Vicious Princess

 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you love Divergent, Vampire Academy, and all things fae, you will love this!

I was taken by surprise by this book and read it in one sitting! 

After Phoenix's entire family is slaughtered, she sets out on a mission of revenge in a new land, using her training to help her infiltrate the elite academy for fae fighters (Ezkai). The catch? She's the only human in the school, is in denial that she loves her instructor after a pre-enrolment tryst, and she's one of the coveted Phantom Rangers, a Decarios born with a rare affinity for the bow. The pace of this new story was fast and never dull. The author pulls you in and satisfies the immediate problems the characters face while making you want to find out what happens next for Phoenix in Blood Queen! 

Worldbuilding: There was just enough to give the reader a sense of why Phoenix went to the new world to climb the ranks to take revenge on her homeland, whose royalty is responsible for the death of her entire family. The similarities and differences between where Phoenix grew up and trained to be a warrior, and where she escapes to, is sprinkled throughout the story in just enough snippets to avoid info-dumping and create a full picture of how harsh the land Phoenix escaped is. At the same time, her new world is shown as just as vicious, albeit in different ways. While one wants you to prove yourself with what pain you are willing to withstand to join, the other wants you to prove yourself in what you're willing to do to others for the cause.

Characters: OMG. I love, love, love Daegal and Phoenix! The forbidden nature of their relationship (student x instructor) heightens the stakes and somehow made me root for them like I did Dimitri and Rose! They both have ulterior motives and histories that they don't immediately share--always holding back! But they root for each other, and Daegel helps her connect to her bow to become the Phantom Ranger she's meant to be. And as much as she finds herself wanting him, her mission remains her focus, and that makes her a beast FMC!

Honestly, if you like:

🏹Fighting 

💘Forbidden Romance

💣Revenge

🧚Fae

🌍New World

You will love Vicious Princess and mark the release for the sequel, Blood Queen!

Thank you @NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A Crown of Thorns and Magic

A Crown of Thorns and Magic

by E. Evans

A Crown of Thorns and Magic is the first book in a series. It is fast-paced and never slows down, but the stakes never quite have the chance to hit home as we are thrown in after the FMC kills her uncle to take the throne when her father dies.

It's a great premise--I love the adventure--but I wish the worldbuilding and character development had been explored more thoroughly. At least enough to get us to 'care' before throwing all of the twists at the reader. I didn't quite believe that Astar, the 16-year-old FMC, was as mature and skilled as a warrior and queen as portrayed. I do like the adventures that brought her to Hathan, as well as the set up for a new world in subsequent instalments of the series, but there wasn't enough development to make me feel for the characters.

For me, this book has a lot of potential to be great, and I would read the next in the series to find out what happens.

Thank you @NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

⭐⭐⭐

Gone Country

Gone Country 
by Hunter Snow
⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you love Blake Shelton and Gwen Stafani, you'll love this book. It 100% gave me the TV Series, Nashville, vibes.

Jamie Keaton is a rockstar who comes across as a diva with her penchant for top-shelf vodka, glamorous on-and-off relationship with hollywood heartthrob, and ambition to succeed. Layton Langley is the complete opposite, leaving behind his party days and drama when his ex abandons him to raise their twin daughters alone.

When Jamie and Clayton write a song together, their worlds are forced to sync up because the song catapults them into the spotlight. Soon, their label forces them on tour together, the accidental co-writing righting a wrong when Clayton didn't let Jamie open for him in the past. They pull pranks, argue, and continue to deny what's growing between them, even when his daughters join them and melt Jamie's barriers until the rocker is living a country song herself.

This was a refreshing read. Beyond the romance--and there is plenty!--the MC's help show each other that their side of the industry isn't all bad. That maybe even when there are clear lines between their chosen genres of music, their songs are better when melded together. And people love it!

Slow burn, found family, self-discovery, rockstar romance, enemies to lovers... There are so many tropes that I have a guilty pleasure enjoying, I simply couldn't put this down. The refreshing 4-Star read is fast-paced and heartfelt, and shows us that relationships are meant to bring out your very best.

Thank you @netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

 

Seeing Stars

a Mashad Family Novel

by Candice Jalili

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you @Netgalley and Disney Hyperiod for this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

If you love fake dating and reality television like The Kardashians, The Hills, or Jersey Shore, this is a must-read for you.

Meet Mona Marshad, a girl most of the world already knows because she has grown up on television for the last 10 years. 

I'm not a big fan of reality TV, but I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would, and I read it all in one sitting! It takes the feelings of a teenage girl as she grows up and falls in love, and throws it all under a microscope. It absolutely paints a picture I never would have imagined from the perspective of the people who choose--or don't, as how could a child make that choice?--to live their lives for everyone to see? And, of course, dissect.

In this second book of the Mashad series, Mona Mashad is trying to discover who she is and what her next step will be. She wants more than anything to do something on her own and discovers the only way to find the support she requires to succeed is to be in a fake relationship with the president's son, Lucas. At the same time, she meets Kai, who is a boy she wants to spend time with because he makes her feel normal. 

As expected in reality TV, witty banter, first-world problems, and drama ensue as Mona finds her way to her happy ending.

I will be finding more to read by this author.

Desolate

 

At the heart of this enchanting novel is Mia, a gay teenager grappling with feelings of isolation and rejection after being shunned by her friends. Her struggle is not only social but also internal, as she wrestles with magical powers that feel both unpredictable and unwieldy. Mia’s character is written with nuance and empathy, revealing layers of vulnerability, courage, and a sharp, searching intelligence. Her journey toward self-acceptance is marked by moments of doubt and triumph, making her growth compelling and authentic.

When Mia’s search for a missing friend draws her into the world of magic, she is unexpectedly transported to 1992, a time and place steeped in secrets and supernatural intrigue. The plot deepens as Mia discovers her family’s hidden past, the mysteries surrounding a haunted house, and the possibility of rewriting fate for someone she loves. Each twist is carefully woven, keeping readers on edge with genuine stakes and an ever-shifting sense of mystery.

Supporting characters enrich the narrative, especially Mia’s grandparents, whose warmth and wisdom help anchor her in the unfamiliar past. Tilly, Mia’s aunt and adoptive mother, stands out as a figure of unconditional love and quiet sacrifice; her relationship with Mia evolves from tense uncertainty to one of deep understanding and mutual respect. These familial bonds are crucial to Mia’s journey and serve as emotional touchstones throughout the story.

The novel’s plot is unpredictable, with skillfully layered revelations that explore themes of identity, belonging, and the courage to embrace one's differences. Magic here is not just a tool, but a metaphor for self-discovery. As Mia learns that her powers are unique, she begins to accept and celebrate her own singularity.

In sum, this is a well-crafted magical mystery that delivers not only surprises and suspense, but also richly developed characters and heartfelt relationships. Readers seeking stories that intertwine queer identity, time-travel adventure, and the pain and beauty of self-discovery will find much to cherish within these pages.

4.5 Stars rounded up to 5 Stars! Can't wait for book 2!

Thank you @NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Persephone's Curse

 

Persephone's Curse

by Katrina Leno

Publication Date: December 2, 2025

Thank you @NetGalley and St. Martin Press/Wednesday Books for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The premise of this novel pulled me in from the synopsis. I'm a sucker for stories about mythology, so I was eager to read about four sisters descended from Persephone who can see ghosts. When one falls in love with the ghost and another banishes it, I thought this was going to be an amazing, one-sitting read for me.

In truth, getting into the story was difficult. The first 50% was riddled with more prose than dialogue, which dragged it down (for me). The author did a good job setting up the problems and creating backstory for the four sisters: Winnie, Evelyn, Clara, and Bernadette; however, it read more like an information dump at times, and there was more telling than showing. I'm also not sure what the character motivators were throughout, and I didn't connect with Henry at all. Aside from being a creep Evelyn couldn't outrun in her own bedroom, what quality about him made her love him? It was clear how much the sisters cared for each other and that each had their own 'quirk' that added to the storyline, but I felt that I was told this to set my expectations for the end, versus discovering it as the story unfolded.

I'm glad I kept coming back to the story, hoping that the next chapter would be the aha moment, which finally happened when Henry is sent to the Underworld (or so one assumes) and the sisters hide it from Evelyn, the sister who loves him. The second half of the book picks up; however, I would have liked to have more of the front half description evened out so there was more in the backend for consistency.

Overall, I rate it 3 Stars. The idea is great and that ending... I <3 that!

Making the Cut

Making the Cut

by Sophie Wiggins

🌟🌟🌟

Published July 28, 2025, by The Book Guild

Thank you @NetGalley for the eARC for my honest review.

The cover and synopses of this book drew me in right away. My daughter just got on point and is going into her final year of competitive dance, so I thought it would be a great relatable experience. The book is about a single mom who struggles after putting her two-year-old into ballet and being sucked into the world of dance: the costs, the joys, the drama, the tears, the competition... the pain. All for small rewards (if you are lucky). As the book progresses, it also highlights the price you pay when you are good: pettiness, parent drama/fights, marital problems, studio hierarchy, etc., and the emotional toll it takes on even the most sane of people.

I am a dance mom and had no idea what that world entailed until I was in it, and I have had many, many arguments with our studio and dance friends' parents about what is 'the norm' in the dance world. For anyone going into this blind, I 100% recommend the first 1/2 of this book as it absolutely highlights the costs, the feelings of guilt to not do something for your child, the sacrifices, and more than anything, the joy when they find happiness. The author did an amazing job at capturing the truth behind the performance, right down to the costs of the 'swag' dancers get from their own studio. In essence, every opportunity has a price tag, no matter how talented the dancer is. Every parent should question it and not allow their child to think they are going to be granted special privileges because of money.

It took a while for me to get into the different POV's from Lydia talking about her daughter to remembering her own crisis, and I'm still unsure how it all ties together. As these scenes unfolded, I would guess the author was trying to show that everyone has trauma and that every trauma can make someone do things they normally wouldn't--or that the character was capable of the extreme actions she took in the end because of the past trauma triggering her during the trauma her daughter went through. To be honest, I think the book was better without the flashbacks from Lydia.

All in all, I rate this as 3* because I really enjoyed the truth in Lydia's perspective as a dance mom, but I do think that the character development and overall plot can be worked on. The storyline turns very dark after the halfway mark, and I would recommend anyone who is triggered to tread carefully; however, it does reflect that no matter what we go through as a dance parent, the dancer is likely enduring their own issues--especially if they are good and dancing on a competitive level. The author was able to show that a parent's job is to safeguard their child and showcased that good can come out of separating yourself from a toxic environment.

I'd still recommend the first half to first-time dance parents--it's all true!!