REVIEW Persephone's Curse by Katrina Leno

Persephone's Curse by Katrina Leno
Rating: 4 Stars
Release: December 2, 2025
Format: eARC (NetGalley) + Audiobook (Library)
Publisher: Wednesday Books 

 When I originally picked up Persephone's Curse by Katrina Leno, I was expecting something more heavily rooted in fantasy and mythology. However, it was a pleasant surprise to learn that the book was closer in genre to magical realism, with only hints of mythology. Audiobook narrator Phoebe Strole did an excellent job bringing Winnie's perspective to life, along with that of the other Farthing sisters.

The Farthing sisters are said to be descended from the goddess Persephone, queen of the Underworld. Or at least, that's what their aunt tells them. The fact that all four sisters can see Henry, the ghost inhabiting their attic is pretty convincing though. At the heart of this story is the relationship between the sisters. There are romantic subplots, but they are secondary to the bond between each sister. A mistake committed in a moment of raw emotion and anger threatens that bond however, and the sisters have to work together to fix things before it's too late.

While it's not the highly involved worldbuilding one would expect with a fantasy novel, I really enjoyed the way the author wove the myth of Persephone (as well as Melinoe) into the story. There were just enough fantastical elements to make things believable, without making it feel like readers were being thrown into a Percy Jackson like adventure.

Overall, this was an excellent read and I'll definitely be checking out more by this author in the future. I highly recommend this book to fans of authors like Shea Ernshaw, Isabel Ibanez, or Adrienne Young. Thank you the author, the publisher, and the team at NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary review copy. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review the book immensely.

ARC REVIEW The Claw and the Crowned (The Book of All Things #5) by Sarah M. Cradit

The Claw and the Crowned (The Book of All Things #5) by Sarah M. Cradit
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Release Date: January 3, 2023
Format: eARC (Courtesy of the Author)
Publisher: Storyville Press (Self-Published by the Author)

The Claw and the Crowned by Sarah M. Cradit is the fifth standalone book in the interconnected The Book of All Things series, and it’s by far the darkest and sexiest book released so far. Slow burn romance fans will enjoy Imryll and Drazhan’s enemies to lovers' love affair. 

Heroine Imryll of Glasgain has never fit into the royal court of Rhiagian, and dreams of running away to see the mainland. On the precipice of fulfilling them, her dreams are dashed when she is given the “honor” of being the first of five concubines to serve her best friend, Crown Prince Torian. Everyone in her family and the rest of Duncarrow expects her to see the role as an honor, but she can only see her new status as a gilded cage. As one of the “Chosen”, Imryll is given a 24/7 guard in the form of Drazhan Winter. The knight is rude, dark and seems to enjoy making her squirm. With how much time they spend together, feelings start to grow between them, and everyone notices something is going on. As time goes on, both Imryll and Drazhan will have to re-evaluate their plans for their future and what they want out of life. 

The relationships in this book are very toxic and strange, compared to the other books in the series. Imryll and Drazhan’s relationship is not necessarily healthy. He’s one of the few in Imryll’s life to give her autonomy and a choice, but they cycle through fighting and having sex fairly quickly. In short, neither are fairly good at communicating. While it was clear that Drazhan was the love interest of the book, I wouldn’t have been upset if Imryll has ended up with Torian. He practically worships the ground she walks on. As another point of the love triangle (or love quadrangle/square?), Torian is incredibly unconventional. I was not expecting him to give Imryll a choice and respect her wishes with regards to advancing their physical intimacy.  As a reader, I was devastated for him and how his heart continued to break every time Imryll rejected him. The only one I really hated from the romance perspective was Marius, but even he had some redeemable qualities in the story. 

As a side note, I really appreciate how the author Sarah M. Cradit and her team are very transparent about what you can expect in each of the books (without traveling into dangerous spoiler territory). For example, the content warning list at the end of my review is from the author’s website. She also puts a list of tropes you can expect in each book - some of my favorites from this one are enemies to lovers, forbidden love, court intrigue, and a quest for vengeance. If you ever have a question about one of her books, I highly recommend checking out her website as its a great resource! 

In conclusion, The Claw and the Crowned is another fantastic addition to The Book of All Things series, and the larger Kingdom of the White Sea universe. I was very happy to see the happily ever after ending in the epilogue (though I do wish some of the big reveals in the book came sooner). With regard to the audience, I would recommend the book (and the series as a whole) to readers at the new adult or adult levels, especially if they enjoy fantasy romance. It’s an amazing opening to the Sceptre Cycle, and I’m super excited to see the future books in the cycle covering the side characters from this book. Thank you to the author for providing me with a complimentary review copy of the book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review The Claw and the Crowned immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way. 

CONTENT WARNINGS (Courtesy of the Author): Light bullying, blood and gore, violence, death of a parent, death of a sibling, references to war crimes (genocide), emotional wounds, emotional abuse, profanity, manipulation, sexually explicit scenes, sexism, PTSD, panic attacks

About the Book

Freedom is her desire. Vengeance is his price.

Slip into this scintillating tale of a young royal whose loyalty is torn between the prince she was sold to and the tempestuous knight determined to ruin her.

Imryll is unfit to be a princess. Everyone has always told her so. So when the king stuns everyone by crowning her the prince’s consort, her life is completely upended, crushing any lingering dreams of a future away from the suffocating Rhiagain court.

Still reeling from the news, she meets Drazhan, the formidable, mercurial knight who wins the right to be her personal guard. But when he defiantly refuses any show of respect, a dangerous spark ignites between them, one she doesn’t know how to extinguish. Worse, she’s not sure she wants to.

The dark knight’s licentious midnight whispers linger over her, commands she feels inexplicably called to obey. His dangerous promises spread their tendrils over her desperate, failed attempts to embrace life with the prince, her childhood best friend. They take her apart and put her back together, piece by agonizing piece.

Yet she can’t shake the sense Drazhan is hiding something important. He refuses to explain why he surrendered a life of privilege to become her guard. The roaring vengeance burning in his heart, scorching him from the inside out, is a painful mystery Imryll can’t solve.

But she will.

Because Drazhan’s revenge doesn’t just start with Imryll.

It ends with her.

About the Author

Sarah is the USA Today Bestselling Author of Epic, Contemporary, and Paranormal Fantasy. An unabashed geek, Sarah enjoys studying subjects like the Plantagenet and Ptolemaic dynasties, and settling debates on provocative Tolkien topics such as why the Great Eagles are not Gandalf's personal taxi service. Passionate about travel, Sarah has visited over twenty countries collecting sparks of inspiration (though New Orleans is where her heart rests). She's a self-professed expert at crafting original songs to sing to her very patient pets and a seasoned professional at finding ways to humiliate herself (bonus points if it happens in public). When at home in Pennsylvania, her husband and best friend, James, is very kind about indulging her love of fast German cars and expensive lattes.

Check out the Author's website here - Author Website 

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ARC REVIEW Kagen the Damned (Kagen the Damned #1) by Jonathan Maberry

Kagen the Damned (Kagen the Damned #1) 

by Jonathan Maberry
Rating: 3 Stars
Release Date: May 10, 2022
Format: eARC (Provided through NetGalley)
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin 

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Kagen the Damned by Jonathan Maberry is the first book in a new grimdark horror/fantasy series, and it's a bloody tale. I would recommend it to mature adult readers (probably 21 and over) who are not put off by blood and gore, and who enjoy genre-blending tales.

Worldbuilding is the shining star of the book. The author does a fantastic job of easing the readers into a complex, vast epic fantasy world. His descriptions and imagery are vivid; I never had an issue picturing what was going on (the descriptions were even too vivid at times - I didn’t really need all the pictures of entrails and blood in my head). I was also impressed by the political dynamics that made up the world. Our main character, Kagen, is in physical and emotional agony to learn that he failed his charges. You can’t help but feel for him and what he’s going through. I was confused by Ryssa’s storyline (she seemed way too innocent for such a violent tale) but it made more sense as the book went on.

While the worldbuilding is the highlight of the book, the pacing was a close second. This book is long at more than 500 pages, and books of this size frequently run the risk of feeling even longer and dragging on with lengthy chapters. Thankfully, Mr. Maberry made the choice to shorten the chapters and it worked out well. The short chapters helped keep the pacing up, and I never felt like the action suffered.

This book is bloody, and the author does not shy away from that aspect. Some of the subjects that were covered made this very hard to read (you can check the trigger warnings at the bottom of the review below to get an idea of what I mean). I wish this book had a set of trigger warnings at the beginning (as some authors are starting to do). The action is bloody from almost the first chapter and some readers may struggle as a result. 

Altogether, Kagen the Damned was a fairly entertaining read with some minor issues here and there. I might not have been the intended audience, but I still enjoyed most of the book. Be warned! This book does end on a major cliffhanger, so go in prepared for that. I’m curious about what happens next in the story, but I don’t know if I want to read another bloody book so I’m on the fence about getting the sequel Son of the Poison Rose when it comes out in early 2023. 

Thank you to the author, the publisher St. Martin’s Griffin, and the team at NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary review copy of Kagen the Damned. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review the book immensely! Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way. 

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Graphic Violence, Adult Language, Adult Content, Blood/Gore, Rape, Attempted Rape, Domestic Abuse, Animal Abuse, Child Abuse, Murder

About the Book

Kagen the Damned marks the first installment of an exciting new series of dark epic fantasy novels from bestselling author Jonathan Maberry.

Sworn by Oath
Kagen Vale is the trusted and feared captain of the palace guard, charged with protection of the royal children of the Silver Empire. But one night, Kagen is drugged and the entire imperial family is killed, leaving the empire in ruins.

Abandoned by the Gods
Haunted and broken, Kagen is abandoned by his gods and damned forever. He becomes a wanderer, trying to take down as many of his enemies as possible while plotting to assassinate the usurper, the deadly Witch-king of Hakkia. While all around him magic--long banished from the world--returns in strange and terrifying ways.

Fueled by Rage
To exact his vengeance, Kagen must venture into strange lands, battle bizarre and terrifying creatures, and gather allies for a suicide mission into the heart of the Witch-king's empire.

Kings and gods will fear him.

Kagen the Damned

About the Author

JONATHAN MABERRY is a New York Times best-seller and Audible #1 bestseller, five-time Bram Stoker Award-winner, anthology editor, comic book writer, executive producer, magazine feature writer, playwright, and writing teacher/lecturer. He is the editor of WEIRD TALES Magazine and president of the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers. He is the recipient of the Inkpot Award, three Scribe Awards, and was named one of the Today’s Top Ten Horror Writers. His books have been sold to more than thirty countries. He writes in several genres including thriller, horror, science fiction, epic fantasy, and mystery; and he writes for adults, middle grade, and young adult.

Jonathan is the creator, editor and co-author of V-WARS, a shared-world vampire anthology from IDW Publishing that was adapted into a NETFLIX series starring Ian Somerhalder (LOST, VAMPIRE DIARIES).

His young adult fiction includes ROT & RUIN (2011; was named in Booklist’s Ten Best Horror Novels for Young Adults, an American Library Association Top Pick, a Bram Stoker and Pennsylvania Keystone to Reading winner; winner of several state Teen Book Awards including the Cricket, Nutmeg and MASL; winner of the Cybils Award, the Eva Perry Mock Printz medal, Dead Letter Best Novel Award, and four Melinda Awards); DUST & DECAY (winner of the 2011 Bram Stoker Award; FLESH & BONE (winner of the Bram Stoker Award; 2012; and FIRE & ASH (August 2013). BROKEN LANDS, the first of a new spin-off series, debuted in 2018 and was followed by LOST ROADS in fall 2020. ROT & RUIN is in development for film by ALCON ENTERTAINMENT and was adapted as a WEBTOON (a serialized comic formatted for cell phones), becoming their #1 horror comic.

His novels include the enormously popular Joe Ledger series from St. Martin’s Griffin (PATIENT ZERO, 2009, winner of the Black Quill and a Bram Stoker Award finalist for Best Novel) and eleven other volumes, most recently RELENTLESS. His middle grade novel, THE NIGHTSIDERS BOOK 1: THE ORPHAN ARMY (Simon & Schuster) was named one the 100 Best Books for Children 2015. His standalone novels include MARS ONE, GLIMPSE, INK, GHOSTWALKERS (based on the DEADLANDS role-playing game), X-FILES ORIGINS: DEVIL’S ADVOCATE, and THE WOLFMAN --winner of the Scribe Award for Best Movie Adaptation

His horror novels include The Pine Deep Trilogy from Pinnacle Books (GHOST ROAD BLUES, 2006, winner of the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel and named one of the 25 Best Horror Novels of the New Millennium; DEAD MAN’S SONG, 2007; and BAD MOON RISING, 2008; as well as DEAD OF NIGHT, and its sequels, FALL OF NIGHT, DARK OF NIGHT, and STILL OF NIGHT.

His epic fantasy series, KAGEN THE DAMNED debuts in May 2022. And he just signed to co-author (with Weston Ochse) a new series of military science fiction novels that launches the SLEEPERS series. Jonathan will also be launching a new series of science fiction horror novels for the newly established Weird Tales Presents imprint of Blackstone Publishing.

He is also the editor of three THE X-FILES anthologies; the dark fantasy anthology series, OUT OF TUNE; SCARY OUT THERE, an anthology of horror for teens; and the anthologies ALIENS: BUG HUNT, NIGHTS OF THE LIVING DEAD (with George Romero), JOE LEDGER UNSTOPPABLE (with Bryan Thomas Schmidt); two volumes of mysteries: ALTERNATE SHERLOCKS and THE GAME’S AFOOT (with Michael Ventrella); and ALIENS V PREDATOR: ULTIMATE PREY (with Bryan Thomas Schmidt). He is also the editor of DON’T TURN OUT THE LIGHTS, the official tribute to SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK. His next anthology will be ALIENS VS PREDATOR: ULTIMATE PREY (with Bryan Thomas Schmidt), debuting in spring 2022.

Jonathan was an expert on the History Channel documentary series, ZOMBIES: A Living History and TRUE MONSTERS. And he was participated in the commentary track for NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD: REANIMATED.

His many nonfiction works include VAMPIRE UNIVERSE (Citadel Press, 2006); THE CRYPTOPED.

ARC REVIEW The Melody and the Master (The Book of All Things #4) by Sarah M. Cradit

The Melody and the Master (The Book of All Things #4) by Sarah M. Cradit
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: October 4, 2022
Format: eARC (Courtesy of the Author)

Sarah M. Cradit keeps raising the bar with each new addition to The Book of All Things series, and I am all here for it. The latest release, The Melody and The Master, has taken over The Altruist and the Assassin’s previous place as my favorite book in the series and Desemir and Siofra have wormed their way into my heart.  

Twins Siofra and Stiofen Thornheart are members of the Medvedev race, whose people were hunted to near extinction for their powers. After their parents died, they found a shelter of sorts with the stewards of Newcarrow (who both feared and prized them for their gifts). An accidental use of magic gets the twins in trouble, and their unlikely savior comes in the form of Baron Desemir Trevanion. Will the offer of freedom be the miracle they’ve been hoping for, or will the secrets hidden in the dark of Shadowfen Hall prove too much to overcome?

Siofra and Desemir are both very tortured souls, and carry a lot of emotional scars around with them. Their early upbringing was rough, to say the least, and it’s shaped who they are when readers meet them in the book. As a result of their past as well as their marriage of convenience, the relationship between Siofra and Desemir is different than the other couples in the series (but no less impactful). It was interesting to see how their relationships with each of their siblings are almost parallel - both Fen and Pesha have spent their life as their sibling’s rocks, and the struggle of allowing anyone else to join their inner circle or possibly take over that role plays heavily into the story. 

Each book in the series is designed to be standalone (and exist within individual cycles), but it’s been fascinating to see how each book builds on the larger world building of the series. You won’t miss anything of the worldbuilding if you don’t read the other books (or if you read them out of order) - it’s more like the author is painting individual pictures that connect into one larger one. Please be aware that the heat level for The Melody and the Master is higher than that of previous books. For comparison purposes, I would rate The Raven and the Rush at a 1 out of 5 with The Melody and the Master being at a 3.5. 

The Melody and the Master is a fantastic addition to The Book of All Things series, and the larger Kingdom of the White Sea universe. I would recommend the book (and the series as a whole) to readers at the new adult or adult levels, especially if they enjoy fantasy romance. I’m so excited to see the other books in the Darkwood Cycle (especially the one covering Pesha and Fen’s relationship), and to read the opening book of the Sceptre Cycle, The Claw and the Crowned when it comes out later this year. Thank you to the author for providing me with a complimentary review copy of the book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review The Melody and the Master immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way. 

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Abduction/Confinement, female main character (FMC) was abused as a child, FMC has been used her whole life for her magic, deception, physical abuse/torture, self-loathing, death, murder. None of the abuse occurs between the main characters, but their romance is not traditional. 

About the Author

Sarah is the USA Today Bestselling Author of Epic, Contemporary, and Paranormal Fantasy. An unabashed geek, Sarah enjoys studying subjects like the Plantagenet and Ptolemaic dynasties, and settling debates on provocative Tolkien topics such as why the Great Eagles are not Gandalf's personal taxi service. Passionate about travel, Sarah has visited over twenty countries collecting sparks of inspiration (though New Orleans is where her heart rests). She's a self-professed expert at crafting original songs to sing to her very patient pets and a seasoned professional at finding ways to humiliate herself (bonus points if it happens in public). When at home in Pennsylvania, her husband and best friend, James, is very kind about indulging her love of fast German cars and expensive lattes.

Check out the Author's website here - Author Website 

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REVIEW Dangerous Desires: Demon Queen Trials (Supernaturals of Mystic Oaks #1) by Shana Vernon

Dangerous Desires: Demon Queen Trials (Supernaturals of Mystic Oaks #1) by Shana Vernon
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: August 23, 2022
Format: eARC (Courtesy of the Author)

Dangerous Desires is the second novella set in the world of Mystic Oaks (the first in the series before Shana Vernon’s Twisted Fate) and builds a foundation for a different aspect of the series worldbuilding. Anaella is an anomaly, as the daughter of two Archangels, and frequently rebels against the rules. When the leaders of the Silver City decide they’ve had enough, they assign her a mission; go to Hell and enter the Demon Queen Trials to become Lucifer’s queen. Once there, she must find the one weapon able to kill him or she will never be allowed home again. 

Overall, this was a short entertaining tale (clocking in at about 100 pages in ebook form). I’m excited to read more stories set in the Mystic Oaks universe. It’s hard to comment on the plot without giving things away (especially with the length), but this definitely ranks high on my list of short stories for the year. I would recommend this story to urban fantasy and paranormal romance readers who enjoy action-packed, fast-paced page-turners. 

Thank you to the author for providing me with a complimentary review copy of Dangerous Desires. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review the novella immensely! Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed Dangerous Desires. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way. 

About the Book

I'm the daughter of two powerful Archangels - yay me. So, let's just say the expectations are high, and when I'm caught partaking in one of the worst sins - lust - I'm sent on an impossible mission. 

They want me to join the Bride Trials in Hell to become the Queen of the most ruthless Demon King out there - Lucifer. 

They say there's only one weapon that can vanquish him. A weapon the angels except me to find and use against him. 

Cross your fingers and pray I can get in and out without Lucifer figuring out what I'm up to, because the minute I see him I know more than my life is at stake, my heart is too.

Hell hath no fury like Lucifer scorned.

About the Author

Shana Vernon is a full-time writer and mother of triplet boys. She grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and moved to Israel in 2012. She completed an undergraduate degree in Social Sciences from Bar Ilan University. 

Shana fell in love with reading as a child by escaping into the fantasy lands of Hogwarts and Narnia.​

When she isn’t writing or taking care of her kiddos, Shana spends her time reading, exercising, experimenting with cooking, or traveling around the world.

ARC REVIEW The Secret Benefits of Invisibility by C.W. Allen

The Secret Benefits of Invisibility (The Falinnheim Chronicles #2) by C.W. Allen 

Rating: 4 Stars

Release Date: June 7, 2022

Format: eARC (Courtesy of Publisher)

Publisher: Cinnabar Moth Publishing

Check out my review of the first book, Relatively Normal Secrets!

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“You can’t teach someone how to be invisible.”

As a child, did you ever feel like you were invisible to the adults around you? Frustrated with the old age that ‘children should not speak unless spoken to’? Well, as Zed and Tuesday Furst find out in the second installment of The Falinnheim Chronicles, even though it’s annoying sometimes it pays off to be invisible.  Like its predecessor, The Secret Benefits of Invisibility is an innovative and humorous action-packed adventure tale perfect for young fantasy and sci-fi readers. 

The Furst family has now set up shop in Falinnheim, but the kids are still behind the curve with learning about the new realm. It’s a cross between modern and medieval cultures, and things are very different from what they are used to. There’s different holidays, a different calendar system, and even entirely different animals to learn about (I enjoyed the poultry parade in particular). Once again, Zed’s lists and notes throughout the book were quite informative and helpful; they were useful in keeping track of all the new information being thrown at readers. 

Admittedly, when I first read the title (without reading the synopsis) I imagined invisibility being the product of some ability or device. The true secret benefits of invisibility in this book are so much better than what I could have imagined - it also plays on the theme of many middle-grade and young adult books, where children are much more capable than most adults give them credit for. Zed and Tuesday’s great-grandmother was the one to encourage them to make the perceived disadvantage of children’s invisibility into a benefit, and it was hilarious (Obaa-chan is awesome).  

Overall, C.W. Allen delivered another fantastic read with The Secret Benefits of Invisibility. If you have a young reader in your life looking for a genre-crossing action-packed tale, these books would be a great choice! I think it would be suitable for most older middle grade readers and all young adult readers. I’m eager to read the final book in the series, The Tales of the Forgotten Founders, and see how the story ends for the Furst family when it comes out in 2023. As a side note (unrelated to my review), given how often Zed and Tuesday are separated from their parents I would love to see a bonus chapter written from their point of view. 

Thank you to the publisher, Cinnabar Moth Publishing, for providing me with a complimentary review copy of the book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review The Secret Benefits of Invisibility immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own, and not influenced in any way. 

CONTENT WARNINGS (Courtesy of the Author): Kidnapping, Death, Violence, War

REPRESENTATION: The Secret Benefits of Invisibility has a diverse cast of characters. There is positive representation of the Black, Jewish, Muslim, East Asian, and neurodivergent communities. 

About the Author: C.W. Allen

Author of the middle grade novels RELATIVELY NORMAL SECRETS (2021), THE SECRET BENEFITS OF INVISIBILITY (2022), and TALES OF THE FORGOTTEN FOUNDERS (2023).

C.W. Allen is a Nebraskan by birth, a Texan by experience, a Hoosier by marriage, and a Utahn by geography. She knew she wanted to be a writer the moment she read The Westing Game at age twelve, but took a few detours along the way as a veterinary nurse, an appliance repair secretary, and a homeschool parent.

She recently settled in the high desert of rural Utah with her husband, their three children, and a noisy flock of orphaned ideas. Someday she will create literary homes for all of them. (The ideas, not her family.)

Keep up with her latest projects at her website: cwallenbooks.com

She is much funnier on Twitter than in person: twitter.com/cwallenbooks

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ARC REVIEW The Altruist and the Assassin (The Book of All Things #3) by Sarah M. Cradit

The Altruist and the Assassin (The Book of All Things #3) by Sarah M. Cradit 

Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: August 9, 2022
Format: eARC (Courtesy of the Author)
Publisher: Storyville Press 

I just finished Sarah M. Cradit’s The Altruist and the Assassin in less than a day, and I think it's my favorite book so far out of all those in The Book of All Things series. Each book is an interconnected standalone, and you don’t have to read the first two books in the series to be able to follow Rhiain and Asterin’s story. However, I do recommend reading all of the books as The Raven and the Rush and The Sylvan and the Sand are quite entertaining, and there are a couple of moments here and there that might not make as much sense without context. 

One mistake can change your life forever. That’s a lesson Rhiain learns the hard way when in the span of a single moment she goes from spoiled noble princess to enduring harsh training to become one of the kingdom’s most feared assassins. After a run-in with a mysterious stranger on a mission (who surprisingly knows her), her life begins to change even more and she has the chance to finally unravel the mysterious holes in her past. Will she be able to reclaim the memories she once thought lost, and discover why she feels so connected to Asterin, or will she be too late?

Rhiain was the character I connected to most in the book. To say she’s had a hard life would be an understatement (please check out the trigger/content warnings below for an idea of what I mean). You couldn’t help but want things to work out for her. I loved getting to see her relationship with Asterin develop - the witty banter between the two of them was fantastic. I was also quite thrilled to see all of the tropes that Ms. Cradit had promised come to life in the story; some of my favorites were found family, fated love, and ‘there’s only one bed’. Please be aware that the steam in this book is more intense than in previous ones - the romance scenes are not fade to black but they aren’t what I would consider explicit or graphic.

While Asterin and Rhiain are the stars of the book, there are definitely some lovable side characters. Sesto in particular was one of my favorites, as were Rhiain’s little brother and Tyr. I know that the author plans to revisit some of the side characters in future books in the series, so I hope I get to see all three of them find their happily ever afters too (and see characters like Rhiain and Asterin make cameos in future Guardians Cycle books). 

Each book in the series is designed to be standalone (and exist within individual cycles), but it was cool how each one built on the worldbuilding of the series. You won’t miss anything on the worldbuilding if you don’t read the other books - it’s more like the author is painting individual pictures that connect into one larger one. 

Altogether, The Altruist and the Assassin was another amazing installment to a fantastic fantasy romance series. I would recommend this series to readers at the new adult or adult levels who enjoy fantasy romance tales - this book in particular reminded me a lot of Rapunzel or Sleeping Beauty.  After three stellar books, I’m excited to see what’s next for readers (and the world of the Kingdom of the White Sea) with The Melody and the Master. Thank you to the author for providing me with a complimentary review copy of the book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review The Altruist and the Assassin immensely! Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way. 

Content Warnings: violence, death, murder, sexual assault, child abuse, cheating from a secondary character, memory loss, parental abuse, trauma (none of the aforementioned occur between the main characters

About the Book

Rhiain enjoys a charmed life as the daughter of one of the most powerful men in the realm. Spoiled and vain, she has never met a need or want she couldn’t attain. The dark spots in her memory have been tucked away, with all other unpleasant things. 

Then a terrible mistake brings her entire world crashing down around her. Her life shifts in an instant; her fate, uncertain. Her father’s punishment for her is forcing her to train for a life as one of his prized assassins.

But a chance encounter in a familiar tavern will change everything. 

Everything she knows.

Everything she feels.

Everything she is.

As Rhiain gets closer to handsome, enigmatic Asterin— a man she doesn’t remember but claims to possess the truth about her dark spots—she begins to accept there is much more to these gaps in her understanding of the past.

Because these memories were taken from her for a reason. And there are those who will do anything to stop her from remembering.

The Altruist and the Assassin is a standalone fated love fantasy romance tale set in the Kingdom of the White Sea universe, with hints of Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty.

About the Author

Sarah is the USA Today Bestselling Author of Epic, Contemporary, and Paranormal Fantasy. An unabashed geek, Sarah enjoys studying subjects like the Plantagenet and Ptolemaic dynasties, and settling debates on provocative Tolkien topics such as why the Great Eagles are not Gandalf's personal taxi service. Passionate about travel, Sarah has visited over twenty countries collecting sparks of inspiration (though New Orleans is where her heart rests). She's a self-professed expert at crafting original songs to sing to her very patient pets and a seasoned professional at finding ways to humiliate herself (bonus points if it happens in public). When at home in Pennsylvania, her husband and best friend, James, is very kind about indulging her love of fast German cars and expensive lattes.

Check out the Author's website here - Author Website 

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