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The Plot of the Six Saints #1
The Elf Witch
For fans of One Dark Window and From Blood and Ash comes a haunting, slow-burn fantasy romance about villains. It follows a formerly magicless elf as she suddenly comes into powers that her kingdom has never seen and the duplicitous prince she must bargain with to save them at whatever cost—even her soul.
After her grandmother's execution, a formerly magicless elf is suddenly the most powerful witch in her village. Magic is disappearing, though, and Imani is thrust into the treacherous court of her kingdom, forced into trials against the most lethal witches in the world.
As she unravels the perilous plan her grandmother plotted before her death to save magic, Imani unwittingly dives deeper into a web of magical and political intrigue that puts her on a collision course with dangers beyond anything she imagined.
But Imani is harboring illicit knowledge of her own—a forbidden dark magic that’s getting more difficult to hide by the day. Now, she must decide whether to make herself a threat and an enemy to her country or risk becoming a pawn and the realm losing magic forever.
Stuck in this predicament, Imani sees only one path forward: a dangerous deal with the duplicitous prince—one she might be falling for.
Readers Beware: This book is for adult readers and contains mature and explicit content (see the author’s website for a complete list of trigger warnings). It’s a villain romance with morally black antihero characters that ends on a cliffhanger.
After her grandmother's execution, a formerly magicless elf is suddenly the most powerful witch in her village. Magic is disappearing, though, and Imani is thrust into the treacherous court of her kingdom, forced into trials against the most lethal witches in the world.
As she unravels the perilous plan her grandmother plotted before her death to save magic, Imani unwittingly dives deeper into a web of magical and political intrigue that puts her on a collision course with dangers beyond anything she imagined.
But Imani is harboring illicit knowledge of her own—a forbidden dark magic that’s getting more difficult to hide by the day. Now, she must decide whether to make herself a threat and an enemy to her country or risk becoming a pawn and the realm losing magic forever.
Stuck in this predicament, Imani sees only one path forward: a dangerous deal with the duplicitous prince—one she might be falling for.
Readers Beware: This book is for adult readers and contains mature and explicit content (see the author’s website for a complete list of trigger warnings). It’s a villain romance with morally black antihero characters that ends on a cliffhanger.
392 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 11, 2025
311 people are currently reading
5882 people want to read
About the author
Jacquelyn Gilmore
6 books132 followersJacquelyn Gilmore has been called "a rising star in the dark fantasy genre," and writes fantasy and science fiction romances about villains. Her stories aim to push readers to enter new, terrifying worlds, and she's obsessed with antiheroes. She has over a decade of professional writing experience and a bachelor's degree in English literature.
Her debut novel, "The Elf Witch," weaves a tale of magic, betrayal, and romance, and has been described as "captivating" and a "must-read" for fans of dark fantasy. It's received rave reviews, with the book being praised for its unique blend of dark magic, political intrigue, and complex characters, including one reviewer who calls it "an absolute masterpiece of dark fantasy." The sequel, "The Serpent Prince," grabs readers with more shocking plot twists, a fast-paced plot, and slow-burning romance.
Additionally, "Dream in the Ash," the first book in Gilmore's second series, "The Other Half of the End," is a dystopian dark fantasy (with a dash of science fiction) that explores a world where magic and technology coexist. It's slated for release on March 10, 2026.
Her debut novel, "The Elf Witch," weaves a tale of magic, betrayal, and romance, and has been described as "captivating" and a "must-read" for fans of dark fantasy. It's received rave reviews, with the book being praised for its unique blend of dark magic, political intrigue, and complex characters, including one reviewer who calls it "an absolute masterpiece of dark fantasy." The sequel, "The Serpent Prince," grabs readers with more shocking plot twists, a fast-paced plot, and slow-burning romance.
Additionally, "Dream in the Ash," the first book in Gilmore's second series, "The Other Half of the End," is a dystopian dark fantasy (with a dash of science fiction) that explores a world where magic and technology coexist. It's slated for release on March 10, 2026.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 597 reviews
March 12, 2025
This hurts my heart but I have to do it, DNF at 25%
There is a one of a kind great story in this book but I can't trudge through the sludge to find it. The family dynamic in the beginning was super interesting and the magic system was fantastic with magic branding and elves that soul draw and all kinds of wicked cool things. I was just so confused 99% of the time reading. So much information is just dumped and not explained. I was flipping thru looking for a world map or glossary or something to help me out but there was nothing. There was a section of about 50 pages that I had to read twice because I thought maybe I had skipped pages or something. There seems to be so much beautiful lore and world history connected to this story but it's missing.
There is a one of a kind great story in this book but I can't trudge through the sludge to find it. The family dynamic in the beginning was super interesting and the magic system was fantastic with magic branding and elves that soul draw and all kinds of wicked cool things. I was just so confused 99% of the time reading. So much information is just dumped and not explained. I was flipping thru looking for a world map or glossary or something to help me out but there was nothing. There was a section of about 50 pages that I had to read twice because I thought maybe I had skipped pages or something. There seems to be so much beautiful lore and world history connected to this story but it's missing.
December 4, 2024
3⭐️
There was A LOT going on / crammed into this first book. It felt like an info-dump to try and get the reader up-to-speed. A great start to the series but it was a bumpy ride nonetheless. [NOTE: This is an ARC review so who knows if there will be additional edits prior to release in March 2025]
Based on the amount of info we get, this is definitely a book that needs a map or, at minimum, a glossary...we don't get either. But we need it.
The magic system? Super cool, but hella complicated. Listen, I'm all for a challenging read, but the complexity here could have been better received by either slowing down the amount of information, or choosing to delicately layer information on top of itself as the book (or series) continues. It's extremely interesting, but don't be surprised if you catch yourself re-reading passages several times. I was confused a majority of the time. Some things seemed like they were overly described, while I found that other things needed to be explained more.
The characters? Morally black. I was rarely satisfied at any point, and there's no character growth at all for any of the main cast, even our FMC doesn't figure out what direction she's going until literally the last chapter. If anything, this seems like a story about how everyone is hiding behind a mask, and we slowly see those masks slip off as the story progresses. I mean if that was the goal, it was achieved. But other than that, our FMC left this book with less power and agency than she started.
The writing quality? Needs more work. Sentence fragments and the unnatural dialogue (at times, not always) between characters was my biggest gripe. Like the story is there, the scenes are GOOD...but there's still development needed.
I finished this book feeling....sad and disappointed, curious, frustrated, confused...but also a little excited and hopeful for the next installment.
This is 100% worth a read...it just needs some polishing (or, a reading audience who can get over some plot holes, confusing descriptions, and weird character dialogue moments)....if you'll struggle with these things, I'd skip this one for now...
✔️ Witches & Compex Magic System
✔️ Elves & Shifters
✔️ FMC with mysterious origins
✔️ Heavy Series Set Up vibes (expect info dump moments)
✔️ Morally Black MMCs
✔️ Court / Realm Politics
✔️ Some spicy scenes
✔️ Ends on a cliffhanger
There was A LOT going on / crammed into this first book. It felt like an info-dump to try and get the reader up-to-speed. A great start to the series but it was a bumpy ride nonetheless. [NOTE: This is an ARC review so who knows if there will be additional edits prior to release in March 2025]
Based on the amount of info we get, this is definitely a book that needs a map or, at minimum, a glossary...we don't get either. But we need it.
The magic system? Super cool, but hella complicated. Listen, I'm all for a challenging read, but the complexity here could have been better received by either slowing down the amount of information, or choosing to delicately layer information on top of itself as the book (or series) continues. It's extremely interesting, but don't be surprised if you catch yourself re-reading passages several times. I was confused a majority of the time. Some things seemed like they were overly described, while I found that other things needed to be explained more.
The characters? Morally black. I was rarely satisfied at any point, and there's no character growth at all for any of the main cast, even our FMC doesn't figure out what direction she's going until literally the last chapter. If anything, this seems like a story about how everyone is hiding behind a mask, and we slowly see those masks slip off as the story progresses. I mean if that was the goal, it was achieved. But other than that, our FMC left this book with less power and agency than she started.
The writing quality? Needs more work. Sentence fragments and the unnatural dialogue (at times, not always) between characters was my biggest gripe. Like the story is there, the scenes are GOOD...but there's still development needed.
I finished this book feeling....sad and disappointed, curious, frustrated, confused...but also a little excited and hopeful for the next installment.
This is 100% worth a read...it just needs some polishing (or, a reading audience who can get over some plot holes, confusing descriptions, and weird character dialogue moments)....if you'll struggle with these things, I'd skip this one for now...
✔️ Witches & Compex Magic System
✔️ Elves & Shifters
✔️ FMC with mysterious origins
✔️ Heavy Series Set Up vibes (expect info dump moments)
✔️ Morally Black MMCs
✔️ Court / Realm Politics
✔️ Some spicy scenes
✔️ Ends on a cliffhanger
March 18, 2025
I received a copy of this book for free for promotional purposes.
This was quite the start to a new fantasy series!
First, I do need to note that this book is for mature audiences and contains explicit content (language, violence, and sex). The author has a full list of trigger warnings on her website, so please be mindful of those before reading.
When I first started reading, I did not know if I would like this book. I was a little confused on the world and magic system. However, once I got about 80 pages in, things started making more sense and the story picked up. After that I was hooked.
I appreciated that the author put up a glossary on her website. That helped tremendously in understanding the story and world.
As for the characters, they are nearly all morally grey/black. If you like “good” characters, you won’t be finding many of those in this story. I love morally grey/black characters and find them fascinating, so I didn’t mind the characters and their actions.
The story itself is a slow burn. This is the first book in the series so things are just getting started. I can tell there is so much more to come, especially when it comes to the romance.
Overall, this was an intriguing start to the series. I am very curious to see what happens next!
This was quite the start to a new fantasy series!
First, I do need to note that this book is for mature audiences and contains explicit content (language, violence, and sex). The author has a full list of trigger warnings on her website, so please be mindful of those before reading.
When I first started reading, I did not know if I would like this book. I was a little confused on the world and magic system. However, once I got about 80 pages in, things started making more sense and the story picked up. After that I was hooked.
I appreciated that the author put up a glossary on her website. That helped tremendously in understanding the story and world.
As for the characters, they are nearly all morally grey/black. If you like “good” characters, you won’t be finding many of those in this story. I love morally grey/black characters and find them fascinating, so I didn’t mind the characters and their actions.
The story itself is a slow burn. This is the first book in the series so things are just getting started. I can tell there is so much more to come, especially when it comes to the romance.
Overall, this was an intriguing start to the series. I am very curious to see what happens next!
December 3, 2024
I received an ARC for this book in exchange of an honest review.
This book had a lot of promise but ended up being a disappointment. The plot sounded just like something I would love, but I was confused for most of the book - the magic system wasn’t explained in any way; the characters were quite one dimensional; the romance was lacking. The trials that our main character has to go through weren’t original or interesting to read about.
I believe having a character list, a glossary and a map would help readers understand this world better.
This book had a lot of promise but ended up being a disappointment. The plot sounded just like something I would love, but I was confused for most of the book - the magic system wasn’t explained in any way; the characters were quite one dimensional; the romance was lacking. The trials that our main character has to go through weren’t original or interesting to read about.
I believe having a character list, a glossary and a map would help readers understand this world better.
March 6, 2025
I enjoyed this. Everyone knows I love some witchcore! The magical system was very neat and the plot moved along quickly. I really liked the relationship between the two main characters and watching Imani struggle with good vs. evil.
This book is not an easy read, those who are not used to reading epic fantasy may find it a bit confusing. I am looking forward to being able to read the next one.
This book is not an easy read, those who are not used to reading epic fantasy may find it a bit confusing. I am looking forward to being able to read the next one.
March 19, 2025
rough start for me
3.5
I won’t lie, this book was super confusing to me in the beginning. I didn’t know what was happening. At all. I was very close to DNF-ing but I kept going and I’m glad I did. A quarter of the way in it slows down and it’s easier to digest. When you get to Part 2 it gets real good. I really enjoyed the book from that point on a lot.
On to the good part, this book has a bunch of morally grey people. There is no good guy and I honestly loved that. Everyone was so interesting because they’re out for themselves. You can’t trust anyone.
There’s a ton of 💀 and violence. It’s not overly gory though. The magic system is very interesting. It was one of the things that took me a little while to fully grasp but after we learn and see more I really liked it. The MMC is my fav. He’s a little crazy and unhinged. He is not a nice guy to anyone including the FMC 😂 I would really love to read book two to learn more about him.
I’m not sure where the romance is going in this book/series. I’m ok with not knowing. I do think there’s more to the story with the two main characters as far as that goes but in this book they do not get together.
3.5
I won’t lie, this book was super confusing to me in the beginning. I didn’t know what was happening. At all. I was very close to DNF-ing but I kept going and I’m glad I did. A quarter of the way in it slows down and it’s easier to digest. When you get to Part 2 it gets real good. I really enjoyed the book from that point on a lot.
On to the good part, this book has a bunch of morally grey people. There is no good guy and I honestly loved that. Everyone was so interesting because they’re out for themselves. You can’t trust anyone.
There’s a ton of 💀 and violence. It’s not overly gory though. The magic system is very interesting. It was one of the things that took me a little while to fully grasp but after we learn and see more I really liked it. The MMC is my fav. He’s a little crazy and unhinged. He is not a nice guy to anyone including the FMC 😂 I would really love to read book two to learn more about him.
I’m not sure where the romance is going in this book/series. I’m ok with not knowing. I do think there’s more to the story with the two main characters as far as that goes but in this book they do not get together.
August 15, 2025
The Elf Witch by Jacquelyn Gilmore releases on March 11, 2025. Huge thanks to NerdFam for the gifted ARC!
This book features morally grey characters and is a dark romance, and what really stood out to me was the unique world-building and magic system. The author introduced a variety of creatures and abilities that aren’t commonly seen in typical dark Romantasy, which made the story feel fresh and original.
However, while the world and magic system were fascinating, they were also quite complex and sometimes confusing. I spent a lot of time trying to keep track of all the different abilities and species. A glossary explaining these elements would have been really helpful, and I hope the final version of the book includes one! Even now, there are aspects of the magic system I’m still a bit unclear on.
That said, what kept me hooked was the strong characters and engaging dialogue. If those elements hadn’t been as compelling as they were, I might have DNF’d this book—but they absolutely delivered, making it an enjoyable read.
I’m definitely looking forward to continuing this series! If you love dark Romantasy with a slow-burn romance, I’d recommend picking this one up—just be sure to check the trigger warnings before diving in. Overall, a solid read for dark romance fans!
This book features morally grey characters and is a dark romance, and what really stood out to me was the unique world-building and magic system. The author introduced a variety of creatures and abilities that aren’t commonly seen in typical dark Romantasy, which made the story feel fresh and original.
However, while the world and magic system were fascinating, they were also quite complex and sometimes confusing. I spent a lot of time trying to keep track of all the different abilities and species. A glossary explaining these elements would have been really helpful, and I hope the final version of the book includes one! Even now, there are aspects of the magic system I’m still a bit unclear on.
That said, what kept me hooked was the strong characters and engaging dialogue. If those elements hadn’t been as compelling as they were, I might have DNF’d this book—but they absolutely delivered, making it an enjoyable read.
I’m definitely looking forward to continuing this series! If you love dark Romantasy with a slow-burn romance, I’d recommend picking this one up—just be sure to check the trigger warnings before diving in. Overall, a solid read for dark romance fans!
March 21, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
I recently had the chance to dive into an advance copy of The Elf Witch by Jacquelyn Gilmore, that just released this month. Here’s my take on it:
The Premise:
The story follows Imani, a formerly magicless elf who, after her grandmother’s execution, suddenly becomes the most powerful witch in her village. With magic fading from the world, Imani is thrust into a perilous court filled with political intrigue and dangerous trials. She must navigate her newfound powers, forbidden dark magic, and a treacherous prince to save her realm—even if it costs her soul.
What I Loved:
• Complex World-Building: Gilmore crafts a rich tapestry of magic systems, diverse creatures, and intricate politics. The depth of the lore is impressive, making the world feel both expansive and immersive.
• Morally Grey Characters: The characters, especially Imani, are layered and complex. Their morally ambiguous decisions add depth to the narrative, keeping me engaged and questioning their motives.
• Unique Magic System: The variety of magical abilities and the concept of magic fading added a fresh twist to the fantasy genre. It was intriguing to see how different characters wielded their powers and the consequences that ensued.
𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔:
✧ fated mates
✧ antiheroes & villains
✧ badass protaganist
✧ witchy vibes
✧ slow-burn
✧ high - heat
What Gave Me Pause:
• Information Overload: The initial chapters are dense with information, introducing numerous terms, places, and magical concepts. At times, it felt overwhelming, and I found myself re-reading sections to grasp the details..
• Pacing Issues: While the world-building is rich, it occasionally slows down the plot. Some sections felt more like an info-dump, making it challenging to stay fully engaged.
• Character Development: While I appreciated the morally grey aspects, I wished for more growth in some characters. Their arcs felt stagnant at times, leaving me wanting deeper emotional connections.
Final Thoughts:
The Elf Witch is a promising start to a new fantasy series, offering a unique blend of dark magic, political intrigue, and complex characters. Despite some pacing and information density issues, it was a compelling read. I recommend this book and am curious to see where Gilmore takes the story next and hope for more character development in the sequels.
Note: I received an advance review copy of this book, and my thoughts are my own.
I recently had the chance to dive into an advance copy of The Elf Witch by Jacquelyn Gilmore, that just released this month. Here’s my take on it:
The Premise:
The story follows Imani, a formerly magicless elf who, after her grandmother’s execution, suddenly becomes the most powerful witch in her village. With magic fading from the world, Imani is thrust into a perilous court filled with political intrigue and dangerous trials. She must navigate her newfound powers, forbidden dark magic, and a treacherous prince to save her realm—even if it costs her soul.
What I Loved:
• Complex World-Building: Gilmore crafts a rich tapestry of magic systems, diverse creatures, and intricate politics. The depth of the lore is impressive, making the world feel both expansive and immersive.
• Morally Grey Characters: The characters, especially Imani, are layered and complex. Their morally ambiguous decisions add depth to the narrative, keeping me engaged and questioning their motives.
• Unique Magic System: The variety of magical abilities and the concept of magic fading added a fresh twist to the fantasy genre. It was intriguing to see how different characters wielded their powers and the consequences that ensued.
𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔:
✧ fated mates
✧ antiheroes & villains
✧ badass protaganist
✧ witchy vibes
✧ slow-burn
✧ high - heat
What Gave Me Pause:
• Information Overload: The initial chapters are dense with information, introducing numerous terms, places, and magical concepts. At times, it felt overwhelming, and I found myself re-reading sections to grasp the details..
• Pacing Issues: While the world-building is rich, it occasionally slows down the plot. Some sections felt more like an info-dump, making it challenging to stay fully engaged.
• Character Development: While I appreciated the morally grey aspects, I wished for more growth in some characters. Their arcs felt stagnant at times, leaving me wanting deeper emotional connections.
Final Thoughts:
The Elf Witch is a promising start to a new fantasy series, offering a unique blend of dark magic, political intrigue, and complex characters. Despite some pacing and information density issues, it was a compelling read. I recommend this book and am curious to see where Gilmore takes the story next and hope for more character development in the sequels.
Note: I received an advance review copy of this book, and my thoughts are my own.
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November 21, 2024I loved it! Slow burn! Like calls to like comes to mind with this one. But I'm honestly looking forward to the next one! This is officially one of my favorite books!! Fair Warning: ends on a cliffhanger. But oh, so good!
August 12, 2025
This is a book that a group of my friends and I are reading in our traveling book club. One of my friends absolutely loved it and one of them thought it was just okay. I was prepared to go into this story knowing that there were mixed reviews, triggers, dark elements, and dark characters I will hate. I do think having these warnings made me go into this story with a different mindset, which I believe helped me appreciate this book more. I am glad that I did not go into this book blind.
When I first started reading, I was a little confused on the world building and magic system. I felt like too much information was being thrown at me at once. I had to re-read a couple of paragraphs here and there to understand what was happening. Thankfully as I continued on everything started making more sense and coming together. Even though these characters are basically all villains, (and there are some truly awful characters) I actually connected to our FMC and thought she was a good character to root for. She was not as dark as the other characters and there were plenty of times, I found myself feeling really bad for her and wanting to see her succeed.
I appreciated that this story is very different than anything else I have read. I think the magic system is pretty interesting and I think the author is very creative!
This story has different kinds of magical creatures, deadly trials, politics, rival kingdoms, and basically enslavement. I would encourage everyone to check the trigger warnings before reading this book, especially for SA triggers.
There are a couple of open-door spicy scenes in this book, but there isn't really any romance. This is not a book to read for a romance story. This is a book you read when you want something that is outside of the box, different then you are use to, unique magic system, and a very multifaceted FMC.
I am very much looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
When I first started reading, I was a little confused on the world building and magic system. I felt like too much information was being thrown at me at once. I had to re-read a couple of paragraphs here and there to understand what was happening. Thankfully as I continued on everything started making more sense and coming together. Even though these characters are basically all villains, (and there are some truly awful characters) I actually connected to our FMC and thought she was a good character to root for. She was not as dark as the other characters and there were plenty of times, I found myself feeling really bad for her and wanting to see her succeed.
I appreciated that this story is very different than anything else I have read. I think the magic system is pretty interesting and I think the author is very creative!
This story has different kinds of magical creatures, deadly trials, politics, rival kingdoms, and basically enslavement. I would encourage everyone to check the trigger warnings before reading this book, especially for SA triggers.
There are a couple of open-door spicy scenes in this book, but there isn't really any romance. This is not a book to read for a romance story. This is a book you read when you want something that is outside of the box, different then you are use to, unique magic system, and a very multifaceted FMC.
I am very much looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
September 24, 2025
just finished thoughts:
1. The writing style was very earnest
2. The magic combined many fantasy and sci-fi elements
3.5 rounded up
1. The writing style was very earnest
2. The magic combined many fantasy and sci-fi elements
3.5 rounded up
March 3, 2025
Thank you so much Nerdfam for the gifted eArc 🫶🏼
THIS BOOK 😍😍
I am obsessed I need the next one IMMEDIATELY!
The first 30% I found a bit confusing, but I think that's due to the amount of information and world building elements.
After that I was HOOKED. Imani is an absolute badass, I love her and her magical c*nt. Her development from the beginning vs the end is amazing, shes really come into her own and embraced her high-norn self. I can't wait to see how she develops her powers in further books and become even more unhinged.
The tension between her and Kiran was palpable, this is a true enemies to lovers (or maybe just enemies) book. Kiran can use his soul draw on me any day, we love a psychotic man on the verge of mania, he is still such a mysterious character I can't wait to find out more about him in the next book, I have so many questions and theories 🤣
THIS BOOK 😍😍
I am obsessed I need the next one IMMEDIATELY!
The first 30% I found a bit confusing, but I think that's due to the amount of information and world building elements.
After that I was HOOKED. Imani is an absolute badass, I love her and her magical c*nt. Her development from the beginning vs the end is amazing, shes really come into her own and embraced her high-norn self. I can't wait to see how she develops her powers in further books and become even more unhinged.
The tension between her and Kiran was palpable, this is a true enemies to lovers (or maybe just enemies) book. Kiran can use his soul draw on me any day, we love a psychotic man on the verge of mania, he is still such a mysterious character I can't wait to find out more about him in the next book, I have so many questions and theories 🤣
June 24, 2025
I am all for a book about villains! Unfortunately, for me this one didn’t hit the mark.
I would describe this book as confusing, dark, and slow moving. Information is randomly distributed over the course of several chapters for no real reason, while other chapters have redundant dialogue and conflicting emotions.
There was very little character development in this story. The characters are supposed to be morally gray/black, and they all fluctuated between kind and awful so frequently it gave me whiplash. Imani, the FMC, was an inconsistent character, at times hopeful and looking for a friend, while at other times completely absorbed in selfish needs, revenge, feedings, and desires. The MMC’s bipolar behavior was unsatisfying and confusing, while also violent.
The pacing in this story was very slow. Coupled with having to reread several sections multiple times, this book was not a smooth read.
The world building and magic system were muddy. The binding magic was interesting.
There was spice in this book, some closed door, some openly descriptive. I’d give 2/5 🌶️.
All this being said, I am still curious what the next book has in store and if my suspicions are confirmed.
I would describe this book as confusing, dark, and slow moving. Information is randomly distributed over the course of several chapters for no real reason, while other chapters have redundant dialogue and conflicting emotions.
There was very little character development in this story. The characters are supposed to be morally gray/black, and they all fluctuated between kind and awful so frequently it gave me whiplash. Imani, the FMC, was an inconsistent character, at times hopeful and looking for a friend, while at other times completely absorbed in selfish needs, revenge, feedings, and desires. The MMC’s bipolar behavior was unsatisfying and confusing, while also violent.
The pacing in this story was very slow. Coupled with having to reread several sections multiple times, this book was not a smooth read.
The world building and magic system were muddy. The binding magic was interesting.
There was spice in this book, some closed door, some openly descriptive. I’d give 2/5 🌶️.
All this being said, I am still curious what the next book has in store and if my suspicions are confirmed.
February 14, 2025
This book did not go where I expected it to go and I was sucked in completely.
Imani has had to grow up ruthless. So when dark events push her to seize her fate, she takes it. She will do almost anything to get what she desires and keep control of her own life. Unfortunately, when you have power you tend to underestimate those around you. While playing the game, Imani gets played.
I actually didn’t like Imani at first. I found her to be too cold hearted and it made it difficult to sympathize with her. As the story went on though, that changed. I can understand wanted to make your own way and ensure you are not controlled. Desperate for friendship and love she often falls for kindness as connection. There were many moments I felt outraged on her behalf. The way they called her a “whore” for doing what everyone seems to be doing made me so mad.
As for the MMC… I don’t want to give anything away but go into this knowing that all of these characters are morally gray and black lol.
I can’t wait to read book 2 which kind of sucks because this one is not even out yet 😩
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for this amazing ARC
Imani has had to grow up ruthless. So when dark events push her to seize her fate, she takes it. She will do almost anything to get what she desires and keep control of her own life. Unfortunately, when you have power you tend to underestimate those around you. While playing the game, Imani gets played.
I actually didn’t like Imani at first. I found her to be too cold hearted and it made it difficult to sympathize with her. As the story went on though, that changed. I can understand wanted to make your own way and ensure you are not controlled. Desperate for friendship and love she often falls for kindness as connection. There were many moments I felt outraged on her behalf. The way they called her a “whore” for doing what everyone seems to be doing made me so mad.
As for the MMC… I don’t want to give anything away but go into this knowing that all of these characters are morally gray and black lol.
I can’t wait to read book 2 which kind of sucks because this one is not even out yet 😩
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for this amazing ARC
March 4, 2025
As soon as you start this book you can tell there is a lot of lore and lots of different types of magic in the setting. While the start was a bit slow, by the end of the book I did find myself invested, as in I wouldn’t reread this book but I would read the second one. It really took me a minute to get a grasp on the storyline, and even then it does bounce around a lot. Each character has a very different and hard to pin down goal going on- you get the main idea but I think the development just fell short for me. I will say, the end turned it around a bit and I do want to know what happens next. Imani is starting a new chapter with even higher stakes. I definitely warn you to read the triggers and themes in the novel as the way the main characters get ‘magic’ or survive is quite different and threw me off for a good bit of the book.
Overall my rating is a 3.25-3.5, I didn’t not like it and it was written well. I think the plot just threw a lot at you while also not explaining enough. Imani is a likeable fmc, but her conversations fell a bit flat. I would love to see more spark from her in any coming books. I will say I loved the love interest twist and we do get a veryyy serious enemies to lovers.
Thank you to the Nerd Fam for an early e-arc of this book!
Overall my rating is a 3.25-3.5, I didn’t not like it and it was written well. I think the plot just threw a lot at you while also not explaining enough. Imani is a likeable fmc, but her conversations fell a bit flat. I would love to see more spark from her in any coming books. I will say I loved the love interest twist and we do get a veryyy serious enemies to lovers.
Thank you to the Nerd Fam for an early e-arc of this book!
March 11, 2025
I rate this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. It was such a wild ride. Imani is such a bad*** FMC. She is smart, resourceful and will fight for herself. This book starts with her grandmothers death and we are taken on a journey filled with cruelty, betrayal and more death. I was shocked at the ending. I am so thankful I was given the opportunity to ARC read this, and I cannot wait for book 2!
March 12, 2025
[ARC REVIEW]
I had to sit and think about what to say in this review and what to rate it (3.75 ⭐️). I went in with completely different expectations and was not prepared for what this book had in store. This was a curious read.
At a glance: Villians. FMC anti-hero. Unique magic system. Morally grey/black everyone. Lots of world building. Slow burn. Dark Romance.
Imani is a tough character to like, if I’m being quite honest. She’s ruthless, cold, and doesn’t seem to really care about anyone but herself, sister, and brother. But as the story goes, I found her to be a bit sad and naive. She really wants friendship and connection after being forced into (essentially) isolation for all of her life. Because of that she gets taken advantage of a lot.
While her goals are clear, the rest of the casts’ isn’t. I could kiiind of tell what the MMCs’ end goals are but even then it’s all a big question mark. Guess we’ll see how they play out as the series continues.
But dang did the plot plot, there were some serious twists and turns.
I did find myself kind of rolling my eyes about how Imani was constantly being reduced to nothing more than a honeypot.
Despite that, I enjoyed this book.
Thanks to The Nerd Fam for this ARC! I’m very curious to see how this continues and learn more about the world.
—————————-
This was a curious read. Full review and rating once I’ve sorted it out.
I had to sit and think about what to say in this review and what to rate it (3.75 ⭐️). I went in with completely different expectations and was not prepared for what this book had in store. This was a curious read.
At a glance: Villians. FMC anti-hero. Unique magic system. Morally grey/black everyone. Lots of world building. Slow burn. Dark Romance.
Imani is a tough character to like, if I’m being quite honest. She’s ruthless, cold, and doesn’t seem to really care about anyone but herself, sister, and brother. But as the story goes, I found her to be a bit sad and naive. She really wants friendship and connection after being forced into (essentially) isolation for all of her life. Because of that she gets taken advantage of a lot.
While her goals are clear, the rest of the casts’ isn’t. I could kiiind of tell what the MMCs’ end goals are but even then it’s all a big question mark. Guess we’ll see how they play out as the series continues.
But dang did the plot plot, there were some serious twists and turns.
I did find myself kind of rolling my eyes about how Imani was constantly being reduced to nothing more than a honeypot.
Despite that, I enjoyed this book.
Thanks to The Nerd Fam for this ARC! I’m very curious to see how this continues and learn more about the world.
—————————-
This was a curious read. Full review and rating once I’ve sorted it out.
January 26, 2025
The Elf Witch - a wonderful story and a great journey of fear, love, politics, magic skills, double standards, mystery, and history and many types of magic. There are royal families that on the surface show arrogance, fear, demands and various skill sets.
Now, ordinarily I would not hesitate to give this story a 5-star rating as it entertained me, made me think hard and drew me in so it became a video in my head as I could see the world and the characters and the towns, cities, and woodlands. I would rate this as a 4.5 if I could.
So where did it slip for me. The first couple of chapters I found tough and hard work as I was trying to understand what was going on. It did not flow for me and to be honest, I almost put the book down. But I am so glad that I did not as when the story reached a certain point, it just took off and never let me go.
The writer does warn that this is slow burn and it takes a long time for the main characters to fall into place.
Now, it is so important that you read the first couple of chapters and take all you learn from them in as at various points in Imani’s journey every last bit of it is so relevant.
There are three MC's, Imani - The Elf Witch, and two specific princes from opposite ends, Tamyl and Kiran. The main love interest is between these three, but do not pick this book up in the mistaken belief that its enemies to lovers and the lovers live happily ever after. It is a love story, but then again not in the traditional sense. Happily Ever After - This does not happen and it is so important to the story that it could not. It would be a cheat and undermine a brilliant and entertaining story line. There are many big sub characters and so much deception, double dealing, and misinformation that it mixes everything up so beautifully throughout. There are competing factions, competing magics, double standards and political positioning.
I promise you as things progress it will take your breath away with its wonderful complexity and how so many truths out.
Do not trust your gut, do not believe anything people say and go with the flow as the truth will gradually out and warring factions and hidden desires and needs are exposed. I did not see some of the betrayals coming, but the potential was so clear after the fact, but only after the fact as they are so well disguised before.
The characterisation is excellent, the story line is unbelievably well thought through, the cliffhangers and suspense just keeps coming at you. The development of the worlds is first class and it is so easy to let yourself slip into this story and see the worlds and the inhabitants clearly in your head.
As for the ending. A real 100% cliffhanger. There is so much potential for so many possibilities.
The next stage of this journey…..Can't wait.
Now, ordinarily I would not hesitate to give this story a 5-star rating as it entertained me, made me think hard and drew me in so it became a video in my head as I could see the world and the characters and the towns, cities, and woodlands. I would rate this as a 4.5 if I could.
So where did it slip for me. The first couple of chapters I found tough and hard work as I was trying to understand what was going on. It did not flow for me and to be honest, I almost put the book down. But I am so glad that I did not as when the story reached a certain point, it just took off and never let me go.
The writer does warn that this is slow burn and it takes a long time for the main characters to fall into place.
Now, it is so important that you read the first couple of chapters and take all you learn from them in as at various points in Imani’s journey every last bit of it is so relevant.
There are three MC's, Imani - The Elf Witch, and two specific princes from opposite ends, Tamyl and Kiran. The main love interest is between these three, but do not pick this book up in the mistaken belief that its enemies to lovers and the lovers live happily ever after. It is a love story, but then again not in the traditional sense. Happily Ever After - This does not happen and it is so important to the story that it could not. It would be a cheat and undermine a brilliant and entertaining story line. There are many big sub characters and so much deception, double dealing, and misinformation that it mixes everything up so beautifully throughout. There are competing factions, competing magics, double standards and political positioning.
I promise you as things progress it will take your breath away with its wonderful complexity and how so many truths out.
Do not trust your gut, do not believe anything people say and go with the flow as the truth will gradually out and warring factions and hidden desires and needs are exposed. I did not see some of the betrayals coming, but the potential was so clear after the fact, but only after the fact as they are so well disguised before.
The characterisation is excellent, the story line is unbelievably well thought through, the cliffhangers and suspense just keeps coming at you. The development of the worlds is first class and it is so easy to let yourself slip into this story and see the worlds and the inhabitants clearly in your head.
As for the ending. A real 100% cliffhanger. There is so much potential for so many possibilities.
The next stage of this journey…..Can't wait.
August 19, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Elf Witch was such an enjoyable read! What stood out most for me were the characters as each one felt layered and real, and I loved watching their relationships shift and grow throughout the story. There were moments of tension, vulnerability, and connection that really made me care about where things were headed.
The worldbuilding was another big highlight. Jacqueline Gilmore did a great job expanding on the magic, lore, and elven culture in ways that felt immersive without being overwhelming. The details made the setting come alive and gave the whole book a richer atmosphere.
There were a few slower parts, but overall I was pulled in and left wanting more. I’m excited to see where the story goes next!
The Elf Witch was such an enjoyable read! What stood out most for me were the characters as each one felt layered and real, and I loved watching their relationships shift and grow throughout the story. There were moments of tension, vulnerability, and connection that really made me care about where things were headed.
The worldbuilding was another big highlight. Jacqueline Gilmore did a great job expanding on the magic, lore, and elven culture in ways that felt immersive without being overwhelming. The details made the setting come alive and gave the whole book a richer atmosphere.
There were a few slower parts, but overall I was pulled in and left wanting more. I’m excited to see where the story goes next!
July 8, 2025
This book! What a wild ride. This is not a feel good read but it is a good read. This book is dark fantasy. Every single character in this book is diabolical and morally black. This is indeed a story about villians. There is semblance of a slow burn relationship, but do not mistake it as a romance, it is not. The plot twists and character's interactions kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Intitally the magic system is a bit confusing but stick with it, it all makes sense as you continue reading. There are magical trials, rivalling kingdoms and their politics, forced proximity, enslavement, and just plain old evil being evil.
I rated this book 5 stars and it will live rent free in my brain! Oh and almost forgot the main character Imani........ let's all say together..... Shadow Mommy!
Thank you @ The Nerd Fam and Jacquelyn Gilmore for letting me ARC read this.
I rated this book 5 stars and it will live rent free in my brain! Oh and almost forgot the main character Imani........ let's all say together..... Shadow Mommy!
Thank you @ The Nerd Fam and Jacquelyn Gilmore for letting me ARC read this.
March 27, 2025
DNF. I wanted to like this. But unfortunately I just couldn’t get into it this one :(. The magic system was really cool but as many others stated, it was A LOT of information poured into one book and it was too much to keep up with and remember. The plot was interesting in the beginning but in the nicest way possible I started to get bored.
I did receive this copy as an ARC and as always am grateful and appreciative of the opportunity to read this. It unfortunately wasn’t for me but I’m happy to see others did enjoy!
I did receive this copy as an ARC and as always am grateful and appreciative of the opportunity to read this. It unfortunately wasn’t for me but I’m happy to see others did enjoy!
March 26, 2025
Dark Fantasy Romance . Horror . Morally Black Anti-Hero . Hidden Identity . Hidden Powers . Elven Romance . Shape-Shifters . Trials . Kingdoms/Realms Politics . Love Triangle .
Imani, a magicless elf, was raised by her grandmother, Ara, with a heavy hand and tough-love. It was not an easy life, as her grandmother was not the loving kind. But Imani was a strong elf, and though she was magicless, she knew how to use a certain gift -- unique to her kind -- to her advantage.
When her grandmother is put to death, suddenly Imani is filled with forbidden powers she doesn't know how to use. She's forced to sink or swim, and learn quickly in order to keep her siblings safe. Under costly illusions, she takes on another identity and goes through magical trials that could lead to her death. It is not an easy journey as she finds herself right smack in the middle of a dangerous political intrigue, under the potential of an end-of-realms, and unabashedly attracting the lust and amorous attention of two powerful princes. She has little choice but to play both sides in order to get closer to her goal. But which enemy is the lesser, which is the least dangerous? And which danger draws and calls to her own growing shadows and darkness... and desires more?
Like ACOTAR meets Hunger Games, with a swirling darkness mixed with Elves and Shifters, betrayals, and soul-sucking seduction. Easily a captivating, enthralling read for me, loved almost everything about it. Won't say what annoyed and irked me, as it would be a spoiler, but hopefully book 2 offers some sort of redeption. Of course, there is a cliffhanger, too.
5🌟 eARC review
Imani, a magicless elf, was raised by her grandmother, Ara, with a heavy hand and tough-love. It was not an easy life, as her grandmother was not the loving kind. But Imani was a strong elf, and though she was magicless, she knew how to use a certain gift -- unique to her kind -- to her advantage.
When her grandmother is put to death, suddenly Imani is filled with forbidden powers she doesn't know how to use. She's forced to sink or swim, and learn quickly in order to keep her siblings safe. Under costly illusions, she takes on another identity and goes through magical trials that could lead to her death. It is not an easy journey as she finds herself right smack in the middle of a dangerous political intrigue, under the potential of an end-of-realms, and unabashedly attracting the lust and amorous attention of two powerful princes. She has little choice but to play both sides in order to get closer to her goal. But which enemy is the lesser, which is the least dangerous? And which danger draws and calls to her own growing shadows and darkness... and desires more?
Like ACOTAR meets Hunger Games, with a swirling darkness mixed with Elves and Shifters, betrayals, and soul-sucking seduction. Easily a captivating, enthralling read for me, loved almost everything about it. Won't say what annoyed and irked me, as it would be a spoiler, but hopefully book 2 offers some sort of redeption. Of course, there is a cliffhanger, too.
5🌟 eARC review
March 11, 2025
Morally black characters? Slow burn villain romance?! HIGH stakes magical trials?!
FREAKING YESSSSS
This book is delightfully deep, dark, and devious. 4.5 stars!
The magic system: Super interesting but fairly complex. Definitely requires you to pay attention to grab all the details. There are heart bonds and different types of magical marks.
The characters: Everyone has an agenda. No one can be trusted. Magic is dying. Different people have different ideas about how to solve that issue. This book raises more questions than answers about the characters but the journey and interactions keep you fully engaged. I enjoyed the complexity of the characters immensely
-Imani is thought to be a magicless elf until her grandmother dies. She is gritty and makes hasty decisions and then continues to deal with compounding consequences. She has a dark shadow magic that is unheard of in her kingdom and she closely guards that secret as she attempts to keep the shadow magic at bay
-Tanyl is the prince of the Essenheim Kingdom... his mother, the queen, as a different idea on how to handle disappearing magic than he does. He is composed, calculated, capable... not vicious... like the princes from Niflhiem, Kiran and Saevel.
-Kiran... what do I even say about this character that gives insane with cunning intelligence vibes? ahh... yes... he's a snake. He hides himself in plain sight and there seems to be no limit to the ability to see/sense everything. He's utterly intriguing.
The author includes a note in the beginning to remind you that these characters are in development. They are villains and morally black... these imperfect characters have a darker growth journey. So that set the tone for me and I was able to sit back and enjoy the book.
I did spend some time confused about magic... why things were happening... Tanyl's wand... I felt like I was thrown into a complex world with so many important details constantly.
I will ABSOLUTELY be reading the next book. Frankly, I look forward to the reread of this one to prepare me for the next one.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my opinion. Thank you Jacquelyn Gilmore.
FREAKING YESSSSS
This book is delightfully deep, dark, and devious. 4.5 stars!
The magic system: Super interesting but fairly complex. Definitely requires you to pay attention to grab all the details. There are heart bonds and different types of magical marks.
The characters: Everyone has an agenda. No one can be trusted. Magic is dying. Different people have different ideas about how to solve that issue. This book raises more questions than answers about the characters but the journey and interactions keep you fully engaged. I enjoyed the complexity of the characters immensely
-Imani is thought to be a magicless elf until her grandmother dies. She is gritty and makes hasty decisions and then continues to deal with compounding consequences. She has a dark shadow magic that is unheard of in her kingdom and she closely guards that secret as she attempts to keep the shadow magic at bay
-Tanyl is the prince of the Essenheim Kingdom... his mother, the queen, as a different idea on how to handle disappearing magic than he does. He is composed, calculated, capable... not vicious... like the princes from Niflhiem, Kiran and Saevel.
-Kiran... what do I even say about this character that gives insane with cunning intelligence vibes? ahh... yes... he's a snake. He hides himself in plain sight and there seems to be no limit to the ability to see/sense everything. He's utterly intriguing.
The author includes a note in the beginning to remind you that these characters are in development. They are villains and morally black... these imperfect characters have a darker growth journey. So that set the tone for me and I was able to sit back and enjoy the book.
I did spend some time confused about magic... why things were happening... Tanyl's wand... I felt like I was thrown into a complex world with so many important details constantly.
I will ABSOLUTELY be reading the next book. Frankly, I look forward to the reread of this one to prepare me for the next one.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my opinion. Thank you Jacquelyn Gilmore.
March 20, 2025
I absolutely devoured this book. As someone who loves epic fantasy, this scratched an itch I’ve had for a looooooooong time. The world building is intense and there’s a lot of information to understand, but this world is fascinating and rich with lore I can’t wait to find out more about. The magic can be confusing at times, but I never truly felt lost in it. I just have more questions I’m hoping for answers to in the next book.
Now these characters were unlike any I’ve read for a long time. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a wide cast of morally grey/black characters. And I loved it. None of these characters are good people. This book is gritty and dark, and our fmc will do anything to progress her goals. Nobody is good in this story. And if you like to be able to sympathize with your main characters, know that this one will be difficult. But if you know going in, aka you read the trigger warnings about this story being about villains and morally black characters, then this book absolutely delivers.
I’m so intrigued by this story, and highly recommend to anyone looking for a rich and dark world with a hefty magic system and morally black characters galore. Thank you so much to TorchLitInk for the book.
Now these characters were unlike any I’ve read for a long time. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a wide cast of morally grey/black characters. And I loved it. None of these characters are good people. This book is gritty and dark, and our fmc will do anything to progress her goals. Nobody is good in this story. And if you like to be able to sympathize with your main characters, know that this one will be difficult. But if you know going in, aka you read the trigger warnings about this story being about villains and morally black characters, then this book absolutely delivers.
I’m so intrigued by this story, and highly recommend to anyone looking for a rich and dark world with a hefty magic system and morally black characters galore. Thank you so much to TorchLitInk for the book.
March 31, 2025
3,75 ⭐️
If you’re looking for an action packed, fantasy book with some hint of romance this might be what you need!
There ins’t one single character that’s not morally grey (or black? 👀) and i was here for it! 🤣 everyone is out to get everyone and in this world, Imani can only count with herself. This made for an interesting read as it makes you second guess everything and everyone’s true intentions.
The magical world is quite imaginative, there’s different types of magic and opposing factions, with our FMC finding herself in the midst of a big political intrigue.
There’s a lot happening, but i really enjoy being thrown into a story without much context and having to figure out everything along the way. It did help that i looked into the author’s website where you can find a glossary! I really advise checking that out while reading this book.
The ending left me curious for the next book, as i believe will be focused on Kiran, one of the MMC’s and the most intriguing one in my opinion 👀 i hope to have more exploration of relationships and motivations in the next book!
I definitely missed a more ‘show don’t tell’ approach here, and i’m hoping the second book will tackle this 💜
If you’re looking for an action packed, fantasy book with some hint of romance this might be what you need!
There ins’t one single character that’s not morally grey (or black? 👀) and i was here for it! 🤣 everyone is out to get everyone and in this world, Imani can only count with herself. This made for an interesting read as it makes you second guess everything and everyone’s true intentions.
The magical world is quite imaginative, there’s different types of magic and opposing factions, with our FMC finding herself in the midst of a big political intrigue.
There’s a lot happening, but i really enjoy being thrown into a story without much context and having to figure out everything along the way. It did help that i looked into the author’s website where you can find a glossary! I really advise checking that out while reading this book.
The ending left me curious for the next book, as i believe will be focused on Kiran, one of the MMC’s and the most intriguing one in my opinion 👀 i hope to have more exploration of relationships and motivations in the next book!
I definitely missed a more ‘show don’t tell’ approach here, and i’m hoping the second book will tackle this 💜
December 30, 2024
I need a moment to stare at a blank wall for a while, as this was an ARC read I know I’m going to be anxiously waiting for the next instalment.
Wow, what a wild ride! This book gives me ACOTAR vibes throughout with morally black characters, intense magical trials and a strong FMC. I LOVED how badass Imani was and I’m dying to see her unleash her full power on the world. The characters were well developed, the magic system was unique and the storyline was well thought out. There were times where I both loved and hated every single character in this book and that’s a testament to the storytelling of Gilmore and there is so much potential here for a cracking series.
My only quibble was that there was some intense lore and geography behind this book which left me pretty stumped at times (although there may be a map or some preamble added before the release that could help with this) but I found I was able to follow along and it did make sense by the end. I also found I had whiplash with some of the characters at times and I’m hoping their actions will be established in the next book.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and could not put it down. I need more and could easily have kept on reading for hours. Thank you to BookSirens and the publishers for the ARC!
Wow, what a wild ride! This book gives me ACOTAR vibes throughout with morally black characters, intense magical trials and a strong FMC. I LOVED how badass Imani was and I’m dying to see her unleash her full power on the world. The characters were well developed, the magic system was unique and the storyline was well thought out. There were times where I both loved and hated every single character in this book and that’s a testament to the storytelling of Gilmore and there is so much potential here for a cracking series.
My only quibble was that there was some intense lore and geography behind this book which left me pretty stumped at times (although there may be a map or some preamble added before the release that could help with this) but I found I was able to follow along and it did make sense by the end. I also found I had whiplash with some of the characters at times and I’m hoping their actions will be established in the next book.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and could not put it down. I need more and could easily have kept on reading for hours. Thank you to BookSirens and the publishers for the ARC!
March 21, 2025
Before reading this one, be sure to read the warnings, the biggest one of which is that all the characters in this book are villains and morally black. Like they’re not good, and you definitely have to reframe your mind that none of these characters are likeable in the way we are typically used to.
On that same note though, they all have really hard lives and this world is very cutthroat, so it’s of necessity. This definitely was a slow burn and continues to be. I don’t think the love interest is who I thought it was initially, as someone else is later introduced. Towards the beginning of the novel, she kills who she believes to be her heartmate, but my theory is that he never was and it’s actually the Prince but we’ll see. That’s my theory lol
This book is bloody, the characters have to make a lot of tough choices, some of which just seem outright cruel, and no one can trust anyone, even the ones you thought you could trust the most.
Thank you R&R Book Tours for the copy for review!
On that same note though, they all have really hard lives and this world is very cutthroat, so it’s of necessity. This definitely was a slow burn and continues to be. I don’t think the love interest is who I thought it was initially, as someone else is later introduced. Towards the beginning of the novel, she kills who she believes to be her heartmate, but my theory is that he never was and it’s actually the Prince but we’ll see. That’s my theory lol
This book is bloody, the characters have to make a lot of tough choices, some of which just seem outright cruel, and no one can trust anyone, even the ones you thought you could trust the most.
Thank you R&R Book Tours for the copy for review!
February 6, 2025
ARC review - March 11, 2025 a new dark fantasy debuts. Jacquelyn Gilmore's "The Elf Witch" is more than just another fantasy romance—it's a haunting journey into a world where magic is vanishing, and power comes with a price.
The story follows an unlikely heroine: an elf who has no magical abilities at all. But everything changes after her grandmother's execution, when she suddenly becomes the most powerful witch in her village. This new found power couldn't have come at a more crucial time, as magic itself is disappearing from the world, and dark forces are positioning themselves to take control of what little remains.
What sets this novel apart is Gilmore's unique approach to the fantasy genre. She's crafted a world that feels both familiar and entirely new. Most intriguingly though is the focus on villains and antihero’s. A bold choice that promises to push readers into new and terrifying worlds while questioning traditional notions of good and evil.
Very excited about continuing this series.
The story follows an unlikely heroine: an elf who has no magical abilities at all. But everything changes after her grandmother's execution, when she suddenly becomes the most powerful witch in her village. This new found power couldn't have come at a more crucial time, as magic itself is disappearing from the world, and dark forces are positioning themselves to take control of what little remains.
What sets this novel apart is Gilmore's unique approach to the fantasy genre. She's crafted a world that feels both familiar and entirely new. Most intriguingly though is the focus on villains and antihero’s. A bold choice that promises to push readers into new and terrifying worlds while questioning traditional notions of good and evil.
Very excited about continuing this series.
July 8, 2025
hmm...the first half is a solid, classic romantasy. girl with special magic that makes her different makes a sacrifice to protect her family and go to the elite training to compete in deadly trials. luckily, this had crazy political intrigue! i was hooked with the betrayals and the many players trying to achieve their own goals. was our main girl as dumb as ever? maybe.
my issue with this book which almost lowered this rating to 2 stars is the ending romance? he's cruel in a hypocritical and disgusting way. he's vile and there's no way for a redemption story for me to like this characters and root for their relationship! how am i suppose to continue??? tbh all of these men are the worst!!! i like enemies to lovers as much as the next but this wasn't it, the way he spoke to her was beyond forgiving soooo i'm not sure if i will continue. i want to know what happens next in the world but idk if i can go through their lust and hatred to maybe have a redemption that won't feel worthy...
my issue with this book which almost lowered this rating to 2 stars is the ending romance? he's cruel in a hypocritical and disgusting way. he's vile and there's no way for a redemption story for me to like this characters and root for their relationship! how am i suppose to continue??? tbh all of these men are the worst!!! i like enemies to lovers as much as the next but this wasn't it, the way he spoke to her was beyond forgiving soooo i'm not sure if i will continue. i want to know what happens next in the world but idk if i can go through their lust and hatred to maybe have a redemption that won't feel worthy...
October 31, 2025
This is marketed as a villian story with morally black characters, but for me the characters just weren't villainous enough. Imani, the female main character has some pretty cool magic that she could do some damage with, but spends the entire book trying to supress it. She instead allows herself to be manipulated by two men that are using her for an appendage measuring contest. Because Imani's actions go against her best interest and her motivations are unclear/against her character, it made it hard to care about her being manipulated and pushed into a corner.
The pacing was slow despite being in what should have been high stakes trials and the few reveals that there were, were predictable.
I feel like this had potential to be an exciting and truley villainous story, but it missed the mark.
Trigger warnings for SA
The word c*nt is used way to many times (and not in a fun way)
2.5⭐️
The pacing was slow despite being in what should have been high stakes trials and the few reveals that there were, were predictable.
I feel like this had potential to be an exciting and truley villainous story, but it missed the mark.
Trigger warnings for SA
The word c*nt is used way to many times (and not in a fun way)
2.5⭐️
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