My favorite read of the year so far, and I can say without a doubt this will be on my top ten of 2025 list. This is now my go-to recommendation for any and all readers. The audiobook narration was also fabulous. This is a short review because I really don’t have anything to say but go read it. Six glowing stars, the highest rating I can give..
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
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A smart, techy sci-fi adventure with big Star Trek & Battlestar Galactica vibes & side of slowburn romance. Skyla was definitely my favorite POV, and I loved the idea of the connection with the ships. (Also, I loved that she had Fenrir – think big, epic doggo!) Definitely recommend for sci-fi fans looking for a space opera with big military & science elements.
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Let’s see what did I like?
Everything
This one absolutely blew me away, and it is a book I will be recommending to literally everyone. Smart magic, fun characters, & a mystery to solve. Also, the narration was amazing. 10/10 will be recommending. Seriously, this was such an amazing find!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Unfortunately, to be honest, I don’t know if I would’ve finished this one if I hadn’t gotten it from NetGalley.
What I liked:
– Persian & Indian-inspired mythology
– The book starts off like The Selection with a Hunger Games twist.
– While there’s obviously a book 2 planned, this book has a satisfying end that feels like a complete arc
What I didn’t like:
– Honestly, the main characters just fell flat for me. I felt like their personalities & the chemistry between them didn’t quite pop, and the spice/lustiness felt like it didn’t quite fit somehow — almost like it was added just so it could fit under the romantasy label.
– The Selection/Hunger Games set-up resolves surprisingly quickly (maybe at like the 25% mark) and from there, although l liked the idea of some of the developments, in general, it just felt like the plot dragged. (However that could’ve been because I was connecting to the characters)
All that to say, while this book wasn’t really for me, if you’re a romantasy fan who loves a strong side of mythology, it might be for you!
⭐⭐⭐½
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I honestly didn’t think I would describe a story about a death metal bard as adorable, but here we are. Unexpectedly cozy, original, and metal in the best way. Cute characters, short and sweet, and definitely recommend if you’re looking for something different and fresh.
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Knee-jerk reaction on finishing: I feel like I just ate a rice cake. Don’t get me wrong— I like rice cakes, they’re just not super satisfying.
Ranking my enjoyment of this series:
1. Fourth Wing
2. Onyx Storm
3. Iron Flame
So I have a lot of thoughts, but to avoid all spoilers, I’ll try to be brief and vague
What I liked:
1. Violet, Xaden, and all the dragons
What I didn’t like:
1. Not enough meaningful plot progression.
I feel like if someone wanted to skip book 3 for some reason, I would sum up the plot in one sentence, have them read the last 1-2 chapters, and they would be all set for book 4. That said, if you love the characters (which I do), then you’ll be reasonably happy to go on this ride despite this. While the lack of plot progression left me feeling unsatisfied, I enjoyed the read, and anticipate reading book 4. Though I’m not like foaming at the mouth for it, and I don’t anticipate Onyx Storm being one of my favorite reads of the year.
In the end, if you’re a fan of the series, I think you’ll like this one too!
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
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What I liked about this book:
– Great narration
– A bubbly, engaging YA voice.
– A sweet childhood friends-to-lovers mixed with a touch of rivals-to-lovers. (It’s very clear from the beginning that Sebastian is head over heels for Sadie and waiting for her to catch up. But it’s very sweet to watch them overcome past misunderstandings for their relationship to evolve into love)
– A quirky college campus that we’d all definitely want to live in
– The first 25-30% drew me right in
– Sebastian was super sweet and popped off the page.
What I didn’t like:
– This one felt about 3 hours (~30%) too long for me for a single-POV, light romcom, and I felt like the second half dragged.
– The many side characters, while fun, all kind of blended together for me
– While I started off liking Sadie, she grated on me in the second half – especially in some of the high-tension moments with Sebastian.
– Overall, the main plot felt a little lower stakes than my usual preference
Overall, if you’re looking for a light, sweet college romance with a YA flavor and great narration, you might want to check this one out! Thanks NetGalley for the audiobook!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
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This was a sweet college romance with strong mental health representation and a dash of the fantastical. Both Elle and Christopher were easy to root for as they navigated the very beginnings of adulthood and navigated both family complications and their own challenges. I especially enjoyed the speculative concept of “Readers” and the extra dimension it brought to their story. Recommended for readers looking for a sweet romance with an almost cozy feel and a uniquely paranormal world element!
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A cozy, heartfelt sci-fi novella that perfectly explores the uncertainty of finding your way in new adulthood. With themes of navigating family, purpose, and connection on a peaceful, alien moon, this novella feels like a warm blanket one a cold day. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.
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Aww I loved this one! A story of a bodyguard looking to set aside a peaceful life to explore the galaxy again and reclaim a part of his old self learns that not all prices are worth paying, and perhaps a peaceful existence surrounded by friends isn’t so bad after all. Engaging and fast-paced, I thoroughly enjoyed this graphic novel and would definitely pick up the next one.
Recommended to those (8+ ish) looking for a sci-fi graphic novel with characters you can root for and deeper themes.
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Hayley Reese Chow 