ARC Review: Of Venom and Vengeance by Mikayla Bridge

Prepare for a deliciously dark standalone, set in the same world as Of Flame and Fury, where star-crossed enemies gamble with their hearts, their empires, and the fate of a lost god.

On an island ruled by pageantry and pain, power comes at an impossible price.

Inna is the perfect heiress to the Pallo crime family: poised, cunning, untouchable. Behind this glamorous facade, she hunts for the sinister truth behind her older sister's death. Despite the cover-up she’s been led to believe, Inna can feel an enemy lurking in the shadows, or perhaps even hiding in plain sight.

Rylan has sculpted himself into a talented thief. His heart may be guarded, but his purpose is clear: retribution for his family, murdered by Inna's mother. Armed with illusion magic, Rylan plans to steal an ancient riddle from the Pallo vault, one that leads to a sleeping god. Whoever wakes the Serpent King will be granted any wish they desire. Rylan means to claim this power, and with it, Inna's ruin.

But when Inna catches Rylan sneaking past her family’s security, he proposes a deadly alliance that each desperately needs but neither intends to keep – even as bitter attraction threatens to unravel into something more.

Title: Of Venom and Vengeance

Author: Mikayla Bridge

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Expected Publication Date: July 7, 2026

Review:

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Farra, Straus and Giroux, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to listen to/read and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I'll be honest, I really enjoyed Bridge's first book in this world. I thought this was it's follow up when I requested it but then when I started it, I realized it definitely is not a follow up. I kept searching for a connection to the first story or for the same characters but they were not there. It was only when I went back to read the synopsis that I realized it is a story set in that world. I'm not sure of the timeline of this story compared with the first book but you don't see any reference at all to things from the first story. And, while it may be the same world, it didn't truly feel that way to me. Even without them, though, I really enjoyed this book and it's story.

The audio narrator, Safiyya Inger, did a fantastic job. Her voice was easy to listen to and she told the story well from both Inna Pallo and Ryland's perspectives. Her cadence was easy to follow. I did listen to the first book in this series, so I am familiar with her voice.

Bridge does a great job building out this world in regards to Sprites. Since this was a totally different element than the first book, it needed to be thorough and I think she did a pretty good job with it. I liked the idea of how the magic was harnessed and what it meant to have the sprites around. I also liked the secrets that surrounded the creatures and their magic. There are no info dumps in the book but the world is revealed slowly and carefeully.

Inna Pallo is the daughter in a crime family. She doesn't have many secrets of her own but her family certainly does. They have done unspeakable things in the name of keeping their power. This is slowly revealed to her throughout the story and becomes especially prevalent when she meets Ryland. He's got his own secrets, ones he doesn't really want Inna to know. But as they grow closer, he realizes he will need to reveal things to her if he is to keep her in his life. Bridge really develops the main characters well. You easily feel their emotions and what they are going through. I enjoyed the relationships between all the characters. 

I will say I didn't feel the chemistry between Ryland and Inna as much as I would have liked to. I needed a bit more of a build up to their romance. It seemed a little too convenient for her to fall for her enemy and vice versa. And Inna's involvement with Celssese, one of her family's guards, seemed complicated. I thought for sure there was still some lingering attraction there but but then Inna kind of brushes it aside very easily. The romance part of this story is kind of background noise, though, compared to the overall plot of the story.

Bridge keeps her pacing very quick, Her chapters are short and I found myself turning the pages quickly to see what happened. The last 25% is full of action and movement. I wish I could have read it all in one sitting instead of having to break it up! The betrayal is a huge part of this story. You never truly know who to trust, to be honest. Those you thought were allies become enemies very quickly.

Bridge leaves this story pretty open (as she did with the first book in this world). It wraps up but there is definitely room for more to come. I'm hoping she will continue with these characters. Overall, I really enjoyed this one once I realized I would not see anyone or anything from the first story (I still need more from those characters).

4.5/5 stars rounded to 5

Author:

Mikayla Bridge is a young adult fantasy author living in Melbourne, Australia. She grew up on a small-town farm and completed a BA with honours in political science and international relations. She loves writing books that feel like a triple espresso: high-energy, heart-racing, and might ruin your sleep schedule.

You can find her on instagram at @mikayla_bridge.

 

ARC Review: The Shippers by Katherine Center

 

One of the hottest, fastest-rising rom-com stars delivers her latest swoon-worthy novel about a destination wedding on a cruise ship.

After a whole lifetime of being bad at love, JoJo Burton decides to solve her intimacy issues once and for all at her sister’s destination wedding on a cruise ship. With the help of a little pop psychology, she diagnoses herself with a fixation on the neighborhood guy who was her her first crush and first kiss (and who just happens to be a newly-divorced wedding guest ), and she decides to woo him during the cruise for some long-delayed closure. Only problem is, her sister’s a little busy being a bride at the moment—so JoJo ropes in her childhood bestie, Cooper Watts, to be her wing man. Cooper: who RSVPed no, but then showed up, anyway. Cooper: who left town without a word four years earlier and moved to London. Cooper: who was, if she’s honest, the worst heartbreak of JoJo’s life. It’s bliss for her to see him again, and it’s agony, too—and the more they team up for Project Conquest, the more she obsesses over questions she can’t bring herself to ask.

Shipboard antics ensue in this witty, heart-tugging, childhood-friends-to-lovers romance—as JoJo and Cooper fake flirt, slow dance, share a cabin, sing duets, treat sunburns, get jealous, rescue each other over and over, and finally, at last, figure it all out in the most blissful, swoony, romantic way.

No one does summer romance quite like Katherine Center. THE SHIPPERS will take readers on the cruise of a lifetime in a story awash with romantic longing, top-notch banter, long-held secrets . . . and true love rediscovered.

Title: The Shippers

Author: Christina Lauren

Publisher: St. Martin's Press/Macmillan Audio

Expected Publication Date: May 19, 2026

Review:

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, 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.

This was definitely one of my most anticipated books this year. I have really enjoyed Center's books and was looking forward to this story to see how it would unfold. Does she go a bit over the top with her stories, sure. That's what makes them fun. Scenarios that are just the far side of being outlandish where they could still possibly happen but you know they would not. This story 100% fit that bill for me. That's being said, this is not my favorite book by this author by far. I'm sad it did not meet my expectations. Warning, if you are not a fan of the miscommunication trope, you will not like this book. It is full on miscommunication throughout.

I got to listen the book as well as read the Kindle version. I love Patti Murin. She really knows how to voice characters so well. Each character becomes unique when she narrates a book. She really brought the characters and story to life for me.

I liked the FMC, Jojo. She is just a bit quirky and kind of clueless to many things. After she leaves her fiancé at the alter, she believes she is cursed and will never have a chance for love. When she and her sister figure out it all stems from her first childhood kiss, she is determined to set the record straight in order to move forward with her life. Jojo had a lot to learn in this book. Does she get there? Yes. Is it in the most round about way one could ever perceive possible? It sure is! She was frustrating sometimes to the point I couldn't believe she could be so clueless.

The MMC, Cooper, was hard to pin down. Since the story is told only from Jojo's POV, we rely on her to present his character to us. For me, this made it hard to really connect with him and truly know who he is. He does give off golden retriever vibes, always coming to Jojo's rescue. But other than that, I didn't find him to have much substance.

In all honesty, the characters didn't seem to fit their age. They truly came across as so much younger than they were. I would have pinned them as college age if it wasn't explained that they had already graduated. The maturity level just wasn't there.

The pacing of the book was nice. There were some scenes that dragged a bit, mostly those with long passages where characters were telling stories. But overall, it was a fast read. The plot was fun enough. I did see she wrote this back around COVID times and there is an author's note about that and how she didn't want to publish it at that time as it may not have gone over well given the circumstances around the world. I can honestly tell this is an earlier work. The writing just wasn't as tight as her most recent books. I felt like it could have done with just a bit more editing. There was so much telling and not enough showing for me to truly connect with the story. I also found most of the twists very predictable.

Overall the story was cute but this one, given my high expectations of it, just did not hit the mark for me. It won't stop me from reading Center's future books. She is a lover of love and her books always give me warm fuzzy feelings. I can always rely on her to get the characters to their happily ever after. She will remain an auto-read author for me. I hope her next book hits better for me.

Author:

BookPage calls Katherine Center “the reigning queen of comfort reads.” She’s the New York Times bestselling author of eleven novels, including The Bodyguard, Hello Stranger, Things You Save in a Fire, and her summer 2024 book, The Rom-Commers. Katherine writes laugh-and-cry books: bittersweet romantic comedies about how life knocks us down—and how we get back up. She’s been compared to both Jane Austen and Nora Ephron, and the Dallas Morning News calls her stories, “satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way.” The Netflix movie adaptation of her novel Happiness for Beginners—starring Ellie Kemper and Luke Grimes—just hit the Global Top Ten in 81 countries, and the movie of her novel The Lost Husband was a surprise Netflix sensation in 2020, hitting number one and landing in their top 25 movies for the year. Her books have made countless Best-Of lists—at Audible, BookBub, and Book of the Month, as well as Goodreads' Best Books of the Year, and Amazon's yearly Top 100 books. Emily Henry calls The Bodyguard “my perfect 10 of a book,” and Jodi Picoult says of Things You Save in a Fire, “Just read it, and thank me later.” Katherine lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her husband, two almost-grown teenagers, and their fluffy-but-fierce dog. 

ARC Review: Seek The Traitor's Son m(The Burning Empire #1) by Veronica Roth

 

A new epic romantic, dystopian fantasy begins in Seek the Traitor's Son, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth

Elegy Ahn did not ask for destiny to find her.

She is happy with her life as a soldier, defending her small country from the Talusar, a powerful nation who worships a deadly Fever. A fever that blesses half of its victims with mysterious gifts.

But then she’s summoned to hear a prophecy–her, and the most ruthless of Talusar generals, Rava Vidar. Brought face to face, they learn that one of them will lead their people to victory over the other…but they don’t know which. And at the center of both of their fates: a man. A man that, Elegy is told, she will fall in love with.

In just one day, Elegy’s old life–her job, her purpose, and her future–is over. She and Rava are destined to collide, with the fate of their nations hanging in the balance. And when they do, only one will be left standing.

Elegy intends to make sure it’s her.

Title: Seek The Traitor's Son (The Burning Empire #1)

Author:Veronica Roth

Publisher:

Expected Publication Date: May 12, 2026

Review:

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Tor Publishing Group, 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 have been a fan of Roth since Divergent first published. And, when everyone else was too mad at her to continue reading her titles because they didn't agree with how she ended that series, I stuck by her because she's chose to stick by her vision of that series and see it through. I've really enjoyed her other works immensely. I was excited to read this one because of it's mix of science fiction, dystopia, and romantasy. I was ready for Roth to bring me elements beyond what I've seen her write about in the past and I have to say I was not disappointed.

I had the opportunity to listen to this as well as read a paper ARC of it. I have to say I enjoyed the audio version very much. Imani Jade Powers, Max Meyers, Rebecas Solar, and Steve West did a really great job. Powers truly brought Elegy's character to life. She imbued such a great amount of emotion into her narration for this character who struggled throughout the book to come to terms with who she is and what she represents. And Meyers as Theren. I will say at times it was hard to understand him because he tended to deepen his voice when Theren was actually speaking. I had to turn up the volume or rewind quite a few times to catch what he was saying. But overall Meyers did a fabulous job voicing this character. I love Solar from when she narrated Fourth Wing so she, once again, did not disappoint with her narration for Hela. Steven West does not have a very big role in the book but what he did voice was really great. I'll need to look into him more as I don't believe I've ever listened to anything he's narrated. Overall, the cast that was chosen for this book was spot on with their representation of their characters and kept me wanting to find out what was happening.

Roth has a way of building a world that is intricate and supremely connected to the politics of the time. As often happens with Dystopia, you have to suspend your belief a bit to really grasp the plot of the story and why it is important to the characters. But once you're invested, there's no way you can turn back. I appreciate that she does not info dump but rather weaves the world together through her characters experiences. I enjoyed the conflict between the Cedrae and the Talusar. There was a lot of political posturing that happened with her villainous character, Rava Vadir. Roth presents us with a prophecy and builds it up until it practically explodes from the page at the end. There is violence and death but there are also friendships and alliances formed.

I cannot begin to define the emotional rollercoaster these characters endure. The characters are all damaged and endure grief while seeking their true identities. Roth does not hold back at all. And because I was invested in them, I endured it right along with them. These characters are complex and well developed. Roth has once again created an MMC that you just cannot help but feel for. He's so damaged but pushes through to try and be the best person he can be. And the FMC definitely helps get him there, despite their past (not going to spoil that for you, so you'll just have to read it).

This one is slated adult. While the characters are technically adults, you can still feel they are not fully mature. So it reads a bit like a YA book. But there's much more emotional umph than you would experience with a YA book. If you're looking for spice, this one doesn't really give that. There are scenes, but they are in no way spicy. I'm actually happy Roth relied on the more emotional connection of the characters rather than their physical attraction.

While there is some traditional family in this book, it does rely heavily on found family, which I love. Found family friendships are so deep and enjoyable. The characters are deeply invested in one another. I cared about each and every character Roth brought across the page. I felt the tension between them but also the emotional trust that had to take place in order for them to fulfill their mission.

I did enjoy all the sacrifices the characters were willing to take in order to ensure their world remained stable. I was surprised when the FMC chose to do the one thing that could end in her ultimate sacrifice but knew there wasn't enough time left in the book for it to end differently than what Roth chose to do with her. I'm also really happy Roth chose to write this one in multiple POVs. Unlike Divergent, which didn't have multiple POVs until book 3 (and those of us who know that series, know exactly why she chose to give us that second POV), this book gave me so much more insight into the characters and world because of how they were presenting things. Can I say I kind of wish the villain had her own POV. I really think that would have made things VERY interesting indeed!

The thing that made me lower my rating for this one was the romantic relationship between the FMC and MMC. It started off as this slow burn build up that I was totally there for. Then suddenly it was just there in your face and I just didn't feel their chemistry as much as I wish I could have. Yes, they have an emotional connection and a bond that was formed in their past, but you don't get to see much of that because of the way things happen at the beginning of the book. There is no time for them to form any type of relationship at that time and we are relying on what happens in the after to bring them together. It just didn't click as much as I would have liked.

Once again, Roth has captured my attention with her amazing writing and plot. This one will grab you by the throat, toss you around, eat you, and spit you out on the other side all while you say you'll continue to endure what it does to you. I'm throughly looking forward to the second book in this series as this one definitely ended on a bit of a cliffhanger. I'm desperate to return to this world and see how the next part plays out! Bravo, Roth, for once again stealing my heart with your characters and my breath with your story!

4.5/5 stars rounded to 5.

Author:

Veronica Roth is the New York Times best-selling author of Seek the Traitor's Son (coming 5.12.26), When Among Crows, Arch-Conspirator, Poster Girl, Chosen Ones, the Carve the Mark series, and the Divergent series. She lives in Chicago, Illinois with her husband and dog.

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ARC Review: We Burned So Bright by T.J. Klune

A heart-wrenching standalone novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune, We Burned So Bright follows an older queer couple on an end-of-the-world road-trip.

The road stretched out before them. No other cars, just the headlights on the blacktop. Above, the cracked moon in a kaleidoscope sky….

Husbands Don and Rodney have lived a good long life. Together they’ve experienced the highest highs of love and family, and lows so low that they felt like the end of the world.

Now, the world is ending for real. A wandering black hole is coming for Earth and in a month everything and everyone they’ve ever known will be gone.

Suddenly, after 40 years together, Don and Rodney are out of time. They’re in a race against the clock to make it from Maine to Washington State to take care of some unfinished business before it’s all over.

On the road they meet those who refuse to believe death is coming and those who rush to meet it. But there are also people living their final days as best they know how—impromptu weddings, bright burning bonfires, shared meals, and new friends.

And as the black hole draws near, among ball lightning and under a cracked moon in a kaleidoscope sky, Don and Rodney will look back on their lives and ask if their best was good enough.

Is it enough to burn bright if nothing comes from the ashes?

Title: We Burned So Bright

Author: T.J. Klune

Publisher: Tor

Expected Publication Date: April 28, 2026

Reivew:

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Tor, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read/listen and give an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Is there anything Klune can write that I won't instantly adore? I think not! Every time I pick up a Klune book and step into the world he's created, I feel like I'm part of the cast going through the story and plot along with the characters. Feeling every emotion and falling deeper and deeper in love with what he's created. It makes it so hard to put into words my thoughts on a story or book. But here I go, trying my best to let you know exactly why you have top pick this one up and give it a try.

From the start I need to implore people to read the triggers in this book. There are quite a few. While I don't have any triggers, I can see how the things presented in this book could truly hurt those who are affected by them.

I need to talk about the narrator first, Kirt Graves! I think this is my first story listening to him. I do see he has narrated most of Klune's books, but I've read those all in print. But his voice, his pacing, his emotion, and the way he does the voices? All perfection. I'm sure the print version of this story would have had me hooked, but Graves took it to a whole other level for me. Now I want to go back and listen to all of Klune's books that I've already read just to hear Graves tell the story!

Have you ever read a story that just opened your eyes to things you thought you knew about but truly didn't? This story did that for me in such a way that it made my heart ache to know I was missing so much. I have to give some background. I grew up in a very liberal household. I'm GenX and my neighborhood in Brooklyn was very mixed with people are all colors, ethnicities, and backgrounds. My parents had a very large group of friends in the gay community there so, to me, being gay was just who they were. There wasn't anything odd, strange, or disgusting about who these people were, they were just our friends. But all those friends of my parents also purposefully chose this neighborhood just for that reason. I never saw them experience the hate that came along with who they chose to show the world that they were. And then this book told the story of two men climbing through so much just so they could love one another. and be together. Just so they could be parents. The hate and vitriol they experienced was something I just could not fathom. I know it exists, and has and did when I was growing up and I was lucky to not have to experience that or see our friends experience. Or perhaps they hid it from me so I would not have to see the ugly side of things? Either way, Klune shifted my shifted and my eyes were opened to how lucky I was to have been insulated from this growing up. How I was able to be open to however people chose to live their lives.

The story of these two men, Rodney and Dom, as they journey to take care of some unfinished business was just amazing. Their love and life were beautiful. I could not help but be amazed by their willingness to run head first into adversity and challenge everything. They were so very strong in their convictions. And their love for one another was palpable.

The idea that everyone might face the end of the world one day is not new to me. Growing up in the 80s, I am well aware of the feel of the Cold War. Of the idea that I could be blasted from this earth by things that are beyond my control. While the end of the world portrayed in this book is a natural disaster, the idea, the fear, the reality of it is the same. I knew going in there was not going to be a true happy ending to this story. After all, everyone and everything on earth were going to be taken out in the blink of an eye. But the way in which Klune got us there involved so much heart. And he shows how these two men accept their fate while looking back on their 40 years together and seeing how very much in love they still truly are.

My only critique, which did not lower my rating, was that this story is so short. Does that create an urgency that is necessary, it does. But I wish I could read Rodney and Don's back story (even though we get a good chunk of the flashbacks of it in this book). 

Once again Klune has captured me with his compelling and layered story telling. Every topic he chooses to explore is thought provoking and touches on humanity in a way that really causes me to pause and reevaluate how I think about things. How he manages to make me fall for his characters to easily, I will never know. I even have some empathy for the vilest of the characters and that is not an easy feat!

This book made me laugh out loud many times. But it also made me think deeply about how I want to present myself, how I want to treat others, and how I want my children to treat others. And it definitely made me cry; tears of sorrow but also tears of joy for the full and loving life these two men shared. I'm profoundly moved by this story and cannot wait to see how else Klune will shift my mind in the future!

Author:

TJ KLUNE is a Lambda Literary Award-winning author (Into This River I Drown) and an ex-claims examiner for an insurance company. His novels include The House in the Cerulean Sea and The Extraordinaries. Being queer himself, TJ believes it's important—now more than ever—to have accurate, positive, queer representation in stories. 

 

ARC Review: Stranger Things Have Happened by Kasie West

Can fake dating lead to real love? In Kasie West's next sexy adult romcom two people must decide where the lie ends and the chemistry begins.

Sutton knows she needs therapy. After all, she’s managing her newly opened restaurant remotely while taking care of her ungrateful sick mother. Plus, her boyfriend of two years just dumped her over the phone. But does therapy with a handsome stranger, who she has to pretend to be engaged to, in order to help her friend’s struggling relationship count? Probably not. Then why did she just agree to go? Because she’s had a few too many drinks? Because this stranger, Elijah, is smug and annoying and really, really handsome? Because she feels guilty that she abandoned her best friend, Tara, after high school and this might just make up for it? Whatever the reason, she has committed to this unhinged plan.

What the hell is Sutton doing?

Helping Tara prove a point: a good therapist can tell the difference between real love and fake love. That’s what she’s doing. But as they attend their sessions, Sutton and Elijah only seem to be proving one thing—the lines between pretend desire and real desire are very blurry. This true connection forming between them is threatening to unravel everything Sutton thought she knew about family, friendship, and her own heart.

Title: Stranger Things Have Happened

Author: Kasie West

Publisher: St. Martin's Press/Macmillan Audio

Expected Publication Date: April 14, 2026

Review:

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, 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 will be honest, I love Kasie West as a YA author. She does a great job with character growth and romance. I was excited when I heard she was jumping into adult titles. But I didn't love her first one. I was disappointed. So I went into this one with some trepidation. I didn't want to be disappointed again. But then an amazing thing happened, I started reading and fell in love with the characters and the plot and just everything. It was so much fun and I'm so glad I took the chance on it.

I was excited to listen to Karissa Vacker narrate this story. I really enjoy her. She brings out such great emotion with the characters. And it takes a great female narrator to make me love their male voice and I love her. She did a fabulous job! She nailed the feelings and personalities of the characters so well.

If you're looking for a romcom that really has you laughing out loud, this one is it. I loved the enemies to lovers theme West imbued into this story that turned into something more. The idea of them as strangers who get to know one another through therapy was really fun. I loved the interactions, how the chemistry grew between Sutton and Eli. His first impression comes off as a boy toy who is arrogant and cares about no one but himself. But then West develops his character into something so much more complex.

Having grown up in a therapy family, with lots of therapy under my belt, I was really able to connect with that part of the story. And it showed so much depth into mental health and how important it is to take care of yourself this way.

West did choose to include a third act break up, which I normally am not a huge fan of because they often involve miscommunication (which this one did). But she did it in such a way that it made sense and showed the characters had learned how to express themselves throughout the story.

I will be honest, I didn't want this to end. The banter between Sutton and Eli was top notch. I cannot wait to see what West comes up with next!

Author:

I write YA and adult romance novels. I eat chocolate cinnamon bears. Sometimes I go crazy and do both at the same time. A few of my works are: SUNKISSED, PS I LIKE YOU, MOMENT OF TRUTH, WE MET LIKE THIS, and more. My agent is the talented and funny Michelle Wolfson.

 

ARC Review: West of Wicked (The Great and Terrible Land #1) by Nikki St. Crowe

 

Dorothy Gale doesn’t know where she came from. She has only the vaguest memory of her life before landing in the dull, gray world of the vast Kansas prairie.

Then a cyclone rips through the night and carries her, her dog, and the farmhouse somewhere a lot farther than Dorothy imagined. She’s in a strange land that’s apparently cursed, shrouded in shadow. And to get home, Dorothy needs to seek out a wizard, following a treacherous path and watch out for a never-ending list of forest beasts, witches, a cursed mercenary, and perhaps most dangerous of all, the wizard himself.

Nikki St. Crowe vividly reimagines the world of the Wizard of Oz, where the villain gets the girl...and the girl gets the power.

Title: West of Wicked (The Great and Terrible Land #1)

Author: Nikki St. Crowe

Publisher: Bramble/Macmillan Audio

Expected Publication Date: Aril 7, 2026

Review:

Thank you to NetGalley, Bramble, and Macmillan Audio for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I'm a huge fan of re-imaginings. Especially when those re-imaginings are dark! I will be honest and say I wasn't quite sure how someone could take one of my favorite childhood movies and make it dark. But, as I got older and realized this movie was already a bit dark, having someone make it darker seemed appropriate. This is not the fun lollipop guild world you remember. Where Dorothy is revered, gets into a bit of trouble, and then gets to go home. Nope, this one plays on the darker thoughts of just exactly who Dorothy Gayle is and why she landed in Oz to begin with.

I really enjoyed the narrators for this audio book. I will say I wish I knew which narrators were playing which part, it would help me look at other books the narrators have done and maybe listen to those. But overall, all the narrators did truly amazing jobs voicing the characters and keeping my interest throughout.

As per the original story, Dorothy's house gets lifted up in a cyclone and deposited in Oz. And, while she does land on the witch of the East, this is not how that witch dies. And it's from there you realize this story is not going to be what you remember of your childhood Oz.  This retelling is dark, somewhat bloody, and a little terrifying, There's not telling who can and cannot be trusted. And all the characters have side stories and their own agendas. The Tin Man isn't just missing his heart, he's missing his scruples. And his oil that keeps him moving isn't just oil, but I won't spoil that for you. The Scarecrow is missing his memories instead of his brain. Or is he? He's definitely not who you think he is!

I won't dive into too much of the spice. There is some, though it's nothing super deep and it's just one scene. I actually was happy the story didn't center too much around the spice but really did rely on the plot and characters to lead the way. I definitely love me some spice, but I also prefer a good plot over an abundance of sexy times.

Crowe builds a new and imaginative version of the Oz everyone knows. The darker parts of the land are so dark. The entire journey to The Emerald City takes you through rough terrain and forests that are scary. The characters are well developed and definitely not who you think they are. The pacing keeps you pulled in the entire time. And the ending? Prepare for a bit of a cliffhanger that will absolutely leave you wanting the next installment yesterday.

Crowe takes a years old story and turns it into something new and refreshing, if not a little sinister. This is my first book by her and I can see I will be investing my time in her other stories for sure. I cannot wait to see where she takes Oz in the next book!

Author:

Nikki St. Crowe is a USA Today and No. 1 Amazon Bestselling Author specializing in dark, spicy romantasy where the villain gets the girl and the girl gets the power.

Nikki considers the start of her professional career to be in the 4th grade when she placed 2nd in a Young Author’s Competition. Back then she crafted stories about magical mansions and lost treasure. She’s since ditched the treasure hunts, but she'll never give up on the magical mansions (or the morally grey men who inhabit them).

These days, when Nikki isn’t writing or daydreaming about villains, she can either be found in the woods or at home with her husband and daughter.


For information on new releases, sign up for Nikki’s newsletter, The Forbidden Garden: https://nikkistcrowe.myflodesk.com/th...

Audio Review: The Entanglement of Rival Wizards (Magic and Romance #1) by Sara Raasch

 

Ali Hazelwood meets Dungeons & Dragons in this enemies-to-lovers fantasy academia romcom where rival grad student wizards are forced to work together without killing―or falling for―each other.

Will they conjure love, or evoke chaos? Two rival wizards are about to find out.

Sebastian Walsh: twenty-four. Grad student at Lesiara University in the Mageus of Evocation program. Human. The first of his family to go to college rather than the military (and it goes over at family get-togethers about as well as you’d think).

Elethior Tourael: also twenty-four. Also a grad student, but in the far more inferior Mageus of Conjuration program. Half-elf. The latest in a long line of Touraels to grace the hallowed halls of Lesiara U (what would the world do if the Touraels ran out of rich douches to lead their magical weapons manufacturing empire?).

―and the other finalist for the Mageus Research Grant.

Sebastian needs that grant to fund the last few months of research for his degree, after which he’ll get a job that actually helps people. He isn’t about to let anyone snatch this from him, least of all a snob who doesn’t even need the money because his family is loaded thanks to war profiteering.

But there’s something worse than having a conceited academic nemesis steal grant money from you: you could be forced to work with him. Thio is secretive, broody, and his stunning biceps take up far too much shared lab space―but even as volatile as their partnership is, Sebastian just might find himself falling for his rival―and it could blow up his whole future.

Title: The Entanglement of Rival Wizards (Magic and Romance #1)

Author: Sara Raasch

Publisher: Bramble/Macmillan Audio

Publication Date: August 26, 2025

Review:

Thank you to Bramble/Macmillan Audio for sending me a copy of this audiobook to listen to and give an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I love me some Sara Raasch. The Nightmare Before Kissmas was one of my favorite listens last year. When I saw Sara had a new series about wizards, I was excited to see what the story was about. I did request a copy but was denied. So I was even more excited when I was sent a copy to jump into. As usual, Raasch is queen of magic and MM relationships. I absolutely adored this book.

This was my first time listening to the narrator, Sam Stark. And he was perfect. I loved the emotion he infused into the MMC's narration. I loved his intonation and pacing. And how he was able to really get the personality of the main character across to the listener. He has moved on to my list of narrators I will go to for a listen!

Sebastian was so much fun to get to know. I loved his personality so much. A little bit of a trouble maker and a lot of someone who wants to make something of himself. He harbored a lot of emotion throughout the book. Especially once he gets "stuck" working with Elethior, his long time enemy. Forced to work together for a grant, they slowly get to know more than just the surface level of each other. They slowly grow into a friendship that eventually turns into just a bit more. Raasch truly does MM romance with amazing finesse. Her spicy scenes are truly perfect. 

And can we talk about the romance? It is just flat out chemistry from the very start. Despite their differences, including their types of magic and their family background, Sebastian and Elethior bond. And then you can just feel how they are are drawn to each other. Even though they "hate" each other, they easily begin to support one another through their shared work. They defend each other so easily, like they were made to be an item.

More over, her side characters are always amazing. I adored Orok so much. And his relationship with Seb is amazing. It was so refreshing to watch two men be the best of friends and watch out for each other. They are uninhibited by societal norms and that truly was a testament to show that love is love is love. They aren't afraid to hug, or say I love you, or support one another. They went through some trauma together and that also gets worked through in this book. This back story is sad and really formed who they are as wizards and friends.

The pacing of this book is great. I sped through it. And honestly, towards the end, I slowed it down because I really didn't want it to end. There is so much I could say but any and all of it would be spoilers and I would not want to ruin the perfection Raasch has created.

Lovers of authors like Ali Hazelwood and Sarina Bowen will enjoy this magical romance. If you love magic and high jinks mixed with close proximity, enemies to lovers, and queer attractxion, Seb and Theo will become your new obsession. I cannot thank the publisher enough for sending me a copy of this story. And can I say how excited I am to get Orok's story next? I did request it but have been denied so I cannot wait for my copy when it comes out!

Author:

Sara Raasch has known she was destined for bookish things since the age of five, when her friends had a lemonade stand and she tagged along to sell her hand-drawn picture books too. Not much has changed since then — her friends still cock concerned eyebrows when she attempts to draw things and her enthusiasm for the written word still drives her to extreme measures. Her debut YA fantasy, SNOW LIKE ASHES, the first in a trilogy, came out October 14, 2014 from Balzer + Bray. It does not feature her hand-drawn pictures.

ARC Review: The Last Wish of Bristol Keats (The Courting of Bristol Keats #2) by Mary E. Pearson

 

From NYT bestselling author Mary E. Pearson comes the thrilling conclusion of the Courting of Bristol Keats romantic fantasy duology.

Everyone needs something to hold onto, even if it’s a lie.

After Bristol Keats nearly loses her beloved King Tyghan to the monsters her mother had unleashed, their love deepens to a whole new level. Together, Bristol and Tyghan work to understand and reconcile their differences, moving forward with their common goal of saving Elphame. But when a daring rescue attempt turns into a disaster, and a beloved knight dies, Bristol is forced to confront the fact that her mother is more powerful than she could have ever imagined—and more dangerous. Meanwhile, Tyghan’s heart is laid bare when he encounters his former best friend and betrayer again, Bristol's own father, and must wrestle with a new secret that throws everything he thought he knew about his past into question.

Bristol is Elphame’s last chance for survival, but where do her loyalties truly lie? If she fully embraces the magic that has always been her birthright, she could become a different kind of monster from her mother. Is she willing to risk losing the people she loves most, if it means keeping them safe?

Brimming with dark secrets, lush world-building, and addictive romance, The Last Wish of Bristol Keats is the unforgettable conclusion to New York Times bestselling author Mary E. Pearson's first adult series.

Title: The Last Wish of Bristol Keats (The Courting of Bristol Keats #2)

Author: Mary E. Pearson

Publisher: Tor/Macmillan Audio

Expected Publication Date: November 11, 2025

Review:

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Tor for providing me with a copy of this title to listen to and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own. 

This is one of my most anticipated releases this year. I adored the first book, which I also got to listen to on audio. Brittany Pressley is the perfect narrator for this book. She does such a wonderful job with the pacing. She's also fabulous with the character voices, making each one distinct. Plus, she infused the perfect amount of emotion into the story. She brought ever single character to life,. She's one of my favorite audio book narrators and I was so happy to listen to her tell this tale.

This book jumps right in where the first book leaves off. It cannot be read as a stand alone if you want to know what's happened and has happened as it's truly connected to the previous book. There is a lot tied to what happened in The Courting of Bristol Keats which won't make much sense if you read this by itself. Pearson does a good job of tying that book in, but I don't think I could have followed along well had I not read the first book of this duolgy. I wish I could have gone back and re-read the first book before having to dive back into this one. While I remembered the story for the most parts, I really felt like I wanted to remind myself. But overall it didn't change how I felt about this installment.. Bristol and Tyghan are fighting for Elphame and trying their hardest to keep it out of the hands of Cormick.

One of my favorite things about this book is that it's told in third person in multiple points of view. This presents a so much more cohesive and deep story for me. I truly ejoyed hearing from every character and watching their contribution move the story forward and give so much more depth to the tale.

The romance! I just love Bri and Tyg together. They have their moments where they fight but they always come back to resolve it. I've seen some chatter about them being a bit juvenile, but, honestly, they are not all that old, so I don't expect them to be particularly mature. But the times when they are romantic together are top notch. And Pearson really knows how to write a great love scene. She infuses just the right amount of spice and adoration so you truly know these two are in love.

The world building continues to be fantastic. Pearson truly knows how to emerse her readers in such a all consuming way.

I will admit, I had a few issues with this book that I feel were a bit unresolved. Since they are both potential spoilers which happen towards the end of the book so I will be as vague as I can be. The first was with the betrayal from a beloved character. There was not much depth to that part of the story. It happened and then the characer retaliates and that's it. The story starts wrapping up. Even in the epilogus we don't get anything about what happened to this character who was so essential throughout the story. The second thing was the time jump. Perhaps Throughout the story we know that time passes differently in Fairy and the mortal world. Short times in Fairy equal long times in the other. There is a time jump at the end that is mentioned on both sides and, while perhaps it was just a mention in Fairy, it makes it seem like the same amount of time has passes there and that was confusing for me as I know that's not what was presented throughout the story. Third, a rescued character didn't make as much of an impact as I would have liked to have had them make. I needed a bit more from that part of the story. While their rescue was significant, I wanted that character to play a bigger role at the end then they did.

Finally, the wrap up seem too tidy and neat for me. It made it a little unsatisfying after all we when through with the characters. It was too easy for the characters to carry out their HEA with easy resolution when I really needed there to be more tension and conflict before that happened. It almost felt like the author ran out of ideas of how to make it happen.

Overall, I completely enjoyed this book. I was sad to see it wrap up as I felt like there could definitely have been a third book. So many twists and turns happend in this instsallment. I enjoyed jumping back into this world, watching all the characters (Pearson does amazing side characters), and following along as the battle ensued. Once again Pearson has solidified she is top notch when it comes to fantasy writing and I will absolutely read anything she writes. If you're looking for a muli-POV story with romance, betrayal, political intrigue, fabulous magic, found family, power struggles, angst, a fantasy Fairy world that draws you in, and an epic story, give this duology a try!

4.5 stars rounded to 5

Author:

Author:

Mary E. Pearson is the NYT bestselling and award-winning author of eleven YA novels and one novella. Her works include the completed trilogy, The Remnant Chronicles, which in a starred review, Publisher’s Weekly called “masterfully crafted.” Her favorite activities as a child were climbing tall trees imagining she was a hero in some fantastical world, or running along fence tops and roofs pretending she was a spy with a bagful of amazing gadgets. She was rarely herself. Amazingly, she never broke a bone until she caught a basketball in gym class. Catching real balls was not her forte. These days she continues to live in make-believe worlds she creates in her books. Her latest 2-book series, Dance of Thieves, allows her do all kinds of dangerous things without breaking any bones. So far.
You can learn more about Mary and her books at www.marypearson.com