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

350 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication 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

[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

[si ( ◠‿◠ )]

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

[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

[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!

[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.

[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.

[Munira · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

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(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.

[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

[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. :)

[Susana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Netgalley

4.5 rounded up - Once Swindled is a historical romance with fantasy elements. The characters that have inherited magical powers are a Luster and anyone without powers are a Lack. Our MMC Arden is the last in his family line with a rare invisibility power, and his great Aunt Phi offers to name him as her sole heir if Arden marries a Luster of her choosing. Our FMC Mavis is a con artist who tricks rich Lusters into proposing to her by pretending to wield an impressive light magic. While celebrating her most recent con/proposal to Thaddeus, she runs into Arden. The problem is that Arden knew Mavis five years ago as Arabella, his former fiancé who broke his heart.

This was such a fast read, I inhaled the book and I would’ve finished much sooner if life hadn’t gotten in the way. It was funny and kept me engaged. The chemistry between Mavis and Arden was so good, it was palpable even in those moments when they’d just be looking at each other across a room. My only complaint is that book is the first in a series and I’ll need to wait that much longer to read the next one! Suffice to say I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

Thank you to 47North for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once Swindled sweeps you into a glittering Gilded Age world where magic hums beneath every ballroom and every con has a little sparkle to it. Arden, a nobleman with a gift for invisibility and a talent for disastrous courtships, is on the brink of losing everything. Mavis—once Arabella, once the girl who stole his heart and his ring—is now a consummate con artist with debts closing in fast. Their reunion is equal parts shock, temptation, and unfinished business.

The chemistry between them is deliciously tangled. There’s history, hurt, and that unmistakable pull of two people who never quite stopped wanting each other. Watching them team up for one last con—equal parts dangerous and irresistible—is a joy. The world itself feels lush and playful, full of magical flourishes that heighten the romance without overshadowing it.

What makes the story sing is the tenderness beneath the banter. Arden and Mavis are both trying to outrun their pasts, yet fate keeps nudging them back together. Their second chance feels earned, messy, and wonderfully swoony.

A fun, enchanting read with heart, humour, and a romance that steals back what was lost.

With thanks to Laura Sebastian, the publiosher and netgalley for the ARC

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

A con-artist/mark romance set in a magical Gilded Age era? Too much fun to put down. I was obsessed with Mavis and Arden from the start - the chemistry was off the charts, and the enemies(?)-to-lovers was doing its thing. Their dance at the ball had me giggling and kicking my feet!!!! There’s also an enthralling cast of supporting characters - Rafe and Leif are tough guys with hearts of gold, Oriana is the sister-in-law every con-artist fiancée dreams of, and Aunt Phi is a legend (and definitely my favorite). The ending had me sniffling on my couch. Sebastian’s newest world is an incredible sand box to play around in, and I dearly hope a sequel about Oriana and Jonas is coming down the line (with cameos from our favorites, of course). I do wish there was more about the criminal side of Strall, but since this looks to be a series, maybe we’ll get a story with a focus on an Urchin (or maybe Rafe? He seems to have big plans brewing…). Once Swindled is a whirlwind of ballrooms, cons, and forbidden love - you’ll be drawn into Mavis’s story just like every fiancé before.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: Once Swindled by Laura Sebastian

Rating: 5/5 stars

I was originally drawn to this book because of the synopsis of a magical, historic romance. What is there not to love? The story follows Mavis as she travels through a very complicated life and get entangled with Arden, a past victim of hers.

This book has been one of the best stories I have read in a while and, it is just in its infancy stages. I fell in love with our two main characters and routed for them since the first passing glance. They are both well rounded personalities with light being shown on both their flaws and triumphs. Once Swindled brought me back to my high school days of screaming into my pillows and staying up late just to finish the book.

If you are someone that wants to fall in love with realistic characters and their flaws, this is your book. I cannot recommend it enough to my fellow romance readers.

Thank you 47North and Laura Sabastian for allowing me to be an ARC reader! I cannot wait to read more from the author!

[Jessica Gilmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

If, like me, you like fantasy takes on the Gilded Age and enjoy a good double con romp with a hefty dose of romance, then you are going to love Once Swindled.
In a world split between the magical Lustees and non-magical Lacks, former urchin Mavis makes her living posing as a talented Luster and accumulating rich Luster fiances, before discarding them for a handsome profit. So when she is on the verge of another proposal the last person she wants to see is her very first mark - and the only fiance she ever cared for.
Arden's luck changed when he lost his fiancee, his family fortune disappearing in her wake, his legendary charm deserting him. Now his only hope for restoring his fortune and his reputation lies with his elderly aunt - her only stipulation that Arden marry the woman she has chosen for him. So Mavis cuts him a deal, if Arden doesn't turn her in she will help him woo his aunt's choice. What could go wrong, as long as Arden remembers he can't trust her and that his feelings for her aren't real...
Original, sexy and a lot of fun, recommended.

[Athena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plot
Arden Ryskamp, whose family fortune is failing, plans to marry a wealthy magical Luster girl chosen by his great-aunt to save his reputation. But when he arrives, he unexpectedly reunites with Mavis, a clever con artist who once stole his heart and his engagement ring. Now engaged to another rich man and living under a new identity, Mavis has debts of her own. Forced together again, the two former lovers decide to team up for one final con that could solve their problem though it might also make them fall in love for real.

Thoughts
I was already hooked from the first page. This story blends fantasy, romance and clever scheming in such an entertaining way that it’s hard to put down.

Don’t worry, there are no love triangles, just a beautiful second-chance romance between two people who are clearly yearning for each other despite their complicated past. Their chemistry, banter and lingering feelings make every interaction so satisfying to read. Watching them slowly rebuild trust while pulling off one last con together was honestly one of my favorite parts.

Mavis and Arden are officially my new favorite couple. Their dynamic is messy, emotional, and full of tension in the best way. I also loved the magical elements woven into the story. The power system adds just the right amount of fantasy and the moments where Arden’s invisibility comes into play… if you know, you know.

Overall, it’s a fun, romantic, slightly chaotic story about cons, second chances and falling in love again for real.

Thank you NetGalley for sending me an arc!

[Tee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, enjoyable read!

I really like how whimsical the story was overall. It was fantasy without being too complicated, and those touches are magic reminded me of a classic fairytale, so that was lovely. I also like the world building, both as it pertains to those with magic and those without; the world had a Bridgerton, regency feel to it, which was great.

Arden and Mavis were a fun couple to follow. It was clear from the moment they reunited in that closet that the two of them still have a romantic pull towards each other, despite trying to convince themselves of otherwise.

I also really enjoyed the side characters in the book—Aunt Phi and Oriana were favorites of mine, and brothers Lief and Rafe were such an interesting duo that I would love to learn more about! Although this was a standalone, I hope some of these side characters get their own books in the future.

Thank you so much to 47North and NetGalley for allowing me to read the eARC!

[CaseyLeigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC✨️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4.5 stars

I absolutely devoured this book, I was drawn in by the concept from the start and it just kept giving more and more excitement throughout!🤩

This was an easy read and took me less than 24hours, so if you're looking for an exhilarating book you can consume in almost one sitting this is a book for you!🥰

I absolutely loved the characters and fell in love with them as we learnt more about them throughout the book. The relationship between the MMC and FMC was one for the ages and I loved seeing it through both perspectives!💙

The only reason it is a 4.5 rather than a 5 star rating, is that i felt the end wrapped up a little too fast for me. I would have liked to see more of how things played out, but i enjoyed it nonetheless! I look forward to reading more from this author📚

[Miranda Shore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and 47 North for this ARC!

Once Scorned is a dual point of view ADULT (she has previously written YA) story set in the magical realm of Luster & Lack. The Lusters possess magic blessed by the gods, while the Lack...well lack magic ;) While this is a fantasy romance, the world building is simple and feels very reminiscent or a regency novel. It follows a Lack con-woman who finds herself in a deal with a former mark.

While the first 20% I did struggle to get invested, this was such an easy read and it was easy to root for both our main characters. It was fairly predictable but it is a really good read if you are in the mood for a good con romance (I swear that's what I wanted so it much be a thing)! BONUS: it's a standalone! I hope this becomes an interconnected series because I am dying for a book about Oriana 👀

[Chloe Beames · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5

From the first few chapters I wasn’t completely convinced on this book. They felt rushed to just get to the important part rather than organically starting the book, perhaps I wanted more resistance between the characters.

Mavis and Arden as characters were fine. they developed well over the story and became more fleshed out as the book progressed. I appreciated the pacing of the book, it mostly focused on the main characters and driving the plot so it didn’t feel sluggish.

I also enjoyed the magic system, it was easy to understand without being boring, although I wish it was more intricate, sometimes it just felt more like a afterthought rather than something that use to be influential and no longer isn’t.

overall there was definitely some positives to the book but also maybe a bit more simplistic than i was expecting.

[Kushnuma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley, Laura Sebastian and 47north for this copy.

Once Swindled is book 1 in the Lack and Luster series.

Mavis is a con artist who entices wealthy Luster men into engagements, subsequently orchestrating their breakups and absconding with their fortunes. However, upon encountering her initial target, Arden, her former affections resurface.

This was a delightful read, evoking a similar ambiance to Bridgerton, yet infused with a magical element. It was intriguing to observe the magical Lusters and the non-magical Lack, and their parallels to the behaviors of the affluent and the less fortunate. I eagerly anticipate reading the next installment.

[Kiza Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

This was a fun and romantic and kept me so entertained from start to finish! I need a part two ASAP or a sequel to know what happens next!

Aunt Phi was probably one of the best characters with such an amazing character ARC as she is an old woman close to her death and finding both family and joy in her last days, and the main couple Mavis and Arden just had this energy between them, you could certainly feel their connection and the way they circled each other

also I want justice to Oriana, she needs to have her own big love, same for Rafe and Leif!!!

lovely read, had the best time

[Laura Mauro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a hit for me. It gave me old school historcal vibes and also i loved the magical elements. I also really enjoyed this book and it gave me brigerrton vibes. I think for some reason this book really hit the second chance romance vibes. It also reminded of so many elements in the polin season. I also loved the magical elements of this read aand really hope we get all the side characters in this series!

[⋆｡˚꒰ঌ Laura ໒꒱˚｡⋆]

✧˖°.―Pre-read―✧˖°.
I have concluded that if a book has a cute cover/name ill put it on my TBR (and this has both 😅)
I liked Castles In Their Bones, but Ash Princess was ok, so I'm excited to read this book! The blurb was a little confusing 😭(idk if I'm just stupid), and I haven't read a lot of second-chance romance. But I am seated and ready for this to come out!! 𓇼