Category: Check Content Warning/Triggers

Isle of Waiting by G.W. Prouse

On By TracyIn Check Content Warning/Triggers, Fairytale Retelling, Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, New To Me Author, Paranormal / Fantasy, Romantasy, Standalone Title, Tracy's Reviews, Young AdultLeave a comment

Isle of WaitingIsle of Waiting by G.W. Prouse

Tracy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: November 4, 2025

Set in an evocative, famine-stricken version of early 1900s Greece. The story follows Kora, a young woman whose world has been shaped by the mysterious disappearance of the Immortals. Her life, though quiet and ordinary, takes a dramatic turn when her twin brother William is killed while protecting her, thrusting Kora into a supernatural bargain to save his soul. I appreciated the imaginative premise and how the author wove together mythic and fairytale elements, particularly with Shade—a god reminiscent of both Hades and Peter Pan, whose reluctance and vulnerability add intrigue to the plot.

Kora herself is a memorable protagonist: stubborn, loyal, and surprisingly brave. Her interactions with her family, especially her younger brother Michael, offer touching moments of warmth amid the story’s tension and loss. I also found her relationship with Shade compelling, with their slow-burn romance giving the book emotional depth. The setting—Greece on the edge of collapse—provides a compelling backdrop and heightens the stakes of Kora’s journey.

The blurb for this book intrigued me, but I did struggle at times with the pacing and the way the story balanced its dual inspirations, making the narrative harder to fully invest in. Some characters, particularly Shade, came across as more childish than I expected for a romantic lead, and the dialogue sometimes felt as if I was reading a YA novel rather than a romantasy. Overall, this was a touching story of love, loss, and self-discovery. And while it may not resonate with everyone—especially those looking for a more traditional mythological retelling—I think readers who enjoy unconventional fantasy, fairytale reimagining, will enjoy this book.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

Only Rakes Need Apply by Kate Pearce

On By TracyIn Check Content Warning/Triggers, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Only Rakes Need Apply (Rakes of London)Only Rakes Need Apply by Kate Pearce

Tracy’s Rating: 2.5/3 of 5 stars

Series: Rakes of London

Release Date: October 28, 2025

After two long years, Carenza, the widowed Countess Smythe-Harding has finally finished mourning her late (and unlamented) husband and is ready to move on with her life. After enduring a miserable marriage with a man that cheated on her and left her penniless, she has no desire to remarry but does miss the benefits of the marriage bed. After jokingly saying she should place an ad for a lover, her best friend Olivia Sheraton places the ad and sets up a place for them to interview applicants. Carenza is mortified but goes along with it. When her late husband’s best friend Julian Laurent shows up and stops the nonsense, he makes Carenza an offer of his own – he will be her lover, no strings attached.

Julian Laurent has known Carenza for most of her life, as their family estates border each other. As the second son, Julian had no fortune, title or purpose, so he did as many other “spares” did and sowed his wild oats in London and gaining a reputation as a rake. But recently he inherited a massive fortune from his godmother and has tried to become more responsible. When he learns that Carenza has placed an ad for a lover, he can’t stand by and let her ruin her reputation, so he intervenes, not intending to offer himself to her, but that is exactly what happens. Too bad they both have enemies determined to see them ruined before they can claim their HEA.

I have mixed feeling about this book, I loved the idea of the story and felt that the story was well-written with some great characters. But at the same time, there was a lot going on and despite the steamy love scenes, I wasn’t feeling the chemistry between Carenza and Julian – in fact at some points I wondered if they even liked each other. I did like Carenza’s circle of friends, which gave the story a bit of a “Desperate Housewives” vibe, but even that created more drama than the story could support. I finished the book and felt like the story was too chaotic and I didn’t get enough closure – I know this was the start of a series, so some unfinished business is bound to work its way through future installments – but this was more about things that were central to this story. Overall, I didn’t love this story, but I didn’t hate it either – I will definitely be reading the next book to see if I judged this installment too harshly.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *