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Uncaged Review – Ruin of Sea and Souls by Lisette Marshall

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Ruins of Sea and Souls
Lisette Marshall
Fantasy Romance

“You fell in love with a fae executioner. Did you truly think that would end well?”

With war looming, Emelin’s plan is simple: break the Mother’s bindings while her more diplomacy-minded friends persuade the rest of the world to join their rebellion. Unfortunately, their would-be allies are far too concerned about Em’s exact connection to the feared and hated Silent Death.

They might risk their lives for the world’s only unbound mage, but they’ll never fight for a fae prince’s puppet.

Forced to hide the explosive secret of their love, Em and Creon journey to the plague-cursed continent to learn more about the bindings. But as they face dragons, ruins, and murderous forests in search of the vanished gods, distrust between Creon and their travel companions brings tensions to a boiling point.

And if their love may cost them the victory against the Mother … how will Em ever choose between her heart and her duty?

Uncaged Review: Emelin and the gang need to travel to the continent looking for the god Zera to find a way to break the
bindings. They must travel to a continent that was destroyed by war, and the only way for them to go is by taking the demons to keep the toxic atmosphere safe for their travels. During their search, Emelin finds the goddess, and spends time with her, not knowing how much time has passed for her friends. We see plenty of growth with Emelin and she is beginning to come into her own and her time with Zera nutures the power.

We see that the rest of the group is slowly starting to trust Creon more and more, and more revelations will be brought out. The world building is top notch and all the characters are not perfect, but they are perfect for this story. The ending is explosive, and you will be left hurrying to grab the next book.
Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Lord of Gold and Glory by Lisette Marshall

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Lord of Gold and Glory
Lisette Marshall
Fantasy Romance

“There’s no taming a fae like the Silent Death …”

Emelin has escaped the Crimson Court and saved Creon from the Mother’s chains. But her newfound allies bring dangers of their own. Thrown into a world of old feuds and thorny grudges, she needs all her ingenuity to keep the Silent Death safe from his friends-turned-enemies.

And the political games of the Alliance are the easy part …

Haunted by shadows of his past and magic he never wanted to wield, Creon is slowly losing control of his powers. The only solution may be found outside the buried halls of the Alliance’s stronghold – back within reach of the Mother and her armies hunting for him.

Soon Emelin can no longer hide from the war looming over the archipelago. And when her quest for Creon’s safety reveals glimpses of her own mysterious origins, she has no choice but to claim her place on the battlefield … or lose the male she loves forever.

Uncaged Review: The 2nd book takes off after the first one ends, and a lot more will be revealed in Emelin’s parentage and Creon’s past. They go to the Golden Court to save Creon, and find a whole lot more answers then they anticipated. Emelin is growing and learning more and more about her powers and about the Mother and what happened to her real parents. Creon is gaining some ground on being trusted by others, but he still has a long road ahead of him.

This has become a favorite series of mine, and now Emelin is looking for a way to break all the bindings, especially with Creon’s voice. I really enjoyed the addition of the little pixies. The supporting cast are all perfect foil for the story and the spicy scenes don’t overwhelm the story. This is a four book series, and I’ve already begun book three, and I am pretty sure I’ll finish the series very quickly.
Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Falcon of the Faroe Islands by Jennifer Ivy Walker

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Falcon of the Faroe Islands
Jennifer Ivy Walker
Medieval Fantasy Romance

Haldor Falk, fierce warrior and powerful vitki blessed by the Goddess Freyja with the extraordinary ability to transform into a falcon, has been charged with forging Skjöld, grandson of King Harald Bluetooth, into a rugged warlord in the wild north of Norway.

With his acolyte’s training now complete, Haldor intends to return to the Viking stronghold of Normandy. But when a vision reveals an imminent attack on a dwarf guarding a hidden treasure trove in a secret cave, Haldor and Skjöld gain Dwarven-forged weapons and an unexpected, invaluable ally.

Úlvhild, a völva of formidable seiðr magic and Haldor’s lover of nearly twenty winters, foresees that the Dökkálfar Dark Elves will strike to prevent the fulfillment of a prophecy. When the Norns unveil the terrible price of her fate, Úlvhild must confront a crimson-eyed witch to save her beloved Falcon and ensure that the prophesied Son of the Dragon fulfills his destined path.

Uncaged Review: This book is the conclusion to
the Valiant Vikings trilogy and it’s a fitting ending to
this series. To be honest, I never really wanted this
book to end, I was immersed within the first couple
chapters. The mythology, lore and fantasy woven
into this story so seamlessly and it takes you right
into the story, something that is very well known
from this author.

This book revolves around Haldor, who can transfer
into a falcon and helps to train warriors for Normandy.
The prophecy of Skjold (son of the Dragon of
Denmark) is foretold, but the price will be high for
the prophecy to come true. But will the destiny that
Haldor’s love, Ulvhild , which she has seen, come
to pass? Will Skjord be able to fulfill his prophecy?
Characters from previous books are here, and this is
quite the ending. I’m sad that the trilogy is over, but
if you haven’t picked up this author’s works yet, this
trilogy is a great introduction to this gifted author.
Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Obliteration by Kathryn Le Veque

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Obliteration
Kathryn Le Veque
Medieval Romance

It’s another epic Guard of Six novel when one of the Six finds himself with an explosive inheritance that threatens to ruin his reputation as a noble knight.

An inheritance that involves… wine, women, and song??

Sir Jareth de Leybourne is the moral compass of the legendary Guard of Six—a noble knight known for honor, logic, and restraint. But when his wealthy uncle dies, Jareth inherits far more than land and coin. He inherits a scandal that could destroy everything he stands for.

Summoned to the bustling medieval city of Bristol, Jareth discovers his uncle’s fortune was built on a discreet but wildly profitable enterprise: Aphrodite’s Feast, an elegant brothel and gambling hell quietly tolerated for its philanthropy. The business funds churches, education, and charity—but its existence threatens Jareth’s reputation as one of England’s most honorable knights.

Running Aphrodite’s Feast is Lady Desdra le Daire, a brilliant, sharp-tongued woman burdened by secrets of her own. Neither a courtesan nor a criminal, Desdra is a spinster by choice, using her education to manage the operation that saved her life. From the moment she and Jareth meet, sparks fly—clashing ideals, forbidden attraction, and undeniable chemistry.

As Jareth struggles to reconcile duty, honor, and inheritance, a deadly truth emerges: his uncle had a powerful enemy who now wants Jareth dead. Worse still, Desdra is caught in the middle—and the man threatening her life is her own father.
To save Desdra and protect his honor, Jareth must confront betrayal, corruption, and a love that could cost him everything.

Uncaged Review: Sir Jareth de Leybourne is ethically
just and faultless to the core. When he receives an
inheritance from his uncle who has died. Jareth always
thought that he wouldn’t get anything because he was
the second son. When Jareth tells King Henry about the
inheritance, Henry demands that he go and take several
of the knights to go with him too. When Jareth arrives,
he is stunned because his uncle owns not only castles,
a school and lastly, a brothel. Which the proper uptight
Jareth definitely doesn’t agree with the brothel. When
Jareth meets Desdra, the owner of the brothel, Aphrodite’s
Feast, he immediately judges her. So, a struggle
between the exemplary Jareth and the nuanced Desdra
go head-to-head in a combat that could cost them both?
When a bigger threat comes to claim Jareth’s inherit-
ance, can both Dedra and Jareth find a way to put their
differences aside to fight for what is right and also true
love?

It’s amazing how Ms. Kathryn Le Veque stories are not
cookie cutter and are just so different. I was disappointed
that this novel had more quick deaths in it. I wanted
to see more of those characters, including the villain
living a bit longer. Just to be killed by a knight would
have been nice. I think I really wanted some epic battles
which Ms. Le Veque writes really fantastic fight scenes,
so I kind of missed that. Yes, I wanted some of the
minor character stories even though they are not central
to the book, but they have suddenly become important
to me. Still, the book doesn’t lose steam despite me
craving more, which is altogether excellent! Jareth, the
morally consummate knight, has a true dilemma on his
hands. So, the struggles that he faced were just a delight
to read. While Desdra is just a great heroine! Smart,
feisty and witty, I also couldn’t help but fall for her too.
Do I look forward to another book about the six? Of
course, I do but am glad to have read this one!
Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

4.5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Choirfall by Jade Christy

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Choirfall
Jade Christy
Paranormal Romance

In the series finale, perfumer Aria Holt and vampire Gabriel de Clermont must free a century-old chorus of cursed bottles from bloodlust without destroying their souls. The bottles don’t want to be mute…

Celeste, the unhinged rival vampire who started it all, is cornered. But a new enemy steps from the dark: Vraxiel, a demon and vampire-hunter who hates vampires and believes only two paths exist—conduct (as in use the bottles himself to bring down vampires) or purge (kill them).

With witch Luna, shifter Loki, vampire Apollo Knox, Detective Reyes, and Brother Finnian—a Benedictine vampire monk who can pray and duel—Aria and Gabriel fight for the bottles and a future.

The last battle isn’t about noise; it’s about choice. And the final note belongs to Aria.

Uncaged Review: Aria Holt wakes safe and sound
in Gabriel de Clermont arms. Unfortunately, Aria is
still hearing the enchanted bottles filled with perfume
and Gabriel’s blood talk to her incessantly.
The voices want to harm everyone, but Aria will
do what she must and maintains the calmness by
conducting them instead of forcing them. Aria and
Gabriel must find a way to prevent the bloodlust,
when misted with the perfume that causes vampires
to go craving blood without any restraint. Aria does
have an idea to help the bottles, silence the choir of
voices in her head, stop Celeste and save not only
the vampire but the human world with a witch,
shape-shifter, vampires and her vampire love without
getting killed herself.

The fourth and last book in the blood collector series
which I held back on reading because I wasn’t
ready to end it. I still wanted to see what happened
with Aria and Gabriel. So, we left off the third book
with Aria collapsing in a faint and Aria hears the
bottles talking to her, which is a bit weird. The book
was intriguing, magical, and mystical. I enjoyed the
love story of Aria and Gabriel, but with everything that
they undergo, I was kind of expecting Aria to become
a vampire considering everything that she is forced
to face. Luckily, the characters, even the minor ones,
have really grown so, that is a good thing to see. The
one thing about these books is you definitely can’t read
them separately, or you will be completely lost, but if
you have followed the series like me, you will enjoy
them. I do wish there was more, but would I recommend
this book? Yes, but you have to read the entire
series in order to understand what is going on.
Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – Blood, Glass & Breath by Jade Christy

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Blood, Glass & Breath
Jade Christy
Paranormal Romance

Vampire Celeste captures Gabriel de Clermont, her progeny—and she thinks that’s the end of the story, as his evil Maker.

She wants him as leverage to get the enchanted bottles and grow her power and wealth.

Perfumer Aria Holt, who has fallen for Gabriel, knows better. With Loki (a shifter, warrior & loyal menace), Luna (a witch with rules), and new ally Apollo Knox (old-world vampire with debts and teeth), she hunts the one ritual that can free him from Celeste. Saving Gabriel is only the beginning.

Because their original mission still waits: steal the Choir—a vault of cursed bottles whose perfume addicts vampires—from the Orpheum Depository and unravel the enchantment to save vampires from addiction and bloodlust, and mortals at the same time. The heist is audacious. The getaway is barely. And the bottles are safe…

…but they don’t want to be mute.

Uncaged Review: In the third book of the blood
collector series, Gabriel de Clermont is captured by
the evil Celeste. Celeste does have devious plans to
use him to summon the enchanted bottles of perfume,
find their location and then, lastly, destroy
him. Celeste also wants to control all the vampires
by making them lose control of the humans. It’s a
race against time for Loki, Luna and Gabriel’s true
love, Aria, to find a way to bring Gabriel home safe
and sound and maybe even stop Celeste too. Aria
does find out that the bottles do talk with her and is
also demanding something from her too. Will Aria
be with Loki, Luna and another friend of Gabriel,
Apollo, be able to help Gabriel without Celeste
destroying them too?

Can the books get any more exciting in this series?
We left off with Celeste capturing Gabriel and, in
this book, we see the craziness and demented way
that Celeste will try to push Gabriel to turn the
vampires into mindless beings that crave blood. If
you don’t like Celeste, then you will really hate her
in this book, which is fine. There are some confusing
concepts, and I am beginning to think there is
more to Aria, especially since she is beginning to
hear the perfume bottles talk to her and hear voices.
So, I am beginning to really question her sanity.

Then again, maybe it’s because she is desperate
and just wants to hear Gabriel, especially since he
is taken. I can forgive her for that. This book also
can’t be read separately, so make sure you read The
Blood Collector, the first book in the series. Well
onto the last book Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

3.5 Stars

Uncaged Review – The Billionaire’s Fake Fiancee by Adeline Stone

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Billionaire’s Fake Fiancee
Adeline Stone
Contemporary Romance

I asked my best friend’s little sister to be my fake fiancée.
Yeah. Let that sink in.

Emery Maddox is off-limits, infuriating, and entirely too gorgeous to ignore.

But one scandal too many, and I needed a PR miracle. She needed exposure for her startup.

So we struck a deal: one fake engagement. Public events, private tension. No real feelings.

Then she moved into my penthouse. Wore my ring. Slept in my bed—fully clothed, unfortunately.

Now I can’t stop watching her.

Or wanting her.

She drives me insane, calls me out, and refuses to play by my rules.

And just when I think I’ve got everything under control—she’s targeted by someone trying to destroy me.

This was supposed to be a clean business arrangement.

But I’d set the whole world on fire before I let anything happen to her.

Because somewhere along the line, the fake part stopped feeling fake.

And if I lose her… I lose everything.

Uncaged Review: This book was a good story, but it
lacked a lot in backstory. Even though I didn’t read
the first two books in the series, it’s marketed as being
able to be read as a standalone, and that’s probably true
but this book didn’t give me the visuals I usually get
when reading along. There was some time skipping and
probably the only real good descriptions was Beau’s
apartment and the island retreat, but there was so much
missing and sometimes it read partly like a journal, not
really a novel.

Besides all that, this story has good potential, although
I never got the chemistry between our main characters,
it was fast paced but really needed more depth. I don’t
normally like first person narratives, but this one went
back and forth from Beau and Emery, so it worked ok.
But honestly, I don’t remember if I read what color hair
Emery had, I know she had green eyes. I know that
doesn’t seem like a big deal, but when you are reading
along, that’s just a small example of missing pieces. All
in all, I’ll give it 3.5 stars. It did keep my interest, for
the most part. Reviewed by Cyrene

3.5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Shift of Heart by S.E. Babin

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Shift of Heart
S.E. Babin
Paranormal Fantasy

In-hiding hedgewitch florist by day. Powerful demigoddess by blood. Shapeshifting immortal by accident.

After a terrible divorce left her blindsided, all Evie Quinn wants is a relaxing girls’ trip to Scotland, not a fight for her life with a Chimera shifter—an ancient, secretive enemy with the power to shapeshift into anything with a pulse.

Surviving the attack is a plus, but her goddess mother drops a bomb on her: Living will change everything.

And…it does.

Now she’s hiding out in a small town running a popular flower shop, doing her best to resist the urge to gnaw on raw meat every chance she gets, and badly pretending she’s the same ol’ lovable hedgewitch she always was.

Except, spoiler alert: She’s not.

When a foraging trip reveals a dying shifter in the woods, Evie breaks all the rules to heal him and vanishes before he wakes up. Cue immediate panic when that dangerously attractive shifter walks into her shop a few weeks later, and she finds out he’s the Alpha of every single shifter in the state.

Eep.

Fortunately, he’s only looking for a florist, not Evie. Not yet. But divine magic brews in the skies, and the wild gods are on the prowl, searching for the source of a long forgotten ancient magic they sense stirring once again.

As Evie’s secrets claw their way to the surface, she realizes she may have to team up with the one man who can save her life.

If he doesn’t destroy it first.

Uncaged Review: This is a great start to a series and
one that is very original for me, and I read heavily in
this genre, and this book was a nice surprise. Evie is
part witch with fae bloodlines from her goddess mother
and was attacked and turned into a shapeshifter on top
of it all. She hides out in a small town in a floral shop,
catering to events and using her magic with plants to
create a thriving business. When she meets a dangerous
alpha shifter – everything will change and Evie will be
in danger in more ways than one.

This is a very addictive book, and I hardly put it down.
There isn’t any romance per se in this one, but it will set
up for that eventually. Great dialog, lots of snark and
sarcasm and a great supporting cast, this is a great start
to a series and I already have book two on my kindle.
Reviewed by Cyrene

4.5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Nightworld Academy: Origins by L.J. Swallow

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Nightworld Academy: Origins
L.J. Swallow
Paranormal Romance
Free on author’s website

I saw the future and saved someone’s life. Mine changed forever.

My once fleeting visions recently sharpened into clear, haunting glimpses of the future. When I saw trouble coming for a classmate, I decided to step in and change events to save his life. As a result, another student ended up in the hospital, and my parents were forced to find a new school to help with my ‘issues’.

The moment I walk into the mysterious academy isolated on the Yorkshire Moors, everything I understand about my life begins to change.

My new friends seem normal—Jamie, serious and studious, his presence both a comfort and a mystery. Then there’s Ash, whose easy charm and protective nature make my heart race in a way I can’t explain. But among them lurks Andrei, the brooding figure whose mere glance sends shivers down my spine, hinting at secrets darker than I can imagine.

I swear the people and this place are more than they appear, but my friends hold their secrets tight. It’s clear that I’m not just a regular student sent to the academy for help with my ‘issues’, and I’m determined to uncover the truth about why I’m here.

But as I try to uncover their secrets, I’m troubled by whispers of a hidden danger known as the Dominion. And the deeper I delve into the academy and students, the more I realize that the future I need to change might be one of my new friends.

Uncaged Review: This is a free book on the author’s
website to introduce the reader to the Nightworld
Academy series. Here Maeve is sent to a
school after her “visions” get more and more progressive,
so instead of sending her to a psych ward,
her parents accept a “gift of tuition” from Maeve’s
aunt to attend this academy. Maeve is a witch, but
hasn’t a clue who or what she is, and on top of it all,
she’s a rare witch with the gift of future-sight. The
academy arranges a couple of students to protect her
until they are ready to tell her who she really is.

I like reading prequels, as it gives me an idea if the
series will interest me enough to commit to a full novel,
and this one teeters on the fence a bit, but I feel like I
have enough information that I will go ahead with the
series. You don’t get a good sense of the characters too
much yet, but I’m sure that will change in the coming
books. This is a multi-point-of-view book, with each
chapter changing, but they are marked.
Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – House of Ice and Shadows by Sherrilyn Kenyon

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

House of Ice and Shadows
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Fantasy Romance

TAKE BACK YOUR KINGDOM

Gisela Bloodthorn is trained to kill. She has spent her life enslaved as an assassin in the court of the Centaurs, where only the strongest survive.

Now, the Centaur queen has a final assignment for her: protect the Oath Keeper who holds the contract that will keep their enemy at bay and kill the queen’s enemies and Gisela will go free.

But when Gisela discovers her first Outlaw known as Xaydin, Gisela learns that the Outlaws aren’t what they seem. Nor are they easily slain.

Xaydin isn’t just a bastard half-troll, he’s an assassin who has dedicated his life to ridding the Thirteen Kingdoms of the Oath Keepers, especially the one who holds the contract Gisela has been sworn to protect.

But trust doesn’t come easy to either of them. If they can’t find common ground and fight their real enemy, both of them will lose everything and everyone they care for.

Uncaged Review: In the second book in this series,
we meet Gisela, who is actually an assassin for the
Centaur court and her mother – the Queen Meara,
even though that bit of tidbit has been kept secret
from her people, maybe because of her “complete”
parentage. The Queen offers Gisela her freedom for
one final mission, to protect the apaswere who has
the contract between her and Dash – the Unicorn
King, as others have been sent to kill him to null the
contract. The one sent to kill him is Xaydin, a Prince
troll. Both of them will have to overcome their distrust
of everyone to go on a journey together to find
the apaswere.

This is truly Gisela’s and Xaydin’s story, but along
the way we meet a fantastic supporting cast, and the
banter is fun between Xaydin and his two siblings.
Gisela will learn what family should have been.
And yes, we will see Dash in this book, the main
character from book one.

This book has a lot of everything. Danger, suspense,
romance, spice, battle scenes and a whole
slew of mythical beings from Mermaids to Trolls,
to Unicorns and Shifters and Dragons and Centaurs,
this book has a lot going on, but it all fits together
so nicely. This book will not end on a cliffhanger,
but the world remains, and I’m sure we will see all
our characters turn up in future installments.
Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

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