Gilded in Vengeance

by Lyssa Mia Smith

Revenge meets The Gilded Age in this thrilling YA fantasy set among the glittering magical elite of late-1800s New York society, from Revelle author Lyssa Mia Smith.

Two girls attended a magical ball, but one was never seen again.

At least that’s what those who betrayed her believed.

Two years after being framed for fraud by the Society of the Charmed, an exclusive club of New York’s wealthiest—and most magical—citizens, Emmy Vallillo wastes away in prison, utterly alone.

Until her cell wall explodes, revealing Jack Fontaine, one of the Society’s favorite sons, now imprisoned for a crime he swears he didn’t commit. They make a deal: He’ll help Emmy escape if she helps destroy those who’ve wronged them.

Using Emmy’s magic to transform their appearances, the two break free and, unrecognized, soon become the Society’s new darlings. Now their enemies want to dine with them. Attend lavish balls with them. Marry them. But ruining lives requires Emmy to trust Jack with hers, despite his dark secrets—and the infuriating attraction between them.

When another betrayal brings their enemies to their doorstep, Emmy must choose: complete their revenge, or give up the money, the magic, and her safety in this cutthroat world for the most treacherous thing of all—love.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Historical Fantasy, Romantasy

Hardcover

First published November 4, 2025

About the author

Lyssa Mia Smith is an author of romantic fantasies and a fan of all things magical and heart-wrenching. She has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology with an expertise in adolescent trauma. A lifelong New Yorker, she lives on Long Island with her partner, their two sons, and the sweetest dog. She is also the co-host of Turning to Story, a podcast about the craft of writing fiction.

Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

After losing her magic and seeing her mentor imprisoned, Emmy Vallillo seeks justice in Gilded Age New York. For two years, she languished in prison, accused of crimes she didn't commit, until Jack Fontaine—once celebrated within the Society of the Charmed but now fallen from grace—offers her freedom. They form an alliance based on mutual need: Emmy will help Jack regain his standing, while he helps her challenge the Society that wronged them both.

Together, they reenter high society, using Emmy's magical talents to create new identities. They navigate lavish events and social gatherings with purpose, each interaction bringing them closer to their goal of exposing those who betrayed them. However, they soon discover deeper dangers and unexpected complexities within the Society's ranks.

The story balances action with emotional depth. Emmy's determination is tempered by vulnerability from her past trauma. Jack's charisma hides his own secrets, creating a partnership filled with tension and growing attraction. As they work together, Emmy must decide whether vengeance matters more than the connection they've formed.

With its well-paced plot and surprising revelations, the novel combines historical detail with an interesting magic system. The characters' relationships develop naturally amid the dangers they face, making it appealing to readers who enjoy stories of redemption, complex relationships, and fantasy set in historical periods.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for providing an advance review copy.

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[jenny reads a lot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good revenge story.

It felt quite reminiscent of The Count of Monte Cristo, but with magic.

I think if you’re a fan of revenge plots, heists, secret societies, and a slow burn romance - this could be worth a read!

The FMC is betrayed, wrongfully imprisoned, links up with another prisoner to escape, then enact revenge on the people responsible for their imprisonment, using an endless supply of money to do so.

I liked this one, I didn’t love it. - Great in the moment, but one I probably won't re-read in the future.

I do think if this was marketed as a Monte Cristo reimagining I probably would have enjoyed it more - but the parallels were too strong to ignore and frankly it distracted me from really diving into the story.

The romance is very slow burn, the characters not even noticing each other as viable romantic partners until about half way through the book.

There are plenty of heists, interesting magic, and clandestine adventures.

Conceptually this book was great but the execution missed the mark a bit for me - but it’s hard to pinpoint exactly why.


Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

3.5⭐️ | IG | TikTok |

[Lexi]

Thank you NetGalley and Storytide for granting my request of an Advance Reader’s Copy in exchange for my honest and personal opinion!!!

[LaceyBanana Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5. It’s New York in the late 1800’s and two young ladies attend a ball where one of them disappears from. While being held captive in prison, Emmy meets Jack and they devise a plan to escape. Once free, their lives change for the better but their secrets can’t get out.

This was SO FUN!! The characters and setting came to life so easily in my mind. I thought the pacing was great and it kept my interest the entire time. The last 25% absolutely flew by, I couldn’t put it down! This was just such a fun read.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Lyssa Mia Smith, and Harper Collins for providing this free E-ARC. Happy pub day, this is my honest review!

[vanshikha · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐

Thank you Lissa Mia Smith & HarperCollins Children's Books for the ARC!

Revenge meets The Gilded Age in this thrilling YA fantasy set among the glittering magical elite of late-1800s New York society, from Revelle author Lyssa Mia Smith.

Reading this book was expected but I enjoyed it so much more than I expected to. The journey of reading this book was tension filled, glamourous and deceptive. From the very first page, I was hooked from the gripping desperation of understanding who is the bad guy and who is the good guy.

Smith is an expert in craft. This book will reel you in with it's magical, unique setting, and keep you flipping page after page of beautiful prose.

Beyond the intrigue, the novel also delivers an immersive emotional experience. Emmy’s pain and anger fuel her, but beneath her sharp exterior, there’s a vulnerability that makes her journey compelling. Jack, too, is layered—his charm masks secrets that make him both a perfect partner and a potential threat. Their dynamic is electric, shifting between distrust, banter, and an undeniable attraction that simmers with tension.

With its well-paced plot and surprising revelations, the novel combines historical detail with an interesting magic system. The characters' relationships develop naturally amid the dangers they face, making it appealing to readers who enjoy stories of redemption, complex relationships, and fantasy set in historical periods.

[snazzy pen ✰ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Current rating: 3 stars

I'm glad to say that I enjoyed this quite a bit more than I did Revelle! I loved the setting of a magical late-1800s New York, and the different types of magic/conjury were intriguing to read about. I also liked that the book did touch on issues such as classism, racism, and xenophobia, specifically concerning the elitist Society and the Chinese Exclusion Act at the time, as one of the supporting characters (my fav character Jimmy!) was Chinese.

Honestly, I wasn't too attached to most of the characters, but the author did a good job of making me hate Emmy's former best friend and the other elites so I was rooting for the gang to orchestrate their downfall. I also didn't care for the romance at all, so I was just kind of gazing blandly at the screen during all the romantic moments. On a more positive note, the scheming and twists were probably my favorite aspect of the book since I was all for revenge! I definitely started getting more into the book around the halfway point(?) when things ramped up more. This book had so much potential, but the execution fell a little flat, unfortunately.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Mia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had potential but it was lacklustre in execution.

[Anna Bright · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was SO exciting. proper review incoming


OFFICIAL BLURB FOR OFFICIAL PURPOSES
A high-stakes, high-society revenge novel set in the glittering world of late-1800s New York, twisting and turning around a best friend's betrayal, a quest for payback, an elite world of magic, and an absolutely delicious romance. Gilded in Vengeance is utterly exhilarating.

[Leanna Streeter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this YA historical fantasy! I had both the ARC and ALC, and immersive reading it was the perfect combo the narrator truly brought the story to life.

The setup starts a little slow while it builds the world and the stakes, but once it hits its stride, it really takes off. Twists, secrets, betrayal. I was hooked. It gave me that mix of magic, revenge, and high-society drama that feels so cinematic.

Emmy was such an easy character to root for. After everything she’s been through, seeing her strength and determination shine made me love her even more. And that romance? Slow burn perfection. The tension between her and Jack builds beautifully, and when it finally pays off, it’s worth every second.

The worldbuilding was creative and atmospheric, a glittering society full of danger and deceit just beneath the surface. Once all the threads came together, it delivered an ending that was both exciting and satisfying.

If you love revenge plots, slow-burn romance, and a touch of gilded age magic, this one’s absolutely worth picking up. Thanks to Storytide and HarperCollins the Arc and HarperAudio Children’s for the ALC.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve had the ARC of this forever and I’m glad I finally picked it up because I LOVED IT.

I was pulled right into the story immediately. It kind of has a Count of Monte Cristo feel to it, with the main character betrayed by her best friend, imprisoned for something she didn’t do and then the elaborate plan for revenge once she gets out of the prison.

I liked seeing her develop friendships and learn to trust again, and I liked the way they set up and enacted their vengeance schemes.

I will say the book felt a little repetitive in the middle, but the ending was quite exciting and I was on the edge of my seat. There were some twists I definitely didn’t predict and I was shocked to see them come to light.

This is also a standalone fantasy and I really liked and appreciated that everything was wrapped up in the end. The romance was interesting especially learning more about him and his background.

Overall this was an excellent read. I can’t wait for this author’s next book!

[sara ࿐ྂ · Rating 3 out of 5]

˗ˏˋ꒰🔪꒱ 𝟯.𝟳𝟱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀
︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

Gilded in Vengeance was so entertaining! I love stories told in a historical setting, and having magic and romance mixed in with it was my cup of tea. There was action and revenge plotting on every page, but sadly, I wasn't completely satisfied.

I didn't connect with the characters. I kept going back and forth from sympathizing with them to not really caring about their thoughts and feelings. In the scenes where the reader is supposed to be emotionally invested in the romance and the high stakes, I was only half-invested.

The world building and the magic systems confused me at times, so some parts of the story where this knowledge is supposed to reveal a twist, I was confused. I looked past this though because I wanted Emmy and Jack to get revenge on the Society and Grace.

˗ˏˋ𝗘𝗺𝗺𝘆
Emmy has had it rough since she was eight years old and Grace made it ten times worse for her. I felt bad for her for most of the story just because of the constant betrayal in her life. However, I didn't connect with her as much as I thought I would.

˗ˏˋ𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗸
For half of the story, I didn't know how to feel about Jack. He freaked me out at times because he appeared like a maniac but then he would be a completely normal love interest in a fantasy novel. I didn't really connect with him because the romance wasn't completely believable.

Gilded for Vengeance was action packed and full of revenge. I recommend reading this book when it releases!


Thank you NetGallery for providing me with an arc copy!
˗ˏˋ꒰💌꒱happy reading !!! ⊰

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

[Genevieve (GenLikesToRead) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25/5 stars
3/5 narration

The book:
I want to start off by saying that I had (probably unreasonably) high expectations for Gilded in Vengeance. I adored Lyssa Mia Smith's debut novel, Revelle, so I was ready to feel that magic again in this sophomore novel. It didn't quite elicit that same feeling, so I tried not to allow my expectations to affect my rating of this book too much.

Boiled down to the simplest plot, this is a revenge story. I love a good revenge story. The most important part of a revenge story is, of course, the success of the revenge. What is one reading revenge stories for if not for comeuppance? Unfortunately, this book lacked satisfaction not only mostly throughout in that regard, but most especially at the end.

The main villain of the story was...well, certainly a villain. I think villain's can be tough because you want to make them villainous and make sure your reader is rooting against them, which was certainly the case here. But, I also found the villain to be without a doubt one of the most obnoxious characters I've ever read about. The villain was insane, a bully, obnoxious, and a little too OP for my taste. It caused too much frustration and disappointment, and I think there needs to be a balance. You never want the hero to win every battle, but nor do you want the villain to either. There needs to be a push and pull of who wins so that it feels more realistic and keeps readers engaged. There was too much failure and disappointment for our heroes, and by the end I was just simply over it. I think I finally allowed myself to admit that I just wasn't loving the book when we got to the end and it was entirely unsatisfied. So much so that I had to pause the book multiple times while listening to the last 5% because I was just simply annoyed and ready for the book to be done.

All of that being said, I really enjoyed our main cast of characters. A little revenge squad is something I didn't realize I needed in my life. Each character was well-rounded and had their own personality and motivations. I really loved the friendship that our FMC was forging with the group and how she was healing from her past betrayal as the novel progressed. I also really enjoy the secret-magic-New-York-Late-1800's-high-society setting. Just like in Revelle, Lyssa Mia Smith did a great job of capturing that essence.

I didn't particularly care about the romance aspect, as I didn't feel any real pull between our two MC's. I oftentimes will get very frustrated if I am not rooting for our romantic MC pairing in a Romantasy, but in this case I was enjoying the overall plot, cast, and setting enough that I wasn't overly fussed about the romance.

Overall, I do really enjoy Lyssa Mia Smith's writing. I think she has fun ideas and settings that we just don't see commonly, especially in Fantasy/Fantasy Romance. I will absolutely pick up future books by her, and hopefully one of them will sweep me away like Revelle did. I think if you love a cast of found family, a revenge story, a late 1800's New York setting, a cool magic system, or a truly unbearable villain, then any of those are a great reason to pick this book up.

The Narration:
I listened to an Audio ARC of Gilded in Vengeance so I want to make sure to speak on the narrator, separate from the novel and its contents itself. I generally like this narrator, though the only work of theirs's I believe I have listened to before is A Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson and its novella sequel. I think she did a great job in almost every regard, except for two things, one of which is hard to look past: the speaking voice for the FMC. The FMC needed to have a rasp but my goodness it was painful to hear throughout the book. It definitely took me out of the book because I was so annoyed with how it sounded. I know why it had to sound that way, but it was nearly unbearable. The other thing that rubbed me the wrong way, and this isn't the only narrator to do this, but sometimes, tonally, the words need to be more soft-spoken, but I found that I would have to temporarily turn my volume up to be able to hear what was actually being said, then quickly turn it back town when the narration went back to normal volume. I find that very frustrating. I should be able to hear the narrator clearly at all times at the same volume (when sitting in a quiet room).

[rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spectacular, give me fourteen of them right now.

Imagine a book that takes the found family and heist of Six of Crows, a love story like Heartless, and a magic system entirely its own to create a wonderful tale that examines betrayal, systems of power, and transformation. I present to you: GILDED IN VENGEANCE.

The Gilded Age of New York is marked by many forms of glitz and glamour--including magic, if you know where to look. Emmy Vallillo and Grace Montgomery may not have grown up with much, but at least they have each other and the magical Brume lessons given by Emmy's father. Learning how to wield their brume can grant them the opportunity to enter into the Society, a group of wealthy, powerful individuals who possess magic and work to keep it hidden from the modern world. But their debut will be different. Only one protégé will be accepted into the Society's folds, and Grace is determined for that person to be her, even at Emmy's expense.

Grace's betrayal marks Emmy deeply, especially as Grace rises through the ranks of the Society and gets everything she ever wanted. As Emmy learns that she's not the only person scorned by Grace's machinations, she teams up with a close-knit group to take Grace down and right some of the wrongs of the Society. Through their plans of vengeance, Emmy and Jack mesh their way into Grace's world--but will they be successful? Is the cost of vengeance truly worth it?

GILDED IN VENGEANCE has sooo many things to love. Including:
⋆｡°✩ Slow-burn & yearning
⋆｡°✩ the power of transformation/transfiguration
⋆｡°✩ vivid imagery
⋆｡°✩ betrayals and twists
⋆｡°✩ a "you're mad at me anyway" moment to die for

This is the type of book that spans all ages, multiple genres, and has something that can appeal to every reader. Emmy was such a strong, fleshed-out character that perfectly balanced thinking with her head and heart. There are many powerful quotes from her that beautifully touch on grief, betrayal, friendship, and opening your heart to love and trust again. Jack is the type of book boyfriend I easily envision thousands of girls falling for, with his cocky attitude and need for justice that would burn the world down if it saved only him and Emmy.

I found myself savoring this book and really taking my time with it so I could properly enjoy it. While this book was hard to put down, it also makes its reader consider how each aspect of this Society is a reflection of our modern world. Between the prose and the metaphors to apply to one's real life, I was utterly blown away by this novel.

GILDED IN VENGEANCE will definitely be one of my top reads of 2025. I extend my deepest thanks to Netgalley, Lyssa Mia Smith, and Storytide for an eARC in exchange for a review.

[KMart Vet · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

This is a fun, fast-moving YA revenge fantasy wrapped in Gilded Age aesthetics and secret societies. At its core, it’s about betrayal, reinvention, and watching the rich and powerful get taken down, which is ALWAYS a satisfying setup.

Magical high society, lavish balls, and layered social politics made the world so interesting. I especially loved how the story quietly wove in real historical tensions like classism, racism, and xenophobia alongside the fantasy elements. It didn't lean too hard into them, but just enough to make it more layered. The magic system was genuinely intriguing and felt pretty unique, especially with how powers were used for disguise and manipulation inside social circles.

The revenge squad dynamic was also a lot of fun. I didn’t realize how much I wanted a group of carefully traumatized teenagers plotting the downfall of magical elites until I got it. Watching the main character slowly rebuild trust and start healing through found friendship was sweet and enjoyable. That said, while I liked the characters, I didn’t deeply feel for them. They were entertaining, charming, and well-rounded, but not the kind that emotionally grabbed me. I enjoyed the ride rather than becoming attached.

On audiobook, the narrator did an impressive job. The distinct character voices were excellent, and portraying the main character’s injured, raspy voice couldn’t have been easy. However, it was occasionally distracting, especially over longer listening stretches.

Overall, this is a clever, shiny revenge fantasy with strong atmosphere, interesting magic, and a genuinely fun cast. I didn’t emotionally bond with it on a deep level, but I had a really good time while I was in it. If you’re in the mood for a satisfying revenge arc without getting too heavy, this one absolutely hits the spot.

Thanks so much to Epic Reads and Storygram tours for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars, rounded up

This was... kind of a frustrating read, and in ways I'm not used to encountering. Because I think the writing, the characters, the plot: it's all really good. But the pacing, the connective tissues of this story, just... didn't work. Usually a rating like this means "good enough but not something I've personally connected with," but I really liked this book. And I wanted to love this book, and I just couldn't. And that's, you know, frustrating.

Anyway, there's way more to dig into on this topic than I can get into here, which is why it is all included in my full review over at Gateway Reviews. Drop by if you want!


Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was given by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

When Emmy is betrayed by her best friend, Grace, she is thrown in prison and her father is murdered. After two years she is rescued by Jack with a plan to avenge both his losses and hers.

I really loved this book: Emmy, the friendship between Jack, Emmy, Jimmy, and Caleb, the magic, the quest for revenge and that Emmy remained true to herself through it all. This book was full of the unexpected, including that I loved it as much as I did.

[Gabi(Ravi SinghxPip Fitz-Amobi's version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🎧
ok ok first of all GRACE IS A BITCH IM SORRY BUT I HATE HER NO REMORSE
Emmy was so done with her and thanks to Jack and Jimmy she managed not to kill her bc i would have
and the fact he was obsessed about her and when he finally aaaa he yearned
Caleb and Jimmy were also cool and i liked how it was already destined for them to survive and live a loong life
the Society of the charmed turned to be not so charming

[shatterinseconds · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5 stars

After too many 2 star reads lately, this book was such a delight! I've been searching for a good historical romance and this hit the spot, and bonus points for the addition of magic. I really love when female characters are able to be vengeful and messy. Emmy was a great protagonist.

[Cait | GoodeyReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm sorry, WHY HAVE MORE PEOPLE NOT READ THIS?

Full review to come!

[Lucia]

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

[Chelsea]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Gilded in Vengeance by Lyssa Mia Smith is a third person-POV YA historical romantic fantasy. Emmy and her childhood friend Grace hope to become protogees and improve their lives through their magical abilities. But when Emmy is accused of lying during the meeting and her father is killed, she is imprisoned and loses everything. And Grace is thriving. As Emmy waits in prison, a young man named Jack comes to her and offers her a chance at revenge against higher society and Grace.

I would call this a romantic fantasy rather than a fantasy romance or romantasy as the romance arc felt very present, but it felt secondary to Emmy’s revenge plot against Grace. Because the romance itself doesn’t feel as tightly tied to the plot and I think the general plot could move forward if Jack and Emmy remained friends and it definitely does not hinge on them getting together.

The relationship that is guiding the plot is the one between Emmy and Grace. Grace’s betrayal and movement to the upper class as a result as well as Emmy’s father’s death all play a part in how their relationship changes between the prologue and the rest of the book. It is sad because you can see how they could have been best friends for their whole lives, but that clearly was not entirely the case on Grace’s side.

A major theme is classism as the lower class are often treated as disposable dolls by the upper class during their high society parties. It's exploitative and Emmy, being lower class herself, does take an incredible amount of issue with this. This is also explored through the intersection of race and immigration with a side character who is of Chinese descent and the laws in the Gilded Age that denied Chinese people the right to become citizens and how Irish and Italian people did not stick with the Chinese immigrants even though they should have.

I would recommend this to fans of YA exploring classism throughout history and readers of Romantasy who love revenge stories

[Grace (alatteofliterature) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books, and Storytide for the advanced reader copy!

Hey Siri, play Vigilante Shit by Taylor Swift. This is such a delightful and mysterious YA story, brimming with magic and societal intrigue. It also has this Count of Monte Cristo-esque revenge plot that I was eating up, especially when the question is posed of which you would rather have, if you can only keep one: revenge or love? Sometimes, you can’t have both.

In the glittering gilded age of late nineteenth century New York City, an unlikely bond between two wrongly accused young people leads them to seek revenge for their years in prison.

Jack Fontaine was a golden boy of the Society of the Charmed, but Emmy Vallillo was never given her chance in society’s limelight after she was framed for magical fraud. When Jack offers Emmy a chance at freedom, she takes the hand of the enemy of her enemy (a stand-in for friendship, but beggars can’t be choosers). How far will they go to ruin the lives of the people who ruined theirs?

This book is for fans of The Rose Bargain, for its high society charm and hidden scrappiness, and for anyone who has at one time in their life been obsessed with the Princess & the Pauper Barbie movie.
I loved the pacing, with a rush of loose ends winding together in a landslide-style finale. I was locked in to read the last 40% in one sitting.

My only criticism is that there’s not enough closure for the reader in its last few pages. While avoiding spoilers, these characters need to talk after all of *that*. It’s inferred by the epilogue that this happens, but I wanted to spend a few more pages with them.

[Athena 💗 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Think girl version of The Count Of Monte Cristo but with a hefty dose of some very warranted female rage.

Emmy and Grace were best friends, as close as sisters. Two girls from lower class desperately trying to gain acceptance into the secretive Society of the Charmed. They have spent years studying to master their magic and learn the etiquette of the privileged in hopes of being noticed at the upcoming ball. The night of the ball finally arrives and their friendship will face the ultimate betrayal.

This book is a fast paced, thrilling story about one girl’s fight for not only her freedom but also redemption. It is said that “the closest friends wrought the deepest wounds” and boy do we see that in Gilded In Vengeance. This book was such a fun and wild ride filled with the most devious and diabolical moments between two best friends turned mortal enemies. I truly loved every moment! The magical system was unique and the world was interesting. The different scenes would vary between dark, whimsical and action packed. I loved the different twists and turns through the story and it kept me guessing until the very end.

If you are looking for a romance, I’m just going to be honest, it took a backseat in this one. Honestly though, I didn’t even mind. I was so entertained by the heist, world building, political structure, magic system and drama that my mind never even really had a moment to focus on the romance between the FMC and MMC.

If you are looking for a fast paced, high stakes, revenge plot filled with drama that will make you want to rage then I definitely suggest checking out Gilded In Vengeance. I really enjoyed this book and I think you will too.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Lyssa Mia Smith and Jill Tew, and Netgalley for the E-ARC!
Gilded in Vengeance was good, but not as good as Revelle, but I didn’t think it would be because I loved Revelle so much and it was full of many of my favourite things!
All of the characters in Gilded in Vengeance were great, they had good development and interactions, though I wouldn’t complain about more. Both the romantic relationships of Emmy and Jack, and Caleb and Jimmy were great, they weren’t undeveloped, but more time definitely would have enhanced them a bit more. The friendship and scheming moments between the group of them were wonderful! The world and magic was incredibly well done, and thankfully there were no giant plot holes like many of the books I’ve read recently. The story and plot were intriguing and well thought out, and the pacing was good. There was a good balance between the emotional side, motivations of the characters and the actual revenge execution. There were also great descriptions of the clothing and settings, it was all very atmospheric.
Slightly mean but I think it would have been better if either one or both of the characters died, or as a series, even a good duology. It felt like there could have been more to the story, it wasn’t necessarily rushed, it just might have been more satisfying as a series- there was certainly more that could have been explored. I don’t actually have too many thoughts, it was good but it might have been better with more. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I had expected to love it just a bit more. Once again, another brilliant book by Lyssa Mia Smith, I will definitely continue to read whatever she writes!

[Mella aka Maron]

DNF at 14%

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC!

I am so very sad that this book is not hitting as Revelle did. I adored Revelle and thought it was fun, exciting, and very upbeat.

This is… the opposite. I find myself feeling bored and I don’t really like the plot. It feels very listless. They want revenge and they’re going to do that by…. Integrating into the society that ousted them and destroying the people who destroyed them. What are the stakes if they fail? Nothing! Because those people don’t even care about them anymore! 🫣 There is an attempt to get me motivated for this revenge plot but it just didn’t work.

The magic system… it’s just the Source from Wheel of Time. Except that in WoT, it had meaning and it gave everyone the ability to do all weaves. This mist thingy or whatever only gives them power to use their individualized conjury …. So there has to be some personal connection to the specific magic right? How is that magic decided? 🧐 It felt very wishy-washy. It was trying very hard to be unusual but just came across as vague. I kinda hated it immediately.

So overall, I tried very hard to get into this one but it just wasn’t for me.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love a well-crafted revenge story, mixed with a secret magical society and some heist elements, you’re going to want to pick this one up.

There is some fantastic character growth, development, and world-building in this, giving us a delicious taste of what the gilded elite of society do in their free time and how they use their magic. We follow the FMC, Emmy, who constantly has to battle her distrust that has developed due to her former best friend betraying her. I love the way that Jack, Jimmy, and Caleb help her get out of that as her found family brings much needed life back to her.

I enjoyed the slow-burn romance build up and how we as the audience could see it before the characters themselves could (just kiss already!) The banter between them is fantastic, even as Emmy fights her developing feelings for him. The ending had so many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming and I was so happy with how they were executed! It was the perfect way to end things and wrap up this story.

Thank you to @lsmittywrites and @harperkids for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

[Natalie Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

High-stakes adventure woven through with emotional complexity, tension, slow-burn romance, and a unique magic system. What more could you want?!

I listen to the author’s podcast and so was intrigued to pick up her latest book for myself. Smith is a master of YA fantasy for sure! The story moves along quickly and makes you want to flip to the next page even faster. That, coupled with the character relationships and the brilliant prose, was enough to make this one a 5 star read from me.

Great for fans of Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli or Inferno’s Heir by Tiffany Wang.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Critter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an audio ARC.

This was an enjoyable read. I thought the characters were well written and interesting to follow along with. I especially enjoyed the main character's arc. She is a very interesting character. I also enjoyed the narrator's performance who did a phenomenal job bringing this book to life. I did find the pacing off here and there and at times felt that the story moved a bit slowly. I did find that the narrators kept me interested in thr book while parts felt like they dragged on a little. Overall though I did enjoy listening to this book.

[Samantha Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy of this novel.

Spy craft with a magical twist? YES PLEASE. Friends who are enemies, enemies who are friends, truth magic, jail breaks, sleuthing, manipulation, and ever changing sides are all woven into the tapestry of this masterpiece. If you love a good spy thriller with a little extra pizazz, this book is for you. Perfect for those of us who have trusted the wrong person once upon a time, and have wanted to even the score with the help of a true friend or two.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revenge, betrayal, plotting all things that bring a great story to life. The found family and exiled group of kids from their high society secret magical society. It's gripping, it is action packed, I absolutely enjoyed this story so much. The romance subplot is always a great bonus (amongst multiple characters) and you get to see yearning and tension. This was such a fun story to listen to you get background of why the society is there their way of thinking and watch the young adults do their destruction.

Thank you netgalley and Storytide for the opportunity to read this book!