Welcome to the tour for Callie Pey’s latest release, Calling of the Grove! This is the second book in The Dryad Chronicles!
Calling of the Grove (The Dryad Chronicles Book 2)
Release Date: April 30, 2025
Genre: Romantic Fantasy/ Why Choose
🌱High Epic Fantasy
🌱Cinnamon Roll MMC
🌱Sweet but Steamy Romance
🌱Why Choose (MFM)
🌱Hidden Identity
🌱Friends to Lovers
🌱Portal worlds
🌱Always Been Her
🌱Fated Mates
🌱”I will find you” Vibes
🌱Bodyguard
When the earth calls, the answer must be resounding.
Melissa knew that staying on Artemesia meant putting her life in danger. After a harrowing night with a Shadow God, mages, and narrowly escaping a sacrificial death, she’s left with even fewer answers than before. One enigmatic question haunts her and may hold the key to everything: Who is Aurinia?
The aftermath of the failed winter solstice ritual continues to ripple through the groves, threatening to plunge the world into chaos. Following the gods’ advice, she must venture beyond Dytika’s borders to aid the vasilissas with their faltering elemental magic. This mission brings her face-to-face with the person she most dreads seeing: her second mate. The one that is in love with another.
Adding to her dilemma, Melissa is thrust into the precarious role of mediator in the delicate peace talks between the elves and the fae, striving to end a centuries-long war. Can she endure the tempest of trauma and grief to uncover her true strength? Will she defy the world’s expectations, guided only by a murmur of prophecy?
We’re celebrating the release of When the Wicked Sing by S.L. DeBois! The perfect way to end Mer-May!
When the Wicked Sing (The Leruna Sea Series #1)
Publication Date: May 28, 2025
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Enemies to Lovers
Slow Burn
Touch Her/Him and 💀
Strong FMC
Hidden Villain
Betrayal
Closed Door Love Scene
FROM THE DARKNESS, THEY WILL RISE.
Banished from the fae realm, the last surviving sirens cling to life in the underwater city of Salus, where death lurks at every turn. Mariana, heir to the siren throne, has spent her life preparing to protect her people against the fae, but when her sister, Astra, vanishes on a perilous mission, she faces an impossible choice: defy her mother’s command and risk everything to bring Astra home, or remain trapped in the darkness as her world fades away.
To save Astra, and the future of all sirens, Mariana must recover an ancient amulet capable of restoring their lost homeland, Sirenia, before it falls into the hands of the ruthless fae king. But before she can act, she is captured by Dax, a brooding fae warrior with secrets of his own, who is determined to drag her to the heart of the fae realm. Forced into an uneasy alliance, Mariana and Dax are drawn deeper into a dangerous web of fae politics, long-buried truths, and heartbreaking betrayal.
Stripped of her siren powers and thrust into a world of deadly lies, Mariana uncovers dark forces threatening not only her people, but the entire realm. In a world where loyalty is fragile, love is dangerous, and betrayal runs deep, Mariana must stop the wicked forces rising in the shadows before they can sing their final, deadly song.
When the Wicked Sing dives into a world where sirens are threatened with extinction against their ruthless enemies, the fae. Perfect for fans of the dark siren lore and sharp wit in To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo, the fae politics and dangerous romance of A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, and the high-stakes alliances of The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen. It is book one in the Leruna Sea Series and ends on a cliff-hanger.
Triggers:
This book explores themes of death, grief, and trauma. While these elements are integral to the story, they may be emotionally challenging for some readers. Please proceed with care and prioritize your well-being.
Byrdfyre Covenant is about desperation and loss, unbreakable bonds and old Gods, and a young woman locked into a deal with a dark stranger that stole her humanity and chained her to him for eternity.
And the young man who refused to do the same.
My mother died on the same day my father went mad. He tried to kill me.
With his bare hands, he gripped my throat, stole my breath, meant to tear me from the world.
I survived, but I changed.
That was the beginning of the plague that devoured us. I would be its ending.
I am Astrid, my mother’s first child, promised to an ancient, odious priest and surrounded by brothers who love me to varying degrees, but don’t respect me at all. Still, I love my family and my home, and I would do anything to save them, to save everything I can from the sickness that’s come to our shores, but no one will listen to me.
No one but him — the mysterious foreigner, Will Green.
Kind, intelligent, but strangely changeable, he stands by my side when others won’t, whispers ideas in my ear as we bury our dead. They are mounting up by the day, by the very minute. He tempts me with logic about what we owe one another.
If we are to survive this, my sincere belief is that our only chance is to run. Some of the women are on my side, but being women, at most, we must work in the shadows, constrained by husbands, children, and the church.
What if no one follows?
If they won’t, Will says, would it be so wrong to force their hand?
I trust him, because Will Green is good and I believe in good, and in sacrifice, even in myself. And we do need to act … but sometimes his eyes burn with a strange flame, and I’m not sure he isn’t more than he seems. I’m not sure of anything. Not what to do, not who to trust … Sometimes, I’m not sure if I’m even alive.
Fire destroys, but it also tempers. It makes things strong. And I’ve been through hell. If I can harness it, and if I am careful, it might be our salvation. Or… In the late Middle Ages, the Black Plague devoured half the population of Europe, arriving in Norway via a “ghost ship” that was entirely unmanned. After the pestilence burned itself out, stories emerged about seemingly-otherworldly lone-survivors, including one made so feral by her long abandonment, she was called Rype, or “wild bird”. We remember the fleas and the rats, even her name, but we don’t remember everything. What if there were more to the stories of the past than we ever imagined? Byrdfyre Covenant is about the survivors the fates failed to claim.
Jayne Starwing is a new pen name for seasoned author Olivia M. Jacques (Women’s Fiction, The Madisons), who is also the co-author of The Lightbringers series (Fantasy Romance). Byrdfyre Covenant merges Dark Fantasy Romance and Speculative Historical Fiction and will appeal to fans of V.E. Schwab (The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue), Audrey Niffenegger (The Time Traveler’s Wife) and Sarah J. Maas (Throne of Glass). Expect heart-pounding action, swoony slow-burn romance, twists and turns you won’t expect, and a chilling and heart-rending cliffhanger ending … because there’s always more to the story.
We’re celebrating the May 27th release of Shadow of the Yew Tree this week! Fans of Outlander and A Discovery of Witches will love this one!
Shadow of the Yew Tree (The Mythic Bones Duology #1)
Publication Date: May 27, 2025
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy Romance
🌙𝙳𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝙿𝙾𝚅
🌿𝙶𝚛𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚢 / 𝚂𝚞𝚗𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚎
🌙𝙼𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚢
🌿𝙾𝚙𝚎𝚗 𝚍𝚘𝚘𝚛 𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎
🌙𝙷𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚖𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍
🌿𝙰𝙳𝙷𝙳 𝚛𝚎𝚙
🌙𝙼𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚘𝚛 / 𝙼𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚎
🌿𝙰𝚍𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜-𝚝𝚘-𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜
🌙𝚂𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝙱𝚞𝚛𝚗
🌿𝙾𝚗𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚍 / 𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚌𝚎𝚍 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚡𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚢
🌙𝙳𝚛𝚞𝚒𝚍𝚜 & 𝚂𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎
🌿𝙵𝙼𝙲𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 30’𝚜 (& 𝙼𝙼𝙲𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 40’𝚜😉)
“You must heed our warning!”
“We have always rewarded surrender over sacrifice, Ronan.”
“You must remember this for what is to come—”
“And the promise of who you will meet in what comes after.”
It seemed a lifetime ago that Dr. Ronan Gallagher had succumbed to his obsessive need to uncover the deepest secrets of the Codex Druidicus, a grimoire of the very darkest magic. Though he’d tried to protect his closest friends from a threat that had followed them through multiple lifetimes, the choices made by the Druid doctor had been a betrayal of not only his friends but his own sacred oaths—a betrayal he would pay for with his life.
Through the intervention of the Otherworld, he was given a second chance on this earthly realm to set things right. Yet, while the curse of the evil Sorcerer Cassius, ancient Child of Rome, might have been vanquished together with the Codex, the torturous tendrils born of Ronan’s pride and obsessive weakness still thrive in the shadows, their reach extending further every day.
When his fellow Druids learn of a massive explosion that has reduced a secret experimental Wraith facility to ruins, none can understand how Phoebe Ashburn, the sole survivor of the tortured experiments, has survived the blast’s devastation … and evaded their capture. With dark and volatile Wraith magic now trapped inside her—threatening her control and sanity—Phoebe is determined to discover how to rid herself of this inner darkness … even if it means accepting the assistance of the very Druid doctor whose actions had led to her torture in the first place.
My thoughts: I really liked Phoebe and her take no prisoners attitude, she’s angry and wants revenge on the Wraiths for what they’ve done to her, but she also wants to know what exactly they did. The information she’s found so far doesn’t tell her much. It’s only when she teams up with Ronan and the other Druids that she gets more information. But that still doesn’t help her.
I found Ronan a bit annoying, his obsessive need for control, not telling Phoebe things that might help her, how arrogant he could be. I get that he’s very knowledgeable and carries his own guilt, but I just got a bit fed up with him.
I haven’t read the trilogy that precedes this book, and while I may well go and read it now, I don’t think it’s essential to enjoy this one, if you’re thinking of reading it, do. I liked the mix of magic and modern day Canada and Ireland, I liked most of the supporting characters, especially Imogen. It’s a fun read, I’m hoping the next one is too.
A fallen king. A hunted queen. Bound by fate, divided by war.
As a relentless enemy sweeps through the mountains in search of a legendary power, Elara rules a fractured realm. Her grip on power is fragile and her heart is caught between duty — and the haunted king who once vowed to fight by her side.
Once the king of Norrandale, Cai is now an exile. He has lost everything. Everything . . . except her.
Their only hope of survival is a lost diary, said to have belonged to the first king of Everness. Its pages hold answers buried in ancient magic, cursed relics and a war that never truly ended. If they can find it, it could change everything.
As Elara and Cai’s enemies close in, the line between truth and legend begins to blur. Now, the fate of two kingdoms — and one forbidden love — hangs in the balance.
And the crown may demand the greatest sacrifice of all.
Leané Giliomee is a romantasy and historical fiction writer from South Africa. She fell in love with writing in high school and has wanted to be a full-time author ever since. If she’s not reading or watching movies, you’ll find her with her cat (and most trusted writing partner), Loki, working on the next novel.
I received a truly delightful box of themed bookish goodies from Josie Jaffrey to celebrate the release of her Quicksilver trilogy – which you can buy here and find out about all of her books.
Art printThe goodsFancy bath bombCandle Playing cardsSucker for a wax seal (I blame Taskmaster!)What have I done? Pin badgeAnother seal!Little heartBookmark and signed book plateThe full trilogyContentsI like big books…
I’m sure you’ll agree (despite my terrible photography skills) that this is an amazing box to get. Thank you so much Josie and Silver Sun Books.
I cannot wait to read the book, and I’ll share all my thoughts once I have. I’ll be keeping the candle till the seasons change and adding the pin badge to my collection.
Have you read any of Josie’s books? Do you like vampires (and pirates)? Well, then check out her website to get all the details about the Silverse.
Welcome to the tour for Her Cruel Redemption by Hailey Jade! You can read the whole trilogy on Kindle Unlimited!
Her Cruel Redemption (The Dark Reflection Series Book 3)
Publication Date: February 24, 2025
Genre: Dark Romantasy
Series Tropes:
– Marriage of convenience
– Political intrigue
– Betrayal, secrets and lies
– Feminine rage
– Enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies
– HEA
“When you’ve known love to slip through gentle hands, you’ll grip it with teeth and claws.”
Now a queen in hiding, Rhiandra has taken refuge in the Yawn with Gwinellyn, tolerated but never truly welcomed by the princess’s new friends. Driven by a thirst for vengeance against the man who betrayed her, Rhiandra struggles to master a dangerous power that no one wants her to wield. But she must learn control, for Draven is hunting her.
When word of war between Brimordia and Oceatold reaches them, Gwinellyn can no longer stand idly by as her people suffer. Determined to reclaim her birthright, she needs Rhiandra’s help to retake the throne. But as they journey through a battle-scarred land, both women are haunted by secrets—Gwinellyn wonders if she can trust her stepmother, while Rhiandra hides truths that could shatter their fragile alliance. Many of those secrets centre on her tumultuous relationship with the man now calling himself king.
If they want to win this fight, blood and lives will not be the only price.
The epic finale of The Dark Reflection series tests the boundaries of love, power, and destiny. When lovers turn enemies and vengeance becomes obsession, the lines begin to blur between justice and tyranny. Loyalties will be tested and kingdoms will tremble as Rhiandra treads the path of redemption—but whose? And what will it cost them all?
We’re celebrating the release of The Sundered Stars with a tour, and we’re thrilled to announce that it’s now available!
The Sundered Stars (The Starborne Saga Book 1)
Publication Date: May 19, 2025
Genre: Sci-Fi Fantasy
Comps: Guardians of the Galaxy x Star Wars
Tropes & Story Elements:
🌌 Bounty hunter FMC with chronic pain
🗡️ Tattooed warrior MMC with healing magic & a kind heart
✨ Space empires at war
☄️ Magic AND energy weapons
🌌 A hunt for lost divine artifacts
🗡️ Ragtag found family you’ll adore
✨ Dislike to allies to slow burn lovers (it’s about the yearning 🤌)
☄️ Epic—if not chaotic—battles
🌌 She’s overly protective of her ship
🗡️ He falls first
Betrayal is just the beginning…
After a decade of hunting the Federation’s deadliest criminals, Mora “Mo” Cevi is done risking her life—but she needs a way out. So, when a lucrative military contract lands in her lap, she takes it despite her mistrust of the government.
Steadfast leader Ezra Lyre has dedicated sixteen years to the Federation Space Command, climbing the ranks to become one of the military’s most revered Vanguards. But when he’s assigned to protect a group of archaeologists on a remote dig, he’s confused. The Federation is at war, and he should be on the front lines, not babysitting scholars.
Mo has been fighting Ezra’s orders for days, until a group of traitors steal a treasured artifact, and he needs her to help him bring them to justice. With the Federation rejecting their concerns, they pursue the thieves on their own.
But as their manhunt tangles them in a web of dangerous conspiracies, Mo and Ezra find themselves racing to stop a threat that could destroy the Federation—if their enemies don’t destroy them first.
Hurt/Comfort (note: it’s not primarily a romance, but has a romance as a subplot later in the book)
The ice moves for no one, the trees do not answer, and the Svall obeys no master.
Selkie warrior Aalgur Thalon was born to fight in honor of the Dread One. She’s going to win the Dusk Trials, join the elite Duskingr Air Fleet, and kiss her old life as a deckhand goodbye. But when her body betrays her, Thalon is forced to give up the biggest part of her identity.
And that might just be the least of her worries.
Thalon must learn the strength of vulnerability as she faces battles she’s never trained for: Spindel Co. getting into everything and everywhere, villains in unexpected places, and worst of all, herself.
We’re proud to present the cover of The Seventh Sister by M.A. Brown. The release date for this beauty is August 6th, but you can pre-order a copy now!
The Seventh Sister
Expected Release: August 6, 2025
Genre: Epic Dark Romantasy
“Witcher & Viking Vibes”
Balance the Scales As Above So Below
When Ertha is stolen away to the dark shores of the enemy kingdom she’s thrust into a tangled web of political intrigue and deadly secrets that leaves her wondering who she can trust. The otherworldly right hand of the king, who is her keeper? Or the soldier she healed who has vowed to protect her at all costs?
When it becomes clear she wasn’t just taken by chance– that there are much more powerful entities with their hands steering her fate— she’s forced to confront that nothing is as it seems, not the men who protect her, the world she knows, or even herself.
ramblingmads 