The Golden Huntress, Katherine Quinn

 

The Golden Huntress

By: Katherine Quinn

Recommendation: 🌕🌕🌕🌕 - (Out of 5 🌕)

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult Fantasy, Enemies to Lovers

Length: 448 Pages

Pace: Medium

Moods: Romantic, Entertaining, Wonderful Characters, Suspenseful, Original, Adventurous, Dark, Tense 

Release Date: December 1, 2026

    The Golden Huntress by Katherine Quinn is an entertaining and fun read for any young person. The story started with a slow build but once everything came together, understanding the mythos and the character's backstories, the pace moved along quite quickly. Quinn's depictions of the Spiritwoods was quite spectacular. I could easily envision the bright, colorful landscapes of each realm as well as the frightfully scary monsters. The writing was beautifully crafted.

    The Pierces and the Slades are long time enemies. At school, Charlie Pierce was always known as the quiet bookworm; she was the outcast. Her father had been a skilled Collector who died in the Spiritwoods doing what he loved, searching for and learning about the Celestials, their temples, ruins, and sacred relics. In private, Charlie has studied and trained for years in the hopes that when she turned eighteen she will receive an invitation to the Hunt and earn her rightful spot within the Collector's Society.

    Not everything is as it appears. Jack Slade comes across as successful and well put together but for years, behind closed doors he has had to deal with his extremely abusive father. Alexander Slade's hatred for Charlie's dad has been long-lived, at least since the pair battled in their own Hunt. Jack agrees to murder Charlie while out in the Spiritwoods, anything to gain his father's approval.

    Jack and Charlie find themselves thrust together in many life and death situations, working together to ensure their survival. they begin to learn more about one another. A relationship develops based on mutual respect. During the Hunt, the two uncover many family secrets and discover an unknown shared past.  

What I Loved:

• World Building: It feels 'simple' to say I loved the stunning world building but Katherine Quinn's descriptions of the stones, gems, relics, and temples were so well done I could easily visualize the bright colors in my mind as I read. The scenery added immensely to my reading experience.
• Charline Pierce: Charlie's strength of character is amazing considering all she has been through in her short life. Unlike Jack, a character I had to spend some amount of time warming up to, Charlie's suffering, from the death of her father and near abandonment from her mother only strengthen her resolve to do more and to be more. She is a character that is easily  admired.

    The Golden Huntress ended with a cliff hanger. I am excited to see where Charlie and Jack's story will lead. Quinn's wonderful storytelling has me excited to read her other works.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.   

His Guilty Pleasure (Montgomery Ink Legacy #11) Carrie Ann Ryan

 

His Guilty Pleasure (Montgomery Ink Legacy #11)

By: Carrie Ann Ryan

Recommendation: 🌕🌕🌕🌗 - (Out of 5 🌕)

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Dark Romance, Romantic Suspense, Friends to Lovers

Length: 264 Pages

Pace: Medium

Moods: Romantic, Steamy, Entertaining, Wonderful Characters, Suspenseful 

Release Date: October 26, 2026

    His Guilty Pleasure is a very unique twist on the Friends to Lovers trope as the main characters, Aly and Dash, start the story already engaged in a steamy, secret hook-up while at the same time attempting to maintain a public friendship. Neither one is looking for a long term relationship or anything serious. For both of them, it is the perfect 'friends with benefits' situation. As long as they can keep the truth from their friends and family, everything should work out just fine.

    Aly has trust issues. Her entire life she has been abandoned by the people she loves. Both of her parents left her, her father to start another family, her mother to live the high life. Romantic relationships have always ended with her being cheated on. Growing up with her wealthy grandfather, she never got to experience what it means to be loved. After opening her garden center that all changed. When the Montgomery clan needed a new nursery to purchase plants, they decided to make her their main source for everything garden and by extension 'one' of their own.

    Dash has never been in a serious relationship. The most serious he has ever been about anything in his life is his career. It's not that he is opposed to starting something, someday, but for now he enjoys the fact that he can do what he wants, when he wants. The current situation allows him to get all the sex he wants, no feelings, and both parties are free to see other people should they desire. What could go wrong?

What I Loved:

• Dash's Backstory: I love Dash's fathers and the backstory of how he was adopted. I love his relationship with his family. You come to realize that Dash does understand what a real relationship is all about. He knows that he wants that someday for himself. He also understands through the example set by his parents that a real relationship it is something he is not ready for in the here and now. This doesn't make him a 'player' per say, just aware of what true love is.

    I enjoyed Dash and Aly's story. This story laid the foundation for future installments and 'wrapped up' past storylines with a big beautiful wedding. 

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.