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Sight Unseen
Not yet published
Expected 1 Mar 26From viral online writing sensation Alexis Marie comes a lush contemporary fantasy debut that blends a slow-burn romance with mystery and magical intrigue when the lives of a fatally cursed woman and a single father with a complicated past collide—just as their quaint small town becomes a power-hungry serial killer’s hunting ground.
Veda Thorne is living on borrowed time. After exhausting every magical cure for the fatal curse trapped inside her, she’s accepted her fate. But Veda’s self-imposed isolation begins to crack when she’s asked to tutor Antaris, a child whose pain calls to her own.
Hiram Ellis left his wealthy, prejudiced family years ago. Now unexpectedly thrust into single fatherhood, he returns to his hometown, determined to build a life far from the cold privilege that stifled his own childhood. The last thing he expects is to be drawn to the fiercely protective, sharp-tongued woman helping his son.
When a trail of enchanted spider lilies leads Hiram and Veda to discover their deadly tie to a prolific serial killer, they’re forced to set aside their differences to unearth long-buried secrets. But the truth is as deadly as Veda’s curse, and both come at a devastating cost. As victims mount and motives emerge, their greatest challenge is choosing to trust and love each other.
Veda Thorne is living on borrowed time. After exhausting every magical cure for the fatal curse trapped inside her, she’s accepted her fate. But Veda’s self-imposed isolation begins to crack when she’s asked to tutor Antaris, a child whose pain calls to her own.
Hiram Ellis left his wealthy, prejudiced family years ago. Now unexpectedly thrust into single fatherhood, he returns to his hometown, determined to build a life far from the cold privilege that stifled his own childhood. The last thing he expects is to be drawn to the fiercely protective, sharp-tongued woman helping his son.
When a trail of enchanted spider lilies leads Hiram and Veda to discover their deadly tie to a prolific serial killer, they’re forced to set aside their differences to unearth long-buried secrets. But the truth is as deadly as Veda’s curse, and both come at a devastating cost. As victims mount and motives emerge, their greatest challenge is choosing to trust and love each other.
397 pages, Paperback
Expected publication March 1, 2026
8 people are currently reading
1510 people want to read
About the author
Alexis Marie
1 book24 followersAlexis Marie was raised in the suburbs of Georgia by her mom. She is married, has one sister, and can either be found under a heated blanket with her laptop and dog at her side or out in the garden pleading with the plants to stay alive in the southern heat.
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Want to read
January 9, 2026i see another dramione fanfic author get pubbed and i immediately support them🙂↕️
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October 16, 2025it is such a good day to be a dramionie girlie
October 28, 2025
I read Sight Unseen in its early stages, so this review comes ahead of publication. It’s officially out on March 1, 2026.
This book has everything I love:
* Slow-burn romance (the tension!! The banter!! The intimacy! The steamy pay-off!!)
* A mystery that keeps you hooked from start to finish (wait for the plot twist!)
* A found family dynamic (cue the tears)
* Beautifully crafted worldbuilding
* Themes of love, grief, and healing
Alexis’s writing is vivid, emotional, and full of heart. You feel everything right alongside the characters, and the smallest moments linger long after you’ve finished reading.
Veda Thorne is one of those characters who just gets under your skin. She’s just so painfully human. The way she isolates herself hit me so hard… that feeling of needing to do everything alone, because asking for help feels impossible, or because you’ve been let down too many times before.
And then Antaris comes into her life. This quiet, grieving boy who mirrors her pain in every way. He doesn’t speak, but his silence says everything, drawing her out of her own apathy. Watching Veda see herself in him, her own loneliness, her own hopelessness, and slowly find purpose again through caring for him was sooo moving.
And speaking of Antaris… My sweet baby. His grief is so palpable it made my heart hurt. The way Alexis writes his mutism and gradual healing is so tender and believable. Every small step he takes felt SO monumental for me as I was reading it, he’s the sweetest babyboy 😭
Then there’s Hiram (Y’ALL ARE NOT READY FOR THIS MAN). Watching him trying to connect with the grieving child he never knew existed, while also confronting his own blind spots and privilege, is one of the most moving parts of the story. The way their bond grows had me crying through almost every scene.
I love that we get his POV in the alternating chapters, how they're full of guilt, love, and that desperate fear of doing it wrong, the helpnessles. Seeing his struggle through both his own perspective and Veda’s (who totally misjudges him at first – we love the Pride and Prejudice vibes btw 👏) gives such depth to his character. And Peter (the loml, truly) and his perspective on Hiram adds such warmth and humour to balance it all.
But also seriously, Hiram Ellis… This man knows exactly what he’s doing. The slow burn, banter, and tension between him and Veda is unreal. Her stubbornness, the way she keeps trying to build walls and he just steadily keeps showing up until she stops pretending she doesn’t care? CHEF’S KISS!!!
His patience (IF YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW 🤌) is SO ROMANTIC. They had me giggling, kicking my feet, and screaming at them to JUST KISS ALREADY (I promise the deliciously steamy pay-off is WORTH THE WAIT!!!!).
Beneath all the romance and magic and mystery, it’s the themes that really stay with you.
The social commentary, the way Alexis writes about prejudice, the divide between Mages and Seers, and how that reflects real-world discrimination is so sharp and heartbreakingly relevant today.
Then there’s the theme of survival itself, of finding something worth fighting for. Watching Veda go from accepting death to rediscovering what it means to WANT to live absolutely destroyed me. It’s such a raw, honest portrayal of depression, of that numbness that creeps in when you’ve been hurt too many times, and how love (not just romantic love, but love in ALL its forms) can slowly pull you back into the world.
The writing is breathtaking and the characters are unforgettable. It’s rare to find a story that captures grief, loss, and pain so vividly while still being full of love, humour, and life. Her writing makes you stop mid-sentence just to reread a line because it hit too hard.
I also really loved the serial killer plot, adding this creeping unease. The spider lilies, the curses, that constant sense that something wrong is lurking just out of sight (pun fully intended 👀). The tension builds so masterfully that you don’t even realise how tightly it’s wound until everything snaps into place.
What makes it so brilliant is how seamlessly it all connects, every piece of worldbuilding, every moment between Veda, Hiram, and Antaris... it’s eerie and addictive and will have anyone on edge the entire time, constantly trying to piece everything together – what is happening, why, how does it tie back to Veda and her curse? When the truth finally comes out, it makes you want to go back and reread everything just to catch the hints you missed.
It’s SO well done!!!
Alexis makes you cry, laugh, and then cry again two pages later (both the ugly tears and the happy ones). There’s poetry in the way she writes about pain and resilience; it’s sharp, reflective, and incredibly beautiful.
Every character carries their own version of grief, and Alexis writes it all with so much care. Veda, Antaris, Hiram (and others I won’t name for spoiler reasons) all grow in ways that feel so real and so earned. And what I LOVE is how, even with all the heavy themes, the grief, the trauma, the survival, Alexis still finds room for humour.
There are these little moments of banter or awkwardness or sarcasm that made me actually laugh out loud, even while I was crying two pages later. That balance is so hard to pull off, and she just freaking nails it.
Sight Unseen is easily one of my favourite reads of the year. I know I’ll be thinking about Veda, Hiram, and Antaris for a long, long time.
This book has everything I love:
* Slow-burn romance (the tension!! The banter!! The intimacy! The steamy pay-off!!)
* A mystery that keeps you hooked from start to finish (wait for the plot twist!)
* A found family dynamic (cue the tears)
* Beautifully crafted worldbuilding
* Themes of love, grief, and healing
Alexis’s writing is vivid, emotional, and full of heart. You feel everything right alongside the characters, and the smallest moments linger long after you’ve finished reading.
Veda Thorne is one of those characters who just gets under your skin. She’s just so painfully human. The way she isolates herself hit me so hard… that feeling of needing to do everything alone, because asking for help feels impossible, or because you’ve been let down too many times before.
And then Antaris comes into her life. This quiet, grieving boy who mirrors her pain in every way. He doesn’t speak, but his silence says everything, drawing her out of her own apathy. Watching Veda see herself in him, her own loneliness, her own hopelessness, and slowly find purpose again through caring for him was sooo moving.
And speaking of Antaris… My sweet baby. His grief is so palpable it made my heart hurt. The way Alexis writes his mutism and gradual healing is so tender and believable. Every small step he takes felt SO monumental for me as I was reading it, he’s the sweetest babyboy 😭
Then there’s Hiram (Y’ALL ARE NOT READY FOR THIS MAN). Watching him trying to connect with the grieving child he never knew existed, while also confronting his own blind spots and privilege, is one of the most moving parts of the story. The way their bond grows had me crying through almost every scene.
I love that we get his POV in the alternating chapters, how they're full of guilt, love, and that desperate fear of doing it wrong, the helpnessles. Seeing his struggle through both his own perspective and Veda’s (who totally misjudges him at first – we love the Pride and Prejudice vibes btw 👏) gives such depth to his character. And Peter (the loml, truly) and his perspective on Hiram adds such warmth and humour to balance it all.
But also seriously, Hiram Ellis… This man knows exactly what he’s doing. The slow burn, banter, and tension between him and Veda is unreal. Her stubbornness, the way she keeps trying to build walls and he just steadily keeps showing up until she stops pretending she doesn’t care? CHEF’S KISS!!!
His patience (IF YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW 🤌) is SO ROMANTIC. They had me giggling, kicking my feet, and screaming at them to JUST KISS ALREADY (I promise the deliciously steamy pay-off is WORTH THE WAIT!!!!).
Beneath all the romance and magic and mystery, it’s the themes that really stay with you.
The social commentary, the way Alexis writes about prejudice, the divide between Mages and Seers, and how that reflects real-world discrimination is so sharp and heartbreakingly relevant today.
Then there’s the theme of survival itself, of finding something worth fighting for. Watching Veda go from accepting death to rediscovering what it means to WANT to live absolutely destroyed me. It’s such a raw, honest portrayal of depression, of that numbness that creeps in when you’ve been hurt too many times, and how love (not just romantic love, but love in ALL its forms) can slowly pull you back into the world.
The writing is breathtaking and the characters are unforgettable. It’s rare to find a story that captures grief, loss, and pain so vividly while still being full of love, humour, and life. Her writing makes you stop mid-sentence just to reread a line because it hit too hard.
I also really loved the serial killer plot, adding this creeping unease. The spider lilies, the curses, that constant sense that something wrong is lurking just out of sight (pun fully intended 👀). The tension builds so masterfully that you don’t even realise how tightly it’s wound until everything snaps into place.
What makes it so brilliant is how seamlessly it all connects, every piece of worldbuilding, every moment between Veda, Hiram, and Antaris... it’s eerie and addictive and will have anyone on edge the entire time, constantly trying to piece everything together – what is happening, why, how does it tie back to Veda and her curse? When the truth finally comes out, it makes you want to go back and reread everything just to catch the hints you missed.
It’s SO well done!!!
Alexis makes you cry, laugh, and then cry again two pages later (both the ugly tears and the happy ones). There’s poetry in the way she writes about pain and resilience; it’s sharp, reflective, and incredibly beautiful.
Every character carries their own version of grief, and Alexis writes it all with so much care. Veda, Antaris, Hiram (and others I won’t name for spoiler reasons) all grow in ways that feel so real and so earned. And what I LOVE is how, even with all the heavy themes, the grief, the trauma, the survival, Alexis still finds room for humour.
There are these little moments of banter or awkwardness or sarcasm that made me actually laugh out loud, even while I was crying two pages later. That balance is so hard to pull off, and she just freaking nails it.
Sight Unseen is easily one of my favourite reads of the year. I know I’ll be thinking about Veda, Hiram, and Antaris for a long, long time.
Want to read
October 16, 2025we just keep winning
November 3, 2025
“Nothing. Something. Everything.”
I may have been sobbing by the end, but boy did Sight Unseen leave me well fed.
It’s actually insane how much Alexis Marie fits into a 388 page book. This is a story that covers grief and healing. Longing—for connection, for understanding. Learning to live and to let people in. Pride, and prejudice, and patience.
It’s somehow both achingly sad and laugh-out-loud funny. It’s meaningful and important but also doesn’t take itself too seriously. There’s just enough mystery and plot to keep you locked in. The romance here is both rich and slow-burning. The subplots have subplots and it all works and fits into one tidy, short book. Mind-boggling.
While Veda and Hiram have notes of Elizabeth & Darcy, more than anything, this is Kate & Anthony. Think full-out arguments, with all the scolding and biting and seething. Hiram is charming and determined. Veda is aggravated—and annoyed at how much she likes him aggravating her. The progression of their relationship feels slow, real, earned—and when they come together, the intimacy is gorgeous.
Also;
🦉 A sweet, sad, silent boy who will steal your heart immediately. I would die for my owl-eyed bb Antaris
🐓 A mystery that grips you—with some intentionally obvious clues, and other puzzle pieces that surprise
🪴 Chaotic BFF / side character energy, including a perfect reluctant bromance
🌘 A magic system and paranormal world that work without being overly complex
📝 Themes of hate and bigotry that feel all too familiar
🌍 Diverse representation (black FMC, biracial Southeast Asian MMC)
I need more processing to do my pitch on this one justice, because right now I’m just in awe more than anything. I am a romantasy girlie through and through—I don’t even like mysteries, or I didn’t think I did.
I need everyone to read this so I have people to obsess over it with. Just read it, please. Thank me later.
Thank you, thank you Amazon for making my year with the early copy!
—
PSA for the fanfic girlies: As a devout, early WIP days fan of Measure of a Man, I’ll be the first to admit that the page count had me sweating. But please, trust the process. She truly does the story justice.
This is the heart and soul of MOAM, reincarnated into something that feels both entirely new yet familiar. Less cottagecore, more a gritty, tense, whodunit. (To ref another fic, it was giving Brighton Beach Butcher vibes)
MOAMents are sprinkled throughout but come in new forms, and at different times than you expect. It’s a Taylor Swift level master class in laying Easter Eggs (and yes, the chickens are here too). I was squealing so, so much at each reference.
More than anything, I LOVED how different both Hiram and Veda were. Like, for starters—Hiram is CHATTY. This is a prickly on the outside, soft ooey-gooey center man who does not shut up. Veda is tired and detached, but also claws out, ready for battle. (She also rides a motorcycle.)
Other favorites are here, in new forms… but also some faces you may not expect. I was giddy and surprised throughout.
This story will in no way replace MOAM to me, and I love that so much. It’s now its own new, perfect multiverse (Inaverse?)
I may have been sobbing by the end, but boy did Sight Unseen leave me well fed.
It’s actually insane how much Alexis Marie fits into a 388 page book. This is a story that covers grief and healing. Longing—for connection, for understanding. Learning to live and to let people in. Pride, and prejudice, and patience.
It’s somehow both achingly sad and laugh-out-loud funny. It’s meaningful and important but also doesn’t take itself too seriously. There’s just enough mystery and plot to keep you locked in. The romance here is both rich and slow-burning. The subplots have subplots and it all works and fits into one tidy, short book. Mind-boggling.
While Veda and Hiram have notes of Elizabeth & Darcy, more than anything, this is Kate & Anthony. Think full-out arguments, with all the scolding and biting and seething. Hiram is charming and determined. Veda is aggravated—and annoyed at how much she likes him aggravating her. The progression of their relationship feels slow, real, earned—and when they come together, the intimacy is gorgeous.
Also;
🦉 A sweet, sad, silent boy who will steal your heart immediately. I would die for my owl-eyed bb Antaris
🐓 A mystery that grips you—with some intentionally obvious clues, and other puzzle pieces that surprise
🪴 Chaotic BFF / side character energy, including a perfect reluctant bromance
🌘 A magic system and paranormal world that work without being overly complex
📝 Themes of hate and bigotry that feel all too familiar
🌍 Diverse representation (black FMC, biracial Southeast Asian MMC)
I need more processing to do my pitch on this one justice, because right now I’m just in awe more than anything. I am a romantasy girlie through and through—I don’t even like mysteries, or I didn’t think I did.
I need everyone to read this so I have people to obsess over it with. Just read it, please. Thank me later.
Thank you, thank you Amazon for making my year with the early copy!
—
PSA for the fanfic girlies: As a devout, early WIP days fan of Measure of a Man, I’ll be the first to admit that the page count had me sweating. But please, trust the process. She truly does the story justice.
This is the heart and soul of MOAM, reincarnated into something that feels both entirely new yet familiar. Less cottagecore, more a gritty, tense, whodunit. (To ref another fic, it was giving Brighton Beach Butcher vibes)
MOAMents are sprinkled throughout but come in new forms, and at different times than you expect. It’s a Taylor Swift level master class in laying Easter Eggs (and yes, the chickens are here too). I was squealing so, so much at each reference.
More than anything, I LOVED how different both Hiram and Veda were. Like, for starters—Hiram is CHATTY. This is a prickly on the outside, soft ooey-gooey center man who does not shut up. Veda is tired and detached, but also claws out, ready for battle. (She also rides a motorcycle.)
Other favorites are here, in new forms… but also some faces you may not expect. I was giddy and surprised throughout.
This story will in no way replace MOAM to me, and I love that so much. It’s now its own new, perfect multiverse (Inaverse?)
Want to read
October 30, 2025this is the era of dramione and im so here for it
December 31, 2025
I had the fortune of reading Sight Unseen ahead of its publication date—many thanks to 47North and Alexis Marie for the e-ARC! Here’s my spoiler-free ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review.
.
.
.
Sight Unseen, Alexis Marie’s debut novel, has been my most anticipated 2026 release from the moment it was announced. I’m so happy to share that it met every single one of my expectations.
The balance between romance and mystery is perfect for lovers of both genres. The slow-burn had me kicking my feet as the tension rose between Veda and Hiram, our main characters. The way they come together is everything to me. On the other side, as a reader it’s always exciting to collect the pieces and complete the puzzle to a mystery storyline. If you’re attentive enough, you’ll see where the journey is going but don't worry—you’ll find yourself slack-jawed with the twists along the way as we chase our villain. I’m sure on my physical re-read there’ll be plenty of clues to find woven into the story which will only improve the experience.
Now… our characters! Veda Thorne, get behind me!!! I adore and admire her. Following her journey where she goes from existing to living until she blossoms into herself was humbling. Themes like grief, isolation, depression and the hunger for life are delicately tackled, not only for her story, but also for Hiram and Antaris’. Hiram's world changes drastically in the blink of an eye, becoming the father of a grieving child overnight. He makes mistakes along the way, as anyone is bound to do, but his efforts to do better make for a heartfelt journey as he finds his footing with Antaris and the people in his hometown. Speaking of—the ensamble cast is memorable and my favorite thing about them all is how three dimensional and flawed everyone is, showing us humanity in all its range. Plenty of characters stand out to me, but Antaris stole my heart, as I’m sure will happen to many!
The worldbuilding is vast and although that can be overwhelming for standalone books, it isn’t the case with Sight Unseen. Every detail is meticulously crafted and dropped into the book at precise timing for readers to follow along. The magic system is captivating and left me wanting to know more about the lore for the wider magic world in this novel, (a feeling that, for me, is always a good sign of great storytelling). A standout that I simply most point out is the social commentary about the dynamics of the magical world we’re diving into. Through our ensable cast we’re shown different perspectives and it’s all tackled in a very respectful, passionate and honest way, which I admired.
Overall, this is a beautiful debut novel and, even if it wasn’t originally intended, a powerful reminder of what it means to be human. Alexis knocked it out of the park with this story and I can’t wait for whatever comes next from her.
And, of course, if you’re a long-time fan of her writing (iykyk) you’ll find a beautiful love letter to her previous works in Sight Unseen.
Get ready to swoon, cry, laugh, and theorize. It’s a wild ride!
.
.
.
Sight Unseen, Alexis Marie’s debut novel, has been my most anticipated 2026 release from the moment it was announced. I’m so happy to share that it met every single one of my expectations.
The balance between romance and mystery is perfect for lovers of both genres. The slow-burn had me kicking my feet as the tension rose between Veda and Hiram, our main characters. The way they come together is everything to me. On the other side, as a reader it’s always exciting to collect the pieces and complete the puzzle to a mystery storyline. If you’re attentive enough, you’ll see where the journey is going but don't worry—you’ll find yourself slack-jawed with the twists along the way as we chase our villain. I’m sure on my physical re-read there’ll be plenty of clues to find woven into the story which will only improve the experience.
Now… our characters! Veda Thorne, get behind me!!! I adore and admire her. Following her journey where she goes from existing to living until she blossoms into herself was humbling. Themes like grief, isolation, depression and the hunger for life are delicately tackled, not only for her story, but also for Hiram and Antaris’. Hiram's world changes drastically in the blink of an eye, becoming the father of a grieving child overnight. He makes mistakes along the way, as anyone is bound to do, but his efforts to do better make for a heartfelt journey as he finds his footing with Antaris and the people in his hometown. Speaking of—the ensamble cast is memorable and my favorite thing about them all is how three dimensional and flawed everyone is, showing us humanity in all its range. Plenty of characters stand out to me, but Antaris stole my heart, as I’m sure will happen to many!
The worldbuilding is vast and although that can be overwhelming for standalone books, it isn’t the case with Sight Unseen. Every detail is meticulously crafted and dropped into the book at precise timing for readers to follow along. The magic system is captivating and left me wanting to know more about the lore for the wider magic world in this novel, (a feeling that, for me, is always a good sign of great storytelling). A standout that I simply most point out is the social commentary about the dynamics of the magical world we’re diving into. Through our ensable cast we’re shown different perspectives and it’s all tackled in a very respectful, passionate and honest way, which I admired.
Overall, this is a beautiful debut novel and, even if it wasn’t originally intended, a powerful reminder of what it means to be human. Alexis knocked it out of the park with this story and I can’t wait for whatever comes next from her.
And, of course, if you’re a long-time fan of her writing (iykyk) you’ll find a beautiful love letter to her previous works in Sight Unseen.
Get ready to swoon, cry, laugh, and theorize. It’s a wild ride!
Want to read
October 18, 2025Measure of a Man??????
November 24, 2025
Nothing. Something. Everything 😭
I don’t even know where to start. Sight Unseen completely stole my heart and turned me into a puddle of feelings, more than once. I actually had to ask my husband to hide the book from me at night so I wouldn’t tear through it too fast... you only get to read these stories for the first time once, and I needed to savor this one!
Firstly, WOW, Alexis Marie packs so much worldbuilding, lore, murder mystery, and magic into just under 400 pages, and somehow still gives us a romance that is so deep and beautiful. The slow burn, the yearning, the push-and-pull… it’s all so well done, and so well EARNED.
At the center of the story is our sweet, heartbroken trio: Veda, Hiram, and Antaris.
Veda is fiercely independent, guarded by trauma and fear, carrying burdens she can’t (read: won’t) share. She's fatally cursed and struggling with her mortality. Her retreat inward and her reluctance to let anyone rely on her are both deeply relatable and terribly sad. I know *exactly* what it feels like to not want to burden your loved ones with your baggage and pain, and could so relate to her self-isolation feeling easier than asking for help. She's traumatized by her past and feels as if she has no future, but that doesn't stop her from being stubborn, passionate, and witty. I loved everything about her character, and my favorite quote of the entire book actually comes from her. (quote hidden in case folks don't want to read any lines before publication) 😭
When Veda meets Antaris, everything changes. Antaris is a quiet, grieving child whose mother has just been murdered by a serial killer. He doesn’t speak, he doesn’t trust, and suddenly he’s thrust into a brand new life with a father he doesn't know at all, Hiram. His overbearing grandmother hires Veda as his tutor, hoping she'll simply get him to communicate again... but all Veda sees is a lost little boy who needs care, affection, and comfort, just like she once did.
Antaris had my entire heart from the very first moment. Every time he appeared on page, I teared up along with him, feeling his grief and longing for a mother he missed so deeply, so vividly. The bond he forms with Veda is tender and complex, and broke my heart into a million little pieces. I'm literally tearing up thinking about how necessary these two became for each other's happiness. They're woven together even before the romance begins. Antaris reminds Veda what it means to fight for love, for herself and her future. And Veda is a soft place for Antaris to land, her arms always open wide to hold him through the waves of his grief. Hiram and Veda may have been the main love interests, but Veda and Antaris's sweet mother-son relationship is just everything.
And Hiram… HIRAM. Gorgeous, devoted, endlessly loveable... layered with his own struggles as a single father navigating a fragile relationship with a son he doesn't know, but desperately wants to. There's been a lot of discourse online about bringing back yearning, and let me tell you... Hiram is the King of the Yearn. He pins, he longs, he's hungry for relationships built on trust, both with his son and eventually with Veda. He watches them build this beautiful, trusting relationship, and just aches for it, wanting to be the parent he'd always wished he'd had.
The romance between Veda and Hiram is slow, deliberate, and so freakin' satisfying. Every step of their growing trust and intimacy is worked for, and seeing them slowly let themselves love—and be loved—is a JOY to witness. Hiram balances Veda’s skepticism with his quiet hope, coaxing her out of isolation without ever forcing her. His patience and gentleness with both Veda and Antaris had me swooning and weeping simultaneously. Together, they form a family that feels real and fiercely protective ❤️
Beyond the romance, Sight Unseen is emotionally rich and thoughtful. It explores generational trauma, internalized prejudice, and the painstaking work of unlearning both. Yes, there’s a compelling magic system and a whodunit subplot—but the heart of this story is three damaged hearts learning to trust and choose each other.
I highlighted and underlined entire pages while I annotated, and read wayyyy too late into the night (3:30AM one night, oops 😅). I'm also still thinking about this story DAYS later... which is how I know this was a solid 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.
Huge thanks to Amazon Publishing and Alexis Marie for the ARC 💛 This book was EVERYTHING!
I don’t even know where to start. Sight Unseen completely stole my heart and turned me into a puddle of feelings, more than once. I actually had to ask my husband to hide the book from me at night so I wouldn’t tear through it too fast... you only get to read these stories for the first time once, and I needed to savor this one!
Firstly, WOW, Alexis Marie packs so much worldbuilding, lore, murder mystery, and magic into just under 400 pages, and somehow still gives us a romance that is so deep and beautiful. The slow burn, the yearning, the push-and-pull… it’s all so well done, and so well EARNED.
At the center of the story is our sweet, heartbroken trio: Veda, Hiram, and Antaris.
Veda is fiercely independent, guarded by trauma and fear, carrying burdens she can’t (read: won’t) share. She's fatally cursed and struggling with her mortality. Her retreat inward and her reluctance to let anyone rely on her are both deeply relatable and terribly sad. I know *exactly* what it feels like to not want to burden your loved ones with your baggage and pain, and could so relate to her self-isolation feeling easier than asking for help. She's traumatized by her past and feels as if she has no future, but that doesn't stop her from being stubborn, passionate, and witty. I loved everything about her character, and my favorite quote of the entire book actually comes from her. (quote hidden in case folks don't want to read any lines before publication) 😭
When Veda meets Antaris, everything changes. Antaris is a quiet, grieving child whose mother has just been murdered by a serial killer. He doesn’t speak, he doesn’t trust, and suddenly he’s thrust into a brand new life with a father he doesn't know at all, Hiram. His overbearing grandmother hires Veda as his tutor, hoping she'll simply get him to communicate again... but all Veda sees is a lost little boy who needs care, affection, and comfort, just like she once did.
Antaris had my entire heart from the very first moment. Every time he appeared on page, I teared up along with him, feeling his grief and longing for a mother he missed so deeply, so vividly. The bond he forms with Veda is tender and complex, and broke my heart into a million little pieces. I'm literally tearing up thinking about how necessary these two became for each other's happiness. They're woven together even before the romance begins. Antaris reminds Veda what it means to fight for love, for herself and her future. And Veda is a soft place for Antaris to land, her arms always open wide to hold him through the waves of his grief. Hiram and Veda may have been the main love interests, but Veda and Antaris's sweet mother-son relationship is just everything.
And Hiram… HIRAM. Gorgeous, devoted, endlessly loveable... layered with his own struggles as a single father navigating a fragile relationship with a son he doesn't know, but desperately wants to. There's been a lot of discourse online about bringing back yearning, and let me tell you... Hiram is the King of the Yearn. He pins, he longs, he's hungry for relationships built on trust, both with his son and eventually with Veda. He watches them build this beautiful, trusting relationship, and just aches for it, wanting to be the parent he'd always wished he'd had.
The romance between Veda and Hiram is slow, deliberate, and so freakin' satisfying. Every step of their growing trust and intimacy is worked for, and seeing them slowly let themselves love—and be loved—is a JOY to witness. Hiram balances Veda’s skepticism with his quiet hope, coaxing her out of isolation without ever forcing her. His patience and gentleness with both Veda and Antaris had me swooning and weeping simultaneously. Together, they form a family that feels real and fiercely protective ❤️
Beyond the romance, Sight Unseen is emotionally rich and thoughtful. It explores generational trauma, internalized prejudice, and the painstaking work of unlearning both. Yes, there’s a compelling magic system and a whodunit subplot—but the heart of this story is three damaged hearts learning to trust and choose each other.
I highlighted and underlined entire pages while I annotated, and read wayyyy too late into the night (3:30AM one night, oops 😅). I'm also still thinking about this story DAYS later... which is how I know this was a solid 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.
Huge thanks to Amazon Publishing and Alexis Marie for the ARC 💛 This book was EVERYTHING!
November 8, 2025
Sight Unseen
4.5 ⭐️ (rounded up!)
Alexis Marie, I worship the ground you walk on!
Sight Unseen is an incredibly relevant, poignant love story with a mix of thriller/mystery to keep things extra interesting and I loved it!
Veda Thorne is set in her ways and does not want to get close to anyone (for good reason) but when a little boy with a lot of pain needs her help…how could she ever say no. Enter the little boys father, Hiram, whose families reputation precedes him and rubs Veda in all the wrong ways. Will she let him show her who he truly is? After all, what is the measure of a man if not his actions?
Antares is a beacon of light to both Veda and Hiram, he is their sun, their brightest star. “Are the the sun or the moon?” The relationship between the three of them develops so naturally I was in awe of the skill with which it was written.
Their story is simple but set in a world with magic, murder, and mystery. An unknown assailant is after Veda and her clock is running out…will she let Hiram and Antares in or will she push them away as she always has?
With a backdrop of a PNW where magic is not only present but common, the world feels rich and gritty. The magic in the story serves as a mirror to the discrimination that is currently running rampant in our country and Alexis Marie does not shy away from the parallels.
This is not just a love story, it is a story of friendship and family - not just the ones we are born into but the ones we create. How do we let others in when it can hurt so much?
My only issues with the book is that at times it moves a little…too fast. More than once, I had to go back and re read because I thought I skipped a page but no…also the world building, while rich and immersive, is limited and we don’t know much about the world outside of the 388 pages were given. What are the politics like outside of Proventia? Is the world exactly the same as ours just with magic? What is the nomag population like? It’s not really necessary to our story but I was curious nonetheless.
I didn’t know what to expect when I saw that this book was less than 400 pages….as a huge fan of Alexis’s previous works I was a bit nervous but let me tell you…she delivers! This is NOT measure of a man, but you can see the reflections in it if you look closely. The moments that are reminiscent of MoaM hit me so viscerally I found myself crying at the smallest things. If you are a fan of Alexis’s online works you will not be disappointed and I promise you will need tissues…
A huge thank you to Amazon Publishing / 47North for providing me with the e-ARC, I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to read this beautiful story before release!
4.5 ⭐️ (rounded up!)
Alexis Marie, I worship the ground you walk on!
Sight Unseen is an incredibly relevant, poignant love story with a mix of thriller/mystery to keep things extra interesting and I loved it!
Veda Thorne is set in her ways and does not want to get close to anyone (for good reason) but when a little boy with a lot of pain needs her help…how could she ever say no. Enter the little boys father, Hiram, whose families reputation precedes him and rubs Veda in all the wrong ways. Will she let him show her who he truly is? After all, what is the measure of a man if not his actions?
Antares is a beacon of light to both Veda and Hiram, he is their sun, their brightest star. “Are the the sun or the moon?” The relationship between the three of them develops so naturally I was in awe of the skill with which it was written.
Their story is simple but set in a world with magic, murder, and mystery. An unknown assailant is after Veda and her clock is running out…will she let Hiram and Antares in or will she push them away as she always has?
With a backdrop of a PNW where magic is not only present but common, the world feels rich and gritty. The magic in the story serves as a mirror to the discrimination that is currently running rampant in our country and Alexis Marie does not shy away from the parallels.
This is not just a love story, it is a story of friendship and family - not just the ones we are born into but the ones we create. How do we let others in when it can hurt so much?
My only issues with the book is that at times it moves a little…too fast. More than once, I had to go back and re read because I thought I skipped a page but no…also the world building, while rich and immersive, is limited and we don’t know much about the world outside of the 388 pages were given. What are the politics like outside of Proventia? Is the world exactly the same as ours just with magic? What is the nomag population like? It’s not really necessary to our story but I was curious nonetheless.
I didn’t know what to expect when I saw that this book was less than 400 pages….as a huge fan of Alexis’s previous works I was a bit nervous but let me tell you…she delivers! This is NOT measure of a man, but you can see the reflections in it if you look closely. The moments that are reminiscent of MoaM hit me so viscerally I found myself crying at the smallest things. If you are a fan of Alexis’s online works you will not be disappointed and I promise you will need tissues…
A huge thank you to Amazon Publishing / 47North for providing me with the e-ARC, I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to read this beautiful story before release!
November 19, 2025
ARC Review
Huge thank you to Amazon Publishing for blessing me with an advanced reader's copy.
I've been a huge fan of Alexis' writing for years now and was so ecstatic to see that she's finally publishing her first book-baby! Her debut standalone, Sight Unseen, is set in the modern-day Pacific Northwest and introduces a society rife with omnipotent magic, prejudice, and consequences.
Readers will find comfort in Alexis' breathtaking prose as she takes us on a visceral journey through themes of grief, bigotry and companionship. You will cry, you will laugh, and you will fall in love. Towards the end, you might even find yourself reflecting on your own fears and that of our current society's.
I definitely plan to do a physical book read with my highlighters and stickies after it's official release ❤️
Until then, enjoy my quick notes on why I love this book:
♡ No info-dumping! Readers are gradually introduced to the setting, lore and magic system as the story progresses and not all at once in the first three chapters.
♡ A slow burn that was so good it made me question if I was a masochist for enjoying it so much. 👀
♡ What if there were physical consequences when using magic?
♡ Diverse characters that genuinely fit the story and make sense. (Not just added as an afterthought to meet a quota.)
♡ Beautiful imagery (not the pretentious flowery kind) that gives you the FEELS ❤️
♡ Catching a serial killer... but we can be cozy, too.
♡ Patient and competent MMC who's just trying to do good for his son... bonus—he's rich with tattoos 😏
Pacing = 5
Characters = 5
Lore = 5
Imagery = 5
Dialogue = 5
Originality = 5
Engagement = 4
Overall = 5
Hook = 56% through
Huge thank you to Amazon Publishing for blessing me with an advanced reader's copy.
I've been a huge fan of Alexis' writing for years now and was so ecstatic to see that she's finally publishing her first book-baby! Her debut standalone, Sight Unseen, is set in the modern-day Pacific Northwest and introduces a society rife with omnipotent magic, prejudice, and consequences.
Readers will find comfort in Alexis' breathtaking prose as she takes us on a visceral journey through themes of grief, bigotry and companionship. You will cry, you will laugh, and you will fall in love. Towards the end, you might even find yourself reflecting on your own fears and that of our current society's.
I definitely plan to do a physical book read with my highlighters and stickies after it's official release ❤️
Until then, enjoy my quick notes on why I love this book:
♡ No info-dumping! Readers are gradually introduced to the setting, lore and magic system as the story progresses and not all at once in the first three chapters.
♡ A slow burn that was so good it made me question if I was a masochist for enjoying it so much. 👀
♡ What if there were physical consequences when using magic?
♡ Diverse characters that genuinely fit the story and make sense. (Not just added as an afterthought to meet a quota.)
♡ Beautiful imagery (not the pretentious flowery kind) that gives you the FEELS ❤️
♡ Catching a serial killer... but we can be cozy, too.
♡ Patient and competent MMC who's just trying to do good for his son... bonus—he's rich with tattoos 😏
Pacing = 5
Characters = 5
Lore = 5
Imagery = 5
Dialogue = 5
Originality = 5
Engagement = 4
Overall = 5
Hook = 56% through
November 5, 2025
FROTHING AT THE EFFING MOUTH FOR THIS
priority-tbr
January 9, 2026i need this rn😔🫴
Want to read
January 14, 2026the dramione girlies keep winning
October 28, 2025
I read Sight Unseen in its early stages, so this review comes ahead of publication. It’s officially out on March 1, 2026.
This book has everything I love:
* Slow-burn romance (the tension!! The banter!! The intimacy! The steamy pay-off!!)
* A mystery that keeps you hooked from start to finish (wait for the plot twist!)
* A found family dynamic (cue the tears)
* Beautifully crafted worldbuilding
* Themes of love, grief, and healing
Alexis’s writing is vivid, emotional, and full of heart. You feel everything right alongside the characters, and the smallest moments linger long after you’ve finished reading.
Veda Thorne is one of those characters who just gets under your skin. She’s just so painfully human. The way she isolates herself hit me so hard… that feeling of needing to do everything alone, because asking for help feels impossible, or because you’ve been let down too many times before.
And then Antaris comes into her life. This quiet, grieving boy who mirrors her pain in every way. He doesn’t speak, but his silence says everything, drawing her out of her own apathy. Watching Veda see herself in him, her own loneliness, her own hopelessness, and slowly find purpose again through caring for him was sooo moving.
And speaking of Antaris… My sweet baby. His grief is so palpable it made my heart hurt. The way Alexis writes his mutism and gradual healing is so tender and believable. Every small step he takes felt SO monumental for me as I was reading it, he’s the sweetest babyboy 😭
Then there’s Hiram (Y’ALL ARE NOT READY FOR THIS MAN). Watching him trying to connect with the grieving child he never knew existed, while also confronting his own blind spots and privilege, is one of the most moving parts of the story. The way their bond grows had me crying through almost every scene.
I love that we get his POV in the alternating chapters, how they're full of guilt, love, and that desperate fear of doing it wrong, the helpnessles. Seeing his struggle through both his own perspective and Veda’s (who totally misjudges him at first – we love the Pride and Prejudice vibes btw 👏) gives such depth to his character. And Peter (the loml, truly) and his perspective on Hiram adds such warmth and humour to balance it all.
But also seriously, Hiram Ellis… This man knows exactly what he’s doing. The slow burn, banter, and tension between him and Veda is unreal. Her stubbornness, the way she keeps trying to build walls and he just steadily keeps showing up until she stops pretending she doesn’t care? CHEF’S KISS!!!
His patience (IF YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW 🤌) is SO ROMANTIC. They had me giggling, kicking my feet, and screaming at them to JUST KISS ALREADY (I promise the deliciously steamy pay-off is WORTH THE WAIT!!!!).
Beneath all the romance and magic and mystery, it’s the themes that really stay with you.
The social commentary, the way Alexis writes about prejudice, the divide between Mages and Seers, and how that reflects real-world discrimination is so sharp and heartbreakingly relevant today.
Then there’s the theme of survival itself, of finding something worth fighting for. Watching Veda go from accepting death to rediscovering what it means to WANT to live absolutely destroyed me. It’s such a raw, honest portrayal of depression, of that numbness that creeps in when you’ve been hurt too many times, and how love (not just romantic love, but love in ALL its forms) can slowly pull you back into the world.
The writing is breathtaking and the characters are unforgettable. It’s rare to find a story that captures grief, loss, and pain so vividly while still being full of love, humour, and life. Her writing makes you stop mid-sentence just to reread a line because it hit too hard.
I also really loved the serial killer plot, adding this creeping unease. The spider lilies, the curses, that constant sense that something wrong is lurking just out of sight (pun fully intended 👀). The tension builds so masterfully that you don’t even realise how tightly it’s wound until everything snaps into place.
What makes it so brilliant is how seamlessly it all connects, every piece of worldbuilding, every moment between Veda, Hiram, and Antaris... it’s eerie and addictive and will have anyone on edge the entire time, constantly trying to piece everything together – what is happening, why, how does it tie back to Veda and her curse? When the truth finally comes out, it makes you want to go back and reread everything just to catch the hints you missed.
It’s SO well done!!!
Alexis makes you cry, laugh, and then cry again two pages later (both the ugly tears and the happy ones). There’s poetry in the way she writes about pain and resilience; it’s sharp, reflective, and incredibly beautiful.
Every character carries their own version of grief, and Alexis writes it all with so much care. Veda, Antaris, Hiram (and others I won’t name for spoiler reasons) all grow in ways that feel so real and so earned. And what I LOVE is how, even with all the heavy themes, the grief, the trauma, the survival, Alexis still finds room for humour.
There are these little moments of banter or awkwardness or sarcasm that made me actually laugh out loud, even while I was crying two pages later. That balance is so hard to pull off, and she just freaking nails it.
Sight Unseen is easily one of my favourite reads of the year. I know I’ll be thinking about Veda, Hiram, and Antaris for a long, long time.
This book has everything I love:
* Slow-burn romance (the tension!! The banter!! The intimacy! The steamy pay-off!!)
* A mystery that keeps you hooked from start to finish (wait for the plot twist!)
* A found family dynamic (cue the tears)
* Beautifully crafted worldbuilding
* Themes of love, grief, and healing
Alexis’s writing is vivid, emotional, and full of heart. You feel everything right alongside the characters, and the smallest moments linger long after you’ve finished reading.
Veda Thorne is one of those characters who just gets under your skin. She’s just so painfully human. The way she isolates herself hit me so hard… that feeling of needing to do everything alone, because asking for help feels impossible, or because you’ve been let down too many times before.
And then Antaris comes into her life. This quiet, grieving boy who mirrors her pain in every way. He doesn’t speak, but his silence says everything, drawing her out of her own apathy. Watching Veda see herself in him, her own loneliness, her own hopelessness, and slowly find purpose again through caring for him was sooo moving.
And speaking of Antaris… My sweet baby. His grief is so palpable it made my heart hurt. The way Alexis writes his mutism and gradual healing is so tender and believable. Every small step he takes felt SO monumental for me as I was reading it, he’s the sweetest babyboy 😭
Then there’s Hiram (Y’ALL ARE NOT READY FOR THIS MAN). Watching him trying to connect with the grieving child he never knew existed, while also confronting his own blind spots and privilege, is one of the most moving parts of the story. The way their bond grows had me crying through almost every scene.
I love that we get his POV in the alternating chapters, how they're full of guilt, love, and that desperate fear of doing it wrong, the helpnessles. Seeing his struggle through both his own perspective and Veda’s (who totally misjudges him at first – we love the Pride and Prejudice vibes btw 👏) gives such depth to his character. And Peter (the loml, truly) and his perspective on Hiram adds such warmth and humour to balance it all.
But also seriously, Hiram Ellis… This man knows exactly what he’s doing. The slow burn, banter, and tension between him and Veda is unreal. Her stubbornness, the way she keeps trying to build walls and he just steadily keeps showing up until she stops pretending she doesn’t care? CHEF’S KISS!!!
His patience (IF YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW 🤌) is SO ROMANTIC. They had me giggling, kicking my feet, and screaming at them to JUST KISS ALREADY (I promise the deliciously steamy pay-off is WORTH THE WAIT!!!!).
Beneath all the romance and magic and mystery, it’s the themes that really stay with you.
The social commentary, the way Alexis writes about prejudice, the divide between Mages and Seers, and how that reflects real-world discrimination is so sharp and heartbreakingly relevant today.
Then there’s the theme of survival itself, of finding something worth fighting for. Watching Veda go from accepting death to rediscovering what it means to WANT to live absolutely destroyed me. It’s such a raw, honest portrayal of depression, of that numbness that creeps in when you’ve been hurt too many times, and how love (not just romantic love, but love in ALL its forms) can slowly pull you back into the world.
The writing is breathtaking and the characters are unforgettable. It’s rare to find a story that captures grief, loss, and pain so vividly while still being full of love, humour, and life. Her writing makes you stop mid-sentence just to reread a line because it hit too hard.
I also really loved the serial killer plot, adding this creeping unease. The spider lilies, the curses, that constant sense that something wrong is lurking just out of sight (pun fully intended 👀). The tension builds so masterfully that you don’t even realise how tightly it’s wound until everything snaps into place.
What makes it so brilliant is how seamlessly it all connects, every piece of worldbuilding, every moment between Veda, Hiram, and Antaris... it’s eerie and addictive and will have anyone on edge the entire time, constantly trying to piece everything together – what is happening, why, how does it tie back to Veda and her curse? When the truth finally comes out, it makes you want to go back and reread everything just to catch the hints you missed.
It’s SO well done!!!
Alexis makes you cry, laugh, and then cry again two pages later (both the ugly tears and the happy ones). There’s poetry in the way she writes about pain and resilience; it’s sharp, reflective, and incredibly beautiful.
Every character carries their own version of grief, and Alexis writes it all with so much care. Veda, Antaris, Hiram (and others I won’t name for spoiler reasons) all grow in ways that feel so real and so earned. And what I LOVE is how, even with all the heavy themes, the grief, the trauma, the survival, Alexis still finds room for humour.
There are these little moments of banter or awkwardness or sarcasm that made me actually laugh out loud, even while I was crying two pages later. That balance is so hard to pull off, and she just freaking nails it.
Sight Unseen is easily one of my favourite reads of the year. I know I’ll be thinking about Veda, Hiram, and Antaris for a long, long time.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
this book did not simply make me emotional. it ended me. Sight Unseen sank its claws in and refused to let go, leaving me hollowed out in the only way truly amazing stories can. Alexis Marie delivers an insane amount of depth in under 400 pages: immersive lore, a compelling magic system, a chilling mystery (who dunitttt), and a romance that unfolds with agonizing patience (slow burn in the best way, i promise). the tension simmers. the LONGING lingers. every moment feels deliberate, like these characters are asking you to live it with them.
at its core is a trio that shattered my heart piece by piece. Veda is sharp edged and fiercely self sufficient (i get it), shaped by trauma she keeps locked away, convinced that loving people means protecting them from her pain and keeping them at a distance. she’s cursed, running out of time, and quietly resigned to it—and that resignation hurt me as a reader almost as much as learning about the curse itself. Antaris, grieving and withdrawn after the brutal loss of his mother, became the emotional epicenter of this book for me. the way he and Veda find each other, how she offers him steadiness and warmth, how he gives her purpose and hope again, it’s devastatingly beautiful. their connection is gentle, profound, and absolutely essential to the soul of this story.
and Hiram… unbearable in the best way. soft spoken, endlessly patient, and drowning in unspoken longing, he’s a man trying to build something real while healing wounds he barely acknowledges. he reminds me so much of my husband, and it’s no wonder i fell for him just as fast. reading his pov and watching him yearn. YEARN not only for his son, but for trust, and then for love??? BEAUTIFUL agony. his romance with Veda is slow and restrained (i promise!!!), built on care, safety, and quiet devotion rather than grand gestures. Sight Unseen isn’t just about magic or mystery—it’s about trauma passed down, walls slowly coming down, and three broken hearts daring to choose each other anyway. i finished it emotionally undone and would absolutely let it destroy me again. 😭
✨Tropes✨
⭐️ single dad romance
🌙 enemies to lovers
💫 gardening
⭐️ found family
🌙 slow burn
💫 murder mystery
at its core is a trio that shattered my heart piece by piece. Veda is sharp edged and fiercely self sufficient (i get it), shaped by trauma she keeps locked away, convinced that loving people means protecting them from her pain and keeping them at a distance. she’s cursed, running out of time, and quietly resigned to it—and that resignation hurt me as a reader almost as much as learning about the curse itself. Antaris, grieving and withdrawn after the brutal loss of his mother, became the emotional epicenter of this book for me. the way he and Veda find each other, how she offers him steadiness and warmth, how he gives her purpose and hope again, it’s devastatingly beautiful. their connection is gentle, profound, and absolutely essential to the soul of this story.
and Hiram… unbearable in the best way. soft spoken, endlessly patient, and drowning in unspoken longing, he’s a man trying to build something real while healing wounds he barely acknowledges. he reminds me so much of my husband, and it’s no wonder i fell for him just as fast. reading his pov and watching him yearn. YEARN not only for his son, but for trust, and then for love??? BEAUTIFUL agony. his romance with Veda is slow and restrained (i promise!!!), built on care, safety, and quiet devotion rather than grand gestures. Sight Unseen isn’t just about magic or mystery—it’s about trauma passed down, walls slowly coming down, and three broken hearts daring to choose each other anyway. i finished it emotionally undone and would absolutely let it destroy me again. 😭
✨Tropes✨
⭐️ single dad romance
🌙 enemies to lovers
💫 gardening
⭐️ found family
🌙 slow burn
💫 murder mystery
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2025
Huge thank you to Amazon Publishing for blessing me with an advanced reader's copy of this book. I was super excited to receive this arc. Here is my spoiler free review!
I’m honestly still emotional about this one. Not only because Sight Unseen pulled me in and refused to let go, but because I’ve been reading Alexis Marie’s work on AO3 for years, so getting to experience her publishing debut felt incredibly special. At its heart, Sight Unseen is an emotional contemporary fantasy that blends slow-burn romance, mystery, and magical intrigue in a way that feels both sweet and thrilling. The story focuses on Veda, a woman living with a fatal curse, and Hiram, a single father with a complicated past, whose lives collide in a small town that suddenly becomes the hunting ground of a power-hungry serial killer.
This story has everything I love. Emotional depth, slow-burn tension, found family vibes, and just enough darkness to keep you on edge. The balance between romance, mystery, and fantasy elements is so well done. Nothing feels rushed or underdeveloped, and every piece matters. The characters are where this book truly shines. They feel messy, real, and deeply human. Beyond the romance, Sight Unseen is thoughtful and emotionally layered. We see elements of grief, prejudice, and heartbreak. What I loved most is how much heart this story has. It’s about love, loss, trust, and choosing connection even when it feels risky. There were moments that made me smile, moments that made my chest ache, and moments where I just had to sit there for a second before continuing.
The romance between Veda and Hiram is a true slow burn. It is intentional, earned, and unbelievably satisfying. Every moment of growing trust and closeness feels carefully built, making it so rewarding to watch them slowly open themselves up to love. Hiram’s quiet hope is the perfect counterbalance to Veda’s skepticism; he never pushes her, only gently invites her out of her isolation. And the way he shows up for both Veda and Antaris? Equal parts swoon-worthy and emotionally devastating. Can't get enough of this book. If it wasn't obvious already, 5 out 5 stars.
I’m honestly still emotional about this one. Not only because Sight Unseen pulled me in and refused to let go, but because I’ve been reading Alexis Marie’s work on AO3 for years, so getting to experience her publishing debut felt incredibly special. At its heart, Sight Unseen is an emotional contemporary fantasy that blends slow-burn romance, mystery, and magical intrigue in a way that feels both sweet and thrilling. The story focuses on Veda, a woman living with a fatal curse, and Hiram, a single father with a complicated past, whose lives collide in a small town that suddenly becomes the hunting ground of a power-hungry serial killer.
This story has everything I love. Emotional depth, slow-burn tension, found family vibes, and just enough darkness to keep you on edge. The balance between romance, mystery, and fantasy elements is so well done. Nothing feels rushed or underdeveloped, and every piece matters. The characters are where this book truly shines. They feel messy, real, and deeply human. Beyond the romance, Sight Unseen is thoughtful and emotionally layered. We see elements of grief, prejudice, and heartbreak. What I loved most is how much heart this story has. It’s about love, loss, trust, and choosing connection even when it feels risky. There were moments that made me smile, moments that made my chest ache, and moments where I just had to sit there for a second before continuing.
The romance between Veda and Hiram is a true slow burn. It is intentional, earned, and unbelievably satisfying. Every moment of growing trust and closeness feels carefully built, making it so rewarding to watch them slowly open themselves up to love. Hiram’s quiet hope is the perfect counterbalance to Veda’s skepticism; he never pushes her, only gently invites her out of her isolation. And the way he shows up for both Veda and Antaris? Equal parts swoon-worthy and emotionally devastating. Can't get enough of this book. If it wasn't obvious already, 5 out 5 stars.
January 14, 2026
Alexis Marie achieves something with Sight Unseen that no other modern author, in my opinion, has successfully done nor even attempted to do—define humanity.
As a writer myself, I like to think that there are very few things I cannot express with words. My complete and utter awe and adoration for this story is one of those things.
There is an essence, a thread, a magic, which is so soul-breaching, that it leaves you changed. It is an expert study of character, choices, and how the two make up the type of person you are, remain, or become.
If I were to enroll in a literary PhD program tomorrow, I’d beg them to let me write my thesis on this book. It is beyond ink on a page. It is the antithesis of apathy. It is a cry for compassion everyone in the world should be required to answer to.
Yes, I could talk about the excellently woven mystery plot, or the enticing world building, or the perfectly balanced prose. Because it also does have all of these incredible things.
But what makes it so beyond for me, is its ability to touch every part of you. Your mind, with its timely and fantastic ties to the modern political landscape. Your emotions, with its mapping of grief and mortality. Your very being, with its observation of the birth of love in all of its forms. This is what people mean when they say a story has “heart”.
Seeing as you are not my graduate program advisor, I will spare you another 200 pages of praise for this book and instead just reiterate the importance of works such as this one.
They are what will change the world.
Sight Unseen has certainly changed mine.
Thank you to Amazon Publishing & Net Galley for the ARC!
As a writer myself, I like to think that there are very few things I cannot express with words. My complete and utter awe and adoration for this story is one of those things.
There is an essence, a thread, a magic, which is so soul-breaching, that it leaves you changed. It is an expert study of character, choices, and how the two make up the type of person you are, remain, or become.
If I were to enroll in a literary PhD program tomorrow, I’d beg them to let me write my thesis on this book. It is beyond ink on a page. It is the antithesis of apathy. It is a cry for compassion everyone in the world should be required to answer to.
Yes, I could talk about the excellently woven mystery plot, or the enticing world building, or the perfectly balanced prose. Because it also does have all of these incredible things.
But what makes it so beyond for me, is its ability to touch every part of you. Your mind, with its timely and fantastic ties to the modern political landscape. Your emotions, with its mapping of grief and mortality. Your very being, with its observation of the birth of love in all of its forms. This is what people mean when they say a story has “heart”.
Seeing as you are not my graduate program advisor, I will spare you another 200 pages of praise for this book and instead just reiterate the importance of works such as this one.
They are what will change the world.
Sight Unseen has certainly changed mine.
Thank you to Amazon Publishing & Net Galley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is a masterpiece! I laughed, I cried and I swooned!!
First and foremost this is a murder mystery. But it's also a slow, slow-burn romance with trauma and mutual healing.
Veda is attacked by the murder and is the only surviving victim they have. But reliving her attack is traumatic for her. She's learning to live post attack and has the opportunity to private tutor a little boy, enter Antaris.
Antaris is mute since his mother died (also a victim of the murderer) . Antaris' grandmother is desperate for him to talk and hopes Veda can make that happen. What happens instead is an incredible special bond between two people who are mutually grieving and trying to heal. I can't even articulate how amazing this relationship is. The way Alexis has brought their bond out on these pages is incredible.
Hiram is Antaris' father, although he didn't know he had a son until after his mother died. He's struggling to adjust to not only being a new dad but to a grieving boy he has no idea how to help. Hiram get's under Veda's skin but she kind of likes it, it just takes her a long time to admit it.
These characters and the way they come together in this book is phenomenal. There's sub plot on top of the main plot and it all just fits together amazingly.
Bravo Alexis absolutely genius book!
Note for the Dramione fans:
If you like Measure of a Man you will LOVE this!! Note that it is a complete re-wright so MoM will still live on. However, you will see many similarities and little nods to the original fan fic. You will giggle and kick your feet at lots of things in Sight Unseen 💚
First and foremost this is a murder mystery. But it's also a slow, slow-burn romance with trauma and mutual healing.
Veda is attacked by the murder and is the only surviving victim they have. But reliving her attack is traumatic for her. She's learning to live post attack and has the opportunity to private tutor a little boy, enter Antaris.
Antaris is mute since his mother died (also a victim of the murderer) . Antaris' grandmother is desperate for him to talk and hopes Veda can make that happen. What happens instead is an incredible special bond between two people who are mutually grieving and trying to heal. I can't even articulate how amazing this relationship is. The way Alexis has brought their bond out on these pages is incredible.
Hiram is Antaris' father, although he didn't know he had a son until after his mother died. He's struggling to adjust to not only being a new dad but to a grieving boy he has no idea how to help. Hiram get's under Veda's skin but she kind of likes it, it just takes her a long time to admit it.
These characters and the way they come together in this book is phenomenal. There's sub plot on top of the main plot and it all just fits together amazingly.
Bravo Alexis absolutely genius book!
Note for the Dramione fans:
If you like Measure of a Man you will LOVE this!! Note that it is a complete re-wright so MoM will still live on. However, you will see many similarities and little nods to the original fan fic. You will giggle and kick your feet at lots of things in Sight Unseen 💚
November 21, 2025
⭐️⭐️✨ Thank you to Amazon Publishing/47 North for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
No one is more disappointed than me to to give this rating to this book. Alexis Marie is a great author; I LOVE some of her other writing pieces and I wish nothing but success for her! This just did not work for me.
Sight Unseen is a love story about family. Or is it a magical realism fantasy with romance? Or is it a thriller with a magical serial killer on the loose? There is just way too much going on. I appreciate that Alexis wanted to do something different than a classic re-write of her popular fanfic, but this has A LOT of the trappings and easter eggs of her previous work without the payoff. There are simply not enough opportunities for Veda and Hiram to have the same slow-burn chemistry and character development as MOAM when the story is condensed to 400 pages. So why keep these themes at all? I think I would have preferred she completely eliminated any similarities OR done a rewrite, not straddled the fence between the two. She just bit off more than she could chew IMO (again, especially as a stand alone of only 400 pages).
The magic system was also...clunky. The division between Mages and Seers was explained, but there was zero explanation of how magic is used. It felt like the magical system and spells from HP lore; I wish she would have created more solid world-building. There was also so much info dumping. Frequently things would happen off-page and a character would get a phone call explaining what happened. Again, I think this was because there was just too much going on.
This book has so many profound ideas and themes that are worth discussing; it makes me feel sad that the overall plotline fell flat for me. The parallels Alexis draws to today's world and the stereotyping/discrimmination/prejudice that Seers experience was so poignant. Veda is also a POC FMC and Hiram brings a different cultural lens to the story. The themes of working through trauma and loss, interrelationships of families, being a parent, being known and understood are some of the best things about this book (other than Antaris, who has my heart). But they are rushed through and bogged down by all the other things happening.
I will be reading more from this author, this just wasn't what I expected.
Thank you again for an opportunity to read this prior to publication.
No one is more disappointed than me to to give this rating to this book. Alexis Marie is a great author; I LOVE some of her other writing pieces and I wish nothing but success for her! This just did not work for me.
Sight Unseen is a love story about family. Or is it a magical realism fantasy with romance? Or is it a thriller with a magical serial killer on the loose? There is just way too much going on. I appreciate that Alexis wanted to do something different than a classic re-write of her popular fanfic, but this has A LOT of the trappings and easter eggs of her previous work without the payoff. There are simply not enough opportunities for Veda and Hiram to have the same slow-burn chemistry and character development as MOAM when the story is condensed to 400 pages. So why keep these themes at all? I think I would have preferred she completely eliminated any similarities OR done a rewrite, not straddled the fence between the two. She just bit off more than she could chew IMO (again, especially as a stand alone of only 400 pages).
The magic system was also...clunky. The division between Mages and Seers was explained, but there was zero explanation of how magic is used. It felt like the magical system and spells from HP lore; I wish she would have created more solid world-building. There was also so much info dumping. Frequently things would happen off-page and a character would get a phone call explaining what happened. Again, I think this was because there was just too much going on.
This book has so many profound ideas and themes that are worth discussing; it makes me feel sad that the overall plotline fell flat for me. The parallels Alexis draws to today's world and the stereotyping/discrimmination/prejudice that Seers experience was so poignant. Veda is also a POC FMC and Hiram brings a different cultural lens to the story. The themes of working through trauma and loss, interrelationships of families, being a parent, being known and understood are some of the best things about this book (other than Antaris, who has my heart). But they are rushed through and bogged down by all the other things happening.
I will be reading more from this author, this just wasn't what I expected.
Thank you again for an opportunity to read this prior to publication.
November 28, 2025
4/5 ⭐
1,5/5 🌶️
Da recuperare assolutamente per l'originalità. Non è una storia d'amore banale, anzi, è piena di colpi di scena e azione. Il mystery si intreccia al romance in maniera sublime e i personaggi sono ben caratterizzati. Partirei proprio con loro: i protagonisti, Veda, Hiram e Antaris mi hanno fatta innamorare; sentivo di essere parte della famiglia attraverso le pagine. La scrittura di Alexus Marie è semplice e piacevole da leggere. L'unica cosa che ho sentito è stata la risoluzione di vari problemi troppo affrettata; il mistero più grande viene svelato troppo presto e la cosa si risolve con un paio di battaglie importanti finali... Non so, forse avrei preferito qualcosa di più approfondito. Per il resto, veramente un buon libro, accattivante e divertente, con uno dei miei trope preferiti: lo slow burn. E qui sì che ce n'è di slow burn!
Lo stra consiglio a chi cerca un libro romance con una trama mystery, tanto slow burn e il trope del found family. Ah, vi avevo detto che il protagonista maschile è un padre single? Ecco, leggetelo!
1,5/5 🌶️
Da recuperare assolutamente per l'originalità. Non è una storia d'amore banale, anzi, è piena di colpi di scena e azione. Il mystery si intreccia al romance in maniera sublime e i personaggi sono ben caratterizzati. Partirei proprio con loro: i protagonisti, Veda, Hiram e Antaris mi hanno fatta innamorare; sentivo di essere parte della famiglia attraverso le pagine. La scrittura di Alexus Marie è semplice e piacevole da leggere. L'unica cosa che ho sentito è stata la risoluzione di vari problemi troppo affrettata; il mistero più grande viene svelato troppo presto e la cosa si risolve con un paio di battaglie importanti finali... Non so, forse avrei preferito qualcosa di più approfondito. Per il resto, veramente un buon libro, accattivante e divertente, con uno dei miei trope preferiti: lo slow burn. E qui sì che ce n'è di slow burn!
Lo stra consiglio a chi cerca un libro romance con una trama mystery, tanto slow burn e il trope del found family. Ah, vi avevo detto che il protagonista maschile è un padre single? Ecco, leggetelo!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Amazing debut!!!
There is so much packed into not even that long of a book, which is incredibly impressive. There are funny moments, there are heartbreaking moments, there is longing, there is growth, diversity and themes of hate and bigotry. The mystery really keeps you on the edge of your seat and the slow burn romance makes it impossible to put down.
Veda and Hiram are opposites in some aspects - Veda being more withdrawn and Hiram being more chatty - but also so similar in others - both alone and longing for a connection. I love how Hiram stepped up as a father to Antaris - that poor boy deserves the world - and the way he put boundaries in place where it might have been easier to give in to his parents. And Veda and Antaris' relationship was achingly beautiful, two grieving souls finding their person.
It is a combination of mystery, romance, grief, and healing. It was absolutely beautiful.
Thank you Amazon for the ARC!
There is so much packed into not even that long of a book, which is incredibly impressive. There are funny moments, there are heartbreaking moments, there is longing, there is growth, diversity and themes of hate and bigotry. The mystery really keeps you on the edge of your seat and the slow burn romance makes it impossible to put down.
Veda and Hiram are opposites in some aspects - Veda being more withdrawn and Hiram being more chatty - but also so similar in others - both alone and longing for a connection. I love how Hiram stepped up as a father to Antaris - that poor boy deserves the world - and the way he put boundaries in place where it might have been easier to give in to his parents. And Veda and Antaris' relationship was achingly beautiful, two grieving souls finding their person.
It is a combination of mystery, romance, grief, and healing. It was absolutely beautiful.
Thank you Amazon for the ARC!
January 16, 2026
Thank you so much to Amazon Publishing, 47North and NetGalley for the gifted eARC!
“Life moved on. So did I.”
Beautiful. This book is absolutely beautiful.
This story felt so incredibly unique. I genuinely do not think I have ever read anything quite like it before. And I think for the first time, I am genuinely sad that this one is a standalone!!
One of the things I loved most about it was the range of emotions this book made me live through. Like for real!! Hurt, grief, fear, anger, sadness, hopelessness, loneliness. But also all the beautiful things: friendship, love, support, trust, hope, humor, and well… life.
The writing was beautiful. The mystery kept me completely glued to the pages, and the world building and magic were so unique and captivating. I loved the characters so much. Sweet boy Antaris, but also August! Loved them so much!!
The slow burn romance was mixed into the story perfectly. The banter between Veda and Hiram was top tier, the sparks were flying, and I was absolutely there for it. And Hiram… the perfect MMC. Like, come on!!! You will understand once you read it. He was just perfect.
I could honestly write a whole essay about this book, but all you really need to know is that it is an absolute MUST READ!!!
“Life moved on. So did I.”
Beautiful. This book is absolutely beautiful.
This story felt so incredibly unique. I genuinely do not think I have ever read anything quite like it before. And I think for the first time, I am genuinely sad that this one is a standalone!!
One of the things I loved most about it was the range of emotions this book made me live through. Like for real!! Hurt, grief, fear, anger, sadness, hopelessness, loneliness. But also all the beautiful things: friendship, love, support, trust, hope, humor, and well… life.
The writing was beautiful. The mystery kept me completely glued to the pages, and the world building and magic were so unique and captivating. I loved the characters so much. Sweet boy Antaris, but also August! Loved them so much!!
The slow burn romance was mixed into the story perfectly. The banter between Veda and Hiram was top tier, the sparks were flying, and I was absolutely there for it. And Hiram… the perfect MMC. Like, come on!!! You will understand once you read it. He was just perfect.
I could honestly write a whole essay about this book, but all you really need to know is that it is an absolute MUST READ!!!
November 28, 2025
This book is everything!!! I’ve very quickly fallen in love with Veda (the FMC) and even faster with Antaris (the MMC’s son). Veda, at times, can be difficult or maybe even annoying, but it all makes sense why she is the way she is, and I just couldn’t help feeling for her.
A very emotional read, my heart was breaking, and baby Antaris made me tear up sooooo many times, basically in every scene with him, I’d say. He’s such a wonderful character, a sweet sweet boy, I can’t 😭
The writing is just so beautiful as well, the plot is captivating, and the side characters are amazing. Everything was just perfect (to me).
Read you like:
- contemporary fantasy
- dual POV
- single father MMC
- a slow burn
- mysteries
I’m so grateful to Amazon Publishing, 47North and NetGalley for gifting me this ARC, many many thanks🫶
A very emotional read, my heart was breaking, and baby Antaris made me tear up sooooo many times, basically in every scene with him, I’d say. He’s such a wonderful character, a sweet sweet boy, I can’t 😭
The writing is just so beautiful as well, the plot is captivating, and the side characters are amazing. Everything was just perfect (to me).
Read you like:
- contemporary fantasy
- dual POV
- single father MMC
- a slow burn
- mysteries
I’m so grateful to Amazon Publishing, 47North and NetGalley for gifting me this ARC, many many thanks🫶
December 8, 2025
First of all I’m so thankful to have been given the opportunity to read this book early. Sight Unseen was one of my most anticipated reads from the second it was announced and it did not disappoint! Veda, Hiram, and Antaris stole my heart immediately. The slow burn romance is SO GOOD. It really makes you FEEL for this characters. And little baby Ant is so pre opus and I would die for him. I loved the magic system and the accompanying politics of this world. All the twists and turns kept the mystery of the plot fresh. Overall I thought this book was absolutely perfect.
October 24, 2025
I'm reviewing the ARC of this book.
I love everything about this story.
From the characters to the setting to the complex social and emotional issues explored with such depth and delicacy, Sight Unseen is an incredible debut for Alexis Marie.
I love everything about this story.
From the characters to the setting to the complex social and emotional issues explored with such depth and delicacy, Sight Unseen is an incredible debut for Alexis Marie.
Want to read
October 16, 2025i need this on my desk asap
October 19, 2025
This book was everything.
not-published-yet
November 5, 2025Based on Dramione fanfiction "Measure of a Man" by Inadaze22
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