ARC REVIEW: The Hierarch Wars by M. J. Badal

ARC REVIEW: The Hierarch Wars by M. J. Badal

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The Hierarch Wars by M.J. Badal

Goodreads | Amazon
Release Date: July 17th 2026

The Hierarch is dead. The Trials begin.
For the first time in history, a Witch enters the arena.

The Witches of Reyland have always been outsiders in the domains of Aeltheon—feared for their magic, denied power, and forced to survive on the margins of the continent.

But when the Fourteenth Hierarch dies, everything changes. The next Hierarch will be chosen through a series of deadly Trials for control of the Heart, the very source of magic and power. And for the first time, every domain may send a champion to compete.

Chosen to represent her people, Evalene Lovejoy faces more than survival. Winning could finally earn the Witches long-denied power and resources. But victory will also bring new enemies—enemies they cannot afford.

As Evy navigates deadly challenges, betrayals, and uneasy alliances, she’ll learn that it won’t be enough to win.

To save her people, Evy must pursue the impossible: she must prove her people belong.

And sway the heart of Aeltheon—or watch the realm rise against her.

☆ MY THOUGHTS ☆

[Early copy via Booksirens]

If you’re like me, a reader who simply cannot get enough of magic plus trials, then I have a fresh new book for you.

The Hierarch Wars.

I knew before page one I was going to like the book based on the synopsis because I never tire of magical trials. Something about a good, life-threatening competition is comparable to a comfort food I could eat over and over again.

I had a great time reading The Hierarch Wars. I’m invested in Evy’s journey and what it might mean for her people and the change it would bring to her world. I wasn’t expecting the ending at all but I loved it (more books?!)

Also the teeny tiny hints of potential romance (M.J. Badal, I’m on my hands and knees for Royen).

Review: Fit for a Prince (Fit for a Crown #1) by Abigail Manning

Review: Fit for a Prince (Fit for a Crown #1) by Abigail Manning

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Fit for a Prince (Fit for a Crown #1) by Abigail Manning

Goodreads | Amazon



The prince is dead.

Diaspro Onelle would have made an excellent princess, if her betrothed hadn’t died in front of her. On a fateful night in the kingdom of Ivalon, Diaspro’s entire world burns as the king of Aemastia destroys everything in sight. Before she can escape, she’s taken captive and locked away…until another fateful day arrives, and she’s summoned before the enemy king. Intrigued by Diaspro’s previous betrothal, King Septimus decides that any woman fit for Ivalon’s perfect prince must surely be suitable for one of his sons.

Diaspro is suddenly thrust out of her prison cell and into the role of prospective princess. With only a few months to charm a prince, Diaspro doesn’t have much hope that she can capture the heart of a man who already despises her. She would rather die than marry an Aemastian blue-blood, but that’s exactly what will happen if she can’t convince one of the three brothers to propose.

Dying is easy, but surviving long enough to enact revenge is the kind of challenge Diaspro can’t ignore. Marrying the enemy would allow her to save her people, but can she win a prince so soon after losing her own? She’ll have to tread carefully or else they might find out how she was chosen by royalty the first time…

MY THOUGHTS

This was really fun to read. It had all the different little things that made it my favorite book of the year so far.

Suspence.

High stakes.

A great heroine.

Princes with grit.

Engaging writing.

Even more so, I didn’t see the twist coming at all.

I’m immediately starting book two (It has The Selection vibes).

Spotlight: Under the Cygnet Moon by Jennifer L Adams

Spotlight: Under the Cygnet Moon by Jennifer L Adams

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Under the Cygnet Moon: An Enemies-to-Lovers Fantasy Romance (The Serendith Saga Book 1)

Goodreads | Amazon

An arranged marriage. A deadly secret. A love that could ruin everything.

As the fractured kingdom of Serendith teeters on the edge of ruin, Elara—a sheltered, powerless princess—is forced into a perilous bargain: marry her enemy or condemn her family to death.

Trapped in a royal engagement neither of them wants, Elara becomes a prisoner in her own palace, navigating a court of secrets and faking a love she never meant to feel. But the deeper she falls for Caelan—a powerful, infuriatingly charming watermage—the harder it becomes to tell ally from enemy.

Beneath the silvery glow of the Cygnet Moon, ancient magics and deadly prophecies stir. Secrets unravel and the line between duty and desire blurs. Now, Elara must decide who to trust—and how much she’s willing to sacrifice—for her family, for her kingdom…and for a love that could destroy them all.

Review: The Stars Would Curse Us by Valerie Rivers and Stephanie Combs

Review: The Stars Would Curse Us by Valerie Rivers and Stephanie Combs

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The Stars Would Curse Us (#1) by Valerie Rivers and Stephanie Combs
Amazon | Goodreads
January 10, 2024
367 pages

The Iris were sent to us from the stars, but their rule is controlling and oppressive. Every season, we send our brothers and sisters to the marriage drafts . . . but the selected never return.

Aella

My world falls apart when my best friend and I are drafted to compete for the hand of Esterra’s most eligible bachelor, the devastatingly handsome Iris prince. As an elemental fae, it should be the greatest honor, but the competition is filled with violence. I question my true purpose as we fight to survive in games rigged against us.

Arianwen

Life should be simple—go on my rite and return to marry a man I’ve never met—but when a handsome stranger falls from the sky, everything is turned upside down. Secrets and lies unravel, leading me to question everything as I find myself pulled into a rebellion. My heart longs for a better world, but am I willing to forsake duty in pursuit of it?

We both face choices:

LOVE or DUTY

LOYALTY or ADVENTURE

FIGHT or SURRENDER

Is fate truly written in the stars, or have they abandoned us?

Fae x Avatar: The Last Airbender x The Selection

~~~

The Stars Would Curse Us is currently one of my favorites books of the year so far.

The world building? Amazing.

The characters? Fleshed out.

The spin on my favorite trope (marriage competition)? LOVE.

Review: Her Royal Captive by Ellery Kett

Review: Her Royal Captive by Ellery Kett

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Goodreads | Amazon
November 28, 2024
254 pages

She’s the rebel who captured him. He’s the prince who might ruin her.


Aris is a rebel with nothing to lose, so when the king’s second son flees the castle, she sees her chance to give the rebels the upper hand. Capturing him should’ve been the hard part—but Prince Revan isn’t the prisoner she expected. He’s infuriatingly calm for a man with bound hands, dangerously clever, and every look he gives her burns hotter than it should.

Revan has spent his life outsmarting enemies, but Aris is different. Fierce and unrelenting, she challenges him in ways he’s never known. But the line between captor and captive is razor-thin, and the longer they’re together, the harder it is to remember they’re on opposite sides. But in a world built on lies and betrayal, trusting the wrong person could be the most dangerous move of all.

Expect enemies-to-lovers, no-spice, electric banter, simmering tension, and a forbidden romance with a HEA.


Review

Favorite Highlight: “Let me do the talking,” I say, keeping my voice low. For a moment, his face is unreadable, but then he cracks a grin—sharp around the edges, though it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “The last time I heard you say that,” he murmurs, “I ended up bound and gagged.”

~~~

This was a really fun read.

I loved Aris and Revan’s little banter so much. The prince was so charmingly funny and Aris, likewise, was brave and interesting.

I’m always at a loss for words when it comes to books I love.

(*shakes my fist*)

Looking forward to reading something else from the author in the future (more fantasy, please).

Book Blitz + Giveaway: Ambition to Savor by B.B.E. Gwyn

Book Blitz + Giveaway: Ambition to Savor by B.B.E. Gwyn

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Ambition to Savor
B.B.E. Gwyn
(The Lone Thorn Series)
Publication date: February 7th 2025
Genres: Adult, Adventure, Fantasy

When a quest for magical ingredients takes you from kitchen to adventure, you’d better save your appetite.

Dedicated and cautious restaurant owner Jonathan Tessier dreams of crafting legendary recipes—the fame and fortune that might follow is a pretty nice bonus. But it’s all he can do to keep his restaurant afloat. Stolen ingredients, a surprise visit from a food critic, and a damaged reputation put his business at risk.

Jonathan knows he needs to make a change. A big one. Before he loses it all.

He and his eager head chef, Elenora Kerras, soon set off to find the bizarre ingredients that might save his restaurant. This hunt takes them through towns and wilderness, where they encounter dangerous beasts and sly individuals. They face challenges more thrilling than even their busiest dinner shifts.

Each success brings Jonathan ever closer to his lofty goal—until he stumbles upon his most startling discovery yet.

Will his dreams be worth all their luster, or will the revelation shatter his culinary world?

A standalone fantasy adventure in the Lone Thorn series, Ambition to Savor is a fun and whimsical tale that explores a question you never thought you needed to ask—What if a restaurant owner had magical powers and a dream to find flavors from deep within a world of hidden quirks?

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

Corruption. Mutiny. Absolute villainy was occurring within the walls of his beloved establishment.

Jonathan Tessier had little reason to complain of late. Profit margins were rising, his customer base was expanding, and the recent annual health inspection had wrapped up swimmingly with no findings. After years of fatiguing work and plowing through stress, things were supposed to be looking up for his pride and joy, the Taverne Tessier.

However, walking down the street on this early autumn morning, he was feeling neither proud nor joyous. He could see his restaurant across from him as he stood waiting at the intersection, its pristine exterior of royal blue and beige surrounded by trees of warm hues. When he first renovated the place, he had aimed for a clean and regal appearance inside and out, so even if he could not boast of its size, the feeling of elegance, class, and beauty would still be conveyed.

And now it was filthy. Metaphorically speaking, of course.

Author Bio:

B.B.E. Gwyn is an author who enjoys diving into realms of low fantasy adventure. She draws inspiration from tabletop role-playing games, yokai folklore, and all kinds of media featuring characters with fun, bizarre powers. Her novels focus on intricate plots and rich character development without any romance or spicy elements, using the full breadth of her pages to offer thrilling adventures in a mysterious world.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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Book Spotlight: Destined (The Realm #1) by Ciera (C.M.) Miller

Book Spotlight: Destined (The Realm #1) by Ciera (C.M.) Miller

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Goodreads ~ Amazon
October 2nd 2024
550 pages



The fairy tale world isn’t real, and magic is for storybooks…

Alexis has no belief in magic and fairy tales…until one night everything changes, and her predictable life is thrown into chaos. Suddenly, she finds herself plunged into another world, expected to battle a monster and become a hero.

When her godmother is murdered by creatures from another world, Alexis is drawn into a battle between the rebels and a corrupt fey king. With the help of unexpected allies, friends, and a sister she was separated from before her memories were erased, Alexis must find the Champion and help restore the Realm.

With a looming threat of darkness, there are only two fates for her…become who she was born to be, or fall for the darkness that seeks to tempt her.

There’s no turning back now.

Redeemed (The Realm #2)

Amazon | Goodreads
December 6, 2024
337 pages

My name is Alexis.

I’m Dreamer’s heir and High Protector of the Realm.

I will find the Bane Slayer. I will save the Realm.

I will kill the Bane. Even if it takes me down too.

Alexis is nearing the fulfillment of her destiny, the moment when she will die to save the Realm from the Bane. While Meg struggles with a mistake that can’t be undone, James rallies the Four to defend the Realm against Eris’ attack. As the Champion rises to battle Eris, Alexis begins her search for the Bane Slayer. Prophecies begin coming to pass…but Alexis finds that her fate is not set in stone.

Book Spotlight: Page’s Pyre (Dragon Reich Book #2) by Jordan Loyal Short

Book Spotlight: Page’s Pyre (Dragon Reich Book #2) by Jordan Loyal Short

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Title: Page’s Pyre (Dragon Reich Book #2)
Author: Jordan Loyal Short
Release Date: December 3rd 2024
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Adventure, Comedy
Cover Artist: Deranged Doctor Designs
Add on Goodreads
Preorder on Amazon 

Synopsis

How do you steal a book that doesn’t exist?

When Izola travels to Jarlsbeck bearing news of her ex-husband’s death, she discovers that her daughter, Page, has made dangerous friends. Obsessed with finding a mythical book whose origins are clouded in mystery, Page is embroiled in a magical heist. To steal the book out from under the noses of a secret society of librarians, she’ll have to assemble a team of experts: a sarcastic dwarven historian, a devious summoner, and of course… a book witch—her mother.

But working together will test the team’s loyalties. Page was always a daddy’s girl, and her rebellious spirit has pushed her away from Izola. Worst of all, Page is keeping a secret that just might get the whole team killed.

On the eve of Reinveldt’s post-war election, the world’s fate teeters on the brink, and the sinister Thule Society puts forth a candidate. Nothing is beneath the Thule in their quest to control the fabled book: intimidation, blackmail, assassination.

Can mother and daughter make peace in time to save a nation from itself? And can the team hold it together long enough to steal the legendary book, or will old scars and secret agendas tear them apart?

Enjoy book one now.


Title: City in the Dragon’s Eye (Dragon Reich #1)
Author: Jordan Loyal Short
Release Date: February 12, 2024
Add on Goodreads
Amazon

Red Dragons. Black Comedy. White-Knuckled Adventure.

Viktor’s magic is turning him into a dragon. And it’s not pretty.

To save his friends who’ve bumbled into a deadly ambush, Viktor draws too deeply on the power of the Dragon Well, and now a magical tumor has begun to change him…one scale at a time.

Viktor sets off on an irreverent quest for a cure that will lead him to a remote sanitarium. Here, he will uncover a mad doctor’s strange experiments, a stubborn dwarf with stinky feet, and rumors of an ancient mirror that may hold the key to Viktor’s very survival.

As a mustache-twiddling secret society of dragon fanatics closes in, Viktor must choose between the power his transformation offers, and the hope of finding a cure.

To the fabled Tyrant’s Tomb, Viktor races the mysterious Thule Society, where deadly traps and cryptic puzzles protect a treasure of unspeakable power. With every heartbeat the tumor’s corruption spreads. Can a court dandy and a disgraced scholar help Viktor find his cure? Or is it too late to save the city from a mad doctor’s dark designs?

Update: Aiming to be Active Again

Update: Aiming to be Active Again

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The last half of 2023 was personally rough for me. I was homeless for nearly four months–a nightmare that seemed never ending. Now, this month, things have become relatively stable. While I haven’t really stopped reading, the willpower to review (and the ability to do so) was nonexistent. Starting soon, I want to be active on this blog again.

The next upcoming post will be a wish list/ spotlight post of books I want to (eventually) read. After that, I hope to get back to reviewing and spotlighting once more.

Thank you. ❤