One Small Echo by Jane Washington

 One Small Echo

by Jane Washington

My Rating: 🟊🟊🟊🟊🟊

Spice Rating: 🌶🌶

Blurb:

Something is wrong inside her.

It’s changing her.

She chased her loved ones into the dark, and they stumbled out with monsters beneath their skin. Now they are less than they were, but destined for so much more.

If they survive training.

And if her new commander doesn’t kill her first.

The boy-prince she saved as a child is now the unforgiving, terrifying man in charge of her future. They are bound in a way neither can escape: two forces as opposite as sunrise and shadow, drawn together as inevitably as the dawn collides with the sky.

But don’t misunderstand.

This is not a love story.

The king has already decided that she will be married to one of his other sons—regardless of her opinion on the matter.

So let this be a story of war instead.

She will wage war on the magic awakening beneath her skin. On the power-ravenous king who would do anything to control her. On the many hands that seek to mould her, shape her, and shackle her.

But most of all … she will wage war on him. Prince Chasin. Her commander. Her tormentor.

Let this story end with a dagger in his treacherous heart.

Let her carve his influence from her soul.

Let her make him suffer as she has suffered.

Let her have this one, small thing.

~~~
One Small Echo is Book 1 of 3 in the Shadowsong series. This lush, dark romantasy will have bonded monsters, forbidden attraction, deadly trials, royal intrigue, and a true, enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn romance, all set in a brutally lavish, high-stakes world where darkness means death. Grab a blanket, turn on your nightlight, and get ready.

For what you fear is already here.

My Review:

After reading the Ironside Academy books, there honestly isn’t a book I wouldn’t pick up by Jane Washington, and somehow One Small Echo didn’t just live up to my expectations, it exceeded them. This story drops us into Eiko’s world where something inside her is changing, and not in a cute self-discovery kind of way, something dark and dangerous is waking beneath her skin. She once chased the people she loved into the shadows, and they came back altered, marked by something monstrous. Now they’re no longer what they once were, but maybe they’re becoming something more… if they survive training, and if her commander doesn’t kill her first.

The boy-prince she once saved, the one she sacrificed her sight for, is now the cold, terrifying man who holds her future in his hands. Prince Chasin is no longer a boy; he’s sharp, silent (literally, he’s mute), and completely unforgiving. They are bound together in a way neither can escape, but this isn’t a love story. The king has already decided her fate, promising her to another son whether she agrees or not, so this becomes a story of war instead, war against the magic growing inside her, against the king who wants to control her, and against the many forces trying to shape and cage her. Most of all, though, it’s a war against Chasin.

Jane Washington has a way of building incredible worlds that feel completely real, where every detail matters. I swear she knows exactly how emotionally wrecked readers are by the end of her books, and I’m convinced she enjoys making us wait for more. Eiko is such a strong FMC, resilient without losing her personality. She may have lost her vision at ten, but she definitely didn’t lose her sass. Watching her navigate life while suddenly sharing her body with a demon brings chaos in the best way. The dynamic between her and Chasin is especially compelling, not just because of their history but because communication itself is a challenge.

The writing is vivid enough to make you feel everything tension, fear, hope, devastation and somehow even hunger, because the food descriptions had no business being that good. The banter is sharp, the denial is delicious, and the emotional damage is top tier. I also loved the found family element; between her best friends Rion and Ky, and Ren (her brother’s best friend), Eiko surrounds herself with people who ground her even when everything inside her is unraveling. I genuinely don’t have adequate words for how much I loved this whole book and yes, my tears will happily fuel whatever Jane Washington writes next.

Empire of Flame and Thorns by Marion Blackwood

 Empire of Flame and Thorns

by Marion Blackwood

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Spice Rating: 🌶🌶

Blurb:

A fae rebel. A ruthless dragon commander.
And a deadly trial that will turn their lives upside down.

Trapped in the Seelie Court by a forest of thorns, Selena Hale lives at the mercy of the dragon shifters. Her only chance to gain her freedom is by entering the Atonement Trials: a deadly competition that pits fae magic users against each other. Only three people can win, and Selena intends to be one of them.

There is only one problem. Draven Ryat, the ruthless commander of the dragon shifter army, is determined to make her lose.

He symbolizes everything that she hates, and if he finds out that she is also a member of the secret fae rebellion, he will not only mess with her chances to win, he will kill her. But the more time she spends with him, the more she finds herself inexplicably drawn to him.

And nothing is more dangerous in a lethal trial than a distracted heart.

Especially one that beats for the enemy…

My Review:

I went into Empire of Flame and Thorns by Marion Blackwood hoping for a fun fantasy romance… and I ended up flying through it. I genuinely had such a good time reading this.

From the start, the action does not let up. The Atonement Trials alone had me stressed in the best way. The stakes are brutal because there are basically no real rules, just whatever the dragon shifters decide in the moment. The fae aren’t just competing for pride or glory; they’re fighting for their freedom and their lives. That constant uncertainty made everything feel intense and unpredictable.

And that plot twist?? I truly did not see it coming. I only started to sense something was wrong in the final chapter, and by then it was already too late. My heart broke for Selena. I kept wishing she’d put the pieces together sooner.

Speaking of Selena, I loved her. Her people-pleasing tendencies felt so real. She struggles with wanting to be liked, wanting to belong, while also trying to stand up for herself and do what’s best for her own growth. That internal battle hit close to home for me. Watching her slowly start to realize her worth and make harder choices for herself was one of my favorite parts of the book.

And Draven… oh Draven. He might be a new favorite MMC for me. He’s ruthless, morally gray, and technically the enemy, but the tension? Incredible. The banter between him and Selena was easily one of the highlights of the book. Every time he cracked or almost softened, I was grinning. And yes, the hand-clench moments absolutely got me. The spice was well done too, perfectly placed without overpowering the plot.

If I had one wish, it would be for dual POV. I'd love to here Draven’s thoughts. I want to know what was going through his head during certain scenes. Getting more insight into the dragon shifters and their history would’ve also been amazing, but I suspect that’s going to unfold later in the series, especially since the fae are intentionally kept in the dark.

Overall, this book perfectly balances plot and spice. High-stakes trials, a unique magic system, dragon shifters, a morally gray commander, and a heroine you can’t help but root for it pulled me in from page one and did not let go. Just be warned there is a cliffhanger, and I immediately needed the next book. Would I recommend it? Absolutely. I’ll definitely be continuing this series as soon as I get my hands on the rest.

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

 Parable of the Sower

by Octavia E. Butler

My Rating: 🟊🟊🟊🟊🟊

Blurb:

In 2024, with the world descending into madness and anarchy, one woman begins a fateful journey toward a better future.

Lauren Olamina and her family live in one of the only safe neighborhoods remaining on the outskirts of Los Angeles. Behind the walls of their defended enclave, Lauren’s father, a preacher, and a handful of other citizens try to salvage what remains of a culture that has been destroyed by drugs, disease, war, and chronic water shortages. While her father tries to lead people on the righteous path, Lauren struggles with hyperempathy, a condition that makes her extraordinarily sensitive to the pain of others.

When fire destroys their compound, Lauren’s family is killed and she is forced out into a world that is fraught with danger. With a handful of other refugees, Lauren must make her way north to safety, along the way conceiving a revolutionary idea that may mean salvation for all mankind.

My Review:

Some books entertain you. Some books unsettle you. And then there are books like Parable of the Sower, the kind that grips you by the shoulders and forces you to look at the world around you a little differently.

I expected this novel to be powerful. I didn’t expect it to feel prophetic.

More than once, I had to set the book down, not because it wasn’t good, but because it was too good. The parallels to our world were overwhelming. Butler’s dystopian landscape feels less like fiction and more like a warning whispered straight into the present day. I found myself needing to pause, breathe, and process what I had just read.

At the center of it all is Lauren Olamina, a young woman raised by a Baptist minister who begins to question everything she’s been taught. From the very first pages, she challenges her father’s rigid beliefs and starts forming her own understanding of God, destiny, and human survival. Watching her wrestle with faith, truth, and morality is both intimate and revolutionary. If you think her ideas won’t challenge you, think again. Lauren doesn’t just question her world, she invites you to question yours.

This isn’t a comfortable read. It tackles religion, power, inequality, survival, and societal collapse with unflinching honesty. As someone who is not Christian, I was surprised by how deeply it stirred up feelings tied to religious trauma. Butler doesn’t preach, she provokes. And she does it brilliantly.

What makes this novel extraordinary is how ahead of its time it feels. Written decades ago, it speaks with eerie precision to the fears and fractures of today’s society. It’s more than a dystopian story, it’s a meditation on belief, resilience, and what it means to shape your own truth in a crumbling world.

If you’re looking for a book that does more than tell a story, a book that challenges, unsettles, and stays with you long after you’ve closed the cover, this is it.

And trust me, I’m already reaching for the sequel.

A Shadow so Wicked by Mia Hartson

 A Shadow so Wicked 

by Mia Hartson

My Rating: 🟊🟊🟊🟊🟊

Spice Rating: 🌶🌶🌶

Blurb:

Welcome to the graduation games at Shadowbone Academy.

So I survived the hunt. Barely. And now we have weeks to prepare for the graduation games. As the war grows deadlier in the shadow realm, the queen will have more soldiers for her army, no matter the cost.

Don't get me wrong, immortality sounds pretty great, but I'm enough of a realist to know my chances of winning the games? Yeah, they're not looking so great.

On the plus side, my mates are starting to see how amazing I am, and I finally have some more allies, but as my past begins to unravel, old wounds rising to the surface, I start to realize regaining my memories might just be a matter of life and death. Something bad is happening in the academy, and somehow, I'm right in the middle of it.

As students continue to disappear, it becomes clear there are enemies within the academy walls, and I might just be the only one who can stop them. You know, if I don't lose my life first.

Looks like there are more fun times ahead.

A Shadow So Wicked is a fun but dark(ish) why choose fantasy romance novel, and the second book in the Fated Mates of Shadowbone Academy series. It features a clumsy, relatable heroine, and her droolworthy, fated mates who will do anything to protect her. The story is in first person, present tense, and note that while the main focus is on our leading lady, there is also MM in the harem.

This series is connected to the Game of Psychos series, but can easily be read as a standalone series. For a full list of content warnings, please visit the author's website.

My Review:

I don’t know what kind of dark magic Mia Hartman laced into this sequel, but once I opened it, productivity for the day was officially cancelled. Sleep? Optional. Responsibilities? Ignored. This book had me in a chokehold from page one.

We dive straight back into the chaos where the first installment left us, no gentle easing in, no mercy. And can I just say… watching certain characters finally get their long-overdue karma? Chef’s kiss. It was the kind of justice that makes you want to reread the scene immediately just to savor it again. For at least one of them, it was deeply satisfying.

The mystery surrounding the missing students finally starts to unravel in meaningful ways, which I appreciated so much. We’re not just circling questions anymore, we’re getting answers. But of course, this series refuses to hand over everything neatly tied with a bow. The Queen of Shadows remains one giant, morally murky question mark. Is she playing the villain for the “greater good,” or is she simply unhinged with a crown? Her decisions range from suspicious to absolutely appalling, and I still don’t know where I land on her. Honestly, that tension makes her even more compelling.

Then there’s Shade.

After barely surviving the Hunt, she’s thrown toward the brutal Graduation Games, and somehow the stakes feel even higher. What I loved most in this book is how much she grows without losing herself. She’s still sarcastic, still sharp, still unwilling to bow to nonsense. But she’s also more focused. The training becomes real to her. The danger becomes personal. And yet, she refuses to let the academy’s cruelty harden her into something she’s not.

Her moral compass actually strengthens here, which I found refreshing. She questions her mates. She questions the queen. She questions the system. And she does it without losing that biting humor that makes her so fun to read. Watching her reclaim pieces of her memory and slowly realize the larger role she might play, possibly as savior… or possibly as doom, adds this delicious layer of tension to everything.

And can we talk about her fated mates for a second? The bond development in this installment felt deeper, more intimate, more emotionally charged. I’m really hoping the next book gives us even more time with them working as a unit — especially with the war looming and the shadow creatures threatening everything the academy claims to protect.

As for the other “bad dude”? Let’s just say… I’m manifesting consequences. Slow ones. Painful ones. The kind that match the magnitude of betrayal, death, spying, and kidnapping he’s orchestrated. When her mates inevitably learn the full truth about what he did to Shade, I have a feeling the fallout will be spectacular.

Overall, this sequel doesn’t suffer from middle-book syndrome at all. It escalates the danger, deepens the relationships, strengthens the heroine, and keeps the overarching war simmering at a near-boil. It builds beautifully on book one while carving out its own identity.

If you start this book, clear your schedule. You won’t be putting it down.

 The Re-Do List by Denise Williams

My Rating: 🟊🟊🟊🟊🟊

Spice Rating:🌶🌶

Blurb:

What would you do with a second chance at your first time? Following a bad breakup, Willow Lewis tackles a re-do list with the help of her brother’s best friend in this sweet and sexy new romance.

Willow experienced all her big firsts with her high school sweetheart. Now, reeling from their very public breakup, she wants to get a re-do on those important moments. While dog-sitting for her brother during his deployment, she has a chance to start over and spending time with his best friend gives her the confidence to start checking items off her “Re-Do list.”

Deacon promised his best friend two things when Cruz left for a deployment: that he’d look out for Willow, and that he’d keep his hands off Cruz’s baby sister. “Operation Re-Do” is innocent enough at first: Deacon likes Willow and he’s willing to help her out any way he can. But when the list of firsts turns from a first dance to first kisses and more, Deacon can’t deny the connection he feels to Willow.

As Deacon’s and Willow’s firsts turn to seconds, thirds, and fourths, this pair can’t get enough of each other—and they support each other through new challenges. But they are both aware there’s an end date to Willow’s time in town… and even if she were to stay, Deacon doesn’t know how to choose between his loyalty to his closest friend and the woman he’s fallen in love with. With no more romantic moments on her list for them to re-do, can these two still find a way to stay together?

My Review:

The Re-Do List by Denise Williams was such a genuinely sweet and satisfying read that completely won me over. I’m already a sucker for the brother’s-best-friend trope, but this story elevates it by giving us a forever bachelor hero who carries the quiet weight of being wounded in battle, adding emotional depth beneath all that charm. What I loved most was how beautifully the plot unfolded, it never felt rushed or forced. Instead, we get to watch a true friendship take root and grow, layer by layer, into a love that feels lasting and real. To me, friendship is the strongest possible foundation for a relationship, because how can you truly love someone if you don’t genuinely like them first? That progression from comfort and trust into something deeper felt authentic and heartfelt.

The premise itself was brilliant: creating a “re-do list” to reclaim and rewrite memories that an ex-boyfriend had tainted was empowering, creative, and honestly so relatable. It’s such a fresh way to take back your story. And really, what better way to reignite your confidence, and maybe spark something more, than by teaming up with your brother’s ridiculously handsome best friend? The chemistry simmered naturally, and every shared moment felt organic rather than manufactured. As someone who sometimes struggles to read straight romance without additional plot elements, I was surprised by how completely this book captured my heart. It balanced sweetness, emotional healing, and slow-burn tension in a way that kept me invested from beginning to end. I finished it feeling warm, hopeful, and eager to dive into more of Denise Williams’ work.

 At First Spite by Olivia Dade

My Rating: 🟊🟊🟊⯨

Spice Rating: 🌶🌶

Blurb:

Bestselling author Olivia Dade welcomes you to Harlot's Bay in this delightfully sexy rom-com about a woman who buys the town's famous Spite House, only to realize the infuriating man she can't stand lives right next door--and their unwilling proximity might spark something neither can ignore.

When Athena Greydon's fiancé ends their engagement, she has no choice but to move into the Spite House she recklessly bought him as a wedding gift. This is a problem, for several reasons: The house, originally built as a brick middle finger to the neighbors, is only ten feet wide. Her ex's home is attached to hers. And Dr. Matthew Vine the Freaking Third (aka the uptight, judgmental jerk who convinced his younger brother to leave her) is living on the other side, only a four-foot alley away.

If she has to see Matthew every time she looks out her windows, she might as well have some fun with the situation--by, say, playing erotic audiobooks at top volume with the windows open. A woman living in a Spite House is basically obligated to get petty payback however she can, right?

Unfortunately, loathing Matthew proves more difficult than anticipated. He helps her move. He listens. And he's kind of...hot? Dammit.

My Review:

At First Spite by Olivia Dade is hands down one of the cutest audiobooks I’ve listened to in a long time. It quickly became my companion during my drives to and from work, and I found myself looking forward to getting in the car just so I could press play. This wasn’t just a light, fluffy romance, it was the kind of story that wraps itself around your heart. There were moments that genuinely had me choked up, especially the scenes with Athena’s parents. They are so loving and supportive, and whenever a book highlights strong parental love, it brings up thoughts of my own parents. I miss mine deeply, and this story touched that tender place in my heart in a way I didn’t expect.

Athena is such a refreshing female main character. She’s bubbly and warm, but she’s also strong and deeply sensitive. I loved that balance in her. She feels real, someone who can be optimistic and still struggle, someone who can be confident and still have vulnerable moments. One of the things I appreciated most was how her being plus-size was handled. It wasn’t the main focus of the story, and it certainly wasn’t treated like a fetish or a problem to overcome. She is written as sexy and desirable simply because she is, and that felt empowering without being heavy-handed. Her body is just part of who she is, not the plot.

The book also thoughtfully tackles depression, showing that it’s okay to struggle sometimes without letting that struggle define your entire life. I loved how the characters allowed space for those hard moments while still holding onto humor, hope, and love. It made the emotional beats feel authentic rather than overwhelming. My feelings were all over the place while listening, there were sweet, flirtatious moments that made me smile, deeper scenes that made me reflect, and tender interactions that made my chest ache.

At its core, this story follows a hot librarian trying to start over in a town she originally moved to because of her ex-fiancé and his controlling brother. Watching what unfolds between them is pure magic. There’s chemistry, there’s tension, and yes, there’s some playful monster-adjacent spice woven in—but this is not a monster-smut book. The steam enhances the connection rather than overshadowing the story. Overall, this book is heartfelt, romantic, emotional, and unexpectedly healing. It made me laugh, it made me tear up, and it left me feeling full in the best way.

(This is the PERFECT COVER!)