Review: "The Inheritance" (Breach Wars #1) by Ilona Andrews

The Inheritance by Ilona Andrews
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

We are at war. The interdimensional invasion brought us unimaginable suffering, but it also awoke talents slumbering deep within us, a means to repel and destroy our enemy. Every day new gates open, leading to breaches filled with monsters and valuable resources. If you are a Talent, your country needs you. The world needs you. Be the hero you were born to be.

Adaline is a Talent. Ten years ago, she had a happy marriage and a job she loved. The invasion shattered both. Now she works for the government, searching the breaches for magic metals and medicine to help Earth repel an interdimensional enemy. Two kids, one cat, bills, benefits, mortgage and school tuition...Risking her life became routine.

She had gone into the dimensional gates hundreds of times. She was always well protected. This time everything goes wrong. Now Ada is trapped in the labyrinth of alien caves unlike any other. Her only companion is a scared German Shepherd named Bear. Together they must uncover the breach's secrets and escape, because Ada promised her children that she will come home.

The future of humanity depends on it.

BUY ON 

Kobo | Blackwell's

REVIEW

Solo Leveling meets the powerhouse that is the duo Ilona Andrews in this stunning new series, which is filled with action, exploration and hidden easter eggs!

Adaline's Earth changed when the first interdimensional hole opened and monsters poured out. The holes were omens of war but also awakened powers within some individuals. Ten years later, she is a Talent, great at sensing precious power sources as she travels into the pocket worlds within the holes. Divorced but happy with her children, she does her job pretty well, until a routine mission turns into a bloodbath, leaving her behind presumed dead...along with a dog and an alien whose powers she inherited. As she tries to find a way out of the pocket world she is in she will discover an ancient secret spanning millennia of galactic wars and the power she houses within her.

You must never underestimate the power os a mom. Ada does everything in her power in order to try and find a way back to Earth and to her children. She is smart and resourceful and always tries to find a solution to the problems presented to her and test the limits of her powers.

The POV moves between Ada, who is trapped inside the Breach, said interdimensional hole, and on Earth where her Guild Cold Chaos and its the leader of Elias McFeron, a powerful combat Talent, try to investigate what went wrong and lost such a unique Talent with Ada, as well as researching possible foul play. Knowing Ilona Andrews, I am pretty confident Elias is the future love interest, and I can not wait to see more of their interactions.

This book has no romance as it works in introducing the world and its mechanics, the worldbuilding and the power shifts that can easily manifest between Guilds and growing political interests. And it surely does. If you have watched Solo Levening, it is not that far behind in the idea of a world changed by the Invasion and the new power sources that can shift world power.

The ending was very satisfying. It set the way for the next book, giving us a solid start, and of course, the dog survives too. Definitely recommended!

About the author:

Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)

Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Oregon with their two children, three dogs and a cat. They have co-authored two series, the bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels and romantic urban fantasy of The Edge.

Review: "This Monster of Mine" (This Monster of Mine #1) by Shalini Abeysekara

This Monster of Mine by Shalini Abeysekara
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

She knows the taste of death. He'll stoke her hunger for it.

Eighteen-year-old Sarai doesn't know why someone tried to kill her four years ago, but she does know that her case was closed without justice. Hellbent on vengeance, she returns to the scene of the crime as a Petitor, a prosecutor who can magically detect lies, and is assigned to work with Tetrarch Kadra. Ice-cold and perennially sadistic, Kadra is the most vicious of the four judges who rule the land - and the prime suspect in a string of deaths identical to Sarai's attempted murder.

Certain of his guilt, Sarai begins a double life: solving cases with Kadra by day and plotting his ruin by night. But Kadra is charming and there's something alluring about the wrath he wields against the city's corruption. So when the evidence she finds embroils her in a deadly political battle, Sarai must also fight against her attraction to Kadra - because despite his growing hold on her heart, his voice matches the only memory she has of her assailant...

A dazzling Ancient Rome-inspired romantasy debut, This Monster of Mine is a bloodbath of manipulation, deception, and forbidden love.

BUY ON 

Kobo | BLACKWELL'S

REVIEW

I keep trying to wrap my head around why no one is speaking more about this book. A Roman-inspired world filled with magic, political intrigue, murder mystery, and a forbidden romance?

Sarai's story is one of vengeance. Armed with the knowledge that someone tried and almost succeeded in killing her, she travels to the capital armed with her magic as a Petitor, capable of sensing lies, and remembering only a voice that was there the day she was killed.

What she finds is a web of intricate politics between the Tetrarchs, the ruling body of judges, and when she is assigned to work for Kadra she realizes that he was the voice she had heard that night four years ago.

As Sarai tries to discover the truth, she has to keep her story hidden from those around her, as well as one more secret that haunts her body and soul.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book; it was a great book filled with equal amounts of action, mystery, and romance. Sarai's and Kadra's story was very, very interesting, and I really want to read more about them. Plus, some side characters were good, others not so, but in the end, the final chapters were those that captivated me.

Definitely recommended!


About the author:

Shalini Abeysekara (she/her/hers) is the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of This Monster of Mine. As a former corporate lawyer, she enjoys using fantasy to interrogate reality, exploring monstrosity—perceived and real—and centering neurodivergent women of colour reckoning with themselves and their place in a world that tells them they’re too much and not enough. She is passionate about demystifying traditional publishing for all writers. When not writing, she games her life away and tries to make the perfect entremet. Most days though, she can’t believe she's an adult, and hope you don’t either.

Her debut dark fantasy romance, This Monster of Mine, is an Ancient Rome-inspired bloodbath of manipulation, deception, and forbidden love. A second novel will follow in 2026.

Follow her @shalini.writes on IG/Tiktok to be the first to hear about promotions and more! 

Review: "Mate" (Bride #2) by Ali Hazelwood

Mate by Ali Hazelwood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

A Human hybrid and an Alpha Were claw against the bonds of fate in the highly anticipated companion novel to the New York Times bestselling Bride.

Serena Paris is orphaned, pack-less, and one of a kind. Coming forward as the first Human-Were hybrid was supposed to heal a centuries-long rift between species. Instead, it made her a target, prey to the ruthless political machinations between Weres, Vampyres, and Humans. With her enemies closing in on her, she has only one option left—if he’ll have her.

As Alpha of the Northwest pack, Koen Alexander commands obedience. His authority is so absolute, only a fool would threaten his mate. It doesn’t matter if Serena doesn’t reciprocate his feelings, nothing will stop him from keeping her safe.

But power-hungry Vampyres and Weres are not the only threats chasing Serena. Sooner or later, her past is bound to catch up with her—and Koen might be the only thing standing between her and total annihilation…

BUY ON 

Kobo | BLACKWELL'S

REVIEW

The sequel to Bride caught me by surprise. Following Serena after the ordeal she had, being kidnapped by the vampires, I never expected her story to captivate me more than the first book. She slowly rediscovers her identity as a hybrid human-werewolf, and she also has to deal with the prospect of being mated to Koen, the Alpha of the Northwest pack.

Torn between duty and desire this was a really good, solid sequel. I enjoyed the humor of the wolf pack and how Serena slowly became part of the pack. What always got me were the small sentences in the beginning of every chapter from which Ali gave us Koen's inner thoughts. I loved those.

The story did not feel rushed and had a steady pace for me, at least, with a really good last part of the book. Ali never disappoints with her characters, and I would really like to see her experiment more with the genre.

About the author:

I’m originally from Italy, lived in Japan and Germany, and eventually moved to the US to pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience. I was a professor for about three years, but in 2022 I quit to write full time. When I’m not writing you can find me prowling around AO3, binge-watching shows with my three feline overlords (and my almost equally feline husband), crocheting, or eating candy.
(The name of the dog in the picture is Chica; she is not mine, but I wish she were. Love to Chandra Wicke for the photo, and to Barbara for introducing me to my new bestie.)

ARC Review: "All Superheroes Need Photo Ops" (Supers in the City #2) by Elizabeth Stephens

All Superheroes Need Photo Ops by Elizabeth Stephens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

A swooning photographer and a double-crossing superhero come together with electrifying chemistry in an out-of-this-world romantic comedy by the author of All Superheroes Need PR.

From the moment forty-eight alien superheroes crash-landed on Earth, photographer Monika Neumann had a favorite. She’s been crushing on the literally electrifying Taranis ever since she saw the cutie crawling out of his pod. Unfortunately, his popularity isn’t exactly crackling these days. He could use an image boost.

Monika is in. One right photo op and she’ll put her ridiculously hot lightning-bolt-wielding hero back in the public’s favor. The best part is, the mission will bring her closer to Taranis. She’s already looking forward to the sparks. Monika never imagined there’d be a worst an accidental recording that reveals Taranis could be more villain than hero. In fact, her pretty golden boy can get kind of ugly.

Going all 007 and spying on Taranis isn’t the adventure in romance and derring-do she expected. Can she trust him? Doubtful. Can she resist him? No way. Is she ready to risk everything on a shimmering Champion with the power to zap her heart in two? Well, yeah.

PRE-ORDER ON 

AMAZON | BLACKWELL'S

REVIEW

I received an e-ARC from the author and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Getting an upcoming title by Elizabeth Stephens is always a treat! I couldn't be happier to have gotten the chance to read and review this beauty.

So our story this time focuses on the best photographer in the business Monika Newman, who also has a crush on the best of the best of superheroes, Taranis. But what no one knows is that Taranis actually is a huge jerk with an ego rivaling the sun. Knowing him, he would demand you honor him like the sun itself. And..he may be double-playing between Superheroes and villains. As Monika unwillingly becomes entangled in a tricky mission of uncovering his true motives, both may realize that they have a chemistry which will test Taranis's alliances and view of the world.

This was scorching! Freaking hot, I tell you! Do you want the action? The banter and the comedy? The spice? Scratch it, the spice was off the charts. I loved Monika, she is a strong, capable woman who also has vulnerabilities, making her even more realistic, and Taranis, while a jerk, he kind of became a cute jerk by the end of the book. Seeing also the possible next couple also made me even more excited for the next book!

Definitely recommended if you love extra spice with your superhero alien romance.

And don't miss the first book of the series.

                                                 

About the author:

Top 10 USA Today Bestselling author Elizabeth Stephens writes books where beastly men—or sometimes just beasts—always get the girl.
A full-time hybrid indie and traditionally published author, Elizabeth is best known for her Supers in the City series (Montlake) and her indie works like The Bone King and the Starling and Dark City Omega. In all of her books, readers can expect diverse casts, epic world-building, quests with unexpected twists, and women of color being celebrated loudly, Black and biracial women in particular.
When she isn’t writing, you might find Elizabeth enjoying the outdoors of the Pacific Northwest or traveling and making adventures of her own with her husband, tiny humans, and doggo, King Louis.

Review: "Alchemised" by SenLinYu

Alchemised by SenLinYu
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

In this riveting dark fantasy debut, a woman with missing memories fights to survive a war-torn world of necromancy and alchemy—and the man tasked with unearthing the deepest secrets of her past.

“What is it you think you’re protecting in that brain of yours? The war is over. Holdfast is dead. The Eternal Flame extinguished. There’s no one left for you to save.”

Once a promising alchemist, Helena Marino is now a prisoner—of war and of her own mind. Her Resistance friends and allies have been brutally murdered, her abilities suppressed, and the world she knew destroyed.

In the aftermath of a long war, Paladia’s new ruling class of corrupt guild families and depraved necromancers, whose vile undead creatures helped bring about their victory, holds Helena captive.

According to Resistance records, she was a healer of little importance within their ranks. But Helena has inexplicable memory loss of the months leading up to her capture, making her enemies wonder: Is she truly as insignificant as she appears, or are her lost memories hiding some vital piece of the Resistance’s final gambit?

To uncover the memories buried deep within her mind, Helena is sent to the High Reeve, one of the most powerful and ruthless necromancers in this new world. Trapped on his crumbling estate, Helena’s fight—to protect her lost history and to preserve the last remaining shreds of her former self—is just beginning. For her prison and captor have secrets of their own . . . secrets Helena must unearth, whatever the cost.

BUY ON 
Kobo | BLACKWELL'S

REVIEW

This book contains a whole list of TW. A few of them include, and are not limited to: blood, death, gore, war, torture, and rape. Please proceed with caution.

Helena Marino, once a gifted healer now a prisoner of the new regime of Paladia, filled with corrupt magical families and their necromancers who commanded the undead soldiers who led them to win the war. But she is missing her memories of months leading up to her capture and so she is given to the top and most trusted soldiers of the new regime, the High Reeve. Living as a prisoner and tortured for the secrets she may be hiding does not stop her from slowly unspooling the maze of her own mind and he connection to the High Reeve.

I'll be honest. I had read Manacled and that book gutted me so I had a point of reference and knew what would happen by the end of the book. But I never expected this monster of a book to pull me in and question human morality when faced with absolute death and destruction. The world is known as Paladia. There was a ruling family, gifted with the power of pyromancy and fire and below them socially are the Guild families, which strive for more power. Helena comes as a sponsored student to the Institute, which is the higher education system all gifted magicians strive to be and develop their own affinities to metal, healing and magic in general.

The book is also separated in three parts, going from present to the past, and we see how Helena becomes entangled to the Resistance and what choices she has to make, sometimes at the cost of her own sanity. Needless to say this is a character-driven book, but the worldbuilding does not fall behind. I was surprised they allowed the authors to keep it in one single book, and I couldn't be happier for that. Kaine Ferron is also a tragic character who carries trauma and is a victim of the war and its consequences.

You can not consider this story a romance. It is a tragedy and a brutal reminder of what happens in war, but with a love story that slowly develops like a small bud trying to survive an ashen world. And the epilogue lingers with you long after the book ends.

This is one of the best books of the year.

About the author:

SenLinYu grew up in the Pacific Northwest and studied classical liberal arts and culture. They started writing in the Notes app of their phone during their baby’s nap time. Their collected online works have garnered over twenty million individual downloads and have been translated into twenty-three languages. They live in Portland with their family. ALCHEMISED is their first novel.

Review: "The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy" (Dearly Beloathed #1) by Brigitte Knightley

The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

The first in a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romantasy duology featuring a scholarly healer and a gentleman assassin, set in an exquisite fantasy world, perfect for fans of The Love Hypothesis and Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries.

Osric Mordaunt, member of the Fyren Order of assassins, is in dire need of healing. Naturally – such is the grim comedy of fate – the only healer who can help is Aurienne Fairhrim, preeminent scientist, bastion of moral good, and member of an enemy Order.

Aurienne is desperate for funding to heal the sick - so desperate that, when Osric bribes her to help him, she accepts, even if she detests him and everything he stands for.

A forced collaboration ensues: the brilliant Woman in STEM is coerced into working with the PhD in Murders, much to Aurienne's disgust. As Osric and Aurienne work together to heal his illness and investigate the mysterious reoccurrence of a deadly pox, they find themselves ardently denying their attraction, which only fuels the heat between them.

Romance tropes

Enemies to lovers

High interaction slow burn

Hypercompetent idiots

He falls first and harder

Evisceration as a love language

BUY ON 

Kobo | BLACKWELL'S

REVIEW

This book was a delightful surprise, filled with a unique magic system, hilarious moments, and shenanigans. Osric and Aurienne are sword enemies, even opposed by their magic and politics but desire can be found in the most...loathed places.

Osric is dying and what better thing to do than kidnap the best healer in the world and force her to heal him? Easy peasy. There is just a problem, Aurienne is not your everyday healer and she has a big ego to match Osric's own.

As they navigate therapy sessions, hidden political machinations and their own growing attraction, they will have to come up with more ways not to kill each other in the process. I liked the premise, the word feels like middle ages England with a good touch of magic and a system that categorizes it in 'good' 'evil' and....'chaotic'? We'll see because there is so much to explore here.

Osric was so funny in his assurance that he is the best assassin with the best ways to dispose of his enemies it was almost comical. And Aurienne was kind of a snob at start which almost made me not like her but she grew on me. The balcony scene was the best one in the whole book.

Overall this is a good story with interesting worldbuilding and a slow-burn romance.

Also recently, the cover of the second book was revealed!

About the author:

Brigitte writes what she wants to read: enemies-to-lovers romances that put the unresolved back in UST. Her debut novel, THE IRRESISTIBLE URGE TO FALL FOR YOUR ENEMY, is coming out July 2025 (Berkley / Orbit UK).

Cover Reveal: "The Light Under the Shadow Wing" (Heirs of the Second Dawn #1) by Amanda Bouchet

Welcome to the cover reveal of Amanda Bouchet's upcoming novel, The Light Under The Shadow Wing! I have loved Amanda's books since her debut series, The Kingmaker Chronicles. Without further ado, feast your eyes on this beauty!

                                           

Title: The Light Under the Shadow Wing by Amanda Bouchet

Release date: February 23, 2026

Tropes:

• Found family

• Trainer x trainee

• Who did this to you?

• Touch her and die

• Forced proximity

• Warring kingdoms

• Royalty

• Slow burn

• Dragon shifters

Blurb: 

DANGER, DESIRE, AND KINGDOMS ON THE BRINK OF WAR.

Idallia has been serving in the Dragon King’s Elite Wing of dragon shifters for nearly two hundred years. She doesn’t have fire or flight of her own, but she’s a phoenix rider with enough speed and skill to make her enemies think twice about tangling with her or her warbirds.

Centuries of life without knowing who or what you are is complicated enough without harboring a growing secret attraction, but the more time Idallia spends with Bale Cinderheart, the harder it is to stay away from the fiercely protective Dragon King. Dominant, intense…and the one man with the power to ruin everything.

Bale has centuries of ruling under his scales and more responsibilities than he has fangs. His greatest triumph is his Elite Wing and their warbirds, but his biggest fear is losing them. Especially Idallia. She’s his forbidden desire and the one person he can’t seem to let go of—even for his own good.

While the man in him guards his heart as relentlessly as the dragon in him guards his kingdom, he's also the keeper of the answers Idallia has been seeking her whole life. Revealing the truth now could cost him everything—his home, his crown, his heart…

The threat of war looms as magic fades from the world of Ellonrift. Will the Dragon King preserve the fragile peace between the kingdoms? Or burn it all down, for her…

The Heirs of the Second Dawn are interconnected standalone fantasy romance novels with no cliffhangers.

About the author:

Amanda Bouchet grew up in New England where she spent much of her time tromping around in the woods and making up grand adventures in her head. It was inevitable that one day she would start writing them down. Drawing on her Greek heritage for the setting and on her love of all things daring and romantic for the rest, her debut series, The Kingmaker Chronicles, took form. She writes what she loves to read: epic exploits, steamy romance, and characters that make you laugh and cry.

Her first novel, A Promise of Fire, was a Goodreads Choice Awards top ten finalist for Best Debut and an NPR Best Book of 2016.

Amanda lives in Paris, France with two kids, two cats, and a regular dose of fluffy, buttery croissants.