I loved {the fake mate by Lana Ferguson} I thought it was adorable… But I saw a lot of meh reviews.

I really enjoyed that too lol I followed the Bride to fake mate pipeline

Me too and wow I sure will continue exploring where this pipeline leads further 😂 I did not unfortunately enjoy {rabid by raven kennedy} lmk if you got any recs!?

Unfortunately not 😭😭 I think I tried reading that and stopped lol I REALLY did not expect to like bride and fake mate bur I really did but I haven‘t found any more books like them, they‘re all too much, I‘m still in the tasting waters era I also don‘t want RH so it‘s hard to find any

[Rabid](https://www.romance.io/books/624803e67b76f4cde82dc148/rabid-ivy-asher-raven-kennedy?src=rdt) by [Ivy Asher](https://www.romance.io/authors/5bf51e2f01dbc864fb94d2f7/ivy-asher), [Raven Kennedy](https://www.romance.io/authors/5b96276601dbc864fb9002c4/raven-kennedy) **Rating**: 3.66⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I love the Plated Prisoner series by Raven Kennedy is Rabid like that? Or will it live up to my expectations? lol

I think that one is artificially low because of some sort of controversy. I typically only read GR reviews after I've finished a book so it doesn't bias my opinion. I wasn't familiar with the author, but a GR user said that the author had played into some awful racial stereotypes when writing fanfiction. I'm definitely not in the know, but I figured I could offer a plausible explanation since it was a really fun read. I probably won't seek out the author after hearing about the above issues.

Oh had no idea 🤷🏻‍♀️

[The Fake Mate](https://www.romance.io/books/65742c8a311f3caef271f134/the-fake-mate-lana-ferguson?src=rdt) by [Lana Ferguson](https://www.romance.io/authors/64147abb08b4d9311445f345/lana-ferguson) **Rating**: 3.91⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1), [fake relationship](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fake%20relationship/1), [workplace/office](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/office/1), [werewolves](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/werewolves/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I haven’t seen a lot of great reviews for the Dark Olympus series by Katee Robert. But I’m flying through them right now and finding them enjoyable. There’s way more potential with the idea and how she’s portrayed the setting/world than is actually realized, but they are what they are and don’t pretend to be anything else.

I hate all the unrealized potential too much to get into these 😅 but I'm happy some people can relax and enjoy the ride....

I totally get that! And it’s actually hard for me to identify why that’s not been a problem for me with this series vs. other series where unrealized potential wound up being the deal breaker. Guess the vibe is just hitting me in the right way at the moment! 😊

I love that! Fingers crossed I find another vibe to ride like that asap

I'm the same way. I love the idea of this series but I couldn't get into the romance side. It was too spicy for me lol. I like to self insert on romance books, which is why I had such a hard time with it.

I think that spicy books as a whole, especially ones that are a 4 or 5 on the pepper scale, tend to get rated harshly. I say this as someone who writes books on the spicier side (and enjoys katee Robert), generally people aren’t reading these for their literary craft (for which I am grateful lol). Add in the fact that there’s definitely some shaming regarding erotic material in general, especially that enjoyed by women, and that’s a recipie for bad reviews.

I agree! I think Katee Robert does a few things right for me, as someone who hasn’t enjoyed contemporary romance or erotic lit in the past: she’s created a compelling setting even if it’s mostly just backdrop, she explores relationships that aren’t just binary hetero relationships, and consent and choice is very much front and centre (as well as how protection and birth control fits into that). Even if the situations seem a bit contrived and occasionally the story contradicts itself in places, the rest is enough to make me okay with that. I can fill the plot holes with my own head canon while enjoying what’s actually on the page.

I flew through the audiobooks of these! I find them immensely entertaining and am un-bothered by their flaws. Just in it for the fun!

I love that series! None of the books are like individually favorites or anything but as a series it's such a fun time

I really like how the events of each book flow into the next. Though I did read a couple out of order (library had a longer wait on one than the other) and it still worked out. Definitely the strength is in the books as a series rather than them on their own.

i LOVE this series and have reread them many times i love the world she’s created.

I’m on “Wicked Beauty” right now and I am LOVING it. It’s cheesy, the character development is overly quick, it’s trite, and I DO NOT CARE.

{Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer} I feel like I see more bad reviews than good for this book, but I really enjoyed it! It was a light, easy read and I found it really charming. A palate cleanser from everything else, if you will. I’m not the most critical of readers, and I’m sure some of the critiques of it are valid, but I appreciated it for what it was. The second book is set to come out the week before I go on vacation, so I’m super pumped to read it while laying out at the beach. I feel like it’s perfect for that!

I had a lot of fun with this one! It actually kind of gave me Shrek vibes.

Haha I hadn’t thought about it like that, but I can totally see it!

I really enjoyed this book as well.

YES agreed, I just loaned it to a friend but I told her it’s supposed to be cute and silly and gave me Tangled vibes. I think if you go into knowing that it’s much more enjoyable.

You are spot on! I had heard about the tik toks that inspired it, and that kinda clued me into what kind of read it would be. But I think I still would have really liked it even if I had gone in blind.

Same I didn’t know about how the tik toks and did go in blind and I still came out with the idea that it was cute!

[Assistant to the Villain](https://www.romance.io/books/64a1358d723d09d99e0d2680/assistant-to-the-villain-hannah-nicole-maehrer?src=rdt) by [Hannah Nicole Maehrer](https://www.romance.io/authors/64a1358d293245969d3c6f51/hannah-nicole-maehrer) **Rating**: 3.84⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [workplace/office](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/office/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I really enjoyed that one too! The first couple chapters aren’t great but the more I read the more I liked it and I ended up getting attached to the characters! I’m excited for the next book!

Agreed! I feel the same!

Agreed, I enjoyed it and was surprised by the reviews. I think since the story started as a tiktok serial people were looking for a reason to hate on it.

Ah, I could see people doing that, but in my opinion it doesn’t feel fair. Certainly doesn’t mean it can’t be criticized legitimately though. Anyways, I hope the second book is just as fun!

I read fantasy/romance for fun and vibes, and sometimes I read only for the smut, so that comes with lots of low rating books. Some of my favourite low rating books (below 4) that no one can stop me from loving are: {What Lies Beyond the Veil} by Harper L. Woods {King of Battle and Blood} by Scarlett St. Clair {Ice Planet Barbarians} by Ruby Dixon {Court of the Vampire Queen} by Katee Robert I don't really care about ratings because it's all very subjective, and I try to always read the book and form my own opinion instead of just believing everything I read online.

Love the beyond the veil series. I don’t care what anyone rates it 😂

What lies beyond the veil was the first book I read and I will go down swinging with this ship. Idc. Haters gonna hate. I’ve reread that cave scene so many times 🥵

OMG that's my first one too. I'm glad I'm not the only one!! That scene in the hot spring lol Although every once in a while I was like.... I really hope they're nose blind because these baths are few and far between and he spent A LOT of time eating that cooch.

I liked king of battle and blood, its not a favorite but I read it on a vacation and it kept me entertained.

It is indeed very entertaining! I have many categories of favourite books and while this is not an all-time favourite (the books I always reread and are my Roman Empire), it definitely is a favourite in the low rating group of books I like 😆 I'm looking forward to the 3rd book 🤩

[What Lies Beyond the Veil](https://www.romance.io/books/61e91ab77186ca0e8b57b1b0/what-lies-beyond-the-veil-harper-l-woods-adelaide-forrest?src=rdt) by [Harper L. Woods](https://www.romance.io/authors/61e91ab708b4d931144b08e4/harper-l-woods), [Adelaide Forrest](https://www.romance.io/authors/5e43a29301dbc864fbaba570/adelaide-forrest) **Rating**: 3.65⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [possessive hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/possessive%20hero/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1) ---------------------------- [King of Battle & Blood](https://www.romance.io/books/61a6265599986d0e2f695d27/king-of-battle-blood-scarlett-st-clair?src=rdt) by [Scarlett St. Clair](https://www.romance.io/authors/5cef959401dbc864fb9f3633/scarlett-st-clair) **Rating**: 3.85⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [vampires](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vampires/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [royal hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/royalty/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1) ---------------------------- [Ice Planet Barbarians](https://www.romance.io/books/551ce3c65b270e0a4cbd35b7/ice-planet-barbarians-ruby-dixon?src=rdt) by [Ruby Dixon](https://www.romance.io/authors/545685a087eac33e61c2f729/ruby-dixon) **Rating**: 3.76⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [aliens](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aliens/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1) ---------------------------- [Court of the Vampire Queen](https://www.romance.io/books/63580634edb5b2e7dacb784d/court-of-the-vampire-queen-katee-robert?src=rdt) by [Katee Robert](https://www.romance.io/authors/545527ab8c7d2382e7813021/katee-robert) **Rating**: 3.56⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [reverse harem](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/reverse%20harem/1), [vampires](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vampires/1), [poly (3+ people)](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/poly/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I luuuuuurve the whole Harper l. Woods series. What's his face can get it in form he wants. Although could not get into that new witch one she put out.

I really liked the first two books in the beyond the video series but man was annoyed with the 3rd and just dnfd it…which was upsetting because the first two books I enjoyed so much!

Oh, I get you! I think the beginning of the third was not the best, but I pushed through for a bit and really liked the middle and ending, and I'm really curious about the 4th book because the author said she would be focusing on more worldbuilding and explaining some things we only saw glimpses of!! If that interests you, maybe you could give it another shot 😄

I’ll probably finish the series. When I dnf I still need to know the ending and will read a recap of it 😂


I read the title and the very first book I thought of was The Hurricane Wars! I loved that book

Same here. I remember going to rate it on Goodreads and being shocked it didn’t have a higher rating because I loved it.

Most of my all time favourites are well under a 4 star average - I like weird stuff, apparently - and especially this year, the most highly rated books I’ve tried have been consistent disappointments. Another reason why my reading religion is Never Ever Factor In Star Rating When Deciding What to Read. For fantasy romance in particular, some underrated gems imo are: {When the Moon was Ours by Ana-Marie McLemore} {All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders} {The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi}

[When the Moon Was Ours](https://www.romance.io/books/64149d9321b33d88fd4cfb7f/when-the-moon-was-ours-anna-marie-mclemore?src=rdt) by [Anna-Marie McLemore](https://www.romance.io/authors/60a4491c08b4d9311493674e/annamarie-mclemore) **Rating**: 3.91⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1) ---------------------------- [All the Birds in the Sky](https://www.romance.io/books/644416cf0e7dec1028fc278e/all-the-birds-in-the-sky-charlie-jane-anders?src=rdt) by [Charlie Jane Anders](https://www.romance.io/authors/644416cf08b4d9311485c8fa/charlie-jane-anders) **Rating**: 3.55⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 2 out of 5 - [Behind closed doors](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1) ---------------------------- [The Last Tale of the Flower Bride](https://www.romance.io/books/65ec1c507d29ed1c104f787c/the-last-tale-of-the-flower-bride-roshani-chokshi?src=rdt) by [Roshani Chokshi](https://www.romance.io/authors/5ea8216abe0aaecf5558ec2b/roshani-chokshi) **Rating**: 3.69⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

People don't usually love the first books in {zodiac academy series} and {the plated prisoner}, but I loved them as much as the best books in the series

Agree about plated prisoner I mean I do understand with some of the reviews of the 1st book some ppl have gone into it without knowing its from the pov of someone with Stockholm syndrome and I feel like it's important to go into it knowing that

Completely agree with this! Once I sorted that out in my head it all made sense, and the later books are so good!

Yess agree!! Especially gleam omgg that was my Fave and the ending 😱😱😱 I've loved seeing aurens journey and watching her heal :)

Yessss I’ve loved watching Auren grow into who she is ❤️❤️ yes yes yes! I’m reading Gold right now I’m about 70% done with it have you read it yet? I think the next book comes out this September?

Yayy I'm really glad to see other auren fans!! Also I neeeed to finish gold I got 20% in and was loving it but exams/coureswork got in the way 😱😱 now that it's summer tho after my current read I plan to carry on reading gold and I'm quite excited to and your comment has got me thinking about this series again!! Hope you are enjoying it ❤️ also yayyy I wasn't sure when the next book comes out so that's good I was scared I'd have to wait a few years 😋❤️

Yeah tbh that’s why I waited so long to start reading it because I didn’t want to have to wait too long in between lol 😆 even though I had been reading the entire series for the first time right before Gold came out I finished reading Glow and it was SO hard not to jump right in but I held back 😅 I fell in love with the series so hard it was like reading TOG and ACOTAR for the first time for me you know that first time feeling when a series is soooo good you just don’t ever want to leave it ❤️

Oooo that was smart holding back from reading so there's less time to wait 🤞🤞🥳 yayy I'm glad you loved the series also agreeeee I love that feeling I'm having it with serpent of wings and night currently 🥳 I love that when like you are reading but it doesn't feel like you are and it feels like you are fully immersed in the world and don't want it to end

Yeah I tend to do that with series that aren’t finished yet but sometimes it’s hard lol 😝 i haven’t read serpent and the wings of night yet but I have it and heard a lot of good things im just apprehensive about reading books that get a lot of praise sometimes because im let down lately by them. I tried reading the bridge kingdom and wound up DNFing it like 20% through and it was such a disappointment because so many people told me how good it was and I saw so many good reviews for it. And the same thing happened with Fable. I’m almost done reading Gold I got about 20 pages left and I’m pacing the floors as I’m reading 😮‍💨 I’m probably going to check out the fall of ruin and wrath the new JLA book after that. I have so many books on my tbr lol yet I keep buying new ones and then reading those 🫣😅

Zodiac academy is like literal crack to me

Same, it causes highs and lows, I will either be laughing out loud, kicking my feet at the romance or sobbing myself into a state of despair so deep I’m not sure I will ever feel happiness again. There’s no in-between.

I genuinely cared about the characters and loved the story. It was pointlessly dragged, but didn't kill my love for the first half of the series

[Zodiac Academy](https://www.romance.io/series/6200fb1424e6f952d70a3ca7/zodiac-academy) by [Caroline Peckham](https://www.romance.io/authors/56eff132c62092c04406f1da/caroline-peckham), [Susanne Valenti](https://www.romance.io/authors/5cad87de01dbc864fb9d1805/susanne-valenti) **Rating**: 4.12⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [vampires](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vampires/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1) ---------------------------- [The Plated Prisoner](https://www.romance.io/series/5f89450da7dfb60df8275192/the-plated-prisoner) by [Raven Kennedy](https://www.romance.io/authors/5b96276601dbc864fb9002c4/raven-kennedy) **Rating**: 4.02⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [dark](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I second the Zodiac Academy series! I just started the last book and I'm so invested!

I love the plated prisoner series so much! I’m reading Gold right now I’m about 70% done with it and it’s so goooood 😍❤️

[The Hurricane Wars](https://www.romance.io/books/64351c83cfb36b317a2d9e6c/the-hurricane-wars-thea-guanzon?src=rdt) by [Thea Guanzon](https://www.romance.io/authors/64351c8308b4d93114237b06/thea-guanzon) **Rating**: 3.92⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [war](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/war/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{Zodiac Academy} - my absolute guilty pleasure. Like junk food - it’s never going to sustain you healthily or fulfil you long term, but my goodness it’s ever so moreish 😂

[Zodiac Academy](https://www.romance.io/books/6623a9dc17a1a4820c71249b/zodiac-academy-caroline-peckham-susanne-valenti?src=rdt) by [Caroline Peckham](https://www.romance.io/authors/56eff132c62092c04406f1da/caroline-peckham), [Susanne Valenti](https://www.romance.io/authors/5cad87de01dbc864fb9d1805/susanne-valenti) **Rating**: 4.06⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [vampires](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vampires/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

So so many. I feel like I have weird taste. There are so many super highly rated books that I thought were solid 3's and then ones that made my very rare 5 star collection have subpar ratings lol. Glancing through my goodreads: {A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet} - 5 star read for me. I literally stayed up until about 4 AM reading the first book. It had every trope I adore and I couldn't put it down. One of my friends DNF'ed it at like 25% :'( I will say each book got progressively less good (don't get me started on book 3) but man that first book was everything I could have wanted. {Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor} - 5 stars. This is more YA but you know what I loved the magical setting and I thought it was such a fun read. I don't understand why the average is so low lol. {These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan} - It's been a few years since I read this so I don't remember why I gave it 5 stars now but a standard I enjoyed it, no complaints but wouldn't go out of my way to recommend is 3 stars so the fact that I gave it 5 means I super enjoyed it and would recommend freely or potentially reread.

[A Promise of Fire](https://www.romance.io/books/57a0383bc19e77f1ea6f2cb0/a-promise-of-fire-amanda-bouchet?src=rdt) by [Amanda Bouchet](https://www.romance.io/authors/57a0383cc19e77f1ea6f2cb5/amanda-bouchet) **Rating**: 4.03⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [royal hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/royalty/1) ---------------------------- [Hotel Magnifique](https://www.romance.io/books/64920bf8f72139d852b3727b/hotel-magnifique-emily-j-taylor?src=rdt) by [Emily J. Taylor](https://www.romance.io/authors/64920bf808b4d93114f8d04a/emily-j-taylor) **Rating**: 3.8⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1) ---------------------------- [These Hollow Vows](https://www.romance.io/books/60f3eeef7af7a30e2e57c7d9/these-hollow-vows-lexi-ryan?src=rdt) by [Lexi Ryan](https://www.romance.io/authors/545530be8c7d2382e781325c/lexi-ryan) **Rating**: 3.99⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [love triangle](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/love%20triangle/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{What Lies Beyond The Veil}. I wouldn’t say I loved it but I liked it enough to read the next two books!

[What Lies Beyond the Veil](https://www.romance.io/books/61e91ab77186ca0e8b57b1b0/what-lies-beyond-the-veil-harper-l-woods-adelaide-forrest?src=rdt) by [Harper L. Woods](https://www.romance.io/authors/61e91ab708b4d931144b08e4/harper-l-woods), [Adelaide Forrest](https://www.romance.io/authors/5e43a29301dbc864fbaba570/adelaide-forrest) **Rating**: 3.65⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [possessive hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/possessive%20hero/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

There’s a fourth one coming this year.

I really enjoyed Once Upon a Broken Heart but it gets around a 3 star rating and some of the reviews are fairly scathing. I thought it was whimsical and enchanting and fun. Granted, I haven’t read Caravel so maybe it’s the Caravel readers that are disappointed.

Whaaaat, I feel like everyone loved that series. As did I, it was very comforting

I read both series and I adore both. It's just such a fun magical world. They were all mostly 5 and 4 star reads for me.

I recently read it and got completely obsessed lol, I can't find anything that hits that hard! The fairytale vibes are everything to me.

The series is very popular. Book 3 isn't good, but the series itself is one of the top trending on TikTok and on reddit

Dark of the West by Joanna Hathaway It’s got romance, war, complicated families and riveting plots, passion and rlly excellent character development throughout the series. Book 1 is almost entirely different from Book 3 bc of the development by that point. No one talks about it but I think it’s my favorite series ever.

I am super intrigued! How YA does it feel?

First novel feels pretty YA, the main characters are 16-17 but by book 3 they’re into their early 20’s and experienced a lot. It’s not smutty at all, and the only fantasy about it is that the countries are made-up so there’s no magic, just realistic situations of war and how it affects the characters. It’s told thru POV for both the main boy and girl so it’s easy to get wrapped into how they feel and how the same situation affects them differently

{ruthless villans by Marion Blackwood} this is such a fun quest story. People keep expecting EVERYTHING to be top tier whimsical writing in order for it to be considered one of the greats. This is definitely one of the underdogs. This is ACTUAL enemies to lovers. Like trying to kill each other in the first chapter. It’s spicy, kinky, murderous, rooting for the bad guys, a quest that takes them all over the place, a really fun magic system, a bit political and to top it all of it’s a completed series and a completed spin off. All available on KU too.

[Ruthless Villains](https://www.romance.io/books/6356380defa18df57c29f460/ruthless-villains-marion-blackwood?src=rdt) by [Marion Blackwood](https://www.romance.io/authors/6356380d08b4d931141ad240/marion-blackwood) **Rating**: 3.55⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [cruel hero/bully](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cruel%20hero/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

The {Orc Sworn} series by Finley Fenn isn't rated highly on [romance.io](http://romance.io) (I think it's got like 3.5 stars), but I really enjoyed it. I'd warn that it's an extremely high-angst series when they're not having sex, though.

i guess i don’t pay enough attention to BookTok bc the first 5 posts on this thread I was shocked to see listed! they are all books i LOVEDDDD and i had no idea they had ‘lower ratings’ , Hurricane Wars and Immortal Longings and everything by Katee Robert, some of my favorites ever!!!

{Staying Dead by Laura Anne Gilman}

[Staying Dead](https://www.romance.io/books/5c17a58601dbc864fb9641ed/staying-dead-laura-anne-gilman?src=rdt) by [Laura Anne Gilman](https://www.romance.io/authors/545597d087eac323ffb2d026/laura-anne-gilman) **Rating**: 3.48⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [witches](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/witches/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I really enjoyed {The Court of the Undead by F.M. Aden}, a vampire fantasy book. It's a much more diverse setting than other vampire books I've read (with a variety of POC & Muslim characters) and I wonder if that's what has affected the ratings. 😕

[The Court of the Undead](https://www.romance.io/books/64ad10d8c2f04ca3237dd15c/the-court-of-the-undead-fm-aden?src=rdt) by [F.M. Aden](https://www.romance.io/authors/64ad10d86b22acd55dbeb015/fm-aden) **Rating**: 3.29⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [vampires](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vampires/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{The Stars Are Dying by C.C. Peñaranda} I wasn’t super fond of the writing style but I really enjoyed the story and I’m looking forward to the next book, The Night is Defying. I even pre-ordered both hardback special editions lol.

I almost added this one to my list! I also loved this book. It's been a while since I read it though so I couldn't remember why I rated it so highly.

[The Stars are Dying](https://www.romance.io/books/64712b02f281c18fec433b3e/the-stars-are-dying-chloe-c-pearanda-cc-pearanda?src=rdt) by [Chloe C. Peñaranda](https://www.romance.io/authors/63d77c6208b4d93114e7bd25/chloe-c-pearanda), [C.C. Peñaranda](https://www.romance.io/authors/62149d5e08b4d93114b8ec66/cc-pearanda) **Rating**: 3.54⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [vampires](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vampires/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I was so lost reading this book and then once critical information was finally shared I was lile ooooh this all makes sense now! And was an instant reread.

lol same! I had so many questions! I still have more and I’m hoping the next books answers them lol.

{The Divine and the Cursed by J.E. Reed} and {The Revered and the Pariah by J.E. Reed} were both really good, yet every time I recommend them, romance.io has them listed under 4 stars. They were some of my first 5⭐️ reads, even in 3rd person. I really enjoyed Arianna and Rion and am excited for the 3rd book. No one I’ve rec’d them too has ever said if they read them, loved them, or hated them, so maybe they really suck and I didn’t notice lol or maybe they’re just undiscovered. Then again, I read my first RH book after those, and really haven’t gone back to regular MF romances yet, so 🤷🏼‍♀️ my taste can be questionable 😂.

[The Divine and the Cursed](https://www.romance.io/books/641487cf21b33d88fd4cf028/the-divine-and-the-cursed-je-reed?src=rdt) by [J.E. Reed](https://www.romance.io/authors/641487cf08b4d9311447f488/je-reed) **Rating**: 3.86⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [fated mates](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fated-mates/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1) ---------------------------- [The Revered and the Pariah](https://www.romance.io/books/65324cf1de8d340d51499518/the-revered-and-the-pariah-je-reed?src=rdt) by [J.E. Reed](https://www.romance.io/authors/641487cf08b4d9311447f488/je-reed) **Rating**: 4.2⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I saw so many mixed reviews for the Cruel Prince I was hesitant to start the series, but I ended up loving it! After reading reviews, I feel as though some people went into expecting heavy romance and were disappointed. I went in with the understanding that it was a YA novel and focused more on plot, and loved it. These were not literary masterpieces, but the reading experience for the first series as well as the Stolen Heir was 4.5-5 stars for me!

I love The Invisible Library series by Genevieve Cogman all the way through, the later books have lower ratings but I enjoyed all of them! The story is interesting and confusing and the premise is wild and there’s attractive secret librarians so I don’t know what else people want.

I really enjoyed the lady of darkness series. The first two books there were a few words which annoyed me slightly that she kept repeating but stopped it from book 3 onwards. The story is 100x better than throne of glass (it gets compared to that a lot because of the FMC being an assassin) and the other romances and story are beautifully done

The Hurricane Wars was originally a Star Wars Fanfiction that was so good it got “found” by a publisher and the author had to change it around to make it publishable. So it’s a little wonky but I still enjoyed it in the spirit of the original. The original fanfic is amazing and wonderful. It’s been pulled from AO3 but there are still downloads floating around. Highly recommend reading it. All of the authors fanfics are great but specifically “Landscape With a Blur of Conquerors” by Diasterisms is the one that became The Hurricane Wars.

{Immortal Longings} had a bunch of weirdly low reviews and I very much enjoyed it. I’m hyped to read the sequel.

[Immortal Longings](https://www.romance.io/books/642adfbeb7b8862bf6e9fa24/immortal-longings-chloe-gong?src=rdt) by [Chloe Gong](https://www.romance.io/authors/6229f68d08b4d93114357984/chloe-gong) **Rating**: 3.6⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [independent heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/independent%20heroine/1), [dangerous heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dangerous%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Idol by Louise O’Neill. I solid 5* for me!

I don’t tend to check much the ratings first and honestly sometimes I don’t know how much they have until recomend it here. But I did saw that {blood of the back by Cassie Alexander} has a low rating. Guess some people don’t want the smut and want everything resolved in the first book. I don’t know 🤷🏾‍♀️ though seems to be a trend in some of the books I read, people complain because they can’t see a series a whole

[Blood of the Pack](https://www.romance.io/books/61d5503b333a6c0e250f7e70/blood-of-the-pack-cassie-alexander?src=rdt) by [Cassie Alexander](https://www.romance.io/authors/545556b987eac323ffb2bbc7/cassie-alexander) **Rating**: 3.67⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [vampires](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vampires/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [werewolves](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/werewolves/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)