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Killers of the Towers #1
Monster of the Dagger Mountains
He stole magic from a god. She’s going to steal from him.Three years of failed magical studies at the Towers of Silver City have left Kira’s future hanging by a thread. She has one last chance to prove herself - a covert mission to capture the former student who murdered a god. All Kira has to do is gain the Godkiller’s trust. Without losing her heart.
Reznyk is a monster. Haunted by the price he paid for the magic he controls, he fled to the Dagger Mountains. When a group of mercenaries discovers him, Reznyk infiltrates their camp, ready to fight or run. Until he meets Kira.
Reznyk’s plan to seduce Kira for information turns into a fiery connection neither can resist. Trusting her is impossible. Revealing the truth would uncover painful secrets he tried to bury. But sending her away leaves Kira at the mercy of the Towers, who will stop at nothing to capture his magic.
Reznyk fought a god. But can he fight his heart?
Sexy, snarky, and fast-paced, Monster of the Dagger Mountains is an enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance with dual point-of-view (his and hers) and characters who think, act, and curse like adults. This epic romantasy about the man who killed a god and the woman sent to hunt him is perfect for readers looking for swords, sorcery, and spice.
Reznyk is a monster. Haunted by the price he paid for the magic he controls, he fled to the Dagger Mountains. When a group of mercenaries discovers him, Reznyk infiltrates their camp, ready to fight or run. Until he meets Kira.
Reznyk’s plan to seduce Kira for information turns into a fiery connection neither can resist. Trusting her is impossible. Revealing the truth would uncover painful secrets he tried to bury. But sending her away leaves Kira at the mercy of the Towers, who will stop at nothing to capture his magic.
Reznyk fought a god. But can he fight his heart?
Sexy, snarky, and fast-paced, Monster of the Dagger Mountains is an enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance with dual point-of-view (his and hers) and characters who think, act, and curse like adults. This epic romantasy about the man who killed a god and the woman sent to hunt him is perfect for readers looking for swords, sorcery, and spice.
414 pages, Paperback
Published February 24, 2025
48 people are currently reading
546 people want to read
About the author
Meredith Hart
24 books97 followersRaised by wolves in the mountains of Colorado, Meredith Hart traveled the world to seek her fortune, fell in love with a half-elf ranger, and now lives in a cabin deep in the Maine woods where she writes steamy fantasy romance with snarky, reluctant heroes and the warrior women who love them.
She also writes mythology-inspired paranormal romance under the pen name Samantha MacLeod, and she has occasionally been known to pen a poem or two. Sometimes they even make it into her books.
She also writes mythology-inspired paranormal romance under the pen name Samantha MacLeod, and she has occasionally been known to pen a poem or two. Sometimes they even make it into her books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
February 18, 2025
Thank you to Meredith Hart for sending me a free copy of Monster of the Dagger Mountains in exchange for my honest review.
Reznyk, felt like two separate characters to me. At the beginning, he is introduced as dark and mysterious—a feared godkiller, a monster. He's introduced at a villain and even if know he'll be the MMC, it still makes us expect to see a certain type of character. But immediately, he shifts into someone drowning in regret, guilt, and trauma. He almost appears weak. By the end, we see the potential of what his character could have been and it's a bit disappointing. He could have been so much more. Overall, I really liked him, but he was far too trusting and kind for a man literally being hunted by some very powerful and angry people.
As for Kira, I kept waiting for her to become tougher and more badass. I did like her character—she was empathetic and compassionate—but she came across as overly naïve in some aspects. It irked me because it was hard to believe a grown adult wouldn't realize certain truths sooner. It felt like things had to be spelled out for her, right up until the very end, which made it difficult for me to connect with her.
All she had to do was make me forget who I am, and what I am. She opened the door to another world; I’m the fool who thought I could walk through it. After everything I’ve done, I still thought someone could love me.
There was a lot of miscommunication and assumptions throughout the book, which isn’t a trope I enjoy. The book has so much potential, but the world-building and magic system needed more development. It felt like magic was just thrown at us—"Yeah, magic exists, and so do old gods"—without much explanation. Where does the magic come from? How do they use it? Why can some people wield it while others can’t? Who are the old gods? I feel like we were left with more questions than answers.
That said, I really enjoyed the direction of the story and loved the side characters, who played a big role in driving the plot forward. Kira and Reznyk’s dynamic was sweet though and they had great chemistry. I also loved the mercenaries and appreciated that, for once, the woman was the one chasing the "villain."
Reznyk was right about falling in love, damn it. There’s nothing at all that’s nice about this ache in my chest, nothing warm and syrupy like those stupid tavern songs.
Reznyk, felt like two separate characters to me. At the beginning, he is introduced as dark and mysterious—a feared godkiller, a monster. He's introduced at a villain and even if know he'll be the MMC, it still makes us expect to see a certain type of character. But immediately, he shifts into someone drowning in regret, guilt, and trauma. He almost appears weak. By the end, we see the potential of what his character could have been and it's a bit disappointing. He could have been so much more. Overall, I really liked him, but he was far too trusting and kind for a man literally being hunted by some very powerful and angry people.
As for Kira, I kept waiting for her to become tougher and more badass. I did like her character—she was empathetic and compassionate—but she came across as overly naïve in some aspects. It irked me because it was hard to believe a grown adult wouldn't realize certain truths sooner. It felt like things had to be spelled out for her, right up until the very end, which made it difficult for me to connect with her.
All she had to do was make me forget who I am, and what I am. She opened the door to another world; I’m the fool who thought I could walk through it. After everything I’ve done, I still thought someone could love me.
There was a lot of miscommunication and assumptions throughout the book, which isn’t a trope I enjoy. The book has so much potential, but the world-building and magic system needed more development. It felt like magic was just thrown at us—"Yeah, magic exists, and so do old gods"—without much explanation. Where does the magic come from? How do they use it? Why can some people wield it while others can’t? Who are the old gods? I feel like we were left with more questions than answers.
That said, I really enjoyed the direction of the story and loved the side characters, who played a big role in driving the plot forward. Kira and Reznyk’s dynamic was sweet though and they had great chemistry. I also loved the mercenaries and appreciated that, for once, the woman was the one chasing the "villain."
Reznyk was right about falling in love, damn it. There’s nothing at all that’s nice about this ache in my chest, nothing warm and syrupy like those stupid tavern songs.
February 13, 2025
This was a unique fantasy romance with plot twists and great banter. I love a good romantasy where the villain gets the girl. Kira and Reznyk have such great chemistry, and the Questions game was such a cute and flirty element that I really loved.
I enjoyed the twists and turns this story took and how fast-paced it was. Things are not what they seem, and we learn the truths of a unique magic system as the story goes on. I'm very intrigued to continue this series and find out more about the characters. Overall, it was a good read with great characters (there's even a sassy pet cat) and an entertaining plot with a bit of a cliffhanger.
4.5⭐️
2🌶
I enjoyed the twists and turns this story took and how fast-paced it was. Things are not what they seem, and we learn the truths of a unique magic system as the story goes on. I'm very intrigued to continue this series and find out more about the characters. Overall, it was a good read with great characters (there's even a sassy pet cat) and an entertaining plot with a bit of a cliffhanger.
4.5⭐️
2🌶
January 5, 2025
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via the author)
I loved getting to know Reznyk and Kira and seeing them grow throughout the story. (Xavier too, even if he had his traitorous moments :P) The pacing moved the story right along and the spice and romance were perfect for the story. Looking forward to what comes next in this world!
I loved getting to know Reznyk and Kira and seeing them grow throughout the story. (Xavier too, even if he had his traitorous moments :P) The pacing moved the story right along and the spice and romance were perfect for the story. Looking forward to what comes next in this world!
March 8, 2025
I loved this story. So much. From the FMC & MMC "meet cute" to their "only one bed" to the ending and the cliffhanger that we're left on I was absolutely hooked on this story. I loved seeing a story on magic but making it unique. It's so hard in this day and age to truly write a unique story without it having hints of something else that's been previously written but this book, in my opinion, managed to do just that. Yes there are hints of a million other stories in it, direwolves & magic amulets to name two, but it's the way that they're used and portrayed that keeps the storyline unique. Again, just my opinion, don't get your panties in a bunch if you disagree, it's okay to disagree.
I loved the strength of our FMC and her resiliency despite all odds being stacked against her from literal birth. I loved our MMC and his steadfast beliefs. I loved the supporting characters and the found family that they create throughout the story. The world is interesting and diverse. The magic is different and unique.
I can't wait for book two!
I loved the strength of our FMC and her resiliency despite all odds being stacked against her from literal birth. I loved our MMC and his steadfast beliefs. I loved the supporting characters and the found family that they create throughout the story. The world is interesting and diverse. The magic is different and unique.
I can't wait for book two!
February 18, 2025
Meredith Hart's Monster of the Dagger Mountains should be alternatively titled "Hot Reclusive Bad Boy with a Soft Heart + Even Hotter No-Nonsense Tower Guard Teach Me what Love and Geography is in 417 GRIPPING pages"
{Thank you SO MUCH to Meredith Hart and Jessica at NerdFam for providing this ARC to me! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own, unsponsored and unpaid. }
Stars: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 3.5/5 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
Having not read any of Meredith's previous series, I didn't know what to expect in terms of her writing style, whether her books tended more towards being plot vs character driven, nor her crafting style regarding romance. Monster of the Dagger Mountains is the start of Meredith's new Killers of the Towers series and she started out with a BANG that hooked me from the very first page. This novel was a stunning debut of the series, featuring some of my favorite tropes of all time - Found Family and Forced Proximity. I was sold by that alone, but Meredith managed to enrapture me even more with having such tropes perfectly-executed in her magnificent writing.
A general, no spoilers summary of Monster of the Dagger Mountains is this: Kira is a guard training at the Towers, a citadel of elite wielders and fighters within the Silver City that imbue metal with magic to assist them in their endeavors. Training to unlock her magical potential she inherited from her elite magical parents who served the Towers before her, Kira is tasked by the Towers on a mission to retrieve an amulet in the possession of a former Towers elite known as the Godkiller for his transgression of killing a god and defecting from the Towers with said amulet. When she encounters the Godkiller, Reznyk, she is surprised by his humanity, and when fate (AKA a chaotic Mercenary from Silver City breaking her ankle) forces them to live together, she finds herself enthralled by the man that is supposed to be a monster. As the fall turns to winter in the Dagger Mountains where the Godkiller hides, Kira and Reznyk find themselves growing closer despite everything that should keep them apart. Will both follow their heads telling them they have inherently separate and opposing paths in life, or their hearts with a fiery, undeniable connection between them?
First off, I ADORE this MMC’s name, Reznyk. We REALLY need to dive into it. It's a refreshing change from the Drakes/Azriels/Xadens/Xanders etc from BadBoyNames@MyBabyList.com that every other romantasy author on the scene at the moment is utilizing. My family are Slavic and rarely do I see Slavic names in novels that aren’t either Slavic-mythos based or overly done in such a way that it feels like cultural appropriation rather than appreciation (I’m looking at you, Leigh Bardugo).
Not only was the representation nice, but it goes DEEPER. The name ‘Reznyk’ is a variant of the surname ‘Reznik’ or ‘Rzeźnik’, which means “butcher” or “one who butchers” in most Western Slavic languages, particularly Czech. The sheer perfection behind this name lies in Reznyk’s upbringing as a ruthless killer for the Towers with powers of weapon creation followed by his eventual order, tasked by the Towers, of slaughtering an old god in order to fulfill the destiny the Towers have beaten into him: attaining ultimate power. The Towers have done such a good job at beating this into him that even Reznyk is convinced he wants it. The internal war Reznyk has regarding these past actions creates a clear dichotomy between 1. what Fyrris (the leader of the Towers) and the Towers crafted him to be - a Godkiller and a ‘monster’ from which the title of this novel originates - and 2. his own internal kindness, newly minted belief in peace and staying his hand from violence and bloodshed (from the sheer shame and trauma of killing the old god), and his break away from the iron control of the Towers upon him. Reznyk’s own name thus becomes the antithesis of who he is in the aftermath of the Towers - a particularly beautiful and poignant aspect of this novel that could easily be overlooked.
Now onto our FMC Kira. I ADORED Kira. She was the FMC we all need in most fantasy books. She’s not the FMC with just the snappy one-liners or with nauseatingly swaggering confidence, but the FMC that will sit you the fuck down and tell you how it is, consequences be damned. When Reznyk is torturing himself over a past wrong he enacted as a CHILD that he believes makes him unlovable and a bad person, Kira was there to stand up and say “Seriously? Get over yourself, Reznyk.” She was the breath of fresh air in romantasy that straight up said “That’s stupid” and “Oh, fuck that!” and that, my fellow readers, is when I fell in love with her. Not only this, but she is loyal to a fault and it’s generally an absolute riot to read her POV. Another thing I truly loved in this novel was that
I rarely feel visceral bodily reactions to books. I will cry pretty easily and I will laugh likely even easier, but when I feel a pang deep in my chest from a book? I KNOW it's good. The capability to instill so deep of an emotional response through the written word is something I rarely come across nowadays, particularly in the romantasy space. Even the most sad or horrible twists in novels rarely seem to affect me. The specific scenes in this book that affected me so viscerally were 1) Kira’s real reason for being brought to join the Towers and 2) Kira believing that Reznyk did not hold her in as high regard as “The One”. To the first point, To the second point, there is something about past lovers and comparison to them that really bothers me, likely due to a personal inferiority complex starting early on regarding adoption - both from being given away in the first place to not being picked/chosen for adoption. But let’s not diverge into my therapy session notes, aha…. Seeing Reznyk compare Kira so often to Lenore was excruciating at first. I knew it would lessen as he saw her more and more as her own person and realized she and Lenore were nothing alike, but it still pissed me off and hurt deeply. Then to see Kira do the same, routinely repeating how she wasn’t “The One” and would never live up to it in Reznyk’s eyes…. Whew, it just hits me right in the feels. For once, I wanted someone to choose Kira, unequivocally . I think that’s all Kira really wanted too. For that reason, found family will ALWAYS be one of my favorite tropes and the family that Kira did find amongst not only Reznyk as a true friend, lover, and confidant, but even with Matius and Tholious and grumpy little Xavier, made my heart swell.
The constructive criticism I have regarding this novel is that:
1) There should have been more time during Kira and Reznyk's forced proximity
2) The side characters should have been interacted with more and MUCH further developed, particularly Zayne, Matius, and Tholious.
3) The epilogue scene (also, epilogue is spelled wrong in the book!) should be the last chapter, and the bonus chapter should be the epilogue. The bonus chapter is CRITICAL to concluding this novel AND setting up the next -- it shouldn't only be available for ARC readers or for signing up for the author's email list. We had a really strong construction to the whole book but the ending seems hurriedly put together without much forethought.
To flush these constructive criticisms out more, I think a bit more time should have passed between Kira and Reznyk (or a few more chapters should have been written describing their interactions) before the “love” card came out to play. This novel was infinitely better in romantic pacing and plotting than other romantasies on the market, but I still wasn’t entirely convinced that they could love each other so quickly. What I DID love about the romantic plotting in this novel was the way in which sex was viewed, by Reznyk, as a true act of love. It not only made the buildup that much more anticipatory and scorching, but it also meant the act itself held a gravitas and weight to it that really resonated with me. Reznyk saying that if there was a child from their coupling, he’d take care of them literally made my heart do a little flip and had the warm and fuzzies coming out to play. To be honest, caring for a consequential child is literally the bare minimum, I suppose, but when even the bare minimum often isn’t met in today’s society, it becomes endearing. In relation to this, the spice was top notch -- I particularly enjoyed learning the geography of their world through their bodily exploration and teasing of one another ;) I would've never been bored in geography if this was the teaching method ahaha.
Continuing on, the ending and epilogue were the perfect sweet to balance the spice - but I truly think the bonus scene in the ARC should have been an addendum to the epilogue perhaps, but definitely in the actual book. I'm not sure Meredith's plans for it but it seems to be a critical chapter in not only wrapping up this first novel but in establishing the groundwork for the next. Besides this, the bonus scene’s found family trope really was driven home and made me so happy. The glimpse into the next novel also really stoked my excitement for the next book and to see Syrus’s and Veloria’s journey play out on the page. I wait in rapt and rabid, feral ferocity for book two, Monster of the Silver City, to be released. Meredith, please send me the ARC ASAP for the sake of my health - not even our upcoming new MMC Syrus, the professed magical healer, could heal this book hangover.
Highlights:
♥️ Seduction for Information: I’m always a sucker for this trope, but especially when, in the process, the mark ends up flustering or turning the tables back on the seducer. It was so endearing to see Reznyk attempt to seduce Kira for information but be sucked in by her siren’s call and end up baring himself to her emotionally and succumbing to his desires.
♥️ World-Building: Meredith’s worldbuilding felt so immersive and immediate that even I was fearful of Fyrris and the Towers. The concept of imbued magic in metals and the insidious hints we get as to where the magic the Towers uses comes from really acted as not only intrigue but managed to be a truly refreshing take in the oversaturated romantasy/fantasy scene that seems to recycle the same magic systems with slight changes here and there.
♥️ Found Family: As mentioned earlier, I am a SUCKER for a good found family trope. This book does NOT disappoint. We have such a cozy and sweet found family by the end of this novel to accompany the deeply-grounded love and partnership between the two main characters. This trope is even better considering the FMC has always been picked over or used by others, having never experienced real love or kinship though it is something she desperately yearns for and a major motivation for her character.
♥️ Intricate, High-fantasy Elements: The vague mentions of elves and dragons and hints about them within this novel hooked me, line and sinker. Further, the old gods and their characteristics as primordial, panaspectual beings was absolutely fascinating - I can’t wait to see more about these old gods and their lore within the series. I am so excited for this world to be further fleshed out in the future novels of the series regarding worldbuilding and these high-fantasy beings.
TLDR: Monster of the Dagger Mountains has absolutely ENRAPTURED me and ignited a bated anticipation for the rest of the Killers of the Towers series. Meredith Hart has crafted this first novel of the series to absolutely intoxicate the reader with a fantastical mix of worldbuilding and both a character-driven and a plot-driven narrative. Featuring mystical mountains, cutthroat cities, a dangerous(ly hot) Godkiller, a no-holds-barred fiery Tower guard, the lurid Towers with their hierarchy of brainwashed zealots, and a breathtaking romance woven in between, this novel will have you on the edge of your seat during adventures and misadventures alike, smitten and falling in love alongside the characters, and blushing at the toe-curling, sizzling spice. Those who have read Throne of Glass, Quicksilver, and Six of Crows will delight in this romantasy and be unable to put it down til the very last page.
Note: This review is based on an advanced reader copy provided by the publisher.
{Thank you SO MUCH to Meredith Hart and Jessica at NerdFam for providing this ARC to me! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own, unsponsored and unpaid. }
Stars: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 3.5/5 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
Having not read any of Meredith's previous series, I didn't know what to expect in terms of her writing style, whether her books tended more towards being plot vs character driven, nor her crafting style regarding romance. Monster of the Dagger Mountains is the start of Meredith's new Killers of the Towers series and she started out with a BANG that hooked me from the very first page. This novel was a stunning debut of the series, featuring some of my favorite tropes of all time - Found Family and Forced Proximity. I was sold by that alone, but Meredith managed to enrapture me even more with having such tropes perfectly-executed in her magnificent writing.
A general, no spoilers summary of Monster of the Dagger Mountains is this: Kira is a guard training at the Towers, a citadel of elite wielders and fighters within the Silver City that imbue metal with magic to assist them in their endeavors. Training to unlock her magical potential she inherited from her elite magical parents who served the Towers before her, Kira is tasked by the Towers on a mission to retrieve an amulet in the possession of a former Towers elite known as the Godkiller for his transgression of killing a god and defecting from the Towers with said amulet. When she encounters the Godkiller, Reznyk, she is surprised by his humanity, and when fate (AKA a chaotic Mercenary from Silver City breaking her ankle) forces them to live together, she finds herself enthralled by the man that is supposed to be a monster. As the fall turns to winter in the Dagger Mountains where the Godkiller hides, Kira and Reznyk find themselves growing closer despite everything that should keep them apart. Will both follow their heads telling them they have inherently separate and opposing paths in life, or their hearts with a fiery, undeniable connection between them?
First off, I ADORE this MMC’s name, Reznyk. We REALLY need to dive into it. It's a refreshing change from the Drakes/Azriels/Xadens/Xanders etc from BadBoyNames@MyBabyList.com that every other romantasy author on the scene at the moment is utilizing. My family are Slavic and rarely do I see Slavic names in novels that aren’t either Slavic-mythos based or overly done in such a way that it feels like cultural appropriation rather than appreciation (I’m looking at you, Leigh Bardugo).
Not only was the representation nice, but it goes DEEPER. The name ‘Reznyk’ is a variant of the surname ‘Reznik’ or ‘Rzeźnik’, which means “butcher” or “one who butchers” in most Western Slavic languages, particularly Czech. The sheer perfection behind this name lies in Reznyk’s upbringing as a ruthless killer for the Towers with powers of weapon creation followed by his eventual order, tasked by the Towers, of slaughtering an old god in order to fulfill the destiny the Towers have beaten into him: attaining ultimate power. The Towers have done such a good job at beating this into him that even Reznyk is convinced he wants it. The internal war Reznyk has regarding these past actions creates a clear dichotomy between 1. what Fyrris (the leader of the Towers) and the Towers crafted him to be - a Godkiller and a ‘monster’ from which the title of this novel originates - and 2. his own internal kindness, newly minted belief in peace and staying his hand from violence and bloodshed (from the sheer shame and trauma of killing the old god), and his break away from the iron control of the Towers upon him. Reznyk’s own name thus becomes the antithesis of who he is in the aftermath of the Towers - a particularly beautiful and poignant aspect of this novel that could easily be overlooked.
Now onto our FMC Kira. I ADORED Kira. She was the FMC we all need in most fantasy books. She’s not the FMC with just the snappy one-liners or with nauseatingly swaggering confidence, but the FMC that will sit you the fuck down and tell you how it is, consequences be damned. When Reznyk is torturing himself over a past wrong he enacted as a CHILD that he believes makes him unlovable and a bad person, Kira was there to stand up and say “Seriously? Get over yourself, Reznyk.” She was the breath of fresh air in romantasy that straight up said “That’s stupid” and “Oh, fuck that!” and that, my fellow readers, is when I fell in love with her. Not only this, but she is loyal to a fault and it’s generally an absolute riot to read her POV. Another thing I truly loved in this novel was that
I rarely feel visceral bodily reactions to books. I will cry pretty easily and I will laugh likely even easier, but when I feel a pang deep in my chest from a book? I KNOW it's good. The capability to instill so deep of an emotional response through the written word is something I rarely come across nowadays, particularly in the romantasy space. Even the most sad or horrible twists in novels rarely seem to affect me. The specific scenes in this book that affected me so viscerally were 1) Kira’s real reason for being brought to join the Towers and 2) Kira believing that Reznyk did not hold her in as high regard as “The One”. To the first point, To the second point, there is something about past lovers and comparison to them that really bothers me, likely due to a personal inferiority complex starting early on regarding adoption - both from being given away in the first place to not being picked/chosen for adoption. But let’s not diverge into my therapy session notes, aha…. Seeing Reznyk compare Kira so often to Lenore was excruciating at first. I knew it would lessen as he saw her more and more as her own person and realized she and Lenore were nothing alike, but it still pissed me off and hurt deeply. Then to see Kira do the same, routinely repeating how she wasn’t “The One” and would never live up to it in Reznyk’s eyes…. Whew, it just hits me right in the feels. For once, I wanted someone to choose Kira, unequivocally . I think that’s all Kira really wanted too. For that reason, found family will ALWAYS be one of my favorite tropes and the family that Kira did find amongst not only Reznyk as a true friend, lover, and confidant, but even with Matius and Tholious and grumpy little Xavier, made my heart swell.
The constructive criticism I have regarding this novel is that:
1) There should have been more time during Kira and Reznyk's forced proximity
2) The side characters should have been interacted with more and MUCH further developed, particularly Zayne, Matius, and Tholious.
3) The epilogue scene (also, epilogue is spelled wrong in the book!) should be the last chapter, and the bonus chapter should be the epilogue. The bonus chapter is CRITICAL to concluding this novel AND setting up the next -- it shouldn't only be available for ARC readers or for signing up for the author's email list. We had a really strong construction to the whole book but the ending seems hurriedly put together without much forethought.
To flush these constructive criticisms out more, I think a bit more time should have passed between Kira and Reznyk (or a few more chapters should have been written describing their interactions) before the “love” card came out to play. This novel was infinitely better in romantic pacing and plotting than other romantasies on the market, but I still wasn’t entirely convinced that they could love each other so quickly. What I DID love about the romantic plotting in this novel was the way in which sex was viewed, by Reznyk, as a true act of love. It not only made the buildup that much more anticipatory and scorching, but it also meant the act itself held a gravitas and weight to it that really resonated with me. Reznyk saying that if there was a child from their coupling, he’d take care of them literally made my heart do a little flip and had the warm and fuzzies coming out to play. To be honest, caring for a consequential child is literally the bare minimum, I suppose, but when even the bare minimum often isn’t met in today’s society, it becomes endearing. In relation to this, the spice was top notch -- I particularly enjoyed learning the geography of their world through their bodily exploration and teasing of one another ;) I would've never been bored in geography if this was the teaching method ahaha.
Continuing on, the ending and epilogue were the perfect sweet to balance the spice - but I truly think the bonus scene in the ARC should have been an addendum to the epilogue perhaps, but definitely in the actual book. I'm not sure Meredith's plans for it but it seems to be a critical chapter in not only wrapping up this first novel but in establishing the groundwork for the next. Besides this, the bonus scene’s found family trope really was driven home and made me so happy. The glimpse into the next novel also really stoked my excitement for the next book and to see Syrus’s and Veloria’s journey play out on the page. I wait in rapt and rabid, feral ferocity for book two, Monster of the Silver City, to be released. Meredith, please send me the ARC ASAP for the sake of my health - not even our upcoming new MMC Syrus, the professed magical healer, could heal this book hangover.
Highlights:
♥️ Seduction for Information: I’m always a sucker for this trope, but especially when, in the process, the mark ends up flustering or turning the tables back on the seducer. It was so endearing to see Reznyk attempt to seduce Kira for information but be sucked in by her siren’s call and end up baring himself to her emotionally and succumbing to his desires.
♥️ World-Building: Meredith’s worldbuilding felt so immersive and immediate that even I was fearful of Fyrris and the Towers. The concept of imbued magic in metals and the insidious hints we get as to where the magic the Towers uses comes from really acted as not only intrigue but managed to be a truly refreshing take in the oversaturated romantasy/fantasy scene that seems to recycle the same magic systems with slight changes here and there.
♥️ Found Family: As mentioned earlier, I am a SUCKER for a good found family trope. This book does NOT disappoint. We have such a cozy and sweet found family by the end of this novel to accompany the deeply-grounded love and partnership between the two main characters. This trope is even better considering the FMC has always been picked over or used by others, having never experienced real love or kinship though it is something she desperately yearns for and a major motivation for her character.
♥️ Intricate, High-fantasy Elements: The vague mentions of elves and dragons and hints about them within this novel hooked me, line and sinker. Further, the old gods and their characteristics as primordial, panaspectual beings was absolutely fascinating - I can’t wait to see more about these old gods and their lore within the series. I am so excited for this world to be further fleshed out in the future novels of the series regarding worldbuilding and these high-fantasy beings.
TLDR: Monster of the Dagger Mountains has absolutely ENRAPTURED me and ignited a bated anticipation for the rest of the Killers of the Towers series. Meredith Hart has crafted this first novel of the series to absolutely intoxicate the reader with a fantastical mix of worldbuilding and both a character-driven and a plot-driven narrative. Featuring mystical mountains, cutthroat cities, a dangerous(ly hot) Godkiller, a no-holds-barred fiery Tower guard, the lurid Towers with their hierarchy of brainwashed zealots, and a breathtaking romance woven in between, this novel will have you on the edge of your seat during adventures and misadventures alike, smitten and falling in love alongside the characters, and blushing at the toe-curling, sizzling spice. Those who have read Throne of Glass, Quicksilver, and Six of Crows will delight in this romantasy and be unable to put it down til the very last page.
Note: This review is based on an advanced reader copy provided by the publisher.
December 14, 2024
An amazing fantasy romance.. I liked it so much! Steam, suspense, magic, and adventure.. Emotional, real characters.
March 23, 2025
Looking for your next favorite Romantasy? Monster of the Dagger Mountains by Meredith Hart is a must-read! Thanks to the NerdFam for the gifted ARC!
This book delivers a beautifully crafted, character-driven romance that completely pulled me in. While the world is unique and easy to understand, the focus isn’t on magic—it’s on the characters and their journey. Watching the MMC, haunted by his past, and the passionate, determined FMC fall in love was absolutely wondrous. Their relationship had me hooked!
If you love romance tropes like forced proximity and miscommunication, you’ll adore this one. And let’s talk about the spice—it’s hot, but it never overwhelms the plot, making every moment between them feel even more meaningful.
This book sets up the next in the series, which will follow another couple, and I cannot wait! I’m giving this one 4.25 stars—I loved it!
Monster of the Dagger Mountains releases on 02/18/2025, so go preorder it now!
This book delivers a beautifully crafted, character-driven romance that completely pulled me in. While the world is unique and easy to understand, the focus isn’t on magic—it’s on the characters and their journey. Watching the MMC, haunted by his past, and the passionate, determined FMC fall in love was absolutely wondrous. Their relationship had me hooked!
If you love romance tropes like forced proximity and miscommunication, you’ll adore this one. And let’s talk about the spice—it’s hot, but it never overwhelms the plot, making every moment between them feel even more meaningful.
This book sets up the next in the series, which will follow another couple, and I cannot wait! I’m giving this one 4.25 stars—I loved it!
Monster of the Dagger Mountains releases on 02/18/2025, so go preorder it now!
February 3, 2025
Solidly a 4.5 star read!
Spice Level: 🌶️
Oh my god- I LOVED this book. The last 40 pages? Screaming, crying, throwing up. 10/10. {update:
I’m BEGGING you to subscribe to Meredith’s newsletter so you can get the bonus epilogue/chapter. So many of my world building questions are answered!!)
Right off the bat Monster of the Dagger Mountains immerses you into the story. The world building is subtle but powerful. The characters are beautiful and complex. The story arc is executed perfectly. I stayed up past my bedtime reading this book multiple times because I just had to know what happened next. I love, love, loved this book.
Based off the vibes alone I got while reading this- based off of how much I genuinely love and care about the characters- this book is easily one I’d recommend
——————————
Let’s break it down, and I’ll start by saying, this book surprised me.
First, this book was surprisingly cozy. I went in expecting fast paced, action packed, battle heavy romantasy. But this book was not that. It had a slow pace for the middle 2/4ths of the book that spent a lot of time building the bubble of a cozy cabin. It was honestly kind of nice.
Second, based off the marketing I definitely went in expecting a different story. I expected more of an enemies to lovers with a deeply morally grey MMC. IMO, we actually got friends to lovers- but I honestly kind of love that. As for Reznyk’s morals, I kept waiting for him to go morally grey, yet he stayed morally white. He couldn’t even bring himself to hunt for food because of his compassion. He wouldn’t have sex with a woman unless he was willing to potentially sire a child. I was also expecting found family and I didn’t really get that vibe. I honestly couldn’t identify who the found family was.
Third, SPICE IN CHAPTER 10? Unexpected. So hot. But it also didn’t turn into insta-love and the rest of the book was a slow burn???!!! Chefs kiss.
Fourth, despite not having my preferred badass MMC who would burn the whole world down for her, I loved this book. It’s such a fresh take on the genre that is currently saturated in smut heavy faeries (which I also love). It was very Tolkien-esque & felt the most like a fairytale come to life- complete with a sweet HEA that the rest of the genre tries to emulate. I honestly loved it.
————————
The only thing about this book that I would say is cautionary (or maybe a giant plus sign) is that it’s got graphic spice scenes (making it solidly New Adult) but other wise reads like a YA novel.
So, why does it feel a little YA to me? Reznyk. I want to love him, and if I base my opinion on him from the first 1/4 of the book and the final 40 pages of the book- I do! But in the majority of the story his character is so tender hearted it almost infantalizes him- which is unfortunate because he starts out the book so strong. Once we get to the final 3/4ths of the book he seems less like a man and more like a wounded child learning how to be a man. Lots of crying, which feels very YA to me.
The cast of characters is also small and the world building is very limited. The world building is done super subtly (which I love) but because of that we don’t get a lot of information I’d expect in a NA novel. Why do the Towers exist? Where does this magic come from? Why silver? What is the lore behind the Gods? Who is Zayne, really? What’s up with Benja? What happened to the guy in the travel party that was awful at cards? How is Reznyk going to take down the Towers if he won’t kill anyone? Just felt like a lot of plot and setting were erected and never explored. Also, what about the elves and the magical creatures we never met but always talk about??
All in all, I really enjoyed reading this and couldn’t put it down. Would I recommend it? absolutely! Thank you to the Nerd Fam for the ARC!
Spice Level: 🌶️
Oh my god- I LOVED this book. The last 40 pages? Screaming, crying, throwing up. 10/10. {update:
I’m BEGGING you to subscribe to Meredith’s newsletter so you can get the bonus epilogue/chapter. So many of my world building questions are answered!!)
Right off the bat Monster of the Dagger Mountains immerses you into the story. The world building is subtle but powerful. The characters are beautiful and complex. The story arc is executed perfectly. I stayed up past my bedtime reading this book multiple times because I just had to know what happened next. I love, love, loved this book.
Based off the vibes alone I got while reading this- based off of how much I genuinely love and care about the characters- this book is easily one I’d recommend
——————————
Let’s break it down, and I’ll start by saying, this book surprised me.
First, this book was surprisingly cozy. I went in expecting fast paced, action packed, battle heavy romantasy. But this book was not that. It had a slow pace for the middle 2/4ths of the book that spent a lot of time building the bubble of a cozy cabin. It was honestly kind of nice.
Second, based off the marketing I definitely went in expecting a different story. I expected more of an enemies to lovers with a deeply morally grey MMC. IMO, we actually got friends to lovers- but I honestly kind of love that. As for Reznyk’s morals, I kept waiting for him to go morally grey, yet he stayed morally white. He couldn’t even bring himself to hunt for food because of his compassion. He wouldn’t have sex with a woman unless he was willing to potentially sire a child. I was also expecting found family and I didn’t really get that vibe. I honestly couldn’t identify who the found family was.
Third, SPICE IN CHAPTER 10? Unexpected. So hot. But it also didn’t turn into insta-love and the rest of the book was a slow burn???!!! Chefs kiss.
Fourth, despite not having my preferred badass MMC who would burn the whole world down for her, I loved this book. It’s such a fresh take on the genre that is currently saturated in smut heavy faeries (which I also love). It was very Tolkien-esque & felt the most like a fairytale come to life- complete with a sweet HEA that the rest of the genre tries to emulate. I honestly loved it.
————————
The only thing about this book that I would say is cautionary (or maybe a giant plus sign) is that it’s got graphic spice scenes (making it solidly New Adult) but other wise reads like a YA novel.
So, why does it feel a little YA to me? Reznyk. I want to love him, and if I base my opinion on him from the first 1/4 of the book and the final 40 pages of the book- I do! But in the majority of the story his character is so tender hearted it almost infantalizes him- which is unfortunate because he starts out the book so strong. Once we get to the final 3/4ths of the book he seems less like a man and more like a wounded child learning how to be a man. Lots of crying, which feels very YA to me.
The cast of characters is also small and the world building is very limited. The world building is done super subtly (which I love) but because of that we don’t get a lot of information I’d expect in a NA novel. Why do the Towers exist? Where does this magic come from? Why silver? What is the lore behind the Gods? Who is Zayne, really? What’s up with Benja? What happened to the guy in the travel party that was awful at cards? How is Reznyk going to take down the Towers if he won’t kill anyone? Just felt like a lot of plot and setting were erected and never explored. Also, what about the elves and the magical creatures we never met but always talk about??
All in all, I really enjoyed reading this and couldn’t put it down. Would I recommend it? absolutely! Thank you to the Nerd Fam for the ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2025
I was very excited to start this book; Monster of the Dagger Mountains is set in the same world as Meredith Hart's previous series, but can be read as a standalone. I read this story quickly since it was fast-paced, full of suspicion, and featured some lovely scenes. Overall, I enjoyed the writing, but there was a lack of explanation for the magic system, as well as something unusual about the timeline of events, which appeared to be so far in the past but happened so recently. To be honest, I still don't quite grasp the timing of everything.
Kira grew up as an orphan in Silver City, and with few desirable options for her future, she jumps at the opportunity to go with Exemplers of The Tower to find her magical potential. After three years, she is a member of the Guard, with no hint of her magical potential showing. She is sent with one of the tower's most promising students and a band of mercenaries to recover something stolen by the Godkiller, who is now residing in the Dagger Mountains. Forced to live with the Godkiller, Kira discovers that not everything is what it seems and begins to doubt everything she has ever been told by the Exemplers and members of The Tower.
The novel has some Beauty and the Beast vibes, but it focuses on a actions and the nature of a person rather than their appearance. The chemistry was instant from the start, but it was the exchanges between Kira and Reznyk that truly stood out as they got to know and understand each other. These sequences were so meaningful, yet the setting and Hart's description are what truly make them wholesome.
For me, two of the mercenaries, Zayne and Matius, stood out from the others. Zayne is a mystery character, while Matius, despite his brief appearance, has as much depth as the two main characters. However, when you consider that a cat might be the smartest character, the story becomes a little frustrating, especially when questions for the characters have already been answered and it appears to easily bypass them.
I enjoyed the narrative, but something about the overall story didn't click for me.
Kira grew up as an orphan in Silver City, and with few desirable options for her future, she jumps at the opportunity to go with Exemplers of The Tower to find her magical potential. After three years, she is a member of the Guard, with no hint of her magical potential showing. She is sent with one of the tower's most promising students and a band of mercenaries to recover something stolen by the Godkiller, who is now residing in the Dagger Mountains. Forced to live with the Godkiller, Kira discovers that not everything is what it seems and begins to doubt everything she has ever been told by the Exemplers and members of The Tower.
The novel has some Beauty and the Beast vibes, but it focuses on a actions and the nature of a person rather than their appearance. The chemistry was instant from the start, but it was the exchanges between Kira and Reznyk that truly stood out as they got to know and understand each other. These sequences were so meaningful, yet the setting and Hart's description are what truly make them wholesome.
For me, two of the mercenaries, Zayne and Matius, stood out from the others. Zayne is a mystery character, while Matius, despite his brief appearance, has as much depth as the two main characters. However, when you consider that a cat might be the smartest character, the story becomes a little frustrating, especially when questions for the characters have already been answered and it appears to easily bypass them.
I enjoyed the narrative, but something about the overall story didn't click for me.
February 11, 2025
This was a 3.5 read for me, I enjoyed this.
The book was fast paced all up until the MC’s separate, then things start to slow down a bit. Once they reunite things pick up once again.
The MMC Reznyk was written as if he was two separate characters in my opinion. When we first start out he seems dark and mysterious. He’s painted to be this godkiller who shall be feared for he’s a monster. But right after the initial introduction he’s not this dark and mysterious, powerful being. He’s a man living in regret and guilt and drowning in his trauma. As the story moves on we get some glimpses of the first character we are introduced to and by the end we see the potential of what his character can be.
The FMC Kira, I was waiting for her to be extraordinary but it never came. I did like her character though, she showed a lot of empathy and compassion.
There was a lot of miscommunication and assumptions throughout the book. It’s not a trope I tend to like very much of. The writing I felt could have used maybe one more reread but it was addicting to keep reading. All together this book has so much potential, the world building and the magic system I think would have been good to give a better understanding of. I enjoyed the idea of where the story will go and I loved the side characters that really made it possible for things to move along. Kira and Reznyk’s dynamic was sweet and almost healing for what they had gone through.
Thank you to Nerd Fam for the EARC!
The book was fast paced all up until the MC’s separate, then things start to slow down a bit. Once they reunite things pick up once again.
The MMC Reznyk was written as if he was two separate characters in my opinion. When we first start out he seems dark and mysterious. He’s painted to be this godkiller who shall be feared for he’s a monster. But right after the initial introduction he’s not this dark and mysterious, powerful being. He’s a man living in regret and guilt and drowning in his trauma. As the story moves on we get some glimpses of the first character we are introduced to and by the end we see the potential of what his character can be.
The FMC Kira, I was waiting for her to be extraordinary but it never came. I did like her character though, she showed a lot of empathy and compassion.
There was a lot of miscommunication and assumptions throughout the book. It’s not a trope I tend to like very much of. The writing I felt could have used maybe one more reread but it was addicting to keep reading. All together this book has so much potential, the world building and the magic system I think would have been good to give a better understanding of. I enjoyed the idea of where the story will go and I loved the side characters that really made it possible for things to move along. Kira and Reznyk’s dynamic was sweet and almost healing for what they had gone through.
Thank you to Nerd Fam for the EARC!
January 19, 2025
Monster of the Dagger Mountains is such a unique romantasy, following a hunter and hunted plot line ending in a picture perfect romance.
I honestly cannot believe I have never picked up a book by Meredith Hart before! The world is built so beautifully and, while some parts were harder to visualize, the overall image was so picturesque.
While the world building was amazing, these characters had my heart the most. Reznyk was perfect in so many ways. He deserved so much better than what he was given throughout his life, and honestly belongs among the famous male main characters everyone loves. Kira was also so interesting as well. I found her character arc to be quite engaging and truly had me constantly surprised. Her path to understanding her own history is very important to the plot and you can see how Hart was able to weave this into the book perfectly.
The only reason it is a four star is some of the romantic elements I found were often thrown into an abrupt transition, however they do fit the storyline well, and don’t feel out of place. I also had some questions that I would like to have answered in this book rather than its sequel that is releasing in April, 2025.
Overall, I strongly recommend this book! Meredith Hart deserves so much more recognition for her works! Thank you for gifting me an Arc of Monsters of the Dagger Mountains!
I honestly cannot believe I have never picked up a book by Meredith Hart before! The world is built so beautifully and, while some parts were harder to visualize, the overall image was so picturesque.
While the world building was amazing, these characters had my heart the most. Reznyk was perfect in so many ways. He deserved so much better than what he was given throughout his life, and honestly belongs among the famous male main characters everyone loves. Kira was also so interesting as well. I found her character arc to be quite engaging and truly had me constantly surprised. Her path to understanding her own history is very important to the plot and you can see how Hart was able to weave this into the book perfectly.
The only reason it is a four star is some of the romantic elements I found were often thrown into an abrupt transition, however they do fit the storyline well, and don’t feel out of place. I also had some questions that I would like to have answered in this book rather than its sequel that is releasing in April, 2025.
Overall, I strongly recommend this book! Meredith Hart deserves so much more recognition for her works! Thank you for gifting me an Arc of Monsters of the Dagger Mountains!
January 29, 2025
3.5⭐️
Thank you Nerdfam for the arc copy
Monster of the Dagger Mountains
Killers of the Towers Book One
𝐸𝓃𝑒𝓂𝒾𝑒𝓈 𝓉𝑜 𝐿𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓈
𝒱𝒾𝓁𝓁𝒶𝒾𝓃 𝑅𝑜𝓂𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒
𝐹𝑜𝓇𝒸𝑒𝒹 𝒫𝓇𝑜𝓍𝒾𝓂𝒾𝓉𝓎
𝐹𝒶𝓃𝓉𝒶𝓈𝓎 𝑅𝑜𝓂𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒
𝐵𝒶𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓇.
He stole magic from a god. She’s going to steal from him.
Kira’s in need to prove herself to the towers and she sets off on a mission to retrieve an amulet and hunt the dangerous Reznyk. Both attempt to seduce each other for their personal gain but soon realize that an actual connection might get in the way of their plans. You get a sort of cat and mouse storyline with the alterior objectives.
Reznyk is made to be the villain in this story but as the story unfolds you see him for who he truly is. I deff gravitate towards the misunderstood MMC’s. The back and forth question banter was a fun element to the story.
I enjoyed the twists and turns towards the end of the book. I liked that the chapters weren’t long or dragged out. The pacing was pretty well done. Would’ve loved to dive a little bit more into the magic side of things. Readers who like fantasy with adventure, unique storylines, and some spice will enjoy this book.
“Because maybe love isn't feeling like you need to prove yourself. Maybe it's someone who feels like a friend. Or more than a friend. Maybe it's someone who wants you to live, even when the world expects nothing but death.”
Thank you Nerdfam for the arc copy
Monster of the Dagger Mountains
Killers of the Towers Book One
𝐸𝓃𝑒𝓂𝒾𝑒𝓈 𝓉𝑜 𝐿𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓈
𝒱𝒾𝓁𝓁𝒶𝒾𝓃 𝑅𝑜𝓂𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒
𝐹𝑜𝓇𝒸𝑒𝒹 𝒫𝓇𝑜𝓍𝒾𝓂𝒾𝓉𝓎
𝐹𝒶𝓃𝓉𝒶𝓈𝓎 𝑅𝑜𝓂𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒
𝐵𝒶𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓇.
He stole magic from a god. She’s going to steal from him.
Kira’s in need to prove herself to the towers and she sets off on a mission to retrieve an amulet and hunt the dangerous Reznyk. Both attempt to seduce each other for their personal gain but soon realize that an actual connection might get in the way of their plans. You get a sort of cat and mouse storyline with the alterior objectives.
Reznyk is made to be the villain in this story but as the story unfolds you see him for who he truly is. I deff gravitate towards the misunderstood MMC’s. The back and forth question banter was a fun element to the story.
I enjoyed the twists and turns towards the end of the book. I liked that the chapters weren’t long or dragged out. The pacing was pretty well done. Would’ve loved to dive a little bit more into the magic side of things. Readers who like fantasy with adventure, unique storylines, and some spice will enjoy this book.
“Because maybe love isn't feeling like you need to prove yourself. Maybe it's someone who feels like a friend. Or more than a friend. Maybe it's someone who wants you to live, even when the world expects nothing but death.”
February 6, 2025
Thank you NerdFam for the ARC! I would rate this 3.5 stars
Cons: I really wanted some more world building. I was a little confused by the magic system, the history of the Towers, and especially Reznyk’s history at the Towers. Even having a prologue about the Godkiller & the events that happened would have been super helpful to understand what was happening later on.
Pros: I thought the pacing was really good. I was interested in the story from start to finish.
I liked the characters. Kira had really good character growth, and it was fun to watch her change from being scared and lonely to confident and happy. I also liked Reznyk. I do like a misunderstood character, and being able to have his POV was helpful to see the real him. Sometimes I was a little confused about him being this super deadly magic wielder to the him we actually saw, but overall I liked him a lot!
There was a little bit of spice, and I really liked the hesitant romance between Kira and Reznyk! You can’t help but root for them
I also thought the magic system was unique and interesting (even though I still have questions).
I will definitley check out the next book in this series to see what happens with the Towers!
Cons: I really wanted some more world building. I was a little confused by the magic system, the history of the Towers, and especially Reznyk’s history at the Towers. Even having a prologue about the Godkiller & the events that happened would have been super helpful to understand what was happening later on.
Pros: I thought the pacing was really good. I was interested in the story from start to finish.
I liked the characters. Kira had really good character growth, and it was fun to watch her change from being scared and lonely to confident and happy. I also liked Reznyk. I do like a misunderstood character, and being able to have his POV was helpful to see the real him. Sometimes I was a little confused about him being this super deadly magic wielder to the him we actually saw, but overall I liked him a lot!
There was a little bit of spice, and I really liked the hesitant romance between Kira and Reznyk! You can’t help but root for them
I also thought the magic system was unique and interesting (even though I still have questions).
I will definitley check out the next book in this series to see what happens with the Towers!
February 17, 2025
Thank you to the author and the Nerd Fam for this ARC!
I really enjoyed the first half of this book and the last 10%.
It started out with a bang… kinda literally 😂 I loved that! So unexpected.
Miscommunication tropes are not my favorite, and I thought the characters argument was kinda silly since they both kinda knew what they were getting into with each other. Like there were no secret agendas. I guess it was bound to happen even with such chill characters.
Overall though, I thought this book was really cozy. It had action and a bit of adventure. The romance was really sweet and I loved the two main characters. There were some good side characters too. I would love more of them in the books.
The main conflict with the towers was good, it seems like the next book will be more about that, so I’m really excited to continue this series!
I can’t wait to see what happens next! Also loved that there was a cat.
Thank you again for this opportunity! I’m so glad I got to read about this world and these characters.
I really enjoyed the first half of this book and the last 10%.
It started out with a bang… kinda literally 😂 I loved that! So unexpected.
Miscommunication tropes are not my favorite, and I thought the characters argument was kinda silly since they both kinda knew what they were getting into with each other. Like there were no secret agendas. I guess it was bound to happen even with such chill characters.
Overall though, I thought this book was really cozy. It had action and a bit of adventure. The romance was really sweet and I loved the two main characters. There were some good side characters too. I would love more of them in the books.
The main conflict with the towers was good, it seems like the next book will be more about that, so I’m really excited to continue this series!
I can’t wait to see what happens next! Also loved that there was a cat.
Thank you again for this opportunity! I’m so glad I got to read about this world and these characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2025
If you're looking for an epic fantasy packed with adventure, enemies to lovers romance, secrets and magic, you'll wanna check out Monster of the Dagger Mountains.
This story pulled me in right from the start. The hunt for a Godk!ller who fled to the Dagger Mountains with the old God's magic takes Kira on an unexpected quest to finally prove herself after failing her magical studies for the third year in a row.
Reznyk completed his mission of k!lling the last old God and is paying a severe price. When he crosses paths with Kira, his seduction plan goes out the window when they seem to have a connection neither of them can understand.
This story will pull on your heart strings, make you laugh, give you anxiety and take you on an emotional roller coaster. The vibe is dark, enchanting, and tense. The setting is beautiful, with vivid descriptions of the mountains, meadows and wildlife. You'll find betrayal, spice, sorcery, heroes and villians. If these tropes are up your alley, you're gonna love this book!
This story pulled me in right from the start. The hunt for a Godk!ller who fled to the Dagger Mountains with the old God's magic takes Kira on an unexpected quest to finally prove herself after failing her magical studies for the third year in a row.
Reznyk completed his mission of k!lling the last old God and is paying a severe price. When he crosses paths with Kira, his seduction plan goes out the window when they seem to have a connection neither of them can understand.
This story will pull on your heart strings, make you laugh, give you anxiety and take you on an emotional roller coaster. The vibe is dark, enchanting, and tense. The setting is beautiful, with vivid descriptions of the mountains, meadows and wildlife. You'll find betrayal, spice, sorcery, heroes and villians. If these tropes are up your alley, you're gonna love this book!
February 19, 2025
Monster of Dagger Mountain
Phenomenal! I was hooked from the start and couldn’t put this book down! I absolutely loved, loved it!!
Oh goodness where to start… the story was captivating! There’s gods, and magic, and twists and turns and so much in here.
The characters are what really made the story though! Kira is a fun sunshine woman who was honestly so entertaining to read. She was tough and compassionate.
Then there’s Reznyk. Now he was awesome!! I loved his hidden depths and how nothing was as it seemed with him.
Their relationship was so good!! I loved the connection between them and all the twists and turns the story took. There was a bit of everything in this one and you’re not going to want to miss this trust me!!
Want more reasons to read; enemies to lovers, villainish romance, forced proximity, secret identities, pasts, entertaining banter, found family, drinking games, hurt/comfort, sunshine/grumpy, cinnamon roll MMC, and more!
Phenomenal! I was hooked from the start and couldn’t put this book down! I absolutely loved, loved it!!
Oh goodness where to start… the story was captivating! There’s gods, and magic, and twists and turns and so much in here.
The characters are what really made the story though! Kira is a fun sunshine woman who was honestly so entertaining to read. She was tough and compassionate.
Then there’s Reznyk. Now he was awesome!! I loved his hidden depths and how nothing was as it seemed with him.
Their relationship was so good!! I loved the connection between them and all the twists and turns the story took. There was a bit of everything in this one and you’re not going to want to miss this trust me!!
Want more reasons to read; enemies to lovers, villainish romance, forced proximity, secret identities, pasts, entertaining banter, found family, drinking games, hurt/comfort, sunshine/grumpy, cinnamon roll MMC, and more!
March 15, 2025
This was such a great read! I enjoyed the world building and there was never a moment of boredom as there was just the perfect amount of action and suspense.
I also loved the humour that was intertwined in this story too. Inner thoughts laced with sarcasm is my jam.
Our MMC is a bit of a grump, perhaps terrifying to some, but he’s actually a broken hearted softie and the FMC starts off looking for her biological family but by the end builds a family for herself.
The relationship between these two takes off right away but then becomes a slow burn which was really quite nice. I loved the questions game and how it was flirting at first but then because a way to communicate big feelings.
Does anyone else really want to visit the cabin? It sounds so cute and cozy.
We don’t end on a cliffhanger but we do get what’s going to come next in book 2. First time reading Meredith Hart and I’m definitely hooked!
I also loved the humour that was intertwined in this story too. Inner thoughts laced with sarcasm is my jam.
Our MMC is a bit of a grump, perhaps terrifying to some, but he’s actually a broken hearted softie and the FMC starts off looking for her biological family but by the end builds a family for herself.
The relationship between these two takes off right away but then becomes a slow burn which was really quite nice. I loved the questions game and how it was flirting at first but then because a way to communicate big feelings.
Does anyone else really want to visit the cabin? It sounds so cute and cozy.
We don’t end on a cliffhanger but we do get what’s going to come next in book 2. First time reading Meredith Hart and I’m definitely hooked!
February 16, 2025
Dual POV 😍, hate to love, forced proximity, banter, interconnected standalone
Thank you, Meredith Hart and NerdFam, for a copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and my thoughts are my own.
Kira is sent to steal from the Godkiller. As frightening as that may be, this is the chance she needs to finally find her magic and take her place in training at the Towers of Silver City. But the Godkiller is not the monster everyone thinks she is and as she grows closer to him everything she knows is changing.
This was a different take on magic that more is learned about throughout the book. There was miscommunication, but the pacing was good even with a lot of traveling needed, that this didn't feel like it dragged on so it didn't bother me. I enjoyed this story and am excited for the next one that will feature a different couple!
Thank you, Meredith Hart and NerdFam, for a copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and my thoughts are my own.
Kira is sent to steal from the Godkiller. As frightening as that may be, this is the chance she needs to finally find her magic and take her place in training at the Towers of Silver City. But the Godkiller is not the monster everyone thinks she is and as she grows closer to him everything she knows is changing.
This was a different take on magic that more is learned about throughout the book. There was miscommunication, but the pacing was good even with a lot of traveling needed, that this didn't feel like it dragged on so it didn't bother me. I enjoyed this story and am excited for the next one that will feature a different couple!
February 18, 2025
This was my first read by Meredith Hart but I am hooked! I loved this book from start to finish. It held me in a tight grip and didn't let me go 'till I got to the last page.
The writingstyle of Meredith was soo smooth, the chapters not too long, so I was just ohhh one more chapter, before I knew it I was halfway through the book in one setting. The worldbuilding was done amazing, it kept on growing and the more I read, the more I learned about the characters, the magic and the total world it is placed in. The instant pull betweeen Kira and Reznyk gave the story a sexy extra layer and so did the spice 😏
And then, reading it in dual-POV we got a really nice inside in both Kira and Reznyk and I cannot wait to read more from this world and the characters! And Xavier, ohh myy gosh I really want a cat like that!
⭐⭐⭐⭐,5
Meredith Hart thank you so much for this ARC to read and review.
The writingstyle of Meredith was soo smooth, the chapters not too long, so I was just ohhh one more chapter, before I knew it I was halfway through the book in one setting. The worldbuilding was done amazing, it kept on growing and the more I read, the more I learned about the characters, the magic and the total world it is placed in. The instant pull betweeen Kira and Reznyk gave the story a sexy extra layer and so did the spice 😏
And then, reading it in dual-POV we got a really nice inside in both Kira and Reznyk and I cannot wait to read more from this world and the characters! And Xavier, ohh myy gosh I really want a cat like that!
⭐⭐⭐⭐,5
Meredith Hart thank you so much for this ARC to read and review.
January 26, 2025
3,5⭐️ I really liked it thank you author and Nerdfam for the arc! It was fast paced, entertaining, quite unique with Daughter of No World vibes. The main characters were likeable and the plot interesting! It was a bit long at one point and the miscommunication trope is not my favourite but I can see myself picking up the next one!
•magical world
•old gods
•human woman
•mmc believes he is a monster
•remote location
•betrayal
•evil towers controlling magic
•stubborn heroic characters
•strong relationships
Also Zayne is somehow the best. Very solid fantasy with romance and some spice. Nothing world altering but very nice and quick read!
•magical world
•old gods
•human woman
•mmc believes he is a monster
•remote location
•betrayal
•evil towers controlling magic
•stubborn heroic characters
•strong relationships
Also Zayne is somehow the best. Very solid fantasy with romance and some spice. Nothing world altering but very nice and quick read!
March 10, 2025
3.5 stars
To me this book was okay. My favorite part of the whole book was the ending, not because it ended, but because of the way that it was wrapped up nicely for the current MCs and set up for the next book in the series.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, however, it was a little much with the constant “The One” talk and assumptions. It has a good plot and somewhat of a love story. I especially loved the gold starbursts (IYKYK), It was a wonderful touch that showed how much meaning was put into that scene. (Don’t worry, I am not a spoiler).
To me this book was okay. My favorite part of the whole book was the ending, not because it ended, but because of the way that it was wrapped up nicely for the current MCs and set up for the next book in the series.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, however, it was a little much with the constant “The One” talk and assumptions. It has a good plot and somewhat of a love story. I especially loved the gold starbursts (IYKYK), It was a wonderful touch that showed how much meaning was put into that scene. (Don’t worry, I am not a spoiler).
February 3, 2025
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted books.
I have to say I absolutely loved this book and didn't want to put it down.
The story that Meredith wrote embracing the enemies to lovers and forced proximity of Kira and Reznyk is delicious.
Even the relationships with the other characters in the books that you meet during the story make you feel a range of emotions and even soft spots for them towards the end.
I can't wait to see what Meredith Hart brings out next.
I have to say I absolutely loved this book and didn't want to put it down.
The story that Meredith wrote embracing the enemies to lovers and forced proximity of Kira and Reznyk is delicious.
Even the relationships with the other characters in the books that you meet during the story make you feel a range of emotions and even soft spots for them towards the end.
I can't wait to see what Meredith Hart brings out next.
February 6, 2025
4.25 stars. Thank you so much for my ARC copy of this book. If I’m honest, I wasn’t sure how excited I was to read it after I got it but knew I needed to read it. But ended up loving it so much more than anticipated.
Love the writing. Love the characters. Loved the story that was reminiscent of one of my favorite childhood stories. Is very relationships heavy and felt a bit plot light for me but still loved it!
Love the writing. Love the characters. Loved the story that was reminiscent of one of my favorite childhood stories. Is very relationships heavy and felt a bit plot light for me but still loved it!
February 11, 2025
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the arc copy! Release date: 18th February !
This was super intriguing! Fast-paced and high stakes. The initial plot was tense & i loved the romance in this book. The middle-3/4 mark seemed to slow down but the ending picked right back up. The characters were great and there’s a good collection of side characters that play a huge part in the development of the plot. Super well done & leads on well to the next, MAY 2025🌟🌟🌟
This was super intriguing! Fast-paced and high stakes. The initial plot was tense & i loved the romance in this book. The middle-3/4 mark seemed to slow down but the ending picked right back up. The characters were great and there’s a good collection of side characters that play a huge part in the development of the plot. Super well done & leads on well to the next, MAY 2025🌟🌟🌟
March 2, 2025
this was a really fun, fast-paced read! the whole 'monster hunter falls for the monster' thing was super entertaining, and the characters were hella relatable. i loved the spicy moments and the magic system was very unique! definitely a fun escape if you're looking for a good fantasy romance and also good gateway book to the genre!
thank you meredith hart & the nerd fam for an advanced copy of this book!
thank you meredith hart & the nerd fam for an advanced copy of this book!
January 14, 2025
Excellent book! Monster of the Dagger Mountains is an addicting and rewarding read. I’ve read all of Meredith Hart’s books and they never disappoint. The emotions of the two main characters seep under your skin as if you’re the one feeling them. Great plot, great love, and a few surprises thrown in for good measure. I received an arc of this book because I couldnt wait until it was published to read it. This is an honest review
February 21, 2025
This was such a good story!! I had the pleasure of reading this as an ARC ( advanced reader copy) and am so thankful! You have a fmc Kira who was sent out on a mission to retrieve a stolen item from the God Killer . Along her travels she runs into a man named Reznyk. They hit it off and have a fun one night encounter. BUT what she didn’t know is he is the man she is looking for ….. the God Killer
May 15, 2025
3.5 ⭐
I need to properly put my thoughts together but I really enjoyed reading this (for the most part).
Reznyk was a softest, heart wrenching MMC behind a scary 'monster' image and it really pulled on my sensitive soul.
I need to properly put my thoughts together but I really enjoyed reading this (for the most part).
Reznyk was a softest, heart wrenching MMC behind a scary 'monster' image and it really pulled on my sensitive soul.
January 18, 2025
This was a good light fantasy, easy to follow and with a Godskiller who is very swoon worthy lol;) Perfect for anyone new to fantasy for sure, lots of good romance and a fun story!
February 14, 2025
3.75⭐️ review to come
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