The Lovers

Towerfall #2

by Kristin Cast

From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the House of Night series Kristin Cast comes a spicy and spellbinding light romantasy filled with tarot, banter, steamy tension, and a heroine caught between her toxic ex and a dangerously charming king who may not be who he seems.

Gemma Summers is broke, burnt out, and about three weeks from moving back in with her parents. Her career has imploded, her confidence is circling the drain, and the last thing she needs is a run in with Alder Hawke—the dangerously charming ex who still haunts her dreams and could buy her a new life with just his pocket change.

When a magickal tarot card sends them spiraling—literally—into another realm and they land in the steampunk inspired Kingdom of Cups, Gemma is forced to rely on the man who shattered her trust, broke her heart, and somehow still makes her weak in the knees.

But survival in the world of Towerfall is anything but simple, especially when she's caught between the ex who wants to own her and a roguish former king who sees through every one of her defenses.

With secrets mounting, identities unraveling, and her heart very much on the line, Gemma must decide: will she cling to the version of herself she built in the real world… or risk everything to become the woman she was always meant to be?

One enchanted tarot card. Two infuriatingly hot men. And a modern woman who refuses to be anyone's damsel.

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance, Tarot, Adult

381 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 10, 2026

About the author

Kristin is a #1 NYT and #1 USA Today bestselling author with over 30 million books in print.

She is proudly neurodivergent (ASD + OCD) and deeply consumed by character-driven chaos, emotionally vulnerable heroes, and smart, sexy heroines who always get the last word and the hot guy. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her devouring thriller, horror, and romance novels, practicing witchcraft, and being the exact kind of unhinged that makes group chats worth opening.

Reviews

[P.C. Cast · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much fun! I love that our MFC is voluptuous and so relatable. Towerfall is a great world is great to play in and I look forward to the rest of the series! If you like enchanted kingdoms with a HEA this is the series for you! What a great escape!

[Maddie · Rating 1 out of 5]

i'm sorry but this was not a good book.

i'm a sucker for a portal fantasy. A SUCKER I TELL YOU. I have NEVER not liked one because i have fun with it always. however, this book takes the portal fantasy elements that are fun to experience (learning about the world from someone who had to figure it out too) and throws them away.

this kingdom is a combination of magic and clockwork machines that's function is...unclear? i don't know how tarot relates. i don't know why magic was banned. i don't know how magic and machines interact. i don't know how on EARTH the background movements even happened because the entire plot sequence is nonsensical.

the romance is dry and aggravating the whole time. the fmc is boring and lame. i'm sorry but there's not a single part of this book that i found enjoyable or redeemable.

**thank you to Bloom for the ARC copy**

[Maddie Meisenheimer · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was SUCH a cool and promising concept - but this is AI. Maybe not all of it, but a lot. The writing lacks depth, follows some of the classic AI formulas, and is extremely repetitive. I tried to look past it or doubted myself but by 130 pages (halfway in) not a damn thing happened except the same 3 convos between the MMCs and the FMCs over and over. Disappointed to say the least.

[Brooke ✌︎㋡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok so I rated this book 3.5 ⭐️! Not a bad rating in my book at all! And while I appreciate the angle of having survived through narcissism, some parts just irritated me lol. Not in an “I hate this book” kind of way, but in a “hey girl! Wake up and realize that these are two different guys 😂” way.

The whole magic system and machines I would have LOVED to go into more about all that. What caused them to come to life was keeping me turning the pages the whole time but when I found out I was like “oh ok”.

I loved the world building and the mystery I always love portal fantasies so this book will definitely satisfy with all that. Who wouldn’t love having a hot romp and then immediately being zerped into another dimension where you’re fitted with ball gowns and there’s castles and hot naked men in the woods!

It’s a quick and easy read that dedicates part of the story to surviving a narcissist. And boy was that satisfying! I recommend this book if you’re wanting a fun little simple portal fantasy.

Thank you NetGalley and Bloom Books and Kristen Cast for this fun little romp through a portal in exchange for my honest review!

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed returning to Towerfall and seeing Gemma and Alderic’s relationship bloom. I especially loved watching Gemma become empowered and stand up for herself despite a bad circumstance.

Plot: 7/10
Magic system: 2/5
Spice level: 2/5

[Tori Baz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adored this book 😭 I loved the empress but this one was absolutely stunning. I wasn’t sure how the author was going to be able to create a whole new story within the portal world but she freaking nailed it!

[Sabrina C Simoni · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars: As someone who rarely reads things that have fantasy elements I actually found this really fun. I needed a mindless break after finishing my thesis, and this worked out really well! A bit cliche & millennial (though I am in my millennial era rn, shout out maddy) and the indirect food porn was…. Interesting… so not quite 3 stars! I also liked that Tarot was so well wrapped into this! Just a fun one, but I’m not dead and dying over it. (LOVE the cover tho)

[Grayson Burns · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.25 stars

I really wanted to like The Lovers, but it just did not work for me. I never connected with Gemma and honestly found her kind of annoying throughout the book, and neither love interest did anything to win me over. Alder irritated me from the second he opened his mouth, and while Lockhart was technically better, it was mostly because he met the bare minimum of not treating Gemma like she was worthless, which is not exactly compelling. I was also frustrated by how underexplained the fantasy elements were. We are dropped into this world with almost no real context beyond the existence of kingdoms, and the magick system made no sense to me at all, especially since we are never told why magick was even banned in Towerfall. My biggest issue, though, is the fact that both male love interests look identical but have completely different personalities. It drove me crazy that whenever Gemma was with Lockhart, she would suddenly think about how differently Alder treated her, as if she completely forgot that she had already met Lockhart, who is literally Alder’s doppelgänger, within hours of arriving in Towerfall. Overall, this just left me confused, frustrated, and wishing the book had spent more time developing its world and characters instead of expecting me to fill in the gaps myself.

[Liz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Genuinely the worst book I have EVER read. Clearly Ai-assisted.

[leah | whatsyourromantasy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm honestly kind of confused by this book and would be unsurprised to find out that I somehow skipped several world building chapters (I didn't miss them, they just weren't there). I don't really understand what happened to the magic to make it disappear, or how the machine/mechanisms work. I also felt like the whole plot was crammed into the last 20% of the book.

I think there could have been some benefit from having a Lockhart POV chapter or two, from the perspective of someone native to the magic realm, to help explain the magic/issues plaguing the land AND to establish that there are two different dudes here. I knew there were two of them due to the synopsis on the back of the book, but it doesn't come up or be realized by the FMC at all until very late in the book. Too late, in my opinion, to fully establish a fully fleshed out love story.

[Nicole H. ✨️nicoledreamsofbooks✨️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: The Lovers
Author: Kristin Cast
Genre: Romantasy
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶
Pub Date: February 10, 2026
6/150📚

Obsessive passion, bad decisions, and the kind of love that absolutely should come with a warning label -- I ate this up!! So good! I really loved how Gemma just seemed so real - has flaws and insecurities like most of us. Her growth throughout the book was extremely satisfying. I liked that I already knew how the magick system worked because of book one, however, I don't think you'd be lost if you read it as a standalone (I definitely prefer the series together).

Gemma loses her job and needs to move back to her hometown, she is reunited with a toxic ex and of course a tarot card pulls them into another realm - Gemma then has to figure out how to break this toxic cycle to save herself and the kingdom. Add in some spice and a new love interest and we are good to go! I can't wait for book 3 out this May!!

Thank you Kristin for my ARC, I can't wait for the next one!!

[Emma Lovelady · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you Bloom for the gifted finished copy!!
this book was a ton of fun, i absolutely adored the first book in this series so i was so excited to read the next. while i think the first one was better, this was still such a fun quick read. they are all interconnected standalomes in a tarot card magic fantasy realm. i LOVE the tarot card system and the different time lines in this book!! such a cute cover as well!!

[Jazriel]

This book just pissed me the fuck off for so many reasons…. I get it there’s trigger warnings against narcissism and manipulation but this just took me to another level of annoyed. And I wasn’t even like trying to be annoyed at the MMC, but she just was annoying the fuck out of me. She couldn’t blatantly tell that these were two separate guys and every time she would talk about the guy who constantly manipulates her she would turn right around and act like she was in love with him. I just couldn’t get on the train with her. I just couldn’t. And the guy who was clearly another guy wasn’t telling her that it wasn’t even him like she would be like continuing a conversation with him that was obviously with the other guy and he would go along with it like are we so fucking serious right now.???

[Caitlin H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this one not realizing it was the second book in a series. I didn’t feel lost, but I’m sure I missed a lot of the world building and potentially a bit about the characters in book one.
Overall, not a bad read I just didn’t like it as much as I’d hoped. It was an interesting take on modern world and fantasy world combination and had a lot of potential I just couldn’t get past the relationship of the main characters. I know it was the way it was for a reason, but it felt like it overshadowed a lot of the story! I enjoyed the tarot card, the magic, and a certain other male character (no spoilers here) a lot though. And bonus points for the gorgeous cover and pretty sprayed edges!

[Sarah’s Shelves · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun but I enjoyed book one, The Empress, way more. I didn't care for the characters in this one as much. Also, it just felt like there was less of a plot to this book. The tarot card aspect, that was also included in the first book, felt like an afterthought and not like a driving force. The "twist" of the book did not take me by surprise at all, given the build-up. I was honestly surprised how long it took her to figure it out.

I have to say that a 3-star rating may not seem to exactly line up with my critiques, BUT it was unique and like I said before I had fun time with it overall. I just had a couple annoyances I needed to point out.

[Heather Lilia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure why there's so much hate with this one, but I found it an enjoyable, escapist palate cleanser. An isekai-esque portal fantasy, the book follows Gemma as she somehow wakes up in the kingdom of Towerfall with her sucky ex, Alder. I found the descriptions of the world really fun and silly, and this is a book that's meant to be read and just have fun with. Like, enjoy it for what it is instead of harping on why it's not perfect and it'll be a super fun time-- guaranteed.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A body positive fantasy romance where one woman is transported into a the Towerfall realm along with her toxic ex. Thinking she can trust him to get them out, she quickly realizes there are darker sides to him than even she knew and she will have to rely on her own strength (along with a mysterious other man) to escape. This was entertaining and had important messages about female empowerment and not tolerating abusive relationships. Can be read as a standalone but is the second book in a series. Highly recommended for fans of authors like Karina Halle or Devney Perry. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary digital copy and physical ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Coral · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to DNF at 69%.

Gemma is too stupid to live by far. She can’t tell Alder from Alderic even though she’d been with Alder TEN YEARS?? That’s like not being able to tell your husband from his identical twin. So that “twist” was frustratingly idiotic.

Speaking of obvious and irritating twists: Alder is so laughably evil he becomes a one dimensional caricature with zero nuance. And having a chubby small-town gf is SO important to his image to jump through all those hoops? Doubt. Also, he is potentially in the top 5 of the most punchable MCs I’ve read.

So back to stupid-ass Gemma: her priorities are fucking WHACK. She spends 70% of the 2/3rds I read fucking focused on relationship shit between her and Alder. As much as she says she cares about getting home, she herself does nothing to actually further that agenda besides yell at Alder to do it.

The writing itself is fucking brain rotted FaRo BookTok shit and I can’t do it.

I WANT MY SUNDAY BACK.

[Oona Loontjens · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was I excited to read this book? Absolutely.
Was it a disappointment? Absolutely.

The FMC was annoying and if I was in this book I would’ve slapped her for being so naïve. Why does she keep being contradictive to herself? She got out of a toxic relationship and wants to go back with him?!

And when they are in the Kingdom of Cups she doesn’t notice that it is two different persons? As soon as we meet the lookalike, I knew it was somebody else. I think we all did. Except for the FMC.

Honestly it was a big difference between The Empress and this book.

[Jessica Cash · Rating 2 out of 5]

The POTENTIAL that this book had!
But it fell seriously flat. How boring could it possibly be?
There was no action, no reason to keep reading.

The WOW moment wasn’t even WOW it was more like 😑😑😑 really?

Sorry, but it’s a no from me dog

[The Romantic Rush Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used to read Kristin Cast early in my reading journey, but it's been a minute. But I loved her older YA work, and with a cover like this, I was excited to dive right in. So, The Lovers was a book I desperately wanted to LOVE. I went in excited to see her take on adult romantasy, and while there is a lot here to like, it didn't ever quite click for me.

The story centers on Gemma, who travels to a friend’s wedding only to run into her ex, Alder, a man who is openly manipulative, emotionally abusive, and financially controlling. Despite recognizing his toxicity, Gemma still falls into bed with him. Shortly after, the two wake up in a strange fantasy realm where Alder has a near identical counterpart named Alderic. From there, the book leans heavily into a love triangle built on deception, secrets, and repeated emotional manipulation.

In this new world, Alder pretends to be King Alderic in order to protect himself and Gemma. Gemma resents this and constantly clashes with him, yet their interactions are framed as sexual tension rather than the deeply unhealthy dynamic it clearly is. Alderic, on the other hand, is written as gentle, attentive, and romantic, except for the fact that he allows Gemma to believe he is Alder for most of the book. The justification is love, and that explanation is somehow treated as enough. Instead of feeling romantic, it just felt frustrating. Both men lie to her repeatedly, and the story asks the reader to accept that intention somehow outweighs impact. Or that it even makes sense.

What made this harder to sit with is Gemma herself. Her characterization felt thin and entirely centered around these men. Despite clearly noticing how different Alder and Alderic behave, it takes her nearly the entire book to fully acknowledge that they are not the same person. This delay reads less like emotional complexity and more like narrative convenience. I never felt grounded in who she was outside of the romance, which made it difficult to care about her choices or growth.

To be fair, I don't love love triangles, except when I feel like there is legitimate draw and tension between both men. Not so much here. And the larger fantasy portion never really landed with me. The world is losing magic, an evil queen is sacrificing women to maintain power, and Alder is actively complicit in supporting her. Those stakes feel high, but they remain underdeveloped. The magic system is vague, the political stakes are unclear, and the world building feels more like a backdrop than a living place. There are ideas here that could have worked, and I see the glimmers of the Kristin Cast world building and tension I used to love. But more often that not, I was frustrated or confused rather than intrigued or compelled, especially when the story seemed to assume emotional investment without doing the work to earn it.

Some readers may enjoy the chaotic romance, the secrets, and the messy love triangle, but this book left me disconnected and not really rooting for any of the characters. But certainly am interested in reading the first book or more in this world.

[Summer Nelson · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading "The Empress" the first book in the Towerfall series, I wanted to continue the series. I tandem read listening to the audiobook while reading along to the physical version. The narrators did an excellent job! I recognized Laura Horowitz, who voiced the FMC from social media shorts and Walker Williams, who voiced the MMC from other books I've read in the past.
It follows Gemma, a woman on the verge of being broke, who is the maid of honor for her friend's wedding, alongside her rich ex-lover Alder, who is also the best man. Although Gemma is vocal about not wanting financial support from Alder, it doesn't take much for him to convince her to change her mind with his c*ck on the dock outside of the wedding reception venue. It had the potential to be an "enemies to lovers" love story with banter but instead was a wanna be "second-chance" romance with annoying emotional dependency, making the chemistry feel forced & cringy When the story continues & both of them get dumped through a portal through a tarot card into Towerfall, I was hoping it would get better, but nothing really changes. The character development & world building were lacking, but the plot was unique enough to keep me invested in the story to continue reading. Although I finished, in the end, it wasn't well developed. I give it 2🌟.*

*In re: to my final rating, I was torn; I've been a fan of Kristin Cast & her mother P.C. Cast since "House of Night" & I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt by giving it 3🌟, but the surprise reveal of a certain MMC turned me the wrong way. He gets introduced in ch 24 out 37, that's 68% of the damn book,after all this time why introduce him now? Why couldn't it be a love triangle with two men from the beginning when they land in Towerfall? Why have the FMC practically gaslighting herself in fighting for a toxic relationship she never f***ing wanted. I mean, she's already admitted to herself she is emotionally unintelligent by saying: "Emotional maturity is wildly overrated"(pg 204). This twist/secret was just an excuse for Alder as a character to redeem himself; throughout the entire book he is a complete asshole & not in a sexy morally grey dominating way the author tried to portray him. Even the blurb on the back or any other source of summary implies two men are in the story not one: "One enchanted tarot card.Two infuriatingly hot men.And a modern woman who refuses to be anyone's damsel. . . she's caught between the ex who wants to own her and a roguish former king who sees through every one of her defenses"(back cover). It leaves the reader confused, led on & disappointed. What's sad is the two novellas: "King" & "Two" co-written by Gina L. Maxwell was better written & more enjoyable to read even though they were shorter. With book 3 "Fortune" coming out 5/26/26, I have hope it's better; I will be reading it regardless of my views on this one.

[Book Nook Baddie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Back to Towerfall we fall...

Gemma is a hard-working woman who has found herself falling into harder times: her promotion was denied to her, her credit card is maxed out and she's faced with the reality of having to move back home. The cherry on top of all of it? Having to see her smug ex-boyfriend at her friend's wedding amidst her crashout.

When Gemma is faced with her ex again, confusing feelings threaten to rob her of her own independence. Her ex, Alder, represents all of the things she's been missing: safety, security and a future. But as she struggles to figure out what she wants, Gemma finds herself waking up in a totally different realm... Alder at her side.

Now Gemma has to rely on Alder for even more: traversing a world with viable threats, political plots and a kingdom with a huge secret.

The review: I don't think it was expressly necessary to read the first book. It helped to know ahead of time that the characters had "mirror versions" in the alternate realm but I think readers could have picked that up along the way. Reading the first book did allow for an established setting which did cut down a little on the backstory. Not that too many things were actually explained.

For example: what is with the machinery? Where did they come from? There was really no explanation given for how the machines came about or their roles in this particular universe. Coming off of the first book that played heavily on the "medieval times" aspect, having the introduction of machines was a little jarring. Even for an advanced kingdom, it didn't quite fit.

The FMC was a little difficult to understand in this book. She was facing tremendously tough times back home and her ex (who seemingly loved her) wanted to provide everything for her. She clearly still had feelings for him but kept going back and forth. The contradictions were a little annoying after the 5th time Gemma made the same argument.

The couple did not seem particularly upset about being in a different realm. In fact, it was accepted too easily. Gemma did keep up the idea that they should find a way home but it was never a pressing issue. The pair simply moved into the castle and no one questioned it.

You would think the kingdom would notice their Lord acting strangely but not one person missed a beat. I understand that Alder was written as a man who knows what he wants and goes into every situation with assuridty but even still. Being dropped into a new realm without any frame of reference would give anyone pause.

Then there was the other one... he never questioned that someone was stealing his identity? Never thought to tell Gemma from the get-go who he was? This goes a little beyond miscommunication.. it feels like a few plot-sized holes.

I feel more confused about Towerfall than before. Just how many times does this realm need to be saved before it's good to go?

(( Sidenote: what's with all the fruit play?))

[Rachael Arsenault · Rating 1 out of 5]

This review contains some general, vague spoilers.

What I Liked
*There were some genuinely good bits of prose.
*The first time Gemma meets Alderic but thinks he's Alder, it's genuinely very unsettling and creepy.
*I thought the plan for Alderic to pose as Alder pretending to be Alderic was convoluted in a fun way.

What I Didn't Like
*The Alderic reveal is spoiled by the synopsis, and also far too easy for readers to figure out early into the story.
*Not enough backstory was actually shown for Alder and Gemma's relationship. We were just constantly told it was bad without ever being shown actual examples and context.
*Gemma and Alderic declare themselves in love after three days, with Gemma genuinely not even knowing Alderic during that time.
*Gemma had no agency. She fell into the plot, or things just happened to unfold around her.
*None of the characters feel developed outside of their role/trope within the story. Who is Gemma? Who is Alder? Who is Alderic?
*What was the purpose of any of the machinery? How did society function while they were dormant? What happens to the Kingdom of Cups now that they're suddenly awakened after decades?
*The setting and worldbuilding was little more than an aesthetic.
*The world felt very empty. There needed to be more than 6 named characters of significance.
*The prose was extremely repetitive, both in the structure of sentences and word choice.
*The prose was often overwrought and over dramatic, to the point that actual dramatic moments fell flat because the writing was always at the same level of intensity.
*The smut felt very generic, outside of its gimmick (food), which fluctuated from tedious to medically concerning.
*There's an issue with casual sexism and slut shaming in this book, which is made worse by the central conflict supposedly being about liberating women and women owning their power. This is further exacerbated by the fact that there are so few named women of significance in the story - notably because Gemma never bothers to the names of the women she is rallying together with, so they're just "maids" and "noblewomen".
*The book is marketed for having a plus-size MC, but Gemma is hardly described at all, and her size is mostly glossed over.
*I spent most of this book bored, bewildered, or annoyed.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5/5
I received an ARC for my honest opinion.

The Lovers completely swept me away. This was one of those reads that pulls you in emotionally from the very beginning and refuses to let go. Kristin Cast created a story that feels rich, layered, and deeply character driven, and I found myself fully invested and seen in every moment.

The emotional depth in this book is what truly made it a five-star read for me. The relationships are intense, complicated, and beautifully written. Nothing feels surface level; every interaction carries weight, history, and vulnerability. I loved how the author allowed the characters to be flawed, to make messy decisions, and to grow naturally throughout the story. That growth didn’t happen all at once, and that made it feel real. I loved how Kristin Cast handled the sensitive topics with so much respect and at the same time she allowed readers to feel seen if they have ever had to deal with those topics.

The romance is powerful and consuming, filled with tension, longing, and moments that genuinely made my heart ache. The connection between the characters is built in a way that feels earned, and when everything finally comes together, it’s incredibly satisfying. You can feel the stakes emotionally just as much as you can within the plot itself.

The pacing kept me engaged the entire time. It never felt rushed, but it also never dragged. Each chapter added something meaningful, whether it was a reveal, a deeper understanding of a character, or a shift in the dynamic that changed everything.

Overall, The Lovers is emotional, intense, and beautifully crafted. It’s the kind of book that lingers after you finish it, leaving you thinking about the characters and everything they went through to get to their ending. An easy five stars for me.

I want to thank NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to review this book.

[Brandice Walton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lovers by Kristin Cast is a glittering escape that mixes humor, heat, and magic into a romantasy that feels wildly fun, emotionally sharp, and full of anger at the same time. Gemma leaps off the page as a heroine you instantly root for. She is messy, funny, stubborn, and determined not to let her past define her. Watching her tumble from hitting rock bottom in the real world into a surreal, tarot-touched kingdom is pure narrative candy, and the portal twist kicks the story into motion with irresistible energy.

The romantic tension in this book is electric, driven by quick banter and unresolved history that crackles in every interaction. Gemma being caught between a haunting ex and a magnetic former king creates a delicious dynamic that keeps the emotional stakes sky-high. Neither relationship feels simple, and that complexity gives the story a satisfying edge. It’s not just about attraction, it’s about power, trust, and reclaiming your sense of self.

The fantasy setting adds sparkle without overshadowing the heart of the story. Towerfall feels strange, dangerous, and seductive, mirroring Gemma’s inner transformation as she confronts old wounds and new possibilities. Beneath the magic and romance is a strong thread about identity and choice: who you become when you stop surviving and start demanding more.

It’s witty, dramatic, and full of charm. A romantasy that delivers escapism while still giving its heroine real agency. A bright, addictive read that balances fantasy adventure with sharp emotional beats and leaves you smiling long after the final page. I absolutely loved this book and was rooting for Gemma throughout the whole book.

[liv🌸 · Rating 4 out of 5]

“no woman can change a man. She can only change herself”

this book was delicious and powerful. We follow Gemma, a woman who has to move back to her small town after loosing her job. On the night of her best friends wedding, she is reunited with the toxic ex that ruined her life. Suddenly, a magical tarot card has pulled them into another realm, they end up on the Kingdom of Cups, where Gemma is forced to either keep going in a toxic circle or break free and save herself and the kingdom.

If you are and ever have been a Gemma, I see you, I understand you, and I hope you know that you are worth so much more than a toxic relationship. Gemma’s journey to reclaiming herself and breaking the cycle was incredibly well done and I couldn’t help but root for her the entire time.

I loved the themes of womanhood in this book. How hard it can be to be a woman in a world if men, how much we have to fight to keep a part of ourselves. It was very well done and a refreshing take.

The world of The Kingdom of Cups was so fun. Kristen Cast set out the the world so beautifully at times I could almost hear and smell what was going on around our characters. I read this without reading the first one and I didn’t feel lost at all, it was a great stand alone and now i want to read the empress!

[jensbooknookclub · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨: Towerfall
𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧: Kristin Cast

These books are interconnected standalones. They are Portal Romances with hint of Romantasy vibes and take place in the Magical Towerfall. A medieval world ruled by Kings where magic is dangerous and punishable by death. The FMCs are transported via a tarot card for a specific reason to help fix the rot that has take hold and can’t return home until they do. do.

💕•✨•🏰•✨•🏰•✨•💕

𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠: The Empress
𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙥𝙡𝙚: Hannah & Kane
✨ Chicago, IL to Kingdom Pentacles ✨

𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨:
I really enjoyed this one the banter is next level. Yes, the FMC can’t listen to save her life and causes so many problems but I loved her nonetheless. She was genuinely herself and all and not afraid to be too much.

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
👑 Grumpy x Sunshine
👑 Fake Marriage w/ One Bed
👑 Broody & Protective Knight MMC
👑 Sizzling Banter
👑 He Calls Her “Little Fawn”
👑 Insta Lust
👑 Found Family

𝙁𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚:

“Leave the jewels,” he says “She outshines them all on her own.”
__________________

𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠: The Lovers
𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙥𝙡𝙚: Gemma & Alder(x2)
✨ Charleston, SC to Kingdom of Cups ✨

𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨:
I did not like this on as much; you kind of want to shake the FMC and be like come on girl! But don’t worry she gets there eventually and I love seeing her come into her power.

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
🍓Damsel in Distress to Finding Her Power
🍓Mistaken Identity / Doppelgänger
🍓Narcissistic Ex vs Charming Ex King
🍓Secrets & Danger
🍓He Falls First
🍓 Steam Punk Inspired Realm

𝙁𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚:

“Chocolate and you—two of my favorite things together.”

✨🏰✨🍓✨💕✨👑✨🌹✨🏰✨

https://www.instagram.com/p/DVHnJm9j8...

[Mel]

This story completely hooked me from the very first page and never let me go. I devoured this book in just two days, unable to put it down. Kristin’s writing is immersive, vivid, and never boring—every chapter pulls you deeper into the story and makes you desperate to know what will happen next.

Gemma is a strong and compelling protagonist. She’s full of flaws, insecurities, and wounds from the past, but what makes her truly powerful is her determination to get back up every time she falls. Her journey of self-discovery, growth, and reclaiming her strength is one of the most satisfying parts of the story.

Alder, on the other hand… I wanted to slap him more than once. He’s dangerously charming, frustrating, and deeply complicated, and the emotional tension he brings to the story is intense.

Loved the world building and the Tarot cards parts.

The Lovers is a perfect mix of fantasy, romance and angst. A ride that keeps the reader glued to the pages from beginning to end.

Thank you Kristin Cast for the arc. 🥹💖

🇮🇹: The Lovers mi ha completamente catturata fin dalla prima pagina, ho divorato questo libro in soli due giorni, incapace di metterlo giù. La scrittura di Kristin è coinvolgente e mai noiosa: ogni capitolo ti trascina sempre più a fondo nella storia e ti fa venire voglia di sapere cosa succederà dopo.

Gemma è una protagonista forte e affascinante. È piena di difetti, insicurezze e ferite del passato, ma ciò che la rende davvero potente è la sua determinazione a rialzarsi ogni volta che cade. Il suo percorso di scoperta di sé, crescita e riconquista della propria forza è uno degli aspetti più belli della storia.

Alder, invece… l’avrei preso a schiaffi per 3/4 del libro.

Ho Amato il world building e come è stata strutturata tutta la storia dei tarocchi.

The Lovers è un mix perfetto di fantasy, romance e angst. Ringrazio tantissimo Kristin Cast per avermi inviato l’arc 💖

[Jessica Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ate this book up so fast, one might say like a certain romantasy character went after those strawberries!
This was a very lovely dark, mysterious, comedic, magical, and somehow still real fairy tale for grown up women. I have just recently gotten into fanatsy the last couple of years and before that, strictly read memoirs and historical fiction. With historical fiction as a background, it’s literally a dream come true to read about a portal that sends me to castles, princes, no electricity and a chance to save a kingdom.

Not only does Gemma’s story take you on a fairytale adventure - it also brings light to the absolute confusion, chaos, temptation and contradictions that come with surviving narcissistic behavior, religious abuse and bullying. If you allow it, you will experience all the emotions. This book will have you cheering Gemma on as she comes to value her self worth and in choosing herself, changes everything.

P.S. For those of you who want to criticize a 300 page book for not having full blown world building and high fantasy, puh-lease girl. The gift of a book like this is that it gives YOU room to imagine all the possibilities.