A fast-paced new adult urban romantasy with an ending that will leave you desperate for more!
Welcome to the Massachusetts Community.
Living under the nose of modern society, The Order of the Hawk is at war. The Order is a race of people chosen by the Great Hawk to help guide society and protect nature using their unique individual abilities and magic that allow them to read emotions. They once lived in peace until one woman chose the wrong man to love, thus making the witch trials The Order’s new reality. But when they didn't end as the world believes they did, The Order is left with only one survive the brutal attacks from the Brethren of the Flaming Sword.
Talliana Hoffman is a young healer from the Massachusetts Community, naive to how bad her people’s perilous situation really is. When her boyfriend disappears, she embarks on a journey to find her true place in the war. Despite being taught to always shield and control her emotions, she will discover that embracing her emotions is the key to unlocking her true potential. However, in doing so, she will find that she is not who she always thought she was.
She is something much darker.
**Authors Note**Thank you for your interest in Blind Thoughts! This trilogy takes place in an urban setting and addresses many modern issues throughout each book. I believe in the importance of providing a warning in case any of the below topics can be triggering to you, the reader.
Content
· Explicit language
· Descriptive sex scenes
· Violence and mention of torture
· Death of parents and loved ones in a tragic situation
· Brief mention of infertility
· Characters that deal with Anxiety and PTSD
· High School bullying
Safeguarding your mental health is extremely important, so please continue at your discretion. I hope you enjoy Talliana’s story!
Everything in Talliana’s life is going to plan until her boyfriend, the love of her life, goes missing. In her Massachusetts community of the Order of the Hawk, Talli struggles to come to terms with her boyfriend’s disappearance as well as other things the elders are keeping secrets and lying about. She becomes reckless and angry, becoming a person her family and friends hardly recognize. Little does she know, she may be turning into something she may never return from.
This book gave me more YA vibes even though there were a few open door spicy scenes, but most of it felt like it was meant for a younger audience. I rated it higher than I usually would according to my rating system since the writing was great and the plot was fast-paced (and well done at that!). I also wouldn’t mind reading the rest of the trilogy once released just to know how it concludes.
Thank you to C.L. sharp for the physical ARC in exchange for an honest review!
OH MY GOD, LOVE!!!! The pacing is impeccable, and it it makes you feel warm and all of the things without taking away from any of the action. All of the characters develop over time in a realistic way and even though it’s magical realism everything adds up plot wise. One of my favorites already! Oh and the ending will knock your socks off, can’t wait for the next book!
This book was excellent! I loved the fantasy vibes, the character development, the relationships! Won't share the ending so I can keep it spoiler free, but the ending is epic and it sets up so well for the rest of the series. Cannot wait for book 2!
Oh my word!!! I had high expectations going into this book, and wow, I was truly blown away!! C.L Sharp did the most incredible job of showing the reasons why fantasy is so beloved! From an incredibly unique story, to characters you’ll fall in love with instantly, and twists + turns at every corner, I will be sitting (not very patiently) while waiting for the next TWO!!
I wish I could say I enjoyed this. I stuck with it until the end, but the whole time I just wanted to be done with it.
I couldn't stand Talliana. She felt young and naive. She seemed incapable of making rational decisions, always letting her emotions get the best of her, and would rush into danger and put everyone else at risk. She went from being helpless and needing protection from either her sister or her boyfriend, to somehow turning into an all-powerful water healer with a bonded dragon for no other reason than she just got mad enough. Of course, the dragon had to wait until her boyfriend died from Talliana's stupidity in order to decide it was time to bond. Like, if the dragon had bonded two hours prior they probably could have saved everyone but no, we are forced to read through this preventable tragedy.
Half of the book is filled with high school drama and Talli's turbulent relationship with Trey. Trey doesn't want Talli to be a combat fighter or go on missions, because frankly she sucks at it. Talli wants to anyway, because she needs to be the best at everything. They bicker constantly over her wanting to do whatever she wants and Trey being the cautious one and suggesting she just stick to healing. They have sex twice and break up once. Most of the book Trey is either captured, presumed dead, or at odds with his girlfriend, so I have no idea why the author wanted to torture his character so badly only to kill him off in the end. Major disappointment.
I wish this was set in a purely fantasy setting, because trying to explain how a bunch of magic communities thrive in the forests of the US is exhausting. Apparently they have pretend hospitals with humans working, just to keep up appearances? Even though they heal with elixirs and have no need for them. I guess this is why there aren't enough doctors for the rest of us lol. And they can't use guns because they're too loud and would alert the authorities... except when an army of 500 gun armed Brethren storm into town and blow the place up, there are no consequences so that excuse is meaningless as well.
I honestly can't think of anything I personally enjoyed, but perhaps a younger reader would find the characters more interesting or the magic system cooler than I did.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Overall Thoughts This felt like loose modern-day witch trial vibes, which was a fresh take! It's a strong start to the series with lots of interesting avenues to explore. It feels like everyone has secrets, and I’m curious to see how everything unfolds in future books.
World & Magic The magic system is cool and develops well as the story progresses. I’m interested to see how powers develop throughout the books. I also liked how the community is so tightly integrated with the human world.
Characters To me, all the characters are enjoyable and have a lot of depth, I’m looking forward to seeing how their arcs develop. Our lead girl Talli is very much a stubborn and reactive 17/18 year old who doesn’t make all the right decisions and lets emotions take over! And of course, who doesn’t love a good bonded creature 😉
Pacing & Structure There’s plenty of gripping moments and plot twists, and the pacing works well overall. I found the transitions between some chapters towards the start weren’t always the easiest to follow, and I occasionally had to reread to get my bearings. The month markers at the start of chapters were helpful for this though! I felt some flashbacks or memory sequences may benefit from clearer formatting (possibly italics), though this could be an ARC formatting issue.
Overall, a gripping and promising series opener and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Talli and crew!
I enjoyed reading this book. The first half was a bit slow for my liking but the second half made sure to make up for it. We get a lot of world building and understanding of the magic used in the first half but the action comes in the second half. I would consider this book on a more YA scale with a couple of open door scenes.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5 rounded up 🌶️
Talliana (Talli) is a healer, living in a secret community in Massachusetts hidden away from the human population. When her boyfriend Trey leaves abruptly, she senses something is off but is met with resistance from the elders in the community. Months after his disappearance she decides she no longer wants to sit back and let others fight, she is ready to train herself. With her sister Greer's help with combat training took off. When she was tasked with her first mission, what she found left her mind reeling and ready for a fight. But when the fight actually came to her doorstep, disaster and heartbreak were waiting. But on top of all the bad, came the good. Armed with new secrets and developments Talli is ready to take on and win the fight with her new found help.
Thank you so much C.L. Sharp for gifting me a physical copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This one didn’t quite work for me, though there were a few things I liked. The bonded animal concept was genuinely interesting and had a lot of potential. I wish the book had explored it in more depth or used it to build a stronger emotional core.
That said, the rest of the story felt a bit underwhelming. The plot followed familiar patterns and never really surprised me. It read quite young, maybe it’s aimed at a YA audience, which would explain some of the simplicity and the reliance on trope-heavy dynamics. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I went in expecting something a little more layered.
The spicy scene also felt out of place. It didn’t come across as something that had grown naturally from the characters or their relationship, it felt dropped in to be a plot device rather than a genuine moment.
And then the ending… bringing dragons in right at the last moment, when the rest of the animal bonds had been fairly grounded, just didn’t make sense to me. It felt jarring and a bit like a reach for dramatic flair without proper setup.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I was lucky enough to receive this book as an ARC and while life got in the way (as it always does), I absolutely devoured it once I got the chance. The rich storytelling reminded me of A fate inked in blood and Lightlark with a protected FMC who unlocks their full potential as the story unfolds, with the help of some beautiful characters. This story features found family, magical abilities with bonded animals, heartbreak and suspense all within a gated community of magic wielders fighting for survival. I loved the FMC and her character arc but boy that ending…. In tears. I jumped straight into book 2 because i COULD NOT let it end like that! If you love an original fantasy story in an almost complete trilogy, look no further. I cannot wait to see how the story ends in Book 3- thank you for allowing me the honour to GOBBLE this story up.
Absolutely love this book! On my way to read the second right now! Spoilers! So many emotions throughout this story. Love, fear, anger, sorrow, etc. Talli has definitely been through it all. She has the love of her life by her side. She's about to finish school and be a healer with her mother. Her father is an Elder which Trey is to follow in her dad's footsteps and become an Elder. She has her adopted sister Greer along side her to help her every step of the way. All for that to be ripped away. I was devastated and angry, I can't imagine all of that happening to one person and them not breaking. But she is strong, she has her dragon with her, Coventina, and she knows what must be done to stop this war and change history. Plot- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Character development- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ World-building- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spice- ⭐️⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Blind Thoughts by C.L. Sharp is a gripping, emotionally charged romance with suspense that kept me turning pages late into the night. Sharp expertly blends slow burn romance, deep emotional tension, and unexpected plot twists, creating a story that is both swoony and addictive. Fans of emotionally intense romance and psychological suspense… think Archer’s Voice by Mia Sheridan, Verity by Colleen Hoover, or The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides, will love the balance of heartfelt connection and shocking revelations. The chemistry between the leads is raw, tender, and unforgettable, while the twists land perfectly, keeping the story unpredictable and page turning. A twist filled, romantic, and emotionally immersive read that will appeal to fans of slow burn romance, psychological thrillers, and character driven stories. A must for your 2026 tbr or pre order lists
4.5 ⭐️ ✨Witches x witch hunters ✨Elemental magic ✨First love ✨Hidden community ✨Bonded creatures In a hidden community of witches, a young healer named Talli has to embrace her emotions to unlock her true potential and magical powers to save her boyfriend who goes missing. In her efforts to search for him, she learns that she has been kept in the dark about how dire her people’s situation is, and their position in the war against The Brotherhood, another secret community full of witch hunters. The pacing of this book was great, I like how it took place over the course of a year and that everything happened in a more realistic timeline. The side characters are well developed and endearing, and so are the bonded animals the witches have. It was a great set up for the series and I can’t wait to see what happens next in the war between witches and witch hunters.
This book was not on my radar initially, but it definitely should have been! I loved the main characters and the connections, friendship and love they have for each other. The community they live in, separate from normal life, was very well established and explained a lot of why they had to live, fight, and function they way they do to remain undetected from humans. The bonded creatures aspect was probably one of my favorite parts of the book. The life altering changes in life that that Talli experiences are so monumental that it is clear she will never be the same person ever again, but it hugely enhances the story through the emotion that leaps off the page at you. I jumped right into book 2 because I just couldn’t wait.
Intrigued. Its the best word I can use to describe the feeling while reading Tallis story. Very slow to start and almost seems like there are intentional over explanations that haven't quite made sense yet. Im sure the next book will answer those questions.
In a nut shell this is a coming of age/power mixed with a fated destiny book.a classic trope of good vs evil. Or is it? Seems to be a Grey area. I would almost say this is better as a prequel versus the start of a series.
I would have liked to have more detail on the actual place they are, more imagery would make it a little clearer.
All in all I will read the next book, if only to fill my curiosity on where this is going.
Blind Thoughts is a fun romantasy book. It has a cool premise and strong series potential, but it leans on a few tropes that frustrated me. We get the naïve healer who’s never been in a fight but suddenly becomes a very quick-study fighter, the friends to lovers dynamic, the chosen one with darkness raging inside them, and plenty of YA angst (I’m not even sure that last one counts as a trope). The melodrama often felt very immature and leaned heavily into YA territory. At times, it felt more like relationship drama with magic than a fully realized fantasy world.
That said, I still had fun reading it. I think the book has a lot of potential and introduces a cool magical world that could really grow later in the series.
3.5 Stars! I really did enjoy this book! I added .5 more to my rating because I truly did have fun reading this book! It was a good time! I did enjoy the main characters however the female main character did aggravate me sometimes. I loved the ending, though I wont say what it was to avoid spoilers, but I did really enjoy that a certain creature was added to the mix! This book also made me cry, which always is a good thing in my book! C.L Sharps writing is really good and is easy to read! She has a way of making these characters really connect to the reader an it was as if I could really feel the main characters emotions at times! Overall I did really enjoy the book and would recommend it to anyone who wants a fun read that isn't scared to get a little emotional sometimes!
A wonderful introduction into the world of the "Order of the Hawk" - an urban na romantasy with a little bit of action, political intrigue/secret societies and mystery. Throw in a unique magic & bonded/familiar type system, strong close-knit family values, moral ethic, and a young/budding tension-building romance with a hint of spice told from a single pov at a steady pace and you've got this beauty! But wait, can't leave out the on point character development, dynamics, and realistic interactions that Sharp executes perfectly - plus the plot twist and cliffhanger she throws in to keep you on your toes!!! I definitely can't wait to read book two!
Really enjoyed this book. Couldn't rate a 5 star but a strong 4-4.5 in my opinion.
Magic In a modern day setting. The FMC is a loved up teen with magical powers. She develops through the book into a stronger individual after an emotional event.
The magic system is interesting and explained very well as you go, you're not left confused for long. Good world building gradually throughout the book. Great characters and character development, looking forward to how these develop in future books.
I really enjoyed this! The writing is great, and the story moves along quickly. The main characters are loveable, and I loved the bonded creatures, too! The story itself is a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, you can expect love, loss, growth, plenty of action and twists throughout the book. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series and what happens in the war between the Order of the Hawk and the Brethren.
Thank you Arctic Fox for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This was definitely a good book, but I felt it was a little more on the YA side but I still enjoyed reading it. The plot was fantastic, the characters were really well written and the pacing was a little on the faster side but done really well.
Wow. This book. What an emotional roller coaster. I was instantly transported into a different world, hooked from the start. I loved the character descriptions and development. The story flowed effortlessly. So much action and the perfect amount of drama. But that TWIST. I loved it. The ending was a nice wrap up, as well as an excellent lead in to the next book. Which I cannot wait to read!
Love the world C.L. Sharp has created. I am a huge fan of magical realism and the blend of real and magic. That is what this book achieved so well, a relatable "our world" layered with a rich magical community hidden from the rest of us. I loved the characters in this book and the development they go on. Highly recommend.
All cards on the table, I enjoyed this! It was a great New Adult read with magical dystopian vibes, which I personally haven’t seen/read a lot of. While The first half did feel kind of slow to me, the second half picked up nicely. I found myself immersed and invested as the characters started to develop and the plot progressed. I’m really excited to see where book 2 goes!
I really enjoyed this book! The writing style is really unique and the characters are super lovable. And there are also adorable familiars in this! If you like witches fighting witch hunters, I would highly recommend this book!
🌶🌶 All I can say is WOW. Seriously, the most fun I've had reading a book since Harry Potter. The storyline and world building are both incredibly smooth. Every single one of my questions were answered, and yet there was an element of mystery, leaving me wanting more.
Fast Paced fantasy that is a must read!!! This book contains secret societies, action, romance, dragons and well crafted world building. It draws you in and leaves you wanting book two immediately. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Don’t miss out.
Was a really good book and sure it had it heart breaks with some of the characters but i understand then it goes along with the plot of the book now I can’t wait for book 2