Title: The Blood Orchid

Series: Scarlett Alchemist #2

Author: Kylie Lee Baker

Since Zilan entered the world of royal alchemists, she has learned that alchemy comes at a price. She has lost loved ones in her search for broader justice against the evil Empress and all she wants now is to find some way to bring them back. Resurrection is her specialty, after all.

In search of the myth of Penglai Island, where it’s rumored life can be fully restored, Zilan starts a new adventure. But when old threats come back to haunt her and the path to Penglai Island means facing down unpredictable, sometimes dangerous, alchemists, she wonders just how high of a price she may be willing to pay.

Back with the Scarlet Alchemist, aka Zilan, the queen of resurrection, and after the events of the last book, I couldn’t wait to see what happened next!

Her brother, Wenshu is back….sort of, but Hong is…..gone.

Durian is also back….and I was happy – love that evil alchemy duck and now his eggs!

So we’re on a quest to get to Penglai island to do a bit more resurrection!!!

This book was full of family vibes (yay Yufei!) and drama but I’d say this was a lot slower pace than book 1, maybe too slow.

That ending though!

Title: The Thirteenth Child

Author: Erin A Craig

Hazel Trépas has always known she wasn’t like the rest of her siblings. A thirteenth child, promised away to one of the gods, she spends her childhood waiting for her godfather—Merrick, the Dreaded End—to arrive.

When he does, he lays out exactly how he’s planned Hazel’s future. She will become a great healer, known throughout the kingdom for her precision and skill. To aid her endeavors, Merrick blesses Hazel with a gift, the ability to instantly deduce the exact cure needed to treat the sick.

But all gifts come with a price. Hazel can see when Death has claimed a patient—when all hope is gone—and is tasked to end their suffering, permanently. Haunted by the ghosts of those she’s killed, Hazel longs to run. But destiny brings her to the royal court, where she meets Leo, a rakish prince with a disdain for everything and everyone. And it’s where Hazel faces her biggest dilemma yet—to save the life of a king marked to die. Hazel knows what she is meant to do and knows what her heart is urging her toward, but what will happen if she goes against the will of Death?

A thirteenth child, Hazel, is chosen to be goddaughter to The Dreaded End, the death God, and he gives her the gift of healing. This gift finds her at the court of the King who is very unwell. She also meets someone who wasn’t that nice to her before, Prince Leopold.

This author smashes it again! You can expect:

A dark fantasy,
With high stakes,
Some horrible Gods,
Accompanied by sinister goings on,
And a sweet romance,
With a storyline that will hook you!

Some highlights for me were Merrick, Phemie, the deathshead and the way Hazel was so good for Leopold!

I’d say the last 20% were a maelstrom of emotions – I was reading and flapping over pages with big wide eyes, couldn’t get enough!

That ending, although beautiful, nearly finished me off though!

Title: Swordcrossed

Author: Freya Marske

Mattinesh Jay, dutiful heir to his struggling family business, needs to hire an experienced swordsman to serve as best man for his arranged marriage. Sword-challenge at the ceremony could destroy all hope of restoring his family’s wealth, something that Matti has been trying—and failing—to do for the past ten years.

What he can afford, unfortunately, is part-time con artist and full-time charming menace Luca Piere.

Luca, for his part, is trying to reinvent himself in a new city. All he wants to do is make some easy money and try to forget the crime he committed in his hometown. He didn’t plan on being blackmailed into giving sword lessons to a chronically responsible—and inconveniently handsome—wool merchant like Matti.

However, neither Matti’s business troubles nor Luca himself are quite what they seem. As the days count down to Matti’s wedding, the two of them become entangled in the intrigue and sabotage that have brought Matti’s house to the brink of ruin. And when Luca’s secrets threaten to drive a blade through their growing alliance, both Matti and Luca will have to answer the question: how many lies are you prepared to strip away, when the truth could mean losing everything you want?

A historical, queer romance by Freya Marske!

Matti is about to get married, a political marriage to get funds to save his family business. Matti needs a ‘best man’ someone who will duel if there is challenge…and he knows there will be….so enter Luca!

Luca is like a breath of fresh air….I loved that ginger!

Sofia was also another character I loved – yes…the third wheel!

I’m so torn! I love this author’s previous books and I loved the characters, their story, their romance and the premise of this book but it did go on a bit which dulled my enjoyment. But I do know more about wool now!

I did picture this all in a Bridgerton style and I could see it all happening in my head!

Are you a busy mom craving a little “me-time,” a chance to connect with friends, and maybe even a good laugh over a glass of wine? Welcome to the world of Instagram book clubs—a game-changer for anyone with a passion for reading, connection, and a little escape from the daily grind. Whether you’re already scrolling […]

The Power of Book Clubs: Join the Instagram Book Club Revolution!

Top Ten Tuesday is featured by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Topic: Oldest Books On My TBR

Wintersong by S Jae Jones
Glow by Raven Kennedy
Wicked by Jennifer L Armentrout
Variant Lost by Kaydence Snow
A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo
Dragonfall by LR Lam
Defend the Dawn by Brigid Kemmerer

What are yours?

Title: The Songbird and the Heart of Stone

Series: Shadowborn Duet #1

Author: Carissa Broadbent

Mische lost everything when she was forcibly Turned into a vampire—her home, her humanity, and most devastating of all, the love of the sun god to whom she had devoted her life. Now, sentenced to death for murdering the vampire prince who turned her, redemption feels impossible.

But when Mische is saved by Asar, the bastard prince of the House of Shadow with a past as brutal as his scars, she’s forced into a mission worse than execution: a journey to the underworld to resurrect the god of death himself.

Yet, Mische’s punishment may be the key to her salvation. In a secret meeting, her sun god commands her to help Asar in his mission, only to betray him… by killing the god of death.

Mische and Asar must travel the treacherous path to the underworld, facing trials, beasts, and the vengeful ghosts of their pasts. Yet, most dangerous of all is the alluring call of the darkness—and her forbidden attraction to Asar, a burgeoning bond that risks invoking the wrath of gods.

As her betrayal looms, the underworld closes in, and angry gods are growing restless. Mische will be forced to choose between the redemption of the sun or the damnation of the darkness.

Mische, after killing a Prince of the House of Shadow, now has to face her reckoning after being captured, and she’s sent to Morthryn with the Wraith Warden on a mission from Nyaxia.

Along their journey in the Underworld we get to learn a lot about Mische and her past life. I love how vulnerable she is but she’s also tough as nails.

Asar is broken and he doesn’t love often but when he does….ooooowwweee, it was a sight to behold! I LOVE him!

So the ending nearly killed me off but I saved this quote to make me feel better!

‘A fresh dawn makes you believe that the future can be better than the present.’

‘And so, I wait.’

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer  It’s a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received.

Hope you’ve had a good week!

Another week gone by! I’m fighting the urge to put up my Christmas tree! It’s an internal battle!

Work was crazy, my dental check up was cancelled for the 3rd time (think it’s time to find a new dentist!), my oven is still not fixed and I started my Christmas shopping!

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What I’ve Read

Swordcrossed by Freya Marske
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Gild by Raven Kennedy (reread)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Look out for my review soon!

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You might have missed…..

Review – Servant of Earth by Sarah Hawley
Feature – Friday 56

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What have you read lately?

Friday 56 is a book meme – I can see who originally hosted but the site looks to have been taken over so don’t really want to share the link!

The Rules:

1. Grab a book
2. Turn to Page 56 in a physical book or 56% in your eReader of choice.
3. Find a line or paragraph that jumps out at you and share!

For those that love…..
🌞 Grumpy/Sunshine
💞 Forced Proximity
🌿 Whimsical Cozy Fantasy

I haven’t read this yet…..but soon!

Title: Sorcery and Small Magics

Series: The Wildersongs #1

Author: Maiga Doocy

Desperate to undo the curse binding them to each other, an impulsive sorcerer and his curmudgeonly rival venture deep into a magical forest in search of a counterspell—only to discover that magic might not be the only thing pulling them together.

Leovander Loveage is a master of small magics.

He can summon butterflies with a song, or turn someone’s hair pink by snapping his fingers. Such minor charms don’t earn him much admiration from other sorcerers (or his father), but anything more elaborate always blows up in his face. Which is why Leo vowed years ago to never again write powerful magic.

That is, until a mix-up involving a forbidden spell binds Leo to obey the commands of his longtime nemesis, Sebastian Grimm. Grimm is Leo’s complete opposite—respected, exceptionally talented, and an absolutely insufferable curmudgeon. The only thing they agree on is that getting caught using forbidden magic would mean the end of their careers. They need a counterspell, and fast. But Grimm casts spells, he doesn’t undo them, and Leo doesn’t mess with powerful magic.

Chasing rumors of a powerful sorcerer with a knack for undoing curses, Leo and Grimm enter the Unquiet Wood, a forest infested with murderous monsters and dangerous outlaws alike. To dissolve the curse, they’ll have to uncover the true depths of Leo’s magic, set aside their long-standing rivalry, and—much to their horror—work together.

Even as an odd spark of attraction flares between them.

Title: Servant Of Earth

Series: Shards of Magic #1

Author: Sarah Hawley

In the underground Fae realm, only the strongest and most ruthless have power—but a young human woman forced into a life of servitude is about to change everything.

Kenna Heron is best known in her village for being a little wild—some say “half feral”—but she’ll need every ounce of that ferocity to survive captivity in the cruel Fae court.

Trapped as a servant in the faeries’ underground kingdom of Mistei, Kenna must help her new mistress undertake six deadly trials, one for each branch of magic: Fire, Earth, Light, Void, Illusion, and Blood. If she succeeds, her mistress will gain immortality and become the heir to Earth House. If she doesn’t, the punishment is death—for both mistress and servant.

With no ally but a sentient dagger of mysterious origins, Kenna must face monsters, magic, and grueling physical tests. But worse dangers wait underground, and soon Kenna gets caught up in a secret rebellion against the inventively sadistic faerie king. When her feelings for the rebellion’s leader turn passionate, Kenna must decide if she’s willing to risk her life for a better world and a chance at happiness.

Surviving the trials and overthrowing a tyrant king will take cunning, courage, and an iron will… but even that may not be enough.

Oh this was exquisite! You know that feeling when you know you LOVE a book. Not just enjoy it but LOVE it. That’s what I got here!

Kenna is a human who gets pulled into the Fae underground world of Mistei and finds herself a servant looking after the Earth Princess, Lara.

Mistei is split into the houses of Fire, Earth, Light, Void, Illusion and Blood and
ruled by the horrible, violent, King Osric. 

I won’t say anything about the plot apart from there’s trials, betrayals, it’s dark, violent and full of cutthroat fae, magic and some lovely spice!

The world building and the description of Mistei and all its secrets was written so well, it’s like I was there!

Loved Kenna but my utter fave was the Void Prince, Kellan…..yes, it’s true. Me liking the shadowy enemy! 

Ps…need book 2 please…..ASAP!