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The Steelborn Saga #1
Steelborn - Forjados pelo Destino
Nunca Fujas. Nunca te Ajoelhes. Nunca Morras
Três regras fizeram de Reya a Adaga Carmesim, a ladra mais famosa de Rhiterra: não há honra entre ladrões; uma boa lâmina ganha qualquer negociação; só os mortos guardam segredos. E Reya tem um segredo que deve guardar a todo o custo. Mas quando um assalto corre mal na véspera de saldar a sua dívida, vai precisar de novas regras. Rapidamente.
Entra em cena Caelan, um guerreiro imortal cuja magia faz dele um alvo valioso. Isto se a maldição que avança sobre o seu coração não o alcançar primeiro. Só uma pessoa está desesperada o suficiente para aceitar ir à procura do antídoto: a Adaga Carmesim. Regido pela honra, Caelan despreza tudo o que a ladra representa e tenta ignorar o fogo que ela acende onde só havia gelo… mas Reya é a sua última esperança.
A sua busca levá-los-á até aos confins do mundo conhecido e ao limite de si próprios. Reya terá de enfrentar adversários mortíferos, combater a atração pelo imortal que a faz sentir mais viva do que qualquer perigo e dominar a fúria que passou a vida inteira a tentar enterrar. Desta vez, espadas e adagas não chegam, e o destino de todos os que nasceram da magia está nas suas mãos.
Aventura-te nesta jornada épica cheia de perigos, dos quais o amor é o mais mortal…
Três regras fizeram de Reya a Adaga Carmesim, a ladra mais famosa de Rhiterra: não há honra entre ladrões; uma boa lâmina ganha qualquer negociação; só os mortos guardam segredos. E Reya tem um segredo que deve guardar a todo o custo. Mas quando um assalto corre mal na véspera de saldar a sua dívida, vai precisar de novas regras. Rapidamente.
Entra em cena Caelan, um guerreiro imortal cuja magia faz dele um alvo valioso. Isto se a maldição que avança sobre o seu coração não o alcançar primeiro. Só uma pessoa está desesperada o suficiente para aceitar ir à procura do antídoto: a Adaga Carmesim. Regido pela honra, Caelan despreza tudo o que a ladra representa e tenta ignorar o fogo que ela acende onde só havia gelo… mas Reya é a sua última esperança.
A sua busca levá-los-á até aos confins do mundo conhecido e ao limite de si próprios. Reya terá de enfrentar adversários mortíferos, combater a atração pelo imortal que a faz sentir mais viva do que qualquer perigo e dominar a fúria que passou a vida inteira a tentar enterrar. Desta vez, espadas e adagas não chegam, e o destino de todos os que nasceram da magia está nas suas mãos.
Aventura-te nesta jornada épica cheia de perigos, dos quais o amor é o mais mortal…
488 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 2026
About the author
Taylor J. LaRue
2 books169 followersTaylor J. LaRue began her career as a journalist in the Windy City. Now she lives in the Pacific Northwest with her high school sweetheart turned husband, their tiny human tyrant, and one very soggy puppy. Steelborn is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 460 reviews
June 23, 2026
thank you so much to netgalley for this arc!
this was such a fun romantasy!!!
the strongest part of the book was definitely reya. she's confident, intelligent, stubborn, and feels like she has a lot more depth than the typical romantasy heroine. i also adored her dynamic with caelan - the enemies-to-lovers progression felt natural, and although it wasn’t a ‘proper’ slow burn, it felt slower than a lot of my other recent romantasy reads.
the worldbuilding was super interesting, i feel like it was rich enough but still easy to understand. also loved the side characters that we met a bit later in the book!
my main complaint is that the pacing wasn't always consistent. the beginning hooked me immediately, but the middle section dragged at times and some plot points felt stretched out longer than necessary.
overall, this was a super enjoyable read with a compelling main character, good romantic tension, and some really fun twists. would highly recommend!!
this was such a fun romantasy!!!
the strongest part of the book was definitely reya. she's confident, intelligent, stubborn, and feels like she has a lot more depth than the typical romantasy heroine. i also adored her dynamic with caelan - the enemies-to-lovers progression felt natural, and although it wasn’t a ‘proper’ slow burn, it felt slower than a lot of my other recent romantasy reads.
the worldbuilding was super interesting, i feel like it was rich enough but still easy to understand. also loved the side characters that we met a bit later in the book!
my main complaint is that the pacing wasn't always consistent. the beginning hooked me immediately, but the middle section dragged at times and some plot points felt stretched out longer than necessary.
overall, this was a super enjoyable read with a compelling main character, good romantic tension, and some really fun twists. would highly recommend!!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Strong 4! Review to follow!
Reya a thief, hiding secrets of her own and working for a notorious crime lord, Lennox. He sends her on a mission that is dangerous but leaves her completely indebted to him. Along the way, she’s forced into a partnership with Caelan, an immortal warrior who is suffering from a curse. His time is running out and he needs her help. Initially mutually distrustful, they set on a quest to steal a mythical cure but in the process find out a far larger conspiracy at play. As their distrust turns into attraction, their slow burn enemies to lovers romance will keep the tension and the stakes high.
*This is featured on Allurial for August* Grab your deluxe edition for 9.99$ using this code: https://www.allurial.com/refer/g7sai1...
Their books are limited edition and are only featured on Allurial. Excellent quality & one of a kind. Easy to sign up & cancel any time!
Many thanks to the publisher for an early copy!
Reya a thief, hiding secrets of her own and working for a notorious crime lord, Lennox. He sends her on a mission that is dangerous but leaves her completely indebted to him. Along the way, she’s forced into a partnership with Caelan, an immortal warrior who is suffering from a curse. His time is running out and he needs her help. Initially mutually distrustful, they set on a quest to steal a mythical cure but in the process find out a far larger conspiracy at play. As their distrust turns into attraction, their slow burn enemies to lovers romance will keep the tension and the stakes high.
*This is featured on Allurial for August* Grab your deluxe edition for 9.99$ using this code: https://www.allurial.com/refer/g7sai1...
Their books are limited edition and are only featured on Allurial. Excellent quality & one of a kind. Easy to sign up & cancel any time!
Many thanks to the publisher for an early copy!
Review of advance copy
Ah, that classic, and super relatable, age gap where a man male who has survived centuries of war looks at a 21 year old and thinks, “Yes, this is my true love.”
Let me get this out of the way real quick because it’s all I could think about as I read this book: the writing style and plot feel so Sarah J Maas coded. Think Heir of Fire but with way less emotional payoff.
Now that that’s done:
The first chapters do a great job setting up Reya’s motivations and stakes. The pacing is fast, and there is SO much going on. I mean this book truly has everything. From Fae and elementals to krakens, pirates and sirens. But even with all that going on, this is still a formulaic, rinse and repeat romantasy which is ABSOLUTELY FINE in most circumstances, but I couldn’t help but be disappointed by the romance.
The whole enemies thing felt so mild for me. She’s a thief in need of fast cash, while he’s dying and needs her help. Sure, she steals from him and he blackmails her (loved that), but then he also promises to pay her debts? Let's be honest, the stakes were not high enough. They hated each other for maybe the first 30% of the book, and this simply did not work for me.
He calls her thief and she calls him fire fingers, and I’ll admit that was cute the first time because of their reactions. But by the 20th time I read it, I was tired and found it to be way overused.
And while they don’t immediately jump into each other’s pants, it’s clear they want to. There’s a tug and pull, a will they, won’t they, actually, no, more like a they will but WHEN, that I just don’t care for. Seriously, the lust here was LUSTING. It’s one thing to acknowledge someone is hot, but it’s another to be constantly reminded of their sexual attraction (and the smell of that attraction). And *of course* they antagonized each other with very sexual undertones. Clearly, we have a very different definition of a slow burn, and it shows. Not to say that their emotional connection didn’t improve throughout the book (which it did!) but at the same time, and for me at least, it still happened too soon. Maybe my enjoyment was just a victim of my own expectations for the romance. But there’s nothing I can do about that now.
And Caelan… this man is the definition of a tortured soul. Past trauma and vulnerability? I loved to see it. But I also felt like we barely scratched the surface here! I really needed a culmination of all this guilt and suffering in the final chapters but there was nothing. By the end of the book this man is a simp for Reya and has lost all personality. Goodbye, noble and brave hero. Hello, obsessive and possessive male.
And sorry, but what do you mean a 21 year old was giving advice on how to win a war to a group of centuries old beings who actually participated in a bunch of them? And proceeded to tell them things any seasoned warrior would already know... and they took her seriously? *Sigh*
Then she goes and does something at the end ALONE that honestly made no sense either but of course it worked wonderfully. *Double sigh*
I’m just so tired of the trope where a barely legal girl is suddenly better at everything than immortals with centuries of experience. But hey, perks of being The Chosen One, I guess.
That said, if you're looking for something to scratch that romantasy itch, this will absolutely deliver. I know I’m being tough on it, but that’s because I was looking for something *very* specific when I picked this up and this just wasn’t it. But this is still good... kinda.
─ ✦ ────
✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: perfect for fans of Danielle L. Jensen, you say? that’s me 🙋♀️ i’m holding you to that “slow burn enemies-to-lovers” promise. do not let me down, i am begging you 💀
⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to Booktrovert and the publisher for the arc!
Let me get this out of the way real quick because it’s all I could think about as I read this book: the writing style and plot feel so Sarah J Maas coded. Think Heir of Fire but with way less emotional payoff.
Now that that’s done:
The first chapters do a great job setting up Reya’s motivations and stakes. The pacing is fast, and there is SO much going on. I mean this book truly has everything. From Fae and elementals to krakens, pirates and sirens. But even with all that going on, this is still a formulaic, rinse and repeat romantasy which is ABSOLUTELY FINE in most circumstances, but I couldn’t help but be disappointed by the romance.
The whole enemies thing felt so mild for me. She’s a thief in need of fast cash, while he’s dying and needs her help. Sure, she steals from him and he blackmails her (loved that), but then he also promises to pay her debts? Let's be honest, the stakes were not high enough. They hated each other for maybe the first 30% of the book, and this simply did not work for me.
He calls her thief and she calls him fire fingers, and I’ll admit that was cute the first time because of their reactions. But by the 20th time I read it, I was tired and found it to be way overused.
And while they don’t immediately jump into each other’s pants, it’s clear they want to. There’s a tug and pull, a will they, won’t they, actually, no, more like a they will but WHEN, that I just don’t care for. Seriously, the lust here was LUSTING. It’s one thing to acknowledge someone is hot, but it’s another to be constantly reminded of their sexual attraction (and the smell of that attraction). And *of course* they antagonized each other with very sexual undertones. Clearly, we have a very different definition of a slow burn, and it shows. Not to say that their emotional connection didn’t improve throughout the book (which it did!) but at the same time, and for me at least, it still happened too soon. Maybe my enjoyment was just a victim of my own expectations for the romance. But there’s nothing I can do about that now.
And Caelan… this man is the definition of a tortured soul. Past trauma and vulnerability? I loved to see it. But I also felt like we barely scratched the surface here! I really needed a culmination of all this guilt and suffering in the final chapters but there was nothing. By the end of the book this man is a simp for Reya and has lost all personality. Goodbye, noble and brave hero. Hello, obsessive and possessive male.
And sorry, but what do you mean a 21 year old was giving advice on how to win a war to a group of centuries old beings who actually participated in a bunch of them? And proceeded to tell them things any seasoned warrior would already know... and they took her seriously? *Sigh*
Then she goes and does something at the end ALONE that honestly made no sense either but of course it worked wonderfully. *Double sigh*
I’m just so tired of the trope where a barely legal girl is suddenly better at everything than immortals with centuries of experience. But hey, perks of being The Chosen One, I guess.
That said, if you're looking for something to scratch that romantasy itch, this will absolutely deliver. I know I’m being tough on it, but that’s because I was looking for something *very* specific when I picked this up and this just wasn’t it. But this is still good... kinda.
─ ✦ ────
✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: perfect for fans of Danielle L. Jensen, you say? that’s me 🙋♀️ i’m holding you to that “slow burn enemies-to-lovers” promise. do not let me down, i am begging you 💀
⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to Booktrovert and the publisher for the arc!
August 4, 2026
If life is about learning to bloom where you're planted, Reya Connery has blossomed like a wild rose from scorched earth: an impossible beauty with steel daggers for thorns and fiery crimson petals.
She's the portrait of resilience. A proper firecracker who’s confident, clever, charming, and witty. In other words, she’s my favorite kind of heroine.
What makes her all the more admirable is how she’s never lost those parts of herself despite the many hardships she’s endured.
Reya was abandoned at birth and orphaned at eleven after her adoptive parents were murdered, leaving her starving and destitute on the streets. But, “like all her pain, she’d turned it into a weapon.”
We meet Reya a decade after she’s managed to rebuild a life for herself. Unfortunately, that life happened to be built upon a foundation laid by a notorious crime lord, Lennox, who preyed on her vulnerability and locked her into ten years of servitude as his henchwoman in exchange for food, shelter, and safety.
But if there’s one thing Reya’s going to do, it’s make lemonade from whatever lemons life throws her way. So she became a formidable force within the city’s criminal underbelly in her own right. Known as the Crimson Dagger, Reya is a legendary thief and cloaked enigma who leaves even the most fearsome guardsmen quaking in their boots.
While this lifestyle has forged Reya into a weapon of steel, she’s never abandoned her heart of gold. And when a critical heist forces her to choose between her values and the freedom it would finally grant her from Lennox, her integrity wins out.
That choice comes at a steep cost and thrusts her into an insurmountable, perilous quest that could sever her ties to Lennox for good, or bind her to another decade under his ruthless control. It pushes her criminal prowess to its limits and compels her to confront the dangerous truth of who and what she truly is.
Along the way, we witness perhaps Reya’s greatest heist of all: stealing the impenetrable heart of Caelan Halcyon. He’s a stoic, emotionally guarded, quasi-immortal warrior who, like Reya, is determined to rewrite his fate by any means necessary.
Their love is inevitable yet impossible. A tragic romance that had me clutching my pearls and praying to the stars that the tides would turn in their favor. I enjoyed their cheeky banter and the gradual unfolding of their connection. The slow burn is incredibly effective, and they don't truly come together until the final 25% of the story when it feels earned.
I also appreciated how Reya never became the lustful, brain-dead FMC who accepts scraps from the aloof MMC and wants to ravage him at the most inopportune and infuriating times (like I’ve seen play out in countless other romantasy novels).
I did, however, find that once Caelan fully embraced his desire for Reya, the floodgates of his heart came crashing down in a way that felt a bit too soft relative to his character. By this point, we've come to know him as a fierce warrior who's battle-hardened and emotionally unavailable; a wise man of few words who has fully devoted his life to protecting his people against the impending threat of genocide.
He felt like something of a crossover between Thor, Eeyore, and Confucius to me. So I found it slightly jarring to watch him quickly do a full 180 and melt into a pile of puddy regarding Reya near the end of the story.
In terms of the narrative and world building, my initial experience was one of major déjà vu (mostly in the first 10% of the story) after having recently read Quicksilver by Callie Hart. They both feature a thieving, orphaned FMC who’s introduced to us while knee-deep in a heist in ‘Silver City’ (literally the same exact name), which is ruled by a tyrannical monarch who has outlawed magic. Her father was also a blacksmith and there's a lot of symbolism related to precious metals, though in this case the focus is steel. But beyond this overlap, Steelborn feels unique and inventive, with poetic prose, gripping action, and nuanced, layered characters which I really enjoyed.
At its core, this is a story about self-acceptance and the journey of a woman who’s learning to love and embrace all parts of herself. It’s about reclaiming your magic and power; not just in the supernatural sense, but the raw and intrinsic kind that’s forged from every challenge we've endured and the strength we've gained because of it.
Reya’s character arc is a jagged yet beautiful journey where she learns that her life path doesn’t define her worth.
“She was everything this world had made her and more. She had survived. And surviving wasn’t always clean. Sometimes it was ugly and cruel. Thief. Liar. Killer. She would own it all—the light, the dark, and everything in between. Because there was no part of her that was not worthy of the rest."
And she comes to learn that she doesn't have to fit herself into the mold that's been laid by those who came before her. In fact, what the world needs most is her exactly as she is. And that, my friends, leaves me misty-eyed as I conclude this review because it strikes a little too close to home...
I’ll absolutely be continuing the series, as while we’re not left dangling on a harrowing cliff-hanger, the ending does crack open the door to an entirely new mission for Reya. She and Caelan still have much to conquer and plenty of retribution to seek, and I’m ready to devour every morsel of that conquest and vengeance once book two arrives.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Requited, and Taylor J. LaRue for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
She's the portrait of resilience. A proper firecracker who’s confident, clever, charming, and witty. In other words, she’s my favorite kind of heroine.
What makes her all the more admirable is how she’s never lost those parts of herself despite the many hardships she’s endured.
Reya was abandoned at birth and orphaned at eleven after her adoptive parents were murdered, leaving her starving and destitute on the streets. But, “like all her pain, she’d turned it into a weapon.”
We meet Reya a decade after she’s managed to rebuild a life for herself. Unfortunately, that life happened to be built upon a foundation laid by a notorious crime lord, Lennox, who preyed on her vulnerability and locked her into ten years of servitude as his henchwoman in exchange for food, shelter, and safety.
But if there’s one thing Reya’s going to do, it’s make lemonade from whatever lemons life throws her way. So she became a formidable force within the city’s criminal underbelly in her own right. Known as the Crimson Dagger, Reya is a legendary thief and cloaked enigma who leaves even the most fearsome guardsmen quaking in their boots.
While this lifestyle has forged Reya into a weapon of steel, she’s never abandoned her heart of gold. And when a critical heist forces her to choose between her values and the freedom it would finally grant her from Lennox, her integrity wins out.
That choice comes at a steep cost and thrusts her into an insurmountable, perilous quest that could sever her ties to Lennox for good, or bind her to another decade under his ruthless control. It pushes her criminal prowess to its limits and compels her to confront the dangerous truth of who and what she truly is.
Along the way, we witness perhaps Reya’s greatest heist of all: stealing the impenetrable heart of Caelan Halcyon. He’s a stoic, emotionally guarded, quasi-immortal warrior who, like Reya, is determined to rewrite his fate by any means necessary.
Their love is inevitable yet impossible. A tragic romance that had me clutching my pearls and praying to the stars that the tides would turn in their favor. I enjoyed their cheeky banter and the gradual unfolding of their connection. The slow burn is incredibly effective, and they don't truly come together until the final 25% of the story when it feels earned.
I also appreciated how Reya never became the lustful, brain-dead FMC who accepts scraps from the aloof MMC and wants to ravage him at the most inopportune and infuriating times (like I’ve seen play out in countless other romantasy novels).
I did, however, find that once Caelan fully embraced his desire for Reya, the floodgates of his heart came crashing down in a way that felt a bit too soft relative to his character. By this point, we've come to know him as a fierce warrior who's battle-hardened and emotionally unavailable; a wise man of few words who has fully devoted his life to protecting his people against the impending threat of genocide.
He felt like something of a crossover between Thor, Eeyore, and Confucius to me. So I found it slightly jarring to watch him quickly do a full 180 and melt into a pile of puddy regarding Reya near the end of the story.
In terms of the narrative and world building, my initial experience was one of major déjà vu (mostly in the first 10% of the story) after having recently read Quicksilver by Callie Hart. They both feature a thieving, orphaned FMC who’s introduced to us while knee-deep in a heist in ‘Silver City’ (literally the same exact name), which is ruled by a tyrannical monarch who has outlawed magic. Her father was also a blacksmith and there's a lot of symbolism related to precious metals, though in this case the focus is steel. But beyond this overlap, Steelborn feels unique and inventive, with poetic prose, gripping action, and nuanced, layered characters which I really enjoyed.
At its core, this is a story about self-acceptance and the journey of a woman who’s learning to love and embrace all parts of herself. It’s about reclaiming your magic and power; not just in the supernatural sense, but the raw and intrinsic kind that’s forged from every challenge we've endured and the strength we've gained because of it.
Reya’s character arc is a jagged yet beautiful journey where she learns that her life path doesn’t define her worth.
“She was everything this world had made her and more. She had survived. And surviving wasn’t always clean. Sometimes it was ugly and cruel. Thief. Liar. Killer. She would own it all—the light, the dark, and everything in between. Because there was no part of her that was not worthy of the rest."
And she comes to learn that she doesn't have to fit herself into the mold that's been laid by those who came before her. In fact, what the world needs most is her exactly as she is. And that, my friends, leaves me misty-eyed as I conclude this review because it strikes a little too close to home...
I’ll absolutely be continuing the series, as while we’re not left dangling on a harrowing cliff-hanger, the ending does crack open the door to an entirely new mission for Reya. She and Caelan still have much to conquer and plenty of retribution to seek, and I’m ready to devour every morsel of that conquest and vengeance once book two arrives.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Requited, and Taylor J. LaRue for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 16, 2026
Steelborn (The Steelborn Saga #1) by Taylor J. LaRue
Book Blurb: Enter a world ruled by tyrants and thieves, where magic is outlawed, revolution brews, desire is dangerous, and an impossible cure may prove deadlier than the curse.
Rating: *****
Feels: Adventure, Intrigue, Excitement, Giddy
Style: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Adult
First published August 4, 2026 : 432 pages
Themes & Setting: I enjoyed the themes of inner growth, learning to accept your path, past and moving forward into the future. Some of the darker themes which were handled well and lend depth to the story was the overall political environment of trying to kill off magical beings and magic in general. The themes of other and self and learning tolerance and respect for those that are other.
FMC: Reya Connery also known as the Crimson Dagger is everything I could want from my favorite type of stabby FMC type. She just wants to be a blacksmith. Has had to do alot to survive and has alot to come to terms with to get to where she will need to be. I really enjoyed her.
MMC: Caelan Halcyon, yes please. Oh wait you wanted more. I just literally can not find the words to describe how fun he is. You would think tall dark and broody has been done but he does it sooo well. There is just something about a man dedicated to a cause with a dark side that inspires.
Conclusion: This is a top read for me this year !! I was thoroughly enthralled and giddy at points waiting to see what would happen. This was not that kind of book that pulled me in at the start , it slowly sunk its tentacles into me and had me completely in its grip by about 40%. I did not want to put the book down the last 30% it was so tense. The world building encased within this magic system and thousands of years of political turmoil and legends is a rich breeding ground for this story. The people of this world were vibrant, fun and some I wanted to walk off a plank over shark infested waters. Not only do we have humans , sages and fae … we have different magical creature who share the world with them (which I love !!) The themes explored of self discovery and forgiveness were handled in true fantasy style .. with swords , magic and blood shed (ok and some talking .) There was a part in the adventure were I literally said “YES” out loud and was kicking my feet I was so excited. This is the kind of blend of fantasy and romance I love. Where it is so deep and rich and well done … with swords, tension and swagger.
Favorite Quote: "What are our words?" They were branded on her heart. "Never run. Never Bow. Never die."
This book has:
Enemies to Lovers
Fae, Humans, Sages ..
Many Magical Beings
Outlawed Magic
Political Intrigue
Found Family
Pirates and Thieves
Chosen One
Slow Burn
Thank you to the author, @requited and @hachettebookgroup for this gifted ARC
Book Blurb: Enter a world ruled by tyrants and thieves, where magic is outlawed, revolution brews, desire is dangerous, and an impossible cure may prove deadlier than the curse.
Rating: *****
Feels: Adventure, Intrigue, Excitement, Giddy
Style: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Adult
First published August 4, 2026 : 432 pages
Themes & Setting: I enjoyed the themes of inner growth, learning to accept your path, past and moving forward into the future. Some of the darker themes which were handled well and lend depth to the story was the overall political environment of trying to kill off magical beings and magic in general. The themes of other and self and learning tolerance and respect for those that are other.
FMC: Reya Connery also known as the Crimson Dagger is everything I could want from my favorite type of stabby FMC type. She just wants to be a blacksmith. Has had to do alot to survive and has alot to come to terms with to get to where she will need to be. I really enjoyed her.
MMC: Caelan Halcyon, yes please. Oh wait you wanted more. I just literally can not find the words to describe how fun he is. You would think tall dark and broody has been done but he does it sooo well. There is just something about a man dedicated to a cause with a dark side that inspires.
Conclusion: This is a top read for me this year !! I was thoroughly enthralled and giddy at points waiting to see what would happen. This was not that kind of book that pulled me in at the start , it slowly sunk its tentacles into me and had me completely in its grip by about 40%. I did not want to put the book down the last 30% it was so tense. The world building encased within this magic system and thousands of years of political turmoil and legends is a rich breeding ground for this story. The people of this world were vibrant, fun and some I wanted to walk off a plank over shark infested waters. Not only do we have humans , sages and fae … we have different magical creature who share the world with them (which I love !!) The themes explored of self discovery and forgiveness were handled in true fantasy style .. with swords , magic and blood shed (ok and some talking .) There was a part in the adventure were I literally said “YES” out loud and was kicking my feet I was so excited. This is the kind of blend of fantasy and romance I love. Where it is so deep and rich and well done … with swords, tension and swagger.
Favorite Quote: "What are our words?" They were branded on her heart. "Never run. Never Bow. Never die."
This book has:
Enemies to Lovers
Fae, Humans, Sages ..
Many Magical Beings
Outlawed Magic
Political Intrigue
Found Family
Pirates and Thieves
Chosen One
Slow Burn
Thank you to the author, @requited and @hachettebookgroup for this gifted ARC
June 19, 2026
Review of advanced copy received from Netgalley
No notes.
I don’t even know what to say. I’m obsessed, I’m in love, I’m destroyed, nothing I read after this will come close to measuring up.
I need the next book YESTERDAY.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
thank you to the publisher for the arc♡
No notes.
I don’t even know what to say. I’m obsessed, I’m in love, I’m destroyed, nothing I read after this will come close to measuring up.
I need the next book YESTERDAY.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
thank you to the publisher for the arc♡
April 28, 2026
This story was non stop adventure, yearning, battles and betrayals. I mean some really deep betrayals. Not to mention all of the plot twists and reveals. You will be addicted to this high stakes romantasy, with a very fierce FMC, from the very first page. The world building and magic system is fascinating. There is so much that happens is this book and this is just book 1. I cannot wait for book 2.
Reya is extremely impressive and tenacious. You will find yourself rooting for her through every challenge that this thrown at her. She feels cursed but our MMC, Caelan is actually cursed. Reya is known as the Crimson Dagger who is the most notorious thief in Rhiterra and Caelan needs her special skills. They both set off on a dangerous quest to find a very rare substance that will change both of their lives. If only the dread wolves and Blood watchers would stop hunting them. If magic born weren’t constantly being hunted. If only the impending war would just go away and if she didn’t have to wonder on how to save the magic born from Bladestone Prison where they are being experimented on. If only everyone would stop trying to take her sword!! And that is just a few of the problems. Then a few of Caelan’s friends show up and they have even more to pile on her shoulders. Not to mention, Reya is trying to figure out what is going between her and Caelan. So much tension and banter. She just wants to honor her father and open up a forge.
This barely touches what goes on in this story. Highly recommend reading this book!!
🗡️Slow Burn Romance
🔥Enemies to Lovers
🗡️Deadly Curses
🔥Tortured Immortal Hero
🗡️Secret identity
🔥Forced Proximity
🗡️Found Family
🔥Only One Saddle
Thank you to the author, @requited and @hachettebookgroup for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Reya is extremely impressive and tenacious. You will find yourself rooting for her through every challenge that this thrown at her. She feels cursed but our MMC, Caelan is actually cursed. Reya is known as the Crimson Dagger who is the most notorious thief in Rhiterra and Caelan needs her special skills. They both set off on a dangerous quest to find a very rare substance that will change both of their lives. If only the dread wolves and Blood watchers would stop hunting them. If magic born weren’t constantly being hunted. If only the impending war would just go away and if she didn’t have to wonder on how to save the magic born from Bladestone Prison where they are being experimented on. If only everyone would stop trying to take her sword!! And that is just a few of the problems. Then a few of Caelan’s friends show up and they have even more to pile on her shoulders. Not to mention, Reya is trying to figure out what is going between her and Caelan. So much tension and banter. She just wants to honor her father and open up a forge.
This barely touches what goes on in this story. Highly recommend reading this book!!
🗡️Slow Burn Romance
🔥Enemies to Lovers
🗡️Deadly Curses
🔥Tortured Immortal Hero
🗡️Secret identity
🔥Forced Proximity
🗡️Found Family
🔥Only One Saddle
Thank you to the author, @requited and @hachettebookgroup for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
“Or maybe love is fierce. When those we care for are in danger—maybe love has teeth.”
WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN?! I truly would not be surprised if this is the romantasy of the year. When I tell you this was pure addiction on a page, I could NOT put this book down and basically dropped off the face of the earth and ignored everyone while I devoured this masterpiece lol.
It starts off w/ a bang, and continues to keep your attention the entire way through. There’s so much action, so much going on, and something that needs to be done, with very limited time. I couldn’t stop yapping about Caelan and all the theories that I was SO excited to talk about with my best friends, ( we literally STILL can’t stop talking about this book lol ).
Think Assassins Blade.. but if it were more. More everything, more action, more plot twists, a slow yearn and major tension buildup that has you pulling strands of hair just begging for a kiss lol. So many heartfelt moments, our fmc is SO SO resilient, and Caelan is definitely a new favorite book bf to add to the list.
Taylor is a genius, I need book two DESPERATELY lol.
NEVER RUN, NEVER BOW, NEVER DIE. I AM STEELBORN. ⚔️
WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN?! I truly would not be surprised if this is the romantasy of the year. When I tell you this was pure addiction on a page, I could NOT put this book down and basically dropped off the face of the earth and ignored everyone while I devoured this masterpiece lol.
It starts off w/ a bang, and continues to keep your attention the entire way through. There’s so much action, so much going on, and something that needs to be done, with very limited time. I couldn’t stop yapping about Caelan and all the theories that I was SO excited to talk about with my best friends, ( we literally STILL can’t stop talking about this book lol ).
Think Assassins Blade.. but if it were more. More everything, more action, more plot twists, a slow yearn and major tension buildup that has you pulling strands of hair just begging for a kiss lol. So many heartfelt moments, our fmc is SO SO resilient, and Caelan is definitely a new favorite book bf to add to the list.
Taylor is a genius, I need book two DESPERATELY lol.
NEVER RUN, NEVER BOW, NEVER DIE. I AM STEELBORN. ⚔️
June 21, 2026
Yeah, so, there wasn’t one original idea is this book. Steelborn wanted to be Throne of Glass so badly. A young girl “saved” by a notorious assassin king/crime lord and raised to be his little minion after family tragedy, a pirate lord, and an evil king walk into a bar… Oh, and the MMC’s name is spelled Caelan which just seems so close to Celaena to me. And the ruby hilted weapon….
If you like reading the same romantasy stories over and over again, then maybe you will like Steelborn.
I also just didn’t feel the romance at all. There wasn’t really any buildup to make me care about their relationship nor them as characters. Honestly, Thance and the little kid at the end of the book were my favorite characters.
I made it to the end and didn’t DNF, so I guess that makes it deserve 2 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Requited for the ARC!
If you like reading the same romantasy stories over and over again, then maybe you will like Steelborn.
I also just didn’t feel the romance at all. There wasn’t really any buildup to make me care about their relationship nor them as characters. Honestly, Thance and the little kid at the end of the book were my favorite characters.
I made it to the end and didn’t DNF, so I guess that makes it deserve 2 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Requited for the ARC!
Currently Reading
July 29, 2026Pre-Read:
Allurial August Pick! 🥰 I also received the Netgalley ARC so I'm super interested in this Romantasy!! Its got alot of good Reviews to.... Lets see what's in store. 🧐
Allurial August Pick! 🥰 I also received the Netgalley ARC so I'm super interested in this Romantasy!! Its got alot of good Reviews to.... Lets see what's in store. 🧐
August 6, 2026
4.5☆ this was so good omg rtc
August 4, 2026
3.5* Was this groundbreaking in the world of romantasy? No.
Was I entertained? I was indeed.
This book was non-stop. It had everything. Magic, sages, pirates, krakens, prison breaks, tragic backstories. You name it, it was there. So while I feel like I lived through a series worth of plot in one book, I was never bored. While the ending was left open, this can definitely be read as a fun standalone. Whether this is a book that will stick with me, only time will tell but I enjoyed my time with it.
what to expect:
- insta lust to slow burn romance
- age gap (21 fmc x hundreds of years old mmc)
- pirates
- sea monsters
- all the magical beings
- deadly curses
Was I entertained? I was indeed.
This book was non-stop. It had everything. Magic, sages, pirates, krakens, prison breaks, tragic backstories. You name it, it was there. So while I feel like I lived through a series worth of plot in one book, I was never bored. While the ending was left open, this can definitely be read as a fun standalone. Whether this is a book that will stick with me, only time will tell but I enjoyed my time with it.
what to expect:
- insta lust to slow burn romance
- age gap (21 fmc x hundreds of years old mmc)
- pirates
- sea monsters
- all the magical beings
- deadly curses
July 8, 2026
“𝙉𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙪𝙣. 𝙉𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙤𝙬. 𝙉𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙞𝙚.”
I knew when I first read the summary of this that it was going to be an epic adventure. And I was right.
This is like Throne of Glass meets Shield of Sparrows meets Pirates of the Caribbean while still feeling like it’s own brand of original.
I simply could not put this down. And for it to be a debut??? My mind is blown.
I loved our fmc, Reya, from the start. She’s intelligent, methodical, strategic, and most of all: strong. A Steelborn kind of strong.
And when our MMC comes into the picture, the plot really starts to unfold. The quests and challenges they face along the way had me on the edge of my seat, and the slow-burn tension between them was sizzling hot.
“𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙖𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙙.”
And as the plot kept thickening, my mind was spiraling. I have a whole novel-length note saved in my phone of theories, info, and possible Easter eggs. I will definitely be looking forward to book 2.
“𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙍𝙚𝙮𝙖𝙣𝙬𝙮𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣.”
Thank you so much @taylorjlarue @readrequited and NetGalley for the advanced copy!
Steelborn releases August 4, 2026.
I knew when I first read the summary of this that it was going to be an epic adventure. And I was right.
This is like Throne of Glass meets Shield of Sparrows meets Pirates of the Caribbean while still feeling like it’s own brand of original.
I simply could not put this down. And for it to be a debut??? My mind is blown.
I loved our fmc, Reya, from the start. She’s intelligent, methodical, strategic, and most of all: strong. A Steelborn kind of strong.
And when our MMC comes into the picture, the plot really starts to unfold. The quests and challenges they face along the way had me on the edge of my seat, and the slow-burn tension between them was sizzling hot.
“𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙖𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙙.”
And as the plot kept thickening, my mind was spiraling. I have a whole novel-length note saved in my phone of theories, info, and possible Easter eggs. I will definitely be looking forward to book 2.
“𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙍𝙚𝙮𝙖𝙣𝙬𝙮𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣.”
Thank you so much @taylorjlarue @readrequited and NetGalley for the advanced copy!
Steelborn releases August 4, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5⭐️ Damnit, Taylor! What kind of black magic did you weave into this book because I am HOOKED!
If I was to sum up this book in one word it would be, FUN! I can’t remember the last time I read a romantasy this quickly, I burned through all 432 pages in less than a day. The best way to explain my experience with Steelborn is like comparing it to a rollercoaster. From the very first page you are thrown into the story and taken for a wild ride. Reya is a totally bad ass. Her character felt multilayered and her interaction with Caelan was so fun to follow along to in every stage of their relationship. Honestly, I loved all the characters, the author did a great job developing every last one of them, even the villains. At first I was afraid this was going to be a very cheesy insta-lust romance but thankfully that was not the case at all.
Overall, this book has everything you could possibly want in a romantasy with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. I can’t wait to get a physical copy for my shelf.
Thank you to the publishers and Taylor J. LaRue for an early copy of Steelborn. I will be singing this book’s praises far and wide.
If I was to sum up this book in one word it would be, FUN! I can’t remember the last time I read a romantasy this quickly, I burned through all 432 pages in less than a day. The best way to explain my experience with Steelborn is like comparing it to a rollercoaster. From the very first page you are thrown into the story and taken for a wild ride. Reya is a totally bad ass. Her character felt multilayered and her interaction with Caelan was so fun to follow along to in every stage of their relationship. Honestly, I loved all the characters, the author did a great job developing every last one of them, even the villains. At first I was afraid this was going to be a very cheesy insta-lust romance but thankfully that was not the case at all.
Overall, this book has everything you could possibly want in a romantasy with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. I can’t wait to get a physical copy for my shelf.
Thank you to the publishers and Taylor J. LaRue for an early copy of Steelborn. I will be singing this book’s praises far and wide.
Did Not Finish
July 22, 2026I received an ARC from the publisher through the bookstore I work at.
DNFed at 23%.
I know I'm asking a lot from most romantasy authors to have consistent world-building throughout the entire book, but to not even have consistent world-building on a page by page bases sure is something. I lost count of how many times (in just the first 100 pages) that I had to flip back a page or two to double check information the author had previously laid out and then thoughtlessly discarded, contradicted, and/or forgotten herself only a few pages later. Like why is Reya holding a dagger to this magic born's throat to keep her from using her magic when she's... already wearing a collar made of a metal that keeps her from being able to use magic? Sure, that makes sense, so long as I don't think at all while reading this.
But if I'm being honest, the final straw for me was the main character's name literally being "of the mountain of the mountain". Her first name translates to "of the mountain" and her title is "of the mountain". Give me a break.
Also, a "problem" of being so well read is that I could very easily tell exactly what parts of what books the author frankensteined to make this one. It was hard to tell if it's supposed to be a "wink wink, nudge nudge" situation where and the readers are supposed to catch the references and be in on the joke, or if the author is just really uncreative and hoping people won't notice. Given the character's name, I'm not feeling very generous and it's making me lean more towards the latter.
All this to say... If you want a knockoff Throne of Glass then this is the book for you. I sure do hope the truly insane amount of typos in this are fixed in the real books (editors, do your freaking job).
DNFed at 23%.
I know I'm asking a lot from most romantasy authors to have consistent world-building throughout the entire book, but to not even have consistent world-building on a page by page bases sure is something. I lost count of how many times (in just the first 100 pages) that I had to flip back a page or two to double check information the author had previously laid out and then thoughtlessly discarded, contradicted, and/or forgotten herself only a few pages later. Like why is Reya holding a dagger to this magic born's throat to keep her from using her magic when she's... already wearing a collar made of a metal that keeps her from being able to use magic? Sure, that makes sense, so long as I don't think at all while reading this.
But if I'm being honest, the final straw for me was the main character's name literally being "of the mountain of the mountain". Her first name translates to "of the mountain" and her title is "of the mountain". Give me a break.
Also, a "problem" of being so well read is that I could very easily tell exactly what parts of what books the author frankensteined to make this one. It was hard to tell if it's supposed to be a "wink wink, nudge nudge" situation where and the readers are supposed to catch the references and be in on the joke, or if the author is just really uncreative and hoping people won't notice. Given the character's name, I'm not feeling very generous and it's making me lean more towards the latter.
All this to say... If you want a knockoff Throne of Glass then this is the book for you. I sure do hope the truly insane amount of typos in this are fixed in the real books (editors, do your freaking job).
August 1, 2026
Dit boek is echt weer een fantasy waarbij de focus ligt op het fantasy aspect en niet de romance. Wat een heerlijk verhaal 🤩! Het doet me echt denken aan Sarah J Maas boeken, maar dan meer TOG en CC. Qua focus op de worldbuilding, de actie, de quests en de gelaagdheid van het verhaal. Ik had in het begin even moeite om erin te komen, maar toen ik er eenmaal in zat, was ik wel echt invested!
Het is ook een echte slowburn en het einde is zoooo anders dan de meeste fantasyboeken en ik vond het echt verfrissend. Dit boek heeft me echt verrast!
Ga er niet in met het idee dat je een romantasy gaat lezen. Het is echt meer een fantasy, maar je wordt ook hier en daar beloond met wat romance 😉.
Ik denk dat veel mensen zullen genieten van dit verhaal en ik ben nu al benieuwd naar deel 2!
Het is ook een echte slowburn en het einde is zoooo anders dan de meeste fantasyboeken en ik vond het echt verfrissend. Dit boek heeft me echt verrast!
Ga er niet in met het idee dat je een romantasy gaat lezen. Het is echt meer een fantasy, maar je wordt ook hier en daar beloond met wat romance 😉.
Ik denk dat veel mensen zullen genieten van dit verhaal en ik ben nu al benieuwd naar deel 2!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Unfortunately, this one wasn't the right fit for me.
The premise initially caught my attention, but I struggled to connect with the story and characters. While the book contains many popular fantasy romance elements, a thief with a debt to repay, hidden identities, magical powers, and a protective love interest, I found the execution lacking the depth needed to make those familiar tropes feel fresh.
My biggest challenge was connecting with the characters. The character development felt limited, making it difficult for me to become emotionally invested in their journeys. The romance also felt rushed at times, moving from bickering and mistrust to attraction and protectiveness before I felt the relationship had been fully developed on the page.
I also found myself pulled out of the story by some of the dialogue and descriptions. Certain lines felt immature or unnatural, and there were moments where character actions seemed inconsistent with what had been established previously. Because of this, I struggled to stay immersed in the world and found myself losing interest rather than becoming more invested as the story progressed.
By the halfway point, I was considering a DNF, and after skimming the remainder of the book, many of the same issues remained for me. The chapter endings and plot progression never quite created the momentum I was looking for, and I found it difficult to stay engaged.
That said, every reader connects with stories differently, and I can see this appealing to readers who enjoy fantasy romance with a protective hero, magical training, and familiar genre tropes. Unfortunately, it simply wasn't a match for my reading tastes.
I received an advance review copy of this book for through Net Galley. Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the opportunity. This review reflects my honest opinion.
The premise initially caught my attention, but I struggled to connect with the story and characters. While the book contains many popular fantasy romance elements, a thief with a debt to repay, hidden identities, magical powers, and a protective love interest, I found the execution lacking the depth needed to make those familiar tropes feel fresh.
My biggest challenge was connecting with the characters. The character development felt limited, making it difficult for me to become emotionally invested in their journeys. The romance also felt rushed at times, moving from bickering and mistrust to attraction and protectiveness before I felt the relationship had been fully developed on the page.
I also found myself pulled out of the story by some of the dialogue and descriptions. Certain lines felt immature or unnatural, and there were moments where character actions seemed inconsistent with what had been established previously. Because of this, I struggled to stay immersed in the world and found myself losing interest rather than becoming more invested as the story progressed.
By the halfway point, I was considering a DNF, and after skimming the remainder of the book, many of the same issues remained for me. The chapter endings and plot progression never quite created the momentum I was looking for, and I found it difficult to stay engaged.
That said, every reader connects with stories differently, and I can see this appealing to readers who enjoy fantasy romance with a protective hero, magical training, and familiar genre tropes. Unfortunately, it simply wasn't a match for my reading tastes.
I received an advance review copy of this book for through Net Galley. Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the opportunity. This review reflects my honest opinion.
April 25, 2026
I’ll prob write more when I can type on a computer, but I inhaled this book in 24 hrs. Thank you to NetGalley and Booktrovert for the eArc.
Fae, magic-born, and human? Pirates and kraken and sirens? I have no idea how, but this WORKED for me. I love the FMC and MMC, their dynamic, and the growth. The pacing - perfection. I had two small smut icks. I don’t need birth control morality in my fantasy and I’m unsure about getting busy on a moving horse. I could mark this down 4.5 for that. But I don’t want to because it the writing was otherwise solid and mature. And I have been trying lots of romantasy where I can’t look past the writing.
Also, I teared up during her hero’s journey. Which means they made me believe in her emotional world. This and Atmosphere are the only ones that made me cry so far in 2026
It is also quite graphic at times. I’d give it 3 🗡️🗡️🗡️ and 3 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️.
Fae, magic-born, and human? Pirates and kraken and sirens? I have no idea how, but this WORKED for me. I love the FMC and MMC, their dynamic, and the growth. The pacing - perfection. I had two small smut icks. I don’t need birth control morality in my fantasy and I’m unsure about getting busy on a moving horse. I could mark this down 4.5 for that. But I don’t want to because it the writing was otherwise solid and mature. And I have been trying lots of romantasy where I can’t look past the writing.
Also, I teared up during her hero’s journey. Which means they made me believe in her emotional world. This and Atmosphere are the only ones that made me cry so far in 2026
It is also quite graphic at times. I’d give it 3 🗡️🗡️🗡️ and 3 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️.
August 9, 2026
If you’re looking for your next high stakes, high adventure romantasy with just the right amount of world building…then look no further. Fans of Aelin from throne of glass are going to really eat this one up!
This story follows a notorious female thief known as the crimson dagger who holds a dangerous secret. When an immortal warrior seeks out her help to find a cure for a deadly curse, they must work together despite their better judgment before the clock runs out.
Rheas character has some much appreciated character growth. She goes from prickly closed off thief to someone more soft and relatable, and ultimately someone emotionally available for love.
This is definitely enemies to lovers romantasy coded with will they won’t they tension spanning the entirety of the book. And while Caelan is a centuries old warrior, he’s definitely a green flag MMC and I really liked him!
I loved the expanded backstory and world building the most. This story will take you into the wooded mountains, and on to castle heists, and end upon deck of a pirate ship as our found family crew battles it out with a mighty beast of the deep.
It was a whole lot of fun, and one of my favorite romantasy books I’ve read this year. No cliff hangers but I’m still excited to see where this series goes next!
This story follows a notorious female thief known as the crimson dagger who holds a dangerous secret. When an immortal warrior seeks out her help to find a cure for a deadly curse, they must work together despite their better judgment before the clock runs out.
Rheas character has some much appreciated character growth. She goes from prickly closed off thief to someone more soft and relatable, and ultimately someone emotionally available for love.
This is definitely enemies to lovers romantasy coded with will they won’t they tension spanning the entirety of the book. And while Caelan is a centuries old warrior, he’s definitely a green flag MMC and I really liked him!
I loved the expanded backstory and world building the most. This story will take you into the wooded mountains, and on to castle heists, and end upon deck of a pirate ship as our found family crew battles it out with a mighty beast of the deep.
It was a whole lot of fun, and one of my favorite romantasy books I’ve read this year. No cliff hangers but I’m still excited to see where this series goes next!
August 9, 2026
6 STAR ROMANTASY
If Assassin's Blade and Heir of Fire had a baby, it would be Steelborn.
I've been in a TOG hangover for 2 years and I've finally found the cure.
Reya is a badass, a thief, and a fiery red-head. Let's just get that out of the way. She meets a broody hot male. She's got trauma, he's got secrets, and they both have a boat load of sexual tension. Speaking of boats, we've also got pirates, monsters, adventure, betrayal, epic fight scenes, (me crying at other scenes), and magic. Honestly all of my favorite things in a romantasy book.
There is no surprise that people are saying this will be the romantasy book of the year.
6 stars for Reyanwyn of the Mountain.
Never run. Never bow. Never die.
My dreams came true when NetGalley and Requited gifted me this ARC.
If Assassin's Blade and Heir of Fire had a baby, it would be Steelborn.
I've been in a TOG hangover for 2 years and I've finally found the cure.
Reya is a badass, a thief, and a fiery red-head. Let's just get that out of the way. She meets a broody hot male. She's got trauma, he's got secrets, and they both have a boat load of sexual tension. Speaking of boats, we've also got pirates, monsters, adventure, betrayal, epic fight scenes, (me crying at other scenes), and magic. Honestly all of my favorite things in a romantasy book.
There is no surprise that people are saying this will be the romantasy book of the year.
6 stars for Reyanwyn of the Mountain.
Never run. Never bow. Never die.
My dreams came true when NetGalley and Requited gifted me this ARC.
August 11, 2026
Steelborn was one of my most anticipated reads of 2026, which makes it all the more disappointing to say I didn't enjoy it.
The entire book felt like Sarah J. Maas, Quicksilver, and The Ascended had a baby, and not in a flattering way. I kept waiting for the story to surprise me. Instead, it leaned heavily on recycled romantasy tropes, predictable story lines, and convenient plot armor that allowed Reya to escape impossible situations with little effort or consequence.
One trope I'm exhausted with is the barely adult heroine paired with the centuries old love interest. Reya is only 21, and I wish romantasy would start giving us female protagonists with enough life experience to make these relationships feel like partnerships instead of uncomfortable power imbalances.
The marketing also promised a slow burn, enemies to lovers romance, but that's not what I found. Reya and Caelan are at the very most rivals, and attracted to each other immediately. Steelborn mistakes constant sexual awareness for romantic tension with their attraction surfacing at the most bizarre moments. I also nearly DNF'd in the opening chapter when one of Reya's adversaries lewdly oogled the "feminine curves of her armor" in the middle of a fight. I'm sorry, but if someone is actively trying to kill me I don't think they're stopping to thirst over my breastplate.
Caelan actually started out as one of the book's strongest characters. His introduction is clever, and I loved how he outmaneuvered Reya at her own game. Their banter never quite landed for me, but I was invested enough to see where their dynamic would go. Unfortunately, his character arc takes a sharp nosedive. The calculating, formidable warrior gradually transforms into someone who exists entirely to orbit Reya. I don't mind a MMC who's hopelessly devoted to the woman he loves, but his transition was too abrupt. It stripped away everything that made him compelling.
The story also struggles with its chosen one narrative. I like this trope when it's balanced with meaningful limitations and genuine sacrifice, but Reya becomes so overwhelmingly powerful that I never believed she was in real danger. The ending lacked any real emotional payoff because victory always felt inevitable.
Ironically, my favorite character wasn't one of the leads at all. Pirate captain Kalue Volani absolutely stole the show. The journey through the Kasmore Deep in search of the Kraken was easily the strongest section of Steelborn. Kalue was fierce, wily, unpredictable, and bursting with personality. Every time she was on the page, I craved more. At this point, I'd much rather read an entire book following her pirate adventures than continue with Reya's journey.
In the end, Steelborn didn't live up to the hype. I wanted so badly to love this debut, but too much of it was derivative, overly convenient, and unwilling to let its characters struggle. While Kalue Volani nearly salvaged the experience for me, she wasn't enough to convince me that I'll be continuing to book two.
Thank you to NetGalley, Requited, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The entire book felt like Sarah J. Maas, Quicksilver, and The Ascended had a baby, and not in a flattering way. I kept waiting for the story to surprise me. Instead, it leaned heavily on recycled romantasy tropes, predictable story lines, and convenient plot armor that allowed Reya to escape impossible situations with little effort or consequence.
One trope I'm exhausted with is the barely adult heroine paired with the centuries old love interest. Reya is only 21, and I wish romantasy would start giving us female protagonists with enough life experience to make these relationships feel like partnerships instead of uncomfortable power imbalances.
The marketing also promised a slow burn, enemies to lovers romance, but that's not what I found. Reya and Caelan are at the very most rivals, and attracted to each other immediately. Steelborn mistakes constant sexual awareness for romantic tension with their attraction surfacing at the most bizarre moments. I also nearly DNF'd in the opening chapter when one of Reya's adversaries lewdly oogled the "feminine curves of her armor" in the middle of a fight. I'm sorry, but if someone is actively trying to kill me I don't think they're stopping to thirst over my breastplate.
Caelan actually started out as one of the book's strongest characters. His introduction is clever, and I loved how he outmaneuvered Reya at her own game. Their banter never quite landed for me, but I was invested enough to see where their dynamic would go. Unfortunately, his character arc takes a sharp nosedive. The calculating, formidable warrior gradually transforms into someone who exists entirely to orbit Reya. I don't mind a MMC who's hopelessly devoted to the woman he loves, but his transition was too abrupt. It stripped away everything that made him compelling.
The story also struggles with its chosen one narrative. I like this trope when it's balanced with meaningful limitations and genuine sacrifice, but Reya becomes so overwhelmingly powerful that I never believed she was in real danger. The ending lacked any real emotional payoff because victory always felt inevitable.
Ironically, my favorite character wasn't one of the leads at all. Pirate captain Kalue Volani absolutely stole the show. The journey through the Kasmore Deep in search of the Kraken was easily the strongest section of Steelborn. Kalue was fierce, wily, unpredictable, and bursting with personality. Every time she was on the page, I craved more. At this point, I'd much rather read an entire book following her pirate adventures than continue with Reya's journey.
In the end, Steelborn didn't live up to the hype. I wanted so badly to love this debut, but too much of it was derivative, overly convenient, and unwilling to let its characters struggle. While Kalue Volani nearly salvaged the experience for me, she wasn't enough to convince me that I'll be continuing to book two.
Thank you to NetGalley, Requited, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 4, 2026
4.5/5
this book is for someone who misses the feeling of reading throne of glass for the first time, but make it thieves and sage’s instead of assassin’s and fae. the beginning character dynamics are very reminiscent of celaena sardothian and arobynn’s toxic relationship, though the story is different enough that it kept me engaged based on the familiarity rather reeling over the similarities. i was hooked right from the jump as we immediately stumble into the main storyline and are introduced to our main character reya, edris’s most notorious thief. she had nearly earned her way out of the clutches of underground crime lord, lennox, when she takes a massive risk that jeopardizes her chances of her release. his loss on the job means she must recoup 100,000 (can’t remember the currency name) back to lennox or face 10 additional years under contact. barred from all jobs in the city, she comes across our mmc, who contacts her for an epic heist in search of a fantastical cure long considered a fairytale, giving her her last opportunity to pay off her debt to lennox before her 60 days are over. pretty intriguing, no?
it is actually unbelievable that this book is a debut, as this read like an author well versed in fantasy writing. i was fully engaged with the fast paced plot and strategic world building, and appreciated the thoughtful way in which both main and side characters were fully fleshed out and contributed to what i can imagine will be the longevity of the storyline. this book had high stakes, and it wasn’t afraid to remind you through the bustling twist, turns, and multiple climax points. whether you like epic journeys, intense battle scenes, or mass jailbreaks/rescue missions, this book really has something for everyone. even the settings drastically changed throughout, from cities to mountains, and even the deep sea (they even threw in some ocean/pirate lore which i found super fun). i typically read more character driven pieces, but i wholeheartedly enjoyed the journey i was taken on and the pace that we were going for the entirety of the book. the writing itself was engaging and approachable, and the world building easy to absorb without sacrificing intricacy. i also always appreciate a good map, and this one is stunning!
reya may be one of my most favourite fmc’s i’ve ever read—she was self assured but not boastful, cunning but not cocky, and the type of undeniably skilled someone of her expertise should be as backed up by both your experience as a reader and the world building. i so enjoyed her banter and spunk, and found the dynamic between her and our mmc swoon-worthy. it was the perfect amount of yearning and playfulness to keep the romance portion of the plot relevant, but took a back seat to the main storyline. i love when the plot can hold on its own without the romance portion, and this book definitely did! one thing i will say, is that this is not true enemies to lovers. they are thieves/warriors at each others throats for the first little bit which is a fun dynamic, but this just makes it out to be reluctant allies turned lovers. their chemistry and desire for one another pretty much from their first scene together is palpable, with constant remarks of them lusting after one another. in either case, their feelings still ended up feeling believable based on their time spent together and the amount of “on page” time the development of their relationship got, which is a massive win for me.
even though soooo much happened in the first book, i feel like we are only ankle deep in the water for where i anticipate this world to take us. we are collecting names and story’s of side characters throughout the world as we go, and i can’t wait to see the way they all come together in the end. reya amassed favours and life debts to further support her future cause, and its going to be so satisfying to see it all come together in what i can imagine will be the most epic battle scene.
giving a 4.5 instead of a 5 star because it would have made a lot more sense if she was older than 21, and because i wanted a true enemies to lovers slow burn! this series has a lot of potential though, and i can’t wait for more!!
this book is for someone who misses the feeling of reading throne of glass for the first time, but make it thieves and sage’s instead of assassin’s and fae. the beginning character dynamics are very reminiscent of celaena sardothian and arobynn’s toxic relationship, though the story is different enough that it kept me engaged based on the familiarity rather reeling over the similarities. i was hooked right from the jump as we immediately stumble into the main storyline and are introduced to our main character reya, edris’s most notorious thief. she had nearly earned her way out of the clutches of underground crime lord, lennox, when she takes a massive risk that jeopardizes her chances of her release. his loss on the job means she must recoup 100,000 (can’t remember the currency name) back to lennox or face 10 additional years under contact. barred from all jobs in the city, she comes across our mmc, who contacts her for an epic heist in search of a fantastical cure long considered a fairytale, giving her her last opportunity to pay off her debt to lennox before her 60 days are over. pretty intriguing, no?
it is actually unbelievable that this book is a debut, as this read like an author well versed in fantasy writing. i was fully engaged with the fast paced plot and strategic world building, and appreciated the thoughtful way in which both main and side characters were fully fleshed out and contributed to what i can imagine will be the longevity of the storyline. this book had high stakes, and it wasn’t afraid to remind you through the bustling twist, turns, and multiple climax points. whether you like epic journeys, intense battle scenes, or mass jailbreaks/rescue missions, this book really has something for everyone. even the settings drastically changed throughout, from cities to mountains, and even the deep sea (they even threw in some ocean/pirate lore which i found super fun). i typically read more character driven pieces, but i wholeheartedly enjoyed the journey i was taken on and the pace that we were going for the entirety of the book. the writing itself was engaging and approachable, and the world building easy to absorb without sacrificing intricacy. i also always appreciate a good map, and this one is stunning!
reya may be one of my most favourite fmc’s i’ve ever read—she was self assured but not boastful, cunning but not cocky, and the type of undeniably skilled someone of her expertise should be as backed up by both your experience as a reader and the world building. i so enjoyed her banter and spunk, and found the dynamic between her and our mmc swoon-worthy. it was the perfect amount of yearning and playfulness to keep the romance portion of the plot relevant, but took a back seat to the main storyline. i love when the plot can hold on its own without the romance portion, and this book definitely did! one thing i will say, is that this is not true enemies to lovers. they are thieves/warriors at each others throats for the first little bit which is a fun dynamic, but this just makes it out to be reluctant allies turned lovers. their chemistry and desire for one another pretty much from their first scene together is palpable, with constant remarks of them lusting after one another. in either case, their feelings still ended up feeling believable based on their time spent together and the amount of “on page” time the development of their relationship got, which is a massive win for me.
even though soooo much happened in the first book, i feel like we are only ankle deep in the water for where i anticipate this world to take us. we are collecting names and story’s of side characters throughout the world as we go, and i can’t wait to see the way they all come together in the end. reya amassed favours and life debts to further support her future cause, and its going to be so satisfying to see it all come together in what i can imagine will be the most epic battle scene.
giving a 4.5 instead of a 5 star because it would have made a lot more sense if she was older than 21, and because i wanted a true enemies to lovers slow burn! this series has a lot of potential though, and i can’t wait for more!!
August 9, 2026
Een ijzersterk debuut vol magie, avontuur en romantiek
Reya Connery, beter bekend als de Rode Dolk, is de meest beruchte dief van Rhiterra. Haar leven draait om één doel: eindelijk haar vrijheid kopen. Maar wanneer een overval volledig mislukt, dreigt alles wat ze heeft opgebouwd in te storten. Ondertussen vecht de onsterfelijke krijger Caelan Halcyon tegen een dodelijke vloek waarvoor slechts één legendarische remedie bestaat – en alleen de Rode Dolk kan die bemachtigen. Hoewel Caelan en Reya lijnrecht tegenover elkaar lijken te staan, zijn ze gedwongen samen te werken. Terwijl vijanden hen op de hielen zitten en de aantrekkingskracht tussen hen groeit, ontdekt Reya dat haar verleden en haar geheimen een veel grotere rol spelen dan ze ooit had kunnen vermoeden. Het lot van alle magiërs rust uiteindelijk op haar schouders.
Met Steelborn maakt Taylor J. LaRue een indrukwekkend debuut in het romantasygenre. Dat is geen eenvoudige opgave, zeker niet wanneer een boek vergeleken kan worden met titels van auteurs als Callie Hart, Danielle L. Jensen en Sarah J. Maas. Dat zijn immers grote namen waar veel lezers hoge verwachtingen bij hebben. Toch weet LaRue op wonderbaarlijke wijze haar eigen plek binnen het genre op te eisen. Steelborn voelt vertrouwd genoeg voor liefhebbers van romantasy, maar heeft tegelijkertijd voldoende eigen charme en overtuigingskracht om direct indruk te maken.
Vanaf de eerste pagina wordt de toon van het verhaal gezet. Het begint namelijk gelijk spannend en geeft de lezer nauwelijks de tijd om op adem te komen. Hoofdpersonage Reya Connery, beter bekend als de Rode Dolk, bevindt zich vrijwel direct in levensgevaarlijke situaties, waardoor je als lezer meteen volledig wordt meegesleept in haar avontuur. Reya is precies het soort vrouwelijke hoofdpersoon waar je als romantasyfan op hoopt: sterk, intelligent, vastberaden en ontzettend badass; ze is gewoon iemand met wie je graag bevriend zou willen zijn of met wie je je zou willen identificeren. Dus, voor je het weet zijn de eerste hoofdstukken voorbijgevlogen en zit je volledig gevangen in haar wereld.
De dynamiek tussen Reya en Caelan Halcyon vormt zonder twijfel een van de sterkste aspecten van het verhaal. Hun onderlinge interacties zijn speels, scherp en tegelijkertijd gebaseerd op wederzijds respect. Dat zorgt voor een geloofwaardige aantrekkingskracht die zich op natuurlijke wijze ontwikkelt. Omdat het verhaal volledig vanuit Reya’s perspectief wordt verteld, leer je haar steeds beter kennen. Laagje voor laagje wordt ze een open boek voor de lezer, inclusief haar twijfels, emoties en groei. Caelan blijft daarentegen juist wat meer een mysterie. Je krijgt voldoende van hem mee om nieuwsgierig te blijven, maar zijn gedachten en beweegredenen blijven grotendeels verborgen, wat hem alleen maar intrigerender maakt.
Taylor J. LaRue hanteert bovendien een bijzonder vlotte schrijfstijl. De pagina’s lijken wel voorbij te vliegen, mede dankzij de fijne balans tussen wereldopbouw, spanning, dialogen, romantische aantrekkingskracht en avontuur. Ondanks het eenzijdige perspectief weet de auteur niet alleen Caelan, maar ook de verschillende secundaire personages overtuigend tot leven te brengen. Als ervaren romantasylezer herken je ongetwijfeld bepaalde tropes en zie je enkele plottwists al aankomen. Niet alle elementen binnen Steelborn zijn even vernieuwend of verrassend, maar dat doet uiteindelijk weinig af aan het leesplezier. Het verhaal is simpelweg zo goed geschreven, avontuurlijk en romantisch dat je daar gemakkelijk overheen stapt. Bovendien weet LaRue op meerdere momenten alsnog verrassende wendingen toe te voegen die het verhaal extra kracht geven.
Steelborn is daarmee een ijzersterk debuut dat bewijst dat Taylor J. LaRue moeiteloos kan meekomen met de gevestigde namen binnen de romantasy. Een avontuurlijk, meeslepend en romantisch verhaal dat smaakt naar meer.
Reya Connery, beter bekend als de Rode Dolk, is de meest beruchte dief van Rhiterra. Haar leven draait om één doel: eindelijk haar vrijheid kopen. Maar wanneer een overval volledig mislukt, dreigt alles wat ze heeft opgebouwd in te storten. Ondertussen vecht de onsterfelijke krijger Caelan Halcyon tegen een dodelijke vloek waarvoor slechts één legendarische remedie bestaat – en alleen de Rode Dolk kan die bemachtigen. Hoewel Caelan en Reya lijnrecht tegenover elkaar lijken te staan, zijn ze gedwongen samen te werken. Terwijl vijanden hen op de hielen zitten en de aantrekkingskracht tussen hen groeit, ontdekt Reya dat haar verleden en haar geheimen een veel grotere rol spelen dan ze ooit had kunnen vermoeden. Het lot van alle magiërs rust uiteindelijk op haar schouders.
Met Steelborn maakt Taylor J. LaRue een indrukwekkend debuut in het romantasygenre. Dat is geen eenvoudige opgave, zeker niet wanneer een boek vergeleken kan worden met titels van auteurs als Callie Hart, Danielle L. Jensen en Sarah J. Maas. Dat zijn immers grote namen waar veel lezers hoge verwachtingen bij hebben. Toch weet LaRue op wonderbaarlijke wijze haar eigen plek binnen het genre op te eisen. Steelborn voelt vertrouwd genoeg voor liefhebbers van romantasy, maar heeft tegelijkertijd voldoende eigen charme en overtuigingskracht om direct indruk te maken.
Vanaf de eerste pagina wordt de toon van het verhaal gezet. Het begint namelijk gelijk spannend en geeft de lezer nauwelijks de tijd om op adem te komen. Hoofdpersonage Reya Connery, beter bekend als de Rode Dolk, bevindt zich vrijwel direct in levensgevaarlijke situaties, waardoor je als lezer meteen volledig wordt meegesleept in haar avontuur. Reya is precies het soort vrouwelijke hoofdpersoon waar je als romantasyfan op hoopt: sterk, intelligent, vastberaden en ontzettend badass; ze is gewoon iemand met wie je graag bevriend zou willen zijn of met wie je je zou willen identificeren. Dus, voor je het weet zijn de eerste hoofdstukken voorbijgevlogen en zit je volledig gevangen in haar wereld.
De dynamiek tussen Reya en Caelan Halcyon vormt zonder twijfel een van de sterkste aspecten van het verhaal. Hun onderlinge interacties zijn speels, scherp en tegelijkertijd gebaseerd op wederzijds respect. Dat zorgt voor een geloofwaardige aantrekkingskracht die zich op natuurlijke wijze ontwikkelt. Omdat het verhaal volledig vanuit Reya’s perspectief wordt verteld, leer je haar steeds beter kennen. Laagje voor laagje wordt ze een open boek voor de lezer, inclusief haar twijfels, emoties en groei. Caelan blijft daarentegen juist wat meer een mysterie. Je krijgt voldoende van hem mee om nieuwsgierig te blijven, maar zijn gedachten en beweegredenen blijven grotendeels verborgen, wat hem alleen maar intrigerender maakt.
Taylor J. LaRue hanteert bovendien een bijzonder vlotte schrijfstijl. De pagina’s lijken wel voorbij te vliegen, mede dankzij de fijne balans tussen wereldopbouw, spanning, dialogen, romantische aantrekkingskracht en avontuur. Ondanks het eenzijdige perspectief weet de auteur niet alleen Caelan, maar ook de verschillende secundaire personages overtuigend tot leven te brengen. Als ervaren romantasylezer herken je ongetwijfeld bepaalde tropes en zie je enkele plottwists al aankomen. Niet alle elementen binnen Steelborn zijn even vernieuwend of verrassend, maar dat doet uiteindelijk weinig af aan het leesplezier. Het verhaal is simpelweg zo goed geschreven, avontuurlijk en romantisch dat je daar gemakkelijk overheen stapt. Bovendien weet LaRue op meerdere momenten alsnog verrassende wendingen toe te voegen die het verhaal extra kracht geven.
Steelborn is daarmee een ijzersterk debuut dat bewijst dat Taylor J. LaRue moeiteloos kan meekomen met de gevestigde namen binnen de romantasy. Een avontuurlijk, meeslepend en romantisch verhaal dat smaakt naar meer.
July 19, 2026
Steelborn, book one in the Steelborn saga, by Taylor J. LaRue
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 stars
You know that moment when you tell yourself, “I’m just going to read one more chapter,” and suddenly it’s 1:30 in the morning and you’ve developed strong opinions about fictional people? Yeah. Steelborn got me.
Reya is my kind of heroine. She’s a sarcastic little shit with a talent for picking locks, picking pockets and if necessary, peeling your skin off before you can say, “Wait, let’s talk about this.” She’s permanently over everyone’s crap but underneath all that attitude is a woman who just wants someone to choose her. Someone to look at her and say, “You’re enough.” Then there’s Caelan. A giant, gruff commander who’s about as emotionally expressive as a wall. The man would rather fight an army than admit he has feelings. Their chemistry? Fantastic. Their stubbornness? Infuriating. I spent half this book internally screaming, “JUST KISS, YOU ABSOLUTE IDIOTS.”
And can we talk about the found family? Omira and Thance completely stole my heart alongside Reya and Caelan. I’d happily follow this little band of misfits into another dozen books. Add in castles, swords and daggers, beloved horses (because yes, I absolutely got attached to the horse), powerful elemental magic, sages, drelids and rock people, stealth missions and enough action to keep the pages flying, and I was having a damn good time. Lennox also deserves a special mention because I started off thinking, “Maybe he’s rough around the edges.” Turns out he was just a first class asshole with better PR than he deserved.
My only real complaint is that the romance took one step too quickly for me. I was eating up the sarcastic flirting and all that delicious unresolved tension and then suddenly it felt like we skipped a couple emotional chapters. Not enough to ruin it, just enough to make me tilt my head and say, ”…Already?” And the ending? After all the adrenaline inside the prison, it kind of… wandered off. It wasn’t bad, just oddly flat compared to everything that came before it. Also, I have one very important question: WHAT DID THE SIREN WHISPER TO REYA?? Don’t think I’ve forgotten.
Will I be reading the next book? Without hesitation. I need to know what this mysterious “business arrangement” is, I need Reya and Caelan to get their acts together, and apparently I’ve signed up to let the author emotionally manipulate me for another installment. Fine. I’ll bring the wine.
Thank you to NetGalley and Requited (an imprint of Hachette Book Group,) for the digital advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Expected publish date: August 4, 2026
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 stars
You know that moment when you tell yourself, “I’m just going to read one more chapter,” and suddenly it’s 1:30 in the morning and you’ve developed strong opinions about fictional people? Yeah. Steelborn got me.
Reya is my kind of heroine. She’s a sarcastic little shit with a talent for picking locks, picking pockets and if necessary, peeling your skin off before you can say, “Wait, let’s talk about this.” She’s permanently over everyone’s crap but underneath all that attitude is a woman who just wants someone to choose her. Someone to look at her and say, “You’re enough.” Then there’s Caelan. A giant, gruff commander who’s about as emotionally expressive as a wall. The man would rather fight an army than admit he has feelings. Their chemistry? Fantastic. Their stubbornness? Infuriating. I spent half this book internally screaming, “JUST KISS, YOU ABSOLUTE IDIOTS.”
And can we talk about the found family? Omira and Thance completely stole my heart alongside Reya and Caelan. I’d happily follow this little band of misfits into another dozen books. Add in castles, swords and daggers, beloved horses (because yes, I absolutely got attached to the horse), powerful elemental magic, sages, drelids and rock people, stealth missions and enough action to keep the pages flying, and I was having a damn good time. Lennox also deserves a special mention because I started off thinking, “Maybe he’s rough around the edges.” Turns out he was just a first class asshole with better PR than he deserved.
My only real complaint is that the romance took one step too quickly for me. I was eating up the sarcastic flirting and all that delicious unresolved tension and then suddenly it felt like we skipped a couple emotional chapters. Not enough to ruin it, just enough to make me tilt my head and say, ”…Already?” And the ending? After all the adrenaline inside the prison, it kind of… wandered off. It wasn’t bad, just oddly flat compared to everything that came before it. Also, I have one very important question: WHAT DID THE SIREN WHISPER TO REYA?? Don’t think I’ve forgotten.
Will I be reading the next book? Without hesitation. I need to know what this mysterious “business arrangement” is, I need Reya and Caelan to get their acts together, and apparently I’ve signed up to let the author emotionally manipulate me for another installment. Fine. I’ll bring the wine.
Thank you to NetGalley and Requited (an imprint of Hachette Book Group,) for the digital advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Expected publish date: August 4, 2026
August 7, 2026
'De eeuwigheid is de dood van het geweten.' En ongeveer elk personage in dit boek is morally grey, of naja misschien zelfs zwarter dan zwart ;)
Maar dus precies het soort romantasy waar we van houden! Grumpy 500 jaar oude MMC. The Chosen one FMC, magie, gevechten, heel veel bloed, piraten, sirenes, pixies, kraken, en nog heb ik niet alle soorten karakters genoemd die voorkomen in het boek.
Het begin allemaal met Reya, ook wel berucht en beter bekend als De Rode Dolk. Om te overleven steelt ze alles wat los en vast zit, en ze is er verdomd goed in ook. Maar ze staat wel in het krijt bij crimelord Lennox, nadat ze een klus bewust had verkloot. Dan komt er een mysterieuze reiziger naar haar toe. Hij heeft haar hulp nodig om het bloed van een kraken te vinden. Hij is vervloekt en het bloed is het enige wat hem van die vloek kan verlossen. Met een tikkende tijdbom van Lennox in het achterhoofd, besluit ze de vreemdeling te helpen. Krakenbloed is heel zeldzaam en met het geld wat dat oplevert kan ze Lennox afbetalen en haar vrijheid kopen.
En dan begint het avontuur echt! Samen met de vreemdeling die Caelan heet, die uiteindelijk een onsterfelijke krijger met magie blijkt te zijn, gaan ze op reis. Deze reis brengt hen vol gevaren, ze maken vijanden, maar ook onverwachte vrienden. Magie is verboden in het rijk en eigenlijk is iedereen naar hen op zoek. Gaat het hun lukken het krakenbloed te bemachtigen? Hun vijanden te snel af zijn? Op tijd terug te keren om haar schuld af te betalen?
Er gebeurd super veel in dit boek, maar niets voelde gehaast. Plottwist naar plottwist en ik bleef invested in dit verhaal. Ik moest gewoon doorlezen. En wanneer je denkt dat het einde daar is, komt er gewoon weer wat nieuws op je pad! Op zich had dit deel van het verhaal een goed einde, maar er gaat sowieso een vervolg komen, en ik denk dat we nu nog maar het topje van de ijsberg hebben gezien van wat Taylor J. LaRue heeft bedacht. Ik kan in ieder geval niet wachten op het vervolg, zeker als je bedenkt dat dit gewoon haar debuut was! She's got a lot more in store for us!
Maar dus precies het soort romantasy waar we van houden! Grumpy 500 jaar oude MMC. The Chosen one FMC, magie, gevechten, heel veel bloed, piraten, sirenes, pixies, kraken, en nog heb ik niet alle soorten karakters genoemd die voorkomen in het boek.
Het begin allemaal met Reya, ook wel berucht en beter bekend als De Rode Dolk. Om te overleven steelt ze alles wat los en vast zit, en ze is er verdomd goed in ook. Maar ze staat wel in het krijt bij crimelord Lennox, nadat ze een klus bewust had verkloot. Dan komt er een mysterieuze reiziger naar haar toe. Hij heeft haar hulp nodig om het bloed van een kraken te vinden. Hij is vervloekt en het bloed is het enige wat hem van die vloek kan verlossen. Met een tikkende tijdbom van Lennox in het achterhoofd, besluit ze de vreemdeling te helpen. Krakenbloed is heel zeldzaam en met het geld wat dat oplevert kan ze Lennox afbetalen en haar vrijheid kopen.
En dan begint het avontuur echt! Samen met de vreemdeling die Caelan heet, die uiteindelijk een onsterfelijke krijger met magie blijkt te zijn, gaan ze op reis. Deze reis brengt hen vol gevaren, ze maken vijanden, maar ook onverwachte vrienden. Magie is verboden in het rijk en eigenlijk is iedereen naar hen op zoek. Gaat het hun lukken het krakenbloed te bemachtigen? Hun vijanden te snel af zijn? Op tijd terug te keren om haar schuld af te betalen?
Er gebeurd super veel in dit boek, maar niets voelde gehaast. Plottwist naar plottwist en ik bleef invested in dit verhaal. Ik moest gewoon doorlezen. En wanneer je denkt dat het einde daar is, komt er gewoon weer wat nieuws op je pad! Op zich had dit deel van het verhaal een goed einde, maar er gaat sowieso een vervolg komen, en ik denk dat we nu nog maar het topje van de ijsberg hebben gezien van wat Taylor J. LaRue heeft bedacht. Ik kan in ieder geval niet wachten op het vervolg, zeker als je bedenkt dat dit gewoon haar debuut was! She's got a lot more in store for us!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
OH. MY. GOSH! y’all, when I say that this book had me hooked, I mean it had me HOOKED. It had me in a chokehold from the very first chapter, & I hated having to put it down!
I will say this — this book is VERY Throne of Glass (HoF, really) coded, but I actually loved that about it! From Reya & Caelan being Aelin + Rowan coded, to the side characters, to a king trying to destroy all magic, to pirates, to the struggles they all face, to her being a thief instead of an assassin, the chosen one, to even Caelan shifting into a bird of prey… it reminded me a WHOLE LOT of Throne of Glass. But it’s also different in some ways, too. But if you loved ToG, you’re gonna devour this book easy!
Reya & Caelan… man oh man oh man. the tension was DELICIOUS, and I’m a total sucker for the yearning. then there’s the plot. like, it’s so engaging & fast-paced, the world building was easy to get into, & it was just an all-around amazing read. you’re gonna wanna devour this, I promise you! I already can’t wait for book two & this one just released lol.
⚔️ true enemies to lovers
🌊 hidden identity
⚔️ forced proximity
🌊 slow burn
⚔️ political intrigue
🌊 ToG coded
⚔️ she’s a thief
🌊 all the tension & yearning
⚔️ touch her & die
🌊 morally grey fmc
⚔️ he trains her
🌊 chosen one
5⭐️
🫶🏼 thank you to Toppling Stack Tours & @readrequited for the #gifted copy!
I will say this — this book is VERY Throne of Glass (HoF, really) coded, but I actually loved that about it! From Reya & Caelan being Aelin + Rowan coded, to the side characters, to a king trying to destroy all magic, to pirates, to the struggles they all face, to her being a thief instead of an assassin, the chosen one, to even Caelan shifting into a bird of prey… it reminded me a WHOLE LOT of Throne of Glass. But it’s also different in some ways, too. But if you loved ToG, you’re gonna devour this book easy!
Reya & Caelan… man oh man oh man. the tension was DELICIOUS, and I’m a total sucker for the yearning. then there’s the plot. like, it’s so engaging & fast-paced, the world building was easy to get into, & it was just an all-around amazing read. you’re gonna wanna devour this, I promise you! I already can’t wait for book two & this one just released lol.
⚔️ true enemies to lovers
🌊 hidden identity
⚔️ forced proximity
🌊 slow burn
⚔️ political intrigue
🌊 ToG coded
⚔️ she’s a thief
🌊 all the tension & yearning
⚔️ touch her & die
🌊 morally grey fmc
⚔️ he trains her
🌊 chosen one
5⭐️
🫶🏼 thank you to Toppling Stack Tours & @readrequited for the #gifted copy!
June 29, 2026
4,5/✨ voor Steelborn van Taylor J. LaRue.
Ten eerste wil ik LoveBooks bedanken voor de fysieke ARC.
Dit is EXACT wat je verwacht van een romantasy waarbij de nadruk NIET ligt op de romance maar op de worldbuilding, character development, het magiesysteem en het plot.
Maar omg, dit boek was actie op actie op actie. Elke keer dacht ik: oh, dit zal wel de grote ontknoping zijn. En dan werd dat probleem halverwege het verhaal alweer opgelost en gingen we vrolijk door naar het volgende probleem waar eerder al naar gehint werd. Ik heb me echt geen moment verveeld.
Verrassend genoeg zat er ook smut in dit boek, maar GODZIJDANK heeft de auteur daadwerkelijk tijd en energie gestoken in het opbouwen van de band tussen de FMC en MMC. Al is de FMC zelf ook gewoon een horny bish (same girl) en maakte ze absoluut niet geheim dat de MMC haar wat betreft best even aan het spit mocht roosteren.
Daarnaast waren er geen onnodige herhalingen, was de worldbuilding kleurrijk maar compact en kreeg je precies genoeg informatie om altijd te begrijpen waar je was en wat er gebeurde zonder dat je verdronk in ellenlange uitleg.
En misschien nog wel het meest indrukwekkende: dit is een debuut.
Dus als dit haar allereerste boek is, dan ben ik echt ontzettend benieuwd naar boek 2. Want dat belooft nog heel veel goeds.
Ten eerste wil ik LoveBooks bedanken voor de fysieke ARC.
Dit is EXACT wat je verwacht van een romantasy waarbij de nadruk NIET ligt op de romance maar op de worldbuilding, character development, het magiesysteem en het plot.
Maar omg, dit boek was actie op actie op actie. Elke keer dacht ik: oh, dit zal wel de grote ontknoping zijn. En dan werd dat probleem halverwege het verhaal alweer opgelost en gingen we vrolijk door naar het volgende probleem waar eerder al naar gehint werd. Ik heb me echt geen moment verveeld.
Verrassend genoeg zat er ook smut in dit boek, maar GODZIJDANK heeft de auteur daadwerkelijk tijd en energie gestoken in het opbouwen van de band tussen de FMC en MMC. Al is de FMC zelf ook gewoon een horny bish (same girl) en maakte ze absoluut niet geheim dat de MMC haar wat betreft best even aan het spit mocht roosteren.
Daarnaast waren er geen onnodige herhalingen, was de worldbuilding kleurrijk maar compact en kreeg je precies genoeg informatie om altijd te begrijpen waar je was en wat er gebeurde zonder dat je verdronk in ellenlange uitleg.
En misschien nog wel het meest indrukwekkende: dit is een debuut.
Dus als dit haar allereerste boek is, dan ben ik echt ontzettend benieuwd naar boek 2. Want dat belooft nog heel veel goeds.
July 6, 2026
I absolutely loved this book! One of my favorite things about Steelborn was how fierce both of the MCs, Reya and Caelan, were. Reya is strong, resourceful, and willing to do whatever it takes to survive, but what really stood out to me was her character growth. Watching her move beyond her life as a thief, confront her past, and finally stop being afraid of who she is made her journey incredibly compelling. Caelan was the perfect complement to her, encouraging Reya to accept herself instead of trying to change her. Their slow burn romance, tension, and banter were also perfection!
This story was packed with action, making it incredibly difficult to put down. There was always something happening that kept the momentum going, and I found myself constantly wanting to know what would happen next. I also really enjoyed the magic system and the way it was woven into the story, and I hope to learn more about it in the future installments!
If you’re looking for a romantasy with fierce characters, a sizzling romance, nonstop action, scheming, and an intriguing magic system, I definitely recommend picking up Steelborn. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next!
This story was packed with action, making it incredibly difficult to put down. There was always something happening that kept the momentum going, and I found myself constantly wanting to know what would happen next. I also really enjoyed the magic system and the way it was woven into the story, and I hope to learn more about it in the future installments!
If you’re looking for a romantasy with fierce characters, a sizzling romance, nonstop action, scheming, and an intriguing magic system, I definitely recommend picking up Steelborn. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next!
August 4, 2026
4.5/5
This was such a fun book! For me, it felt like getting a book 1 and 2 of a series in one book. So much happens! Reya is my fav kind of fmc. She is strong, resilient, and a little sassy. And Caelan never stands in her way. I loved it and their slow burn romance so much. The magic system was really neat and I loved getting a bunch of different magical beings. Plus some pirates too 😍 I loved the girl power and the found family. There was a lot to love about this one! I’m really excited to see where the series goes from here 🖤
Tropes to Expect:
🖤Slow-burn romance
🩶Enemies-to-lovers
⚔️Deadly curses
🖤Tortured immortal hero
🩶Secret identity
⚔️Found family
🩶Only one saddle
This was such a fun book! For me, it felt like getting a book 1 and 2 of a series in one book. So much happens! Reya is my fav kind of fmc. She is strong, resilient, and a little sassy. And Caelan never stands in her way. I loved it and their slow burn romance so much. The magic system was really neat and I loved getting a bunch of different magical beings. Plus some pirates too 😍 I loved the girl power and the found family. There was a lot to love about this one! I’m really excited to see where the series goes from here 🖤
Tropes to Expect:
🖤Slow-burn romance
🩶Enemies-to-lovers
⚔️Deadly curses
🖤Tortured immortal hero
🩶Secret identity
⚔️Found family
🩶Only one saddle
August 10, 2026
I was so underwhelmed and a bit of disappointed while reading this book after all the hype I saw about it. I found it boring and I couldn’t connect with Reya through the story.
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