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Influence: When Desire Bends Reality
When magic grants your wish, it never comes cheap.
Zara’s had enough of small-town life and schoolyard cruelty. So when a mysterious stranger offers her a potion to become an adult overnight—and awaken powers she never knew she had—Zara drinks without a second thought. Impulsiveness has always been her second name.
But growing up overnight comes with a price. Fleeing her old life, Zara tumbles into a world of ghosts, werewolves, and sentient magic. Her gifts evolve faster than she can control them, bending reality around her—and her choices carry consequences that refuse to stay buried.
Recruited into a secretive organisation offering “solutions” to the world’s most powerful, Zara becomes their newest operative: an influencer who can bend wills. Her assignments take her across continents and deeper into a shadow world where nothing is what it seems.
When she’s sent to retrieve a sentient orb of immense power, the mission unravels. Everything changes. The only person immune to her influence is a hacker posing as a journalist. He may be her greatest threat… or her only chance at survival.
This is the story of a girl who wished to grow up too soon—and what happens when the universe decides to grant that wish.
Spanning five years of love, danger, and supernatural intrigue, Influence—a contemporary fast-paced urban fantasy—follows Zara’s struggle to master her power and find her place in a world that was never built for her.
Paranormal Fantasy, Contemporary Fantasy Thriller, Urban Fantasy, Magical Realism, Coming-of-Age, Psychological Fantasy
Zara’s had enough of small-town life and schoolyard cruelty. So when a mysterious stranger offers her a potion to become an adult overnight—and awaken powers she never knew she had—Zara drinks without a second thought. Impulsiveness has always been her second name.
But growing up overnight comes with a price. Fleeing her old life, Zara tumbles into a world of ghosts, werewolves, and sentient magic. Her gifts evolve faster than she can control them, bending reality around her—and her choices carry consequences that refuse to stay buried.
Recruited into a secretive organisation offering “solutions” to the world’s most powerful, Zara becomes their newest operative: an influencer who can bend wills. Her assignments take her across continents and deeper into a shadow world where nothing is what it seems.
When she’s sent to retrieve a sentient orb of immense power, the mission unravels. Everything changes. The only person immune to her influence is a hacker posing as a journalist. He may be her greatest threat… or her only chance at survival.
This is the story of a girl who wished to grow up too soon—and what happens when the universe decides to grant that wish.
Spanning five years of love, danger, and supernatural intrigue, Influence—a contemporary fast-paced urban fantasy—follows Zara’s struggle to master her power and find her place in a world that was never built for her.
Paranormal Fantasy, Contemporary Fantasy Thriller, Urban Fantasy, Magical Realism, Coming-of-Age, Psychological Fantasy
462 pages, ebook
Published November 7, 2025
2 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Sascha Steam
2 books4 followersSascha Steam is an Australian author, former international model, and photographer whose work explores identity, power, and challenges the fine line between illusion and reality.
Her writing draws from a life lived on the edge. She’s survived enough ridiculous adventures to count as her own genre. Apparently, it’s called “research.”
Autistic, queer, and allergic to normalcy, Sascha spends her downtime alternating between lifting heavy weights, spoiling her cat and discussing philosophy with her dog.
She regularly attempts enlightenment and overthinks life in her sauna, while debating whether an ice bath counts as character development.
She wakes up for coffee and lives for sunsets. Books are her favourite form of escapism—often reading two or three at a time—so it was inevitable she’d start writing a few herself.
Her debut memoir, Model Life Exposed, is a brutally funny deep dive into the glossy world of modelling.
Her second book, Influence, blends paranormal fantasy with psychological realism, following a young woman who discovers that every wish—and every power—comes at a cost.
Her writing draws from a life lived on the edge. She’s survived enough ridiculous adventures to count as her own genre. Apparently, it’s called “research.”
Autistic, queer, and allergic to normalcy, Sascha spends her downtime alternating between lifting heavy weights, spoiling her cat and discussing philosophy with her dog.
She regularly attempts enlightenment and overthinks life in her sauna, while debating whether an ice bath counts as character development.
She wakes up for coffee and lives for sunsets. Books are her favourite form of escapism—often reading two or three at a time—so it was inevitable she’d start writing a few herself.
Her debut memoir, Model Life Exposed, is a brutally funny deep dive into the glossy world of modelling.
Her second book, Influence, blends paranormal fantasy with psychological realism, following a young woman who discovers that every wish—and every power—comes at a cost.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 11, 2025
Have you ever felt like you didn’t quite know your place in life? Or caught yourself wondering, “How did I end up here?” If so, Influence: When Desire Bends Reality will resonate deeply.
This story offers an intriguing exploration of self-discovery, blending real-life relatability with magical realism. The balance of chaos and calm feels intentional; everything happens for a reason, yet it mirrors how messy and unpredictable life can truly be. It’s fast-paced, high-stakes, and full of those glimmers of hope, friendship, and connection that remind you what it means to feel grounded.
Zara is a survivor in every sense. She evolves with the people and energy around her; her growth isn’t linear but fluid, shaped by those she meets. Some characters challenge her, others comfort her, and a few break and rebuild her. Her journey feels like a powerful reflection of how much the people we surround ourselves with influence who we become.
I especially loved the authentic Australian banter woven throughout the dialogue, it felt natural and familiar, making me feel like I was part of the conversation. Sascha Steam did a fantastic job connecting each chapter seamlessly, giving every moment a sense of purpose and intention.
A compelling, emotional read that reminds us how life bends, breaks, and rebuilds us... often in the most magical ways.
This story offers an intriguing exploration of self-discovery, blending real-life relatability with magical realism. The balance of chaos and calm feels intentional; everything happens for a reason, yet it mirrors how messy and unpredictable life can truly be. It’s fast-paced, high-stakes, and full of those glimmers of hope, friendship, and connection that remind you what it means to feel grounded.
Zara is a survivor in every sense. She evolves with the people and energy around her; her growth isn’t linear but fluid, shaped by those she meets. Some characters challenge her, others comfort her, and a few break and rebuild her. Her journey feels like a powerful reflection of how much the people we surround ourselves with influence who we become.
I especially loved the authentic Australian banter woven throughout the dialogue, it felt natural and familiar, making me feel like I was part of the conversation. Sascha Steam did a fantastic job connecting each chapter seamlessly, giving every moment a sense of purpose and intention.
A compelling, emotional read that reminds us how life bends, breaks, and rebuilds us... often in the most magical ways.
November 3, 2025
I loved this book, it had a strong start that hooked me from the beginning. The magic element was woven perfectly with everyday life.
It starts of with current day and then the timeline flash back 5 years and carry on alternating timelines each chapter till chapter 6 then it follows that timeline up till we reach the current day where the book starts for the last six chapters.
I enjoyed this format as we get to experience everything that let to the main character, Zara finding herself in a peculiar situation in the current day and then follows on with how she deals with the situation.
The character has an amazing witty sense of humor and left me laughing out loud quite a few times at her inner dialogue and comments.
Her development is so real and relatable, although life was not kind to her she kept fighting and kept her humor and tenacity while doing what she needs to survive.
I really enjoyed the writing style and descriptions of especially Australia, this story will keep you guessing with each page and have a few plot twist i did not see coming.
Two comments within the first few pages that u absolutely love and cannot get over is:
“Books never judged her.
Books allowed her to believe.”
“It was easier to breathe in fiction.”
And there is a million and two funny highlights in this book!
The author hints about future books taking place in this world and i cannot wait!
It starts of with current day and then the timeline flash back 5 years and carry on alternating timelines each chapter till chapter 6 then it follows that timeline up till we reach the current day where the book starts for the last six chapters.
I enjoyed this format as we get to experience everything that let to the main character, Zara finding herself in a peculiar situation in the current day and then follows on with how she deals with the situation.
The character has an amazing witty sense of humor and left me laughing out loud quite a few times at her inner dialogue and comments.
Her development is so real and relatable, although life was not kind to her she kept fighting and kept her humor and tenacity while doing what she needs to survive.
I really enjoyed the writing style and descriptions of especially Australia, this story will keep you guessing with each page and have a few plot twist i did not see coming.
Two comments within the first few pages that u absolutely love and cannot get over is:
“Books never judged her.
Books allowed her to believe.”
“It was easier to breathe in fiction.”
And there is a million and two funny highlights in this book!
The author hints about future books taking place in this world and i cannot wait!
October 30, 2025
“What if he only loves me because I made him?”
***
I absolutely loved reading this book! After having stressful stuff happening in my personal life, this was an amazing, fast-paced and engaging read for me!
Although the book has many different genres it never felt rushed or all piled into the story, everything flows really well and was written beautifully. You can tell there was so much hard work and dedication put into writing and editing this book! And it was all done in an amazing way.
I have never read a book like this before, the plot is unique and has you hooked from the first page! With genres such as thriller, comedy, and horror.
As someone from Australia this book was really cool to read as not many books are based in Australia! I loved it
Zara, for me, was a character that I could easily love. I loved her story and I loved reading as she developed throughout the story.
I loved the mix of humour in the book. I always love when a book has humour, and this book has my type of humour and I loveeeeee it 🤭
If you are looking for a book with a new, unique plot, with lots of emotion and tension throughout the story, then I 100% recommend this book!! (It honestly deserves a LOT more hype). Even if you are a person who sticks to the one genre, I recommend coming out of your comfort zone to read this book!
***
I absolutely loved reading this book! After having stressful stuff happening in my personal life, this was an amazing, fast-paced and engaging read for me!
Although the book has many different genres it never felt rushed or all piled into the story, everything flows really well and was written beautifully. You can tell there was so much hard work and dedication put into writing and editing this book! And it was all done in an amazing way.
I have never read a book like this before, the plot is unique and has you hooked from the first page! With genres such as thriller, comedy, and horror.
As someone from Australia this book was really cool to read as not many books are based in Australia! I loved it
Zara, for me, was a character that I could easily love. I loved her story and I loved reading as she developed throughout the story.
I loved the mix of humour in the book. I always love when a book has humour, and this book has my type of humour and I loveeeeee it 🤭
If you are looking for a book with a new, unique plot, with lots of emotion and tension throughout the story, then I 100% recommend this book!! (It honestly deserves a LOT more hype). Even if you are a person who sticks to the one genre, I recommend coming out of your comfort zone to read this book!
October 26, 2025
Influence is a character-driven story that follows Zara, a once-bullied underdog teenager who grows into a powerful woman capable of bending reality after drinking a potion.
This cross-genre book is a perfect read if you’re looking to explore different types of genres. It combines elements of romantasy, horror, thriller and comedy. It’s my first time reading something like this, but I really enjoyed it!
The writing style is creative and original, keeping you hooked from start to finish. Despite juggling multiple genres, it never feels overwhelming. Everything flows so naturally. It's 400+ pages but honestly a really easy read.
Also, I love how the author handled the side characters. Each one was given just the right amount of presence, and they all contributed meaningfully to the storyline and helping Zara find the purpose of her powers. Which is really touching.
Overall, I’d give this a solid 4 stars! It’s not the kind of book that changes your life, but it is the kind that reminds you why reading is so special. It captures the joy of reading for enjoyment rather than perfection.
This cross-genre book is a perfect read if you’re looking to explore different types of genres. It combines elements of romantasy, horror, thriller and comedy. It’s my first time reading something like this, but I really enjoyed it!
The writing style is creative and original, keeping you hooked from start to finish. Despite juggling multiple genres, it never feels overwhelming. Everything flows so naturally. It's 400+ pages but honestly a really easy read.
Also, I love how the author handled the side characters. Each one was given just the right amount of presence, and they all contributed meaningfully to the storyline and helping Zara find the purpose of her powers. Which is really touching.
Overall, I’d give this a solid 4 stars! It’s not the kind of book that changes your life, but it is the kind that reminds you why reading is so special. It captures the joy of reading for enjoyment rather than perfection.
October 25, 2025
I was lucky enough to be able to ARC this book and omg I’m so glad I did!!
In a world where magic isn’t exactly well known but lingers in the dark, we find Zara who gets caught up in the middle of it. Accepting a strange potion that flips her world upside down.
Every. Single. Chapter. They all had me gasping at the twists and turns that were taken. Each new revelation had me red string theorizing every possible reason for things.
This is a must read for people looking for a little slice of the chaos magic and abilities can cause tied into the normality of life’s unruly ways.
In a world where magic isn’t exactly well known but lingers in the dark, we find Zara who gets caught up in the middle of it. Accepting a strange potion that flips her world upside down.
Every. Single. Chapter. They all had me gasping at the twists and turns that were taken. Each new revelation had me red string theorizing every possible reason for things.
This is a must read for people looking for a little slice of the chaos magic and abilities can cause tied into the normality of life’s unruly ways.
October 26, 2025
I had such a fun time reading this! 🌙 It was my first time reading anything in this genre, and I didn’t know what to expect — but the story was fast-paced, full of adventure, and had great character dynamics that kept me hooked from the first chapter. I loved the mix of heart, humor, and imagination. If you’re into fantasy with emotion, tension, magic, and a dash of mystery — with a story that truly captivates — this one’s for you! ✨
November 5, 2025
The book starts with quite an active chapter. Located in the middle of the overall timeline it gives a taste of where Zara’s life cannonballs to. After a few time hops back and forth to give context to where she came from, the book settles into chronological order. Does this mean it gets bogged down, a capital N O. Her life is full of events, new adventures, new abilities, friendships and with a considerable amount of tension, anticipation and action, making an engaging read that leaves you with a wonder for what is next.
The side characters beg for their own spotlight, but never overshadow the main character and her trial and tribulations of getting through life one day at a time, or more accurately a life event at a time.
Thoroughly enjoyable read, so much so that I am reading it again and still being mesmerised by new things that I did not give weight to, but with 20/20 hindsight add to each event and give a clue to the future without giving anything away.
The side characters beg for their own spotlight, but never overshadow the main character and her trial and tribulations of getting through life one day at a time, or more accurately a life event at a time.
Thoroughly enjoyable read, so much so that I am reading it again and still being mesmerised by new things that I did not give weight to, but with 20/20 hindsight add to each event and give a clue to the future without giving anything away.
November 4, 2025
This is one of those books that deserves a place on every bookshelf. If you love Fantasy, Mystery, Werewolves and a bit of romance then run to the bookstore, don't walk!
The story starts off a little slow with a writing style that feels somewhat tentative at first. But, once it found it's rhythm, I couldn't stop reading. It completely drew me in and I could not put the book down.
This is definitely a book that I will read again from time to time because of the feeling it gave me.
One of the best parts of the story is how Zara, the main character, discovers herself and grows along the way. Very relatable. The friendships she build feel so genuine and heartwarming. There is a dog!
For me they're a big part of what makes this book special.
I truly enjoyed my time and already miss my crew.
I vote for a series and i can not wait to read more of this wonderful author!
The story starts off a little slow with a writing style that feels somewhat tentative at first. But, once it found it's rhythm, I couldn't stop reading. It completely drew me in and I could not put the book down.
This is definitely a book that I will read again from time to time because of the feeling it gave me.
One of the best parts of the story is how Zara, the main character, discovers herself and grows along the way. Very relatable. The friendships she build feel so genuine and heartwarming. There is a dog!
For me they're a big part of what makes this book special.
I truly enjoyed my time and already miss my crew.
I vote for a series and i can not wait to read more of this wonderful author!
November 7, 2025
Couldn't put it down, loved it, amazing story line. Great twists and turns on every page definitely a recommend
November 10, 2025
A coming of age story like you’ve never read before.
Teenage Zara takes a magic potion that transforms her into an adult and unlocks her supernatural ability to influence people and get them to do whatever she wants. What follows next is a wild journey full of twists, paranormal creatures and sentient magic.
Zara is a great FMC. I loved her character development throughout. She’s so caring and helps others without thinking about herself. She’s kind hearted, strong and super fierce. I enjoyed that she was queer too.
There were some great side characters as well that I’m dying to know more about and will be eagerly awaiting any futures books about them. I need to know more about green eyed Riven, Estelle, Devon and Elowen. Marco was a great character to hate too. I didn’t expect his storyline at all (don’t want to say too much for spoilers.)
I loved the organisation. That ending was intense. I like how that all played out and the characters we got to meet through it. Roza was interesting and I’m still unsure about Roman.
There are multiple lovers for Zara along her journey and each one is a whole book in itself. So much drama I loved it.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and rate it 4.5 ⭐️ (rounded up to 5 for Amazon & Goodreads) and 2🌶️🌶️. The only thing that slightly confused me and kept this from a full 5 stars for me was the orb. I have a lot of questions about it. I’m hoping in any future books it will explain it more.
Teenage Zara takes a magic potion that transforms her into an adult and unlocks her supernatural ability to influence people and get them to do whatever she wants. What follows next is a wild journey full of twists, paranormal creatures and sentient magic.
Zara is a great FMC. I loved her character development throughout. She’s so caring and helps others without thinking about herself. She’s kind hearted, strong and super fierce. I enjoyed that she was queer too.
There were some great side characters as well that I’m dying to know more about and will be eagerly awaiting any futures books about them. I need to know more about green eyed Riven, Estelle, Devon and Elowen. Marco was a great character to hate too. I didn’t expect his storyline at all (don’t want to say too much for spoilers.)
I loved the organisation. That ending was intense. I like how that all played out and the characters we got to meet through it. Roza was interesting and I’m still unsure about Roman.
There are multiple lovers for Zara along her journey and each one is a whole book in itself. So much drama I loved it.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and rate it 4.5 ⭐️ (rounded up to 5 for Amazon & Goodreads) and 2🌶️🌶️. The only thing that slightly confused me and kept this from a full 5 stars for me was the orb. I have a lot of questions about it. I’m hoping in any future books it will explain it more.
November 7, 2025
"I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.” Influence is a fast paced contemporary urban fantasy that follows Zara, a restless teen who takes a mysterious potion to become an adult overnight, only to awaken dangerous powers and a destiny she never asked for. Thrust into a hidden world of ghosts, werewolves, and sentient magic, Zara’s impulsive choices ripple across realities as she’s recruited by a secret organization that manipulates power and perception. As her abilities spiral beyond control, her latest mission ‘to recover a sentient orb’ forces her to confront a hacker immune to her influence and the dark price of growing up too fast. Blending coming of age themes with supernatural intrigue, Influence explores identity, power, and consequence in a world where magic always demands payment. This is a must read! And I crave for more books to come after this. 💛
November 10, 2025
I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy a book that reached into the mystical and fantasy worlds, but I was hooked from the very first page. A main character that you immediately connect with, and then join in her journey of discovery and enlightenment page after page.
Sometime dark and brooding, other times light and funny, the author takes you through a multitude of emotionally changing encounters that has you wondering what might be next. Surprising plot twists accompanied by humour and elements of fantasy, the pace continues to accelerate through until the conclusion.
I hope this is just the first of a series about this character and that we see more work published from this talent author. An excellent and well written work of fiction (or non-fiction?).
Sometime dark and brooding, other times light and funny, the author takes you through a multitude of emotionally changing encounters that has you wondering what might be next. Surprising plot twists accompanied by humour and elements of fantasy, the pace continues to accelerate through until the conclusion.
I hope this is just the first of a series about this character and that we see more work published from this talent author. An excellent and well written work of fiction (or non-fiction?).
November 10, 2025
I received an ARC of this book & am so happy I did! I loved the blend of the fantasy world & non magical world! Normally time line jumping books are hard for me to follow but the author does a fabulous job of making those jumps seamlessly. The writing style made me feel like I was right there with Zara as she figured everything out. It’s 400 pages but it never feels like you need to count… I am however left with the thought of “I need more! I need another book!” The side characters are too fun I need more of them!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2025
Influence is a unique book that blends paranormal and the supernatural with romance. At times it reminded me of the X-men and the X-files. Sascha has given characters distinct and memorable personalities throughout the book. It’s an entertaining read while being a thriller and pulling you through chapter by chapter with a continuous mystery. The world building is very good and hints at a larger world than you see in this particular book. This book wraps up well and will leave you curious for more!
December 1, 2025
Thoroughly original, totally engaging and gripping from beginning to end. Brilliant world-building and the characters had arcs that kept you coming back for more. And Rafi... oh sweet Rafi. <3
Read it!! It's damn good!
Read it!! It's damn good!
December 4, 2025
After reading Sascha Steam’s first book, Model Life Exposed, I was eager for her next release. She writes with so much heart and naturalistic observation, where every character and adventurous event seems right out of worldly real-life experiences, only much more creative and wickedly fun!
In Influence, her second novel, she masterfully mixes real-life with magic, romance with mystery, fantasy with fast-tracked coming-of-age empowerment. This unusual mix turns out to be a page turner multi- genre cocktail you just can’t stop drinking. As one of her chapter subtitles suggests, “Where the ordinary cracks, the unusual seeps in.” And therein lies the secret of her talents – the author’s and her main protagonist in Influence, Zara.
A deal with the devil shortly after Zara’s instant leap to adulthood acts as a metaphor for decisions we all make as teens scrambling toward adulthood as quickly as we can, often with no roadmap in hand. In this case, Zara catapults out of an awkward and disenfranchised youth by drinking a potion that transforms her into a gorgeous, confident woman… with a gift. She can influence others’ thoughts and actions. Sometimes for hire, sometimes to accomplish her own desirous objectives. At every twist and turn (and there are many) you’re rooting for her, at times wondering how and why she finds herself in such strange and fascinating situations. But soon you know, because the author takes you there… first with anticipation and intrigue, then with insight and resolve. The people Zara meets along the way add more interest and intrigue, occasional frustration, friendship, as well as some timely supernatural talents of their own, helping Zara eventually tip the metaphysical scales from worldly wrong toward the light of what is right, for her.
Influence is a fabulous read, a great foundation and first installment for what I hope will turn into a related universe of additional books over time. A terrific sophomore release by an up-and-coming author with likely many more tales to tell.
In Influence, her second novel, she masterfully mixes real-life with magic, romance with mystery, fantasy with fast-tracked coming-of-age empowerment. This unusual mix turns out to be a page turner multi- genre cocktail you just can’t stop drinking. As one of her chapter subtitles suggests, “Where the ordinary cracks, the unusual seeps in.” And therein lies the secret of her talents – the author’s and her main protagonist in Influence, Zara.
A deal with the devil shortly after Zara’s instant leap to adulthood acts as a metaphor for decisions we all make as teens scrambling toward adulthood as quickly as we can, often with no roadmap in hand. In this case, Zara catapults out of an awkward and disenfranchised youth by drinking a potion that transforms her into a gorgeous, confident woman… with a gift. She can influence others’ thoughts and actions. Sometimes for hire, sometimes to accomplish her own desirous objectives. At every twist and turn (and there are many) you’re rooting for her, at times wondering how and why she finds herself in such strange and fascinating situations. But soon you know, because the author takes you there… first with anticipation and intrigue, then with insight and resolve. The people Zara meets along the way add more interest and intrigue, occasional frustration, friendship, as well as some timely supernatural talents of their own, helping Zara eventually tip the metaphysical scales from worldly wrong toward the light of what is right, for her.
Influence is a fabulous read, a great foundation and first installment for what I hope will turn into a related universe of additional books over time. A terrific sophomore release by an up-and-coming author with likely many more tales to tell.
November 14, 2025
This book surprised me in the best way. It blends several genres, fantasy, mystery and a touch of romance. yet nothing ever feels chaotic or forced. Everything flows naturally, and once the writing settles into its rhythm, it becomes incredibly immersive.
The author actually worried that this story wouldn’t be for me, and I understood why, at first fantasy isn’t usually my top choice. I enjoy it, but I often prefer watching fantasy on screen because I love the visual experience of CGI. So imagine my surprise when I ended up genuinely enjoying this from start to finish.
The beginning starts off slowly, with a writing style that feels cautious, almost like the author is warming up. There are multiple timeline jumps early on, which made things a bit confusing for me in the beginning. Normally, books that jump around in time lose me quickly. But here, the transitions are handled smoothly, and once the plot finds its momentum, everything starts falling into place.
By the midpoint, I was completely absorbed. The world building becomes clearer, the characters become more layered, and the twists land beautifully. The genre mix works far better than I expected, and the pacing improves significantly as the story unfolds.
If you're someone who enjoys fantasy worlds with mystery elements, supernatural lore, and a soft touch of romance, this book will likely be right up your alley. It’s a slow-burn kind of read that rewards your patience with a satisfying, well-woven narrative. I’m genuinely glad I didn’t give up early, because once it clicks, it’s worth it.
The author actually worried that this story wouldn’t be for me, and I understood why, at first fantasy isn’t usually my top choice. I enjoy it, but I often prefer watching fantasy on screen because I love the visual experience of CGI. So imagine my surprise when I ended up genuinely enjoying this from start to finish.
The beginning starts off slowly, with a writing style that feels cautious, almost like the author is warming up. There are multiple timeline jumps early on, which made things a bit confusing for me in the beginning. Normally, books that jump around in time lose me quickly. But here, the transitions are handled smoothly, and once the plot finds its momentum, everything starts falling into place.
By the midpoint, I was completely absorbed. The world building becomes clearer, the characters become more layered, and the twists land beautifully. The genre mix works far better than I expected, and the pacing improves significantly as the story unfolds.
If you're someone who enjoys fantasy worlds with mystery elements, supernatural lore, and a soft touch of romance, this book will likely be right up your alley. It’s a slow-burn kind of read that rewards your patience with a satisfying, well-woven narrative. I’m genuinely glad I didn’t give up early, because once it clicks, it’s worth it.
November 8, 2025
This book was not what I expected (in a good way). When I started reading this I thought it would be just a normal urban fantasy with some romance but it was so much more.
It has a lot of lgbtq rep and at some point, it hit a little too close to home on a specific subject.
Zara is a badass, she went through a lot of abuse since young and I just couldn’t wait for it to stop, for her to be loved for herself and not for what she could do for others.
I really liked the side characters, they are all very unique.
Zara ex’s were kind of insane tbh, they would appear out of anywhere and be like “let’s get back together” after everything they had done to her and i was shocked by it.
Until 50% I didn’t know where this was going because we were going through flashbacks until the present time but I was hooked. The mystery revolving around Zara was well done and keep me entertained.
The only thing I wished it had a little more was romance between the leads because it was a little too fast paced for me, I didn’t have enough time to enjoy them as couple.
I want to thank the author for sending me an ARC copy in exchange of an honest review
It has a lot of lgbtq rep and at some point, it hit a little too close to home on a specific subject.
Zara is a badass, she went through a lot of abuse since young and I just couldn’t wait for it to stop, for her to be loved for herself and not for what she could do for others.
I really liked the side characters, they are all very unique.
Zara ex’s were kind of insane tbh, they would appear out of anywhere and be like “let’s get back together” after everything they had done to her and i was shocked by it.
Until 50% I didn’t know where this was going because we were going through flashbacks until the present time but I was hooked. The mystery revolving around Zara was well done and keep me entertained.
The only thing I wished it had a little more was romance between the leads because it was a little too fast paced for me, I didn’t have enough time to enjoy them as couple.
I want to thank the author for sending me an ARC copy in exchange of an honest review
November 5, 2025
This book was kind of confusing in the beginning due to jumping around in time but once it got going it was definitely worth the read. The torment Zara and her friends go through made me cry but they all grew and got their freedom. I was so happy for Zara getting her happily ever after I was smiling and kicking my feet. It also has LGBTQ+ inclusion which is a plus.
November 9, 2025
This is a great adventure that ends up being a spiritual journey. It's a fast paced supernatural thriller ((simultaneously supernatural and grounded, if that makes sense). It also had me a bit teary at the end. A true page turner, even in digital form.
November 7, 2025
Absolutely mesmerising!
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