REVIEW The Fake Divination Offsense (Magic and Romance #2) by Sara Raasch

The Fake Divination Offense (Magic and Romance #2) by Sara Raasch

Rating: 5 Stars

Release Date: May 19, 2026

Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited) 

Publusher: Bramble

All of Sara Raasch's newest books have been major hits with me, so it was no surprise that I absolutely fell in love with the second book in the Magic and Romance series. Orok's character was awesome and a major part of Sebastian and Thio's story in The Entanglement of Rival Wizards, so it was nice to see him get his own book in The Fake Divination Offense.

Orok, while being a half giant defensive tank, is a big softy and Alexo triggered all of his protective insticts. This picks up fairly quickly after the events of the first book. Being trauma bonded with Sebastian, it was a lot to see how they were dealing with the aftermath of the Camp Merethyl lawsuit. It was also quite a journey to have Orok re-evaluate what he saw as strength, after being told what it was supposed to mean to him for so many years (by the camp, by his old team, by his family and his religion). While Alexo is not someone who would be the poster card for physical strength, he's demonstrated a lot of emotional strength for dealing with all of the turmoil in his life and I think that he and Orok fit very well together.

While this book has fantasy elements, its set in a modern world so its not super heavy on worldbuilding. I would primarily categorize it as a sports romance with fantasy elements. As someone who doesn't pay attention to that many sports in general, I really appreciate how accessible and easy to understand the author made the sport of rawball (which is very dungeons and dragons meets rugby). I would totally read a short story detailing a full professional game, instead of just the snippets we got in the book.

Overall, this was an amazing book and I finished it within about a day of the release. I highly recomend it to romance readers who enjoy fantasy elements or sports romance type books. It is an adult series, with the violence, and some of the more explicit intimate scenes. While the series seems to be structured as a duology as far as I can tell, I hope there is more in the series to come (especially with the line towards the end of the book about the status of two of Orok's teammates).

Content Warnings: Psychological and Emotional Trauma, Cult Themes and Kidnapping, Religious Elements, Explicit Intimate Scenes

REVIEW The Baby Dragon Cafe (The Baby Dragon Series #1) by A.T. Qureshi

The Baby Dragon Cafe (The Baby Dragon Series #1) by A.T. Qureshi
Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: January 16, 2025
Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited) + Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)
Publisher: Avon

A.T. Qureshi’s The Baby Dragon Cafe, the first book in The Baby Dragon series, was a cute and cozy fantasy romance book. Narrators Ash Raju and Hunter Johns did an excellent job bringing the story to life with their performance in the audiobook. It’s very reminiscent of Travis Baldree’s Legends and Lattes series.

This book has been popping up in my recommendations for a while, and I’m so happy that I finally picked it up (thank you Kindle Unlimited). The baby dragon cafe has just the right touch of whimsical while also being somewhat recognizable, being very similar to a cat cafe while adding a bit more chaos and charm with the baby dragons running amuck. The author also did a great job of capturing the small town vibes you’d expect from a Hallmark movie. I’d love to see a map or something similar of the area, as there are also other magical creatures that are briefly mentioned (and somewhat domesticated in certain cases). 

Saphira and Aiden had a lovely relationship that blossomed over the course of the book. They embody the grumpy x sunshine trope. I thought it was hilarious how Sparky played into their relationship; at first he was jealous when Saphira paid attention to Aiden and not him, and then getting jealous when Saphira paid attention to anyone but him and Aiden. As a reader, I really appreciated how Aiden’s family didn’t add to any drama, and welcomed Saphira with open arms. The fake marriage and the ‘there’s only one bed’ troped worked out well too, and everything came together nicely. I’m especially excited by the epilogue (cue the happily ever after).  

Overall, an excellent read. I’m so excited to read the rest of the books in the series, The Baby Dragon Bakery and The Baby Dragon Bookshop and I hope Saphira, Aiden, and Sparky make more appearances. I highly recommend the book to those who enjoy low stakes fantasy and happily ever after romances. 

REVIEW City Spies: Europa (City Spies #7) by James Ponti

City Spies: Europa by James Ponti
Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: February 10, 2026
Format: Audiobook (Personal Libary, Libro.fm)
Publisher:  Aladdin

There's no rest for teenage spies in the latest installment of James Ponti's City Spies series, Europa. I love Lisa Flanagan's performance in the audiobook narration, and I highly recommend this series to middle grade fans of mystery and spycraft.

Coming off the heels of the events of the last book, London Calling, the members of Project Neverland have moved into their new abode in London. Their hope is that the world saving missions will slow down now that the leader of Umbra is behind bars, but it's not meant to be. The leader of Umbra, Lucien Allard, seems to be sending and receiving messages from behind bars and it's up to the City Spies to investigate as they are sent out to different locations across Europe.

I love how fast paced this series is, as well as how researched all of the little details are. I laughed out loud when Mother and Rio were provided bikes by MI6 in Amsterdam, as that is very on brand for the transportation of choice in that city. I also really appreciated how the city spies team members were given some opportunities to just be kids their age in this book, instead of every moment having to be doing something for MI6.

There are also some real world consequences present in the book. Sydney and Paris, being the oldest, are given some leeway at times but Sydney makes a choice to disobey orders from Mother and Monty during a key scene in this book. The effect of that choice was quite painful, especially for Paris, so I'm curious to see how that will (hopefully) be resolved in future books.

Overall, a great read. I'm so happy to hear that the author is planning to do at least 10 books in the series. I'm curious to see where the City Spies will end up next. With Tru's dossiers at the end of the book, I'm also very curious to see where each of the children end up in the future (i.e. are they still going to be spies or not as adults).

REVIEW All Superheroes Need Photo Ops (Supers in the City #2) by Elizabeth Stephens

All Supheroes Need Photo Ops (Supers in the City #2) by Elizabeth Stephens
Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: November 25, 2025
Format: eBook and Audiobook (Kindle Unlimited)
Publisher: Montlake  

I thought that the first book in the Supers in the City series by Elizabeth Stephens, All Superheroes Need PR, was great but the sequel All Superheroes Need Photo Ops blew it out of the water. Monica, the war photographer that we meet in the first book, has been adjusting to life out of war zones and following the lifes of various 'Champions', or the group of beings that fell from the sky when they were young and are now considered superheroes. The Wyvern, one of the leads of the previous book, is now the most popular superhero on the planet. However, the former top dog, Taranis, isn't thrilled that he's losing out on the attention and contracts Monica to follow him around for photo ops. Sparks fly, and a much more dynamic relationship ensues (along with more superpowered clashes).

Without spoiling the events of the first book, its safe to say that the action is moving very quickly. The author revealed more of the mystery surrounding the champions and their powers in this book, and it left me excited for the rumored third book in the series (and who I think the main focus will be). Monica and Taranis have a very different relationship than Vanessa and the Wyvern do, but it makes sense for them. There were definitely scenes that get very spicy (i.e. the limo post gala), which put this very clearly into adult romance territory. The action also gets more intense, and graphic, so anyone whose worried about being triggered should check the content warnings before opening the book.

Overall, this was a fantastic read. I highly recommend it to fans of adult romance, especially with the superheroes tropes or monster/alien romance. A great choice if you have Kindle Unlimited.Sean Crisden and Emery Erickson did an excellent job bringing Monica and Taranis’ perspectives to life with their performance in the audiobook.

Content Warnings: Kidnapping/Captivity, Graphic Violence, Torture, War 

REVIEW The Entanglement of Rival Wizards (Magic and Romance #1) by Sara Raasch

The Entanglement of Rival Wizards (Magic and Romance #1) by Sara Raasch
Rating: 5 Stars 
Release Date: August 26, 2025
Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited) + Audiobook (Library) 
Publisher: Bramble

Sara Raasch's Royals and Romance books were so much fun that it was a no brainer to read her newest series, Magic and Romance. The first book in the series, The Entanglement of Rival Wizards, was so much fun to read. Sam Stark did an excellent job bringing Thio and Sebastian's story to life. And while it doesn't even release till May 2026, I am very very excited for the sequel to this book, The Fake Divination Offensive, which covers Orok's story (Sebastian's best friend who you meet in this book).

Hailed as a fantasy academia rom-com,. the author wholeheartedly delivers on that premise. I really loved how she wove together the magical elements of the story along with some more modern references (i.e. Sebastian's familiar is named after a character in Zootopia instead of something more 'mystical'). There are also some more magical crosses like the game of rawball (which Orok specializes in), which seems like a cross between rugby and live Dungeons and Dragons, given that the players roles are things like tank and rogue.

Thio and Sebastian's relationship was fun to watch to develop. They went from academic rivals, to reluctant lab partners, to competing together and finally in a relationship together. They both have a lot of emotional baggage to deal with, especially in the family department, and it was rewarding as a reader to see them take back what they lost in those dynamics. It was also fun to see how they interacted with those in their orbit. Orok, for example, is Sebastian's best friend and ride or die. They have been dependent on each other for years, but when he realizes Sebastian's burgeoning feelings for Thio he meddles to get them to actually talk to each other and work things out. I'm so excited to see how Sebastian inevitably becomes a part of Orok's relationship with Alexo in the next book.

Overall, a great book and a very entertaining read. I highly recommend it for fans of romantic comedy, as well as LGBTQ romances and fantasy novels. The Royals and Romance series and the Magic and Romance series are completely separate, but I highly recommend you check out the Royals and Romance series if you like this one.

BLOG TOUR Bitten by Jordan Stephanie Gray

Hi friends! Welcome to my stop on the tour for Bitten by Jordan Stephanie Gray, organized by Toppling Stacks Tours (formerly TBR and Beyond Tours). Please check out my post to learn more about the book, read my review, and learn more about this fabulous debut author too. If you want to pick up your own copy (since this book comes out tomorrow), I've included the links for you to be able to do so. Make sure you show some love to the other tour hosts too. The link to the schedule is below. Happy reading everyone!

Bitten by Jordan Stephanie Gray Tour Schedule (Toppling Stacks Tours)

About the Book

Check out the book's Goodreads page
Get the book on Amazon!
Get the book on Libro.fm!
Get the book on Barnes and Noble

Crescent City meets Fourth Wing in this fast-paced and romantic debut, in which a teenage girl must survive ruthless werewolves, a glittering court, and deadly politics to exact revenge on the monsters who destroyed her.

After a vicious werewolf attack on the night of her seventeenth birthday party, Vanessa Hart loses everything she loves in a split second. Her best friend, her father, and even her home.

Bitten and imprisoned without explanation, Vanessa endures an agonizing transformation into the very beast that maimed her, and her captors make it clear she cannot escape: she will either swear her life to the Wolf Queen’s Court, or she will die.

With no other choice, Vanessa joins their enchanted Castle Severi—where flowering vines grow through the walls, gifts are bestowed by the stars, and a claw can break through skin as easily as silk—but she hasn’t forgotten what they stole from her.

Vanessa still seeks vengeance, scheming in the shadows even as she finds herself mesmerized by the golden prince Sinclair Severi, who threatens to steal her heart though he is promised to her nemesis. And by his brooding, disgraced cousin, Calix, whose smoldering gaze hides even darker secrets. Immersed in the magic of their whimsical yet cruel society, Vanessa soon learns not all is as it seems.

The Court is at war, and she may simply be a pawn in its lethal game.

Content Warning: murder

Review of Bitten by Jordan Stephanie Gray
Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: eARC (Courtesy of Publisher/NetGalley)
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

I've followed Jordan Gray (and her critique partner/best friend Shelby Mahurin) on Instagram for years, so it was so exciting to see all of her years of work come to fruition when she got her book deal. And when I finally got to read her debut novel, Bitten, it was an oh my god moment (in the best way possible). Bitten pulls no punches with vicious world building, and is probably one of the most memorable young adult paranormal romance/romantasy books I've read in a long time. So many twists and turns, heart wrenching moments, and that ending - I'm gonna be thinking about that for a while and I'm crossing all my fingers and toes that a sequel comes out soon (please please let there be a sequel).

The worldbuilding I think was my favorite part of the book. After Vanessa's brutal transition and introduction to the Wolf Queen's courts, she's metaphorically thrown into the deep end as she must learn the hierarchy or be killed in the process. Between the hierarchy (going from the ruling Kings and Queens down to deltas and omegas), along with the nobility structure, there was a lot to learn but I was all here for it. It was engaging and fast paced along with a little bit of political intrigue.

The romance was also entertaining. There's a palpable tension between Vanessa and Crown Prince Sinclair, but of course the aformentioned hierachies and nobility make things complicated. Especially when Vanessa is an anomaly as a Bitten werewolf who carves out her own place in the hierarchy. There were just enough moments of them giving into the tension to be satisfying, so I'm excited to see where the author will take their relationship in the future.

Overall, an amazing book and I'm so glad I had the chance to read it early (even if it means I have to wait longer for the sequel). I highly recommend it to fans of paranormal romance or romantasy books, especially if you love werewolves. Thank you to the author, the publiser Little, Brown Childrens, the team at Toppling Stacks Tours and Netgalley for providing me with a complimentary review copy of the book as part of my participation in the tour. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review the book immensely. Please note - all opinions expressed in the review are my own, and not influenced in any way.

About the Author 

Jordan Stephanie Gray is the debut author of the young adult werewolf romantasy, Bitten, and the adult mermaid romantasy, The Wicked Sea.

When she isn’t dreaming up the fantastical and romantic, she is likely cuddling her two pugs and two chihuahuas in sunny Florida.

You can follow her journey through up-to-date newsletters on Substack and on Instagram.

Website | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW My Haven (Bewitched and Bewildered #16) by Alanea Alder

My Haven (Bewitched and Bewildered #16) by Alanea Alder
Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: August 26, 2025
Format: eBook

"My Haven" by Alanea Alder, the sixteenth book in the Bewitched and Bewildered series, is another great example of found family and paranormal romance. Meryn and the others have finally made it to the city of witches, Storm Keep, met the Irownwood brothers, and are ready to finally take on whoever the villainous mastermind(s) is there. The oldest Ironwood and unit leader, Caiden, also finds his mate, and that was a very unique and fun pairing.

As this book is the first of an (expected) five books in the Storm Keep arc, a lot of the major action is just being set up. The Witches council has been introduced, the clash between the Witches council and the Elders council is coming to a head, and we're starting to be introduced to more characters who may have a role in the conflict. I am so excited to meet the mom of the Ashleigh brothers and the Ironwoods. I also really liked Mr. Compton's character, and I feel like he'll be a big help going forward.

Caiden and Genevieve were a really fun pairing. The way Meryn sets up their meeting was ingenious, and I thought the comment about how both of their love languages are (at least partially) based in food was a nice touch. The side mating of Arlo (Genevieve's pseudo brother/best friend) was hilarious in how it came together, and I'm curious to see how Troy will play a part in the action going forward.

Overall, another excellent book. I highly recommend this series to those that enjoy books that are a cross between paranormal romance and urban fantasy, and that are filled with moments of humor and heart (especially considering the strong emphasis on found family). Best to read the books in order for the optimal experience.

REVIEW Wrath of the Triple Goddess by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson and the Wrath of the Triple Goddess by Rick Riordan

Rating: 5 Stars

Release Date: September 24, 2024

Format: Audiobook (Personal Library) + Hardcover (Barnes and Noble Exclusive Edition, Personal Library)

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

I never thought we would get a Halloween novel for the Percy Jackson series, but it’s here and it's a bunch of zany fun. Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Wrath of the Triple Goddess, the second book in Percy’s quest to get three recommendation letters for college, was a blast to the past as the original trio worked to earn Hecate’s favor. Jesse Bernstein once again did an excellent job bringing the story to life with his performance in the audiobook narration. 

Housesitting a goddesses’ pets sounds simple on paper, but of course with the triple goddess herself things get very complicated very quickly. It was a spooky, nostalgic ride, with many cameos from various characters from the series as well as other figures from mythology. While this series already has my heart, my favorite moment in the book was a heartfelt exchange between Percy and his mom Sally. Overall, it was a great read (though that’s no surprise) and I’m really excited to see who the third god providing Percy a recommendation letter will be. 

I recommend the series to those who enjoy adventure, humor, and Greek mythology. Readers should absolutely read the original books (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Heroes of Olympus, and The Trials of Apollo) before reading this book and The Chalice of the Gods for the best experience. 

REVIEW Team Chu and the Wild Ghost Chase (Team Chu #3) by Julie C. Dao

Team Chu and the Wild Ghost Chase (Team Chu #3) by Julie C. Dao
Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: September 10, 2024
Format: Audiobook (Personal Library, Libro.fm)
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (FSG)

Julie C. Dao has created another fun middle grade adventure book with her latest installment in the Team Chu series, Team Chu and the Wild Ghost Chase. Tuba the Cat’s influencer status (courtesy of siblings Marta and Iggy Morales) has landed him a coveted invitation to the Spooky World Pet Gala, so they invite all their friends to join them for the weekend. Once there, they get involved in another mystery and have to find out what happened to the legendary “Weeping Lady” before it’s too late. 

The author does a great job in bringing in problems the average middle schooler would face to these books. Sadie is struggling in school, but doesn’t want to tell her parents because of how proud they were that she tested into the higher classes. Her older brother Clip is desperate for recognition for his talents on the soccer field, but that causes a lot of conflict with his lifelong best friend (and fellow co-captain) Derek. Their other friends do their best to help with each situation, but can’t really get in the middle. Overall, I think the author did a great job making the problems feel authentic and relatable, especially for the intended audience of these books. 

The other highlight of this book for me was worldbuilding. Ms. Dao did such a great job creating the amusement park that is Spooky World. Even for a scaredy cat like me (who won’t go anywhere near places like Universal Halloween Horror Nights), I could definitely see myself wanting to visit Spooky World. There’s something for everyone at this place - she designed cool new rides, museums, spooky treats and even haunted houses. The way she wove in the legend of the Weeping Lady was great, and I really enjoyed the way the mystery unfolded at the end of the book. 

Narrators Angela Tran, Richard Nguyen, and Andrew Joseph Perez did an excellent job with bringing the kid’s perspectives to life. While this is the current projected end of the series, I would really love to see more books set in this world. I recommend the Team Chu series to those who would enjoy middle grade adventure books filled with friendship, mystery, and just a touch of the fantastical/supernatural. 

REVIEW First Test: A Graphic Novel (Protector of the Small #1) by Tamora Pierce; Adapted by Devin Grayson and illustrated by Becca Farrow

First Test: A Graphic Novel (Protector of the Small #1) by Tamora Pierce; adapted by Devin Grayson and illustrated by Becca Farrow
Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: July 2, 2024
Format: eBook (Kindle)
Publisher: Random House Graphic 

Set in the world of Tamora Pierce’s most famous series Song of the Lioness, the long awaited graphic novel adaptation of the first book in the Protector of the Small series does not disappoint. Honoring the original book while also adding new elements, it was like revisiting a part of my childhood as I read. I loved getting to see the other knights in training like Prince Roald and Neal. I also loved getting to see cameos from some of the older characters in Tortall, like the Lioness, Sir Raoul, Daine, and even Numair. 

Readers who enjoy strong females, those who defy expectation and fight for what’s right, and fantasy adventure would enjoy this book. If you do end up reading and enjoy, I highly recommend checking out the original series as well as the Song of the Lioness and the Immortals quartet. 

REVIEW Dark Memory (Dark #33) by Christine Feehan

Dark Memory (Dark Series #33) by Christine Feehan
Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: October 3, 2023
Format: eBook + Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)
Publisher: Berkley 

Dark Memory is the latest installment in Christine Feehan’s Dark series, and I’m really loving the series arc featuring the tarot card users and the ancients of the monastery. I was happy to dive into Petru and Safia’s very unique love story, as this is another action packed book filled with suspense, romance, and great worldbuilding.  

Similar to all of the other books in the series and specifically the other books featuring ancients of the monastery, Petru has been searching for his lifemate for thousands of years. Unlike the other male leads, however, Petru actually found an incarnation of his life mate long ago. When faced with an impossible choice (that I don’t want to spoil) he found himself unable to save her and forced to wait until she was born into a new body to find her again. Once he does find her in Safia, he’s surprised to see that she’s a fierce warrior and protector of her people. I really appreciated seeing how he embraced all of her wholeheartedly and was so determined to give her what he could (i.e. a marriage in the ways of her people, more time with her family) since he could not afford to wait to claim her once they met. The more modern partnerships where each life mate balances each other have been my favorite parts of the recent Dark series books, and I hope that trend continues in the future. 

With the last couple of books in the series (starting with Dark Tarot), Ms. Feehan has been building a major storyline with ‘the Beast’, the four gateways and those who guard them. Compared to some of the other storylines (i.e. the mages, the lycans) I have been really engaged with devouring every detail about what’s going on with Justice. There’s another major detail revealed about the importance of tarot cards in this book, so I’m excited to see the eventual climax where Justice makes his play to escape. I really hope it happens soon, and that we get to see cameos from all of the gatekeepers and keepers of the tarot card decks when it does. 

Overall, another great book from Christine Feehan. Jim Frangione did a great job bringing Safia and Petru’s perspectives to life with his performance in the audiobook. I look forward to the next installment featuring the final gate guardian and tarot card user, and getting to see Benedek (and hopefully Nicu’s) lifemate. Any adult readers who are fans of the paranormal romance genre and love great worldbuilding and the fated mate trope would likely enjoy this series. For the best reading experience, I would recommend reading the books of the Dark series in order. However, each book is written such that it largely stands on its own (you do miss some minor context details) and you could start wherever you’d like if one book appeals to you more than others. 

REVIEW The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1) by Rick Riordan

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1) by Rick Riordan
Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: June 28, 2005
Format: Audiobook
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

With the recent release of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians TV show, I was inspired to go back and read The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (aka the book that started it all) for the first time in years and for the first time in audiobook format. It felt like coming home and seeing an old friend after years of being apart. I still think it’s a great book for readers of all ages, as anyone can find something they can relate to in this book. For me personally, I’ve always connected with the fresh takes on Greek mythology stories and figures, the humor (Seaweed Brain at his finest), and with the authentic relatability (even for a novel that is heavily based in fantasy). It’s also interesting for me to come back to this book as an adult, because when I initially read it for the first time as a child I hadn’t actually been diagnosed with ADHD yet but I knew I connected with Percy’s experience and feeling like his brain was broken so much. 

Overall, I don’t want to spoil the book for anyone but I highly recommend it (one of my favorite series of all time). Narrator Jesse Bernstein did a great job bringing the perspective of Percy and the other characters to life with his performance in the audiobook. I look forward to re-reading all of the other books in the series (and the larger Percy Jackson and the Olympians universe) as soon as I am able. 

About the Author

Rick Riordan is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over twenty novels for young readers, including the Percy Jackson series, the Kane Chronicles, the Magnus Chase series and the Trials of Apollo. He is also the author of the multi-award-winning Tres Navarre mystery series for adults.

For fifteen years, Rick taught English and history at public and private middle schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Texas. While teaching in San Antonio, Saint Mary’s Hall honored him with the school’s first Master Teacher Award.

While teaching full time, Riordan began writing mystery novels for grownups. His Tres Navarre series went on to win the top three national awards in the mystery genre – the Edgar, the Anthony and the Shamus. Riordan turned to children’s fiction when he started The Lightning Thief as a bedtime story for his oldest son.

Today, over one hundred million copies of his books are in print in the United States alone, and rights have been sold into more than 37 countries.

Rick Riordan now writes full-time. He lives in Boston with his wife and two sons.

Check out my other reviews of books by Rick Riordan

Rick Riordan Author Website
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REVIEW The Exception to the Rule (The Improbable Meet Cute #1) by Christina Lauren

The Exception to the Rule (The Improbable Meet Cute #1) by Christina Lauren

Rating: 5 Stars

Release Date: January 23, 2024

Format: eBook + Audiobook (Kindle Unlimited)

Publisher: Amazon Original Stories

Christina Lauren’s newest novella length read, The Exception to the Rule, is a super cute and adorable story. Perfect for completing in an afternoon (with the length being at about 2 hours for listening or 100 e-reader pages), I found myself invested in the story very quickly. While the first half of the story is told in emails with short interactions over the course of years before the main characters even know each other’s names (let alone meet in person), I never found it jarring or off putting. In fact, I think the audiobook narrators Marli Watson and Andrew Gibson did a great job bringing Terra and Callum’s messages to life in a very authentic way. With the inevitable meeting taking years to come to fruition, there was a lot of delayed gratification (for both myself and T/C) but it was well worth the wait. I also want to note how much I appreciate the way the authors wrapped up the story (which doesn’t always happen with novellas); it felt complete and they even threw in an epilogue with a glimpse of life in the future for the two love birds which was a nice touch.  

If you’re already a fan of Christina Lauren’s work or just a fan of swoon-worthy, meet-cute stories filled with tropes in general, I highly recommend this book. I’m looking forward to checking out the other stories in The Improbable Meet Cute series as soon as possible. 

About the Authors

Yes, there are two of us! Christina (on the left) and Lauren (on the right).

Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners and best friends Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The #1 international bestselling coauthor duo writes both Young Adult and Adult Fiction, and together has produced eighteen New York Times bestselling novels. They are published in over 30 languages, have received multiple starred reviews, won both the Seal of Excellence and Book of the Year from RT Magazine, been inducted into the Library Reads Hall of Fame, named Amazon and Audible Romance of the Year, a Lambda Literary Award finalist and been nominated for several Goodreads Choice Awards. They have been featured in publications such as Forbes, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Time, Entertainment Weekly, People, O Magazine and more. Their third YA novel, Autoboyography was released in 2017 to critical acclaim, followed by Roomies, Love and Other Words, Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating, The Unhoneymooners, In a Holidaze, and The Soulmate Equation and Something Wilder.

Lauren Billings (but everyone calls her Lo) has a Ph.D. in neuroscience and before she made writing her full-time job, would spend her days doing nerdy research-type things wearing a lab coat and goggles. She is silly Mommy to two littles, wife to one mountain biking homebrewing scientist, and an unabashed lover of YA and romance.

Christina Hobbs (but you’ll always hear Lo call her PQ) used to spend her days in a junior high counseling office surrounded by teenagers. These days you can find her at her desk, writing, or watching BTS videos. She lives in Utah with her husband and daughter, thinks she’s the luckiest person in the world to write books with her best friend, and is an unapologetic lover of boy bands and glitter.

Credit Brystan Studios/Lori Brystan.

REVIEW The Chalice of the Gods (Percy Jackson and the Olympians Universe) by Rick Riordan

The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan
Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: September 26, 2023
Format: Audiobook (Libro.fm) and Hardcover (Personal Library)
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

“I am a guy of limited talents. If I can’t kill it with water, a sword or sarcasm, I am basically defenseless”.

Rick Riordan’s most recent release, The Chalice of the Gods, is the first book to feature the complete original trio since The Lightning Thief came out in 2005, and it was an equal mix of reminiscing and being excited for the future of the series. After saving the world multiple times and defeating countless monsters, Percy Jackson is facing a more mundane obstacle in applying for college. However, it’s not going to be as easy as it seems, as the gods are requiring him to get three divine recommendation letters and complete three new quests to do so. 

I thought that I knew about most of the creatures and beings from Greek mythology, but Rick Riordan keeps bringing out different elements to surprise readers. It was fun to get to learn more about the different gods who appear in the book. It was also fun to get to see some of the mythical creatures he teases in the book (specifically, the chickens and the snakes). There’s even some surprise interactions with Athena and Poseidon, Annabeth and Percy’s parents that left me quite amused and excited for future installments (and to see Percy finally get into college). 

I didn’t realize it until it came up in the book tour events, but this is the first time in a long time that Percy, Annabeth and Grover have gone on a quest together with just the three of them. In The Sea of Monsters, Grover was lost on the search for Pan and not on the quest. In The Titan’s Curse, Annabeth was taken. And in the books since The Battle of the Labyrinth, they’ve always been doing quests with other people or fighting in major battles. As a die-hard fan of the Percy Jackson universe, it was heartwarming and nostalgic to go back to the beginning, especially since we’ll be seeing a slightly different version of the trio back in action once the Disney+ adaptation comes out in December 2023. 

Overall, another excellent book from Rick Riordan. I’m excited to see what's in store for our favorite trio in the next book, The Wrath of the Triple Goddess (set to release in Fall of 2024). Hecate has had some limited appearances in the series so far, so it’s going to be interesting to see what type of quest she (or possibly another god) has in store for Percy.  

About the Author

Rick Riordan is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over twenty novels for young readers, including the Percy Jackson series, the Kane Chronicles, the Magnus Chase series and the Trials of Apollo. He is also the author of the multi-award-winning Tres Navarre mystery series for adults.

For fifteen years, Rick taught English and history at public and private middle schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Texas. While teaching in San Antonio, Saint Mary’s Hall honored him with the school’s first Master Teacher Award.

While teaching full time, Riordan began writing mystery novels for grownups. His Tres Navarre series went on to win the top three national awards in the mystery genre – the Edgar, the Anthony and the Shamus. Riordan turned to children’s fiction when he started The Lightning Thief as a bedtime story for his oldest son.

Today, over one hundred million copies of his books are in print in the United States alone, and rights have been sold into more than 37 countries.

Rick Riordan now writes full-time. He lives in Boston with his wife and two sons.

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REVIEW Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston (Sir Callie #1) by Esme Symes-Smith

Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston (Sir Callie #1) by Esme Symes-Smith
Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: November 8, 2022
Format: Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)
Publisher: Labyrinth Road

First of all, I want to note how much I appreciated the author's note at the beginning of the story with trigger warnings and what they hope readers take away from the book. This was one of those cases where I agree with the author’s note coming before the actual story, as it is quite helpful for giving readers an idea of what they are about to read and allowing them to make a choice for themselves.  

In Esme Symes-Smith’s first book, Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston, readers are reminded that heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Sadly, the same can be said for monsters. Callie, the nonbinary hero and main character of the story, has always known they didn’t fit into the mold of being a girl. They also didn’t fit the mold of being a boy. After years of looking up to their father, the King’s Champion, and dreaming of becoming a knight, the chance finally comes when their father is summoned back to the city to train the young crown prince before his trial. Things are much more challenging than they anticipated, however, as the people of Helston are very resistant to the idea of anything ‘different’ and have no intentions of letting them try for knighthood. Thankfully, Callie meets some friends along the way, and together they team up to save the city and challenge the restrictive gender norms they’ve been living under. 

The worldbuilding in this book is superb. If you’ve read Tamora Pierce’s Protector of the Small series, there are a lot of similarities. There’s loads of typical fantasy things like dragons, witches, and magic. There’s also a bit of Callie’s world reflecting our own - the roles that each gender is assigned are clear, and mimic the gender binary that we are most used to. Girls should be delicate and practice magic only for small things, and males should only become knights and not go anywhere near magic (or have the ability to practice it). If you don’t fit into those molds, you are essentially an outcast for life as far as the people of Helston are concerned.  

While Callie is undoubtedly the main character of the book, all of the children in the story have to face adults and other people in positions of authority who should have protected them but don’t (or at least not as much as they should). As I believe Neal says in the book, “Not all battles are fought with swords. Not all enemies want you dead.” The Lord Chancellor in particular is a jerk, and I really enjoyed the scene where someone finally stood up to him towards the end of the book. On the other side of the spectrum are the children’s allies. I appreciated getting to see the efforts that characters like Callie’s father, Neal (Callie’s pseudo-stepfather?), and the Queen made to protect their children. However, there were times that they didn’t protect them in the name of maintaining the status quo or just due to a lack of understanding and knowledge, and I sympathized with the kids so much in those moments. The author doesn’t shy away from many of the challenges that the LGBTQ community experiences, and I think it's so important that young children get to see that (especially in books like this). As Callie tells Willow after he breaks down from all of the pressures being placed upon him, “It's ok to have complicated feelings about complicated things”. 

Overall, Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston was an amazing read, and I’m so happy I was introduced to it via Tamora Pierce’s blurb (anything she recommends is always great). Dani Martineck did an excellent job bringing Callie’s perspective to life with their performance in the audiobook narration of the story. If you’re looking for a humorous heartwarming read that is LGBTQ positive and kid friendly, this would be a great choice. I’m excited to read more about the adventures of Callie and their friends with the next installment in the series, Sir Callie and the Dragon’s Roost, which is set to be released in November 2023. 

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Child Abuse (Physical, Emotional, Psychological), Misgendering, Deadnaming, Death of a Sibling, Gaslighting, Implied Suicide of a Parent, Grief, Anxiety, Trauma

REVIEW To Ravish a Rogue (Dangerous Tides) by CM Nacosta

To Ravish a Rogue (Dangerous Tides) by CM Nacosta
Rating: 5 Stars
Format: eBook (Kickstarter)
Publisher: Bonkers Romance 

Out of all the books in the Peculiar Tastes Kickstarter or the Dangerous Tides Kickstarter, CM Nacosta’s To Ravish a Rogue has been my favorite so far. With some of the most unique supernatural creatures from mythology and lore being included, I absolutely had to finish it in one sitting. 

Lady Charlotte Davenport is willing to do whatever it takes to get home and get to her sister. She could care less that having a woman onboard a ship is usually considered a bad omen, but no captain she approaches (directly or covertly) is willing to take the risk. Her last chance is to pretend to be a serving boy and sneak onto Captain Lin Jurel’s ship, The Malediction. However, the ruse is not as simple to maintain as she might think, given that the captain sees through it immediately and starts messing with her to get her to reveal herself. A hilarious high seas adventure ensues as the two clash, and inevitably give into their feelings. And once they did, boy was it entertaining and worth the wait.  

To Ravish a Rogue shares a world and some side characters with the other books in the Dangerous Tides Kickstarter. There are some Easter eggs present that reference other books. I loved the paranormal aspect of Charlotte and Lin’s characters, and while I don’t want to spoil anything I must say I was super shocked with the reveal of what they are. I’ve never seen Charlotte’s species appear in a romance book before, but the author did a fantastic job with it. I was most certainly not expecting one of the biggest things that happened in their bedroom interactions that involved Charlotte’s ‘downstairs teeth’ (do with that reference what you will) and a prized part of the captain’s anatomy, but it made for one of the most memorable moments of the book. 

Overall, To Ravish a Rogue by CM Nacosta was an incredibly unique, entertaining, and enjoyable read. Now that I’ve been introduced to their writing, I will definitely be going back and checking out their backlist of other monster/paranormal romance titles as soon as possible. If you enjoy mature paranormal romance reads, this would be a great choice. I also think readers who enjoy series that share worldbuilding but are designed to be able to be read as standalone novels should give this book a look-see. 

CONTENT WARNINGS (Courtesy of the Author): Sex work, sex bargain, female main character’s (FMC) reliance on gender binary, light gore and violence, soft vore, somnophilia, non-human anatomy, It’s a good thing he has two of them, and SO MANY teeth.

About the Book

Charlotte Davenport is a woman on a singular mission: get onto a ship bound for Atlantis by any means necessary, and get home to her sister. When she joins the crew of the Malediction, she has no idea she's made herself an unwitting captive of its pirate captain. Lirian Jurel is cocky and secretive and infuriatingly handsome, and she can't shake the feeling that he's laughing at her . . . but Charlotte has a secret of her own, and she'll do anything to keep it. After all, who could possibly understand the life of a monster?

Captain Lirian Jurel has only one thing on his mind — the next adventure. Fucking, feasting, and fighting — it's a pirate's life for him, and he loves the watery path he's chosen. He's never been able to stay away from danger, and Charlotte Davenport — the impudent little witch disguising herself as a member of his crew — seems like the most dangerous creature he's ever encountered.

Striking a bargain to bring her home is an easy trade for having her warm in his bed . . . But bringing her home means saying goodbye, which is harder than he anticipated.

When you're a vicious sea monster like him, being alone is the wisest course of action, but once they reach Atlantis, Lirian vows to help Charlotte see her journey through — wherever it leads.

About the Author

C.M. Nascosta is an author and professional procrastinator from Cleveland, Ohio. As a child, she thought that living on Lake Erie meant one was eerie by nature, and her corresponding love of all things strange and unusual started young. She’s always preferred beasts to boys, the macabre to the milquetoast, the unknown darkness in the shadows to the Chad next door. She lives in a crumbling old Victorian with a scaredy-cat dachshund, where she writes nontraditional romances featuring beastly boys with equal parts heart and heat, and is waiting for the Hallmark Channel to get with the program and start a paranormal lovers series.