The Blacksmith Queen is my very own Dragon Age video game fantasy come to life. There are powerful women, plus quippy banter between friends and family, and a talking dragon. It’s fantastical, fun, and I’ll immediately be buying a physical copy to add to my own library. The Old King has died, sending the kingdom into turmoil as his sons murder one another for the throne. However, the Witches of Amhuinn have prophesied that the … Continue reading The Blacksmith Queen by G.A. Aiken →
What a Dragon Should Know Attraction that’s off the scale… Only for those I love would I traipse into the merciless Northlands to risk life, limb, and my exquisite beauty. But do they appreciate it? Do they say, “Gwenvael the Handsome, you are the best among us—the most loved of all dragons?” No! For centuries my family has refused to acknowledge my magnificence as well as my innate humility. Yet for them, and because I … Continue reading G.A. Aiken Dragon Bundle →
Brimming with humor, romance, and magic, the delightful new novel in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kerrelyn Sparks’s Embraced by Magic series, which Kirkus Reviews calls “an adventurous fantasy romp,” is perfect for readers of G.A. Aiken and Lynsay Sands. Princess Lenushka of Norveshka prides herself on her courage. She’s faced down the doubters who think a woman dragon shifter is worth less than a man. She will marry to secure the … Continue reading When a Dragon Falls →
In this week’s podcast episode, we’re looking at the book reviews for the December 2015 issue of Romantic Times, aka RT Book Reviews. Special and massive thanks to Shannon Stacey for sending me this issue! You can also find all the RTRW content at our category page for Romantic Times Rewind. And, most importantly, if you want to listen and follow along with this entry, we have more detail in the audio, but you can … Continue reading Romantic Times Rewind: December 2015 Reviews →
August is almost over, which means we get to wrap up our second Whatcha Reading for the month! Lara: For me, reading a historical romance is like pushing the reset button. So I’m in the early chapters of Sophie Irwin’s A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting and it’s doing the job. I just finished Only Bad Options by Jennifer Estep (which I loved) and gearing up for The Heretic Royal by G.A. Aiken. I’m dangerously … Continue reading Whatcha Reading? August 2022, Part Two →
As two sisters battle for a single throne in G.A. Aiken’s newest fantasy, warring factions take up arms, a land is divided, and uncertain allies become very certain lovers . . . Gods save the queen! Ainsley Farmerson has always planned to break free of the family business—and the family drama. But what was once farming, smithworking, and bickering over the dinner table has turned into open warfare between sisters. Sides have been taken, lives … Continue reading The Heretic Royal →
We were super tickled by this request sent in by Anna: This might be a vague question, but it’s for a library patron! I am looking for books with a similar relationship dynamic to Howl’s Moving Castle (not necessarily in a fantasy setting!) where the woman is plain, pragmatic, and reserved and the man is flamboyant, charismatic, and more conventionally attractive (same-sex pairings and queer and non-binary characters with similar dynamics welcome, just not straight … Continue reading The Rec League: Pragmatic Meets Flamboyant →
In New York Times bestselling author G.A. Aiken’s gripping new fantasy romance series, the Blacksmith Queen must confront armies and pretenders desperate to take her new-won crown. But with the Princess Knight at her side and a centaur warrior clan at her back, she’ll risk everything for victory . . . LONG LIVE THE QUEEN Gemma Smythe dedicated her life to the glory of battle. With her fellow War Monks, she worshipped the war gods, … Continue reading The Princess Knight →
RECOMMENDED: Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall is $2.99! Carrie reviewed this one and gave it a B+:
I thought this book was lovely. It had real depth. There were characters who made me angry. Sometimes those characters were truly awful people and sometimes they were good people who made mistakes (hello, Luc, you mess). Sometimes the book made me sad. Mostly, it made me swoon and laugh in equal measure – a great stress read!
Continue reading →
Hi. Yes. It’s Whatcha Reading time. If you’re new or new-ish, this is where we talk about what we’ve been reading: all the hits, misses, and everything in between. Sarah: I’m reading: Tales from the Folly by Ben Aaronovich, a collection of short stories from the Peter Grant series. Peter seems to be my exception to my disinterest in reading any law enforcement characters at the moment. There’s one short story that takes place in … Continue reading Whatcha Reading? September 2020 Edition, Part One →
The Ripped Bodice is back with another round of Summer Romance Bingo. Visit their site for a printable bingo card and rules on how to win prizes! We’ll be playing along in our Goodreads group and helping one another out with recommendations. You can also follow The Ripped Bodice on Twitter for more recs. If you’re not on Goodreads, that’s okay! We’ll be giving some suggestions here and opening it up to the Bitchery for further … Continue reading Recommendations for The Ripped Bodice’s 2020 Summer Romance Bingo →
