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ARC REVIEW: Kingdom Of The Owl by Christine Drummond

SO…. I apparently signed up to become an ARC reader for this book. I completely forgot about it until I got an email saying I was selected as an ARC reader! This book looks like a romantasy lover’s dream. KINGDOM OF THE OWL is set to be a cross between a modern-day Outlander mixed in with ACOTAR romantasy. Let’s dive deeper!

Kingdom Of The Owl

Expected Publishing Date: April 6th 2027

Genre: Fantasy, romantasy, portal fantasy

Featured Tropes include:

⚔️ Enemies to lovers

🔥 Spice

🤝 Forced proximity

🔥 Slow burn

🛏️ One bed / 🐎 one horse / ⛺ one tent

🌊 Elemental powers

🕶️ Fake name/secrets everywhere

 ✨Celtic mythology, reimagined

🖤 Real-world girl, otherworld problems

✨ Enemies-to-lovers slow burn

🖤 “Who did this to you?”

✨ Magic, monsters, and morally grey men

🖤 One bed at the inn

✨️ A heroine who just wants to go home… until she doesn’t

Addie Howell has perfected the art of holding it all together—until her anxiety-fueled sleep hallucinations rip her out of Manhattan and drop her into Threllwood, a realm teetering on the edge of destruction. 

Captured by a mysterious commander with too many secrets and eyes like cobalt flame, Addie must decide: risk everything to save a world she barely understands—or run back to the safety of her own, and break both their hearts in the process.

REVIEW

What a whirlwind read! This was the most beautiful read I had read in a long time. I went in grumpy and came out smiling. Drummond’s world-building is spectacular, and you surprisingly get lost in her magical world of Threllwood. We meet Addie, who is going through some stuff, as well as being plagued with nightmares of a strange forest and owls that she shrugs off as anxiety; at least that is what her therapist is telling her- but when her dreams start seeping into her reality, she finds herself falling through the portal into a world that is strange, yet oddly like home. 

 Addie is unsure how she got to this world called Threllwood. When she gets caught by the Queen’s commander, he thinks she could be his dying kingdom’s hope, and more.

This book is absolutely captivating, and I did not want to admit it. As I said, I went into reading this grumpy, not feeling romantasy at the moment. That mood soon changed the moment I started reading. You instantly get invested in Addie’s life and journey where, if you take away all the magic and fantasy, this book is about finding yourself. Finding your home.

Also, I had been reading thrillers and horror books lately, so reading this portal romantasy was actually a breath of fresh air and cleansed my reading palate. I have to step back into the world of horror for my next review read, so The Kingdom Of The Owl has refreshed me. I really enjoyed it; therefore, my rating is

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐5/ 5 stars.

HEY! Want a chance to get this book early like me? Starting August 18th – September 11th 2026, you can join the KICKSTARTER hosted by City Owl Press and Guilded Wings Books to sign up and receive a signature edition copy that features:

  • Foil-Stamped Hardcover
  • Curved Classic Spine
  • Sprayed Edges
  • Full-Color Endpapers
  • Specialty Interior Formatting
  • Hand-Signed

Plus LOTS of surprise add-ons!

Kickstarter

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Christine Drummond has been weaving tales of unlikely heroes finding courage, love, and belonging since childhood.

Her work blends slow-burn chemistry, immersive settings, and emotional journeys—whether set in modern cityscapes or magic-touched realms—and is known for its complex characters and a healthy dose of wit. Her work has earned recognition:

  • Her debut Romantasy sold to City Owl Press for publication in 2027
  • Kingdom of the Owl was long-listed for Uncharted Mag’s 2024 Novel Excerpt Contest
  • Christine has grown an audience of thousands of followers on Bookstagram
  • In a prior life, Christine’s writing on her culinary exploits was published in Huffington Post

When she’s not writing (or chatting about it), Christine can be found chasing after her two young daughters, hiking scenic trails with her husband, or cozying up with her latest read. 

She brings a business-savvy mindset to every project, thanks to dual degrees in Marketing and International Business from the University of Maryland—and a touch of sensory detail from her Culinary Arts training at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York.

 Follow Christine at christinemdrummond.com  and on Instagram and TikTok 

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: The Witch’s Third by Kymberli Roberson

Today in the spotlight is the upcoming release THE WITCH’S THIRD: Nyctophilia by Kymberli Roberson. Preparing to release on October 1st, 2026, this dark fantasy horror will be the perfect pick-up for spooky month reading. Let’s dive in!

The Witch's Third: Nyctophilia

Expected Release Date: October 1, 2026

Genre: Dark Fantasy/ Fantasy Horror

Featuring
⦁	Magic
⦁	Creatures
⦁	Plot twists
⦁	Morally gray characters
⦁	Race against the clock
⦁	Action

This is the tale of one night…
When the mutilated corpse of an animal appears in Ronadel Fortress and black feathers rain down from the heavens on the day of the peculiar Entertainment Night festival, the inhabitants begin whispering of witches. Except, neither they nor warlocks have existed in the land for fifty years. That’s what the twenty-year-old servant Aubree is told; even one of the guards, Tams, confirms that it’s true. But as the day wears on and night descends, they begin to realize there’s more to the events than meets the eye.
In this land that has exterminated all witches and warlocks, something has crept in with the night. Something intent on slaying the inhabitants by any means necessary.
Now in a race against time, Aubree and Tams find themselves fighting not only for their lives, but also those of the fortress’s inhabitants. And they must hurry, for they only have until dawn.

PRE-ORDER NOW AVAILABLE

PRE-ORDER ON AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kymberli Roberson has published speculative flash fiction pieces in Nailpolish Stories and Theme of Absence. She has contributed to Heavy Feather Review. Kymberli is currently working on her next book.

#supportingindieauthors

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Songbirds of the Veil by Steven McClellen

Book spotlighting this week is the lyrical YA historical fantasy SONGBIRDS OF THE VEIL by Steven McClellen.

Songbirds of the Veil

Release Date: Aug 4, 2026

Genre: Edwardian Historical Fantasy/ Young Adult
⦁	Portal Fantasy / Hidden World
⦁	Labyrinthine Jungle Expedition
⦁	Fierce / Scamp Heroine
⦁	Grandfather-Granddaughter Bond
⦁	Fountain of Youth Mystery
⦁	Ticking Clock
⦁	Survival Quest
⦁	Missing Journal Pages
⦁	Dystopian Resource Control (Tyrannical Authority)
⦁	Enemies to Allies
⦁	Magical Artifact / Talisman

To save her grandfather, she'll have to survive the Amazon. To find the truth, she'll have to cross the Veil.

In 1908, fifteen-year-old Ramona Grey lives a quiet, scamp-like existence in Key West, caring for her dying grandfather. As the legendary explorer who first discovered a miracle serum within the Amazon Rainforest, he now relies on that very medicine to live. But now, the world's supply is gone.

The tyrannical Authority has hoarded the final drops, leaving cities in darkness and the sick in despair. When the U.S. Navy and the Authority launch a covert expedition to find the hidden source-a magical portal buried deep in the labyrinth of the Amazon-they coerce Ramona's grandfather into leading the way. Used as leverage in their deadly bargain, Ramona is thrust headfirst into a perilous journey.
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Immortality Island by Nikki Jefford

From the creators of Spellcaster comes a thrilling new reality competition where the stakes are higher than ever. Welcome to Immortality Island, where contestants are literally thrown to the sharks.

Immortality Island

Release Date: July 21, 2026

Genre: Dark Romantasy

Featuring:

⦁	Enemies to lovers
⦁	Forced proximity
⦁	Slow Burn
⦁	Banter
⦁	Magic
⦁	Reality Competition
⦁	Forbidden romance
⦁	Dual POV
⦁	Action and Adventure


Hunting her was meant to be easy . . . until desire got in the way.

Twenty human spellcasters. One deadly island. Four cutthroat vampire masters. Only one caster can make it to the end . . . and win a place in a vampire clan for eternity.
After her doctor discovers a brain tumor and gives her months to live, Joni Mullins sees winning the show as her last chance at survival.

Sterling Alder is a vampire master with a personal vendetta and a mission: destroy her. But on Immortality Island, survival isn’t just about magic—it’s about temptation, betrayal, and falling for the one person he should never want.

Twenty human spellcasters. One deadly island. Four cutthroat vampire masters. Only one caster can make it to the end . . . and win a place in a vampire clan for eternity.
After her doctor discovers a brain tumor and gives her months to live, Joni Mullins sees winning the show as her last chance at survival.

Sterling Alder is a vampire master with a personal vendetta and a mission: destroy her. But on Immortality Island, survival isn’t just about magic—it’s about temptation, betrayal, and falling for the one person he should never want.
https://nikkijefford.com/immortalityisland/ or AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nikki Jefford is a third-generation Alaskan nomad married to an amazing Frenchman. She loves fictional bad boys and heroines who kick butt! Books, travel, TV series, hiking, writing, and motorcycle riding are her favorite escapes. The dark side of human nature fascinates her, so long as it’s balanced by humor and romance.

To get in on the fun and adventure, visit Nikki at her website for release alerts, updates, exclusive giveaways, and a free story when you subscribe to her newsletter: https://nikkijefford.com/newsletter/

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AUDIO Book Spotlight Thursday: ARMORED HOURS by Stephaine Hansen

Jazzing it up this week as I am spotlighting the audiobook version of ARMORED HOURS by Stephaine Hansen! Set in 1920s Paris of the Plains, Armored Hours is a thrilling tale of love and mystery interwoven with hints of magical realism.

Armored Hours (Reincarnated Souls Book One)


Release Date: July 7, 2026

Genre: Historical Fantasy


Narrators: Eric Smies & Elise Arsenault 
@blush_audiobooks @tantoraudio

Featuring

⦁ Historical romantasy
⦁ Girl squad
⦁ Opposite sides of the track
⦁ Loveable rogue
⦁ Prohibition era
⦁ Matchmaking mother
⦁ Dandy friends

The girls had forged a bond together like iron that could not be broken. Claudia, Kiersten, Lina, and Florian were on the brink of making history with their powerful feminist movement, but then they suddenly disappeared without a trace.
Alexander was a desperate bootlegger who was willing to risk it all to search for them. Not only were they in cahoots with him to help smuggle feminist contraband and forbidden booze, but Claudia had also unknowingly captivated his heart. He vowed to find them at any cost, but little did he know that their disappearance was part of a much bigger and sinister plot from the upper echelons of society.

AUDIBLE/ Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephanie Hansen is a PenCraft and Global Book Award Winning Author as well as an Imadjinn finalist. Her debut novella series, Altered Helix, released in 2020. It hit the #1 New Release, #1 Best Seller, and other top 100 lists on Amazon. It is now being adapted to an animated story for Tales. Her debut novel, Replaced Parts, released in 2021 through Fire & Ice YA and Tantor Audio. It has been in a Forbes article, hit Amazon bestseller lists, and made the Apple young adult coming soon bestsellers list. The second book in the Transformed Nexus series, Omitted Pieces, released in 2022. Her debut spicy paranormal romance, Ghostly Howls, released 2023. Her debut historical magical realism, Armored Hours, released 2024. She is a member of the deaf and hard of hearing community, so she tries to incorporate that into her fiction.

Follow Stephaine and her on Instagram @stephaniehansenauthor TikTok: @stephaniehansenauthor

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Bounty of Blood and Nails by N.K. Brown

Shining out spotlight this week, we have the thrilling dark fantasy BOUNTY OF BLOOD AND NAILS by N.K. Brown. A tale of magic, betrayal, and forbidden love… Is being the bad guy worth losing everything?

The Bounty of Blood and Nails (The Devil’s Huntress Book 1)

Release Date: March 2026

Genre: Dark Fantasy

Features

🩸Feminine Rage
🌙Morally Grey Characters
🩸Dark magic
🌙Forbidden magic
🩸Grumpy x Sunshine
🌙Love Triangles
🩸Spicy Romance
🌙Hidden Villains

Tam is a heartless, ruthless bounty hunter—or so her handler would have you believe.
With her ability to use forbidden blood magic, Tam tracks and captures her prey. The same blood magic that curses her to a life of servitude under a cruel handler—one wrong move and not only her life, but her family’s will be at stake. But when she’s sent to a remote, superstitious northern town where even a glimmer of magic will send you to the gallows, she’s forced to confront the darker consequences of her work.

After the murder of her bounty, innocent townspeople are blamed—and Tam’s conscience begins to stir. But there’s no turning back. Her handler raises the stakes, and her next mission is even more dangerous: infiltrate the royal castle and capture the enigmatic Prince Bellinor. Disguised as a maid, Tam is drawn into a world of deadly secrets, where her words are whispered into the prince’s ears through an ancient magic she’s never faced before.

To get close to the prince, she befriends his loyal bodyguard, Clement, but the deeper she digs, the more she realizes that Clement’s destiny is tied to the prince. With time running out and the castle tightening, Tam is forced to watch the trial of the people blamed for her own prior actions. But will she complete the mission—or risk it all as she falls in love with the person whose life she must destroy?
AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

N. K. is a veterinarian and a proud mother of three. Originally from Stratford-Upon-Avon, she now lives outside of Boston.

Finally ready for the career change she has always wanted, she joined Jericho Writers and is an alumnus of their Ultimate Novel Writing Course 2023/24. She loves to write in the SFF genre, usually with a dark and speculative twist. An animal or two will usually pop up somewhere in her writing!

When not reading or writing or reading about writing, you can find her out on a long run, lost in her imagination (or in a good audiobook) as she plans her next novel.

Learn more about N.K. and her books on Instagram @nkbrownauthor

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A Slice of Japanese Culture In Little Rock, Arkansas, with Otaku Takeout

When I am not writing about books, I write about new small business people might be missing out on over at Medium.com. Currently living in Arkansas, I attended our local Comic Con, SPA-CON, back in May, and set out to check out and write about the small-business vendors there. That is where I encountered OTAKU TAKEOUT. If you are a lover of Anime or Japanese pop culture, this store is your god.

I love trying out different cultural foods, so this place was so neat! They have authentic Japanese snacks, drinks, and other goodies. They even have a karaoke party room you can rent (just like in Japan!) For me, I’ve always wanted to try a Red Bean Paste Bun.

They had them there, and they are actually GOOD!

READ my full experience and the full article below.

MEDIUM

View at Medium.com

While you’re there, give it a like, clap.  Haisha moushiagemasu!😄🙏

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Between Blades and Vows by Neena Laskowski

A reluctant king. A temporary guard. A threat neither can outrun. Let’s dive into the recently released BETWEEN BLADES AND VOWS!

Between Blades and Vows: A Reverse Bodyguard Romantasy

Release Date: June 24, 2026

Genre: Romantasy

Featuring
🤍 Reverse bodyguard
🌿 Mental health rep (PTSD, depression, & anxiety)
⚔️ Training sequences (but SHE trains HIM)
🤍 Forcêd proximity
🌿 Touch HIM and ☠️
⚔️ Tension & angst


The war might be over, but King Rian Dronias knows peace is fragile. He just didn’t expect his biggest problem to arrive in the form of his new bodyguard.

When the captain of the King’s Guard goes on his honeymoon, Rian reluctantly holds a competition to find a temporary replacement. The winner? Erualys Valora, a renowned warrior from a neighboring queendom with a reputation for being unstoppable…and insufferable. She’s the last person he wants guarding him—and the only one bold enough to call him out when she discovers the threats he’s been hiding.

But as danger closes in, the king and his temporary guard will have to face the truth: the deadliest risk might not be the assassins in the shadows, but the spark igniting between them.
GET NOW ON AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Neena Laskowski lives in Michigan with her husband and their two pets. She earned her master’s in Secondary Education and bachelor’s in English and Classical Studies from the University of Michigan. When she is not reading or writing about morally grey characters, you can find her camping, painting, or spending time with her family and friends.

For upcoming ARC opportunities and to be among the first to see cover reveals, character art, and more, be sure to join Neena Laskowski’s newsletter or follow Neena on social media @neenalaskowski

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Starfire’s Heir by Megan Phillips

Debut author Megan Phillips is caught in our spotlight today. Starfire’s Heir is book one in her new The Soul of Serentyn series, where “Destiny called her. He awoke her.”

Starfire's Heir (The Soul of Serentyn Book One)

Release Date: June 23, 2026

Genre: Romantasy

Cover: @mariaspada.design

Featuring

⦁	Slow Burn
⦁	Romantasy
⦁	Found Family
⦁	Fated Mates
⦁	Long Lost Princess
⦁	Hidden Magic
⦁	Prophecies
⦁	One Bed
⦁	Sword Wielding FMC
⦁	Fierce FMC


Lexa Andrever has always believed she was nothing more than a farm girl. But when
a stranger reveals she is the lost heir of a distant realm, Lexa discovers she alone
stands between the kingdom and the deathly darkness pressing at its borders.
Written into an unsettling prophecy, carrying a responsibility she never sought, Lexa
sets off for her homeland with Griff Narvene, the warrior sworn to protect her.

 As she grapples with her new role as prophesied savior, the inscrutable soldier stirs
something deep within...

To keep the shadows at bay, Lexa must harness the powers of her birthright to
protect the people and home that demand her duty. With the fate of the
kingdom-and a fragile new love-at stake, can she survive long enough to save
them both?
CW: 18+
AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Megan grew up in Maryland and now calls Virginia home—though her heart sets up camp wherever her characters drag it. With a degree in sociolinguistics and an ear for the way language shapes identity, she has spent years sketching voices, lives, and entire kingdoms in her mind. When she’s not writing, she shares her days with her husband, young son, Newfoundland dog, and horse. Starfire’s Heir is her debut novel.

Follow Megan and her debut novel at @meganphillipsauthor on Instagram.

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Curse of the Moonflower by Sam Dorsett

Cursed. Hunted. Coveted… Caught in the spotlight this week is the dark fantasy CURSE OF THE MOONFLOWER by Sam Dorsett. Let’s read on!

Curse of the Moonflower (Scars of Somnium #1)

Release Date: April 21, 2026

Genre: Dark Fantasy

Featuring
⬇
⦁	Werewolves, Witches, Vampires & Demons
⦁	Multiple POVs
⦁	Traumatized FMC & MMC
⦁	Fated Mates (Multiple perhaps?)
⦁	Found Family
⦁	Reluctant Allies to Lovers
⦁	Touch her and d!e

An ancient curse runs through Vessa Lemaire's veins—the gods have destined her to wed the banished vampire ruler of the Underworld, who will stop at nothing to seize his betrothed. She discovers this only days after the horrific death of her mother, forcing her to leave her shattered life behind. 

For three years, she lives under the protection of a werewolf and his mate, an oracle. Until one day, a vision befalls the seer—a chance for her to find permanent asylum, right alongside the man who despises vampires most.

Axe Skornokovy is a soldier of vengeance, hell-bent on eliminating vampires and the powerful demigod from which they were sired. As Vessa tries to find her place among his pack of feuding wolves, she must keep her secrets close. She must come to terms with the fact that Axe is more than capable of turning on her, even as it grows difficult to ignore the tantalizing force which conspires to bring them together. For if they give into it, they will spark a war destined to bleed into the realm below.
AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sam has been obsessed with wolves since she was eight. Growing up in Missouri, when she wasn’t sketching them in her notebooks, she was weaving stories in her mind where bold heroines would run alongside them. Nowadays, when she isn’t writing, listening to metal music, or picking flowers, she devotes herself to a menagerie of ten animals (and counting).

Follow Sam and her books on IG: @authorsamdorsett, and TIKTOK @sam_dorsett