book reviews

Thieves’ Gambit Book Review

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Rating: ⭐​⭐​⭐

synopsis

The Inheritance Games meets Ocean’s Eleven in this cinematic heist thriller where a cutthroat competition brings together the world’s best thieves and one thief is playing for the highest stakes of all: her mother’s life.

At only seventeen years old, Ross Quest is already a master thief, especially adept at escape plans. Until her plan to run away from her legendary family of thieves takes an unexpected turn, leaving her mother’s life hanging in the balance.

In a desperate bid, she enters the Thieves’ Gambit, a series of dangerous, international heists where killing the competition isn’t exactly off limits, but the grand prize is a wish for anything in the world–a wish that could save her mom. When she learns two of her competitors include her childhood nemesis and a handsome, smooth-talking guy who might also want to steal her heart, winning the Gambit becomes trickier than she imagined.

Ross tries her best to stick to the family creed: trust no one whose last name isn’t Quest. But with the stakes this high, Ross will have to decide who to con and who to trust before time runs out. After all, only one of them can win.

review

Big thank you to @prhinternational for the eARC! #PRHInternationalPartner #sponsored

Thieves’ Gambit is a heist thriller with a competition between the best thieves in the world. The winner gets a wish, and the main character, Ross, is playing to save her mother.
Ross Quest is from a famous family of thieves, but for the first time ever she is on her own. Her entire life she was taught not to trust anyone but her family, and throughout the book we see her struggling with her trust issues.

Tropes included in the book are:

  • heist
  • competition
  • enemies to lovers
  • lots of plot twists
  • betrayal

Thieves’ Gambit was a quick and fun read. The ending was predictable, but throughout the book, there were some twists that surprised me, especially during the second assignment. But I have to say that I was expecting more. Even though the competition was interesting, and the characters were likeable, everything felt flat. We didn’t get enough emotions from other characters, and I wanted more in terms of the heist.
Overall, if you enjoy heists and competitions, I think you will like this one! It’s definitely quick, and entertaining!

The Right Move Book Review

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The Right Move by Liz Tomforde
Rating:⭐​⭐​⭐​⭐​⭐

Synopsis

Ryan: She’s a distraction, that’s what she is.

I’m the newest Captain of the Devils, Chicago’s NBA team, and the last thing I needed this year was for Indy Ivers, my sister’s best friend, to move into my apartment. She’s messy, emotional, and way too tempting.

But when the team’s General Manager vocalizes his blatant disapproval of my promotion to Captain, referring to me as an unapproachable lone wolf with no work-life balance, I can’t think of a better way to convince him otherwise than pretending to date my outgoing roommate. The only problem? Faking it feels far too natural. Having a fake girlfriend wasn’t supposed to be messy but having Indy under my roof and in my bed is complicated, especially when she wants all the romantic parts of life that I could never give her.

Indy: I never imagined I’d be living with my best friend’s brother, NBA superstar Ryan Shay. Even more unbelievable? He needs me to act as his loving girlfriend who’s suddenly changed him into a friendly and approachable guy.

Because, well…he’s not. He’s controlling of his space and untrusting of others. Our arrangement isn’t one-sided, though. I’m in a wedding coming up, one where every one of my childhood friends, including my ex-boyfriend, will be in attendance, and there’s no better date than my ex’s celebrity hero.

Blurred lines make it almost impossible to separate real from fake. Falling for my roommate was never part of the deal, especially when Ryan is quick to remind me that he doesn’t believe in love. I’m a romantic and can’t help fantasizing that he’ll change, but soon enough, I find myself questioning if sharing a roof with my best friend’s brother was the right move after all

review

Okay, so I absolutely loved this one. It’s a sports romance where Ryan is a basketball player and Indy is a flight attendant. I was smiling the whole damn time with how adorable Ryan and Indy are, especially at the beginning of the book. The double POV we got in this book helped me understand the characters more, as individuals.

The tropes in this book are:
❤️​ and omg they were roommates
❤️​ fake dating
❤️​ best friend’s brother
❤️ grumpy x sunshine

Ryan was absolutely great. I loved seeing his character development and seeing him fall for Indy was an amazing experience. And that man is hot 🔥​ And Indy is a walking sunshine that isn’t afraid to show her emotions (I’m a crier too). I love seeing them together, and overcome their own personal issues was amazing.

Ryan and Indie own my entire heart, but… there is just one but okay. It was too long for no reason. I love a chunky romance, but the book’s second half felt a bit drugged out. Other than that I loved it so much! Such a great romance book and I definitely recommend it!

A Queen of Thieves & Chaos Book Review

A Queen of Thieves & Chaos Book Review

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A Queen Of Thieves & Chaos is the third book in the amazing Fate and Flame series!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Start the series for only 99¢ for a limited time!
A Fate of Wrath & Flame: https://geni.us/fateofwrathandflameA Curse of Blood & Stone: https://geni.us/curseofbloodandstone

synopsis

A Queen of Thieves & Chaos by K.A. Tucker is now live! 

From internationally bestselling author K.A. Tucker comes the third novel in her Fate and Flame series, an adult fantasy story that should be read in series order.

“You betrayed your brother to steal a broken crown.”

The kingdom stands on the brink of chaos. Atticus’ grip on the realm is faltering, and as threats arise ever closer to home he is driven to increasingly desperate acts to hold onto power.

With Islor’s fate now in the balance, Zander stands to defend the Rift from the oncoming Ybarisan army. With the king’s forces scattered, he must risk unlikely new alliances.

And behind the walls of Ulysede, secrets wait for its new queen. Romeria knows that the paths of the hidden city will lead her to answers. But will they be enough to save the realm—or is their fate already sealed?

book review

A Queen of Thieves & Chaos is the third book in Fate and Flame series, an adult fantasy story 🎉 this series is one of my absolute series and Romeria is even more badass in this book (I didn’t think it was possible) ❤️

Let me start by saying that I enjoyed this book a lot! The third book has less romance between Zander and Romeria, but the series has developed into adult fantasy with a LOT of fantasy and intrigue! We also get different POVs in this one, and the one that really grabbed my attention was Atticus 👀 It’s interesting to see his POV and his internal struggles so I’m glad for it! And no spoilers, but I enjoyed his romance storyline! I would even dare to say that he and Romeria were the main characters in this book!

This book is much slower than the other two, but it still reads quickly! Since there are still more books in the series, this definitely felt like a filler book. Nothing was happening until the last 15% of the book, and even that part wasn’t super exciting 😌 Of course, this series is slow, and it’s not full of action, focusing instead on intrigue and prophecies, however, I was still expecting more action from this book. There is also one thing that has me worried for the next book in terms of Zander and Romeria but I’m not saying more.

Even though this book wasn’t my favourite in the series, I’m still screaming at you to read this series! Romeria and Zander are 🔥 and the intrigue in this book is mind-blowing! If I had to compare it to other books (which I never do but I want you all to read it) I would say it’s like adult Folk of the Air series with vampires 👀❤️

Big thank you to Valentine PR and KA Tucker for the eARC! I was nervously checking my inbox for weeks worrying I wouldn’t get the ARC and when I did I scared my dog with my screaming 😌

Divine Rivals Book Review

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Title: Divine Rivals (Iris at the Front #1)

Author: Rebecca Ross

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads link

synopsis

After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again. But eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow just wants to hold her family together. Her mother is suffering from addiction and her brother is missing from the front lines. Her best bet is to win the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette.

To combat her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish―into the hands of Roman Kitt, her cold and handsome rival at the paper. When he anonymously writes Iris back, the two of them forge a connection that will follow Iris all the way to the front lines of battle: for her brother, the fate of mankind, and love.

When two young rival journalists find love through a magical connection, they must face the depths of hell, in a war among gods, to seal their fate forever. Shadow and Bone meets Lore in this epic enemies-to-lovers fantasy novel filled with hope and heartbreak, and the unparalleled power of love.

book review

I absolutely loved this book. It made me cry and smile so many times. Divine Rivals tells the story of Iris, a newspaper worker turned war correspondent, who sends letters to her brother. However, her brother is not the one receiving her letters. Instead the letters, through magic, find their way into the room of her rival, Roman Kitt.

Divine Rivals is an amazing story about love, war and the importance of the honest press. The story of Iris and Roman made me cry so many times, as they made their way from rivals to friends to lovers. Rebecca Ross’ writing is amazing, and she managed to perfectly depict the world of war, as shown from the point of view of war correspondents. The setting of the book made me think of the times of World War I, with magic and gods. Divine Rivals was an atmospheric, emotional book, with a realistic and heartbreaking love story. The ending absolutely broke me.

I definitely recommend this book – it will make you smile, it will make you ache, it will make you cry and it will make you think. Divine Rivals is out on April 4th, and you don’t wanna miss it.

Thank you so much to Harper Reach for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Love, Theoretically Book Review

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Title: Love, Theoretically
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads link

Thank you for the free book PRH International.
#PRHInternationalPartner #ad and #prhinternational

synopsis

Rival physicists collide in a vortex of academic feuds and fake dating shenanigans in this delightfully STEMinist romcom from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis and Love on the Brain.

The many lives of theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway have finally caught up with her. By day, she’s an adjunct professor, toiling away at grading labs and teaching thermodynamics in the hopes of landing tenure. By another day, Elsie makes up for her non-existent paycheck by offering her services as a fake girlfriend, tapping into her expertly honed people-pleasing skills to embody whichever version of herself the client needs.

Honestly, it’s a pretty sweet gig—until her carefully constructed Elsie-verse comes crashing down. Because Jack Smith, the annoyingly attractive and broody older brother of her favourite client, turns out to be the cold-hearted experimental physicist who ruined her mentor’s career and undermined the reputation of theorists everywhere. And that same Jack who now sits on the hiring committee at MIT, right between Elsie and her dream job.

Elsie is prepared for an all-out war of scholarly sabotage but…those long, penetrating looks? Not having to be anything other than her true self when she’s with him? Will falling into an experimentalist’s orbit finally tempt her to put her most guarded theories on love into practice?

book review

Ali Hazelwood is probably the only author who can disappoint me without actually disappointing me. Love, Theoretically was most definitely fun and enjoyable, and I binged in a day. However, it’s the same story as in her previous books and novellas – a very tall and big guy falls for a girl, and said girl thinks he hates her and wants to ruin her scientific career, all while the guy actually does everything he can to protect her.

Jack Smith is my favourite of Ali Hazelwood’s men, because he is so raw, makes mistakes too (like a human being should), and has a bit of a bad-boy vibe, which I love. Elsie is a bit of a compulsive liar (she is a people-pleaser) but I didn’t find that as annoying as I thought it would be. More annoying to me was her self-consciousness – when a man tells you repeatedly he is attracted to you, that means that he is, in fact, attracted to you. I also loved the diabetes rep in this book.

Overall, it’s a fun read, which will make you smile, and probably love Jack Smith (especially after the spicy scenes). So I recommend it, especially if you liked some of her previous books.

The Nanny Book Review

The Nanny Book Review

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Title: The Nanny

Author: Lana Ferguson

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads link

Thank you for the free book PRH International.
#PRHInternationalPartner #ad and #prhinternational

book synopsis

A woman discovers the father of the child she is nannying may be her biggest (Only)Fan in this steamy contemporary romance by Lana Ferguson.

After losing her job and being on the brink of eviction, Cassie Evans finds herself with two choices: get a new job (and fast) or fire up her long-untouched OnlyFans account. But there are no jobs to be found, and as for OnlyFans. . . . Well, there are reasons she can’t go back. Just when all hope seems lost, an ad for a live-in nanny position seems the solution to all her problems. It’s almost too perfect—until she meets her would-be employer.

Aiden Reid, executive chef and DILF extraordinaire is far from the stuffy single dad Cassie was imagining. She is shocked when he tells her she’s the most qualified applicant he’s met in weeks, practically begging her to take the job. With hands that make her hindbrain howl and eyes that scream sex, the idea of living under the same roof as Aiden feels dangerous, but with no other option, she decides to stay with him and his adorably tenacious daughter, Sophie.

Cassie soon discovers that Aiden is not a stranger at all, but instead someone who is very familiar with her—or at least, her body. She finds herself at a loss for what to do, given that he doesn’t remember her. As their relationship heats to temperatures hotter than any kitchen Aiden has ever worked in, Cassie struggles with telling Aiden the truth, and the more terrifying possibility—losing the best chance at happiness she’s ever had.

book review

This book was so hot 🥵. This is probably the spiciest book I’ve read and I’m not mad about it. Honestly, Aiden Reid could shoot me and I would say thank you sir. I had no idea that chefs could be so hot.

Cassie and Aiden’s first encounter definitely wasn’t a meet-cute since they met on OnlyFans. The second time they met was when she became the nanny for his daughter (though they had no idea they had met before). I really liked Cassie, she was relatable and confident. Though some of her choice at the end of the book were questionable, I enjoyed her POV a lot. I loved how content and smiley she was, and how she dedicated herself to Sophie. Aiden’s POVs were much rarer, but they were in excellent moments. Honestly, I’m convinced Aiden is a perfect man and I would have no problems working as a nanny for him. He and his daughter, Sophie, are so adorable. I loved how Aiden, Sophie and Cassie made a little family so quickly.

I read this book in two days, and I would definitely recommend it as a relaxing, spicy romance. Though be warned – there are a lot of spicy scenes so if they are not your thing, this book is probably not for you. If you don’t mind spicy scenes, definitely read it. Aiden Reid and his dirty mouth are definitely worth it.

The King’s Cursebreaker Book Review

The King’s Cursebreaker Book Review

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Title: The King’s Cursebreaker (The Vossen Sisters Saga #2)

Author: Piper Knight

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads link

synopsis

Two sisters. Two worlds. Two deadly bargains.

Taken by the Winter King…

To save her sister, newly-witch Elizabeth Vossen makes a deal with the ruthless, ice-cold Unseelie King to break his wintry curse. The moment his freezing fingers wrap around her wrist, she’s whisked to the faerie realm – and to her dismay, her magic goes dry.

In a terrifying kingdom of wicked tricksters, Beth must regain her powers with the Winter King Alistair, himself – the most wicked of them all. But there’s more to this brutal, cold-hearted faerie than meets the eye, and he’s as deeply intoxicating as he is arrogant.

But time is running out. As the full moon draws near, the curse threatens to sink its cold claws and never let go. And in this wicked world of the fae where danger lurks around every corner, the king is her only chance of returning home – or staying alive.

Blackmail is a buzzkill…

Bell Vossen didn’t think her life could get more complicated after falling in love with a warrior angel and gaining sinister shadow magic from her evil ancestor. But then the cold-blooded Silver Witch Queen becomes her boss.

The bargain? Bring down one of the most powerful supernatural groups in the world, lest Bell and Braxiel’s sinful secret be revealed. But when Bell is attacked by a black-eyed wolf shifter with mysterious powers that can take down a divine angel with ease, not only is their mission at stake – but the entire supernatural world as they know it.

Bell and Brax must find out how to defeat these lethal, cutthroat creatures – while fighting against their fiery, forbidden desire before it burns everything in its place. But when did Bell ever play by the rules?

Wickedly sharp and even sexier than the last, this spellbinding new adult fantasy & paranormal romance is the seductive second book in the action-packed, fast-paced Vossen Sisters Saga.

Book Review

The King’s Cursebreaker is the continuation of the Accidental Kingslayer, and I’m actually glad we got a continuation of Bell and Braxiel’s story and not just Beth and Alistair’s story. I have to admit that I found Bell and Braxiel’s story more interesting than Beth and Alistair’s, not just because of the romance but also because of the overall plot.

Bell and Braxiel have one of the best partners-in-crime dynamics, and I just love my angles okay (I’m still voting for more Yaz and his himbo energy). Their part of the book was full of plot twists, and new turns, and I just loved their adventures (especially the London part of it).

Therefore, I found myself a bit bored during Beth’s part of the story. I didn’t think her chemistry with Alistair was half as good as Bell’s with Braxiel. The curse-breaking part could have had a better ending, one that made more sense to me (no spoilers). I find myself excited for the next book solely because of Bell, Braxiel and the angels. To be honest, I have no interest in the continuation of Beth’s story or getting to know Brooke’s.

However, I do recommend reading The King’s Cursebreaker since it’s a really fun, fast-paced read. I think I read it in two days because it’s really well-written. And the spicy scenes were AMAZING. So I would definitely give the King’s Cursebreaker a go, and (if you haven’t yet) DEFINITELY read the Accidental Kingslayer.

An eARC was sent to me by the author in exchange for my honest review. Thank you so much!

A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating A Demon book review

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Title: A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon

Author: Sarah Hawley

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5

Goodreads link

synopsis

Mariel Spark knows not to trust a demon, especially one that wants her soul, but what’s a witch to do when he won’t leave her side—and she kind of doesn’t want him to?

Mariel Spark is prophesied to be the most powerful witch seen in centuries of the famed Spark family, but to the displeasure of her mother, she prefers baking to brewing potions and gardening to casting hexes. When a spell to summon flour goes very wrong, Mariel finds herself staring down a demon—one she inadvertently summoned for a soul bargain.

Ozroth the Ruthless is a legend among demons. Powerful and merciless, he drives hard bargains to collect mortal souls. But his reputation has suffered ever since a bargain went awry—if he can strike a bargain with Mariel, he will earn back his deadly reputation. Ozroth can’t leave Mariel’s side until they complete a bargain, which she refuses to do (turns out some humans are attached to their souls).

But the witch is funny. And curvy. And disgustingly yet endearingly cheerful. Becoming awkward roommates quickly escalates when Mariel, terrified to confess the inadvertent summoning to her mother, blurts out that she’s dating Ozroth. As Ozroth and Mariel struggle with their opposing goals and maintain a fake relationship, real attraction blooms between them. But Ozroth has a limited amount of time to strike the deal, and if Mariel gives up her soul, she’ll lose all her emotions—including love—which will only spell disaster for them both.

mini review

The first part of the book was absolutely amazing, a five-star material. It was hilarious, intriguing and flirty. Mariel and Ozroth had great chemistry together and seemed like a great and interesting pairing. I loved the setting of the book – a world where humans and magical being coexisted, and a small town with a majority of witches was amazing. I wish we got more insight into a demon’s community. I also loved Mariel’s connection to nature since powerful witches usually have flashy powers. The plot also seemed intriguing – an accidental summoning of a demon by a witch who can’t control her magic? Sign me up. Also, fake dating to please an over-controlling mother? That sounds so fun and has so much potential.

Sadly, from halfway through the book, it deteriorated. Mariel’s self-deprecating was too much at times, and the idea that it gets fixed after one conversation is ridiculous. Also, Mariel became too dramatic, didn’t have her own opinions (she believed whatever someone told her) and she was too quick to judge Oz.

Overall, I recommend you give this book a try. In the end it wasn’t my cup of tea, but it has a lot of potential, and the first half of the book is definitely worth giving the whole book a try. Also, the witch aesthetics in this book were amazing.

Thanks for the free book PRH International. This book was sent to me in exchange for an honest review.

#PRHInternationalPartner #sponsored #prhinternational

Book Lovers Review

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Title: Book Lovers

Author: Emily Henry

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads link

synopsis

Harriet and Wyn have been the perfect couple since they met in college—they go together like salt and pepper, honey and tea, lobster and rolls. Except, now—for reasons they’re still not discussing—they don’t.

They broke up six months ago. And still haven’t told their best friends.

Which is how they find themselves sharing the largest bedroom at the Maine cottage that has been their friend group’s yearly getaway for the last decade. Their annual respite from the world, where for one vibrant, blue week they leave behind their daily lives; have copious amounts of cheese, wine, and seafood; and soak up the salty coastal air with the people who understand them most.

Only this year, Harriet and Wyn are lying through their teeth while trying not to notice how desperately they still want each other. Because the cottage is for sale and this is the last week they’ll all have together in this place. They can’t stand to break their friends’ hearts, and so they’ll play their parts. Harriet will be the driven surgical resident who never starts a fight, and Wyn will be the laid-back charmer who never lets the cracks show. It’s a flawless plan (if you look at it from a great distance and through a pair of sunscreen-smeared sunglasses). After years of being in love, how hard can it be to fake it for one week…in front of those who know you best?

review

Happy Place has quickly become my favourite book by Emily Henry. I loved the setting and the contrast between the rest of the world and their little cottage. I’m usually not a big fan of flashbacks, but this time around I enjoyed seeing the early days of the six friends, how they met and how they grew together. The six of them, Harriet, Wyn, Sabrina, Parth, Cleo and Kimmy, were so different from each other, but I loved how their friendship was stronger because of that.

I swear this book has the most perfect imperfect characters. Harriet and Wyn made me cry way too many times. I loved their relationship, how soft and quiet it was, but also my heart was breaking for them, for their problems and their struggles. Wyn is such an atypical love interest, and I love that so much. As Harriet always describes him, he is full of contradictions, and such a soft cinnamon roll. His and Harriet’s chemistry and love for one another was undeniable, even when they were broken up. When it comes to Harriet, I could relate to her so much and seeing her development throughout the book made me so happy. I enjoyed the side characters a lot too – my favourite was definitely Cleo (with Parth being a second favourite). If you need convincing why Cleo was my favourite, her vibe was an artist turned farm owner with lots of tattoos.

I cannot remember the last time a contemporary romance kept me on my toes so much.
I couldn’t wait to finally find out why Harriet and Wyn broke up, especially with all the little clues given throughout the book. Overall, Happy Place is a book that’s gonna make you feel warm and fuzzy, it’s gonna make you feel happy while crying a lot, and I cannot recommend it enough.

Thank you to Penguin Random House for sending me this eARC!

Violet Made of Thorns Mini book review

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Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Author: Gina Chen

Goodreads link

synopsis

Violet is a prophet and a liar, influencing the royal court with her cleverly phrased—and not always true—divinations. Honesty is for suckers, like the oh-so-not charming Prince Cyrus, who plans to strip Violet of her official role once he’s crowned at the end of the summer—unless Violet does something about it.

But when the king asks her to falsely prophesy Cyrus’s love story for an upcoming ball, Violet awakens a dreaded curse, one that will end in either damnation or salvation for the kingdom—all depending on the prince’s choice of future bride. Violet faces her own choice: Seize an opportunity to gain control of her own destiny, no matter the cost, or give in to the ill-fated attraction that’s growing between her and Cyrus.

Violet’s wits may protect her in the cutthroat court, but they can’t change her fate. And as the boundary between hatred and love grows ever thinner with the prince, Violet must untangle a wicked web of deceit in order to save herself and the kingdom—or doom them all. 

review

Violet Made of Thorns is a dark YA fantasy with a morally grey main character. Violet is a Seer, working for a king, and she is used to twisting her visions to serve her and the king’s agenda. I absolutely loved Violet, with all her cynicism and cunningness. When a terrible prophecy starts coming faithful Violet needs to cooperate with Prince Cyrus. The two aren’t the biggest fans of each other, with Cyrus being an idealist wanting to fix the kingdom and Violet doing everything to maintain her role at the palace.

The book is full of twists, prophecies and dark magic, and I really enjoyed the worldbuilding. My favourite thing about the book was the characters since I’m a sucker for a book with good characters. Not only every scene with Violet and Cyrus made me smile, but I could never predict which way their meeting is going to go. The side characters stole the show too – Camilla with her bright personality and Dante with his mysterious scholar vibes. And the ending totally blew me away and I’m so excited for the sequel!