Ashen Souls by Anastacia V. Davis 

My Rating: 🟊🟊🟊🟊

Spice Rating: 🌶🌶🌶

Blurb: 

"Because you are mine, Patches. You always have been, and you always will be. In every lifetime, across every world, and in every realm. You don’t understand it yet... but I have all eternity to make sure you do."

Aveline Hart is a 22-year-old literature student, numb to the world, convinced she is incapable of desire.
Until the accident.

Night after night, an ancient demon named Daeren invades her mind.
He is possessive and relentless, speaking to her as if he has known her forever.
Her logic insists he is a hallucination, but her body betrays her.

In the daylight, her mythology professor, Ethan Hale, offers an escape.
Brilliant, controlled, and fiercely protective, he seems like the safe haven she desperately needs.
Trapped between the monster haunting her sleep and the man offering a dangerous salvation, Aveline is forced to question what is real.

She thinks she gets to choose.
She has no idea the choice was never hers to make.


Tropes:

Dark Academia
Soul Bond
Mind Invasion
Touch Her and Die
Shadow Daddy
Love Triangle: Demon vs. Professor
Slow Burn

Ashen Souls is a dark fantasy romance and contains themes, language, and situations that may be triggering or disturbing for some readers.

This book explores dark themes including mind games, emotional manipulation, extreme possessiveness, and stalking. The story also depicts violence, murder, hallucinations, sleep paralysis, and alcohol consumption leading to blackouts.
Additionally, the narrative includes explicit sexual content, dubious consent, somnophilia, sexual harassment/attempted assault, and kink dynamics such as bondage, branding/marking, biting, blood play, breath play, and degradation.

My Review:

Ashen Souls completely pulled me in from the very beginning. The dark academia setting, rain-soaked gothic atmosphere, and Aveline’s strange dreams of Daeren, a mysterious ancient demon who insists she is his long-lost love, created the perfect combination of intrigue and tension. Add in Ethan, her steady and intriguing mythology professor, and you have the makings of a delicious slow-burn love triangle.

I was captivated by the character development, especially the way Aveline’s deepest emotions were portrayed. Her internal struggles felt raw and gripping. Harper, her best friend, was another absolute highlight for me. She is loyal, blunt, hilarious, and incredibly grounding. The banter and friendship between Aveline and Harper were some of my favorite parts of the book. These two would literally fight demons together and then finish off a glass of Prosecco afterward, and honestly, I loved them for it!

The magical elements and world-building were descriptive and immersive, leaving me wanting to know so much more. I was especially intrigued by the mystery surrounding Daeren and Ethan. I had a few suspicions about the connection between them, but the twists still managed to surprise me.

The pacing was consistent, the romance delivered when it needed to, and the tension kept me turning the pages. Daeren was absolutely fascinating, although I found myself wishing for more backstory about his history with Aveline. I wanted to know everything!

And that ending?! The cliffhanger left me desperate for book two. I genuinely wish I could get my hands on the next installment right now.

If you love dark academia, gothic fantasy, fated mates, slow-burn romance, intriguing magical worlds, and plenty of spice, this is definitely one to add to your TBR. Ashen Souls delivered an exciting and unique romantasy experience, and I cannot wait to see where this story goes next.

Harper’s wit, Aveline’s emotional journey, the mysterious magic, the romance, and those shocking twists all came together beautifully. The writing is truly devastatingly beautiful, and I am already counting down to book two!

Lavender and Steel by J.P Feather

 Lavender and Steel 

by J.P. Feather

My Rating: 🟊🟊🟊🟊

 Spice Rating: 🌶

Blurb:

In a world where magic is feared and tightly controlled, twenty-seven-year-old Maela Malorry’s life shatters when she takes the fall for her brother’s crime committed with magic.

After encountering death in Obsidian Prison, nightmares claw at her mind, so vivid and merciless they blur the line between dream and reality, leaving her to wonder if something far darker has followed her back from the brink.

Her chains are broken, yet her fate is sealed at War Nova Academy, where magic spirits rule life and death. Maela must survive brutal trials that crush body and will, face cadets thirsting for vengeance, and endure a final exam where survival itself becomes a cruel gamble.

As the secrets of war claw into the light, loyalties shatter, truth becomes a weapon, and lies a shield.

Maela slips. Her grip on reality blurs as her nightmares begin to bleed into the waking world.

My Review:

This book completely consumed me! From page one, we’re thrown into a world where magic means death, and Maela is sent to Obsidian Prison for a crime she didn’t commit. The danger feels immediate, and the mystery surrounding her imprisonment gave me so many questions that I had to keep reading. Maela’s fear, determination, and refusal to give up made her easy to root for, especially as she tried to survive a brutal system designed to break her.

The world-building was incredible, Nova War Academy, spirit bonds, elemental magic, fae, demons, hellhounds, manticores… there was SO much going on! Every new reveal made the world feel larger, stranger, and more dangerous, and I loved learning how the different magical beings, powers, and bonds fit together. Nova War Academy had the perfect mix of competition, danger, and uncertainty, so even the quieter moments felt like something could go wrong at any second. Add forbidden romance, secrets, found family, a possessive MMC, and plenty of suspense, and I was hooked. The relationships brought some much-needed warmth to the darker parts of the story, while the unanswered questions kept the tension high.

I definitely got some Fourth Wing vibes, but with manticores instead of dragons. There’s the dangerous academy setting, the intense training, the powerful bonds, and the constant feeling that no one is completely safe. Even so, Lavender and Steel brings its own darker atmosphere and magical mythology to the mix. The story had its flaws, especially with pacing, transitions, and some confusing moments. A few scenes moved so quickly that I wanted more time to understand what had happened or let an emotional moment land. Still, the central mystery, the romance, and Maela’s growth kept pulling me back in, and I was invested enough to keep turning the pages.

And THAT ENDING?! Absolutely not. The final twists changed so much and left me staring at the page, trying to process everything that had just happened. I have even more questions now about the secrets surrounding Maela, the true nature of her power, and who she can actually trust. I need book two immediately. I’m so curious to see where Maela’s journey goes next, how the consequences of that ending will reshape her relationships, and whether the bonds she has formed will survive what’s coming. I’m also definitely hoping for more Luan POV because I need to know what he’s thinking, what he’s hiding, and how deeply he is involved in everything. This was a dramatic, addictive start to the series, and despite a few rough edges, it left me eager for more.

The Queen's Mistress by Sophia Green

 The Queen's Mistress

by Sophia Green

My Rating: 🟊🟊🟊🟊🟊

Blurb: 

She saved the Queen’s life. Now she can’t escape it.

When a commoner saves Queen Henriette from an assassination attempt, she never stops to consider what it might cost.

Perhaps she should have.

The attack leaves both women cursed, their magic infected and growing more dangerous by the day. With no idea who ordered the attack, queen and guard are forced into an uneasy alliance.

Henriette has spent her life as an outsider. Born without arms, she knows better than anyone how little the world was built for people like her. But when her new guard proves to be an outsider too, duty soon gives way to something far more dangerous: desire.

Joséphine abandoned her dream of becoming a knight long ago. Survival was enough, until protecting the Queen begins to feel like something worth risking everything for.

As the curse spreads and the assassin closes in, Henriette and Joséphine must decide what they are willing to sacrifice. Because the closer they grow, the more they risk losing everything—including each other.

My Review:

I loved the concept of this book from the moment the author pitched it to me. There still aren’t enough stories with disabled leads, and the fact that this is also a sapphic romance made me excited before I even started reading. That representation feels meaningful because it is woven naturally into the story rather than treated as an afterthought. The author’s writing is beautiful, creating an immersive world that flows effortlessly and makes every scene easy to picture. The setting feels vivid and lived-in, with enough detail to draw the reader in without slowing the story down. I also loved how each character has a distinct, memorable personality. Their individual voices, motivations, and relationships give the story warmth and make the emotional moments feel genuine.

If you’re looking for a book with rich worldbuilding, heartfelt representation, and unforgettable characters, this is one you’ll want to pick up. It offers the kind of reading experience that feels both imaginative and emotionally grounded, balancing romance, character development, and an absorbing setting. I was invested in the premise from the beginning, but the writing and characters gave me even more to appreciate as the story unfolded. I loved it before I even fully knew what it was, and by the end, it had given me plenty of reasons to keep thinking about it.

 Lovestruck by Andi Epimoni

My Rating: 🟊🟊🟊🟊

Spice Rating: 🌶🌶

Blurb: 

When the wrong human couple is struck by love’s arrow, one of Fate's workers must join forces with her ex-boyfriend to set things right, or risk consequences of otherworldly proportions—in this magical second-chance romance.

Demi is a breaker, tasked with ending human relationships when staying together would cause more harm than good. Her methods may be unorthodox, but if she’s going to break hearts, she’s determined to do it as kindly as possible.

Enter Gray Thompson, the agency’s golden boy archer (and the only man to ever break Demi’s heart), responsible for sparking the most sweeping love stories. But when Gray unexpectedly reappears in Demi’s life, he misfires and hits the wrong target with his arrow of love. Now Demi must use her unconventional methods to help her ex fix his mistake before innocent lives are put at risk.

The problem? Rewriting someone else’s love story means having to face their own. And when the truth of what happened between them finally comes to light, Demi will have to embrace the breaker in her to save everything she holds dear.

My Review:

This was a cute, easygoing book and a refreshing palate cleanser after the heavier reads I’m used to picking up. The premise immediately intrigued me, and even though the characters felt a little flat at times, that didn’t bother me as much as it might have in another story. Sometimes I reach for cozy, lighthearted books because I want comfort, charm, and a low-pressure reading experience rather than something overly complex. I came into this expecting a fun, feel-good time, and that’s exactly what the book delivered.

 Unravelling by Nyx Hunt

My Rating: 🟊🟊🟊🟊

Spice Rating: 🌶

Blurb: 

The Accord promised coexistence.
Proximity never guaranteed safety.

Emery Hale is proof of that lie.

Contained. Watched. Isolated from everything familiar and pulled deeper into a world built on control, influence, and carefully managed obedience.

The men surrounding her are making moves. Some to protect her. Some to possess her. Some for reasons she still can't see.

And beneath the surface of vampire society, something is changing.The attraction she can't explain. The distance that feels deliberate. The truth arriving in pieces, each one worse than the last.

She thought she understood the danger. She has no idea what's already been set in motion.

The Accord held the world together.

The Unravelling has already begun.

A dark, slow-burn dystopian romance where control masquerades as protection, desire becomes dangerous, and proximity may cost more than freedom.

Book two of a series.

My Review:

This book picks up exactly where The Accord left off, throwing you straight into the aftermath as the world closes in. The tension and darkness that were building in the first book come to a head here, giving the story an even darker, more intense tone. From the very beginning, I was hooked, and that constant undercurrent of anticipation kept me uneasy, always feeling like something huge was just around the corner.

Nyx Hunt’s atmospheric, descriptive writing creates such a vivid, almost cinematic world, and I absolutely love her modern take on vampires. The world-building, intrigue, and rich plot had me completely immersed, while the hints that there is still so much more to come kept me desperate to find out what happens next.

The characters also become even more fully developed in this book, and I especially loved seeing the side characters from the first book really come into their own. Emery continues to be a standout for me. She’s strong, independent, smart, and feisty. So many times I found myself thinking, Emery, please just keep your head down! Of course, she never does—and honestly, that’s exactly why we love her!

Then the story explodes with drama and intrigue as the bigger picture starts to come into focus for both Emery and the reader at the same time. I loved the way everything unfolded, with revelations that made it nearly impossible to put the book down.

Sequels can sometimes fall short of the first book, but this one is even better. The author does an incredible job making the characters feel real, maintaining that relentless tension, and delivering a story that feels both satisfying and like the beginning of something much bigger.

I’m completely invested in this series, these characters, and this world, and I am impatiently waiting to see where the story goes next!

If you loved the first book, you absolutely need to keep reading. I’m hooked!

 Coveted by Mara Redford

My Rating: 🟊🟊🟊⯨

Spice Rating: 🌶🌶🌶

Blurb: 

The most ruthless heir on campus becomes my protector, whether I like it or not.

Lucan Hale torments me from my very first day at Darkbloom University.

He’s ice-cold and a rumored killer.

I can’t stand him, but I also can’t seem to escape him.

All I want is to fit in at my elite new college, because this scholarship is my one chance to leave behind my old world and a haunting dark secret.

But when I witness a murder during the college’s welcome ritual, I’m forced to accept Lucan’s over-the-top brand of help to survive.

And while he protects my life, I must shield myself against his possessiveness that knows no limits.

Because he’s made it clear that once he claims me…

I’ll always be his.

Coveted is a standalone dark romance featuring a morally gray billionaire who falls first and harder. Contains stalking.

My Review:

I loved this book. The pacing and plot were strong, and the murder mystery elements kept me engaged. The ending genuinely surprised me when the true culprit was revealed.

I especially enjoyed the main couple, Sadie and Lucan. Sadie is headstrong and independent, while Lucan is intensely devoted, and their chemistry was fantastic and explosive. I also appreciated how they gradually got to know each other, stopped hiding who they truly were, and helped each other become better versions of themselves. I particularly liked how Sadie influenced Lucan to repair his relationship with his mother.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced whodunit with a stalker, a woman reclaiming her worth, and a touch of dark, filthy dubcon, this book delivers.

Lucan is the kind of MMC you love to hate: a little unhinged, deeply morally gray, and fiercely protective in his own strange way. He will do anything to keep the object of his obsession safe.

Sadie has been through a lot and hopes Darkbloom will give her a fresh start. But on her first day on campus, she gets caught in Lucan’s web, witnesses a murder, and lands in the crosshairs of a psychopath—just not the one she wants. Watching her try to stand her ground, only to fall anyway, was so much fun.

A Silence Shadows by Annie Anderson

A Silence of Shadows 

by Annie Anderson

My Rating: 🟊🟊🟊🟊🟊

Spice Rating: 🌶🌶

Blurb:

In a kingdom built on lies and blood, some bonds cannot be broken.

Merrit Locke runs Lock & Key, a neutral bar at the edge of vampire court territory, keeping her head down, her past blank, and her telepathy a secret. Until Prince Kieran Veyne walks through her door.

He’s beautiful, dangerous, and far too observant. When a violent ambush forces Merrit to act, Kieran sees just enough to draw the wrong conclusion, believing she’s a rare seer. A lie Merrit must uphold when he drags her into a world of velvet deception.

To use her, he makes her part of his court.
To shield her, he tells the world she’s his lover.
To protect her, he makes the lie look real.

Now Merrit must navigate a palace of monsters and masks, all while pretending to belong to the one man who unnerves her most. But when blood is spilled and an ancient bond awakens, the line between truth and desire grows perilously thin.

And in a court of shadows, even lies can taste like fate.

A Silence of Shadows is the first in a world of interconnected standalone romantasy novels—complete stories linked by blood, magic, and courtly deception. Expect one dangerously charming vampire prince, a mute heroine with mind-reading abilities, and a fake relationship that turns into something all too real. Mature themes and dark romantic tension included. Reader discretion advised.

 My Review:

This is the best vampire romantasy I’ve read in a while. Merrit is a strong heroine who has been unable to speak since her throat was cut and she was left for dead as a child. Now a bar owner in the Divide, she is mistaken for a seer by Kieran, who brings her into his court to uncover who is trying to kill him. He claims she is his lover, but their irresistible banter and chemistry soon turn the ruse into something magical. The court intrigue and twists keep the story gripping, while the epic slow burn makes the romance especially satisfying. I highly recommend it to fans of vampire romance.

Merrit Lock, a telepathic bar owner, is working one evening when Prince Kieran arrives. After an attack, Kieran misreads the situation and takes her to court to help identify his would-be killer. At the palace, Merrit must navigate political intrigue while pretending she belongs at Kieran’s side. When an ancient magical bond awakens, the line between deception and desire begins to blur.

Annie Anderson’s smooth prose keeps the story moving at a steady pace. The novel emphasizes atmosphere, tension, and romance, with natural chemistry between the characters. The steamy scenes are restrained and well placed, while the threatening atmosphere sustains the suspense.

The chapters alternate between Kieran and Merrit, revealing their thoughts, feelings, and choices. This dual perspective highlights their growth both individually and as a couple. Merrit cannot speak, although nearly everyone in this world knows sign language. Because many characters also assume she cannot hear, they speak freely around her. The ancient bond between Merrit and Kieran is familiar, but it does not weaken the story.

‘A Silence of Shadows’ stands alone, while its shared-world setting connects it to the wider series for readers who want to continue.