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Alyssa Nicole Reads

@darklyboundbyalyssa

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reading fantasy to escape reality ✨
obsessed with enemies to lovers, dramione & dark academia 🗡️🖤
💌: [email protected]

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Rachel Gillig did it again 🥹 A beautifully strange world, delicious yearning and a side character who completely stole my heart. Bartholomew deserves absolutely everything 😭

⭐️ 4.75 stars

#TheKnaveAndTheMoon #RachelGillig #BookReview #RomantasyBooks #FantasyBookstagram by @darklyboundbyalyssa

Rating books based on the reaction I would give them if they were a text message…. Trying something new and changing things up a little around here. I’ve been trying to think outside the box and come up with some fun new content because idk how yall come up with such creative posts all the time… it’s hard 😂

What reaction would you give your current read??

#bookstagram #booktok #bookish #romantasybooks #fantasybooksofinstagram

Queen of Shadows ‼️
Literally obsessed. This series can do no wrong!!!

A Flame Among the Seas ❤️
Absolutely loved this one. So good from start to finish!! The ending had me gagged.

Brimstone 👎
Didn’t hate it, it just missed the mark for me.

The Book of Azrael 👍
Such a good read. Definitely worth the hype!!!

Onyx Storm ⁇
THAT ENDING?! What are we supposed to do with that information?? 😭

Crescent City ‼️
A masterpiece. I’m shocked I waited so long to read it.

Court of Lies and Deceit 👎
It was okay, just didn’t really do it for me. The series definitely got better after this one though!

Secrets & Masks ❤️
Loved this one so much! The PAIN though. I still think about this book everyday.

Rites of the Starling ⁇
This book was everything and more. It has me shock to the core by the end.

Silver Elite 👍
Such a good read. Definitely enjoyed this one!!! One of my favorites from 2025!

Manacled ‼️
I will never emotionally recover from this.

Zodiac Academy 👎
I tried. I really did lol. Just wasn’t for me.

The Night Prince ❤️
Loved every second of this one. I need book three right now!!

Quicksilver 👎
Wanted to love this way more than I did. Love Kingfisher though.

The Flame in the Frost 👍
Really enjoyed this one. Such a solid read! Perfect for winter! by @darklyboundbyalyssa

It’s a self care kinda night 🤎

PJs on, face mask, candles lit, cookies baking and a good book waiting for me. Sometimes the best plans are having absolutely nowhere to be and spending the night doing all the little things that make you happy.

This is my kind of Friday night 🕯️📖🍪

What does your perfect cozy night look like?

If you watched this whole reel, thank you and ily!!! 🥹✨

#Bookstagram #CozyReading #ReadingNight #BookishLife #SelfCareNight by @darklyboundbyalyssa

It’s almost SPOOKY SEASON and I’m so ready for all the dark, witchy, gothic, creepy fantasy vibes. So here are some books I’ve read that I think are PERFECT for this time of year + a little peek at my very ambitious spooky season TBR.

𝕺𝖓𝖊 𝕯𝖆𝖗𝖐 𝖂𝖎𝖓𝖉𝖔𝖜 + 𝕿𝖜𝖔 𝕿𝖜𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖉 𝕮𝖗𝖔𝖜𝖓𝖘 Dark gothic fantasy, creepy magic, a mist-covered kingdom and one of the coolest magic systems. This duology just FEELS like fall. If you haven’t read it yet, spooky season is the time.

𝕬𝖓𝖆𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖒𝖆 + 𝕰𝖑𝖉𝖗𝖎𝖙𝖈𝖍 Dark forests, witches, creepy creatures and a romance mixed into all of it. The atmosphere in these books is SO good and definitely gives that darker fantasy vibe I want this time of year.

𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖐 𝖔𝖋 𝕬𝖟𝖗𝖆𝖊𝖑 + 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕿𝖍𝖗𝖔𝖓𝖊 𝖔𝖋 𝕭𝖗𝖔𝖐𝖊𝖓 𝕲𝖔𝖉𝖘 Gods, monsters, morally grey characters, enemies to lovers and lots of violence. Basically if you want your spooky season read to be a little unhinged, this series is for you.

𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕶𝖓𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝕸𝖔𝖙𝖍 Mysterious, whimsical, gothic and just a little eerie. This one has such a different vibe from the others but the atmosphere alone makes it such a good fall read.

𝕳𝖊𝖆𝖗𝖙𝖑𝖊𝖘𝖘 𝕳𝖚𝖓𝖙𝖊𝖗 + 𝕽𝖊𝖇𝖊𝖑 𝖂𝖎𝖙𝖈𝖍 WITCHES. Witch hunters. Forbidden romance. Enemies to lovers. Do I really need to say more?? This duology is such an easy spooky season pick.

And then we have 𝕸𝖞 𝕾𝖕𝖔𝖔𝖐𝖞 𝕾𝖊𝖆𝖘𝖔𝖓 𝕿𝕭𝕽 which is already completely out of control. Will I read all of these?? Absolutely not. Am I going to pretend like I will?? Absolutely.

Now I need to know what’s on YOUR spooky season TBR because there’s clearly always room for one more 👀

post inspired by @skyeannereads ♡

#spookyreads #fallreading #fantasybooks #romantasybooks #falltbr by @darklyboundbyalyssa

✨ Current read update ✨

This book sank its claws into me from the FIRST page. It did slow down a little bit after that but then it picked back up and ohhhh my god it got GOOD.

And the YEARNING??? The tension??? I need more books where the yearning is absolutely off the charts. Like please give me two people who are painfully obsessed with each other but refuse to do anything about it for an unreasonable amount of time. Thank you.

I’ve also been reading soooo slow lately!! I feel like it’s taking me forever to get through books right now even when I’m actually enjoying them. Just slowly making my way through and hoping my reading speed eventually decides to come back 🫠

Anywayssss this past week has been a heat wave from HELL and I’m officially over summer. It’s hot. It’s gross. I don’t want to be outside. I’ve had enough.

I’m ready for my favorite time of year…

SPOOKY SEASON 🎃🍂

Give me sweatshirts, cozy socks, chilly mornings, candles burning, fall coffee and reading under a blanket. I am READY.

Also if you have a romantasy rec with absolutely feral levels of yearning… drop it below because clearly I need more. by @darklyboundbyalyssa

kinda chic to just read however the hell you want 📚✨

DNF the book. buy another one even though your TBR is out of control. reread your favorite. disappear into a 700 page fantasy. rate purely based on vibes. take a break when reading starts feeling like a chore.

reading is supposed to be FUN and sometimes I think we all need that reminder 🤍

anyways… what’s something you think is kinda chic as a reader?? 👀 by @darklyboundbyalyssa

Life and reading update ✨

Man… it’s been way too long since I’ve posted

I’ve been in such a weird limbo when it comes to reading and creating content. The less I read the harder it is to create content and it just kind of turns into a cycle. I’m still reading here and there just nowhere near as much as I was at the beginning of the year or even last year.

Lately I’ve been reaching for movies and TV shows more than books and honestly I kind of blame Outlander because it absolutely consumed me 😂 Easily one of the best shows I’ve ever watched and definitely one of the most emotionally devastating.

I’m currently reading The Ever King and I’m really enjoying it so far. Ever since reading The Wraith Beneath the Tides I’ve apparently entered my pirate era for the summer and honestly I’m not mad about it 🏴‍☠️⚓️

Life has also just been life-ing. I’ve been traveling a lot these past few months between bachelorette trips family vacations photographing weddings and everything in between so I’ve been constantly on the go and way off my normal routine. Work has also been all over the place between my photography business and my part time job so it’s been a lot lately. On top of that I’ve been putting a lot of energy into my health and fitness journey and spending a lot of time at the gym.

I’m really hoping this weird phase passes soon because I genuinely miss being excited about books. I miss creating fun content talking about my latest reads and catching up with all of you. I promise I’m not gone forever 🤍

So…. fill me in

What are you reading right now? What books have completely taken over Bookstagram lately because I feel like I’ve been living under a rock and have absolutely no idea what’s happening anymore 😂 by @darklyboundbyalyssa

A Flame Among the Seas by @authoremiliajae ✨🐚🫧

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Careful. Kneeling before a goddess is a sign of worship.”
“I’ve worshipped you since the moment we locked eyes, Esmyra. And I’d kneel to you a thousand times over.”

SCREAMING!!!!!

My godddd this is how you write a second book. From the very beginning it was fast paced, action packed, emotional and impossible to put down.

I LOVED the villain era Esmyra stepped into. After everything this poor girl has been through she deserved to finally snap a little. The heartbreak in this book was actually insane. The yearning? The devotion? The sacrifices? UGH. It was everything!!! I also loved the found family aspect so much. The loyalty between these characters made every moment hit even harder and the character development was so well done. There were a couple POVs I could have done without at times but I understand why they were important to the overall story.

Esmyra, MY GIRL. She has officially earned a spot on my favorite FMC list. Strong, fierce, resilient and still fighting even after everything thrown at her. Watching her struggle but continue pushing forward was honestly so powerful and I love her for that.

And Draevyn Rowe… THIS MAN. He knows exactly what he wants and will burn the world down to get it. The devotion this man has for Esmyra???? Absolutely feral behavior. He went through hell and back without hesitation and I ate up every second of it. The banter between him and Esmyra was top tier.

I have SO much more to say but I refuse to spoil anything. Just know this book was an easy 10/10 and now I’m left emotionally destroyed waiting for book three.

Thank you SO MUCH Emilia for sending me this ARC. I’m SO grateful!!!

Out June 11th!! 🌊✨ by @darklyboundbyalyssa

A Wraith Beneath the Tides - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have been SEARCHING for a fantasy that gave me Pirates of the Caribbean vibes mixed with dark fantasy and this delivered in every possible way. Sirens, sea magic, pirate ships, tension, monsters, feminine rage and a romance that had me completely hooked.

Esmyra was such an incredible FMC. She is powerful, dangerous, emotional and absolutely stepping into her villain era and honestly… I supported her every second of it 🤭

The atmosphere in this book was unreal. Reading this at the beach with the ocean in front of me was the most elite reading experience and it made me love this story even more.

And let’s talk about the tension because WOW. The slow burn, the yearning, the enemies to lovers angst… inject it directly into my veins.

This was an easy 5 ⭐️ read for me and I’m officially obsessed with this world.

I was also lucky enough to receive an ARC of A Flame Among the Seas and I’m already 30% in 👀 I already know the chaos, tension, and Esmyra’s villain era are about to go absolutely insane and I’m so here for it. Thank you @authoremiliajae for the ARC and being a part of your team! by @darklyboundbyalyssa

The Flame in the Frost ARC Review ❄️

This book honestly took me by surprise. At first, I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about reading a wintery fantasy in the middle of spring because I’m such a mood reader and I need the vibes to match the season I’m in. I know that sounds dramatic but if it’s spring outside and I’m reading about snowstorms and frost kingdoms… sometimes my brain struggles 🤣

But anyways, this book ended up being such a good time!!! The Jack Frost inspired theme was done so well and felt magical without being over the top.

And Jack… my man, my man, MY MANNNN. 😮‍💨 This man knows how to YEARN. He knows exactly what he wants and the tension was absolutely insane. Low key he was giving Draco vibes and if you know me then you KNOW that automatically had me invested. Draco coded but make him a winter prince? Yeah. I ate that up.

The tropes in this book were exactly what I look for in fantasy romance and Sylvanna was such a strong FMC. We love a fierce woman who can fight and protect the people she loves.

Also that ending?? INTENSE. I need book two immediately because I’m so interested to see where this series goes next.

Thank you again to @authoroliviaboothe and @netgalley for the ARC! ❄️💙 by @darklyboundbyalyssa

Happy release day to (another) one of my most anticipated books of the year, Fury Bound by @sablesorensen ✨

I absolutely devoured Direbound and I have been waiting for this one ever since!! I already know I’m about to be fully consumed the second I start. by @darklyboundbyalyssa

April Reads and May Hopefuls ✨

April was such a good reading month for me. I genuinely loved everything I picked up. Reading The Hunger Games series for the first time healed something in me that I didn’t even realize needed it. And Rites of the Starling was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it fully lived up to it.

I’m really excited for my May hopefuls. There are a couple highly anticipated releases coming out this month that I’ve been waiting on and I cannot wait to dive into them. I’m also heading to North Carolina for a bachelorette trip and we’ll be by the beach, so it feels like the perfect time to start A Wraith Beneath the Tides before the next book comes out in June.

How was your April reading and what’s at the top of your May TBR? ✨ by @darklyboundbyalyssa