Category Archives: Fantasy

#review #fantasy #dragons Fourth Wing (The Empyrean 1) by Rebecca Yarros


Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders…

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away…because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.

She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.

Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61431922-fourth-wing

Amazon https://amzn.to/4dYMA0u

Review by Twinsie Dee

i bought this book here is my honest review

OMG so idk how much I can explain how great this book is. so, trust me if you weren’t sure about reading this book and don’t want to fall into the hype of this world DO IT. Violet wanted to go into the scribe quadrant and that’s what she had taught her whole life her dad helped her. but with her dad dead, her brother dead, her mother is the general of the rider’s wing. She has no choice and goes to the riders’ class at the beginning of the new year. So much happens that you just get sucked in, Violet isn’t in the shape to be a rider but she isn’t going to give up, she uses her brain to help take out the rivals that are out to kill her. Dragons, swords, violence, and oranges. this book is gripping from the start.

Rebecca is a #1 New York Times, USA Today, Sunday Times, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over fifteen novels, including FOURTH WING, and is always ready to bring on the emotions. She’s also the recipient of the Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence in New Adult for Eyes Turned Skyward from her Flight and Glory series.

She loves military heroes and has been blissfully married to hers for twenty-one years. She’s the mother of six children and lives in Colorado with her family, their stubborn English bulldog, feisty chinchillas, and Maine Coon cat who rules them all. Having fostered then adopted their youngest daughter, Rebecca is passionate about helping children in the foster system through her nonprofit, One October.

#WOTR24 #Review – A Bargain With The Shadow Prince by Genevieve Jack

It takes a monster to stop a monster.

Light the candle.
Stand naked before the symbol.
Offer your blood.

The advocate will come.
🌹

I left my abusive crime boss husband expecting to start over from nothing. After all, the prenup I signed when I married him is ironclad. But when Tony uses a loophole in the law to go after my ancestral family home—the one I’m currently living in and my grandmother is dying in—I’m desperate to stop him.

My witch best friend Maeve offers a solution. She lends me a family spell to call a supernatural advocate to deal with Tony. After all, it takes a monster to stop a monster.

But when I follow her instructions, I’m not expecting the darkly handsome Damien to form from the shadows, or to learn that he’s been a prisoner of Maeve’s family for centuries. From the moment he accepts my bargain and drinks my blood, he awakens a passion in me, one charged with latent magic. Magic formidable enough to restore my true self. Magic that holds the promise of Damien’s freedom.

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Kelly

6 stars!!!! Grief, turmoil, secrets, vampires, witches, magic, love, and a million other things are within these pages!

Eloise has been left in quite the position. She left her abusive husband and her grams is dying. Everything she thought she knew about her soon-to-be ex-husband is false, everything she thought she knew about her best friend is false, and the world as she knows it is about to turn completely upside down.

Eloise is a pure spirit and soul. She just wants things to be made right. Unfortunately, she has been looking at things through rose colored glasses. When she calls on the advocate for help, she doesn’t realize exactly what she bargained for. Everything within her being tells her the situation is wrong, but it feels all so right.

The story took just a tad bit to really get going but I think that is necessary for the beginning of a series to ensure that the character and world building are solid. Then when I got to the point of no return, I could not put this book down! This is a unique spin on the supernatural and I am excitedly looking forward to the next!

Visit Genevieve Jack Store on Amazon

USA Today bestselling and multi-award winning author Genevieve Jack writes wild, witty, and wicked-hot paranormal romance and romantic fantasy. She believes there’s magic in every breath we take and probably something supernatural living in most dark basements. You can summon her with coffee, wine, and books, but she sticks around for dogs and chocolate. Her novels feature badass heroines, fiercely loyal heroes, and fantasy elements that will fill you with wonder. Learn more at www.genevievejack.com.

Get a free book at http://www.freeparanormalromancebook.com/

#WOTR24 #Review – Lost Soul : A Reapers Novella by Tara Vasser

A trip with my girlfriends to Salem in October was meant to be the ultimate bucket list adventure, filled with witchy shops, Hocus Pocus tours, and mysterious nightclubs. The adventure began typically enough with each overpriced shop identical to the next, until we stepped into Lost Treasures. In the otherworldly confines of the antique shop, an enchanting green and black glass paperweight catches my eye.

From the moment I laid eyes on that glass orb, things started to take a dark turn, plunging me into a dangerous and unfamiliar world filled with creatures I had only heard about in stories and never fully believed. The supernatural revealed its existence with a Vampire attack in a club full of people. If not for the mysterious man emerging from the shadows to rescue me, I don’t know that I would have made it out alive.

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Review by Twinsie Kelly

For Romy, a girl’s trip to Salem in October is supposed to be fun, touristy, and full of witchy stuff but ends up turning into a living, breathing, real life supernatural story. You will debate which is the lesser of two evils; keeping the lights on so that you can see the monsters when they come for you or remaining blissfully oblivious to what is lurking in the shadows behind you. For Romy, she wants to keep the lights on.

Romy finds herself entranced by a glass orb. She is drawn to it. What she doesn’t know is that vampires want to get their hands on this soul. Romy is thrown headfirst into a world she had only heard of in stories, and now she is part of the story. She receives help from an unexpected new friend and decides to continue on the with the new adventure.

I am loving the Reapers series! I picked up the first book on a whim and couldn’t put it down. Now we are three books in and this novella and I want more. This particular book, can be read as a standalone but I am happy that I read the others before because it was the cherry on top! Gunnar and Chloe show up in the Lost Soul for a bit but it leads into, what I am hoping, is the next installment in the series. This series, and this particular book, have a lot of great elements. It is witty and funny, a bit on the thrilling and scary side at times, but also sweet and sexy. I would love to see more of Jared and Romy….or perhaps Ronin and Gia 😊

I love these characters and can’t wait for more!

Tara Vasser profile image

Tara is a writer who lives in the frozen north in Minnesota with her wonderful husband and two rambunctious little dudes. She is an engineer during the day, a crazy mom in the afternoon and a writer at night. She enjoys spending her time playing in the dirt when her gardens aren’t covered in snow and listening to a wide variety of music that inspires her writing – sometimes doing both at the same time.

Be sure to visit Tara’s web page and sign up for her newsletter for updates on works in progress and upcoming new releases! www.authortaravasser.com

#WOTR24 #Review – The Glassmaker’s Helper: The Getaway Chronicles by Darie McCoy

In a world of the blessed the unblessed, the Glassmaker proclaims the gifts of those in the realm with their reading of the sparks. They are the only ones with the ability to work the glass and declare the goddess’s blessing.
Generations before Ophelia was born, her birth was prophesied. The Enchantress proclaimed that a blessed girl child would restore honor to the Leander line. However, when she was presented to the Glassmaker to learn of her blessing, she was turned away. Many Winters passed and Ophelia remained unblessed. Until she and her brothers journeyed to Thistledown.
Rylan, the Glassmaker of Thistledown is able to do what none other before him had achieved. He read Ophelia’s blessing in the sparks. The gift from the goddess so rare, Rylan fears for her safety. Knowing the potential danger, he agrees to travel with Ophelia and her brothers on a quest to help her learn to use her blessing to its fullest potential.
The two are drawn together by an inexplicable bond that neither can ignore. As they trek across the realm from his home to hers, they are unable to deny their attraction. While danger lurks, they must reach the Keeper of the Blessings before it’s too late.
Can Ophelia navigate her new blessing and help restore her family’s honor? Can the bond between her and Rylan survive the obstacles before them? Together, can they bring about a change to the realm which hasn’t been seen in centuries?

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Review by Twinsie Kelly

“With every great blessing, evil is always present.” What an amazing story! All the while reading this story, and even more so after I finished it, I have been trying to figure out how to categorize The Glassmaker’s Helper. It is definitely fantasy with a historical feel to it, fated mates, romance with some sexy time, and beings that are blessed and unblessed.

“I don’t question gifts from the goddess. I simply appreciate them.” The world building and character development is fantastic. Being unblessed or without a gift from the goddess isn’t uncommon but when your birth has been prophesied that you will save your family’s line and restore honor, there is no pressure…right? Wrong! Ophelia gets turned away from glassmaker after glassmaker. They cannot read her sparks. Until Rylan (wags eyebrows). Immediately their connection is strong and the need to protect Ophelia is completely instinctual. An unsavory character is now after Ophelia and her very rare blessing. The villain is a collector of sorts. From here, we follow Rylan and Ophelia on a quest that not only brings answers for the prophecy but is enchanting as well.

Highly recommend!

Darie McCoy profile image

Darie McCoy is an independent author of contemporary, interracial, romantic suspense and paranormal/shifter romance books. A reader first, she enjoys reading books across many genres although romance holds a special place in her heart. Her experience working in a STEM field offers her a unique perspective which she uses in each story she pens.

Her first novel, For Real, began as a short story written for a reader competition during an Authors and Readers conference. It was published in November of 2021. In July of 2022, she expanded her writing portfolio to include Kindle Vella serial stories.

When she doesn’t have her nose in a book or her fingers on the keyboard, Darie enjoys working in her vegetable garden. A serial hobbyist, she also enjoys knitting, sewing, baking and canning. One of her favorite treats to make is salted caramel popcorn. Amongst her friends, she’s known to transport the sweet treat in large quantities to share whenever they get together.

Born and raised in the south, Darie stands by the staunchly held southern sentiments that the best tea is sweet tea and college football is life.

#WOTR24 #Review – Infernally Marked: A Paranormal/Fantasy Female Assassin Romance: An Infernal Blade Prequel (The Infernal Blade Book 2) by Jewels Arthur

From this day forward you are one of us. One of the Infernal Blade. When Mara hits her limit, her foster father meets her blade and so starts her induction into a life of death and darkness. The initiation into the Infernal Blade is filled with pain and fear but what comes out on the other side is one of the most powerful creatures to walk the Earth. Years before meeting her men, Mara, living as a homeless teen meets the Elders just as her life is thrown into upheaval. With her best friend Rora by her side, Mara tries to work out what her life has become and works to come to grips with the fact that nothing will ever be the same.Infernally Marked, previously part of the Assassin Society Anthology, is the prequel to Infernally Mine, a medium burn #whychoose book that sets the stage for this epic series of death, loyalty, and love. This prequel is from Mara’s point of view as a teen so there are no explicit scenes but there is foul language. Intended for mature audiences only.

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Review by Twinsie Kelly

A few things to know first: I picked this book up as it was free and I wanted to try a new to me author (no harm no foul if a novella doesn’t do it for you, ya know?!), the cover is pretty incredible (just saying!), and the very beginning of the story absolutely drew me in. It has a very unique storyline. I did not realize it was a prequel when I picked this up and at first, I was getting a little frustrated because there seemed to be gaps in places where I felt I wanted/needed more and then would jump to another part in Mara’s life. However, if I had read the first book prior to this one, I don’t think it would have frustrated me. I am incredibly curious as to what Mara’s story is and will be jumping into book 1 soon. I would highly recommend reading book 1, Infernally Mine, first as I think this prequel would be much more enjoyable. Overall, a unique story that definitely has more to tell!

Jewels Arthur profile image

USA Today Bestselling author, Jewels Arthur, writes steamy paranormal/fantasy RH Romances, that often feature very sassy females. Much like herself.

Swoons are her jam. She spends all her time watching TV/movies, reading books, and listening to music that makes her swoony. When she isn’t doing that she is drooling over her fictional characters or making book-related graphics.

Jewels has thousands of story ideas always flowing through her brain and she can’t wait to share them all with her readers. One thing is for sure, they will all feature steam, smut, and swoons.

#review #rh #mystery Some Kind of Monster (Friends with Monsters 2) by Albany Walker

Naughty girls need love too.

A beautiful monster, that’s what I am. My packaging is just a little nicer than the creatures you hear about dwelling in your closet.

With three baddies for my mates, things are definitely getting interesting. I think I’ve even convinced them not to kill each other.

But I have a new purpose, someone is hurting our kind. Stealing Charmed magic in arcane rituals that leave my friends drained and dead, and I won’t allow it.

It’s time for them to find out why even the Monsters fear me.

I am the bad guy

Companion novel to Friends with the Monster. RH story with adult themes not recommend for those under 18

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53710736-some-kind-of-monster

Amazon https://amzn.to/48h05FR

Review by Twinsie Dee

i was given this book by the author for an honest review.

once again, we are back with our three sexy monsters, and the one woman who could bring them all to their knees. Grim, Calix, Gunner and Dami, are all on the hunt trying to find the witch who is killing all the monsters that they know and don’t know. this is a huge mystery all the signs point to Vanessa, but there is known way she is able to do all this dark magic by herself she might be the face of this, but she isn’t the one pulling the strings. A few road trips, lots of hot and heavy time that gets very steamy, and the 3 guys getting more comfortable in their new house with Dami. Will they be able to crack this mystery before any more charmed creatures get killed or will there be a lot more bloodshed. another great book from Albany, and always leaving me wanting more after the flip of the last page.

Albany lives in Michigan where she’s happily married to her high school sweetheart. She spends most of her time juggling her four children’s extracurricular activities, with her nose stuck in a book. When not reading you can find her writing her very own book boyfriends. Albany’s passion is writing romance with real characters that are far from perfect, but always seem to find their own happily ever after.

#WOTR24 #Review – Shadow Unveiled: Reapers Book One by Tara Vasser

After a particularly nasty car wreck, I met Death, and he let me live. My doctors claim it was a hallucination brought on by the trauma, but it felt pretty damn real to me. Especially the part where Death said he’d call on me soon. Months after, he still hadn’t shown his face, but my life had fallen apart while I waited. Every waking hour was filled with the incessant chatter of voices in my head, and whenever I closed my eyes, I was plagued by night terrors. It was too much for my fiancé to handle, so he left. I couldn’t get out of bed anymore, so I got fired from my job. Even my own family began distancing themselves. I had no one and nothing left, except the voices and nightmares in my head. I couldn’t wait for Death anymore, so I decided to go to him the old-fashioned way–by dying.

Things don’t go as planned when Death sends his most loyal Reaper, Gunnar, to thwart my foray into The Realm of the Dead. That night I learned there is an entire hidden supernatural world, and the icing on the cake is that I’m a part of it. A BIG part. Magical abilities I didn’t know I had start to manifest and grow, gaining me all kinds of attention. Death offers me a place among his Reapers, and a power-hungry Necromancer tries to convince me to join his plot to overthrow Death.

Both sides make compelling arguments–but which one is right?

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Kelly

This is truly a unique and captivating story. The world that this author has created is absolutely spellbinding. Tara Vasser is a ‘new to me’ author but has officially pulled me in as I fell into this story headfirst and couldn’t stop until the very end. Chloe feels like she has officially been abandoned. However, when she tries to end her life, Death comes barreling back into her life and does not let her disrupt the delicate balance between life and death. Chloe feels like she is going, very literally, insane. However, her saving grace is a vampire named Gunnar. She soon finds that she is a very powerful…well, no one knows what she is yet, but they are working on trying to figure it out. The one thing everyone can agree on is that she is powerful. While figuring out her powers, she has slipped into Shadow and has come face to face with a necromancer who has it out for her. She has so many obstacles to overcome but does it like any one of us would, she is scared and questions everything.

One of the things that I love about this book is that the story world is completely different from anything that I have read. The characters are great, and our strong female main character is like a normal human being. I have read so many stories where the lead just goes along with the magic stuff like they have lived it their entire lives. But Chloe, she is truly scared, she questions everything, she doubts herself, she doesn’t know if she is doing right or wrong, she truly was at the end of her rope. She is very real, and I think that is the cherry on top and what makes this book great.

I am loving this series and can’t wait to dive into book two!

By the way, don’t forget to pick up the prequel because it might give you some insight into what Chloe is going through. 😊

Tara Vasser profile image

Tara is a writer who lives in the frozen north in Minnesota with her wonderful husband and two rambunctious little dudes. She is an engineer during the day, a crazy mom in the afternoon and a writer at night. She enjoys spending her time playing in the dirt when her gardens aren’t covered in snow and listening to a wide variety of music that inspires her writing – sometimes doing both at the same time.

Be sure to visit Tara’s web page and sign up for her newsletter for updates on works in progress and upcoming new releases! www.authortaravasser.com

#WOTR24 #Review – No More Black Magic (Here Witchy Witchy Book 1) by A.L. Kessler

A hex. Ancient runes steeped in black magic. A decades-old crime. Abigail Collins has her hands full as a Paranormal Investigation Bureau Agent. Accompanied by a stubborn werewolf, challenged by an overprotective coven, and introduced to a Cult linked to her parent’s death, Abby must solve her case before the murderer comes for her. When an ancient langue connects her past with the murderer’s Abigail might just be in over her head.

Goodreads

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Review by Twinsie Kelly

I really love when the blurb to a book instantly pulls you. It is even better when the story consumes you! I am a sucker for paranormal books! Abby is a powerful witch and works for the Paranormal Investigation Bureau, but also works “on the side” for the vampire that raised her. She is brought in to investigate a murder case where the only information they have on the deceased is an intact arm with a murder scene that brings her into a world that involves her deceased parents. As Abby works on the investigation, she uncovers more questions. The further she dives into this, the more her own life is in danger. This is definitely in the suspense category because everywhere Abby turns, there is a new obstacle that makes you question everything you know. It is harrowing and heart wrenching. You never know who is truly on your side. Even then, how close do you let the ones you love in? I did not see the twists at the end. This story is full of magic, criminals, hexes, multiple types of paranormal creatures, and a crazy cult. What more could you really want from a book? I look forward to continuing this series.

A.L. Kessler profile image

A.L. Kessler is a paranormal romance author residing in beautiful Colorado Springs, Co. Since she was a teenager she has loved spinning tales. She can easily be won over with gifts of coffee or chocolate.

#WOTR24 #Review – Hoist the Flag: Triangles and Tribulations Book 1 by Cassandra Featherstone

***This was previously published in the Jingle My Balls Anthology. This version has bonus content!***

Click to send… and I’m outta here.

Being the infamous fairy tale ‘Jack’ isn’t as glamorous as it sounds. My entire life has been a series of memes—before they were even invented!

My current ‘Jack’ title is companion to the Ice Queen—who spent the first couple of years singing that song—but my sentence here is almost over. I’m going to make a run for it to retire with my shaker of salt on an island in the Caribbean while I drink piña coladas.

Before I leave, I realize my heart wasn’t as frozen as I thought and I have to save Queenie from her evil sister. We make a plan to escape together after the Yule celebration, but even that falls victim to my legendary bad luck.

Enter two bumbling pirates who were playing Robin Hood, a monkey, and a sea voyage to our permanent hiding place…only to trip over a bottle on the beach that contains a mysterious map to a legendary graveyard filled with famous treasure the moment we arrive.

My spill draws the attention of our pirate friends and two other local hotties who can’t resist damsels in distress.

Insert eyeroll here.

My girl and I didn’t ask to be conscripted on an adventure with two shifter pirates, a masseuse, a demi-god, and a merman who think we’re on the menu, but here we are.

Maybe I should have taken the Ice Queen’s musical advice when I first arrived ?

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Kelly

First, this cover is amazing! I mean we have a gorgeous female pirate and I immediately think of a female version of Jack Sparrow. I was scrolling and immediately stopped to check it out. Second, the blurb grabbed me by throat, pulled my hair, and made me one click, like RIGHT NOW! Needless to say, I have incredibly high hopes that this story is going to consume me. I am ready to ride high and laugh my money maker off. However, I had a difficult time at the beginning. This could be because this is a ‘new to me’ author and I am not familiar with her writing style, but I was expecting a YO HO HO glorious grand time and got stuck in the snow. The beginning was quite foreboding with detail (that is needed) to give you each of the female character’s backgrounds so that you understand why they are planning to escape. There are funny and extremely hot scenes throughout the first half, but it didn’t really pick up until about the 60% mark for me. Now, this is where things get really good. We get a lot more action with the escape, add the shifter pirates and crew, plus a special request comes into play. Now, I am hooked! I need to continue this journey and see what the next leg has in store for this crazy crew!

Cassandra Featherstone profile image

Cassandra Featherstone has been writing since she could hold a pencil.

Her passion for literacy is unmatched, but when she picked up her laptop to write her first published novel in March 2020, she focused on subjects that not only spoke to her soul, but affected many of the women she’d met throughout her twisty life path.

Cass’s vision of a more inclusive whychoose genre lead her to include various types of polycules and diverse characters with three-dimensional personalities, hopes, and dreams that readers adore. Due to her relationships with friends and family, bullying, PTSD, body dysmorphia, mental illness, reinvention, and claiming your space are frequent themes in her books. She frequently champions other authors who also strive for accurate, respectful representation of LGBTQIA+ characters in their whychoose romance.

Her works include urban fantasy, paranormal, contemporary, and academy whychoose/polyam with characters over eighteen. Her books never include non-consensual elements, but feature accurate, safe depictions of BDSM and kink lifestyles.

She’s also affectionately known as the Muppet for her outrageous, extroverted personality and her wacky brand of theater kid social media posts and videos.

Cassandra lives in the Midwest with her computer geek husband, artsy college goblin, an author dog named Tilly, and five cats that Loki himself spawned.

Follow here everywhere: https://cassandrafeatherstone.com/followcasseverywhere/

#BookPromo #Review- Iron Flame (The Empyrean #2) by Rebecca Yarros

Don’t miss the explosive new sequel to Rebecca Yarros’s bestselling hit, Fourth Wing.

“The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity.” —Xaden Riorson

Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College—Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.

Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves.

Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits—and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.

But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year.

Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College—and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.

I’m going to leave this review short and sweet because I’m a firm believer of going into a story, completely blind. Especially with a book like this one.

So I’m sure most of you have heard of this series. It’s basically everywhere right now and for good reason.

This series is about Basgiath, a war college, and the students and faculty that attend/work at it. AND of course, we can’t forget the dragons.

Iron Flame is year 2 for Violet and her friends and man, does this one pack a punch. It’s pretty much action right from the very beginning. I thought book one stressed me out but man, this one topped that and more.

I won’t give anything away but if you like fantasy romance, I 100% recommend this one. I haven’t been this invested in a world in years. I can’t wait for the rest of the books in this series! Also, THAT ending. My heart is so happy.