Can't Wait Wednesday #232

 

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Welcome to Harker Academy for Deviant Defense. Keep your daggers sharp, and your wits even sharper.

Viv Abbot is an average twenty-one-year-old girl. She lives in an expensive city where the rent is too high, works long hours at a thankless job, and is dating a guy she doesn’t even like in the hopes of winning her prickly mother’s approval.

She just also happens to be a demon hunter.

Ever since her father's murder, she's been forced to hunt deviants alone, meaning everyone, including her family, sees her as an outsider. . . . Until the day she crosses paths with a dangerously alluring demon, Reid Graveheart. The reformed deviant tells her of a school for people just like her: Harker Academy for Deviant Defense. If she enrolls, she'll learn to hone her craft, work with other hunters, and never be alone again.

But Viv has a deadly secret. One that not even her new friends at Harker can know about. Not when the school might hold the answers to untangling the mystery surrounding Viv's father’s death. When strange occurrences begin to plague the students, Viv will have to figure out who she can trust, and fast. All while trying to ace her classes, not fall for a demon, and make it through her first year at Harker in one piece. How hard could that be?

I still need to finish my first series by Golden but I am still excited for this one because it sounds awesome!

TITLE: Half City
AUTHOR: Kate Golden
PUBLISHER: Ace
GENRE: Fantasy Romance
RELEASE DATE: February 17, 2026

Heartbroken and grappling with unwanted powers, Revna must work with the person she swore to forget if she's to lead her people and unravel the secrets behind her new magic in this page-turning conclusion to the Blood & Souls duology.

Revna knew ruling would be difficult, but she never anticipated ruling with a newfound Lurae. The godtouched fear her, the godforsaken don't trust her, and her best friend doesn't know the truth she's been hiding. When the war-ending treaty is signed, Revna will reveal her secrets and finally put the Hellbringer behind her.

Except the Kryllian Queen refuses to sign the treaty when she discovers how volatile Revna's bloodsinging is. Desperate for any alliance, Revna begrudgingly agrees to the Queen's if Revna can learn to control her magic in three weeks, negotiations will resume. But there's a catch - the queen's general will be the one training her.

Revna will work with the Hellbringer once more, but she won't make it easy. But when the general reveals that the dead are unable to pass on, they realize there's more at stake than their tangled relationship. Ancient, powerful secrets tie the realm - and Revna and the Hellbringer - together, and their only hope of lasting peace is to unweave them.

I still need to read the first book but since I learned it is a confirmed duology, I'm glad I waited! Lol.

TITLE: Gods Beneath the Ice
AUTHOR: Alexandra Kennington
PUBLISHER: Ace
GENRE: Fantasy Romance
RELEASE DATE: February 17, 2026

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays

 

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Purple Princess of The Purple Booker. 

Here are the rules:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a page
3. Pick out 2 lines that are SPOILER FREE
4. Name the title, author, etc.

"Saga, you loaf-eater, stop ogling his chin. She blinked, gaze darting to his eyes. Worse. They were green emeralds, framed with dark lashed and thick brows, pulled into a look of concern." p 39

TITLE: Kingdom of Claw
AUTHOR: Demi Winters
PUBLISHER: Delacorte Press
GENRE: Fantasy 
RELEASE DATE: February 21, 2024

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and The Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

This week's topic is: Top 5 Goals for 2026

*in no particular order

**always terrible with trying to pick these every year. Lol

5. TRY NOT TO BUY MULTIPILE COPIES OF BOOKS--I mean besides Stephanie Garber's of course! I sometimes have a bad habit of doing that. My problem is when I preorder one special edition but then have to buy the standard to attend a signing!
4. TRY TO GET CAUGHT UP WITH SOME AUTHORS BACKLIST--I say maybe because I am SO behind with some authors, and ones like JLA have 600+ tomes I need to read! Kelley Armstrong I just have dozens upon dozens at a nice 400 cap on average, maybe more 350+
3. READ MORE FROM MY TBR PILE--I say this every year, although I did pretty good last year...but then I went and added more!
2. READ 50 BOOKS--I managed 80 last year...not sure I'll top that if I am going to try to read more of those 600+ ones!
1. BUY A HOME--still working on this one from the last three years. Hopefully this can be my year! It's insanely hard to do on one income.

2026 Challenge

 

So random though! I had been trying to figure out what challenges I wanted to sign up for this year and then I decided...I wouldn't sign up for any.

Largely because I always feel pressured. I know, I know. I set my goal myself. No one has to tell me it needs to be this. I usually lowball it anyway so that I don't have to feel so pressured or stressed, but then I STILL feel pressured to keep at it. Like with my discussion challenge I went for somewhere down the middle with 20 posts originally and then I just let myself keep going. But then as I did that I REALLY wanted to hit that 41 to be at the top of the tier!

I mean it truly is silly. I don't need to keep going. I can do 1 a month. It's no big deal. So why do I put this pressure on myself when this blog is and always has been just for fun. The extra non-review posts are purely for fun so there doesn't need to be any goals for me to climb to. But yet, when I set out to do a little challenge, I want to do my best! I want to do better than my best!

And there's where the stress came in. Again, totally silly because I am literally doing it to myself. I set low goals specifically so I am not stressing myself out, but then I see that I did a few posts those first few months and I was like I HAVE TO POST EVERY MONTH! I HAVE TO HAVE MORE THAN 1 POST A MONTH! Then I struggled. I had burn out. I couldn't think of anything to discuss! I had a month where I only read 1 TBR book.

And since the blogosphere keeps getting quieter every year, I'm like why am I doing this to myself each year? It DOES NOT need to be like this!

So instead of setting any particular goals (other than my Goodreads one) I decided I would just "record" my journey in the usual tab where I would put challenges! I'll note what I read each month and whether it was a TBR book, a new release, or a possible review book as I did just read one two weeks ago and I still have another waiting for me on that kindle I keep forgetting I have. Lol.

I might still throw in a discussion post every once in awhile if something sparks a thought. But yeah. This year I decided I wanted a stress free reading environment other than trying to complete my Goodreads as I will likely try to at least one up last year's total as Goodreads did those stupid extra stars for you when you hit certain goals, like reading every month. Ugh, why did they have to go and do that? And I keep putting in the back of my head I need to get caught up on JLA's books which are now in the 600+ club. Definitely can't one up myself there with my reading speed! Lol. I might have to ignore those extra checks from Goodreads and just focus on those 50 books!

So that's my "goals" for this year for my blog. Just low key happy reading time and seeing my progress with maybe some discussion posts here but with no commitment goal in mind!

Are you taking part in any challenges this year? Normally I just did the discussion post challenge, a TBR and maybe a new release one but this year I am going for 100% stress free...maybe 99% with Goodreads involved. I'm already "on track" with my goal instead of being ahead. So the pressure is on!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It's a fun meme where we gather to share what we've read last week and our reading plans for this week.

Last Week I Read:

The Girls Before by Kate Alice Marshall (ARC)--Review to come at a later date

Currently Reading:

Kingdom of Claw by Demi Winters

What I Plan to Read Next:

Roots of Darkness by Demi Winters

Other Posts of Interest:

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays
Can't Wait Wednesday #231
Books from the Backlog #171
Book Blogger Hop #395
Stacking the Shelves

Stacking the Shelves

 

Stacking the Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts, and of course ebooks! The meme is now hosted by Reading Reality.

This week was another blur. Work was still fairly busy but I think we could be possibly dying down, but we are getting word of another influx of urgent changes, but it's a heads up kind of urgency. I think it might be in the next week or two, so we can at least psych ourselves up for it. Monday night I went to see Rachel Hawkins again! She came back to St. Louis for her latest release, so naturally I went along! Lol. Then the rest of the week was a blur as I counted down to this long weekend! Of course now it's nearly over but alas, that's how days off go! Sadly, today I wanted to go to an open house that had a nice little duplex half up for sale. It hit all my checkmarks and was in my price range but then I noticed yesterday Zillow updated it to pending offer before the open house and I was just like really? So the housing market is not off to a great start this year. At least not for me.

I had a few preorders come in this week and then an impulse B&N purchase because it was half off and I can never say no to a book sale! Lol. I need to learn though! 

Hollow by Celina Myers--after losing about a dozen contests on Goodreads all last year for this one, my preorder has arrived at last! And yet, I now don't have time for it since I am reading a few books ahead of time for an event!
A Vow in Vengeance by Jaclyn Rodriguez
Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibanez
The Ever Queen by L.J. Andrews--the impulse choice that was 50% off! Still need to read book 1, but half off is half off!

Then my Fairy Loot preorder of the first half of Lady of Darkness series came in! I had been eyeing this author's books lately and this series sounded like fun and then FL just happened to have it pop up around that same time so I decided why not? 

Lady of Darkness by Melissa K. Roehriche--FL edition
Lady of Shadows by Melissa K. Roehriche--FL edition

Lady of Ashes by Melissa K. Roehriche--FL edition

And that was it for me this week! What all did you get?

Book Blogger Hop #394

 

This meme is hosted by Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addict!

This week's question is: Is there a book or series so precious to you that you wouldn’t want it adapted for screen, fearing it might be ruined? If it did happen, would you still find yourself watching it? (submitted by Mark @ Carstairs Considers)

MY ANSWER: Honestly? I'm not sure. There are series I LOVE that I would love to see adapted into a TV series or movie. I mean, yes, I'd be scared but I would also be curious to see what they do. There's always a love/hate kind of relationship with an adaptation. Like I had a BELOVED book turned into a movie and the movie was AWFUL as a book-to-film adaptation. But if it was just a movie with said werewolf romance theme, it would be pretty good.

So I would greet the adaptation with trepidation but also some hopeful excitement. For example purposes, I'll go with Meg Cabot's The Mediator series. For the longest time it was with a company to be adapted but their time limit ran out or something and I don't know if landed with another producing team or not.

Books from the Backlog #170

 

Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread.  If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks. This is a fun meme hosted by Carole's Random Life in Books!

1990. The teen detectives once known as the Blyton Summer Detective Club (of Blyton Hills, a small mining town in the Zoinx River Valley in Oregon) are all grown up and haven't seen each other since their fateful, final case in 1977. Andy, the tomboy, is twenty-five and on the run, wanted in at least two states. Kerri, one-time kid genius and budding biologist, is bartending in New York, working on a serious drinking problem. At least she's got Tim, an excitable Weimaraner descended from the original canine member of the team. Nate, the horror nerd, has spent the last thirteen years in and out of mental health institutions, and currently resides in an asylum in Arkham, Massachusetts. The only friend he still sees is Peter, the handsome jock turned movie star. The problem is, Peter's been dead for years.

The time has come to uncover the source of their nightmares and return to where it all began in 1977. This time, it better not be a man in a mask. The real monsters are waiting.

I added Edgar Cantero's Meddling Kids to my TBR pile in June of 2017...or possibly in July since that's when it released. I added it to my Goodreads in June of that year anyway! Lol. This book drew my attention, obviously, because of its Scooby Doo vibes. It's not Scooby Doo, but it's got all the right vibes! Supernatural themes, a lovable dog--though I am pretty sure it doesn't talk sadly. It still calls to me and I hope to pick it up one of these days!

Can't Wait Wednesday #231

 

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine.

A warrior princess falls for a shadow prince in this darkly romantic companion to The Forest King’s Daughter.

Fearless Thea has never known life outside of war. As the favorite daughter of the Sylvan King, she's a relentless fighter who longs to lead his army as First Huntsman, ignoring the pretty clothes and fanciful notions others enjoy. But when a mysterious dress full of dark magic appears on her hearth one evening, Thea doesn’t know how to fight an enemy she can't see or touch. Still, her curiosity builds as a new gown appears each night—until she gives in to temptation and is whisked to a forgotten land of shadows.

The prince of the shadow realm is a handsome host, and while Thea does all she can to resist his charms, it's clear he knows something about the long-ago disappearance of Thea’s mother. All he asks in return is for Thea to dance with him, their dangerous attraction growing each time she returns for more information. Meanwhile, shadows are seeping into the living realm, and Thea may have to embrace her own darkness if she has any chance of saving her beloved sisters and home from an otherworldly threat.

From the author of the Frostblood Saga comes the second book in a spellbinding series about the daughters of the powerful forest king, with simmering romance and plot twists that will leave readers desperate to enter the Thirstwood themselves.

I still need to read the first book but I loved Elly's first series so I really need to circle back to this one!

TITLE: The Cursed Queen's Daughter
AUTHOR: Elly Blake
PUBLISHER: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
GENRE: YA Fantasy
RELEASE DATE: February 10, 2026

'Beware of waking the gods, their dreams are often our nightmares . . .'

A book of dangerous magic draws two readers into a perilous quest to find it - and their own happy ending - in this action-packed standalone fantasy romance from Sunday Times bestselling sensation Kerri Maniscalco.

A prince who prefers games of the head to those of the heart.

Prince Sloth hates leaving his enchanted library, but when a forgotten deity threatens the very fabric of the Underworld, he's thrust into a race against time. He must find the Book of Nightmares - an ancient artifact that has the power to break worlds - before it unleashes a deadly game to free its master, the Goddess of Night. When a betrayal leaves him marked, and desperate, his path collides with a young woman who possesses the legendary Phoenix Tear - a portal stone unlike any other.

A librarian who is all sweet sunshine . . . until she burns.

Lore Brimstone has always loved getting lost in a book - but she never meant literally. Yet, after visiting a traveling caravan, she quickly finds herself transported to a terrifying but oddly familiar world - with a calculating prince at her side. Realizing they are living out her favourite novels one by one, they face off against an increasingly dark magic as they try to survive the story.

A twisted tale that means they can't trust themselves - or their hearts.

As Lore and Sloth navigate the pages of her beloved novels gone wrong, she must channel her inner main character to defeat the Book of Nightmares before the wall between the gods and mortals comes crashing down, dooming them all.

I STILL need to start this series too! Another one that intimidates me because of the page count! I used to long for big books but nowadays since the TBR pile is suuuper long I find them intimidating! Lol.

TITLE: Throne of Nightmares
AUTHOR: Kerri Maniscalco
PUBLISHER: Little, Brown and Company
GENRE: Fantasy Romance
RELEASE DATE: February 10, 2026

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays

 

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Purple Princess of The Purple Booker. 

Here are the rules:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a page
3. Pick out 2 lines that are SPOILER FREE
4. Name the title, author, etc.

Yes, I am sharing a teaser from the book I just finished. By the time I finished it and was gearing up to write my posts for the week, I didn't have time to dive into my current read, so there you have it!

"Without warning, a hand clamped over her mouth; her body was yanked back against the hard panes of a chest. A second arm wrapped around her stomach, pinning her arms to her sides like a steel band. Silla's eyes widened, her heart hammering against her chest.

'Don't scream,' rasped a voice in her ear." p 378

TITLE: The Road of Bones
AUTHOR: Demi Winters
PUBLISHER: Delacorte Press
GENRE: Fantasy
RELEASE DATE: June 27, 2023

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and The Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

This week's topic is: Top Ten Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the First Half of 2026

*in no particular order; because my brain got seriously fried last week from work and I couldn't bring myself to get these in release date order from when I wrote them all down! Lol.

10. CARNIVAL FANTASTICO by Angela Montoya--the Caraval vibes run strong with this one! Okay, it's the carnival vibes but still, it calls to me!
9. THE KILLING RULES by Bree Despain--haven't read a book from her in ages and am super excited for this one!
8. THE ALCHEMARY by Rachel Vincent--also haven't read a book from her in ages...even though there are at least 4...5...I think on my TBR pile! AND I just learned she's coming HERE on tour!!

7. HALF CITY by Kate Golden--I still need to finish her fantasy series that I started but this one sounds amazing!
6. DIRE BOUND by Sable Sorensen--yes, yes, the paperback is out now, it's out in the UK in various forms, but I decided to go with the US deluxe edition because B&N sale and gift cards! So my wait is still ongoing!
5. TO CAGE A WILD BIRD by Brooke Fast--another already released UK book but again waiting for the US book because I can tell myself, I have to wait anyway so read one of my 9 majillion other romantasy books! Lol.

4. THE WICKED SEA by Jordan Stephanie Gray--another one I cannot wait to read! Yes, I believe it was up early on Netgalley, but I've been trying to limit my ARC requests these last few years and feel like I'm on the right track. I slip sometimes and request or have free ARCs at events, but trying to stay strong! Lol.
3. IT CAME FROM NEVER LAND by Cynthia Pelayo--how can you not read that title and get chills?! Omigosh this sounds soooo good!
2. BROKEN DOVE by Dani Francis--loving that dystopians are coming back and for adults too! Lol.

1. SILVER & BLOOD by Jessie Mihalik--this cover is just GORGEOUS! And it sounds soooo good! I read one of her Sci-Fi trilogies and loved it! Still need to read the other one but definitely adding this to the stacks too!

Review--The Road of Bones by Demi Winters

 

A woman on the run. A crew of Viking mercenaries. A forbidden romance. And the secret which threatens them all.

Silla Nordvig is running for her life.

The queen of Íseldur has sent warriors to bring Silla to Sunnavík, where death awaits her. When her father is killed, his last words set Silla on a perilous quest: travel the treacherous Road of Bones–a thousand-mile stretch haunted by warbands, creatures of darkness, and a mysterious murderer–and go to Kopa, where a shield-house awaits her.

After barely surviving the first stretch of road, a desperate Silla sneaks into a supply wagon belonging to the notorious Bloodaxe Crew. To make it to Kopa, she must win over Axe Eyes, the brooding leader of the Crew, while avoiding the Wolf, his distractingly handsome right-hand man. But the queen’s ruthless assassin has other plans and hunts Silla obsessively.

Will Silla make it safely to Kopa? Or will she fall prey to the perils of the Road of Bones?

Featuring an immersive world blending fairy tale with Vikings, The Road of Bones leads you on an adrenaline-fueled chase with fun banter and a slow-building enemies to lovers romance. 

So I FINALLY picked up The Road of Bones by Demi Winters and oh boy, was this a mammoth of a book! Yes, I've longer ones on my TBR, but for some reason this one felt heavy to start my new year of reading out with, but Demi is coming here next month, so I thought I'd try to get at least this one read in time! Lol. This was a very thorough fantasy story that swept me up into a whole new world with new forms of magic, people, weaponry, and everything else in between and I cannot wait to get back to it!

This is definitely a book you'll want to jot down notes for unless you have the memory of an elephant and for that I envy you! There is so much history to this world, so much that happens, that a few bullet points might serve you well when it comes time for sequels and since I'm over 2 years late into the game, who am I to offer that kind of advice? Lol.

Silla's world is uprooted when she and her father are attacked on the road and he dies protecting her. With his last breath he tells her to go to Kopa to find safety and Silla is quick to take his dying breath advice. But Kopa is a long way away, many weeks of travel and she is a young woman alone and in this world, young women must always be accompanied by male family member or husband.

Silla ends up sneaking a ride in a wagon and learns very quickly just whose wagon it is, it's the Bloodaxe Crew. They are a widely known group of thieves/bandits who are highly dangerous, but we really get the inside scoop that they are muscle for hire. They take on dangerous jobs and when they are given a job to deliver something very important to another city, they take it, for the money of course.

Silver-tongue Silla convinces the group to bring her to Kopa or as far as they can manage and she'd work for them, doing whatever she could as payment. Their leader, Rey, is reluctant to allow this strange woman into their fold, but essentially gets outvoted.

Then this is where things get very interesting as a strange not quiet enemies-to-lovers romance starts between Silla and Jonas, Rey's right-hand man. They definitely have that back and forth kind of banter where you can practically feel the heat coming off of them! The tension was rife and I could not decide what I wanted to happen, but that is just something you will have to read for yourself.

This story is thick, massively thick. Yes, perhaps just cresting 500 pages isn't saying too much these days, but when you're a slow reader like I am, anything over 400 feels like a massive accomplishment! Lol. Keeping that in mind, I felt like the pacing was about what you could expect from a detailed fantasy story like this. There's always those pages where things get stretched out a little too thin. You wonder if perhaps we could've dialed back a bit here and there, but I digress. I can see where most of it was necessary but the occasional scene or two felt like a bit too much. 

The romance was very intense! The enemies-to-lovers vibe rang strong and burned fiercely, and you could almost sense a love triangle on the horizon. I feel like that might have fizzled out by the end, but it's still very early into this series. I can see now we have at least three plus a novella (yes, everything has been ordered and I await their arrival!) but I tend not to dive too deep into finding out facts about a series when I need to get caught up because there be spoilers in those blurbs sometimes! Learned that the hard way once upon a time. Couldn't tell you what book it was though, lol.

There are multiple points of view in this one which does help with such a hefty page count. It lets you get around the story more and see what's happening on all the fronts as there is quite a bit of groundwork to be laid out and much is happening behind the scenes that I feel will be very present in the coming tomes.

If you're looking for a breathtaking fantasy filled with action, violence, magic, romance, and a few surprises, then I'd be sure to add Demi Winters' The Ashen series to your TBR piles as it's not one to be missed!

Overall Rating 4.5/5 stars

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It's a fun meme where we gather to share what we've read last week and our reading plans for this week.

Last Week I Read:

The Road of Bones by Demi Winters--Review to come later today!

Currently Reading:

The Girls Before by Kate Alice Marshall (ARC)

What I Plan to Read Next:

A Taste of Poison by Tessonja Odette

Other Posts of Interest:

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays
Can't Wait Wednesday #230
Books from the Backlog # 169
Book Blogger Hop #393
Stacking the Shelves