Week 5 Review: For She Is Wrath

From Goodreads:

A sweeping, Pakistani romantic fantasy retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, where one girl seeks revenge against those who betrayed her—including the boy she used to love.

Three hundred and sixty-four days.

Framed for a crime she didn't commit, Dania counts down her days in prison until she can exact revenge on Mazin, the boy responsible for her downfall, the boy she once loved—and still can't forget. When she discovers a fellow prisoner may have the key to exacting that vengeance--a stolen djinn treasure--they execute a daring escape together and search for the hidden treasure.

Armed with dark magic and a new identity, Dania enacts a plan to bring down those who betrayed her and her family, even though Mazin stands in her way. But seeking revenge becomes a complicated game of cat and mouse, especially when an undeniable fire still burns between them, and the power to destroy her enemies has a price. As Dania falls deeper into her web of traps and lies, she risks losing her humanity to her fight for vengeance--and her heart to the only boy she's ever loved.

My Review:


Author: Emily Varga
Read: January 31st, 2025
Source: Bought 
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a 2025 Retelling Reading Challenge Book, DAC Book and SAC 2025 Book! 
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Published: October 29th 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 5 Review: Vilest Things

From Goodreads:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Chloe Gong comes the thrilling sequel to Immortal Longings, inspired by Shakespeare's Antony & Cleopatra.

Calla Tuoleimi has succeeded in the impossible. Despite the odds, she has won San-Er's bloody games and eliminated King Kasa, her tyrant uncle and the former ruler of Talin. She serves now as royal advisor to Kasa's adopted son, August Shenzhi, who has risen to the throne.

Only Calla knows it isn't really August.

Anton Makusa is still furious about Calla's betrayal in the final round of the games. In an impossible feat, he took over August's body to survive, and has no intention of giving up this newfound power. But when his first love, the beautiful, explosive Otta Avia, awakens from a years-long coma and reveals a secret that threatens the monarchy's authority over Talin, chaos erupts. As tensions come to a boiling point, Calla and Anton must set their conflicts aside and head to the kingdom's far reaches to prevent anarchy… even if their empire might be better off burning.

My Review:


Author: Chloe Gong 
Series: Flesh and False Gods #2
Read: January 31st, 2025  
Source: Bought 
Reason Why: Love her writing and the first book, and it's a 2025 Retelling Reading Challenge Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: S&S/Saga Press
Published: September 10th 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 5 Review: I Am the Dark That Answers When You Call

From Goodreads:

Monsters and mortals, rejoice! Acheron is back . . .

Though Laure has tried to close the lid on her ballet shoes and the feelings she once held for dance since the Palais Garnier incident two months ago, Laure is spinning out. Between partying, drinking, and avoiding anything and, well, everyone, she has no time to be anything but a monster. But when Laure stumbles across a mysterious dead body during one of her nights out, she's forced to notice the cracks stretching beyond herself.

Below the streets of Paris, Elysium is dying, and Acheron and Lethe's influence is spilling into the streets like a blight. Laure isn't the only of Elysium's beasts to rise from the ruins of Palais Garnier, and someone is mobilizing an army of monsters with plans greater than Laure, Andor, and Keturah could have ever guessed. While Laure is warring between her wants and Acheron's ever-demanding appetite, she and her circle of monsters are left to reckon with a not-so-simple how do you save yourself from oblivion?

Jamison Shea's sharp and unflinching voice will bring readers to terrifying new heights in this vicious sequel to the "relentlessly gory and almost euphoric in its embrace of the horrific" (NPR) I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me.

My Review:


Author: Jamison Shea
Series: I Feed Her to the Beast #2
Read: January 31st, 2025
Source: Ebook.bike
Reason Why: Love her writing and the series, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Sophomore Challenge Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Published: November 12th 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 5 Review: Blood & Steel

From Goodreads:

With her death foretold, Althea Zoltaire only has three years to become what she's always dreamed of being: a warrior legend.

Women are forbidden to wield blades, so she has trained in secret her entire life. Now racing against the clock, she fights to secure her place in the elite guild charged with the protection of the five kingdoms.

The sparring and hazing of the new trainees border on deadly, but even more dangerous is her growing attraction to Wilder Hawthorne, her unwilling warrior chaperone.

All around them, schemes are afoot and darkness looms.

Will Althea pass the perilous initiation test and take her place as a champion of Thezmarr – or will the invading evil snatch away her dream before it starts?

My Review:


Author: Helen Scheuerer
Series: The Legends of Thezmarr #1
Read: January 30th, 2025 
Source: Ebook.bike 
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book! 
Publisher: Alchemy
Published: February 13th 2023

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 5 Review: Capitana

From Goodreads:

Prepare to set sail with this riveting romantasy—the first in a duology—that's filled with complex characters, sizzling romantic chemistry, and page-turning action. A must-read for fans of Daughter of the Pirate King, Together We Burn, or Fable!

Ximena Reale has spent most of her life at La Academia training to become a Cazadoro, a seafaring hunter who tracks down pirates. But her future is uncertain, thanks to her parents' reputation. They were pirates, traitors to the Luzan Empire, and though they were executed when Ximena and her sister were young, they permanently damaged the Reale name.

Ability alone won't earn Ximena the coveted Cazadoro cloak. So, when the legendary pirate Gasparilla returns and captures the Empire's queen, Ximena offers to bring her back and capture the notorious pirate in exchange for a cloak. But there's only one cloak, and Ximena's competition is Dante deLeon, an infuriating yet handsome classmate.

With their futures on the line, Ximena and Dante set out on a dangerous quest across the high seas. But can Ximena sail far enough to escape the legacy of her family, or will her relationship with Dante thwart her success in more ways than one?

My Review:


Author: Cassandra James
Read: January 30th, 2025 
Source: Edelweiss 
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a DAC Book, Historical Fiction 2025 Book and a SAC 2025 Book! 
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Expected Publication: February 4th 2025

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 5 Review: Bone Crier's Dawn

From Goodreads:

Love is a matter of life and death.

Bone Criers have been ferrying the dead into the afterlife for centuries, a dangerous duty only possible with the powers they gain from sacrificing their amourés the men destined to love them and die. But Bone Criers Ailesse and Sabine—along with Ailesse's love, Bastien—are working to chart their own course and rewrite the rules of the afterlife. If they don't break the soul between Ailesse and her amouré, she could die—just as Bastien's father did.

Sabine struggles to maintain her authority as matrone of her famille—the role always destined for her sister—even as she fights to control the violent jackal power within her.

Bastien is faced with a new dilemma as the spirits of the Underworld threaten the souls of his friends—and his father. 

Ailesse attempts to resist her mother's siren song as she's drawn into her own version of the Underworld. How will she save her friends once she' cut off from their world?

This pulse-pounding follow-up to Bone Crier's Moon is a story of love, sisterhood, and determination as three friends find the courage and power to shatter the boundary between the living and the dead.

Ailesse and her friends change the afterlife in the gripping conclusion to the fantasy duology that began with Bone Crier's Moon from New York Times bestselling author Kathryn Purdie—perfect for fans of Stephanie Garber and Roshani Chokshi.

My Review:


Author: Kathryn Purdie 
Series: Bone Grace #2
Read: January 30th, 2025 
Source:  Ebook.bike
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a End of Series 2025 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, WoW Book and a WTC Book! 
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Book
Published: March 30th 2021

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 5 Review: Return of the Vengeful Queen

From Goodreads:

From C. J. Redwine, the author the New York Times bestselling Ravenspire series, comes the stunning conclusion to the fantasy duology that began with Rise of the Vicious Princess. Perfect for fans of These Violent Delights, And I Darken, and Ash Princess!

Charis Willowthorn is a queen without a throne. A Rakuuna invader holds Charis's kingdom of Calera captive, leaving her desperate--and ruthlessly committed to vengeance. But with her allies reluctant to intervene and her enemies hunting her across the open sea, Charis is left with only one choice: forge a temporary alliance with Tal Penbyrn, the boy who betrayed her--and, at all costs, keep him out of her heart.

Tal is imprisoned, both by the Rakuuna's isolated castle and the weight of his guilt. Though he once betrayed his love, he knows that he can help turn the tide in Charis's favor, if only he can regain her trust. But the Rakuuna have an ally of their own--one who knows Charis's every move and will stop at nothing to see her destroyed.

With threats closing in and every allegiance in doubt, Charis must be stronger, faster, and more vicious than her enemies to reclaim her kingdom--and her future.

My Review:


Author: C.J. Redwine 
Series: Rise of the Vicious Princess #2 
Read: January 30th, 2025 
Source: Ebook.bike 
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a End of Series 2025 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and a WoW Book!  
Publisher: Balzer + Bray/Harper Teen
Published: April 30th 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 5 Review: The Empress

From Goodreads:

He's a ruthless, battle-scarred warrior with a dark past, and she's stuck pretending to be his wife to save a fantasy kingdom.

From New York Times bestselling author Kristin Cast comes a new tarot-inspired fantasy series. Scarlett St. Clair meets Outlander in the seductive and spellbinding world of Towerfall, starting with The Empress, a high-heat, fake marriage romantasy with a swoon-worthy, morally-gray love interest.

The Arcana aren't just figures in a tarot deck―they're real. Terrifyingly real. That's what I learned when I found a tarot card in the snow and was yanked from my world and into Towerfall. The first thing the people of this harsh, cruel realm did was try to kill me, and they probably would have succeeded if Kane hadn't taken me to his hideout in the woods and nursed me back to health.

But I don't know if I can trust him. He's too hot to be good news, he's definitely hiding secrets, and I've already seen him kill two people to protect me. If I hadn't just been helplessly dumped into his world, the scars on his hands and his dark, brooding attitude would have me running in the opposite direction.

But right now, convincing the Kingdom of Pentacles that Kane and I are married is my best chance of getting into the palace, and back to my own world.

Because there's something wrong with Towerfall. Something deeply, terrifyingly wrong. And if anyone finds out Kane and I aren't really married?

Well, then both of us are dead.

My Review:


Author: Kristin Cast 
Series: Towerfall #1 
Read: January 29th, 2025
Source: NetGalley/Bought
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded really good, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Bloom Books
Published: January 7th 2025

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 5 Review: A Traitor Sister

From Goodreads:

Hearts will mend and break while a moving castle heads towards an abyss.

Free of her master's manipulations, Astra's ready to embrace her powers and learn about her origin—until her fae prince is caught in a dark magic prison. Now she'll need to unearth long lost secrets and use magic more powerful than she's ever dreamed. With no guidance and no training, she'll need to act fast if she hopes to save her husband and her friends.

Meanwhile, the Crystal Castle is rushing to a pit of fire. When it gets there, it will open a chasm and destroy the kingdom.

The court's false king will do anything to acquire magic and steer his castle away from this doom. His last hope is to seduce Astra, whose unique heritage could provide the solution he seeks. Problem is, there's an impostor in her place—while enemies close in.

And time's running out for everyone.

A Traitor Sister is the thrilling, romantic, and sexy sequel to A Cursed Son. It's book 2 in the series Remnants of the Fallen Kingdom, a romantasy series perfect for fans of enemies to lovers, fae courts, epic action, hilarious banter, and heroines embracing their power.

My Review:


Author: Day Leitao
Series: Remnants of the Fallen Kingdom #2
Read: January 29th, 2025
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Loved the first book, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Sparkly Wave
Published: February 12th 2025

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 5 Review: Upon a Starlit Tide

From Goodreads:

A dark and enchanting fairy tale-inspired historical fantasy combining elements of "The Little Mermaid" and "Cinderella" into a wholly original tale of love, power, and betrayal.

Saint-Malo, Brittany, 1758.

For Lucinde Leon, the youngest daughter of one of Saint-Malo's wealthiest ship-owners, the high walls of the city are more hindrance than haven. While her sisters are interested in securing advantageous marriages, Luce dreams of escaping her elegant but stifling home and joining a ship's crew. Only Samuel—Luce's best friend and an English smuggler—understands her longing for the sea, secretly teaching her to sail whenever she can sneak away. For Luce, the stolen time on the water with Samuel is precious.

One stormy morning, Luce's plans are blown off course when she rescues Morgan de Chatelaine, the youngest son of the most powerful ship-owner in Saint-Malo, from the sea. Immediately drawn to his charm and sense of adventure, she longs to attend the glittering ball held in honor of his safe return and begins to contemplate a different kind of future for herself.

But it is not only Luce's hopes at stake—the local fae are leaving Brittany and taking their magic with them, while the long-standing war with the English means Saint-Malo is always at risk of attack. As Luce is plunged into a world of magic, brutality, and seduction, secrets that have long been lost in the shadowy depths of the ocean begin to rise to the surface. The truth of her own power is growing brighter and brighter, shining like a sea-glass slipper.

Or the scales of a sea-maid's tail.

My Review:


Author: Kell Woods
Read: January 29th, 2025 
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a 2025 Retelling Reading Challenge Book, Historical Fiction 2025 Book and a SAC 2025 Book! 
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Expected Publication: February 18th 2025

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 5 Review: The Dryad Storm

From Goodreads:

Who can survive the Shadow storm?

Black Witch of prophecy Elloren Gardner Grey has unleashed her powers and embraced her legacy as a Dryad and guardian of the Forest. But the losses — of life, of love — have been almost too great to withstand as the Shadow continues to devour the world. With only a tattered shred of hope remaining, the Bearers of the Wand of Myth must battle their way back to each other to mount a final stand.

But Elloren and her allies are not only facing Mage Vogel's advancing forces, the armies of the Eastern Realm will stop at nothing to see the Black Witch struck down.

With Elloren's bonded mate prophesied to kill her, Shadow demons rising, and the ties between allies unravelling, can this fracturing world unite to face down the coming storm?

My Review:


Author: Laurie Forest 
Series: The Black Witch #5
Read: January  28t h, 2025
Source: Ebook.bike 
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, WoW Book and a WTC Book! 
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Published: January 7th 2025 

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 5 Reviews: Secret of the Broken King, Surrender of the Brutal King, Sacrifice of the Brave King

From Goodreads:

He married me, exiled me, and now he's the only thing stopping me from saving my sister.

My sister is turning to stone. She's been asleep for eight years – the same amount of time I've been the secret, exiled wife of the King of the Ocean.

Poseidon is fierce, unforgiving, and terrifyingly powerful.

I'm just a broken sea nymph whose magic never surfaced.

But the only way to save my sister lies in his underwater palace, and I've got nothing else to lose.

I expected escaping exile and getting to the palace to be tough. What I didn't anticipate was battling a torrent of unexpected desire for Poseidon when he catches me.

The devastatingly beautiful ocean god has secrets. Wild waves crash through his eyes when he looks at me, and I soon realize he might be just as broken as I am.

But when a god has secrets, the consequences are deadly.

Secret of the Broken King is the first book in the Poseidon Trials trilogy. Expect magic, mythology, and a searing slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance that will leave you desperate for more.

From Goodreads:

Nothing has gone to plan.

Not a single thing.

I entered Poseidon's palace with one intention – steal a legendary ship and sail it to the darkest, most dangerous depths of the ocean, to try to save my sister.

And now I am fighting for my life in a series of deadly trials designed for water gods and sea monsters, not broken, powerless nymphs.

I was prepared for risk. I was prepared for danger.

I was not prepared for Poseidon, or the soul-deep connection I have with him. His tenuous control teeters closer to the edge the more time I spend with him, and gods help me, I'm starting to hope that he falls – and takes me with him.

From Goodreads:

The Poseidon Trials have never been more deadly, and it's not just my life at stake. Poseidon, my sister, and the whole realm of Aquarius are just as likely to die as I am if we don't stop Atlas.

But the revelations coming my way are so much worse than anything the insane Titan can throw at me.

Between discovering the rest of the Oracle's prophecy, what happened between Poseidon and Atlas' wife, learning to use my magic, and trying to save my sister's life, only one thing is certain.

If I fall in love with the fierce sea god, it will kill me as surely as the stone will.

My Review:


Authors: Eliza Raine and Rose Wilson 
Series: The Poseidon Trials #1, 2, 3
Read: January 27th, 27th, 27th, 2025
Source: Ebook.bike 
Reason Why: Love their writing and this world, and they're 2025 Retelling Reading Challenge 2025 Books and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Books, and Sacrifice of the Brave King is a End of Series 2025 Book! 
Publisher:Logic in Creativity
Published: February 25th 2022, April 1st 2022, June 3rd 2022

Secret of the Broken King:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Surrender of the Brutal King:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Sacrifice of the Brave King:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars