Sonnets and Serpents

Casters & Crowns #2

by Elizabeth Lowham

A cynical shapeshifter. A hopeful princess. A love they never saw coming.

Silas Bennett grew up in a kingdom where magic-users are persecuted, especially those with the rare ability to transform into animals. After discovering he could shapeshift into a serpent, Silas was nearly killed—only to escape to a neighboring kingdom where he could study and use his magic freely. Now, he is determined to become a professor at the university he calls home, even though he is only nineteen. But first he must distinguish himself in his research field by proving that legendary magic stealers exist.

Princess Eliza, a hopeless romantic inspired by sonnets and their promises of true love, refuses to believe her beloved Henry perished at sea. She will do whatever it takes to find him and bring him home—even if it means traveling to another country and asking for help from a shapeshifting outcast.

With Eliza’s relentless optimism pitted against Silas’s unyielding cynicism, the two enemies can’t seem to have a civil conversation. But when they are unexpectedly bound by a pair of magical bracelets, which can only be unlocked by a kiss of true love, they quickly discover that they’ll have to work together as they navigate different languages, their past prejudices and fears, and a blossoming relationship. When their search for the truth about magic stealers threatens both Silas’s magic and Eliza’s safety, the two must learn to be vulnerable and trust each other’s hearts.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Romantasy, Audiobook, Clean Romance, Fiction

384 pages, Hardcover

Published October 7, 2025

About the author

Elizabeth (Liz) Lowham dreams of a future house that is seventy-percent library with at least three lavish window seats. Her reality is five bookshelves and a rocking chair, which isn’t so bad. She is the author of Beauty Reborn, Astra Remade, and Casters & Crowns. She has a BA in English from BYUI.

Learn more at www.elizabethlowham.com

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sonnets and Serpents by Elizabeth Lowham is an awesome young adult romantasy! I love that it is closed door, which we need more of in this genre. Even though it is closed door, the main characters have an awesome chemistry and enemies-to-lovers romance that you will be rooting for. The story and setting are so clever and unique. I love that the author created a language and even illustrated the cool map in the front of the book! The world building is impressive, and the shapeshifting and magic is so creative! Even though it is book two in the “Casters and Crowns” series, it can be read as a standalone. Silas is a scholar and shapeshifter who must learn that life is about more than lessons. He is a skeptic when it comes to romance. Of course he meets Princess Eliza, a hopeless romantic who loves nothing more than reading her book of love sonnets. This unlikely pair teams up, due to forced proximity, to help Eliza find her beloved Henry and break their curse (which can only be broken by true love’s kiss). The plot moves slowly at first, but then it hooks the reader. The characters learn that love is not just an emotion, but also a choice. I love that we also have a character who is bipolar. I love the message about not being broken or lesser. The book also comes with impressive, sprayed edges! I definitely recommend this book to people looking for clean romantasy!

Content: I give this book a PG-13 rating. Some examples of the content: mention of demons; a character curses, but the words are not written; brief death of a pet in the past.
TW: mention of abusive husband; mention of human trafficking; father tried to kill his son in the past; an unwanted kiss; a character has bipolar disorder.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

[Holly (IG Hollys_Book_Musings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"In three languages, I can't find the words for what I feel, because language can't describe the depth of it. Poetry has never penned, tongue has never tasted, magic has never matched the connection my soul feels to yours."

Sonnets and Serpents by Elizabeth Lowham

Oh my goodness, this book was so good!! I tabbed so many favorite parts, so many favorite lines, nuggets of wisdom and life lessons! How does Elizabeth do it? She has a definite gift for writing compelling, beautifully written romantasy. I'm hungry for more! I've read all of her books to date, except Astra Remade (which I will be remedying very soon). She is definitely a favorite author and I will read anything she writes.

The intricate plot, the twists and turns, the political/social intrigue and everything that happens in the end completely blew my mind!
I loved that we got more information on affiliates and their powers and how they work. I loved that we got to visit a whole different land within the world that Elizabeth has built and to learn about their customs and traditions.

I loved Silas's and Eliza's back and forth banter. They truly start out not liking each other at all, but that definitely changes. I really liked that they became friends and then lovers. The last chapter had me laughing and swooning at the same time.

I was enthralled with it all from beginning to end and am sooo sad how long it took me to finish this book. I've been sick and so focused on that, that focusing on reading has been so hard for me. But I really loved this book so much! And definitely recommend it to any fantasy lovers. And it is appropriate for teens!

Favorite Parts:
Meet cute
The world-building of this series
Bookish scholarly MMC
He doesn't believe in love
Library scene😱
Forced proximity
Their kisses🔥
Solving a mystery
Their plan
Breaking into prison
“Just as you are”
Political and Social intrigue
Woah, that ending!🤯
Chapter 46!

Content Guide:
Language: none
Sexual Content: Closed-door: Passionate kissing (not overly described),
Violence/gore: Mild-bloody attack by animal-shapeshifter, attempted murder by father (past), snake bites, snake bite wound with swelling/blood, snake attacks
Substance Use: none
Prejudices: none
Religious Content: none
Other: Magic, grief, shapeshifting

Book Info:
Series: Casters book 2
Genre: YA/Teen Romantasy
Romance Level: Clean
Release Date: Available now on ebook, hardback, and audio
Publisher: Shadow Mtn
POV: Dual third person

Thank you to the author and publisher for the review copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Kristalyne, love.lovely.books · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Don’t sacrifice the stars for me; watch them beside me.”

Oh my goodness, this book is absolutely incredible, and I’m ready to reread it all over again!!! It’s magical and mysterious. Romantic and intriguing. Unique and beautiful. Clever and creative! Heart racing and heart soaring!!! Eliza and Silas have officially stolen my heart!!!

The characters are beautifully developed in this adventurous and addicting story. I loved getting to know them! I love how they are flawed and real! I really enjoyed Silas’s dry humor and Eliza’s spark! The mystery, danger, suspense and romance made this book unputdownable!!! I could not get enough of the enemies to more, delicious forced proximity, the incredible banter and chemistry between these two! I just love them!

The romance was paced beautifully, and it felt so authentic! The theme of love you as you are imperfections and all was my absolute favorite! That is my favorite part of being loved and the author captured the emotions of it perfectly! It warmed my heart like the hot Pravish sun!

Elizabeth is such a talented author. She takes us to a new setting from book one to the country of Pravusat with a new language and culture. What an intriguing place! I also loved the University setting!

A few of my favorite things:
☀️Magic
☀️Hopeless romantic and determined princess
☀️Broody and academic shapeshifter(animal affiliate)hero
☀️The delicious forced proximity
☀️The character growth
☀️The healing hearts
☀️The heart pounding moments
☀️The unmatched banter between these two characters
☀️Love you as you are goodness
☀️That kiss and the other one too!
☀️The heart racing adventure
☀️That ending!

This story also deals with overcoming prejudices, and accepting and understanding others as they are. This story is very inspiring, it’s magical, incredible and addicting. I loved every second of reading this book! This is a must read as soon as possible type of story. I highly recommend it! You are going to LOVE Silas and Eliza!!!

Coming October 7th! This is Book 2, but can be read as a stand alone.
.
.
.
Thank you to the author and @shadowmountainpub for the arc copy, all opinions are my own.

Content: death, murder, dangerous situations, kissing only, cruel family, discrimination

[Fifi’s Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

SHE’S DONE IT AGAIN! I’m once again blown away how expertly plotted, well developed, and well planned this book was. BOOK ONE WAS NOT A FLUKE. In fact, in some aspects, it even leveled up from book one. The magic system, the WORLDBUILDING, the immersion, the pacing, it’s all done perfectly.

The world of Casters and Crowns is expanded in this sequel, this time into a foreign kingdom with unrestricted magic, openly accepted shapeshifters, colorful markets, and a sandy desert landscape. It’s so different in feel from Loegria, which was more of a traditional fairytale kingdom of forest and countryside. Instead of carriages there are carts, instead of countryside, there’s deserts, and instead of ballgowns, there’s flamboyant, colorful fabrics. The dangers are also different, as Pravusat is a land of violence, revolution, political unrest, and even trafficking. And here I was thinking Pravusat was going to be safer and nicer without all the magic prejudice lol.

The worldbuilding is absolutely exceptional in book two. It just blows me away how this was SO DIFFERENT from book one, everything from the characters’ personalities to the setting, that it felt like a totally different universe despite being just one country over. That’s how distinctive and well planned out every kingdom is. Everything from the culture to the cuisine and the language is completely different from one kingdom to another and I find that so unique and a trait of excellent worldbuilding. Even Eliza and Silas are absolutely nothing like Aria and Baron, both in personality and in their dynamic together. Put together the most impulsive hopeless romantic and the biggest cynic and it’s a completely different kind of love story.

Princess Aria is my GIRL, but I’ve always loved Princess Eliza too. It was refreshing reading from the POV of a different type of personality because she’s nothing like her older sister. She’s a little flouncy, a lot daydreamy, impulsive (like traveling to a foreign country that she doesn’t know anything about the dangers of, with a language she doesn’t know how to speak, all to find a boy she met a couple times lol) and a hopeless romantic, very different in personality from the more responsible and mature Aria. I loved seeing the world through her eyes this time because she’s so different! Eliza is flouncy and fun, and extremely stubborn. Despite hearing that Henry’s ship was shipwrecked, and everyone telling her that all passengers are considered dead, Eliza gaslights herself into believing that he is not dead but simply missing (love that for her) and will not return back to Loegria until Henry is found. Cue yet another magical adventure but enemies to lovers edition.

I have to bring up something else that I didn’t pick up on until I was halfway through book two, when Patriamere was mentioned as a kingdom with a lot of mines. While this is an original fantasy series, I wonder if these books are loosely inspired by fairytales? This didn’t occur to me until this book, but some plot elements of Casters and Crowns seem to be loosely inspired by Sleeping Beauty, and Aria herself is not unlike Aurora in personality. Aria and Baron’s dynamic is very much, soulmate, true love, traditional type of dynamic, not unlike Aurora and Phillip. Plus the kingdom of Loegria is a lot like Aurora’s kingdom, very traditional and European fairytale in setting. And in Sonnets and Serpents, the kingdom of Pravusat is clearly based on an Aladdin type desert kingdom, Eliza herself being more bold and impulsive and assertive of a character, in a way, like Princess Jasmine. I’m not sure if this is done on purpose or not, but the Patriamere having a ton of mines mention made me perk up and start to put this together. And if it is done intentionally, that makes me REALLY hope we get a future book taking place on the kingdom of Patriamere because a land of fair skinned, musically inclined people and MINES? Is that a Snow White reference aka my favorite fairytale ever? DON’T TEASE ME LIKE THAT. It also makes me wonder what Cronith and Thesland are loosely inspired by. Ugh the worldbuilding is just SO GOOD. Every kingdom has a different language, cuisine, culture, lifestyle, it’s just plotted SO EXPERTLY. GOOD WORLDBUILDING GETS ME SO EXCITED.

The writing is fantastic, once again. The characters fleshed out even more than in book one. And Henry. Poor sweet snowflake lost Henry. He’s probably my favorite male character in this series, period, because he’s just so chivalrous and sweet (and my type lol 😅). I hope we get a book 3 about him because he’s so confused and lost and he deserves to find love next.

I’m not ready to say goodbye to this book world! The worldbuilding and magic system is too good to just stop at 2 books. I need 10 more books please thanks!

Thank you to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

[Rachel Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know if I can write a review that will do this book justice. I am speechless it was so incredibly spectacular and I devoured every little bit of this book. I read castors and crowns and the beginning was difficult to get into. Not so with this one. It kept me hooked every page.

Things I loved:

-Silas ❤️ Eliza (One of my favorite fictional couples right now. )
-🐍 snake affiliate and learning all about affiliate magic
-Eliza and her struggle with her mental health. It was beautifully done
-Silas and his relationship with his professors
-the banter!
-picking apart traditional “heroic” romantic love and building it back up with “let’s do this together “ love.

This is absolutely a new favorite for me. I can’t wait to have a copy on my shelf since I buy physical copies as trophies of my favorites.

You won’t regret reading this one!

[Heidi Gorecki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written and difficult to put down. The story of Silas and Eliza had so many wonderful truths and concepts about the value of diversity instead of fear of what you don’t understand; love despite the risk; accepting our own flaws as just that rather than being our identity; real love as a choice rather than just an emotion or feeling; how both life and love are messy, not perfect or without mistakes.

I loved the contrast of Silas being bookish and investigative while Eliza was hopeful and a fighter. They brought such value and contrast to their approach of each situation they were on, and challenged each other. The struggles they both dealt with were realistic and relatable on so many levels and the depth they reached in their growth was both endearing and inspiring. The author did such a great job at not pitting either character’s qualities as better or less than, but as a balance of each other.

And I enjoyed thoroughly how she flipped the narrative of the male warrior and gave the role to Eliza instead, but gave Silas his own different virtues as well. It was just such a refreshing change and done so well without feeling forced or disappointing, but rather just so appropriate and appealing.

I loved the story, the mystery, the depth, the lessons, and the characters a ton. Well done.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.

[Sheri Yutzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t stop thinking about this book.
Exquisitely written. The story unspools with perfect tension. I giggled and cried in about equal measure.
The romance is precisely what romance should be: funny, swoony, earnest, organic. It’s a perfect grumpy/sunshine pairing that had me enchanted from the first chapter.

Not only is it a delightfully entertaining read, SONNETS & SERPENTS is a gift to those who need a guide through vulnerability and trust. Silas and Eliza clash and help each other up as they each move toward healing their own wounds.

My favorite things:
-Language learning
-Enchanted bracelets
-Vibrant culture
-Emotional growth
-Swoony kisses without spice
-Hilarious dialogue

SONNETS & SERPENTS is a jewel of a Romantasy the reading world will adore.

[Cait | GoodeyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Shadow Mountain for the gifted copy.

WELL WELL WELL.

BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK

After [to put it mildly] not loving this author’s first book I convinced myself to give another story another chance and here we are. I will say, waiting for the audiobook helped. I liked that I could move through it faster and yay for having two narrators for the dual POV’s.

I thought this was a fairly simple story but had some good messages and general themes that I could connect with. It ends well and I did like the main characters. The book is heavily forced proximity based and that really sold me on the romance as the chapters turned.

What was kind of a bummer was the “enemies to lovers” trope this had presented. The banter came across more juvenile than heated and made me chuckle rather than swoon.

All in all, I’m not upset I read it but also can’t shout READ THIS BOOK either? If you enjoy closed door romances and are easy to please, try it out.

Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy Romance
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: mild

[Jo|Ruth Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I absolutely loved this! These two are by far my favorite couple. I thought Baron and Aria were my top pair, but honestly, Eliza and Silas completely stole the spotlight. There’s so much tension between them, so much back and forth, banter, growth, healing, friendship, and eventually... love. They are definitely my new favorites.

When Silas is given the job of keeping an eye on Eliza (the runaway princess), he doesn’t expect her to be such a challenge. He also doesn’t expect to get tricked into wearing magic bracelets that keep them stuck together. Now he’s forced to help her find her “beloved Henry.” Silas and Eliza spend most of their time clashing, but the more time they spend together, the more they get to know and trust each other. Slowly, they begin to rely on one another. Just as their friendship starts to grow, new problems appear, and both Eliza and Silas have to decide who they can trust and what they truly want, especially if/when the bracelets come off.

If you like enemies to lovers and forced proximity, this book is for you. These two are constantly at each other’s throats, and it’s so entertaining to watch. But when they start breaking down each other’s walls, or when those fights turn into kisses, it gets intense in the best way. This was a five-star read for me. It took a little while for the story to really get going, but once it did, it was amazing. I couldn’t take off a single star.

Also, can I just say, Silas’s patience and care with Eliza is incredible!!!

I received a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited when I found out that there was going to be another Casters & Crowns book!!! That first book was wonderful and I loved this second one as well! I'm hoping there will be more!

Silas and Princess Eliza are the perfect definition of a juxtaposition! They are complete opposites and if given the choice, would not have interacted with each other. But of course they aren't given a choice and must go on this adventure together, bound by magic! Delightful enemies to more story that's written for young adults! And I love that! It's a clean read and perfect for this age group!

As they are bound together in their journey to find Henry, whom Eliza loves, they will be tested in many ways. Especially in how they act towards each other. I really enjoyed the understanding that grew between them. Sometimes we think we know the best way to do something, or our biases and perspective have us determined in the way something is or must be done. I loved the exploration of that theme with these two characters. Coming to better understand other perspectives and sometimes changing or adjusting their views!

The developing friendship and chemistry was wonderful! Definitely a book I will be recommending to my teens, their friends, and my friends!

Content: Clean. This book deals with magic and some moments of peril and suspense.

I received a copy from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

[Sarah Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: Sonnets and Serpents by Elizabeth Lowham
Rating: 4.5/5

Elizabeth Lowham’s Sonnets and Serpents is a captivating romantasy that deftly intertwines enemies-to-lovers tension with rich world-building and emotional depth. As a companion to Casters & Crowns, this standalone novel shines with its own unique charm, centering on Silas, a cynical shapeshifter, and Eliza, a hopeful princess whose unwavering belief in love defies logic. Their dynamic—a perfect grumpy/sunshine pairing—ignites from their first clash, and Lowham’s sharp dialogue and layered character development make their journey from adversaries to allies utterly compelling.

What elevates this story is its exploration of vulnerability and trust. Silas’s trauma as a persecuted magic-user and Eliza’s grief over her lost love are portrayed with nuance, making their emotional growth feel authentic. The magical bracelets forcing them into proximity (a trope executed brilliantly) serve as a poignant metaphor for emotional barriers and the courage it takes to lower them. Lowham’s prose balances lyricism and accessibility, particularly in Eliza’s sonnet-inspired reflections, which contrast beautifully with Silas’s pragmatic wit.

While the world-building is immersive, some secondary characters (like Eliza’s royal family) could benefit from deeper development. The pacing also dips slightly in the middle during political intrigue sections, though the climax—a masterful blend of action and emotional payoff—more than redeems it.

Summary Impressions:
- A romantasy jewel! Lowham spins magic, poetry, and slow-burn chemistry into a tale as tender as it is thrilling.
-Perfect for fans of The Ballad of Never After—Silas and Eliza’s enemies-to-lovers arc will leave you breathless.
-Proof that love stories don’t need spice to sizzle—clean, swoony, and utterly enchanting.
-The grumpy/sunshine duo you’ll root for, with a magical twist that’s pure genius.
-A fairy tale for the hopeful heart: Sonnets and Serpents is YA fantasy at its finest.

Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and Edelweiss for the advance copy. Sonnets and Serpents is a testament to the transformative power of love and honesty, wrapped in a spellbinding adventure.

[Ally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone gave me an ARC of this that they picked up at an event and I am SO grateful.

I couldn’t tell if I needed to read casters and crowns first but I’m SO glad I did. I definitely feel like it was important to me enjoying this one so much as I understood the context and character backgrounds more. I loved it, and the author has done it again. Just like casters and crowns, this book was effortlessly funny, so natural, and gave me everything I’ve been missing from booktok fantasy. Once again, the author killed it with the characters- the relationships feel organic and all of their qualities seem natural rather than existing to serve the plot or be gratifying.

Silas and Eliza both irked me out of the gate with their assumptions about each other and their motivations, but it only made me read faster bc I couldn’t wait for them to get to know each other better and realize they had it wrong. (I’m a pride and prejudice girly through and through) i loved how headstrong Eliza is, and how she roped Silas into helping her somewhat unintentionally, and the proximity did the rest (with the help of a couple meddlers). Eliza grows and is so self aware and making the most wonderful observations about Silas (thanks to the authors beautiful writing here too) I loved the parallel story in here, and how everything was wrapped up nicely and no part of the story ever seemed like it was left unfinished or only brought up once and never tied back in.

I wish I was more eloquent so I could express everything I loved about this book. Just read it and find out for yourself and find out. I know this is going to blow up someday, so I’m happy to finally be able to say I was here first!

[Marissa | storiesinthemeadow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably 4.5, but rounding up!

Content: no language, some violence (mostly happens off page, nothing graphic or gory), kissing only (not too descriptive)

Genre/tropes: YA Fantasy, enemies to lovers, healing, being comfortable with who you are

My thoughts: This was such a good read. It’s the second in a series of connected standalones; I read this one first and was able to follow just fine! I definitely plan to go read Casters and Crowns now, which I’m assuming is the story of Aria (Eliza’s sister) and Gill (Silas’s best friend) but I haven’t looked it up. I know my daughters are going to love this one, and I’m so excited to have them read it!

There’s a couple different kinds of magic, different countries and languages, a runaway princess (in search of her knight), and a university with a fantastic library that makes an appearance more than once. This is told in dual third person POV, following Silas and Eliza. They are thrown together in an unexpected way, and the tension that ensues is perfect! I loved that they are strong for each other and especially how Silas helps Eliza find safety and peace and come to terms with her inner turmoil.

Favorite moments:
🐍 transformation in prison
🐍 Silas quoting the sonnet
🐍 kissing in the library
🐍 Eliza’s determination
🐍 mixed up magic
🐍 Yvette and Baris’s relationship
🐍 sharing the bed during the “earthquake”
🐍 overcoming biases
🐍 Silas’s “not a snake” comments

[Michaela | Reading in the Heartland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! My favorite of the series. I was never bored and I never wanted it to end. When Eliza’s father banishes the man she believes is her one true love (see book 1: Casters and Crowns), she runs away, cross the waters, to find him. Silas, a magical shapeshifter, and friend to our MCs of book 1, heads across the waters to search for the missing Princess. From the moment these two met, the sparks were flying and I was totally engaged in the story. I’m not a lover of snakes, but this book was filled with them and I loved that aspect. Snakes are unusual in my reads and having a snake shapeshifter is incredibly unique. As Eliza is terrified of snakes, that makes for some interesting scenes. This book was everything you could want in a no spice romantasy and more. Silas’ heart was just perfect. I loved our MCs transformations and the journey they took together. There was family, friends, suspense, danger, and so much more. A definite top read that I devoured. The romance is just kisses, intimacy level 2.

I received an ARC of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Angela (justwant_2read) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic book by the incredible Elizabeth Lowham. I LOVED Casters and Crowns, and couldn’t wait to return to this magical world she had created. And it was worth the wait, friends. We got to dip into the world of affiliates, and it was action packed and full of sass and romance! 😂 I was just dying over the interactions between Silas and Eliza (cucumber sandwiches anyone?! 🤣). She is headstrong and whimsical, while he is so literal and educated, and watching them drive each other nuts was my favorite 🙈😂
Enemies to more is aaaalllllways a favorite of mine, and this one was so good. It was slow burn, and I just kept wondering how the heck they would even get to be together. (But don’t worry, Liz gave us our HEA 😁).

I ended up also buying the audio to read with it and it was SO well done! The narrators were fabulous, and his accent made this story even more realistic in my head. Amazing!!!

I definitely recommend this book in any format (I mean, I have every option available 🙈 and they all rock!!!!).

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

[Sharon the Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, GOODNESS! This was another fantastic piece of writing from Liz Lowham! I am only upset about 1 thing- that I have to wait for the next one! Even though this is the 2nd book in the series, you could fully enjoy it on own. However, you do NOT want to miss the first one- Casters and Crowns. Trust me.

To say that this story is enemies to more doesn't come close to covering it. To call it a forced proximity- this is next level. To call it romantasy isn't even close. It is all of that and so much more. She has created a fantasy world, a kindgdom, an adademic platform, and even a language to top any fantasy I have read. Oh, and the sweet slow burn romance is proof that it can be heated without the spice. There are many laugh out loud moments, a spunky princess that is a little impulsive and gets herself into trouble- but is so relatable and feels so real. A cynical outcast who was a Lord before his father's attack on him with a sword. That's why this is one of my favorite fantasy series, the characters feel real. They have real problems, are judged by others, and react poorly sometimes in a situations. They overreact, have regrets, make mistakes, learn. and try to do better.

It was almost impossible for me to choose a quote to share. I had dozens marked, but settled on these. Just read it and you'll find your own.

"Fine, then. What do YOU imagine a real love would be if it existed?"
"A simple thing. Someone saying, "I like you as you are. I want you to succeed. I won't ever harm you, not on purpose. Don't sacrifice the stars for me, watch them beside me."

"She was a brave, stubborn girl who loved with her whole heart and fought for what she believed in, even when it appeared impossible. She soared high and crashed low, and through it all, she never surrendered."

"Her mistake was trying to fit back into her old life without any accommodations for who she'd become."

"He was drowning in her gaze, but didn't care about the pain in his lungs if it meant he could just stay in the water. If he could just capture this moment and make it so she would never leave."

[Elizabeth Drysdale · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ Sonnets and Serpents by Elizabeth Loham is a spellbinding follow-up to Casters and Crowns, expanding the magical world while delivering romance, adventure, and a mystery that kept me guessing until the very end.

Silas Bennett, the cynical shapeshifter, and Princess Eliza, the hopeful and determined romantic, are so vividly written that they feel real—flawed, witty, and utterly relatable. Their romantic tension is made even more entertaining by the magical bracelets, which, due to a delightful magical misunderstanding, force them into close proximity. Watching them navigate the frustration, humor, and undeniable chemistry created by the bracelets, while also overcoming danger and confronting their prejudices, makes their journey deeply satisfying.

With immersive world-building, high stakes, and a plot full of twists, this book masterfully balances adventure, suspense, and heartfelt romance. Elizabeth Loham has crafted a story that’s thrilling, tender, and impossible to put down.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book in the series, Casters and Crowns. I thought this book was even better. It follows Aria's y0unger sister Eliza after she impetuously runs away to find the boy her father exiled. Naturally things don't go according to plan. I really liked seeing a new part of the Casters and Crowns world. It was nice watching Eliza grow. as a person. There was a lot of good banter between Eliza and her love interest.

[Ava · Rating 5 out of 5]

SOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOD!!!!!! I finished this in two days, I couldn’t put it down 😂 The plot is fast pased and the story line is too good. I fell in love with the characters and the world in general 🥹

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eliza is the younger princess and a hopeful romantic. When Henry, the knight who is nearly courting her, is banished she sails across the sea to join him only to find that his ship went down. Eliza is tenacious and blindly loyal, but she’s also a princess alone in a foreign country. With the somewhat unwilling help of animal affiliate, Silas, she starts on a journey of magic, adventure, and intrigue.

Eliza is Princess Aria’s younger sister from Casters and Crowns and Silas is Baron’s best friend. This book could be read independently, but I still highly recommend reading both. You’ll appreciate the overlap of characters much better.

I love the magic systems in this world, and the new things we learned in this book. I enjoyed exploring a new country and its culture. I loved Silas! Even with his cynicism, he’s still very loyal. Eliza seemed impulsive and naive at first, but she experiences a lot of growth. I loved this grumpy sunshine pairing! This is a great book for fans of romantasy. It’s also appropriate to share with the whole family (it includes fight scenes and a few kisses).

[Andrea Hall Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

OBSESSED!! I loved the concept of not needing to find a knight in shining armor. I too would choose someone to be by my side through life, not be saved from the hardships that will inevitably come.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars.

🐍 The vibes:
- Snake shifter
- Enemies
- Forced proximity
- Forbidden love
- Coming of age
- book 2 in interconnected standalones
- Closed door

🐍 My thoughts:
A cynical shapeshifter and a hopeful princess are magically bonded, and only a true love kiss can break the spell. The problem? They can’t stand each other.

🐍 Eliza was raised to fear and reject shapeshifters. The kingdom considers shifters to be uncontrollable monsters who must be eliminated. When she is magically bonded to Silas- a snake shifter- it brings the ultimate clash of opposites and prejudices that must be overcome if they ever want to find freedom again.

🐍 Eliza was definitely naïve in a lot of ways concerning life and love, but I really liked how much she learned throughout the journey. Silas was on the opposite side of the spectrum and was very skeptical of anyone and everything. I felt so much that he was a fellow Slytherin in some of his predominate qualities. He was ambitious, goal-oriented, and resourceful in his ventures. Feelings definitely were not high on his priorities. I loved how academic he was through it all.

🐍 I got a bit lost in the weeds for the last bit of the mystery, but overall this was really fun. I loved all the snakes. I loved the evolution of both Eliza and Silas individually and also together. Overall, this was fun, and I’ll definitely be reading more from this author.

Note- closed door

Release date: October 7, 2025.

Thank you so much to Elizabeth Lowham, Shadow Mountain Publishing, and NetGalley for the gifted copy. 

[Jayden Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

weeping and sobbing and puking
such a good book
I want to read it again
and then again
and then probably at least one more time
SUCH A GOOD BOOK- have I mentioned that?
ARIA AND GUILLAUME GOT MARRIED TOO SO I COULDNT WHINE
GAH GUILLAUME
Silas is the best

I love Elizabeth Lowham and all of her books- pls write more and let me read them

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

2 AM and my life choices have never been better. What am I supposed to do without these books to read in the evening???

[Chrisanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

One pro of living East of the Mississippi is that when the library in your consortium randomly gets this book, no one is on hold for it and! you get it the day before(technically) it was supposed to be released.

But, for all the legal experts out there, I didn't start it until the official release date.

Lowham's books have weight. I appreciate that about her as a writer. Her characters grew and grew on me, as well. And that's something since I didn't love them in the last book. Her world-building was done well enough that I wasn't startled by too many inconsistencies and attempting a language is brave. I'm not a Tolkien-ist or linguist so I'm not sure how well it was done, but I respect her for being willing to go there. Silas was much much better than the prior male main character (though Gilly* does make an appearance, it is appropriate for the novel). And, bonus, there was no cutesy sibling or child character. The dual POV actually worked most of the time. Lots of things going for this novel.


Silas did dwell so heavily on what seemed to be already resolved(because most readers have already read the first book). Similarly Eliza didn't know about some of the changes made in her home country and that annoyed me as a reader because I had already read 300+ pages to resolve those issues and they were popping up again like they still existed. I get that that is reality---in some places today, even. But I was irritated at times because of that.

Some things were unclear. Some things could have been different. At one point it felt like it was dragging and I found myself at times wanting a red pencil(and my own copy to mark, of course). It was dark/sad/heavy enough that this really is more for your emerging adult than your 13 year old. In some ways, the publisher disappointed me in what it allowed/seemed to encourage. And in some ways, this is a huge step forward(I think) compared to prior fare.

At about 60 pages from the end I was thinking it was a solid 3, but then the villain started his monologue and I realized that there was some brilliance that I had missed in the setting up of this world. It snuck up on me. So an extra star for that---and for the gorgeous design.



*I had a coworker who would always quote Hugh Grant's Billy line to Sandra Bullock in Two Weeks Notice and I thought of that every time.

[Riella Cristobal · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so fun to return to the world of Casters and Crowns! I was so excited to see more of this world and especially to see Silas and Eliza’s story.
Eliza felt so deeply. I felt for her as she found herself lost and alone, in more than one way. Eliza’s choice to seek out her true love forced her to face what she believed about magic, about how the world should work, and her own convictions. Her more impulsive choices were always fueled by her values. It was so cool to see her get to know people in Pravusat and to watch her reevaluate some of her assumptions. Eliza was an idealistic who even in the face of uncertainties and difficulties, managed to keep her faith and hope in how things could be.
Silas was a lot more contained, but he also had a deep sense of justice and deep emotions. I admired his love of knowledge and dedication to his research. He was snarky and sharply intelligent. His past had left him much more realistic than Eliza, but he still wanted people who understood and cared for him. Silas had faced betrayal and loss, but continued to learn how to grow through it.
Eliza and Silas both had to learn about themselves and what they believed about the world. As they explored the secrets of Pravusat , they also had to face their own fears and the uncertainties that growth brings. I loved how their relationship developed and how they helped one another grow. It was also really cool to see Pravusat and to get to meet new characters. I loved the cameos from Casters and Crowns and how it continued establishing the world.
This is a YA romantasy with themes of discrimination, prejudice, loss, and hope. It has only kisses, but some mentions of violence.
I received an ARC

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun surprise this book turned out to be! On the surface it looks like a familiar enemies-to-lovers fantasy shapeshifter plus princess but it’s got a warmth and bite, pun definitely intended, that makes it stand out!

We follow Silas Bennett, a nineteen-year-old shapeshifter who can turn into a serpent. He’s grown up persecuted for his magic, escaped to a freer kingdom, and now dreams of becoming a professor. His research obsession proving that mythical magic stealers exist puts him right in the path of Princess Eliza. She’s a die-hard romantic raised on sonnets who refuses to believe her fiancé Henry is dead at sea. Determined to save him, she ends up asking Silas for help.

From the get-go, the dynamic is delicious! Silas is grumpy, pragmatic, and deeply distrustful; Eliza is idealistic, stubborn, and unshakably hopeful. Their banter reads like a fencing match between cynicism and optimism. Then those cursed bracelets lock them together, literally and emotionally, and the stakes skyrocket.

Overall it is a charming, slightly angsty fantasy romance with academic intrigue, a splash of danger, and a classic grumpy/sunshine pairing. If you like stories where love is both inconvenient and transformative, you’ll probably devour it.

⚡️Thank you Shadow Mountain Publishing and Elizabeth Lowham for sharing this book with me!

[Jenna Killpack · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fun to get back into the world of affiliates and casters and follow along Eliza’s journey to find Henry! I re-listened to Casters and Crowns right before starting this one and was fully enraged by the King exiling Henry and happy that Aria sent Silas to find Eliza after she disappears because if you remember anything about her you should remember she feels things deeply and often acts impulsively. IE her running after Henry when they hadn’t even started courting yet.

What I wasn’t expecting was the relationship Eliza and Silas formed as they searched for Henry and as Silas worked through the mystery of the woman who tried to steal his magic.

This one had enemies to lovers vibes and forced proximity and magic and betrayal and all the things that make a romantasy great! What this one doesn’t have is on page intimate scenes like many of the YA romantic fantasy and I couldn’t be happier about it! I have already recommended the first book to my teenager daughter and can’t wait to share this one with her as well. I hope this series continues and I have loved the world the author has created.

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading the first book in this series, I was excited to start this one but it was very disappointing. I think I went in with expectations that were too high. 3 stars may be a little generous but I like the premise and the world in which the story is set. It had a lot of potential but just did not deliver. I did not like Eliza’s character. Silas was way too self absorbed to be a good hero. The book synopsis called him a cynic but I think selfish is probably a more fitting descriptive. Even in the end he was a little lacking. I liked some of the sub characters, like the papaya salesman and his wife (they were my favorites). I even liked the python in the library more than I liked the main characters. The end fell a little short as there was much that was not resolved. Maybe there will be a sequel that will wrap up the loose ends. I would give this a cautious recommendation, but be prepared for slow parts and many eye rolling parts.

[Tiffany (Work Kids N Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fantasy was absolutely fantastic!! It is one of the best I have read in a long time! It has magic and so much more. It has personal growth, diverse characters, intrigue, relatable characters, and a storyline that keeps you guessing!

When a journey started because of love and turns into something akin to a crusade for justice, I am on board!!

Although it is the second book in the series, it can absolutely be read as a standalone.

Seriously though. You should read this. Right now. Or when the chance presents itself.

Read this book if you like:
🐍 Raging Storms
🐍 Animals Magic
🐍 Bracelets
🐍 Traveling
🐍 Research
🐍 Poetry
🐍 Earthquakes
🐍 Mysteries
🐍 Advent Moons

Content: memories of attempted murder (mild), mild peril, grief, and forgiveness.

Thank you to Elizabeth Lowham and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the #gifted copy; all thoughts and opinions are my own.