What do you think?
Rate this book
The Secret Romantic's Book of Magic
Enemies become lovers, rivalry turns to romance, and convenient marriages create true love in these 12 addictive Romantasy tales.
Featuring Olivie Blake, Kelley Armstrong, Katherine Arden, Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Tasha Suri, Melissa Marr and more.
Fall in love with these 12 gorgeous romantasy stories from bestselling and beloved authors.
Lost lovers return for a second chance - but what are their motives? Academic rivals compete for a prestigious position, but their sizzling chemistry might get in the way. A monster slayer posing as an unwitting sacrifice meets an intriguingly moral prince.
From relationships caught on disparate timelines to ghostly ballrooms and dragons that need rescuing from princesses, this anthology gives you an inventive new spin on all your favorite tropes and much more you've never seen before.
Featuring stories
Olivie Blake
Kelley Armstrong
Katherine Arden
Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Tasha Suri
Melissa Marr
Megan Bannen
A. G. Slatter
A. C. Wise
Kelly Andrew
Kamilah Cole
Eliza Chan
Featuring Olivie Blake, Kelley Armstrong, Katherine Arden, Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Tasha Suri, Melissa Marr and more.
Fall in love with these 12 gorgeous romantasy stories from bestselling and beloved authors.
Lost lovers return for a second chance - but what are their motives? Academic rivals compete for a prestigious position, but their sizzling chemistry might get in the way. A monster slayer posing as an unwitting sacrifice meets an intriguingly moral prince.
From relationships caught on disparate timelines to ghostly ballrooms and dragons that need rescuing from princesses, this anthology gives you an inventive new spin on all your favorite tropes and much more you've never seen before.
Featuring stories
Olivie Blake
Kelley Armstrong
Katherine Arden
Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Tasha Suri
Melissa Marr
Megan Bannen
A. G. Slatter
A. C. Wise
Kelly Andrew
Kamilah Cole
Eliza Chan
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 24, 2025
189 people are currently reading
3784 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
July 6, 2025
When the real world feels like a never-ending dumpster fire, sometimes the only sensible option is to disappear into a book that feels like a hug and this anthology delivered exactly that.
Nonetheless, writing a believable romance and a rich fantasy world in short story form is a real balancing act. And The Secret Romantic’s Book of Magic is an anthology, so every story’s working with limited space.
Therefore, I went into this collection with my expectations managed and my ratings liberal. I factored in brevity, so consider my stars generous.
Some stories did wonders in spite of brevity. Some stories were tender, others were fierce. Some were cheeky, some were cute, some were subversive, some I struggled to connect with and some needed more space to develop.
The theme here is love in all its messy, magical, melancholic forms. From non-binary dragons and the destruction of the environment via beauty capitalism and Big Pharma (A.C. Wise), to a witch kidnapping a mortal to prove kindness exists and win a bet (Hannah N. Maehrer), to cottagecore secret island aesthetics with sentient library books that giggle and gossip (Kamilah Cole), to magical rivals trapped in a destructive murderous time loop (Kelly Andrew), to a subversive, feminist virgin-sacrifice story (Kelley Armstrong), this anthology gave me so much inclusivity, diversity and range in premise, characters, tropes, worlds and plot.
The Dubious Ladies of Mirador (Melissa Marr) gave us this fun banter, which is worth mentioning alone for these lines:
"I was sent to kill you."
"I will give you a little death as often as you want."
Tasha Suri’s contribution delivered sapphic yearning and heartbreak in such a compressed space, that I now need to read her entire backlist, plus her upcoming The Isle in the Silver Sea ASAP. Other new-to-me spellbinding, twisty authors I need more of in my life are Kamilah Cole, Katherine Arden, A.G. Slatter and Megan Bannen.
I applaud the range of flavours, the commitment to inclusivity that felt intentional, not performative, and the stories that made my cynical little heart warm up.
Your favourites may vary from mine, but with this much variety, there’s probably something in here for just about everyone. Ratings for individual stories below.
1. The Fall Guy | By Olivie Blake | ★★★☆☆
2. The Dubious Ladies of Mirador | By Melissa Marr | ★★★★☆ 🏳️🌈
3. Until December | By Kelly Andrew | ★★★★★
4. The King's Witch | By Tasha Suri | ★★★★★ 🏳️🌈
5. Designated Virgin Sacrifice | By Kelley Armstrong | ★★★★★
6. Second Class Magic | By Kamilah Cole | ★★★★★ 🏳️🌈
7. Bamboo, Ink, Paper, Clay | By Eliza Chan | ★★★☆☆
8. Slay the Princess, Save the Dragon | By A. C. Wise | ★★★☆☆ 🏳️🌈
9. San't Marten's Book of Mild Melancholy | By A. G. Slatter | ★★★★★
10. Good Deeds and Their Magical Punishments | By Hannah Nicole Maehrer | ★★★★☆
11. The Larkspur | By Megan Bannen | ★★★★☆
12. Rosebud | By Katherine Arden | ★★★★★
A huge thanks to NetGalley & Titan Books for the advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review!
﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏
I said "No more anthologies" and I meant it... unless it specifically has Olivie Blake, Tasha Suri and Katherine Arden in it.
Nonetheless, writing a believable romance and a rich fantasy world in short story form is a real balancing act. And The Secret Romantic’s Book of Magic is an anthology, so every story’s working with limited space.
Therefore, I went into this collection with my expectations managed and my ratings liberal. I factored in brevity, so consider my stars generous.
Some stories did wonders in spite of brevity. Some stories were tender, others were fierce. Some were cheeky, some were cute, some were subversive, some I struggled to connect with and some needed more space to develop.
The theme here is love in all its messy, magical, melancholic forms. From non-binary dragons and the destruction of the environment via beauty capitalism and Big Pharma (A.C. Wise), to a witch kidnapping a mortal to prove kindness exists and win a bet (Hannah N. Maehrer), to cottagecore secret island aesthetics with sentient library books that giggle and gossip (Kamilah Cole), to magical rivals trapped in a destructive murderous time loop (Kelly Andrew), to a subversive, feminist virgin-sacrifice story (Kelley Armstrong), this anthology gave me so much inclusivity, diversity and range in premise, characters, tropes, worlds and plot.
The Dubious Ladies of Mirador (Melissa Marr) gave us this fun banter, which is worth mentioning alone for these lines:
"I was sent to kill you."
"I will give you a little death as often as you want."
Tasha Suri’s contribution delivered sapphic yearning and heartbreak in such a compressed space, that I now need to read her entire backlist, plus her upcoming The Isle in the Silver Sea ASAP. Other new-to-me spellbinding, twisty authors I need more of in my life are Kamilah Cole, Katherine Arden, A.G. Slatter and Megan Bannen.
I applaud the range of flavours, the commitment to inclusivity that felt intentional, not performative, and the stories that made my cynical little heart warm up.
Your favourites may vary from mine, but with this much variety, there’s probably something in here for just about everyone. Ratings for individual stories below.
1. The Fall Guy | By Olivie Blake | ★★★☆☆
2. The Dubious Ladies of Mirador | By Melissa Marr | ★★★★☆ 🏳️🌈
3. Until December | By Kelly Andrew | ★★★★★
4. The King's Witch | By Tasha Suri | ★★★★★ 🏳️🌈
5. Designated Virgin Sacrifice | By Kelley Armstrong | ★★★★★
6. Second Class Magic | By Kamilah Cole | ★★★★★ 🏳️🌈
7. Bamboo, Ink, Paper, Clay | By Eliza Chan | ★★★☆☆
8. Slay the Princess, Save the Dragon | By A. C. Wise | ★★★☆☆ 🏳️🌈
9. San't Marten's Book of Mild Melancholy | By A. G. Slatter | ★★★★★
10. Good Deeds and Their Magical Punishments | By Hannah Nicole Maehrer | ★★★★☆
11. The Larkspur | By Megan Bannen | ★★★★☆
12. Rosebud | By Katherine Arden | ★★★★★
A huge thanks to NetGalley & Titan Books for the advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review!
﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏
I said "No more anthologies" and I meant it... unless it specifically has Olivie Blake, Tasha Suri and Katherine Arden in it.
July 9, 2025
3.375 stars — A little magic, a lot of missed potential.
🪄 The Secret Romantic’s Book of Magic is that kind of anthology that sounds like a dream—romantasy, enemies-to-lovers, academic rivals, secret identities, fae and witches...literally a checklist of everything I love. But in execution? It felt more like a sampler platter where most of the flavors just didn’t quite hit.
Some stories sparked, a few lingered, but a lot of them faded into forgettable outlines of what could’ve been full-fledged novels. And maybe that’s on me—I’m realizing short stories don’t give me enough time to feel the love. The tension, the pining, the payoff—it just wasn’t fleshed out.
Here’s what stood out:
💖 Until December by Kelly Andrew — 4 stars
Hands down my favorite. Atmospheric, strange, romantic in that slow-burn, academic tension kind of way. I would eat up a full-length novel set in this world. Obsessed.
✨ San’t Marten’s Book of Mild Melancholy by A.G. Slatter — 4 stars
Quiet, eerie, and surprisingly emotional. The setting was haunting in the best way, and I genuinely felt like I was stepping into a well-built world.
🌿 Good Deeds and Their Magical Punishments by Hannah Nicole Maehrer — 4.25 stars
This one was just fun. A little messy, a little unhinged, but it had that classic portal fantasy charm and a very chaotic fae prince I unexpectedly loved.
⚰️ The Larkspur by Megan Bannen — 3.75 stars
I loved the vibes here—sad, soft, and rooted in mortality. Didn’t completely shatter me, but it left a gentle ache in my chest.
🧛♀️ The Dubious Ladies of Mirador by Melissa Marr — 3.5 stars
Instant connection that almost veered into absurd, but the vibes?? Sapphic vampire drama with combat nun energy. I was into it.
🌹 Rosebud by Katherine Arden — 3.5 stars
Dreamy, historical, and melancholic. Not exactly romantic, but it had that yearning feel that still counts. A haunting note to end the anthology on.
But on the flip side...
🪞 The Fall Guy by Olivie Blake — 2.5 stars
Disjointed, overly stylized, and confusing. I wanted to love it, but I couldn’t connect.
👑 The King’s Witch by Tasha Suri — 2.5 stars
It had potential, but the love story felt completely off-page. Like we skipped the romance and just got the consequences.
🍃 Bamboo, Ink, Paper, Clay by Eliza Chan — 3 stars
Beautiful prose, but I was lost. A story trying to do too much in too few pages.
🐉 Slay the Princess, Save the Dragon by A.C. Wise — 3 stars
Cute in theory but didn’t quite land emotionally. Felt very YA and a little flat.
🪙 Designated Virgin Sacrifice by Kelley Armstrong — 3 stars
Witty and self-aware, but a little too cheesy by the end for my taste.
📖 Second Class Magic by Kamilah Cole — 3.5 stars
Sweet, but got overshadowed by similar tropes done better elsewhere in the collection.
Final thoughts: This anthology promised romance + fantasy magic, but delivered more fizz than spark. There were glimpses of greatness—stories that stirred something—but most were undercooked. It’s not a bad read if you go in with modest expectations and treat it like a tasting board, but don’t expect to be swept off your feet.
A handful of gems, a few duds, and a reminder that I like my love stories long, complicated, and emotionally drawn-out.
━━━━━━━━━━━⊱♡⊰━━━━━━━━━━
Okay but I’m actually so hyped for this. I haven’t read many anthologies—maybe 3 or 4 tops—but this?? This one feels like it’s made for me.
Enemies to lovers? Second-chance love?? Secret identity + hidden magic??? YES PLS.
I’ve only read Hannah Nicole Maehrer before, but I’m ready to dive into every single story here.
Academic rivalry with a side of tension?
Fae + witchy vibes?? Found family & ghostly ballrooms???
Yeah. I'm in.
If this doesn’t revive my romantasy obsession, nothing will.
🖤 12 stories.
🔮 12 chances to fall in love.
Bring on the spells, the angst, and the forbidden kisses.
🪄 The Secret Romantic’s Book of Magic is that kind of anthology that sounds like a dream—romantasy, enemies-to-lovers, academic rivals, secret identities, fae and witches...literally a checklist of everything I love. But in execution? It felt more like a sampler platter where most of the flavors just didn’t quite hit.
Some stories sparked, a few lingered, but a lot of them faded into forgettable outlines of what could’ve been full-fledged novels. And maybe that’s on me—I’m realizing short stories don’t give me enough time to feel the love. The tension, the pining, the payoff—it just wasn’t fleshed out.
Here’s what stood out:
💖 Until December by Kelly Andrew — 4 stars
Hands down my favorite. Atmospheric, strange, romantic in that slow-burn, academic tension kind of way. I would eat up a full-length novel set in this world. Obsessed.
✨ San’t Marten’s Book of Mild Melancholy by A.G. Slatter — 4 stars
Quiet, eerie, and surprisingly emotional. The setting was haunting in the best way, and I genuinely felt like I was stepping into a well-built world.
🌿 Good Deeds and Their Magical Punishments by Hannah Nicole Maehrer — 4.25 stars
This one was just fun. A little messy, a little unhinged, but it had that classic portal fantasy charm and a very chaotic fae prince I unexpectedly loved.
⚰️ The Larkspur by Megan Bannen — 3.75 stars
I loved the vibes here—sad, soft, and rooted in mortality. Didn’t completely shatter me, but it left a gentle ache in my chest.
🧛♀️ The Dubious Ladies of Mirador by Melissa Marr — 3.5 stars
Instant connection that almost veered into absurd, but the vibes?? Sapphic vampire drama with combat nun energy. I was into it.
🌹 Rosebud by Katherine Arden — 3.5 stars
Dreamy, historical, and melancholic. Not exactly romantic, but it had that yearning feel that still counts. A haunting note to end the anthology on.
But on the flip side...
🪞 The Fall Guy by Olivie Blake — 2.5 stars
Disjointed, overly stylized, and confusing. I wanted to love it, but I couldn’t connect.
👑 The King’s Witch by Tasha Suri — 2.5 stars
It had potential, but the love story felt completely off-page. Like we skipped the romance and just got the consequences.
🍃 Bamboo, Ink, Paper, Clay by Eliza Chan — 3 stars
Beautiful prose, but I was lost. A story trying to do too much in too few pages.
🐉 Slay the Princess, Save the Dragon by A.C. Wise — 3 stars
Cute in theory but didn’t quite land emotionally. Felt very YA and a little flat.
🪙 Designated Virgin Sacrifice by Kelley Armstrong — 3 stars
Witty and self-aware, but a little too cheesy by the end for my taste.
📖 Second Class Magic by Kamilah Cole — 3.5 stars
Sweet, but got overshadowed by similar tropes done better elsewhere in the collection.
Final thoughts: This anthology promised romance + fantasy magic, but delivered more fizz than spark. There were glimpses of greatness—stories that stirred something—but most were undercooked. It’s not a bad read if you go in with modest expectations and treat it like a tasting board, but don’t expect to be swept off your feet.
A handful of gems, a few duds, and a reminder that I like my love stories long, complicated, and emotionally drawn-out.
━━━━━━━━━━━⊱♡⊰━━━━━━━━━━
Okay but I’m actually so hyped for this. I haven’t read many anthologies—maybe 3 or 4 tops—but this?? This one feels like it’s made for me.
Enemies to lovers? Second-chance love?? Secret identity + hidden magic??? YES PLS.
I’ve only read Hannah Nicole Maehrer before, but I’m ready to dive into every single story here.
Academic rivalry with a side of tension?
Fae + witchy vibes?? Found family & ghostly ballrooms???
Yeah. I'm in.
If this doesn’t revive my romantasy obsession, nothing will.
🖤 12 stories.
🔮 12 chances to fall in love.
Bring on the spells, the angst, and the forbidden kisses.
May 11, 2025
The buzziest names writing in fantasy right now decided to show us love in all its wonderful, weirdest, inclusive forms!
THE FALL GUY BY OLIVIE BLAKE
Mer’s split-second decision to intervene in Lady Lilari’s kidnapping is so hopeless and stupid it ruins him for life.
Two extreme characters who are dealt lots in life they want more from.
Imagine if he said that. If he got down on his knees and said Lilari, fuck the empire and their promises of sorcery and power, I’ll die with you in poverty and treason if that’s what you ask. Can you imagine? If he said I’ll die for you, how could she say anything short of okay cool, then die?
THE DUBIOUS LADIES OF MIRADOR BY MARISSA MEYER
A convent sister trained in combat and seduction, make-up and manners is sent to deal with Christabel, Lady of Mirador who may or not be a vampire.
This is sapphic, wild, and fun.
Beautiful and deadly? She was exactly my type.
“I don’t love you.”
“Yet.”
“I was sent to kill you,” Alwen pointed out.
“I will give you a little death as often as you want. Will that satisfy this obsession with killing?” Mirador’s eyes glittered at this short distance.
UNTIL DECEMBER BY KELLY ANDREW
Magical university rivals caught in a deadly countdown.
Major The Atlas Six Vibes, perhaps that is why it stood out to me. Plus, academic rivals is always a beloved troupe.
“You make it sound like my soul was searching for yours,” she says. “That’s not science, Orson. That’s poetry.”
THE KING’s WISH BY TASHA SURI
I was let down by this one :(
The new King chooses Silver as his new bride who is still grieving an old friend, lover, flame.
If you have read Suri before, this is definitely HER. Her style, longing, twists.
I do not know how this wolf of a woman can look at me with such hunger, such avarice, as if I am as silver as my name.
DESIGNATED VIRGIN SACRIFICE BY KELLY ARMSTRONG
My FAVOURITE of the collection.
This is literally what I wrote my dissertation on: the supervision of fairytale and narrative troupes. I loved it.
SECOND CLASS MAGIC BY KAMILAH COLE
Another magical academic rivals story competing for a position of a professional assistant. Sadly, because of repetition, I wanted something completely new.
If Jesy Bellchant was a tornado, then Margot was a wooden shack on the plains. There was no escaping the devastating force of her.
BAMBOO, INK, PAPER, CLAY BY ELIZA CHAN
Sadly, my least favourite of the collection. I just found it so boring. It’s basically a story about setting expectations about the greatest living story.
She was tired of being told what her future looked like. By the father who did not want her to want, and yet laid the burden of his sacrifice upon her back. By the ex-lover who sought to mould her in an image not of her own choosing. And even now, by the man she loved, who wanted to make promises for a future that was not certain.
SLAY THE PRINCESS, SAVE THE PRINCESS BY A. C. WISE
Possibly one of my other favourites.
Another case of subversion where a girl decides to tutor the school’s princess in order to steal her dragon.
SAINT MARTEN’S BOOK OF MILD MELANCHOLY BY A. G. SLATTER
Necromancy, royal intrigue, assassins, and demons.
This was probably my second FAVOURITE. A very satisfying story with great characters in such a short span.
GOOD DEEDS AND THEIR MAGICAL PUNISHMENT BY HANNAH NICOLE MAHRER
Portal fantasy with a done-with-everyone’s-BS waitress and a fae prince who doesn’t believe in human kindness.
I thought it was quirky, but it was very predictable and I was kinda bored.
THE LARKSPUR BY MEGAN BANNEN
‘The Larkspur’ is set in the same world as her novel The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, but you don’t have to have read that for this.
I love how Bannen writes chaotic, misunderstood and misunderstanding characters.
A loose reimagining The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery.
ROSEBUD BY KATHERINE ARDEN
Very similar in tone to The Warm Hands of Ghosts. Another story surrounding war and lost love. Another bitter ending.
Overall, a great collection and the time flew past as I read it. Most of these were good four stars.
Arc gifted by Titan Books.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
THE FALL GUY BY OLIVIE BLAKE
Mer’s split-second decision to intervene in Lady Lilari’s kidnapping is so hopeless and stupid it ruins him for life.
Two extreme characters who are dealt lots in life they want more from.
Imagine if he said that. If he got down on his knees and said Lilari, fuck the empire and their promises of sorcery and power, I’ll die with you in poverty and treason if that’s what you ask. Can you imagine? If he said I’ll die for you, how could she say anything short of okay cool, then die?
THE DUBIOUS LADIES OF MIRADOR BY MARISSA MEYER
A convent sister trained in combat and seduction, make-up and manners is sent to deal with Christabel, Lady of Mirador who may or not be a vampire.
This is sapphic, wild, and fun.
Beautiful and deadly? She was exactly my type.
“I don’t love you.”
“Yet.”
“I was sent to kill you,” Alwen pointed out.
“I will give you a little death as often as you want. Will that satisfy this obsession with killing?” Mirador’s eyes glittered at this short distance.
UNTIL DECEMBER BY KELLY ANDREW
Magical university rivals caught in a deadly countdown.
Major The Atlas Six Vibes, perhaps that is why it stood out to me. Plus, academic rivals is always a beloved troupe.
“You make it sound like my soul was searching for yours,” she says. “That’s not science, Orson. That’s poetry.”
THE KING’s WISH BY TASHA SURI
I was let down by this one :(
The new King chooses Silver as his new bride who is still grieving an old friend, lover, flame.
If you have read Suri before, this is definitely HER. Her style, longing, twists.
I do not know how this wolf of a woman can look at me with such hunger, such avarice, as if I am as silver as my name.
DESIGNATED VIRGIN SACRIFICE BY KELLY ARMSTRONG
My FAVOURITE of the collection.
This is literally what I wrote my dissertation on: the supervision of fairytale and narrative troupes. I loved it.
SECOND CLASS MAGIC BY KAMILAH COLE
Another magical academic rivals story competing for a position of a professional assistant. Sadly, because of repetition, I wanted something completely new.
If Jesy Bellchant was a tornado, then Margot was a wooden shack on the plains. There was no escaping the devastating force of her.
BAMBOO, INK, PAPER, CLAY BY ELIZA CHAN
Sadly, my least favourite of the collection. I just found it so boring. It’s basically a story about setting expectations about the greatest living story.
She was tired of being told what her future looked like. By the father who did not want her to want, and yet laid the burden of his sacrifice upon her back. By the ex-lover who sought to mould her in an image not of her own choosing. And even now, by the man she loved, who wanted to make promises for a future that was not certain.
SLAY THE PRINCESS, SAVE THE PRINCESS BY A. C. WISE
Possibly one of my other favourites.
Another case of subversion where a girl decides to tutor the school’s princess in order to steal her dragon.
SAINT MARTEN’S BOOK OF MILD MELANCHOLY BY A. G. SLATTER
Necromancy, royal intrigue, assassins, and demons.
This was probably my second FAVOURITE. A very satisfying story with great characters in such a short span.
GOOD DEEDS AND THEIR MAGICAL PUNISHMENT BY HANNAH NICOLE MAHRER
Portal fantasy with a done-with-everyone’s-BS waitress and a fae prince who doesn’t believe in human kindness.
I thought it was quirky, but it was very predictable and I was kinda bored.
THE LARKSPUR BY MEGAN BANNEN
‘The Larkspur’ is set in the same world as her novel The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, but you don’t have to have read that for this.
I love how Bannen writes chaotic, misunderstood and misunderstanding characters.
A loose reimagining The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery.
ROSEBUD BY KATHERINE ARDEN
Very similar in tone to The Warm Hands of Ghosts. Another story surrounding war and lost love. Another bitter ending.
Overall, a great collection and the time flew past as I read it. Most of these were good four stars.
Arc gifted by Titan Books.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
December 16, 2025
Anthologies are always a bit of an unusual reading experience for me. I DNF’d 2, didn’t like 6 of them as I felt they were dragging. I loved one (Tasha Suri’s story I would reread) and liked 4. I think a 3 stars rating is fitting.
❀ 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒻𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝑔𝓊𝓎 ~𝒪𝓁𝒾𝓋𝒾𝑒 𝐵𝓁𝒶𝓀𝑒 DNF
❀ 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒹𝓊𝒷𝒾𝑜𝓊𝓈 𝓁𝒶𝒹𝒾𝑒𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝓂𝒾𝓇𝒶𝒹𝑜𝓇 ~𝑀𝑒𝓁𝒾𝓈𝓈𝒶 𝑀𝒶𝓇𝓇
★ ★ ★
❀ 𝒰𝓃𝓉𝒾𝓁 𝒟𝑒𝒸𝑒𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇 ~𝒦𝑒𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝒜𝓃𝒹𝓇𝑒𝓌 ★ ★ ★
ᥫ᭡。𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒦𝒾𝓃𝑔’𝓈 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒸𝒽 ~𝒯𝒶𝓈𝒽𝒶 𝒮𝓊𝓇𝒾 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
❀ 𝒟𝑒𝓈𝒾𝑔𝓃𝒶𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝓋𝒾𝓇𝑔𝒾𝓃 𝓈𝒶𝒸𝓇𝒾𝒻𝒾𝒸𝑒 ~ 𝒦𝑒𝓁𝓁𝑒𝓎 𝒜𝓇𝓂𝓈𝓉𝓇𝑜𝓃𝑔 ★ ★ ★ ★
❀ 𝒮𝑒𝒸𝑜𝓃𝒹 𝒸𝓁𝒶𝓈𝓈 𝓂𝒶𝑔𝒾𝒸 ~𝒦𝒶𝓂𝒾𝓁𝒶𝒽 𝒞𝑜𝓁𝑒 ★ ★ ★
❀ 𝐵𝒶𝓂𝒷𝑜𝑜, 𝒾𝓃𝓀, 𝓅𝒶𝓅𝑒𝓇, 𝒸𝓁𝒶𝓎 ~ 𝐸𝓁𝒾𝓏𝒶 𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓃 DNF
❀ 𝒮𝓁𝒶𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓅𝓇𝒾𝓃𝒸𝑒𝓈𝓈, 𝓈𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒹𝓇𝒶𝑔𝑜𝓃 ~ 𝒜𝒞 𝒲𝒾𝓈𝑒
★ ★ ★
❀ 𝒮𝒶𝓃’𝓉 𝑀𝒶𝓇𝓉𝑒𝓃’𝓈 𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝑜𝒻 𝓂𝒾𝓁𝒹 𝓂𝑒𝓁𝒶𝓃𝒸𝒽𝑜𝓁𝓎 ~𝒜𝒢 𝒮𝓁𝒶𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇 ★ ★ ★ ★
❀ 𝒢𝑜𝑜𝒹 𝒹𝑒𝑒𝒹𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝒾𝓇 𝓂𝒶𝑔𝒾𝒸𝒶𝓁 𝓅𝓊𝓃𝒾𝓈𝒽𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓈 ~ 𝐻𝒶𝓃𝓃𝒶𝒽 𝒩𝒾𝒸𝑜𝓁𝑒 𝑀𝒶𝑒𝒽𝓇𝑒𝓇 ★ ★
❀ 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝓁𝒶𝓇𝓀𝓈𝓅𝓊𝓇 ~𝑀𝑒𝑔𝒶𝓃 𝐵𝓇𝒶𝓃𝓃𝑒𝓃 ★ ★ ★
❀ 𝑅𝑜𝓈𝑒𝒷𝓊𝒹 ~ 𝒦𝒶𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑒 𝒜𝓇𝒹𝑒𝓃 ★ ★ ★ ★
❀ 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒻𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝑔𝓊𝓎 ~𝒪𝓁𝒾𝓋𝒾𝑒 𝐵𝓁𝒶𝓀𝑒 DNF
❀ 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒹𝓊𝒷𝒾𝑜𝓊𝓈 𝓁𝒶𝒹𝒾𝑒𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝓂𝒾𝓇𝒶𝒹𝑜𝓇 ~𝑀𝑒𝓁𝒾𝓈𝓈𝒶 𝑀𝒶𝓇𝓇
★ ★ ★
❀ 𝒰𝓃𝓉𝒾𝓁 𝒟𝑒𝒸𝑒𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇 ~𝒦𝑒𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝒜𝓃𝒹𝓇𝑒𝓌 ★ ★ ★
ᥫ᭡。𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒦𝒾𝓃𝑔’𝓈 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒸𝒽 ~𝒯𝒶𝓈𝒽𝒶 𝒮𝓊𝓇𝒾 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
❀ 𝒟𝑒𝓈𝒾𝑔𝓃𝒶𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝓋𝒾𝓇𝑔𝒾𝓃 𝓈𝒶𝒸𝓇𝒾𝒻𝒾𝒸𝑒 ~ 𝒦𝑒𝓁𝓁𝑒𝓎 𝒜𝓇𝓂𝓈𝓉𝓇𝑜𝓃𝑔 ★ ★ ★ ★
❀ 𝒮𝑒𝒸𝑜𝓃𝒹 𝒸𝓁𝒶𝓈𝓈 𝓂𝒶𝑔𝒾𝒸 ~𝒦𝒶𝓂𝒾𝓁𝒶𝒽 𝒞𝑜𝓁𝑒 ★ ★ ★
❀ 𝐵𝒶𝓂𝒷𝑜𝑜, 𝒾𝓃𝓀, 𝓅𝒶𝓅𝑒𝓇, 𝒸𝓁𝒶𝓎 ~ 𝐸𝓁𝒾𝓏𝒶 𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓃 DNF
❀ 𝒮𝓁𝒶𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓅𝓇𝒾𝓃𝒸𝑒𝓈𝓈, 𝓈𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒹𝓇𝒶𝑔𝑜𝓃 ~ 𝒜𝒞 𝒲𝒾𝓈𝑒
★ ★ ★
❀ 𝒮𝒶𝓃’𝓉 𝑀𝒶𝓇𝓉𝑒𝓃’𝓈 𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝑜𝒻 𝓂𝒾𝓁𝒹 𝓂𝑒𝓁𝒶𝓃𝒸𝒽𝑜𝓁𝓎 ~𝒜𝒢 𝒮𝓁𝒶𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇 ★ ★ ★ ★
❀ 𝒢𝑜𝑜𝒹 𝒹𝑒𝑒𝒹𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝒾𝓇 𝓂𝒶𝑔𝒾𝒸𝒶𝓁 𝓅𝓊𝓃𝒾𝓈𝒽𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓈 ~ 𝐻𝒶𝓃𝓃𝒶𝒽 𝒩𝒾𝒸𝑜𝓁𝑒 𝑀𝒶𝑒𝒽𝓇𝑒𝓇 ★ ★
❀ 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝓁𝒶𝓇𝓀𝓈𝓅𝓊𝓇 ~𝑀𝑒𝑔𝒶𝓃 𝐵𝓇𝒶𝓃𝓃𝑒𝓃 ★ ★ ★
❀ 𝑅𝑜𝓈𝑒𝒷𝓊𝒹 ~ 𝒦𝒶𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑒 𝒜𝓇𝒹𝑒𝓃 ★ ★ ★ ★
May 26, 2025
So, I'm 40% of the way through my e-ARC, and all of the stories I've read so far have been fun, but OMG: Tasha Suri's "The King's Witch" is an absolute dagger-through-the-heart triumph, SO gorgeously swoony and romantic it completely blew me away and made me breathless as I read.
I'll be re-reading that story often!
And I'm diving back into the anthology now. :)
**
...Coming back at the end: this is a FABULOUS anthology. I normally read anthologies in small bites with lots of time between each story, but this one I devoured in less than 48 hours! There's a lot of variety in the 12 stories; I really liked 10 out of the 12, and there were fun elements in the other stories, too - I'm sure other readers will name those as their favorites.
It feels too difficult to break down "favorite" stories, but I sooo enjoyed this whole book, and it led me to look up two new-to-me authors - Kamilah Cole and Kelly Andrew - to read their full books as I enjoyed their stories so much. (And of course I've already read and loved novels from many of the other authors whose stories I loved here!)
I was lucky enough to get an e-ARC of this one, but I am now planning to get a print copy as well once it's published. Definitely a book I'll enjoy re-reading in the future!
I'll be re-reading that story often!
And I'm diving back into the anthology now. :)
**
...Coming back at the end: this is a FABULOUS anthology. I normally read anthologies in small bites with lots of time between each story, but this one I devoured in less than 48 hours! There's a lot of variety in the 12 stories; I really liked 10 out of the 12, and there were fun elements in the other stories, too - I'm sure other readers will name those as their favorites.
It feels too difficult to break down "favorite" stories, but I sooo enjoyed this whole book, and it led me to look up two new-to-me authors - Kamilah Cole and Kelly Andrew - to read their full books as I enjoyed their stories so much. (And of course I've already read and loved novels from many of the other authors whose stories I loved here!)
I was lucky enough to get an e-ARC of this one, but I am now planning to get a print copy as well once it's published. Definitely a book I'll enjoy re-reading in the future!
August 11, 2025
Avg. rating 3.17 stars
I find rating anthologies so weird. There's a good few 5 star favs that make me want to rate this higher as a whole, but the average doesn't lie so 3 stars it is.
Favourites:
The Larkspur by Megan Bannen - 5 Stars
Rosebud by Katherine Arden - 5 Stars
The King's Witch by Tasha Suri - 5 Stars
Good:
The Dubious Ladies of Mirador by Melissa Marr - 4 stars
Good Deeds and Their Magical Punishments by Hannah Nicole Maehrer - 3.5 Stars
The Fall Guy by Olivie Blake - 3.5 stars
Designated Virgin Sacrifice by Kelley Armstrong - 3 Stars
Slay the Princess, Save the Dragon by A.C. Wise - 3 Stars
Meh:
Second Class Magic by Kamilah Cole - 2 Stars
San't Marten's Book of Mild Melancholy by A.G. Slatter - 2 Stars
The Worst™:
Until December by Kelley Armstrong- 1 Star
Bamboo, Ink, Paper, Clay by Eliza Chan - 1 Star
I find rating anthologies so weird. There's a good few 5 star favs that make me want to rate this higher as a whole, but the average doesn't lie so 3 stars it is.
Favourites:
The Larkspur by Megan Bannen - 5 Stars
Rosebud by Katherine Arden - 5 Stars
The King's Witch by Tasha Suri - 5 Stars
Good:
The Dubious Ladies of Mirador by Melissa Marr - 4 stars
Good Deeds and Their Magical Punishments by Hannah Nicole Maehrer - 3.5 Stars
The Fall Guy by Olivie Blake - 3.5 stars
Designated Virgin Sacrifice by Kelley Armstrong - 3 Stars
Slay the Princess, Save the Dragon by A.C. Wise - 3 Stars
Meh:
Second Class Magic by Kamilah Cole - 2 Stars
San't Marten's Book of Mild Melancholy by A.G. Slatter - 2 Stars
The Worst™:
Until December by Kelley Armstrong- 1 Star
Bamboo, Ink, Paper, Clay by Eliza Chan - 1 Star
June 29, 2025
3.5 stars. some stories i loved and others that were a bit of a drag but overall pretty good!
July 5, 2025
Short stories are tough. It takes a talented author to tell a story in a tight package and this anthology makes that clear. I requested this because Kelley Armstrong, Katherine Arden, and Meagan Bannen are on the author list. I know Kelley’s work and her novellas are fantastic, so I expect she’ll write a great short story. My review is my thoughts as I read…
⭐️The Fall Guy by Olivie Blake - The premise is confusing. This is romance-first, world-building second. Mer is the MMC and seems to be a magician/scribe. Lilari is the FMC who seems to be marrying for convenience or safety, but for some reason, she needs to steal a necklace? She might be an aristocrat or a pirate? This is unclear, but there’s an info dump towards the end that kind of explains this. Mer is going to help her do this as a masked ball.
I never read The Atlas Six and the writing here doesn’t compel me to.
⭐️The Dubious Ladies of Mirador by Melissa Marr - This story starts well, but we once again have an unclear premise when the opening scene ends. A convent seems to train nuns for espionage. A novice named Alwen is being sent on a mission. Then we have Christabel, “Lady of Mirador,” a woman in a castle with eagles? Alwen is supposed to kill Christabel. Maybe. Or maybe they’ll get married.
⭐️⭐️⭐️Until December by Kelly Andrew - College student rivals who study the same magical concept, “drifting.” It’s a sort of time travel with entering others’ minds. While it takes a bit to understand what’s happening and the solution to their problem isn’t explained well, the story is interesting and holds your attention.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫The King’s Witch by Tasha Suri - A witch is chosen to marry a new ruler, but because travel is dangerous, she marries a priest by proxy. She is in love with someone she met a few years ago, but that person was killed by guards…or were they? Super short, but well done.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Disgraced Virgin Sacrifice by Kelley Armstrong - it’s no surprise that this wash favorite of all the stories. A gryphon will stop terrorizing a town of a virgin princess is sacrificed to it. The FMC is a monster-slayer who pretends to be an innocent virgin to get to the royals. No spoilers, but this turns a trope-y story on its ear. It even manages to have some social critique, humor, and a little romance.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫Second Class Magic by Kamilah Cole - Former friends and now rival researchers both aspire to a job on a mysterious island, working as assistant a powerful magician. They get a two month trial on the island and become reconnected. The fact that they used to be friends makes the romance that blossoms during the trial believable. A little thin on magic once they get on the island.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 Bamboo, Ink, Paper, Clay by Eliza Chan - Beautifully written, but the dual timeline and lack of world building makes it hard to understand what’s happening at times. A second chance romance?
⭐️⭐️ Slay the Princess, Save the Dragon by AC Wise - A modern story of the popular, rich girl and the outcast, trailer park dweller becoming friends and more. With a dragon. The characters are in high school and it would probably appeal to a younger audience.
⭐️⭐️⭐️San’t Marten’s Book of Mild Melancholy by AG Slatter - A necromancy story with some good world-building, but the backstory is sped through. The FMC and MMC met prior to the story starting, but I wish there was a little more to that story. Some of the romantic elements are a little too obvious, but subtlety is a personal preference.
⭐️⭐️⭐️Good Deeds and Their Magical Punishments by Hannah Nicole Maehrer - A woman is taken from Manhattan to a magical realm by an aristocrat woman who wants to prove to her son that mortal kindness exists. The son must spend a year in the mortal world because he lost the bet. A little simple in style, but entertaining. I wish more of a time jump was used to make the physical relationship more believable.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️The Larkspur by Megan Bannen - Set in the world of Hart and Mercy (and Bannen’s other recent books), I loved this. I could see a new reader not appreciating the nods to that world.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Rosebud by Katherine Arden - Daughters of a diplomat move to Brussels for their father’s post-WW2 work. They think they’re dreaming when they encounter an early 1800s ball happening in their rental home’s ballroom every night. They find out the house is where the famous Duchess of Richmond’s ball happened the night before Waterloo. They escape to the ball every night, but it’s not exactly an escape.
Reviews are for readers. I received an advanced copy on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️The Fall Guy by Olivie Blake - The premise is confusing. This is romance-first, world-building second. Mer is the MMC and seems to be a magician/scribe. Lilari is the FMC who seems to be marrying for convenience or safety, but for some reason, she needs to steal a necklace? She might be an aristocrat or a pirate? This is unclear, but there’s an info dump towards the end that kind of explains this. Mer is going to help her do this as a masked ball.
I never read The Atlas Six and the writing here doesn’t compel me to.
⭐️The Dubious Ladies of Mirador by Melissa Marr - This story starts well, but we once again have an unclear premise when the opening scene ends. A convent seems to train nuns for espionage. A novice named Alwen is being sent on a mission. Then we have Christabel, “Lady of Mirador,” a woman in a castle with eagles? Alwen is supposed to kill Christabel. Maybe. Or maybe they’ll get married.
⭐️⭐️⭐️Until December by Kelly Andrew - College student rivals who study the same magical concept, “drifting.” It’s a sort of time travel with entering others’ minds. While it takes a bit to understand what’s happening and the solution to their problem isn’t explained well, the story is interesting and holds your attention.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫The King’s Witch by Tasha Suri - A witch is chosen to marry a new ruler, but because travel is dangerous, she marries a priest by proxy. She is in love with someone she met a few years ago, but that person was killed by guards…or were they? Super short, but well done.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Disgraced Virgin Sacrifice by Kelley Armstrong - it’s no surprise that this wash favorite of all the stories. A gryphon will stop terrorizing a town of a virgin princess is sacrificed to it. The FMC is a monster-slayer who pretends to be an innocent virgin to get to the royals. No spoilers, but this turns a trope-y story on its ear. It even manages to have some social critique, humor, and a little romance.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫Second Class Magic by Kamilah Cole - Former friends and now rival researchers both aspire to a job on a mysterious island, working as assistant a powerful magician. They get a two month trial on the island and become reconnected. The fact that they used to be friends makes the romance that blossoms during the trial believable. A little thin on magic once they get on the island.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 Bamboo, Ink, Paper, Clay by Eliza Chan - Beautifully written, but the dual timeline and lack of world building makes it hard to understand what’s happening at times. A second chance romance?
⭐️⭐️ Slay the Princess, Save the Dragon by AC Wise - A modern story of the popular, rich girl and the outcast, trailer park dweller becoming friends and more. With a dragon. The characters are in high school and it would probably appeal to a younger audience.
⭐️⭐️⭐️San’t Marten’s Book of Mild Melancholy by AG Slatter - A necromancy story with some good world-building, but the backstory is sped through. The FMC and MMC met prior to the story starting, but I wish there was a little more to that story. Some of the romantic elements are a little too obvious, but subtlety is a personal preference.
⭐️⭐️⭐️Good Deeds and Their Magical Punishments by Hannah Nicole Maehrer - A woman is taken from Manhattan to a magical realm by an aristocrat woman who wants to prove to her son that mortal kindness exists. The son must spend a year in the mortal world because he lost the bet. A little simple in style, but entertaining. I wish more of a time jump was used to make the physical relationship more believable.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️The Larkspur by Megan Bannen - Set in the world of Hart and Mercy (and Bannen’s other recent books), I loved this. I could see a new reader not appreciating the nods to that world.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Rosebud by Katherine Arden - Daughters of a diplomat move to Brussels for their father’s post-WW2 work. They think they’re dreaming when they encounter an early 1800s ball happening in their rental home’s ballroom every night. They find out the house is where the famous Duchess of Richmond’s ball happened the night before Waterloo. They escape to the ball every night, but it’s not exactly an escape.
Reviews are for readers. I received an advanced copy on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 27, 2025
1) The Fall Guy by Olivie Blake 3/5
Starts right in the middle, confusing because I think the author is trying to introduce too much in too short of time. Still eventually enjoyed, new to me author, would read more.
2) The Dubious Ladies of Mirador by Melissa Marr 3/5
Instalove doesn’t tend to work for me but Mirador herself is hilarious so I liked it. Reminded me a lot of the His Fair Assassin books by Robin LaFevers but lesbian.
3) Until December by Kelly Andrew 5/5
The absolute standout of this anthology. Incredible. A bit Scholomance / Divine Rivals but darker and frankly more romantic.
4) The King’s Witch by Tasha Suri 4/5
I felt like we missed a lot of them falling in love (it happened off page), but WHEW the reunion. I hope one day to read a full length from Lark’s POV cos it would be EPIC!
5) Designated Virgin Sacrifice by Kelley Armstrong 4/5
Kelley Armstrong is a QUEEN. This was so funny and reminded me of her best parter couple from the Otherworld series, Paige and Lucas.
6) Second Class Magic by Kamilah Cole 3/5
This one suffers a bit in comparison with Until December just because it’s another academic rivals story that’s not quite as successful. Jesy could stand to grovel more cos what she said is dickish and Margot had a right to be mad.
7) Bamboo, Ink, Paper, Clay by Eliza Chan 2/5
Beautifully written but I also didn’t really understand what was going on or the magic system? Trying to do too much with too little pages - not a great short story, but I bet could make a great full length.
8) Slay the Princess, Save the Dragon by AC Wise 4/5
Fun! A third academic rivals / other side of the tracks romance. Much more YA but also very fun.
9) San’t Marten’s Book of Mild Melancholy by AG Slatter 4/5
Probably the slightest of the romances just because the two MCs barely spend any time together. I liked Millie a whole lot and the story/mystery. I felt like San’t Marten was the most realized and successful setting.
10) Good Deeds and their Magical Punishments by Hannah Nicole Maehrer 2/5
This was dumb. The portal aspect was dumb, the bet was dumb, the 3rd act breakup was dumb, and the resolution was dumb. It was a weird tonal mix of juvenile but also they fuck and have trauma because of drunk drivers.
11) The Larkspur by Megan Bannen 5/5
Loved it! I enjoy the world of her Hart and Mercy series. This isn’t really connected per se, it is cool to see how other places in this universe treat demi gods. As to the story I loved seeing what someone who thought they only had a year to live do what they truly wanted. Them falling in love and finding out there is more to themselves than even they knew. Beautiful.
12) Rosebud by Katherine Arden 3/5
Devastating and not a romance really at all. Very downbeat end to the anthology.
Starts right in the middle, confusing because I think the author is trying to introduce too much in too short of time. Still eventually enjoyed, new to me author, would read more.
2) The Dubious Ladies of Mirador by Melissa Marr 3/5
Instalove doesn’t tend to work for me but Mirador herself is hilarious so I liked it. Reminded me a lot of the His Fair Assassin books by Robin LaFevers but lesbian.
3) Until December by Kelly Andrew 5/5
The absolute standout of this anthology. Incredible. A bit Scholomance / Divine Rivals but darker and frankly more romantic.
4) The King’s Witch by Tasha Suri 4/5
I felt like we missed a lot of them falling in love (it happened off page), but WHEW the reunion. I hope one day to read a full length from Lark’s POV cos it would be EPIC!
5) Designated Virgin Sacrifice by Kelley Armstrong 4/5
Kelley Armstrong is a QUEEN. This was so funny and reminded me of her best parter couple from the Otherworld series, Paige and Lucas.
6) Second Class Magic by Kamilah Cole 3/5
This one suffers a bit in comparison with Until December just because it’s another academic rivals story that’s not quite as successful. Jesy could stand to grovel more cos what she said is dickish and Margot had a right to be mad.
7) Bamboo, Ink, Paper, Clay by Eliza Chan 2/5
Beautifully written but I also didn’t really understand what was going on or the magic system? Trying to do too much with too little pages - not a great short story, but I bet could make a great full length.
8) Slay the Princess, Save the Dragon by AC Wise 4/5
Fun! A third academic rivals / other side of the tracks romance. Much more YA but also very fun.
9) San’t Marten’s Book of Mild Melancholy by AG Slatter 4/5
Probably the slightest of the romances just because the two MCs barely spend any time together. I liked Millie a whole lot and the story/mystery. I felt like San’t Marten was the most realized and successful setting.
10) Good Deeds and their Magical Punishments by Hannah Nicole Maehrer 2/5
This was dumb. The portal aspect was dumb, the bet was dumb, the 3rd act breakup was dumb, and the resolution was dumb. It was a weird tonal mix of juvenile but also they fuck and have trauma because of drunk drivers.
11) The Larkspur by Megan Bannen 5/5
Loved it! I enjoy the world of her Hart and Mercy series. This isn’t really connected per se, it is cool to see how other places in this universe treat demi gods. As to the story I loved seeing what someone who thought they only had a year to live do what they truly wanted. Them falling in love and finding out there is more to themselves than even they knew. Beautiful.
12) Rosebud by Katherine Arden 3/5
Devastating and not a romance really at all. Very downbeat end to the anthology.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2025
3.5 on a whole, but a few of these stories were a HEALTHYYY five stars!! Ahem olivie Blake’s ahem Kelly Andrew’s ahem Kelley Armstrong’s 😮💨😮💨😮💨😮💨
May 30, 2025
A spellbook of romantic sparks—some fizzle, some flare.
❤️🔥
The standout for me was "Until December" by Kelly Andrew, which played beautifully with timelines, magical academia, and a sizzling rivals-to-lovers tension. It’s exactly the kind of atmospheric, character-driven romantasy I was hoping for. I WISH there was a full-length novel set in that world! 💖💖
However, as with most anthologies, The Secret Romantic’s Book of Magic is a mixed bag. A handful of stories truly shine, while others feel like sketches of stronger ideas—lacking the emotional depth or payoff to make their romances truly land.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A magical sampler with a few memorable gems. Best enjoyed slowly, with an open mind and a soft spot for fantasy-flavoured romance.
The standout for me was "Until December" by Kelly Andrew, which played beautifully with timelines, magical academia, and a sizzling rivals-to-lovers tension. It’s exactly the kind of atmospheric, character-driven romantasy I was hoping for. I WISH there was a full-length novel set in that world! 💖💖
However, as with most anthologies, The Secret Romantic’s Book of Magic is a mixed bag. A handful of stories truly shine, while others feel like sketches of stronger ideas—lacking the emotional depth or payoff to make their romances truly land.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A magical sampler with a few memorable gems. Best enjoyed slowly, with an open mind and a soft spot for fantasy-flavoured romance.
did-not-finish
December 1, 2025I checked this out just for the one story, "The Larkspur" by Megan Bannen which I give ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
June 30, 2025
If giving an anthology that I'm featured in five stars is wrong, I don't want to be right. "Second Class Magic" is my first short story, and I'm very proud of it, and to be alongside all the amazing stories and authors in this anthology. Thank you for checking it out!
June 25, 2025
Thank you so much to Titan for a copy of The Secret Romantic's Book of Magic! I was so excited to hear about this romantasy anthology and was even MORE excited to see some authors I really enjoy (looking at you, Megan Bannen & Tasha Suri) participating in this publication. Unsurprisingly, Tasha Suri's The King's Witch was utterly phenomenal and makes me desperately wish this was a full-length story.
I was pleasantly surprised to be introduced to Melissa Marr with The Dubious Ladies of Mirador and to Kelly Andrew with Until December ; BOTH of these stories blew me away and make me so excited to read everything these authors have already published. These three short stories were definitely my favorite of the whole anthology, and while I enjoyed the other additions, I would highly recommend checking these three out.
Overall, I'd give The Secret Romantic's Book of Magic 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4; this book is full of magic, love, and the unique storytelling of all 12 authors. Whether you're looking for classic tropes like enemies to lovers and arranged marriage, or legendary retellings and sapphic romance, there's something in this book for everyone to enjoy- I can't wait to hear about which story you like best!
I was pleasantly surprised to be introduced to Melissa Marr with The Dubious Ladies of Mirador and to Kelly Andrew with Until December ; BOTH of these stories blew me away and make me so excited to read everything these authors have already published. These three short stories were definitely my favorite of the whole anthology, and while I enjoyed the other additions, I would highly recommend checking these three out.
Overall, I'd give The Secret Romantic's Book of Magic 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4; this book is full of magic, love, and the unique storytelling of all 12 authors. Whether you're looking for classic tropes like enemies to lovers and arranged marriage, or legendary retellings and sapphic romance, there's something in this book for everyone to enjoy- I can't wait to hear about which story you like best!
Read
April 26, 2025only read olivie blake’s story. 3/5
July 15, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
The Fall Guy by Olivie Blake - 4 stars
Fun, flirty and I really liked the romance - I just got a bit lost with a ton of worldbuilding/infodumping right at the start.
The Dubious Ladies of Mirador by Melissa Marr - 3 stars
I quite liked the world and the way the story wrapped up, but it was pretty confusing throughout.
Until December by Kelly Andrew - 5 stars
I love this author so much! This was torture! Such a fun time travel twist, and my heart broke on the last paragraph.
The King’s Witch by Tasha Suri - 4 stars
Short and sweet, easy to grasp the worldbuilding. Likeable characters, destroying the world for love is a slay. Just wish it had been a little longer!
Designated Virgin Sacrifice by Kelley Armstrong - 3.5 stars
A twist I wasn’t expecting! Very fun and goofy, I just didn’t feel particularly connected to the main character.
Second Class Magic by Kamilah Cole - 3 stars
Cute but not my favourite. It felt pretty rushed, even for a short story.
Bamboo Ink Paper Clay by Eliza Chan - 2 stars
I couldn’t make sense of this story or connect to the characters.
Slay the Princess, Save the Dragon by A.C. Wise - 4 stars
This is so cute! Wish we’d seen more of the dragon, but I loved the message and the romance is sweet and delightful!
Sant Marten’s Book of Mild Melancholy by A.G. Slater - 2.5 stars
Points for the main character having the same name as me, but this was confusing and not very engaging.
Good Deeds and Their Magical Punishments by Hannah Nicole Maehrer- 3 stars
Sweet, but didn’t stand out! The romance felt too rushed.
The Larkspur by Megan Bannen - 3.5 stars
Cute! I love this world from her series, I think you might struggle to grasp the worldbuilding if you haven’t read Hart & Mercy.
Rosebud by Katherine Arden - 4 stars
Beautifully written, the ending felt pretty abrupt but I loved the overall message and vibes.
The Fall Guy by Olivie Blake - 4 stars
Fun, flirty and I really liked the romance - I just got a bit lost with a ton of worldbuilding/infodumping right at the start.
The Dubious Ladies of Mirador by Melissa Marr - 3 stars
I quite liked the world and the way the story wrapped up, but it was pretty confusing throughout.
Until December by Kelly Andrew - 5 stars
I love this author so much! This was torture! Such a fun time travel twist, and my heart broke on the last paragraph.
The King’s Witch by Tasha Suri - 4 stars
Short and sweet, easy to grasp the worldbuilding. Likeable characters, destroying the world for love is a slay. Just wish it had been a little longer!
Designated Virgin Sacrifice by Kelley Armstrong - 3.5 stars
A twist I wasn’t expecting! Very fun and goofy, I just didn’t feel particularly connected to the main character.
Second Class Magic by Kamilah Cole - 3 stars
Cute but not my favourite. It felt pretty rushed, even for a short story.
Bamboo Ink Paper Clay by Eliza Chan - 2 stars
I couldn’t make sense of this story or connect to the characters.
Slay the Princess, Save the Dragon by A.C. Wise - 4 stars
This is so cute! Wish we’d seen more of the dragon, but I loved the message and the romance is sweet and delightful!
Sant Marten’s Book of Mild Melancholy by A.G. Slater - 2.5 stars
Points for the main character having the same name as me, but this was confusing and not very engaging.
Good Deeds and Their Magical Punishments by Hannah Nicole Maehrer- 3 stars
Sweet, but didn’t stand out! The romance felt too rushed.
The Larkspur by Megan Bannen - 3.5 stars
Cute! I love this world from her series, I think you might struggle to grasp the worldbuilding if you haven’t read Hart & Mercy.
Rosebud by Katherine Arden - 4 stars
Beautifully written, the ending felt pretty abrupt but I loved the overall message and vibes.
October 19, 2025
THE KATHERINE ARDEN WAS WORTH WAITING FOR (rated solely for her bc she’s why I read the collection and it’s not fair to judge the other stories against hers when I feel like THIS)
May 17, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed the range of short stories in this anthology. I loved the focused on romantasy which is fast becoming my favourite genre. There were several authors on the list that I was so pleased to see and they did not disappoint. Good Deeds and their Magical Punishments by Hannah Nicole Maehrer stood out as one of my favourites. It had the cute, adorable banter of Assistant to the Villain as well as an interesting premise with lots of plot points added to a quick snap shot of the protagonists lives. Eliza Chan's Bamboo, Ink, Paper, Clay was so enjoyable and straddles a line between myth and past loves. It was beautifully written and I was there for it all. I am also a big fan of Katherine Arden whose story, Rosebud was a beautiful blend of historical fiction with magical undertones. Whilst I enjoyed them all to varying levels my final story in my top selection was Designated Virgin Sacrifice by Kelley Armstrong. I loved the feel of the story which was reminiscent of the film Damsel but nothing like it in plot lines so no spoiler there. For anyone who loves Romantasy and would like some quick short stories to quench their thirst for the genre, I would highly recommend this book. Thank you to NetGallery and Titan books, as well as these amazing authors for the ARC of this book.
December 27, 2025
A really solid romantasy collection. The star of the show though was Until December by Kelly Andrew. I’m gonna need 300 more pages of that story ASAP please!
Until December reread: still 5 stars. Everything I love, I need more!
Until December reread: still 5 stars. Everything I love, I need more!
June 23, 2025
Rating 5 stars on goodreads for The Fall Guy, Until December, and Rosebud. Average rating: 3.98 stars.
The Fall Guy by Olivie Blake: 5 stars
This was delightful! I immediately fell in love with the mmc who was pining so hard for the fmc from the first page. Their dynamic gave me similar vibes to Emeric and Vanja from Little Thieves, which I also love. I love Olivie Blake’s writing and while this is different from anything I’ve read by her, I think you’ll love this if you also enjoy her writing style. This short story was the perfect length to accomplish what it needed to, and I was so happy with how it ended. Mer, the embodiment of a hopeless romantic, was the perfect character to start this anthology.
The Dubious Ladies of Mirador by Melissa Marr: 2.5 stars
This was a little too short for me to connect with the characters. I liked the way it ended but there wasn’t really any depth to the plot or story. Insta-love wasn’t believable in this case, but I still enjoyed reading it.
Until December by Kelly Andrew: 5 stars
Kelly Andrew is the best writer of our generation. Ok that might be a little dramatic but she’s the best to me. I may be a little biased because she’s my #1 favorite author, but this was perfect in every way. Somehow, every story she’s written is exactly what I want and more. It feels like she has a key to my soul with how much I connect to the characters and worlds. To nobody’s surprise, the romance was amazing. Rivals to lovers is gonna hit every time and the way everything tied together with the visions/memories made me love them even more. The magic system in this is her best yet, with lots of intricate possibilities and twisting narratives that kept me guessing until the very end. Infinite stars, obviously.
The King’s Witch by Tasha Suri: 3.5 stars
I wasn’t emotionally connected to this one for some reason. It wasn’t bad by any means and I loved the plot, but it was quite short for what the romance tried to accomplish.
Designated Virgin Sacrifice by Kelley Armstrong: 4.25 stars
This was fun. I liked the little plot twist and the way the story played out. I would’ve liked more on page romance versus a couple that’s already together and in love, but I still enjoyed them as characters.
Second Class Magic by Kamilah Cole: 3 stars
I really enjoyed the world of this one. And this was rivals to lovers so in theory I should’ve loved it but I was apathetic to this story. I think it could’ve benefited from being longer with a little more interactions between the main characters before the build up.
Bamboo, Ink, Paper, Clay by Eliza Chan: 4 stars
This was a little confusing, but I loved it. The storytelling and puppetry were really intriguing. I think this is one of the most unique stories in the anthology. I liked the romance and I’m really happy with how this story ended.
Slay the Princess, Save the Dragon by A.C. Wise: 3 stars
Wayyyy too short. This had potential and I liked the world with dragons of course, but as soon as it felt like I got my bearings with this story it was already over.
San’t Marten’s Book of Mild Melancholy by A.G. Slatter: 4 stars
I really enjoyed this one. Evil books and witches and necromancy and mystery. But I do wish it was a little longer, especially with the budding romance that could’ve been dragged out more.
Good Deeds and Their Magical Punishments by Hannah Nicole Maehrer: 4 stars
This was a fun portal fantasy with a sweet message about morality. I loved how this ended and the romance was cute. I wasn’t blown away by it but it was pretty good.
The Larkspur by Megan Bannen: 4.5 stars
I absolutely love The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy so I was excited to read Megan Bannen’s short story when I seen she was included in this anthology. Imagine my surprise when I seen the note that this is set in the same world as TUOHAM! I loved being back in this world and it was interesting to follow a new character with lower stakes than the full novels. The plot twist had me shook and the ending was adorable. This was a nice little treat while I wait patiently for the next book in the series.
Rosebud by Katherine Arden: 5 stars
This story is every gothic fantasy lover’s dream. I was immediately intrigued by the prose and a world that felt a little gloomy and dreadful. And then the magic started and I was swept away. This gave me the same feeling as one of my favorite books, Belladonna. I didn’t want to leave this story so the ending was bittersweet, but it left me with questions and possibilities for what might have happened after the pages stopped. I loved this so much and I now need to finally read Katherine Arden’s other books.
The Fall Guy by Olivie Blake: 5 stars
This was delightful! I immediately fell in love with the mmc who was pining so hard for the fmc from the first page. Their dynamic gave me similar vibes to Emeric and Vanja from Little Thieves, which I also love. I love Olivie Blake’s writing and while this is different from anything I’ve read by her, I think you’ll love this if you also enjoy her writing style. This short story was the perfect length to accomplish what it needed to, and I was so happy with how it ended. Mer, the embodiment of a hopeless romantic, was the perfect character to start this anthology.
The Dubious Ladies of Mirador by Melissa Marr: 2.5 stars
This was a little too short for me to connect with the characters. I liked the way it ended but there wasn’t really any depth to the plot or story. Insta-love wasn’t believable in this case, but I still enjoyed reading it.
Until December by Kelly Andrew: 5 stars
Kelly Andrew is the best writer of our generation. Ok that might be a little dramatic but she’s the best to me. I may be a little biased because she’s my #1 favorite author, but this was perfect in every way. Somehow, every story she’s written is exactly what I want and more. It feels like she has a key to my soul with how much I connect to the characters and worlds. To nobody’s surprise, the romance was amazing. Rivals to lovers is gonna hit every time and the way everything tied together with the visions/memories made me love them even more. The magic system in this is her best yet, with lots of intricate possibilities and twisting narratives that kept me guessing until the very end. Infinite stars, obviously.
The King’s Witch by Tasha Suri: 3.5 stars
I wasn’t emotionally connected to this one for some reason. It wasn’t bad by any means and I loved the plot, but it was quite short for what the romance tried to accomplish.
Designated Virgin Sacrifice by Kelley Armstrong: 4.25 stars
This was fun. I liked the little plot twist and the way the story played out. I would’ve liked more on page romance versus a couple that’s already together and in love, but I still enjoyed them as characters.
Second Class Magic by Kamilah Cole: 3 stars
I really enjoyed the world of this one. And this was rivals to lovers so in theory I should’ve loved it but I was apathetic to this story. I think it could’ve benefited from being longer with a little more interactions between the main characters before the build up.
Bamboo, Ink, Paper, Clay by Eliza Chan: 4 stars
This was a little confusing, but I loved it. The storytelling and puppetry were really intriguing. I think this is one of the most unique stories in the anthology. I liked the romance and I’m really happy with how this story ended.
Slay the Princess, Save the Dragon by A.C. Wise: 3 stars
Wayyyy too short. This had potential and I liked the world with dragons of course, but as soon as it felt like I got my bearings with this story it was already over.
San’t Marten’s Book of Mild Melancholy by A.G. Slatter: 4 stars
I really enjoyed this one. Evil books and witches and necromancy and mystery. But I do wish it was a little longer, especially with the budding romance that could’ve been dragged out more.
Good Deeds and Their Magical Punishments by Hannah Nicole Maehrer: 4 stars
This was a fun portal fantasy with a sweet message about morality. I loved how this ended and the romance was cute. I wasn’t blown away by it but it was pretty good.
The Larkspur by Megan Bannen: 4.5 stars
I absolutely love The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy so I was excited to read Megan Bannen’s short story when I seen she was included in this anthology. Imagine my surprise when I seen the note that this is set in the same world as TUOHAM! I loved being back in this world and it was interesting to follow a new character with lower stakes than the full novels. The plot twist had me shook and the ending was adorable. This was a nice little treat while I wait patiently for the next book in the series.
Rosebud by Katherine Arden: 5 stars
This story is every gothic fantasy lover’s dream. I was immediately intrigued by the prose and a world that felt a little gloomy and dreadful. And then the magic started and I was swept away. This gave me the same feeling as one of my favorite books, Belladonna. I didn’t want to leave this story so the ending was bittersweet, but it left me with questions and possibilities for what might have happened after the pages stopped. I loved this so much and I now need to finally read Katherine Arden’s other books.
August 21, 2025
The highlights were the stories by Kelly Andrew and Kelly Armstrong.
Honorable mentions to Suri, Maehrer and Bannen.
The rest were not worth reading.
I was surprised that several of these didn’t feel like romance at all.
Honorable mentions to Suri, Maehrer and Bannen.
The rest were not worth reading.
I was surprised that several of these didn’t feel like romance at all.
to-be-continued
July 3, 2025The Fall Guy - 3 ⭐️
The Dubious Ladies of Mirador - 2.5⭐️
Until December - 5⭐️
The Dubious Ladies of Mirador - 2.5⭐️
Until December - 5⭐️
July 19, 2025
My Selling Pitch:
A fantasy romance short story collection, but only Blake and Andrew’s work is worth reading so you may as well skip it.
Pre-reading:
On this episode of if Olivie Blake writes it, I’ll read it.
(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
The Fall Guy
The way they’re opening with Blake.
I love this woman’s style.
She really takes her hooks seriously.
Okay, this one’s pretty manic, even for Blake.
Oh, we’re Princess Briding.
I too am capable of complex thought that I’ll happily turn off in favor of a himbo’s ministrations.
It’s the New Girl ‘that's not how I would kiss you’ scene.
She is so damn good at romantic throwaway little bits.
She does so much characterization in so little time, like she’s so efficient and so talented!
It’s always a masked ball lol.
KICKING MY GODDAMN FEET.
Just clean this up and make this a full book. It’s so Princess Bride. It would fit in so well with the Knight and the Moth. Like she’s so good.
She’s so funny. I love the tone switches too. She’s like full romance, and then right back to modern humor.
That was cute. It’s like a 3.5 that I’ll round up to a 4 because she really has some gems in there. But like just write us the campy full-length fantasy book, babe.
4/5
——-
Dubious
I haven’t read her, but I’ve seen her books before.
Is this the Knight and the Moth lol?
Butch vamp, got it.
It’s The Irresistible Urge all over again, haha. Like I know it’s a basic setup, but I love it every time!
The girlies love a Saltburn.
3/5 really basic, but solid enough
—————
Until December
Oh, absolutely not. No bully romances here.
Love a Scorpio.
I’m sure they’re time-traveling to each other.
Boston, you’re my home🎶
I assume this has to be like the Infinite Fates book. (I’m so behind on reading that one.)
This isn’t meant to be a short story. This is meant to be a whole book.
What other books has this author written? I should read them. This is really gorgeous lighting imagery. (OH. I have read her. She always writes gorgeous imagery with that Raven Boys dark academia feel.)
Kicking my feet. Just write the full book!
The way I am so invested with so little.
This needed to be a book.
5/5
————
King’s Witch
I’ve heard of this author, but haven’t read her yet, although I have an ARC for her Silver Sea book.
Are you just getting that Shrek mirror dating show, too haha?
I’m sure it’s Lark in disguise as the priest.
2/5. Like the most basic plot and obvious twist
—————-
Designated
I don’t think I’ve ever heard of this author.
2/5 just ham-fisted, good for her feminism. Fine, but you’ve seen it better before.
————
Second Class
Haven’t heard of this author.
Dark and Drowning Tide?
A minty girl
Academia loves Stern as a last name and like bitch, I get it. I do too.
This is an Xmas book.
You’re a bottom ass bitch. You’ll only ever be a bottom or whatever that quote is lol.
2/5 Unfinished and done to death!
—————-
Bamboo
Fathomfolk is messy, but I still want to like it.
3/5 Solid. Original. Folktale style. Good messaging. Little preachy but you know. Exactly what you want from a short story. If they’re too good I want them to be books lol.
——-
Slay
I don’t think I’ve heard of this author either, but Peter Pan retellings are def up my alley.
This is very YA.
1/5 hard fuckin’ pass. Don’t poor little influencer me.
———
San’t Marten’s
Never heard of this author.
Inexplicably- Augustus and Faustus read the same in my brain. Too many similar letters I guess?
cicatrice
Good setup. Needs a better author to execute for a full book. Politicking doesn’t really work in short story format. 3/5
————-
Good Deeds
Assistant to the Villain isn’t good, but it’s very likable.
Mien
I feel like honey doesn’t rot your teeth.
This is so insta love it’s not even funny.
Where the hell did the smut in this come from?
1/5 that was preachy and awful
———
Larkspur
Still haven’t read this author, but I’ve heard such good things
Including a short story where you need to have read her entire book series to get the most from it is pretty shitty behavior. Standalones or bust.
Votary
Vaguely Geographer’s Map
I’m pretty checked out from this one. So much info dumping, so unclear if it’s relevant. (It’s not.)
Oh, so it’s Heartless Hunter’s secret identity vigilante shit.
Every book is bears.
Sobriquet
Blake did this better.
1/5 that was bad.
———
Rosebud
Loved The Warm Hands of Ghosts. I’ve been meaning to read more from her.
The Listeners
Real weird writing of this. Reads like she’s lusting after her sister.
Craquelure
Dancing Princesses or Beauty and the Beast? (Both.)
He smells like gold bullion ??? Wild.
2/5 men are lame.
Post-reading:
This was such a promising collection at the beginning but it really petered out.
Best of the collection by a mile was Until December by Kelly Andrew. I know it’s a plot that’s been done to death, but it was done so well. The banter was phenomenal. I’d love her to pull it and develop it into a full-length novel. It’s absolutely there.
Blake’s story was campy fun as usual. I would’ve been surprised if I didn’t like it, frankly.
The weakest was Maehrer’s. She’s a TikTokker turned writer and you can unfortunately tell. She’s so lovely online, but her writing reads like teenaged Wattpad fanfic.
Arden’s story was disappointing. She’s a very capable writer, so it was extra off-putting to read language that felt more like incest than plain jealousy. It’s also a gloomy note to end the collection on. For a fantasy romance assembly, it seems odd to go out with men taking out their wartime misery on women. It really lacked the romance that the other stories at least attempted to have.
On the whole, I think it’s a skippable collection. Blake and Andrew’s are the only ones worth reading, and even then, they’ll be familiar plots to you. The stories themselves end up feeling a bit repetitive and echo each other. It’s thematic, sure, but it’s also pretty boring when the vast majority are just okay. I need more than that to stamp my name behind a book. I also think it’s inappropriate to include a short story that relies on you having read the author’s entire series to get the most out of it when everything else in the collection has been a standalone. That’s not fair to your readers.
Pick it up, don’t, but either way, some agent needs to get ahold of Andrew and convince her to flesh hers out into a dark and sexy book. She’s really got something there.
Who should read this:
Fantasy romance fans
Olivie Blake fans
Dark Academia romance fans
Ideal reading time:
Winter
Do I want to reread this:
Nope
Would I buy this:
Tempted because pink, and I really did like Andrew’s!
Similar books:
(If you liked the short story, try this full book in order of appearance.)
* Masters of Death by Olivie Blake-campy, urban fantasy, ensemble cast, queer romance, enemies to lovers
* The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig-campy, fantasy romance, enemies to lovers
* The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigette Knightley-campy, fantasy romance, enemies to lovers
* The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling-psychological horror, historical, unreliable narrators, enemies to lovers queer romance
* Lucy Undying by Kiersten White-Dracula retelling, queer romance
* Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo-dark academia, magical realism, urban fantasy, mystery, romance
* The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab-magical realism, historical, romance
* Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Torzs-magical realism, ensemble cast, queer romance
* Your Blood, My Bones by Kelly Andrew-YA gothic horror, fairytale retelling
* Boys with Sharp Teeth by Jenni Howell-YA dark academia, mystery, magical realism
* Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma-YA dark academia, urban fantasy, mystery, enemies to lovers romance
* A Dark and Drowning Tide by Alison Saft-academia, fantasy, mystery, queer romance, enemies to lovers
* Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente-folktale retelling, historical, magical realism, romance
* Starling House by Alix E. Harrow-YA gothic romance, enemies to lovers
* This Dark Descent by Kalyn Josephson-poltical fantasy, ensemble cast, romance
* Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer-campy, fantasy workplace romance
* The Geographer’s Map to Romanxe by India Holton-campy historical, urban fantasy, enemies to lovers romance, marriage of convenience
* Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli-historical, urban fantasy, enemies to lovers romance
* The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater-historical, magical realism, romance
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A fantasy romance short story collection, but only Blake and Andrew’s work is worth reading so you may as well skip it.
Pre-reading:
On this episode of if Olivie Blake writes it, I’ll read it.
(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
The Fall Guy
The way they’re opening with Blake.
I love this woman’s style.
She really takes her hooks seriously.
Okay, this one’s pretty manic, even for Blake.
Oh, we’re Princess Briding.
I too am capable of complex thought that I’ll happily turn off in favor of a himbo’s ministrations.
It’s the New Girl ‘that's not how I would kiss you’ scene.
She is so damn good at romantic throwaway little bits.
She does so much characterization in so little time, like she’s so efficient and so talented!
It’s always a masked ball lol.
KICKING MY GODDAMN FEET.
Just clean this up and make this a full book. It’s so Princess Bride. It would fit in so well with the Knight and the Moth. Like she’s so good.
She’s so funny. I love the tone switches too. She’s like full romance, and then right back to modern humor.
That was cute. It’s like a 3.5 that I’ll round up to a 4 because she really has some gems in there. But like just write us the campy full-length fantasy book, babe.
4/5
——-
Dubious
I haven’t read her, but I’ve seen her books before.
Is this the Knight and the Moth lol?
Butch vamp, got it.
It’s The Irresistible Urge all over again, haha. Like I know it’s a basic setup, but I love it every time!
The girlies love a Saltburn.
3/5 really basic, but solid enough
—————
Until December
Oh, absolutely not. No bully romances here.
Love a Scorpio.
I’m sure they’re time-traveling to each other.
Boston, you’re my home🎶
I assume this has to be like the Infinite Fates book. (I’m so behind on reading that one.)
This isn’t meant to be a short story. This is meant to be a whole book.
What other books has this author written? I should read them. This is really gorgeous lighting imagery. (OH. I have read her. She always writes gorgeous imagery with that Raven Boys dark academia feel.)
Kicking my feet. Just write the full book!
The way I am so invested with so little.
This needed to be a book.
5/5
————
King’s Witch
I’ve heard of this author, but haven’t read her yet, although I have an ARC for her Silver Sea book.
Are you just getting that Shrek mirror dating show, too haha?
I’m sure it’s Lark in disguise as the priest.
2/5. Like the most basic plot and obvious twist
—————-
Designated
I don’t think I’ve ever heard of this author.
2/5 just ham-fisted, good for her feminism. Fine, but you’ve seen it better before.
————
Second Class
Haven’t heard of this author.
Dark and Drowning Tide?
A minty girl
Academia loves Stern as a last name and like bitch, I get it. I do too.
This is an Xmas book.
You’re a bottom ass bitch. You’ll only ever be a bottom or whatever that quote is lol.
2/5 Unfinished and done to death!
—————-
Bamboo
Fathomfolk is messy, but I still want to like it.
3/5 Solid. Original. Folktale style. Good messaging. Little preachy but you know. Exactly what you want from a short story. If they’re too good I want them to be books lol.
——-
Slay
I don’t think I’ve heard of this author either, but Peter Pan retellings are def up my alley.
This is very YA.
1/5 hard fuckin’ pass. Don’t poor little influencer me.
———
San’t Marten’s
Never heard of this author.
Inexplicably- Augustus and Faustus read the same in my brain. Too many similar letters I guess?
cicatrice
Good setup. Needs a better author to execute for a full book. Politicking doesn’t really work in short story format. 3/5
————-
Good Deeds
Assistant to the Villain isn’t good, but it’s very likable.
Mien
I feel like honey doesn’t rot your teeth.
This is so insta love it’s not even funny.
Where the hell did the smut in this come from?
1/5 that was preachy and awful
———
Larkspur
Still haven’t read this author, but I’ve heard such good things
Including a short story where you need to have read her entire book series to get the most from it is pretty shitty behavior. Standalones or bust.
Votary
Vaguely Geographer’s Map
I’m pretty checked out from this one. So much info dumping, so unclear if it’s relevant. (It’s not.)
Oh, so it’s Heartless Hunter’s secret identity vigilante shit.
Every book is bears.
Sobriquet
Blake did this better.
1/5 that was bad.
———
Rosebud
Loved The Warm Hands of Ghosts. I’ve been meaning to read more from her.
The Listeners
Real weird writing of this. Reads like she’s lusting after her sister.
Craquelure
Dancing Princesses or Beauty and the Beast? (Both.)
He smells like gold bullion ??? Wild.
2/5 men are lame.
Post-reading:
This was such a promising collection at the beginning but it really petered out.
Best of the collection by a mile was Until December by Kelly Andrew. I know it’s a plot that’s been done to death, but it was done so well. The banter was phenomenal. I’d love her to pull it and develop it into a full-length novel. It’s absolutely there.
Blake’s story was campy fun as usual. I would’ve been surprised if I didn’t like it, frankly.
The weakest was Maehrer’s. She’s a TikTokker turned writer and you can unfortunately tell. She’s so lovely online, but her writing reads like teenaged Wattpad fanfic.
Arden’s story was disappointing. She’s a very capable writer, so it was extra off-putting to read language that felt more like incest than plain jealousy. It’s also a gloomy note to end the collection on. For a fantasy romance assembly, it seems odd to go out with men taking out their wartime misery on women. It really lacked the romance that the other stories at least attempted to have.
On the whole, I think it’s a skippable collection. Blake and Andrew’s are the only ones worth reading, and even then, they’ll be familiar plots to you. The stories themselves end up feeling a bit repetitive and echo each other. It’s thematic, sure, but it’s also pretty boring when the vast majority are just okay. I need more than that to stamp my name behind a book. I also think it’s inappropriate to include a short story that relies on you having read the author’s entire series to get the most out of it when everything else in the collection has been a standalone. That’s not fair to your readers.
Pick it up, don’t, but either way, some agent needs to get ahold of Andrew and convince her to flesh hers out into a dark and sexy book. She’s really got something there.
Who should read this:
Fantasy romance fans
Olivie Blake fans
Dark Academia romance fans
Ideal reading time:
Winter
Do I want to reread this:
Nope
Would I buy this:
Tempted because pink, and I really did like Andrew’s!
Similar books:
(If you liked the short story, try this full book in order of appearance.)
* Masters of Death by Olivie Blake-campy, urban fantasy, ensemble cast, queer romance, enemies to lovers
* The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig-campy, fantasy romance, enemies to lovers
* The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigette Knightley-campy, fantasy romance, enemies to lovers
* The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling-psychological horror, historical, unreliable narrators, enemies to lovers queer romance
* Lucy Undying by Kiersten White-Dracula retelling, queer romance
* Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo-dark academia, magical realism, urban fantasy, mystery, romance
* The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab-magical realism, historical, romance
* Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Torzs-magical realism, ensemble cast, queer romance
* Your Blood, My Bones by Kelly Andrew-YA gothic horror, fairytale retelling
* Boys with Sharp Teeth by Jenni Howell-YA dark academia, mystery, magical realism
* Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma-YA dark academia, urban fantasy, mystery, enemies to lovers romance
* A Dark and Drowning Tide by Alison Saft-academia, fantasy, mystery, queer romance, enemies to lovers
* Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente-folktale retelling, historical, magical realism, romance
* Starling House by Alix E. Harrow-YA gothic romance, enemies to lovers
* This Dark Descent by Kalyn Josephson-poltical fantasy, ensemble cast, romance
* Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer-campy, fantasy workplace romance
* The Geographer’s Map to Romanxe by India Holton-campy historical, urban fantasy, enemies to lovers romance, marriage of convenience
* Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli-historical, urban fantasy, enemies to lovers romance
* The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater-historical, magical realism, romance
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Want to read
April 21, 2025Anything featuring something written by Katherine Arden is an auto-read for me 🤩
May 22, 2025
probably more like 3.5 stars but overall i really enjoyed this!! as with any short story collection there were some i liked less but i found the vast majority of the stories fun and the romances were cute :) definitely recommend if you’re looking for a lighthearted read!
[gifted ARC but all opinions are my own!]
[gifted ARC but all opinions are my own!]
Read
November 5, 2025Until December by Kelly Andrew
5000 stars
I don't think I have ever loved a short story this much, it was insanely immersive especially for such a short mount of pages
I'm obsessed I have yet to read anything by Kelly Andrew that I don't love
Rosebud by Katherine Arden
1.5 stars? idkkk
ok I dabbled in the rest of the short stories and didn't find anything crazy
it's usually like that for anthologies for me
5000 stars
I don't think I have ever loved a short story this much, it was insanely immersive especially for such a short mount of pages
I'm obsessed I have yet to read anything by Kelly Andrew that I don't love
Rosebud by Katherine Arden
1.5 stars? idkkk
ok I dabbled in the rest of the short stories and didn't find anything crazy
it's usually like that for anthologies for me
August 19, 2025
Who's idea was it to do ROMANTASY short stories? Fantasy without any plot or worldbuilding. Romance without any build-up. ILLEGAL
July 14, 2025
As someone who enjoys romance fantasy, I knew that this collection of stories would be a chance to dive into “romantasy” which offered a little edge. Something a little different and satisfying compared to the explosion of romantasy works on the market. And I was right! Each tale brings a unique flavour to this collection of short stories, bringing together a collaboration of authors into a whole piece which works incredibly well. While I’m biased to a few favourites - Katherine Arden, Tasha Suri, for example - the whole collection was immensely enjoyable. This was a fresh palette cleanser after a bit of a slump, and a much needed revitalisation.
Thank you Titan and NetGalley for the e-arc! All thoughts are my own
While an anthology is always limited in terms of space, it’s impressive what each story plays with, even with brevity in mind. Some achieve huge impact in a very short time! I love that the theme is love itself, in all its forms, complicated and messy. The inclusivity of each piece was affirming and a joy to read, and it’s definitely helped add more authors to my TBR!
Here are specific breakdowns of each of the tales:
The Fall Guy - Olivie Blake - 4/5 - who doesn’t love yearning and schemes and pirates (not necessarily in that order but also). This was a fun start to the collection.
The Dubious Ladies of Mirador - Melissa Marr - 4/5 - I thoroughly enjoyed the muscled supernatural woman soldier claiming a witchy wife thank you, three cheers for sapphics getting happiness! The bond explained the instalove on a way which didn’t make it ~too unbearable for me, even though this is a short collection about love, of course there’s going to be instalove.
Until December - Kelly Andrew - 4.5/5 - this absolutely slapped. Academic rivals to lovers ~and a timey-wimey plot point with potentially fatal consequences/repercussions? I need a whole book of this, actually.
The King’s Witch - Tasha Suri - 5/5 - if this is what we’re due to get in The Isle in the Silver Sea then I, for one, am SO excited. As a lover of a good solid Sapphic Yearn, plot and backstory this was a mastress-class in how to offer impact on a short time, to make me believe in a romantic connection, and celebrate it. Stunning. I also need a whole book.
Designated Virgin Sacrifice - Kelley Armstrong - 3.75/5 - a fun little spin on the classic damsel-in-distress-monster-needs-a-sacrifice tale. Though I guessed the twist, I enjoyed the vibes!
Second Class Magic - Kamilah Cole - 3.75/5 - for me, though it was sweet and sapphic it was too instalove, BUT, I enjoyed the idea of two rival researchers heading to a magical island to duke it out (academically) over a placement. My opinion? This could have quickly (and deliciously) turned poly. Maybe it does in the future? Good for them.
Bamboo, Ink, Clay, Paper - Eliza Chan - 3.75/5 - as much as I loved this story, for me it felt like the pacing was slightly off and the end too rushed. I adored the concept - boys made of clay and girls who shed paper, and the concept of finally seeing what’s right in front of you.
Slay the Princess, Save the Dragon - A C Wise - 3.5/5 - sweet, fun and sapphic. This was one where I didn’t really connect with the love interest as much, it felt too much like a switch flipped and jealousy was recognised as a crush turned run-away-with-me. However I loved the social comment on Big Pharma and capitalism and animal rights 🤌
San’t Martens Book of Mild Melancholy - A G Slatter - 3.75/5 - loved the premise of a crown prince turned conduit for something Nasty and a entrepreneurial dark magic worker needing to save his ass; but this was where I feel there was ever so slightly too much plot crammed into the short space. However the world building, character dynamics and vibes? Impeccable.
Good Deeds and Their Magical Punishments - Hannah Nicole Maehrer - 3/5 - for me, my attention waned here. Though I’m chalking it up to my preference for darker tales rather than purely cosy fantasy with spice. But the premise of a woman kidnapped to prove to an immortal man that mortal kindness exists was cute!
The Larkspur - Megan Bannen - 3.75/5 - a fun romp! This is what happens when an oracle’s portent of doom goes wrong and you have to live with the fact that maybe that marriage was rushed… I found this sweetly entertaining, and loved the inclusion of demigods on the side.
Rosebud - Katherine Arden - 5/5 - what else can I expect but perfection? Haunting and sumptuously written, we get the tale of two sisters who discover love in unexpected ways every midnight when the clock strikes twelve in an old ballroom… Deeply historical and lyrical, this is an eerie but beautiful tale of war-torn love.
Thank you Titan and NetGalley for the e-arc! All thoughts are my own
While an anthology is always limited in terms of space, it’s impressive what each story plays with, even with brevity in mind. Some achieve huge impact in a very short time! I love that the theme is love itself, in all its forms, complicated and messy. The inclusivity of each piece was affirming and a joy to read, and it’s definitely helped add more authors to my TBR!
Here are specific breakdowns of each of the tales:
The Fall Guy - Olivie Blake - 4/5 - who doesn’t love yearning and schemes and pirates (not necessarily in that order but also). This was a fun start to the collection.
The Dubious Ladies of Mirador - Melissa Marr - 4/5 - I thoroughly enjoyed the muscled supernatural woman soldier claiming a witchy wife thank you, three cheers for sapphics getting happiness! The bond explained the instalove on a way which didn’t make it ~too unbearable for me, even though this is a short collection about love, of course there’s going to be instalove.
Until December - Kelly Andrew - 4.5/5 - this absolutely slapped. Academic rivals to lovers ~and a timey-wimey plot point with potentially fatal consequences/repercussions? I need a whole book of this, actually.
The King’s Witch - Tasha Suri - 5/5 - if this is what we’re due to get in The Isle in the Silver Sea then I, for one, am SO excited. As a lover of a good solid Sapphic Yearn, plot and backstory this was a mastress-class in how to offer impact on a short time, to make me believe in a romantic connection, and celebrate it. Stunning. I also need a whole book.
Designated Virgin Sacrifice - Kelley Armstrong - 3.75/5 - a fun little spin on the classic damsel-in-distress-monster-needs-a-sacrifice tale. Though I guessed the twist, I enjoyed the vibes!
Second Class Magic - Kamilah Cole - 3.75/5 - for me, though it was sweet and sapphic it was too instalove, BUT, I enjoyed the idea of two rival researchers heading to a magical island to duke it out (academically) over a placement. My opinion? This could have quickly (and deliciously) turned poly. Maybe it does in the future? Good for them.
Bamboo, Ink, Clay, Paper - Eliza Chan - 3.75/5 - as much as I loved this story, for me it felt like the pacing was slightly off and the end too rushed. I adored the concept - boys made of clay and girls who shed paper, and the concept of finally seeing what’s right in front of you.
Slay the Princess, Save the Dragon - A C Wise - 3.5/5 - sweet, fun and sapphic. This was one where I didn’t really connect with the love interest as much, it felt too much like a switch flipped and jealousy was recognised as a crush turned run-away-with-me. However I loved the social comment on Big Pharma and capitalism and animal rights 🤌
San’t Martens Book of Mild Melancholy - A G Slatter - 3.75/5 - loved the premise of a crown prince turned conduit for something Nasty and a entrepreneurial dark magic worker needing to save his ass; but this was where I feel there was ever so slightly too much plot crammed into the short space. However the world building, character dynamics and vibes? Impeccable.
Good Deeds and Their Magical Punishments - Hannah Nicole Maehrer - 3/5 - for me, my attention waned here. Though I’m chalking it up to my preference for darker tales rather than purely cosy fantasy with spice. But the premise of a woman kidnapped to prove to an immortal man that mortal kindness exists was cute!
The Larkspur - Megan Bannen - 3.75/5 - a fun romp! This is what happens when an oracle’s portent of doom goes wrong and you have to live with the fact that maybe that marriage was rushed… I found this sweetly entertaining, and loved the inclusion of demigods on the side.
Rosebud - Katherine Arden - 5/5 - what else can I expect but perfection? Haunting and sumptuously written, we get the tale of two sisters who discover love in unexpected ways every midnight when the clock strikes twelve in an old ballroom… Deeply historical and lyrical, this is an eerie but beautiful tale of war-torn love.
May 8, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
As romantasy continue to grow exponentially and I find myself tiring of the copy-and-paste books coming out in this genre, the opportunity to read a book of short stories around this was interesting. Because, despite its popularity and my subsequent jaded approach to it, romantasy in theory combines my two great loves: fantasy and romance. I knew from the author names I recognised on the list, this was not the mainstream romantasy being churned out. I knew this would be different.
And I was spot on. Each story was unique, subversive in some way, and combined the elements of fantasy and romance delectably. Yes, some were stronger than others, but overall, the quality in this collection was strong and the enjoyment I got was HIGH. I’ve not much been one for short stories before, but I thoroughly enjoyed leaping from each tale, discovering new worlds, spells, curses, and kingdoms. I think my honourable mention has to go to ‘Until December’, because it was pure perfection and scratches my brain juuuust right.
Overall, a wonderful collection of wildly different stories that centre love, fantastical realms, and adventure in a way that, for me, is what romantasy should be about.
4.5/5 🌟
***
And if you’re interested, below are my quick fire thoughts from each story after I read them:
The Fall Guy:
As usual, Olivie Blake’s writing is everything. Funny, razor sharp, and utterly engaging. This short story was fun, twisty, and classic Olivie Blake. I fear recently reading ‘Januaries’ has raised my expectations to impossible levels, and this story didn’t reach the heights of those found in that book. Still, I had a great time with it. 4/5
The Dubious Ladies of Mirador:
Look, all I need to hear is sapphic vampires and I’m in. This was a delicious little story that I wanted more of. Having never read the author before, I’m now interested in exploring her back catalogue. This was super fun, but the ending was a little abrupt. 4/5
Until December:
Okay, this was just sublime. Academic rivals to lovers and timey wimey plot? I’m in heaven. I love stories that confuse me, that scramble the brain a little, and this was wonderfully befuddling. Our two main characters had excellent chemistry and in a short time, I was fully on board with their relationship. Honestly, this was excellent. 5/5
The King’s Witch:
Oh, this was great. Having read Tasha Suri before, I knew I would be in for a treat. A witch chosen to wed the king? A devastating tragic and sapphic backstory? Will there be a happy ending? No spoilers, but this was truly delightful. 4.5/5
Designated Virgin Sacrifice:
Another fun little story about slaying monsters and sacrificing virgins. The premise was solid and the twists were unexpected. I really enjoyed the journey and learning all about the true monsters among us… 4/5
Second Class Magic:
This was pretty cute, sapphic rivals to lovers, which I eat up every time. Predictable, but enjoyable. Ultimately, though, nothing groundbreaking. 3.5/5
Bamboo, Ink, Paper, Clay:
I think this had great potential, with a wonderful and unique concept. I enjoyed the writing wholeheartedly, but I felt the ending was a little rushed. 3.5/5
Slay the Princess, Save the Dragon:
This was a sweet, if predictable, little tale. The setting was a bit jarring, with the modern aspects not quite blending fully with the fantasy. I definitely felt the potential here, but it lacked some emotional depth. 3.5/5
San’t Marten’s Book of Mild Melancholy:
Okay, this slapped. A really engaging main character with the kind of no nonsense attitude I love. The world building was excellent and the story paced well. A nice twist and perfectly ambiguous ending. 4.5/5
Good Deeds and their Magical Punishments:
I think this was a great little tale of kindness, grief, and second chances. Although the ending was predictable, I was grinning. The story was funny and had heart, and I had a great time. 4/5
The Larkspur:
Excellent world-building, good plot, and a main character destined to die. I enjoyed this one a lot, although I did guess the twist immediately, I still had a fun time. The romance fell a little flat, but overall, it was a good little story. 3.5/5
Rosebud:
I truly did not know where this was going, and initially I was sceptical but good grief, this was great. The bright lights and music swept me away, and I was completely spellbound as the story progressed. Ultimately, an eerie ending that tied this together beautifully. 4.5/5
As romantasy continue to grow exponentially and I find myself tiring of the copy-and-paste books coming out in this genre, the opportunity to read a book of short stories around this was interesting. Because, despite its popularity and my subsequent jaded approach to it, romantasy in theory combines my two great loves: fantasy and romance. I knew from the author names I recognised on the list, this was not the mainstream romantasy being churned out. I knew this would be different.
And I was spot on. Each story was unique, subversive in some way, and combined the elements of fantasy and romance delectably. Yes, some were stronger than others, but overall, the quality in this collection was strong and the enjoyment I got was HIGH. I’ve not much been one for short stories before, but I thoroughly enjoyed leaping from each tale, discovering new worlds, spells, curses, and kingdoms. I think my honourable mention has to go to ‘Until December’, because it was pure perfection and scratches my brain juuuust right.
Overall, a wonderful collection of wildly different stories that centre love, fantastical realms, and adventure in a way that, for me, is what romantasy should be about.
4.5/5 🌟
***
And if you’re interested, below are my quick fire thoughts from each story after I read them:
The Fall Guy:
As usual, Olivie Blake’s writing is everything. Funny, razor sharp, and utterly engaging. This short story was fun, twisty, and classic Olivie Blake. I fear recently reading ‘Januaries’ has raised my expectations to impossible levels, and this story didn’t reach the heights of those found in that book. Still, I had a great time with it. 4/5
The Dubious Ladies of Mirador:
Look, all I need to hear is sapphic vampires and I’m in. This was a delicious little story that I wanted more of. Having never read the author before, I’m now interested in exploring her back catalogue. This was super fun, but the ending was a little abrupt. 4/5
Until December:
Okay, this was just sublime. Academic rivals to lovers and timey wimey plot? I’m in heaven. I love stories that confuse me, that scramble the brain a little, and this was wonderfully befuddling. Our two main characters had excellent chemistry and in a short time, I was fully on board with their relationship. Honestly, this was excellent. 5/5
The King’s Witch:
Oh, this was great. Having read Tasha Suri before, I knew I would be in for a treat. A witch chosen to wed the king? A devastating tragic and sapphic backstory? Will there be a happy ending? No spoilers, but this was truly delightful. 4.5/5
Designated Virgin Sacrifice:
Another fun little story about slaying monsters and sacrificing virgins. The premise was solid and the twists were unexpected. I really enjoyed the journey and learning all about the true monsters among us… 4/5
Second Class Magic:
This was pretty cute, sapphic rivals to lovers, which I eat up every time. Predictable, but enjoyable. Ultimately, though, nothing groundbreaking. 3.5/5
Bamboo, Ink, Paper, Clay:
I think this had great potential, with a wonderful and unique concept. I enjoyed the writing wholeheartedly, but I felt the ending was a little rushed. 3.5/5
Slay the Princess, Save the Dragon:
This was a sweet, if predictable, little tale. The setting was a bit jarring, with the modern aspects not quite blending fully with the fantasy. I definitely felt the potential here, but it lacked some emotional depth. 3.5/5
San’t Marten’s Book of Mild Melancholy:
Okay, this slapped. A really engaging main character with the kind of no nonsense attitude I love. The world building was excellent and the story paced well. A nice twist and perfectly ambiguous ending. 4.5/5
Good Deeds and their Magical Punishments:
I think this was a great little tale of kindness, grief, and second chances. Although the ending was predictable, I was grinning. The story was funny and had heart, and I had a great time. 4/5
The Larkspur:
Excellent world-building, good plot, and a main character destined to die. I enjoyed this one a lot, although I did guess the twist immediately, I still had a fun time. The romance fell a little flat, but overall, it was a good little story. 3.5/5
Rosebud:
I truly did not know where this was going, and initially I was sceptical but good grief, this was great. The bright lights and music swept me away, and I was completely spellbound as the story progressed. Ultimately, an eerie ending that tied this together beautifully. 4.5/5
June 16, 2025
Okay so I rated every story individually + wrote a little review for each but figured I’d give a quick summary first. I’ve only read books by a few of these authors before and coincidentally, those were the stories I liked the best.
Overall this was less romantic than I expected, given the premise of this anthology. But each story was unique, and I do appreciate that.
1. The Fall Guy - Olivie Blake
1.5/5 - I didn’t like this at all, nor did I think it was romantic really in any way. I didn’t care for the writing style, the characters, and I found the story to be a bit all over the place. But 1.5 instead of 1 because a couple lines were pretty funny. I know that Olivie Blake is a popular author, but this is the first thing of hers I’ve read and I don’t feel a rush to pick up more currently.
2. The Dubious Ladies of Mirador - Melissa Marr
2/5 - I liked the writing style, but this was the most insta-lust/love book I’ve ever read. I think it was supposed to be more like fated mates but it just came off a little bizarre to me.
3. Until December - Kelly Andrew
2.5/5 - I don’t love how this ended, or the first half-ish of this story. Once the MC’s start working together to get answers, I was curious and quite into this but overall it was just okay since it was very up and down to me.
4. The King's Witch - Tasha Suri
3/5 - This is more what I expected from this anthology. A bit of world building but done in an understandable way, and it actually felt romantic. I thought the story itself was just okay, but I am glad that my rating is improving with each story.
5. Designated Virgin Sacrifice - Kelley Armstrong
4.5/5 - Definitely my favourite story so far! At first I was pulling for a bit of a ‘why choose’ type plot line but this ended up being a really interesting surprise, and the writing style totally worked for me. 4.5 instead of a full 5 because the end got a little cheesy.
6. Second Class Magic - Kamilah Cole
2.5/5 - This was fine. The end got a bit rushed, and I felt like I wanted more from it. But it was just fine so middle of the road eating.
7. Bamboo, Ink, Paper, Clay - Eliza Chan
DNF - Okay I did actually read all of this but I genuinely just did not understand it soo I’m putting my rating as DNF instead of number because it basically feels that way. I just could not connect with this, or wrap my head around it.
8. Slay the Princess, Save the Dragon - A. C. Wise
DNF - Unlike the last story where I said I did read it but still am considering it a DNF, I actually did DNF this one about 1/3 of the way in. This read very young to me. I don’t mind YA, but this felt like YA trying to be adult by throwing in the word ‘fuck’ and Ev came off very immature so I didn’t see a point in continuing a story I knew was just not going to be for me.
9. San't Marten's Book of Mild Melancholy - A. G. Slatter
2/5 - I didn’t get this one. Like the story itself, sure, but it didn’t feel romantic to me at all. They hooked up prior to the story and that was basically just alluded to a few times and then it ended. Okay.
10. Good Deeds and Their Magical Punishments - Hannah Nicole Maehrer
4/5 - Super cute story, but the sex was unnecessary. It seems like it basically came out of no where with the timeline, even just making out could have conveyed basically the same message. But overall I liked this.
11. The Larkspur - Megan Bannen
3.5/5 - I adore the Hart & Mercy series, so I was really excited for this story. I think having read that does help the reader understand the world / backstory a bit, but it really isn’t necessary. I did like this story, but it doesn’t really feel like something that will stick with me.
12. Rosebud - Katherine Arden
3/5 - Interesting story to end this anthology with. I didn’t love the ending really, but overall it did keep me intrigued and was different than anything else in this book, which is fun.
Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book! I voluntarily read this book, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Overall this was less romantic than I expected, given the premise of this anthology. But each story was unique, and I do appreciate that.
1. The Fall Guy - Olivie Blake
1.5/5 - I didn’t like this at all, nor did I think it was romantic really in any way. I didn’t care for the writing style, the characters, and I found the story to be a bit all over the place. But 1.5 instead of 1 because a couple lines were pretty funny. I know that Olivie Blake is a popular author, but this is the first thing of hers I’ve read and I don’t feel a rush to pick up more currently.
2. The Dubious Ladies of Mirador - Melissa Marr
2/5 - I liked the writing style, but this was the most insta-lust/love book I’ve ever read. I think it was supposed to be more like fated mates but it just came off a little bizarre to me.
3. Until December - Kelly Andrew
2.5/5 - I don’t love how this ended, or the first half-ish of this story. Once the MC’s start working together to get answers, I was curious and quite into this but overall it was just okay since it was very up and down to me.
4. The King's Witch - Tasha Suri
3/5 - This is more what I expected from this anthology. A bit of world building but done in an understandable way, and it actually felt romantic. I thought the story itself was just okay, but I am glad that my rating is improving with each story.
5. Designated Virgin Sacrifice - Kelley Armstrong
4.5/5 - Definitely my favourite story so far! At first I was pulling for a bit of a ‘why choose’ type plot line but this ended up being a really interesting surprise, and the writing style totally worked for me. 4.5 instead of a full 5 because the end got a little cheesy.
6. Second Class Magic - Kamilah Cole
2.5/5 - This was fine. The end got a bit rushed, and I felt like I wanted more from it. But it was just fine so middle of the road eating.
7. Bamboo, Ink, Paper, Clay - Eliza Chan
DNF - Okay I did actually read all of this but I genuinely just did not understand it soo I’m putting my rating as DNF instead of number because it basically feels that way. I just could not connect with this, or wrap my head around it.
8. Slay the Princess, Save the Dragon - A. C. Wise
DNF - Unlike the last story where I said I did read it but still am considering it a DNF, I actually did DNF this one about 1/3 of the way in. This read very young to me. I don’t mind YA, but this felt like YA trying to be adult by throwing in the word ‘fuck’ and Ev came off very immature so I didn’t see a point in continuing a story I knew was just not going to be for me.
9. San't Marten's Book of Mild Melancholy - A. G. Slatter
2/5 - I didn’t get this one. Like the story itself, sure, but it didn’t feel romantic to me at all. They hooked up prior to the story and that was basically just alluded to a few times and then it ended. Okay.
10. Good Deeds and Their Magical Punishments - Hannah Nicole Maehrer
4/5 - Super cute story, but the sex was unnecessary. It seems like it basically came out of no where with the timeline, even just making out could have conveyed basically the same message. But overall I liked this.
11. The Larkspur - Megan Bannen
3.5/5 - I adore the Hart & Mercy series, so I was really excited for this story. I think having read that does help the reader understand the world / backstory a bit, but it really isn’t necessary. I did like this story, but it doesn’t really feel like something that will stick with me.
12. Rosebud - Katherine Arden
3/5 - Interesting story to end this anthology with. I didn’t love the ending really, but overall it did keep me intrigued and was different than anything else in this book, which is fun.
Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book! I voluntarily read this book, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews