MoodReads - Romance Book Discovery
The Stacks
DiscoverMy ShelvesReading Stats
Sign upLog in
MoodReads - Romantasy Book Discovery

because goodreads doesn't
have a spice filter

Discover

  • Discover Page
  • Reading Stacks
  • Tropes
  • Moods
  • Creatures
  • Spicy Books

Get MoodReads

  • so what is it.
  • iOS App
  • Browser Extension
  • MoodReads Premium
  • Gift a Subscription
  • For Creators
  • Share MoodReads

Go Deeper

  • FAQ
  • Roadmap
  • Request a Feature
  • vs Goodreads
  • vs StoryGraph
  • Who Built This?

The Serious Stuff

  • Values
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Support

get emails when something big happens. no spam, just news.

© 2026 MoodReads. Built by a romantasy reader for romantasy readers.

rattle the stars, bitches.

Cover of House of Pounding Hearts

House of Pounding Hearts

by Olivia Wildenstein

🌶️🌶️🌶️moderate·The Kingdom of Crows #2
4.1 on Goodreads (31,268)

Rate this book

sign in to add to shelves, track reading status, and see your stats

Available on Kindle Unlimited
find similar →
ReportSpoiler settings

Ending

reveal ending

Why Read This?The one-sentence sell. What do you get for showing up to this book, even when it's hard?

You'll get a satisfying peak in the slow-burn romance with intense emotional payoff and shocking twists that leave you desperate for the next book.

Synopsis

I meant to capture the prince's heart... and ended up with a king's. My desire to sit upon the Lucin throne led me to revive an ancient, winged monarch; one I deemed a friend until that friend duped and imprisoned me. Lorcan claims he’s holding me captive for my own safety, but then he also claims I belong to him. Slumbering for five centuries has evidently given the Crow King severe delusions. We may share an unfortunate mind-link, but we are still masters of our own destiny, and I intend to steer mine away from the Sky Kingdom and its prophecies . . . away from him . I quickly find out there is no escaping the possessive male. In all honesty, I’m no longer certain I want to.

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

Book two of the Kingdom of Crows and the slowest of slow burns finally starts paying off. Fallon and Lorcan share a mind-link neither of them wanted, and the tension between political intrigue, fae court backstabbing, and their reluctant bond is excruciating in the best way. Italian-inspired fae world with crow shifters, prophecies, and an MMC who goes full touch-her-and-die. Ends on a cliffhanger—be warned.

trope onetrope twotrope threetrope four

Book Details

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.

4.14 ★ (31.3k)

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

444 pages

PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.

2023

Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?

Romantasy

PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.

M/F

POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).

First Person

Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.

Slow Burn

CliffhangerEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.

reveal ending

AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

Yes

FormatHow fancy is the audio? Standard = one narrator. Full cast = theater kids went off. GraphicAudio = a MoViE iN yOuR mInD.

Single Narrator (unspecified)

NarratorThe voice in your ears.

Olivia King, Tim Campbell

Narrator Count

Dual

TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
hidden identitysecret heir/royaltyblood feud romancefated matessecret relationshipforbidden loveprophecy-driven love
RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

broodingdarksuspensefulromanticangstyintenseatmosphericdramatic

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

lushatmosphericimmersivedramaticemotional

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

fast

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

heavy

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

medium

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

fae courts and politicsforbidden desire

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?

morally gray FMCferal/unhingedreluctant chosen oneroyalty

MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.

morally gray MMCpossessive alphadark/tortured soulfae prince

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

slow burnenemies to loversforbidden lovefated matespush and pullhe falls first

Spice Details 🌶️

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
Spice Level 3

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

intense / passionateemotional / lovingslow / sensual

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

tensionanticipationpossessive/protectivemine declarationseye contact intensityjaw holding / face cupping

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

bonding/claiming/markingpossessiverough/aggressive intimacy
Browse more books by spice level →
This stuff might hit different. No shame in needing to know what's coming. (9)▼
spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
deathemotional abusekidnappingtraumaviolencebloodcaptivitygriefwar
Browse books by content warning →

World & Setting

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.

fae realm / faerie courtshigh fantasy

Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.

royal court / palaceforest / wilderness

Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.

faeshifterswitches/wizards/warlocks

Reading Context

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.

the angst deliveredtension finally satisfiedobsessedbook hangover incomingferal brain activated

Best Time of YearSeasonal mood rings for books. Summer romance reads different than winter gothic.

autumn

When & Where to ReadContext matters. Some books are Beach Trip energy, others are 3am Bedtime spiral-reads. Trust.

at nightsummer eveningcozy eveningrainy weekend

The Kingdom of Crows

House of Beating Wings

#1 House of Beating Wings

House of Pounding Hearts

#2 House of Pounding Hearts

House of Striking Oaths

#3 House of Striking Oaths

House of Shifting Tides

#3.5 House of Shifting Tides

House of Burning Frost

#4 House of Burning Frost

this page is just the start

  • import your Goodreads or StoryGraph TBR. we tag every book with spice, tropes, CWs, mood, all of it
  • tell us a vibe (“enemies to lovers fae, high spice”) and BookMatch finds the book
  • 4,000+ romantasy books searchable by 45 fields
  • book clubs, reading challenges, and a community of readers who get it
free account

Quick Facts

Spice LevelThe heat scale. 0=wholesome, 1=kisses, 2=fade-to-black, 3=tasteful spice, 4=explicit, 5=you need a cold shower. Know thyself.🌶️🌶️🌶️moderate
PagesHow long the commitment is.444
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.2023
GoodreadsThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.4.14 ★ (31.3k)
EndingEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.reveal ending

SeriesThe series this book belongs to and where it falls in the reading order.

The Kingdom of Crows #2
Similar picks →

My Notes

Loading...

Short Takes

quick 280-character reactions for this book. drop a thought, rate the vibe, keep scrolling.

Sign in to share your take.

Loading...

Book Chat

live reactions, hot takes, screaming into the void about House of Pounding Hearts

Similar Books

Cover of A Touch of Poison (Shadows of the Tenebris Court, #2)KU

A Touch of Poison (Shadows of the Tenebris Court, #2)

Shadows of the Tenebris Court, #2

Clare Sager

🌶️🌶️🌶️·dual POV
forced proximityhidden identitygames/trials romance
Cover of Throne of Ice and BloodKU

Throne of Ice and Blood

Flame and Thorns, #2

Marion Blackwood

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️·first person·✓
hidden identitysecret relationshipblood feud romance
Cover of A Kingdom of Venom and Vows (Stars and Shadows, #3)KU

A Kingdom of Venom and Vows (Stars and Shadows, #3)

Stars and Shadows, #3

Holly Renee

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️·dual POV
captive romanceforced proximitydark romance
Cover of Taunting Destiny (The Fae Chronicles, #2)

Taunting Destiny (The Fae Chronicles, #2)

The Fae Chronicles, #2

Amelia Hutchins

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️·first person
fated matesdark romancecaptive romance
Cover of A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows (Stars and Shadows, #1)KU

A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows (Stars and Shadows, #1)

Stars and Shadows, #1

Holly Renee

🌶️🌶️·first person·✓
arranged marriageforbidden lovesecret relationship
Cover of The Courting of Bristol Keats

The Courting of Bristol Keats

The Courting of Bristol Keats, #1

Mary E. Pearson

🌶️🌶️·multi-POV
forced proximityhidden identitysecret heir/royalty
Cover of A Kingdom of Blood and Betrayal (Stars and Shadows, #2)KU

A Kingdom of Blood and Betrayal (Stars and Shadows, #2)

Stars and Shadows, #2

Holly Renee

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️·dual POV
fated matescursed love interestcaptive romance
Cover of Fate of the Sun KingKU

Fate of the Sun King

Artefacts of Ouranos, #3

Nisha J. Tuli

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️·dual POV·✓
fated mateshidden identitysecret heir/royalty