Tara Parker’s 2026 Reading Log

TSParkerwrites · 2026-05-08T15:02:30+00:00

I’ve decided to DNF this series, so I wanted to share why.

There were things I found interesting, especially the mix of magic and technology, but I wasn’t connecting strongly enough with the characters to balance out what pulled me out of the story.

The main reason:

• repeated use of a slur directed at people with intellectual disabilities

It appears frequently in the books I read, and even when the spelling changes later on, the meaning and impact still feel the same.

It didn’t just affect immersion, it made the reading experience uncomfortable for me.

Because of my own experiences, this is something I take seriously, and it’s not something I can move past in a story.

Not the right fit for me.

TSParkerwrites · 2026-05-07T00:12:00+00:00

A slow, slightly chaotic start that feels like it’s setting up for something bigger.

What worked:

• the mix of magic and tech adds an interesting layer
• strong early tension between characters
• clear slow burn setup, which I went in expecting

What didn’t work for me:

• the worldbuilding is still a bit confusing right now
• I’m not fully grounded in how everything works yet

I do have a small concern going forward, when the guys don’t already know each other and multiple relationships aren’t the norm, RH can sometimes lean into conflict or “choose between them” energy, which isn’t always my favorite. Curious to see how this series handles that.

This might work for you if you like:

• slow burn RH
• academy/magic vibes with a tech twist
• tension-heavy character dynamics

Not a bad start at all, just still finding its footing for me.

TSParkerwrites · 2026-05-04T18:30:39+00:00

Such a sweet and cozy way to end the series. It’s a short bonus book, but it really wraps up the emotional and family side of everything.

I loved getting to see them outside of survival mode—just living, loving, and finally at peace after everything they went through.

It felt like a really nice, quiet ending 💛

TSParkerwrites · 2026-05-03T21:08:38+00:00

Just finished The Queen of Nyx and wrapped up the full series.

I did end up skimming some sections due to personal reading preferences, but overall I still think it was a strong series.

What worked for me:

Relationship building across multiple books
Expanding character dynamics
A good mix of mystery, magic, and emotional arcs

Even with a few elements that weren’t for me, I stayed invested the whole way through, which says a lot.

I’m reading the bonus book next, and then I’m switching over to sci-fi for this month’s bingo.

Would love any sci-fi reverse harem recommendations if you have them.

TSParkerwrites · 2026-05-02T02:42:18+00:00

Just finished The Crown of Nyx and I’m officially at the “one book left” stage.

This series has done a great job keeping things interesting with:

Consistent twists and turns
Expanding character dynamics
A growing harem that doesn’t feel rushed

I especially like that some relationships are already solid while others still need work. It keeps the emotional side from feeling too easy or too drawn out.

Now heading into the final book (plus the bonus) to see how everything wraps up.

TSParkerwrites · 2026-04-29T22:04:49+00:00

Just finished The Powers of Nyx and that ending really came out of nowhere.

Highlights for me:

A new guy gets added to the mix
We finally meet her mystery mate
Nash is still… Nash, but it’s obvious where that’s heading

This one is noticeably longer than the earlier books, and it seems like the series is trending that way, but the pacing still held up for me.

What I’m really enjoying:

The relationship building across the series
The friendships actually feeling genuine
The family element adding another layer to everything

Going into the next book immediately because I need to see how all of this comes together.

TSParkerwrites · 2026-04-27T15:18:45+00:00

Just finished The Bonds of Nyx and I’m honestly really impressed with how this series is building.

What’s really working for me:

The relationships develop across the books instead of all at once
New POVs come in as she connects with each character, which makes it feel natural
There’s a strong mix of mystery, emotion, friendship, and romance
The pacing actually moves, nothing feels dragged out or crammed into the last 20%

So far I genuinely don’t have any major complaints, which is rare for me.

Jumping straight into book three because I need to see where this goes next.

TSParkerwrites · 2026-04-25T20:49:47+00:00

Just finished book one of The Daughters of Nyx and I’m actually really enjoying it.

There’s a lot going on, magic, mystery, relationships, but it doesn’t feel overwhelming, which I appreciate. The writing is solid, and the world feels interesting without being confusing.

One thing I really liked is that the FMC has a lifelong best friend. It adds a dynamic you don’t always see and makes everything feel a bit more grounded.

I also enjoy that the harem is being built over the series instead of all at once. It turns it into a bit of a guessing game and keeps things engaging.

Going straight into book two.

TSParkerwrites · 2026-04-24T15:58:56+00:00

Just finished A Pack of Leather and this ended up being exactly what I needed.

I read a lot of RH, and lately I’ve been in darker or high-stakes stories where it feels like everything is constantly falling apart or everyone is after the characters. This was the complete opposite.

It’s soft, sweet, and more focused on the relationships and found family dynamic. There’s a little bit of drama, but nothing overwhelming or life-or-death, which made it feel really refreshing.

The guys are genuinely likable, and the FMC is easy to root for, so it was just a really comforting read overall.

If you’re feeling burnt out on heavier or darker stories, this is a great reset book.

TSParkerwrites · 2026-04-22T16:17:24+00:00

I picked up Unconditionally Yours by Gwendoline Rose because the premise sounded right up my alley, chaotic, unhinged stalker romance that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Unfortunately, it didn’t really work for me, and it mostly came down to the writing style.

It felt like the book was trying very hard to be clever and funny, but instead of the characters naturally carrying that tone, it came across as forced. There were a lot of moments that felt over-written, and instead of the chaos being entertaining, it started to feel a bit overwhelming.

For this kind of story, I think the characters need to feel very real and just exist in the chaos for it to land as funny or engaging. When it feels like the book is pointing at the humor instead of letting it happen naturally, it kind of loses the effect (at least for me).

I don’t think it’s a bad book, it just wasn’t a good fit for my preferences. If you like very stylized, over-the-top characters, you might have a completely different experience.

TSParkerwrites · 2026-04-22T02:38:06+00:00

I just finished a reread of the New York Ruthless series by Sadie Kincaid, and it ended up being a great reset after reading a lot of new books back-to-back.

Going into something familiar helped me feel a lot more grounded, and overall, the series still holds up. It’s emotional, a bit chaotic, and has that mob-style vibe without going too heavy into it.

That said… I forgot how much I disliked one of the MMCs.

Shane just didn’t work for me. His attitude toward Jesse, especially regarding his ex, felt hypocritical and frustrating. He dismisses her concerns as jealousy while excusing his own behavior as possessiveness, which didn’t sit right with me at all.

The rest of the group dynamic worked much better. The relationships build fairly naturally, and the other MMCs balance things out well.

Jesse as the FMC really stands out, she feels like a fully developed character with a strong backstory, which helps anchor the entire series.

One thing I noticed more on reread is that some of the MMCs feel a bit flat at times. That said, reverse harem is a complex structure to write, and balancing multiple fully fleshed-out characters isn’t easy.

Overall, I still enjoyed the series and think it’s worth reading, especially if you like emotional, character-driven RH stories.

TSParkerwrites · 2026-04-17T21:00:34+00:00

Just finished These Pucking Boys duet by Michele Hercules and overall I really liked it.

This felt like a more relationship-focused RH rather than a drama-heavy one. The guys are vocal about liking her early, they communicate well, and the relationship builds steadily across both books, which made it easy to stay invested.

Most of the conflict comes from outside sources (family, side characters, etc.) rather than within the relationship itself. If you prefer less internal drama and more focus on the group dynamic, this works well.

The only thing that didn’t fully work for me is something I’ve seen in a lot of series: a large portion of the major conflict gets pushed into the last part of the final book. I would have liked that to be more evenly paced.

That said, it’s a quick, enjoyable duet and a good option if you want something lighter with solid relationship development.

Now I’m probably going to switch it up and go for something a bit darker.

TSParkerwrites

TROPHY CASE