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Once Bitten, Twice Spy
“With an absolutely action-packed, fast pace plus Anthony’s immersive worldbuilding and rich characters, Once Bitten, Twice Spy is an adventure you can’t put down!”
—Regina Sage, author of Ocean’s Embrace
"Once Bitten, Twice Spy is a gripping ride of twists and turns that will have you hungry for the next page! A perfect blend of sci-fi, fantasy, and romance, it’s a fresh take on a spy novel that is a total game-changer for the genre. Skylar Anthony’s expertly crafted world-building is immersive, and the steamy romance will leave you breathless. Watch out, world—Once Bitten, Twice Spy is about to become your next bookish obsession!"
—Heather Carter, author of To Find a King
“If Mission Impossible and DnD had a book baby, it would be Once Bitten, Twice Spy. Skylar Anthony crafts an intricate world that takes the best of sci-fi and fantasy, and throws it in the blender to produce an intriguing world of elf spies, steamy romance, and sci-fantasy action that is sure to thrill!”
—S.M. Campbell, author of Corrupted Tides
Taylor Grey is the most wanted secret in the a human with magic.After years of running from a group of elves that would love to dissect her, Taylor will do whatever it takes to stay free. Even if it means stealing a priceless elvish relic. Unfortunately, enemy mercenaries steal her one chance at freedom from the elvish homeworld and will only give it back if Taylor does their steal magical tech from the lab where she was held as a child. When she’s double-crossed, however, a mysterious and dangerously charming elvish spy saves her in the nick of time—forcing her to confront everything she’s been running from.
The spy, the enigmatic Eiran, has been tracking the production of the illegal tech for months. Hoping to leverage her connection to the group that created it, he recruits Taylor to help him figure out who the mercenaries are working for… and what they plan to do with a magical weapon. Reluctantly, Taylor agrees to an uneasy partnership, where fragile trust and a complicated attraction blur the lines between ally and enemy.
After traversing both Vale’s forgotten ruins and modern facilities, Taylor uncovers a perilous link between the magical tech, an ancient relic he doesn’t know she stole, and a conspiracy that threatens the balance of the galaxy. To prevent deadly forces from tipping the scales forever, she must risk everything—her freedom, her heart, and the newfound family she never expected to have—to pull off the biggest heist of her life.
Once Bitten, Twice Spy is a genre-bending sci-fi fantasy novel full of daring heists, puzzle-filled treasure hunts, and a swoon-worthy enemies-to-lovers romance reminiscent of Jessie Mihalik’s Hunt the Stars. With a tech-meets-magic world full of unique races and complex traps, it’s perfect for fans of The Crescent City Series by Sarah J. Maas or Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir.
Praise for Once Bitten, Twice Spy"A fast-paced action/adventure, with smooth worldbuilding and a seamless blend of sci-fi and fantasy, Once Bitten, Twice Spy has a bit of from puzzles, fight scenes, and creepy bad guys; to humor, wholesome friendships, and a slow-burn romance that will drive you mad!"
–Avalon Birch, writer
"It didn’t disappoint.
—Regina Sage, author of Ocean’s Embrace
"Once Bitten, Twice Spy is a gripping ride of twists and turns that will have you hungry for the next page! A perfect blend of sci-fi, fantasy, and romance, it’s a fresh take on a spy novel that is a total game-changer for the genre. Skylar Anthony’s expertly crafted world-building is immersive, and the steamy romance will leave you breathless. Watch out, world—Once Bitten, Twice Spy is about to become your next bookish obsession!"
—Heather Carter, author of To Find a King
“If Mission Impossible and DnD had a book baby, it would be Once Bitten, Twice Spy. Skylar Anthony crafts an intricate world that takes the best of sci-fi and fantasy, and throws it in the blender to produce an intriguing world of elf spies, steamy romance, and sci-fantasy action that is sure to thrill!”
—S.M. Campbell, author of Corrupted Tides
Taylor Grey is the most wanted secret in the a human with magic.After years of running from a group of elves that would love to dissect her, Taylor will do whatever it takes to stay free. Even if it means stealing a priceless elvish relic. Unfortunately, enemy mercenaries steal her one chance at freedom from the elvish homeworld and will only give it back if Taylor does their steal magical tech from the lab where she was held as a child. When she’s double-crossed, however, a mysterious and dangerously charming elvish spy saves her in the nick of time—forcing her to confront everything she’s been running from.
The spy, the enigmatic Eiran, has been tracking the production of the illegal tech for months. Hoping to leverage her connection to the group that created it, he recruits Taylor to help him figure out who the mercenaries are working for… and what they plan to do with a magical weapon. Reluctantly, Taylor agrees to an uneasy partnership, where fragile trust and a complicated attraction blur the lines between ally and enemy.
After traversing both Vale’s forgotten ruins and modern facilities, Taylor uncovers a perilous link between the magical tech, an ancient relic he doesn’t know she stole, and a conspiracy that threatens the balance of the galaxy. To prevent deadly forces from tipping the scales forever, she must risk everything—her freedom, her heart, and the newfound family she never expected to have—to pull off the biggest heist of her life.
Once Bitten, Twice Spy is a genre-bending sci-fi fantasy novel full of daring heists, puzzle-filled treasure hunts, and a swoon-worthy enemies-to-lovers romance reminiscent of Jessie Mihalik’s Hunt the Stars. With a tech-meets-magic world full of unique races and complex traps, it’s perfect for fans of The Crescent City Series by Sarah J. Maas or Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir.
Praise for Once Bitten, Twice Spy"A fast-paced action/adventure, with smooth worldbuilding and a seamless blend of sci-fi and fantasy, Once Bitten, Twice Spy has a bit of from puzzles, fight scenes, and creepy bad guys; to humor, wholesome friendships, and a slow-burn romance that will drive you mad!"
–Avalon Birch, writer
"It didn’t disappoint.
438 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 17, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 12, 2025
This was my first SciFi read! I did enjoy the story line and really connected with the characters. It was a little hard for me to keep up with terminology and the science, but again i don’t normally read things like this so it was an adjustment. I did enjoy the heists and mystery! Following the puzzle was very cool.
March 10, 2026
Really enjoyed this book! I was expecting something a bit more traditional heist focused, and while there were heist elements, this was so much more than that. Adventure, romance, neat worldbuilding, strong characters - I loved it all!
March 12, 2026
An exciting and imaginative story that kept me hooked from start to finish. The world-building is unique, and the characters are engaging. A great read for anyone who enjoys fantasy with a fresh twist.
September 1, 2025
I finished this book so fast. I was able to do a positivity pass on this book back in early spring and it was one of my favorite reads. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the full manuscript once ARCs were available!
And it didn’t disappoint. This book kept me
guessing the entire time. Eiran and Taylor have great chemistry and banter. The lush prose in my opinion was comparable to Rachel Gilleg’s The Knight and the Moth full of immersive and beautiful descriptors.
The world building was well done and sprinkled in perfectly to avoid exposition and painted a clear picture of the universe. These are MCs you root for intertwined with an interesting storyline.
With the right marketing, this book has the potential to go far in the indie publishing world.
And it didn’t disappoint. This book kept me
guessing the entire time. Eiran and Taylor have great chemistry and banter. The lush prose in my opinion was comparable to Rachel Gilleg’s The Knight and the Moth full of immersive and beautiful descriptors.
The world building was well done and sprinkled in perfectly to avoid exposition and painted a clear picture of the universe. These are MCs you root for intertwined with an interesting storyline.
With the right marketing, this book has the potential to go far in the indie publishing world.
July 29, 2026
*Once Bitten, Twice Spy* is the kind of book that grabs you from the first chapter and never lets go. It brilliantly blends science fiction, fantasy, romance, and action into one unforgettable adventure. The world-building is imaginative, the pacing is fast, and every twist kept me wanting just one more chapter.
Taylor is a heroine you can't help but root for. She's strong, resourceful, and carries the weight of her past while refusing to give up her freedom. I also loved the chemistry between Taylor and Eiran. Their slow-burn relationship felt natural, filled with witty banter, trust, and emotional tension that made every moment between them worthwhile.
What really stood out to me was the found family element. The friendships and loyalty added so much heart to an already exciting story filled with daring heists, magical powers, and galaxy-spanning adventure.
If you love romantasy, space adventures, enemies-to-lovers romance, and unforgettable characters, *Once Bitten, Twice Spy* is a must-read. It left me completely invested in this world and hoping there is much more to come.
Taylor is a heroine you can't help but root for. She's strong, resourceful, and carries the weight of her past while refusing to give up her freedom. I also loved the chemistry between Taylor and Eiran. Their slow-burn relationship felt natural, filled with witty banter, trust, and emotional tension that made every moment between them worthwhile.
What really stood out to me was the found family element. The friendships and loyalty added so much heart to an already exciting story filled with daring heists, magical powers, and galaxy-spanning adventure.
If you love romantasy, space adventures, enemies-to-lovers romance, and unforgettable characters, *Once Bitten, Twice Spy* is a must-read. It left me completely invested in this world and hoping there is much more to come.
July 25, 2026
Okay so this was totally fun and I really enjoyed the side quest from horror for a moment.
I was given this in exchange for a honest review and thank you!
Taylor has been running for a long time, running from humans, running from elves, running from her life and just trying to survive. There is a lot going on here but I really enjoyed it and the author did a great job showing not telling, which I appreciate.
The characters made this world and it was so fun getting to dig in and learn about them, there was a lot of science and well world building but it didn't loose you while you were in the book, you stayed invested, you had to know more.
No matter where you want to go, I'm with you. I'll follow you to the end of the galaxy..
This was more then a scifi, there was romance, friendships and characters I loved and the drama and tension worrying, will they make it, will Taylor survive and save everyone she loves or loose everything to pull off this heist.
And even more importantly is Eiran what they seem to be truly..
I was given this in exchange for a honest review and thank you!
Taylor has been running for a long time, running from humans, running from elves, running from her life and just trying to survive. There is a lot going on here but I really enjoyed it and the author did a great job showing not telling, which I appreciate.
The characters made this world and it was so fun getting to dig in and learn about them, there was a lot of science and well world building but it didn't loose you while you were in the book, you stayed invested, you had to know more.
No matter where you want to go, I'm with you. I'll follow you to the end of the galaxy..
This was more then a scifi, there was romance, friendships and characters I loved and the drama and tension worrying, will they make it, will Taylor survive and save everyone she loves or loose everything to pull off this heist.
And even more importantly is Eiran what they seem to be truly..
October 7, 2025
At first glance, you'll find that this book is an action-packed heist novel set on a solarpunk planet (think Six of Crows meets Indiana Jones on Pandora). But as you read, you'll discover so much more here: a cast of unique characters who grow from reluctant allies to fierce family, each one empathetic in their own way; a well-paced and steamy enemies-to-lovers slow burn romance; and an entwining maze of twists that will keep you turning those pages as fast as you can. Get ready to buckle in and enjoy the ride!
March 2, 2026
Once Bitten, Twice Spy is a thrilling, genre-bending adventure that seamlessly fuses sci-fi, fantasy, and romance. Taylor Grey’s daring heists and the enigmatic Eiran’s espionage make for a high-stakes, edge-of-your-seat narrative, full of clever puzzles, action-packed encounters, and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance. Skylar Anthony delivers rich worldbuilding, complex characters, and a plot brimming with twists, making this a must-read for fans of magical tech, daring escapades, and interstellar intrigue.
October 20, 2025
“Yes,Taylor. A thousand times, yes. No matter where you want to go, I’m with you. I’ll follow you to the end of the galaxy.”
I really enjoyed this book. This is a low-spice sci-fi fantasy with a little sprinkle of romance. I loved the fighting scenes! The world building was done well, and I was left guessing and trying to figure out what was going to happen. I'd recommend giving this book a try. It was such a refreshing read. It was a different vibe from my typical romance books.
I really enjoyed this book. This is a low-spice sci-fi fantasy with a little sprinkle of romance. I loved the fighting scenes! The world building was done well, and I was left guessing and trying to figure out what was going to happen. I'd recommend giving this book a try. It was such a refreshing read. It was a different vibe from my typical romance books.
October 24, 2025
What an incredible read! The action starts early and never lets up, but it’s the emotional depth that surprised me most. Taylor’s struggle to trust again after a lifetime of running hit me hard. The world-building is stunning, elves, relics, and futuristic tech all tied into one believable universe. The romance is slow, tense, and perfectly balanced with the spy-thriller energy. I could not put it down.
October 17, 2025
This was an action-packed fast read! The immersive world building, branch daddy, and overall rich characters really draw the reader in. Once you start it, you can't put it down!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews