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The Court Wizard: A Dark Romantasy

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She reads the weather.
He commands storms.


Two years after a devastating plague tore through the world, Evie wants nothing more than to keep her post at the Council of Farming. Instead, she is pulled into the orbit of Kael Forloren, the Court Wizard, the most dangerous man in the realm.

He is feared. Untouchable. Bound to the king.

Yet his eyes never leave her. His touch burns.
His restraint is a storm waiting to break.

She thinks he despises her.
He knows wanting her means breaking her.

But the plague has left secrets to rot beneath the mountain. And soon, no power alone will be enough to stop what comes, nor keep them apart.

A dark romantasy set in a plague-scarred fictional kingdom where redemption and ruin intertwine, The Court Wizard is the first archetype in the series. Each instalment is a standalone romance set in the same world, arranged in chronological order, and can be read individually.

This story explores dark themes and mature content that may not be suitable for all readers. It includes a fictional plague and its aftermath, so readers sensitive to pandemic-related content may wish to proceed with care. All sexual encounters are fully consensual, and the story ends in a HEA.

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 6, 2026

13 people are currently reading
35 people want to read

About the author

V. M. Couture

2 books10 followers
V. M. Couture writes dark romance because why fall for heroes when villains are much sexier? Sometimes her books live in the real world, other times in the fantasy one she built through years of healthy! escapism. When she’s not splashing (questionable) words onto a page, she’s on a mountain or a plane, living somewhere between Ireland, France, and Canada. She spends her days alternating from quill to computer hacking tools. Don’t worry, it’s all legal. Unlike what happens in her books.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
Profile Image for Ellen.
14 reviews3 followers
January 6, 2026
The Court Wizard didn’t quite work for me, though I think that comes down more to personal taste than the quality of the writing itself. I found it difficult to fully get into the story and struggled to feel emotionally connected as I read.

While it’s marketed as a fantasy romance, the balance leaned far more heavily toward lust and physical attraction than the kind of emotional romance I typically look for. The relationship felt surface-level to me, and although the book frames it as love, I personally didn’t feel the depth or emotional development that makes a romance resonate.

The fantasy elements took a backseat to the romantic tension, which made the worldbuilding feel lighter than expected. Overall, the story felt more like a mood-driven narrative than a deeply immersive novel, which made it harder for me to stay invested.

That said, readers who enjoy explicit, lust-forward dark romance and who prioritize atmosphere and heat over plot-heavy fantasy or emotional slow burn will likely enjoy this much more than I did. It simply wasn’t the right fit for my reading preferences.

Thank you to the author for the ARC and the opportunity to read and review.
Profile Image for Carina.
33 reviews
December 19, 2025
I received an ARC of this book, this is my honest review. 4.5 stars. This book is hooking from the beginning. The MCs are both interesting and flawed, like any person, but trying their best. It's supposed to be a grumpy/sunshine story, but I wouldn't consider the FMC as sunshine, just timid. The MC is morally grey, a very dark grey. I really liked that even though it is a short book, the world is sufficiently explained, and it's not hard to place yourself in the story. Some parts of the story may seem like they resolve themselves too quickly, but again, it is not a long book. The spice is plenty.
Profile Image for Stefanie Verhelst.
236 reviews14 followers
January 6, 2026
This book immediately starts interesting and pulled me from the very beginning into the creative and beautiful dream world.

The story shifts between flashbacks and the present and is being told from 1st perspective. The characters and their relation are carefully crafted. This is done very well with as a result a right amount of chemistry and spice!!!

I enjoyed this story, even if it was a dark romance .. it was a feel good story for me! ☺️.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Moonburst.
430 reviews7 followers
Review of advance copy
December 29, 2025
Two years after a devastating plague killed many and changed the political landscape, Evie is trying to fit into her new role as a Magister while hiding her status as a seerling. She's unused to the political maneuvering of the court, but she's determined to find the source of a mysterious blight affecting the land. Her investigation attracts the attention of the dangerous Court Wizard, Kael. Kael wants Evie, but knows his desires will lead to Evie's ruin. As Evie refuses to back down, she starts to reveal a dark secret that may destroy the entire kingdom.

I found Kael to be an interesting character. Kael is a powerful wizard whose storm ability desires destruction and ruin above all. His struggles to control his abilities and his own dark desires has given him a slightly grey morality in which the ends justify the means. And if he needs to play the villain to save everyone, he will play that role. His obsession with Evie has led to him essentially putting her on a pedestal and projecting his desires for peace and love on her. The majority of his internal conflict has to do with him not believing he can be loved due to the things he has done. Unfortunately, his toggling between hot and cold with Evie does get a bit old after a while.

On the other hand, Evie is much less developed. She's naive with a strong moral compass, but her fears about her seerling abilities hampers her. She is intrigued by Kael, but her fascination and devotion to him is strangely strong given some of his actions around her. She seems to love him because she has decided to love him, which undermines the believability of their connection. At one point she finds out about something truly horrific that Kael was involved with, and she quickly goes through mental gymnastics to decide she's fine with everything, because she understood the pressures surrounding the issues. Her sudden approval makes her determination to reveal the truth seem more like grandstanding than a true ethical position. Furthermore, her character growth in relation to her accepting herself as a whole is almost not addressed at all, but is suddenly shoehorned right at the end of the story.

As a whole, the Court Wizard was an interesting romantasy read that attempted to delve into some intriguing moral issues. I feel that the book would have packed a little more punch if these issues were explored a little more, perhaps with more emphasis on the trauma and despair experienced during the plague from both main characters perspective.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for R Rais.
1,562 reviews43 followers
Review of advance copy
December 14, 2025
DNF

The Breath of Death plague.
The author said that the plague in her book is covid in real life.
So, i just want to ask, Bashir al’Qamar came to and work with Henrich Eisenberg, is that the arab and the german - ashkenazi jews come and work together "for the greater good" slaughtering and massacre thousands if not billions of innocents for the great empire? Sounds familiar on today reality?

Interesting when the author wrote, " In his own land, no power would have let him do what he proposed." Referring to the sadistic idea this Bashar bring, was so evil. Must mean, only traitors and rats sold their soul to the empire when real arabs steadfast with their people to fight the empire.

I guess a Henrich Eisenberg, a german - ashkenazi jews couldnt come up with that level of evil idea, let alone the empire. In today reality its like all those "islam rule the world" hate slogan while jews are free to do all evil for they are god chosen people. Because its easier to hate something you dont know than to accept your allies, your friends, family and neighbour is the real satan.

Fyi, ashkenazi jews is today zionist nazis israel. So its cute for the author to make a german ashkenazi jews be the hero who found the cure with an arab rats's help.

The whole magister and the king are really the world leaders, ministers, regime administrative, who are working together for the empire to slaughter, massacre, genocide while playing peacemakers?
And Kael, the court wizard is nothing but the executioner?

And finally! The bow on this little genocide propaganda wrapped in romance book.

Our little female charachter all googly eyes after feeble attempt on calling out Kael's crime and dubbed him the hero for saving the world!!! Yeay to every women's name in the world! I guess good cock worth all the killing he had done.

News flash! The world only need saving from people who use the words, "for greater good" and "world peace" while slaughtering and massacre innocent people and they who stand to justify it!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Teresa Neace.
36 reviews3 followers
January 9, 2026
This is the kind of dark romantasy that grabs you by the throat and dares you to look away—and I loved every second of it. 4.5 stars 🌟
Kael, our MMC and court wizard, is deeply questionable in the best way. Villain-leaning? Absolutely. Morally gray? Without a doubt. Completely unhinged and obsessed? Oh yes. And honestly… I was here for it. Kael is terrifyingly powerful—turn-you-to-ash powerful—and the way he fixates on Evie is both unsettling and magnetic. He’s the kind of character who makes you think, I shouldn’t like this, while you’re already hopelessly invested 😏🔥
Evie is the perfect contrast to him. She’s meek, shy, uncertain of her place in the world—and yet quietly strong in ways that matter. She fears Kael, but she also wants him, and that tension between them is delicious. Watching Evie grow into herself, uncover her own strengths, and step into a role that matters was incredibly satisfying. She doesn’t need to be loud to be powerful, and I loved that.
The world-building adds real depth to the story. A land scarred by disease—one Kael has already torn apart in his quest to end it—now faces a new threat emerging from the mountain. Evie’s investigation into what’s coming drives the plot forward beautifully and proves that even the shyest characters can be brave when it counts.
Told from both perspectives, the story lets you truly feel for both Kael and Evie. You understand their pain, their loneliness, and their desperate need for peace—and for each other. By the end, I was fully rooting for them and absolutely cheering Kael on like, “Baby, if you need to strike them all down, do it… then come back and let the rest of that energy out elsewhere 😌😂”
Dark, emotional, obsessive, and utterly compelling—this book delivered everything I wanted from a dark romantasy.
✨ Thank you to V. M. Couture for trusting me with this story. ✨
I’ll be thinking about Kael for a long time. 🖤🔥
Profile Image for Mandy Britt.
359 reviews10 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 26, 2025
Obsessive, Primal, and Perfectly Dark

The Court Wizard by V. M. Couture is a hook from page one, offering a true dark romantasy where both the magic and the romance lean heavily into the shadows. What makes this story stand out is how Couture balances a high-stakes fantasy world with an intense, carnal romance. The worldbuilding is rich and intentional—featuring a court setting, political intrigue, and languages derived from real-life roots—yet it avoids the "lore dump" trap. Even the inclusion of a pandemic plotline felt eerily relatable, making the setting feel grounded and tangible despite the shorter length of the book.
​The characters are beautifully flawed and feel like real people trying their best in a brutal world. The FMC isn’t your typical "sunshine" lead; she is timid and shadowed by an internal shame that makes her quiet strength and rare moments of defiance deeply relatable. Opposite her is an MMC who is a "villain" lover’s dream: obsessive, primal, and morally dark. Their "predator and prey" dynamic is written with a palpable angst that had me out of breath.
​If I had one critique, it’s that the romantic pacing moves very fast. The transition from “I am terrified of you” to “I want you carnally” felt a bit like a blink-and-you-miss-it moment, skipping some of the slow-burn tension I usually crave. However, the writing is so engaging and the chemistry so high-voltage that it didn't ruin the experience.
​Overall, The Court Wizard is a perfectly paced, atmospheric read. It’s a fantastic choice for those who want a dark, immersive escape that is satisfyingly spicy without being overwhelming. It left me breathless and wanting more.

Recommended For:
Trope Lovers, Dark Romantasy Beginners, and Quick-Thrill Seekers

Content Warning:
As this is a dark romance thriller please be sure to check the trigger warnings before reading.
Profile Image for MJ | fortheloveofbooks01.
22 reviews6 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 3, 2026
I received an ARC of this book and all opinions are my own.

“He was the Court Wizard, made of storm and sin. She was everything he couldn’t touch without breaking.”

The Court Wizard was a joy to read! This is a fast paced, dark romantasy set in a kingdom that was ravaged by a plague that the world is still recovering from. This book is filled with tension, complex characters, amazing visual descriptions and well-placed world building that is sprinkled throughout the action packed pages. From start to finish, so much happens in this story!

Evie starts off shy and unsure, with "Seerling" magic that she feels is insignificant compared to the rest of the world's magic users. While she starts off sweet and tentative, by the end of the book she transforms into a confident powerhouse, leaving behind the wallflower and embracing her own unique magic and suppressed desires. Reading from Evie's point of view felt cozy and warm, like being wrapped in a hug from your best friend. 

In contrast, Kael is dark, broody, aggressive and possesses the type of deep-seated emotional damage that I love in a morally grey (dark grey, in this case) MMC. He has a wildness about him, filled with a sadness and rage that drew me in and made me want to know all about him (who hurt you, Kael?!). I really gravitated towards Kael's story, especially as the pages moved through snippets of his past, exploring the complexity of his anguish and inner torment. His story is beautiful and heartbreaking.

Read this book if you love:
-Cozy and loving FMC
-Dark morally grey MMC
-Unique magic system
-Court intrigue
-"Burn down the world for her" vibes
-Buried secrets revealed
-Open door spice

I am so excited to see what comes next in this world and highly recommend this book to all the dark romantasy lovers out there. 
Profile Image for Delibes.
81 reviews1 follower
December 25, 2025
The Court Wizard
A Dark Romantasy by V. M. Couture
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

I actually really liked this one. Like… dangerously liked it in the sense that I kept reading when I absolutely should’ve been sleeping. Rude of the author to forget that days only have 24 hours and that humans need food and rest.

The worldbuilding was genuinely enjoyable — rich enough to feel immersive without drowning me in endless lore dumps. The court setting? Yes please. Magic? Absolutely. Politics, danger, secrets lurking everywhere? I was in. The characters were mostly lovable, or at least interesting enough that I cared what happened to them (which is honestly half the battle).

The story itself had some solid, intriguing plotlines that kept pulling me forward. I never felt bored, and that’s already a big win in my book. HOWEVER. Let’s talk about that one thing that bugged me.

The switch from “I am terrified of you, you could literally ruin me” to “actually, never mind, I want you carnally” was… fast. Too fast. Blink-and-you-miss-it fast. I like tension. I like slow burn. I like fear, mistrust, and longing simmering for a while before we dive headfirst into lust. This one skipped a few emotional steps for me.

That said — did it completely ruin the experience? Nope. Not at all. I still enjoyed the hell out of this book and didn’t want to put it down. The atmosphere worked, the characters worked (mostly), and the story had enough pull to keep me hooked.

Overall, I’d absolutely recommend this — especially for people who are new to dark romantasy and want something engaging without being too overwhelming or brutal right from the start.

Solid 4 stars, with a little side-eye for the emotional whiplash 😏✨
Profile Image for Elissa.
22 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Otros
December 29, 2025
The Court Wizard by V.M. Couture is a dark fantasy full of romance and an exquisite world building. I found no issues understanding the politics and systems that ruled the world; everything felt very cohesive.

I found it refreshing and completely new (at least for me) that the story takes us back to those feelings of the pandemic. I've never read a book that made me remember those times so vividly. The main characters were absolutely likeable. Evie was not a wimpy character and I absolutely loved that! She wasn't afraid and even though she felt useless at times, she pushed forward anyway. Kael… well, he was rough but he also had a soft side and I was into both of them. Such a great book, I wish some day I can see a movie of this being made!

The book was written as to never bore me. I couldn't put it down, the descriptions and actions played in my mind so clear that I enjoyed every part of it, yes, the SPICE was absolutely great too. I guess, if anything, I would have loved to get to know more the secondary characters and more development of some subplots that left me hanging there at the end. I think we may see more of Selena in the future; I found her character intriguing. She wasn't "painfully" written so that I hated her, but balanced, so I'm excited to see where this story takes us.

Overall, this is a book that's easily read. It immerse you in a world that doesn't feel overly complicated or like you need to put too much effort to understand, and I'm grateful for that. Highly recommend!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Sydney Ely.
25 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy
January 3, 2026
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was my first read of 2026 and I am SO glad to start the year off on such a high note. Evie and Kael bring a rich, unique story with their love.

I love learning a new magic system, this one is very interesting and just beginning to unfold throughout this novel. Evie, a seerling from an outlying area, becomes one of the youngest magic wielders to join the court as a magister. Kael, a hotheaded, cold-as-ice magister is THE court wizard (right hand of the king) and feared by all. His unmatched storm magic makes him one of the most powerful individuals ever seen.

The way the romance built between these two, the will-they-won’t-they, had just the right amount of tension. Someone my favorite tropes (including the one bed trope 😉) were included in this book. The spice was a conservative 3.5/5 for me, but the passion, the YEARNING, and the desire was HOT HOT. I hope we get more of their story soon!

Magic and romance aside, what truly made me love this story was the blight they faced. I knew it was only a matter of time before someone wrote about the 2020 pandemic, but the grace with which V. M. Couture addressed and transformed this subject was awe inspiring. The way the story line mirrored real events without taking the reader out of the world … I felt so many emotions.

I experienced the fear, shame, curiosity, sadness, guilt, and even pride with these characters. Truly, WELL DONE.
Profile Image for Gloria.
20 reviews1 follower
January 7, 2026
A kingdom that is still bleeding from plague. A court stitched together with secrets. And a wizard powerful enough to command storms but dangerous enough to want her. This dark romantasy pulled me in quietly and didn't let go. The lingering plague mirrors the fear, isolation, and slow recovery we experienced during Covid, shaping every power struggle at court. Add in political intrigue, simmering tension, and a brooding court wizard who is very much not meant to fall in love.
If you love dark fantasy romance that leans into atmosphere, restraint, and that aching, almost painful yearning then add this to your TBR.

Spanish: Un reino que aun sangra por la peste. Una corte construida sobre secretos. Y un mago lo suficientemente poderoso para dominar tormentas. y lo bastante pelifroso como para desearla. Este romantasy oscuro me atrapo en silencio y no me solto. La peste persistente refleja el miedo, el aislamiento y la lenta recuperacion que vivimos durante el Covid, marcando cada decision y cada lucha de poder en la corte. Sumale intriga politica, tension que se cuece a fuego lento y un hechiero de la corte que definitivamente no deberia enamorarse. Si te encata la fantasia romantica oscura que apuesta por la atmosfera, la contencion y ese anhelo casi doloroso entoces agregalo a tu TBR.
Profile Image for Kamarreya.
12 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy
December 15, 2025
Yes.

Spice-4.5/5

Story-4/5

World building-3/5

Character development-chef kisses

Writing style- 5/5

This book left me so satisfied yet wanting more. The angst, the build up had me out of breath. The push and pull between predator and prey drew this deep carnal desire between the main characters thats was beautifully written through the journey.

First lets talk about the FMC… you cant help but love her. She has a lot of internal shame that seems to shadow her and have her always second quessing herself which I felt was deeply relatable. Yet even within that shame she is passionate about her own beliefs and even though usually shy and queit it was a pleasant suprise every time she stood her ground. She's easy to love and just one of those characters you're rooting for every step of the way.

Then there's him… Im a big fan of obsessive destructive primal book boyfriends and he checked off everything plus some more. His story just kept going deeper and deeper. For the ones that LOVE the villain he was perfect. I loved his chapters when you get to hear his carnal obsession… had my toes curling and my face hot! This was a fantastic read, I'm for sure a new fan!!!!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Twinkle.butt.reads.
283 reviews16 followers
December 27, 2025
Okay besties, buckle up because The Court Wizard said “fantasy, trauma, tension, and emotional damage” and meant it.

We’re dropped into a plague-ravaged world where magic is messy, politics are messier, and our girl Evie — a seerling with self-doubt louder than her inner voice — is trying to survive it all. Enter Kael, the Court Wizard… aka mysterious, powerful, morally gray, and absolutely giving I could ruin your life but make it hot energy.

The chemistry? Slow-burn delicious.

The tension? THICK.

The vibes? Dark romantasy with feelings you didn’t sign up for.

Evie’s struggle with her powers and self-worth is painfully relatable, and Kael’s whole “feared but desired” aura had me side-eyeing my book like sir… explain yourself. The world-building is rich, layered, and dripping with political drama — the kind that makes you feel smart but also slightly stressed in the best way.

Now, let’s be honest — the pacing does take its sweet time. This book is a simmer, not a sprint. And if you’re here for instant gratification, you might get a little impatient. But if you love tension, emotional damage, and complicated power dynamics? You’ll eat this up.


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
1 review
January 6, 2026
I was very lucky to get this book as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy for free) , as it was so good! While I wished there was more fleshed-out world-building, the author was so descriptive of her characters that it made up for it. I loved that I was able to get a mental picture of each character introduced. The story itself was pretty good. Sort of enemies-to-lovers/ forbidden fruit/ beauty and a beast or monster vibes. I wished there was a little more magic in the story, but this is a romance book, not a book about wizards, so I get it. I LOVED that there are two perspectives in the book, as well as flashbacks. The flashbacks give lore, and the perspectives show just how differently the characters see things, whether about each other or a scenario. This was my first spicy book, as I was wary of how intense that genre can be, but this was honestly perfect. There's a handful of 18+ scenes, but none took me out due to bad writing/descriptions, and they weren't too graphic imo. I really hope the author continues the story because I really want to know what happens next with these characters! This book was definitely a good start to my 2026 list.
Profile Image for Erin Masura.
28 reviews8 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 24, 2025
I was blessed with an ARC copy of this book. “I was done running from storms. I would walk straight into his.” One of my favorite quotes from this book.
The book was a bit hard for me to follow at the beginning it could just be me(hence the four star rating). After the first few chapters I was hooked and didn’t want to put it down. Evangelina(Evie) has great magical powers and a strong determination about her. She takes no crap and isn’t afraid to say what’s in her mind. Kael the mmc has an inner battle he must face. He is a strong touch her and die type of mmc yet he worships the ground Evie walks on. There were a few times I wanted to reach through my kindle and smack Kael but he quickly made up for it in the end.
Lo is a true best friend that helps make the story have that funny edge to it. The secrets all have a way of coming out and the author writes them in a way that flows. It has just the right amount of spice and those spicy parts are hot. Kael and Evie are each other’s calm in the storm. The ending had me smiling with joy.
Thank you V.M. Couture for allowing us into this world before the rest of the public had the chance.
Profile Image for Dani Reyes.
135 reviews2 followers
December 28, 2025
I really enjoyed this book and am so grateful to the author for providing me with an eARC.

The concept immediately drew me in, and what stood out mostly for me was how real the characters felt. Kael and Evie were easy to connect with, and their relationship felt genuine and well developed. I also loved the setting and the worldbuilding—it added so much atmosphere and made the story an immersive read.

By the end, I found myself wondering if this is meant to be a standalone. While the ending was happy and satisfying, I couldn’t help wanting more, especially when it comes to Kael and Evie. I would love to see the moment Kael was clearly building toward asking her a question, even though he seemed confident about her answer. I wanted to see that that scene playing out and I also want to see all the planning behind it.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable read, and I’m glad I had the chance to experience it.
Profile Image for Juli McCarthy.
3 reviews
Review of advance copy
January 3, 2026
I received this book as part of an ARC and am writing this review voluntarily.

Honestly, this book hooked me from the start! From the descriptive writing style to learning the court/magic system, I knew I was going to be sunk into the story. I love a good dual-POV story and the author did really well with both Evie’s and Kael’s POVs. I loved the development of their relationship (we love a man who yearns) however I felt like the timeline of once they got together felt a bit rushed. I like getting the backstory of the plague and how it tied into one of the main conflicts of the story, however I felt the Thorne conflict could have been played up a bit more. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it to those who love magic and romance. I look forward to reading the next book in the series!
Profile Image for Sarah.
19 reviews
January 10, 2026
The blurb of this intrigued me but in the end once I started reading it didn't draw me in enough to keep picking it up. I initially couldn't decide if it was slow to get going or carefully crafted, having finished; I was left confused for the majority, it was mostly slow, quite dark and heavy in the setting but sadly didn't have enough depth, it just skimmed over the top of every scene rather than digging into anything fully.
People will probably draw comparisons between it and a certain popular romantasy series, or two, which I did myself, with the settings and characters strengths it's inevitable.
There was a lot of potential but sadly several clangers (naked to miraculously having clothes on to be ripped off being one) spoilt a few too many areas.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity.
Profile Image for TiaJade.
98 reviews9 followers
Review of advance copy
December 29, 2025
The Court Wizard follows Evie as she navigates her new role in the council while dealing with a plague scarred world and an intense attraction to the Court Wizard, Kael.

I was super excited for this book, it has so many of my favourite elements, the plague, forbidden magic, unique magic systems and great tenet between Evie and Kael.

I enjoyed a lot of the story, Evie’s character was quite relatable and her nickname of “The Goat Whisperer” had me laughing every time.

Unfortunately, I found the pacing of the story to be quite unusual, with timelines not matching up fully and some continuity problems. I also wished for more world building and depth to the story, as I found it a little bit lack lustre in some areas.

That being said, it was a fun, quick read and I did enjoy it!
Profile Image for Julie Fishian.
11 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy
January 3, 2026
Overall, this book just didn't really grip me the way that other books have. It is written as a plague inspired story, but there was no real description of the illness or how they really noticed it came about. I feel there could have been more world building, I felt very thrown into a story already in play rather being told one from the beginning.

The characters were ok, Kael was my favorite of the two. He was well written with an interesting back story, however, I do feel like he wasn't fully developed. Evie is naive, but I think she is meant to be written that way and the ending shows growth. This book wasn't bad, I just don't think I really enjoy COVID inspired stories.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for lindsay (taylor's version).
75 reviews
January 3, 2026
3 stars. this was an easy, quick read! it wasn't bad by any means, but i did find myself wanting more from it. more from the romance, more from the main character, more from the story itself. i don't exactly dislike things like insta-love or instq-lust, but i do prefer a bit more build-up when it comes to romance in my fantasy books. Kael was an interesting character with a very cool concept for his magic, i just wish the magical system was a bit more fleshed out. i unfortunately found the pacing of the story a little all over the place with conflicting timelines, which took some enjoyment out of the story. it also deeply needed some more world-building. that being said, this was still an enjoyable read! i received an advanced review copy for free and i'm leaving a review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Kelly.
2,485 reviews118 followers
Review of advance copy
January 4, 2026
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I chose this book because it suited my reading mood and I felt drawn to its striking cover. This is a dark romantasy with themes that some readers may find disturbing, so I would recommend reading the trigger warnings.

Romantasy is sometimes a hit and miss genre for me, but I enjoyed this because the author brought the characters to life in an appealing way. Evie was a strong female protagonist, and Kael had a commanding presence. The chemistry between them was dangerous, but it definitely kept me turning the pages, and I appreciated the spice too.

Thank you to Booksirens and the author for a free copy to review.
38 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 4, 2026
🌟ARC REVIEW🌟

I devoured this book. It was very interesting, and nice to have a standalone book to break up the series I am usually reading.
It caught my interest right from the beginning. The book is definitely a darker romantasy vibe. The MMC (Kael) definitely gave Kaine from Alchemised vibes in a very morally dark dark grey way. The magic system in the book was interesting and unique. I loved the yearning between the Kael and Evie (FMC) and there’s a decent amount of spice as well. There’s also plenty of betrayal, family secrets, and hidden powers.

Plague/Pandemic
Court Politics
Morally Very Grey MMC
He Falls First

Stars: 4.5/5 (up to 5 for Goodreads)
Spice: 4/5
Profile Image for D.
3 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 14, 2025
A true dark romantasy where both the romance and the fantasy are dark. It's a really good read, perfectly paced and it's easy to be immersed in this fictive world where a global pandemic is happening due to the recent events of the real world making it oddly relatable.

Something I found very enjoyable about the world the author has created is that all the language are derived from real life which makes it easier for me to build my mental map than with Tolkien-esque names.


I recieved an advance copy of this book.
Profile Image for Beckreadz25.
51 reviews4 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 21, 2025
I really enjoyed this story. It was a great read with a compelling story and a slow burn that made me want to slap the MMC out of frustration at times.

The magic system was unique, and the world-building was fantastic. The only thing that kept me from rating this 5 stars was that the conflict at the climax felt rushed. I would have liked to have seen more build-up.

All-in-all, bravo to the author for telling a great story. I am definitely eager to return to this world.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Profile Image for KirstN.
40 reviews
January 9, 2026
The Court Wizard was a surprising read. Kael puts the dark in dark romance, and Evie serves as the goodhearted sunshine in this grumpy/ sunshine duo. The magic was really interesting and I enjoyed the twists throughout the story as we learn more about Evie’s capabilities. Like some other reviews have mentioned, more world-building and more time on some of the plot points would make this story great, but I definitely enjoyed it and look forward to what’s next in store in the Archetypes Series.

Thank you to StoryOrigin and V.M. Couture for the e-ARC!
Profile Image for Kathy O'Brien.
60 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy
December 14, 2025
The world building in this was paced right along with story progression. I ate up learning about the magisters and the death of breath plague while Evie and Kael moved the story line along. I am amazed that the author had the story line wrapped up as great as they did, I genuinely didn't know which way it was going to go.

I received an advanced readers copy from book sirens and am happily giving my honest review.
Profile Image for Ro.
32 reviews1 follower
December 23, 2025
ARC REVIEW

I have 2 words. Holy sh*t.

I could not put this book down. I picked it up for the concept of magic and politcal intrigue- I stayed and devoured it for the:

🖤 Morally Grey MMC
🔥 Slow-ish burn
✨ Magic
🌶️ SMUT
😷 The first book I’ve read that has a COVID- like plague element that actually conveys how COVID felt during that time in a way that didn’t feel… fake?

All the characters were memorable, and not gonna lie- it kinda gave me a Fouth Wing vibe minus the dragons.

5/5⭐️
Profile Image for coley.
24 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 28, 2025
First, thank you for the ARC of this book! This was a quick read, fantasy romance, but heavy on the romance. I loved the political intrigue but wanted more. More world building, more history, more back story, all of it. I did really enjoy the book, I just didn’t feel as invested in their story as I was hoping. If there are more books that follow in this series, I’d still read them! I’m curious about where we go from here.
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