The Glittering Edge: Unpredictable magic, a deadly family curse, an inconvenient love triangle

The Idlewood Duology #1

by Alyssa Villaire

An instant #1 UK Bestseller

An unputdownable gothic contemporary fantasy with the feuding families of Romeo and Juliet, the dark magic of Krystal Sutherland and a love triangle to rival The Inheritance Games.

The locals of Idlewood whisper of a tragic love story that began a decades long blood feud.

For as long as anyone can remember, the De Luca witches and the wealthy Barrion family have been sworn enemies. Ever since the curse that changed their fates forever. Now, if a Barrion falls in love with you, you’ll die.

But when Penny Emberly’s mother becomes the curse’s latest victim, she must bring together two bitter rivals, Alonso and Corey, in order to save her mum’s life and stop the feud for good.

But as the trio navigates unpredictable magic, the tangled web of their family histories, and complicated attractions, it becomes clear that there’s more than dark secrets at play.

Can Penny find a way to break the curse . . . without losing her heart in the process?

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romantasy, Romance, Witches, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal

420 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 6, 2025

About the author

Alyssa Villaire is the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The Glittering Edge and the upcoming sequel, The Neon Sky. She writes fantasy books with eerie magic, complicated friendships, and lots of yearning. She’s based in Los Angeles, where she lives with her husband and a steadily growing library.

Reviews

[Emmy Rosam · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ One of my new favourite YA fantasy books!!!! A witchy story following 3 teens (2 from rival families that are sworn enemies) who try to break a curse together to save our FMCs mother from a tragic accident.

I read this in 4 hours, I couldn’t put it down! The teenage angst and yearning in this story healed part of my inner child and had me giggling all the way through (15 year old me would have devoured this even harder than 26 year old me did)

[Ashleigh (a frolic through fiction) · Rating 5 out of 5]

You better believe me when I say this book instilled the same level of obsession The Raven Boys brought out of me back in the day. This is the perfect blend of both that and Practical Magic, which I didn’t even realise I needed until now.

The Glittering Edge became a new favourite book within a matter of chapters, and I had the joy of experiencing that bubble of excitement you get when reading what is for sure about to end a 5 star read. For readers like me who love character driven stories, this is a book that will catch you and keep you entangled with our main trio and all of their shenanigans. The stakes are high, the familial and friend units are strong, and the occult themes are just perfect for this setting. Our teenagers actually feel like teens as they jump into their plans with abandon, and arguments between friends and parents hit where it hurts most. It’s all so seamlessly written, getting into the story and believing it wholeheartedly was truly effortless.

This is genuinely one of the best YA fantasy books I’ve read, and I implore every fan of The Raven Boys especially to give this a read.


P.S. I will defend Alonso with my LIFE

Thank you to the publisher for providing an e-copy of this book via NetGalley!

[✨Julie✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

✩ 2.45 stars ✩

What to Expect:
➼ Small Town
➼ Feuding Families
➼ Family Curse
➼ Slow Burn
➼ He Falls First
➼ Witches
➼ YA Fantasy
➼ Narrated by Caitlin Kelley
➼ Third Person POV

Who else laughed at the Twilight reference on page 80? 🙋🏼‍♀️😆

Alright friends, I waffled between two and three stars for this one, but I just couldn’t personally justify a higher rating. To be fair, this is probably not a book I would have picked up if it hadn’t been a Fairyloot pick, so to an extent I think this just wasn’t for me. I do think I would have enjoyed this more, however, if it had been written in first person POV. Something about the writing style made me feel very detached from the characters and I struggled to differentiate between the two male leads throughout the story. The author did use their names frequently, so I mostly knew who she was talking to at the time, but after the fact, I had trouble keeping track of which interactions took place with each character. If this had been written in first person from all three perspectives, I think I would have had a better grasp of each individual character voice and ultimately I think it would have made for a more engaging read. Just my opinion! I’m sure many out there will love this, but sadly it wasn’t for me. ✌🏻

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

Pre-read: Finally starting this! I honestly kind of think it will be a miss, but hopefully it will surprise me! 🤞🏻 I am kind of excited that it’s set in Indiana though, since that’s where I’m from. 🤗😆

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

It’s looking like my library doesn’t plan to buy this… trying to figure out how I’m gonna read this now as if I don’t have a special edition copy at home.

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

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[h i n d · Rating 5 out of 5]

All you need to do to summon me is mention The Raven Boys

- feuding families
- light love triangle
- magic, witches and curses
- atmospheric small town
- anxiety rep

I read it in two sittings, it was so fun and fast. I definitely felt the Raven Boys vibes, I also really liked the layers to the mystery. The paranormal aspect was cool as well. Good thing there's a sequel after that cliffhanger!

Thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[makayla 𐦍 ⋆˙⟡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5 Stars

“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦 𝘓𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥: 𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘮𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘤 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘴, 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦.” 😆

I had such a great time with this book. The family rivalry, the different POVs, the secrets, everything was so fun to follow! The dynamics between the De Lucas and the Barrions was MESSY and I loved every second of their drama ✨

The mystery behind the curse kept me guessing. Witches, magic, old grudges… the perfect mix of entertainment 🙂‍↕️

Now Corey and Alonso… listen. They both brought something to the table, but Alonso really stole my heart. His vibe was just so genuine, you could just feel his intentions. I found myself rooting for him without even realizing it ❤️‍🔥

And Penny?? It felt like every time we blinked, life threw her another curveball. My girl could not catch a break 😭

I had to take a minute and process reading that ending because I did not see that twist coming at all 😲

Now I’m counting down to book 2 in May 🗣️

[Alyssa Villaire]

Hello! I wrote this book! And now that ARCs of THE GLITTERING EDGE are appearing in the world, I'm going to be stepping away from Goodreads. I firmly believe this is a space for readers, not authors. Before I do that, I want to share some content warnings for anyone who is considering reading my debut novel. This same list will be added to Storygraph, Instagram, and my website.

Thanks, and happy reading!

***

CONTENT WARNINGS

This book includes:

Graphic
• Alcohol consumption
• Bullying
• Cursing
• Death and injury of parents and family
• Emotional abuse
• Fire/fire injury
• Grief
• Gun violence
• Medical content
• Mental illness (specifically anxiety)
• Murder
• Panic attacks/disorders
• Terminal illness
• Violence

Moderate
• Blood
• Classism
• Misogyny
• Racism
• Toxic relationship

Minor
• Body horror
• Infidelity
• Sexual content (the scene is fade to black)
• Suicide (a supporting character’s suicide is referenced)

[DianaRose]

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!

unfortunately, dnf @10%

sometimes you just know right away that you will not enjoy a book, and unfortunately i’ve read too many books to know right off the bat i would not enjoy the glittering edge despite the description intriguing me.
the writing was completely lackluster and did not grab my attention at all. not to mention i smelled the impending love triangle from the start.

i’m sure this book will find its audience, but it’s not me.

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is what I'm looking for when I want to recommend YA truly written for teens.

As so many reviewers have stated before me, The Glittering Edge is such a lovely ode to old school YA witchy novels that beautifully captured the teen experience. This novel isn't without its issues (I'm looking at you pacing), but Villaire did such a wonderful job creating 3 unique, dynamic characters with such an interesting plot. While I wasn't sure what to expect diving into this one, I'm glad that I gave it a fair chance. It's atmospheric, the perfect read for the fall and I'm already ready for book 2. If you're interesting in hearing more of my thoughts, be sure to check out my reading vlog where I highlight reading book box books: https://youtu.be/hC6kvskqjs8?si=b1zCR...

[Isabel ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is everything I didn’t know I needed. From the second that I picked it up I was unable to put it down, every page just left me wanting more!!

I am enamored with the writing and the way it transported me into the small magical town that is IdleWood. What may seem like your standard urban fantasy story is actually nothing if not unique, refreshing and unpredictable, I am already anticipating the sequel.

Penny, Alonso and Corey stole my heart from page one, these characters are so raw and charming it was impossible not to root for them. The romance has to be one of the best ones I’ve read in a while, I could feel the connection between them through the pages, I can’t ship them more! The Glittering Edge is without a doubt new favorite for me

[Gabriella୨ৎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ✩

ㅤㅤㅤㅤHate-ish review below.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤIf you liked this book, scroll.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤI need to rant and get my thoughts out.

┏━━━୨ৎ━━━┓
ㅤspoilers ahead
┗━━━━━━━┛

Thoughts
I'm sorry. I just need to rant about this book. I went into The Glittering Edge with lowish expectations, knowing absolutely nothing about this book besides a hot blue-haired boy. Sue me. I fell for the art and bought it with no hesitation. Let me tell you. WRONG CHOICE. The writing was basic and repetitive. The sentences started off the exact same. Penny this Penny that. Alonso did this Alonso did that. 9 out of 10 times, they would start with a name. The writing felt rushed and boring. I tried, I really did. I've never dnf'ed a book before, so pushing through it was hard. I hoped that something would make me like this book. But nothing really did. When I'm not liking a book, I hang on by the threads of the romance, which didn't really do it for me. I hate love triangles, I stay the hell away from that trope. It's annoying and I don't like it. There was a bit of miscommunication with Alonso and Penny, which I hated. I'm glad they kissed, I ship them instead of Corey and Penny, but I just feel like the romance wasn't enough to make me ignore the garbage writing. I cringed so fucking hard in so many scenes on the book. Why was there a drag show? Why was Alonso wearing robes? He's not in Harry freaking Potter for goodness sake. Even the plot twists didn't shock me. About midway or whatever, everything came together so the last couple of chapters didn't get a reaction out of me. Also, I don't know if it was just me or not but I was so fucking confused and had to repeatedly flip to the family trees at the start of the book. I didn't know who was alive or dead, I didn't know who was the dad, grandpa, mom or aunt. It was confusing and made me like the book less. I also completely forgot some of the characters, so when their names popped up I had no clue who they were until I searched them up and remembered with an 'ohhhh that's who they are.'

Overall
I really disliked this book, yet I'm going to torture myself and read the second book when it comes out because I never leave series unfinished, even when it was one of the worst books I've read this year. 😗✌️
Anyways...overall this book didn't meet my expectations, the writing was garbage, the plot was sort of boring, and I didn't care for literally anything. Live Laugh Love wasting 4 days of my life.

I don't like being harsh, but I needed to, so a 2.75 is the most I'm giving it.
━━━━━━

ღ¸. pre-read
Did I buy the book because of the FairyLoot art? Yes. Will I have ever read it if not? Nope. Have I seen bad reviews of it? Yup. Will I still read it because the art is freaking beautiful? including that blue-haired boy 100 freaking percent yes. I don't really have high hopes for this, But we'll give it a go.

Started: 27/6/2025
Finished: 30/6/2025

[Amy Imogene Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

What a fun, witchy YA novel with some drama and light romance. Very nostalgia coded for the 2000-2010s era of paranormal, witchy young adult reads!

The Glittering Edge is your standard young adult fare for novels of this type. I'm not going to sugarcoat it.

It's a small town, there are witches, there is some longstanding drama between two feuding families and it's led to some serious issues causing The Plot to happen. We've also got a "Mary Sue" relatively generic female main character who is, honestly, pretty forgettable—but she's not why we're here, we're here for the feuding witch families and their two attractive, polar-opposite, arch-enemy sons who are going to work with the main female character to solve a curse.

I bet you can tell from my lackluster blurb pitch: yeah, you've read something like this before. You've likely read a lot of novels like this before, if you're like me and you were a young adult reader for the 2000-2010s decades. The Glittering Edge is not trying to be new, or edgy, or subversive in any meaningful way.

HOWEVER. Just because it's a familiar blueprint doesn't mean it's not worth your time. I found this novel to be relatively entertaining, and it was the perfect, no-fuss novel to get me out of a reading slump. I enjoyed the familiar stakes and setups—this blueprint works with so many novels for a reason, folks—and I thought it was a very pleasant way to spend an evening.

If you're interested in the pitch and you're okay with getting exactly what you're expecting, give this a try!

Blog | Instagram | Libro.fm Audiobooks

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

My main reason to request a digital review copy of this book through Netgalley was the cover. It might be a little morbid, but I love it when the hearts on cover are less romantic and more anatomical. The second reason was the promise of a gothic dark romance with magic and a love triangle. I know some people are done with love triangles, but I love them. Luckily Penguin granted me a review copy and I could start reading.

This book has a lot of amazing qualities and I was constantly looking forward to reading more. The characters are for sure a highlight of this book. They're teens, so they have teenage issues and there is some teenage drama, but they're also easy to like. Their issues and problems might be supernatural, but they're in a way also very relatable. It's easy to understand why these characters feel what they feel and do what they do, even if it's not always the right thing.

I also loved the magic and the plot. Everything seems quite simple in the beginning of the book, but quite soon we discover that maybe this is more complicated than we think and more might be going on. The finale was one big rollercoaster of exciting scenes, reveals, loads of danger and characters slowly showing their true self. And although it seemed for a while that this could be a standalone, I'm really excited that we're gonna get another book in the series!

And then there's the love triangle. Is everyone gonna love it? Most certainly not. Do I already have a preference for a certain guy to get the girl? Most certainly yes. Does the love triangle work for this story? Absolutely! I think the love triangle is even needed to make this plot work. It's the only reason why Penny would be able to get the two guys to work together. I'm mostly excited about the next book in the series because of this: There's some delicious drama on the horizon!

[katherine ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

**currently playing:**
⏪ ✦ *dark red* — steve lacy ✦ ⏸ ▶ ⏩
⋆｡°✩ witchy vibes • longing • bad decisions made at twilight ✩°｡⋆

the glittering edge grabbed me by the collar and refused to let go, the way only those rare ya fantasies do - the ones that feel less like you’re reading a story and more like you’ve stepped sideways into a town humming with secrets. from the first chapters, there’s this constant, low-grade tension in the air, like something ancient is watching you just off-page. the magic isn’t flashy or overexplained; it’s woven into bloodlines, friendships, and places, which makes everything feel intimate and dangerous in the best possible way.

what really elevates this book is how deeply character-driven it is. the central trio feels messy, impulsive, loyal, and painfully real - these are teenagers who love fiercely and make questionable choices because they care too much, not because the plot needs them to. the friendships crack and strain under pressure, the family dynamics are complicated and sharp around the edges, and every argument lands because it feels earned. you believe these people. you root for them. you want to scream at them and protect them at the same time.

the atmosphere deserves its own standing ovation. the occult elements are grounded and eerie, steeped in history and consequence rather than spectacle, which makes every magical moment hit harder. the stakes rise quietly at first and then all at once, and before you realize it, you’re in too deep to look away. there’s a sense of inevitability threaded through the story - that some things are inherited, some things are chosen, and some things will cost you no matter what.

by the time i reached the final stretch, i already knew this was a five-star read for me - the kind that leaves you buzzing, a little hollow, and desperate to talk about it with anyone who will listen. if you love found family, small towns with big secrets, and magic that feels like it might bleed if you touch it, this book will absolutely ruin you (affectionately). and yes, i, will be defending alonso at all costs.




pre read - i've seen SUCH good review for this, i'm so excited to pick it up this month (hopefully), i've heard there is top tier yearning is this so i am ALLLLL for it.

[ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Yeah, this was sweet. A little, small-town magical YA novel, easy to read and well-written.

What I loved most about this book were the characters, especially Penny and her family. Being raised by a single mom and an old gay man who co-owns the café, putting on drag shows, and being a normal small-town family, until, of course, the plot happens. But the interactions between Penny and her mom are so sweet and warm, they made me feel like I was being hugged, even though I was alone on my couch. Villaire really did nail that dynamic, especially considering that Penny's mom is absent through most of the book.
Corey is another stand-out for me. He's a gentler sort of boy, especially in comparison to the other person in this love triangle, and I was so rooting for him.

And therein lies the issue.
I think I'm to old for love triangles by now. They don't hold any kind of appeal anymore. I suppose they never really did, but by now, at the ripe old age of 27 (years old - I have no money and no prospects - I am already a burden to my parents - and I'm frightened) I simply cannot be bothered to care about love triangles anymore. Especially because in this iteration, Penny clearly chose the wrong boy at the end.
But who knows. This is only the start of the series. Maybe things'll change.

Alonso, the third in this triangle, was also a standout character, but more in the negative sense. I hated his pseudo bad-boy act, and his weird relationship with Penny. There's a sentence near the end of the book, and I'm sorry that I don't remember it exactly, but it was something like this: "Penny wouldn't have wanted him to act impulsively, but if she truly wanted that, she wouldn't have worn that dress." And I was just like, "ew!". It also seemed like Penny didn't even really have chemistry with him; she's always happier and more balanced in Corey's presence. But then, these are teenagers. Nothing they do feels rational to me, since I am now ten years older than they are, and tbh, I don't really remember much of being a teenager. Seems like a Me issue, I suppose.

That's another thing, though. I'm not sure I can say that I have aged out of YA, since I still read and actively enjoy both my old favorites and new iterations of the genre, but this one felt especially juvenile to me. Sure, there is a vague sex scene, but there was just such youth and inexperience that permeated both the story and the plot - it all felt very strange. Maybe I really am just getting old. But ultimately, I can't change how I feel. I know a lot of people will love this book, and I would totally recommend it for others, but for me ... I'll stick to something else. Just need to figure out what.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was it predicable, yes? But did I absolutely eat it up, ALSO YES. perfect mix for a gorgeous easy read

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

PLOT TWIST. Hello. This was great!! Major Raven Boys vibes which I loved. A mysterious curse and lots of drama.

[kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

10/10 YA occult vibes right here.

With its darkly magical atmosphere, deadly curses, feuding family secrets, a classic YA nice guy-bad boy love/friendship triangle and majorly high stakes, Alyssa Villaire had me in the palm of her hand with this story.

It’s character driven without sacrificing on action or plot and the characters, with their ‘sure, let’s take on the world without the help of adults to really thinking anything through’ attitude, actually felt like real teens.

I am such a huge fan of contemporary/urban fantasy and I think Villaire absolutely did genre justice with this. It was just so much fun and I’m already eagerly awaiting book two (the ending left me no choice in the matter).

what to expect:

• deadly curses
• family feuds
• love triangle (kinda)
• he falls first
• anxiety rep (fmc)
• black mmc
• discussions of topics such as racism and mental health
• witchy magic
• small town with a big reputation
• nimble the ghost kitty

[cyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

so i need an arc of the second one immediately

[abigailscupoftea · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️⭐️💫

small town setting, family curses, & witchy vibes. 🐈‍⬛
based off of these things, and the fact that it was said to be like the raven boys, i really thought i was going to love this. but, sadly, it didn’t meet my expectations. 😩
the writing was very repetitive and surface level. the plot was there, but the characters weren’t fleshed out enough to carry the story for me.

[Jess (library.of.jess) · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨3.75 stars ✨

’It's one thing to try to break a curse and save her mom's life. But this feels different-because when does magic go too far?’

First off, thank you to Penguin Random House Australia for sending me a copy of this book for reviewing purposes!

What to expect in this
* Decades long family feud
* Witches
* Small town
* The impact of rumors
* Curses
* Gothic fantasy
* Love triangle

What a ride. I knew from the premise of this book that I was going to enjoy it but actually reading it, blown away.
It had moments where I was laughing, stressed out, and swooning. My emotions were like a roller coaster.

I really enjoyed our main three characters, Penny, Alonso, and Corey. They were all so different to one another but brought together to all fight one curse that impacted their families. I thought it was an interesting dynamic and I really enjoyed how the author not only grew their characters but grew their relationship.

This storyline was insane. I was never bored truly. All I wanted to do was unfold the secrets about the curse behind this decades long feud between Alonsos and Corey’s families. And the haunting atmosphere that we got from the Veil and the dark magic was so well done and interesting! I really enjoyed it!

I am gonna need the next book asap though. I can’t believe I have been left hanging like that after all the STRESS I was left with! But yes, 100% give this one a read. Team Alonso over here I must say, I have to say the whole frogs in the lab story is what sold it for me, IYKYK!

Check TWs and CWs
Happy reading 🩶

[Mella aka Maron]

DNF at 19%. Minor spoilers up to that point.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC, but unfortunately this book was not for me.

I found myself desperately searching for any semblance of PLOT? So two families are feuding and one is cursed by the other so their lovers die. The magical family doesn’t have magic bc this never-explained “Council” took their magic…. 🧐 And over the past 50 yrs, 11 people have died in their family yet they all easily keep having babies before they die bc they have a pendant that keeps them alive for a few years……. 😐 It is all so FLIMSY.

Meanwhile, the cursed boy has never cared about this FMC but immediately upon hearing her mom is in a coma due to his family, he just TELLS her about the curse??? What??? And the magical boy (who yes has magic even when his family doesn’t ….) is obsessed with the FMC even though they’ve legit never talked??? And the FMC is a “I want to be invisible” girl who also “has a backbone” according to the cursed boy because she, with no knowledge of magic, is like “why are you giving up so easily?” 😐😐😐

Guys. This is flimsy. It feels like there’s no point to the whole book? And this is a duology where the first book is over 400 pages? What’s the plot here??? They break the curse, cool? Like…. I tried to give it some time to give me anything but I can’t take the nothing anymore.

So I’m done.

[rubi · Rating 4 out of 5]

read within a day! boy that ending?? rtc maybe

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the great joy of reading an early version of this, and Villaire's debut is going to DELIGHT you all. Penny is a protagonist you root for from the very first page—full of heart and integrity, but surrounded by secrets she doesn't understand. The romance is full of all the electricity of first loves that feel world-shattering and life-ending (and, in this case, they really might be...); the small-town Midwestern vibes are both charming and eerie; and the characters are three-dimensional, both larger-than-life and sensitively-drawn (would die for Alonso). You won't be able to put it down, and then you'll be joining me in eagerly waiting for the next...

[MacAttack Kollath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.


My, oh, my was this good.

This book is the literal definition of engaging, keeping you on your toes, and a page-turner. There were several nights when I just wanted to read this. The found family pulled on my heartstrings, and Alonso and Penny deserve everything.


Do not touch my baby boy, Alonso, please, I beg of you Alyssa, please.

[Laura.has.too.many.books · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the town of Idlewood the residents have known about the feud between the wealthy Barrions and the De Luca witches for decades, even though nobody really knows the extend of it. But when Penny Emberly's mother becomes the next victim of the curse at the root of the conflict, Penny knows she will try to do everything in her power to bring her mother back to her. So when she manages to convince Corey Barrion and Alonso De Luca to try and unravel the curse, even with all their animosity there seems to be way more going on than any of them could have imagined.

Pro's:
+ This is one high-energy story, loads of action scenes and I really liked the magical investigation that laid the groundwork for all of this. I felt all the tense moments and there really are some great ones in this book.
+ I felt like this book was really character-driven and the author did a really great job in creating some compelling and interesting characters. Penny, Corey and Alonso are all so different, you wouldn't really imagine them working together in a regular setting.
+ I loved the art and design of the Fairyloot edition I have of this book, the artist really managed to capture the energy of this book in a couple of pictures and the foil-design on this edition is really pretty.

Con's:
- The ending was a little bit cliche if you ask me, but I know that we need some set-up for the second book. I wonder how far the author will go though in the next book, as we're not really deep into the witchy stuff in this book thus far.

Very surprising, but I loved this book so much. It had a tiny bit 'breakfast club' vibes, with our three very mis-matched leading characters, but the investigative angle was really well done and there was enough action to keep you on the edge of your seat. With this glorious Fairyloot edition, that matched the vibe of this book really well, and since I read this book in one sitting, I cannot do anything else than give this book all the stars. I'm already looking forward to the second part of this story, this was really fun.

[Azanta (azantareads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars WAAAAIT TEA THIS WAS SO GOOD. i keep telling everyone that this book is like if a CW show was a book AND I MEAN THAT AS THE HIGHEST COMPLIMENT. so well-written, so immersive, and i was SO sat for the journey to saving Penny’s mom and breaking the Barrion curse. i’m so excited for book 2!!!

[Freya Mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5✨
Love love love this so much! The perfect YA cozy mystery magical fantasy, such a fun read that I’d highly recommend for cozy season as it’s perfect to snuggle up with!

Loved the representation and diversity, the characters are so relatable and interesting! The only thing I’d slightly criticise and why I docked of 0.5✨ is that I was missing a bit of emotional depth sometimes, especially from penny & I would have loved to see more from Nimble!!!

[Brittany Kilinsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[RubyTrev · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I lost interest in the story. I did love Alonso though.

[lemongirlandyou · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved this!! defs for the fans of the raven cycle 🫶🏽