Tag: Fantasy Romance

Reviews

Bride Review

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Bride is a fast paced, easy to binge paranormal romance with just the right mix of gothic atmosphere, humour and heart. The whole setting feels moody and cinematic, with enough bite to keep it interesting without ever feeling too heavy. If you’ve been in a bit of a reading slump, this is the kind of book that can pull you out of it.

Misery and Lowe are such a great pairing. Misery isn’t your usual brooding vampire, she’s witty, sharp and has a warmth about her that makes her easy to root for. Lowe, on the other hand, is calm, grounded and genuinely kind in a way that feels refreshing for a werewolf character. Their connection builds slowly but with purpose, and the banter between them had me smiling the whole way through. The slow burn was perfection, though I’ll be honest, the spice wasn’t my favourite.

The side characters really added something special. Serena, Ana and Alex all had strong personalities and I loved the friendship dynamic that surrounded Misery. It made the story feel more alive and balanced out the romance nicely.

The plot itself is engaging and emotional, full of small twists and tender moments that kept me invested from start to finish. I do wish there’d been more world building, because the Vampyre Were alliance had so much potential. I wanted to know more about their history and how their politics worked, but it sometimes sat in the background while the romance took centre stage. Still, the writing is easy to follow and Hazelwood’s humour shines through in just the right places. It’s great seeing her step away from her usual academic rom com setup and try something new.

The ending felt a little rushed but it wrapped things up well enough to leave me satisfied. I really enjoyed the emotional payoff and the way Misery and Lowe’s relationship evolved into something strong and genuine. It’s got that signature Hazelwood chemistry, just in a darker and more supernatural setting.

Overall, this is a fun, addictive romantasy that blends humour, heart and a touch of chaos. It’s fast, funny, and full of character and even though a few things didn’t completely land for me, I couldn’t put it down.

⭐️4/5 stars This one really surprised me. It’s not perfect but it’s definitely one of Ali Hazelwood’s stronger books.

Reviews

The Darkness Within Us Review

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I LOVED The Shadows Between Us when I first read it years ago, so I was excited to dive into The Darkness Within Us. While it had some good moments, overall it didn’t hit the same for me.

The story follows Chrysantha, who has spent years playing the fool to get what she wants, only to reveal herself as clever and ambitious when she finally gets the chance. I liked the idea of her using people’s low expectations against them and thought the feminist themes were strong and empowering. I also enjoyed the book club scene where tropes were openly discussed, it felt playful and self-aware.

That said, I really struggled with Chrysantha as a character. She’s sharp and determined but also selfish, narrow-minded and hard to connect with. Her relationship with Eryx felt unconvincing, with their constant lies, bickering and snark making the romance flat rather than fiery. The ‘enemies to lovers’ arc never quite delivered the tension or chemistry I was hoping for. The third-act conflict was predictable and wrapped up far too neatly, which left me feeling a bit underwhelmed.

The pacing also felt off at times, and the political side of the story lacked depth or logic. Chrysantha’s relationship with her sister had potential but shifted too suddenly to feel believable. I did appreciate the way both sisters eventually grew and matured, but getting there was a bit exhausting.

Overall, this was a decent read with empowering messages and a fun premise, but the execution left me wanting more. It’s not one I’ll be widely recommending, though fans of the first book may still enjoy seeing another side to this world.

⭐️3/5 stars Worth a read if you loved the first book, just go in with lower expectations.

Reviews

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping Review

by amyleighreads6 Comments on A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping Review

The Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping was an absolute delight! It was whimsical, warm and with a heartbeat that comes from its beautifully diverse cast of characters. At the centre is Sera, a once-powerful witch who lost most of her magic as a teenager when she brought back her beloved great-aunt… and a rooster. Exiled from her guild, she’s spent the last fifteen years running a magical inn that appears only to those who truly need it. Some who arrive never leave, becoming part of the inn’s eclectic and loveable found family.

When a chance to restore her magic appears, Sera teams up with Luke, a fellow witch, his brilliant and autistic nine-year-old sister Posy and the inn’s residents to gather what she needs. Along the way, the story weaves in tender romance, fierce loyalty and heartfelt representation. From queer relationships to characters navigating mental health, racism and the lingering harm of colonialism. These deeper themes sit beautifully alongside the cozy fantasy elements, making the warmth feel earned and the comfort all the richer.

I adored the way this book explores the magic of safe spaces, places where people can finally exhale, be loved without question and heal from old wounds. The romance between Sera and Luke is lovely, but the true love story here is the one between Sera and her inn family, each of them finding ways to be their truest selves. There’s so much joy, vulnerability and humour here plus a skeleton rooster called Roo-Roo who absolutely steals the show.

It’s everything I crave in this genre: cozy vibes, a sprinkle of romance, found family, a bit of chaos and just enough magic to make your heart ache in the best way. I laughed, I cried and I closed the last page feeling like I’d just been hugged.

⭐️5/5 stars This was everything and more for me!

Reviews

Powerless Review

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This had all the makings of a solid romantasy, but for me, it didn’t quite live up to the hype. I can see why it’s captured the attention of so many readers, but I struggled to stay fully invested in the story.

The plot is packed with familiar tropes (trials, forbidden romance, enemies to lovers) which some readers will find comforting, but I found it a bit too predictable. At times, it echoed The Hunger Games so closely that it became hard to see the book as its own. While the writing itself wasn’t bad, the reliance on cliché moments left little room for originality or deeper world-building.

Paedyn was easily the standout. She’s sharp, confident, strong-willed and I genuinely enjoyed following her journey. Her friendship with Adena added some much-needed heart and those scenes were often the ones I looked forward to most. Kai, on the other hand, didn’t fully land for me. He had moments of charm, but his dialogue often felt repetitive and at times unintentionally cringey. The tension and banter between him and Paedyn, while initially fun, became a bit much by the halfway point.

The middle of the book dragged and the ending felt rushed, with too much crammed into the final chapters. I kept waiting for a big twist or something to set the story apart, but it never really came.

That said, I wouldn’t call this a bad book, it was entertaining in parts and there’s definite potential in the world Lauren Roberts has created. I’ll be curious to see how the series develops, especially if future books offer more original storytelling and less reliance on tropes.

⭐️2/5 stars A fun ride, but I was hoping for a little more spark.

Reviews

Phantasma Review

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Phantasma is one of those books that hooked me with the promise of a dark, witchy atmosphere and a high-stakes games-and-trials plot. The vibes? Immaculate. That gothic, eerie tone mixed with the paranormal was exactly the kind of setting I love getting lost in. Think Squid Game meets The Hunger Games with a heavy dose of the supernatural. Unfortunately, while the concept was strong, the execution didn’t quite live up to it.

The trials Ophelia faces throughout the book were definitely the most compelling part. They were intense, creatively structured and had me flipping pages. But despite the tension, the repetition wore thin. Most chapters followed a formula: survive a trial, argue with Blackwell, then fall into each other’s arms. Their romance developed at lightning speed and didn’t feel convincing to me. I found it hard to connect with either of them, even though Blackwell had his moments. He was very charming, supportive and the kind of morally grey love interest many readers adore.

What really let the story down was the lack of depth in the world-building. There’s this intriguing magical system and a whole supernatural cast, but it all felt surface-level. I kept waiting for more background on the Grimm family or the lore behind the trials, but it never came. The side characters also felt underused, which made the stakes feel lower than they should’ve.

That said, I did appreciate how OCD was portrayed through Ophelia’s character, it felt authentic and layered, even if some of her decisions made me want to scream. The ending also had a few surprises I didn’t see coming, which gave the final chapters a welcome jolt of energy.

Overall, this had potential and a killer atmosphere, but I wanted more depth, more connection and more clarity.

⭐️2/5 stars The vibes are strong, but the story leaves you hungry for more!