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Rites of Possession #1
Thief of Silver and Souls
What if it takes a monster to save a kingdom?
I'll never forget the sight of my little sister's lifeless body—or that my rogue magic killed her.
Sorcery like mine is punishable by death. So I live in the shadows, stealing from the corrupt to give to the needy. Maybe a little good can wash the blood from my hands.
It seems like a decent plan... until I try to help a dying noblewoman and somehow steal her soul instead.
Now her ghost is demanding I take up the quest that got her killed: exposing a conspiracy at the royal college to unleash a deadly power on the entire kingdom.
Do I want to infiltrate the cutthroat world of haughty elites? Gods, no. But if I can save the kingdom, I could save my own soul too.
So I'll pose as a refined lady, attending their classes and fancy balls, sneaking and spying like I learned on the streets. But I can't tackle this threat alone. I'll need to win the trust of the dead woman's allies: four arrogant noblemen.
Four damaged yet dangerously enticing men. No matter what they stir in my heart, I can't afford to let them get too close.
Because if they discover the monstrous things I'm capable of, saving my soul will be the least of my worries...
*Thief of Silver and Souls is the first in a new fantasy romance series full of forbidden magic, impossible love, hot damaged men, and a rebellious heroine who's so much more than she imagines.*
I'll never forget the sight of my little sister's lifeless body—or that my rogue magic killed her.
Sorcery like mine is punishable by death. So I live in the shadows, stealing from the corrupt to give to the needy. Maybe a little good can wash the blood from my hands.
It seems like a decent plan... until I try to help a dying noblewoman and somehow steal her soul instead.
Now her ghost is demanding I take up the quest that got her killed: exposing a conspiracy at the royal college to unleash a deadly power on the entire kingdom.
Do I want to infiltrate the cutthroat world of haughty elites? Gods, no. But if I can save the kingdom, I could save my own soul too.
So I'll pose as a refined lady, attending their classes and fancy balls, sneaking and spying like I learned on the streets. But I can't tackle this threat alone. I'll need to win the trust of the dead woman's allies: four arrogant noblemen.
Four damaged yet dangerously enticing men. No matter what they stir in my heart, I can't afford to let them get too close.
Because if they discover the monstrous things I'm capable of, saving my soul will be the least of my worries...
*Thief of Silver and Souls is the first in a new fantasy romance series full of forbidden magic, impossible love, hot damaged men, and a rebellious heroine who's so much more than she imagines.*
15 pages, Audible Audio
First published September 26, 2023
107 people are currently reading
8713 people want to read
About the author
Eva Chase
124 books3,792 followersEva Chase lives in Canada with her family. She loves stories both swoony and supernatural, and strong women and the men who appreciate them. You can visit her online at www.evachase.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 344 reviews
October 13, 2023
i had such a great time with this one!! i’ve had an iffy relationship with eva chase’s books so far, but this one definitely impressed me.
the romance was honestly second to the plot, which was pretty shocking but a nice change, and the main character was also really well-rounded and interesting. honestly, i almost didn’t get enough of the boys to really have a strong opinion about any of them, but i do love cas in particular, and i’m hoping to get more of alek.
the worldbuilding and fantasy aspects were also really strong, which i appreciated, and we even got a little murder mystery to keep me hooked.
that cliffhanger though!!!
the romance was honestly second to the plot, which was pretty shocking but a nice change, and the main character was also really well-rounded and interesting. honestly, i almost didn’t get enough of the boys to really have a strong opinion about any of them, but i do love cas in particular, and i’m hoping to get more of alek.
the worldbuilding and fantasy aspects were also really strong, which i appreciated, and we even got a little murder mystery to keep me hooked.
that cliffhanger though!!!
December 7, 2023
That was SO GOOD. What a unique and interesting magic system! I absolutely LOVED Thief of Silver and Souls by Eva Chase- it surprised me in the best way possible!!
ToSaS is a high fantasy romance, why choose, set in a world that is “ruled” by godlens (which are like gods). The magic system is SO COOL. It’s sacrifice-based magic so everyone makes a bodily sacrifice at 12 years old to their chosen godlen, and as a result they are gifted a magical power. (There’s also bad magic too, which is very juicy).
Main character Ivy (20), is a notorious thief living in the slums. She steals from scamming merchants to help out the poor- she’s like Robin Hood. One day, she stumbles open a woman who’s been murdered in an alley, and she accidentally ends up with the woman’s soul trapped inside her own body. Now she’s trying to solve a massive mystery, with another person in her head, while also keeping a massive secret, and catching the hots for her 4 hunky allies. The drama never stops!!
I was sucked right into this story- I couldn’t put it down! I loved the characters, the mystery was SO intriguing, and the magic kept me on my toes. The secrets and lies kept the tension so high I kept waiting for the next shoe to drop. Such a fun reading experience!!
The ending made my jaw drop!! Thank GOD I conveniently finished this book the same day book 2 released- I immediately downloaded it and dove right in. I’m obsessed!!
Trust me, this one’s awesome. Highly recommend!!
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and Eva for the gifted copy!
ToSaS is a high fantasy romance, why choose, set in a world that is “ruled” by godlens (which are like gods). The magic system is SO COOL. It’s sacrifice-based magic so everyone makes a bodily sacrifice at 12 years old to their chosen godlen, and as a result they are gifted a magical power. (There’s also bad magic too, which is very juicy).
Main character Ivy (20), is a notorious thief living in the slums. She steals from scamming merchants to help out the poor- she’s like Robin Hood. One day, she stumbles open a woman who’s been murdered in an alley, and she accidentally ends up with the woman’s soul trapped inside her own body. Now she’s trying to solve a massive mystery, with another person in her head, while also keeping a massive secret, and catching the hots for her 4 hunky allies. The drama never stops!!
I was sucked right into this story- I couldn’t put it down! I loved the characters, the mystery was SO intriguing, and the magic kept me on my toes. The secrets and lies kept the tension so high I kept waiting for the next shoe to drop. Such a fun reading experience!!
The ending made my jaw drop!! Thank GOD I conveniently finished this book the same day book 2 released- I immediately downloaded it and dove right in. I’m obsessed!!
Trust me, this one’s awesome. Highly recommend!!
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and Eva for the gifted copy!
July 24, 2024
But I'm not any kind of hero. I'm a monster with a broken soul.
Thief of Silver and Souls came to me as a recommendation in Goodreads homepage because its style is just what I like. I read the plot and was hooked, I needed to read it immediately. It was also my first time reading a book by this author and I wasn't disappointed.
The world Eva Chase created in this series is very interesting. I loved the idea that every power requires a sacrifice and the greater the sacrifice, the greater the power. I think this really balances the universe she designed. Furthermore, there's a greater God and 9 other minor gods that represent the Earth, the Sea and the Sky. Every person at the age of 12 make their sacrifice and dedicate themselves to one of these gods. It reminded me a little of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, this sense of each person belonging to a god, which I liked because it was an element that I loved in Rick Riordan's books. To add even more layers, the series Rites of Possession has nobles, clerics and royal families. So, I really loved the world created by Eva and I found it very complete, she managed to present us the character's culture in this first book and I didn't feel confused, it was the opposite actually, I just wanted to know more about this fantastic world.
Our main character, Ivy, is a strong woman who has a sense of justice for her fellow poor citizens of Florian. She acts like a female Robin Hood, stealing from deceitful merchants to give silver to poor families who need it to survive. Other than that, Ivy is a riven, people who were born and have practically unlimited power, but like all power in this world, it has a consequence every time it is used. These people are known as retribution for a mistake made by the citizens of this world many years ago, so they are frowned upon by society and are killed if discovered. Ivy's life changes completely when she meets Julita, a young noblewoman in her final breaths after being murdered and this woman's soul somehow ends up inside her. Julita reveals that she is trying to stop a conspiracy at the city's College and that she needs Ivy's help to continue her legacy as the repercussions if the conspiracy prevails would be devastating for everyone. This is how our main character meets Julita's 4 beautiful associates, three students (Casimir, Alek and Benedikt) and a teacher (Stavros). She will have to work with them to stop the conspiracy, all while fighting against the attraction she feels towards these strangers and hiding her biggest secret, which if revealed would literally end her life.
I adored Ivy. She's a character with a strong personality and doesn't hesitate to do what needs to be done. As for the boys, I was way more interested in Stavros, as I tend to like brooding and damaged heroes in reverse harems more. But the other boys are also captivating, each with their own personality and life story. We discover more about each of them as we progress through the story, but I believe that Cas was the one who had the most development during this first book. Julita is seen as a little selfish and takes advantage of other people's weaknesses to get what she wants, but I also found her character interesting, she makes us want to know her life's story and what led her to be that way. Besides, she has one more reason to want to stop the curse and it's something that makes us sympathize with her much more. Furthermore, Julita becomes the friend Ivy needed and didn't know she wanted so much, it's a shame she's dead and could leave us until the end of the series. We'll see how that works out in the future.
I think this first book was very much focused on showing us how this world works and Ivy's detective work with uncovering the conspiracy, the romance is very slow-burn. The conflict between the characters, about them doing and feeling things for Ivy leaves us wondering the same thing as her. Is it all genuine or are they like that because of Ivy hosting Julita?
The mystery is really cool and makes us read quickly to discover everything. There are plot twists in this book and the ending has a cliffhanger. Luckily for us, the series is now complete and we can move on to the next volume straight away!
✨ RATING
- C (characters): 7/10
- A (atmosphere): 8/10
- W (writing): 7/10
- P (plot): 8/10
- I (intrigue): 8/10
- L (logic): 8/10
- E (enjoyment): 8/10
↬ TOTAL: 7.71 = ⭐⭐⭐⭐
💦 SPICE: 🌶️🌶️
🔖 TROPES:
- Reverse harem
- Forced proximity
- Slow burn
- Forbidden magic
- Academy setting
- Hate to friendship to love
- Possession
- Who did this to you?
October 5, 2023
5 STARS hands down! I'm going to need all of my high fantasy lovers to drop everything now and read Thief of Silver and Souls.
Sacrificial magic system with forbidden sorcery. Ghosts. Balls. Royal college. Social hierarchy and politics. Spying. Scheming. Kingdom-wide conspiracies. Why choose romance. Complex (but not terribly complicated) world-building. Like...take a peek at all the tropes I shelved this book under...NEED I SAY MORE?
If you like the modern vernacular + college setting of Fourth Wing, the intricate plot of Throne of Glass, and the scheming of Six of Crows, READ THIS!
Ivy lives in the shadows of Florian, hiding her illegal magic, while scavenging and thieving from the rich. We love the Robin Hood, Inej Ghafa-esque vibes. But Ivy quickly gets roped into a bigger plot, when she stumbles upon the dying Julita, a noblewoman. And, sticky situation incoming…Julita’s soul is trapped in Ivy’s body. Ivy is soon thrust into the world of the elites and their royal college, while investigating Julita’s death—with the help of four enigmatic (& highly attractive) men. The five dive deep into the city’s underbelly, while a budding conspiracy threatens the magic system and structure of the kingdom.
Thief of Silver and Souls is a why choose fantasy romance. And the spice was absolute perfection, even though I anticipated that there would be a few more of those scenes. However, the plot and mystery elements were so well-written and fast-paced that any more romantic scenes would've felt too convoluted. And it is RARE that I say that.
The four men—Stavros, Casimir, Alek, and Benedikt—I have varying opinions on each of them. Casimir, our sunshine-y courtesan...SO mirrorball coded. And I am such a sucker for male mirrorball characters. Casimir also says, word-for-word, What happened to you? Who did this? UM ABSOLUTELY??
Stavros, the general-turned-professor, also loved him. He's the grumpy, rule-following, touch-her-you-die, taller-than-everyone-else type guy. Then we have Alek the scholar and Benedikt, who is somehow related to the king? Not going to lie, I was not at all emotionally attached to the latter two men.
I think that with all the plot and mystery elements, there was no way to focus on a relationship with all four love interests without the book being 800+ pages. Maybe my opinion will change in the next book—and I do know that this is a why choose book—but I don't think Alek and Benedikt were necessary characters. Stavros and Casimir complement both each other and Ivy nicely, while the other two were not as well-developed.
I desperately need the next book after that cliffhanger. (And to all my cliffhanger haters out there, this cliffhanger leaves you wanting more, but also wraps the first book up nicely)
Thank you so much to Eva Chase and The Nerd Fam for sending me an ARC copy of Thief of Silver and Souls! As always, my reviews are one hundred percent voluntary and all opinions are my own :)
Sacrificial magic system with forbidden sorcery. Ghosts. Balls. Royal college. Social hierarchy and politics. Spying. Scheming. Kingdom-wide conspiracies. Why choose romance. Complex (but not terribly complicated) world-building. Like...take a peek at all the tropes I shelved this book under...NEED I SAY MORE?
If you like the modern vernacular + college setting of Fourth Wing, the intricate plot of Throne of Glass, and the scheming of Six of Crows, READ THIS!
Ivy lives in the shadows of Florian, hiding her illegal magic, while scavenging and thieving from the rich. We love the Robin Hood, Inej Ghafa-esque vibes. But Ivy quickly gets roped into a bigger plot, when she stumbles upon the dying Julita, a noblewoman. And, sticky situation incoming…Julita’s soul is trapped in Ivy’s body. Ivy is soon thrust into the world of the elites and their royal college, while investigating Julita’s death—with the help of four enigmatic (& highly attractive) men. The five dive deep into the city’s underbelly, while a budding conspiracy threatens the magic system and structure of the kingdom.
Thief of Silver and Souls is a why choose fantasy romance. And the spice was absolute perfection, even though I anticipated that there would be a few more of those scenes. However, the plot and mystery elements were so well-written and fast-paced that any more romantic scenes would've felt too convoluted. And it is RARE that I say that.
The four men—Stavros, Casimir, Alek, and Benedikt—I have varying opinions on each of them. Casimir, our sunshine-y courtesan...SO mirrorball coded. And I am such a sucker for male mirrorball characters. Casimir also says, word-for-word, What happened to you? Who did this? UM ABSOLUTELY??
Stavros, the general-turned-professor, also loved him. He's the grumpy, rule-following, touch-her-you-die, taller-than-everyone-else type guy. Then we have Alek the scholar and Benedikt, who is somehow related to the king? Not going to lie, I was not at all emotionally attached to the latter two men.
I think that with all the plot and mystery elements, there was no way to focus on a relationship with all four love interests without the book being 800+ pages. Maybe my opinion will change in the next book—and I do know that this is a why choose book—but I don't think Alek and Benedikt were necessary characters. Stavros and Casimir complement both each other and Ivy nicely, while the other two were not as well-developed.
I desperately need the next book after that cliffhanger. (And to all my cliffhanger haters out there, this cliffhanger leaves you wanting more, but also wraps the first book up nicely)
Thank you so much to Eva Chase and The Nerd Fam for sending me an ARC copy of Thief of Silver and Souls! As always, my reviews are one hundred percent voluntary and all opinions are my own :)
Read
October 12, 2023DNF at 36%. I appear to be in the minority here, so it might just be me. But I though the pace was far too slow for a why choose romance, even if it is going to be a series. Ivy doesn’t meet the guys until 11%. Everything that happened before that could have been condensed down quite a bit. By the time I quit, she had very few interactions with guys and there wasn’t much chemistry to go off. I love fantasy, but this is also supposed to be a romance. And to go 1/3 of book without any real connections to any of the leads? Not for me.
I’m also struggling with the premise. Ivy comes across a dying woman and accidentally takes her soul into her own body. And the soul of this woman can talk to IVy, but apparently also give the impression of other forms of communication. At one point, Julita shudders. How does a spirit in one’s mind do that, exactly. Also, Julita can speak to Ivy in her mind, but Ivy has to speak out loud for Julita to hear here. I think that’s largely because Ivy is holding back so many secrets and this was the only way to protect them. Still weird.
Overall, it didn’t hold my interest and the set up defying my bounds of incredulity.
I’m also struggling with the premise. Ivy comes across a dying woman and accidentally takes her soul into her own body. And the soul of this woman can talk to IVy, but apparently also give the impression of other forms of communication. At one point, Julita shudders. How does a spirit in one’s mind do that, exactly. Also, Julita can speak to Ivy in her mind, but Ivy has to speak out loud for Julita to hear here. I think that’s largely because Ivy is holding back so many secrets and this was the only way to protect them. Still weird.
Overall, it didn’t hold my interest and the set up defying my bounds of incredulity.
March 2, 2024
"I’m never going to be a hero, but when I meet my end, I want to be sure I was more than a villain."
⇢ What to expect:
∘ Adult RH Fantasy Romance
∘ Mystery
∘ Royal College
∘ Forbidden Magic
∘ Strong FMC
∘ Damaged MMCs
∘ Hidden Identity
∘ Enemies to Lovers
∘ Slowburn
— ends on a cliffhanger
This book pleasantly surprised me, not only with the story itself, but also with the complex worldbuilding and dark conspiracies. The characters' nuanced reactions to the heroine were exactly what I was looking for—not completely enamored, but not hateful either.
Whether things change by the end of the book remains to be seen in the next installment.
It might be time to get back into writing reviews, because I have quite a few thoughts about this one 🤭.
⇢ What to expect:
∘ Adult RH Fantasy Romance
∘ Mystery
∘ Royal College
∘ Forbidden Magic
∘ Strong FMC
∘ Damaged MMCs
∘ Hidden Identity
∘ Enemies to Lovers
∘ Slowburn
— ends on a cliffhanger
This book pleasantly surprised me, not only with the story itself, but also with the complex worldbuilding and dark conspiracies. The characters' nuanced reactions to the heroine were exactly what I was looking for—not completely enamored, but not hateful either.
Whether things change by the end of the book remains to be seen in the next installment.
It might be time to get back into writing reviews, because I have quite a few thoughts about this one 🤭.
September 27, 2023
Are you serious right now, Clark?!? WHAT IS HAPPENING?? The absolute mother of all cliffhangers just happened. I’m so proud of Ivy but what does this mean for her cabal of men folk? Addicted from beginning to end. I cannot wait to see how her new found people develop into a family unit. I want to see Ivy’s power emerge and her learn to trust. Poor Jules- I was so suspicious of her role multiple times. Y’all have to read this! There was a bit of spice that was soooo sweet and then I became incredibly frustrated with the resulting actions. Love this!!!
dnf
March 20, 2025DNF at 54% February 2025
I realize mysteries aren’t really something I enjoy, even alongside romance.
I was bored, and despite loving the concept of giving parts of yourself as sacrifices to the gods for boons, alongside the very slow burn, it wasn’t enough to keep me hooked unfortunately.
I realize mysteries aren’t really something I enjoy, even alongside romance.
I was bored, and despite loving the concept of giving parts of yourself as sacrifices to the gods for boons, alongside the very slow burn, it wasn’t enough to keep me hooked unfortunately.
May 27, 2024
Okay wow this is awesome. I'm really looking forward to where this goes.
September 30, 2023
*Reverse Harem
*Fantasy
*FMC PoV
*Academy Setting
*Unique FMC
*Quest
*Ghost Guide
*Elites VS Survivor
*Established Harem (4)
*Mid Burn
*1/?
Oooo intriguing!
This story follows Ivy, she’s quite a dominant FMC whose had to survive suppressing such a vital part of herself, yet she’s also selfless and giving…trying to do what she can to help others ☺️ although it’s that nature that gets her into the pickle she’s in throughout this book 🙈
After attempting to save her life Juliata becomes a ghost figure who convince Ivy to take her place in uncovering the conspiracy at the academy! There’s just something about her though…the author does well in keeping you guessing whether there’s something more going on with this ghostly guide and whether she can be trusted!! 😬
The four guys who Ivy is supposed to work with are Alek Benedikt Casimir and Stavros they’re a good mix of characters that stand out from each other, although each of them have some damage that makes certainly makes them intriguing characters and why they’re involved 🥰 although she has growing feelings Ivy is still in her secret identity and can’t risk letting them get to close incase they discover her secrets 😬
It’s really intriguing keeping you guessing as to who is involved and who’s playing which part in this conspiracy! 😃 and after that cliffhanger 😱 need to know how they’re going to react!!
*Fantasy
*FMC PoV
*Academy Setting
*Unique FMC
*Quest
*Ghost Guide
*Elites VS Survivor
*Established Harem (4)
*Mid Burn
*1/?
Oooo intriguing!
This story follows Ivy, she’s quite a dominant FMC whose had to survive suppressing such a vital part of herself, yet she’s also selfless and giving…trying to do what she can to help others ☺️ although it’s that nature that gets her into the pickle she’s in throughout this book 🙈
After attempting to save her life Juliata becomes a ghost figure who convince Ivy to take her place in uncovering the conspiracy at the academy! There’s just something about her though…the author does well in keeping you guessing whether there’s something more going on with this ghostly guide and whether she can be trusted!! 😬
The four guys who Ivy is supposed to work with are Alek Benedikt Casimir and Stavros they’re a good mix of characters that stand out from each other, although each of them have some damage that makes certainly makes them intriguing characters and why they’re involved 🥰 although she has growing feelings Ivy is still in her secret identity and can’t risk letting them get to close incase they discover her secrets 😬
It’s really intriguing keeping you guessing as to who is involved and who’s playing which part in this conspiracy! 😃 and after that cliffhanger 😱 need to know how they’re going to react!!
February 21, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️¼
🌶️🌶️
“But I’m not any kind of hero. I’m a monster with a broken soul.”
This is a slow-burn, slow-build fantasy “romance” that’s very heavy on the plot. Eva Chase has woven an intricate world with absent gods, sacrifices, magic, and danger. Expect the world-building to take up the bulk of this book (and it’s hefty, sitting at over 500 pages).
Ivy is a great FMC. I loved her interactions with the soul who has accidentally partially possessed her and the men who come to mean so much to her. The relationship building is slow, allowing Ivy to forge friendships beyond instant attraction. There is a fair amount of angst involved, as Ivy finds it hard to believe anyone would want her, and she is hiding a deep secret that could bring her death.
This book has limited spice with the stage set for more in the following books.
Thief of Silver and Souls ends on a cliffhanger. I look forward to seeing where the story leads.
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Tropes/Features: Magic & powers, forced proximity, accidental partial possession/haunting, suspense, strong FMC
POV: Single 1st Person POV
Relationship Type: Why Choose MFMMM, slow burn, mild spice
Book Type/Ending: Book one Rites of Possession, cliffhanger
TW/CW: None listed
🌶️🌶️
“But I’m not any kind of hero. I’m a monster with a broken soul.”
This is a slow-burn, slow-build fantasy “romance” that’s very heavy on the plot. Eva Chase has woven an intricate world with absent gods, sacrifices, magic, and danger. Expect the world-building to take up the bulk of this book (and it’s hefty, sitting at over 500 pages).
Ivy is a great FMC. I loved her interactions with the soul who has accidentally partially possessed her and the men who come to mean so much to her. The relationship building is slow, allowing Ivy to forge friendships beyond instant attraction. There is a fair amount of angst involved, as Ivy finds it hard to believe anyone would want her, and she is hiding a deep secret that could bring her death.
This book has limited spice with the stage set for more in the following books.
Thief of Silver and Souls ends on a cliffhanger. I look forward to seeing where the story leads.
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Tropes/Features: Magic & powers, forced proximity, accidental partial possession/haunting, suspense, strong FMC
POV: Single 1st Person POV
Relationship Type: Why Choose MFMMM, slow burn, mild spice
Book Type/Ending: Book one Rites of Possession, cliffhanger
TW/CW: None listed
October 24, 2024
Really enjoyed this one for the plot and the world building, but I will say there is NO romance in this first book. I see the set up but don't know if I could call this a romantasy over a fantasy with just reading book one! But I really loved how the magic worked with having to give something to get something. And I loved the setting being in a college but with her not being a student there.
February 1, 2024
dnf 67%
May 9, 2025
Good plot, and wild magic system, all magic has a price.
Overall this book had potential, but I kept hoping for more. The magic system had a really good base but I wanted to see more of how it worked. The plot was good and kept me engaged on finding out the secrets, but I also didn’t find them very surprising. The romance had the potential to be HOT and tons of tension with the multiple options but personally I didn’t get any tension and when the small amount of spice hit, it felt very awkward (more conflicted opinions on this but maybe not worth mentioning here). I loved the FMC, but again wanted to see so much more of her tenacity.
Overall this book had potential, but I kept hoping for more. The magic system had a really good base but I wanted to see more of how it worked. The plot was good and kept me engaged on finding out the secrets, but I also didn’t find them very surprising. The romance had the potential to be HOT and tons of tension with the multiple options but personally I didn’t get any tension and when the small amount of spice hit, it felt very awkward (more conflicted opinions on this but maybe not worth mentioning here). I loved the FMC, but again wanted to see so much more of her tenacity.
October 3, 2023
“𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘨𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘯. 𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘵.”
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗹𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗘𝘃𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲
𝘈𝘝𝘈𝘐𝘓𝘈𝘉𝘓𝘌 𝘛𝘖𝘔𝘖𝘙𝘙𝘖𝘞 (10/04/23)
This is exactly the kind of ‘book 1,’ I want in an up-and-coming fantasy series. The world was beautifully built with so much detail that it felt as though I was transported! There was a point when I was reading this and saw how much was left and was thinking, the author was about to leave us with a massive cliffhanger. And boy was I right! I am already breathing heavily waiting for December to roll around to see just what happens with our little group!
The books is in Ivy’s POV…well and Julita’s technically. I enjoyed having them both, especially being that Julita was able to offer a different view of the world that Ivy needed to infiltrate.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5
Read if you like:
🪄 Why-Choose / RH
🪄 Secret Chosen Powers
🪄 Fantasy Mystery
🪄 Magic Academy
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and the author for the gifted ARC.
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗹𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗘𝘃𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲
𝘈𝘝𝘈𝘐𝘓𝘈𝘉𝘓𝘌 𝘛𝘖𝘔𝘖𝘙𝘙𝘖𝘞 (10/04/23)
This is exactly the kind of ‘book 1,’ I want in an up-and-coming fantasy series. The world was beautifully built with so much detail that it felt as though I was transported! There was a point when I was reading this and saw how much was left and was thinking, the author was about to leave us with a massive cliffhanger. And boy was I right! I am already breathing heavily waiting for December to roll around to see just what happens with our little group!
The books is in Ivy’s POV…well and Julita’s technically. I enjoyed having them both, especially being that Julita was able to offer a different view of the world that Ivy needed to infiltrate.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5
Read if you like:
🪄 Why-Choose / RH
🪄 Secret Chosen Powers
🪄 Fantasy Mystery
🪄 Magic Academy
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and the author for the gifted ARC.
October 13, 2023
I think I love every Eva Chase book I've ever read. I have to admit that I haven't checked out the contemporary novels she co-writes, but all the fantasy ones were lovely. I was therefore really looking forward to this one, but since I still have some unread Eva Chase series on the shelves I was planning to wait until I had finished those. And then came the opportunity to grab an arc for this book via BookSirens. I didn't hesitate and got myself a copy.
This book is truly amazing and despite the fact that it's quite a big book I flew through it. I had expected to need another day to finish, but I already finished before this day was even over and that's actually everything you need to know. The book is addictive, the mystery makes you constantly wonder what's going on and who's to trust and then there are four lovely men to keep our heroine company and to warm our hearts.
On top of all that there is a lovely magic system. A magic system that's brutal, a little bit sickening and making you wonder how far people can and should be allowed to go. I like how we got to see all different sides of the magic system. We met people who were not willing to give up much of themselves, no matter what gift they'd get in return. And we met people who gave up quite a lot only to end up without much in the end.
And then there's our heroine. We meet her as some sort of Robin Hood. She's stealing from the rich, and mostly the ones who are earning their money in a not so honest way, and gives to the poor. And she's dealing with a special sort of magic people hate in the entire kingdom. And yet, she's so easy to like. She's easy to root for. She's easy to identify with and I only want her to be happy. I'm curious how long it will take for her to find that happiness after that cliffhanger.
This book is truly amazing and despite the fact that it's quite a big book I flew through it. I had expected to need another day to finish, but I already finished before this day was even over and that's actually everything you need to know. The book is addictive, the mystery makes you constantly wonder what's going on and who's to trust and then there are four lovely men to keep our heroine company and to warm our hearts.
On top of all that there is a lovely magic system. A magic system that's brutal, a little bit sickening and making you wonder how far people can and should be allowed to go. I like how we got to see all different sides of the magic system. We met people who were not willing to give up much of themselves, no matter what gift they'd get in return. And we met people who gave up quite a lot only to end up without much in the end.
And then there's our heroine. We meet her as some sort of Robin Hood. She's stealing from the rich, and mostly the ones who are earning their money in a not so honest way, and gives to the poor. And she's dealing with a special sort of magic people hate in the entire kingdom. And yet, she's so easy to like. She's easy to root for. She's easy to identify with and I only want her to be happy. I'm curious how long it will take for her to find that happiness after that cliffhanger.
December 20, 2023
This is book 1 in a new why choose magic series. I really enjoyed this and find the magic system so intriguing and unique. I don’t think I’ve ever read a magic system where the wielders have to sacrifice a piece of themselves (i.e. cutting off a finger) to the Gods in order to harness their power.
How the FMC Ivy came to be at the magic academy drew me in immediately and I’m very excited to see where the series goes from here.
Highlights:
- Romance: Why Choose FMMMM
- Magic academy
- Sacrificial magic system
- Kingdom politics
- Social hierarchy
I received this as an ARC and this is my honest opinion.
How the FMC Ivy came to be at the magic academy drew me in immediately and I’m very excited to see where the series goes from here.
Highlights:
- Romance: Why Choose FMMMM
- Magic academy
- Sacrificial magic system
- Kingdom politics
- Social hierarchy
I received this as an ARC and this is my honest opinion.
did-not-finish
July 4, 2024Not for me. DNF chapter 5. Dry slow and slightly muddled introduction.
October 17, 2023
This book has just solidified Eva Chase as one of my favorite why choose authors. Her world-building is complex but easily understandable (especially with the god's guide at the back of the book), her characters complement each other and foster fun and delicious interactions, and her stories are enthralling. I loved this book and almost wished I didn’t get an ARC so I could have waited and read this whole series in one sitting. That cliffhanger has killed me and I am desperate for the next book! I love the secret identity trope, which this book executes flawlessly, as well as enemies to lovers, slow/medium burn, magic, bloody cults, and complicated but positive female friendships.
I loved Ivy, with her Robin Hood persona, trust issues, and fear of discovery but longing to prove herself and find her place in the world. Despite all the ways people did or could hurt her she still wanted to belong and do good. While there are many characters like that in literature and romantasy, Ivy stands out for her stubbornness and confidence in her abilities. She was a subtle badass who had the skill and intelligence to back up her claims. I’m looking forward to seeing her open up more with her men, and them with her, especially after the ending of this book. I don’t have a favorite guy yet, because despite this book’s 500-plus page count, Ivy only just started learning about them. While she formed a connection with at least one and started developing relationships with the others, her strongest and most complex relationship by the end of this book was with Julita. I liked, that not only are they forced to coexist, but non-toxic female friendships are not always focused on in romances, especially between characters like Ivy (the outcast)and Julita (the confident, manipulative, slightly mean girl living in fear).
My only complaint is that the bad guy was easy to identify, but it’s a small gripe and their actions were just the tip of the mysterious iceberg that should emerge throughout the series. I also have predictions about the origin and purpose of Ivy’s magic, that I am excited to see either prove true or utterly wrong. The magical system was a cool mix of inspiration including god/goddess-based worship, superpowers, and elemental magic. But all of it was sacrifice-based, which introduced a hefty dose of off-page gore, and it worked within the world Chase created. I am very intrigued to see how Ivy’s special brand of magic is supposed to fit into a world that has been taught to fear her. I highly recommend this book if you are a romantasy reader, who favors alternate, historically inspired worlds, complex relationships and characters, thievery, knives, magic, enemies to lovers, mystery, political intrigue, steamy scenes, secret identities (kinda), and an entertaining read.
I loved Ivy, with her Robin Hood persona, trust issues, and fear of discovery but longing to prove herself and find her place in the world. Despite all the ways people did or could hurt her she still wanted to belong and do good. While there are many characters like that in literature and romantasy, Ivy stands out for her stubbornness and confidence in her abilities. She was a subtle badass who had the skill and intelligence to back up her claims. I’m looking forward to seeing her open up more with her men, and them with her, especially after the ending of this book. I don’t have a favorite guy yet, because despite this book’s 500-plus page count, Ivy only just started learning about them. While she formed a connection with at least one and started developing relationships with the others, her strongest and most complex relationship by the end of this book was with Julita. I liked, that not only are they forced to coexist, but non-toxic female friendships are not always focused on in romances, especially between characters like Ivy (the outcast)and Julita (the confident, manipulative, slightly mean girl living in fear).
My only complaint is that the bad guy was easy to identify, but it’s a small gripe and their actions were just the tip of the mysterious iceberg that should emerge throughout the series. I also have predictions about the origin and purpose of Ivy’s magic, that I am excited to see either prove true or utterly wrong. The magical system was a cool mix of inspiration including god/goddess-based worship, superpowers, and elemental magic. But all of it was sacrifice-based, which introduced a hefty dose of off-page gore, and it worked within the world Chase created. I am very intrigued to see how Ivy’s special brand of magic is supposed to fit into a world that has been taught to fear her. I highly recommend this book if you are a romantasy reader, who favors alternate, historically inspired worlds, complex relationships and characters, thievery, knives, magic, enemies to lovers, mystery, political intrigue, steamy scenes, secret identities (kinda), and an entertaining read.
April 2, 2024
I absolutely loved this book so much, and I don't usually read straight fantasy books too much. If they are paranormal romances or mysteries, but I don't usually go for this type of fantasy, but I thought I would branch out.
Ivy has been cursed with riven magic. The whole magical system is so weird in this book. Riven magic is a curse from the gods. It is powerful, but if you save someone, someone else will get sick or die (depending on how sick the original person was). If you wish for riches, someone else will lose their money. And you don't get to choose who dies or anything. If you don't use your riven magic, you will get physically sick.
The gogs can bless people with special magical gifts that aren't riven, but you have to be willing to offer a sacrifice. Like cutting off your hand, ears, or toes, depending on how great a gift you want. And of course, the gods just might not give you a gift, even if you have already chopped off a body part.
So Ivy is a thief, trying not to get hung, since everyone with riven magic gets sent to the gallows. Even though she refuses to use her magic, it is making her physically ill, so ...
One day she comes across a murder victim, Julita, whose spirit decides to move into her brain. Julita convinces her to help her find her murderer, which puts Ivy directly in contact with the men most likely to hang her. And yet, I really, really, really want her to live happily ever after with all of them. I had thought it was just going to be the one but apparently think this is going to be a reverse harem. Could be wrong, since it is a slow burn situation.
Ivy has been cursed with riven magic. The whole magical system is so weird in this book. Riven magic is a curse from the gods. It is powerful, but if you save someone, someone else will get sick or die (depending on how sick the original person was). If you wish for riches, someone else will lose their money. And you don't get to choose who dies or anything. If you don't use your riven magic, you will get physically sick.
The gogs can bless people with special magical gifts that aren't riven, but you have to be willing to offer a sacrifice. Like cutting off your hand, ears, or toes, depending on how great a gift you want. And of course, the gods just might not give you a gift, even if you have already chopped off a body part.
So Ivy is a thief, trying not to get hung, since everyone with riven magic gets sent to the gallows. Even though she refuses to use her magic, it is making her physically ill, so ...
One day she comes across a murder victim, Julita, whose spirit decides to move into her brain. Julita convinces her to help her find her murderer, which puts Ivy directly in contact with the men most likely to hang her. And yet, I really, really, really want her to live happily ever after with all of them. I had thought it was just going to be the one but apparently think this is going to be a reverse harem. Could be wrong, since it is a slow burn situation.
October 14, 2024
I've been eyeing up Eva's books for a while but never got around to reading any. I'm so glad I picked this one up as it was such a fun and interesting read.
I will admit, it took me a while to get the hang of the magic system and what the deal was with the sacrifices to the gods. But once I did, I flew through this book.
I loved the main character of Ivy. She gets possessed by the spirit of a noblewoman, and it was fun seeing them figure things out together.
As its the first book in a four book series, it was a slow burn but I can't wait to see how Ivy will grow in future books. I'm intrigued to see how the situation with Julita unfolds.
The book is only single POV, I would have loved to have POVs from the guys and even from Julita while she's possessing Ivy. I hope we learn more about the guys in the next books as we know barely anything.
That ending though!! I will be picking up the second book very soon!
I will admit, it took me a while to get the hang of the magic system and what the deal was with the sacrifices to the gods. But once I did, I flew through this book.
I loved the main character of Ivy. She gets possessed by the spirit of a noblewoman, and it was fun seeing them figure things out together.
As its the first book in a four book series, it was a slow burn but I can't wait to see how Ivy will grow in future books. I'm intrigued to see how the situation with Julita unfolds.
The book is only single POV, I would have loved to have POVs from the guys and even from Julita while she's possessing Ivy. I hope we learn more about the guys in the next books as we know barely anything.
That ending though!! I will be picking up the second book very soon!
December 29, 2023
I should have known that I would be obsessed with this book. Eva Chase is one of my favorite authors and her books always suck me in. I wasn’t sure how I felt in the beginning about the situation the fmc was in but I ended up loving how it turned out! This book really keeps you guessing about what is going on and who the bad guys are. I also loved seeing how the mmcs evolved and their feelings changed towards her. But of coarse Eva Chase aaaaaaalways gets me with the cliffhanger at the end of her books! I will now be impatiently waiting for the second book to be on audio.
March 10, 2024
I loved the magic system, it was unique and interesting. I really liked Ivy’s character, she gave me Celaena Sardothian vibes. I was intrigued by the storyline and mystery. However, I’m not a why choose kind of girl, so I was a little apprehensive the whole book waiting for things to happen. This seemed more like a normal dating around type of thing, though I assume in the second and third, it will be more of a why choose scenario. I’m invested enough in the storyline that I’ll probably continue the series for now and skip over the spicy parts.
March 21, 2024
Questo è il mio secondo tentativo con questa scrittrice, mentre il primo non è andato per nulla bene, questo libro sembra l'inizio di qualcosa di veramente promettente.
Una trama molto carina, con elementi davvero originali per quanto riguarda il worldbuilding, con dei personaggi tutti ancora da conoscere e dei misteri molto intriganti.
Incrocio le dita per il secondo volume, sperando che sia piacevole come questo.
Una trama molto carina, con elementi davvero originali per quanto riguarda il worldbuilding, con dei personaggi tutti ancora da conoscere e dei misteri molto intriganti.
Incrocio le dita per il secondo volume, sperando che sia piacevole come questo.
September 20, 2023
I enjoyed this story a lot, I loved the way the plot developed and we slowly got to know all the characters. Ivy was such a tough, independent character, it was interesting to see her learn to trust everyone. I wasn't keen on Julita, she seemed to be a very self centered woman but she had her reasons.
Can't wait to see what happens next with Ivy and her little band of men.
Can't wait to see what happens next with Ivy and her little band of men.
November 16, 2023
This is a fantastic start to this series! Ivy is such a fabulous character, brave and strong in this exciting and thrilling read. It’s captivating and enthralling and full of action, adventure, secrets and mysteries as we join Ivy on her journey to the royal college. Throw in four damaged yet dangerously enticing men, forbidden magic and a vengeful ghost a you have one hell of a read.
January 1, 2024
The author has created an interesting fantasy world where most people dedicate themselves to a god that they identify with. They literally sacrifice a part of themselves physically in order to gain gifts. Ivy, the main character, has a powerful gift that most fear, but she didn’t ask for it. An attempt to help someone brings her to the attention of 4 powerful guys as they attempt to solve a mystery and save the kingdom.
The story does have a mature part, but it was surprisingly focused on the plot!
The story does have a mature part, but it was surprisingly focused on the plot!
Read
October 27, 2024I don't know how to feel about this book. It's okay I guess but one thing I didn't like is that Julita seems to have had a relationship with the guys and that's just weird. And I didn't like her as a character either. She just sounds manipulative, trying to make the FMC do stuff for her because she got killed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2023
Awesome new high fantasy RH from Eva!
December 29, 2023
This book started off very slow but good. It kept me there but was slow to get to a very good place where I didn't want to put it down. Now I'm excited to read the next one
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