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A review by phoenixfaie
Silvercloak by L.K. Steven
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I was provided an E-ARC by netgalley, all opinions are my own.
After being a fan of Laura's work for quite some time I was so excited when she announced that she was publishing her first adult fantasy novel, of course as soon as I heard that this was available to request on netgalley I jumped at the chance, so when I received the approval email I was over the moon.
"She was a powerful mage with her own agency, and she would not fall into step like leashed animal."
Silvercloak is a high stakes fantasy, with a unique magic system- imagine having magic being fuelled by both pleasure and pain.
Pleasure restores magic but pain enhances and amplifies it.
Now I will say that there is a LOT of world building and lore but I do think that if you stick with it; Silvercloak could definitely be a top Fantasy contender this year, I am already anticipating the cosplay outfits.
Silvercloak starts off with our main Character Saffron as a young child witnessing the brutal murder of her parents.
As Saffron grows up her desire for Revenge on the killers who murdered her parents only grows.
As a publicly disgraced former silvercloak academy Mage on a secret mission, Saffron is able to infiltrate the Bloodcloaks due to her immunity to magic and compulsion.
While Saffron may be immune to magic, she is not immune to humanity and does at first struggle with her first act as a Bloodcloak, however Saffron knows she must do whatever it takes, including finding a way to get closer to the man she is prophesied to kill... what she didn't expect was to fall for him.
Silvercloak is dark and gritty, with gore, addiction, pleasurehouses, self injury, self harm (to a degree) betrayal, angst, murder, enemies to lovers, corrupt power, Rare magic, secrets, lies, lots of world building and lore.
"Love was complicated, and pain was complicated, and believing you deserved to hurt was complicated."
I honestly loved Silvercloak and I cannot wait for the sequel.
After being a fan of Laura's work for quite some time I was so excited when she announced that she was publishing her first adult fantasy novel, of course as soon as I heard that this was available to request on netgalley I jumped at the chance, so when I received the approval email I was over the moon.
"She was a powerful mage with her own agency, and she would not fall into step like leashed animal."
Silvercloak is a high stakes fantasy, with a unique magic system- imagine having magic being fuelled by both pleasure and pain.
Pleasure restores magic but pain enhances and amplifies it.
Now I will say that there is a LOT of world building and lore but I do think that if you stick with it; Silvercloak could definitely be a top Fantasy contender this year, I am already anticipating the cosplay outfits.
Silvercloak starts off with our main Character Saffron as a young child witnessing the brutal murder of her parents.
As Saffron grows up her desire for Revenge on the killers who murdered her parents only grows.
As a publicly disgraced former silvercloak academy Mage on a secret mission, Saffron is able to infiltrate the Bloodcloaks due to her immunity to magic and compulsion.
While Saffron may be immune to magic, she is not immune to humanity and does at first struggle with her first act as a Bloodcloak, however Saffron knows she must do whatever it takes, including finding a way to get closer to the man she is prophesied to kill... what she didn't expect was to fall for him.
Silvercloak is dark and gritty, with gore, addiction, pleasurehouses, self injury, self harm (to a degree) betrayal, angst, murder, enemies to lovers, corrupt power, Rare magic, secrets, lies, lots of world building and lore.
"Love was complicated, and pain was complicated, and believing you deserved to hurt was complicated."
I honestly loved Silvercloak and I cannot wait for the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship