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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
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
adventurous
challenging
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
Cliffhanger!!! Thank god the next two books are out. This is deliciously readable.
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book left me deeply frustrated and disappointed. From the start, Kat’s sudden role as a lady-in-waiting felt not only random but awkwardly forced, and her even more abrupt shift into the role of a spy made even less sense. Her employer doesn’t know her, doesn’t assess her skills—and frankly, she doesn’t display any that would make her remotely qualified for espionage. The entire premise lacked credibility from the beginning.
The infamous makeover scene was the moment I truly started to lose hope. Of course, in order to be noticed or considered useful, a woman must suddenly reveal more skin, cake on beauty products, and rely on seduction. Because obviously, how else could she be effective as a spy unless she seduced or slept with her target?
Worse still, the story doesn't shy away from awkward moments, like when it's said that men associate Kat's name with "pussy." That’s not edgy—it’s embarrassing.
Worse still, the story doesn't shy away from awkward moments, like when it's said that men associate Kat's name with "pussy." That’s not edgy—it’s embarrassing.
What’s most disappointing is that Kat had potential. Her initial persona as the “Wicked Lady” hinted at someone resilient and resourceful, shaped by harsh societal pressures. But the moment she’s rebranded through her makeover, she seems to regress. She becomes more naive, less empowered, and even submissive to the point of being willing to prostitute herself—because a man told her to. That’s not character development; it’s character destruction.
The male lead is another missed opportunity. He’s described as a powerful fae warrior with access to magic, but somehow he’s rendered helpless when she points a pistol at him? Wouldn’t a magical warrior be able to dodge or defend himself? His characterization remains vague and shallow throughout the book—we learn so little about him, his past, his motives. He feels more like a sexy placeholder than an actual person, existing mainly to fuel Kat’s longings.
The entire story is overly focused on sex, but not in a compelling way—more in a clumsy, eye-roll-inducing fashion.
The world-building, too, is unimaginative and superficial. “Europa”? A city called “Lunden”? A royal court that barely veils its resemblance to Elizabethan England? And while we get fae and sabrecats, the fantasy elements feel decorative rather than integral.
The world-building, too, is unimaginative and superficial. “Europa”? A city called “Lunden”? A royal court that barely veils its resemblance to Elizabethan England? And while we get fae and sabrecats, the fantasy elements feel decorative rather than integral.
The storytelling suffers from repetitiveness, strange pacing, and a lack of emotional depth. Despite the novel’s length, it feels bloated with filler while failing to deepen the characters or expand its world in any meaningful way. I found myself increasingly disengaged, struggling to care about the story or anyone in it.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes