Review: Lore Olympus: Volume Nine

Title: Lore Olympus: Volume Nine

Author: Rachel Smythe

Series/Standalone: Lore Olympus (Volume #9)

Genre: Graphic Novels, Mythology, Adult, Romance

Pages: 432

Publisher: Inklore

Year Published: 2025

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"The Underworld has a queen!'

Persephone and Hades are finally reunited when the banished goddess of spring returns to the Underworld to claim her rightful place as queen. Now that Hades and Persephone have defeated and imprisoned the power-hungry Kronos once more, nothing can keep them apart, and years of being separated have only made their desire for each other grow. But the other Olympians can't help but meddle, pushing the pair to make things official with a coronation- and a wedding.

Ignoring the others who try to define their relationship. Hades and Persephone choose to take things at their own pace and focus on rebuilding the Underworld. They begin by investigating how Kronos was first able to escape, and they learn the horrifying truth that he has captured a powerful young god whose abilities help Kronos project his thoughts outside of Tartarus- thoughts he uses to plague Hera's every waking moment. Though Krono's physical form is locked away, Olympus will never be free until they can rescue the child from the furious Titan's grasp.

To save the realms, Persephone must figure out her fertility goddess powers and embrace her role as Queen of the Underworld- even as it takes her further from her mother's expectations and her former place in the Mortal Realm."

My Rating: 5/5

After just being ok with the past couple of volumes in this series, or not finding them super memorable, I felt that this one was well-paced and memorable. I really enjoyed the art style (as always), and the story felt like it truly ramped up in this volume. I can't wait to continue on and read the next in the series as it comes out in June. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Opal

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Series/Standalone: Lux Series (Book #3)

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Romance

Pages: 394

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Year Published: 2012

Format:  Audiobook (Library Copy)

"No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn't fooling around. Doubting him isn't something I'll do again, and now that we've made it through the rough patches, well... There's a lot of spontaneous combustion going on. 

But even he can't protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love. 

After everything, I'm no longer the same Katy. I'm different... And I'm not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I'm capable. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won't turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we're stronger... and they know it."

My Rating: 3.5/5

This one wasn't as fun as the first two, if I'm being totally honest. I didn't love the shift in tone and relationship with Katy and Daemon. I still enjoy the training montage and the ideas that are presented. The sci-fi elements are interesting, and the writing is fun, although I caught myself more and more thinking about the age of the author vs. the age of the characters. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Scarlet Princess by Robin D. Mahle & Elle Madison

Title: Scarlet Princess

Author(s): Robin D. Mahle & Elle Madison

Series/Standalone: The Lochlann Feuds (Book #1)

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult

Pages: 324

Publisher: Indie Published

Year Published: 2021

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"A reckless princess. An enemy kingdom. And a mistake that could cost her everything.

Rowan only wanted a bit of adventure. She never meant to start a war.

But when a vodka smuggling trip goes wrong and lands her in the hands of the people she was brought up to hate, the Loclannian princess is forced to put her life on the line for the sake of her cousin and her kingdom. Her only ally is one of her captors, a man who is turning out to be so different from the barbarian she expected him to be.

Now she's in over her head with ancient vendettas, blood debts and the dangerous political games she's never been good at playing. Even Theo's help may not be enough to save her when Socairans still blame her for her parents' war... and when she's tempting fate by falling for one of their own. 

Rowan will have to find a way to smooth things over without causing more chaos, before she accidentally kicks off a conflict that could forever alter the fate of two kingdoms."

My Rating: 4.5/5

This first instalment follows Princess Rowan as she enters and remains trapped in a kingdom she knows next to nothing about, other than how they were enemies in the past and have remained barely cordial in the current tense. After a trip to get vodka (something unavailable in her own kingdom), she is caught smuggling and is left to deal with the consequences and a trial that could lead to her death. The authors do an excellent job of writing a fantasy world that is familiar enough to visualize but different enough to keep you on your toes. It almost feels medieval in time frame. The key factor to my enjoyment is Rowan's spunk and personality. Even when backed against a wall, she remains strong. I look forward to seeing how this series continues on, and who knows maybe we'll be reading a lot more from these authors. 

Thanks for reading

Sidny

Book Review: A Very Merry Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams

Title: A Very Merry Bromance

Author: Lyssa Kay Adams

Series/Standalone: Bromance Book Club (Book #5)

Genre: Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance

Pages: 359

Publisher: Berkley

Year Published: 2022

Format: Paperback (Own It)

"Country music's golden boy Colton Wheeler felt the most perfect harmony when he was with Gretchen Winthrop. But for her, it was a love him and leave him situation. A year later, Colton is struggling to push his music forward in a new direction. If it weren't about to be the most magical time of year and the support of the Bromance Book Club, he'd be wallowing in self-pity.

It's hard for immigration attorney Gretchen not to feel a little Scrooge-ish about the excess of Christmas when her clientsare scrambling to afford their rent. So when her estranged, wealthy family reaches out with an offer that will allow her to better serve the community, she's unable to say no. She just needs to convince Colton to be the new face of her family's whiskey brand. No big deal...

Colton agrees to consider Gretchen's offer in exchange for three dates before Christmas. With the help of the Bromance Book Club, Colton throws himself into the task of proving to her there's a spark between them. But Gretchen and Colton will both need to overcome the ghosts of Christmas past to build a future together."

My Rating: 5/5

I really enjoyed this Bromance Christmas special. It was exactly what I needed this season and included one of my favourite tropes, grumpy fmc and sunshine mmc. I find that as a fellow grumpy women it's annoying that often the woman is always the one cast as sunshine in these tropes, so when we have one that better emulates my husband and I (he is a ball of sunshine and all things good, btw), it's hard to resist.  This was a favourite series for me, and if Lyssa Kay Adams ever decided to put out more, they'd be on the top of my TBR pile.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Shadows by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Shadows

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Series/Standalone: Lux Series (Book #0.5)

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, 

Pages: 179

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Year Published: 2012

Format: Audiobook

"The last thing Dawson Black expected was Bethany Williams. As a Luxen, an alien life form on Earth, human girls are... well, fun. But since the Luxens have to keep their true identities a secret, falling for one would be insane.

Dangerous. Tempting. Undeniable.

Bethany can't deny the immediate connection between her and Dawson. And even though boys aren't a complication she wants, she can't stay away from him. Still, whenever they lock eyes, she's drawn in.

Captivated. Lured Loved.

Dawson is keeping a secret that will change her existence... and put her life in jeopardy. But even he can't stop risking everything for one human girl. Or from a fate that is as unavoidable as love itself."

My Rating: 4.5/5

I really enjoyed reading this storyline. I think understanding how these interactions lead to behaviours in the first book will be great to see going forward. That being said, I wouldn't have read this at any separate time. This was a perfect place to read this novella, and I can't wait to continue on in the series.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Veroncia Ruiz Breaks the Bank by Elle Cosimano

Title: Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank

Author: Elle Cosimano

Series/Standalone: Finlay Donovan (Book #3.5)

Genre: Mystery, Cozy, Novella

Pages: 119

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Year Published: 2023

Format: Audiobook

"Anyone can spot a window of opportunity, but not everyone can manage to fall straight through one.

Vernoica Ruiz is on the run for the first time in her life- though certainly not the last. After being falsely accused of stealing money from her college sorority, she packs up and heads to her cousin Ramon's apartment, planning to change her name and rebuild start over away from backstabbing girls and university drama (and far, far away from her arrest warrant in Maryland).

At the local bank on the first morning of her new life, it occurs to Vero that she'd be a better bank teller than most of the current employees: she may not have much money, but what little she does have, she knows how to manage. Unfortunately, the only available position is a cleaning job and so, desperate for a fresh start, she takes the bank manager's offer.

But nothing Vero's world has ever been simple, so of course shortly after she begins work, she overhears a conversation between her new boss and a security guard: someone who works there has been stealing. Seeing a window of opportunity, Vero sets out to find the identity of the thief, present the evidence, and then push for the perfect job. All of which would be easier if her irresistibly infuriating childhood crush Javi wasn't living in the same damn town."

My Rating: 4/5

This was a great novella to get to know Vero more and understand how her and Finlay's friendship began. Seeing how she takes things into her own hands helps me understand some of her actions in the full-length novels. I look forward to seeing her and Javi's relationship continue throughout the rest of the series.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Loud: Accept Nothing Less Than the Life You Deserve by Drew Afualo

Title: Loud: Accept Nothing Less Than the Life You Deserve

Author: Drew Afualo

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Nonfiction, Feminism, Self-Help

Pages: 256

Publisher: AUWA

Year Published: 2024

Format: Audiobook

"Drew Afualo is best known as the internet's 'Crusador for Women' and is the head of a new generation of entertainment's rising stars, with more than nine million followers across her social platforms. She soon realized that men on social media were creating sexist content aimed at disparaging women, and also containing rampant fatphobia, racism and other forms of bigotry with very real-life consequences. It didn't take long for her to step into the role of unofficial watchdog for misogyny, and her signature laugh is now recognized as a feminist call to arms. Loud is part manual, part manifesto and part memoir. It is a summoning cry to rid the internet (and our hearts, minds and lives) of 'terrible men' and create a space to fight outdated patriarchal ideals. Above all, it makes it clear that behind Drew's fearsome laugh is a mission and a life philosophy, a strategy for self-confidence from the inside out, and a pathway to once and for all remove men from the centre of how women and fems think about themselves."

My Rating: 5/5

This is a book I would strongly recommend if you've watched any of Drew Afualo's content or if you are curious about how standing up to patriarchy can look. It gives tips and tricks to begin, how to spot red flags, but also has admissions of times that in her past she was not as strong in her ideals as she is today (teenage years, etc) That admission in itself helped me to feel more confident in the stance I take now, despite how I acted when I was in high school, because let's be honest, in high school, we're all just trying to survive and figure everything out. Bonus, if you listen to the audiobook, Drew is the narrator, and it gives the same energy as her content, and feels personable in a way that is genuine. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Onyx

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Series/Standalone: Lux Series (Book #2)

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction

Pages: 421

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Year Published: 2012

Format: Audiobook (Library Copy)

"BEING CONNECTED TO DAEMON BLACK SUCKS....

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon's determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connections. So I've sworn him off, even though he's running more hot than cold these days. But we've got bigger problems.

SOMETHING WORSE THAN ARUM HAS COME TO TOWN

The Department of Defense is here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked. I'm a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who's got a secret of his own. He knows what's happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard. 

BUT THEN, EVERYTHING CHANGES

I've seen someone who shouldn't be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he's never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them- from me?

NO ONE IS WHO THEY SEEM. AND NOT EVERYONE WILL SURVIVE THE LIES."

My Rating: 3.5/5

I still enjoyed this second book in the series. It remains nostalgic and fun. The only complaint I have for this one is the extreme stupidity of our main character. Which is kind of a part of books written in this time, but as a grown woman, I was screaming at her to make better choices, on repeat! Still fun, I look forward to continuing to read the series and having fun with the concept.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Leather and Lark by Brynne Weaver

Title: Leather and Lark

Author: Brynne Weaver

Series/Standalone: The Ruinous Love Trilogy (Book #2)

Genre: Adult, Fiction, Dark Romance, Rom-Com

Pages: 390

Publisher: Slowburn

Year Published: 2024

Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)

"Contract killer Lachlan Kane wants a quiet life working in his leather studio and forgetting all about his traumatic past. But when he botches a job for his boss's biggest client, Lachlan knows he'll never claw his way out of the underworld. At least, not until songbird Lark Montague offers him a deal: use his skills to hunt down a killer and she'll find a way to secure his freedom. The catch? He has to marry her first.

And they can't stand each other.

Indie singer-songwriter Lark is sunshine and glitter that burns through every cloud and clings to every crevice that Lachlan Kane tries to hide inside. The surly older brother of her best friend's soulmate, Lachlan thinks she's just a privileged princess, but Lark has plenty of secrets hiding in the shadows of her bright light. With her formidable family in a tailspin and her best friend's happiness on the line, she's willing to make a vow to the man she's determined to hate, no matter how tempting the broody assassin might be.

As Lachlan and Lark navigate the dark world that binds them together, it becomes impossible to discern their fake marriage from a real one. But it's not just familiar dangers that haunt them.

There's another phantom lurking on their doorstep.

And this one has come for blood."

My Rating: 3.75/5

I was hoping to love this as much as the first one, and for the first half of the book, I was completely on board. As it went on, I found it was both dragging and racing. I think if the intimate aspects had been introduced earlier in the story, I would have found the romance itself more believable, but because everything seemed to take so long to get to the end, it felt rushed. I'm excited for the next book, but nervous if it'll be on the same trajectory as this one. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Finaly Donovan Jumps the Gun by Ell Cosimano

Title: Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun

Author: Elle Cosimano

Series/Standalone: Finlay Donovan (Book #3)

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Adult

Pages: 304

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Year Published: 2023

Format: Audibook

"Author and single mom Finlay Donovan has been in messes before- after all, she's a pro at removing bloodstains for various unexpected reasons- but none quite like this. When Finlay and her nanny/partner-in-crime Vero accidentally destroyed a luxury car that they had 'borrowed' in the process of saving the life of Finlay's ex-husband, the Russian mob did her a favor and bought the car for her. And now Finlay owes them.

Mob boss Feliks is still running the show from behind bars, and he has a task for Finlay: find and identify a contract killer before the cops do. The problem is, the killer might be an officer themself.

Luckily, hot cop Nick has just been tasked with starting up a citizens' police academy, and combined pressure from Finlay's looming book deadline and Feliks is enough to convince Finlay and Vero to get involved. Through firearm training and forensic classes (and  some hands-on research with a tempting detective), Finlay and Vero use their time in police academy to sleuth out the real contract killer to free themselves from the mob's clutches- all the while dodging spies, confronting Vero's past, and juggling the daily trials of parenthood."

My Rating: 4/5

 I love this cozy mystery series. It's fun, ridiculous and fast paced, keeping my interest, while staying semi-light considering the content. I'm looking forward to continuing the series. I loved that this one had me second-guessing myself, and I still didn't realise who the villain was until the full reveal. The humour is excellent, the characters are unique, and the story is fantastically fun. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny