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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It was hard for me to believe that this is the author's debut book. The way she created the magical world was impressive, and it's interesting to read . In respect to those who haven't read the book yet. I won't go into too much detail, but it's worth mentioning in this review because it's essential. The book's plot is thoroughly exciting to me. One of the most enjoyable and shocking aspects of this novel is the author's ability to create such complex characters. Her mastery in character development is truly surprising, especially considering that this is her debut novel. It's impressive how she places these characters in an outdoor setting and brings them to life in such a captivating way. And the book's pacing is just perfect for what you're reading, so it's a well-balanced book. Most of the time, this is my big trouble with novels of this gender that they can get so long and dragging that they become boring, but this book is not that I enjoyed. Plus, you have a little bit of a steamy romance, so I think it's a perfect combination for the people who like to read this gender and this mix-up. The Lord and the mythology depicted in this book are intricately crafted and thoroughly researched, making them some of the most compelling aspects of the story. Whether you're a seasoned fantasy reader or just getting started in the genre, I believe you'll find this book to be a thoroughly enjoyable read.
2.5 stars
The Temptation of Magic had all the ingredients for a five-star obsession: lush writing, atmospheric worldbuilding, and a whisper of dark academia that promised secrets in shadowed libraries and danger behind every door.
And for a while, it delivered. Megan Scott writes with a cinematic touch; her settings are vivid, her prose immersive, and her take on paranormal creatures feels fresh enough to stand out in a crowded genre. The mystery thread was compelling, and the magic had just enough bite to keep me curious.
But then… the romance took over. Hard.
What could have been a haunting, intricate fantasy wrapped in dark academia vibes veered sharply into full-blown romantasy territory, with cheesy insta-love and a. The emotional stakes got tangled in tropes, and the plot, the actual story, got pushed aside to make room for longing glances and . I sighed. A lot.
It’s frustrating because there’s so much potential here. If the book had leaned into the mystery, the lore, the magic, the dark academia elements, this could’ve been something truly special. But instead, it feels like watching a promising gothic symphony get drowned out by a pop ballad about soulmates.
If you love a steamy paranormal romance with an interesting setting and don’t mind sacrificing plot depth for instalove, this one might be your jam. For me, though, it was a miss.
The Temptation of Magic had all the ingredients for a five-star obsession: lush writing, atmospheric worldbuilding, and a whisper of dark academia that promised secrets in shadowed libraries and danger behind every door.
And for a while, it delivered. Megan Scott writes with a cinematic touch; her settings are vivid, her prose immersive, and her take on paranormal creatures feels fresh enough to stand out in a crowded genre. The mystery thread was compelling, and the magic had just enough bite to keep me curious.
But then… the romance took over. Hard.
What could have been a haunting, intricate fantasy wrapped in dark academia vibes veered sharply into full-blown romantasy territory, with cheesy insta-love and a
Spoiler
mate bond that felt more tired than tantalizingSpoiler
fate-driven bondingIt’s frustrating because there’s so much potential here. If the book had leaned into the mystery, the lore, the magic, the dark academia elements, this could’ve been something truly special. But instead, it feels like watching a promising gothic symphony get drowned out by a pop ballad about soulmates.
If you love a steamy paranormal romance with an interesting setting and don’t mind sacrificing plot depth for instalove, this one might be your jam. For me, though, it was a miss.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was OKAY.
I like the non-human people / society in this book and I really loved how it weaved in art and art history into the story!I'm curious to see exactly WHO the Wake are, and maybe learn more about Callum.
The romance aspect really didn't interest me that much. They fell in love so quickly and... I don't know, I just wasn't fussed about that part.
Nothing wrong with the book, I can see how others would love, that part just wasn't for me at all!
I like the non-human people / society in this book and I really loved how it weaved in art and art history into the story!
The romance aspect really didn't interest me that much. They fell in love so quickly and... I don't know, I just wasn't fussed about that part.
Nothing wrong with the book, I can see how others would love, that part just wasn't for me at all!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The book is okay and I can see people enjoying it, but it just wasn't my thing. I feel like it lacked structure because of how much was going on. Every supernatural creature, including ones not heard of, is in this world which seemed like too much. Explanations were thrown in when it was convenient to move the plot along (e.g., why a siren is involved), or to explain unnecessary details, but not for things that should have been more explained. To me, the connection between Kyan and Nicole made no sense but throwing in that they're mates to explain it was something else (not in a good way). The dual 3rd person POV also made things repetitive, making the book longer than necessary. I'd say at least a 3rd of the writing can be thrown out without losing anything. That's annoying af tbh. I know I have more complaints but these were the top to note. If I say any more I may decrease my rating haha Probably won't read what's next ¯\_( ツ)_/¯
Edit: I just remembered what bothered me the most. There were key moments throughout the plot that felt straight up like several other fantasy books out there that were then all fused together to make this book. I have no better way to describe this feeling than that it came off as a bad fanfic of all the popular books on the market 😭
Edit: I just remembered what bothered me the most. There were key moments throughout the plot that felt straight up like several other fantasy books out there that were then all fused together to make this book. I have no better way to describe this feeling than that it came off as a bad fanfic of all the popular books on the market 😭
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated