What do you think?
Rate this book
Lavender And Steel
In a world where magic is feared and tightly controlled, twenty-seven-year-old Maela Malorry’s life shatters when she takes the fall for her brother’s crime committed with magic.
After encountering death in Obsidian Prison, nightmares claw at her mind, so vivid and merciless they blur the line between dream and reality, leaving her to wonder if something far darker has followed her back from the brink.
Her chains are broken, yet her fate is sealed at War Nova Academy, where magic spirits rule life and death. Maela must survive brutal trials that crush body and will, face cadets thirsting for vengeance, and endure a final exam where survival itself becomes a cruel gamble.
As the secrets of war claw into the light, loyalties shatter, truth becomes a weapon, and lies a shield.
Maela slips. Her grip on reality blurs as her nightmares begin to bleed into the waking world.
After encountering death in Obsidian Prison, nightmares claw at her mind, so vivid and merciless they blur the line between dream and reality, leaving her to wonder if something far darker has followed her back from the brink.
Her chains are broken, yet her fate is sealed at War Nova Academy, where magic spirits rule life and death. Maela must survive brutal trials that crush body and will, face cadets thirsting for vengeance, and endure a final exam where survival itself becomes a cruel gamble.
As the secrets of war claw into the light, loyalties shatter, truth becomes a weapon, and lies a shield.
Maela slips. Her grip on reality blurs as her nightmares begin to bleed into the waking world.
470 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 15, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
Did Not Finish
April 6, 2026ARC received.
I love this premise of this novel and the idea intrigued me. Unfortunately for my it just didn’t work or flow the way I would have liked. The plot pacing was all wrong and jumpy and things that should have a lot more discussion and context was a couple sentences and felt extremely lost at points. Character development and relationship development was minimal and friendships formed in a single page with no in depth building or description. Dialogue and description in events were very minimal. I got to 42% but I just couldn’t get into it. If gave fourth wing vibes but fell short on what I expected.
I love this premise of this novel and the idea intrigued me. Unfortunately for my it just didn’t work or flow the way I would have liked. The plot pacing was all wrong and jumpy and things that should have a lot more discussion and context was a couple sentences and felt extremely lost at points. Character development and relationship development was minimal and friendships formed in a single page with no in depth building or description. Dialogue and description in events were very minimal. I got to 42% but I just couldn’t get into it. If gave fourth wing vibes but fell short on what I expected.
April 15, 2026
Arc review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
This book consumed me from page 1 where we are thrust into a world where magic is a death sentence and our FMC Maela is sent to obsidian prison for a crime she didn’t commit
there’s cursed dark magic wielders around every corner, you have to be careful with who you trust and that isn’t easy when our deliciously mysterious FMC who is the commander of darkness doesn’t tell you the entire truth,
The world building is immaculate from nova war academy to spirit bonds to elemental magic you barely scratch the surface and when the twists start happening there’s nothing you can do.
Nothing prepared me for that ending😳I desperately need book 2!!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
This book consumed me from page 1 where we are thrust into a world where magic is a death sentence and our FMC Maela is sent to obsidian prison for a crime she didn’t commit
there’s cursed dark magic wielders around every corner, you have to be careful with who you trust and that isn’t easy when our deliciously mysterious FMC who is the commander of darkness doesn’t tell you the entire truth,
The world building is immaculate from nova war academy to spirit bonds to elemental magic you barely scratch the surface and when the twists start happening there’s nothing you can do.
Nothing prepared me for that ending😳I desperately need book 2!!!
April 8, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars
What to expect
✨ Fae
✨ Military Academy
✨ Forbidden romance
✨ Kingdoms
✨ Devil
✨ Magic spirits
✨ Ancient artefacts
✨ Royal magic
✨ Elemental magic
I enjoyed this book.
We follow our FMC Maela, she takes the fall for a crime her brother commits and gets sent to Obsidian Prison.
When she finally leaves the prison she is taken to War Nova Academy where she goes through multiple brutal trials to make it to the final exam.
But while she is there her grip on reality blurs and her nightmares begin to bled into the waking world.
This book is full of secrets and reveals and keeps you guessing the whole time.
Our MMC is General Luan and he is very mysterious character but when you learn about him and his past you can’t help but love him 🔥
Love the tension in this book 🤌🏽
I love the magic spirts were a great addition to think book and I love they are not the normal animals you would find in most books. You will have to read the book to uncover what they are!
The pacing was a little off in this book but it didn’t ruin the book for me.
The plot was interesting and different to other books in this genre. Very action packed. Full of twists and turns.
Will definitely continue this series.
Thank you to the author for sending me an arc of your book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars
What to expect
✨ Fae
✨ Military Academy
✨ Forbidden romance
✨ Kingdoms
✨ Devil
✨ Magic spirits
✨ Ancient artefacts
✨ Royal magic
✨ Elemental magic
I enjoyed this book.
We follow our FMC Maela, she takes the fall for a crime her brother commits and gets sent to Obsidian Prison.
When she finally leaves the prison she is taken to War Nova Academy where she goes through multiple brutal trials to make it to the final exam.
But while she is there her grip on reality blurs and her nightmares begin to bled into the waking world.
This book is full of secrets and reveals and keeps you guessing the whole time.
Our MMC is General Luan and he is very mysterious character but when you learn about him and his past you can’t help but love him 🔥
Love the tension in this book 🤌🏽
I love the magic spirts were a great addition to think book and I love they are not the normal animals you would find in most books. You will have to read the book to uncover what they are!
The pacing was a little off in this book but it didn’t ruin the book for me.
The plot was interesting and different to other books in this genre. Very action packed. Full of twists and turns.
Will definitely continue this series.
Thank you to the author for sending me an arc of your book.
April 20, 2026
Lavender and Steel
A thrilling fast-paced debt romantasy! There was so much found on this one. It was full of action and magic!
I loved the concept! There was so much to unpack with this one and I can’t wait for the next one to see where things go.
There was magic, fae, demons, magical spirits, hellhounds, manticores, forbidden romance, deadly military academy, general/cadet, found family, possessive MMC, shadow daddy, secrets, suspense, drama, and so so much more!
A thrilling fast-paced debt romantasy! There was so much found on this one. It was full of action and magic!
I loved the concept! There was so much to unpack with this one and I can’t wait for the next one to see where things go.
There was magic, fae, demons, magical spirits, hellhounds, manticores, forbidden romance, deadly military academy, general/cadet, found family, possessive MMC, shadow daddy, secrets, suspense, drama, and so so much more!
April 23, 2026
http://www.unbrindelecture.com/2026/0...
Un premier tome totalement fascinant ! J'ai tout aimé l'univers, l'intrigue, les personnages et leurs pouvoirs... Maela est une héroïne touchante qui se bat pour survivre et protéger son peuple. Elle nous entraîne dans une aventure où le danger, les trahisons et les mensonges assombrissent son avenir mais où elle représente la lueur d'espoir. Vivez la suite !
A truly captivating first volume! I loved everything about it—the world-building, the plot, the characters, and their powers... Maela is a touching heroine who fights to survive and protect her people. She takes us on an adventure where danger, betrayal, and lies cast a shadow over her future, yet she remains a beacon of hope. Can't wait for the next installment
Un premier tome totalement fascinant ! J'ai tout aimé l'univers, l'intrigue, les personnages et leurs pouvoirs... Maela est une héroïne touchante qui se bat pour survivre et protéger son peuple. Elle nous entraîne dans une aventure où le danger, les trahisons et les mensonges assombrissent son avenir mais où elle représente la lueur d'espoir. Vivez la suite !
A truly captivating first volume! I loved everything about it—the world-building, the plot, the characters, and their powers... Maela is a touching heroine who fights to survive and protect her people. She takes us on an adventure where danger, betrayal, and lies cast a shadow over her future, yet she remains a beacon of hope. Can't wait for the next installment
April 28, 2026
DO NOT READ THIS BOOK ITS A TEMPLATE SWAP OF FOURTH WING
I came into this book with little to no expectations, I did expect though, that it would have fourth wing vibes. I did not expect a fourth wing rewrite with a dusting of some other books, firstly, I found the plot very confusing, I felt like a lot of things were mentioned once for the sake of it and forgotten, but what really ruined this book for me was the amount of copy and paste, it was a literal Frankenstein book. Admitteldy some of the things I'm about to mention are popular tropes, but when you add them together...
The pills she takes at the start of the book that she believes keeps her alive, and when she stops she magically gets magic, The Stars Are Dying. Astraea takes pills at the start of the book that she thinks keeps her alive, she later stops the pills and survives, showing the extent of Hektor manipulation of her, she stops them and gets her power back. This is wealth with in maybe 2 chapters and never mentioned again
KAZ BREKKER LINE COPIED
The famous line from kaz brekker in 6 of crows that he says to inej,
"Stay in Ketterdam. Stay with me."
Vs
"No. stay here. Stay with me."
Except he's asking her to stay the night
There is a scene where they have a 2 sentence debate about who's butt is better slash cuter. This book is advertised as a dark romantasy.
Luan is a high-ranking Shadow weilder with 30 self-inflicted scars for lost comrades (just like Xaden Riorson’s 107 scars).
A brutal military academy for cadets involving sparring mats and a harsh general parent.
A "Manticore" bonded creature that has a mental landscape, also gatekeeps magic because she's not ready, (Like tairn did) and lied about its true name, like Rebecca yarros confirmed one of teh dragons has done.
CAN THE MANTICORE FLY OR NOT ITS RLLY UNCLEAR
Enemies infected mages things are identified by red veins, pallor, and visible marks who drain magic (Venin).
Just like how in fourth wing Xaden is helping the enemy. Luan doe the same, when Violet, I meant Maela, finds out she calls him a liar and is very mad, except true to teh patterns of this book, she forgives him almost instantly.
She goes out in his flight jacket.
Neither Fmc wanted to be there
And as the final nail in the coffin, THE ENDING MAKES NO SENSE, I read this book after a friend asked me to because she didn't get the ending, I didn't either.
This book is the most unoriginal thing I have read in a long time. If someone did a romantasy trope bingo, this book would win.
I came into this book with little to no expectations, I did expect though, that it would have fourth wing vibes. I did not expect a fourth wing rewrite with a dusting of some other books, firstly, I found the plot very confusing, I felt like a lot of things were mentioned once for the sake of it and forgotten, but what really ruined this book for me was the amount of copy and paste, it was a literal Frankenstein book. Admitteldy some of the things I'm about to mention are popular tropes, but when you add them together...
The pills she takes at the start of the book that she believes keeps her alive, and when she stops she magically gets magic, The Stars Are Dying. Astraea takes pills at the start of the book that she thinks keeps her alive, she later stops the pills and survives, showing the extent of Hektor manipulation of her, she stops them and gets her power back. This is wealth with in maybe 2 chapters and never mentioned again
KAZ BREKKER LINE COPIED
The famous line from kaz brekker in 6 of crows that he says to inej,
"Stay in Ketterdam. Stay with me."
Vs
"No. stay here. Stay with me."
Except he's asking her to stay the night
There is a scene where they have a 2 sentence debate about who's butt is better slash cuter. This book is advertised as a dark romantasy.
Luan is a high-ranking Shadow weilder with 30 self-inflicted scars for lost comrades (just like Xaden Riorson’s 107 scars).
A brutal military academy for cadets involving sparring mats and a harsh general parent.
A "Manticore" bonded creature that has a mental landscape, also gatekeeps magic because she's not ready, (Like tairn did) and lied about its true name, like Rebecca yarros confirmed one of teh dragons has done.
CAN THE MANTICORE FLY OR NOT ITS RLLY UNCLEAR
Enemies infected mages things are identified by red veins, pallor, and visible marks who drain magic (Venin).
Just like how in fourth wing Xaden is helping the enemy. Luan doe the same, when Violet, I meant Maela, finds out she calls him a liar and is very mad, except true to teh patterns of this book, she forgives him almost instantly.
She goes out in his flight jacket.
Neither Fmc wanted to be there
And as the final nail in the coffin, THE ENDING MAKES NO SENSE, I read this book after a friend asked me to because she didn't get the ending, I didn't either.
This book is the most unoriginal thing I have read in a long time. If someone did a romantasy trope bingo, this book would win.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC reader here
This book is hard to give a solid rating to, as it has many different aspects to consider. I debated what the best rating to give it was.
Honestly, it gives Fourth Wings vibes, except instead of dragons, there are manicores.
Storyline and characters: The concept is wonderful. Entertaining enough. Characters are constructed with a flow about them.
Construction flow: This is where points are lost. The flow is very jagged here. Some parts are repeated. Things don't make sense, and it is a little rough to follow. Was it so terrible that I couldn't finish it? No. I finished it because I was engaged, enjoyed the storyline, and wanted to see how this ended. Though editing this to make it flow would help this story so much. Sometimes characters would randomly appear, assuming this was a mistake in editing and another character was actually the one who was meant to be involved. The ending of some chapters and how it was transitioned into the next chapter with the "and then..." also held some point loss here, too.
At times, it felt like I was just back in Fourth Wing, with different characters and a slightly different setting.
Towards the end, it felt more like its own concept at least. Though some things felt so similar that I could see them coming. This might just be how my mind gauges things, though. I could go into a whole comparison of characters here-- but I feel like that takes from this review.
Though, back to the review.
The book was enjoyable, but it had a lot of flaws. I enjoyed it despite these flaws. Sometimes I did feel vastly lost, but I continued to read because I was invested and truly did want to see the end of the book. The cliffhanger does its job and makes you want to get the next book and read it. So yes, I do look forward to continuing to the next book to see where Maela's journey continues. I honestly was expecting the reveal to be something other than what happened in the cliffhanger. I half was expecting the Devil to actually be Luan. Who knows, he might still somehow be. I did enjoy the bonus chapter from Luan's POV. I do actually hope to see more of his POV honestly, in the next book.
This book is hard to give a solid rating to, as it has many different aspects to consider. I debated what the best rating to give it was.
Honestly, it gives Fourth Wings vibes, except instead of dragons, there are manicores.
Storyline and characters: The concept is wonderful. Entertaining enough. Characters are constructed with a flow about them.
Construction flow: This is where points are lost. The flow is very jagged here. Some parts are repeated. Things don't make sense, and it is a little rough to follow. Was it so terrible that I couldn't finish it? No. I finished it because I was engaged, enjoyed the storyline, and wanted to see how this ended. Though editing this to make it flow would help this story so much. Sometimes characters would randomly appear, assuming this was a mistake in editing and another character was actually the one who was meant to be involved. The ending of some chapters and how it was transitioned into the next chapter with the "and then..." also held some point loss here, too.
At times, it felt like I was just back in Fourth Wing, with different characters and a slightly different setting.
Towards the end, it felt more like its own concept at least. Though some things felt so similar that I could see them coming. This might just be how my mind gauges things, though. I could go into a whole comparison of characters here-- but I feel like that takes from this review.
Though, back to the review.
The book was enjoyable, but it had a lot of flaws. I enjoyed it despite these flaws. Sometimes I did feel vastly lost, but I continued to read because I was invested and truly did want to see the end of the book. The cliffhanger does its job and makes you want to get the next book and read it. So yes, I do look forward to continuing to the next book to see where Maela's journey continues. I honestly was expecting the reveal to be something other than what happened in the cliffhanger. I half was expecting the Devil to actually be Luan. Who knows, he might still somehow be. I did enjoy the bonus chapter from Luan's POV. I do actually hope to see more of his POV honestly, in the next book.
April 7, 2026
𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙍𝙀𝙑𝙄𝙀𝙒
I don’t even know where to BEGIN with this ARC because WHAT did I just read?!
This book consumed me, body and soul, and then had the audacity to leave me shattered on the last page!
From the very first chapter, you are thrown into a brutal, militarized world where magic isn’t a gift—it’s a death sentence. And Maela Malorry? She is the definition of resilience wrapped in fragility. A chronically ill artist surviving on borrowed time… until everything explodes and she’s thrown into Obsidian Prison for a crime she didn’t commit.
And from there? It’s chaos. Pain. Survival. Power.
The prison arc alone had me STRESSED. The brutality, the emotional toll, the way magic is forced out through suffering?? I was gripping this book like my life depended on it. And when Maela’s power finally breaks through… oh my GOD. That scene?? Absolutely unhinged in the best way.
𝓛𝓾𝓪𝓷
This man is cold, lethal, morally gray perfection. The tension? IMMACULATE. The slow-burn? TORTURE. The way he protects her while lying straight to her face??? I was eating it UP. Their dynamic is everything I want in a dark romantasy—dangerous, obsessive, emotionally charged, and built on secrets that HURT.
This is not a soft romance. This is, 'I shouldn’t want you. But I do anyway. And it might destroy us both.'
And I LOVED every second of it.
The world-building?? Insane. Between the Nova War Academy, the elemental magic system, the Spirit bonds (Cianus owns my heart), and the deeper Fae + royal magic lore—it just keeps expanding in ways that make you realize you’ve barely scratched the surface.
And then the plot twists start twisting. I was spiraling.
But NOTHING—and I mean NOTHING—prepared me for that ending.
Maela being forced into an impossible choice… the emotional destruction that follows…
Now I NEED the next book like I need oxygen!
This story is dark, addictive, emotionally brutal, and layered with secrets that will keep you questioning everything. It’s about control, power, grief, and what it costs to love someone in a world built on lies!
ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND! NO REGRETS! 10/10!
★★★★★/5 stars!
I don’t even know where to BEGIN with this ARC because WHAT did I just read?!
This book consumed me, body and soul, and then had the audacity to leave me shattered on the last page!
From the very first chapter, you are thrown into a brutal, militarized world where magic isn’t a gift—it’s a death sentence. And Maela Malorry? She is the definition of resilience wrapped in fragility. A chronically ill artist surviving on borrowed time… until everything explodes and she’s thrown into Obsidian Prison for a crime she didn’t commit.
And from there? It’s chaos. Pain. Survival. Power.
The prison arc alone had me STRESSED. The brutality, the emotional toll, the way magic is forced out through suffering?? I was gripping this book like my life depended on it. And when Maela’s power finally breaks through… oh my GOD. That scene?? Absolutely unhinged in the best way.
𝓛𝓾𝓪𝓷
This man is cold, lethal, morally gray perfection. The tension? IMMACULATE. The slow-burn? TORTURE. The way he protects her while lying straight to her face??? I was eating it UP. Their dynamic is everything I want in a dark romantasy—dangerous, obsessive, emotionally charged, and built on secrets that HURT.
This is not a soft romance. This is, 'I shouldn’t want you. But I do anyway. And it might destroy us both.'
And I LOVED every second of it.
The world-building?? Insane. Between the Nova War Academy, the elemental magic system, the Spirit bonds (Cianus owns my heart), and the deeper Fae + royal magic lore—it just keeps expanding in ways that make you realize you’ve barely scratched the surface.
And then the plot twists start twisting. I was spiraling.
But NOTHING—and I mean NOTHING—prepared me for that ending.
Maela being forced into an impossible choice… the emotional destruction that follows…
Now I NEED the next book like I need oxygen!
This story is dark, addictive, emotionally brutal, and layered with secrets that will keep you questioning everything. It’s about control, power, grief, and what it costs to love someone in a world built on lies!
ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND! NO REGRETS! 10/10!
★★★★★/5 stars!
Review of advance copy received from Author
First, I just want to say how honored I am to have been an ARC reader for this book. Getting to be part of the early experience of a story like this is always so special.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The concept alone pulled me in. The mix of magic, prison, academy life, and brutal trials created a really engaging and high stakes world. I loved the idea of War Nova Academy and everything that came with it. The training, the challenges, and the constant pressure to survive made it such a fun and intense read.
The FMC, Maela, was a highlight for me. You really feel for her and everything she goes through, especially knowing the sacrifices she made at the beginning. Watching her navigate this world while also dealing with everything happening in her mind added a really interesting layer to her character.
I also really liked the MMC and the connection between them. There was a lot of tension and intrigue there that kept me invested, and I enjoyed seeing that dynamic unfold throughout the story.
The world itself was really cool. The magic elements, especially the spirits, felt unique and added something different to the story. The plot had a lot going on and kept things interesting with twists and reveals that made you want to keep reading.
The only thing that held it back slightly from being a five star read for me was the pacing and depth. At times it felt a little jumpy, like scenes moved quickly without fully settling into them. I found myself wanting more detail and more buildup to really experience each moment and connect even deeper with the characters and the world.
That said, I still really enjoyed this book. It has a strong foundation, great characters, and a really engaging premise. I am definitely planning to continue the series and see where it goes next because there is so much potential here.
If you enjoy academy settings, trials, magic, and character driven fantasy with tension and twists, this is definitely one to check out.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The concept alone pulled me in. The mix of magic, prison, academy life, and brutal trials created a really engaging and high stakes world. I loved the idea of War Nova Academy and everything that came with it. The training, the challenges, and the constant pressure to survive made it such a fun and intense read.
The FMC, Maela, was a highlight for me. You really feel for her and everything she goes through, especially knowing the sacrifices she made at the beginning. Watching her navigate this world while also dealing with everything happening in her mind added a really interesting layer to her character.
I also really liked the MMC and the connection between them. There was a lot of tension and intrigue there that kept me invested, and I enjoyed seeing that dynamic unfold throughout the story.
The world itself was really cool. The magic elements, especially the spirits, felt unique and added something different to the story. The plot had a lot going on and kept things interesting with twists and reveals that made you want to keep reading.
The only thing that held it back slightly from being a five star read for me was the pacing and depth. At times it felt a little jumpy, like scenes moved quickly without fully settling into them. I found myself wanting more detail and more buildup to really experience each moment and connect even deeper with the characters and the world.
That said, I still really enjoyed this book. It has a strong foundation, great characters, and a really engaging premise. I am definitely planning to continue the series and see where it goes next because there is so much potential here.
If you enjoy academy settings, trials, magic, and character driven fantasy with tension and twists, this is definitely one to check out.
March 31, 2026
3.5 stars
I received an ARC of this book from the author. My opinions are my own, based on my personal experience reading this book.
Lavender and Steel was an entertaining romantasy read for me, even though it didn’t quite become a standout favorite. The story moves quickly and introduces a number of intriguing elements, such as the magic spirits, the military academy setting, and the developing tension between Maela and Luan. By the final part of the book the stakes really start to rise, and the last chapters were definitely the most gripping for me. The ending also sets up the sequel in a way that made me curious about what happens next.
At the same time, I struggled a bit with the pacing throughout the story. The plot moves very fast, sometimes so fast that important moments don’t get much room to breathe. Several scenes that could have carried more emotional weight felt quite brief, which made it harder for me to fully connect with the characters. The time jumps between scenes were occasionally abrupt as well, which sometimes made the flow of the story feel a little disjointed.
The romance between Maela and Luan builds steadily and there is plenty of tension between them, but I personally would have liked a bit more emotional depth in their relationship development.
Overall, I had a good time reading Lavender and Steel. It’s a fast-paced romantasy with familiar genre elements and an intriguing magical world. While the pacing and lack of deeper character development kept it from becoming a top-tier read for me, the stronger final chapters and the cliffhanger ending definitely made me curious to see where the story goes in the next installment.
I received an ARC of this book from the author. My opinions are my own, based on my personal experience reading this book.
Lavender and Steel was an entertaining romantasy read for me, even though it didn’t quite become a standout favorite. The story moves quickly and introduces a number of intriguing elements, such as the magic spirits, the military academy setting, and the developing tension between Maela and Luan. By the final part of the book the stakes really start to rise, and the last chapters were definitely the most gripping for me. The ending also sets up the sequel in a way that made me curious about what happens next.
At the same time, I struggled a bit with the pacing throughout the story. The plot moves very fast, sometimes so fast that important moments don’t get much room to breathe. Several scenes that could have carried more emotional weight felt quite brief, which made it harder for me to fully connect with the characters. The time jumps between scenes were occasionally abrupt as well, which sometimes made the flow of the story feel a little disjointed.
The romance between Maela and Luan builds steadily and there is plenty of tension between them, but I personally would have liked a bit more emotional depth in their relationship development.
Overall, I had a good time reading Lavender and Steel. It’s a fast-paced romantasy with familiar genre elements and an intriguing magical world. While the pacing and lack of deeper character development kept it from becoming a top-tier read for me, the stronger final chapters and the cliffhanger ending definitely made me curious to see where the story goes in the next installment.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this book as an ARC copy from the author.
I enjoyed this book. It was well written, the story was interesting and really kept me engaged. If I need to describe it... think Fourth wing, but with a slightly different magic and magic spirits (manticores) instead of dragons.
The story was really good, you have elemental magic, Royal magic, but also a touch of shadows. It felt familiar, bit also a bit different and special on its own way. The magic spirit animals were a cool addition. Cianus gave me Tairn vibes.
The book was more plot forward rather than romance, so if you are after a lot of steamy yearning pages that's not it. The romance fall a bit to the background, but I found that I didn't really care about it, because the story itself was quite enough. The book was also not very spicy, but the spice that was there was well written
The FMC Maela is strong woman, pushing 30, thrown into a world she didn't really expect to end up at, as she thought she is very ill. I am curious to know more about the story of her past. The MMC Luan was ok, but not super remarkable.
The one thing I didn't really like was the pacing . Some stuff happened too fast, some a bit too slow, so at times it felt a bit off.
In general the book was good and I will be looking forward to the next one.
Thropes to expect:
🧝♀️🧚♂️ Fae
🌬❄️💧⚡️Elemental magic, secret magic
🧞Magic spirits
❤️🔥Love story
🫂Found family
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars
🌶 (not so spicy)
I enjoyed this book. It was well written, the story was interesting and really kept me engaged. If I need to describe it... think Fourth wing, but with a slightly different magic and magic spirits (manticores) instead of dragons.
The story was really good, you have elemental magic, Royal magic, but also a touch of shadows. It felt familiar, bit also a bit different and special on its own way. The magic spirit animals were a cool addition. Cianus gave me Tairn vibes.
The book was more plot forward rather than romance, so if you are after a lot of steamy yearning pages that's not it. The romance fall a bit to the background, but I found that I didn't really care about it, because the story itself was quite enough. The book was also not very spicy, but the spice that was there was well written
The FMC Maela is strong woman, pushing 30, thrown into a world she didn't really expect to end up at, as she thought she is very ill. I am curious to know more about the story of her past. The MMC Luan was ok, but not super remarkable.
The one thing I didn't really like was the pacing . Some stuff happened too fast, some a bit too slow, so at times it felt a bit off.
In general the book was good and I will be looking forward to the next one.
Thropes to expect:
🧝♀️🧚♂️ Fae
🌬❄️💧⚡️Elemental magic, secret magic
🧞Magic spirits
❤️🔥Love story
🫂Found family
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars
🌶 (not so spicy)
Review of advance copy received from Author
I went into this book really wanting to love it, and I genuinely gave it a solid try, but it just didn’t come together for me in the way I hoped. I made it to 57% before deciding to put it down.
One of the biggest hurdles for me was the pacing. It moved in a way that felt uneven and a bit chaotic, which made it hard to stay grounded in the story. Scenes shifted quickly, emotional beats didn’t have time to land, and I found myself struggling to stay connected to what was happening.
I also had a hard time connecting with the FMC. I kept waiting for more emotional depth or internal development, but she never quite opened up in a way that made me understand her choices or root for her. Because of that, the relationship between her and Luan didn’t feel fully earned to me — it came across rushed and a little forced, like the story wanted me to feel something that the characters hadn’t actually built yet.
There were elements with potential, and I can absolutely see why this might work for readers who enjoy fast‑moving plots or don’t mind jumping straight into the romance. It just didn’t align with what I personally look for in character‑driven stories.
Overall, this one simply didn’t hit where I needed it to, so I’m marking it as a DNF at 57%. I’m glad I gave it a fair chance, though, and I hope it finds the readers it’s meant for.
One of the biggest hurdles for me was the pacing. It moved in a way that felt uneven and a bit chaotic, which made it hard to stay grounded in the story. Scenes shifted quickly, emotional beats didn’t have time to land, and I found myself struggling to stay connected to what was happening.
I also had a hard time connecting with the FMC. I kept waiting for more emotional depth or internal development, but she never quite opened up in a way that made me understand her choices or root for her. Because of that, the relationship between her and Luan didn’t feel fully earned to me — it came across rushed and a little forced, like the story wanted me to feel something that the characters hadn’t actually built yet.
There were elements with potential, and I can absolutely see why this might work for readers who enjoy fast‑moving plots or don’t mind jumping straight into the romance. It just didn’t align with what I personally look for in character‑driven stories.
Overall, this one simply didn’t hit where I needed it to, so I’m marking it as a DNF at 57%. I’m glad I gave it a fair chance, though, and I hope it finds the readers it’s meant for.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The preview description of this book really intrigued me and I was excited for a fresh elemental magic system to take hold. The landscape was well described and we did get a lot of action scenes, especially in the later half of the book.
The first couple of chapters really drew me in and I found myself eager to carry on, however there was a sudden change with the writing becoming choppy, like chapters were all of a sudden rushing to an end point. Even if it required more words and pages, a smoother transition between scenes would have lended well to remaining immersed in the story instead of feeling "kicked out" and confused every couple of pages. Also, I started getting some deja vu to very similar scenes from a different popular book. Even though the details were slightly different, the premise of some of the scenes were extremely predictable and aligned closely which left me very disappointed.
I did appreciate the cliffhanger at the end and that the magic spirits could take form of manticores (pretty neat)! With some further editing to add smoothing and detailed transitions in scenes and remove duplicate dream scenes (word for word without indication of relevance), I think this book would be phenomenal.
I appreciate the author allowing me the ARC opportunity, and I look forward to reading a future edition of the book as well the rest of the series.
The first couple of chapters really drew me in and I found myself eager to carry on, however there was a sudden change with the writing becoming choppy, like chapters were all of a sudden rushing to an end point. Even if it required more words and pages, a smoother transition between scenes would have lended well to remaining immersed in the story instead of feeling "kicked out" and confused every couple of pages. Also, I started getting some deja vu to very similar scenes from a different popular book. Even though the details were slightly different, the premise of some of the scenes were extremely predictable and aligned closely which left me very disappointed.
I did appreciate the cliffhanger at the end and that the magic spirits could take form of manticores (pretty neat)! With some further editing to add smoothing and detailed transitions in scenes and remove duplicate dream scenes (word for word without indication of relevance), I think this book would be phenomenal.
I appreciate the author allowing me the ARC opportunity, and I look forward to reading a future edition of the book as well the rest of the series.
April 17, 2026
I read Lavender and Steel as an ARC, and I’m really glad I got the chance because this book completely pulled me in. It’s a dark, gripping fantasy that had me hooked from the start, and honestly, it gave me those Fourth Wing / Zodiac Academy vibes in the best way.
Maela is such a compelling main character. Her struggles with trauma, guilt, and figuring out what’s real felt intense but also really believable. I loved how layered she was it made everything hit harder. The world building is rich, with a dangerous magic system and high-stakes academy trials that kept the tension going the whole time.
There’s also a really good mix of elements romance, found family, betrayal and it all blends together in a way that keeps you turning the pages. The twists around loyalty and truth especially stood out to me, and the ending?? Definitely a cliffhanger that answered some things but left me with so many more questions.
I will say, the pacing is steady but the psychological parts can feel a little heavy at times, and there were a few editing issues that pulled me out of the story here and there. Nothing that completely ruined it for me, but definitely noticeable.
Overall, this was such an immersive and emotional read, and I’m really excited to see where the series goes next. Definitely one that stuck with me after finishing.
Maela is such a compelling main character. Her struggles with trauma, guilt, and figuring out what’s real felt intense but also really believable. I loved how layered she was it made everything hit harder. The world building is rich, with a dangerous magic system and high-stakes academy trials that kept the tension going the whole time.
There’s also a really good mix of elements romance, found family, betrayal and it all blends together in a way that keeps you turning the pages. The twists around loyalty and truth especially stood out to me, and the ending?? Definitely a cliffhanger that answered some things but left me with so many more questions.
I will say, the pacing is steady but the psychological parts can feel a little heavy at times, and there were a few editing issues that pulled me out of the story here and there. Nothing that completely ruined it for me, but definitely noticeable.
Overall, this was such an immersive and emotional read, and I’m really excited to see where the series goes next. Definitely one that stuck with me after finishing.
Review of advance copy received from Author
So I was lucky enough to get this ARC really liked the idea and theory behind it however it did … fall a little bit flat…. So it’s a 2.75 ⭐️
The book follows Maela who is the daughter of a general with her brother living in a human town.. which has some people with magic. There is a war against the fae standard to be fair. She then gets wrongly accused for a murder and sent to prison and then eventually gets taken to an academy to learn how to use magic and control it. Along the way we meet our MMC who is a general surrounded by secrets. Throw in some political drama, friendships and some enemies trying to kill her too.
The first part of the book I found interesting and easy to follow. The characters are nice but for me that’s about it I wasn’t fully invested in them or unfortunately the romance. The story for me then got confusing and was a bit all over the place and made it hard to follow and wasn’t intriguing me enough to want to pick it up.
The manticores being the spirit magic I did find so interesting and so unique as never read anything like that before. Obviously the twists and turns at the end was interesting but slightly predictable, I do think people will enjoy this but for me it just didn’t really grip me like I wanted it too.
The book follows Maela who is the daughter of a general with her brother living in a human town.. which has some people with magic. There is a war against the fae standard to be fair. She then gets wrongly accused for a murder and sent to prison and then eventually gets taken to an academy to learn how to use magic and control it. Along the way we meet our MMC who is a general surrounded by secrets. Throw in some political drama, friendships and some enemies trying to kill her too.
The first part of the book I found interesting and easy to follow. The characters are nice but for me that’s about it I wasn’t fully invested in them or unfortunately the romance. The story for me then got confusing and was a bit all over the place and made it hard to follow and wasn’t intriguing me enough to want to pick it up.
The manticores being the spirit magic I did find so interesting and so unique as never read anything like that before. Obviously the twists and turns at the end was interesting but slightly predictable, I do think people will enjoy this but for me it just didn’t really grip me like I wanted it too.
April 20, 2026
This was not the calm fantasy I thought I was getting. Instead, I got chaos, tension, and emotional damage — and I loved it.
After taking the fall for her brother, Maela ends up in prison, only to be kidnapped and forced into the Nova War Academy. From that point on, survival is the only goal. She isn’t naïve, she knows how bad things are — and still keeps being thrown into situations that are somehow worse.
The tone is relentlessly intense. Magic is dangerous and feared, trust is fragile, and even Maela’s own mind doesn’t always feel reliable. There’s a constant tension between reality and nightmares that creates this creeping unease, like the ground is constantly shifting beneath your feet.
The academy setting completely subverts expectations. It isn’t a place of safety or growth — it’s just another battlefield. The trials are brutal, alliances feel temporary, and everyone has their own agenda. Nothing feels stable for long.
What really worked for me was how unsettling the story is. The tension never drops, and that constant sense of instability kept me hooked from start to finish.
And the ending? Completely blindsided me. I did not see it coming at all — and now I need the next book immediately.
After taking the fall for her brother, Maela ends up in prison, only to be kidnapped and forced into the Nova War Academy. From that point on, survival is the only goal. She isn’t naïve, she knows how bad things are — and still keeps being thrown into situations that are somehow worse.
The tone is relentlessly intense. Magic is dangerous and feared, trust is fragile, and even Maela’s own mind doesn’t always feel reliable. There’s a constant tension between reality and nightmares that creates this creeping unease, like the ground is constantly shifting beneath your feet.
The academy setting completely subverts expectations. It isn’t a place of safety or growth — it’s just another battlefield. The trials are brutal, alliances feel temporary, and everyone has their own agenda. Nothing feels stable for long.
What really worked for me was how unsettling the story is. The tension never drops, and that constant sense of instability kept me hooked from start to finish.
And the ending? Completely blindsided me. I did not see it coming at all — and now I need the next book immediately.
Review of advance copy received from Author
rcvd an ARC from the author.
We meet Maela and her younger brother Maynard who lost their mother to war. their father is home for the celebration to honor those who were lost. at the celebration, Maela sees a handsome stranger on the balcony and when she returns from there she sees her brother had killed a man but then she is accused of it. thrown in prison, Maela has hours before she dies. her medication is at home so this is how she goes. she meets Delilah in the cell and she is told she had died but came back. the prison is kill or be killed. they must fight to the death in order to get to the academy. what Maela didn't know is that she has magic and it laid destruction to the prison. the handsome stranger saves her from there and takes her to the academy. luan is that handsome stranger and he is also a General and they can't stay away from one another. the academy prepares them for war thru trials and tribulations but its the nightmares that Maela has that's far worse...but are they nightmares or are they real? Luan, Maela and her friends need to keep their wits about them before its too late.
We meet Maela and her younger brother Maynard who lost their mother to war. their father is home for the celebration to honor those who were lost. at the celebration, Maela sees a handsome stranger on the balcony and when she returns from there she sees her brother had killed a man but then she is accused of it. thrown in prison, Maela has hours before she dies. her medication is at home so this is how she goes. she meets Delilah in the cell and she is told she had died but came back. the prison is kill or be killed. they must fight to the death in order to get to the academy. what Maela didn't know is that she has magic and it laid destruction to the prison. the handsome stranger saves her from there and takes her to the academy. luan is that handsome stranger and he is also a General and they can't stay away from one another. the academy prepares them for war thru trials and tribulations but its the nightmares that Maela has that's far worse...but are they nightmares or are they real? Luan, Maela and her friends need to keep their wits about them before its too late.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Received this as an ARC from the author.
There is something wonderful about going into and ARC book you know nothing about with no preconceived ideas and not influenced by someone else’s reviews.
I enjoyed the storyline a lot.
FMC is an our typical fantasy type heroine. Thrust into prison and then into a magical academy where she naturally falls for the mysterious general.
Magic system is a nice take on elemental type magic with some twists and it nice to see she starts to slowly start to come into her power. Lots to still be explored in her power which I assume will come in the next books.
The romance was a little rushed to me initially but I think that made more sense once I saw the ending. Hoping to see the deeper connection come in book two.
It is clear from early on that something more sinister going on in the academy and think the ending on touches the surface of that.
At times I was a little confused by what was happening. The time frames between scenes were sometimes a little unclear and did have to go back a few times to try figure out who some people were.
Overall a pleasant read and look forward to see where the story goes from here.
There is something wonderful about going into and ARC book you know nothing about with no preconceived ideas and not influenced by someone else’s reviews.
I enjoyed the storyline a lot.
FMC is an our typical fantasy type heroine. Thrust into prison and then into a magical academy where she naturally falls for the mysterious general.
Magic system is a nice take on elemental type magic with some twists and it nice to see she starts to slowly start to come into her power. Lots to still be explored in her power which I assume will come in the next books.
The romance was a little rushed to me initially but I think that made more sense once I saw the ending. Hoping to see the deeper connection come in book two.
It is clear from early on that something more sinister going on in the academy and think the ending on touches the surface of that.
At times I was a little confused by what was happening. The time frames between scenes were sometimes a little unclear and did have to go back a few times to try figure out who some people were.
Overall a pleasant read and look forward to see where the story goes from here.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this as an arc and this is my honest review. 3.5 stars
The writing: There were inconsistencies that a good and thorough editor(s) could fix. Names being spelt differently from one point to the next, paragraphs repeated, time jumps that made little sense, etc.
The story: Maela is a general's daughter and she is accused of a crime she didn’t commit. She is sent to prison without due process, which apparently does not exist in this world. She ends up having magic, so she gets sent to the Nova War Academy. At times the story line was confusing because of time jumps, but overall the story was interesting. The magic spirits were great and I liked that they were not a dragon or a wolf. The world building was trickled in a bit at a time, but left many unanswered questions. I am guessing more will be revealed in the next book.
Overall, the pacing was good, especially after the 40% mark. I enjoyed the story and was surprised when I hit the end, thinking I had more to go. I guess I will have to wait for book 2.
The writing: There were inconsistencies that a good and thorough editor(s) could fix. Names being spelt differently from one point to the next, paragraphs repeated, time jumps that made little sense, etc.
The story: Maela is a general's daughter and she is accused of a crime she didn’t commit. She is sent to prison without due process, which apparently does not exist in this world. She ends up having magic, so she gets sent to the Nova War Academy. At times the story line was confusing because of time jumps, but overall the story was interesting. The magic spirits were great and I liked that they were not a dragon or a wolf. The world building was trickled in a bit at a time, but left many unanswered questions. I am guessing more will be revealed in the next book.
Overall, the pacing was good, especially after the 40% mark. I enjoyed the story and was surprised when I hit the end, thinking I had more to go. I guess I will have to wait for book 2.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Reader Review.
First I want to say thank you to the author for letting me read this arc!
I was extremely excited to read this book. I wanted to rate it higher so bad. But this book gave a lot of Fourth Wing. There were quite a lot of scenes that were identical to it. And honestly the school gave the same vibes. The main characters were so similar to the ones in Fourth Wing. Instead of dragons it’s manticores. But both Maela and Luans manticores are mates, just like the two main characters dragons in Fourth Wing. Because of it being so similar and having a lot of same exact things I don’t feel like I was able to enjoy it as much as I wanted to. The pace of this book was fast. It was very confusing as well in the beginning. Like one thing was happening and then out of no where it was talking about something completely different. It was jumping everywhere and very confusing. I will say the ending was the best part for me! It left on such a cliff hanger I wanted to know what happened!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really enjoyed this book. It pulls you in quite quickly, especially with the tension between characters; there’s that immediate sense of something going on beneath the surface, which kept me curious the whole way through.
The dynamic between the main characters was one of my favourite parts. There’s a good mix of emotion, tension, and a bit of mystery, and it doesn’t feel forced. The dialogue especially felt natural and helped carry that.
The world-building is interesting without being overwhelming; you’re kind of dropped into things and have to piece it together as you go, which I actually liked, although it might feel slightly confusing right at the start for some readers.
Overall, it’s a really engaging read. It has a strong emotional core, intriguing relationships, and enough mystery to keep you turning the pages.
Final Thoughts:
A solid and enjoyable read with great character tension and a strong underlying sense of intrigue.
The dynamic between the main characters was one of my favourite parts. There’s a good mix of emotion, tension, and a bit of mystery, and it doesn’t feel forced. The dialogue especially felt natural and helped carry that.
The world-building is interesting without being overwhelming; you’re kind of dropped into things and have to piece it together as you go, which I actually liked, although it might feel slightly confusing right at the start for some readers.
Overall, it’s a really engaging read. It has a strong emotional core, intriguing relationships, and enough mystery to keep you turning the pages.
Final Thoughts:
A solid and enjoyable read with great character tension and a strong underlying sense of intrigue.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Lavender and Steel is an absolute page-turner and should appeal to fans of Fourth Wing and Zodiac Academy.
The story follows Maela as she discovers that she has intentionally been lied to for much of her life. The book weaves together a moderately spicy love story, found family, magic, and betrayal in an academy setting.
The ending, which is a cliffhanger, confirms some suspicions while leaving readers with a series of new, unanswered questions.
The major drawback of Lavender and Steel is the editing issues. In addition to a significant number of proofreading errors, there are multiple paragraphs that are repeated. These errors create confusion and detract from the book's continuity at times.
Overall, the book was engaging and enjoyable, and I look forward to reading future books in the series.
Thank you, J.P. Feather, for providing an advanced copy for review. All opinions are my own.
The story follows Maela as she discovers that she has intentionally been lied to for much of her life. The book weaves together a moderately spicy love story, found family, magic, and betrayal in an academy setting.
The ending, which is a cliffhanger, confirms some suspicions while leaving readers with a series of new, unanswered questions.
The major drawback of Lavender and Steel is the editing issues. In addition to a significant number of proofreading errors, there are multiple paragraphs that are repeated. These errors create confusion and detract from the book's continuity at times.
Overall, the book was engaging and enjoyable, and I look forward to reading future books in the series.
Thank you, J.P. Feather, for providing an advanced copy for review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Unfortunately, this one didn’t quite come together for me.
From the first chapter, the pacing felt quite rushed. It almost felt like I was diving into the middle of an ongoing story or series without much context, which threw me off and made it difficult to fully settle into the world.
The story also seemed to try to get serious very quickly, before I had enough time to connect with what was happening or who the characters were.
There were definitely elements and tropes that I liked, and I could see the potential. However, I often found myself wondering how certain events unfolded or how the story moved from one moment to another. Because of this, I didn’t feel fully immersed in the world, and I struggled to form a strong connection with the characters.
Overall, while Lavender and Steel had some interesting ideas and tropes that I appreciated, the pacing and lack of development made it hard for me to stay engaged.
From the first chapter, the pacing felt quite rushed. It almost felt like I was diving into the middle of an ongoing story or series without much context, which threw me off and made it difficult to fully settle into the world.
The story also seemed to try to get serious very quickly, before I had enough time to connect with what was happening or who the characters were.
There were definitely elements and tropes that I liked, and I could see the potential. However, I often found myself wondering how certain events unfolded or how the story moved from one moment to another. Because of this, I didn’t feel fully immersed in the world, and I struggled to form a strong connection with the characters.
Overall, while Lavender and Steel had some interesting ideas and tropes that I appreciated, the pacing and lack of development made it hard for me to stay engaged.
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨ ARC Review.
I want to begin with a thank you to the Author for allowing me to participate in this Arc read.
This was my first Arc iv ever received. I wanted to give this story a fair chance. I’m sorry to be harsh but if it wasn’t an arc review I would have probably DNF’ed it. At first glance it offered a lot of what I’m interested in for a Romantacy. However I found the pacing to be off and somewhat confusing. There was so much going on with this book with not as much context as I would prefer. I just felt like I was dropped into situations appose to any lead up. Personally I just couldn’t get into this book entirely.
However this book was fast paced and a lot going on which some other readers might love. I don’t want to share anything else as it would be spoilers however my favourite character was Deon!
I want to begin with a thank you to the Author for allowing me to participate in this Arc read.
This was my first Arc iv ever received. I wanted to give this story a fair chance. I’m sorry to be harsh but if it wasn’t an arc review I would have probably DNF’ed it. At first glance it offered a lot of what I’m interested in for a Romantacy. However I found the pacing to be off and somewhat confusing. There was so much going on with this book with not as much context as I would prefer. I just felt like I was dropped into situations appose to any lead up. Personally I just couldn’t get into this book entirely.
However this book was fast paced and a lot going on which some other readers might love. I don’t want to share anything else as it would be spoilers however my favourite character was Deon!
April 5, 2026
Firstly, I want to say thank you to the author for allowing me to read and ARC.
Overall, I wanted to say that I really like the overall concept of the book and it had potential to be an amazing story, but for me the story fell a bit flat. I wanted to preface this by saying I don’t think the book is bad but for me it was just ok, I just found the story didn’t quite come together the way I was hoping and I really struggled to get invested in the romance and the world due to this. Some parts of the story felt a bit disjointed and I kept having to go back and re reading sections because I got confused. Typically, I am quite a quick reader but this one did take me a while to get through as I found myself getting distracted at times. However, there were some parts towards the end that I found interesting to read about, so for me the book got a little better in the second half.
Overall, I wanted to say that I really like the overall concept of the book and it had potential to be an amazing story, but for me the story fell a bit flat. I wanted to preface this by saying I don’t think the book is bad but for me it was just ok, I just found the story didn’t quite come together the way I was hoping and I really struggled to get invested in the romance and the world due to this. Some parts of the story felt a bit disjointed and I kept having to go back and re reading sections because I got confused. Typically, I am quite a quick reader but this one did take me a while to get through as I found myself getting distracted at times. However, there were some parts towards the end that I found interesting to read about, so for me the book got a little better in the second half.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.75⭐️
This was a unique take on a war academy and fae. It starts with Maela being sent to prison for a crime she didnt commit. Shes told to stop taking her pills and she will be released to attend the academy. They have a variety of deadly trials and games to weed out the weak. They're bonded with magic spirits that allow the cadets to share their magic as well as have the ability to transform and be ridden.
She begins falling for Luan, someone she shouldn't be toeing the line with because of their stations. And if that wasn't enough piled on theres a group that are trying to undermine the academy's work by stealing relics and cadets, turning them to the darker side where they have the ability to steal others magic. While she keeps having dreams like she's walking amongst scenes that already happened or will be happening, with no control of what she sees or hears.
This was a unique take on a war academy and fae. It starts with Maela being sent to prison for a crime she didnt commit. Shes told to stop taking her pills and she will be released to attend the academy. They have a variety of deadly trials and games to weed out the weak. They're bonded with magic spirits that allow the cadets to share their magic as well as have the ability to transform and be ridden.
She begins falling for Luan, someone she shouldn't be toeing the line with because of their stations. And if that wasn't enough piled on theres a group that are trying to undermine the academy's work by stealing relics and cadets, turning them to the darker side where they have the ability to steal others magic. While she keeps having dreams like she's walking amongst scenes that already happened or will be happening, with no control of what she sees or hears.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was one of the readers who got to read the story early through the ARC team, and I’m so grateful. The story really manages to grab your attention and keep you hooked. You keep wondering what’s going to happen next and how the characters will interact with each other. I laughed, cried, and cursed because I was so emotionally invested.
The world-building and magic system are sometimes a bit complex, and I had to reread things occasionally to stay 100 percent engaged in the story. I also noticed that some time jumps didn’t seem logical, which caused me to lose track of the plot every now and then, though I quickly found my way back. It was just a shame that I lost track of the thread and timeline here and there. Otherwise, the story was very strong and full of surprising and unpredictable plot twists—I definitely enjoyed it.
The world-building and magic system are sometimes a bit complex, and I had to reread things occasionally to stay 100 percent engaged in the story. I also noticed that some time jumps didn’t seem logical, which caused me to lose track of the plot every now and then, though I quickly found my way back. It was just a shame that I lost track of the thread and timeline here and there. Otherwise, the story was very strong and full of surprising and unpredictable plot twists—I definitely enjoyed it.
April 12, 2026
I really enjoyed this book and the characters. I wanted more from them but this is from the FMC’s POV only so you are learning with her. The pace was fast then slow which sometimes felt off reading but over all I really enjoyed the book. It also could be just how the Marriott (our FMC) was at that point in time so it’s important to keep in mind the story is only as reliable as the narrator and if our FMC doesn’t know something or is feeling left out there’s a reason you as the reader as feel that way.
The world is set at a war academy where the cadets must bond with their magical spirit and master their powers. There are different types of powers (elemental then dark and light) all from neighboring “enemy” fae kingdoms. The book instead ended on a cliff hanger and the bonus chapter gave us a huge plot twist. I have my theories and I’m covered to see if it’s accurate moving on in the series.
The world is set at a war academy where the cadets must bond with their magical spirit and master their powers. There are different types of powers (elemental then dark and light) all from neighboring “enemy” fae kingdoms. The book instead ended on a cliff hanger and the bonus chapter gave us a huge plot twist. I have my theories and I’m covered to see if it’s accurate moving on in the series.
April 15, 2026
"Lavender And Steel" is a fast-paced romantasy with prison drama, a military academy, political tension and romance. The story follows Maela as she’s wrongly accused and thrown into a dangerous new world. The magic system, especially the manticore spirits are unique and the final chapters raise the stakes in a way that makes the sequel tempting. That said, the pacing feel too quick at times. Some scenes and emotions didn't feeling fully developed. It made parts of the story confusing and the romance harder to connect with. Overall, this book has strong potential, but it didn’t quite connect for me.
🖤 Romantasy
🖤 Military academy
🖤 Elemental magic
🖤 Enemies-to-lovers vibes
🖤 Political intrigue
Thank you J.P. Feather for a copy of "Lavender And Steel" in exchange for my honest review.
🖤 Romantasy
🖤 Military academy
🖤 Elemental magic
🖤 Enemies-to-lovers vibes
🖤 Political intrigue
Thank you J.P. Feather for a copy of "Lavender And Steel" in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
i received this as an advanced reader copy, so thank you to the author.
however, unfortunately, this did end up being a dnf for me (at 20% read) as i just couldn't get into it. i found it confusing to follow. there was too much that happened that just didn't have enough substance. a lot of context was missing. quantity over quality comes to mind. relationships (friendships, family, acquaintances) just happened rather than the interaction and diologue shown to build them.
it has a lot of promise. the characters were promising, the plot, although confusing at times, was intruiging, the world building was good. but i just needed more context and substance before moving on to another issue.
i also couldn't contact the author to let them know i personally couldn't get into it.
however, unfortunately, this did end up being a dnf for me (at 20% read) as i just couldn't get into it. i found it confusing to follow. there was too much that happened that just didn't have enough substance. a lot of context was missing. quantity over quality comes to mind. relationships (friendships, family, acquaintances) just happened rather than the interaction and diologue shown to build them.
it has a lot of promise. the characters were promising, the plot, although confusing at times, was intruiging, the world building was good. but i just needed more context and substance before moving on to another issue.
i also couldn't contact the author to let them know i personally couldn't get into it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews