Tag: enemy-to-lovers

Review: Web of Vows and Vengeance: (The Hirathean Path Book 1) by Aria Ashbrook

Rating: 4.5⭐️

I believe this was a BookTok read that went viral when it first appeared. It’s Aria Ashbrook’s first series and story and it’s actually a very terrific story. 

Novels one through three are released, so it’s easy to binge read right through all the events that happen to the main characters and the magical foundation that the author is creating. 

A word of caution, Ashbrook crafts meaningful relationships between her characters that come to mean something to the reader. That will also bring about some heartbreaking moments and scenarios because she’s also not afraid to do away with important characters if she thinks that the narrative calls for it. 

That’s a clue. 

People who the reader has come to care about won’t make it through to the end of the story. This one or the next. And it will break your heart. 

The types of magic is a major storyline that continues throughout the series, even the mystery of the lack of is part of it. There’s even a found family aspect to this that I love even more. 

I wasn’t prepared for this to get as complicated as Ashbrook builds it into as it develops, something I appreciated. 

The relationship I feel worked against that was with both her sister and the prince. In both cases, an aspect of naïveté from Rose, someone who dealt in the slums and survived being stripped of her magic, felt unrealistic. 

For Rose, a person who has suffered unimaginable loss, physical deprivation, been orphaned, there’s instances during the trials where her personality seems stripped of those experiences. It robs her of character reasonable depth and gives her less credibility. 

But then again there’s moments where she’s fighting for herself and her new friends, trying to figure out how to win without any powers, and it’s fantastic. 

Prince Kyor? He’s the lesser well written character here. It does get somewhat better.However, he’s the standard over jealous, over protective, over everything male figure who wants to control everything, including not letting her make her own decisions. So over these types of MMC . 

There’s LGBT characters/couples here. But , with spoilers for this, each couple ends badly, starting with one here. I found this aspect of the series surprising. I wonder if there’s a longer path forward for them. 

I’m highly recommending this. I’ve read through the series and am having to wait for book 4 next spring. 

Cover design by Christian Bentulan.

The Hirathean Path:

Veil of Web and Ruin – prequel 

Web of Vows and Vengeance #1

Vows of Blood and Deception #2

Blood of Truth and Traitors #3

Truth of Fate and Destiny #4 – May 5,2027

Buy link

 Book 1 of 4: The Hirathean Path 

Blurb 

THE BOOKTOK ROMANTASY READERS CAN’T STOP TALKING ABOUT

A viral BookTok sensation featuring deadly trials, divine magic, a bonded dire wolf, and an unforgettable enemies-to-lovers romance.

Perfect for fans of Fourth Wing, The Serpent and the Wings of Night, and Throne of Glass.

“They say vengeance is a blade best kept sharp, and my dagger has been honed with every betrayal.”

BOOKTOK IS OBSESSED:
“This will be the next book to blow up on BookTok. I don’t say that lightly.” — Miranda @Probably Off Reading
“For the BookTok girlies in a reading slump, I raise you Web of Vows and Vengeance.” — Jaimee Johnson @thtgrlreads
“Giving Fourth Wing vibes… I could not put this book down.” — Kaila Anttila @Kaila.books

TROPES:

  • Enemies to Lovers
  • Deadly Trials
  • Slow-Burn Romance
  • Underdog Heroine
  • Brooding Royal MMC
  • Forced Proximity
  • Gods & Goddesses

STRIPPED OF POWER. FUELLED BY VENGEANCE.

She lost everything because of his lie. Now the only way to save her sister is to win a deadly competition that could cost her the only thing she has left: her life.

When Prince Kyor twisted the truth about his mother’s death, Rose paid the price. Her family was stripped of their magic, cast into the slums, and abandoned by the kingdom they once served. Now her parents are gone, and her younger sister’s future hangs in the balance.

Rose’s only hope is the Tournament of the Gifting, a brutal competition held once a century, where the victor earns a blessing from the Goddess of Life. The catch? Every other contender wields the very power she was robbed of.

And Prince Kyor is among them. Commander of the armies. Rider of a bonded dire wolf. Wielder of lightning. He doesn’t just want to win for vanity – he wants the gift for himself. But what could a man who has it all possibly want?

Thrown into a world of magic, monsters, and merciless trials, Rose must fight not only for survival but for the chance to reclaim her future. Along the way, she’ll find unlikely allies, ruthless rivals, and a dangerous connection with her greatest enemy – one that could ruin or remake her.

Web of Vows and Vengeance is a dark, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romantasy, set in a Nordic-inspired world, featuring deadly trials, found family, gods and goddesses, political intrigue, and an underdog heroine who refuses to stay broken.

This is a story of heartbreak, vengeance, and the kind of power that can never be taken.

AWARD-WINNING ROMANTASY:

Best Fantasy — Independent Publisher Book Awards 2026

Best Fantasy Romance — BookFest Awards 2026

Best Fantasy Read — Pascify Con Awards 2026

Hellhound Press Limited

Publication date

February 27, 2026

Accessibility

Learn more

Language

‎English

File size

6.7 MB

Screen Reader

Supported

Enhanced typesetting

Enabled

X-Ray

Not Enabled

Word Wise

Enabled

Print length

542 pages

ISBN-13

978-1916833630

Page Flip

Enabled

Book 1 of 4

The Hirathean Path

Review:  Possessive Puckboy (Puckboys Book 8) by Eden Finley, Saxon James

Rating: 4.25🌈

Possessive Puckboy is Connor Kikishkin’s redemption story. He’s been a secondary character to his brothers books and a problematic one at that.  One of the four Kiki hockey players, Connor’s the one who has been the most controlling of his brothers lives, personal and professional. He’s come off as a bully and a bit of a homophobe. 

It got to the point in the last book that his brother, Easton and his best friend, Knox, hid their relationship and Easton who plays on the same NHL team, Colorado, now wants a transfer out. 

The beginning of Possessive Puckboy has a man who was horribly bullied in the same high school as the Kiki siblings by the football players buying the hockey team. 

 This is a true enemy to lovers, reformed bully, secret relationship, bi-awakening journey story.  There’s even more elements here packed into dense emotional baggage stated above. Deep family expectations, self awareness and realization, and one thing I thought should have been talked about more clearly, rage management.  

But there was already a lot narratively on the table here for the authors to explore with their characters. 

The relationship between gay IT billionaire/owner Parker Duchene, the man who was horribly bullied in high school, and the straight Connor Kikishkin, the jock who stood by and did nothing, is a very engaging one. It’s tough, hilarious in parts, emotional and smartly executed.

Connor is a mess. So to have him immediately improve is unlikely. And he doesn’t. 

It messes with his head as well as his game. And his other relationships and team dynamics.  As it should.

Parker too is slow to find his way as an owner, making plenty of mistakes. 

 All those aspects of the story really work together to bring a believable sense of a growing relationship. 

What I missed was the authors exploring how Connor reached the stage where he was so rigid in his own life and outlook that he was drowning in it.  That the lack of empathy and communication between him and his family, his parents who pushed him into the role and kept him there, and his siblings who didn’t talk to him enough to make him understand, none of that is really covered.

Instead it’s a quick conversation and done.  Which really removes an entire accountability and aspect of reality to his own redemption arc. 

Anyway I enjoyed this, and it’s onto Stubborn Puckboy , where a certain new Russian character we just met gets his own romance. I’m looking forward to seeing more of him!

Check this one out!

“Cover Illustration Copyright © Story Styling Cover Designs Photography by Wander Aguiar

Puckboys:

  • Egotistical Puckboy #1
  • Irresponsible Puckboy #2
  • Shameless Puckboy #3
  • Foolish Puckboy #4
  • Clueless Puckboy #5
  • Bromantic Puckboy #6
  • Forbidden Puckboy #7
  • Possessive Puckboy #8
  • Stubborn Puckboy #9 – July 31,2025

Buy link

        Possessive Puckboy (Puckboys Book 8)

    

Blurb 

Connor

Finding out those closest to me don’t see me as the great guy I think I am not only kicks me in the gut, it makes me question everything.

Until that happened, I didn’t think I had many regrets in my life. Now, I have nothing but regrets. And when my NHL team is bought out, and the new owner makes his presence known, my existential crisis kicks up a notch. Because he might be my biggest regret of all.

Parker Duchene.

I made his life a living hell in high school, and now he’s inserting himself into my career to repay the favor.

With everything in my personal life already on the line, I can’t risk hockey too. I need to figure out a way to play nice with the new owner.

Parker

I bought Colorado’s NHL team to honor my late father. I did. Only reason.

Emotionally playing with one of my many high school tormentors is a nice bonus though.

Connor Kikishkin may be the one who made me the target for years of name-calling, but I’ve always wondered if my hatred for him bordered too much on the obsessive side to truly be classified as hate.

Infatuation is probably the right word for it.

Now his whole life is in my hands, and I can’t wait to see him beg for my mercy. Seeing Mr. Popular find his humility will definitely ease the grief from losing my dad … right? Because right now, that’s all I have, and I need to hold on to it so I don’t crumble.

  • Publisher: Sadenverse Books (March 27, 2025)
  • Publication date: March 27, 2025
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 308 pages

A Lila Review: By Fairy Means or Foul: A Starfig Investigations Novel by Meghan Maslow

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

The last thing half-dragon, half-fairy private investigator Twig Starfig wants to do is retrieve a stolen enchanted horn from a treacherous fae, but there’s no denying the dazzlingly gorgeous unicorn who asks Twig to do just that. Literally, no denying, because compelling the reluctant detective is all part of a unicorn’s seductive magic.

To add to his woes, Twig is saddled with the unicorn’s cheeky indentured servant, Quinn Broomsparkle. Dragons are supposed to want to eat humans, but Twig’s half-dragon side only wants to gobble up Quinn in a more . . . personal way. Making matters worse, it’s obvious the smokin’ hot but untrustworthy sidekick is hiding something. Something big. And not what’s in his trousers. In the PI business, that means trouble with a capital Q.

Throw in gads of zombies, a creepy ghost pirate ship, a malfunctioning magic carpet, and Twig’s overbearing fairy father’s demands to live up to the illustrious Starfig name. Naturally, an old but abiding enemy chooses this time to resurface, too. Those inconveniences Twig can handle. The realization he’s falling for a human who isn’t free to return his affections and whose life may hang on the success of his latest case?

By Fairy Means or Foul was a nice surprise. I don’t read fantasy often, but the blurb for this story sounded interesting, and the author delivered. This isn’t your typical story. The mix of humor and dark moments make the story fun, and inviting.

Yes, the story is over the top but it goes with the characters, the settings, and the plot. Everything works together and the world-build enhances it. The author’s imagination brings to life a series of worlds within the main one that entice the reader to read one more page.

The main characters complemented each other and their differences help them in their journey. Quinn’s and Twig’s relationship is slow coming and their enemy-to-lovers arc is well written. Perhaps, a little less information would have made this story great.

The cover by Lou Harper fits the fantasy category and give us our first view of Twig and some of the worlds. .

Sale Links: Amazon

ebook, 280 pages
Published: September 29, 2017, by Meghan Maslow
ASIN: B074M4WNTV
Edition Language: English