Romantasy

Review of Enchantra by Kaylie Smith

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Synopsis:
Welcome to Enchantra. There’s only one rule: Never, ever trust your heart.

When Genevieve Grimm’s mother is killed, Genevieve wants answers nobody can give… until she receives an invitation to Enchantra, a cursed palace filled with temptations and illusions.

Arrogant and dangerously handsome, Rowin Silver meets her at the door and refuses to let her inside. But Genevieve finds her own way in… And soon realizes her mistake.

Enchantra is a twisted labyrinth of marble and thorns, where Rowin’s family are trapped forever in a deadly game. Now, Genevieve must win or die.

Rowin offers her a deal. They can compete together… if they convince everyone watching that they’re desperately in love.

Genevieve knows she can’t trust Rowin, but she’ll do whatever it takes to survive. As they hunt and hide together, Genevieve tries to ignore the desire burning between them. She absolutely cannot fall for this man. Cannot forget that she’s only pretending to be in love.

After all, it was Rowin who taught her Enchantra’s first rule… Never, ever trust your heart.

Review:
“…you have to choose to live for yourself. You are the most real thing you’ll ever be able to experience.” (Page 332)

Oh my goodness, Kaylie Smith knocked another right out of the park. I wasn’t sure that a story about Genevieve would hit as hard and well as Ophelia’s but this book totally stands on its own and is awesome. I loved all the background bits of Genevieve that were alluded to in Phantasma but not seen, and Rowin with Genevieve is just perfection. I think Enchantra’s games were an excellent change from those of Phantasma, and the way Rowin and Genevieve’s relationship bloomed was mere perfection. The enemies to lovers arc was prevalent, and it was great to see that even when Rowin was upset or exasperated with Genevieve he never once got upset with her for being herself. Neither character was expected to make a sudden shift in personality, which was quite nice as most novels hinge on that need for change that just happens.

This book did deal with some very real issues that people face; being put on the backburner by parents, not feeling adequate/good enough for partners, not feeling a sense of belonging. While Genevieve might have gone to the extreme to try to find someone who could understand, these are feelings that many know all too well. Even Rowin experiences the lack of understanding between siblings that so many have constant struggles with. No family is perfect, even those who do have a united front, and this was displayed very admirably in how conscious one has to be in order to have/give the support needed in life.

This book featured great atmosphere with well drawn out, well described landscapes, as well as interpersonal connections and stories that are impossible not to want to know more of and get lost inside. The spice level was just the right amount and well done. I highly recommend this book for any Dark Fantasy/Romantasy readers, as I eagerly await book 3 in the series.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Review of Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett

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Synopsis:
Emily Wilde has spent her life studying faeries. A renowned dryadologist, she has documented hundreds of species of Folk in her Encyclopaedia of Faeries. Now she is about to embark on her most dangerous academic project yet: studying the inner workings of a faerie realm—as its queen.

Along with her former academic rival—now fiancé—the dashing and mercurial Wendell Bambleby, Emily is immediately thrust into the deadly intrigues of Faerie as the two of them seize the throne of Wendell’s long-lost kingdom, which Emily finds a beautiful nightmare filled with scholarly treasures.

Emily has been obsessed with faerie stories her entire life, but at first she feels as ill-suited to Faerie as she did to the mortal world: How can an unassuming scholar such as herself pass for a queen? Yet there is little time to settle in, for Wendell’s murderous stepmother has placed a deadly curse upon the land before vanishing without a trace. It will take all of Wendell’s magic—and Emily’s knowledge of stories—to unravel the mystery before they lose everything they hold dear.

Review:
This book had me in a bit of a choke hold–I wanted to continue, yet I wanted to wait and hope that everything was okay enough where I was. There were a lot of tragedies and parts where Emily really had to decide what she thought of as worthy–she had to go on quite the adventure! Her connection with Shadow really resonated with me, going through watching a beloved pet age and trying anything, everything, to give them as much more quality time as you can make happen. The realization by both parties that you must make sacrifices and compromises for those you love rings true of any relationship, and I feel so pleased to have gotten to read more of Emily and Wendell’s journey together. That being said, I am not so certain that this is the end… after all, Emily still has a lot more academic papers and books to pen.

I highly recommend the Emily Wilde series to any who love fantasy, romantasy, fae who act like those of old (not just made into romantic versions thereof), and an emotional rollercoaster to go along with it.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Enchanted to Meet You by Meg Cabot

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Synopsis:
It’s Magic When You Meet Your Match

In her teenage years, lovelorn Jessica Gold cast a spell that went disastrously wrong, and brought her all the wrong kind of attention—as well as a lifetime ban from the World Council of Witches.

So no one is more surprised than Jess when, fifteen years later, tall, handsome WCW member Derrick Winters shows up in her quaint little village of West Harbor and claims that Jess is the Chosen One.

She’s the Chosen One

Not chosen by West Harbor’s snobby elite to style them for the town’s tricentennial ball—though Jess owns the chicest clothing boutique in town. And not chosen finally to be on the WCW, either—not that Jess would have said yes, anyway, since she’s done with any organization that tries to dictate what makes a “true” witch.

No, Jess has been chosen to help save West Harbor itself . . .

As Summer Ends, Her Power Grows

But just when Jess is beginning to think that she and Derrick might have a certain magic of their own—and not of the supernatural variety—Jess learns he may not be who she thought he was. 

And suddenly Jess finds herself having to make another kind of choice: trust Derrick and work with him to combat the sinister force battling to bring down West Harbor, or use her gift as she always has: to keep herself, and her heart, safe.

Can she work her magic in time?

Review:
I started reading this book while sitting in the hospital waiting room with my cat Abby(who is featured on the website banner). It was the absolute perfect thing to take away worries and bring you to a completely other, though entirely realistic, place. There were so many things I adored about this book that I actually bought a hardcover as soon as I finished reading it on kindle.

The book starts off completely immersive, bringing forth vivid imagery and locking you in place with a timeline that seems completely plausible about when girls do things. There were lots of sweet little witchy “suggestions” from Goody Fletcher’s book in the beginning of the chapters which I thought was very cute. There were definitely times reading that I wondered why there wasn’t more threefold law taking place with a certain annoying blonde character, but in the end, I quite enjoyed the book and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves modern romantasy.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

**I finished this book in February, however, due to Abby’s hospitalization, many things (book reviews included) were pushed off.

Review of A Heart of Desire and Deceit by Elayna R. Gallea

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Synopsis:
How does one pick up the pieces of their life after it has been obliterated by the person they mistakingly trusted?

Ryker Waterborn’s heart is broken, and his wife is a killer. Their marriage is a sham, built on a foundation of murder, lies, and deceit. They’re broken. Destroyed. Yet, even after hearing her confession, Ryker cannot leave Brynleigh in the Pit.

In an act of foolish love, he makes a deal to set Brynleigh free. All she has to do is go back to her Maker and find evidence that Jelisette de la Point is a traitor.

That’s easier said than done, but Brynleigh is left with no choice. She can either accept the deal or rot behind bars. Worse than all that is her relationship with Ryker.

Once, she thought they’d get a happy ending. Now, an ocean divides them.

She broke the rules and fell in love, but is love powerful enough to save them?

This is the second half of Ryker and Brynleigh’s duet, and should be read after A Game of Love and Betrayal.

Review:
Oh my goodness. There were so many JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER ALREADY moments in this book! I am very glad we got to see both Brynleigh and Ryker’s perspectives throughout this or it would have been completely maddening. While I expected a bit of resistance at the end, I hadn’t expected what actually happened, but it also seemed like a bit of a let down with how fast everything happened–almost as if things were too easy for Ryker and Brynleigh.

Personally, I really enjoyed Ryker and all of the “how you act reflects on me” moments, as that’s something I heard often growing up.

I quite liked the ending, though I am not certain I’d read this book duology again.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯

Review of Phantasma by Kaylie Smith

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Synopsis:
Welcome to Phantasma.

There are only two rules to the game. Stay alive. And don’t fall in love.

When Ophelia’s sister disappears, there is only one way to save her. Ophelia must enter Phantasma, a deadly contest inside a haunted mansion, and claim its prize—a single wish.

Phantasma is a maze of twisting corridors and lavish ballrooms, of demons and temptations. Ophelia will face nine challenges, each more dangerous than the last. There can only be one winner, and the other contestants will stop at nothing to eliminate their rivals.

Every day the house creates new monsters. But just as Ophelia’s fears threaten to overwhelm her, a mysterious stranger offers her a bargain.

Charming, arrogant and infuriatingly attractive, Blackwell claims he can guide her through the lethal trials ahead. All he asks in return is ten years of her life.

Ophelia knows she shouldn’t trust him. Blackwell doesn’t seem dangerous, but appearances can be deceptive. Worse still, she feels a dark and irresistible attraction drawing them closer and closer.

Her life is on the line. But in Phantasma, the only thing deadlier than losing the game is losing your heart…

Review:
“Who wants to be around someone tied so closely to death and darkness? It’s morbid.” (Chapter 26, Page 208)

Oh my goodness. I love this book so very much that I snagged a physical copy after having read this on kindle. I have reading exclusively on the kindle and working on weeding the library of things that aren’t loved but this book needs to be on the shelves! There are real characters with great depth, secrets, and so many twists and turns throughout the plotline. There were several times when I thought I knew/understood everything that was going on and then when revealed found I was only partially correct in my assumptions. I thought the challenges were great, and Ophelia’s sense of herself and her family thoroughly grew as the story progressed. I absolutely adored Blackwell from the start, and while I wasn’t sure if I would like Ophelia, I loved how she had to grow and change once she was in Phantasma. This book was an opulent mash up of Phantom of the Opera and Caravel, some of my top loves. I cannot wait for the next book in the series to come out!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy, a bit of darkness, some romance, twists and turns, competitions, and who loves Phantom of the Opera and Caravel.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Hex and Hexability by Kate Johnson

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Synopsis:
Bridgerton meets The Ex Hex this witchy season with this oh so spicy romantasy Regency romcom!

‘Do you want to see what witches can do?’

Lady Tiffany Worthington has always had a special talent for making the world around her come to life – whether she wants it to or not – but it’s only with the arrival of her mysterious great aunt Esme on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo that she learns she’s a witch … and that the magic she’s long feared is actually a gift to be embraced.

Now, as she’s exposed to a side of London she never knew existed, one with sea creatures, magical portals, time travel, and a handsome duke from a faraway land with a dashing scar that makes him look like a pirate, Lady Tiffany discovers that despite what the ton might decree, there is no limit to what she can do … or who she can be.

Review:
I wasn’t sure if I’d like this book because I really hadn’t been a great fan of Hex Appeal but I was so pleasantly surprised by how amazing this book was! Firstly, while hearing about the “Tiffany problem” everywhere, this is the first book that had a Tiffany in it set in older times, using the “proper” form of the name: Theophania. (This has been a year of Effie/Effy and Thea/Theadoras). Everything about this book really showed how stifled women could be when in polite society. The way in which ladies were expected to keep up with fashion and goings on and never really truly think or do anything different or unexpected made it very clear why Tiffany didn’t want the life she felt was being thrust upon her. Add in a bit of magic and a Duke who isn’t at all what is expected of a Duke, some mythical creatures, and there is just so much going for this book! I adored Santiago and thought his past and current hang ups were well fleshed out and fitting.

I tried this book because it was mentioned to be “Brigerton meets” and moreso the “spicy romantasy Regency romcom” and I was not disappointed! I highly recommend this to anyone who wonders why happily ever after is always “they got married and had a baby, THE END”, who loves magic, pirates, and people who go against societies expectations.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

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Synopsis:
Once Upon a Time meets The Office in Hannah Maehrer’s laugh-out-loud viral TikTok series turned novel, about the sunshine assistant to an Evil Villain…and their unexpected romance.

ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem, terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits.

With ailing family to support, Evie Sage’s employment status isn’t just important, it’s vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer—naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie.

But just when she’s getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat…and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain—and his entire nefarious empire—out.

Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work…and ensure he makes them pay.

After all, a good job is hard to find.

Review:
Firstly, while it took me a while to get around to reading this book, I had actually preordered it the day the preorders opened. I absolutely adore the TikTok series and highly recommend her series of “what it would be like if I was the morally grey villain’s personal assistant”. That being said, this book was an altogether different feel and story than the short videos. While I didn’t hate the book, instead of being urban/modern fantasy it was pushed back to some sort of medieval-ish time which changed the entire feel of the story. The back and forth of trying to use modern food and explaining things away with magic made the book feel a bit hard to truly fall into.

There were definitely some elements of other stories woven throughout such as Ever After and Ella Enchanted, which I loved. While it was interesting to see Evie’s home life developed, it seemed to merely be a small plot to show another few form of villainy that were dropped at plot points far too quickly and without thorough examination. Unfortunately there were many times in the book where the heroine came across as self degrading as opposed to the obliviousness featured in the videos. The book also seemed to be written down in level than what I perceived the videos to be; more of a beginner level young adult novel.

While the story could have been a bit further developed, I did still quite enjoy it and look forward to reading the next installment. That being said, I still vastly prefer the video series to the book. If you’re looking for a very light cozy romantasy read, this is it, though there is a content warning at the beginning.

Star rating: ✯✯✯

Review of The Frost Gate: A Retelling of Snow White by Hanna Sandvig

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Synopsis:
Mirror mirror made of gold,
Here’s the story you were never told . . .

I’ve always suspected some sort of mystery surrounding my adoption—I mean, who doesn’t remember anything before they were five? But the tall, dark, axe-wielding fae huntsman showing up at my door yelling that I’m a lost princess and the Unseelie Queen is coming to kill me? That I didn’t see coming.

It’s hard to argue with a pack of evil wolves on your doorstep, so I grab my sword, my cookbook, and my seven chickens (yes, you heard me right), and follow him to Faerie. I’m all for not being eaten by wolves. I’m less excited about the fact that the huntsman seems to think I’m the only one who can defeat the Unseelie Queen and save Faerie. I’m not powerful or magical, even if my baking skills are legendary.

But the longer I stay in Faerie, the more I want to help its people. And the more time I spend with the terrifyingly handsome huntsman, the more I want to convince him that he’s who I need by my side while I do. He’d do anything to protect me, but it’s my heart he’s putting in danger.

Do I have what it takes to go from baking pies to saving kingdoms? Who will take care of the chickens if I fail?

Review:
One thing I absolutely love about the princesses and female main characters in Sandvig’s works is that they all have hopes, desires, dreams, and things they have spent their life doing- a plan they intended to follow for their life. It was incredibly amusing that Neve had an obsession with a particular fruit. I absolutely loved Kylian. I thought his development, motivations, and what he has done were all greatly thought out and fit the other books in the past series that he appeared in as well. It was great to see how well Kylian and Niamh support each other; strong where the other is weak, and always encouraging each other that they are more than they realize. Sometimes it can be hard when you feel like a big position or job is thrust upon you, but just because it is daunting doesn’t mean you aren’t the correct person for the job. In the end, Kylian and Niamh telling stories… just how precious.

I absolutely love this series of very likeable characters and very realistic situations/reactions of a startled human (or human like creature) being taken away from the life they’ve known. I would highly recommend Sandvig’s works to anyone who loves empowering female characters, fairy tale retellings, and happily ever afters. This book is, as stated on amazon, rather “cottagecore”. It’s a nice cozy romantasy, and I highly recommend it.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Inked by Rachel Rener

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Synopsis:
When Zayn, your smoking hot boss, tells you never to touch the cache of deluxe tattoo ink locked away in his office, you listen to him… until the day you run out of your own ink, your squirming client is on the verge of peeing his pants, and your boss is nowhere to be found. Desperate times call for desperate measures, right?

I fully expected Zayn to yell at me when he returned to the shop. What I didn’t expect was the fresh cobra tattoo on my client’s butt magically springing to life. Or the interdimensional filing cabinet hiding in the back of Zayn’s office. And, oh, did I mention that my gorgeous, magic-ink-hoarding boss is actually an incubus?

Now – through (mostly) no fault of my own – we have to venture into a strange and distant land where a never-ending list of lethal flora, fauna, and fae await us. When you add in my Jewish mother’s string of poorly-timed, hysterical phone calls, there is one thing I’m grateful for: there’s no cell service in the fae realm.

Review:
From the beginning I was wondering if I’d really find this that appealing; it’s about tattoos, and I’m not a tattoo girl, but as I read about Talia going through a tattoo with Roy, I found myself more and more intrigued. The descriptions were absolutely breathtaking and beyond perfection. At the very beginning it did seem a big slow paced, but once the action picked up the book became impossible to put down. There were so many little unexpected twists and turns of how, exactly, Zayn and Talia find themselves in the situation that one has to keep reading just to find out exactly how it all comes together and it all ends.

This book did an amazing job of using all sort of different types of fae and a hierarchy of mages that I hadn’t seen before and felt, like Talia, quite frazzled trying to keep up which made me feel even more invested in watching her learn more and hope that she can figure out what’s going on and help. All of the creatures seemed very true to the nature as depicted by how they are in this universe, and I absolutely loved how the tie in with Talia’s mother occurs. There were several times that the damsel in distress card appeared, but it was never in the typical way that she became helpless and I quite enjoyed how that played into her own psyche. While I am not Jewish, I do believe that there was quite a great use of both Yiddish and much about being of that religion worked in, and I thought it was really well done and neat.

I absolutely love Zayn and Talia’s interactions and relationship and I believe you, too, will come to love them and Biscuit! (P.S. Biscuit is my favourite!!!)

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller

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Synopsis:
“They’ve never found the body of the first and only boy who broke my heart. And they never will.”

Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan to gain power:
1) Woo the Shadow King.
2) Marry him.
3) Kill him and take his kingdom for herself.

No one knows the extent of the freshly crowned Shadow King’s power. Some say he can command the shadows that swirl around him to do his bidding. Others say they speak to him, whispering the thoughts of his enemies. Regardless, Alessandra knows what she deserves, and she’s going to do everything within her power to get it.

But Alessandra’s not the only one trying to kill the king. As attempts on his life are made, she finds herself trying to keep him alive long enough for him to make her his queen—all while struggling not to lose her heart. After all, who better for a Shadow King than a cunning, villainous queen?

Review:
This book was riveting from the moment I started. A second born daughter who is an afterthought, left to dwindle and do whatever pleases her until after her sister, the golden child, is married off- who could blame her for wanting to change the world? There were so many points throughout this novel that would resonate with women now, such as sometimes finding it hard to befriend other women who may see them as “competition”, and that women are often objectified by their sexual experiences or lack thereof. The issues dealt with, specifically of women, are very serious things often overlooked in literature and life as “not that big a deal”. There is high magic, great cunning, and amazing scenes of court sprinkled throughout this novel. I couldn’t seem to put it down, and only wish the ending had been a bit longer/stronger. While there is mention of intimacy and going against tradition, this is quite an empowering book.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯