The Rise of Scarlett Heroux

by Elizabeth Watson

Welcome to 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 For content warnings, please check the author’s website.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy

474 pages, Paperback

Published 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.

[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!

[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.

[nene reads, rocky judges · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fantasy is one of my favourite genres. And those who know me know I’m a romantic at heart. So, romantasy should be the peanut butter to my jelly, but unfortunately, that is not the case. I love the potential of the genre, but I refuse to lower my standards for its current flaws. The Rise of Scarlett Heroux made me realise why I am starting to avoid this genre.

The novel is consumed by the Three-Headed Hydra of the romantasy curse:
- A romance that leaves much to be desired.
- World-building that is here for decoration.
- Editor? What’s an editor?

Let’s start with the romance, because this is the one I grieve the most. Imagine two people who meet through a magic mirror. They click instantly over the shared loss of their mothers and spend ten years growing up together through that glass, talking and seeing but never touching. Meeting in person is out of the question, as they're also separated by strict political borders.

In a world of “rivals to lovers” and “enemies to lovers,” the childhood friends with political obstacles was a refreshing change. The setting had all the perfect ingredients to create an atmosphere of longing and pining. How did it feel for Scarlett to be unable to meet her best friend? That aching pain of loving someone you cannot have?

Watson did not explore those feelings much. Most of those scenes, with high emotional potential, were told through constant monologues rather than describing the feeling. Things moved fast between Brayden and Scarlett, and while it was expected given how long they'd known each other, my main issue was that the history between them wasn't felt. We saw the result of their bond without experiencing the years that should have shaped that bond. I didn't feel their pain of being apart for years; I didn't feel the longing that should weigh heavily on the chest. There are so many ways in which Watson could have done it: a look that only they knew the meaning of, or a quirk Brayden has that Scarlett knows too well. We had a few of those, but not enough to build the belief of a ten-year friendship.

It's the classic “show vs. tell” trap, and the world-building suffered from it too.

I had no clue how to imagine this world because the descriptions relied on "empty" adjectives rather than sensory details — and that hindered the whole immersion. Here is a snippet of when Scarlett enters the Forest Temple in Clair de Lune;

…revealing a stunning building that had been hidden from view by the forest…It looked ancient - far older than anything else she’d seen so far in Clair de Lune. A worn-looking set of stone steps led to the entrance. Six columns dominated the building’s façade. Illegible words were carved into the entablature lying horizontally across the six off-white columns.

As said; no sensory details, and a lot of adjectives to describe the world (stunning, ancient, worn-looking, illegible, pristine). It lacked some strong verbs to make us ”feel” something. There is a difference between: “Six columns dominated the building’s façade.” and “Six columns loomed over her.” The first one describes, the other gives a feeling of being small.

Another quote. This is when Scarlett arrives in Clair de Lune:

For a few minutes James drove through tree-packed forest, until gradually the trees thinned, though they were still surrounded by plenty of enormous trees.

Writing “tree-packed forest” is like saying “water-filled ocean”. But, aside from this, I had also no idea what I was supposed to see in this scene. The trees thinned, but they were still surrounded by a lot of giant trees?

When it comes to the practical side of the world-building; Watson’s fictional world felt like Inception's Limbo --it was shaped while you walked there instead of being a solid part of the story. Most of the magic concepts lacked internal consistency or foreshadowing. I often asked myself: How come Scarlett does not know how magic works? Her grandmother is from Clair de Lune, a city that accepts magic, and Brayden, her best friend of ten years, is a magic wielder (note: this is not a term used in the book, but for clarity I'll use it) who lives in Clair de Lune. She studied politics and, although Soleil closed their borders, we know they still have diplomatic ties with the outside world (there have been a few mentions of ambassadors). Wouldn’t she have at least a basic knowledge of magic?

But let’s suppose she was kept in the dark by everyone, we would still have one major issue: Scarlett and her father are part of a political party that wishes to open Soleil’s borders and soften the rules around magic. A city like Soleil, that has learned to fear magic due to abuse in the past, needs to overcome those prejudices for the party to succeed. The only way to do that is through education. Watson made the political party focus on opening borders for economic benefits, which is a valid point, but she overlooked addressing the citizens' fear of magic. If your entire political platform is defending the opening of borders for magic wielders, you should probably understand how magic works, because you’ll have to persuade those who still fear it. It felt like Scarlett was kept in the dark solely so the author could info-dump the reader.

I was also waiting for Soleil’s advanced technology to matter. We read that Soleil has developed advanced technology as compensation for banning (and therefore not using) magic. Later on, we see that besides Soleil, Clair de Lune also has those technologies, so they are not limited to Soleil only. Surely, Soleil’s technology should be so advanced that it might work against magic? How else could they possibly survive in a world where everyone but them wields magic as a weapon? 
We should have seen that at the borders. Throughout the story, we hear that it is “difficult” to get in Soleil, but Scarlett had no issue getting Brayden in as long as they had the right papers. Papers are easy to forge. This is where Soleil's advanced technology could have come in handy. This is where we could have seen something cool regarding why it is difficult to enter this city and the threat of their technology. Something that could detect Valor tattoos (the mark that reveals a person's specific magic), even if they have turned it invisible? And based on that, block their magic ability?
When Scarlett arrives in Clair de Lune, her phone would not work and she had to rely on magic to make it function. This scene is crucial, because it tells us two things, that 1) Soleil’s technology is only advantageous for those in Soleil and 2) That Clair de Lune (and perhaps other countries too) can make them work purely on magic. If other countries can make technology work with magic, and Soleil’s technology only works in Soleil, how “advanced” can we really call it?

Then there is Soleil's sister city, Clair de Lune. This one gave me that eerie feeling of the movie Get Out. Everyone was smiling; everyone was kind and willing to help Scarlett. It lacked “humans.” Give me that old lady who doesn't want to smile and mutters “kids these days,” or that frustrated worker having a bad day. Give me humans.

Many of these issues could have been avoided with a good editor and some revisions -- especially regarding dialogues that could have been deleted, the emotional impact of the romance, and that long blurb that gives a summary of the first 77% of the book (which, by the way, left no room for discovery).

I value experiencing a story rather than having it explained to me. By the end, I did not care for this novel because I felt like I was reading a script rather than a book.

ROCKY'S JUDGMENT


It's the judgmental loaf bread position for me

Rocky's rating: 🌟 0.5/5 (he dislikes smut)

I received an advanced copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review (and Rocky’s) voluntarily.
- Special big kiss and thanks to mi jojo for reading and providing feedback on this review, ily <3

[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.

[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!

[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.

[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.

[‎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy!

[Leslie]

DNF @ 35%

I love the author’s content and she’s so sweet. I feel terrible, but this was not for me.

[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!

[KMart Vet · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book opens with a shocking, high-stakes moment that immediately hooked me, and I loved the blend of political danger and forbidden magic woven into Scarlett’s journey. The play of technology and magic is such an interesting concept and makes this story quite unique. Things move quickly and poor Scarlett is left reeling, but she has a safe place to land with her childhood friend and crush Brayden.

I thought I was about to get a sharp, high-stakes political urban romantasy after the beginning tension… but unfortunately, that tension doesn’t really last. Once Scarlett escapes to her mother’s homeland, the story starts to lose urgency. Danger disappears a little too easily, and the stakes feel more theoretical than real. And there's a lot of telling instead of showing.

Part of the problem is the setting itself: it can’t quite decide if it’s modern, urban fantasy, or something else entirely. The mix of contemporary politics with magical systems ends up feeling more jarring than immersive. I also found the real-world political parallels extremely obvious, which made the story feel more bureaucratic than political, persay. It was a little dry. And... this really seems like it is saying that the UK is the one with corruption and racism, which is an odd choice given the current political landscape and might not age well.

The childhood friends-to-lovers romance adds a tender layer, especially with the fated bond and years of mutual pining finally coming to a head. I appreciated the sex-positive themes and the recovery from previous unsatisfying experiences. The romance is sweet in concept, but it feels rushed because their relationship really happened off-page before we knew them. Brayden often makes choices without truly considering Scarlett’s emotional state, and once they’re together, the tension between them drops off. Their relationship reads very “new adult” in a way that leans young: intense feelings without much depth or emotion to support them. The spice scenes often feel jarring and out of place instead of enhancing the story.

I also enjoyed how Scarlett steps into her role and begins to claim both her voice and her magic. But she is unfortunately very passive for someone meant to be a political figurehead. Things happen to her far more than she drives them through much of the book. The characters shift opinions or make decisions without much emotional groundwork.

There are good ideas here: forbidden magic, political murder, fated love, sexual agency, and rebellion. But they never quite knit together into something cohesive. The antagonists are revealed early, the danger resolves quickly and doesn't linger, and there wasn't much emotional depth for me.

Overall, this felt like a book with a strong opening and a compelling premise that didn’t fully follow through. The romance is cute, the themes are interesting, and there are moments that work, but the worldbuilding is shallow, the pacing and tension struggle, and the tone wobbles between YA and NA without committing to either.

Thanks to the author and Booked with the Emilys for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

[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!

[De Rijdende Boekenwurm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Crowns and Chaos LM for providing the eARC. This is my honest opinion.

Where Shadows Learn Your Name

Some stories feel like stepping into a dark corridor where every whisper matters. ‘The Rise of Scarlett Heroux’ has that kind of atmosphere. From the very first pages there is tension simmering beneath the surface, a sense that power is never freely given and trust is always fragile.

Scarlett herself is the true strength of this novel. She is ambitious, flawed, emotionally layered, and constantly navigating the fine line between vulnerability and control. The psychological depth in her internal struggles is where the story truly comes alive. Her choices feel heavy. Her doubts feel real. And that inner conflict gives the narrative its emotional weight.

The world is steeped in intrigue. Political maneuvering, shifting loyalties, and quiet threats create an engaging backdrop. When the tension tightens and the stakes rise, the story becomes genuinely gripping.

However, the pacing is uneven. There are moments that feel immersive and intense, followed by slower passages where extended introspection softens the momentum. While the internal focus adds depth, it sometimes delays the plot progression. A few twists may also feel predictable for experienced fantasy readers.

The supporting characters add texture, but not all of them receive the same level of development as Scarlett. Some relationships had the potential to be more emotionally powerful with deeper exploration.

Elizabeth Watson’s writing style is atmospheric and character driven. She leans heavily into emotion and mood, allowing readers to live inside Scarlett’s thoughts. The prose is accessible and modern, occasionally leaning toward dramatic, which suits the genre. Readers who enjoy psychological depth and slow burning tension will appreciate this approach, while those looking for fast paced action may find parts of the story slower than expected.

Overall, ‘The Rise of Scarlett Heroux’ delivers strong character work and a dark, intriguing atmosphere, but struggles with balance in pacing and secondary character depth.

A solid three star read. Engaging, layered, but not entirely unforgettable.

Badass heroine | Second chance romance | Small town drama | Hidden secrets | Family saga | Self-discovery journey | Friends-to-lovers | Star-crossed lovers | Destined heroine | Banned magic | Modern technology in a fantasy world | Political intrigue & revolution

[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🫶🏻

[Camryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75 ⭐️ Thank you to the author and NetGalley for an E-ARC of this book!

Okay, I was honestly hooked from page one. This book was such a fun, interesting read that I wanted to give 5 stars.
Brayden and Scarlett's chemistry is absolutely adorable, and I loved watching their relationship unfold. But we kind of went from 0 to 100 with them a bit too fast 🥲I really would've loved to see more of that initial buildup after they first meet and I feel like that’s why in the end it’s not a 5 star read for me. Just a bit more slow burn to really make me feel that connection developing, you know?
That said, this is still such a great read and I'm genuinely so excited for the next book in the series. I can’t wait to continue this series once released!!

[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.

[Brittni · Rating 4 out of 5]

❤️‍🔥 Duty. Justice. Revenge. Love. ❤️‍🔥

The Rise of Scarlett Heroux is a romantasy written by Elizabeth Watson.

After a traumatic situation, Scarlett has to choose whether to run or to take up her fathers mantle and fight to open the borders between her country(non-magic users) and the surrounding countries of magic-users.

This was a quick and easy read! The story flowed easily and it was nice and fast paced. The world building wasn't hard to get through at all and with the politics it was very interesting.

On top of all the politics, this also has a type of fated mates and a friends-to-lovers type romance which is not typically my vibe but it was cute. Theres political intrigue, magic tattoos, banned magic and modern tech in a fantasy world which is something I personally always love! The story was amazing and the plot was excellent! I'd absolutely recommend this one!

[Lauryn Munro · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

I loved this world so much!

Scarlett!!! She’s brave, fierce, loyal and above all else an amazing big sister. 🥺 That plan to take down the people behind all of the nasty things that have happened?! Genius!

Beni, literally saved the day, without him this book would’ve been over before it even started. I can’t wait to see what he does as he grows up!

Brayden!!!!! He’s everything you want in a man and more! I need book 2 ASAP I need to know what happens after they leave for the war!

Also, I love Cass, I think parts of us all want to be her!

I do hope peace is on the horizon, however, I know much more action is going to happen before we see that occur!

[Brooklyn L. Wolves · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately DNF’d at 52%
I probably should have DNF’d sooner but I really wanted to give this book a chance. I loved the concept of the story but it read like a YA Fantasy and nothing like how an Adult Fantasy should read. The world building and plot felt off and a little rushed. The characters didn’t act mature throughout the story which was unfortunate especially for the age range this story was targeted for.

[Mims | Ink Stained Darling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Elizabeth for this advanced readers copy! When I read the blurb for this book, I was so intrigued! If you love heavy politics, friends to lovers, and fast paced - this is the book for you.

[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%.

[Deirdre · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced listening copy directly from the author and this is my honest review.

- ☝️ single narration
- 🎟️single POV
- ❤️childhood friends to lovers, fated mates
- 🙌 mature MCs- THEY COMMUNICATE 🙌
- 👩‍⚖️politics
- ⁉️mystery
- 🪄 illegal magic
- 🔥unique magic system with tattoos
- 🗣️ magical “soul lights” that talk & have their own personality
- 🪴blend of character growth, romance, & plot
- 🌎 modern fantasy world
- 🌶️well written spice

First, the narrator. She was super fun and did a fantastic job! She is by far one of my favorite female narrators. Right at the start of the book she voiced three different people, and she had such unique voices for each person. She had a lot of power behind her vocals when talking about something more intense. Or, when the MFC was thinking about how she was a people pleaser the narrator added the more vulnerable/embarrassment tone. She yelled when the characters yelled, or yawned when the characters yawned. She truly brought each character to life and matched the the specifics of what the author wrote. Well done!

❤️- Let’s start with my thoughts about the MFC. The MFC was more mature and I really really appreciated it. She had many intrusive thoughts that included the idea of lashing out but she was able to regulate herself and say the things she actually wanted to say, not the impulsive emotionally driven ones. FINALLY 🙌 We finally had an MFC that had a range of emotions, but was able to regulate them, most of the time, because she was more mature. Finally, an MFC that was not angry at everybody and everything all the time for small to big reasons. It was refreshing to have an MFC that was different from the standard MFC written in this genre. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes the MFC in this book couldn’t regulate her emotions well, which made her realistic. However, many times, she had the maturity and behavioral inhibition to not lash out at others simply because she was having an emotion. Many times, she had more nuanced thinking and could understand the context to explain the situation. Again, loved that we had a more mature MFC.

Further, I really appreciated how realistic and relatable this MFC was. She had just faced a ton of trauma and was able to escape further harm by fleeing to the lands where the MMC lived. She was meeting the MMC for the first time face-to-face. One of the things she was worried about was how dirty her hair was. She even acknowledged how silly her thought was because she was grateful to be alive, but yet her worry about her hair was so realistic. Many people, including myself, would have also wondered how greasy and dirty my hair was after weeks of not washing it and meeting a man for the first time whom I cared about.

Another thing that was refreshing in this book about the MFC was how she responded to trauma. This genre loves to describe trauma responses in one specific way, lacking diversity in how post trauma reactions can manifest. In this book, the MFC was hesitant to rethink about what happened to her and feel all the emotions related to that, yet she was not so avoidant that she became angry and lashed out when someone asked her about the trauma. For example, when the doctor asked the MFC how she was feeling and requested she share more trauma related details, the MFC did. When she had a flashback, she leaned into the MMC and cried, talking about her feelings. I really appreciated these experiences, as this is often how people cope, yet is not represented well in this genre. Great job to the author!

🪄Of note, at times, the MFC coped poorly (e.g., running away when the MMC said he didn’t want to be her rebound and she was embarrassed), which was annoying (come on MFC, face your emotions and the MMC!): YET, it was so realistic to not always cope the healthiest. Then, after she experienced her emotions, she later returned to the conversation with the MMC and was direct with her questions, she didn’t cower away. This was AMAZING!!!

❤️- the MMC was our walking green light. He was mature, thoughtful, supportive, and patient. He was a constant kind presence in the MFC’s life. He was willing to compromise, put the MFC first, and engage in healthy dialogue. Despite all of these golden retriever and green flag signs, he was possessive and protective. I absolutely loved this MMC. I look forward to learning more about the in our next book, as this book focused on the MFC and who she was. Therefore, I hope to have more depth added to the MMC in the next book.

💗- Now, the MC’s relationship. I LOVE a good fated mates that choose each other and stick together story. I just read an ARC where the MFC cheated and then gaslit the MMC. So, to read this beautiful love story where the MCs were loyal to each other no matter what made me so happy.

I also loved that the MCs were friends since childhood through a mirror and distance. This created a unique twist to the story. It also allowed for the development of a true relationship filled with depth without the complications that can come from a romance when less mature during childhood/adolescence. It also made sense that, when they finally met, they moved quicker than slower, they had a whole foundation underneath each other. Yes, there was a lot of lust at the current point in the relationship (which some reviewers complained about), but having over ten years of a long distance relationship that was made up of a deep connection made sense why it turned lustful when they finally met in person. He also had just helped her escape two huge traumas, again made sense why things didn’t go too slow. Additionally, the author didn’t neglect the fact that it moved quickly. The MC’s talked about the quick pace, and multiple times people in their lives or the public commented on how quickly they moved. That told me the author was attentive to details and incredibly mindful and thoughtful about the choices she was making while writing.

Other things I really loved:
- I found it cool that the MFC got to see the future MMC when getting her power. Really challenged the MFC’s doubting thoughts and pushed her to be honest with the MFC.

- I also enjoyed the MMC and his brother, fun camaraderie.

- the last 20% was fast paced and so much was happening, I couldn’t stop listening.

- this book did not end on a cliffhanger, yet it did end in a way that’s gonna set up book 2 for an excellent plot. I really look forward to this.

- This book had a well developed political system that created the plot. There was murder that was obviously politically driven and so much political scheming. There was also several mystery components and I had a lot of questions throughout the book. I found the difference in acceptance of magic in different parts of the world, which created bigotry and violence, as well written and quite detailed. It added so much to the story. The political corruption had me super invested in the story, I wanted to see how this was solved and how justice was served. it was nice to see the MFC grow in regards to her politics.

- some of the betrayals were predictable, yet one was not. I’m guessing that some people will see that specific one coming that I missed, but I am happy I did not predict it.

- the pacing ebbed and flowed. Overall, no major complaints. Again, the ending picked up, and I was hooked.

- the spice was well written. The MMC sure is attentive 😉

- the MMC‘s family and friends were lovely and supportive of the two.


Cons to this book:

In regards to the story, I unfortunately was not initially pulled into the story. I was bored for the first few chapters. It took a while for me to feel hooked in. Once the plot started to pick up, I wanted to keep listening. Also, much of the moments from the MC’s childhoods that connected them we were told about, not necessarily shown. In some ways we were shown, but not a lot.

- What got a bit annoying was the MFC’s self doubt, which I read other reviews were annoyed with too. The MMC declared his love for her and made it clear to her they were fated mates; yet, she continued to have all these self deprecating and doubting thoughts. I get that people can have “what if” thoughts about everything and anything; yet, her character growth was slow and the rate of her thoughts despite the clear evidence he loved her more than anything got a bit tedious. Seriously, it never ended, I don’t know how many times he had to explain he devotion to her. In the end, literally in the last chapter, the MFC finally grew.

[Alex Catuna · Rating 2 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and Elizabeth Watson for letting me read this ARC!

I’m very thankful that I had the opportunity to read this book, and it pains me that I did not enjoy it. Usually, I would start with a quick introduction to the book I’m reviewing for NetGalley (ignore this being my second review for them). BUT if you’ve read the blurb of this novel, then you pretty much know the main events happening in this story. Which is my first criticism. I very much dislike it when a blurb gives away most of the book, it makes the reading experience less exciting.

Anyhow, let’s actually get to the main review:
This is a Romantasy. I've read plenty of Romantasy. I dislike most of them. There's so much potential for this genre, but authors love to write cringey romances with no chemistry + dull fantasy worlds. Sadly, The Rise of Scarlett Heroux suffers from this curse as well. Let's break it up into categories:

❀The Worldbuilding✿
I can't explain this world to you because I couldn't care less about it. There's a few cities. Scarlett is from Soleil. Soleil banned magic, but has some great technological innovations. Then there's Clair de Lune. Super magical place, no cool gadgets. Politics are important. Scarlett herself is meant to become a politician since her dad is the prime minister of Soleil. Well, these were all the informations off the top of my head. My issue here is that I couldn't imagine the world well, the descriptions were very "tell not show" instead of "show not tell". I don't think I'm being very coherent right now, but that's a sign. I focus a lot on the worldbuilding since it's one of my favourite aspects of a fantasy book - and no, I don't expect intricate, Sanderson-esque worlds, but there has to be some substance to it - so me not being able to really talk about this means I did not care for it (which is unheard of if you know me). Dull and unexciting are the first two words that come to mind when I think of the worldbuilding.

✿The Romance❀
Scarlett from Soleil and Brayden from Clair de Lune are childhood best friends who, throughout the course of the novel, become lovers. I do love seeing different romance tropes in this genre... this didn't work for me though. To set the scene: They've known each other since they were eleven, bonded over the deaths of their mothers and have been pining for each other for YEARS. Scarlett just got out of a bad relationship with an absolute asshole. Then her dad gets assassinated and some other things happen, and Scarlett, her grandmother Manon and her brother Beni have to flee to Clair de Lune. Yay, Scarlett and Brayden are united, finally. And then, just a few chapters later, they get together. So many missed opportunities. As a reader, I understand that they've known each other for years and been in love ever since they were kids. Love that. But why do they just... get together? No long, intensive eye contact during a family dinner? No sneaky glances? No on-page YEARNING before they get together? What a disappointment. On top of that, I couldn't feel any chemistry between them. They have no inside jokes, which I assumed they would've come up with over the years. Even their steamy scenes are cringey and lack any real tension.

❀The Plot + Side Characters✿
The fantasy aspect as well as the romance aspect failed me. The plot... well, it was fun to read at times. But that's all it was to me. There's political conspiracies, betrayal, secret missions, hacking, etc. etc. Scarlett has to get back to Soleil to take up her new seat in parliament and expose this huge political conspiracy. The problem is... we kind of always knew who the bad guys are? There's no crazy, big reveal so it felt very anti-climactic to read the last half of this book. Anyway, Brayden went with her to Soleil (they're married atp, don't ask) and there's this whole side plot of him getting arrested because they were attacked at some fancy event and he used his magic to save Scarlett. I like the ideas the author had with the plot... alas, the actual execution frustrated me. It wasn't well structured, the reveals weren't shocking because a) we already knew who was behind the conspiracy, we just needed confirmation, and b) I already guessed who the person behind the attack at the gala was, it really wasn't that hard to tell. I believe that with time, the author will write truly interesting and well-structured plot lines since this is their debut novel.

✿The Magic❀
I just very quickly need to talk about the magic. Scarlett wants to pass the border legislation and make magic legal, but she doesn't really know anything about it... that is not a politically smart thing to do. It's literally the main goal of their political party, why wouldn't she know anything about it. Kinda weird. Anyway, the magic itself is fine, doesn't really add anything to the world. Nori kinda pissed me off sometimes, she felt unnecessary for the story as well.

❀The Writing + Pacing✿
I didn't enjoy the writing style, very SJM, very Romantasy standard writing style. Not my taste, and that's fine. The pacing felt odd though. The romantic scenes and internal monologues felt drawn-out and the actual action scenes passed by super fast and that made me feel like the balance of the story was off.

I gave The Rise of Scarlett Heroux 2★ because I know there's lots of people who will enjoy this book and I did see the potential of the story. I did root for the characters, so I wasn't completely detached from the story. Nevertheless, not my kind of book.
Again, I am still very grateful that I had a chance to read this as an ARC!

[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.