I’ve been scrolling through Goodreads and Amazon.

You know those little “if you like this, you’ll like this” sections.

I’ve also been spending too much time on BookTok and some new books have come to my attention.

I’ve bought quite a few new e-books doing this and honestly, I’m not mad about it.

I’m very much in an indie/self-pub, spicy, (high)fantasy, paranormal mood. So, if I see a book with a cover I like, and then read a synopsis I like, the chances of me just spontaneously buying the e-book is high.

The Cursed Crown has been on my radar for a while, ever since I first stumbled upon it. It wasn’t out at the time, and I had a web tab open on my phone, but I think I accidentally deleted it. So, when I saw it on Amazon as I was scrolling for books, I immediately bought it. Now I just need to read it.

BookTok recommend the Zodiac Academy series – like dark Harry Potter and just really good. I’m sure people who have actually read the books will describe them much better, but honestly… “This is a full-length medium burn novel that is the first in a university-age academy series. Expect forbidden love and bully romance with mature content suitable for upper YA readers and onwards.” Sign me up.

A friend started reading/listening to this and sent me some audio bits…

I mean, it’s an Aladdin retelling, but the spice is between Jafar and Jasmine. Legit, that’s all I know, but I’m hella intrigued and I will be definitely checking this one out.

Let me know if you’ve read any of these, or plan on checking them out!

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The Cursed Crown (The Darker Woods #1) – May Sage & Alexi Blake

No one was ever born less suited to ruling than Rissa, the thorn of the seelie realm—a half-fae so wild she’s spent the better part of a hundred years in the woods.

For all her flaws, she’s the last of the high court bloodline, and the southern king seems to think that’s reason enough to slap a crown on her feathered head. He needs her to unify the seelie forces. She needs him to forget about that nonsense.

In an effort to aid her people without condemning herself to a lifetime of misery, she sets off on a journey to find the one person with a stronger claim to the throne than hers: the cursed prince.

Sealed in the mountains of the Wilderness, under many spells, the heir of the first seelie queen is the only royal strong enough to protect the fae lands from their immortal invaders.

Surviving the untamed tribes and awakening a thousand-year-old prince seem a lot easier than ruling an entire kingdom where everyone hates her very nature.

And her choices won’t come without consequences.

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Zodiac Academy: The Awakening (Supernatural Beasts and Bullies #1) – Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti

You have been selected to attend Zodiac Academy, where your star sign defines your destiny.
If you’re one of the Fae, elemental magic is in your blood. And apparently it’s in ours. As twins born in the month of Gemini, we’re a rare breed even in this academy of supernatural a-holes.

Changelings were outlawed hundreds of years ago but I guess our birth parents didn’t get the memo. Which means we’re totally unprepared for the ruthless world of Fae.

Air. Fire. Water. Earth.

No one has ever harnessed all four of them, until we arrived. And it hasn’t made us any friends so far.
As the rarest Elementals ever known, we’re already a threat to the four celestial heirs; the popular, vindictive bullies who happen to be some of the hottest guys we’ve ever seen. It doesn’t help that they’re the most dangerous beasts in the Academy. And probably on earth too.

Our fates are intertwined, but they want us gone. They’ve only got until the lunar eclipse to force us out and they’ll stop at nothing to succeed.

We never knew we had a birthright to live up to but now that we do, we intend to claim our throne.
We can’t expect any help from the faculty when it comes to defending ourselves. So if the dragon shifters want some target practice, the werewolves want someone to hunt or the vampires fancy a snack then we have to be ready. But we’ve been looking after each other for a long time and fighting back is in our blood.

Today’s horoscope: totally screwed.

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Desperate Measures (Wicked Villains #1) – Katee Robert

My Savior… Or My Ruin?

One night, and my entire life went up in flames. All because of him. Jafar. As my world burned down around me, he offered me a choice. Walk away with nothing but my freedom… Or rise to his challenge and win my fortune back.

I bargained.
I lost.

Now Jafar owns me, and even as my mind rails against his rules, my body loves the punishments he deals out when I break them.

But a gilded cage is still a prison, I’ll do anything to obtain my freedom.
Even betray the man I’m falling for.