Thursday, October 2, 2025

Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: Suffered (The Lost Sovereign Book 2) by Anna Hawke

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line FridayFriday 56 asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two. It was started by Freda at Freda's Voice, but Anne over at My Head is Full of Books has taken over for the time being.

This week I'm featuring Suffered (The Lost Sovereign Book 2) by Anna Hawke. I just started reading it and am loving it so far!

About the Book
Locked in a supernatural prison. Forbidden to see each other’s faces.

Sola is stolen from her life, stripped of her magic, and forced to be the object of a madman’s obsession. After a century behind bars, her world is a cycle of pain and abuse—until a kindhearted stranger is thrown in the cell beside hers. Escape no longer feels impossible, but hope had betrayed her before.

Jailed for the wrong reasons, Quinn’s centuries of loyal service end in torment and chains. A healer with secrets of his own, he never expected to find light in the darkness—or to fall for the fierce, broken woman at his side.

Together, they have one chance at freedom, but survival outside the prison walls may prove even more dangerous than what awaited them within.

Author's Note

Suffered is a dual perspective paranormal romance with urban fantasy elements. As part of the Lost Sovereign series, it can be read as a standalone, but we recommend that they be read in order. While the romance within sizzles, this series is fade to black/closed door.

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday
Death was a heartbeat away.

Friday 56
Quinn’s joyful companionship felt like long-awaited rain on arid land.

What have you been reading lately?

Review: Wicked is the Hollow (Tales from the Hollow Book 1) by K.E. Ganshert

About the Book
A STRANGE TOWN. A SPRAWLING MANSION. A PERILOUS ROMANCE.

Ever since her mother vanished, Selah Whitlock has been drawn to the unexplained. So it feels almost fated to live in Foggy Hollow, a place where mystery abounds. Even more so when her father accepts a job at the Vandenberg estate, the epicenter of the town’s most infamous cold case.

Moving into the estate’s carriage house pulls Selah into the orbit of the Vandenberg cousins: Jude, the brooding heir with a tragic past, and Rafe, effortlessly charming and undeniably dangerous.

Then a centuries-old portrait surfaces bearing Selah’s exact likeness. Suddenly, she isn’t just chasing a mystery. She’s caught in the heart of one. As the town prepares to celebrate its bicentennial, Selah and Jude are pulled into a secret that spans generations. Something sinister is stirring beneath the golden leaves and carved pumpkins. And the deeper they fall, the deadlier the consequences.


MY THOUGHTS

When I was eight, I watched my mother disappear in fading pixels. I remember it clear as day. My frantic hands trying to plug up those tiny square holes as she begged me to hurry.

Y’all! This was a fantastic YA paranormal mystery! It's one of the best I’ve read in a long time. The prologue gripped me, and I was held captive till the final word. I loved it so much!

The mystery surrounding the Vandenberg family was so intriguing, and I was so curious how Selah was connected to everything. This was not a predictable read by any means. I was surprised by the unfolding events so many times. And I loved all the spooky vibes. I got goosebumps several times.

If you’re a fan of compelling and impossible-to-put-down paranormal mysteries, you’re going to love this book. I can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s one of my favorite reads of the year. I’m so excited this is the start of a series. I can’t wait to visit Foggy Hollow again!

I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

FIVE STARS