ARC Review: Wicked (Joey Santana #4) by Karina Espinosa

Title: Wicked

Series: Joey Santana #4
Author: Karina Espinosa
Publisher: Karina Espinosa
Published: June 3, 2022
Pages: 221
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
Source: ARC

Once you’ve felt love, it’s hard to let it go.

The curse has been unleashed at the stroke of midnight and everything has changed. Everyone who once cared for me is now indifferent. And the one person who loved me unconditionally now hates my guts. I’ve never felt more alone before in my life.

Hiding out with the seelies has been my only option, but when truths unfold, even the seelie aren’t safe anymore. With nowhere to turn to and no one to trust, I find an unlikely ally who amidst it all, doesn’t hate me.

Putting myself first for once, it’s a race against the clock to break this curse and free myself from this torment while the supernaturals deal with their war against the humans. Nothing is what it seems and nothing will ever be the same again.

MY REVIEW

Disclaimer: I received this book at no cost from the publisher/author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. I am leaving a voluntary review and all opinions are my own. 

This book was really something. I was sucked into this series from the first chapter of the first book. These books really grew on me in a profound way. 

I really loved the overall story. Espinosa really created a plot that was compelling and unpredictable. I loved not knowing what to expect. Her storytelling is lovely. I felt so at home in her words and even craved more of them. The world-building of this series is perfect. There is just the right about of supernatural to balance with the known. 

The ending kind of petered out a little for me. I didn't hate it by any means but I found it a little lacking. It just seemed a little rushed. It was satisfying enough that I still enjoyed the book tremendously but I felt that the ending came a little too easy and without enough conflict. 

These characters were kind of addicting. The secondary characters were just as interesting and intriguing as the main characters. I loved having the different POVs throughout the series. Joey's group of friends had serious squad goals vibes. I just wanted to be transplanted into the story so that I could be a part of their group of friends. I loved how each character was uniquely defined and stood out to the reader effortlessly. 

The romance in this book was hit and miss with me. On one hand, I enjoyed the chemistry between Joey and Reed and their obvious connection. On the other hand, there really wasn't anything spicy in the story and I was really expecting it. It was extremely tame, and while it didn't take away from the overall slow-burn romance that was build up, I still yearned for more spice. Otherwise, the slow-burn in this story was written so extremely well. It was riveting in it's intensity. I also kind of felt like things wrapped up for Joey and Reed without much on page fanfare. It kind of felt like there needed to be an epilogue because of it. 

Overall, I was very pleased with the ending of this series. This series really captured me from the start and had me begging for more with each book. I fell so in love with these characters and their journeys. I was so invested in the outcome of this series and I am really excited to read more from this author!

Karina Espinosa is the Urban Fantasy Author of the Mackenzie Grey novels and The Last Valkyrie series. An avid reader throughout her life, the world of Urban Fantasy easily became an obsession that turned into a passion for writing strong leading characters with authentic story arcs. When she isn’t writing badass heroines, you can find this self-proclaimed nomad in her South Florida home binge-watching the latest series on Netflix or traveling far and wide for the latest inspiration for her books. Follow her on social media!

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Do you read supernatural or paranormal books? If so, what is your favorite paranormal race? If not, what genres do love most? Any recommendations are welcome!