Another book review for you lovelies! Shop all my reading recommendations here.
Over 15 books read this year so far and I've had a few 5 stars and quite a few 2/3 stars. I'm going to be talking about a few of them here, though check out my Goodreads to see daily updates about what I'm reading. Talking about one of my fave rereads and some newer fantasy romance novels that I read. As always, the books will be linked in the title of each section and in the "Shop the Post" at the bottom of the page.
The Season by Sarah MacLean: 5/5 ⭐️
Just your go-to cute, mystery filled romance. Young Lady Alexandra is born into an aristocratic society in London, in which girls are expected to be respectably dainty. All these girls are supposed to do is want to find a suitor and get married during their peak season. However, Alexandra is not interested in any sort of marriage and is more keen in solving different mysteries, something ladies are strictly not supposed to do. When the Earl Blackmoor is mysteriously killed, it is onto Alex and the Earl's handsome son, Gavin, to find the answers...and maybe even fall in love. Two of my fave things: mystery and romance; this novel is super cute, short, and is PG (sorry but no sexy scenes here) so anyone can read it. This would be by second time rereading this book and I just love Alex's strong and hard-headed character and how sweet Gavin is portrayed to be.
The Coven: Academy Magic Series by Chandelle LaVaun: First book 5/5 ⭐️; overall 4.5/5 ⭐️
Okay ya'll this series is definitely a more indy, fantasy romance series which I fell in love with at the end. Book 1: The Hidden Witch follows Bettina Blair who has just discovered she's a witch with actual powers. Only, she can't seem to summon these powers nor does it seem like she belongs at the elite magical academy created for witches. Along with trying to get her magic and being sent on quests to the treacherous Old Lands, Bettina has to deal with the brooding, beautiful, and British mentor named Jackson Lancaster, who she can't seem to get out of her head. Demons are invading and Bettina's life has been turned upside down; will she rise up to the challenge or get lost in the struggle of being a witch? This series is just pure fun and the plot twists at the end were soooo good! I loved how the characters interacted and got closer the more they worked together. Got the box set on Kindle, which I read on my trip to the beach and it was the perfect series to read. There is also a pre-series about Tegan, Bettina's bff and fellow witch, which you guys can check out here.
Graceling by Kristin Cashore: 3/5 ⭐️
Not the finest read but still quite compelling; Graceling is about a world in which only a select few are born with a Grace, or an extreme skill. These Gracelings are usually marked with abnormal eyes or other strange features. For Kasta, her Grace is more violent as she has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight. Being manipulated by her uncle, the King, she has been forced to do his biding and kill mercilessly. However, when she meets Prince Po, she starts to question who she really is and what her Grace can do. This novel had a very unique concept but I feel like the execution was not there. Ended up enjoying the first half of the book much more than the middle or end. Also, the romance was a bit too insta-lovey for me; usually I don't mind a cute insta-love moment but this was just too abrupt. The curiosity of Kasta's Grace and the adventure with Po still made it a good read.
The Song of the Marked follows Casia Greythorne, one of the only people who survived a devastating sickness, known as the Fading Sickness. This sickness has been spreading throughout the Kethran Empire for the past few decades. The Fade-marked, who survived the disease, are marked by a change in hair and eye color to a pale grayish. Making her life as a mercenary with various aliases under her sleeve, Casia and her main friends are basically criminals in order to live. When the King-Emperor confronts Casia with an irresistible deal, she can't help but accept the dangerous task. With the help of the infuriatingly charming Captain of the Peace Keeper army (owned by the King-Emperor), Casia will face things she didn't know she could: mysterious powers, two-faced adversaries, and an enemies-to-lovers romance. Not sure what lowered this novel to a 4 star, but I am interested in reading the second book.
Crave by Tracy Wolff: 3/5 ⭐️
Ya'll...I wanted more Twilight and this did not do the trick. Crave is about a girl named Grace who ends up at an academy where nothing seems normal and the other students are definitely not mortal. Trying to survive this crazy school while dealing with Jaxon Vega, a vampire with deadly secrets and extremely attractive coldness, has Grace questioning if she belongs. Honestly, this first book isn't that bad though I heard spoilers of the rest of the series...definitely not my cup of tea. The story was entertaining overall but certain parts did have me questioning why I was reading it. Would recommend you read Twilight before picking up this one if you need a vampire fix.
The Fable Series by Adrienne Young: First book 4/5 ⭐️; overall 3.5/5 ⭐️
Got inspired to read this from an Instagram Reel and it was a good series overall. Were there problematic elements, yes. Did I still finish the duology, yes. Do I regret the read, no. Fable is the daughter of the most powerful and influential trader in the Narrows, but no one knows this. After a terrible storm takes down her father's boat and drowns her mother, her father abandons her on a small island with thieves and little food. Learning to survive, her goal was to get off the island and find her father. After a dangerous encounter, Fable enlists West, a trader she grew to know on the island, to help her. However, West has his own reasons for taking on Fable and together, they will have to navigate more than just sea storms. The premise of Fable was super intriguing and I actually really enjoyed the first book. The 2nd book was a bit problematic for me and did not have the same vibes as the 1st book.
The Dark Artifices series by Cassandra Clare: overall 5/5 ⭐️
Aka Shadowhunters aka one of my fave book chronicles ever! I'm bias so pretty much every Shadowhunters read will be a five star just because of how much I love this world. In the Dark Artifices, we follow Emma Carstairs and the Blackthorn family after the events of City of Heavenly Fire. Can't say much else because of the spoilers, but this series just means the world to me and the thought of finishing Shadowhunters actually worries me lol. This series was not my fave of the Shadowhunters chronicles as the relationship with Cristina, Mark, and Kieran made me a bit uncomfortable. But again, it was just too good to be below a five stars. Loved Julian and Emma's growth throughout the series and the ending of and short story after Queen of Air and Darkness was EVERYTHING to me.
These have been some of my recent reads, though I'm hoping with the break I have after Summer semester, I can get some more reading done. On the top of my tbr is to finish Tatiana and Alexander (second book in the Bronze Horseman series; my thoughts on the first book here) and finally get the courage to start Ghosts of the Shadow Market. Also thinking about reading the Twist of the Blade (book 2 in the Shadow & Crowns series). Though ya'll know I am a mood reader so check back with my book reviews to see what else I end up reading. Happy reading my loves! 💕