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bellebookcorner's reviews
1227 reviews
Iron & Embers by Helen Scheuerer
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“Drevenor welcomes you with open arms. But beware the thorns of its embrace.”
Helen has done it again! Another masterpiece!
Set 5 years after the Legends of Thezmarr series, a new danger once again threatens the realm once more by targeting the royals.
It felt great to return to Thezmarr, reuniting with my favorite characters—especially the hilarious duo, Kipp and Cal, who never fail to liven up the story with their antics!
I’ve always admired Wren (FMC) from the previous series for her creativity and intelligence as an alchemist, a role that proved crucial in the last war.
In this book, I get an up-close look at just how dangerous and cunning Wren can be when she wants to.
This story is an emotional journey for Wren as she battles her grief, guilt and her need of revenge. But, she’s trying to find her true purpose again with the help of new friends and a certain lovely yet annoying Warsword!
“You look like you’re going to kiss me.”
“You look like you’d enjoy it.”
Now, let’s talk about the romance!
I adore the love-hate relationship between Wren and Torj—the bantering, flirting, and longing gazes create delicious tension.
I adore the love-hate relationship between Wren and Torj—the bantering, flirting, and longing gazes create delicious tension.
Their chemistry is off the charts! I love seeing them slowly open up to each other and explore their newfound feelings whenever they’re together.
“Go up in flames with me, Embers.”
The last few chapters are action-packed, keeping my eyes glued to my Kindle.
I didn’t want to miss a single badass moment from the alchemist and the Warswords fighting side by side.
However, I wasn’t expecting that CLIFF-HANGER to drop out of nowhere, and now I’m in misery, waiting for book two to find out what happens next!
Overall, this is a promising start for this new series!
The sizzling slow-burn romance, rich world-building, and thrilling action are perfectly balanced, making this book so addictive that putting it down is the last thing I want to do.
I’m really looking forward to the sequel, Thorns and Fire, coming out in July 2025!
(I hope July comes sooner...!!)
(I hope July comes sooner...!!)
I received an advanced review copy through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!
⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: Death, torture, murder, kidnapping, grief, brief mention of medical trauma and medical content
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, and Murder
Moderate: Kidnapping and Grief
Minor: Medical content and Medical trauma
Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Alice Feeney is truly a master of plot twist; this book is no exception to that!
I was loss for words in the last 20% of the book; it was a big surprise to me and made me rethink everything I'd read from the beginning. Which one is the reality, which one is telling the truth, or is it all in this character mind the whole time ?
I knew from the start that our main character, Grady is not a 100% reliable narrator for this story due to his drinking habits and lack of sleep. I felt sympathetic towards him after losing his wife, whom he seemed to cherish and love so much.
HOWEVER, my mind started to wander with several theories about Grady after seeing his actions when he was living on this isolated island…
The author did a great job in crafting this creepy and remote setting with its unusual residents, which added to the tension and sense of isolation that can be felt throughout the book.
There’s only one thing that prevent me from fully enjoying this book—the pacing; some parts are slow and at times feel dragging.
Usually I prefer fast-paced thriller stories, so this felt a little too slow for me. Even though I admit the slow pace was needed to show the changes of Grady’s emotional and psychological state.
Overall, the ending really make up for all the slow build-up at the beginning.
The last chapter pique my interest, after knowing all the twists, I had this urge to reread the book again with a different perspective to look closer to the clues now that I know the truth and the secret message!
I received an advanced review copy through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!
⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: emotional manipulation, psychological distress, violence, alcoholism, murder, sexual assault, child abuse, death, brief mention of Pedophilia and sexual content
I was loss for words in the last 20% of the book; it was a big surprise to me and made me rethink everything I'd read from the beginning. Which one is the reality, which one is telling the truth, or is it all in this character mind the whole time ?
I knew from the start that our main character, Grady is not a 100% reliable narrator for this story due to his drinking habits and lack of sleep. I felt sympathetic towards him after losing his wife, whom he seemed to cherish and love so much.
HOWEVER, my mind started to wander with several theories about Grady after seeing his actions when he was living on this isolated island…
The author did a great job in crafting this creepy and remote setting with its unusual residents, which added to the tension and sense of isolation that can be felt throughout the book.
There’s only one thing that prevent me from fully enjoying this book—the pacing; some parts are slow and at times feel dragging.
Usually I prefer fast-paced thriller stories, so this felt a little too slow for me. Even though I admit the slow pace was needed to show the changes of Grady’s emotional and psychological state.
Overall, the ending really make up for all the slow build-up at the beginning.
The last chapter pique my interest, after knowing all the twists, I had this urge to reread the book again with a different perspective to look closer to the clues now that I know the truth and the secret message!
I received an advanced review copy through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!
⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: emotional manipulation, psychological distress, violence, alcoholism, murder, sexual assault, child abuse, death, brief mention of Pedophilia and sexual content
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Child death and Murder
Minor: Alcoholism, Pedophilia, and Sexual content
Liar's Kingdom by Christine Calella
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
An incredibly clever twist brings a refreshing take to a classic fairy tale!
This tale has a lot more darker elements like The Brothers Grimm's version, which might be sensitive to some readers. I highly suggest checking out the content warnings below before diving in.
I thoroughly enjoyed following Ell’s journey from the beginning to the end.
Watching her character grow after enduring so much grief, hatred and cruelty was truly inspiring. She emerged as the bigger person, learning an important lesson in forgiveness.
The friendships she forms with her maid and two other unexpected characters were one of my favorite parts from the story. Initially suspicious, these characters ultimately prove to be allies, adding depth to the story.
However, the romance element left much to be desired. It felt forced and rushed, appearing abruptly in the last few pages.
The story would have been just as strong without this last-minute addition.
Overall, this was fun and fast-paced read that concluded with a satisfying ending for both the human kingdom and the Fae kingdom.
The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat, and each unexpected event throughout the story took me by surprise until the final battle!
I would keep an eye out for more books by this author in the future.
Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tour, Netgalley, author and publisher for giving me an e-ARC of the book and for having me on this book tour. I’m leaving this review voluntarily!
⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: death, animal death, animal cruelty, physical abuse
This tale has a lot more darker elements like The Brothers Grimm's version, which might be sensitive to some readers. I highly suggest checking out the content warnings below before diving in.
I thoroughly enjoyed following Ell’s journey from the beginning to the end.
Watching her character grow after enduring so much grief, hatred and cruelty was truly inspiring. She emerged as the bigger person, learning an important lesson in forgiveness.
The friendships she forms with her maid and two other unexpected characters were one of my favorite parts from the story. Initially suspicious, these characters ultimately prove to be allies, adding depth to the story.
However, the romance element left much to be desired. It felt forced and rushed, appearing abruptly in the last few pages.
The story would have been just as strong without this last-minute addition.
Overall, this was fun and fast-paced read that concluded with a satisfying ending for both the human kingdom and the Fae kingdom.
The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat, and each unexpected event throughout the story took me by surprise until the final battle!
I would keep an eye out for more books by this author in the future.
Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tour, Netgalley, author and publisher for giving me an e-ARC of the book and for having me on this book tour. I’m leaving this review voluntarily!
⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: death, animal death, animal cruelty, physical abuse
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Death of parent
Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan
5.0
“I was all of them…and I was more.”
Another stunning story from Sue Lynn Tan—she never disappoints!
Her beautiful, descriptive writing style captivates me from the beginning to the end!
The rich, magical world-building and loveable characters, combined with dangers lurking in every corner and long-buried secrets make this book unputdownable!
The story explores important themes such as self-discovery, resilience, love, and vengeance teaching us that not all matters are black and white.
I admire Liyen’s character. She’s brave, compassionate and her determination is unparalleled. Following her journey travelling to the Immortal realm and the Netherworld, facing dangers and uncovering the truth to free her people, is exhilarating.
“No matter where I am or who I become, my heart will always be yours.”
Zhangwei, the God of War starts cold and dismissive but reveals layers that make him a man worth going to heaven and hell for. He definitely finds his match in the stubborn and fiery Liyen.
The slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance is delightful.
Their banter is charming, and the moment they finally give in to each other is worth the wait!
“Never doubt my heart. I have loved you since we met—as I will for the rest of our days.”
The last few chapters are mind-blowing, with unexpected twists and turns that really surprised me. The intense, action-packed battle scenes had my eyes glued to my Kindle.
The ending is beautifully wrapped up, a fitting conclusion to the story.
If you’re looking for a romantic fantasy inspired by Chinese mythology elements with swoon-worthy romance, strong family and friendship bond, action-packed scenes and magical creatures, look no further! Immortal is the book for you!
I received an advanced review copy through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!
⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: violence, death, war, blood
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Sexual content
Wife, Mother, Liar by Sue Watson
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Wow such a complex family drama, enhanced by unreliable narrators who build up the suspense from beginning to end as dark secrets start to unravel!
Wife, Mother, Liar is a fast-paced psychological thriller told in dual POV from Jill and Wendy – neighbours who become friends.
The story focuses about motherhood and also brings up other important themes such as grief, love, hope, trust, family, friendships as well as relationships.
I thoroughly enjoyed witnessing each confession, each betrayal and each secrets revealed, with all the clues coming together to form one big picture by the end.
Some even really surprised me; I was shocked!
Overall, this book was such a page turner!
The unexpected twists and turns throughout the story had my eyes glued to my Kindle, and in the end, I was rewarded with a surprising conclusion!
This my first book by this author and it won’t be the last. I’m looking forward to read more books by this author in the future!
I received an advanced review copy through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!
⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: infidelity, miscarriage, toxic parenting, medical content
Wife, Mother, Liar is a fast-paced psychological thriller told in dual POV from Jill and Wendy – neighbours who become friends.
The story focuses about motherhood and also brings up other important themes such as grief, love, hope, trust, family, friendships as well as relationships.
I thoroughly enjoyed witnessing each confession, each betrayal and each secrets revealed, with all the clues coming together to form one big picture by the end.
Some even really surprised me; I was shocked!
Overall, this book was such a page turner!
The unexpected twists and turns throughout the story had my eyes glued to my Kindle, and in the end, I was rewarded with a surprising conclusion!
This my first book by this author and it won’t be the last. I’m looking forward to read more books by this author in the future!
I received an advanced review copy through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!
⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: infidelity, miscarriage, toxic parenting, medical content
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Miscarriage and Medical content
The Proposal Play by Lauren Blakely
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The Proposal Play is the 3rd book in the Love and Hockey series, but don’t worry — you can read this one as a standalone.
I didn’t read the previous books and I can enjoy this one exciting without feeling like I missed out on anything crucial.
The story follows Maeve and Asher, whose chemistry as friends and lovers is intense and compelling.
The characters are incredibly lovable; I enjoyed their interactions, particularly Asher with his dads, and Maeve with her brother and best friends.
Watching Maeve and Asher have fun, be vulnerable, and share their fear and feelings added depth to their relationship.
As much as I like the slow-burn romance between Asher and Maeve, there were moments when it felt prolonged and a bit frustrating.
Their reluctance to be honest with their feelings seemed drawn out, especially knowing they would eventually get together at the end.
Overall, it was an enjoYable read and gave a refreshing experience in a genre I don’t usually read.
I adore the characters and the easy-to-read writing style. However, I do wish it had been a bit shorter to keep the pace more engaging.
Despite that, it was a sweet and fun read that I'd recommend to sport romance fans.
Thank you to Good Girls PR, the author and publisher for giving me an e-ARC of the book. I’m leaving this review voluntarily!
I didn’t read the previous books and I can enjoy this one exciting without feeling like I missed out on anything crucial.
The story follows Maeve and Asher, whose chemistry as friends and lovers is intense and compelling.
The characters are incredibly lovable; I enjoyed their interactions, particularly Asher with his dads, and Maeve with her brother and best friends.
Watching Maeve and Asher have fun, be vulnerable, and share their fear and feelings added depth to their relationship.
As much as I like the slow-burn romance between Asher and Maeve, there were moments when it felt prolonged and a bit frustrating.
Their reluctance to be honest with their feelings seemed drawn out, especially knowing they would eventually get together at the end.
Overall, it was an enjoYable read and gave a refreshing experience in a genre I don’t usually read.
I adore the characters and the easy-to-read writing style. However, I do wish it had been a bit shorter to keep the pace more engaging.
Despite that, it was a sweet and fun read that I'd recommend to sport romance fans.
Thank you to Good Girls PR, the author and publisher for giving me an e-ARC of the book. I’m leaving this review voluntarily!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death and Grief
Better Than Revenge by Kasie West
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Another sweet, light-hearted and heart-warming YA romance to recommend!
There are lots of important messages throughout the story, and I adore the characters. They’re not perfect, which makes them more relatable.
In this story, we follow Finley, who makes a plan to get revenge on her ex-boyfriend after he betrays and humiliates her.
I really enjoyed seeing Finley’s journey; how her character grows throughout the story, as well as her relationship with her family and friends.
As for the romance, I wasn’t sure about Finley and Theo chemistry at first.
But I was rooting for them soon enough after they start to open up about each other while Theo was helping Finley with her revenge plans.
Aside from the sweet romance and revenge storyline, I also enjoyed the sub-plot of Finley’s grandma love life back when she was young.
I loved that Finley’s bond with her grandma wasn’t affected by her grandma’s Alzheimer’s. She choose to spends time with her reminiscing together about her grandma’s history and lets her grandma set the pace.
Better than Revenge comes with a satisfying ending and brought up important themes such as forgiveness, moving on, empowerment through self-improvement and that revenge is not the answer.
This wasn’t my first book by this author, and it definitely won’t be the last. I’m looking forward to read more books by this author in the future!
Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tour, Netgalley, author and publisher for giving me an e-ARC of the book and for having me on this book tour. I’m leaving this review voluntarily!
Dating and Dragons by Kristy Boyce
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I absolutely love this book!
It’s as fun and as adorable as the previous book, Dungeons and Drama!
While it’s the 2nd book in the series, you can read this one without reading the 1st book since it features a different couple.
I have no idea how to play D&D at all and I think the author did a very good job in explaining how the game works in detail, including how to play the game, the process of creating characters, and the importance of good team chemistry to play well.
I’m also amazed by how Quinn and her friends skillfully and passionately play their roles in the campaign. It all sounds like so much fun!
The slow-burn, forbidden romance between Logan and Quinn is delightful to see!
Logan is a total sweetheart and very charming which made it so hard for Quinn to resist him.
He’s a very smooth-talker —I haven't found any teenager who could confess their feelings as well as Logan did.
Beyond the sweet romance, I adore Quinn’s family dynamic, especially her relationship with her grandma, which brings up sweet memories of my own too.
Quinn and her brother, Andrew’s sibling relationship isn’t perfect, making it more relatable, I really like seeing them slowly mend their relationship throughout the story.
Overall, this was such a fun and sweet YA romance that also brought up important themes such as friendship and adapting to big changes.
I can’t stop smiling and laughing while I was reading this book, Dating and Dragons is definitely going into my top favorite books in 2025!
Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tour, Netgalley, author and publisher for giving me an e-ARC of the book and for having me on this book tour. I’m leaving this review voluntarily!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Car accident, and Toxic friendship
Lies on the Serpent's Tongue by Kate Pearsall
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Back in the eerie Appalachian town of Caball Hollow, we follow Rowan, one of Linden’s sisters, who possesses a unique supernatural ability; she can taste other people’s lies.
I thought her ability would make it easier to solve the mystery in this story, but that’s not the case. It makes the mystery just as challenging to solve!
One of my favorite aspects of this story, beside the supernatural ability and the beautiful writing style, is the family dynamics.
It’s heart-warming to see the James women always having each other’s back and caring for their small town, despite the way of how some of the people in town treat them.
I’m thrilled to see Rowan and Hadrien as the main characters cause I love their banter and the tension between them in the previous book.
However, just like the first book, the romance is not the main focus of the story.
I would’ve love to see more of them working together to solve the danger lurking around the small town again.
The pacing was a little slow at first, but the twists and turns in the last half of the book more than make up for it, keeping me on the edge of my seat the whole time
That last line at the last chapter really surprised me! It made me wished I had the next book in my hands already!
Overall, Lies on the Serpent’s Tongue is a fantastic addition to the series!
Judging by the ending, the series is far from over, and I’m curious about which sister will be the main character next. My bet is on Juniper!
Well, no matter who it is, I will definitely keep an eye out for the next adventure in Caball Hollow!
I received an advanced review copy through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!
⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: death, car accident, violence, blood
I thought her ability would make it easier to solve the mystery in this story, but that’s not the case. It makes the mystery just as challenging to solve!
One of my favorite aspects of this story, beside the supernatural ability and the beautiful writing style, is the family dynamics.
It’s heart-warming to see the James women always having each other’s back and caring for their small town, despite the way of how some of the people in town treat them.
I’m thrilled to see Rowan and Hadrien as the main characters cause I love their banter and the tension between them in the previous book.
However, just like the first book, the romance is not the main focus of the story.
I would’ve love to see more of them working together to solve the danger lurking around the small town again.
The pacing was a little slow at first, but the twists and turns in the last half of the book more than make up for it, keeping me on the edge of my seat the whole time
That last line at the last chapter really surprised me! It made me wished I had the next book in my hands already!
Overall, Lies on the Serpent’s Tongue is a fantastic addition to the series!
Judging by the ending, the series is far from over, and I’m curious about which sister will be the main character next. My bet is on Juniper!
Well, no matter who it is, I will definitely keep an eye out for the next adventure in Caball Hollow!
I received an advanced review copy through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!
⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: death, car accident, violence, blood
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Violence and Blood
Minor: Grief and Car accident
Bittersweet in the Hollow by Kate Pearsall
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
“We all think we’re trying to protect each other, but really we’re just keeping secrets.”
Set in the eerie, atmospheric Appalachian town of Caball Hollow, Bittersweet in the Hollow perfectly blends mystery and paranormal elements!
The local legend of the Moth-Winged man also adds another layer of darkness drawing me into its well-crafted world-building.
What sets this novel apart is the unique supernatural abilities possessed by Linden (the FMC) and her sisters—such as tasting people's lies and feelings.
I also love the descriptive writing style; the way the author vividly brings the setting to life right down to the mouth-watering details of the food.
The first half part unfolds at a measured pace, but it’s the second half part that truly captivate me as the plot thickens and long-buried secrets are uncovered, making it nearly impossible to put down.
As for the romance element, the complex relationship between Linden and Cole adds emotional depth to the story. Their intricate history and the gradual rekindling of their connection is a nice touch which adds as a satisfying romantic subplot.
Overall, this is a fantastic YA read, brimming with dark secrets, vivid descriptions and a satisfying conclusion!
I wasn’t ready to leave this small town so I was thrilled to learn there’s a second book in this series featuring another sister. I’m looking forward for another adventure in the next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Grief, and Car accident
Minor: Alcoholism, Self harm, and Alcohol