What is this?
Every week in my newsletter, I highlight a book I’m currently reading or have just finished. I’m a writer, but I’m also a huge reader and I figure if you liked Forsaken Mate and I liked Forsaken Mate, we probably like a lot of the same things.
Below are my reactions from the newsletter for (most) of the books (most because I’m slow at updating my website).
Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole
You ever know by the end of the first chapter that the protagonist is one of those? One of those characters that’s going to stay with you even after the book is over? That’s Diem for me. My favorite protagonists are the angry ones. Angry women are so often reviled when they’re shown in books and movies, but I have such a soft spot for them because anger is such a forbidden emotion. We’re not supposed to be angry, but there’s so much to be angry about some days–and books are a great way to live those emotions. We’ll talk about my love for straight up psychotic women another day…
The Unseelie Prince by Kathryn Ann Kingsley
It’s actually impossible to say enough good things about KAK’s books. The terms morally gray and villain romance get tossed around a lot in fantasy romance (and it makes sense, because those tropes are AWESOME) but KAK just… defines villain romance. Her villains fall in love completely and obsessively, but they never stop being villains. And her heroines? They give every bit as good as they get. The world building in every series is SO unique–the romance may take center-stage, but while reading you become absolutely immersed in her worlds. I’m only including this one because it’s her most popular (for good reason) but I’ve adored every single series by this author.
The King’s Captive by K.M. Shea
While recovering from my pie-induced coma, I binge-read K.M. Shea’s Gates of Myth and Power series. It’s part of an interconnected world, but I didn’t know that going in, and that was totally fine. The premise?
What if the dangerous elf king accidentally adopted a cat shifter as his emotional therapy animal… and she can’t shift back or escape for fear of him discovering her?
You get a brooding, morally gray MMC who is absolutely spoiling the cat he found while she is terrified of being discovered (but slowly won over). Such a good comfort read; I recommend to anyone currently in a book slump (and I’m happy for any recommendations with similar vibes)!
Slaying the Shifter Prince by Clare Sager
I devoured Clare Sager’s entry in the Enemies to Monster Lovers book after reading Carissa Broadbent’s (which I’m not discussing because I already have told you guys how much I love her work). This was my first time reading a book of Sager’s.
And I’m absolutely in love.
It’s almost like taking the things I loved from last week’s recommendation (featuring a morally gray MMC who adopts the FMC as a pet) and making them a lot darker. Zita tries to kill the Shifter Prince, and when she fails, her life is forfeit. Rather than kill her (because where would the romance be in that story?) he enslaves her as his pet.
You could say I’m on a kick.
Heart of Night and Fire by Nisha J. Tuli
AKA the reason I was up reading way too late last night. Nisha has created an incredibly rich world, and I can already teel Zarya is going to be one of my favorite badass women in fantasy. Also, you may be aware I love psychic dreams as a trope. (I know, I was so subtle about it in Shifted Fates). If you’ve already picked it up or Nisha’s other series, tell me what you think! Or if you have any other recommendations for dream connections… I am very literally always on the lookout.
A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows by Holly Renee
I’m very late to the party here, but god, what a party. Only someone wicked could make me want to fall to my knees before her and pledge my loyalty to her with my tongue. My family be damned. Like… Sir. One-click.
I don’t even need to post the cover for you to know what I’m reading this week, do I? [Note: in the email I was showing a specific piece of character art]
I think I am possibly the last person in the world to read The Ever King. I’m about a quarter of the way through (loving it, just very, very tired these days and don’t have much energy for reading). But it is good. Good, old-fashioned, viking, woman-kidnapping, childhood-friends-to-enemies-to-lovers, fun. The hook is “who did this to you” but “just kidding I don’t care because I will kill everyone I even suspect might have been involved” and honestly this is exactly why dating apps don’t work for me.
Guys holding up pictures of dead fish have nothing on Erik Bloodsinger.
Carnage Island by Lexi C. Foss
You remember the parts in Forsaken Mate where Avery’s wolf takes over and has a mind of her own? (I know I say every part was my favorite to write but these scenes are my personal crack.) What if you had a FMC stuck as a wolf for several chapters of that, where her wolf takes over, enjoying the scents of all her mates?
In other, totally unrelated news, guess who didn’t go to bed until after 2am last night?
Carnage Island has a very dark name for a story that… well, it’s a bit dark, as far as rejected mates/omegaverse novels go. But it’s also kind of fluffy? Like there are parts where you just want to roll around and kick your legs.
There are also parts that should be read, uh, one-handed.
Anyway, this is my current read. It’s a bit of a dark time these days (and not just because the sun seems to set as soon as it comes up) and a book with three hot alphas constantly praising their cherished mate is exactly what I needed.
Slaying the Vampire Conqueror by Carissa Broadbent
My reward for getting through copy edits: Slaying the Vampire Conqueror. I am a huge Carissa Broadbent fan (at this point I think either everyone is, or they just haven’t read the books yet). I’ve been a bit under the weather so I’m only able to manage a couple chapters each night before the cold medicine kicks in, but I can already tell this is going to give me a book hangover. [Update, having finished, FANTASTIC, 10/10, different than TSATWON duology but very good in its own way; a much quicker read.]
This is a reread, but I’m treating myself as a reward for finishing up a secret project. If you like men with wings, mystical bargains, and a siren female lead sounds right up your alley, this is 100% the book to read. And if none of the appeals… go on faith. Lauren Thalassa does not miss.
When He’s Sinful by Suzanne Wright
I am a Suzanne Wright novice, but I kind of regret reading this book. Not because it’s in the middle of a sequel series (Suzanne gives you enough context that it 100% stands alone). No, I regret it because it’s one of those books that ruins you—everyone is going to be compared to Camden. If you ever thought friends-to-lovers is boring, I promise you this book will disprove that (I think of Avery and Cole as more of a reluctant allies to friends situation… though if you’ve read through the end of Forsaken Mate you know there’s more to it than that)! I cannot recommend this book enough.
A psychopath who outsources his conscience to the woman he’s loved since they were children?
Yes, please!
Vasilisa Drake 