A Slow-Burn Romantasy with Mixed Feelings It seems this year will be my romantasy year! This book was a book club pick for the smut category, but honestly, I didn’t find it all that smutty. The romance scenes had a nice level of spice, but the overall tone leaned more toward slow-burn fantasy romance than anything overly steamy. Saeris is an easy protagonist to root for. Her emotional depth and the relationships she builds throughout the book feel genuine and well-developed. I appreciated her resilience and how she adapted to the world around her, even as she faced overwhelming challenges. Her connection with Kingfisher is undeniable—he’s a hardened warrior, shaped by tragedy, yet remains fiercely loyal to those he cares about. His band of friends adds complexity to his character, showing a man burdened by his past but still worthy of love and devotion. The world-building was immersive but left me with lingering questions. The book establishes Saeris as someone who has never seen the moon, night sky, or snow, yet she somehow knows the names of various tree species. It felt like an inconsistency in an otherwise carefully crafted setting. I also struggled with understanding the passage of time—there was no clear indication of how long the story spanned, which made certain developments feel abrupt. One of my biggest questions was how Kingfisher got through the quicksilver to find Saeris at the Hall of Mirrors. Maybe I missed a key detail, but this unanswered plot point stayed in the back of my mind the entire time. That aside, I appreciated how the book took its time showing the effort required to build relationships and unravel the deeper mysteries of the world. Now, let’s talk side characters—because they stole the show for me. Carrion Swift and sweet, anxiety-filled Archer were my favorites. I understand that Kingfisher is supposed to be the brooding, dangerous, and irresistibly attractive love interest, but honestly? Carrion is just so effortlessly charismatic, funny, and sexy that I completely understand why Fisher would be jealous. Overall, I didn’t love the book, but I am intrigued enough to continue the series. I’ll also be checking out the Kingfisher POV chapters on Callie Hart’s website. However, this isn’t a book I see myself rereading.

I really wanted to love this book, but I struggled with it. The pacing felt uneven—while the middle had a unique flow and writing style that worked, the beginning dragged, and the ending somehow felt choppy, slow, yet rushed all at once. I get what the author was trying to do in showing the progression of Helen and Grant’s relationship, but it fell short in truly illustrating how they were working through their challenges and growing together. We got glimpses, but it didn’t fully land for me. That said, both main characters felt incredibly real, each dealing with the same trauma in their own way. Grant, despite his struggles, put in the work and continued living, making him both flawed and swoon-worthy. Helen, on the other hand—I just wanted to shake her at times. As a daughter of immigrants myself, I fully understand how her upbringing shaped her, but her inability to break through and communicate from that generational trauma made it tough to root for her at times. It was a much deeper read than I expected, and while I originally picked it up because Yulin Kuang is set to direct Beach Read’s screen adaptation, it wasn’t quite what I was hoping for.

An Absolutely Addictive Read—Now I’m Stuck Waiting! I’ve been loving the Empyrean series graphic audiobooks, but now I’m in agony because I can’t listen to the third book until June. I got way too attached to the voice actors—ugh! But that’s a personal struggle, so let’s get to the actual review. This book was such a fun and captivating read! My feelings on Dain have definitely shifted, Verrish can honestly rot (seriously, fuck that guy), Mira is still the absolute best, and sassy adolescent Andarna? Perfection. As for the main characters… Violet got on my nerves at times, but I still loved her growth throughout the book. I felt for her having to carry such a huge secret, but at the same time—girl, stick to the plan! And then there’s Xaden. I hate to be that girl, but come on… I love that man. The dungeon scene alone? Swoon. One of my favorite things about this book was the expanded world-building and history. We traveled a lot, but it never felt rushed. I really appreciated that nothing was glossed over—every relationship, every challenge, every bit of progress was earned. And the way Yarros would introduce a detail, only to bring it full circle chapters later? Chef’s kiss. Honestly, I cannot wait for the next book! But until then, I’ll just be over here sulking about the audiobook wait.

A Confusing Start That Took Me by Surprise I usually go into books blind, only knowing the genre—but this time, I knew nothing, and that was definitely a mistake. The first few chapters had me completely lost, and listening to the audiobook made me feel like I was losing my mind. I had to switch to reading it on my Kindle, and I’m so glad I did! Once I realized this was a dystopian read, I was able to get into it more. That said, I didn’t love it and didn’t see myself continuing with the series… until Instagram somehow knew I read it (seriously, how?!) and started feeding me spoilers. And now, I have to keep going. I was fully rooting for Juliette and Adam—their connection felt so sweet, and as the hopeless romantic that I am, I just wanted them to get their happy ending. But then there’s Warner. He’s such a captivating villain, the kind that pulls you in even when you know he’s the bad guy. And Kenji? I can’t get a read on him. Is he good? Bad? Sincere? I honestly have no idea. So, I guess I’ll be reading the rest of the series after all. But as a first book, it didn’t quite hook me enough on its own—I just got caught in the spoiler trap!

A Frustrating Read with Moments of Charm I really wanted to love this book, but it ended up being a miss for me. The pacing felt slow, and the plot left me frustrated. Hazel, in particular, was a difficult character to connect with. Noah, on the other hand, was lovable—of course, the town’s favorite character would be! However, his flaws and insecurities dragged on longer than necessary, even though I understand the need for character growth. The story felt like it was caught between all spice and the frustrating scavenger hunt revelations. While there were some enjoyable moments, overall, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.