"The Thorn Queen" by Sasha Peyton Smith

 

"The Thorn Queen" by Sasha Peyton Smith is the second and final book in The Rose Bargain duology, bringing the story to a satisfying close. I loved the first book, so I was a bit wary about reading its sequel — sequels are usually touch-and-go for me. Fortunately, it didn’t disappoint.

The book picks up where the first one ended, so you need to read it beforehand. Ivy is King Bram’s wife and queen, ruling an alternate version of 1800s/Victorian England, while her sister Lydia and Prince Emmett are trapped in the Otherworld. With the help of some loyal friends, Ivy plots to unseat Bram, save her sister, and reunite with Emmett. To do this, she must outsmart Bram, navigate court intrigue, and overcome obstacles. Among clandestine meetings, tricky trials, and wicked magic, she has to play for keeps.

I enjoyed the book, though I have to admit I loved the first one more. This is not to say that the book isn’t good — it just lacks the spark and romantic tension of the first. The pace was uneven; some sections dragged while others rushed. Furthermore, this book is much darker and bloodier than the first, and the romance takes a back seat. The cruelty of the fae reached a new level, along with their games and debauchery, which at times was too much.

The book alternates between different points of view, giving us insight into the characters’ mindsets. It introduces some new characters, such as Rhion, Bram’s best friend and advisor, whose characterization I loved. The author described his eccentricities well. I also loved the bond between the two sisters and how each of them wanted to save the other. I didn’t like that Emmett was sidelined, nor did I condone his conduct; I preferred him in the first book. Bram was the perfect villain, but I found the lenient attitude and soft feelings of the others toward him a bit odd.

The story mostly takes place in the Otherworld, and I loved the world-building, with all its ins and outs. The focus is more on feelings and relationships, so there is less action. There are trials as well, and I loved their creativity: a self-awareness forest, caves that cause pain, and even a quest. What’s not to like?

With themes of grief, sisterly relationships, emotional turmoil, friendships, betrayals, trust, social justice, and moral conflicts, the author has woven a tale that I overall enjoyed reading. The themes of love and moral choices resonated with me particularly, making the story feel emotionally rich. While the writing was engaging, the issues I noted earlier led me to deduct a star.

If you loved the first book, you will enjoy this one as well. I did, despite its flaws, and found the conclusion satisfying. This duology is ideal for fans of dark fantasy with complex characters, intricate relationships, and rich storytelling.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.  

* For more info about the book: "The Thorn Queen" by Sasha Peyton Smith

 

"Gilded in Vengeance" by Lyssa Mia Smith

 

Gilded in Vengeance by Lyssa Mia Smith is a high-stakes revenge story reminiscent of The Count of Monte Cristo. I loved that classic, so the blurb caught my eye immediately. Think The Count of Monte Cristo, but with magic—how cool is that??

Set during the Gilded Age in an alternate late-1800s New York, magic—known as conjury—exists but is hidden among the elite few. Emmy Vallillo is betrayed by her best friend and framed for fraud at the Society of the Charmed’s ball, an exclusive event for the city’s wealthiest—and most magical—citizens. She’s sent to Grimsbane, a prison from which no one escapes alive.

Two years later, fellow prisoner Jack Fontaine, helps her escape. They form an uneasy alliance and, with help from their friends Jimmy and Caleb, use Emmy’s transformation magic to create new identities and re-enter society, intent on destroying those who wronged them.

Their path isn’t easy. The weakening of Brum, the source of magic, stirs unrest. Society turns suspicious of newcomers, blaming immigrants for the weakening of magic. Emmy soon finds herself torn between love and revenge.

I found this a highly entertaining read, filled with rich world-building, vivid characters, and a compelling magical system. The twists and turns kept me engaged throughout. While I enjoyed the various aspects of magic, I wasn’t entirely clear on how the bridging conjuries worked.

The characters, setting, and dialogue felt authentically Victorian, with an enchanted twist. The author captured the period well, especially the political and social dynamics of the elite. The main characters are well-developed and engaging—I truly cared about their fates.

There’s a lot I loved here: the complexity, the intrigue, the magical retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo. The dynamic between Emmy, a naive immigrant’s daughter, and Jack, the spoiled son of wealth, was compelling. Grace, the ex–best friend, made an excellent villain—selfish, ruthless, and cunning, willing to step over corpses to survive in a bigoted society.

The book explores themes like found family, betrayal, trust, revenge, deception, classism, racism, and immigration. I appreciated the inclusion of the Chinese Exclusion Act, though the repeated focus on immigration sometimes felt more like an agenda than an essential part of the story. LGBTQ+ representation was present in the side characters, handled with care and subtlety.
 
The steady pace kept me turning pages, and the suspense ramped up nicely toward the final third. I liked that the story stands on its own and found the ending satisfying. That said, a moment near the end pushed the suspension of disbelief a bit too far—even for fantasy.

Overall, I loved the book and rate it 4 out of 5 stars. I deducted one star for that over-the-top moment and the feeling of being fed a bit of an agenda. Still, I highly recommend this to fans of slow-burn romance, high-stakes adventure, revenge plots, and The Count of Monte Cristo vibes. Even if you haven’t read the classic, you’ll likely enjoy this one.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "Gilded in Vengeance" by Lyssa Mia Smith

"Thorn Season" by Kiera Azar

 

 

This story grabbed me from the blurb, making me eager to dive into its pages. Once I did, I knew I was in for a fantastic read. "Thorn Season" by Kiera Azar is the first book in a romantasy trilogy and an excellent start to the series. Think "The Selection", but with magic - and even better.

The book takes place in the Kingdom of Daradon, where Wielders are persecuted for their invisible power, the Specter, which makes them feared by the common people. The story follows Alissa Paine—heiress to a noble lineage and daughter of a Hunter family sworn to hunt Wielders. But Alissa is a Wielder herself, forced to keep her abilities hidden to avoid detection. On her 18th birthday, she must attend the royal court for the debutante season, only to find herself ensnared in court intrigue and caught between two dangerous men: Eric, the cruel king, and Keil, a foreign ambassador. It may be the Rose Season at the palace, but only her wit and thorns will keep her alive.

Court intrigue, an original magic system, secrets and betrayals, hidden agendas, enemies to lovers, forbidden powers, slow-burn romance - this book has it all. While the romance takes a backseat to the plot, there's a touch of well-crafted sexual tension. Plus, no love triangle—a trope I'm more than happy to do without.

This is a highly entertaining romantasy, filled with rich world-building, vivid and original characters, and a captivating magical setting. The magic system is unique, creative, and well-thought-out. The author does an excellent job of portraying her characters - whether protagonists or side characters, each one feels fully developed, from the honorable to the wicked and everyone in between.

Alissa is a fantastic heroine - intelligent, beautiful, sharp-tongued, and strong-willed. But she’s also reckless, daring, and rash. More than once, I wanted to shake her and tell her to stop being such a daredevil! I especially liked her relationship with her father and the genuine care between them. The dialogue, particularly the snappy exchanges between the main characters, was a highlight - whether in moments of flirtation or otherwise.

The pacing is just right - not too fast, not too slow - keeping a steady flow of twists and turns. With its immersive world-building, compelling characters, intricate magic system, and suspenseful plot, this book is an absolute page-turner. The writing style is smooth and easy to follow, and the thrilling ending perfectly sets the stage for the second book in the trilogy.

From the very first page, this story pulled me in and kept me hooked. I loved it and can’t wait for the next installment. While aimed at a YA audience, this book is an engaging, fast-paced read that any adult fantasy lover would enjoy. Full stars from me!

*Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own. 

* For more info about the book:  "Thorn Season" by Kiera Azar

"That Devil, Ambition" by Linsey Miller

 

"That Devil, Ambition" by Linsey Miller is a dark stand-alone academia/fantasy that explores the lengths people will go to succeed, even at the expense of their morality, questioning whether the ends justify the means.

Told in the third person, the book follows three protagonists: Fabian Galloway, whose self-confidence conceals a well of self-doubt; Credence, a softhearted math genius who allows Fabian to choose for her to avoid making the wrong decisions herself; and absent-minded Euphemia, who makes sacrifices to survive.

These three friends are students at the Stellarium of Cifra, the continent’s only school for magicians. The story unfolds over their final year, with each of the book’s three sections told from the viewpoint of one of the protagonists. As members of the Honors Class - a group of thirteen students who made the cut - they face a grim challenge: to pass, become magicians, and erase their student debt, they must kill their professor, a devil from another world.

Failing that, they risk losing their lives. Along the way, we come to know and care about some of their classmates and teachers, but the focus is on those three. As the year progresses, the students gradually lose their humanity, committing increasingly unforgivable acts in the name of survival. What unfolds is a strikingly raw and intense picture.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s a pulse-pounding read about truth, secrets, and death. The premise is unique, the plot engaging, and the world-building intricate. There is also magic and mild political intrigue. The queernormative world’s magic system is brilliant - though I won’t spoil it by enlarging on it, I’ll say it’s both original and exciting.

While I connected most with Credence and Euphemia, Fabian was harder to like; his ambition and disregard for others’ lives, aside from his friends, made him challenging to sympathize with. I did, however, love the dynamics and bond between the three friends, who care deeply for one another. The author’s message that “We are worth more than our academic achievements” resonated with me, as did the nod to The Three-Body Problem.

Miller doesn’t spare us - or her characters - any mercy, nor does she hesitate to kill characters left and right, perhaps a few too many for my taste. I liked the ending, though not all questions were answered. It is supposed to be a stand-alone, but some loose ends left me unsatisfied.

As much as I love dark academia, this book went further than most, perhaps even a bit too dark for me. Content warnings include child abuse and neglect, parental death, self-harm, senseless violence, grief, and depression to name a few. Despite this, I couldn’t stop reading; it was like watching a train wreck in slow motion. Saying that, it was a good read, and the LGBTQ+ representation felt natural and well-integrated. All in all, I highly recommend this book to fans of dark academia (truly dark) and the genre. It’s certainly not for the faint of heart.
 
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "That Devil, Ambition" by Linsey Miller

"The Rose Bargain" by Sasha Peyton Smith

 

"The Rose Bargain" by Sasha Peyton Smith is an enchanting romantasy set in an alternate 1840s England, where a faerie queen reigns supreme. It's a perfect blend of The Cruel Prince and The Selection, making for an entertaining start to the duology.

In this alternate history, England is isolated from its neighbors - no one leaves, and no one arrives. Each citizen is granted one bargain from the immortal fae queen, though it always comes at a cost, whether it's a cherished childhood memory, a nail, or even a toe. High-society girls are expected to bargain for qualities that will secure them a husband.

The story follows Ivy Benton, a young woman whose prospects of marriage are ruined due to a family scandal involving her sister. During her debut season, the queen announces a competition to win the hand of her son, Prince Bram. Ivy is the first to sign up, hoping to win and restore her family’s standing. Soon, 23 more girls join, but there can only be one winner.

The competition features maypole dances, balls, and dark challenges to weed out the weak. Meanwhile, Prince Emmett, Bram's stepbrother, has his own agenda. The stakes are high, and Ivy must use all her wits to stay ahead of the others.

The book is primarily told from Ivy’s perspective, with occasional chapters from other characters' points of view. The author does a great job of blending real-world elements with fantasy. The main characters are engaging, each with their own distinct backstories. Ivy Benton, in particular, stands out for her lively spirit and devotion to her family.

The tale depicts a tale of love, conspiracy, and Otherworldly courtly intrigue. I liked the way the author weaves the fae elements into the real England. The author’s integration of the War of Roses and its aftermath adds depth to the story. The characters, settings, and dialogue maintain a genuine Victorian feel. While the pacing starts slow, it picks up as the plot unfolds, and the writing is engaging enough to keep you hooked.

I especially enjoyed the character interactions and budding romances, which, though quick, held my attention. The blend of magic, mystery, and unexpected twists kept the story fresh. The book ends on a cliffhanger, and I’m eager for the second part of this duology. With themes of friendship, family, sisterly bonds, and moral dilemmas, "The Rose Bargain" is a captivating read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I highly recommend it to fantasy lovers who enjoy stories about fae in a Bridgerton-like world.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "The Rose Bargain" by Sasha Peyton Smith