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The Otacian Chronicles #1
The Lies of Lena
Passionate and Dark. Forbidden Romance. Forced Proximity. Angst.The Otacian Chronicles is a Dark Romantasy that will progressively get darker as the series continues. Please be mindful of the content warnings.
Lena Daelyra has always lived in fear, as do most Mages in Tovagoth. Mages are discriminated against, hunted for sport, and have no laws that provide them protection. She has kept to herself her entire life, even after she and her mother found a permanent residence in the kingdom of Otacia. That is until she meets Quill Callon, a handsome resident of the Inner Ring, who agrees to train her in weaponry—a safe way of defending herself. As her feelings for Quill develop, she is taunted by the reminder that she can never show her true self, show what she really is. Not even to him.
Silas La’Rune, Crown Prince of Otacia, has been kept inside the castle walls since he was five years old, since the kidnapping and murder of his younger sister, the Princess. He hasn’t known freedom. Hasn’t even seen his kingdom, except from the castle windows. It isn’t until the Queen allows him one day outside the walls that he sees Otacia for himself. One day that changes everything.
When something devastating separates Lena from the man she grows to love, things are not the same when they find each other five years later. Not at all.
And when Lena and Silas’s story finally becomes intertwined, it is clear the fate of Magekind rests on both of their shoulders.
Lena Daelyra has always lived in fear, as do most Mages in Tovagoth. Mages are discriminated against, hunted for sport, and have no laws that provide them protection. She has kept to herself her entire life, even after she and her mother found a permanent residence in the kingdom of Otacia. That is until she meets Quill Callon, a handsome resident of the Inner Ring, who agrees to train her in weaponry—a safe way of defending herself. As her feelings for Quill develop, she is taunted by the reminder that she can never show her true self, show what she really is. Not even to him.
Silas La’Rune, Crown Prince of Otacia, has been kept inside the castle walls since he was five years old, since the kidnapping and murder of his younger sister, the Princess. He hasn’t known freedom. Hasn’t even seen his kingdom, except from the castle windows. It isn’t until the Queen allows him one day outside the walls that he sees Otacia for himself. One day that changes everything.
When something devastating separates Lena from the man she grows to love, things are not the same when they find each other five years later. Not at all.
And when Lena and Silas’s story finally becomes intertwined, it is clear the fate of Magekind rests on both of their shoulders.
464 pages, Paperback
First published May 14, 2024
About the author
Kylie Snow
4 books2,314 followersFrom a young age, Kylie Snow has been a daydreamer, developing stories in her head for as long as she can remember. She first dreamed of being an author at ten years old.
Video games were her first love, and she grew up playing a variety of horror and fantasy titles.
As an avid fantasy and dark romance reader, Kylie wanted to include both elements of those genres into her writing (Magic, spice, and heartbreaking themes? Sign me up.)
She hopes her writing will stir up all the emotions of her readers and wishes to create complex, relatable, and imperfect characters.
The Lies of Lena, Kylie's debut novel and book one in The Otacian Chronicles, was released on May 14th, 2024. The Sins of Silas, book two, was released on November 21st, 2024.
Video games were her first love, and she grew up playing a variety of horror and fantasy titles.
As an avid fantasy and dark romance reader, Kylie wanted to include both elements of those genres into her writing (Magic, spice, and heartbreaking themes? Sign me up.)
She hopes her writing will stir up all the emotions of her readers and wishes to create complex, relatable, and imperfect characters.
The Lies of Lena, Kylie's debut novel and book one in The Otacian Chronicles, was released on May 14th, 2024. The Sins of Silas, book two, was released on November 21st, 2024.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,473 reviews
March 21, 2025
OH IM SO BAAAACKKKKKK
August 30, 2025
RANT REVIEW (Or more like a brutally honest review)
Bookstagram hype that backfired. Honestly, this is the sort of book that makes me question what the hell are people reading these days?! Has the quality in our reading and also writing gone so down that these are the kinds of books y'all have to hype up?
It started off sweet, I'll admit that and perhaps that's the only reason why I give it a generous one star. The first 150 pages or so were good, or at least- decent. But after that? I couldn't ignore the flaws, it got worse and worse by the chapter.
Firstly, the pacing is a massive issue in this book. It's too fast paced. It gives no room for depth, action, character arc or a smooth plot execution. The author had a clear idea to get to the last step. But she skipped all the major factors that makes a story. The action sequences are brushed off within passages- not even pages!!! In a fantasy!!! Something major happens to a character? There are no conversations that are deep, it's all brushed over at surface level!!! So emotional growth and character growth is non existent.
Secondly, the characters- they held potential but the author made it a point to dumb them down by the end of the book. They are all one dimensional. Lena is a complete naive girl and an airhead. She doesn't think much, she says the stupidest things and is a pushover. There's not much to her except being a mage. Silas is okay. But nothing memorable. I've already forgotten him. Torrin was someone who was actually well written and had some personality but of course not enough screen time.
Thirdly, the romance. The book is marketed as angsty, slow burn and it's not. It's weird and creepy because they get together pretty quickly when they are sixteen. And the spice written between them is pretty graphic! It's not tasteful at all to write such a graphic sex scene for characters who are teenagers. Then comes the time skip and the 'other woman' drama. Man's married to someone else and he clearly likes his wife but now suddenly the fmc is back and suffice to say- it's not executed well.
It's also darker than it looks. The triggers should be definitely checked before reading it. I really did not care much for this book, it simply is not worth the hype. I can't believe I wasted my time over this.
*INTENSE FRUSTRATED SCREAMING*
~•~•~
I saw a reel on Instagram for this, it looked kinda badass. BUT I do not like the cover. Can someone work on it to make it seem more adult rather than a Disney princess book? Thank you kindly.
Bookstagram hype that backfired. Honestly, this is the sort of book that makes me question what the hell are people reading these days?! Has the quality in our reading and also writing gone so down that these are the kinds of books y'all have to hype up?
It started off sweet, I'll admit that and perhaps that's the only reason why I give it a generous one star. The first 150 pages or so were good, or at least- decent. But after that? I couldn't ignore the flaws, it got worse and worse by the chapter.
Firstly, the pacing is a massive issue in this book. It's too fast paced. It gives no room for depth, action, character arc or a smooth plot execution. The author had a clear idea to get to the last step. But she skipped all the major factors that makes a story. The action sequences are brushed off within passages- not even pages!!! In a fantasy!!! Something major happens to a character? There are no conversations that are deep, it's all brushed over at surface level!!! So emotional growth and character growth is non existent.
Secondly, the characters- they held potential but the author made it a point to dumb them down by the end of the book. They are all one dimensional. Lena is a complete naive girl and an airhead. She doesn't think much, she says the stupidest things and is a pushover. There's not much to her except being a mage. Silas is okay. But nothing memorable. I've already forgotten him. Torrin was someone who was actually well written and had some personality but of course not enough screen time.
Thirdly, the romance. The book is marketed as angsty, slow burn and it's not. It's weird and creepy because they get together pretty quickly when they are sixteen. And the spice written between them is pretty graphic! It's not tasteful at all to write such a graphic sex scene for characters who are teenagers. Then comes the time skip and the 'other woman' drama. Man's married to someone else and he clearly likes his wife but now suddenly the fmc is back and suffice to say- it's not executed well.
It's also darker than it looks. The triggers should be definitely checked before reading it. I really did not care much for this book, it simply is not worth the hype. I can't believe I wasted my time over this.
*INTENSE FRUSTRATED SCREAMING*
~•~•~
I saw a reel on Instagram for this, it looked kinda badass. BUT I do not like the cover. Can someone work on it to make it seem more adult rather than a Disney princess book? Thank you kindly.
December 18, 2025
Check trigger warnings before reading, a looot darker than I expected! I really wanted to love this as I’ve heard nothing but amazing reviews but unfortunately I did not get on with this read. I found the storyline interesting but the execution just took me out of the story.
July 4, 2026
Thank you Netgalley and Hachette Audio for an ALC of The Lies of Lena! By Kylie Snow
When I tell you.... I NARUTO RAN to the request button, I PROMISE that would be the understatement of the century!... This was high up on my list of books I wanted to get to "one day". And GOOD ZEUS, I'm so SO glad that day finally came sooner rather than a moment later.
I don't follow many "bookfluencers".. One actually, I follow one 🤣.. shout out to That Girl Reads! LOVE YOU GIRL!! lol.. But anyway, the way she was talking about this book when no one else was, really grabbed my attention!.. There's always that one person who seems to be before the trend and to be frank she seems to be "the 1" in that regaurd.. Her passion for this book was just simply contagious and honestly, in the spirit of Flu season,I hope I can infect a couple of you.
Telling someone to "reach for the stars" has never been a more accomplishable piece of advice. All one must simple do is get their hands on a copy of this book!
This is one of my last books of 2025 and it locked in a solid spot on my "top 10 of 2025" list like a trained assassin. I was expecting to like this book. However, the magnitude in which I did, I was not expecting!
Oh. My. Kronos!! .. 😭 I don't even know if I can put into words how much I enjoyed this book .. has anyone ever read a book you were putting off for a while?..And then you finally read it.. and it's just so SO good!. You kinda want to go play hopscotch in traffic because you're so mad at yourself for waiting so long to read it??.. Yeah well, I'm guessing we can all take a stab at who just sent Clotho for Chalk..
I have just ALL the feelings right now! I'm so sad it's over, so mad I waited so long, yet elated my DNA has been altered forever by finally reading it
That Lena mann, I'm telling you, there's just something about her. She's so much more tangible than other FMC's and it's mesmerizing. I really enjoyed every aspect of this book!
I NEVER say this, ok? Go check Any of my other reviews. I'm always preaching books are subjective and how it's actually cool we all don't like the same stuff( you know all the happy horse 💩).. but I will say for the first time. There are two types of people in this world.. Those who like The Lies of Lena.. and those who need to be lobotomized.. 🤷🏼♀️ someone had to say it.. might as well be someone already residing in Hell.
Until next time,
Hades
🩵
When I tell you.... I NARUTO RAN to the request button, I PROMISE that would be the understatement of the century!... This was high up on my list of books I wanted to get to "one day". And GOOD ZEUS, I'm so SO glad that day finally came sooner rather than a moment later.
I don't follow many "bookfluencers".. One actually, I follow one 🤣.. shout out to That Girl Reads! LOVE YOU GIRL!! lol.. But anyway, the way she was talking about this book when no one else was, really grabbed my attention!.. There's always that one person who seems to be before the trend and to be frank she seems to be "the 1" in that regaurd.. Her passion for this book was just simply contagious and honestly, in the spirit of Flu season,I hope I can infect a couple of you.
Telling someone to "reach for the stars" has never been a more accomplishable piece of advice. All one must simple do is get their hands on a copy of this book!
This is one of my last books of 2025 and it locked in a solid spot on my "top 10 of 2025" list like a trained assassin. I was expecting to like this book. However, the magnitude in which I did, I was not expecting!
Oh. My. Kronos!! .. 😭 I don't even know if I can put into words how much I enjoyed this book .. has anyone ever read a book you were putting off for a while?..And then you finally read it.. and it's just so SO good!. You kinda want to go play hopscotch in traffic because you're so mad at yourself for waiting so long to read it??.. Yeah well, I'm guessing we can all take a stab at who just sent Clotho for Chalk..
I have just ALL the feelings right now! I'm so sad it's over, so mad I waited so long, yet elated my DNA has been altered forever by finally reading it
That Lena mann, I'm telling you, there's just something about her. She's so much more tangible than other FMC's and it's mesmerizing. I really enjoyed every aspect of this book!
I NEVER say this, ok? Go check Any of my other reviews. I'm always preaching books are subjective and how it's actually cool we all don't like the same stuff( you know all the happy horse 💩).. but I will say for the first time. There are two types of people in this world.. Those who like The Lies of Lena.. and those who need to be lobotomized.. 🤷🏼♀️ someone had to say it.. might as well be someone already residing in Hell.
Until next time,
Hades
🩵
April 3, 2025
Ummmmmmm……. This is the book everyone is raving about? (Minor Spoilers ahead)
There aren’t enough words in the dictionary to describe how much I hated this book. In my honest, unprofessional opinion.. this was exceptionally bad. I actually want my time back, but since I can’t have it back, I’ll waste even more time writing a review about why i hated it so much. I think I earned that 😔
First of all, I have to say I liked the premise. Our FMC is a mage, in a kingdom where the king hates the existence of mages and will evict you if you are discovered. Therefore, she hides who she truly is. Her and her mother are poor, (it’s only mentioned about 200000 times), and one day she meets a nice boy from the upper class and everything changes.
The book is split into 2 parts. Part one took FIFTY SEVEN PERCENT OF THE BOOK, when it should have been at most, a quarter of the story. Ugh. With that being said, my first issue is pacing.
The first half is quite literally about 2 teenagers falling in love, while hiding their true identities from each other…….. and I hate to say that there is quite a bit of teenager smut. Like 16 year smut. Sorry, I don’t want to read about teenagers having sex with descriptions. God it was hard to get through. Not to mention the main “plot twist” was extremely obvious. I don’t know if that was intentional or not. It seems like we are set in medieval times, but then the FMC is eating pizza and cinnamon rolls???????? Sigh…. Wasn’t looking promising. However, I saw reviews saying the second half of the book was exceptional, so I pushed through. 😔😔😔😔😔😔😔 my point is that this first part should have been sent in an email. It would have spared us our precious time and also allowed more development of the second part of the story, which is 5 years later, and arguably much more important.
So basically, our FMC and her mother fake her death and leave town when the king starts killing mages after the queen gets assassinated. They move to this town where only mages live and can freely practice magic (????). She has all these powers that are connected to her emotions now. But we are not given the chance to explore those powers because suddenly, her old bf the prince who is now known as the mage slayer invades the town. He kills the leader and arrests all of them and says they will be hung. 😊😊😊
So obviously he’s pissed that he spent all this time grieving someone who was still alive. He only lets them eat every 3 days. It’s just not good. Very rushed.
Once we get to the holding prison, this is where I wanted to throw the book. Our FMC gets brutally raped by some of the Princes soldiers. It was graphically described. I know it was labeled as a dark fantasy romance, I don’t mind graphic scenes IF they are necessary to the plot. I literally read splatterpunk, I’m desensitized. In this case, however……NOTHING CAME OF THIS RAPE. in fact, the FMC almost never thinks of it again!!!!!!!! It was LAZY writing, written so that the Prince could walk in and save her. Instead of writing 100s of pages of teenager smut, we could have developed the relationship and tension between these 2 in the second part in a much better way that made sense, VS having her be brutally raped and that be the ignition of them joining forces. Ugh!
So yeah, she gets raped and he’s pissed. He quite literally takes her into HIS BED CHAMBER, and literally kicks his wife out of his bed so she can sleep there………. Excuse me? They haven’t talked in 5 years. He was just starving her and killed her father figure. His guards just raped her. Why is she not being placed in her own bedchambers or literally anything besides his own bed?💀💀
Well, thats about all that comes of the rape. Now he is suddenly reformed, and ready to help the mages escape and over throw his dad’s throne. FMC only thinks about the rape like twice after this, and only for a split second.
Are ya joking? WHAT WAS THE REASON???
The magic system is almost non existent. Sure we know the powers are connected to their emotions, and we know that they wield fire and ice and whatever else. But I regret to say it was put on the back burner.
There was nothing redeeming about this. 😐😐😐😐😐😐
There aren’t enough words in the dictionary to describe how much I hated this book. In my honest, unprofessional opinion.. this was exceptionally bad. I actually want my time back, but since I can’t have it back, I’ll waste even more time writing a review about why i hated it so much. I think I earned that 😔
First of all, I have to say I liked the premise. Our FMC is a mage, in a kingdom where the king hates the existence of mages and will evict you if you are discovered. Therefore, she hides who she truly is. Her and her mother are poor, (it’s only mentioned about 200000 times), and one day she meets a nice boy from the upper class and everything changes.
The book is split into 2 parts. Part one took FIFTY SEVEN PERCENT OF THE BOOK, when it should have been at most, a quarter of the story. Ugh. With that being said, my first issue is pacing.
The first half is quite literally about 2 teenagers falling in love, while hiding their true identities from each other…….. and I hate to say that there is quite a bit of teenager smut. Like 16 year smut. Sorry, I don’t want to read about teenagers having sex with descriptions. God it was hard to get through. Not to mention the main “plot twist” was extremely obvious. I don’t know if that was intentional or not. It seems like we are set in medieval times, but then the FMC is eating pizza and cinnamon rolls???????? Sigh…. Wasn’t looking promising. However, I saw reviews saying the second half of the book was exceptional, so I pushed through. 😔😔😔😔😔😔😔 my point is that this first part should have been sent in an email. It would have spared us our precious time and also allowed more development of the second part of the story, which is 5 years later, and arguably much more important.
So basically, our FMC and her mother fake her death and leave town when the king starts killing mages after the queen gets assassinated. They move to this town where only mages live and can freely practice magic (????). She has all these powers that are connected to her emotions now. But we are not given the chance to explore those powers because suddenly, her old bf the prince who is now known as the mage slayer invades the town. He kills the leader and arrests all of them and says they will be hung. 😊😊😊
So obviously he’s pissed that he spent all this time grieving someone who was still alive. He only lets them eat every 3 days. It’s just not good. Very rushed.
Once we get to the holding prison, this is where I wanted to throw the book. Our FMC gets brutally raped by some of the Princes soldiers. It was graphically described. I know it was labeled as a dark fantasy romance, I don’t mind graphic scenes IF they are necessary to the plot. I literally read splatterpunk, I’m desensitized. In this case, however……NOTHING CAME OF THIS RAPE. in fact, the FMC almost never thinks of it again!!!!!!!! It was LAZY writing, written so that the Prince could walk in and save her. Instead of writing 100s of pages of teenager smut, we could have developed the relationship and tension between these 2 in the second part in a much better way that made sense, VS having her be brutally raped and that be the ignition of them joining forces. Ugh!
So yeah, she gets raped and he’s pissed. He quite literally takes her into HIS BED CHAMBER, and literally kicks his wife out of his bed so she can sleep there………. Excuse me? They haven’t talked in 5 years. He was just starving her and killed her father figure. His guards just raped her. Why is she not being placed in her own bedchambers or literally anything besides his own bed?💀💀
Well, thats about all that comes of the rape. Now he is suddenly reformed, and ready to help the mages escape and over throw his dad’s throne. FMC only thinks about the rape like twice after this, and only for a split second.
Are ya joking? WHAT WAS THE REASON???
The magic system is almost non existent. Sure we know the powers are connected to their emotions, and we know that they wield fire and ice and whatever else. But I regret to say it was put on the back burner.
There was nothing redeeming about this. 😐😐😐😐😐😐
April 3, 2025
Well I REALLY ENJOY THIS BOOK ! What a pleasant surprise!!!!!
I just decided to pick this book up after LITERALLY reading one review, and for some reason I was like “ok I’m convinced” mind you I barely read fantasy, so what came over me? Idk 🤷🏻♀️
The point is I am fucking glad I did. This book gave me the world building, the friendship, the love story evolution, the drama, the angst and the anger. I am writing this thinking that I am wasting my time not actually reading the second one right away.
We have Lena who’s a mage (witch) and her mother, they’ve been on the run their entire lives because you are banished for being a mage. They finally find a nice town to set their roots and they are living there selling their elixirs and baking goods. She is 16 at the time.
She never even wanted to learn how to use magic because she’s so afraid of the consequences.
Quill aka Silas the Prince is also 16 and he is a prisoner on his on castle, his father is a monster and his mother is the kindest human alive, so she helps him once a week leave the castle for a few hours so he can breath. And the first day he is out he meets Lena. He was enchanted by her beauty and personality, so they became friends and how the author shows their friendship turning into love was so cute and very well done. I loved this part.
Obviously nothing can be easy and part II come along after a heartbreak 💔 and 5 years later they meet again in a very bad situation. And THE ANGST, the LONGING you can fell through the pages, omg I love it ! I hate the way things are and I hate how Silas was but I can’t blame him because what Lena did was awful In my opinion, not that she had another option and she suffer GREATLY , but still I don’t agree with the way they went ….. so can I blame and actually be angry at Silas ? No, not really. I actually feel for him, I feel for both of them 😫
I have some theories….. I might be way off actually, but I have them nonetheless….. will see….
Starting book 2 !
I just decided to pick this book up after LITERALLY reading one review, and for some reason I was like “ok I’m convinced” mind you I barely read fantasy, so what came over me? Idk 🤷🏻♀️
The point is I am fucking glad I did. This book gave me the world building, the friendship, the love story evolution, the drama, the angst and the anger. I am writing this thinking that I am wasting my time not actually reading the second one right away.
We have Lena who’s a mage (witch) and her mother, they’ve been on the run their entire lives because you are banished for being a mage. They finally find a nice town to set their roots and they are living there selling their elixirs and baking goods. She is 16 at the time.
She never even wanted to learn how to use magic because she’s so afraid of the consequences.
Quill aka Silas the Prince is also 16 and he is a prisoner on his on castle, his father is a monster and his mother is the kindest human alive, so she helps him once a week leave the castle for a few hours so he can breath. And the first day he is out he meets Lena. He was enchanted by her beauty and personality, so they became friends and how the author shows their friendship turning into love was so cute and very well done. I loved this part.
Obviously nothing can be easy and part II come along after a heartbreak 💔 and 5 years later they meet again in a very bad situation. And THE ANGST, the LONGING you can fell through the pages, omg I love it ! I hate the way things are and I hate how Silas was but I can’t blame him because what Lena did was awful In my opinion, not that she had another option and she suffer GREATLY , but still I don’t agree with the way they went ….. so can I blame and actually be angry at Silas ? No, not really. I actually feel for him, I feel for both of them 😫
I have some theories….. I might be way off actually, but I have them nonetheless….. will see….
Starting book 2 !
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2025
DNF because “Hey, AI… write me a fan fiction BookTok story but write it like I’m 12 years old.”
August 18, 2025
forbidden romance 💘
slow burn 🔥
forced proximity 👩❤️👨
dark fantasy 🖤
world building with hidden magic 🌍✨
political intrigue 👑
spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️
"She is a mage. The King despises magic and seeks to eradicate her kind."
The Lies of Lena started off as a sweet, slightly fluffy forbidden romance—lighthearted, charming, and with just enough intrigue to keep me turning the pages. The first half felt like a warm, cozy read with a spark of tension simmering beneath the surface. A few parts were a little predictable and convenient, but a few good twists, as well. The groundwork being laid was clear. You could feel the promise of future angst and tension building beneath the surface—woven together with forbidden romance, political intrigue, spice, and lush world building wrapped in mystery.
The pacing was spot-on. The perfect amount of detail, time, and world building was invested into the beginning, giving Quill and Lena’s love story room to breathe. Kylie Snow wrote their relationship so well—it had the time to hook me, make me invested in them, and leave me absolutely needing to know how things would play out. I enjoyed it overall, but it wasn’t until part two that the story truly won me over.
The second half was where everything clicked for me—the emotions deepened, the characters came alive in new ways, and the stakes skyrocketed. We were given forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers tension you could cut with a knife, and political intrigue that felt fresh. The banter throughout was excellent, and I binge-read the second half in one night. It gave me the same feeling I had while reading Throne of Glass —not because the plots are alike, but because it swept me away in that same unshakable, all-consuming way. Part two was packed with Easter eggs clicking into place and a steady undercurrent of emotional depth building beneath the surface. You could feel something really big taking shape. The emotional weight from part one carried over beautifully, making the payoff that much stronger.
By the end, I was so attached to the characters and their tangled relationships that I didn’t want to leave their world. Luckily, I don’t have to—because I am so ready to start The Sins of Silas. I’m already anticipating a 5-star read. I can feel the heartbreak and devastation ahead, the kind of emotional wreckage readers crave—the kind that breaks you and then puts you back together. Kylie Snow wove pure magic into this story, and I felt everything while reading it—the love, the heartbreak, the tension, the hope. That’s what I love most in a book: the ability to pull me so deeply into the characters’ lives that I feel every single thing they do.
slow burn 🔥
forced proximity 👩❤️👨
dark fantasy 🖤
world building with hidden magic 🌍✨
political intrigue 👑
spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️
"She is a mage. The King despises magic and seeks to eradicate her kind."
The Lies of Lena started off as a sweet, slightly fluffy forbidden romance—lighthearted, charming, and with just enough intrigue to keep me turning the pages. The first half felt like a warm, cozy read with a spark of tension simmering beneath the surface. A few parts were a little predictable and convenient, but a few good twists, as well. The groundwork being laid was clear. You could feel the promise of future angst and tension building beneath the surface—woven together with forbidden romance, political intrigue, spice, and lush world building wrapped in mystery.
The pacing was spot-on. The perfect amount of detail, time, and world building was invested into the beginning, giving Quill and Lena’s love story room to breathe. Kylie Snow wrote their relationship so well—it had the time to hook me, make me invested in them, and leave me absolutely needing to know how things would play out. I enjoyed it overall, but it wasn’t until part two that the story truly won me over.
The second half was where everything clicked for me—the emotions deepened, the characters came alive in new ways, and the stakes skyrocketed. We were given forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers tension you could cut with a knife, and political intrigue that felt fresh. The banter throughout was excellent, and I binge-read the second half in one night. It gave me the same feeling I had while reading Throne of Glass —not because the plots are alike, but because it swept me away in that same unshakable, all-consuming way. Part two was packed with Easter eggs clicking into place and a steady undercurrent of emotional depth building beneath the surface. You could feel something really big taking shape. The emotional weight from part one carried over beautifully, making the payoff that much stronger.
By the end, I was so attached to the characters and their tangled relationships that I didn’t want to leave their world. Luckily, I don’t have to—because I am so ready to start The Sins of Silas. I’m already anticipating a 5-star read. I can feel the heartbreak and devastation ahead, the kind of emotional wreckage readers crave—the kind that breaks you and then puts you back together. Kylie Snow wove pure magic into this story, and I felt everything while reading it—the love, the heartbreak, the tension, the hope. That’s what I love most in a book: the ability to pull me so deeply into the characters’ lives that I feel every single thing they do.
August 14, 2025
I AM OBSESSED!!!
I haven't felt this way about a Fantasy series in soooo long. I was immediately hooked. This is such an easy read and I was able to envision everything in my head like a movie START TO FINISH.
I think the world building in this was done perfectly! It wasn't too long but just enough to have us itching for more and then BAM - you get more. SO WELL DONE.
I am immediately starting book 2. My jaw has been hanging.
ALSO CHAPTER 40, JESUSSSSSS 😱 I was shook.
I haven't felt this way about a Fantasy series in soooo long. I was immediately hooked. This is such an easy read and I was able to envision everything in my head like a movie START TO FINISH.
I think the world building in this was done perfectly! It wasn't too long but just enough to have us itching for more and then BAM - you get more. SO WELL DONE.
I am immediately starting book 2. My jaw has been hanging.
ALSO CHAPTER 40, JESUSSSSSS 😱 I was shook.
January 8, 2025
Ok I wanted to love this and tried really hard to give it time but this was a DNF for me. I hate to say it but this was poorly executed. The world was poorly crafted and it was confusing to be in a world with castles but with our FMC talking about getting pizza and using language like it's modern day. When is this even set? One minute she is wearing a tank and leather pants and he is in a tunic??? Am I the only one confused here. We have swords and pizza. There was zero chemistry in the writing before our 16 year olds are going at it and the romance scenes had zero romance, angst or buildup. I am sorry to say I didn't feel anything for these characters. I realise this is a first book for the author so I'm sure things will improve so best of luck but this just wasn't for me.
January 15, 2025
I haven’t read a book this quickly in months! I loved how the magic is linked with emotions & I’m so here for the 3 love interests ?! 🔥 Word of warning, you need to push past the writing style at the start of the book, once you get to the timeline jump at the 50% mark you won’t be able to put it down!!
April 14, 2025
Six stars, yes, six. And you're telling me book two is even better? If that’s true, this might just become my all-time favorite fantasy series.
This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster I did not see coming. The journey from the first page to the last? Obsessed. WHERE WE ENDED UP OMG
Kylie absolutely nailed the storytelling. Having us witness these two fall in love when they were younger was such a powerful move. Their story is beautiful, deep, and incredibly meaningful, and than part two hits and knocks the wind right out of you. The pain, the hurt, the rawness, it’s all there, and you feel every single moment of it😭😭😭
Not once was I bored. Not once did I want to put this book down. Lena is a fierce, layered FMC who doesn’t even realize how incredible she is. Watching her begin to grow into her strength(especially after the time jump) was so satisfying, and I just know her journey is far from over.
And Silas? Don’t get me started. The man shows up covered in tattoos and rocking some scruff, and suddenly I want him to ruin my life. I need moreeeeee
The side characters? Top tier. I’m already obsessed, and I can tell some serious plotlines are brewing beneath the surface. I can’t wait to see the way she flushes out these relationships. There’s so many good moments between all these different people.
And here’s the thing I just KNOW this shit is about to get messy. The tension, the betrayal, the unresolved feelings it’s all simmering just below the surface, and I can feel it about to boil over. The emotional damage is coming, and I’m willingly walking into the fire. SOMEONE HOLD MY HAND PLEASE
This story is one I need everyone to experience. But check your trigger warnings before diving in. This is a darker fantasy romance.
I have to applaud how understandable and digestible this world is, it made the experience that much more enjoyable. She laid it out so perfectly, I have no notes. This book checked every single box for me. I’m hooked, I’m emotional, and I’m ready to fight for my life.
TEN OUT OF FREAKING TEN
*I’m calling this right now. I’m probably going to make this series my entire personality and I’m not even sorry about it*
This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster I did not see coming. The journey from the first page to the last? Obsessed. WHERE WE ENDED UP OMG
Kylie absolutely nailed the storytelling. Having us witness these two fall in love when they were younger was such a powerful move. Their story is beautiful, deep, and incredibly meaningful, and than part two hits and knocks the wind right out of you. The pain, the hurt, the rawness, it’s all there, and you feel every single moment of it😭😭😭
Not once was I bored. Not once did I want to put this book down. Lena is a fierce, layered FMC who doesn’t even realize how incredible she is. Watching her begin to grow into her strength(especially after the time jump) was so satisfying, and I just know her journey is far from over.
And Silas? Don’t get me started. The man shows up covered in tattoos and rocking some scruff, and suddenly I want him to ruin my life. I need moreeeeee
The side characters? Top tier. I’m already obsessed, and I can tell some serious plotlines are brewing beneath the surface. I can’t wait to see the way she flushes out these relationships. There’s so many good moments between all these different people.
And here’s the thing I just KNOW this shit is about to get messy. The tension, the betrayal, the unresolved feelings it’s all simmering just below the surface, and I can feel it about to boil over. The emotional damage is coming, and I’m willingly walking into the fire. SOMEONE HOLD MY HAND PLEASE
This story is one I need everyone to experience. But check your trigger warnings before diving in. This is a darker fantasy romance.
I have to applaud how understandable and digestible this world is, it made the experience that much more enjoyable. She laid it out so perfectly, I have no notes. This book checked every single box for me. I’m hooked, I’m emotional, and I’m ready to fight for my life.
TEN OUT OF FREAKING TEN
*I’m calling this right now. I’m probably going to make this series my entire personality and I’m not even sorry about it*
January 5, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley, Hachette Audio and Kylie Snow for this gifted ALC.
Genre: Dark Romantic Fantasy
⭐️ 5/5
🌶 2/5
🎧 5/5
🧠 6/10
Noteworthy: Audio book publication date is 1/6/2026. Narrated by Natalie Van Sistine and Kieran Regan. This book was recorded in duet narration.
This is the 1st book in the Octacian Chronicles series. The duet narration is incredible. Kieran does a spectacular job of bringing the male characters to life. My heart breaks for silas and Kieran's acting brought his closely guarded pain to life. His character voices are distinctive and easy to differentiate. Natalie is so good as Lena. The other half of our tortured couple came to life through her. She conveys every emotion the character goes through. My heart! 😭 You will feel her hope, anger and heartbreak all the way to your soul. This audio book is perfect for an immersive experience!
The story itself..I'm not 100% sure I have a good grasp on what I'm feeling after ending this book. Maybe.. uncomfortable???
The first half and the relationship building was sweet and awkward to read and gave no indicator with how dark this would get. This story and these relationships are messy! Like there's a bit of disturbing soap opera in the undertones.
This is not your classic 'mate' fantasy trope, so if you want that, this may not satisfy you. I have a feeling it only gets more chaotic from here. But if you want a toxic roller-coaster ride definitely hop on board!
Genre: Dark Romantic Fantasy
⭐️ 5/5
🌶 2/5
🎧 5/5
🧠 6/10
Noteworthy: Audio book publication date is 1/6/2026. Narrated by Natalie Van Sistine and Kieran Regan. This book was recorded in duet narration.
This is the 1st book in the Octacian Chronicles series. The duet narration is incredible. Kieran does a spectacular job of bringing the male characters to life. My heart breaks for silas and Kieran's acting brought his closely guarded pain to life. His character voices are distinctive and easy to differentiate. Natalie is so good as Lena. The other half of our tortured couple came to life through her. She conveys every emotion the character goes through. My heart! 😭 You will feel her hope, anger and heartbreak all the way to your soul. This audio book is perfect for an immersive experience!
The story itself..I'm not 100% sure I have a good grasp on what I'm feeling after ending this book. Maybe.. uncomfortable???
The first half and the relationship building was sweet and awkward to read and gave no indicator with how dark this would get. This story and these relationships are messy! Like there's a bit of disturbing soap opera in the undertones.
This is not your classic 'mate' fantasy trope, so if you want that, this may not satisfy you. I have a feeling it only gets more chaotic from here. But if you want a toxic roller-coaster ride definitely hop on board!
July 1, 2026
2.5 stars!!
I actually felt like I read two different books from part one to part two. Part one I did struggle with the writing style and the ages of our MCs. It felt very YA and a whole lot of insta-love. Also, for me, I really didn't love the spice going on with their ages.
Part two we jump forward 5 years in time, where our MCs have been apart. The world building was really easy to follow and the magic system with our mages (witches) worked well alongside the pacing of the plot. My biggest issue is the fact the pacing was too fast paced and the writing felt too YA for the content of this book.
I strongly encourage checking the triggers on because it is dark and it actually made me feel unwell & honestly it is kind of unexpected?? I am not saying it cannot be the way it is but it just read like it was done for the shock of it!
Looking back now I can really accept the instalove at the start of this book because it accurately reflects the feelings of our MCs at the age they were at. It’s also essential to the story as the plot develops. However it reads very YA for a non-YA book at times.
I did enjoy some of this but there are definitely some areas I wasn't vibing so much. Overall I think it ventures more into the 'vibe read' realm - which sometimes can work really well or sometimes it can just feel like it needs a bit more for me to fully feel invested. I will say I do not understand the 5/6 star hype, & trying to compare it to ToG is criminal - but it provided entertainment and was easy to read. I think if the book spent more time developing parts of the story and plot, in more depth, this could be a good read.
I have updated my rating from 3 stars to 2.5 stars cus when I read these I was a much more generous rater and was nervous to rate things lower LOL but realistically I don't really think these books are that good tbh.
I actually felt like I read two different books from part one to part two. Part one I did struggle with the writing style and the ages of our MCs. It felt very YA and a whole lot of insta-love. Also, for me, I really didn't love the spice going on with their ages.
Part two we jump forward 5 years in time, where our MCs have been apart. The world building was really easy to follow and the magic system with our mages (witches) worked well alongside the pacing of the plot. My biggest issue is the fact the pacing was too fast paced and the writing felt too YA for the content of this book.
I strongly encourage checking the triggers on because it is dark and it actually made me feel unwell & honestly it is kind of unexpected?? I am not saying it cannot be the way it is but it just read like it was done for the shock of it!
Looking back now I can really accept the instalove at the start of this book because it accurately reflects the feelings of our MCs at the age they were at. It’s also essential to the story as the plot develops. However it reads very YA for a non-YA book at times.
I did enjoy some of this but there are definitely some areas I wasn't vibing so much. Overall I think it ventures more into the 'vibe read' realm - which sometimes can work really well or sometimes it can just feel like it needs a bit more for me to fully feel invested. I will say I do not understand the 5/6 star hype, & trying to compare it to ToG is criminal - but it provided entertainment and was easy to read. I think if the book spent more time developing parts of the story and plot, in more depth, this could be a good read.
I have updated my rating from 3 stars to 2.5 stars cus when I read these I was a much more generous rater and was nervous to rate things lower LOL but realistically I don't really think these books are that good tbh.
January 26, 2026
★ ★.5
I’m guilty of seeing a book completely take over my feed, adding it to my TBR, and eventually feeling that quiet pressure to finally pick it up. I’m also guilty of going into books blind because I don’t want to risk spoilers. This was one of those reads where I wish I’d paused and read a few honest reviews before letting the hype get to me.
I didn’t hate this book — but I did spend a lot of time wondering if I was the problem. I’ve mostly seen 5-star reviews with very little context, and while I wanted to feel whatever everyone else was feeling, I just… didn’t. Not fully. It wasn’t bad, it just never fully clicked for me.
Part One was hard to get through. It felt rushed and, at times, a little childish. I understand the characters are young, but even with that in mind, I struggled to feel grounded in the story. Nearly a third of the way into a 400-page book, I still felt like I was being pushed through major moments without enough time to settle into the world or truly connect with the characters.
The romance in Part One also felt rushed. I understand young love can be intense and fast, but with a book this long, I would have loved more small moments — more buildup, more space to actually appreciate the growing connection instead of being told it was already there. I wanted to feel it, not just accept it.
Part Two is what ultimately saved this book for me. This is where the plot finally started to take shape, and the story felt more intentional. The side characters were easily my favorite part — cheeky, memorable, and full of personality — and they added a layer of depth I felt was missing earlier on. Watching Lena grow into her strength was refreshing, and these moments made me pause and think, okay… maybe I get it now.
That said, I still struggled with Lena as an FMC. Her tendency to lose focus whenever a male love interest was introduced pulled me out of the story more than once. I’m not drawn to male-centered FMCs, and unfortunately, that’s the energy she gave throughout much of the book — even in moments where I wanted her growth to take center stage.
By the end, I realized my biggest issue wasn’t that the story was bad — it was that I couldn’t clearly tell you what this book was about. There were interesting ideas, hints of a larger journey, and moments of real potential, but the plot often felt secondary. I’m hoping book two is more plot-focused, because I am curious about what comes next.
Despite my mixed feelings, I do plan to continue the series — eventually. Everyone I trust insists it gets better, and I’m choosing to believe them. I just need a moment before I dive back in!
I’m guilty of seeing a book completely take over my feed, adding it to my TBR, and eventually feeling that quiet pressure to finally pick it up. I’m also guilty of going into books blind because I don’t want to risk spoilers. This was one of those reads where I wish I’d paused and read a few honest reviews before letting the hype get to me.
I didn’t hate this book — but I did spend a lot of time wondering if I was the problem. I’ve mostly seen 5-star reviews with very little context, and while I wanted to feel whatever everyone else was feeling, I just… didn’t. Not fully. It wasn’t bad, it just never fully clicked for me.
Part One was hard to get through. It felt rushed and, at times, a little childish. I understand the characters are young, but even with that in mind, I struggled to feel grounded in the story. Nearly a third of the way into a 400-page book, I still felt like I was being pushed through major moments without enough time to settle into the world or truly connect with the characters.
The romance in Part One also felt rushed. I understand young love can be intense and fast, but with a book this long, I would have loved more small moments — more buildup, more space to actually appreciate the growing connection instead of being told it was already there. I wanted to feel it, not just accept it.
Part Two is what ultimately saved this book for me. This is where the plot finally started to take shape, and the story felt more intentional. The side characters were easily my favorite part — cheeky, memorable, and full of personality — and they added a layer of depth I felt was missing earlier on. Watching Lena grow into her strength was refreshing, and these moments made me pause and think, okay… maybe I get it now.
That said, I still struggled with Lena as an FMC. Her tendency to lose focus whenever a male love interest was introduced pulled me out of the story more than once. I’m not drawn to male-centered FMCs, and unfortunately, that’s the energy she gave throughout much of the book — even in moments where I wanted her growth to take center stage.
By the end, I realized my biggest issue wasn’t that the story was bad — it was that I couldn’t clearly tell you what this book was about. There were interesting ideas, hints of a larger journey, and moments of real potential, but the plot often felt secondary. I’m hoping book two is more plot-focused, because I am curious about what comes next.
Despite my mixed feelings, I do plan to continue the series — eventually. Everyone I trust insists it gets better, and I’m choosing to believe them. I just need a moment before I dive back in!
March 5, 2025
I AM SCREAMING. The book begins five years in the past, letting us experience the young love between the two main characters. While it starts off in a familiar way, it’s carefully laying the groundwork for an emotional impact… AND THEN WE REACH THE PRESENT. AND EVERYTHING CHANGES. Kylie masterfully weaves a narrative that carries far more emotional weight than I expected, and the moment it shifts—revealing the layers of a complex fantasy story—I was practically foaming at the mouth to get my hands on book two.
February 9, 2025
good god this was AWFUL. like genuinely anyone writing a good review must have never read any halfway decent book because this is horrible
February 19, 2026
Why didn’t wait so long to read this?!?! Loved it so much
April 27, 2025
Give this to your worst enemy.
July 10, 2026
3.15
This one was a little cringe for me, honestly. The insta-love at the beginning didn’t work, and I had a hard time connecting with the romance. Lena is a mage, while Silas is a prince who’s been raised to believe all mages are dangerous, so both are hiding who they really are.
The characters were just okay overall, and even the buildup felt pretty average. Silas was especially frustrating…I started out liking him, then hated him, and by the end I still wasn’t sure how I felt about him.
Definitely check the trigger warnings because there’s a disturbing scene. That said, the revenge that followed was incredibly satisfying and helped make up for it.
I did appreciate the short chapters, and honestly, I wanted a lot more of Torrin. He was easily the most likable character for me. The ending was intriguing enough that I’m curious to see where the story goes, so I’ll be continuing the series…
This one was a little cringe for me, honestly. The insta-love at the beginning didn’t work, and I had a hard time connecting with the romance. Lena is a mage, while Silas is a prince who’s been raised to believe all mages are dangerous, so both are hiding who they really are.
The characters were just okay overall, and even the buildup felt pretty average. Silas was especially frustrating…I started out liking him, then hated him, and by the end I still wasn’t sure how I felt about him.
Definitely check the trigger warnings because there’s a disturbing scene. That said, the revenge that followed was incredibly satisfying and helped make up for it.
I did appreciate the short chapters, and honestly, I wanted a lot more of Torrin. He was easily the most likable character for me. The ending was intriguing enough that I’m curious to see where the story goes, so I’ll be continuing the series…
June 21, 2025
Nuuu, susiskaitė žaibiškai, per dvi dienas!
Istorija prasideda, kai jiems abiems buvo 16metų. Perskaičiau ir iškart susiraukiau😫 Bet! Istorija kažkaip kabino skaityt toliau.
Taip tikrai, buvo nemažai 16mečių dramos, labai gražios pirmosios meilės, bet galvoju, kas toliau, jei viskas taip gražu?
Bet tada baigėsi pirma knygos dalis ir prasidėjo enemies pusė. O ten.. whoahhhh
Paprastas, gan greit skaitomas rašymo stilius, įdomus, nesudėtingas pasaulis. Gal ne visai dark romance, kaip pažymėta, bet buvo vietų ir vieta 🤯😭
Imam sekančią!
Istorija prasideda, kai jiems abiems buvo 16metų. Perskaičiau ir iškart susiraukiau😫 Bet! Istorija kažkaip kabino skaityt toliau.
Taip tikrai, buvo nemažai 16mečių dramos, labai gražios pirmosios meilės, bet galvoju, kas toliau, jei viskas taip gražu?
Bet tada baigėsi pirma knygos dalis ir prasidėjo enemies pusė. O ten.. whoahhhh
Paprastas, gan greit skaitomas rašymo stilius, įdomus, nesudėtingas pasaulis. Gal ne visai dark romance, kaip pažymėta, bet buvo vietų ir vieta 🤯😭
Imam sekančią!
August 15, 2025
WOW! so i knew i was going to like this but holy shit i could not put this down
i love Lena and Quill so much💕 the world, the banter, the side characters all perfection
also love how the magic works
in PAIN but running to the next book!!!🦋🌸✨
i love Lena and Quill so much💕 the world, the banter, the side characters all perfection
also love how the magic works
in PAIN but running to the next book!!!🦋🌸✨
October 24, 2025
UPDATE: I saw on TikTok that the author, Kylie Snow, is perpetuating toxic positivity and essentially shitting on respectful, if critical, reviews of her books. Reviews that were far kinder than my own below.
Seeing how Kylie Snow is yet another author who cannot take the slightest bit of constructive criticism, no matter how gently and kindly and respectfully it is delivered to her, and instead views it as “bullying” (which encourages her toxic fanbase), I will not be reading any further books published by her, because it is clear to me that she is completely averse to improvement and instead prefers to marinate within her own echo chamber.
Maybe if Kylie Snow spent half the time and energy she spends hating on her reviewers on actually improving her writing (YouTube is free, btw), we wouldn’t have this issue to begin with. 🤷🏻♀️
Oh, exposition dumps, my nemesis, we meet again. Listen, I JUST started. I’ve read exactly 2 pages. I don’t give a rat’s ass who the king is or what the kingdom is called or what the social structure is like. I have no stakes in this, all this crap mentioned means absolutely nothing to me. I have no idea who these people are or what these rules mean. Stop shoving lazy ass exposition down my throat and SHOW me the world instead. Introduce me to the main character(s) through actions and choices, not boring inner monologues about a world I have yet to give a crap about. It’s a shame, because 2 pages in, I have spent MORE time being annoyed and ranting, than I have spent actually reading. And that’s just the prologue.
At this point, I’m thinking okay, this didn’t start great and my expectations have been tempered, but this could still be good if the characters are written well. So, I turn the page to chapter 1. THE FIRST SENTENCE has the term “Epsom salt” in it. EPSOM SALT. Epsom salt is named after the town in ENGLAND, where the salts originate from. Where exactly is Epsom in Otacia, the made up kingdom in this made up world? You couldn’t have just said “healing salts”? My god, this is like the “Italian” suit in Book of Azrael all over again. I cannot fathom how authors expect readers to give a shit about their books when they didn't give enough of a shit to do a half decent job writing it. It really doesn't take much effort to do the bare amount of research to avoid continuity errors such as this.
Not two pages later, the main character uses the term “whopping”, as in “a whole whopping four years”. Isn’t this a medieval/ historical fantasy setting? Why does Lena sound like a millennial American? Look, I know many people don’t have issues with modern slang in their fantasy books, but I sure do. It’s tacky, especially if it's inconsistent, like in this book. One scene they use the classic high fantasy type of language, then the next they sound like're chronically online on TikTok. PICK ONE. STOP MIXING AND MATCHING. It reads like the author sat down one day and wrote this all in one go, ran it through spell-check (thank you for that, at least) then hit publish, without ever thinking any deeper on it.
And as if I’m not already annoyed enough, oh, look, MORE exposition dumping. And the thing is, the exposition monologueing isn’t even well done. This book reads like it thinks its readership is too stupid to rub two braincells together and overexplains the simplest concepts to you like you're fucking 5.
I gave it until Lena walked into the inner city to deliver some orders, when she runs into some rich socialites who treat her like filth just because she isn’t dressed fancy. Like, these people are COMICALLY evil to Lena for no goddamn reason. Cinderella’s evil stepsisters had more depth. And of course she then immediately gets saved by the hot rich guy who starts “purring” flirtatious remarks at her. I’m so over this. There’s no nuance and subtlety, this book is so boring and contrived, it’s mind numbing. If I didn’t know any better I’d think this is targeted at a young, 12-14 year old audience, because this reads like a worse version of Powerless, but that’s clearly not the case given the content warning in the beginning.
Truly just… terrible.
Seeing how Kylie Snow is yet another author who cannot take the slightest bit of constructive criticism, no matter how gently and kindly and respectfully it is delivered to her, and instead views it as “bullying” (which encourages her toxic fanbase), I will not be reading any further books published by her, because it is clear to me that she is completely averse to improvement and instead prefers to marinate within her own echo chamber.
Maybe if Kylie Snow spent half the time and energy she spends hating on her reviewers on actually improving her writing (YouTube is free, btw), we wouldn’t have this issue to begin with. 🤷🏻♀️
Oh, exposition dumps, my nemesis, we meet again. Listen, I JUST started. I’ve read exactly 2 pages. I don’t give a rat’s ass who the king is or what the kingdom is called or what the social structure is like. I have no stakes in this, all this crap mentioned means absolutely nothing to me. I have no idea who these people are or what these rules mean. Stop shoving lazy ass exposition down my throat and SHOW me the world instead. Introduce me to the main character(s) through actions and choices, not boring inner monologues about a world I have yet to give a crap about. It’s a shame, because 2 pages in, I have spent MORE time being annoyed and ranting, than I have spent actually reading. And that’s just the prologue.
At this point, I’m thinking okay, this didn’t start great and my expectations have been tempered, but this could still be good if the characters are written well. So, I turn the page to chapter 1. THE FIRST SENTENCE has the term “Epsom salt” in it. EPSOM SALT. Epsom salt is named after the town in ENGLAND, where the salts originate from. Where exactly is Epsom in Otacia, the made up kingdom in this made up world? You couldn’t have just said “healing salts”? My god, this is like the “Italian” suit in Book of Azrael all over again. I cannot fathom how authors expect readers to give a shit about their books when they didn't give enough of a shit to do a half decent job writing it. It really doesn't take much effort to do the bare amount of research to avoid continuity errors such as this.
Not two pages later, the main character uses the term “whopping”, as in “a whole whopping four years”. Isn’t this a medieval/ historical fantasy setting? Why does Lena sound like a millennial American? Look, I know many people don’t have issues with modern slang in their fantasy books, but I sure do. It’s tacky, especially if it's inconsistent, like in this book. One scene they use the classic high fantasy type of language, then the next they sound like're chronically online on TikTok. PICK ONE. STOP MIXING AND MATCHING. It reads like the author sat down one day and wrote this all in one go, ran it through spell-check (thank you for that, at least) then hit publish, without ever thinking any deeper on it.
And as if I’m not already annoyed enough, oh, look, MORE exposition dumping. And the thing is, the exposition monologueing isn’t even well done. This book reads like it thinks its readership is too stupid to rub two braincells together and overexplains the simplest concepts to you like you're fucking 5.
I gave it until Lena walked into the inner city to deliver some orders, when she runs into some rich socialites who treat her like filth just because she isn’t dressed fancy. Like, these people are COMICALLY evil to Lena for no goddamn reason. Cinderella’s evil stepsisters had more depth. And of course she then immediately gets saved by the hot rich guy who starts “purring” flirtatious remarks at her. I’m so over this. There’s no nuance and subtlety, this book is so boring and contrived, it’s mind numbing. If I didn’t know any better I’d think this is targeted at a young, 12-14 year old audience, because this reads like a worse version of Powerless, but that’s clearly not the case given the content warning in the beginning.
Truly just… terrible.
April 9, 2025
WHO said this book was good?????????? Booktok when I catch you
July 30, 2025
It has been awhile since a book made me this angry. I read a lot of trashy romantasy books, but this "booktok sensation" is just a bad book. Spoilers in the below because I hated this and need a small rant.
I hate the male main character, Silas, so much that I will not be reading the next book. I don't hate him in like a bully romance MMC way where I'm curious to see how the author will redeem him. No, I just truly don't think there's anything that he can do to make me care about him or like him. Unfortunately, this book tells you about 5 times that he's definitely endgame. All of the characters keep saying that Silas and Lena are "soul-ties" (aka Fated Mates). Also, this book is only two POVs: Lena and Silas...seems pretty obvious despite how they try to tease other love interests.
The first 57% of the book is Part 1 and it's titled "Then." During this part, the main characters (Lena and Quill aka Silas) are 16-years-old, and they repeatedly have explicit sex scenes that we are forced to read. I just couldn't wait to get past it but it kept dragging on and on and on. Silas is so boring and predictable. They were having explicit sex by like 20% into this book, and I was like, why must I read about these teenagers discovering their bodies for the first time. Separately, Lena was pretty stupid during this entire part of the book, and I kept wanting to tell her to be smarter, but then I'd remember she is 16.
At 57%, the book finally moves forward in time by jumping ahead 5 years in Part 2. At this point, Lena is living in a new community made of up mages, and she has all these new people in her life. Unfortunately, we don't get any more of Torrin who was the guy in Part 1 that I wanted Lena to choose over Silas. After Part 1, Torrin is basically cut out of the book. So now we're in this new community, but we barely get to meet any of these new people that Lena has befriended before Silas and his army attacks this little community. Silas kills Lena's father-figure brutally, and then ignores Lena while keeping her prisoner (starving her for 3 days at a time and keeping her shackled). While she's in Silas's dungeon, Lena gets brutally gang-raped by Silas's guards before Silas saves hears her screams and saves her. Unfortunately, he does not save Lena in time, if you know what I mean. At the time of when she's being gang-raped in his prison, Silas is upstairs in his comfortable bed and having nice sex with his new wife (who Silas really likes, although, he claims to keep thinking of Lena throughout his nice sex with his nice wife). After Lena is raped, Silas just completely switches sides and decides he wants to team up with the mages, go against his entire army and everything he has built his reputation to be, and take down his father so he can take over the throne. The abrupt shift in his personality and plan made no sense. At this point in the story, every single plot point is completely rushed, and about 400 things happen in the last 50 pages of the book. Also, every single male character is in love with Lena for no reason, and they are all shamelessly flirting and bantering with Lena about sex, about 5 seconds after she is raped like nbd nothing happened.
Anyways, I hated Silas so much, and this book is poorly written. Everything is rushed. There are four love interests in this (Silas/Quill, Torrin, Merrick...to a small degree, and Roland), and I just want Lena to end up with literally anyone that's not Silas. Team Torrin or Roland...I don't even care at this point.
I hate the male main character, Silas, so much that I will not be reading the next book. I don't hate him in like a bully romance MMC way where I'm curious to see how the author will redeem him. No, I just truly don't think there's anything that he can do to make me care about him or like him. Unfortunately, this book tells you about 5 times that he's definitely endgame. All of the characters keep saying that Silas and Lena are "soul-ties" (aka Fated Mates). Also, this book is only two POVs: Lena and Silas...seems pretty obvious despite how they try to tease other love interests.
The first 57% of the book is Part 1 and it's titled "Then." During this part, the main characters (Lena and Quill aka Silas) are 16-years-old, and they repeatedly have explicit sex scenes that we are forced to read. I just couldn't wait to get past it but it kept dragging on and on and on. Silas is so boring and predictable. They were having explicit sex by like 20% into this book, and I was like, why must I read about these teenagers discovering their bodies for the first time. Separately, Lena was pretty stupid during this entire part of the book, and I kept wanting to tell her to be smarter, but then I'd remember she is 16.
At 57%, the book finally moves forward in time by jumping ahead 5 years in Part 2. At this point, Lena is living in a new community made of up mages, and she has all these new people in her life. Unfortunately, we don't get any more of Torrin who was the guy in Part 1 that I wanted Lena to choose over Silas. After Part 1, Torrin is basically cut out of the book. So now we're in this new community, but we barely get to meet any of these new people that Lena has befriended before Silas and his army attacks this little community. Silas kills Lena's father-figure brutally, and then ignores Lena while keeping her prisoner (starving her for 3 days at a time and keeping her shackled). While she's in Silas's dungeon, Lena gets brutally gang-raped by Silas's guards before Silas saves hears her screams and saves her. Unfortunately, he does not save Lena in time, if you know what I mean. At the time of when she's being gang-raped in his prison, Silas is upstairs in his comfortable bed and having nice sex with his new wife (who Silas really likes, although, he claims to keep thinking of Lena throughout his nice sex with his nice wife). After Lena is raped, Silas just completely switches sides and decides he wants to team up with the mages, go against his entire army and everything he has built his reputation to be, and take down his father so he can take over the throne. The abrupt shift in his personality and plan made no sense. At this point in the story, every single plot point is completely rushed, and about 400 things happen in the last 50 pages of the book. Also, every single male character is in love with Lena for no reason, and they are all shamelessly flirting and bantering with Lena about sex, about 5 seconds after she is raped like nbd nothing happened.
Anyways, I hated Silas so much, and this book is poorly written. Everything is rushed. There are four love interests in this (Silas/Quill, Torrin, Merrick...to a small degree, and Roland), and I just want Lena to end up with literally anyone that's not Silas. Team Torrin or Roland...I don't even care at this point.
January 12, 2026
Absolutely deserving of 5 ⭐️
I ate this book up!
I stayed up late reading it, and when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. It consumed my life and I loved every bit of it.
The banter was top tier.
The heartache, I felt it.
I loved that the author took us through their teen relationship. Their love was so sweet.
Silas was so good to her and didn't care about what everyone else thought.
Enters Torrin. I was nervous because of the thoughts she had when she saw him.
Like girl, NOOOOO!
I was so sad about Lena and her mom having to flee.
THEN, WHEN THEY SAW EACH OTHER AGAIN!!!! Broody, tattooed Silas, excuuuuuse me!
I would have folded right there and then.
Drama. Drama. Drama. I eat it up.
I think side characters are so important in books, especially fantasy books and Kylie did so well here.
Sometimes, I need a simple fantasy read. One where I'm not flipping back to the map a hundred times, confused on the magic system and all around struggling.
This was exactly what I needed, and I'm so excited to dive into the second book.
I ate this book up!
I stayed up late reading it, and when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. It consumed my life and I loved every bit of it.
The banter was top tier.
The heartache, I felt it.
I loved that the author took us through their teen relationship. Their love was so sweet.
Silas was so good to her and didn't care about what everyone else thought.
Enters Torrin. I was nervous because of the thoughts she had when she saw him.
Like girl, NOOOOO!
I was so sad about Lena and her mom having to flee.
THEN, WHEN THEY SAW EACH OTHER AGAIN!!!! Broody, tattooed Silas, excuuuuuse me!
I would have folded right there and then.
Drama. Drama. Drama. I eat it up.
I think side characters are so important in books, especially fantasy books and Kylie did so well here.
Sometimes, I need a simple fantasy read. One where I'm not flipping back to the map a hundred times, confused on the magic system and all around struggling.
This was exactly what I needed, and I'm so excited to dive into the second book.
August 4, 2025
Easy 5🌟 absolutely devoured this I couldn’t put it down! I am so invested in these characters and this world, the plot twists had me hooked!
And Quill..😅 such a good romantasy 🤌🏼
And Quill..😅 such a good romantasy 🤌🏼
June 17, 2025
Nu ką….. Pagaliau perskaičiau ir aš šį reikalą ir galiu pasakyti tik tiek - ADDICTED ir man reik antros dalies😁 Belekaip patiko, net nežinau čia populiari nuomonė ar ne, nes jokių spoilų, nuomonių nieko neskaičiau, bet man Roland 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼 Nežinau, šioje dalyje labai jis man ant galo pradėjo patikti! 😅 Nors vistiek man niekaip nedaeina ir yra neaišku viskas su tuo Torrin, nu bet tikiuosi antra dalis viską man paaiškins 😅❤️
P.S Būtų galima kur ir prikibti, bet man tiesiog taip gerai ėjo ta knyga, su tokiom gerom emocijom ją skaičiau, kad tikrai 5⭐️
P.S Būtų galima kur ir prikibti, bet man tiesiog taip gerai ėjo ta knyga, su tokiom gerom emocijom ją skaičiau, kad tikrai 5⭐️
March 24, 2025
This book was not what was promised. No angst. Not dark except for an unnecessarily detailed rape scene. It was mostly a soft friends to lovers romance for 60% then a time jump in which instant forgiveness happened and insta love between side characters.
I need to talk about the rape scene. Including a rape scene in detail only so the male love interest can show “touch her and die” is in my opinion exploitative. It would have been one thing if the scene happened and we got to see how ot affected both characters but especially the female mc. But after the male mc dishes out the punishment. The assault is not mentioned again nor are we shown the effects sexual assault has on a victim. I like dark romances/romantasy but I DONT like rape being described in detailed only to never be mentioned again. It was also so out of place with the tone of the rest of the book. The story as a whole was not dark and then BAM rape. It was absolutely not needed or handled well.
I need to talk about the rape scene. Including a rape scene in detail only so the male love interest can show “touch her and die” is in my opinion exploitative. It would have been one thing if the scene happened and we got to see how ot affected both characters but especially the female mc. But after the male mc dishes out the punishment. The assault is not mentioned again nor are we shown the effects sexual assault has on a victim. I like dark romances/romantasy but I DONT like rape being described in detailed only to never be mentioned again. It was also so out of place with the tone of the rest of the book. The story as a whole was not dark and then BAM rape. It was absolutely not needed or handled well.
March 3, 2026
Nebuvo kažkas labai wow, bet patiko. Lengvai, greitai skaitėsi, įtraukė ir tiesiog ištraukė mane iš reading slump. Nemanau, kad imsiu iškart 2 dalį, bet tikrai įdomu kaip ten viskas toliau klostysis 🧙♂️
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