Once Swindled

Lack and Luster #1

by Laura Sebastian

From New York Times bestselling author Laura Sebastian comes a swoony, second-chance romance set in a magical Gilded Age world, where a con artist targets her biggest mark yet—and unexpectedly reunites with the one who first stole her heart.

The Ryskamp family fortune is in trouble. And Arden’s gift for invisibility can’t stave off his creditors…or the shame of catastrophic courtships. His only recourse is to marry a highborn Luster girl of his great-aunt’s choosing. But when Arden goes to meet her, another woman catches his the copper-haired beauty who ran away with his heart. And engagement ring.

Newly betrothed to yet another wealthy bachelor, Mavis has gone by many names—Arabella then, Delphinia now. Unlike the Lusters, however, Mavis lacks magical abilities, relying instead on her charms and her cons to get by. But no amount of money can repay her debts. And no amount of distance could prepare her for a reunion with her first mark.

Thrown together by fate, Arden and Mavis put aside their past to pull one last con that could save them both. The only price may be falling in love again. This time, for real.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Adult, Historical, Fantasy Romance, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction

350 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 25, 2026

About the author

Laura Sebastian grew up in South Florida and attended Savannah College of Art and Design. She now lives and writes in London, England, with her two dogs, Neville and Circe. Laura is the author of the New York Times bestselling Ash Princess series: Ash Princess, Lady Smoke, and Ember Queen, as well as the Castles in Their Bones series: Castles in Their Bones, Stardust in Their Veins, and Poison In Their Hearts; Half Sick of Shadows, her first novel for adults; and Into the Glades, for middle-grade readers.

Reviews

[Isabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

SHUT UP this was sooooo good! Laura Sebastian has a way with her prose that just makes the world building and depth of the characters sneak up on you. No info dumps, just a quiet and persistent introduction to the world and its people.

Once Swindled follows Mavis as she cons her way through upper society men to survive. But when her 10th fiancé takes her to dinner, she runs into Arden, her very first target and the only fiancé she actually had feelings for. Arden has lost his fortune in the 5 years since Mavis disappeared from his life, and they must strike a deal to make sure they can both get the money they need.

The tension and yearning is insannnnnneeeeee in this book. Neither wants to want the other, but some things just can’t be denied. With the society split between Lacks (non magical) and Lusters (magical), everything is forbidden and full of angst. The class divide is also so well done. Mavis pulls no punches when it comes to defending herself and what she chose to do to survive.

Another hit from this author and I CANNOT wait for book 2. I’m so serious—watch me sprint to the store the second it becomes available. 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️



••••••••••
Ahhhhh I cannot wait any longer 😍 I adored Laura Sebastian’s Ash Princess series so I was thrilled to get this arc! Huge thank you to NetGalley and 47North for the review copy 💜

[Maeghan 🦋 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for a chance to review this arc!!

It’s not a surprise that any books with a character that went through extreme poverty & hard survival will always, always get to me. When you go through life, from ages 0-18yo only knowing extreme poverty and never knowing if it’ll be your last meal for a few days ; it leaves a mark, even years after clawing yourself out of it.

« I am always warm, always comfortable, always safe, and that, to my younger self, was unfathomable. »

So what would you be willing to do to truly live? Mavis answers that question for herself ; she cons men to live instead of surviving.

« You have no room to judge me for learning how unfair the world can be far earlier than you did, for righting the scales as best as I can. »

I was completely hooked by that storyline. We follow Mavis, who was born in poverty and decided from a young age that she wanted to be safe and not have to wonder when her next meal would be. And we follow Arden, the first man she conned, and the only one she fell for.

« I’ve never asked for anyone to save me, but I won’t apologize for how I chose to save myself. »

The storyline is set 9 men conned after Arden, where the mc’s coincidentally end up at the same place. Five years later, and Arden is still in love with his thief - but Mavis cannot let herself be distracted by feelings.

« People like us think about money more in a day than people like them think about it in their entire lives. They trust that it will always be there, and there’s no reason for them to believe it will ever not be enough. »

When I tell you the longing this man had… I was beside myself. I just wanted them to be happy. The characters were so perfectly written - with their flaws & strengths. The relationships between them were also really well written. I also absolutely loved the side characters ; Oriana & Aunt Gellis.

This story is set in regency era & is a second chance romance trope well done (how rare, I know!). Society is split in two - the upper society who has magic & the lower society who doesn’t. Things change though as the lower society start making progress with technology & don’t need the magic as much anymore.

« when I think about the girl you were, alone in a world that no child should have to survive in, I want to burn the whole city down with everyone who ever hurt you inside. »

Don’t be conned by the cute cover - this book has a lot of depth & tackles difficult topics ; all with a prose that makes it easy to fall for this story.

[Brend · Rating 4 out of 5]

i want 14 more books about the old lady

[selma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of an advance copy received from Netgalley.

Thank you to Netgalley and 47North for providing me with an ARC of this book <3 I truly enjoyed every second of reading it.

We follow Mavis, who is possibly the most charming con artist of all time, as she finds herself face to face with the first man she ever swindled- who also happens to be the first and only man she ever loved. Woops. Faced with the possibly of him exposing her newest con, she agrees to help him secure an engagement to restore his family’s recently fallen fortune. But of course, things are never that simple.

This is such a clever story with characters who are so easy to love and root for. I’ve never read a historical romance before, and this was such a great entry point. The magic system was sweet and simple, making the world feel fleshed out while also providing meaningful commentary that I really appreciated.

The characters in this book feel so *real* in a way I just adore. Not only do Mavis and Arden feel like real people, with their own motivations that feel realistic, but so do all the other side characters as well. I loved Aunt Phi and Oriana so much- and even the characters who are more mysterious, like Rafe and Leif, are so intriguing. I really hope they get their own books at some point because best believe I WILL be there !!

I was honestly surprised by how much I liked this book because I’ve never been the biggest fan of second chance romance, but this was done SO well. While I do wish we could’ve gotten more of Arden and Mavis’ relationship in the past, I found myself rooting for them so hard 😭 Also, I absolutely love Laura Sebastian’s writing. It’s clever, witty, and flows so well. There’s truly never a dull moment.

I couldn’t recommend this book enough to any romance lover x

[EmJustReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an advanced reader’s copy, but these are my own thoughts and feelings.

“Seducing a man was one thing, but repelling him? That was where she could truly have fun”

This book hooked me from the first page with the witty/ sarcastic FMC (Mavis) describing Thaddeus’s magic as elegant, but following up with “he was also duller than a bit of sea glass”

Imagine your favorite characters and interactions from Bridgerton (or another historical romance) and insert a smidge of magic.

Set in a power imbalanced society, a select group of “elite class” having a magic power: the Lusters. And the “lower class” without magic: the Lacks.

Mavis is a conwoman whose ploy is making men think they’re in love, getting engaged, and manipulating them into breaking the engagement contract so she gets a sum of money and any other jewelry/ gifts from them.

Her first mark from 5 years ago, Arden, runs into Mavis in Garlin where he is visiting his great aunt for the summer. Arden is having financial troubles, and Aunt Phi wants to save the family name (and invisibility power) so she gives him the challenge of getting engaged to Oriana (who is Thaddeus’s sister) and he will become her heir and receive her fortune when she passes.

The story is full of love triangles and missed connections, but it made me fall in love with so many of the characters. Aunt Phi became my favorite by the end, and that’s saying something because all of the main female characters were strong and likable)

This was a fun easy read, that I read in about a day and a half. I would definitely recommend it!! If I made one suggestion: it would be I wish there was a map. #BooksWithMapsClub

[Jaime Arkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes for Once Swindled - the premise was fun and the world had a lot of promise- but unfortunately I struggled to connect with the characters throughout. Mavis never fully clicked for me, and the relationships around her felt underdeveloped, particularly the dynamic between her and her brothers. I wanted to feel the weight and history of those bonds, but it never quite landed the way I hoped.

The part that disappointed me most was the resolution between Mavis and Arden. Given what she did to him years prior, I needed to see a lot more work put into that reconciliation to believe it. Instead it felt rushed, and their connection by the end read as surface level rather than something earned. The emotional payoff just wasn't there for me.

Laura Sebastian is a talented writer and there were moments where the story really shone, which made the character and relationship gaps all the more frustrating. This one just wasn't for me, but I'd still be curious to read more from her.

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this early!

[si ( ◠‿◠ )]

absolutely LOVE laura sebastian, i can’t wait to read this!!! it sounds so fun!

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so good! The initial vibe was the movie Heartbreakers, but with a blend of Victorian-era and Gilded Age-inspired fantasy setting where the highborn (Lusters) have magical abilities and the lowborn (Lacks) don't.

Having watched Heartbreakers more times than I can count, I was immediately hooked on this story. Though instead of a mother-daughter combo doing the conning, it's... well, that would be telling.

The second-chance romance trope is SO well done in this book. There's plenty of tension and pining, and high stakes for both characters if they don't succeed.

I also really loved the cast of characters. Oriana and Arden's aunt were two of my favorites. I really hope Oriana is a main character in the second book!

The only reason this wasn't 5 stars for me was that one of the spicy scenes included overly used terms/phrases that just gave me the ick.

As far as the audiobook narration is concerned, I absolutely loved the narrator for Mavis's chapters. The narrator for Arden was okay, but he tended to trail off at the end of each sentence. His voice would get softer/quieter, sort of giving you the impression that he was trying to be dramatic but it just didn't quite work.

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for the advance listening copy. My opinions are my own. Trust me, this one is worth the read.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite surprise of the week: Once Swindled by Laura Sebastian! The first in her new Lack and Luster series, this novel introduces a Gilded Age world in which the aristocrats (Lusters) don’t just have more money and power; they also have magical abilities that the others (the Lacks) don’t. Once such Lack is Mavis, a skilled con artist who’s spent her entire adult life swindling money out of her parade of fiancés. But while she’s working her tenth target to date, her first suddenly comes back into her life. Arden was her first con, but he’s never gotten over the heartbreak. And now, despite how it ended between them, he needs her help in a con, too. It’s the only way he’ll get his great-aunt’s inheritance. So Arden and Mavis team up to win their respective targets’ hands in marriage… but the one they each really want is each other.

What I Liked:
- Cons upon cons! First, Mavis swindled Arden, only to disappear from his life without a trace. Now, five years later, he’s found her, and she’s conning a new man, Thaddeus—her tenth at this point. But instead of revealing her duplicity, Arden strikes a deal with Mavis to teach him to lie better. How else is he supposed to get his aunt’s selected woman, Oriana (incidentally, Thaddeus’s sister), to accept his offer of marriage? He’s broke and needs his aunt’s inheritance, and this is her one prerequisite. But are there even more cons to unearth? Just who is swindling whom?
- The haves and the have-nots. The world Arden and Mavis live in isn’t just divided by wealth and class; it’s also divided by whether a person has a magical gift. The Lusters each have a magical ability, along with money and societal respect. The Lacks, well, lack any of the above. They must make do by working (or swindling people, as it were). I felt especially bad for Mavis, a Lack forced into thievery and deception from a young age. At least she has her two “brothers” as partners in crime.
- A what-if romance. Sure, Mavis used a fake name, stole Arden’s money, and left him heartbroken. But they truly could have had something together. Now, with five years and many more experiences between them, these two may just have a real shot with each other. If they can learn to trust one another, and ditch their respective marriage prospects, they could be a cute couple. It sounds insurmountable, but trust me, it actually works here. I was fully rooting for Arden and Mavis and their second chance at true love.
- The whole ending. Hilarious, endearing, perfectly executed! But you’ll have to read it to see what I mean.

Audiobook:
Once Swindled comes with dual narration. Helen Laser and Michael Crouch give voice to Mavis and Arden, respectively. Both do a marvelous job of capturing their character’s personality. Mavis has sass and cunning; Arden is gentle and sweet. I loved how the narrators brought the full cast to life.

Final Thoughts
Once Swindled was such a fun book! I didn’t know what I was getting into, but it proved to be a delight from start to finish. This is the perfect read for anyone who enjoys historical romance with a magical twist, characters behaving badly, and a convoluted plot that gets messier as it goes. I can’t wait to continue the Lack and Luster series, and I’m hoping Oriana will get her happily ever with Jonas… whoever and wherever he might be!

Special thanks to 47North, Brilliance Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

* Please read my full review on my blog, Amanda's Book Corner! *

[Amanda Wheaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, a huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced audio of this book! Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this story and the characters. Enough that I can already say I am looking forward to book 2 coming out in February!

I loved the premise and once you add the time period and little element of magic, I was in! I do wish there had been more development in regard to the magic system and the history of Mavis and her brothers. I was hoping for more throughout the book, but unfortunately I didn’t get that. Perhaps some of this will be touched on in the upcoming books as well. Despite that, I enjoyed the plot twists and the overarching storyline. I enjoyed the authors writing style and would definitely pick up another of her books without question. The audio was enjoyable and I was grateful for the duel narration. Without that, I don’t think it would have worked for me. I thought the female narrator did an excellent job, but the male narrator wasn’t my favorite. But still, a great listen! I’m ready for book 2!

[Ash (sundrenchedpage) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the absolute best time with this book! It was a little bit of Bridgerton and little bit How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days all wrapped up in a gorgeous fantasy setting, and I had so much fun.

Mavis was such an interesting character with a difficult backstory, and I really warmed to her. I also thought the MMC and side characters were great, and I can't wait to get more of their stories as the series continues. Definitely recommend if you're in the mood for a fast paced book with a lot of heart.

[Sunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review – Once Swindled by Laura Sebastian

I cannot stress how incredibly honoured I am to have had the absolute PLEASURE of reading this book so long before its release—though if anything, I truly don’t know what I’m going to do with myself for the next five months while I wait for everyone else to catch up.

At its core, Once Swindled follows a brilliant con artist who survives by swindling wealthy, magic-born elites—only to come face to face with the one mark she never meant to fall for… and the one who has spent the last five years searching for her. What follows is a dangerous, emotionally charged partnership built on deception, history, and a kind of love neither of them has ever quite been able to let go of.

I knew this book was going to be a 5-star read before I had even finished the first chapter. Honestly, I barely needed a few paragraphs. There was something in the writing immediately—that rare sense of confidence, control, and polish—that made it obvious I was in very good hands.

After reading several ARCs in a row that I hadn’t loved, I did briefly wonder whether my excitement was partly relief at finally finding something I actually enjoyed. But no, that really was not it. This book is simply excellent in its own right. It would have stood out no matter when I read it, because everything about it feels so much more assured, more carefully built, and more emotionally alive than so many romances I’ve picked up recently.

I cannot recommend this book enough—and I’ll happily dig into why.
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✨Concept ✨
In a glittering, ruthless society divided between the magic-born elite and those forced to survive without it, Mavis Hale has built her life on deception. As a Lack in a world ruled by powerful Luster families, she has learned that charm, intelligence, and careful manipulation are the only currencies she can rely on. Alongside the two people she trusts most, she runs an intricate con: seducing wealthy Luster-men into engagements, securing lavish gifts and contracts, and disappearing before they realise they have been swindled. It is dangerous work, but it is the only way to stay ahead of the debt that binds them to a life they cannot escape.

Five years ago, one of those marks was different.

Arden Ryskamp was never meant to matter. But he did—and worse, she let him. When Mavis vanished, she left him with a broken heart and a ruined fortune, and he has spent the years since searching for the woman who deceived him under a false name. When fate brings them face to face again in a distant city, Arden recognises her instantly—and this time, he is the one holding the power. Desperate to secure his inheritance from his dying aunt, he offers her a deal: help him manipulate a marriage that will restore his family’s wealth, and he will keep her secrets safe.

But as Mavis and Arden are forced into close proximity once more, their careful arrangement begins to fracture. Old feelings resurface, sharper and more dangerous than before, and the lines between truth and performance blur beyond recognition. In a world built on illusion, where love itself can be a kind of con, they must decide whether to protect themselves—or risk everything on something real.

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✨Mavis Hale✨
Mavis was one of the strongest heroines I have read in ages!!! I LOVED her immediately, and I only loved her more as the book went on. What makes her so compelling is not simply that she is clever, (though she is!) but that the book genuinely allows her to be clever ON THE PAGE. It does not just inform us that she is smart and then expect us to accept it.

We watch her think. We watch her observe, strategise, improvise, and assess every situation around her. Her intelligence is active, not decorative. That matters so much, because it makes her feel like a real force in the story rather than just a heroine being described in flattering terms. She is sharp, ambitious, observant, and emotionally disciplined in a way that made her endlessly interesting to me.

I also loved how unapologetic she is. She knows exactly where she comes from, exactly what has been done to her, and exactly why she has become the person she is, why she is doing what she is doing. The book never asks her to soften that into something more comfortable for the reader. It does not try to make her morally tidy in order to make her sympathetic. Instead, it lets her be hard-edged, pragmatic, proud, and at times ruthless, while still remaining deeply human.

That line, when Arden says “I beg to differ,” and she replies with a sharp, “You BEG for nothing” COMPLETELY encapsulates why she works so well. Mavis has suffered, adapted, and survived in a world built to crush people like her, and the book understands that survival has shaped her. I loved that she never feels ashamed of being from the Lack class, and that even when other people try to shame her, she meets it with clarity rather than apology. There is something incredibly satisfying about a heroine who knows her own worth even if the world has never recognised it. I loved her character so much.
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✨Arden Ryskamp✨
My god. THIS MAN. I adored him! He is one of those heroes who could easily have been written as either too naïve or too bitter, but instead he is perfectly balanced. He is decent, intelligent, restrained, and genuinely kind, but never in a way that makes him dull. What I loved most is that his softness does not come at the expense of depth. He is not simply the sweet hero who exists to adore the heroine. He has his own grief, humiliation, longing, and history, and all of that gives his devotion real weight.

The fact that he has been pining for Mavis for five years could have felt absurd in another book, but here it works because the writing fully commits to what she meant to him. You can feel how deeply that loss lodged in him. Every time he thinks of her, every time his attention catches on her, every time he daydreams about her even while knowing he should not trust her, the book makes that longing feel vivid and believable. My god, his pining... WOW.

What makes Arden especially compelling is that his desire for Mavis never feels foolish, even when it probably should. He knows she conned him. He knows she used him. He knows she is dangerous to his peace of mind. And still, every scene makes it clear that what he feels for her runs far deeper than wounded pride. He wants her despite himself, and the book writes that tension SOOO FREAAAKINGG WELL. He is composed on the surface, but underneath there is this constant ache, this constant PULL towards her, and it makes all of his interactions with her electric.

I loved the way the prose captures that loss of control in such contained, elegant ways: his breath catching, his gaze lingering, his inability to stop wanting her even as he tells himself he should. His pining is exquisite because it is not just obsessive—it is tender, angry, yearning, bewildered, and profoundly sincere. (I cannot stress enough how much I loved him).

His scenes with his aunt also did so much for his character! I absolutely loved her, first of all, but beyond that, those scenes reveal so much about Arden himself. They show his patience, his humour, his sense of duty, and his capacity for affection outside the romance. That matters because it rounds him out. He does not feel like a hero who only becomes interesting in Mavis’s presence. He is interesting because he is a fully realised person, and those scenes help show why he is worth loving.
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✨The Romance✨
The romance between Mavis and Arden is, quite simply, magnificent. Quite simply!!!

It has all the ingredients I love—history, betrayal, pining, distrust, attraction, forced proximity, mutual manipulation—but what makes it stand out is how well all of those elements are integrated. Their dynamic never feels manufactured for drama. Every interaction between them is shaped by who they are, what happened between them, and what they still cannot let go of. The chemistry is IMMEDIATE, but it is never shallow. It is not just that they are attracted to one another; it is that every look, every line of dialogue, every moment of hesitation is carrying five years of unresolved emotion.

That is where the book is at its strongest. It understands that second-chance romance is not only about rekindled attraction, but about emotional residue. This book never forgets what came before. Arden cannot look at Mavis without remembering the girl he loved and the woman who ruined him. Mavis cannot look at Arden without remembering the one mark she should never have allowed herself to care about. That gives every scene between them a kind of depth and ache that is SO satisfying to read. Even when they are bantering, there is pain underneath. Even when they are negotiating, there is desire underneath. Even when they are trying to stay detached, there is history underneath. That layering is what makes the romance feel so rich. I LOVED IT SO MUCH.

I also loved that the book lets Mavis and Arden actually see each other. Not in some vague, romanticised sense, but in a way that feels specific to their characters. Arden sees the hardness in Mavis, but he also sees the girl she had to become in order to survive. Mavis sees Arden’s privilege clearly, but she also sees his decency and the depth of his feeling.

There is one INCREDIBLE line (there are, in fact, MANY!) about him understanding what drove her to blow through his life like a hurricane, and realising that from her perspective the wreckage of his life must have looked like a party. That is such a devastatingly good way of expressing class difference, emotional reality, and moral complexity all at once. It is exactly why this romance works: the book does not reduce their conflict to misunderstanding alone. It grounds it in material reality, in what each of them had and lacked, and in how differently the same event could be experienced by two people living in entirely different worlds.
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✨The Writing✨
The first thing that completely won me over was the writing itself. It is EXQUISITE. So many lines in this book do exactly what good prose SHOULD do: they reveal character, emotion, tension, and history all at once, without ever sounding strained.

A line like Arden seeing Mavis and feeling as though he is “seeing a ghost” instantly carries the shock of recognition, the weight of memory, and the fact that she has haunted him for years. The description of Mavis noticing the way he says her real name, (goddd) or Arden remembering her laugh as his favourite sound in the world, says more about their history and longing than pages of exposition ever could. That is what I loved so much about the prose: it is romantic, but it is never empty. It is always doing something.

The book is also incredibly good at embedding emotion into physical detail. That was one of the things I kept reacting to. There are so many tiny gestures and observations that make scenes feel intimate and specific rather than generic.

Mavis pinching her own cheeks hard enough to summon a blush. Arden lifting a glass to his mouth and being unable to take a sip. Mavis watching his mouth curve into a slow smile and not being able to look away. His hand tightening around hers and the warmth of it making the word HOME dig its claws into her heart. Those are the kinds of details that make a romance work for me. They are not just decorative; they are REVEALING. They show attraction, yes, but also discomfort, memory, LONGING, fear, and vulnerability.

This book understands that yearning is often built in those tiny, almost involuntary moments, and it writes them SO beautifully.
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✨Worldbuilding✨
The worldbuilding was handled exceptionally well. The setting is immediately compelling—essentially a Gilded Age world divided between the wealthy magical Lusters and the poor, disenfranchised Lacks—but what impressed me most was how naturally it was introduced. The book never stops dead to explain itself too much. It never feels as though the author is dumping information because they need the reader to catch up. Instead, the details of the world are folded into the story at exactly the right moment, so that each piece of information feels relevant rather than ornamental.

You understand the social hierarchy because you SEE how it shapes Mavis’s entire life. You understand the value of magic because you SEE what it grants the Lusters and what it withholds from the Lacks. You understand how bloodlines, inheritance, and power work because they are woven directly into the plot rather than delivered in detached explanation.

I especially LOVED the way magic was used. It is present enough to make the world feel distinct, but it never overwhelms the emotional centre of the story. Sometimes fantasy romance leans so hard on the magic that the characters begin to feel secondary, but that never happens here. The magic enhances scenes rather than replacing substance.

Arden’s invisibility, in particular, was used so well. It becomes part of the romantic tension, part of the danger, and part of the emotional atmosphere between them. The beach scene (!!!!!) will absolutely have me screaming forever for that reason. It is not just showing us that invisibility is a cool ability, but that the book knows exactly how to USE it to heighten desire, secrecy, and intimacy.

That kind of restraint is part of what makes the worldbuilding feel so effective. Nothing is overplayed. EVERYTHING has purpose.

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✨Supporting Cast✨
I really loved the supporting characters, which is increasingly rare for me. So often in romance, side characters either feel flat or exist purely to move the main couple along, but that was not the case here.

Oriana was smart, observant, and far more perceptive than people around her seem to realise, and I loved every scene she was in. Her interactions with Mavis were especially enjoyable because there is such a clear sense of two highly intelligent women assessing one another.

At the same time, I absolutely loved her dynamic with Arden. Watching him try so hard to be charming with her at first—clearly playing a role, carefully saying the right things in order to secure the marriage—and then gradually settling into something more natural was such a satisfying progression. What starts as calculated effort slowly becomes something closer to genuine ease, and I loved how their conversations began to feel like an actual friendship forming rather than just a performance.

One of my favourite details was that he didn’t just pretend to engage with her interests—he actually did. The fact that he read the same books she loved and genuinely enjoyed them made him so endearing to me. It says so much about his character that he meets her where she is, not out of manipulation alone, but because he is open, curious, and romantic in his own way. It made their interactions feel warm and real, even within the context of the larger scheme.

I also liked the twist, even when I saw it coming fairly early. It still worked, and I appreciated that the book didn’t just merely treat Oriana as an obstacle in the romance. I wonder if she is going to be the focus in the second book... I would certainly read it!

I loved Rafe and Leif too! The glimpses we get of Mavis’s relationship with them were some of the most emotionally grounding parts of the book for me, because they gave her history and tenderness beyond the romance. I especially loved the sense that Rafe became like an older brother to her over time, and that the bonds between the three of them were forged through hardship rather than sentimentality.

It gave the book a lovely thread of found family without ever losing sight of how precarious their lives actually are. Those relationships matter because they are the reason Mavis keeps going, and the reason the stakes of the con feel larger than romance alone.
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✨EASILY a fantastic 5-star read✨
What I think impressed me most overall is that Once Swindled feels completely in control of itself. The prose is beautiful, but it is not beauty for beauty’s sake. The worldbuilding is rich, but never excessive. The characters are appealing, but never flattened into archetypes. The romance is swoony, but it is also sharp, painful, and intelligent. Everything works together. Nothing feels random. Nothing feels as though it was included because the genre demanded it. There is a sense throughout the novel that the author knows exactly what kind of story they are telling and exactly how to tell it.

That is probably why I responded so strongly to it. After a run of books that felt uneven, overwritten, underdeveloped, or emotionally hollow, this one felt like such a relief—not because it was merely competent, but because it was genuinely GOOD.

The writing hooked me immediately, the world held my interest, the characters won me over completely, and the romance delivered exactly the kind of aching, intelligent tension I always hope for and so rarely get. I loved Mavis. I loved Arden. I loved how smart this book was, how sensual it was, how observant it was, and how much care had clearly gone into every emotional beat.

This was an easy five stars for me. It is one of those books that reminds me why I keep reading books even after a disappointing streak, because every so often you find one that feels like this: beautifully written, emotionally rich, and impossible not to fall a little bit in love with.

Honestly, this is a book I’m going to be talking about for a very, very long time!

[Risa]

DNF at 33% (Read through Chapter 9 of the eARC)


After reading a third of this book, I’ve grown bored.

This is one of those cases where the book is fine as it is: a fun, whimsical romantic read. Unfortunately however, I’m not enthralled with the story, so I’m going to set it aside in hopes of finding a story I don’t feel so lukewarm about.

Having said that, I think many readers who love light magic, banter, and romance will fall in love with this book. It’s just not for me.






NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING:

- I like the character of Mavis—how she travels around swindling people to get money out of them.

- And I also like Arden, who needs to wed a woman of his great aunt’s choosing before she dies in order to become her heir.


- I think Arden’s power of invisibility is cool too. And I like how he used it to corner Mavis (who he knew as Arabella) in that restaurant).

- The banter between Arden and Mavis is already so much fun! And I’m willing to bet that first proposal Mavis was thinking about when Thaddeus proposed came form Arden!

- I love the world building, how there’s magical families but those without magic get by without it too. I will say though, one thing I don’t love are the terms “luster” and “lack” to describe the magic and non-magic users… they just feel cringey to me for some reason.


- Interesting, so Arden wants Mavis to help him marry Oriana, who is Thaddeus’ sister (and Thaddeus is Mavis’ current fiancée). That will be fun, given Mavis and Arden still have feelings for each other.


- Interesting that Mavis is close to brothers Lief and Rafe, who all owe a kingpin of sorts a lot of money. Makes sense why they have to keep working so much. (So I guess they’re worried if Mavis just stays with one rich man and keeps taking his money for years, people will get suspicious?)


- 33% in: I’ve now read through chapter 9, through page 103/318 of the eARC, and I’ve come to a realization that I’m bored. That’s not to say this isn’t a fun little whimsical romance book, because it is. It’s just not the kind of story that I become enthralled with, and my TBR is way too long to waste time on a book I feel lukewarm about. So I’m officially DNFing.

[Stacie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Going in, I expected an adult romantasy, but this one read younger than advertised. The premise has potential — Arden's a Luster whose family fortune is collapsing, and Mavis is the con artist (and former mark) who walks back into his life at exactly the wrong moment — and there were a few genuinely strong moments scattered through. But overall, the tone and dialogue leaned more YA than adult, and that undercut the stakes for me.

The narration didn't help. Michael Crouch and Helen Laser's performances leaned into that same younger register, which only reinforced the YA feel rather than counterbalancing it.

[Erin Arkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

If you are looking for a story with a rich historical romance feel, a clever plot, and a sprinkle of magical fantasy, Once Swindled by Laura Sebastian needs to be on your radar. Set in a brilliantly constructed Gilded Age-inspired world, this novel kicks off the *Lack and Luster* series with a second-chance romance, high-stakes deception, and a caste system that gives the plot real bite.

The story centers around a distinct divide in society: the magic-bearing elite known as the Lusters" and those born without abilities, the Lacks. While the Lusters hold power and social capital, abilities aren't a guarantee against financial ruin. Enter Arden Ryskamp, a noble Luster gifted with the power of invisibility whose family fortune is rapidly evaporating. To satisfy creditors and avoid social ruin, Arden is forced to pursue a courtship with a highborn Luster heiress arranged by his great-aunt.

However, things take an unexpected turn when he crosses paths with Mavis—a brilliant, chameleon-like con artist without a drop of magic to her name. Going by various aliases to survive as a Lack in a rigged world, Mavis relies entirely on her sharp wits and charm. Arden also happens to be her first mark.. For Arden, she is the woman who once stole his heart along with his engagement ring. When fate throws these former lovers back together, they are forced into an uneasy truce to pull off one ultimate con that could secure both of their futures.

Mavis and Arden are fantastic lead characters who effortlessly drive the narrative forward. Their history creates an underlying tension that makes their dynamic immediately engaging, and watching them navigate their lingering feelings while executing a complex scheme makes for an irresistible second-chance romance. Since Arden never really "got over" Mavis (when she was Arabella) once he sees her again, while he is rightfully angry, he can't help the feelings that come back when he is around her and that makes things difficult for Mavis as she never really got over him either...but she has a job to do.

Beyond the leads, what truly elevated Once Swindled for me was its cast of supporting characters. The secondary dynamics bring so much heart to the story. I particularly loved the relationship Mavis shares with Rafe and Leif; their bond gives her character grounding and emotional weight. Similarly, Arden's relationship with his aunt was a standout dynamic. While initially established as a rigid arrangement centered on securing his inheritance, it steadily develops into something far more meaningful, nuanced, and genuine than a simple plot device.

The worldbuilding around the Lusters and Lacks adds a compelling layer of social complexity to the story. It isn't just background flair; the class divide directly dictates the choices Mavis and Arden have to make and underscores the real stakes of their heist.

While Once Swindled marks the beginning of a new series, readers will be glad to know that the book delivers a complete, satisfying story arc centered around Mavis and Arden. It doesn't leave you stranded on a massive cliffhanger regarding the main romance, though it leaves plenty of intriguing threads open for the broader world. Based on where things left off for Oriana by the end of the book, I’m strongly assuming—and hoping!—that the next installment will pivot to focus on her journey (though, as the saying goes, you know what they say about assumptions!).

Overal, Once Swindled is a captivating read that balances swoony romance, magical intrigue, and character-driven drama. I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series, and if you enjoy historical romance with a fantasy twist, I highly recommend picking this one up!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Get ready for a Gilded Age fantasy romance that delivers on all the pining, scheming, and exes-to-lovers that you ever wanted out of a historical romance. I was really excited to read this, and I was not disappointed at all: in a world of Lusters, those dwindling few with magic, and Lack, all those without, Mavis has successfully swindled nine Luster fiances into and out of engagements with the broken engagement fee and jewelry in tow. Unfortunately, that's barely made a dent in her debt to her crime boss overlord, and even more unfortunately, her very first fiance, Arden Ryskamp has reappeared in search of a wife to regain his fortune. The two are forced to team up to get the money they need to achieve true freedom, but even if Mavis lied about her name, background, and powers, the love they shared was never a lie.

I loved Mavis; she's my favorite kind of protagonist, resourceful, clever, witty, sharp as hell, and willing to do whatever it takes to protect her loved ones and win over those Lusters. Arden is a nice counterpoint to her; he used to be more of a golden boy, but Mavis leaving did a number on him, as have the declining Ryskamp fortunes. He's still good at heart, but he's got much more edge and is willing to con and lie if that's what it takes. At their core though, both of our main characters care so much for the people around them--Mavis for her adoptive brothers and the other unfortunate Urchins and Arden for his cantankerous great aunt. And of course, the two of them have sizzling chemistry, with all the tension between them about what was a lie and what wasn't, while they are still palpably attracted to one another. They play off of one another so well because despite all the lies between them, they understand one another and see each other more clearly than anyone else does.

The smut was very good, but my favorite part has to be the love confession:

"I might not know the truth when it comes to you, Mavis, and maybe I never really will, but I believe that underneath all the lies, all the illusions, all the aliases and artifice, is a woman who is brave, and beautiful, and unfaltering in her loyalty to those lucky enough to earn it. A woman who might never be called nice, but one who is kind, and who would burn down the world to protect those she loves. A woman who deserves to be loved just as fiercely even if she doesn't see it. I believe that I love you, every facet, every version, every angle."

I also really loved all the side characters here, from Mavis' two adoptive brothers to Arden's fantastic great aunt, and even Mavis' potential sister-in-law, Oriana, who seems all sweetness and politeness if somewhat always with a nose in a book (same), but with hidden depths. I do wish the brothers could have been explored more, but maybe they will in another book! And I adored the ending with Arden and Mavis taking in a lot of the Urchins!

The worldbuilding here was also very fun, with the Lack building steam technology that is overtaking the Lusters, and the Lusters starting to fade away. There is still a lot of fun done with magic though (one of the best smut scenes wouldn't be possible without it ;), and I can't wait to read more of this world!

Definitely check this novel out, and I'm going to go checkout Laura Sebastian's entire backlist now.

[leila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of an advanced copy received from net galley.

This follows Mavis a con artist who charms her way into ballrooms and new cities to con men into an engagement to take the money. Until she finds herself in front of the first man she has ever swindled and the only man she’s ever loved.
Arden is faced with financial ruin after losing the love of him five years prior. Which leads him to visit his aunt Phi who agreed to give him her fortune if he marries a woman of her choosing. Then he comes face to face with the Mavis previously known to him as Arabella and he has to decide between asking her help securing the inheritance or ruining her reputation along with his.

I loved Arden’s and Mavis’s love for each other even with the odds being against them. Especially how Arden knew who Mavis was and saw past all her defences. You can see the love and want for each other especially when they banter.

Mavis was such a great female character where her wittiness and intelligence a made her easily loveable. I admired her strength she gained due to hardships and how despite being unapologetic about what she does she still manages to remain noble and kind. Her bond with Rafe and Leif was amazing and how each of them have different parts of the con although she takes the main risk and does most of the work.

Arden felt very real to me where we see him try to fight his morals in different situations. His longing for Mavis and the fact he was willing to always throw everything away for her made me love him. I loved how noble he was and despite his love to Mavis he was great to Oriana. He showed actual interest in her and read the books she loved, that you can easily see that formed an actual friendship.

Setting
This book dives into a glamorous world where the world is divided into Magically gifted, wealthy Lusters and ordinary, poor Lacks. The magic was very interesting to me where each family has different powers passed down. The social hierarchy was very easy to understand and didn’t feel overwhelming at all.

Writing
Although i usually prefer First person, i didn’t struggle at all reading this book. The author put so much character and emotion into every scene that you can’t help but love the characters. The dual POV made it easier to understand both the lack and luster side of things, and see the differences that may have caused issues in their past.


Background characters
I love aunt Phi and her relationship with Arden how she pushed him but in the end genuinely wanted the best for him.
Oriana was such a standout to me. She is perceptive, intelligent and pays attention to everyone around her. I loved her dynamic with Mavis how they are two smart trying to understand each other. While i didn’t see the twist coming it felt very true to her character. I hope we see her in the next book if there is one.
Leif and Rafe were great older brother figure to Mavis and while i don’t feel like we know them very well they gave Mavis history and depth.

If you loved bridgerton specifically the first season i think you would really like this book.

[Greer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Brilliance Audio and Netgalley for providing this ALC of Once Swindled in exchange for an honest review. All opinion are my own!

Once Swindled follows two POVs; Mavis, a low-born con-artist who uses her beauty and brilliance to con swindle unsuspecting men out of their fortunes, and Arden, her first mark, who she tricked out of a small fortune before disappearing. 5 years later, a chance encounter finds Mavis (or Delphinia as she is now known) and Arden meeting again. Now with no family left other than his great-aunt Philomena, and the chance to restore his fortune by marrying a woman of her choosing before she passes away, Arden finds himself in need of Mavis's help. Help him secure this marriage, and he will keep her secrets safe.

But being forced into close proximity proves to be dangerous for both Mavis and Arden. Old feelings resurface, and their agreement starts to shatter. With the rest of both of their lives depending on this deal going well, it's more important than ever that they don't let old feelings get in the way. But that's easier said than done.

Now, to start off with what I really liked about this book. The plot was extremely engaging and captured my attention from the very start. I absolutely flew through this audiobook and was always excited for the opportunity to pick it up again. Mavis and Arden were both very interesting characters and the side characters also lend themselves incredibly well to the story. I feel like they were all appropriately utilised, especially Aunt Phi who was an absolute delight to get to know. I was initially hesitant going into this book, as I'm usually not a big fan of second chance romances. In my experience, I find that the couple usually lack development into their romance and rely heavily on past feelings. I'm happy to report that this was not the case for Arden and Mavis' relationship. The tension between them was so good !!

To quickly dive into what I didn't like as much. There is a small fantastical element to this story. There are Lacks and Lusters - essentially analogies for the Lower and Upper Class. In this fantasy world, worth is placed on those who have magical powers, for example the ability to control water, or to become invisible. Lusters have powers, Lacks do not. While I don't necessarily find an issue with the magic system as an idea, I think it could've been handled better. Overall, I think it was a little underexplored and inserted into the story as more of a party trick kind of situation. I think the book would have worked just fine, if not better, if it excluded the fantastical element all together.

Overall, I did really enjoy this book, and would absolutely recommend to those who enjoy strong heroines, historical romance, and charming side characters.

[Booksy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! I was SO damn invested in it. There wasn't a dull moment from the beginning till the very end. Mavis was such a fun FMC. She's clever, witty, resourceful and had that morally-grey streak going for that made me immediately root for her. And Arden? *swoon* 😭🤌🏼 I loved him just as much. Their history made their romance so much more interesting because there was already so much between them before they even reunited. Can you tell I'm a sucker for second chance romances?!

The story follows Mavis, a clever con artist who has made a living, charming wealthy men into engagements before disappearing with their money. Then she comes face-to-face with Arden, the first man she ever swindled and, more importantly, the only man she ever loved. Arden is facing financial ruin and needs to marry into a wealthy Luster family, while Mavis is trying to outrun her own debts. When their paths cross again, they decide to put their complicated history aside and pull off one more con together.

Their chemistry was my favorite. The banter, the tension, the unresolved feelings, the whole "you broke my heart but I still can't get you off my head" situation 😂 I was completely invested in these two. I especially loved that Arden could see through Mavis's different personas and still saw the woman underneath all the cons.

I really enjoyed the magical Gilded Age setting as well. The Lusters and Lacks highlighted the society divide that was parallel to our own version of aristocracy and peasant in that era. It was a good cherry on top, to include this. Also, the ballrooms, the cons and all the schemes made this such an entertaining world to get lost in. And the side characters were SO good. Aunt Phi in particular absolutely stole every scene she was in, she grew on me. Oriana as well, love me some strong badass FMCs!!

This was such an easy 5 stars for me. I loved Mavis, I loved Arden, I loved their messy history and I had so much fun watching their story unfold. So happy this is a series and not a standalone, I can't wait to read more from this world. Hopefully next book is about Oriana 👀. Highly Recommend 🤌🏼✨

*Thank you to NetGalley and 47 North for the ARC*

[Munira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

---
(4.5, rounded up to 5)

I was curious to start this solely because Sebastian's Ash Princess trilogy still remains one of my absolute favorite series of all times (I was well aware this was a very different type of series). I went in blind, not knowing what to expect. It did take me a while to get used to the story at the beginning and I did push myself for a while there but it was worth it for me.

This book follows the story of Mavis as she navigates a world where magic is a birthright she has to fake just to survive. As the story gradually progresses, I felt so many bittersweet feelings: tension, anticipation, doubt, adrenaline, frustration, pain. All of these as I saw Mavis' world through her eyes. We see her forced partnership with Arden, the man who knows her name and has every reason to betray her. This book deals with the burden of identity, the cost of survival, classicism, prejudice, love and much more. If you like fantasy with a sharp, gritty edge, I recommend reading this one.

Every facet, every version, every angle.

Once Swindled will take you by surprise because of the depth it contains within its casual, sharp observation of high society and low-born grit. Sebastian’s writing allows the readers to witness Mavis and Arden's journey firsthand. I enjoyed reading about the "ersatz" magic system, the way it highlights what it feels like to be an outsider, especially for someone like Mavis, in a world that isn't built for you. I enjoyed how well done the plot is, how each character is able to create their own space on the page. This book left me with some bittersweet feelings (which often happens at the end of a good read). It has romantic tension, high-stakes deception and an immersive world-building that pulls you in. If you love books with authentic tension and a sort of hate-to-love arc that keeps you turning the pages, this is a book I will recommend.

[Elia Winters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once Swindled was a fun and beautiful Romantasy set in regency time period. I loved the world building and the writing was so beautiful, it brought the world and scenes to life for me.

First of all, I loved Mavis! She was such a strong FMC. She was funny, sassy, sarcastic, determined, and smart. She has been through so much having to live in debt to Minstead and conning people the way he wants so she can pay off her debts. It is not like she likes conning men, it is a necessity and she is so honest about it. She knows what she does, why and does’t apologize. It is her way to survive and I appreciate her honesty and strength. Even with all she has been through, she still has hope.

This also gives me How to Lose a Guy in 10 Dates mixed with Heartbreakers vibes! Set in Bridgerton times!

Arden, we start the story with him still loving Arabella (Mavis) but when he sees her again and realizes it was a con, he frustrated and angry with her. But he also can use her help to get a wife to save his family’s fortune. I love that while he was mad at first, he still loved her and could not stay away.

I was not mad that they were conning Thaddeus, he had mistresses and was quite dismissive. I never liked him or felt bad for him.

I loved the other side characters Leif, Rafe Aunt Phi, and Oriana. I did feel bad that they would con Oriana but Arden did truly care for her as a friend and he was actually going to marry her just not for love. I still knew she would get her HEA like Arden and Mavis would, there was no doubt in my mind.

I also loved Mavis’ relationship with Leif and Rafe, they were like siblings and looked out for each other. I was so happy for Mavis and Arden, I was cheering them on from the beginning and I love how they still got their HEA and vowed to help the other Urchins now that they had freedom ❤️

Wonderful beautiful story and I would love to read more in this world.

*Thank you to NetGalley, 47North, and Laura Sebastian for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Beau · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thank you to 47North and Brilliance Publishing for a complimentary arc and alc of Once Swindled. All opinions expressed are my own.*

My attention was captured from page one of this book, and it wasn’t released till I finished. The synopsis alone was compelling enough to draw me in, but the actual story that followed completely blew me away. It delivered on everything I was hoping for and managed to surprise me on top of that.

I’ll admit that I tend to see exes to lovers and immediately proceed with cation. It’s a trope that I often avoid because it tends to not work for me, but Once Swindled had me so invested that I might have to be a little more open-minded about it in the future. The longing and the yearning? Absolutely ticked every box in the right way. Add in a prose that made the story even more immersive, and a plot that balanced genuine depth with plenty of moments to amuse you, and I was absolutely sold.

Despite me normally getting annoyed when I can see a twist coming in advance, the way the author executed them on the page went above what I was expecting to the point where I felt appreciation all over again by where the author chose to take the story.

If I had to find something to complain about, it would only be that I wanted more schemes and fraudulent side quests. I had so much fun with the cons the author servd up that I could’ve happily watched these characters get themselves into more trouble - together or even against each other.

While the written copy was absolutely my favourite way to experience this book, I was just as immersed with the audiobook. Both formats were beautifully done, and the story itself makes it so easy to get swept away.

I adored every second of reading this, and I’m absolutely delighted that a sequel will come - not just for the aftermaths, but for the sense of found family you could see forming at the end. After becoming this invested in the characters and their stories, I am more than ready to see what comes next.
If you love regency romance, con artists, clever scams and yearning your way to an open door, then this is one you’ll want to add to your list. I think you’ll fall in love with it as much as I did.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this ebook.

This story follows Mavis, a talented con artist without magical abilities who relies on her charm and wits to survive in a Gilded Age world filled with "Lusters." When she crosses paths with Arden Ryskamp, the wealthy mark whose heart (and ring) she stole years ago, the two are forced to put their past aside. Together, they attempt to pull off one last massive con that could clear their debts, provided they don't fall for each other all over again.

I thought this book was a very quick and enjoyable read. The story has a fast-paced energy that makes it hard to put down, especially during the last 40% of the book when the stakes of the heist really begin to ramp up. In terms of the writing style and the level of world-building, it strongly reminded me of The Selection-series, capturing a similar blend of high-society drama and accessible storytelling.

I personally enjoyed the story quite a bit, particularly after the "trickery" plot was revealed and the characters started working together. Once the initial deception was out in the open and the second-chance romance took center stage, I found the narrative much more engaging.

One thing I did wish the book had done a little differently was the depth of the world-building and character development. With such an interesting "Gilded Age" magical setting, I would have loved to see the environment more fleshed out and the characters given a bit more complexity. Because I’m not typically a fan of the trope where everything falls apart due to a "con" gone wrong, it did bring down my rating slightly, though the final act was very gripping.

Overall, I gave this book a 3.5/5 rating. It was a fun, "swoony" read with great momentum that makes it a perfect choice for fans of magical romances and heist stories. I will definitely read future books in this series

[PlotTrysts · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK, we both loved this book. It's a fantasy on the gaslamp side set in a world where the upper class is made up of magic users, "Lusters," and the lower class is made up of regular ol' non-magical humans, "Lacks." But it's also a second-chance romance that is perfectly delicious!

Mavis is a con woman who infiltrates Luster society of different towns, gets engaged to rich men, and then convinces them to break the engagement, leaving her with some nice cash. But just as she accepts a proposal from a new man in a new town, her very first mark reappears in her life.

Arden was still holding out hope that he hadn't been conned and has been pining for "Arabella" for five years. But now, he's lost his fortune, meaning he's in his great-aunt's town dancing attendance on her only to learn that she's made his marriage to a Luster debutante the only condition to inheriting her estate.

Arden needs help wooing his new bride; Mavis needs Arden not to expose her con. So they join forces while still hating each other (and still absolutely lusting for each other).

The whole book is absolutely delightful. The light fantasy works really well as a stand-in for social class. Arden and Mavis's joint past felt like innocence lost for them both, but also somehow like a basis for building a stronger relationship (more second chance than betrayal).

I've read Laura Sebastian's more straightforward fantasy and enjoyed it, but this was truly a perfect mix of romance and fantasy for me. (Laine would have been fine if this had been a HistRom without fantastic elements, too!) And FYI: This is NOT a closed door romance, and while it's a slow burn, it really does burn!

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really fun second chance romance where everyone has secrets and baggage, and now he needs her expertise.

There are so many elements I enjoyed about this book, from world building to romance. I’ve got a soft spot for con artists and I loved the idea of a second chance romance with her first victim. I knew the book had to have a HAE but I was often in suspense of how exactly it would all play out.

I love that while Mavis does have a reason for becoming a con artist, she also is not particularly apologetic about it. While she has a few regrets about her first job with Ardent and definitely has leftover emotions, in general she simply sees all of this as a job when she had no better options available to her.

My favorite type of magical world building is when authors really just add a simple element of magic and see how it all plays out. Here we have some people who are born with magical abilities (Lusters) passed down via blood line. But the abilities are singular - each person has just one type, such as manipulating water, and limited. In a preindustrial society this was very useful, but now as the Lack population (those without magic) have been innovating and the world has moved into industrial revolution, the Lusters are being left behind. I love seeing society on the cusp of upset and am really eager to see how things will continue to play out in the next book.


Audiobook Review - Narrators Michael Crouch and Helen Laser were captivating and easy to listen to. The story flowed smoothly and I got lost in the tale.


Thank you Netgalley and Brilliance Audio for the ALC.

[Cee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley, this is my honest opinion.

4.5 stars (rounding up to 5)

It was easy to devour this book in two days, it was so much fun and the plot was strong enough to keep me on the hook and wanting to read just one more chapter.

While there’s a cast of secondary characters, the story never strays too far from the leads, meaning it doesn’t fall into the trap of getting bogged down by boring b-plots. In fact, the pacing is something I loved about this one; everything just keeps on going, not giving the reader a chance to lose interest. The pacing is fantastic.

Instead the reader gets the full weight of the angst and drama playing out as Arden (our MMC) crosses paths with Mavis (our FMC) the woman who, five years previous, conned him out of a lot of money in a fake engagement.

The setting is a gilded age style world, evocative of things like Bridgerton, The Gilded Age, and The Buccaneers, only there’s magic -- the Lusters are considered the top of society because they have magic and the Lacks are the bottom rung of society because they don’t. The world building is brilliant, giving the reader what they need to be invested in the story without trying to overload or overwhelm

Arden is a Luster, and Mavis is a Lack who likes to pretend to be a Luster. The odds are stacked against them and whatever feelings might linger between them.

The slowburn romance is rife with drama and angst, making for such an enjoyable read. The romance was believable and never felt forced or too easily earned.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley for this ARC. The story is told from Mavis and Arden's point of view. Mavis is a con artist who swindles men out of their fortunes in hopes of getting her and her brothers out of their massive debt. Arden is a former victim of Mavis' con. Unfortunately, Arden's family has lost their money and social standing. Arden and Mavis are reunited when Mavis is on a dinner date with a new con, Thaddeus. Arden too is at the dinner with his Aunt Phi. Aunt Phi tells Arden that if he marries and settles down, she will name him her heir when she passes. Arden then talks with Mavis and proposes that they work together to help him and he won't rat her out to her new fiancé. Arden proposes to Mavis that she help him win over Orianna, Thaddeus' sister, which will be beneficial to both parties. Arden will be named heir and Mavis will have the money to settle her debt. As Mavis and Arden work together, old feelings start to resurface and they start to question if it was a con at all. I really enjoyed Arden and Mavis' banter and chemistry. I loved the family dynamics of this story: Arden interacting with Aunt Phi, Mavis and her brothers loyalty and protectiveness, and Orianna forming friendships with both Arden and Mavis. The pacing at the beginning was a little slow, but the second half was fast paced, action packed, and had me hooked and wanting to read more. Overall, this was a fun historical romance sprinkled with a little bit of magic. :)

[Julia MacNeil · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐.5

Mavis Hale has gone by many names, a low born Lack born in Strall. She is now Delphinia, in Garlin, and she's working another mark to swindle out of his fortune, and then she spots one of her previous marks. Her first. 

Arden Ryskamp was swindled out of his fortune five years ago, and even his Luster born power of invisibility can't hide that. When he spots the woman that ran away with his money, and his heart, after that long his whole world turns upside down. He has a chance to save his fortune, by marrying someone of his aunt's choosing. And of course, it puts him in the path of Mavis, Arabella as he knew her. And when they realize they need to work together to get what they both want, it's a con that has to work, and where falling in love, for real, could be in the cards. 

Thank you to the author for the ARC copy from NetGalley. This was a fun read! I enjoyed the premise of the Lack vs. Luster, rich vs. poor and the idea of being born with different powers if you're Luster born. I liked Mavis, and her independence and Arden, the classic, good looking, aloof MMC, but for some reason I just didn't connect a lot to the characters. I just couldn't find myself getting excited about the story, or what was happening to them. It just felt like a fun, classic romance about a second chance romance and a bit of a predictable ending. I just like to feel a little more emotion when I'm reading and although it was fun, I didn't find it pulled a lot from me when reading it.

[Marissa Casper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ARC of the Audiobook for Once Swindled!

The Audiobook for Once Swindled was absolutely excellent, so much fun to listen to! This was a quick, entertaining read/listen that was incredibly easy to get through. The pacing kept me hooked, especially once the heist really started to ramp up during the second half of the book.

There is a high society setting, plenty of drama, romance, secrets, and a story that feels easy to fall into without getting weighed down by overly complicated world building.
I definitely enjoyed the story more once the initial trickery was revealed and the characters started working together. Once everyone was finally on the same page, the story became much more engaging for me, and I really enjoyed watching the second chance romance take center stage.

The romance was probably one of my favorite parts. The slow burn was filled with drama, angst, and tension, but it never felt forced or like the characters suddenly fell in love because the plot needed them to. Their history and connection felt believable, and I loved watching them slowly find their way back to each other.

I also really appreciated the pacing. There are plenty of secondary characters, but the story never gets distracted by unnecessary side plots or spends too much time away from the main characters. There was always something happening, which made this incredibly easy to binge.

Overall, Once Swindled was such a fun and fast paced fantasy romance. The heist kept me interested, the romance kept me invested, and the pacing made it nearly impossible to put down. It was exactly the kind of entertaining, easy to devour read I was in the mood for!

[hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

★ ★ ★ ★

First off, I had a lot of fun reading this, it was such a fun, lighthearted book. I loved the world and the Gilded Age setting. The world was magical and rich, and very well thought out.

In a world where the high born, known as lusters and the low born, known as lack, the story follows Mavis Hale, a con artist and lack woman who has conned 9 men. Mavis has gotten herself a new fiancé when the first man she conned 5 years ago, Arden, comes back into her life.

Mavis was an intriguing and compelling character and she was a lot of fun to learn about. Her life story was full of sorrow and I loved everything about her character. Arden was also a great character, not my favorite but still a well written and interesting character. In my opinion he was just a little too in his head and kind of a pushover. Yes he was conned 5 years ago, but it just felt like he wasn’t doing that much with his life all that time later.

This was a great second chance romance, but I feel like it was missing extra groveling from Mavis and I think Arden was way too nice to her. I still loved them as a couple and loved the tension, I just wish he wouldn’t have been as willing as he was to forgive her.

The plot was also a lot of fun, not necessarily groundbreaking plot wise, but the story flowed very well and it was an enjoyable read. The story just felt so magical and expressive and it made this book a lot of fun to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and 47North the ARC.