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Romantic Realms, Vol 1: Hearts at War
The clash of swords, the spark of magic, and the heat of forbidden love. Enter a world where enemies become lovers in
Romantic Realms Volume 1: Hearts at War
, a closed-door fantasy romance anthology that will sweep you off your feet. These stories are enchanting, heartfelt, and utterly captivating.
Step into a realm of magic and romance, and see if love can truly conquer all in Hearts at War...Featuring heart-stirring stories
Brandi Elledge
Brooke Clonts
Evelina Griggs
Harper Lynn
Jacqueline Pawl
Michelle Helen Fritz
Nicole Zoltack
Shae Merritt
Sophea Chan
T. S. Devon
Reader
This anthology features closed-door fantasy romance. Please note that while this series adheres to a closed-door format, individual authors involved may have previously published books that include open-door romantic scenes or other content that differs from the closed-door standard of this series. We encourage readers to review book descriptions carefully to ensure content aligns with personal preferences before exploring the backlogs of individual authors. Thank you for your understanding and happy reading!
Step into a realm of magic and romance, and see if love can truly conquer all in Hearts at War...Featuring heart-stirring stories
Brandi Elledge
Brooke Clonts
Evelina Griggs
Harper Lynn
Jacqueline Pawl
Michelle Helen Fritz
Nicole Zoltack
Shae Merritt
Sophea Chan
T. S. Devon
Reader
This anthology features closed-door fantasy romance. Please note that while this series adheres to a closed-door format, individual authors involved may have previously published books that include open-door romantic scenes or other content that differs from the closed-door standard of this series. We encourage readers to review book descriptions carefully to ensure content aligns with personal preferences before exploring the backlogs of individual authors. Thank you for your understanding and happy reading!
783 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2024
7 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 5, 2024
Ahh this book! This is a fantastic way to sample multiple authors in one place and it did not disappoint!
I’d like to say my two favourites— and they could not be more different in story- were Faerie Boots by Michelle Helen Fritz and Shattered Shadows by Brandi Elledge.
Faerie Boots is precisely what one thinks of and that is, the land of faeries and one called Boots. This book was super sweet, very witty m, and completely imaginative. The characters were full of life and the writing flowed very easily. I could imagine myself there and a part of the story.
Shattered Shadows is about a group of fae children in hiding and on the run from an evil, dark lord until they reach an age where they can go to the academy and train to fight against the dark lord. This story is breathtaking in detail, world-building, and characters that are so realistic. This story grips you from the first word and even when it’s over, you want more!
Fantastic stories all around and I look forward to more!!
I’d like to say my two favourites— and they could not be more different in story- were Faerie Boots by Michelle Helen Fritz and Shattered Shadows by Brandi Elledge.
Faerie Boots is precisely what one thinks of and that is, the land of faeries and one called Boots. This book was super sweet, very witty m, and completely imaginative. The characters were full of life and the writing flowed very easily. I could imagine myself there and a part of the story.
Shattered Shadows is about a group of fae children in hiding and on the run from an evil, dark lord until they reach an age where they can go to the academy and train to fight against the dark lord. This story is breathtaking in detail, world-building, and characters that are so realistic. This story grips you from the first word and even when it’s over, you want more!
Fantastic stories all around and I look forward to more!!
December 2, 2024
This was such a fun book! All in all I really enjoyed this book and have already suggested it to friends! Below are my thoughts on each story:
Story one: Faerie Boots: Beyond the Faerie Wall- cute enemies to lovers/ grumpy:sunshine characters. Emerlyn follows her beloved cat she’s been caring for over the wall into Faerie. Although she finds Boots, she quickly learns he’s not just a cat she’s saved. “Boots” is finally home and is annoyed and angry that Emerlyn followed. While he begrudgingly takes her back to her world beyond the wall, he battles with himself and his feelings. I liked the story and finished it in one sitting! The FMC isn’t one to back down and be underestimated, I loved her banter and loved how the story ended.
Story two: Fatal Hearts- Liv is what they call Veilborns. Not 100% human… many have powers. There’s also witches, shifters and other supernatural creatures mentioned. Kade is a vampire and he sounds yummy! Both assassins for their sides. Both have a common enemy. This story sucked me right in and I’m sad it’s a short story it would easily be extended and still hold my attention completely. Will absolutely look into more of Evelinas stories!!
Story three: Rise of the Crimson Dawn - this world had magic, evil rulers, a rebellion, and love. Nyx has been through so much tragedy and yet she was willing to fight to the very end to avenge the deaths of her loved ones. Aldric is not what you’d expect and although in a horrid position I grew to like him very quickly. Great ending!
Story Four: All In - Cam And Liam’s story is cute and I absolutely want to read more so I will be finding more on them. Cam has special abilities and Liam doesn’t. Well not magical anyway. Cam has worked very hard to get her dream job but it’s not easy when the one guy you obviously have a thing for keeps conveniently getting away. when things come to light it’s the big internal battle for Cam to either follow her heart which she’s denied for so long, or does she stay true to her morals and what she’s worked so hard to achieve even though she’d continue to miserable ?
Story Five- The Hex Code: so we have a brother and sister and then a witch hunter. This story wasn’t my favorite and it ended on a promise to make something better but we never got to see that come to fruition. It was still a good story, but the first half felt a bit disjointed for me.
Story Six- Tricked by Love: in courts of fae and other magical creatures two play a game of chess. A female shapeshifter tasked to make the elf Prince fall in love with her and meet her to save her people. The prince isn’t who she thought he was and off making her objective that much harder to achieve. Loved the story and how they played head games with each other.
Story Seven- Alias husband and wife: all I’m going to say is if you liked the movie”Mr and Mrs Smith”, you will love this story! It has a fun twist and I enjoyed it!
Story Eight- The Dragon’s Curse: dragons, witches, dwarves, power hungry king, ancient magic… This story was fantastic! Their banter has me laughing throughout the entire story. One of my favorites so far!
Story Nine- shattered shadows: this was a great intro to a book series of hers. At least I believe it is. Cute little story and I’m excited to read the next chapter of Evies life once she turns 18!
Story ten- hearts and hammers: oh my gosh I loved this one!! Instantly loved the main characters, a “third wheel” came in and I instantly didn’t like him although he was portrayed in a great light. My suspicions were confirmed later on and yes, I was smug about it. My favorite quote from this entire book, “ a female like you doesn’t need a male, or anyone, to make you afraid. A woman like you needs a male that will burn the world for her” omg swoon!
Story one: Faerie Boots: Beyond the Faerie Wall- cute enemies to lovers/ grumpy:sunshine characters. Emerlyn follows her beloved cat she’s been caring for over the wall into Faerie. Although she finds Boots, she quickly learns he’s not just a cat she’s saved. “Boots” is finally home and is annoyed and angry that Emerlyn followed. While he begrudgingly takes her back to her world beyond the wall, he battles with himself and his feelings. I liked the story and finished it in one sitting! The FMC isn’t one to back down and be underestimated, I loved her banter and loved how the story ended.
Story two: Fatal Hearts- Liv is what they call Veilborns. Not 100% human… many have powers. There’s also witches, shifters and other supernatural creatures mentioned. Kade is a vampire and he sounds yummy! Both assassins for their sides. Both have a common enemy. This story sucked me right in and I’m sad it’s a short story it would easily be extended and still hold my attention completely. Will absolutely look into more of Evelinas stories!!
Story three: Rise of the Crimson Dawn - this world had magic, evil rulers, a rebellion, and love. Nyx has been through so much tragedy and yet she was willing to fight to the very end to avenge the deaths of her loved ones. Aldric is not what you’d expect and although in a horrid position I grew to like him very quickly. Great ending!
Story Four: All In - Cam And Liam’s story is cute and I absolutely want to read more so I will be finding more on them. Cam has special abilities and Liam doesn’t. Well not magical anyway. Cam has worked very hard to get her dream job but it’s not easy when the one guy you obviously have a thing for keeps conveniently getting away. when things come to light it’s the big internal battle for Cam to either follow her heart which she’s denied for so long, or does she stay true to her morals and what she’s worked so hard to achieve even though she’d continue to miserable ?
Story Five- The Hex Code: so we have a brother and sister and then a witch hunter. This story wasn’t my favorite and it ended on a promise to make something better but we never got to see that come to fruition. It was still a good story, but the first half felt a bit disjointed for me.
Story Six- Tricked by Love: in courts of fae and other magical creatures two play a game of chess. A female shapeshifter tasked to make the elf Prince fall in love with her and meet her to save her people. The prince isn’t who she thought he was and off making her objective that much harder to achieve. Loved the story and how they played head games with each other.
Story Seven- Alias husband and wife: all I’m going to say is if you liked the movie”Mr and Mrs Smith”, you will love this story! It has a fun twist and I enjoyed it!
Story Eight- The Dragon’s Curse: dragons, witches, dwarves, power hungry king, ancient magic… This story was fantastic! Their banter has me laughing throughout the entire story. One of my favorites so far!
Story Nine- shattered shadows: this was a great intro to a book series of hers. At least I believe it is. Cute little story and I’m excited to read the next chapter of Evies life once she turns 18!
Story ten- hearts and hammers: oh my gosh I loved this one!! Instantly loved the main characters, a “third wheel” came in and I instantly didn’t like him although he was portrayed in a great light. My suspicions were confirmed later on and yes, I was smug about it. My favorite quote from this entire book, “ a female like you doesn’t need a male, or anyone, to make you afraid. A woman like you needs a male that will burn the world for her” omg swoon!
October 21, 2024
I was lucky enough to be chosen for an ARC. This was a clean romance anthology. No steamy scenes here. That being said, I usually go for the spice. But I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I will not give away details, but in each story, the couples have a journey to a HEA. I really loved them. This anthology is literally a book of fairy tales for adults. I thought it was really sweet and loved each build up to the end. Definitely a 5 star read. This introduced me to some authors I haven't heard of and I plan on going to check out their other books as well.
October 29, 2024
This was the perfect rainy day with a cup of tea read. I read it through an Arc and loved it. It introduced me to new authors that I would have otherwise possibly missed. It was a series of short stories so it made it easy to read some and put my book down to do stuff around the house and easily come right back to. I would recommend to anyone that doesn’t want to delve into a long series.
October 28, 2024
This is a good book even without spicy scenes 👌 Each author brought something to their stories and as someone who literally imagines visuals while I read, I LOVED that I was able to do so. Being able to get the ARC and find new authors with really good stories is a blessing.
November 11, 2024
Amazing anthology. Couldn't put it down. 5 star book. Highly recommend it. Already told a few people about this boxset. Really inserting stories. Each one is different in it's own way.
November 20, 2024
I had mixed feelings about this collection. Romantic Realms: Hearts at War is an anthology of 10 clean, romantic fantasy longish-short stories, no steamy scenes here. I’ll review each of the stories in the order I finished reading them, so if you plan to read the entire review, strap in, and apologies, because this is going to be long! Hehe.
"Faerie Boots: Beyond the Faerie Wall," by Michelle Helen Fritz
A woman finds out her cat is really a faerie.
This story had some really good descriptions and expressions. I cracked up a few times at some of the nicknames Emerlyn invented for Alaric! Their speech was a little dated, though. I get that the language was deliberately aged to fit a certain historical period, but sometimes that led to flowery speech, and dialogue that came out a little unnatural. Still, I was charmed by the idea of a cat/faerie.
"Fatal Hearts," by Evelina Griggs
Two otherworldly assassins must team up to take down a final boss.
I loved the banter between Kade and Liv! I could read another book where they go on similar adventures, if only to hear them arguing the way they do here. Ms Griggs takes full advantage of sensory details too, and I felt genuine fear when the MCs were acting out of their control. I’d have liked to see the final fight go on for a little longer, though.
"Shattered Shadows," by Brandi Elledge
Royals hide their children in another land to protect them from the Dark One.
This was the shortest of the lot, with four chapters and a prologue. The first sentence of Chapter 1 was so strong! (I’d share it but you should experience it for yourself 😀.) Some of the descriptions of the fantasy realm were really neat. However this story had some familiar tropes: love triangle, overprotectiveness, brother’s best friend. It was hard to keep track of all the many characters, one of whose names kept changing. There was a paragraph in the first chapter that gave enough explanation to render the prologue unnecessary. Considering the premise (shielding children from a threatening, dark overlord), I expected more mention of him. The author however was a little more focused on the development of a romantic relationship, and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing, it left a lot of questions unanswered.
"Rise of the Crimson Dawn," by Jacqueline Pawl
An unlikely friendship blooms between a prisoner and the nephew of the man she tried to kill.
I loved this! At first it irked me that it was only 10 chapters long, but then I realized that it was a testament to storytelling mastery, that Ms Jacqueline could fit a story so complete and immersive in such a limited space. I enjoyed the thorough worldbuilding and the detailed magic system. I loved discovering new supernatural abilities. It was a bit on the gory side (because of which I had to close it at some point and go read a different story to give me some time to heal). Getting to know Nyx and Aldric was a treat, and even if I didn’t initially agree with their actions, I got to understand them. Really visceral imagery. Kinda scary. Glorious ending.
"Alias: Husband and Wife," by Harper Lynn
A time-traveling assassin gets her mission interrupted by a familiar stranger.
This story started on a high, and ended on a high. To be fair, if you're going to write this much humour in a story, and maintain it till the end, I am putty in your hands. Harper Lynn knows how to write banter! I loved Sarah and Robert! They matched each other in wit and sarcasm and barbs. They were imperfect. Vulnerable. Funny. Insecure. Kickass. This one wasn’t heavy on the fantasy, but it used it just enough. Loved it.
"The Hex Code," by Brooke Clonts
A programmer teams up with a witch hunter to free her kidnapped brother.
It took a while for me to get into this one. I had so many questions reading it. I wasn’t even sure who I was supposed to be rooting for. But these questions got answered. This story was really well-written. Ms Clonts went hard on the details and descriptions (I stopped to highlight some of them because they were so good). I enjoyed getting to know the main characters, seeing the softness behind Hugh’s roughness. The end was really thrilling too!
"All In," by T. S. Devon
A law enforcement agent must arrest a criminal who just happens to be her ex.
Probably an insignificant detail, but it was pretty refreshing to see an author use “lie/ lay” properly. Hehe. It was nice to understand the reasons for Cam’s actions, and I was genuinely grateful for a chance to empathize with her vulnerability and connect with her. Unfortunately this happened in the 14th chapter. Out of 17. While really nicely written, some of the lines of this story are a mashup of young adult favourites. Frustratingly handsome. Cocky. Moths to a flame. Drawl (Liam drawled so much I wasn’t sure if he spoke in any other way). Heart skips a beat. Smirk. Infuriating smirk. Cocky grin. Infuriatingly charming. Lips crashed against mine. (I found the line “chaos of butterflies in my stomach” really neat, though.) I wished for a point of view besides Cam’s after a while. She’s a good narrator, but every single thought she had, from the moment she saw Liam in Chapter 2, was Liam-coloured. Somehow I never really got to know Liam. There was an attempt made to justify his actions, but it came really late, and by then I didn’t know if this was a couple I should root for. The urban setting was interesting, though, as was Madam Ruby.
"The Dragon’s Curse"/ "The Dragon’s Heart," by Shae Merritt
A powerful sorceress gets magically bound to the son of her greatest enemy.
Circe was so haughty, I initially read along waiting for her hubris and or character development. I don’t even like forced proximity stories. But this was great! It had a twist. It had great descriptions. Like, Ms Merritt really bothered to flesh out this universe and each individual’s actions. I loved Rehan, and how he asked the important questions, bringing Circe’s doubts to the surface, making her question her motivations. I loved seeing her get vulnerable. I liked how these two genuinely couldn’t stand each other, and I got the chance to see the development of their attraction. And that ending! Loved.
"Tricked by Love," by Nicole Zoltack
A shapeshifter tries to trick an elven prince into marrying her.
The premise held so much promise. The idea of impersonation to meet a hidden goal can be really fun to read when done well. I like that Morlok wasn’t immediately enamoured when he saw Lyria. His immediate suspicion meant she had hit a snag before her deceit could properly unfold, and that was really interesting already. But…this wasn’t a particularly engaging story. After introducing Lyria, the author presents an info dump. There’s so little dialogue, and so much internal musing. There’s lots of telling, and not enough showing. Descriptions are good, but so much time goes into describing appearances, and Lyria’s clothing. Things are constantly said and said again. “She’s playing her part flawlessly. Unreadable expression. Calculated movement. Flicker of something before her expression turns guarded. Tension.” Facts we know are repeated. When they say they’re attracted to each other, I can only take their word for it. Somewhere in the middle they had a “new goal,” one I neither knew nor understood. There were villains introduced, but this was in the 10th chapter of a 10-chapter story. If a little more time had been spent developing these villains and their motivations, so it threaded throughout the book, it could’ve built more suspense. Much mention was made of Lyria’s and Morlok’s quick wit and banter. It would have been nice to see it.
"Hearts and Hammers," by Sophea Chan
Rival blacksmiths must confront their feelings for each other.
Ordering this anthology so this story ended it was a fabulous decision. And it’s not just because of me and my weakness for humour. This story was great. It started out funny, then went sad, then just turned downright sweet. It genuinely warmed my heart getting to know these characters, probably warmed my heart more than any of the other stories. I loved the imperfect characters, and their imperfect actions. My heart’s warming now just writing about it.
Overall I liked this collection. Some of the individual parts were really strong! I’d recommend this to people who want to read clean romantasy/ get started in fantasy but are overwhelmed by five-part stories whose component parts are four hundred pages long.
I received an ARC via Ms Devon (thanks! ❤️) and am voluntarily leaving a review.
"Faerie Boots: Beyond the Faerie Wall," by Michelle Helen Fritz
A woman finds out her cat is really a faerie.
This story had some really good descriptions and expressions. I cracked up a few times at some of the nicknames Emerlyn invented for Alaric! Their speech was a little dated, though. I get that the language was deliberately aged to fit a certain historical period, but sometimes that led to flowery speech, and dialogue that came out a little unnatural. Still, I was charmed by the idea of a cat/faerie.
"Fatal Hearts," by Evelina Griggs
Two otherworldly assassins must team up to take down a final boss.
I loved the banter between Kade and Liv! I could read another book where they go on similar adventures, if only to hear them arguing the way they do here. Ms Griggs takes full advantage of sensory details too, and I felt genuine fear when the MCs were acting out of their control. I’d have liked to see the final fight go on for a little longer, though.
"Shattered Shadows," by Brandi Elledge
Royals hide their children in another land to protect them from the Dark One.
This was the shortest of the lot, with four chapters and a prologue. The first sentence of Chapter 1 was so strong! (I’d share it but you should experience it for yourself 😀.) Some of the descriptions of the fantasy realm were really neat. However this story had some familiar tropes: love triangle, overprotectiveness, brother’s best friend. It was hard to keep track of all the many characters, one of whose names kept changing. There was a paragraph in the first chapter that gave enough explanation to render the prologue unnecessary. Considering the premise (shielding children from a threatening, dark overlord), I expected more mention of him. The author however was a little more focused on the development of a romantic relationship, and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing, it left a lot of questions unanswered.
"Rise of the Crimson Dawn," by Jacqueline Pawl
An unlikely friendship blooms between a prisoner and the nephew of the man she tried to kill.
I loved this! At first it irked me that it was only 10 chapters long, but then I realized that it was a testament to storytelling mastery, that Ms Jacqueline could fit a story so complete and immersive in such a limited space. I enjoyed the thorough worldbuilding and the detailed magic system. I loved discovering new supernatural abilities. It was a bit on the gory side (because of which I had to close it at some point and go read a different story to give me some time to heal). Getting to know Nyx and Aldric was a treat, and even if I didn’t initially agree with their actions, I got to understand them. Really visceral imagery. Kinda scary. Glorious ending.
"Alias: Husband and Wife," by Harper Lynn
A time-traveling assassin gets her mission interrupted by a familiar stranger.
This story started on a high, and ended on a high. To be fair, if you're going to write this much humour in a story, and maintain it till the end, I am putty in your hands. Harper Lynn knows how to write banter! I loved Sarah and Robert! They matched each other in wit and sarcasm and barbs. They were imperfect. Vulnerable. Funny. Insecure. Kickass. This one wasn’t heavy on the fantasy, but it used it just enough. Loved it.
"The Hex Code," by Brooke Clonts
A programmer teams up with a witch hunter to free her kidnapped brother.
It took a while for me to get into this one. I had so many questions reading it. I wasn’t even sure who I was supposed to be rooting for. But these questions got answered. This story was really well-written. Ms Clonts went hard on the details and descriptions (I stopped to highlight some of them because they were so good). I enjoyed getting to know the main characters, seeing the softness behind Hugh’s roughness. The end was really thrilling too!
"All In," by T. S. Devon
A law enforcement agent must arrest a criminal who just happens to be her ex.
Probably an insignificant detail, but it was pretty refreshing to see an author use “lie/ lay” properly. Hehe. It was nice to understand the reasons for Cam’s actions, and I was genuinely grateful for a chance to empathize with her vulnerability and connect with her. Unfortunately this happened in the 14th chapter. Out of 17. While really nicely written, some of the lines of this story are a mashup of young adult favourites. Frustratingly handsome. Cocky. Moths to a flame. Drawl (Liam drawled so much I wasn’t sure if he spoke in any other way). Heart skips a beat. Smirk. Infuriating smirk. Cocky grin. Infuriatingly charming. Lips crashed against mine. (I found the line “chaos of butterflies in my stomach” really neat, though.) I wished for a point of view besides Cam’s after a while. She’s a good narrator, but every single thought she had, from the moment she saw Liam in Chapter 2, was Liam-coloured. Somehow I never really got to know Liam. There was an attempt made to justify his actions, but it came really late, and by then I didn’t know if this was a couple I should root for. The urban setting was interesting, though, as was Madam Ruby.
"The Dragon’s Curse"/ "The Dragon’s Heart," by Shae Merritt
A powerful sorceress gets magically bound to the son of her greatest enemy.
Circe was so haughty, I initially read along waiting for her hubris and or character development. I don’t even like forced proximity stories. But this was great! It had a twist. It had great descriptions. Like, Ms Merritt really bothered to flesh out this universe and each individual’s actions. I loved Rehan, and how he asked the important questions, bringing Circe’s doubts to the surface, making her question her motivations. I loved seeing her get vulnerable. I liked how these two genuinely couldn’t stand each other, and I got the chance to see the development of their attraction. And that ending! Loved.
"Tricked by Love," by Nicole Zoltack
A shapeshifter tries to trick an elven prince into marrying her.
The premise held so much promise. The idea of impersonation to meet a hidden goal can be really fun to read when done well. I like that Morlok wasn’t immediately enamoured when he saw Lyria. His immediate suspicion meant she had hit a snag before her deceit could properly unfold, and that was really interesting already. But…this wasn’t a particularly engaging story. After introducing Lyria, the author presents an info dump. There’s so little dialogue, and so much internal musing. There’s lots of telling, and not enough showing. Descriptions are good, but so much time goes into describing appearances, and Lyria’s clothing. Things are constantly said and said again. “She’s playing her part flawlessly. Unreadable expression. Calculated movement. Flicker of something before her expression turns guarded. Tension.” Facts we know are repeated. When they say they’re attracted to each other, I can only take their word for it. Somewhere in the middle they had a “new goal,” one I neither knew nor understood. There were villains introduced, but this was in the 10th chapter of a 10-chapter story. If a little more time had been spent developing these villains and their motivations, so it threaded throughout the book, it could’ve built more suspense. Much mention was made of Lyria’s and Morlok’s quick wit and banter. It would have been nice to see it.
"Hearts and Hammers," by Sophea Chan
Rival blacksmiths must confront their feelings for each other.
Ordering this anthology so this story ended it was a fabulous decision. And it’s not just because of me and my weakness for humour. This story was great. It started out funny, then went sad, then just turned downright sweet. It genuinely warmed my heart getting to know these characters, probably warmed my heart more than any of the other stories. I loved the imperfect characters, and their imperfect actions. My heart’s warming now just writing about it.
Overall I liked this collection. Some of the individual parts were really strong! I’d recommend this to people who want to read clean romantasy/ get started in fantasy but are overwhelmed by five-part stories whose component parts are four hundred pages long.
I received an ARC via Ms Devon (thanks! ❤️) and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 31, 2024
Every single novella and story in this anthology is a winner! Every single read was as good as the next, every single tale took me on a new adventure and I've added a few more authors to my favourite list....I will focus my review on the book that had the most impact on me, geez, I'm still trying to process the magnificent story, the magnificent telling of this superbly penned tale.....
RISE OF THE CRIMSON DAWN by JACQUELINE PAWL:
This author captivated me from the very first word! Her eloquence with words sank deep into me, relentlessly propelling me onwards and I couldn't get enough! With incredibly potent visuals, I could almost taste the blood in the air and feel every blow inflicted. Yes, this was a dark read, a read that unhinged my jaw on numerous occasions, I was like a fish gasping for breath! What a wondrous story! What wondrous magic, we got the likes of Shardweilder, Boneweaver, Bloodcaller, seeing them, and I DO mean seeing them in action was breathtaking. I love the innovative magic and this book has it in abundance! As is the action, gory, torturous and very real. When two people, on opposing sides, collide, the sparks fly, not in the way one would think. What unfolded, what transpired, was horrific and heartening, gut wrenching and elating, a story that I drowned in, relishing both the brutality and the beauty of a story so well told.
A member of the Crimson Dawn, Nyx , battered, bruised, injured, magically weary, is barely hanging on as the battle rages around her, yet still she's determined to put an end to the Grimwarden, but the enforcers were too many. Now she's trapped, just as her sister once was, and she's brutally assaulted over and over again. By Aldric. Nephew to her sworn enemy. What a dichotomy he is! Brutal, yes, and in the next breath, gentle, caring, kind. And then we discover why...a gobsmacking moment! Gosh did I LOVE both Nyx and Aldric! She's fierce, tough, immensely strong magically and in every way! Aldric cemented my exact thoughts with these words, "You are fearless Nyx". And she in turn captures the two of them, impeccably profoundly, with this sentiment and thought, "two broken people, stitched together by grief and fury". The prose is so rich and opulent, I find myself wanting to add quote after quote, it's just.... PERFECT!
This entire read was perfect, I doubt anyone could be blase of either characters or of the story this very proficient, accomplished author produced. And OMG did Ms Pawl pull my heart apart, one strand at a time until I'm reduced to a gloopy, pulverised mess! The fact that it's a short story is even more impressive, it's so detailed every event stands out, every occurrence a scar on my soul. I lost myself within the words, within the emotions, within the storytelling, it's fullness captivating me maximally. By the end, I was both drained and uplifted in the most extraordinary way, relieved and jubilant at the outcome. A decidedly fantabulous read!
RISE OF THE CRIMSON DAWN by JACQUELINE PAWL:
This author captivated me from the very first word! Her eloquence with words sank deep into me, relentlessly propelling me onwards and I couldn't get enough! With incredibly potent visuals, I could almost taste the blood in the air and feel every blow inflicted. Yes, this was a dark read, a read that unhinged my jaw on numerous occasions, I was like a fish gasping for breath! What a wondrous story! What wondrous magic, we got the likes of Shardweilder, Boneweaver, Bloodcaller, seeing them, and I DO mean seeing them in action was breathtaking. I love the innovative magic and this book has it in abundance! As is the action, gory, torturous and very real. When two people, on opposing sides, collide, the sparks fly, not in the way one would think. What unfolded, what transpired, was horrific and heartening, gut wrenching and elating, a story that I drowned in, relishing both the brutality and the beauty of a story so well told.
A member of the Crimson Dawn, Nyx , battered, bruised, injured, magically weary, is barely hanging on as the battle rages around her, yet still she's determined to put an end to the Grimwarden, but the enforcers were too many. Now she's trapped, just as her sister once was, and she's brutally assaulted over and over again. By Aldric. Nephew to her sworn enemy. What a dichotomy he is! Brutal, yes, and in the next breath, gentle, caring, kind. And then we discover why...a gobsmacking moment! Gosh did I LOVE both Nyx and Aldric! She's fierce, tough, immensely strong magically and in every way! Aldric cemented my exact thoughts with these words, "You are fearless Nyx". And she in turn captures the two of them, impeccably profoundly, with this sentiment and thought, "two broken people, stitched together by grief and fury". The prose is so rich and opulent, I find myself wanting to add quote after quote, it's just.... PERFECT!
This entire read was perfect, I doubt anyone could be blase of either characters or of the story this very proficient, accomplished author produced. And OMG did Ms Pawl pull my heart apart, one strand at a time until I'm reduced to a gloopy, pulverised mess! The fact that it's a short story is even more impressive, it's so detailed every event stands out, every occurrence a scar on my soul. I lost myself within the words, within the emotions, within the storytelling, it's fullness captivating me maximally. By the end, I was both drained and uplifted in the most extraordinary way, relieved and jubilant at the outcome. A decidedly fantabulous read!
November 4, 2024
If you're a fan of fantasy where love blooms amidst chaos, *Hearts at War* is an anthology you won't want to miss! This collection brings together ten talented authors who craft enchanting stories filled with sword clashes, magical sparks, and, of course, the exhilarating thrill of forbidden love.
From the very first page, I was drawn into a world where rivals become lovers in the most unexpected ways. Each story is a delightful mix of adventure and emotion, showcasing characters who navigate not only their magical battles but also the complexities of their hearts.
The stories are beautifully written and vary in tone, offering everything from light-hearted banter to deeply poignant moments. I particularly loved how each author's unique voice shines through, yet they all maintain a cohesive magical atmosphere that binds the anthology together.
What makes this collection truly special is its ability to transport you to realms where love can conquer even the bitterest of feuds. It's an invitation to lose yourself in adventure, and trust me, you’ll find your heart racing with every twist and turn.
So, if you're ready for a captivating journey filled with romance and rivalry, grab your copy of *Hearts at War* and prepare to be swept off your feet! 💖⚔️
From the very first page, I was drawn into a world where rivals become lovers in the most unexpected ways. Each story is a delightful mix of adventure and emotion, showcasing characters who navigate not only their magical battles but also the complexities of their hearts.
The stories are beautifully written and vary in tone, offering everything from light-hearted banter to deeply poignant moments. I particularly loved how each author's unique voice shines through, yet they all maintain a cohesive magical atmosphere that binds the anthology together.
What makes this collection truly special is its ability to transport you to realms where love can conquer even the bitterest of feuds. It's an invitation to lose yourself in adventure, and trust me, you’ll find your heart racing with every twist and turn.
So, if you're ready for a captivating journey filled with romance and rivalry, grab your copy of *Hearts at War* and prepare to be swept off your feet! 💖⚔️
November 3, 2024
One of the things I love about anthologies is the chance to discover new authors.
To meet and connect with new characters
To be swept away by heroic adventures
To be teased with the beginnings of love
Or just get to taste stories that are spinoffs, leaving you wanting to know more
Romantic Realms delivered all that and then some
Action, Romance, Betrayal, Mystery, Steam, Surprises and so much more
Be prepared for a book hangover!
As well as adding to your list of must-read books and authors
Shattered Shadows by Brandi Elledge was one of my faves
"I protected you then and I'll protect you now. As long as there's breath in me I'll protect you"
I went searching for this author's work as soon as I finished the story
I need to know what Evie decides
Why her nemesis is always in such a tizzy
If Alex steps up to the plate
Or if Domi collects on his claim
Did the plan work?
Or was it all for naught?
I will update as I complete each read.
I'm bouncing between the stories in the anthology...
To meet and connect with new characters
To be swept away by heroic adventures
To be teased with the beginnings of love
Or just get to taste stories that are spinoffs, leaving you wanting to know more
Romantic Realms delivered all that and then some
Action, Romance, Betrayal, Mystery, Steam, Surprises and so much more
Be prepared for a book hangover!
As well as adding to your list of must-read books and authors
Shattered Shadows by Brandi Elledge was one of my faves
"I protected you then and I'll protect you now. As long as there's breath in me I'll protect you"
I went searching for this author's work as soon as I finished the story
I need to know what Evie decides
Why her nemesis is always in such a tizzy
If Alex steps up to the plate
Or if Domi collects on his claim
Did the plan work?
Or was it all for naught?
I will update as I complete each read.
I'm bouncing between the stories in the anthology...
November 11, 2024
Lovely fantasy romance anthology !!
Romantic Realms Volume 1: Hearts at War is a closed-door, enemies-to-lovers, fantasy romance anthology. Romantic Realms is 10 novellas that have surprises, action, romance, betrayal, mystery, adventure and so much more! Each story has a different journey to reach their characters' HEA. This is a marvelous way to sample multiple authors in one place.
Romantic Realms Volume 1: Hearts at War is a closed-door, enemies-to-lovers, fantasy romance anthology. Romantic Realms is 10 novellas that have surprises, action, romance, betrayal, mystery, adventure and so much more! Each story has a different journey to reach their characters' HEA. This is a marvelous way to sample multiple authors in one place.
January 2, 2025
A wonderful collection of short stories for fast paced Romantasy and a quick win read!
Faerie Boots by Michelle Helen Fritz is a super cute shifter/faerie romance with fates mates. I loved how the story was unique and their relationship progressed.
Fatal Hearts by Evelin’s Griggs is a wonderfully swoony vampire x vampire hunter, enemies to lovers Romantasy. I loved the tension between the FMC and the MMC, and how it gave an enemies to allies to lovers. 🫑🫑 (slightly steamy feeling, no spice)
Rise of the Crimson Dawn by Jaqueline Pawl gives you a strong rebel FMC and a captive/captor situation with enemies to lovers. Magic powers, wound tending, and nicknames. This is a dark Romantasy filled with emotion.
Faerie Boots by Michelle Helen Fritz is a super cute shifter/faerie romance with fates mates. I loved how the story was unique and their relationship progressed.
Fatal Hearts by Evelin’s Griggs is a wonderfully swoony vampire x vampire hunter, enemies to lovers Romantasy. I loved the tension between the FMC and the MMC, and how it gave an enemies to allies to lovers. 🫑🫑 (slightly steamy feeling, no spice)
Rise of the Crimson Dawn by Jaqueline Pawl gives you a strong rebel FMC and a captive/captor situation with enemies to lovers. Magic powers, wound tending, and nicknames. This is a dark Romantasy filled with emotion.
February 18, 2025
Romantic Realms Vol 1 had a lot of genres to choose from. My favorite story was-
Alias: Husband and Wife by Harper Lynn
Sarah only pretends her life is boring: working at an antique shop, unwanted dinner with neighbors, distant husband. But really she's a time-traveling assassin who keeps history safe. Of course everything goes off the rails when she runs into a rival assassin at one of her jobs.
Alias: Husband and Wife by Harper Lynn
Sarah only pretends her life is boring: working at an antique shop, unwanted dinner with neighbors, distant husband. But really she's a time-traveling assassin who keeps history safe. Of course everything goes off the rails when she runs into a rival assassin at one of her jobs.
October 28, 2024
The first story was hard to get through. But keep on reading. This book is filled with amazing stories. I really liked that I was getting pulled into different worlds and fell in love with so many characters. Definatly a must read. Great for the days that you don't want a full commitment but want to delve into the other worlds
November 1, 2024
I rated this 3.75 rounded up to 4/5 stars!
This is the first short stories anthology I’ve read so I wasn’t sure how I would like it. I was pleasantly surprised!
Enemies to lovers is my favorite trope and this was filled with so many good and fun stories in one place. I felt like while there was this common theme, there was variety in the plots and characters of each different adventure. I will definitely read another anthology like this in the future!
This is the first short stories anthology I’ve read so I wasn’t sure how I would like it. I was pleasantly surprised!
Enemies to lovers is my favorite trope and this was filled with so many good and fun stories in one place. I felt like while there was this common theme, there was variety in the plots and characters of each different adventure. I will definitely read another anthology like this in the future!
November 11, 2024
Intriguing short stories that took me on some interesting adventures - all different and all exciting.
Each tale involve something different. I discovered action, romance, emotions, intrigue, betrayal, mystery, drama, adventure, magic, interactions/banter, and twists throughout the book. Great mix of authors and a great way to discover new authors.
Each tale involve something different. I discovered action, romance, emotions, intrigue, betrayal, mystery, drama, adventure, magic, interactions/banter, and twists throughout the book. Great mix of authors and a great way to discover new authors.
November 6, 2024
I really enjoyed this collection of enemies to lovers short stories. Many different authors to read. Each story has a different journey to reach their character's HEA. I love getting a glimpse of the author's writing to find new favorites. Highly recommend to everyone.
November 8, 2024
T. S. Devon
Romantic Realms: Hearts at War: An Enemies to Lovers Fantasy Romance Anthology
Great Anthology!
Featuring stories from:
Brandi Elledge
Brooke Clonts
Evelina Griggs
Harper Lynn
Jacqueline Pawl
Michelle Helen Fritz
Nicole Zoltack
Shae Merritt
Sophea Chan
T. S. Devon
Romantic Realms: Hearts at War: An Enemies to Lovers Fantasy Romance Anthology
Great Anthology!
Featuring stories from:
Brandi Elledge
Brooke Clonts
Evelina Griggs
Harper Lynn
Jacqueline Pawl
Michelle Helen Fritz
Nicole Zoltack
Shae Merritt
Sophea Chan
T. S. Devon
November 8, 2024
I enjoyed this book, was a tad bit sad there was no open door romance scenes, i.e. No Spice, however this was a good way to sample authors that you could be interested in. It is a good set of stories and I really enjoyed them!
October 30, 2024
Found new authors! Loved Brandi’s book. Wondering if it’ll be a full story or not. Hopefully it will be.
November 8, 2024
What a great way to find a new author you might like. This book has so many different ones to choose from. I liked some stories more than others but that’s the beauty of this. You get to know who you really want to seek out and binge all of their books. Brandi Elledge’s was by far my favorite!
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