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Inked Sap Trilogy #1
KOBRA
Centurion Davina Lachlan has never failed a mission... until now.
Bound in chains and at the mercy of the very captain she swore to outsmart, she's forced to recount every treacherous step of their treasure hunt and the looming betrayal that chased them through it all. In between trap-ridden ancient pyramids and perilous ordeals on the tallest of mountains, Captain Zephyr Kentar demands every single one of her secrets and he will settle for nothing less.
With the reality of her imminent demise hanging over her head, Davina must face that the truths she uncovered have the power to unravel her every belief, and that very captain she hates might be the only one who can give her the clarity she desperately needs.
Bound in chains and at the mercy of the very captain she swore to outsmart, she's forced to recount every treacherous step of their treasure hunt and the looming betrayal that chased them through it all. In between trap-ridden ancient pyramids and perilous ordeals on the tallest of mountains, Captain Zephyr Kentar demands every single one of her secrets and he will settle for nothing less.
With the reality of her imminent demise hanging over her head, Davina must face that the truths she uncovered have the power to unravel her every belief, and that very captain she hates might be the only one who can give her the clarity she desperately needs.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 18, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
August 18, 2026
4.5 stars rounded up
While I was doom scrolling, like you do, I came across some amazing character art and a promise of a story that mixed Tomb Raider with Indiana Jones. I immediately signed up for the arc and was thrilled to get approved for Kobra by Cris G. Wells.
This story was such a cool and immersive storytelling experience because we were placed in two timelines and left to unravel what happened. We start out at the midpoint and journey both forward in an interrogation style format and backward, filling in the blanks as to how we arrived here. The transitions were seamless and well executed.
The magic system was one of my favorite parts. It’s based around tree sap tattoos, including some outlawed forms with illegal gifts, in a world where access to these tattoos isn’t available to everyone. This creates some really interesting power dynamics as the sap is in short supply. There are two opposing sides who are forced to work together to find a hidden stash of magical sap before the rebels locate it.
Davina and Zephyr are on opposing sides investigating the whereabouts of the missing sap. Over the course of the investigation, they come across many dangerous obstacles and heated situations. This eventually leads to them starting to fall for each other despite the lack of trust.
Side note, after reading chapter 33 I reached out to the author and let her know that the tension was tensioning. She responded with sending me character art of that scene! I love all of the artwork that is placed throughout the book. It embodies the chemistry between Davina and Zephyr perfectly!
I will definitely be grabbing the next book when it comes out because that was an unexpected ending. I need to know what’s going to happen next!
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted books.
While I was doom scrolling, like you do, I came across some amazing character art and a promise of a story that mixed Tomb Raider with Indiana Jones. I immediately signed up for the arc and was thrilled to get approved for Kobra by Cris G. Wells.
This story was such a cool and immersive storytelling experience because we were placed in two timelines and left to unravel what happened. We start out at the midpoint and journey both forward in an interrogation style format and backward, filling in the blanks as to how we arrived here. The transitions were seamless and well executed.
The magic system was one of my favorite parts. It’s based around tree sap tattoos, including some outlawed forms with illegal gifts, in a world where access to these tattoos isn’t available to everyone. This creates some really interesting power dynamics as the sap is in short supply. There are two opposing sides who are forced to work together to find a hidden stash of magical sap before the rebels locate it.
Davina and Zephyr are on opposing sides investigating the whereabouts of the missing sap. Over the course of the investigation, they come across many dangerous obstacles and heated situations. This eventually leads to them starting to fall for each other despite the lack of trust.
Side note, after reading chapter 33 I reached out to the author and let her know that the tension was tensioning. She responded with sending me character art of that scene! I love all of the artwork that is placed throughout the book. It embodies the chemistry between Davina and Zephyr perfectly!
I will definitely be grabbing the next book when it comes out because that was an unexpected ending. I need to know what’s going to happen next!
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted books.
July 4, 2026
This book is a 3stars, but should have been a 4stars 🙈
I reaaaally wanted to love this book because the story itself has so much potential and oh my ✨the artwork✨ totally had me.
However there were too many shifts in both the timeline and the narrator, and truly that didn’t work for me.
I often struggled to understand when and what was happening, and had to go back to check who was narrating and in what timeline things were happening; so that made it difficult for me to fully immerse myself in the story or the romance.
Because I spent so much time trying to piece everything together, I couldn't connect with the characters as deeply as I wanted.
That being said in my mind this book would be a great movie 😁
Some fast facts about Kobra you may find yourself liking :
🐍Strong world building
Mystery investigation
😏Enemies-to-lovers to enemies to lovers…..
🌸Feminine rage
✨He falls first and hard
🔥They’re like fire together
Thank you so much for this opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions are my own, so please be kind.
I reaaaally wanted to love this book because the story itself has so much potential and oh my ✨the artwork✨ totally had me.
However there were too many shifts in both the timeline and the narrator, and truly that didn’t work for me.
I often struggled to understand when and what was happening, and had to go back to check who was narrating and in what timeline things were happening; so that made it difficult for me to fully immerse myself in the story or the romance.
Because I spent so much time trying to piece everything together, I couldn't connect with the characters as deeply as I wanted.
That being said in my mind this book would be a great movie 😁
Some fast facts about Kobra you may find yourself liking :
🐍Strong world building
Mystery investigation
😏Enemies-to-lovers to enemies to lovers…..
🌸Feminine rage
✨He falls first and hard
🔥They’re like fire together
Thank you so much for this opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions are my own, so please be kind.
August 23, 2026
I LOVED THIS. 🐍🤎
Reluctant allies to reluctant enemies, on an adventurous treasure hunt, with Tomb Raider x The Mummy vibes.
His secrets have secrets.
Her secrets have secrets.
They are rival emissaries sent to collaborate as allies after the same common goal on paper, but with a different set of commands from their respective sides unbeknownst to each other.
Who will betray who?
YUP. I ATE IT UP.
I was never not engaged with the story, I LOVE a dual timeline and dual povs, I know it’s not for many but my Capricorn soul loves stimulation like that in my brain, when something tries to keep me confused and wanting to find out more, figuring out things, the flashbacks and seeing the two perspectives specially when fuck, I won’t spoil but I love reading [redacted].
And the tattoo based magic system with an anatomical connection? I’m OBSESSED.🤎
Right from the first pages, before even chapter 1, I could already tell this was going to feel very unique to me when it started off with the anatomy map and guide for the tattoo magic system. Had me geeking out.
And then the official decree on their usage and prohibition. Yea, I was sat for the political discourse. I LOCKED TF IN.
Our main couple is so cute they even have wholesome nicknames for each other. He calls her a menace. She calls him a glorified babysitter. ✨
Zephyr, our 30 year old broody and arrogant captain, who wears a slutty strappy vest, is willing to offer body heat, self isolates, who reluctantly becomes obsessed with her, but feels bound to his duty and responsibility, but her rage keeps turning him on, and her brilliant mind testing him.
AND FUCK ME IS HE A TALKER! AND A GOOD ONE AT THAT! THE BASTARD. I WAS PANTING. Because not him reminding her that they’re enemies mid [redacted specific debauchery] and then growl-whispering into her ear “But don’t worry, sweetheart. It’ll be our secret. Only we will know that you gave yourself to me unbidden.” 👁👄👁 yea I 🦋
Not to mention he kept such a neat and organized desk! My OCD Capricorn ass? WET.
Now Davina, our 25 year old too smart and cunning for her own good menace of a hunter. I love when our fmc is already a baddie. She was raised into a weapon. She has never failed in a mission and will follow her commands no matter what, but now she is at war with herself and with the enemy who keeps saving her.
‘But one of the few things I could be certain of about Davina Lachlan, was that she was too defiantly warded off to let anyone get close. The ability to feel freely had been trained out of her. She could not afford to show even an ounce of weakness.’
So both keep fighting their feelings as they’re running out of time, which only makes giving in all the more tempting but at the same time even more hurtful, each knowing what they know.
‘Because that was heartbreak threaded through the want, whispering between our mouths.’
And because of the jumps between flashbacks and the present towards the end you can tell THINGS ARE GOING TO GET WORSE! Or well have already gone to shit since it already happened in the past.
I swear hitting the 300 pages mark onward I was on the edge of my seat LOCKED TF IN but like WAIT A MINUTE… HUH? OP CAUGHT YOU IN A LIE! BITCH CATCH ON ALREADY. NO HOLD ON. SUS AF. WAIT WHAT?! WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME. NOT A DOUBLE [REDACTED]! OH THE HURT. MHM GOOD SOUP. 🍽️
Immediately after finishing I went back because something in the ending jumped at me, so I went to double check and I’m onto something…PUTAMADRE I have no one to talk about it!
Cannot wait for book 2!!
Thank you so much The Nerd Family and Cris G. Wells for this amazing ARC!
Reluctant allies to reluctant enemies, on an adventurous treasure hunt, with Tomb Raider x The Mummy vibes.
His secrets have secrets.
Her secrets have secrets.
They are rival emissaries sent to collaborate as allies after the same common goal on paper, but with a different set of commands from their respective sides unbeknownst to each other.
Who will betray who?
YUP. I ATE IT UP.
I was never not engaged with the story, I LOVE a dual timeline and dual povs, I know it’s not for many but my Capricorn soul loves stimulation like that in my brain, when something tries to keep me confused and wanting to find out more, figuring out things, the flashbacks and seeing the two perspectives specially when fuck, I won’t spoil but I love reading [redacted].
And the tattoo based magic system with an anatomical connection? I’m OBSESSED.🤎
Right from the first pages, before even chapter 1, I could already tell this was going to feel very unique to me when it started off with the anatomy map and guide for the tattoo magic system. Had me geeking out.
And then the official decree on their usage and prohibition. Yea, I was sat for the political discourse. I LOCKED TF IN.
Our main couple is so cute they even have wholesome nicknames for each other. He calls her a menace. She calls him a glorified babysitter. ✨
Zephyr, our 30 year old broody and arrogant captain, who wears a slutty strappy vest, is willing to offer body heat, self isolates, who reluctantly becomes obsessed with her, but feels bound to his duty and responsibility, but her rage keeps turning him on, and her brilliant mind testing him.
AND FUCK ME IS HE A TALKER! AND A GOOD ONE AT THAT! THE BASTARD. I WAS PANTING. Because not him reminding her that they’re enemies mid [redacted specific debauchery] and then growl-whispering into her ear “But don’t worry, sweetheart. It’ll be our secret. Only we will know that you gave yourself to me unbidden.” 👁👄👁 yea I 🦋
Not to mention he kept such a neat and organized desk! My OCD Capricorn ass? WET.
Now Davina, our 25 year old too smart and cunning for her own good menace of a hunter. I love when our fmc is already a baddie. She was raised into a weapon. She has never failed in a mission and will follow her commands no matter what, but now she is at war with herself and with the enemy who keeps saving her.
‘But one of the few things I could be certain of about Davina Lachlan, was that she was too defiantly warded off to let anyone get close. The ability to feel freely had been trained out of her. She could not afford to show even an ounce of weakness.’
So both keep fighting their feelings as they’re running out of time, which only makes giving in all the more tempting but at the same time even more hurtful, each knowing what they know.
‘Because that was heartbreak threaded through the want, whispering between our mouths.’
And because of the jumps between flashbacks and the present towards the end you can tell THINGS ARE GOING TO GET WORSE! Or well have already gone to shit since it already happened in the past.
I swear hitting the 300 pages mark onward I was on the edge of my seat LOCKED TF IN but like WAIT A MINUTE… HUH? OP CAUGHT YOU IN A LIE! BITCH CATCH ON ALREADY. NO HOLD ON. SUS AF. WAIT WHAT?! WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME. NOT A DOUBLE [REDACTED]! OH THE HURT. MHM GOOD SOUP. 🍽️
Immediately after finishing I went back because something in the ending jumped at me, so I went to double check and I’m onto something…PUTAMADRE I have no one to talk about it!
Cannot wait for book 2!!
Thank you so much The Nerd Family and Cris G. Wells for this amazing ARC!
July 16, 2026
This book has it all! Plenty of mystery, adventure, and a romance filled with tension between the main characters. I loved it!
The idea behind this story is very original and has a lot of potential. The pace of the book is well balanced, done through time jumps which were easy to follow and I really enjoyed, and I found myself intrigued by the story and wanting to continue reading to know what was happening next.
The end was the perfect setup for the next book, can’t wait to read it!
I received an ARC copy of this book and all opinions are my own.
The idea behind this story is very original and has a lot of potential. The pace of the book is well balanced, done through time jumps which were easy to follow and I really enjoyed, and I found myself intrigued by the story and wanting to continue reading to know what was happening next.
The end was the perfect setup for the next book, can’t wait to read it!
I received an ARC copy of this book and all opinions are my own.
September 21, 2026
August kicked me in the teeth and i am so behind on reviews but i finally finished this amazing book and i have one thought screaming in my head:
NO!! IT CAN'T END THERE!!
full review to come once i get sleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Technically, I haven't slept yet. I haven't been able to sleep since the second week of August but I figure, hey, if I'm not sleeping, I might as well write. So Kobra was pitched as for fans of "The Mummy" and "Indiana Jones." I grew up watching Indy (thanks Dad), and I was in the theaters when "The Mummy" was released at the dollar theater because yes, I remember that detail. And guess what? Kobra fits in with those titles easily and manages to stand apart with enough pizazz that I'm still reeling over the loss of that ending. I can only hope book 2 is not that far behind because really, my heart can't take any more breaking.
First of all, the world-building here caught my attention and did not let go. The idea about how the people get their powers and the experiments to figure out how to get certain powers, then the struggle between the countries, ALL OF THIS just hooked me from the start. Wells gave enough information to keep readers moving through the story. The world was established and our characters moved in ways that kept readers engaged. The dual narrative really helped with the whole setup of the book, having most of the events being told as a recount of things from one lead's point-of-view. The back and forth in time also kept me from truly figuring out things before Wells gave us that information and I love when a book can keep me on my toes.
Character wise, I'm not sure who I liked more, Davina or Zephyr. Truly, Davina was a force and I wanted to know so much more about her childhood but I can be patient to see what happens in the next book. I'm not usually a fan of characters that strike out on their own so many times in a row but I was actually charmed by Davina's methods. This is a woman who knows how to accomplish what she sets out to do so hey, she wants to sneak out to investigate? By all means, let's follow her to see what she finds next. As for Zephyr, I greatly enjoyed how the book worked to show his viewpoint in questioning Davina. I loved how quick he was to start to protect Davina, not that she needed it but a guy willing to act on good instincts and has honorable intentions is one to respect. I want to say more but I can't for fear of spoilers but I will say that Wells wielded a deft hand with the detail and I did not see that ending coming. Okay, moving on.
As for the plot, the search for the artifact in question was a great driving point for the story. I wanted to see what would happen when Davina and Zephyr found what they were looking for and while some of that was the focus, a lot of this book also delved into the ethics of what these nations would do with what they found and in turn how it affected their citizens. My heart broke for a particular character and even though she had a happy life in the present of the book, I still think about her in my head, wondering at the people who created her gift and everything that came for others like her. I have questions but while I will have to wait for the next book to get those answers, I'm still very happy with how this book came together in the end.
Read this book if you're a fan of adventures and hidden agendas and strong characters. I can't wait to see how Wells picks up things in the next book.
Rating on my Scale: Yeah, giving this one the whole 10 Stars because yup, I ended up loving this one. I did not see those reveals coming and I am left on tenterhooks waiting to see what happens next.
My thanks to The Nerd Fam and Cris G. Wells for the eARC of this book in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.
NO!! IT CAN'T END THERE!!
full review to come once i get sleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Technically, I haven't slept yet. I haven't been able to sleep since the second week of August but I figure, hey, if I'm not sleeping, I might as well write. So Kobra was pitched as for fans of "The Mummy" and "Indiana Jones." I grew up watching Indy (thanks Dad), and I was in the theaters when "The Mummy" was released at the dollar theater because yes, I remember that detail. And guess what? Kobra fits in with those titles easily and manages to stand apart with enough pizazz that I'm still reeling over the loss of that ending. I can only hope book 2 is not that far behind because really, my heart can't take any more breaking.
First of all, the world-building here caught my attention and did not let go. The idea about how the people get their powers and the experiments to figure out how to get certain powers, then the struggle between the countries, ALL OF THIS just hooked me from the start. Wells gave enough information to keep readers moving through the story. The world was established and our characters moved in ways that kept readers engaged. The dual narrative really helped with the whole setup of the book, having most of the events being told as a recount of things from one lead's point-of-view. The back and forth in time also kept me from truly figuring out things before Wells gave us that information and I love when a book can keep me on my toes.
Character wise, I'm not sure who I liked more, Davina or Zephyr. Truly, Davina was a force and I wanted to know so much more about her childhood but I can be patient to see what happens in the next book. I'm not usually a fan of characters that strike out on their own so many times in a row but I was actually charmed by Davina's methods. This is a woman who knows how to accomplish what she sets out to do so hey, she wants to sneak out to investigate? By all means, let's follow her to see what she finds next. As for Zephyr, I greatly enjoyed how the book worked to show his viewpoint in questioning Davina. I loved how quick he was to start to protect Davina, not that she needed it but a guy willing to act on good instincts and has honorable intentions is one to respect. I want to say more but I can't for fear of spoilers but I will say that Wells wielded a deft hand with the detail and I did not see that ending coming. Okay, moving on.
As for the plot, the search for the artifact in question was a great driving point for the story. I wanted to see what would happen when Davina and Zephyr found what they were looking for and while some of that was the focus, a lot of this book also delved into the ethics of what these nations would do with what they found and in turn how it affected their citizens. My heart broke for a particular character and even though she had a happy life in the present of the book, I still think about her in my head, wondering at the people who created her gift and everything that came for others like her. I have questions but while I will have to wait for the next book to get those answers, I'm still very happy with how this book came together in the end.
Read this book if you're a fan of adventures and hidden agendas and strong characters. I can't wait to see how Wells picks up things in the next book.
Rating on my Scale: Yeah, giving this one the whole 10 Stars because yup, I ended up loving this one. I did not see those reveals coming and I am left on tenterhooks waiting to see what happens next.
My thanks to The Nerd Fam and Cris G. Wells for the eARC of this book in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 21, 2026
Man I really wanted to love this book but it just fell flat for me. The concept was so unique and fun and reminded me of Tomb Raiders vibes mixed with fantasy elements. The magic system is hella unique with tattoo magic that comes from the sap of a certain tree. I would describe this as urban fantasy, the world building was easy to understand. It has a dual timeline we see the present and then a we learn how to FMC got into the present situation through her telling the story of what happened (which brings in the past timeline). I expected more action considering it was describe as mummy, Indiana Jones, treasure hunt all vibes were I would expect high stakes action and there just wasn’t any. I was bored and time and the storyline just dragged. The romance is a slow burn but the characters develop and tension left a little more to be desired. The ending had a good twist and I definitely enjoyed wasn’t expecting that.
July 27, 2026
This was a fun adventure for sure! It gave Indiana Jones meets The Mummy meets Tomb Raider vibes, and I was completely here for it. The exploration of ancient pyramids, deadly booby traps, hidden chambers, and lost treasure made this such an exciting read. The mystery and treasure hunt elements kept me hooked, and I loved trying to piece everything together alongside the characters.
One of my favorite parts of the book was the magic system. It’s unlike anything I’ve read before. Magic comes from tattoos created with the sap of a tree, and the abilities they grant depend on where the tattoos are placed on the body. It was such a creative concept.
I also really enjoyed the relationship between Davina and Zypher. The tension, slow-building yearning, and dual POV made their dynamic even more believable. Their chemistry kept me invested just as much as the adventure did.
My only real criticism was the frequent time jumps. While I understood what they were trying to accomplish, they sometimes felt unnecessary and occasionally disrupted the pacing, pulling me out of the story while I reoriented myself.
But that ending… I genuinely did not see it coming! It completely caught me off guard and left me wanting to know what happens next. I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel when it’s released.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the ARC! All thoughts are my own.
One of my favorite parts of the book was the magic system. It’s unlike anything I’ve read before. Magic comes from tattoos created with the sap of a tree, and the abilities they grant depend on where the tattoos are placed on the body. It was such a creative concept.
I also really enjoyed the relationship between Davina and Zypher. The tension, slow-building yearning, and dual POV made their dynamic even more believable. Their chemistry kept me invested just as much as the adventure did.
My only real criticism was the frequent time jumps. While I understood what they were trying to accomplish, they sometimes felt unnecessary and occasionally disrupted the pacing, pulling me out of the story while I reoriented myself.
But that ending… I genuinely did not see it coming! It completely caught me off guard and left me wanting to know what happens next. I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel when it’s released.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the ARC! All thoughts are my own.
July 10, 2026
Thank you to Cris and The NerdFam for this eARC!
3.5 rounded up maybe? This had so much potential. The story is unique. The magic system is dictated by tattoo and trees - anything related to the mind is illegal. Rival territories are teaming up to figure out a detective case with plans to stab each other in the back.
We go back and forth between past and present - which apparently people found confusing but it really wasn’t hard to follow. There were plot points that I genuinely was shocked by.
The romance seemed very one sided. Like in love vs lust right from the start. I do like both of our main characters, I just wish there was a little more (of what, I don’t even know.)
I will probably read book 2 just because that ending was a big “oh shit” moment.
3.5 rounded up maybe? This had so much potential. The story is unique. The magic system is dictated by tattoo and trees - anything related to the mind is illegal. Rival territories are teaming up to figure out a detective case with plans to stab each other in the back.
We go back and forth between past and present - which apparently people found confusing but it really wasn’t hard to follow. There were plot points that I genuinely was shocked by.
The romance seemed very one sided. Like in love vs lust right from the start. I do like both of our main characters, I just wish there was a little more (of what, I don’t even know.)
I will probably read book 2 just because that ending was a big “oh shit” moment.
July 15, 2026
An exciting, Indiana jones style adventure filled with exploring remote locations and a bit of romance mixed in!
You follow two main characters, the FMC who’s spent her life trying to live up to the expectations put on her by the leader of her organization, carrying out dangerous missions, and an MMC who is the general of another nation that she must work with to find more sap. This world runs off this sap found in a rare tree that lead to the collapse of modern society when countries tried to hog their share of it, as it allows people to gain special abilities depending on the location and shape inked onto their skin with it, and most people abandoned modern technology and societal organization because of it. The FMC is tasked with finding a supply of this sap that was hidden by the now dead professor who had been working with it in a remote nation, before a rebel group can get it that would rather spread it out to all people and not just elites.
I really liked the jumping not only between the FMC and MMC POVs but also at the start of the book being in current time and it being set up to jump through the whole hunting process as reflections back in time. There was plenty of life threatening danger, decoding of hidden messages within the professors work, traps set within the places they were exploring and even just nature working against them that had me on the edge of my seat. Of course there was also this build up of attraction between these two people on opposite sides that comes to a head but also leads to an even bigger reveal and betrayal and with a chaotic ending, I can’t wait to find out what happens next! My rating 4.2/5!
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
You follow two main characters, the FMC who’s spent her life trying to live up to the expectations put on her by the leader of her organization, carrying out dangerous missions, and an MMC who is the general of another nation that she must work with to find more sap. This world runs off this sap found in a rare tree that lead to the collapse of modern society when countries tried to hog their share of it, as it allows people to gain special abilities depending on the location and shape inked onto their skin with it, and most people abandoned modern technology and societal organization because of it. The FMC is tasked with finding a supply of this sap that was hidden by the now dead professor who had been working with it in a remote nation, before a rebel group can get it that would rather spread it out to all people and not just elites.
I really liked the jumping not only between the FMC and MMC POVs but also at the start of the book being in current time and it being set up to jump through the whole hunting process as reflections back in time. There was plenty of life threatening danger, decoding of hidden messages within the professors work, traps set within the places they were exploring and even just nature working against them that had me on the edge of my seat. Of course there was also this build up of attraction between these two people on opposite sides that comes to a head but also leads to an even bigger reveal and betrayal and with a chaotic ending, I can’t wait to find out what happens next! My rating 4.2/5!
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
October 20, 2026
Thank you to the author and The Nerd Fam for the gifted ARC
Captain Zephyr and Davina bring us a story packed with adventure, tension, and secrets! And you already know I love a badass FMC who refuses to be intimidated by anyone! 😮💨🔥
We have a treasure hunt, tattoo-based magic, forced proximity, and two reluctant allies who find themselves catching feelings along the way. 👀❤️🔥
Between the mysteries, secrets, and all that delicious tension, this story brings together fantasy, romance, and adventure in a way I absolutely love!
Español: El capitán Zephyr y Davina nos traen una historia llena de aventura, tensión y secretos! Y ustedes saben que me encanta una protagonista badass que no se deja intimidar por nadie. 😮💨🔥
Tenemos una búsqueda del tesoro, magia a través de tatuajes, proximidad forzada y dos aliados a regañadientes que terminan sintiendo algo más el uno por el otro. 👀❤️🔥
Entre misterios, secretos y esa tensión que tanto nos gusta, esta historia combina fantasía, romance y aventura de una manera que me encantó.
Captain Zephyr and Davina bring us a story packed with adventure, tension, and secrets! And you already know I love a badass FMC who refuses to be intimidated by anyone! 😮💨🔥
We have a treasure hunt, tattoo-based magic, forced proximity, and two reluctant allies who find themselves catching feelings along the way. 👀❤️🔥
Between the mysteries, secrets, and all that delicious tension, this story brings together fantasy, romance, and adventure in a way I absolutely love!
Español: El capitán Zephyr y Davina nos traen una historia llena de aventura, tensión y secretos! Y ustedes saben que me encanta una protagonista badass que no se deja intimidar por nadie. 😮💨🔥
Tenemos una búsqueda del tesoro, magia a través de tatuajes, proximidad forzada y dos aliados a regañadientes que terminan sintiendo algo más el uno por el otro. 👀❤️🔥
Entre misterios, secretos y esa tensión que tanto nos gusta, esta historia combina fantasía, romance y aventura de una manera que me encantó.
July 11, 2026
**Thank you Nerdfam for the Advance Reader Copy**
The twists and turns in this cross between The Mummy, Romancing the Stone, and All the President’s Men were deliciously infuriating. It’s a little bit treasure hunt, a little bit criminal investigation, and a little bit flirty romance. I found myself second guessing all the character’s motives and who the real ‘bad guy’ was.
This is a dual POV between the two main characters and the story is told through flashbacks and present day, so it leads right up to the moment of ‘now’.
Davina and Zephyr have this will they, won’t they relationship that kept me guessing and second guessing if they were for real or just playing each other.
The universe has a unique magic system driven by sap that is inked into the magic wielder’s skin to create different powers based on the person’s affinity and placement of the tattoo.
And the ending was unexpected and left me wanted more! 3.5
The twists and turns in this cross between The Mummy, Romancing the Stone, and All the President’s Men were deliciously infuriating. It’s a little bit treasure hunt, a little bit criminal investigation, and a little bit flirty romance. I found myself second guessing all the character’s motives and who the real ‘bad guy’ was.
This is a dual POV between the two main characters and the story is told through flashbacks and present day, so it leads right up to the moment of ‘now’.
Davina and Zephyr have this will they, won’t they relationship that kept me guessing and second guessing if they were for real or just playing each other.
The universe has a unique magic system driven by sap that is inked into the magic wielder’s skin to create different powers based on the person’s affinity and placement of the tattoo.
And the ending was unexpected and left me wanted more! 3.5
July 12, 2026
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for this ARC read!!
I’m not going to lie—the beginning of this book was a struggle. It was slow, and it took me a while to really get invested. I kept waiting for something to click.
Then Zephyr and Davina really started getting under each other’s skin… and I was eating up every second of it.
The banter, the tension, and all the enemies-to-lovers angst had me completely invested. From that point on, I couldn’t put it down.
This story also jumps between the past and the present, which usually makes me nervous because that format can get confusing fast. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case here. I loved that it felt more like Zephyr and Davina were taking turns telling their side of what happened rather than constantly yanking me back and forth through the timeline. It made the flashbacks feel natural and added so much depth to both characters.
I also really enjoyed the little twist at the end. I had pretty much figured it out before the reveal, but that didn’t take away from it at all. Instead, it felt satisfying to watch everything click into place and see how all the pieces came together.
And then… that ending. 🤯 It left me completely speechless. Talk about a cliffhanger! Now I’m over here impatiently waiting for book two because I need to know what happens next.
If the slow beginning has you questioning whether to keep going, I’d say stick with it. Once the story finds its footing, it’s absolutely worth the ride—and just be prepared to immediately want the sequel
I’m not going to lie—the beginning of this book was a struggle. It was slow, and it took me a while to really get invested. I kept waiting for something to click.
Then Zephyr and Davina really started getting under each other’s skin… and I was eating up every second of it.
The banter, the tension, and all the enemies-to-lovers angst had me completely invested. From that point on, I couldn’t put it down.
This story also jumps between the past and the present, which usually makes me nervous because that format can get confusing fast. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case here. I loved that it felt more like Zephyr and Davina were taking turns telling their side of what happened rather than constantly yanking me back and forth through the timeline. It made the flashbacks feel natural and added so much depth to both characters.
I also really enjoyed the little twist at the end. I had pretty much figured it out before the reveal, but that didn’t take away from it at all. Instead, it felt satisfying to watch everything click into place and see how all the pieces came together.
And then… that ending. 🤯 It left me completely speechless. Talk about a cliffhanger! Now I’m over here impatiently waiting for book two because I need to know what happens next.
If the slow beginning has you questioning whether to keep going, I’d say stick with it. Once the story finds its footing, it’s absolutely worth the ride—and just be prepared to immediately want the sequel
July 20, 2026
"Kobra" by Cris G. Wells is the first book in the "Inked Sap" series.
I received an advance digital copy from The Nerd Fam.
Opinions from this review are completely my own.
This book is filled with adventure and mystery.
The story is told though flashbacks so we start in the present and slowly find out how they got to this situation.
I liked the magic given by tattoos made with the sap of a tree. There are different powers depending on the tattoo placement and some powers are considered illegal.
Zephyr and Davina are from rival territories, but have to work together.
They have a lot of tension and banter a lot.
But both also have secrets and have a hard time trusting each other.
There are some interesting twists and the ending left me wanting more.
I received an advance digital copy from The Nerd Fam.
Opinions from this review are completely my own.
This book is filled with adventure and mystery.
The story is told though flashbacks so we start in the present and slowly find out how they got to this situation.
I liked the magic given by tattoos made with the sap of a tree. There are different powers depending on the tattoo placement and some powers are considered illegal.
Zephyr and Davina are from rival territories, but have to work together.
They have a lot of tension and banter a lot.
But both also have secrets and have a hard time trusting each other.
There are some interesting twists and the ending left me wanting more.
Review of advance copy
I wish I liked this more than I did because this story has so much potential! The world building is immersive and pulls you in from the start. With the unique magic system, complex characters, adventure, and mystery there’s so much to keep the story going.
For me the best part was the adventure and characters. The enemies-to-lovers back to enemies-to-lovers romance between the main characters was an interesting relationship to read about. Their tension is crazy and the banter between them was a highlight for me. Where the story fell short for me was the constant jumps in both timeline and narrators. Although the set up was strong, with these jumps I never felt truly invested in the story, romance, or characters. When I read I definitely need to feel connected or at least invested in the characters for me to enjoy a book.
That being said I feel like most people will really enjoy this one for the action, adventure, and unique magic!
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted book!
For me the best part was the adventure and characters. The enemies-to-lovers back to enemies-to-lovers romance between the main characters was an interesting relationship to read about. Their tension is crazy and the banter between them was a highlight for me. Where the story fell short for me was the constant jumps in both timeline and narrators. Although the set up was strong, with these jumps I never felt truly invested in the story, romance, or characters. When I read I definitely need to feel connected or at least invested in the characters for me to enjoy a book.
That being said I feel like most people will really enjoy this one for the action, adventure, and unique magic!
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted book!
September 2, 2026
It sounded so promising and action packed. Loved the idea with the tattoos and powers and the world in general. But the storyline fell flat for me, it wasn’t as action packed as I had hoped and normally I’m all for two timelines but the execution of it was not my favorite.
July 9, 2026
Imagine if Lara Croft was more grumpy and met Alex West/Terry Sheridan for the first time again in Tomb Raider, except it focused more on the mystery and journey of finding the “treasure” vs the action aspect. That’s the physical tension and the pacing you can expect in Kobra with Davina and Zephyr. You know the entire time that betrayal is coming, it’s written from the very first chapters, the characters admit to it - it’s the elephant in the room. However, there’s another layer of betrayal that’s laced into the fabric of the story that I didn’t see coming until the end. A great read! Normally I’m not a fan of authors delivering background information to me via first person, but it was interesting learning about the fall of society due to the power that the sap inflicts on humans when applied to the skin like a tattoo. It almost made the story take on a post apocalyptic tone with them still reigning in from the crazy obsession of this discovery and what it did to their world. You’re going to get so frustrated with these two characters, you’ll want to smack them silly and force them to forget their mission so they can just accept the beautiful chemistry…I can’t wait to see what these enemies to lovers to enemies do next in the coming sequel!
August 6, 2026
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
———
If you’re looking for a book with a unique magic system, fantastic world-building, and adventure, you’re in for a treat. Davina Lachlan is such an interesting, headstrong protagonist that you can’t help but love.
While I thought the beginning of the book was slow and that some interrogation sequences dragged on, I ultimately enjoyed the way this book was structured, following a series of time jumps from past to present as we work out what led to Davina’s capture and why. And Zephyr’s perspective offered all of the angst and admiration needed to make a compelling love interest. But nothing is as it seems! I was hooked by the end and am so excited for the eventual sequel, because there are now a great many questions that I demand the answers to.
———
If you’re looking for a book with a unique magic system, fantastic world-building, and adventure, you’re in for a treat. Davina Lachlan is such an interesting, headstrong protagonist that you can’t help but love.
While I thought the beginning of the book was slow and that some interrogation sequences dragged on, I ultimately enjoyed the way this book was structured, following a series of time jumps from past to present as we work out what led to Davina’s capture and why. And Zephyr’s perspective offered all of the angst and admiration needed to make a compelling love interest. But nothing is as it seems! I was hooked by the end and am so excited for the eventual sequel, because there are now a great many questions that I demand the answers to.
October 2, 2026
This was a bit of a mixed experience for me, but overall, I really enjoyed the story and I definitely want to continue with the next book!!
One of my favorite things about it was the worldbuilding. The whole system of abilities felt genuinely unique. I really liked how much thought went into the rules and restrictions surrounding the powers, especially the combination of something magical with something almost scientific. The idea of extracting a substance from a tree, using it to create tattoos, and having those symbols grant specific abilities was such a cool concept. I also really enjoyed the categorization of the abilities and the limitations that come with them. It made the magic system feel much more structured and thought-out.
I also loved the setting. There’s something about the pyramids, ancient secrets, and exploration that gave me a bit of an ‚Indiana Jones’ vibe, and I was very much here for that.
The structure of the story, however, tested my patience a little. The book constantly jumps between the present, where the female main character has been captured and is being interrogated, and the events of the previous month that she is recounting. But that was more a ‚me’ problem😂 I’m just an impatient reader, and the further I got into the book, the more I desperately wanted to know how everything had led to the point where the story begins. So every time we went back to the past, I was basically like: YES, BUT HOW DID WE GET HERE?!
One thing I thought was particularly well done was the uncertainty surrounding the male main character and his true loyalties. For a surprisingly large portion of the book, I genuinely wasn’t sure which side he was on. I kept going back and forth: ‚Okay, this definitely means he’s on their side… wait, but what about this? Maybe he isn’t after all.‘ I really enjoyed that uncertainty, especially because it lasted much longer than I expected.
And I absolutely have to mention the slow burn, because it was so good! For the slow-burn lovers out there: this book is for you🤌🏼 There were so many moments towards the end where I was basically screaming, ‚Okay, it’s happening. IT’S HAPPENING!‘ …and then it didn’t happen. Again. And again💀😂 By the end, it was honestly starting to drive me slightly insane, but in the best possible way. The tension was there, and the payoff was definitely worth the wait!
My biggest criticism, though, was the female main character and how her behavior during the interrogation sometimes felt inconsistent with how her character had been established.
We’re repeatedly told and shown that she’s intelligent, highly capable, an excellent fighter, and someone who has never failed a mission. And yet, once she’s captured, she seems surprisingly willing to just tell them what they want to know. I kept waiting for her to resist in some way, even just to test the situation, look for an opportunity, or deliberately withhold information. Instead, it often felt like she simply accepted that she had been caught and started telling her story.
There are moments where she does hold things back, particularly when it comes to the more personal aspects of her relationship with the male main character, which made sense given who else was in the room. But I still felt like there needed to be a clearer reason for why someone established as that intelligent and capable would be so compliant during the interrogation.
There were also a few moments where I felt like she overlooked things that, considering how smart she is supposed to be, she probably shouldn’t have overlooked. I obviously won’t go into specifics because I want to keep this review spoiler-free, but there was one particular aspect of the interrogation setup that made me think, ‚How did she not question this more?‘ It was probably my biggest moment of disconnect with her character.
I actually liked the male main character quite a lot, especially outside of the interrogation scenes. During the interrogations, though… he could be really arrogant😂 I mean, understandably so, he has the upper hand in that situation, but there were definitely moments where I wanted to reach through the book and tell him to calm down. And this is probably another reason why I wanted more resistance from her. I would have loved to see more of that clash between them instead of her mostly giving him what he wanted.
And then… that ending👀
I’m not going to say anything specific because I really don’t want to spoil it, but there were definitely moments where I was just sitting there thinking, ‚Oh. Okay. So we’re going THERE now.‘
There was one particular moment toward the end where I was a little surprised by how completely she seemed to fall apart and reveal so much of herself to the person in front of her. I kept thinking that, considering everything we know about her, she might at least try to keep up appearances a little longer. But maybe by that point she was simply exhausted after everything she had been through. Either way, it definitely left me wanting to know what happens next.
And on a sidenot I loved Armand!! But I’m saying absolutely nothing more about that because I refuse to be the person who accidentally ruins someone else’s experience😂
Overall, I had some issues with character consistency, particularly when it came to how the female main character behaved during the interrogation compared to how capable and intelligent she had been established to be. But despite those criticisms, I genuinely enjoyed the story, loved the worldbuilding, and thought the magic/ability system was incredibly interesting!
And now I’m left with the most important problem of all:
Why do I have to wait until summer for the next book?!💀😭
One of my favorite things about it was the worldbuilding. The whole system of abilities felt genuinely unique. I really liked how much thought went into the rules and restrictions surrounding the powers, especially the combination of something magical with something almost scientific. The idea of extracting a substance from a tree, using it to create tattoos, and having those symbols grant specific abilities was such a cool concept. I also really enjoyed the categorization of the abilities and the limitations that come with them. It made the magic system feel much more structured and thought-out.
I also loved the setting. There’s something about the pyramids, ancient secrets, and exploration that gave me a bit of an ‚Indiana Jones’ vibe, and I was very much here for that.
The structure of the story, however, tested my patience a little. The book constantly jumps between the present, where the female main character has been captured and is being interrogated, and the events of the previous month that she is recounting. But that was more a ‚me’ problem😂 I’m just an impatient reader, and the further I got into the book, the more I desperately wanted to know how everything had led to the point where the story begins. So every time we went back to the past, I was basically like: YES, BUT HOW DID WE GET HERE?!
One thing I thought was particularly well done was the uncertainty surrounding the male main character and his true loyalties. For a surprisingly large portion of the book, I genuinely wasn’t sure which side he was on. I kept going back and forth: ‚Okay, this definitely means he’s on their side… wait, but what about this? Maybe he isn’t after all.‘ I really enjoyed that uncertainty, especially because it lasted much longer than I expected.
And I absolutely have to mention the slow burn, because it was so good! For the slow-burn lovers out there: this book is for you🤌🏼 There were so many moments towards the end where I was basically screaming, ‚Okay, it’s happening. IT’S HAPPENING!‘ …and then it didn’t happen. Again. And again💀😂 By the end, it was honestly starting to drive me slightly insane, but in the best possible way. The tension was there, and the payoff was definitely worth the wait!
My biggest criticism, though, was the female main character and how her behavior during the interrogation sometimes felt inconsistent with how her character had been established.
We’re repeatedly told and shown that she’s intelligent, highly capable, an excellent fighter, and someone who has never failed a mission. And yet, once she’s captured, she seems surprisingly willing to just tell them what they want to know. I kept waiting for her to resist in some way, even just to test the situation, look for an opportunity, or deliberately withhold information. Instead, it often felt like she simply accepted that she had been caught and started telling her story.
There are moments where she does hold things back, particularly when it comes to the more personal aspects of her relationship with the male main character, which made sense given who else was in the room. But I still felt like there needed to be a clearer reason for why someone established as that intelligent and capable would be so compliant during the interrogation.
There were also a few moments where I felt like she overlooked things that, considering how smart she is supposed to be, she probably shouldn’t have overlooked. I obviously won’t go into specifics because I want to keep this review spoiler-free, but there was one particular aspect of the interrogation setup that made me think, ‚How did she not question this more?‘ It was probably my biggest moment of disconnect with her character.
I actually liked the male main character quite a lot, especially outside of the interrogation scenes. During the interrogations, though… he could be really arrogant😂 I mean, understandably so, he has the upper hand in that situation, but there were definitely moments where I wanted to reach through the book and tell him to calm down. And this is probably another reason why I wanted more resistance from her. I would have loved to see more of that clash between them instead of her mostly giving him what he wanted.
And then… that ending👀
I’m not going to say anything specific because I really don’t want to spoil it, but there were definitely moments where I was just sitting there thinking, ‚Oh. Okay. So we’re going THERE now.‘
There was one particular moment toward the end where I was a little surprised by how completely she seemed to fall apart and reveal so much of herself to the person in front of her. I kept thinking that, considering everything we know about her, she might at least try to keep up appearances a little longer. But maybe by that point she was simply exhausted after everything she had been through. Either way, it definitely left me wanting to know what happens next.
And on a sidenot I loved Armand!! But I’m saying absolutely nothing more about that because I refuse to be the person who accidentally ruins someone else’s experience😂
Overall, I had some issues with character consistency, particularly when it came to how the female main character behaved during the interrogation compared to how capable and intelligent she had been established to be. But despite those criticisms, I genuinely enjoyed the story, loved the worldbuilding, and thought the magic/ability system was incredibly interesting!
And now I’m left with the most important problem of all:
Why do I have to wait until summer for the next book?!💀😭
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
Thank you to Chris G. Wells, NetGalley and NerdFam for the opportunity to read an ARC of Kobra!
Kobra was an entertaining read that kept me curious to see where the story would go. The premise was intriguing, and there were several small twists that kept me engaged throughout. The pacing picked up as the story progressed, making it easy to keep turning the pages, and thank goodness for that.
While I enjoyed the overall story, I found myself wanting a bit more depth in some of the characters and a stronger emotional connection to their journeys. I wasn’t really feeling it most of the time.
There were moments that felt a little rushed, and I would have loved to spend more time with certain plot points before moving on. Then there were moments where we read three or five paragraphs about the color of sand and furnishings in the immediate area. Those found me skimming quite a bit.
I liked the FMC but found myself not connecting to her much. She had an ongoing inner dialogue about her companion she was sent to Kobra with, and how they once had a fling.
So the multitude of times she brought it up felt more like she was trying to convince herself she didn’t like him anymore.. which was weird because it felt like it was over, but just the constant bringing it back up made me wonder if it was supposed to be a foreshadowing of something happening with them later on.
I liked the MMC more, and enjoyed his chapters but easily guessed his plot twist towards the end, even though the author didn’t give us much about him. He was very much just the brooding captain that tagged along and then suddenly there’s romance. We hear her thoughts about him being hot, that’s about all of her depth, then his chapters we hear his admiration of her which felt more believable. Still, the flirty moments didn’t feel long lived enough to establish attraction that eventually could lead to more.
There’s a lot of back and forth between timelines, her interrogation and living her retelling of events.
I thought the interrogation bits were fine, but there was so much “I’m betrayed, she has snuck around so much behind my back and is hiding so much I don’t even know” from MMC’s internal dialogue— which didn’t feel validated because we never see her do anything betraying at all (even though she’s in her head like yea I’m caught, I betrayed him) so you think you just gotta keep reading to find out — and then later his internal dialogue turns into “it’s sad she was actually always a few steps behind me, I’m gonna betray her”.
So as I read the last half of the book, the first half just felt misplaced, nonsensical and disingenuous.
There were especially a few times in the first half where I was reading the last few paragraphs of a “Now” chapter, interrogating Davina, and the author was trying to lead up to some big reveal, the characters are making snarky comments or pressing a certain line of questioning or whatever, you’re thinking oh boy plot twist or big reveal, and then it just… jumps back to the past.
And you think you’re gonna see something big unfold but… where’s the reveal? Nothing shocking happens.
Then when we go back to the next “Now” chapter they’ve moved on like nothing happened.
Let me also take a minute to say it took me a good couple of chapters to understand and wrap my head around the fact that this world is based on tree sap being tattooed onto people and giving them power… tree sap. The different placements on the body giving different powers— that was interesting.
However, even once I got used to the idea, the main character’s phrases evoking the sap like one would a god.. such as “sap, you gotta be kidding me,” or “oh for the love of sap,” or even exasperatedly yelling “this sapdamned…” whatever,
felt super stupid to read let alone imagine saying aloud.
I could’ve done without all that terminology— which she seemed to be the only character even using. 🤔
The final plot twist is the only thing that would have me picking up book 2, that last hook was the most interesting thing in the story. It really felt like this was a good “first half” of a book. It felt like a lot of filler in between events. I might have preferred to cut the filler stuff, have where the book ended be the climax like 2/3rds through the book, then finish the book as a standalone instead of a book 2, or however many we’re going see from this.
Overall, though, this was a solid read with a good bit of action. If you enjoy stories with mystery and twists, a slow burn, then Kobra is worth checking out.
Thank you to Chris G. Wells, NetGalley and NerdFam for the opportunity to read an ARC of Kobra!
Kobra was an entertaining read that kept me curious to see where the story would go. The premise was intriguing, and there were several small twists that kept me engaged throughout. The pacing picked up as the story progressed, making it easy to keep turning the pages, and thank goodness for that.
While I enjoyed the overall story, I found myself wanting a bit more depth in some of the characters and a stronger emotional connection to their journeys. I wasn’t really feeling it most of the time.
There were moments that felt a little rushed, and I would have loved to spend more time with certain plot points before moving on. Then there were moments where we read three or five paragraphs about the color of sand and furnishings in the immediate area. Those found me skimming quite a bit.
I liked the FMC but found myself not connecting to her much. She had an ongoing inner dialogue about her companion she was sent to Kobra with, and how they once had a fling.
So the multitude of times she brought it up felt more like she was trying to convince herself she didn’t like him anymore.. which was weird because it felt like it was over, but just the constant bringing it back up made me wonder if it was supposed to be a foreshadowing of something happening with them later on.
I liked the MMC more, and enjoyed his chapters but easily guessed his plot twist towards the end, even though the author didn’t give us much about him. He was very much just the brooding captain that tagged along and then suddenly there’s romance. We hear her thoughts about him being hot, that’s about all of her depth, then his chapters we hear his admiration of her which felt more believable. Still, the flirty moments didn’t feel long lived enough to establish attraction that eventually could lead to more.
There’s a lot of back and forth between timelines, her interrogation and living her retelling of events.
I thought the interrogation bits were fine, but there was so much “I’m betrayed, she has snuck around so much behind my back and is hiding so much I don’t even know” from MMC’s internal dialogue— which didn’t feel validated because we never see her do anything betraying at all (even though she’s in her head like yea I’m caught, I betrayed him) so you think you just gotta keep reading to find out — and then later his internal dialogue turns into “it’s sad she was actually always a few steps behind me, I’m gonna betray her”.
So as I read the last half of the book, the first half just felt misplaced, nonsensical and disingenuous.
There were especially a few times in the first half where I was reading the last few paragraphs of a “Now” chapter, interrogating Davina, and the author was trying to lead up to some big reveal, the characters are making snarky comments or pressing a certain line of questioning or whatever, you’re thinking oh boy plot twist or big reveal, and then it just… jumps back to the past.
And you think you’re gonna see something big unfold but… where’s the reveal? Nothing shocking happens.
Then when we go back to the next “Now” chapter they’ve moved on like nothing happened.
Let me also take a minute to say it took me a good couple of chapters to understand and wrap my head around the fact that this world is based on tree sap being tattooed onto people and giving them power… tree sap. The different placements on the body giving different powers— that was interesting.
However, even once I got used to the idea, the main character’s phrases evoking the sap like one would a god.. such as “sap, you gotta be kidding me,” or “oh for the love of sap,” or even exasperatedly yelling “this sapdamned…” whatever,
felt super stupid to read let alone imagine saying aloud.
I could’ve done without all that terminology— which she seemed to be the only character even using. 🤔
The final plot twist is the only thing that would have me picking up book 2, that last hook was the most interesting thing in the story. It really felt like this was a good “first half” of a book. It felt like a lot of filler in between events. I might have preferred to cut the filler stuff, have where the book ended be the climax like 2/3rds through the book, then finish the book as a standalone instead of a book 2, or however many we’re going see from this.
Overall, though, this was a solid read with a good bit of action. If you enjoy stories with mystery and twists, a slow burn, then Kobra is worth checking out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
3⭐️
A decent attempt reminiscent of The Mummy, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider & Indiana Jones with a unique magic system! The world building was intriguing and fresh; I don't usually reach for genres like these, but the premise held true to the high-stakes action & mystery promised in the blurb! The small plot twists reveals & suspense sprinkled were engaging throughout, and I appreciated that the pacing picked up as the story progressed on, making it an easy read.
The book covers topics on poverty, political intrigue, wealthy thriving at the detriment of the poor, a rebellion, secret identities, and wiped memories — pretty interesting and made the overall plot more robust + setting up for the next book well.
It took me quite a while to grasp the fact that the entire magic system is tree sap being tattooed onto people and giving them power. The different placements on the body giving different powers, which is honestly interesting.
But uh............. i got an ick. The FMC kept using the tree Sap as “sap, you gotta be kidding me,” or “oh for the love of sap,” and even “this sapdamned…”. I'm sorry but no LOL
Personally, I really enjoyed the dynamic between the main characters Davina and Zephyr (from enemies to lovers, and back to enemies - yes you heard that right) with lots of tension. While I did enjoy the overall plot and characters in general, I did wish that there was more depth in the charcters, as I found myself not really having an emotional connection to any of them. I did hope that we would get more from the main characters romantically, or plot-wise, beyond just flirting or wanting to hook up.
Honestly, the plot, characters, magic system/world building, action etc was decent for me, but my issue was the way everything was executed. There were lots of "telling" rather than "showing" - like some moments felt a little rushed & some moments were dragged out unnecessarily, like reading pages about how the sand and rocks were.....there in the area, which got me skimming through those several times throughout.
The book also has minor purple prose and wordiness at inappropriate times, especially in the middle of a crucial plot development. It would sometimes get lost in highly detailed descriptions and inner thoughts in the middle of dialog, breaking it up in such a way that I’d have to turn back a page to remember what was being spoken about, and frankly, were not value-adding to the plot.
The introduction of past & present timelines was an interesting way for the plot to unfold. However, the dual timelines & switch between character POVs were a bit jarring and confusing for me, since the switches start very early on, making it even harder to truly connect with the characters and world-building on my part. The constant switches throughout also reduced the impact on the plot as well, which was a bit of a shame, given how the premise and everything else was genuinely intriguingly unique. I humbly think if the switches for both the timelines & character POVs were improved on/more seamless, I would've been more invested in the book as a whole. Nonethless, still a very decent read!
With that said, were the plot twists predictable? Yes. Were they mind-blowing? Not really. The overall pacing left the last 80 pages of the book feeling very rushed, which was a small pity as the last lap was really action-packed and fast-paced which made me STRESSED af 😮💨 Fortunately, the questions I had started clicking into place, and with the plot thickening HEAVILY at the end + massive cliffhanger, I would've rated this higher, but again, if only the intensity was more spread out across the book - it would've been even more enjoyable and suspenseful.
Overall, I do think there is great potential here for the writing to evolve further, as I did find it entertaining. I do forsee the plot thickening based off the ending, and I'm curious to see where the dynamic between Zephyr and Davina will lead to next! I'll definitely be on the lookout to support Book 2's release next year.
Thank you Cris for the opportunity to join the KOBRA street team, and to review this ARC!
A decent attempt reminiscent of The Mummy, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider & Indiana Jones with a unique magic system! The world building was intriguing and fresh; I don't usually reach for genres like these, but the premise held true to the high-stakes action & mystery promised in the blurb! The small plot twists reveals & suspense sprinkled were engaging throughout, and I appreciated that the pacing picked up as the story progressed on, making it an easy read.
The book covers topics on poverty, political intrigue, wealthy thriving at the detriment of the poor, a rebellion, secret identities, and wiped memories — pretty interesting and made the overall plot more robust + setting up for the next book well.
It took me quite a while to grasp the fact that the entire magic system is tree sap being tattooed onto people and giving them power. The different placements on the body giving different powers, which is honestly interesting.
But uh............. i got an ick. The FMC kept using the tree Sap as “sap, you gotta be kidding me,” or “oh for the love of sap,” and even “this sapdamned…”. I'm sorry but no LOL
Personally, I really enjoyed the dynamic between the main characters Davina and Zephyr (from enemies to lovers, and back to enemies - yes you heard that right) with lots of tension. While I did enjoy the overall plot and characters in general, I did wish that there was more depth in the charcters, as I found myself not really having an emotional connection to any of them. I did hope that we would get more from the main characters romantically, or plot-wise, beyond just flirting or wanting to hook up.
Honestly, the plot, characters, magic system/world building, action etc was decent for me, but my issue was the way everything was executed. There were lots of "telling" rather than "showing" - like some moments felt a little rushed & some moments were dragged out unnecessarily, like reading pages about how the sand and rocks were.....there in the area, which got me skimming through those several times throughout.
The book also has minor purple prose and wordiness at inappropriate times, especially in the middle of a crucial plot development. It would sometimes get lost in highly detailed descriptions and inner thoughts in the middle of dialog, breaking it up in such a way that I’d have to turn back a page to remember what was being spoken about, and frankly, were not value-adding to the plot.
The introduction of past & present timelines was an interesting way for the plot to unfold. However, the dual timelines & switch between character POVs were a bit jarring and confusing for me, since the switches start very early on, making it even harder to truly connect with the characters and world-building on my part. The constant switches throughout also reduced the impact on the plot as well, which was a bit of a shame, given how the premise and everything else was genuinely intriguingly unique. I humbly think if the switches for both the timelines & character POVs were improved on/more seamless, I would've been more invested in the book as a whole. Nonethless, still a very decent read!
With that said, were the plot twists predictable? Yes. Were they mind-blowing? Not really. The overall pacing left the last 80 pages of the book feeling very rushed, which was a small pity as the last lap was really action-packed and fast-paced which made me STRESSED af 😮💨 Fortunately, the questions I had started clicking into place, and with the plot thickening HEAVILY at the end + massive cliffhanger, I would've rated this higher, but again, if only the intensity was more spread out across the book - it would've been even more enjoyable and suspenseful.
Overall, I do think there is great potential here for the writing to evolve further, as I did find it entertaining. I do forsee the plot thickening based off the ending, and I'm curious to see where the dynamic between Zephyr and Davina will lead to next! I'll definitely be on the lookout to support Book 2's release next year.
Thank you Cris for the opportunity to join the KOBRA street team, and to review this ARC!
September 2, 2026
When I first read the blurb for Kobra, I immediately had the feeling that this could be a book for me.
The promise of an adventure combining the atmosphere of Indiana Jones, Tomb Raider, and The Mummy, together with ancient mysteries, hidden treasures, dangerous explorations, and romance, immediately caught my attention.
It was exactly the kind of story I knew I wanted to read, which is why I was very excited to request the ARC through The Nerd Fam.
I was even more delighted when I was given the opportunity to read it and ultimately, Kobra delivered on that promise exceptionally well.
What stood out to me most was how immersive and addictive the story was.
I finished the book in roughly 24 hours, largely because I never felt the urge to put it aside.
The pacing kept the story moving without making it feel rushed, and the atmosphere consistently maintained that sense of adventure and discovery.
Exploring ancient locations, uncovering hidden chambers, navigating dangerous traps, and searching for a lost supply of magical tree sap created exactly the kind of treasure-hunting experience I had hoped for.
There was also something wonderfully nostalgic about the adventure itself.
The treasure hunter aspect reminded me of the kinds of movies and stories many of us grew up with, where every new location holds another mystery to uncover and every discovery can lead to something far more dangerous.
Kobra captured that feeling particularly well while still establishing a world and mythology of its own.
One of my favorite elements was the magic system.
Magic being created through tattoos made with the sap of a rare tree is a particularly creative concept, especially because the abilities granted by those tattoos depend on their shape and placement on the body.
I also appreciated how the scarcity of the sap was incorporated into the larger conflict.
Access to this resource is limited, which creates significant political and social tension and gives the characters' search for the hidden supply much greater importance.
I also enjoyed the dynamic between Davina and Zephyr.
Their relationship develops against the backdrop of opposing loyalties, which makes their growing attraction particularly compelling.
While neither of them would necessarily rank among my all time favorite protagonists, I found both characters believable and easy to understand.
Their motivations felt grounded in their circumstances, and I could follow the reasoning behind the choices they made throughout the story.
Their chemistry and the gradual development of their relationship added another layer to an already engaging adventure.
Another aspect I found particularly interesting was the non-linear structure.
The story moves between different points in time, gradually revealing how the characters arrived at the situation we encounter at the beginning.
Rather than simply presenting the events in chronological order, the narrative allows the reader to piece together the missing information along the way.
I thought this was handled effectively and added to the mystery surrounding the story.
Most importantly, Kobra managed to genuinely surprise me.
I tend to be fairly good at anticipating plot developments and figuring out where a story is heading, so the ending caught me completely off guard.
The final revelations left me genuinely speechless and immediately made me want to know what comes next.
It is always particularly satisfying when a book manages to subvert your expectations in a way that feels earned, and Kobra certainly accomplished that for me.
Overall, Kobra was an exciting and immersive adventure that successfully combined the elements that initially drew me to the book: treasure hunting, ancient mysteries, a creative magic system, danger, and a developing romance.
The strong atmosphere and engaging pacing kept me invested throughout, while the unexpected ending left me eager for the sequel.
I am definitely looking forward to continuing this story and finding out where Davina and Zephyrs journey takes them next.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and Cris G. Wells for providing me with an ARC.
The promise of an adventure combining the atmosphere of Indiana Jones, Tomb Raider, and The Mummy, together with ancient mysteries, hidden treasures, dangerous explorations, and romance, immediately caught my attention.
It was exactly the kind of story I knew I wanted to read, which is why I was very excited to request the ARC through The Nerd Fam.
I was even more delighted when I was given the opportunity to read it and ultimately, Kobra delivered on that promise exceptionally well.
What stood out to me most was how immersive and addictive the story was.
I finished the book in roughly 24 hours, largely because I never felt the urge to put it aside.
The pacing kept the story moving without making it feel rushed, and the atmosphere consistently maintained that sense of adventure and discovery.
Exploring ancient locations, uncovering hidden chambers, navigating dangerous traps, and searching for a lost supply of magical tree sap created exactly the kind of treasure-hunting experience I had hoped for.
There was also something wonderfully nostalgic about the adventure itself.
The treasure hunter aspect reminded me of the kinds of movies and stories many of us grew up with, where every new location holds another mystery to uncover and every discovery can lead to something far more dangerous.
Kobra captured that feeling particularly well while still establishing a world and mythology of its own.
One of my favorite elements was the magic system.
Magic being created through tattoos made with the sap of a rare tree is a particularly creative concept, especially because the abilities granted by those tattoos depend on their shape and placement on the body.
I also appreciated how the scarcity of the sap was incorporated into the larger conflict.
Access to this resource is limited, which creates significant political and social tension and gives the characters' search for the hidden supply much greater importance.
I also enjoyed the dynamic between Davina and Zephyr.
Their relationship develops against the backdrop of opposing loyalties, which makes their growing attraction particularly compelling.
While neither of them would necessarily rank among my all time favorite protagonists, I found both characters believable and easy to understand.
Their motivations felt grounded in their circumstances, and I could follow the reasoning behind the choices they made throughout the story.
Their chemistry and the gradual development of their relationship added another layer to an already engaging adventure.
Another aspect I found particularly interesting was the non-linear structure.
The story moves between different points in time, gradually revealing how the characters arrived at the situation we encounter at the beginning.
Rather than simply presenting the events in chronological order, the narrative allows the reader to piece together the missing information along the way.
I thought this was handled effectively and added to the mystery surrounding the story.
Most importantly, Kobra managed to genuinely surprise me.
I tend to be fairly good at anticipating plot developments and figuring out where a story is heading, so the ending caught me completely off guard.
The final revelations left me genuinely speechless and immediately made me want to know what comes next.
It is always particularly satisfying when a book manages to subvert your expectations in a way that feels earned, and Kobra certainly accomplished that for me.
Overall, Kobra was an exciting and immersive adventure that successfully combined the elements that initially drew me to the book: treasure hunting, ancient mysteries, a creative magic system, danger, and a developing romance.
The strong atmosphere and engaging pacing kept me invested throughout, while the unexpected ending left me eager for the sequel.
I am definitely looking forward to continuing this story and finding out where Davina and Zephyrs journey takes them next.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and Cris G. Wells for providing me with an ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
They are enemy soldiers, brought together by chance, with orders that will undoubtedly turn them against each other sooner, rather than later. Whatever is happening between them is doomed from the start, and yet...
And yet...
Just when I felt like I had enough of the enemies-to-lovers trope (mostly because so many of them is just not well written), comes this book and gives my hope back--and essentially ruins me emotionally.
The story is interesting, the adventures are exciting enough, though sometimes I felt the discoveries themselves could have been a bit more fast-paced. (However, I do think many "slower" moments were necessary to build up the ending!)
Davina is the perfect heroine: she was trained to be emotionless and perfect, and her journey of self-discovery feels grounded, capturing me in an almost unexpected way. Zephyr is her perfect antithesis, at least seemingly they couldn't be any different. Where she is cold, he is burning hot, where she is intelligence, he is sheer power, and vice versa. Their duo just works so well in the story.
The supporting characters are interesting enough, but I feel like we didn't spend enough time with them to get fully invested in their individual stories.
I also enjoyed the world building: the countries, the tattoo-based magic system, the sap, the people... everything came together in a unique and intriguing world I wanted to learn more and more about.
However, what really made this story for me, and what made it outstanding in my opinion is *how* the story was told.
It's not trying to sell us false hope about the enemies-to-lovers story arc. We start at the end, where they are enemies: captor and captured, on opposite sides, after betrayal and lies and loss. And then they start telling their story. I knew where they would end up: but the way they got there was the real hero of the story. Because of this structure, I didn't expect to be surprised how their story would go, I was lured into a false sense of security how things would turn out. But OMG was the ending unexpected!!! Okay, okay, in the last 30% I had my suspicions, or rather, hopes, what twists could "help" but then...
I cannot say anything else without spoilers, but dear reader, beware! When you think you figured out the story, that's when a new twist will slap you in the face, leaving you dumbfounded and reeling with emotions.
The ending is so action packed and quick, I actually had to go back a few times as I found myself skipping ahead, because I was STRESSED.
Actually, I feel like I should read it again to see all the clues that were undoubtedly hidden thorough the story.
Kobra actually put me in a bit of a reading slump, and I had sooo many feelings after finishing it, the strongest one is disappointment that I cannot immediately go and read the next part. I need it. Like right now.
Thanks to the author for this eARC in exchange of my honest opinion!
And yet...
Just when I felt like I had enough of the enemies-to-lovers trope (mostly because so many of them is just not well written), comes this book and gives my hope back--and essentially ruins me emotionally.
The story is interesting, the adventures are exciting enough, though sometimes I felt the discoveries themselves could have been a bit more fast-paced. (However, I do think many "slower" moments were necessary to build up the ending!)
Davina is the perfect heroine: she was trained to be emotionless and perfect, and her journey of self-discovery feels grounded, capturing me in an almost unexpected way. Zephyr is her perfect antithesis, at least seemingly they couldn't be any different. Where she is cold, he is burning hot, where she is intelligence, he is sheer power, and vice versa. Their duo just works so well in the story.
The supporting characters are interesting enough, but I feel like we didn't spend enough time with them to get fully invested in their individual stories.
I also enjoyed the world building: the countries, the tattoo-based magic system, the sap, the people... everything came together in a unique and intriguing world I wanted to learn more and more about.
However, what really made this story for me, and what made it outstanding in my opinion is *how* the story was told.
It's not trying to sell us false hope about the enemies-to-lovers story arc. We start at the end, where they are enemies: captor and captured, on opposite sides, after betrayal and lies and loss. And then they start telling their story. I knew where they would end up: but the way they got there was the real hero of the story. Because of this structure, I didn't expect to be surprised how their story would go, I was lured into a false sense of security how things would turn out. But OMG was the ending unexpected!!! Okay, okay, in the last 30% I had my suspicions, or rather, hopes, what twists could "help" but then...
I cannot say anything else without spoilers, but dear reader, beware! When you think you figured out the story, that's when a new twist will slap you in the face, leaving you dumbfounded and reeling with emotions.
The ending is so action packed and quick, I actually had to go back a few times as I found myself skipping ahead, because I was STRESSED.
Actually, I feel like I should read it again to see all the clues that were undoubtedly hidden thorough the story.
Kobra actually put me in a bit of a reading slump, and I had sooo many feelings after finishing it, the strongest one is disappointment that I cannot immediately go and read the next part. I need it. Like right now.
Thanks to the author for this eARC in exchange of my honest opinion!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Arc review 3.5 stars
I want to thank Chris for including me in her arc team for this book. I am honored and I am truly wishing her the best.
I really wanted to love this book as it is reminiscent of Tomb Raider with magic powers and feuding continents. The premise of the story was good and I enjoyed the characters. The tension and enemies to lovers were great, I also enjoyed the banter with the side characters as well. Also, the character art was gorgeous at the beginning of the book and really got me excited to read the story!
The book follows our FMC and MMC who are from different continents. There is a way they can imbue humans with magic abilities of sorts and they are put on a task force to locate and bring back a large store of sap (the element that allows people to be imbued) after the death of the scientist who created the formula for sap to imbue powers. He was suspected of hoarding a large sum of it. Each continent wants to get their hands on it to disperse among the wealthy and those the government deems worthy, poor people be damned. Knowing they have both been ordered to betray the other by their governments, they struggle to trust each other during the mission, and it makes working together difficult, especially when they are going to investigate ancient pyramids and locations. Their journey is wrought with dangerous booby-traps and perilous terrain and elements and they are forced to work together to survive. There are betrayals amongst the ranks and higher up in the government agencies that have our characters questioning how things are being handled.
The book hits on topics of poverty, imbalance of power, wealthy thriving at the detriment of the poor, lying governments, a rebellion, secret identities, and wiped memories.
Where the book fell flat for me and why it received a 3.75 star rating is purely because of the dual timelines and character changes. I don't mind a POV change when I am reading about a single timeline, I actually quite enjoy it, however this book goes between the past and present right from the jump and switches character POV's very early on. For me personally this makes it harder to get into the world building and also to build an attachment with the characters. Also, the constant change of timelines and POV made it so the plot wasn't as impactful, I feel I would have been more engaged had it maybe started in the present, went back to the past and stayed in the past until it caught up with the present. For me that would have kept my attention, and I would've been more vested in the book.
Would I still recommend the book, yes. Will I continue on to the next one, maybe.
I want to thank Chris for including me in her arc team for this book. I am honored and I am truly wishing her the best.
I really wanted to love this book as it is reminiscent of Tomb Raider with magic powers and feuding continents. The premise of the story was good and I enjoyed the characters. The tension and enemies to lovers were great, I also enjoyed the banter with the side characters as well. Also, the character art was gorgeous at the beginning of the book and really got me excited to read the story!
The book follows our FMC and MMC who are from different continents. There is a way they can imbue humans with magic abilities of sorts and they are put on a task force to locate and bring back a large store of sap (the element that allows people to be imbued) after the death of the scientist who created the formula for sap to imbue powers. He was suspected of hoarding a large sum of it. Each continent wants to get their hands on it to disperse among the wealthy and those the government deems worthy, poor people be damned. Knowing they have both been ordered to betray the other by their governments, they struggle to trust each other during the mission, and it makes working together difficult, especially when they are going to investigate ancient pyramids and locations. Their journey is wrought with dangerous booby-traps and perilous terrain and elements and they are forced to work together to survive. There are betrayals amongst the ranks and higher up in the government agencies that have our characters questioning how things are being handled.
The book hits on topics of poverty, imbalance of power, wealthy thriving at the detriment of the poor, lying governments, a rebellion, secret identities, and wiped memories.
Where the book fell flat for me and why it received a 3.75 star rating is purely because of the dual timelines and character changes. I don't mind a POV change when I am reading about a single timeline, I actually quite enjoy it, however this book goes between the past and present right from the jump and switches character POV's very early on. For me personally this makes it harder to get into the world building and also to build an attachment with the characters. Also, the constant change of timelines and POV made it so the plot wasn't as impactful, I feel I would have been more engaged had it maybe started in the present, went back to the past and stayed in the past until it caught up with the present. For me that would have kept my attention, and I would've been more vested in the book.
Would I still recommend the book, yes. Will I continue on to the next one, maybe.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was incredibly unique, I was captivated from beginning to end. The magic system is unlike anything I ever read; it’s based on a magical tattoos. Each tattoo is inked specific to the power in which the person is compatible with, and not everyone can get inked. And of that wasn’t already intriguing enough, our main characters are on a mission to obtain something that can change the world.
Our FMC, Davina, is highly skilled; in combat, intelligence, and her inked abilities. I admired Davina character throughout the entirety of the story. I found her quick thinking and ability to decipher complex situations quite interesting. It seemed she would figure things out before others even had a chance to blink. I also enjoyed how she would reflect on all she knows and learned to make decisions on how to move forward, even if it went against what she always did. Davina is a character I highly enjoy and cannot wait to see what she does next in book two.
When it comes to Zephyr, he is a character of many layers; layers I suspect we will learn more about in book two. He never underestimated Davina, knowing she was a skilled adversary he must take seriously. And even though he knew they were rivals, he still found himself falling for her. I enjoyed reading his warring emotions between knowing they could never be, and his feelings for her only becoming deeper the more time they spent together. I am highly intrigued to see what he does and how they overcome the difficulties in this book.
The two of them together would make an unstoppable duo. Both Davina and Zephyr are powerful in their own rights, putting them together is deadly. I enjoyed seeing the progression from rivals to more throughout the story. And boy was the tension delicious.
Then for the storyline, as I said at the beginning, it was quite entertaining and had me captivated. I believe the time jumps between present and the weeks that Davina and Zephyr were on the hunt, was an interesting way for the story to be told. Each jump left us with a little more detail, but also more questions; capturing your attention and reading more to find out how it all ends. Watching these two hunt for something so vital was a journey I will want to read again, especially after what we find out at the end of this book. Based off all we learn, there is going to be more battle, difficulties, banter, and tension. I cannot wait!
.5 a 🌶️
Pepper percentage:
1.3% of the pages contain spicy content
1.9% of the chapters contain spicy content
Our FMC, Davina, is highly skilled; in combat, intelligence, and her inked abilities. I admired Davina character throughout the entirety of the story. I found her quick thinking and ability to decipher complex situations quite interesting. It seemed she would figure things out before others even had a chance to blink. I also enjoyed how she would reflect on all she knows and learned to make decisions on how to move forward, even if it went against what she always did. Davina is a character I highly enjoy and cannot wait to see what she does next in book two.
When it comes to Zephyr, he is a character of many layers; layers I suspect we will learn more about in book two. He never underestimated Davina, knowing she was a skilled adversary he must take seriously. And even though he knew they were rivals, he still found himself falling for her. I enjoyed reading his warring emotions between knowing they could never be, and his feelings for her only becoming deeper the more time they spent together. I am highly intrigued to see what he does and how they overcome the difficulties in this book.
The two of them together would make an unstoppable duo. Both Davina and Zephyr are powerful in their own rights, putting them together is deadly. I enjoyed seeing the progression from rivals to more throughout the story. And boy was the tension delicious.
Then for the storyline, as I said at the beginning, it was quite entertaining and had me captivated. I believe the time jumps between present and the weeks that Davina and Zephyr were on the hunt, was an interesting way for the story to be told. Each jump left us with a little more detail, but also more questions; capturing your attention and reading more to find out how it all ends. Watching these two hunt for something so vital was a journey I will want to read again, especially after what we find out at the end of this book. Based off all we learn, there is going to be more battle, difficulties, banter, and tension. I cannot wait!
.5 a 🌶️
Pepper percentage:
1.3% of the pages contain spicy content
1.9% of the chapters contain spicy content
Review of advance copy received from Author
1rst book in the Inked Sap duology!
So good! Got hyped by TNF discord community and definitely did not regret asking for that ARC, oh my! That endiiiingg! 🫨 a perfect conclusion for a book 1 to make you want to read the second and last book!
Story told with a dual timeline: flashbacks and returns to the present account alternated like a tale inside a tale. Very smooth and enjoyable, it keeps you quite engaged as a reader. I definitely enjoyed the writing style added on top of that, with a dual pov.
Also : bearded man💜😏 with nice muscles 💜 my favorite combo irl to be honest eheh
(Although i like my men with more beard than his, a beard cut pretty short but still very present is always quite nice and hot for military type of men so I don't mind eheh) although man, you got some groveling to do in book2 mmh
The only thing I would have to say against the writing style is that I was slightly disturbed with the narration of the tale inside the tale because Davina is explaining with too much detail, yk.
It works when it's a flashback, but it's a bit too much when in the 'now'. Have you ever seen and heard someone tell their story and recalling so much detail, from things so far in the past, without them being an awesome liar or/and a storyteller?
I could personally not even do that, recalling such a detailed memory, for my last 24hrs so 1 month ago? loool
But let's say all people in this world have memory enhancement; it's a fantasy world after all, so it's definitely more than possible.
Definitely only a small thing which comes from reading mystery books so don't worry (in these, the detective always says that those that recall too many details and always stick to the very same words during each interrogation are most definitely liars, because the human memory doesn't work that way). It's fantasy, you can do a lot more things slightly out of reality without it being a real problem, tbf.
Although it's usually better to say directly or indirectly, "yeah no worries, that's normal, she got memory enhancement," and then it explains everything and no one is disturbed anymore, lol. Viva fantasy💜 (I actually love fantasy for that, ahem). Anyways!
Expected release for book 2, summer 2027!! Cannot wait, I'm so excited! 🤩
Thank you to TheNerdFam and the author for the review copy.
ARC provided by TheNerdFam in exchange for an honest review
So good! Got hyped by TNF discord community and definitely did not regret asking for that ARC, oh my! That endiiiingg! 🫨 a perfect conclusion for a book 1 to make you want to read the second and last book!
Story told with a dual timeline: flashbacks and returns to the present account alternated like a tale inside a tale. Very smooth and enjoyable, it keeps you quite engaged as a reader. I definitely enjoyed the writing style added on top of that, with a dual pov.
Also : bearded man💜😏 with nice muscles 💜 my favorite combo irl to be honest eheh
(Although i like my men with more beard than his, a beard cut pretty short but still very present is always quite nice and hot for military type of men so I don't mind eheh) although man, you got some groveling to do in book2 mmh
The only thing I would have to say against the writing style is that I was slightly disturbed with the narration of the tale inside the tale because Davina is explaining with too much detail, yk.
It works when it's a flashback, but it's a bit too much when in the 'now'. Have you ever seen and heard someone tell their story and recalling so much detail, from things so far in the past, without them being an awesome liar or/and a storyteller?
I could personally not even do that, recalling such a detailed memory, for my last 24hrs so 1 month ago? loool
But let's say all people in this world have memory enhancement; it's a fantasy world after all, so it's definitely more than possible.
Definitely only a small thing which comes from reading mystery books so don't worry (in these, the detective always says that those that recall too many details and always stick to the very same words during each interrogation are most definitely liars, because the human memory doesn't work that way). It's fantasy, you can do a lot more things slightly out of reality without it being a real problem, tbf.
Although it's usually better to say directly or indirectly, "yeah no worries, that's normal, she got memory enhancement," and then it explains everything and no one is disturbed anymore, lol. Viva fantasy💜 (I actually love fantasy for that, ahem). Anyways!
Expected release for book 2, summer 2027!! Cannot wait, I'm so excited! 🤩
Thank you to TheNerdFam and the author for the review copy.
ARC provided by TheNerdFam in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Author
For lovers of action movies, Kobra is most easily described as the perfect mix of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Indiana Jones, Salt and The Mummy. Raised never to accept defeat, Centurion Davina Lachlan is the strong FMC. When tasked with uncovering the truth behind the death of a fellow citizen and recover a hidden treasure trove, she is determined beyond reproach to outsmart her reluctant ally, Captain Zephyr Kentar. But Zephyr isn't going to make it easy on Davina.
Set in the Kingdom of Kobra Cris G. Wells' world building is a thing of art. There is enough familiarity in the world to make it easy to visualise whilst also creating a magical realm while still feeling distinctly magical and unfamiliar. The Kingdom is built around a magic system I have not encountered as a reader before. Citizens are granted abilities by being tattooed with the Sap of Evergreen Mahogany trees. The location of the tattoo, along with the body's acceptance of the sap, determines the ability bestowed. Like gold and gems before it, the world was changed at the discovery of sap and is still trying to stabilise itself in the wake of change.
Cris has taken the unique approach to write Kobra as Davina recounting past events while being interrogated/imprisoned by Zephyr. With her powers suppressed, Davina is forced to recount her movements and thoughts as she pieced together the mystery and location of the missing sap. Through the exploration of ancient pyramids, deadly traps, hidden maps and riddles, the novel seamlessly integrates the dual POVs and "current" time period with accounts of the past. I really enjoyed this approach to narration, as I was continually trying to solve the conundrum of how Davina ended up imprisoned by Zephyr!
There is a slow burn romance that develops between Davina and Zephyr with longing on both sides. As a reader I found myself invested in the Enemies to Lovers to Rivals mix up. Given I knew from the outset that Zephyr has Davina being interrogated, the will they/wont they question had me guessing throughout the novel.
I found Kobra to be a really enjoyable read with action and suspense in every chapter. That ending? I genuinely did not see it coming! Waiting until 2027 for the second book is going to be arduous.
Thankyou to The Nerd Fam and Cris G. Wells for the gifted eARC.
#kobra #thenerdfam
Set in the Kingdom of Kobra Cris G. Wells' world building is a thing of art. There is enough familiarity in the world to make it easy to visualise whilst also creating a magical realm while still feeling distinctly magical and unfamiliar. The Kingdom is built around a magic system I have not encountered as a reader before. Citizens are granted abilities by being tattooed with the Sap of Evergreen Mahogany trees. The location of the tattoo, along with the body's acceptance of the sap, determines the ability bestowed. Like gold and gems before it, the world was changed at the discovery of sap and is still trying to stabilise itself in the wake of change.
Cris has taken the unique approach to write Kobra as Davina recounting past events while being interrogated/imprisoned by Zephyr. With her powers suppressed, Davina is forced to recount her movements and thoughts as she pieced together the mystery and location of the missing sap. Through the exploration of ancient pyramids, deadly traps, hidden maps and riddles, the novel seamlessly integrates the dual POVs and "current" time period with accounts of the past. I really enjoyed this approach to narration, as I was continually trying to solve the conundrum of how Davina ended up imprisoned by Zephyr!
There is a slow burn romance that develops between Davina and Zephyr with longing on both sides. As a reader I found myself invested in the Enemies to Lovers to Rivals mix up. Given I knew from the outset that Zephyr has Davina being interrogated, the will they/wont they question had me guessing throughout the novel.
I found Kobra to be a really enjoyable read with action and suspense in every chapter. That ending? I genuinely did not see it coming! Waiting until 2027 for the second book is going to be arduous.
Thankyou to The Nerd Fam and Cris G. Wells for the gifted eARC.
#kobra #thenerdfam
September 2, 2026
A gripping tomb-raiding adventure filled with ancient dangers, high-stakes deception, and an irresistible tension that kept me on the edge of my seat!
In Kobra by Cris G. Wells, rivals envoys Centurion Davina Lachlan and Captain Zephyr are forced into an uneasy alliance to investigate a deadly murder and hunt down an ancient, hidden treasure. Navigating lethal booby traps and sealed tombs, their shared quest is made far more perilous by secret orders: both have been commanded to betray the other once the objective is reached. As they venture deeper into danger, the electric spark between them grows harder to deny, blurring the line between sworn enemy and undeniable ally.
What I Loved
- Unforgettable Atmosphere: The tomb-raiding setting delivers incredible Indiana Jones and The Mummy vibes that make every trap and cavern feel intensely vivid.
- Innovative Magic System: The concept of magic powered by tree-resin tattoos, where placement on the body governs power, feels remarkably inventive and fresh.
- Magnetic Lead Dynamics: The chemistry between Davina and Zephyr is electric, made even more thrilling by the constant threat of their mutual covert assignments.
- Tangible Suspense: The underlying web of secrets creates a steady, exciting pressure that keeps the narrative moving at a fantastic pace.
Things for Consideration
- Deliberate Opening: The initial chapters require a little patience as the narrative establishes the extensive world-building and magic lore.
- Complex Lore: The political climate and tattoo mechanics demand a bit of focus early on to fully grasp the rules of the world.
- Series Opener Cliffhanger: As the fist installment in a series, the story concludes on a cliffhanger that leaves you desperatly wondering how the characters will recover.
Final Verdict and Recommendations
I am giving this book a 4.5-star rating (rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads). Kobra is a thrilling, atmospheric start to a new fantasy series that successfully weaves high-stakes competition with a fiery enemies-to-lovers dynamic. It is a fantastic match for readers who love tomb exploration, intricate magic systems and stories where trust is the most dangerous risk of all.
Disclosure
I received an eARC from The Nerd Fam. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
In Kobra by Cris G. Wells, rivals envoys Centurion Davina Lachlan and Captain Zephyr are forced into an uneasy alliance to investigate a deadly murder and hunt down an ancient, hidden treasure. Navigating lethal booby traps and sealed tombs, their shared quest is made far more perilous by secret orders: both have been commanded to betray the other once the objective is reached. As they venture deeper into danger, the electric spark between them grows harder to deny, blurring the line between sworn enemy and undeniable ally.
What I Loved
- Unforgettable Atmosphere: The tomb-raiding setting delivers incredible Indiana Jones and The Mummy vibes that make every trap and cavern feel intensely vivid.
- Innovative Magic System: The concept of magic powered by tree-resin tattoos, where placement on the body governs power, feels remarkably inventive and fresh.
- Magnetic Lead Dynamics: The chemistry between Davina and Zephyr is electric, made even more thrilling by the constant threat of their mutual covert assignments.
- Tangible Suspense: The underlying web of secrets creates a steady, exciting pressure that keeps the narrative moving at a fantastic pace.
Things for Consideration
- Deliberate Opening: The initial chapters require a little patience as the narrative establishes the extensive world-building and magic lore.
- Complex Lore: The political climate and tattoo mechanics demand a bit of focus early on to fully grasp the rules of the world.
- Series Opener Cliffhanger: As the fist installment in a series, the story concludes on a cliffhanger that leaves you desperatly wondering how the characters will recover.
Final Verdict and Recommendations
I am giving this book a 4.5-star rating (rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads). Kobra is a thrilling, atmospheric start to a new fantasy series that successfully weaves high-stakes competition with a fiery enemies-to-lovers dynamic. It is a fantastic match for readers who love tomb exploration, intricate magic systems and stories where trust is the most dangerous risk of all.
Disclosure
I received an eARC from The Nerd Fam. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
August 22, 2026
"Um, wow? Like wut wutt??" and "I KNEW IT! I knew there was something fishy with [redacted]" <-- was all i could write after finishing. I had to sleep on it before I came back to write this FIVE STAR review. Seriously could not get enough of the Zephyr + Davina banter. Their interactions, inherent mistrust laced with respect and pining... ahhh it was so so good.
Kobra has the perfect combination of action and adventure, political intrigue, and romance. Seriously adored the chemistry between the MCs and the way they bickered. Their personalities clashed and meshed really well. So much TENSION - not just romantic but also strung throughout the layers of deceit and treasure hunting (for lack of a better phrase).
And the MAGIC SYSTEM - freaking cant wait to learn more about the tattoo-based abilities. I feel like we just barely scratched the surface of what's out there and it makes me so excited for book 2! I mean the lore of the Evergreen Mahogany and how different parts of it have diff purposes is so REAL but also fantastical that I ate that shhh up. 😂
This is kinda a niche callout, but I am a HUGE Naruto fan so I've been really craving books that have a similar vibe of abilities, spy/ninja dynamics, mission systems, inter-land politics, etc etc which Kobra ABSOLUTELY does. 1000% would recommend to anime fans, especially who love super baddie FMCs who are layered and complex but also flawed in their own (loveable) ways.
Lastly, thank you so much to the author for letting me read an early version before everyone else...even though my review came out after release date. Loved getting to read KOBRA and see the world come alive like I was watching a movie (fr fr have images SEARED in my brain). Also the artwork is so stunning...ok ok i need to go. 10/10 would recommend. Byeee
Kobra has the perfect combination of action and adventure, political intrigue, and romance. Seriously adored the chemistry between the MCs and the way they bickered. Their personalities clashed and meshed really well. So much TENSION - not just romantic but also strung throughout the layers of deceit and treasure hunting (for lack of a better phrase).
And the MAGIC SYSTEM - freaking cant wait to learn more about the tattoo-based abilities. I feel like we just barely scratched the surface of what's out there and it makes me so excited for book 2! I mean the lore of the Evergreen Mahogany and how different parts of it have diff purposes is so REAL but also fantastical that I ate that shhh up. 😂
This is kinda a niche callout, but I am a HUGE Naruto fan so I've been really craving books that have a similar vibe of abilities, spy/ninja dynamics, mission systems, inter-land politics, etc etc which Kobra ABSOLUTELY does. 1000% would recommend to anime fans, especially who love super baddie FMCs who are layered and complex but also flawed in their own (loveable) ways.
Lastly, thank you so much to the author for letting me read an early version before everyone else...even though my review came out after release date. Loved getting to read KOBRA and see the world come alive like I was watching a movie (fr fr have images SEARED in my brain). Also the artwork is so stunning...ok ok i need to go. 10/10 would recommend. Byeee
Review of advance copy received from Author
NGL, it’s taken me days to figure out how to rate and review this book. So, let me break it down in categories:
World Building/Magic: 5/5 ⭐️
Character development and relationships to each other: 4.5/5 ⭐️
Prose (how it’s actually written): 3/5 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
Cliffhanger: 10/💀
Okay. Here’s the truth. I really like the world and the story. The tattoo magic is really creative. The world is really interesting. The characters are really clear.
My issue is it takes a really long time to get going, and the internal dialogue is overwhelming. I can hear the writer talking during a conversation rather than the character’s voices. Not every statement needs a page of memories and internal dialogue to build the story. Let the characters talk. I kept getting lost in the conversation and having to back track.
You can hear the writer’s voice especially during the bits with the interrogation. Davina (FMC) is describing the events leading up to her capture. But the way she’s describing them is not how someone would speak in normal terms. She’s using phrases such as:
“…when I felt the press of steel against my lower back, followed by a male voice hissing in my ear to give him my pouch… A woman appeared from a dark, narrow alley up ahead. She was carrying a blade sister to the one I suspected was pressed over my kidney.”
This reads like a world building line, not something a character would say out loud to her captor she hates.
The last 10 or 15 chapters pick up and are really good. You don’t. Have as much drag and the story picks up really well. I blew through the end of it! It’s a brilliant world and magic. The twist at the end is *Chefs Kiss* BRILLIANT. And hang on for the Cliffhanger. It’s a doozy 👀
World Building/Magic: 5/5 ⭐️
Character development and relationships to each other: 4.5/5 ⭐️
Prose (how it’s actually written): 3/5 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
Cliffhanger: 10/💀
Okay. Here’s the truth. I really like the world and the story. The tattoo magic is really creative. The world is really interesting. The characters are really clear.
My issue is it takes a really long time to get going, and the internal dialogue is overwhelming. I can hear the writer talking during a conversation rather than the character’s voices. Not every statement needs a page of memories and internal dialogue to build the story. Let the characters talk. I kept getting lost in the conversation and having to back track.
You can hear the writer’s voice especially during the bits with the interrogation. Davina (FMC) is describing the events leading up to her capture. But the way she’s describing them is not how someone would speak in normal terms. She’s using phrases such as:
“…when I felt the press of steel against my lower back, followed by a male voice hissing in my ear to give him my pouch… A woman appeared from a dark, narrow alley up ahead. She was carrying a blade sister to the one I suspected was pressed over my kidney.”
This reads like a world building line, not something a character would say out loud to her captor she hates.
The last 10 or 15 chapters pick up and are really good. You don’t. Have as much drag and the story picks up really well. I blew through the end of it! It’s a brilliant world and magic. The twist at the end is *Chefs Kiss* BRILLIANT. And hang on for the Cliffhanger. It’s a doozy 👀
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I really, REALLY wanted to love this book. While it had promise, so much of it just fell short for me.
The good:
-Lots of action kept the story moving, and I found it to be very cinematic.
-The characters were all believable as agents and soldiers. They FELT a lot of emotions, but rarely outwardly indulged in displaying them–particularly when it would affect the mission.
-The tension between operatives of rival nations was well done. No insta-lust/love.
The not-so-good:
-The time skips, while not difficult to follow, did often feel unnecessary. Instead of a clever literary device to build tension or suspense, they instead often interrupted the narrative pacing, acting like a record skip and forcing you out of the flow of the story.
-There was an excess of “telling” rather than “showing” writing. This is, in my opinion, a product of inexperience and I think the writer will get better as the books continue.
-Along those lines, the book suffers a bit from purple prose and wordiness at inappropriate times. It would sometimes get lost in detailed descriptions and inner thoughts in the middle of dialog, breaking it up in such a way that I’d have to turn back a page to remember what was being spoken about.
Overall, while I feel that this book would benefit from some constructive beta reading and good edits, it was entertaining and has potential. While it was described as Indiana Jones/Mummy/Lara Croft-adjacent, I think it would be more appropriate to compare it to Fourth Wing or Throne of Glass in mood. If you are fans of that work, you will likely enjoy this and the sequels as well.
Thank you so much to Nerd Fam for providing me with a copy. All opinions are my own.
The good:
-Lots of action kept the story moving, and I found it to be very cinematic.
-The characters were all believable as agents and soldiers. They FELT a lot of emotions, but rarely outwardly indulged in displaying them–particularly when it would affect the mission.
-The tension between operatives of rival nations was well done. No insta-lust/love.
The not-so-good:
-The time skips, while not difficult to follow, did often feel unnecessary. Instead of a clever literary device to build tension or suspense, they instead often interrupted the narrative pacing, acting like a record skip and forcing you out of the flow of the story.
-There was an excess of “telling” rather than “showing” writing. This is, in my opinion, a product of inexperience and I think the writer will get better as the books continue.
-Along those lines, the book suffers a bit from purple prose and wordiness at inappropriate times. It would sometimes get lost in detailed descriptions and inner thoughts in the middle of dialog, breaking it up in such a way that I’d have to turn back a page to remember what was being spoken about.
Overall, while I feel that this book would benefit from some constructive beta reading and good edits, it was entertaining and has potential. While it was described as Indiana Jones/Mummy/Lara Croft-adjacent, I think it would be more appropriate to compare it to Fourth Wing or Throne of Glass in mood. If you are fans of that work, you will likely enjoy this and the sequels as well.
Thank you so much to Nerd Fam for providing me with a copy. All opinions are my own.
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