Spark of the Everflame review

 Book: Spark of the Everflame

Author: Penn Cole

Pages: 400

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

Date Published: June 1^st, 2023

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: February 22^nd, 2025

Book Cost: 17.48

Review:

Spark of the Everflame was a fast and fun romantasy that I finished the last 50 percent of in one sitting, my attention was completely rapt.

 

Diem Bellator is a healer, she's been trained by the best, her mother. When her mother disappears suddenly Diem is thrust into the role of palace healer for the upper class, giving her access to a world full of intrigue and opportunity. While Diem grapples with the path she's on she falls in with a rebel group she is excited to help until she discovers the real cost of war. As Diem investigates her missing mother she learns some very hard truths about herself and begins to see a different future for herself than the one she's always envisioned.

 

Spark of the Everflame has robust, strong world-building. The setting of the opulent upper class lording over the downtrodden may not necessarily be new ground tread but it makes for an entertaining read. The author poses interesting moral questions for our heroine regarding whether the ends justify the means which is not something romantasy usually tackles. It makes for interesting moral quandaries Diem is forced to confront, especially given her role as a healer and her desire for justice. How far is too far though?

 

The characters in Diems world aren't particularly unique and play on traditional old romantasy tropes but that doesn't make me any less invested in the possibility of romance with high-born Luther or her changing relationship with the boy next door. Diem herself is a brash and impulsive character but she's full of compassion and empathy that really make her a memorable heroine.

 

This book doesn't bring anything new to the world of romantasy but it doesn't need to. It sticks with tried-and-true tropes that work well for a reason. Spark of the Everflame may not rock your world but it will thoroughly entertain you.

The Rose Bargain review

 Book: The Rose Bargain

Author: Sasha Peyton Smith

Pages: 400

Date(s) Read: February 22^nd, 2025 to March 13^th, 2025

Date Published: February 4^th, 2025

Rating: 4/5

Genre:  Fantasy

Characters: 4/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 4/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 4/5

Format: Hard Cover

Date Bought: February 4^th, 2025

Book Cost: 15.99

Review:

The Rose Bargain is an effervescent storybook fantasy that is a unique amalgamation of a BBC period piece drama and fae romantasy. What it lacks in detail and depth it makes up for in whimsy and ambience. It's a fun and twisted fairytale that will keep you entranced.

 

The Rose Bargain takes place in an alternative world where Faerie Queen Moryen became the queen of England during the War of the Roses in the 1400s. It's now the 1800s and she's been ruling for over 400 years. When girls come of age and make their debut in society they make bargains with Queen Moryen where she takes for everything she gives. This year there will be bargains, and something momentous, her son will take a wife. The Queen holds a contest for her son Bram's hand in marriage. To restore her family name and honor, Ivy Benton steps forward as a competitor for the groom. While trying to win the affections of Bram Ivy finds herself falling for his brother, Emmett.

 

This story did a lot of things well. The characters are interesting, you're given snippets of the other girls points of view and those are quite compelling. I loved the relationship between the girls competing and found myself more invested in each girl as time went on. Ivy Benton is a charming heroine you won't have a problem rooting for.

 

That all being said, there are some niggling issues for me that got in the way of this work being a 5 star read. I found the world building lacking in depth and dimension, we are told that the queens rule is deplorable and she has to be toppled, but we're never really given any specific acts of her malfeasance that make her villain worthy. There was a lack of chemistry between Ivy and Emmett even though it's a principal part of the story. She's attracted to Emmett, but I never understood the reasons for the allure that she felt for him. Everything about the story is superficial, including the world itself. Moryen has been Queen for over 400 years, but we know nothing of the political system and societal rules that govern this world. If you are looking for comprehensive world building you won't find it here. There's also a twist at the end that I could see a mile away.

 

Despite The Rose Bargains' imperfections, I will be coming back for the second part in this duology to see how the story ultimately transpires because I found that while the world itself felt a bit hurried, I have more than a cursory interest in what happens to Ivy and the other girls. If you're looking for fairytale vibes and preternatural beings, this book will certainly scratch that itch.

The Road of Bones review

 Book: The Road of Bones

Author: Demi Winter

Pages: 539

Date(s) Read: January 31^st, 2025 to March 13^th, 2025

Date Published: June 27^th, 2023

Rating: 5/5

Genre:  Fantasy

Characters: 5/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 3/5

Format: Hard Cover

Date Bought: November 1^st, 2024

Book Cost: 17.99

Review:

The Road of Bones is an epic fantasy that had me on the edge of my seat. While it's a big book you won't notice as you speed through this addictive and compelling page turner.

 

Silla is on the run and her only clue to safety is a letter to her father about safe arrangements in a far away city. Determined to reach her destination Silla sneaks into the wagon of the fierce Blood Axe Crew where she meets a diverse and motley group of warriors. As they become entwined they traverse the dangerous road of bones where fierce warriors and vicious creatures lie in wait.

 

Silla is a lovable female lead despite her myriad of mistakes and lies that put others at risk, somehow you still find yourself rooting for her. I became so invested in her story I found myself finishing the last 100 pages at work desperate to find out what happens to her and the rest of the Blood Axe Crew.

 

This novel has everything: perfect pace, an addictive romance, an engrossing adventure, a fierce heroine, and even a mystery as an evasive killer looms in the horizon striking various regions. If I could I would give this book 6 stars. It's the best thing I've read this year by far and if you have even a passing interest in fantasy with a female main character you need to rush to the store to grab a copy of The Road of Bones.

The Lotus Shoes review

 Book: The Lotus Shoes

Author: Jane Yang

Pages: 400

Date(s) Read: March 1^st, 2025 to March 12^th, 2025

Date Published: January 7^th, 2025

Rating: 5/5

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Characters: 5/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 5/5

Format: Hard Cover

Date Bought: January 7^th, 2025

Book Cost: 22.99

Review:

The Lotus Shoes is a tale of perseverance in the face of China's misogynist class system that makes upward mobility a near impossibility. It's a fast paced historical fiction that is both heart rending and hopeful at once.

 

In the Lotus Shoes Little Flower is sold into slavery to Linjings family as the young girls muizai. Throughout the years the girls must weather growing up, tremendous upheaval, and scandal.

 

I found Little Flower to be a sympathetic main character that is full of heart, determination, grit, and compassion. Linjing is her foil and hinders Little Flower at every turn making her a character that is hard to like. Despite Linjings odious personality her character growth is satisfying and I found the end rewarding.

 

It's not the most stand out or notable historical fiction but The Lotus Shoes is good. It's a competent tale of the ties that bind women, of how women can help and hinder one another in a society where women have little agency.

I Am Not Jessica Chen review

 Book: I Am Not Jessica Chen

Author: Ann Liang

Pages: 308

Date(s) Read: March 2^nd, 2025 to March 10^th, 2025

Date Published: January 28^th, 2025

Rating: 5/5

Genre:  Asian Fiction

Characters: 5/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 5/5

Format: Hardcover

Date Bought: January 28^th, 2025

Book Cost: 17.99

Review:

I Am Not Jessica Chen is a profound and moving work. It's a beautiful, touching, and moving work of literature that is impactful, especially for the age group it is geared towards. I'll admit I rushed to preorder this book when I saw the cover, an artist myself, I found the cover to be a stunning work of art on its own and couldn't resist the allure of a beautiful portrait. The premise was interesting too.

 

Jenna Chen is an artist who feels that no matter how hard she pushes herself she's just never good enough. She has a very negative perception of herself as a person culminating in an extremely low self worth (oh! how I could relate to this). To Jenna, her cousin Jessica is the antithesis of her. Jessica is beautiful, graceful, intelligent and successful. She was born to be successful.  Jenna wishes for nothing else than to be Jesssica. After wishing upon a star Jenna wakes up to her dream come true but starts to find out high successes and expectations can be crushing benchmarks even for the academically inclined. Jenna learns to see her world and self through a different lense as she navigates the world while inhabiting Jessica's body.

 

As someone who has always struggled with self-worth I found Jenna to be relatable in nearly every way. I felt like her as a teen and still do when I compare myself to my coworkers, which I admit is more often than not. This not only teaches us to love ourselves and appreciate our own lives but challenges society's expectations of the classical model student as well as the expectations we unnecessarily place on ourselves.

 

I am not Jessica Chen is an entertaining teen novel that's highly relatable. This book will leave a profound impact on any teen whose ever struggled with low self-worth. This book will stay with you long after you've finished the last page.

Redemption review

 Book: Redemption                      

Author: Cathy Greco

Pages: 375

Date(s) Read: March 6^th, 2025 to March 9^th, 2025

Date Published: January 27^th, 2025

Rating: 3/5

Genre:  Horror

Characters: 2/5

Writing style: 3/5

Story: 3/5

Ending:  3/5

Cover: 3/5

Format: Digital

Date Bought: March 6^th, 2025

Book Cost: 0.00

Review

I would like to thank BookSirens for the ARC of this novel.

 

This book has all of the makings of a good novel but the end results are less than stellar. Riddled with misplaced and misspelled words, this novel feels like it was thrown together in an afternoon. Certainly, there is a good idea in there and a writer who is adept at keeping your eyes to the page, but that doesn't make up for the myriad of problems marring this work.

 

Jessica is a stage actress who suddenly becomes embroiled in a game of life or death when she rescues a vampire from certain death. The premise is intriguing enough, but the results are sloppy and highly underdeveloped.

 

We meet a cast whose backstories are never fully fleshed out. Jessica has bizarre reactions to the things and events happening around her. The reason we're given for Jesssica's instability is flimsy at best. We never get a proper background to the games themselves and their development. One of the characters hints that there might be a vampire council of sorts, but this is only mentioned in a one or two sentence aside. There is absolutely no world building here. The big reveal for why our dour hero feels so guilty is underwhelming at best.

 

Still, for all of the negatives, and there are plenty, I was able to read this with rapt attention. The author isn't a bad writer, but this book needs actual world building, a stronger foundation, fully fleshed out backstories to the characters, and an editor. I really can't decide on whether this book deserves a 2 or a 3, but settled on giving it a three because it did at the least hold my attention and kept me coming back to read more.

Forest of Dreams and Whispers review

 Book: Forest of Dreams and Whispers

Author: Katherine Macdonald

Pages: 417

Date(s) Read: February 4^th, 2025 to March 5^th, 2025

Date Published: July 22^nd, 2022

Rating: 4/5

Genre:  Fantasy

Characters: 5/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 2/5

Format: Soft Cover

Date Bought: February 1^st, 2025

Book Cost: 13.49

Review:

Forest of Dreams and Whispers is a fun-filled romantasy romp through the world of the Fae. This novel may not tread new ground but it's highly entertaining. If you're looking for a romantasy that checks all the boxes: action, drama, witty banter, and a friends to lovers romance this book has it all in spades.

 

In Forest of Dreams and Whispers, we follow Juliana, a bodyguard to Prince Hawthorn of Fairy. In this gender-reverse spin on Sleeping Beauty, we see Juliana battle the forces of evil to save the prince and the day.

 

There wasn't a dull moment in this book or any parts that lingered too long. The pacing is perfect and the story unfolds in a way that has you desperate to know what happens next, even if you already kind of do because it's familiar ground. The characters are endearing, and the dialogue is hysterical. Conversations and banter between Juliana and Hawthorn make the book alone worth reading.

 

Forest of Dreams and Whispers won't leave you shook, it's not particularly deep, and it brings nothing new to the table but it is nonetheless a delightful romantasy novel that you will enjoy every moment of. Will I remember this novel in a year? Probably not. But will I have a blast spending time with Juliana and Hawthorn? Most definitely.

This Could Be Us review

 Book: This Could Be Us

Author: Kennedy Ryan

Pages: 416

Date(s) Read: February 1^st, 2025 to March 1^st, 2025

Date Published: March 5^th, 2024

Rating: 5/5

Genre:  Romance

Characters: 5/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 5/5

Format: Soft Cover

Date Bought: December 12^th, 2024.

Book Cost: 11.99

Favorite Quotes:

“She loves an underserving man. It’s a sorrow most women experience at some point in their lives, whether it’s a father who neglects or a son who forgets or a husband who betrays”.

“I am the love of my life. I have learned to love myself without judgment or condition”.

Review:

This Could Be Us is a magnificent, poignant, and intense story about the deep-seated love we should have, not for others, but for ourselves. It's a story about the impassioned and ardent love of the self. This novel is life-affirming, uplifting, and inspirational.

 

In this scintillating and sanguine work of fiction, we see Soledad Charles go from the life of a glamorous housewife to the life of a struggling single parent provider just trying to keep a roof over her head after her husband not only cheats on her but is jailed for embezzling money from his employer. During Soledad's sojourn of self-discovery, she has to tackle finding a way to survive and ultimately thrive on her own as the divorcee of an ex-con.  While confronting the devastation her ex-husband has left her with, she falls in love with Judah Cross, the man who put her husband in jail.

 

Soledad is a woman of incredible inner strength, compassion, and fortitude who is surrounded by friends and family that cherish and invigorate her. Relationships with the women in her lives are aspirational and inspirational. Frequently books geared towards women, especially romance, feature toxic love interests and harmful relationships. You won't find any of that negativity in this refreshing narrative.

 

I loved everything about this book from its cover to the last page. The book is a fast-paced page turner that even those who aren't into romance will love. It's the most inspirational and empowering work of fiction I've come across.  I can't recommend this novel enough; every woman should have a copy of This Could Be Us on her shelves.