Category: 5 star Rating

Review: My Not-So-Super Blind Date (a Subpar Heroes story) by Allison Temple

Rating: 4.75🌈

I’m such a fan of the multi-author series because it’s a great way to find new writers or rediscover ones that you haven’t read in a while.

There’s been a huge variety in the series themes and authors who have decided to participate so it makes this format even more exciting.

The Subpar Heroes is a terrific theme, the not quite good enough hero, the one who has a power but it’s subpar, does strange stuff, is considered weak.

In the case of this book’s subpar hero character, Morgan Murray, he’s barely able to whip up enough of a current to charge his phone’s battery, but then he might actually start a fire.

He’s not a member of SPAM, that was his famous mother. He works in scientific research to save the world.

Then Morgan is matched by friends to go on a blind date with Jasper, who’s a henchman. And things get interesting. And scary. And maybe romantic. And they do them again and again and again. Over and over again.

The manner in which Temple builds the story, the surprise element of repeating the date, and then the slow revelation of how long it has been happening. Which one recounts the first time he knew what happened, it’s just chilling. And extremely well written.

It down to fantastic characters and a plot that both has to develop yet replicate itself.

Temple’s execution of the circular structure of the narrative, ala Groundhog Day, is just superb. When the date begins, and that’s the triggering point that starts the day again, is due to one factor. A person’s life is ended. Over and over. There’s a warning note at the very beginning of the book.

From there out, the narrative veers from the original, there’s character and relationship growth. The universe explores the present histories of these people and how they got there. Then the author takes us and them on another related journey.

It’s an incredible story, a heartfelt and at times, heartbreaking book. I really wanted more at the end. But then again, maybe just that was probably perfectly fine. A full future ahead.

This is one of the best of this series to date. I’m definitely recommending it.

Great cover.

Subpar Heroes series- 15 books:

🔷The Accidental Necromancer by Liv Rancourt

🔷Behind the 8-Ball by A. E. Wasp

🔷Transparent Is a Color by Kaje Harper❤️

🔷Impossible Things by Alexa Land

🔷My Not-So-Super Blind Date by Allison Temple ❤️❤️

🔷An Ex-Hero’s Guide to Axe Handling by Jenn Burke ❤️❤️

🔷In The Nick of Time by Elle Keaton 7/25/2024

🔷Static/Cling by Jaimie Samms 7/30/2024

🔷Spiritual Guidance Not Required by Jacy Braegan 8/1/2024

🔷What Could Go Wrong? By Toshi Drake 8/6/2024

🔷License to Chill by Chantal Mer 8/8/2024

🔷Code Name Dolittle by Lynn Michaels. 8/22/2024

🔷Signed, I’m Yours! By Rhys Lawless 8/29/2024

🔷A Taste of Danger by Morgan Brice. 9/5/2024

Buy links:

My Not-So-Super Blind Date

Blurb:

I’m Morgan Murray. You probably haven’t heard of me. With a raft of allergies and powers that won’t do more than charge a phone, I never lived up to my super family’s super expectations. It’s okay. I’m used to being overlooked.

But there’s only so much disappointment one man can take, and finding out the cute guy on my blind date is a henchman for the city’s most notorious crime boss? That’s one letdown too many. This date is over before it even starts.

Or is it?

In the meet cute that won’t end, Jasper and I are stuck in a time loop and the only way out is deadly. Good and evil may be relative terms, but if we can’t escape, we may find out that love is forever…and ever.

My Not-So-Super Blind Date is part of the Subpar Heroes multi-author MM romance series.

• Publisher: (June 6, 2024)

• Publication date: June 6, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 254 pages

Review: SOS HOTEL: Sleep With Us #3 by Adam Vex ( Ariana Nash)

Rating: 5🌈

Here we are at the penultimate story in the life of Adam Vex , his companions , ex porn star incubus Zee, and wealthy businessman vampire Reynard. All of them living in their struggling SOS Hotel, with their gremlin filled walls, weirdly scary but wonderful AI bartender Tom Collins, and some personal secrets about to come busting out!

But first, something is wrong with Tom Collins! He’s too nice, his cocktails too boring, he’s not himself.

In this story, sooo many things are happening. In a race to find and bring back their beloved bartender, secrets start to come out. And not in happy moments.

But this is a series on its way to its climactic conclusion and it’s building up to that point by challenging the characters to expose themselves (yes that too), emotionally and on personal terms, revealing their histories they hadn’t before.

So yes, there’s wild rescues, more than a few fight scenes. And one ginormous cliffhanger.

It’s fantastic. I need that final book! If you’re not into cliffhangers, wait until the entire series is out and binge read. Otherwise, read it in order and wait until it’s released in August. I’m highly recommending this book and series. Well thought out and fabulous characters!

SOS Hotel:

✓ For a Supernaturally Safe Stay #1

✓ Friendly Sanctuary for the Fiendishly Fabulous #2

✓ Sleep with Us #3

✓ Great Service from Top to Bottom #4

◦ No Rest for the Wicked #5 – August 16, 2024 (finale)

Buy link

SOS HOTEL: Great Service from Top to Bottom

Blurb

Something is wrong with Tom Collins. More wrong than usual.

Tom’s being nice.

I should have known trouble was right around the corner. One attempted murder later, and Reynard is forced to disarm Tom (literally).

No bartender, means no bar. Zee is grumpy and avoiding me, and the hotel’s measly profits are dwindling by the day.

Things are not going well. We need our broken, foul-mouthed Tom Collins back.

But don’t worry. Zee says saving Tom should be a walk in the park for us.

Turns out, that walk in the park is more like a road to hell. But I’ve got this…

My name is Adam Vex. I’m your average and mundane, human host. Welcome to another crazy day at the SOS Hotel.

*

Warning: SOS Hotel contains explicit language, situations, and content that some readers may find uncomfortable. For full warnings, please see the author’s website or the paperback “look inside sample”.

• Publisher: Crazy Ace Publishing (June 19, 2024)

• Publication date: June 19, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 214 pages

Review: Bound to the Wild Fae (a Fortune Favors the Fae Book 3) by Tavia Lark

Rating: 5🌈

Honestly, this series is making me deliriously happy. Outstanding authors, fantastic theme, and the storylines are just so excellent. It’s really spoiling me for any other multi author series to come.

That mischievous little otherworldly Fae coin is now interfering with the lives of two intriguing people. One, a wild fae, Yarrow, whose been given a mission by his Queen to kill a mysterious shapeshifter in order to return to her court. The other is a man in the human realm, one terrified of the Fae, who has a Fae’s golden eye that he was “given” one night as a child.

Tavia Lark, an auto read author, starts immediately weaving her tale of two men on a collision course with each other, and Lark does so in a way we get a definitive impression of each character’s personality.

From his actions to his thoughts, it’s clear how unsettled the human Folly is in his current situation. He’s hiding, and it’s not just the fact that he has a golden eye that’s kept hidden under an eye patch, it’s more than that. Lark’s creating a glimmer of Folly’s past for the reader to see by allowing his fears, his reliance on lies and mistrust to build a portrait of his history as something painful and unreliable. Outstanding work. What an incredible character.

Yarrow will turn out to be just as compelling as Folly, albeit in a different manner. His issues are tied to his parentage, how it’s affected his mother and her relationship to the Court. He’s light hearted and exuberant yet feels emotions deeply.

Lark creates several realms for Folly and Yarrow to travel through on this dangerous journey to complete Yarrow’s mission and break the curse they’ve been set with.

I’ve read several of Lark’s series and her characters are all so beautifully written. Just as Folly and Yarrow, but it’s seen through smaller but equally intriguing beings that are essential to the story and their mission. They pop up, make huge chunks of emotional impact, and the reader wants to know more about them, especially when we meet up with them again at the end.

The plot or plots are entertaining, well layered with mysteries, and full of magical elements and creatures. I was absolutely absorbed by them, this couple, and the story every bit of the way.

And I found myself thinking about how it would be a great start to a new series as well for the author. I’d love to see more about this universe and the characters we met.

Bound to the Wild Fae (a Fortune Favors the Fae Book 3) by Tavia Lark is a fabulous tale of magic, adventure, mystery and love. It’s an amazing book and a must read.

Love that cover!

Fortune Favors the Fae – 15 books:

✓ A Fae Coin Transported Me Into Another World and Now I’m the Gay Holy Maiden by AJ Sherwood #1❤️

✓ The Wolf’s (Un)Lucky Fae by Michele Notaro #2 ❤️

✓ Bound to the Wild Fae by Tavia Lark #3 June 13❤️

◦ The Sorcerer’s Thief by Lee Colgin #4 – June 20, 2024

◦ The Fae Menagerie by Edie Montreaux #5 – June 27,2024

◦ Never Darling by Sam Burns #6 – July 4,2024

◦ Prince of Poison by Alice Winters #7 – July 11,2024

◦ Grave Misfortune by Nazri Noor #8 – July 18,2024

◦ Fae for Pay by Meaghan Maslow #9 – July 23,2024

◦ Kisses at the Crossroad by Morgan Lysand #10 – August 1,2024

◦ Smoke and Mirrors by Kai Butler #11 – August 8, 2024

◦ Siren in the Rain by Chloe Archer #12 – Aug 15,2024

◦ I Destroyed the Elf Prince’s Harem by Jocelynn Drake #13 – Aug 22,2024

◦ A Fae Called Wylder by Michelle Frost #14 – Aug 29,2024

◦ Lucky or Knot by Eliot Grayson #15 – September 5,2024

Buy link

Bound to the Wild Fae

Blurb

Hiding from the fae isn’t an option anymore.

Folly is a fortuneteller, according to the sign outside his tent. Actually, he’s a nervous wreck and a total fraud. His golden eye might be magical, but Folly doesn’t see the future. He sees the fae: dangerous, beautiful creatures lurking in the shadows between realms. Avoiding the fae keeps Folly safe—

Until a misfired curse binds him to one.

Yarrow is a wild fae. Half fae, half other, and all seductive confidence. He’s on a quest to slay a monster and earn his place in the summer court. An easy task for a warrior like Yarrow.

Not so easy when the monster’s curse tethers him to a terrified human.

Now, Folly and Yarrow can’t leave each other’s proximity without agonizing pain. Folly is desperate to return home, but to break the curse, he has to follow the intimidating Yarrow into a world full of the creatures he’s spent his life hiding from.

And Yarrow’s familiar homeland seems far deadlier when he has a tiny, fascinating human to protect.

Bound to the Wild Fae is an MM fantasy romance, part of the multi-author series Fortune Favors the Fae. Each book is a standalone and can be read in any order. From spicy to sweet, zany romps to epic adventures, there’s something for everyone in this mystical series. Discover destiny and true love and follow the coin on its fickle journey to the next world and a new magical adventure.

• Publication date: June 13, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 224 pages

Review: An Ex-Hero’s Guide to Axe Handling (Subpar Heroes story) by Jenn Burke

Rating: 5🌈

As a fan of this author, I couldn’t wait for her contribution to the multi-author Subpar Heroes series. It’s excellent! One of my favorites so far.

An Ex-Hero’s Guide to Axe Handling includes the two ends of the super hero spectrum. One, Ward Sullivan aka Firefox, a man’s whose talent was so powerful that it’s got him damaged permanently. Now Ward’s bitter and angry about his past and the loss of what he once had.

The other? So little is thought of his talent that he hasn’t even been assigned a superhero code name. He’s just been shunted off to Thunder Bay for minor tasks , where he’s content to living his life in a small Canadian community he’s called home. That’s, cheery, bearded, outfitted in plaid, ax wielding Devlin Campbell.

A weird case of arson in the middle of a park campground in winter brings Devlin together with Ward who’s sent to investigate the case, in what’s probably his last venture with SPAM.

Burke takes interesting characters, a great location full of small town culture as well as the frigid winter conditions then just starts layering on all the necessary elements as well as adding the details that give the story the fantastic depth.

She brings to Ward, Dev and a certain young Hallie, as the story develops, all personality growth and needed revelations that make the reader feel like we have an immediate connection to them. And Dev’s oh so inconsequential talent soon is seen to be not so inconsiderable after all.

That’s one of the best qualities of Burke’s narrative. She slyly feeds us several truths about the characters. The way they are being treated or perceived as well as the way the character are truly defined. These are not portraits that form at once but ones that may take almost the entire plot to reveal, giving the reader plenty of time to form their own thoughts and become more fully involved in this journey to love and HEA.

A special note about how Burke treats Ward’s issues and injuries. This is a choice the author made to go realistic with the outcome and I absolutely agree and appreciate that she went with it. It’s in keeping with his hard won journey, with the theme of the series (these aren’t Superheros) , and it’s reflective of the trauma that he has been through.

I just loved these characters, their relationship and their journey. Hallie is fabulous too.

Top of this series! A must read. And that cover is everything.

Subpar Heroes series- 15 books:

🔷The Accidental Necromancer by Liv Rancourt

🔷Behind the 8-Ball by A. E. Wasp

🔷Transparent Is a Color by Kaje Harper

🔷Impossible Things by Alexa Land

🔷My Not-So-Super Blind Date by Allison Temple

🔷An Ex-Hero’s Guide to Axe Handling by Jenn Burke ❤️

🔷In The Nick of Time by Elle Keaton 7/25/2024

🔷Static/Cling by Jaimie Samms 7/30/2024

🔷Spiritual Guidance Not Required by Jacy Braegan 8/1/2024

🔷What Could Go Wrong? By Toshi Drake 8/6/2024

🔷License to Chill by Chantal Mer 8/8/2024

🔷Code Name Dolittle by Lynn Michaels. 8/22/2024

🔷Signed, I’m Yours! By Rhys Lawless 8/29/2024

🔷A Taste of Danger by Morgan Brice. 9/5/2024

Buy links:

An Ex-Hero’s Guide to Axe Handling

Blurb

No more Mr. Nice Hero

Ex-hero Ward Sullivan used to be a household name before his career went up in smoke. Now he’s stuck hunting for the cause of mysterious fires in Northern Ontario. Worse still is his new partner, an overly cheery Canadian named Devlin Campbell.

Dev’s a lumberjack and he’s okay with that. It sure beats working in an office where his not-so-super power forced everyone to be nice to him. Partnering with the famous ex-hero Firefox is a dream come true. Not only is he one of Dev’s idols, he’s immune to his niceness.

Dev’s upbeat vibe soothes Ward’s grumpy soul, but he’d never admit it. Nor would he admit that he really likes the way Dev handles an axe. But when a threat from the past comes roaring into Ward’s present, it’s no more Mr. Nice Hero. Ward may have to give up a future with the nicest guy he knows to save the world one last time.

An Ex-Hero’s Guide to Axe-Handling is a part of the multi-author Subparheroes MM romance series.

• Publication date: June 13, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 192 pages

Review: Unusual Emotions (The Unwilling Adventures of Harlow & Foxx Book 3) by Shelby Rhodes

Rating: 5🌈

Unusual Emotions is the third book in Shelby Rhodes’ amazing paranormal romance series, The Unwilling Adventures of Harlow & Foxx, so a couple of things right away. If you’re reading this series, you are already familiar with the trigger warnings, so I’m not going to repeat them.

Secondly, if you’re familiar with Shelby Rhodes writing, either here or any of this author’s work, then again, see my sentence above about triggers. Rhodes’ writing just comes with a certain amount of warnings, primarily because of the various types of themes and content that are present in this author’s work. If you know, you know.

As this is the third book in this remarkable series, one that has to be read in order, then a reader knows what is in store for them and the characters here. Proceed forward with knowledge!

Unusual Emotions tells us exactly what our characters are dealing with. After the traumatic events and deepest horrors of the past revisited that Taste of Fear put Foxx and Harlow through, now the impact of those events and its consequences, emotionally are seen here on the partners.

Unsurprisingly, Foxx is having nightmares, the burning marks upon his body still visible, his emotional state is shattered as much as his damaged threads. Hes not in good shape as the book opens. But just as shocking, neither is his partner Harlow. He’s having feelings, anger , fear, and more, which he’s trying not to identify. He’s a psychopath and , in his own words and mind, he’s not supposed to be having feelings.

Rhodes weaves an intimate, increasingly confused relationship between two characters that always thought they knew what their relationship was about. Until recently, and Foxx’s recent traumatic experiences have upset him and their dynamic. Both sides are stumbling around, dealing with their own issues, their partner’s unspoken difficulties with the current situation, and a multitude of new cases involving them and weird elements.

It’s Foxx and Harlow trying to figure out how to make their relationship work but it’s changing in ways neither understands. The author lays this out , all the fears, the misguided ways their friends and bosses interfere in the process, all the challenges that realistically make them not trusting of anything deeper than a work relationship, it’s complicated journey that makes them feel more real and broken. Incredible stuff here.

Threaded through this slow burn journey over broken glass pathways is the cases Tony is throwing their way. Unusually big numbers, scary details, weird situations. Each one coming with some defining features and scenarios that will, I’m sure, add up to something even more terrifying to the partners later on.

And I’m not just talking about the cliffhanger of that ending!

Yes, it does have a wowzer of a cliffhanger here. We also knew that would happen.

Unusual Emotions (The Unwilling Adventures of Harlow & Foxx Book 3) by Shelby Rhodes is one incredibly powerful and heart stopping book. Our connection with Foxx and Harlow is made stronger, and we are all so happy that they have made a new step forward in their journey. Now about that cliffhanger!

Highly recommended! Read them in order. Not one is a standalone.

Love the covers.

The Unwilling Adventures of Harlow & Foxx:

✓ At First Irritation #1

✓ Taste of Fear #2

✓ Unusual Emotions #3

◦ Thirst Quenched #4 – August 24,2024

◦ False Morality #5 – TBD

Buy link

Unusual Emotions (The Unwilling Adventures of Harlow & Foxx Book 3)

Blurb

Foxx Honeywell here… Have you ever wanted something, but then when it finally happens, you panic and think of all the things that could go wrong, because things have always gone wrong? No? Just me? Well, let’s backtrack.

We pick up where we last left off…after the hypocritical murdery priests. Yeah, I’m still dealing with all that. Cases come and go, and things are normal…but then normal flies out of the window. All because my mind decided to focus on things it shouldn’t. Because, as is often the case, emotions and feelings don’t give a shit about timing, place, or the sanity of those involved!

Speaking of sanity. My annoyingly insane partner, HARLOW, decided that he wants to make it all the more complicated by feeling ‘something’ as well.

Long story short, more cases, more confusion, and just the urge to burn the world down in a fit of anger…because why the bloody hell not? Things are decidedly not okay.

CONTENT WARNING: This is a slow burn M/M paranormal romance book, that ends in a cliffhanger. Please see inside or my website for full content warning!

• Publisher: (June 11, 2024)

• Publication date: June 11, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 343 pages

Review: Fall of the Crystal Moon: An Epic Dragon Fantasy Saga (The Crystalline Dragons Saga Book 5) by Eoghan R. Cunningham

Rating: 5🌈

Fall of the Crystal Moon is the finale novel of The Crystalline Dragons Saga and it’s a grand epic fantasy adventure. Cunningham’s young heroes are finally grown up, they’re facing the end of their world, the villain who they’ve battled they killed. That person has been replaced by someone who is more powerful, more frightening, yet still someone who they knew, who they once trusted. Dusk can understand her pain and trauma and anger.

The characters have been never been more nuanced than they are here, in their final battles to save each other and their world. Cunningham has them, especially Dusk, dive deep into their own stories, their fears and their worst self doubts, face them , before they can then take on the approaching world’s enemies and ultimate villain.

The author is smart because we travel with incredible companions, back through some of the very worst places our small group has already visited before, nightmarish stuff for Dusk, on their way to gather a army to vanquish the enemy. We see what has become of some very familiar places during their journey. It’s such a great narrative choice emotionally and visually. Cunningham makes so many interesting and layered choices here.

Fall of the Crystal Moon is full of amazing full throttle action scenes, dragons, incredible heroes each with their unique abilities and stories, and even a great villain we can emphasize with while knowing that they must be brought down.

And , it has that one element that’s a must for every epic adventure ending! That the finale makes you want to accompany our heroes wherever they go next, whatever fabulous beasts they see, beings they encounter, we want to be there too. What an absolutely fantastic romp this series has been! A thriller of an adventure with a bit of romance too.

More please. A YA LGBTGIA fantasy novel I’m so excited to recommend!

The Crystalline Dragons Saga-5 books:

✓ Curse of the Dragon’s Eye #1

✓ Mist, Shadow, and Deep #2

✓ Rise of the False King #3

✓ The Queen of Darkness #4

✓ Fall of the Crystal Moon #5

Buy link

Fall of the Crystal Moon: An Epic Dragon Fantasy Saga (The Crystalline Dragons Saga Book 5)

Blurb

The final battle looms on the horizon. The last dragon has been found. The Crystal Moon has once again returned to Ditania.

The fate of the entire world lies in Dusk’s hands. But will he be able to save it in time?

Just when I thought we’d won the battle and stopped the evil in this world from coming to fruition, Tiernan outsmarts us again.

The world doesn’t know what kind of danger it’s in and the only people that can stop it are me, Lex, and Tara. But where do we even start? And is it even possible at this point to win against this evil sorcerer that’s cut us off at every turn?

I don’t know. But I do know one thing. I will not give up and I will not let the power of the Crystal Eye fall into the hands of someone like Teirnan.

There’s a final battle to be fought and I will lead the charge.

The fate of the world rest’s on my shoulders.

• Publisher: UwU Publishing (June 6, 2024)

• Publication date: June 6, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 329 pages

Review: Darkness by Eden Winters

Rating: 4.75🌈

Eden Winters new release, Darkness, is a superb supernatural thriller. Winters’ beautifully written narrative combines elements of horror, murder mystery, political conspiracy, as well as a deeply intriguing romance to create a dark, suspenseful, and gripping story.

It starts with Atlanta PD Det. Morrisey James. He’s a wounded, broken man, with a disturbing talent that allows him to sense what the newly deceased felt, a gift he keeps hidden in his job investigating violent crimes.

That’s where Winters drops the reader into the narrative. James and his partner have just arrived at the scene of a truly horrific crime, one that will have ramifications for the rest of the story. We immediately get a feel for Morrisey’s battered emotional state, the close dynamic between himself and his deeply depressed partner. And the author is able to portray, just from the remarks of the other crime scene officers, a city under siege as waves of high crime just overwhelm the police and all departments.

When tragedy strikes again and loss hits Morrisey, its help from Farren Austin that turns his life upside down.

The characters of Morrisey and Farren, the darkness and the light, are so thoughtfully and beautifully crafted. Winters builds believable people who we have real empathy for , but leaves them with so much more room to expand their characters into increasingly larger and complex roles.

I couldn’t stop reading. I was so caught up in Morrisey’s story, Farren’s role in it, each new revelation about all the various travelers and their tumultuous journeys from a dying world. Winters has enough elements for a series should she want to continue exploring the world and characters she has created and set in motion.

I wasn’t really ready for Darkness to be over as I felt the characters were just getting started with their own new beginning. There were also other characters I had grown fond of and needed to see more of them.

Whether this is a standalone or the beginning of an extraordinary series, it’s a great story and one I’m excited to share.

Buy link

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CY9ZJR45

Blurb

Darkness follows Lieutenant Morrisey James.

As an Atlanta PD detective, Morrisey understands the worst atrocities the city has to offer—or believes he does. His recent cases present something new: a killer who unleashes unbridled terror in victims before moving in for the kill. Morrisey has an edge, though, the terrifying ability to gain flashes of insight from each victim.

Most people assume Farren Austin is a shallow, pretty boy, but he’s so much more. Agent Austin keeps secrets as part of the FBI’s Alternate Entities Task Force, a unit created to monitor travelers from another realm. Although they might look human, they’re anything but.

And they’ve taken a special interest in Morrisey.

Partnered with Farren, Morrisey finds himself in the middle of demons trying to possess his body, a succubus sidekick who wants to cook him breakfast, accusations of being a powerful destructive force, and a growing number of people calling him “Darkness.” Not to mention a sudden overwhelming attraction to his new partner.

It’s going to take the mysterious Farren’s help to keep the latest case from being Morrisey’s last.

• Publication date: June 1, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 442 pages

Review: Two Thousand Blades (Kings of Chaos Book 3) by Jocelynn Drake

Rating: 5🌈

Never has Jocelynn Drake’s fantastic fantasy series, Kings of Chaos, leaned so heavily and culturally into its Chinese mythological roots as it does beautifully in Two Thousand Blades.

When Two Thousand Tears dramatically ended, so many major traumatic events had happened. The Elf King had been ended. But the invasion, lead by the Elf Queen, was successful and the East Coast was falling fast as the otherworldly forest spread. But more devastating, the Clan lost a brother as a dragon sank down into the battle and stole Xiang away from his family and those fighting against the Fae.

Drake’s clear love of Chinese mythology and culture has always been used beautifully against the various otherworldly themes and mythologies at play in this series. But in Two Thousand Blades, she allows them full rein.

This tale becomes a vivid tapestry of ancient history, gods come to life, otherworldly internecine war, magical blades, and forever love. Memorable, emotional and immensely powerful.

It’s Xiang’s background. His family and past so cemented in their original home so far away and Kai, the one who becomes everything to him. The swirling mythology of which is well known today and is attached via footnotes and addendums here by the author.

It’s how Drake builds their relationship, the slow reveal of identity, and the meshing of the two ongoing conflicts/locations that work together so seamlessly here. We see the Clan of 2,000 Chinese vampires, their mates, friends and allies in Hartford fighting the Fae and desperately seeking a way to find their brother Xiang. And we have Xiang and Kai in the Dragon’s cave with Xiang equally seeking passage home, answers about their location, and the dragon.

The relationship between Xiang and Kai is revelatory personally and historically. It’s a great way, narratively, for Drake to bring the history of the Clan’s history, their horrific transformation into vampires, and their defeat of their master.

Without venturing into spoiler territory, this is an exciting, high stakes, action packed storyline where even if you think the Clan has come out ahead, nothing is as it seems. The clan and its family will have its major brutal challenges ahead and angst filled romances to come.

We know who is next as the ending is a bit of a stunner and cliffhanger, both in the best way possible. So now it’s waiting until Two Thousand Shadows comes out in December.

Until then, I’m highly recommending all the books in this series. Read them in the order they are written for character and plot development. Just a superb series in every aspect.

Love the covers, the concept. Fantastic.

The Kings of Chaos :

✓ Two Thousand Dreams #1

✓ Two Thousand Tears #2

✓ Two Thousand Blades #3

◦ Two Thousand Shadows #4 – Dec 13, 2024

Buy link

Two Thousand Blades (Kings of Chaos Book 3)

Blurb

There’s no escape from a dragon’s hoard.

Xiang thought his biggest problem was going to be defeating the fae.

Nope.

Right now, it’s escaping this dragon’s hoard.

The dragon, who tried to eat his clanmate, grabbed Xiang instead, and now Xiang is trapped.

And he’s not the only one who needs to escape the dragon’s lair.

Kai is serving as the dragon’s assistant and helping to keep Xiang from going crazy with boredom.

Xiang is sure there’s more to this sexy man beyond his sad eyes and stuffy personality, but learning all of Kai’s secrets is going to take time.

First, Xiang needs to steal Kai from the hoard, and hopefully win his heart in the process.

But will they be able to escape the reach of a very possessive dragon?

Two Thousand Blades is the third novel in the Kings of Chaos series. This book contains a stubborn vampire falling in love with someone who isn’t quite who he claims to be, shifters, vampires, a nosy family who wants all the spilled tea, other non-human surprises, snark, angst, magic, treasure, found family, brotherly bickering, chaos, pouting, cuddles, one very possessive dragon, and an endless love that crosses lines drawn by war

• Publication date: May 31, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 360 pages

Fantasy Asian Mythology

The Kings of Chaos is a spin-off series from the Lords of Discord and Princes of Mayhem series.

Lords of Discord :

Claiming Marcus

Saving Rafe

Waking Bel

Embracing Winter

Healing Aiden

Visiting the Variks: A Short Story Collection

Princes of Mayhem

How the Necromancer in the Gold Vest Ruined Saved My Life :

Disaster #1: Fun with Family

Disaster #2: Pet Problems

Disaster #3: Date Night

Disaster #4: Who Woke the Dead?”

Review: A Fae Coin Transported Me Into Another World and Now I’m the Gay Holy Maiden: Fortune Favors the Fae Book 1 by A. J. Sherwood

Rating: 5🌈

Well, this was an absolute blast! A beautifully crafted, well written, and wildly entertaining fantasy story that I really didn’t want to see end.

A. J. Sherwood, a author I’m an enormous fan of, just has a fabulous time with the theme of this multi author collection and gives us a tale of a man ripped out of his own life and into a new world! It’s one complete with talking magical fae coin, peopled with many species in need of some dire, or in this case divine intervention, a handsome intelligent warrior/Duke, and a quest the displaced businessman is surprisingly well suited to solve.

There’s so many great layers to this world and Sherwood’s story. The characters alone are ones I could write pages about, not just the main characters but all the well defined but important ones. Like the child Izzy, Grandma the Herb Master, Mina and her grandfather, Grandpa Hawes, a farmer, Boss Melva, and so many others. Each voice distinct and memorable. Their personalities and presence made this book and world real and vibrant with emotion.

However it’s Jake Alexander, soon to be divorced from a disastrous marriage, who’s hit by a truck and transported by a mischievous fae coin to another realm where a quest and new life awaits him. Jake is someone who, no matter what his family or his beleaguered life has delivered, has always been able to make the best of what he has been dealt. That attitude, and with his own personality and integrity makes Jake a character we cheer on, especially as we learn more about his past life and upbringing.

The person who is supporting Jake, in his new role as the gay Holy Maiden (that’s a hilarious aspect I’ll leave to the story), is Theon, a warrior who, in his own right, is the only person who has treated Jake the way that he has been hoping for. Theon who’s responsible, intelligent and warmhearted. Worried about the welfare of his people yet still has the same caring attitude towards Jake. It’s a marvelous relationship to watch evolve. Humorous, warm hearted and , slow to kick in. Loved it

There’s several terrific surprises. Every person, every being is treated with respect and kindness. Here you’ll find yourself and the world you are meant to live in.

So yes, I wasn’t finished with this crew or world when the end hit. I could have kept going. I so hope that there’s a sequel somewhere someday. Fingers crossed

Highly recommend!

Great cover!

Look at what’s coming up next!

Fortune Favors the Fae – 15 books:

✓ A Fae Coin Transported Me Into Another World and Now I’m the Gay Holy Maiden by AJ Sherwood #1

◦ The Wolf’s (Un)Lucky Fae by Michele Notaro #2 June 6

◦ Bound to the Wild Fae by Tavia Lark #3 June 13

◦ The Sorcerer’s Thief by Lee Colgin #4 – June 20, 2024

◦ The Fae Menagerie by Edie Montreaux #5 – June 27,2024

◦ Never Darling by Sam Burns #6 – July 4,2024

◦ Prince of Poison by Alice Winters #7 – July 11,2024

◦ Grave Misfortune by Nazri Noor #8 – July 18,2024

◦ Fae for Pay by Meaghan Maslow #9 – July 23,2024

◦ Kisses at the Crossroad by Morgan Lysand #10 – August 1,2024

◦ Smoke and Mirrors by Kai Butler #11 – August 8, 2024

◦ Siren in the Rain by Chloe Archer #12 – Aug 15,2024

◦ I Destroyed the Elf Prince’s Harem by Jocelynn Drake #13 – Aug 22,2024

◦ A Fae Called Wylder by Michelle Frost #14 – Aug 29,2024

◦ Lucky or Knot by Eliot Grayson #15 – September 5,2024

Buy link

A Fae Coin Transported Me Into Another World and Now I’m the Gay Holy Maiden: Fortune Favors the Fae Book 1

Blurb

What happens when you fall and hit the webtoons trope tree? You get killed by Truck-kun, get transported to a fantasy world by a sentient Fae coin, and become the first gay holy maiden.

Jake Alexander is Not Happy to be sure. Fortunately in Jake’s case, part of the trope tree includes the gorgeous Duke of the North, Theon. And starting a business from scratch, which he’s always wanted to do. And revitalizing his new country which is on the verge of collapse.

He could do without the killer miasma and corrupted kings and the singing magic and a sentient coin that doesn’t shut up, however.

Jake’s not sure if he should thank or melt the Fae coin into *ahem* something more useful.

Tags:

Fell on the trope tree and hit every branch going down, truck-kun, fae duke of the north, holy maiden, miasma threat, Jakes needs singing lessons, duke needs to take a business course, magic coin is about to be melted into a cock ring, bingo card for tropes, dragons, contracts are Jake’s love language, potato soup cures all, potatoes are friends, fourth wall who, basically I took all of the webtoon tropes and crammed them in


Gay Holy Maiden is a part of the multi-author series, Fortune Favors the Fae. From spicy to sweet, zany romps to epic adventures, there’s something for everyone in this mystical series. Discover destiny and true love and follow the coin on its fickle journey to the next world and a new magical adventure.

• Publication date: May 30, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 394 pages