Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
I was very excited for this book as it is a highly anticipated read for 2025. However, for me, this fell short. I struggled at times to continue reading but I hoped it would get better the further it went. This wasn't the case. For me, I found it boring a lot of the time. The action I wanted wasn't there. It wasn't a bad read, but it definitely wasn't for me. It was well written and very plot driven, and I don't want to take away from that. I did enjoy the concept and how Wielders are hunted, but I don't feel there was enough information about why they were being hunted. They just were and we had to accept it. There is potential in this book.
medium-paced
This is a fantastic debut novel! It's the type of fantasy that ticks off my boxes that I expect and enjoy in a book. Court politics, scheming, morally gray characters, a strong and determined FMC who will stop at nothing to get what she wants, and it's addicting. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys YA Fantasy.
What to expect:
Unique Magic System
Enemies To Lovers
Forbidden Magic
Slow Slow Slow Burn (but so good)
Cunning & Strong FMC
Betrayals
Multiple Love interests (who will she choose?)
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! LOVED IT
Publication is September 2, 2025, and available everywhere you buy books.
It also features a beautiful first-run hardcover edition with sprayed edges. Catch them while you can, as those are limited.
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins and Kiera Azar for an eARC of this book. My opinions are my own.
Wow I thought this was a great start to a new YA series. We have court intrigue, politics and an intriguing magic system. Alissa is our FMC and she is a Wielder. She has the ability to use her 'specter' to manipulate the world around her. In the country she lives, her kind are hunted and killed. She and her father have been hiding her abilities from her family (the Hunters themselves) and the world. We find out that other neighboring countries do not persecute Wielders and that is how we meet our ambassador. Alissa is pulled into court intrigue when she is forced to attend this year's Rose Season. All those entering their eighteenth year must participate and swear loyalty to the king. Alissa sure knows how to be a courtier. She has the southern 'bless your heart' down! There is a mention of a love triangle but really there isn't so don't worry if that isn't your thing. The romance is more of a yearning, no spice. Alissa not only has to survive this Rose Season, but she must figure out why more of her kind are being killed.
Lovely start, great banter and characters, a strong FMC and an ending that has you wondering what's next! Betrayal abounds!
Wow I thought this was a great start to a new YA series. We have court intrigue, politics and an intriguing magic system. Alissa is our FMC and she is a Wielder. She has the ability to use her 'specter' to manipulate the world around her. In the country she lives, her kind are hunted and killed. She and her father have been hiding her abilities from her family (the Hunters themselves) and the world. We find out that other neighboring countries do not persecute Wielders and that is how we meet our ambassador. Alissa is pulled into court intrigue when she is forced to attend this year's Rose Season. All those entering their eighteenth year must participate and swear loyalty to the king. Alissa sure knows how to be a courtier. She has the southern 'bless your heart' down! There is a mention of a love triangle but really there isn't so don't worry if that isn't your thing. The romance is more of a yearning, no spice. Alissa not only has to survive this Rose Season, but she must figure out why more of her kind are being killed.
Lovely start, great banter and characters, a strong FMC and an ending that has you wondering what's next! Betrayal abounds!
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this was fun! more politics focused and alissa was a great character narrative to read - badass, snarky and making moves she has a gripping narrative to read
the main plot was interesting with the hunters and wielders clash and dynamics of them hunting down magic users. it's kinda reminiscent of shadow and bone (grisha vs non grisha and the whole darkling committing genocide thing) especially with the final twist of Erik being similar in his motivations and kidnapping her then holding hostage until she agrees to what he wants but she thankfully escapes. I loved this direction of the story.
the romances- so alissa had chemistry with everyone and I enjoyed the writing for all three dynamics she had with teil, garret and even erik individually
it's clear the endgame is teil and there's no one i feel stronger for her to end up with which works for their tension and romance that is fleshed out well enough for now. as a romantasy I'm expecting this focus will kick into gear in the sequel as in this one, I'd say is more fantasy orientated at the moment - not a bad thing
I liked their romantic potential a lot and can't wait for them to reunite in the next one.
other notes is that I was hoping alissa would work with teil and the ansorans pretty much as soon as or at least 20% into the story and thought that's where the book was going to go which I would have preferred to build up more of their chemistry especially becausw of the whole kidnapping thing in the first 20% already set up a case for this but this didn't happen and the idea was that there's potential links between her and all three love interests but this was unnecessary because the other two were unserious candidates in the context
anyway I'm hoping for a possible subplot love story for garret and tari, I see the vision: they only hung out as children bc of Alissa and now they're going to be the only ones left in the kingdom who would show compassion for each other, especially after Garret is probably going to be beaten to death if not Outcast by the hunters for betraying them by letting Alissa go. Then Tari can look after him which leads to her finding her purpose in healing/helping people - they're so important to me and they're not even a thing but the potential is there, ex hunter x healer/governer/leader of country🤌
the main plot was interesting with the hunters and wielders clash and dynamics of them hunting down magic users. it's kinda reminiscent of shadow and bone (grisha vs non grisha and the whole darkling committing genocide thing) especially with the final twist of Erik being similar in his motivations and kidnapping her then holding hostage until she agrees to what he wants but she thankfully escapes. I loved this direction of the story.
the romances- so alissa had chemistry with everyone and I enjoyed the writing for all three dynamics she had with teil, garret and even erik individually
it's clear the endgame is teil and there's no one i feel stronger for her to end up with which works for their tension and romance that is fleshed out well enough for now. as a romantasy I'm expecting this focus will kick into gear in the sequel as in this one, I'd say is more fantasy orientated at the moment - not a bad thing
I liked their romantic potential a lot and can't wait for them to reunite in the next one.
other notes is that I was hoping alissa would work with teil and the ansorans pretty much as soon as or at least 20% into the story and thought that's where the book was going to go which I would have preferred to build up more of their chemistry especially becausw of the whole kidnapping thing in the first 20% already set up a case for this but this didn't happen and the idea was that there's potential links between her and all three love interests but this was unnecessary because the other two were unserious candidates in the context
anyway I'm hoping for a possible subplot love story for garret and tari, I see the vision: they only hung out as children bc of Alissa and now they're going to be the only ones left in the kingdom who would show compassion for each other, especially after Garret is probably going to be beaten to death if not Outcast by the hunters for betraying them by letting Alissa go. Then Tari can look after him which leads to her finding her purpose in healing/helping people - they're so important to me and they're not even a thing but the potential is there, ex hunter x healer/governer/leader of country🤌
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The Kingdom of Daradon has Wielders, who possess a magical spectre and non magic folks. The wielders have always been feared and are hunted for their spectre’s. Alissa Paine, heiress to one of the provinces and daughter of the primary Hunter family is also a weilder. From her privileged position in society and her father’s efforts, she has been able to maintain her freedom even while lacking self-control to hide her spectre. Since it is her 18th season at court, she is summoned to participate in Rose week, which culminates in pledging fealty to the King. There she finds herself as the King’s interest, and meets a foreign ambassador that is more like her than he knows.
As a YA Romantasy I enjoyed this book, and ended up reading it pretty quickly. I liked Alissa, and felt that for an 18 year old she was well thought out and multidimensional. The magic of the spectre’s was interesting, though it would have been nice to learn a bit more of the history of magic wielders. The romance portion of the book was well done, and added to the overall story, instead of taking away from it. I noticed this was going to be the first in a series prior to starting the book, so I’m hoping the second book will build upon things a bit more.
The court political intrigue was well done, and I hadn’t figured out a couple of the twists and turns. I’m interested to see where book two will take the story lines from this book.
Thank you to HarperCollins Childrens Books Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
WOW! I am blown away by this debut fantasy. Lady Alissa was an extremely lovable FMC; she was complex with so many different facets to her: kind, yet unforgiving; fearful, yet brave in moments no one else could be; cunning, relentless, and uneasy to decipher. I truly loved her character’s journey, and I loved getting to see the darker side of her - she was pushed to the limits and reacted accordingly.
The complex relationship between her and Garrett was written beautifully. There was so much love and pain between the two of them, and I was happy to see that in the end he still chose her above all else. The scenes with Alissa and Keil were addicting. Absolutely loved the banter and heckling between them & his band of “friends”. Definitely excited to see if their relationship will continue to grow in the rest of the series. King Erik’s characterization was complex, and I found myself at times forgetting he was the villain. Having him show moments of softness and care add a depth to his characterization & doesn’t just give the typical “evil guy” vibes. However, the reason behind why he was soft and cared so much for Alissa reinforced that yes, he is very much the villain.
Overall, this was a fantastic fantasy read! My favorite thing about this book is that the romance aspect did not detract from the main story; the plot was well developed with twists and turns to keep the reader entertained. The dialogue flowed well and never felt forced. I will definitely be recommending this book & can’t wait to continue with this series!!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
The complex relationship between her and Garrett was written beautifully. There was so much love and pain between the two of them, and I was happy to see that in the end he still chose her above all else. The scenes with Alissa and Keil were addicting. Absolutely loved the banter and heckling between them & his band of “friends”. Definitely excited to see if their relationship will continue to grow in the rest of the series. King Erik’s characterization was complex, and I found myself at times forgetting he was the villain. Having him show moments of softness and care add a depth to his characterization & doesn’t just give the typical “evil guy” vibes. However, the reason behind why he was soft and cared so much for Alissa reinforced that yes, he is very much the villain.
Overall, this was a fantastic fantasy read! My favorite thing about this book is that the romance aspect did not detract from the main story; the plot was well developed with twists and turns to keep the reader entertained. The dialogue flowed well and never felt forced. I will definitely be recommending this book & can’t wait to continue with this series!!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you to Harper Collins Children's Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I can't believe this was a debut fantasy. I enjoyed it so much! Fantastic world building, an interesting magic type system, villains, a corrupt monarch, mysterious happenings, and rebels. This was such a great mix of fun, romance, and tension!
I will say the book initially started a bit slow for me. There is a lot of build up to what happens in the second half of the book. But once the build up was over, the book moved really quickly with tons of action, chases, and high stakes to be had. I never thought to stop reading but I was waiting for it to pick up and boy did it ever!
I adored all the characters. Alissa is an amazing heroine. She's smart and sassy and has so much growth in this book. And she is vengeful with bloodlust and I loved every minute of watching her bloom and grow. She was literally a different person by the end of the book with all she learns. Kiel, oh my! I need more Kiel in my life. I'm sure he'll be a bigger part of the next book but I will say I was sad to not have him in the last 35% or so of the book. I kept wanting him to show up. Garrett left something to be desired. I'm just super angry at his character (read and you'll know why) and I'm hoping he will in some way redeem himself, if he doesn't die first. And then there's Erik, The King, who you know from the start is just full of all the evil. And he gives quite the twisty turn with the things he knows you never thought he would! Carmen, Tari, Blaire, and so many more. I really enjoyed how Azar made each and every character unique.
And I loved how Azar worked in so many surprises throughout the book. Not only to show us who the characters really were but also to show us they are not at all who we may have thought they were, as well. Scheming and plotting come at you from all sides. It's like watching a show about 15th century England! Every moment, every interaction had weight to it that was essential to the plot. Azar packs the betrayal in places where you never thought you'd see it coming. Definitely surprises around every corner in her world.
I'm really excited to see Azar go deeper into her world and help the reader explore more of the magic system. And I love that she's added additional adventure outside the initial world. It is giving me Throne of Glass vibes! If you're looking for a fantasy that doesn't rely solely on the romance and is full of twists and turns throughout, I highly recommend you give this one a try.
I can't believe this was a debut fantasy. I enjoyed it so much! Fantastic world building, an interesting magic type system, villains, a corrupt monarch, mysterious happenings, and rebels. This was such a great mix of fun, romance, and tension!
I will say the book initially started a bit slow for me. There is a lot of build up to what happens in the second half of the book. But once the build up was over, the book moved really quickly with tons of action, chases, and high stakes to be had. I never thought to stop reading but I was waiting for it to pick up and boy did it ever!
I adored all the characters. Alissa is an amazing heroine. She's smart and sassy and has so much growth in this book. And she is vengeful with bloodlust and I loved every minute of watching her bloom and grow. She was literally a different person by the end of the book with all she learns. Kiel, oh my! I need more Kiel in my life. I'm sure he'll be a bigger part of the next book but I will say I was sad to not have him in the last 35% or so of the book. I kept wanting him to show up. Garrett left something to be desired. I'm just super angry at his character (read and you'll know why) and I'm hoping he will in some way redeem himself, if he doesn't die first. And then there's Erik, The King, who you know from the start is just full of all the evil. And he gives quite the twisty turn with the things he knows you never thought he would! Carmen, Tari, Blaire, and so many more. I really enjoyed how Azar made each and every character unique.
And I loved how Azar worked in so many surprises throughout the book. Not only to show us who the characters really were but also to show us they are not at all who we may have thought they were, as well. Scheming and plotting come at you from all sides. It's like watching a show about 15th century England! Every moment, every interaction had weight to it that was essential to the plot. Azar packs the betrayal in places where you never thought you'd see it coming. Definitely surprises around every corner in her world.
I'm really excited to see Azar go deeper into her world and help the reader explore more of the magic system. And I love that she's added additional adventure outside the initial world. It is giving me Throne of Glass vibes! If you're looking for a fantasy that doesn't rely solely on the romance and is full of twists and turns throughout, I highly recommend you give this one a try.
Ok, this one took a little bit to get into, but oh my goodness, once I did I was completely drawn in! Alissa has hidden who she is, what she is, for her whole life in order to survive. When she's finally at court for Rose Season, it's more important than ever. The king has taken an interest in her, but he may be one of the biggest threats to her.
As she works her way into things and discovers more about secret plots to save people like her, she realizes that alliances and power are far more complicated than she thought. When Keil arrives and is a Weilder himself, but proud and refusing to hide, she realizes that there may be a chance for her people yet.
So much scheming and plotting, but everything was so well set up and designed to fall into place in a way that was just so enthralling and kept me hooked.
As she works her way into things and discovers more about secret plots to save people like her, she realizes that alliances and power are far more complicated than she thought. When Keil arrives and is a Weilder himself, but proud and refusing to hide, she realizes that there may be a chance for her people yet.
So much scheming and plotting, but everything was so well set up and designed to fall into place in a way that was just so enthralling and kept me hooked.