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Harbinger
Arden Icaros was never supposed to matter. From the poorest of five noble bloodlines, she prefers life on the family farm with dirt under her nails over the fine dresses at court. She just needs to get through one boring ceremony, inherit her earth magic, and return home.
Instead, she's handed a dagger and with it, an impossible choice.
Now Arden is branded an omen of war, half the nobility wants her dead, and assassins are tracking her every move.
Her only chance of survival lies with the most feared man in Antares.
They call him Bishop. No one remembers the name he had before he dedicated his life to his order. Empowered to execute first and question later, Bishop is ruthless, terrifying, and utterly loyal to the kingdom that wants Arden dead.
He should kill her.
Instead, he offers her sanctuary.
But the longer Arden stays under Bishop's protection, the more dangerous he becomes. Because Bishop has secrets powerful enough to topple kingdoms...and a need for Arden that could ruin them both.
Instead, she's handed a dagger and with it, an impossible choice.
Now Arden is branded an omen of war, half the nobility wants her dead, and assassins are tracking her every move.
Her only chance of survival lies with the most feared man in Antares.
They call him Bishop. No one remembers the name he had before he dedicated his life to his order. Empowered to execute first and question later, Bishop is ruthless, terrifying, and utterly loyal to the kingdom that wants Arden dead.
He should kill her.
Instead, he offers her sanctuary.
But the longer Arden stays under Bishop's protection, the more dangerous he becomes. Because Bishop has secrets powerful enough to topple kingdoms...and a need for Arden that could ruin them both.
496 pages, Hardcover
First published September 10, 2026
About the author
Geneva Lee
94 books5,786 followersGeneva Lee is the New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author of the Birthright Cycle, the Royals Saga, and the Iconsverse, amongst other works. A recovering academic, Geneva traded studying books for writing them and never looked back. She currently lives in Kansas City with her high-school sweetheart, three children, two cats, and a rescued goldendoodle named Honey.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,153 reviews
September 18, 2026
4.5⭐️ this was so good!! The high stakes, intriguing world building and characters in this kept me hooked. The last portion of this book was such a wild ride and I need the next book yesterday 😭
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
★ ★ ★ ★ | 3.75 stars
this book was pretty good! arden was such a strong fmc, and i really enjoyed watching her character develop throughout the story. she was definitely one of my favorite parts of the book. bishop was also too good. the way he protected arden had me in tears. he was such a caring character, and i loved seeing their relationship develop.
the plot twists were honestly crazy. there were so many moments where i thought i knew what was going to happen, only for the story to completely throw me off. and that epilogue was insane.
the one thing i didn’t enjoy too much was the writing. it felt soooo choppy in some places, which made a few scenes harder to get into. since this is an arc i’m hoping the writing gets polished up before it publishes.
overall, i really enjoyed this book! it had a strong fmc, a lovable mmc, plenty of twists, and an ending that definitely caught my attention. it wasn’t anything super memorable for me, but i had a good time reading it and would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys this kind of story.
thank u to net galley, red tower/entangled, and the author for the arc!!
this book was pretty good! arden was such a strong fmc, and i really enjoyed watching her character develop throughout the story. she was definitely one of my favorite parts of the book. bishop was also too good. the way he protected arden had me in tears. he was such a caring character, and i loved seeing their relationship develop.
the plot twists were honestly crazy. there were so many moments where i thought i knew what was going to happen, only for the story to completely throw me off. and that epilogue was insane.
the one thing i didn’t enjoy too much was the writing. it felt soooo choppy in some places, which made a few scenes harder to get into. since this is an arc i’m hoping the writing gets polished up before it publishes.
overall, i really enjoyed this book! it had a strong fmc, a lovable mmc, plenty of twists, and an ending that definitely caught my attention. it wasn’t anything super memorable for me, but i had a good time reading it and would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys this kind of story.
thank u to net galley, red tower/entangled, and the author for the arc!!
October 17, 2026
”Carve out my heart,” I say, my voice steady. “You’ll find his name written there.”
BISHOP MARIUS? 100000/10. no complaints. outwardly, he can come across as broody but really he’s just got that quiet type of attentiveness and observation. he’s not the kind of man who speaks too much on his feelings, but he will show an insane amount of devotion through all his actions. HE’S EVERYTHING TO ME.
now, the rest of the book? horrible pacing tbh. the beginning and the end were so damn good, but the middle was almost unbearably boring. i liked the use of the reverse chosen one trope with the fmc Arden, but i feel like her character was underutilized in her own pov.
the magic is tied to the stars, Arden’s powers has her viewed as more of a bad omen than someone who will do the saving. there were a couple moments that genuinely had my jaw on the floor (both from sadness and utter shock & disbelief). i am dying to see what’s gonna happen next bc the ENDING!!!!!!! SEND HELP
BISHOP MARIUS? 100000/10. no complaints. outwardly, he can come across as broody but really he’s just got that quiet type of attentiveness and observation. he’s not the kind of man who speaks too much on his feelings, but he will show an insane amount of devotion through all his actions. HE’S EVERYTHING TO ME.
now, the rest of the book? horrible pacing tbh. the beginning and the end were so damn good, but the middle was almost unbearably boring. i liked the use of the reverse chosen one trope with the fmc Arden, but i feel like her character was underutilized in her own pov.
the magic is tied to the stars, Arden’s powers has her viewed as more of a bad omen than someone who will do the saving. there were a couple moments that genuinely had my jaw on the floor (both from sadness and utter shock & disbelief). i am dying to see what’s gonna happen next bc the ENDING!!!!!!! SEND HELP
October 16, 2026
I received a post release ALC from the rbMedia Listening Circle influencer program. Opinions are always my own.
OH. MY. GOD. This book had me in a chokehold. I could not stop reading it. While this is by no means a short book at almost 500 pages, the pacing tramples on at breakneck speed and will make sure you forget to breathe at times. Holy cannoli.
The book follows Arden Icaros, the daughter of a noble house, who was supposed to go through a simple ceremony to receive her power from the stars and go back to the farm she grew up in. But when she is given a dagger and has to make an impossible choice, she chooses mercy. A choice that ends up branding her as the Harbinger. Her only chance of survival is a man named Bishop, the most dangerous man in Antares.
This book starts straight at the moment of the ceremony and doesn't slow down for even a second. And it kept me on the edge of my seat, wanting to know more. The romance is absolutely delectable and filled with tension for all the right reasons. The attraction between the characters leapt off the page and made me want to keep reading even more.
The audio:
The audiobook of this was stunning. The voice actress is one of the very best I've heard. Abigail Reno conveys emotion in a way that's very comparable to Elizabeth Evans (Throne of Glass audiobooks). The raw grief and emotions are audible and very well done. At the end of the audio we hear one chapter in the MMCs voice, a voice actor that I couldn't fault either.
Overall, it's just very good. The story managed to grip me from the very start and keep my heart rate high throughout the book. Sometimes it could have used a pause here and there, to make certain events more emotionally impactful. The ending makes me want to read the next book even more. I also very much loved the audio and would highly recommend it.
OH. MY. GOD. This book had me in a chokehold. I could not stop reading it. While this is by no means a short book at almost 500 pages, the pacing tramples on at breakneck speed and will make sure you forget to breathe at times. Holy cannoli.
The book follows Arden Icaros, the daughter of a noble house, who was supposed to go through a simple ceremony to receive her power from the stars and go back to the farm she grew up in. But when she is given a dagger and has to make an impossible choice, she chooses mercy. A choice that ends up branding her as the Harbinger. Her only chance of survival is a man named Bishop, the most dangerous man in Antares.
This book starts straight at the moment of the ceremony and doesn't slow down for even a second. And it kept me on the edge of my seat, wanting to know more. The romance is absolutely delectable and filled with tension for all the right reasons. The attraction between the characters leapt off the page and made me want to keep reading even more.
The audio:
The audiobook of this was stunning. The voice actress is one of the very best I've heard. Abigail Reno conveys emotion in a way that's very comparable to Elizabeth Evans (Throne of Glass audiobooks). The raw grief and emotions are audible and very well done. At the end of the audio we hear one chapter in the MMCs voice, a voice actor that I couldn't fault either.
Overall, it's just very good. The story managed to grip me from the very start and keep my heart rate high throughout the book. Sometimes it could have used a pause here and there, to make certain events more emotionally impactful. The ending makes me want to read the next book even more. I also very much loved the audio and would highly recommend it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to entangled publishing, Netgalley and Geneva Lee for the advanced eARC.
This was a hard dnf for me unfortunately. I was so thrilled to receive an eARC, based on the description I thought for sure Harbinger would be exactly my cup of tea considering I loved books with similar vibes published by entangled.
However, unlike those similar books, Harbinger was a pretty quick flop for me. The world building that was initially intriguing quickly grew confusing to the point where I could no longer suspend disbelief among the dozens of plot-holes. Not only did it barely make any sense but the fact that I had to read three chapters just to learn the FMCs name and premise of the plot was irritating. Add that to the wildly popular insta-lust with a “shadow daddy” booktok trope and I ultimately stopped being interested at all by the time I hit the fourth chapter.
⚠️ SPOILERS AHEAD ⚠️
Harbinger follows Arden, the 25yo daughter of a prominent family who visits the capital of their country for her Petition during the quincentennial year after some war. While I respect Geneva Lee’s attempt to treat readers as capable of critical thought I won’t lie her attempt at setting up a believable, logical, magic system starts and ends within the first chapter. Arden explains that the Patron family’s have magic and go through a ritual (aka Petition) when they turn 25 which is when their magic may or may not manifest— and if it *does* manifest it may take years to fully develop and master.
First plot hole: why the hell is a magic-dependent society (let alone a family who’s magic supplies the kingdom with crops -everyone presumably needs to eat-) waiting until TWENTY-FIVE to manifest potential magic? If it takes years to fully develop and master it’s completely logical to assume that some people go their entire lives magicless or unable to wield to their full potential. So you have a society built on the backs of a very select group of lucky individuals who are both blessed and talented. This could have been a way more intense internal character motivation than it was portrayed to be. Because for all intents and purposes Arden goes into her petition, doesn’t kill some bird, goes back to the palace and has breakfast the next day. Her internal dialogue didn’t emphasize the risk of failure or explain the fallacy of a society choosing to rely on the magical-few who succeed.
second plot hole: how is a family who (according to Arden) supplies the entire country with food not also consequently one of the richest and most profitable families? Why is it that in the second chapter we immediately see them portrayed as poor enough to be forced to let go of all their household staff with the exception of one guard (who happens to have feelings for her sister and is definitely *not* going to at some point turn into a Love Interest or antagonist? Lol) Arden comes from a Patron line and is, along with her three siblings, a direct descendent of someone extremely important to their entire country. HOW ARE THEY POOR? Where did the money go? We’re talking 500 years of family influence over one of the most basic human necessities—FOOD—and they’re broke?? Gtfo. Either the country is starving and everyone hates them (another good motivator) or their parents swindled them into poverty (a better motivator than their parents both dying) OR their family was cursed and we need to know more.
third plot hole: bishops are supposed to be elite magical soldiers that take years to train and are super rare and lethal. Then how tf could the bishop (instant heart throb and probably-self-proclaimed-shadow daddy) be anything short of an elderly man? Keep in mind their magic doesn’t manifest until after 25 and after that it takes years to fully develop, train and master. So he’s either a magical super nerd or has a dozen secrets up his sleeve. Knowing the vibes so far I’m assuming it’s the latter.
To be fair I only hit 10% during my read. So this may be a completely unfair review and some of these plot holes may eventually be discussed or patched up through exposition later on within the story. What I’m saying is I don’t care enough about Arden (the FMC equivalent of a limp handshake), The Bishop (Xaden Riorson in a different font), or any of the other side characters briefly introduced within the first four chapters to continue reading. This is the quintessential booktok Romantasy being mass marketed by its load-bearing “Shadow Daddy” and “Enemies 2 Lovers Snark” tropes… hard pass.
This was a hard dnf for me unfortunately. I was so thrilled to receive an eARC, based on the description I thought for sure Harbinger would be exactly my cup of tea considering I loved books with similar vibes published by entangled.
However, unlike those similar books, Harbinger was a pretty quick flop for me. The world building that was initially intriguing quickly grew confusing to the point where I could no longer suspend disbelief among the dozens of plot-holes. Not only did it barely make any sense but the fact that I had to read three chapters just to learn the FMCs name and premise of the plot was irritating. Add that to the wildly popular insta-lust with a “shadow daddy” booktok trope and I ultimately stopped being interested at all by the time I hit the fourth chapter.
⚠️ SPOILERS AHEAD ⚠️
Harbinger follows Arden, the 25yo daughter of a prominent family who visits the capital of their country for her Petition during the quincentennial year after some war. While I respect Geneva Lee’s attempt to treat readers as capable of critical thought I won’t lie her attempt at setting up a believable, logical, magic system starts and ends within the first chapter. Arden explains that the Patron family’s have magic and go through a ritual (aka Petition) when they turn 25 which is when their magic may or may not manifest— and if it *does* manifest it may take years to fully develop and master.
First plot hole: why the hell is a magic-dependent society (let alone a family who’s magic supplies the kingdom with crops -everyone presumably needs to eat-) waiting until TWENTY-FIVE to manifest potential magic? If it takes years to fully develop and master it’s completely logical to assume that some people go their entire lives magicless or unable to wield to their full potential. So you have a society built on the backs of a very select group of lucky individuals who are both blessed and talented. This could have been a way more intense internal character motivation than it was portrayed to be. Because for all intents and purposes Arden goes into her petition, doesn’t kill some bird, goes back to the palace and has breakfast the next day. Her internal dialogue didn’t emphasize the risk of failure or explain the fallacy of a society choosing to rely on the magical-few who succeed.
second plot hole: how is a family who (according to Arden) supplies the entire country with food not also consequently one of the richest and most profitable families? Why is it that in the second chapter we immediately see them portrayed as poor enough to be forced to let go of all their household staff with the exception of one guard (who happens to have feelings for her sister and is definitely *not* going to at some point turn into a Love Interest or antagonist? Lol) Arden comes from a Patron line and is, along with her three siblings, a direct descendent of someone extremely important to their entire country. HOW ARE THEY POOR? Where did the money go? We’re talking 500 years of family influence over one of the most basic human necessities—FOOD—and they’re broke?? Gtfo. Either the country is starving and everyone hates them (another good motivator) or their parents swindled them into poverty (a better motivator than their parents both dying) OR their family was cursed and we need to know more.
third plot hole: bishops are supposed to be elite magical soldiers that take years to train and are super rare and lethal. Then how tf could the bishop (instant heart throb and probably-self-proclaimed-shadow daddy) be anything short of an elderly man? Keep in mind their magic doesn’t manifest until after 25 and after that it takes years to fully develop, train and master. So he’s either a magical super nerd or has a dozen secrets up his sleeve. Knowing the vibes so far I’m assuming it’s the latter.
To be fair I only hit 10% during my read. So this may be a completely unfair review and some of these plot holes may eventually be discussed or patched up through exposition later on within the story. What I’m saying is I don’t care enough about Arden (the FMC equivalent of a limp handshake), The Bishop (Xaden Riorson in a different font), or any of the other side characters briefly introduced within the first four chapters to continue reading. This is the quintessential booktok Romantasy being mass marketed by its load-bearing “Shadow Daddy” and “Enemies 2 Lovers Snark” tropes… hard pass.
September 21, 2026
This book wrecked me in the best way. I lost sleep. I couldn’t stop thinking about what was going to happen next and then at the end … got my heart ripped out … 10/10 would do it again. This is top tier book boyfriend material here !!! Bishop is soo swoon worthy while making you want to tear your hair out (or clothes off ) for being so respectful. Arden is the sass I always want in my life and would often make me giggle at the outrageous things she says while she speaks her mind. The world building / lore isn’t heavy and it’s the kind you find organically as you read and is really fun and kept me super invested. Loved the found family aspect in this with Kieran / Arden and the Order for Bishop. Also why is it sooooo sexy that his name is his title and it’s just like, yup, that’s Bishop !!! I am dying to see how everything plays out in book two !!!
October 19, 2026
Slept less than two hours because I couldn’t stop once I picked it up!
This book is so much better than the Fae series by Lee it’s like she completely leveled up her game! Also I really liked those books. Harbinger’s got a compelling plot & world unrelated to the romance. It’s practically impossible to find Romantasy that doesn’t feel completely contrived to push two people together. Id happily read the version of this book that’s straight fantasy, that’s how invested I am in the story!
I really like the way Lee writes her female characters. Arden seems grounded and real. Shes funny, loves her family, practical (at times), she gets angry, scared, depressed and she makes plenty of stupid choices. Arden isn’t extreme, she seems like a relatively normal person in a bizarre situation.
I appreciate there wasn’t too much ridiculousness in the love story. Arden definitely wants to jump Bishop from the get go but no instalove. They are similarly mid to late 20s, both have been sexually active in the past and apart from a quick bit of nonsense no breaking up to protect the other person. The spice was slow burn til the last third. Then you get a few very detailed scenes 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Reasons I didn’t rate this higher: could have easily cut 50pgs and I’m not on board with the crazy cliff hanger. I could see one part of it coming but I thought it would happen in book two. It was jammed in so quickly in the last chapter or two that I seriously have some questions. Like it doesn’t even fully make sense??? I need book two for so many reasons but mainly because Lee has some big gaps I need her to fill in.
This book is so much better than the Fae series by Lee it’s like she completely leveled up her game! Also I really liked those books. Harbinger’s got a compelling plot & world unrelated to the romance. It’s practically impossible to find Romantasy that doesn’t feel completely contrived to push two people together. Id happily read the version of this book that’s straight fantasy, that’s how invested I am in the story!
I really like the way Lee writes her female characters. Arden seems grounded and real. Shes funny, loves her family, practical (at times), she gets angry, scared, depressed and she makes plenty of stupid choices. Arden isn’t extreme, she seems like a relatively normal person in a bizarre situation.
I appreciate there wasn’t too much ridiculousness in the love story. Arden definitely wants to jump Bishop from the get go but no instalove. They are similarly mid to late 20s, both have been sexually active in the past and apart from a quick bit of nonsense no breaking up to protect the other person. The spice was slow burn til the last third. Then you get a few very detailed scenes 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Reasons I didn’t rate this higher: could have easily cut 50pgs and I’m not on board with the crazy cliff hanger. I could see one part of it coming but I thought it would happen in book two. It was jammed in so quickly in the last chapter or two that I seriously have some questions. Like it doesn’t even fully make sense??? I need book two for so many reasons but mainly because Lee has some big gaps I need her to fill in.
September 17, 2026
09/11/2026-09/17/2026
ARDEN AND BISHOP 🐦⬛💛
I had soooo much fun reading Harbringer by Geneva Lee it was an absolute ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read! (And it’s out this Tuesday too 😏)
Thank you so much to Genevas street team for making sure all of us got gifted physical arcs from Red Tower which was super cool! 🥹
I was able to partake in the Entangled insiders read-a-long (I hopped in a little late!) AND am currently participating in Geneva’s read-a-long questions! Both read-a-long questions have made this book 100x more fun and have added so much depth to what I’ve taken away!
This book truly is the enemies to lovers slowburn that NEVER stopped giving! Bishop was THE morally grey shadow daddy who carried mega “Touch her and D!e” energy and it kept me gasping, kicking my feet AND giggling 🖤
ARDEN AND BISHOP 🐦⬛💛
I had soooo much fun reading Harbringer by Geneva Lee it was an absolute ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read! (And it’s out this Tuesday too 😏)
Thank you so much to Genevas street team for making sure all of us got gifted physical arcs from Red Tower which was super cool! 🥹
I was able to partake in the Entangled insiders read-a-long (I hopped in a little late!) AND am currently participating in Geneva’s read-a-long questions! Both read-a-long questions have made this book 100x more fun and have added so much depth to what I’ve taken away!
This book truly is the enemies to lovers slowburn that NEVER stopped giving! Bishop was THE morally grey shadow daddy who carried mega “Touch her and D!e” energy and it kept me gasping, kicking my feet AND giggling 🖤
September 27, 2026
DNF @ 25% - The writing reads just very immature with internet-cadence and phrasing. Major logical fallacies in the world-building...like how is her family on the verge of financial ruin if they are responsible for the entire continent's food sources? A quarter of the way through the book and I still have no idea of the main plot conflict and no sense of the character's real personality beyond the FMC's repetitive inner monologue.
July 29, 2026
This may be one of my top reads of the year. Everything about Harbinger pulled me in, and I couldn’t get enough. The world-building, the character development, the pacing, every piece of it just came together so well.
Just when I thought I had everything figured out, another twist would catch me completely off guard and pull me even deeper into the story. I was hooked from beginning to end.
Watching Arden and Bishop’s relationship develop was one of my favorite parts. Seeing them slowly work through their fears and past trauma together had me kicking my feet like a schoolgirl. Their chemistry felt earned, and I loved every moment of their journey.
Arden is such a strong FMC from the very beginning, but she still experiences meaningful growth throughout the story. It made her feel incredibly compelling and easy to root for.
This was an incredible read, and I already can’t wait to see what comes next.
Just when I thought I had everything figured out, another twist would catch me completely off guard and pull me even deeper into the story. I was hooked from beginning to end.
Watching Arden and Bishop’s relationship develop was one of my favorite parts. Seeing them slowly work through their fears and past trauma together had me kicking my feet like a schoolgirl. Their chemistry felt earned, and I loved every moment of their journey.
Arden is such a strong FMC from the very beginning, but she still experiences meaningful growth throughout the story. It made her feel incredibly compelling and easy to root for.
This was an incredible read, and I already can’t wait to see what comes next.
October 18, 2026
Not great but still a good time
3.75⭐️
2/5🌶️
Single/first person POV
Book 1 in a multi-book series
Format: hardcover
Spoiler free
This is a good example of a classic, formulaic romantasy that can also be simple, easy fun & it’s quick to read through. The world building/magic system is very easy to understand but with a little something of its own uniqueness. I appreciate how there’s no info dumping; we learn as the lead does.
I’m also always down for an FMC that’s not bratty/stabby. While yes, she’s snarky but it’s in a fierce underdog way. She starts out as a plain Jane then is thrust into her new reality where she may be “the one” but that doesn’t mean she’s just all of the sudden “magical.” She has to start from the bottom & work on herself; she’s learning & struggling & hoping for answers but determined & strong. I kept waiting for her “specialness” to come in & was pleasantly surprised with the end result. Which is a good thing IMO because this is a planned 5 book series so there looks to be plenty still to look forward too.
The MMC here sounds great in theory. I love me a white haired man & this guy exudes mysterious sexiness. But I wish this medium burn lasted longer. For a 5 book series, this would have hit more if the author saved the lovey dovey stuff for later because it felt a bit rushed. But also because he lacks a bigger presence in her journey to warrant such results. & also especially because the push/pull from them both felt forced & ill timed. But they do have great chemistry & the romance was sweet which Lee also knows how to do well.
The biggest drawback for me is the pacing. The story started off fire then lost its footing regarding her journey after a quarter of the way. The plot started to drag. The writing felt almost too simple & easy, more clunky & disjointed.
The plot lost itself until it found itself again. It stopped🤌 giving until the end. Which, I do appreciate how the end isn’t a steep cliffhanger but a clean ending for more to come. & that plot twist was gentle but interesting😅
3.75⭐️
2/5🌶️
Single/first person POV
Book 1 in a multi-book series
Format: hardcover
Spoiler free
This is a good example of a classic, formulaic romantasy that can also be simple, easy fun & it’s quick to read through. The world building/magic system is very easy to understand but with a little something of its own uniqueness. I appreciate how there’s no info dumping; we learn as the lead does.
I’m also always down for an FMC that’s not bratty/stabby. While yes, she’s snarky but it’s in a fierce underdog way. She starts out as a plain Jane then is thrust into her new reality where she may be “the one” but that doesn’t mean she’s just all of the sudden “magical.” She has to start from the bottom & work on herself; she’s learning & struggling & hoping for answers but determined & strong. I kept waiting for her “specialness” to come in & was pleasantly surprised with the end result. Which is a good thing IMO because this is a planned 5 book series so there looks to be plenty still to look forward too.
The MMC here sounds great in theory. I love me a white haired man & this guy exudes mysterious sexiness. But I wish this medium burn lasted longer. For a 5 book series, this would have hit more if the author saved the lovey dovey stuff for later because it felt a bit rushed. But also because he lacks a bigger presence in her journey to warrant such results. & also especially because the push/pull from them both felt forced & ill timed. But they do have great chemistry & the romance was sweet which Lee also knows how to do well.
The biggest drawback for me is the pacing. The story started off fire then lost its footing regarding her journey after a quarter of the way. The plot started to drag. The writing felt almost too simple & easy, more clunky & disjointed.
The plot lost itself until it found itself again. It stopped🤌 giving until the end. Which, I do appreciate how the end isn’t a steep cliffhanger but a clean ending for more to come. & that plot twist was gentle but interesting😅
October 29, 2026
this book altered my brain chemistry. i had so much fun reading this and omg that cliffhanger was brutal 😭
September 23, 2026
Thank you Entangled/Red Tower for the gifted book!
✦ 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ✦
This was an epic Romantasy read that felt comfortingly familiar, delivering on a narrative packed with political intrigue and a slow burn, forbidden romance. However, while its foundation was solid, I found the execution stumbled a bit over repetitive descriptions and pacing issues.
The world building was well done. I loved how clearly defined the contrast was between the rural fringes of Antares and the superficial beauty of the royal court. The celestial magic system was also original and interesting.
The opening chapters hooked me right away, but after the explosive introduction I felt that the narrative slowed to a complete crawl. Although I continued to be very intrigued by the plot, I found this hard to read. The midsection was overrun by training sequences and repetitive internal monologues that frequently derailed even the smallest amount of plot momentum. This was a high stakes story, so the intensity of this slow pace felt off for me.
Furthermore, the prose frequently looped back to the same descriptive phrases and emotional beats. We are reminded of the characters' internal angst, their past trauma, and Bishop's terrifying, broody demeanor a few too many times, which I felt diminished the impact of their actual character development.
That being said, the chemistry between Bishop and Arden was undeniable. I loved her stubborn, fierce demeanor and could completely believe she was able to keep up with Bishop's intensity. Their dialogue was filled with tension, and I really loved watching Bishop slowly open up over the course of their journey together.
While the pacing might require some patience and the redundancy of the prose could have been heavily trimmed down in my opinion, the explosive finale did a great job of pulling me back into the story.
I recommend this one to those who have the patience for the long game. This was clearly setting up a much larger series, and I look forward to seeing if the next book has a little more action.
𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙚:
He Falls First
Fate vs Free Will
Forbidden Romance
Trauma and Loss
Reluctant Allies
Class Dynamics
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✦ 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ✦
This was an epic Romantasy read that felt comfortingly familiar, delivering on a narrative packed with political intrigue and a slow burn, forbidden romance. However, while its foundation was solid, I found the execution stumbled a bit over repetitive descriptions and pacing issues.
The world building was well done. I loved how clearly defined the contrast was between the rural fringes of Antares and the superficial beauty of the royal court. The celestial magic system was also original and interesting.
The opening chapters hooked me right away, but after the explosive introduction I felt that the narrative slowed to a complete crawl. Although I continued to be very intrigued by the plot, I found this hard to read. The midsection was overrun by training sequences and repetitive internal monologues that frequently derailed even the smallest amount of plot momentum. This was a high stakes story, so the intensity of this slow pace felt off for me.
Furthermore, the prose frequently looped back to the same descriptive phrases and emotional beats. We are reminded of the characters' internal angst, their past trauma, and Bishop's terrifying, broody demeanor a few too many times, which I felt diminished the impact of their actual character development.
That being said, the chemistry between Bishop and Arden was undeniable. I loved her stubborn, fierce demeanor and could completely believe she was able to keep up with Bishop's intensity. Their dialogue was filled with tension, and I really loved watching Bishop slowly open up over the course of their journey together.
While the pacing might require some patience and the redundancy of the prose could have been heavily trimmed down in my opinion, the explosive finale did a great job of pulling me back into the story.
I recommend this one to those who have the patience for the long game. This was clearly setting up a much larger series, and I look forward to seeing if the next book has a little more action.
𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙚:
He Falls First
Fate vs Free Will
Forbidden Romance
Trauma and Loss
Reluctant Allies
Class Dynamics
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September 23, 2026
Six stars. I don’t care that Goodreads stops at five. Harbinger deserves the extra one!
This was romantasy done perfectly for me. The fantasy, the romance, the tension everything worked together, and I loved every bit of it. Geneva Lee gave me a world I wanted to get lost in and a couple I could completely obsess over.
Arden and Bishop!! Her sass paired with his dangerous, guarded personality was SO good. The slow burn made every moment between them count, and the tension had me impatient in the best possible way. Bishop is absolutely book boyfriend material.
I loved how the world and its magic unfolded throughout the story, giving me more to discover without overwhelming me. Add in the danger, secrets, and found family, and there was so much to love beyond the romance, too.
And that ending?! I need the next book. This was an amazing read and everything I want when I pick up a romantasy.
This was romantasy done perfectly for me. The fantasy, the romance, the tension everything worked together, and I loved every bit of it. Geneva Lee gave me a world I wanted to get lost in and a couple I could completely obsess over.
Arden and Bishop!! Her sass paired with his dangerous, guarded personality was SO good. The slow burn made every moment between them count, and the tension had me impatient in the best possible way. Bishop is absolutely book boyfriend material.
I loved how the world and its magic unfolded throughout the story, giving me more to discover without overwhelming me. Add in the danger, secrets, and found family, and there was so much to love beyond the romance, too.
And that ending?! I need the next book. This was an amazing read and everything I want when I pick up a romantasy.
September 30, 2026
It started off soo well, but it dragged on. Nothing of any importance happened and it got so boring.
October 10, 2026
Geneva Lee = AUTO-BUY AUTHOR‼️‼️
This one had me in a chokehold from beginning to end!
🔆This is a spoiler free review 🔆
Thank you Entangled Publishing and Geneva Lee for sending me this physical ARC! This review is my honest opinion.
I ended up getting the audiobook as well! 🎧
What to expect:
🐦⬛world building but done in an easy to follow way
🐦⬛a world where the stars mark you & give you a power
🐦⬛ touch her and die
🐦⬛ reluctant romance
🐦⬛a mysterious serial killer
🐦⬛ someone trying to kill FMC (but who?)
🐦⬛ he trains her to fight
🐦⬛ adorable banter
🐦⬛ hilarious & sweet side characters
🐦⬛ beauty & the beast vibes
🐦⬛ found family
🌶️ 2.5/5 definitely plot forward but it does get spicy
I loved this one so much! The MMC Bishop was adorable - he was ruthless and surly to everyone else except her. The FMC Arden was snippy and hard headed and I loved her for it. They both care for others in an unexpected way (being vague to avoid spoilers). Arden even gets a couple of animal friends along the way - my ultimate dream!
There’s some heavy parts- warning no one is safe from Geneva Lee’s chopping block! 😭
(You cut me deep Geneva!)
And there’s some crazy revelations at the end that have me frantic to get book 2.
The side characters in this book were PERFECTION! I don’t want to give too much away so I’ll just say the found family trope was strong in this one. One of the characters reminded me of Carrion from Quicksilver. 💕
🎧 Audiobook length: 20 hours, 37 minutes
Most audiobooks I listen to are around 11 hours so this was a chunk! But honestly I did not ever feel the drag and I did not want it to end. I am actually surprised to see that it was 20+ hours because it didn’t feel long at all!
🎙️ 🎙️ Duet Narration!
This is a full duet style audiobook and narrators Abigail Reno & Zion Jang were phenomenal. Abigail’s emotional range was masterful- pensive, angry, determined, demolished emotionally and everything in between. I felt like I WAS Arden.
Zion’s voice was perfect for Bishop. Bishop’s character from an outsider’s perspective doesn’t give much of what he’s thinking or feeling away. But when we would get his POV, it was powerful and eye opening, Zion brought that to life.
This is easily going to be one of my favorites of the year! 🙌🏽
This one had me in a chokehold from beginning to end!
🔆This is a spoiler free review 🔆
Thank you Entangled Publishing and Geneva Lee for sending me this physical ARC! This review is my honest opinion.
I ended up getting the audiobook as well! 🎧
What to expect:
🐦⬛world building but done in an easy to follow way
🐦⬛a world where the stars mark you & give you a power
🐦⬛ touch her and die
🐦⬛ reluctant romance
🐦⬛a mysterious serial killer
🐦⬛ someone trying to kill FMC (but who?)
🐦⬛ he trains her to fight
🐦⬛ adorable banter
🐦⬛ hilarious & sweet side characters
🐦⬛ beauty & the beast vibes
🐦⬛ found family
🌶️ 2.5/5 definitely plot forward but it does get spicy
I loved this one so much! The MMC Bishop was adorable - he was ruthless and surly to everyone else except her. The FMC Arden was snippy and hard headed and I loved her for it. They both care for others in an unexpected way (being vague to avoid spoilers). Arden even gets a couple of animal friends along the way - my ultimate dream!
There’s some heavy parts- warning no one is safe from Geneva Lee’s chopping block! 😭
(You cut me deep Geneva!)
And there’s some crazy revelations at the end that have me frantic to get book 2.
The side characters in this book were PERFECTION! I don’t want to give too much away so I’ll just say the found family trope was strong in this one. One of the characters reminded me of Carrion from Quicksilver. 💕
🎧 Audiobook length: 20 hours, 37 minutes
Most audiobooks I listen to are around 11 hours so this was a chunk! But honestly I did not ever feel the drag and I did not want it to end. I am actually surprised to see that it was 20+ hours because it didn’t feel long at all!
🎙️ 🎙️ Duet Narration!
This is a full duet style audiobook and narrators Abigail Reno & Zion Jang were phenomenal. Abigail’s emotional range was masterful- pensive, angry, determined, demolished emotionally and everything in between. I felt like I WAS Arden.
Zion’s voice was perfect for Bishop. Bishop’s character from an outsider’s perspective doesn’t give much of what he’s thinking or feeling away. But when we would get his POV, it was powerful and eye opening, Zion brought that to life.
This is easily going to be one of my favorites of the year! 🙌🏽
October 26, 2026
4⭐️
Very interesting book. Fresh. It bothered me that practically nothing of their powers is shown or explained.
The main character is interesting, but it seemed to me that she lacked initiative to kind of solve things.
Overall, I liked and enjoyed reading a lot, it entertained me for many hours I didn’t want to stop reading.
Very interesting book. Fresh. It bothered me that practically nothing of their powers is shown or explained.
The main character is interesting, but it seemed to me that she lacked initiative to kind of solve things.
Overall, I liked and enjoyed reading a lot, it entertained me for many hours I didn’t want to stop reading.
August 17, 2026
Geneva does it again!!!! I was sucked into this story! The slow burn was so worth the wait. because the yearning was top notch!! Bishop immediately stepping in to help her was everything. I love how he is know as a cruel man but has another side to him. I reallly ate this story up!! So much mystery and twist I didn’t even see coming. Arden and Bishops banter had me literally giggling. All I know is I’m sad to have to wait for the next book!!!! What a way to start a series! So grateful I got the opportunity to read this early!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐
☀︎⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
The noble bloodlines, the Orders, the magic tied to family lines, the politics of who controls what, and all the hints about the buried sixth Order kept me hooked the whole way through. The atmosphere is also really well done.
Where it lost me a bit was the tone. The setting is all ancient ritual, arranged marriages, and sacred bloodlines, but the characters talk like modern people. Lots of slang, and so much profanity that it stopped feeling forceful and started feeling like a habit. I don't have a problem with swearing in fantasy at all, I just think it works better when it's used sparingly enough to still mean something.
Arden won me over though. She's stubborn, hardworking, and realistically bad at fighting even after months of training, which I appreciated. Her friendship with Kieren felt natural and easy. Her inner monologue genuinely made me laugh a lot. My only issue is that sometimes her snark gets pushed even when it doesn't really fit the moment, and the clearest example is right after Bishop kills a man defending her and the scene somehow turns into a joke about spanking.
That's basically where my problem with the romance starts too. I get why people call this a slow burn, since the actual relationship does build gradually and there's real bickering and tension instead of insta love. But the attraction between them gets flagged so early that the slow burn never really felt slow to me. I wanted more time where Bishop was just this dangerous guy she didn't trust yet, before the chemistry got pointed out so clearly.
The pacing dipped a bit in the middle, but the politics, the magic system, and the side characters kept me interested enough to want the next book. Taliesin deserves way more page time, Broderic needs to figure his life out, and I really hope Isidore gets the freedom she's been wanting. That ending, plus two epilogues, left me with a lot of questions I need answered.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange of an honest review
☀︎⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
The noble bloodlines, the Orders, the magic tied to family lines, the politics of who controls what, and all the hints about the buried sixth Order kept me hooked the whole way through. The atmosphere is also really well done.
Where it lost me a bit was the tone. The setting is all ancient ritual, arranged marriages, and sacred bloodlines, but the characters talk like modern people. Lots of slang, and so much profanity that it stopped feeling forceful and started feeling like a habit. I don't have a problem with swearing in fantasy at all, I just think it works better when it's used sparingly enough to still mean something.
Arden won me over though. She's stubborn, hardworking, and realistically bad at fighting even after months of training, which I appreciated. Her friendship with Kieren felt natural and easy. Her inner monologue genuinely made me laugh a lot. My only issue is that sometimes her snark gets pushed even when it doesn't really fit the moment, and the clearest example is right after Bishop kills a man defending her and the scene somehow turns into a joke about spanking.
That's basically where my problem with the romance starts too. I get why people call this a slow burn, since the actual relationship does build gradually and there's real bickering and tension instead of insta love. But the attraction between them gets flagged so early that the slow burn never really felt slow to me. I wanted more time where Bishop was just this dangerous guy she didn't trust yet, before the chemistry got pointed out so clearly.
The pacing dipped a bit in the middle, but the politics, the magic system, and the side characters kept me interested enough to want the next book. Taliesin deserves way more page time, Broderic needs to figure his life out, and I really hope Isidore gets the freedom she's been wanting. That ending, plus two epilogues, left me with a lot of questions I need answered.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange of an honest review
October 19, 2026
Thank you to Red Tower / Entangled publishing and Geneva Lee for the ARC.
Harbinger really drew me in with its star magic system and strong premise on the idea of how each bloodline claims their magic. i found that pretty cool and easy to follow. the twists in the first half had me completely crashing out and the plot was absolutely plotting in the best way. Bishop is honestly my favorite part of this book, he’s broody, ruthless and so layered that i found myself more intrigued by his story than the FMC's sometimes. i did find Arden difficult to follow at times, though i felt her grief when she lost her best friend. i really enjoyed the world building and the history of the lost star but i hope the next book will give me more depth and history because a lot of the story was centered on Arden's feelings rather than the bigger lore. the ending has left so much to unravel and i am so excited for book two to dive into her powers and immortality.
Harbinger really drew me in with its star magic system and strong premise on the idea of how each bloodline claims their magic. i found that pretty cool and easy to follow. the twists in the first half had me completely crashing out and the plot was absolutely plotting in the best way. Bishop is honestly my favorite part of this book, he’s broody, ruthless and so layered that i found myself more intrigued by his story than the FMC's sometimes. i did find Arden difficult to follow at times, though i felt her grief when she lost her best friend. i really enjoyed the world building and the history of the lost star but i hope the next book will give me more depth and history because a lot of the story was centered on Arden's feelings rather than the bigger lore. the ending has left so much to unravel and i am so excited for book two to dive into her powers and immortality.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Harbinger kicks off with a premise that hooks immediately, Arden Icaros, from the poorest of five noble bloodlines, handed a dagger during what should've been a routine ceremony and branded an omen of war for it. Everything spirals from there, and I won't go further than that to avoid spoiling it.
What I can say is that the twists and turns kept coming, enough that I found myself losing track of time and just turning pages deep into the night. Bishop is the kind of morally gray that somehow still reads as a green flag underneath it all, and the tension between him and Arden had me internally screaming for most of the book. The friendships and found family that build around Arden are just as much a part of this book's emotional core, and they will absolutely fulfill you and wreck you at the same time.
The twists I didn't see coming were genuinely well done.
Thank you Red Tower Books for the e-arc!
Desperate for book two immediately.
What I can say is that the twists and turns kept coming, enough that I found myself losing track of time and just turning pages deep into the night. Bishop is the kind of morally gray that somehow still reads as a green flag underneath it all, and the tension between him and Arden had me internally screaming for most of the book. The friendships and found family that build around Arden are just as much a part of this book's emotional core, and they will absolutely fulfill you and wreck you at the same time.
The twists I didn't see coming were genuinely well done.
Thank you Red Tower Books for the e-arc!
Desperate for book two immediately.
October 3, 2026
Thanks so much to entangled for my arc. The opinions are my own.
This has so much potential I was so excited for it. A witch bringing about the destruction of a questionable status quo… so here for it.
Unfortunately this just didn’t hit for me. It’s meanders, and somehow for me personally felt like it was 700 pages.
The back and forth of I want/love you, no this will never work , push you away . That the mmc and fmc did was also driving me insane lol
This has so much potential I was so excited for it. A witch bringing about the destruction of a questionable status quo… so here for it.
Unfortunately this just didn’t hit for me. It’s meanders, and somehow for me personally felt like it was 700 pages.
The back and forth of I want/love you, no this will never work , push you away . That the mmc and fmc did was also driving me insane lol
October 13, 2026
this should be everyone’s next romantasy obsession. star based magic system. broody man. snarky fmc. an ending that has your jaw in the floor. heart strings are pulled. it’s one that you need to read.
July 15, 2026
If you’re looking for your next romantasy obsession, this is it. I’m calling it now!!!!! The biggest book of the year!!!
This book gave me all the epic fantasy vibes of Game of Thrones without all the parts that made me want to look away. The world-building is rich, the politics are intriguing, and I couldn’t put it down.
At the heart of it all is a leading heroine who completely stole my heart she’s powerful in a way that feels real, kind-hearted without being naive, and constantly trying to do what’s best for her people and her family. Even when she struggles to trust the stars or the path laid out for her, she keeps going, and that inner conflict made her feel so human and compelling.
If you’re an ACOTAR fan and have been searching for your next book boyfriend… just wait. Picture a hero who looks like Geralt from The Witcher, has the quiet, brooding charm of Mr. Darcy, and carries the unwavering morals and honor of Jon Snow. It’s an absolutely irresistible combination.
Geneva Lee has created a story that pulls you in from the first page and refuses to let go. I was completely invested, and now I’m counting down the days until I can hold my finished copy in my hands.
This book gave me all the epic fantasy vibes of Game of Thrones without all the parts that made me want to look away. The world-building is rich, the politics are intriguing, and I couldn’t put it down.
At the heart of it all is a leading heroine who completely stole my heart she’s powerful in a way that feels real, kind-hearted without being naive, and constantly trying to do what’s best for her people and her family. Even when she struggles to trust the stars or the path laid out for her, she keeps going, and that inner conflict made her feel so human and compelling.
If you’re an ACOTAR fan and have been searching for your next book boyfriend… just wait. Picture a hero who looks like Geralt from The Witcher, has the quiet, brooding charm of Mr. Darcy, and carries the unwavering morals and honor of Jon Snow. It’s an absolutely irresistible combination.
Geneva Lee has created a story that pulls you in from the first page and refuses to let go. I was completely invested, and now I’m counting down the days until I can hold my finished copy in my hands.
September 24, 2026
DNF | Harbinger by Geneva Lee
I tried. I really tried. But I finally had to admit I had absolutely no idea what was happening — and worse, I didn’t care enough to keep trying to figure it out.
The magic system made no sense to me. The world-building felt confusing instead of immersive, and I spent way too much of the book wondering what was going on and why any of it mattered.
Unfortunately, the characters weren’t enough to pull me through either. The FMC came across as whiny and constantly stuck in victim mode, while the MMC was just… boring. I kept waiting for someone to give me a reason to care about them or their relationship, and it never happened.
The one big positive: the audiobook is extremely well done. The narration was honestly the only reason I made it as far as I did. But even great audio couldn’t save a story I wasn’t connecting with.
I hate DNFing books, but there are too many books waiting on my TBR to spend more time being confused and annoyed.
#Harbinger #GenevaLee #BookReview #DNF #BookTok
I tried. I really tried. But I finally had to admit I had absolutely no idea what was happening — and worse, I didn’t care enough to keep trying to figure it out.
The magic system made no sense to me. The world-building felt confusing instead of immersive, and I spent way too much of the book wondering what was going on and why any of it mattered.
Unfortunately, the characters weren’t enough to pull me through either. The FMC came across as whiny and constantly stuck in victim mode, while the MMC was just… boring. I kept waiting for someone to give me a reason to care about them or their relationship, and it never happened.
The one big positive: the audiobook is extremely well done. The narration was honestly the only reason I made it as far as I did. But even great audio couldn’t save a story I wasn’t connecting with.
I hate DNFing books, but there are too many books waiting on my TBR to spend more time being confused and annoyed.
#Harbinger #GenevaLee #BookReview #DNF #BookTok
September 25, 2026
5⭐️ “Say my name. It will bring me to my knees”
OH I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS!!! The writing, the plot, the romance, everything in this was BUZZYYYYY. Oh my God. To say I was sat from the very first chapter would be an understatement, this world, this magic, it sucked me right in and I was so intrigued as to what was going on and I didn’t want to put this down. Also, did i already mention the romance?? Oh well... BUZZ BUZZ BUZZZZZZZ!!! The burn of this was phenomenal, not too slow but not too fast either, and the YEARNING omg, it HITTTT.
OH I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS!!! The writing, the plot, the romance, everything in this was BUZZYYYYY. Oh my God. To say I was sat from the very first chapter would be an understatement, this world, this magic, it sucked me right in and I was so intrigued as to what was going on and I didn’t want to put this down. Also, did i already mention the romance?? Oh well... BUZZ BUZZ BUZZZZZZZ!!! The burn of this was phenomenal, not too slow but not too fast either, and the YEARNING omg, it HITTTT.
Review of advance copy
3.5 stars. Thanks so much to BookSirens and Red Tower Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book so I could share my thoughts.
Overall, the plot to this book was interesting, there was a LOT going on (especially at the beginning and very end), and the settings were fun to exist in. I especially liked how realistic the beginning Arden’s journey to learning sword-fighting was—she didn’t just become an expert overnight, but rather had an incredibly difficult trudge just to be able to swing it without falling over.
What stopped this from being a 5-star read for me, though, was the pacing. To me, it felt like the plot couldn’t quite decide whether it was sprinting or crawling, and from roughly the 60-80% mark I started to feel deeply frustrated with Arden’s never-ending internal monologue about her feelings toward Bishop, and the endless descriptions and explanations, and the extremely slow pace. I usually like slow-burn romance, but the burn was too slow for me in this instance. I also feel like this book could have been significantly shorter, maybe even 100 pages less.
What stopped the book from being even a 4-star read for me was the way that Arden’s powers were addressed WAY too late in the book for them to even feel valid anymore. While the writing was good, it also focused on so many details that didn’t really matter (like the dresses at the Twelvenight celebration, for example), while focusing very little on rather enormous details (like Arden’s powers). By the time I got to 89%, I had a real sense of, “STILL nothing about this yet?”, and it got harder and harder to want to continue.
My other minor gripe was that even I (a notoriously potty-mouthed sailor) found the use of profanity to be overly gratuitous, and felt that it didn’t fit the setting particularly well.
If those concerns were addressed, this has the makings to be a great beginning to a very interesting series. In its current form, I don’t think I would continue with the next book, especially with the cliffhanger.
Full review on my blog: https://www.ace-reviews.com/arc-revie...
Overall, the plot to this book was interesting, there was a LOT going on (especially at the beginning and very end), and the settings were fun to exist in. I especially liked how realistic the beginning Arden’s journey to learning sword-fighting was—she didn’t just become an expert overnight, but rather had an incredibly difficult trudge just to be able to swing it without falling over.
What stopped this from being a 5-star read for me, though, was the pacing. To me, it felt like the plot couldn’t quite decide whether it was sprinting or crawling, and from roughly the 60-80% mark I started to feel deeply frustrated with Arden’s never-ending internal monologue about her feelings toward Bishop, and the endless descriptions and explanations, and the extremely slow pace. I usually like slow-burn romance, but the burn was too slow for me in this instance. I also feel like this book could have been significantly shorter, maybe even 100 pages less.
What stopped the book from being even a 4-star read for me was the way that Arden’s powers were addressed WAY too late in the book for them to even feel valid anymore. While the writing was good, it also focused on so many details that didn’t really matter (like the dresses at the Twelvenight celebration, for example), while focusing very little on rather enormous details (like Arden’s powers). By the time I got to 89%, I had a real sense of, “STILL nothing about this yet?”, and it got harder and harder to want to continue.
My other minor gripe was that even I (a notoriously potty-mouthed sailor) found the use of profanity to be overly gratuitous, and felt that it didn’t fit the setting particularly well.
If those concerns were addressed, this has the makings to be a great beginning to a very interesting series. In its current form, I don’t think I would continue with the next book, especially with the cliffhanger.
Full review on my blog: https://www.ace-reviews.com/arc-revie...
October 11, 2026
3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2026/10/15/...
If you’re a fan of Red Tower Books and the kind of romantasy they publish, Harbinger by Geneva Lee should feel right at home on your reading list. Their signature vibe is all over it, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing! Sometimes it’s helpful to know exactly what you’re getting into before you even open a book, and this one delivers on many of those favorite and familiar ingredients. On the other hand, if you’ve read a lot of their titles, you might also find yourself experiencing a little déjà vu.
The story follows Arden Icaros, a daughter of one of Antares’s five noble bloodlines. Although her family is considered among the least wealthy and influential in the kingdom, their earth magic nonetheless plays an essential role in feeding its people. And so, while Arden would much rather be at home working the family farm than dealing with the stuffy pageantry of court life, she unfortunately cannot avoid her Petition, a ceremony in which young nobles discover whether they will inherit their family’s magic. Yet what should have been a routine rite of passage takes a horrifying turn when Arden breaks with tradition, setting off a chain of events that could cost her everything. Instead of returning home triumphant, she finds herself branded the Harbinger, a designation that, to some, makes her an omen of war and a threat that must be eliminated at any cost.
With few options available to her, Arden seeks help from the one person who might be able to keep her alive. Known only by his title, Bishop is a feared member of an elite order sworn to guard the kingdom from its enemies. Ruthless and dangerous, he is hardly the kind of person our protagonist should trust, particularly since his very role involves eliminating people like her, but surprisingly, he offers her protection. At his home, now her new sanctuary, Arden must learn to navigate unfamiliar rules, political machinations, and a strange magic system she barely understands. As she struggles to adapt, she and Bishop become increasingly enmeshed in a tangle of secrets surrounding her fate as Harbinger and the forces that want to destroy her.
On the whole, I enjoyed this book and its potential, even though certain story elements felt recognizable and standard. There are plenty of romantasy staples here, from the mysterious brooding male lead to the heroine who finds herself caught up in forces far beyond her control. Individually, though, I think these elements worked well in Harbinger, making the plot feel a little less predictable. The story did take a while to get going, making it more difficult to become fully invested during the early chapters, especially when world didn’t begin to feel like a fully realized place until around the halfway point, when everything opened up enough for me to get a better sense of what was happening. Things became more interesting from there, as the setting and its larger conflicts started to take shape.
But for me, the characters presented the biggest struggle, particularly Arden. I know plenty of romantasy readers who enjoy a female protagonist with a sharp tongue and rebellious streak, so these criticisms might be just me, but her particular brand of sass wore me down pretty quickly. Arden often seemed incapable of knowing when to shut up or think through the consequences of her actions, and I found myself increasingly frustrated with her whenever her own impulsiveness lands her or others in trouble. To be fair, this is a characterization I struggle with in general. There’s a difference between being outspoken and being needlessly reckless or always needing to have the last word. If you’ve read your fair share of Red Tower titles like I have, you’ll probably recognize this heroine archetype.
Whether it works for you will depend on how you feel about Arden’s dynamic with Bishop. Personally, the contrast between her impulsive behavior and his more composed, experienced, and mature demeanor sometimes made her come across as an impudent child rather than an equal romantic partner. And that’s why the romance was just okay for me too. It was slow burning, which itself was fine, and I actually appreciated that their relationship was given time to develop. However, the eventual shift from simmering tension to a full-blown established lovefest also felt rather abrupt. After all that time building anticipation, I wish there was a little more balance in the transition to savor it! Still, credit where credit is due, their romance added another layer to the central conflict and gave that killer ending even more punch.
All told, Harbinger was a great read, especially given the way it steadily picked up as it went along. While it was admitted slow to take off, once things picked up, the expanded world and larger conflicts made it very enjoyable. Although I personally had a difficult time warming up to the main protagonist, I think I’m in the minority and that most romantasy readers will likely find plenty of reasons to root for her. If you’re a fan of the genre and of Red Tower Books’ other titles, this one will be right up your alley.
If you’re a fan of Red Tower Books and the kind of romantasy they publish, Harbinger by Geneva Lee should feel right at home on your reading list. Their signature vibe is all over it, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing! Sometimes it’s helpful to know exactly what you’re getting into before you even open a book, and this one delivers on many of those favorite and familiar ingredients. On the other hand, if you’ve read a lot of their titles, you might also find yourself experiencing a little déjà vu.
The story follows Arden Icaros, a daughter of one of Antares’s five noble bloodlines. Although her family is considered among the least wealthy and influential in the kingdom, their earth magic nonetheless plays an essential role in feeding its people. And so, while Arden would much rather be at home working the family farm than dealing with the stuffy pageantry of court life, she unfortunately cannot avoid her Petition, a ceremony in which young nobles discover whether they will inherit their family’s magic. Yet what should have been a routine rite of passage takes a horrifying turn when Arden breaks with tradition, setting off a chain of events that could cost her everything. Instead of returning home triumphant, she finds herself branded the Harbinger, a designation that, to some, makes her an omen of war and a threat that must be eliminated at any cost.
With few options available to her, Arden seeks help from the one person who might be able to keep her alive. Known only by his title, Bishop is a feared member of an elite order sworn to guard the kingdom from its enemies. Ruthless and dangerous, he is hardly the kind of person our protagonist should trust, particularly since his very role involves eliminating people like her, but surprisingly, he offers her protection. At his home, now her new sanctuary, Arden must learn to navigate unfamiliar rules, political machinations, and a strange magic system she barely understands. As she struggles to adapt, she and Bishop become increasingly enmeshed in a tangle of secrets surrounding her fate as Harbinger and the forces that want to destroy her.
On the whole, I enjoyed this book and its potential, even though certain story elements felt recognizable and standard. There are plenty of romantasy staples here, from the mysterious brooding male lead to the heroine who finds herself caught up in forces far beyond her control. Individually, though, I think these elements worked well in Harbinger, making the plot feel a little less predictable. The story did take a while to get going, making it more difficult to become fully invested during the early chapters, especially when world didn’t begin to feel like a fully realized place until around the halfway point, when everything opened up enough for me to get a better sense of what was happening. Things became more interesting from there, as the setting and its larger conflicts started to take shape.
But for me, the characters presented the biggest struggle, particularly Arden. I know plenty of romantasy readers who enjoy a female protagonist with a sharp tongue and rebellious streak, so these criticisms might be just me, but her particular brand of sass wore me down pretty quickly. Arden often seemed incapable of knowing when to shut up or think through the consequences of her actions, and I found myself increasingly frustrated with her whenever her own impulsiveness lands her or others in trouble. To be fair, this is a characterization I struggle with in general. There’s a difference between being outspoken and being needlessly reckless or always needing to have the last word. If you’ve read your fair share of Red Tower titles like I have, you’ll probably recognize this heroine archetype.
Whether it works for you will depend on how you feel about Arden’s dynamic with Bishop. Personally, the contrast between her impulsive behavior and his more composed, experienced, and mature demeanor sometimes made her come across as an impudent child rather than an equal romantic partner. And that’s why the romance was just okay for me too. It was slow burning, which itself was fine, and I actually appreciated that their relationship was given time to develop. However, the eventual shift from simmering tension to a full-blown established lovefest also felt rather abrupt. After all that time building anticipation, I wish there was a little more balance in the transition to savor it! Still, credit where credit is due, their romance added another layer to the central conflict and gave that killer ending even more punch.
All told, Harbinger was a great read, especially given the way it steadily picked up as it went along. While it was admitted slow to take off, once things picked up, the expanded world and larger conflicts made it very enjoyable. Although I personally had a difficult time warming up to the main protagonist, I think I’m in the minority and that most romantasy readers will likely find plenty of reasons to root for her. If you’re a fan of the genre and of Red Tower Books’ other titles, this one will be right up your alley.
September 28, 2026
Thank you to the author and Red Tower Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 🖤
Reluctant allies to lovers.
The banter.
The flirting.
The yearnnnnninnngggg.
5 stars 😮💨
★★★★★
A 2026 anticipated read that turned into a 2026 favourite! I know how to pick ‘em!! Got me grinning like a psycho in the dark at 1am.
Harbinger is a slightly gothic romance forward romantasy with a prophecy that hangs over the fmc like sword of Damocles. Politics and social expectations influence decisions, and with death treats and assassination attempts, safety is an illusion that is hard fought for.
Themes autonomy and agency, grief and the struggle of self-acceptance in a world that shuns you, are all what brings life and emotional depth to the story.
Arden and Bishop have got to be one of my fav couples. I do love them. Their strength, vulnerability, banter and softness. Oh it’s delicious. They feel like better characters together than individual which is weird to say but Arden can get annoying and they both self sabotage but together they push each other to be better. To be loved and love in return means you recognise you are capable of love, are loveable and worthy of being loved. Arden and Bishop needed that push to see it in themselves and their bond reflects that.
I was watching Veronica Mars and Logan Echols edits on TikTok and I just had a feeling Arden and Bishop reminded me of them. Don’t ask me to elaborate I have no answers for you.
Did the plot slow once the gang reached the estate, yes but the romance really kicked into gear, distracting me from the slower paced plot, and the lack of magical growth for the fmc. I also thing the side characters, specifically Bishops friends, lacked something, perhaps emotional connection with Arden beyond Bishop. I don’t fully trust them because we never find out their history or motivations. Their loyalty is to Bishop but that doesn’t mean they won’t betray Arden if they believe it is for Bishops benefit.
The mythology and the lore around the magic system did get complicated, and the drip feeding of secrets to Arden made me more confused as to what was going on and what the possible consequence were for Arden and Bishop. I think I need more clarity on certain aspects to fully understand the dire straits of the ending with the stars.
But I am looking forward to the Hunger Games-esq future this series is promising me with that ending! May the odds be ever in your favour!
A book I want to already reread and a story I won’t forget any time soon. I need the sequel immediately!!! Please and thank you!!
Reluctant allies to lovers.
The banter.
The flirting.
The yearnnnnninnngggg.
5 stars 😮💨
★★★★★
A 2026 anticipated read that turned into a 2026 favourite! I know how to pick ‘em!! Got me grinning like a psycho in the dark at 1am.
Harbinger is a slightly gothic romance forward romantasy with a prophecy that hangs over the fmc like sword of Damocles. Politics and social expectations influence decisions, and with death treats and assassination attempts, safety is an illusion that is hard fought for.
Themes autonomy and agency, grief and the struggle of self-acceptance in a world that shuns you, are all what brings life and emotional depth to the story.
Arden and Bishop have got to be one of my fav couples. I do love them. Their strength, vulnerability, banter and softness. Oh it’s delicious. They feel like better characters together than individual which is weird to say but Arden can get annoying and they both self sabotage but together they push each other to be better. To be loved and love in return means you recognise you are capable of love, are loveable and worthy of being loved. Arden and Bishop needed that push to see it in themselves and their bond reflects that.
I was watching Veronica Mars and Logan Echols edits on TikTok and I just had a feeling Arden and Bishop reminded me of them. Don’t ask me to elaborate I have no answers for you.
Did the plot slow once the gang reached the estate, yes but the romance really kicked into gear, distracting me from the slower paced plot, and the lack of magical growth for the fmc. I also thing the side characters, specifically Bishops friends, lacked something, perhaps emotional connection with Arden beyond Bishop. I don’t fully trust them because we never find out their history or motivations. Their loyalty is to Bishop but that doesn’t mean they won’t betray Arden if they believe it is for Bishops benefit.
The mythology and the lore around the magic system did get complicated, and the drip feeding of secrets to Arden made me more confused as to what was going on and what the possible consequence were for Arden and Bishop. I think I need more clarity on certain aspects to fully understand the dire straits of the ending with the stars.
But I am looking forward to the Hunger Games-esq future this series is promising me with that ending! May the odds be ever in your favour!
A book I want to already reread and a story I won’t forget any time soon. I need the sequel immediately!!! Please and thank you!!
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October 14, 2026
Thank you so much to Red Tower and Geneva Lee for the gifted physical ARC of Harbinger.
Seriously this book was absolutely incredible. One of my favorite books I’ve read this year no question. Genevas world building was absolute perfection and her characters were so fascinating to read. The whole story had me hanging on every word, dreaming about this book, and running to read it the moment I woke up in the morning.
The FMC is a fighter. She is empathetic and strong. Shes caring and understanding. I just loved her as a person and watching her journey was so powerful. Bishop is just chefs kiss. Hes broody, hes tortured, hes a morally grey shadow daddy and hes perfection. Their chemistry is electric and the enemies to lovers slow burn was again….PERFECTION!!
There were so many twists during this book I had no idea what was going to happen next it was such a wild and incredible ride. And the ending 👀👀no spoilers but OH MY GOD STOP IT RIGHT NOW!!!
This story was no doubt a 6⭐️ read for me. Geneva knows how to write a good romantasy and this is why I will continue to read every book she writes. Geneva you are a star!
Seriously this book was absolutely incredible. One of my favorite books I’ve read this year no question. Genevas world building was absolute perfection and her characters were so fascinating to read. The whole story had me hanging on every word, dreaming about this book, and running to read it the moment I woke up in the morning.
The FMC is a fighter. She is empathetic and strong. Shes caring and understanding. I just loved her as a person and watching her journey was so powerful. Bishop is just chefs kiss. Hes broody, hes tortured, hes a morally grey shadow daddy and hes perfection. Their chemistry is electric and the enemies to lovers slow burn was again….PERFECTION!!
There were so many twists during this book I had no idea what was going to happen next it was such a wild and incredible ride. And the ending 👀👀no spoilers but OH MY GOD STOP IT RIGHT NOW!!!
This story was no doubt a 6⭐️ read for me. Geneva knows how to write a good romantasy and this is why I will continue to read every book she writes. Geneva you are a star!
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