Tag: #romantasy

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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: 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: OBSIDIAN SKY by Jill Aster

Training academies and dragon riders are caught in my spotlight today in OBSIDIAN SKY!

Obsidian Sky (Riftborn Series Book 1)

Release Date: February 2, 2026

Genre: Romantasy/ Dragons

🔥Enemies to lovers
🔥Trainer to trainee
🔥Morally gray protector
🔥Fated bond
🔥Deadly training academy trials
🔥Hidden lineage 
🔥Dragon-rider fantasy
🔥Forbidden romance
🔥Love and destruction
🔥High-stakes political intrigue
🔥Destiny/prophecy
🔥Elemental magic system
🔥Immersive fantasy world-building

Thaelyn Marren enters the Asgar Training Academy wanting nothing more than to prove herself amongst the other cadets, where she must endure life-threatening trials in the hope of manifesting air, water, fire, or earth magic. Not to mention, a lucky few will pair with dragons who select their riders with ancient instinct, answering only to those whose souls burn bright enough to match their own.

When Thaelyn’s power stirs in ways no instructor can explain, she draws the attention of the crown, particularly Prince Thorne Dareth, a renowned warrior and a dragon rider. Hardened by discipline and haunted by a kingdom he was born to serve, Thorne sees Thaelyn as a danger to the realm and yet is charged with her training. And amidst clashing personalities, an undeniable pull forms between them, potent enough to awaken dark forces that once tore the world apart.

Now rift-born creatures thought to exist only in nightmares are slipping through the cracks of their reality. And as they push the realm toward open war, Thaelyn may be the only one able to stop what’s coming. That is, only if Thorne can choose between loyalty to his crown or the girl whose power could either save their world or bring it to ruin.

AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jill Aster writes epic fantasy romance. She’s a published curriculum writer and holds a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Her background in education, which earned the distinction of Master Teacher, has refined her storytelling craft, world-building skills, and character development. Obsidian Sky is her debut fantasy romance and the first book in a planned series titled Riftborn. When she is not teaching literature, writing or reading, she enjoys cooking, baking, photography, and spending time with her husband, two adult children, and their pomsky, Onyx.

Jill has loved fantasy books and been mesmerized by dragons since she was a child. When she decided to write her debut novel, Obsidian Sky, she knew it must contain dragons. Her debut novel, Obsidian Sky is book one in the planned Riftborn Series.

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Book Spotlight Thursday: UNRAVELED by Abbey Fox

Today, I am spotlighting this gothic Beauty and the Beast retelling in a fantasy setting. UNRAVELED is first in a new series called A Kingdom of Beasts and Ruins! If you like Howl’s Moving Castle and ACOTAR, this new series may be for you!

Unraveled (A Kingdom of Beasts and Ruins #1) 

Release Date: September 9, 2025

Genre: Gothic Romantasy/ Fairy Tale

Featuring

⦁	Enemies to lovers
⦁	Found family
⦁	Forced proximity
⦁	Touch her and 💀
⦁	Female friendships
⦁	A Beauty and the Beast retelling
⦁	Slow burn
⦁	Morally Gray MMC
⦁	His familiar/pet loves her more
⦁	Feisty FMC
⦁	Bookish FMC

Everyone knows to never look a fae in the eyes, yet no one warned me he would hide behind the mask of a beast.

Death awaits those who get caught in the Wild Hunt, and only a magical veil protects the people of Penumbra from the monsters coming for them. So when a beast threatens to destroy the veil, Mia Clementine must break her vows of sorcery and use her magic to fight him, or risk losing everyone she loves.

But the beast isn’t what he seems, and now the fae king owns her soul. Dragged into his mythical land, she must unravel the curse that turned him into a monster in order to regain her freedom—or die trying.

The longer she stays in his world, the more irresistible her feelings for him become. Hate turns into passion, and newly discovered truths test her loyalties, forcing her to choose to save her people or the fae world she’s grown to love.

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Abbey Fox loves to write action packed Fantasy Romance stories, with ass-kicking heroines, swoon-worthy heroes and a healthy dose of spice. Sometimes, when she should be crafting new worlds and putting her characters’ lives in danger, she is tending to her plants and painting her favorite characters.

To connect with Abbey, you can follow her in her Instagram account @abbeyfoxauthor or subscribe to her newsletter for all the latest info.

https://www.abbeyfox.com/newsletter-sign-up

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Realm of Silk and Starlight by Ashley J. Vinson

Featured in the spotlight this Thursday is the romantic fantasy REALM OF SILK AND STARLIGHT by Ashley J. Vinson. 

Realm of Silk and Starlight (The Divine Realms) 

Release Date: April 8, 2025

Genre: Romantasy

Features

✨Lovers to Enemies
💙Enemies to lovers
✨Slowburn
💙Morally gray characters
✨He falls first
💙Touch her and ☠️
✨Fated Mates
💙Spice
✨Unlikely Allies
💙Found Family
✨Forced Proximity
💙High Stakes
✨Divine Beings

In a world torn between the mortals and the divine, Aerilyns life took a shocking and unexpected turn. She heard the stories, that those who die the most brutal of deaths can be blessed by the Gods and join the divine in their respective realm, but she never imagined that her own tragic death would unveil a destiny beyond her wildest dreams.
Aerilyn goes from being a slave to the crown to pay off her fathers debt, to a tragically brutal death. Awakening within the realm of the divine, she finds herself the object of affection for a charming high lord, but beneath his alluring surface lies a treacherous tapestry of lies that could dismantle everything she’s come to cherish.

Haunted by guilt and betrayal, Aerilyn must confront her tumultuous past as she fights against encroaching darkness that threatens the balance of the world as they know it. Will she be able to utilize her fiery spirit to help unify the realms of the divine, or will her passion only deepen the rift between her and her fated mate? Dive into the pages of Realm of Silk and Starlight and discover a tale where love and vengeance collide in the most unexpected ways.

Will she harness her inner strength to bridge the worlds as the bringer of peace – or will she be the reason that it all comes crumbling down once and for all?

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ashley J. Vinson writes romantic fantasy inspired by the stories and ideas she fell in love with as a child. Born in Michigan, she studied in Michigan and Florida before beginning to travel the world, as her husband was in the Military. With experience working at Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Studios, her love for stories and romance started with the classic tales of happily ever after that we grew up with. After she was introduced to the idea of happily ever after, she began writing stories of her own at the age of five.

Now, she writes stories primarily for an adult audience.

When Ashley is not writing or reading, she enjoys exploring wherever her husband and she are stationed, watching movies, or playing the Nintendo Switch.

Follow Vinson on Instagram @authorashleyjvinson