From the bookshelf...

Long, overdue update that's been sitting in my drafts... 😬🙃📚

22. The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Crowns of Nyaxia, #1) by Carissa Broadbent

23. The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King (Crowns of Nyaxia, #2) by Carissa Broadbent

24. Six Scorched Roses (Crowns of Nyaxia, #1.5) by Carissa Broadbent

I absolutely FLEW through book 1 and finished it in little over a day. And boy, oh boy did book one leave me with my jaw hanging on the ground. I jumped right into book 2. Yep, I mistakenly skipped over book 1.5 and went right to 2. In my defense, I thought this was one of those after thought/ prequel types of books. Whooooops! 

I was torn in book two between what I would practically act in this particular situation VS what my romantic fantasy book reader wants to happen. That being said I felt like book 2 moved a little slower than book 1. There was a lot of back and forth between the characters and it started to feel a little dragged out (especially when we allll know how it's going to end up). And now I'm about to be very contradictory and say that I am a little sad that this is the end of the story for Raihn and Oraya (as main characters). It appears that this series is following the same recipe as "The Bridge Kingdom" series. We've finished with these two as main characters and will follow other main characters in the remaining series. Presumably (or at least I'm hoping) we'll see a book follow Mische and a book that follows Lilith and Vale. 

Which leads me to book 1.5,  Lilith and Vale's introductory novella. As I mentioned I read this book after book 2 but honestly I think it worked. Since I had no back story on these two it made more scenarios of deception in book two more probable. I don't feel like anything was too spoiled for book 1.5 knowing that Lilith would eventually be turned. I think we all know reading a novella, it's going to be short and sweet and we're going to get right to the point- no slow burn there. 

Overall I've really enjoyed this series so far and will definitely be on the look out for the next book in the series. 

25. Kingdom of the Wicked (Kingdom of the Wicked, #1) by Kerri Maniscalco

26. Kingdom of the Cursed (Kingdom of the Wicked, #2) by Kerri Maniscalco

27. Kingdom of the Feared (Kingdom of the Wicked, #3) by Kerri Maniscalco

Spoilers ahead. This series was a roller coaster and not in the best way. Book one had promise and was decent and engaging enough that I wanted to read book 2 and find out more. There we some missteps by the female main character (FMC), Emilia, but I was able to get past them. Book two though, ugh, I'm not sure I've ever been so annoyed with a FMC. I seriously think half of this book is Emilia having internally dialogue going back and forth and then comparing it to "the novellas" she reads. Seriously, we get it. You read a lot of books and we do not need to be reminded. Book 3 does not get better. If anything it gets worse. It builds up her sister to be the big bad wolf and enemy number one (most of which is egged on by her sister). Then all of the sudden Emilia decides her sister isn't bad anymore and she starts playing nice with everyone? What? I'm glad I read the whole way through but I am a little disappointed in this series. There was potential here but in hindsight it seems like a missed opportunity. 

28. Up next..... Divine Rivals!

An update on my TBR list! I have a growing "note" on my phone of all the books I see repeated on Tiktok. Here's what's on my TBR right now:

• The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
• Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan
• A Broken Blade (The Halfling Saga, #1) by Melissa Blair
• Lady of Ashes Series by Christine Trent
• Divine Rivals (Letters of Enchantment, #1) by Rebecca Ross
• Lady of Darkness Series by Melissa K. Roehrich
• Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
• Kingdom of the Wicked Series by Kerri Maniscalco
• A Soul of Ash and Blood (Blood and Ash Series, 5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout **new add** TBH I need a "previously on Blood and Ash" recap because I remember being verrrry confused and a little burnt out by the end of reading the whole series (thus far).