A Tower of Half-Truths

by N.J. Prynne

A down-on-her-luck thief picks a wizard as her next mark, but stealing his heart was never part of the plan.

For nearly two decades, Mavery has used her magic as a means of scraping by, whether as a mage for hire or a petty thief. After her partner betrays her and leaves her penniless, she’s desperate for a new score. She finds a help wanted ad from a wizard seeking an assistant. Her plan is play the role of a scholar, earn the wizard’s trust, and clean his tower of valuables.

Alain has been on sabbatical for so long, his people skills have become almost as disastrous as his hoard of overdue library books. And after his last project ended in tragedy, he’s now on the verge of losing his wizard rank. He must develop a new spell, and he needs all the help he can get. Even if it comes from a woman bearing a false name and unusual magic.

What begins as a convenient arrangement grows into an unexpected friendship—and undeniable attraction. But a career criminal has no place in a world of scholars, and a wizard can’t afford to open his heart to another. As they uncover secrets about magic—and each other—Alain and Mavery must both choose between love and ambition.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Fiction, Cozy, Fantasy Romance, Cozy Fantasy

502 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 10, 2025

About the author

N.J. Prynne is the pen name for an office worker who’s been writing stories for as long as she can remember. When she’s not writing or reading, she’s either gaming or baking. She lives in Virginia with her husband, their house panther, and their ever-growing collection of musical instruments.

Reviews

[Cori Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this standalone about a magical thief and a reclusive wizard!

Mavery is looking for a new con after a previous heist goes terribly wrong -- and so responds to an advert for a Wizard's Assistant. Her initial plan is to case the joint, steal anything valuable, and get out, but this is complicated by the wizard himself. Alain has also been through some traumatic experiences, and needs to put his life / library back in order. When he finds that Mavery has highly unusual magical abilities, the two pair up to work together, and perhaps more. Tagline: ordinary people who happen to have extraordinary magic.

This book is so good -- the magic is interesting and the magical power imbalance between them balanced by other aspects, skills and experience. Both are in their thirties, a very pleasant change from reading about teens/20s in this kind of story. The plot moves at pace, and the world-building is sufficient to carry the story but not overdone. I also enjoyed the slow development of the romance, no insta-lusting, and it's bi-for-bi which is lovely. Note, there is some on-page sex, though it's not extensive. The author's note lists other content warnings, which are present at a mostly moderate level (this is not a grimdark.)

Highly recommended to any fantasy reader looking for a story with very competent adult characters and light academia vibes.


This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.

[Alice ☆ Manicures and Manuscripts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overview: For her whole life, Mavery has used her magic to help her get by - usually as a petty thief. But after the latest job goes wrong, Mavery's desperate to get away.

When she stumbles across an 'assistant-wanted' ad from a wizard, she forms a plan: fake a scholarly pursuit, earn Alain's trust and steal all of his magical artifacts.

What Mavery didn't plan on was an unlikely friendship and undeniable spark between the two. As she gets drawn into the scholarly world, they uncover new spells, secrets scrubbed from the history books and Mavery's own magic.

My thoughts: A Tower of Half-Truths was such a pleasant read.

The writing is well-constructed and solid. The characters are thought-out and well-rounded. And the plot was unexpected and refreshing.

Every time I got to a part where I thought I knew what would come next or the cliche character tropes, it went the opposite way. I found that really refreshing.

This isn't the most dramatic book - the pacing is even, so the book flows from one situation to another. Don't get me wrong - it doesn't mean it's boring or lacklustre! Prynne doesn't rely on Days-Of-Our-Lives level cliff-hangers to keep the reader interested. Instead, artfully crafted characters and well-earned relationships get you invested!

It was beautiful to see a relationship truly blossom in this story - it's not 'insta-love' but something that gradually builds and invites the reader along for the ride. Also - it's so damn nice to see an FMC and MMC who isn't a teenager! There are still a few love scenes, and they are *chefs-kiss* immaculate. They don't detract from the story or relationship and are grown-up levels of spice (I don't mean X-rated, though they are explicit. Alain and Mavery are not hormonal-teens and they've been around the block, so to speak)

"Are you expecting me to wake the entire inn again?"...."No, my love." He spoke with the low, rough voice he'd used the other night. "With what I have planned, you would wake the entire village."

My only drawback was that the world was so exceptionally crafted and cleverly delivered that I wanted more. The ending could have been bigger - though I can respect that it wouldn't be true to the rest of the book/style. I wanted to explore more about the wizards, the history, the different magic types, the demonspawn! But I suppose I'll have to wait for the next instalment....

Thank you, Netgalley, Prynne and Victory Editing Co-Op for the ARC.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful gem of a book! I'm especially impressed as this appears to be the author's debut work. I would describe this as a cozy romantasy with wonderful characters who feel real and a plot that still offers adventure.

The book is mostly told through the POV of the FMC, Mavery, a thief trying for one last score in order to leave her life of crime behind but inadvertently finds that new life in the employ of her mark, the wizard and professor Alain. We do also occasionally get some POV chapters from Alain, which are a nice addition. I absolutely loved these two. They both felt so authentically real. There's no insta love, no uber melodrama, and no high angst here. They're just both adults who have some issues they're dealing with. I especially loved how Mavery wasn't afraid to call Alain out in the beginning when he was being a bit of an academic snob to her. And while the two do keep secrets from each other at first, the reasons make sense and don't go on to a ridiculous length - all big secrets are out in the open by halfway through.

And watching their relationship develop was just so wonderful! They started out a bit wary, then slowly built their way to friends and eventually to lovers. The pacing of it was great - not too slow, not too fast. I thought the pacing overall worked pretty well too. Although the focus is on the two MCs and their budding relationship, the author never totally forgets the plot. I found some of the later scenes especially fun as there's definitely an Indiana Jones-adventuring vibe going on. That said, this is definitely a cozy book, so it's never what I would call a fast-paced book, but it's not supposed to be. This was one I really enjoyed just sitting with and enjoying the ambience.

As for the world building, I really liked the magic system the author created. It was fairly simple while still feeling original. I'm also convinced the author has spent time in higher education! Her many little cracks at the foibles of academics were so spot on and had me smiling.

I received an arc from NetGalley.

[Cinnamon Roll]

This book is a rare treasure. I savored it slowly, only a few chapters at a time because I didn't want it to end or say goodbye to Mave and Alain.

In the romantasy landscape of same old tropes, A Tower of Half Truths is a breath of fresh air. Going in, I only knew that the main characters are over 30 (already a rare occurrence ) but I was so pleasantly surprised by how the book kept subverting my expectations of the genre.

The only way I can describe this story is by telling you what it's not. She's not the most breathtaking woman on earth, he's not the most tattooed shadow daddy. Yet their love story is magic ✨. It progresses slowly, from a convenient proximity to friends and then lovers (I would say that friends to lovers is the only trope it classically adheres to). Every stage takes a while and they put in the work, making the progression believable.

My favorite part was how the spice is handled. It's believable and relatable. I truly loved seeing them negotiate various bodily or psychological aches in intimate moments. It's a huge departure from the scenes you'd normally read in romantic fantasy and it made me root so much more for their happy ending.

The stakes are low and I'm inclined to say the story's atmosphere is mostly cozy, which I loved. A lot of the plot happens in an academic setting and it's described in a very realistic way. The world building is interesting, depicting a realm where technological advancement and magic coexist. I really loved that days had 28 hours and the months and days of the week had unique names. The magic system is different, yet not too complex to understand. It's the perfect amount of world building to keep the story interesting while letting the relationship between the characters shine.

Congratulations to the author for a stunning debut! ❤️

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy from Victory Editing Co-op via Netgalley in exchange for a fair review. Publish date October 10th, 2025.

I was intrigued by this book's premise, so I thought I'd give a new-to-me indie author a shot. In A Tower of Half Truths, thirty-something Mavery quits her team because she's tired of using her magic powers to crack safes on dangerous heists. She plans to use an advertisement for a wizard's assistant to make one last haul of artifacts--but once she's ensconced as Alain's assistant, she finds herself reluctant to leave.

I'm a bit skeptical of straight fantasy romances in the current publishing environment, but I gave this book a chance because it promised to be bi4bi (always a good sign). It's a cute premise: the struggling absent-minded academic who has only a matter of weeks before he has to produce original research matched up against the jaded, world-weary thief who's going to steal something and make a run for it any day now, honest. Much of the book's lengthy 500-plus pages are devoted to Mavery and Alain (who has messy secrets of his own) admitting their lies and learning to be honest with each other. Thus, the Half-Truths. I'd did find the book to be a little long for the plot--there's a reason that romance novels are usually a trim 80k, and this book not only substantially overtakes that, it promises a sequel.

Despite the age of the protagonists--in their mid to late thirties--the romance felt very tentative and youthful. Lots of accidentally brushing hands and then blushing. Unfortunately, the sex scenes, while adroitly dodging the painfully heterosexual antics typical to the genre, had all the sensuality of smashing two dolls together. It just didn't click. Outside of the main relationship, there was a decent cast of secondary characters. Alain's proud mother, his boisterous professor friend, and Mavery's slimy ex all have personalities that go beyond being one-note.

Very readable overall and a fun premise, but not notably memorable. For books with a similar premise, I'd highly recommend AJ Lancaster's How to Find a Nameless Fae and A Widow's Charm by Caitlyn Paxton, which both blew me away.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was almost put off by the author's content warning right at the front, but I'm glad I decided to give it a go anyway. Yes, there is violence, but it isn't glorified, and the bad consequences are shown clearly. Yes, there is sex, but it isn't trivialized or casual, and when it gets explicit (which it does), it's after a lot of character development, and in a committed relationship that we've watched develop over time.

In fact, this book is strong in ways that a lot of books I come across are weak: worldbuilding, character development, and especially the romance plot. I don't believe I've seen a better romance plot, in fact, one in which the couple are both genuinely appealing; they actually have excellent reasons for not acting on their attraction and sensibly decide not to do so until those reasons are resolved, like adults; and the tension is built up masterfully over a long period of the development of the relationship, rather than the all-too-common "instalove, now fall into bed" approach. Top marks for the romance.

The worldbuilding is subtle, without a lot of infodumping, but it has plausible month names and day-of-the-week names, a 28-hour day, a pantheon with assigned areas of responsibility (that some people believe in and some don't), and several different schools of magic. Standard stuff, but it's dealt with in the background rather than being placed where you'll trip over it. There's an appendix that explains it all, but you don't need to read it to keep from getting confused, because it's revealed in context that makes it clear, as worldbuilding should be.

The main characters are, as I said, appealing, but damaged realistically by their backstories (not in a way that turns them awful, though). It's like a T. Kingfisher book in that way. The secondary characters also have a bit of depth to them; they're not just one-note. They can be a loyal friend who's also annoyingly boisterous and not that deep, a mother who's cold but, in her own way, caring, a toxic ex who's also going through his own stuff and has a genuine grievance, and so on. They have layers.

In terms of editing, the commas and apostrophes are in the right places (which is notable, these days), and the past perfect tense is used where it needs to be (also notable), though sometimes the form of the verb in the past perfect is wrong, and there are other verb tense slips. There are also quite a few mangled idioms, and some passages of probably the worst pseudo-archaic dialog I've ever seen, which is saying something. That last factor was bad enough to drop it down a tier in my annual Best of the Year rankings; it was going to be Gold, but I can't give a Gold-tier ranking to a book that murders early modern English grammar like that. Note, as always, that what I saw was a pre-publication version from Netgalley, and may not reflect the state of the published book, especially as I plan to alert the publisher to some of the more egregious issues via Netgalley's feedback form.

Overall, with a bit of a tune-up it would be excellent, and even as it is, it's solidly above average. I hope there will be more in this world and with these characters.

[laurakellylitfit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Out October 10th, 2025
Mavery has made trouble for herself. More than once but who's counting? She has traded in her books for a spot in a group of thieves plundering any vault they can get into, Mavery has put her trust and heart in the wrong thieves and is now weighting in her choices.

A help wanted ad sends her on a collision course of morality, does she do what she knows best and rob the poor wizard and be done with it, or does she help him gain his credibility back with a magical alliance?

I found the story whimsical, too long in places but over all a good time. It does remind me of Assistant to the VIllian which I have enjoyed in the past. It's quite refreshing to have a main lead to be older, albeit still trying to figure her life out. It's relatable for sure.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for this ARC!

[Rea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Tower of Half-Truths was a wonderful breath of fresh air that I absolutely adored. The characters were in their 30s. She’s slightly older than he is (last time I saw that was never). The author took her time with the development of their friendship, then attraction, then the tentative explorations of a possible relationship. It felt real, it felt raw, and it felt very adult. There were some themes explored there that I’ve also explored in my own writing because they almost never get any page time, so I adored seeing them and how the characters navigated them.

Both characters start by withholding truths from the other. They have their reasons for this, and their reasons make sense. Throughout the first half of the book, these truths come out bit by bit so that by the halfway point everything is out in the open and the characters are working together as a team.

This is a very character-driven story. The world is vast and it’s introduced well enough to carry the story but it’s far from fully explored. There are some hints at things to come, and a number of big revelations towards the end of the book that provide plenty of room for further exploration in subsequent instalments in the series. It doesn’t end of a cliffhanger, and could be enjoyed as a standalone, though personally I’m interested in the further revelations about the magics of the world and why those in power have made and upheld specific decisions.

The middle part of the book was quite slow as the characters worked on developing a new spell, and in contrast the final arc felt a little rushed. I would have preferred to have spent more time exploring that particular arc.

All in all, though, I really enjoyed this gem of a story.

[☾arina⭐︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mavery is a thief who sees a job listing seeking an assistant to a wizard. She needs a job after the debacle with her previous job and partner, and finds the perfect opportunity by earning the wizard’s trust and robbing him of his valuables.

Fantasy books with a scholarly theme can be hit or miss for me in terms of understanding, as I sometimes struggle to grasp what I’m reading. As long as I can get an idea of what’s happening and the characters can draw me in, I don’t mind if I don’t fully understand the world or magic system. This was one of those books. It could have provided a clearer explanation of the magic system and world-building, but I really enjoyed the story.

I came for the story, but stayed for the character and relationship development. Alain is a recluse taking a sabbatical from work. He is a true academic. Mavery becomes his assistant and friend. He begins developing feelings for her, but can’t act on them because it’s prohibited in his line of work. They bring out the best in each other. Mavery is soft and protective of him. She boosts his confidence and sees him for who he really is, not just his magic and position. Their romantic relationship is tender and sweet. Her act of showing affection by touching his face gently was so romantic.

I enjoyed going on a journey with familiar faces in the last part of the book. I wish this part had been longer because their dynamic was fun and provided some comic relief.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Erin Hawley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Tower of Half-Truths is a delightful fantasy with wizards and mages living the academic grind and trying to leave criminal life.

The story is told through a dual POV, mainly focusing on the FMC, and, although I preferred the FMC (as always), I genuinely liked both. The FMC and MMC have a really lovely romance that doesn't suffer childish miscommunication or dramatic third-act breakup. Their relationship is a true friends to lovers, and they still are good friends to each other after they start their romantic relationship. Both the FMC and MMC act like thirty something year olds in a very positive way. A character introduced towards the end was also a favorite, and I hope will get more time in later books.

I was charmed by the world building! It's a courageous choice of an author to add details like 28 hours in the day and new days of the week because this can easily bog down a story (especially in a standalone). The author did a great job with a cohesive world that wasn't hard to keep up with as the plot developed. The magic system was also easy to understand, with more traditional wizard fantasy concepts like arcane energy and runes. The academic setting felt very (painfully) realistic.

If you're looking for a relaxed pace standalone fantasy with academic shenanigans and a sweet romance with 30 year old characters, you will really enjoy this book. I will definitely look for more from this author and hopefully more from this world!

Thank you, NJ Prynne, for the arc!

[Lila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley. This is my honest opinion.

Tropes
🧙🏻‍♂️Bi representation (both MCs are bisexual)
🧙🏻‍♂️Older MCs (both in their mid-30s)
🧙🏻‍♂️Forced proximity
🧙🏻‍♂️Forbidden relationship

After being left for dead by her partner, Mavery decides to find a new target. A help wanted ad leads her to Alain, a wizard seeking an assistant and whose life is a mess. On a sabbatical for a year, he won’t leave his tower or even take care of himself.

This book was so cozy!

I love the writing style: the prose is pretty, and we feel absorbed into the story.
The characters are well-written; they’re nuanced and developped. Their relationship is beautiful: they’re vulnerable and patient with each other. They give each other space but also know when to be supportive.

[Kristin Silverman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to remind myself that this book is indeed “romantasy” because it is so unlike the cookie-cutter books with a muscular, broody MMC and a sassy FMC who keep trading barbs until they ultimately fall into bed together.

And that’s what I love about this book! There’s a slow-burn strangers to friends to lovers romance. The male character is described in one scene as “more bone than muscle.” And — without spoiling anything — there are a couple other things the author does that I’ve never read in a romance or romantasy, and are unexpectedly pleasant surprises.

The main character, Mavery, has the fighting and scrappy criminal skills we often see in badass female characters — but she’s never annoying and never seeks out additional danger or trouble.

The middle section of the book is a bit slow. Not boring exactly, but just without super high stakes as Alain and Mavery work toward writing a new spell.

But the last act of the book is an exciting adventure!

This is a standalone book, but I would happily read more of these characters. And I’d love to see more about late-comer Nox.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the digital ARC to enable an honest review.

[Anna Siewicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you enjoy Howls Moving Castle (the movie at least) i feel like this would be a good read for you.

this is a cozy fantasy read with magic, wizards, academy, and romance of course.

this is a longer book, but I feel its fitting for its genre.

the romance is slow and so good. Alain was an obsessed with work type wizard, and still went out of his way to use his skills to aid Mavery.

it was a sweet development in his character.

there is a few sex scenes which read very naturally because the authors writing skills were consistent. Throughout the book, scenes were detailed and everything flowed smoothly.
I dont know how to explain it, but it didn't feel out of place

my only issue is Mavery is said to have a bad knee but its only mentioned 3 times. It was described to be almost disabling, yet she never told Alain about it, she would be on her feet for hours with no mention.
I feel like Mavery could've been written with a mobility aid like a cane.

also I HATED Neldren - his character development felt unnatural and I wanted Alain to beat the fuck out of him

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spice scale: 3.5 / 5
Violence scale: 2 / 5
Pace: slow
Tropes: friends-to-lovers, bi4bi romance, opposites attract, boss and employee, slow burn

My thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for access to an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Plot: Mavery has been many different things - and on both sides of the law - in her career. But when her partner betrays her and seemingly leaves her for dead after a job gone wrong, she needs a fresh start. When she finds a newspaper ad for a wizard looking for an assistant, she rushes to accept, planning to lie her way into his employ and then rob him blind. Alain is a lonely academic magician who has been on a self-imposed sabbatical since a tragic accident last year. He must invent a new spell and get it past the Council in order to maintain his wizard rank, and he didn’t place that newspaper ad. But Mavery’s ability to sense magic is incredibly rare, and this gives him new inspiration. If they work together, Alain could retain his rank among the wizards and maybe find someone he can finally trust, and Mavery might just find out more about her abilities and even a place to belong. They are drawn to each other slowly but surely, and as their research progresses, they also begin to realize that there may be something about the history of magic that the Council has kept hidden.

Series or standalone? Seems to be the first in a series, but can be read as a standalone.

I would recommend it to an adult reader looking for a cozy, somewhat academic story with a slow burn relationship (with eventual spice), a quasi-historical setting, and fairly low stakes overall (personal stakes are high, but no world-saving action is involved). I found the pace comfortable but never tedious. Both Mavery and Alain have complicated pasts and the practice of magic involves several different skills, so while Alain teaches Mavery spells and attempts to create his own new spell, they slowly reveal more of themselves to each other. I really appreciated that even though there are so many new names and terms, there is not only a pronunciation guide, but those terms are introduced in context and there is never just a long section of exposition that feels like a textbook.

Final thoughts: This story has a largely academic setting, between Alain’s endless research and sprawling personal book collection and the university where he works. But I wouldn’t describe it as dark academia because it’s much more cozy (and a lot less gothic) than that. This is, however, gaslamp fantasy, with that vaguely Victorian vibe of steam trains and gaslamps and tea houses, where decorum is essential and the rich and the poor live in vastly different circumstances. But Mavery is a practical woman who wears trousers and boots and Alain barely ever leaves his apartment, so don’t expect ballgowns and society events or gloomy slums and foot chases as this does not feel like a fantasy Victorian London (again, it’s much more cozy). I think the world-building was very strong, with that tangible feel of a pretty recognizable world but for the addition of wizards. Magic has fairly clear rules, with an ancient language, different schools of magic, and clear costs for using that magic too much. Inherent magical abilities lead a person towards one of those schools, but they can learn spells in other disciplines. And tea comes up almost as often as spells, so if you’re a fellow tea drinker, you might enjoy that aspect as well. I’m looking forward to more from these characters and this world, as the ending makes me predict that the next installment will open up the world and the history of magic even more.

[Caroline Scheibl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soooo... I really liked the book, but still have a few points that could have been better:

loved:
●middle aged, well developed MCs, they felt like actual sweet people with issues and trauma
●cool SCs: very diverse cast
●the academic setting: even though it is a fantasy world, there's lots of issues actual academia faces (bias, what is funded, which information published...)
●the magic system: very dnd, read a few people found it too complicated, which, no... absolutely not. Give me complexity, issues etc. it's an academic setting so it fit very nicely

wished for different/more:
●hardly female wizards: I feel like this should have been adressed more. I'd loved that, maybe even Alain and Mavery discussing it. I feel like the relationships to the female academics club should have been a bigger part. I'd love that. Maybe in the next book?

● abuse and trauma: both very complex issues. I feel like Alains complex feelings after his SA and the feelings toward his abuser were handled gracefully, they were complex, it was hard to read him defending Conor at some point. But that was very interesting and thought provoking, because of cause, he had loved that men before and saw him as more than just his rapist. That was such a hard thing to read, but it makes a lot of sense. And while his character wasn't redeemed, Alain managed to explain it to himself how and why everything happened the way it did and it was all just messy and hard and painful and complex. That was very unexpected from an otherwise fluffy academia read.
Where I struggled and would have wished for it to be handled differently, was Neldren's abuse towards Mavery. I think that was handled very badly. Studies show that the most dangerous time for women is when they leave their partners. And it turned out true for Mavery. He shot her. He fucking shot her. Because he was hurt, that she left. And he just... needed to apologise to be redeemed? And ended up with a younger woman and working back together with Mavery? That was a bad move, in my opinion. All it made me think was, it will escalate even more with Ellyce, the younger woman, and she won't be as lucky as Mavery. She won't survive him. So, that was handled really, really bad. I know the author needed away for Mavery and Neldren to be done with eachother, but that was not thought out well enough. An apology doesn't redeem domestic violence.
I think, the betrayal of taking all her things and money would have been enough. Maybe let him use the shadow magic to make her blind/unable to move. The way it was handled wasn't ok in my opinion.

ending
●I feel like the ending came a little too soon, and I'd loved finding out more about what they found out in those books.


So you see, all in all, I really liked the book. I do deduct a star to a star and a half for the whole Neldren debacle. I would love a second book, that dives deeper into the world. I'd love for Maveryand Alain to ruffle some staff-in-the-ass-old-wizard feathers. And more of Nox.

[Margins.and.Meanings · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75 ⭐️

Mavery was such a refreshing protagonist to meet! She’s older, a little wiser (at least sometimes), and her gray hairs felt like a small act of rebellion against the genre’s obsession with eternally youthful heroines. She’s messy, but in believable ways, relatable in the very best ways, and was genuinely fun to spend hundreds of pages with.

Alain took a little longer to love, mostly because I spent the first few chapters mentally fighting a Gandalf visual. But, he did grow on me… He’s not the typical “brooding warrior” MMC. He’s academic, thoughtful, sometimes unsure of himself, and that made him an incredibly welcome break from the usual alpha-type MMCs. He’s also the exact contrast Mavery needed, especially given her history with a more traditionally “tough” partner.

The magic system and worldbuilding were standouts: fresh, unique, and delivered with such confidence that it never felt like the author was stopping the story to explain things. Everything is shown in context, woven naturally through dialogue and action. It was immersive without becoming a lecture.

The side characters fill out the world in a really nice way. They feel present and purposeful, without pulling focus or acting as plot devices.

The relationship development is where I thought this book really shined. It’s sweet and slow, and reads very natural… the two noticing small things about the other, them feeling a spark and forcing it back… letting trust accumulate instead of forcing chemistry. Both Mavery and Alain can seem a little chaotic in their own ways, but together they complement each other so naturally that their connection felt inevitable. It’s romantic without being “Romantasy,” and fantasy without sidelining the emotional story arc.

The plot itself is fairly simple, and I mean that as praise. No endless twists or shock-value pivots, just a solid story that builds itself steadily. For most of the book, the larger mystery winds around the edges, but once pieces start slotting into place near the final stretch, I could not put it down. The resolution was incredibly satisfying! Every thread that was introduced throughout the story gets put into its place, and any leftover questions read intentional towards a follow on book.

In summary, this was a thoughtful academic fantasy with a genuinely slowburn relationship (and a little bit of spice!), set in a world with low external stakes. The pace stays steady and engaging, and the worldbuilding (names, terms, and all) is introduced so naturally that it never felt overwhelming. The pronunciation guide is a nice touch, but the clarity of the writing does most of the heavy lifting.

This was an incredibly impressive debut novel. Bravo, NJ Prynne, I can’t wait for book 2!

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the advanced copy of this book!

[Fox Galv · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the enormous joy of having this book land in my hands for beta reading, without fanfare or announcement. And I was the most surprised when it turned out to be one of the best, most entertaining, heartfelt, and moving books I’ve read this year.
The story of our bold, resourceful, and proactive thief-scholar completely captivated me: it’s impossible to read and not be Team Mave from the very start. Her resourcefulness and inventiveness, and the way she quickly finds her footing amid chaos and lands on her feet like a cat, make it so that every time life corners her, you’re absorbed by how our Mave is going to cleverly overcome the next challenge.
There are many books that tell you the protagonist is intelligent—here, it’s shown, and it’s a pleasure to read.
On the other hand, there’s the MMC, who is exactly a sapiosexual’s dream. Brilliant, exceptional, and enormously generous, Alain wins you over with his charm—but even more so with the humor and tenderness in his relationship with Mave. Because when Alain realizes he needs her, the reader (and surely several side characters as well) nod emphatically: yes, dear Alain, you do need Mave’s cleverness in your life!
The side characters are vivid and entertaining, but if I had to choose N.J. Prynne’s greatest strength as a writer…it’s her humor. Oh, my God, that humor. I chortled more than once at her brilliant portrayal of the academic world applied to magic, and her ability to paint such a funny and perfect adaptation of academia—with all its quirks and lively details—made the book an absolute delight for me.
Not only is it one of the funniest, most exciting, and most unexpected stories I’ve read, but also a romance and a friendship impossible to forget. I cannot wait to read more about those two.

[Maria P · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars.

What a wonderfully whimsical and charming debut!

I would describe this story as a romance novel with fantasy elements, because a good portion of the book centres around the relationship between thief-turned-assistant Mavery and wizard-recluse Alain. Both characters feel real with real struggles (and I love the bi representation!) but are mature in their interactions with each other.

The world built by Prynne is refreshingly vivid and light for a fantasy, with lots of details to sink your teeth into - I struggled at times with some of the new varied terms but there are informative pages in the front and back matter to support. Despite the intricacies of this world, the book was an easy read and once I settled into the story, I couldn’t put it down!

I wish that the characters had had to face some higher stakes throughout the plot, as it occasionally felt like the tensions from new conflicts didn’t resolve into anything substantial. However, I think that’s what makes this such a cosy read. I got to immerse myself in the story sensing that the characters and their world would ultimately be okay (for now!).

Even so, I look forward to reading more from this author - especially in the form of a sequel to this series. I need to learn more about Nox and whatever else the wizards may be hiding!

If you’re looking for a new, indie, cosy romantasy to read this autumn you can pick up The Tower of Half-Truths in ebook and paperback form on and after the 10th October 2025 via Amazon and IngramSparks.

Thank you to N.J. Prynne and Victory Editing for the opportunity to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Lindseyrenee · Rating 2 out of 5]

fine but SO LONG

Wow was this book boring for such an interesting story. It just draaaagged on and on and on. I ended up skipping from like 69% to 87% and it was fine. Maybe I missed some of the romance when I skipped ahead, but tbh neither of the MCs were appealing to me at all so that’s not an issue for me. I prefer to think of them as just really close friends, I think. Like idk that I’ve ever been less attracted to an MMC. And even though the FMC was basically my age, she felt so much older. It was like reading about a 56-year old woman and some vaguely ageless and s*xless young adult man/possibly Severus Snape, but the book version where he’s like in his 30s.


Anyways, I read this bc it was recommended as migraine-rep that actually matters for the plot. And while it does matter for the plot, it doesn’t really matter for the romance? And also it doesn’t actually matter that much for the plot, it’s just a vehicle to set up the plot.

I read a goodreads review that was talking about how the whole situation with her ex neldron or whatever his name is was handled poorly, and wow do I agree with that. Like…kind of weird, considering how touchy-feely and consent-kingy the rest of the book is, to basically have DV and the perpetrator is forgiven with an apology (that he forced on her by stalking her).

Anyways, no more of this series for me, but it was fine.

[Siobhan MW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Rating: 4.75/5

I can't empathise enough how much fun I had reading this book! It intrigued me right from the start, and had me hooked the whole way through. Mavery and Alain have such a wonderful dynamic and I love their banter and chemistry. The will-they-won't-they at the beginning was filled with tension and didn't drag on. It was great to see them as a couple in the second half of the book, and they were very cute.

Aside from the wonderful characters, the world felt like it had a lot of depth to it. Everything, from the characters to the setting and the magic system, felt so real. Honestly this is one of my favourite books I've read this year. The only reason it doesn't get a full five stars is because the romance ended up more explicit than I was expecting but that's a personal preference. Can't wait for this book to come out and gain the popularity and raving reviews it deserves!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed this, but the pacing at the end bothered me.

Positives: For a book on the cozier side of fantasy (as the author puts it), I was skeptical of the almost 500 page count. However, I thought most of the story was well paced, and I liked the characters and their relationship development especially throughout the first half of the book. Alain reminds me a bit of Max from Daughter of No Worlds but with a significantly less dark storyline. It’s a nice change of pace from the shadow daddy side of Romantasy that’s so popular. I appreciated that there’s not an excessive amount of inner monologue — being in third person helped with that, and was another refreshing element.

Negatives: The pacing at the end of this book got really weird and rushed. After the romance plotline wrapped up there was still way too much worldbuilding/larger storyline that the book was trying to get through. It didn’t feel like it fit with the genre or pacing of the rest of the book and it had me losing interest. I would have preferred a less expansive, better paced standalone story.

[Eleanor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay so overall, I really did enjoy this book. The writing was amazing and the plot itself was super solid, like, definitely a 5/5 there. The only reason my rating’s a bit lower is because I didn’t actually finish it. Not because it was bad or anything, I just wasn’t really feeling the two main characters.

They had really great chemistry and were honestly adorable together, but I just couldn’t get into them personally. The male lead is kind of a beta type, which isn’t usually my thing. I’m not into alpha males either (those can be cringe), but it just felt like a bit of a role reversal that didn’t totally click for me. That said, if you are into that dynamic, you’ll probably love it.

The romance part was like a 2/5 for me, but the story overall? 5/5. The author is fantastic and I’d still totally recommend it. Just not quite my vibe with the leads.

[Louise Karolina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m surprised at how much I enjoyed A Tower of Half-Truths. I saw that it had recently been released and it sounded interesting, so I gave it a try, going in fairly blind. And wow, I’m glad I decided to pick it up.

To me, it felt like a breath of fresh air. Our main character is 37 and our MMC is close to her in age, so different than the immature barely out of their teens characters I’m used to. And they actually acted their age!

The story and the world is also extremely entertaining, and I really enjoyed the prose. The more I think about it, the more I like this book. A very strong 4.5 stars from me.

Edit: I just realized that this is a standalone? From the way the book ended, I had just assumed that a sequel was on its way. The fact that it is not makes me extremely upset that I won't be able to explore this world further, as I felt it had so much more to offer.

[Carol Ogden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such a happy surprise. After reading hoards of fantasy, things begin to become repetitive and overdone, however this book and its characters felt fresh and unique.

Things I Loved:
💫 MCs were in their 30s
💫 LGBTQ representation
💫 MMC wasn't overtly manly/masculine. He was a needy skinny guy and I loved him more for it
💫 Neurodivergent representation

Things I didn't love
💫 The magic system was a bit confusing and while there is a glossary/index it wasn't explained in depth in the story
💫 The book was really long and dragged at times. I think it could have been edited a bit and kept its special quality
💫 While the book dragged, the ending was SUPER rushed. So many questions left unanswered! Maybe leaving room for book 2?? Not sure.

This is a beautifully written book. The dialogue and story are clever. So much to love about this one!

[Stas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I dnfed this at 53%, skimmed some of the end and decided I made the right choice. the characters didnt resonate with me and the magic system was overly complicated. it felt like it was trying to imitate t. kingfisher's cozy fantasy vibes but the brutal murder of a team member in the first chapter throws the vibes way off and they never really recover with all the sexism and classism other characters are throwing around. theyre clearly portrayed as annoying and wrong but even the presence of those vibes made this decidedly uncozy for me and it felt too unserious for a high fantasy. I didnt enjoy the ending when I skimmed it and im glad I stopped when I did. others might enjoy, just not my cup of tea!

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

My issue with this book was entirely of my own making, so I find this difficult to rate.

I had a hard time reconciling what I though the time period would be with what it actually was.

I think this comes from the most recent books that I thought I would like that started with thief heists turned out to be urban or dystopian fantasies, which I find hard to click with.

My brain kept trying to pre-empt which one this was so I would not be disappointed. But in doing this I lost the spark for the story.

In Prynne's world days have twenty eight hours, but there are trains, guns, magic, and universities.

I did enjoy that at the main characters are in their 30's.

(ARC provided by NetGalley)

[Chelsea Drumm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had a super exciting start, immediately hooking me and drawing me into Mavery's world. I really enjoyed that the FMC is older, I think there are very few romantasy books out there where the FMC is in her late 30s and I want more! More life experience truly makes for a more interesting, relatable character. The MMC was so charmingly bumbling and endearing and nerdy, I LOVE HIM. I think Mavery and Alain are so sweet together. I wish I loved the magic and overall plot more. There were aspects I found interesting and entertaining, but it mostly felt long-winded and it just didn't hold my interest like I was hoping. Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!

[Bella Toric · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had a great premise that from the get go had me curious as to what it was about, and I will be the first to say it kept me utterly hooked the entire time. The world building and development of the characters were done so well, really layering on this great complexity to the book.

I think that the characters being older than your typical fantasy aged main characters, also gat it this depth that I didn't know I needed until I finished reading it! The characters were sweet and cute, definitely a series and author I will be watching going forward!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC!

[Zeenay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a gently told story. I needed to get away from all the court intrigue and emotional labor and unnecessary suspense most fantasy books have been putting me through. This book reads like a flowing stream. I finished it in one day and my heart stayed calm all through. If you’re looking for a gentle friends to lovers romance, a storyline that leads you gently, and main characters that are not perfect but truly beautiful in their humanness… this is the book for you. I hope you enjoy❤️

[Annalise Burtner-Abt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cozy read with realistic awkward moments to warm the heart. The intrigue ramps up in the second half of the book, after the reader has come to know and appreciate both the individual characters and the relationships that develop between them. The ending is satisfying, leaving the future bright. Worth the time.