REVIEW: "The Other Side of the Mirror" by Dana Evyn (Romantasy, Fantasy, Romance)

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MIRROR by Dana Evyn
	Publisher: City Owl Press Genre: Romantasy, Fantasy, Romance Publication Date: April 9th, 2024 Series: The Mirror Trilogy, #1 Standalone: No
Categories/Tropes:
Found Family, Magic, A Whole New World (Fae Realm), Strong Heroine, Forced Proximity (One Horse, Camping), Fae, Finding Yourself
Description from Publisher:
What if the fairytale was always a lie? Seven years after her family’s murders, Eva is attacked by a magical creature and abducted to the faerie realm. When a handsome fae saves her, Bash reveals that he must bring Eva to her faerie soulmate to stop a world-ending Curse. She relents, but only for the opportunity to find answers about her parents’ deaths. As their journey progresses, Eva delves into her previously hidden magic—and grows steadily closer to Bash. But when she meets her prince, she soon learns that all is not what it seems. While mystery and intrigue surround her, Eva takes it into her own hands to uncover the truth. But what she discovers is beyond her imagination, as she unravels the fae’s web of lies. Don’t miss this romantasy into the fae realm with hidden secrets, steamy romance, and true fantasy adventure.
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
I NEED THE NEXT BOOK, NOW!! Okay, so now that that is out of the way, I can get to my review. ;) There's a cliffhanger ending to this, as you would expect from a trilogy, and it is a doozy! When I started this, I wasn't necessarily feeling the first couple of chapters. Eva just seemed so much like she was refusing to actually LIVE because her family had perished in a housefire SEVEN years before, and something about that just didn't really grab me. HOWEVER, enter a muddy golem attack and banter with a handsome, freckled redhead and the tendrils of the Faewilds, Bash & Eva pulled me in. I just couldn't stop reading this, and stayed up all night (No regrets!). Eva has grown up in the mortal world, completely oblivious to the fact that not only does another realm exist, but that she and her family are Fae that had to flee their realm during a war. She has been basically on her own, with only her best friend, since both of their families died within a short time. When she meets Bash, a random stranger who thinks she needs protection and also that she is some sort of key to ending a world-ending curse, everything changes. Bash is a favorite type of hero of mine: Strong, mischievous, respectful, loyal, and willing to show some vulnerability. He's not into unnecessary violence, but will not hesitate to right a wrong when he sees one (like someone he cares about being hurt... ;) ). I loved the banter between Bash and Eva, and the slow burn that you want to turn into the inferno they deserve. There was so much chemistry between them, both physical and emotional! I'm not a fan of instalust or instalove, and there was none of that here. There was a good (welcome) amount of spice in the last half. The world itself, with its lore and magic, felt the right amount of fleshed-out for the first book in the series. The explanation as to why Eva didn't know about any of it worked for the story, as did the way it all got to come out. I liked the way everyone's magic was always around in some way, a bit playful at times, but not with a mind of its own (just an extension). This book isn't for the faint of heart, as the author gives fair warning of in the beginning. There is some darkness and grit, and the characters find themselves dealing with some truly despicable villains. There is some really great dialogue after some dark times, which I feel elevated the romance and the depth of the characters. I didn't expect to love this as much as I did, but it was one of those books that I was tempted to immediately re-read!
My Source: I received a digital ARC from the publisher to voluntarily review. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and 100% my own.

About the Author: Dana Evyn
Dana Evyn is a romantasy author who has been lost in her daydreams for as long as she can remember, though she only recently started writing them down. When she’s not writing, she’s usually reading a good book—especially one with an indomitable female lead, a unique magical world, and a dark twist you don’t see coming. She lives in Kirkland, WA with her two tiny humans, ever-supportive husband, and giant golden retriever.
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REVIEW: "So That Got Weird" by Amelia Kingston (New Adult, Romance)

SO, THAT GOT WEIRD by Amelia Kingston
	Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance Publication Date: December 24th 2019 Series: So Far, So Good, #1 Standalone: Yes
Categories:
Sex Lessons, Introverted Female, Borrowed Time, Finding Yourself, Heavy Subjects (Family), Virgin & Player
Other Books by Amelia Kingston
So Far, So Good, #2 So Far, So Good, #3
Description from Publisher:
A painfully awkward love story. Incomprehensibly awkward Elizabeth Wilde is desperate for love. Connection. Intimacy. After a lifetime of romantic failures, the twenty-one-year-old gamer realizes she needs help. Professional help. She needs… A sex tutor. The devastatingly hot jock Austin Jacobs is just the man for the job. As the reigning campus sex god, he has the playboy act down pat. But underneath those six-pack abs beats a broken heart. He doesn’t trust people and he sure as hell doesn’t believe in love. The odd couple strike a deal. Four weeks of ‘tutoring’ for five thousand dollars. When Austin coaxes Elizabeth out from behind her computer screen, the attraction they feel is undeniable. They’re both a little broken, but somehow their jagged edges fit. And when their world comes tumbling down on top of them, they each have to decide if this weird thing called love is worth fighting for. Reader advisory: This book includes references to inadequate parenting, parental death, a parent with addiction. There are also scenes including the use of performance drugs.
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
This gripped me. Like, read it all in one sitting and stayed up all night, gripped me. I immediately liked Elizabeth, with all of her naive awkwardness. She was the perfect "duckling" to become a swan. Her transformation over the course of this was really a pleasure. Austin was another strong character, and I adored him from his first smirk. His humor, vulnerability, and how much he CARED made him a really wonderful character. Suffice it to say, these two together were an amazing push and pull, tear apart and build up and up and up that had me laughing, crying, and cheering. And that's not even acknowledging their chemistry!! They were intense and light, and I loved them together. The best way I have heard love described was "You make each other better," and that felt true for this couple. There was a lot to unpack here, much more than just Elizabeth being a virgin and Austin a stud. Imperfect blood relatives were a heavy theme, blended with "the family you choose" beautifully. Supporting characters were present without taking any of the focus off of Austin or Elizabeth. I really loved how this wasn't a step-by-step "lessons" book, as the virgin student trope often is. The fact that their relationship naturally progressed, as though Elizabeth wasn't awkward or inexperienced, felt much more like a genuine situation, and sold her transformation and their sincere interest in one-another that much more.
My Source: I bought this to voluntarily review. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and 100% my own.

About the Author: Amelia Kingston
Amelia Kingston is many things, the most interesting of which are probably California girl, writer, traveler, and dog mom. She survives on chocolate, coffee, wine, and sarcasm. Not necessarily in that order. BR> She’s been blessed with a patient husband who’s embraced her nomad ways and traveled with her to over 30 countries across 5 continents (I’m coming for you next, Antarctica!). She’s also been cursed with an impatient (although admittedly adorable) terrier who pouts when her dinner is 5 minutes late. She writes about strong, stubborn, flawed women and the men who can't help but love them. Her irreverent books aim to be silly and fun with the occasional storm cloud to remind us to appreciate the sunny days. As a hopeless romantic, her favorite stories are the ones that remind us all that while love is rarely perfect, it’s always worth chasing.