Posts by Silke De Buck

This month, we read this book with Book Talk, our book club. I really enjoyed it—it reminded me of ACOTAR, the series that first sparked my love for romantasy books.

The story follows Oraya, a human girl who grew up among vampires, raised by the very man who once saved her from death: Vincent, the Vampire King of the House of Night. Her only chance to survive in this ruthless world is to compete in the Kejari, a deadly tournament where only one person can emerge victorious. The winner is granted a single wish.

One of the fiercest competitors is Raihn. Knowing that winning alone won’t be easy, Oraya and Raihn form an alliance to increase their chances of survival. As they fight side by side, they slowly grow closer, letting down their guards. But in the back of their minds, one truth remains: only one can win.

The romance is definitely a slow burn. If, like me, you enjoy the romance more than the fantasy elements, you might find yourself waiting—because nothing truly significant happens until the very end of the book. However, the tension and suspense are well-crafted, leaving plenty of room for your imagination to run wild.

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I always find Elle Kennedy’s books so entertaining. They pull me away from the real world and transport me straight into the Briar community. The fake dating trope? It never gets old for me. Maybe it helps that I already know exactly how it’s going to turn out… but that’s part of the charm.

This story follows Gigi, daughter of hockey legend Garrett Graham. (You can read his story in The Deal.) Although she’s constantly being compared to her famous father, Gigi is determined to carve out her own path and step out of his shadow. She dreams of joining the USA women’s hockey team, but could use a little help to get there. That’s when she sets her sights on Ryder.

Ryder is a skilled hockey player, but also incredibly closed off. Due to circumstances, he and a few other guys end up joining Briar’s men’s hockey team. When he spots the gorgeous brunette he once briefly met in the past, he’s immediately intrigued. And as it turns out, he could use her help too—to stay on her father’s good side.

This lighthearted romcom also carries a bit of emotional weight, as Ryder’s past slowly unfolds piece by piece. It doesn’t get too heavy or overly deep, but it gives insight into why Ryder is so guarded compared to Gigi. I also love how characters from Elle’s previous books pop up throughout the story. It’s always fun to see them continue to grow and be part of the world, even as new stories unfold.

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Een van mijn doelen dit jaar is om nieuwe genres te ontdekken. Ik was redelijk vastgeroest in één thema: romantiek. Ondertussen heb ik geleerd dat ook psychologische thrillers me liggen, en nu wil ik graag meer fantasyboeken ontdekken. Dankzij Zomer & Keuning kreeg ik de kans om te beginnen met dit boek.

Het verhaal volgt Isolde, die in ruil voor de veiligheid van haar volk trouwt met Adrian, de Bloedkoning. Er heerst een grote vijandigheid tussen mensen en vampiers, waardoor Isoldes huwelijk als verraad voelt voor de inwoners van het koninkrijk Lara. Haar vader is daar koning, en het is de plek die Isolde altijd als thuis heeft beschouwd.
Er zijn talloze aanvallen geweest op verschillende steden, en de mensen geven de vampiers de schuld. Ook Isolde was altijd overtuigd dat Adrian haar vijand was—tot ze de wereld en geschiedenis van de vampiers beter leert kennen. Was haar eeuwenlange haat tegenover vampiers wel terecht? Was Adrian écht haar vijand?

Het was niet moeilijk om me onder te dompelen in de fantasiewereld van Isolde en Adrian. Vanaf de eerste pagina’s zat ik volledig in het verhaal. De opbouw is sterk, waardoor ik meteen een connectie voelde met de personages. Voor mij had het boek nog veel langer mogen duren; ik kon er echt in blijven lezen.

De groeiende liefde tussen Isolde en Adrian hield me volledig in de ban. Enemies to lovers is een van mijn favoriete tropes, en dit boek liet me opnieuw zien waarom dat zo is. De passionele scènes voegen bovendien echt iets toe aan het liefdesverhaal.

Daarnaast bevat het verhaal ook een sterke plot. Naarmate het boek vordert, vallen de puzzelstukjes steeds beter op hun plek, en ontdek je meer over de achterliggende geschiedenis. Ik kan niet wachten op het volgende deel!

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King of Battle and Blood – Scarlett St. Clair

One of my goals this year is to explore new genres. I used to be stuck in one theme: romance. But over time, I’ve discovered that I also enjoy psychological thrillers, and now I want to dive deeper into fantasy books. Thanks to Zomer & Keuning, I got the chance to start with this one.

The story follows Isolde, who marries Adrian, the Blood King, in exchange for the safety of her people. There’s deep hostility between humans and vampires, making Isolde’s marriage feel like a betrayal to the people of the kingdom of Lara. Her father is the king, and Lara has always been her home.

There have been numerous attacks on different cities, and the humans blame the vampires. Isolde, too, always believed Adrian was her enemy—until she learns more about the vampires’ world and history. Was her lifelong hatred toward them justified? Was Adrian truly her enemy?

It was easy to immerse myself in Isolde and Adrian’s fantasy world. From the very first pages, I was completely hooked. The buildup is strong, making it easy to connect with the characters. Honestly, I wish this book had been even longer; I could have kept reading forever.

The growing love between Isolde and Adrian completely captivated me. Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, and this book reminded me exactly why. The passionate scenes add real depth to their love story.

Beyond the romance, the story also has a solid plot. As the book progresses, the puzzle pieces start falling into place, revealing more of the history behind it all. I can’t wait for the next book!

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Everyone said the second book in the series was the best, and they weren’t wrong—I absolutely loved it!

Feyre’s story picks up as she battles overwhelming guilt, deep trauma, and doubts about everything and everyone around her.

The enemies-to-lovers trope took me by surprise after the first book. But once everything clicked into place, it all made perfect sense. It’s definitely a slow burn, but every single moment was worth it.

While the romance gets a lot of attention, the plot doesn’t take a backseat. The looming threat of King Hybern and his followers is just as compelling and keeps the tension high.

This book had me hooked from start to finish. I laughed, cried, felt frustrated, and ended up completely overwhelmed. A story that puts you through so much deserves nothing less than five stars!

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My first 5-star book of the year, and wow, wow, wow! I completely understand the hype around ACOTAR now. I’m so glad I chose this book with my book club, and I can’t wait to discuss it with them!

The story follows Feyre, who, after killing a faerie wolf, is forced to leave her life behind and cross the wall to live in Prythian. She leaves her two sisters and father behind and enters a world she considers hostile. But soon, she begins to learn more about the world of the fae, which is being terrorized by a mysterious blight. With High Lord Tamlin, she feels safe… or so she thinks.

The story’s buildup is a bit slow; for a while, not much happens, which took some effort to push through. But once you’re really immersed in the story, it’s hard to put the book down. The fantasy world pulls you in completely, and it’s so vividly written that it feels like you’re really there.

If you are a fan of romantasy, fantasy, and romance, this book is definitely for you. The enemies-to-lovers trope plays a major role in the story and makes it even more captivating.

Many readers say the second book is where the series truly shines, so I’m really excited to continue. One thing is for sure: Sarah J. Maas has cast her spell on me with this series. Highly recommended!

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I think I’ve read almost all of Freida’s books by now, but honestly, I found The Locked Door one of her weaker ones.

The story follows Nora, the daughter of serial killer Aaron Nierling, also known as “The Handyman.” With her father serving a life sentence, Nora has built a new life under a different name. She’s now a surgeon, and no one knows about her dark past. That is, until new murders start happening—murders that follow her father’s exact methods. But he couldn’t have done it… right?

Soon, all clues point to Nora: the victims turn out to be her patients. But Nora knows she’s innocent. So who’s framing her?

While the story itself was decent, I didn’t find it as gripping as some of Freida’s other books. Maybe I’ve read too many of her works and am harder to impress now. The plot felt a bit too slow in the buildup, only for the ending to feel rushed.

All in all, not her best, but I’m still looking forward to her next book, The Crash.

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After all the psychological thrillers I read last month, it took some adjusting to dive into a romcom again. But before I knew it, the story swept me away, and I looked forward to every moment I could read more.

We follow both Storee’s perspective and that of her love interest, Cole. After ten years, they’re neighbours again. After a decade without contact, Storee suddenly returns to Kringletown, the most Christmasy town in the country. What’s more, Storee is competing in the Kringle contest, and Cole is determined to make sure she doesn’t win. Because ten years ago, they might have a crush on each other, but their reunion now is anything but warm. Will they rediscover their old feelings for each other, or will this Christmas be a major letdown?

Oh, this story is so much fun! It has a strong Hallmark movie vibe, but that’s exactly what the author aimed for. The funniest character is, without a doubt, Holly Jolly sidekick Max. I even caught myself laughing out loud at the banter between Max and Cole.

But it’s not all laughs—there’s also room for deeper themes, like grieving and rebuilding connections with your family.

Lastly, a warning: after the halfway mark, you’ll stumble upon some steamy, passionate scenes—also known as smut.

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My first book of the new year! And it was an instant hit!

Ward D is a locked psychiatric ward where we follow medical student Amy during her first night on the ward. She’s dreading it, and it quickly becomes clear why. Once her best friend, Jade—now a permanent patient on the ward—confronts Amy. And from that moment on, the night can only go downhill…

The story also takes us back to the past, when Amy and Jade were still best friends. This gives us insight into their friendship, which is no longer a friendship and into Jade’s darker side—leading to her eventual stay in the psychiatric ward.

This was yet another book I finished in a single day. A gripping and suspenseful story—I was hooked from start to finish. I’m a huge fan of the plot and the twists! Yet another recommendation from Freida McFadden!

I had promised myself to read more romcoms this year, but tomorrow another Freida book will be waiting for me in the mailbox…

This story follows newlyweds Tricia and Ethan. They are house hunting, but just as they arrive to view a secluded property, a heavy snowstorm strikes. It quickly becomes clear that they’ll be stuck in the old, sprawling house for a few days. Soon, they discover that this isn’t just any house—it’s the home of Adrienne Hale, a renowned psychiatrist who mysteriously vanished without a trace a few years ago.

The book alternates between the present-day events with Tricia and Ethan and flashbacks to Adrienne Hale’s past. Step by step, we uncover the truth about what happened years ago.

(Spoiler alert!)

When mysterious things happen in books like this, I sometimes get frustrated with the characters. For example: the footprints, the painting being rehung, the glass and the food in the kitchen—how on earth does Ethan not believe Tricia when all of these are clear signs that someone else is in the house?!

Once again, Freida delivers a fantastic read. This time, I was convinced I’d figured it all out, sure that Freida couldn’t surprise me anymore. But… you guessed it—I was wrong.

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