The Secrets of Jane: Forgotten

This is morally grey. This enemies to lovers. This is hate to love. This is plot, smut, and a SLOW burn romance.

I loved this. Mercenary meets bad ass girl on the run with a prophecy and a hate for everything he stands for. I can't even explain the plot, it simply did not quit. I felt we did so much but LOTS of character building. This is highly character based and the character building was just mwah. The hate between these two was just perfection. I mean at the end of the book, there is no love but a strong like with so much mistrust. The cliffy?? I was like oh this isn't going to be a good ending and BOOM HUH?? so good

Simply put: This book blew me away!

I was surprised at the power and sweetness of this darkly romantic fantasy. I have been reading some darker stories lately and there is a line where the trend toward violence and open door scenes seems to get in the way of the story. It feels more like I’m on the verge of the horror genre. With that said, I know the addition of “sweet” to this review may seem like an odd descriptor, and if you look at the cover you know the dark should be the defining characteristic. But, that razor thin line where you can’t quite tell if you are reading the reality of Jane and Soren, Jane’s wishes, or Soren’s manipulation is what is so thrilling in this book. And this is reflected in the balance between the sensual and almost sweet side of romance and the physical.

This is a pair that many would argue will create a wall between them and the reader. I mean Soren is a Zenith - read mercenary ‘warlord’ with the power and personality of a mafia don - who basically kidnaps and then manipulates Jane into going with him to protect her best friend, Kathleen, and the refugees from her burned out village. His mission: deliver Jane back to the Zenith Council to discover who she is and what she knows…about what? Even Soren has no clue, but Jane’s capture fits his own agenda. Soren is the consummate Alphahole, but there is something that he sees in Jane that sparks his curiosity and that sets him down the path to discover her secrets on his own. Jane herself is not anyone’s maiden in distress. She may go into a situation wondering if she is coming out in one piece, but she knows that neither will you… and that’s the important thing to her. When we meet Jane in Chapter One she is in the heart of a Tavern Brawl and is breaking noses and delivering the best snarky banter with a tongue as sharp, and wit as bright, as a newly honed knife. She is as wild and dangerous as Soren and gives every bit as good as she gets. Escape attempts…check. Enthrallment…check. Physical attacks…check. Sass, snark, and banter…check, check, and check plus. Oh, and did you want a tragic past? Not one BUT TWO SUPER CHECKS!

However, in addition to the two main characters, The Secrets of Jane also brings the author’s keen eye for detail and character development to everyone in the book. Kathleen, Jane’s best friend is so vivid in my mind that I can see and hear her anytime her name is mentioned. Bones and Anya, Soren’s seconds in command, I can actually see them as well, one playing with their necklace while the other sits as a broody guard over Jane -- but I’ll not tell you who is who for that is part of the fun of this book. And Phantom, Soren’s horse, he’s pawing the ground and nickering for your attention too. The Noirs, the other Zeniths, the pirates, the tavern keep, all are living, breathing and fully voiced characters too.

So, why read this book even if you're not into Romantasy? This book has court-intrigue, mythology, a band-of-brothers & sisters feel, witches, pirates, fighting pits, missing parents and families, secret agendas, and magic. Not enough, well this also has the author’s wonderful ability to invert all your expectations and call into question all your assumptions. She leaves you with hints and traces of an idea and a trail of clues that will leave you untangling statements and trying to read into people's actions as you try to solve mysteries within mysteries, as well as plots and plans. All of this together will draw you deeper into this impressive and original story and catch feelings for all the living characters. And the ending, gahhhh… the ending will leave you holding your breath because … you … just … want … to … know … more.

I would sign up for this series if it was ten books, and I'd follow Soren and Jane across the Black Sea to find out Jane’s Secrets because I don’t want to leave this world

"𝐀𝐧𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐦𝐞, 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐞, 𝐰𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐮𝐧. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐧."

I received an ALC for this book, first thing is, I LOVED the sound effects that were included at the beginning of every chapter and even some in between. The storyline was so good I did not want to put this book down.

𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐎𝐑. 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝑹𝑼𝑰𝑵. 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐑𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄.

I loved Jane, loved how this book started with her walking out of a tavern after breaking a man’s nose, she got bonus points for defending her friend from creeps. Idk about any of you but I want a best friend like Jane. If you thought that I wasn’t going to obsess over a new MMC you thought wrong. The minute Soren was introduced I knew I was done for.

I disliked Anya (she was giving “I’m jealous of you for being in Soren’s bed” vibes) but at least she was loyal to him. I hope that in the next book, I can come to like her at least. I liked Bones, I need a book for him and Kathleen which probably won’t happen, but a girl can dream, right?

If you're a reader that loves a dark romantasy this book should be right up your alley. Heads up this book ends with a cliffhanger but lucky for you book 2 has already been released. Speaking of book 2, that’s where I’m headed now.

𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐫 ↴

This is an Advanced Reader copy. Although this book was given to me as an ARC my thoughts are my own. Thank you, Charlotte Mallory and The Nerd Fam, for the ARC opportunity!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 ↴

💀 Heavy Banter

🔥 Nice and Spicy

💀 Forced Proximity

🔥 Captor x Captive

💀 Touch Her and Die

🔥 Begrudging Attraction

💀 True Enemies to Lovers

🔥 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 📖