A Ripple of Pages and Secrets

by Mona Archer

A Sorcery of Thorns meets The Starless Sea in this romantasy about a human girl who gets trapped in a magical and dangerous library world together with its brooding fae guardian.

Magical books and libraries are dangerous.
But even more dangerous are their warrior guardians, as Aline soon finds out. This guardian going by the name Roane is a handsome and grumpy fae male , and he’s about to become the bane of Aline’s existence.
That’s what you get when you get trapped inside the wondrous and perilous Library of Areon…

Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 30, 2026

Reviews

[Melissa Chapman · Rating 2 out of 5]

First off, Thank you to the author and DS Book Promotions for gifting me an ARC of this book in exchange for a truthful review.

I really wanted to love this book, but it was just not for me.

The writing is clunky and disjointed throughout. Sentences don't flow well, and information is given awkwardly. There is a lot of telling not showing the entire time.

Every chapter is from Aline's POV. So Why is her name Aline, but chapters say Adeline. I know that is her real name, but it's not what she goes by, and there are no other POV's.

Aline has a weird relationship with her brother and he was pretty underutilized.

Supposedly Humans and Fae don't mix, yet no one cares about her being raised by fae, or humans flirting with Eiras. But the muleteer suddenly has an issue when they stop in the first town?

About 40% and it starts getting more interesting with the addition of the world inside the library, and the creatures from the books. Roane is a constant contradiction and the "twist" was incredibly easy to spot. Honestly I thought about DNFing many times, and kept hoping things would start making more sense...but all of the characters just kept looping the same conversations and blame games, and I was annoyed.

I didn't love the romance between them because of all of the lies and anger issues. The idea of the library was fun and interesting - and I enjoyed how she was quick to find the story origins and trying to help and stay independent.
Unfortunately it just didn't land well for me.

[Marci Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Ripple of Pages and Secrets, book one of a duet, is a delicious take of a magical library, which has as its core purpose the duty of restraining dangerous magical books. The premise is intriguing, and the idea that all stories and tales have inherent magic aligns with my own secretly harbored beliefs. I love how Archer, through the characters of Aline and Roane, makes the reader question where the lives are between the take and reality-and are we all just living a story in our own book? Who is reading it? It’s a concept I love to consider and puzzle about. You will be immediately drawn into this book, and I am positive you will love it as much as I did. I can’t wait to read the second and final book to find out how the tales intertwine…

[Jo Fouracre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mona you absolutely smashed this book. I loved the world building in the previous series. An this only added to the epicness. It was a total swallow you whole book. I was immersed and I could not put it down. The characters are full of trials and tribulations. I really did miss the Darakins but I’m sure they will come into it somewhere. I can’t wait for book 2.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Juanita Mullens · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good. I guessed right. I hated that ending, no really it wasn't too bad of a cliff. These characters are so fascinating to me. I loved this story. I wish book two was out now. But its not too far at all. Magical libraries, Beautiful fae men. Magical creatures, very snarky. Very steamy-ish. Wonderful world build up, great side characters. Can't wait for the next one.

[Jun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy in exchange of a honest review.

I liked the world building, the unique magic system.

However, the FMC annoyed me. She's impulsive, and doesn't respect boundaries.

The MMC has a lot to hide and I can't wait book 2 to have all the answers.

Some parts were predictable but it's okay, the story is still good.

I recommend this book.