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.

Sunday Post - 10/18/26

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

I can't believe that I've missed two Sunday Posts in a row. I don't think that has ever happened in the history of my blog. But October is our busiest family month of the year. So that makes sense. Going all the way back, I can't remember every day details. Tuesday the 29th of September, Big Girl had a doctor's appointment to check up on some increased asthma/breathing problems she's been having during activity. All the kids had ball games that night and the following Thursday as well. After school on Friday the 2nd, my parents came to get the kids to spend the weekend with them. Husband and I went out to eat for a rare date night. Saturday the 3rd was my dad's birthday. I worked on consigment tagging and prepping most of the day. I did get a good bit of reading and listening to an audiobook done during that time. Sunday we had fellowship meal at church and had more visitors than we usually do. Monday the 5th, the kids ended up having ball games. Monday wasn't the normal game day, but things got rearranged that week. Tuesday the 6th I had a hair appointment in the morning. The kids had ball games, but before games started they did a tent decorating contest and the kids playing ball got to trick or treat at all the different team tents. That was a lot of fun, but hectic. Thursday the 8th was a packed day. Big Boy had nature class. Little Boy hung out with my parents. Big Girl had band. Then we met up with friends after to eat lunch and play at the park. My sister and niece ended up evacuating the hurricane and came to my parent's to stay the weekend. We went to my parents' after the park and hung out until dinner. The kids ended up spending Thursday and Friday nights there. I did have to pick the boys up early Friday morning, the 9th, for haircuts. I hung out with them until dinner again. Saturday, we had a family birthday celebration for all of our October birthdays (Husband's birthday was also that day). We have 5 total birthdays in my side of the family during October. That was a great day of celebration since we don't all get together too often. Sunday, Little Boy went off on vacation to Tennessee with my parents. Tuesday the 13th after some school, Big Girl and I took her trumpet to the music store to get some work. (Her slides were stuck and a few other tweaks.) Husband went to pick it up on Wednesday for us. Thursday, we had band. Afterwards, we went to Kohls to do a return and then to Shoe Station to get shoes for the family for family pictures. Big Boy ended up having pitching practice late Thursday night. Friday the 16th was a mostly normal day. And then yesterday, I took consignment items to drop off.

THE PAST THREE WEEKS

Monday 9/28: Review of Trust Fall by Lynn Painter (3.5 Stars)
Thursday 10/1: All Things Halloween Review of Heartless Hunter (Crimson Moth, # 1) by Kristen Ciccarelli (4 Stars)
Friday 10/2: Homeschool Friday - Jax's Tail Twitches
Saturday 10/3: September 2026 EOM Wrap Up
Monday 10/5: All Things Halloween Review of Web of Vows and Vengeance (The Hirathaen Path, # 1) by Aria Ashbrook (3.5 Stars)
Thursday 10/8: All Things Halloween Review of Rebel Witch (Crimson Moth, # 2) by Kristen Ciccarelli (4 Stars)
Friday 10/9: Homeschool Friday - Gwen Tells Tales
Monday 10/12: All Things Halloween Review of Ruby Red (Ruby Red Trilogy, # 1) by Kerstin Gier (3 Stars)
Thursday 10/15: All Things Halloween Review of Divine Rivals (Letters of Enchantment, # 1) by Rebecca Ross (4 Stars)
Friday 10/16: Homeschool Friday - Spider-Man The Amazing Story

My annual "All Things Halloween" event is happening. This is my month-long event where I feature reviews from Halloween-y genres (fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, sci-fi, horror, mystery, thriller, and suspense). Over the last few years I've had mostly fantasy books as I just haven't been in the mood for much horror, but still...these are books that can get you in the mood for Halloween.

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: All Things Halloween Review of Thorns and Fire (The Ashes of Thezmarr, #2) by Helen Scheuerer
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Thursday: All Things Halloween Review of Sunrise on the Reaping (The Hunger Games, # 0.5) by Suzanne Collins
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Zoe's Hiding Place

NEW BOOKS:

Threshing Day (The Empyrean, # 3.5)

By: Rebecca Yarros

Publication: September 29, 2026 by Entangled: Red Tower Books

224 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Dragons, 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--The next book in the blockbuster Empyrean series, Threshing Day contains thirteen stories starring your favorite characters and their dragons. The deluxe first edition includes sixteen beautiful original full-color illustrations by artist Joe Requeza. This breathtaking collectible is available only in the US and Canada while supplies last. Full blurb to be revealed soon!

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Spider-Man the Amazing Story

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.

Spider-Man the Amazing Story

By: Catherine Saunders

Publication: January 1, 2006 by Dk Pub

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Level-1 Reader, Early Reader, Superhero

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--Describes how Peter Parker became Spider-Man and tells what his amazing secret powers are.

DK rates Spider-Man The Amazing Story as a Level-1 Beginning to Read book. My son when he was reading level-1 books was always intimidated by this book. It is the average length of a level-1 reader, but I will say that some of the words were bigger than I was expecting from level-1, so I let him wait until he was reading level-2 books to kind of force this one on him. (For example: ordinary, heights, radioactive, exhibition, poison, fantastic, skyscrapers, wrestling, television, burglar, identity, costume, building, strength, Scorpion). If it were one or two words, I wouldn't have questioned it, but there was a challenging word for a level-1 reader on every page. We don't want to discourage readers even while pushing them a little.

The book tells the basic story of Spider-Man/Peter Parker. There's no new revelations. It talks about who Peter Parker was before, how he became Spider-Man, and how he changed after becoming Spider-Man. I liked that he has a story that goes from being picked on by others at school to using his new skills to save people and catch bad guys. What I didn't love and don't see as necessary in a book designed for roughly six-year-olds was the hyper sexualization of Mary Jane. She's wearing a lace-up shirt that emphasizes her breasts and narrows down to a taper into her pants were you can see flesh at her hip. In the next picture, She is clinging to Spider-Man while wearing low-rise jeans and a shirt that shows about 5+ inches of her belly, hip and back, all while showing the V of her abdominal muscles/hip bone and emphasizing the round shape of her butt. I just don't think this was necessary for a young children's book. Also, Aunt May looks positively diabolical and scary. These are some odd choices for a level-1 reader if you ask me.

I don't mind challenging a child to push beyond what they might think they are capable of, and I don't know how DK chooses to rate their leveled readers. I thought some of the words included were a little more challenging for a level-1 book. But the biggest draw back to me was the odd illustrations which depicted Aunt May almost as evil and Mary Jane as hyper-sexualized. Spider-Man The Amazing Story gets 2.5 Stars. Have you or your child read Spider-Man The Amazing Story? What did you think? Let me know!

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.

Homeschool Friday - Gwen Tells Tales

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.

Gwen Tells Tales (Good News for Little Hearts)

By: Edward T Welch

Illustrated By: Joe Hox

Publication: October 4, 2021 by New Growth Press

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Animals, Picture Books, Christian, Manners

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--This colorful, beautifully illustrated children’s book invites children ages four through seven into Gwen Raccoon’s world to learn alongside her how to have the courage to always tell the truth. Gwen Raccoon is embarrassed when she gets a failing grade on a math test. But that’s not the big problem: the big problem is that she is cultivating the habit of lying to do what she wants and cover up her mistakes. Gwen’s lies pile up. But when Mama confesses her own failure to tell the truth, Gwen gains the courage to confess and ask forgiveness of Jesus and of those she has lied to. Edited by Edward. T. Welch, Gwen Tells Tales helps young readers see how God always accepts us when we confess sin and repent; and further, how he gives us the humility to speak the truth when it’s hard. A special section at the end of the book guides parents in helping their children be truth-tellers. Also included is a tear-out page of Back Pocket Bible Verses to remind children and adults that God’s forgiveness is always available to cleanse us from sin; and the Holy Spirit always gives strength to speak the truth. Gwen Tells Tales is part of the Good News for Little Hearts series, bringing gospel help and biblical counsel to families. Based on CCEF’s model of hope and help, each story focuses on an animal family’s real-life issues, encouraging young readers toward a growing relationship with Jesus in the midst of challenging circumstances. Each individual story guides parents toward meaningful conversations with their kids, based on what Scripture has to say about living by faith in everyday life.

I absolutely love the Good News for Little Hearts series. There's always a Scripture where a book dedication usually stands. Gwen Tells Tales features Ephesians 4:25, "So you must stop telling lies. Tell each other the truth because we all belong to each other in the same body." Gwen Tells Tales is 32 pages long, but of course, it isn't an AR book so finding an exact book level for reading purposes would just have to be a guess, but I would put these books on par with the Berenstain Bears which ranges from a level-2 to a level-4. Either way, this is a book that I've read to my kids, not a book that my kids have grabbed for supplemental reading purposes (at least so far).

The book starts with Monday morning where Gwen is excited to go to school because she is the smartest 4th grader in Mukberry Meadow. Mama reminds Gwen and Gus that she and Papa have their cornhole game that night and wouldn't be home until 9 after Gwen and Gus are in bed. She also reminds Gwen of her math test tomorrow and that tonight is Gwen's last tie to study, so no screens allowed. Gwen isn't worried about failing her test so she let's Mama's instruction go in one ear and out the other. When Mama and Papa head out to their game, Gwen goes to get on her device, but Gus reminds her of the rule. She blows him off. Gwen plays until 8:45 so she won't get in trouble when Mama and Papa come home. But the next day at school, Gwen is confused by the test. She doesn't recognize the work she's expected to do. Then she remembers that she was sick two days last week, and this must have been taught while she was out. On the way home from school, Gwen pulls out her graded test and sees "Failing grade. Parent signature required." When she gets home, Gwen decides that she's going to have to copy Mama's signature on the paper herself. Unfortunately, Miss Minnick, the teacher, runs into Mama at the market and asks how Gwen has been doing since Tuesday's test. The truth comes out. Immediately after, Mama runs into a friend from the cornhole game and Mama fibs a little about practice to get a high score.

Gwen asks Mama on the way home from the market why she lied to Mrs. Squirrel about practicing cornhole. Mama realizes that she was wrong and needs to straughten things out. She then asks Gwen why Miss Minnick thinks that she signed Gwen's tests. Mama, Papa, and Gwen discuss the test and Gwen's lack of studying, plus her screen time. And Gwen asks for forgiveness. Mama tells Gwen that following Jesus doesn't mean that we don't mess up and do wrong things from time to time. Papa chimes in that we do ask Jesus for help and forgiveness. Mama gives Gwen a piece of paper with 1 John 1:8-9 written on it.

At the end of the book is a section to parents about helping children with lying. And then finally, there are four "Back Pocket Bible Verses" that you can pull out and give to your child/children for when it's hard to tell the truth. Psalm 34:12-13, Hebrews 4:13, 1 John 1:8-9, and Psalm 32:5.

Picture books that teach about Biblical character in a way that children can understand and apply in their lives are among my top favorite books. This entire series is great. Gwen Tells Tales gets 5 Stars. I love how it shows how one lie often leads to another. Have you or your child read Gwen Tells Tales? What did you think? Let me know!

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.

September 2026 EOM Wrap Up

I read 4 books (not including mini reviews of children's books).
Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, # 1) by LM Montgomery (re-read)
Always, Elsie by Katie Stewart Stone
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 1 (The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, # 1) by Beth Brower
Anne of Avonlea (Anne of Green Gables, # 2) by LM Montgomery

I reviewed 4 books (not including mini reviews of children's books).
When Calls the Heart (The Canadian West, # 1) by Janette Oke
Without a Clue by Melissa Ferguson
Reckless (Powerless Trilogy, # 2) by Lauren Roberts
Trust Fall by Lynn Painter

Other Posts:
Sunday Post - 09/06/26
Sunday Post - 09/13/26
Sunday Post - 09/27/26
Top Ten Fall 2026 TBR List
Can't Wait for Night Tide by Lexi Ryan
Can't Wait for Trust Issues by Kasie West
Homeschool Friday - Tori Comes Out of Her Shell
Homeschool Friday - Darcy is Always First
Homeschool Firday - Tomas Looks Up and Out
Homeschool Friday - Halle Takes a Stand
August 2026 EOM Wrap Up

Goals:
I'm a few days ahead on my Bible-in-a-year plan.
I've read 123 out of 110 books (including children's books).

Homeschool Friday - Jax's Tail Twitches

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.

Jax's Tail Twitches (Good News for Little Hearts)

By: David A. Powlison

Illustrated By: Joe Hox

Publication: October 1, 2018 by New Growth Press

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Animals, Picture Books, Christian, Manners

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--Everyone gets frustrated when something important to them goes wrong. In Jax’s Tail Twitches, the whole Squirrel family ends up out of sorts when acorn gathering doesn’t go according to plan. Although Papa, Mama, Jax, and Caspian Squirrel all get angry, they also learn about the power of saying sorry, seeking forgiveness, remembering God’s words, and praying together. Edited by David Powlison, Jax’s Tail Twitches ends with a special section that guides parents in teaching children how the gospel of Jesus Christ changes how we respond when life goes wrong. Also included is a tear-out page of Back Pocket Bible Verses that will help children and adults remember to turn to God for help when they are angry.

I absolutely love the Good News for Little Hearts series. There's always a Scripture where a book dedication usually stands. Jax's Tail Twitches features Psalm 103:8, "The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love," but it is at the back of the book. Jax's Tail Twitches is 32 pages long, but of course, it isn't an AR book so finding an exact book level for reading purposes would just have to be a guess, but I would put these books on par with the Berenstain Bears which ranges from a level-2 to a level-4. Either way, this is a book that I've read to my kids, not a book that my kids have grabbed for supplemental reading purposes (at least so far).

The book starts with Jax and Caspian waking up and racing to be first to the kitchen. Caspian trips Jax and laughs. So Jax starts the day off in a bad mood. His father comes in with an armful of acorns and discusses the year's supply. The family goes about their day collecting acorns to store up for the winter, but as kids do, Caspian gets bored and playfully throws an acorn at his brother. Jax is not amused and retaliates. Caspian is playing, but Jax is angry. At the same time, there's another squirrel family that stops by to visit. The dad of that family picks up an acorn, and Papa asks him about his own tree providing for his family. He thinks of this tree as a community tree. Papa corrects him using the squirrel handbook, but Mr. McNuffle is surprised that Papa wouldn't want to help his neighbor. As the men begin to argue, no one notices that baby (toddler?) Jolie jumps into the bag of acorns Papa has been collecting which bursts and acorns go flying everywhere. All the family's hard work goes rolling down the hill. At the same time, Mama realizes her dinner is burning back in the treehouse. The family goes racing home.

Now everyone is angry. Mama blames Papa for distracting her with his argument. Papa blames Mr. McNuffle for not being a good neighbor and following the squirrel handbook. Caspian notices that Dad's tail is twitching in the same way that Jax's does and comments about the acorn not falling far from the tree. Jax looks around and sees that everyone wanted something they didn't get. Papa is the first to apologize, setting a good example in humbling himself. He tells the family how the Great Book (Bible) says that anger doesn't produce the right and good life that God wants us to have. They all discuss what happened and how anger led to poor decisions. The squirrels go to God in prayer to ask for forgiveness and help. The each go around the room noting what they did wrong and asking each other to forgive them. Papa writes two verses down on a piece of paper to keep in his back pocket. Jax notes that as soon as his tail begins to twitch he's going to ask God for help in the future. The family goes down to gather their spilled acorns and make things right with the McNuffle family. Mr. McNuffle asks for forgiveness too, and they share warm apple crisp Mrs. McNuffle brought over.

At the end of the book is a section to parents about helping children with anger. And then finally, there are six "Back Pocket Bible Verses" that you can pull out and give to your child/children for when they are angry. James 1:20, Psalm 46:1, Ephesians 4:32, Exodus 34:6, 1 Corinthians 13:4, and Romans 12:21.

Picture books that teach about Biblical character in a way that children can understand and apply in their lives are among my top favorite books. This entire series is great. Jax's Tail Twitches gets 5 Stars. I especially have one child that struggles with anger, and this book does a great job of showing how it seeps out to everyone it touches, and how personal responsibility is needed to fix it. Have you or your child read Jax's Tail Twitches? What did you think? Let me know!

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.