BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Angel of Earth & Bone by Tory Guyon

Welcome to the first Book Spotlight Thursday of 2025! I saw this book come on my radar again, and seeing it is releasing close to my birthday, I decided to feature it. Angel of Earth & Bone is the second volume in The Book of the Watchers, an upper YA/NA urban fantasy romance series about the secret heiress to a powerful archangel and the half-angel demon hunter sent to destroy her.

Angel of Earth & Bone (The Book of the Watchers Vol II)

Expected Publication Date: January 16, 2025

Genre: YA/NA Urban Fantasy Romance 

Features

⦁ Enemies-to-Lovers
⦁ Forbidden Love
⦁ Second Chance Romance
⦁ Warring realms
⦁ Dagger to the Throat
⦁ Morally Gray MMC
⦁ Found Family
⦁ Mental Health Rep
⦁ Magical Creatures
⦁ “We shouldn’t be doing this”
⦁ Dungeon Runs
⦁ Backpacking Culture

Six weeks isn’t long enough to heal a broken heart. Not for River Harlow, who lost her best friend, Javi; her mentor, Olivia; her lover, Ryder—her entire life—in what feels like the blink of an eye. Yet, as the new Angel of Water and with a bounty on her head placed by the conniving enemy realm, the only thing left to do is try to move on.

To take back her life, River stands against Chet, the horrific guy-turned-wolf who assaulted her at a bonfire. But when she tries to testify against him at the werewolf tribunal, she—and her remaining friends—realizes he has not only slithered into the welcome arms of the enemy, but the enemy is very much among them. It won’t be too long before their army of demons infiltrates Mortal Earth and destroys everything she loves.
Finding the three other elemental archangels, the Watchers, might be her only hope of saving the realm.


On a dangerous search abroad to find the Angel of Earth, her strength, hope, and heart are tested in the deceitfully glittering realm of the Huldufólk. The Queen of the Elves strikes a bargain with River to take her to the Angel of Earth, but elves always demand payment for their magic, and River owes her dues—in bones and blood.

PRE-ORDER HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tory Guyon grew up dreaming about dragons, pretending to craft potions, and eagerly awaiting to be summoned by the realm of the fae. She lives with her family in Santa Cruz, CA and continues to actively seek out the magic of this world. Whether that’s working with orangutans in the jungles of Borneo, summiting Mount Kilimanjaro’s grueling 19,341 ft. peak, or looking for fairies in the redwoods with her daughter.

Connect with her at www.toryguyon.com or on social media at @wri_tor.

BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Royal Lies by Rina Huang

A holiday edition 🎄 In the spotlight today is the upcoming Royal Lies (FaeTale Lies #1 ), releasing December 25th, 2024. “Being a bastard son, you have to make tough decisions. I had to make tough decisions. But they were all for her. Always for her.” ~Eli

Royal Lies: Adventure into a New Realm of Magic and Betrayal (FaeTale Lies #1)

Expected Publication Date: December 25, 2024

Genre: Romantasy/ Fae

Features

-Found family
-Love triangle
-Enemies to lovers
-Soulmates
-Backstabbing bargains
-Morally grey MCs
-Overpowered MCs
-Anti-heroes
- Unexected Twists
-Action/Adventure

In the Fae realm nothing is for free, and everything is a game of lies and half truths. When Everetta and her companions are reincarnated they come back with one thing in mind to get back their crowns. But with Everetta's most trusted companion, Eli, keeping a major secret from her will they truly be able to take back their thrones?
Lucarious is an evil, monstrous, murderer. Fae have always called him the King of Blood and Shadow. But is there more to this dethroned King than meets the eyes?
What secrets lay in wait? Who will betray who? In a fight for the crowns to their respective Courts Everetta, Eli, and Lucarious must work together if they will ever find out what really happened in their past.

PRE- ORDER HERE

COMING DECEMBER 25TH, 2024

Book Spotlight Thursday: The Book Binder by C.A. Cordova

Caught in my spotlight is C.A. Cordova’s soon-to-be release, The Book Binder! It will be released on December 6th, 2024. Read on for more details.

The Book Binder

Publication Date: December 6, 2024

Genre: Historical Fantasy

Features

✔️High Stakes
✔️Exotic Locale
✔️Forbidden Romance
✔️Love Triangle

Choice is an illusion gifted by the gods.

Aria never expected to be a mistress, especially to the Pharaoh’s son.
But when she accidentally witnesses the poisoning of his cup and intervenes, he is intrigued. Even more so when he discovers that she can speak the betrayer’s language and many others.

Aria’s forbidden education as the daughter of a book binder makes her valuable, and she quickly becomes the prince’s obsession.

As she embraces her newfound power, she begins to question the rulings of the palace and uncovers a world of deception.
Is Aria destined to receive the spoils of the gods or will tragedy befall her?

The Book Binder is an epic adventure novel with elements of suspense and mystery. C.A. Cordova’s tale is woven with intense emotion, dire situations, and female cunning.

COMING DECEMBER 6TH, 2024

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

C.A. Cordova is perhaps best described as a whimsical nomad. She has an ever-present thirst for new adventures that has resulted in many moves and many more stories.

C.A. Cordova’s unique novels are crafted under a shroud of bergamot from a bottomless cup of Earl Grey tea. She declares herself an observer of the countless tales that play out in her mind. It is not unusual for her to have upwards of ten works in progress at any given moment, the most active being determined by the tone of the day.

Guided by her love of reading, C.A. Cordova hopes to capture the feeling of blissful immersion she has experienced with her favorite books.

When she is not feverishly tapping away at her laptop with a cat in her lap, C.A. Cordova can be found enjoying time with her family, training her parrot, or tending to her flowerbeds.

C.A. Cordova lives in Texas with her family and many pets.

BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Even Angels Fall by E.V Sauvage

Welcome to a thankful Book Spotlight Thursday! In our limelight today is EVEN ANGELS FALL by E.V. Sauvage, which is releasing today!

Even Angels fall (The Even Ever After Series Book 1)

Publication Date: November 28, 2024

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Features

⦁ Enemies to lovers
⦁ Marriage of convenience
⦁ He falls first
⦁ She’s badass
⦁ Found family
⦁ Shapeshifters (she’s a crow/he’s a dragon)

300 years ago, my world collided with Earth.
My kind has been ruling over the world ever since, passing as archangels.
Doves, swans, cockatoo, their white wings in half shifted form are the sign of their power.
I should have been the next in line.
I should have been the new archangel Michaël.
But my wings aren’t white.
So instead I have to stay hidden. Instead, I’ve been trained my whole life. Instead, I’m their weapon.
Because who would be best suited to kill the dragon shifter living inside of Notre Dame than a fallen angel?
My name is Angélique. I’m a crow-shifter, and my mission is to marry Elhyor and to kill him on our wedding night.
But nothing is the way it seems, and the dragon might be harder to kill than I thought.
He might also be my only chance at freedom…
Do I have any chance of surviving unscathed?
Only time will tell…

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

E.V. Sauvage is a French author who writes in English and lives in Paris.

When she’s not writing, you can find her reading books, collecting them, trying to paint or sew.

Book Spotlight Thursday: Inked in Blood and Memory by Allison Ivy

Looking for a book to spotlight this Thursday, I found the soon-to-be-released Inked in Blood and Memory by Allison Ivy. Containing elements of gothic horror, splatterpunk, romance, and fantasy, this book calls to you that it is said to wrap around you, the reader, and never let go. Let’s read on!

PRE ORDER AVAILABLE

Inked in Blood and Memory

Expected Publication Date: December 3, 2024

Genre: Sapphic Horror

Features
⦁ Eat the rich
⦁ “Family is complicated”
⦁ Sapphic (f/f) romance
⦁ 2/5 spice level
⦁ Multi-POV
⦁ Vietnamese FMC
⦁ Plus size FMC
⦁ Mixed race FMC
⦁ FMC who wears glasses
⦁ New Year’s Eve Horror
⦁ Dark Academia
⦁ Estranged friends to lovers
⦁ Grownup "The Pagemaster" vibes

Recluse Sophie Vanguard’s winter cabin retreat turns ominous when blue flowers mysteriously appear. They’re everywhere. On her front porch, in kitchen cabinets, and even on her pillow. It isn’t long before chilling whispers echo in the halls, and her journal repeats seven unsettling entries.

Enter the bloodied and beautifully eccentric Ly Thi Ren. Though Ren seems familiar, Sophie refuses to believe the girl’s insistence that they are trapped inside a book.
In a land of fiction, truth and lies blur together, clear decisions are marred by doubt, and shared family trauma lurks just below the surface.

Can Ren and Sophie make it out alive? Or will they end up nothing more than words inked in blood and memory?

Warnings Contain Possible Triggers Including:

Swearing (Not overboard. Three or four F-words and three or four other words.)
Gore/violence/body horror (not gratuitous and nothing sexual)
one scene of the main character’s drug use (joint)
Brief suicidal ideation
Child endangerment
Self-deprecation in terms of weight (one paragraph).

Inked in Blood and Memory is coming December 3rd, 2024

Pre-Order Today!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Allison Ivy writes under a pen name and grew up reading a book a day. She graduated from Penn State with a B.A. in English and a Creative Writing certificate. She currently lives in Connecticut and listens to far too many show tunes and DVD commentaries. The Dragon and the Double-Edged Sword is her first novel.

Book Spotlight Thursday: All the Sacrifice of Shadows by Hillary Raymer

The cover has a dragon on it, so of course, I am spotlighting this book. All the Sacrifice of Shadows is the exciting next installment in the Starstorm series, coming November 13th.

All the Sacrifice of Shadows (Starstorm Series Book 2)

Expected Publication Date: November 13, 2024

Genre: Romantic Fantasy/ Dragons

Features

Arranged Marriage
Grumpy x Sunshine
Shadow Daddy
Morally Grey
Very Spicy
Dragons
His Dragon Like Her Better

Synopsis

She was a storm of violent sunbeams and catastrophic rainbows.
Marrying for love was never in the stars for Creslyn, as evidenced by her future husband. Drake is calculating, cruel, and wields a blade of death. By all rights, he should be terrifying. But something about him draws her in, his shadows call to the darkness she keeps locked away inside of her. She isn’t foolish enough to expect love from a marriage contract, but when they bind their vows in blood, Creslyn does the unthinkable—she claims Drake as her mate.

He was a monster of shadow and night, of death and destruction.
Cursed since his first breath, Drake has only known power and a realm of shadows. But now he’s bound to a faerie whose heart bleeds for him, and his obsession with her only grows with each passing day. Unfortunately, his world of violence puts her life at stake. Not only is he still the Shadowblade Assassin, but unrest is brewing in Aeramere, and an attack on House Celestine confirms an ill-fated prophecy. War is coming.
As Creslyn longs to find a way to break Drake’s curse and struggles to embrace her own darkness, Drake will be faced with a terrible choice—one that will only end in sacrifice.
Secrets will be unearthed and their bond will be put to the test, because love might be enough for a hero, but it will never save a villain
.
Don’t forget Book 1

Pre-Order Here

Content Warning: The book contains the following triggers.

⦁ Voyeurism
⦁ Foul language
⦁ Explicit sexual content
⦁ Attempted murder
⦁ Death
⦁ Blood
⦁ Brief on pages attempted SA

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hillary Raymer is a fantasy romance author. She’s a wanderer, a storyteller, and believes in happily ever afters.

Hillary has always been a dreamer, and lucky for her, she turned those dreams into stories. She has an unfinished Bachelor’s Degree in English, because she ran off and married a Marine halfway through college. She has an affinity toward plants, loves flowers, and enjoys scoping out metaphysical markets for crystals. Wanderlust comes naturally to her, and she’s doing her best to instill the same wild and free values in her daughters. When not writing, Hillary can be found attempting to do yoga, buying more makeup she doesn’t need, or discovering small businesses on Etsy.

Book Review: Blood for Blood by J.N. Eagles

 From the author of last year’s “Open the Casket.”  This year, J.N. Eagles is back with Blood for Blood, a poetic story that will haunt you days after.

Blood for Blood

Genre: YA Poetry/ Supernatural

Cover Designer:  @j20graphics

Synopsis

An older vampire secretly resides in a neighborhood, preying off those who hike in the nearby woods. One night, he becomes distracted by a second attack and allows his prey to escape. Following a trail of blood, he comes face to face with his old mentor who only wants revenge and to keep the vampire laws. His mentor will either kill or transform everyone he cares for into vampires. After being arrested and interrogated for a crime his mentor framed him for, can he escape the police station before the sunlight diminishes him? Can he save his great-grandson? Will he be able to convince a stranger, who thinks of him as a monster, to help him? He would do anything as long as he didn’t have to accept his final death.

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

REVIEW

Blood for Blood is achingly haunting! A story told in poetic prose, Eagles makes sure you turn the next page even though you don’t want to.

This book was so unique and beautiful all at once. Horrifyingly tragic, I was not sure I liked the trip Eagles was taking me on, but I loved it at the same time. The story is so incredibly good! It holds you and, with a gentle touch, yearns you to the end. This is true gothic horror reminiscent of the great Edgar Allen Poe.

This is a great story told in such a brave new way, and oddly, it works. I do not think the story could be told any other way. Eagles tells the tale of the vampire in poetic free verse poetry. It was offputting at first, but I soon felt at home in the Eagles’ style of storytelling. This book! I am still in awe and love. It’s on my favorite list of reads this year. 

Thus, my rating is 5 out of 5 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

J. N. Eagles currently lives in Alabama with her husband, daughter, two cats, and a flock of chickens. She runs a reading blog where she posts reviews about the books on her shelves, and she plans to write many books of poetry. She graduated from Athens State University with a Bachelor’s in English/Language Arts and graduated from the University of North Alabama with a Master of Arts in Writing. When she’s not reading or scribbling new stories, she’s enjoying the outdoors and working in her garden.

To learn more about Eagle and her other works, visit her Amazon page and follow Eagles on Instagram @j.n.eagles.author

Book Spotlight Thursday: The Call of Chaos by C.M. Aragon

Hunting for some spooky reads? In our spotlight today is the dark fantasy/ gothic horror THE CALL OF CHAOS by C.M. Aragon! This adult gothic horror fantasy is filled with secrets and mystery alongside witty banter, unlikely friendships, and a dash of romance. It’s perfect for fans of Rachel Gillig and Margaret Rogerson. Grab your candle, and let’s walk down the hall into chaos.

The Call of Chaos: The Lost Pantheon Book One

Expected Publication Date: October 10, 2024

Genre: Dark Fantasy/ Fantasy Horror/ Gothic
• Gothic Horror Fantasy
• Forced Proximity
• Reincarnation
• Plus Size FMC
• Broody MMC
• Found Family
• Masquerade Ball

A curious librarian. The mysterious Duke she works for. With a broody winged companion and a book that could change the world.

Rue Umberwick is a curious woman with a seemingly insatiable thirst for knowledge. When she lands her dream job as a personal librarian for the handsome yet aloof Duke of Penrith, she doesn’t think her life can get much better.
But the Duke’s private library and gallery are more than she expected. A collector of mostly ill gotten and supposedly cursed objects, the Duke has entrusted Rue to keep his secrets.


There is said to be a book containing incantations and rituals to bring upon the cataclysm that could destroy the world hidden among his collection.
With the begrudging help of her disgruntled new winged ally Corvus, Rue finds herself tasked with finding the book and destroying it before it slides into the wrong hands.
However, her unending well of curiosity pulls her into a world of chaos, upending her entire life as she once knew it.


Can she complete her task before the darkness catches up to her? Or will she hold the responsibility of a cruel fate in her hands?

AVAILABLE TODAY ON AMAZON!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

C.M. Aragon (she/they) is a dark fantasy and horror author with a love of all things spooky. Obsessed with the macabre from a young age (Thanks in part to their mother allowing them to watch Army of Darkness in third grade) they always dreamed of writing stories that created rich atmosphere with a pinch of humor and a dash of romance.

When she’s not writing or dreaming up her next big idea she can usually be found playing games with her wife or snuggling their two cats.

You can find them on most platforms under the name WorldsofAragon.

BOOK REVIEW: DOLL FACE by C. Hebert and D.J. Krimmer

In celebration of the start of the spooky season, I bring you a dark and twisted treat this Thursday! DOLL FACE by the Queens in Dark Horror Romance C. Herbert and D.J. Krimmer. Coming out October 5th, this story is a dark retelling of the iconic stories of The Nightmare Before Christmas (specifically Oogie Boogie) and Coraline into a mash-up of spooky goodness filled with banter, chaos, and lots of spice.

Doll Face

Publication Date: October 5, 2024

Genre: Dark Romance/ Retelling/ Novella

Shall We Play a Game?

Amid the suffocating embrace of night,

I stumble upon him, a beacon of light.

The Boogeyman, a seductive terror,

Whispers haunting promises, cruel and fair.

Eyes that glint with otherworldly fire,

In his grasp, I’m consumed by dark desire.

A love twisted and sickeningly sweet,

Tangled in the depths of darkness, where nightmares meet.

Should I trust my button eyes,

Or should I doubt them and follow my firefly?

Available October 5th, Available on AMAZON

REVIEW

Take a dash of Coraline and a heaping of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, and you actually get something dark, twisted, and original. We are placed in the world of Dreadmore, ruled by the Spinster. When one of her creations betrays her, she banishes him to the lands of Nightmare to be eaten by the creatures that live there. Except he does not die. He rises to become The Boogie Man.

When a pretty doll named Blue fails to live up to Spinster’s expectations, she is banished to Nightmare, where she comes face to face with the Boogie Man himself. Blue should be afraid, as she has heard horrible tales about the Boogie Man. There is a man under the mask, though, and Blue is drawn.

While I am not a big fan of The Nightmare Before Christmas, and I haven’t even seen or read Coraline, I am a sucker for a fairytale retelling, and this fits the bill. I warned, though, that this is a seriously dark, twisted retelling coming with tons of trigger warnings (see below). All that aside, Doll Face is just a sweet romantic story with a touch of darkness and some Carolina Reaper spice scenes that could make Satan blush.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I found myself wishing for more depth in the story. The authors did a commendable job of filling in the gaps later on, but I still felt there was potential for further exploration. The way the story concluded, there might be more. Herbert and Krimmer, can we please have some more? 

Thus, my rating is 5 out of 5 stars. It was a fun read.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Available October 5th, Available on AMAZON

Warning Book Contains: Adult Themes, Sexual Situations, Mental Abuse, Physical Abuse, Attempted Sexual Assault, Torture, Blood, Biting, Attempted Murder, Murder, Death, Detailed Sexual Scenes, Anxiety, Mention of Child Abduction and Death, Kidnapping, Stalking, Somnophilia, Emotional Abuse, Needles, Sewing of Flesh, Mention of Rape, Sexual Abuse, Trauma, Profanity, Sexual Harassment, Slut Shaming, Violence, Dubious Consent, Desecration of a Corpse, Masturbation, Mention of Blood Orgies, Verbal Abuse, Taxidermy, Light Bondage, Virgin FMC, Sodomy, Rough Sexual Interactions, Removal of Eyes, Emotional Addiction, Intrusive Thoughts, PTSD Characteristics, Sex Addiction, Gambling, Body Modifications, Toxic Relationships, Body Horror, Dead Bodies, Emotional Scars, Emotional Trauma, Attempted Strangulation, Abuse of a Deceased Animal, Sexual Manipulation, Emotional Manipulation, Lying, Shared Trauma, Panic Attacks, and a Cliff Hanger Ending

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

D.J. Krimmer

Crowned the Queen of Banter, DJ Krimmer is known through the community for her witty, smart mouthed characters. In real life she will often say her slogan is:

“Purposely Awkward, Accidentally Funny.”

It’s a slogan she takes very seriously.

When DJ isn’t making inappropriate jokes or hiding from the worst imposter syndrome known to writer-kind, she’s weaving contemporary romance stories filled to the brim with imperfect alpha-holes and witty females whose love conquers every hurdle thrown their way.

C. Herbert

Commonly known as Cyn (or graveyard mommy), C. Hebert is a multi-genre author who loves to paint a pretty picture, woven together with absolute chaos.

While most authors like to write happily ever afters, C. Hebert prefers to take her stories in the opposite direction, delivering darker tales with a hint of madness, tugging at your heartstrings.

She is a self proclaimed manic write who loves to constantly push herself to do more.

Book Spotlight Thursday: City of Mist and Ash by Madeline Rose

Newly released City of Mist and Ash has been caught in our spotlight today! This epic NA fantasy romance is set to be a series packed with barbed banter, shocking magic, epic romance, deadly battles, and amusing angst. Let’s check it out!

City of Mist and Ash (Kingdom of Mythrend Book 1)

Publication Date: September 26, 2024

Genre: Fantasy Romance/ New Adult

Features

⦁ Enemies to lovers
⦁ Forced proximity
⦁ Morally gray MMC
⦁ Strong FMC
⦁ Slow burn
⦁ Powerful magic
⦁ Funny banter
⦁ Plot twists

A sketch artist with a secret, a vengeful warrior, and a love to tear kingdoms apart.
As a sketch artist with the city’s Golden Guard, Paisley is tasked with drawing crime scenes. She has spent years trying to avoid attention, but late one night when she’s returning home from a sketching session, the city of Golden Mist is attacked. Hiding from the violence, Paisley runs into Taner, a dark fae enemy warrior. They discuss the merits of her staying alive, but Paisley is able to escape with the aid of a cache of tools she hid long ago. Luckily she will never have to see him again.


The attack signals a new era in Golden Mist, one where the magical mist called the Convergence that protects the city is losing its power. For years the magic has protected not only the city, but the secrets hidden within it. Once the Convergence starts to weaken, more change than anyone bargained for follows.

As the magical shield weakens, more secrets are revealed. The search begins for a powerful warlock heir who has been in hiding for many years. Both Taner and the Captain of the Golden Guard want the shatteringly powerful warlock found, and Paisley is assigned to help Taner in the search.


The Captain holds the future of Paisley’s little brother over her head, and now her brother’s well-being is also tied to the dark fae warrior, her kingdom’s enemy and now her working partner and her only chance at protecting her family.


All Paisley ever wanted was to stay hidden and keep her family safe, but as Golden Mist is attacked and the magical aura of the city crumbles, danger lurks around all corners, and from above and below. Betrayals are rampant, and it seems that no one can be trusted. As her world is shredded, Paisley will have to weave together a new fate from the ashes of her old life - if she survives.


The Kingdom of Mythrend series follows Paisley, who has only ever had one rule: always run. A feisty fighter who has been forced to hide herself away for years, she must break that rule after she meets a mysterious dark fae warrior. As she works alongside her enemy she will face the consequences of claiming her power, and standin
g against a writhing evil.

Available To Get on AMAZON