What do you think?
Rate this book
Blackout: A new adult fantasy romance
He’s the sunBen never wanted to be king.He’s the spare, and his brother is the heir—until now.When the crown is thrust upon him, Ben reluctantly moves back to his home court—putting his playboy lifestyle on hold. The upside? Matching wits with Joey Lane, the green witch overseeing the family winery.Dark secrets swirl in Joey’s eyes, and Ben makes it his mission to uncover them.She’s the moonJoey never wanted to be a black witch.After witnessing her sister’s sacrificial murder, Joey is in disguise and on the run from a coven that wants to claim her powerful magic.Hiding in a dragon-shifter court until she can avenge her sister’s death, the last thing Joey needs is a distraction—especially one as tempting as Bennet Mountcastle. But he makes her remember what it’s like to want more than revenge.With the coven closing in, will Joey learn to trust her heart or will she lose her true love and her freedom forever?Blackout is an 18+ new adult romantic fantasy with forbidden love, hidden powers, dual POV, and an HEA. It’s the first in a series of standalone linked novels in the Men of the Queen’s Court series, which builds on the alternate world and characters of the original Queen’s Court series. You don’t have to read the original series to enjoy this one.Content There are themes of grief over loss of a sibling. There are also scenes featuring spiders.
317 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 16, 2023
9 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Wanda Swan
12 books42 followersWanda Swan is an Amazon #1 bestselling author of fantasy romance where love and passion meet murder and mayhem. She pits imperfect heroines against the odds where they must combat internal demons and external chaos to find themselves, their perfect match, and their happily ever after!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
November 17, 2023
3.5 Stars
Wow! What a world Swan has built. Im pretty sure this is a companion novel to another one of her series, so I felt like the world building was lacking. The world building you do get to see is unique and I loved the Winery element! A winery in a fantastical world was such a fun read!
I’m usually not the biggest fan of witches, but I really liked how the magic was written and how the FMC interacted with it. The choices she was forced to make contrasted nicely with the actions she took.
I also really liked that the dragons within the royal line are a separate “entity”, but don’t manifest into the dragon when the royals shift. Kinda like an inner dragon? Does that make any sense? Anyways… I thought it was unique.
As for the romance. I wasn’t the biggest fan, I really believe in ‘show not tell’. There really wasn’t any reason for me to believe that they loved each other, as the entire story was built on physical attraction (don’t get me wrong, that element was great). I’ve read books where this is the case, but there is an inciting incident at the end where it flips your belief. I think that the potential for each character was there, but felt like their relationship needed some more time and hardships, or lean into the fated mates trope. Which is not the intent, but feels like it would benefit from being so.
Overall this was a fun and quick read. If you want to enjoy the world, I definitely recommend reading her other series first as it is built in the same world and has returning characters (assuming that the world is built upon more in it). They have been added to my TBR!
Thank you @wandaswan for trusting me with an arc!
Wow! What a world Swan has built. Im pretty sure this is a companion novel to another one of her series, so I felt like the world building was lacking. The world building you do get to see is unique and I loved the Winery element! A winery in a fantastical world was such a fun read!
I’m usually not the biggest fan of witches, but I really liked how the magic was written and how the FMC interacted with it. The choices she was forced to make contrasted nicely with the actions she took.
I also really liked that the dragons within the royal line are a separate “entity”, but don’t manifest into the dragon when the royals shift. Kinda like an inner dragon? Does that make any sense? Anyways… I thought it was unique.
As for the romance. I wasn’t the biggest fan, I really believe in ‘show not tell’. There really wasn’t any reason for me to believe that they loved each other, as the entire story was built on physical attraction (don’t get me wrong, that element was great). I’ve read books where this is the case, but there is an inciting incident at the end where it flips your belief. I think that the potential for each character was there, but felt like their relationship needed some more time and hardships, or lean into the fated mates trope. Which is not the intent, but feels like it would benefit from being so.
Overall this was a fun and quick read. If you want to enjoy the world, I definitely recommend reading her other series first as it is built in the same world and has returning characters (assuming that the world is built upon more in it). They have been added to my TBR!
Thank you @wandaswan for trusting me with an arc!
November 1, 2023
I received this book from Wanda Swan as an ARC. This is my honest review of this outstanding book.
I recently read this captivating book that seamlessly weaved the worlds of witches and dragon shifters, creating a spellbinding narrative that had me hooked within the first five chapters. “Blackout" is a thrilling tale of love, magic, and destiny that I simply couldn't put down.
One of the standout features of this novel is its dual point of view, allowing readers to delve into the thoughts and emotions of both the witch, Joey, and the dragon shifter, Ben. This narrative choice added depth to the characters and brought their unique perspectives to life.
The author's vivid descriptions painted a vivid picture of the magical landscapes, and I found myself fully immersed in this enchanting realm. The plot is expertly paced, offering a mix of action, romance, and intrigue that keeps you on the edge of your seat. This is a hard book to put down!
In "Blackout” the Wanda Swan crafts a story that ignites the imagination and captures your heart. It's a must-read for anyone who craves a spellbinding romance with a dash of the supernatural. This book left me eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series, and I can't recommend it enough.
I recently read this captivating book that seamlessly weaved the worlds of witches and dragon shifters, creating a spellbinding narrative that had me hooked within the first five chapters. “Blackout" is a thrilling tale of love, magic, and destiny that I simply couldn't put down.
One of the standout features of this novel is its dual point of view, allowing readers to delve into the thoughts and emotions of both the witch, Joey, and the dragon shifter, Ben. This narrative choice added depth to the characters and brought their unique perspectives to life.
The author's vivid descriptions painted a vivid picture of the magical landscapes, and I found myself fully immersed in this enchanting realm. The plot is expertly paced, offering a mix of action, romance, and intrigue that keeps you on the edge of your seat. This is a hard book to put down!
In "Blackout” the Wanda Swan crafts a story that ignites the imagination and captures your heart. It's a must-read for anyone who craves a spellbinding romance with a dash of the supernatural. This book left me eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series, and I can't recommend it enough.
November 16, 2023
*ARC Review* 🔅 𝑩𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒃𝒚 𝑾𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂 𝑺𝒘𝒂𝒏
Genre: Supernatural Fantasy Romance
Pub date: Nov 16, 2023
Rating: 2.5🌟
𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲:
He’s the sun. She’s the moon.
Ben never wanted to be king. He’s the spare, and his brother the heir - until now. When the crown is thrust upon him, Ben reluctantly moves back to his home court - putting his playboy lifestyle on hold. The upside? Matching wits with Joey Lane, the green witch overseeing the family winery. Dark secrets swirl in Joey’s eyes, and Ben makes it his mission to uncover them.
Joey never wanted to be a black witch. After witnessing her sister’s sacrificial murder, Joey is in disguise and on the run from a coven that wants to claim her powerful magic. Hiding in a dragon-shifter court until she can avenge her sister’s death, the last thing Joey needs is a distraction - especially one as tempting as Bennett Mountcastle. But he makes her remember what it’s like to want more than revenge. With the coven closing in, will Joey learn to trust her heart or will she lose her true love and her freedom forever?
𝐌𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
Thank you to Wanda Swan for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC!
While the premise of this novel was intriguing, I found it extremely hard to follow at the beginning. It took me 11 chapters to figure out that the main story took place off-Earth and that Bennett was a dragon-shifter. I had to go back and re-read the first few chapters multiple times to see if I missed the part where we were given the lay of the land, so to speak. This book is the first in The Men of Queen’s Court series, that apparently builds on the alternate world and characters of the original Queen’s Court series by Wanda Swan. It says that you don’t need to read the original series to enjoy this one, however as someone who was introduced to this world with Blackout, I would strongly disagree. There was a lot of world-building and contextual information missing that (I hope) I would have learned from the original series.
Once I got my footing and figured out the setting and background information, I did actually start to enjoy it. The banter between Bennett and Joey was fun and flirty and they did seem to have a genuine, yet superficial connection. That said, I felt like their relationship was extremely rushed. This novel is 317 Kindle pages and toward the end, I found myself wishing it was longer so there could have been more of a natural relationship progression. We read about their attraction to each other but I never felt it the way I wanted to. I’d never wish for a book to be longer than it needs to be, but with this one I think it could have used some more detail so we as readers were able to get more invested in the world and the characters.
Overall, a decent read if you’re into:
•forbidden love
•hidden powers
•dual POV
•supernatural fantasy romance
⚠️Potential trigger warning:
•human sacrifice
•loss of a sibling
Genre: Supernatural Fantasy Romance
Pub date: Nov 16, 2023
Rating: 2.5🌟
𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲:
He’s the sun. She’s the moon.
Ben never wanted to be king. He’s the spare, and his brother the heir - until now. When the crown is thrust upon him, Ben reluctantly moves back to his home court - putting his playboy lifestyle on hold. The upside? Matching wits with Joey Lane, the green witch overseeing the family winery. Dark secrets swirl in Joey’s eyes, and Ben makes it his mission to uncover them.
Joey never wanted to be a black witch. After witnessing her sister’s sacrificial murder, Joey is in disguise and on the run from a coven that wants to claim her powerful magic. Hiding in a dragon-shifter court until she can avenge her sister’s death, the last thing Joey needs is a distraction - especially one as tempting as Bennett Mountcastle. But he makes her remember what it’s like to want more than revenge. With the coven closing in, will Joey learn to trust her heart or will she lose her true love and her freedom forever?
𝐌𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
Thank you to Wanda Swan for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC!
While the premise of this novel was intriguing, I found it extremely hard to follow at the beginning. It took me 11 chapters to figure out that the main story took place off-Earth and that Bennett was a dragon-shifter. I had to go back and re-read the first few chapters multiple times to see if I missed the part where we were given the lay of the land, so to speak. This book is the first in The Men of Queen’s Court series, that apparently builds on the alternate world and characters of the original Queen’s Court series by Wanda Swan. It says that you don’t need to read the original series to enjoy this one, however as someone who was introduced to this world with Blackout, I would strongly disagree. There was a lot of world-building and contextual information missing that (I hope) I would have learned from the original series.
Once I got my footing and figured out the setting and background information, I did actually start to enjoy it. The banter between Bennett and Joey was fun and flirty and they did seem to have a genuine, yet superficial connection. That said, I felt like their relationship was extremely rushed. This novel is 317 Kindle pages and toward the end, I found myself wishing it was longer so there could have been more of a natural relationship progression. We read about their attraction to each other but I never felt it the way I wanted to. I’d never wish for a book to be longer than it needs to be, but with this one I think it could have used some more detail so we as readers were able to get more invested in the world and the characters.
Overall, a decent read if you’re into:
•forbidden love
•hidden powers
•dual POV
•supernatural fantasy romance
⚠️Potential trigger warning:
•human sacrifice
•loss of a sibling
November 16, 2023
I received an ARC for an honest review of this story. This is my first time reading any book by Wanda Swan. There are other stories set in the same universe as this book, with character overlap, but you do not need to have read them to enjoy this story.
This is my honest review without giving away spoilers.
The overall setting of this story is both in our world, and not. A layered dimension approach that has characters with specific abilities able to travel back and forth between the different worlds. You’ll hear mention of Australia and North Carolina, but also kingdoms that exist in a different land. It’s a tricky approach to fantasy worlds, but I like the authors approach of weaving in details of the worlds and of magic as the story goes. A large into dump in not needed, though I do have many questions still. Especially around the politics of these other known worlds by humans on Earth. But that’s not the focus of the story.
I thought the characters were enjoyable. I liked the clash/combination of Joey’s scientific, factual approach to life compared to Ben’s more hopeful, more romantic approach. I usually see the opposite in FMCs and MMCs. Joeys main driving force behind so many of her choices is tragic and heartbreaking, but it’s hard to resist a charming personality like Ben, especially when he’s being genuine and not putting on king or playboy act.
The magic system has a lot of potential for more building, future development, and interesting new characters. I’d like to learn more about the system, how witches, dragons, and other species all exist together, so I’m hoping that comes with later books, because it has my attention.
My main issue is that the ending felt a bit rushed, everything happened and changed so fast. I understand keeping a book from getting too long, but another chapter or so might have made a difference. Otherwise, the pacing through the rest of the story was great, it moved things along nicely while keeping me engaged with the characters.
As someone who works in the industry of wine, the setting of the story and the vineyard instantly caught my attention. I actually really enjoyed the bits of wine making information sprinkled in throughout the book. The grape harvest scene sounded a lot more interesting than the grape harvesting I’ve been to. I’d like an invitation to that party, please!
There were some editing errors and different name variations presented for the main character, but that could be easily fixed before release.
I rate books based on how they make me feel, how easy it is to get lost in the characters and chapters and stay on that world while I’m reading.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have already downloaded the first book in another series the author writes.
Overall this is an enjoyable, fun read and I would recommend it to fans of adult romantasy. It has a dual POV, HEA, and the first in standalone linked novels. Trigger warnings for spiders and grief over sibling loss.
This is my honest review without giving away spoilers.
The overall setting of this story is both in our world, and not. A layered dimension approach that has characters with specific abilities able to travel back and forth between the different worlds. You’ll hear mention of Australia and North Carolina, but also kingdoms that exist in a different land. It’s a tricky approach to fantasy worlds, but I like the authors approach of weaving in details of the worlds and of magic as the story goes. A large into dump in not needed, though I do have many questions still. Especially around the politics of these other known worlds by humans on Earth. But that’s not the focus of the story.
I thought the characters were enjoyable. I liked the clash/combination of Joey’s scientific, factual approach to life compared to Ben’s more hopeful, more romantic approach. I usually see the opposite in FMCs and MMCs. Joeys main driving force behind so many of her choices is tragic and heartbreaking, but it’s hard to resist a charming personality like Ben, especially when he’s being genuine and not putting on king or playboy act.
The magic system has a lot of potential for more building, future development, and interesting new characters. I’d like to learn more about the system, how witches, dragons, and other species all exist together, so I’m hoping that comes with later books, because it has my attention.
My main issue is that the ending felt a bit rushed, everything happened and changed so fast. I understand keeping a book from getting too long, but another chapter or so might have made a difference. Otherwise, the pacing through the rest of the story was great, it moved things along nicely while keeping me engaged with the characters.
As someone who works in the industry of wine, the setting of the story and the vineyard instantly caught my attention. I actually really enjoyed the bits of wine making information sprinkled in throughout the book. The grape harvest scene sounded a lot more interesting than the grape harvesting I’ve been to. I’d like an invitation to that party, please!
There were some editing errors and different name variations presented for the main character, but that could be easily fixed before release.
I rate books based on how they make me feel, how easy it is to get lost in the characters and chapters and stay on that world while I’m reading.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have already downloaded the first book in another series the author writes.
Overall this is an enjoyable, fun read and I would recommend it to fans of adult romantasy. It has a dual POV, HEA, and the first in standalone linked novels. Trigger warnings for spiders and grief over sibling loss.
November 4, 2023
Full disclosure - I received an e-ARC of Blackout (Men of the Queen's Court, Book One) from the author, Wanda Swan, in exchange for an honest review.
Starting off fast and easy for those who simply flip through reviews: Excellent story, high quality writing, four & a half stars. Trigger warning (as stated by the author) for "themes of grief due to loss of a sibling" and "spiders."
Blackout is a romantasy novel featuring two main characters and a dual point-of-view narrative. Josephine, a black witch on the run, and Bennet, a dragon shifter prince-cum-reluctant interim King, find themselves stuck together for a year and attempt to handle their growing attraction to one another. While their undeniable desires create the perfect foundation for a spicy new relationship, the dark secrets on both sides threaten to destroy it.
Having never read any of Wanda Swan's previous works, I went into my reading relatively blind. Despite the trigger warning at the start of the book, the end of the first chapter was a bit of a shock to me... but also gripping enough that I couldn't put my tablet down. The personalities of, and interactions between, our two MCs and those they pal around with are entertaining and relatable. Bennet is an interesting and direct character, and Josephine is intelligent enough to more than stand her own against him. The descriptions in the book are very well written, and I quite enjoyed the way that the author brought science into the dialogue (from Josephine). It felt entirely natural. The plot is solid, with enough unknowns to keep you reading, and gets tied up nicely by the end. Blackout moves along at a nice pace, making it quite bingeable.
There are a few issues in the novel, mostly with proofreading and editing. Inconsistencies with Josephine's last name (Blackstone vs. Blackstock) start to appear near the end of the book and the editing becomes a bit more spotty. This was, however, an early copy of the book. I expect that by publication these problems will likely have been cleaned up.
Overall my experience was entirely positive and I'd easily give the book four & a half stars. I'll be keeping an eye out for future books in the series, and I've already picked up one of the author's other books on my Kindle. I am also highly tempted to pick up a physical version of the book - the cover is quite lovely.
If you are a lover of romantasy novels, definitely check out Blackout. Fun, sexy, and high stakes - I have no doubt it will hit the spot.
Tropes:
-shifters
-witches
-royalty (somewhat downplayed)
-stuck together
-playboy in love
-impossible love
-disguise
-dark secrets
-emotional scars
-redemption
-fantasy
-dual pov
-hea
Starting off fast and easy for those who simply flip through reviews: Excellent story, high quality writing, four & a half stars. Trigger warning (as stated by the author) for "themes of grief due to loss of a sibling" and "spiders."
Blackout is a romantasy novel featuring two main characters and a dual point-of-view narrative. Josephine, a black witch on the run, and Bennet, a dragon shifter prince-cum-reluctant interim King, find themselves stuck together for a year and attempt to handle their growing attraction to one another. While their undeniable desires create the perfect foundation for a spicy new relationship, the dark secrets on both sides threaten to destroy it.
Having never read any of Wanda Swan's previous works, I went into my reading relatively blind. Despite the trigger warning at the start of the book, the end of the first chapter was a bit of a shock to me... but also gripping enough that I couldn't put my tablet down. The personalities of, and interactions between, our two MCs and those they pal around with are entertaining and relatable. Bennet is an interesting and direct character, and Josephine is intelligent enough to more than stand her own against him. The descriptions in the book are very well written, and I quite enjoyed the way that the author brought science into the dialogue (from Josephine). It felt entirely natural. The plot is solid, with enough unknowns to keep you reading, and gets tied up nicely by the end. Blackout moves along at a nice pace, making it quite bingeable.
There are a few issues in the novel, mostly with proofreading and editing. Inconsistencies with Josephine's last name (Blackstone vs. Blackstock) start to appear near the end of the book and the editing becomes a bit more spotty. This was, however, an early copy of the book. I expect that by publication these problems will likely have been cleaned up.
Overall my experience was entirely positive and I'd easily give the book four & a half stars. I'll be keeping an eye out for future books in the series, and I've already picked up one of the author's other books on my Kindle. I am also highly tempted to pick up a physical version of the book - the cover is quite lovely.
If you are a lover of romantasy novels, definitely check out Blackout. Fun, sexy, and high stakes - I have no doubt it will hit the spot.
Tropes:
-shifters
-witches
-royalty (somewhat downplayed)
-stuck together
-playboy in love
-impossible love
-disguise
-dark secrets
-emotional scars
-redemption
-fantasy
-dual pov
-hea
November 15, 2023
*** SPOILERS! (I’ve tried to keep them minimal) ***
WOW!
I received this book as an ARC copy. This was my first ever ARC!
I’ve just finished the book and all I can say is WOW.
I can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoyed every single page of this book.
I love to concept of sun & moon. At first you think this refers to the light in Ben & the darkness in Joey, but for me with was deeper. The sun & the moon are so parallel, but they need each other. The moon only shines by the suns light. And that’s exactly what I’ve found the dynamic to mirror.
Let’s talk writing. I absolutely loved Wanda’s writing style in this book. Although it was a dual POV, she made it very easy to follow, even if you happened to skim over who she indicated was narrating that chapter (I do this far too often LOL). I found this book to be really easy to read, despite this being a fantasy romance. Fantasy, specifically in the first novels of series, tend to focus on lots of world building, character building & describing powers/rules of the lands. Although very descriptive, I had no problem building the worlds in my head and following along in each chapter. I found the gaps between chapters were very small and they transitioned into each other almost seamlessly. Overall, really great writing that kept me coming back for more, again and again.
Okay, let’s talk plot. With romance books, I like to look at 2 separate plots; love interest & driving force. I think Wanda did a spectacular job working the romance plot & giving us some unexpected turns. I also feel the same about the overall storyline plot. Some things I felt were predictable, but I REALLY wanted those predicted things to happen, so I am very happy! I felt there was a good balance between progressing the story & progressing the romance.
Now for the exciting part; THE SPICE! so, let it be known that I am VERY new to spice & I would very much classify myself as a “vanilla reader”. That being said. OH. MY!! When I say I DEVOURED the spicy chapters! I mean, she gave us chapter long spice. And frequent & tastefully descriptive. Oh, did I mention a little hint of praise? Obsessed!
All in all, I 100% recommend this read. I really enjoyed it, so much so that I can’t wait to get my physical copy. Can’t wait to see what happens next in this series !!!
Thank you again Wanda for the ARC!
WOW!
I received this book as an ARC copy. This was my first ever ARC!
I’ve just finished the book and all I can say is WOW.
I can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoyed every single page of this book.
I love to concept of sun & moon. At first you think this refers to the light in Ben & the darkness in Joey, but for me with was deeper. The sun & the moon are so parallel, but they need each other. The moon only shines by the suns light. And that’s exactly what I’ve found the dynamic to mirror.
Let’s talk writing. I absolutely loved Wanda’s writing style in this book. Although it was a dual POV, she made it very easy to follow, even if you happened to skim over who she indicated was narrating that chapter (I do this far too often LOL). I found this book to be really easy to read, despite this being a fantasy romance. Fantasy, specifically in the first novels of series, tend to focus on lots of world building, character building & describing powers/rules of the lands. Although very descriptive, I had no problem building the worlds in my head and following along in each chapter. I found the gaps between chapters were very small and they transitioned into each other almost seamlessly. Overall, really great writing that kept me coming back for more, again and again.
Okay, let’s talk plot. With romance books, I like to look at 2 separate plots; love interest & driving force. I think Wanda did a spectacular job working the romance plot & giving us some unexpected turns. I also feel the same about the overall storyline plot. Some things I felt were predictable, but I REALLY wanted those predicted things to happen, so I am very happy! I felt there was a good balance between progressing the story & progressing the romance.
Now for the exciting part; THE SPICE! so, let it be known that I am VERY new to spice & I would very much classify myself as a “vanilla reader”. That being said. OH. MY!! When I say I DEVOURED the spicy chapters! I mean, she gave us chapter long spice. And frequent & tastefully descriptive. Oh, did I mention a little hint of praise? Obsessed!
All in all, I 100% recommend this read. I really enjoyed it, so much so that I can’t wait to get my physical copy. Can’t wait to see what happens next in this series !!!
Thank you again Wanda for the ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2023
ARC Review - Blackout by Wanda Swan - Young Adult Supernatural Fantasy Romance
Summary:
Ben, a cocky Prince Dragon Shifter forced to move back home to take the throne and give up his carefree playboy lifestyle. Joey, a coveted Black Witch on the run in disguise as a Green Witch winemaker on the castle grounds. Both of them carry a dark secret from their past that they try to hide even as they fall for each other.
My Review:
I’ve never read Wanda Swan's previous series so this was my first time delving into her fantasy universe.
Ben and Joey were so fun to read. Their relationship and chemistry were practical and not forced. With both of them so similar and so different it was exciting to see how they both interacted with each other and the world around them.
The world description was often rich like the wine described in the book. I could taste and smell each description whether it was the early morning vineyards, sweet wine and cheeses, or the smell of the dusty cellar. The vibes were definitely there and I found myself itching for a glass of wine to sip while reading.
The pacing was great, I only wish there were more smaller moments to read about Ben and Joey and see how their relationship really formed behind the scenes. The ending felt a little rushed and I would have loved more breathing time between the big events.
I enjoyed the bubble of forced proximity between the two MCs as well as the heavy stakes between Joey’s secret coming out. I was heavily invested in the outcome and how it would affect the two and their lives!
I had trouble with world-building in this book. Because this series is connected to her previous one there are a lot of things that aren't explained that should be. I feel like It relies heavily on worldbuilding from the previous series even though it’s insinuated that you can read this as a standalone series. In this book, there are spoilers and moments that would probably mean more if you had read the previous series first.
However, I was pleasantly surprised with this book and believe I will pick up more in Wanda Swan's other series! Including a physical copy of Blackout because the cover is just beautiful!
Perfect YA Romatasy Novel for fans of:
Light ‘enemies-to-lovers’
Forbidden Love
Heavy Spice
Secret Pasts and Hidden Lives
Heavy Stakes
Dual POV
Summary:
Ben, a cocky Prince Dragon Shifter forced to move back home to take the throne and give up his carefree playboy lifestyle. Joey, a coveted Black Witch on the run in disguise as a Green Witch winemaker on the castle grounds. Both of them carry a dark secret from their past that they try to hide even as they fall for each other.
My Review:
I’ve never read Wanda Swan's previous series so this was my first time delving into her fantasy universe.
Ben and Joey were so fun to read. Their relationship and chemistry were practical and not forced. With both of them so similar and so different it was exciting to see how they both interacted with each other and the world around them.
The world description was often rich like the wine described in the book. I could taste and smell each description whether it was the early morning vineyards, sweet wine and cheeses, or the smell of the dusty cellar. The vibes were definitely there and I found myself itching for a glass of wine to sip while reading.
The pacing was great, I only wish there were more smaller moments to read about Ben and Joey and see how their relationship really formed behind the scenes. The ending felt a little rushed and I would have loved more breathing time between the big events.
I enjoyed the bubble of forced proximity between the two MCs as well as the heavy stakes between Joey’s secret coming out. I was heavily invested in the outcome and how it would affect the two and their lives!
I had trouble with world-building in this book. Because this series is connected to her previous one there are a lot of things that aren't explained that should be. I feel like It relies heavily on worldbuilding from the previous series even though it’s insinuated that you can read this as a standalone series. In this book, there are spoilers and moments that would probably mean more if you had read the previous series first.
However, I was pleasantly surprised with this book and believe I will pick up more in Wanda Swan's other series! Including a physical copy of Blackout because the cover is just beautiful!
Perfect YA Romatasy Novel for fans of:
Light ‘enemies-to-lovers’
Forbidden Love
Heavy Spice
Secret Pasts and Hidden Lives
Heavy Stakes
Dual POV
November 16, 2023
Blackout - ⭐️ 3.5/5 🌶️ 3.5/5
My first ever ARC read!!! I’d first like to thank @wandaswanauthor for graciously selecting me to be a part of ARC reader team. The opportunity is greatly appreciated as I am always interested in a brilliant spicy fantasy romance novel!!!
BLACKOUT IS OUT TODAY!!!! (book 1 from the Men of the Queen’s Court series + you NEED to read that extra bonus spicy scene *chefs kiss*)
Tropes:
fantasy romance + forbidden love
hidden powers
forced proximity
dual pov
HEA
T/W:
grief, spiders
~ spoilers ahead ~
The literal beginning of this book with the sacrificial murder got me because what the actual fuck??? That did not just happen in the first 13 pages of reading! Joey’s venture of leaving her aunt’s home after losing her sister was extremely tough. To reinvent and rebuild yourself after a traumatic event and while having a bounty on your head by the coven looking for you??? BRUH. This poor girl! So she ends up working for a wealthy winery and becomes the right hand lady.. but the people who own this winery??? Yeah they are basically royalty and run the land she is currently living in. The winery is located by the castle and this is where we meet Bennet aka the dragon shifter. He made a deal to be the ruler for a year while his father goes on vacation and his older brother is helping his wife rule part of her land. ANYWAY, since Joey and Ben are forced to basically be together they end up having built up sexual tension and feelings develop. Long story short, they end up having mind blowing sex and start developing feelings for one another. But Joey is still hiding her secret of being a witch, well a black magic witch. Reading how the story later unfolded with Joey confessing her secret to Ben learning to step up in being a leader to accepting his feelings for Joey was a wild rollercoaster! Like Ben claimed his love and literally marked our girl Joey. It was an absolute fun read which brought back memories of my first ever books I read way back when. Again, grateful to have ARC read this book. Thanks Wanda! <3
Fave line: “But make no mistake, I don’t need it. If I’m forced to choose, I will choose her. Every. Single. Time.”
My first ever ARC read!!! I’d first like to thank @wandaswanauthor for graciously selecting me to be a part of ARC reader team. The opportunity is greatly appreciated as I am always interested in a brilliant spicy fantasy romance novel!!!
BLACKOUT IS OUT TODAY!!!! (book 1 from the Men of the Queen’s Court series + you NEED to read that extra bonus spicy scene *chefs kiss*)
Tropes:
fantasy romance + forbidden love
hidden powers
forced proximity
dual pov
HEA
T/W:
grief, spiders
~ spoilers ahead ~
The literal beginning of this book with the sacrificial murder got me because what the actual fuck??? That did not just happen in the first 13 pages of reading! Joey’s venture of leaving her aunt’s home after losing her sister was extremely tough. To reinvent and rebuild yourself after a traumatic event and while having a bounty on your head by the coven looking for you??? BRUH. This poor girl! So she ends up working for a wealthy winery and becomes the right hand lady.. but the people who own this winery??? Yeah they are basically royalty and run the land she is currently living in. The winery is located by the castle and this is where we meet Bennet aka the dragon shifter. He made a deal to be the ruler for a year while his father goes on vacation and his older brother is helping his wife rule part of her land. ANYWAY, since Joey and Ben are forced to basically be together they end up having built up sexual tension and feelings develop. Long story short, they end up having mind blowing sex and start developing feelings for one another. But Joey is still hiding her secret of being a witch, well a black magic witch. Reading how the story later unfolded with Joey confessing her secret to Ben learning to step up in being a leader to accepting his feelings for Joey was a wild rollercoaster! Like Ben claimed his love and literally marked our girl Joey. It was an absolute fun read which brought back memories of my first ever books I read way back when. Again, grateful to have ARC read this book. Thanks Wanda! <3
Fave line: “But make no mistake, I don’t need it. If I’m forced to choose, I will choose her. Every. Single. Time.”
October 30, 2023
Wanda Swan has given me the opportunity to read an ARC copy of her new book Men Of The Queen’s Court Blackout. Here’s my honest review;
Blackout is the story of Ben & Josephine, a black witch on the run from a coven of evil witches trying to tie her down. A dragon shifter who has to step up and become king to his father’s kingdom, something he never wanted in the first place.
Blurb; He's the sun, Ben never wanted to be king. He's the spare, and his brother is the heir—until now.
When the crown is thrust upon him, Ben reluctantly moves back to his home court— putting his playboy lifestyle on hold. The upside?
Matching wits with Joey Lane, the green witch overseeing the family winery. Dark secrets swirl in Joey's eyes, and Ben makes it his mission to uncover them. She's the moon, Joey never wanted to be a black witch. After witnessing her sister's sacrificial murder, Joey is in disguise and on the run from a coven that wants to claim her powerful magic. Hiding in a dragon-shifter court until she can avenge her sister's death, the last thing Joey needs is a distraction—especially one as tempting as Bennet Mountcastle. But he makes her remember what it's like to want more than revenge. With the coven closing in, will Joey learn to trust her heart or will she lose her true love and her freedom forever?
This story was amazing and i cannot wait to have my own physical copy sitting pretty on my shelf. Blackout will definitely be a book i will reread one day. Everything about this book was great, from character/character development, descriptions and details, the spice and lastly but not least the plot. To everyone who loves romantsy you should definitely add Blackout to your TBR and read it when it comes out you won’t regret it.
Tropes;
Learning to trust
Forbidden love
Green witch with hidden powers
Forced proximity
Dragon shifter
Dual POV
4⭐️
2🌶️
Blackout is the story of Ben & Josephine, a black witch on the run from a coven of evil witches trying to tie her down. A dragon shifter who has to step up and become king to his father’s kingdom, something he never wanted in the first place.
Blurb; He's the sun, Ben never wanted to be king. He's the spare, and his brother is the heir—until now.
When the crown is thrust upon him, Ben reluctantly moves back to his home court— putting his playboy lifestyle on hold. The upside?
Matching wits with Joey Lane, the green witch overseeing the family winery. Dark secrets swirl in Joey's eyes, and Ben makes it his mission to uncover them. She's the moon, Joey never wanted to be a black witch. After witnessing her sister's sacrificial murder, Joey is in disguise and on the run from a coven that wants to claim her powerful magic. Hiding in a dragon-shifter court until she can avenge her sister's death, the last thing Joey needs is a distraction—especially one as tempting as Bennet Mountcastle. But he makes her remember what it's like to want more than revenge. With the coven closing in, will Joey learn to trust her heart or will she lose her true love and her freedom forever?
This story was amazing and i cannot wait to have my own physical copy sitting pretty on my shelf. Blackout will definitely be a book i will reread one day. Everything about this book was great, from character/character development, descriptions and details, the spice and lastly but not least the plot. To everyone who loves romantsy you should definitely add Blackout to your TBR and read it when it comes out you won’t regret it.
Tropes;
Learning to trust
Forbidden love
Green witch with hidden powers
Forced proximity
Dragon shifter
Dual POV
4⭐️
2🌶️
November 5, 2023
Rcvd an advanced reader copy from the author for giving my two cents. We meet Josephine, a 16 year old Witch who witnessed her aunt ruby sacrifice her 13 year old sister in the name of black magic...her aunt just sealed her fate...and now the coven will own her and her magic. Not gonna happen. Josephine escapes that horrible night and starts a life on the run. She was able to mask her magic anf change her appearance to keep her safe, except the queen of avalon tricked her into helping her. Josephine then faked her own death and found odd jobs. She fell in love with wine making and when queen mountcastle offers her a job as her assitant at her winery, this is the chance to stay hidden. What she didn't count on was the sexy prince Bennett and his swagger. Bennett is not happy. His parents and sister are going on a long vacation and hos brother is giving up thr throne for a year...so now Ben had to be thr intern king...ugh. not hos idea of fun. But when he meets the sassy scarecrow Joey all bets are off. There is smtg about her that has her hooked. Maybe being intern king won't be so bad. Bennett feels like a failure due to past mistakes that hos dad or brother won't let him live it down. Josie had been seeing messages in the mirrors warning her. She has been found or trying to be flushed out by black witches. She doesn't want anyone to get hurt esp Bennett. She has falled for his dragon charm but the lies she's telling doesn't stop her sorrow. All bets are off when Joey accidentally reveals her magic in front of the royal family. Will she be able to tell Bennett the truth? Will thr black witches finally get their prize and will Bennett listen to reason? Good book.
November 16, 2023
I received Blackout by Wanda Swan as an e-ARC, & I am very grateful for the opportunity to do so as this is my very first ARC. This is my honest review.
⭐️: 4.5/5
🌶: 3/5
*SPOILERS*
Blackout is the first for the standalone series "Men of the Queens Court". This dual POV book follows Josephine, a runaway black witch hiding as a green witch hired for the Queens winery, and Bennet, dragon-shifter prince who is forced to take on his fathers role as king for one year. During this year, they are required to work around each other much to their distaste. Their growing desires for each other is undeniable, but the dark secrets they keep threaten to destory it all. No matter, its just a casual fling... right?
"Im the moon & hes the sun"
I loved the concept of this book! Black runaway witch & dragon shifters, yes please- this is exactly what I want to read. I will admit I wasnt immediately hooked, however it didnt take long before I couldnt put it down! I loved the character development of Bennet, as he grows through his new role. I would have loved for the same attention to detail about Josephines history & about the magic she possesses, but that being said she is a badass FMC regardless. This is a fast read with approximately 230 pages of readable material, but I would also have liked a little more development in the beginning of their relationship; it was a little rushed. Very minimal reasons as to why I didnt give this book a 5 star. I would recommend this book & cannot wait to read more from Wanda Swan!
⭐️: 4.5/5
🌶: 3/5
*SPOILERS*
Blackout is the first for the standalone series "Men of the Queens Court". This dual POV book follows Josephine, a runaway black witch hiding as a green witch hired for the Queens winery, and Bennet, dragon-shifter prince who is forced to take on his fathers role as king for one year. During this year, they are required to work around each other much to their distaste. Their growing desires for each other is undeniable, but the dark secrets they keep threaten to destory it all. No matter, its just a casual fling... right?
"Im the moon & hes the sun"
I loved the concept of this book! Black runaway witch & dragon shifters, yes please- this is exactly what I want to read. I will admit I wasnt immediately hooked, however it didnt take long before I couldnt put it down! I loved the character development of Bennet, as he grows through his new role. I would have loved for the same attention to detail about Josephines history & about the magic she possesses, but that being said she is a badass FMC regardless. This is a fast read with approximately 230 pages of readable material, but I would also have liked a little more development in the beginning of their relationship; it was a little rushed. Very minimal reasons as to why I didnt give this book a 5 star. I would recommend this book & cannot wait to read more from Wanda Swan!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2023
THIS WAS AN ARC READ! Im beyond excited to have read this as an ARC. Thank you Wanda Swan and team!
This is a book you can read as a stand alone but id highly advise reading her other books too as the world build is great. I know im going to!
Simply put. This book was great!
I love the character designs, Josephine is a true, genuine, loveable character and Bennet was such a goofy twit but his joking and smugness came from a place of hurt and I could understand that.
I was a bit confused when he called her a scarecrow to start with and wondered if she was using magic to make it look like she was an animated scarecrow but turns out it was just Bennett being a twit and trying to annoy her. I did enjoy how that first interaction created a unique and adorable nickname for her though, crow, suits her quite well when you think about what crow can symbolize and hints to the books plot without giving all away.
I love all types of shifter romance and enjoyed that this wasnt heavy on the smut, with a sprinkle here or there and was good with the love once he realized what he truly wanted, his chosen mate, and i enjoyed that his dragon didnt push him away from her when he realized she had secrets.
My favorite line that i both hated yet loved was “Ash and Nina’s crotch fruit”, definitely got me giggling
I also like that she calls them an eclipse cause hes the sun and she is the moon
Will be getting all other books from this author
This is a book you can read as a stand alone but id highly advise reading her other books too as the world build is great. I know im going to!
Simply put. This book was great!
I love the character designs, Josephine is a true, genuine, loveable character and Bennet was such a goofy twit but his joking and smugness came from a place of hurt and I could understand that.
I was a bit confused when he called her a scarecrow to start with and wondered if she was using magic to make it look like she was an animated scarecrow but turns out it was just Bennett being a twit and trying to annoy her. I did enjoy how that first interaction created a unique and adorable nickname for her though, crow, suits her quite well when you think about what crow can symbolize and hints to the books plot without giving all away.
I love all types of shifter romance and enjoyed that this wasnt heavy on the smut, with a sprinkle here or there and was good with the love once he realized what he truly wanted, his chosen mate, and i enjoyed that his dragon didnt push him away from her when he realized she had secrets.
My favorite line that i both hated yet loved was “Ash and Nina’s crotch fruit”, definitely got me giggling
I also like that she calls them an eclipse cause hes the sun and she is the moon
Will be getting all other books from this author
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2023
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ (4/5)
This book was really intriguing and I kept wanting to find out what would happen next. The reason why I gave 4/5 stars is because I felt like this book had a lot of potential in diving into a fantasy world and its elements but found there wasn't enough of it for me. The book was advertised to have a witch and a dragon shapeshifter but I felt like these fantastical elements were more of an afterthought as I would've liked it to define their character and their actions but it felt too much like a contemporary book. This might've been because a lot of the book seemed focused on wine-making which was enjoyable as a contemporary story but seemed out of place in a fantasy world. This might have also been because it was quite jarring when names of places in the U.S. were being thrown around so it made it harder for me to focus on the fantasy world they were in. This is the first book I've read of Wanda Swan's so there may have been more worldbuilding in her other series but in this book it would've been better to take a stance about whether they were in a made-up fantasy world or somewhere on Earth that no one knows about.
But I did like the characters and will be definitely checking out her other series with the main character's brother.
Thank you Wanda Swan for providing me with an arc!
This book was really intriguing and I kept wanting to find out what would happen next. The reason why I gave 4/5 stars is because I felt like this book had a lot of potential in diving into a fantasy world and its elements but found there wasn't enough of it for me. The book was advertised to have a witch and a dragon shapeshifter but I felt like these fantastical elements were more of an afterthought as I would've liked it to define their character and their actions but it felt too much like a contemporary book. This might've been because a lot of the book seemed focused on wine-making which was enjoyable as a contemporary story but seemed out of place in a fantasy world. This might have also been because it was quite jarring when names of places in the U.S. were being thrown around so it made it harder for me to focus on the fantasy world they were in. This is the first book I've read of Wanda Swan's so there may have been more worldbuilding in her other series but in this book it would've been better to take a stance about whether they were in a made-up fantasy world or somewhere on Earth that no one knows about.
But I did like the characters and will be definitely checking out her other series with the main character's brother.
Thank you Wanda Swan for providing me with an arc!
November 4, 2023
Men of The Queen’s Court, Blackout Book 1
By: Wanda Swan
This is a story is a romantic fantasy that follows Josephine, a black with that must be on the run from her family and a coven of witches after a death and a pledge in the family. She must disguise herself as a green witch and go by Joey. Then there is Bennet a dragon shifter that is the playboy and the screw up of the family. After certain events he must step up as interim King of his people.
The story is amazing and well written that as you read the book comes to life. May I add that chapter 18 is my favorite and the spice level had me unable to put the book down. I enjoyed the banter that both main characters had between each other. As well as the outcome and the importance of having a strong bond with family and your significant other. I will be keeping an eye for the books to follow in this series and the authors work in general.
I was given the opportunity to read this ARC copy. This is my honest review and my own thoughts.
Trigger Warnings: Spiders and themes of grief due to a loss of a sibling
Tropes:
Learning to trust
Forbidden love
Green witch with hidden powers
Forced proximity
Dragon shifter
Dual POV
By: Wanda Swan
This is a story is a romantic fantasy that follows Josephine, a black with that must be on the run from her family and a coven of witches after a death and a pledge in the family. She must disguise herself as a green witch and go by Joey. Then there is Bennet a dragon shifter that is the playboy and the screw up of the family. After certain events he must step up as interim King of his people.
The story is amazing and well written that as you read the book comes to life. May I add that chapter 18 is my favorite and the spice level had me unable to put the book down. I enjoyed the banter that both main characters had between each other. As well as the outcome and the importance of having a strong bond with family and your significant other. I will be keeping an eye for the books to follow in this series and the authors work in general.
I was given the opportunity to read this ARC copy. This is my honest review and my own thoughts.
Trigger Warnings: Spiders and themes of grief due to a loss of a sibling
Tropes:
Learning to trust
Forbidden love
Green witch with hidden powers
Forced proximity
Dragon shifter
Dual POV
November 14, 2023
Full disclosure I received an ARC copy of Blackout to read and this is my honest review.
This is a great stand-alone book in an interconnected series that is easy to read if you like spicy adult fantasy romances. It’s set in modern times with a witch who is in hiding in a dragon shifters world. A meet-cute that has the prince of a kingdom intrigued with newcomer Joey who unbeknownst to him has seen him in all of his glory with other girls in his bedroom! There is lots of sexy banter and lessons on love and trust. I also don’t think I’ll be able to keep a straight face next time I go wine tasting 😏
This book is a quick read of only 200 something pages meaning that it was quite fast paced and the world building wasn’t complex. The romance hits pretty early on in the story. The duel POV works really well getting both of the FMC and MMC’s perspective. I always like when authors do that to some degree in their books! Overall it’s a good easy read which I enjoyed and read in one sitting.
Tropes and Vibes:
- Forbidden love
- Dragons and witches
- He’s a royal playboy
- Forced proximity
- HEA
- Trigger warnings (child death and spiders!)
4 ⭐️
This is a great stand-alone book in an interconnected series that is easy to read if you like spicy adult fantasy romances. It’s set in modern times with a witch who is in hiding in a dragon shifters world. A meet-cute that has the prince of a kingdom intrigued with newcomer Joey who unbeknownst to him has seen him in all of his glory with other girls in his bedroom! There is lots of sexy banter and lessons on love and trust. I also don’t think I’ll be able to keep a straight face next time I go wine tasting 😏
This book is a quick read of only 200 something pages meaning that it was quite fast paced and the world building wasn’t complex. The romance hits pretty early on in the story. The duel POV works really well getting both of the FMC and MMC’s perspective. I always like when authors do that to some degree in their books! Overall it’s a good easy read which I enjoyed and read in one sitting.
Tropes and Vibes:
- Forbidden love
- Dragons and witches
- He’s a royal playboy
- Forced proximity
- HEA
- Trigger warnings (child death and spiders!)
4 ⭐️
November 14, 2023
Starting this book I was very hesitant because I have never read a book based on dragon shifters and a witch dark coven. However when I started I couldn't put it down the writing flows so well! The relationship you see between Bennett and his family is amazing and I will say that I had tears in the first chapters because of Josephine loosing her sister. You get to see their undeniable desire for each other grow during the year that Ben is king but not without sacrifices of secrets that might destroy what they have in the end. I love how the book brought out romance, action that kept you hooked on the book! Josephine is a kickass main female in this book and I love how she doesn't give in to Ben so easily because she is focused on her end game but I also love how Ben was so determined to win her affection and love! Definitely a book I would recommend to anyone who loves romance, dragon shifters, witches, and being pulled into a book 😊
November 16, 2023
Dragon and witch forbidden romance
Blackout is exhilarating, spicy, and sweet. Everything is needed in a forbidden romance.
Bennett is Ash's younger brother (Ash is from the series The Queens Court- recommended read if you want the full experience and back story, however it's not necessary) Ben is roped in to being interim King of Westmoreland. The playboy fun living dragon is getting cage.
Joey is a 'green' witch on the run and hiding from her family and evil black witch coven out for blòód.
Both of them are forced together, and they both are hiding secrets and have trust issues.
Swoonworthy declarations, riveting read, fantastic characters, and en exciting story. Loved catching up with previous read characters.
Tropes:
Forbidden romance. Forced Proximity. Dragon shifter. Witch. Found family. Voyeurism. Triggers. He falls first. HEA. Standalone but includes previous characters.
Blackout is exhilarating, spicy, and sweet. Everything is needed in a forbidden romance.
Bennett is Ash's younger brother (Ash is from the series The Queens Court- recommended read if you want the full experience and back story, however it's not necessary) Ben is roped in to being interim King of Westmoreland. The playboy fun living dragon is getting cage.
Joey is a 'green' witch on the run and hiding from her family and evil black witch coven out for blòód.
Both of them are forced together, and they both are hiding secrets and have trust issues.
Swoonworthy declarations, riveting read, fantastic characters, and en exciting story. Loved catching up with previous read characters.
Tropes:
Forbidden romance. Forced Proximity. Dragon shifter. Witch. Found family. Voyeurism. Triggers. He falls first. HEA. Standalone but includes previous characters.
November 13, 2023
I received this book as an ARC (ebook), and these are my own thoughts.
In this captivating romantic fantasy, Josephine, a 16-year-old witch, narrowly escapes a dark fate after witnessing her sister's sacrifice. On the run, she cleverly conceals her magical abilities and takes on the persona of Joey. Fate guides her to a job at a winery, courtesy of Queen Mountcastle. However, complications arise when she encounters the irresistible Prince Bennett. As Bennett grapples with unexpected responsibilities, a mysterious connection sparks between him and the enigmatic Joey.
The banter in the story resonates with me. Although it took a few initial chapters to fully immerse myself, once captivated, I found it impossible to put the book down until the very end. Eagerly anticipating the next book!
In this captivating romantic fantasy, Josephine, a 16-year-old witch, narrowly escapes a dark fate after witnessing her sister's sacrifice. On the run, she cleverly conceals her magical abilities and takes on the persona of Joey. Fate guides her to a job at a winery, courtesy of Queen Mountcastle. However, complications arise when she encounters the irresistible Prince Bennett. As Bennett grapples with unexpected responsibilities, a mysterious connection sparks between him and the enigmatic Joey.
The banter in the story resonates with me. Although it took a few initial chapters to fully immerse myself, once captivated, I found it impossible to put the book down until the very end. Eagerly anticipating the next book!
November 10, 2023
Ok, lets just say if you want a fanatasy/paranormal romance book with spice and plot, this is the one! Dragons, witches, spice, and a good storyline to boot, what more can one want in an adult romantasy?
It took me a few chapters to really get into the story, but once I was, I was hoooked, and honestly finished the rest of the book in 1 sitting as I didn't want to put the book down! The spice scenes were hot🔥, and the ending was what any romance book reader wants!
I was provided a copy as an arc reader (thank you!) But the review is completely of my own opinion with no influence. I truly enjoyed the read and will be looking into the authors other novels now and cant wait for more in this series!
It took me a few chapters to really get into the story, but once I was, I was hoooked, and honestly finished the rest of the book in 1 sitting as I didn't want to put the book down! The spice scenes were hot🔥, and the ending was what any romance book reader wants!
I was provided a copy as an arc reader (thank you!) But the review is completely of my own opinion with no influence. I truly enjoyed the read and will be looking into the authors other novels now and cant wait for more in this series!
November 16, 2023
ARC Reader
I received an ARC in trade for my honest review.
“I’m tired of playing games, Crow. Aren’t you?” - Ben
Wow. Lovely read! Ben and Joey were well developed, intriguing characters. Although Joey's upbringing was absolutely haunting, I couldn't stop reading, very well written. I loved that she carried her past and was able to overcome her struggles with it by the end of the book! I thought the ending came a little too fast. I would have liked to see things drawn out a bit more. Overall this book was a great read!
I received an ARC in trade for my honest review.
“I’m tired of playing games, Crow. Aren’t you?” - Ben
Wow. Lovely read! Ben and Joey were well developed, intriguing characters. Although Joey's upbringing was absolutely haunting, I couldn't stop reading, very well written. I loved that she carried her past and was able to overcome her struggles with it by the end of the book! I thought the ending came a little too fast. I would have liked to see things drawn out a bit more. Overall this book was a great read!
November 20, 2023
Thanks to the author for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars. The world building in this is great. This is the first book I've read from this author and I feel like, even though I kept up, it would have been better to read the others first. The world and the relationships were a little hard to grasp at first.
Some of the dialog was not my favourite, and didn't flow as well as I'd like, and the pacing was a bit off, but the spicy scenes were great and overall I enjoyed reading this.
3.5 stars. The world building in this is great. This is the first book I've read from this author and I feel like, even though I kept up, it would have been better to read the others first. The world and the relationships were a little hard to grasp at first.
Some of the dialog was not my favourite, and didn't flow as well as I'd like, and the pacing was a bit off, but the spicy scenes were great and overall I enjoyed reading this.
January 17, 2024
This is the perfect book if you are ever stuck in a reading slump! It's sexy, it's funny and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The dialogue is genuinely well done and makes the chemistry between the characters feel so natural! My personal favourite from this author so far. Cured my reading burnout and found me my new book boyfriend! Overall, great read, very excited for Wanda Swan's next book!
Also on a serious note: love the thoughtful and informative trigger warnings at the beginning of the book. Always support a writer with respect for the reader!
Also on a serious note: love the thoughtful and informative trigger warnings at the beginning of the book. Always support a writer with respect for the reader!
November 4, 2023
Firstly I’d like to state that I was given the ebook as an ARC and all my thoughts and options are that of my own.
Wow!! Absolutely wow!! I was hooked from beginning to end and cannot wait to see what Wanda has in store for us in the future. Off I run to get the queens court series as I must have more of this amazing authors written words. The spicy was on fire 🔥 I could not put my kindle down.
Wow!! Absolutely wow!! I was hooked from beginning to end and cannot wait to see what Wanda has in store for us in the future. Off I run to get the queens court series as I must have more of this amazing authors written words. The spicy was on fire 🔥 I could not put my kindle down.
November 8, 2023
I just finished my ARC of this book and really enjoyed it.
I've never read this author before but I am now hooked. Already downloading the first books!
Really enjoyed the chemistry and the back and forth banter with the main characters.
The only reason I gave it 4 stars is, I wish there was more of Joey. It would have been better, for myself, to learn more of her story in the beginning, starting with her mom and sister. See the relationship with her sister.
I've never read this author before but I am now hooked. Already downloading the first books!
Really enjoyed the chemistry and the back and forth banter with the main characters.
The only reason I gave it 4 stars is, I wish there was more of Joey. It would have been better, for myself, to learn more of her story in the beginning, starting with her mom and sister. See the relationship with her sister.
November 16, 2023
I received this arc in exchange for my review. I’m giving it a 3.5 stars. I did enjoy the book! I just really really wish there was a lot more to it. I would’ve liked a lot more explanation into how the universe works when it came to the different kingdoms and “earth side”. The backstory to the dragons & other shifters. The backstory to the witches and covens. Other than that, it was a good read. I liked the spicy scenes between Joey & Ben. I liked the characters as well.
December 5, 2023
When they are both running from the pasts, he must learn to trust himself and follow his instincts, while she needs to learn how to open herself up and trust others. This is a great story about to characters that needed to overcome their pasts to really be together and be happy.
Wanda Swan's writing really show the struggle the characters go through and what it means to fight for what you want.
Great read, highly recommended.
Wanda Swan's writing really show the struggle the characters go through and what it means to fight for what you want.
Great read, highly recommended.
February 4, 2024
Loved this journey through fantasy and romance set on a winery. As the tension built between the main characters, Ben and Joey, so did my anticipation to learn more about them and to root for their union. The steamy scenes are great! Also, loved learning more about the fantasy world the characters inhabit. It's a read that pulls you out of your day-to-day life and into the pages. You won't want to look up!
November 18, 2023
First off if you have not read anything by Wanda Swan, what are you waiting for??
I love her writing style and just like the other books i have read by here this is another five star read for me. I have been looking forward go getting Bens book and she did not disappoint. Wanda will always be a one click author
I love her writing style and just like the other books i have read by here this is another five star read for me. I have been looking forward go getting Bens book and she did not disappoint. Wanda will always be a one click author
November 25, 2023
I absolutely could not wait for this book from reading Queens Court. I wanted Bens story. I love Bens character so much. Ben and Joey are so absolutely perfect for each other. There is so love, love, and spice in this book. I was on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what would happen. It came together so beautiful.
October 31, 2023
This was an amazingly, well written book! Wanda Sean did an amazing job with the characters and the story! It was very engaging and enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews