What do you think?
Rate this book
Isle of Wrath
A forgotten prophecy.
A 300-year-old curse.
And two people bound by a goddess to break it… if the bond doesn't break them first.
In Lunaris, everyone trades their memories for asylum. No one remembers their past, their homeland, or the curse that trapped them behind a wall of darkness called the Shroud. But they don't dare break the rules set upon them.
Ada Acevedo has spent years hiding her healing gift and keeping her head down.
But when her twin brother is struck by a poisoned arrow, she breaks the most dangerous rule of all. She bargains with the goddess of death to save his life.
She didn't expect the goddess to send Malachi Bain—an infuriating warrior—to collect. Much less to be soul-bound to him until she repays what she owes. Now Ada has no choice but to help him do the impossible: lift the Shroud and break the curse that's kept Lunaris hidden from the rest of the realm for three hundred years.
As she's pulled deeper into a world of forbidden prophecies and buried secrets, Ada discovers a devastating truth. Lunaris isn't the paradise she always thought it was. It's a cage. And on the other side, a monster is lurking—waiting for the Shroud to fall.
Waiting for her.
Isle of Wrath is a dystopian fantasy romance with morally gray characters, meddling gods, and a slow burn romance.
A 300-year-old curse.
And two people bound by a goddess to break it… if the bond doesn't break them first.
In Lunaris, everyone trades their memories for asylum. No one remembers their past, their homeland, or the curse that trapped them behind a wall of darkness called the Shroud. But they don't dare break the rules set upon them.
Ada Acevedo has spent years hiding her healing gift and keeping her head down.
But when her twin brother is struck by a poisoned arrow, she breaks the most dangerous rule of all. She bargains with the goddess of death to save his life.
She didn't expect the goddess to send Malachi Bain—an infuriating warrior—to collect. Much less to be soul-bound to him until she repays what she owes. Now Ada has no choice but to help him do the impossible: lift the Shroud and break the curse that's kept Lunaris hidden from the rest of the realm for three hundred years.
As she's pulled deeper into a world of forbidden prophecies and buried secrets, Ada discovers a devastating truth. Lunaris isn't the paradise she always thought it was. It's a cage. And on the other side, a monster is lurking—waiting for the Shroud to fall.
Waiting for her.
Isle of Wrath is a dystopian fantasy romance with morally gray characters, meddling gods, and a slow burn romance.
390 pages, Paperback
Published April 8, 2026
308 people are currently reading
9505 people want to read
About the author
Claire Contreras
49 books17.8k followersClaire Contreras is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, the mother to two amazing humans, and wife to a real life broody romance hero.
An Aquarian through and through, she’s obsessed with the occult and insists that silence is her favorite sound (a close second to laughter). Her favorite books to write are cloaked in mystery and typically feature a broody hero who falls first and a heroine who side-eyes his perpetual attempts to impress her.
She’s published over 25 books, all of which have been translated into various languages.
Claire was born in the Dominican Republic, raised in Miami, FL, and currently lives in North Carolina with her favorite people.
Sign up for her NL: geni.us/ClairesNewsletter
An Aquarian through and through, she’s obsessed with the occult and insists that silence is her favorite sound (a close second to laughter). Her favorite books to write are cloaked in mystery and typically feature a broody hero who falls first and a heroine who side-eyes his perpetual attempts to impress her.
She’s published over 25 books, all of which have been translated into various languages.
Claire was born in the Dominican Republic, raised in Miami, FL, and currently lives in North Carolina with her favorite people.
Sign up for her NL: geni.us/ClairesNewsletter
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 323 reviews
May 9, 2026
Big thanks to Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for an advanced listening copy of Isle of Wrath for review purposes.
Isle of Wrath has a really cool plot! The world, the magic system, councils, sages, and magical creatures—all of them were wholly unique to any book I've read in recent years. We also can't forget about bargains with a God!
With all that being said, there was a lot going on here at a really fast pace. There are many characters and creatures. So many things were happening in quick succession. I'm not going to lie, it was hard to follow. I found myself going back several times, trying to make sense of things and remember names, gifts, and so on. I'm glad I powered through the confusion because I really did enjoy this story. The ending had me shook to the core with a cliffhanger of the century!
The narration was great. This book had themes that really tie into today's hostile political climate: lies told by leaders in the name of "helping" and many more things.
I think a name/creature/power types glossary may have been really helpful in this book! With all things considered, I'll probably continue the story if I get the chance.
Isle of Wrath has a really cool plot! The world, the magic system, councils, sages, and magical creatures—all of them were wholly unique to any book I've read in recent years. We also can't forget about bargains with a God!
With all that being said, there was a lot going on here at a really fast pace. There are many characters and creatures. So many things were happening in quick succession. I'm not going to lie, it was hard to follow. I found myself going back several times, trying to make sense of things and remember names, gifts, and so on. I'm glad I powered through the confusion because I really did enjoy this story. The ending had me shook to the core with a cliffhanger of the century!
The narration was great. This book had themes that really tie into today's hostile political climate: lies told by leaders in the name of "helping" and many more things.
I think a name/creature/power types glossary may have been really helpful in this book! With all things considered, I'll probably continue the story if I get the chance.
Did Not Finish
April 15, 2026I’m disappointed!! This sounded like such a good read, all the bones are there and the writing IS good but the structure is lacking. There is hardly any world building, 22% in and I was still a bit confused where I was.
The magic system isn’t fleshed out too much in the beginning, yet there are many people with many gifts which I hardly understood how they knew or how they worked.
I loooonnnggged for more, even though there are pages of explanations, maps and pronunciation guides before you even get to chapter 1. This needed to be longer, to give more time for everything to develop, instead of jumping too quick into action and flirtation.
The magic system isn’t fleshed out too much in the beginning, yet there are many people with many gifts which I hardly understood how they knew or how they worked.
I loooonnnggged for more, even though there are pages of explanations, maps and pronunciation guides before you even get to chapter 1. This needed to be longer, to give more time for everything to develop, instead of jumping too quick into action and flirtation.
April 10, 2026
I received this EARC before the book was released. This was a highly anticipated book of mine because I love Claire Contreras writing and the other books I read of hers I really enjoyed. (Until I get you and When we lied)
I love the fantasy /romantacy genre and definitely can appreciate all the hard work that goes into the intricate world building and descriptors to grab the attention of the reader.
From the first I’d say 4 or 5 chapters I was hooked. I loved how she went right into something big happening.
I love the concept of the 300 year old curse. Ada and Malachi are bound together by a goddess and together they try to figure out how to break this curse that has kept the people caged. Unable to leave bc of the shroud. Their memories taken to feed the shroud and seek asylum ? I think that’s what I got from it?
The overall plot was very well thought out but I still found myself confused and feeling like I missed something. I had to go back and read certain pages to understand what was happening. At times I felt like there was ALOT happening. Between the prophecies, the shroud, the curse, the tunnels, meddling gods and all the different magical abilities, I have to admit, felt overwhelming at times and I wasn’t following along. As the book came together in the end, however, some of the other previous pieces made more sense.
The romance was swoon worthy and I definitely found myself smiling and kicking my feet at their sloooooow burn. Mal’s touch her and die energy was everything.
Overall I did love this book and will definitely be reading book 2 because I absolutely need to know what happens next.
Thank you so much to Claire Contreras and her team for the chance to read this early!
I love the fantasy /romantacy genre and definitely can appreciate all the hard work that goes into the intricate world building and descriptors to grab the attention of the reader.
From the first I’d say 4 or 5 chapters I was hooked. I loved how she went right into something big happening.
I love the concept of the 300 year old curse. Ada and Malachi are bound together by a goddess and together they try to figure out how to break this curse that has kept the people caged. Unable to leave bc of the shroud. Their memories taken to feed the shroud and seek asylum ? I think that’s what I got from it?
The overall plot was very well thought out but I still found myself confused and feeling like I missed something. I had to go back and read certain pages to understand what was happening. At times I felt like there was ALOT happening. Between the prophecies, the shroud, the curse, the tunnels, meddling gods and all the different magical abilities, I have to admit, felt overwhelming at times and I wasn’t following along. As the book came together in the end, however, some of the other previous pieces made more sense.
The romance was swoon worthy and I definitely found myself smiling and kicking my feet at their sloooooow burn. Mal’s touch her and die energy was everything.
Overall I did love this book and will definitely be reading book 2 because I absolutely need to know what happens next.
Thank you so much to Claire Contreras and her team for the chance to read this early!
April 9, 2026
Isle of Wrath ARC
I’m so conflicted with my feelings about this book. I wanted to love it so badly but it just did not meet my expectations. On the surface, I liked the plot but the writing and world building was lacking.
Set in a world where you can trade your memories for asylum, a 300 year old curse, meddling gods, and magical abilities that are outlawed in certain places. There was such potential here!
I was so excited to see a map, an explanation of the government setup, pronunciation guide, and who the gods / goddesses are. But this book DESPERATELY needs a glossary. There are sooooo many different locations on the isle, creatures, or other places of interest on the map are all talked about as if we already know what they are and what they mean. I kept waiting for things to come to light as I read but there’s not really any follow up or hinting that helps the reader get a sense of what their importance or purpose was. I just felt a little lost at times.
There are too many named side characters that were inconsequential. It made it a little confusing, especially in the first half, to figure out who I needed to pay attention to for the plot. And the ones that ended up being more involved, I kind of didn’t care about. Honestly I thought maybe I somehow missed an entire chapter here and there.
*𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬* Certain topics would be brought up like how old Mal was but was kind of glossed over like “oh yeah he said centuries” but that conversation wasn’t about his age and at that point he had not confessed his age. Or talking about having wings (she literally says to him "I thought you said you had wings." And he responds "I did.") but it was not even mentioned before. Like WHEN did they talk about this? Because I tried to go back and find it and it’s not there. He only said he had a thing for wings prior to that conversation.
I needed more. More description of the buildings, the city layout, even as simple as what people were wearing. I wanted a more detailed background on the curse, the people from Tenebris, and how bonds work. Again I just waiting for more to unfold as the story advanced but it just didn’t play out. Instead, I was only more confused. The tension was high between Ada and Mal and I was here for the slow burn but we didn’t really see them have a lot of interaction on page before they were suddenly infatuated with each other. I wish the author had taken us along in more of their interactions instead of just mentioning that they were together in a room where he “couldn’t take his eyes off of her” later in passing.
𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: The author did a good job in describing the sorrow that Ada feels as an empath and making me feel that too. At times I had a knot in my throat because it just felt so sad and hopeless. There were some funny moments that had me smiling too. I enjoyed the big plot twists as well; one of them totally caught me off guard. And the cliffhanger definitely has me needing more. I also enjoyed finally getting Malachi’s pov at the end. The Political messiness was intriguing as well. I also highlighted several quotes that I liked:
“𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘮, 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐’𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘵. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴, 𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘬𝘪 𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘸𝘺𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯. 𝘏𝘪𝘮. 𝘖𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘮, 𝘐 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮.”
"𝘔𝘺 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺," 𝘐 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳. "𝘕𝘰." 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘣 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘫𝘢𝘸. "𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦.”
"𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘐 𝘮𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶."
“𝘐 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘰. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮.”
With all that being said, I’ll probably read the next book when it comes out because I’m invested in the overall plot and really do want to know what is going to happen. Perhaps the author will take some of the feedback from reviewers and apply it for book 2.
Thank you to the author and Valentine PR for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I’m so conflicted with my feelings about this book. I wanted to love it so badly but it just did not meet my expectations. On the surface, I liked the plot but the writing and world building was lacking.
Set in a world where you can trade your memories for asylum, a 300 year old curse, meddling gods, and magical abilities that are outlawed in certain places. There was such potential here!
I was so excited to see a map, an explanation of the government setup, pronunciation guide, and who the gods / goddesses are. But this book DESPERATELY needs a glossary. There are sooooo many different locations on the isle, creatures, or other places of interest on the map are all talked about as if we already know what they are and what they mean. I kept waiting for things to come to light as I read but there’s not really any follow up or hinting that helps the reader get a sense of what their importance or purpose was. I just felt a little lost at times.
There are too many named side characters that were inconsequential. It made it a little confusing, especially in the first half, to figure out who I needed to pay attention to for the plot. And the ones that ended up being more involved, I kind of didn’t care about. Honestly I thought maybe I somehow missed an entire chapter here and there.
*𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬* Certain topics would be brought up like how old Mal was but was kind of glossed over like “oh yeah he said centuries” but that conversation wasn’t about his age and at that point he had not confessed his age. Or talking about having wings (she literally says to him "I thought you said you had wings." And he responds "I did.") but it was not even mentioned before. Like WHEN did they talk about this? Because I tried to go back and find it and it’s not there. He only said he had a thing for wings prior to that conversation.
I needed more. More description of the buildings, the city layout, even as simple as what people were wearing. I wanted a more detailed background on the curse, the people from Tenebris, and how bonds work. Again I just waiting for more to unfold as the story advanced but it just didn’t play out. Instead, I was only more confused. The tension was high between Ada and Mal and I was here for the slow burn but we didn’t really see them have a lot of interaction on page before they were suddenly infatuated with each other. I wish the author had taken us along in more of their interactions instead of just mentioning that they were together in a room where he “couldn’t take his eyes off of her” later in passing.
𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: The author did a good job in describing the sorrow that Ada feels as an empath and making me feel that too. At times I had a knot in my throat because it just felt so sad and hopeless. There were some funny moments that had me smiling too. I enjoyed the big plot twists as well; one of them totally caught me off guard. And the cliffhanger definitely has me needing more. I also enjoyed finally getting Malachi’s pov at the end. The Political messiness was intriguing as well. I also highlighted several quotes that I liked:
“𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘮, 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐’𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘵. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴, 𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘬𝘪 𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘸𝘺𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯. 𝘏𝘪𝘮. 𝘖𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘮, 𝘐 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮.”
"𝘔𝘺 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺," 𝘐 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳. "𝘕𝘰." 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘣 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘫𝘢𝘸. "𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦.”
"𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘐 𝘮𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶."
“𝘐 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘰. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮.”
With all that being said, I’ll probably read the next book when it comes out because I’m invested in the overall plot and really do want to know what is going to happen. Perhaps the author will take some of the feedback from reviewers and apply it for book 2.
Thank you to the author and Valentine PR for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 17, 2026
The concept of this book was fantastic, but unfortunately, the execution was just not there. While it started with a lot of excitement, I quickly found that it was very hard to follow - not because of complexity, but because of underdevelopment. There seemed to be a lot going on with very little context (& not enough world building) for the reader, leaving this feeling messy & confusing. The romance felt rushed & hard to connect to, and the side characters were hard to keep track of because they all seemed to flood into the story at once. Great premise, but could definitely benefit from more clarity & overall development.
March 29, 2026
I can’t remember the last time I highlighted so many phrases I loved in an ARC! What a fun story. I loved our FMC Ada. Initially I struggled to keep up with some of the world building and all the characters - but at some point it all clicked and then I was INVESTED. A very interesting concept - meddling gods, curses, prophesies, hidden powers, bonds. And the cliff hanger!! I’m stressed and can’t wait to see where the story takes us!
Thank you to Claire Contreras for the gifted eARC!
Thank you to Claire Contreras for the gifted eARC!
April 20, 2026
Thanks to #DreamscapeMedia and #NetGalley for providing this ALC! I enjoyed this! Great narrators. This book has everything:
- an interesting bigger story that kept me wanting more
- the Shroud
- memories used for ill-gotten gain
- a curse
- healers
- empaths
- bonding
- loyal friendships
- spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
My favorite part? For the first time the FMC actually tells the MMC the truth, not keeping something super important a secret and causing major issues later. So refreshing!
I will definitely be looking forward to the next one.
- an interesting bigger story that kept me wanting more
- the Shroud
- memories used for ill-gotten gain
- a curse
- healers
- empaths
- bonding
- loyal friendships
- spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
My favorite part? For the first time the FMC actually tells the MMC the truth, not keeping something super important a secret and causing major issues later. So refreshing!
I will definitely be looking forward to the next one.
April 9, 2026
“In the end, nothing will matter, except everything.”
I’m not always a romantasy book reader, but when I saw the premise of Isle of Wrath by Claire Contreras, I knew it would be something that would intrigue me. Magic, Curses, a forgotten prophecy and an FMC that goes to battle for those she loves? I’m in!
From the cover to the included map and the explanation guide, I felt like I started off strongly with being able to enjoy this fantasy world with just enough information and backstory of the world we were about to dive into. The story itself was easy to follow along (which isn’t always the case for me when it comes to fantasy books) and was fascinating. I loved the concept and how strong of a character Ada was. This is not only her story of saving her brother, but also discovering who she is. And how much power she truly holds. Then there’s the case of Malachi. He is definitely that morally grey MMC that you get frustrated with while also being very intrigued by him. He and Ada have that electric tension vibrating right off the page. That slow burn, forced proximity tension is explosive. That aspect is even more evident when you get to the listen to the audiobook, which I highly recommend. Juniper and Oscar Reyes’ performances elevated my experience of the story with their emotional grasp on not only the main characters, but the supporting characters as well. I really wish we got more of Oscar, but Juniper did a tremendous job and I hope we get to hear more of both of them in the next book.
If you like a forced proximity dystopian fantasy with political intrigue that is a slow burn with meddling gods and morally grey characters, I would highly recommend an immersive read with a physical book along with the audio. Just be prepared for a cliffhanger…until the Fall, when we will get more answers. I simply cannot wait!
“We followed your rules. We stayed in our territory. We kept your secrets and swallowed your lies and pretended this cage was a home.”
I’m not always a romantasy book reader, but when I saw the premise of Isle of Wrath by Claire Contreras, I knew it would be something that would intrigue me. Magic, Curses, a forgotten prophecy and an FMC that goes to battle for those she loves? I’m in!
From the cover to the included map and the explanation guide, I felt like I started off strongly with being able to enjoy this fantasy world with just enough information and backstory of the world we were about to dive into. The story itself was easy to follow along (which isn’t always the case for me when it comes to fantasy books) and was fascinating. I loved the concept and how strong of a character Ada was. This is not only her story of saving her brother, but also discovering who she is. And how much power she truly holds. Then there’s the case of Malachi. He is definitely that morally grey MMC that you get frustrated with while also being very intrigued by him. He and Ada have that electric tension vibrating right off the page. That slow burn, forced proximity tension is explosive. That aspect is even more evident when you get to the listen to the audiobook, which I highly recommend. Juniper and Oscar Reyes’ performances elevated my experience of the story with their emotional grasp on not only the main characters, but the supporting characters as well. I really wish we got more of Oscar, but Juniper did a tremendous job and I hope we get to hear more of both of them in the next book.
If you like a forced proximity dystopian fantasy with political intrigue that is a slow burn with meddling gods and morally grey characters, I would highly recommend an immersive read with a physical book along with the audio. Just be prepared for a cliffhanger…until the Fall, when we will get more answers. I simply cannot wait!
“We followed your rules. We stayed in our territory. We kept your secrets and swallowed your lies and pretended this cage was a home.”
April 20, 2026
I wasn't sure what I was expecting when starting this book, but I was sucked in, that's for sure. Isle of Wrath starts with a bang. Ada Acavedo, our FMC, has spent years hiding her gift of being a healer. In the city of Lunaris, people trade their memories for asylum. They are safe, but they don't remember their families, their homeland, or the curse that keeps them bound behind The Shroud (a wall of clouded darkness that no one really understands). They are to keep their heads down and follow the rules. However, there is a forgotten prophecy, and a curse has been on the people for 300 years. Ada's brother, Jordi, has been researching information on their land and the prophecy/curse. Soon after the book opens, he is struck by a poison arrow. Ada breaks all the rules, uses her healing magic, and tries to save his life. She strikes a deal with the goddess of death to save him. When Malachi Bain shows up to collect her debt to the goddess, the story really gets interesting.
I loved this story. When Ada met with the goddess of death, and they struck their bargain, I was entranced throughout the whole scene. I was terrified for Ada because of what she may have to do to save her brother. And to be honest, I was a little scared of that fire goddess! It made me think of a similar situation in The Starving Saints (IYKYK).
Malachi's addition to the story was fun. Turns out the goddess of death bound Ada and Malachi together. Like soul-bound. The physical attraction between these two was there from day one. Their relationship deepens throughout the book into something more than physical. I really didn't know this book was going to be the first in a series, so it ends on a cliffhanger. If that's an issue for you, I suggest you wait to read this one until closer to the time the sequel comes out.
Let's talk about the side characters! I absolutely loved the girlfriend group in this book. They were there for each other. I felt that Ada could've asked anything of her girlfriends, and they would've moved heaven and earth for her. Now that is the Girl Posse you need!
Overall, I rated the book 4 out of 5 stars. There was just something lovely and entrancing about the book and the characters that kept me reading. Thank you to @valentinepr and the author for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
I loved this story. When Ada met with the goddess of death, and they struck their bargain, I was entranced throughout the whole scene. I was terrified for Ada because of what she may have to do to save her brother. And to be honest, I was a little scared of that fire goddess! It made me think of a similar situation in The Starving Saints (IYKYK).
Malachi's addition to the story was fun. Turns out the goddess of death bound Ada and Malachi together. Like soul-bound. The physical attraction between these two was there from day one. Their relationship deepens throughout the book into something more than physical. I really didn't know this book was going to be the first in a series, so it ends on a cliffhanger. If that's an issue for you, I suggest you wait to read this one until closer to the time the sequel comes out.
Let's talk about the side characters! I absolutely loved the girlfriend group in this book. They were there for each other. I felt that Ada could've asked anything of her girlfriends, and they would've moved heaven and earth for her. Now that is the Girl Posse you need!
Overall, I rated the book 4 out of 5 stars. There was just something lovely and entrancing about the book and the characters that kept me reading. Thank you to @valentinepr and the author for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
May 4, 2026
The premise of this book sounded so good and I was really excited to pick it up. I wanted to love it so bad but it fell short for me.
One of the things I struggle with most that has kept me from diving too heavily into fantasy is when the book contains too many info dumps. There were so many instances in this book where the characters were having conversations and dropping huge amounts of lore on us all at once. It was honestly too much to keep up with and I found myself losing interest because I wanted more story and advancing plot. There were so many side characters and back story and magical lore that just kept coming.
I did enjoy the romance element and felt that the two main characters had fantastic chemistry. This is a slow burn so expect a lot of tension and almost moments but when the spice hits it is worth the wait.
The narrator also did a fantastic job bringing this story to life and even when the book was dragging in parts she did a good job trying to keep the story alive.
All that being said, the last 25% of the book did hook me back in so I will stick around for book 2 and hope that it’s more adventure driven than book one.
One of the things I struggle with most that has kept me from diving too heavily into fantasy is when the book contains too many info dumps. There were so many instances in this book where the characters were having conversations and dropping huge amounts of lore on us all at once. It was honestly too much to keep up with and I found myself losing interest because I wanted more story and advancing plot. There were so many side characters and back story and magical lore that just kept coming.
I did enjoy the romance element and felt that the two main characters had fantastic chemistry. This is a slow burn so expect a lot of tension and almost moments but when the spice hits it is worth the wait.
The narrator also did a fantastic job bringing this story to life and even when the book was dragging in parts she did a good job trying to keep the story alive.
All that being said, the last 25% of the book did hook me back in so I will stick around for book 2 and hope that it’s more adventure driven than book one.
April 16, 2026
Ada & Malachi’s story is here! I thought the overall premise was unique: would you give up all your memories for asylum? That’s exactly what residents of Lunaris have done. Ada has had to hide her power and when her twin is hurt ends up making a deal with a goddess…and that’s how she found herself with Malachi trying to solve the mystery of the curse.
This book is a slow burn…until it’s not and then wow it really picks up. There are some interesting plot twists and secrets and Ada and Mal find themselves in danger. No spoilers but THAT ENDING 👀
Can’t wait for the next book!
“In the end, nothing will matter, except everything.”
✨What To Expect:
⚔️ Fantasy romance
❤️🔥 Forced proximity
🔥 Slooow burn
⚡️ Meddling gods
👀 Secrets
🩶 Morally Gray Characters
🗝️ Soul bound by a bargain
🖤 Touch Her & 💀
🎭 Hidden Identities
🚫 Forbidden magic
🔮 Reluctant Allies
💥 All the tension!!!
This book is a slow burn…until it’s not and then wow it really picks up. There are some interesting plot twists and secrets and Ada and Mal find themselves in danger. No spoilers but THAT ENDING 👀
Can’t wait for the next book!
“In the end, nothing will matter, except everything.”
✨What To Expect:
⚔️ Fantasy romance
❤️🔥 Forced proximity
🔥 Slooow burn
⚡️ Meddling gods
👀 Secrets
🩶 Morally Gray Characters
🗝️ Soul bound by a bargain
🖤 Touch Her & 💀
🎭 Hidden Identities
🚫 Forbidden magic
🔮 Reluctant Allies
💥 All the tension!!!
April 30, 2026
This book isn’t big on character- and world-building, but it’s still really easy to get into and keeps you engaged the whole time. Malachi is a really interesting character. The moment he appears, the story becomes more exciting.. especially his scenes with Ada. I enjoyed watching their interactions. Ada is just as strong. She doesn’t give up, especially when it comes to protecting the people she cares about and loves. That ending though… total cliffhanger. Now I just want to jump straight into book two.
Thank you to the author and Valentine PR for this eARC.
Thank you to the author and Valentine PR for this eARC.
April 22, 2026
A promising start to an intriguing and fascinating fantasy series.
So many secrets.
So much magic.
A bond forged that will test the fmc and mmc.
The ending is somewhat of a cliffhanger that will leave you excited for what's to come.
So many secrets.
So much magic.
A bond forged that will test the fmc and mmc.
The ending is somewhat of a cliffhanger that will leave you excited for what's to come.
April 9, 2026
Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
biiiiiitttttccccchhhhhhhhhh
I need book 2 ASAP.
biiiiiitttttccccchhhhhhhhhh
I need book 2 ASAP.
April 14, 2026
The Isle of Wrath by Claire Contreras is the first book in her new gothic romantasy series. All set in Lunaris, a kingdom living under a 300 year old curse which resulted in the Shroud, a wall of darkness separating them from the other kingdoms. The author has created an intricate world of hidden gifts and magical abilities, morally grey characters and meddling gods, stolen memories and bargains, ancient prophecies and legends, secrets and lies, loyalty and betrayal. This is also a slow burn romance between Ada and Malachi which develops as revelations turn her life upside down. Not only does Ada find herself having to save her brother’s life but she is then tasked with lifting the curse while being bonded to one of the gods warriors.
"In the end, nothing will matter, except everything.”
Lunaris is divided into two with the Veritas Order which is run by the three Sages and the Lunarian Council. People come to Lunaris looking for safety and a new life but in return they must sacrifice their memories to the Council in exchange for an amulet which protects them. The mention of gods, powers and magic is forbidden. To keep the peace between the Sages of Veritas and the Council, they signed the Veritas treaty years ago but this starts to break down as the story unfolds. It turns out that nothing in Lunaris is what it seems and the Sages are steeped in secrecy, while the council has been built on lies.
Ada Temperance Acevedo arrived in Lunaris aged five along with her twin brother Jordan and a group of other orphaned children. Ada, Jordi and five others were chosen by the Sages to be kept at the Veritas Estate. They were mentored and when their gifts manifested, they were kept hidden. Ada grew up to be an empath so felt everyones grief, loss and pain, she also became a flame summoner and a healer. Jordi became a mapmaker but was intrigued by the ancient tales he uncovered while trying to find out more about the Shroud. Things change dramatically for Ada when Jordi’s curiosity gets the better of him and she has to make a decision which could have dire consequences. She makes a bargain with one of the goddess but what price will she end up paying for her help.
Malachi is a warrior for the gods and has been trying to lift the curse for years. However, the goddess has other plans for him this time and has sent him to Lunaris to collect Ada’s debt. He never expects to develop feelings for her and can’t believe the goddess has bound them together. He believes Ada is the person he was always meant to find and the key to ending it all so hopes they can break the curse together. He becomes very protective of her and the touch her and die vibes radiate off him. They have some funny banter and I loved their connection and how they could sense each other.
The mystery and suspense builds quickly and lots of events happen. We meet many secondary characters and creatures. There is political intrigue and plot twists as secrets are exposed. It is very fast paced so I did find parts hard to follow and was confused at times trying to work out what was happening. We learn more about Ada, Malachi and find out who actually cursed the kingdom and why. Ada starts to question all she thought she knew as she explains things to Mal. How much do the Sages know, have they protected the seven or just kept things from them. What else will be revealed as she tries to save Jordi. If they complete their task what will the future bring and can they still be together after her debt is paid.
The story builds to a climatic end with some amazing and shocking scenes. The welcoming ceremony brings chaos and terrible consequences for them all. There are accusations and threats so can Ada and Malachi keep everyone safe and if not, who will survive. Who can help them as ancient prophesies and new visions start to come true. What will they need to sacrifice for a successful outcome. The great cliffhanger left me excited for the next book.
"In the end, nothing will matter, except everything.”
Lunaris is divided into two with the Veritas Order which is run by the three Sages and the Lunarian Council. People come to Lunaris looking for safety and a new life but in return they must sacrifice their memories to the Council in exchange for an amulet which protects them. The mention of gods, powers and magic is forbidden. To keep the peace between the Sages of Veritas and the Council, they signed the Veritas treaty years ago but this starts to break down as the story unfolds. It turns out that nothing in Lunaris is what it seems and the Sages are steeped in secrecy, while the council has been built on lies.
Ada Temperance Acevedo arrived in Lunaris aged five along with her twin brother Jordan and a group of other orphaned children. Ada, Jordi and five others were chosen by the Sages to be kept at the Veritas Estate. They were mentored and when their gifts manifested, they were kept hidden. Ada grew up to be an empath so felt everyones grief, loss and pain, she also became a flame summoner and a healer. Jordi became a mapmaker but was intrigued by the ancient tales he uncovered while trying to find out more about the Shroud. Things change dramatically for Ada when Jordi’s curiosity gets the better of him and she has to make a decision which could have dire consequences. She makes a bargain with one of the goddess but what price will she end up paying for her help.
Malachi is a warrior for the gods and has been trying to lift the curse for years. However, the goddess has other plans for him this time and has sent him to Lunaris to collect Ada’s debt. He never expects to develop feelings for her and can’t believe the goddess has bound them together. He believes Ada is the person he was always meant to find and the key to ending it all so hopes they can break the curse together. He becomes very protective of her and the touch her and die vibes radiate off him. They have some funny banter and I loved their connection and how they could sense each other.
The mystery and suspense builds quickly and lots of events happen. We meet many secondary characters and creatures. There is political intrigue and plot twists as secrets are exposed. It is very fast paced so I did find parts hard to follow and was confused at times trying to work out what was happening. We learn more about Ada, Malachi and find out who actually cursed the kingdom and why. Ada starts to question all she thought she knew as she explains things to Mal. How much do the Sages know, have they protected the seven or just kept things from them. What else will be revealed as she tries to save Jordi. If they complete their task what will the future bring and can they still be together after her debt is paid.
The story builds to a climatic end with some amazing and shocking scenes. The welcoming ceremony brings chaos and terrible consequences for them all. There are accusations and threats so can Ada and Malachi keep everyone safe and if not, who will survive. Who can help them as ancient prophesies and new visions start to come true. What will they need to sacrifice for a successful outcome. The great cliffhanger left me excited for the next book.
April 14, 2026
4.25 ⭐️
A forgotten prophecy.
A 300-year-old curse.
And two people bound by a goddess to break it… if the bond doesn't break them first.
Isle of Wrath is Claire Contreras fantasy romance debut and I really think she knocked it out of the park!! I was hooked on this story from the get go as it kicks off with a lot of action and immediately immerses you in Ada’s story.
Ada lives in Veritas - a unique town controlled by The Sages. The most interesting thing about Veritas is that everyone arrives from elsewhere and trades their memories for protection. It’s a dystopian-like environment: you cannot choose who you marry, you cannot have children and you cannot remember your past.
The island of Lunaria where Veritas is located has been cursed and is covered by “the shroud” - an intense fog that barely allows in any sunlight and makes seeing the moon and stars impossible. After Ada makes a bargain with a goddess to save her brother, a rugged warrior shows up to collect the goddesses debt. In turn Ada must help the warrior, Malakai Bain, break the curse.
I truly enjoyed Ada’s story as she fights to save her loved ones and the residents of Lunaria. There is so much action throughout the entire book but starting around the halfway mark I could not put the book down, I just had to know what would happen next.
The journey is a wild one and as Ada and Malakai are forced to spend time together their chemistry starts to evolve and oooooof things get delicious between these two!! Malakai is totally the “touch her and die” type and I am here for it.
I only wish there had been a bit more background into the magic and a bit more world building. Overall I thought the story was great and I was able to follow along but I had a lot of questions pop up that I couldn’t answer based on the level of information we were given. I’m hoping book 2 expands on this a bit more.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. You’ve got meddling gods, closed proximity, magic and an MMC who would burn the world down for his girl. I can’t wait to read book 2 and see how this story continues because THAT ENDING!!!! Ahhhhh!! I’m still reeling.
The atmosphere in Veritas, the curse and the overall vibe of the story reminded me of The Shepherd King duology. The vibes were a 10 out of 10. If you enjoy fantasy romance with a gothic-like-cursed-twist then you’ve got to read Isle of Wrath!
Thank you to Claire Contreras and Valentine PR for the chance to read Isle of Wrath prior to its release.
A forgotten prophecy.
A 300-year-old curse.
And two people bound by a goddess to break it… if the bond doesn't break them first.
Isle of Wrath is Claire Contreras fantasy romance debut and I really think she knocked it out of the park!! I was hooked on this story from the get go as it kicks off with a lot of action and immediately immerses you in Ada’s story.
Ada lives in Veritas - a unique town controlled by The Sages. The most interesting thing about Veritas is that everyone arrives from elsewhere and trades their memories for protection. It’s a dystopian-like environment: you cannot choose who you marry, you cannot have children and you cannot remember your past.
The island of Lunaria where Veritas is located has been cursed and is covered by “the shroud” - an intense fog that barely allows in any sunlight and makes seeing the moon and stars impossible. After Ada makes a bargain with a goddess to save her brother, a rugged warrior shows up to collect the goddesses debt. In turn Ada must help the warrior, Malakai Bain, break the curse.
I truly enjoyed Ada’s story as she fights to save her loved ones and the residents of Lunaria. There is so much action throughout the entire book but starting around the halfway mark I could not put the book down, I just had to know what would happen next.
The journey is a wild one and as Ada and Malakai are forced to spend time together their chemistry starts to evolve and oooooof things get delicious between these two!! Malakai is totally the “touch her and die” type and I am here for it.
I only wish there had been a bit more background into the magic and a bit more world building. Overall I thought the story was great and I was able to follow along but I had a lot of questions pop up that I couldn’t answer based on the level of information we were given. I’m hoping book 2 expands on this a bit more.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. You’ve got meddling gods, closed proximity, magic and an MMC who would burn the world down for his girl. I can’t wait to read book 2 and see how this story continues because THAT ENDING!!!! Ahhhhh!! I’m still reeling.
The atmosphere in Veritas, the curse and the overall vibe of the story reminded me of The Shepherd King duology. The vibes were a 10 out of 10. If you enjoy fantasy romance with a gothic-like-cursed-twist then you’ve got to read Isle of Wrath!
Thank you to Claire Contreras and Valentine PR for the chance to read Isle of Wrath prior to its release.
April 1, 2026
2.5 Stars ⭐️⭐️💫
Isle of Wrath by Claire Contreras tells the story of Lunaris, a nation built on lies, where no resident can remember their past. In a world where you exchange your memories in return for asylum, can you be sure you’re truly protected, or do erased memories make you more susceptible to the lies they’ll tell you?
The concept of this book really intrigued me and was what led me to apply for this ARC. Unfortunately the story fell short and felt underdeveloped to me.
The world building itself was very shallow and non-expansive. One of my favorite storytelling devices is when the author leads us to learn about the world and its history as we read, and often the history leads to bigger revelations in the story that add shock value to the plot. Claire Contreras attempted to do this, however it left a lot of confusion, potholes, and uncertainty for myself as the reader.
There were often times when I felt like I should’ve been more invested in what was being said, but I honestly had no clue what any of it meant. A solid chunk in the middle of the book th main characters are learning that their whole lives had been a lie and the city they lived in was not at all what it seemed. These revelation felt rushed, and underclimactic, and it should have taken more time for the characters to get to these answers. When these revelation occurred, I found myself having to go back and attempt to understand what it all meant, and realized I didn’t have all of the answers still even towards the end of the book.
There were a lot of hard hitting topics brought up during the plot, such as slavery, assault, and torture. However these themes felt very brushed over, and while they were deemed serious, they almost seemed irrelevant to the development of the story.
The characters themselves felt flat and underdeveloped as well. Ada, the main character herself, carries so much grief and love and emotion. The depth of her emotion had so much potential, especially due to her powers as an empath. But when it came time to develop her character, we only saw the same emotions of betrayal over and over again because of her childhood. It was hard for me to believe she even loved her brother because of how few times he was mentioned from her point of view. Furthermore, she fell in love with a man in under 20 pages, and then just fully rejected it for no reason at all for the next 100. We were just told to accept that her feelings could be shared with Malachi, the main male character, though a “bond” with little to no further explanation.
The relationships in this book feel rushed. There were may excellently written scenes where the Malachi said beautifully though out proclamations to Ada, but I felt no emotional reaction at all because I felt like we hadn’t even seen them interact outside of maybe three times? At one point Mal mentions that “every time they’re in a room together he finds himself making sure he’s sat in the chair next to her”. However they had literally never been in a situation like that except for maybe once. It felt like the author wanted to write a romance in the fantays but didn’t know how to combin the two, so at times it felt like two different stories.
Overall the book felt rushed. The story itself was entertaining and I did enjoy what I connected with and understood. The originality of this story was refreshing, I just would have loved to see more of the world and the characters. It was an unfortunate let down for me finishing the book on a cliffhanger, when I still didn’t really connect with the book to begin with. Overall if you want a fast paced, basic fantasy this book could be for you, otherwise I’d reccomend skipping out on this read.
Isle of Wrath by Claire Contreras tells the story of Lunaris, a nation built on lies, where no resident can remember their past. In a world where you exchange your memories in return for asylum, can you be sure you’re truly protected, or do erased memories make you more susceptible to the lies they’ll tell you?
The concept of this book really intrigued me and was what led me to apply for this ARC. Unfortunately the story fell short and felt underdeveloped to me.
The world building itself was very shallow and non-expansive. One of my favorite storytelling devices is when the author leads us to learn about the world and its history as we read, and often the history leads to bigger revelations in the story that add shock value to the plot. Claire Contreras attempted to do this, however it left a lot of confusion, potholes, and uncertainty for myself as the reader.
There were often times when I felt like I should’ve been more invested in what was being said, but I honestly had no clue what any of it meant. A solid chunk in the middle of the book th main characters are learning that their whole lives had been a lie and the city they lived in was not at all what it seemed. These revelation felt rushed, and underclimactic, and it should have taken more time for the characters to get to these answers. When these revelation occurred, I found myself having to go back and attempt to understand what it all meant, and realized I didn’t have all of the answers still even towards the end of the book.
There were a lot of hard hitting topics brought up during the plot, such as slavery, assault, and torture. However these themes felt very brushed over, and while they were deemed serious, they almost seemed irrelevant to the development of the story.
The characters themselves felt flat and underdeveloped as well. Ada, the main character herself, carries so much grief and love and emotion. The depth of her emotion had so much potential, especially due to her powers as an empath. But when it came time to develop her character, we only saw the same emotions of betrayal over and over again because of her childhood. It was hard for me to believe she even loved her brother because of how few times he was mentioned from her point of view. Furthermore, she fell in love with a man in under 20 pages, and then just fully rejected it for no reason at all for the next 100. We were just told to accept that her feelings could be shared with Malachi, the main male character, though a “bond” with little to no further explanation.
The relationships in this book feel rushed. There were may excellently written scenes where the Malachi said beautifully though out proclamations to Ada, but I felt no emotional reaction at all because I felt like we hadn’t even seen them interact outside of maybe three times? At one point Mal mentions that “every time they’re in a room together he finds himself making sure he’s sat in the chair next to her”. However they had literally never been in a situation like that except for maybe once. It felt like the author wanted to write a romance in the fantays but didn’t know how to combin the two, so at times it felt like two different stories.
Overall the book felt rushed. The story itself was entertaining and I did enjoy what I connected with and understood. The originality of this story was refreshing, I just would have loved to see more of the world and the characters. It was an unfortunate let down for me finishing the book on a cliffhanger, when I still didn’t really connect with the book to begin with. Overall if you want a fast paced, basic fantasy this book could be for you, otherwise I’d reccomend skipping out on this read.
April 9, 2026
✨“You could have died on that bridge.” His voice is low, rough, barely controlled.
“Do you understand that? Do you understand that when I heard you screaming, I felt like I was going to lose my fcking mind?”
Isle of Wrath is Available NOW! KU, Audio, Paperback
✨ Claire Contreras has entered her fantasy romance era with Isle of Wrath and my Gods!! My heart has been absolutely consumed with this INCREDIBLE and unique world!
💙I was immediately invested in the prophecy, lore,the circumstances and experiences of the characters and their connection formed. I felt absolutely transported with this story!
✨Isle of Wrath delivered everything I don’t know my heart needed at the exact time! The slow burn, the ABSOLUTE SWOON, the feet kicks, SCREAMING for the touch her ☠️, emotional depth and complexity, and all the twist and turns!
💙Thankful for every detail of this world, and the way this author allows us to experience every moment with the characters, all of the FEELS!! This has settled into my heart 🖤🖤
✨The audiobook for Isle of Wrath released today as well and I started right back at the first page and have been devouring!
💙Both of these narrations are INCREDIBLE and I’ve been completely immersed in their atmospheric and FANTASTIC narration performances!! Juniper Reyes and Oscar Reyes! 🎧📖
✨My most sincere and genuine thank you to Claire Contreras and @teamclairecontreras for the opportunity to fall in love with these characters and for this gorgeous package, physical copy, and ebook copy of Isle of Wrath.
…And somewhere deep in my chest, in the place where the bond has taken root, I feel a flicker of something warm. I tell myself it’s anger. I almost believe it.
Updated: 👆🏽
I’ve been screaming Claire Contreras is an auto buy| read | listen author for me! And venturing into the elements of fantasy romance with Isle of Wrath has been everything!! This is why she is one of my most favorite authors!! Available now on audio, ebook, and paperback!! FRTC
“Do you understand that? Do you understand that when I heard you screaming, I felt like I was going to lose my fcking mind?”
Isle of Wrath is Available NOW! KU, Audio, Paperback
✨ Claire Contreras has entered her fantasy romance era with Isle of Wrath and my Gods!! My heart has been absolutely consumed with this INCREDIBLE and unique world!
💙I was immediately invested in the prophecy, lore,the circumstances and experiences of the characters and their connection formed. I felt absolutely transported with this story!
✨Isle of Wrath delivered everything I don’t know my heart needed at the exact time! The slow burn, the ABSOLUTE SWOON, the feet kicks, SCREAMING for the touch her ☠️, emotional depth and complexity, and all the twist and turns!
💙Thankful for every detail of this world, and the way this author allows us to experience every moment with the characters, all of the FEELS!! This has settled into my heart 🖤🖤
✨The audiobook for Isle of Wrath released today as well and I started right back at the first page and have been devouring!
💙Both of these narrations are INCREDIBLE and I’ve been completely immersed in their atmospheric and FANTASTIC narration performances!! Juniper Reyes and Oscar Reyes! 🎧📖
✨My most sincere and genuine thank you to Claire Contreras and @teamclairecontreras for the opportunity to fall in love with these characters and for this gorgeous package, physical copy, and ebook copy of Isle of Wrath.
…And somewhere deep in my chest, in the place where the bond has taken root, I feel a flicker of something warm. I tell myself it’s anger. I almost believe it.
Updated: 👆🏽
I’ve been screaming Claire Contreras is an auto buy| read | listen author for me! And venturing into the elements of fantasy romance with Isle of Wrath has been everything!! This is why she is one of my most favorite authors!! Available now on audio, ebook, and paperback!! FRTC
April 21, 2026
Dystopian romantasy
Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC of this book. Narrators Juniper Reyes and Oscar Reyes did an amazing job at bringing these character, and the intricacies of this new world, to life.
This is a book you definitely can't go into blind. There are so many intricate details woven into this new fantasy world, and I love how this author delivered a story that oozed devotion, survival, and spoke to the power of love.
"I stopped wanting things I couldn't have a long time ago. But if I let myself wish for something now, it would be him."
Ada's existence is wrought with too much uncertainty. She's lived with her brother in Lunaris since she was a child. She knows that she has powers, but she's been led to believe that hiding them is the only right way to co-exist with the other people living in Lunaris. One night, she's forced to make a decision to save her brother's life, and enters into an agreement with a goddess. When the goddess sends a warrior named Malachi to collect her debt, Ada's not quite sure what she's gotten herself into.
This book follows Ada and Malachi as they navigate this cool world that this author has created. Both Ada and Malachi are strong in their own ways. Ada's powers speak of unimaginable hidden strength, and Malachi's overall ability to power through any battle in both wit and physical power is astounding. They're well matched, and it doesn't take long for them to discover just how perfectly suited they are for one another. Sure, their relationship is based on a forced pairing by the goddess, and sure they're fighting evil at ever turn of the road, but the way these two click together was beautiful to read.
Fair warning, this book ends on a cliffhanger, but I guarantee you'll love it and be eagerly anticpating the next book, much like I am.
Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC of this book. Narrators Juniper Reyes and Oscar Reyes did an amazing job at bringing these character, and the intricacies of this new world, to life.
This is a book you definitely can't go into blind. There are so many intricate details woven into this new fantasy world, and I love how this author delivered a story that oozed devotion, survival, and spoke to the power of love.
"I stopped wanting things I couldn't have a long time ago. But if I let myself wish for something now, it would be him."
Ada's existence is wrought with too much uncertainty. She's lived with her brother in Lunaris since she was a child. She knows that she has powers, but she's been led to believe that hiding them is the only right way to co-exist with the other people living in Lunaris. One night, she's forced to make a decision to save her brother's life, and enters into an agreement with a goddess. When the goddess sends a warrior named Malachi to collect her debt, Ada's not quite sure what she's gotten herself into.
This book follows Ada and Malachi as they navigate this cool world that this author has created. Both Ada and Malachi are strong in their own ways. Ada's powers speak of unimaginable hidden strength, and Malachi's overall ability to power through any battle in both wit and physical power is astounding. They're well matched, and it doesn't take long for them to discover just how perfectly suited they are for one another. Sure, their relationship is based on a forced pairing by the goddess, and sure they're fighting evil at ever turn of the road, but the way these two click together was beautiful to read.
Fair warning, this book ends on a cliffhanger, but I guarantee you'll love it and be eagerly anticpating the next book, much like I am.
April 12, 2026
“History is written by whoever survives long enough to hold the pen.”
A few years ago my bookclub read Until I Get You and our entire group loved it (honestly this was a feat in itself 👀)!! So when I saw an upcoming new series by Claire Contreras I immediately knew I had to get my hands on it ASAP!
I’ll be honest, I struggled a little to keep up with the world building and the large group of characters at first. The world of Lunaris is so richly created with meddling gods, stolen memories, hidden powers, and a centuries old curse, but once I was about 30% though I was INVESTED and could not put it down! The map, explanation guide, and character name pronunciations in the beginning of the book was a great addition and made diving into this magic system so much easier to digest! The real highlight for me was Ada and Malachi! Their push and pull energy, snarky banter, and the way he couldn’t stay away from her 🤭 the slow burn was worth every agonizing page.
If you've read my reviews before, you already know I absolutely hateeeee a cliffhanger, and this ending delivered the kind of emotional damage I was not prepared for 🤪 consider yourself warned! I will be waiting very impatiently for book two!
What to expect:
🌑 Dystopian fantasy
⚔️ Soul-bound slow burn romance
🔀 Twists and turns
🐍 Morally gray characters
🌀 Meddling gods, curses, and prophecies
💀 Touch her and die energy
✨ Forbidden magic
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Isle of Wrath released last week and I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a dystopian romantasy with a unique magic system and a badass FMC!
Thank you to Claire Contreras and Valentine PR for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for my honest review!!
A few years ago my bookclub read Until I Get You and our entire group loved it (honestly this was a feat in itself 👀)!! So when I saw an upcoming new series by Claire Contreras I immediately knew I had to get my hands on it ASAP!
I’ll be honest, I struggled a little to keep up with the world building and the large group of characters at first. The world of Lunaris is so richly created with meddling gods, stolen memories, hidden powers, and a centuries old curse, but once I was about 30% though I was INVESTED and could not put it down! The map, explanation guide, and character name pronunciations in the beginning of the book was a great addition and made diving into this magic system so much easier to digest! The real highlight for me was Ada and Malachi! Their push and pull energy, snarky banter, and the way he couldn’t stay away from her 🤭 the slow burn was worth every agonizing page.
If you've read my reviews before, you already know I absolutely hateeeee a cliffhanger, and this ending delivered the kind of emotional damage I was not prepared for 🤪 consider yourself warned! I will be waiting very impatiently for book two!
What to expect:
🌑 Dystopian fantasy
⚔️ Soul-bound slow burn romance
🔀 Twists and turns
🐍 Morally gray characters
🌀 Meddling gods, curses, and prophecies
💀 Touch her and die energy
✨ Forbidden magic
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Isle of Wrath released last week and I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a dystopian romantasy with a unique magic system and a badass FMC!
Thank you to Claire Contreras and Valentine PR for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for my honest review!!
April 30, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC.
The characters did a lot of the heavy lifting here, and the world felt a bit underdeveloped, which was a pity, because I feel like it would have been REALLY interesting. There was some shocking plot twists, but I feel like they missed out on some of their impact by being related to a world that we didn't get much information about. It's kind of there, and there's some lore for sure, but a lot of the information, even the information that feels relevant, is missing. If you don't know how the world works, you won't know the implications of x revelation. Definitely agree with other reviewers that some kind of glossary would have been great. Maybe some kind of "origin myth" as a prologue to get the reader into the setting without having to infodump in the chapters. Just... something, please.
The idea was very interesting though, and I really want to read the second part. I hope that maybe the second part wouldn't feel quite as disorienting, as we've already been in this world for a while. Or maybe we finally get a glossary.
The romance between Mal and Ada felt very sudden too, and I honestly don't know how or when that happened. Like, they were bonded, but they barely really had any situations in which they could've become closer?? Suddenly they were just In Love.
This book really would have needed more editing, because the idea had potential, the world (from what I understood) was cool, there really were a lot of good things here, but sadly, the realisation wasn't optimal.
Also, can I PLEASEEEEEEEEEE get an adult book WITHOUT smut??? I'm here for the plot, not for the penis.
The characters did a lot of the heavy lifting here, and the world felt a bit underdeveloped, which was a pity, because I feel like it would have been REALLY interesting. There was some shocking plot twists, but I feel like they missed out on some of their impact by being related to a world that we didn't get much information about. It's kind of there, and there's some lore for sure, but a lot of the information, even the information that feels relevant, is missing. If you don't know how the world works, you won't know the implications of x revelation. Definitely agree with other reviewers that some kind of glossary would have been great. Maybe some kind of "origin myth" as a prologue to get the reader into the setting without having to infodump in the chapters. Just... something, please.
The idea was very interesting though, and I really want to read the second part. I hope that maybe the second part wouldn't feel quite as disorienting, as we've already been in this world for a while. Or maybe we finally get a glossary.
The romance between Mal and Ada felt very sudden too, and I honestly don't know how or when that happened. Like, they were bonded, but they barely really had any situations in which they could've become closer?? Suddenly they were just In Love.
This book really would have needed more editing, because the idea had potential, the world (from what I understood) was cool, there really were a lot of good things here, but sadly, the realisation wasn't optimal.
Also, can I PLEASEEEEEEEEEE get an adult book WITHOUT smut??? I'm here for the plot, not for the penis.
April 15, 2026
Isle of Wrath by Claire Contreras
3 ⭐️ Review
This one had so much potential for me, but it just didn’t fully land the way I wanted it to.
The premise? Honestly, so good. A cursed island, memory trading, a goddess deal, and a soul bond with a broody warrior?? I was IN. That setup had everything I love in a fantasy romance.
But I struggled in the beginning there’s a lot of names, rules, and concepts thrown at you really fast, and I felt like I was playing catch-up instead of getting immersed. I kept waiting for the world to fully click into place, and it just never quite did for me.
The world itself felt really interesting, I just wish we had gotten more of it. More depth, more explanation, more time to breathe in it. Because the bones of something amazing are absolutely there.
The pacing also felt a little uneven. Some parts moved quickly while others dragged, which made it harder for me to stay fully invested in the story and the emotional moments.
That said I did enjoy the overall story and the concept. There’s a lot here that works, and I can definitely see other readers loving this more than I did. It just felt like the execution didn’t quite match how strong the idea was.
🎧 Audiobook Note:
The audiobook was really well done. The narrator did an amazing job bringing the story to life, and it made for such an immersive listening experience. Honestly, it helped me stay engaged even when I was feeling a little lost in the world building.
Overall: Great concept, intriguing world, but needed more clarity and smoother pacing to really hit.
3 ⭐️ Review
This one had so much potential for me, but it just didn’t fully land the way I wanted it to.
The premise? Honestly, so good. A cursed island, memory trading, a goddess deal, and a soul bond with a broody warrior?? I was IN. That setup had everything I love in a fantasy romance.
But I struggled in the beginning there’s a lot of names, rules, and concepts thrown at you really fast, and I felt like I was playing catch-up instead of getting immersed. I kept waiting for the world to fully click into place, and it just never quite did for me.
The world itself felt really interesting, I just wish we had gotten more of it. More depth, more explanation, more time to breathe in it. Because the bones of something amazing are absolutely there.
The pacing also felt a little uneven. Some parts moved quickly while others dragged, which made it harder for me to stay fully invested in the story and the emotional moments.
That said I did enjoy the overall story and the concept. There’s a lot here that works, and I can definitely see other readers loving this more than I did. It just felt like the execution didn’t quite match how strong the idea was.
🎧 Audiobook Note:
The audiobook was really well done. The narrator did an amazing job bringing the story to life, and it made for such an immersive listening experience. Honestly, it helped me stay engaged even when I was feeling a little lost in the world building.
Overall: Great concept, intriguing world, but needed more clarity and smoother pacing to really hit.
April 29, 2026
Thank you to the NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC of Isle of Wrath by Claire Contreras! Also Claire and her team for the ARC!
The book and audiobook are available now!
Rating: 3/5
“Ada Acevedo bargains with a goddess to save her brother and becomes soul-bound to a warrior named Malachi. Together, they must break a 300-year-old curse in the city of Lunaris.”
I switched between the audiobook and e-book for this one, but I definitely leaned more toward the audiobook. The dual narration was done really well and helped carry the story, especially during moments where I felt less connected to what was happening on the page.
Overall, this one felt rushed. There’s a lot going on with gods, curses, and soul bonds; but not enough time spent really building up the characters. I had a hard time connecting to Ada and Malachi, and the side characters especially felt underdeveloped and sometimes hard to follow.
The world-building was extensive, but also a bit confusing. It felt like a lot of information was thrown in quickly without enough grounding, so instead of feeling immersive, it was sometimes overwhelming.
The romance didn’t fully land for me either. The mated bond felt like it should have had a lot of emotional weight, but it fell a bit flat. It leaned more toward insta-lust than a true slow burn, which made it harder to really invest in their connection.
The ending definitely had that stomach dropping moment, but at the same time, it felt a little predictable.
This had a really interesting premise and I can see the potential, especially if you like dystopian romance with fated bonds, but it didn’t fully come together for me.
The book and audiobook are available now!
Rating: 3/5
“Ada Acevedo bargains with a goddess to save her brother and becomes soul-bound to a warrior named Malachi. Together, they must break a 300-year-old curse in the city of Lunaris.”
I switched between the audiobook and e-book for this one, but I definitely leaned more toward the audiobook. The dual narration was done really well and helped carry the story, especially during moments where I felt less connected to what was happening on the page.
Overall, this one felt rushed. There’s a lot going on with gods, curses, and soul bonds; but not enough time spent really building up the characters. I had a hard time connecting to Ada and Malachi, and the side characters especially felt underdeveloped and sometimes hard to follow.
The world-building was extensive, but also a bit confusing. It felt like a lot of information was thrown in quickly without enough grounding, so instead of feeling immersive, it was sometimes overwhelming.
The romance didn’t fully land for me either. The mated bond felt like it should have had a lot of emotional weight, but it fell a bit flat. It leaned more toward insta-lust than a true slow burn, which made it harder to really invest in their connection.
The ending definitely had that stomach dropping moment, but at the same time, it felt a little predictable.
This had a really interesting premise and I can see the potential, especially if you like dystopian romance with fated bonds, but it didn’t fully come together for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2026
Soul bound due to a bargain with a god and now you both have to break a 300 year old curse… say less! There is a lot of world building but once you understand everything prepare to be hooked. I loved the mystery behind the shroud and how people’s memories were taken. Plus the fact that Ada was part of seven children that were brought over with no recollection of where they came from too. Right from the start we get all this mystery and the bargain that she has to make to save her brother’s life. She was willing to do anything for him but she didn’t expect to be bonded to Mal. Then learning that they have to break the shroud and end the 300 year old curse 🤯 But oh did I love the banter between these two! And the slow build up to them finally giving into each other was SO good. I can’t wait to see what’s gonna happen next because that cliffhanger had me gasping what?!
I also did an immersive read and really enjoyed the audiobook. It’s dual narration by Juniper Reyes and Oscar Reyes. Juniper did a phenomenal job! I loved how she made everyone’s voices distinctive. And even though only one chapter is done by Oscar when I heard his voice I immediately thought this is Mal’s voice. I’m really hoping to get more of him in the next book!
Thank you to the author for the eARC and Dreamscape Media for the ALC of this book.
I also did an immersive read and really enjoyed the audiobook. It’s dual narration by Juniper Reyes and Oscar Reyes. Juniper did a phenomenal job! I loved how she made everyone’s voices distinctive. And even though only one chapter is done by Oscar when I heard his voice I immediately thought this is Mal’s voice. I’m really hoping to get more of him in the next book!
Thank you to the author for the eARC and Dreamscape Media for the ALC of this book.
April 18, 2026
4 ⭐️
Thank you dreamscape for the ALC
WHAT do you mean Isle of Wrath by Claire Contreras just casually dropped me into a cursed city where people TRADE THEIR MEMORIES like it’s a normal Tuesday??? I was unwell immediately.
This book said:
✨ trauma
✨ secrets
✨ magic
✨ “you’re bound to this morally grey man now, good luck”
AND I SAID THANK YOU???
Ada really said “I will risk it all” and boom soul-bound to Malachi, who is broody, dangerous, and emotionally constipated in the way that I, unfortunately, eat up every single time. The tension??? SICK. The slow burn??? ILLEGAL. The way they circle each other like they might kiss or kill each other at any given moment??? I was LOSING IT.
And the setting?? This creepy, memory-stealing “safe haven” that is very much NOT SAFE??? The vibes were dark, eerie, and slightly unhinged just like me while reading this at 2am.
BUT. I will say… the beginning had me a little like 🧍♀️ trying to piece things together, and a few moments could’ve hit harder emotionally. Like give me MORE pain. MORE chaos. I can take it.
Overall though?? I was hooked, stressed, and fully invested.
If you love:
✨ Soul bonds that ruin lives
✨ Morally grey men with issues
✨ Dark magic and secrets everywhere
✨ Slow burn that feels like torture (in a good way)
Yeah… you’re gonna eat this up.
Thank you dreamscape for the ALC
WHAT do you mean Isle of Wrath by Claire Contreras just casually dropped me into a cursed city where people TRADE THEIR MEMORIES like it’s a normal Tuesday??? I was unwell immediately.
This book said:
✨ trauma
✨ secrets
✨ magic
✨ “you’re bound to this morally grey man now, good luck”
AND I SAID THANK YOU???
Ada really said “I will risk it all” and boom soul-bound to Malachi, who is broody, dangerous, and emotionally constipated in the way that I, unfortunately, eat up every single time. The tension??? SICK. The slow burn??? ILLEGAL. The way they circle each other like they might kiss or kill each other at any given moment??? I was LOSING IT.
And the setting?? This creepy, memory-stealing “safe haven” that is very much NOT SAFE??? The vibes were dark, eerie, and slightly unhinged just like me while reading this at 2am.
BUT. I will say… the beginning had me a little like 🧍♀️ trying to piece things together, and a few moments could’ve hit harder emotionally. Like give me MORE pain. MORE chaos. I can take it.
Overall though?? I was hooked, stressed, and fully invested.
If you love:
✨ Soul bonds that ruin lives
✨ Morally grey men with issues
✨ Dark magic and secrets everywhere
✨ Slow burn that feels like torture (in a good way)
Yeah… you’re gonna eat this up.
April 27, 2026
Story 3.5/5
Spice 3/5
Audiobook Narration 3.5/5
Tropes: Fantasy Romance, Meddling Gods, Prophecy, Slow Burn, Secrets and Lies, Morally Grey Characters, Forced Proximity
This is the first romantic fantasy/paranormal book I have read in a while, and my second book by Claire Contreras (the first one was Until I Get You). I wasn’t really sure what to expect of this story going into it.
I felt like the story started fast, and then got really slow. There was a lot of world building that had to happen, it was a lot to process. I would have benefited from a quick reference guide text attachment with the audiobook. There was just a lot to keep track of when it came to the different locations in the realm, groups, powers, characters and rules.
I liked the dynamic of the FMC and MMC, they both had really interesting backstories and the way their stories came together was really interesting. This was very much a reluctant allies to lovers story line.
Lots of really interesting revelations came through visions, from gods/goddesses, and prophecy.
When the action really started to pick up towards the ending the story became unputdownable. I have a love hate relationship with the ending, it was so good… but there is a cliffhanger and I need more of this story!
The majority of the story is told from the FMC’s POV and narrated by the female narrator. Only the last chapter (before the epilogue) is in the MMC’s POV and is performed by the male narrator. I think the audiobook performance was very good for this style of narration.
Spice 3/5
Audiobook Narration 3.5/5
Tropes: Fantasy Romance, Meddling Gods, Prophecy, Slow Burn, Secrets and Lies, Morally Grey Characters, Forced Proximity
This is the first romantic fantasy/paranormal book I have read in a while, and my second book by Claire Contreras (the first one was Until I Get You). I wasn’t really sure what to expect of this story going into it.
I felt like the story started fast, and then got really slow. There was a lot of world building that had to happen, it was a lot to process. I would have benefited from a quick reference guide text attachment with the audiobook. There was just a lot to keep track of when it came to the different locations in the realm, groups, powers, characters and rules.
I liked the dynamic of the FMC and MMC, they both had really interesting backstories and the way their stories came together was really interesting. This was very much a reluctant allies to lovers story line.
Lots of really interesting revelations came through visions, from gods/goddesses, and prophecy.
When the action really started to pick up towards the ending the story became unputdownable. I have a love hate relationship with the ending, it was so good… but there is a cliffhanger and I need more of this story!
The majority of the story is told from the FMC’s POV and narrated by the female narrator. Only the last chapter (before the epilogue) is in the MMC’s POV and is performed by the male narrator. I think the audiobook performance was very good for this style of narration.
April 9, 2026
Isle of Wrath is a fantasy romance about a forgotten prophecy, 300 year old curse, and 2 people bound unwillingly together by a goddess.
I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style! Understanding the world building / political building was difficult to grasp at times. I wish I was able to understand what the setting looked like other than the sky. I do not mean that in a bad way! I love being able to visualize where the characters are, and it was difficult to do so. I think the romance was very sudden. The book is shorter (imo for a fantasy) so there wasn’t enough time to draw out the tension between the love interests. These are just my personal preferences, nothing against the book itself!
That said, I think the concept is incredibly unique. Despite my wishes of the things above, I did have a great time! I am so excited for book two.
Here are some tropes that sold me & I enjoyed:
🪞 hidden identities
forced proximity
🪄 curses
👑 meddling gods/goddesses
April 7, 2026
3.5 stars
I really liked the idea of this one, and honestly I think the concept was stronger than the execution. The romance was definitely my favorite part. I loved the bonded pair dynamic , it had such a fated mate vibe, and Mal being protective and completely obsessed? Say less.
The ending absolutely POPPED OFF. That cliffhanger was wild and fully guaranteed that I’ll be back for book two the second it comes out.
That being said, I struggled a bit keeping track of all the names, places, and terminology. I really think this book could have benefited from a glossary because there were times I felt a little lost. Overall, it was a good read with a lot of potential, but it didn’t quite stand out as much as I wanted it to.
I really liked the idea of this one, and honestly I think the concept was stronger than the execution. The romance was definitely my favorite part. I loved the bonded pair dynamic , it had such a fated mate vibe, and Mal being protective and completely obsessed? Say less.
The ending absolutely POPPED OFF. That cliffhanger was wild and fully guaranteed that I’ll be back for book two the second it comes out.
That being said, I struggled a bit keeping track of all the names, places, and terminology. I really think this book could have benefited from a glossary because there were times I felt a little lost. Overall, it was a good read with a lot of potential, but it didn’t quite stand out as much as I wanted it to.
April 13, 2026
I liked this book and it left me needing more.
For Book 1 it brought with it a lot of world building and characters. Sometimes it was hard to remember everyone, their roles, and which side they were on.
It started off kind of slow, then picked up as things started happening and by the end is where I was hooked. Now, I need book 2 to get answers and to see what happens to everyone.
The narration was good but with two narrators playing so many parts, I didn’t think it offered a lot of difference between characters.
Narrated by Juniper Reyes and Oscar Reyes.
Produced b Dreamscape Media
For Book 1 it brought with it a lot of world building and characters. Sometimes it was hard to remember everyone, their roles, and which side they were on.
It started off kind of slow, then picked up as things started happening and by the end is where I was hooked. Now, I need book 2 to get answers and to see what happens to everyone.
The narration was good but with two narrators playing so many parts, I didn’t think it offered a lot of difference between characters.
Narrated by Juniper Reyes and Oscar Reyes.
Produced b Dreamscape Media
April 10, 2026
This was so interesting. It took me a little while to get into it, but as soon as Malachi showed up and the snarky remarks started, I was hooked. I loved the forced proximity and the slow burn so much. Malachi’s jealousy and possessiveness had me obsessed. I also loved how far Ada was willing to go to keep her brother safe. And that ending… I need to know what happens next because the wait is going to be hard.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 323 reviews