ARC Review: The Thorn Queen (The Rose Bargain #2) by Sasha Petyon Smith

 

Wed to one brother.
In love with the other.

Bridgerton, The Selection, and The Cruel Prince collide in this Victorian-inspired romantasy; the sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller The Rose Bargain.

This limited collector’s edition features an exclusive alternate jacket, gilded holographic edges, an intricately foiled case design, and never-before-seen bonus content.

Having won the hand of the faerie King Bram, Ivy is now Queen of England.

But with his ascension to the throne, Bram unleashed the fae into the human world. After hundreds of years of being kept from their favorite playthings, the Others are looking to make up for lost time—and they do, with wicked revelry that sweeps through the country.

To survive, Ivy acts the sweet, devoted wife. Behind the smile, she plots to banish her husband, save her sister Lydia, and reunite with the love of her life, Emmett.

Yet Emmet and Lydia are trapped in the Otherworld, where fae games are deadlier than ever—and a queen must play most viciously of all. Or see herself dethroned.

Forbidden romance, deceptive bargains, and lethal court intrigue intertwine in this mesmerizing, fae romantasy sequel that will captivate fans of Once Upon a Broken Heart and Belladonna.

Title: The Thorn Queen (The Rose Bargain #2)

Author: Sasha Peyton Smith

Publisher: Harper Collins

Release Date: April 14, 2026

Review:

Thank you to Harper Collins Children's Books, Net Galley, and Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I will be honest and say I didn't expect much from this book. I liked the first book well enough but felt like it had a lot of holes in the plot and the different POVs thrown in often took me out of the story. So I went into this one hoping for something better and Smith delivered very well!

If you didn't read the first book in this duology, stop here as there may be some spoilers. Plus you would never understand this part of the story without that book. But if you did read and want to know what I think, read on!

This story picks up right where the first book left off. Ivy is married to Bram and they are ruling England. We know Emmet and Lydia are lost to Ivy (the first chapter shows us that with Emmet's POV of where he is being held). Queen Mor is locked up in England and Bram is still up to his old tricks with parties and being generally unkind to humans. His plan, to rule England and the Otherworld no matter the cost.

It's so hard to review a sequel in a series without giving things away. I don't want to spoil anything but lets just say Smith does a great job with the narration from Ivy. She is keeping Bram sated enough but longs to be done with him. She tries her hardest to rule England and make good decisions but it's hard when you have Bram's court to contend with. All they want to do is reek havoc which is slowly turning England unrecognizable to Ivy.

This book, like the first, still gives off those Bridgerton vibes. It's not quite the same but you can see the influence of that series throughout this story. I love the regency error so much. And Smith makes it just as fun as you think it would be. 

This book is full of action and mystery and suspense. It kept me turning pages from start to finish. This time around I really enjoyed the chapters from outside of Ivy's point of view. Especially Emmet's chapters because I loved being in his head. I kind of wish we would have had some chapters from the villainous side, to be honest. I think that would have made the story even more compelling.

Bram is just as crazy in this book as he was in the last one. I truly thought there were times when he would turn a corner and redeem himself but, alas, that just was not in the cards for him. Nor should it have been, if I'm being honest. But I've definitely known authors to change my mind about villains in the past so I would not have put it past Smith to try and do so.

The book explores more deeply the connection between the sisters. Lydia has so much more depth in this book. We truly get to know her on a deeper level than the first book where I almost feel like Smith purposefully painted her as obtuse so she could deep dive in this one. Plus, Lydia is in a position of power in this book, so it makes sense we see more of her and how she fits into that world.

If you're looking for a book where Ivy and Emmett find each other right away and fight the evil, well, you kind of get that but you don't. There is a slow burn to their relationship in this book for reasons I cannot say without spoiling a huge part of the plot. Suffice it to say, set your expectations low for tons of romance. This book definitely took a deep dive into the politics of the courts and how decisions were made.

So, why didn't I give this one 5 stars? I am still not 100% understanding the magic presented in this series or how the humans come to have any of it. It was hard for me to see how that was laid out.

Overall, Smith does a nice job wrapping up the series with this book. Relationships are strained and become more complex, evil reeks it's havoc, banter is BANTERED, and, finally, questions you may have had after book one are answered. I'm really quite happy I gave this one a chance seeing as the first one didn't grab me as much as I would have liked. Now that I am done with this, I'm tempted to go back and re-read it all just to see if things make more sense to me in book 1 having the knowledge of what happens in book 2. I'm definitely a fan of Smith and her writing and I'm looking forward to what she'll bring to us next!

Author:

Sasha Peyton Smith is the New York Times best selling author of The Witch Haven and The Witch Hunt. She’s passionate about well-curated road trip playlists, soup recipes, and stories about complicated girls. Originally from Utah, she now lives in Washington D.C. with her partner and collection of porcelain hands.

ARC Review: Thorn Season by Kiera Azar

With the irresistibly compulsive quality of Fourth Wing and the rich world-building of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Thorn Season is sharp, funny, sexy and dangerous, and packed full of irresistible twists – an unforgettable novel that marks the introduction of a major new YA voice and will be the romantasy debut of 2025.

In the Kingdom of Daradon, a persecuted few are Wielders – able to exert a physical power that extends beyond her visible a shimmering tendril that can pick a lock, a gentle coil that reaches out to give a loving caress, or an inexorable rope that will kill a man before he knows it is around his neck. Feared and mistrusted for this ability, Wielders have always been Hunted.

Alissa Paine – heiress of a noble lineage, daughter of a Hunter family – is also a Wielder. And as she approaches her eighteenth Season, Alissa knows she has escaped execution so far only through painful self-control, and the fragile efforts of her beloved father.

Summoned to the harsh and glittering royal court for the debutante season, Alissa finds herself trapped in a web of hidden intentions – and caught between two equally dangerous men. One is a brutal ruler with the handsome face of a fairytale prince, who would see her destroyed in an instant if the truth were known – and the other a beguiling foreign ambassador with secret agendas of his own.

It’s Rose Season at the palace, but Alissa knows that survival will depend on being the most vicious of the thorns…

Title: Thorn Season (Thorn Season #1)

Author: Kiera Azar

Publisher: Harper Collins Children

Expected Publication Dare: September 2, 2025

Review:

Thank you to Harper Collins Children's Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I can't believe this was a debut fantasy. I enjoyed it so much! Fantastic world building, an interesting magic type system, villains, a corrupt monarch, mysterious happenings, and rebels. This was such a great mix of fun, romance, and tension!

I will say the book initially started a bit slow for me. There is a lot of build up to what happens in the second half of the book. But once the build up was over, the book moved really quickly with tons of action, chases, and high stakes to be had. I never thought to stop reading but I was waiting for it to pick up and boy did it ever!

I adored all the characters. Alissa is an amazing heroine. She's smart and sassy and has so much growth in this book. And she is vengeful with bloodlust and I loved every minute of watching her bloom and grow. She was literally a different person by the end of the book with all she learns. Kiel, oh my! I need more Kiel in my life. I'm sure he'll be a bigger part of the next book but I will say I was sad to not have him in the last 35% or so of the book. I kept wanting him to show up. Garrett left something to be desired. I'm just super angry at his character (read and you'll know why) and I'm hoping he will in some way redeem himself, if he doesn't die first.  And then there's Erik, The King, who you know from the start is just full of all the evil. And he gives quite the twisty turn with the things he knows you never thought he would! Carmen, Tari, Blaire, and so many more. I really enjoyed how Azar made each and every character unique.

And I loved how Azar worked in so many surprises throughout the book. Not only to show us who the characters really were but also to show us they are not at all who we may have thought they were, as well. Scheming and plotting come at you from all sides. It's like watching a show about 15th century England! Every moment, every interaction had weight to it that was essential to the plot. Azar packs the betrayal in places where you never thought you'd see it coming. Definitely surprises around every corner in her world.

I'm really excited to see Azar go deeper into her world and help the reader explore more of the magic system. And I love that she's added additional adventure outside the initial world. It is giving me Throne of Glass vibes! If you're looking for a fantasy that doesn't rely solely on the romance and is full of twists and turns throughout, I highly recommend you give this one a try.

Author:

KIERA AZAR was born in Surrey, where she grew up acting, singing and songwriting, making her screen debut in the Netflix adaptation of Shadow And Bone. She studied biomedical science before she wrote her first book and decided to pursue her love of storytelling. Thorn Season is her first novel.

 

ARC Review: The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith

 

The Cruel Prince meets The Selection in this captivating duology opener brimming with heart-pounding romance, vicious competition, and beautiful, cruel fae, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Witch Haven, Sasha Peyton Smith.

Every citizen of England is granted one bargain from their immortal fae queen.

High society girls are expected to bargain for qualities that will win them suitors: a rare talent for piano in exchange for one’s happiest childhood memory. A perfect smile for one’s ability to taste.

But Ivy Benton’s debut season arrives with a shocking twist: a competition to secure the heart of the Queen’s fae son, Prince Bram. A prize that could save Ivy’s family from ruin… and free her sister from the bargain that destroyed her.

Yet every glittering fae deal has a rotting heart—and at the center of this contest is a dark plot that could destroy everything Ivy knows.

Sweepingly romantic and deceptively enchanting, this alternate history romantasy will enthrall readers of Holly Black, Stephanie Garber, and Adalyn Grace.

Title: The Rose Bargain

Author: Sasha Peyton Smith

Publisher: Harper Collins Children's

Expected Publication Date: February 4, 2025

Review:

Thank you to Edelweiss and Harper Collins Children's Books for providing me with an egalley of this title to read and give an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I loved the premise of this book. It seemed like it would be fairly unique. And if you've read Cruel Prince and The Selection, then you will enjoy this story just for those elements alone. Cruel Prince is one of my favorite fae stories so I had high expectations for this book being compared to it. The Bridgerton-esque setting was really fun and captured much of the feel of that show. And the characters were interesting enough with their backgrounds.  Plus the cover is absolutely gorgeous (yes, I originally chose the book because of it!). But that's really all I felt a pull to in this story.

What I didn't love so much was the execution of the story line. The world building was really lacking and the pacing dragged in many places making it hard to stay engaged in the story line. I was easily distracted while reading and not particularly pushing myself to dive back in once I did put it down for a break. The author chose to tell us what it was like rather than show us. And I needed more of the history. The prologue does give us a bit of this, but not enough to truly build what I expect from a fantasy. If you're going to write historical fantasy, you must show the elements that make it so. And if you're going to give us an alternate reality type historical world, then you need to make it real and believable. I needed more fae elements, more of how they were truly being integrated into 19th century England. And what of the back story between the humans vs. Fae?

The romance was flat and felt completely rushed. It didn't develop at all and then suddenly everyone is in love. I didn't feel much of a connection between the FMC and who she falls for as there was just no emotional weight to it. It seemed like they were just friendly. There was no tension there. No build up to the love we were told was happening. Stories where this happens never fully immerse me. I don't want to be told what is going on but rather shown in amazing prose. This lead to underdeveloped characters who I didn't feel connected to or feel any real empathy towards. To top it off, the end took a predictable turn, which I was hoping would not be where it went but saw it coming. It made the story less unique once it was revealed.

I was also thrown off by the insertion of chapters from other points of view. Most of the book is written from the POV of the FMC but here and there the author inserts chapters from other characters. I'll be honest and say I missed the title of the first chapter when this happened and it totally threw me off. I do believe almost all the chapters introduced in this manner were unnecessary. Those chapters took me out of the story. The author could have easily had the FMC show who these characters were through conversations and actions throughout the book. The only chapter I will say seemed to make sense was that of the FMC's sister, since she tells an important part of the story at the end.

The book started strong for me but I was ultimately disappointed in it's progression. I will say the ending captured my attention (cliffhanger), made me a bit more invested in the story line, and just this alone might have me reading the next installment.

Overall, it was just an ok read from me. I wanted to love it but it became a bit of a chore to read it and I found myself just pushing to get it done. I read a lot of well done YA and I just feel this one was lacking in so many elements that could have made it amazing. It lacked the tension, world building, character development, and historical accuracy I want to see in an epic fantasy. Overall comparing it to Cruel Prince set up very high expectations for me and the story did not meet those at all. 

Author:

Sasha Peyton Smith is the New York Times best selling author of The Witch Haven and The Witch Hunt. She’s passionate about well-curated road trip playlists, soup recipes, and stories about complicated girls. Originally from Utah, she now lives in Washington D.C. with her partner and collection of porcelain hands.

ARC Review: Champion of Fate (Heromaker #1) by Kendare Blake

Behind every great hero is an Aristene.

Aristene are mythical female warriors, part of a legendary order. Though heroes might be immortalized in stories, it’s the Aristene who guide them to victory. They are the Heromakers.

Ever since she was an orphan taken in by the order, Reed has wanted to be an Aristene. Now, as an initiate, just one challenge stands in her way: she must shepherd her first hero to glory on the battlefield. Succeed, and Reed will take her place beside her sisters. Fail, and she’ll be cast from the only home she’s ever known.

Nothing is going to stop Reed--until she meets her hero. Hestion is fiery and infuriating, but what begins as an alliance becomes more, and as secrets of the order come to light Reed begins to understand what becoming an Aristene may truly cost. Battle looming, she must choose: the order and the life she had planned, or Hestion, and the one she never expected.

Title: Champion of Fate (Heromaker #1)

Author: Kendare Blake
Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books (Quill Tree Books)

Expected Publication Date: 9/19/23

Review:

I would like to thank NetGalley and Harper Collins Children's Books (Quill Tree Books) for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinion expressed here are my own.

This is my first Kendare Blake book so I really had no idea what to expect. The premise of the book sounded interesting with warriors who become immortal. The blurb gave me the Nordic Valkyrie vibes.

The book is about Reed, an orphan who falls in with two of the Artisene order's warriors and is raised to become one herself. But when the time comes for her to have her challenge that will help her become an Artisene, she begins to question everything she was ever taught about the order. 

Reed is a strong enough character and I can see where she is relatable. She has many flaws, which was nice to see. She wasn't just this suddenly strong warrior who could win all her battles. She's well developed and fleshed out. I appreciated the growth she had as she came to terms with questioning all she was brought up to know. Of all the characters, she is the most well developed. I really didn't get enough for the other characters to form solid opinions of them. Hestion, her hero, really doesn't have much personality. Lyonene was hard to pin down. At times I felt like she and Reed were not friends, at least in the way she treated Reed. But at other times I felt they had a strong bond. 

The plot of the book follows Reed's progression to becoming an Artisene. At times the pacing was very slow. There were times I put the book down because I felt like I was a bit bored. The  author did a fair job with the world building. I liked the idea of the Veil and how it lead to this other realm. I enjoyed the strong female characters.

If you're looking for romance, you're not really going to get it with this book. It's there but it is not developed. And what was there almost felt a bit like insta-love as it happened immediately upon the characters being introduced.

Overall, this book was just ok for me. The ending felt a bit rushed. I'm not sure I will pick up the next book in the series.

Author

So, I write books. The Anna Dressed in Blood duo is horror, The Goddess War trilogy is mythology, and Three Dark Crowns is fantasy, because the world don't move to the beat of just one drum. What might be right for you, may not be right for some. Love to read, too. Fiction, philosophy, good books, bad books, because you take the good you take the bad you take them both and there you have a stack of books and stuff. I mean, you've got to be adventurous. There's more to life that what you're living, so take a chance and face the wind.

There's more coming soon like ALL THESE BODIES and a new fantasy series, so don't waste another minute on your cryin. We're nowhere near the end.

My likes include animals, food, and nostalgia. I mean, whatever happened to predictability? The milkman, the paperboy, the evening TV? Used to be everywhere you look, there's a heart, a hand to hold on to.

Anyway, I love to hear from readers so drop me a line here or at my website and we'll talk about friends to know, and ways to grow, and how if you threw a party you would see that the biggest gift would be from me and the card attached would say, thank you for being a friend.

We can also talk about all the sitcom theme songs in this bio. Sha la la la.

 

ARC Review: The Scarlet Veil (The Scarlet Veil #1) by Shelby Mahurin

A dark and thrilling vampire romance set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Serpent & Dove series.

Six months have passed since Célie took her sacred vows and joined the ranks of the Chasseurs as their first huntswoman. With her fiancé, Jean Luc, as captain, she is determined to find her foothold in her new role and help protect Belterra. But whispers from her past still haunt her, and a new evil is rising—one that Célie herself must vanquish, unless she falls prey to the darkness.

Title: The Scarlet Veil (The Scarlet Veil #1)

Author: Shelby Mahurin

Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books

Expected Publication Date: 9/5/23

Review:

I want to thank NetGalley and Harper Collins Children's Books for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Having read the Serpent & Dove trilogy, I will say I was hesitant about this book. While I enjoyed the world built in those three books, I felt the author was a bit disjointed with how she presented it and often found myself having to back track to make sure I was understanding scenes correctly. I had particular trouble with the second book and was even hesitant to finish the series. But overall I enjoyed it and really wanted to see where the author would take a new book in this world. I am so glad I put my hesitancy aside and jumped into this one because I ended up truly enjoying it.

First I will say I can see how Mahurin has grown as a writer since the first books she wrote. The world she chose to build was deep in fantasy and while I was able to clasp the basics of it, I felt like things were missing. This book solidified that world very well. I almost felt like it was a different author writing this book than the others I have previously read. 

I"m so happy Mahurin chose to write this book from Célie's perspective. I enjoyed meeting her character in the first trilogy but I also didn't feel like we completely got who she was. I actually didn't like her all that much. But I think this story is especially considering the bigger part she took in the third book of that series. In this book we see her as much more than the prim and proper aristocrat she is made out to be. She's been immersed in a world of creatures she formally despised/feared and now she's learning there is more to these other worldly creatures than what she has been taught all her life. Given the events of the final Serpent & Dove book, this makes total sense. This book shows immeasurable growth for her. character. Does she become some badass heroine who suddenly knows how to fight and take on the paranormal, yes, to a degree. But mostly you see how smart and perceptive she is and how she uses that to figure things out and fight. She is completely relatable because she is so real. I think girls will connect with her because she is not suddenly a character who can win all her battles with brute force or some special power. I also love the introduction of the new characters in this book. Odessa, Dimitri, and of course Michal.  Michal is a love to hate character who grows on you so much in the end, you don't want to hate him anymore. But Mahurin also does not totally romanticize vampires as some other books do. You get the gore and power that truly encompasses what a vampire is. They are a gruesome and awesome trio of vampires. And the side characters are also fun to learn about. Plus you get your favorites from the first trilogy: Lou, Coco, Reid, and Beau, and even Jean Luc. And the villain turns out to be someone you really would not think of as a one, but makes total sense when it's revealed.

And the romance! UGH! It's a total and complete slow burn. And even at the end, you are not sure how or where it will end up, though you do see the complete and total connection that has occurred. I will again emphasize how Mahurin does not completely romanticize vampires in this book. This is a very important part of the romance that does occur.

The plot is amazing. I love the vampire aspect. I did get a bit of a Twighlight vibe between Célie and Michal. I also feel a bit of Beauty and the Beast coming through. If you're looking for a good enemies to friends to more trope, this book ticks off those boxes. While Mahurin does create a bit of a new world in this book, I do think you need the background from the first trilogy to truly understand the world in total. Mahurin does a good job with some background, but I honestly feel like I would have been lost without that background. I would not be surprised if the author chooses to write a short to go set before this series (or even the previous one) to link the two without someone having to read the first trilogy. I don't think you can truly understand Célie and how she grows and changes without that background. I am happy I did read the first trilogy and would recommend that to anyone before jumping into this book. In this way, I feel I can compare Mahurin's books to Cassandra Clare. Not only does it have many paranormal characters, but the links made between the books are immensely important,

Mahurin was spot on with her pacing for this book. I truly could not put it down. I read it in just a few days while on vacation. Every chapter left me with a want to dive right into the next and see where the story goes. I loved the tension she wove into each chapter and I feel this is what truly pushed the book forward. 

One of the things I adored about how Mahurin staged this book is that she did not rely on the previous main characters to ensure there was a story. Were the involved, yes. Much of the hints lead back to the first trilogy. She truly made the story about Célie and her experiences. She composes a story that shows Célie's strengths but also exposes her weaknesses. But most of all, she makes her a survivor.

Overall, I adored this one. But that ending! I had tears. and then Mahurin went where I was sure she would not go and it made the entire book even more spectacular! I need book #2 now, but have to wait and I am already chomping at the bit for it! Again, I don't want to be a broken record but people really need to read the first series before this spin off. Not only does it spoil the trilogy but it will give you a better understand of the world, the magic system, and characters you meet.

Shelby Mahurin grew up on a small farm in rural Indiana, where sticks became wands and cows became dragons. Her rampant imagination didn't fade with age, so she continues to play make-believe every day—with words now instead of cows. When not writing, Shelby watches the Office and obsesses over her Twitter feed. She still lives near that childhood farm with her very tall husband, semi-feral toddlers, two dogs, and one cat.
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Shelby's favorite books include A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas, Uprooted by Naomi Novik, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, and, of course, Harry Potter.
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Her debut novel, SERPENT & DOVE, will release from Harper Teen in Fall 2019, with a sequel to come the following year. She is represented by Sarah Landis of Sterling Lord Literistic.