Rating: 3.75/5

Synopsis:

Cerys is from the kingdom of Aloriya, a land untouched by drought, disease, or famine. For centuries, Aloriya has flourished under the protection of the Lady of the Wilds, with one sacred rule: never enter the woods. The forest that borders the kingdom is cursed, haunted by ancient creatures known only as the Ancients, who curse or kill any who trespass.

When Cerys was a child, she broke that rule and paid the price. She lost her mother and one of her closest friends, the prince of Aloriya, to the forest. Though Cerys managed to escape, she did not emerge unscathed. A trace of the curse clung to her, hidden deep within.

Eight years later, the king is dead, and the time has come to crown a new ruler. But on the day of the princess’s coronation, the curse strikes. The woods reach for the crown, and the ceremony descends into chaos as the guests, people Cerys loves, begin to transform into monsters.

Now, with only a fox she once rescued as her companion, Cerys must journey into the very woods that once stole everything from her. To save her kingdom and reclaim those she loves, she must face the curse and the truths buried within it.

What I Liked:

The Banter: One of the things I love most about Ashley Poston’s writing is the banter between her main characters. It’s an area where she truly excels. The dialogue always feels natural and organic, never forced or overly scripted. Often, when authors attempt witty exchanges, it can come off like something out of a Hallmark movie, awkward and unnatural, but I have always enjoyed the banter in Poston’s books. Her character interactions feel genuine and effortlessly charming.

Seren: Seren is a character I would love to see in a spin-off novel, exploring his story after the events of the book. Given that he exists in this in-between state, not fully alive, yet not entirely gone, there’s so much potential for a compelling narrative. Watching him search for a way to fully return to life and reunite with the people he loves would be both emotional and fascinating. What also makes his character especially interesting is that, although he was created to be a puppet of the woods, he was never completely consumed by the curse. Seeing the story from his perspective, how he grapples with the consequences of his actions while under the curse and his journey toward atonement, would add depth and emotional weight to the world already established.

What I Didn’t Like:

Lacking Imagery: One of the key areas where this book fell short was in its use of descriptive imagery. At times, creatures were glossed over, making it difficult to visualize them clearly. This was especially true when it came to the Ancients; rather than being shown what made them terrifying, we were simply told they were scary. This lack of vivid detail weakened the story on several occasions, making it harder for me to fully immerse myself in the world the author was trying to create.

Rushed ending: As the story reached its climax, the pacing felt extremely rushed, which made the ending ultimately unsatisfying. There wasn’t enough time to fully develop the final events, leaving the conclusion feeling incomplete and somewhat hollow. I found myself wishing the climax and resolution had been given more space to unfold, allowing the story to flow more naturally and meaningfully. Additionally, the rushed ending left several plot elements unresolved. Certain moments and hints throughout the book seemed to lead somewhere important, only to be abandoned, leaving me questioning why they were introduced at all if they weren’t going to be addressed.

Final Thoughts:

This book was a quick and easy read. While there are more in-depth and polished fairytale or mythology retellings out there, this one wasn’t bad by any means. The story didn’t explore certain aspects of the world or plot in much depth, which at times made it harder to fully immerse myself in the narrative. However, that simplicity also contributed to the book’s fast pace, avoiding the kind of detail-heavy storytelling that can sometimes bog down the flow. Where the book truly shone was in the relationships between the characters and the way they interacted with one another. Although I occasionally wished for more explanation or development, it was, overall, an enjoyable and engaging read.

Rating: 4.5/5

Synopsis:

Joni Lark has run dry. After writing several hit songs in Los Angeles, she hasn’t been able to produce a new one in over a year. Hoping to rekindle her passion for music, Joni returns to her hometown of Vienna Shores, North Carolina, for the summer. But when she arrives, nothing is quite as she remembers. Her best friend is hiding something, and her parents are planning to shut down The Revelry, the beloved music hall her family has owned for decades. As Joni grapples with the painful changes at home, she begins to hear a mysterious male voice in her head, along with a haunting melody she can’t place.

Sebastian Fell is a washed-up musician desperate to make a name for himself outside his famous father’s shadow. No matter what he tries, the past clings to him. After a disastrous first meeting with the renowned hitmaker Joni Lark, Sebastian begins to hear a woman’s voice in his head, a voice he can’t seem to silence.

As the two slowly begin to communicate, they realize they’re both hearing the same piece of music. Determined to quiet the voices, they agree to work together to finish the song. In the process, they discover a connection neither of them expected.

What I Liked:

Homesickness: I love how Joni talks about being homesick. Although I made the choice to leave my hometown, and I’m okay with it, there are still times when I miss certain aspects of it: favorite restaurants, specific hangout spots, or people whose connections have faded because I’ve been away for so long. I left gladly, but there are moments when I ache for those things. When Joni speaks about homesickness, I understand and sympathize with her.

Talks of dreams changing: One of the main struggles Joni faces is that her dream of becoming a songwriter in LA has started to fade. Throughout the book, she grapples with trying to fit into the dream she began chasing at 22. But now, in her thirties, she’s starting to wonder if that life is still right for her or if what she truly wants might be waiting back home. Still, every time she tries to bring it up, she worries it will make her look like a failure. One of my favorite quotes from the book is: “Sometimes the dreams you come with aren’t the dreams you leave with, and sometimes you just don’t leave at all.” I think this quote is so powerful for anyone who once had a dream but now feels like it no longer fits who they’ve become.

What I Didn’t Like:

Lack of communication: Man, the lack of communication in this book was strong. No one seemed to know how to talk to each other, and that was the root of most of the problems. There were several moments when the main character wanted to tell her best friend something important, but backed out at the last second. This is someone she repeatedly claimed she could tell everything to, yet she barely told her anything at all. And when she finally does open up, her best friend gets upset with her, but it’s over something she never even shared with Joni in the first place. I get that miscommunication happens in real life, but it was honestly frustrating to watch it play out over and over again between nearly every character.

Final Thoughts:

I really enjoy Ashley Poston's work. This is the fourth book of hers I've read, and every single one has earned four stars or higher from me. While it doesn't quite live up to A Novel Love Story (my favorite) it firmly holds second place. What I love most about her writing is how real her stories feel. Her characters go through struggles that many of us can relate to. In this book, she explores themes like the loss of a parent, homesickness, uncertainty about marriage, changing one's dreams, and a parent's dementia diagnosis. By addressing such emotionally resonant topics, Poston creates characters we can truly connect with, characters we find ourselves rooting for as they search for their happy ending.

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis:

Daphne was raised to both admire and fear the gods; however, when Artemis punishes both her and her brother, since he watched her bathing, Daphne's reverence begins to give way to anger. To break the Midas curse now coursing through her veins, she must embark on a perilous quest to return nine sacred items stolen from Olympia. Her unlikely companion on this journey is none other than Apollo, Artemis’s twin brother. To recover the lost relics, Daphne and Apollo must learn to trust each other as they face deadly enemies and unexpected betrayals.

What I Liked:

Greek Mythology: I really enjoyed how the book wove together different mythologies throughout the story. We encounter figures and legends such as the Minotaur, the Sphinx, the Nine Muses, Tartarus, and many more. Incorporating a variety of myths kept the story engaging and unpredictable, as we never knew which legendary foe would appear next.

Apollo: Apollo was a character I really enjoyed. Since the story is told from Daphne’s point of view, there’s an initial bias against him that lingers for much of the book. Despite that, his character shows surprising depth. We learn that Apollo tends to fall in love easily and enjoys living in the moment, but as the story progresses, a more serious side emerges, one that’s deeply protective of his family and willing to do whatever it takes to reclaim what’s been lost. I hope the rest of the series continues to explore his character, as he quickly became one of my favorites.

What I Didn’t Like:

Daphne: I didn’t particularly enjoy being in Daphne’s point of view. At times, I found her frustrating, as she tends to make snap judgments about others without trying to understand them first. Most of what she knows about the gods comes from her maid, a clearly biased source, yet even after meeting the gods herself, she continues to rely on those secondhand opinions rather than forming her own. This is especially evident in her interactions with Apollo. While her initial anger toward him is understandable, it takes her a long time to trust him, even though he consistently proves that he’s on her side.

Love Story: I honestly didn’t feel much for the romance between Apollo and Daphne in this book. For most of the story, Daphne distrusts and even dislikes Apollo, then suddenly, she’s kissing him. The moment felt rushed and out of place, and I don’t think it was necessary in the first installment. It would have been more impactful to let their relationship develop more gradually, saving their first kiss for a later point in the series as their emotional connection deepens. Hopefully, in the next two books, we’ll get to see their bond grow beyond just surviving together and into something more meaningful.

Final Thoughts:

I thought this book was an interesting read as it takes several elements of Greek mythology and flips them on their head. If you're expecting the original tale of Daphne and Apollo, you’ll be surprised. In this version, Apollo isn't struck by Cupid’s arrow, so he doesn’t chase Daphne. Instead, Daphne is a strong and capable character who holds her own against various foes to protect the people she loves. There were times when her attitude felt a bit too much like “I’m not like other girls,” which I didn’t enjoy, but there were also genuine moments of growth and development throughout the story. The book moves at a fast pace with a lot happening, and I’m definitely curious to see where the story goes in the next installment.

Rating: 3/5

If you enjoyed Daughter of the Pirate King or Pirates of the Caribbean, this book may be for you.

Tropes:

•Enemies to Lovers

•Captor x Captive

•Pirate Fae x Earth Fae

•Morally Grey MMC

•Chronic Pain Representation

• Anxiety Representation

What I Liked:

Differences in the Kingdoms: I really liked the contrast between the two worlds. The Ever Kingdom is deeply misogynistic, believing women are only good for bearing children. On the other hand, the Earth Kingdom recognizes that women can lead and are far more than just “baby makers.” This created a compelling dynamic.

Representation: I appreciated the representation woven into the story. Erik lives with chronic pain due to old injuries, while Livia struggles with severe anxiety and panic attacks. Both felt meaningful and added depth to their characters.

Characters: Overall, I thought the characters were strong and well written. Very few frustrated me when they appeared on the page. For the most part, their actions made sense—even if motives weren’t clear immediately, they were explained later on. My current favorites are Celine and Tait; both are loyal and compassionate in a kingdom that often rejects kindness or love.

What I Didn’t Like:

Not Quite Enemies to Lovers: Although Erik and Livia’s bond was believable, some of their relationship development felt rushed. I was hoping for more of a slow burn. The “enemies to lovers” aspect didn’t feel fully realized—it often came across more like “we’re supposed to be enemies, but I already love you.”

Something Missing: As I read, I found myself wanting more. More description, more worldbuilding, more tension in the romance—just more of everything. At times, characters shifted too quickly in personality, leaving me disoriented. For example, Livia is consistently compassionate and averse to violence, but toward the end she watches two would-be assassins being tortured repeatedly and even smiles about it. This moment didn’t feel true to the character I had been following. Scenes like this created a sense of inconsistency and left me confused.

Final Thoughts:

The Ever King was enjoyable overall. It starts slowly as the world is set up, but the pace does pick up around the halfway mark. That said, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. By the end, I found myself losing interest and unsure whether I cared enough to continue with the series. For me, this was one of those “just okay” reads—it wasn’t bad, but it also wasn’t great

Rating: 1/5

Summary:

Isabella Valencia dreams of becoming a writer—specifically of erotic thrillers—but after two years of working on a novel that still hasn’t come together, she’s had to find another way to pay the bills. For over a year, she’s been bartending at the exclusive Valhalla Club, where one rule is made crystal clear: no fraternizing with the members. That rule would be a lot easier to follow if a certain billionaire didn’t keep showing up at the most inconvenient moments—and wasn’t so impossibly attractive.

When Kai Young’s mother announces it’s finally time to appoint a new CEO, the vote comes much sooner than expected. But since the company has always been in his family, Kai knows the vote is just a formality—the position is essentially his. Still, he understands he needs to stay focused, especially as he works to secure a lucrative deal with a digital news company that could propel the business into the future of media and prevent it from falling behind. With so much at stake, Kai knows he can’t afford any distractions—especially not the purple-haired bartender who always seems to be talking about condoms.

What I liked:

Usually, I would balance the aspects I didn’t enjoy with those I did, but in this case, I genuinely didn’t find anything enjoyable about the book.

What I disliked:

Kai: Kai was one of my favorite characters in the first book, but wow—this sequel really changed that. At first, he felt like the same person, but within a few chapters, he did a complete 180 and turned into someone unrecognizable. He kept stressing how important the CEO position was to him, and we were told he’s a workaholic—yet it felt like he barely did any actual work. I get that this shift may have been meant to serve the romance, but taking spontaneous vacations and hitting up random clubs just because the girl you're not even dating might be seeing someone else? That didn’t feel like something the Kai from book one would ever do.

I also didn’t like how possessive he became over Isabella before they were even in a relationship. There were just so many things about his character in this book that didn’t sit right with me.

The Romance: Speaking of the romance—I didn’t like it. In the first book, I thought Kai and Isabella’s interactions were cute, and I was genuinely excited to see their relationship develop. But honestly, in this book, I didn’t feel much chemistry between them, which is disappointing considering this was supposed to be their story.

Overall: I didn’t enjoy this book at all. The characters didn’t feel like themselves, and the romance completely fell flat for me. Isa makes choices that could risk her job before she even really knows Kai, and their connection feels entirely based on sexual attraction. Kai becomes possessive way too quickly—like, dude, you’re not her boyfriend, you don’t get to dictate who she sees.

Several scenes just felt off. For example, Kai says early on that he likes to keep his sex life private, but then he has no problem hooking up with Isa in a public bar. Sure, he pays someone to guard the room, but that’s hardly keeping things private. I get that people can change their minds, but the shift was so abrupt it felt like a completely different character.

If you loved this book, I’m genuinely glad for you—I wanted to love it too. I was actually excited going in, but it ended up being such a disappointment that I’ve decided to drop the rest of the series.