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RISINGSHADOW BOOKSHELF

Chelsea K

Librarian

Legendary· Level 83

I enjoy reading Fairy Tale Retellings, Jane Austen Retellings, Alien Romances, Paranormal / Supernatural Romance as well as a few other genres occasionally. 

THE READER’S VOICE

Book Reviews

Chelsea K’s own thoughts on books they have read. These are reader-written book reviews, separate from Risingshadow’s editorial reviews.

559 book reviews
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Once Upon A Café

BOOK REVIEW

Once Upon A Café

Gabrielle Landi

8/10Written Mar 1, 2025

This was a fun and quick short story told mainly from the perspective of a kitten named Ginger who becomes the cozy cat of the Cozy Cat Cafe. This story can be read as a standalone but also works as a nice introduction for the Galamere Chronicles Series since several characters in the series are introduced in this story. I have added several books from this series to my TBR List and look forward to getting to know them better in the future.

The Galamere Chronicles Series
Once Upon An Apple: A Cozy Fantasy Snow White Retelling: Sophia & Lord Caspian Rendon
Once Upon A Cake: A Cozy Fantasy Little Mermaid Retelling: Thea & Nathaniel
Once Upon A Rose: Beatrice & Lord Alexander Dunham

I received a free eBook copy of this book from the author with newsletter sign up and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Treasure and Treachery

BOOK REVIEW

Treasure and Treachery

Annee Jones

9/10Written Feb 28, 2025

I thought this novella was a entertaining Retelling of Peter Pan by Annee Jones and thought it had good world building and characters. I enjoyed getting to know both Wendy and Hook and was happy with how their story came together. This novella does a good job of redeeming Hook and portraying Pan as the villain. The epilogue at the end was cute. I look forward to reading more fairy tale retellings by this author in the future.

I received a free advanced reader copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Going Catty

BOOK REVIEW

Going Catty

Pepper McGraw

9/10Written Feb 25, 2025

This was a quick and fun story and I enjoyed getting to read about Rowan (male witch) and Dinara (vampiress) and see how they got together. It was also fun to see Blade's crazy anticks throughout the story and I look forward to reading Blade & Morana's story in Grave Cattitude.

I received a free advanced reader copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

The Gargoyle in the Cathedral

BOOK REVIEW

The Gargoyle in the Cathedral

Alina Riley

9/10Written Feb 24, 2025

I thought this was an enjoyable story and enjoyed getting to know Dorian (Gargoyle) & Vivienne (human photographer) and seeing their relationship grow as the story progressed. This story can be read as a standalone and was the first in this series I have read so far.

I received a free advanced reader copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Ensnared by the Stone Freak

BOOK REVIEW

Ensnared by the Stone Freak

Vala Stone

9/10Written Feb 23, 2025

This was a really enjoyable standalone novella and I loved getting to know Halvard & Camryn. I thought the two of them made a good couple and also liked Halvard's pet boar Hogzy, he was a fun and added a bit of extra humor to the story and helped lighten the mood occasionally. Camryn's friend Liz was fun as well and it might be nice of she could show up in a future book.

I received a free advanced reader copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Bidding on the Orc Outcast

BOOK REVIEW

Bidding on the Orc Outcast

Honey Phillips

10/10Written Feb 23, 2025

This is another fun addition to the Fairhaven Falls series as well as the Sweet Monsters Treats series. I really enjoyed getting to know Posy and Varek better in this story after their very brief introduction in Wedding for My Werewolf and thought they made a nice couple. It was also nice to see some of the characters from previous books in this series of connected standalone books. The epilogue was really cute and I am looking forward to reading Kiss for My Kraken: A Cozy Monster Romance and getting to know Sam and Nina better.

I received a free advanced reader copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Haunting Mr Darcy

BOOK REVIEW

Haunting Mr Darcy

KaraLynne Mackrory

10/10Written Feb 22, 2025

This was another great book by KaraLynne Mackrory! I love her Austenesque books and the way she breathes new life into the characters from Pride and Prejudice. This was a very fun and entertaining story with an intriguing plot that drew me into books world. Seeing the relationship between Elizabeth develop while they are forced into eachothers company like this was really fun and I loved Richard Fitzwilliam and Georgiana in this book even though I would have liked to see more of them. The epilogue at the end of the book was really sweet as well. I hope to read more by this author.

Bluebeard and the Outlaw

BOOK REVIEW

Bluebeard and the Outlaw

Tara Grayce

9/10Written Feb 22, 2025

This is my first book by Tara Grayce and I thought it was a really well written story with great world building and complex characters. This book combines the stories of Bluebeard with Robin Hood and I thought it was a very enjoyable story and loved the characters of both Robin and Duke Guy and seeing how they interacted with each other. The elements of the story drawn from Bluebeard were naturally a bit darker but the Robin Hood aspect helped lighten things up a bit to even things out overall. I am adding several more of this author's books to my TBR List including Forest of Scarlet about Robin's brother Munch as well as Basil & Meg's story Stolen Midsummer Bride.

Double Take

BOOK REVIEW

Double Take

Cara Bristol

9/10Written Feb 21, 2025

This is the first book in the newest duet of this series and I thought it was a fun and interesting story. I enjoyed getting to know both John Bragg & Faith Hammond in this story and like Faith's friend Amity as well. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this duet about Amity & Marshall Clark and seeing how things go for the two of them after how rocky things between them at the end of this book.

I received a free advanced reader copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Crimson Claws: A Retelling of Little Red Riding Hood

BOOK REVIEW

Crimson Claws: A Retelling of Little Red Riding Hood

Abigail Manning

9/10Written Feb 20, 2025Edited Mar 20, 2025

This is the first book in the Ruby Realm series and another wonderful fairy tale retelling by Abigail Manning. I thought this was an enjoyable Retelling of Little Red Riding Hood with excellent world building, fun characters, and an engaging plot with twists and adventure. I loved getting to know both Roisen & Zac seeing how their relationship developed as well as enjoying their banter with one another. There is a bit more violence in this story than in some of the other fairy tale retellings I have read by this author but not too much and it is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood so that isn't overly surprising. I look forward to reading more fairy tale retellings by this author in the future.

A Secret Hope

BOOK REVIEW

A Secret Hope

Scarlett Luna Strange

10/10Written Feb 18, 2025

This was a really enjoyable Retelling of The Goose Girl and I loved getting to know Princess Catalina as well as King Falco in this story. I thought this retelling was really well done with excellent world building and a few unexpected plot twists to keep the reader guessing about what would happen next. I look forward to reading more books by this author as well as from this multi author series.

Adoringly, Edward

BOOK REVIEW

Adoringly, Edward

Sydney Winward

9/10Written Feb 18, 2025

This is the second book from this series of standalone but connected fairy tale retellings and I thought it was a really good gender-swapped loose Rapunzel Fairy Tale Retelling with great characters and an interesting story with unexpected plot twists. I loved getting to know both Edward & Vivienne in this story and was happy with how everything worked out for them. The epilogue at the end was really cute. I look forward to reading more of this series in the future.

Letters to Love Series
Yours, Sterling: Sterling Winfield & Kathleen de Clare
Forever, Mirabelle: Gilberd Keats & Mirabelle Waters
Always, Ivette: Barnaby Mavis & Ivette Danvers
Charles, With Love: Charles Lockwood & Emmaline Blythe
Adoringly, Edward: Edward Beaumont & Vivienne Winfield

 I received a free advanced reader copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.