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.

Daggermouth review

 

Book: Daggermouth

Author: H. M. Wolfe

Pages: 564

Date(s) Read: March 1^st, 2026 to March 27^th, 2026

Date Published: March 3^rd, 2026

Rating: 5/5

Genre: Dystopian

Characters: 5/5

Writing style: 4/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 4/5

Format: Kindle

Date Bought: N/A

Book Cost: 0.00

Review

In a corrupt dystopian surveillance society, where people hide their true faces behind masks, the singular president Maximus Serel presides over all.  When his son and executioner Greyson has a hit put out on him, it's Daggermouth assassin Shadera's responsibility to end him. What should be a straightforward hit becomes complicated when Greyson shows her his face and survives the murder attempt. Suddenly, they are forced to work together, if they can keep from killing each other in this true enemies to lovers romance.

 

Daggermouth is an excellent novel, fast-paced with high-octane action and a slow-burn romance. This novel has excellent pacing; there's never a moment that feels slow or overwrought.

 

The characters that inhabit this dark, dystopian world are multi-faceted, intriguing, and engaging. I was fascinated by Shadera's drive and ambition, her relentless nature, and her sheer strength of character. The supporting cast is equally interesting, and you'll find yourself drawn to their stories and motivations just as much as the fmc and mmc.

 

Daggermouth is an exciting and explosive novel that will shock you. It's full of twists and the ending revelations will stun you. This cliffhanger ending will make sure you're waiting with bated breath for book 2. 

To Cage a Wild Bird review

 

Book: To Cage a Wild Bird

Author: Brooke Fast

Pages: 363

Date(s) Read: March 1^st, 2026 to March 20^th, 2026

Date Published: September 9^th, 2025

Rating: 4/5

Genre: Dystopian, Romantasy

Characters: 4/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 4/5

Ending:  4/5

Cover: 2/5

Format: Kindle

Date Bought: N/A

Book Cost: 0.00

Review:

To Cage a Wild Bird is a solid dystopian novel with a fleshed-out setting that gives just enough detail and information, as well as likable characters you'll find yourself rooting for, and, as an added bonus, a swoon-worthy romance.

 

In 'To Cage a Wild Bird', we see bounty hunter Raven orchestrate her arrest and introduction to Endlock prison so she can be reunited with her brother, who's already been sent there. At Endlock the prisoners are hunted by the wealthy elite, for a price. Raven needs to find her brother fast, but first she must survive the hunts long enough to reach him.

 

I can't say there was anything bad about this novel but I also can't say anything rocked my shit. This novel is good, a definite page-turner but there's nothing stand out about the characters, setting, or story. You've seen it all before. But what this novel rehashes and does, it does well. To Cage a Wild Bird is worth your time if you're a fan of romantasy and looking to dip your toes into dystopian fiction.

A Feather so Black review

 

Book: A Feather so Black

Author: Lyra Selene

Pages: 482

Date(s) Read: January 1^st, 2026 to March 16^th, 2026

Date Published: March 12^th, 2024

Rating: 4/5

Genre: Fae, Romantasy

Characters: 4/5

Writing style: 2/5

Story: 4/5

Ending:  4/5

Cover: 3/5

Format: Soft Cover

Date Bought: June 30^th, 2025

Book Cost: $6.70

Review:

A feather so Black is both languorous and overwrought, yet I felt the inclination to keep going with the story because the premise was too intriguing to DNF. I was rewarded with a story that was engaging and unexpected, despite the stilted writing style.

 

In this story, laden with Irish folklore, we follow Fia. Fia is a changeling sent in the place of the queens daughter Eala when she is whisked away by the folk. The queen has spent her time honing Fia into a brutal weapon but Fia yearns for love. Along with the prince and lover of her youth, Rogan, Fia is sent to once and for all rescue Eala as well as retrieve a weapon for her mother. This becomes a complicated mission when Rogan and Fia find all is not as it seems for Eala and the other maidens spirited away from lands far and close.

 

The writing style is poetic and beautiful at times, but more often than not, it's a chore to read, which makes the story feel agonizingly long. It's very slow-paced and oftentimes there are long chapters where nothing and everything seems to happen.  The story is good, the writing, leaves a lot to be desired.

 

That all being said I'd still recommend this book. It's a fairytale fantasy that is adult and unique, with a riveting premise that more than makes up slogging through such a slow and labor-intensive writing style. The ending was a surprise, as was the ultimate love interest she ends up with.