novel is one I can't recommend enough.

Julie Chan is Dead review

Book: Julie Chan is Dead

Author: Liann Zhang

Pages: 320

Date(s) Read: May 9^th, 2025 to May 28^th, 2025

Date Published: April 29^th, 2025

Rating: 5/5

Genre:  Asian, Thriller

Characters: 4/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 3/5

Format: Hard Cover

Date Bought: May 6^th, 2025

Book Cost: $21.00

Review:

Julie Chan Is Dead is a fabulous, fun, and fast-paced fiction novel. I devoured this addictive thriller and consistently found myself staying up late at night while my husband slept so I could read more.

 

Julie Chan lives in a pretty dismal situation: she's an orphan, she's broke, her aunt has mistreated and stolen from her, and she's been working a terrible job for 10 years. When she gets a call from her famous influencer twin sister, that is rather ominous, she quells her curiosity and desperation for a connection by going to see her. When she arrives she finds her sister dead of an apparent overdose. What's a girl to do? Steal her sister's identity of course and find out what it's like to live as a lavish, opulent influencer. While living in luxury Julie begins to suspect that there's something more to Chloe's life than the glitz and glamour.

 

Julie Chan is an empathetic character that many of those of us who struggle to make a living can sympathize with. She is easy to root for and funny. I loved being in her head.

 

This book is not only a suspenseful thriller but a deeper commentary on social media influencers and the privileged. Julie Chan is Dead was a funny and enthralling nail-biter that will be sure to be a memorable read.