It was such a joy to be back with Ana and Din. This installment finds them racing to prevent two powerful families from tipping the Empire into civil war while investigating a murder that appears impossible to disprove. As the case widens, they uncover a much larger conspiracy tied to ancient technology, political power, and the systems keeping the region alive.

I especially loved how much more this book explores Din—his family, his relationships, and the loyalties pulling him in different directions. It also digs into food production, sustainability, and how incredibly complex and fragile those systems can be when politics and power get involved. The mystery is sharp, the worldbuilding remains fantastic, and Ana and Din continue to be such a fun duo to follow.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story follows Saige, a talented bookbinder struggling with chronic pain and debt who finds herself traded to the immortal Azkari and imprisoned in their stronghold. Her best chance at freedom comes through Archer, a dangerous fallen general who offers her a deal: help him recover and restore an ancient book filled with living magic, and he’ll help her escape. Naturally, the bargain becomes much bigger and much more complicated than either of them expected.

I absolutely loved that our FMC is quite literally a book girly and a bookbinder who gets swept into an agreement with a mysterious stranger that turns into an entire adventure. This is very much romantasy: slow burn, forced proximity, one horse, one bed, dangerous magic, and plenty of tension. And then that plot twist?? The ending had me immediately needing the next book. Such a fun ride.

Lady of the Lake finds Nia caught in a dangerous court full of shifting loyalties, hidden agendas, and betrayal as she continues learning to control her growing power as the Lady of the Lake. With the Dream Stalker still looming over everything, she has to figure out who she can trust before the war costs her everything.

This was such a fast-paced, breakneck conclusion—fun, adventurous, and constantly moving. I really enjoyed seeing Nia step more fully into her power and watching all of the relationships and conflicts finally come together. The ending was satisfying overall, though I did find parts of the final resolution a little anticlimactic. Still, it was an enjoyable conclusion to the series and a really fun ride from start to finish.

Thank you to the publishers for access to this physical ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Habits of the Sea follows Ellie Mills, who as a child discovers a mysterious floating island off the coast of Nova Scotia and meets Clay Lockhart, a man living there who seems untouched by time. When the island disappears, Ellie is left wondering whether any of it was real. Decades later, it resurfaces, and so does Clay—still exactly as she remembers him. What follows is a story about memory, longing, impossible love, and the choices we make between the life we’ve built and the life we might still want.

This was such a beautiful romance with just a touch of magical realism, and I honestly did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did. I’m not usually a straight romance girly, but this completely worked for me. The writing is gorgeous, the atmosphere is dreamy and emotional, and the central relationship really pulls you in.

I’m still not entirely sure I would make the same choice Ellie does. I don’t know if I could turn my back on an entire life for love—or even the hope of it—but the way this story explores that decision is so beautifully done. I devoured this in less than 24 hours and genuinely have no complaints. Such a lovely read.

The Lies That Summon the Night by Tessonja Odette takes place in a world where art is forbidden after creative works began summoning deadly shadows. Inana has survived by hiding her gift for storytelling, but when Dominic, a dangerous half-Sinless monster hunter; discovers what she can do, she’s forced into an uneasy alliance with him to hunt the very creatures her art can call forth. What begins as a partnership built on survival quickly becomes tangled in secrets, betrayal, and an attraction neither of them can ignore.

This was genuinely one of the most unique fantasy books I’ve read this year. The worldbuilding and power system were so interesting, especially the idea of creativity itself being dangerous and forbidden. Inana and Dominic are divine together—the tension, chemistry, and banter absolutely worked for me. And yes, the spice is spicy. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and had such a good time getting lost in this world.

Graceless Heart follows Ravenna Maffei, a gifted sculptress in Renaissance Italy who enters a prestigious competition hoping to win a boon that could save her brother. When she reveals a forbidden magical ability, she attracts the attention of the powerful immortal Luni family and is pulled into a dangerous bargain with their enigmatic heir, Saturnino. Soon, Ravenna finds herself caught between magic, political ambition, war, and a growing attraction to the very man she should probably distrust most. Before reading Isabel Ibañez’s work, I truly never would have considered myself a historical fiction girly, but she makes me want to become one. The way she weaves real historical locations, politics, and Renaissance Italy into an absolutely fantastical story is just beautiful. The world feels lush and immersive, the magic system is fascinating, and the characters are so easy to become invested in. And Ravenna and Saturnino? Enemies to lovers with the slowest slow burn, and I ate every bit of it up. Between the political intrigue, forbidden magic, danger, family loyalty, and all that delicious tension, this was such a thoroughly enjoyable read. I really loved this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ava Reid for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Set in an alternate history where the Cold War never truly ended, this dystopian dark academia follows four students at Valeran Academy, a war college built around strategy, simulations, competition, and political power. As they compete to prove themselves through increasingly dangerous trials, alliances shift, rivalries intensify, and a larger conspiracy begins to blur the line between training for the future and becoming part of something far more sinister.

On paper, this should have been completely my kind of book. Alt-history Cold War dystopia, dark academia, political intrigue, game theory, rivals-to-lovers energy, sapphic moments, competition, and morally complicated characters? I expected to love it. Unfortunately, it just never fully clicked for me.

There are genuinely interesting ideas here, but too many moments felt inserted without enough purpose or emotional payoff. One scene involving the MMC finding the FMC’s sexual assault arousing was especially uncomfortable and, for me, added nothing meaningful to his characterization or the story. I also struggled with the lack of tension during scenes where these characters are supposedly in extreme danger. The circumstances should feel terrifying, but the writing often kept me at a distance from that fear and urgency.

I wanted more emotional depth, stronger character development, and a conclusion that felt more satisfying after everything the story set up. There is a fascinating book inside this premise, and I can absolutely see what it was trying to do, but for me the execution never quite matched how compelling the concept was.