Indie Author Book Reviews December 2025

When the Portal Opens: The Mirrored One's Book 1

By Mercedes Koefoed

This was a pleasant and, at first, appearances, breezy read. A story about a mage called Willow who lives in a wonderful realm with Dragons, Mer Folk, Vampires, Fae, Were Folk, and more. It is a story about a daughters yearning to find her mother and a young woman, Sage, from the human realm who follows a Merman (he crashes through her roof whilst riding a dragon!) through a portal. To find out more, you will have to read the book for yourself.

I loved the characters, and the romance was sweet. The plot twist was not what I expected, and I found myself really enjoying this story to its climax.

It is only the beginning of what I am sure will be an exciting adventure. There was humour, love, and even sadness to keep me reading until the very end.

I highly recommend this first novel for Mercede Koefoed. I just want to say, wow, what a fantastic start to a career as an author. Mercedes. You have my admiration, and I eagerly await the next book in the series.

I was pleasantly surprised at the beautiful story that unfolded before me. So if you need a soft but fun story (and this is fun) please take a look.

The Ties that Bind Them: The Queens War Book 1

By Alix Godwin

I really enjoyed this book! From the very first chapter, the demon world Alix Goodwin created felt vivid and alive. The atmosphere is rich, dark, and beautifully detailed, making it incredibly easy to picture every shadowy corridor, every dangerous encounter, and every emotionally charged moment. What really stood out to me was the slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance. It’s full of tension, sharp banter, and genuine emotional depth. Even though the bigger action scenes come later in the story, the slower build up made everything feel so much more meaningful because you really get to know the characters first.

Lillia and Sitri completely stole the show for me. Lillia’s determination to survive and outsmart the monsters hunting her made her instantly likeable. She’s brave, stubborn, and carrying far more secrets than most people could bear. Sitri, on the other hand, is the perfect cold hearted demon prince; dangerous, controlled, and impossible not to be intrigued by. The way their dynamic shifts as they’re forced to rely on one another is done so well. Their relationship grows in the small looks, the sharp words, the reluctant trust, and the moments when the line between enemy and ally starts to blur. It’s exactly the kind of slow-burn tension that keeps you reading long past bedtime.

The plot, the world, and the cast of characters all come together beautifully, especially for a debut. The writing flows easily, the stakes keep rising, and the emotional moments hit just as hard as the action. I’m genuinely excited to see what Alix Goodwin writes next, there’s so much promise in this world and in the storytelling. If you’re a fan of dark romantasy, richly imagined worlds, and characters you can’t help but root for, give this book a try. I think you’ll fall in love with it just like I did.