Just a little post to wish you a happy August!
“Leaving any bookstore is hard, especially on a day in August, when the street outside burns and glares, and the books inside are cool and crisp to the touch.” ―Jane Smiley
“Breathe the sweetness that hovers in August.” ―Denise Levertov
Title: Thorns and Fire
Series: The Ashes of Thezmarr #2
Author: Helen Scheuerer
Iron and Embers – review
A golden thread joined them, a bond that went deeper than love – and it had nearly destroyed them.
Wren Embervale and Torj Elderbrock share a dark and bloody history. With Thezmarr on the brink of another war, and overwhelmed by the force of their feelings for one another, Torj discovers there is far more to their bond than mere passion. The legendary Warsword is determined to protect Wren at all costs, even if it means lying to her . . . Even if it means losing her forever.
Meanwhile, Wren is struggling to find her place in the world – both as an advanced student of alchemy at the ancient academy of Drevenor, and as one of the heirs to a lost kingdom. With the midrealms once again facing destruction, Wren must decide: loyalty or liberation? Legacy or love?
As new political players emerge, Wren discovers that her gift for alchemy is more powerful than she ever imagined – and that it could tear the kingdoms apart.
Will she and Torj find their way back to each other, or will the ancient magic that binds them become their undoing?
‘You stand at my side.
And we destroy them all.
Together.’
War is on the horizon yet again for the alchemists and warswords of Thezmarr, and Wren is in the thick of it. The pressure is truly on.
I tell you, I thought Torj and Wren had gone through enough, separately and together, but this book really puts them through the wringer!
I love Torj with all my heart and in this book he proves that he is THE MAN! And Embers character development is second to none in this series, it’s so great to watch!
The gang is back together, Thea, Wilder, Kipp, Cal, Dessa and Zavier (I hope Kipp and Cal get their own books, even a novella each would do me!!)
New players are on the board, but remember, the Queen is the most powerful piece …
That ending. I cannot wait to see what happens next (when is that please?!!!!)
Sound like something you’d like?
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: Beach/Beachy Reads
This is good timing because I came back from the beach on Friday!
I’ll show you the books I took (and didn’t fully read!) and some books that remind me of the beach because I either read at the beach or they’re beachy themed!
And I’ve gone overboard again with 12!
Brigands and Breadknives by Travis Baldree
Echo Fort by Caroline Peckham
The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk by Carissa Broadbent
Blood and Steel by Helen Scheuerer
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
Iron and Embers by Helen Scheuerer
Thorns and Fire by Helen Scheuerer
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey
Happy Place by Emily Henry
Beach Read by Emily Henry
It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
Have you read any of these?
Fairyloot Romantasy – July 2025
Fateful Bonds
No Sunday Post today as I didn’t read any books on my holiday!
A woman who wields magical tarot cards lands herself in a false engagement with the headmaster of a mysterious academy.
Perfect for readers who love:
❤️🔥 Enemies to Lovers
💍 Fake Engagement
🌙 Unique Magic Systems
Arcana Academy by Elise Kova
🖤 An EXCLUSIVE REDESIGNED COVER by @micaelaalcainodesign
🖤 A REVERSIBLE DUST JACKET featuring a colour variation of the trade cover
🖤 FOIL ON THE HARDCOVER by @micaelaalcainodesign (front, back and spine)
🖤 CHARACTER ARTWORK ON THE ENDPAPERS with foil by @rosalynnarts (different front and back)
🖤 DIGITALLY SPRAYED EDGES on all three edges by @micaelaalcainodesign
🖤 HEAD AND TAIL BANDS
🖤 BONUS CONTENT: An annotated chapter and author letter with a digital signature bound into the book.
Clara Graysword has survived the underworld of Eclipse City through thievery, luck, and a whole lot of illegal magic. After a job gone awry, Clara is sentenced to a lifetime in prison for inking tarot cards-a rare power reserved for practitioners at the elite Arcana Academy.
Just when it seems her luck has run dry, the academy’s enigmatic headmaster, Prince Kaelis, offers her an escape-for a price. Kaelis believes that Clara is the perfect tool to help him steal a tarot card from the king and use it to re-create an all-powerful card long lost to time.
In order to conceal her identity and keep her close, Kaelis brings Clara to Arcana Academy, introducing her as the newest first-year student and his bride-to-be.
Thrust into a world of arcane magic and royal intrigue, where one misstep will send her back to prison or worse, Clara finds that the prince she swore to hate may not be what he seems. But can she risk giving him power over the world-and her heart? Or will she take it for herself?
Title: The Teller of Small Fortunes
Author: Julie Leong
Tao is an immigrant fortune teller, traveling between villages with just her trusty mule for company. She only tells “small” fortunes: whether it will hail next week; which boy the barmaid will kiss; when the cow will calve. She knows from bitter experience that big fortunes come with big consequences…
Even if it’s a lonely life, it’s better than the one she left behind. But a small fortune unexpectedly becomes something more when a (semi) reformed thief and an ex-mercenary recruit her into their desperate search for a lost child. Soon, they’re joined by a baker with a knead for adventure, and—of course—a slightly magical cat.
Tao sets down a new path with companions as big-hearted as her fortunes are small. But as she lowers her walls, the shadows of her past are closing in—and she’ll have to decide whether to risk everything to preserve the family she never thought she could have.
This was such a cute read, I loved it!
Tao travels to villages and tells small fortunes. It’s on her travels that she meets Silt and Mash….who are looking for Mash’s daughter who’s been taken. Then they add a baker, Kina, to their travelling band and off they go!
If you like books with….
~ Cosy fantasy
~ Found family
~ Fabulous friendships
~ Animal companions
~ A bigger message
…..then this book is for you!
I do love a fab, cosy fantasy, and this was just that!
Sound like something you’d like?
June 2025 – Darkly Decadent
Within the lurking darkness, decadence can always be found.
Fandoms this month include The Last Tale of the Flower Bride, House of Hollow, Hungerstone and This Ravenous Fate!
💛 Nested Soul Mug – artwork by @rosiethorns88 inspired by Last Tale of the Flower Bride
💛 Darkness Within Picnic Blanket – House of Hollow inspired with artwork by @kristinheldtart
💛 The Saint Empire Spoon Rest – artwork by @_studio_AO inspired by This Ravenous Fate
💛 For What Do You Hunger Recipe Cards – Hungerstone inspired with artwork by @julie.reinhart_
✨ An exclusive redesigned cover (art by @cedarcia; design by @perrycuffdesigns)
✨ Full colour art and foil on the hardback (by @peachie.mochi)
✨ Digitally printed edges (by @cedarcia)
✨ Illustrated endpapers with foil (by @kudriaken); different front and back
✨ Bound-in author letter
✨ Bonus content
✨ Digitally signed by the author
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: Books Set in Schools/Colleges/Academies
This week we had the pick of where we wanted our books to be set in, so I chose places of learning.
Most of the time I struggle to get 10 of anything, but this week, I’m doing a Sophie aka Beware of the Reader by adding more than 10!!!!!!
Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas
Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy
The Language of Dragons by SF Williamson
Iron and Embers by Helen Scheuerer
Servant of Earth by Sarah Hawley
Never Keep by Caroline Peckham
Blood and Steel by Helen Scheuerer
Plier by Jane Washington
The Library of Shadows by Rachel Moore
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
The Coven by Harper L Woods
Zodiac Academy by Caroline Peckham
Have you read any of these?
Title: Goldfinch
Series: Plated Prisoner #6
Author: Raven Kennedy
(I think I gave up reviewing the next 2 books but I loved Gold so don’t know why I didn’t review!!!!)
One king caged my body.
Another has caged my mind.
War has broken out between Annwyn and Orea, though that’s not the only battle being waged.
There’s a fight inside me, and it’s one I’m determined to win, no matter how much they try to strip me down and hollow me out.
Yet they’ve forgotten one thing. The ancient magic of the pair bond. One can never truly be lost when two souls are already bound.
Because Slade and I? We are connected by more than just fated magic, and we will always find each other.
In any life.
The fae king is trying to destroy me. My heritage. My memory. But what he hasn’t realized is this: gold bends, but stone breaks.
And a Goldfinch does not fall.
It flies.
‘And a Goldfinch does not fall. It flies.’
The conclusion! It feels like I’ve been reading this series forever, and now we’re at the end!
All looks bleak for Auren. She was captured and basically had her memories wiped, but Slade is back with his promise that he will do anything, and I mean anything, for Auren, his other half. And he has an addition (which I absolutely loved!)
I really quite enjoyed this book, but there was one moment that ripped my heart out, I could’ve actually cried.
I also think Queen Malina deserved more than the ending she got. Yes, she was vile in the start but she grew, oh how she grew….and she found love in the unlikliest of places. I would’ve preferred Malina’s ending for Kaila really!
I think, for me, the side characters made books 3 to 6 for me…and on that note….please tell me that Ryatt is getting a book? I need it.
Sound like something you’d like?
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.
I hope you had a great week!
The week is done, the school year has now finished until September, and we’re going to the beach tomorrow until Friday! I can’t wait!
Only 1 audiobook ticked off the list for me this week, but I am halfway through another!
Also, I got this – I was so happy! It was a goal of mine for last year and I didn’t meet it but I have now!
Goldfinch by Raven Kennedy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(I’ve finished a series, woohoo!)
See my review soon!
Challenge – Audiobook Challenge update
Unboxing – Fairyloot Romantasy June 2025
Unboxing – Illumicrate Unboxing – June 2025
Mini Review – Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
What have you read lately?
CJRTB Books 