“My fear was so great I don’t know if I’m capable of dreaming anymore. Instead of adventure and dreams, I have poison in my blood and nightm3 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️
“My fear was so great I don’t know if I’m capable of dreaming anymore. Instead of adventure and dreams, I have poison in my blood and nightmares in my soul.”
Songbird of the Sorrows is a fantasy romance debut featuring a forbidden romance between former sweethearts, court drama and politics, a group of spies-under-disguise on a mission.
The author definitely put in a lot of work when it comes to the world-building which is loosely inspired by Greek Mythology.
Maybe I had different expectations a bit, however this book seems to set up what is a promising series and fans of the fantasy romance genre in general are likely to enjoy it.
I think I'll address only two points as to why I couldn't enjoy it more:
1. The romance was rushed. I was excited and intrigued by the forbidden romance aspect especially as the two characters were former sweethearts. I think it would've helped if the tension prolonged between them. It felt they quickly mingled with each other and it lost that tension and excitement of it's forbidden nature.
2. I think the story had a good pacing but the action or the stakes did not keep me on the edge of my seat except for one scene that had me nervous.
The romance and the action are key elements to enjoying a fantasy romance for me so maybe that explains my 3-star rating. The rating does not mean the book is bad or not worth reading, not at all! I can see why many readers loved it but I just expected some storylines to play out differently.
It's a debut book and not easy at all to write a whole book and create an imaginary world, so congrats to the author on publishing her first book and gifting the community a new fun read to devour.
What to expect? — Romantic Fantasy — Forbidden Romance — Forced Proximity — Trials and Heists — Greek Mythology — Kingdom Politics — Court Intrigue — Spies, Assassins and Royals
Content warning: the book features Abandonment, Abduction of an adult (implied), Battle, Blood and gore, Death and violence, Emotional abuse/manipulation, Explicit sex/sexual activities, Graphic language, Hallucinations, Mental health/PTSD, Non-consensual sex/sexual assault (non-graphic), Poisoning, Stillbirth (mentioned on page), Substance abuse, Torture....more
With arms entwined, all summer long We danced to our own secret song We shone with love’s transforming flame And then — oh, then — the aut4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
With arms entwined, all summer long We danced to our own secret song We shone with love’s transforming flame And then — oh, then — the autumn came.
'Twixt Firelight and Water is a recommended read before moving on to the sixth and final Sevenwaters book.
The 60-page novella can be easily read in one sitting and it dives into Ciarán and Fiacha's past offering more context on their history with the Lady Oonagh. The novella also introduces a new character who is the daughter of a key character—her name is Aisha.
The novella answers two key questions:
• What is Fiacha? • What happened to Padriac (brother of Sorcha)?
This might be a short novella but don't underestimate the emotional damage it could cause. My heart hurts so much for Ciarán and Fiacha.
Since it's a novella, some events *might* feel rushed.
Marillier was diagnosed with Breast Cancer when she finished this novella and the story encouraged her to stay positive in the face of challenge and it truly is a story of hope and second chances....more
Once, he'd used it in song, but the songs in his heart had gone silent long ago, and he knew that one day so would his voice. A man with n4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Once, he'd used it in song, but the songs in his heart had gone silent long ago, and he knew that one day so would his voice. A man with nothing inside him eventually had nothing to say.
Archangel's Storm finally brings us to the story of the character that was always cloaked in mystery, Raphael's Spymaster, Jason.
And the mysterious characters with a dark past are always the ones I find the most intriguing. Needless to say Jason's backstory absolutely wrecked me.
Jason is tasked to investigate the murder of the Archangel of India's consort and to earn the trust of the devastated Archangel in hunting the murderer, he must take a blood vow of one of her own bloodline and so he ties himself to the Princess Mahiya.
In a Court of vipers and snakes, danger lurks in every corner but what Jason expects the least is to have his once frozen heart beat for a Princess whose inner strength and kindness settled the raging storm beneath the quiet exterior.
I've been looking forward Jason's book since forever but it's Mahiya who was a pleasant surprise.
She had an incredible inter strength, kindness, and such a vivacious spirit that I couldn't help but adore her (I don't blame Jason for folding so fast for her). She has no interest in power or court politics, all she hopes is to attain her freedom and live a happy life and while some might thing that is such a simple wish, it's one that is almost hard to make true in such a dark world.
One of my favorite elements of Nalini's writing is she makes it clear when there is a power imbalance, but she makes the couple treat each other as equals. That's what I appreciate about Jason and his relationship with Mahiya, he did not see a weak Princess with unrealistic dreams, but a dreamer who persevered among monsters.
The tenderness and love between them just sparked so beautifully and it healed some of the broken parts in them.
Mahiya found her happily ever after with Jason, and in return she became the song of Jason's heart.
While I devoured this book my only complaint is the book felt a bit slow so that explains the 4-star.
Content warning: violence, implied sexual assault, PTSD, brutal deaths, and adult themes. ...more
“Witch, you are,” he said, dipping his head to claim her lips in a kiss that held both the sweetness of the sunshine—and a good dose of 5 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Witch, you are,” he said, dipping his head to claim her lips in a kiss that held both the sweetness of the sunshine—and a good dose of raw sex. “In my bed, Honor. That’s where I want you.”
Call me a masochist but Angel's Blade hurt me in the best way.
I didn't know what to expect with Dmitri's story, I knew it would be dark but I wasn't ready to be swept by an intense wave of emotions.
Without any exaggeration, this turned out to be my favorite installment in the series thus far.
We had very little glimpses into Dmitri, there were barely any cracks in the formidable shields he kept around him. This brazen Vampire displayed nothing but an unholy indulgence in depraved sensuality and cruelty.
But behind the shields was once a mortal man who lost everything he held so dear to him in the most unimaginable cruelty a thousand years ago.
A Guild Hunter named Honor was his undoing.
Honor is a 29-year-old Guild Hunter who is recovering from a traumatic event that happened not long ago involving Vampires. She was violated for two months until she was rescued and what remained was a shell of a person she used to be.
Now, a mysterious case arises that requires Honor to work with the Arcangel's right hand man but the truth is that despite Dmitri being a Vampire, she was drawn to him way before she was violated and tortured by any.
From a reluctant partnership to a brutal passion that sweeps them both, Honor and Dmitri are haunted by ghosts of the pasts and enemies old and new that are waiting for the chance to tear them apart.
And when I say this is by far the DARKEST book in the series, it truly is.
We get flashes of Honor's horrific torture sessions and Dmitri's tragic past that can be both heartwarming or heartshredding.
Both Honor and Dmitri are sexual assault survivors so it's interesting to see the dynamic of how and immortal or a mortal deal with it. Dmitri was honed to be a lethal weapon while Honor did not allow her assault to define her or what she is capable of doing and feeling.
Honor and Dmitri had such an intense tension and I devoured their interactions, in a way they felt like kindred souls who saw each other through the cracks.
And I absolutely, ABSOLUTELY loved seeing glimpses of Dmitri's soft side, and that man is also utters pure filth.
There are scenes that were hard to read because I did not expect Nalini to write a graphic description of it.
I finished the book while I was sitting in a public place and I was fighting the urge to not cry, because you could see my tears ready to make their descent.
Content warning: graphic violence, r*pe, torture, kidnapping, PTSD, death of adults and children. ...more
“He speaks against her mouth, lips brushing over hers with every syllable. “I would give you the world, Anna.”
Pits & Poison: These Godly L4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“He speaks against her mouth, lips brushing over hers with every syllable. “I would give you the world, Anna.”
Pits & Poison: These Godly Lies marks the conclusion of a brilliant duology that tells the story of an immortal love that bloomed throughout different lifetimes.
Without spoiling much of the story, being able to live forever does not mean you are spared from feeling sorrow and grief, or having to make sacrifices, or being able to live your happily ever after eternally when there is a bigger threat that casts a shadow over your happiness.
Anna and Khiran's love was powerful and deliciously angsty. I appreciate the respect and trust they had in each other and it truly proves just how deeply in love they are with one another.
The author created a distinctive fantasy romance story intricately layered with myths of gods and a divine tree.
The only reason I had to deduct a star was due to parts of the book feeling just a little bit stagnant.
Overall, I highly recommend this if you're looking for a unique story with magic and a romance that spans more than 800 years.
He had seen the cracks in the shoes, even by candlelight. Then he’d kissed my foot and called me perfect. But what if there were flaws he 4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
He had seen the cracks in the shoes, even by candlelight. Then he’d kissed my foot and called me perfect. But what if there were flaws he couldn’t see because of my wish? And if that wish were wearing off, how long did I have before he could see them too?
Glass and Feathers is a unique looose reimagining of the tale of Cinderella and explores what comes after a happy ever after.
The glass shoes fit. She married the Prince. She lives in the Palace. She is surrounded by jewels and riches.
But what if what she thought to be her happy ever after is not the life she imagined for herself? What if her new life demands of her to cut herself in order to fit in?
Thus far, the Queen and her ladies are less than impressed by her. Royal etiquette and protocols are suffocating her. She barely gets time to spend with the Prince who gets busy with his princely duties (the Prince is besotted with her though).
Our heroine is wilting at the palace.
She believes the Prince must be under the enchantment of her wish, and once it wears off he would realize she deceived him. She is constantly haunted by a sense of unworthiness and self-doubt. Our Cinderella does not believe she is deserving of that happy ever after.
There is so much to appreciate about this story as our heroine goes through a journey of self-discovery and finding where her true happiness lies.
A happy ever after is not a list of wishes to check off, you won't truly be able to live happily or be content with any life if you are not being true to yourself.
The author explores the aftermath of a fairytale ending and I would caution readers that this is not really a light read. I found the first half to be depressing but it was necessary to the heroine's journey.
This book is quite character-driven and that means the progression of the story relies on the heroine's motivations and actions. The romance is not prominent in the heroine's journey as it's not a tale about falling in love (her and the Prince already are), I think it's correct to say there is second chance and a guaranteed HEA.
If you love empowering character-driven stories that reads like an extended fairytale, I recommend picking this up!
Content warning: self-depreciation, self-harm, there's one scene at the balcony where the heroine was contemplating jumping (su*cidal thoughts), deaths, grief....more
`Held by hands that cannot hold Stands the steed so proud and bold. Chieftain’s son with seer’s eyes Observes the Lord of Oak’s demise. As4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
`Held by hands that cannot hold Stands the steed so proud and bold. Chieftain’s son with seer’s eyes Observes the Lord of Oak’s demise. As the age begins to turn That is when the oak will burn.’
It's the end of an era. I will forever hold this close to my heart and cannot even begin to describe how hard it is to walk away.
Thank you Marillier for an incredible journey....more
I wanted to lie down there beside him. I wanted to feel his body against mine. I imagined his hands touching me with tenderness and pas5 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I wanted to lie down there beside him. I wanted to feel his body against mine. I imagined his hands touching me with tenderness and passion, and mine responding in the same way.
Heir to Sevenwaters starts a new chapter in the beloved Sevenwaters series after the conclusion of the trilogy, and it as engrossing and enchanting as its three predecessors... however our lead heroine is not one with remarkable gifts of her own, but as long as the blood of Sevenwaters runs through her she is in for an adventure for certain.
Clodagh, the third daughter (younger twin) of Lord Sean of Sevenwaters, was a breath of fresh air who prefers everything to remain neat and put-together. She's a perfectionist and very capable of running an entire household especially with her mother facing a risky pregnancy after six children (not including the twin boys who passed away at birth).
Like most twins in the family, Clodagh can communicate via mindspeaking with her twin Deirdre, who is about to be wed and move to her husband's household to begin a new life. Clodagh is content and finds purpose in supporting her family and fulfilling domestic roles... until she meets one of her cousin's warriors, the eccentric Cathal.
Cathal's presence is a thorn in Clodagh's side and brings out a fiesty side of her, but even as he taunts and teases her she recognizes the lonely soul underneath the wicked exterior.
Deirdre's quiet life unsettles when her newborn brother is replaced by a changeling made of wood and moss. Grief and discord strikes the Sevenwaters family and as suspicions surround Deirdre and Cathal, she knows the Fair Folk set her on a quest to find her brother and return the changeling and so she must set foot in the realm of the Fair Folk—the otherworld.
Unlike the three previous books, the plot is more focused on a quest and I love that we see more of the Fair Folk and their world. The lore expands and we learn more of their history and connections to the land of Erin, and we even see more different creatures.
The romance is central and less of a subplot on this installment, I love Clodagh and Cathal's dynamic which went from dislike to companionship to love. Their romance is splendidly done and even as they face harsh trials but nothing is as powerful as true love.
This truly reads as a dark fairytale but what even makes it more magical is Marillier's poetic prose and lush imagery.
Content warnings: this book features adult and dark themes including kidnapping, mention of death, and violence....more
Rune needed to give in to this deadly attraction because it was the best way to make her worst enemy believe, with no more doubts, that sh4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rune needed to give in to this deadly attraction because it was the best way to make her worst enemy believe, with no more doubts, that she wasn’t a witch. That she had nothing to hide.
Finally!! An enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance that actually features enemies-to-lovers, and add to that a forbidden romance between a witch and a witch hunter!
The Crimson Moth crackles with tension and magic and delivers a slowburn romance between two sworn enemies who are scarred by a tragic past.
Rune was an entertaining character to follow while it took me a while to warm up to the enigmatic Gideon until he started to shed his layers.
I live for fake courting trope so I was delighted and squealing like a schoolgirl all throughout their scenes, but damn there were a lot of scenes that had me biting my nails as Gideon gets close to catching Rune and finding out she is the Crimson Moth. The stakes kept getting too damn HIGH.
The author did a marvelous job at creating a simple yet intricate spell-work and magic system. There are specific conditions and limitations to using spells, and it has dire consequences on the Witches if done incorrectly or excessively and I always appreciate it when authors know how to keep their characters' powers in check.
It took 50 pages to get me hooked but right after the book had a steady and fast pacing and I was wholly immersed into it. The events that keep on unfolding will have you on edge!
I would categorize this book as upper YA as it does have a bit of spice and sexual tension.
If you enjoyed Serpent & Dove and is a big fan of enemies-to-lovers romances, then you wouldn't want to miss out the Crimson Moth!...more
“You’d make any man, God or not, fall on his knees and pray for damnation.” He kissed down her neck, marking her pale skin with his mouth.4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“You’d make any man, God or not, fall on his knees and pray for damnation.” He kissed down her neck, marking her pale skin with his mouth. “Nothing would be holier than to be ruined by you.”
At the End There Was You is a novella spanning seven days before the end of the world.
Within those seven days, love blossoms and passion ignites between a gentle Priestess and a reclusive Mage.
Since it's such a short story I'll spare you any potential spoilers so you can enjoy the experience.
This novella is perfect for readers in the mood for a light fantasy romance with a dash of spice and angst! ...more
“Your laugh is a song of victory, proving you faced their worst and not only survived, but came out with joy still in your heart. And that4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Your laugh is a song of victory, proving you faced their worst and not only survived, but came out with joy still in your heart. And that fucking smile, not to mention your eyes—the light still shining in your eyes—they are beacons to me, guiding me to my true home as they have since the first time I caught a glimpse of them.”
We continue in City of Mirth and Malice where we left off in the first book, so you are hit yet again with a sense of immense dread (without spoiling anything).
The sequel promises non-stop thrilling action and scheming while in parallel transporting us to darker settings. In a world of lethal magic and vengeful gang families, the stakes are extremely high and the potential consequences are devastating if one wrong move is made.
Milla goes through so much and her arc is done splendidy even if my heart hurt for what she had been subjected to. On the other hand, Nico is completely devoted and helplessly in love with his wife he is willing to burn the whole world for her.
Among all the seriousness, there were some lighthearted and hilarious scenes that made me howl! I adore the familial bonds and I consider them part of the backbone of the duology as much as the romance and magic system.
I think the pacing faltered a bit midway and the scenes didn't flow easily with so much happening, but it all builds up to an explosive climax.
I'm elated to know that this won't be the end of the world of Order and Chaos, I'm excited to see what Alexis has planned next!
Content warning: profanity, tobacco and alcohol use, graphic sexual content, mentioned death of a parent and sibling, gaslighting family members, brief breath play, torture, violence, and mentions of suic*de....more
Loading...
