Die for Me review

 

Book: Die for Me

Author: Shirlene Obuobi

Pages: 416

Date(s) Read: August 7^th, 2026 to August 25^th, 2026

Date Published: July 14^th, 2026

Rating: 5/5

Genre: Gothic, Horror, Romance

Characters: 5/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 5/5

Format: Soft Cover

Date Bought: August 5^th, 2026

Book Cost: $20.56

Review:

Die for Me is a fabulous work of contemporary gothic horror romance.

 

In Die for Me our protagonist, Sean, a doctor, meets the enigmatic Julian at the second wedding of one of her colleagues. What starts off as a passionate romance becomes a nightmare when Sean realizes that there's more to the younger man than there appears.

 

I adored this novel. The passion, banter, and chemistry are off the charts. This novel is both intoxicating and suspenseful. I could not get enough of Sean and Julians romance.

 

I loved our heroine, Sean. She's a childfree, single woman who's older than your average fmc. She's a breath of fresh air. I loved her personality. She's resilient and highly moral. Julian is the younger man whose both charming and highly confident. I found him as alluring as she did.

 

If you want a solid romance with some mystery and suspense you will devour this novel.

The Twelve Kingdoms book 1 review

 

Book: The Twelve Kingdoms book 1

Author: Fuyumi Ono

Pages: 289

Date(s) Read: August 5^th, 2026 to August 25^th, 2026

Date Published: July 1^st, 2025

Rating: 4/5

Genre: Fantasy

Characters: 4/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 4/5

Ending:  4/5

Cover: 5/5

Format: Soft Cover

Date Bought: August 2^nd, 2026

Book Cost: $18.40

Review:

The Twelve Kingdoms book one is a fast-paced adventure that will please fantasy fans.

 

Youko is a normal high school student who is transported to a different world by a strange man. She is stranded with nothing but a sword she does not know how to use in this strange land and must learn to survive in a place inhabited by monsters and people with ulterior motives.

 

I enjoyed Youko's story. She is really a student who goes through the motions and just does what is expected of her without real thoughts of what she wants or a true sense of self. We really watch her grow as a person throughout the story.

 

The novel isn't without it's flaws, though. At times it moves too quickly, never staying long enough in one setting to feel like Youko gets her bearings. I also would have liked more character development for the main character as well as other characters. The book feels like it really just skims the surface of things in a superficial way at times.

 

That being said, it is a solid novel and definitely worth your time if your looking for a traditional fantasy world.

Steelborn review

 

Book: Steelborn

Author: Taylor J. LaRue

Pages: 432

Date(s) Read: August 4^th, 2026 to July 23^rd, 2026

Date Published: August 4^th, 2026

Rating: 4/5

Genre: Fantasy, Romantasy

Characters: 4/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 4/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 5/5

Format: Hardcover

Date Bought: July 6^th, 2026

Book Cost: $32.00

Review:

Steelborn was a fun, fast-paced, romantasy novel.

 

In Steelborn, Reya Connery is the thief known as the crimson dagger. When she frees an imprisoned woman, it sets off a chain of events that takes Reya on a massive journey where she finds friends, a lover, and herself.

 

I enjoyed the pacing and various settings. This book is a journey through various environments that make the story feel like a long adventure game. The action and journey never get old and are broken up by a romance that is both rewarding and intense.

 

While nothing here is completely new, the novel feels fresh. There's a tremendous amount of character development and revelations for Reya that really keep you invested in her sojourn. The relationship aspect also features conversations about where the relationship is going before the sex happens, which is something I haven't encountered before in a romantasy but is a big part of most people's relationships, so it was a welcome addition to an already great story.

 

I loved the characters, especially the pirate woman Kalue. The love interest is your typical romantasy lead, but he is more open to conversations and a future with her than male love interests typically are, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

 

This novel doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it is a good time and worthy addition to any romantasy lover's library.

A Dance of Lies review

 

Book: A Dance of Lies

Author: Brittney Arena

Pages: 448

Date(s) Read: July 26^th, 2026 to August 21^st, 2026

Date Published: June 20^th, 2025

Rating: 5/5

Genre: Fantasy, Romantasy

Characters: 5/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 4/5

Format: Hardcover

Date Bought: 2025

Book Cost: $40.00

Review:

A Dance of Lies is a jewel of a book. The world is lush and vibrant with an unforgettable story and noteworthy characters being led by a fantastic female lead who has various struggles both mental and physical, to overcome. The revelations and twists will have your jaw dropping.

 

In this fantasy world, full of the perfect amount of world-building, I should add, we are introduced to Vasalie Moran. Once the Kings Jewel she has spent the last two years wasting away in jail for a crime she didn't commit. King Illian is willing to release her if she acts as a spy for him during the crown's gathering on the Isle of Anell. While there, she meets a motley assortment of interesting, unique, and lovable characters with different and varied motivations and personalities. Vasalie longs to interact and make friends with others, but her precarious position as Illians spy keeps her from involving herself with others until a particularly devious request forces Vasalie to make some tough decisions.

 

This novel takes a lot of care in its handling of tough themes. Vasalie herself is left with permanent disabilities and changes to her body from the years in prison with malnourishment and lack of movement. Vasalie is a multifaceted heroine who has become my all-time favorite female main character. She struggles not only with various ailments, but also with deep psychological pain, and the morality surrounding betraying those around her in a bid to save herself. Never has a heroine struggled so much with such quandaries; it was really refreshing.

 

This book of course wouldn't be a romantasy without romance, and you will get a unique love triangle with two very different men in terms of looks, personality, and places in their respective societies. It's like night and day. Usually, when I read romantasy the various love interests are all highly similar: brooding and sulking, stoic males. You won't find that here; men have real personalities. They also both have fully fleshed-out pasts.

 

I have one complaint; it's a small one. It ends on a cliffhanger, and since it was just released, there's no book two yet, but rest assured, knowing that as soon as it's available for preorder, it's going to be at the top of my TBR.

 

If you have even a passing interest in romantasy and are looking for a heroine with more depth than usual and male love interests with personality that doesn't entail growling, then you need to run to your local bookstore and grab A Dance of Lies.

Bone of My Bone review

 

Book: Bone of My Bone

Author: Johanna van Veen

Pages: 368

Date(s) Read: June 14^th, 2026 to August 20^th, 2026

Date Published: May 26^th, 2026

Rating: 4/5

Genre: Sapphic, Horror

Characters: 4/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 4/5

Format: Soft Cover

Date Bought: May 26^th, 2026

Book Cost: $14.99

Review:

Bone Of My Bone is a moody and atmospheric Gothic tale of horror and love that will stay with you long after you've finished it.

 

In Bone of My Bone, a nun, Ursula, joins forces with Elsbeth, a worldly peasant girl, to reunite the head and body of a saint while being chased by a mad necromancer.

 

 

I loved this novel. It's dark and tragic but also brimming with a love and devotion like no other. It's as romantic as it is horrific.

 

if you like all things spooky, shadowy, and morbid, you will love this sapphic tale

Kingdom of the Wicked review

 

Book: Kingdom of the Wicked

Author: Kerri Maniscalco

Pages: 385

Date(s) Read: June 3^rd, 2026 to August 19^th, 2026

Date Published: October 27^th, 2020

Rating: 4/5

Genre: Fae, Romantasy

Characters: 4/5

Writing style: 3/5

Story: 4/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 3/5

Format: Soft Cover

Date Bought: December 8^th, 2025

Book Cost: $7.12

Review:

Kingdom Of the Wicked is a good, albeit slow novel that can really drag at times.

 

In Kingdom of the Wicked, a witch named Emilia seeks to uncover the truth behind the death of her twin sister Vittoria.

 

As someone of Sicilian descent, I enjoyed all of the cultural nods and intricacies. The setting was as much a character as any other.

 

I loved Emilias personality and her thirst for knowledge, her desire to do right by her sister. Wrath is a typical male lead in a romantasy, brooding and dark but sexy somehow. Antonio intrigued me the most.

 

Kingdom of the Wicked is a solid work of Gothic romantasy that will satisfy, but it can drag at times. knowing that, I'd still recommend this novel.

Tithe review (Illumicrate edition)

 

Book: Tithe

Author: Holly Black

Pages: 272

Date(s) Read: June 25^th, 2026 to August 17^th, 2026

Date Published: October 1^st, 2002

Rating: 5/5

Genre: Fae, Romantasy

Characters: 5/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 5/5

Format: Hard Cover (Illumicrate Edition)

Date Bought: June

Book Cost: $30.00

Review:

I read this book over 20 years ago in the early 2000s when I was a middle school student. I hated it, now though reading it again as a 35 year old I'm not sure what I hated so much about it. I think I was put off by Kayes and Ellen's relationship and Ellen in particular.

 

Kayes mother is super selfish, she struggles to make a living trying to live her dream as a singer but when you're a parent that's not fair. You should put your kid first and never once does Ellen do what's in the best interest of her daughter. Because of Kayes upbringing she is a high school drop out who steals, drinks, and smokes. She's kind of a bad kid.

 

She's rather impulsive and tenacious though which makes her interesting. As a 35 year old I found myself really rooting for her. When Kaye saves a mysterious handsome man her world is turned up side down. She finds out the truth about her circumstances and some of the magical abilities she has as well as her child hood friends. Kaye also makes friends with her bff's weird, standoffish brother.

 

I admit the story is unusual and trying to describe it without giving away big plot elements is something I found to be quite difficult. It's a good book though and really should be experienced, not just as one of Holly Blacks original works but as an early 2000s YA/Urban Fantasy. Over 20 years later it's still quite distinct.

 

I also read the Illumicrate edition which had insightful and interesting annotations from the author, beautiful endpage art, and a lovely hardcover illustration.