Book Review: “Metal Slinger” by Rachel Schneider

“Metal Slinger” by Rachel Schneider was such a surprise! I was a little trepidatious when I received the digital ARC and there was no cover art…and I put off reading this until the last possible moment. However, this turned out to be such a great story!

In a story that reminded me of “Water World” meets “Pirates of the Caribbean,” readers are introduced to Brynn - a sea-faring youngin’ whose entire community of Alaha was exiled to a life at sea. Living on a barge-like “island,” she’s trained as a young guard alongside her friend Messer and possible love interest Kai. As Brynn nears the end of her training, she is rewarded - along with the rest of her graduating class - a rare trip to the land market. At the market, Brynn has a chance encounter with the mysterious Acker - and things take off from there.

Schneider does an excellent job of world building - from the island at sea, to the market, to the dark forest and beyond, I was completely immersed in all that was Kenta! Fantasy novels are always hit and miss in this respect - too little and readers can’t imagine being there; too much and they get bogged down in details that quickly begin to take away from the actual story. But Schneider’s world-building is nothing short of spectacular, painting vivid images of the Alaha’s exile and the looming threat of rebellion.

What truly sets this book apart is its ability to blend intense action with deep emotional connections. Brynn’s encounters, especially with the enigmatic enemy soldier, Acker,  are fraught with tension and intrigue. Schneider seamlessly weaves magic into the narrative, making the fantastical elements feel both real and essential to the story.

The characters are richly developed, each with their own motivations and secrets - and secrets do they have! Brynn’s loyalty and courage are inspiring, and her internal struggles make her incredibly relatable. And the plot twist - WHAT?! I was not expecting THAT…and it was wonderful! Let’s just say this book will be a true enemies-to-lovers after that debacle. 

Schneider’s writing style is both engaging and accessible, making it easy to lose oneself in the story. The pacing is perfect, with just the right balance of action, romance, and suspense. “Metal Slinger” is a must-read for fans of fantasy who crave a story that is both thrilling and heartwarming.

In short, “Metal Slinger” is a masterful tale of magic, loyalty, and the complexities of the human heart. I can’t wait to see where Brynn’s journey takes her next!

Book Review: “Crown of Light and Shadows” by G.K. Derosa

“Crown of Light and Shadows” by G.K. Derosa is a fast-paced, enemies to lovers romantasy with all of my favorite tropes! This book would essentially be the result if “Hunger Games,” “Fourth Wing,” “Harry Potter” and “The School of Good and Evil” had a baby - a novel filled with death trials, dragon riders, sexy shadow daddies, rival schools of light and dark Fae, and magical menageries. 

Aelia Ravenwood was raised to believe she was a Kin - a human - that upon their 20th birthday are bound to a Fae for a life of servitude. However, much to her surprise, it’s revealed on her birthday that she’s been selected to attend the Conservatory of Luce in Feywood, a prestigious academy that spits out elite graduates that go on to become the king’s guard. Oh - and she’s supposedly a Light Fae (or at least, partially). She is whisked off to her new academic home by broody Professor Reign Darkthorn.

Aelia is thrown into a world where most everyone is looking out for themselves and their post-academic career as a king’s guard. With the exception of a good few - including Aelia’s new roommate, Rue - many of the Conservatory’s students hold prejudices against Aelia for being less than and weaker than the other Light Fae in attendance. Despite having challenge after challenge stacked against her and other students (and even her own teammates) trying to sabotage her tenure at the school, Aelia is stubborn, fierce, and unwilling to back down from adversity. 

With Reign’s help, Aelia meets each challenge of her trials head-on - even going as far as bonding with a dragon (an almost unheard of feat in academy history). She finds herself falling for the handsome, slightly older professor - whom we come to learn is a shadow daddy from the Court of Umbral Shadows, the Dark Fae academy across the river from the Conservatory. Despite a peace treaty between the two courts, tensions between the two schools are on the rise and a potential war looms in the not so distant future. 

I absolutely LOVED this book! While there are clear parallels between Derosa’s novel and some of the aforementioned best-sellers, this book’s storyline was unique. The world building was incredible and each scene made me wish I was there! I’m a sucker for a good student-teacher, forbidden relationship and while Aelia and Reign were not that far apart in age, I was all for the sparks flying between them. Reign is pivotal in Aelia’s growth and development and in discovering her true parentage in the novel. These two cannot stay away from each other, despite their best attempts - they are magnetic and I was here for all of Reign’s protective, “touch her and you die” vibes!

If you’re looking for a romantasy that reminds you of one of your favorites and leaves you with a cliffhanger that will have your jaw on the floor, check out G.K. Derosa’s latest.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Book Review: "A Fire in the Sky" by Sophie Jordan

“A Fire in the Sky” by Sophie Jordan follows Tamsyn, official whipping girl to the pampered princesses of Penterra. Raised as one of the royal family’s own, Tamsyn’s sole purpose is to accept the punishments for the princesses’ misdeeds. When Lord Fell Dryhten, the Beast of the Borderlands, arrives at the castle, demanding payment for his assistance to the kingdom - a princess as his only asking price - Tamsyn is dragged into a deception of the royal kind. 

Despite her only friend’s objections (Stig, captain of the guard who’s also secretly/not so secretly in love with her), Tamsyn marries Lord Dryhten and is swept away to the Borderlands. 

This book had me hooked from the first chapter! Despite being duty-sworn, Tamsyn feels this innate compulsion to protect her “sisters” - even when it comes at her own cost. When she’s thrust into an arranged marriage with a stranger, Tamsyn puts on a brave face and goes through with it so that her sisters don’t have to. Tamsyn is the quintessential romantasy leading lady - tough, compassionate, pragmatic, imperfect, resolute. 

The characters in “A Fire in the Sky” are deftly written. Tamsyn and Fell - both wrapped up in upholding their duty - passionately and unapologetically collide in this story. Their chemistry is palpable from their very first meeting, and their journey is filled with fiery passion, danger, and unexpected twists that kept me on the edge of my seat.

With Jordan’s rich and immersive storytelling, Tamsyn and Fell’s story had me reading this book from cover to cover in one sitting! (I actually read and then re-read the book before writing this review - and it had me biting a clenched fist each time!) Jordan masterfully weaves together romance and fantasy, creating a story that's both heartwarming and thrilling.

And then there's the cliffhanger ending – a brilliant, jaw-dropping twist that left me eagerly anticipating the next installment. It's a testament to Jordan's skill that I'm already counting down the days until I can dive back into this magical world. If you’re looking for a book that has it all - witches, dragons, arranged marriage, secret heritages - you’ll want to add this to your TBR list!

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Book Review: “Here for the Cake” by Jennifer Millikin

“Here for the Cake” by Jennifer Millikin is a cute romantic comedy filled with witty banter, instant chemistry, and a beachy romance that ends with a happily ever after. 

Poor Paisley’s in a predicament. Her younger sister is marrying her ex-boyfriend and Paisley’s expected to show up to the wedding and serve as the maid of honor. During a night of drunken debauchery in the bride’s name, Paisley runs into her college crush and one-time snogger, Klein. Saving Paisley some unwanted embarrassment, Klein poses as Paisley’s new beau in front of the female wedding party.

Not wanting to look like a loser, Paisley enlists the help of Klein for the upcoming nuptials. What ensues is your typical fake-dating trope set against a beachy, island backdrop, complete with the dysfunctional family tomfoolery thrown in. 

I enjoyed seeing Paisley go from a Grade A people pleaser to a woman redefining her boundaries and someone no longer wanting to be “the floor,” as Paisley’s friend Paloma would say. Her complicated and complex relationships with her family members - from her distant father to her selfish sister - made Paisley very relatable. (Her sister reminded me of Tess from 27 Dresses - the narcissistic, overindulged bride-to-be. Actually, Paisley and Sienna’s relationship is very much reminiscent of Tess and Jane’s from 27 Dresses.)

Klein is the typical cinnamon roll boyfriend - even more so when Paisley and Klein admit that their fake feelings are anything but that. He encourages her to stand up for herself but is also her protector when needed. (I loved that Klein was mere seconds away from putting Paisley’s ex on his ass any time he bad-mouthed her.) They also pushed each other to be better individuals.

This book was an easy read and I was eager to see how Paisley and Klein’s story played out. The chemistry between them was palpable and the spice hit just right (the hide-and-seek scene!) It was a cute and enjoyable read and fans of 27 Dresses will be delighted with Paisley and Klein’s love story.

Book Review: "Serpents of Sky and Flame" by Rebecca F. Kenney

Rebecca F. Kenney hits it out of the park with her latest novel, “Serpents of Sky and Flame.” I  have been a fan of Kenney’s since devouring the entire Wicked Darlings and Immortal Warriors series. I absolutely love her world building of these fantastical realms, full of delicious characters and storylines that keep you hooked from the beginning. And the spice never disappoints!

It should be no surprise that “Serpents of Sky and Flame” hit no different; really, I think it’s the best book I’ve read of hers so far. This first novel in the Merciless Dragons series, introduces us to Princess Serylla, whose father is leading a war against a rival kingdom that has banded together with mercenary dragons. In retaliation for a fatal curse that desimates every female in the dragon kingdom, Kyreagan, the dragon prince, leads a raid that captures Serylla and a hoard of females from her kingdom. What follows is a tale of captor/captive that very much gives Beauty and the Beast vibes. 

The story, told between dual POVs between Kyreagan and Serylla, is a lot of fun - mostly because of the miscommunication that runs rampant between the two main characters. Grumpy Kyreagan is often blunt - almost animalistic and so literal in his responses at times that it was quite humorous in how Serylla responded to him. (She literally thought she’d be torn apart because of his dragon sausage.) This novel had me laughing out loud and I couldn’t help but to appreciate the evolving dynamic between Kyreagan and Serylla.

And the nod to mental health representation with the panic attacks - and the subsequent care the character was given during the episode - was just beautiful! (Kenney does such a great job of this in her books. I felt seen!) 

“Serpents of Sky and Flame” is a slow burn, enemies to lovers, monster romance that checked all the boxes for this dragon book girlie. If you’re looking for your next fun read (that’ll keep you turning those pages until the cliffhanger at the end), you’ll want to check this book out.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Book Review: "The Veiled Kingdom" by Holly Renee

Holly Renee has quickly become one of my “read everything” authors - everything that she puts out is automatically going on my TBR list and her books are always on pre-order.

Her newest romantasy, “The Veiled Kingdom,” did not disappoint. After Renee’s Stars and Shadows series and the epic love story that was Adara and Evren, I didn’t think she could make me love a book couple more - until this newest book. Enter Dacre and Nyra. It has all of my favorite tropes - enemies to lovers to enemies again, friend’s brother, slow burn, world entrenched in magic, hidden identity, forced proximity, found family, and only THE BEST angst and banter. I could go on…but this book is EVERYTHING.

The book had me by the throat from the very beginning and was perfectly paced, in a way few authors of this genre can do well - Renee being one of them. It was so well done that I could not put the book down until I was done with it. The novel - told in dual POV between Dacre and Nyra - tells the story of one runaway princess (Nyra), desperately seeking to flee her kingdom and her magic-obsessed, abusive father who wants to use the magically inclined and will stop at nothing to get what he desires. She runs quite literally into Dacre - a leader in the rebellion against her father. Nyra must hide who she truly is in order to be taken in by the rebellion and trained as one of their soldiers. You can only imagine all that could go wrong in that scenario…and it does. 

I absolutely loved the characters. Nyra is not the prim princess that needs to be saved. She’s experienced trauma at the hands of her own father and despite this, remains diligent in her quest to free herself from his wrath. She’s strong but also has moments of vulnerability - especially as she begins to find herself when she’s in hiding with the rebellion (ironic, I know). 

Dacre is everything I want in a morally gray MMC. The tension between Dacre and Nyra was thick from the start and was set on fire the moment Dacre took it upon himself to train Nyra in the rebellion ways. The “touch her and die” vibes he gives to basically any male that looks at Nyra is liquid fire to my loins. Dacre may just be my new favorite book boyfriend.

If you enjoyed Renee’s first series, this is an obvious shoo-in to your collection. A must-read for romantasy readers everywhere…but beware the cliff! I am ecstatic that a second book is coming out - I could NOT get enough of the first. I’m just disappointed that June is so far off!

Book Review: "The Dragon's Rose" by Tati R. Alvarez

“The Dragon’s Rose” by Tati Alvarez is the first book in the Grym Hollow series. “The Dragon’s Rose” follows leading lady Rose Briar in her quest to save the younger sister who betrayed her, while also trying to get away from a painful past.

Rose finds herself seeking the help of The Guardian, an elusive, magical figure who lives on the fringes of her small community and assists those in need - for a price. Rose’s deal for an escape from her current reality leads her to Mescos, a magical realm filled with dragons, krakens, shifters, and more - and straight to the castle of the Dragon King, Malix, whom she’s agreed to marry as part of her deal. 

Now, the novel wasn’t horrible. Apart from the grammatical errors that littered the ARC, the story was interesting enough to keep me reading. I enjoyed the premise of a bargain for a new life, with all the twists that came with it. I would have loved to see some more development of Rose and Malix’s relationship - it felt superficial at best and the romance fell flat of what I’d expect from a romantasy. The dual POV also left much to be desired; I felt the voices weren’t distinct enough from each other to tell much of a difference between one and the other. 

That being said, I would love to see where the author takes this series - as there were definitely hints at what a sequel might hold in this first book. I enjoyed Alvarez’s writing and think with more editing, the next book could be a hit.

Rating: 3/5 Stars