Kingdom of Claw review

 

Book: Kingdom of Claw

Author: Demi Winters

Pages: 626

Date(s) Read: March 28^th, 2025 to July 14^th, 2025

Date Published: February 21^st, 2025

Rating: 5/5

Genre:  Fantasy

Characters: 5/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 3/5

Format: Hardcover

Date Bought: March 1^st, 2025

Book Cost: 18.00

Review:

Kingdom of Claw is a worthy successor to The Road of Bones.

 

We follow Silla, and her sister Saga on the road to to regain all they've lost. This book is full of romance, intrigue, vicious bad guys, memorable fights, lovable characters, and a lot of magic. Demi Winters is proving herself to be the queen of Norse inspired fantasy.

 

Silla and Saga both are worthy heroines I loved following. Initially I was apprehensive about the addition of Saga but I found myself at times even more invested in her story than Silla's due to her precarious position.  I am eager for the next book's release.

 

If you read The Road or Bones and loved it as much as I did then Kingdom of Claw needs to be your next read. If you haven't read it, what are you waiting for? The Road of Bones is the best Norse inspired fantasy I've read and also one of the very top romantasy books I've ever read.

Lock Every Door review

 

Book: Lock Every Door

Author: Riley Sager

Pages: 400

Date(s) Read: May 12, 2025 to July 13^th, 2025

Date Published: May 5^th, 2020

Rating: 3/5

Genre:  Thriller

Characters: 3/5

Writing style: 3/5

Story: 3/5

Ending:  4/5

Cover: 3/5

Format: Soft Cover

Date Bought: August 10^th, 2024

Book Cost: 12.23

Review:

Lock Every Door is a solid thriller that somehow ends up feeling somewhat disappointing. It's not a bad book but the major plot twist ends up feeling a bit inadequate compared to what you think is going on. The ending also ties everything up nicely, but too nicely given the message of the book. I was hoping for a deeper remark on the classicism and wealthy of our society, but it never quite happens.

 

In Lock Every Door Jules is a struggling twenty something whose been recently dumped. In her desperation for cash she answers an ad for an apartment-sitting job that pays big bucks. Despite her friend warning her it seems too good to be true she decides to take the job. Obviously, it's too good to be true and things happen.

 

Jules isn't a bad heroine but she's hard to feel passionate about. I don't think I've ever felt so indifferent about a main character. The other characters I ended up feeling much the same way about with the exception of like one, that I wished the author had fleshed out more.

 

Lock Every Door isn't terrible, it's not even bad...it's just underwhelming in every aspect from the story, to the characters, to even the ending. It feels like it really could have been so much more.

Broken Souls and Bones review

 

Book: Broken Souls and Bones

Author: LJ Andrews

Pages: 476

Date(s) Read: May 19^th, 2025 to July 9^th, 2025

Date Published: April 29^th, 2025

Rating: 4/5

Genre:  Fantasy

Characters: 4/5

Writing style: 4/5

Story: 3/5

Ending:  4/5

Cover: 5/5

Format: Hard Cover

Date Bought: May 16^th, 2025

Book Cost: $25.06

Review:

Broken Souls and Bones is a good novel with lots of action and romance but it's not without its problems.

 

In this novel we follow Lyra, a rare melder who is whisked away to another kingdom to meld for the king. Her and her friends learn to adjust to their new kingdom while finding allies, making enemies, and trying to survive. Lyra becomes embroiled in a steamy romance with the one man she should hate, Roark.

 

While fun and fast paced with likable characters and your typical tropes such as found family and enemies to lovers I felt this novel could have been more coherent.

 

At times both the story and magic systems feel like a convoluted mess. A lot more clarity would have gone a long way. The fact that Roark can't speak and has to use sign language is an interesting detail and I like the representation but everyone understands everything he's trying to say like he's having a normal out loud conversation which makes me wonder what the point was. I also felt that at times, more often than not, the romance feels forced and contrived. These two are drawn to each other but we aren't given reasons why they really fall for one another, it's as if personality doesn't matter.

 

I know this comes off as harsh but I don't mean to be. I did really enjoy this novel, it was a fun fast paced book that had me constantly going back for more. The main characters were easy to love and the side romance is compelling. What this novel does well, it does very well and no matter what you will be entertained but I think there's a bit that could have been improved on.

 

If you're looking for a fun norse inspired romantasy this will do the trick, if you're looking for a romance with a deep soulful connection between the two lead characters you might want to look elsewhere because while this is technically enemies to lovers it's more insta love than anything.

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.