Scan barcode
searchingforhappilyeverafter's reviews
79 reviews
Dance of Stars and Ashes by Nisha J. Tuli
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Nisha J. Tuli has become an auto-buy author for me. I’ve read five of her books just this year.
Dance of Stars and Ashes is the second book in Tuli’s Indian mythology inspired Nightfire series. This book continues immediately after the last one, with Zarya grappling with her newly discovered powers, the revelations surrounding her identity, and her dream man who is suddenly very real.
I absolutely devoured every single word in this delicious romantasy, with gorgeous worldbuilding. The lush and vivid descriptions really brought to life the South Asian inspired land of Rahajhan. The swoonworthy romance is full of fantastic enemies-to-lovers tension and banter. But just as with the first book, the friendships are what stole my heart. Tuli truly excels at developing all the relationships, not just the romantic ones. This sequel has so many twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting, and the end absolutely gutted me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, and War
Heart of Night and Fire by Nisha J. Tuli
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Reading this book may cause two things to happen: (1) you might start dreaming of a mysterious, tall, broad-shouldered guy and (2) you will definitely crave Indian food.
Inspired by Indian mythology, Heart of Night and Fire by Nisha J. Tuli is the first book in her Nightfire series and my newest obsession.
Zarya has lived her entire life mostly alone and in confinement, until one day when she suddenly finds herself free from the magic that has been restraining her. She escapes to the city of Dharati, in search of answers and a new life.
I love this book and the sparkling world Tuli has created, full of magic-wielding sorcerers and blood-drinking rakshasas. I just read three of Tuli’s books back to back, and while I enjoyed all of them, this one is probably my favorite. The beautiful worldbuilding is what initially drew me in, but the platonic friendship that develops between Yasen and Zarya is one of the main features of the story that kept my attention and stole my heart. The relationship between these two is what friend goals are made of, and their banter made me laugh out loud several times.
Of course, one of the other reasons I adored this book is Zarya’s mystery dream man. I won’t say anything more about him because of spoilers, except for the fact that I cannot wait to read the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, and Blood
Rule of the Aurora King by Nisha J. Tuli
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Trial of the Sun Queen is the first book in Nisha J. Tuli’s Artefacts of Ouranos series.
Lor and her siblings have endured twelve long years of torture and imprisonment under the Aurora King’s rule. Her only desire is to free her family and get revenge for every moment of torment inflicted upon them. Unforeseen circumstances find her in the perilous Sun Queen Trials, where she is to compete against nine others to become queen of Aphelion. The stakes are high. If Lor loses, she dies or will be returned to the Aurora King. While Lor doesn’t fully understand how she ended up in the trials, she wants nothing more than to win the competition so that she can gain her freedom, help her family, and become one step closer to getting revenge.
This story is romantasy entertainment at its best, filled with almost nonstop thrilling action, intriguing politics, magic, fae, romance, and thoughtful social commentary. The writing style feels more YA, though content-wise this book is definitely adult or NA.
The worldbuilding is excellent. Lor has been imprisoned since childhood, so she is practically seeing the outside world for the first time. Basically, the readers are learning everything about this world at the same time Lor is, which I thought was really well done.
Lor is definitely one of my new favorite fantasy FMCs. She is feisty, resilient, intelligent, and willing to do whatever is necessary to save those she loves.
Tuli has brilliantly crafted a story that kept me turning the pages well into the night.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Kidnapping
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri is the first book in the Burning Kingdoms trilogy, in which a captive princess and a maidservant with forbidden magical powers form an alliance in a world inspired by ancient India.
There are five major character perspectives and a few minor ones in this book but all are so well done and engaging. Princess Malini is being held captive by her brother, the sadistic emperor of Parijatdvipa, in an ancient temple in the subjugated city of Ahiranya. She wants to do whatever she can to depose him and bring down his tyranny. Malini is a formidable strategist and will use whatever means necessary to achieve her goals. Priya, on the other hand, works as a maid in the regent’s staff and helps children suffering from the rot and starvation. She goes on a journey to rediscover her roots and learn how she can use her powers to better the lives of her people. Malini and Priya’s lives become entwined as they, along with several other characters, embark on an intriguing path to save their land.
The romance between these two is a deliciously sensual slow burn, filled with lots of yearning. Their relationship progresses at an appropriate pace while balancing the power dynamics of their positions and the fact that Malini is, at first, completely dependent upon Priya to stay alive.
Suri’s writing is evocative, with an exquisitely crafted plot, a full cast of well-developed characters, and an incredible magic system. The worldbuilding is impeccable and unlike anything I’ve ever read. Suri deftly explores themes of colonialism, oppression, and power. She weaves in the history of Ahiranya and the Parijatdvipan empire, while sensitively portraying the brutal effects of colonization, in particular how colonization decimates cultures in the name of religious fanaticism and misogyny. The author also examines power and what different people are willing to do with the power they hold and at what cost. This story is told through multiple POVs, allowing readers to experience all of these themes through a diverse range of characters and making this a very thought-provoking and nuanced read.
I don’t have enough words to express how much I loved this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Drug abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Religious bigotry
Second Star to the Left by Megan Van Dyke
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is the Captain Hook and Tinkerbell retelling I didn’t know I needed!
Packed with swoonworthy romance, adventure on the high seas, and a fabulous cast of characters, Second Star to the Left by Megan Van Dyke shifts the focus of this classic tale to Tinker Bell and Captain Hook and is absolutely delightful. The writing hooked me immediately (pun intended) as I was immersed in this unique version of such a beloved fantasy world.
The romance between Hook and Tink was captivating, with great enemies-to-lovers banter and sparks practically flying off the page. Several heartwarming and tender moments added an extra layer of depth to their story.
The author's added touches to make this world her own were a joy to read and added a much needed freshness. In particular, I LOVED how there are women on Captain Hook's crew and how subtly queernormative this world is. Not once was it ever mentioned or even implied that women are bad luck on ships or unequal to male crew members.
I hope the author is planning to continue writing stories set in this world. I’ve read all the bonus epilogues but would still love more adventures with Hook's crew members, and I need to find out more about Lily, Peter, and the boys.
Packed with swoonworthy romance, adventure on the high seas, and a fabulous cast of characters, Second Star to the Left by Megan Van Dyke shifts the focus of this classic tale to Tinker Bell and Captain Hook and is absolutely delightful. The writing hooked me immediately (pun intended) as I was immersed in this unique version of such a beloved fantasy world.
The romance between Hook and Tink was captivating, with great enemies-to-lovers banter and sparks practically flying off the page. Several heartwarming and tender moments added an extra layer of depth to their story.
The author's added touches to make this world her own were a joy to read and added a much needed freshness. In particular, I LOVED how there are women on Captain Hook's crew and how subtly queernormative this world is. Not once was it ever mentioned or even implied that women are bad luck on ships or unequal to male crew members.
I hope the author is planning to continue writing stories set in this world. I’ve read all the bonus epilogues but would still love more adventures with Hook's crew members, and I need to find out more about Lily, Peter, and the boys.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
Reel by Kennedy Ryan
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Reel by Kennedy Ryan is a love letter to Black art history. The book's unique narrative brought to life the impact of generational racism and the struggle of Black artists through its beautiful and richly layered story. The romance and Black history are outstandingly well-written and highlight the struggle marginalized people have gone through in the past and still go through today in order to get the recognition they deserve.
I haven’t read many books written like this one, where we have a dual timeline with Neevah and Canon’s romance and the story of the biopic they are producing. I was completely captivated by this unique way of storytelling and Ryan’s poignant and emotional writing style.
There was one aspect that I wasn’t completely thrilled with. And that is the resolution with Neevah’s sister. It felt really unsatisfying to me. I can’t say more without going in to spoilers, but I really disliked the sister mainly for how she reacted when they reunited for the first time.
Having said all of that, I still think this book deserves all the stars and would read it over and over again. That is how powerful Ryan’s writing is. Neevah and Canon’s journey is just so hearttouching. And the things Canon would do and say practically had me melting into a puddle.
It’s difficult for me to read with my eyes or ears only. Most of the time I need both the audio and print or ebook going at the same time. So the quality of the audiobook and performance of the narrators is extremely important to me. Eboni Flowers, Jakobi Diem, and Nicole Small did a fantastic job bringing these characters to life. I especially enjoyed the musical elements that the production team brought to this story.
I haven’t read many books written like this one, where we have a dual timeline with Neevah and Canon’s romance and the story of the biopic they are producing. I was completely captivated by this unique way of storytelling and Ryan’s poignant and emotional writing style.
There was one aspect that I wasn’t completely thrilled with. And that is the resolution with Neevah’s sister. It felt really unsatisfying to me. I can’t say more without going in to spoilers, but I really disliked the sister mainly for how she reacted when they reunited for the first time.
Having said all of that, I still think this book deserves all the stars and would read it over and over again. That is how powerful Ryan’s writing is. Neevah and Canon’s journey is just so hearttouching. And the things Canon would do and say practically had me melting into a puddle.
It’s difficult for me to read with my eyes or ears only. Most of the time I need both the audio and print or ebook going at the same time. So the quality of the audiobook and performance of the narrators is extremely important to me. Eboni Flowers, Jakobi Diem, and Nicole Small did a fantastic job bringing these characters to life. I especially enjoyed the musical elements that the production team brought to this story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity, Racism, Vomit, Grief, and Medical trauma
The infidelity is not by the main characters
The Magpie Lord by KJ Charles
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Magic, magpies, humor, mystery, and spookiness abound in KJ Charles’s The Magpie Lord, the first book in her Charm of Magpies series!
Lucien Vaudrey, the new Lord Crane, has returned to England after inheriting an earldom. It seems he’s also inherited his family’s enemies and deadly curses. He needs magical assistance as soon as possible, so that he can get everything in order and return to his home in Shanghai. Enter magician Stephen Day, who hates the Vaudrey family. His job, however, is to deal with supernatural threats. As he is helping Lucien, Stephen discovers that they are in a lot of danger, both from outside forces and from their undeniable attraction to each other.
KJ Charles's words captivated me from the start! I am very easily scared and avoid all things horror. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which starts off with a bit of spooky paranormal activity. The fact that I could not put it down despite the potential of being scared out of my mind really says a lot about how much I loved this story, the author's writing style, and the worldbuilding. I just had to keep reading to find out what happened next. There were a lot of laugh-out-loud moments and witty dialogue that provided a nice balance. To top it off, the way that Stephen and Lucien reluctantly fell for each other was absolutely charming and full of delicious tension, making me eager to read more about their love story. I'm so glad the rest of the books in the series are already out, so I can dive into those soon!
Lucien Vaudrey, the new Lord Crane, has returned to England after inheriting an earldom. It seems he’s also inherited his family’s enemies and deadly curses. He needs magical assistance as soon as possible, so that he can get everything in order and return to his home in Shanghai. Enter magician Stephen Day, who hates the Vaudrey family. His job, however, is to deal with supernatural threats. As he is helping Lucien, Stephen discovers that they are in a lot of danger, both from outside forces and from their undeniable attraction to each other.
KJ Charles's words captivated me from the start! I am very easily scared and avoid all things horror. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which starts off with a bit of spooky paranormal activity. The fact that I could not put it down despite the potential of being scared out of my mind really says a lot about how much I loved this story, the author's writing style, and the worldbuilding. I just had to keep reading to find out what happened next. There were a lot of laugh-out-loud moments and witty dialogue that provided a nice balance. To top it off, the way that Stephen and Lucien reluctantly fell for each other was absolutely charming and full of delicious tension, making me eager to read more about their love story. I'm so glad the rest of the books in the series are already out, so I can dive into those soon!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Homophobia and Incest
Minor: Antisemitism
Georgana's Secret by Arlem Hawks
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Georgana’s Secret is like a warm and comforting cup of tea! It has the perfect blend of romance and action on the high seas.
This book tells the story of Georgana Woodall and Lieutenant Dominic Peyton. Georgana has a painful past. She’s been living on her father’s ship disguised as the captain’s cabin boy and dreams of the day she will be free from her past and secrets. Peyton is a dedicated navy officer, who is determined to prove to Captain Woodall that he is a capable officer. He isn’t looking to fall in love because his heart already belongs to the sea. When he sees the crew bullying the captain’s cabin boy, he strikes up a friendship with the boy. What follows is a charming tale of friendship, action, and romance.
Arlem Hawks’s words hooked me right from the start. Everything is exceptionally well done. The book touches on many different topics, including friendship, loss, grief, war, abuse, and loneliness and blends everything together seamlessly. The author did a brilliant job conveying this heartfelt story.
The relationship development between Dominic and Georgana is absolutely adorable. The narrative gives them the chance to become friends first and really understand each other. Georgana is drawn to Dominic’s innate kindness and his enthusiastic love of the sea, while Dominic sees Georgana’s strength and resiliency, even before he uncovers her secret. The way the truth comes out and they realize the depth of their feelings is beautiful.
I also really enjoyed the author’s realistic depictions of life aboard ship. The vivid details brought this story alive. This exhilarating sea adventure was the first book I read by Arlem Hawks, but I look forward to reading more soon. For now, I’ll be adding this book to my comfort reads.
This book tells the story of Georgana Woodall and Lieutenant Dominic Peyton. Georgana has a painful past. She’s been living on her father’s ship disguised as the captain’s cabin boy and dreams of the day she will be free from her past and secrets. Peyton is a dedicated navy officer, who is determined to prove to Captain Woodall that he is a capable officer. He isn’t looking to fall in love because his heart already belongs to the sea. When he sees the crew bullying the captain’s cabin boy, he strikes up a friendship with the boy. What follows is a charming tale of friendship, action, and romance.
Arlem Hawks’s words hooked me right from the start. Everything is exceptionally well done. The book touches on many different topics, including friendship, loss, grief, war, abuse, and loneliness and blends everything together seamlessly. The author did a brilliant job conveying this heartfelt story.
The relationship development between Dominic and Georgana is absolutely adorable. The narrative gives them the chance to become friends first and really understand each other. Georgana is drawn to Dominic’s innate kindness and his enthusiastic love of the sea, while Dominic sees Georgana’s strength and resiliency, even before he uncovers her secret. The way the truth comes out and they realize the depth of their feelings is beautiful.
I also really enjoyed the author’s realistic depictions of life aboard ship. The vivid details brought this story alive. This exhilarating sea adventure was the first book I read by Arlem Hawks, but I look forward to reading more soon. For now, I’ll be adding this book to my comfort reads.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and War
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Grief, and Death of parent
Come As You Are by Jess K. Hardy
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Welcome to Bluebird Basin!
Are you by any chance looking for a sexy and mature older man to add to your list of book boyfriends? Let me introduce you to Matthew Madigan
Qualifications to Recommend Him:
- salt and pepper bearded sexy pirate
- recovering addict and former rock star
- in touch with his feelings
- will make you mixtapes
- dog whisperer
- great at counseling and conflict resolution
- can fix windows
- edging expert 👀 iykyk
- consent and taking it slow are important to him
- will make you swoon by telling you how amazing you are
- will catch last chair with you even though he has a fear of heights
Jess K Hardy’s Come as You Are is the first book in her new Bluebird Basin series.
Ashley Cooke is a divorced mother, who is trying to save her family’s ski lodge. Her condescending ex is pressuring her to sell the mountain to him. And to top it off, Ashley is frustrated with her mother’s habit of doing things without discussing them with her. Enter sexy pirate Madigan and his endearing group of recovering addicts. Ashley is not happy with her mother’s idea of hiring Madigan and his men for the winter season, but she reluctantly gives them a chance.
I loved this book so much! The sweet, cozy, steamy vibes were perfect. It was such a joy to read a romance featuring older characters (she’s 46 and he’s 53). Both MCs have struggled a lot in life and still have to deal with those issues daily. It was a delight to see Ashley and Madigan fall in love, while learning to trust and becoming each other’s support system.
Addiction destroys lives and families, and I appreciate that this book does a deep dive into the effects. The writing feels very genuine and honest in showing that the path to recovery is not an easy one. The story wholeheartedly accepts these men and their journeys. One of my favorite aspects of this book is the open and honest way it looks at therapy and how it has helped Madigan and his men. I also really love how Ashley was wary of hiring them at first but then soon became their number-one champion. I hope we get to see more of these characters in future books.
This book is charming, funny, and deeply romantic! I can already tell that it will be one of my favorite books of the year.
Are you by any chance looking for a sexy and mature older man to add to your list of book boyfriends? Let me introduce you to Matthew Madigan
Qualifications to Recommend Him:
- salt and pepper bearded sexy pirate
- recovering addict and former rock star
- in touch with his feelings
- will make you mixtapes
- dog whisperer
- great at counseling and conflict resolution
- can fix windows
- edging expert 👀 iykyk
- consent and taking it slow are important to him
- will make you swoon by telling you how amazing you are
- will catch last chair with you even though he has a fear of heights
Jess K Hardy’s Come as You Are is the first book in her new Bluebird Basin series.
Ashley Cooke is a divorced mother, who is trying to save her family’s ski lodge. Her condescending ex is pressuring her to sell the mountain to him. And to top it off, Ashley is frustrated with her mother’s habit of doing things without discussing them with her. Enter sexy pirate Madigan and his endearing group of recovering addicts. Ashley is not happy with her mother’s idea of hiring Madigan and his men for the winter season, but she reluctantly gives them a chance.
I loved this book so much! The sweet, cozy, steamy vibes were perfect. It was such a joy to read a romance featuring older characters (she’s 46 and he’s 53). Both MCs have struggled a lot in life and still have to deal with those issues daily. It was a delight to see Ashley and Madigan fall in love, while learning to trust and becoming each other’s support system.
Addiction destroys lives and families, and I appreciate that this book does a deep dive into the effects. The writing feels very genuine and honest in showing that the path to recovery is not an easy one. The story wholeheartedly accepts these men and their journeys. One of my favorite aspects of this book is the open and honest way it looks at therapy and how it has helped Madigan and his men. I also really love how Ashley was wary of hiring them at first but then soon became their number-one champion. I hope we get to see more of these characters in future books.
This book is charming, funny, and deeply romantic! I can already tell that it will be one of my favorite books of the year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Death of parent