The Fox and the Devil review

 

Book: The Fox and the Devil

Author: Kiersten White

Pages: 353

Date(s) Read: March 11^th, 2026 to April 18^th, 2026

Date Published: March 10^th, 2026

Rating: 4/5

Genre: Gothic, Sapphic, Supernatural

Characters: 4/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 3/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 4/5 (Naked Hard Cover)

Format: Hard Cover

Date Bought: March 10^th, 2026

Book Cost: $29.00

Review

The Fox and the Devil is a really hard novel to rate and pin down. I'd say truly it's a 3.75 so Im bumping it up to a 4 here. It's a unique novel with an interesting mystery and premise, but it's also very dry and dull at times. Despite that, I love the writing style. Lucy Undying, though, this is not.

 

In The Fox and the Devil Anneke Van Helsing chases down the woman responsible for a rash of insidious suicides all over Europe. As she gets closer to the mysterious woman she becomes consumed by the obsessive chase, much to the detriment of those around her.

 

It's an intriguing premise, the romance was engaging but the book as a whole is extremely slow. There are large swaths of time where nothing really seems to happen. At Times I felt like I was slogging through the novel. That being said, again it's well written, I just found the pacing off. That being said, the ending was satisfying, and I felt a sense of accomplishment finishing this novel.

 

If you like sapphic supernatural mysteries, this is definitely worth your time, but if those aren't your jam, you may want to pass on this novel, which, although good, really makes you work for it.

A Dowry of Blood review

 

Book: A Dowry of Blood

Author: S.T. Gibson

Pages: 305

Date(s) Read: March 3^rd, 2026 to April 11^th, 2026

Date Published: January 31^st, 2021

Rating: 5/5

Genre: Gothic, Vampires, Sapphic

Characters: 5/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 5/5

Format: Hard Cover

Date Bought: 2025

Book Cost: $80.00 special edition

Review

A Dowry Of Blood is magnificent piece of Gothic Romance. I reread this special edition in a short time, devouring it quicker than my first read through.

 

In this harrowing but beguiling story we follow Constanta, one of Draculas brides. This intricate and exquisite tale is a love letter to Dracula, about why the relationship ended in the culmination of a brutal act of self-preservation.

 

Beautiful and poetic this work of art is both substance and aesthetic. Written in a way that is simple and elegant yet lyrical this novel is a fast-paced romantic horror that is an excellent quick read. You'll savor every word of this novel.

 

Character dynamics between Dracula and his three brides are deep, meaningful, and full of passion. I found the relationship between Alexi and Constanta particularly intriguing.

 

The special edition I read featured an epilogue that was thoroughly rewarding, as well as the beginning from Draculas perspective.

 

If you like Gothic romance, vampires, and or horror this one is a novel you absolutely must buy. It's not enough to read it. This should be in your collection.

A Little Bite review

 

Book: A Little Bite

Author: Lauretta Hignett

Pages: 247

Date(s) Read: March 11^th, 2026 to April 5^th, 2026

Date Published: December 15^th, 2025

Rating: 4/5

Genre: Vampires

Characters: 4/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 3/5

Ending:  4/5

Cover: 4/5

Format: Kindle

Date Bought: December 25^th, 2025

Book Cost: $4.99

Review

In this book Marie is a newly turned teenage vampire. She's also a bit of a know-it-all. There's also an angel on her shoulder too. When the previous occupant of her room is murdered she is accepted to Eternity college where she can pursue her degree at night. While getting settled in she decided to take it upon herself to solve the murder of the previous tenant.

 

This book has some character development, great action, and interesting family drama. It's all very weird but I have to admit I enjoyed this novel and sped through it.

 

If you're looking for a quirky vampire novel this one's for you.

How Does It Feel? review

 

Book: How Does It Feel?

Author: Jeneane O’Riley

Pages: 388

Date(s) Read: March 1^st, 2026 to April 2^nd, 2026

Date Published: March 1^st, 2023

Rating: 3/5

Genre: Romantasy, Fae

Characters: 3/5

Writing style: 3/5

Story: 3/5

Ending:  3/5

Cover: 2/5

Format: Kindle

Date Bought: March 16^th, 2026

Book Cost: $7.49

Review

How does it feel is kind of a hot mess. It doesn't really have any atmosphere, the romance feels forced, and the twist ending feels like it doesn't quite fit.

 

In 'How Does It Feel?' Callie Peterson is looking for mushrooms when she ends up falling into the realm of the fae. There, she meets the ruthless and dangerous Mendax, prince of the unseelie fae. He's sure she's an assassin and proceeds to try to kill her. Of course, romance ensues.

 

The romance feels very instalove. I felt like there was no chemistry at all. It was just an instantaneous I have to have her vibes from Mendax which was more unrealistic than her falling into the realm of the fae.

 

Is this a bad book? No. Is it a good book? I'm not sure. Am I curious about what happens next? Kind of so I guess that's a good sign right?

Fairydale review

 

Book: Fairydale

Author: Veronica Lancet

Pages: 630

Date(s) Read: January 1^st, 2026 to April 1^st, 2026

Date Published: August 12, 2022

Rating: 5/5

Genre: Gothic, Romance

Characters: 5/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 4/5

Format: Soft Cover

Date Bought: December 9^th, 2025

Book Cost: $20.09

Review:

Fairydale is a beautiful work of gothic fiction. Multi-layered with a multi-timeline this book has everything you could ask for from a gothic romance novel.

 

In Fairydale our fmc Darcy goes to the titular town for an inheritance. What she finds there is mystery, secrets, romance, and visions of prior lives. It's hard to say much without giving things away. This book is multifaceted with an incredible amount of depth and detail that culminate in satisfying and shocking reveals.

 

There's two main love interests, Amon, and Caleb who is quite the enigma. While I had a hard time understanding Caleb and his motives I found myself swooning for Amon just as the main character does as she relives a past life where Amon is the center of the romantic attraction. Amon is as morally grey as it gets, if you love that, you will devour this book. This book has real touch-her-and-die vibes.

 

I loved the chemistry between the love interests. Watching our fmc's fall for Amon over different timelines was so much fun. There's a lot of romance here (and some great sex that can at times be a little odd but still somehow works too). The first half of the book is filled with such longing and desire I was constantly swooning.  The sex is hot and doesn't detract from the story; it supports it and the romance, which is what I like from sex scenes. I hate when it's just mindless sex thrown in with no point to it, as those are the times when it's a chore to get through - not here though. The sex serves to highlight the intimacy of the romance and relationships. 

 

The overall story and mysteries of the book are enticing and keep the momentum going between the romances leading to a compulsively readable gothic tale. There's a haunted town, scary church, mysterious plague and deaths, as well as interesting and complicated interpersonal dynamics between the townspeople.

 

Truly this book has it all and is a crown jewel in the genre of gothic fiction. It's got all the vibes and atmosphere as well as romance that is truly memorable and engaging. If you even slightly like romance then this one needs to be added to your tbr immediately.  

Gods & Monsters review

 

Book: Gods & Monsters

Author: Shelby Mahurin

Pages: 623

Date(s) Read: January 1^st, 2026 to March 3^rd, 2026

Date Published: July 21^st, 2021

Rating: 5/5

Genre: Fantasy, Romantasy, Witches

Characters: 5/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 3/5

Format: Soft Cover

Date Bought: March 8^th, 2025

Book Cost: $10.00

Review:

This was an excellent conclusion to the Serpent and Dove trilogy. If you liked the previous two novels you will be thoroughly satisfied with this epic conclusion to the romantasy trilogy. 

Heat of the Everflame review

 

Book: Heat of the Everflame

Author: Penn Cole

Pages: 825

Date(s) Read: January 1^st, 2026 to March 30^th, 2026

Date Published: September 12, 2023

Rating: 4/5

Genre: Fantasy, Romantasy

Characters: 5/5

Writing style: 3/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 3/5

Format: Hard Cover

Date Bought: May 7^th, 2025

Book Cost: $19.95

Review:

Heat of the Everflame is an epic journey through Diems world that is full of drama, twists and turns, romance, grand battles, and touching emotional moments, but it's also long-winded and slow. Most of the time, I felt like it was an arduous task to get through this 825-page behemoth, and I felt every single page of this book. I needed Adderall just to finish the book. Don't get me wrong, it's a good book, but more often than not it drags.

 

In Heat of the Everflame, Diem struggles between her need to help the innocent descended and save the mortals. As Diem endeavors to do her best to help everyone, a bigger threat looms on the horizon. 

 

Despite this feeling like the book that just wouldn't end, it is full of exciting action set pieces, found family, passionate romance, exciting mysteries, and an ending you won't see coming. There's a lot of character development and interesting family dynamics at play here too.

 

Heat of the Everflame is a satisfying albeit agonizingly slow novel that's worth reading, even if it takes you months like it did for me.