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Glittering Skies: A Bingeable Contemporary Romantasy
Where Abby Jimenez Meets Fantasy.
Glittering Skies is a contemporary romantasy written in a dual first-person POV. You'll find banter, open-door romance, and approachable world-building — perfect for those who don't enjoy full fantasy worlds, but really want to read about a charming Gargoyle and a woman made of glitter who photograph fantasy weddings.
Always the wedding photographer, never the bride.
The dating scene in Gondora sucks worse than a rabid Kraken, especially for die-hard romantic Reverie Songlight. Even her lucky-in-love wedding photography clients can’t seem to share their good fortune. So when a charming Gargoyle named Luca offers to buy her a drink at her favorite puff bar, she figures it’s worth a shot.
Over a year later, Reverie’s still angry with the Gargoyle who ghosted her. She’s resigned herself to never seeing him again. So when Luca turns up at a Satyr wedding as the replacement second photographer, she’s desperate to get rid of him.
Unfortunately, he’s the only one standing between her photography company failing or succeeding for the next month.
It’s just four weddings. Then she never has to see him again.
Luca regrets disappearing and wants nothing more than to atone for the mistake. He’s entranced by the woman made of glitter, but Reverie’s determined to hold him at wing’s length. No stranger to proving himself, he meets every glare with a grin. Each verbal barb receives a joke in return. Luca has thirty days to change her mind, and he’ll make every moment count.
The dance between aching hearts is a messy one, and they’re both unfamiliar with the steps. As each wedding passes, their connection deepens as tensions rise. The clock is ticking in more ways than one. Luca knows he needs to be honest, but if she knew the truth, he’d lose her forever.
Love may not have a timeline — but secrets do.
This is a standalone, but it connects to the following two books. However, the following two books are not required to read.
Glittering Skies is a contemporary romantasy written in a dual first-person POV. You'll find banter, open-door romance, and approachable world-building — perfect for those who don't enjoy full fantasy worlds, but really want to read about a charming Gargoyle and a woman made of glitter who photograph fantasy weddings.
Always the wedding photographer, never the bride.
The dating scene in Gondora sucks worse than a rabid Kraken, especially for die-hard romantic Reverie Songlight. Even her lucky-in-love wedding photography clients can’t seem to share their good fortune. So when a charming Gargoyle named Luca offers to buy her a drink at her favorite puff bar, she figures it’s worth a shot.
Over a year later, Reverie’s still angry with the Gargoyle who ghosted her. She’s resigned herself to never seeing him again. So when Luca turns up at a Satyr wedding as the replacement second photographer, she’s desperate to get rid of him.
Unfortunately, he’s the only one standing between her photography company failing or succeeding for the next month.
It’s just four weddings. Then she never has to see him again.
Luca regrets disappearing and wants nothing more than to atone for the mistake. He’s entranced by the woman made of glitter, but Reverie’s determined to hold him at wing’s length. No stranger to proving himself, he meets every glare with a grin. Each verbal barb receives a joke in return. Luca has thirty days to change her mind, and he’ll make every moment count.
The dance between aching hearts is a messy one, and they’re both unfamiliar with the steps. As each wedding passes, their connection deepens as tensions rise. The clock is ticking in more ways than one. Luca knows he needs to be honest, but if she knew the truth, he’d lose her forever.
Love may not have a timeline — but secrets do.
This is a standalone, but it connects to the following two books. However, the following two books are not required to read.
359 pages, Paperback
Published March 22, 2026
About the author
Jenna Avery
5 books39 followersThe origin story of Jenna Avery is complex, weird, and requires numerous alcoholic beverages to regale. The current story? She's an elder millennial with a penchant for evolving and growing. This is a polite way of saying her ADHD makes her choose a new hobby every three months. By the time you read this, who knows what she'll be into. Just ask. Otherwise, she lives with her horde of kids and pets, a golden retriever husband, and rotating residency of soon-to-be-dead plants.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
January 11, 2026
Glittering Skies is the first story I’ve read from Jenna, and it sure won’t be the last. She’s created a fantastic world here, giving us a tale filled with intriguing characters, spunky dialog, some truly moving moments and spice. It’s a heartfelt read with a fun fantasy theme.
So well done, truly enjoyable, and easy to recommend; a story worthy of the 5-star rating.
So well done, truly enjoyable, and easy to recommend; a story worthy of the 5-star rating.
Review of advance copy received from Author
DNF at 42%
Let me start by saying that Glittering Skies is not a bad book. In fact, I actually enjoyed the writing, it’s smooth and easy to follow. But when I saw the tropes listed "a submissive mother and miscommunication" I’ll be honest, I hesitated. I really wish the author had mentioned this in the ARC form. Some might argue that it’s spoiler territory, but even a simple link to a content/trope list on their website would’ve helped readers decide for themselves.
My main issue, though, is the MMC, Luca. He’s described as extremely tall (7 feet, thanks to his gargoyle blood), with massive wings, a muscular build, striking features, and mesmerizing eyes. On top of that, he has a reputation as "Lucky" because he’s never lost a single fight in this world’s version of boxing. In short, he’s ... Perfect. Too perfect.
At this point, he might as well be Clary Fray's long lost twin, because he’s flawless in every possible way, good at everything, and somehow the center of the universe. His only supposed flaw is that he’s "poor" but even that feels questionable when he lives in a lavish apartment with a private office, one that took him three years on a waiting list to secure. So when the story frames him as "struggling", it just doesn’t land, because his solution is to undercut the market and steal potential clients from the FMC, Reverie, since his mother is sick.
Why not sell the apartment and downsize, you may ask? No idea.
And then there’s the flirting.
Luca flirts with EVERYONE. I get that the author probably wanted to show how charming and irresistible he is, but good lord, he almost acted like a manwhore ;)) Not to mentioned how he treats Reverie. They meet at a bar. He flirts with her, approaches her first ... And then ghosts her for over a YEAR.
Does he apologize? No. Reverie has to call him out.
Does he explain himself? Also no. And as a reader, it’s frustrating to sit there waiting for a justification that never comes.
Does he try to do better afterward? Still no. Even after Reverie gives him another chance, he goes right back to undermining her, taking a client while also working WITH HER. Great.
Luca’s internal monologue is wildly contradictory. He keeps going on about how he wants to worship Reverie, how he doesn’t care about her siren status, how he imagines her in a wedding gown, and then does absolutely nothing to back it up 🙂🙂🙂 He doesn’t even follow through on the bare minimum. He promises to text her, and then doesn’t. SHE has to be the one to reach out first.
Luca reminds me of that meme of a muscular guy in a princess dress with the caption, "I was waiting for you to text me first."
Yeah. That’s him.
Reading this right after another paranormal romance where the MMC was literally willing to die for the FMC felt like a downgrade. And to make it worse, I genuinely don’t understand what makes them so obsessed with each other.
At first, I thought they had a ONS. But then there are lines where they’re still wondering about each other’s bodies, which suggests that never even happened. So what did happen a year ago? A kiss?? I'm sorry, if that’s all it took, I’m not convinced. And honestly, I don’t have the patience to find out, because the longer I read, the more Reverie started to frustrate me too.
This girl gets ghosted and lied to repeatedly, and she’s still ready to forgive him just because he’s hot. Instead of creating distance, Reverie is like, "Hmm, maybe I should give him a second chance. Maybe I should hear him out.” The problem is: Luca DOESN’T even talk. The forced proximity was a joke. You’re telling me she couldn’t find a single other photographer in the entire city? Helloooo? In a world where Uber exist, there’s somehow no photographer available except Luca?? Sure.
The author promised early on that the miscommunication would "make sense" but for me it just feels exhausting. Reverie is starting to come across like her mother 2.0, the same submissive pattern repeating, especially when she said this:
— "But if I don’t keep giving men so many chances, then I have no choice but to go through life without a partner.”
YIKES YIKES YIKES 😬
That came from a woman who has a job, her own apartment, and friends. And yet, a few chapters later, she’s throwing herself right back at the same man.
I picked this up because the author mentioned being a real life wedding photographer, which made me curious. But if I had known the FMC would end up spreading her legs for a man who ghosted her and never properly apologized I would’ve saved myself the time. I’d genuinely rather choke on durian skin than keep reading.
And finally, Reverie, the lesbians would like a word.
Let me start by saying that Glittering Skies is not a bad book. In fact, I actually enjoyed the writing, it’s smooth and easy to follow. But when I saw the tropes listed "a submissive mother and miscommunication" I’ll be honest, I hesitated. I really wish the author had mentioned this in the ARC form. Some might argue that it’s spoiler territory, but even a simple link to a content/trope list on their website would’ve helped readers decide for themselves.
My main issue, though, is the MMC, Luca. He’s described as extremely tall (7 feet, thanks to his gargoyle blood), with massive wings, a muscular build, striking features, and mesmerizing eyes. On top of that, he has a reputation as "Lucky" because he’s never lost a single fight in this world’s version of boxing. In short, he’s ... Perfect. Too perfect.
At this point, he might as well be Clary Fray's long lost twin, because he’s flawless in every possible way, good at everything, and somehow the center of the universe. His only supposed flaw is that he’s "poor" but even that feels questionable when he lives in a lavish apartment with a private office, one that took him three years on a waiting list to secure. So when the story frames him as "struggling", it just doesn’t land, because his solution is to undercut the market and steal potential clients from the FMC, Reverie, since his mother is sick.
Why not sell the apartment and downsize, you may ask? No idea.
And then there’s the flirting.
Luca flirts with EVERYONE. I get that the author probably wanted to show how charming and irresistible he is, but good lord, he almost acted like a manwhore ;)) Not to mentioned how he treats Reverie. They meet at a bar. He flirts with her, approaches her first ... And then ghosts her for over a YEAR.
Does he apologize? No. Reverie has to call him out.
Does he explain himself? Also no. And as a reader, it’s frustrating to sit there waiting for a justification that never comes.
Does he try to do better afterward? Still no. Even after Reverie gives him another chance, he goes right back to undermining her, taking a client while also working WITH HER. Great.
Luca’s internal monologue is wildly contradictory. He keeps going on about how he wants to worship Reverie, how he doesn’t care about her siren status, how he imagines her in a wedding gown, and then does absolutely nothing to back it up 🙂🙂🙂 He doesn’t even follow through on the bare minimum. He promises to text her, and then doesn’t. SHE has to be the one to reach out first.
Luca reminds me of that meme of a muscular guy in a princess dress with the caption, "I was waiting for you to text me first."
Yeah. That’s him.
Reading this right after another paranormal romance where the MMC was literally willing to die for the FMC felt like a downgrade. And to make it worse, I genuinely don’t understand what makes them so obsessed with each other.
At first, I thought they had a ONS. But then there are lines where they’re still wondering about each other’s bodies, which suggests that never even happened. So what did happen a year ago? A kiss?? I'm sorry, if that’s all it took, I’m not convinced. And honestly, I don’t have the patience to find out, because the longer I read, the more Reverie started to frustrate me too.
This girl gets ghosted and lied to repeatedly, and she’s still ready to forgive him just because he’s hot. Instead of creating distance, Reverie is like, "Hmm, maybe I should give him a second chance. Maybe I should hear him out.” The problem is: Luca DOESN’T even talk. The forced proximity was a joke. You’re telling me she couldn’t find a single other photographer in the entire city? Helloooo? In a world where Uber exist, there’s somehow no photographer available except Luca?? Sure.
The author promised early on that the miscommunication would "make sense" but for me it just feels exhausting. Reverie is starting to come across like her mother 2.0, the same submissive pattern repeating, especially when she said this:
— "But if I don’t keep giving men so many chances, then I have no choice but to go through life without a partner.”
YIKES YIKES YIKES 😬
That came from a woman who has a job, her own apartment, and friends. And yet, a few chapters later, she’s throwing herself right back at the same man.
I picked this up because the author mentioned being a real life wedding photographer, which made me curious. But if I had known the FMC would end up spreading her legs for a man who ghosted her and never properly apologized I would’ve saved myself the time. I’d genuinely rather choke on durian skin than keep reading.
And finally, Reverie, the lesbians would like a word.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I cried so much while reading this. Good tears, sad tears, angry tears. This story really tugs your heartstrings. It's fantastic ❤️
Wonderful world building, believable characters, I love the little inside jokes that keep coming back. Jenna doesn't shy away from heavy topics, she easily mixes it with funny banter combining it into a story that will stay with you for a while.
I received this book as an ARC, all opinions are my own. Please pick up this book, I highly recommend it!
Wonderful world building, believable characters, I love the little inside jokes that keep coming back. Jenna doesn't shy away from heavy topics, she easily mixes it with funny banter combining it into a story that will stay with you for a while.
I received this book as an ARC, all opinions are my own. Please pick up this book, I highly recommend it!
Did Not Finish
March 23, 2026DNF’ed at 25%. The humor just wasn’t hitting for me personally.
January 9, 2026
Starting this year off STRONG with such a fun, emotionally intelligent, refreshing read. I laughed out loud, I clutched my pearls, I wept. Such a full course story, which I feel I don’t find all that often anymore. I wish I read more contemporary fantasy books like this one. Excellent prose; a textured, lived-in world, and characters that were so fully realized, I could see and hear them as I read. Which, let me tell you, was a real joy.
Do yourself a favor and pick up this story. I cannot recommend highly enough. You’ll be seeing Jenna Avery in bookstores one day, I guarantee it.
Do yourself a favor and pick up this story. I cannot recommend highly enough. You’ll be seeing Jenna Avery in bookstores one day, I guarantee it.
March 10, 2026
DNF at 22%. The FMC’s parents try to push her to date a creepy guy even after she explains that he’s creepy and doesn’t want to date him. Then they guilt trip her trying to manipulate her into just one date with the creepy man. This gave me the ick so bad and really ruined the vibe of the book for me.
I also didn’t like the writing. It felt choppy. There were several moments of confusion where I thought I missed a page or two but I didn’t. The writing just skipped some details and then assumed the reader knew them a few pages later. Not a fan of the lewd jokes either.
Thank you to the NerdFam for the ARC.
Release date 3/24.
I also didn’t like the writing. It felt choppy. There were several moments of confusion where I thought I missed a page or two but I didn’t. The writing just skipped some details and then assumed the reader knew them a few pages later. Not a fan of the lewd jokes either.
Thank you to the NerdFam for the ARC.
Release date 3/24.
March 24, 2026
Short, sweet, & to the devastating point 🤌🏼
This was easily digestible fantasy without skimping on utterly beautiful world building & magical scenes! While remaining spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ & romantic it hits on heavy social & emotional topics that stir all the right feelings! It was the perfect length to never drag & stay intriguing. I’d recommend this book to all my contemporary romance reader friends looking to dip their toes into fantasy!!
This was easily digestible fantasy without skimping on utterly beautiful world building & magical scenes! While remaining spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ & romantic it hits on heavy social & emotional topics that stir all the right feelings! It was the perfect length to never drag & stay intriguing. I’d recommend this book to all my contemporary romance reader friends looking to dip their toes into fantasy!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much to Jenna Avery for gifting me an ARC of this book- it was a joy to read.
Synopsis:
Reverie Songlight is always behind the camera, never walking down the aisle herself. A hopeless romantic in a dating scene that’s truly dire, she takes a chance on Luca (a charming Gargoyle) who promptly ghosts her. Over a year later, fate throws them back together when Luca turns up as a replacement photographer at a wedding… and ends up being the key to saving Reverie’s struggling photography business.
Four weddings. Thirty days. One unresolved past. As sparks reignite and old wounds resurface, Luca is determined to make things right nut he’s hiding a truth that could cost him everything. Because while love doesn’t run on a schedule, secrets definitely do.
My Thoughts:
I absolutely love fantasy books, and while this is very much a fantasy novel, it actually reads more like a contemporary romance - which I also love. The world-building isn’t overly complex, but that’s not to say it isn’t rich or well thought out. I really enjoyed the vivid imagery Jenna Avery creates, especially the idea of Dragons being used as taxis (Draxis!), which was such a fun and original touch
The story leans heavily into the miscommunication trope, and as a reader it gave me that awful sinking feeling where you’re just waiting for the characters to finally talk to each other. It also explores themes of not fitting in and how society treats people differently based on how they look or how they were born - something that felt surprisingly hard-hitting and was handled with real care and depth.
There are definitely elements of spice in this book, but comparatively it isn’t overly heavy, and what is there is well written and fits naturally with the story rather than overpowering it.
Overall, this was a heartfelt, romantic read with just enough fantasy to make it sparkle
“No-one tells you that love is an agony of the sweetest kind.”
Synopsis:
Reverie Songlight is always behind the camera, never walking down the aisle herself. A hopeless romantic in a dating scene that’s truly dire, she takes a chance on Luca (a charming Gargoyle) who promptly ghosts her. Over a year later, fate throws them back together when Luca turns up as a replacement photographer at a wedding… and ends up being the key to saving Reverie’s struggling photography business.
Four weddings. Thirty days. One unresolved past. As sparks reignite and old wounds resurface, Luca is determined to make things right nut he’s hiding a truth that could cost him everything. Because while love doesn’t run on a schedule, secrets definitely do.
My Thoughts:
I absolutely love fantasy books, and while this is very much a fantasy novel, it actually reads more like a contemporary romance - which I also love. The world-building isn’t overly complex, but that’s not to say it isn’t rich or well thought out. I really enjoyed the vivid imagery Jenna Avery creates, especially the idea of Dragons being used as taxis (Draxis!), which was such a fun and original touch
The story leans heavily into the miscommunication trope, and as a reader it gave me that awful sinking feeling where you’re just waiting for the characters to finally talk to each other. It also explores themes of not fitting in and how society treats people differently based on how they look or how they were born - something that felt surprisingly hard-hitting and was handled with real care and depth.
There are definitely elements of spice in this book, but comparatively it isn’t overly heavy, and what is there is well written and fits naturally with the story rather than overpowering it.
Overall, this was a heartfelt, romantic read with just enough fantasy to make it sparkle
“No-one tells you that love is an agony of the sweetest kind.”
March 24, 2026
Glittering Skies marks my first book in Jenna’s world and it absolutely will not be my last. From the very first page, she pulls you into a dazzling realm alive with captivating characters, sharp, spirited dialogue, and moments that hit straight to the heart. There’s a perfect balance of emotion and heat, all wrapped in a vibrant fantasy setting that feels both magical and deeply personal. It’s the kind of story that lingers, leaving you both satisfied and wanting more. An unforgettable read that easily earns every bit of its five-star praise.
March 12, 2026
If you want a contemporary romcom set in a fantasy world, this one is just that. I thought this book was unique and a nice change from my usual fantasy/romantasy book. That being said I just think it fell short in a few places for me.
The world this story takes place in is so unique, but I wish we spent more time world building in it. For a fantasy book this just felt like it was written as a contemporary romance and plopped into a fantasy setting.
I’m also not a big fan of the miscommunication trope, and this one relies heavily on it.
Lastly I feel like the last 20% of the book was unnecessary. The way the conflict was wrapped up and where in the story it was just made me feel like the last 20% of the book kept dragging on.
Overall cute concept, but it wasn’t my favorite.
The world this story takes place in is so unique, but I wish we spent more time world building in it. For a fantasy book this just felt like it was written as a contemporary romance and plopped into a fantasy setting.
I’m also not a big fan of the miscommunication trope, and this one relies heavily on it.
Lastly I feel like the last 20% of the book was unnecessary. The way the conflict was wrapped up and where in the story it was just made me feel like the last 20% of the book kept dragging on.
Overall cute concept, but it wasn’t my favorite.
March 23, 2026
I loved this book. It felt like Jenna took so many little millennial-isms and that type of humor right out of my brain. (At times a little crude, but I feel that’s a millennial norm.) I loved the rival photographers to lovers. Luca & Reverie were such a fun couple. Their banter was great. The character art is giving Lisa Frank for adults (that’s what I was picturing in my head, Jenna!). I went on a full healing journey that I didn’t know I NEEDED (the you’re too loud, too big, too much and need to fit in this box, be smaller healing journey). I cried. I squealed. I chatted about this to my book club discord besties. THE EPILOGUE JENNA! I am broken after being healed and then healed again. This one spoke to meeeee. Thank you for this story, Jenna.
Review of advance copy received from Author
TEARSSSSSSSSSS. THE END HAS ME IN TEARSSSSSSSS.
This was the most unique and loveable romantasy I've ever read. The world-building? Amazing. Jenna is the most creative person ever. A main character whose veins are filled with glitter? A beautiful city with different levels that extends into the clouds? Beautiful glittery waterfalls? PUFF BARS?? Love love love.
Reverie and Luca...... MY HEART!!!! Every look, every touch, every kiss had me squealing and kicking my feet. I love a man who worships his woman AS SHE DESERVES. All the way to the end.
Plus the spice.... woof woof. The sub/dom dynamics were truly unexpected to me, but I ate it up (like Luca ate up that glitter, iykyk). Tail play? Yes, please.
Overall, AMAZING!!!
This was the most unique and loveable romantasy I've ever read. The world-building? Amazing. Jenna is the most creative person ever. A main character whose veins are filled with glitter? A beautiful city with different levels that extends into the clouds? Beautiful glittery waterfalls? PUFF BARS?? Love love love.
Reverie and Luca...... MY HEART!!!! Every look, every touch, every kiss had me squealing and kicking my feet. I love a man who worships his woman AS SHE DESERVES. All the way to the end.
Plus the spice.... woof woof. The sub/dom dynamics were truly unexpected to me, but I ate it up (like Luca ate up that glitter, iykyk). Tail play? Yes, please.
Overall, AMAZING!!!
March 24, 2026
First I’d like to say a HUGE thank you TO Jenna Avery and Nerdfam for this eARC!! I have loved every minute of this story and all these thoughts in this review are my own 🖤
This story is so beautiful, I went into it with not much knowledge and thinking it was going to be a light romcom. I mean in my defense the female main character is a woman in her late 20s, and she is a wedding photographer who has failed to find love up to this point. You know so it really does have that aspect, but it's so much more than that it's about not just finding love but finding the right kind of love.
Reverie, our FMC, has been raised her whole life to think that she has to change herself, or dull her shine really to make others feel more comfortable. It is a generational thought passed down from her parents out of fear due to laws in place against their kind and prejudices from society in general.
Reveries parents are not bad, everything they teach her is out of love, and they believe it is the best way and more than likely that has been passed down from their parents as well. It also does not help that Reverie has faced own traumas as well, she has seen prejudices in her community first hand, she has been put down by those in power above her, and she has been used by men taking advantage of her just because they can.
The story goes on to show that really when you are with the right person they help you. Reverie meets Luca (our MMC) and of course nothing is perfect at first, but eventually with his help she learns to be brave! For the first time in Reveries life she actually feels safe and secure enough to explore who she is and to actually be who she is meant to be. She is relearning her entire thought process after a lifetime of suppression and it is scary for her. But Luca not only supports Reverie he encourages her and protects her, he is as steady as a rock for her no matter what.
On top of Reverie learning and breaking a lifetime of behaviors, Luca also has his own traumas to work through. He is keeping stuff from Reverie out of fear for rejection, even after everything he does for her to show her that he loves her and she can trust him, he truly believes that if he is completely truthful that she will not want him anymore.
Luca has helped Reverie so much and in turn he finally realizes that she loves him as much as he loves her, and he finally feels safe too. It takes everything out of Luca to release his own fears and be truthful.
This story is really so beautiful and I’m very glad to have read it. There is so much healing, and not just love but the right kind of love! And also the perfect amount of friendly banter, hilarious sidekicks, genuine friendships, and the hottest spicy scenes all sprinkled in too!!!
✨✨✨✨✨/🥵🥵🥵
This story is so beautiful, I went into it with not much knowledge and thinking it was going to be a light romcom. I mean in my defense the female main character is a woman in her late 20s, and she is a wedding photographer who has failed to find love up to this point. You know so it really does have that aspect, but it's so much more than that it's about not just finding love but finding the right kind of love.
Reverie, our FMC, has been raised her whole life to think that she has to change herself, or dull her shine really to make others feel more comfortable. It is a generational thought passed down from her parents out of fear due to laws in place against their kind and prejudices from society in general.
Reveries parents are not bad, everything they teach her is out of love, and they believe it is the best way and more than likely that has been passed down from their parents as well. It also does not help that Reverie has faced own traumas as well, she has seen prejudices in her community first hand, she has been put down by those in power above her, and she has been used by men taking advantage of her just because they can.
The story goes on to show that really when you are with the right person they help you. Reverie meets Luca (our MMC) and of course nothing is perfect at first, but eventually with his help she learns to be brave! For the first time in Reveries life she actually feels safe and secure enough to explore who she is and to actually be who she is meant to be. She is relearning her entire thought process after a lifetime of suppression and it is scary for her. But Luca not only supports Reverie he encourages her and protects her, he is as steady as a rock for her no matter what.
On top of Reverie learning and breaking a lifetime of behaviors, Luca also has his own traumas to work through. He is keeping stuff from Reverie out of fear for rejection, even after everything he does for her to show her that he loves her and she can trust him, he truly believes that if he is completely truthful that she will not want him anymore.
Luca has helped Reverie so much and in turn he finally realizes that she loves him as much as he loves her, and he finally feels safe too. It takes everything out of Luca to release his own fears and be truthful.
This story is really so beautiful and I’m very glad to have read it. There is so much healing, and not just love but the right kind of love! And also the perfect amount of friendly banter, hilarious sidekicks, genuine friendships, and the hottest spicy scenes all sprinkled in too!!!
✨✨✨✨✨/🥵🥵🥵
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (open door)
From the first page, literally the first page, I was cackling. Jenna Avery starts this book strong and hilarious before you even hit the trigger warnings, and I immediately knew this one was going to be special.
By 30 percent, I couldn’t help myself and had already DM'd Jenna to tell her how OBSESSED I was with Reverie and Luca. The banter. The chemistry. The Dragxi. Dragon taxis. ARE YOU KIDDING ME.
For context, I’m a big fan of historical romance and romantasy, and a little hit or miss with contemporary romance. I wasn’t totally sure what to expect, but based on how Jenna talked about this book on Instagram, I had a feeling it was going to be fun. I was not disappointed.
The world-building is genuinely stunning. Cloud-top bars, waterfalls, wrestling matches featuring regenerators (read to find out more here ;), and so many clever, imaginative details from the scenery to the characters. We meet Reverie, a Glyridite siren and wedding photographer, and Luca, a charming gargoyle, in a meet-cute at a cloud-top bar. A year later, they collide again at a wrestling match, and from there we get rival wedding photographers, forced proximity, and some of the best banter I’ve read in a long time.
Luca is officially one of my new favorite book boyfriends. He’s adorable. Reverie is fiery, capable, and sharp in the best way. I laughed out loud constantly, but I was also deeply emotionally invested in their story. That balance is not easy to pull off, and Jenna absolutely nails it.
Is there some miscommunication? Yes. Is that usually my least favorite trope? Also yes. Did I still completely understand why it worked here and feel like it added to the story instead of detracting from it? YES.
This is an easy five-star read for me. Funny, romantic, emotionally engaging, and very spicy once it gets there. Slow burn, but worth the wait. Jenna Avery is officially on my must-read list for 2026, and I didn’t know I needed a laugh-out-loud funny fantasy *contemporary?* romance (it feels like there isn't even a genre for this one that i've read until now!), but apparently I really did.
Thank you so much to Jenna Avery for the ARC. Brava. I cannot wait to read more.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (open door)
From the first page, literally the first page, I was cackling. Jenna Avery starts this book strong and hilarious before you even hit the trigger warnings, and I immediately knew this one was going to be special.
By 30 percent, I couldn’t help myself and had already DM'd Jenna to tell her how OBSESSED I was with Reverie and Luca. The banter. The chemistry. The Dragxi. Dragon taxis. ARE YOU KIDDING ME.
For context, I’m a big fan of historical romance and romantasy, and a little hit or miss with contemporary romance. I wasn’t totally sure what to expect, but based on how Jenna talked about this book on Instagram, I had a feeling it was going to be fun. I was not disappointed.
The world-building is genuinely stunning. Cloud-top bars, waterfalls, wrestling matches featuring regenerators (read to find out more here ;), and so many clever, imaginative details from the scenery to the characters. We meet Reverie, a Glyridite siren and wedding photographer, and Luca, a charming gargoyle, in a meet-cute at a cloud-top bar. A year later, they collide again at a wrestling match, and from there we get rival wedding photographers, forced proximity, and some of the best banter I’ve read in a long time.
Luca is officially one of my new favorite book boyfriends. He’s adorable. Reverie is fiery, capable, and sharp in the best way. I laughed out loud constantly, but I was also deeply emotionally invested in their story. That balance is not easy to pull off, and Jenna absolutely nails it.
Is there some miscommunication? Yes. Is that usually my least favorite trope? Also yes. Did I still completely understand why it worked here and feel like it added to the story instead of detracting from it? YES.
This is an easy five-star read for me. Funny, romantic, emotionally engaging, and very spicy once it gets there. Slow burn, but worth the wait. Jenna Avery is officially on my must-read list for 2026, and I didn’t know I needed a laugh-out-loud funny fantasy *contemporary?* romance (it feels like there isn't even a genre for this one that i've read until now!), but apparently I really did.
Thank you so much to Jenna Avery for the ARC. Brava. I cannot wait to read more.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is my first read from this author and I was so excited to get an early copy to read. The synopsis of the story sounded cute and interesting and something a bit different. This is a fantasy but reads more like a contemporary romance, which I did enjoy.
Even though this was a fantasy, the world building is pretty simple and not overly complex and was definitely enough to give a good visual of the world that they are living in.
The story follows Reverie and Luca, who are competing wedding photographers, that meet up and instantly connect but things happen, and nothing goes beyond that first night. Reverie is very salty about that. A year later, they are thrust together due to an accident with Reverie's second shooter and have to work as partners at several weddings. I loved both of the characters and the uniqueness; however, Reverie was a bit over the top mean at points in the middle of the book and it took me out of the story. Luca is just the sweetest and I couldn't stand how mean she was to him.
One of the themes that I really did like was being different and not fitting into society norms. This was very heavy for Reverie, and she was raised to hide herself because she was different. It was great to see how Luca encouraged her to be more herself and that there was nothing wrong with being different.
The miscommunication trope is heavy in this book, and hits hard right in the middle. I honestly had to put the book down and wasn't sure I was going to finish. I picked it back up a couple of weeks later and I am glad that I did. Although, once they finally talked and got everything in the open then things moved super quick and seemed a bit too fast for me. This is where the spice finally entered, and I will say this was my first book with tail play...
The end of the book was good and honestly a bit emotional due to the circumstances around Luca's mother and then Luca himself. Overall, it was a cute story, and I am so thankful that I got to read it I just wish the miscommunication and meanness weren't so strong at times. Thank you, Jenna Avery, for the early copy to read!
Even though this was a fantasy, the world building is pretty simple and not overly complex and was definitely enough to give a good visual of the world that they are living in.
The story follows Reverie and Luca, who are competing wedding photographers, that meet up and instantly connect but things happen, and nothing goes beyond that first night. Reverie is very salty about that. A year later, they are thrust together due to an accident with Reverie's second shooter and have to work as partners at several weddings. I loved both of the characters and the uniqueness; however, Reverie was a bit over the top mean at points in the middle of the book and it took me out of the story. Luca is just the sweetest and I couldn't stand how mean she was to him.
One of the themes that I really did like was being different and not fitting into society norms. This was very heavy for Reverie, and she was raised to hide herself because she was different. It was great to see how Luca encouraged her to be more herself and that there was nothing wrong with being different.
The miscommunication trope is heavy in this book, and hits hard right in the middle. I honestly had to put the book down and wasn't sure I was going to finish. I picked it back up a couple of weeks later and I am glad that I did. Although, once they finally talked and got everything in the open then things moved super quick and seemed a bit too fast for me. This is where the spice finally entered, and I will say this was my first book with tail play...
The end of the book was good and honestly a bit emotional due to the circumstances around Luca's mother and then Luca himself. Overall, it was a cute story, and I am so thankful that I got to read it I just wish the miscommunication and meanness weren't so strong at times. Thank you, Jenna Avery, for the early copy to read!
March 15, 2026
4.5⭐️ ┇ Bookstagram ┇ BookTok
I really enjoyed this! It reads like a contemporary romance with fantasy. The story is packed with magical beings—Gargoyles, Glyridites, Sirens, Vampires, Orcs, Sprites, and more—and the world-building is stunning. It feels incredibly unique, clever, and immersive.
I absolutely loved the couple in this book. Reverie is a Glyridite/Siren, while Luca is a Gargoyle. Since Glyridites and Sirens are looked down on, Reverie hasn’t had the best luck when it comes to relationships. As a wedding photographer, she’s constantly surrounded by love stories that remind her of that. Then Luca enters the picture—a massive gargoyle and her rival wedding photographer—who unknowingly offers to help her work a few weddings. From there we get forced proximity, which leads to some of the best banter.
Luca is amazing. He’s fiercely protective of Reverie, and the way he literally gets on his knees to worship her? Everything. The chemistry between them is incredible, and the spice in this book was delicious (the tail play… okay!!).
Overall, this story is funny, romantic, and set in such a unique world. It’s a slow burn that builds into amazing spice and a really beautiful journey of emotional growth and self-acceptance.
‧₊˚✧𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽✧˚₊‧
➳❥ Contemporary Fantasy Romance
➳❥ Unique World
➳❥ Second Chance
➳❥ Rivals to Lovers
➳❥ Forced Proximity
➳❥ Banter
➳❥ Slow Burn
➳❥ Self Acceptance
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝓕𝓪𝓿 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼
“Love stories belong to other people; people who aren’t me.”
“I smile, kneeling at her feet. Exactly where I want to be.”
“Dimming your sparkle would be a travesty.”
“I was yours the moment I saw the sun lighting up your colors and filling your face with wonder.”
“Fuck it.”
“If another man ever touches you again, it will be the last thing he ever does.”
“Eyes on me. I want to see your rainbows.”
“I don’t care if you’re covered in glitter or sing me to my death. My heart and soul are entirely yours to do whatever you want with.”
March 24, 2026
Thank you to the author for the ARC!
Follow Me On My Socials, I Would Love To Connect! 🔥🎥💥 TikTok ✨📖💫 Instagram 📚🫶🌿 Fable 👍💬📘 Facebook
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 stars)
This book was so much more than I expected—in the best way.
Glittering Skies feels like if Kat Stratford walked straight out of 10 Things I Hate About You and landed in a romantasy world… and immediately fell for a broody, morally gray gargoyle who absolutely radiates Patrick Verona energy. Everie is sharp, guarded, a little prickly, and so deeply real, while Luca is the kind of love interest that sneaks up on you—quietly intense, a little haunted, and impossible not to fall for.
And listen… if you ever had a crush on Goliath from Gargoyles?
You are not ready for Luca. You will go feral. I don’t make the rules.
What really made this a 4.5 for me though is how alive the story feels. It’s funny in that effortless, banter-heavy way that actually lands, but it also hits emotionally when you least expect it. There were moments that genuinely made me pause because they mirrored things I’ve experienced, and the healing woven into Everie’s journey felt both tender and earned.
Also… I need to talk about the chimeragon.
Because I would die for it. Immediately. No hesitation.
And yes—tail play? New favorite trope unlocked. Thank you very much.
The romance is messy, yearning, second-chance adjacent in the most satisfying way, and layered with regret, growth, and that aching kind of connection that refuses to go away. It’s not perfect—that’s where the half star comes in—but it feels real, and that matters more.
Overall, this is a romantasy that balances humor, heart, and heat in a way that just works. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it left me feeling a little softer than when I started—which is honestly the best kind of book.
Follow Me On My Socials, I Would Love To Connect! 🔥🎥💥 TikTok ✨📖💫 Instagram 📚🫶🌿 Fable 👍💬📘 Facebook
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 stars)
This book was so much more than I expected—in the best way.
Glittering Skies feels like if Kat Stratford walked straight out of 10 Things I Hate About You and landed in a romantasy world… and immediately fell for a broody, morally gray gargoyle who absolutely radiates Patrick Verona energy. Everie is sharp, guarded, a little prickly, and so deeply real, while Luca is the kind of love interest that sneaks up on you—quietly intense, a little haunted, and impossible not to fall for.
And listen… if you ever had a crush on Goliath from Gargoyles?
You are not ready for Luca. You will go feral. I don’t make the rules.
What really made this a 4.5 for me though is how alive the story feels. It’s funny in that effortless, banter-heavy way that actually lands, but it also hits emotionally when you least expect it. There were moments that genuinely made me pause because they mirrored things I’ve experienced, and the healing woven into Everie’s journey felt both tender and earned.
Also… I need to talk about the chimeragon.
Because I would die for it. Immediately. No hesitation.
And yes—tail play? New favorite trope unlocked. Thank you very much.
The romance is messy, yearning, second-chance adjacent in the most satisfying way, and layered with regret, growth, and that aching kind of connection that refuses to go away. It’s not perfect—that’s where the half star comes in—but it feels real, and that matters more.
Overall, this is a romantasy that balances humor, heart, and heat in a way that just works. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it left me feeling a little softer than when I started—which is honestly the best kind of book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨ Rating: 4⭐️
🫧 Vibes: contemporary romance meets fantasy
🎶 Song: bejeweled - taylor swift
📖 Favourite Quote: "No one tells you that love is an agony of the sweetest kind."
📚 Would I recommend? yes!
💬 tldr thoughts: A bingeable fantasy novel with depth!
In the package:
📦 vivid world building
📦 dual POV
📦 miscommunication
📦 a man who WORSHIPS
Plot: Reverie, a wedding photographer, meets a charming Gargoyle named Luca at a bar and they hit it off... until he ghosts her. A year later, he shows up as the replacement second photographer and she’s desperate to get rid of him. Luca wants nothing more than to atone for the mistake and he's willing to do anything to get her back.
Thoughts: I saw it coming and the epilogue still broke my heart 😭 honestly was not expecting this to be such a heart wrenching story 😩 I cried happy tears and sad tears while reading this. The fantasy aspect of this book was so much FUN and unique. I mean, they use dragons as taxis (called dragxis)... I want one!!! I think this author did a fantastic job at mixing the fantasy elements with a contemporary romance plot line. The characters had layers, the plot was heartfelt and the world building was so vivid without being too overly complex. I wanted to dive in and live in this book just to see it for myself. The miscommunication is what didn't elevate this to a 5 star for me, it dragged on a bit too long.
Thank you The Nerd Fam and Jenna Avery for the eARC!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok and instagram⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
🫧 Vibes: contemporary romance meets fantasy
🎶 Song: bejeweled - taylor swift
📖 Favourite Quote: "No one tells you that love is an agony of the sweetest kind."
📚 Would I recommend? yes!
💬 tldr thoughts: A bingeable fantasy novel with depth!
In the package:
📦 vivid world building
📦 dual POV
📦 miscommunication
📦 a man who WORSHIPS
Plot: Reverie, a wedding photographer, meets a charming Gargoyle named Luca at a bar and they hit it off... until he ghosts her. A year later, he shows up as the replacement second photographer and she’s desperate to get rid of him. Luca wants nothing more than to atone for the mistake and he's willing to do anything to get her back.
Thoughts: I saw it coming and the epilogue still broke my heart 😭 honestly was not expecting this to be such a heart wrenching story 😩 I cried happy tears and sad tears while reading this. The fantasy aspect of this book was so much FUN and unique. I mean, they use dragons as taxis (called dragxis)... I want one!!! I think this author did a fantastic job at mixing the fantasy elements with a contemporary romance plot line. The characters had layers, the plot was heartfelt and the world building was so vivid without being too overly complex. I wanted to dive in and live in this book just to see it for myself. The miscommunication is what didn't elevate this to a 5 star for me, it dragged on a bit too long.
Thank you The Nerd Fam and Jenna Avery for the eARC!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok and instagram⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
March 24, 2026
I absolutely loved this book! Glittering Skies is the first in a new contemporary fantasy romance series, and I could NOT put this one down.
Reverie is a wedding photographer who has never had luck with love. She is half siren and half Glyridite, and has grown up being ridiculed for her glitter, harassed and sexualized for her siren ability, and believed that her heritage should be looked at in shame. Luca, a gargoyle, never sees as any of that, and falls for the amazing woman she is. And Luca! The man (gargoyle) that you are!
I loved so many things about this book - the creative world building with all the different paranormal/fantasy creatures fitting in a modern day world. All the different traditions for their weddings. The banter between Reverie and Luca was top notch, and I adored the text messaging conversations especially! I loved Luca standing up for Reverie and showing her such kindness right from the start. I also really enjoyed all their friends and family (well, maybe not Reverie’s family lol)
There is some lack of communication and misinterpretation of things, which yall know is definitely my bookish pet peeve. I always feel like a lot of the conflict and turmoil could all be avoided with just one sit down talk! Once Reverie and Luca do have that serious talk, everything starts to fall into place for them.
Luca's reason for ghosting and his hesitation over anything with Reverie broke my heart honestly. And that ENDING. It is an epic HEA for these two, and I won't give anything away. My heart!!
I look forward to reading more from this author! What a fun world to play in, I hope for many more stories set within this series!
I received a copy from the author for instagram. My thoughts are my own.
Reverie is a wedding photographer who has never had luck with love. She is half siren and half Glyridite, and has grown up being ridiculed for her glitter, harassed and sexualized for her siren ability, and believed that her heritage should be looked at in shame. Luca, a gargoyle, never sees as any of that, and falls for the amazing woman she is. And Luca! The man (gargoyle) that you are!
I loved so many things about this book - the creative world building with all the different paranormal/fantasy creatures fitting in a modern day world. All the different traditions for their weddings. The banter between Reverie and Luca was top notch, and I adored the text messaging conversations especially! I loved Luca standing up for Reverie and showing her such kindness right from the start. I also really enjoyed all their friends and family (well, maybe not Reverie’s family lol)
There is some lack of communication and misinterpretation of things, which yall know is definitely my bookish pet peeve. I always feel like a lot of the conflict and turmoil could all be avoided with just one sit down talk! Once Reverie and Luca do have that serious talk, everything starts to fall into place for them.
Luca's reason for ghosting and his hesitation over anything with Reverie broke my heart honestly. And that ENDING. It is an epic HEA for these two, and I won't give anything away. My heart!!
I look forward to reading more from this author! What a fun world to play in, I hope for many more stories set within this series!
I received a copy from the author for instagram. My thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Glittering Skies by @jennaaveryauthor
"Because love stories belong to people like us"
Reverie believes that love exists, just not for her. She sees love everyday, but with her previous experience, she's content to enjoy love through the wedding she photographs than risk her heart again. After a chance meeting and ghosting her for a year, Luca reappear in the most in unlikely of places. Can he win back her heart, or are his hidden secrets set to keep them apart?
If you like your love story with a little extra sparkle (pun intended) this is for you.
Reverie is an older FMC whose successful and knows her own mind ; she has a sharp tongue and comes out with some amazing one liners that had me full belly l
Laughing.
Luca is our ex-fighter turned lover; 7 ft of heavily chiseled purple gargoyle with extra appendages he know how to use ( IYKYK).
The book has lots of miscommunication, explores past and present traumas, touches on alot of difficult areas ( check tws) such as trauma, misogyny, and racism. But follows a great story of loving yourself as well as someone else.
You can't make rainbows without rain and this book got me; I cried (twice). But it was totally worth it!
Tropes
- Rivals to lovers
- He falls first
- Miscommunication
Pros
- Dual POV
- Cute Pets
- Meet cute was soo cute 😍
Cons
- You can't make rainbows without rain and this book got me; I cried (twice)
Overall rating: 4. 5/5
Sweet heartfelt rom com with a little extra sparkle! Would definitely read more by Jenna Avery
#bookstagrammer #booktokrecs #fantasyreads #romantasy #glitteringskies #newreleases
"Because love stories belong to people like us"
Reverie believes that love exists, just not for her. She sees love everyday, but with her previous experience, she's content to enjoy love through the wedding she photographs than risk her heart again. After a chance meeting and ghosting her for a year, Luca reappear in the most in unlikely of places. Can he win back her heart, or are his hidden secrets set to keep them apart?
If you like your love story with a little extra sparkle (pun intended) this is for you.
Reverie is an older FMC whose successful and knows her own mind ; she has a sharp tongue and comes out with some amazing one liners that had me full belly l
Laughing.
Luca is our ex-fighter turned lover; 7 ft of heavily chiseled purple gargoyle with extra appendages he know how to use ( IYKYK).
The book has lots of miscommunication, explores past and present traumas, touches on alot of difficult areas ( check tws) such as trauma, misogyny, and racism. But follows a great story of loving yourself as well as someone else.
You can't make rainbows without rain and this book got me; I cried (twice). But it was totally worth it!
Tropes
- Rivals to lovers
- He falls first
- Miscommunication
Pros
- Dual POV
- Cute Pets
- Meet cute was soo cute 😍
Cons
- You can't make rainbows without rain and this book got me; I cried (twice)
Overall rating: 4. 5/5
Sweet heartfelt rom com with a little extra sparkle! Would definitely read more by Jenna Avery
#bookstagrammer #booktokrecs #fantasyreads #romantasy #glitteringskies #newreleases
Review of advance copy received from Author
I expected Glittering Skies to be a light fantasy romance and instead found myself completely wrapped up in a story that balances whimsy, heart, and emotional depth in such a satisfying way. I will admit, this is a different type of book than I usually read and I had a hard time in the very beginning. Once I read a few chapters, I was pulled in and couldn't stop.
Reverie is one of those characters you root for instantly. She is creative, hopeful, a little bruised by life, and trying so hard to find her place in a world that doesn’t always make room for people like her. And Luca… I didn’t expect to fall for a gargoyle, but here we are. Their reunion is messy and complicated in the best possible way, and watching them navigate old wounds and new sparks kept me turning pages way past when I meant to stop.
The fantasy elements are charming without ever overshadowing the romance. The world feels magical but lived‑in, full of clever details that make it easy to imagine yourself there. At the same time, the emotional themes of belonging, vulnerability, and the courage it takes to let someone truly see you, gives the story real weight.
There’s a touch of spice, but it’s woven in thoughtfully and never distracts from the characters’ growth or the plot. Everything feels intentional and earned.
By the end, I was genuinely sad to leave these characters behind. It’s romantic, heartfelt, and just fantastical enough to feel like a warm escape. The ending crushed me and I even dropped a few tears. If you love stories that blend magic with real emotional resonance, this one deserves a spot at the top of your TBR.
Reverie is one of those characters you root for instantly. She is creative, hopeful, a little bruised by life, and trying so hard to find her place in a world that doesn’t always make room for people like her. And Luca… I didn’t expect to fall for a gargoyle, but here we are. Their reunion is messy and complicated in the best possible way, and watching them navigate old wounds and new sparks kept me turning pages way past when I meant to stop.
The fantasy elements are charming without ever overshadowing the romance. The world feels magical but lived‑in, full of clever details that make it easy to imagine yourself there. At the same time, the emotional themes of belonging, vulnerability, and the courage it takes to let someone truly see you, gives the story real weight.
There’s a touch of spice, but it’s woven in thoughtfully and never distracts from the characters’ growth or the plot. Everything feels intentional and earned.
By the end, I was genuinely sad to leave these characters behind. It’s romantic, heartfelt, and just fantastical enough to feel like a warm escape. The ending crushed me and I even dropped a few tears. If you love stories that blend magic with real emotional resonance, this one deserves a spot at the top of your TBR.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The dual POV? Chef’s kiss. 🤌🏼 Getting inside both Reverie’s and Luca’s heads added so much emotional weight and tension. You feel every unspoken word and every moment they’re holding back. The tension builds slowly but relentlessly, and the banter is sharp, playful, and full of that charged energy. They had me actually giggling and kicking my feet! And that spice..? WAS SPICY. 🥵
I will admit that I was a little hesitant on this one just because I usually avoid the miscommunication trope, BUT Jenna handled it so well that it never felt frustrating! The miscommunication is from fear and protection, not immaturity.. and instead of pulling me out of the story, it pulled me in even more and kept me emotionally invested.
Reverie is sarcastic, guarded, and shaped by a lifetime of being told to shrink herself, and watching her slowly reclaim her voice had me rooting for her. Her journey toward self-acceptance felt earned and deeply emotional. And then there's sweet, sweet Luca.. He’s gentle, self-sacrificing, and loving in a way that genuinely hurts. Not because he’s weak, but because he loves so much that he’s willing to step away to spare someone else any pain. Their relationship felt raw, vulnerable, and painfully real.
This book put me through everything. Love, anger, grief, hope. I laughed and cried.. a lot. If you love romantasy with emotional depth AND spice, worldbuilding that doesn’t drown you in details, and a story that hits you hard, then you really must read this one!
Beyond thankful I got to dive into Glittering Skies early! 🖤
I will admit that I was a little hesitant on this one just because I usually avoid the miscommunication trope, BUT Jenna handled it so well that it never felt frustrating! The miscommunication is from fear and protection, not immaturity.. and instead of pulling me out of the story, it pulled me in even more and kept me emotionally invested.
Reverie is sarcastic, guarded, and shaped by a lifetime of being told to shrink herself, and watching her slowly reclaim her voice had me rooting for her. Her journey toward self-acceptance felt earned and deeply emotional. And then there's sweet, sweet Luca.. He’s gentle, self-sacrificing, and loving in a way that genuinely hurts. Not because he’s weak, but because he loves so much that he’s willing to step away to spare someone else any pain. Their relationship felt raw, vulnerable, and painfully real.
This book put me through everything. Love, anger, grief, hope. I laughed and cried.. a lot. If you love romantasy with emotional depth AND spice, worldbuilding that doesn’t drown you in details, and a story that hits you hard, then you really must read this one!
Beyond thankful I got to dive into Glittering Skies early! 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
Glittering Skies follows Reverie and Luca, two competing wedding photographers who meet, instantly connect, and share one unforgettable night… until things happen and nothing ever goes beyond it. Reverie is definitely holding a grudge after being ghosted, and honestly? I don’t blame her.
A year later, they’re unexpectedly forced back together after an accident leaves Reverie without her second cameraman. Suddenly, Reverie and Luca have no choice but to work as partners through several weddings, and the tension, chemistry, and emotional buildup was so satisfying.
I absolutely loved both characters and how unique they were. Reverie is a siren and Glyridite, while Luca is a gargoyle, and their differences play such an important role in the story.
One of the main themes of this book is embracing who you are, even when you don’t fit society’s standards. This was especially hard for Reverie, who was raised to hide herself because she was “different.” Watching Luca encourage her to step into her true self—and truly believe there was nothing wrong with her—was one of my favorite parts of the book.
The ending was so good and I definitely found myself crying.
Even though Glittering Skies is a romantasy, the world-building is fairly simple, which I actually really enjoyed. It created a beautiful atmosphere without being overly complicated, and it made the story so easy to fall into.
Overall, this was such a heartfelt, magical read with great romance, lovable characters, and an emotional payoff that really hit.
Thank you Nerd Fam for the ARC!
A year later, they’re unexpectedly forced back together after an accident leaves Reverie without her second cameraman. Suddenly, Reverie and Luca have no choice but to work as partners through several weddings, and the tension, chemistry, and emotional buildup was so satisfying.
I absolutely loved both characters and how unique they were. Reverie is a siren and Glyridite, while Luca is a gargoyle, and their differences play such an important role in the story.
One of the main themes of this book is embracing who you are, even when you don’t fit society’s standards. This was especially hard for Reverie, who was raised to hide herself because she was “different.” Watching Luca encourage her to step into her true self—and truly believe there was nothing wrong with her—was one of my favorite parts of the book.
The ending was so good and I definitely found myself crying.
Even though Glittering Skies is a romantasy, the world-building is fairly simple, which I actually really enjoyed. It created a beautiful atmosphere without being overly complicated, and it made the story so easy to fall into.
Overall, this was such a heartfelt, magical read with great romance, lovable characters, and an emotional payoff that really hit.
Thank you Nerd Fam for the ARC!
Review of advance copy
I am a person who most of the time judges a book by it's cover and this book caught my eye right away. After I read the description of the book I was super excited to read it. Reverie is Half Glyridite and Half Siren who is a wedding photographer. She likes to wind down at a place for drinks and she meets Luca a Gargoyle. Right away she warns him that will not be going home with him but he ends up chatting with her the rest of the night. Some happens and she ends up being ghosted by Luca but runs into him a year later. She is mad at him but he is afraid to tell her the truth on why he hasn't contacted her. She is a wedding photographer and needs to the business but some other company seems to get all of the business. Her worker ends up getting slimed and she needs another photographer, here comes Luca to help. She does not want him near her but she needs the help. As weeks go on her mind starts changing but he still has a secret he is afraid to tell her because it can change everything between them.
I did love this story between Reverie and Luca but there was some things that may have dragged on and when they talk about his size, I am completely confused as if I don't know if its a joke between them or if they are for real. I was also imagining the characters from Onward right away when they were describing all the different people in the book. I was hoping but for a different ending but it ended up perfect.
Thank you TheNerdFam for this ARC excited to read book #2 in the future
I did love this story between Reverie and Luca but there was some things that may have dragged on and when they talk about his size, I am completely confused as if I don't know if its a joke between them or if they are for real. I was also imagining the characters from Onward right away when they were describing all the different people in the book. I was hoping but for a different ending but it ended up perfect.
Thank you TheNerdFam for this ARC excited to read book #2 in the future
Review of advance copy received from Author
Tropes:
⚔️ Rivals to Lovers
🌦️ Grumpy x Sunshine
🛏️ One Bed
🚪 Forced Proximity
💘 He Falls First
💔 Second Chance
🍑 Curvy FMC
Reverie is a 28-year-old Glyridite wedding photographer who lives in a world where people are hard on her kind, making the dating scene unbearable.
At one of the weddings she was working at, she met a charming gargoyle named Luca, and they instantly connect, or so she thought.
A year later, one of Reverie’s employees is badly hurt right before wedding season, and she cannot afford to be down a person. Luckily, her employee has a replacement- you guessed it- it’s Luca.
Now, Luca wants nothing more than to make things right between him and Reverie. While Reverie wants nothing to do with Luca, she faces a difficult decision: choose her pride or risk her business failing. With no other choice, they’re stuck spending the next 30 days working together.
As they navigate this tense partnership, both are hiding secrets that threaten to end their relationship once and for all.
I really enjoyed this contemporary fantasy! One thing that really stood out to me was the descriptive world-building. Think of a fantasy world with dragons, Satyrs, and orcs, but with modern world problems. I found myself saying, " That's relatable” so many times!
If you’re looking for a cute contemporary Romantasy standalone, heavy on the fantasy elements, with some spice (🌶️🌶️), be sure to read this!
Thank you, Jenna Avery, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
⚔️ Rivals to Lovers
🌦️ Grumpy x Sunshine
🛏️ One Bed
🚪 Forced Proximity
💘 He Falls First
💔 Second Chance
🍑 Curvy FMC
Reverie is a 28-year-old Glyridite wedding photographer who lives in a world where people are hard on her kind, making the dating scene unbearable.
At one of the weddings she was working at, she met a charming gargoyle named Luca, and they instantly connect, or so she thought.
A year later, one of Reverie’s employees is badly hurt right before wedding season, and she cannot afford to be down a person. Luckily, her employee has a replacement- you guessed it- it’s Luca.
Now, Luca wants nothing more than to make things right between him and Reverie. While Reverie wants nothing to do with Luca, she faces a difficult decision: choose her pride or risk her business failing. With no other choice, they’re stuck spending the next 30 days working together.
As they navigate this tense partnership, both are hiding secrets that threaten to end their relationship once and for all.
I really enjoyed this contemporary fantasy! One thing that really stood out to me was the descriptive world-building. Think of a fantasy world with dragons, Satyrs, and orcs, but with modern world problems. I found myself saying, " That's relatable” so many times!
If you’re looking for a cute contemporary Romantasy standalone, heavy on the fantasy elements, with some spice (🌶️🌶️), be sure to read this!
Thank you, Jenna Avery, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
March 27, 2026
Glittering Skies by Jenna Avery follows Reverie, a wedding photographer in Gondora who has no interest in giving her heart to anyone, despite being a die hard romantic. Sometimes it’s easier to keep yourself caged off than to let yourself get heartbroken.
The world building is beautifully done, while remaining easily digestible for those that are new to fantasy. The creature index is pretty extensive, but I think that it is done in such a way that you don’t have to remember a hundred different character types, and characteristics.
The banter is crisp, the inner thoughts are perfectly balanced between honest and witty, and the FMC is the perfect blend of sarcastic and independent, with a side of sass. The MMC is a gentleman, that paired with the FMC, had me giggling and kicking my feet. Their back and forth is swoon worthy. And who doesn’t love a touch her and die moment?!
The plot flows well, and it makes it easy to fall in love with the characters and want to root for them. The narration is eloquently written and beautifully executed. I was drawn in from the first page, and every turn of the page drew me in further. The author perfectly blends a loveable story, with topics that show the characters have depth. Life is messy, and characters are messy. That messiness aids in the characters having layers. A complicated character is a character that is well written, and displaying the reality that no one is perfect.
Overall, this was a great read and I cannot wait to read more by this author. Thank you so much to Jenna Avery for this ARC.
The world building is beautifully done, while remaining easily digestible for those that are new to fantasy. The creature index is pretty extensive, but I think that it is done in such a way that you don’t have to remember a hundred different character types, and characteristics.
The banter is crisp, the inner thoughts are perfectly balanced between honest and witty, and the FMC is the perfect blend of sarcastic and independent, with a side of sass. The MMC is a gentleman, that paired with the FMC, had me giggling and kicking my feet. Their back and forth is swoon worthy. And who doesn’t love a touch her and die moment?!
The plot flows well, and it makes it easy to fall in love with the characters and want to root for them. The narration is eloquently written and beautifully executed. I was drawn in from the first page, and every turn of the page drew me in further. The author perfectly blends a loveable story, with topics that show the characters have depth. Life is messy, and characters are messy. That messiness aids in the characters having layers. A complicated character is a character that is well written, and displaying the reality that no one is perfect.
Overall, this was a great read and I cannot wait to read more by this author. Thank you so much to Jenna Avery for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
First off, thank you Jenna for letting me read this beautiful book, I loved it.
Glittering skies is a bewitching story of misunderstanding, perseverance, love, societal prejudices, healing, vulnerability, empowerment and so much more.
The world building was beautifully done and very easy to read. There were so many details that made this world really come to life. The contemporary fantasy was a perfect backdrop to the emotionally mature romance unfolding.
Reverie and Luca’s story and dual POV really kept me invested adding to the tensión. The misunderstanding trope hasn’t worked for me in other books, but it was masterfully done here. Instead of feeling frustrated or ‘over it’ when self imposed obstacles arose, I understood the logic behind them, or was intrigued to find out more.
It’s emotionally intelligent book that was so fun to follow. It’s definitely a slow burn, but once it all kicks off it’s gets spicy.
My favourite parts of this book was the world building. The lore, political history’s, the mythical creatures going about their lives and the cheeky banter Lucasta and Reverie have.
And OMG that ending…
I would recommend to someone who is looking for an easy entry into the world of Romantacy or if you just want to be whisked away to the most amazing land of mythical creature both old and new.
Glittering skies is a bewitching story of misunderstanding, perseverance, love, societal prejudices, healing, vulnerability, empowerment and so much more.
The world building was beautifully done and very easy to read. There were so many details that made this world really come to life. The contemporary fantasy was a perfect backdrop to the emotionally mature romance unfolding.
Reverie and Luca’s story and dual POV really kept me invested adding to the tensión. The misunderstanding trope hasn’t worked for me in other books, but it was masterfully done here. Instead of feeling frustrated or ‘over it’ when self imposed obstacles arose, I understood the logic behind them, or was intrigued to find out more.
It’s emotionally intelligent book that was so fun to follow. It’s definitely a slow burn, but once it all kicks off it’s gets spicy.
My favourite parts of this book was the world building. The lore, political history’s, the mythical creatures going about their lives and the cheeky banter Lucasta and Reverie have.
And OMG that ending…
I would recommend to someone who is looking for an easy entry into the world of Romantacy or if you just want to be whisked away to the most amazing land of mythical creature both old and new.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Glittering Skies left me feeling both emotionally full and slightly wanting more, and that’s why I’m landing on four stars instead of five.What I absolutely loved was the story of Luca’s mom. Her journey was so heartfelt and emotional that it anchored the entire book for me. The way her story tied into the final chapters between Luca and Reverie was both beautiful and devastating. That ending, wow. It was as if Jenna Avery cracked open the characters’ hearts and let every ounce of love, grief, and catharsis spill out. I honestly couldn’t have imagined a more powerful conclusion.So why not five stars? For me, the pacing of Luca and Reverie’s relationship felt a little too fast. As rival photographers, their early connection made sense for building tension, but the steamy parts kicked in before I was fully invested in their emotional bond. It almost distracted from what I felt was the true core of the story, Luca’s relationship with his mother and the depth of her struggles. I wanted more of that raw grief, more of that ache and anger over their shared losses.Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Glittering Skies is a beautifully written, heartfelt story that’s more light-hearted than I expected, though I think it could have soared even higher with deeper emotional exploration.
April 4, 2026
Silly and spicy and yet somehow holding so much emotion, Glittering Skies was the perfect read to dive into when looking for a lighter fantasy romance to dive into amidst the heavier tales I’d been reading. We have a being whose existence is literally filled with rainbows of glitter that has her own wedding photography business. Despite her sparkling reality, she’s prickly and rightfully so with how she’s had to experience prejudice about both sides of her lineage for her entire life. Yet one moment at her favorite bar connecting with a total stranger, a lavender-skinned flirt of a gargoyle, gives her hope for a future.
Yet an entire year passes with no contact between the two leading to feelings of hurt and anger for our glittering lead. When they’re put back into each other’s orbit, the sparks that once flew are still there, but our resident gargoyle will have to work hard to win her back after ghosting her for such a long time. Forced proximity, a love story working through the wedding season, and a whole lot of groveling made for a good paranormal/monster romance while keeping it’s lightheartedness equally balanced with the characters’ challenges of bigotry, withholding info, grief and familial troubles.
Big thank you to The Nerd Fam for putting this on my radar and Jenna Avery, the author, for giving me the chance to read this beauty a little early. Did I finish up my read via KU?? Absolutely, so y’all should check that out yourselves 😉
Yet an entire year passes with no contact between the two leading to feelings of hurt and anger for our glittering lead. When they’re put back into each other’s orbit, the sparks that once flew are still there, but our resident gargoyle will have to work hard to win her back after ghosting her for such a long time. Forced proximity, a love story working through the wedding season, and a whole lot of groveling made for a good paranormal/monster romance while keeping it’s lightheartedness equally balanced with the characters’ challenges of bigotry, withholding info, grief and familial troubles.
Big thank you to The Nerd Fam for putting this on my radar and Jenna Avery, the author, for giving me the chance to read this beauty a little early. Did I finish up my read via KU?? Absolutely, so y’all should check that out yourselves 😉
Review of advance copy received from Author
I will start out by saying that I was given an ARC copy to read and am giving my own opinion.
I loved this book so much! One of my favorite things of all time is witty banter, especially between black cat x golden retriever characters, and this book is a perfect example of this. The story flowed beautifully without having to force anything: the writing, the story, the characters, everything was incredibly cohesive. No plot hole was left unturned. Something that I’ve noticed with a lot of fantasy stories is that they usually have to set up the world first, which is necessary but it can be annoying at times. However, the author did a fantastic job of describing the world and how everything worked without having to set it all up at the beginning. The romance between the two main characters was a little rocky at first, but it blossomed into something beautiful. Plus, there’s an absolutely adorable chimeragon who steals the show! I would 100% recommend this book!
Thank you so much to Jenna Avery and her team for letting me read the book! I really enjoyed it and appreciate the opportunity!
I loved this book so much! One of my favorite things of all time is witty banter, especially between black cat x golden retriever characters, and this book is a perfect example of this. The story flowed beautifully without having to force anything: the writing, the story, the characters, everything was incredibly cohesive. No plot hole was left unturned. Something that I’ve noticed with a lot of fantasy stories is that they usually have to set up the world first, which is necessary but it can be annoying at times. However, the author did a fantastic job of describing the world and how everything worked without having to set it all up at the beginning. The romance between the two main characters was a little rocky at first, but it blossomed into something beautiful. Plus, there’s an absolutely adorable chimeragon who steals the show! I would 100% recommend this book!
Thank you so much to Jenna Avery and her team for letting me read the book! I really enjoyed it and appreciate the opportunity!
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