Ruinous Creatures by Jessi Cole Jackson

 Ruinous Creatures

by Jessi Cole Jackson

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 3.5 

Spice Rating: 🌶🌶

Blurb: 

In a sanctuary for magical creatures hidden deep within a valley, magic is born from the bones of extraordinary creatures. For generations, a privileged few have siphoned this magic by wearing the skulls of these creatures and wielding their power.

Adela spends her days meticulously preparing these skulls to be matched, ensuring the magic endures and the valley sustains. But when she discovers two phoenix skulls—creatures she had believed only legend—she can’t resist the pull of their dormant magic. Defying the warnings of her mentor, Adela awakens the skulls, unleashing a shockwave of power that throws the valley into chaos.

Meanwhile, determined novitiate Kian prepares for the upcoming matching ceremony, but harbors a he is only participating in order to destroy the magic of the skulls to avenge the death of his parents at the hands of this tradition of power.

As Adela and Kian’s fates intertwine in the matching hut, the connection between them grows deeper and the power of the phoenix skulls grows louder. An impulsive kiss seals their fate—to each other and each to one of the phoenix skull masks. As they grapple with the consequences of their powerful new magic, their fated connection becomes the key to either the valley’s salvation or its ultimate collapse.

My Review: 

This debut standalone fantasy delivers a strikingly original concept that immediately sets it apart. The magic system is inventive and immersive, centered on a ceremonial bond between humans and magical creatures, where power is channeled through the creatures’ skulls. What truly elevates this idea is the way the story preserves the creatures’ lingering essence, emotions, presence, and identity, which adds depth and an almost haunting beauty to every magical interaction.

The pacing is brisk and engaging, making it an easy book to devour while still feeling complete. As a standalone, it succeeds in telling a full, satisfying story without leaving loose ends or relying on sequel bait. The narrative remains focused, allowing the worldbuilding and plot to unfold efficiently while maintaining momentum.

The romance is woven into the story as a secondary thread, adding emotional stakes without overwhelming the larger fantasy elements. The storytelling remains accessible and fluid, making the book approachable for both seasoned fantasy readers and those looking for something fresh and self-contained.

What stands out most is how confidently this novel avoids familiar fantasy tropes. Rather than echoing existing stories, it introduces a magic system and mythology that feel genuinely new. The world, creatures, and lore are imaginative, and the author’s creativity shines throughout.

Overall, this is a strong and promising debut that offers originality, fast pacing, and a complete narrative arc. Readers seeking a standalone fantasy with a fresh magical premise, vivid concepts, and an engaging plot will find much to enjoy here.

Knot a Bed of Roses by Rocky Collins

Knot a Bed of Roses

by Rocky Collins

My Rating:⭐⭐⭐
Spice Rating: 🌶🌶🌶🌶

Blurb:

Scent matches, second chances, and soulmates in a sweetangst small town.

At eighteen I was crowned our small town’s June Bloom Queen and won an all-expenses paid trip to California.
From farm girl to pampered princess, it felt like a magical dream.
Especially when I smelled my alpha scent matches across the room at a Hollywood party and went into my first ever omega heat.
But three days of passion and promises meant nothing when my heat ended, and they snuck out of my hotel room without a backward glance.
Fast forward a decade and I’m running our family’s farm and a single mom to Leo, my perfect oops baby from my Californian heat.
Logan, my alpha neighbor, is Leo’s dad in every way that matters, and now he's out of the Marines, we’re getting bonded in the fall.
Until three Hollywood bigshots roll into town.
A world-famous actor, an investment tycoon, and the photographer who finds my flower farm so enchanting, he wants to use it in his big marketing campaign.
But he doesn’t know that his alphas are my scent matches – and that one of them is Leo’s biological dad.
They’re here to make amends, but the last thing I need is them messing up my life.
What was a fairytale at eighteen is now a crisis-in-the-making, especially because they’re trying so hard… and they smell so damn good!
I just need to work the farm, protect Leo, and keep my head… especially with my next heat right around the corner…

My Review:

This story leans firmly into comfort-read territory, offering a gentle, low-stress experience rather than a dark or emotionally heavy one. The overall tone is warm and reassuring, with a cast of characters who consistently support and uplift the female main character. Readers looking for high angst or intense conflict won’t find much of that here, but what the book does provide is steady emotional growth, particularly for the FMC, whose development feels intentional and rewarding. Several of the male leads also receive meaningful arcs, especially as their professional dynamics begin to intertwine in more organic and engaging ways.

One area where the story fell short for me was the exploration of the FMC’s past, specifically her connection to her hometown love interest. That history had the potential to add emotional depth, but it ultimately felt underdeveloped. I would have enjoyed spending more time understanding that relationship, as well as seeing more nuance in how those ties unraveled, rather than having key figures disappear and reappear all at once.

The romance itself unfolds at a deliberate pace, embracing a slow-burn structure with themes of second chances woven throughout. The tension between Lily and Logan is particularly compelling, and Leo’s admiration for Logan adds an endearing layer to their dynamic. The introduction of scent matching was a surprising element, implemented in a way that felt fresh rather than predictable. I also appreciated that the story balances fate with choice, highlighting not just destined connections, but intentional ones as well.

Tristen’s addition to the group was a standout for me and quickly made him my favorite. His presence strengthens the emotional core of the story and reinforces the found-family aspect, which ultimately became one of the book’s greatest strengths. By blending gentle romance, chosen bonds, and a supportive cast, this novel delivers a sweet and comforting read that prioritizes connection over chaos.

 

Veins of Power by Becky Jane Fox

 Veins of Power

by Becky Jane Fox

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice Rating: 🌶🌶🌶

Blurb:

Book Blurb: Meet Lyra Bloom, a fiery redhead with a sharp tongue, a quick mind, and a dangerous streak of magic she can't quite control.

Growing up scraping by in the lawless Outerlands, her survival meant learning to fight, lie and to rely on no one but herself.

But one fatal mistake changes everything.

Captured crossing the border to the Innerlands, Lyra is dragged into the very world she’s spent her life resenting.

Inside the walls of the Citadel her magic grows stronger. Wilder. But so does something else: a rising lust and desire for something she doesn’t truly understand. Something shadowed. Something dangerous. Something that threatens to unravel her—and everything around her...

And as whispers of rebellion spread and dragons strike from exile, Lyra must decide whether she’ll be forged into the weapon the Citadel wants… or become the spark that burns it all down.

My Review: 

Let me start with the obvious: this cover is stunning. I am absolutely guilty of requesting books based on covers alone, and thank the fantasy gods I did, because being selected as an ARC reader for this upcoming release was such a win. This book didn’t just meet my expectations, it blew straight past them. The magic system, the worldbuilding, the layered plotlines, and all the deliciously messy tension pulled me in far more deeply than I ever anticipated.

The story does start a little slower, following a familiar setup, a FMC with a hard upbringing thrust into a world that challenges everything she thought she knew. But once you push past those first chapters? The narrative ignites. From that point on, it never lets up, delivering momentum, intrigue, and stakes that only grow sharper with every page.

What truly impressed me was how thoughtfully constructed everything felt. The magic system is detailed and consistent, the plotlines interlock without gaps, and Becky’s use of foreshadowing is chef’s kiss. The pacing stays tight and fast without ever becoming chaotic or weighed down by unnecessary subplots. This is the kind of book that just keeps getting better the deeper you go, and now I’m fully invested and already impatient for what comes next.

Lyra, living as an Outlander, agrees to spend one month at the Citadel in exchange for access to her mother’s journals. It sounds simple enough, until she’s pulled into a dangerous world where magic is taught, tested, and weaponized daily, where shadows linger, rivalries are deadly, and nothing is quite what it seems.

Enter Talen. Broody. Lethal. Impossible to ignore. From their very first encounter, where he casually announces that he plans to kill her, he’s equal parts terrifying and magnetic.

If you are looking for a book to keep you on your toes, look no further.

 

The Lies of Lena by Kylie Snow

 The Lies of Lena

by Kylie Snow

(There are things in this book that you might not like. Like always,

 please read the triggers before diving in.)

My Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice Rating: 🌶🌶

I believe there is a new cover but I do love this one. 

Blurb:

Passionate and Dark. Forbidden Romance. Forced Proximity. Angst.
The Otacian Chronicles is a Dark Romantasy that will progressively get darker as the series continues. Please be mindful of the content warnings.

Lena Daelyra has always lived in fear, as do most Mages in Tovagoth. Mages are discriminated against, hunted for sport, and have no laws that provide them protection. She has kept to herself her entire life, even after she and her mother found a permanent residence in the kingdom of Otacia. That is until she meets Quill Callon, a handsome resident of the Inner Ring, who agrees to train her in weaponry—a safe way of defending herself. As her feelings for Quill develop, she is taunted by the reminder that she can never show her true self, show what she really is. Not even to him.

Silas La’Rune, Crown Prince of Otacia, has been kept inside the castle walls since he was five years old, since the kidnapping and murder of his younger sister, the Princess. He hasn’t known freedom. Hasn’t even seen his kingdom, except from the castle windows. It isn’t until the Queen allows him one day outside the walls that he sees Otacia for himself. One day that changes everything.

When something devastating separates Lena from the man she grows to love, things are not the same when they find each other five years later. Not at all.

And when Lena and Silas’s story finally becomes intertwined, it is clear the fate of Magekind rests on both of their shoulders.

My Review: 

From the very beginning, this book caught me completely off guard, in the best way. There were so many elements I wasn’t expecting, and each one pulled me deeper into the story rather than pushing me away. I chose to experience this book on audio, and I’m so glad I did. The narrators were phenomenal and truly brought the characters to life in a way that felt emotional, vivid, and immersive. Every tone, pause, and shift in emotion added another layer to the story, making it impossible not to stay invested.

I’ve seen some discussion about whether this book should be considered an “adult” read, and I honestly think that debate misses the point. Yes, the story begins when the characters are teenagers, but it doesn’t stay there. We follow them as they grow, mature, and step into adulthood, and that journey is essential to the heart of the book. Watching their experiences shape who they become adds so much depth and authenticity to the narrative. That growth feels earned, not rushed, and it plays a crucial role in the emotional payoff of the story.

The world-building is another major standout. It’s rich without being overwhelming, detailed without ever slowing the pace. Combined with the audio format, the setting feels fully realized and alive, making it easy to sink into this world and lose track of time. I’m already well into the second book, which says everything about how invested I am at this point.

While there are intimate moments, they never overshadow the main plot or exist just for shock value. Instead, they feel natural and meaningful, enhancing the relationships rather than distracting from the story being told. Speaking of relationships, this book excels in that area. The connections between characters are layered, believable, and emotionally satisfying. Even the side characters are given room to grow, and their roles feel purposeful rather than decorative. Everyone has a part to play, and that makes the story feel fuller and more cohesive.

If you’re stuck in a reading slump and struggling to find something that really grabs you, this series might be exactly what you need. It pulled me in unexpectedly and hasn’t let go since. I genuinely can’t wait to see where the story goes next, and I’m already eager to continue following these characters wherever their journey leads.

 Blood Binds by Denisa Mih

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice Rating: 🌶🌶🌶

Blurb:

IN BLOOD WE TRUST.
IN BLOOD WE'RE BOUND.
IN BLOOD WE FALL.

An heir with nothing left but rage...
Aurora, in need of her Creator’s power, heads straight into the Republic that has marked her for death, while the Shepherd, a conscious commander of Stalker legions, grows stronger with every kill.
Crowns and stolen thrones can wait. Her usurper can rot. Because without Dracula's help, the creature hunting her guild will drown the world in monsters.

A varcolac tortured by the voices of the dead…
Radu hears the dead screaming, and now one of them is calling his name. Driven toward madness, he must return with Aurora to the place that killed his parents. Dracula's blood magic is the only weapon that can stop the Shepherd and silence the screams, and Radu’s Chronoportal is the only path for Aurora to claim it.

A bond that will damn them both...
The hunger between them is no longer a small obsession. It’s a consuming fire, a tether that will drag them both to damnation. She's destined to rule. He's planning to die fighting. But power always demands sacrifice. And in a land where gods sleep and blood remembers, Aurora must choose: betray Radu to save her people, or stand with him as the world burns down around them.

My Review:

Blood Sings built the bones of this world, the politics, the history, the blood-soaked architecture of an empire, but Blood Binds? This one went straight for the heart. The world is still dark, vivid, and cinematic (I swear, the Underworld vibes are practically dripping off the page), but this time it’s the characters who swallow the spotlight and refuse to let go.

Aurora and Radu absolutely wrecked me in this book. Their evolution isn’t just development, it’s an emotional unraveling. Their connection sharpens and deepens in ways that feel dangerous, tender, and painfully inevitable. There’s a raw honesty between them now, the kind that hits like a punch because it’s happening in a world that has no room for softness. Radu’s inner chaos and Aurora’s fierce moral compass collide beautifully, violently, and constantly, and I felt every spark like it was aimed straight at me. Watching them change, because of each other, despite each other, is honestly one of the best parts of the entire series.

Denisa Mih leans so confidently into the themes of loyalty, grief, love, and power in this instalment, and the emotional stakes are miles higher than before. Everything feels more personal, like every choice, every reveal, every confrontation is a tightening hand around your heart. Nothing feels wasted. Nothing feels accidental. Every moment lands with weight.

And the fight scenes? They are alive. Fluid, brutal, and cinematic in a way that made my pulse pick up. They feel like choreography made of adrenaline and emotion, not just violence, and I could see every single moment play out like a movie in my mind.

But the ending. Oh my god. The ending. I closed the book and just sat there in absolute shock. Devastated isn’t even the right word, Denisa destroyed me. Completely. I can’t remember half the small details because THAT ENDING is all my brain will allow me to think about. My soul left my body. I’m still floating somewhere above my couch.

And on top of all that emotional carnage? This book is HOT. If Blood Sings was a slow burn, Blood Binds is a straight-up inferno. The tension between Aurora and Radu is scorching, they don’t dance around each other anymore, they gravity toward each other, and I loved every second of it.

I’m obsessed with these characters, their banter, their loyalty, the found-family warmth that sneaks up on you and squeezes your chest. There is truly no predicting where Denisa is going with this series, and honestly? That thrill of never knowing what’s coming next is one of my favorite parts.

But that cliffhanger… that pain… I’m not okay. I need Book 3 like air.
January 11, 2026 cannot come fast enough. Preorder it now and prepare your heart.

 Blood Sings by Denisa Mih

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice Rating: 🫑

Blurb:

An heir...
Destined for a throne soaked in blood, Aurora Tepes must navigate the intrigues of court and the brutality of battle. As heir to the Crown Republic of Transylvania, she is bound by duty to protect her people, wielding her sharp mind and mastery of blood manipulation—no matter the sacrifice.

A century of war...
Beyond the walls, a conflict meant to be without casualties stains the hills with innocent blood while the powerful turn a blind eye.
But Aurora cannot.
Armed with the magic of her ancestry and revolutionary technology, she joins the Outliers—the oppressed, deemed inferior by the Republic—on the frontline, vowing to bring justice once she claims her crown.

A desire for more...
Dark secrets, deadly creatures, and new alliances test Aurora’s convictions as she confronts the savagery of her nature and an uncertain future that could unravel everything. But when she meets the longest-lived Outlier, a mysterious moon-haired captain whose magic holds world-changing secrets, destiny and duty collide.

Blood Sings is the first book in a new series filled with sizzling forbidden romance, ancestral blood magic, and vicious political intrigue. Perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash and The Serpent and the Wings of Night.

My Review:

If you think you’ve seen every take on vampires, think again.
This story launches straight into a sleek, high-tech future where bloodlines matter almost as much as power. Instead of gothic castles and dusty legends, we step into a world divided by status: the Originals descended from Dracula’s line, the pristine Pure Bloods, and the half-blood soldiers who spill the most blood yet hold the least power. The hierarchy isn’t just interesting, it’s infuriating. And our heroine, Aurora, feels that injustice in her bones.

Once destined to be a princess, Aurora is now waist-deep in the war effort, forced to confront the ugly truth of how the elite exploit the half-bloods. Projectors, vampires who fight from afar by projecting into battles, lead from luxury while thousands of half-bloods die on the front lines. It’s a system designed to break people, and Aurora refuses to look away.

When Aurora and her fiercely loyal friend Selena are assigned to lead Captain Harbinger’s squad as Projectors, everything shifts. Outside the safety of high society, secrets unravel fast, alliances tighten, and a raw, heartfelt sense of found family begins to bloom. Harbinger and his ragtag squad are easily one of the book’s greatest strengths, misfits with grit, humor, and surprising tenderness. And Harbinger himself? His dynamic with Aurora is everything an enemies-to-lovers reader hopes for: slow burn tension, clashing ideals, and a chemistry that refuses to be ignored.

The worldbuilding hits fast, sometimes too fast. With battles, projections, and reveals flying at full speed, I occasionally had to pause and piece together what just happened. But this feels more like the natural chaos of a first installment than a flaw, and I’m confident the next book will deepen those threads.

And speaking of the next book… that cliffhanger absolutely demands one.

Think Underworld colliding with The Matrix, but with richer character diversity, sharper banter, and a found-family dynamic that shines. Selena and Aurora’s friendship in particular is a joy, supportive, funny, and rock-solid in a way that elevates the entire story.

A bold, imaginative start to a series I’ll definitely be continuing. Fans of modern fantasy, sci-fi, and reinvented vampire lore will find plenty to sink their teeth into.

 Heat Mountain by Nola Heart

My Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice Rating: 🌶🌶🌶

Blurb:

Everyone knows that omegas can’t be doctors, not with the alpha-dominated medical establishment still stuck a hundred years in the past. So when she arrives in Heat Mountain for her month-long wilderness medicine fellowship, Holly plans to do the same thing she has always done…pretend to be a beta.

Until her designation suppressing medication fails spectacularly and she ends up accidentally bonded to the hottest pack of alphas in town, one of whom also happens to be her boss.

With both her medical license and professional reputation at risk, Holly also now has three obsessive alphas shadowing her every move. They will do anything to prove that she—and this bond—aren’t going anywhere.

But the challenge isn’t as simple as navigating her career and relationships, it’s learning to embrace a side of herself that she spent years trying to ignore.

As tensions rise and old wounds reopen, will Holly risk everything she thought she wanted for the pack she never knew she needed?

This cozy standalone RH Omegaverse romance is high heat and low angst with HEA guaranteed! DestinationVerse is a series of standalone romances that can be read in any order.

My review:

I picked up this book expecting something light, cute, and witty, just a little palate cleanser to reset my reading brain. And while it absolutely delivered on charm and humor, it also surprised me with the emotional depth tucked between its pages. What I thought would be a simple feel-good read turned into a story layered with mystery, adventure, longing, grief, and so much unexpected joy. I started it at five in the evening, telling myself I’d only read a few chapters, and by the time the sun came up, I’d devoured the entire thing. It was exactly the spark I needed.

At its core, this is a reverse harem, omegaverse love story, but it refuses to fall into the typical traps of the genre. The attraction hits fast, undeniably and ferociously, but it never feels like the hollow “insta-love” you sometimes get in romance. Instead, it’s more like insta-pull: a magnetic physical connection that forces these characters into each other's lives long before they’re emotionally ready. And watching that raw, instinctive need slowly shift into genuine want, trust, and something meaningful? That’s where this book shines.

Each main character stands on their own, vibrant and distinct, without anyone stealing the spotlight. Their dynamic is balanced, their personalities complementing and clashing in all the right ways. There’s a shared mission driving them, a central mystery threaded with dangerous secrets that threaten to unravel everything they’re building together. I had no idea how much I loved the “mysterious illness” trope until this book leaned into it, and paired with the medical dynamic, it hooked me instantly.

And I have to talk about Grayson. The quiet, ruthless man with the softest insecurities tucked under a bandana? The one who says little but feels everything? I didn’t expect him to take up residency in my heart, but here we are. Characters like him are my weakness, and this author clearly knew exactly what they were doing.

Overall, this book was far more than the cute, witty read I thought I was getting, it was a wild, emotional, addictive ride. And if this is the tone the series is setting, I’m absolutely strapped in for more.

Bitterbloom by Teagan Olivia King

Bitterbloom by 

Teagan Olivia King

My Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice Rating: 🌶🌶
(This was haunting)

Blurb:

In a village plagued by mysterious deaths, Adelaide Thorn wonders if she is truly touched by the Devil.

The villagers of Rixton—including Adelaide’s father, the vicar—believe her to be the monster responsible for all the town’s tragedies, spurred on by the strange visions and blackouts caused by her chronic illness. Kept locked away except for funerals, even Addie herself begins to wonder if she is the one with blood on her hands.

But when she discovers a peculiar bell nestled in a riverbed, Addie realizes the truth behind her strange visions—they are actually the ghosts of the village’s dead searching for rest. With the bell’s strange power allowing her to see the lost souls and open a doorway to the Rowan Wood where they are trapped, she strikes a deal with the ghost of Bram Avery and the young lord Ransom Black to venture into the hellish purgatory.

As the three make their way deeper into the Wood, each motivated by their own desperate desires, trust turns to betrayal and flawless facades begin to flicker. It may be that the ones Addie has so longed to reunite are those who have been lying to her her entire life.

My Review:

 Bitterbloom opens on a village steeped in superstition, where Adelaide Thorn has become the unwilling scapegoat for every misfortune that plagues Rixton.

What unfolds is a tense, haunted trek through a forest that becomes a character in its own right, hostile, oppressive, and unforgettable. The Rowan Wood isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a living force, and the prose makes you smell the decay and feel the claustrophobic dark pressing in on all sides.

This was exactly the kind of story I crave: a gothic tale steeped in dread, threaded with hope, and fueled by emotional depth. The atmosphere is intoxicating from the very first chapter. King has a talent for writing the uncanny in a way that lingers, shadowy edges, whispered warnings, the sense that someone is always watching. Yet she balances it with moments of warmth and yearning that keep the narrative from sinking into pure despair. That contrast gives the book its teeth.

The characters shine just as brightly. Everyone, from the sympathetic to the despicable, feels textured and human. Adelaide’s arc is the standout, her struggle to reinterpret her illness, her visions, and her identity gives the story a strong emotional pulse. Her dynamic with Bram and Ransom is intricate and turbulent, built on uncertainty and ulterior motives. While some shifts in their relationships happen quickly, they ultimately serve her growth and the story’s ever-tightening tension.

A few twists lean dramatic, and certain romantic beats with Ransom stretched my suspension of disbelief, but none of it derailed the narrative for me. In fact, the last third of the book becomes a nonstop surge of revelations and danger. I devoured the final hundred pages.

Ultimately, Bitterbloom delivers on every promise it makes:

·         a claustrophobic, beautifully crafted world

·         characters shaped by grief, longing, and secrets

·         a dark fantasy journey that’s as emotional as it is terrifying

If you love stories where the dread is palpable, the relationships are messy, and the woods are full of monsters both literal and human, this one leaves a mark. It’s haunting in all the right ways, and it stays with you long after the final page.

Bitterbloom opens on a village steeped in superstition, where Adelaide Thorn has become the unwilling scapegoat for every misfortune that plagues Rixton.

What unfolds is a tense, haunted trek through a forest that becomes a character in its own right, hostile, oppressive, and unforgettable. The Rowan Wood isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a living force, and the prose makes you smell the decay and feel the claustrophobic dark pressing in on all sides.

This was exactly the kind of story I crave: a gothic tale steeped in dread, threaded with hope, and fueled by emotional depth. The atmosphere is intoxicating from the very first chapter. King has a talent for writing the uncanny in a way that lingers, shadowy edges, whispered warnings, the sense that someone is always watching. Yet she balances it with moments of warmth and yearning that keep the narrative from sinking into pure despair. That contrast gives the book its teeth.

The characters shine just as brightly. Everyone, from the sympathetic to the despicable, feels textured and human. Adelaide’s arc is the standout, her struggle to reinterpret her illness, her visions, and her identity gives the story a strong emotional pulse. Her dynamic with Bram and Ransom is intricate and turbulent, built on uncertainty and ulterior motives. While some shifts in their relationships happen quickly, they ultimately serve her growth and the story’s ever-tightening tension.

A few twists lean dramatic, and certain romantic beats with Ransom stretched my suspension of disbelief, but none of it derailed the narrative for me. In fact, the last third of the book becomes a nonstop surge of revelations and danger. I devoured the final hundred pages.

Ultimately, Bitterbloom delivers on every promise it makes:

·         a claustrophobic, beautifully crafted world

·         characters shaped by grief, longing, and secrets

·         a dark fantasy journey that’s as emotional as it is terrifying

If you love stories where the dread is palpable, the relationships are messy, and the woods are full of monsters both literal and human, this one leaves a mark. It’s haunting in all the right ways, and it stays with you long after the final page.

 Threads of Fate by Aminah Fox

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Blurb:

Don’t walk alone. Don’t invite them in, but most all—don’t bleed. 

Nearly two years after surviving the MillU Murders—a brutal killing spree that claimed her best friend’s life—Manny is trying to move on. After taking an academic leave to heal, she’s back at Millfield University, hoping to rebuild her life. But when another student is found dead in the same horrific fashion of the murders that once terrorized the campus, rumors of the killer’s return begin to spread, and Manny is forced to confront the chilling reality: the nightmare isn’t over. It’s just begun.

With the administration determined to turn a blind eye, Manny launches her own investigation, only to discover something far darker than she could have ever imagined. It’s not a serial killer on the loose—it’s something centuries old and powerful that dates back to the university’s founding—a malevolent entity preying on students, growing stronger every time it feeds.

But why now? Who awakened it? And can it be stopped before more lives are lost?

As the body count rises, Manny realizes that no one is safe—and everyone is a suspect. In this game of life and death, the only thing more dangerous than the curse’s unpredictability is the otherworldly forces—witches, vampires, and possibly werewolves—gathering because of it. With the line between myth and reality blurring, Manny knows if she doesn’t act fast, she and her friends could be next—because the curse is hungry, and everyone is on the menu.

For fans of Ninth House and Scream—Threads of Fate is a dark academia fantasy where the truth is more terrifying than any myth in a town with a history that refuses to be forgotten.

My Review: 

This book was a wild ride from start to finish, and I mean that in the best way. I’m a sucker for an academic setting with a supernatural twist, and this novel delivered that and raised the stakes with a potential serial killer haunting the campus.

When Manny returns to school after her friend’s brutal murder, she’s hoping for a fresh start. Instead, the nightmare begins again. And honestly? Shout out to her friend group, because they stand by her even when things get terrifying, unbelievable, and outright dangerous. Their loyalty gave the story so much heart amid all the chaos.

This was my first read from this author, and I was genuinely impressed. Their attention to detail and ability to craft tension-filled scenes kept me hooked. The characters, especially Manny, are strong, layered, and constantly kept me guessing. Every twist made me rethink everything I thought I knew.

The pacing is fast, the atmosphere is gripping, and the mystery blends seamlessly with dark academia and supernatural elements. Manny’s determination to uncover what’s happening on campus makes her an easy character to root for, and watching her piece things together was addictive. I tore through chapters because I had to know what was coming next.

If you love campus mysteries, supernatural threats, and stories that blur the line between myth and reality, this one is absolutely worth picking up. I’m already excited to see what this author does next.

Highly recommend.

Conform by Ariel Sullivan

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Spice Rating: 🌶

(It was more plot driven)

Blurb:

In the far future, one young woman finds herself torn between two loves—and two sides of a rebellion boiling under the surface—in the first novel of a sweeping dystopian romance trilogy.

Centuries after a catastrophic world war nearly decimated the human population, a city arose from the ashes, ruled by an elusive and technologically advanced group called the Illum.

At twenty-seven, Emeline lives in limbo, wasting away her days in a job sorting ancient human art for destruction and waiting to be selected as a Mate for a procreation contract. Where others look forward to being chosen, Emeline has never felt like she fit into a society where a person’s worth is determined by constantly monitored genes, health, and the ability to procreate. She’s struggled to keep her discomfort secret, but when she is finally chosen, her Mate is revealed to be a member of the Illum named Collin, a man who seems to be harboring secrets of his own.

It is the first time an Illum has taken a Mate in decades, leaving Emeline—and others—baffled as to why she was chosen. Soon, she is swept into the dangerous game of Courting, filled with ballgowns, lavish dinners, and watchful eyes, where one wrong move can mean elimination. While parts of this elite lifestyle are unexpectedly appealing, the more embroiled she becomes, the more she sees its dark underbelly—and a rebellion rising in secret. Collin is confusing, both cold and protective, and worse, she finds herself drawn to the very last person she should be falling for: Hal, one of the resistance leaders.

As she draws closer to both Collin and Hal, the Illum exercise their power in increasingly brutal ways, forcing Emeline to question everything—most of all whether she’ll have to give up her heart and even her life to stop them.

My Review: 

I need book two immediately, and thankfully, I don’t have to wait an entire lifetime for it. Conform by Ariel Sullivan is a dystopian romance that throws you headfirst into a world where genetic “flaws” are literal death sentences. Society is split into three layers: Low Town (where the “major defects” are shoved), the Surface (for the “minor defects”), and the Clouds (where the elites float around being shiny, privileged, and morally questionable, because of course they are).

Our FMC, Emeline, has heterochromia and is labeled a minor defect, which is hilarious because heterochromia is gorgeous. But logic doesn’t live here. Emeline was born into a top elite family, and her father is practically married to the Illum’s ideology. The man would’ve killed her if he’d gotten the chance. Honestly, he and Lional Acrux are neck-and-neck in my personal “Characters I’d Gladly Tap with My Car” competition. Why is it always the parents who are the absolute worst?

This book gave me everything I needed and didn’t know I was craving. As much as I love romantasy, it’s started to feel a bit routine lately. Dropping a dystopian romance into the mix was like hitting refresh on my reader brain, I devoured it. And that cliffhanger? The plot twist with the love interest? I screamed.

Conform is plot-driven, tense, and relentless. The romance is there, but it doesn’t overshadow the stakes, the worldbuilding, or the whole “society wants to breed you for your genetics” situation. If you want a book that keeps you constantly guessing, constantly stressed, and constantly flipping pages, this one is absolutely for you.

I cannot wait for book two, because I need to know what happens next.

 

 Older by Jennifer Hartmann

My Rating: ?

(I honestly don't know)

Spice Rating: 🌶🌶

Blurb:

Before he discovered my age, he uncovered my heart.

Bruised and abused, and victim to a loveless household, I shimmered with new life the moment he found me drowning my sorrows in a lake beneath the stars.

A chance encounter. An unspoken connection.

I was smitten; he was curious.

But, as everyone knew, fate could be decidedly cruel.

He called me Halley, like the comet.

I called him Reed.

And my best friend?

Well…she called him Dad.

Older is a forbidden, slow-burn, age-gap romance standalone, ending in an HEA.

My Review:

Older by Jennifer Hartmann has left me absolutely wrecked. I swear, no one writes like Jennifer. Her prose isn’t just beautiful, it’s surgical. Every sentence slices clean and precise, and you feel every emotion like it’s being carved right into you. I’ve loved every book I’ve ever read by her, and this one is no exception. Older is lyrical, devastating, and soaked in the kind of trauma-laced love that grips you by the throat.

But god… I don’t know how to feel about the story as a whole. I just don’t.

Did it make me feel something? Absolutely. Did it drag me through every shade of hurt and longing? Without question. At this point, I’m convinced Jennifer wakes up every morning thinking, “How can I emotionally annihilate my readers today?” Because she succeeds. Effortlessly.

I don’t want to spoil anything, but I will say this: as an adult, you should never, ever find yourself thinking the things the MMC thinks about a minor, even if she lies, even if there’s consent, even if the situation is complicated. A lie that big, especially after he was transparent about his age, would make me question everything. If you can lie about that… what wouldn’t you lie about?

But here’s the thing, every story deserves to be told, even the ones that make us uncomfortable, even the ones that punch holes in our moral compass. A truly powerful book forces you to think, to question, to confront things you’d rather avoid. And that’s exactly what this book did.

It had me spiraling, wondering if what I was reading could even be called love at all.

Fuck, I don’t know.

This book put me through it. And I’m still sitting here, trying to sort through the mess of feelings it left behind.