It’s the holiday season, a time filled with love and cheer or whatever. December is also the busiest time of the year for so many of us. I find the holidays unbelievably stressful, and therefore the perfect time to temper all the chaos by disappearing into a good book.
Relever + Glisser by Jane Washington
I started this series in November, and was waiting for what I thought was the last book to drop before fully reviewing it. Spoiler alert, the fifth book was not, in fact, the last book. The Ironside Academy series is a why choose fantasy romance with dystopian elements that was pitched in its description as a “guilty pleasure” read. As much as I hate the term, I generally enjoy the books it describes, so I gave it a go. The most significant problem with these books is the plot. In each book, one or two major things happen and the rest just feels like filler. That in combination with the excess of indistinct main characters and excessively slow burn romantic elements makes for a frustrating read. I am not sure I would have stuck with Ironside Academy for as long as I did if I wasn’t an obsessive reader who can’t stand leaving stones unturned.
Verdict: Leave It
The Warlord Wants Forever by Kresley Cole
The Warlord Wants Forever by Kresley Cole was published in 2017, the first in what would become the bestselling paranormal romance series Immortals After Dark. It was recommended to me by my beloved book friends on Threads with promises of a fast-paced read with delectable spice. Let’s be honest, this one is here for the smut. The spicy scenes in this book are filthy and fantastic. Nikolai wants Myst so bad, and even it is fueled by some magically fated bond, it is hot as hell. The Warlord Wants Forever is a fun, dirty little speed read, and I look forward to reading the rest of the books when I need something that’s pure lighthearted entertainment.
Verdict: Love It
The Queen of the Damned Series by Kel Carter
Queen of the Damned by Kel Carpenter is a four-book paranormal romantasy why choose series that’s full of drama, with four love interests and a wonderfully mischievous tone despite the dangers the plot presents. Queen of the Damned is fast-paced, fun, and campy. If you like Tate James’ Kit Davenport Series you’ll love these books. The series got better with each book, and the ending is wonderful. This is a solid paranormal romantasy series that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Keep Me by Sara Cate is a contemporary romance featuring a broody hero, an incredibly ballsy heroine, and a marriage of convenience that’s destined for the best kind of trouble. Keep Me is so easy to sink into that it felt like I blinked and all of a sudden it was midnight and I was halfway through it. Part of this is the speedy timeline — the marriage contract lasts a year and this book spans the entire year in 300ish pages, but the other part is just how these characters and their fights suck in the reader. This book made me cry. It broke my heart and then pieced it back together in the best way, and left me thanking the romance novel gods for a guaranteed happily ever after.
Promised in Blood by Sadie Kincaid is the second in the Broken Bloodlines series, a why choose romantasy series that marks a significant departure for Kincaid, who normally writes *impeccable* mafia romances. Promised in Blood proves that regardless of genre, Kincaid’s romances always bring the heat. The tension in Promised in Blood is the best kind of torture. I was turning pages like an absolute fiend just desperate for the tension to break. The cliffhanger left readers on edge, and on March 31st, 2025 we will get to find out what happens to Ophelia and her vampires in the final book of the trilogy, Bound in Blood. I can’t wait.
Verdict: Love It
Rook and Rebel by Kate Crew
Rook and Rebel by Kate Crew is a new adult dark romance that blends classic elements that readers love into a story filled with revenge and smoking hot spice. It’s the first in an ongoing series of standalones, and it’s been getting a lot of BookTok hype. The spice is where this book shines. The chemistry between these two is on fire, and their romantic interactions are enough to make even a seasoned dark romance reader blush just a little. Because of it’s revenge themes, the catharsis at the end of this book was quite satisfying. Rook and Rebel is a classic dark romance with gang vibes that’s a fun read that’s super easy to get through. If you’re a fan of the dark romance formula, you’ll love Rook and Rebel.
Verdict: Love It
Phantasma by Kaylie Smith
Phantasma by Kaylie Smith has been on my to-be-read list since its September release, and I am kicking myself for waiting this long to dive into this atmospheric, Gothic tale. This book is a spectacular romantasy, with mental health representation, stunning characters, and a plot that will keep you turning pages with a definite hunger. The premise of Phantasma is spectacular. It has a matriarchal family of necromancers, a haunted house, and a sexy ghost. What more could a girl want? The Devil’s House, where the Phantasma competition takes place, is an atmospheric setting steeped in danger and drama, and it’s absolutely perfect. Phantasma features lots of action and danger, with a hell of a twist ending. There is no cliffhanger at the end, but instead, a complete story that is equal parts tragic and heartwarming, spicy and engaging.
Verdict: Love It
Born In Fire by Nora Roberts
Born in Fire is an interesting look at how the romance genre has evolved in the last thirty years. I can see why Nora Roberts was the preeminent romance author of her day. While it’s not necessarily for me, her writing is undeniably beautiful, and this love story is classic, filled with passion and banter and a gorgeous setting.
Verdict: Leave It
Gothikana by RuNyx
Gothikana by RuNyx has been making the rounds on social media amongst dark romance fans since its original publication in 2021. It’s since been re-edited from its self-published version and put out under a new publisher, thanks to its viral popularity. The biggest draw of Gothikana is the dark academia vibes of the story. The castle makes for a wonderful setting, equal parts creepy and gorgeous. Everything from the character descriptions to the events of the plot screams dark academia. At the end of this book, there is an intense, heart-stopping climax, but readers are left with several important unanswered questions. This is a perfectly valid writing choice, but one that I absolutely despise in a standalone novel. As much as this frustrated me, I still really enjoyed reading Gothikana.
Verdict: Love It
North is the Night by Emily Rath
North is the Night by Emily Rath is the first book in a fantasy duet inspired by Finnish myth and folklore. This book is a significant departure from Rath’s previous work with ultra-spicy contemporary romances, so readers might be surprised by what they find in this beautiful fairytale. The only reason North is the Night wasn’t on The Nora Theory’s best books of 2024 list is because I didn’t finish it in time. This book is a beautifully well-written story with incredible characters and a phenomenal world. It just might make you cry, but this book is worth the tears.
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