Tag: In Love and War

November 2025 Wrap-Up

Personal Highlights from this month:

  • Miss R got her teeth fixed, and they look fantastic!! The dentist did such a nice job, and you can’t tell that they are bonded. There is no line.
  • We had a quiet Halloween. For the first time in almost 20 years, I didn’t go out trick-or-treating with my kids. Miss R went with a friend, and Mr. Z stayed home. Miss B and Miss J visited their former college to catch up with friends.
  • We took Mr. Z to his college’s open house. He seemed to really enjoy being there and has decided to double major in History and Anthropology.
  • Miss R went on her school’s academic award field trip to a local roller skating rink. The school starts off by awarding kids who have a D or above with field trips (done once a quarter). Then it moves to C and above, and the next two field trips are A/B honor roll and above. If any of the kids have received disciplinary actions (ISS, OSS, or being kicked off the bus), they cannot attend, even if they have good grades. I think it’s a great idea and motivates the kids to do their best. Miss R had a great time but did end up hurting her knee.

Reading Highlights from this month:

  • I read two books from the Oatmeal collection (The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run and Why Grizzly Bears Should Wear Underpants). I was neutral about these books. I’m not sure if I would read the rest of the books in the collection.
  • I read and finished Bloodline by Jess Lourey. What I liked the most about this book was that Joan was an unreliable narrator. I couldn’t trust anything that she said or saw. There were two massive twists. One that took me by surprise, and the other one I kinda saw coming but didn’t want to believe it (the ick factor was huge).
  • I read book 3 of the Friendships and Festivals series (Love and Latkes). I found the romance between Abe and Batya sweet. I also loved the cooking show background.
  • I read books 1 and 2 of the All for the Game series (The Foxhole Court and The Raven King). While I liked these books, I do not recommend them for anyone under the age of 18. There are scenes in these books that disturbed me.
  • I read and finished The Alloy Era (Meru and Loka). I had mixed feelings about this duology. On the one hand, I found the storylines fascinating. But, on the other hand, it got very sciency, and I will admit that my eyes glazed over a couple of times.
  • I read The Last Goodbye by Caroline Finnerty. While I liked the storyline and thought that it was beautifully written, Kate’s character ruined it for me. She was completely immature and selfish throughout the entire book (excluding the chapters with Eva, when she was a teenager, where her behavior was somewhat justified). She just left a bad taste in my mouth, and honestly, I don’t know how Ben managed to deal with her childlike behavior.
  • I read and finished the Fae Isles series (Heart of Silk and Shadows, Court of Blood and Bindings, Lord of Gold and Glory, Ruins of Sea and Souls, Queens of Mist and Madness, In Love and War, and With Wing and Claw). This series was excellent and I highly recommend it. The main male character is yummy but also stabby and murdery. He is on the darker end of the moral gray scale. The main female character is stubborn, prickly, and full of issues. I absolutely loved this series!!
  • I also started the Cambric Creek series by reading The Minoan Bride and Morning Glory Milk Farm. I will be finishing this series in December. So look for my quick take on the series in December’s wrap-up.

Books I Read:

Monthly Playlist (I use songs featured in the book, if there are any, along with a playlist generated by ChatGPT).

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?—November 24th, 2025

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a place to meet and share what you have been and are about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organize yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit, comment, and add to your groaning TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at The Book Date.

Jen Vincent, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee of Unleashing Readers decided to give It’s Monday! a kid-lit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle-grade novels, young adult novels, or anything in those genres – join them.

What I am Reading Now

A demon craving revenge. A fae looking to prove herself.

When Naxi and Thysandra meet in the middle of a battlefield, neither expects a worthy opponent. But with dark pasts and desperate ambitions driving them, peace is not an option … so when Naxi is forced to flee, Thysandra gives chase, bringing them far from the clash of armies.

Away from their allies, away from the war they were meant to fight, the true battle begins – one of wits and perilous bargains.

Every step of their cat-and-mouse game reveals secrets neither intended to share, laying bare hidden scars and unspoken desires. The deeper they go, the more their bitter rivalry turns into something far more an undeniable, irresistible attraction.

And soon demon and fae are no longer just fighting for their lives … but for their hearts.

In Love and War is a 20k word companion novella to the Fae Isles series and ends on a HFN. Naxi and Thysandra’s story develops in the background of books 1-4 of the main series, and concludes in book 5, With Wing and Claw. Recommended reading order is to read In Love and War between books 4 and 5.

What I plan on reading on Monday and Tuesday

The war is over… but the trouble is only just beginning

Thysandra’s world is falling apart. Rebels have overthrown the fae empire she’s served for centuries. Worse, she’s the one who caused the defeat – tricked into treason by her longtime nemesis and romantic obsession, Anaxia, who then promptly abandoned her again, like the empathy-lacking demon she is.

Execution by rebels would be a relief at this point.

Instead, the bastards name her High Lady of the very court she just betrayed. Punishment or reward, Thys isn’t quite sure.

Now she’s supposed to restore order at the Crimson Court… but fae are clamouring for violent revenge. Humans want rights and reparations. There’s a sentient mountain causing trouble, and Anaxia is suddenly prancing around the castle again, refusing to leave, and murdering people left and right.

Most ridiculously of all, she’s claiming Thysandra is madly in love with her.

Agreeing to work together is the only way to restrain the little menace. But when tensions at the court rise to a breaking point, simple cooperation may no longer be enough… Because someone is undermining Thys at every turn. And if she doesn’t soon decide how much she can trust this fickle demon she can’t help but desire, it may just be the death of them both.

With Wing and Claw is a steamy sapphic fantasy romance featuring a former villain coming to terms with herself, a stabby demon with no morals but plenty of charm, and lots of deadly court intrigue. It can be read as a standalone, although certain events will be more meaningful for readers of the main Fae Isles series.

Gwen and Madoc are a modern minotaur couple who have spent their professional careers sifting through the past. When a job opportunity prompts them to move to Cambric Creek, it’s a chance to make living in the present — and planning for their future — a priority.

The Minoan Bride is a dual-narrative trip into the Cambric Creek universe’s minotaur origin story. As they move around the relics of the labyrinth, Gwen realizes the story is a mirror to her present circumstances. No matter how much the world changes, some things — living, and loving, and dying — always stay the same.

Please see author’s note for content advisories.

WWW Wednesday: November 19th, 2025

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme that Sam hosts at Taking on a World of Words.

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

Here is what I am reading, recently finished, and plan to read from Thursday to Wednesday.

Let me know if you have read or are planning on reading any of these books!!

Happy Reading!

What I am currently reading:

“You fell in love with a fae executioner. Did you truly think that would end well?”

With war looming, Emelin’s plan is simple: break the Mother’s bindings while her more diplomacy-minded friends persuade the rest of the world to join their rebellion. Unfortunately, their would-be allies are far too concerned about Em’s exact connection to the feared and hated Silent Death.

They might risk their lives for the world’s only unbound mage, but they’ll never fight for a fae prince’s puppet.

Forced to hide the explosive secret of their love, Em and Creon journey to the plague-cursed continent to learn more about the bindings. But as they face dragons, ruins, and murderous forests in search of the vanished gods, distrust between Creon and their travel companions brings tensions to a boiling point.

And if their love may cost them the victory against the Mother … how will Em ever choose between her heart and her duty?

What I recently finished reading:

“There’s no taming a fae like the Silent Death …”

Emelin has escaped the Crimson Court and saved Creon from the Mother’s chains. But her newfound allies bring dangers of their own. Thrown into a world of old feuds and thorny grudges, she needs all her ingenuity to keep the Silent Death safe from his friends-turned-enemies.

And the political games of the Alliance are the easy part …

Haunted by shadows of his past and magic he never wanted to wield, Creon is slowly losing control of his powers. The only solution may be found outside the buried halls of the Alliance’s stronghold – back within reach of the Mother and her armies hunting for him.

Soon Emelin can no longer hide from the war looming over the archipelago. And when her quest for Creon’s safety reveals glimpses of her own mysterious origins, she has no choice but to claim her place on the battlefield … or lose the male she loves forever.

Lord of Gold and Glory is book 2 of the Fae Isles series, an epic fae fantasy romance perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout and Raven Kennedy.

Note: like the first book of the series, Lord of Gold and Glory is an adult fantasy romance and features plenty of scenes intended for a mature audience.

What I plan on reading Thursday through Sunday:

“Fae wars don’t end in surrender.”

Emelin has finally found the bindings, the key to her victory. But to use them, she needs one last piece of the puzzle … and the only person who can give her that information is a stubbornly silent Thysandra.

And an uncooperative captive is the least of Em’s problems.

As the Mother prepares to strike, the magical world continues to squabble. Something ominous is plaguing Creon. And Em’s own newfound powers come with a dark side she did not expect, forcing her to decide just how much she’s willing to sacrifice for the fate of the world.

To find allies and gather the forces they need, Em and Creon have no choice but to face the shadows of their pasts. But when disastrous secrets are revealed and the Mother finally deals her devastating blow … will they still have a future?

Queens of Mist and Madness is the thrilling conclusion to Em and Creon’s epic enemies to lovers romance.

A demon craving revenge. A fae looking to prove herself.

When Naxi and Thysandra meet in the middle of a battlefield, neither expects a worthy opponent. But with dark pasts and desperate ambitions driving them, peace is not an option … so when Naxi is forced to flee, Thysandra gives chase, bringing them far from the clash of armies.

Away from their allies, away from the war they were meant to fight, the true battle begins – one of wits and perilous bargains.

Every step of their cat-and-mouse game reveals secrets neither intended to share, laying bare hidden scars and unspoken desires. The deeper they go, the more their bitter rivalry turns into something far more an undeniable, irresistible attraction.

And soon demon and fae are no longer just fighting for their lives … but for their hearts.

In Love and War is a 20k word companion novella to the Fae Isles series and ends on a HFN. Naxi and Thysandra’s story develops in the background of books 1-4 of the main series, and concludes in book 5, With Wing and Claw. Recommended reading order is to read In Love and War between books 4 and 5.

Gwen and Madoc are a modern minotaur couple who have spent their professional careers sifting through the past. When a job opportunity prompts them to move to Cambric Creek, it’s a chance to make living in the present — and planning for their future — a priority.

The Minoan Bride is a dual-narrative trip into the Cambric Creek universe’s minotaur origin story. As they move around the relics of the labyrinth, Gwen realizes the story is a mirror to her present circumstances. No matter how much the world changes, some things — living, and loving, and dying — always stay the same.

Please see author’s note for content advisories.