This was something else (complimentary).

This fantasy romance has an intriguing concept. Every one has a mark around their finger, and when they kiss their soulmate, a compass rose appears on the ring mark. Also, everyone has another ring mark if they have a sworn enemy, someone who will kill their soulmate.

This play on the fated mates trope is super interesting and allows for a lot of story opportunities, though I’m not as excited about the main characters and their stories. Talia is a confident, seductive assassin, and Cain is the virgin zealot sent to kill her. The characters feel thinly sketched, and their journey isn’t the most page-turning, but I liked the book nonetheless. I may pick up the next to see what happens after the intense cliffhanger ending. There’s so much potential with this world.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Swipe Bite is a workplace paranormal romance with a black cat/golden retriever dynamic between two likable characters.

The romance and the characters are where this book shines. Soph is a vampire business heir who is all prickly edges but desperate for warmth and acceptance. Casey is an eager-to-please software engineer with a tragic past. The two make a perfectly balanced couple; they’re really sweet together. I would love to see them at the beach with their blended vampire-human family one day.

Soph’s also got a great friendship with Del, a colleague at work. There’s also Casey’s eccentric grandma, as well as his quirky underlings. Soph’s got a difficult relationship with her father, but she has the beginning of a found family.

The plot, not the romance, is the weak spot. The book ends on a cliffhanger, which is frustrating for this genre. There’s a big reveal at the end that is confusing and not as twisty as you’d think. The action scenes with mortal peril are engaging, but the mystery itself isn’t as exciting.

I think I prefer Alexandra Vasti's historical romance work, but she clearly has a good grasp of paranormal romance as well.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Our Dark Incantations is a standalone fantasy romance that’s clearly identifiable as a former Dramione fanfiction, even by a reader like me who’s not part of the fandom and has not read the original story.

Our Dark Incantations takes place at a magical university after a war, and the heroine is seeking to learn to heal an old scar there, but instead she finds out she’s somehow acquired dark magic. In walks a powerful dark magic wielder from the other side of the war to teach her about her new powers, and then there’s a murder mystery thrown in. The main characters - Mira and Aidric - are Hermione and Draco in appearance and personality.

Mira and Aidric never met before they’re acquainted at the university, so it feels a little sudden how they fall so quickly into lust and then love, whereas I can imagine their relationship might have been developed more in the fanfic.

The story has plenty of twists and reveals, and the magic system wasn’t too difficult to understand. Certain aspects of the plot seem forced to draw maximum melodrama, but it does make it entertaining.

In short, Dramione lovers, this one’s for you, but others may enjoy it, too.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Silver Dawn is a satisfying sequel to Red City.

Sam and Ari continue to fall deeper into the dark urban fantasy world of alchemy, and we also get POV chapters from Edward and Will as well to give us a more complete view of what’s going on as syndicates fall and new leaders rise. There’s spying, secrets, deaths, and a pervasive sense of dread. It’s a tense read that’ll have you flipping through pages to find out what’s next.

The magic - or alchemy - fights continue to be the highlight of this series. The books have some of the most interesting fantasy battle scenes I’ve ever read, with combatants quickly transmuting objects during violent brawls.

One complaint I had about Red City was that I didn’t really feel the deep love between Sam and Ari as much as the writing told us that it was there. Silver Dawn definitely spends more time on their connection, though even while together, the years, lies, and mistrust keep them from truly communicating often. It's an epic love story, and there are heart-wrenching moments, but for some reason, I just don’t have an emotional connection to their romance. Sam and Ari, however, as individual characters are great. I also like Edward, though I’m not sure on Will. He’s portrayed as the big bad, but his storyline goes out with a whimper.

The book has its most intense moments during the 50%-80% mark, with the big battle around 70%. After that is mostly tying up loose ends, but I was hoping for more twisty reveals or a sacrifice or another thrilling fight. The story at that point is more about introspection, and the last chapter threads together the first and second books.

I almost wish this was a trilogy so we get more of this world, and the story could be stretched out further, but I suppose Sam and Ari have been through enough.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.