The Betrayal of Eden

Grimoire & Key #1

by Erin Phillips

Before she can rise above them all, she must first fall.

I'm on the precipice of a cliff.
One light breeze away from falling off.

At 16, Eden Fortin sees nothing but a bright future ahead of her. With a valuable promotion on the horizon, she is granted a coveted spot as a debutante alongside her wealthy friend, Fallon Riviere, an important step in escaping the sordid South Bout and securing a future with her beau, Myles Taillefer, the son of a powerful representative.
But the happily ever after of Eden’s fairytale rise will be more dangerous than she realizes.
Hunter Calder, an indentured servant in the Riviere household, is far too familiar with the family’s schemes. Forced to pay off his father’s debt, he discovers a dark secret about the mysterious grimoires Cartier City uses to maintain order. However, revealing the truth might not provide the freedom he seeks.
As Eden becomes overwhelmed with the requirements of high society, her rivals uncover the means to her undoing. Just as grimoire magic works in ripples, so the ruin of Eden Fortin will be the catalyst for bringing Cartier City to its knees.

Filled with suspenseful mystery, shattered dreams, and dire consequences, the first book in this sweeping reimagining of Alexandre Dumas’ masterpiece, The Count of Monte Cristo, invites you into the resplendent world of Cartier City and will make you question everything you know about happy endings.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Retellings, Christian, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Romance

378 pages, Hardcover

Published May 6, 2025

About the author

Stories teach the heart to believe, and Erin tries to fill every second with stories, whether it’s an audiobook while on the go, a movie with her hubs, or just snuggling up with a good book. She is not afraid of a dark story, for the Light is often the most brilliant in the dead of night.
Erin graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts with a B.F.A. in Costume Design & Technology, and lives in North Carolina with her husband, Jeremy, and their happy corgis, Parker and Fable.

Reviews

[Ava ✿ (ia) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ☆ ! 🗝️
⤿ i’ll add quotes after the pub date!

♫ │death wish by gracie abrams
and you're forcing my hand
but i'm a drop in your ocean
I ruined your plans of some grand self promotion
the second you figured that I figured you out
now you look away when I look at you now

⤿ this song just about sums up eden's storyline, my heart

⊹ ࣪monte cristo retelling
⊹ ࣪double pov
⊹ dark academia
⊹ unique magic system

☕ ── thoughts !
this book is amazing! i truly feel like that describes it the best. i was so immersed in the world, story, and characters (shoutout to valentine and falia) that i found myself binging it on the weekends- something i had not done with a book in months lol! it did start a bit slow for me, which is why the my rating wasn't five stars. however, the worldbuilding flowed perfectly, as did the plot development. sometimes slow starts are needed in intricate fantasy books <3

speaking of, the magic system was so unique, i loved it! i’m also a sucker for dark academia vibes <3 the world was so immersive & i loved the parisian feel of the city. i thought the way the characters spoke french was saur cute, ngl! and the cliffhanger!? i am unwell

💼 ── eden & hunter !
ahhh! they were both such intricate and great characters, but i need more of them together! the singular conversation they shared (guys the slow burn almost killed me) showed how much chemistry etc, they have, i can’t wait for the next book hehe <3 eden deserves someone who treats her right, hello!!

also, i love a sad character backstory, and theirs just pulled on my heartstrings! eden and hunter have so much in common and they don’t even know it yet!

🧸 ── final note !
there’s deff more i could say, but i wanted to keep this as spoiler-free as possible! if this sounds at all like your kind of book, plz read it when it comes out! erin phillips deserves way more hype, i love her <3 AND thank you to erin for the arc! i was so honored to receive it!

xoxo, Ava <3

⊱✿⊰

[Ellen McGinty · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo! I loved this story with its attention to detail, exceptional world building, and deep themes of self worth and justice. While I anticipated the twists and turns due to familiarity with the original tale, this story takes it on a completely new level with grimoire magic and a lovable FMC! There are also fun Easter Eggs scattered throughout for the classic literature lover.

I can't wait to see what happens next on the Hidden Seas! The pirates were always my favorite part of The Count of Monte Cristo :) And can we take a moment to appreciate the spellbinding cover?! Highly recommend this lovely tale.

Count of Monte Cristo retelling
Kisses only romance
Adventure story
Subtle gothic vibes
Grimoire magic with consequences
Self worth & justice

*I received an eARC of this book, but this honest review is voluntary.

[Renae | Redhair_and_Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you loved the Count of Monte Cristo, but wanted it to have a spark of magic in it, THIS is the book for you. One of Phillips’ best works to date! Full review to come

[Cari Legere]

it's inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo? MUST read

[Emma Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my! I loved this so much. Aaaaaaahhh.

Before I begin, I must make my disclaimer. ***I have NOT read through The Count of Monte Cristo in its entirety. The Betrayal of Eden and the rest of the Grimoire and Key series to come are based on The Count of Monte Cristo. I have only read through the events of the classic that are covered in this first book in this series that is a reimagination by Erin Phillips. The goal is to finish the classic before the next books are released, but for now I can only use what I know of it to compare.***

Alright. Where to start…?

The characters are perfect. They fill their roles perfectly. Even the nasty ones are perfect at being nasty.

Eden’s naïveté and big heart are soooo endearing from the beginning, but her growth and the strength she gathers have me rooting for her so hard. I really want the next book to be out. Like now. Do I haaaaaave to wait????😭😭😭

And poor Hunter. I want answers for him as much as he does.

Knowing the plot of the beginning of The Count of Monte Cristo, I was always on the edge of my seat, knowing something crazy would happen just when I got a little more hopeful. I can’t imagine the white-knuckle ride this book would be for someone who hadn’t even a vague idea of what was coming next… Erin is so very clever and creative… and she plays readers’ emotions soooooo well.

Her creative liberties and the addition of some magic and world-building is just so fascinating. And it never once confused me more than it needed to.

Because come on. What fantasy book should not keep you a little confused? What would the fun be in that?

Aaaagh and Valentine!!! What’s going on with her and her grandpa? I need to know?

This book was brilliantly ended in a way that makes it impossible for me to not want to read the next one.

I gotta know what happens.

It was so good… but it was not a happy ending. And I need to know if that is coming!

Everyone, The Betrayal of Eden did not disappoint. It was emotional, intriguing, at times just the right amount of hysterically humorous, and overall too gripping to put down.

So you should pick it up. It’s an adventure that still has so much to come.

Thank you so much to Erin Phillips for allowing me to read a copy of this excellent book early! It was fantastic.

[Josiah DeGraaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been a big fan of The Count of Monte Cristo ever since I read it as a high school senior. So I was really excited to see it retold within the fantasy genre. And the fact that it's being retold over a series (instead of trying to fit everything into a mammoth tome like Dumas) did was such a great story decision.

Moving onto the actual story: I really enjoyed this retelling. The general structure from Dumas' work are here, though a lot of the specific factors have been changed in ways that fit the story world well. The sense of foreboding Phillips instilled in the first half of the book was superb and made the book hard to put down. And once the inevitable demise happens, I loved the unexpected wave of hope we experience during the time in prison. While you don't get much sense of expectation in Dumas' work, I really loved how focusing on joy amidst bleak circumstances really elevated the themes of this story. Faria may have been my favorite character in this story, both because of this and because of her wonderfully eccentric personality.

It's a retelling that does a great job paying homage to the original while charting its own course. And it leaves me itching for the next installment.

[ellie જ⁀➴ · Rating 3 out of 5]

➳ 3.5 ☆! 🗝️🧸 spoiler free + mini review
⤷ soso intriguing! definitely ready for book 2 🤭

"all life is precious, even if, for a time, we find it miserable. flowers can bloom even in a desert.

₊‧꒰my thoughts꒱ ‧₊
⤷ ive always wanted to try and erin phillips book and i finally did! this is her most recent release, and its safe to say i liked it! the chapters were so fast paced which i LOVED, and the dual pov>> my only qualms were some of the twists! and there were a lot of fishy and fake characters 👀 so i hope they get called out next book haha. this book is also based on a retelling of the count of monte cristo! and ive never even heard of it, so i think this wouldve hit way harder if i read that first 🙂‍↕️ but anyway, looking forward to book two and i love the dark academia vibes!! excited to see how our mcs find each other as well 🫂

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark academia fantasy reimagining of The Count of Monte Cristo? Say less. I could’ve sat down and read this in one setting, that’s how enticing it was from the first page, but life had other plans as usual. I adored the dual POV of Eden and Hunter, their separate journeys, and how they chose revenge. The cliffhanger is insane, and I cannot wait for Book 2! The characters, worldbuilding, and magic system is incredible, and I especially liked the hidden theme of how our choices always have ripple effects on others.

[Maggie - Busy Moms Read Too · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, one of my favorite books, but with a magical YA twist. It’s suitable for younger audiences and, while not fast paced, is intriguing throughout and well developed. I’m excited to read the next in the series!

Content: Death of loved ones, one curse word in a different language, lying, brief kissing only

[Bryn Shutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh, such a fun, gripping read! I love retellings that are both true to the original and totally fresh at the same time and The Betrayal of Eden definitely delivered. That ending though--I'm not sure how I'm supposed to wait until book 2.

[Abigail McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not nothing. I have the power to decide. I am in control of this moment.

I've been excited for "The Betrayal of Eden" since Erin first mentioned that she was developing it. I didn't know much about "The Count of Monte Cristo", but I knew her writing style + a revenge plot was going to SLAP (and even though this first book is more the setup than the actual 🔥REVENGE🔥 I'm pretty sure I was correct 😂) I picked up TCOMC in January, thinking I'd read it slowly to get familiar enough to recognize the nods in Eden's story. I ended up reading the whole thing in 12 days, and being even MORE excited to see Erin's take on it.

This first part introduces us to Eden and Hunter, two people trying to climb out of the situations they've been stuck in. For Eden, it's securing an advantageous marriage and moving up the societal ladder; for Hunter, paying off his father's debts and being free to make his own choices. But both discover that there are bigger pieces in play, but they could be instrumental in ending the game. I loved getting to know Eden and Hunter (my lil babies 🥹) and the surrounding cast. Cartier City makes for a vibrant backdrop, the mystery surrounding the grimoires and their magic was intriguing, and I LOVED (and hated) the sense of dread that built in my heart as we neared the climactic moments. I cannot WAIT to see what's going to happen next, and I'm so glad it's going to be a whole trilogy 🤣 "The Betrayal of Eden" gets 5 stars from me! 🌟

**I received a copy from the author. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**

[Brooke J Katz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m amazed by this story. The world building takes you deep into Eden and Hunters worlds. The characters within this story hold value and worth teaching us the importance of honesty, self worth, and consequences. I’ve never read The Count of Monte Cristo but after reading this it’s going on my TBR I watched the film and Erin does a phenomenal job bringing this story to life in a fresh fantasy way while staying true to its origins. I’m excited to read book two and this one is definitely sitting in my heart and mind bringing me deeper lessons then I thought possible.

[Emily B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phillips’ best work so far!!! Loooooved this one. 😭 Need Book 2 ASAP!!!

[R.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun read! The Count of Monte Cristo is my desert island book—I legitimately love it as much as my own books, if not a little bit more 😂 So coming into The Betrayal of Eden, I wasn't so much expecting it to match TCoMC as I was interested in how Phillips would bring her unique perspective to some of the same story pieces.

She definitely did that in a winsome and engaging way! The grimoire magic reshaped the storyline in some clever ways that I'm excited to follow throughout the series. I found myself actually gravitating towards Hunter's POV chapters a bit more than Eden's—his felt a bit more unique to me, but it could also be because I didn't personally relate to Eden's storyline quite as much as his. But both POVs were fun to follow. Phillips also provided some interesting reinterpretations of the original character dynamics that I didn't expect, so that was a nice surprise. My favorite reimagined piece by far, though, was Valentine and Max. I'm a sucker for spunky, precocious children; both of them were a hoot and I couldn't wait for scenes with them.

The dark academia twist was also quite creative! The worldbuilding did make me do a bit of a double-take sometimes, since it was sort of French but also not; ditto for some of the original character names being kept while others were changed. That said, the "period drama with magic" flavor was fun.

I would have loved a bit more development on Falia's character—Abbe Faria was one of my favorite characters in TCoMC, and I didn't quite get the same bond between Falia and Eden that I'd loved with Faria and Dantes. I also didn't find myself feeling Eden's despair as heavily as I'd expected; maybe because of the pacing of the prison portion of the story? That said, there could be a subjective element to that as well.

Having short chapters made this a snappy read; it was pretty addictive right off the bat. And the cliffhanger at the end was fabulous. I have some guesses for what's going to happen next but I can't wait to find out!

Overall, this was super enjoyable and I'm very much looking forward to Book 2!

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

"𝑩𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒏𝒐𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒑𝒖𝒓𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆.”

I was so ready to read a book where the main plot was something other than romance, and this book was EXACTLY what I needed! The dark academia vibes, paired with fantasy and magic, were complete perfection—making it an excellent fall read!

The Betrayal of Eden was filled with excitement, intrigue, and mystery—keeping me on the edge of my seat for much of the story. I was a bit hesitant going into this book because I hadn’t been a fan of the previous book I’d read by this author, but I had nothing to fear. This particular story was absolute perfection—including so many of my favorite story aspects!

I wouldn’t consider myself a fantasy connoisseur by any means, but with what knowledge I do have of well-written fantasy, this one was a gem for sure! The magical elements were masterfully penned—creating the perfect amount of intrigue to help draw readers deep into the plot. It’s been a long time since a book has made me actually want to keep reading to find out what’s going to happen next, and I found this particular story very difficult to put down once I got started reading!

The characters in this book were very engaging, and I really enjoyed the start of each new chapter to see what they were up to next! The emotions were highly palpable, and I found myself feeling all of the frustration and betrayal that Eden faced from her supposed friends and acquaintances. The ending left me hungry for more of this incredibly entertaining story!

Quotes:

"𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚒𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚍. 𝙹𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚐𝚐𝚕𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚒𝚗."

"𝚂𝚎𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚊 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚎.”

"𝙰𝚕𝚕 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜, 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚏, 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎, 𝚠𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎. 𝙵𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚖 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚝."

“𝚆𝚒𝚜𝚍𝚘𝚖 𝚒𝚜 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚌𝚎𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚎'𝚜 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚕𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎, 𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚜, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚌𝚎𝚜. 𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚒𝚐𝚗𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚍𝚘𝚖—𝚓𝚞𝚍𝚐𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚞𝚗𝚋𝚒𝚊𝚜𝚎𝚍, 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚔𝚜 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚎—𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚖 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚠."

"𝚁𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚜 𝚋𝚞𝚒𝚕𝚝 𝚞𝚙𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚞𝚋𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚎."

[thelilcloseddoorbookgal · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a huge Count of Monte Cristo fan, I loved what was done with this reimagined story. It was a great mix between staying true to the messages and pivotal moments of the classic and weaving in new, creative elements with an intriguing appeal. The Betrayal of Eden was written by someone who truly gets it. I thought everything that took place in this first book was perfect in sharing Eden's and Hunter's stories, how they get to where they're at, and where they're going, presumably in the next book. The foreshadowing was good. I also liked the twists on the cast of characters, and I'm excited to see them again in the next book. I loved the way the plot was building throughout the book with both POVs (so glad Hunter's was added!) and how discoveries in this book will be used in the next one. The Betrayal of Eden truly made me feel the emotions the MCs were going through. It is a fantastic villain origin story and a well-written first book in what I know will be a whole amazing series.

Spice level: none (just chaste kisses)

[Tayler Marie Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!! I have no words for how amazing this story is. I'm so excited it will be a trilogy because I still have so many questions. The story is so descriptive and well-written. The plot is gripping. I read almost the whole thing this morning. I couldn't put it down. Even though there's been no romance between the two, I'm definitely shipping Eden and Hunter. They deserve a happily ever after with everything they've been through. And I don't trust Myles. I don't know what his full intentions are but pretty sure I have an idea. The more I learn about him, the more I dislike him. Also, there were so many little twists that sucked me in. Absolutely adored this story and will be buying a physical copy for my shelf!

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received this eARC from the author, but this honest review is voluntary*

I read TBOE in 2 days and I was blown away! Eden’s story hooked me from page 1 up until the end!
This book is full of magic, secrets and tension that leave you reading with bated breath🤭
I can’t wait to see the fate of these characters unfold in book 2!

[Lillian's Lovely Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't wait for book two 😭😭

[Elyse · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨

(4.75⭐️, rounded up for Goodreads)

From start to finish, I was completely invested in both Eden and Hunter’s stories.

The vibes were immaculate. The characters were real and relatable. The corruption arcs were heartbreaking. I gasped, laughed, and teary-eyed my way through this book, staying up way too late way too many nights in a row reading because I had to know what would happen next.

I haven’t finished The Count of Monte Cristo yet, but this has absolutely motivated me to get through it! I cannot wait for Book Two, and to see where Phillips brings Eden and Hunter throughout the rest of this series.

[Anna Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege of receiving an ARC for this book, and this review is completely voluntary.

What a wonderful and heartbreaking adventure story! This book is based on The Count of Monte Cristo and would be great for anyone who loved the original classic. Even if you have not read the classic, you would love this book! Love story, adventure, mystery...this story will keep you on edge until the very end. Very clean with no surprise love scenes or any language. It was such a great start to the trilogy, and I can't wait for the next books!

[Grace Soto · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I found out Erin was writing a retelling of the Count of Monte Cristo, I knew I was going to fall in love, but I seriously underestimated the CHOKEHOLD this book would have on me.

I'm gonna break this review into some categories to keep it organized, cuz otherwise your girl will be BABBLING and idk how much would be coherent 😂

* The INSPIRATION
TBOE is a reimagining of The Count of Monte Cristo, a book I just recently finished and immediately crowned my Favorite Classic Ever. I was eager to see which elements Erin would choose to use and which she would transform, since retellings are her specialty.
AND SHE KNOCKED IT OUT👏 OF👏 THE 👏PARK 👏 While maintaining all the familiar story beats, she still kept me on the edge of my seat with a variety of intricate and intriguing world building and character elements that had me furiously scribbling notes in the margins. Which makes for an excellent segue into...

* The WORLD BUILDING
Cartier City is a mix of Paris (like Dumas' original setting), and Montreal (or a similar Canadian city, but my memory is failing me 😅) and the vibes are✨ IMMACULATE✨
Plus the gaslamp fantasy aspect has one of the COOLEST and most compelling magic systems I've read. I love magic that's dangerous, mysterious, and out of reach. This magic is all those things and more, plus it affects the plot in some JUICY ways.

*The CHARACTERS
Oooooof.... the way my heart ACHES for Eden. She is kind, responsible, and painfully naive. I saw a lot of my younger self in her and I wished I could sit her down for a nice long advice sesh and a good, warm hug. I won't say too much about where her arc leads in case you're not familiar with Edmond Dante's experience, but I will say that her transformation is both flawlessly written and heartbreaking.
Hunter also captivated me, and I loved his relationship with little Valentine! 🥹 So sweet!! The mysteries of his father's death and research unraveled in such incredible ways and as the plot tangled and tripped him more and more, I found myself biting my nails and flipping pages, desperate to see where it would lead.

*The WRITING
Ok, you won't understand this until you read it, but the PROSE... I usually have a hard time getting immersed in present tense writing, but I didn't have any trouble with this book. Soooo many lines are underlined and annotated, and so many more scratched my brain JUST RIGHT. As a writer, I know this seamless blend of description and immersion are the result of hundreds of hours in the craft and finely honed instincts. IMMENSELY SATISFYING to read. 🤌🤌🤌 Chef's kiss, no notes.

So, after the longest review I've ever written (and I could have said more), I hope it's clear that you need to read this book. And Erin, if you see this, please know my finger will be hovering over my computer mouse for the next several months ready to SMASH THAT PREORDER button when book 2 is ready. 😌

[Hailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is phenomenal! I haven't read the Count of Monte Christo so I can't appreciate any similarities between the two but despite this fact I truly enjoyed every bit of this beautiful story!

It has such an intricate plot full of slowly unraveling mysteries, discovering your past, so many moving pieces, betrayals, blackmail, scandals and so much more! It was captivating from the start and kept me hooked throughout!

The world building is so interesting and unique! The social statuses and how they all interact and the motivation that drives them, the which is somewhat mentioned, and Grimoire magic that you learn more and more about as the story progresses. It's all so interesting and detailed thoroughly immersing me in the story.

There are many wonderful characters, there is Eden and Hunger who are the MC's and it's told from their POV. It would take to long to get into all the characters and their personalities and parts they play, but they are all distinct, play an important role in the progression and all have their own personality and add so much to it! I love me some good Side Characters and one of my faves was Violet, you'll have to read to find out why 😉 But I will go into more about Eden and Hunter!

Eden, the FMC, is from the bottom of the social ladder, struggles to make ends meet and hides this truth from everyone around her. She is a hard worker, stubborn, strong, trusting sometimes too much, kind, and grows into herself. She has had to deal with so much throughout her life and doesn't see where her justice is or God's work in it. But she also grows stronger, braver, and more determined and I can't wait to see what she does and goes from her in the next books!

Hunter, the MMC, is just a step above Eden in social status. An indentured servant to the family Eden's mother has once worked for, He's stuck there by his father's debts after his passing. He slowly starts to realize a lot more is at play then people realize and tries to figure out what exactly his father was working on. He is always stuck between a rock and a hard place but yet wants to do what's right, wants to help others, and learn the truth. He finds some help and kindness but even that leads to hardships.

These two have only crossed paths a few times and had a handful of conversations but I truly can't wait to see their stories tie together and romance bloom later!

Their is plot twists galore, high stakes, prison break, danger, intrigue, and then the ENDING!!! I can't believe it left off that way, I need the next one! Oh my I can't even tell you how good it is! All I can say is you must read for yourself and discover the amazingness that is this book!

Content: No-Spice/kisses only, no swearing, past death of loved ones, threats, insinuations, attacks, whipping, mysterious deaths, blood/wounds, nothing is graphic or gory.

[Katysbookhollow · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝙱𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚗𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚍𝚢 𝚒𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚎𝚡𝚒𝚜𝚝, 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚙𝚞𝚛𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚎.”


I am so thankful to have received this eArc from the author and this honest review is entirely voluntarily given. 🫶🏻

Wow. 🗝️✨🤍📜

This story was filled to the brim with heart shattering twists and turns while also weaving a very heartfelt and vulnerable story.
Erin’s writing is so beautiful and transportive.
Every page was meaningful to the story and left me wanting to stay longer in this cobblestone world full of secrets, betrayals, and dangerous magical books.

Cartier City felt alive in these pages; from all of its glittering but ominous parties and secrets to the dock where the waves crash against the shore.

You will absolutely FEEL a range of emotions for the characters in this story. Eden and Hunter both experience heartaches and trials that made me want to jump into the story and shake some fictional people on their behalf! They both have such genuine and caring hearts and witnessing their struggles was at times heartbreaking.

But alongside that heartbreak there is friendship, there is love, there is perseverance, and there is strength. 🥺

UH AND THE ENDING?! The final pages of this book completely shocked me! I could not believe it was over?! I *need* more of Eden and Hunter’s stories!! I must know where they will land and what fate has in store for them, and for each other. I still have SO many questions!!
I can’t wait to find out the answers and follow along the journey 🥺✨

A truly inspiring tale that will remind you that you are enough.
That even when you find you are in your darkest moments, there is hope for something better.
And that you are worth fighting for.

[Ariel E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ I loved everything about this book ✨

I've always enjoyed "The Count of Monte Cristo," & this gender-swapped retelling is incredible.

You follow Eden & Hunter through dual-pov, as they both try to make the best of their lot in life. Both of them will rip at your heartstrings - both their backstories & what they experience within these pages. They are each lovable & you find yourself wanting to protect them!

Erin really makes you feel for your favorite characters (& I am so worried about some of them!)

The magic system is unique & full of mystery - which I loved. It's so fun to dive into! We're tossed into a Parisian-inspired town, thrust into some political intrigue, and uncovering secrets that are hiding more secrets.

The last third of the book really had me on the edge of my seat. And the cliff hanger? THE CLIFF HANGER?!

I know my TBR is akin to a modest mountain range at this point, but I desperately need book two.

[Kayla E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books so far this year! Full of twists and turns and depth. I absolutely loved the thread that there’s a difference between pursuits of where you’re being called and overcoming obstacles and selfish short-sightedness that one chooses to place above discernment. I need book two ASAP!

A wonderful retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, and a must read for fans of dark academia/grimoire magic, a plot that continues to thicken with each chapter, multiple POVs, and excellent world building and characters.

I’ll be back to add some favorite quotes!

[Ariana Copeland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense and thrilling!

This book is a wild ride of anxiety and injustices! Eden and Hunter each are out through the wringer, and it’s so hard to see them fall through their circumstances. Oh, but it’s such a good set up! There’s mystery and betrayal and grief and loss and a battle for revenge versus justice. I need to know more. Can’t wait for book 2!!!

[Haley Durfee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Retelling of one of my favorite classics? Yup. I’m looking forward to book two. Hunter definitely was my favorite character here, but I did love Eden’s character development. Falia was delightful, of course, and young Maximilien and Valentine were adorable. Overall, a solid dark fantasy retelling of the Count of Monte Cristo.

[S.L. Klein · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute magnificent start to this series full of masterful twists and unexpected turns. And that ENDING. I can't wait for the next instalment, and I just might have to read The Count of Monte Cristo in the meantime.

[Tiffany Goldman · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC! 🗝️🤎