#book2

5 Stars!!

Thank you to H.E. Bauman for an eARC of this book. Thoughts and opinions are my own. 

If I just put AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! does that get my point across?

I enjoyed the first one, but this one upped things a bit. We've got a bit more danger, there's a few more stakes, and the spicy starts spicing! I liked the friendships that developed between Mo, Cass, Kynn and Ezra. Mo, Cass, and Kynn were definitely family before but Ezra has just slipped in there and he gets to stay! I loved that Cass and Kynn had no problems calling people out (even if it didn't happen in the way one might think). Then Ezra and Mo finally had a conversation and while things are going a little slow (love that Ezra is all over that and doesn't mind), they're moving along!

We find out a little more about things with the gods and what's going on with Ikna. The reveals on like what sets them apart is intriguing and I'm curious about what's going on on their plane! Of course, that end makes me less curious about that and more curious about how they're going to solve those problems at the end. With the choice that Mo made, I wonder how that's going to play into it. What she saw was unfortunate, but it points to how strong she really is.

The way Livia showed up has me...concerned. I know people think it's Rifel but I really hope it doesn't turn out to be someone closer.

Hopefully we get book 3 soon because after THAT ENDING, I need to find out what happens next!

Book releases May 18th, 2026

Other reviews:

Storygraph

Goodreads

5 Stars!!

Thanks to Lindsay A. Franklin for an eARC copy of the book for review. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you were kind of screaming and throwing your book at the end of The Unraveling of Emlyn DuLaine , then you should pick this one up ASAP!

I liked the way Em and the Novems got to travel through the stories but seeing the stories in ways that no one really knew. I liked the stories Lindsay Franklin chose as destinations for Emlyn and crew, but also the twists thrown in, as things tried to fix themselves. Laramie's journey initially was a little more tense(?), but only because he had no way of knowing what story he was in and how to act. I liked the way he did his best to protect Frank and get back to Emlyn and the others. Emlyn in particular (and chapter 65 was short but super sweet and I giggled a little bit!)

I was glad that Emlyn was able to find and rescue Camille, although the realization(s) she came to were a little bittersweet. I'd be curious to see how more people handled things after Camille went back (were there instances of deja vu or hints of "wait, didn't someone else do this?", did her parents wonder because something felt off, things like that). I did like the fact that Camille accepted things and her biggest issue was that she wouldn't technically have a sister anymore, but I did like that she got to see Emlyn still.

The reveal on Sorena and her connection/reasons was surprising, and for a while, I thought she was going to be more villain-y than not. Yes, she was technically a villain, but I think at the end, it was more fear than anything, because Hadeon interferred where he shouldn't. The reveal on Sorena's choice was surprising, but I liked the explanation Em gave when asked what to do about Hadeon at the end.

Second book I read this year… for science…

Heated Rivalry..mm let’s just say the book was better than the show, but the actors are what bring the show to life.

Looking for something different?

🧠 Neurodivergent characters

🦽 Differently-abled characters

🗯️ Angst and self-worth

✨Magic Library

❤️‍🔥Slow burn romance

A why-choose adventure with a complex world and complex characters!

Available here ---> https://www.amazon.com/Gifted-Destiny-Hidden-Libraries-Book-ebook/dp/B0DM9GLDYR/

A continuing exploration of how AI and cultural memory meet.

BOOK 2 reimagines Hausa-Fulani identity through an Afrofuturist lens — where faith, technology, and mythology coexist in new forms.

Tools: MidJourney / Photoshop / Capture One / InDesign.

3.5 Stars!!!

Okay, I didn't like this as much as I liked Wicked Intentions , but this was still a fun entry in this series!

Hero was interesting although I did get a little frustrated at her constant need to hide. While I kind of understand maybe where she was coming from, she spent far too long placing herself in the "dutiful lady" category and there were several times where she'd start to consider doing something else and then something would happen (Thomas would say hi, Maximus would give an order, etc) and suddenly she'd be back to doing what was expected of her. While I sort of get that she still wanted to go forward with the wedding because Maximus was sort of threatening Griffin, the fact that he was planning on arresting him anyway and the fact that Hero apparently didn't think it was important to tell Griffin was frustrating. I did like the fact that she wanted to help out the home and I'm interested to see how the friendship she's developing with Silence grows over the next books.

Griffin was decent. I did think it was interesting how much he was willing to just lean into everyone's perceptions because why not? The way they built up the Anne thing, I knew there was more too it, but I also can't say I'm surprised that Griffin was innocent and Thomas was just an idiot. I do wish we'd gotten a little more on that though; clearly Anne aggravated things, but it just felt like that situation needed more. The end was interesting and a decent way for Griffin to make his choice/stand. Weird a situation as it was, I did laugh at Maximus' comment about whether or not that was Griffin's still and Griffin's "well I have no idea what you're talking about, but if there was a still over there, it's probably in pieces now". The fact that he took Nick's idea to heart was pretty sweet.

Thomas frustrated me. He was a pompous windbag and the highest of hypocrites. The fact that he'd been sleeping with Lavinia isn't a problem, but the way he thought about her after was frustrating, even if it was just jealousy. And the fact that he acted the way he did when Hero revealed things dropped my opinion of him into the mud. Of course, the fact that Maximus was also willing to go after Griffin for things and just decided to tell Hero to go through with the wedding...(I mean, I kind of understand why he'd try to go after Griffin, but the fact that Thomas would have basically gotten a "reward" (ie: The marriage going through while Maximus tried to negate any scandal) made me want to smack people.

The reveal on Phoebe's issues is sad. I am curious about her book, especially with the comment she made about wanting to dance with someone not a relative just once. Plus her thoughts on romance/marriage in general seems like it could lead to some interesting situations!

StoryGraph review

GoodReads review

BOOK 2 NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE.