Black Knight by Rina Kent

Kimberly Reed used to be Xander Knight’s best friend. Now she’s his favorite target.
He’s beautiful, powerful, untouchable—and cruel in ways that cut deep. A knight in name only, because saving her was never part of the plan.

Xander remembers the dream they once were, before it rotted into something poisonous. Kimberly may look innocent, fake, and easy to break—but she’s hiding a darkness of her own. And no matter how well she hides it, he sees her. Always.

This is the fourth installment in the Royal Elite series, and yes, I picked it up because I want to finish Legacy of Gods with a bang. I genuinely thought I’d want to read all of Rina Kent’s books… but now I’m not so sure.

I loved Legacy of Gods and Kiss the Villain—they were peak. Truly.

And okay, I don’t even know if I should admit this, but I DNF’d this one halfway through—actually closer to 70%. Yes, it felt a bit different from the others at first, but I’m officially tired of the same formula: girl is mentally ill, boy is cruel because he “loves” her, she loves him but dates other guys. I just… can’t anymore.

I loved Legacy of Gods and Kiss the Villain so much that I genuinely expected everything else to be amazing too—but nope. At this point, I don’t think I’ll continue the series in order unless I’m extremely bored. The whole elite high school setting is starting to bore me to death.

Have you read this one?
Do you read Rina Kent? If yes, what would you recommend?
Should I continue the series? I don’t know—I expected something else. And I hate DNF’ing books… but do you do it?

Because from now on, I probably will. Honestly, it’s not worth forcing myself through something I can’t get into when I could be reading a better thriller or a different dark romance.

What genres do you usually read?

Crime in the Depth of Winter, Agatha Christie

A chilling collection of winter-themed mysteries, perfect for long, dark evenings. As frost hangs in the air and the days grow shorter, Agatha Christie draws us into a world of deadly snowstorms, dangerous gifts, poisoned dinners, and unsettling house guests. Classic crimes, wrapped in ice.

This book is a must-read for devoted fans of the Queen of Crime and an easy recommendation as a winter gift for anyone who loves classic detective fiction with a seasonal edge. ❄️🕯️

I don’t think this collection exists in English—I’ve only seen it published in Romanian—but I still wanted to talk about it. Especially because it was a gift from my dear sister, who knows just how deeply I love Agatha Christie.

The weather finally matches my reading mood: –5°C, snow falling, and that sharp winter quiet I adore so much it almost hurts. This is my season.

That said, I’m not usually a fan of short story collections. This one is charming, familiar, and cozy, but many of the stories felt like revisits rather than discoveries. It’s lovely to have on your bookshelf, especially in winter, but it also feels very much like a seasonal release—made to be consumed with tea, candles, and snow outside the window.

Also… how many of you are trying to beat phone addiction this year? I want to read more, journal more, and actually learn things again instead of doom-scrolling. It completely wrecked my attention span, and I’m done letting it steal my focus.

Winter feels like the right time to slow down. And Christie, as always, is good company for that.

The Killer’s Daughter, Kate Wiley

The Killer’s Daughter – Kate Wiley is the kind of thriller that grabs you by the throat from the very first chapters. Margot Finch is a San Francisco homicide detective living with an impossible truth: her father is one of America’s most notorious serial killers. Twenty years later, Ed Finch resurfaces on death row, offering the locations of his remaining victims—but only if Margot agrees to see him face to face.

This book is chilling. Margot carries not only the weight of her father’s crimes—over 76 victims—but also a deeply disturbing childhood trauma: when she was little, he used to take her along in the car to lure women inside. And now, she’s just been given the location of victim number 77. Psychologically, this story hits hard and doesn’t pull its punches.

I really liked the dynamic between Margot and Wes, her colleague from forensics—it’s one of the few human, grounding elements in all this darkness. Since this is a series, I’m hoping it develops into something more. The book ends on a solid cliffhanger, and while it might be a while before I pick up book two, I genuinely enjoyed the action and the overall tension.

Robinson Crusoe, ultima ispita – Raul Neghina

România comunistă a sfârșitului anilor ’80. O întâlnire aparent banală deschide ușa către un trecut periculos.

Robert, un tânăr medic cu metode neconvenționale, este atras în lumea elegantă și neliniștitoare a lui Omer Săvinescu. Un volum vechi din Robinson Crusoe, anticariate prăfuite, cronici de familie și umbrele omniprezente ale Securității încep să fractureze realitatea. Romanul îmbină thrillerul psihologic cu misterul, fantasticul și accentele de horror, mizând mult pe atmosferă.

⚠️ Avertisment: dacă te confrunți cu atacuri de panică sau anxietate, ia lectura mai încet.

Pe măsură ce Robert se mută într-o nouă locuință oferită de Omer, lucrurile devin tot mai eerie: telefoane în miez de noapte, bătăi în ușă, o senzație constantă de frică și apariții tulburătoare, inclusiv Clara, soția lui Omer, care apare noaptea și dispare fără explicații. Misterul te prinde — dar doar până la un punct.

Cartea vorbește despre traume vechi, secrete de familie și suferințe îngropate. Deși interesantă și bine construită pe alocuri, nu a fost ce mă așteptam. Titlul m-a dus cu gândul la un roman mai alert, mai Dan Brown-esque, însă accentul cade mult pe introspecție și filozofare. Tema Securității, justificată pentru epocă, m-a obosit, iar finalul m-a enervat serios.

Per total: o lectură ciudată, misterioasă, ușor horror, care captivează pe jumătate. Nu e o carte rea, dar nici una pe care aș reciti-o.

2026 Reading Goals

Hi loves,

As the year comes to a close, I’ve been doing that quiet Scandinavian-style reset—cleaning my home, my phone, my mind, my body, and my soul—making space for the stillness of winter and whatever the new year decides to bring.

And somewhere between decluttering shelves and thoughts, I realized my only real reading goal for 2026 is beautifully simple: more thrillers and more classics.

I want to explore the world through stories—preferably in dark, gothic shades. This year, I discovered a surprising curiosity for dark romance, and occasionally even romance in its softer forms. But now I’m wondering…

Are there any books that have stayed with you?

Stories you still think about from time to time—the kind that quietly haunt you long after the last page?

If you have recommendations, I’d love to hear them.

And tell me—what would you like to see from me next year?

Wishing you a happy, lucky, and healthy New Year, my loves.

I’ll see you in January.