Bloodsinger - Review

Bloodsinger (The Fire That Binds, # 2)

By: Juliette Cross

Narrated By: Blair Dade; Kale Williams

Publication: April 7, 2026 by Macmillan Audio

400 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Magic, Dragons

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--A spellbinding gift...

A plea answered by the gods...

An unforgiving world where dragons rule Rome.

Lela Bihari’s village was invaded on her wedding night, her betrothed murdered right in front of her. While her sisters were either dragged away or escaped, Lela was sold to Valerius, a consul of Rome.

When she tried to kill Valerius her first night as his slave, her bloodsinger gift manifested… and she was punished for it. Now she’s paraded in front of the other senators for their amusement.

But Trajan Tiberius, the newly elected tribune to the senate, is different. He has no love for the brutality around him. When he frees Lela from enslavement and hides her, Lela is set on a path of vengeance, and using her gift puts her in more danger than ever before.

Now trapped inside the walls of Rome while deathriders circle the skies, how can she possibly trust a Roman dragon? Especially when it is clear Trajan has ulterior schemes of his own? As her powers grow stronger, danger draws closer, and Lela realizes it isn't just her life at stake, but also her heart.

Bloodsinger is a fantasy with some dark themes, including elements of master/slave relationship, attempted sexual assault, and dubious consent—none of which is between the MCs. There is also a scene with self-injury. Listeners who may be sensitive to these elements, please take note.

I listened to the audio version of Bloodsinger which means that spelling or names and places is hard to get right. Also, I don't have any quotes to share or notes to refer back to. I enjoyed the dual narrators. They both did a good job and most of all enhanced the story and didn't take away from it at all.

Lela is Malina's sister that we met in Firebird. She was on the cusp of her wedding when her village was attacked, and her betrothed was killed in front of her. As the description states, she was sold as a slave to Valerius who tortured and abused her and made her wear a muzzle after her attempt to kill him with her bloodsinger gift. With one taste of anyone's blood she can command them to do what she wishes. But she has been abused and mistreated to the point of not having much faith in herself.

Trajan is invivted to Valerius's house often. After Julian's betrayal, Trajan has to stay close to the leaders to prove himself even though doubt is immediately thrust upon him simply because he used to be under Julian's command. And it's true, he has been plotting with Julian to take down Inniculus and the other vile dragon shifters that would take his place. He does everything he can to help Lela escape. Although, he knows Malina, he has no idea that Lela is her sister.

Trajan was sweet and took his time building his relationship with Lela given everything she's been through. Of course, there is on-page action which I usually skim over. And there's cursing which I also prefer to skip. It's more annoying to me in audiobooks because my eyes can jump over it while reading, but hearing it aloud is harder to ignore. Another frustration is that the endearments I complained about in the first book are the same used in this book even though the characters are different. Sure endearments can be cultural, but this is one of my pet peeves and an easy way to distinguish unique voices from character to character.

Bloodsinger was good. I listened to it quickly, and I did hate to have to put it down. I felt slightly less connection to the characters as well as the frustrations I mentioned above with the endearments having the lead characters sounding too simular to the characters from the previous book. I am excited about the sneak peek given into the next book in the series, and I look forward to continuing to unravel this world. Bloodsinger gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read or listened to Bloodsinger? If so, what did you think? Let me know!

Empire of Flame and Thorns - Review

Empire of Flame and Thorns (Flame and Thorns, # 1)

By: Marion Blackwood

Publication: October 21, 2024 by Black Dagger Publishing

366 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Dragons, Fae, Romantasy

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--A fae rebel. A ruthless dragon commander.

And a deadly trial that will turn their lives upside down.

Trapped in the Seelie Court by a forest of thorns, Selena Hale lives at the mercy of the dragon shifters. Her only chance to gain her freedom is by entering the Atonement Trials: a deadly competition that pits fae magic users against each other. Only three people can win, and Selena intends to be one of them.

There is only one problem. Draven Ryat, the ruthless commander of the dragon shifter army, is determined to make her lose.

He symbolizes everything that she hates, and if he finds out that she is also a member of the secret fae rebellion, he will not only mess with her chances to win, he will kill her. But the more time she spends with him, the more she finds herself inexplicably drawn to him.

And nothing is more dangerous in a lethal trial than a distracted heart.

Especially one that beats for the enemy…

I know that not all main characters are going to be like me. But I always try to see myself in the characters. Or at the very least understand the character's actions. Selena is very different from me. And her decisions are very different from ones I would make. Selena is a fae that's roughly 160ish years old. In this world the fae who were once the ruling class have become subservient to the dragon shifters. The fae in Selena's city are assigned jobs and are alloted one meal per day. Selena is working for the rebellion, but she's never trusted with much outside of guard duty or lookout. Selena has emotion magic which means she can manipulate what people feel, not by creating emotion, but basically by turning up or down what they already feel. This can't be done without people knowing for the most part as when a fae uses their power, their eyes glow. Yet people continually accuse Selena of manipulating their emotions. She isn't trusted by nearly everyone. And that leaves her with a desire to connect to others. She ends up trying to be a people pleaser for the most part. She even has a non-existent relationship with her parents because she couldn't control her power when she was younger, and they blame her for the rifts in their marriage where they can't trust their own emotions.

Selena decides that joining the Attonement Trials will be the only way to prove her worth to the rebellion and earn their trust. The Attonement Trials are a set of trials/games that have three winners each year which are finally allowed to leave their home city to travel to other cities and anywhere they want. Basically they earn their freedom. I have a lot of questions about this because the Emporer and Emperess seem to have a lot more land and cities to rule over, why is it only this city that has the Attonement Trials? Is this where all the fae of the entire realm live? Also, how is there a forest under a forest? But that's a side note for another paragraph. I had questions that I wondered why these didn't occur to the characters, but you know...that would ruin the plot.

So then there's Draven. He is a dragon shifter from the Black Dragon clan. He's the leader of the clan, and the commander of the forces. He stumbles upon the rebellion meeting that Selena is a lookout for, Selena tries to distract him so the leaders of the rebellion can escape, and she throws a drink in Draven's face. He goes after her and of course recognizes her as one of the contestants of the Attonement Trials. He actively works to sabotage her. And he's attracted to her smart mouth and how she tends to treat him differently from how she treats everyone else. She doesn't like him so she doesn't care what he thinks about her, and therefore, she tends to think and speak however she wants without care of how he will receive it. The two have many interactions and I appreciate that the characters only "like" each other, not love each other by the end of the book. Because even though they do have enough interactions to create a like they have not have enough interactions of substance to create love. Obviously, there is more to Draven than we've seen up to this point. I am curious about what more there is to his story and his limitations.

There are on-page physical scenes that I prefer to skim. That's not why I read books. Language was also high. The world seems to have religious "gods" that are referenced, but we know nothing about them except references to one of their body parts in a derogitory fashion. All of these things are drawbacks for me. But not dealbreakers necessarily.

Favorite quotes:

-I still remember the vicious smugness in my teacher's voice as he told us that this is what we deserve. That it is our turn to live in poverty. To live as slaves. Our turn to suffer so that we might pay for our ancestors' crimes.

This is so stupid. How can an entire society go along with doing to others what was done to them? This isn't "fair", if that's what is trying to be portrayed. I can tell the author and the character doesn't agree, but it's also just stupid that this is the backstory.

-But I don't. Because no matter how much I try to convince myself otherwise, I still desperately want people to like me. I want them to trust me. I want to be accepted. So I force a smile and pick up my plate and say, "Sure." Pain and frustration swirl like a restless storm behind my rib cage as I walk away with my plate. I hate that I am this way. I hate that I desperately want people's approval. I hate that I make myself less so that others won't feel uncomfortable around me.

Oh my goodness. I can understand...intellectually...how someone might feel this way. I think I might even know one or two people personally who feel this way. But it frustrates me to no end. Trying to get people to like you by not being truthful isn't helping those people to like you at all. I'm trying not to judge her too harshly. I'm trying to enter the stage of life where I love people where they are...characters in books as well. But since this is fiction, I don't have to read characters like this. But thankfully, this goes to further the plot between Selena and Draven that she doesn't act like this with him.

-Being slim and being fit are not the same thing.

I read Empire of Flame and Thorns quickly. I found most of the issue with the main character's decision making, and the things being used to build a relationship between the main characters. But I wasn't expecting too much, so the book exceeded my expectations. And my desire to keep reading and ability to do so in the moment helped my overall enjoyment of the book. I am giving Empire of Flame and Thorns a tentative 4 Stars. Have you read Empire and Flame and Thorns? What did you think? Let me know!

Firebird - Review

Firebird (The Fire That Binds, # 1)

By: Juliette Cross

Publication: April 8, 2025 by Bramble

400 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Magic, Dragons

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--A conqueror captivated…
A witch prophesied to save them all…
An unforgiving world where dragons rule Rome.

Julian Dakkia, Roman general and nephew to the emperor, has played his role as conqueror well. Yet, the moment he laid eyes on Malina, he was enthralled by the Dacian dancer. Years later, the fierce beauty stands before him, a captive on a scarred battlefield, her life in danger. He instinctively shifts into his fierce dragon form to save her, an action that may mean his head on the imperial gate.

The rules of their world dictate that he is the conqueror and she is the captured. But he and his dragon know one thing: their bond has nothing to do with the laws of mighty Rome. She belongs to them. And they belong to her.

Fierce and powerful, twenty-one-year old Malina has survived the loss of her family and she is determined to fight until her dying breath. Still, she can’t believe that the centurion who had once bestowed a secret talisman on her is the Roman general of legendary brutality…and now holds her life in his hands. Nor can she deny how her soul has always seemed to answer his. Slowly she learns that Julian is caught in his mad uncle’s machinations for domination, and helps him plot the downfall of the empire itself.

As they navigate a world where flying deathriders conquer and burn, their love will ignite a firestorm that can only end in heartbreak or death. Or both.

Firebird is a fantasy with some dark themes, including elements of master/slave relationship, attempted sexual assault (not between MCs), and dubious consent (not between MCs). Readers who may be sensitive to these elements, please take note.

Malina has grown up with her grandmother telling her that she and her sisters will be powerful, magical. And that they will each be instrumental in saving many from the evils that befall them. Out of the four sisters, Malina is the one who first taps into her magical ability. She is an empath. She can feel the emotions of others. One day, as she and her sisters are performing a dance with their traveling troupe, she locks eyes with a dragon shifter, a Roman. He tosses her a coin and then follows her when she flees. They have a short conversation. Neither learn the other's name. But they definitely have some sort of instant connection. Later, Malina's village is attacked by Romans, and her father tells her to run. She does so, not knowing what happened to the rest of her family. She is sure that her father is killed because her tether to his emotions snaps. She finds a village of Celts that takes her in. And over the years, she uses her gift against the Romans to protect the Celts. Eventually, even that group was conquered by the Romans.

On the battlefield, word of soldiers under his command attempting to attack the captured witch, who is rumored to have helped the Celts thwart the Romans, comes to Julian. He goes to stop them and realizes the woman they are trying to attack is none other than the woman he once encountered who locked eyes with him during a dance with her sisters many years ago. His dragon takes over, and he carries her away to his home in Rome. Malina is wary of Julian. Despite still feeling their connection from the past, she doesn't want to be anyone's slave. Yet Julian, being nephew to the evil emperor Inniculus, cannot take a human as a wife. It doesn't help that Julian and a select group of others are slowly making plans to dethrone Inniculus. But they can't just cut the head off the snake, because many others would be willing to step into his absence and resume the Roman rule as it is. Julian needs to be ready to take out all of those major players who would be his uncle's allies at the same time.

Matters aren't helped at all, that Ciprian is determined to bring Julian down on his rise to the emperor's favored side. Julian has to earn Malina's trust, but seeing the other "slaves" in his household, spending many hours talking with him, and hearing of his plan for Rome, wins her over slowly. Of course, her empathic gift can easily tell her Julian's emotions which does help to boost her confidence in him.

Favorite quotes:

-"I have no reason to injure you." "You might do it all the same."

-"I care not what they say, for what I feel is all my own. Not forced or given to me by the fates or anyone else. It comes from my own soul."

I had some issues with Firebird. The first one was how it made any sense at all for Julian to take Maline to the warcamp with him. If he's worried about the rumors going around of his attachment to her, surely taking her with him when he's never taken a woman before makes no sense. Thankfully, this wasn't really used as a means of causing damage to their relationship. Only the opposite. But it still didn't make sense to me. Also, the spice was skippable. I don't read for that. I enjoy good plots that don't need spice. I don't skip a book because it is included a lot of times, because I can just skip over it. And you know if there's spice, there is cursing as well. Sometimes the endearments felt out of place given the context, culture, and history of the characters. I don't know. I just found that sometimes these things pulled me out of the story, which isn't a good thing.

Firebird did hook my attention, which was much needed as I kept starting and putting down books without making it very far. Malina and Julian's instant connection was a draw for me. Sometimes, mates and magical soulmates can be off-putting, but I enjoyed it this time. I was thinking the entire series would follow Malina and Julian, but book 2, Bloodsinger, follows Malina's sister, Lela. I can always do without spice and language, but it wasn't a big deal to skip those. Firebird gets 4 Stars. Have you read Firebird? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Burn of the Everflame

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Burn of the Everflame (Kindred's Curse, # 4)

By: Penn Cole

Expected Publication: July 14, 2026

550 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Magic, Dragons

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--War has overtaken Emarion. In the north, Ophiucae and his army of bloodthirsty mortals seek to eradicate all Descended from the continent. In the south, the Guardians of the Everflame lie in wait, plotting a rebellion generations overdue.

In Lumnos, Realm of Light and Shadow, the Crowns are gathering. Caught between two deadly foes, they must form an unlikely alliance to save their people.

But the Crowns have a secret—and a heart without its mate will burn the world down to fulfill its fate.

Hatred reigns. Hope seems lost. With the future in darkness, can a flame emerge to bring the light?

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

All Things Halloween Review - Heat of the Everflame

Heat of the Everflame (Kindred's Curse, # 3)

By: Penn Cole

Expected Publication: September 9, 2023 by Penn Cole

776 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Magic, Dragons

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--The war has begun. Both sides demand Diem’s allegiance—or her death.

After her disastrous coronation, Diem finds herself at the center of the conflict between the Descended and the Guardians. With her newfound friends and the man she’s falling for on one side, and the mortals she has vowed to protect on the other, Diem must walk a careful line to save the people she loves… even from each other.

The mystery of her unusual heritage begins to unravel, sending Diem and Luther on an unexpected journey across the realms. The answers may hold the key to winning the war, but finding them will require her to face painful truths about her mother, her bloodline, and her fate.

Meanwhile, the Crowns have set Diem in their sights. Some could be her greatest allies—while others want her dead. To end their oppressive reign, Diem must sort friend from foe and risk it all to build an army of her own.

But a powerful figure in the north has plans that could change everything...

Heat of the Everflame is the third book in The Kindred's Curse Saga, a four-book epic fantasy romance series that follows our fiesty, bad*ss heroine Diem Bellator in her fight against injustice, her struggle to survive in a royal palace full of betrayal and intrigue, and her journey of self-discovery and finding true love. This slow burn, enemies-to-lovers series is perfect for fans of unique magic systems, dragons and other mythical creatures, angst and romantic tension, and hilarious banter. This book will appeal to fans of plot-heavy, character-driven romantasy such as A Court of Thorns and Roses, Throne of Glass, From Blood and Ash, Gild, Shadow & Bone, and The Serpent & the Wings of Night.

Glow of the Everflame ended not exactly in a cliffhanger but in a pretty big event. Diem's father (at least the man who raised her) was murdered as a message to Diem. She's getting too powerful, and she has enemies on every side that want to crush her and her movement. But Diem can't stay down for long. She has a mission, and even if she wasn't active in pursuing her purposes, her enemies wouldn't let her rest unmolested.

Diem and Luther have to flee Lumos. And their journey leads them through several other realms. Diem can't quite help making her presence known. I can't discuss much of anything that happened within the plot in detail as it would spoil the story too much. Some woke agenda messages were persistent throughout this book. I can't mention them besides in vauge terms because Amazon will block me when I share my review there.

Favorite quotes:

-“Hello, Prince,” I gasped. “I missed you, too.”

-“You cannot solve a problem you refuse to look at,”

-“Don’t you dare mistake compassion for lack of courage,” he growled. “Anyone can slaughter their enemies. Hate is easy— it’s mercy that requires the greater strength.

-“It is not just my body that craves you, Diem. It is my heart.” He clutched at his chest. “My scarred, ruined scrap of a soul. Your smiles, your affection, the way you look at me, the way you see me... that is my lifeblood. I would sooner wither without food or water, sink into the sea until my lungs burst, abandon my magic and let my godhood burn me alive from within than endure one more day of life without you in it.”

-“Desire?” He gave a dark, throaty laugh. “Desire is a pathetic word for what I feel for you. I require you. I am sustained by you. You are the flame that fuels my fire. Don’t you dare question that— not for a second.”

-“Because an education is the most powerful weapon of them all.”

-“I respect it, too. I’d rather have your honesty than your loyalty.”

-“It takes being denied what you want to understand the power of wanting more. Satisfaction is the death of curiosity. And this group has been satisfied in abundance.”

-“You,” she said simply. “My successor will be your most difficult adversary. They will stand in the way of what you need to do. They will drive a wedge between you and those you love, they will cost you a terrible price, and there’s a strong chance they’ll put you in a premature grave. I fear telling you now will only make it worse.”

-You don’t have to be perfect, Aemonn. Just honorable.”

-“My mother, Auralie... she taught me to heal— to save lives every chance I get. My father, Andrei, taught me to fight— to end lives, but only when I must. And my brother, Teller, taught me to think— to lead with reason, not prejudice. That is the Queen I strive to be. I will not demand that you bend your knee. Past Crowns have done enough of that. I will only vow, on my blood and my soul, on all that I am, and all that I hold dear, if you give me your faith, I will do my best to earn it—” I crossed my swords at my chest. “— and I won’t stop until my dying breath.”

-“I want there to be no part of you that you hide from me because you fear it’s a part I will not love. I treasure your darkness as much as your light.” He dropped his mouth a breath away from mine, his words a whisper on my lips. “Show me your worst, my darling, and I’ll show you how far my love can go.”

-“Don’t mistake the pain of change for failure.”

-“Your daughter is everything to me, Auralie,” Luther said quietly. “All that I am, it belongs to her.”

-“Let all those who might try to tear us apart see this and know how far my devotion will go. I will suffer for you, bleed for you, but most of all, I will survive for you. My body can be carved in two, open and dying, and still I will crawl from the ruins of my flesh and fight my way back to your side. Death itself could not keep me away.

I do remember getting increasingly frustrated with Luther through this book. He claims to love Diem so fiercely, yet he pushes her away pretty constantly. There's a reason for that, but it was a little frustrating for me.

I briefly mentioned above that this book had some woke ideaology, but it also increased in spicy scenes. I was frustrated with this because the series was so good without having to add this in. And it wasn't even added in just between the main characters, but there's one scene in particular when they're visiting a different court that was utterly unnecessary.

All things considered, I enjoyed the plot enough to still give Heat of the Everflame 4 Stars. I like the building of Diem and Luther's relationship. This book ends in a negative cliffhanger--meaning things end in a bad place for our characters and we don't know how they are going to make it out of this horrible situation. The wait for the final book in this series feels so terribly long. But I can't wait to get my hands on it and see how things end. Have you read Heat of the Everflame? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

All Things Halloween Review - Glow of the Everflame

Glow of the Everflame (Kindred's Curse, # 2)

By: Penn Cole

Expected Publication: December 3, 2024 by Atria Books

608 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Magic, Dragons

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--An unexpected gift offers the power to change everything—but keeping it could cost Diem her life.

The threat of war has arrived at Diem’s doorstep, along with a new discovery that could save her people. To use it, she must survive the next thirty days by forming a devil’s bargain with the people she hates most: the royal family of House Corbois.

But as she dives into the world of the Descended elite, Diem quickly realizes good and evil aren’t as simple as they seem. Old prejudices are challenged, and new loyalties blur the line between friend and foe.

Meanwhile, her mother is still missing, and the secrets she left behind can no longer be ignored—and neither can the Guardians and their demands. Caught between an old flame and a sizzling new spark, Diem must confront the truth about who she is and what she wants before time runs out.

War is coming, and dangerous enemies wait on all sides.. but the most deadly battle Diem faces may be the one for her heart.

Glow of the Everflame is the second book in The Kindred's Curse Saga, a four-book fantasy romance series. This book will appeal to fans of plot-heavy, character-driven romantasy such as A Court of Thorns and Roses, Throne of Glass, From Blood and Ash, Gild, Shadow & Bone, and The Serpent & the Wings of Night.

Just like Spark of the Everflame, I read Glow of the Everflame in March. I am writing my review of this book in October. That being said, I also read Spark of the Everflame right before this book and Heat of the Everflame right after this book. So the events of the series are what I remember, but which events happened in which book are harder to remember. Plus I've read some other books since that have had similar plots. I'll do my best.

Glow of the Everflame begins with Diem having just found out that she is the new Queen of Lumos. The old king died and the magic chose her as the next leader. She's learning that she must be Descended or partly. Her mother is still missing so she can't exactly ask her questions about her father. She now has the power to change things for her people, the mortals left forgotten by the Descended. But those who have been accustomed to having power or on the fringes of power aren't happy to give up with little power they've had. They will do everything they can to oust her. At the same time, Diem now sees that she must have some Descended blood of some kind or other. And that means that Descended don't necessarily need to be hated just because they are Descended. Shouldn't they be judged off their actions and not how they were born? She meets some Descended that aren't inheritantly evil. They begin to change her perception.

Luther and Diem have a hard time knowing where the other stands and what the other's motivations are. It's hard to trust given what they each have been through in their lives. Luther is definitely in a "he falls first" category. Diem is struggling with her relationship with Henri. Henri isn't reacting to her change of circumstances as well as she'd like. He wants her to use her knew powers and situation to further the rebellion, but Diem has never been as strong in her feelings towards joining the Guardians as Henri has and she's beginning to see things differently. Diem is torn in her new position between where she used to be and her understanding and where she is now.

Favorite quotes:

-“I should put all four of your heads on a pike for treason. I just assaulted the Queen, and you cowards stood there and watched me do it. The next time someone lays a hand on her and you don’t kill them where they stand, I’ll carve out your eyeballs and feed them to the [...] hounds. It doesn’t matter if it’s me or the Regent or Blessed Mother Lumnos herself. Do your [...] jobs and protect our Queen.”

-“But rest assured, my Queen, when I do kiss you, there will be no confusion. You will know that I have claimed you— and I won’t have any desire to deny it.”

-“Wait until you’re coronated,” he said finally. “Get through the Challenging, take the full authority of the Crown, then...” He let out a heavy, loaded sigh. “Then we’ll plan. If he is what you want, I’ll help you find a way.”

-“And you... if you were my friend and nothing more, what would you tell me?” His answer came without missing a beat. “That if a man made you doubt whether his love for you would survive anything, he does not deserve you.”

-“Do not mistake my support as agreement with your choices,”

I love this quote because our culture has equated support with agreement, and they simply aren't the same thing.

-“It’s not easy for me to let go when I care about someone. To watch them choose something I know will hurt them.”

-Then why does flirting with Aemonn or Taran feel harmless, but one glance from Luther and I’m swimming in shark- infested waters with a bucket of bloody chum?

-My place is with you. Wherever that leads.” His fingers curled around mine. “Whatever it costs.”

-“You’re my Queen. Everything I do is for you.”

-“Patience, my Queen.” His thumb stroked a slow trail up my spine. “The most precious rewards come from the battles most fiercely fought.”

-“You are my Queen, and I am your sword. Point me at your enemies, and watch them fall. Lead this world, Diem, and I will follow you— into war, into death, into the tundra of hell itself.” He took my palm and set it against his chest, just above the patch of unscarred skin that lay beneath his jacket. “You are the fate my heart was spared for. As long as it beats, you will never fight alone.”

-“Every person in this room wants something from you,” he said after a heavy pause. “They look at you, and they see the things they want to take. I know, because I lived it. From the moment I became heir, everyone wanted to be either my friend or my lover. When you took the Crown, I swore to be different— to serve your goals, not mine. I told myself that even if you had no one else, you would at least have me. I never wanted to become just another person who wanted to steal a piece of you for themselves.” He let out a shuddering sigh. “And I have failed. Completely, irreversibly failed. I don’t just want a piece of you— I want them all.” His thumb raked across my lower lip. “I want every breath, every laugh, every tear. Every taste of your mouth, every inch of your skin. I want to kneel at your feet, soaked in the blood of your enemies, then...

-“I want to burn alive in that fire in your eyes. I want it to melt me down and forge me into the weapon you need me to be. I want to stand by your side for the rest of my life, and I don’t need you to marry me and make me a [...] king to do it.”

-“Does your anger actually help those people, or does it make you feel righteous while the situation gets worse?”

-“Being a leader is about more than barking orders when people don’t do what you want. And how many times have I taught you that giving in to your emotions is the fastest way to lose a battle? You should know better.”

-“You make so many promises, but the only thing I ever really wanted was honesty. And it’s the one thing you still refuse to give.”

“Even good men can lose their way.”

-“...perhaps...” He paused, his gaze heavy on mine. “Perhaps, for the right person, we endure the pain, because the torture of never having them at all is the more unbearable fate.”

-...what peace could I possibly achieve with a people so unified in their hatred?

I love when books have a good transition from an original love interest into a new, better suited love interest. We grow and change, and if we're not growing together with our partner then we can grow apart. You can easily see the difference between someone who is trying to support you and your goals and someone who is determined to use you to achieve their own goals.

Glow of the Everflame is actually one of my favorite books in this series. Even though I rated it the same as Spark of the Everflame with 4 Stars, I still enjoyed this one more. I was so excited to find out what was going to happen next that I moved right into the next book in the series, Heat of the Everflame. Have you read Glow of the Everflame? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

All Things Halloween Review - Spark of the Everflame

Spark of the Everflame (Kindred's Curse, # 1)

By: Penn Cole

Expected Publication: October 8, 2024 by Atria Books

416 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Magic, Dragons

Source: Prime Reading

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--When old secrets catch fire, everything will burn.

In a mortal world colonized by the gods and ruled over by the Descended, their cruel offspring, Diem Bellator yearns to escape the insular life of her poor village.

Her mother’s sudden disappearance—and the discovery of a dangerous secret about her past—offer Diem an unexpected opportunity to enter the dark world of Descended royalty and unlock the web of mysteries her mother left behind.

With the dying King’s handsome, mysterious heir watching her every move, and a ruthless mortal alliance recruiting her to join the growing civil war, Diem will have to navigate the unwritten rules of love, power, and politics in order to save her family—and all of mortalkind.

Spark of the Everflame is the first book in The Kindred's Curse Saga, a four-book fantasy romance series. This slow burn, enemies-to-lovers epic is perfect for lovers of magic, dragons, angst, and banter and will appeal to fans of books like A Court of Thorns and Roses, From Blood and Ash, Gild, and The Serpent & the Wings of Night.

Let's be real. I've been progressively getting worse at writing book reviews in a timely manner. I finished Spark of the Everflame in March 2025, and I am just now writing my review for it in October of 2025. And not only that, but I read the next two books in the series without writing my review for any of them. Thus, I might remember details of the overall series and storylines, which makes it harder to keep track of which events happened in which book.

Here's what I remember. Diem is the main character. She works as a healer alongside her mother. They live in Mortal City, which is basically a human slum area. Her father was a military man. And her mother was also in the military for a while, but has been working as a healer for some time. Diem has a relationship with Henri. They used to be best friends, but their relationship has grown into more lately.

This world is split into 9 realms. Each realm has a king or queen. And each realm has two types of magical powers that are associated with that power. Only the Descended have magical power. And the Descended rule each realm. The way humans are treated varies from realm to realm, but overall, Descended are at the top of the hierarchy and humans are at the bottom. Luther is the prince of Lumos. His uncle is the King, but Luther is expected to be next in line to the throne. The magic chooses who will be king or queen, and it usually chooses whoever is most powerful after the current ruler.

Diem's mother goes missing one day after an encounter with the prince. And Diem is determined to find out what the prince knows. Her mother was sometimes summoned to work as a healer at the palace, even helping the king himself. Diem takes her place after she's gone, but Diem can't just be quiet. The king has a lucid moment, if you can call it that, where he makes an almost prophecy concerning Diem before he dies.

To add to the mystery, Diem's mother has been giving her some kind of concoction all of her life, and the side effects are quite terrible, but Diem does what she's told. Only now her mother is missing, and she's running out.

At the same time, Henri seems to be joining up with a group of humans looking for rebellion. They are tired of the Descended treating them like scum. They are tired of their old religion being suppressed. Henri wants Diem to join up, and Diem is considering it due to the brutality of some Descended.

Diem isn't one to be submissive. She's been trained to fight by her father. She can't stand to follow orders or to fall in line with what's expected of her. She has to go about things the hard way. And Diem is sure that Luther is hiding information about her mother. Despite all of that, she's seen Luther be soft with his sister, Lillian, whom her brother, Teller, has the biggest crush on. Diem and Luther definitely have some chemistry and some very slow burn going on. Luther seems to always be touching her, yet he doesn't seem to trust her either.

Diem tries to use her opportunities to be at the palace as a healer to spy out the layout of the palace for the Guardians, the rebel group that Henri has joined. Diem finds herself at a crossroads with the Guardians. She wants the Descended dethroned. She wants justice for their treatment of humans, but the Guardians are going about their mission in a way that is hurting people and that is at odds with everything she's been taught as a healer.

Case in point of feeling discombobulated in writing this review. I kept thinking that Diem seeing King Ulther happened early on in the book, but it was in fact towards the end of the first book. So early in the series, but late in this first book. Which makes sense, because that leaves room for the giant cliffhanger of what's going to happen once the king is gone? Will Luther become king as everyone assumed? Will he be a good king or the same as Ulther?

Favorite quotes:

-True darkness can destroy even life itself.”

-To be a wife— to be relegated to a man’s side instead of standing on my own, to abandon myself and my own goals in service of a husband’s authority and a wife’s duty. It was the life expected of most women in Mortal City.

This was not a favorite quote. And I have to remind myself that this is fantasy and part of Diem's character arc...not a review of the true role of a wife.

-We both froze in place as something ancient, something profound passed between us. It was a primal force that transcended word and thought, as powerful as a crack of lightning, a child’s first breath, the endless depth of the sea. It was not of this world but entirely woven within it. It warmed my blood with a calming peace I’d never known, yet filled me with the terrible dread of a fate I could not avoid.

Spark of the Everflame was better than I expected. There was only one scene in this book, if I remember correctly, of the spice variety, and I don't remember it being very descriptive. Of course, this was months ago, so my memory is terrible at this point. Language was high, though. The romance wasn't quite as present as I prefer, but I can see the potential, and I'm here for it. (I write this as if I don't know what happens in the next two books.) Spark of the Everflame gets 4 Stars. Have you read Spark of the Everflame ? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

All Things Halloween Review - A Scar in the Bone

A Scar in the Bone (A Fire in the Sky, # 2)

By: Sophie Jordan

Expected Publication: October 14, 2025 by Avon

352 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Dragons

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--MAGIC AWAKENS.

DARKNESS SWELLS.

AND A HERO RISES.

It’s been a year since Tamsyn transformed from the enemy in Fell’s bed to the wife he sacrificed himself to save. From an ordinary girl to Penterra’s best hope to keep magic from disappearing forever.

With Fell torn from her side in the dangerous swirling mists of the Crags, Tamsyn is alone among the dragon pride. An outsider learning to survive in her new home, she trains until her muscles burn and her blood spills. And slowly, a warrior emerges.

But is Fell truly beyond Tamsyn’s reach? Their bond pulls at her, as does the fierce drive to protect both humans and dragonkind from a relentless enemy determined to destroy her – and all magic.

Magic stirs in the darkness, strengthening all who believe in it. But will it be enough to save the pride, the kingdom, and a love fated to endure for centuries?

In this explosive sequel to the Sunday Times bestselling A Fire in the Sky, the fate of magic rests on one warrior’s shoulders – but it could cost her everything …

🔥Fated mates

🔥Magic, dragons, and witches

🔥Spice

I don't want to spoil anything. Let's just discuss where A Fire in the Sky left off. Tamsyn had just revealed her dragon form to Stig when he freaked out, and Fell had to step in to save her. In doing so, they discover that he's a dragon also. The two fly off, and if I remember correctly, have a brief fight with skelm dragons. They find their way to a cave in the Crags, and all of a sudden a group shows up with a man claiming to be Fell's brother. A Scar in the Bone starts with Fell and Vetr's mother's perspective when she dies. Then it switches to Tamsyn, and the reader is quite confused because Fell is not with her. It almost seems as if the reader is supposed to understand why. I think this is a poor writing trick. It just caused me to stop reading and have to go back searching through the end of the previous book to make sure I'd missed something. And any time I'm pulled out of a story that much is not a good thing.

Tamsyn and Fell are separated, and for all she knows, he's dead. I only reveal this because pretty much that is revealed in the book description. Tamsyn is alone in the dragon pride. She has to learn to survive. She's told the bond will fade with time, but it's been over a year and Tamsyn still feels his presence. She regularly questions if he's still alive, but it repeatedly told it isn't possible.

I was almost as frustrated as Tamsyn. Dragon terms were used as if the reader is aware of the definition of those terms. This is so annoying. I get that the pride had trouble accepting Tamsyn as one of them since she was raised by humans, but then Tamsyn (or Sophie Jordan) treats the reader in the same manner as Tamsyn and doesn't define some of these terms that are being thrown around. It's a lot annoying.

Who we are rooting for and who we are rooting against isn't quite clear-cut in this book. Obviously, we're rooting for Fell and Tamsyn, but are we rooting against Vetr and the other members of the pride? Are they evil or do they simple misunderstand the humans as much as the humans misunderstand them? Obviously, Stig has crossed into evil territory. I get that he was obsessed with finding Tamsyn and destroying her. He too felt betrayed by her in a way. But his level of depravity felt at odds with his character in the previous book even though his father was a creepy dude. I suppose he was hiding his true nature is the gist of the message we're supposed to get. But it just felt jarring that he's transformed into evil overlord so completely. Especially, when Alise while not claiming to be happy didn't disparage him. How could she be so wholly blind to who he had become?

Where are things going from here? I'm not quite sure. I will say this book had almost no spice compared to the other book. I don't mind that myself. I don't need spice and have a lower tolerance for it than most. I find it odd given it is advertised in the description though.

I only highlighted one quote where an agenda that doesn't make sense was included. I only mention this vaguely because it didn't fit with the story (given the need for "breeders"). It's one of those woke agenda things. And again, I'm being vague on purpose because Amazon will flag me for being specific.

A Scar in the Bone was decent. I wasn't blown away. I didn't have the issues with story pacing that I had in the first book since I knew this was part of a series. But I did have issues with the lack of information being shared or the way information was being shared. It's also hard to know who exactly we're rooting against and who we're rooting for with some characters. A Scar in the Bone still gets 3.5 Stars from me since it wasn't without issues. I want more romance in the next book (doesn't have to equal to spice, but togetherness...relationship). Have you read A Scar in the Bone? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

On Wings of Blood - Review

On Wings of Blood (Bloodwing Academy, # 1)

By: Briar Boleyn

Publication: October 25, 2024 by Starwater Press (Indie)

523 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Dragons, Vampires

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--I didn't sign up for this.

A half-fae in a school of highblood vampires? That's a recipe for torment.

I'm Medra Pendragon—last of the dragon riders, or so they tell me. Funny thing is, there are no dragons left. Not a single one. But somehow, that hasn't stopped the vampires from deciding I'm worth capturing. Now I'm stuck at Bloodwing Academy, where the highbloods run everything and blightborn like me? We're just blood in their veins, pawns in their games.

But that's not even the worst part. Enter Blake Drakharrow. Cold, arrogant, and way too gorgeous for his own good. He's been tormenting me since the moment we met, and now, thanks to some ancient ritual, we're betrothed. He acts like he owns me, but I'm not going down without a fight.

Bloodwing isn't just a school—it's a battlefield. Highbloods fight for power, and if you're weak? You're dead.

Between deadly competitions, lies that could get me executed, and a dragon-shaped secret looming over my head, all I have to do is survive. Easy, right? Except I'm starting to think the real danger isn't the academy—it's what I'm becoming in this twisted game of power.

And Blake? He might just be the one who pushes me over the edge.

They think they can control me. They think they can use me.

But they have no idea what they've awakened.

After feeling let down by the ending of Briar Boleyn's previous series, Blood of a Fae—especially the final book—I planned to skip her new series. But when On Wings of Blood kept appearing everywhere, my curiosity got the better of me. ***Spoilers for the Blood of a Fae series follow, as they are necessary to understand where Bloodwing Academy begins.***

That being said, Medra was a side character included in the last book in that series. She was born a half-fae, half-human. But she grew exponentially quickly, meaning years in the matter of months. She also grew up with all of the major people who loved her most being gone. Her father was dead. Her mother died giving birth to her. Her aunt and uncle were off fighting a war. She couldn't connect with the guardian left in charge of her. She did finally connect with Odessa, who also died before the end of that book. Then Medra sacrifices herself to the point of death to take out her grandfather, who needed to die. All of that is her backstory before she wakes up on a pile of corpses in On Wings of Blood. Yet, I felt like nearly none of this history was brought with her into On Wings of Blood. Some of it is mentioned, but I didn't see clues of these experiences in Medra's character. I didn't see her fear of losing people. I didn't see her fear of being alone. I didn't see her struggle to connect like she did in the previous series. I didn't see her inexperience and immaturity, which surely were present in the previous series but not in this one. I didn't see her trauma. In all honesty, she felt like an entirely different character.

But let's assume most people haven't read the previous series and just pick up with what we experience in On Wings of Blood. Medra is captured by a man who immediately takes her before the rulers of Sangratha. Even though this land has no king, there's obviously one man who holds the most power, and he chooses to bind Medra to his nephew, Blake. Blake isn't happy about this. Not to mention that he's already betrothed to another woman from his youth, whom he grew up with. Viktor Drakharrow believes that Medra might be a long-lost dragon rider. Her fae features (that he doesn't know are fae) mark her as such. The only issue is that dragons have long since died out. Medra uses this to her advantage. She is just trying to survive. She is told that she will attend Bloodwing Academy, where she might end up dead after all.

Some pieces of On Wings of Blood didn't make a lot of sense. Why couldn't Blake feed off Medra because their bond wasn't strong enough? How were they supposed to strengthen their bond? Did Blake want to strengthen their bond to make things work between them? Or was he determined to just let her die at some point in the school? We know that isn't entirely the case, because he stopped it from happening during sparring on their first day. His feelings weren't always clear, even though he narrates. Why did Medra think going to Theo's party was a good idea? She randomly gets bored and then goes off to a party where she knows no one who likes her will be there. And doesn't expect anything to go wrong? This felt like bad writing, honestly. It didn't feel authentic to anything Medra had thought or experienced up until that point. It felt like the author needed some conflict to happen, and so she needed Medra to go rather than Medra really wanting to go. Much less Florence. Having her go made even less sense than Medra going alone. There are a few other things, but I don't want to discuss them because I might spoil too much.

Favorite quotes:

-"Let it be known that this bond is unbreakable, as enduring as the strength of our realm. By my will and the power of our ancient rites, Blake Drakharrow and Medra Pendragon are now bound together in fate and duty, forever unyielding, irrevoably united. As the dragon flies and the blood endures, so shall your destinies be intertwined. Your bond is forged. Through fire and shadows, you shall be one. What is spoken in unbroken. What is bound cannot be unbound."

-"Blood is the beginning just as blood is the end. Blood will have blood. Your essence has not been shared completely. The mark is the first stage."

-"If there was a way, it would have involved blood magic. Blood magic is powerful because it can break bonds that other magic cannot."

-By blood and breath, by night and sky, The binding of souls I sever, Let what was trapped be freed to fly, No longer bound forever. From heart to soul, from blood to bone, Let life return where stone has grown. What's chained away shall now take flight, Awakened be the soul tonight.

I was worried about spice. There was one scene. It's easily skipped without missing too much. Language is high. The f-word abounds.

The relationship with Blake was both the driving force for me and one of the most confusing. Of course, I'm dying to know what's going to happen next, considering the cliffhanger ending. I also worry that as the series continues, I’ll find more and more things that don't make sense or writing that I find to be weak. That was what I struggled with in the previous series.

All things considered, I still give On Wings of Blood 4 Stars. Despite some issues that left me questioning as I read, and noticing some writing shortcuts, I found the book engaging enough to continue the series. While the push on diversity sometimes felt forced to me, the unanswered questions and the cliffhanger ending keep me invested. If you enjoy character-driven fantasy with plenty of twists, On Wings of Blood might be worth picking up. I’m curious to see how the story develops. Have you read On Wings of Blood? What did you think? Let me know!

Onyx Storm - Review

Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, # 3)

By: Rebecca Yarros

Publication: January 21, 2025 by Entangled: Red Tower Books

779 pages

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy, Dragons

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--THE STORM IS COMING . . .

Get ready to fly or die in the breathtaking follow-up to Fourth Wing and Iron Flame from #1 New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Yarros.

After nearly eighteen months at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail knows there’s no more time for lessons.
No more time for uncertainty.
Because the battle has truly begun; and with enemies closing in from outside their walls and within their ranks, it’s impossible to know who to trust.
Now Violet must journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre.
The trip will test every bit of her wit, luck, and strength, but she will do anything to save what she loves - her dragons, her family, her home, and him.
Even if it means keeping a secret so big, it could destroy everything.
They need an army.
They need power.
They need magic.
And they need the one thing only Violet can find—the truth.
But a storm is coming... and not everyone can survive its wrath.

Onyx Storm was one of my most anticipated releases for 2025. We all waited for over a year between Iron Flame, which had a killer cliffhanger, and Onyx Storm so there was a ton of build-up when it comes to expectations. I tried to stay away from podcasts, reels, shorts, or content that would speculate about Onyx Storm, the plot, the characters, etc. And I did fairly well with that. But all that to say, expectations were high. And unfortunately, I find when expectations are super-high, it's hard for any book to live up to the hype. Onyx Storm fell a little flat for me initially. Let me explain why. 

Iron Flame ends with that mega cliffhanger that I already mentioned. If you don't know what the cliffhanger is, you probably don't want to keep reading because there will be spoilers for the prior books included in this review. Xaden has drawn from the earth which has started the process of turning him venin. Because we didn't know much about the process of someone turning, we (I) falsely assumed that one pull and he'd be straight venin. Apparently, that's not how things work. But when a book ends in a negative cliffhanger (where a major event happens that leaves the characters in a negative place), I almost dread reading the next book because I know there are going to be more bad events to come before we can get to the good. And well, that's also to be expected from the 3rd book in a 5-book series. And of course, that is true for Onyx Storm. Thankfully, things weren't as bad as I worried they would be simply because Xaden isn't immediately evil.

Onyx Storm keeps you in perpetual fear of wondering if Xaden is going to draw power again, and if he does, at what point will he have crossed the line into too far gone. I guess this is probably a good thing because Violet is in the same place. No matter how much faith she has that Xaden would never hurt her, she can't say that he wouldn't channel again. And so you remain in the same anxious place as Violet. This creates the desire to keep reading.

A large portion of Onyx Storm's plot is the "Quest Squad" traveling to various islands south of "The Continent" in hopes of discovering Andarna's kin and the 7th dragon breed. I found this whole quest a little frustrating. I wasn't excited about any of the islands they visited. Too much time was spent trying to show how each island is different from each other. And yeah. I kept reading simply from a pressing desire to know what was going to happen, but if I look back on this portion of the book, I find it boring. And if I were re-reading the series, I would dread getting to this section. 

I found myself feeling like I was missing information a couple of times. Sometimes I wondered if that was because I hadn't re-read the previous two books before jumping into this one. Sometimes, I wondered if Rebecca Yarros was being mysterious intentionally. Sometimes I flat asked myself what in the world she was talking about. And sometimes I felt like I understood what was being said, but it didn't make any sense. More than anything, the more I've thought about Onyx Storm the more I've realized that Rebecca Yarros is writing much deeper than I realized, and she's one of those authors where nothing is said or done meaninglessly. So now, I need to go back and re-read all three books to see what foreshadowing I've missed*. Some authors aren't capable of making every detail mean something. I'm realizing she is one of the authors who can.

Many of the things I highlighted were only to help me write my book review. When I went back to re-read some of my highlights, I think I inadvertently highlighted some very important parts that will play into the future. I weeded through all of my highlights to find my favorite quotes:

I loved the dedication.

-To the ones who don't run with the popular crowd, the ones who get caught reading under their desks, the ones who feel like they never get invited, included, or represented. Get your leathers. We have dragons to ride.

Now for the book content:

-The only thing stronger than the power prowling within me is the resolve stiffening my spine.

-"But do not mistake my unflinching support of you, my mate, and Andarna for any form of faith in him."

-"Pain isn't a competition," I assure him. "There's always enough to go around."

-"Do not dehydrate on my account," he lectures.

-"Do you really think this is the only room where I've felt tormented? Pain isn't new to me, Jack. She's an old friend I spend most of my days with, so I don't mind if she sings to you. Honestly doesn't even look like the same chamber with how you've redecorated. It's a little monochromatic for me."

-"We live by the Codex--" I try again. "I live by you." ... "I am yours and you are mine, and there's no law or rule in this world or the next that will change that."

-"He didn't love me, not the way I deserved to be loved, and no amount of power is worth staying with someone who doesn't love you."

-"My loyalty is to Violet first above everything, everyone else," Xaden says. "Then Tyrrendor. Then Navarre in the moments it's worthy--usually when Violet is in residence."

-Do not mistake a dragon's bond for fealty. If you expect a dragon to choose their rider over the well-being of their own kind, prepare for two things: disappointment and death.

-"Don't barter it away," I beg as he stares at the sea, and the words spill out of me faster and faster as his eyes harden and he resurrects the defenses it took me a year to break past. "The pain. The mess. Give it to me. I'll hold it. I know that sounds ludicrous, but I'll find a way." I lace our fingers. "I will hold everything you don't want to feel because I love every part of you."

-"The best leaders are the ones who never want the job. This is your mission because Andarna chose you. Tairn chose you."

-"You're not a trigger. You're the only thing I can't fathom losing. Wielding to protect you has always been an instinct, but now it's...uncontrollable."

-"If he hurts me, then he's not him anymore."

-"Your inability to follow simple orders will get her killed, and I will not lose her as I did the one who came before!"

-"Am I not everything you wanted me to be? Am I not as fierce and courageous as he is? Is this not what I am supposed to do? Sharpen my claws on the scales of the enemy?

-"I love you and I want you to feel complete"...

-"I was whole and now I'm not"...

-"You've been breathing, and that's enough for me."

-"Acknowledging your fear for the lightning wielder does not compromise you." Feirge calls me out just like always. "Ignoring it does. Accept the emotion and move on."

-"You have been the gift of my life"...

I can't include any more quotes because even if I'm being vague, there's just too much to spoil. 

It's been 3 days between finishing Onyx Storm and writing this review. And the more time I have to sit with the events, the more my feelings on the book have changed. I still feel like not much happened to advance the overall plot of the book until the last 100 pages. A few key pieces here and there. And I still feel like (highlight for spoiler) the cliffhanger for Iron Flame is basically the same cliffhanger as Onyx Storm but with a few missing dragon riders, dragons, and eggs. But I'm beginning to see that this story is so much more complex than I ever gave credit, and I need to apologize to Rebecca Yarros for taking three books to realize how in-depth her writing really is. My initial rating might have fallen around the 3.5 Star range, but the more I think about it, Onyx Storm gets 4 Stars. Have you read Onyx Storm? What did you think? Let me know!

*Since writing this review, I have re-read Fourth Wing and may have an Upon Further Review post coming from that in the future. I also plan to re-read Iron Flame, but first-time reads have to come before re-reads.

**Also, I've accidentally plunged head-first into the world of theories for the remainder of the series. The sheer amount of videos dedicated to fan theories are insane and on a level I've never seen before. Just the fact that there is enough space for all of these videos means this series is deep and on another level. This would not be possible for just any series.

Blood of the Old Kings - Review

Blood of the Old Kings (Old Erth, # 1)

By: Sung-Il Kim

Publication: October 8, 2024 by Tor Books

368 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Dragons

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Blood of the Old Kings begins an epic adventure in which three strangers journey through a vast Empire that uses the power of dead wizards to conquer and subdue, from award-winning author Sung-il Kim and translated by the highly-acclaimed Anton Hur.

Powered by the corpses of sorcerers, the Empire has conquered the world. It claims to have brought peace and stability to its conquered lands, but some see that peace for what it is—a lie—and will give everything in the fight against it.

Loran is desperate for revenge after the Empire killed her family, so much so that the swordswoman climbs the volcano where the legends say an ancient dragon slumbers and leaps in. She finds that the legends are true, and Loran leaves the mountain with a sword made of dragon’s fang and a great purpose before her.

Cain arrived in the Imperial Capital lost and orphaned, and it’s only thanks to the kindness of a stranger-turned-mentor that he survived on the city’s streets. When his friend is found murdered, he will leave no stone unturned to find those responsible, even if it means starting a war.

Arienne’s future has never been in question—born a sorcerer, she’ll be a Power Generator for the Empire upon her death. But when she starts to hear the voice of a powerful necromancer in her head, she realizes the only thing more terrifying than dying for the Empire is never getting to truly live in the first place.

When peace is a lie, there is power in truth—and as Loran, Cain, and Arienne hunt for answers in their own lives, any one of their small rebellions could be the stone that brings the Empire toppling down.

Coming off Onyx Storm I just wanted more dragons. So when I saw Blood of the Old Kings available for audiobook review, I decided to check it out. Even though I often read fantasy, this isn't the normal fantasy type of book I read. Having it on audio is probably the only way I finished Blood of the Old Kings. As a matter of fact, I listened to three hours in one day because I was driving my kids on a field trip out of town. This allowed me to get invested in the story a little. And then I just listened a little at a time here and there until I finished it.

There are three main characters and three audio narrators. Each did a wonderful job. I appreciated having different narrators for each POV. Eunice Wong, Major Curda, and Suzy Jackson were the narrators.

The book starts with Loran climbing into the volcano where the last fire dragon is chained. She makes a deal with him, and he gifts her a fang used as a sword. She then starts calling herself the Princess of Arland (*sp?). After taking on a group of legionary soldiers on her own and rescuing another man, people begin to spread the word of the Princess of Arland. Hope sparks anew in their bellies, and rebellion grows against the Empire. 

Arienne is born a sorcerer and is on a path to becoming a power generator. Power generators are kind of terrifying. They are dead sorcerers hooked up to machines using their magic to power things from lights to machines to this mysterious circuit of destiny. Arienne hears a voice in her head of a long-dead sorcerer who has been turned into a power generator. The sorcerer has plans of his own, but in the process, he helps Airenne discover power she didn't know she had. 

Cain is a collector of favors. He doesn't collect them for power, but because he genuinely enjoys helping people when he can. He's trying to carry on the gift given to him when he showed up in the capital alone. He does interact with Arienne. And then Arienne interacts with Loran. So in a way, all of the stories are tied together. 

Overall, I enjoyed Blood of the Old Kings. It was entertaining. I didn't dread listening to it, but I didn't feel compelled to keep listening. I always prefer stories with romances, but this was missing a romance altogether. Not all stories need them. And it would have been weird for this book to have had one, I think. But I still prefer to read relationship-driven books over plot-driven ones. Blood of the OId Kings gets 3.5 Stars. I don't think I'll continue the series. Have you read (or listened to) Blood of the Old Kings? What did you think? Let me know!

*Since I listened to the audiobook, I have no way of knowing the spelling of various characters and places within the story. Goodreads provided me with character name spellings, but the places were not listed.

A Fire in the Sky - Review

A Fire in the Sky

By: Sophie Jordan

Expected Publication: September 24, 2024 by Avon

336 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Magic, Dragons

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan returns to the high-stakes, sweeping world of dragons, romance, and drama first evoked in her bestselling young adult Firelight series, in a brand-new epic adult romantasy series.

Dragons are extinct. Witches are outcast. Magic is dying.

But human lust for power is immortal.

Dragon fire no longer blisters the skies over Penterra, but inside the lavish palace, life is still perilous…especially for Tamsyn. Raised in the glittering court alongside the princesses, it's her duty to be punished for their misdeeds. Treated as part of the royal family but also as the lowliest servant, Tamsyn fits nowhere. Her only friend is Stig, Captain of the Guard...though sometimes she thinks he wants more than friendship.

When Fell, the Beast of the Borderlands, descends on her home, Tamsyn’s world becomes even more dangerous. To save the pampered princesses from a fate worse than death, she is commanded to don a veil and marry the brutal warrior. She agrees to the deception even though it means leaving Stig, and the only life she’s ever known, behind.

The wedding night begins with unexpected passion—and ends in near violence when her trickery is exposed. Rather than start a war, Fell accepts Tamsyn as his bride...but can he accept the dark secrets she harbors—secrets buried so deep even she doesn’t know they exist? For Tamsyn is more than a royal whipping girl, more than the false wife of a man who now sees her as his enemy. And when those secrets emerge, they will ignite a flame bright enough to burn the entire kingdom to the bone.

Magic is not dead...it is only sleeping. And it will take one ordinary girl with an extraordinary destiny to awaken it.

The first thing you need to know is that A Fire in the Sky is not a standalone prequel to the Firelight series. I didn't know this until reading the acknowledgments after the book ended. That being said, the pacing of this book felt completely off for me. The closer I got to the end of the book, I felt like the plot should be wrapping up more than it was. A Fire in the Sky ended in a cliffhanger, but other parts were left open. Knowing more books are to come makes this make sense, but not knowing it affected my enjoyment as I was reading. I kept getting pulled out of the story because it didn't make sense that this was a standalone. It's not.

Tamsyn has been raised like a sibling to the princesses of Penterra. Well, except for one large difference, she has been the royal whipping child for the princesses and has taken all of their punishments upon herself. I hated this for Tamsyn, yet I liked this idea with some historical backing used to create a strong female lead character. She is used to keeping her behavior and feelings under wrap so she doesn't incur more punishments than she already received.

Fell has been fighting on the border to protect the kingdom. He demands to wed one of the princesses not because he wants power so much as he needs his voice heard. He needs the council and king to understand what's happening on the kingdom's border. But Fell is tricked into marrying Tamsyn. He isn't happy to have been tricked, but he doesn't want to annul the marriage either. 

I feel much more beyond that description enters into spoiler territory. The wedding night scene is the main spicy scene. I can't remember if there was more than that, but if there was I don't think it was much. However, cursing was abundant in A Fire in the Sky. 

I didn't highlight much. Only three things and none of them are anything I want to share. 

The cliffhanger and the characters kept me interested in reading more. And since finishing A Fire in the Sky, I did see A Scar in the Bone on Goodreads. But not knowing from the beginning that this was intended to be the first in a prequel series threw off my entire experience of the book. Coupled with a couple of plot points that fell a little short of great writing in my opinion leaves me giving A Fire in the Sky 3.5 Stars. I enjoyed it, but it also blows my mind to see it recommended so frequently by some reviewers and influencers on Instagram and such. Hopefully, as the series continues my rating for this book might raise. Have you read A Fire in the Sky? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Onyx Storm

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, # 3)

By: Rebecca Yarros

Expected Publication: January 21, 2025 by Entangled: Red Tower Books

? pages

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy, Dragons

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--THE STORM IS COMING . . .

Get ready to fly or die in the breathtaking follow-up to Fourth Wing and Iron Flame from #1 New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Yarros.

After nearly eighteen months at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail knows there’s no more time for lessons.
No more time for uncertainty.
Because the battle has truly begun; and with enemies closing in from outside their walls and within their ranks, it’s impossible to know who to trust.
Now Violet must journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre.
The trip will test every bit of her wit, luck, and strength, but she will do anything to save what she loves - her dragons, her family, her home, and him.
Even if it means keeping a secret so big, it could destroy everything.
They need an army.
They need power.
They need magic.
And they need the one thing only Violet can find—the truth.
But a storm is coming... and not everyone can survive its wrath.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

All Things Halloween Review of The Death King

The Death King (Death, # 1)

By: Penelope Barsetti

Publication: August 29, 2024 by Hartwick Publishing

341 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Dragons, Abuse

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--I was fifteen when the Death King came for us.

With a mighty black dragon and the ability to command the dead, he raised an army of our fallen soldiers to fight for him—and conquered us in the night. My father, King Laurier of Scorpion Valley, couldn’t stop him. I tried to flee but came face to face with the man in black armor, the man who looked more like a god than a human. Instead of killing me, he chose to show me mercy…but it didn’t feel like mercy.

Not when the next ten years of my life are spent as a slave in the Arid Sands, digging for Black Diamonds from sunrise to sunset. I'm also the personal slave of General Titan—a man who has grown obsessed with me. The work under the hot sun is unbearable—but I prefer it to his company any day. I’ve never tried to escape because there’s nowhere to run in the desert, but all of that changes when I hear the news—that the Death King is coming.

I sneak out in the middle of the night to steal his dragon, but that backfires in my face—because you can’t steal a dragon. Khazmuda is no mindless beast. He can speak directly into my mind and hear my thoughts in return. The Death King is about to kill me, but Khazmuda changes his mind—because I have the gift.

The ability to speak with dragons.

The Death King spares my life once again and takes me back to his castle. He has no idea who I am, has no idea what he did to my family ten years ago. He asks me to fight for his cause—but he won’t tell me exactly what that cause is. And then he tells me he wants more from me…desires me more than any other because, like him, I have the gift.

I can’t deny he’s the most handsome man I’ve ever seen, with eyes black like midnight, a jawline as sharp as his dragon’s talons, the height of a mountain, and shoulders as broad as a stream. But no amount of attraction will ever change the fact that he destroyed my life. The answer is no—and it’ll always be no.

But the Death King doesn’t accept that answer.

Trigger Contains dark themes including rape and suicide.

I got this one on audio after seeing an overall 4.4 rating on Goodreads. Before I talk story let me briefly discuss the audio aspects. This book has dual narration. Ramona Master reads for Calista, and Michael Ferraiuolo reads for Talon. (*Note, I'm not entirely sure about spellings since I don't have a physical copy of this book to double check.) I liked Ramona Master better than Michael Ferraiuolo. Although the panic and fear were audible in Ramona Master's narration of Calista's emotions (as well as her other emotions), sometimes I felt her performance was a bit too exaggerated in places for me. Michael Ferraiuolo was a little bit of a struggle. I liked his voice for Khazmuda better than her regular voice for Talon. Sorry, the voice didn't seem to fit the character to me. 

Now let me say that I have no idea how The Death King has such a high overall rating on Goodreads. Who are you people rating this mess as 5 Stars? First, the most obvious pet peeve of mine is language. There's no need for every 3rd word to be the f-word. But I guess when the characters are on each other like rabbits throughout the book one page of sexual content turns right to the next page, language like that is somewhat expected. I mean it was constant. I began to wonder what happened to the actual story there for a bit. And the descriptive terms used made me cringe. Perhaps that isn't too surprising. I have a lower tolerance for this than probably most people but yeesh. And this is made worse by the fact that Calista spent 7 years being raped daily before being freed from General Titan's captivity. Yet the man who destroyed her life and basically turned her into his own whore is supposed to erase all the trauma she's endured? When she finally has the power to say yes or no she's going to give it up so freely and be treated no better because he claims he's not going to hurt her during sex even though his restraint is not because he wants to restrain himself. I mean how are we supporting this, people? How is this 5 Stars?

And then Khazmuda basically vouches for Talon with Calista. "There's more to him than you understand. He is so hurt he isn't the same person he used to be. His story is so painful it can't be recounted without being relived." Yet come to find out, his story is exactly the same as Calista's except there's a different villain featured in his. I was thankful that this was at least brought up and not completely ignored. Yet it doesn't change anything. 

I was so intrigued by the description. The Death King kills Calista's family,  and she's sent to servitude until it's discovered that she can talk to dragons which is an ability much needed. The Death King would then need to get Calista to come to his side. Surely there would be some reason for his actions that can't be seen. It is possible. Rhys turned out to be the good guy after all. And bonding with dragons turned out awesome in Fourth Wing . But no. Not much happened in the entire plot that can't be summed up by this short paragraph. Well except that Titan is missing and it should be assumed he's going to hook up with the shamans to get a dragon for himself to steal Calista back from Talon. 

Despite being intrigued by the minuscule plot, I will not be returning to this series. Any possible redemption for any of the characters isn't worth trudging through this much language, sexual content, and terrible decisions. The Death King gets 2 Stars... *the miniscule plot saving it from an entire DNF. Have you read (or listened to) The Death King ? What did you think? Let me know!

P.S. Where in the world did the necromancy pieces fit in? So weird. 

*Let it be known that I skipped ahead during certain scenes...multiple times. It was just way too much.

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.