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.

I have been excited about this book ever since Giana first teased it! All I have to tell you is that this is a dark academia, sapphic, Medusa retelling, that should be enough to get you to look at this twice. I loved this book, and even if you think it is not for you, trust me give it a try and get ready to be whisked away to Archeron University with Lex and Luna.

From Wall Street Journal bestselling author Giana Darling comes a sapphic dark academia Medusa retelling about a woman who was wronged by her idols and refused to pay the price without getting revenge…

I was born a woman.
Raised by women.
In love with women.
Until I enrolled at Acheron University, I’d never known much of men. I certainly didn’t know enough to fear them.
Then one stormy autumnal night, Professor Morgan tried to destroy me.
And when we were discovered by the university President, it was me who was punished for the unwanted seduction.
But they left me with two valuable lessons.
I would never let another woman be hurt by men again if I could help it.
And when someone hurts you, betrays you, and tries to rip out your soul, there is only one remedy for the pain.
Revenge.
And mine takes the form of the President’s very beautiful, very virginal, very straight daughter, Luna Pallas.
Before the end of term, I’ll destroy her innocence just as her mother and Professor Morgan destroyed mine.

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Lex and Luna are the main characters of this sapphic dark academia Medusa retelling. Lex Gorgon is Archeron University’s Medusa. Lex’s story is dark and heavy, warning everyone now that there is sexual assault depicted quite early on in the book and that assault along with many others are discussed throughout the story. Lex’s character has such a magnetism, with a rage that draws you in and has you cheering for her revenge journey. If you love a little feminine rage you will love Lex. Now Luna Pallas, when you meet her you think here is the goody two shoes headmaster’s daughter, and throughout the story, she grows more defiant, and I loved every moment of it. Her development is also a sexuality awakening story as she goes from someone confused about herself to growing into who she is, a bisexual woman. Both of the gals have their own unique strengths and vulnerabilities, I loved them individually but loved them even more together. Lex’s sisters are a perfect addition to this story too, loved the Man Eaters.
• Setting: The story is set in the world of Acheron University, with whisps of dark academia especially at the Gorgon house readers will find it easy to immerse themselves fully in this world.
• Pacing: The book is seamless with just how fluid and beautiful Giana’s writing is. For those who love retellings and literature (all the English majors), you will adore the reference and reverence shown throughout the story. I was hooked on the plot of the Man Eaters and their quest for revenge, and I really loved how Giana went about navigating it and how she brought so much care to how she wrote about sexual assault.
• Romance: Giana pulled off writing a relationship that was heartwarming, earth-shattering, and so damn filled with tension. Lex and Luna had me giggling over their banter, and then swooning as they read poetry to the other. But fear not this book is also incredibly hot, from their first interactions the sexual tension melts from the pages. There is so much emotionality, they are navigating so many roadblocks in their way from others’ homophobia to processing trauma to seeking revenge, many times I was brought close to tears by this relationship. This out-of-the-world attraction and chemistry are balanced against how they are perfect for each other, Lex brings a bit of darkness to Luna, and Luna is Lex’s light. Truly it is such a special sapphic romance and powerful story.

Serpentine Valentine receives 5/5 stars.

You can pick up the story here.

Follow Giana on all her social channels…

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

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

The post Giana Darling’s Serpentine Valentine ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

The anticipation for this series is unmatched! I adore Sierra Simone’s New Camelot series, as those books were some of the first of hers I ever read. I was over the moon excited to see Sierra Simone decide to do another take on an old legend, this time the story of Tristan and Isodole. This story is definitely setting the stage for something bigger and I cannot wait to see where Sierra takes us.

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

Tristan Thomas is lost. After leaving the Army, the young former soldier is in limbo. Until, that is, he’s hired by Mark Trevena, the owner of Lyonesse—DC’s ultra-secret club—to be Mark’s new bodyguard. He’s drawn into Mark’s dark, seductive world of power and desire, and slowly drawn to Mark himself, even though Mark is everything Tristan knows he shouldn’t want: cruel and wicked and shamelessly amoral.

But protecting Mark isn’t Tristan’s only duty: soon, Mark asks him to guard his soon-to-be bride as she travels home from Ireland on Mark’s yacht. Tristan is jealous—and hurt to learn that the object of his obsession is engaged—but the soldier in him is made to obey orders, and he goes to fetch Mark’s bride for him.

Isolde Laurence is nothing like Tristan expected, however. Young, quiet, and sharp, she’s being pushed into this marriage by her family, and as the two travel back to America, Tristan finds himself fascinated with Isolde and the glimpses he gets of the lonely but determined woman behind her reserve. And the fascination is mutual: one night, while sailing under the cold stars, they share a searing kiss.

From there, it’s a fast fall into the forbidden. But in Mark Trevena’s world, the fall is only the beginning…

The Lyonesse trilogy is a queer, kinky contemporary retelling of the legend of Tristan and Isolde, set in the same world as the New Camelot series. Readers will not have to read New Camelot to enjoy Lyonesse, although readers who enjoyed New Camelot will find all the things they loved about the trilogy here: MMF ménage, plenty of the angsty forbidden, and a sweeping retelling of a familiar story.

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: First we should unpack Tristan, the character whose point of view we follow throughout Salt Kiss. He is such an interesting character as he is so contradictory – he is one of the most naive characters I have ever read while also not being naive about the mess he got himself into. I did really appreciate Sierra’s depiction of a past soldier struggling with survivor’s guilt and PTSD. But for all the war he has seen, he still had such an innocence about him. This loyal, endearing puppy of a man was prime for Mark’s much darker tendencies. I did read the prequel Salt in the Wound (which I highly recommend you do) and so I knew a bit of what we were getting into with Mark. I also saw Sierra at an event say that Mark is her first true anti-hero and he definitely is. This mysterious guy is ruthless, but there is definitely something festering under there that both Tristan and Isodole will be able to root out.
• Setting: The home base of the story is Washington, D.C. where Mark has his infamous business the sex club the Lyonesse. I loved that setting and cannot wait for the next book to bring us to it more often. Mark and Tristan travel so much for work, and I just kept begging to go back to Lyonesse.
• Pacing: I flew through this story, in many ways, it truly didn’t feel long enough. So I am dying for the next one and grateful I also had the prequel to read. Most of my issues with this story do have to do with plot and pacing. It takes way too long for Isodole to enter the story, so I am warning you of that now that this story is primarily an M/M and not an M/F/M. I guess I just have to be more patient because I do understand Sierra’s choices of growing a larger story here and setting up the playing field.
• Romance: So needless to say this starts as an M/M and the corrupting of Tristan at the hands of Mark. I ate up every minute of it. They were so hot together with such great tension. I cannot wait to truly see Isodole thrown into the mix more, crossing my fingers for hopefully with both of them. I say this coming from a place of having adored all of Sierra’s poly stories and that I am craving more.

Salt Kiss receives four out of five stars.

You can pick up the story here.

Follow Sierra on all her social channels…

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

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

The post Sierra Simone’s Salt Kiss ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

While I was reading Brutal Prince I was so excited to get in Nessa’s head. Once I found out that this installment was about her I was ecstatic. I was even more interested to get to read Sophie’s take on the classic mafia romance trope, kidnapping.

They Murdered My Father, So I Stole Their Daughter…

She’s my captive, my little ballerina who dances only for me.

Nessa is sweet and innocent. She doesn’t deserve any of this. But that’s how our world works – the wolves eat the lambs, no matter how gentle they may be.

I’ll use her to get my revenge. Unless I give in to my hunger first…

“Stolen Heir” is the dark and gothic second act of the “Brutal Birthright” series. It’s a stand-alone Enemies to Lovers Romance, complete with HEA and no cliffhangers. It contains blazing hot bedroom scenes for mature readers only!!!

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Nessa is the only daughter of the Griffin Irish mafia family, and she’s been kept out of the business until now. She is kidnapped by Mikolaj, or Miko the head of the Polish Bratva. His character is dark, and it stems from some messed-up familial losses. Like many mafia men, he is fiercely loyal and the Polish Bratva had more of a found family vibe than the Gallo and Griffin families did which I enjoyed. When we meet Nessa she is struggling to advocate for herself and has been fading into the background. Being locked inside Miko’s house actually helped Nessa fly free. Her confidence grew after getting out from under her overbearing family. I do love that family of hers very much though. Throughout this book, we got snippets of Aida and Callum as a married couple and that warmed my heart. Along with little teases of some of the Gallo boys to come and I am so excited for Nero next.
• Setting: This mafia romance is set in Chicago, where different families are vying for dominance in the windy city. This time we got a deeper look at the Polish and Russian bratva which make the Irish and Italian mafia families look super chill in comparison. I love how this world expands, more characters get drawn in, and more people join the extended Gallo/Griffin crowd.
• Pacing: I cannot help but engulf these stories, the first half in particular I just could not stop reading. I did find the story started to wrap up too quickly at the end, I would have especially loved a bit more time for our characters to fall in love. It’s natural though in these shorter novels that a few things are rushed to ensure you get a nice bow at the end.
• Romance: This romance is structured as a Beauty and the Beast retelling, with Stockholm Syndrome and all. I love Beauty and the Beast retellings in any form, and a mafia kidnapping romance was the perfect setting. Nessa and Miko were hot together, and I want to ensure potential readers that Nessa makes the first move and Miko never threatens to touch her without her permission. Sophie writes mafia with a bit of an edge but keeps consent as key in this one. I felt pity for Miko from the opening pages, I am so happy his ballerina could sweep him off his feet and show him that he deserved love in his life. For Nessa, I loved that her relationship brought out the best in her, helping her grow into a strong woman in a chaotic mafia family.

Stolen Heir receives four out of five stars.

You can pick up the story here.

Thank you again to Bloom and Raincoast for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Sophie Lark’s Stolen Heir Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

Has this been my most anticipated instalment since Katee announced all the pairings? Yes, yes it was. Did it deliver? Oh yes, yes it did. The idea of managing four characters and their interlocking relationships as friends and lovers – only Katee could manage something like this!

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

He was my enemy. My lover. My husband.

And the one man I swore by all Olympus I would destroy.

*A scorchingly hot modern retelling of Aphrodite and Hephaestus (and Pandora and Adonis).*

Aphrodite has never flinched at getting her perfectly manicured hands dirty, and she’s not about to start now—even if that means marrying Olympus’s enemy number one, the new Hephaestus. She has a wicked plan to keep her deadly new husband off-balance, seducing the one person he seems to care about most in this world: Pandora, a woman as beautiful as she is sweet.

Two can play the seduction game, however, and Hephaestus is all too happy to put his new wife in her place. Her ex, Adonis, seems like he’ll do the trick. It doesn’t hurt that he’s gorgeous in the way of fallen angels, either.

The only problem with using seduction as a weapon? Hearts are all too quick to get involved. With Hephaestus and Aphrodite trading venomous strikes that feel a whole lot like foreplay, lines become blurred and emotions entangled. But a broken heart may be the least of their worries. With unrest in Olympus reaching new heights, these bedroom games may have deadly consequences for themselves, their city, and everyone they’ve come to love.

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: This book features a poly knot of four characters: Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Adonis, and Pandora. Olympus’ current Aphrodite is Eris of the powerful Kaitos clan. Her brother is Zeus and her sister is Ares. I have wanted to be in Eris’ head for so damn long! She is such an interesting character and I loved getting to see different sides of her through how others perceive her along with how she sees herself. You get a different side of Eris with her family and her lovers, she is not just some stilted ice queen. She is loyal, determined and the type of person who avoids feeling or seeming like she needs someone. I loved seeing the cracks in her armour and how others cared for her. Her husband is Hephaestus, a role in which Minos’ adoptive son Theseus killed for. I didn’t know what to expect, but he was a pretty dynamic character. I am looking forward to getting to know more of Mino’s brood of adopted children. Adonis is in this story in a role that mimics his of the Greek myths, he’s Aphrodite’s lover. I really loved his character and his fierce loyalty to Eris. The final character Pandora felt refreshingly different than her mythological counterpart, plus I loved her dynamic with Aphrodite.
• Setting: Olympus politics are heating up and I live for it! This world is getting thrown for a loop. I love the wider cast of characters so much and how Katee always starts dropping easter eggs for future instalments. I cannot wait to read the next one about Eurdyices, Orpheus, and Charon.
• Pacing: This story was riveting as I read it in just a few days. Every time I think the stakes are high, Katee finds a way to raise them.
• Romance: What I loved about the makeup of all the relationships is what I tend to notice in these poly romances. It is very apparent in the Adonis and Aphrodite relationship, for example, that they didn’t make sense as a pair – almost that something was missing. This book just like every book in this series, and basically every Katee Robert book I have read is just incredibly hot. The nature of the poly knot meant you get a variety of combinations, making for some hot sex scenes. Katee always does a good job balancing the toe-curling hot sex with the emotional side of navigating a non-monogamous relationship. These characters really had to go through a loop to embrace happiness in non-monogamy.

Cruel Seduction receives four out of five stars.

You can pick up the story here.

Follow Katee on all her social channels…

Twitter | Facebook Page | Facebook Group | Instagram | Tik Tok | Patreon | Website

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

The post Katee Robert’s Cruel Seduction ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

Crossed is not for the faint of heart, but if you have gotten this far with Emily McIntire’s steamy fractured fairytales then you know what to expect – something dark and twisted. Father Cade has a sinister streak and Amaya is the perfect Esmeralda-esque character, so when their paths cross you get a deliciously dark story.

From bestselling author Emily McIntire comes a dark and delicious fractured fairy tale reimagining of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

He is righteousness. She is sin.

Father Cade Frédéric is a holy man. Brought up in the streets of Paris, he has dedicated his life to the church. But there’s a monster that lingers just beneath the surface. A sickness. One that bleeds darkness and feeds on the damned. When he’s tasked to become the priest in Festivalé, Vermont, a town both beautiful in architecture and riddled with despair, his sickness sings, demanding he rid the place of evil.

Amaya Paquette is Festivalé’s beautiful mystery. She spends her days caring for her younger brother and her nights transforming into Esmeralda, dancing for greedy eyes and shameless lips. Although she longs for love, she shies away from companionship, afraid of being abandoned again.

When Father Cade lays eyes on Amaya, he finds himself ensnared, convinced she’s using witchcraft to lure him to her. He can’t eat. Can’t breathe. Can’t think unless it’s of her.

And temptation is a devastating mistress.

She’s his weakness, so he decides he’ll be her demise…even if it means killing the only woman he might ever love.

***

*CROSSED is a dark, contemporary romance (not fantasy or a literal retelling) and the fifth complete standalone in the Never After series: fractured fairy tales inspired by our favorite villains. It features mature themes and content that may not be suitable for all readers. READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED. Detailed TW can be found on the author’s website. This series can be enjoyed in any order.*

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: The leading man of Crossed is Father Cade Frédéric, a priest from Paris who at the opening of our story is settling in Festivalé, Vermont. This hero, or should I say this villain is not just emotionally toured – he’s very into self-flagellation. A priest was the perfect corrupt hero for Emily to tackle, and he is one of her darkest yet. As readers will read the first chapter opens with him strangling someone to death. Amaya is the town pariah, so she is the perfect heroine for Cade. As in previous stories in this world, the hero doesn’t truly corrupt the heroine rather he celebrates and loves her for the whole picture of her no matter how sinful a side of her may be. Fans of the first book, Hooked should enjoy this one, as Amaya is reminiscent of Wendy if life had thrown more at her.
• Setting: This story is set in small town Vermont – a grimy, gossipy place. It is extremely corrupt as one man basically runs the town and enjoys unlimited power. That is until Cade and his religious authority shows up. Readers will love how he messes with than man who is trying to marry Amaya.
• Pacing: I found the pacing super compelling. I read about one hundred pages before golfing to bed and then woke up the next day to finish the rest. I just needed to see our characters give into their undeniable sexual chemistry and descend into being more and more sinful.
• Romance: With such forbidden characters like this of course the sex is hot and sinful. I did get really emotionally invested in them too. Plus I was a sucker for how Cade not only fell for Amaya but also her little brother Quinten. This should be stressed that this book is not for the faint of heart – no redemption and character growth furthering the corruption. 

Crossed receives four out of five stars.

You can pick up the story here.

Thank you again to Emily, Bloom, and Raincoast for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Emily McIntire’s Crossed ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

I overall really enjoyed both this final book and this entire trilogy. If anyone is in the mood for a Why Choose or a retelling I would definitely recommend this as a fun binge-read.

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

Once upon a time I had everything. Four perfect husbands, a gorgeous home, a shining future. I was the princess of Velvet House. The beloved jewel of the men I love.

My heart understood this perfect snapshot could not last. My evil stepmother conspires with my twisted ex-fiancé, watching for me in the darkness.

They won’t rest until my life is ashes.

My men vow to protect me, but when the nightmare falls, they are put in chains. I stand alone and alone I must seek vengeance for my lovers…

To become the queen I was born to be.

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: I love where January’s character development got to as she has undergone some staggering changes. I loved how she embraced a newfound independence and confidence. The men in her life just elevate her noble qualities and help to bring out what was in her all along. Things that her family had stifled in her, now get to shine. The best part was how she was not a pushover for the boys, that she fought for the future she wanted not just for herself, but how a future would look for all of them. With all this work put into the development of January’s character, I felt that the boys were a bit neglected. Bobby and Adriano saw virtually no development, while a little attention was paid to Elliot and Doc specifically working through the trust that comes with falling in love. I would have liked a bit more but I understand the limitation with the length and how many love interests there are. The little we know about the side characters is very interesting and I am excited to hopefully read a future book about January’s sister Margo, and/or the tale of the twin bodyguards, Archie and Bill.
• Setting: Our story starts at Velvet House, which has transitioned from the much more icy unloving place that it was in the first instalment, to a home for January, her men, and their future family. I do not want to go into too much detail about where else you get to go as it does spoil the plot of the books. But know that the plot takes them away from Velvet House, but the little sojourner brings fodder for romantic scenes.
• Pacing: This book was paced very well, some readers may find these on the shorter side but I do not mind the fast pace of this story, which the entire series moved at. I want to laud heavy praise on how this book started, it is an explosive scene and just epic. It was a true amalgamation of January’s character development and just how hot this series was.
• Romance: On the topic of hot, yes of course this book is riddled with scorching hot sex scenes with different match-ups of January with Doc, Bobby, Elliott, and/or Adriano. I was grateful to see no regression in where the relationship was left at the end of the second instalment. Rather much of the conflict that threatens their relationship is external rather than internal. The plot sure threw our characters through a loop and really tested the boys’ romantic devotion to January and their brotherly bond with one another. There was still room in all of that for the emotional development of this relationship, specifically some of the boys’ struggle to say I love you and how it symbolized their greater struggle to trust in the special thing they had. The new elements introduced in the romance storyline are predictable (maybe even a bit cliche) but it is still a satisfactory conclusion to an entertaining series.

Lace Vengeance receives four out of five stars.

You can pick up the story below…

Amazon | Amazon INTL | Barnes & Noble | Apple | Kobo | Google

Thank you again to Eve and the Dangerous Press team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Eve Dangerfield’s Lace Vengeance ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

I was so very excited for this instalment as I am for each new Dark Olympus book. Katee is just a retelling genius, or should I say, goddess! This book was another phenomenal individual story as well as representing intense implications that will dominate the rest of the series.

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

There’s nowhere more dangerous than Olympus…and no one more captivating than its golden god: Apollo. Keeper of secrets, master of his shining realm…and the only man I am powerless to deny.

*A scorchingly hot modern retelling of Apollo and Cassandra that’s as sinful as it is sweet.*

As a disgraced member of a fallen house, Cassandra Gataki has seen firsthand what comes from trusting the venomous Thirteen. But when the maddeningly gorgeous and kind Apollo asks her to go undercover as his plus-one at a week-long party hosted by a dangerous new power player…Cassandra reluctantly agrees to have his back.

On one condition: when it’s all over, and Apollo has the ammunition he needs to protect Olympus, she and her sister will be allowed to leave. For good.

Apollo may be the city’s official spymaster, but it’s his ability to inspire others that keeps him at the top. Despite what the rest of Olympus says, there’s no one he trusts more than Cassandra. Yet even as their fake relationship takes a wicked turn for the scaldingly hot, a very real danger surfaces… threatening not only Cassandra and Apollo, but the very heart of Olympus itself.

“Deliciously inventive…Red-hot.”—Publishers Weekly STARRED Review for Neon Gods

“I get shivers just thinking of their interactions. SHIVERS.”—Mimi Koehler for The Nerd Daily for Neon Gods

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Within just a few pages I had fallen deeply in love with Cassandra, she may be my favourite heroine in Olympus that we have met yet. I cannot help but want to root for a social outcast in this society. She is incredibly determined and Katee is so good at weaving great representation into her stories. Cassandra is a tremendous plus-size and bisexual representation. Cassandra works for Apollo, he is one of the thirteen, but he got the role by being selected by the other members of the thirteen. So, no surprise he is a wicked smart spymaster. He got to where he is through being hardworking and determined, virtues Cassandra and readers alike will adore about him.
• Setting: The forced proximity trope plays a role in Cassandra and Apollo’s romance, but it also dominates the story’s setting. Most of this story takes place in this elaborate house that was Hermes and now it’s the Minotaur’s. This book felt like a game-changer for this world, even more than the last one. I love the politics of this world and this instalment sure took great advantage of this as so many of the thirteen are locked into a single home.
• Pacing: I devoured this book as I have all the Dark Olympus books. So much of Apollo and Cassandra’s history is from before the book so you are thrown into their dynamic and the book never slows down.
• Romance: Apollo and Cassandra are your classic we both feel things for each other but what bother telling the other person kind of couple. The tension between them is hot and heavy. Now not only are they keeping their feelings to themselves, throw in the boss-employee dynamic. All they needed was a fake dating scheme and some forced proximity to really reckon with the depths of their feelings. This book is so damn hot. I love Apollo and Cassandra’s in-bedroom dynamic, the portrayal of the softer side of BDSM was so well done. So many readers will love to see this sub-dom dynamic with some bondage play, but maybe not as intense as it can be with other couples.

Radiant Sin receives five out of five stars.

You can pick up the story here.

Follow Katee on all her social channels…

Twitter | Facebook Page | Facebook Group | Instagram | Tik Tok | Patreon | Website

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

The post Katee Robert’s Radiant Sin ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

Dangerous Press has had its share of fairy tale retellings and now they are tackling snow white with a why choose romance!

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

Once upon a time I was promised to a powerful man. I’m Harlow Constantine, and I know my duty. But on my wedding day, I’m stolen by four men. Men who loathe my fiancé. They’re going to use me to fulfill their vendetta.

One of them only wants my body.

One of them wants me as his wife.

Another one offers freedom… at a price.

And the last wants me dead.

I was raised to be a good society wife. Now I’m facing a battle of wits and breathless desire. My only hope is to set aside my innocence. Or learn to use it as a weapon.

Author’s Note: VELVET CRUELTY is a scorching romance between a woman and four beautifully dangerous men in which she never has to choose. Read at your own discretion.

Welcome to the Midnight Dynasty… The warring Morelli and Constantine families have enough bad blood to fill an ocean, and their brand new stories will be told by your favorite dangerous romance authors.

WARNING: This book is intended for readers eighteen years old and over. It contains material that some readers could find disturbing. Enter at your own risk…

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: The heroine at the center of all of this is January Whitehall, a just turned 18, a beauty who is set to be married off. Much of her backstory mimics that of a Snow White-like character. What I liked about Eve’s take is as helpless as January seemed at the beginning, this story has put January on this journey of discovering her own agency. For the first time in her life she is the freest she has ever been, and the juxtaposition of that the price of this freedom is actually captivity. Now for a quick rundown of all the men surrounding January. Adriano Rossi wants to kill her, Domenico “Doc” Valente wants to sleep with her, Robert “Bobby” Bassilotta wants to marry her, and Elliot Velluto Morelli wants to keep her as a mistress. I thought all the male characters felt different, not just by their motivations but by how they interacted with January. It was super effective that Eve built in these backstories where the guys inserted themselves into January’s life so once they kidnapped her, she had a shared past with each of them.
• Setting: The story is set primarily at the Velvet House. It is the home of Elliott Morelli, the son of the third son of the Morelli family. He is not going to inherit the Morelli wealth or business like Lucian or Leo. The Velvet House is January’s prison but for the men, it’s a home. It was interesting to see January forge a space within Velvet House.
• Pacing: Much of this story was laying the groundwork. We know this is going to be a trilogy, and so much of that knowledge dominates the story. The story is set up but it feels like the payoff is coming much later. I fully did not get why each guy has beef with January’s finance Parker. I understand he is a bad man, with a shady business but there is definitely more to the story and I wanted more revealed earlier.
• Romance: I did enjoy how different each relationship felt. The romance between January and all the men are at a variety of different stages. Each of them has a unique sexual tension with her, Bobby is more romantic, while Adriano is scary. Be fair warned this story will not be for everyone, I imagine once you have taken in the synopsis you should know that. If you want to read a book that pushes the boundaries of what romance and relationships can be, this will be a series for you. I loved how January had agency in a story where kidnapped is a trope. Her choices drive the course of the story and it is those choices that have kicked off both the relationships and plot points that will drive the next two instalments.

Velvet Cruelty receives four out of five stars.

You can pick up the story below…

Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo | Google

Thank you again to Eve and the Dangerous Press team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Eve Dangerfield’s Velvet Cruelty ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

I could not be more excited for the first triad in the Dark Olympus world! I adored Katee’s throuples in previous stories in the Wicked Villains series.

I am a member of Katee Robert’s review team, but I stand by my reviews remaining honest and true.

“She was the face that launched a thousand ships,
The fierce beauty at the heart of Olympus,
And she was never ours to claim.

*A scorchingly hot modern retelling of Helen of Troy, Achilles, and Patroclus that’s as sinful as it is sweet.*

In Olympus, you either have the power to rule…or you are ruled. Achilles Kallis may have been born with nothing, but as a child he vowed he would claw his way into the poisonous city’s inner circle. Now that a coveted role has opened to anyone with the strength to claim it, he and his partner, Patroclus Fotos, plan to compete and double their odds of winning.

Neither expect infamous beauty Helen Kasios to be part of the prize…or for the complicated fire that burns the moment she looks their way.

Zeus may have decided Helen is his to give to away, but she has her own plans. She enters into the competition as a middle finger to the meddling Thirteen rulers, effectively vying for her own hand in marriage. Unfortunately, there are those who would rather see her dead than lead the city. The only people she can trust are the ones she can’t keep her hands off—Achilles and Patroclus. But can she really believe they have her best interests at heart when every stolen kiss is a battlefield?”

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: I love all these characters so so so much! First, in our triad we have Helen, she has been in the Dark Olympus series for quite a while but only as a side character. She is from a very prominent family, with her father being the former Zeus, her brother Perseus being the current Zeus, her sister Eris the current Aphrodite and her brother Hercules (who is the Hercules in the Wicked Villains series.) Growing up Helen had little autonomy over her life and now she has the chance to fight for her own agency and an equal place next to the rest of the thirteen who rule over Olympus. She has a bit of a party girl, spoiled princess reputation but as you read you understand that Helen is much more than meets the eye. She is guarded with everyone and as she opens up you learn how brave, politically savvy and gutsy she is. I did not think it was possible to love a female character more than Persephone in this world, but Helen may be forcing me to change my mind. Now for the men in Helen’s life, Achilles and Patroclus. Just like in the Greek Myth these characters are pulled from, Homer’s The Iliad, Achilles and Patroclus are best friends. These men could not be more different though. Achilles is the warrior, the orphan boy who worked his way up the ranks to Athena’s second-in-command. He wants to win the Ares title because he craves power and respect. While Patroclus joins the competition to back up Achilles. He is the wickedly smart, talented mind counterpart to Achilles’ brutal strength. I loved them both dearly for different reasons. Achilles drove me a bit crazy sometimes but I admired how good he was at reading people. Patroclus is my type of guy, nerdy and shy yet oh so charming. Side note: I love all the side characters so much! This instalment gives you time to check on how our previous couples are doing. I loved how Eros played a special role in this story. The competition brought in so many interesting side characters, maybe some future story ideas? And of course, we got to see some of the dynamics between the new Zeus and the new Hera. I cannot wait to get inside Callisto’s head in the future.
• Setting: The world of the Dark Olympus series takes place in an alternative version of Olympus. This version is just as wrought with political turmoil as the Mount Olympus of Greek Mythology. This time the majority of the God tiles are positions that can be held. Ares is the contested title featured in this book, which is won by competition. I really liked this idea, as it played off Myth inspiration in an interesting way. It is canon that men vie for Helen’s hand in marriage, I love how in Katee’s version Helen fights for herself.
• Pacing: I never wanted this book to end! I was hooked from start to finish and was really impressed by how compelling the plot was. Katee did a phenomenal job at pacing how this plot unfolded, both the speed at which our triad fell in love and the speed at which the various rounds of the competition unfolded.
• Romance: Is it weird to say I knew I was going to love this romance before it even started. In Katee’s Wicked Villains series my favourites were the ménage romances. So I had high hopes for our first throuple in the Dark Olympus world, and they were just so perfect together. To get the most obvious over of course the sex scenes were scorchers and I loved each and every combination we got. The emotional elements were impeccable! Achilles and Patroclus have their own history together. They are lovers, without a label, in an open relationship. Due to the nature of having all three points of view, you understand quite quickly both men love each other and want something more, but something is missing. Enter Helen and she shakes these two up and shows them why the three of them need to be together. They all balance each other out so well and I loved how quickly they fell in with each other. The early chapters featured so many fun jealous moments that gave way to the three of them coming together in a spectacular fashion. These three spend most of the book terrified of what the future holds, and you the reader will not be able to help but cheer for them and their imagined future together.
• Audiobook Elements: I actually listened to this as an Audiobook ARC rather than read the eARC. So, I wanted to spend some time mentioning the pros and cons of the audiobook if you were considering that format. This story has two narrators, a female and a male. As there are two distinct male points of view, the guy does a distinct accent for Achilles and Patroclus. I really liked the sounds of their voices and the intonation and speed of their speech. Often when I am listening to things I want to rush the speed but this time around I kept it at a normal pace because I was enjoying their storytelling.

Wicked Beauty receives five out of five stars.

You can pick up the story below…

BAM | Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

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

The post Katee Robert’s Wicked Beauty ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.