The Rise of Scarlett Heroux

by Elizabeth Watson

Welcome to Soleil: magic is illegal, politics are deadly, and falling in love is the most dangerous act of all.

When Scarlett Heroux witnesses her father's assassination from mere inches away, her world shatters. The 22-year-old heiress to a political dynasty is thrust into her newly inherited seat in Parliament, compelled to fulfill her father's revolutionary dream of opening Soleil’s borders to a world of magic her people have long rejected.

After Scarlett announces her intention to open Soleil’s borders to magic, she is threatened, assaulted, and knocked unconscious. She flees to her mother's homeland where she discovers magic flowing through her veins and a fated bond she shares with her childhood friend, the handsome Brayden Maddox. Their smoldering connection—and years of mutual pining—ignites into a blaze when magic pushes them together. Yet as bodies and magic entwine, Scarlett resists surrendering to fate. How can she choose pleasure when the cost is leaving her country to the politicians behind her father’s murder?

With Brayden at her side, Scarlett returns to expose Soleil’s corrupt underbelly and open the borders. But another assault pushes Brayden to use his still-illegal magic to protect Scarlett, and the long arm of the law comes for them both. Scarlett must use her new powers to free Brayden and see her persecutors arrested by any means necessary—legal or not.

If she fails, she’ll pay with her life.

A sizzling romantasy full of seething betrayals and forbidden magic, perfect for fans of the modern fantasy worlds of Crescent City and Zodiac Academy.

Author's Note: For content warnings, please check the author’s website.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy

463 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 25, 2026

Reviews

[andreea ᥫ᭡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

𐔌 . ⋮ The Rise of Scarlett Heroux 🌹 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱


Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of The Rise of Scarlett Heroux in exchange for an honest review.

what to expect .ᐟ
— friends to lovers
— destined heroine
— magic tattoos and secret powers
— modern technology in a fantasy world
— banned magic


𐔌 . ⋮ summary 🌹 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱

The Rise of Scarlett Heroux follows Scarlett, a 22 year old political heiress whose life is upended when she witnesses her father’s assassination and is forced to inherit his seat in Parliament. In a country where magic is illegal and tightly controlled, Scarlett takes on her father’s revolutionary goal of opening Soleil’s borders to magic, a decision that immediately places her in danger. After being threatened and assaulted, she flees to her mother’s homeland, where she discovers she possesses magic herself and shares a fated bond with her childhood friend, Brayden Maddox. Together, they return to Soleil to confront political corruption, challenge anti-magic laws, and uncover the truth behind her father’s murder, even as their lives and freedom are put at risk.

While the premise is compelling and full of high-stakes ideas, such as political intrigue, forbidden magic, fate versus choice, the execution didn’t fully live up to its potential for me.

One of my biggest issues was pacing. The story often lingered too long on certain moments, particularly in the romantic and internal monologue-heavy sections, while major plot developments, including political shifts, revelations, and moments of violence, felt rushed or glossed over. This imbalance made it difficult for the tension to build naturally.

Scarlett herself is positioned as a strong, determined protagonist, but her characterization felt inconsistent. At times she is portrayed as calculated and determined, yet in other moments her decisions seemed driven more by the needs of the plot than by clear motivation or emotional logic. As a result, it was hard to fully connect with her or feel the weight of her choices.

Similarly, the romance between Scarlett and Brayden, though rooted in years of mutual pining and a fated bond, leaned heavily on trope rather than development. Their connection is frequently told rather than shown, and I found myself wanting more meaningful interaction and emotional depth beyond their magical and physical pull toward one another.

The worldbuilding introduces interesting concepts, especially the criminalization of magic and its political consequences, but these ideas are not explored deeply enough to feel fully realized. The political system, in particular, often felt vague, which weakened the impact of the story’s central conflict.

Overall, The Rise of Scarlett Heroux had a strong concept and clear ambition, but it didn’t quite come together for me. I think it may still appeal to readers who enjoy romantasy with fated bonds and accessible political themes, even if it ultimately fell short of my expectations.


𐔌 . ⋮ pre-read 🌹 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱

a story about power, ambition, and a woman willing to claim her place? say less. i’m really intrigued by the premise and can’t wait to see how scarlett’s journey unfolds.

[Laurana Yasinski · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial, and Elizabeth Watson for allowing me to read this ARC!

First and foremost, I want to say that I did not enjoy this book for a number of reasons. There were many times in the first half that I sincerely considered DNFing, but I stuck with it in order to give the entirety of the book a full and honest review.

Let's start off with the basics: the characters. They lacked depth and everything was done and taken at face value. Despite having gone to university and being a member of parliament, our FMC Scarlett is boring and so immature. She is meant to be a strong, independent woman capable of passing legislations and changing the world for the better, but I seriously doubt she could do a single thing if not for all the other characters in the story. And the side characters weren't that much better. Brayden was boring as a romantic partner and didn't really add anything other than insecurity to the story; Cass was literally incapacitated on her first night as a body guard; Keelie's whole purpose was to give Scarlett a vibrator. The list could go on and on.

The romance aspect of the story lacked passion, tension, and fun. Everything was tainted by Scarlett and Brayden being insecure in their new relationship of basically 5 days. I would have loved some more yearning and stolen glances between them before the friends became lovers. When they did, their dialogue exchanges were constantly making me cringe.

Now lets talk about the magic in this universe. It was pointless. That's it. Magic could have been completely removed and nothing in the story would have changed. The plot would have remained exactly the same with some minor tweaks. And also for someone who is so eager to open her country and legalize magic again in Soleil, Scarlett is seemingly scared of magic? She's so suspicious of all her friends, and is immediately concerned about manipulating people with her own power, despite James literally telling her it wasn't going to happen before she even had that thought. And after all the ceremonies and discussing magic, all she got was the ability to make good speeches? And could see how people's opinions matched/differed hers? Great for a politician I guess, but kind of lame for a fantasy novel.

Finally, everything important in the story happened in the first few chapters. Even the reveals off what happened and who committed such heinous crimes such as assassination and attempted murder happened super early. It made getting through the rest of the book extremely boring, because we knew everything already and it was just a matter of finding evidence for the courts. It could have been so much more thrilling if huge plot points were unveiled slowly through the information that was discovered later on. I felt like a baby being spoon fed exposition and bits of the story.

I am sure there are lots of people out there who would enjoy this book, but unfortunately I am not one of them.

[erica x · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Rise of Scarlett Heroux is a book I really wanted to love and had all the ingredients for a perfect romantasy read but the execution unfortunately didn't meet the ambition of its premise at all.

I'll start with the romance which was probably the most enjoyable part of this book. Scarlett and Brayden have a really magical connection and a lot of the momentum in the novel leans on this.

Scarlett herself is a mixed success as a protagonist. As much as she is strong-willed and emotionally driven, she seems rather immature, so much so that it feels like she is talking from the perspective of a young teenager instead of a 22 year old young woman.

For all its promise, the world building and plot of this book is shallow and quick. The rules of magic, the political landscape and the consequences of defying authority aren't explored in much detail and this holds the story back.

Overall this is solid 3 stars for being enjoyable and easy to read but there could have been a lot more brought to life. It would suit readers who want a romance-forward fantasy over one with depth or tightly woven storytelling.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in return for my honest review.

[Sarah Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐ 5 Stars — ARC Review: The Rise of Scarlett Heroux by Elizabeth Watson ⭐

I would like to thank the author, Elizabeth Watson, for providing a copy of this amazing book! I read some of the other reviews and I don’t agree. First of all, this is a YA book so set your expectations there. This story grabbed me instantly 11% in, I was already crying and filled with so many emotions! It blends suspense, resilience, romance, and a heroine you can’t help but want to win!

The FMC is a standout protagonist—complex, determined, and achingly human. Watching her navigate the shadows of her past while stepping into her own power was incredibly satisfying. Watson balances vulnerability and strength beautifully, giving Scarlett layers that unfold at just the right pace. The supporting cast adds depth without ever overshadowing her journey, and the relationships—both tense and tender—feel authentic.

There were some things I would like to have seen explored more, however, knowing this is not a stand alone book, I’m looking forward to more explanations in future books. I devoured this book as soon as I began! So many moments that just keep you fully engaged!

If you love strong heroines, high-stakes storytelling, and character-driven suspense, The Rise of Scarlett Heroux deserves a spot on your TBR. I’m already eager for whatever comes next!

[C Lin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Rise of Scarlett Heroux by Elizabeth Watson had an amazing premise and idea behind it that simply wasn’t executed in the best way. Starting with the positives, the book was relatively fast-paced , and primarily was the main thing driving me to continue reading. However, this book read very similarly to many YA books and the writing was very explicit. The romance along with many of the characters were very undeveloped and seemed to lack depth. Between Scarlett and Brayden, the majority of their romance and history was never expanded upon and seemed to be very much of an insta-love scenario. I think with editing, implicit writing, and more time for development this book could have easily become one of my favorite books. But quite simply, the book was just not executed properly.

[Klaudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a lot of potential, and honestly the pace is what kept me going - there’s always something happening and no chapter feels slow. The ideas behind the world and magic were interesting, and there were moments where I thought, “okay, this could really turn into something great.”

But for me, the execution didn’t fully land. We’re given a lot of information early on, yet almost none of it is explored. It often felt like the author had certain points they wanted to hit, and everything in between was rushed or filled with the main character being horny and obsessing over the love interest. I did enjoy their romance overall, but it definitely felt rushed, like we skipped the build-up and went straight to the deep feelings.

The writing style at the beginning was a bit aggressive for me, and it took me a while to get used to it. There’s also quite a bit of repeating things we already know through conversations, almost as if the info had to be shoved in somehow.

Worldbuilding-wise, the ideas are good, but I’m still not entirely sure how this world actually works. Magic exists, but the setting feels half-modern, half-something-else, and I couldn’t quite figure out what era we’re meant to be in. There were a few nice descriptive moments, but I wish there were more of them.

Overall, it’s a fast read with good ideas, just not fully developed yet. With stronger editing and more depth, this easily could’ve been a 5-star book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This is my honest review.

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

GOD TIER! left me sleep deprived, staying up way too late to read just one more chapter. i binged the first half + then waited as long as i could take it before bingeing the second half to finish it, simply because of the post-book depression that i knew was going to hit.

this is a romantic fantasy political thriller, and when i tell you i obsessed over this book.... scarlett lives in soleil, where there are closed borders and severe anti-magic laws in place. scarlett's mother (who passed) was from clair de lune, where open borders and magic have created a thriving system. when scarlett's father who has a seat in parliament in soleil is traumatically assassinated right in front of scarlett, she instantly inherits his seat and becomes a member. her father was desperately working towards opening the borders of soleil + that is something scar intends to see to the end. however, that paints a target on her own back...

while whoever is behind her father's assassination goes uncaught, assassination attempts continue to threaten scarlett's life. her grandmother manon (my fave character in this story) happens to have a home and dual citizenship in clair de lune, and after a scary attempt on their lives, she escorts scarlett and her brother there for their safety while they work on finding out who is behind this all. lucky for scarlett, her best friend since childhood, brayden, is a clair de lune citizen, and she gets to finally meet him after years of friendship (and pining) through an illegal magic mirror. you can guess how that goes.

i won't spoil the rest of the plot but this was one of the best books i have read, + i have no doubt the next installment of the planned series will be incredible. i cannot wait! the magic, the political dissonance, the relationships, the characters, the thrills, the "who dunnit" mystery - just impeccable. i will be buying when released 2/25/26! if you take any recommendation of mine, let this be it!

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for providing me an advanced copy of The Rise of Scarlett Heroux.

This book is classified as romantasy, and certainly has a plenty of romance and satisfyingly steamy pages, but its true strength lies in the politics of this world Watson has created. I found myself completely immersed in the conflict between the different regions, and even within Scarlett’s hometown of Soleil. This paired with the intricacies of the magic system, and resulting biases towards those that use magic, made for an intriguing and fast-paced read (seriously, the drama never stopped!). And possibly my favorite thing about this book was the confidence and assuredness with which Scarlett navigates these dynamics - a far departure from many other romantasy FMCs!

I am definitely looking forward to the next book of the trilogy and exploring even more of this world!

[Kelsey Gurd · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way I couldn’t put this book down is almost criminal.
First, Scarlett’s character is wonderful. She’s smart & calculated but has empathy & awareness for those around here. She had great growth & really stepped into her power of not being a major people pleaser and taking what she wants out of life.
Brayden is so sweet and such a great “North Star” for her. I love how he was trying to make sure to go at her pace and make sure she was ready for them.
I am already DYING to know what happens next.

[sambavi · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story explores how Scarlett unexpectedly takes her father's place in parliament after his assassination, leading to an array of enemies due to her intentions to open the borders between her country (which is magic free) and other magic fueled nations. I was fully invested in this until Scarlett gets ambushed and has to run away to the MMC's, Brayden's, country to escape her enemies. The pacing was action packed and suspenseful, it had me excited to see the journey Scarlett would have to embark on to achieve her goals with numerous obstacles in place. But then... it started to fall flat for me...

Brayden and Scarlett's relationship is introduced at the beginning of the book as childhood best friends who had never met each other as they were separated by the borders put in place. Despite all this history between the characters, I wasn't able to connect fully with the relationship between the two despite their history. I love fated mates, and the insta-lust made sense given the longing between the two characters... but it was underdeveloped and it overshadowed majority of the book itself which was disappointing with how much potential the plot itself had. The story had more telling than doing with how the dialogue presented all the information to the reader rather than through the actions of characters and plot devices.

The execution for this book definitely had potential. It is a trilogy so hopefully there's more to come with the next two books. It was an easy read and the magic system is interesting with the concept of the valor's explored by each character. I adore political fantasy so I fully read it in hopes of growing to like the book as I continued. With the war hinted near the end of the book, I hope the direction of the next book and execution goes differently.

Beni has my whole heart. I would read it for Beni

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Illegal magic, deadly politics, and a love story that has to survive through that. I was in as soon as I read the description for the book. Scarlett Heroux is just your average 22 year old, until her whole life is turned upside down. What follows is utter chaos!

I'm a sucker for a fated mates story and an interesting magic system. The characters are believable and I loved getting to know them more deeply as the book went on. I really enjoyed the modern elements that I don't often see in the fantasy I've read so far, which surprised me. I did like how the FMC and MMC navigated communication within their relationship, and how they grew together. I was really happy with how it ended, and the justice that was served. I had been worried that some interesting minor characters at the start wouldn't resurface later in the book, so I was happy when they came back.

There were times when it felt like some of the conversations weren't overly natural when it came to intimate scenes, and I was a little off put by some of the words used to describe the sex. Ultimately it kind of ruined the spice for me, because it caused me to disconnect entirely. It was difficult to reconnect with the story a couple of times afterwards.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book, and would absolutely recommend to friends who are looking for something a little different to the usual romantasy. I'm giving it a 3.5 stars

Thankyou to NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy!

[Krista Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has all of my favorite features of the romantasy genre, with friends to lovers, court intrigue, secret powers, a kickass FMC and of course plenty of romance!

You follow the FMC Scarlet, as she’s celebrating a holiday with her boyfriend and preparing for her father who’s the prime minister to pass legislation to open her countries borders and allow magic back in. When suddenly her father is assassinated and she’s forced into the role of taking his place when all she wanted to do was end things with her boyfriend and travel the world. She must now face her responsibilities and protect her little brother from her evil stepmother. But after all this, even she’s now in danger and she must flee to the magical kingdom that just so happens to have the boy she’s been pining over since she was teen.

This story has so much exciting politics, plots for murder and missions to uncover secrets and even some hacking that I was hooked right into it. I also really enjoyed Scarlets growth to slowly trust she deserved happiness with the man she always wished could be more than a friend. Her protectiveness of those she loves and willingness to stand up for what she believes in made her an even more powerful character. I also really enjoyed the descriptions of how her powers and the whole magic system worked! I’m happy with the ending but do hope to get more books in this world! My rating 4.4/5!

Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an ARC provided by NetGalley.

I really wanted to love this one. The political setup was interesting, and I liked the idea of a modern fantasy world layered with magic and creatures. The premise had a lot of promise, and the story definitely moves fast.

That said, I struggled almost immediately with the dialogue and the characters, which felt flat and underdeveloped. There was a lot of telling instead of showing, with heavy use of adjectives and adverbs that didn’t add much depth. The quick pacing kept things moving, but it came at the expense of world building and meaningful character development. The romance was especially confusing, with very little buildup or emotional payoff, and the side characters felt formulaic and predictable.

[Andrea Perez]

Arc reader here!!!

This book was one that caught my attention but sadly, it was not what I expected

The romance for me is the best part of the book, the chemistry they have is good (although the relationship dont have much depth) but the intimate scenes were not that good. And to add something good is also a really easy book to read.

My main problem is that the main idea of the book is really interesting, but it is poorly developed. The world, the magic the political part and all around magic are not explained as good as they should be. Also the writing style was not my thing, it got me a while to get used to it.


So for me is a 2 ⭐️ read

PS: thanks to Elisabeth Watson and Netgalley for giving me an arc copy of this book🫶🏻

[BookishlyVee · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review | The Rise of Scarlet Harrowx ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5)

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review

The Rise of Scarlet Harrowx had a really strong premise: a country where magic is illegal, politics are lethal, and love might be the most dangerous rebellion of all. Scarlet witnessing her father’s assassination from inches away immediately hooked me, and the idea of her being thrust into power while trying to fulfill his dream of opening Soleil’s borders to magic? So much potential.

Scarlet’s journey—fleeing, discovering magic in her blood, and uncovering a fated bond with her childhood friend Brayden Maddox—was intriguing, and their long-time mutual pining definitely delivered on the romance side. Their chemistry was there, and the spice itself? I’d give that a solid 4.5/5 🌶️. Well-written, enjoyable… though sometimes a little too conveniently placed, especially right before major plot moments where I wanted tension, not distraction.

That’s where this book lost me just a bit.

The plot felt too easy. A lot of the moments that should have been complicated—resisting fate, trusting Brayden, returning to Soleil, even marriage—wrapped up quickly and without much resistance. Scarlet questions fate… but not for long. Big political risks arise… but resolve smoothly. I kept waiting for things to really unravel, for a deeper emotional or political fallout, and it just never quite hit that peak.

Because of how easily things fell into place, I even found myself distrusting Brayden, hoping for a betrayal or twist to raise the stakes. The fated-mates bond made him feel “safe,” but part of me wanted that safety to shatter for a stronger climax. Unfortunately, it never did.

All that said, this book is still enjoyable, and the world has enough intrigue that I do want to know what happens next. I’m just not urgently desperate for book two—yet. If the next installments bring more tension, harder choices, and higher consequences, this series could really shine.

Final thoughts: great concept, solid romance, good spice—but I wanted more complications, more resistance, and more moments that made me hold my breath.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rise of Scarlet Heroux
Net galley ARC read
Romantic Fantasy is more of a side plot. The real story is about her getting justice for her father and making positive political changes for her country.
Read trigger warnings

Fast paced, sexy and exciting already looking forward to the next one.
Notes-
Brayden is not the common MMC who is dark, broody, and mysterious. So far, he is more like a golden retriever; bright, optimistic and loyal. Don’t get me wrong, I love a bad boy, but it’s refreshing to get a different personality type for a MMC.

Only at 21% and I can’t put it down.
I just stayed up until 3:30 am reading this. So much has happened and I’m only 37%.

[MaReads Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a divided world where magic is banned, politics rule, and destiny is written in light, Scarlett Heroux is forced into power after tragedy strikes. Between secret abilities, dangerous alliances, and a bond she never asked for, her choices may reshape both her future and her world.

2.5⭐️/5 — 3.5🌶️/5 (3 chapters / 40 — open-door scenes)

🌌 Friends-to-Lovers / Star-Crossed Lovers
🔗 Fated Bond / North Star
📱 Modern Technology in a Fantasy World
🧍‍♀️ People-Pleaser FMC Taking Control
🏛️ Politically Inspired (US/UK vibes)

Everything about The Rise of Scarlett Heroux initially pulled me in hard. As a huge fan of Crescent City and Zodiac Academy, the promise of modern fantasy, mutual pining, destiny, and spice had my expectations sky-high. I also loved the transparency of the “What You Can Expect” section (this should honestly be mandatory in publishing).
The book has strong ideas, an accessible writing style, and a fast pace, but unfortunately, it didn’t fully deliver on the emotional tension or romantic payoff I was hoping for. While the first half intrigued me, I slowly started to disconnect as the story progressed.

⚠️ Spoilers ahead
🌍 Worldbuilding & Setting
We’re in an urban fantasy-adjacent world split between Soleil, a modern, technology-driven country where magic is banned, and Clair de Lune, a magic-rich land with no modern tech. While the comparison to Crescent City and Zodiac Academy is understandable marketing-wise, the balance here feels much more limited: the two worlds don’t fully blend in the same way, which made the setting feel less immersive than expected.
That said, I appreciated elements like the Soul Light, magic tattoos, banned magic laws, and political manipulation. Some of the worldbuilding (especially during the Soul Light ceremony) felt rushed and a bit info-dumpy, but the concepts themselves are interesting and have potential.

👩🏼🧔🏻‍♂️ Characters
Scarlett starts as a self-proclaimed people pleaser, which worried me at first, but she quickly shows that she has a backbone, especially when she dumps Alistair without hesitation. I liked her determination and her desire to reclaim control over her life. However, as the story progressed, her behavior became more frustrating to me: she often lacked tact, reacted impulsively toward Brayden, and at times came across as self-centered, especially regarding his future. Her arc didn’t always feel emotionally consistent.

Brayden is clearly written as the golden retriever love interest: loyal, protective, emotionally open, and deeply in love with Scarlett. The childhood friendship through the magic mirror was a great setup, and the years of mutual pining had real potential. Unfortunately, once they got together, the tension evaporated almost completely, which made their relationship feel less impactful.

❤️ Romance / Relationship
This is where the book lost me the most. On paper, Scarlett and Brayden have everything I love: childhood crush, magical pen pals, destiny, fated bond. But in execution, their romance lacked build-up and emotional tension. Once they were together, they felt more like a pair of horny teenagers than a deeply bonded, star-crossed couple.
The spice is open-door and frequent, but instead of enhancing the romance, it often felt awkward or rushed. Some intimacy-related dialogue (toys, orgasms, explicit oversharing) came very early and felt a bit too casual, skipping important emotional steps.

✨ What I Would Have Liked More Of
-More romantic tension and emotional depth before the relationship became physical
-Better pacing after the marriage, everything felt too easy, too fast
-Stronger communication between Scarlett and Brayden (the miscommunication trope really annoyed me here)
-A more impactful ending: I was expecting a twist or cliffhanger, but the final North Star ceremony felt flat

What I liked:
-The initial premise and marketing promises
-Magic systems (Soul Light, tattoos, valor types)
-Scarlett’s early character development
-Beni and his dynamic with Laylani (strong ZA vibes here)
-The inclusion of maps and a character list (huge plus!)

What didn’t work for me:
-Romance lacking tension and credibility
-Overly casual sexual tone that broke immersion
-Scarlett’s behavior post-marriage
-Convenient plot resolutions
-Underwhelming ending

Recommended if you enjoy:
-Fated bonds and destiny-driven plots
-Modern fantasy with political elements
-Open-door spice and fast-moving relationships

Not recommended if you’re looking for:
-Crescent City level world integration
-Slow burn or emotionally rich romance
-High romantic tension and yearning

I think my expectations were simply too high going in. Crescent City and Zodiac Academy are major favorites of mine, and unfortunately The Rise of Scarlett Heroux didn’t reach that level for me, especially in terms of romance and emotional payoff. Still, the foundations are there, and I’m curious to see how the series evolves.

Thank you Elizabeth Watson, Book Go Social and Net Galley for sending me this ARC in exchange of an honest review

[GlacierFrost · Rating 2 out of 5]

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

2/5 stars

Just a warning, there's some spoilers down below, so I would recommend avoiding this review if you don't want to know about anything that happens!

The Rise of Scarlett Heroux is advertised on Netgalley as a political romantasy with a friends to lovers, fated mates relationship where our main character Scarlett Heroux's life is changed by the assassination of her father, and she is forced to rise up in his position in this world’s Parliament. I had to DNF this book halfway through because of three elements that aren’t fully fleshed out to its highest: the main character, the romance, and the worldbuilding.

The Main Character
A main character is your primary lens for a story, and they’re meant to be taking action as their story progresses. After all, there has to be a reason to follow this particular character in the world more than anyone else. Scarlett Heroux is poised to be a political successor that moves heaven and earth to accomplish her father’s goal of reopening Soleil’s borders to the other magical countries. Instead, the attempts on her life that are advertised in the premise derail her from taking almost any action towards this goal, making her character stagnant and often grating. She got on my nerves plenty of times because of how the plot controls her instead of her controlling the plot, on top of how the story structure makes it to where the only actions she takes are towards the romance she has with her best friend, Brayden. It makes her character both inactive and immature for her age, where she seems more written for a YA novel than the 22 year old political leader she’s supposed to be. While I can’t speak on how she fares in the latter half, her progress, or lack thereof, made for a very difficult character to root for in my opinion.

The Romance
The romance is the element I argue that fared the worst. While meant to be a friends to lovers relationship between Scarlett and Brayden with years upon years of chemistry, the book here does a lot more telling of why they should be together, especially with how abnormally quickly as this romance pans out, than showing us the reasons their relationship makes sense. The romance is very rushed throughout the book, where Scarlett’s feelings for Brayden kind of show up out of the blue. When she finally meets him in person for the first time, she falls head over heels to the point where even he’s convinced she feels this way because of her grief and is using him as a rebound.

Instead of showing us their chemistry and justifying their feelings for one another with proper build-up, we’re only given one scene to establish their friendship and immediately move on to the heavy feelings part. This gets worse as the fated mates element is introduced, and it feels like a cover for why this romance is so rushed. Instead of taking the time to establish their relationship, it uses the fact that they’re destined to be together as an excuse for why this should work. All of this occurs within the first 40% without real build-up, so it’s no wonder why it’s so difficult to root for Scarlett and Brayden’s relationship, especially when she pines for him out of nowhere like a 14 year old. By the time they proposed marrying each other, it felt like an Anna and Hans situation from Frozen, and was what ultimately led me to DNF.

The Worldbuilding
If the primary selling point of this book, the romance, skipped a couple of steps in its development, the worldbuilding was completely neglected. Netgalley advertises that this book is inspired by U.S. and U.K. politics. But instead of being inspired by these countries, the book instead directly uses them. What I mean is that rather than creating a world of its own, the book uses political issues from the United States, creates a carbon copy of the U.K.’s own Parliament, and ties in French names for the countries like Soleil and Clair de Lune. The world feels cobbled together rather than inspired by anything, and instead feels like just the modern world with magic, especially when all the characters have access to cell phones. It makes this fantastical world that’s supposed to be different from our own feel lazy, unoriginal, and hard to connect to. If anything, with how much it draws elements from the modern world, it takes you out of the story and gives you more questions than answers.

In conclusion, The Rise of Scarlett Heroux is conceptually flawed, not spending nearly enough time on its three most important elements. The plot renders the characters inactive and unable to take part in their own story, making Scarlett especially hard to connect with. It rushes the romance and blankets these faults with a fated mates excuse to spend little time on their chemistry, and takes no effort into developing a world that is original or well-explained. All of these inconsistencies turned me off to this book and left me disappointed.

[Larissa Soares · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I made the difficult decision to DNF this book at 79%. As someone who never leaves books unfinished, this wasn’t a choice I made lightly. Despite the promising premise, I found myself struggling to connect with the story or characters.

In Soleil, a country where magic is forbidden, Prime Minister Jules Heroux is working to change that, until he’s assassinated during a parade, right in front of his daughter Scarlett. Now heir to his Parliamentary seat, Scarlett needs to navigate the dangerous political landscape while trying to uncover who killed her father and why. When threats against her own life escalate, she runs away to Clair de Lune, where she starts trying to balance her investigation and political responsibilities, with her growing feelings for her childhood friend.

I found the story of the book is intriguing and ambitious, and I think readers who enjoy romance with popular tropes (marriage of convenience, childhood friends to lovers, family betrayal), combined with political fantasy and dialogue driven prose may find what they’re looking for here.

Now, my biggest struggle with this book was its heavy reliance on dialogue to share information, emotion, and plot development. I’d estimate 60-70% of it is dialogue, and nearly everything gets delivered through characters explaining things to each other rather than through action or description. And this pattern is noticeable throughout the whole book: castle history, tech systems, political structures, magical systems, all explained through dialogue. As someone who strongly prefers a show-don’t-tell prose, this created a big emotional distance, like I was being told about the story instead of experiencing it.

The book also lacks descriptive grounding, making it difficult to visualize settings, understand atmosphere, or feel the emotional weight of scenes. These details are important because it would help readers understand what’s at stake or how characters are feeling. Take the boxing match on the first chapter for example: is it an underground criminal venue with a dangerous edge, or an upscale establishment where wealthy patrons pay to watch magical entertainment? We can’t know. The social context and physical environment matter enormously for understanding stakes and tension, but these details are sparse, leaving me disconnected from the story’s reality.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Granted, we do have some detailed descriptions for characters reactions (like “wrinkled her nose at the stench”), but they are not so widespread. If it was done more consistently where it matters most for emotional resonance, I believe the book would improve a great deal!

The voice of the characters on the dialogues were also something else that felt off for me. It reads more like a YA instead of a NA, especially during emotional moments. Characters deliver their feelings in complete, grammatically perfect statements with no interruptions, half-finished thoughts, or the messy reality of actual conflict. Even when Watson wants a character to sound manipulative or toxic, the dialogue is written in a way that it loses believability.

When it comes to world building, I feel like the magic system could’ve been better explained/exposed to the reader. How complex it gets? What are its limitations? Is magic the same in every country? For a story where the entire conflict centers on magic’s legality (it’s literally why her father was killed), I feel like we needed a deeper exploration.

Overall, Watson’s writing pretty is clear and grammatically sound. With some editing and deeper foundation, I’m sure this book can improve a great deal!

[Courtney Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a strong premise and an opening that genuinely hooked me, but it ultimately struggles with tone, pacing, and development.

The inciting event, Scarlett witnessing her father’s assassination, is well done and sets up what feels like a high-stakes political romantasy. Unfortunately, the story never fully follows through on that promise. The book can’t quite decide whether it wants to be YA or adult, which results in tonal whiplash throughout. Heavy themes like political corruption, assassination, and magical oppression are introduced, but the narrative rarely sits with them long enough for the weight to land.

The world and characters have a lot of potential, but everything feels rushed and underdeveloped. Major conflicts are introduced and resolved almost immediately, often with little resistance. The antagonists are effectively identified very early in the book, leaving little mystery or sustained tension. When it looks like the story might finally slow down and deepen the stakes, the conflict is resolved almost as soon as it appears.

The romance leans heavily into insta-love and fated mates, with familiar tropes appearing quickly and with minimal narrative cost. While the book promises three “open-door” spicy scenes, these read as standard on-page spice rather than moments with heightened tension or risk, and they often feel oddly placed given the surrounding trauma and urgency of the plot.

The magic system itself is a unique and compelling concept, but its execution relies heavily on familiar romantasy tropes. In particular, how power manifests visually and connects certain characters closely mirrors elements from popular recent titles, without being recontextualized enough to feel distinct. I would have loved to see this system explored in greater depth rather than defaulting to more familiar mechanics.

The setting also feels inconsistent. Much of the story reads as though it belongs to a more traditional or historical fantasy world, yet modern technology, dialogue, and themes are introduced abruptly, creating a jarring mix that never fully settles into a cohesive tone.

While the book is compared to titles like Crescent City and Zodiac Academy, the similarities feel largely surface-level. Readers expecting comparable depth, long-form tension, or complex worldbuilding may find the comparison misleading.

For a first book in a trilogy, an unusually large amount of plot is resolved, leaving limited narrative incentive to continue beyond curiosity about whether the border legislation is ever fully realized. That said, I did enjoy the overall vibe of the book and can see a lot of potential in the world and characters. With more space, slower pacing, and greater resistance to its conflicts, this story could have been something much stronger.

Readers looking for a fast-paced, trope-forward, low-conflict romantasy may enjoy this, but those hoping for sustained tension, deeper worldbuilding, or more deliberate storytelling may be left wanting more.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an ARC read from NetGalley.

This is a story about a nepo baby who inherits her Dad's political seat after his assassination. After he dies, she is attacked and flees to another country to meet her childhood friend.  The plot heavily focuses on the nepo baby's relationship with her true love. At 50%, I DNF.

The main issue is the filler and the lack of scene cuts. We don't need to hear about how Scarlett gets into a car, drives from A to B, and then walks into a building. Just cut to the relevant scene! The dialogue also contains unnecessary conversational filler that reads naturally in real life, but bogs down a book. (Example: "Good luck" "Thanks Gwen" "On you go" ).

Example:  

She forced herself to walk out of his room and back to her wing of the castle. After she showered, she put on a skimpy pair of pink silk pajamas... Scarlett brushed out her hair, brushed her teeth, and washed her face. As she lay in bed..."

We really don't need a play by play of a character's night routine. The author should just trust us that we know Scarlett brushes her teeth. This seems like a silly example, but these unnecessary lines add up.

"By the way, I haven't seen the news today. Did anything happen while I was at the temple?"

"I read today's papers, and there's nothing new," said Manon.

"Feels a bit like waiting for the axe to drop, but I suppose we should enjoy the calm while we can. Elestine will get my letter tomorrow, right?" asked Scarlet.

"Yes," said Brayden. "It'll be there in the morning."

"Then we'll have to wait a day before she can reply, so we might hear from her the day after," said Manon.

"The firewall is a pain in the arse," said Scarlett. 

"Indeed." Lachlan gave her a small smile.

Scarlett stood, out of patience and desperate to talk to Brayden alone.

"Today was full-on. I'm going to lie down, if that's all right."

"Rest well," said Manon.

"Congratulations again on your valor and your light," said Lachlan warmly.

What was the point of all that dialogue? We already know Scarlett sent a letter and checks the news. Why do we need another discussion about how there's nothing yet? Did you find that dialogue boring? If yes, you should avoid this book.

It's similar to her brother. Every now and then, there's a "Oh, Beni isn't here because he's off at archery with his friends". We don't need this. Readers won't think it's a plot hole that her little brother isn't hanging around Scarlett all the time. 

There's also weird pacing. For example, on one page, she's getting rejected for a kiss in a castle. Then on the next page, she goes into the forest and now has to run for her life from the wraiths. Then on the next page, she's saved and goes to a party.

This story has a lot of potential and would be good with more editing. Even though she's a nepo baby, I found myself liking Scarlett and viewing her as sympathetic character. The world and political elements is interesting. It just doesn't land for me.

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, I'd like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing the eARC in in exchange for my honest review!

I genuinely wanted to like this book. It had a lot of potential, but unfortunately the execution didn’t land for me.

Rating: 2.5 stars, rounded up.

The story is extremely fast-paced, and there’s rarely a dull moment. Something is always happening, which will likely appeal to readers who enjoy constant momentum. However, that speed often came at the expense of depth. The balance between showing and telling leaned heavily toward telling, which made it harder for me to feel fully immersed in the world.

Although this is clearly an adult fantasy, the writing frequently read more like YA, making the romantic and spicy scenes feel jarring when they appeared. The main female character repeatedly frames herself as the most mature and level-headed person in the room, yet her actions and inner monologue often contradicted that impression, which made her difficult to connect with. Additionally, many of the characters shared very similar voices, and I sometimes had trouble distinguishing them outside of their roles in the story.

The magic system itself was interesting and had a lot of promise, but I found myself wanting more explanation and on-page worldbuilding. While it’s established that this is an urban fantasy, the maps and cover art didn’t reflect that clearly, which initially led me to imagine a very different setting. Because the action begins almost immediately, I struggled to reorient my expectations and would have appreciated more grounding in the world before the plot accelerated.

About the romance... Although it’s framed as a long-standing friends-to-lovers relationship with years of history and a significant fated mates bond, much of that depth is told to the reader rather than shown on the page. Scarlett’s feelings for Brayden escalate very quickly and seem to appear almost out of nowhere, giving the relationship a rushed and unearned feel. We’re given very little opportunity to see their chemistry develop before the story moves into intense emotional territory. Despite the heavy emphasis on destiny and why they should be together, both characters often behave in ways that feel emotionally immature or disconnected from the weight the narrative places on their bond. This disconnect made it difficult to fully invest in their relationship or take it seriously, especially since so much of this unfolds early in the story.

Lastly, a significant portion of the story focused on romantic buildup, which, combined with the lack of detailed worldbuilding, made the book feel misaligned with what I expected based on the blurb. While there were elements I enjoyed, the overall experience didn’t quite come together for me.

Although it wasn’t the right fit for me, I can see this story appealing to readers who prioritize a faster pacing and romance over slower, more detailed worldbuilding.

[ella · Rating 3 out of 5]

What drew me to the story was the combination of magical and political aspects in the world-building. There is a nuance between magic leading its own world and politics applied to reign it in, though the difference was, at least for me at times, too black and white when comparing Soleil and its counterparts. I appreciate the time taken to build the backdrop of the story, but it loses its gravity toward the end.

Scarlett is, much like many others mentioned, very much a YA heroine, rather than a 22-year old woman. Grappling with grief, loss, and the burden of responsibility, she was oftentimes putting personal concerns ahead of other matters that are central to the story (i.e., her romantic interest versus her duty to Soleil's border and legalisation of magic, free travel, etc.). Though I do appreciate her dynamic with Beni, and was like an older sister myself, happy to read about the duo.

I wished to see more of the political machinations in the background, as well as to have a more focused approach to the key bits of the story. War, general distrust among nations, conflicting feelings toward magic, Soleil's advanced technology... I was left wanting to learn more. And while I do appreciate human interactions in the story, I feel that Scarlett's issues often blurred between personal and career-driven. Not that it was a bad thing, but it left many loose ends.

Scarlett's relationship with Brayden, from friends to lovers, was very fast-paced, in my opinion. While there is an understanding as to why they married so soon, their feelings developed from unspoken yearning to full-on love declarations within a few days of her being in Claire. It was too fast for me to truly connect to them, even if their dynamic was solid.

This fast development of her relationship with Brayden, quick return to Soleil, the incredibly fast and (short?) heist toward gathering evidence, Scarlett being rejected for a kiss, running into wraiths in the woods and then going to a party.... that pacing was difficult to keep up with when other pages are flooded with filler conversations (assume your reader does retain information - i.e., explanation of North Stars, Scarlett's seat at the parliament, explanation of her valor, her dynamic with her ex - whose motive to stage an attack at the Theater despite multiple snide remarks during their meetings remains juvenile in a grand scheme of things....)

A fish-out-of-water experience for Scarlett after her father is assassinated is not a bad concept, but we do not see her learn as much as we are told that magic solves her political savvy. (Her valor). I do not mind her, though. She's likable enough for a main lead, but I just missed "that something" for me to truly connect with her.

Still, I hope to see more in the following book, even if I was left with a relatively neutral impression.

[Honey · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

I felt this book had a lot of promise from the synopsis so I was excited to read it, however I don't feel it lived up to its potential.

This story follows Scarlett living in Soleil where magic is outlawed. She is thrust into a position of political power following her fathers assassination, who wanted to open the borders and bring magic back - which was not a popular choice with the party opposition.

I liked that the magic system felt somewhat unique to this book/world. I liked her brother Beni. It was a fast paced book so quick to get through, however I still struggled to finish this book to be honest because I simply wasn't invested.

Plot/World: What didn't work for me was that the story and the way it was written felt very much YA (if you took out the explicit sex scenes) - the reader isn't shown anything but rather told it through dialogue and the world building lacked a lot of depth. There was also no mystery to this book, you are given villains from the beginning and told that they are bad and they are suspected and then they are caught. I kept reading hoping for a twist of 3rd act betrayal thinking it couldn't possibly be what we have known and been told since the beginning of the book.. but unfortunately it was. I also didn't really feel the magic played that much of a part in the story apart from being a point of contention politically. again it lacked depth and nothing felt high stakes considering it should have.

Romance: The romance lacked for me, it is described as a friends to lovers but again it is all told to you, you do not really see any of this friendship before they are together so it makes it hard to then be invested in the relationship or their 'love'. All we really see as readers is them meet in person for the first time and then they are together.

Characters: Scarlett seemed inconsistent, she would be strong one moment, then completely illogical the next - She got told not to go into a dangerous forest for instance and instantly goes in them, which felt at odds with what she had presented to us so far personality wise. Brayden I found possessive and also inconsistent. Seems to care about her safety loads one minute then asking her to a party whilst she is recovering from a big thing the next? The villains in this story were just storybook classic no depth caricatures of villains, just evil with no redeeming qualities.

Overall, I can't say I'd be interested in continuing this series unless there were a lot of changes in the next one - I think it has a strong premise but currently not delivering on that.

Thank you NetGalley & BooksGoSocial for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Mallory Moss · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw this book marketed as inspired by US/UK politics and comped to Crescent City, I knew I needed it. And the cover? I was hooked. I finished this book in six hours.

Scarlett was an engaging heroine, and I enjoyed her transition from people-pleaser to political leader. Hands-down, the best scene in the book was (morbidly) her father’s assassination. It’s that moment where I felt most connected to Scarlett, and Watson did absolutely incredible in immersing us in that moment. Scarlett’s confusion, shock, grief, and horror were so visceral and real.

It always makes me happy when books use the title somewhere in the book, and when the title was used for the first time, it was epic! Such a great moment.

Where this book really shone were the side characters. Elestine was my favorite character—I instantly disliked her when we first met her, but I loved her complexity by the end. I hope we’ll see more of her in Book 2! (Or perhaps in a prequel…?) I’d love more backstory for Laylani, too (and the complicated dynamics between Sabina, Laylani, and Elestine). Tyler, the hacker genius, enters the story fairly late, but I really loved what he brought to the crew. Beni is adorable (and yeah, if I was a kid named Beaux Heroux, I’d go by my childhood nickname, too). On that note, I loved the absolute, unconditional love between the siblings. Scarlett’s love for Beni was one of my favorite things about her, and his affection for her made him even more adorable. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s in store for the siblings!

Romantasy readers looking for true romantasy, you’ll love this. The romance is front and center, and the clash between revenge and love is central to Scarlett’s arc and plot. I would’ve liked to see more of the political intrigue, magic, and action, but those who love childhood friends to lovers in a modern tech-fantasy setting like Crescent City will absolutely devour this book.

The graphics were gorgeous, the maps were beautiful, and the cover was stunning. This is a promising debut, and I look forward to seeing how the series develops for here! It seems like a massive conflict is brewing, and I am so here for it. (Also, the lore. I want alllll the empire lore, please.)

On a final note, just want to give a shoutout to the author’s brother. I am one of those strange people who actually reads the acknowledgments, and I got a laugh out of the Shark Tank mention. You bet on a winning author for sure. :)

Thank you to Elizabeth Watson for an ARC! This was a delightful read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨/5

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher/author for providing me with this review in exhange of an honest review.

It’s been a hot minute since a romantasy has gripped me this much—and I had an absolute blast with this one.

The Rise of Scarlett Heroux strikes an excellent balance between romance and political intrigue, all set within a thoughtfully crafted fantasy backdrop. While romance and politics take center stage, I really appreciated how the author built the world without heavy world-building.

Soleil is a technologically advanced nation where magic is strictly banned after past abuses, while neighbouring countries wield magic freely. This isn’t a groundbreaking concept, but it’s executed extremely well. Soleil’s reliance on technology rather than magic gives it distinct technological advantages, and its isolation adds real tension to the story. This setup also feeds seamlessly into the book’s central conflict: the controversial bill, spearheaded by Jules Heroux, to lift the magic ban. It’s a great reminder that authors don’t need to reinvent the wheel—just use it effectively.

The romance was easily my favourite part. Childhood friends-to-lovers doesn’t always work for me, but this was done beautifully. The yearning in the first half was chef’s kiss, and following Scarlett and Braydon’s relationship was satisfying. Having grown up separated by borders, they were only able to communicate through a magic mirror, which allowed their bond to develop naturally over the years. The emotional foundation was already there, so even though their relationship progressed quickly during the book, it felt completely earned and realistic. The energy was clearly - everything is going to sh*t, so we need to do some crazy things to make things right, so let's do it, and I had fun reading all about it!

I also enjoyed the political plot. While the main villains were predictable and the storyline not overly complex, it was engaging, coherent, and easy to follow. Scarlett does come across as a bit immature at times, but she’s ultimately a very likeable protagonist—especially considering her entire world is unravelling in less than a month.

Finally, the story was definitely fast-paced. Everything happened super fast, which made the book engaging from the start to finish. The author had a lot to fit into 400 pages, and she handled it impressively well.

Overall, a highly fun romantasy with strong emotional payoff, solid worldbuilding, and a romance that truly delivers.

[Readineer · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book had good ideas, but I had my struggles with a lot of different aspects. I ended up DNFing at 55%.

What bothered me the most was the writing style. It feels immature and telly. We are not shown anything, everything is laid flat and plain in front of us. I couldn’t get immersed into the world, since in almost every scene the dialogues and interactions between the characters were detached and flat. The writing style doesn’t help, because everything feels rehearsed. Person 1 says something, then we get a description of how this person is feeling and then the 2. person just responds. I was missing the descriptions of the vibe so I can gather what they are thinking and feeling without the author just plainly telling me so. I DNFed after the wedding scene. It felt so emotionless, they just said the vows and than she was thinking about their wedding night, if he is going to be rough or not. We don’t get any real scene building or tension, or even any real emotion. We are only being told that Manon is crying, but we don’t feel it.

It is also a pity that the romance development happened off page. We start the book and are quickly being explained that they know each other for years and are best friends before they truly met. Suddenly they are in love and she has been in his country for like 3 days before they get a visa marriage? On the first day she arrives, she goes to a party with him, even though she was kidnapped and drugged for over a month? And than she spills the beans to random women how she never had an orgasm? For my taste, everything was happening too fast and random and it didn’t feel natural. Some dialogues felt as if someone googled the most cringy romantic sentences from 2010.

Especially in the beginning of the book Manon and Beni read as teenagers. The way they were speaking and behaving didn’t really mirror their age. I kept forgetting that her brother is supposed to be 12?

All in all, a lot of scenes were not flowing for me and the dialogues didn’t work at all. I was hoping that if I read more, I would get used to the writing style, since the ideas of the plot and world were good. I just kept finding myself skimming the text really fast in the hope that it would get better, but I had to admit to myself that I didn’t enjoy it. In my opinion, if this book was edited more from an honest and professional editor, it would have been a 5⭐️ book.

*** I received this book as an ARC on Netgalley, for an honest review. ***

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC!

Great potential in the blurb, but not realized. The book definitely read like YA, but also as if written by a YA-aged author. The first few chapters made me frown slightly in confusion about the technological state of the world. For whatever reason, I was expecting more of Victoria era universe mixed with magic, when the book clearly sits in the 21st century with cellphones that are being charged with magic. Not a concept I expected, and it took a moment to understand these rules. Nonetheless, it could work if done with more diligence. Unfortunately, the character building or lack thereof is the reason the book is a DNF for me.

The MFC is acting as if she were considering herself to be the most mature and reasonable person; however, her actions and thoughts provide a completely different picture. She’s mature enough to be frustrated with her pushy boyfriend, but not mature enough to have an honest conversation with him for 3 years of a relationship. She’s said to be a 22-year-old future politician, but acts as an annoyed teenager when her father tries to instill in her the need to keep social appearances. The balance of show and tell clearly fell on the tell side, as Scarlett describes her stepmom as a narcissist and a psychopath, with the burden of proof falling on a portrayal of a caricature from Grimm stories. The woman is described as having no emotional response to the death of her spouse, without any consideration of why, except for her being heartless and being a stuck-up, perception-focused mother to her preteen son, which makes her seem like a cruel and bad mother. When MFC wakes up from the coma and escapes to the neighboring country, the friend she has a crush on, who is from a military family, invites her to a party, because that is a rational behavior - maybe for a 15-year-old? She then joins the party the next day and has a conversation about orgasms with random girls she just met. Priorities? Didn’t her stepmom just try to kidnap her?

I’m sad to say, it does read as if it was written by a teenager who is focused on her feelings, a budding romance, exploring her sexuality, and dreaming of saving the world, and being the special, chosen one. But it doesn’t pull its weight.

[Georgiana Valentina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is about The Rise of Scarlett Heroux by Elizabeth Watson, the first book in a three-book adult trilogy that mixes romance, sci-fi, fantasy, and new adult elements. This review might contain spoilers!!! So I would recommend avoiding this review if you don't want to know about anything that happens!

This book was really good! First of all, the worldbuilding part, the fact that some parts of the world used magic and some didn't was pretty interesting. It made me curious about what happened in the past and why the world ended up this way, and I’m hoping the next books will explore that more. The only thing that confused me a little was the time period, it all feels very modern, but I couldn’t really tell if it was set in the future or the past.

The magic system itself is very intriguing. The idea of valors and how these powers can be shared between mates, called North Stars, was really interesting and unique. We only got to see a few types of valors, so I’d love to learn more about them as the story continues.

The main character, Scarlett was really empowering and relatable, the fact that she was batteling with something really realistic, living up to her parents’ legacy. She was standing up for herself and she didn't settle to know the smartest person in the room, she wanted to be the smartest in the room. This is my overall impression of the character. We were introduced to a lot of good characters with interesting stories and traits and we were also exposed to some bad characters but our girl stood up to them and taught them a lesson.

The romance didn't feel rushed for me because given the fact that they were mates, it was understandable for them to fall in love that easily and love each other from the start, given this fact and the fact that they were friends since they were little, in my opinion they were sharing a bond bigger than them and the author pointed that out by making their romance feel special and beautiful.

At first, the writing style took me a little while to get used to, but once I got into it, I couldn’t put the book down. It's really flowing and fast paced which I really enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This is a 5 stars for me, not to mention the fact that the cover looks stunning.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really excited to dive into this book, especially to read a debut author's work. The cover of the book also got me - it's gorgeous and eye catching.

Here are some main points about The Rise of Scarlett Heroux:
✷ court politics
✷ friends to lovers
✷ urban fantasy
✷ magic system

Pacing
This book was extremely fast-paced and the characters were constantly moving through solving the plot points, which made it enjoyable and there wasn't a dull moment in sight. However, I do feel like there could be a bit more downtime, a bit more world building added to the pacing that would help me as a reader to connect more with the world, especially with an urban fantasy setting and more than one setting that the characters moved through.

Magic System
The premise of hidden powers is always intriguing to me and this magic system was interesting and different from other fantasy books I've read, which is a total plus. The magic system wasn't explained as much as I would like in terms of how powers are chosen or awarded to characters. There's an unspoken connection between the character traits and what their powers end up being, but I need more explanation!

Characters
I struggled a bit with the FMC's inner monologue where we was so infatuated with the MMC that it took all precedence over some pretty traumatic life events that I think need more care, discussion and recovery from. I think the author was trying to convey that the FMC has a tendency to dissociate, but that wasn't obvious until later and was hard to pick up from dialogue only. Something in the story to show that the FMC is refusing to think about those events would potentially help with character connection and make the story lean more adult than YA. Spicy scenes are written well and the MMC is an extremely likable hunk, so that's a plus. He's not a grump, a shadow daddy or a cinnamon roll, so I really like that difference from other popular fantasy books as well.

Overall, I really found this book enjoyable because it was fun, wild ride! I just felt that it was missing elements that would elevate it to a 4 or 5 star read and think minor adjustments could be made. A fantastic debut story!

Thank you to the NetGalley Team and Elizabeth Watson for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.