Blood and Steel review

 

Book: Blood and Steel

Author: Helen Scheuerer

Pages: 550

Date(s) Read: October 21^st, 2025 to November 18^th, 2025

Date Published: February, 13^th 2013

Rating: 5/5

Genre: Fantasy, Romantasy

Characters: 4/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 3/5 (Arcane Society)

Format: Hard Cover

Date Bought: August 3^rd, 2025

Blood and Steel is an exciting romantasy that has everything you could ask for. I loved every moment of this fast-paced, action-packed fantasy.

 

All Althea Zoltaire wants to be is a warrior, something forbidden for women in Thezmarr. Her only desire has been to be one of the renowned Warswords of the realm. Unwilling to give up she becomes entangled with Warsword Wilder Hawthorne, the most vicious of all Warswords. Althea has just three years to make herself a legend, because in 3 years she will die.

 

Althea is not a particularly standout fmc but that doesn't detract from how much fun I had reading this novel. She's stubborn and driven, which is to be expected of female leads for romantasy books but I nonetheless enjoyed reading her journey. Her friends and peers are lovable and interesting. I found myself equally invested in the choices and decisions her friends and sister had to make.

 

There's nothing new or fresh here, but that's okay, there doesn't have to be. It's a blast to read and hits all the major romantasy hallmarks. Blood and Steel is a fabulous first novel.

 

A Fiery Spirit review

 

Book: A Fiery Spirit

Author: Kate Chenli

Pages: 336

Date(s) Read: October 9^th, 2025 to November 17^th, 2025

Date Published: June 17^th, 2025

Rating: 3/5

Genre: Fantasy, Romantasy, Asian Fantasy

Characters: 4/5

Writing style: 3/5

Story: 3/5

Ending:  4/5

Cover: 4/5

Format: Hard Cover

Date Bought: June 17^th, 2025       

Book Cost: 20.56

A Fiery Spirit wraps up the duology in a nice and neat way, but at times can feel very messy up until that point. There's also so much going on it's hard to keep track.

Savage Blooms review

 

Book: Savage Blooms

Author: S.T. Gibson

Pages: 460

Date(s) Read: October 7^th,2025 to November 16^th, 2025

Date Published: October 7^th, 2025

Rating: 4/5

Genre: Gothic, Fae, Erotica

Characters: 4/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 3/5

Ending:  4/5

Cover: 3/5

Format: Hard Cover

Date Bought: August 3^rd, 2025

Book Cost: 0.00 (gift)

Review:

Savage Blooms is a gothic novel that's part dark academia, part erotic thriller. It's a well-written book with an intriguing premise, but the sexual component tends to overpower the rest of the story and ground the progress of the initial mystery to a halt.

 

In Savage Blooms, Adam and his friend Nicola journey to a foreign country with clues about his deceased grandfather's mysterious past, leading them to an estate. In a bid to find out more of the mythical estate his grandfather talked about in his stories, he meets the heiress of the estate, Eileen. As Eileen draws Adam and Nicola into her dark world of sex, secrets, and magic Adam begins wondering if Eileen is too good to be true.

 

I enjoyed not only the writing style and atmosphere of this book but also the general mystery surrounding Adam's grandfather's mysterious past. That being said, I sometimes felt like the sex included way too many explanations on consent, as if it's a for-dummies book. There were also so many scenes that they really slowed down the actual plot of the story. The sex scenes are hot and well written but take up about 70 percent of the book which is too much for a novel that was supposed to have a story.

 

It's a good book but it's very slowly paced, with any advancement in the story halted by constant sexual scenes, some of which are just about consent and not actual sex.

Dark Fever review

 

Book: Dark Fever

Author: Karen Marie Moning

Pages: 306

Date(s) Read: September 18^th, 2025 to November 10^th, 2025

Date Published: October 31^st, 2006

Rating: 3/5

Genre: Fantasy, Fae, Urban Fantasy

Characters: 2/5

Writing style: 3/5

Story: 4/5

Ending:  4/5

Cover: 2/5

Format: Soft Cover

Date Bought: August 25^th, 2025

Book Cost: 16.74

Review:

I found Dark Fever to be a compelling story but the characters aren't particularly likable or interesting and the writing style was such that the book felt longer and slower than it was.

 

In Dark Fever Mac goes to Ireland to investigate her sister Alinas death and finds more than she bargained for. As she dives deep into her investigation of her sister's murder she discovers she is a sidhe-seer. As she's drawn more into the world of the fae she meets the enigmatic bookstore owner Barrons who takes her on a desperate search for answers.

 

The story was at times engrossing and compelling. I enjoyed the mystery portion but I never felt like I really connected with Mac the fmc. She's spoiled, shallow, and arrogant. I also don't know if I needed all of the detail about her outfits. As a character that comes from a place of incredible privilege in every way I felt like she was lacking in any relatability.

 

The writing style is okay, nothing was terrible, but nothing wowed me either and at times the book felt much longer than it was. There were so many times I found myself slogging through this novel.

 

...Though I am still interested enough that I bought the second book. This book is a 3.75 for me, not great but I'm invested enough to try again. The story is good, maybe the other stuff will improve with the next book.

Funny Story review

 

Book: Funny Story

Author: Emily Henry

Pages: 395

Date(s) Read: October 13^th, 2025 to November 9^th, 2025

Date Published: February 5^th, 2025

Rating: 5/5

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Rom-com

Characters: 5/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 2/5

Format: Soft Cover

Date Bought: June 9^th, 2025

Review:

Contemporary romance is a genre I don't often read. It's not really my thing, but for some reason I was hooked on this book from page 1. I loved everything about this book.

 

In this novel, Peter dumps his fiancée Daphne while Petra dumps her boyfriend Miles so they can be together. Now Miles needs a roommate and Daphne needs a place to stay. See where this is going? This novel was so funny and yet also moving as well as incredibly insightful. I laughed and cried.

 

The pacing was so perfect and the writing style is easy to fall into. I also really adored the characters. There's so much diversity in the characters, they feel like real people. I really empathized with our female main character and our male main character. There was never a moment I didn't like either one as a person. Miles might be my favorite male main character of all time.

 

I'm usually a romantasy girlie but I fell in love with this book and you will too if you just read it.   

Annie Bot

 

Book: Annie Bot

Author: Sierra Greer

Pages: 240

Date(s) Read: November 7^th, 2025 to November 11^th, 2025

Date Published: March 19^th, 2024

Rating: 5/5

Genre:  Sci-Fi

Characters: 5/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  3/5

Cover: 2/5

Format: Hard Cover

Date Bought: June 10^th, 2024

Book Cost: 15.79

This was a reread for me and I have to say it was just as good the second time around as the first.

 

In this mesmerizing novel, Annie, a former cuddle buddy companion robot, is owned by Doug. When he has Annie set as an autodidactic robot, everything changes for her. As she begins to learn things and form a personality, she ponders her place in the world, and in Dougs world.

 

This novel is smart and compelling. I found Annies gradual growth to be so engaging I constantly found myself glued to the novel anticipating not only Annie's actions but her thoughts and observations. Annie bot explores the main character in such a nuanced and in-depth way. I found the other characters just as compelling.

 

The story starts at a brisk pace, and things just accelerate from there. I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. That being said, the ending is a little disappointing and abrupt, but this novel is still 5 star because it's written that well.

 

If you are looking for a deep, emotional, and thought-provoking story about what it is to simply be, this book is it.

A Poison Study review

 

Book: A Poison Study

Author: Maria V. Snyder

Pages: 368

Date(s) Read: September 21^st, 2025 to November 2^nd, 2025

Date Published: September 27^th, 2005

Rating: 4/5

Genre:  Fantasy, Romantasy,

Characters: 5/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 4/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 4/5

Format: Hard Cover

Date Bought: September 12^th, 2025

Book Cost: 2.34

Review:

Poison Study may be 20 years old but it reads like a modern romantasy. Don't let the age put you off like it almost did me, this is a really good book.

 

In Poison Study Yelena is given an offer she can't refuse. Sentenced to death for murder, she is given an opportunity to be released from prison and her impending death sentence; all she has to do is act as a food taster for Commander Ambrose. No problem, right? Serving directly under Commander Ambroses' right-hand man Valek, Yelena learns to taste food for poisons while learning to fight, dodging assassins, uncovering a conspiracy, making friends, and falling in love.

 

A Poison Study is a fun, fast-paced romantasy that is a good time. I'll admit it's predictable and not the most original romantasy with typical story beats, but it's a really enjoyable book that can be a real page turner. The characters are diverse and interesting. Yelena is a main character you will love following. She's resilient, smart, and driven. If you liked Kenna in Servant of Earth you will love this equally sharp-witted fmc.

 

There's nothing groundbreaking about a Poison Study which can be at times formulaic and predictable but that's not to say a Poison Study isn't worth the read. If you like romantasy novels, you'll love this one. How memorable it will be following your reading, I can't say, but you'll definitely love every moment of it.