Homeward for a Spell by Jamie Pacton & Rebecca Podos

 Homeward for a Spell

by Jamie Pacton & Rebecca Podos

My Rating: 🟊🟊🟊🟊

Spice level: 🌶

Blurb:

In this cozy queer romantic fantasy from the award-winning authors of Homegrown Magic, two members in a motley crew of adventurers must confront monsters, hostile landscapes—and their growing attraction for each other.

Sage has made her living as a ranger, moving constantly between adventuring parties, but has never had the chance to lead one. So when she’s offered the chance to hire a crew of her own in pursuit of a rare magical artifact, it seems a dream come true—until she learns that they’re headed into the most inhospitable part of the kingdom with winter looming. Still, it’s a chance to finally put her name on the map… and how bad could it really be?

Araphi has always loved music, in defiance of her powerful family’s priorities. All she wants is one last chance to perform before she’s married to a man she does not love for the good of the family. So when she sees a poster seeking a bard for a party, she eagerly sneaks away to audition. Only to discover that the party in question is no festival, but an adventuring party, led by a woman she’s been fascinated with since she first laid eyes on her. It’s an unexpected twist, but if she takes the job, she’ll still be back in time for her own wedding… and how bad could it really be?

What follows is a life-altering journey for them both, filled with danger and misfortunes as their ragtag band of adventurers—most of whom have just met—must learn to work together to overcome the many obstacles before them. Not the least of which is the explosive chemistry between the rugged party leader used to watching her own back, and the pampered city-girl bard who may be far out of her element but is beginning to feel at home for the very first time.

My Review:

A sapphic cozy fantasy that has absolutely everything. Adventure, magic, monsters, emotional depth, character growth and two women who are absolutely perfect for each other.

Sage is a ranger who has never led her own party, until a dangerous winter mission to the Northlands finally gives her the chance. She assembles her crew and that crew includes a bard she knows, a bard she wants. Araphi is standing on the edge of an arranged marriage she never agreed to, ready to claim one last adventure led by a woman she cannot stop thinking about. A Ranger, a Bard, an Agent, a Healer, a Fighter and a Spellcaster walk into the Northlands and what follows is an unforgettable journey packed with misfortune, monsters, betrayal, battles, new friendships and chemistry that refuses to be ignored.

Sage slowly lets someone in for the first time and watching her walls come down little by little is such a joy. Araphi steps into her own confidence and learns her worth, using her music to connect with the world in the most beautiful way. Their dynamic is everything. The teasing, the banter, the wolves, the protectiveness, the hot spring, the tent, the ravens, the Swallow, the cabin, Arkney, the battle, the freedom. They wanted different things and fell for each other anyway.

The world is queer-normative in the most effortless and wonderful way and the plot carries real momentum beneath all the warmth and heart. The crew is chaotic and lovable, though their backstories deserved more space to unfold. Wren was an absolute standout and more of her is needed. The only real criticism is that lust occasionally overshadowed emotional depth, but the tender scenes more than made up for it. That scene before the gates is permanently lodged in the heart.

A love story told with warmth, adventure and a whole lot of soul. These two were made for each other and this journey was an absolute pleasure to be on.

The Divines by Rachel Greenlaw

 The Divines

by Rachel Greenlaw

My Rating: 🟊🟊🟊🟊🟊

Spice Rating: 🌶🌶

Blurb:

Sophia DeWinter will return so pre-order the sequel to the romantasy full of magic, romance and danger that everyone is reading in 2025, The Ordeals'A rich romantasy ideal for fans of dark academia' The Mirror

'The magic system is captivating, and the ending will leave you yearning for the second book' The Express

'Combines captivating world building, a seriously twisty plot, and a steamy romance… impossible to put down' Demi Winters, author of The Road of Bones

'Deliciously dark with high stakes and a sizzling hot romance, The Ordeals is not to be missed!’ Tessonja Odette, author of A Rivalry of Hearts

Readers ADORE The Ordeals:

'Mysterious, chilling, and utterly addictive' Reader review,*****

'This completely swept me away. The world-building is absolutely stunning' Reader review,*****

'Exciting and unique, quick paced and kept you guessing throughout' Reader review,*****

'I could not put down and devoured in one sitting. I absolutely recommend this book' Reader review,*****

'A quite creepy atmosphere and… Buffy-esque vampire slaying into the mix' Reader review,*****

My Review:

A breathtaking, high stakes conclusion that shatters every expectation and then delivers even more. The Divines picks up weeks after that soul crushing cliffhanger and hits the ground running without ever looking back.

Where The Ordeals gave us delicious rivals to lovers tension and dark academia, The Divines evolves into something far more visceral. This is a story about the staggering power of connection and the lengths people will go to for the ones they love. Sophia's growth here is incredible. Fiercely determined and completely unwavering, she fights for her people, for those she loves and even for the enemy, even when it costs her everything. She is the kind of protagonist that grabs the heart and refuses to let go.

The emotional weight is real and remarkably grounded. Tessa's grief is raw and honest, her found family anchoring her even when the world falls apart around her. Knox remains everyone's steady rock. The dynamic with Ezra is one of the most fascinating threads in the book, forcing Sophia into a genuinely complex journey of healing and reconciliation. And then there is Alden. An absolute ride or die who treats Sophia like she is the only thing that matters. Their bond is the heartbeat of this entire story.

The world expands beautifully, trading academic halls for a wild and unpredictable journey filled with lethal royalty, ancient legends and dangerous new characters that kept the pages turning at speed.

The Divines brings closure to the duology while leaving the door wide open for more and more is absolutely needed because this world is too good to leave behind.

An adrenaline fueled, emotionally rich must read. Releasing October 8, 2026. Pre-order it immediately.

Sunsplitter by S.A. MacLean

 Sunsplitter

by S.A. MacLean

My Rating: 🟊🟊🟊🟊🟊

Spice Rating: 🌶🌶🌶

Blurb:

Fi has toppled immortal beasts. Antal welcomes being conquered.

After helping the Lord Daeyari reclaim his territory, semi-reformed smuggler Fi dons a daunting new role: rebuilding a city alongside her monstrous partner, a haven free from bloody sacrifice. So when Antal’s father unexpectedly summons him home, Fi’s first instinct is to ready her claws.

Only, claws won’t be enough for this adversary.

Antal faces his first homecoming in five decades, dreading two truths. From his father’s seat on the governing council, he could undo everything Antal has built. And their last argument ended with Antal’s lover dead on the floor.

But a greater danger lurks: the appearance of a creature that even the daeyari fear, burning its way through the Planes. With Antal’s father leading the hunt, he and Fi must ally with a team of immortals who could turn fangs on them at any moment.

Or worse, strain their still-fresh love until it snaps.

From the author of Voidwalker comes the conclusion to the Beasts of the Void duology where spicy monster romance meets the epic fantasy of the Cosmere.

My Review:

A highly anticipated read that somehow exceeded every single expectation and then some. Sunsplitter devoured attention from the very first page and absolutely refused to let go until the final one. This book had no right to be this good and yet here we are.

Everything that made Voidwalker so special, the romance, the angst, the witty banter, is turned up to ten here and it is glorious. Fi and Antal return with the same fierce, feisty, deeply tender energy that made this duo so irresistible, but Sunsplitter digs deeper into both of them in the best possible way. Getting Antal's point of view is an absolute gift and it changes everything. His doubts, fears and history get real space to breathe, and watching him open up while still being the most lovable oversized wet cat imaginable is such a joy. Fi takes everything she learned in Voidwalker and grows from it in ways that feel genuinely earned and so deeply admirable. These two characters are just perfection and seeing them evolve even further had the heart absolutely full.

The Daeyari culture gets so much more room to unfold here and it is one of the greatest highlights of the whole book. The world building is breathtaking, the depth of the characters and their connection to it never stops being impressive, and the fact that an entire language was created for this series is simply unhinged in the most wonderful way possible.

The relationship between Fi and Antal remains delectably chaotic and completely addictive. Fierce and soft, swoony and heart pounding, the trials they face together only make them stronger and more compelling to read. There were tears, laughs and gasps throughout and the emotional range this book pulled out was staggering. And the spice somehow managed to be even better than Voidwalker, which should not be mathematically possible but here we are again.

Not a single page felt out of place. The conversations about wanting to be enough for someone even when the fit is not perfect hit so hard and pulled at every single heartstring.

A triumphant and breathtaking finale to the Beasts of the Void duology. Fi and Antal are so near and dear and letting them go is genuinely painful, but this ending was absolutely everything it needed to be and more. The Beasts of the Void duology has earned a very permanent and very special place in the heart. If this series is still sitting on the fence, get off the fence immediately because life is simply better with Fi and Antal in it.