Can't Wait Wednesday #234

 

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Lies, beauty, and seduction mingle in the first book of an enthralling romantasy series where making art is considered a sin, and the shadows born from it aren't the only danger to the creators—from the bestselling author of Curse of the Wolf King .

From the art of liars, the monsters came…

Ever since art gave life to bloodthirsty shadows, creative works have been forbidden and the talented creators sacrificed to the Sinless—the immortal royals who feast on human blood in return for their protection.

Inana’s secret storytelling nearly got her killed once, and she’ll be damned if she’s ever caught again. With a bounty on her head, she keeps to the city’s dark underbelly where she earns a meager living from thrill-seeking patrons desperate to hear her illicit fiction. Until Dominic, a Shadowbane, catches one of her performances. . .

Dominic is a half-Sinless monster hunter as fearsome as his prey. But to complete his hunt, he needs an artist to summon the shadows . . . he needs Inana. Dominic delivers an ultimatum: serve him or he’ll claim her bounty. When survival is all Inana has left, the choice is clear. At least until she can betray him and leave him for dead.

As their tense alliance leads them into the heart of danger, dark secrets unravel—about each other, their world, and the threats they face. But the greatest risk of all is the desire growing between them. There’s something more sinful than lust at play, and it could bring the world to its knees.

I'm still trying to make my way through most of Tessonja's backlist but I am super excited for this one! She's even coming to my city on tour, so I will FINALLY get to meet her!

TITLE: The Lies That Summon the Night
AUTHOR: Tessonja Odette
PUBLISHER: Delacorte Press
GENRE: Fantasy Romance
RELEASE DATE: February 17, 2026

DANGER, DESIRE, AND KINGDOMS ON THE BRINK OF WAR.

Enter a world of secrets, betrayal, and high-stakes action in this sizzling, slow burn romantasy from USA Today bestselling author Amanda Bouchet.

A woman searching for answers.
Idallia has been serving in the Dragon King’s Elite Wing of dragon shifters for nearly two hundred years. She doesn’t have fire or flight of her own, but she’s a phoenix rider with enough speed and skill to make her enemies think twice about tangling with her or her warbirds.

Centuries of life without knowing who or what you are is complicated enough without harboring a growing secret attraction, but the more time Idallia spends with Bale Cinderheart, the harder it is to stay away from the fiercely protective Dragon King. Dominant, intense…and the one man with the power to ruin everything.

A king safeguarding his treasures.
Bale has centuries of ruling under his scales and more responsibilities than he has fangs. His greatest triumph is his Elite Wing and their warbirds, but his biggest fear is losing them. Especially Idallia. She’s his forbidden desire and the one person he can’t seem to let go of—even for his own good.

While the man in him guards his heart as relentlessly as the dragon in him guards his kingdom, he's also the keeper of the answers Idallia has been seeking her whole life. Revealing the truth now could cost him everything—his home, his crown, his heart…

The threat of war looms as magic fades from the world of Ellonrift. Will the Dragon King preserve the fragile peace between the kingdoms? Or burn it all down, for her…

Loved Amanda's previous series...which I still need to read those last two spinoffs from the main trilogy. So I was excited to learn she was writing a new one and self-publishing at that! Cannot wait to read it!

TITLE: The Light Under the Shadow Wing
AUTHOR: Amanda Bouchet
PUBLISHER: Self
GENRE: Fantasy Romance
RELEASE DATE: February 23, 2026

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Purple Princess of The Purple Booker. 

Here are the rules:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a page
3. Pick out 2 lines that are SPOILER FREE
4. Name the title, author, etc.

"What a shame reality must color what was once a lovely fantasy. 

But I shouldn't dream of him anymore." p 74

TITLE: A Dream So Wicked
AUTHOR: Tessonja Odette
PUBLISHER: Crystal Moon Press
GENRE: Fantasy
RELEASE DATE: June 30, 2023

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and The Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

This week's topic is: Top Ten Books Featuring Spooky (& 2 Pretty) Typography

*in no particular order

10. KILLER HOUSE PARTY by Lily Anderson--always love the jagged letters for a thriller!
9. BLOOD ON HER TONGUE by Johanna van Veen--love the extra flair the first letters get on this one!
8. EMILY WILDE'S ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF FAERIES by Heather Fawcett--just pretty script!

7. FANG FICTION by Kate Stayman-London--you see it right?
6. I'LL BE WAITING by Kelley Armstrong--love the creepy vibe of the text!
5. THE CHANGING MAN by Tomi Oyemakinde--it's hard to see in this pic, but the text is find of fuzzy like which gives off its own creepy vibe when you look at that cover!

4. DEAD GIRLS ARE EASY by Terri Garey--more fun spooky text!

3. LAST OF HER NAME by Jessica Khoury--I mean this is just cool! 

2. I AM THE DARK THAT ANSWERS WHEN YOU CALL by Jamison Shea--needless to say the spooky books get the cool text!

1. CARAVAL by Stephanie Garber--you knew this one was coming, right? Lol. Love the extra swirl from the letter ends!

January Wrap-up

So since I'm not joining any challenges officially, I still have the habit of wanting to do a monthly wrap-up of all my book reviews and posts for the month! So I figure I'll just share them all anyway!

ARC Reads:

Beth is Dead by Katie Bernet (1/6/26)
The Girls Before by Kate Alice Marshall (2/24/26)--Review to come next month!

New Release Reads:

Roots of Darkness by Demi Winters (1/6/26)--I think this might have released originally as an e-novella as Goodreads had two dates, but since I read the physical copy I'm just calling it a new release to ease my brain! Lol.

TBR Reads:

The Road of Bones by Demi Winters (6/27/23)
Kingdom of Claw by Demi Winters (2/21/24)
A Taste of Poison by Tessonja Odette (8/10/22)

I read a total of 6 books last month! Not too shabby since 2 of them were 500+ and 2 others were 400+!

Other Posts:

2025 End of the Year Survey
2026 Challenge
17th Blogoversary

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It's a fun meme where we gather to share what we've read last week and our reading plans for this week.

Last Week I Read:

A Taste of Poison by Tessonja Odette (4.5 stars)

Currently Reading:

A Dream So Wicked by Tessonja Odette

What I Plan to Read Next:

We Won't All Survive by Kate Alice Marshall

Other Posts of Interest:

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays
Can't Wait Wednesday #233
Books from the Backlog #172
17th Blogoversary Post
Book Blogger Hop #396
Stacking the Shelves

Stacking the Shelves

 

Stacking the Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts, and of course ebooks! The meme is now hosted by Reading Reality.

Another week done and wow, January is over! 1 month down, 11 to go! Lol. Not really counting down to anything just yet. I do have one book event trip planned for this summer but other than a few more signings for this spring, I don't have any plans. I actually don't have anything planned for March yet and I really hope something pops up! Last year was the first year where I attended at least 1 signing each month and that was just WOW! I do have one signing to attend this week and it's for authors I've never met before so I am excited! The first meeting is always the best! Although the 5th...7th or so time when they remember me is also the best! Lol.

Here's what I got this week:

Sparking Fire Out of Fate by Brigid Kemmerer
King of Ravens by Clare Sager
Silver & Blood by Jessie Milhalik
The Wolf and the Crown of Blood by Elizabeth May
Lost Girls of Hollow Lake by Rebekah Faubion

And that was it for me this week! What all did you get?

Book Blogger Hop #396

 

This meme is hosted by Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addict!

This week's question is: Do you struggle to start a new read after finishing a truly amazing one? (submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews)

MY ANSWER: Not really. I never really had a book hangover. Yes, I've read amazingly great reads but I always felt like my next one could be just as amazing or even better, so it's like, read faster so we can get to the next book (be it in the same series or something different!)!

Review--A Taste of Poison by Tessonja Odette

A Snow White Retelling

A runaway princess wanted for murder.
A deadly huntsman who’s after her heart…

Half-fae Astrid Snow is used to being disliked. With magic that makes her mirror back one’s worst qualities, she has more enemies than friends. And when she’s accused of poisoning her father, her stepmother—the formidable Spring Queen—becomes her greatest enemy yet. Forced into hiding, she finds solace at the Seven Sins Hotel. It provides the perfect subterfuge she needs. For who could ever find an outlaw in a hotel famed for sin?

Bear shifter Torben Davenport lost everything to the gambling halls. To pay off his debts, he serves the fae royals as their personal Huntsman, locating hard-to-find fugitives with his scent-based magic. When the Spring Queen offers him a bargain that will erase his debts for good, he’s willing to do what it takes—even if it means finding the queen’s runaway stepdaughter and cutting out her heart.

Astrid won’t go down without a fight, even if her assailant is a strikingly handsome Huntsman. If she can evade the bear-shifter’s claws, maybe she can make him an ally. It’s easier said than done, especially after she accidentally gets herself handcuffed to her infuriating captor.

Can Astrid cut through Torben’s icy demeanor and convince him to help her find the real killer? Or will she lose her heart in more ways than one?

ACOTAR meets Kingdom of the Wicked in this standalone fairytale retelling of Snow White. If you like brooding heroes, just one bed, and grumpy sunshine romances, then you’ll love this swoon-worthy story in the Entangled with Fae series.

*NOTE this book is upper YA/NA featuring mature situations, moderate violence and gore, substance abuse, and some adult language. The romance is slow burn but leads to moderate steam.

A Taste of Poison is a complete stand-alone novel set in the same world as The Fair Isle Trilogy. Journey back to Faerwyvae or begin your adventure for the first time with this enchanting tale. Each book in the Entangled with Fae series can be read on its own and in any order. Happily ever after guaranteed!

Finally diving back into Tessonja Odette's Entangled with Fae series in which each standalone book is a fairy tale retelling! The books all take place in the same world and characters from other books interact, so this is a fun series to read at any pace! A Taste of Poison, as you probably guessed, is a Snow White retelling and was a sensational read!

Astrid Snow is on the run and in hiding. She's been accused of murdering her father by her stepmother, the queen and Astrid has been trying to stay under the radar. But then the queen hires the Huntsman. Torben is a young man who made poor gambling choices and is now indebted to the fae royals as their hunter. He basically does whatever he's told as part of their 100 year agreement. After that time, he would be a free man. Then Astrid's stepmother, Tris, agrees to get his punishment lifted if he brings her Astrid's heart.

When the two collide, Astrid tries to plea her case that she's innocent and when she tells him her side of the story, Torben finds that he believes her. Now the two must work together to figure out who would've wanted to kill the king.

There were quite a few nods to the original Snow White fairy tale in this one that were fun to find! Plus the rest that was added all gives way to the fairy tale vibes. If you've read any of Tessonja's other books in this series, you'll know what I mean. There's a certain kind of magic to these books and the world the characters live in and it's so fun to return to time and again! I still must venture back to the very beginning and read the first trilogy that set this series on its course!

I love the edgy modern take fairy tale retellings are going these days. We have heroes becoming the villain, the villain being the hero and getting the girl...it makes for great reading material that's for sure! So naturally, the romance that develops between Snow White and the huntsman was positively toe curling. Astrid and Torben didn't have the insta love vibes like you normally get in fairy tales, but more of an adversaries turned reluctant allies to something more and it was beautiful!

There's a bit of mystery involved in this one with the true whodunit! There were definitely some twists I did not see coming and it was jaw-dropping! This book was just filled with surprises! Of course it all leads up to its heartwarmingly happily ever after, for as we know, that's how fairy tales end!

The ending was sweet and nice and felt fitting to the story. I have one last Entangled with Fae fairy tale to read and I am sadden by its end, but remind myself there's still more to come from this world...I just have to go backwards! Lol. If you're looking for a fairy tale retelling with actual faeries involved, then be sure to pick this series up! You can truly pick any of these retellings up in whichever order, your only spoiler will be knowing the names of previous couples, but it's kind of a given if you look at each of the books beforehand! 

Overall Rating 4.5/5 stars

 

17th Blogoversary Post

(image borrowed from PBL Works)

Wow. 17 years ago today I decided to start a book blog on a whim in hopes to win an ARC of a book I desperately wanted to read. I guess one can say luckily I didn’t win because whooo boy did that book end with a cliffhanger! A devastating one and eek! To think I would’ve added a few extra months to my wait for the following book! Dodged a bullet; gained a blog! 

Having blogged for soooo many years one might wonder why I still do it? I feel like the hype has long since died. Trends have changed. Social media has taken over. People apparently want less when searching for new books. Pretty covers and edges are enough. 

But me? I still want to know more about the book other than it was great! All social media reviews are positive because sponsors don’t want you promoting negatively or so-so-ly. All perfectly understandable but it’s also why I will never turn to bookstagram for recs. If we’re just giving bullet points on the tropes involved with a book; is it really giving any kind of opinion?

Sure I’ll skim the description to see if there’s more. I’ve read one or two reviews this way and it helps…but at the same time it’s just not the same. I hate having to type out long posts on my phone. I hate trying to type out a long comment on my phone. I basically hate typing on my phone! Lol. Yes, I can access Instagram on a laptop but ironically it’s not as convenient.

Basically that’s a loooong winded answer to say I’m still old school tech. Lol. I like sharing my thoughts in detail. Everything I would want to know about a book I was interested in reading I’ll include in my review such as plot, characters, pacing, world building, the romance…what worked or didn’t work for me.

As you can imagine Instagram posts would not like me! Lol. Too much to say and not enough characters to use!

I still like trying to take creative photos of books. I’ve got boxes and totes just filled with fun props that I always remember why I bought them. It was usually with a specific book in mind but having the potential for future use as well!

So I’m an oldie playing at a young man’s game. But I still roll at it. Why? Because I’m stubborn. Lol. When there’s something I like doing I do it no matter how “weird” or whatever outdated like adjective you want to use, it is! One should always do what they love no matter what anybody says…you know pending that it’s legal and harms none.

If you’ve stuck with me for this long ramble, thank you! Needless to say I’m not going anywhere. I love blogging and I love my little bookstagram account even though insta’s algorithm will forever bury me. If you dig deep enough into the chaos you’ll always find me there!

Books from the Backlog #172

 

Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread.  If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks. This is a fun meme hosted by Carole's Random Life in Books!

Ever since the debacle of the Chess Queen Enigma, Mina Holmes and Evaline Stoker have laid low, trying to settle back into their quiet lives as young ladies of London. But the Holmesian deductive abilities won't remain dormant for long, and when Mina receives a strange package from a winged, midnight visitor, she is catapulted into a new, dangerous adventure: the search for The Carnelian Crow.

Meanwhile, Evaline has received some very disturbing news--news that will change her life forever. Along with that unpleasant knowledge is the strange disappearance of her nemesis, the disreputable pickpocket Pix.

When it becomes clear the arch-villainess the Ankh has made her next move, it will take all of Mina's Holmesian ingenuity and Evaline's courage and determination to stop the criminal from executing her boldest and most dangerous plan yet!

I added Colleen Gleason's The Carnelian Crow to my TBR pile in July of 2017 as it was a series I was reading at that time and was enjoying! I mean descendants of Bram Stoke and Sherlock Holmes working together and solving mysteries! How could I not be interested?! Lol. Still need to circle back around and finish the series one day. 

Can't Wait Wednesday #233

 

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine.

From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the House of Night series Kristin Cast comes a spicy and spellbinding light romantasy filled with tarot, banter, steamy tension, and a heroine caught between her toxic ex and a dangerously charming king who may not be who he seems.

Gemma Summers is broke, burnt out, and about three weeks from moving back in with her parents. Her career has imploded, her confidence is circling the drain, and the last thing she needs is a run in with Alder Hawke—the dangerously charming ex who still haunts her dreams and could buy her a new life with just his pocket change.

When a magickal tarot card sends them spiraling—literally—into another realm and they land in the steampunk inspired Kingdom of Cups, Gemma is forced to rely on the man who shattered her trust, broke her heart, and somehow still makes her weak in the knees.

But survival in the world of Towerfall is anything but simple, especially when she's caught between the ex who wants to own her and a roguish former king who sees through every one of her defenses.

With secrets mounting, identities unraveling, and her heart very much on the line, Gemma must decide: will she cling to the version of herself she built in the real world… or risk everything to become the woman she was always meant to be?

One enchanted tarot card. Two infuriatingly hot men. And a modern woman who refuses to be anyone's damsel.

I still need to read the first book but the series holds promise! I know it won't be like Kresley Cole's Arcana Chronicles, but I am all for the Tarot vibe!

TITLE: The Lovers
AUTHOR: Kristin Cast
PUBLISHER: Bloom Books
GENRE: Fantasy Romance
RELEASE DATE: February 10, 2026

New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong continues the atmospheric Haven's Rock series as Casey Duncan investigates a threat to their off-the-grid Yukon town.

Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, are entering a new chapter of life as parents to their six-month-old baby. Their family is hidden away in the sanctuary town of Haven's Rock where they can live safe and private lives. But when they encounter hikers too close to the borders of Haven's Rock, they realize they're in danger of being exposed.

When they find one of the hikers dead the next day, they realize that their paranoia was justified, but they're no closer to finding out who these people were and what they were doing in the vicinity of Haven's Rock. Only by tracing the hikers' movements, as well as examining the recent behavior of their closest neighbors, the workers of a secretive mining camp, will they be able to figure out where the threat is coming from and shut it down. Otherwise, the lives of everyone in Haven's Rock--and their safe, secure new existence--are at risk.

I am once again behind in the series! No surprise there! I think I had thought I could read the last book last year, but alas, that did not pan out!

TITLE: First Sign of Danger
AUTHOR: Kelley Armstrong
PUBLISHER: Minotaur Books
GENRE: Mystery
RELEASE DATE: February 17, 2026

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays

 

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Purple Princess of The Purple Booker. 

Here are the rules:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a page
3. Pick out 2 lines that are SPOILER FREE
4. Name the title, author, etc.

"The creature assesses me for a silent moment. When he speaks, his tone takes on a curious quality. 'Yes, we are similar, aren't we? You are fearless. Dangerous.'" p 5

TITLE: A Taste of Poison
AUTHOR: Tessonja Odette
PUBLISHER: Crystal Moon Press
GENRE: Fantasy
RELEASE DATE: August 10, 2022

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and The Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

This week's topic is: Top 10 Bookish Discoveries I Made in 2025 aka Top 10 New to Me Authors I Discovered

*in no particular order

10. RORY POWER--Not a new new author, but I finally picked up one of her books last year and I LOVED this one! Definitely plan to go back and pick up another if it's a twisty thriller like this one!
9. C.J. BURRIGHT--a debut author but oh wow, this book was AWE-SOME!
8. ROMINA GARBER--I had one of her older books on my TBR from a book box, but it was her vampire book that released last year that I picked up first because VAMPIRES!

7. JORDAN STEPHANIE GRAY--a debut author but I had started following her on Instagram fairly early last year or maybe late 2024...can't remember but as soon as I heard about this book I HAD TO HAVE IT! It was AMAZING!
6. K.A. LINDE--this one my sister mentioned to me, although I can't remember if she read it or just had it on her list and I sort of spontaneously bought it one day!
5. BRIAR BOLEYN--another recommendation from my sister, I believe. Binged the first two books and was like whoa!

4. DANI FRANCIS--another debut but when I basically heard it was dystopian for adults a la Divergent, I was in!
3. BRITNEY S. LEWIS--another non-debut but I love me a good werewolf book!
2. MEGAN LALLY--another non-debut that I finally read last year and after I read this one I immediately bought her second one! Very edgy and chilling, especially this first one!

1. DEVNEY PERRY--yet another non-debut author but an ARC of this one showed up at my door one day, like a week before its release and it sounded intriguing so I started it and it was amazing!! I think I had to run out and buy the finished copy with those sprayed edges before I was even halfway through it because I was already getting the vibe that it would be a favorite...it was!