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My Take on K-pop Demon Hunters

noreply@blogger.com (Quills and Pages) — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 04:00:00 +0000

What's Up, Readers!!

Welcome to Quills and Pages—your witty shortcut to sounding well-read. I brave the books and binge the shows so you can fake it flawlessly 😁.

Kpop Demon hunters is all the rage these days....these days meaning when it was released...end of July....I watched the 2 or 3 days later and I got obsessed with this beautiful animated movie.

PLOT

A world-renowned K-Pop girl group balance their lives in the spotlight with their secret identities as demon hunters.

GENRE
Action Adventure

🎨 VISUALS & CiINEMATOGRAPHY
Absolutely Brilliant and Vibrant

CHARACTERS
Complex Multilayered Characters trying to love themselves and their flaws

TROPES

☙ Age-gap duh 😆

☙ He is a Demon

☙ She is a Demon Hunter

☙ Found Family

☙ He is 900+ years old

☙ She is following a mission while keeping her real self hidden

☙ He sees her and understands her

MY REVIEW
Sony outdid themselves with this animated movie. The movie is perfect in every way. I ahven't thought for a single second that something was missing in the movies. It was made brilliantly from animation to the songs they produced.....such brilliance.

The movie is categorised as a kids' movie, but really, don't think they made it for kids...I mean......booktok and bookstagram community went feral after watching this movie. I’d been waiting forever for an animated film with real depth and artistry — and kept getting let down. It felt like no one was making stories that truly meant something anymore. Then this movie came along… and honestly? I can die happy now. lol

MY RATING
Overall: ★★★★★ | 5 Stars

Plot: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

Romance: ★★★★★ | 5 Star

Characters:★★★★★ | 5 Stars

Cinematography: ★★★★★ | 5 Stars

Pacing: ★★★★★| 5 stars

Mystery: ★★★★★| 5 star

Ending: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

Soundtracks: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

THE BEST PART
☙ Derpy and the bird
☙ Jinu sacrificing himself

☙ The bond between the Huntrix girls

☙ Bobby and his love for the girls

🎵 SOUNDTRACK

The songs went viral just after a day of their release...can you believe it.... all songs are amazing and catchy....but my fav one was Saja Boys' demon song and This is what it sounds like by Huntrix......a masterpiece indeed.

💣UNHINGED THEORIES

There is no shartage of fan theories circulating the internet. Here are some of my fav theories (Spoiler alert)

☙ Gwi ma is Rumi's Father 🤔

☙ Huntrix adopted Derpy and the bird after all went down with Saja Boys 🥹🫠

☙ Saja Boys will come back as humans or angels because their souls are free 🥹

☙ Celine killed Rumi's mom 😭

☙ Or Celine is actually Rumi's Mom😭

🎵 BOOK RECS

I have curated a list of books with same vibes as the movie.

1. Sailor Moon

2. the irresistable urge to fall for your enemy

3.Heartless Hunter

4. Crane among wolves

Happy Reading!!

❤ 🎧☕️🕯️📖 ❤

The Sacred Vine by Victoria M. Sorenson | My Review

noreply@blogger.com (Quills and Pages) — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 08:07:00 +0000

I am here today writing about this amazing book I read some time ago. I got to know this amazing, sweetest author, Victoria M. Sorenson, through IG. When I saw the cover of this book, I was like I need this book on my shelf and then I applied for the ARC team. I got selected, then I found out she will be sending paperback copies to everyone. I was so happy omg!!!! Finally, I got the book delivered some months later, and it was immaculate. Just look at the cover. I started reading the book. I remember I was at my old home and it was a really cold Winter and I used to read this book sitting near the fireplace and just soaking it up!.....it was the best!!!

BLURB

The tangible magic that tethers the five kingdoms of Aksel is a double-edged sword; tread with caution, children of the sacred vine you have been warned.
Sayah is anything but your average elf; she is a Marked One, blessed with gifted powers alongside her twin, Ornella. The villagers around her may dislike her, but that does not stop her from enjoying an occasional visit to the local baker for a delectable pastry or her routine mug of hot tea in the morning. The sister's rite-of-passage ceremony is upon them, as it has been three-hundred-and-twenty-five moons since their creation. Every elf has its place in society, and Sayah has her fingers crossed to take over Mãe's hard-earned business: the village's music academy. Playing the grand piano is her main escape from the dreary world surrounding her.
On the day of their much-anticipated ceremony, she discovers several truths that lead to more unanswered questions. The magic that encompasses their world is more complex than once imagined, and those in authority have shrouded the two sisters in a veil of deceit, for power is coveted more than all the treasures inside the five kingdoms, as greed and desire easily corrupt souls.
Sayah will be forced to use the rare power flowing inside her veins, regardless of how the elders and priests have warned her that siphoning energy goes against the ways of Elven-kind.
If you are the type of reader who enjoys a mixture of cozy feelings and nature-influenced magic alongside a dash of despair, then I can guarantee you are in for a real treat.

GENRE
Magical Adventure Fantasy

THEME AND TONE
Coziest

LANGUAGE AND WRITING STYLE
Easy to Read, whimsical

CHARACTERS
Sane, cute, and beautiful characters

TROPES

☙ The chosen one

☙ Twin Bond

☙ Hidden Truths / Secret Past

☙ Forbidden Magic

☙ Cozy Fantasy Elements

☙ Nature influences Magic

☙ Different Magical Creatures

☙ Adventure across the land

MY REVIEW
First of all, thank you to Victoria for letting me have the paperback copy. I cannot believe I have it in my hands and i got it with a bookmark and artwork of twin sister. It's so pretty 🥹🥹🥹🥹

The book is first in the series of Tendrils of Light series. It starts out really cozycomfy, where there is an elven village and people do their own work, they have this beautiful hut like homes. I couldn’t help but picture it all as if tiny elves were living in a hidden miniature world—complete with charming little homes—straight out of the movie Epic. I was thinking it reminded me of something.....now to remember it, the whole book radiated that same lush, green, whimsical coziness that made Epic so enchanting......gah!!!!! I loved that movie.

Okay....I am not gonna spoil...you can read the blurb for the plot and get the general idea. The only thing I can say is if you are into enchanting nature-based magical fantasy adventure with cool creatures, you need to READ THIS!!!!!!!

Overall, the book was an impressive debut and the first installment of the series. I cannot wait to follow Sayah's journey to see what awaits ahead.

MY RATING
Overall: ★★★★★ | 5 Stars

Plot: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

Romance: ★★★★★ | 5 Star

Characters:★★★★★ | 5 Stars

Pacing: ★★★★★| 5 stars

Mystery: ★★★★★| 5 star

Ending: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

Book Cover:★★★★★| 5 Stars

THE BEST PART
☙ The magic system was really beautiful
☙ The bond between sisters

☙ The mystery unfolding and the story behind it

☙ All the adventures they are having across the sea and in other lands

Happy Reading!!

❤ 🎧☕️🕯️📖 ❤

Frat Row by Krista turner Clarke | A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Quills and Pages) — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 13:03:00 +0000

What's Up, Readers!!

It's been a while since I posted a book review. Honestly, I haven't been reading much lately, and my TBR pile and ARC pile are increasing day by day. Anyway, I received this arc a while ago. This is from my booktok pal Krista Turner Clarke and the book is Frat Row.

BLURB

I thought I had it all.
I’m beautiful, smart, and I know exactly how to get what I want.
As a legacy of the most popular sorority on campus, I was thrilled to rush with my best friend, Blair.
Then, I met Tyler. My one-night-stand who kept coming back for more. He’s charming and just so happens to be rushing the hottest fraternity on campus, Alpha Chi.
I was happy.
Until I wasn’t.
I stumbled upon something I shouldn’t have, and now I’m paying the price.
I was whisked away in the night, becoming a ghost to all who knew me.
My body is broken, battered, and bruised.
My mind isn’t far behind. But I won’t give up.
I won’t let them break me.
This is my survival story.

GENRE
It's a college romance with some dark themes going on.

THEME AND TONE
Dark

LANGUAGE AND WRITING STYLE
Easy to read

CHARACTERS
Straightforward main characters with some really insane side characters

TROPES

☙ College romance

☙ Kidnapping

☙ Hidden Truths

☙ Twist at the end

☙ Dark themes in the second half of the book

MY REVIEW
First of all, thank you to Krista for accepting me as her arc reader. I was late reading the book because of you know, life happened. Anyway, when I got free, I dived in the book head first. I have been following Krista's reviews for a while, and she is single-handedly responsible for increasing my astronomical Dark romance TBR pile 😅😅, and I love it. So, I was very excited to see what she wrote.

So, let's talk about the genre first. The book is categorized as Dark Romance, but I wouldn't put it in the dark romance list because for me dark romance is something where main characters are experimenting with questionable stuff....lol....but in this book questionable stuff was happening to the main characters, well.....one main character so the book is like Dark....the romance was regular between the FMC and MMC and I really liked it. It was a breath of fresh air after reading all those twisty romances 😅.

The book starts out good, then it kinda of gets boring after 4 chapters because it was all college and sorority house selection stuff, which goes over my head.....but then it got picked up when the boys' sorority selection started and omg!!! I was not expecting that thing to happen at the selection. lol it was unexpected, I was getting relaxed and bam, that thing happens. Any way it got really good after that.

I was more into reading about all the shady things happening behind the Alpha Chi's sorority. This kind of stuff is my fav when there is mystery behind things, and our MMC was discovering one thing at a time until the final nail when he finds out the biggest secret. I will be honest, I was also not expecting that twist, but that was the best thing. It started coming to me when I was at that particular chapter that this would happen, and it was way too late, so I was delighted.... I will have to say, Krista, you're very clever in writing about the twist nd hiding it until it comes to light. That is the strongest point of this book.

Overall, the book was a great debut and the first installment of the series. I cannot wait to read more of the story. I am sensing the next book will be turning into a revenge plot, and I am all here for it. I hope it gets similar to the revenge in mindfuck series that was the best revenge I read in book history and I will love it if it gets to that level.

MY RATING
Overall: ★★★★ | 4 Stars

Plot: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

Romance: ★★★ | 3 Star

Characters:★★★★★ | 5 Stars

Pacing: ★★★★| 4 stars

Mystery: ★★★★★| 5 stars

Twists and Turns: ★★★★★| 5 stars

Ending: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

Book Cover:★★★★★| 5 Stars

THE BEST PART
☙ The twist at the end
☙ How the reality was slowly coming to the surface

ABOUT AUTHOR
If you wanna know more about Krista. Check out her Instagram.

Happy Reading!!

❤ 🎧☕️🕯️📖 ❤

Nocticadia by Keri Lake | A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Quills and Pages) — Sat, 26 Jul 2025 11:26:00 +0000

What's Up, Readers!!

Welcome to Quills and Pages—where I heroically read books so you can pretend you did too. Today’s lucky book: Nocticadia. Don’t worry, it’s totally spoiler-free... because I like to leave you confused, not betrayed.

BLURB

A dark, atmospheric tale of deadly secrets and forbidden love.
Mortui vivos docent.
The dead teach the living.
After watching my mother succumb to a mysterious illness, I promised myself two things. I’d find the cure for what ravaged her. And leave the godforsaken city where she abandoned me.
Four years later, I receive an acceptance letter from Dracadia University, one of the oldest, most prestigious schools in the country. Nestled on a secluded island off the coast of Maine, it’s rumored to be haunted by the souls of the mental patients exiled there centuries before. Those whose bones are said to make up the island’s white sandy shores.
And restless ghosts aren’t even its most daunting peculiarity.
Devryck Bramwell, known on campus as Doctor Death, is a brilliant pathologist in charge of the midnight lab. He’s also my devastatingly handsome professor, who seems to loathe tenacious first-years, like me. Except, his dark and enigmatic gaze tells me all the ways he’d devour me if given the chance, and his stolen kisses burn my lips with forbidden jealousy.
I crave his authority.
He aches for redemption.
Together, we’re toxic. Delicious fodder for the prying eyes hellbent on exhuming the rotted skeletons of our pasts.
For the dead have much to teach, and it’s only a matter of time before Dracadia’s most depraved secret is resurrected.
Nocticadia is a standalone dark academia gothic romance

GENRE
Gothic Fantasy

THEME AND TONE
Dark, Atmospheric

LANGUAGE AND WRITING STYLE
Easy to Read

CHARACTERS
Morally Gray Complex Characters

TROPES

☙ Age-gap

☙ Slow-Burn

☙ Professor x Student

☙ Murder Mystery

☙ Scientific Experiments

☙ Dark Academia

☙ Gothic Romance

☙ Mysteries and Secrets

☙ Dark Romance

MY REVIEW
This book had an atmospheric vibe. I loved that dark, mysterious aura surrounding the whole story. The book starts with that eerie scene that gripped my attention and I wanted to know what is going on. There is a secret school conducting secret biomedical research to cure a secret disease.

Our FMC writes a paper on that secret disease, which acts as a ticket, and she gets accepted to Dracadia. She was just trying to cure this disease that unalives her mother, but she stumbles upon decade-old drama, secret societies, a mysterious island with a mysterious virus, a murder mystery, and a forbidden romance with her professor.

On the whole, the story was addictive, and I highly recommend it.

MY RATING
Overall: ★★★★★ | 5 Stars

Plot: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

Romance: ★★★★★ | 5 Star

Characters:★★★★★ | 5 Stars

Pacing: ★★★★★| 5 stars

Mystery: ★★★★★| 5 star

Banter: ★★★★★| 5 star

Ending: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

Spice Level: 🌶| Level 1

Book Cover:★★★★★| 5 Stars

THE BEST PART
☙ How Lilia blackmails Bramwell to accept her as her lab assistant
☙ The Slow burn between them was peak

☙ I was not expecting the plot twist but was nice surprise and loved it

BEST WORDS

Happy Reading!!

❤ 🎧☕️🕯️📖 ❤

The Same Water by Nori Larkspur | A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Quills and Pages) — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 04:45:00 +0000

What's Up, Readers!!

Welcome to Quills and Pages! I read the Same Water by Nori Larkspur a while back, and it was amazing. I rarely enjoy science fiction books, but this one was a really good read. It's elite prep school drama with sci-fi sparkle and slow-burn romantic tension.......perfect setting right?...... So let's start the review!

BLURB

Empathy is power.
For two years, Shaye Devereaux’s anxiety has consumed her life. Friends have drifted away, she’s given up on boys, and she’s failed her junior year. But an unbelievable offer gives Shaye hope of a fresh start.
Pathos Conservatory, an elite prep school founded on the business of empathy, believes Shaye is the perfect fit for their summer program. Pathos is building up a force of influencers, training them on the power of understanding human emotions. Guiding her on her journey is her nineteen-year-old mentor, Ephram. Irritatingly handsome, Ephram is flirty yet distant… until he isn’t.
While navigating her complicated feelings about Ephram, Pathos exposes Shaye and her new friends to the power of empathy. Delving into memories of others is just the beginning of their training. For Shaye, however, some memories should never be experienced twice.
But when Shaye’s awakened abilities catch the attention of leadership, it soon becomes clear there is much more going on with Pathos—and Ephram—than she knows. One choice could alter Shaye’s life forever – will she be ready to make it?

GENRE
Science Fiction Adventure Fantasy

THEME AND TONE
Cool

LANGUAGE AND WRITING STYLE
Easy to Read

CHARACTERS
Somewhat complex

TROPES

☙ School Drama

☙ Empathy-Based Magic/Abilities

☙ Portals

☙ Exclusive School / Academy Setting

☙ Slow Burn and Mutual Pining

☙ Not All Is as It Seems

☙ Anxious FMC

☙ Coming-of-Age

MY REVIEW
The first paragraph of chapter one drew me in...why because the person talking about paperbacks and how it made them feel.......I am sucker for such things. Anyway, the story starts out great. The setting, the plot was immaculate. There is an empathy-powered academy that’s definitely hiding something. Shaye Devereaux is an anxiety-riddled, heart-on-her-sleeve FMC. She isn’t looking for love, redemption, or a sci-fi-level existential crisis—but guess what? She is getting all three.

Pathos Conservatory isn't your typical prep school. It’s basically Hogwarts, but for empaths, and instead of wands, you get memory dives and suspiciously charming mentors. Then you also get Ephram: brooding, infuriating, hot enough to be illegal😅. He flirts like it's his job (spoiler: it sort of is), but behind all that perfection, there is a lot of mystery and secrets. Overall, it was a great read. I enjoyed it very much. Highly recommended!!!

MY RATING
Overall: ★★★★ | 4 Stars

Plot: ★★★★| 4 Stars

Romance: ★★★★ | 4 Star

Characters:★★★★ | 4 Stars

Pacing: ★★★★★| 5 stars

Mystery: ★★★★★ | 5 star

THE BEST PART
☙ The book setting is really great
☙ I like the concept of empaths

Best Words

Happy Reading!!

❤ 🎧☕️🕯️📖 ❤

A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena | A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Quills and Pages) — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 07:47:00 +0000

What's Up, Readers!!

Welcome to Quills and Pages! I am back with another amazing read today. A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena. Think on this.....If “Black Swan” waltzed into a Game of Thrones, dressed in espionage and draped in slow-burn betrayal, you’d get something like A Dance of Lies.

BLURB

My protector is gone, revealed to be a monster. But I remind myself that I am not a damsel. I’m no princess bound within a tower.
I am a shadow.
Vasalie Moran was once a dancer in King Illian’s court, until he framed her for murder. Barely surviving her two years in the dungeons, she’s suddenly called to face her king. He offers her a deal: become his spy at the six-week royal Gathering and he’ll grant her freedom.
As Illian’s orders grow bloody and dangerous, forcing her to harm and betray those around her, Vasalie discovers that the monster she serves may be aligned with a bigger monster—one far closer to home. With her world threatened, Vasalie enlists the help of Illian’s brother and greatest adversary, the infamous King of the East.
As the rivalry between brothers escalates, with Vasalie caught in the middle, the horrifying truth of her past comes to light. If she wants to survive, she must decide who to trust, who to fight for, and how much of her soul she’s willing to damn in the process.

GENRE
Beautiful Poetic Romantasy

THEME AND TONE
Whimsical

LANGUAGE AND WRITING STYLE
Easy to Read, beautiful

CHARACTERS
Morally Grey

TROPES

☙ Slow-Burn Betrayal

☙ Enemies to Lovers

☙ Multiple Love Interests

☙ Disability rep

☙ Political Intrigue

☙ Beautiful World Building

☙ Emotional Mindspin

☙ She is a dancer and a spy

MY REVIEW
First of all, thank you to Netgalley and the Author for the review copy. I was completely hooked from the very first sentence. I would have read the book in one sitting if it wasn't for my work and life....boring......lol.....to say this story was beautifully written is an understatement......it's been a long time since I really enjoyed a book with zero spice and all angst and emotional mindspin.

I was living in the shoes of Vasalie Moran in this book.....It was trauma-drenched royal drama with a side of forbidden tension......oohhhh!!!! The tension was so good and I was eating it up.....I loved all the characters, even the hateful ones....every character has depth, their own reason for doing depraved things they were doing....the FMC Vasalie Moran....(what a beautiful name tho)..........she is no wallflower. She’s gritty, resourceful, and haunted by more than just her past. Her choices aren’t clean—they’re messy, dark, and stitched together with sheer willpower and sarcasm. I totally stan a heroine who will spy, and lie.

On the whole, it was an amazing first book in the series. I cannot wait for the next book....I hope there is a next book and a series and not a standalone....I would totally read Vasalie's story more.

MY RATING
Overall: ★★★★★ | 5 Stars

Plot: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

Romance: ★★★★★ | 5 Star

Characters:★★★★★ | 5 Stars

Pacing: ★★★★★| 5 stars

Mystery: ★★★★★| 5 star

Banter: ★★★★★| 5 star

Ending: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 | Level 5 stars

Book Cover:★★★★★| 5 Stars

THE BEST PART
☙ The betrayal dynamics and Vasalie's emotions surrounding it
☙ The interest of two kings in Vasalie was the icing on the cake.

☙ he calls her little Minnow 😆

☙ the plot twists....ugh perfection👩‍🍳😙🤌

Best Words

Happy Reading!!

❤ 🎧☕️🕯️📖 ❤

Unrealistic Things I want in my future home!

noreply@blogger.com (Quills and Pages) — Thu, 29 May 2025 10:41:00 +0000

Delulu was definitely at its peak today—I found myself completely lost in daydreams about all the fun, whimsical, and totally unrealistic things I’d love to have in my future home.

❤ 🎧☕️🕯️📖 ❤

Book of The Month | May

noreply@blogger.com (Quills and Pages) — Wed, 28 May 2025 12:29:00 +0000

Bride of the Brutal Hearts

Book Blurb

Two vicious kings. One captive bride. Their magic should have destroyed me.
Instead, it made them mine.
When my sister’s name is called for the vampires’ harvest, I step forward. It’s a death sentence, but she has a family, a future. All I have is a dusty bookshop, an ailing body, and a fate that always ends in fangs.
As the only volunteer, I’m claimed as the newest Mortal Bride—a living sacrifice to their two wicked kings.
The Conqueror, ruthless and imposing, his icy demeanor concealing his fiery intensity.
The Butcher, charming and capricious, his divine beauty disguising his cruel desires.
The kings intend to drain my lifeforce to fuel the spell securing their reign. But when the ceremony goes awry, we’re all ensnared in an obsessive bond… one not even death can break.
The Conqueror and the Butcher now hunger for more than my blood. They want all of me, forever.
I should resist them. I should hate them. They are the monsters who devour my people.
But no matter how brutal their hearts, I crave them just as fiercely.
Bride of Brutal Hearts is a dark fantasy villain romance and the first book in the Bloodborne Court series. It features a slow burn romance with high heat between two morally black vampires and their captive bride. This book contains dark elements, graphic violence, and themes some may find disturbing. Readers can find more information in the Author’s Note and a detailed list on the author's website.
My Review

Happy Reading!!
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❤ 🎧☕️🕯️📖 ❤

Book of The Month | April

noreply@blogger.com (Quills and Pages) — Wed, 28 May 2025 12:28:00 +0000

Painted Scars

Book Blurb

Nina
Charming, captivating, and seductive,
And a cold-blooded killer.
But I married the Pakhan of the Russian Bratva anyway.
I had to. It was part of the deal.
Now, I’m faking marital bliss,
As I tremble with fear,
And I cannot wait to be out of the clutches of this ruthless man.

Roman
I get anything I desire.
And I want this perfectly imperfect little manipulator.
The way she can deceive anyone into believing she’s crazy in love with me,
Just makes me want her even more.
She doesn't know it yet,
But I am not letting her go.
The deal - is off.

Happy Reading!!
Stalk me!!
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❤ 🎧☕️🕯️📖 ❤

Rise of the Ash Kingdom by Elizabeth R. Olson | A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Quills and Pages) — Sun, 25 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

What's Up, Readers!!

Welcome to Quills and Pages. So I finished this debut book from Elizabeth R. Olson. The book is Rise of the Ash Kingdom, and it is the first in the series of A Sun and Moon tale......(I mean the name game is going perfectly, don't you think)

BLURB

After enduring a traumatic childhood, twenty-two-year-old Briar Clarke has learned two things: never get close enough for anyone to disappoint her again, and the fire living inside her must never reach the surface. But it’s these two things that prevent Briar from finding the one thing she craves deeply—a home. When Briar is involved in a tragic accident that should have killed her, she wakes in a different world entirely. Elysian, she is told, is a land where the magic powered by the High Queen keeps its creatures living. But the rightful heir is missing, a Dark Queen falsely sits in her place, and the land is slowly dying in response.
Briar must journey through the realms in search of a way back to her world. But when word spreads of this strange human’s impossible arrival, the Dark Queen takes interest, and soon Briar is fleeing more than just the crumpling realms. Forced further into Elysian, she encounters kingdoms plagued by political strife, danger lurking in every shadow, and untrustworthy allies with dark intentions. But with each step closer to her destination, Briar can’t help but feel like she’s moving in the wrong direction. There is something about Elysian soil that has awakened the fire beneath her skin. The very fire she has told herself must be kept buried at all costs. A fiery rage that could aid Elysian in the downfall of its false queen.
Briar has never fought a day in her life, and if she doesn’t do so now, any chance of saving Elysian—or finding home—will crumple to ash.

GENRE
High/Magical/Quest Fantasy

TROPES

☙ Found Family

☙ Dying Magical World

☙ Reluctant Heroine

☙ Forced Proximity (to some extent)

☙ A dark queen rules all

☙ Trauma caused by the disappearance of a parent

☙ Secret Powers

☙ Quest Fantasy

MY REVIEW

So I started reading this book a while back and I keep getting distracted because of work and other commitments, but my mind kept coming back to this story......and I keep thinking about Zelda when reading this story....This is a quest fantasy, and I was so intrigued by it. I have to say it did not disappoint me. The thing I loved the most is world building...Briar travel to so many interesting places.....and I was eating all the details up....I think that's why it reminded me of Zelda....I love a good magical world.

I am not diving into details, but long story short, the story was immaculately written. Briar is not a very strong FMC, but she has something in her....she is a survivor.....and I think she will become more as the story will progress. Dark Queen is a very interesting character.....she reminded me of the Evil Queen from Snow White. and what was up with Zaffar......he was too cocky......I was rolling my eyes at his attempts to flirt with Briar......I was like, Sir, please.....what the what.....But he was entertaining. On the whole, the story was great. Highly recommend it if you are a fantasy game player; you will love it.

MY RATING
Overall: ★★★★ | 4 Stars

Plot: ★★★★★| 4 Stars

Romance: ★★★★| 4 Stars

Characters:★★★★ | 4 Stars

Pacing: ★★★★★| 5 stars

Mystery: ★★★★★| 5 star

World-building: ★★★★★| 5 star

Ending: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

DEDICATION

THE BEST PART

☙The world-building was really great

☙ Briar's journey is intriguing, and there are some mysteries that I keep thinking about.

THE WORST PARTS
☙ Zaffar cockiness was hilarious....I still can't say it's the worst part... I was laughing at him, so it counts as something.

Happy Reading!!

❤ 🎧☕️🕯️📖 ❤

Bride of the Brutal Hearts by Kate Stevens | A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Quills and Pages) — Thu, 22 May 2025 16:14:00 +0000

What's Up, Readers!!

I am here today writing about a book that kept me in a chokehold the entire time I was reading it. I received the ARC from the author Kate Stevens: Bride of Brutal Hearts first book in the Bloodborne Court series. ✨🔥 Let's start the review, shall we?!

BLURB

GENRE
Dark Fantasy Villain Romance

THEME AND TONE
Dark........major Trigger warning

LANGUAGE AND WRITING STYLE
Easy to Read

CHARACTERS
Morally Grey MC through and through

TROPES

☙ Captive Bride

☙ Villain gets the girl

☙ The best kind of lovers to enemies situation

☙ Chronic Illness rep

☙ Plus-sized FMC

☙ Slow Burn Fast Spice

☙ They Fall First

☙ Why Choose?

☙ A bond that binds her to them

☙ Vampires and Witches

MY REVIEW
First of all, thank you to Kate Stevens for the arc. I finished the book in 4 days, approximately..... and I took longer to write this review.....I was processing this book.....My mind was like What the hell did I just read....this book satisfied something vital in this reader, lol.....This book contains angst...the betrayal...the twists that I haven't seen in any other book. This is what I was talking about when I say enemies to lovers....or was it lovers to enemies...🤔....okay the lines are a little blurry in there but there is a literal enemy situation going on and I am all here for that situation.

I keep reading certain scenes again nd again. Mind you.....not the spice scenes....there were scenes of intense yearning....intense passion....jealousy obsession.......all the good things......that I really crave in the book. Although the spice is also very well written......I am a kind of mood reader and I am kind of a reader who reads spicy books and skips spicy scenes lol.....and I skipped some scenes in there because you know it was kind of like I am intruding in extremely private moments 😅😂.....but the ones I read they were really good 🤌

On the whole, it was an amazing first book in the series. I cannot wait for the next book....the book ends on a somewhat sticky situation,n nd I cannot wait to find out what will happen next. I was wondering if I will go into a reading slump after this...why...because I cannot stop thinking about this book and keep rereading it....this is going in my list of "reread every year".... Also the book got major trigger warning so please read that before reading it.

MY RATING
Overall: ★★★★★ | 5 Stars

Plot: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

Romance: ★★★★★ | 5 Star

Characters:★★★★★ | 5 Stars

Pacing: ★★★★★| 5 stars

Mystery: ★★★★★| 5 star

Banter: ★★★★★| 5 star

Ending: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 | Level 5 stars

Book Cover:★★★★★| 5 Stars

THE BEST PART
☙ The simmering tension between the trio
☙ The betrayal hits hard, and I was savoring it like a psycho reader I am 😅

☙ the plot twists....ugh so good 👩‍🍳😙🤌

ABOUT AUTHOR

USA Today Bestselling Author Kate Stevens has been devouring romance novels and absorbing every detail since she was far too young to be reading them. With a passion for sci-fi and fantasy, she loves nothing more than a captivating villain, a touch of angst, and endless groveling. She lives in Toronto, Canada, with her cute-but-demanding pets and a hoard of books.

She's the author of Bloodborne Court, a dark fantasy romance series. Prior to that, she published sci-fi romances including Archlord of Exile and the Bride to an Alien Prince series. Her work was featured in the Claimed Among the Stars anthology, which hit #42 on the USA Today Bestseller List in 2022.

Happy Reading!!

❤ 🎧☕️🕯️📖 ❤

Alpha's Claim Book 1 and 2 by Addison Cain | A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Quills and Pages) — Fri, 16 May 2025 07:54:00 +0000

What's Up, Readers!!

Welcome to Quills and Pages. Today I am reviewing two books in the series....Alpha's Claim by Addison Cain.....a friend recommended this series to me and I was like let's do it.....it would be great to read something a little different.

BLURB

Every bit as ruthless as his reputation suggests…
Shepherd ravages both Claire and her conquered city, refusing to let either slip through his fingers.
He steals Claire's innocence and future by forcing a pair-bond on the rare, unwilling Omega female.
Violent, calculating, and incapable of remorse, he demands his new mate's adoration. Her attention. Her body.

GENRE
Paranormal Dark Romance

TROPES

☙ Enemies to Enemies

☙ Anti-hero

☙ Slow-Burn (kinda)

☙ Reluctant Allies (to help with the FMC's heat cycle 😅)

☙ Forced Proximity

☙ Political Conflicts

☙ Major trigger Warnings ( and I am serious)

☙ She wants him and she hates it

☙ Reluctant FMC

MY REVIEW

I didn't know what I was getting into when I started reading but I have to say I got sucked into the story right away.....she is an Omega in heat and she is surrounded by ruthless, scary and cruel alphas until he smells her and claims her just like that....I haven't read any book with the concept of Alpha and Omega...I thought this distinction was usually used in werewolf books, but here, all of these are humans.

The world they live in is divided into groups Alpha, Omega, and Beta.....Alph are like the superiors, dominant people. Omegas are somewhat weak people with recurring heat cycles, which render them vulnerable in society....they are usually claimed by Alphas.....and in most cases it happens with no consent. Betas are usually free people; they are not bound by any kind of urges, so they are free to do whatever they want. I like this concept.

Some serious triggering situations are happening in the book, so please go through TRIGGER WARNINGS before reading this. Book 1 ends in a cliffhanger, so I started book 2 right away. Both are good reads and I would recommend them if you are a dark romance reader.

MY RATING
Overall: ★★★ | 3 Stars

Plot: ★★★★| 4 Stars

Romance: no romance happening!!

Characters:★★★★ | 4 Stars

Pacing: ★★★★★| 5 stars

Mystery: ★★★★★| 5 star

Banter: ★★★★★| 5 star

Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶🌶 | Level 4

Book Cover: ★| 1 star (because I don't like these types of covers 😅)

THE BEST PART
☙ I like it when they are a little mean......the MMc wasn't mean in these books, but FMC thinks he is.....so I guess I enjoyed the situation happening between these 2 lol

☙The world-building was really great

THE WORST PARTS
☙ The girl (FMC) is not in her right state of mind....she doesn't try to understand and take control of the situation. She just became a victim easily (which she is not, but she loves to pretend she is)

Happy Reading!!

❤ 🎧☕️🕯️📖 ❤

Glow of the Everflame by Penn Cole | A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Quills and Pages) — Thu, 15 May 2025 16:15:00 +0000

What's Up, Readers!!

Welcome to Quills and Pages. Today I am reviewing Book two in this very famous series these days......Glow of the Everflame; written by Author Penn Cole.

BLURB

An unexpected gift offers the power to change everything—but keeping it could cost Diem her life.
The threat of war has arrived at Diem’s doorstep, along with a new discovery that could save her people. To use it, she must survive the next thirty days by forming a devil’s bargain with the people she hates most: the royal family of House Corbois.
But as she dives into the world of the Descended elite, Diem quickly realizes good and evil aren’t as simple as they seem. Old prejudices are challenged, and new loyalties blur the line between friend and foe.
Meanwhile, her mother is still missing, and the secrets she left behind can no longer be ignored—and neither can the Guardians and their demands. Caught between an old flame and a sizzling new spark, Diem must confront the truth about who she is and what she wants before time runs out.
War is coming, and dangerous enemies wait on all sides.. but the most deadly battle Diem faces may be the one for her heart.

GENRE
Romantasy

TROPES

☙ Enemies to enemies

☙ Slow-Burn

☙ Reluctant Allies

☙ Forced Proximity

☙ External and Internal Conflicts

☙ Trauma caused by the disappearance of a parent

☙ Secret Powers

☙ Forbidden attraction

MY REVIEW

Okay, things are getting too interesting in this book. So many things are happening all at once...the secrets revolving around the mother's disappearance (Diem's Mother) are unraveling. Luther is hiding something....a very important detail regarding the mother. There is also going to be a very important death.....I was not ready for that....and it was not necessary....But I guess it was because it would lead to character transformation. Diem is still annoying as hell....I don't know why I am so annoyed by her lol.....her father is right....she is too much emotional.

Luther is, as always, a perfection. He is really calculating and very good at strategy. I loved the found family thing in this book....loved all these characters. Sorry, I am writing a review after so long, I forgot the names 😭. I love how the details about other kingdoms are also revealing, and I am all here for it. And.......I like the narrator, but I just don't like Diem...it's weird because this story is about her....I am just in my judging era these days, and I am like girl.......stop acting like a spoiled teenager.....the fate of the whole kingdom is relying on you......you go have a temper tantrum and put everyone in danger...she needs to learn fast....I hope there is character development in the future and she learns from the best.

I got the next book but am not going to read it until the last one is out....lol...I am not good with cliffhangers 😅😅

MY RATING
Overall: ★★★★ | 4 Stars

Plot: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

Romance: ★★| 2 Stars

Characters:★★★★ | 4 Stars

Pacing: ★★★★★| 5 stars

Mystery: ★★★★★| 5 star

Banter: ★★★★★| 5 star

Ending: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

Spice Level: It's a slow burn, so none

THE BEST PART
☙ All scenes of Luther..🤌🏻

☙The world-building was really great

☙ loved how I got to learn more about this ruthless world of Kindreds.

THE WORST PARTS
☙ Diem's continuing stupidity and temper tantrums😏

Happy Reading!!

❤ 🎧☕️🕯️📖 ❤

The Bond That Burns by Briar Boleyn | A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Quills and Pages) — Thu, 08 May 2025 06:01:00 +0000

What's Up, Readers!!

Welcome to Quills and Pages. I finally got myself to sit down to write this review for the second book of Bloodwing Academy series. Today is a good day because it's cloudy and windy with a chance of slight rain....and nothing puts my mood better than a chance of rain and wind. anyway let's get started!!

BLURB

At Bloodwing Academy, blood is currency, but a dragon's legacy is priceless–and as dangerous as fire.
I thought surviving my first year in Bloodwing's deadly halls would be enough. I was wrong.
I accidentally woke a dragon–a creature of myth, of death, of fire.
Now every highblood house wants control over me and the dragon's legacy I carry. But here's the I have no control. I'm bluffing my way through every encounter, trying to keep everyone from realizing that I'm not the one pulling the dragon's strings.
And then there's Blake Drakharrow. I thought he was on my side, that I might even be able to trust him. But he betrayed me. Now I'm his only blood source. How messed up is that? In a place like Bloodwing, where power and survival are everything, this bond may well be the death of us both. Unless I can find a way to end it.
In this world of vampires, dragons, and lies, there are no happy endings. Just legends–and the darkness it takes to make them.

GENRE
Romantasy

TROPES

☙ Enemies to Enemies

☙ Slow-Burn

☙ Reluctant Allies

☙ Forced Proximity

☙ Vampires and Dragons

☙ Kind of a Bully Romance

MY REVIEW

I got the arc from Netgalley and started reading it right away. Although I was slow this time with the reading but I enjoyed the story immensely. This book is much much better than book 1. The story is advancing and becoming more intense, hotter, and more complicated. I love Blake more in this book, and I am betting the next book is gonna be epic. I cannot wait for it to be released already.

It contains all the things I usually like in my book. There is one chapter in this book, and it was 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. I can't get over that chapter lol. On various occasions, both Blake and Medra gave Tory and Darius vibes, and it's the best thing ever. If you haven't read this book yet, then what are you doing with your life? On the whole, this series is becoming something. It's a 5-star without any questions, and I highly recommend it. Go read it.

MY RATING
Overall: ★★★★★ | 5 Stars

Plot: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

Romance: ★★★★★ | 5 Stars

Characters:★★★★★ | 5 Stars

Pacing: ★★★★★| 5 stars

Mystery: ★★★★★| 5 stars

Banter: ★★★★★| 5 stars

Ending: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

Spice Level: 🌶🌶 | Level 2 but that one chapter 👀❤💥

Book Cover:★★★★★| 5 Stars

THE BEST PART

☙ When low burn finally pays off 😅

☙ The whole twisted history and the dragon thing

BEST WORDS\

“What’s ridiculous, little dragon, is that you think you can walk into my space and walk out again without any consequences.”
*swooooooon*

Happy Reading!!

❤ 🎧☕️🕯️📖 ❤

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides | A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Quills and Pages) — Thu, 08 May 2025 04:47:00 +0000

Hi Readers!!!!

Welcome to Quills and Pages. Another day, another tale to unthread—today, we’re peeling back the pages of The Silent Patient. I have been hearing a lot about this book from my mutuals, so I thought, let's read it.

BLURB

Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter married to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house with big windows overlooking a park in one of London’s most desirable areas. One evening her husband Gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot, and Alicia shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks another word.
Alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into something far grander, a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts Alicia into notoriety. The price of her art skyrockets, and she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids and spotlight at the Grove, a secure forensic unit in North London.
Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time for the opportunity to work with Alicia. His determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband takes him down a twisting path into his own motivations—a search for the truth that threatens to consume him....
The Silent Patient is a shocking psychological thriller of a woman’s act of violence against her husband—and of the therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive.

GENRE
Psychological Thriller

THEME AND TONE
Mind-Blowing

LANGUAGE AND WRITING STYLE
Easy to Read

CHARACTERS
Everyone is insane!!

TROPES

☙ Thriller

☙ Crimes of Passion

☙ Mystery Thriller

MY REVIEW
This book sucked me in from the very first line and the epigraph. I kept reading without any pause. The author did an amazing job keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. I wasn't reading fast enough, and I wanted to know why? why? why? And in between breaks, I keep looking for spoilers, any kind of spoilers, but couldn't find any. It was pleasing and frustrating at the same time. I won't spoil it for you either. The book is written masterfully. The author is very clever and very talented.

On the whole, the plot is gripping, characters are something. There is one character that doesn't have any relevance. She shouldn't be in there. That said, to sum it up, this is the best thriller I've read this year.

MY RATING
Overall: ★★★★★ | 5 Stars

Plot: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

Mystery: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

Characters: ★★★★★ | 5 Stars

Pacing: ★★★★★ | 5 Stars

Ending: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

Book Cover:★★★★★| 3 Stars ( I like it)

Happy Reading!!

❤ 🎧☕️🕯️📖 ❤

Kiss of the Basilisk by Lindsay Straube | A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Quills and Pages) — Wed, 07 May 2025 09:39:00 +0000

Hi Readers!!!!

Welcome to Quills and Pages. Another day, another tale to unthread—today, we’re peeling back the pages of Kiss of the Basilisk. I have been hearing a lot about this book on social media, so I thought, let's read it. This is book 1 in the Split or Swallow series. So, strap in—here we go!

It comes with a warning!!!

BLURB

THIS BOOK IS NOT SAFE TO READ AT WORK. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.
Twenty year old Temperance Verus has never been kissed. But that's what the basilisk is for.
Along with thirteen other contestants, Tem must train with a basilisk to learn the power of seduction and win the prince's hand in marriage. When Tem is matched with Caspen, the Serpent King, she realizes she might actually stand a chance. But with tensions rising between the basilisks and the humans, Tem is suddenly torn in two directions. As her bond with Caspen deepens, so does her connection with the prince. And when she uncovers a terrible secret about the royal family, Tem finds herself caught between two neither of which she can survive without.
Guaranteed to make you blush (and then some), Split or Swallow is like if fanfic Draco Malfoy went on the Bachelor and had to compete with a snake. Sounds fun, doesn't it? That's because it is!!

GENRE
Some amalgamation of Fantasy, dark romance, and something 😅

THEME AND TONE
too spiciiiiierrrrr to handle

LANGUAGE AND WRITING STYLE
Okay to Read

CHARACTERS
Simple characters with too much time on their hands

TROPES

☙ Love Triangle

☙ Magical Training/Competition

☙ Forbidden Love

☙ Court Intrigue

☙ Deep Politics

☙ Enemies to Lovers(potential)

☙ Coming of Age

☙ Bonding with the Monster

☙ A war between races is brewing

MY REVIEW
I was not ready for this book. I like to consider myself that I can read anything spicy and it won't stun me (perks of being a dark romance reader) but this book did STUNNED me into speechlessness. I was reading it and I was like WHAT THE WHAT is happening man. And when I would be like taking a breath, thinking okay, everything is fine now we can proceed to the next chapter, and something else more whiplashy, twisty, stupid (not really) type of thing will happen in the next chapter.

To sum things up, it was way too spicy. The angst that I wanted to read about was not there. The one Male lead had no personality at all, even though he is portrayed to be someone dangerous and hot. He was plain as hell....the other main lead showed promise because there is a dynamic to his character. I like him, tho I do not like that type, but I still like him. The female lead has a shortage of brain cells. She cannot think, she cannot make a decision, her whole life revolves around losing her virginity like it's some kind of holy thing she has to do, and comparing herself to the most trashy person in the town. There it is, I said it. She annoyed me so much.

On the whole, the plot is okay; it could have been much more, but it is okay as it is the first book in the series. I am thinking it's gonna be better in the next book, and maybe the Female lead will show more of her character. She has an important role to play in politics. I hope she is up to the task. If you are a lover of heavy spice, this book is for you. GO read!!.

MY RATING
Overall: ★★ | 2 Stars

Plot: ★★| 2 Stars

World Building: ★| 1 Stars

Characters:★ | 1 Stars

Pacing: ★ | 1 Star

Mystery: ★★ | 2 Stars

Ending: ★| 1 Stars

Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶| 5/5 ( it should be 10/10 tho)

Book Cover:★★★| 3 Stars ( I like it)

Happy Reading!!

❤ 🎧☕️🕯️📖 ❤

Secrets and Stardust by Jeannin Counts | A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Quills and Pages) — Sat, 29 Mar 2025 02:13:00 +0000

What's Up, Readers!!

Welcome to Quills and Pages. I am writing this review with mixed feelings. On the one hand, I found this amazing beautiful book and on the other hand, it shattered my heart and now I don't know what to do....laugh....cry, or scream.....lol. I am presenting you Secrets and Stardust by Jeannin Counts.

BLURB

The stars are not what they seem. So look away; they’ll whisper you your fate.
Iyana’s only ambition in life is to become a healer like her grandmother, but that all changes when her village is attacked by a neighboring kingdom. She desperately calls upon the heavens for salvation and the stars respond, yet not as she had ever imagined. She is sent Altair, a hypnotically handsome star in human form. Iyana is more shocked to discover that she is an Aztia, a magic bearer born once in every generation, and that a captured enemy soldier named Emmeric is unwittingly caught up in her destiny.
Although he is fated to work with Iyana, Emmeric is reluctant to assist a woman from the village he was recently trying to destroy, no matter how spellbinding her beauty is. He trusts his rival Altair even less, as the star and Iyana are caught in each other’s orbit.
When the emperor’s own son, Zane, joins their quest to stop his father’s tyrannical invasion, the companions begin unveiling long-buried secrets that echo through time. Secrets that could change the course of human history and reveal the hidden origin of the Aztia themselves.
A captured foe. A fallen star. A forsaken prince.
Betrayal is inevitable. But who will perpetrate it?

GENRE
Romantasy

TROPES

☙ Enemies to Friends

☙ Love Triangle

☙ Forced Proximity

☙ Found Family

☙ Ancient Prophecies

☙ Epic World with Lore and Mythology

☙ A Big Magical Library

☙ Chosen One

☙ Hidden or Locked Magic

☙ A Big Plot-Twist

MY REVIEW

I was lucky enough to have an arc of this book through mtmc book tours last year but then I got it on Kindle and started reading it. I didn't know what I was in for. It was like any other Romantasy in the start....a chosen healer, a brooding shining MMC, another golden retriever MMC, and then this amazingly beautiful world and a big desert.....the legend of stars and ancient prophecies.....and a very powerful cruel enemy. Everything was perfect and then the end happened.

I am coming to terms with the ending...because from that ending you cannot go back to the good old days it's only going to get worse.....and I am sad for these 2 people.....Many will say the said MMC is toxic as hell and is a big walking Red Flag....but a heart wants what it wants. I know it.... I have a feeling it's gonna be brutal in the second book. I received the arc for the second book and I am so scared to start it....well I read the first few chapters and I am effing scared but I have to finish it soon. On the whole, this is a duology...amazing writing, storytelling, dialogue delivery, and banter. It's a 5-star without any questions and I highly recommend it. Go read it.

MY RATING
Overall: ★★★★★ | 5 Stars

Plot: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

Romance: ★★★★★ | 5 Stars

Characters:★★★★★ | 5 Stars

Pacing: ★★★★★| 5 stars

Mystery: ★★★★★| 5 stars

Banter: ★★★★★| 5 stars

Ending: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

Spice Level: 🌶🌶 | Level 2

Book Cover:★★★★★★★★★★| 10 Stars

THE BEST PART

☙ Altair and the concept that a star falls from the sky just for this girl who wished it.

☙ The whole Mythology going on in the background

☙ This trio: Altair, Emmeric, and Iyana....❤

BEST WORDS

Happy Reading!!

❤ 🎧☕️🕯️📖 ❤

Bride to the Fox demon by Alex Perez | A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Quills and Pages) — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 16:28:00 +0000

What's Up, Readers!!

Welcome to Quills and Pages. I read this book a while book and lately, I have found I haven't been posting reviews regularly I am just consuming books so I thought let's start a schedule of my review posts starting today. I will be reviewing all of the books I have read and haven't posted reviews. Bride to the Fox Demon is written by Alex Perez. This is book 1 in the Souls for the Abyss series.

BLURB

An ancient fox demon has been plaguing a small town for centuries. Every fifty years, an offering must be made to prevent the village from falling into despair. Twenty six-year old Katori moved as far as she could from her dysfunctional family in hopes of finding a quiet place to write her manuscripts; but the Fox is calling. Fifty years is up... and he's hungry.

GENRE
Cozy Fantasy Paranormal Romance

TROPES

☙ Arranged Marriage

☙ Demons

☙ Different Realms

☙ Cozy Vibe

☙ Forced Proximity

☙ Kidnapping

☙ MMc has a tortured past

MY REVIEW

I was very much intrigued with this idea of an entity from another realm and he is a fox demon. I mean foxes are so cute. Lately, I have been watching The Tale of the Nine-Tailed and have been obsessed with foxes. They are perfect. I haven't seen red foxes in real life and I would give anything to see them....I bet they are beautiful in real time too. Anyway, let's get back to the topic.

The book starts out amazing with a little peak into the FMC's life and then things get interesting when she is kidnapped to the demon realms.....for a short while I thought some stale moments were happening in between but then by the middle half, it starts to get more interesting when I get to the parts where the whole dynamics of the demon realm was shown. There are some very interesting characters in there too whose stories are also coming out. On the whole, the book was a cozy read. I read it on my couch when it was raining and that was the best moment I had in ages. I highly recommend this.

MY RATING
Overall: ★★★★★ | 5 Stars

Plot: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

Romance: ★★★ | 3 Stars

Characters:★★★★★ | 5 Stars

Pacing: ★★★★| 4 Stars

Mystery: ★★★★| 4 Stars

Ending: ★★★★| 4 Stars

Spice Level: 🌶 | Level 1

Book Cover: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

THE BEST PART

☙ Whole cozy vibe of the book.....I loved it.

Happy Reading!!

❤ 🎧☕️🕯️📖 ❤

The Poisoner by I. V. Ophelia | A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Quills and Pages) — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 00:56:00 +0000

What's Up, Readers!!

Welcome to Quills and Pages. Today I am reviewing one of the hottest books I read this year; The Poisoner by I.V. Ophelia. LOL!! I know it's only January but it is what it is 💁....I would love to see if any other book tops this one. I have read some very varied reviews on this one but in my opinion, I think this was a really great book. So, Let's start the review.

BLURB

"Have you ever wondered how long it would take for a lethal dose of arsenic to kill you?

Thirty-five hours, twenty-nine minutes, and fifteen seconds.

I should know. I counted myself."

Amidst the gaslit alleys and cobblestone streets of Victorian London, two killers find themselves entangled in a waltz they cannot escape.

Alina Lis, a botanist and hobbyist poisoner, has a pastime of killing unsavory men in her twisted sense of poetic justice. When she targets the conceited playboy, Silas Forbes, only to find him in her apothecary the following week, she discovers human men are the least of her problems.

The pair’s unlikely association sparks gossip among affluent society. As their mysterious bond deepens, a chilling truth emerges—concealed identities, lurking foes, and questions as plentiful as the hydra’s head brew within this haunting Gothic tale of violent passion.

Will Silas and Alina find themselves in each other's arms, or will the shadows of their past keep them apart?

GENRE
Dark Gothic Fantasy

CHARACTERS
Morally Grey Characters

TROPES

☙ Dark Gothic

☙ Ancient Prophecies

☙ Reluctant Allies

☙ Forced Proximity

☙ Trigger Warnings

☙ Vampires type creatures

☙ She unalives the abusers

☙ Scientific Experiments

☙ Forbidden Attraction

☙ Stalking

MY REVIEW

The reviews I read before starting this book made me think maybe this book is not for me. But you know I was curious....and I cannot pass a book that has so many controversial views. Now that I am thinking I usually like books with controversial reviews and I do not like books that are social media popular. So, what does it say about me 😅😂. Anyway, I started reading the book and I was sucked in.

The vibe of this book is kinda similar to Haunting Adeline....a mansion where our FMC is all alone and things happen to her lol. Another thing I am attracted to is the integration of botany in fiction and fantasy. I love such books. The female main character has a botanical shop and she creates poison from them. I love a story with cozy and lingering horror elements.

I am very much impressed by the characters. This book represents morally great. no one in the story is a good person. they do things because that's what they should be doing so if you don't have the stomach to handle morally grey people in the real sense I would suggest don't pick it up. It is also not a romantic story.....there is no romance here.....there is only mad obsession. there is no hero only mad anti-heroes. Anyway, I loved the book ❤

P.S. The special edition book cover is insanely good.

MY RATING
Overall: ★★★★★ | 5 Stars

Plot: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

Romance:0 Stars (sorry no romance here)

Characters:★★★★★ | 5 Stars

Pacing: ★★★★★| 5 stars

Mystery: ★★★★★| 5 star

Ending: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶 | Level 3 (but it was soo good)

Book Cover:★★★★★| 5 Stars (special edition)

THE BEST PART
☙ Alina has a botanist ❤

☙ Silas stalks her for sinister purposes and then gets fascinated by her.

☙ And I loved it when Silas got annoyed because she was engrossed in reading and forgot what's happening around her

☙ The way Silas becomes a slave for her.

☙ The twist of another stalker

☙ The ending.....need book 2 NOW!!

THE WORST PARTS
☙ NONE

BEST WORDS

Happy Reading!!

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Check this: QP Book Tours

❤ 🎧☕️🕯️📖 ❤

Book of The Month | March

noreply@blogger.com (Quills and Pages) — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 01:56:00 +0000

Smoke and Scar

Book Blurb

Birthed in shadow. Forged in fire
A Splintered Kingdom
An ancient grudge has kept humans and the magical races of Arcanis at odds for centuries. The Arcane Crucible, a legendary series of trials that occurs every 25 years, offers a chance for peace.

A Haunted Warrior
Elyria Lightbreaker, once a celebrated fae war hero, is a shadow of her former self. Drowning in grief after losing the man she loved to the previous Crucible, now she must rise to stop his sister from falling to the same fate.

A Vengeful Knight
Hardened by loss and fueled by hate, Cedric Thorne’s lifelong goal to conquer the Crucible on humanity’s behalf is finally within reach. The only problem? Getting through the trials alive means working with Elyria—the very fae he blames for his parents’ deaths.

An Unwinnable Challenge
With alliances fragile as spun glass and betrayal lurking at every turn, Elyria and Cedric must navigate deadly trials that test their strength, spirit, and magic… as well as their increasingly complex feelings for each other.

This is the Arcane Crucible.

Happy Reading!!
Stalk me!!
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❤ 🎧☕️🕯️📖 ❤

Books I Read in January 2025

noreply@blogger.com (Quills and Pages) — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 01:48:00 +0000

My January Reading Wrap-Up

Happy Reading!!

❤ 🎧☕️🕯️📖 ❤

He Hates me by Isabella Starling and Rina Kent | A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Quills and Pages) — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 11:26:00 +0000

What's Up, Readers!!

Welcome to Quills and Pages. I just finished He Hates Me from Hate & Love Duet. The book is written by Isabella Starling and Rina Kent. Let's start the review.

BLURB

Once upon a time, there was a monster.
When the night falls, he comes out to harvest souls.
He’s silent and invisible —no one notices when he strikes then retreats to the shadows.
Our paths shouldn’t have crossed, but they do.
One day he sees me.
Then he can’t unsee me.
Once upon a time, there was a monster, a killer, a devil.
My stalker.

GENRE
Dark Stalker Romance

TROPES

☙ Enemies to Lovers

☙ Mafia

☙ Stalking

☙ BDSM

☙ Enemies to Lovers

☙ Dark Roamance

MY REVIEW

I picked up this book expecting an angsty story, but it turned out to be something different. Instead of pure angst, it’s a dark mafia-themed tale—with very little romance and lots of spice. That said, I really enjoyed the suspense and mystery surrounding the characters. The whole hidden identity aspect was executed brilliantly and kept me hooked. Overall, it’s a solid read!

MY RATING
Overall: ★★★ | 3 Stars

Plot: ★★★| 3 Stars

Romance: none. it's all spice

Characters:★★★★★ | 5 Stars

Pacing: ★★★★★| 5 stars

Mystery: ★★★★★| 5 stars

Banter: ★★★★★| 5 stars

Ending: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶🌶 | Level 4

Book Cover:★| 1 Star

THE BEST PART

☙ The whole mystery behind the real identity of our main characters

Happy Reading!!

❤ 🎧☕️🕯️📖 ❤

On Wings of Blood by Briar Boleyn | A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Quills and Pages) — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 03:14:00 +0000

What's Up, Readers!!

Welcome to Quills and Pages. I just finished On Wings of Blood arc....and now I am here to write the review. the book is written by Briar Boleyn and Thank you to Netgally and the author for this arc. iSo, let's start the review

BLURB

I didn't sign up for this.

A half-fae in a school of highblood vampires? That's a recipe for torment.

I'm Medra Pendragon—last of the dragon riders, or so they tell me. Funny thing is, there are no dragons left. Not a single one. But somehow, that hasn't stopped the vampires from deciding I'm worth capturing. Now I'm stuck at Bloodwing Academy, where the highbloods run everything and blightborn like me? We're just blood in their veins, pawns in their games.

But that's not even the worst part. Enter Blake Drakharrow. Cold, arrogant, and way too gorgeous for his own good. He's been tormenting me since the moment we met, and now, thanks to some ancient ritual, we're betrothed. He acts like he owns me, but I'm not going down without a fight.

Bloodwing isn't just a school—it's a battlefield. Highbloods fight for power, and if you're weak? You're dead.

Between deadly competitions, lies that could get me executed, and a dragon-shaped secret looming over my head, all I have to do is survive. Easy, right? Except I'm starting to think the real danger isn't the academy—it's what I'm becoming in this twisted game of power.

And Blake? He might just be the one who pushes me over the edge.

They think they can control me. They think they can use me.

But they have no idea what they've awakened.

GENRE
Romantasy

TROPES

☙ Enemies to Enemies

☙ Slow-Burn

☙ Reluctant Allies

☙ Forced Proximity

☙ Vampires and Dragons

☙ Dead Mother in the head

☙ Secret Powers

☙ Kind of a Bully Romance

MY REVIEW

I started reading this book some time ago and was distracted by work and couldn't finish it in time but this weekend I resumed it and I coudn't put it down. Like wow.....All the elements I thought I liked in a book are present in this one. A magical school, vampires, bully romance, dragons, simmering enemies to lovers to enemies (it's complicated 😅😂) tension.....so, what's not to like.

On the whole, the book is amazing. Loved reading it and highly recommend it. I have read Briar's books before and as always a great pleasure to read her. This series is very promising and I cannot wait to dive head-first in the second book without any delay which is also available at Netgalley.

MY RATING
Overall: ★★★★ | 5 Stars

Plot: ★★★★| 5 Stars

Romance: none. lol it's a slow burn

Characters:★★★★ | 5 Stars

Pacing: ★★★★★| 5 stars

Mystery: ★★★★★| 5 star

Banter: ★★★★★| 5 star

Ending: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

Spice Level: It's a slow burn so none

Book Cover:★★★★| 5 Stars

THE BEST PART

☙The world-building was really great

☙ All of the houses dynamics in the school was really great

BEST WORDS

Happy Reading!!

❤ 🎧☕️🕯️📖 ❤

Between Flames and Deceit by M. A .Frick | A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Quills and Pages) — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:00 +0000

What's Up, Readers!!

Welcome to Quills and Pages. I just finished Between Flames and Deceit arc....and now I am here to write the review before I forget this feeling. The book is written by M. A Frick. We bonded over our mutual love for age-gap romances and little I knew she was writing one of her own.

BLURB

She wasn’t allowed to fall in love.
Least of all with the father of her betrothed.
When Nienna, the Dragon’s Heart, sails to Radaan, she knows she’s bound for a marriage to a prince she’s never met. No stranger to duty, she welcomes the alliance as any princess should.
But the prince is not what she expected.
Kallias, king of Radaan, has spent a lifetime fighting. A treaty ends the war between Radaan and Vellos, but it hinges upon the marriage of his son. If their betrothal ends, the tentative peace will crumble. Yet Nienna is more than he expected. Forged of fire and steel, her responsibility to kingdom mirrors his own.
Nienna needs to feed her people. Kallias needs her dragons.
Promises were made. But when duty conflicts with her heart will Nienna be strong enough to resist?
Kallias signed a blood oath. Bound by honor and the threat of dragonfire will he be able to stand by and watch her marry someone else?
Between Flames and Deceit is a forbidden love, age gap romance. Perfect for lovers of Fourth Wing and Mariana Zapata!

GENRE
Romantasy

TROPES

☙ Forbidden Romance

☙ Slow-Burn

☙ He is her Father-in-law

☙ Dragons and Magic

☙ She is bethrothed to one cruel prince

MY REVIEW

I started this book without reading burb or the details. I only knew it was written by M. A frick and that it was an age-gap romance. I started reading it and the world-building sucked me in. It was a new concept about dragons and these kingdoms......I liked it. Nienna is a great character....level headed....mature for a 20-year-old....she knows her duties and what is expected of her and she is fulfilling them ina great way but there is an inconvenience....she falls for the wrong guy.

This is the slowest slowburn I ever read.....Kallias and Nienna are the most level-headed people who mastered the art of resisting temptation while toeing the line on giving into temptation.....they took too long to start lovering and then everything goes to sh*t......I can't process what happened.....my instincts are saying something vital happened to Nienna at the end and it will change the future for both countries. I don't know if I am making any sense...in short...go read the book......Highly Recommended!!!!

MY RATING
Overall: ★★★★ | 4 Stars

Plot: ★★★★| 4 Stars

Romance: ★★★★| 4 Stars

Characters:★★★★ | 4 Stars

Pacing: ★★★★| 4 Stars

Ending: ★★★★| 4 Stars

Spice Level: 🌶🌶| Level 2

Book Cover:★★★★★| 5 Stars ( Perfection)

THE BEST PART
☙ Claydon and the rambling of his goats

☙ Ending 🤌

THE WORST PARTS
☙ Slow burn at times was so exhausting I was begging for Kallias and Nienna to just give in😩😩

BEST WORDS

☙ Expected Publication: March 24, 2025

Happy Reading!!