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River & Salt #1
The River She Became
Not yet published
Expected 30 Jun 26A high stakes, action-packed romantasy from bestselling author Emily Varga where a relic-hunter searches for an ancient fae object to restore the magic to her world, but must learn to trust her own powers—and her heart.
I’m going across the River. And I’m going to save us all.
Yaseema is a brilliant scholar and loyal servant of the Empire—or so they think. By day, she catalogs the fae relics of her conquered kingdom. But by night, she reclaims the artefacts in secret to restore magic to her dying land.
Until she finds the long lost key to cross the River into the fae world and save her people. But a ruthless realm awaits her there, ruled by monsters wearing beautiful skin—especially the cold-eyed captain who sees through her lies. But even he isn’t what he seems—under the guise of upholding a cruel regime, he works to overthrow it from the inside. To succeed, he needs the same lost relic Yaseema seeks: the crown of an ancient Fae Queen.
With magic that is a mystery even to her, Yaseema can help him find the crown and save his family from a fate worse than death. Unless she steals it first to help her own.
To survive, they must work together to outwit ancient curses, battle creatures born of nightmares, and find a power that could resurrect their worlds. But as secrets unravel and loyalties blur, they face the greatest danger of losing their heart to each other.
Perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and The Mummy, this thrilling start to a new fantasy duology bursts with dangerous romance, heart-stopping twists, and a heroine who dares to steal back her future.
I’m going across the River. And I’m going to save us all.
Yaseema is a brilliant scholar and loyal servant of the Empire—or so they think. By day, she catalogs the fae relics of her conquered kingdom. But by night, she reclaims the artefacts in secret to restore magic to her dying land.
Until she finds the long lost key to cross the River into the fae world and save her people. But a ruthless realm awaits her there, ruled by monsters wearing beautiful skin—especially the cold-eyed captain who sees through her lies. But even he isn’t what he seems—under the guise of upholding a cruel regime, he works to overthrow it from the inside. To succeed, he needs the same lost relic Yaseema seeks: the crown of an ancient Fae Queen.
With magic that is a mystery even to her, Yaseema can help him find the crown and save his family from a fate worse than death. Unless she steals it first to help her own.
To survive, they must work together to outwit ancient curses, battle creatures born of nightmares, and find a power that could resurrect their worlds. But as secrets unravel and loyalties blur, they face the greatest danger of losing their heart to each other.
Perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and The Mummy, this thrilling start to a new fantasy duology bursts with dangerous romance, heart-stopping twists, and a heroine who dares to steal back her future.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 30, 2026
27043 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
January 30, 2026
I went into this book already a fan of Emily Varga after For She Is Wrath, but this story completely took me by surprise in the best possible way. What I loved before has deepened into full admiration. Varga doesn’t just build a fantasy world here—she builds a living, breathing one that feels painfully real in its politics, its injustices, and its emotional weight.What struck me most was how deeply human this story felt beneath all the magic.
The empire’s control over fae relics isn’t just a plot device; it feels like a slow, suffocating grip on culture, identity, and survival. Watching abundance fade from the soil while power concentrates in the Citadel was heartbreaking, and it made every choice Yaseema makes feel urgent and personal rather than purely heroic.Yaseema herself absolutely stole my heart. She isn’t perfect, and that’s exactly why I connected with her so strongly. She’s brilliant and determined, yet messy, impulsive, and grieving. Living with her nani and her rebellious cousin, she tries so hard to look like the dutiful scholar the empire wants her to be, while secretly risking everything for her people. Her love for her late mother, Mahira, is a quiet ache that runs through the story, and every step she takes toward Queen Azari’s crown feels like both a mission and a reckoning.When she discovers her rare ability to sense hidden relics and is forced to flee across the river into another realm, the story shifts from political intrigue into something almost mythic. Her encounter with the zulmi gave me chills—it felt rooted in spiritual folklore while still feeling entirely original to Varga’s world.
Then there is Kiyan. Oh, Kiyan. With his long silver hair and reluctant leadership, he is the kind of character you can’t stop thinking about. As captain of the Salt Court working under the ruthless Reza, he is trapped between protecting his people and being used as a weapon against them. His connection with Yaseema starts cautiously, then builds into something tender, complicated, and deeply forbidden.
I was rooting for them so hard my heart practically hurt.I also loved the quieter moments inside the palace—Yaseema working among the kitchen staff, befriending Mishah, trying to blend in while knowing she is a ticking target. Those scenes grounded the story and made the later betrayals land even harder.The pacing is fast without feeling rushed, filled with action, danger, emotional revelations, and twists that genuinely surprised me.
And that ending—wow. I literally wanted to scream. Realizing this wasn’t a standalone felt both thrilling and cruel because I was nowhere near ready to leave these characters.This is more than just an epic fantasy; it’s a story about loss, loyalty, resistance, identity, and what people will risk for the ones they love.
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The empire’s control over fae relics isn’t just a plot device; it feels like a slow, suffocating grip on culture, identity, and survival. Watching abundance fade from the soil while power concentrates in the Citadel was heartbreaking, and it made every choice Yaseema makes feel urgent and personal rather than purely heroic.Yaseema herself absolutely stole my heart. She isn’t perfect, and that’s exactly why I connected with her so strongly. She’s brilliant and determined, yet messy, impulsive, and grieving. Living with her nani and her rebellious cousin, she tries so hard to look like the dutiful scholar the empire wants her to be, while secretly risking everything for her people. Her love for her late mother, Mahira, is a quiet ache that runs through the story, and every step she takes toward Queen Azari’s crown feels like both a mission and a reckoning.When she discovers her rare ability to sense hidden relics and is forced to flee across the river into another realm, the story shifts from political intrigue into something almost mythic. Her encounter with the zulmi gave me chills—it felt rooted in spiritual folklore while still feeling entirely original to Varga’s world.
Then there is Kiyan. Oh, Kiyan. With his long silver hair and reluctant leadership, he is the kind of character you can’t stop thinking about. As captain of the Salt Court working under the ruthless Reza, he is trapped between protecting his people and being used as a weapon against them. His connection with Yaseema starts cautiously, then builds into something tender, complicated, and deeply forbidden.
I was rooting for them so hard my heart practically hurt.I also loved the quieter moments inside the palace—Yaseema working among the kitchen staff, befriending Mishah, trying to blend in while knowing she is a ticking target. Those scenes grounded the story and made the later betrayals land even harder.The pacing is fast without feeling rushed, filled with action, danger, emotional revelations, and twists that genuinely surprised me.
And that ending—wow. I literally wanted to scream. Realizing this wasn’t a standalone felt both thrilling and cruel because I was nowhere near ready to leave these characters.This is more than just an epic fantasy; it’s a story about loss, loyalty, resistance, identity, and what people will risk for the ones they love.
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February 27, 2026
I was intrigued when I saw the Cruel Prince x The Mummy comparisons, but this ended up being a pretty basic YA romantasy read for me. I was disappointed right from the start when there was so much incoherent world building dropped onto me that I wanted to put this book down after two chapters. We meet Yaseema, a young scholar living in an occupied country. Her people are starving and her traditions are illegal, but she tries to get along with the new empire as best as possible. So she does as she is told and finds ancient artifacts and relics for the empress, only to steal them back later for her own people. Sounds good to me. The themes of colonization were great too, but the story beyond that was just messy to me. And that's the fault of the Fae that had to be part of this story for some reason beyond my understanding. You see, the artifacts are actually ancient Fae objects, and they are somehow connected to Yaseema's home, but also to the Fae lands across an impenetrable river where courts are at war and a brooding Fae prince awaits. I kinda didn't get the world building even though everything is explained in a weirdly repetitive way. I did understand that Yaseema has magic even though she lives in the human world where that should be impossible and she somehow crosses the river even though that should be impossible too. Her magic helps her to find things and to pick locks and open doors and it also protects her from harm and can heal other people when she tries really hard. In other words, her magic is whatever is convenient for the plot at the time, and it was pissing me off so badly. I wanted cool treasure hunting, but I literally got a character who can find things without even trying. That whole part did not deliver in my opinion and it was what I came here for. The characters, too, didn't stand out to me at all. Yaseema's most remarkable trait was that she was wearing glasses, which I love to see included, but not as the one thing that got stuck in my brain before everything else. I think I'm being a bit unfair in my review, though. I just didn't care for this story and after the beginning threw me off, I didn't even try. It wasn't insufferable or cringy, and I can see how it would appeal to other readers. I wasn't the most complaisant reader with this book, but I also can't be bothered to pick it up again. I'm willing to give it a mediocre 2.5 stars and be done with it.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press / Wednesday Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press / Wednesday Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.75 ★— A book advertising itself as a mix of The Mummy, a core piece of media that fuelled a bisexual awakening for me, and The Cruel Prince, one of my all-time favourites, felt like someone dangling sugar cubes in front of a horse. And yes, I am the horse in this analogy.
So when I finished this, I was ultimately a bit disappointed by what I actually got. The relic-hunting aspect didn’t feel nearly as exciting or as prominent as I had hoped, and the tension, yearning, and clashing that a Cruel Prince comparison would suggest just weren’t really there.
Yaseema, the one doing all the relic-hunting, is the main character of the story and felt pretty solid at first, with a good head on her shoulders and a determination to help save her people. I was thrown off by the amount of worldbuilding and lore crammed into the first few chapters, but once that got out of the way and one of the major themes of colonisation, which Yaseema and her people experience, was brought to the forefront, I was pretty hooked on the story. That momentum, however, was disrupted when the narrative essentially switches locations once Yaseema enters the fae lands. It felt like all that initial world and lore building I mentioned was suddenly done away with, as characters and places that had just been introduced were pushed to the wayside. The shift made everything feel oddly disconnected from what had already been established.
The story's second POV character, Yaseema's love interest and, in my opinion, the more interesting and intriguing character, is Kiyan, and he was the one I felt the story did a pretty good job of building up. His backstory, the actions he takes throughout the book, and the clear conflict and trauma he carries were portrayed well in his chapters, and I was surprised by how much more I liked him, seeing as I am usually not someone who prefers reading the male love interest in a dual POV.
All the more unfortunate, then, that I found his and Yaseema’s dynamic, once they actually met, absolutely boring. Yaseema and Kiyan are essentially on opposing sides, both trying to save their own people but forced to work against each other to do so. With the shared grievances they have, along with the deception between them, I expected tension. I expected reluctance, distrust that would slowly melt and shift and, like in any romantic story, I was expecting that shift to feel enjoyable to read.
Maybe the Cruel Prince comparison in the blurb set my expectations too high, but I just didn’t feel any of that during their time spent together. Their initial wariness felt like it was basically hand-waved away so the story could move them toward romance, and the buildup I was expecting, was almost entirely missing, leading to me genuinely feeling a little crazy when the author had them admitting feelings to each other.
That said, there were still things I appreciated! I did like the colonisation themes I described earlier, and the fact that Yaseema is living within a South Asian–inspired culture. I am always happy to see Brown and Black main characters in fantasy! I also loved that she wears glasses, which is genuinely rare in the genre and always a small win for me, a fellow glasses-wearer.
I also enjoyed the way the stolen fae relics tied into the broader themes of cultural erasure and how it was connected to environmental disruption, which is an important message! I just wish the parallels the story draws between Yaseema and Kiyan’s situations and that shared sense of loss and cultural erasure they are both dealing with had been explored more deeply.
The ending itself was interesting enough that I am curious to see where the story goes, but that isn’t enough to alleviate the overall sense of lost potential I came away with. So I'll definitely read the sequel, just with some lowered expectations.
🎧 Audiobook Notes
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo
⭐ Listener Rating: 5/5
I loved the narrator of this audiobook and thought she portrayed Kiyan’s POV just as effortlessly as she did Yaseema’s! Her tone was soothing, and the way she narrated the story was just masterful. I would definitely recommend this to any audiobook lovers who are unsure about which format to experience this story through!
________________
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
So when I finished this, I was ultimately a bit disappointed by what I actually got. The relic-hunting aspect didn’t feel nearly as exciting or as prominent as I had hoped, and the tension, yearning, and clashing that a Cruel Prince comparison would suggest just weren’t really there.
Yaseema, the one doing all the relic-hunting, is the main character of the story and felt pretty solid at first, with a good head on her shoulders and a determination to help save her people. I was thrown off by the amount of worldbuilding and lore crammed into the first few chapters, but once that got out of the way and one of the major themes of colonisation, which Yaseema and her people experience, was brought to the forefront, I was pretty hooked on the story. That momentum, however, was disrupted when the narrative essentially switches locations once Yaseema enters the fae lands. It felt like all that initial world and lore building I mentioned was suddenly done away with, as characters and places that had just been introduced were pushed to the wayside. The shift made everything feel oddly disconnected from what had already been established.
The story's second POV character, Yaseema's love interest and, in my opinion, the more interesting and intriguing character, is Kiyan, and he was the one I felt the story did a pretty good job of building up. His backstory, the actions he takes throughout the book, and the clear conflict and trauma he carries were portrayed well in his chapters, and I was surprised by how much more I liked him, seeing as I am usually not someone who prefers reading the male love interest in a dual POV.
All the more unfortunate, then, that I found his and Yaseema’s dynamic, once they actually met, absolutely boring. Yaseema and Kiyan are essentially on opposing sides, both trying to save their own people but forced to work against each other to do so. With the shared grievances they have, along with the deception between them, I expected tension. I expected reluctance, distrust that would slowly melt and shift and, like in any romantic story, I was expecting that shift to feel enjoyable to read.
Maybe the Cruel Prince comparison in the blurb set my expectations too high, but I just didn’t feel any of that during their time spent together. Their initial wariness felt like it was basically hand-waved away so the story could move them toward romance, and the buildup I was expecting, was almost entirely missing, leading to me genuinely feeling a little crazy when the author had them admitting feelings to each other.
That said, there were still things I appreciated! I did like the colonisation themes I described earlier, and the fact that Yaseema is living within a South Asian–inspired culture. I am always happy to see Brown and Black main characters in fantasy! I also loved that she wears glasses, which is genuinely rare in the genre and always a small win for me, a fellow glasses-wearer.
I also enjoyed the way the stolen fae relics tied into the broader themes of cultural erasure and how it was connected to environmental disruption, which is an important message! I just wish the parallels the story draws between Yaseema and Kiyan’s situations and that shared sense of loss and cultural erasure they are both dealing with had been explored more deeply.
The ending itself was interesting enough that I am curious to see where the story goes, but that isn’t enough to alleviate the overall sense of lost potential I came away with. So I'll definitely read the sequel, just with some lowered expectations.
🎧 Audiobook Notes
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo
⭐ Listener Rating: 5/5
I loved the narrator of this audiobook and thought she portrayed Kiyan’s POV just as effortlessly as she did Yaseema’s! Her tone was soothing, and the way she narrated the story was just masterful. I would definitely recommend this to any audiobook lovers who are unsure about which format to experience this story through!
________________
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
June 27, 2025
I'm cheating here because this is my book, but I absolutely adore it! I can't wait for everyone to read.
arc-tbr
November 6, 2025“THE MUMMY meets THE CRUEL PRINCE…
a glasses-wearing, relic-hunting baddie crosses into a fae world to find an ancient object. …with a tortured fae Captain, forbidden love, dual POV, a magical quest, hidden identity and a magic system based on colonialism”
-from the authors socials
I’ve been stalking the authors socials for info on this one for what feels like forever!
| IG | TikTok |
Thank you St Martins Press for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
a glasses-wearing, relic-hunting baddie crosses into a fae world to find an ancient object. …with a tortured fae Captain, forbidden love, dual POV, a magical quest, hidden identity and a magic system based on colonialism”
-from the authors socials
I’ve been stalking the authors socials for info on this one for what feels like forever!
| IG | TikTok |
Thank you St Martins Press for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.25 / 5 Stars
I really wanted to like this one. The concept was so interesting: magic based on colonialism where fae relics are being hunted and used as a tool of oppression. The action sequences were super fun. But the in between parts just didn’t grab my attention and I wanted more from the romance.
First let’s start with the good: the action sequences definitely gave The Mummy or Indiana Jones or National Treasure vibes. There were fun puzzles to solve, fun locations to explore, and the action was well described. The concept of fae relics being removed from their home land and being shipped to museums, thereby ruining the land and harming the native people, was important and great way to weave an important message into a fantasy book. I really liked that each chapter started with a journal entry or letter from each of the characters to someone in their family. I love texts, journal entries, emails, etc. in books so I ate that up.
But the moments in between the action sequences when they are searching for clues and building their relationship just didn’t hold my attention. I think it is because this is marketed as a romantasy but, to me, it is actually a fantasy with a romantic subplot. And I am sure you are like, who cares, what’s the difference? But to me, if it is a romantasy, I expect more romance. The main characters didn’t have their first interaction until 20% into the book and then didn’t have prolonged interactions until around 50% into the book. Because the romance didn’t start developing until pretty late into the book, I just didn’t feel invested in their connection and things that would have been swoony or cute just felt forced. Like why are they having a ball where he gets to see her in a beautiful dress right before they head out on their quest? I’m not sure but if I was invested in their relationship, I probably wouldn’t have cared as much and focused on his feelings towards her but instead I was just confused.
There were also a few times in the very beginning where Yaseema’s chapters felt repetitive. I felt like in one chapter, we would go over the same point over and over (like how she thought someone was her friend but they weren’t). This didn’t happen in Kiyan’s chapters but that happened less after the first 20%, but it was still distracting when it did happen.
This book wasn’t for me, but I feel like if you are looking for a new adult fantasy that has some adventure, you might like this.
You will probably like this book if you like:
💚 New adult fantasy with romantic subplot
💚 A magical system based on colonialism
💚 The Mummy x Cruel Prince vibes
💚 Oops, there’s only one bed
💚 Hidden identity
💚 Reluctant allies to lovers
💚 Fade to black spice
Thank you St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: June 30, 2026
________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: This is described as The Mummy meets Cruel Prince but you had me at "he's a 7 foot tall fae" 😂
I really wanted to like this one. The concept was so interesting: magic based on colonialism where fae relics are being hunted and used as a tool of oppression. The action sequences were super fun. But the in between parts just didn’t grab my attention and I wanted more from the romance.
First let’s start with the good: the action sequences definitely gave The Mummy or Indiana Jones or National Treasure vibes. There were fun puzzles to solve, fun locations to explore, and the action was well described. The concept of fae relics being removed from their home land and being shipped to museums, thereby ruining the land and harming the native people, was important and great way to weave an important message into a fantasy book. I really liked that each chapter started with a journal entry or letter from each of the characters to someone in their family. I love texts, journal entries, emails, etc. in books so I ate that up.
But the moments in between the action sequences when they are searching for clues and building their relationship just didn’t hold my attention. I think it is because this is marketed as a romantasy but, to me, it is actually a fantasy with a romantic subplot. And I am sure you are like, who cares, what’s the difference? But to me, if it is a romantasy, I expect more romance. The main characters didn’t have their first interaction until 20% into the book and then didn’t have prolonged interactions until around 50% into the book. Because the romance didn’t start developing until pretty late into the book, I just didn’t feel invested in their connection and things that would have been swoony or cute just felt forced. Like why are they having a ball where he gets to see her in a beautiful dress right before they head out on their quest? I’m not sure but if I was invested in their relationship, I probably wouldn’t have cared as much and focused on his feelings towards her but instead I was just confused.
There were also a few times in the very beginning where Yaseema’s chapters felt repetitive. I felt like in one chapter, we would go over the same point over and over (like how she thought someone was her friend but they weren’t). This didn’t happen in Kiyan’s chapters but that happened less after the first 20%, but it was still distracting when it did happen.
This book wasn’t for me, but I feel like if you are looking for a new adult fantasy that has some adventure, you might like this.
You will probably like this book if you like:
💚 New adult fantasy with romantic subplot
💚 A magical system based on colonialism
💚 The Mummy x Cruel Prince vibes
💚 Oops, there’s only one bed
💚 Hidden identity
💚 Reluctant allies to lovers
💚 Fade to black spice
Thank you St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: June 30, 2026
________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: This is described as The Mummy meets Cruel Prince but you had me at "he's a 7 foot tall fae" 😂
Want to read
March 27, 2026🌊✨ The River She Became ✨🌊
Oh I am so excited for this one! I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
🖤 What to Expect
• Relic hunter FMC
• Fae world
• Enemies to allies
• Cursed crown
• Battle creatures
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: June 30, 2026
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Oh I am so excited for this one! I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
🖤 What to Expect
• Relic hunter FMC
• Fae world
• Enemies to allies
• Cursed crown
• Battle creatures
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: June 30, 2026
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
February 20, 2026
This is a good book, but I didn’t feel really compelled by the plot. It seems pretty similar to other works. However, I don’t think it’s a bad read! If you enjoy romantasy books, this one is for you!
Thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy of The River She Became by Emily Varga, to be published on June 30th, 2026.
Thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy of The River She Became by Emily Varga, to be published on June 30th, 2026.
June 26, 2025
SO. ROMANTIC. SO. BRUTAL. SO. GOOD.
Y’all. THE WAY I DID NOT SEE THAT ENDING COMING.
Y’all. THE WAY I DID NOT SEE THAT ENDING COMING.
Read
December 21, 20253.5⭐️
This was a fun! In a world divided two, Yaseema is desperately trying to save her people. She is secretly using per position at the Citadel to look for fae relics, hoping to steal them away before they are sent off to the empress. She meets Kiyan, formerly of the River Court, who is also looking for an ancient relic to free his family.
I do think this is a fantasy story that is in desperate need of a map? In a world like this, divided into worlds and courts with new rulers conquering and taking over, it is so much easier to put into context when you see a map.
I enjoyed the story and the world building here. Sometimes I found the world a little confusing (again- give us a map!) but if you hold on tight you can definitely enjoy the ride!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fun! In a world divided two, Yaseema is desperately trying to save her people. She is secretly using per position at the Citadel to look for fae relics, hoping to steal them away before they are sent off to the empress. She meets Kiyan, formerly of the River Court, who is also looking for an ancient relic to free his family.
I do think this is a fantasy story that is in desperate need of a map? In a world like this, divided into worlds and courts with new rulers conquering and taking over, it is so much easier to put into context when you see a map.
I enjoyed the story and the world building here. Sometimes I found the world a little confusing (again- give us a map!) but if you hold on tight you can definitely enjoy the ride!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 12, 2025
This story is a tale as old as time…a cruel, power hungry ruler who takes and takes with little consequences. I enjoyed the magic system in this story. Yaseema is a strong and intelligent scholar who fought for her people and those who didn’t feel they could continue fighting. Kiyan pulled at my heartstrings and made me want to push him off a cliff. Emily Varga created a story that tackles fantastical and modern issues. While fantasy is typically an escape from reality, i can’t help but enjoy when life imitates art.
December 24, 2025
Thank you Wednesday Books/St Martin’s Press for this ARC of The River She Became!
This took a little bit to pick up, but once it did I was hooked! I really liked Yaseema as I feel like she’s not a typical FMC we see in other romantasy books. She’s a historian/archivist/scholar which is what drew me to the book in the first place. This isn’t published until June 2026 and I’m already so sad I have to wait for the next book.
This took a little bit to pick up, but once it did I was hooked! I really liked Yaseema as I feel like she’s not a typical FMC we see in other romantasy books. She’s a historian/archivist/scholar which is what drew me to the book in the first place. This isn’t published until June 2026 and I’m already so sad I have to wait for the next book.
December 7, 2025
Where is book 2 immediately? The end! Oh my goodness. This book was so great. Marketed for fans of The Cruel Prince and The Mummy, I was already interested as I enjoy both… and this book really delivered. Is it perfect? No, but I truly believe Emily just keeps getting better with her writing and this is definitely worth the read. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the earc in exchange for my honest review.
February 20, 2026
I was so very grateful to win an ARC through a goodreads giveaway.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story, the characters, the complexity, the plot building, the magic system, the balance of love and loss, family and friendship.
I liked the split POV and the way that they expertly did not overlap overtly and continued the story where it left each chapter. I liked the slow build of suspicion and trust that was realistic.
And what a cliffhanger, I can’t wait for the second installment to see where both worlds go!
I thoroughly enjoyed the story, the characters, the complexity, the plot building, the magic system, the balance of love and loss, family and friendship.
I liked the split POV and the way that they expertly did not overlap overtly and continued the story where it left each chapter. I liked the slow build of suspicion and trust that was realistic.
And what a cliffhanger, I can’t wait for the second installment to see where both worlds go!
November 13, 2025
Meh. Not the best, not the worst. 3 ⭐️
Despite the fact that everyone around her is dying due to starvation and execution by the Citadel, and her friends are risking their lives to bury the dead in the middle of the night, Yaseema is actually doing something 10x MORE risky by researching where the fae relics are........
Yaseema, probably: Sure, they're committing treason, but they don't know about my hunt for fae relics that is (somehow) inherently worse. Like, there are people dying, Kim. Literally dying.
Anyway. In addition to the FMC, I didn't love the writing style. It felt like the author was intending for the interactions and character dynamics to come together as this super intense plotline where I as a reader was supposed to be sitting on the edge of my seat, hanging off every word...but instead, it just annoyed me. I really can't even tell you why it annoyed me like it did, I just didn't like it. It all felt forced rather than a genuine build up and lacked characters with any sort of depth that I could connect with is the best I can give you.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.
Despite the fact that everyone around her is dying due to starvation and execution by the Citadel, and her friends are risking their lives to bury the dead in the middle of the night, Yaseema is actually doing something 10x MORE risky by researching where the fae relics are........
Yaseema, probably: Sure, they're committing treason, but they don't know about my hunt for fae relics that is (somehow) inherently worse. Like, there are people dying, Kim. Literally dying.
Anyway. In addition to the FMC, I didn't love the writing style. It felt like the author was intending for the interactions and character dynamics to come together as this super intense plotline where I as a reader was supposed to be sitting on the edge of my seat, hanging off every word...but instead, it just annoyed me. I really can't even tell you why it annoyed me like it did, I just didn't like it. It all felt forced rather than a genuine build up and lacked characters with any sort of depth that I could connect with is the best I can give you.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.
Did not finish
March 1, 2026DNF
November 9, 2025
| ARC Review |
Publication date: June 30, 2026
3.5⭐️
I really enjoyed the premise of this book. The plot was intriguing and drew me in from the very beginning. I loved Yaseema’s time in the human worId! I actually wish there had been more of it before her move to the Fae lands. Her first encounter with Kiyan was captivating and really set the stage for their relationship. The romance, though, didn’t really leave a strong mark on me towards the end--I didn’t feel a lot of chemistry between them, and there wasn’t enough tension for me, but it was cute. It just felt really underdeveloped, with few interactions between them.
I also wish there had been flashbacks to Yaseema and Kiyan’s childhood, especially with the rich family history hinted at. I feel like the book was kind of shallow in terms of character depth, which made it difficult to feel emotionally invested, even with its intriguing plot. With more flashbacks to their childhood and more character development, I think this could’ve been more emotionally engaging. Both characters had angsty backstories that could’ve been touched on more. But asides from that, this was a very gripping read that kept me on my toes, especially with that betrayal and plot twist towards the end. If you’re into YA fantasies centered on rebellion, hidden identities, and betrayal, with a touch of romance, then maybe this is for you.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for granting me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Publication date: June 30, 2026
3.5⭐️
I really enjoyed the premise of this book. The plot was intriguing and drew me in from the very beginning. I loved Yaseema’s time in the human worId! I actually wish there had been more of it before her move to the Fae lands. Her first encounter with Kiyan was captivating and really set the stage for their relationship. The romance, though, didn’t really leave a strong mark on me towards the end--I didn’t feel a lot of chemistry between them, and there wasn’t enough tension for me, but it was cute. It just felt really underdeveloped, with few interactions between them.
I also wish there had been flashbacks to Yaseema and Kiyan’s childhood, especially with the rich family history hinted at. I feel like the book was kind of shallow in terms of character depth, which made it difficult to feel emotionally invested, even with its intriguing plot. With more flashbacks to their childhood and more character development, I think this could’ve been more emotionally engaging. Both characters had angsty backstories that could’ve been touched on more. But asides from that, this was a very gripping read that kept me on my toes, especially with that betrayal and plot twist towards the end. If you’re into YA fantasies centered on rebellion, hidden identities, and betrayal, with a touch of romance, then maybe this is for you.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for granting me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
March 5, 2026
This was everything I was hoping it would be and more! I’ve absolutely loved Emily Varga’s writing since reading her debut She is Wrath, and when I saw her teasing her next book as the Cruel Prince x The Mummy, I was ALLL in!
𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐝.
Book Blurb: Yaseema is working for the Citadel as a scholar, helping to find the lost fae relics, and stealing them back before the Citadel takes them out of their country. When she finds a relic that will take her to the Fae Lands across the river, she takes it in order to find the lost Fae Queen Crown to help her people, not knowing it will lead her to another battle against colonizers that also need the crown for their own nefarious purposes. Can she help both her people and the fae people toward the path of freedom?
“𝐈𝐟 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐬, 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡, 𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐡, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐣𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩.”
I was invested in the story from the beginning, this is a story about rebelling against an Empire that is trying to destroy the cultural practices and items that are important to the people they are trying to colonize while also starving and hurting the people themselves. To see this happen on both sides of the river just makes it clear how colonization happens based of of “opportunity” and a desire to oppress that is out of the control of the oppressed, and how any rebellion has to be carefully cultivated. Also how both of our protagonist had to work with the oppressors in order to find the tools to free themselves and their people from oppression.
𝐈 𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞, 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐧.
As for the characters themselves, I found very compelling. Yaseema grew so much throughout the book, from being focused on chasing after her lost mother and seeking the crown, to becoming more comfortable in herself, her magic and her abilities that I’m excited to see what she can do in book 2! As for Kiyan, he was a compelling character by his duality of being forced to being a threat to his people in order to protect them. His relationship with Yaseema was interesting from their first interaction, each has something the other lacks.
𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥? 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐊𝐢𝐲𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠? 𝐖𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐛, 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐥𝐟? 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐈?
If you like:
🌊 Treasure Hunt
👑 Fae Magic
🌊 Double Crossing
👑 Forced Proximity
🌊 Hidden Identities
👑 Rebelling Against an Empire
Then you will love this book! I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2, thank you so much to Wednesday and St Martins Press for the advanced copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
| Insta | Tiktok |
𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐝.
Book Blurb: Yaseema is working for the Citadel as a scholar, helping to find the lost fae relics, and stealing them back before the Citadel takes them out of their country. When she finds a relic that will take her to the Fae Lands across the river, she takes it in order to find the lost Fae Queen Crown to help her people, not knowing it will lead her to another battle against colonizers that also need the crown for their own nefarious purposes. Can she help both her people and the fae people toward the path of freedom?
“𝐈𝐟 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐬, 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡, 𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐡, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐣𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩.”
I was invested in the story from the beginning, this is a story about rebelling against an Empire that is trying to destroy the cultural practices and items that are important to the people they are trying to colonize while also starving and hurting the people themselves. To see this happen on both sides of the river just makes it clear how colonization happens based of of “opportunity” and a desire to oppress that is out of the control of the oppressed, and how any rebellion has to be carefully cultivated. Also how both of our protagonist had to work with the oppressors in order to find the tools to free themselves and their people from oppression.
𝐈 𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞, 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐧.
As for the characters themselves, I found very compelling. Yaseema grew so much throughout the book, from being focused on chasing after her lost mother and seeking the crown, to becoming more comfortable in herself, her magic and her abilities that I’m excited to see what she can do in book 2! As for Kiyan, he was a compelling character by his duality of being forced to being a threat to his people in order to protect them. His relationship with Yaseema was interesting from their first interaction, each has something the other lacks.
𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥? 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐊𝐢𝐲𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠? 𝐖𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐛, 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐥𝐟? 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐈?
If you like:
🌊 Treasure Hunt
👑 Fae Magic
🌊 Double Crossing
👑 Forced Proximity
🌊 Hidden Identities
👑 Rebelling Against an Empire
Then you will love this book! I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2, thank you so much to Wednesday and St Martins Press for the advanced copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
| Insta | Tiktok |
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The book needs some editing/cleanup because certain elements were distracting in that regard. I wish we got more world building and mythos but I'm hoping that it's intentional to expand upon in the second book to round out the story.
Yes there's tropes, so as long as you're ok with that (including the one bed/short a room!) you should enjoy this one..
Yes there's tropes, so as long as you're ok with that (including the one bed/short a room!) you should enjoy this one..
March 4, 2026
I went into this book without knowing anything, and I’m so glad I did because this is the first 5 star read I’ve read in MONTHS!!
Oozing with a whimsical atmosphere, yearning, high stakes and dodgy alliances, this book was exactly what I needed. I loved the dual POV and the chapter headers starting with letters that either Yaseema or Kiyan send their families.
Yaseema is such a fierce character- she is determined to save her people and has such great self control. ALSO an mc who wears glasses even when she jumps into the fae world?? LEGENDARY.
Kiyan was more subdued. He’s more quiet and makes plans and executes them before explaining himself. I loved when both him and Yaseema clashed, but I also loved when they got together.
The plot of this book was not what I was expecting. There’s romance, royals, rebels and rotting death magic. I loved it every second of it! The end actually had me GAGGING for the next book. I can’t believe this one isn’t even out yet!
I would HIGHLY recommend this! It took me out of a huge reading slump!
Oozing with a whimsical atmosphere, yearning, high stakes and dodgy alliances, this book was exactly what I needed. I loved the dual POV and the chapter headers starting with letters that either Yaseema or Kiyan send their families.
Yaseema is such a fierce character- she is determined to save her people and has such great self control. ALSO an mc who wears glasses even when she jumps into the fae world?? LEGENDARY.
Kiyan was more subdued. He’s more quiet and makes plans and executes them before explaining himself. I loved when both him and Yaseema clashed, but I also loved when they got together.
The plot of this book was not what I was expecting. There’s romance, royals, rebels and rotting death magic. I loved it every second of it! The end actually had me GAGGING for the next book. I can’t believe this one isn’t even out yet!
I would HIGHLY recommend this! It took me out of a huge reading slump!
December 6, 2025
2.5/5
What attracted me to this book?
The comp to Indiana Jones especially pulled me in, and the conflict of the two MCs needing the magical artifact for different reasons. And fantasy and adventure are right up my alley.
Characters
I was more engaged in Yaseema because I felt her connection to her family more, and she had hobbies. Kiyan didn’t do much other than hate the Viceroy, brood over his past, and find Yaseema attractive/save her multiple times. I think I had a harder time connecting to Kiyan because his absent family was basically a formless blob, and Yaseema’s family have memories attached to them and we know what their personalities, goals, and values are. I found Yaseema the most interesting when she was around her family, who loved each other yet had differing opinions about what were necessary sacrifices. Both Yaseema and Kiyan have friendships on the other side of the river, and I did not feel like they had lives outside of what the MCs were up to.
Relationships
Kiyan’s attraction to Yaseema was surely physical, but also driven by admiration and fascination. I quite liked all the moments where he was endeared by droplets of water that still clung to her glasses, and her fervor when delving into a stack of books. Any time Yaseema admired Kiyan, it felt like she was admiring his physicality and power, and not his person. This could be a purposeful choice as a rebellion to the long history of women appearing in men’s stories just to ogle the MMC, but considering Kiyan has his own POV chapters, with a tragic backstory separate from Yaseema’s, and a goal that has nothing to do with her, I don’t think that was the case. I simply didn’t buy the depth of their feelings for each other. Same for the friendships. I didn’t feel the need for the love interests to get together (though I deeply appreciate the parallels between their backstories), and there’s a particular relationship where I didn’t feel the bond at all, so when a betrayal happened I did not feel any pain from the fallout, but was instead quite frustrated because the betrayal actively went against what that character was trying to achieve.
Setting/Worldbuilding
The fae side of the river failed to ensnare me as much as the human side of the river did. On the human side, there felt a much tighter sense of community, and a better sense of place. The fae side of the river didn’t feel all that tangible. It was a forest with a generic golden palace, supernaturally strong elves (some with tails), and a few fae creatures. I was most intrigued by the creatures, especially the zulmi, which I would love if the second book dived deeper into the horror of. I believe it’s Pakistani-inspired, which is a region of folklore I’m unfamiliar with, so that was really cool to experience. Additionally, food descriptions made my mouth water. I just didn’t feel transported, which is what I look for in a fantasy. It has made me excited to explore more branches of fantasy though.
Plot
Where the plot fell flat for me is that the characters’ goals are not mutually exclusive. The crown’s power isn’t a limited resource. They could achieve both goals with no issue, and both would support the others’ goals if they just talked to each other, which they had plenty of opportunities for, and it would have made sense during any of those times because of the beliefs they already knew each other had. The communication was also a problem within the rebellion. There were multiple unnecessary clashes between the MCs and the rebels that could have been avoided if they had just talked, which, once again, there was ample opportunity to do so. Obviously, Yaseema didn’t support the tyrant, which two key characters very clearly knew, yet they didn’t think to ask her for help. Communication and organizational difficulties for a rebellion under a trigger-happy tyrant’s thumb is a great plot point that was used only to create avoidable problems and action scenes for the MCs. The book didn’t exactly feel too long, but the plot did feel padded.
Theme
I liked the anti-colonial message, but it didn’t dive into it all that much. I bet that will happen in book two, which I anticipate will take place mostly on the human side of the river. There was also a message of “if both of us aren’t free, then neither of us are.” I appreciated the sentiment of being stronger together, and how your values need to apply across the board, not just be for the people immediately surrounding you.
Writing
The writing is approachable and friendly to new readers or those wanting to pick up fantasy for the first time, but I found it to be repetitive in both general descriptions and definitions of what magical objects do every time they are mentioned. It would also wax melodramatic every once in a while and it would jar me out of the story instead of making the scene more emotional. I chuckled a couple of times instead of quaking in my boots because of the tonal clash.
Does this make a good book one?
Yes. There is a clear ending, with a clear thread that will be the goal for the next installment, and they feed well into each other. Because of the reasons I mentioned in the Plot section, I think this could have been a slightly long standalone. As it stands, it is a great part one to the story. A main purpose of a book one is to get the reader wanting more, and I do not feel a strong pull to read book two, though more because of taste and not because of a failure of structure. However, I do think I would like book two more because I believe it will dive into its anti-colonialism message that I am very interested in exploring further, and I believe Yaseema’s family who I’m more invested in will be more present.
Who would I recommend it to?
I think this is a great fantasy book for someone relatively new to fantasy, or who is starting to branch out into non-western-focused fantasy.
Thank you St Martin’s Press for the review copy! I leave my review honestly and voluntarily.
What attracted me to this book?
The comp to Indiana Jones especially pulled me in, and the conflict of the two MCs needing the magical artifact for different reasons. And fantasy and adventure are right up my alley.
Characters
I was more engaged in Yaseema because I felt her connection to her family more, and she had hobbies. Kiyan didn’t do much other than hate the Viceroy, brood over his past, and find Yaseema attractive/save her multiple times. I think I had a harder time connecting to Kiyan because his absent family was basically a formless blob, and Yaseema’s family have memories attached to them and we know what their personalities, goals, and values are. I found Yaseema the most interesting when she was around her family, who loved each other yet had differing opinions about what were necessary sacrifices. Both Yaseema and Kiyan have friendships on the other side of the river, and I did not feel like they had lives outside of what the MCs were up to.
Relationships
Kiyan’s attraction to Yaseema was surely physical, but also driven by admiration and fascination. I quite liked all the moments where he was endeared by droplets of water that still clung to her glasses, and her fervor when delving into a stack of books. Any time Yaseema admired Kiyan, it felt like she was admiring his physicality and power, and not his person. This could be a purposeful choice as a rebellion to the long history of women appearing in men’s stories just to ogle the MMC, but considering Kiyan has his own POV chapters, with a tragic backstory separate from Yaseema’s, and a goal that has nothing to do with her, I don’t think that was the case. I simply didn’t buy the depth of their feelings for each other. Same for the friendships. I didn’t feel the need for the love interests to get together (though I deeply appreciate the parallels between their backstories), and there’s a particular relationship where I didn’t feel the bond at all, so when a betrayal happened I did not feel any pain from the fallout, but was instead quite frustrated because the betrayal actively went against what that character was trying to achieve.
Setting/Worldbuilding
The fae side of the river failed to ensnare me as much as the human side of the river did. On the human side, there felt a much tighter sense of community, and a better sense of place. The fae side of the river didn’t feel all that tangible. It was a forest with a generic golden palace, supernaturally strong elves (some with tails), and a few fae creatures. I was most intrigued by the creatures, especially the zulmi, which I would love if the second book dived deeper into the horror of. I believe it’s Pakistani-inspired, which is a region of folklore I’m unfamiliar with, so that was really cool to experience. Additionally, food descriptions made my mouth water. I just didn’t feel transported, which is what I look for in a fantasy. It has made me excited to explore more branches of fantasy though.
Plot
Where the plot fell flat for me is that the characters’ goals are not mutually exclusive. The crown’s power isn’t a limited resource. They could achieve both goals with no issue, and both would support the others’ goals if they just talked to each other, which they had plenty of opportunities for, and it would have made sense during any of those times because of the beliefs they already knew each other had. The communication was also a problem within the rebellion. There were multiple unnecessary clashes between the MCs and the rebels that could have been avoided if they had just talked, which, once again, there was ample opportunity to do so. Obviously, Yaseema didn’t support the tyrant, which two key characters very clearly knew, yet they didn’t think to ask her for help. Communication and organizational difficulties for a rebellion under a trigger-happy tyrant’s thumb is a great plot point that was used only to create avoidable problems and action scenes for the MCs. The book didn’t exactly feel too long, but the plot did feel padded.
Theme
I liked the anti-colonial message, but it didn’t dive into it all that much. I bet that will happen in book two, which I anticipate will take place mostly on the human side of the river. There was also a message of “if both of us aren’t free, then neither of us are.” I appreciated the sentiment of being stronger together, and how your values need to apply across the board, not just be for the people immediately surrounding you.
Writing
The writing is approachable and friendly to new readers or those wanting to pick up fantasy for the first time, but I found it to be repetitive in both general descriptions and definitions of what magical objects do every time they are mentioned. It would also wax melodramatic every once in a while and it would jar me out of the story instead of making the scene more emotional. I chuckled a couple of times instead of quaking in my boots because of the tonal clash.
Does this make a good book one?
Yes. There is a clear ending, with a clear thread that will be the goal for the next installment, and they feed well into each other. Because of the reasons I mentioned in the Plot section, I think this could have been a slightly long standalone. As it stands, it is a great part one to the story. A main purpose of a book one is to get the reader wanting more, and I do not feel a strong pull to read book two, though more because of taste and not because of a failure of structure. However, I do think I would like book two more because I believe it will dive into its anti-colonialism message that I am very interested in exploring further, and I believe Yaseema’s family who I’m more invested in will be more present.
Who would I recommend it to?
I think this is a great fantasy book for someone relatively new to fantasy, or who is starting to branch out into non-western-focused fantasy.
Thank you St Martin’s Press for the review copy! I leave my review honestly and voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up.
This was not what I expected it to be at all. I’ve heard such great things about it but it just wasn’t really it for me.
The beginning of the book where the world building begins was so confusing and all over the place. I couldn’t really figure out the lay of the land.
And then I found throughout the entire story there was SO much repeated over and over again. Big and small details. Also, the same sentences repeated every couple of pages?? It made me want to stop reading. But I pushed through.
Over all I thought the idea of the story was great and it just wasn’t executed to its full potential. But I’m still going to read book 2 to see how they break the curse on the mountain.
This was not what I expected it to be at all. I’ve heard such great things about it but it just wasn’t really it for me.
The beginning of the book where the world building begins was so confusing and all over the place. I couldn’t really figure out the lay of the land.
And then I found throughout the entire story there was SO much repeated over and over again. Big and small details. Also, the same sentences repeated every couple of pages?? It made me want to stop reading. But I pushed through.
Over all I thought the idea of the story was great and it just wasn’t executed to its full potential. But I’m still going to read book 2 to see how they break the curse on the mountain.
December 4, 2025
I really enjoyed this read!! Our main female character, Yaseema is a relic hunting scholar who is in search of an artifact to save her family and community. Along the way she runs into Kiyan who has his own motives to find the same artifact. I think there could have been more background provided to give the reader more information about how their two lands were overpowered by invading empires. However, I found the characters very relatable which made up for any issues I had with the world building. They both have a strong sense of responsibility for helping those they care the most about. Yas felt like a mixture of Indiana Jones and Evelyn O’Connell - nerdy, strong and adventurous. There were some moments that made me laugh out loud, gasp, and cry, I also loved having the dual POVs. Would highly recommend!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for granting me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for granting me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
January 28, 2026
I went into this read completely blind. And with that, it has been a LONG time since a book had the kind of emotional impact that made me both cry and willingly stay up reading until 3 am.
From the very first chapter, I was completely hooked. It includes a unique magic system, and there is rich world building while still being easy to grasp. Important details about the world, magic, and characters are reintroduced naturally throughout the story, which meant I never felt confused or overwhelmed. This is something I normally struggle with in new fantasy reads.
I would absolutely recommend this book to readers who enjoy immersive fantasy with heart, and I’m very much looking forward to reading more from this author!! Hoping for a sequel to this one!😜
From the very first chapter, I was completely hooked. It includes a unique magic system, and there is rich world building while still being easy to grasp. Important details about the world, magic, and characters are reintroduced naturally throughout the story, which meant I never felt confused or overwhelmed. This is something I normally struggle with in new fantasy reads.
I would absolutely recommend this book to readers who enjoy immersive fantasy with heart, and I’m very much looking forward to reading more from this author!! Hoping for a sequel to this one!😜
December 11, 2025
This doesn’t come out until June but please if you have net galley request to read it right now!!!!! It is so good. I knew I’d love it esp it being described as the cruel prince and the mummy but omg. Full review to come. 😭
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC. I’ll be back with a more detailed review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC. I’ll be back with a more detailed review.
Want to read
December 30, 2025I gasped aloud when I saw this in my inbox. THANK YOU, ST. MARTIN'S PRESS | WEDNESDAY BOOKS, for sending me this ARC. I loved Emily Varga's debut novel. I have the highest expectations for this one. Hoping it lives up to every bit of that.
I cannot wait to read it.
The expected publication date is June 30, 2026.
As always, all thoughts are my own. 🖤💫
I cannot wait to read it.
The expected publication date is June 30, 2026.
As always, all thoughts are my own. 🖤💫
November 7, 2025
If you wanted a true fantasy version of the mummy with more romance. TA DA! Here she is. Omg! This magic system is epic. And the adventure is page turning. Loved, LOVED! This with all my dark little heart.
March 25, 2026
I love Emily Varga!! This was a fun and good read. Not super unique and definitely a lot of lag in between the good bits. I felt like I was waiting for a lot to happen. But it was still a fun and very sweet romantasy!!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
thos was so good, great characters and compelling story I can't wait for the next one e
February 10, 2026
In the quest for saving a kingdom, one will be doomed by the fate.
The Mummy x The Cruel Prince
What more can you ask for?
I have been fortunate enough to read this early and it will make you loose sleep over it. I knew will deliver because i read For she is wrath and i was in love with the book, and when i read she’s publishing a book inspired by the mummy my all time favourite movie?? On my knees literally
And then i started reading and i felt like i was in the story with them.
Yaseema my absolute brilliant resilient girl that i adore with every fiber of my being and Kiyan, oh my god Kiyan. He is such a troubled soul, wrecked by guilt and old mistakes, but when he is with Yaseema he is such a gentle misunderstood silver haired fae🥺😮💨
The entire book will keep you on the edge of your seat, and that ending, yeah i may have shed a tear or two because WHAT DO YOU MEAN( insert jennifer lawrence meme)
THAT ENDING HELLOOOOOI
The Mummy x The Cruel Prince
What more can you ask for?
I have been fortunate enough to read this early and it will make you loose sleep over it. I knew will deliver because i read For she is wrath and i was in love with the book, and when i read she’s publishing a book inspired by the mummy my all time favourite movie?? On my knees literally
And then i started reading and i felt like i was in the story with them.
Yaseema my absolute brilliant resilient girl that i adore with every fiber of my being and Kiyan, oh my god Kiyan. He is such a troubled soul, wrecked by guilt and old mistakes, but when he is with Yaseema he is such a gentle misunderstood silver haired fae🥺😮💨
The entire book will keep you on the edge of your seat, and that ending, yeah i may have shed a tear or two because WHAT DO YOU MEAN( insert jennifer lawrence meme)
THAT ENDING HELLOOOOOI
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