Starfire's Heir (The Soul of Serentyn #1)

There is a this.

Available at Amazon.com

Starfire's Heir
Megan Phillips
The Soul of Serentyn, book one
ebook, 564 pages
paperback, 564
Independently Published June 23, 2026
ASIN B0G6WHHVZ3
ISBN 9798993030623
ARC


Destiny called her. He awoke her.

Lexa Andrever has always believed she was nothing more than a farm girl. But when a stranger reveals she is the lost heir of a distant realm, Lexa discovers she alone stands between the kingdom and the deathly darkness pressing at its borders.

Written into an unsettling prophecy, carrying a responsibility she never sought, Lexa sets off for her homeland with Griff Narvene, the warrior sworn to protect her. As she grapples with her new role as prophesied savior, the inscrutable soldier stirs something deep within...

To keep the shadows at bay, Lexa must harness the powers of her birthright to protect the people and home that demand her duty. With the fate of the kingdom—and a fragile new love—at stake, can she survive long enough to save them both?

Starfire’s Heir is the first book in The Soul of Serentyn trilogy—perfect for fans of fated mates, found family, and slow-burn romance woven through sweeping fantasy adventure.

For those who love a fiery, spirited leading lady, very much sheltered and immature, but with all the room in the world to grow, this may be a story for you.

No spoilers, but perhaps too much information for some.

I am not a person that responds positively to naive and rebellious characters that are constantly praised despite having no control over their powers and zero achievements to their name.

Lexa frustrated me to the core. Her ignorance had its own personal vendetta against my nerves.

She didn't know it was dangerous. I facepalmed so hard it left a bruise.

Her people are tormented, hunted, and dying, and she's spending most of her energy basically playing He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not in her head.

Zachary. You could not make me hate him. He's probably the character I connected with the most. Ruling as regent over a kingdom that has been at war with a phantom enemy for decades, they're still no wiser on how to attain victory than when they started. His mate has abandoned him. His children are dead. I'd be angry and desperate, too. His feelings of impotence and recklessness in such a scenario are valid.

A prophecy is all they have. And it's a prophecy that has been meticulously edited to the point that it's meaningless. In part by the regent's own daughter!

Finn. This man needs to be reacquainted with the concept of personal space and boundaries. The immediate first-name basis of addressing her and the constant touching? No. Just no.

Griff. The calm and controlled white knight. The nice guy. Ever loyal. Ever true. But when he let his temper flare, that is when I was the most invested in him.

Violet. I adored her. And I would dive head-first into her story and that of the Wraith. The what, the why, the mental processing that backed her decision-making... I'm here for it.

Chapter 32 had me near tears. And it was there that I found my turning point for this book. Everything that flowed after was exactly what I wanted and where I wanted to be.

4 out of 5 stars.

Available in ebook | hardcover | paperback (The New Romantics) | Special Edition Hardcover (The Crafty Bookstore)

2026/27

The Binding (Heirs of the Shattered Veil #3)

I am yours, Little Fox.
Completely. Untouched. Yours.

Available from the Author

The Binding
Celeanne Dorrington
Heirs of the Shattered Veil, book three
ebook, 429 pages
Independently Published May 1, 2026
ARC


The day the Veil shattered, the world broke—and every soul was marked. Every fae now bears a soulmark. Luminar or Shadowmarked. Revered or enslaved.
But our fae heroine was born with both.
And he was forged to destroy her.
Some say their bond is prophecy.
Others call it a curse.
Either way—if it completes, it could end the war…
or end the realm.

Dark fae trilogy, Real enemies-to-lovers, slow burn, fated mates, morally gray, the chosen one, found family, and level 3 spice but with deep themes and epic fantasy world.

I survived the ending of book two, and Chapter 8 of The Binding was my reward.

Kill the king. Heal the Veil. And more than anything else, save the scribe.

We have arrived to the final battle, a rather epic conclusion teeming with that Winter Is Coming vibe and the long anticipated moment when the Rupture and the Crownforged accept their prophesied fates.

What I loved: This is a found family where everyone manages to save themselves and each other. Some of the best scenes were where this group of 'strategic allies' just existed in one another's space. Bonding. Healing. Surviving. Together.

And, other than Chapter 8, my most adored scene was in the midst of the plotting of their attack as Amaria and Eryndor moved in tandem with one another over the battle maps. Mirrored in action and thought, complementing each other inside and out. A fated pair at its best.

4 out of 5 stars.

Available in ebook from the author | paperback (Amazon)

Previously in the series:

2026/26

The Lost Thread (Heirs of the Shattered Veil #2)

Hate me for the rest of our lives.
But not for something I didn't choose.

Available from the Author

The Lost Thread
Celeanne Dorrington
Heirs of the Shattered Veil, book two
ebook, 604 pages
Independently Published May 1, 2026
ARC


The day the Veil shattered, the world broke—and every soul was marked. Every fae now bears a soulmark. Luminar or Shadowmarked. Revered or enslaved.
But our fae heroine was born with both.
And he was forged to destroy her.
Some say their bond is prophecy.
Others call it a curse.
Either way—if it completes, it could end the war…
or end the realm.

Dark fae trilogy, Real enemies-to-lovers, slow burn, fated mates, morally gray, the chosen one, found family, and level 3 spice but with deep themes and epic fantasy world.

A sequel to a story spun around two people who have each long ago decided their own purpose and their own worth. Two people who would surely stop existing if they ceased to be stubborn.

A bond that forces proximity, fills and drains, mirrors and transforms. One which gifts sight of the past and gives flow to all of their emotions in a precarious circuit.

One step forward and two steps back with an FMC that either thinks too much or not at all and an MMC shackled by trauma and cowardice. Heavily worded with occasional silliness sprinkled at intentional intervals and back-to-back plot twists.

A book that would have me crashing out at about ninety-eight percent when everything gained gets nuked into oblivion.

This is fuckery.

This is mind altering madness.

Severing a mate bond?

The MMC marries someone else?!

This is simply, by unspoken rule and unwritten law, not done.

0 stars. 5 stars. Idfk at this point.

Available in ebook | paperback (Amazon)

Previously in the series:

2026/24

The First Scar (Heirs of the Shattered Veil #1)

I don't fear the end of the world...
I fear the end of you.

Available from the Author

The First Scar
Celeanne Dorrington
Heirs of the Shattered Veil, book one
ebook, 411 pages
Independently Published April 28, 2026
ISBN 9798995161622
ARC


The day the Veil shattered, the world broke—and every soul was marked. Every fae now bears a soulmark. Luminar or Shadowmarked. Revered or enslaved.

But our fae heroine was born with both.

And he was forged to destroy her.

Some say their bond is prophecy.

Others call it a curse.

Either way—if it completes, it could end the war…

or end the realm.

Real enemies-to-lovers, slow burn, fated mates, morally gray, shadow daddy, the chosen one, found family, unhinged banter, stabby fmc, Creature companion, kid Touch starved, and level 3 spice but with deep themes and epic fantasy world.

Note: The First Scar contains no spice. It lays the foundation, emphasizing the slow in Slow Burn. Then snuffs out the candle.

I matched my steps to hers, falling into her rhythm like a shadow stitching itself to her heels. Every splash she made, I made. Every pause, I paused. She was listening for me—that animal awareness prickling across the dark between us—but all she heard was herself.

The echo of a girl who believed she was alone.

A world shaped by tyranny and a dual-marked fae at the core of an everchanging prophecy. Magic abundant and rage throughout.

Although most of that rage was admittedly my own.

Because what do you mean Kaelen goes unchecked for Ch17?

How is Maxx still breathing without the aid of machinery after the stunt he pulled in Ch23?

And Brannik? That man was everywhere I wanted someone else to be. Just seeing his name on the page was sending me into a spiral.

Give me more Dreadscale.

Give me more Crownforged.

Yes, more of Eryndor, an MMC that will hunt, taunt, and confidantly adore his target. Their trajectories intersect and in a matter of heartbeats, Amaria had slipped beneath his armour, between and beyond the layers of buried truths, and saw not the man, but the boy that they had broken. Chapter six was where the spark of anticipation was lit for me and I lived through each page awaiting his glorious return.

Give me less of Kaelen.

And far, far less of Brannik.

This book was running havoc on my feelings up until the very end but the justification to be had after struggling with seemingly undue aggression for so long made it so very worth it.

4 out of 5 stars.

Available in ebook directly from the author. | paperback (Amazon) | ebook (Amazon)

Also in the series:

2026/13

To Marry A Fae

How am I to honorably lead my people, when I would sacrifice every last one of them if it meant you were to live?

Available at Amazon.com

To Marry a Fae
Miranda Bridges
ebook, 300 pages
standalone
Published May 5, 2023
ASIN B0C2WPXWWR


He's the fae prince... and the prize for the Bride Games.
Too bad I'm not interested.

Does that stop him from coming into my life and forcing me to compete? No.
Does that stop me from keeping up with my personal agenda? Also no.

The competition is fierce and the contestants are even worse.
As we enter each round of elimination, I wait for my dismissal.
Returning home is my end goal.
Not swooning over some fae.

Even if he's charming.
And he makes me feel alive.
Which I won't be for much longer if I stay in the Games.
The closer I get to the prince, the more my life is in danger.
Or is it my heart that's truly in jeopardy?

This is Steamy Fantasy Romance Standalone with a medium burn.

Tropes: forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers, rags to riches, secret identity, fated mates, fish out of water, competition/rivalry, dominant hero, kept secrets, magic (duh), "Touch her and die" vibes, and "Who did this to you?" energy. Phew, all done. (I think.)

Other than the... dangerously close insinuation that the MMC may have been grooming our leading lady by planting a guard that may or may not have manipulated her into becoming best friends... and then having said MMC glamour himself to further mess with her mind all in order to judge her trustworthy... it's a good read. Not for everyone, though.

3 out of 5 stars.

Available in ebook | paperback | audiobook

2026/07

To Kill A Prince (What Lies Between Stars #1)

And always, always, I listen for her whistle in the dark.

Available at Amazon.com

To Kill a Prince
Katherine Macdonald
What Lies Between Stars, book one
ebook, 497 pages
Independently Published October 24, 2025
ASIN B0F1QNC2QT


A prince without sight.
A spy without loyalty.
A love without a future.

Wren has spent her life walking the fine line between two worlds—half-fae, half-human, and wholly untrustworthy in the eyes of both. But it is her unique ability to lie that makes her valuable. When her grandmother, a ruthless fae enchantress, places her in the service of Prince Cassiel—the recently blinded second son of the realm—Wren knows she’s meant to earn his trust... and, eventually, take his life.

It should be easy. Cassiel hates the fae who stole his sight, and he’s just as sharp-tongued and impossible as the rumours say. Wren just has to keep her distance. But as she helps him navigate his new reality, she realises that beneath the bitterness is a man who is fiercely intelligent, deeply wounded, and entirely too compelling. And worse—he’s beginning to trust her.

As tensions between humans and fae ignite into war, Wren is forced to choose between the family who raised her and the man she was never meant to love. But Cassiel isn’t as blind as he seems, and if he discovers the truth about her, she may not live long enough to make that choice at all…

A prime example of ‘never judge a book by its cover’ because while it may be pretty, the cover is rather plain and just does not do this story justice. No offense to the artist (which may be the author herself-I'm so sorry), but it just deserves so much more, imo.

It took only the first page. I was a goner from there.

Positively giddy.

Another Wren. Unapologetically herself.

Cassiel. The broken hero. And a tactician at that.

Put it down, and the withdrawals instantly kicked in. I was hooked.

Then I made the mistake of looking at the author's instagram... as I had intentionally ignored the character descriptions... as I am wont to do... and yes, she's a rebel. Blonde MMCs are not end game. Why must the masses keep reminding these rogue writers of this settled science?

But it's not the characters' general appearances that made me stop mid-scroll. It was Cassiel. Cassiel *looking* at Wren. Seemingly *seeing* Wren. Error or spoiler, I couldn't be sure.

Wren, though half fey (from her father's line), is sent to infiltrate the human kingdom as a contender to become a guard to Cassiel, the second eldest prince who has been left permanently blinded from an attack.

A spy, most certainly.

An assassin, quite possibly.

But Wren's only instruction from her grandmother is to simply befriend the prince.

And friends they do become. It's sweet. It's fun. The banter, both acerbic and clever, is heart-sweepingly adorable. She presses. He pushes back. She teases. He blushes. She steals his peaches. He's... not entirely opposed to it.

Oh, why did this book languish on my TBR for so long?

If you're in the mood for a break from the smoldering villain and need a nice guy that's unfortunately been reduced to a reclusive lifestyle after losing his sight from an enemy attack, Cassiel is your man. He doesn't hate the fey, as the blurb states. I wouldn't use such a strong word to define Cass's feelings towards them. Although I'd be hardpressed to fault him for it should that be the case. His father was murdered at the hands of their matriarch, in retaliation for his act of taking the life of her son.

Cassiel's father slays Wren's father.

Wren's grandmother claims her vengeance in kind.

And Wren, bless her, she tried. She tried so hard to save them all from war.

Almost rolled out of my seat when Cassiel hugged Dain. That distraught and tortured soul that he is. Cassiel is a softie, wrapped up in green flags with a golden bow. The story is told through a dual first person pov and his part is ev-ver-ee-thing.

Spent much of the book wondering who the villain was. Was it the humans? The fey? Both? Neither?

My jaw shall lie shattered on the floor if this book does not end up being my favorite read for all of 2026. I give it all the stars. The bar has been set. Book two is an instant preorder.

5 out of 5 stars.

Available in ebook | paperback

Next in the series:

2026/03

Smoke & Scar (Shattered Crown #1)

Oh, the voice was mad now.

Available at Amazon.com

Smoke and Scar
Gretchen Powell Fox
Shattered Crown, book one
ebook
Hardcover, 468 pages
Independently Published March 10, 2025
ISBN 9780988468931
ASIN B0FDJF3SCF


A Splintered Kingdom

An ancient grudge has kept humans and the magical races of Arcanis at odds for centuries. The Arcane Crucible, a legendary series of trials that occurs every 25 years, offers a chance for peace.

A Haunted Warrior

Elyria Lightbreaker, once a celebrated fae war hero, is a shadow of her former self. Drowning in grief after losing the man she loved to the previous Crucible, now she must rise to stop his sister from falling to the same fate.

A Vengeful Knight

Hardened by loss and fueled by hate, Cedric Thorne’s lifelong goal to conquer the Crucible on humanity’s behalf is finally within reach. The only problem? Getting through the trials alive means working with Elyria—the very fae he blames for his parents’ deaths.

An Unwinnable Challenge

With alliances fragile as spun glass and betrayal lurking at every turn, Elyria and Cedric must navigate deadly trials that test their strength, spirit, and magic… as well as their increasingly complex feelings for each other.

This is the Arcane Crucible.

This one had a rough start for me. (And a rough middle and end as well) Taryn, I support you, lass, but you got to do better. Elyria, you can't glory in something then be offended by the label of it.
So our morally grey FMC is on a path of learning, by my standards, and I could easily see the two females becoming friends by the end. (I was wrong on all counts.)

Also, Elyria appears to be at the point where she's beyond done with everyone's bs. (And before the end, I would be as well.)

The Revenant. The solution to all their problems. The one that could finally put an end to the war between humans and faeries. Become the champion of Nyrundella and be all that and more.

Elyria just wants to drown herself in cider.

She is offended by the humans' lack of creativity in their slurs. As if her own bigotry is so refined.

Wtf am I reading, I asked more than once. Considered a DNF half a dozen times before making it even a third of the way through.

But things can only improve, right? Couldn't possibly get any worse. Right?

I could only choose to believe the cast would enlighten and save each other. But being flooded with a world of hate and disgust was not how I envisioned starting off 2026.

After about half way, the slurs and outright disrespect wane a bit but the story never truly improves.

Cedric is a rather pathetic character. Never really accomplishes anything other than suffering and inevitably sacrificing himself. Always apologizing. So accepting of the others' contempt for the humans. The way he sat there, testifying to the pain and suffering of his people, only for them, Ellyria included, to dismiss him with a "everybody suffers" response.

No one listens. Elyria certainly doesn't. She has had her mind made up from the beginning and the story only serves to justify her resolve and her predjudice.

And I am not a fan of those kind of stories.

I read books because they make me happy. They inspire. They open eyes by crafting new lenses. They pierce the heart and help shape the soul.

This book did not make me feel happy. Nor did it do any of those other things.

This book—this story—felt like a punishment.

But I'd be damned if my first read of 2026 would be a DNF.

So I pressed on. Ten percent here. Five percent there.

Until it was ultimately over. The long prophesied betrayal had occurred, and it was glorious, and the villain's secret identity was revealed to the reader, setting up a nice surprise in sequels to come.

I'll give credit where it's due: Zephyr was the best part of this book. By far.

2 out of 5 stars. When the fmc doesn't even want to be a part of the story, what hope does the reader have?

Available in ebook | hardcover | paperback | audiobook

2026/01

The Death-Made Prince (Runewitch Saga #1)

So what...are you waiting for, exactly?

Available at Amazon.com

The Death-Made Prince
Lisette Marshall
Runewitch Saga, book one
ebook, 547 pages
paperback, 545 pages
Published October 21, 2025
ASIN B0FNMQSN92
ISBN 9798267847629


A runewitch on the run has only one option join forces with the sarcastic, unpleasantly gorgeous necromancer she loathes.

The man Thraga loved is dead, and her future is in shambles. When she's sentenced to the gallows for killing her lover's murderers, it's a relief more than anything… until, the night before her execution, a necromancer is thrown into her cell.

Escaping with him is her only chance to bring Lark back to life - and also the start of all her troubles.

Because her new almost-ally is not just any man returned from death. Fire mage, rogue prince, and son of the man who killed her mother, sharp-tongued Durlain Averre is everything Thraga hates. Worse, he won't revive her lover unless she joins him on a mission of his own first, using her forbidden rune magic to free his sister from the dungeons of an enemy king.

But their quest turns into a deadly chase when Thraga's violent past catches up with her. And as the net of court intrigue and old fears closes around them, she begins to find out Lark was not at all the man she thought he was…

And neither is Durlain.

The Death-Made Prince is the first book of the Runewitch Saga, an epic enemies to lovers fantasy romance featuring two morally grey leads, OCD rep, and a Norse mythology-inspired world. While it is a slow burn romance, the first book does contain spicy content intended for 18+ readers.

Nine hour countdown till Thraga's execution and it's not death she fears, it's the male the guards shove into the cell with her. Tall. Solid. And dressed like nobility.

She mentally checks for her knives—Ehwaz, Uruz, Isa, and so on—but they're long gone.

She's silent. She's still.

And then, he speaks.

And I am as invested as I'm going to get and it's only at one percent. Dayum.

Oh, look at that. Another book fell into the cart.

Thraga is ridiculous in the love her kind of way. And Durlain is on a mission with no time for her bullshit.

"I have a low tolerance for incompetence, and an even lower tolerance for feigned incompetence. I'm not sure why you insist on treating yourself like some damsel in distress, but it's damn inconvenient to me..."

Where's that scene from Mrs Doubtfire with the "The Whole Time" mantra because girl, wtf... But okay, she's lost her only friend. Her lover. Her ally. Her Lark. She's resigned to dying on the noose.

And why the hell we're hanging witches in a world of zombie kings, don't even get me started.

So I am one hundred percent with Durlain (dear gods, that name is painful) with the side eye on this chick because he does absolutely nothing to free her but exist and it's all she needs to break her chains and fly.

Read the bonus scene from his POV, even though it's not enough and will never be enough, and I need this whole book from his POV because this girl is much.

The constant knife recounting is one thing but it's the hours spent checking the lock on the inn door that sent me. Bless her heart. The people in her life had truly done a number on Thraga. Aranc. And Lark, too. Perhaps he even contributed the worst of it.

She's an obsessively compulsive, anxiety-ridden clusterfuck of self doubt and ignorance.

And yet, and not despite it...

Lovelovelove these two!

Deep breaths, Thraga. Grammar, Thraga. Ffs, Thraga. I savored their every interaction. Hanging on every word from Durlain's lips and holding every other breath for Thraga's response.

Just... brilliant.

The ending is nothing unforeseeable. Durlain spends the entire book warning Thraga of the doom surrounding her. Of course... that doesn't stop her from being absolutely pissed at him and feeling betrayed when it comes.

But... it was no betrayal on his part. He warned her time and time again. Not your ally. Not your friend.

"You keep seeing me as someone I'm not. Noble intentions beneath the unpleasant exterior. Saveable. Even halfway to trustworthy. Which—and I'm not sure how many times I need to keep telling you this—is a mistake."

"I care to the point not to needlessly hurt you. I don't care to the point where I will not hurt you."

and let us not glance over:

"Mount Garnot will harm you."

But Thraga is locked in on her own perceptions and despite Durlain's excessive warnings that peak with his offering of making a new plan and the downright begging of her, when that's refused, to not use her runes at Mount Garnot...

A promise she made.

A vow she betrays.

While he may have failed your self-imposed expectations, Thraga, it was you who failed yourself.

And Durlain was everything he said he'd be. Some harm. No foul.

5 out of 5 stars.

Available in ebook | hardcover | paperback

2025/55

Siege to the Throne (Rellmira Duology #2)

Gods, how I wanted you to keep me...

Available at Amazon.com

Siege to the Throne
Leah Mara
Rellmira Duology, book two
ebook
Published November 13, 2025
ISBN 9781965527030
ASIN B0FB8N3DWP
ARC Review


Revenge never gives—it only takes.With broken hearts full of vengeance, Kiera and Aiden escape their burning city. But their war is just beginning.

Torn between saving her siblings and defeating the monster she helped unleash, Kiera is determined to right her wrongs. Even if it means becoming reluctant allies with the man she betrayed.

Together, Aiden and Kiera battle their feelings for each other as they fight for their kingdom. But their enemies have grown into an army that hunts them mercilessly.

And this time—there is no escape.

With epic battles, emotional damage, and a love worth fighting for, Siege to the Throne concludes Aiden and Kiera's harrowing journey. Perfect for fans of The Bridge Kingdom, Spark of the Everflame, and Blood & Steel.

For transparency's sake, I completely fell in love with Aiden and Kiera in book one of this series so my opinion may have some well deserved bias attached to it. That said... It was in this book that I fell for Mazkull. Not that he wasn't absolutely wonderful in Keys to the Crown, what with his coin throwing, but he took it to a whole other level in this sequel.

Siege to the Throne is a tale of horse riding, sailing, and battles galore, on the tail of Kiera's heart wrenching betrayal of Aiden and his rebel allies.

The hostility.

The guilt!

The torment.

Could somebody just give the failed assassin a hug? Maybe dole out a spanking to the successful spy? Can we just apologize and move on to happily ever after?

But no, the author does a marvelous job at catering to the realistic effort it takes to heal from betrayal and claw one's way back through the shards of shattered trust. More than once I had to put the book down to breathe through the heavy emotions stirred by both Aiden and Kiera. Other times, I was screaming at the entire clan to cast aside their pride and pick up the enemy's sunstone swords because it was just not the time, and they had not the luxury, to be dumping perfectly good weapons into the ocean.

The story unfolds at a leisurely pace. Into battle. Out. Then onto the next. The greater portion of the book revolves around traveling. So. Much. Travelling.

On separate horses no less.

But the second half, especially that last quarter, utterly vanquished whatever grumblings had spawned. I'm a goner for a good villain and Renwell did it for me.

And that ending? A true romantasy worthy ending!

"Keep your breath, Kiera. Keep it, so you can scream my name."

5 out of 5 stars.

Available in ebook 

Previously in the series:

2025/52

Keys to the Crown (Rellmira Duology #1)

I can't seem to run in any direction that does not lead to you.

Available at Amazon.com

Keys to the Crown
Leah Mara
Rellmira Duology, book one
Kindle edition, 460 pages
Hardcover, 522 pages
Published January 9, 2025
ASIN B0DKB4Y8DC
ISBN 9781965527023


A princess-turned-spy goes undercover to catch a dangerous criminal—and falls for him instead.

After her mother’s assassination, Kiera gave up her crown to become a spy. She’s spent years training to earn the title of High Enforcer—the elite embodiment of justice in Rellmira. But first, she must prove she's worthy by hunting down any threat to her father's rule.

When a mysterious prisoner becomes such a threat, Kiera goes undercover to learn his true intentions.

But Aiden won’t reveal his secrets easily. His charming tongue spins lies as deftly as Kiera’s does, and he claims he’s just a thief looking for gold. Upon their escape, Kiera proposes they work together on a risky heist—and Aiden agrees.

But the line between allies and enemies begins to blur as he slowly surrenders the trust she is now reluctant to destroy.

When the embers of rebellion, secrets, and desire ignite their world, Kiera must decide who she will be among the ashes—a traitor to her kingdom or to her heart.

Keys to the Crown is the first book in a fantasy romance duology filled with steamy slow-burn romance, found family, and epic intrigue. Perfect for fans of The Bridge Kingdom, Serpent and the Wings of Night, and Blood & Steel. Kiera and Aiden’s story concludes in Book 2.

When a mysterious man infiltrates the Den of the night guard Shadow-Wolves, disguised with a dead Wolf's uniform and weapon, and fails to confess anything of substance after being caught and tortured, it falls to Kiera to extract his secrets.

The princess, now spy, has trained for years, since the assassination of her mother, to be a tool capable of protecting her remaining family and securing her brother's ascension to the throne.

Renwell, High Enforcer of the kingdom of Rellmira and Kiera's mentor and trainer, sends her undercover with the task of freeing the prisoner and earning his trust. And I'm having Metal Slinger flashbacks that bring my heart rate up to a dizzying speed. It's nice to be on this side of the intel this time around though.

Don't fall for it, Aiden!

But damn if our girl isn't about to lose her heart the moment he steps between she and the jailer.

Kiera is starved and thirsty.

And it turns out, Aidan had a plan of escape all along. His friend, Maz, appears, having subdued however many guards, and we're out and off.

Applause for Aiden for side eyeing our girl from the onset. Despite his lack of trust, however, the both of them are mutually tripping over themselves as they fall hard and fast for the other.

Am I a fan when the leading couple's first kiss is a result of a ruse? No. But am I upset about it here? Not a bit. "Not for a single moment."

Kiera eventually discovers Aidan's endgame and her own is one and the same—to put her brother on the throne. And she does what I had ranted and screeched at Brynn of Metal Slinger for not doing when confronted with new intel: reevaluate!

Godsdamnit, Brynn! I hope Acker hunts you down and spanks your ass!!

But here, with Kiera, we basically have Metal Slinger meets Direbound in that she stands in somewhat the same position as Killian. If she hadn't given up her place in line, she would be a false heir to the throne as Killian was. But while Killian sought to unite the false heir to the true heir in marriage, neither Kiera nor Aidan want the crown. Leaving Everrett as both of their choices to take the throne subsequent to Wenlyn's demise.

And no, the comparisons with other books do not end there. Because then I'm screaming out at Slade from Gleam and the whole Plated Prisoner series. Holy Four, this is how you're suppose to talk in the bedroom, Ravinger! If one is so inclined to talk at all.

Now, if we can just get around this betrayal business. I figured early on, since Aiden had already come to terms with the possibility that she was a spy, that he'd be willing to forgive. They had a chance at an easy happy ever after, as long as he wasn't the one that killed her mother.

Oh, ffs.

Touch her and die. One horse. One tent. Mine.

Chapter thirty-four? I read it twice. And immediately, after finishing the book, hunted down the bonus Aiden POV. Go 'head, Aiden, with your "Dance on me, beautiful."

This was such a romantic and suspenseful story with a spy vs spy premise and supporting characters that brought action, bloody violence, and a bit of humor pouring in on all sides.

5 out of 5 stars.

One question though: Why is this promoted as Found Family?

Available in ebook | hardcover | paperback

2025/41

The Silversmith (Selvaren #1)

Then burn, it shall.

Available at Amazon.com

The Silversmith
LJ Claren
Hardcover, 475 pages
ISBN 9798218800390
Kindle ebook, 475 pages
ASIN B0F9ZCTN4T
Independently published July 13, 2025



Power is awakening. Love is a liability.

And the fate of the world rests in the hands of a grieving girl who never asked to be chosen.

Still reeling from the deaths of her father and brother, Ary Gold survives only by sheer will in the icy wilds of the North. But when friends arrive with stories of long-lost magic and a power buried in her newly discovered royal blood, Ary is thrust into a fate far larger than her sorrow.

The realm of Nyrida is under threat. An ancient shadow wielder is determined to claim Ary’s power and plunge the world into corrupted darkness. To stop him, Ary must marry the commander she’s been promised to—a man whose army could help them win the war—and train to fight alongside him.

But her fiercest challenge may not be on the battlefield.

Assigned to shape her into a warrior is a man cloaked in violence and secrets. Cold, commanding, and maddeningly unreadable, he isn’t her betrothed… but he may be her undoing. As sparks fly and loyalties are tested, Ary must decide whether to follow the path laid out for her—or risk everything for a love as wild and dangerous as the power awakening inside her.

Eighteen months ago, Ary woke up to no memories of the first seventeen years of her life.

Nine months ago, she found the dead bodies of her father and brother in their beds. Their throats slashed and an X marked upon their chests, through their clothes.

And three months ago, her mother abandoned her. Her last words: I would give you up to have my boy back. I am done being your safe haven.

So Ary is far from living her best life. And now, she's starving to death. Fortunately, her Aunt Gemma makes one hell of a grand return, foul mouth and all, on the eve of four grown, handsome and strange, men showing up as well. Caz. His brother, Finn. Ezra, her cousin by marriage.

And Mister I found you... her wolf slayer... Gavin Smyth.

All here, according to Caz, for her protection and companionship.

Because, surprise! Your father wasn't really your father. Your dad's name is Simeon. He's hundreds of years old and you're destined to save the world. By the way, you're the queen of Nyrida. Because as long as there was a female alive in the bloodline, a female would rule. And your dead paternal aunt's prophesy has you betrothed to a man named Elias, the commander of your army and "Prince of the People".

I would have been an hysterical laughing mess. But Ary? She just needs some air.

I was in trouble with this book. Labeled a Slow Burn and yet, here I was, swooning at every word that came out of Gavin's mouth less than ten percent in.

"You don't like coffee."
I didn't like coffee. But even if I did, his conviction could convince me I didn't.

Gurl, same. He brought her her hat, gloves, and a blanket. He gave her his jerky. Threw all his coin into paying for groceries and raged against the idea of her sleeping on the floor. And he knew her for less than a day! Aaaand he's in her head with the honey in the tea? That's it. Mark it down. I'm gone.

The sparks were sparking. The gazes were gazing. Somebody shut this man's mouth; my processors can't take it.

He built the library ffs!

So he's not really in her head. He's... :sigh: I do love this kind of trope, which I won't divulge, because believe it or not, I don't like to spoil everything. But if you're into 'Touch her and die' and then bodies actually start dropping, then this is a book for you. And he will unapologetically kill for less when it comes to her. From the moment he finds her in the barn, he zeroes in and does not look away.

Tried to pace myself. Tried to make the goodness last as long as possible. But I devoured this book. It is a slow burn that actually burns. The intensity with which these two went at eachother in their arguments. The ache in their longing. So pained. So desperate. I don't think I took a breath during chapter twenty-nine.

And when I turned to thirty-two, I had to ask myself if I was ready as the author gave what every romantic fiction writer should give until the end of time: the male main character's point of view.

5 out of 5 stars. The forget-me-nots adorning the cover are a beautiful touch. The moment the flowers were described in the story, I flipped to the cover and well, ...damn. Note to self: This is book 1 of 5.

Available in ebook | hardcover | paperback

2025/26