The Sea Spinner - Review

The Sea Spinner (Reign of Remnants, # 2)

By: Julie Johnson

Publication: April 28, 2026 by Ace

544 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, 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--Blazing with reawakened magic, a young woman challenges the tides of fate in this highly anticipated installment of Julie Johnson’s romantasy series.

Everything changed for Rhya Fleetwood in the battle of Fyremas. Her grief is heavy, her rage volatile. Caeldera lies in ruins. Her friends are dead or wounded. And Pendefyre, their newly crowned king, is shutting her out. The Remnant of Fire needs all his focus for his kingdom, his people, and—perhaps more than anything—his insatiable need for revenge.

When a twist of fate leads Rhya to the last place she expected—the Water Court—the novice wind weaver is forced to confront the limitations of her untrained power as well as her increasingly complicated relationships. For enigmatic King Soren of Llŷr is as different from Penn as sparks are from the sea. The more insight he offers into the maegic that binds them together, the more confused Rhya feels—about her future as a Remnant, about her deepest desires, and about her role in the coming war.

Enemies circle close, ready to strike. And if Rhya isn’t careful, she’ll lose more than just her heart.

She’ll lose her life.

I enjoyed The Wind Weaver, but maybe I didn't look at it as closely as I should have. I nailed some of the "twists" that I expected to come, but I felt like The Sea Spinner was deeper and more poetic than I was expecting, given that I didn't pick up on those things when I was reading The Wind Weaver. I highlighted a ton. I honestly felt like I was highlighting something nearly every page. Part of that was trying to see if my predictions would come true.

The Sea Spinner had a lot of water-related language. For example:

-Emotions swirl in the depths of his deep blue eyes as he stares down at me, but I cannot read them with any more success than I can his empty expression.

-Deep currents wash through me, rhythmic as the tides.

-I think one would have to be either very brave or very foolish to plumb the depths of such a man. Surely, you would drown just trying.

Now that I've seen the poetic language in The Sea Spinner, I feel the need to go back and see how much air and fire language was used in The Wind Weaver. I know that when Rhya is in scenes with Pendfyre, I noticed fire-related language as well.

For example:

-It is a charred current of unadulterated energy that scorches a path from his heart to mind.

As with The Wind Weaver, some pieces of this story were so utterly predictable that it was frustrating how the characters could be missing pieces. I mean earthquakes, really?

And of course, I have pieces of the story that I'm dying to "review" and talk about, but those pieces are spoilers.

I also noticed that several side characters check all of the diversity boxes. If you read my reviews enough, you'll know how I feel about this. But I can't say more than that for offending the AI community standards on the various sites that I share my reviews on.

A couple of times I got frustrated with the characters. One is feeling guilty about their inability to control an outcome that resulted in someone else getting hurt, and the other is telling them it was beyond their control. And then the roles reverse. And yet neither can see they're doing the exact same thing. And also, neither calls the other out on it. This annoys me. Surely the author knows. Why not call it out? It's one of those obvious things. Again, I say "earthquakes."

I didn't have any issues with the direction that The Sea Spinner took in regards to plot except the very end. But there were some inconsistencies. Rhya is completely blown away by Soren's lack of pomp, courtiers, staff, etc. But what does she really have to compare it to? Penn's court wasn't his court so much as his "sister's" when she was there before the keep was destroyed. And since then, he hasn't exactly been operating with pomp, staff, or courtiers either. So I didn't feel this was a fair comparison. Or even worth her taking note of. Or at the very least, she could have noted that while she was surprised, it also isn't all that different with her limited knowledge of other courts/kingdoms.

Other favorite quotes:

-There is nothing calming about our bond in this moment. Nothing remotely comforting.

-"I swear, nothing kills my affection quite so fast as someone expressing an overabundance of their own."

-I feel, quite suddenly, that the star by which I have guided my life these past months since I came to Dyved has flickered out, leaving me alone in the darkness.

-"I have always been honest with you. Since the first day we met." "There's a difference between honesty and transparency."

-Reliving my losses will not dull them. Endlessly replaying the past darkness does nothing to ensure a brighter future.

-"I told you once before: you cannot live as Pendefyre does. A life of repression and restraint is not what you were created for. The more you push down your grief instead of processing it, the more you bury your guilt instead of exposing it to the light, the longer it will fester in the shadowy corners of your mind. And the worse the ramifications. Not only for you, but for everyone in your path."

-No poison in the world more lethal than the fear running through your own veins...

-In my experience, the only known cure for fear is to grit one's teeth and carry on in the face of it. Be scared; live regardless.

-"You aren't ready for the things I want to say to you," he says finally. "So, I'll wait. ... Gods know, I've had enough practice at it."

-"You can find fault without condemnation."

-"Passion alone is not enough to sustain a partnership," I whisper. "At least...not the kind I want."

-I do not want to tell him how to win me. ... I do not want to hand him the cipher he needs to crack the secrets coded into the subtext of my soul. I want him to know, in one look across a room, how I am feeling.

I often felt like The Wind Weaver reminded me of other books--although I don't remember landing on a specific book--The Sea Spinner also reminds me of other books. I was reminded of A Court of Thorns and Roses (the series, not just the book).

I briefly mentioned it, but I was so annoyed with the ending of The Sea Spinner. Everything else I could get behind for the most part. But the ending frustrated me. It is what I call "a negative cliffhanger." Characters that I've come to love aren't in a good place. Those types of cliffhangers leave me unexcited about continuing the series. Of course, I will. The Sea Spinner gets 4 Stars. Have you read The Sea Spinner? What did you think? Let me know!

Of Blades and Wings - Review

Of Blades and Wings (Flame Cursed Fae, # 1)

By: Eliza Raine

Publication: March 14, 2024 by Logic in Creativity Ltd

298 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, 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--Fae fantasy meets Vikings in this enemies-to-lovers romance about a broken ice-fae princess who must earn her Valkyrie wings, a villainous fire-fae who will stop at nothing to get his revenge, and an ancient war that could see their whole world burn.Princess Madivia is broken. Her fae magic doesn’t work, her illness will kill her, and nobody knows she exists.So when the gods select her to leave her tower in the Ice Court and train to be a Valkyrie at Featherblade, she is sure they’ve made a terrible mistake.So is every other fae at Featherblade. All except the disgraced fire-fae Valkyrie, Kain. His burning gaze never leaves her. Nobody knows what he did to have his wings taken away, but he is as dangerous as the deadly world Maddy has been drawn into.And she has the key to his revenge.If he discovers her secret, it won’t just be Maddy’s life that is in danger. She knows she should avoid him.But, the only thing harder than becoming a Valkyrie? Conquering her searing fascination with the unhinged fire-fae.If she is to survive Featherblade, she must earn her wings. If she is to survive Kain, she must make a choice that could burn their world to ash.This is the first book in the Flame Cursed Fae romantasy series, and is inspired by Norse mythology and sexy fae Vikings. It has villain gets the girl and obsessive burn-the-world-down-for-her (literally) hero vibes. The romance is slow burn and builds in steam and delicious tension.

I hate when a book description tells the truth but twists things in a way that makes the book feel like it's going to be something different than it is. Maddy is hidden by her family. Sure, they might realize that she possesses a magic that can be used to benefit them and harm their enemies. But at this point, they aren't hiding her because they value her. They hide her because they seem to be ashamed of her. She can't do much ice magic. Her family has basically claimed that she is her sister's handmaiden. Her sister has been preparing for the Valkyrie training, but when the Valkyries show up, they take Maddy instead.

Maddy arrives as Featherblade and all the other rooks (Valkyrie candidates) seem to immediately hate her. Valkyries train and fight together, and the weakest link will get them all killed. Maddy doesn't have any visible magic, and she's physically weak. She has a condition that causes her to pass out randomly. And she's afraid of passing out in the middle of a fight, while swimming, or flying, or any other manner of activities that could result in her immediate death. I felt for Maddy. She has the odds stacked against her. And her mental magic that she has to hide almost seems to give her ADHD like symtpoms of inattention and focus as well as maybe some other things. But I liked that Maddy was determined to make this work for her. She never gave up. I particularly liked her motto: Do what you can. Ignore what you can't.

Kain is a mysterious character. We don't know why he's lost his wings or why he is viewed as untrustworthy, yet he remains a teacher. He follows Maddy, but he isn't around all the time. He makes it clear that he views his punishment as unjust, and if possible, he will bring retribution upon those responsible for it. Yet, we don't know who those are. We don't really know why he's keeping tabs on Maddy. We are given a reason eventually, but it is flimsy at best.

I only highlighted a handful of times. One time it was because the sentence was followed by an immediate contradiction.

-It is an excellent defense mechanism, as enemy raiders not only don't know where they are going--they also don't know how to escape when they are caught. And we are raided often, usually by the gold fae.

So...not an excellent defense mechanism after all if you're raided often?

The other quotes were either things that I could see being brought back around in the future, but as of completing the second book in the series, they have not come into play.

I also felt like in a sea of fantasy books that are 600-1000 pages long, it was both annoying and nice to have such a short book. It was nice to be able to finish a book quickly. It was odd and annoying because the story didn't feel like it should have been one book. As a matter of fact, I've already finished book 2, Of Frost and Feather, and those two definitely felt like they could have been smooshed together. The pacing just didn't feel like what I've come to expect from the genre.

I won't say that this book was particularly well written. But I did want to continue reading as soon as I was done with Of Blades & Wings. Given I already had book 2 on hand, I did just that. I will also note that language was excessive. Yet there was only one scene that I remember being spicy in nature. Just putting it out there for those who care. Of Blades and Wings gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Of Blades and Wings? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia, # 1 or 2--depending upon your preferred numbering)

By: CS Lewis

Publication: October 16, 1950

180 pages

Genre: Children's, Classics, Fantasy, Adventure, Christian

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--They open a door and enter a world NARNIA...the land beyond the wardrobe, the secret country known only to Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy...the place where the adventure begins. Lucy is the first to find the secret of the wardrobe in the professor's mysterious old house. At first, no one believes her when she tells of her adventures in the land of Narnia. But soon Edmund and then Peter and Susan discover the Magic and meet Aslan, the Great Lion, for themselves. In the blink of an eye, their lives are changed forever.

What can I add to the discussion of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe? This won't be a lengthy analysis of this book. I read this to my children as a read aloud. So I mostly want to focus on that. I found it ironic that my son focused in on Edmund and his naughty behavior, yet I know him well enough to know that he would have totally been an Edmund himself if he were in the story. I do hope he'll follow Edmund in the turn around that he had in the series though. I do see growth in him.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is, at it's core, a good versus evil story. Aslan is good. The witch is bad. As a parent, of course, I picked up on a lot more symbolism than the kids did. They were only 9, 7, and 4 when I was reading it to them.

Favorite quotes:

-You'll understand when you see him."
"But shall we see him?" asked Susan
"Why, Daughter of Eve, that's what I brought you here for. I'm to lead you to where you shall meet him," said Mr Beaver.
"Is--is he a man?" asked Lucy.
"Aslan a man!" said Mr Beaver sternly. "Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-beyond-the-Sea. Don't you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion--the Lion, the great Lion."
"Ooh!" said Susan, "I'd thought he was a man. Is he--quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion."
"That you will, dearie, and no mistake," said Mrs. Beaver; "if there's anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they're either braver than most or else just silly."
"Then he isn't safe?" said Lucy.
"Safe?" said Mr. Beaver; "don't you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you."
"Im longing to see him," said Peter, "even if I do feel frightened when it comes to the point."
"That's right, Son of Adam." said Mr. Beaver...

-"So've I, now you come to speak of it," said her husband, "but precious few, and they were the ones least like men. But in general, take my advice, when you meet anything that's going to be human and isn't yet, or used to be human once and isn't now, or ought to be human and isn't, you keep your eyes on it and feel for your hatchet."

My kids really enjoyed The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I got more out of it than they did, but that's the way of being an adult. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe gets 5 Stars from us. Have you read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe? What did you think? Let me know!

All Things Halloween Review - Silver Elite

Silver Elite (Silver Elite, #1)

By: Dani Francis

Publication: May 6, 2025 by Del Rey

512 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction

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--Psychic gifts are a death sentence and there are rules to survival: Trust no one. Lie to everyone. And whatever you do, don’t fall for your greatest enemy.

TRUST NO ONE.

Wren Darlington has spent her whole life in hiding, honing her psychic abilities and aiding the rebel Uprising in small ways. On the Continent, being Modified means certain death—and Wren is one of the most powerful Mods in existence. When one careless mistake places her in the hands of the enemy and she’s forced to join Silver Block, their most elite training program, she’s finally handed the perfect opportunity to strike a devastating blow from inside their ranks.

LIE TO EVERYONE.

But training for Silver Block can be deadly, especially when you’re harboring dangerous secrets and living in close quarters with everyone who wants you dead.

AND WHATEVER YOU DO, DON’T FALL FOR YOUR GREATEST ENEMY.

As the stakes grow ever higher, Wren must prove herself. But that’s easier said than done when your commanding officer is the ruthless and infuriatingly irresistible Cross Redden, who doesn’t miss anything when it comes to her. And as war rages between Mods like her and those who aim to destroy them, Wren must decide just how far she’s willing to go to protect herself . . . and how much of the Continent is worth saving.

The world of Silver Elite has been killing off anyone with psychic abilities, called Modified or silverbloods. Their veins glow when they're using their powers, so it's not something that is easily hidden. However, Wren is unique. Her veins don't glow. Wren's parents were killed, and her mother entrusted her to a man she called her uncle, but they didn't share any blood. Jim took her into an area covered in darkness at all hours of the day. They lived there for years. Wren learned how to navigate it, and Jim taught her how to use her abilities.

But Uncle Jim gets captured as a suspected rebel participating in the Uprising. And he gets condemned to execution. In an attempt to save him. Wren gets captured as well. And her "sentence" is to go through the training program which ultimately leads to the Silver Elite. She is up against many other cadets who are trying for the program too. And there are challenges, but only in the way of training. Wren is now in the most dangerous place possible. She is surrounded by people who would kill her on the spot if she displayed any psychic abilities. Cross in particular is nearly convinced that she's a Mod, but he isn't certain yet. And keeping his eye on her in the only way to be sure one way or the other.

Some annoyances for me involved Wren's expectations of a relationship/marriage. She claims that she's seen many women bend to the will of men. Yet diversity for diversity's sake is present within the story. So how does that qualify? I also don't like the flippant use of the b-word. There are spicy scenes that I could definitely do without. And language abounds, which I also find unnecessary for a good story.

-..."reckless is not the same as brave."

-"Rushing headfirst into danger is not an act of courage..."

Nearly all of my highlights had to do with things that annoyed me or things I thought would come back around. So there's not much in the way of poetic or memorable quotes.

The best part of this book is the suspense of will she or won't she get caught. And that was on-point. There's one more book in this series, I believe, and I want to read it, but I'm not dying for it immediately. Silver Elite gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Silver Elite? 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 - Dire Bound

Dire Bound (The Wolves Ruin, # 1)

By: Sable Sorensen

Publication: May 21, 2025 by Requited

605 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Romantasy

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--Only the worthy survive the Bonding Trials. She’ll risk her life—and her heart—to be one of them.

Meryn Cooper has always hated the Bonded, elite warriors who form mental links with the massive, vicious direwolves they ride. While they live in luxury, Meryn struggles to keep her family out of poverty. When her little sister, Saela, is kidnapped—stolen across the border by the immortal monsters her country has spent centuries fighting—Meryn’s world falls apart.

Desperate to cross the front and save her sister, Meryn enlists in the army and is thrown into the deadly Bonding Trials, where any mistake will cost her life.

Now Meryn must survive four months of training at the castle. She is bound to a feral direwolf who refuses to communicate. The other trainees would love to spill her common blood. And her cold and beautiful instructor, Stark Therion, is eager to punish any weakness.

Everything is a competition, and everyone is out to get her—everyone except the dangerously handsome crown prince, whose attention adds another target to her back. In the castle, every smile hides a knife…and the halls hide dark secrets.

It’s bond or bleed. Duel or die. Failure is ruin.

Dire Bound contains mature content including depictions of graphic violence, and is therefore recommended for readers 17+. For a full list of tropes and TWs, please visit the author's website.

If you liked Fourth Wing, then chances are good that you will enjoy Dire Bound.

Meryn's father died serving in the military, and her mother has slowly been losing her mind to visions and hallucinations. Meryn has taken the responsibility of taking care of herself and her younger sister, Saela. Meryn earns extra money by fighting in the fighting pits. She's also in a loose relationship with Lee, who works in the palace. When Saela is kidnapped by the immortal monsters (siphons) of the neighboring nation, Astreona, which has been at war with theirs for 500 years, Meryn knows she has to do whatever she can to be sent to the front so she can find Saela. It just so happens the Bonding Trials are starting, and Meryn needs to enter--not because she wants to bond with a direwolf, but because the trials are her best bet to making her way to the front as soon as possible.

Against her wishes, a direwolf does choose her, but bonding is anything but easy or natural for Meryn. Most of the other trainees are descendants of previous bonded. And they are all about culling the weakest links to make the pack as strong as possible. There are four packs that each channel a specific type of magic from wolf to rider.

Stark is one of the strongest bonded riders, both in magic and in physical ability to fight. And he's in charge of the bonded trials. Meryn can't figure out if he has a personal vendetta against her or if he's actually trying to help her survive. At the same time, things with Lee are progressing. Just because Meryn is in the bonded trials doesn't mean the two of them are over.

Meryn isn't a perfect character. One of her flaws is how quick to pass judgement she is. She judges the Bonded before knowing them. She assumes they walk around flaunting themselves and judging others. She assumes they are evil and don't hesitate to kill or execute others--even when those people are deserters. She resents those who have more than she grew up with. It's understandable in most cases, but that doesn't mean it's right. And she judges things she knows nothing about. She occasionally blurts out her opinion with little thought or consideration for the opinions of those nearby.

Twists were somewhat predictable to me. Although I was surprised a time or two. I found it surprising that Meryn's internal dialogue had moments like, "Please, let some of these people survive tomorrow's test." Um, ma'am, who exactly are you sending that thought out to? Are you, perhaps, praying? Yes, there are "gods/goddesses" in this series, but I felt like this was actually a bloop on the author's part. I don't mind it, but I found it an inconsistency with the character/world.

Another question/inconsistency I saw was that Meryn notes how attractive all of the bonded are. Does that mean the wolves only bond with people who are attractive? Or does the bond itself change people's appearances to make them more attractive than they were before bonding?

Favorite quotes:

-Confidence makes men sloppy. And sloppy men are easy targets.

-"Someday, Meryn...someday, you might come up against someone who has outmaneuvered you. You might not even see it coming."

-"Careful with that smart mouth once you're in the army," Igor warns. "Commanders don't love it when their soldiers talk back."

-I try to separate myself from his glare, but it's like trying to read a book while sitting under a guillotine.

Unlike Fourth Wing, a direwolf does die if their human bonded dies. I felt like this was understood by the authors, but it wasn't talked about enough for me. The choices that people make, the choices the direwolves make, seemed to make little sense when given this knowledge. Choices felt like they should be different at times.

Why did Meryn get to negotiate about being the one who interrogated the siphon caught that one time? She doesn't have bargaining power. She has no power at all. Yet Stark gives in to her in a way that makes zero sense at all. Interrogation is a skill. One Meryn has no experience in.

Dire Bound was a book that was easy to get hooked on the storyline and the plot. But I found myself questioning things so often. Most of my highlights also have notes attached to them--which is actually rare for me. I found so many inconsistencies in character, thought, world-building, or at the very least, things that just didn't make sense to me. This isn't a book that stands up to scrutiny very well. Dire Bound gets 3.5 Stars. I originally rated it 4 Stars in my mind, but upon writing my review and reliving it a little, I decided to bump that rating down. Have you read Dire Bound? What did you think? Let me know!

*Note: Dire Bound does include language and open door bedroom scenes. I prefer to skip over those while reading. But I like to note them in my reviews for other readers who might want to avoid them altogether.

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 - Sunrise on the Reaping

Sunrise on the Reaping (The Hunger Games, # 0.5)

By: Suzanne Collins

Publication: March 18, 2025 by Scholastic Press

400 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Fantasy, Science Fiction

Source: Borrowed from the e-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--When you've been set up to lose everything you love, what is there left to fight for?

As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes.

Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves.

When Haymitch's name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He's torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who's nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town.

As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he's been set up to fail. But there's something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.

I don't often return to series that I feel has been complete when additional books are written over time. Especially if a large amount of time has passed, and even more especially if the new book is a prequel. The Hunger Games already had a prequel that I wasn't the least bit interested in. I tried to force myself to get it and read it just to complete the series, but I was never interested in President Snow's story, so I never finished The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, but Haymitch was a much more interesting character from the original books in my opinion, and I heard good things about it from my nephew. So I decided to check it out. And I actually listened to this almost non-stop on our trip to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, TN in April.

Because this is a prequel, you already know how Haymitch's story ends. He wins his year of the hunger games. He is District 12's only winner. And he lives alone in the winner's village, drinking himself into a stupor more times than not. And yeah, so that's exactly where Sunrise on the Reaping ends. What the reader doesn't fully know or understand is the journey to get there.

I want to discuss some topics in detail, but I don't want to spoil anything for the reader since we already know so much about how this story ends; spoiling anything else would make the book pointless. I won't say that Sunrise on the Reaping is necessary to enjoy the series, but it does make an already interesting character more understandable and interesting.

The narrator, Jefferson White, did a great job. I can't tell you the last time I listened to a book entirely narrated by a male, but I enjoyed this one. Sometimes the female voices were a bit much, but it didn't bother me too much.

Sunrise on the Reaping was better than I thought it was going to be. At one point, I was hoping for an ending that was different from what I knew to be the actual ending. So to get me invested enough to hope against what I know to be true felt like a feat well accomplished. Sunrise on the Reaping gets 4 Stars. Have you read or listened to Sunrise on the Reaping? 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 - Thorns and Fire

Thorns & Fire (The Ashes of Thezmarr, # 2)

By: Helen Scheuerer

Publication: July 31, 2025 by Alchemy

448 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Magic, Fae

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--Perfect for romantasy fans, Helen Scheuerer’s spellbinding sequel to Iron & Embers, Thorns & Fire, delivers heart-wrenching choices, a found family to root for and a love that defies the odds.

A golden thread joined them, a bond that went deeper than love – and it had nearly destroyed them.

Wren Embervale and Torj Elderbrock share a dark and bloody history. With Thezmarr on the brink of another war, and overwhelmed by the force of their feelings for one another, Torj discovers there is far more to their bond than mere passion. The legendary Warsword is determined to protect Wren at all costs, even if it means lying to her . . . Even if it means losing her forever.

Meanwhile, Wren is struggling to find her place in the world – both as an advanced student of alchemy at the ancient academy of Drevenor, and as one of the heirs to a lost kingdom. With the midrealms once again facing destruction, Wren must decide: loyalty or liberation? Legacy or love?

As new political players emerge, Wren discovers that her gift for alchemy is more powerful than she ever imagined – and that it could tear the kingdoms apart.

Will she and Torj find their way back to each other, or will the ancient magic that binds them become their undoing?

From the author of the bestselling The Legends of Thezmarr series, Thorns & Fire by Helen Scheuerer is the second book in The Ashes of Thezmarr trilogy.

Iron and Embers was one of my most anticipated books from 2025. Yet, I ended up disappointed with the ending, mostly. That being said, I knew I wanted to continue the series, but I also knew I wasn't thrilled about starting Thorns and Fire because of where the characters left off in the previous book. So I didn't run out to pick this one up. I guess this is probably one of those series that it might be better to wait until all of the books are published and then binge-read them one after the other.

Thorns and Fire starts immediately where Iron and Embers left off. Wren has to replicate the solution she made that nullified the alchemy that takes away royal and warsword power. She's under a time crunch as the people's vanguard is gaining traction and followers.

Wren and Torj are broken up. Wren doesn't accept Torj's answers or non-answers, more like. She is determined to get to the bottom of why he broke things off with her. I don't want to spoil anything, but when she does get to the bottom of the answers, I really wasn't happy with her reaction. I'm not saying it wasn't justified or that I would have had a different reaction. But the nature of her search indicated that she knew Torj wasn't being entirely honest with her. So for her to feel betrayed by what she found, I just found that to be too convenient for conflict to drive the plot forward and didn't feel entirely authentic.

Overall, I will say that Thorns and Fire was better than Iron and Embers for me, Language is still a lot. And spice is on page. You can skim that as I do. I do plan to finish this series as I already have book 3, Silver and Smoke in my possession, but so far I've been less impressed compared to The Legends of Thezmarr series which The Ashes of Thezmarr is a spinoff of. Thorns and Fire gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Thorns and Fire? 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 - Divine Rivals

Divine Rivals (Letters of Enchantment, # 1)

By: Rebecca Ross

Publication: April 4, 2023 by Wednesday Books

368 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Source: Borrowed from the e-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--After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again…

All eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow wants to do is hold her family together. With a brother on the frontline forced to fight on behalf of the Gods now missing from the frontline and a mother drowning her sorrows, Iris’s best bet is winning the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette.

But when Iris’s letters to her brother fall into the wrong hands – that of the handsome but cold Roman Kitt, her rival at the paper – an unlikely magical connection forms.

Expelled into the middle of a mystical war, magical typewriters in tow, can their bond withstand the fight for the fate of mankind and, most importantly, love?

An epic enemies-to-lovers fantasy novel filled with hope and heartbreak, and the unparalleled power of love.

Divine Rivals is a YA fantasy where the world the characters live in is at war. This a war between two gods that were once asleep. We don't really understand the war yet, but we have gotten a little mythology surrounding the gods in the story, so I imagine we will learn more as the story progresses.

Iris's brother has gone to fight in the war. She dropped out of school and has joined a newspaper in hopes of becoming a columnist. But she's in competion for the role. And her mother has become an alcoholic. Iris has also been writing letters to her brother but he hasn't written her back.

Roman is in competition with Iris for the columnist role. And we learn pretty quickly that he's been receiving letters written by Iris to her brother magically. He decides to take a risk and write her back without telling her who he is. Roman's father is attempting to control his life. He is setting up an arranged marriage. And the columnist position is what his father wants for him.

Eventually both characters end up writing for a rival newspaper as war correspondents. As they grow closer together in both real life and through their magical letters, we begin to wonder how Iris will respond when she finds out the truth. And what has happened to Iris's brother that has kept him from responding to her letters.

Divine Rivals was a sweet book that hooked me so quickly. I listened to the audiobook and finished in in less than 24 hours. It helped that I was able to listen during a large stretch of a day we had off school. The dual narrators (Rebecca Norfolk & Alex Wingflield) did a great job. Rebecca Norfolk did get to narrating quickly at times that had me hearing "Raymon" instead of "Roman" at times. I wondered if I was hearing her incorrectly, or if she was messing up. Either way, I am giving Divine Rivals 4 Stars. Have you read or listened to Divine Rivals? 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 - Ruby Red

Ruby Red (Ruby Red Trilogy, # 1)

By: Kerstin Gier

Published: May 10th 2011 by Henry Holt (first published January 6th 2009)

330 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction

Source: Christmas gift from my friend Paula

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!

Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon--the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

My friend Paula actually gifted me Ruby Red more than ten years ago back before I was a mom and still worked at the same office as her. She read the series and enjoyed it. But to be honest, time travel books are ones that I often struggle with. As a matter of fact, I never seek them out. Even when some of my favorite authors go that route, I end up not reading those books. But Paula and I usually end up liking the same books, so I finally decided to see if the e-library had a copy of the audiobook, and they did.

Gweneth is a sixteen year old girl that has always known that the time traveling gene runs in her family, but it was supposed to come to her cousin Charlotte, not her. Yet Gweneth ends up with the gene and not Charlotte afterall. Charlotte has spent her entire life preparing for this, and Gweneth has not. It doesn't help that Gweneth is being paired up with Gideon who she has a little crush on, but he has some kind of relationship with Charlotte.

Gweneth's mother has kept her true date of birth a secret because she was hoping to spare Gweneth the time traveling world. Her mother seems to think that there's something to be afraid of. Not to mention that one of Gweneth's ancestors has defected from the group and stolen a major artifact needed in the time traveling process. Gweneth doesn't know the truth about any of it. Why did Lucy steal the cronograph? What does St. Germain really want? What happens with the cronograph is sealed with the blood of all twelve time travelors. What is being hidden from her? And who are the real bad guys?

Ruby Red is a book that I'm definitely glad I listened to on audio. The romance is slow burn and barely there at this point. You know it's building from what is hinted at, but if you're looking for action or a romance driven plot you will be disappointed. I know my friend, Paula, read the whole series, so I do plan to continue with the series, but at this point, I don't have any free holds with the elibrary, and I've got 6 weeks until my next hold is up. Plus I'd rather snag the 2nd book in the Divine Rivals series as my next hold. But I have been holding onto this series for over 10 years as it is. It isn't going anywhere. I'm giving Ruby Red 3 Stars. Have you read or listened to Ruby Red? 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 - Rebel Witch

Rebel Witch (Crimson Moth, # 2)

By: Kristen Ciccarelli

Publication: February 18, 2025 by Wednesday Books

464 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Magic

Source: Borrowed from the e-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 WITCH...
Rune Winters is on the run. Ever since the boy she loved, Gideon Sharpe, revealed who she was and delivered her into enemy hands, everyone wants her dead. If Rune hopes to survive, she must ally herself with the cruel and dangerous Cressida Roseblood, who’s planning to take back the Republic and reinstate a Reign of Witches—something Cressida needs Rune to accomplish.

A WITCH HUNTER...
Apparently it wasn’t enough for Rune to deceive Gideon; she’s now betrayed him by joining forces with the witch who made his life a living hell. Gideon won’t allow the Republic to fall to the witches and be plunged back into the nightmares of the past. In order to protect this new world he fought for, every last witch must die—especially Rune Winters.

AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE...
When Rune makes Gideon an offer he can’t refuse, the two must pair up to accomplish dangerous goals. The more they’re forced into each other’s company, the more Gideon realizes the feelings he had for Rune aren’t as dead and buried as he thought. Now he’s faced with a terrible choice: sacrifice the girl he loves to stop a monster taking back power, or let Rune live and watch the world he fought so hard for burn.

In Kristen Ciccarelli's Rebel Witch, the exciting conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology, love has never been so deadly.

I listened to Rebel Witch on audio. It is the second book in the Crimson Moth series and is a true enemies-to-lovers book. Rune is a witch during a time when witches are hunted. More specifically, hunted by Gideon. He was hurt by a witch who trapped and tortured him. He has been searching for the Crimson Moth, whom he suspected to be Rune. He pretended to court her in hopes of unmasking her. Yet he began to develop feelings for her. Rune knew Gideon was trying to find the Crimson Moth. So she knew he likely wouldn't actually want to be with her if he learned the truth of who she is. Yet, she has always had a crush on Gideon. And getting to know him better didn't help that at all. In the end, Gideon and Rune are both betrayed by the other by the time we start this second book.

Cressida was one of the queens of the previous regime before witches began to be hunted. She is supposed to be dead. But she is the one who trapped and tortured Gideon, and she wants him back. Yet she was posing as Rune's best friend and ultimately saved Rune's life. Rune is now trapped and indebted to her. Cressida is using Rune in a marriage alliance with another kingdom in order to get an army to take back her own, with plans to resurrect her sisters. Rune has got to get free of Cressida and this marriage alliance. Despite saving dozens of witches, Rune is ready to find somewhere she can simply survive. She takes a chance on Gideon not being able to kill her and ties her fate to his. Gideon must redeem himself. He was fooled by Rune once before, and he can't let himself be fooled again.

Rune and Gideon have to depend on each other to survive. Both are traitors. Both are being pursued by others. And both have betrayed the other. How can they trust each other? Will feelings win out, or will one or both of them realize they simply cannot trust the other? Rebel Witch was a great conclusion to this duology. It answered all of my questions. I wanted to keep listening when I was forced to put it down. Even still, I managed to finish it in two days before we started back to school after Christmas break.

Rebel Witch was a thrilling ride. I enjoyed the stakes and the hills and valleys. I might have even teared up once. I can't remember specifically. I didn't highlight any quotes since I listened to this one. But I rooted for Rune and Gideon the entire way, and I wasn't disappointed. Rebel Witch gets 4 Stars. Have you read or listened to Rebel Witch? 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 - Web of Vows and Vengeance

Web of Vows and Vengeance (The Hirathean Path, # 1)

By: Aria Ashbrook

Publication: February 27, 2026 by Hellhound Press Limited

542 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Romantasy

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--Stripped of power. Fuelled by vengeance.

She lost everything because of his lie. Now the only way to save her sister is to win a deadly competition that could cost her the only thing she has left: her life.

When Prince Kyor twisted the truth about his mother’s death, Rose paid the price. Her family was stripped of their magic, cast into the slums, and abandoned by the kingdom they once served. Now her parents are gone, and her younger sister’s future hangs in the balance.

Rose’s only hope is the Tournament of the Gifting, a brutal competition held once a century, where the victor earns a blessing from the Goddess of Life. The catch? Every other contender wields the very power she was robbed of.

And Prince Kyor is among them. Commander of the armies. Rider of a bonded dire wolf. Wielder of lightning. He doesn’t just want to win for vanity – he wants the gift for himself. But what could a man who has it all possibly want?

Thrown into a world of magic, monsters, and merciless trials, Rose must fight not only for survival but for the chance to reclaim her future. Along the way, she’ll find unlikely allies, ruthless rivals, and a dangerous connection with her greatest enemy – one that could ruin or remake her.

Web of Vows and Vengeance is a dark, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romantasy, set in a Nordic-inspired world, featuring deadly trials, found family, gods and goddesses, political intrigue, and an underdog heroine who refuses to stay broken.

This is a story of heartbreak, vengeance, and the kind of power that can never be taken.

I kept seeing Web of Vows and Vengeance praised on Instagram. And then I believe I got it on sale.

I will say that Web of Vows and Vengeance has several tropes that romantasy readers will be familiar with. Enemies to lovers. Deadly trials. Betrayal. But the magical world was unique enough for me that I wasn't bothered by similarities most of the time.

Rose's mother was a healer/midwife. I can't remember if her magic was of a healing kind or if she was just familiar with herbs and tonics in a more non-magical way. But she was called to deliver the queen's baby. Yet complications arose, and the queen begged for Rose's mother to save the baby and not herself. Rose's mother complied, but in the end both baby and mother died in childbirth. Rose was present, if I remember correctly. And for some reason, so was Prince Kyor--though only a child at the time. Prince Kyor was so grieved that he lied to the king and told his father that the queen begged for her life to be saved. As punishment, the king stripped Rose's entire family of their magic as payment for not saving the queen and ordered Rose's newborn brother to be killed as payment for the son's life that he lost. Rose's mother and father both died shortly after. I can't remember exactly what the cause of death for the mother was said to be, but the father fell into drunkenness, which ultimately led to his death. Rose was left to take care of herself and her younger sister Kay while banished to the slums.

Every hundredish years, the Retterheld is a tournament offering a chance to win a gift from the Goddess of Life in this magical world. The would-be participants have to sneak into a guarded temple and offer a sacrifice of tears to enter their name in the tournament. And then the goddess tells her priestesses the names of those whose offering she accepts. Of course, Rose's offering is accepted. And Prince Kyor's offering as well. It isn't hard to understand what Rose hopes to be gifted. She wants a better life for herself and Kay, what was stripped from them. But not many (or any) of the other contestants are willing to share what it is they are hoping to be gifted should they win. And so we are left wondering about that.

The contestants are to be kept separate from their families throughout the contest, yet they aren't without interaction with some outsiders, like staff or training commanders. The contestants need allies to complete several of the challenges. Rose, thankfully, allies herself with the contestants from the Eastern Isles. And over time, Prince Kyor comes to realize he needs to atone for his lies, and he tries to do so by training Rose and helping her in whatever ways he can.

I was annoyed with a few things. All of the side characters that we know anything about their romance situations fit into diversity categories. Also, why does every book that includes deadly trials also have various balls thrown in? Jonas was basically Dain from Fourth Wing. And then that ending frustrated me so much. It ends in what I call a "negative cliffhanger." Those things serve a purpose, but they actually have me dreading the next book in the series rather than dying to know what's going to happen next.

Also, there were several things introduced into this book/world that never got addressed again. One would assume they will come back around as important in other books in the series, yet, I'm having a hard time wondering why Dinah gave Rose the specific dagger that she did yet the only purpose it had in this book was to drive her to the library, where she never did find any information about the blade, or if she did besides a name, it never came into play during her trials at all. She never even used it. Ruben never came back around. How or why one bonds a dire wolf, and what the connection actually means, is never addressed. What's the deal with the ravens? What about this tonic that her mother used to make that she should be taking but isn't? It doesn't seem to be the preventative type of tonic. It's more of a health tonic that she disregards now that she's being fed properly, but why mention it at all if it isn't going to come back around? Why even introduce William? He is a superfluous character if I ever saw one.

Favorite quotes:

-Starvation encourages many nefarious skills. I regret none of my lessons though, only the circumstances that led me to them.

-...no matter how deadly a monster is, you need only fear it when it draws close enough to bite. Which is why I intend to show them all how well the past years have sharpened my teeth.

-‘From my experience,’ he says, ‘one who cannot find happiness within the gifts they have already been given will struggle to be satisfied by more.'

-‘The best thing you can do is know yourself. Know your weaknesses. Know your fears. Know your strengths. Know when you can push yourself, and when you need to slow down. Knowing yourself inside and out, that’s the best preparation you can get.’

-'...a life lived in hate is no life at all.’

Web of Vows and Vengeance wasn't a perfect read for me. It had a slow start, and I kept falling asleep. But once I got invested, I wanted to keep reading. I found a lot of things mentioned once and never addressed again. At this point, I'm giving the authors the benefit of the doubt that all or most of them will come into play in future books, but if not, then that's frustrating. I don't love the forced diversity. You can tell because the ratio of characters is off. And I did get annoyed with the spicy scenes. Once the spice starts, it takes over the storyline a bit too much for my preferences. Also, the ending of the book was a bit stupid (aka, frustrating). In the end, Web of Vows and Vengeance gets 3.5 Stars. If the hanging pieces come into play in the other books, then I might be willing to change this rating. Have you read Web of Vows and Vengeance? 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 - Heartless Hunter

Heartless Hunter (Crimson Moth, # 1)

By: Kristen Ciccarelli

Publication: February 20, 2024 by Wednesday Books

406 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Witches

Source: Borrowed from the elibrary

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--On the night Rune’s life changed forever, blood ran in the streets. Now, in the aftermath of a devastating revolution, witches have been diminished from powerful rulers to outcasts ruthlessly hunted due to their waning magic, and Rune must hide what she is.

Spending her days pretending to be nothing more than a vapid young socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. When a rescue goes wrong, she decides to throw the witch hunters off her scent and gain the intel she desperately needs by courting the handsome Gideon Sharpe – a notorious and unforgiving witch hunter loyal to the revolution – who she can't help but find herself falling for.

Gideon loathes the decadence and superficiality Rune represents, but when he learns the Crimson Moth has been using Rune’s merchant ships to smuggle renegade witches out of the republic, he inserts himself into her social circles by pretending to court her right back. He soon realizes that beneath her beauty and shallow façade, is someone fiercely intelligent and tender who feels like his perfect match. Except, what if she’s the very villain he’s been hunting?

Kristen Ciccarelli’s The Crimson Moth is the thrilling start to a romantic fantasy duology where the only thing more treacherous than being a witch… is falling in love.

Historically, I don't have a good record with books that feature witches. Something about this subgenre of the fantasy realm I just find unappealing. In this case, I didn't mind it too much.

Rune is the witch in question. And this world requires blood to complete spells. Most witches use their own blood to work magic. But dark magic is done by those who take blood from others not freely given. The worst is if someone is killed so their blood can be used in some kind of spellwork. This kingdom used to be ruled by witches. But they turned dark and now witches are hunted down. It's a case of one bad apple (or three) spoils the whole bunch. Rune has been working in secret to get other witches to safety. But she was unable to do so for her grandmother. Her grandmother was exposed as a witch and Rune had to turn her in to the authorities in order to turn suspicion away from herself. It broke her heart to do so, and ever since, she's had to play a role to keep up appearances.

Gideon is a witch hunter. He has been burned (literally) by a witch who lost herself to dark magic. And so he takes the stance of all witches being evil. He's suspicious of Rune, but everything seems to be working in her favor and not against her as he originally suspected.

Rune takes on the idea of courting Gideon as a means of getting his suspicion off of her. And Gideon takes on the task of courting her to get close enough to see if she is a witch or not. But you can guess that the relationship between these two end up getting complicated.

There was a twist that wasn't really a twist if you ask me. But that's okay.

Listening to this on audiobook was a fast listen. I listened while I was working on painting a sign for my daughter's 10th birthday. The sign took longer than I expected, but I didn't mind at all since I was able to keep listening. The narrators did a great job. Because it was an audiobook, I don't have any quotes to share.

Heartless Hunter gets 4 Stars. This might be my favorite witch book to date. I just don't usually enjoy this subgenre. I want to see what's going to happen next. Have you read or listened to Heartless Hunter? 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.

Can't Wait for Night Tide

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.

Night Tide

By: Lexi Ryan

Expected Publication: February 23, 2027 by Avon

432 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Romantasy, Vampires

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Aurora Evanselier’s graduation from Invictus Mage Academy is meant to be the most unforgettable night of her life. The glittering ball is supposed to begin with music and dancing and end with a single which of the empire’s four ruling kingdoms she’ll serve with her formidable magic.

As the emperor’s daughter, everyone expects Aurora to choose Daybreak, the most powerful kingdom in the empire. But when her father collapses, only one man can save him—Malek Ravenstorm, the brooding, magnetic prince of Night Tide. Malek has never forgiven the emperor for executing his brother, but he offers Aurora a his healing magic, in exchange for her allegiance. Desperate to save her father, she agrees.

Now Aurora is bound to a kingdom rumored to harbor witches and vampires, where the castle hides forbidden wings, and nothing is what it seems—especially Malek. He’s infuriating. Irresistible. Dangerous. And determined to keep her in the dark.

But Aurora didn’t trade her freedom to become a pawn. As whispers of a curse stir and Night Tide’s mysteries deepen, she uncovers a truth that threatens everything she thought she knew. Because the darkest secret of all isn’t Malek’s. It’s hers.

Night Tide begins a steamy, high-stakes romantasy trilogy where magic is power, desire is dangerous, and the shadows hold answers that can’t survive in the light.

TROPES YOU'LL FIND IN NIGHT TIDE:

Magical academyBrother rivalry (with Vampire Diaries' Stefan-Damon vibes)Enemies-to-lovers romanceFound friendshipRoyals with secret identitiesMysterious creatures that roam the nightBound by curses and fate

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

Can't Wait for A Court of Splintered Harmony

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.

A Court of Splintered Harmony (A Court of Thorns and Roses, # 6)

By: Sarah J Maas

Expected Publication: October 27, 2026 by Bloomsbury Publishing

352 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Fae, Romantasy

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--What was broken will be remade.

Deep in the heart of the continent, Koschei the Deathless is stirring. Though he's been bound to a mountain lake for millennia, the insidious threat of his return now spreads across the Fae territories, attracting powerful allies hell-bent on reclaiming what was once theirs: the human lands.

The Night Court will not stand idly by while innocents are attacked. But with Prythian still piecing itself together in the wake of the devastating Hybern War, the task of uniting is proving more difficult by the day.

To make matters worse, those who rule and protect the Night Court are reeling from recent betrayals and revealed truths. The rifts dividing them seem insurmountable.

But to defeat Koschei's creeping shadow, they must find a way back to each other and resurrect their former alliances. To survive, they must find a way to repair the splintered harmony all around them.

The internet is ablaze with the ACOTAR news. And while I don't always love jumping on trends, the truth is, I am really excited for this book. However, I probably won't get to this book immediately. What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Soulgazer - Review

Soulgazer (The Magpie and the Wolf Duology, # 1)

By: Maggie Rapier

Publication: July 8, 2025 by Ace

451 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Pirates

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--Every legend has a beginning.

With their freedom on the line, a young woman and a rakish pirate take their fate into their own hands as they attempt to find a lost mythical isle with the power to save their entire world.

Saoirse yearns to be powerless. Cursed from childhood with a volatile magic, she's managed to imprison it within, living under constant terror that one day it will break free. And it does, changing everything.

Horrified at her loss of control, Saoirse’s parents offer her hand to the cold and ruthless Stone King. Knowing she'll never survive such a cruel man, Saoirse realizes there is only one path forward…she must break her curse.

On the eve of her wedding, Saoirse seeks out the legendary Wolf of the Wild—Faolan, a feral, silver-tongued pirate. He swears to help rid her of the deadly magic, if she’ll use it to locate a lost mythical isle first. Crafted by the slaughtered gods, it’s the only land that could absorb her power.

But Saoirse knows better than to trust a pirate’s word. With the wrath of her disgraced father and scorned betrothed chasing them, Saoirse adds one last condition to protect if Faolan wants her on his ship, he'll have to marry her first.

Saoirse picked up a soulstone as a child, and ever since then, she and her family have believed her to be cursed. After touching her pregnant mother's belly, her baby brother died. After touching her older brother, he drowned. But it isn't every human touch that seems to condemn someone to death. So that part was a little confusing to me. Since these incidents, Saoirse has been cast into a cottage to live alone for years. Her father is one of the kings of this realm, and he's treated her unkindly since he lost two children "at her hands." But he still plans to use her for a political match. I don't see how that's possible exactly, but he was keeping the details of her "curse" to himself and not sharing it with the man he basically wants to sell her off to. At the same time, her father has been attempting to bind her magic.

Saoirse has existed on tales of the Wolf and his escapades, as her older brothers used to tell her his stories. When Saoirse is allowed out of the cottage for a yearly ceremony, she runs into the Wolf himself. He just so happens to be looking for the exact magic that Saoirse is capable of. Only her magic is now stifled due to her father's bindings. Saoirse knows that her only protection from the bethrothal that her father has arranged is if she's married to someone else. So she and Wolf get married as a marriage of convenience. Although no one but them knows that--not even his crew.

You see, the Wolf, Faolan, is a pirate. He's been working for his queen, his cousin, to pay a life debt. But his time to find an island that can't be found is running out. He needs Saoirse's magic in order to find it. Of course, Faolan and Saoirse begin to develop feelings that go beyond convenience.

The magic of this world is unique. Saoirse isn't the only one who holds magic, but her kind is feared because people don't understand it.

Favorite quotes:

-The Wolf's hold falters as I buckle forward, choking on the waves of it because I know him, this stranger. I see a hundred different versions of his face, feel the weight of his hand upon my chest--I know that I'm going to tear through his world like an arrow through flesh, and he will bear those scars for the rest of his days. I will steal his rest, and he will rob me of mine. We are going to break each other.

-Legends may not die, but stories always end.

As per usual, we can't have side characters without trying to check all of the boxes. I can't say more because AI bots will block my reviews on various sites where I post my reviews. But know that the alphabet is present in this one.

All of that being said, I never had an issue with the world-building. I don't avoid "witch" books per se, but I have found that none of them particularly satisfy what I'm looking for in a story. I've felt the same about time travel and mermaid books. I just haven't found one that works for me. And this world isn't about witches in the sense of casting spells. But when I read the author's note at the end of the book, I felt a conviction not to continue the series. I can't explain it. There was nothing in this book that turned me off exactly. There was no content that I can point to. But afterwards, when I went to pick up the next book, I just felt a strong conviction not to read it. And I know that it came outside of myself because my preference was to read book 2. I enjoyed book Soulgazer enough to want to continue the series. But I've also learned to listen to these "instincts." So I won't be continuing the series.

Soulgazer had a unique magical world that I'd not seen before. It's one of only two pirate books that I've enjoyed. It wasn't without faults. The diversity for diversity's sake is always frustrating to me. But the conviction I felt not to continue the series leaves me feeling like I can't exactly recommend this book to others either. Soulgazer itself gets 4 Stars. The conviction I felt didn't come until I'd finished this book. Thus, I won't be continuing the series. Have you read Soulgazer? What did you think? Let me know!

Daggermouth - Review

Daggermouth (The Heart, # 1)

By: H.M. Wolfe

Publication: March 3, 2026 by Scarlett Press

544 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Dystopian

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--Set in a corrupt surveillance state ruled by the masked elite, this true enemies-to-lovers dystopian romance that’s Conform meets V For Vendetta follows a mercenary who botches the assassination of the president’s son and ends up forced to marry him.

The first thing you’ll learn in New Found Haven is that mercy doesn’t exist. The second thing is that, from the highest glass atrium in the Heart to the windowless slums of the Boundary, the Veyra are always watching.

The last lesson is the hardest, but you must remember it: Love outside of your ring is a death sentence.

The city is carved into rings of privilege and poverty, ruled by the masked elite who will do whatever it takes to hold onto power. Obedience is demanded. Rebellion is crushed.

Greyson Serel has spent his life caught between two worlds. Publicly, he’s the flawless heir to the presidency. Privately, he’s entangled in secrets that could topple the regime. But when he’s forced into a political marriage meant to bind him tighter to the government’s brutal laws, he finds himself shackled to a bride as lethal as she is unwilling.

Shadera Kael is a mercenary raised to kill, not to wed. Yet when her bullet misses its mark, survival leaves her tied to the very man she was sent to eliminate. Trapped inside the corrupt heart of the city, she becomes both prisoner and wife, her every step watched, her every move tested.

Their union is no love story—it’s a battlefield. As secrets come to light and betrayals fester within the walls of power, Greyson and Shadera must decide between annihilating each other or burning the city to the ground together.

In a world where passion has consequences and loyalty is paid for in blood, their forced bond may be the spark that ignites a revolution. Or the fire that consumes them both.

Daggermouth is a dystopian book at heart. It's told from multiple POVs, whichever character has the most important information to share in the moment. It has some technology that isn't quite widely used today, but none of that is out of the realm of possibility for today so it doesn't quite fit science fiction. And while there are relationships, I also didn't really feel like it fit into the realm of romance either.

I've seen Daggermouth praised in the Bookstagram world so I figured I would check it out. But I have to say that I wasn't quite as blown away as those I saw praising it. Mostly I felt like there were too many inconsistencies. I'll spend most of my review addressing these.

Why can an assassin feel so much hatred towards an executioner? Both characters are taking hit orders from someone else. Neither know the people they are killing intimately. Both understand that the people they are killing have families and people who care about them. Both feel the weight of what they're doing. One is forced into a role without their choosing, the other chose their role. Neither know each other well enough to judge the other, but do so anyway.

People in this world are regularly executed for falling in love across "rings". Yet because someone from the lowest ring saw someone from the highest ring unmasked they are forced to get married? That makes no sense. Even the idea of marrying between the rings to unite them is inconsistent. The entire point of their political world seemed to be to keep people in their rings. No rising or falling. Just stay where you are in your place. So Shade and Greyson being forced to "marry" just because she saw him unmasked made no sense.

This world starts off feeling like the "royal" family is almost mafia. All of the family members have their places and assignments. Yet the further into the book we go, we see such subjugation for the women in this world. And it just felt a little forced to me. If this were a political commentary on today's society (which I'm not saying it is), Daggermouth would show how far we've come past women's subjugation today.

Then, a character is shot literally 3 different times in the span of a week and continues to fight on like his entire body isnt facing multiple debilitating injuries. But maybe he's built up a tolerance to pain through his history. Yet the first bullet left him near death. Another character is injured similarly. Not quite 3 bullet wounds. But still, this is so unrealistic it's laughable.

Look, I don't avoid books that have spicy scenes if the plot is good. But I'd rather not have them in there. I don't think it's necessary. And Daggermouth had less and more than I expected. The only full scene (and I say full given the amount of description and the act itself) was early in the book. There are a few more partial scenes that were descriptive, but didn't go as far as I expected. I have to say that given the proclivities of the two main characters, I'm glad that things didn't progress as much as one would expect. But I don't understand why almost all of the scenes in this world had to include violence of some kind. Maybe it's just me, but even if it is, I feel like it shouldn't be.

I think Daggermouth was supposed to have some big plot twists. But if you read enough books, you can begin to predict things that might happen. This was the case with me reading this book. There was only one small surprise for me at the very, very end of this book. Everything else I predicted. That's not to say that every reader will do this. I know some friends of mine never try to predict what's going to happen, but my brain can't turn that off. I'm always thinking "oh I bet this unexpect thing is going to happen." Anyway, at the same time, with the way Daggermouth ended, I really don't see the need for a second book. I know there are a lot of holes, but none of them feel pressing enough for me to need a second book.

Even though the majority of my review has been negaitve, I read Daggermouth quickly. I wanted to keep reading when I needed to put it down. So it wasn't all bad. I had hopes for the characters, which I guess hasn't fully fleshed out and maybe that's the idea behind the second book, but yeah, I also can't rate Daggermouth as some masterpiece either. At this point, I'm giving Daggermouth 3 Stars. I'll probably read the second in the series when it publishes, but time will tell if my interests drops before it publishes. Have you read Daggermouth? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Mr. Popper's Penguins

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

Mr. Popper's Penguins

By: Richard Atwater & Florence Atwater

Publication: January 1, 1938

69 pages

Genre: Children's, Classics, Fantasy, Animals, Humor, Middle Grade

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--It was hard enough for Mr. Popper to support himself, Mrs. Popper, Bill and Janie Popper. The addition of twelve penguins to the family made it impossible to make both ends meet. Then Mr. Popper had a splendid idea—the talented penguins would be a sensation on the stage. And so they were....

A classic of American humor, this story of a gentle house-painter and his high-stepping penguins has delighted children for generations.

I've been doing chapter read-alouds with my kids for a few years now, but we finally have a rotational system where we rotate who gets to pick the book I read. We go in age order, and I also get a turn. Mr. Popper's Penguins was actually my pick. I thought it would be a good read-aloud for the Christmas season without being a "Christmas" book, and it was a good choice.

My kids range in age from 10 to 4 (almost 5--at the time of reading this book) so this was a good choice for the three of them. The story wasn't complicated or long. It wasn't too much for them to pay attention. The chapters were short enough that I would read two in one sitting without them even realizing it, and at that pace I was able to read about 10% per night that I read. I read this during our bedtime routine on the nights it was my turn to put the kids to bed. (Husband and I alternate nights.)

Mr. Popper is a painter. And the majority of his work comes during the spring. It seems that he mostly has the winter off work. But sitting around the house with nothing to do can cause him some depression as well as get on Mrs. Popper's nerves. Mr. Popper also loves reading about travelers and explorers. Apparently, he wrote a letter to Admiral Drake who is at the South Pole doing a study and the Admiral sent him a penguin. Of course, as an adult, I know this is ridiculous, but it makes sense to the children.

Mr. Popper is so excited to have a penguin as a pet. Mrs. Popper is surprisingly on board, even when they turn their refridgerator into it's home. I actually found this as refreshing as I did unreasonable. So often, husbands and wives are displayed in literature as being at odds. Mr. & Mrs. Popper were different while not being on opposing sides of their marriage. Their children Bill and Janie also love the penguin.

However, Captain Cook (the penguin) began to get sick overtime. Mr. Popper writes to a couple of people to ask for advice and gets sent a female penguin which does bolster both penguins, but it also results in like 10 babies. Mr. Popper and Mrs. Popper end up entertaining their penguins by creating a show with them. They travel around the country to different theaters to show off their penguins, but by the summer the penguins begin to be unhappy again. I won't tell you how the book ends, but I will say that we enjoyed it.

Mr. Popper's Penguins was just a fun book all around. It wasn't too complicated. The stakes weren't too high. It wasn't filled with too much action. It was just an all-around good classic book that I and my children enjoyed. Mr. Popper's Penguins gets a stable 4 Stars. Have you read Mr. Popper's Penguins? What did you think? Let me know!