City of Darkness was well worth the wait and got me all more invested in these complex characters and compelling world. This third book in a series of four has set up the ending extremely well and I cannot wait!

I am a Karina Halle review team member, but I remain honest and genuine in my reviews.

From the New York Times bestselling author of River of Shadows and A Ship of Bones and Teeth comes CITY OF DARKNESS the third book in the Underworld Gods series, a high heat dark fantasy adult romance series.

When mortal Hanna agreed to marry Tuoni, the God of Death, in exchange for her father’s life, the last thing she expected was to fall for the morally grey anti-hero. But it’s not only her heart that’s in danger now. As she navigates her new role as the Goddess of Death in the spooky and macabre underworld of Tuonela, Hanna discovers that Death has many enemies in his kingdom, none more powerful than his half-demon ex-wife, Louhi. With an uprising of Old Gods at her fingertips, and skeleton armies ready to do her bidding, Hanna and Death must work together to make sure the underworld isn’t lost forever, even if it means losing each other and all they hold dear.

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Hanna and Death continue to go on a masterful character journey. I really like the new challenges thrown at them in this one and how that forced them to grow not just as individuals but together. This story features a few more points of view, Death’s children specifically and I really did appreciate getting these looks into what is going on with the other characters. It began to feel like Death’s son and daughter, being more apart from Hanna and Death throughout the story are starting to grow as characters. I think most of my character highlights came from Death, he was so sure in himself and Karina messes that up a little bit and forces him to adapt. Making him all the much more complex and layered.
• Setting: Our story begins in Tuonela, the Finnish underworld and throughout the story you do get glimpses as to what the future of the underworld may hold, and it’s a wee bit terrifying. Karina is always so good at writing these immersive settings, but I do love that she threw in a curveball in this one. I do not want to give it away, but there is a shift in setting and I loved it. I was initially worried about this being four books rather than three, but I see why it needed to be and these are the scenes that made me happy for this third instalment. At the same time, I do see why many might feel a little let down in this instalment, but I always trust Karina when it comes to sticking the landing on a series.
• Pacing: I must shout out the amazing “previously in” section as it was comical and informative, the perfect way to guide readers who have been keeping up with the new instalments in this series. As much as I flew through this book, I love when I do that while reading. It did feel a bit on the shorter side, but I have a feeling that Karina has a lot planned for the final book. So this tonal-shifting almost novella-like bridge story was necessary to bridge books two and four.
• Romance: I love Hanna and Death together, and in this book, they really got to be just a powerhouse of a couple. The perfect team both in and out of the bedroom. Fear not readers the spice in this is great, nothing as bonkers as a certain scene from the previous instalment but still many fun ones. It felt as if their relationship really grew emotionally, and has hit a beautiful level of maturity. I cannot wait to see what this king and queen do to fight for their well-deserved happily ever after.

City of Darkness receives four out of five stars.

You can pick up the story here.

Follow Karina on all her social channels…

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Facebook | Facebook Group | Instagram | Twitter | Bookbub

Thank you again to Karina and her team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Karina Halle’s City of Darkness ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

Karina never misses! I knew this retelling was in good hands because I knew she could definitely deliver something equally spooky and steamy. If you are looking for a smutty read this spooky season look no further.

I am a Karina Halle review team member, but I remain honest and genuine in my reviews.

From the New York Times bestselling author of River of Shadows and A Ship of Bones and Teeth comes a smutty spooky dark academia gothic romance retelling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, where Kat Van Tassel doesn’t have to choose between Brom Bones and Ichabod Crane, and there are worse things haunting them than the Headless Horseman.

Ever since she was a child, Kat Van Tassel knew that her parents had arranged for her to marry her best friend, Brom Bones, when she became of age. That was until Brom mysteriously vanished from the secretive village of Sleepy Hollow when he was just a teenager.
Now, at nineteen, Kat is fulfilling the tradition of attending Sleepy Hollow Institute, a shadowy and prestigious school that is run by her powerful family. There she starts to fall for her new teacher, the enigmatic, smart, and much older Ichabod Crane, whose fascination with dark magic and the occult brings out a new side of Kat—in more ways than one.
Until Brom Bones suddenly appears in her class. Her childhood friend doesn’t remember what happened to him in the four years that he’s been gone, all he knows is that he’s back in Sleepy Hollow for good. The only problem is, he’s not the same man that Kat knew. Cocky and brash as a youth, this Brom is violent and prone to bouts of madness. It doesn’t help that his reappearance coincides with gruesome decapitations that are plaguing the town, with rumors swirling about a vengeful ghost called The Headless Horseman.
Determined to get to the bottom of the murders and Brom’s volatility, Crane takes Brom under his wing to study him, and they begin to grow close, just as they do with Kat. But the more that the threesome submits to their sexual desires on the path to the truth, the more dangerous Sleepy Hollow becomes.  The Headless Horseman might claim them as his next victims…if something even more terrifying doesn’t get to them first.

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Our heroine Katrina Van Tassel was the perfect point of view character. She is just as naive as the reader about what Sleepy Hollow holds and I loved seeing points of the mystery unfold through her eyes. Her heroes, are Ichabod Crane and Brom Bones and in Karina’s story, she will not have to choose one over the other. Crane is a professor, specifically the newest professor at Sleepy Hollow’s academy and he was probably my favourite part of this book. His character was so interesting and I loved how hard he fought to protect not just Katrina, but Brom. Brom is not just Katrina’s childhood friend but her betrothed. Crane has his own history with Brom, something I cannot wait to explore more in the sequel. Brom is complicated and I really did not know what to think of him except for he better be okay!
• Setting: This story is set in Sleepy Hollow and I loved all the spooky vibes! The story begins with Katrina heading off to the Sleepy Hollow Academy which has the best dark academia and gothic vibes. Some of the scenes here were absolutely terrifying, especially Crane’s scenes overnight. I loved finding out more about the school, and all the teachers and students within it.
• Pacing: From the first few pages I was hooked on Hollow. I started it Sunday night read as much as I could and got up early before work on Monday to finish it. I always find Karina’s pacing so compelling and I loved where she took the story. This book ended in the perfect spot and has made me just die with want for more.
• Romance: What initially intrigued me about this book was that it would be Karina Halle’s first MMF romance. This first instalment only really plays with MF and MM as Karina builds all the character relationships, and so no complaints from me I like how all of it is developing. Needless to say, this book is so smutty and I ate it all up. Katrina and Crane are that professor/student dynamic that I am always a sucker for with a nice eleven-year age gap. Crane and Brom’s relationship while only given a few glimpses I cannot wait to see how it develops. Karina did such a good job illustrating how Katrina will be the glue in this triad and now I must just wait patiently for what I know will be a delicious payoff.

Hollow receives five out of five stars.

You can pick up the story here.

Follow Karina on all her social channels…

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Facebook | Facebook Group | Instagram | Twitter | Bookbub

Thank you again to Karin and her team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Karina Halle’s Hollow ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

I have been excited about this book since its announcement and I am pleased to say it lived up to the hype. This is the perfect way to do a Little Mermaid retelling, to flip the happily ever after on its head. I loved the characters, the vibe, and all the sexy times.

I am a Karina Halle review team member but remain honest and genuine in my reviews.

A STANDALONE gothic dark fantasy pirate romance re-telling of The Little Mermaid from the New York Times Bestselling Author of River of Shadows and Blood Orange.

Princess Maren is a woman with a secret.
When she was just 16-years old, she sold her soul to the sea witch Edonia, giving up a life underwater in exchange for the love of Prince Aerik on land. But after a decade of abuse and misery inflicted by the cruel prince, Maren wants nothing more than to leave him and her royal role behind and find Edonia to reverse the spell.
An opportunity for escape presents itself when the prince and princess are traveling overseas and are taken hostage by a band of notorious pirates, led by the fearsome Captain Ramsay “Bones” Battista. Maren has heard the sordid stories about the infamous pirate–not only is his ship supposedly haunted and crewed by the damned, but that no prisoners ever survive. Fortunately for Maren, she learns that the captain also has a score to settle with the sea witch. With any luck, Maren may be able to get her old life back, even if it’s being held in the captain’s wicked hands.
But Ramsay gets more than he bargained for when he learns who–and what –Maren is, and that her appetite for revenge, freedom, and bloodlust rivals his.
Meanwhile Maren finds herself falling for the pirate’s dark nature, even as she discovers that Ramsay has a secret more deadly than her own.

When it comes to the high seas, not all monsters lurk beneath the surface.

Content Though this is a fantasy, it is also a dark(ish) romance with potential triggers. It is NOT a children’s book and it is NOT a YA book. It is an adult book with morally grey characters and sexual situations that some readers may find upsetting.  A full list can be found inside the book or on the author’s website.

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Maren, gosh I loved her so much! I loved that we met her as this more naive Ariel-like teenage character and then we flash forward to the much more fed-up-with-the-BS grown woman. Maren is a syren and just like the little mermaid, she gives up her voice for Prince Aerik, not just her voice but her tongue gets ripped out (I love that Karina brought back some of the gore of the original fairytale). Syrens seem like the monsters of this story but it was really the human prince all along and it was so rewarding to see Maren chart a path of independence, growth, and confidence over the course of this story. Maren was not the only one who couldn’t help falling for this story’s leading man, Ramsay “Bones” Battista, captain of the Nightwind. This man was dripping in sex appeal, he had darkness and mystery. Balanced with an emotional tether of his deep loyalty to his family, to the crew both blood and non-blood relations. Fans of found family will grow attached quite quickly to a wonderful cast of side characters from Ramsay’s brother and sister-in-law Thane and Sam to the kids and many more.
• Setting: This story takes place primarily on the open waves. Captain Battista’s ship is called the Nightwind and it features prominently as the main setting of this story. The ocean we are sailing through ebbs and flows a bit, but rest assured the close quarters on the boat made for some deliciously hot scenes.
• Pacing: Readers who like a bit of length to their books will be thrilled with this one. But it is by no means overwhelming. I was so captivated by the story that I read it in a few days. This story is a complete standalone and Karina did a great job of flushing out a world, developing characters, and completing a love story in one nice succinct package. The bow that tied the package together felt a bit too neat at times, but overall great pacing.
• Romance: When we meet Maren she has been stuck with a dick of a prince husband, and Ramsay has never really had the desire to fall in love again after the death of his first wife. Things change quite rapidly for them though, as they have a chemistry that they cannot refuse. Especially as their monstrous sides came out it only strengthened their desire for each other, simply they made so much sense together. It’s a Karina Halle book so the sex is hot, a little variation but not as scandalously steamy as Blood Orange for example.

A Ship of Teeth and Bones receives five out of five stars.

You can pick up the story here.

Follow Karina on all her social channels…

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Facebook | Facebook Group | Instagram | Twitter | Bookbub

Thank you again to Karina and her team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Karina Halle’s A Ship of Bones and Teeth ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

So this feels incredibly exciting to say, I am officially on Karina Halle’s review team as a member of her newly formed Reckless Readers Society. I have been reading Karina for years, and for most of that time, I have been able to review for her through working with various PR firms. This is the first time I get to say I am reviewing for her in an official capacity.

I am so excited to be reviewing Black Rose as Blood Orange was one of my favourite books of last year! Karina just blew my mind with this sequel and I cannot wait for her fans to devour it just as quickly as I did.

I am a Karina Halle review team member, but I remain honest and genuine in my reviews.

“Every vampire has a sad love story to tell.”

Black Rose is a dark gothic vampire romance retelling of Dracula and the sequel to Blood Orange.

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Valtu’s character arc was a goddamn masterpiece. Karina did such a phenomenal job of depicting how even if you have been alive for a long time, that does not make you immune to grief. I loved seeing Valtu brought to this place of desperation, and getting to see an even darker side of him, yes! Rose was such a great heroine. I mentioned in my Blood Orange review that it made for a really strong character-driven story when the heroine had lived multiple lives, yet all the characters felt distinct. You can track the similarities from Mina to Lucy to Dahlia and now to Rose, yet Rose is still her own person and a perfect product of her time and upbringing. I loved Rose’s rebellious streak. Fans of Karina’s previous vampire novels may understand when I say Rose gives off major Black Sunshine Lenora vibes. I said Rose was a product of her age, for sure she’s young and a bit immature, but you can feel the weight of having lived those past lives. Speaking of other Karina books, if you are a fan you will enjoy all the cameos so much.
• Setting: This story is full of so many lush settings with rich vibes and descriptions. Opening back up in Venice after the events of the first instalment was sad, Valtu’s safe haven was now an emotional warzone. Mittenwald is a new setting, a super creepy and cold Dracula castle. I loved how the castle featured both his inner and outer demons. I loved that when Rose stormed into this setting she started to not only thaw the castle but Valtu’s heart. There is one final setting that Karina really brought to life, I don’t want to spoil it for you but know I loved it! I could really read her taking us anywhere and everywhere, she is so good at writing captivating settings.
• Pacing: I devoured this book, and read it in less than a day. I dare you not to get drawn in by the first ten to fifteen percent. Karina surprised me countless times, even in just the first few pages she made me gasp so loud that I scared the poor woman sitting next to me on the bus,
• Romance: After being so heavily invested in Dahlia and Valtu, I was interested to see how Karina would make me cheer on him and Rose. I loved it so much that this was a true vampire romance, and that now Valtu was getting another chance at love with someone who could live just as long as he could. This book is incredibly hot, but I did miss the vampire sex club just a tad. That should not dissuade fans that loved how steamy Blood Orange was, Black Rose does not disappoint.

Black Rose receives five out of five stars.

You can pick up the story here.

Follow Karina on all her social channels…

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Facebook | Facebook Group | Instagram | Twitter | Bookbub

Thank you again to Karina and her team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Karina Halle’s Black Rose ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

After introducing the character in her previous The Dark Eyes Duet I have been very excited to read Karina’s take on Dracula.

Once there was a man who fell deeply in love with a woman he could never have. When their affair was uncovered she was brutally murdered in front of him, and he discovered he was cursed, doomed to live forever as a vampire.

Over the centuries, he found his love again, and lost her again, until he was so broken he gave up on love entirely, sinking into the depths of depravity, losing his humanity.

Then one day, she came back into his life. A student of music studying under him at the conservatory in Venice, Italy where he was a professor. But even though he found her beautiful and intriguing, he didn’t recognize his fated mate at all.

Because this time she had to hide her true self.

This time she came back as a witch, whose destiny wasn’t to love him…but to kill him.

Blood Orange is a modern-day Dracula retelling about the “real-life” Dracula that inspired Bram Stoker. This is a dark vampire romance with plenty of content warnings and while it is a spinoff of The Dark Eyes Duet, it is a complete standalone novel. It was previously titled “King of Darkness”

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Dahlia, talk about a morally grey heroine and I loved her! If you have read the synopsis then you will know Dahlia is a reincarnate of our male lead’s past loves. It was really nice to see how Karina built these three characters who were similar yet distinct from each other. They all felt very much of their time, while still having a bit of that rebellious spirit that is in Mina/Lucie/Dahlia. Dahlia was particularly interesting because she is a part of this larger Karina Halle fantasy world. If you have read Black Sunshine, you have seen what it is like being an outsider thrown into the vampire world. Instead, you have Dahlia, a witch and vampire slayer who is steeped in it, making this book super witchy. Valtu is Karina’s take on Dracula and I loved how self-aware he was. There are repeat swipes from Valtu at his friend Bram whose tale of Valtu’s life was not always an accurate portrayal. This was such an intriguing way to go about a retelling. Valtu feels unique in this vampire world, he is different from Karina’s other vampire-leading men like Solon. Valtu has this distinguished aspect to his character, and the best part was when some of that formality faded away when it came to Dahlia. There are so many good characters in this, some new faces and I was happy to see some familiar ones.
• Setting: What a magical setting, I am such a sucker (pun intended) for an Italian setting. Plus Karina is really damn good at writing these international settings. I am biased towards loving Venice as a setting, it is where my family is from. Venice is such a perfect place to build the mystery and mythical creatures inhabiting dark alleys and waterways.
• Pacing: I loved that this book was a tad longer than we see for most romance novels. Fantasy needs a bit more breathing room. It makes me even happier to say Karina has announced another book, love a duet! Throughout this book there are some passages told through flashbacks. I personally like how these sections illuminated the different iterations of Mina/Lucie.
• Romance: This romance started really flirty which was adorable to see but also a bit unexpected. I would still very much see this as a dark romance, but it has some lightness in and amongst it. I loved how throughout the story Dahlia has this push and pull between opening up to Valtu while still being incredibly secretive. This book is filled with so many incredible sex scenes, not just between Dahlia and Valtu. Because I have four words for you: Vampire BDSM Sex Club!! These scenes are not for the faint of heart, so check the content warnings before diving in. If you are willing to explore, this and all of Karina’s vampire romances are a dark romance fever dream.

Blood Orange receives five out of five stars.

You can pick up the story below…

Amazon | Amazon Worldwide

Follow Karina on all her social channels…

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Facebook | Facebook Group | Instagram | Twitter | Bookbub

Thank you again to Karina and her team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Karina Halle’s Blood Orange ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

After the first instalment, I was very much looking forward to jumping back into the Finish Underworld.

“The next thrilling instalment in the Underworld Gods series. Perfect for readers who want high steam Hades/Persephone and Beauty and the Beast vibes with a dark Nordic folklore twist.

All Hanna Heikkinen wants is to be reunited with her father again. After all, that’s why she ventured into the dark and dangerous fantasy world of Tuonela, the Land of the Dead, in order to save his life. But this time her devotion to her father comes at a cost—her growing relationship with Tuoni, the God of Death himself, who held Hanna captive in exchange for her father’s life. The last thing she expects is to feel remorse at leaving Death at his castle of Shadow’s End without even saying goodbye, and yet he’s all she can think about.

Death has always prided himself on never trusting the living, but Hanna’s apparent betrayal has left a scar fathom’s deep. Vowing revenge on his future bride, and making sure she upholds her end of the bargain, Death sets out across his realm to steal Hanna back, which only fans the flames between them. But Death and Hanna aren’t just fighting each other—malevolent Old Gods are rising to power within the realm, magic is being poisoned, and buried secrets are brought to light, secrets that may cause Hanna to lose everyone she loves dear once again.” 

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: This is a sequel and you must read the books in order, especially if you want to really appreciate the character development from one instalment to the next. Hanna has sure gone through lots of development. We pick up with her as she is running away from the altar, running back to the Upper World and to her father. As the story progresses Hanna starts to embrace living in Tuonela and identifying as its queen. Death or Tuoni saw the most development though. We open our story with him feeling betrayed and humiliated once Hanna went off with Ramus. Once he has her back he wrestles between trusting and not trusting her, confiding and not confiding in her, and loving her and not loving her.
• Setting: This world is incredibly unique. There is nothing out there like it, even reading books based on Greek Myths, I have never read such a vividly depicted underworld. Tuonela is its own character in this story. The fantasy elements are really plentiful at the beginning when Hanna is running away you get to see some really cool things and meet magical and interesting characters. The pantheon of Finnish gods is explored much more in this instalment, readers will enjoy meeting these new characters.
• Pacing: Karina did a wonderful job pacing this. I’ll be honest I got more invested in the story once Death and Hanna were together again. The first chunk with Hanna and Ramus was interesting but missed the sexual tension and sensuality of the latter two-thirds. I am happy with the length of the story in which Hanna and Death were separated, it was not too long or too short. This book had a lot of revelations, some more surprising others kind of obvious, but what Karina did extremely well was pacing them slowly and not all at once.
• Romance: This couple sure is interesting. I do really like their energy together in bed, who would not? Each sex scene was incredibly hot. I can think of two scenes in particular that will join the ranks of the hottest scenes Karina has ever written. Probably one of the most iconic threesome scenes I would have ever read, and I don’t want to spoil it too much so that you’ll enjoy it. But the bedroom seems to be the only place these two get along, openly talk about things, or sort anything out. I initially thought this was going to be a two-book series so I was frustrated that this was not resolving, but fear not it is a trilogy so these two still have time to work on communication. What I loved about the more emotional aspect of the romance was how Death makes a pact at the beginning never to love Hanna. Over the course of the novel, he emotionally self-flagellates whenever she makes him feel happy. His point of view is incredibly honest, he was wounded and humiliated when she left and she needs to spend time mending that heart. He is mean to her because he is scared to lose her. Hanna also goes on her own journey of discovering the depth of her feelings for Death. I cannot wait to see this romance blossom even more in the third and final instalment coming later this year.

Crown of Crimson receives four out of five stars.

You can pick up the story below…

Amazon | Amazon Worldwide

Follow Karina on all her social channels…

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Facebook | Facebook Group | Instagram | Twitter | Bookbub

Thank you again to Karina Halle and the team at Valentine PR for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Karina Halle’s Crown of Crimson ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

This book intrigues me so damn much. From the minute Karina started to tease this story I wanted it in my hands.

“River of Shadows is an adult dark fantasy romance based on Finnish mythology and the underworld of Tuonela.

When 24-year old Hanna Heikkinen’s estranged father dies, she reluctantly makes the trip to Northern Finland for his funeral. Being in the enchanting land of ice and snow feels miles away from Hanna’s busy life back in Los Angeles, especially under the complicated circumstances.

But when Hanna discovers that her father’s body is missing, that’s when things really get weird. A mysterious man, Rasmus, tells Hanna the truth: her father was a powerful shaman who went into Tuonela, the Realm of the Dead, in order to barter for more life, and has been held captive by Tuoni, the God of Death. The only way her father can be freed is if she travels with Rasmus into the mythical underworld to rescue him.

Willing to do anything to have a second-chance with her father, Hanna accompanies Rasmus into the dark and bloody realm, traveling via the River of Shadows, stalked by dangerous creatures, monsters, and the living dead, until they finally come into the haunted kingdom ruled by Death and his family.

Only for her to be captured and held prisoner by the God of Death himself.

Turns out Death is intrigued by Hanna’s beauty and fierceness and makes a bargain with her. If she marries him, and spends an eternity in the Realm of the Dead as his wife, he’ll set her father free.

But even the most noble sacrifices come with hidden costs, and Hanna’s might involve the most unexpected of all things: her heart.”

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Our heroine is Hanna, and she is super easy to connect with right away. Born in Finland and then once her parents divorced, her mother whisked her away to California. Despite growing up away from her father, their father-daughter relationship is a huge plot driver of the story. Hanna loves her father deeply so much that she is willing to risk her life to save him. The next important character is Death himself. The god of death rules over the underworld of Tuonela and is naturally the intimidating, alpha type. I loved all the subtleties about his character, such as when he was in a bad most, which was often the weather who be all dark and dreary. I also thought it was interesting how he had his own version of Midas’ touch, but instead of turning things to gold anything he touched would die.
• Setting: This world is the most expansive Karina has written yet! The world is loosely based on Finnish mythology. The story begins with Hanna, the California girl arriving in Northern Finland for her father’s funeral. Once there Hanna is whisked into Tuonela, the Finnish version of the underworld. The land of the dead is the best part of this story! Karina did a phenomenal job bringing it to life, the perfect blend of spooky and scary yet still alluring. Any reader will want to dive deeper and uncover the mysteries of Tuonela.
• Pacing: The story moves at a really good pace. Karina laid down much of the groundwork for who Hanna is right away, allowing instead for the setting to drive the story rather than revelations about the characters. I found much of the story quite predictable, as a romance reader that does not always bother me, as being shocked is not my primary concern. As this is a dark fantasy story I would have appreciated maybe a bit more surprises, yet at the same time, I do not see another way this story could have ended.
• Romance: This was quite the relationship. Hanna and Death end up in bed together a lot in this book. There are some scenes with dubious consent so if that is not your thing you will not enjoy this story. I was not immediately captured by this romance and I do think I need another instalment to get really hooked on it. I really liked how Karina depicted Death falling for Hanna pretty hard, how much his initial infatuation became something much greater. Hanna’s reluctance to give in to her whims when it comes to a relationship with the literal god of death made complete sense and I loved her inner push and pull. How she weighed the immense pleasure she could get from him against the fact that this man was holding her prisoner.

River of Shadows receives four out of five stars.

You can pick up the story below…

Amazon | Amazon Worldwide

Follow Karina on all her social channels…

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Facebook | Facebook Group | Instagram | Twitter | Bookbub

Thank you again to Karina Halle and her team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Karina Halle’s River of Shadows ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

Ever since Wolf and Amethyst waltzed onto the page of Black Sunshine, I knew I would want to read their story. I am happy Karina Halle was just as excited to write their story as I was to read it. What fantasy reader out there is not a sucker for a human girl falling in love with the dangerous yet alluring vampire.

“My name is Amethyst DeMille and I’m in love with a vampire.
Sounds complicated, doesn’t it?
Yet the fact that he’s a sexy, centuries-old blood-drinking vampire isn’t what makes our relationship complicated.
It’s because we live in the same house together, work at the same exclusive club together, and he happens to be my best friend with absolutely no idea how I feel about him.
I mean, sure he’s probably seen me give him heart eyes more than once. Wolf is not only a deadly, charismatic vampire with great persuasion skills, he also happens to be built like a Nordic God, all solid muscle and chiseled bone structure and haunting eyes that I sometimes think tell me more than he wants me to know. He’s the type of guy most women find themselves falling for (and not just because they might end up his next meal).
But despite the simmering sexual tension and yearning between us, I know there’s no way I’ll ever be able to tell him how I feel. After all, I’m a human and he’s a vampire and he’s told me more than once that those love stories never end well.
Too bad my heart doesn’t know the difference.”

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Amethyst was such an awesome protagonist. I loved her so freaking much. She is the human amongst all the vampires. For the last eight years, she has pined over her best friend Wolf. Watching her get all blushy around him was so adorable. Wolf made me fall in love with him so incredibly quickly. The story opens with his memory of losing his father, something that happened to Karina recently. The way grief sits with him and the way he processes it, it felt so raw and real. Wolf is kind, caring and loyal. I loved how he could go from teasing Ameyst to being her shoulder to cry on in the next scene.
• Setting: The story is set in San Francisco. If you read Black Sunshine and The Blood is Love you will be very familiar with the Dark Eyes club. A vampire sanctuary in the heart of San Francisco. While it is Wolf’s sanctuary, it is Amethyst’s fascination. I loved the dynamic of her and her mother living and working in the Dark Eyes. Her mother is an awesome character and I loved how she became a motherly figure for Wolf, Solon, and Lenore.
• Pacing: This story was the perfect length. Do not get me wrong I was sad when it was over because I never wanted to leave Wolf and Amethyst.
• Romance: I really connected to Amethyst and how she had been searching her whole life for someone who saw her for her, who would love her for her. The beauty and the curse of a friends-to-lovers story are that the love of your life has been right in front of Amethyst and Wolf for such a long time! This romance was phenomenal. I was so invested in this relationship working out regardless of any roadblocks the world threw at them. This book is one of Karina’s bests. It astounds me that she was able to channel her grief into this groundbreaking love story. It is not just a love story between Amethyst and Wolf, it is a love story between a daughter and a mother, and a father and son.

Nightwolf receives five out of five stars.

You can pick up the story below…

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!

Links to Amazon and Amazon Worldwide

Follow Karina on all her social channels…

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Facebook | Facebook Group | Instagram | Twitter | Bookbub

Thank you again to Karina and her team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Karina Halle’s Nightwolf ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

This is such an anticipated sequel not just for me but romance readers everywhere. So I was over the moon to get my ARC and get to review it for you.

Check out the Goodreads synopsis…

“From the fog-shrouded bay of San Francisco to the dark cobblestone streets of Helsinki and all the hidden places in-between, The Blood is Love takes the reader on a sensual and twisted journey deep into Lenore and Solon’s lush vampire world in this thrilling sequel to Black Sunshine.

When Lenore Warwick turned twenty-one, she expected lots of bar-hopping, parties with friends, and the occasional hookup. What she got was the realization that she’s both a witch and a vampire, and that there are things in this world that want her dead. Thank god she has her enigmatic vampire lover, Absolon Stavig, to help show her the ropes. But while Lenore struggles to fit into her new topsy turvy world, full of blood, sex, and magic, she also has to contend with her messy and complicated love for a vampire who isn’t always what he seems.
To make matters worse, her real father, Jeremias, a powerful warlock from the dark side, has professed an interest in her, while Solon’s father, the depraved vampire king Skarde, is intent on destroying everything she loves. When Solon and Lenore have to travel to Finland to work alongside Solon’s charming and vicious brother, Kaleid, in an attempt to defeat Skarde once and for all, the two of them enter a bloody new world that neither of them are prepared for. Even if their love survives the carnage to come, the chances of them getting out of there alive are slim.
Good thing they like to take their chances.”

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Lenore and Solon go through quite a lot of character development in this sequel. Lenore starts to really get a grasp of her powers. She is really forced to face head-on her new identity. While Solon has his own realization that he is incredibly powerful and cannot always be in control. Not only is Lenore growing in her own power and independence. But as he falls deeper in love with Lenore it challenges his worldview and how he has operated for hundreds of years.
• Setting: The story is mainly set in San Francisco just like the first book. Solon’s house is such a cool setting. The story opens with a big party and just the atmosphere of it was electric. This book just oozed sensuality. The time in Helsinki that is alluded to in the synopsis, had my heart racing and was such a great way to expand this world. I missed San Francisco though when we went away as I really love both Amethyst and Wolf (very pumped for their book this October!) and I wanted even more time with them.
• Pacing: I engulfed this story. I read this incredibly fast, in less than a day. I think lots of us will fall victim to that. The way Karina composed this will make you want to keep reading.
• Romance: The sexual tension between these two is off the charts. Some of their romantic scenes were insane. If voyeurism, exhibitionism and blood play are not for you, then this book is not gonna be for you. The way that these two love each other is so deep, it almost inspiring. Hence I was a bit frustrated when they had their petty arguments and bumps in their relationships. I get why they happened, it furthered the plot and allowed for each character to develop on their own. Yet it seemed out of character at times when these two were not fighting for their relationship tooth and nail. What I love about Lenore and Solon’s relationship is that they brought out the best in each other and only made each other stronger. I will miss these two but hopefully, we will see them in some upcoming books in this universe.

The Blood is Love receives four out of five stars.

You can pick up the story below…

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3gOeX5B
Amazon Worldwide: mybook.to/TheBloodIsLove

Follow Karina on all her social channels…

Website: https://authorkarinahalle.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4785031.Karina_Halle
Amazon: https://amzn.to/31HMztJ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkarinahalle/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/912577838806567/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorhalle/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetalBlonde
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/karina-halle

Thank you again to Karina and Valentine PR for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Karina Halle’s The Blood is Love ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

When I say I have been waiting for this book for years I am not kidding. For those of you who have not been long-time fans of Karina, you would not be aware that this book was sold to Simon & Schuster years ago. They had published two of my fave Karina stories Where Sea Meets the Sky and Racing the Sun. Like I love Racing the Sun so much it’s my most re-read book from Karina’s backlist. Now that the rights of Bright Midnight have been reverted to Karina after so many years she can finally independently publish it!

Check out the Goodreads synopsis…

“From the New York Times bestselling author of Where Sea Meets Sky and Racing the Sun comes a wildly romantic novel about a young American abroad in Norway who runs into the man who broke her heart eight years ago.

After years of bartending her way across Europe, Shay Lavji has seen almost everything the continent has to offer, but there’s one country she hasn’t crossed off her bucket list yet: Norway. It’s not that she doesn’t want to visit the land of the midnight sun—far from it; she’s obsessed with the culture and is dying to see the majestic fjords for herself.

What she’s not dying to do is run into her Norwegian ex-boyfriend, Anders Johansson, who broke her heart in America eight years ago before returning to his ancestral home. The last time she saw Anders, he was a cocky, rebellious, and tortured teenager who couldn’t stop himself from pushing all of her buttons—both good and bad. But Shay isn’t going to let Anders stand in the way of her wanderlust, and besides, it’s a big country, right?

She doesn’t count on Anders seeking her out the moment he learns she’s on his home turf. When Shay sees him again, she’s shocked at his transformation into a bearded, tattooed farmer and fisherman who values family over everything else. Is it possible that time has tamed this former bad boy? Shay wants to believe that everything can be new and bright again under the summer sun, but she knows, when it comes to Anders, the darkness is never too far behind.”

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Shay and Anders are the main characters of Bright Midnight. Shay, you may already be familiar with if you had read Racing the Sun (if you haven’t you need to, it’s one of Karina’s best books!!) She is an American who has been living and working in Europe while trying to find her place in life. While Anders is Norwegian and is that bad boy but in a Viking way. He has tattoos but also long, unkempt hair. Both characters have some deep baggage, but I expect nothing less from one of Karina’s contemporary romances. I just love the way she handles such sensitive subjects.
• Setting: This story is set in Norway, the vast majority of the time in the town of Todalen. Karina herself is Norwegian on her father’s side and Todalen is where he was born. Karina has been many times to visit her family that still lives in the area and that sure comes across in her writing. She makes the place come alive as she vividly paints each landscape. From the humble farm to the fjords, to the Northern lights. It felt like the escape that travel provides which was such a comfort when none of us have been able to travel for so long.
• Pacing: Karina paced this story so effectively. She used past and present-day chapters to build two stories the Shay and Andres of high school and their adult counterparts many years later. So all you’ll really know going in is that they dated in high school and had a bad breakup. How they fell in love and what caused it all to fall apart is something you get to read. That was such a nice touch and really helped me understand more about these characters and how their past defined their present.
• Romance: This is a second chance romance of epic proportions. Shay and Anders dated in high school and fell madly in love. He really messes things up and they had such a big breakup it wrecked Shay for quite a while. Years later it is as if fate is giving them a second chance to be together. Their sexual chemistry sure comes back fast and man oh man I can guarantee all romance readers will love the amount of steam Karina infused into this story. It was never at the expense of the heart, this is such an emotive story and it’s best to let yourself be taken on this adventure with Shay and Anders. But you better strap in because the road ahead is a bit bumpy.

Bright Midnight receives four out of five stars.

You can pick up the story below…

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3sGpxjb
Amazon Worldwide: mybook.to/BrightMidnight

Follow Karina on all her social channels…

Website: https://authorkarinahalle.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4785031.Karina_Halle
Amazon: https://amzn.to/31HMztJ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkarinahalle/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/912577838806567/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorhalle/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetalBlonde
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/karina-halle

Thank you again to Karina and the Valentine PR team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Karina Halle’s Bright Midnight ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.