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The Obsidian Academy Duet #2
Tides of Secrets
“Logic bows at the throne of obsession.”
When Wren discovers a body and Castien in the tunnels on the same night, she’s certain she’ll never be able to trust him again. But that doesn’t mean she no longer needs him.
In order to discover the killer taking down their fellow students, Wren is forced to rely on Castien’s strategic mind and his knowledge of the Obsidian Order.
Wren wants nothing more than a cordial alliance, but Castien is intent on winning much more than her loyalty. He longs for her heart.
As they learn to trust each other again, the secret of Wren’s stolen journal looms over their fragile happiness like a storm cloud on the horizon.
Will they be able to withstand the tempestuous winds, or will they be ripped apart in the end?
Find out in Tides of Secrets, the epic conclusion of the Obsidian Academy Duet, a love story tinged with obsession and drenched in yearning.
When Wren discovers a body and Castien in the tunnels on the same night, she’s certain she’ll never be able to trust him again. But that doesn’t mean she no longer needs him.
In order to discover the killer taking down their fellow students, Wren is forced to rely on Castien’s strategic mind and his knowledge of the Obsidian Order.
Wren wants nothing more than a cordial alliance, but Castien is intent on winning much more than her loyalty. He longs for her heart.
As they learn to trust each other again, the secret of Wren’s stolen journal looms over their fragile happiness like a storm cloud on the horizon.
Will they be able to withstand the tempestuous winds, or will they be ripped apart in the end?
Find out in Tides of Secrets, the epic conclusion of the Obsidian Academy Duet, a love story tinged with obsession and drenched in yearning.
342 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 243 reviews
March 29, 2026
⭐️6
Annah did absolutely incredible in this book!
Her writing and everything about it is absolutely amazing. I cannot stop thinking about Castien, Wren, and Finnick.
I loved everything about it! The characters, the plot, the emotional rollercoaster…I loved it all.
Castien and Wren went through horrible things yet they’re still standing. Because of each other. Because she was his light in the darkness and he was hers. They loved each other so fervently and fiercely, it just melted my heart.
Castien the man that he is!👏🏼👏🏼 He was so loving and patient and caring and obsessed with Wren. His heart belonged to her from the beginning. Even when she didn’t know it.
Wren. She’s amazing. I respect the woman that she has become. I admire the quiet strength that she has and I absolutely love that Castien did his best to show her that she IS strong. That she is NOT broken. That she is enough.
They’re perfect for each other.
Fin, aka my favorite side character EVER, I love him so much. I loved how loyal and caring he is with Castien. Their banter and friendship was one of the my favorite parts in the entire book. And I am so so sorry for what happened to him. But I love that he had Castien to help him survive.♥️
And the ending😭 Don’t get me wrong it was a happily ever after but what was that Annah?😭 I was destroyed. What happened broke my heart and that Castien is blaming himself for it? Broke my heart again. (PS I loved it)
All of them deserved better.♥️ But I was so happy that Wren was there for them.
I absolutely adore this book🥹
favorite moments:
- Castien giving his dagger to Wren
- when she took care of him when he was ill
- when Castien called her ‘Storyteller’ or ‘dearest’
- when he helped her with a panic attack and made sure she was okay to continue their investigation
- Castien comforting Wren after the nightmare
- Castiens letter in her brothers journal
- their first kiss!!
- him rescuing her in the tunnels
- Wren having Castien say “This was not my fault.” 😭
- the epilogue
- “We have forever.” 🥹
tropes:
🤎dark academia
🕯️soft FMC x protective MMC
🤎secrets & mystery
🕯️nicknames
🤎allll the yearning
🕯️he falls first
🤎slow burn
🕯️”I’ve got you.”
🤎nightmare trope
🕯️sword fighting lessons
🤎dual pov
TW: mention of SA, slight gore, death, m^rder, ptsd
CONTENT:
- kisses only (closed door)
- no language
⋆ ── favorite quotes:
The loss of her words would be unbearable. He had come to rely on them. They were his air and water. Vital. Necessary for survival in this shadowy landscape.
── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──
“For someone who hates me, you spend quite a lot of time in my arms.”
── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──
He deserved her contempt. Her ire. A dagger through the heart if she so wished. Yet still he yearned and longed to see her forgiveness and trust blossom.
── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──
There was little Castien would not do for Wren.
── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──
Castien saw her hand move in his peripheral vision, then felt the cool edge of a blade against his neck. “What a creative way to thank me,” he teased.
Her smile widened into something playful that made his stomach flip. “I do not think I’ll ever have the opportunity to best you, so I thought I’d pretend I did for a moment. I would say I’m shocked you did not stop me, but I know how little of a threat I pose to you.”
He smiled down at her, incapable of holding back in the presence of her joy. “You are more of a threat than you know, dearest.”
── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──
Tides, he loved her. He was irrevocably in love with Wren, in the most hopeless manner. Tears burned in Castien’s eyes, a foreign feeling for him after years of suppression. He’d have done anything she asked during the interrogation, not out of duty or justice, but because he loved her. The overwhelming desire to ensure she never cried again was a flower rooted in an entire garden of utter devotion. His heart thrummed, each beat a declaration of his feelings.
── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──
Tides, she loved him. So much so that she wanted his healing more than her own. If she could take all of his grief away and bear it for him, she would.
── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──
Annah did absolutely incredible in this book!
Her writing and everything about it is absolutely amazing. I cannot stop thinking about Castien, Wren, and Finnick.
I loved everything about it! The characters, the plot, the emotional rollercoaster…I loved it all.
Castien and Wren went through horrible things yet they’re still standing. Because of each other. Because she was his light in the darkness and he was hers. They loved each other so fervently and fiercely, it just melted my heart.
Castien the man that he is!👏🏼👏🏼 He was so loving and patient and caring and obsessed with Wren. His heart belonged to her from the beginning. Even when she didn’t know it.
Wren. She’s amazing. I respect the woman that she has become. I admire the quiet strength that she has and I absolutely love that Castien did his best to show her that she IS strong. That she is NOT broken. That she is enough.
They’re perfect for each other.
Fin, aka my favorite side character EVER, I love him so much. I loved how loyal and caring he is with Castien. Their banter and friendship was one of the my favorite parts in the entire book. And I am so so sorry for what happened to him. But I love that he had Castien to help him survive.♥️
And the ending😭 Don’t get me wrong it was a happily ever after but what was that Annah?😭 I was destroyed. What happened broke my heart and that Castien is blaming himself for it? Broke my heart again. (PS I loved it)
All of them deserved better.♥️ But I was so happy that Wren was there for them.
I absolutely adore this book🥹
favorite moments:
- Castien giving his dagger to Wren
- when she took care of him when he was ill
- when Castien called her ‘Storyteller’ or ‘dearest’
- when he helped her with a panic attack and made sure she was okay to continue their investigation
- Castien comforting Wren after the nightmare
- Castiens letter in her brothers journal
- their first kiss!!
- him rescuing her in the tunnels
- Wren having Castien say “This was not my fault.” 😭
- the epilogue
- “We have forever.” 🥹
tropes:
🤎dark academia
🕯️soft FMC x protective MMC
🤎secrets & mystery
🕯️nicknames
🤎allll the yearning
🕯️he falls first
🤎slow burn
🕯️”I’ve got you.”
🤎nightmare trope
🕯️sword fighting lessons
🤎dual pov
TW: mention of SA, slight gore, death, m^rder, ptsd
CONTENT:
- kisses only (closed door)
- no language
⋆ ── favorite quotes:
The loss of her words would be unbearable. He had come to rely on them. They were his air and water. Vital. Necessary for survival in this shadowy landscape.
── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──
“For someone who hates me, you spend quite a lot of time in my arms.”
── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──
He deserved her contempt. Her ire. A dagger through the heart if she so wished. Yet still he yearned and longed to see her forgiveness and trust blossom.
── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──
There was little Castien would not do for Wren.
── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──
Castien saw her hand move in his peripheral vision, then felt the cool edge of a blade against his neck. “What a creative way to thank me,” he teased.
Her smile widened into something playful that made his stomach flip. “I do not think I’ll ever have the opportunity to best you, so I thought I’d pretend I did for a moment. I would say I’m shocked you did not stop me, but I know how little of a threat I pose to you.”
He smiled down at her, incapable of holding back in the presence of her joy. “You are more of a threat than you know, dearest.”
── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──
Tides, he loved her. He was irrevocably in love with Wren, in the most hopeless manner. Tears burned in Castien’s eyes, a foreign feeling for him after years of suppression. He’d have done anything she asked during the interrogation, not out of duty or justice, but because he loved her. The overwhelming desire to ensure she never cried again was a flower rooted in an entire garden of utter devotion. His heart thrummed, each beat a declaration of his feelings.
── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──
Tides, she loved him. So much so that she wanted his healing more than her own. If she could take all of his grief away and bear it for him, she would.
── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──
June 26, 2026
This is such a solid dark academia duet in the clean content space. I'm hoping it sets a trend for more dark academia with clean content!
The dark academia vibes are absolutely there. It did feel like the romance is the focal point, and that moving as slowly as it did was awesome. It made total sense for the romance to be the slowest burn given Wren's trauma. And boy, when the romance finally committed it was captivating. Overall, the last 30% had me in a chokehold for the romance and plot. The third act break-up was perfectly paced and perfectly resolved. The way Castien handles Wren's needs in their progression was everything!!! And the plot twist for the serial killer...I did not see coming. The gore around all of that was just enough to be creepy/thrilling but did not cross a line. The epilogue was super sweet.
I have a couple complaints (but the ending saved my rating). Some parts were a little slow and I didn't find myself reaching for the book at times in the first half. I also thought the closure to the mystery in the middle was a little weak. I wanted more from the plot in the first half. I get that the slow build up helped the end be impactful but it still felt like something was missing to me. It is a romantasy though so I understood that it was more romance-forward. The monsters felt like a loose-end. I wanted them to play a slightly bigger part. Lastly, I wish this had been written in first-person. I usually don't mind third-person at all, but this would get a little clunky sometimes with how often the author mentioned the POV's name to tell the story (it’s funny, because this didn’t feel like an issue to me in book 1). I actually started inserting first-person in my head for whoever's chapter I was in and it felt so much smoother to read (the writing style itself is really beautiful). I hope the author considers first person for fantasy in the future.
I'm looking forward to more dark academia romantasy from this author and highly recommend this duet!
In this book:
-elite academy
-serial killer
-epistolary chapters
-journal entries
-slowest burn
-secret pining/yearning
-he falls first and hard
-opposites attract
-found family
-dual-POV (third person)
Content Guide:
romance - clean
language - clean
violence - brief/infrequent gore
fantasy - enhanced abilities "gifts"; monsters
Potential Content Warnings:
-grief
-post-traumatic stress
-discreet flashbacks regarding past childhood SA
-anxiety/panic attacks
-on-page death/murder
The dark academia vibes are absolutely there. It did feel like the romance is the focal point, and that moving as slowly as it did was awesome. It made total sense for the romance to be the slowest burn given Wren's trauma. And boy, when the romance finally committed it was captivating. Overall, the last 30% had me in a chokehold for the romance and plot. The third act break-up was perfectly paced and perfectly resolved. The way Castien handles Wren's needs in their progression was everything!!! And the plot twist for the serial killer...I did not see coming. The gore around all of that was just enough to be creepy/thrilling but did not cross a line. The epilogue was super sweet.
I have a couple complaints (but the ending saved my rating). Some parts were a little slow and I didn't find myself reaching for the book at times in the first half. I also thought the closure to the mystery in the middle was a little weak. I wanted more from the plot in the first half. I get that the slow build up helped the end be impactful but it still felt like something was missing to me. It is a romantasy though so I understood that it was more romance-forward. The monsters felt like a loose-end. I wanted them to play a slightly bigger part. Lastly, I wish this had been written in first-person. I usually don't mind third-person at all, but this would get a little clunky sometimes with how often the author mentioned the POV's name to tell the story (it’s funny, because this didn’t feel like an issue to me in book 1). I actually started inserting first-person in my head for whoever's chapter I was in and it felt so much smoother to read (the writing style itself is really beautiful). I hope the author considers first person for fantasy in the future.
I'm looking forward to more dark academia romantasy from this author and highly recommend this duet!
In this book:
-elite academy
-serial killer
-epistolary chapters
-journal entries
-slowest burn
-secret pining/yearning
-he falls first and hard
-opposites attract
-found family
-dual-POV (third person)
Content Guide:
romance - clean
language - clean
violence - brief/infrequent gore
fantasy - enhanced abilities "gifts"; monsters
Potential Content Warnings:
-grief
-post-traumatic stress
-discreet flashbacks regarding past childhood SA
-anxiety/panic attacks
-on-page death/murder
April 2, 2026
Sigh.
I was looking forward to this story and to the resolution of the romance and mystery, and to Wren coming to terms with her traumas. Unfortunately, I am leaving the story largely unsatisfied. I appreciate , but the romance became too lovey-dovey for me. It didn’t feel as sincere as I know it could have. It was like the writing was trying too hard. The writing style was often good, thoughtful, or effective, but other times it veered into inauthentic territory. I am not sure the rest of the story and what Wren was grappling with matched the cheesiness.
Another big factor to the romance disappointing me was that Castien didn’t have a character arc or enough flaws, and he couldn’t find fault with anything Wren did, and there just was not enough of a dynamic left between them. I don’t need constant friction or anything, but were not enough to carry the whole romance to the end of the book. Maybe they needed a C-plot to focus on while the A-plot was dormant.
The side characters were barely there. This book was mostly just Wren, Castien, and Finn (and Heathcliff/Blossom, I guess), and I think that was a mistake. Her other friends did a lot for the first book, and so did the professors. I don’t know. It was easy to forget that they were in an academy taking classes.
We also had zero resolution with
Am I nitpicking now? Do I need to be stopped?
I enjoyed the first 30-40 percent, but after that I just slowly stopped caring. I wanted to love this, but I did not. Even so, I liked Ocean of Ink enough I will give the author another chance.
I was looking forward to this story and to the resolution of the romance and mystery, and to Wren coming to terms with her traumas. Unfortunately, I am leaving the story largely unsatisfied. I appreciate , but the romance became too lovey-dovey for me. It didn’t feel as sincere as I know it could have. It was like the writing was trying too hard. The writing style was often good, thoughtful, or effective, but other times it veered into inauthentic territory. I am not sure the rest of the story and what Wren was grappling with matched the cheesiness.
Another big factor to the romance disappointing me was that Castien didn’t have a character arc or enough flaws, and he couldn’t find fault with anything Wren did, and there just was not enough of a dynamic left between them. I don’t need constant friction or anything, but were not enough to carry the whole romance to the end of the book. Maybe they needed a C-plot to focus on while the A-plot was dormant.
The side characters were barely there. This book was mostly just Wren, Castien, and Finn (and Heathcliff/Blossom, I guess), and I think that was a mistake. Her other friends did a lot for the first book, and so did the professors. I don’t know. It was easy to forget that they were in an academy taking classes.
We also had zero resolution with
Am I nitpicking now? Do I need to be stopped?
I enjoyed the first 30-40 percent, but after that I just slowly stopped caring. I wanted to love this, but I did not. Even so, I liked Ocean of Ink enough I will give the author another chance.
Read
March 31, 2026"We have forever."
Tides of Secrets by A. R. Conwell
Dearest Ms. Conwell,
I'm sitting here in utter shock. Words have completely fled my mind. Because no words can adequately describe the beauty of the ending of this beautifully poetic duology.
Healing from emotional scars. Devastation. Mystery. Moody atmosphere. Yearning and exquisitely elegant romance.
Castien and Wren together are perfection. I felt so many emotions while reading this book. The healing from her scars is so tenderly cared to by the author through Castien's deeds and words; I found my heart aching and healing right alongside her, though I have never experienced the same type of heartache and hurt.
How she helps him to begin to heal from his grief and self-guilt is also beautifully done. I loved them working together to solve the mystery enshrouding the academy.
The set of side characters who made up their friends were so well written, who can't help but long to see them get their happy endings and their own POV stories.
Even the villains were well developed and will really surprise you. I had no idea how everything would play out in the end.
Very perfectly done Romantasy I will be reading over and over again in the future. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars because it definitely deserves all the hype and love! I highly recommend this one and the first book to anyone ages 16+, unless you are sensitive to certain topics. See my content guide.
Yours,
Holly
Favorite Parts:
More yearning
She takes care of him
Solving the murders
Dagger lessons
Mystery and suspense
Their letters
His apology letters
That ending!
Finnick-I love his character and am so excited for his story!
Castien and Wren together=perfection
Healing and Emotions
The Whole Beautiful Book
Content Guide:
Language: none
Sexual Content: Closed-door/kissing only: Kissing is passionate but not overly detailed (no tongue, more emotional based); Sexual Assault alluded to in the past-the author handles this sensitive topic very delicately and in a beautiful, hopeful way.
Violence/gore: Moderate-fire; multiple dead bodies described as being ripped open or body part removed; death on page; character gets stabbed twice and throat slashed (on page) and blood hits the floor, character has a nightmare where she recalls what happened to her, though no specific details are given (SA); The author handles this sensitive topic very delicately and in a beautiful, hopeful way.
Substance Use: Mild-Characters drink wine at social events
Prejudices: none
Religious Content: none
Other: See notes above, death, immense grief from loss, healing from emotional wounds (on page)
Book Info:
Series: Obsidian Academy Duet book 2 (must be read in order)
Genre: Dark Romantasy ages 16+
Romance Level: Closed-door but kisses only
Release Date: Available Now
Publisher: Indie
POV: Dual third person
Thank you to the author for the review copy. All thoughts are my own.
Tides of Secrets by A. R. Conwell
Dearest Ms. Conwell,
I'm sitting here in utter shock. Words have completely fled my mind. Because no words can adequately describe the beauty of the ending of this beautifully poetic duology.
Healing from emotional scars. Devastation. Mystery. Moody atmosphere. Yearning and exquisitely elegant romance.
Castien and Wren together are perfection. I felt so many emotions while reading this book. The healing from her scars is so tenderly cared to by the author through Castien's deeds and words; I found my heart aching and healing right alongside her, though I have never experienced the same type of heartache and hurt.
How she helps him to begin to heal from his grief and self-guilt is also beautifully done. I loved them working together to solve the mystery enshrouding the academy.
The set of side characters who made up their friends were so well written, who can't help but long to see them get their happy endings and their own POV stories.
Even the villains were well developed and will really surprise you. I had no idea how everything would play out in the end.
Very perfectly done Romantasy I will be reading over and over again in the future. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars because it definitely deserves all the hype and love! I highly recommend this one and the first book to anyone ages 16+, unless you are sensitive to certain topics. See my content guide.
Yours,
Holly
Favorite Parts:
More yearning
She takes care of him
Solving the murders
Dagger lessons
Mystery and suspense
Their letters
His apology letters
That ending!
Finnick-I love his character and am so excited for his story!
Castien and Wren together=perfection
Healing and Emotions
The Whole Beautiful Book
Content Guide:
Language: none
Sexual Content: Closed-door/kissing only: Kissing is passionate but not overly detailed (no tongue, more emotional based); Sexual Assault alluded to in the past-the author handles this sensitive topic very delicately and in a beautiful, hopeful way.
Violence/gore: Moderate-fire; multiple dead bodies described as being ripped open or body part removed; death on page; character gets stabbed twice and throat slashed (on page) and blood hits the floor, character has a nightmare where she recalls what happened to her, though no specific details are given (SA); The author handles this sensitive topic very delicately and in a beautiful, hopeful way.
Substance Use: Mild-Characters drink wine at social events
Prejudices: none
Religious Content: none
Other: See notes above, death, immense grief from loss, healing from emotional wounds (on page)
Book Info:
Series: Obsidian Academy Duet book 2 (must be read in order)
Genre: Dark Romantasy ages 16+
Romance Level: Closed-door but kisses only
Release Date: Available Now
Publisher: Indie
POV: Dual third person
Thank you to the author for the review copy. All thoughts are my own.
Read
March 8, 2026I had the privilege of proofreading this, and IT IS SO INCREDIBLE! Literally had me sitting in my feels after I finished it.
You will find murder, death, and vague recollections of s*xual abuse in this book, but there is SO MUCH BEAUTIFUL HEALING as well.
You will find murder, death, and vague recollections of s*xual abuse in this book, but there is SO MUCH BEAUTIFUL HEALING as well.
Review of advance copy received from Author
thank you SO much A R Conwell and her team for the privilege having Tides of Secrets as an ARC. I absolutely loved being in the halls of the Obsidian Academy again. Book releases March 31st.
Below is my honest review:
5 stars!
This was STUNNING.
This is the second book in the Obsidian Academy duet and we pick up right where we left off. Wren is navigating a web of murders and stolen secrets while deciding who she can truly trust. As the shadows within the Academy grow more lethal with more of the Order murdered, she and Castien are forced into an uneasy alliance to unmask a killer with a unique calling card hiding in plain sight. It is a dark academia romantasy that balances a slow-burn, enemies/rivals to lovers romance with yearning, a desperate hunt for the truth, and to defeat the haunting ghosts of past traumas. The murder mystery had just enough clues to keep me guessing without it feeling predictable. The side characters were excellent I absolutely adore (names redacted bc of potential spoilers), but my absolute favorite part of this book was the thoughtful and attentive romance.
Castien and Wrens romance was EVERYTHING I wanted and more especially after the build up we saw in Ocean of Ink. They’re truly one of my new favorite book couples. They felt like a blend of Elizabeth and Darcy (Pride and Prejudice) and Ella and Kit (live action Cinderella) in the best ways. Their romance was just so real and raw and intense. They supported each other and shined light into each other’s darkness. Castien was absolutely obsessed with Wren and his love for her was so patient and so caring. The yearning? I can’t. I absolutely adored him. Wren was also so thoughtful with quiet strength that grew into confidence and an ability to help Castien process grief. Her story was handled with sensitivity and care and protection. I consumed their letters and Castien’s terms of endearment like air in my lunges. His storyteller. My dearest. My dear storyteller. Your sword and shield. My love. IM SCREAMING. Their first kiss !!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey, Annah… you know what you did at 85% and it wasn’t nice and I just need you to know I’m still brokenhearted.
Do we have a certain side character and cousins book on the horizon to look forward to? PLEASEEEEE.
TW: rape/sexual assault (recounted), past traumas, grief, loss, murder, mystery, violence, descriptions of blood and wounds, battles, weapons, mental health struggles, depression, anxiety, haunting emotional trauma, emotional recovery, no language, no spice - some kissing
Enemies/Rivals to lovers. Slow burn. Found family. Forced proximity. He falls first. Third person POV. Dual POV. No spice/closed door.
Below is my honest review:
5 stars!
This was STUNNING.
This is the second book in the Obsidian Academy duet and we pick up right where we left off. Wren is navigating a web of murders and stolen secrets while deciding who she can truly trust. As the shadows within the Academy grow more lethal with more of the Order murdered, she and Castien are forced into an uneasy alliance to unmask a killer with a unique calling card hiding in plain sight. It is a dark academia romantasy that balances a slow-burn, enemies/rivals to lovers romance with yearning, a desperate hunt for the truth, and to defeat the haunting ghosts of past traumas. The murder mystery had just enough clues to keep me guessing without it feeling predictable. The side characters were excellent I absolutely adore (names redacted bc of potential spoilers), but my absolute favorite part of this book was the thoughtful and attentive romance.
Castien and Wrens romance was EVERYTHING I wanted and more especially after the build up we saw in Ocean of Ink. They’re truly one of my new favorite book couples. They felt like a blend of Elizabeth and Darcy (Pride and Prejudice) and Ella and Kit (live action Cinderella) in the best ways. Their romance was just so real and raw and intense. They supported each other and shined light into each other’s darkness. Castien was absolutely obsessed with Wren and his love for her was so patient and so caring. The yearning? I can’t. I absolutely adored him. Wren was also so thoughtful with quiet strength that grew into confidence and an ability to help Castien process grief. Her story was handled with sensitivity and care and protection. I consumed their letters and Castien’s terms of endearment like air in my lunges. His storyteller. My dearest. My dear storyteller. Your sword and shield. My love. IM SCREAMING. Their first kiss !!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey, Annah… you know what you did at 85% and it wasn’t nice and I just need you to know I’m still brokenhearted.
Do we have a certain side character and cousins book on the horizon to look forward to? PLEASEEEEE.
TW: rape/sexual assault (recounted), past traumas, grief, loss, murder, mystery, violence, descriptions of blood and wounds, battles, weapons, mental health struggles, depression, anxiety, haunting emotional trauma, emotional recovery, no language, no spice - some kissing
Enemies/Rivals to lovers. Slow burn. Found family. Forced proximity. He falls first. Third person POV. Dual POV. No spice/closed door.
June 12, 2026
Overview:
Language 🤐: None
Romance ❤️🔥: LV 2-3 kisses only (longer slightly descriptive kisses)
Violence ⚔️: On Page Death, fights, blood mentioned, pg13 I’d say I didn’t feel like it was not overly descriptive but could be upset to some
⚠️Alludes to SA, Grief, Death, the author has a warning at the beginning and does have content you can look up on her website to have a heads up before reading ⚠️
Tropes/Micro tropes
- Dual POV
- Feminine, soft but strong FMC
- Protective MMC
- He Falls First and harder
- Found Family
- Teachers her to use a knife
- Letter Exchanges
- Journal Entries
- The love confession 😍
- Do anything for her
My Thoughts:
OH HOW I LOVE THESE! This duology is definitely a 6⭐️ one for me! I absolutely loved these so so much! There was so much depth to these characters. The twist and turns as well as the exploration of dealing with grief was amazing.
Wren is just such a wonderful female character. I feel like most FMC are strong and Wren definitely is in her own way but she’s one of the most feminine FMC I’ve read in quite a while and I absolutely love it. She has a soft presence and personality but such depth and strength that I never felt like she was weak even if she was more so weak in a physical sense. I loved her dedication to growing stronger in many forms of the word throughout this series.
Oh Castien what a wonderful MMC! The absolutely YEARNING of this man! He was so far gone for her and it was delightful to see that continue throughout this second book! He is so sweet, gentle and protective of Wren. His obsession for her was sweet, in some books I feel like the obsession can be overboard but with Cas’s yearning and love for Wren idk it just worked so well and beautiful.
The letters 😍
“We will walk along the shore together”
“We have forever”
Ugh 🥰🤩 like I cannot get over these two! They seriously looked into the darkness of one another and brought the light.
I felt like the struggles were explored in such a beautiful way, it did not tamp down the darkness but showed the joy and light that can combat it and bring happiness even after the darkest of times.
I laughed and I cried during this book and just cannot say enough good things! Can’t forget to mention my love for the side characters. Cannot wait for Veil of Deceit to come out, Finn was definitely a highlight for me. But seriously what a great cast of characters who I hope we will see more of!
Just loved these so so much!
Language 🤐: None
Romance ❤️🔥: LV 2-3 kisses only (longer slightly descriptive kisses)
Violence ⚔️: On Page Death, fights, blood mentioned, pg13 I’d say I didn’t feel like it was not overly descriptive but could be upset to some
⚠️Alludes to SA, Grief, Death, the author has a warning at the beginning and does have content you can look up on her website to have a heads up before reading ⚠️
Tropes/Micro tropes
- Dual POV
- Feminine, soft but strong FMC
- Protective MMC
- He Falls First and harder
- Found Family
- Teachers her to use a knife
- Letter Exchanges
- Journal Entries
- The love confession 😍
- Do anything for her
My Thoughts:
OH HOW I LOVE THESE! This duology is definitely a 6⭐️ one for me! I absolutely loved these so so much! There was so much depth to these characters. The twist and turns as well as the exploration of dealing with grief was amazing.
Wren is just such a wonderful female character. I feel like most FMC are strong and Wren definitely is in her own way but she’s one of the most feminine FMC I’ve read in quite a while and I absolutely love it. She has a soft presence and personality but such depth and strength that I never felt like she was weak even if she was more so weak in a physical sense. I loved her dedication to growing stronger in many forms of the word throughout this series.
Oh Castien what a wonderful MMC! The absolutely YEARNING of this man! He was so far gone for her and it was delightful to see that continue throughout this second book! He is so sweet, gentle and protective of Wren. His obsession for her was sweet, in some books I feel like the obsession can be overboard but with Cas’s yearning and love for Wren idk it just worked so well and beautiful.
The letters 😍
“We will walk along the shore together”
“We have forever”
Ugh 🥰🤩 like I cannot get over these two! They seriously looked into the darkness of one another and brought the light.
I felt like the struggles were explored in such a beautiful way, it did not tamp down the darkness but showed the joy and light that can combat it and bring happiness even after the darkest of times.
I laughed and I cried during this book and just cannot say enough good things! Can’t forget to mention my love for the side characters. Cannot wait for Veil of Deceit to come out, Finn was definitely a highlight for me. But seriously what a great cast of characters who I hope we will see more of!
Just loved these so so much!
May 28, 2026
highly unsatisfying villain
April 7, 2026
Giving this 4 stars because I did enjoy reading it; however, I don't love it as much as others seem to, and probably for personal reasons more than anything.
The writing style was a bit of an issue for me in both of these books. I feel that the author was trying to make it feel fancy and formal, and as a result, much of the dialogue felt stilted to me. There was a moment in the book where she dropped that, and it was the most genuine scene in the book, in my opinion.
Second, Castien's love for Wren definitely leans more toward obsession than I typically enjoy. I get that his gift makes him prone to that, but there were times it was a bit cringey to me.
As far as content goes:
I've seen multiple bookstagram reviews and recs for this duology, and most don't mention the references to past SA/grooming that are very present in these books. It's nondescriptive; however, it is woven throughout the books, along with the aftermath of that - dark self-talk and thoughts of self-harm, for instance. The author does note that it's dark romantasy at the beginning, and she has a list of TW on her website.
It's also moderately violent, with frequent talk of death (it is a murder mystery, after all) and some descriptions of bodies and wounds. I don't mind a darker story, but if you're sensitive to that kind of content, be aware going in.
No-spice: kisses only, thoughts and feelings of desire.
I realize this doesn't really sound like a 4-star review... I did think the premise and overall storyline of this duology were very interesting, and I enjoyed most of the characters. I'll read the next books set in this world. It kept my interest, and I read it quickly. Just a few things that kept it from being a favorite for me.
The writing style was a bit of an issue for me in both of these books. I feel that the author was trying to make it feel fancy and formal, and as a result, much of the dialogue felt stilted to me. There was a moment in the book where she dropped that, and it was the most genuine scene in the book, in my opinion.
Second, Castien's love for Wren definitely leans more toward obsession than I typically enjoy. I get that his gift makes him prone to that, but there were times it was a bit cringey to me.
As far as content goes:
I've seen multiple bookstagram reviews and recs for this duology, and most don't mention the references to past SA/grooming that are very present in these books. It's nondescriptive; however, it is woven throughout the books, along with the aftermath of that - dark self-talk and thoughts of self-harm, for instance. The author does note that it's dark romantasy at the beginning, and she has a list of TW on her website.
It's also moderately violent, with frequent talk of death (it is a murder mystery, after all) and some descriptions of bodies and wounds. I don't mind a darker story, but if you're sensitive to that kind of content, be aware going in.
No-spice: kisses only, thoughts and feelings of desire.
I realize this doesn't really sound like a 4-star review... I did think the premise and overall storyline of this duology were very interesting, and I enjoyed most of the characters. I'll read the next books set in this world. It kept my interest, and I read it quickly. Just a few things that kept it from being a favorite for me.
![Profile Image for ezra [semi ia].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1781464154i/177253884._UY200_CR33,0,200,200_.jpg)
April 4, 2026
⁺.︶꒷꒦˖⁺”𝓌𝒽ℯ𝓉𝒽ℯ𝓇 𝓎ℴ𝓊 𝒷ℯ𝓁𝒾ℯ𝓋ℯ 𝓎ℴ𝓊 𝒸𝒶𝓃 ℴ𝓇 𝓎ℴ𝓊 𝒸𝒶𝓃’𝓉, 𝓎ℴ𝓊’𝓇ℯ 𝓇𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉...”˖⁺.+
⁺.+☆︶꒷꒦︶︶꒷꒦︶︶꒷꒦˖⁺.+
oh. my. gosh.
first off… FIVE FULL STARS ˖ׄ ★ ୭
second off—this book is absolutely amazing and perfect in the fullest of the words. these characters have a piece of my heart, this world is forever one of my favorites, and don’t even get me started on those heartwrenching letters because—yeah….their amazing and had me feeling all the feels for these characters.
this book—i felt—was certainly more about wren and castien’s relationship and character growth. and i am NOT complaining. one. bit. oh my gosh there were times when i was so anxious about was was going to happen next I had to just stare into space to collect myself, hehe. it was that good
⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣
plot/setting જ⁀➴
⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢
perfection. i strive to write like her now. like, this world?! so, so unique and original in my opinion. everything was described and written so well that it played out like a movie in my head. PERFECTION.
also the mystery aspect that picked back up from the first book…you guys HAVE to read this for the reveal cause it was insane!
⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣
characters જ⁀➴
⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢
⁺.︶꒷꒦˖⁺ wren ⤦
i literally love her. like, girl, can i give you a hug? her past was crazy, and the character growth from that pain was awesome! not gonna give to many details cause i want you guys to read it for yourselves, but honestly this was probably one of the most unique—IN THE BEST WAYS POSSIBLE—character arc i’ve ever read. LOVE YOU WREN!
⁺.︶꒷꒦˖⁺ castien ⤦
MY MAN MY MAN. oh my gosh. again. i love him so much and i just want to give him a hug. best person ever. respectful, loving, caring. this guy checks off all of the boxes and i was sooo here for it.
⁺.︶꒷꒦˖⁺ finn ⤦
he made me laugh. and I want to give him a hug too. love ya, finn.
⁺.+☆︶꒷꒦︶︶꒷꒦︶︶꒷꒦˖⁺.+
anywho, that is my rambling review. annah, i love your books, that’s all i gotta say. and please, PLEASE MY BESTIES PICK UP THIS BOOK AS SOON AS YOU CAN. and if you haven’t read ocean of ink yet…..WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! RUN TO YOUR KINDLE OR AMAZON AND BUY AND READ THIS BOOK QUICKLY! LIKE, YOUR-LIFE-DEPENDS-ON-IT-QUICKLY.
okay, i’m done rambling. to sum this jumble of a review up…i love this book, and these characters have my whole heart:))
⁺.+☆︶꒷꒦︶︶꒷꒦︶︶꒷꒦˖⁺.+
oh. my. gosh.
first off… FIVE FULL STARS ˖ׄ ★ ୭
second off—this book is absolutely amazing and perfect in the fullest of the words. these characters have a piece of my heart, this world is forever one of my favorites, and don’t even get me started on those heartwrenching letters because—yeah….their amazing and had me feeling all the feels for these characters.
this book—i felt—was certainly more about wren and castien’s relationship and character growth. and i am NOT complaining. one. bit. oh my gosh there were times when i was so anxious about was was going to happen next I had to just stare into space to collect myself, hehe. it was that good
⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣
plot/setting જ⁀➴
⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢
perfection. i strive to write like her now. like, this world?! so, so unique and original in my opinion. everything was described and written so well that it played out like a movie in my head. PERFECTION.
also the mystery aspect that picked back up from the first book…you guys HAVE to read this for the reveal cause it was insane!
⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣
characters જ⁀➴
⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢
⁺.︶꒷꒦˖⁺ wren ⤦
i literally love her. like, girl, can i give you a hug? her past was crazy, and the character growth from that pain was awesome! not gonna give to many details cause i want you guys to read it for yourselves, but honestly this was probably one of the most unique—IN THE BEST WAYS POSSIBLE—character arc i’ve ever read. LOVE YOU WREN!
⁺.︶꒷꒦˖⁺ castien ⤦
MY MAN MY MAN. oh my gosh. again. i love him so much and i just want to give him a hug. best person ever. respectful, loving, caring. this guy checks off all of the boxes and i was sooo here for it.
⁺.︶꒷꒦˖⁺ finn ⤦
he made me laugh. and I want to give him a hug too. love ya, finn.
⁺.+☆︶꒷꒦︶︶꒷꒦︶︶꒷꒦˖⁺.+
anywho, that is my rambling review. annah, i love your books, that’s all i gotta say. and please, PLEASE MY BESTIES PICK UP THIS BOOK AS SOON AS YOU CAN. and if you haven’t read ocean of ink yet…..WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! RUN TO YOUR KINDLE OR AMAZON AND BUY AND READ THIS BOOK QUICKLY! LIKE, YOUR-LIFE-DEPENDS-ON-IT-QUICKLY.
okay, i’m done rambling. to sum this jumble of a review up…i love this book, and these characters have my whole heart:))
March 31, 2026
A fulfilling and heart pounding resolution to the Obsidian Academy Duet! While I loved Ocean of Ink, this book was by far my favorite of the two. Watching Wren work through the difficult things in her past and how much Castien loved her through it just melted my heart.
The poignant themes of beauty amidst pain and hard things shine bright lights into these characters lives. Wren and Castien both grow so much throughout this book and I loved their romance so much! I loved Finn almost more than any other character, his tender heart and humorous quips added some levity to this book full of twists and turns.
I can’t wait to reread this series so I can annotate all my favorite parts!
CONTENT CONSIDERATIONS
Mentions of death, murder, and grief. Grief of a sibling (past loss), brief descriptions of bodies being mutilated after death, depictions of panic attacks/anxiety.
I receive an ARC copy of this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
The poignant themes of beauty amidst pain and hard things shine bright lights into these characters lives. Wren and Castien both grow so much throughout this book and I loved their romance so much! I loved Finn almost more than any other character, his tender heart and humorous quips added some levity to this book full of twists and turns.
I can’t wait to reread this series so I can annotate all my favorite parts!
CONTENT CONSIDERATIONS
Mentions of death, murder, and grief. Grief of a sibling (past loss), brief descriptions of bodies being mutilated after death, depictions of panic attacks/anxiety.
I receive an ARC copy of this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 26, 2026
This was devastating. Not much else to say.
June 18, 2026
Ugh I loved this!! The romance was exceptional. Castien yearned harder than Kai Azer himself, and even though Im usually annoyed by male characters like these, he (and Mr. Darcy) are currently my two exceptions.
March 11, 2026
♡Tides of Secrets♡
by A. R. Conwell
Releases March 31st
•6⭐️
•Spice: none (kissing only/closed door)
•Language: none
•TW/CW: S*xual assault. Murder. Violence. Grief. Blood.
My thoughts:
OH MY GOSH! How do I even put into words how amazingly beautiful this book is? Everything about this book was so beautiful and emotional. The writing was amazing and drew me in immediately. It was so utterly addicting to read.
Castien and Wren’s relationship is so sweet and I love them so much. They have a special place in my heart, as one of my favorite book couples.
The emotion in this book was so intense and I loved it so much. There were so many twists and turns to this story and I never knew what was coming.
This story has been on my mind since finishing book 1 and I’m so glad to have an ending to the story.
I highly recommend and can see myself rereading many times in the future.
I’m also so excited for a certain someone’s book next…
🖤yearning
🕯️dark academia
🖤he falls first
🕯️soft FMC
🖤protective MMC
🕯️secrets + mysteries
🖤book 2 in duology
🕯️dagger fighting lessons
🖤she cares for him
🕯️they exchange letters
🖤no spice romantasy
by A. R. Conwell
Releases March 31st
•6⭐️
•Spice: none (kissing only/closed door)
•Language: none
•TW/CW: S*xual assault. Murder. Violence. Grief. Blood.
My thoughts:
OH MY GOSH! How do I even put into words how amazingly beautiful this book is? Everything about this book was so beautiful and emotional. The writing was amazing and drew me in immediately. It was so utterly addicting to read.
Castien and Wren’s relationship is so sweet and I love them so much. They have a special place in my heart, as one of my favorite book couples.
The emotion in this book was so intense and I loved it so much. There were so many twists and turns to this story and I never knew what was coming.
This story has been on my mind since finishing book 1 and I’m so glad to have an ending to the story.
I highly recommend and can see myself rereading many times in the future.
I’m also so excited for a certain someone’s book next…
🖤yearning
🕯️dark academia
🖤he falls first
🕯️soft FMC
🖤protective MMC
🕯️secrets + mysteries
🖤book 2 in duology
🕯️dagger fighting lessons
🖤she cares for him
🕯️they exchange letters
🖤no spice romantasy
April 1, 2026
ARC Review: Ocean of Ink was a wonderful book that laid the foundations for the masterpiece that is Tides of Secrets. I’m not sure I’ve come across a duology where I feel the second book was better than the first, but here we are. This story has you experiencing all of the emotions. Grief. Sadness. Fear. Joy. Heartache. Betrayal. Love. Happiness. I was so impressed by this darker academia book and the characters within. What a fighter Wren is! She was a lovely FMC who pushed through her heartache to find a family of friends amid terrible circumstances. But Castien, what a wonderfully written man. His words were true poetry. I tried to pick a quote out of the abundance in the book and simply found that I could not choose. There were far, far too many. The most attractive part of his character was his gentle, but all consuming obsession with Wren. What a beautiful love story. Well done, A.R. Conwell. I cannot wait for Finn’s story. I am greedy for it.
June 22, 2026
My Rating: 3.5 / 3.75 stars (Series overall: Solid 4 stars)
Writing this review for Tides of Secrets, the second book in The Obsidian Academy series, is honestly a bit hard for me.
I absolutely loved the first book. Compared to a lot of the YA Fantasy I’ve picked up recently, the debut really stood out from the crowd. For most of this sequel, I thought we were on track for the exact same experience. Up until about the 75% mark, the story was completely delivering and holding my attention just as well as the first one did.
And then, everything just went wild—and not in a good way.
The last 20 or so pages felt completely lost. It was a chaotic mix of unnecessary drama, a massive rushed plot, and surprisingly bad dialogue. To be completely honest, the shift was so jarring it felt like someone else entirely stepped in to write the ending.
Because the foundation is still so strong, the series as a whole remains a solid 4 stars for me. But this specific one drops to a 3.5 or 3.75.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC Copy.
Writing this review for Tides of Secrets, the second book in The Obsidian Academy series, is honestly a bit hard for me.
I absolutely loved the first book. Compared to a lot of the YA Fantasy I’ve picked up recently, the debut really stood out from the crowd. For most of this sequel, I thought we were on track for the exact same experience. Up until about the 75% mark, the story was completely delivering and holding my attention just as well as the first one did.
And then, everything just went wild—and not in a good way.
The last 20 or so pages felt completely lost. It was a chaotic mix of unnecessary drama, a massive rushed plot, and surprisingly bad dialogue. To be completely honest, the shift was so jarring it felt like someone else entirely stepped in to write the ending.
Because the foundation is still so strong, the series as a whole remains a solid 4 stars for me. But this specific one drops to a 3.5 or 3.75.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC Copy.
April 16, 2026
Words escape me. This was PHENOMENAL. If you’re looking for a series with tension, banter, swoon, and found family…. Look no further!
This was perfection! I can’t say much without spoiling anything, but between the romance and the mysteries, you will be on the edge of your seat!
I NEED Finn’s trilogy now!
Reading vlog:
https://youtu.be/ztHWHko_I2s
This was perfection! I can’t say much without spoiling anything, but between the romance and the mysteries, you will be on the edge of your seat!
I NEED Finn’s trilogy now!
Reading vlog:
https://youtu.be/ztHWHko_I2s
June 25, 2026
Wow. Just. Wow. This book was devastatingly beautiful 😭 🥀 AR Conwell’s poetic prose had me gripped from the moment this book opened through the epilogue 🪶 and I’ve found myself thinking of these characters constantly since finishing the book 📖 I miss them already 🥹
This is the second book in the “Obsidian Academy” duet 🌊 Check out my review for book 1 “Ocean of Ink” 🌊 in my highlight reel for ‘25. Trust me when I say this one is so so good ✨
For the sake of not spoiling I’ll write some of my favorite moments 💖
Wren and her dagger 🗡️
Finn’s entire existence 😏
Castiens YEARNING 🪶
The letters 💌
Sick scene 🔥
Nightmare scene 🥹
“In chains” 😩
If you love fantasy at all you NEED to read these books 🌊
⚠️ CW: murd*r mystery plot, FMC has severe trauma from childhood SA, fantasy related violence ⚠️
This is the second book in the “Obsidian Academy” duet 🌊 Check out my review for book 1 “Ocean of Ink” 🌊 in my highlight reel for ‘25. Trust me when I say this one is so so good ✨
For the sake of not spoiling I’ll write some of my favorite moments 💖
Wren and her dagger 🗡️
Finn’s entire existence 😏
Castiens YEARNING 🪶
The letters 💌
Sick scene 🔥
Nightmare scene 🥹
“In chains” 😩
If you love fantasy at all you NEED to read these books 🌊
⚠️ CW: murd*r mystery plot, FMC has severe trauma from childhood SA, fantasy related violence ⚠️
June 11, 2026
His love for her was so tender it literally made me cry
(although I have a lot to say about the whole killer identity and how our supposed Mmc with a gift of strategies didn't figure it out but oh well)
(although I have a lot to say about the whole killer identity and how our supposed Mmc with a gift of strategies didn't figure it out but oh well)
Review of advance copy received from Author
・┆✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ┆・
𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭:
totally NOT me screaming that I just got accepted for the ARC of this!!!!✨😍🩵💖
・┆✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ┆・
🌸ꗥ～ꗥ🌸 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 🌸ꗥ～ꗥ🌸
Five tragically beautiful stars ★★★★★
First of all, thank you SO MUCH to the Author for giving me the privilege of an ARC! I'm so grateful!
Second of all: Can we just take a moment to swoon over Wren and Castien? Their absolutely beautiful healing romance was making me cry all over my computer.
And also: I feel like I can never say this enough, but THANK YOU, A.R. CONWELL, FOR PUTTING ROMANCE INTO THE BOOK WITHOUT IT BEING JUST ABOUT LUST. Chuck all these Sarah Maas, Rebecca Yarros, Callie Hart, and countless other fantasy romance authors who just write about lust, lust, lust INTO THE BIN. BECAUSE WE GOT OURSELVES A REAL ROMANTASY AUTHOR HERE.
Third: There are some pretty ptsd things in here, which makes this even better (not the ptsd part), because I know Annah is writing this from a personal experience, but also how Jesus Christ changed her life. Beautiful.
Fourth: The descriptions in here are so amazing. They're lush, dark, captivating, and it pulls you right into the world of ink, candles, and old libraries. Love that.
Fifth: Also, lowkey falling for Finn, CAN'T WAIT FOR HIS STORY!!!!!
All in all, this is a must-read series, totally worth your time, and not a disappointing read.
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹
𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭:
totally NOT me screaming that I just got accepted for the ARC of this!!!!✨😍🩵💖
・┆✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ┆・
🌸ꗥ～ꗥ🌸 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 🌸ꗥ～ꗥ🌸
Five tragically beautiful stars ★★★★★
First of all, thank you SO MUCH to the Author for giving me the privilege of an ARC! I'm so grateful!
Second of all: Can we just take a moment to swoon over Wren and Castien? Their absolutely beautiful healing romance was making me cry all over my computer.
And also: I feel like I can never say this enough, but THANK YOU, A.R. CONWELL, FOR PUTTING ROMANCE INTO THE BOOK WITHOUT IT BEING JUST ABOUT LUST. Chuck all these Sarah Maas, Rebecca Yarros, Callie Hart, and countless other fantasy romance authors who just write about lust, lust, lust INTO THE BIN. BECAUSE WE GOT OURSELVES A REAL ROMANTASY AUTHOR HERE.
Third: There are some pretty ptsd things in here, which makes this even better (not the ptsd part), because I know Annah is writing this from a personal experience, but also how Jesus Christ changed her life. Beautiful.
Fourth: The descriptions in here are so amazing. They're lush, dark, captivating, and it pulls you right into the world of ink, candles, and old libraries. Love that.
Fifth: Also, lowkey falling for Finn, CAN'T WAIT FOR HIS STORY!!!!!
All in all, this is a must-read series, totally worth your time, and not a disappointing read.
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹
April 21, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up
Better than the first book. I knocked off a star because of all of the terms of endearment. I swear at least a hundred kindle length pages of this book could be filled with the terms of endearment and sugary sweet language.
Better than the first book. I knocked off a star because of all of the terms of endearment. I swear at least a hundred kindle length pages of this book could be filled with the terms of endearment and sugary sweet language.
April 10, 2026
Genres, settings, categories, themes: dark academia, fantasy, romance (M/F), mystery, murder mystery, found family, grief, secret society, NA
💗 Tropes: 💗
> Opposites Attract
> Pen Pals
> Slow Burn
all about tropes here
POV: 3rd person, alternating/dual
Series/Sequencing Style: 2nd in duology, should be read in order
Format: ebook
🔽🔽🔽
Overall ratings
Heat level: 🍓 0/5 sweet 🍓
(from Ampersand’s guide to heat levels in romance novels – (0) sweet, (1) mild sizzle, (2) sensual steam, (3) spicy seduction, (4) red hot, (5) erotic)
~ Heroine/FMC (Wren) ~ 2/5 🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑
~ Hero/MMC (Castien) ~ 3/5 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
~ Other characters ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
~ Plot ~ 3.5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
~ Pacing ~ 4.5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗
~ Romance ~ 2.5/5 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑
~ Mystery/suspense ~ 4/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
~ World building ~ 4/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
~ Writing ~ 4.5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗
~ Reading enjoyability & fun ~ 3/5 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
~ Depth & tone (1 light & fun --> 5 more serious, addresses heavier topics?): 3
~ Angst level: 2.5/5 - high, but contained to the first 1/3, then none
~ Sadness level: 3
🔽🔽🔽
❗CW/Triggers:❗anxiety, childhood sexual abuse, cut throat, death of a loved one, depression, execution, grief, murder, sword fighting, trauma
🔽🔽🔽
📝 Review/Notes 📝
Oof, I really don’t like “dearest”, especially from 20-24(?) year-olds. Repeated use of that nickname (from both of them) was a major ick for me.
I'm a bit unsure how to feel with this one, after the first. Getting into the first book, I was excited to find a lot of things I really liked about it, and felt like it was going to be a highly underrated duology to recommend. However, I'm not sure this one really came through, and in the end I wouldn't rate it as high as I thought I was going to.
I do still like the duology overall, and I think there are a lot of promising elements. I just couldn’t 100% get past my ambivalence and nose wrinkling towards the h, and how other characters were so devoted to her without any real reason. She hasn’t been particularly interesting or anything really to inspire the loyalty she has from Finn, Castien, and Kierana. And she regularly acts annoyingly or immaturely–like of course she would refuse to read his letters.
This one leaned heavier into the sappy & lovey-dovey side of romance, with him turning into a full on yearning, down bad, sad sack for her, and her own “realization” of her feelings coming somewhat underwhelmingly and kind of quickly after her thoughts around not even understanding the emotion. From *what on earth is that* [love, desire, etc.] (come on girl, I know you’ve experienced trauma, but you’re 20 years old) to “I love you so much”. For those reasons, this was more good than great.
I agree with a lot of what Goodreads reviewer Sara says in her 2-star review.
Another thing I found kind of sus–for all Castien’s supposed strategic brilliance, I was surprised that he, in particular, was willing to accept
Anyway, this conclusion to the duology was not all that I wanted it to be, but I see the promise in it, the stronger elements, the strong writing, and I definitely will read more by this author and am excited for Finn’s story, as he’s a favorite.
I did find something out looking at other reviews and the author's note...I saw the phrase "embodying biblical love" used both by the author & (a) reviewer(s), and I have to be honest, that's an ick for me. Perhaps that is why I struggled with the h/FMC, if she was supposed to embody some sort of "good Christian girl" ideal, wherein everyone around her was drawn to her for being meek and delicate? Also realizing now that is probably what some of the obsession around "purity" in this duology came from. I have no problem with a clean romance, and there has to be something for everyone. I'm glad there weren't strong religious overtones in this duology, but I do wonder if some of that "biblical love" ideal seeped into some of the things I found frustration with, like the naivety of the h, the lack of character arc from the H, the sappiness, and the missing tension between the MCs.
🔽🔽🔽
🤠 Recommended for: fans of dark academia who want a clean romantasy duology
💗 Tropes: 💗
> Opposites Attract
> Pen Pals
> Slow Burn
all about tropes here
POV: 3rd person, alternating/dual
Series/Sequencing Style: 2nd in duology, should be read in order
Format: ebook
🔽🔽🔽
Overall ratings
Heat level: 🍓 0/5 sweet 🍓
(from Ampersand’s guide to heat levels in romance novels – (0) sweet, (1) mild sizzle, (2) sensual steam, (3) spicy seduction, (4) red hot, (5) erotic)
~ Heroine/FMC (Wren) ~ 2/5 🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑
~ Hero/MMC (Castien) ~ 3/5 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
~ Other characters ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
~ Plot ~ 3.5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
~ Pacing ~ 4.5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗
~ Romance ~ 2.5/5 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑
~ Mystery/suspense ~ 4/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
~ World building ~ 4/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
~ Writing ~ 4.5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗
~ Reading enjoyability & fun ~ 3/5 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
~ Depth & tone (1 light & fun --> 5 more serious, addresses heavier topics?): 3
~ Angst level: 2.5/5 - high, but contained to the first 1/3, then none
~ Sadness level: 3
🔽🔽🔽
❗CW/Triggers:❗anxiety, childhood sexual abuse, cut throat, death of a loved one, depression, execution, grief, murder, sword fighting, trauma
🔽🔽🔽
📝 Review/Notes 📝
Oof, I really don’t like “dearest”, especially from 20-24(?) year-olds. Repeated use of that nickname (from both of them) was a major ick for me.
I'm a bit unsure how to feel with this one, after the first. Getting into the first book, I was excited to find a lot of things I really liked about it, and felt like it was going to be a highly underrated duology to recommend. However, I'm not sure this one really came through, and in the end I wouldn't rate it as high as I thought I was going to.
I do still like the duology overall, and I think there are a lot of promising elements. I just couldn’t 100% get past my ambivalence and nose wrinkling towards the h, and how other characters were so devoted to her without any real reason. She hasn’t been particularly interesting or anything really to inspire the loyalty she has from Finn, Castien, and Kierana. And she regularly acts annoyingly or immaturely–like of course she would refuse to read his letters.
This one leaned heavier into the sappy & lovey-dovey side of romance, with him turning into a full on yearning, down bad, sad sack for her, and her own “realization” of her feelings coming somewhat underwhelmingly and kind of quickly after her thoughts around not even understanding the emotion. From *what on earth is that* [love, desire, etc.] (come on girl, I know you’ve experienced trauma, but you’re 20 years old) to “I love you so much”. For those reasons, this was more good than great.
I agree with a lot of what Goodreads reviewer Sara says in her 2-star review.
"...but the romance became too lovey-dovey for me. It didn’t feel as sincere as I know it could have. It was like the writing was trying too hard. The writing style was often good, thoughtful, or effective, but other times it veered into inauthentic territory. I am not sure the rest of the story and what Wren was grappling with matched the cheesiness.^^^ This! All of this!
Another big factor to the romance disappointing me was that Castien didn’t have a character arc or enough flaws, and he couldn’t find fault with anything Wren did, and there just was not enough of a dynamic left between them. I don’t need constant friction or anything, but The Big Lie trope and Castien’s unending patience were not enough to carry the whole romance to the end of the book. Maybe they needed a C-plot to focus on while the A-plot was dormant.
The side characters were barely there. This book was mostly just Wren, Castien, and Finn (and Heathcliff/Blossom, I guess), and I think that was a mistake. Her other friends did a lot for the first book, and so did the professors. I don’t know. It was easy to forget that they were in an academy taking classes."
Another thing I found kind of sus–for all Castien’s supposed strategic brilliance, I was surprised that he, in particular, was willing to accept
Anyway, this conclusion to the duology was not all that I wanted it to be, but I see the promise in it, the stronger elements, the strong writing, and I definitely will read more by this author and am excited for Finn’s story, as he’s a favorite.
I did find something out looking at other reviews and the author's note...I saw the phrase "embodying biblical love" used both by the author & (a) reviewer(s), and I have to be honest, that's an ick for me. Perhaps that is why I struggled with the h/FMC, if she was supposed to embody some sort of "good Christian girl" ideal, wherein everyone around her was drawn to her for being meek and delicate? Also realizing now that is probably what some of the obsession around "purity" in this duology came from. I have no problem with a clean romance, and there has to be something for everyone. I'm glad there weren't strong religious overtones in this duology, but I do wonder if some of that "biblical love" ideal seeped into some of the things I found frustration with, like the naivety of the h, the lack of character arc from the H, the sappiness, and the missing tension between the MCs.
🔽🔽🔽
🤠 Recommended for: fans of dark academia who want a clean romantasy duology
June 20, 2026
3.25 stars
I listened to this book on audio and the narrators, George Reid and Alys Wilde, did a decent job bringing the story to life. It is in dual narration and I wasn't a fan of George's voice for the FMC, Ren. It also start off very montone and parts of the book had a lot of extra mouth noises. 3 stars for narration.
As for the story itself, book 2 could legitimately be the next page in book 1. So definitely be sure to read the first book. I actually really enjoyed book 1 and was a bit disappointed with Tides of Secrets. While the story continues easily into the next book (without giving quick summaries to what previously happened), it felt like a different book. In the first book book, the professors and other students played a major role, not so much in this one;they actually felt like an after thought at times. The romance between the FMC and MMC became more of a focal point to where it kinda became a hindrance. There was little character growths with Castien (MMC) and he saw zero flaws in Ren, everything she did was perfect. The academic setting was in the forefront of book 1 and became just background noise.
The ending was a bit unsatisfying in how it was done. It felt like the ending was so drawn out it took up 40% of the book. It does neatly tie everything up but it took its sweet time getting there. And the final villain was a bit.. disappointing.
Overall it was a decent duology. If you are looking for a quasi-academic mystery romantasy novel with minimal spice and a unique magic system then maybe.
Thank you NetGalley, A.R. Conwell, and Dreamscape media for giving me an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
I listened to this book on audio and the narrators, George Reid and Alys Wilde, did a decent job bringing the story to life. It is in dual narration and I wasn't a fan of George's voice for the FMC, Ren. It also start off very montone and parts of the book had a lot of extra mouth noises. 3 stars for narration.
As for the story itself, book 2 could legitimately be the next page in book 1. So definitely be sure to read the first book. I actually really enjoyed book 1 and was a bit disappointed with Tides of Secrets. While the story continues easily into the next book (without giving quick summaries to what previously happened), it felt like a different book. In the first book book, the professors and other students played a major role, not so much in this one;they actually felt like an after thought at times. The romance between the FMC and MMC became more of a focal point to where it kinda became a hindrance. There was little character growths with Castien (MMC) and he saw zero flaws in Ren, everything she did was perfect. The academic setting was in the forefront of book 1 and became just background noise.
The ending was a bit unsatisfying in how it was done. It felt like the ending was so drawn out it took up 40% of the book. It does neatly tie everything up but it took its sweet time getting there. And the final villain was a bit.. disappointing.
Overall it was a decent duology. If you are looking for a quasi-academic mystery romantasy novel with minimal spice and a unique magic system then maybe.
Thank you NetGalley, A.R. Conwell, and Dreamscape media for giving me an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
April 20, 2026
Another easy 5 stars! This sequel completely captured me.
Watching Wren and Cas finally confront their pasts and admit what they feel for each other was everything I wanted and more. Like I said, slow slow burn in book 1 but WELL WORTH it for what you get in book 2!
The emotional payoff was so worth the wait. Seeing Cas gently help heal the parts of Wren that were still so fragile and broken genuinely brought me to tears. There were moments toward the end where I was fully sobbing. Parts of Wren really hit home for me so this was hard to read at times but so worth it.
I also loved the mystery element in this one. I didn’t fully piece together who the murderer was until it was revealed, and honestly? That made it even better. When I thought I knew who did it, I was wrong 😬
The ending… absolutely perfect. It left me feeling so satisfied and genuinely happy closing the book and ending this duology.
Now I just need Finn’s story immediately because I am not okay waiting. Protect him forever.😩
Content warning:
•hints towards past physical or sexual abuse but doesn’t flat out say it
Watching Wren and Cas finally confront their pasts and admit what they feel for each other was everything I wanted and more. Like I said, slow slow burn in book 1 but WELL WORTH it for what you get in book 2!
The emotional payoff was so worth the wait. Seeing Cas gently help heal the parts of Wren that were still so fragile and broken genuinely brought me to tears. There were moments toward the end where I was fully sobbing. Parts of Wren really hit home for me so this was hard to read at times but so worth it.
I also loved the mystery element in this one. I didn’t fully piece together who the murderer was until it was revealed, and honestly? That made it even better. When I thought I knew who did it, I was wrong 😬
The ending… absolutely perfect. It left me feeling so satisfied and genuinely happy closing the book and ending this duology.
Now I just need Finn’s story immediately because I am not okay waiting. Protect him forever.😩
Content warning:
•hints towards past physical or sexual abuse but doesn’t flat out say it
April 10, 2026
Ok how many of you can say that your favourite romcom author came out and published a fantasy duology? Me. I can!! And it was incredible.
Tides of Secrets is the second and final book of the Obsidian Academy duology and I adored it. It’s not light and fluffy. It’s dark, it’s heart felt, it cuts to your soul. The writing is beautiful. Like ….“The overwhelming desire to ensure she never cried again was a flower rooted in an entire garden of utter devotion.”
Are you kidding me?!
I loved seeing Castien and Wren grow in this book. Castien in vulnerability and Wren in strength. It happened in a way that was beautiful and raw. I hesitate to say it was a happy ending because well…. It wasn’t? Was everything resolved? Yes. But the ending leaves the readers in a place of tragedy and healing that is yet to come… but also Hope. Hope for the happiness and joy that our dear characters await for in their future. I’m so proud of Castien and Wren, knowing what their future holds with each other!🫶🏼
Now I patiently await for my favourite side characters book that is on the way😌
Tides of Secrets is the second and final book of the Obsidian Academy duology and I adored it. It’s not light and fluffy. It’s dark, it’s heart felt, it cuts to your soul. The writing is beautiful. Like ….“The overwhelming desire to ensure she never cried again was a flower rooted in an entire garden of utter devotion.”
Are you kidding me?!
I loved seeing Castien and Wren grow in this book. Castien in vulnerability and Wren in strength. It happened in a way that was beautiful and raw. I hesitate to say it was a happy ending because well…. It wasn’t? Was everything resolved? Yes. But the ending leaves the readers in a place of tragedy and healing that is yet to come… but also Hope. Hope for the happiness and joy that our dear characters await for in their future. I’m so proud of Castien and Wren, knowing what their future holds with each other!🫶🏼
Now I patiently await for my favourite side characters book that is on the way😌
May 7, 2026
"𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮," 𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮, "𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬."
╰┈➤ SPOLIERS AHEAD !
this was such a beautiful book full of twists and turn that had me on the edge of my seat like ghughisurhig.
𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭𓇼⋆ ˚꩜ ｡ ⋆୨୧˚
I totally didn't see that coming broo like Cyprus killed the students and guards? i mean i should have seen it coming, it's always the quiet one lol. and the scene with Ambrose and Soren, having Wren watch them claim that they were her brothers killer must've been so hard for her :( and having Perci get murdered by Cyprus? he didn't deserve that, he just wanted to be an engineer.
𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞˚* ੈ✩‧₊💗* ੈ✩‧₊˚*
THIS WAS SUCH A HAPPY ENDING AND IT WAS EVERYTHING I WANTED AHHHH. Castien was so down bad for Wren its insane. Legit bro was willing to do ANYTHING to see Wren smile, i need him so badddd. and him finding Wren and Cyprus in the tunnel, poor thing was willing to die for her like ahhhhh. and them being married in the epilogue makes everything full circle. i loved them together sooo muchhh
★★★★☆
╰┈➤ SPOLIERS AHEAD !
this was such a beautiful book full of twists and turn that had me on the edge of my seat like ghughisurhig.
𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭𓇼⋆ ˚꩜ ｡ ⋆୨୧˚
I totally didn't see that coming broo like Cyprus killed the students and guards? i mean i should have seen it coming, it's always the quiet one lol. and the scene with Ambrose and Soren, having Wren watch them claim that they were her brothers killer must've been so hard for her :( and having Perci get murdered by Cyprus? he didn't deserve that, he just wanted to be an engineer.
𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞˚* ੈ✩‧₊💗* ੈ✩‧₊˚*
THIS WAS SUCH A HAPPY ENDING AND IT WAS EVERYTHING I WANTED AHHHH. Castien was so down bad for Wren its insane. Legit bro was willing to do ANYTHING to see Wren smile, i need him so badddd. and him finding Wren and Cyprus in the tunnel, poor thing was willing to die for her like ahhhhh. and them being married in the epilogue makes everything full circle. i loved them together sooo muchhh
★★★★☆
June 24, 2026
Ocean of Ink was four stars, but this conclusion is 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟.
I kept thinking to myself "this audiobook is so good." The narrators are incredible. It was so enjoyable to listen to.
The second book in this duet picked up right where the first left off. The killer is still on the loose and Wren and Castien need to use their gifts to catch them. Their (proper) banter continues to be a highlight.
Pick this up if you like:
Solving a mystery
Letters
Historical fantasy with magic
Healing
Royalty
He falls first and hard
Groveling
No spice or language
Although the story is wrapped up in this duology there will be more in this world. The fun rakish sidekick, who we know from the first two books, will be the main character of the third. I love him so that makes me even more excited to continue. Veil of Deceit publishes on June 30. But the first duet is out now.
This story is slower paced so if you are craving high intensity with a lot of action, this won't deliver that.
Check trigger warnings.
What are your favorite dark academia books?
I kept thinking to myself "this audiobook is so good." The narrators are incredible. It was so enjoyable to listen to.
The second book in this duet picked up right where the first left off. The killer is still on the loose and Wren and Castien need to use their gifts to catch them. Their (proper) banter continues to be a highlight.
Pick this up if you like:
Solving a mystery
Letters
Historical fantasy with magic
Healing
Royalty
He falls first and hard
Groveling
No spice or language
Although the story is wrapped up in this duology there will be more in this world. The fun rakish sidekick, who we know from the first two books, will be the main character of the third. I love him so that makes me even more excited to continue. Veil of Deceit publishes on June 30. But the first duet is out now.
This story is slower paced so if you are craving high intensity with a lot of action, this won't deliver that.
Check trigger warnings.
What are your favorite dark academia books?
April 1, 2026
4.5 stars
What a fabulous conclusion to this duology!
It was so easy to fall back into this world and these characters. I loved digging deeper into Wren and Castien’s friendship to love story. It was such a natural progression especially with Wren’s past. I thought Castien was so patient and sensitive with her and I love how he handled her with the utmost respect and care. That boy was down bad and it gave me butterflies.
This second installment is darker than the first and I really had no idea who the killer was. There’s an element to this mystery that truly throws everything off and it was so well done. Annah truly knocked it out of the park with her first romantasy. I’m so excited that Finn is getting his own story. He’s an absolute gem of a side character with the best comic relief.
Content: kisses only, past SA is alluded to (not on page), mild violence.
Thanks to the author for a gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.
What a fabulous conclusion to this duology!
It was so easy to fall back into this world and these characters. I loved digging deeper into Wren and Castien’s friendship to love story. It was such a natural progression especially with Wren’s past. I thought Castien was so patient and sensitive with her and I love how he handled her with the utmost respect and care. That boy was down bad and it gave me butterflies.
This second installment is darker than the first and I really had no idea who the killer was. There’s an element to this mystery that truly throws everything off and it was so well done. Annah truly knocked it out of the park with her first romantasy. I’m so excited that Finn is getting his own story. He’s an absolute gem of a side character with the best comic relief.
Content: kisses only, past SA is alluded to (not on page), mild violence.
Thanks to the author for a gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.
April 4, 2026
3,5 ⭐️
This series was so interesting! I liked the mix of a dark fantasy, historical romance and academia. This part was a little bit underwhelming in comparison to the first one. I felt like Wren could have used her Curse/gift more for the investigation. I feel that there is a potential there which wasn’t used for her character development.
She is portrayed as a traumatised woman, who is still haunted by the horrors of her past. She constantly doubts her self worth and even finding her brothers killer doesn’t help with that.
That being said, this book is more about Castien, since we are presented with his love and loyalty for her over and over again. He is a fantasy, a solution, a kind of a man that all women who were treated wrongly in the past deserve. He is so sweet and patient, it almost feels like a dream. This doesn’t fit his first description, but who are we to complain?
And the love letters! For me, the whole book impression is based on the lovely love letters. There is something about love letters which I find so romantic.
Another thing bothering me is that Wren is constantly defining herself and her worth upon men. She does not get better out of her own strength, but needs a better man to prove her worth to her. She never discusses her shadows with another woman, only 3 men in this book were involved in her deepest and darkest secrets. I would have appreciated it more if she was able to heal because of herself and not because a new man defines her as whole.
This series was so interesting! I liked the mix of a dark fantasy, historical romance and academia. This part was a little bit underwhelming in comparison to the first one. I felt like Wren could have used her Curse/gift more for the investigation. I feel that there is a potential there which wasn’t used for her character development.
She is portrayed as a traumatised woman, who is still haunted by the horrors of her past. She constantly doubts her self worth and even finding her brothers killer doesn’t help with that.
That being said, this book is more about Castien, since we are presented with his love and loyalty for her over and over again. He is a fantasy, a solution, a kind of a man that all women who were treated wrongly in the past deserve. He is so sweet and patient, it almost feels like a dream. This doesn’t fit his first description, but who are we to complain?
And the love letters! For me, the whole book impression is based on the lovely love letters. There is something about love letters which I find so romantic.
Another thing bothering me is that Wren is constantly defining herself and her worth upon men. She does not get better out of her own strength, but needs a better man to prove her worth to her. She never discusses her shadows with another woman, only 3 men in this book were involved in her deepest and darkest secrets. I would have appreciated it more if she was able to heal because of herself and not because a new man defines her as whole.
April 9, 2026
A Beautiful Balance
This story is clean romance, fantasy, mystery, deception, grief, and healing. I can’t believe how well A.R. Conwell can weave the darkness and light! The heavy themes (overcoming feelings of shame after abuse, and murder) were handled well and I loved the hope woven into the story. Hard things happen in life and it won’t get better today, but we will walk through the darkness together, and it will get better.
The mystery was well done and had me turning to my daughter who had finished before me to discuss my theories. The romance was all consuming and absolutely beautiful.
You definitely have to read Oceans of Ink first, but I loved how this duology turned out! You’ll want to read both!
This story is clean romance, fantasy, mystery, deception, grief, and healing. I can’t believe how well A.R. Conwell can weave the darkness and light! The heavy themes (overcoming feelings of shame after abuse, and murder) were handled well and I loved the hope woven into the story. Hard things happen in life and it won’t get better today, but we will walk through the darkness together, and it will get better.
The mystery was well done and had me turning to my daughter who had finished before me to discuss my theories. The romance was all consuming and absolutely beautiful.
You definitely have to read Oceans of Ink first, but I loved how this duology turned out! You’ll want to read both!
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