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Heimlock: A Second Chance Dragon Shifter Monster Romance
People don’t notice the silent drownings and he's perfected the art of not making waves.
Fate has stolen Trinte Gleanscale’s dignity, innocence, and his left eye. Now, it’s threatening to shatter his sanity when his father reappears after eighteen years of no contact. In the wake of humiliating himself at the recent Weyr reunion, all Trinte wants to do is disappear from the world.
Except Kyrielle Veritas has other plans. The Fire Sprite spent years clawing her way out of the darkness, so when she sees the Dragon shifter drowning in self-pity and hate, it’s pure instinct to help — even if they agreed months ago to keep their distance.
When things begin to spiral out of control, Trinte and Kyrielle are forced to spark an unlikely alliance that shifts into an inferno. One by one, emotional barriers fall, stripping bare their guarded truths.
Together, the unlikely pair learns that abusers might return ...
But they can die just as easily as everyone else.
Tropes you'll One night standForced ProximityHurt/comfortMental Health RepFound FamilyRevengePlease note the list of possible triggers before diving in.
Fate has stolen Trinte Gleanscale’s dignity, innocence, and his left eye. Now, it’s threatening to shatter his sanity when his father reappears after eighteen years of no contact. In the wake of humiliating himself at the recent Weyr reunion, all Trinte wants to do is disappear from the world.
Except Kyrielle Veritas has other plans. The Fire Sprite spent years clawing her way out of the darkness, so when she sees the Dragon shifter drowning in self-pity and hate, it’s pure instinct to help — even if they agreed months ago to keep their distance.
When things begin to spiral out of control, Trinte and Kyrielle are forced to spark an unlikely alliance that shifts into an inferno. One by one, emotional barriers fall, stripping bare their guarded truths.
Together, the unlikely pair learns that abusers might return ...
But they can die just as easily as everyone else.
Tropes you'll One night standForced ProximityHurt/comfortMental Health RepFound FamilyRevengePlease note the list of possible triggers before diving in.
- GenresDragons
442 pages, Paperback
Published September 17, 2026
About the author
Jenna Avery
7 books51 followersThe origin story of Jenna Avery is complex, weird, and requires numerous alcoholic beverages to regale. The current story? She's an elder millennial with a penchant for evolving and growing. This is a polite way of saying her ADHD makes her choose a new hobby every three months. By the time you read this, who knows what she'll be into. Just ask. Otherwise, she lives with her horde of kids and pets, a golden retriever husband, and rotating residency of soon-to-be-dead plants.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
September 22, 2026
Heimlock is HEAVY! Abuse , trauma, pain, anger, and moments that genuinely put me through it. But Trinte and Kyrielle absolutely stole my heart. They’ve both survived horrific things but carry their trauma so differently, and watching them slowly figure each other out was EVERYTHING. Somehow, this book balanced all that darkness with humor, banter, friendship, romance, and A LOT of spice. The different timelines made their stories hit even harder as we slowly uncovered what they’d been through. At its core, this is a story about survival, healing, trust, and learning to live after trauma. The ending was INTENSE, followed by the sweetest little landing after emotionally destroying me.
September 23, 2026
I'm honestly still working out how I feel about Heimlock, and that uncertainty is part of what makes this review hard to write. Whatever I was expecting going in, wasn’t quite what I got, and that gap shaped most of my reading experience.
What resonated most was how unflinching the author is about trauma and how far its reach actually goes. She doesn't soften the darker parts of what people are capable of, and she doesn't pretend that trauma stays contained to one part of a person's life. It shows up in Trinte and Kyrielle's romance, but it also in their friendships and their family ties, and the book really shows that survivors rarely get to keep any one relationship untouched by what happened to them.
Some parts were hard to sit with, and I'd tell anyone going in to take the content warnings seriously rather than skimming past them. I actually considered DNFing the book partway through because I wasn't sure I was in the headspace to keep reading something that heavy. I hadn't expected this particular kind of abuse to become as central as it did, even with the warning in place, and that caught me off guard enough to make me hesitate.
Alongside the hard parts, the book also makes room for healing, for naming what happened to these characters instead of leaving it vague, and for showing what it can look like to be a safe person for someone who has survived the worst another person can do to them. Watching Trinte and Kyrielle build something steady out of all of that, choosing each other and choosing to keep trying, gave the book its emotional center even in the moments I struggled with. Their inside jokes added a lighter tone to the book. Some of them made me cringe hard enough to put my e-reader down for a second, but plenty of others were quite funny and quirky in a way that made me laugh.
My main issue is the fantasy side of the book, and it's less about a single moment and more about how often it happens. The romance clearly comes first here, and the fantasy elements feel like they're mostly there to raise the emotional stakes rather than stand on their own. Trinte being a Dragxi, for example, is a fun idea, but we barely learn anything about it, how it shapes his day to day life, or how a service like that even fits into a world like theirs. That same gap shows up with the other magical elements too, they get introduced and then the story moves on before explaining what they are or how they work, and after enough of that it started to wear on me.
I also went in expecting the blurb's promise of Trinte and Kyrielle sparking an alliance to mean something closer to a shared external challenge, surviving something together or fighting someone off, and instead the alliance turns out to be almost entirely internal. That's a fair story to tell, but it wasn't the one I thought I was getting, and I think that mismatch shaped a lot of my reading experience.
On top of that, a handful of smaller details kept pulling me out of the story. They didn’t necessarily break the book on their own, but they added up over time.
As for the writing itself, I don't think the style was for me, though I can see it working well for someone with different taste. The dialogue leans heavily on modern slang, which isn't something I normally enjoy. The author does say upfront that she likes to leave some parts of the world to the reader's imagination, and I respect that as a choice, but I tend to want a clearer picture of how things work rather than filling in gaps myself, so this was more a mismatch in what I look for than a flaw in her craft.
All in all, I'd say this is a book for a reader who wants something a romance outside the ordinary and who doesn't mind the heavier themes it dives into.
What resonated most was how unflinching the author is about trauma and how far its reach actually goes. She doesn't soften the darker parts of what people are capable of, and she doesn't pretend that trauma stays contained to one part of a person's life. It shows up in Trinte and Kyrielle's romance, but it also in their friendships and their family ties, and the book really shows that survivors rarely get to keep any one relationship untouched by what happened to them.
Some parts were hard to sit with, and I'd tell anyone going in to take the content warnings seriously rather than skimming past them. I actually considered DNFing the book partway through because I wasn't sure I was in the headspace to keep reading something that heavy. I hadn't expected this particular kind of abuse to become as central as it did, even with the warning in place, and that caught me off guard enough to make me hesitate.
Alongside the hard parts, the book also makes room for healing, for naming what happened to these characters instead of leaving it vague, and for showing what it can look like to be a safe person for someone who has survived the worst another person can do to them. Watching Trinte and Kyrielle build something steady out of all of that, choosing each other and choosing to keep trying, gave the book its emotional center even in the moments I struggled with. Their inside jokes added a lighter tone to the book. Some of them made me cringe hard enough to put my e-reader down for a second, but plenty of others were quite funny and quirky in a way that made me laugh.
My main issue is the fantasy side of the book, and it's less about a single moment and more about how often it happens. The romance clearly comes first here, and the fantasy elements feel like they're mostly there to raise the emotional stakes rather than stand on their own. Trinte being a Dragxi, for example, is a fun idea, but we barely learn anything about it, how it shapes his day to day life, or how a service like that even fits into a world like theirs. That same gap shows up with the other magical elements too, they get introduced and then the story moves on before explaining what they are or how they work, and after enough of that it started to wear on me.
I also went in expecting the blurb's promise of Trinte and Kyrielle sparking an alliance to mean something closer to a shared external challenge, surviving something together or fighting someone off, and instead the alliance turns out to be almost entirely internal. That's a fair story to tell, but it wasn't the one I thought I was getting, and I think that mismatch shaped a lot of my reading experience.
On top of that, a handful of smaller details kept pulling me out of the story. They didn’t necessarily break the book on their own, but they added up over time.
As for the writing itself, I don't think the style was for me, though I can see it working well for someone with different taste. The dialogue leans heavily on modern slang, which isn't something I normally enjoy. The author does say upfront that she likes to leave some parts of the world to the reader's imagination, and I respect that as a choice, but I tend to want a clearer picture of how things work rather than filling in gaps myself, so this was more a mismatch in what I look for than a flaw in her craft.
All in all, I'd say this is a book for a reader who wants something a romance outside the ordinary and who doesn't mind the heavier themes it dives into.
September 18, 2026
🐉Heimlock🐉
👇🏽 a little tw/cw disclaimer👇🏽
*this is not a book for every reader. The themes are heavy. If you have a history of trauma/assault/ abuse, and reading about such things is triggering for you, I urge you to take the TW/CW seriously and make the best decision for you. I will say, as someone who does not shy away from reading heavy/dark stories, I still found myself—at times—struggling to read through this one.
So please, proceed with caution 🫶🏼*
What I appreciate:
The author does not shy away from the dark depravity that lurks (not all that deep) below the surface of some of humanity. They do not shy away from the lingering trauma that many survivors experience and how that trauma bleeds into every type of relationship: romantic, friendship, familial, etc. For many, there is not an area that goes untouched or unharmed when it comes to abuse (of any kind, really).
Yes, there are several parts of this story that are uncomfortable, nauseating, and potentially triggering—which is why I urge you to heavily consider the TW/CWs and tread carefully (🫶🏼), but there is also healing for the characters, labeling of experienced trauma, exploration of what various safe relationships may look like, and potential ways one can be there for someone they love who has survived the ugliest behaviours of some of the vilest humans.
I actually went back and forth while reading this—debating whether I wanted to DNF (for personal reasons, not because of book quality reasons) or continue. It was just heavy for me, but I’m glad I finished it.
It was healing and validating (and also difficult, obviously)for me to see pieces of my story playing out on paper, but to also see closure for the fictional characters and the beauty they were able to create—trauma and all 🫶🏼
Okay, heavy stuff out of the way—we have dragon shifters, sprites, second-chance romance (which I used to think I wasn’t a fan of, but colour me shocked, I ate it up 😂), a few revenge plot lines (I DID know I was a fan of those, so no surprise, I loved’em 💅), great humour, and we even experience a type of dragon duel (they don’t fight with ⚔️ or 🔫, so “duel” may not be the most accurate word, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, two dragons fight, alright?! 😂). Also, the MMC has a tail. ✋🏽😌🤚🏽
Just sayin. Oh, and a shiny orb for one of his eyes…Aemond Targaryen fans…come on down 🏃♀️
Once again, was this a proper review?
Idk. Probably not😂
If you want to know what the book is about—read the blurb.
If you want to know how a book made me feel or love to read random ramblings of a bookie—you’re in the right place 💀
👇🏽 a little tw/cw disclaimer👇🏽
*this is not a book for every reader. The themes are heavy. If you have a history of trauma/assault/ abuse, and reading about such things is triggering for you, I urge you to take the TW/CW seriously and make the best decision for you. I will say, as someone who does not shy away from reading heavy/dark stories, I still found myself—at times—struggling to read through this one.
So please, proceed with caution 🫶🏼*
What I appreciate:
The author does not shy away from the dark depravity that lurks (not all that deep) below the surface of some of humanity. They do not shy away from the lingering trauma that many survivors experience and how that trauma bleeds into every type of relationship: romantic, friendship, familial, etc. For many, there is not an area that goes untouched or unharmed when it comes to abuse (of any kind, really).
Yes, there are several parts of this story that are uncomfortable, nauseating, and potentially triggering—which is why I urge you to heavily consider the TW/CWs and tread carefully (🫶🏼), but there is also healing for the characters, labeling of experienced trauma, exploration of what various safe relationships may look like, and potential ways one can be there for someone they love who has survived the ugliest behaviours of some of the vilest humans.
I actually went back and forth while reading this—debating whether I wanted to DNF (for personal reasons, not because of book quality reasons) or continue. It was just heavy for me, but I’m glad I finished it.
It was healing and validating (and also difficult, obviously)for me to see pieces of my story playing out on paper, but to also see closure for the fictional characters and the beauty they were able to create—trauma and all 🫶🏼
Okay, heavy stuff out of the way—we have dragon shifters, sprites, second-chance romance (which I used to think I wasn’t a fan of, but colour me shocked, I ate it up 😂), a few revenge plot lines (I DID know I was a fan of those, so no surprise, I loved’em 💅), great humour, and we even experience a type of dragon duel (they don’t fight with ⚔️ or 🔫, so “duel” may not be the most accurate word, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, two dragons fight, alright?! 😂). Also, the MMC has a tail. ✋🏽😌🤚🏽
Just sayin. Oh, and a shiny orb for one of his eyes…Aemond Targaryen fans…come on down 🏃♀️
Once again, was this a proper review?
Idk. Probably not😂
If you want to know what the book is about—read the blurb.
If you want to know how a book made me feel or love to read random ramblings of a bookie—you’re in the right place 💀
October 1, 2026
Thank you so much to the author and publisher for an early access copy of Heimlock!!
This certainly had its fun moments but ultimately I just don’t think it was for me. There were a few inconsistencies (for example, calling a character by their name despite being in a flashback scene when they first met and hadn’t exchanged names by that point). I didn’t really connect with the main characters but this could be because I hadn’t read previous books (although you don’t need to in order to understand this). Grief and trauma were addressed incredibly head on and there was no holding back, with some aspects making me uncomfortable but that’s definitely the point when you consider the topics explored in this book. I’d say just check the trigger warnings before picking up this one, especially if abuse is a trigger for you. I don’t think I’ll continue or pick up the other books but I’m grateful for the chance to read this book.
This certainly had its fun moments but ultimately I just don’t think it was for me. There were a few inconsistencies (for example, calling a character by their name despite being in a flashback scene when they first met and hadn’t exchanged names by that point). I didn’t really connect with the main characters but this could be because I hadn’t read previous books (although you don’t need to in order to understand this). Grief and trauma were addressed incredibly head on and there was no holding back, with some aspects making me uncomfortable but that’s definitely the point when you consider the topics explored in this book. I’d say just check the trigger warnings before picking up this one, especially if abuse is a trigger for you. I don’t think I’ll continue or pick up the other books but I’m grateful for the chance to read this book.
Review of advance copy
ARC REVIEW FROM the Nerd Fam !!
3.75 ⭐️
I absolutely adored this book, it is a interconnected standalone but I recommend the other two books to be read first because TRUST when I say that this one will have so much more emotional impact if you do at least in my opinion. The spice that was in here omg Jenna you are a dirty little thing hehe definitely keep spice in mind in case you aren’t a big fan of it. They’re can be some sensitive topics throughout the book so please read the synopsis and trigger warnings it touches very heavily on mental health but the way Jenna represents the mental health is very tasteful and done in such a good way that may even if it’s a trigger help you to be able to still read the book. and the ending omg Jenna the ending was so beautifully written and absolutely phenomenal and gut wrenching at the same exact time.
And Bonus 5% of the profits will go to an organization called RAINN that helps victims of SA which is such an amazing thing to do :)
Jenna I am rooting for you girl I loved the series and I’m gonna be picking more up by you keep up the good work !
Thank you Nerd Fam and Jenna so much lots of love
3.75 ⭐️
I absolutely adored this book, it is a interconnected standalone but I recommend the other two books to be read first because TRUST when I say that this one will have so much more emotional impact if you do at least in my opinion. The spice that was in here omg Jenna you are a dirty little thing hehe definitely keep spice in mind in case you aren’t a big fan of it. They’re can be some sensitive topics throughout the book so please read the synopsis and trigger warnings it touches very heavily on mental health but the way Jenna represents the mental health is very tasteful and done in such a good way that may even if it’s a trigger help you to be able to still read the book. and the ending omg Jenna the ending was so beautifully written and absolutely phenomenal and gut wrenching at the same exact time.
And Bonus 5% of the profits will go to an organization called RAINN that helps victims of SA which is such an amazing thing to do :)
Jenna I am rooting for you girl I loved the series and I’m gonna be picking more up by you keep up the good work !
Thank you Nerd Fam and Jenna so much lots of love
September 9, 2026
This angsty shifter + wounded souls finding each other + revenge with a heavy dose of emotional devastation is book 3 in The Skies of Avalon series (interconnected standalones). ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ FIVE STARS.
This book had me in its clutches from the very beginning. Jenna’s books are full of Lisa Frank-esque magic, strong characters & plenty of emotional heartbreak. This story will live with me forever. I sobbed. I had to take breaks. It broke my heart. It healed me. Thank you, @jennaaveryauthor , for sharing this story with the world. I hope it has also given you the same. Thank you @dremilyreads for running and sharing this ARC team.
Tropes + Vibes:
🐉 Dragon Shifter MMC
🔥 Second-Chance Romance
🍷 One-Night Stand
⚔️ Forced Proximity
❤️🩹 Hurt/Comfort
🖤 Angsty MMC
🧱 Emotionally Guarded Characters
🫂 Healing Through Love
✨ Fantasy/Monster Romance
👨👩👧👦 Found Family
👊 FMC Who Will Throw Hands 🖤 Two damaged people recognizing the damage in each other ⚔️ Revenge dressed up as justice ❤️🩹 Softness hiding underneath rage 🌑 Dark pasts + painful truths 🫂 Healing that isn’t pretty or linear ✨ Magical creatures + messy emotions 🖤 Guarded hearts slowly cracking open
✌️ Multiple POV + Timelines
Please always read your triggers***
Review of advance copy received from Author
Two survivors of abuse bond over their shared experiences and realize that there is still so much to live for despite everything that they have suffered through.
Trinte Gleanscale has perfected the art of pretending that he is fine. Being sexually abused by one's father since the age of ten tends to do that to a person. When Trinte's father makes an appearance in his life again after being absent for almost two decades, Trinte begins to spiral out of control. Kyrielle Veritas has also experienced her share of abuse. Knowing that Trinte could use a friend right now, she appears on his doorstep to check on him. Unfortunately, there's still a bunch of tension between the two due to their electric one night stand they had several years ago. Kyrielle refuses to let Trinte suffer alone, and Trinte can't help but feel drawn to her. As the two find themselves working together to help throw a surprise engagement party for their best friends, the two begin to realize they have a ton in common and that sometimes one has to be willing to let others in order to begin to heal.
After reading book two in this series, "First Time Friends," I knew that this one was going to be a painful read. After falling in love with Trinte and Kyrielle in that book, I was already highly invested in reading their love story in this book. Thank you so much to Jenna Avery for the eARC and for having me on your street team!
This one is going to be a tough one to review because so much goes down and I don't want to spoil a single moment. However, there is so much heartache and pain in this book that it is going to be quite the challenge to meaningfully talk about some stuff without revealing certain details. Also make sure to check the trigger warnings if you are squeamish or have trauma of your own because this book is intense.
This one jumps around a bit in time, with there being three main time lines that we are following. One being the current day in which Trinte's father has reappeared in his life and Kyrielle is trying to help him out. Two, the night of their one night stand several years ago. And three, their younger years in which we learn about all the abuse that these survivors have experienced. I personally found all three time lines to be very engaging; I never wanted to put this book down and read most of it in a single day!
Trinte and Kyrielle have experienced parallel pains throughout their lifetimes. Everyone processes trauma differently, but I'd say that Kyrielle advances in her healing journey a bit faster and healthier way. She devotes much of her time to learning self defense and helping other women who are in similar situations as she was. It goes without saying that Kyrielle is still affected by what happened in her youth (her apartment is a dead giveaway of this). Trinte, on the other hand, pretty much masks all his pain under a cheerful demeanor. He hardly ever discusses his feelings with anyone and tends to disappear when things get hard. Avery does such a stellar job of showcasing how two survivors can deal with their pain in such different ways all while they learn to lean on each other.
Seeing Orliana, Fynn, Joulian, Reverie, Luca, and Talia all make reappearnces in this book made me so happy! I love the found family they have going on and it brings a smile to my face to see them go through all the things together. There are many happy times to be celebrated throughout this series, but all these characters have lived through immense pain and I only feel that makes their friendship stronger.
As with Orliana in "First Time Friends," sexual activity also acts as a trigger for Trinte at times. He has been trained to think he is only good for sex, and he has come to resent it. Kyrielle and Trinte are definitely more fiery in the bedroom than our previous couples we've followed in this series, but they still do an exceptional job at making sure that the other feels safe and cared for. Once these two finally cross the line with being physically intimate with one another, they really get down anywhere and as often as possible. Seriously, these two were making me blush so hard.
The ending of this book is so intense! I figured Trinte would have his big moment with his father after reading book two, but I still wasn't expecting things to go down as they did. These scenes were so intense, and I absolutely ate them up.
Luckily, Avery lets her readers down with a gentle finish. The epilogue is so cute and paints such an adorable picture, which is much needed after a book filled with so much pain and strife. I love seeing everyone together during happier times, and the final chapters and the epilogue accomplish this nicely.
Overall, "Heimlock" is such a beautifully penned book that showcases two survivors healing together after a lifetime of pain and torment. Avery does such a phenomenal job of showcasing their hurt and it's so nice to see them learning to cope with the trauma that they will always carry. Trinte and Kyrielle are a fiery couple, but they have the sweetest and most tender moments, too. After finishing a book like this, all I want to do is find Avery and give her a big hug, because to write pain such as this so masterfully, one must have lived through a lifetime of pain themselves. I am in love with the world of Avalon and I am so happy that I got to read Trinte and Kyrielle's happily ever after in this novel. Looking forward to checking out more of Avery’s work in the near future!
Trinte Gleanscale has perfected the art of pretending that he is fine. Being sexually abused by one's father since the age of ten tends to do that to a person. When Trinte's father makes an appearance in his life again after being absent for almost two decades, Trinte begins to spiral out of control. Kyrielle Veritas has also experienced her share of abuse. Knowing that Trinte could use a friend right now, she appears on his doorstep to check on him. Unfortunately, there's still a bunch of tension between the two due to their electric one night stand they had several years ago. Kyrielle refuses to let Trinte suffer alone, and Trinte can't help but feel drawn to her. As the two find themselves working together to help throw a surprise engagement party for their best friends, the two begin to realize they have a ton in common and that sometimes one has to be willing to let others in order to begin to heal.
After reading book two in this series, "First Time Friends," I knew that this one was going to be a painful read. After falling in love with Trinte and Kyrielle in that book, I was already highly invested in reading their love story in this book. Thank you so much to Jenna Avery for the eARC and for having me on your street team!
This one is going to be a tough one to review because so much goes down and I don't want to spoil a single moment. However, there is so much heartache and pain in this book that it is going to be quite the challenge to meaningfully talk about some stuff without revealing certain details. Also make sure to check the trigger warnings if you are squeamish or have trauma of your own because this book is intense.
This one jumps around a bit in time, with there being three main time lines that we are following. One being the current day in which Trinte's father has reappeared in his life and Kyrielle is trying to help him out. Two, the night of their one night stand several years ago. And three, their younger years in which we learn about all the abuse that these survivors have experienced. I personally found all three time lines to be very engaging; I never wanted to put this book down and read most of it in a single day!
Trinte and Kyrielle have experienced parallel pains throughout their lifetimes. Everyone processes trauma differently, but I'd say that Kyrielle advances in her healing journey a bit faster and healthier way. She devotes much of her time to learning self defense and helping other women who are in similar situations as she was. It goes without saying that Kyrielle is still affected by what happened in her youth (her apartment is a dead giveaway of this). Trinte, on the other hand, pretty much masks all his pain under a cheerful demeanor. He hardly ever discusses his feelings with anyone and tends to disappear when things get hard. Avery does such a stellar job of showcasing how two survivors can deal with their pain in such different ways all while they learn to lean on each other.
Seeing Orliana, Fynn, Joulian, Reverie, Luca, and Talia all make reappearnces in this book made me so happy! I love the found family they have going on and it brings a smile to my face to see them go through all the things together. There are many happy times to be celebrated throughout this series, but all these characters have lived through immense pain and I only feel that makes their friendship stronger.
As with Orliana in "First Time Friends," sexual activity also acts as a trigger for Trinte at times. He has been trained to think he is only good for sex, and he has come to resent it. Kyrielle and Trinte are definitely more fiery in the bedroom than our previous couples we've followed in this series, but they still do an exceptional job at making sure that the other feels safe and cared for. Once these two finally cross the line with being physically intimate with one another, they really get down anywhere and as often as possible. Seriously, these two were making me blush so hard.
The ending of this book is so intense! I figured Trinte would have his big moment with his father after reading book two, but I still wasn't expecting things to go down as they did. These scenes were so intense, and I absolutely ate them up.
Luckily, Avery lets her readers down with a gentle finish. The epilogue is so cute and paints such an adorable picture, which is much needed after a book filled with so much pain and strife. I love seeing everyone together during happier times, and the final chapters and the epilogue accomplish this nicely.
Overall, "Heimlock" is such a beautifully penned book that showcases two survivors healing together after a lifetime of pain and torment. Avery does such a phenomenal job of showcasing their hurt and it's so nice to see them learning to cope with the trauma that they will always carry. Trinte and Kyrielle are a fiery couple, but they have the sweetest and most tender moments, too. After finishing a book like this, all I want to do is find Avery and give her a big hug, because to write pain such as this so masterfully, one must have lived through a lifetime of pain themselves. I am in love with the world of Avalon and I am so happy that I got to read Trinte and Kyrielle's happily ever after in this novel. Looking forward to checking out more of Avery’s work in the near future!
September 15, 2026
What to expect:
🐉 Broody MMC is a 🐉 shifter
🔥 Bad Ass FMC is a 🔥 sprite
🐉 Tragic Backstory
🔥 Forced Proximity
🐉 Found Family
🔥 Feminine Rage
🐉 Revenge
🔥 Mental Health Rep
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
* Review of advanced copy - thank you NerdFam
Hemlock by Jenna Avery is Second Chance Monster Romance and book 3 in a series of interconnected stand-alones. It is not necessary to ready the first two to understand what is happening in this book. I had not read the first two books and it did not take away from my reading experience. It is a second chance monster romance with to main characters: Trinte (MMC) a dragon shifter and Kyrielle (FMC) a Fire Sprite.
Please check your trigger warnings before reading. Both main characters were victims of childhood sexual abuse (heavily implied) and drug-induced date rape and it got to me a couple times.
I was really excited about receiving this ARC. I did read the trigger warnings and author’s note about trauma and thought I was ready. After the first eight chapters, I needed to take a break and I was worried. Eight chapters in and I was feeling very heavy and sad for the two main characters. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to continue. I waited two days and tried again. And didn’t put the book down except to sleep a few hours. I devoured it! I felt so much heartbreak for these characters and shed a few tears along the way.
“So this is what love feels like. Love feels like soaring as high as possible in the air until the oxygen’s thin and the air’s frigid. When you finally stop climbing, you just….let go. .... That’s how loving Kyrielle feels.”
The story itself picks up taking place right after the events in First Time Friends. We see Trinte extremely depressed and upset—not leaving his apartment for days. Kyrielle drops by to check on him. It is clear there is more to the reunion blow-up and clear Trinte and Kyrielle have a past. (Avery asks us to trust the process in the forward—TRUST). It may seem a bit confusing or disjointed at times as we don’t have all the details. You will get them! We follow this couple on a journey of dealing with horrible past abuse, confronting their abusers and healing each other while falling in love. It is raw, hard to read at times and beautiful. It also includes some VERY spicy scenes! These and the emotional trauma/healing were handled so well in my opinion. I felt all the feels the entire book.
“Today has been one of the best days of my life. No, It’s the best day of my life. Beginning and ending with her, with every emotion in between.”
“I’d climb out of every single one of our graves just to have the change to plant flowers with you.”
I absolutely loved it and am SO happy I stuck with it! I’ll be going back to read the first two now!
🐉 Broody MMC is a 🐉 shifter
🔥 Bad Ass FMC is a 🔥 sprite
🐉 Tragic Backstory
🔥 Forced Proximity
🐉 Found Family
🔥 Feminine Rage
🐉 Revenge
🔥 Mental Health Rep
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
* Review of advanced copy - thank you NerdFam
Hemlock by Jenna Avery is Second Chance Monster Romance and book 3 in a series of interconnected stand-alones. It is not necessary to ready the first two to understand what is happening in this book. I had not read the first two books and it did not take away from my reading experience. It is a second chance monster romance with to main characters: Trinte (MMC) a dragon shifter and Kyrielle (FMC) a Fire Sprite.
Please check your trigger warnings before reading. Both main characters were victims of childhood sexual abuse (heavily implied) and drug-induced date rape and it got to me a couple times.
I was really excited about receiving this ARC. I did read the trigger warnings and author’s note about trauma and thought I was ready. After the first eight chapters, I needed to take a break and I was worried. Eight chapters in and I was feeling very heavy and sad for the two main characters. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to continue. I waited two days and tried again. And didn’t put the book down except to sleep a few hours. I devoured it! I felt so much heartbreak for these characters and shed a few tears along the way.
“So this is what love feels like. Love feels like soaring as high as possible in the air until the oxygen’s thin and the air’s frigid. When you finally stop climbing, you just….let go. .... That’s how loving Kyrielle feels.”
The story itself picks up taking place right after the events in First Time Friends. We see Trinte extremely depressed and upset—not leaving his apartment for days. Kyrielle drops by to check on him. It is clear there is more to the reunion blow-up and clear Trinte and Kyrielle have a past. (Avery asks us to trust the process in the forward—TRUST). It may seem a bit confusing or disjointed at times as we don’t have all the details. You will get them! We follow this couple on a journey of dealing with horrible past abuse, confronting their abusers and healing each other while falling in love. It is raw, hard to read at times and beautiful. It also includes some VERY spicy scenes! These and the emotional trauma/healing were handled so well in my opinion. I felt all the feels the entire book.
“Today has been one of the best days of my life. No, It’s the best day of my life. Beginning and ending with her, with every emotion in between.”
“I’d climb out of every single one of our graves just to have the change to plant flowers with you.”
I absolutely loved it and am SO happy I stuck with it! I’ll be going back to read the first two now!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was my first book by Jenna, and my first time picking up this series. I went into it completely blind to the previous books, but as this is an interconnected standalone, I was pleased to find that it can definitely be read on its own.
From the very beginning, I was hooked by the mix of humour, romance, spice and some much heavier themes. There were several moments that genuinely made me laugh out loud, and more than once I found myself turning to my husband to read him a line because it was just too funny not to share!
I really appreciated the “A Note About Trauma” at the beginning of the book. It provides a detailed trigger warning, which was around three pages on Kindle, explaining the themes explored. As this was the first book I've read with a trauma-focused storyline like this, I wasn't sure how I would find some of the themes or how I would connect with them. Having that information at the beginning was really helpful.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this aspect of the story. I thought the way Trinte and Kyrielle's trauma and individual experiences were developed was beautifully handled. I particularly enjoyed seeing how differently they each dealt with what they had been through, and how their relationship became part of their journey without taking away from their individual struggles.
The mental health representation was another aspect that stood out to me and felt thoughtfully handled.
Their relationship was one of my favourite parts of the book. The ups, the downs and the constant wondering where things were going had me invested! I really enjoyed watching their walls gradually come down and seeing their connection develop throughout the story.
And if spice is your thing... my Lordy. 🔥 There is A LOT of it! The chemistry between these two definitely wasn't lacking.
I also really liked that 5% of all profits from the book are being donated to RAINN. Given the themes explored, I thought this was a particularly meaningful way to support the cause.
And the ending? Chef's kiss. 👌
Overall, this was a fantastic introduction to Jenna's writing. I went in as a completely new reader and came away genuinely invested in these characters. If you're looking for fantasy romance with humour, found family, emotional depth, mental health representation and plenty of spice, this is definitely one to add to your TBR.
From the very beginning, I was hooked by the mix of humour, romance, spice and some much heavier themes. There were several moments that genuinely made me laugh out loud, and more than once I found myself turning to my husband to read him a line because it was just too funny not to share!
I really appreciated the “A Note About Trauma” at the beginning of the book. It provides a detailed trigger warning, which was around three pages on Kindle, explaining the themes explored. As this was the first book I've read with a trauma-focused storyline like this, I wasn't sure how I would find some of the themes or how I would connect with them. Having that information at the beginning was really helpful.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this aspect of the story. I thought the way Trinte and Kyrielle's trauma and individual experiences were developed was beautifully handled. I particularly enjoyed seeing how differently they each dealt with what they had been through, and how their relationship became part of their journey without taking away from their individual struggles.
The mental health representation was another aspect that stood out to me and felt thoughtfully handled.
Their relationship was one of my favourite parts of the book. The ups, the downs and the constant wondering where things were going had me invested! I really enjoyed watching their walls gradually come down and seeing their connection develop throughout the story.
And if spice is your thing... my Lordy. 🔥 There is A LOT of it! The chemistry between these two definitely wasn't lacking.
I also really liked that 5% of all profits from the book are being donated to RAINN. Given the themes explored, I thought this was a particularly meaningful way to support the cause.
And the ending? Chef's kiss. 👌
Overall, this was a fantastic introduction to Jenna's writing. I went in as a completely new reader and came away genuinely invested in these characters. If you're looking for fantasy romance with humour, found family, emotional depth, mental health representation and plenty of spice, this is definitely one to add to your TBR.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4 ⭐️
Thank you to Jenna & The Nerd Farm for the gifted E’Arc of this book! 🖤
Wow! This was my first book by Jenna, and I’m pleasantly surprised. I’m so glad this worked just as well as a standalone, while still being set in the same town as her previous books. I definitely didn’t feel like I was missing anything by starting here.
I really appreciated the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book and, more importantly, the way they were delivered. They’re definitely something you should read before diving into the story, because this book tackles some really heavy subject matters.
The trauma bonding between the main characters is heavy, messy and, surprisingly, humorous at times. There were moments where I was genuinely crying, and others where I was literally laughing out loud. That combination shouldn’t work as well as it does, but somehow it does!
For me, this was much more of a vibes read. In this case, the vibes were traumatic 😂. But I have to commend Jenna for taking such difficult subject matters and handling them in a way that still allowed the story to have humour and lighter moments. Considering how serious some of the themes are, I don’t think that’s an easy thing to achieve.
If you’re looking for a literary masterpiece, then this probably isn’t the book for you. But if you want a story that will rip your heart out, stomp all over it and hand it back to you on a platter, then this might be exactly what you’re looking for!
There is a lot of spice, and there were points where, personally, I didn’t feel that it necessarily added anything to the story. There’s also quite a lot of cheesy language, which again wasn’t entirely my thing and stopped this becoming a 5⭐️ for me.
That said, despite the heavy subject matter, the book never felt overwhelmingly serious and actually, I think that’s quite an achievement. Jenna manages to explore some incredibly difficult themes while still giving the story humour, romance and plenty of chaotic moments.
The love story is messy, complicated and feels natural, and I would definitely recommend this to anyone who feels comfortable with the trigger warnings and is prepared for the themes explored.
This definitely wasn’t a perfect five star read for me, but it was an experience, and I’m glad I picked it up. I would 100% recommend.
I’ll definitely be delving into ‘The Skies of Avalon’ series again 🖤📚
Thank you to Jenna & The Nerd Farm for the gifted E’Arc of this book! 🖤
Wow! This was my first book by Jenna, and I’m pleasantly surprised. I’m so glad this worked just as well as a standalone, while still being set in the same town as her previous books. I definitely didn’t feel like I was missing anything by starting here.
I really appreciated the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book and, more importantly, the way they were delivered. They’re definitely something you should read before diving into the story, because this book tackles some really heavy subject matters.
The trauma bonding between the main characters is heavy, messy and, surprisingly, humorous at times. There were moments where I was genuinely crying, and others where I was literally laughing out loud. That combination shouldn’t work as well as it does, but somehow it does!
For me, this was much more of a vibes read. In this case, the vibes were traumatic 😂. But I have to commend Jenna for taking such difficult subject matters and handling them in a way that still allowed the story to have humour and lighter moments. Considering how serious some of the themes are, I don’t think that’s an easy thing to achieve.
If you’re looking for a literary masterpiece, then this probably isn’t the book for you. But if you want a story that will rip your heart out, stomp all over it and hand it back to you on a platter, then this might be exactly what you’re looking for!
There is a lot of spice, and there were points where, personally, I didn’t feel that it necessarily added anything to the story. There’s also quite a lot of cheesy language, which again wasn’t entirely my thing and stopped this becoming a 5⭐️ for me.
That said, despite the heavy subject matter, the book never felt overwhelmingly serious and actually, I think that’s quite an achievement. Jenna manages to explore some incredibly difficult themes while still giving the story humour, romance and plenty of chaotic moments.
The love story is messy, complicated and feels natural, and I would definitely recommend this to anyone who feels comfortable with the trigger warnings and is prepared for the themes explored.
This definitely wasn’t a perfect five star read for me, but it was an experience, and I’m glad I picked it up. I would 100% recommend.
I’ll definitely be delving into ‘The Skies of Avalon’ series again 🖤📚
September 20, 2026
Trinte and Kyrielle’s story absolutely wrecked me. I cried for them, raged for them, laughed with them, and finished this book completely invested in their healing.
Before anything else, please take the content warnings seriously. This book deals with severe abuse, assault, trauma, and suicidal ideation. It goes to some very dark places, and I can easily see certain scenes being incredibly triggering.
What stayed with me most was the aftermath of everything Trinte and Kyrielle survived. Their trauma affects their relationships, self-worth, intimacy, and ability to trust the people around them. Jenna doesn’t use love as an instant fix either. They’re still carrying everything that happened to them while slowly learning what safety can look like.
Watching these two recognize pieces of themselves in each other and eventually become a safe place for one another was probably my favorite part of the entire book. Their healing is messy, and sometimes they move backward before they can move forward. I was so invested in seeing them finally get the life and love they deserved.
These two have survived horrific things, much of it inflicted by people who should have loved and protected them. That trauma follows them into adulthood and affects everything from their self-worth to how they handle intimacy and trust. Watching them slowly recognize that pain in each other and become a safe place for one another broke my heart in the best way.
What impressed me most was how Jenna balanced all that darkness with humor. Trinte and Kyrielle’s banter genuinely made me laugh, and those lighter moments never made their trauma feel less important. They gave the story room to breathe.
I also appreciated that love isn’t treated like some magical cure. Trinte and Kyrielle don’t suddenly stop carrying their scars because they found each other. Their healing takes work, and there are setbacks along the way. They simply start realizing they don’t have to carry everything alone anymore.
This book hurt. It also made me laugh, gave me characters I desperately wanted to protect, and left me thinking about them long after I finished.
Jenna officially has me. Now I need the books I skipped, the rest of this series, and apparently physical copies for my shelves because I need this world in trophy form.
Before anything else, please take the content warnings seriously. This book deals with severe abuse, assault, trauma, and suicidal ideation. It goes to some very dark places, and I can easily see certain scenes being incredibly triggering.
What stayed with me most was the aftermath of everything Trinte and Kyrielle survived. Their trauma affects their relationships, self-worth, intimacy, and ability to trust the people around them. Jenna doesn’t use love as an instant fix either. They’re still carrying everything that happened to them while slowly learning what safety can look like.
Watching these two recognize pieces of themselves in each other and eventually become a safe place for one another was probably my favorite part of the entire book. Their healing is messy, and sometimes they move backward before they can move forward. I was so invested in seeing them finally get the life and love they deserved.
These two have survived horrific things, much of it inflicted by people who should have loved and protected them. That trauma follows them into adulthood and affects everything from their self-worth to how they handle intimacy and trust. Watching them slowly recognize that pain in each other and become a safe place for one another broke my heart in the best way.
What impressed me most was how Jenna balanced all that darkness with humor. Trinte and Kyrielle’s banter genuinely made me laugh, and those lighter moments never made their trauma feel less important. They gave the story room to breathe.
I also appreciated that love isn’t treated like some magical cure. Trinte and Kyrielle don’t suddenly stop carrying their scars because they found each other. Their healing takes work, and there are setbacks along the way. They simply start realizing they don’t have to carry everything alone anymore.
This book hurt. It also made me laugh, gave me characters I desperately wanted to protect, and left me thinking about them long after I finished.
Jenna officially has me. Now I need the books I skipped, the rest of this series, and apparently physical copies for my shelves because I need this world in trophy form.
Review of advance copy
Well… they were NOT joking about those trigger warnings. I was only a few chapters in when I realized this book was going to put me through it.
Heimlock is heavy. Like genuinely heavy. There is abuse, trauma, pain, anger and some moments that were honestly difficult for me to read. Definitely check the trigger warnings before going into this one because they are there for a reason.
What really got me though was Trinte and Kyrielle. They have both lived through absolutely horrible things, but the way they carry that trauma is so different. Kyrielle fights, protects and tries to turn what happened to her into something that can help others. Trinte hides behind his personality and pretends he is fine until he very clearly isn’t. Watching those two slowly figure each other out was probably my favorite part of the book.
And somehow, in the middle of ALL THAT, this book made me smile. I don’t even know how the author figured to balance such dark subjects full of trauma with humor, banter, friendship and romance.
I also really liked the different timelines. We don’t just hear about what happened to these characters—the author slowly shows us pieces of their past and that’s when we begin to understand why they are the way they are. It really helped to see how far the main characters have come after everything they have been through.
Now…the spice.There is A LOT. Definitely more than I personally need in a book but it still would not make me give it lower rating. I’m an emotional connection over spice person, and thankfully there was enough emotion here.
But underneath everything, this really felt like a story about surviving and adjusting to what happens AFTER something terrible happens to you. About learning to trust someone, letting people in and realizing that healing doesn’t look the same for everyone.
The ending was INTENSE and then we were given the sweetest little landing after all that emotional destruction.
This was my first time reading anything from this series, and even though it can be read as a standalone, now I’m curious about everyone else’s stories too.
Thank you to Jenna Avery and The Nerd Fam for the gifted ARC
Heimlock is heavy. Like genuinely heavy. There is abuse, trauma, pain, anger and some moments that were honestly difficult for me to read. Definitely check the trigger warnings before going into this one because they are there for a reason.
What really got me though was Trinte and Kyrielle. They have both lived through absolutely horrible things, but the way they carry that trauma is so different. Kyrielle fights, protects and tries to turn what happened to her into something that can help others. Trinte hides behind his personality and pretends he is fine until he very clearly isn’t. Watching those two slowly figure each other out was probably my favorite part of the book.
And somehow, in the middle of ALL THAT, this book made me smile. I don’t even know how the author figured to balance such dark subjects full of trauma with humor, banter, friendship and romance.
I also really liked the different timelines. We don’t just hear about what happened to these characters—the author slowly shows us pieces of their past and that’s when we begin to understand why they are the way they are. It really helped to see how far the main characters have come after everything they have been through.
Now…the spice.There is A LOT. Definitely more than I personally need in a book but it still would not make me give it lower rating. I’m an emotional connection over spice person, and thankfully there was enough emotion here.
But underneath everything, this really felt like a story about surviving and adjusting to what happens AFTER something terrible happens to you. About learning to trust someone, letting people in and realizing that healing doesn’t look the same for everyone.
The ending was INTENSE and then we were given the sweetest little landing after all that emotional destruction.
This was my first time reading anything from this series, and even though it can be read as a standalone, now I’m curious about everyone else’s stories too.
Thank you to Jenna Avery and The Nerd Fam for the gifted ARC
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Heimlock was such an emotional ride. I went into this expecting dragons, magic, fighting, and romance, but what I didn’t expect was just how much this story would focus on healing, trauma, and learning to let someone truly see you.
Trinte and Kyrielle were definitely the heart of this book for me. Both of them have been through so much, but they’ve dealt with their trauma in completely different ways. Watching their relationship slowly evolve from something that was supposed to be casual into something genuine was one of my favorite parts. The chemistry between them was SO good, but I especially loved the quieter moments where they learned how to trust and take care of each other.
Kyrielle is such a strong FMC. I loved that her strength wasn’t just about being a badass fighter, it was also about reclaiming her life and refusing to let what happened to her define her. And Trinte completely broke my heart. Beneath all of his sarcasm and humor is someone carrying an incredible amount of pain, and watching him finally realize that he is worthy of love was beautiful.
The found-family aspect was another huge highlight for me. I loved seeing these characters surround each other with the kind of love and support they both desperately needed.
There were definitely some heavier moments that were difficult to read, and at times the pacing felt a little uneven for me. The nonlinear storytelling also took some time to settle into, but once all of the pieces started coming together, I became much more invested in their journey.
And the Cairanin?! That entire final confrontation was INTENSE. Watching Trinte finally face his father after everything he’d endured was incredibly satisfying, and I loved what that moment represented for his character.
Overall, Heimlock gave me dragons, fighting, romance, found family, emotional healing, and two characters who desperately needed each other. It wasn’t a perfect read for me, but there was so much here that I genuinely loved, and Trinte and Kyrielle will definitely stick with me.
Trinte and Kyrielle were definitely the heart of this book for me. Both of them have been through so much, but they’ve dealt with their trauma in completely different ways. Watching their relationship slowly evolve from something that was supposed to be casual into something genuine was one of my favorite parts. The chemistry between them was SO good, but I especially loved the quieter moments where they learned how to trust and take care of each other.
Kyrielle is such a strong FMC. I loved that her strength wasn’t just about being a badass fighter, it was also about reclaiming her life and refusing to let what happened to her define her. And Trinte completely broke my heart. Beneath all of his sarcasm and humor is someone carrying an incredible amount of pain, and watching him finally realize that he is worthy of love was beautiful.
The found-family aspect was another huge highlight for me. I loved seeing these characters surround each other with the kind of love and support they both desperately needed.
There were definitely some heavier moments that were difficult to read, and at times the pacing felt a little uneven for me. The nonlinear storytelling also took some time to settle into, but once all of the pieces started coming together, I became much more invested in their journey.
And the Cairanin?! That entire final confrontation was INTENSE. Watching Trinte finally face his father after everything he’d endured was incredibly satisfying, and I loved what that moment represented for his character.
Overall, Heimlock gave me dragons, fighting, romance, found family, emotional healing, and two characters who desperately needed each other. It wasn’t a perfect read for me, but there was so much here that I genuinely loved, and Trinte and Kyrielle will definitely stick with me.
October 1, 2026
***I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review, thank you Jenna Avery for your trust!***
This book is a standalone in a part of a inter-connected series that goes over the life and journey of Trinte and Kyrielle. Both of them have been survivors of horrific traumas, dealing it in their own ways (that was frankly sometimes a little frustrating on Trinte's part). Loving those who have been hurt requires a level of patience, understanding, and sometimes accepting you won't be able to understand.
For the most part, this book was a good read. It challenged certain aspects of trauma and grief, and it also provided healthy conversation that comes with hurt people. The ending though........it could have been removed completely and my rating would have been higher. After a certain plot climax, it just stumbled into ridiculous sex after ridiculous sex; most of it not appealing. I think if it ended after the battle, the book would have been better off (as an avid smut lover, I mean this in genuine sincerity to what the book was giving it's readers). Maybe a shortened epilogue could have sufficed the stuff that wrapped up, or a novella, but it kind of cheapened the whole read.
Keep in mind the triggers for this book; although there is nothing 100% on page, there is no hint or exaggeration. There is very real trauma happening (or happened) and you can feel it in those words.
This book is a standalone in a part of a inter-connected series that goes over the life and journey of Trinte and Kyrielle. Both of them have been survivors of horrific traumas, dealing it in their own ways (that was frankly sometimes a little frustrating on Trinte's part). Loving those who have been hurt requires a level of patience, understanding, and sometimes accepting you won't be able to understand.
For the most part, this book was a good read. It challenged certain aspects of trauma and grief, and it also provided healthy conversation that comes with hurt people. The ending though........it could have been removed completely and my rating would have been higher. After a certain plot climax, it just stumbled into ridiculous sex after ridiculous sex; most of it not appealing. I think if it ended after the battle, the book would have been better off (as an avid smut lover, I mean this in genuine sincerity to what the book was giving it's readers). Maybe a shortened epilogue could have sufficed the stuff that wrapped up, or a novella, but it kind of cheapened the whole read.
Keep in mind the triggers for this book; although there is nothing 100% on page, there is no hint or exaggeration. There is very real trauma happening (or happened) and you can feel it in those words.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rating: 3.75⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and Jenna Avery (author) for the gifted eARC. Truly an unexpected read, which I didn’t dislike but I also didn’t love. This one I truly needed to be in the mood for, as it has some significant triggers. I did read the content warning/trigger list thinking I could handle whatever events would take place. There were moments I was able to power through, and others I was just emotionally devastated.
This book will rile you up in every which way emotionally and mentally. That’s just my opinion.
World Building: Just enough to help the imagination see what has been written. I love that all kinds of magical creatures co-exist together and have relationships. It’s not just dragon to dragon love or fire sprite to fire sprite. You can be with someone outside of your kind.
Characters: The main characters have been through some significant trauma when they were younger, and the story has them trauma bonding and working through their healing in adulthood. It was truly an emotional and mental roller coaster ride getting through each of their backstory and present day lives. I cried, I laughed, I broke, I was horrified, and more. My heart goes out to Kyrielle.
Side characters also have their own trauma stories, so it was a lot to consume. My favorite side character is Talia. She’s seen everything and loves them all, as she’s a motherly figure.
Plot: Jaw dropping moments hit you in every direction. Pacing wasn’t too fast but also wasn’t too slow. The connection between the main characters was not instant but also not a slow burn, as again they’re working through their traumatic pasts.
Other Notes: Overall, a good read. Again, I’d have to be in the mood for this one. Thank you once more The Nerd Fam and Jenna Avery.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and Jenna Avery (author) for the gifted eARC. Truly an unexpected read, which I didn’t dislike but I also didn’t love. This one I truly needed to be in the mood for, as it has some significant triggers. I did read the content warning/trigger list thinking I could handle whatever events would take place. There were moments I was able to power through, and others I was just emotionally devastated.
This book will rile you up in every which way emotionally and mentally. That’s just my opinion.
World Building: Just enough to help the imagination see what has been written. I love that all kinds of magical creatures co-exist together and have relationships. It’s not just dragon to dragon love or fire sprite to fire sprite. You can be with someone outside of your kind.
Characters: The main characters have been through some significant trauma when they were younger, and the story has them trauma bonding and working through their healing in adulthood. It was truly an emotional and mental roller coaster ride getting through each of their backstory and present day lives. I cried, I laughed, I broke, I was horrified, and more. My heart goes out to Kyrielle.
Side characters also have their own trauma stories, so it was a lot to consume. My favorite side character is Talia. She’s seen everything and loves them all, as she’s a motherly figure.
Plot: Jaw dropping moments hit you in every direction. Pacing wasn’t too fast but also wasn’t too slow. The connection between the main characters was not instant but also not a slow burn, as again they’re working through their traumatic pasts.
Other Notes: Overall, a good read. Again, I’d have to be in the mood for this one. Thank you once more The Nerd Fam and Jenna Avery.
September 18, 2026
Heimlock by Jenna Avery was more than I was expecting. It was definitely an emotional read. The mental health representation in this book is top notch. And the romance was just as good!
Trinte and Kyrielle’s story was heartbreaking, but watching them find each other, open up to one another, and help each other heal was so heartwarming. And man they are a perfect example of setting boundaries.
Kyrielle’s story was so inspiring. She’s head strong and doing her best to heal, but she’s still learning. It was so good to see her become even more of herself. Trinte’s story was even more inspiring. We meet this broken shell of a man and get to see him slowly start to heal and learn to trust. I just love them both so much.
The best part of this book is the way Jenna wrote it. This is my first book of the series so going in I knew absolutely nothing about the characters. When we first meet them both we know very little. Between flashbacks and them sharing with each other we slowly learn everything about them. It very much felt like we were getting to know them as they were getting to know each other. Like they were also slowly trusting us with their stories.
This book was my first of Jenna’s book and it definitely won’t be the last. I have 2 more sitting on my shelf and one more on my kindle that I can’t wait to hop into!
This book is so well done and I would 100% recommend it. However, it does focus on dark themes. Please check the trigger warnings.
TL;DR
🍺 The romantic relationships in this book are honestly goals
🥊 Can definitely be read as a standalone
🍺 The mental health representation is amazing
🥊 My heart broke for these characters repeatedly
🍺 I can’t wait to read more of Jenna’s book
Thank you to Jenna Avery and Dr. Emily for the gifted eARC!
Trinte and Kyrielle’s story was heartbreaking, but watching them find each other, open up to one another, and help each other heal was so heartwarming. And man they are a perfect example of setting boundaries.
Kyrielle’s story was so inspiring. She’s head strong and doing her best to heal, but she’s still learning. It was so good to see her become even more of herself. Trinte’s story was even more inspiring. We meet this broken shell of a man and get to see him slowly start to heal and learn to trust. I just love them both so much.
The best part of this book is the way Jenna wrote it. This is my first book of the series so going in I knew absolutely nothing about the characters. When we first meet them both we know very little. Between flashbacks and them sharing with each other we slowly learn everything about them. It very much felt like we were getting to know them as they were getting to know each other. Like they were also slowly trusting us with their stories.
This book was my first of Jenna’s book and it definitely won’t be the last. I have 2 more sitting on my shelf and one more on my kindle that I can’t wait to hop into!
This book is so well done and I would 100% recommend it. However, it does focus on dark themes. Please check the trigger warnings.
TL;DR
🍺 The romantic relationships in this book are honestly goals
🥊 Can definitely be read as a standalone
🍺 The mental health representation is amazing
🥊 My heart broke for these characters repeatedly
🍺 I can’t wait to read more of Jenna’s book
Thank you to Jenna Avery and Dr. Emily for the gifted eARC!
September 2, 2026
A second chance romance with dragon shifters and a badass FMC who uses her power and kick ass skills to help others.
You follow two characters from the main storyline, who each have their own traumatic past that causes them to struggle in relationships. When they meet at a speed dating event months ago, they decide to do a one night stand, only they both walk away wanting more, and when life brings them back together, they must decide if one night was enough and get through several miscommunications to sort out their true feelings. All the while, they each slowly start to open up and talk about their own trauma and help each other work through it which only brings them closer together.
This was an emotional rollercoaster of a story with dual POVs and flashbacks to the events of their lives that put them into a dark place, so make sure to check your triggers! I enjoyed how each of the characters lashed out at first at one another when a tough spot happened but the other one continued to show up for them and help be the one to get them through it. You can see their bond deepening the more they learn about each other and rather than judging their past, they accept it and try to help the other move forward. There were elements of caretaking and love but also plenty of high tension fights and literal battles that had me on the edge of my seat. Overall even though the story made me super emotional several times I really enjoyed it and how it all wrapped up and having never read other books from the series I think it stands up on its own very well! My rating 4.4/5!
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
You follow two characters from the main storyline, who each have their own traumatic past that causes them to struggle in relationships. When they meet at a speed dating event months ago, they decide to do a one night stand, only they both walk away wanting more, and when life brings them back together, they must decide if one night was enough and get through several miscommunications to sort out their true feelings. All the while, they each slowly start to open up and talk about their own trauma and help each other work through it which only brings them closer together.
This was an emotional rollercoaster of a story with dual POVs and flashbacks to the events of their lives that put them into a dark place, so make sure to check your triggers! I enjoyed how each of the characters lashed out at first at one another when a tough spot happened but the other one continued to show up for them and help be the one to get them through it. You can see their bond deepening the more they learn about each other and rather than judging their past, they accept it and try to help the other move forward. There were elements of caretaking and love but also plenty of high tension fights and literal battles that had me on the edge of my seat. Overall even though the story made me super emotional several times I really enjoyed it and how it all wrapped up and having never read other books from the series I think it stands up on its own very well! My rating 4.4/5!
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Thank you, The Nerd Fam and the author, for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Heimlock was my first dive into Jenna's writing, and I was pleasantly surprised! Even though I hadn’t read the previous books in the series, I found it easy to jump right in. The story blends dragons, romance, and a lot of emotional depth, focusing on healing and trauma in a way that really resonated with me.
Trinte and Kyrielle stole the show. Their growth from a casual connection to something deeper was beautifully portrayed, and I loved how their relationship tackled trust and vulnerability. Kyrielle’s strength isn’t just about being a fighter; she’s about reclaiming her life, while Trinte’s journey of self-worth made me root for him so much.
The found-family theme was also a highlight. I enjoyed the moments when the characters supported each other through their struggles, adding a layer of warmth to the story. There were heavier themes that could be tough to read, and I had to adjust to the nonlinear storytelling, but once everything clicked into place, I was all in.
The humor throughout was a nice touch, and I found myself laughing out loud at times. Plus, I appreciated the detailed trigger warning at the beginning, which helped me navigate some of the more intense themes.
And wow, the spice—there's definitely no shortage of that! Overall, despite some pacing issues, Heimlock hooked me. It’s a great mix of fantasy, romance, and emotional exploration, making it a fantastic introduction to Jenna’s work.
If you enjoy a good fantasy romance with depth and humor, I highly recommend adding this to your reading list!
Thank you, The Nerd Fam and the author, for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Heimlock was my first dive into Jenna's writing, and I was pleasantly surprised! Even though I hadn’t read the previous books in the series, I found it easy to jump right in. The story blends dragons, romance, and a lot of emotional depth, focusing on healing and trauma in a way that really resonated with me.
Trinte and Kyrielle stole the show. Their growth from a casual connection to something deeper was beautifully portrayed, and I loved how their relationship tackled trust and vulnerability. Kyrielle’s strength isn’t just about being a fighter; she’s about reclaiming her life, while Trinte’s journey of self-worth made me root for him so much.
The found-family theme was also a highlight. I enjoyed the moments when the characters supported each other through their struggles, adding a layer of warmth to the story. There were heavier themes that could be tough to read, and I had to adjust to the nonlinear storytelling, but once everything clicked into place, I was all in.
The humor throughout was a nice touch, and I found myself laughing out loud at times. Plus, I appreciated the detailed trigger warning at the beginning, which helped me navigate some of the more intense themes.
And wow, the spice—there's definitely no shortage of that! Overall, despite some pacing issues, Heimlock hooked me. It’s a great mix of fantasy, romance, and emotional exploration, making it a fantastic introduction to Jenna’s work.
If you enjoy a good fantasy romance with depth and humor, I highly recommend adding this to your reading list!
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.25 ⭐ rounded up
This book is heavy, so check your triggers, but the trauma and healing are both handled so realistically that I think it's worth it if you're in the headspace to process some intensity. Definitely check your triggers!
To say dragon shifter Trinte has been through a lot is an understatement. What he's been through has made him feel unlovable and keep others at distance behind his charming smile. Enter Kyrielle, a tenacious and bold fire sprite who has also survived her fair share of darkness. They meet at a speed dating event but agree to part ways after one night for reasons as much based on fear as practicality. Months later, they end up working together on their siblings' engagement party and are forced to confront not only their feelings for each other, but their own coping mechanisms.
I don't think this book will be for everyone, but it definitely was for me. I was fascinated and moved to tears by how the author carefully but honestly represented trauma and different ways people respond to it, including the family members of those affected. There were also humorous, light moments to show the joy the characters found despite the difficult circumstances they were dealing with.
The romance is the focus here, but there are a lot of intense things going on in the characters lives that drive the story forward. I was rooting for the main characters as people and as a couple the whole time. Their path wasn't easy but it was beautiful. It made me excited to go check out the rest of the series.
If you like intense (but quirky) love stories and monster romance, definitely give this one a shot!
This book is heavy, so check your triggers, but the trauma and healing are both handled so realistically that I think it's worth it if you're in the headspace to process some intensity. Definitely check your triggers!
To say dragon shifter Trinte has been through a lot is an understatement. What he's been through has made him feel unlovable and keep others at distance behind his charming smile. Enter Kyrielle, a tenacious and bold fire sprite who has also survived her fair share of darkness. They meet at a speed dating event but agree to part ways after one night for reasons as much based on fear as practicality. Months later, they end up working together on their siblings' engagement party and are forced to confront not only their feelings for each other, but their own coping mechanisms.
I don't think this book will be for everyone, but it definitely was for me. I was fascinated and moved to tears by how the author carefully but honestly represented trauma and different ways people respond to it, including the family members of those affected. There were also humorous, light moments to show the joy the characters found despite the difficult circumstances they were dealing with.
The romance is the focus here, but there are a lot of intense things going on in the characters lives that drive the story forward. I was rooting for the main characters as people and as a couple the whole time. Their path wasn't easy but it was beautiful. It made me excited to go check out the rest of the series.
If you like intense (but quirky) love stories and monster romance, definitely give this one a shot!
October 2, 2026
I’m giving Heimlock a 4 star rating.
Please make sure to check the trigger warnings before reading this book. The topics covered are a constant presence throughout, shown through multiple flashbacks and then towards the end where the MMC tells people about what had happened to him in the past during the present timeline. Normally, themes like this don't really affect me, but because it was such a constant thread from start to finish, it did start to get to me.
I went straight into this without having read books one or two in the series. Although it's stated that it can be read as a standalone, and the author even provides a brief synopsis at the beginning to cover events that coincide with the previous book, I was still quite confused at first. I’d definitely recommend reading the rest of the series first to get the full picture!
That being said, I really do love Jenna Avery’s writing style. The character dynamics were lovely, you can clearly see their instant connection right from their very first encounter, and I loved the way they truly care for each other. When she gets hurt, he just starts doting on her no questions asked.
The story flowed remarkably well, and I didn't find the flashback breaks confusing at all. While certain plot points didn't quite make sense to me which is down to missing the earlier books it’s still a great read. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre, but again, please take those persistent triggers seriously before picking it up!
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this book through Nerd Fam in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Please make sure to check the trigger warnings before reading this book. The topics covered are a constant presence throughout, shown through multiple flashbacks and then towards the end where the MMC tells people about what had happened to him in the past during the present timeline. Normally, themes like this don't really affect me, but because it was such a constant thread from start to finish, it did start to get to me.
I went straight into this without having read books one or two in the series. Although it's stated that it can be read as a standalone, and the author even provides a brief synopsis at the beginning to cover events that coincide with the previous book, I was still quite confused at first. I’d definitely recommend reading the rest of the series first to get the full picture!
That being said, I really do love Jenna Avery’s writing style. The character dynamics were lovely, you can clearly see their instant connection right from their very first encounter, and I loved the way they truly care for each other. When she gets hurt, he just starts doting on her no questions asked.
The story flowed remarkably well, and I didn't find the flashback breaks confusing at all. While certain plot points didn't quite make sense to me which is down to missing the earlier books it’s still a great read. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre, but again, please take those persistent triggers seriously before picking it up!
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this book through Nerd Fam in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is such a gritty and emotional read, we are introduced to Trinte and Kyrielle in First Time Friends as Fynn’s brother and Orliana’s best friend. Trinte is introduced as an empathetic, fun-loving brother.. but there is so much more to him. Kyrielle gives off major “I don’t need a man” energy, and is a true man-hater which I love about her🤣
In Heimlock we get to the nitty gritty of both Trinte and Kyrielle’s past and present, which is beautifully written and depicted with such grace. I became so attached to both of these characters throughout the book, and I think they’ll stay with me for a while🥹 Without giving too much away, the healing that occurs in this book is admirable and both characters come so far. The setting and descriptions of the surroundings in this world are so beautiful, I love how multi-layered this world is especially the variety of magical beings and their magyck✨ Another favourite for me was the fact characters from First Time Friends are still embedded in this book and both their lives, because I couldn’t get enough of them in their own book! The way this book was written had me locked in the entire time, I love dual POV anyway but I think having such strong protagonist’s made this even better🤩
There is a very clear disclaimer at the start of the book, but please be mindful of the trigger warning list and check in with yourself if you plan to read this!🫶
In Heimlock we get to the nitty gritty of both Trinte and Kyrielle’s past and present, which is beautifully written and depicted with such grace. I became so attached to both of these characters throughout the book, and I think they’ll stay with me for a while🥹 Without giving too much away, the healing that occurs in this book is admirable and both characters come so far. The setting and descriptions of the surroundings in this world are so beautiful, I love how multi-layered this world is especially the variety of magical beings and their magyck✨ Another favourite for me was the fact characters from First Time Friends are still embedded in this book and both their lives, because I couldn’t get enough of them in their own book! The way this book was written had me locked in the entire time, I love dual POV anyway but I think having such strong protagonist’s made this even better🤩
There is a very clear disclaimer at the start of the book, but please be mindful of the trigger warning list and check in with yourself if you plan to read this!🫶
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow! Just simply wow. This was an absolutely amazing masterpiece of a story dealing with heavy themes of heavy abuse, healing and love. PLEASE read the content warnings. Take them seriously. I can see where this would be traumatic for so many readers - but I can also see where it would be so healing.
I chaos read this one. It’s part of a series of interconnected standalones, and can definitely be read on its own but I do think reading the earlier books would have given me more insight into the side characters who play a major role. That’s on me. And you know what? I’ll go back and read them because this Trinte and Kyri’s story is THAT good.
It’s a monster romance in that it’s non-human (he’s a dragon shifter, she’s a fire sprite). It’s low stakes in that the world will not end if they fail. But it’s high stakes because THEIR world might end. We’re talking suicidal ideation, immense trauma and serious sexual, physical, verbal and emotional abuse inflicted on both MCs by family and adult figures.
You want to talk hurt/comfort? We have it in spades. But it’s not gratuitous. And the most impressive part of all is the way Jenna delivers such dark and heavy topics while maintaining a sense of humor and family throughout.
I will absolutely be reading everything Jenna writes. And probably talking about it a lot. And buying shelf trophies. Gorgeous world, stunning emotions and healing.
Thanks so much to Jenna for the review copy. All opinions are voluntary and honest.
I chaos read this one. It’s part of a series of interconnected standalones, and can definitely be read on its own but I do think reading the earlier books would have given me more insight into the side characters who play a major role. That’s on me. And you know what? I’ll go back and read them because this Trinte and Kyri’s story is THAT good.
It’s a monster romance in that it’s non-human (he’s a dragon shifter, she’s a fire sprite). It’s low stakes in that the world will not end if they fail. But it’s high stakes because THEIR world might end. We’re talking suicidal ideation, immense trauma and serious sexual, physical, verbal and emotional abuse inflicted on both MCs by family and adult figures.
You want to talk hurt/comfort? We have it in spades. But it’s not gratuitous. And the most impressive part of all is the way Jenna delivers such dark and heavy topics while maintaining a sense of humor and family throughout.
I will absolutely be reading everything Jenna writes. And probably talking about it a lot. And buying shelf trophies. Gorgeous world, stunning emotions and healing.
Thanks so much to Jenna for the review copy. All opinions are voluntary and honest.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
First and foremost, please review the trigger warnings before picking this one up. Heimlock explores some very heavy themes involving sexual assault and rape, so I definitely recommend knowing what you’re stepping into beforehand.
At its heart, Heimlock is a second-chance romance set within a fantasy world filled with dragon shifters, gargoyles, sprites, and so much more. Despite all of those fantastical elements, this story felt incredibly human.
This is a story about healing, learning to love yourself again, rebuilding your sense of worth, and believing that you are still deserving of love, even after everything you’ve endured.
The romance reflects that beautifully. It’s raw, emotional, and real. Love isn’t treated like an instant cure for everything that has happened. It takes time, patience, and trust. Watching that relationship slowly rebuild and develop made the connection feel that much more meaningful.
The spice you ask? 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Incredibly spicy. Delicious. Loved every moment. No notes.
Heimlock is so much more than a dragon-shifter romance. It has the emotion, relationship development, healing, and intimacy I’d expect from a contemporary romance, just wrapped inside this fantasy world.
If you love emotionally driven romance, second chances, healing journeys, fantasy creatures, and some seriously good spice, this one might be for you.
At its heart, Heimlock is a second-chance romance set within a fantasy world filled with dragon shifters, gargoyles, sprites, and so much more. Despite all of those fantastical elements, this story felt incredibly human.
This is a story about healing, learning to love yourself again, rebuilding your sense of worth, and believing that you are still deserving of love, even after everything you’ve endured.
The romance reflects that beautifully. It’s raw, emotional, and real. Love isn’t treated like an instant cure for everything that has happened. It takes time, patience, and trust. Watching that relationship slowly rebuild and develop made the connection feel that much more meaningful.
The spice you ask? 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Incredibly spicy. Delicious. Loved every moment. No notes.
Heimlock is so much more than a dragon-shifter romance. It has the emotion, relationship development, healing, and intimacy I’d expect from a contemporary romance, just wrapped inside this fantasy world.
If you love emotionally driven romance, second chances, healing journeys, fantasy creatures, and some seriously good spice, this one might be for you.
September 15, 2026
There are many romances that run the emotional gamut, ranging from heartwarming to devastating to spicy, but this book takes that to another level. Kyrielle and Trinte both come from significantly traumatic backgrounds, and at times it’s hard to read, but the emotional growth is truly beautiful. The love the MCs feel for one another feels even more gratifying because of how much you know they each deserve it. There’s definitely some uncomfortable (putting it lightly) topics, but the emotional healing and appropriately utilized monster spice thrown in provide a well-balanced story. If the trigger warnings are tolerable for you, it’s definitely worth the read, especially if you’d like to see C-PTSD representation and validation.
Rating: 4 stars
Spice: 3 chili peppers
What I loved:
-The mental health rep. This book did not shy away from the lasting effects that significant trauma can have on people. It reads as highly validating.
-The dedication really got me
-There was a good balance between the heavier and lighter/spicier parts of the book. Neither felt overly dominating and they didn’t detract from one another.
What didn’t work so well for me:
-Do police not exist here? There’s one specific activity that Kyrielle and Trinte (justifiably) get involved in, but there’s no follow up to it? Like I don’t think they can do what they did without anyone questioning anything.
Thank you to the author, Jenna Avery, for my ARC ✨ this review is entirely my own opinion
Rating: 4 stars
Spice: 3 chili peppers
What I loved:
-The mental health rep. This book did not shy away from the lasting effects that significant trauma can have on people. It reads as highly validating.
-The dedication really got me
-There was a good balance between the heavier and lighter/spicier parts of the book. Neither felt overly dominating and they didn’t detract from one another.
What didn’t work so well for me:
-Do police not exist here? There’s one specific activity that Kyrielle and Trinte (justifiably) get involved in, but there’s no follow up to it? Like I don’t think they can do what they did without anyone questioning anything.
Thank you to the author, Jenna Avery, for my ARC ✨ this review is entirely my own opinion
September 22, 2026
“My ears ache for her laughter. My heart aches for her smile. My skin aches for hers against mine. We played with fire, and despite being made of it, we both got burned.”
Thank you to the author for this eARC, this is my honest review.
I went into this expecting a fun, flirty romance with some serious moments to explain the characters past traumas and then a resolution of love and smiles. It is, in fact, a flirty romance between a dragon and a fire sprite and there are serious moments, but they aren’t just put in the story to check a box for a trope. I was gutted learning about what our MC’s had endured from their abusers and how it had stolen so much from them. Kyrielle is spunky, quick witted, loyal, and I love her. She has so much compassion and empathy for hurting hearts. Trinte, dear sweet, tortured man. I just wanted to reach into the book and cry with him, tell him not to give up, that he’s worthy of so much. The journey to healing and acceptance of these characters is a tragically beautiful thing. Banter and quips, tension and yearning, hot and spicy, love and healing, this story has it all.
Thank you to the author for this eARC, this is my honest review.
I went into this expecting a fun, flirty romance with some serious moments to explain the characters past traumas and then a resolution of love and smiles. It is, in fact, a flirty romance between a dragon and a fire sprite and there are serious moments, but they aren’t just put in the story to check a box for a trope. I was gutted learning about what our MC’s had endured from their abusers and how it had stolen so much from them. Kyrielle is spunky, quick witted, loyal, and I love her. She has so much compassion and empathy for hurting hearts. Trinte, dear sweet, tortured man. I just wanted to reach into the book and cry with him, tell him not to give up, that he’s worthy of so much. The journey to healing and acceptance of these characters is a tragically beautiful thing. Banter and quips, tension and yearning, hot and spicy, love and healing, this story has it all.
Review of advance copy
I’ll be super honest with you: there are parts of Heimlock that I had a hard time digesting, but it was impossible for me to let go. It’s one of those dark romance readings that catch you just because of how raw they are.
What blew my mind the most was seeing how the protagonists deal with everything they carry in such opposite ways. Trinte is one of those characters who use sarcasm and black humor as a shield not to feel. On the other hand, Kyrielle goes head-on and blows against her reality. Reading them collide and trying to understand each other made me realize that there really is not a single way to heal.
As I put them on the carousel, it’s not a story for just anyone. If you like dark romance without filters, with broken characters that make you uncomfortable on purpose, you will love it. But if you are looking for something light or reading about very crude trauma affects you, better pass this one for now.
I gave it 3.5 stars ⭐️ because its pain feels super real and it’s a book that keeps spinning in your head for days.
What blew my mind the most was seeing how the protagonists deal with everything they carry in such opposite ways. Trinte is one of those characters who use sarcasm and black humor as a shield not to feel. On the other hand, Kyrielle goes head-on and blows against her reality. Reading them collide and trying to understand each other made me realize that there really is not a single way to heal.
As I put them on the carousel, it’s not a story for just anyone. If you like dark romance without filters, with broken characters that make you uncomfortable on purpose, you will love it. But if you are looking for something light or reading about very crude trauma affects you, better pass this one for now.
I gave it 3.5 stars ⭐️ because its pain feels super real and it’s a book that keeps spinning in your head for days.
September 18, 2026
Thank you The Nerd Fam for gifting me this arc. I want to first start off by saying if you’re squeamish of easily upset I’d check the trigger warnings. They are listed and give you a full breakdown of what is in the book. Second if you don’t enjoy an extra spicy book this one is not for you!
I loved this book. It was funny, dark, romantic, and witty. The author did an amazing job representing mental health and I feel like that was a huge aspect to why this book was so good. It touches on that you’re not alone in your mental health journey and there are other people struggling too. The two main characters have their own abuse that they’ve struggled with growing up and they come together in a fiery love mix. Just two survivors healing each other together. I love that they are always there for each other and how they turn everything into humor that’s sometimes hard to talk about. The world they live in is amazing! Again the author did such a fantastic job at explaining everything around them. I would highly recommend this book!
I loved this book. It was funny, dark, romantic, and witty. The author did an amazing job representing mental health and I feel like that was a huge aspect to why this book was so good. It touches on that you’re not alone in your mental health journey and there are other people struggling too. The two main characters have their own abuse that they’ve struggled with growing up and they come together in a fiery love mix. Just two survivors healing each other together. I love that they are always there for each other and how they turn everything into humor that’s sometimes hard to talk about. The world they live in is amazing! Again the author did such a fantastic job at explaining everything around them. I would highly recommend this book!
September 29, 2026
Thank you to NerdFam for the ARC copy!
Before we get into it I did not read the previous books and while I am sure like most interconnected standalones there is more of an impact if you have I don't think my reading experience was impacted.
It's a really good book but as so many others have called out it is heavy and that can make the story feel a lot longer. (It's already around 500 pages so just know that going in). If you're like me and like to sit and consume a book in one sitting make sure you know that going in and read the author's notes at the beginning of the book.
I think it would be easy to loose the love story when it's wrapped up in so much darkness but truly the author does a great job of walking the line and if you can overcome a really really heavy beginning you won't regret staying with Trinte and Kyrille till the end.
All of that to say forced proximity, dragon shifter, and a hell of a spicy time. This book is really good and I hope so many more people pick it up.
Before we get into it I did not read the previous books and while I am sure like most interconnected standalones there is more of an impact if you have I don't think my reading experience was impacted.
It's a really good book but as so many others have called out it is heavy and that can make the story feel a lot longer. (It's already around 500 pages so just know that going in). If you're like me and like to sit and consume a book in one sitting make sure you know that going in and read the author's notes at the beginning of the book.
I think it would be easy to loose the love story when it's wrapped up in so much darkness but truly the author does a great job of walking the line and if you can overcome a really really heavy beginning you won't regret staying with Trinte and Kyrille till the end.
All of that to say forced proximity, dragon shifter, and a hell of a spicy time. This book is really good and I hope so many more people pick it up.
Review of advance copy
Man what a read!!
I cant thank Jenna Avery and The Nerd Fam enough for the E-ARC copy of Heimlock.
This was my 1st book by Jenna Avery and I can say will not be my last. Like all my books I go into them completely blind, so when I saw that this was an Interconnected standalone with more books in a series, I was extremely excited. Interconnected standalones are one of my favorite ways to read a series because it just takes the pressure off of trying to figure out which way to read them in order.
This story at times was so sad and so relatable that I could literally feel the pain through the pages, but then at other times it had me giggling and kicking my feet from the humor and spice. So, if you are looking for something that will completely rip your heart out but slowly put it back together with humor, spice, and love then this is the read for you, just make sure to check the triggers.
I cant thank Jenna Avery and The Nerd Fam enough for the E-ARC copy of Heimlock.
This was my 1st book by Jenna Avery and I can say will not be my last. Like all my books I go into them completely blind, so when I saw that this was an Interconnected standalone with more books in a series, I was extremely excited. Interconnected standalones are one of my favorite ways to read a series because it just takes the pressure off of trying to figure out which way to read them in order.
This story at times was so sad and so relatable that I could literally feel the pain through the pages, but then at other times it had me giggling and kicking my feet from the humor and spice. So, if you are looking for something that will completely rip your heart out but slowly put it back together with humor, spice, and love then this is the read for you, just make sure to check the triggers.
Review of advance copy
I adored this book and let me give you the non spoiler highlights. Firstly this is the second book in a series but it is an interconnected standalone and I have not read book 1. So this is coming from someone who is new and has fresh eyes. I loved that they do a good job hitting the highlights of what came before this book while also not feeling like I am missing out on anything. After reading this book, it is likely that I will go back and read book one to gain more insight but I don’t feel like it is completely necessary to do this.
I would say that this isn’t your stereotypical dragon shifter fantasy monster romance. I think the romance in this book was built on the back of the complex character and their trauma healing. The romance almost at times took a back seat to the trauma healing. It felt good to read a book that showcases the difficulty of overcoming past experiences. Trauma and healing is not a linear experience and each person heals in different ways. I felt like this book did a fantastic job showing how characters who have PTSD can have self doubt, self loathing, or how they can often lash out to those they do love because they feel like it’s undeserved.
The fact that both the love interests in the this book have similar experiences and can help each other cope while also discovering what they both really want was a journey worth experiencing. I highly recommend this book, but if you are someone who can’t handle the complex sexual trauma represented in this book than that is something to be mindful of before diving into this world.
I would say that this isn’t your stereotypical dragon shifter fantasy monster romance. I think the romance in this book was built on the back of the complex character and their trauma healing. The romance almost at times took a back seat to the trauma healing. It felt good to read a book that showcases the difficulty of overcoming past experiences. Trauma and healing is not a linear experience and each person heals in different ways. I felt like this book did a fantastic job showing how characters who have PTSD can have self doubt, self loathing, or how they can often lash out to those they do love because they feel like it’s undeserved.
The fact that both the love interests in the this book have similar experiences and can help each other cope while also discovering what they both really want was a journey worth experiencing. I highly recommend this book, but if you are someone who can’t handle the complex sexual trauma represented in this book than that is something to be mindful of before diving into this world.
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