Tuesday Reviews: Learn My Lesson by Katee Robert

A single night with Megaera and I'm willing to do anything to save her from Hades, the man holding her captive, victim to his every whim. A bargain with the devil himself seems a small price to pay in order for Megaera to go free… Until I learn that she's exactly where she wants to be.

She's Queen to Hades's King.

And I'm the fool that walked right into their trap. The same fool who desires them both as much as I hate them. I can't resist Megaera's touch—or stop from being drawn to Hades's dark desires. By the time I realize just how deep a game he's playing, it may be too late…For all of us.

Learn My Lesson by Katee Robert is what happens when Hades and Megara walk into a bar, drag Hercules into their web, and set the entire emotional landscape on fire. In the best way possible.

This book is dark, seductive, and loaded with just the right amount of myth-inspired drama. Hades is the calculating king of the underworld, Meg is sharp, bitter, and done with everyone's nonsense, and Hercules stumbles into their world thinking he understands the rules. He does not.

The dynamic between the three is gloriously messy, full of power plays, vulnerability, and seriously hot tension that eventually becomes something real and unexpected. Katee Robert nails the emotional depth without ever pulling back on the spice, and the character growth feels earned even in all its morally gray glory.

If you're into steamy love triangles, twisted loyalties, and characters who are just as broken as they are bold, this book needs to be on your TBR. Lessons were definitely learned, and I regret nothing.

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Tuesday Reviews: The Ever King by LJ Andrews

They stole his crown. So he stole their daughter....

For years, Erik, the scarred king of the Ever Kingdom, has thought of nothing but vengeance against the man who killed his father and trapped him beneath the waves, making him a prisoner in his own realm.

Until his enemy’s daughter unintentionally breaks the chains on the Ever, and Erik makes her the unwitting pawn in his vicious game of revenge.

She’s innocent. He’s vicious. But he will take back what he lost, no matter the price.

Unless she steals his heart first.

The Ever King by LJ Andrews is like getting smacked in the face with angst, sword fights, and smolder—all wrapped up in a fantasy world that looks like it came out of a dream but feels like a nightmare if you’re emotionally fragile (which I clearly am).

We’ve got a broody, cursed king with trauma issues, a fierce heroine who does not have time for his nonsense (but also totally has time for it, especially when he’s shirtless), and enough slow-burn tension to cook an entire feast over. There’s betrayal, political scheming, forbidden magic, and a love story that hurts so good you’ll question your life choices. Basically, it’s everything you want in a romantasy, plus a few stabby moments just to keep you humble.

LJ Andrews continues to give us morally gray men, heroines who bite back, and a plot that yells “trust no one” every few chapters. Is my trust broken? Yes. Do I want the next book immediately? Also yes.

If you're a fan of crowns, curses, and kissing-that-leads-to-problems, The Ever King should be next on your list.

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Tuesday Reviews: ZomRomCom by Olivia Dade

Teaming up with your neighbor during a zombie outbreak is a no-brainer, but if it turns out he’s a vampire . . . the stakes couldn’t be higher, in this infectious new paranormal romance from the USA Today bestselling author of Spoiler Alert.

When Edie Brandstrup attempts to save her sweet, seemingly harmless human neighbor from the first major zombie breach in two decades, she’s stunned to be saved by him—and his ridiculously large sword—instead. As it turns out, he's actually a super-old, super-surly vampire. But for all her neighbor's newly revealed cynicism and lethality, Gaston "Max" Boucher (yes, Gaston) is unexpectedly protective. He wants her to stay in his safety bunker until the breach is resolved. Edie can’t risk more innocent people getting killed, though—and Max won’t let her save them alone.

As they unravel a sinister conspiracy to set zombies loose on the world (again), the duo meet a host of lovable allies and discover they're not the only ones willing to fight for the future of humanity. Despite the awful timing, Edie finds herself falling for the vampire who’s helping her save the world . . . but all their dangerous plans could end their future before it even begins. As she and Max battle side by side, Edie must decide whether having a love worth living for also means having a love you'd die for—and, in a world that grows deadlier by the minute, whether that’s a risk she’s willing to take.

ZomRomCom by Olivia Dade is exactly what it sounds like: zombies, romance, and a whole lot of chaotic hilarity. It opens with our heroine, Edie, valiantly wielding a burrito as a weapon to save her himbo neighbor, Chad—who is very much not Chad and very much not a himbo. He’s actually Max, an ancient vampire who hates being called Gaston, which of course means Edie sings the Beauty and the Beast song every chance she gets.

What follows is a zombie-infested road trip featuring canned falafel, shady supernatural pit stops, and the kind of enemies-to-lovers banter that includes mild vampiric bloodletting and steamy couch sex in a cursed mall. Max is all grumpy brooding protector vibes. Edie is chaos incarnate with a death wish and a heart of gold. Together, they fight zombies, flirt through near-death experiences, and team up with a Girl Scout militia, a witch, a troll or two, and what I think might be supernatural arms dealers.

Is it ridiculous? Absolutely. Did I laugh-snort my coffee more than once? Also yes. Was I weirdly emotional over their sacrifices and HEA? Of course. There’s even the looming threat of an inter-species war, so Dade, I really hope this becomes a series because I need more of this unhinged paranormal madness.

If you like your romance with bite, heart, and a side of zombie guts, ZomRomCom deserves a spot on your shelf.

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Tuesday Reviews: The Nightshade God by Hannah Whitten

The Nightshade Crown is in the hands of a ruthless god and Lore will stop at nothing to defeat him in the final installment of this lush, romantic, New York Times bestselling fantasy series from breakout star Hannah Whitten.

Lore has failed. She couldn’t save King Bastian from the rotten god speaking voices in his mind. She couldn’t save her allies from being scattered across the continent—their own lesser gods whispering to them in their dreams. She couldn’t save her beautiful, corrupt city from the dark power beneath the catacombs. And she couldn’t save herself.

Banished to the Burnt Isles, Lore must use every skill she earned on the streets of Dellaire to survive the prison colony and figure out a way to defeat the power that’s captured everything and everyone she holds dear. When a surprise ally joins her on the Burnt Isles she realizes the way forward may lie on the island itself. Somehow, her friends must help her collect the far-scattered pieces of the broken Fount—the source of all the god’s powers—and bring them back together on the Burnt Isles, returning all magic to its source and destroying, once and for all, the gods corrupting the land.

But as Lore gets closer to her goal, her magic grows stronger… and to a woman who’s always had to fight for survival, that kind of power may be hard to give up.

The Nightshade God by Hannah Whitten is a lush, lyrical dive into a world where gods walk among mortals and nothing is as it seems. Whitten’s prose is hauntingly beautiful, weaving together romance, myth, and darkness with effortless skill. The main characters are compelling and complex—each carrying secrets and scars that slowly unravel as the story builds toward its breathtaking climax. The atmosphere is rich and gothic, the tension deliciously slow-burn, and the emotional payoff absolutely worth it. If you love fantasy with teeth, a touch of the divine, and a romance that feels earned, The Nightshade God is a must-read.

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Tuesday Reviews: The Curse That Binds by Laura Thalassa

From the author of the Bargainer series comes the prequel to Bewitched. Two thousand years before there was Selene, there was Roxilana. Her love fated, her life doomed, and her story forgotten—until now.

When Roxilana hears a voice inside her head, she believes she's gone mad. This voice, Memnon, claims he is her god-touched soul mate, one who has the ability to wield magic. Not only that, but he believes Roxilana possesses magic too.

Wild though his claims are, Roxilana realizes Memnon speaks the truth. First, her power Awakens. Then, Memnon, King of the Sarmatians, shows up at her door in Rome, proclaims her as his wife, and takes her to his homeland.

Roxilana's fate is everything she hoped for. But there are things Memnon didn't tell her–about his magic, life as a Sarmatian, and what she, as queen, will have to endure. And as she soon learns, nothing is as dangerous as love and power. While the combination can build empires and legacies, it is capable of destroying everything and everyone in its path. And if Roxilana and Memnon are not careful, it could destroy them along with it.

The Curse That Binds by Laura Thalassa is everything I love about dark fantasy romance wrapped up in one gorgeously dangerous package. Thalassa delivers heart-wrenching tension, morally grey characters, and an addictive plot that never lets up. The chemistry between the leads crackles on every page, and the worldbuilding is immersive without being overwhelming. This deluxe edition is a treat for fans—beautifully designed and packed with extras that make it feel even more special. I couldn’t put it down and didn’t want it to end. Highly recommend for readers who love intensity, romance, and a touch of darkness.

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Tuesday Reviews: All The Darkest Truths by Avelyn Paige

Vesper Rossi was born into violence, but nothing could prepare her for the truth she now holds—a truth that burns hotter than revenge and cuts deeper than any blade. Her brother is alive, and her son—her stolen son—has been passed off as at the new Petrov heir, raised by her cousin as her own child.

With blood in her veins and fire in her heart, Vesper embarks on a savage journey to take back what’s hers. The Petrov empire will fall. Their alliances will shatter. And their very bloodline will burn.

With the Second Sons at her back and in her bed—Vesper will carve a path through anyone who stands in her way. She is no longer the captive; she is the storm, and she won’t stop until every lie has been scorched from the earth.

As Vesper tears through the underworld to rescue her brother and reclaim her legacy, the dark forces that stole everything from her are preparing to strike back. This is no longer about revenge—this is a war.

The truth will ruin them all. Blood will be spilled. And by the time Vesper’s vengeance is unleashed, the world will be nothing but ashes at her feet.

All The Darkest Truths is the kind of book that grabs you by the throat from page one and refuses to let go. Avelyn Paige has delivered a sequel that is darker, sharper, and somehow even more emotional than the first. Every word feels like a blade, and every scene leaves a scar in the best possible way.

Vesper Rossi is no longer a pawn in someone else’s game. She’s a queen in her own right, ready to burn the world to get back what was stolen. Her journey in this book is devastating and empowering, and watching her rise from heartbreak and trauma into something fierce and untouchable is pure brilliance.

Alex is still the brutal, broken antihero we fell for, but this time, he peels back the layers and shows us just how deep the damage runs. The push and pull between him and Vesper is electric, filled with tension and pain and a love that’s as dangerous as it is undeniable. Their chemistry is off the charts, but it’s the raw vulnerability between them that truly wrecks you.

The pacing is relentless. The twists are savage. And the found family of Second Sons? Ride or die in the most literal sense. Every single character brings something vital to this story, and the emotional payoff is unreal.

This is more than a romance. It’s a reckoning. Vesper is coming for blood, and she does not miss.

Ten stars. No question. I’ll be thinking about this book long after the last page.

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