Waves

Details

A year after ending his engagement a mere two days before the wedding, Ezra has settled into his new life: documenting the local seal population, walking the beaches with his black lab, or having lunch with his one remaining friend. Life is simple, quiet, and predictable until the day Ezra befriends a man who walks right out of the sea.

Kai has been alone for a long time—a very, very long time. So much so, he can’t remember living as anything but a seal or caring about anyone human. Until one day, he meets someone amid the ocean who drives his urge to return to land again.

Waves is a low-angst MM paranormal romance featuring a selkie and human pairing. 

Review

⭐⭐⭐ 3.5 

I have mixed feelings about the story. I chose this ARC solely because of the character names 😅 they have sentimental value to me, and finding those specific names together in one book was… I don't know… it caught my attention.

The story starts a little slow, getting boring at times, but still entertaining enough to keep you reading. I liked that it wasn't your typical mermaid story yada, yada… that was interesting. 

Although I never quite understood the whole thing about Kai's “coat.”

The truth is that you could replace the fact that Kai is a Selkie with anything else and the story could continue without problems. The fact that he is an inhuman creature is quite irrelevant. He could very well be a CIA or FBI agent investigating trafficking of prohibited substances in that area that involves fishermen, that would explain his absence, and why he cannot give his full name or talk about his work.

As for Ezra, it really bothered me that he didn't stand up for himself against Thom's lies, that he allowed that crazy guy to not only break his heart, beat him, cost him his house. And on top of that, he basically took away his friends. And still a year later, Ezra did nothing to defend himself. Not even saying why he canceled the wedding 😐

The ending… what kind of ending is that!? I didn't feel like there was any closure… what's going to happen now? What are Ezra and Kai living arrangement going to be? Is Kai going to be in and out for the rest of their lives? Is he immortal? The extra chapter doesn't help much either, if not at all. It doesn't explain how Kai became a Selkie, it doesn't say if there are more Selkies in the world… nothing!

Don't get me wrong.

I cried, I laughed, I fell in love with the characters (except Thom and company, I hope a shark eats them). I enjoyed the book, seriously, but I have too many questions and I didn't like that ending at all.

The Tower

 

Details

“The beauty of Pauley’s work is that he makes the reader (relatively) comfortable with these fun, weird elements and then injects the narrative with short bursts of deep thinking and questions that cut to the marrow of human nature.” — Gabino Iglesias, author of The Devil Takes You Home

THE TOWER

Something is happening to the residents of Eighth Block Tower…

There's radiation in the walls. Salt covers the hallways. The food and water are poisonous. A giant green brain pulsates under the roof, pumping electric venom throughout the apartment building. The residents are trapped and losing their minds.

Sanity is a myth. Sickness is life.

Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐

At this point, I'm still trying to discern if strange things are really happening at The Tower, or if it's a psychiatric hospital and the residents are patients.

Get this: residents can't go out, not even to work. However, their needs are covered, each apartment seems to be more of a room with some facilities, but everything else is communal areas. All the residents seem to suffer from different types of hallucinations, but they share a certain collective delirium… I don't know, I think I'm just trying to make sense of what the characters are experiencing.

Leaving that aside, the story is quite entertaining, nothing is what it seems, and I enjoyed it quite a bit even though I am not a fan of horror or audiobooks. But the narrative has captured me and I want to know more about it.

Infamous Park Avenue Prince

 Details

Who are we? Like you even need to ask. We’re the seven richer-than-sin legacies causing debauchery at the prestigious Astor University in Manhattan.

Some call us spoiled.

Some call us trouble.

But everyone calls us the Park Avenue Princes.

Weston LaRue
“The Playboy”

I’m never one to turn down a bet. Especially not when it comes to retaliating against the dean for pulling a dick move before summer break.

So when the dean’s golden child arrives at Astor for his freshman year, my fellow troublemakers throw down a wager I can’t resist.

The target: the dean’s son, John Thomas Hawthorne, or “JT.”

The bet: corruption in any way I choose.

It should’ve been easy. With his mess of brown curls, pouty lips, and good-boy reputation, JT is the perfect revenge. And even better? He’s straight.

Challenge accepted. I’ll do whatever it takes to prove a point, no matter how reckless it might be.

Game. On.

Infamous Park Avenue Prince is the first standalone novel in the Park Avenue Princes world.

Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.5 

I began this book with high expectations, and I am happy to report that my expectations were not only met but exceeded. It wasn't exactly what I expected, but better.

It's difficult for me to decide where to start, because beyond saying that I totally loved the book, the story, and the characters (not all of them, I'm looking at you East). I don't know how to express how good I found it (I literally finished the reading less than 5 minutes ago, so let me gather my thoughts).

I thought West would be the typical “poor rich kid” who has everything money can buy and still isn't happy (thanks Ella and Brooke for showing that it is possible to write a good story without falling into the use of that stereotype. Which many times is the only personality trait of those characters). Of course, West, and his friends are a group of privileged youngsters, who have had everything in life, but at least West, is also someone who works for what he wants, although of course, let's not forget that he is an arrogant-spoiled brat.

I liked the way everything developed, things happened naturally (if we leave aside West's stalker tendencies, of course. But what's the point of being a rich kid if you can't use your money to make life a little easier?). Anyway, everything between West and JT happens slowly and unhurriedly. As the reader goes deeper and deeper into the book, they can detect the exact moments in which West gradually fell for JT and how JT went from being straight as a ruler to not so straight after all. Their relationship emerged in a way that neither of them expected, and when they realize it, they were already head over heels for each other.

Things I liked:

1. How West did not stop being himself, in fact, in the process of getting to know JT he discovered things about himself that were unknown until that moment. He continued to be an arrogant playboy who went out to party almost every day, only now he went with JT or, failing that, he had dates with JT in places that were not usual for him, but JT liked.

2. JT did go a little out of the path and fell to the dark side, but he still remained true to himself. All these new experiences with West were his ticket to having fun and seeing that there is life beyond just studying and been a golden boy.

3. The parents hardly appear, but from the little that can be seen of them it is clear that they are good parents, not the typical toxic parents who have traumatized their children by being super strict, controlling and other toxic attitudes (again, thanks Ella and Brooke for showing that you can write a good story without using this overused resource).

4. Donovan and his “Van sessions”

Things I didn't like:

Just one thing. While the bet is a totally believable thing this type of character would do, the reward for winning seemed weak to me. It's not like West couldn't afford that by simply calling his dad. West, of all of them, could have that reward with a call, considering who his father is and the business he owns. But well, I guess it was more about the challenge and showing his friends that nothing is impossible or difficult for him to obtain.

Final thoughts:

—I'm upset with East, I'm sure he did it on purpose.

— Donovan and his “Van sessions” are my favorite things, also, how can I schedule an appointment with him? I need it urgently.

—What's up with Travis and Caleb?

— East, I'll be watching you closely, what you did was not something a best friend does to his best friend.

— My guess for the next book is between East and the person he's obsessed with or Travis and his love hate relationship with Caleb… you know what? I'm going to let a little of West's arrogance rub off on me…the second book will be East's, period.

Wow, this review got a little too long, so I'm going to leave it here.

Thanks to Foreword and the authors for this ARC, I really enjoyed it and I look forward to the other books.

The Sword: Xcian

Details

Forbidden desires are his sins. The human he's charged with protecting is his penance. And falling in love may destroy him. Xcian craves what he cannot, Sebastian Diaz. 

The one man who he's inexplicably drawn to. The one man who may inevitably destroy him. When Xcian kidnaps Sebastian at the behest of his brother, he knows it was a mistake to force the male into his world, where the war between the malice and the Nine has escalated. 

And as their sexual attraction turns to something more, Xcian must decide if he's willing to risk damnation for a chance at love.

Review

⭐⭐⭐ 3.5

Was it a bad book? No, it was very good, indeed.

If it was good, why such a low rating? Because Sebastian is an idiot 😡🤬😑😐

Throughout the book, no one stops to explain to Sebastian in detail what is happening, neither about the existence of supernatural beings nor the role of Xcian and his brothers. Added to that is the fact that Sebastian also doesn't ask nor demand for an explanation (despite the fact that Xcian promises to answer all his questions if he makes them).

Sebastian commits stupidity after stupidity, over and over and over again. Endangering everyone around him and himself in the process. That really bothered me.

But Sebastian's nonsense aside, it was a good book. The world building was great. Although the supernatural beings here are the usual ones (demons, gods, werewolves, vampires, witches / shamans, etc…) their origins are different from the usual ones which makes it not repetitive or boring.

The truth is that I liked the book, but the miscommunication trope is not my thing.

There are several loose ends to be solved, and I suppose there would be more books about Xcian brothers (for the sake of my emotional and mental stability, I hope there’s going to be more books). I need to know what's going to happen with Layla and Pedro, Hawke, Alejandro, that someone assured me that Finn succeeded, among other things that require solution. I need to know more about Eric and Zane relationship.

Too many questions I have, so please give me more books 😬

August

Review

✨✨✨✨ ✨ Well, how should this start? My emotions and thoughts are scattered everywhere.

This book is a standalone, but it takes place in the same universe as Echo and the characters of each book are related to one another, so it is best enjoyed if you have already read Echo first. Another thing to keep in mind is that this book, like Echo, is a Dark Romance, so there is a list of content warnings that I don't recommend being ignored.

That said, I proceed with my review, I'll do my best to make it organized, but don't blame me if it's not… it's Kelevra's fault 🥰

The story begins with Kelevra Diar, Imperial Prince, Third in line for the throne of Vitality, as he watches a performance test for sophomore year cadets, where he first sees Rin Varun.

From that moment on, Kel becomes obsessed with Rin, among other things, because he realizes that Rin hides a lot of secrets that Kel wants to discover out of his boredom. And what was supposed to be a game to kill boredom and a one-night stand suddenly becomes an imperial decree of an arranged betrothal.

But there is a problem, well… a lot of problems really.😅

One of them being the fact that both Rin and his identical twin brother, Sila, want to keep a low profile and live without attracting attention, which they can't do if Rin is involved with His Imperial Highness… Kelevra Diar doesn't do disguises.

Why should he? He is:

Sexy

Arrogant

He always gets what he wants without having to ask for it.

Impulsive

He doesn't know the meaning of the word NO

Possessive

A bad boy in every sense of the word with a tragic past included 😉

The story kept me on the verge of a collapse from beginning to end, whether it was the interactions and relationship development between Kel and Rin or the discovery of the secrets of the Varun twins, the hunt for clues to discover the “murderer” on campus. And just when I thought there were no more secrets or plot twists… I was proven wrong… over and over and over again.

What I liked the most is that Kel fell first, and he fell harder. And in his weird and twisted way, he always has Rin's welfare and best interests in mind, being his top priority.

So of course a fell for Kel, how was I supposed not to… I'm not that strong, for Christ’s sake!! Ok, I'm calm down.

I hope the next book (because I'm sure will be more) will be about Sila, as there are many unanswered questions regarding him and his whereabouts, I'm curious.

Review

😵‍💫🤯😳 OMG! I can't believe I had to wait for 98% of the book to get what you're looking for in this book 😅.

Jesus Christ! What a wild ride.

The first 32% of the book was slow and somewhat boring, but this is because it focuses on the construction of the world, giving some details, explanations, and the background of the characters. Once that's over, the real story begins.

Something that kept me on edge throughout the reading is that in many moments the characters first act and then give the reasons, if they give them at all.

I got quite angry with Dante for not admitting who he is even though everyone already knew… Then I realized that it was not about hiding his identity from others, rather it was about him not knowing himself and much less accepting or recognizing himself.

John is a hard-headed Priest 😅 that will do what is necessary to help the townspeople and protect Dante.

The best character in the whole book is Basque and I loved him 🥰

The only thing I can say I didn't like was the list of books that are/will be part of this series, which means I'll have to read them all (Cough, cough… notice the sarcasm 🤭).

Review

✨✨✨✨✨ I don't know what to say… this book was a wild ride, to say the least.

Plot twists that I didn't see coming in each chapter, complex characters with hidden motivations and who will do whatever it takes to achieve their goals.

You can not trust anyone…

Of course, there is a love triangle between the main characters. It is quite complicated not only because of the love interest, but also because of the political implications and the relationship between them outside of passion, lust, and love/hate.

“My blood calls for yours, and yours mine.”

We have Acheron, prince of vampires, the epitome of the bad boy concept, he's everything that's wrong with a man, but you're still going to fall for him. There's no way around, Malachy falls, I fell, everyone they will fall for him, it is an undeniable fact.

Malachy is a human, not so human, who wakes up alone and badly injured in a cell with his captor trying to get him out and escape the people who are attacking his house, which he fails to do. Malachy is forced to walk out of a cell alone to end in another. Not only that, but Malachy is unknowingly caught in the middle of a sociopolitical conflict between the Vampire Court and the Clanless.

“Between Scylla and Charybdis.” 👈🏻 That sentence is the best way to exemplify the situation Malachy finds himself in… out of options, most of the time, and everyone around him wants something from him, everyone lies and wants to take advantage of Malachy.

Finally, there is Marcellus, leader of the Clanless, a group of rogue vampires who are against the Vampire Court form of government. He is Malachy's captor and creator, and apparently, the only one who knows about Malachy's true origin and abilities that go beyond what any other dhampir can do and that he obviously has hidden plans for Malachy and his extraordinary abilities. That's not to mention his complicated relationship with Acheron…

Malachy is trying to figure out whom he really is, gain control over his abilities, learn about the complicated relationships of the vampire court, fight his undeniable passion and lust for Acheron, and to top it all off, he's forced to fight and choose sides in a battle that is not his and whose implications he does not understand.

Like I said, it was a wild and unexpected ride, which I totally enjoyed, and I can't wait for the continuation of the story, hopefully and in the next book I have answers to all my questions.

Not Dating Material

Details

MOLLY

Moving to Seattle is supposed to be all about getting a fresh start and leaving the bitter man I was becoming behind.

I have new roommates–quirky, sometimes strange, roommates–a nosy, next door neighbor and a grumpy kitty for company, but even surrounded by people, I still don't feel like I belong. Plus, it turns out the men in Seattle are exactly the same as the ones I left behind, and my string of romantic disconnections continues.

It's not until one of my roommates, Seven, hits me with some hard truths that I realize where I was going wrong.

Maybe the men aren't the problem.

I am. And there's only one way to fix that.

SEVEN

Being found tied up naked to my bed by my cute new roommate isn't an ideal way for us to start a friendship.

But apparently a quid-pro-quo is.

He keeps his pretty lips zipped about the compromising position, and I step in as his dating coach. We go out, I point out where he's going wrong, and he magically becomes dating material.

The problem is, between my codependent brother Xander and a new best friend I can't get rid of, Molly and I are the target of a matchmaking scheme. My life is way too busy to add another person to it, and Molly is the kinda guy who needs to be made a priority, which I just can't do. Xander's medical anxiety takes up too much of my time, and I've never found a partner who doesn't resent it.

I'm determined to help Molly find his ever after.

But that guy will never be me.

Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐ This was so sweet a heart touching / heart broken 🥺🥺🥺

This book is a standalone, but it doesn't belong to the Accidental Love series and although it can be read perfectly in any order, I did have some doubts, but it doesn't really affect the story.

So, the characters… Molly is a guy who just moved in looking for a fresh start after a bad “breakup”. He is determined to find the perfect man for himself, the problem is that until now he has not been able to find one who is capable of handling how intense he is. Because let's face it: Molly has an intense personality. He gives everything and more of himself, and not everyone is able to accept or handle it.

On the other hand, we have Seven who did not have a good childhood, going from one foster home to another, suffering abuse and where she met her now adoptive brother Xander. Who suffers from recurring anxiety attacks and Seven is his “his person” for when such incidents occur, which causes Seven not to want to get involved in any relationship, because Xander is his priority in life.

It all started as a way for Seven to help Molly realize his dating mistakes. But they soon end up emotionally involved, being jealous of each other, getting to know each other better and giving each other support when they need it.

My recurring thought while reading was that both, Molly and Seven, have been broken so many times and in so many different ways, that the only way for them to be whole again is… Being together, repairing each other.

They have quite deep traumas and emotional problems, but despite this they look for ways to live their lives in the best way they can.

My final thoughts: I loved the story, I already want a book where Xander finds the love of his life and that he can seek professional help for his anxiety attacks. Please someone do Darcy and Damien justice 🤣 they are collateral damage in this book and deserve some love. I wasn't prepared for Seven's piercings, that was new… But oh my god! 🤤🤤🤤❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥🔥🔥🔥🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thanks to Foreword for the ARC, I really enjoyed it 😊

Cover Reveal - Infamous

✨ Cover Reveal ✨

Feast your eyes on this insanely hot cover for 𝙄𝙉𝙁𝘼𝙈𝙊𝙐𝙎 𝙋𝘼𝙍𝙆 𝘼𝙑𝙀𝙉𝙐𝙀 𝙋𝙍𝙄𝙉𝘾𝙀 by Ella Frank & Brook Blaine, created by Hang Lee, with photo credit to Ren Saliba. 

This is the first book in their brand new co-authored series of sexy M/M standalone with a scandalous edge, arriving on September 21st.

What you can expect from 𝙄𝙉𝙁𝘼𝙈𝙊𝙐𝙎 𝙋𝘼𝙍𝙆 𝘼𝙑𝙀𝙉𝙐𝙀 𝙋𝙍𝙄𝙉𝘾𝙀…

💎 Biawakening

👑 Playboy⁣

💎 Golden boy⁣

👑 Bet⁣

💎 Revenge⁣

👑 New guy⁣

💎 Secret Relationship

ABOUT THE BOOK:

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲? 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘀𝗸. 𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿-𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻-𝘀𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗔𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗻.

𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱.

𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲.

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗔𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀.

Weston LaRue

“The Playboy”

I’m never one to turn down a bet. Especially not when it comes to retaliating against the dean for pulling a dick move before summer break.

So when the dean’s golden child arrives at Astor for his freshman year, my fellow troublemakers throw down a wager I can’t resist.

The target: the dean’s son, John Thomas Hawthorne, or “JT.”

The bet: corruption in any way I choose.

It should’ve been easy. With his mess of brown curls, pouty lips, and good-boy reputation, JT is the perfect revenge. And even better? He’s straight.

Challenge accepted. I’ll do whatever it takes to prove a point, no matter how reckless it might be.

Game. On.

𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗔𝗩𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗣𝗥𝗘-𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥!

Amazon Universal ~ https://geni.us/InfamousPL

Don’t miss this tempting sneak peek early excerpt, add INFAMOUS PARK AVENUE PRINCE to your Goodreads TBR, and enter Ella & Brooke’s rafflecopter for your chance to read early here: https://geni.us/aHa1G 

Cover Reveal - Heir to Frost and Storm

✨ Cover Reveal ✨ 

Heir to Frost & Storm by Ben Alderson is the second book in the “Court of Broken Bounds” series that will be published on November 10th by Second Sky Books.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

“I needed this. I needed him. My mind was a storm and I wanted him to take it all away.”

At the prestigious and competitive Saylam Academy, Max trains to master his magic, surrounded by enemies who will stop at nothing to see him fail.

As he fights to survive, Max’s romance with proud, passionate healer Simion grows ever more intense. But magic still ties him to Camron Calzmir, the prince who seduced and betrayed him. While the enchantment lingers, even the slightest touch from Simion could tear Max apart.

To prove himself, Max enters a legendary contest that could win him the loyalty of a powerful, ice-breathing dragon. High in the mountains, he will face elemental monsters and vicious rivals. But these dangers are only the beginning.

When Max returns to find Saylam consumed by rebellion, it’s clear that even old friends hold dangerous secrets.

An ancient plan is falling into place. And if it succeeds, whole kingdoms will burn. To survive the war that is coming, Max must be willing to sacrifice everything…

Heir to Frost and Storm continues an addictive M/M fantasy romance series perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Elise Kova and C.S. Pacat. Building on the slow-burn tension of Book 1, it’s packed with heart-racing steam, deadly intrigue, found family and jaw-dropping twists.

Note: You can find the complete review for Heir to Thorn and Flame here

Hawke

Details

Come on, baby, light my fire…

Firefighter Hawke Colton loves his job and hanging with his firefighter brothers. Work is great, but Hawke wants more. He yearns for a life with a husband, kids, a house, even a dog. What he craves is a real family, something he never got to experience growing up.

Fire Investigator Tristan Cole lost his parents to an arsonist twenty-one years ago. That tragedy changed his life forever. He’s built his career on putting arsonists away, and he is still searching for the person responsible for his parents’ death.

When a family is killed in a suspicious fire, Tristan knows the signature of the offender all too well. To prove it’s the same arsonist, he asks Hawke for help combing through the old files. He is determined to get justice by uncovering what lurks beneath the ashes.

When the arsonist sets his sights on Tristan, can Hawke find a way to keep his new love safe?

Review

 It was a pleasant surprise to see that the characters in this story are somewhat related to those of the Federal Protection Agency series.

In this we see the story of Hawk who is a firefighter, and Tristan who also works in the fire department, but as an investigator. Tristan suffers from PTSD due to a traumatic episode during his childhood / adolescence, and has made it his life's mission to catch the person responsible for the death of his parents.

Following clues found in the latest fires, he ends up working with Hawk and sparks immediately flare between them.

The relationship between the characters develops quite fast and intense, since the time frame of this book is, at most, a week, still it is not a negative thing, since this is a short story and not too deep.

The discovery of the arsonist seemed a bit anticlimactic to me. The description suggests that the person responsible for the fires “takes an interest in Tristan”, which led me to believe that said person would persecute the characters in some way, but no. It was like that, in fact the person responsible appears only after it has been discovered…

As always, it was a read that I quite enjoyed and actually got me out of the little reading block I was in.

The Astronaut Dream Book

Details

A poisoned man dreams of astronauts.

Review

This is the first audiobook I've heard, and I'm so glad this book was my first experience with this format.

The story gave me vibes to a series of short stories called, Love, Death + Robots. ❤️💀🤖  At first it seems that each short story has no purpose or direction, as if it were a story floating alone in a vast sea, but if you pay attention to the small details you will realize that everything is related. It is like a puzzle, and I loved finding the pieces and trying to put it together.

Emphasis on: “trying to”

I have so many questions and doubts regarding some things, and apparently I will have to listen to the other books in the series to understand… I already saw that the first one is called The Tower, and in this, which is the third part in the series, a place called The Tower is mentioned several times… So if I want answers, I have to read the others.

My favorite short was The Church of Death and Nothingness, it took some interesting turns and twists.

The narrator did an excellent job and I loved his voice 🤤. Please, raise his paycheck 😅 

Thanks to Netgalley and Doom Fiction for this ARC.

These Silent stars

 

Details

The Devils of Vitality always spot a liar.

Rin Varun’s got something to hide.

That’s a lie. He’s got several things. Traveling to a different galaxy was meant to make his life less complicated, but a year in on this new planet, and he’s still fighting off his demons. There’s no better place to learn how to keep skeletons buried than the Academy, where they teach their cadets how to uncover them, and Rin is determined to graduate in order to ensure those demons stay hidden. He doesn’t want to stand out, doesn’t want accolades, or high marks. He just wants to coast by unnoticed, and he’s doing a decent job until he draws the attention of the Devil Prince.

Kelevra Diar doesn’t do disguises.

Who would bother with a mask when they have a face as tantalizing as his? As the Imperial Prince, Third in line for the throne, Kel’s used to getting anything and everything he wants faster than he can raise his hand to snap his fingers. The drawback to this is even murder has lost its intrigue, and there’s nothing more dangerous than a bored Devil of Vitality. Then a cadet catches his eye, and suddenly things are starting to look interesting again. Rin is unlike anyone Kelevra’s ever known, with monsters hiding under his bed that might rival Kel’s sociopathic nature.

When Kelevra decides to make it his mission to draw those monsters out to play, Rin unsurprisingly resists, but that only makes him more invested. Suddenly, the impulsive prince realizes he’s in this for the long haul, even if that means forcing Rin’s hand through an arranged betrothal. Rin has no idea why Kel has taken such an intense interest in him, but no matter what he tries, he can’t shake free of him. The sex between them may be explosive, and Kelevra may be the most attractive person he’s ever seen, but is that enough for Rin to drop his guard and reveal all his secrets?

Review

✨✨✨✨ ✨ Well, how should this start? My emotions and thoughts are scattered everywhere.

This book is a standalone, but it takes place in the same universe as Echo and the characters of each book are related to one another, so it is best enjoyed if you have already read Echo first. Another thing to keep in mind is that this book, like Echo, is a Dark Romance, so there is a list of content warnings that I don't recommend being ignored.

That said, I proceed with my review, I'll do my best to make it organized, but don't blame me if it's not… it's Kelevra's fault 🥰

The story begins with Kelevra Diar, Imperial Prince, Third in line for the throne of Vitality, as he watches a performance test for sophomore year cadets, where he first sees Rin Varun.

From that moment on, Kel becomes obsessed with Rin, among other things, because he realizes that Rin hides a lot of secrets that Kel wants to discover out of his boredom. And what was supposed to be a game to kill boredom and a one-night stand suddenly becomes an imperial decree of an arranged betrothal.

But there is a problem, well… a lot of problems really.😅

One of them being the fact that both Rin and his identical twin brother, Sila, want to keep a low profile and live without attracting attention, which they can't do if Rin is involved with His Imperial Highness… Kelevra Diar doesn't do disguises.

Why should he? He is:

Sexy

Arrogant

He always gets what he wants without having to ask for it.

Impulsive

He doesn't know the meaning of the word NO

Possessive

A bad boy in every sense of the word with a tragic past included 😉

The story kept me on the verge of a collapse from beginning to end, whether it was the interactions and relationship development between Kel and Rin or the discovery of the secrets of the Varun twins, the hunt for clues to discover the “murderer” on campus. And just when I thought there were no more secrets or plot twists… I was proven wrong… over and over and over again.

What I liked the most is that Kel fell first, and he fell harder. And in his weird and twisted way, he always has Rin's welfare and best interests in mind, being his top priority.

So of course a fell for Kel, how was I supposed not to… I'm not that strong for Christsake!! Ok, I'm calm down

I hope the next book (because I'm sure will be more) will be about Sila, as there are many unanswered questions regarding him and his whereabouts, I'm curious.

Let me out

Details

A face-off with the devil! From writer Emmett Nahil (Leatherwood) and illustrator George Williams (Croc and Roll) comes a riveting queer horror story set against the backdrop of an outbreak of “satanic panic” sweeping the New Jersey suburbs in 1979.

When Pastor Holley's wife, Kelly, is found murdered, FBI agent Garrett takes on the case with local New Jersey Sheriff Mullen. Together, they start drumming up a convenient satanic-flavored scapegoat to cover up their own crimes of murder and experimentation. That scapegoat comes in the form of four Mitch, Terri, Lupe, and Jackson. The punks, the queers, and the outcasts. Soon, the group becomes the prime suspects of Kelly's murder. Now on the run from Garrett and Mullen, the group finds themselves in the midst of a deal with the devil themself.

Preview

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I am speechless.

This was my “out of my comfort zone reading”, and oh boy, it was outside what I usually read, indeed.

This graphic novel set in 1979 show the story of a small town in which a tragedy recently occurred. The inhabitants of the town want answers that the authorities cannot give them, since said event is part of even worse things that are happening, of which the authorities are aware and worse still… they are partly responsible.

In their attempt to cover up their crimes, they decide to take advantage of people's fear and start a whole plan to sow fear and suspicion throughout the town using the sermons of the local church pastor.

Of course, all this means that soon all the suspicions fall on the group of the “weird” of the town. A group of four friends who stand out for not fitting in at all… they dress differently, listen to “violent” music, among other things, which makes them the perfect scapegoat to be framed.

I don't want to go into too much detail to avoid spoilers. The story begins after the tragedy has already happened and no background or explanation of the situation is given, it just begins and as the reading progresses we discover everything. At a certain point in the story, it feels a lot like the West Memphis Three case, in the sense that the fear and narrow-mindedness of a town turned against a group of people who, probably, have nothing to do with what happened.

The art and illustrations are magnificent, the plot is also very well done. Horror is not a genre I read on a regular basis, but I enjoyed reading “Let me out.”

Prince's Priest

Details

The Prince of Bloodeaters is in love with a human priest. 

Living in a kingdom haunted by civil war and a plague called the Madness, two men will find their own way to fix their world. Viceroy Falco, the prince's ex-lover, wants an army of bloodeaters at his command and stands in their way at every turn. When Father John takes over the Glensdale church, he becomes a target for Falco's sadistic games. 

Dante is willing to sacrifice everything to keep Father John safe, but will he have to accept his position as Prince when the King falls ill? After running away ten years ago, will Dante be able to confess his love for John, fight Falco, and take on his title once again?

Preview

😵‍💫🤯😳 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ OMG! 

I can't believe I had to wait for 98% of the book to get what I was looking for in this book 😅. 

Jesus Christ! What a wild ride. 

The first 32% of the book was slow and somewhat boring, but this is because it focuses on the construction of the world, giving some details, explanations, and the background of the characters. Once that's over, the real story begins. 

Something that kept me on edge throughout the reading is that in many moments the characters first act and then give the reasons, if they give them at all.

I got quite angry with Dante for not admitting who he is even though everyone already knew… Then I realized that it was not about hiding his identity from others, rather it was about him not knowing himself and much less accepting or recognizing himself. 

John is a hard-headed Priest 😅 that will do what is necessary to help the townspeople and protect Dante. 

The best character in the whole book is Basque and I loved him  🥰 

The only thing I can say I didn't like was the list of books that are/will be part of this series, which means I'll have to read them all (Cough, cough… notice sarcasm 🤭).

His moody mechanic

 Details

I’m a man with the need to fix everything…but Ken is the one I want to wreck.

I’m a rugged mechanic. An unrepentant grump. And as an openly gay man, I’m also the local pariah. The only reason I haven’t been chased out is that I’m as unmatched at throwing a punch as I am at wielding a wrench.

Ken is pretty and rich. He’s a sunny twenty to my jaded forty. Not only is he far too young for me, but he’s also the mayor’s son. We couldn’t be more different…and he couldn’t be more off-limits.

But when Ken’s car breaks down during a spell of bad weather, I do the right thing instead of the smart thing and give him a tow back to my workshop.

While I fix his ride, Ken reveals he’s gay too. Before the storm has passed, I’m thunderstruck by his confession that he wants me as much as I want him.

Our love is a small town secret that’s about to erupt into a big time scandal.

His Moody Mechanic is a standalone instalove romance. This is a sweet and spicy bite-sized read! Features an experienced older man and a younger man experiencing a gay awakening. Ends with a HEA. No cheating or cliffhangers.

Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐ It was cute.

Ken knows what he wants and who he wants. And although he needed a little help from Harley, he was always brave.

I would have liked a little more drama, but it wasn't bad.

But there is one question that does not leave me calm… What do Ken and Harley live on now? They are touring the country on their motorcycle aimlessly, but where do they get money for it? 🤣🤣

I guess it's part of the magic of the story. It's a book to read on a rainy afternoon or on the bus to work, a short story, insta-love, straight to the point.

Lovely characters and a really cute love story.

You Can Have My Back - Vol. 1

Details

I’ll Never Let You Go Again…

When Ionia, proud knight of the realm, loses his life in a violent insurrection, his memories are inherited by a boy born one day after his death. Years later, Leorino Cassieux, fourth son of the Margrave of Brungwurt and blessed with angelic beauty, begins to see Ionia’s memories in his dreams. He relives Ionia’s ill-fated romance with the king’s younger brother, Prince Gravis, as well as his death at the hands of a traitor to the kingdom! But as Leorino tries to make sense of the feeling swelling in his chest, he stumbles too close to the truth of that fateful day. The traitor’s identity is revealed, and in a panic, the traitor threatens to end himself and take Leorino with him! As Leorino’s life hangs in the balance, he instinctively cries out for his only the love of his past life, Gravis.

Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Not what I expected, but it doesn't disappoint.

When I chose this ARC, I thought it was a graphic novel/manga, so my first surprise when I started reading was to realize that it wasn't. The second, in a long list of surprises, was the prologue… I think they should put a content warning so that readers don't stumble upon these kinds of scenes inadvertently. I'm not referring to the explicit content, I mean the no-con.

Third surprise… I thought it would be a novel with a renaissance plot, but it's not like that, at least not completely. Ionia and Leorino are two different people, except that Rino has Ionia's memories and while he sleeps he can access them and learn about Ionia's life.

I liked that Rino found a way to express his thoughts and desires despite the fact that the people around him insisted on pigeonholing him into stereotypes or making him fit into their own versions of what he should be.

Even though I'm not a fan of political intrigues, that part of the story was quite interesting, at times I got quite angry because certain situations could have been avoided if the characters stopped keeping important information to themselves. But hey, there's nothing we can do more than wait and see how it all unfolds.

I loved the illustrations at the beginning of the book. Many things remained pending, but I suppose they will be resolved in the following volumes.

Crossing Acheron

 Details

Malachy Donovan was born human. But after waking up in a pool of his own blood, he knew that fact, which once felt so certain, had been changed forever.

After being freed from imprisonment by Acheron and his elite unit of bodyguards, Malachy quickly learns the truth of his condition: he is a dhampir, a rare and powerful creature born half-human, half-vampire. Forced into a blood bond with the vampire prince—the same man who rescued him from captivity—to leave his side would be the same as being hunted down by the armies at Acheron’s command.

Now caught in a war between the prestigious vampire High Clans and the vampire anarchists who abducted him, Malachy finds himself at a crossroads: should he fight to retain his humanity among the creatures who would see him become a monster? Or give in to the growing attraction he has for the beautiful yet manipulative Acheron…and the dark allure of the underworld, said prince would do anything to protect?

Crossing Acheron is the first book in the LGBT+ dark fantasy series, Kin & Kine. This book features MM enemies-to-lovers, slow burn over high heat, promiscuous vampires and Machiavellian royalty, dragon-shifters, werewolves, and witches. Kin & Kine contains content some readers may find distressing and, as such, is intended for an adult audience.

Review

✨✨✨✨✨ I don't know what to say… this book was a wild ride, to say the least.

Plot twists that I didn't see coming in each chapter, complex characters with hidden motivations and who will do whatever it takes to achieve their goals.

You can not trust anyone…

Of course, there is a love triangle between the main characters. It is quite complicated not only because of the love interest, but also because of the political implications and the relationship between them outside of passion, lust, and love/hate.

“My blood calls for yours, and yours mine.”

We have Acheron, prince of vampires, the epitome of the bad boy concept, he's everything that's wrong with a man, but you're still going to fall for him. There's no way around, Malachy falls, I fell, everyone they will fall for him, it is an undeniable fact.

Malachy is a human, not so human, who wakes up alone and badly injured in a cell with his captor trying to get him out and escape the people who are attacking his house, which he fails to do. Malachy is forced to walk out of a cell alone to end in another. Not only that, but Malachy is unknowingly caught in the middle of a sociopolitical conflict between the Vampire Court and the Clanless.

“Between Scylla and Charybdis.” 

 ☝🏻 That sentence is the best way to exemplify the situation Malachy finds himself in… out of options, most of the time, and everyone around him wants something from him, everyone lies and wants to take advantage of Malachy.

Finally, there is Marcellus, leader of the Clanless, a group of rogue vampires who are against the Vampire Court form of government. He is Malachy's captor and creator, and apparently, the only one who knows about Malachy's true origin and abilities that go beyond what any other dhampir can do and that he obviously has hidden plans for Malachy and his extraordinary abilities. That's not to mention his complicated relationship with Acheron…

Malachy is trying to figure out whom he really is, gain control over his abilities, learn about the complicated relationships of the vampire court, fight his undeniable passion and lust for Acheron, and to top it all off, he's forced to fight and choose sides in a battle that is not his and whose implications he does not understand.

Like I said, it was a wild and unexpected ride, which I totally enjoyed, and I can't wait for the continuation of the story, hopefully and in the next book I have answers to all my questions.

Boyfriends

 

Details

A comic about getting yourself a boyfriend… or multiple boyfriends! Four college students begin a polyamorous relationship and navigate the adventure that is their dating life!

Overview

This comic has so far two seasons (152 chapters) and new chapters are published twice a week (Tuesday and Friday) on webtoon.

The chapters are quite short, the art is wonderful. It is qualified as Slice of live, which is a narrative genre which consists of telling the daily life of the characters.

The main characters are four college students who initially start dating as two independent couples, but soon realize that they are all attracted to each other and decide to start a polyamorous relationship between the four of them.

The first season (Chapter 1 to 100) shows us the beginning of the relationship, how they met and their first dates and other first times…

The second season (Chapter 101 – ongoing) things continue well for the couple, we learn more about their families, and they decide to move in together.

Characters:

Goth (Felix) is a 21-year-old transgender man. He is a lover of dark-colored clothes and the typical gothic aesthetic. He is shown that he likes to play video games in his spare time. Goth is a smoker. He started dating Nerd first, before beginning a relationship with Prep and Jock as well.

Nerd (Adrian) is a 19-year-old pansexual male and is double majoring in math and astronomy in his freshman year of college. This is shown to be stressful for him at times, and he relies on the support of his boyfriend to get by. Nerd likes K-pop idols, which helps spark his relationship with Jock. They learn dances and go to concerts of their favorite artists together. He also spends a lot of time playing video games and watching anime with Goth when they start dating. Nerd regularly changes his hair color and is also the shortest and youngest of the group.

Prep (Vincent) is a 21-year-old gay senior, business student, and student union member. He's reasonably well off money-wise, but he still likes Goth to pay for his stuff. He is Goth's tidy roommate and is shown to have had numerous affairs with him. The two were relatively physical, but he never realized that Goth liked him more than as friends with benefits. Prep begins dating Jock, who he was extremely uncomfortable with at first. Both he and Jock start dating Nerd and Goth.

Jock (Kevin) is a 20-year-old bisexual sophomore. He studies physiology and plays on the college soccer team. He is also a good cook and really good on sports.

Review

✨✨✨✨✨ if love really exists, it would be this

I read this comic for the first time when there was only one season published, in December 2021, but I decided to read it again for the May challenge. I consider that the characters represent almost all the colors of the rainbow, and additionally presents several polyamorous couples.

There is not a single regulatory element in this comic, and for this reason it seemed to me the best option to read in the month of pride.

Needless to say, I loved it. Each character is his own person, with their own purposes and desires, and yet they make their relationship work and support each other.

Galatea

 

Details

An enchanting short story from Madeline Miller that boldly reimagines the myth of Galatea and Pygmalion.

In Ancient Greece, a skilled marble sculptor has been blessed by a goddess who has given his masterpiece — the most beautiful woman the town has ever seen — the gift of life. Now his wife, he expects Galatea to please him, to be obedience and humility personified. But she has desires of her own and yearns for independence.

In a desperate bid by her obsessive husband to keep her under control, Galatea is locked away under the constant supervision of doctors and nurses. But with a daughter to rescue, she is determined to break free, whatever the cost…

Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐ I wasn't prepared 🙀

As part of the reading challenge for April, I had to read a retelling and the book initially chosen was Circe by Madeline Miller, but I put that reading aside because the narration seemed too heavy. I honestly did not connect with Circe, so I decided to abandon that book and better read Galatea instead because why not?

What could go wrong in a book that barely has 20 pages?

Well, let me tell you that everything, everything can go wrong if the author is Madeline Miller. Don't get me wrong, the story is good, it's well written, good narration and good dialogues… And I think that this only makes the experience worse (I loved it, but was terrified). 🤣

The thing is that, in this retelling of the myth of Pygmalion and Galatea, in a few words and without going too deep, the author presents the life of a woman whose husband keeps her captive. Only giving us the minimum details necessary for the reader to understand, and get an idea for themselves, of what is going on. Those few details give the reader the freedom to fill in the blanks with they own imagination, which makes for a more immersive read.

I would classify it as psychological terror 😥

Monthly Challenge - Theme challenge I

Today I want to show you the monthly list of challenges for Theme Challenge I, which is part of my Reading Challenge this year.

In this, each month I must read a book that meets a certain requirement, ranging from “a book published in 2022” or “Cat in the title.”

So far it has been fun doing the challenges each month, since I have discovered books that I would not have read if it hadn't been for the challenge and that I really liked. But it has also been the case that I did not like the chosen book.

But it's all part of the experience and in fact I'm already thinking and jotting down ideas for next year's challenge 😉

Below I leave you the list of titles that I chose to read for each monthly challenge, as well as the link to the reviews of each book in case one catches your attention.

List

January – A book published on 2022: Alastair

February – A Romantic novel: Henri

March – A woman protagonist: Marry my husband

April – A retelling novel: Galatea

May – Found family: Network Effect

June – LGBTQIA+ protagonist: Boyfriends

July – A fantasy novel: Echo

August – “Cat” on the title: 

September – National author:

October – A terror novel:

November - Manhwa/Graphic novel:

December – A book published on 2023:

So far this is the progress I have made in this challenge and I will update this post every month.

I'm excited about the challenge for August, I already chose several books with the word “cat” in the title, and as the cat lover that I am, I am very excited to read them.

Echo - July best reading

Details

The Devils of Vitality always hit their mark.

Rabbit Trace is a musical prodigy with a secret.

Ever since an event that took place a year ago, he gets terrible stage fright before every performance. With a famous mother who's dedicated her entire life to her craft, and the weight of her expectations heavy on his shoulders, Rabbit is only one panic attack away from crumbling. He knows it'll be easier to escape if he stops running from the memory of that night, but he's stubborn and doesn't want to remember something so horrible his mind thought fit to erase it for him. Monotony has helped him make it through, and he's settled into a dull routine that keeps his mind occupied, the worst of the attacks limited to just before performances. That is, until one of the infamous Devils of Vitality suddenly takes notice and decides to invade his life, whether he reciprocates or not.

Baikal Void has many titles.

Each of them comes with a responsibility attached to it. Future Dominus, head of the Vitality Brumal Mafia, is just one of them. He's always known he'd one day have to take the crown, he just never realized it'd be so soon. With his father dying and the inevitable changing of power looming, Baikal struggles to keep his deranged nature under control as he grapples with the upcoming loss. Then one night he's dragged to a recital for his university and sees him for the first time. After one glance, he knows he's found his saving grace in Rabbit, the reserved musician who looks like he's battling demons of his own. Just like that, he's got a new title to add to the list. He's going to be the owner of one little ethereal bunny.

Rabbit doesn't understand Baikal's sudden and intense interest, or why the Brumal Prince has gone out of his way to collect enough dirt on his mom to force his hand. Blackmailed into a relationship of sorts, Rabbit fights against Baikal's constant advances and his own tumultuous feelings. Everything Baikal inflicts on him is wrong and twisted, and yet the longer he's made to endure, the more codependent Rabbit finds himself becoming. Baikal promises freedom from the predetermined fate he's always been a slave to, but only if he gives himself over to him completely.

And if he doesn't do so willingly? A devil is always prepared to take what they want, and Baikal Void is no exception.

Review

✨✨✨✨✨ OMFG, I'm speechless…

I must admit that after carefully reading the author's note at the beginning of the book, I almost decided not to read it… but I'm glad I did, because OH. My. God!!!

I read it twice in a row, why? Well, the first time I was so desperate to know what would happen that I skipped several pages, reading only the dialogues or some paragraphs if I didn't understand something. And the second time I read it completely… word for word (16+ hours, very well invested).

Now… the characters: I immediately hated December, I couldn't wait to see what his karma would be… and oh boy was I so pleased with his punishment.

I'm so sorry for what happened to Oli, he didn't deserve it, but it is what it is…

Baikal and Rabbit are made for each other.

Baikal is the Brumal Prince, possessive, jealous, heir to the Void conglomerate, obsessive, intense… Yes, he is all of that and more, but more importantly… he cares about the well-being of his little bunny.

Rabbit is dealing with traumas from the past that cause him panic attacks and stage fright and fear of the dark. Due to his upbringing he is unable to stand for himself, he is afraid of his mother and her expectations of him, and has never had a chance to decide the course of his life…until now.

Kal comes into Rabbit's life like a wrecking ball, determined to let his tiny obsession know who he belongs to, take care of him, help him overcome his fears, set him free… and succeeds. !

From start to finish, the book is a whirlwind of emotions that kept me up all night.

Warnings: if you are a frequent Dark Romance reader, you can read this book without any problem, now, if like me, you are not a regular on the subject, I recommend reading the trigger warnings carefully and heeding the author's advice. Always remembering that this is fantasy, and it's okay to fall in love with Kal, but if in real life you come cross with a Baikal Void or a December Trace… run, ask for help.

Ultimately, this was the first book I've read by this author, and I plan to read more in the near future. I hope that Echo is not the only book we have in this universe, I would really like to know what Kelevra and the twins bring, what about the life of Kaz, Flix and Berga… I want to know more about all the characters and this universe, I need more!!!

The Blade That Knows My Name

 Details

Caution: Contents may be hot! A DARK AND THRILLING M/M FANTASY ROMANCE.

Yarek is an aging warrior accused of a crime he didn't commit. He's on the run from assassins sent by the Norse King whom he served. Along the way, he meets a mysterious stranger who insists on accompanying him. Soon it becomes clear that something is very odd about the strange man. Is he a threat, or will he change Yarek's life forever? Soon Yarek must face his gravest battle against an opponent whom no sword can defeat. This time he must fight not for honor or glory, but for love, because the price of failure is nothing other than his soul!

This gripping, deeply passionate adventure romance is set in the wild Steppes of Eurasia during the Iron Age, a brutal time when strength was not measured by the sword but by one's character.

Trigger warning. This novel contains scenes of violence and death. If you enjoy swords and sorcery, romantic friendships and adventure romance, don't miss this one!

Review

⭐⭐⭐ I feel cheated.

The first line of the description says explicitly: “Caution: Contents may be hot! A DARK AND THRILLING M/M FANTASY ROMANCE”… I reached 75% of the book and I still can't find said content hot, dark and thrilling, much less the romance.

Good fantasy adventure story? Yeah.

Good world building? Obviously.

Good storytelling? Not much.

Hot and exciting romance? Not anywhere in sight.

The story goes back and forth constantly. Every few paragraphs Aukka changes or adds to his story, as if he's making it up in the process. It is assumed that he already trusts Yarek, but at the same time, he has been lying to him from the beginning and has not stopped. And every time he adds more stuff, his “mission” makes less and less sense.

First he had to bring a gift to someone, that someone turns out to be an enemy of Yarek who has put a pretty high price on his head. Then it turns out that someone made a deal with Aukka´s Lord, then it turns out that Aukka is not human, then it turns out that everything is a plan by Aukka´s Lord to dominate the world. Then it turns out that Aukka´s Lord cares less about his original plan with Yarek's enemy and what he wants is for Aukka to return to him and for Aukka to reign with him. And while all this happens, we find out that the person Aukka had said rescued him when his villa was attacked, didn't really rescue him, because it was that same person who was behind the attack… and so on.

Everything that Aukka says and explains to Yarek is later denied by Aukka himself.

And even though they have become close, it's more like a closeness from spending so much time together, traveling alone and facing dangers left and right. But nothing close to romantic feelings, at least as far as I'm at, 75% of the book.

Up to this point, neither of them has mentioned or even thought to themselves that they see the other as more than just a fellow traveler.

I don't like to leave books halfway through, but really this is one that I will regretfully leave unfinished, since the description promises something that really, from my point of view, does not deliver. I think it would be best to modify the description and leave it as it is: an adventure and fantasy book set in the wild Steppes of Eurasia. With mentions of the folklore and myths of the cultures of the area and a pinch, very small and at the end, of romance.

Heir to Thorn and Flame

 

Details

Married to a ruthless prince…

For years, Max had to serve and obey the vicious magical nobles. Now he is one of them.

When the heir to the throne attacks him, Max accidentally responds with a lethal burst of magic. Max is certain he will be executed. But his power is too rare and precious for that…

Instead, the king forces him to become the boy he killed, taking on the identity and duties of the heir. That includes an arranged marriage—to the dangerously attractive Prince Camron.

Living a lie, Max knows he can trust no one. Not Camron. And definitely not Simion, a handsome, dragon-riding spy sent to test his loyalty.

As a deadly struggle for power begins and desire sparks, Max must protect his secret and his heart at all costs.

Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I find it difficult to rate this book. On the one hand, I must say that it is a good story. I liked it, and it kept me on the edge of a precipice of emotions almost 100% of the reading.

The author delivers what he promises, and that must have been a hint for me of what was to come: it is, certainly, a mix between Merlin and The House of the Dragon… That means everyone lies, everyone has ulterior motives, and you shouldn't trust anyone. There is no black and white, only shades of gray. There are no bad or good people (except Julian y Jonathan Gathrax, they are absolutely bad, full-fledged sons of a b****); only people who have plans and purposes that they want to accomplish.

And on the other hand, there is the fact that I hate love triangles with all my heart, and that must have been another sign to me that this book would not be entirely to my liking… Not because it's a bad book, but because one of the important aspects of it is not to my taste.

So this is an honest and unbiased review, almost…

There is Max, who has lived all his life believing that he is the son of mere servants in the house of one of the rulers of the Southern territory.

The first chapters briefly explain the political division of the territory and the existing dispute between the South and the North (it would have been nice to have a map. I mean, what fantasy book worth its salt doesn't have a map?) We learn about the existence of mages, dryads, and dragons… So far, so good.

Things happen, and we find out that Max is a mage, which is supposed to be impossible since the magic source of the South was destroyed by the North… And thus begin the misadventures of Maximus Oaken (I found it curious and almost impossible to believe that nobody wondered why Max bears the last name Oaken, like Heart Oaken. A fact that nobody has paid attention to, and I wonder why).

Misadventures in which Max is abused, threatened, used for the purposes of others, forced to do things against his will, and made commitments that only death can undo (or perhaps not even death can set him free). Shortly after, our love interests Simion (who in my head I changed the name to Simon) and Camron appear. It is assumed that Max feels an undeniable attraction towards both of them and they in turn towards him, but that remains on paper… I didn't feel like it was really intense…

Max is kidnapped and/or held captive by one character or another, and although he always breaks “free”, he is never really free, he comes out of someone's captivity to be in someone else's.

The fact that everyone has a piece of the truth about what's going on, but no one wanted to talk about it had me desperate. And that in the end Max does the same and instead of revealing his conversation with the Queen he decides to keep quiet… that made me much more angry.

I don't know how to feel about being right about Beatrice. I liked that I didn't have to wait until the end of the book for Max to have his revenge, but I didn't like the ending itself.

This is supposed to be the first book in a trilogy or series. So I guess we will have to wait for the next books to know the whole truth and see how everything is solved.