This was my first book from Brittanee Nicole, and I fell hard for the characters, especially Addie and JJ. Addie was a great FMC, and I loved her journey in this book and how much she cared about her family. JJ was a great MMC, and I loved how much he cared about his daughter, as well as how much he cared about his family and his bonus family. As someone who loves books with large casts and large families in particular, I loved the family chats and the family moments in this book. The hockey team was a group of players who cared about each other and supported each other, which I loved.
Atmosphere-10
I’ve never been to Boston, but I loved seeing the city come alive in this book. I loved all the locations, both in Boston and on the road, in this book.
Writing-10
As someone who reads a lot of romance, especially of the sports romance variety, writing is something that makes or breaks a book for me. I loved the dual pov writing style of this and how different the characters were, which made them fun to follow. I loved the smaller family moments in this book. Group chats are something in books that I love, and I loved seeing how funny the characters were with one another. Paper Rings was filled with fun moments and the emotional moments about life that I love seeing in books.
Plot-9.7
I loved this story! There were times when we saw Addie and JJ meeting, them at the Olympics, and seeing them find each other again in the current timeline. The smaller moments in this book were great, and helped me see the love story come alive. Both Addie and JJ grew both individually and as a couple, which made for a great story. I enjoyed the side stories with the family.
Enojyment-10
I loved this book so much more than I expected. I will read more from Brittanee Nicole, and look forward to new releases.
Being Aro is a collection of short stories in genres like science fiction, fantasy, historical, and contemporary that shines a light on aromantic relationships and experiences, as well as the many other sub-identities under the aromantic umbrella.
From high-school matchmaking mishaps to battling book banning with dragons, this anthology is rich in imagination and diverse in its perspectives, showcasing aro characters that go on adventures, form friendships, and rise against the status quo.
Contributors include a mixture of established and emerging YA writers, such as Lammy Award-finalist Madeline Dyer, Lammy Award-nominated Rosiee Thor, USA Today bestselling Kemi Ashing-Giwa, and NYT bestselling authors Kalyn Josephson and Laura Pohl.
Content Warning: queerphobia.
Kimberly Ma Meets Her Match
1- I understand where Grace is coming from by adding a column to the scantrons.
The Binding
2-The atmosphere and characters were interesting in this one.
Lovesick
3- I don’t tend to read dystopian stories, but I liked the characters in this one.
Preservation
4- I loved how ominous this story was at times. I enjoyed the dual timeline writing style as well.
Joust Friends
5-This story was so cute and I loved it.
Thomas Marley’s Fake Bride
6-This story was different, and I enjoyed it.
Swordmaiden
7- This story was fun and different from anything I’ve ever read. I enjoyed the journey of Mira’s character.
Flying Solo
8- I’m not a big Sci-Fi reader, but I enjoyed this story.
Paper Rebellions
9- I like dragon stories, and the library was a fun element.
Do You See Me?
10- I liked the horror elements of this, As someone who doesn’t typically read the genre, I liked the spooky atmosphere at times.
Daughter of Time
11- This story was very sweet. I loved both the characters.
Indulge the Other
12-I enjoyed the take on technology in this story.
13- The introduction by Julie Sondra Decker is a great way to introduce the Asexually to readers who might not know the definition or the spectrum.
14- I’m glad this anthology exists for people to learn, or for people to see themselves represented in stories.
15- 4 stars. I enjoyed all the different genres of storytelling, and the different perspectives in this.
About the Author
Madeline Dyer (she/her) is a novelist, anthologist, poet, and literary academic, drawn to dark and monstrous stories. Her debut anthology Being Ace (Page Street YA, 2023) received a starred review from School Library Journal and was named a 2024 Lammy Award Finalist at the Lambda Literary Awards, commemorating “outstanding LGBTQ+ literature from 2023.” Her debut novel Untamed (Prizm Books, 2015) also won the 2015 SIBA award for Best Dystopian Novel.
Madeline teaches writing and has a 2:1 BA (hons) degree in English from the University of Exeter and an MFA (distinction) in Creative Writing from Kingston University. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Creative Writing at the University of Bristol, where she is researching and writing about traumatized girls and monstrous women in the Gothic, and exploring the intersections between Prehistory and the Gothic.
In 2020, Madeline founded YA Thriller Con, an online celebration of everything thriller, crime, and mystery that ran for three years. YA Thriller Con is currently on hiatus while Madeline focuses on her writing.
She has a herd of Shetland ponies, loves anything ghostly, and can frequently be found exploring wild places. At least one notebook is known to follow her everywhere she goes.
Named one of Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Reads of 2026, Stars, Stripes & Summer Nights is a swoony debut YA romance about First Daughter Abby Cary-Alzona’s summer of self-discovery, small-town charm, and unexpected love.
All Abby wants is one normal summer before college. No headlines. No drama. Just a chance to breathe.
But when a run-in at the White House with Gabriel Calabrese—a maddeningly carefree small-town photographer—spirals into a pizza delivery scandal that makes front-page news, Abby’s plans disappear overnight. To escape the fallout, she’s sent to a charming country inn run by Gabriel’s family.
Now she’s stuck with the last person she wants to see.
As Abby and Gabriel team up to save his family’s Fourth of July festival—and tackle Abby’s secret summer bucket list—sparks begin to fly. Especially when he helps her experience all the “real” teen moments she’s missed: parties, picnics… and maybe even a first kiss.
Perfect for readers who love: • Forced proximity • Opposites attract • Reluctant royalty • Small-town charm reminiscent of Gilmore Girls
A cozy, heartfelt story that explores familial expectations and what it means to choose a life—and love—on your own terms.
15 Reactions While Reading
1- Going in, I’m excited to read this because I love a small-town romance, and this seems like a new take on celebrity X Normal Person.
2- I love that the president in this book is a woman president.
3- Abby and Gabriel’s first meeting was fun, and I can’t wait for more from the two of them.
4- While I understand where the characters in this book are coming from, I feel like Abby should be able to order a pizza like a normal teen if she wants.
5- I’m charmed by the small town in this book.
6- I love the plan of Abby working with the small town. Not only is it life skills, but it gets her face out in the community.
7- The café scene was so cute!
8-The water balloon scene was so fun to read because it was Abby being a regular teen. Nobody seemed to care that she was the first daughter.
9- The Fourth of July scene was so cute!
10- The picnic was so cute, but things keep getting in the way of Abby and Gabe as a couple.
11- This book is one of the reasons why I don’t love a love triangle in a book.
12-This book is another reason why I don’t particularly enjoy celebrity x normal person. The media is so bad in these types of books.
13- I love Abby and Gabe reuniting and clearing the air.
14- The ending of this book was so sweet. I loved it.
15- 5 stars. This was excellent from the diverse cast and a compelling story. The story had humor and a lot of heart.
About the Author
Celeste “C.C.” Dador (“da-door”) writes cozy rom coms with festive flair! As a former wedding planner’s assistant, Celeste’s all about swoon-worthy details and making sure her readers are having their best day.
She was a reality TV finalist on America’s Next Great Author, and has been chosen for several competitive author mentorships —proof that caffeine and stubborn optimism really do pay off. She loves meeting writers because who else gets excited about fictional people and excessive caffeine – and is a regional leader with SCBWI, a kidlit creator community.
Celeste lives and works in the Washington D.C. area with her family, where they enjoy exploring historic sites in search of ghost stories, good snacks, and a decent parking spot. Like most of her main characters, Celeste is proudly Filipino-American.
Her favorite words of advice: “Find something only you can say” and “If you have tochoose between a werewolf or a vampire – always choose the vampire.”
For her Adult romances, she writes under the pen name C.C. Dador.
A queer “enemies to lovers” journey of a lost princess and a changeling who was made to take the heir’s place as part of a fey scheme.
Aisling is many things to many people: princess, heir to the throne, teenage daughter of two loving parents… She’s also about to learn a lot more about herself: changeling. Fey creature. Hunted. Feared. Loved?
Forgive-Me-Not is the name given to the true princess — the lost teenage biological daughter to the king and queen, who’s grown up in the chaotic and untrustworthy realm of Faerie. When Forgive-Me-Not breaks into Aisling’s room the night before their 18 th birthday looking for revenge, the two embark on a long and arduous journey. And what starts as a confrontational and adversarial pairing grows into a bond of mutual understanding, friendship, and maybe something more…
Review and Playlist
Vibes Fantasy YA Lost Princess Sapphic 4.5/5 or 8.71/10
What Worked For Me
Characters
Forgive -Me-Not was filled with wonderful characters. I loved how different Aisling and Forgive-Me-Not were. Both started the story not liking each other based on what was told about them by other people. Both the fmc’s had walls up at the beginning of meeting, but it was a way they could protect themselves against the unknown. As the girls learn more about each other, they open up to each other more, which I loved. They learned that what they needed was each other all along.
Atmosphere
The setting of Forgive-Me-Not was magical. I loved the outdoor scenes in the lush forests and caves that helped the setting come alive. I also loved the cottage where Aisling and Forgive-Me-Not got closer.
Writing and Illustrations
Every Graphic novel needs to be a balance of writing that draws the reader in, and an art style that makes them want to keep reading. Forgive-Me-Not by Mari Costa had a perfect balance of both. The writing style was easy to read and drew me in from the start of the story. The art style was engaging and worked well for the story.
What Could Have Been Better
Plot
I didn’t mind the story overall. I did enjoy the story of finding love and finding what you want instead of what your parents say. We’re told some things about Forgive-Me-Not that I wish had been expanded on. I wanted to know more about how Forgive-Me Not was raised and how she became the way she is today. I also wanted to know about the night the switch between the fmc’s happened, and what the reasoning for it was.
Pace
There were some moments in this where I thought the pace was fine, and then there were moments that I wanted more. I wanted discussions about the past and upbringing of the characters.
Mari Costa is a Luso-Brazilian cartoonist with a bachelor’s degree in Character Animation. She’s in love with creating stories and populating them with people who have very messy interpersonal drama. Some of her work includes Life of Melody,The Demon of Beausoleil, and Belle of the Ball.
GOLF JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT HOTTER…. NOT SO LONG AGO, BROOKES DEVEREAUX WAS THE WORLD NUMBER ONE GOLFER. NOW, FRESH OUT OF REHAB, HIS COMEBACK IS NOT GOING QUITE ACCORDING TO PLAN, AND HE’S SERIOUSLY STARTING TO WORRY THAT THE OLD BROOKES IS GONE FOR GOOD, AND WHAT’S LEFT IS NOTHING MORE THAN A 32-YEAR-OLD WASHED-UP HAS-BEEN.
WHEN FACED WITH THE REAL THREAT OF LOSING HIS TOUR CARD, BROOKES AND HIS MANAGEMENT TEAM ARE LEFT SCRAMBLING. BUT, WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS MEDDLING, 80-YEAR-OLD BEST FRIEND, BROOKES DECIDES THAT POPPY CRAWFORD, THE CURVY CART GIRL WITH ENDLESS SUNSHINE AND SPUNK, MIGHT BE JUST WHAT HE NEEDS TO HELP HIM IMPROVE HIS IMAGE.
BROOKES AND POPPY COME TO AN ARRANGEMENT; SHE AGREES TO BE HIS FAKE GIRLFRIEND FOR THE SUMMER, AND HE’LL PAY HER ENOUGH MONEY THAT SHE’LL FINALLY BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF HER EX-BOYFRIEND’S APARTMENT. IT’S THE PERFECT DEAL; BROOKES ISN’T AT ALL INTERESTED IN HER OR A RELATIONSHIP, AND POPPY NEEDS MONEY TO TURN HER SMALL BUSINESS INTO HER DREAM CAREER.
BUT WHEN POPPY HELPS BROOKES FIND HIMSELF AGAIN, AND BROOKES HELPS POPPY FIGHT THE DEMONS FROM HER PAST THAT SHE’S KEPT HIDDEN FROM EVERYONE, THE TWO GROW CLOSER. AND WHEN THE LINES BETWEEN REAL AND FAKE, AND RIGHT AND WRONG BEGIN TO BLUR, BROOKES FINDS HIMSELF WONDERING IF WHAT HE DIDN’T WANT, MIGHT BE EXACTLY WHAT HE NEEDS.
BROOKES IS HOPING TO FIND HIMSELF AGAIN, AND RECLAIM HIS PLACE AT THE TOP; WHAT HE WASN’T PREPARED FOR WAS FINDING MORE THAN HIS NEXT BEST SWING…
What to Expect:
Golf Romance Fake Dating Grump x Sunshine He Falls First Slow Burn Chronic Illness Rep Age Gap
Review
9.36/10 or 5/5
Characters-9.5
Going into this book, I didn’t know what to expect from the characters. Brooks was a bad boy with a troubled past, and his journey of recovery was great here. He had a tough exterior but was a softie once you got to know him. Poppy was someone who also had experiences in the past that she learned from, and they made her a better person. She was the sunshine to Brooke’s grumpiness, and they matched each in a way the best romance couples do. The side characters in this, like Jonesy, Lori, Hannah, Happy, and Cam, were great additions to the story. Found Family is one of my favorite tropes in books, and the found family elements were strong in Next Best Swing.
Setting-10
I love small-town settings in books, and the town Next Best Swing took place in was great. I loved how much of the town you got to see as the story progressed, such as golf courses, shops, and the characters’ homes. There was a charm to the setting that drew me in from the beginning.
Writing-9.5
I loved the writing style in Next Best Swing. The dual POV writing style was great because you got to learn what Poppy and Brookes were thinking in real time. There were some emotional scenes in the book that were handled with care, and I loved the mixture of lighter and more emotional scenes. Shan McPherson has a writing style that’s easy to read, and drew me in from the start of the story. Next Best Swing was the perfect amount of rom-com and emotional depth for me.
Plot-9
The story of Next Best Swing is deceptive. There’s so much more than what the summary gives you, and I loved that. Yes, this was a romance, with all the romantic moments, but it was also a story of redemption. Brookes started the story in a low place in his life and picked himself back up with the help of Poppy and his friends. For Poppy, it was a story of finding love and someone accepting you as you are.
Enjoyment-9.5
I loved Next Best Swing! The characters were great, and the story was fun, mixed with emotional moments. I will read from the author again.
Hi! I know I haven’t blogged in a while, but I’m trying to get back to Top Ten Tuesday again. Jana hosts Top Ten Tuesday @That Artsy Reader Girl . This weekly meme is inspired by our love of lists, and bringing the book blogging community together. Each week, Jana will post a prompt, and we readers will make our list based on that prompt. This week our topic is bookish buzzwords, I’m specifically doing tropes I love, and some things I avoid.
Tropes I Love
1- Enemies to Lovers
Give me all the tension and banter! I love a true Enemies to Lovers, and a rivals to lovers.
2- Friends to Lovers
Be it childhood or strangers to friends to lovers, I love the yearning of a freinds to lovers story.
3- Fake Dating
I’m a sucker for fake dating. When done well, you can see the moment when it goes from being for show to being real.
4- Grumpy X Sunshine
The more romances I read, the more I’m interested in the grumpy mmc as opposed to an alpha one. It’s the broody ones for me.
5- Marriage of Convenience
I’m newer to marriage of convenience, but when done well, like fake dating, you can see the shift from them getting something from the other person to real love.
6- Second Chance
I know people don’t like this trope, but again, I love yearning. From childhood friends, couples who were married and got divorced, and teenage love, I’ll read it all.
Things I avoid or will read with caution
7- Age Gap
I don’t hate an age gap. I’m not the biggest fan of big ones, but I think they can work depending on the maturity of the characters.
8- Bloody Books
I’m not a fan of bloody books or body horror type books.
9- Mafia
I think this goes with my dislike of overly violent books.
10- Big Fantasy series
I don’t mind things like SJM, but hard fantasy or complex fantasy is not my thing personally.
For fans of Rachel Lynn Solomon and Alice Oseman, this swoony, fast-paced romance stars a teen who falls in love with the lead singer of America’s most popular boy band during a whirlwind summer tour.
This is what dreams are made of.
Every teenager in America knows eighteen-year-old Felix Song, the lead singer of the most popular boy band since One Direction. Unfortunately, Natalie Nielsen is no exception. Though she thinks of him more as an annoying rich kid from her hometown than a heartthrob.
Uninterested in stardom, Natalie dreams of honoring her late dad’s legacy and making a positive impact on her beloved Deaf community by revamping her family’s run-down Deaf Center. The issue? She has no money. When Felix’s little sister’s hearing loss begins to accelerate, he gives Natalie a generous job offer that would help secure the Center’s future: but she must accompany him on tour this summer to teach him ASL.
What begins as a professional arrangement soon morphs into stolen kisses and late-night rendezvous. But as their connection deepens, so do the risks—and when their relationship suddenly takes center stage, it’s not only their hearts, but Felix’s career on the line. Between relentless public scrutiny, contractual obligations, and meddling band members, Natalie must decide if their dreams can co-exist in the spotlight.
Review
Vibes
YA
Deaf Heroine
Singer Hero
Contemporary Romance
5 stars
Characters -10
As someone who is hard of hearing, I’m always looking for more rep and people like me in books. I loved Nat as a character, and what she stood for, keeping the deaf center alive, and her vision for what the deaf center could be. Felix was a great MMC, and I loved his character and his love for Ava. The band members had a fun vibe and added a great element to the story. Each of the characters had a personality that was different and fun to follow as the story progressed.
Setting-10
Someone to Daydream About followed the band on tour, and you got to see parts of the country along with the band. You still see iconic landmarks and go on tours of the city.
Writing-10
Sydney Langford has a great writing style that is easy to get into. The characters feel like they’re 18-19 because of the experiences recalled in the story and the way the characters talked. Someone to Daydream About had a writing that handled important and serious topics with care.
Plot-9.5
I loved this story! Nat had a story that was important as she wanted to help people who were like her, and she wanted to help her community. I was rooting for her because I could see her passion, and her desire to help Felix be a better brother. Felix had a story that was fun to follow because he had to do the music the label wanted, as opposed to the kind of music he would normally play. I loved the growth of all the characters in this book.
Enjoyment-9.5 Someone to Daydream About is one of the best YA novels I’ve read in a while. I loved the characters and the rep In this. I can’t wait to read more from Sydney Langford.
Sydney Langford (they/them) is a queer, Deaf-Hard of Hearing, and physically disabled author who resides in Portland, Oregon. Their biggest passion in life is creating stories that reflect the diverse world we live in—whether that be rom-coms about quirky, disabled teens; or contemporaries that feature queer joy. Their debut YA novel THE LOUDEST SILENCE will be released 7/30/2024 by Holiday House and their YA rom-com SOMEONE TO DAYDREAM ABOUT will be released in 2026.
As a scholarship student at the magical Lyceum, Naomi would rather focus on deciphering ancient scrolls than dating. Especially since the only boys asking her out are less interested in a night in Naomi’s company than an introduction to her influential aunt.
So Naomi devises an excuse to turn down her persistent suitors: She claims to be betrothed to a demon.
Her story works perfectly. Until she arrives home one night and finds the demon Daziel lounging in her rooms, insisting he’s her betrothed. Naomi knows he’s lying—after all, the betrothal was never real—but the gorgeous and infuriating demon is surprisingly resistant to her banishing spells. And with his penchant for baking and home décor, it’s not so bad having him around.
Besides, she has other worries—like the ancient scroll she’s trying to translate, and the way the city’s magic has become suddenly unstable. But the more Naomi learns about the scroll, and the more she gets to know Daziel, the more it seems like she might be at the center of something bigger than she could have imagined.
Vibes Cozy Fantasy YA Urban Fantasy Magical High School
9.29/10 or 5/5
Characters-9.5
This was not my first book from this author, however, It’s one of my favorites. I loved Naomi as a character, she knew what she wanted, and she knew how she was going to get it. Daziel was a fun MMC, and I loved his story and his personality. Naomi and Daziel had great banter at the start of the story, and those feelings changed in real time as they developed stronger feelings for each other. The supporting characters added a fun element to the story, and they all had a great Found Family vibe.
Atmosphere- 9
I loved the atmosphere in this. It felt historical with the manors and the old school buildings surrounding the world. As someone with Jewish ancestry, I loved how the Jewish religion played into the world. A Practical Guide to Dating a Demon was filled with a world that was fresh and new, which you don’t see as much in romantasy.
Writing-9
Hannah Reynolds wrote A Practical Guide to Dating A Demon with a writing style that was easy to read and get into. There was a charm to the writing style that I was drawn to from early on in the book. This was a book filled with magic and heart, which came through in the writing style.
Plot-9
This was more of a character-driven story than a plot one. I enjoyed the coziness of this story, as sometimes when you’re reading a fantasy, you want more of a character-driven story than an action one. I loved how the characters interacted with their world, and how the details of the story progressed with the characters. A Practical Guide to Dating a Demon was filled with smaller moments that made sense with the bigger picture. There were fun adventure vibes for some of the story, and there were moments where the characters were learning clues about the world around them.
Enjoyment-9
Overall, I enjoyed this. The characters were great, and I enjoyed the story.
Savage Bonds by Evie Mitchell- E-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Vibes Paranormal Fantasy Shapeshifters Omegaverse Pack Dynamics Fated Mates 8.61/10 or 4.5/5
Characters-9
I’m not the type of reader who seeks Paranormal Fantasy or books with pack dynamics, as this one had. Lithia was an interesting character to read about because she had her traumas, and she overcame them. Lithia was also a strong character who knew what she wanted and how she could get it. Kier was someone who also had his own traumas to work through, and he was also supportive of Lithia. Both Lithia and Kier had their own journey to follow over the course of the story. The side characters in this are great and add to the pack dynamics of the story. I loved how mental health was represented in this book.
Atmosphere-9
I liked the world in Savage Bonds. The pack dynamics worked well in the world, and it was fun to explore all the locations along with the characters. The world was easy for the reader to follow.
Writing-9
Savage Bonds had a writing style that was easy to follow. E.V. Mitchell has a style that draws the reader into the story. There is a mixture of smaller moments that brings the characters closer together, and bigger ones that draw the plot forward. I loved the pack dynamics in this and seeing how the pack came together through the writing.
Plot-8.5
I enjoyed the story of Savage Bonds. There were moments of interesting character development through the story, which I enjoyed. There were political undertones in Savage Bonds, which made it an interesting story to follow. For me, this was more of a character driven story than a plot one, but the story was still fun to follow.
Enojyment-8.5
I enjoyed this more than I expected. The characters were great, and the story was fun. I’ll continue the series for sure.
Fourth Wing meets The Hunger Games in this spicy, page-turning romantasy where humans and direwolves forge unbreakable bonds and fight for survival at all costs.
Only the worthy survive the Bonding Trials. She’ll risk her life—and her heart—to be one of them.
Meryn Cooper has always hated the Bonded, elite warriors who form mental links with the massive, vicious direwolves they ride. While they live in luxury, Meryn struggles to keep her family out of poverty. When her little sister, Saela, is kidnapped—stolen across the border by the immortal monsters her country has spent centuries fighting—Meryn’s world falls apart.
Desperate to cross the front and save her sister, Meryn enlists in the army and is thrown into the deadly Bonding Trials, where any mistake will cost her life.
Now Meryn must survive four months of training at the castle. She is bound to a feral direwolf who refuses to communicate. The other trainees would love to spill her common blood. And her cold and beautiful instructor, Stark Therion, is eager to punish any weakness.
Everything is a competition, and everyone is out to get her—everyone except the dangerously handsome crown prince, whose attention adds another target to her back. In the castle, every smile hides a knife…and the halls hide dark secrets.
It’s bond or bleed. Duel or die. Failure is ruin.
Content Warning: gruesome, explicit on-page violence; self harm; mental health issues including anxiety, depression and psychosis; domestic abuse; parental death; and explicit sexual content including elements of dubcon.
Playlist
Review
4.75/5
Characters-9
As someone who isn’t as familiar with Omegaverse, or books with wolves, as other readers who might read this, I loved this.Meryn was the eldest daughter, and she had the added pressure of being the one to look after her sister, which deepened their bond.Meryn also had scars from fighting, and what she had seen, and I loved seeing her journey in this. Killian was a fun character to follow, and I was wondering where his character arc was going to go. I hope we get more from Stark in book 2, because I enjoyed his character in this, and in the bonus content. The side characters were fun editions of the world, and I enjoyed following their journeys as the book progressed. The power dynamics between the characters were fun, and I’m intrigued to see where they go next.
World/Setting-9
When a book is described as Fourth Wing meets The Hunger Games, I expect a big world to exploreWhen a book is described as Fourth Wing meets The Hunger Games, I expect a big world to explore. Dire Bound delivered what I was expecting, including political intrigue, once the story got going.The world was large, however; Sable Sorensen fills Dire Bound with characters who take you on a journey with them as they see new places. The world building is easy for the reader to understand.
Writing-9
Dire Bound was easy to get into and understand. I enjoyed the writing style because Sable Sorensen explains the dynamics of the world, in a way that makes it easy to understand where the story is going, and the characters’ motivations. The writing style worked well for this book.
Plot-8.5
Dire Bound was a great story. I found myself curious as to where the story was going to go based on what we already knew. There’s an interesting way of learning information in this as the readers learn information when the characters do and not before. I found the story to be fun and intriguing. I can’t wait to see what happens next. I wanted a little more romance in this, I understand where the romance is going, and I hope we have more romantic moments in book 2. I’m curious to see where the fated mates trope goes in future books as it’s one of my favorite Romantasy tropes. The pace of this story didn’t work as much as I wanted as some scenes were slower paced than I would have liked.
Enjoyment 8.5
Overall, I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would, and I will be reading book 2. This book was a fun time with a lot of heart and political intrigue, which is what I look for in a good romantasy.
Sable Sorensen is the pen name for Eliza and Annie, two fantasy fangirls who grew up on a steady diet of wizards, magical creatures, and sweeping love stories.
Paiges of Novels 