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Silver & Blood #1
Silver & Blood
On a deadly mission to kill the mythical beast that has been haunting her woods, a desperate mage finds her fate intertwined with the handsome, powerful man who saves her in this dark and sexy romantasy—perfect for readers of Jennifer L. Armentrout, Callie Hart, and Holly Black.
There’s something in the woods…
When a vicious beast begins attacking her fellow villagers, Riela reluctantly agrees to enter the forbidden forest and kill the monster as she’s the only mage available—or so she thought.
Untrained and barely armed, Riela is quickly overwhelmed when one beast turns into two. She fears her death is at hand until the unexpected arrival of a scarred, strikingly handsome man with gleaming moonlit magic changes her fate—and provides a rare opportunity to learn more about her own fickle power.
After being rescued and healed from the beast’s poison, Riela awakens in a magical castle complete with a gorgeous library, a strange wolf, and the surly man who saved her life. She soon learns Garrick is both more powerful and far deadlier than a mere mortal mage—but thanks to a century-long curse, his powers are weakening.
Trapped in his castle and surrounded by the treacherous woods, the spark of attraction between Riela and Garrick slowly ignites into fiery desire. But the more they discover about Riela’s magic, the more suspicious Garrick grows of her identity. As they unravel the secrets and lies connecting Riela’s past to Garrick’s, the tenuous threads of trust between them start to fray.
Because Riela’s life—or her death—might be the key to regaining everything Garrick has lost.
There’s something in the woods…
When a vicious beast begins attacking her fellow villagers, Riela reluctantly agrees to enter the forbidden forest and kill the monster as she’s the only mage available—or so she thought.
Untrained and barely armed, Riela is quickly overwhelmed when one beast turns into two. She fears her death is at hand until the unexpected arrival of a scarred, strikingly handsome man with gleaming moonlit magic changes her fate—and provides a rare opportunity to learn more about her own fickle power.
After being rescued and healed from the beast’s poison, Riela awakens in a magical castle complete with a gorgeous library, a strange wolf, and the surly man who saved her life. She soon learns Garrick is both more powerful and far deadlier than a mere mortal mage—but thanks to a century-long curse, his powers are weakening.
Trapped in his castle and surrounded by the treacherous woods, the spark of attraction between Riela and Garrick slowly ignites into fiery desire. But the more they discover about Riela’s magic, the more suspicious Garrick grows of her identity. As they unravel the secrets and lies connecting Riela’s past to Garrick’s, the tenuous threads of trust between them start to fray.
Because Riela’s life—or her death—might be the key to regaining everything Garrick has lost.
446 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 27, 2026
270 people are currently reading
16889 people want to read
About the author
Jessie Mihalik
12 books2,202 followersJessie Mihalik has a degree in Computer Science and a love of all things geeky. A software engineer by trade, Jessie now writes full time from her home in Texas. When she’s not writing, she can be found playing co-op video games with her husband, trying out new board games, or reading books pulled from her overflowing bookshelves.
Sample chapters of all of my books are available on my website!
The Consortium Rebellion trilogy: Polaris Rising, Aurora Blazing, Chaos Reigning.
The Rogue Queen novellas: The Queen's Gambit, The Queen's Advantage, The Queen's Triumph.
Sample chapters of all of my books are available on my website!
The Consortium Rebellion trilogy: Polaris Rising, Aurora Blazing, Chaos Reigning.
The Rogue Queen novellas: The Queen's Gambit, The Queen's Advantage, The Queen's Triumph.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 911 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️ 1 ⭐️ The author tries really hard to keep the sexual tensions high between the characters but it’s to the point it feels unnatural. The forceful tension leads them to fondle each other by 34% into the book. Sex sells but that will not make the book memorable.
The pacing of the story was problematic on so many levels. The first 50% of the book is absolutely about nothing. It’s close to the Beauty and the Beast retelling where the main character is stuck in a castle, exploring every room, eating apples and sticky buns all day. We have chapter after chapter about Reila, our female mage, going room to room, cleaning places, trying to find food. It just became a chore to finish this book.
In the last 50% we enter the phase of bickering and same arguments with the love interest, Garrick who was as flat as a pancake. The character development was poorly crafted, there are a lot of inconsistencies and by 20% into the story I knew that I will not be continuing the series.
It absolutely pains me to give this low rating but I have to be honest here and solely judge it based on quality.
Thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and the author, Jessie Mihalik for this eARC.
Publication date: January 27, 2026
The pacing of the story was problematic on so many levels. The first 50% of the book is absolutely about nothing. It’s close to the Beauty and the Beast retelling where the main character is stuck in a castle, exploring every room, eating apples and sticky buns all day. We have chapter after chapter about Reila, our female mage, going room to room, cleaning places, trying to find food. It just became a chore to finish this book.
In the last 50% we enter the phase of bickering and same arguments with the love interest, Garrick who was as flat as a pancake. The character development was poorly crafted, there are a lot of inconsistencies and by 20% into the story I knew that I will not be continuing the series.
It absolutely pains me to give this low rating but I have to be honest here and solely judge it based on quality.
Thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and the author, Jessie Mihalik for this eARC.
Publication date: January 27, 2026
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January 21, 2026firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and alc!
unfortunately, dnf @ 44% — while this is not the first beauty and the beast retelling i’ve ever read, it’s certainly the most repetitive. garrick’s chapters were especially annoying to read — “she is here to destroy me, but she appears so innocent, i can’t believe it” was basically his inner monologue in every single one of his chapters.
the first part of what i read is easy enough to follow — our fmc riela is the only “mage” in her village and is tasked with killing the beasts in the woods that are hunting the villagers, but is injured and ultimately saved by garrick. there’s a magical animal(?) companion, a magical castle, and magical political intrigue.
i did not care about the plot or the forced sexual tension between the mcs.
as for the audio, it was a dual narration, and the narrators were great!
i’m just glad this was not a subscription box pick i had to waste a skip on lol
——
my next romantasy arc/alc combo✨💪🏼 seeing mixed reviews so hopefully i enjoy it 😬
unfortunately, dnf @ 44% — while this is not the first beauty and the beast retelling i’ve ever read, it’s certainly the most repetitive. garrick’s chapters were especially annoying to read — “she is here to destroy me, but she appears so innocent, i can’t believe it” was basically his inner monologue in every single one of his chapters.
the first part of what i read is easy enough to follow — our fmc riela is the only “mage” in her village and is tasked with killing the beasts in the woods that are hunting the villagers, but is injured and ultimately saved by garrick. there’s a magical animal(?) companion, a magical castle, and magical political intrigue.
i did not care about the plot or the forced sexual tension between the mcs.
as for the audio, it was a dual narration, and the narrators were great!
i’m just glad this was not a subscription box pick i had to waste a skip on lol
——
my next romantasy arc/alc combo✨💪🏼 seeing mixed reviews so hopefully i enjoy it 😬
January 28, 2026
”You are safe with me. You will always be safe with me. I care for you more than is wise, Riela.”
this book had several issues, but the plot? 100% INVESTED. the fmc Riela has a lot of doubts and struggles to find balance in her life, which led to a lot of repetitive internal monologues. the mmc Garrick tried to be dark and mysterious, almost to the point where i knew the bare minimum / nothing about him. i think the romance needed work but towards the end i started to see potential .. it felt like everything needed more time.
Vastien on the other hand though? loveddddd him and his snarky personality. he was easily my favorite character of the book. i think the story doesn’t really get interesting until over halfway through, but when things get revealed and intense decisions had to be made over the romance.. i was flipping pages left and right like a speed runner to find out what was going to happen. some of it was definitely predictable, but i ended up having more fun than i thought i would and will quickly be reading the sequel whenever it’s released.
↬ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Avon/ Harper Voyager for the arc, all opinions are my own.
this book had several issues, but the plot? 100% INVESTED. the fmc Riela has a lot of doubts and struggles to find balance in her life, which led to a lot of repetitive internal monologues. the mmc Garrick tried to be dark and mysterious, almost to the point where i knew the bare minimum / nothing about him. i think the romance needed work but towards the end i started to see potential .. it felt like everything needed more time.
Vastien on the other hand though? loveddddd him and his snarky personality. he was easily my favorite character of the book. i think the story doesn’t really get interesting until over halfway through, but when things get revealed and intense decisions had to be made over the romance.. i was flipping pages left and right like a speed runner to find out what was going to happen. some of it was definitely predictable, but i ended up having more fun than i thought i would and will quickly be reading the sequel whenever it’s released.
↬ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Avon/ Harper Voyager for the arc, all opinions are my own.
September 19, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
I was hoping to like this one a bit more than I did, but overall, I still enjoyed it!
The book immediately throws you into the plot, which I really liked. The world-building and the lore were interesting and well thought out, and I enjoyed the setting of a magical castle.
Where I struggled was with the characters. I found both Riela and Garrick to be fairly unlikeable, both individually and together. Riela came across as deeply insecure in a lot of moments, and while I understand where her insecurities come from, it became frustrating to see it repeatedly play out and lead her to making foolish choices. Garrick, in my opinion, didn’t offer anything unique as far as an MMC goes - he was the typical, grumpy “touch her and die” love interest. His attachment to Riela seemed a bit unrealistic, especially since they spent most of the book disagreeing with one another. Their arguments felt repetitive and made me question if there was anything more substantial to their dynamic than lust. I wanted to root for them, but I just couldn’t quite get there.
Despite my feelings regarding the characters, I liked the ending of the book and the way it sets up book two. I think there is a lot of potential to develop Riela’s confidence and her dynamic with Garrick in the sequel. There’s a lot more to explore in this world, and I will be interested in seeing where the story goes next.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
I was hoping to like this one a bit more than I did, but overall, I still enjoyed it!
The book immediately throws you into the plot, which I really liked. The world-building and the lore were interesting and well thought out, and I enjoyed the setting of a magical castle.
Where I struggled was with the characters. I found both Riela and Garrick to be fairly unlikeable, both individually and together. Riela came across as deeply insecure in a lot of moments, and while I understand where her insecurities come from, it became frustrating to see it repeatedly play out and lead her to making foolish choices. Garrick, in my opinion, didn’t offer anything unique as far as an MMC goes - he was the typical, grumpy “touch her and die” love interest. His attachment to Riela seemed a bit unrealistic, especially since they spent most of the book disagreeing with one another. Their arguments felt repetitive and made me question if there was anything more substantial to their dynamic than lust. I wanted to root for them, but I just couldn’t quite get there.
Despite my feelings regarding the characters, I liked the ending of the book and the way it sets up book two. I think there is a lot of potential to develop Riela’s confidence and her dynamic with Garrick in the sequel. There’s a lot more to explore in this world, and I will be interested in seeing where the story goes next.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
January 27, 2026
Huge thanks to Avon | HarperCollins for the arc and alc! 🖤
Silver & Blood has some great things going for it, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for 4 stars. I’m thinking it’s more 3/3.5. I did enjoy this story, but it took a long time for me to become invested.
You jump right into the plot in this book, which I always enjoy. It feels more natural to have the plot built around the world building instead of an info dump. The magic system intrigued me, and I loved the inspiration drawn from Faerie courts. Riela’s past was so heartbreaking—it definitely gave me some compassion for her later on when she started making unwise decisions. 😂
I think my main issue was with the MMC Garrick. He just didn’t do it for me, unfortunately. He felt very bland, even once his gruff demeanor was peeled back a bit. The chemistry between Riela and Garrick felt based entirely on physical attraction, but even that wasn’t selling me. Riela had more chemistry with Vastien in the few chapters they were together than she did with Garrick the whole book. I was desperately hoping for the cliched bait and switch of love interests, or at the very least a bonus love interest situation 🥲😂
I was pleasantly surprised by how level headed both characters stayed about their relationship, however. They understood that while they were attracted to each other, they had only met a few weeks before. I liked that they didn’t immediately trust each other with all their secrets and give up all their responsibilities to be together. It felt very mature of them 👏🏻
This series definitely has potential. The ending made me interested in what happens next without leaving me dangling on a cliffhanger. I even started to like Garrick 👀
The audio was amazing for this book! Both narrators did a good job, but the female narrator blew this out of the park. Stefanie Kay was phenomenal, and really brought the story to life.
Silver & Blood has some great things going for it, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for 4 stars. I’m thinking it’s more 3/3.5. I did enjoy this story, but it took a long time for me to become invested.
You jump right into the plot in this book, which I always enjoy. It feels more natural to have the plot built around the world building instead of an info dump. The magic system intrigued me, and I loved the inspiration drawn from Faerie courts. Riela’s past was so heartbreaking—it definitely gave me some compassion for her later on when she started making unwise decisions. 😂
I think my main issue was with the MMC Garrick. He just didn’t do it for me, unfortunately. He felt very bland, even once his gruff demeanor was peeled back a bit. The chemistry between Riela and Garrick felt based entirely on physical attraction, but even that wasn’t selling me. Riela had more chemistry with Vastien in the few chapters they were together than she did with Garrick the whole book. I was desperately hoping for the cliched bait and switch of love interests, or at the very least a bonus love interest situation 🥲😂
I was pleasantly surprised by how level headed both characters stayed about their relationship, however. They understood that while they were attracted to each other, they had only met a few weeks before. I liked that they didn’t immediately trust each other with all their secrets and give up all their responsibilities to be together. It felt very mature of them 👏🏻
This series definitely has potential. The ending made me interested in what happens next without leaving me dangling on a cliffhanger. I even started to like Garrick 👀
The audio was amazing for this book! Both narrators did a good job, but the female narrator blew this out of the park. Stefanie Kay was phenomenal, and really brought the story to life.
January 22, 2026
Silver & Blood by Jessie Mihalik
Book Blurb: On a deadly mission to kill the mythical beast that has been haunting her woods, a desperate mage finds her fate intertwined with the handsome and powerful man who saves her.
There’s something in the woods…
Rating: *****
Feels: Trepidation, Exploration, Amusement, Triumph
Style: Fantasy, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance, Magic
First published January 27, 2026: 448 pages
Give me a dark protective MMC any day !! Throw in hidden identity because our FMC doesn’t know much about herself and our growly MMC just wants her to be safe !!! Recipe to keep me up super late for a few nights in a row sneaking in as much reading time as I can get !!! Reila & Garrick were sooo fun to follow along as he keeps her locked up in his castle and she has to discover the many reasons why and what in the world is going on. I enjoyed the very fantasy based world building and setting of magic exploration and world exploration as Reila finds out more about the world around her. This is just the type of fun, magic vibe that I enjoy in my romantasy. Loved the read and can not wait for the next book !!!
Favorite Quote: "Greedy," he murmured against my mouth. "Yes." I leaned back to look at him. "Kiss me like you mean it or don't bother."
This book has:
Enemies to Lovers
Hidden Identity
Royal Courts
Fairy Tale Vibes
Found Family
Magical Library
Forced Proximity
Grumpy x Sunshine
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, Netgalley and the author, Jessie Mihalik for this eARC.
Book Blurb: On a deadly mission to kill the mythical beast that has been haunting her woods, a desperate mage finds her fate intertwined with the handsome and powerful man who saves her.
There’s something in the woods…
Rating: *****
Feels: Trepidation, Exploration, Amusement, Triumph
Style: Fantasy, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance, Magic
First published January 27, 2026: 448 pages
Give me a dark protective MMC any day !! Throw in hidden identity because our FMC doesn’t know much about herself and our growly MMC just wants her to be safe !!! Recipe to keep me up super late for a few nights in a row sneaking in as much reading time as I can get !!! Reila & Garrick were sooo fun to follow along as he keeps her locked up in his castle and she has to discover the many reasons why and what in the world is going on. I enjoyed the very fantasy based world building and setting of magic exploration and world exploration as Reila finds out more about the world around her. This is just the type of fun, magic vibe that I enjoy in my romantasy. Loved the read and can not wait for the next book !!!
Favorite Quote: "Greedy," he murmured against my mouth. "Yes." I leaned back to look at him. "Kiss me like you mean it or don't bother."
This book has:
Enemies to Lovers
Hidden Identity
Royal Courts
Fairy Tale Vibes
Found Family
Magical Library
Forced Proximity
Grumpy x Sunshine
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, Netgalley and the author, Jessie Mihalik for this eARC.
January 28, 2026
3.0 ★— The peril of reading a lot of romantasy is that after a while, certain settings and stories start to repeat themselves. There are only so many ways to tell a story, after all. Silver and Blood unfortunately suffered from this for me, feeling generic and worn-out, packed with tropes I’ve seen executed in far more inventive and compelling ways elsewhere.
I was a little surprised by this, especially since Jessie Mihalik has written some really solid and fun sci-fi romances that I’ve enjoyed in the past.
There were a few aspects I liked. I appreciated that the heroine is 28 and explicitly described as tall. I always enjoy seeing FMCs who are allowed to be past the typical early-twenties age range these books often default to. I also appreciated the world being queer-normative, and seeing Riela depicted as a bisexual woman.
Other than that… oof. This book really struggled for me. For one, it felt far too long, with the first fifty percent spent almost entirely in the MMC’s castle. Her time there largely consists of being very horny for him and leaning hard into the Beauty and the Beast vibes promised by the blurb, as she mostly eats, reads, and exists in this sentient castle.
It takes way too long for the story to reach anything genuinely interesting, and when it finally does, most of it felt really predictable, built from tropes and genre conventions I’ve encountered countless times before.
The MMC, Garrick, was so bland to me that I genuinely found myself far more interested in a supporting male character who appears later in the story. He actually has rapport with the heroine and brings a lighter, more natural dynamic that felt like a refreshing break from the possessive, broody alpha-male archetype Garrick represents.
As a slow-burn aficionado, I also really didn’t jive with how constantly horny Riela was for Garrick from fairly early on. The sexual tension felt extremely front-loaded, without enough development of their emotional bond to support it. Their romance felt oddly undercooked, and I don’t think Mihalik successfully sold me on their relationship beyond a baseline animal attraction they both seemed to share.
Sigh. Every twist and revelation in the final stretch felt aggressively generic, and I mostly found myself pushing myself along as it all played out exactly how I expected.
Would I recommend this? Maybe to readers who want something very easily digestible or are new to the genre. Anyone who’s been reading fantasy romance for a few years will likely find this book a little too formulaic, because there was truly zero new ground broken here.
🎧 Audiobook Note
🎙️ Narration Style: Dual
I really liked both narrators overall, though I did feel that the male narrator sounded a bit too mature to embody Garrick. That might just come down to personal preference, though. Aside from that, this was an easy, breezy listen with solid narration throughout.
_________
Thank you to Avon Books for the ARC, and to HarperAudio for the ALC, both in exchange for my honest review.
I was a little surprised by this, especially since Jessie Mihalik has written some really solid and fun sci-fi romances that I’ve enjoyed in the past.
There were a few aspects I liked. I appreciated that the heroine is 28 and explicitly described as tall. I always enjoy seeing FMCs who are allowed to be past the typical early-twenties age range these books often default to. I also appreciated the world being queer-normative, and seeing Riela depicted as a bisexual woman.
Other than that… oof. This book really struggled for me. For one, it felt far too long, with the first fifty percent spent almost entirely in the MMC’s castle. Her time there largely consists of being very horny for him and leaning hard into the Beauty and the Beast vibes promised by the blurb, as she mostly eats, reads, and exists in this sentient castle.
It takes way too long for the story to reach anything genuinely interesting, and when it finally does, most of it felt really predictable, built from tropes and genre conventions I’ve encountered countless times before.
The MMC, Garrick, was so bland to me that I genuinely found myself far more interested in a supporting male character who appears later in the story. He actually has rapport with the heroine and brings a lighter, more natural dynamic that felt like a refreshing break from the possessive, broody alpha-male archetype Garrick represents.
As a slow-burn aficionado, I also really didn’t jive with how constantly horny Riela was for Garrick from fairly early on. The sexual tension felt extremely front-loaded, without enough development of their emotional bond to support it. Their romance felt oddly undercooked, and I don’t think Mihalik successfully sold me on their relationship beyond a baseline animal attraction they both seemed to share.
Sigh. Every twist and revelation in the final stretch felt aggressively generic, and I mostly found myself pushing myself along as it all played out exactly how I expected.
Would I recommend this? Maybe to readers who want something very easily digestible or are new to the genre. Anyone who’s been reading fantasy romance for a few years will likely find this book a little too formulaic, because there was truly zero new ground broken here.
🎧 Audiobook Note
🎙️ Narration Style: Dual
I really liked both narrators overall, though I did feel that the male narrator sounded a bit too mature to embody Garrick. That might just come down to personal preference, though. Aside from that, this was an easy, breezy listen with solid narration throughout.
_________
Thank you to Avon Books for the ARC, and to HarperAudio for the ALC, both in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.25 stars
Such a cool concept with a great cast of characters that had far too many What Are You Doing moments.
I was gonna rate this a straight three stars, but the ending was pretty sweet and was worth another 1/4 star.
Both main characters had a ton of potential, but they would say or do things that seemed to be completely out of character and just idiotic. Why? Was it done purposefully to add in some drama and angst? Pretty sure that could have been done another way.
But I seriously said What Are You Doing so many times in this book. But then there were moments that were hot af, sweet af, cool af. But they all got buried under the dumber interactions.
And Vastien. Best side character ever and was honestly preferring him at time to Garrick, but he's a good best friend character here and made some of the lower moments feel a lot better.
All this to say I think I'm invested just enough to read the next one cause I GOTTA know what happens next ❤️🔥
Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
Such a cool concept with a great cast of characters that had far too many What Are You Doing moments.
I was gonna rate this a straight three stars, but the ending was pretty sweet and was worth another 1/4 star.
Both main characters had a ton of potential, but they would say or do things that seemed to be completely out of character and just idiotic. Why? Was it done purposefully to add in some drama and angst? Pretty sure that could have been done another way.
But I seriously said What Are You Doing so many times in this book. But then there were moments that were hot af, sweet af, cool af. But they all got buried under the dumber interactions.
And Vastien. Best side character ever and was honestly preferring him at time to Garrick, but he's a good best friend character here and made some of the lower moments feel a lot better.
All this to say I think I'm invested just enough to read the next one cause I GOTTA know what happens next ❤️🔥
Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
February 6, 2026
thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
i don't know what i truly expected with this, but idk... i felt like i struggled to read it and just couldn't connect with the characters.. and for me, that's why i love reading. to dive into a story and feel for the characters and forget reality sometimes, and this just didn't do that for me. plus the mmc just was too much broodiness if possible.
otherwise, overall, the story isn't bad itself. the plot kept me intrigued and it throws you into the story immediately. it's probably what did keep me interested and to finish vs calling it quits.
i don't know what i truly expected with this, but idk... i felt like i struggled to read it and just couldn't connect with the characters.. and for me, that's why i love reading. to dive into a story and feel for the characters and forget reality sometimes, and this just didn't do that for me. plus the mmc just was too much broodiness if possible.
otherwise, overall, the story isn't bad itself. the plot kept me intrigued and it throws you into the story immediately. it's probably what did keep me interested and to finish vs calling it quits.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book gives STRONG fairytale vibes. Think Beauty & the Beast if Belle had magic and the Beast was a brooding, but ultimately very kind mage, and they needed to work together to defeat the bad kingdom. Plus a magical door & a really freaking cute giant magical dog, a sentient castle, and a scary cursed forest.
I liked this one, but didn’t love it and I’m not sure how much of that is the books fault vs my mood and expectations going in.
Honestly just typing that out I’m thinking, “it’s me I’m the problem” — in terms of my overall enjoyment of the book. So given that realization I’m going to bump my rating up a bit.
This book gives what it says it’s going to in its synopsis. I however, did not previously read the synopsis, and assumed based on the cover and the title this would be a bit darker. I went in expecting dark and high intrigue and didn’t get it (BECAUSE THATS NOT WHAT THE SYNOPSIS SAYS IT IS)…
Anyhow… This is a rambling review and I’m just going to leave it bc well its my GR and I do what I want.
Whats to love…
- fairytale vibes but with spice
- animal companion in the form of a giant dog
- broody but soft MMC
- sentient castle
- giant library (again the B&B vibes are strong)
- magical training
- bargains
- cursed woods
- interesting magic
- magical door
Whats not to love…
- This doesn’t break the mold in terms of a romantasy book. It is a solid romantasy and was an enjoyable read (that I think would have been more enjoyable had I gone in with the right mindset), but if you’ve read a lot of romantasy you might not find this one compelling enough to feel fresh.
- Again this is a good read! I think it would be perfect for those newer to the romantasy genre!
Audio Narration: 4.5/5 Solid performances! I had no issues with pacing, pausing, inflection, voice variation, or production to note! I really enjoyed Fajer Al-Kaisi’s performance! It’s my first book narrated by him but won’t be my last! He did a great job on the female voices, something I don’t think many male narrators are able to accomplish! Stefanie Kay also gave a wonderful performance. Her voice variation was great! The only thing to note is that the fmc’s voice is a bit higher pitched, which isn’t my favorite but nothing that would keep me from recommending the audiobook.
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Thank you Avon & Harper Audio for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
I liked this one, but didn’t love it and I’m not sure how much of that is the books fault vs my mood and expectations going in.
Honestly just typing that out I’m thinking, “it’s me I’m the problem” — in terms of my overall enjoyment of the book. So given that realization I’m going to bump my rating up a bit.
This book gives what it says it’s going to in its synopsis. I however, did not previously read the synopsis, and assumed based on the cover and the title this would be a bit darker. I went in expecting dark and high intrigue and didn’t get it (BECAUSE THATS NOT WHAT THE SYNOPSIS SAYS IT IS)…
Anyhow… This is a rambling review and I’m just going to leave it bc well its my GR and I do what I want.
Whats to love…
- fairytale vibes but with spice
- animal companion in the form of a giant dog
- broody but soft MMC
- sentient castle
- giant library (again the B&B vibes are strong)
- magical training
- bargains
- cursed woods
- interesting magic
- magical door
Whats not to love…
- This doesn’t break the mold in terms of a romantasy book. It is a solid romantasy and was an enjoyable read (that I think would have been more enjoyable had I gone in with the right mindset), but if you’ve read a lot of romantasy you might not find this one compelling enough to feel fresh.
- Again this is a good read! I think it would be perfect for those newer to the romantasy genre!
Audio Narration: 4.5/5 Solid performances! I had no issues with pacing, pausing, inflection, voice variation, or production to note! I really enjoyed Fajer Al-Kaisi’s performance! It’s my first book narrated by him but won’t be my last! He did a great job on the female voices, something I don’t think many male narrators are able to accomplish! Stefanie Kay also gave a wonderful performance. Her voice variation was great! The only thing to note is that the fmc’s voice is a bit higher pitched, which isn’t my favorite but nothing that would keep me from recommending the audiobook.
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Thank you Avon & Harper Audio for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
October 18, 2025
Silver & Blood by Jessie Mihalik starts off strong—within a few pages, you’re thrown right into the action, monsters and all. I loved that there wasn’t a long setup or info dump; the story immediately feels alive and dangerous. The world itself is fascinating, full of mystery and magic, and the idea of a trapped Etheri king and a late-blooming mage discovering her power had so much potential.
Where it lost me a bit was in the middle. Riela spends a lot of time in her own head—questioning herself, her feelings, her magic, her choices. I understand it’s part of her character arc, but the constant internal monologue started to drag. There were whole stretches where not much happened except her doubting or overthinking, and it slowed down the story’s momentum.
Some of the more “crude” thoughts Riela and Garrick had about each other weren’t sexy; they were downright cringey. I like spice when it fits the characters, but here it often broke the tone rather than added to it. Their chemistry leaned more on physical tension than genuine emotional connection, and I found myself wanting more depth between them.
Still, the ending was solid and set up some intriguing possibilities for book two. Despite my mixed feelings, I’m curious to see where Mihalik takes Riela’s growth and the world of Lohka next. If you like magical castles, broody love interests, and a slow-burn fantasy romance with room to grow, this one’s worth checking out.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Where it lost me a bit was in the middle. Riela spends a lot of time in her own head—questioning herself, her feelings, her magic, her choices. I understand it’s part of her character arc, but the constant internal monologue started to drag. There were whole stretches where not much happened except her doubting or overthinking, and it slowed down the story’s momentum.
Some of the more “crude” thoughts Riela and Garrick had about each other weren’t sexy; they were downright cringey. I like spice when it fits the characters, but here it often broke the tone rather than added to it. Their chemistry leaned more on physical tension than genuine emotional connection, and I found myself wanting more depth between them.
Still, the ending was solid and set up some intriguing possibilities for book two. Despite my mixed feelings, I’m curious to see where Mihalik takes Riela’s growth and the world of Lohka next. If you like magical castles, broody love interests, and a slow-burn fantasy romance with room to grow, this one’s worth checking out.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
August 31, 2025
I finished this book screaming.
I need the next installment more than I need air to breathe.
Jessie Mihalik is an auto-buy author for me. I’ve adored her science fiction romances, so I was eagerly anticipating her foray into fantasy romance - and I was not disappointed. Everything about this book drew me in - from the world building, to the characters that I couldn’t help but to love and the way that the author picks out all my favorite tropes and does them delicious justice.
Following Reila into the forest to kill a monster, we encounter a grumpy mage, a massive wolf and all the adventure and mystery that comes with them. This one evoked so many emotions in me, I had to put the book down several times and go take a walk -only to hurry back so I could find out what happens next.
If you like intricate magic, reluctant allies to lovers and side characters that you can’t help but to love, please pick this one up.
*Netgalley arc review*
I need the next installment more than I need air to breathe.
Jessie Mihalik is an auto-buy author for me. I’ve adored her science fiction romances, so I was eagerly anticipating her foray into fantasy romance - and I was not disappointed. Everything about this book drew me in - from the world building, to the characters that I couldn’t help but to love and the way that the author picks out all my favorite tropes and does them delicious justice.
Following Reila into the forest to kill a monster, we encounter a grumpy mage, a massive wolf and all the adventure and mystery that comes with them. This one evoked so many emotions in me, I had to put the book down several times and go take a walk -only to hurry back so I could find out what happens next.
If you like intricate magic, reluctant allies to lovers and side characters that you can’t help but to love, please pick this one up.
*Netgalley arc review*
December 6, 2025
ARC - 3/5⭐️ I wanted to love this, but it was just good in my opinion. The plot was well thought out and portrayed; I enjoyed the characters and the magic system. Riela was such a strong FMC.
The first few pages really grasp the readers attention which is so important. The slow burn 🔥 was chefs kiss. This book truly had all the ingredients to be something so incredible but there was just something missing for me. Good, just not great.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC 🩵
The first few pages really grasp the readers attention which is so important. The slow burn 🔥 was chefs kiss. This book truly had all the ingredients to be something so incredible but there was just something missing for me. Good, just not great.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC 🩵
February 13, 2026
3.75/5
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
I really thought this was such a fun book! With some inspiration from classic romantasy books plus a hint of beauty and the beast, this book ticks off all the boxes if you want a fun and breezy romantasy read.
I really liked Riela, and appreciated her morals and growth over the book. I do think she was sometimes too selfless, because I would have been much more selfish if I were her LMAOO.
Garrick was an average MMC, I wish we had more of his POV because his chapters were so so short. I think more of his backstory would better explain why he acts the way he does.
The romance didn’t convince me, it was very insta lust more than anything but I can see the potential.
The plot itself takes a major turn at 60% through and I still don’t know if I loved the direction that it took. It’s interesting but idk…I was rooting for a love interest switch okay. Blood court?? Like hello villain….obviously this is not the direction the book took at ALL but I think I was hoping for it too much and it impacted my reading.
The pacing itself can be a bit slow near the end, and I’m not sure if I’ll pick up the sequel.
All of this to be said, this is a solid book that I did enjoy. I think most people, if they’re able to connect to the main characters, will love it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
I really thought this was such a fun book! With some inspiration from classic romantasy books plus a hint of beauty and the beast, this book ticks off all the boxes if you want a fun and breezy romantasy read.
I really liked Riela, and appreciated her morals and growth over the book. I do think she was sometimes too selfless, because I would have been much more selfish if I were her LMAOO.
Garrick was an average MMC, I wish we had more of his POV because his chapters were so so short. I think more of his backstory would better explain why he acts the way he does.
The romance didn’t convince me, it was very insta lust more than anything but I can see the potential.
The plot itself takes a major turn at 60% through and I still don’t know if I loved the direction that it took. It’s interesting but idk…I was rooting for a love interest switch okay. Blood court?? Like hello villain….obviously this is not the direction the book took at ALL but I think I was hoping for it too much and it impacted my reading.
The pacing itself can be a bit slow near the end, and I’m not sure if I’ll pick up the sequel.
All of this to be said, this is a solid book that I did enjoy. I think most people, if they’re able to connect to the main characters, will love it.
December 6, 2025
Riela is the only mage in her village and when a beast attacks in the nearby forest she is pressured by the other villagers to venture out and hunt him. She’s injured in the fight and saved by the dashing and taciturn Garrick who whisks her off to his magical castle (complete with laddered library) and his wolf. The world is quant and cozy, and the chemistry between the leads is there from the start but the plot can feel a bit predictable at times.
The characters,while relatable at times sometimes lack the depth to make their journeys truly compelling, and the pacing feels uneven in places. If you’re a fan of romantasies, it’s still an entertaining, light read that doesn’t require much emotional investment.
P.s. how gorgeous is the cover?!, totally romantic and beautiful. Hats off to the artist.
3/5 🌟Stars overall. Enjoyable but not ground breaking.
Thanks so much the NetGalley and Avon for the ARC copy.
The characters,while relatable at times sometimes lack the depth to make their journeys truly compelling, and the pacing feels uneven in places. If you’re a fan of romantasies, it’s still an entertaining, light read that doesn’t require much emotional investment.
P.s. how gorgeous is the cover?!, totally romantic and beautiful. Hats off to the artist.
3/5 🌟Stars overall. Enjoyable but not ground breaking.
Thanks so much the NetGalley and Avon for the ARC copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
✨️ALC REVIEW
✨️Dual narration - Stephanie Kay and Fajer Al-Kaisi
✨️Harper Audio
This was a great story. The narrators did a fantastic job! This was a unique world full of magic, mythical beasts, and slow burn romance. The world building was phenomenal. I loved how Reila was connected to the magical castle and learning her powers.The characters I just loved to Garrick the MMC, such a protector. I definitely can't wait for the next book, everything building up to it! What an ending. "You forgot something! Me!! "
Thank you, Netgalley and Harper Audio, for this ALC! My opinion is my own
✨️Dual narration - Stephanie Kay and Fajer Al-Kaisi
✨️Harper Audio
This was a great story. The narrators did a fantastic job! This was a unique world full of magic, mythical beasts, and slow burn romance. The world building was phenomenal. I loved how Reila was connected to the magical castle and learning her powers.The characters I just loved to Garrick the MMC, such a protector. I definitely can't wait for the next book, everything building up to it! What an ending. "You forgot something! Me!! "
Thank you, Netgalley and Harper Audio, for this ALC! My opinion is my own
January 27, 2026
I think if you are a fan of the first book in the ACOTAR series by Sarah J Maas, you will enjoy this book. I found there to be a good handful of similarities in this novel but I wouldn't call it a copy by any means. I found the FMC to be a bit naive and the story was a bit predictable. I am still interested in continuing this series as the books are released but I would say this one was just ok for me. This one does end on a cliffhanger so I want to know what happens so I'm crossing my fingers that the next one will be even better.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 1/27/26
Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 1/27/26
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 🌟
The first 25%had me feeling like a 5 🌟, but I hit some lagging moments. I've never had a list of most frustrating FMC's, but now I think I could start one and Riela would make the list. I don't know if its just an imbalance of trying to be strong and independent while not making every stubborn and infuriating move or what.
The romance threw me a bit. There's obvious attraction on both sides with mutual decisions and then so much nothing. So many things going on in their lives while simultaneously nothing actually happening.
But as frustrated as I was feeling I still had to finish and I still feel a need to know what will happen next.
The first 25%had me feeling like a 5 🌟, but I hit some lagging moments. I've never had a list of most frustrating FMC's, but now I think I could start one and Riela would make the list. I don't know if its just an imbalance of trying to be strong and independent while not making every stubborn and infuriating move or what.
The romance threw me a bit. There's obvious attraction on both sides with mutual decisions and then so much nothing. So many things going on in their lives while simultaneously nothing actually happening.
But as frustrated as I was feeling I still had to finish and I still feel a need to know what will happen next.
February 13, 2026
OHHH this book absolutely ate. 🔥
5 stars, no hesitation.
Silver & Blood gave me that same fun, addictive romantasy energy I love in books like ACOTAR and Quicksilver, but with its own distinct world, stakes, and characters. It had the perfect balance of romance, magic, tension, and “just one more chapter” pacing that kept me glued to my Kindle way past bedtime.
Riela and Garrick were such a compelling pair. Their chemistry was chef’s kiss, and I genuinely loved them together. That said… the constant misunderstandings and bickering did start to wear a little thin at times. And listen, Riela, I adore you, but for someone who is constantly frustrated that Garrick won’t communicate, you sure did a LOT of internal spiraling instead of, you know, saying things out loud. 🫣 Thankfully, I think the author tied this up really well toward the end, and it felt earned rather than frustrating.
What really got me was the plot. I thought I had things pretty well figured out by the halfway point and then BAM. The story veered off in a totally new, exciting direction and I could not put the book down. The twists, reveals, and big moments at the end were SO good, and that cliffhanger??? Absolutely criminal. I am frothing at the mouth for the next book, which better come out ASAP because I need answers immediately.
The action that’s clearly being set up for book two has me beyond excited, especially after everything that was revealed in the final stretch. And lastly, because it must be said… my heart forever belongs to Vastien. 😍 No notes. No regrets.
If you love romantasy with tension, twists, swoony characters, and a plot that keeps escalating in the best way, this one is a must-read.
5 stars, no hesitation.
Silver & Blood gave me that same fun, addictive romantasy energy I love in books like ACOTAR and Quicksilver, but with its own distinct world, stakes, and characters. It had the perfect balance of romance, magic, tension, and “just one more chapter” pacing that kept me glued to my Kindle way past bedtime.
Riela and Garrick were such a compelling pair. Their chemistry was chef’s kiss, and I genuinely loved them together. That said… the constant misunderstandings and bickering did start to wear a little thin at times. And listen, Riela, I adore you, but for someone who is constantly frustrated that Garrick won’t communicate, you sure did a LOT of internal spiraling instead of, you know, saying things out loud. 🫣 Thankfully, I think the author tied this up really well toward the end, and it felt earned rather than frustrating.
What really got me was the plot. I thought I had things pretty well figured out by the halfway point and then BAM. The story veered off in a totally new, exciting direction and I could not put the book down. The twists, reveals, and big moments at the end were SO good, and that cliffhanger??? Absolutely criminal. I am frothing at the mouth for the next book, which better come out ASAP because I need answers immediately.
The action that’s clearly being set up for book two has me beyond excited, especially after everything that was revealed in the final stretch. And lastly, because it must be said… my heart forever belongs to Vastien. 😍 No notes. No regrets.
If you love romantasy with tension, twists, swoony characters, and a plot that keeps escalating in the best way, this one is a must-read.
September 6, 2025
I like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me a read.
I'll get this out of the way: a star for that glorious cover. The leads look beautiful. Anybody would be suckered in by it.
The story was ... disappointing. Romantasy and romance books are just dominating the market, and this book was a cash in on that angle and the 'grumpy touch her and die who falls first'.
I could not stand the male lead. At all. He is a centuries old prince who apparently is a fearsome dude, has a wishy washy stance on humans, has been trapped like a horny monk in a forest (separated by a portal from his people). Cue our female who he comes across. Human, totally sexy, who can do magic and he is like 'hum, my dick is twitching but no... I can't get involved because of reasons'.
Cue 50% of the book her asking to leave, him telling her no, her getting angry, him changing the subject, him throwing her a bone about her magic, something going wrong... and repeat. Again. Again... and again. The plot was not plotting, endless chapters of just the two of them going nowhere in this castle. When they finally leave the castle, and she finds out she is grounded in the forest, back to the castle she goes where we are treated to the same thing... except there is fucking.
The plot doesn't start truly plotting until 60% into the book, and we're treated by characters who are just there and not fully developed - they just exist to give misunderstood moments for the female (a woman he was engaged to) and male (a friend of his who is egging him on by trying to make him jealous). Not to mention, when they finally get their emotions clear that they like one another, the levels of jealousy between them is absolutely insane.
The book ends on a cliffhanger, and honestly I'm not caring about learning more about the world and series. While the female was smart, she seemed to loose her intellect by the time she met him and fully became 100% infatuated sans brain when he wasn't paying her attention. I like men who are well rounded characters where their broodiness makes sense and their characters have some sort of change. But, a guy who dicks around with the female and gets around withholding and making her simp (esp. when he is the more powerful one) ain't my thing.
I'll get this out of the way: a star for that glorious cover. The leads look beautiful. Anybody would be suckered in by it.
The story was ... disappointing. Romantasy and romance books are just dominating the market, and this book was a cash in on that angle and the 'grumpy touch her and die who falls first'.
I could not stand the male lead. At all. He is a centuries old prince who apparently is a fearsome dude, has a wishy washy stance on humans, has been trapped like a horny monk in a forest (separated by a portal from his people). Cue our female who he comes across. Human, totally sexy, who can do magic and he is like 'hum, my dick is twitching but no... I can't get involved because of reasons'.
Cue 50% of the book her asking to leave, him telling her no, her getting angry, him changing the subject, him throwing her a bone about her magic, something going wrong... and repeat. Again. Again... and again. The plot was not plotting, endless chapters of just the two of them going nowhere in this castle. When they finally leave the castle, and she finds out she is grounded in the forest, back to the castle she goes where we are treated to the same thing... except there is fucking.
The plot doesn't start truly plotting until 60% into the book, and we're treated by characters who are just there and not fully developed - they just exist to give misunderstood moments for the female (a woman he was engaged to) and male (a friend of his who is egging him on by trying to make him jealous). Not to mention, when they finally get their emotions clear that they like one another, the levels of jealousy between them is absolutely insane.
The book ends on a cliffhanger, and honestly I'm not caring about learning more about the world and series. While the female was smart, she seemed to loose her intellect by the time she met him and fully became 100% infatuated sans brain when he wasn't paying her attention. I like men who are well rounded characters where their broodiness makes sense and their characters have some sort of change. But, a guy who dicks around with the female and gets around withholding and making her simp (esp. when he is the more powerful one) ain't my thing.
Read
November 28, 2025DNF
The author has a pleasant style, a good idea, and an interesting worldview. But I was bored; they were sitting, doing nothing, and eating apples.
The author has a pleasant style, a good idea, and an interesting worldview. But I was bored; they were sitting, doing nothing, and eating apples.
January 27, 2026
Silver & Blood has taken center stage in grand fashion. This romantasy sparks excitement, swoons, and awe. If you love Beauty and the Beast, you'll find much to love here. If you love grumpy x sunshine, this one is for you! If you enjoy sizzling slow burns, look no further. If you want a fantasy world full of fairytales made real and magic that takes your breath away...then Silver & Blood's gotcha! I'm locked in for the long run in this series, and it's all due to this incredible start.
This is the journey of Riela and Garrick. Riela is human mage who has only scratched the surface of her magic and is forced to enter a danger-filled forest in an attempt to slay monsters (however unprepared and u-warriorlike she may be). In her fumble to do just that she comes across another mage, Garrick, one of mysterious origins who saves her and houses her in his abandoned castle, where secrets lurk in every corner.
I loved both protagonists, especially given the opportunity for dual POVs, so neither character is ever shrouded in mystery. Garrick does have a mysterious past that takes its time to reveal, but we still are granted access to his thoughts, intents, and agenda. I really loved his character, present was that allure in his intrigue we must discover in time. I also loved how his gruff demeanor becomes softened through his proximity to our heroine Riela. Riela is our other wonderful protagonist! She's been isolated and ostracized by her village yet looks to protect it. That right there demonstrates her strength in character. She is not a fighter, she can barely handle a dagger. But her heart beats fiercely to do all it can to help those in need. A fiercely beating heart that along begins to sing to the tune of Garrick. As this unreadable person becomes more and more known to her, she can't help but want to know all his hidden layers She brings so much light to his life and he helps to give meaning to hers. Specifically to her newborn magic she has yet to control. They better one another in many ways, but their cautious partnership turned something more does not come without hurdles.
One thing that does happen between the two is miscommunication, but I loved how the narrative confronted this. With every misunderstanding that ensues, there was always a following discussion between Riela and Garrick to navigate the inner workings of whatever misunderstanding. The miscommunication is never drawn out, it's explored, and that was unexpected in the best of ways.
Along with magnetic leads, we have an eclectic secondary cast I came to enjoy reading. Especially that of Grim and I'd argue the Castle itself is its own character. I just loved how the initial small cast brought so much life to every scene. This cast of character served to positively elevate the fascinating setting, making the world both magical yet tangible.
This is a romantasy, but it's one that establishes it own rules while following the more traditional ones. The latter can at times make its twists and turns expected, but I still found myself absolutely invested in each of those twisty turns. Also, another small detail I loved was seeing older protagonists helming this journey. Riela is 28 years old and Garrick is centuries old but looks around 35. Personally, older protagonists are more relatable to me, and their journey in harnessing their power becomes far more believable. In fact, Riela struggles with her magic all throughout the novel. She is never superpowered nor overtly strong. She is only just beginning to understand the depths of her magic and I appreciated the key to unlocking it did not come suddenly, it was earned.
There is so much to love here! If you're new to romantasy, start here! If you're familiar with the genre, then make sure you add this one to your list. Because either way...you don't want to miss out on Silver & Blood.
Get ready for the start of an epic adventure!
Thank you Avon for this complimentary eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily. 4.5
This is the journey of Riela and Garrick. Riela is human mage who has only scratched the surface of her magic and is forced to enter a danger-filled forest in an attempt to slay monsters (however unprepared and u-warriorlike she may be). In her fumble to do just that she comes across another mage, Garrick, one of mysterious origins who saves her and houses her in his abandoned castle, where secrets lurk in every corner.
I loved both protagonists, especially given the opportunity for dual POVs, so neither character is ever shrouded in mystery. Garrick does have a mysterious past that takes its time to reveal, but we still are granted access to his thoughts, intents, and agenda. I really loved his character, present was that allure in his intrigue we must discover in time. I also loved how his gruff demeanor becomes softened through his proximity to our heroine Riela. Riela is our other wonderful protagonist! She's been isolated and ostracized by her village yet looks to protect it. That right there demonstrates her strength in character. She is not a fighter, she can barely handle a dagger. But her heart beats fiercely to do all it can to help those in need. A fiercely beating heart that along begins to sing to the tune of Garrick. As this unreadable person becomes more and more known to her, she can't help but want to know all his hidden layers She brings so much light to his life and he helps to give meaning to hers. Specifically to her newborn magic she has yet to control. They better one another in many ways, but their cautious partnership turned something more does not come without hurdles.
One thing that does happen between the two is miscommunication, but I loved how the narrative confronted this. With every misunderstanding that ensues, there was always a following discussion between Riela and Garrick to navigate the inner workings of whatever misunderstanding. The miscommunication is never drawn out, it's explored, and that was unexpected in the best of ways.
Along with magnetic leads, we have an eclectic secondary cast I came to enjoy reading. Especially that of Grim and I'd argue the Castle itself is its own character. I just loved how the initial small cast brought so much life to every scene. This cast of character served to positively elevate the fascinating setting, making the world both magical yet tangible.
This is a romantasy, but it's one that establishes it own rules while following the more traditional ones. The latter can at times make its twists and turns expected, but I still found myself absolutely invested in each of those twisty turns. Also, another small detail I loved was seeing older protagonists helming this journey. Riela is 28 years old and Garrick is centuries old but looks around 35. Personally, older protagonists are more relatable to me, and their journey in harnessing their power becomes far more believable. In fact, Riela struggles with her magic all throughout the novel. She is never superpowered nor overtly strong. She is only just beginning to understand the depths of her magic and I appreciated the key to unlocking it did not come suddenly, it was earned.
There is so much to love here! If you're new to romantasy, start here! If you're familiar with the genre, then make sure you add this one to your list. Because either way...you don't want to miss out on Silver & Blood.
Get ready for the start of an epic adventure!
Thank you Avon for this complimentary eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily. 4.5
November 17, 2025
4.5, rounded up. E-ARC via Netgalley.
I am a huge fan of Jessie Mihalik’s science-fiction romance novels so when Avon offered an e-ARC of her new fantasy novel I couldn’t click the download button fast enough.
I was hooked from the first line! I really enjoyed Garrick and Riela’s banter and interactions, and Grim the wolf too. (tbh, he’s my favorite!) The action started from the opening pages, but not in a jarring way, and the monsters were definitely creepy. I love when a setting feels like a character, and the castle they’re trapped in absolutely has its own personality.
For me, one of the best things about Mihalik’s science-fiction books is how she weaves in the world-building and technology. These aspects were so well-woven in Silver & Blood as well. I sometimes struggle with the rules of magical systems and hierarchy in fantasy novels, especially first in a series, but with this novel I never once felt taken out of the story or needed to flip back to reread the details.
There is a downside to reading the first in a new series well before the publication date: having to wait even longer for the second book! I will be anxiously awaiting the next installment of Garrick and Riela’s adventures.
After you pre-order Silver & Blood or request your library to buy a copy, pick up Mihalik’s previous books to fill the gap until release day on January 27, 2026. I highly recommend starting with Hunt The Stars of the Starlight’s Shadow series. It’s SO good, but honestly you can’t go wrong with any of Mihalik’s backlist!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc.
I am a huge fan of Jessie Mihalik’s science-fiction romance novels so when Avon offered an e-ARC of her new fantasy novel I couldn’t click the download button fast enough.
I was hooked from the first line! I really enjoyed Garrick and Riela’s banter and interactions, and Grim the wolf too. (tbh, he’s my favorite!) The action started from the opening pages, but not in a jarring way, and the monsters were definitely creepy. I love when a setting feels like a character, and the castle they’re trapped in absolutely has its own personality.
For me, one of the best things about Mihalik’s science-fiction books is how she weaves in the world-building and technology. These aspects were so well-woven in Silver & Blood as well. I sometimes struggle with the rules of magical systems and hierarchy in fantasy novels, especially first in a series, but with this novel I never once felt taken out of the story or needed to flip back to reread the details.
There is a downside to reading the first in a new series well before the publication date: having to wait even longer for the second book! I will be anxiously awaiting the next installment of Garrick and Riela’s adventures.
After you pre-order Silver & Blood or request your library to buy a copy, pick up Mihalik’s previous books to fill the gap until release day on January 27, 2026. I highly recommend starting with Hunt The Stars of the Starlight’s Shadow series. It’s SO good, but honestly you can’t go wrong with any of Mihalik’s backlist!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc.
October 14, 2025
A fae Beauty & the Beast retelling from Jessie Mihalik?? It's like all my dreams came true. This is more of a B&B reimagining than a retelling but I loved Mihalik's interpretation, complete with great library scenes and how the castle interacts with Riela. Riela and Garrick are worthy antagonists, getting off on the wrong foot, then forced to dwell in Garrick's castle together until they can figure out a way to open the door to his kingdom and break the curse on the forest.
While I was enthralled by the world-building and the secondary characters (Grim!!!), the middle was bogged down by repetitive plot choices. Yes, Riela is learning about the Etheri and her magic but I didn't need every single instance. I also was frustrated by Riela taking so many unnecessary risks. She's new to this world and didn't even believe the Etheri existed before this! She could do to be less of a martyr and avail herself of Garrick and Vastien's advice.
All that aside, I'm very excited about the possibilities for book 2. The stakes couldn't be higher where this leaves off and I'm anxious to see what's next and whether Garrick and Riela's romance has a chance given the odds against them.
Characters: Riela is a 28 year old tall bisexual or pansexual mage. Garrick is a bisexual Etheri Silver King/King of Stone and mage with silver eyes. He looks around 35 years old and is anywhere between 200 and 1000 years old. Grim/Vastien is a jurhihoigli/wolf shifter and the head of Garrick's personal guard.
Content notes: past intimate partner violence , past rape resulting in pregnancy for , self-harm for blood magic, nightmares, death curse, murder, attempted murder, poison, physical assault, torture (secondary character), monster attacks, captivity, village mob, lacerations, head injury, wrist injury, vomit, body and facial scars, animal injury, misogyny (secondary character), ageism, infidelity (secondary character), poverty, weight loss (lack of food), MMC is fake betrothed to another woman (FMC refuses to have sex with him again until he ends things.), past death of FMC's and MMC's parents (including childbirth and ambush), betrothal bond, unsafe sex practices (no birth control for penetrative sex without discussion of STI and pregnancy prevention; unclear what birth control options are available in this world), on page sex, alcohol, excessive drinking, gender essentialist language, ableist language
Disclosure: I received a free advance copy from Avon in exchange for an honest review.
While I was enthralled by the world-building and the secondary characters (Grim!!!), the middle was bogged down by repetitive plot choices. Yes, Riela is learning about the Etheri and her magic but I didn't need every single instance. I also was frustrated by Riela taking so many unnecessary risks. She's new to this world and didn't even believe the Etheri existed before this! She could do to be less of a martyr and avail herself of Garrick and Vastien's advice.
All that aside, I'm very excited about the possibilities for book 2. The stakes couldn't be higher where this leaves off and I'm anxious to see what's next and whether Garrick and Riela's romance has a chance given the odds against them.
Characters: Riela is a 28 year old tall bisexual or pansexual mage. Garrick is a bisexual Etheri Silver King/King of Stone and mage with silver eyes. He looks around 35 years old and is anywhere between 200 and 1000 years old. Grim/Vastien is a jurhihoigli/wolf shifter and the head of Garrick's personal guard.
Content notes: past intimate partner violence , past rape resulting in pregnancy for , self-harm for blood magic, nightmares, death curse, murder, attempted murder, poison, physical assault, torture (secondary character), monster attacks, captivity, village mob, lacerations, head injury, wrist injury, vomit, body and facial scars, animal injury, misogyny (secondary character), ageism, infidelity (secondary character), poverty, weight loss (lack of food), MMC is fake betrothed to another woman (FMC refuses to have sex with him again until he ends things.), past death of FMC's and MMC's parents (including childbirth and ambush), betrothal bond, unsafe sex practices (no birth control for penetrative sex without discussion of STI and pregnancy prevention; unclear what birth control options are available in this world), on page sex, alcohol, excessive drinking, gender essentialist language, ableist language
Disclosure: I received a free advance copy from Avon in exchange for an honest review.
February 1, 2026
A disappointing fae/elf king, paranormal romance
I won't repeat the setup of the story because the publisher's blurb does that pretty well.
First, let me say that up until this moment I have been a big fan of this author. I have really enjoyed almost every one of her science-fiction romances. And I will admit up front that I am not a fan of either traditional high fantasy or traditional sword-and-sorcery fantasy (SAS). But if SAS is done extremely well with a main focus on romance between two highly sympathetic MCs, such as The Rising Wave by Michelle Diener, which is fabulous, I can really enjoy it. But though this author has provided a romance element, it is, sadly, poorly done.
Other readers have noticed what I did, that this is just another fae/elf king romance, and giving these magical creatures another name, Etheri, doesn't change that or make this story more original. Unfortunately, I don't like fae/elf king romances in general. I don't like the SAS part of them, and I don't like the romance part due to the unequal power dynamics leading far too often to Stockholm syndrome substituted for healthy love and passion.
The first part of this book in the castle of the MMC, Garrick, is a badly done homage to the wonderful young-adult fantasy novel from 1978, Beauty by Robin McKinley, a retelling of the fairytale, Beauty and the Beast (BATB). But unlike that version and the Disney movie from 1991, Garrick is imprisoned in his castle for 100 years, due to an unexplained curse, with no one but a wolflike magical creature, Grim, as his companion. This type of isolation would be enough to drive anyone insane from loneliness and boredom. It also makes him come off like a very passive protagonist, because after all this time, he has made zero progress toward liberating himself and reuniting with his subjects, who are at some unknown location.
Of course, the entire setup of the original fairytale dooms the Beast to passively wait for a very special woman to show up and love him in spite of himself, in order to release him from his curse. For that reason alone, unless it's written extremely well, with all the focus on a very active FMC in the form of Beauty, any retelling inevitably bogs down into a stalemate, as it does for far too long in the case of this story.
Because the parameters of this fairytale setup are so limited, all that exists to fill the pages, when love as a release for the curse is eliminated, is a great deal of aggravating redundancy. Garrick vacillates again and again between feeling like the FMC Riela might be the solution to his curse problem or an evil plant from his enemy. And Riela acts like an immature teenager, oscillating between sexual attraction to Garrick, wanting him to be her mentor, and arrogantly demanding he treat her as his equal. The latter attitude in particular made me start to despise her after a while. How can she possibly be the equal of a humanoid magical creature who is at least 100 years older than her, apparently immortal, and a far more powerful mage than she is? Yes, he keeps insisting that she is far more magically gifted than she knows, but given that she has no training and doesn't have a clue what to do with her magic, there is no question of magical equality.
I also found it hard to enjoy the performative artistic inclusion of Riela as a bisexual who receives zero blowback from her small, inevitably conservative village for having casual sex with both men and women. It's awfully convenient as well that she has never gotten pregnant, even though she doesn't learn about using her magic to prevent conception until she has sex with Garrick. It's good to be inclusive, but it's better to do it well.
Having said all that, my main problem with this book is that there is nowhere in this world that seems worth vicariously living in.
The SAS genre, in general, is basically the European Middle Ages with magic on top in a fictional universe in which the human race never evolves beyond the year 1200, with zero in the way of technology (except for magical substitutions), sanitation (unless living inside a magic castle), basic healthcare (other than magical healers), and nearly universal illiteracy (unless, with zero believable justification, the FMC knows how to read and owns her own books). In traditional SAS, it gets pretty gritty, but for the most part, SAS romance, similar to historical romance, avoids grittiness by introducing modern conveniences. In SAS it is done by magic, and in historical romance by huge influxes of social prestige and cash. In both cases, which makes it difficult for me personally to suspend disbelief and mindlessly enjoy them, these romance genres are basically costume dramas about as realistic as cliche, modern billionaire romances.
In any romance, but especially an SAS romance, there has to be something very special about the FMC and the MMC that makes us want to know them and vicariously live through them. Not so with this story. Both Garrick and Riela are alienated individuals with no human or humanoid allies. For any type of SAS novel to fulfill a basic expectation of that genre, even in the first book in a series, which this book obviously is, it is crucial for the MC, or MCs in the case of SAS romance, to quickly start gathering allies. One of the main things that makes an MC sympathetic is their ability to accrue allies because they are positive warriors who use their powers to defend others.
There is a little bit of that protective dynamic going on with Garrick and Riela in their relationship with each other. But whatever good that might do in terms of making them sympathetic is immediately washed away by their boringly redundant, petty quarrels in the castle. And during the first 50% of the book, the only exciting action, in which they can physically save each other's lives, occurs when Riela stupidly puts herself in danger of inevitable death in the magical forest.
The introduction of a potential romantic triangle late in the book did nothing to lessen my dismay with this novel. I am not a fan of romantic triangles even if it's clear who the ultimate winner in the contest for the heart of the FMC is going to be.
In short, this is barely a 2-star read for me, and I will not be going on with this series.
I won't repeat the setup of the story because the publisher's blurb does that pretty well.
First, let me say that up until this moment I have been a big fan of this author. I have really enjoyed almost every one of her science-fiction romances. And I will admit up front that I am not a fan of either traditional high fantasy or traditional sword-and-sorcery fantasy (SAS). But if SAS is done extremely well with a main focus on romance between two highly sympathetic MCs, such as The Rising Wave by Michelle Diener, which is fabulous, I can really enjoy it. But though this author has provided a romance element, it is, sadly, poorly done.
Other readers have noticed what I did, that this is just another fae/elf king romance, and giving these magical creatures another name, Etheri, doesn't change that or make this story more original. Unfortunately, I don't like fae/elf king romances in general. I don't like the SAS part of them, and I don't like the romance part due to the unequal power dynamics leading far too often to Stockholm syndrome substituted for healthy love and passion.
The first part of this book in the castle of the MMC, Garrick, is a badly done homage to the wonderful young-adult fantasy novel from 1978, Beauty by Robin McKinley, a retelling of the fairytale, Beauty and the Beast (BATB). But unlike that version and the Disney movie from 1991, Garrick is imprisoned in his castle for 100 years, due to an unexplained curse, with no one but a wolflike magical creature, Grim, as his companion. This type of isolation would be enough to drive anyone insane from loneliness and boredom. It also makes him come off like a very passive protagonist, because after all this time, he has made zero progress toward liberating himself and reuniting with his subjects, who are at some unknown location.
Of course, the entire setup of the original fairytale dooms the Beast to passively wait for a very special woman to show up and love him in spite of himself, in order to release him from his curse. For that reason alone, unless it's written extremely well, with all the focus on a very active FMC in the form of Beauty, any retelling inevitably bogs down into a stalemate, as it does for far too long in the case of this story.
Because the parameters of this fairytale setup are so limited, all that exists to fill the pages, when love as a release for the curse is eliminated, is a great deal of aggravating redundancy. Garrick vacillates again and again between feeling like the FMC Riela might be the solution to his curse problem or an evil plant from his enemy. And Riela acts like an immature teenager, oscillating between sexual attraction to Garrick, wanting him to be her mentor, and arrogantly demanding he treat her as his equal. The latter attitude in particular made me start to despise her after a while. How can she possibly be the equal of a humanoid magical creature who is at least 100 years older than her, apparently immortal, and a far more powerful mage than she is? Yes, he keeps insisting that she is far more magically gifted than she knows, but given that she has no training and doesn't have a clue what to do with her magic, there is no question of magical equality.
I also found it hard to enjoy the performative artistic inclusion of Riela as a bisexual who receives zero blowback from her small, inevitably conservative village for having casual sex with both men and women. It's awfully convenient as well that she has never gotten pregnant, even though she doesn't learn about using her magic to prevent conception until she has sex with Garrick. It's good to be inclusive, but it's better to do it well.
Having said all that, my main problem with this book is that there is nowhere in this world that seems worth vicariously living in.
The SAS genre, in general, is basically the European Middle Ages with magic on top in a fictional universe in which the human race never evolves beyond the year 1200, with zero in the way of technology (except for magical substitutions), sanitation (unless living inside a magic castle), basic healthcare (other than magical healers), and nearly universal illiteracy (unless, with zero believable justification, the FMC knows how to read and owns her own books). In traditional SAS, it gets pretty gritty, but for the most part, SAS romance, similar to historical romance, avoids grittiness by introducing modern conveniences. In SAS it is done by magic, and in historical romance by huge influxes of social prestige and cash. In both cases, which makes it difficult for me personally to suspend disbelief and mindlessly enjoy them, these romance genres are basically costume dramas about as realistic as cliche, modern billionaire romances.
In any romance, but especially an SAS romance, there has to be something very special about the FMC and the MMC that makes us want to know them and vicariously live through them. Not so with this story. Both Garrick and Riela are alienated individuals with no human or humanoid allies. For any type of SAS novel to fulfill a basic expectation of that genre, even in the first book in a series, which this book obviously is, it is crucial for the MC, or MCs in the case of SAS romance, to quickly start gathering allies. One of the main things that makes an MC sympathetic is their ability to accrue allies because they are positive warriors who use their powers to defend others.
There is a little bit of that protective dynamic going on with Garrick and Riela in their relationship with each other. But whatever good that might do in terms of making them sympathetic is immediately washed away by their boringly redundant, petty quarrels in the castle. And during the first 50% of the book, the only exciting action, in which they can physically save each other's lives, occurs when Riela stupidly puts herself in danger of inevitable death in the magical forest.
The introduction of a potential romantic triangle late in the book did nothing to lessen my dismay with this novel. I am not a fan of romantic triangles even if it's clear who the ultimate winner in the contest for the heart of the FMC is going to be.
In short, this is barely a 2-star read for me, and I will not be going on with this series.
January 26, 2026
‘silver & blood’ follows riela, a human mage who is tasked with killing a magical beast to save her village. but the fight doesn’t go to plan and riela is rescued by a handsome man with powerful magic. after learning about his royalty status and unfair banishment, riela and garrick team up to try and return to his land. but as they grow closer, secrets unravel and the spark of attraction only grows.
I really wanted to enjoy this more than I did, which pains me to say because the premise sounded so good! ultimately, I think this book really suffered from convenient plot points/discoveries, lack of any real connection within the relationship, and immature characters.
for me personally, half the fun of a fantasy novel is trying to guess potential plot twists and reading in anticipation of how characters will overcome some truly disastrous situations. both of these things were missing from this story, as secrets were quickly revealed that conveniently explained one thing or another and when characters did get into dangerous situations, it was solved way too easily without any real conflict.
I also didn’t feel like our love interests had any real connection and that sexual attraction was the only thing used to create chemistry. for me personally, this approach doesn’t work because I have a hard time believing that people will go to such great lengths/make sacrifices for someone they only really know on a surface level. this creates a dilemma in my brain when I’m reading sweet love declarations or huge sacrifices where I’m like “really? are we sure about that?”
and lastly, I felt like these characters were very immature for their age, especially the FMC. I think the best way to showcase this is through an example:
riela claims she has no idea how her magic works and has asked garrick to help her learn so that she becomes powerful and in control. but in the same breath, she gets upset when he isn’t willing to experiment with her magic that can potentially cause her death and claims he doesn’t trust her. I’m sorry, but why is that such a big problem? you yourself have claimed that you don’t feel in control of your magic and when someone isn’t comfortable experimenting with that, all of a sudden it’s a trust thing? this man claims to care for you and also has only known you for 3 weeks, why would he act any differently 😭
despite these issues I had with the book, I still think it was well written and the author had some really interesting ideas! with more plot development and an improved romance, this book has the potential to be really good!
thank you to NetGalley, Avon Publishing, and the author for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to enjoy this more than I did, which pains me to say because the premise sounded so good! ultimately, I think this book really suffered from convenient plot points/discoveries, lack of any real connection within the relationship, and immature characters.
for me personally, half the fun of a fantasy novel is trying to guess potential plot twists and reading in anticipation of how characters will overcome some truly disastrous situations. both of these things were missing from this story, as secrets were quickly revealed that conveniently explained one thing or another and when characters did get into dangerous situations, it was solved way too easily without any real conflict.
I also didn’t feel like our love interests had any real connection and that sexual attraction was the only thing used to create chemistry. for me personally, this approach doesn’t work because I have a hard time believing that people will go to such great lengths/make sacrifices for someone they only really know on a surface level. this creates a dilemma in my brain when I’m reading sweet love declarations or huge sacrifices where I’m like “really? are we sure about that?”
and lastly, I felt like these characters were very immature for their age, especially the FMC. I think the best way to showcase this is through an example:
riela claims she has no idea how her magic works and has asked garrick to help her learn so that she becomes powerful and in control. but in the same breath, she gets upset when he isn’t willing to experiment with her magic that can potentially cause her death and claims he doesn’t trust her. I’m sorry, but why is that such a big problem? you yourself have claimed that you don’t feel in control of your magic and when someone isn’t comfortable experimenting with that, all of a sudden it’s a trust thing? this man claims to care for you and also has only known you for 3 weeks, why would he act any differently 😭
despite these issues I had with the book, I still think it was well written and the author had some really interesting ideas! with more plot development and an improved romance, this book has the potential to be really good!
thank you to NetGalley, Avon Publishing, and the author for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 28, 2026
I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook. I thought the narrators nailed it, they were great. The world building was well done and not overly complex, which is nice.
The chemistry between the two MCs was intense and has you rooting for them for their HEA.
If you love high fantasy, romantasy's, you should add this to your TBR.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.
The chemistry between the two MCs was intense and has you rooting for them for their HEA.
If you love high fantasy, romantasy's, you should add this to your TBR.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.
dnf
January 24, 2026Dnf at 23%
Incredibly insta lusty and can’t see anything resembling a plot so I’m bored
Unfortunately not for me. Thank you for the arc!
Incredibly insta lusty and can’t see anything resembling a plot so I’m bored
Unfortunately not for me. Thank you for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is boring. That's its greatest weakness. I think it stems from the lack of real stakes, and not rooting for either protagonist.
Now, there's a lot of other things which I would like to complain about:
Mihalik is excellent at writing heroines who are entertainingly competent. Here, she wrote one who is bad at things, except also she's the chosen one/bestest at magic ever/lost fairly princess. Except, still so bad at controlling her magic. Irritating. Boring.
In the hero's perspective chapters, it is mostly just reacting to what the heroine is doing (which is boring stuff) and worrying about her. Wish we could have gotten more of him being active.
We are building at the end of the book to a big political thing! Which never happens! It's just left for a sequel. I hate that. Felt like this book was pointless, as there wasn't much in it. So many chapters felt like filler.
For a Beauty and the Beast retelling, I'm expecting more than "moderately distrusting" to be the Beast's negative qualities. Where's my enemies to lovers tension??? And, no, having the characters be very horny for each other is not the kind of cheap tension I'm looking for.
I feel bad, because in the Authors Note, Mihalik says this book was a labor of love, from the heart. It reads like someone took notes on ACOTAR, then made a soulless copy that was even worse at pacing.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Now, there's a lot of other things which I would like to complain about:
Mihalik is excellent at writing heroines who are entertainingly competent. Here, she wrote one who is bad at things, except also she's the chosen one/bestest at magic ever/lost fairly princess. Except, still so bad at controlling her magic. Irritating. Boring.
In the hero's perspective chapters, it is mostly just reacting to what the heroine is doing (which is boring stuff) and worrying about her. Wish we could have gotten more of him being active.
We are building at the end of the book to a big political thing! Which never happens! It's just left for a sequel. I hate that. Felt like this book was pointless, as there wasn't much in it. So many chapters felt like filler.
For a Beauty and the Beast retelling, I'm expecting more than "moderately distrusting" to be the Beast's negative qualities. Where's my enemies to lovers tension??? And, no, having the characters be very horny for each other is not the kind of cheap tension I'm looking for.
I feel bad, because in the Authors Note, Mihalik says this book was a labor of love, from the heart. It reads like someone took notes on ACOTAR, then made a soulless copy that was even worse at pacing.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
January 28, 2026
If I was trapped in a magical castle with a hot, sexy man and his sarcastic pet “wolf”, I don’t know if I would be nearly as well-behaved as our FMC Riela was for most of the book. This book has those classic romantasy vibes: a fierce FMC discovering her powers, a broody MMC with moon and stone-based magic, and deeper secrets and “fae” court (they aren’t actually fae but it’s the closest point of comparison) politics brewing beneath the surface. I really hesitate to draw the comparison, because this was felt fresh and unique enough that I almost forgot about the fact that this was a Beauty and the Beast re-telling. Mihalik borrows just enough familiarity to lure you into the story but does a fantastic job of weaving lore and world building that feels immersive and captivating. If you want a story that wastes no time and dives right into the action, this is the book for you. Zero time is wasted getting into the story and the plot is already chugging along before the end of chapter 2. You won’t miss the exposition and character development—it’s sprinkled in throughout the chapters and the reader gets to put the pieces together. This is an adventurous book that you will consume so quickly that you won’t have realize how much time has passed since picking it up.
Riela is a mage tasked with protecting her village from the monsters that lurk in the haunted woods. When she is dispatched to slay one monster after a villager is attacked, she becomes trapped within the woods and finds safety within the walls of an enchanted castle. Its sole residents are a mysterious, sullen mage and wolf companion. She soon discovers that he too is a prisoner of the woods and together they must discover how to unlock the full potential of Riela’s magic to escape the woods and the evil king who controls the gates.
I was a little concerned about character development being thrown into the story so quickly, but was pleasantly surprised and how deftly it is woven into the story as it progresses. Like world building and lore, Mihalik sprinkles it in as the pages turn and I found myself really rooting for Riela by the end. The dual POV is really interesting in the opening chapters and I quickly discovered who the unreliable narrator was and how much information our main characters were withholding from each other. There is lots of sexual tension and chemistry between Riela and Garrick and I ate this part up! Tons of forced proximity and forbidden romance! I wanted so much more!! I was really hoping for a why-choose situation to happen but alas I will just have to “settle” for Garrick. Their romance fits well into the story and their push-pull dynamic was well-written and understandable—this back and forth is often over-done in romantasy and I was never frustrated. 2🌶️ that bordered on 3 for lots of juicy tension.
Bottom line: lock me up and throw away the key—I’ll take whatever bargain this sexy man throws at me. 4⭐️ for a captivating plot and a refreshingly polite cliffhanger that has me eager for book 2.
Immense gratitude and thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Avon, for the wonderful opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Riela is a mage tasked with protecting her village from the monsters that lurk in the haunted woods. When she is dispatched to slay one monster after a villager is attacked, she becomes trapped within the woods and finds safety within the walls of an enchanted castle. Its sole residents are a mysterious, sullen mage and wolf companion. She soon discovers that he too is a prisoner of the woods and together they must discover how to unlock the full potential of Riela’s magic to escape the woods and the evil king who controls the gates.
I was a little concerned about character development being thrown into the story so quickly, but was pleasantly surprised and how deftly it is woven into the story as it progresses. Like world building and lore, Mihalik sprinkles it in as the pages turn and I found myself really rooting for Riela by the end. The dual POV is really interesting in the opening chapters and I quickly discovered who the unreliable narrator was and how much information our main characters were withholding from each other. There is lots of sexual tension and chemistry between Riela and Garrick and I ate this part up! Tons of forced proximity and forbidden romance! I wanted so much more!! I was really hoping for a why-choose situation to happen but alas I will just have to “settle” for Garrick. Their romance fits well into the story and their push-pull dynamic was well-written and understandable—this back and forth is often over-done in romantasy and I was never frustrated. 2🌶️ that bordered on 3 for lots of juicy tension.
Bottom line: lock me up and throw away the key—I’ll take whatever bargain this sexy man throws at me. 4⭐️ for a captivating plot and a refreshingly polite cliffhanger that has me eager for book 2.
Immense gratitude and thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Avon, for the wonderful opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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