Tag: Adult fantasy

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BOOK REVIEW: Red Summer by Ana Lee

Gifted a copy to review, Red Summer is filled with a unique, gritty Southern Gothic flair, set against the vibrant backdrop of New Orleans. Red Summer gives you hints of a high school Harry Potter orPercy Jackson.

Red Summer (Stone and Scale Book 1)

Published: August 4, 2025

Genre: Urban fantasy, Contemporary Fantasy/ Paranormal fantasy

Ages: Older Young Adult/ Adult Readers

Synopsis –

Seventeen-year-old Wilder Ansley is being followed. By who? He hasn’t got a clue. By people and creatures no one else can see. That’s a good enough place to start.

To make matters worse, he’s also able to do things that make no sense at all — like unintentionally setting fire to his foster brother’s bed, without the help of a lighter or matches.

Wilder prides himself that recently, aside from a few unfortunate incidents, he’s been able to keep whatever happens when he loses his cool mostly under control. That is until a freak lightning storm alerts the mysterious New Orleans Council to his whereabouts.And his burgeoning abilities.

Within hours, Wilder is thrown headfirst into a whole new world, hidden behind a Shroud, and it feels more like home than he cares to admit. Despite his initial hesitations, Wilder finds friendship, and maybe something more, among these new strangers. But it turns out uncovering his place in the Eadar might be harder than he thought. Wilder must force himself to face the truth about who everyone else believes him to be—all while a decades long war escalates within and beyond the Shroud, threatening not only the Eadar and his new found friends, but the human world he’s left behind.

REVIEW

Red Summer: Stone and Scale is “Harry Potter” meets “Percy Jackson” on Bourbon Street. Our hero here is Wilder, an orphan with a reputation for so-called trouble. Things happen around Wilder, and oh, there are those creatures he sees that no one else can. When another episode occurs, landing a foster sibling in the hospital, Wilder’s future looks slim. When he decides to run away, only to encounter and follow an annoying owl, Wilder enters into a whole new realm, and that is in the midst of a war to discover who and what he is. It’s up to Wilder now and his newfound friends to help protect the magical worlds as well as learn more about himself.

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Red Summer was a fun read. It reminded me of a darker take on Harry Potter or Percy Jackson, yet it was its own thing as well. Our protagonist, Wilder, is a good character, and I love his progression as a character so far. Lee also creates a lovely world-building, with the human realm and the magical realm,  filled with lycans (werewolves), fae, vampires, witches, halfbreeds, and more. If you feel you’ve outgrown “Harry Potter” or “Percy Jackson?” Graduate to the grit and magic of Red Summer: Stone and Scale.

My rating is 4 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐/ 5

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ana Lee is the debut author of Red Summer—the first novel of the upcoming dark, gritty, and fast-paced epic contemporary fantasy series, Stone and Scale.

Ana lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she spends her time reading, writing, or dreaming about reading and writing.

Her influences include (but are definitely not limited to) Cassandra Clare, Rebecca Yarros, Sarah J. Maas, Leigh Bardugo, J.K. Rowling, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien.

Follow Anna and her books at @analeewriters on Instagram.

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: To Love a Grimm by Christina Farley

It’s November! Where did October go? In my book spotlight this week, we have “To Love A Grimm,” a forbidden fantasy romance wrapped in curses, courtly glamour, and dangerous fairy-tale magic, where only love can rewrite the story. Let’s read on!

To Love a Grimm (Fairy Tale Hearts Book 1)

Expected Release Date: November 11, 2025

Genre: Adult Romantasy/ Standalone

Features

🥀 Fated mates
⚔️ Forbidden romance
🥀 Broody hunter
⚔️ Hidden magical powers
🥀 Castle ruins kiss
⚔️ Stays true to the Grimms’ Cinderella
🥀 Happily ever after
⚔️ Slow-burn romance
🥀 Dual POV
⚔️ Secret identity
🥀 Based on the lives of the Grimm Brothers

When Jacob Grimm’s beloved brother, Wilhelm, falls gravely ill, Jacob will do anything to save him—even strike a blood bargain with a cunning Enchantress. In exchange, the brothers become her Hunters, cursed to serve her dark will. Their task sends them on a quest to a kingdom where villagers whisper of men turning to wolves, nixies lurking in ponds, and the young disappearing into the Black Forest, trailing after the tune of a piper.
But upon arrival, Jacob realizes there are evil forces at work, more powerful than the brothers have encountered. Seeking help, Jacob joins an alliance with a nobleman’s daughter, the smart and beautiful Ella von Maier. Yet, she too holds dark secrets, and she’ll do anything to keep them hidden.
Swept into a world of court glamor and alluring magic, Jacob and Ella’s lives are inextricably intertwined as they work to save the kingdom and break his curse. But as truths begin to unfold, Ella wonders if she can trust this handsome stranger, or if he’s, in fact, her enemy.
As friendship blooms into love, their cursed fates force them to make impossible choices where fairy tales and love come at a treacherous cost.

To Love a Grimm acts as a standalone, Cinderella romantasy. If you crave forbidden swoony romance, star-crossed lovers, protective heroes with hidden scars, and a heroine who must choose between duty and her heart, you’ll be enchanted by this thrilling tale that ends in a happily ever after.

PRE-ORDER HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CHRISTINA FARLEY is the author of the bestselling Gilded series, The Princess and the Page, The Dreamscape Series, The Immortal Bound series, and the Library of Alexandria series. Prior to that, she worked as an international teacher and at a top secret job for Disney where she was known to scatter pixie dust before the sun rose. When not traveling the world or creating imaginary ones, she spends time with her family in Clermont, Florida with her husband and two sons where they are busy preparing for the next World Cup, baking cheesecakes, and raising a pet dragon that’s in disguise as a cat. Visit her at ChristinaFarley. com.

CONNECT WITH CHRISTINA

Instagram: @ChristinaLFarley

Facebook: @ChristinaFarleyAuthor

YouTube: @ChristinaFarley

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Book Spotlight Thursday: Kingdom of Briars and Roses by Heather Hildenbrand

I love fairy tale retelling, so it is no surprise that the Kingdom of Briars and Roses by Heather Hildenbrand is featured in my spotlight today! Kingdom of Briars & Roses is a slow-burn, royal fae romantasy that includes morally gray characters, enemies-to-lovers, political intrigue, who did this to you, and touch her and unalive. It’s ACOTAR meets Reign with a Sleeping Beauty twist.

Kingdom of Briars and Roses (Cursed Fae Courts Book 1)

Publication Date: March 12, 2025

Genre: Fae Fantasy Romance/ Adult Romantasy

FEATURES
Slow Burn
Touch Her & Die
Who Did This?
Fae Royalty
Forbidden Romance
Secret Crush on his Brother
Chosen One
Dark Prince
Enemies to Lovers
Possessive
Growly Alpha Male

Synopsis
Two powerful fae princes. One will be her salvation. The other, her ruin.
Cursed and alone in her own castle, Aurelia has spent years watching her kingdom wither. When trespassers finally break the silence, it’s both a dream and a nightmare.
Prince Callan is the first outsider she has seen in an age—golden, arrogant, and her only hope. He alone can shatter the curse, but his help comes at a cost: her freedom.
Then there’s Rydian.

Cold where Callan burns hot, lethal where he is charming, the second fae prince is an enigma—and an attraction she can’t ignore. Too bad he despises her on sight.
In a realm where deception reigns, Aurelia must trust one prince to save her. The other will destroy her. If only she knew which.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Heather Hildenbrand writes paranormal and fantasy romance with strong heroines and dark, grumpy heroes who’ll do anything for their mate. Her most frequent hobbies are cuddling with her 100-pound goldendoodle, riding country roads on the back of her husband’s motorcycle, and avoiding killer slugs. You can find out more about Heather and her books at heatherhildenbrand.com