Spoilers for Unplugged Book Box Romantasy "Advent" Box!
I've been asked to provide some spoilers for Unplugged's upcoming Romantasy "Advent" Box for 2024—here are my guesses for all 8:
Book 1:
Hint:
Hint 1:
Our first book feels like an epic, classic fantasy book with an amazing, slow-burn romance plot line. It involves the main character being kidnapped and removed from her home.
Hint 2:
If you enjoy found family and strong friendships, this one is for you.
Hint 3:
This book is full of adventure, monsters, and corrupt magic.
Hint 4:
This one is a bit on the darker side with an expertly executed storyline that delicately tackles each subject while keeping you deeply invested. It’s a true page-turner with some favorite tropes such as chosen one, found family, and enemies to lovers (slow-burn).
Content warnings include violence, abuse, murder, and alcoholism.
Emoji hints:
👸 🏰 🛡️ 👹 💞 🪄 ⛰️
Guess:
Rise of the Dawnbringer by I. A. Takerian
Book 2:
Hint:
HINT 1:
This book is the sequel to the book we last hinted. It picks up where the last one left off, in a perilous journey through trials and war... The monsters and magic in this one are just as exciting as the first book.
HINT 2:
It continues the slow burn theme from book 1, with minimal spice. The budding relationship is almost a tease, and you will find yourself rooting for the main couple.
HINT 3:
Strong friendships and relationships define this book. After the cliffhanger in book 1, you will certainly be thrilled to jump right in where it left off to have your questions answered.
HINT 4:
This book is non-stop action that will leave you on the edge of your seat, unsure where to pause in your reading. You might need to set aside an entire night or day to devour it in one setting.
EMOJI HINTS:
❤️ 🌩️ 🐙 🏴☠️ 🪄 🗡️
Guess:
A Prophecy of Undone by I. A. Takerian
Book 3:
Hint:
HINT 1:
Our third book in the Advent Box will have you aching in the best way by the time you finish. You will swoon and you might just cry as well. This novel involves fae and magic systems.
HINT 2:
Tropes include fated mates, forbidden love, and star-crossed lovers. There is a lot of angst in this one. We’d give this one 2.5/5 🌶️ on the spicy scale.
HINT 3:
Expect the main characters to face tragedies, which will have you unable to put this book down while simultaneously sobbing. The content warnings include SA (attempted), mentions of suicidal thoughts and attempts, substance abuse, grief, and death.
HINT 4:
The banter between the main characters was A+. We absolutely fell in love with the unique magic system, and cannot wait to read more from this author.
EMOJI HINTS:
🌙 🧚♀️ 🤴 🏰 ⚭ 💔 🍋 ✨
Guess:
Bound by Gravity by Jenny Hickman
Book 4:
Hint:
HINT 1:
For our next book, we have an exciting retelling. This one has classic romantasy vibes, and if you’ve read some of the most popular romantasy books, you’ll enjoy this one.
HINT 2:
It’s a book that might make you forget that you’re reading because you become so immersed in the world and the epic fantasy elements. It’s pretty fast-paced and highly addictive.
HINT 3:
It involves an arranged marriage trope, though the main character would prefer to marry for love. Other tropes include found family, forbidden romance, and it’s a slow burn! It is the first in a series with minimal spice (that comes later).
HINT 4:
There’s some great banter in this book! It’s also got some viking and fae inspired elements woven into the magic and action. Content warnings include blood, death, non-explicit SA, mentions of suicide, and violence.
EMOJI HINTS:
🥀 🪓 👑 🚫 ❤️ 👹 ✨
Guess:
Curse of Shadows and Thorns by LJ Andrews
Book 5:
Hint:
HINT 1:
For this book, we have a mega-original story with a unique setting. The magic system involves deities and gods in a post-industrial world. It’s a bit on the darker side, and that’s something we truly loved about it! If you’re looking for a new take on the genre, we think this one will be up your alley.
HINT 2:
The romance in this one is paced perfectly. It gives just enough without feeling rushed. The dual POV helps to dive into each character’s head. It’s got a badass female protagonist meeting a cinnamon roll male protagonist, and we were here for it!
HINT 3:
The tropes include rivals to lovers, found family, and marriage of convenience. It’s a bit of a slow burn with spice interwoven into the plot. We’d give the spice level about a 2.5/5 🌶️. The content warnings include death of loved ones, torture, alcohol use, and violence.
HINT 4:
We loved that this book contained rival families and intense character and world building that made us root for the main characters while remaining on the edge of our seats. There were plenty of plot twists and turns to keep us hooked. You’ll want to set aside time to marathon-read this one!
EMOJI HINTS:
🤐 🚂 💰 🏙️ ✨ 💒
Guess:
House of Bane and Blood by Alexis L. Menard
Book 6:
Hint:
HINT 1:
This one is the sequel to Book 5, which we hinted at yesterday. This series is a duet, so you’ll receive both of the books in the duology (by the way, if you order a 3 day box, we won’t do just book 2, don’t worry!). This book picks up where the other left off, and since book 1 in this series ends on a cliffhanger, you’ll be grateful to have book 2 on hand to devour straightaway!
HINT 2:
There’s a dark storyline in this story where the FMC is stuck in a hellish prison and the MMC is doing his best to save her. She’s put through horrific trials and tests, and the author’s writing in these scenes brings it all to life.
HINT 3:
Tropes include found family, marriage of convenience, and rivals to lovers. We would give this one about 2.5/5 on the spice scale 🌶️. Content warnings include violence, injury, death, torture, mentions of family death, use of alcohol, mentions of suicide.
HINT 4:
This tale does amazing with building a sense of suspense and dread. While we continue to see the amazing banter from the first book, this one has a darker undertone. We also fell in love with the romance and magic system that blossoms in this book!
EMOJI HINTS:
🏰 🚂 🧪 🪄 💥 💞
Guess:
City of Mirth and Malice by Alexis L. Menard
Book 7:
Hint:
Book 7 currently has about 9,000 Goodreads reviews, a high average rating, and is a super addictive read! Content warnings include violence, alcohol use, manipulation, abuse, trauma, and suicidal thoughts. We would give it a 3/5 on the spice scale 🌶️.
Guess:
Rain of Shadows and Endings by Melissa K. Roehrich
All the content warnings line up for this one—and it has (as of this post publication) 8,996 Goodreads ratings and a 4.11 average review rating. All the clues line up!
Book 8:
Hint:
What we can tell you is that this one is by an author we adore and that has quite a following. This one is a newer release, but it's generating a lot of buzz on social media and Goodreads. Content warnings include violence, grief, confinement, mentions of abuse, suicidal thoughts, harassment, and some alcohol use. We would give this one 2/5 on the spice scale 🌶️ .
Guess:
Kuxtal Academy: The Beginning by Nelle Nikole and Mikayla D. Hornedo
The hints were pretty vague for this one, but the content warnings line up and the author accounts have a combined 10K+ following. It's also a recent release (September 2024).