Poisoned Empire

Mages of Oblivion #1

by Elyse Thomson

A poisoner. A prince. And a passion that could destroy an empire...or save it.

Black-marketeer Selene has poison magic and the cynicism to match. When she and genius metals mage Iliana are arrested by the same scheming, noble fathers who tossed them out at birth, they suspect apologies won’t be forthcoming. Forced to either impersonate their half-sisters or die, the friends are stuffed into fancy dresses, packed off to the capital, and thrust into the perilous, glittering world of the imperial court.

Traitors lurk in Prince Belisarius’ court, and only his loyal strategos Marduk is above suspicion. As noble-born villains siphon away the souls of their daughters to magnify their magic in secret, Belisarius plots to expose them all—by inviting every noblewoman in the empire to compete for his hand in marriage. But two infuriating imposters in attendance quickly become his bane.

When the friends are discovered, they expect imprisonment—not a deal. Vast riches are on offer if Selene poses as fiancée to the handsome prince while Iliana simpers for the towering strategos—a ploy to lure traitorous enemies to the capital. Yet even as they help secure the throne, false affections flirt with real passions, and Selene and Iliana are convinced they’ll either lose their hearts… or their heads.

Poisoned Empire is the first steamy romantasy novel in the Mages of Oblivion series. If you love fake dating, ride-or-die friendships and Byzantine-inspired fantasy worlds, escape into Poisoned Empire!

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance, Ebooks

400 pages, ebook

Published July 12, 2023

About the author

Elyse Thomson writes steamy fantasy full of court intrigue, daring heroines, magical mayhem, swoon-worthy romances and worlds inspired by ancient history.

Elyse graduated from University of Toronto with a Bachelors in History and Classics and currently resides in Canada's capital where you can find her binding antiquarian books, playing Dragon Age or snuggling with her husband or her neurotic terrier.

To learn more, check out her website or join her newsletter at:
https://elyse-thomson.square.site/new...

Reviews

[Redhead Haze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Fantasy Romance, NA
Tropes: marriage competition, fake relationship, steamy romance
Series: Mages of Oblivion #1
Cliffhanger: No
Rating: 5 ⭐️
Spice: 2/5 🌶

My TikToks about it:
Favourite Quotes
Favourite Quotes 2

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you BookSirens and Elyse Thomson for this opportunity.

“When you die, if you’re lucky, some of what you’ve done will leave an echo, but even that fades with time. Nothing matters more than what you do with your life when you’re alive to live it, and nothing will bring you more joy or sorrow than those you choose to spend that life with.”

It was amazing and I enjoyed every single moment of it. I loved the main characters, especially Selene, the magical system was great, the world building interesting and the plot captivating, emanating girl power with each word. Definitely looking forward to reading more books from this series and from this author.

》》The Plot《《

Selene and Iliana, the bastard girls of two powerful magistri, have been running from their fathers. But, when they are caught, instead of certain doom, they are faced with a task: to go to the royal palace with their half sisters and to impersonate a noble in the competition for the bride of the prince.
Belisarius, the crown prince of Lethe, has been responsible for holding the empire togheter ever since his mother has died. So when Marduk and Nicephorus, his most trusted friends and advisors, reveal a new plot that has the potential to ruin the empire, he decides to throw a competition for his brude, in order to lure out the traitors. What he wasn't expecting was to find two impostors among the young ladies. But, viewing it as an opportunity, he offers them a deal: Selene should pretend to be his fiancé while Iliana would be Marduk's, helping them lure their treacherous fathers out.

“Oh, are we done playing that game? Very well. What do you want?”
“I want you to marry me.”
“Are you entirely sane?”
“Selene!” Iliana gasped.
“What? He’s all but accused me of poisoning him so I could play hero, and now wants me to make brats for him. Wouldn’t you wonder if his brain had been replaced by slugs?”
“Damn it, Selene! He’s the bloody crown prince! He could have you executed for saying that. One wonders about your sanity sometimes!”
“Only sometimes?”

The book was amazing. It was fast-paced, with a very good writing, interesting magical system and well organized world building. I enjoyed it immensely and I'm very delighted with the way things turned out. It was full on female power, it had badass female MCs, spicy moments, banter, teasing and everything your heart desired.

》》Characters and Relationships《《

👩🏻 Selene

"The benefits of being a poison mage were extensive. She could conjure any poison she’d ever touched, tasted, been stung by or otherwise introduced into her body. The best part was that it would never truly harm her. The worst was that the first time around she would suffer through a very mild version of the toxin for a short while. Well, that and social stigma, but she had long ago stopped caring for the opinions of anyone not named Iliana."

How to say how much I loved Selene without being a cliche? She reminded me a lot of Rose Hathaway from Vampire Academy, only waaaay deadlier. She was absolutely amazing and I want more of her. She's smart, capable and loyal, with amazing banter skills and don't even get me started on the poisons powers. She was the very fantasy version of Catherine de Medici.

"Well, if she could not be loved, at least she would be feared."

I felt a lot of empathy for her and I was in definite awe in regards to her poison skills. I would love a crossover with her and Aelin from Throne of Glass.

👩🏼Iliana

"Then, as if the heavens had finally decided she was worth noticing, a ray of sun named Iliana had looked her in the eye, spoken to her like a person, and invited her to share the cramped apartment she’d called home. To this day, Selene didn’t understand why she’d done it, but she would forever repay that debt."

Kindness impersonated and deadly when loved ones are in danger was an extremely lovely combination for her character. The Vasilisa Dragomir to Selene's Rose Hathaway, Iliana was lovable from beginning to end. I'm glad she didn't need protecting in the end, being extremely capable to be a kick ass heroine.

👩🏻👩🏼Selene and Iliana

“Oh, and if the questions get too detailed, just play dumb or distract them.”
“Distract like crying?”
“No, a good interrogator will just wait you out. Better off just fucking one. Oh, then act really clingy, like you’re going to get married, you have a list of at least twelve baby names in descending order of preference, and you want your room with him to be painted a very specific shade of yellow. Trust me, any sane man will literally be tripping over his own robes to get away.”
The blonde guffawed.
“How in the hells do you scheme these things?”
The poison mage grinned.
“I’ve met a fair number of courtesans. They always had the best advice.”

Totally friendship goals. From scheming togheter to scheming to get the perfect life for the other one, these two were a pair of model friends and I'm here for more.

👩🏻🤴🏻Selene and Belisarius

“What brings the Domina Amethyst to my private table?”
“The view, Your Royal Highness. This is the best place in the palace for a love-struck young beauty to moon over the object of her affections.”
“And who would this young woman be?”
“I haven’t a clue. I only supposed I might try blocking her view. Truly, I do you a favour. Whichever noblewoman here takes the greatest offense is the one most desirous of your affections.”

The two of them were a delight from their very first interaction. Teasing, banter, chemistry and every sort of spark your heart desires; name it and it's probably here.

“Don’t you understand? Their lives weren’t worth yours! Nothing will ever be worth losing you! Nothing and no one is worth more to me than you are, you stupid girl.” His voice cracked.
“Truly?” she asked.
“Yes. So please, never risk yourself like that again. I don’t want to imagine a world without you.”

Of course, they could be sweet too. A perfect fit for each other and a couple you could fall in love with, over and over again.

👩🏼🦅 Iliana and Marduk

“I know a good woman when I meet one, and you’re better than I could ever dream of. I didn’t think you would ever want more than bed sport from me. You’re breathtakingly talented, endlessly kind, you’re strong, brave, and you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. And your plan is to leave Lethe. I’ve not asked for more because I assumed you could not, or did not want to, give me more.”
“And if I wanted more?” she whispered.
“Whatever you want of me, whatever you need of me, I would be honoured to give it to you.”

They were sweet from the start and I don't think anyone could have sny doubt about their perfect fit.

“I believe you were about to coax me into the bath with you, Strategos,” she purred.
His eyes widened with disbelief.
“I believe I was about to let you,” she continued.

And hey, there was chemistry too, but most of the time, they were the sweet to Belisarius and Selene's spice.

》》Favorite Scenes《《

👩🏻Selene negotiating with her father
👩🏻🤴🏻Selene being introduced to the prince
🦅👩🏻Marduk being teased by Selene
👩🏻🤴🏻Selene dragging a chair to the prince's table
👩🏼👩🏻Iliana and Selene reuniting
👩🏻👑Selene meeting the Emperor
🤴🏻👩🏻Belisarius finding Selen with his father

“Belli, don’t be a brat. If you can’t stomach the thought of being an actor on this stage you’ve set, then devise another plan. Otherwise, what the girl says makes sense. Hells, if you don’t want to play at being in love, I’ll play the part.”
“You dirty old goat. You think you could keep up with my wild ways?” She eyed Belisarius with what could only be described as evil glee. “How would you feel about calling me mother?”

👩🏼Iliana getting a marriage proposal in the arena
👩🏼🦅Iliana defending Marduk in front ofthe ladies
👩🏻🤴🏻Selena saving Belisarius again
💋Reversing the curse on the griffin with a kiss
🤴🏻👩🏻Belisarius and Selene having a private date
🦅👩🏼Marduk courting Iliana

“Are you trying to court me, Strategos?”
“Is it working?”
“I’m undecided,” she replied, blushing.

👩🏻💚💙🖤Selene having tea with Emerald, Opale and Topaz
☻️Compromising the spy
🧯The room with the steamy spring

“If this is your idea of a prank-”
“Promise you’ll spank me?” she asked with a sassy smile, reaching out for him.
“A spanking would be the least of your worries.”
“Less talk, more seducing.”

🌸The memory flowers
👩🏼Iliana dealing with the assassin
👩🏻🦅Selene threatening Marduk

“Listen up, poison mage, I’ll only be saying this once. I intend to marry Iliana in truth, if she’ll have me. She may be more than I deserve but I will spend the rest of my days ensuring she wants for nothing. And I’ve not told her any lies in our time together. Her position with the Imperial Forge was earned through her exemplary skill, and every compliment I paid her could never live up to all that she is. Now, begone to whatever lair you’ve conjured for yourself.”

💍The marriage proposal
👑The public announcement of the next Empress
👩🏻👅Selene befriending Alexandra
👩🏻Magister's Amethyst order to Selene
👑🤴🏻Darius's advice to his son
🦅👩🏻Marduk stopping Belisarius from seeing Selene

“She’s not going to see you tonight. Even if you order her to, Iliana would probably try to gut you. Given what I’ve heard, I might be tempted to let her have a go at you. You were raised better than that."

💚🖤💙👩🏻Emerald, Topaz, Opale and Selene working togheter
👑The winner in the battle for the throne
✅️The reforms
💌Selene's letter to Belisarius

"Belli,
I fixed your empire. Try not to fuck it up.
Selene
P.S. Your future wife can thank me – I made royal concubines illegal."

🤴🏻Belisarius's flight

》》Conclusion《《

I absolutely loved it and I'm looking forward to future books from this author. Royal intrigues, fake engagements, betrayals, spice, quality banter and female power is the perfect combination and I'm here for more.

“Did you truly set traps throughout my estate?” Grigori asked, curious now.
Selene nodded.
“Even after we agreed to our deal?”
“Ha! You were going to kill me sooner or later. I’d have to be as stupid as Philip to believe you’d keep your word.”
At that, her father smiled, beaming as if she’d just told his favourite joke.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

The story is about two mages who were forced to impersonate noble women to help the Prince expose traitors in his court.

I like the idea and concept but wanted more development from the story. Especially when it came to the romance between the Prince and Selene. I wish there were more interactions between the two. Also, a little more world-building was needed.

Other than that, it was an entertaining story about friendship, betrayals, and love.

***Thank you to NetGalley, Elyse Thomson, and Two Laurels Press for graciously sending me the ARC to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

[Zara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. This had the potential to be a four star read but I really didn’t like the twist. The first 3/4 were so promising. Despite the disappointing ending, I will definitely read whatever this author puts out next. I enjoyed the characters and her writing style suited this type of story.

Review to come on my channel.

Thank you NetGalley for an e-arc.

[Jamedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review originally on JamReads

Poisoned Empire is the first novel in the romance fantasy series Mages of Oblivion, written by Elyse Thomson. A secondary world inspired by the Eastern Roman Empire, characters that you will either love or hate, and a conspiration that threatens to destroy the fragile peace that keeps Lethe united are the elements that make this novel a highly enjoyable read.

Selene is a poison mage whose tongue is as sharp and dangerous as the poisons she sells in the black market; when she and Ilena, her partner, a metal mage, get arrested by the same scheming, controlled by the same noble parents that tossed them when they were children. As their only option is to impersonate their half-sisters, they are packed to the capital, where they will be forced to play the court games, which they are not prepared for.

At the same time, prince Belisarius' court is full of traitors and conspirators. He cannot trust many people outside of his strategos Marduk; nobles are trying to get control over Lethe, and won't stop at any limit, even if they need to perform bloody rituals in order to enhance their power.
In this situation, Belisarius decides to expose the nobleman complot, by inviting every noblewoman in the empire to compete for his hand; and our two imposters are forced to assist. They get discovered, but instead of being incarcerated, Belisarius decides to work with them, offering riches and safe passage if Selene poses as his fianceé; meanwhile, Ilena starts a relationship with the strategos.

Talking more about the characters, we can remember how one of this book's pitches was Cinderella (feral), and trust me, Selene is exactly that. Decided, with a sharp tongue, she only wants to keep Ilena and herself safe, while using her ability with poisons to get an income. And seriously, don't anger her, because she will take vengeance as soon as possible and in the most disgusting way (usually not killing them). I can't imagine a better way to define Selene, and probably that's why I loved her.
Ilena is a little bit more moderated, and her ability with metals draws her close to Marduk, Belisarius' strategos. She makes a good pair with Selene, being the moderate counterpart of our decided Cinderella.

Belisarius is overwhelmed by the responsibilities of power; after his father Darius (the emperor) decided that drinking was a better life than governing the empire. He aspires to keep the empire in peace, but can't trust anybody than Marduk; stopping the conspiration from the nobles will need him to use all his intelligence, and getting Selene as a partner in the plan is a godsend, even if he gets a little bit upset with how unpredictable she is.

While Thomson hasn't written the most complex plot, I have to say that it is a really enjoyable one: spicy and fun, keeping your attention glued to the page until the end. Romance fans will enjoy how love and relationships are presented in different shapes and forms, and even our characters will start confusing their feelings and who they really love.

Worldbuilding is another of the elements that I personally enjoyed most, as Lethe is an empire based on the Eastern Roman Empire, and Thomson isn't shy about taking many historical details and names. She has created a rich world, full of details that you can enjoy while not reading about the last Selene's adventure; I hope we get to explore more of it in the sequels.

I can say that I personally loved this book, even if it wasn't my usual genre, but Elyse Thomson has shown her ability as a story crafter. If you like books that mix epic fantasy and romance, you should give Mages of Oblivion a try.

[KT · Rating 5 out of 5]

Court intrigue, romance, and magic blend perfectly to create this lush and engaging story!

Our story starts with two close friends on the run from their fathers. They of course are captured and are expected to compete for the prince’s hand in marriage. The girls were not brought up in their families’ noble traditions and are soon discovered by the prince and his trusted advisors. Of course, the prince sees this as an opportunity to help weed out any traitors in his court and utilizes the girls to help him. But will both parties get more than they bargained for?

I loved this story. I loved the magic system. I loved the characters. And I loved the pacing.

The magic system was easy to understand and it felt different in some ways too. While you had the big six magic types, there were other types that were seen as “lesser” in the world, but really those were the most interesting. Selene’s was my favorite. There is a lot you can do with poison when you can fully control it.

With multiple POV, there are several moving parts to keep track of, but it didn’t feel overwhelming at all. I loved the contrast between the two relationships as well. One was sweet and just felt like a warm hug, while the other was sassy and full of passion.

This really is great if you like fantasy and romance, and don’t want to choose. I cannot wait for the next book and to come back to this world again!!

Thank you to NetGally and Two Laurels Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Christy Healy · Rating 5 out of 5]

LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA meets Cinderella????? Sign me up, I can't wait for this book!!!

[mika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Two Laurels Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. I added quotes from the ARC, so some of the quotes could be changed in the final version of the book!

Overall, a fun, fast-paced book with war, magic, traitors, and a great set of characters. There is a friendship between a woman who can create poisons and one who can wield metals with her will. A ball where a prince and the poison woman in disguise tease and fall for each other even though they really don’t want to need each other. And, romance blooms between the gentle, metal enhancer and an intimidating commander who is best friends with the prince.

Summary:
Multiple Magistri (the highest title in a province) cast a spell on their kids to take their power and their souls to overthrow the emperor. The prince, Belisarius, tries to discover the uprising by inviting all the possible key players and their families to a ball under the pretense that he needs to find a bride. While the women fight for his heart, behind the scenes, he is trying to clue out the traitors.

Selene and Iliana run away from their awful fathers but are forced to come to the ball to hide the suspicious things their families do. What first started as a forceful mission turns into more fun as Selene finds she likes taunting the prince and Iliana finds unexpected love.

The two women join forces with the prince to ruin those who dare betray the empire.

Relationship
I love Selene and Iliana’s friendship so much!! It’s the type of sisterhood that can only appear after trusting someone completely and living with them for a while. The two women know exactly what the other is thinking about and will do anything to protect each other. I like their inside jokes and sarcastic tones, it really adds to the story. They were just so lovable - the moment something happened to the other, they were ready to put everything on the line. They continuously cared for each other even when they went through hardships and didn’t forget about each other after meeting their love interests.

Selene and Beli were so fun. I like how neither of them knew what to expect from a relationship, and neither of them planned to fall for the other. The teasing was great, and I like how they learned to be vulnerable with each other. They were funny and relatable and I liked reading about the progress of their relationship. But, the miscommunication at the end killed me :( They are both so stubborn (which is usually great), but they can’t have one level-headed conversation.
“Iliana could barely contain her snort of mirth. Selene could handle death and mutilation with aplomb, but an affectionate look had her running?” (Kindle Locations 2348-2349).

Iliana and Marduk were so fucking sweet. They truly stole the show. They are friends to lovers & love at first sight, and it was written so well. I was melting when I got to their scenes.
“I can’t fix the cruel nature of the world we live in, or change what a monster the magister is, nor can I change what’s happened to you.” And yet, he leaned across the stream, his hand outstretched, eyes solemn. “But I can be someone you can lean on, for however long you wish it. (Kindle Locations 2612-2614).
- He can’t say that and expect me not to fall in love on the spot
“You’re like a goddess of war,” he whispered. “Oh gods, did he hit something vital?” Iliana turned to the crowd, shouting for a healer. “I think I’m in love.” His words slurred. (Kindle Locations 2817-2819).
- She saved him in a fight, and he is so down bad.

Also, the bromance!! They knew each other since Beli was young, and Marduck is there to protect him - and they know exactly what to say to each other. “I…” He paused, unsure how to tell his oldest friend and the only brother he’d ever known how much he’d feared losing him. “You’re not allowed to die on me.” (Kindle Locations 2973-2974).

Magic System
Fantasy books can be intimidating due to all the new languages/terms included. As the reader, I appreciate that the author included a glossary! She slowly introduced all the names throughout the book, but if you get confused, you have a place to refresh your memory.

I really like the powers of the main characters and their endless possibilities. Selena can produce any poison she tasted before. It’s so cool to see her having to digest horrible poisons that could kill the average human. Especially because she experienced all the side effects that she puts others through - the moral dilemma of knowing how bad your magic can make someone feel is so interesting.

Iliana can enhance metals and I LOVE how her power was acknowledged by the book and was used to turn the tide of the war. They were so worried that she would get captive, not just because of how much they appreciated her, but because they knew that if the enemies will use her power, the empire would not stand a chance.

There are so many characters with unexplored powers, and I wish we saw more! Between healers, shadow walkers, berserkers, and shape-shifters, the world was rich and included unique aspects of fantasy that aren’t always shown.

I would have also loved to hear more about the forgotten gods. One of my favorite quotes is: “They think the forgotten gods favour this land. No one even bothers to dream that somewhere else could be better. Ignorant swine.” (Kindle Location 180). The characters kept mentioning the gods, but I really wanted to know if there were actually gods and what was their relation to the world (but maybe it was just because I love when fantasy books include new religions…)

Pace
Super engaging beginning. It wasn’t slow in the introduction of the characters, but instead just throws you into the action (exactly like I like). I kinda wish that there were more mentions of what happened in the first chapter later in the book. It was great to see the background of Beli, but a clearer explanation of what happened there could be so helpful. As I kept reading the book, I forgot exactly what happened in that scene, and a quick refresher or explanation of the motives of that character could have been helpful.

I like the setting!! Fantasy balls are always so fun to read about. Having to dance with each other? Hoping for a moment alone in a place with no privacy? The tension was great. However, I didn’t fully understand the problem at first; It was referred to as both corruption and a curse, so it’s difficult to understand if it’s a magical problem or simply a rebellion. As we progressed, it was easy to understand the plot, but a lot happened at once.

When I thought everything was settled down, suddenly, a new plot line appeared. I love how the author made sure to close all the loose threads and ensure that everything was solved by the end of the book. Again, it was a tad bit confusing, but still super interesting. I think that just having some recap parts (even as one character explains to the other what’s going on) could be great.

Writing
Honestly so many great lines in the book. The tone of the book is so intense - having multiple wars and traitors. However, the dialogue is just so fun. It has similar vibes to Six of Crows, the moment the characters open their mouths, you remember that they are just regular humans. It provides a nice break in the middle of the drama, and I love the conversations between the two women!

Some felt a bit absurd as: “They took their cue and sashayed past him” (Kindle Locations 646-647). I showed it to my friend, and we both tried to recreate this scene by gracefully dancing past each other. Also, Marduk is 7 ft tall?? That’s insane; how can he even hear the rest of the characters from up there?

Selene is so ruthless, and I am here for that! Zero patience for people who are against her, is always ready to throw hands, have the best responses for everything, she is truly great. “No sense pitying a man sent to deliver them to certain death” (Kindle Location 224).

The writing fits the book perfectly!

Recommended for those who like: shadow hunters books, Sarah J. Mass, and Holly Black

[Chasing Silhouettes · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75🌟

“Well, I have a great variety here today. Something to kill silently? Gruesomely? Painfully? Or maybe you just want to teach someone a lesson? I have poisons that mimic any number of debilitating, humiliating or just plain unpleasant ailments. What did you have in mind?” (Ch 1)

Crown Prince Belisarius invites eligible daughters of nobel men to come to court for an archaic tradition, a bride show - to choose his future wife. There is corruption in his court, the use of a sinister ritual. He intends to use this bride event as a ruse and means to root out the offenders.

Selene is a poison mage, and Iliana is a metal enchantress. Both illegitimate, they were discarded by their vicious and monstrous power-hungry fathers. They had been on the run from them under the threat of death until they were captured. Given little choice, they are coerced by brutal means to do their fathers' bidding.

Posing as their sisters, the two embark on a dangerous quest. With outrageous uncouth behavior and a thwarted assassination attempt, they rally the Prince's aid and form a new ruse.

" “I know. He might have lint for brains, but gods, did you see the size of his-”
Marduk cleared his throat before she could finish. Selene stuck out her tongue at him.
“What? Was I not supposed to notice the godly appendage on display? Bad domina, bad!”" (Ch 13)

Got a kick out of Selene's unabashed sass and crude crass. She could dish it out and speak her mind without fear or care. So when what she actually feared was revealed, it came as a surprise. Iliana was more subtle, not necessarily demure or docile, though. She was wickedly good with her metal work and enchantments. She acted almost as a check and balance for Selene.

Between Selene and Belisarius, they play a game of cat and mouse, but who's the cat? And between Iliana and Marduk it's a courtship... and perhaps a little mild seduction.

“You go grabbing a man by the horns, and he’s going to assume you’re only interested in a certain kind of massage.” (Ch 27)

Fantasy full of dark brutality and savagery, court intrigue, an unbreakable friendship, sealed memories and nightmares, riveting battles, and twofold romances for the win.

eRC courtesy of NetGalley

[Once Upon a Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poisoned Empire is a MUST READ for any New Adult Fantasy lovers! The book pulls you in from the start and has great humour, depth to characters and an interesting storyline. It's a very enjoyable read, made me laugh on several occasions and, also, made me attached to way too many (almost all) characters in the book. The magical aspect is very unique and well described, adding even more depth to the adventure, schemes and storyline altogether.

[Genevieve Le Roux · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I forgot how much fun a book can be until I read Poisoned Empire.

The synopsis hooked me, the prologue ensured that I kept reading, and the rest of the book cemented its place on my list of favourites. This book is a masterpiece.

Firstly, the prose is magnificent. In the beginning the introductions and backstories felt a little but like an info-dump but I didn't mind because everything was so well paced, concise, and engaging. This book is pure chaos and hilarity wrapped up in a very neat package with some really touching moments that add depth to the world and characters.

Our protagonists, bastard daughters of the nobility, a master of poisons and the best metal mage on the continent, are kidnapped and drawn into a plot against the Emperor and his son, except their loyalties do not lie with their fathers, so why not aid the Prince?

This book has shenanigans galore, it's abundant with moments that made me laugh out loud, and the quality of the prose and pacing had me turning the pages at a furious rate.

If I can convince anyone to read anything, I hope that it's this book.

Perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash or Throne of Glass that want something a little bit lighter (and better written), it's The Princess Bride level of delightful. Cannot recommend this enough.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a unique concept for a fantasy novel, it had all the elements that I was looking for and was invested in what was going on. It works as a introduction to the Mages of Oblivion series, I was invested in the story and glad I got to read this. I enjoyed getting to know Selene and the rest of the cast, they all worked in this world. I'm excited to read more in this series. Elyse Thomson does a great job in telling the story and I enjoyed the way she wrote.

"Iliana pretended to inspect the sheath, all the while enchanting the blade. Any man not of her blood who held it would be able to read her plea for help as it scrawled itself on the blade, only to disappear again when untouched. It was as complex a spell as the simple metal could hold. She only hoped it would reach the prince rather than one of the magister’s men."

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Susanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a debut story?? Unbeliveable!! The story sucked me right in from page one. Great world building (altough the female book characters will definetely disagree), two extraodinary heroines, a story with unforseen twist and turns. Elyse Thomson is definetely on my favourite- author- list!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It wound up being one of those 'how do I comment on the writing style' books because it just kinda took me away- you know, when you're so deeply immersed in a story that you stop seeing the words? That. Which is really one of the highest complements I can give a book.

When it comes to the story, you get what it says on the tin- fantasy and romance, but the teaser plot synopsis doesn't do justice to just how much happens here. If you think the summary may have spoiled something or given the entire thing away don't worry- that really is just the beginning of the story.

And speaking of the story...

The fantasy aspect is great! There is plenty of magic -with bloodlines playing in to it- and it feels like an aspect than enriches the world where the story is set rather than a get out of jail free card. The magic is there, and it's integral to the story, but the author doesn't bog us down with the mechanics of it- we're here for a story not a dissertation and the author seems aware of that. There's noble families, politics, and plotting from all sides. Everyone has an agenda and I had a blast watching it all play out. Also- the setting being drawn from the Byzantine Empire was inspired. I love jumping into fantasy worlds that have done something different, and I don't think I can name another fantasy that I've read with that sort of setting.

The romance is a bit of a two-for-one deal. While the main storyline is Selene's, because this story has two female leads we get two romances- and I couldn't be happier :) The two romances are different from each other in a Pride and Prejudiced kind of way, where you get your main romance with the spice to it (Selene/Belisarius), and a secondary romance that trends sweeter (Iliana/Marduk). -Though I'd say Iliana's romance gets far more attention than Jane's ever did.
Selene and Belisarius get some good banter (and steamy scenes) but because they're in cahoots their conflicts are more them trying to figure each other out, the clashing of different personalities, and some trust issues/baggage- my point being that while they rile each other up, they don't come from a toxic place (I've seen way too many enemies/rivals to lovers style stories that are way too toxic for me to be comfortable with the pair ending up together). They are however, endlessly entertaining to read about, and a pairing you can genuinely root for.
Iliana and Marduk are cute together (which is pretty funny when you think of how imposing Marduk is), and the pair of them come from a place of mutual admiration for each other- you just know Marduk is gonna be one of those 'That's my wife!' husbands. This romance is gentler than the other, and a perfect balance to Selene and Belisarius.
Point is, there's something for everyone with these two romances going :)

The characters were awesome too :) Selene stole the show with her sass- such a quotable character! But Iliana is no shrinking violet- she's plenty strong as a character, just steadier than Selene (who radiates chaos energy in the best way). And I love how these two play off of each other.
It's really nice to see such a strong friendship, they're like platonic soul mates :) Honestly, as much as I loved the romance aspect of this book, I think my favourite thing relationship-wise, was the Selene and Iliana friendship. I love how they care for each other, it's very 'you and me against the world', ride or die type stuff and I am here for it. They love each other and it is so amazing to find an author who understands that there are more types of love than just romantic or familial. Seriously, we need more friendships in novels (and media in general) that don't end in betrayal or someone getting sidelined because a romance happened.
And while this is clearly about our ladies, I am so happy that them being strong characters doesn't come at the expense of the men in the story. The men are still complete characters who are competent and help drive the plot, while having friendships and problems of their own (One of Belisarius' problems is named Selene- lol)

All in all, I had a great time with this. Fantasy, romance, friendships, drama, fun banter, and a happy ending- what more can a girl ask for in a book?

I think I've found my new go-to comfort read :)

[Wanderlust Booknook · Rating 2 out of 5]

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Characters: 2.5/10
Enjoyment: 4/10
Plot: 5/10
Worldbuilding: 5/10
Writing: 9/10

The main character in this book is Selene, a bastard daughter of a magister, along with her best friend Iliana, also a bastard of noble blood. They’re kidnapped by their fathers to impersonate one of their half-sisters, who are summoned by the prince to participate in basically a bride contest. He put on that farce to find out who’d been using their daughters in some kind of illegal ritual and discover who is conspiring against him. The crown prince Belisarius chooses Selene to be his pretend bride, and his strategos takes the role of courting Iliana. Of course, they abandon their plans to leave the empire as they fall in love with their suitors and get caught up in the conspiracy.

I don't think the prologue was needed, especially since it kind of spoils a certain plot twist. The second quarter of the book was the part I enjoyed the most, and everything after just went downhill. Unfortunately, almost everything about this book was underdeveloped. But what bothered me the most were the romantic relationships. I am not a fan of instalove. The romance kicked off too abruptly after their first meeting with the love interests. The couples were also immediately attracted to each other, which isn't my thing. By the time half of the book was over, one of the characters was already engaged to the man she'd known for a few weeks at most. Their romance was at least a bit more convincing as they spent time being stupid around each other. Selene and the prince, however, had this enemies-to-lovers thing going on, except they skipped the part where romantic feelings develop. They go from insulting each other to banging, and all of a sudden, I'm supposed to believe they're in love.

The characters were over 25 years old, but they didn't really act like adults, especially Selene. The dialogue felt too modern, and the banter was cringe at times. Selene was indeed feral, but not in a good way. I love a good snarky character, but her behaviour was very standoffish. I’d understand she was rough from growing up the way she did, but she didn't go through any character development. She just behaved like a horny teenager and constantly provoked everyone. Iliana was her opposite, and I preferred reading about her. Belisarius wanted to rule Lethe fairly and radicalise it (also insert some feminism by the courtesy of Selene) yet he didn't seem to care, or anyone for that matter, that his father was a literal tyrant. He condemned him for abandoning him—as if he weren’t capable of ruling alone as a fully grown adult—in his grief after Belisarius' mother's death, not for being a cruel emperor. I just couldn’t get on board with the attempted wholesome father-daughter-in-law relationship. The strategos who was considerate and protective, was the most likable character out of the bunch.

The romance, luckily, wasn’t the main emphasis, but as I said earlier, the court politics and worldbuilding were lacking. A lot of plotlines got lost, like the ritual plotline and whatever happened to the older prince, or abandoned. The griffin could have played a more important role. I don’t think the whole population was mages, but almost every character had a magic gift, so I’m not too sure. These gifts were a bit overkill in my opinion. I wish there were some limitations to their magic and consequences. For example, someone's hand got chopped off, but then a healer just attached it back. Selene could replicate and produce any poison and go around poisoning people left and right. It's a wonder there wasn’t more crime in this world.

Arc provided by publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Avarri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elyse Thomson’s debut novel and first book in the Mages of Oblivion series is a must read for fantasy (and romance) lovers.

This book features detailed yet approachable world building (complete with map and handy glossary - although the author succeeds brilliantly in weaving in world building throughout the book) together with an intriguing magic system which is also very straightforward to understand and well integrated into the world. Pacing is strong yet fast throughout, with readers being thrown into the action yet always feeing like they have a strong grasp of the situation, context and character motivations.

At the heart of the book is a great story of female friendship with our two main characters, the cynical and sarcastic poison mage Selene and her sweeter and seemingly more naive counterpart Iliana. Both characters are illegitimate noble bastards, made even more outcast by their unusual magical abilities which are looked down upon by the mage elites of Lethe (the empire/continent the book is set in). Their friendship and their willingness to go to the wall for each other throughout the back is both heartwarming and believable with each character also revealing hitherto unseen sides of themselves - with Selene learning to be vulnerable while Iliana showing she is no sweet pushover (that she may appear at first glance).

Each character’s love interest is also well fleshed out in their own right, with the towering beast mage Marduk and the conscientious but stubborn Prince Belisarius both being likeable and perfect for their respective partners.

The romance elements are well thought out with just the right amount of spice, and featuring fun tropes including friends to lovers. As more of a fantasy lover than Romance fan, I didn’t feel the romance scenes detracted from the overall plot at all, and were not overdone.

Without going into spoilers the book has tons of fun court intrigue and plotting with several twists and turns that all felt well earned and which, in retrospect, the author had left multiple clues for. A large cast of side characters also feel well fleshed out and I often wanted to see even more of them, from the officious bureaucrat Nicephorus to the drunk but well intentioned Emperor (who often steals the show in whatever scene he is in!).

The book concludes satisfyingly and without a cliffhanger which is welcome, but still leaves space for more stories in this fascinating world and which are clearly already in progress from the extremely exciting teaser for book 2 in the series which features a character that seemed easily dismissed during the book but appears to have far more going under the surface - and who I can’t wait to learn more about.

Fans of fantasy, romance, magic and court intrigue, as well as people wanting to read more about female friendship and empowerment cannot miss this book - it inspired me to leave my first ever goodreads review so take that as my own vote of confidence!

Thanks to Two Laurels Press for an ARC! This is a voluntary and honest review.

[Norah (Studying) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rated this book 3 stars!

The beginning was very captive and I was really excited to start reading it but after 50% I started skim reading a bit. I just noticed the story getting a bit more boring for me, the plot lines didn't really do it for me and the plot twist was not my thing.

However I really liked the writing style, I would add Elyse Thomson to my list of authors I'll immediately pick up books from because she did manage to catch me in the beginning. I like the magic system and the overall vibe from the book. (The cover is also really gorgeous)
Also the steamy parts of this book was so well written and I was caught in the moment.

Thank you netgalley and the author for this arc. My opinion is completely my own!

[Lana | Libraryofabibliotaph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Promising book, however the execution felt a bit too inexperienced for me.

The plot is absolutely promising, the main characters interesting. On top of this, Cinderella retellings are my favourite kind of fairytale retellings. But when both girls go through very similar things in almost the same way at the same time, the execution falls a bit short for me. In my opinion you can really feel this is a debut novel. This manifests itself in the execution on the one hand, but also in the writing style on the other hand. It feels a bit clumsy at times. Notwithstanding that, the story does read smoothly and you are absolutely enthralled and want to know how it continues (even though some plot twists are really predictable). The storytelling could just use some more polishing and editing (like for example, certain events feel mostly like filler, or a way of resolving a loose end, with no further added value). However, I absolutely adored the flirting, the banter, and the originality of the main characters. I’m curious about where the next book will lead us, since this one doesn’t end on a cliffhanger.
3,5/5 ⭐

Thank you Netgalley for this eARC.

[Genevieve · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 maybe??

This book started off so well and had so much potential😭 I was enjoying the beginning and then I don’t know what happened. I got bored and stopped caring about the plot and the characters. Everything felt too easy? Especially the romance. I can see that the characters chosen are meant to fit each other due to certain traits but I can’t help but think that Selene and Marduk (is that his name?) would have been a more entertaining pairing. But it’s kinda too quick of a romance and I don’t think Marduk as a sap suits his character that much.

Additionally, the writing and dialogue started to come across as quite childish to me. Some of the dialogue was a little too cringey or too sweet and made me wince as if I had licked sugar. (Edit: the word I was looking for was saccharine)

Either way I started skim reading at about 75% and couldn’t care less about the ending. A lot of it was predictable so I didn’t even feel surprised.

[Nick Phokas · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing debut novel from Elyse Thomson. Fast paced and fun, with engaging characters, court intrigue, a fascinating Byzantine Empire-inspired fantasy world - and with a well thought out magic system. Just the right amount of romance adds a lot of fun spice - and the two main characters (Selene and Illiana) have a great and real friendship that is the true heart of the novel.

The first book in a planned series, the book ends satisfyingly and without a cliff hanger. And the teaser for the next book at the end has me HUNGRY for the next installment.

FIVE STARS!!!

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the arc!

This book needs a really good editor and several rounds of tweaking to become a real star. It felt unfinished and rough around the edges. Chapters would end abruptly and the transition from scene to scene was jarring, leaving me rather unsatisfied because of the lack of disclosure and details. I gave up making sense of the plot. Why and how certain decisions and plot points were made. Also had a ton of spelling and grammar mistakes. It was unperfect yet I had fun. I was forgiving because it's an advanced copy and a debut from someone I haven't heard about. Once you look over the flaws, you'll find yourself having a fun time. The writing was easy to read with good vocabulary. The characters, albeit confusing in their arcs, slowly became endearing. It's weird and will have you contemplating the smallest things but it grows on you idk

It's a romantasy and while the romance had its moments, its the platonic and familial relationships that stood out. The two besties, Selene and Illiana, were polar opposites in looks and personalities but loved each other so fiercely. When Selene went to kill Marduk in his sleep because he was getting close to illiana because she didn't want anyone to come between them... Oh, Selene. She was my favourite main lead, hands down. She was the not-really-anti anti hero. Tiny, quick girls with sharp tongue and poison skin >>> Her outward hard shell, not letting anyone in was a lovely side to her. When Belli went from scowling to smiling at her and that freaked her out so much, she went looking for a memory erasing spell just so he could go back to being annoyed sjjdjdjd Not everyone will like her but I did!

Of the two ships, it's pretty obvious which one I liked best. Illiana and Marduk were sweet but bland. I expected a little more resilience and stoicism from a seven foot beast. He quickly became putty. Happy for them but ehh I did not care much. Onto Selene and Belisarius. I would describe them as annoyance to lust to love. Their transition to love was pretty quick too but I liked their dynamic more. I was shipping hard by the time she left him.

I have to say the book 2 snippet at the end made me completely forget this. It was too good. Book 2 features one of the half sisters who Selene calls Carrot, and a completely new character. It starts with Carrot seething with hate for Selene and let me tell you, I'm seated for a true villainess. No details as to the release date. The premise from the author's website:

Mages of Oblivion Book 2
Fae Prince Mereruka's throne is only six siblings away and he's found the perfect villainess to help whittle them down. He cons her into wedlock but surviving matrimony and homicide means persuading her to plot the competition’s demise—not his.

[Cheryl]

Thank you netgalley and Two laurels press for the Arc of Poisoned Empire by Elyse Thomson.

Absolutely jam packed with everything you could ever want from a book. Where this wasn’t my usual read, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The author is a clear talent and I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series. 5/5

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poisoned Empire starts with a wonderful action-packed prologue. I'm not going to recount it because you need to read it, for it is absolutely fantastic.

After that we encounter Selene and then Iliana. The friends have been living together hiding from Iliana's powerful father, who tried to murder her more than once.
This society values magic as it was money, determining people societal status. But not all magic is valued equally. Elemental magic is the desired magic for any authority figure, like the King and their children, or the Magisters and their children.
Selene is no elemental mage, but a poison one, and Iliana is a metal mage. They are children of two of the most powerful Magisters, Amethyst and Sapphire respectively.

We also have the perspective of Belisarius, the crown prince. And that's how we find out that he's pretty much facing a silent coup. But as he hasn't been able to figure out who organized it or how to dismantle it, he decides to have a every Magister send their unmarried daughters for him to choose a bride, and find out what they're planning and, if they're indeed using forbidden magic.

This was one of the most fun I've had with a book in a long time.

The characters make many scenes so funny even in the circumstances not in their favor.

I feel that we could only see such an small portion of the world in this book, that I just want more. More of the world, more of these characters, and more of the magic system.

Poisoned Empire is a fantastic first book in the Mages of Oblivion series. It has an amazing magic system, high stakes, fun characters and a great plot twist. I highly recommend it and cannot wait to see how the story continues.

Full review here

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once upon a time, in a kingdom far, far away, I picked up an advanced reader copy of Elyse Thomson's delightful book, "Poisoned Empire." With its Cinderella retelling, magical twists, and enough political scheming to match Game of Thrones look, this book had me hooked from the very first page.

Anyone who knows me, knows I'm a die hard Disney fan. Give me magic, give me love. However, I've always particularly hated Cinderella. I can't get past Cinderella meeting a guy for what, 3 hours?, and then deciding she wants to go off and marry him. Absolutely not the kind of story I'd want my daughter to look up to.
However, in this retelling we meet our protagonists, Selene and Iliana, who are the epitome of strong independent women, who don't need no man. In the Mage Kingdom of Lethe, only elemental magics are deemed worthy of acceptance in higher nobility, and despite this, Selene with her mastery of Poisons magic and Iliana with her metals, the women are absolutely to be feared and respected. The best friends are on the run constantly by thier noble sires who wish thier bastard daughters erased and do what they can to scheme and survive the harsh commoners life in Lethe.

Fear not, dear readers, because fate has something else in store for our heroines. Enter the Heir to the throne, Prince Belisarius, and his bride show, where things take a deliciously dangerous turn.

Thomson weaves a magical web of friendship, justice, and girl power in a kingdom that desperately needs a gender equality workshop. It's a refreshing twist to see two strong female best friends fighting against a system built on rank and societal standing, especially in a predominantly male-owned kingdom. Smash that glass slipper!

Now, let's talk about the romance, shall we? There's a sprinkle of enemies-to-lovers goodness that adds just the right amount of spice to the story. I won't give away any spoilers, but there's actually something hot about two very intelligent people playing a game of mental chess and razor sharp word flinging as a form of flirtation. Slow burn baby!

Thomson's writing style is as enchanting as the magic she portrays. Sure, it took me a minute to fully grasp the intricate world and the dizzying array of titles being thrown around. But hey, that's part of the fantasy experience, right? Once I detached myself from the urge to shout, "Hey, this is just Cinderella with magic!" and embraced the unique twists and turns, I found myself thoroughly enjoying the ride as its own unique story.

It's important to include in a review things that I didn't find so great, to make it fair for the reader. I did find we lost track of the main purpose of the bride show for a while, or the magical foul play was secondary to the story of court happenings. Perhaps it felt a bit rushed? I enjoyed the ending, some didn't I know. There was a moment where it almost felt like a WINX Club episode and I thoroughly enjoyed that though it seemed a bit young for a NA book. I also felt like one of the two love stories was fast and maybe a bit predictable but I still enjoyed it and I hope they continue to find happiness in the next book.

On a scale of magical whimsy, I'd give "Poisoned Empire" a solid 3.5 out of 5. It's a whimsical and fast-paced fantasy read that strikes a delightful balance between the light and fluffy and the epic and grandiose. It's the kind of book you can devour in a single sitting while sipping a cup of coffee.

So, future readers, dust off your glass slippers, and dive into "Poisoned Empire" with a heart full of laughter and anticipation. I, for one, can't wait to see what enchanting adventures Elyse Thomson has in store for us next. Until then, happy reading and keep dreaming ✨️

You can find my goodreads review HERE so you can add it to your TBR.

Pre-Orders for the book are underway and the book is being released on July 12. You can order it from Amazon HERE (I am not an affiliate, just spreading the good word).

[elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5
Poisoned Empire by Elyse Thomson is the first book in the Mages of Oblivion series, and an exciting fantasy romance book. The story follows two mages, Selene and Iliana, as they try to start a life away from their hateful fathers. Both are illegitimate children to two high ranking magisters, and are therefore considered low ranking in society. In addition to being illegitimate, Selene is a poison mage and Iliana is a metals mage in a world that favors elementalists. Shamed for being who they are, Selene and Iliana find solace in one another. The book is action packed from the very beginning, as the two friends are forced to flee their village from their pursuers. They are captured and brought to each of their scheming fathers, who demand them to impersonate their half-sisters or die. Soon after, both mages are sent off to the capital and have to survive the inner workings of the imperial court. The kingdom is run by Prince Belisarius who quickly sees through the facade of both imposter mages. Selene, Iliana, Belisarius, and his loyal strategos Marduk come together to uncover a traitorous plot, and to save the kingdom from being overrun. To start, the plot was unique and it was an entertaining read from start to finish. This story is rife with schemes, political intrigue, a bridal competition, and hidden magic. Selene and Iliana’s abilities as a poison mage and metals mage respectively were creative. Both characters were compelling in their own ways, with Selene being edgy and cunning and Iliana being more reserved and good-hearted. The friendship between the two mages is immensely strong, and the love they have for one another is beautifully written. One critique is that I didn’t feel a strong bond between Selene and her love interest, Belisarius. With their relationship being one of the main focuses of the book, there could have been more time spent on building that foundation. It seemed that they went from being enemies to sleeping together too quickly, as we only ever see them bickering. In contrast, Iliana and Marduk’s relationship bloomed naturally and was a lot more exciting to read about. My only other qualm with this book is that at times the writing felt more young adult even though it’s categorized as adult. Overall, the book is nicely fast paced and an exciting read if you’re looking for a unique fantasy storyline. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

https://botanicbookshelf.tumblr.com/

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 Stars + 2/5 Spice

- New Adult Fantasy Romance
- Multi-POV
- No Cliffhanger
- TW: Please see warnings at beginning of book before reading

“He wanted all her brazen, wicked recklessness, all her smug grins, her every cry of pleasure, every insult, every fight and every moment of peace she allowed him.”

Thank you to NetGalley, Two Laurels Press, and the author, Elyse Thomson, for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book, all opinions are my own.

“She was going to make a necklace of his bones. She would drink out of a goblet made from his skull.”

This book, the story, the characters, the relationships, are entirely captivating. It has court intrigue, politics, romance, mystery, and spice. And to top all of that off, it has some incredibly strong female characters, an enviable female friendship, and some incredible character growth from all.

“He hadn’t invited a woman into his scheme—he’d unwittingly recruited a demon.”

It is honestly difficult to believe this is a debut novel, it is truly fantastic. I absolutely loved having multiple POVs. There were numerous main characters and each one offered something so compelling to the story it felt truly hard to pick a favourite. But if you had to make me choose it would be Marduk. I’m Team Marduk for sure.

“Shy and bold, beautiful and brilliant—and everything he’d never dreamed he could have.”

There were moments of humour interlaced in the story that were perfectly placed and genuinely made me laugh out loud.

“Never had a more cruel torture been devised. No poison, however painful or paralyzing, was a match for what had befallen Selene. Tea time.”

I truly loved this story and the world that was built, I can only hope to be able to return to it soon.

#poisonedempire #NetGalley #arcreader #arc #fantasy #romance #review #BookReview #bookreviewer #booktok #tbr #recentlyread #book #ebook

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable read. The unconditional friendship between Selene and Illianna was a high point. I found the characters relatable and they got themself into enough trouble to keep things interesting but nothing stupid enough you started hating them! I will say at times it was fairly predictable, though I didn’t see the big twist until right before it happened. I didn’t love who the “bad guy” ended up being, but it did help that it wasn’t a character I loved so I wasn’t left heartbroken by that! One thing I didn’t totally find believable was that neither Selene or Illianna were seen as useful in society with their magic being as baddass as it is. Like Selene is one of the only poison mages and nobody cares to try to have her do something useful with it? And then Illianna had crazy useful magic with metal/tools as well. I suppose they were hiding from their families so they kept it under wraps, but the foundation for the caste system could have been more clear/made more sense. Like what a coincidence that they happened to befriend each other and live together for years, meanwhile both sent to impersonate a family member? But I digress - while some of the things I just stated could have been written a bit more smoothly, I still really enjoyed the book. The plot was engaging, the characters were likeable, and there was a good balance of romance and plot. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for the next installment :)

[Reece · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC from NetGalley

3.75 stars

Selene and Iliana are the bastards of high nobles. They each have magic but not the coveted elemental magic of their bloodlines. Selene is a poison mage, able to synthesize any poison she has ingested, and Iliana is a metal mage who can enchant an arrowhead to always find its mark.

The girls live on the run from town to town, trying to escape their fathers who are hunting them down to kill them. One day they end up caught, and they are forced to impersonate their half-sisters and go to the bridal show at the palace to parade around as potential brides for the prince.

Iliana had the advantage of being raised by her mother and stepfather in a loving environment, and this is made obvious by her personality, which is a lot less impulsive and bitter than Selene's. Selene is a trouble maker, always down for a scrap, happy to poke the hornet's nest and see what happens.

I quite enjoyed both characters and how dedicated they were to each other. The romances were kind of meh. I would have preferred they be built up a bit better. The story was interesting. The magic system was intriguing.

The twist toward the end was kind of lazy honestly, and I feel that if it was reworked and this book was polished a bit better, working on the romances more, a bit more character growth, etc. it could be a 5-star read.

[Cristina Machado · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Poisoned empire" is first in a new series, Mages of Oblivion, by new voice in Fantasy Romance, Elyse Thomson. I confess that I was immediately seduced by the premise of a Fantasy Romance with epic undertones, set in an alternative version of what would be our Byzantine Empire. The story contains elements that definitely engage reading, such as political intrigue, royalty, a bridal show and clashes between magicians with the most distinct powers, from mastery over poisons to the ability to control flames. The tale follows the romances between Prince Belisarius and Selene and Strategos Marduk and Iliana. The first two are determined creatures that spark each time they meet, developing an enemies to lovers made up of some good hot scenes and comic moments. Second couple is more restrained, discovering each other with a certain kindness, but deepening a relationship that ends up strengthening each of them. I'm very curious about the direction the series will take, which peoples and cultures Elyse will reveal to us in the fantasy world she created, starting with the incursion into the Fae with Egyptian reminiscences in the next book. I'm also looking to learn more about the magic systems and the diverse powers of the mages of Lethe, I'm sure that Elyse will bring more news that will have us turning one page after another. In all, I cannot fail to recommend it to all Romantic Fantasy and Fantasy Romance readers who are looking for a different setting for their adventures, something different from the strictly medieval vibes we are so used to.
I received an arc by Book Sirens for an honest review.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

Labeled as a Cinderella retelling, I can see it very loosely in that you have the Cinderella like character (Selene) who unwittingly falls in love with the Prince (Belisarius) and their story unfolds in that manner. This is where the similarities end and I think this could easily be just it’s own story instead of being labeled as a retelling.

The other elements of the story are great - political intrigue, unique magic system (the main character is a poison mage for example), and there are definitely a few spicy scenes! There a few reasons why I chose to give this book a 3.5/5 rating and none of them are to do with the story at all - just some of my own preferences. There are a lot of subplots throughout the book that are sometimes hard to keep track or seem forgotten at times and there are just a lot of royal titles (Illustra, Domina, Strategos, Magister - to name only a few of the dozen!) to keep track of even with a legend.

If you enjoy political/royal intrigue, strong FMCs, and a little bit of enemies to lovers, then you might enjoy this one! Thank you to NetGalley and Two Laurels Press for the advance reader copy!

[Mel Weisbecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Enemies to Lovers. She falls first but he falls harder. Marriage competition. Fake relationship. Monarchy times but the fmc has NO shame and no cares for propriety and is just an overall bada** which I loved because I personally am not a fan of characters who don’t go after what they want.

I was intrigued from the beginning. The author did a great job providing a character arc for a lot of the main characters and not just the love interests. My favorite character ended up being Darius because don’t we all cope with life differently?

I was screaming at the end for many, many chapters. And I don’t want to give away any spoilers so I will just say the way the character not only lived with but completely owned the end result of everything that goes down was amazing and I loved it.

I want to read more but I am so nervous for it in case anything happens to my favorites!