Welcome to the tour for newly released dark fantasy, Forgotten Skye by Roz Maclaren!
Forgotten Skye (The Ruined Skye Book One) Release Date: July 17, 2026 Genre: YA Dark Fantasy
• Dramatic Scottish setting
• Forced proximity
• St@bby FMC
• Only soft for her
• Slow burn
• Enemies to lovers
• Touch him and d!€
• Zero spice / only kissing
She wants to destroy his world. He’s sent to destroy her.
Centuries after a radiation leak on the Isle of Skye wiped out thousands, the mutated survivors developed God-like powers. Led by power-hungry Queen Creyta, they’re determined to drive the few remaining humans to extinction.
Seventeen-year-old Vesper, one of the unmutated, is determined to go down fighting. Prince Hunter, the queen’s ridiculously handsome son, might just be the key to his mother’s undoing. But the closer Vesper gets to Hunter, the more she realises he’s just as trapped as she is. Now she’s torn between taking down Creyta and protecting the boy she’s grown dangerously close to.
One wrong move and she won’t just lose Hunter. She’ll lose everything.
Themes of dehumanisation, persecution and attempted eradication of a marginalised group • Hunting scenes (both of animals and humans) • Derogatory language, including body-shaming • On and off-page deaths (including of parents, children and family members) • Violence (including graphic depiction of murder, blood, threats of violence and weapon use) • Mild language
When Nancy Sullivan accepts a situation as under housemaid to the famous inventors, George and Douglas Abernathy, she is resigned to a life of domestic drudgery as the price for escaping past mistakes. Naturally bright and curious, she intends to exist quietly amongst the house’s other occupants and hide her intelligence. But fate has other ideas…
Nancy unwittingly ignites a passion in the heart of one of her masters, and becomes the inspiration for their latest project: a mechanical maid for the mass market. Matters are only further complicated when Douglas remodels the prototype maid to create Jezelle, an electric-powered girl capable of feeling every human emotion – including love.
The ensuing chain of events sends shockwaves across England and beyond, threatening to destroy everything the Abernathy family hold dear.
Emily Owen studied English Language and Literature at the University of Leeds, and completed her Masters by Research in 2018. Her debut novel The Mechanical Maestro was released in 2020, the first book in her series following the adventures of the Abernathy family and their clockwork creations. The second book in the series, The Copper Chevalier was released in 2022, followed by Mr Gearhart in 2023. She lives in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.
My thoughts: This is the last book in the Abernathy series and it brings change to the whole family, human and android.
I have really enjoyed this series, it’s a steampunk/historical/adventure and a lot of fun, the characters felt very real and I especially liked the Colonel (the Copper Chevalier himself) and Pirouette’s relationship, proving that perhaps these androids are pretty close to human.
In this final installment, Nancy accepts a position as a housemaid, despite it being a step down for her, but she needs a job, and unlike their previous maids, is made of sterner stuff, in the eccentric Abernathy household. She takes the unusual family in her stride, accepting the Colonel, Pirouette and the other mechanical members as naturally as the human ones.
Her duties aren’t too heavy and she soon finds herself assisting George in his work, her mathematical brain quickly working through the calculations he needs to develop his newest invention.
Meanwhile Douglas is harbouring a secret in his rooms and Molly might finally start planning her wedding to the ever patient Arthur.
But unfortunately for the Abernathys, anti-android sentiment is growing and as things reach a terrible head, the family may all be in danger, not least from one of George’s creations gone horribly wrong. Can they weather the storm?
There are some heart-wrenching moments as the androids and the human family members (including the staff) have to make decisions about their futures and literally fight for their lives. And as the book ends the brothers must decide whether to continue their business or go their separate ways and find new avenues.
However, the epilogue gives me hope that somewhere, in the alternate universe where the Abernathys live, they find a way to go on creating and come together as a family, a rather unusual one, but mechanical or flesh, always together.
The book is out now which means you can buy the entire series and start from the beginning or simply complete your collection.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, all opinions remain my own.
Happy release week to Kara M. Zone! Fans of the Trium Perfectum Series will love Rose and Philip’s story!
Even After (Trium Perfectum Series)
Release Date: July 20, 2026
Genre: Dark Fantasy/Romantic Fantasy
Redemption Arc
Second Chance
Mental Health rep
Portal Magic
Bad Ass FMC
Protective Heroes
Fated Bonds
Shifters
Found Family
Real-World/Fae Crossover
Philip Avery and Rose Everhart are bound by fate, their connection undeniable, their souls intertwined by something deeper.
But destiny is never simple, fate can be cruel, and love isn’t always enough.
Torn between his pack and Rose—his trium perfectum, the one person meant to balance his magic, heart, and very being. Philip walks away when his alpha demands a choice—his pack or Rose—leaving behind the one person who truly saw him.
Even after heartbreak and separation, their souls refuse to sever.
Philip and Rose must decide: Can love survive the weight of regret? And is redemption possible when the person you hurt is the one you’ve always belonged to?
The Egregious Affair of a Cold-Hearted King: The Shadowed Throne Chronicles, Book 1.5
Release Date: July 21, 2026
Genre: Romantasy/ No Spice
Tropes: cursed star-crossed lovers, elven fated mates, love as obsession vs love as rebellion, dark fantasy, fast paced, morally black mmc, pure of heart fmc, mental health awareness, she wants to die/he won’t let herm, tragic love, holiness x damnation, forbidden love
He saw salvation in her chains. She saw damnation in his eyes.
Crown Prince Azriel Faundor has learned to live by cruelty. Groomed to inherit both a throne and his father’s ruthlessness, he hides his fractured humanity behind steel and ceremony—until he discovers Nadia, a forgotten elf queen hidden beneath his castle. Her sorrow stirs compassion in him, but soon that fragile pity curdles into something darker.
What begins as mercy festers into obsession, and his version of love becomes her prison.
Trapped by prophecy and his delusion, Nadia learns that the only thing keeping her alive aside from her blessed blood is fear. She dreams of escape, of silence, of death, of freedom—but fate has other designs, and her unwilling union will give rise to the curse that damns them both.
Bound by sin, betrayal, and a love twisted into horror, this is how a king was broken, a curse was seeded, and a queen bore its beginning.
Purchase Link: Amazon Kindle Unlimited/Paperback Triggers: Rape (off-page), fade to black, mild language, fantasy violence, suicidal thoughts
Survivor meets Fear Factor in this dark romantic fantasy filled with magic, vampires, and steamy enemies to lovers.
We’re celebrating the release of Immortality Island this week and we think you’ll want to bump a few books on your summer reading list for it!
Immortality Island
Release Date: July 21, 2026
Genre: Dark Romantasy
Enemies to lovers
Forced proximity
Slow Burn
Banter
Magic
Reality Competition
Forbidden romance
Dual POV
Action and Adventure
Hunting her was meant to be easy . . . until desire got in the way.
From the creators of Spellcaster comes a thrilling new reality competition where the stakes are higher than ever . . .
Twenty human spellcasters. One deadly island. Four cutthroat vampire masters. Only one caster can make it to the end . . . and win a place in a vampire clan for eternity.
After her doctor discovers a brain tumor and gives her months to live, Joni Mullins sees winning the show as her last chance at survival.
Sterling Alder is a vampire master with a personal vendetta and a mission: destroy her. But on Immortality Island, survival isn’t just about magic—it’s about temptation, betrayal, and falling for the one person he should never want.
Welcome to Immortality Island, where contestants are literally thrown to the sharks!
We love a good audiobook and Armored Hours ticks so many boxes! Think Cable Girls meets Peaky Blinders meets Titanic!
Armored Hours (Reincarnated Souls Book One)
Release Date: July 7, 2026
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Narrators: Eric Smies & Elise Arsenault
@blush_audiobooks @tantoraudio
Historical romantasy
Girl squad
Opposite sides of the track
Loveable rogue
Prohibition era
Matchmaking mother
Dandy friends
The girls had forged a bond together like iron that could not be broken. Claudia, Kiersten, Lina, and Florian were on the brink of making history with their powerful feminist movement, but then they suddenly disappeared without a trace.
Alexander was a desperate bootlegger who was willing to risk it all to search for them. Not only were they in cahoots with him to help smuggle feminist contraband and forbidden booze, but Claudia had also unknowingly captivated his heart. He vowed to find them at any cost, but little did he know that their disappearance was part of a much bigger and sinister plot from the upper echelons of society.
Set in 1920s Paris of the Plains, Armored Hours is a thrilling tale of love and mystery interwoven with hints of magical realism.
We’re touring The Ninth Realm this week! If you’re looking for an epic romantasy with a Norse twist, this one’s for you!
The Ninth Realm (The Norse Realms Saga Book 1)
Release Date: May 21, 2026
Genre: Norse Romantasy
Lethal trials
Ruthless gods
Norse legends
Companion beasts
Star-crossed romance
Forbidden love
Bonded mates
Political intrigue
Mythological creatures
Forced proximity
A high-stakes romantasy where The Hunger Games meets Norse mythology, packed with deadly trials, dangerous intrigue, and a slow-burn romance where your greatest enemy may be your only ally.
Nine realms. One bond. No escape.
For ten thousand years, a Keeper has stood between Earth and the chaos of the Norse realms, holding back cunning gods, legendary creatures, and beautifully wicked fae. But Saga knows nothing of this until her dying father calls her home to Iceland and leaves her his title, his secrets, and a fate she can’t refuse.
She discovers she’s bound by magic to Kalen, a mysterious fae who despises her fragile humanity because when she dies, so does he. So when the Norse gods resurrect the Tournament of Realms, a brutal contest where champions fight for the role of Keeper, Saga must obey the call, and Kalen becomes wholly infested.
To survive the trials, Saga must master her fighting skills and tether with her companion beast while navigating the intrigue of the gods. Yet her greatest challenge may be resisting Kalen, who could either save her heart or shatter the world she’s fighting for because desire is as lethal as the gods’ games.
A must-read for readers who love plot twists, dangerous trials, Norse legends, companion beasts, and star-crossed romance. Perfect for fans of Demi Winters and Danielle Jensen.
Hunted (The Giving Chronicles #2) Reluctant allies to lovers Only one bed “I’ll protect you” Only one horse Wound tending Fated mates Slow burn (but it pays off) Groveling Touch her and dîé (and he means it)
Nothing is as it seems.
The Giving Season has ended, but the onset of winter hasn’t brought Wren peace. The king is still after her, and he has more reason than ever to want her dead. In possession of magic she shouldn’t have, she’s desperate to flee the capital.
And there’s just one person who can help her: Gabriel Moreau, the Hunter who chased Wren across the country, duty-bound to bring her to justice. Forced to make the most difficult decision he’s ever faced, Gabriel chooses to break his oath and vows anew to protect Wren. Now, he too will be hunted.
Together, Wren and Gabriel race across the kingdom to escape the king’s wrath. But the cost of safety is steep, and life on the run is more dangerous than ever. Even with the Hunter by her side, their bond growing stronger with each obstacle, Wren is all too aware that everything, especially the notion of safety, is a lie.
We’re thrilled to share The Bounty of Blood and Nails by N.K. Brown this week and we have a deluxe special edition to give away too!
The Bounty of Blood and Nails (The Devil’s Huntress Book 1)
Release Date: March 2026
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Feminine Rage
Morally Grey Characters
Dark magic
Forbidden magic
Grumpy x Sunshine
Love Triangles
Spicy Romance
Hidden Villains
Tam is a heartless, ruthless bounty hunter—or so her handler would have you believe.
With her ability to use forbidden blood magic, Tam tracks and captures her prey. The same blood magic that curses her to a life of servitude under a cruel handler—one wrong move and not only her life, but her family’s will be at stake. But when she’s sent to a remote, superstitious northern town where even a glimmer of magic will send you to the gallows, she’s forced to confront the darker consequences of her work.
After the murder of her bounty, innocent townspeople are blamed—and Tam’s conscience begins to stir. But there’s no turning back. Her handler raises the stakes, and her next mission is even more dangerous: infiltrate the royal castle and capture the enigmatic Prince Bellinor. Disguised as a maid, Tam is drawn into a world of deadly secrets, where her words are whispered into the prince’s ears through an ancient magic she’s never faced before.
To get close to the prince, she befriends his loyal bodyguard, Clement, but the deeper she digs, the more she realizes that Clement’s destiny is tied to the prince. With time running out and the castle tightening, Tam is forced to watch the trial of the people blamed for her own prior actions. But will she complete the mission—or risk it all as she falls in love with the person whose life she must destroy?
In this fast-paced, thrilling tale of magic, betrayal, and forbidden love, Tam will have to decide if being the bad guy is worth losing everything.
We have a fantastic series rec for your summer reading list today!
We’re also gifting one lucky reader a paperback copy of both When Gods Fall AND When Sisters Collide!
The Gifts of the Gods Series by S.E. Bouvier
Series Tropes:
– New Adult
– Epic romantic fantasy
– Multi POV
– Found family + sisterhood
– Greek, Etruscan and Celtic mythology
– Strong FMCs
– Tattoo-based magic system
– Reluctant allies to lovers
– Morally grey men
– Slow burn to spice
– Emotional damage
Fans of Throne of Glass, An Ember in the Ashes, and The Ashen series will be swept into this epic romantic fantasy set in a brutal world inspired by Greek and Roman mythology. Perfect for readers craving high-stakes, strong female heroines, elemental magic, emotional angst, and slow burn romance.
Please note the series is New Adult and contains moderate steam/spice, some violence, language, and mature situations. Recommended for ages sixteen and up.
Triggers: explicit language, mature sexual situations, physical violence, death, drug addiction, slavery of adults and children, mentions of sexual assault, threats of sexual violence
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