katvou's reviews
517 reviews

Great second book in the Shadows of the Crown series. Continues to follow Ariella Mistaire, the feared Silver Wraith, and her unlikely ally, Prince Caspian.

There was once again a lot happening, including great world building and this book also delved deeper into the magic system, the essence, and how it works.

I really enjoyed learning more about Caspian as a character. Ariella continued to be a strong and fierce FMC, and I loved how she started to trust Caspian and let him in a bit more. The relationship development between them was great, and they definitely have chemistry!

Loved having the recap of book 1 at the beginning. And the character art throughout the book was beautiful.

I have so many questions, and I can’t wait to read book 3!


“I will be his undoing and gladly introduce my blade to any who thinks they can stop me.”
“The prince won’t save you. Actually, look in his direction again and I will rip your throat out with my teeth and fuck him in your blood.”
“Let’s just say I have a vested interest in keeping you alive. Besides, you’re far too beautiful to lose so soon.”
“Are you always so difficult to work with? Or am I just special?”


I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review. Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book.

Amazing second book in The Isle of Aestus series.

The characters and world in this series are so well developed, and I really enjoy the unique magic system.

Billie continued to be a great FMC. Her past wasn’t an easy one, and at times she was clearly struggling, but she stayed strong. I loved the friendships and relationship development between her and the other characters. The relationships in this book were complex, kind of a love triangle at times, and also had friends to lovers and enemies to lovers dynamics.

Once again, there was a lot happening, both with the characters and with the ongoing conflicts and looming war. I loved learning more about the characters and the world.

Can’t wait to read the next book!


“My body said yes. My brain said run. My heart said, ‘Billie, you masochistic fuck.’”
“I wasn’t built for this world. I wasn’t built for any world.”
“We can’t control what is written in the darkness.”
“This wasn’t something you practised, because trial and error would only end in permanent error.”


I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review. Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book.

I really wanted to like this book, I enjoy dark mafia romances and the blurb of this one sounded great.

The book started strongly, and the storyline felt promising, but unfortunately the execution wasn’t quite what I was hoping for, and I didn’t enjoy the relationship between the FMC and MMC. The MMC was hot and cold toward her, seeing her one night and then forgetting about her for weeks while the FMC was pining for him. In my opinion, there wasn’t that much character growth and toward the end I was just annoyed with the main characters and more interested in the side characters.

Also, the plot was quite basic and it was easy to guess what was going to happen. Worked as a palate cleanser, but not something I would pick up and read again.

Thank you NetGalley & Kensington Publishing for the ARC. Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book.

Second book in the first duology of The Curse of Silver Secrets and Cruel Shadows series. Continues right after A Crown of Tears and Treason ends and completes Evie & Zandyr’s story.

Like the first book, this one was full of action from the beginning to the end. I liked Evie as the FMC in the first book and I continued to like her in this one too. She was grieving and angry, and I liked how she didn’t just immediately forgive Zandyr for what he did.

The main characters were apart for most of the book, but I liked how they were still able to communicate in their dreams. I would have loved to see them working together a bit more.


“As long as a heart kept beating, who cared how broken it was?”
“Why did you make me fall in love with you, only to betray me?”
“I leave for one day and you’re already dancing with death?”


I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review. Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book.

Short and fast-paced dark romance centered around getting revenge.

The main characters, Maximo and Julia, had instant attraction. I enjoyed their chemistry and the spice between them really was spicing. Loved how Julia accepted Maximo for who he was.

There was a lot happening, and I couldn’t put the book down. I would love to read more about these characters in the future.


“Max, can we just kill him already? I have Love Actually to get home to.”
“If I wasn’t in trouble with losing my heart to this man before, I most definitely am now.”
“I’ve never been so free with anyone in all my life.”


I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review. Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book.

Second book in the Sorcery and Sacrifice series. This book takes place before book 1 and can be read as a standalone but I would recommend reading book 1 first.

The competition aspect was interesting, filled with different types of trials, magical creatures, a unique magic system, secrets, and some mean girl drama between the contestants.

The FMC was strong and fierce, and always ready to do what was right, not caring what others thought.

At times, I was a bit frustrated with the MMC and how easily he listened to his father’s wishes instead of taking matters into his own hands and doing what he wanted.

Can’t wait to read the 3rd book in the series.


“You are my safe place. I never want to leave.”
“I don’t regret my choices. Everything I’ve ever done, every mistake I made, everything I wished wouldn’t happen that happened anyway, led me to you. So I’ll no longer lament my past. I’ll no longer anger at the things that happened beyond my control.”



I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review. Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book.

Cinderella inspired fantasy romance with fae, forbidden love and dangerous bargains.

I have mixed feelings about this book. There were some parts I enjoyed, but also some parts that threw me off a little bit.

I liked Raewyn as a main character. She was independent and fierce and clearly had a hard life. Stellon, on the other hand, was unfortunately a bit boring. I liked him at the beginning of the book, but got frustrated with him (and how he didn’t realize who Raewyn was) towards the end. Pharis seemed like an interesting character with more spark and I would love to learn more about him.

The relationship between Raevyn and Stellon is described as enemies to lovers and slow burn, but they never really were enemies and their relationship was more like an insta-love.

Thank you NetGalley & Xpresso Book Tours for the ARC! Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book.

The chemistry and dynamics between the three main characters were great, and I loved how Dakota and Ronan were like two sides of the same coin in Logan’s eyes. The three of them complemented each other perfectly.

They all had difficult and traumatic pasts, and I liked how they were able to help each other heal.

I loved Buff. His comments and monologues were so funny at times, and I liked how he was there for Ronan when he needed him.


“I have a way of ruining things for myself. Call it a special talent.”
“What can I say? The tortured poets get me every time.”
“Maybe I’m making this whole thing up. Because in what world are two Greek gods sitting on my couch arguing about the dictionary like they didn’t break in, tie me up, and threaten me?”
“In that moment, nothing is okay, and everything is okay all at the same time. Life isn’t fair, but it’s also so, so beautiful.”


I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review. Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book.

Short, fast-paced, and spicy dark monster romance featuring a human FMC and twin wolf MMCs (one with a double 🍆) who enjoy sharing.

I loved Eloise as a character, she was fun and sassy, and her inner monologue made me laugh.

Check the TW/CW before reading!


“Maybe it was the years I dedicated to reading monster smut, but I felt prepared for this moment.”
“This was wrong. But, oh, how my dark romance heart swooned.”
“Here I am between two monsters as they fight over me like a piece of meat. All while ignoring me.”


I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review. Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book.