What do you think?
Rate this book
This Deadly Touch
A cozy sapphic fantasy romance about the magic of possibility, new horizons, and fresh perspectives.
At age three, Tia almost killed her mother. Born with a rare, recessive condition where her very touch inflicts deadly necrosis magic on other people, Tia has spent the last twenty years in a hidden convent in the Shilheim forest, with others sharing her affliction.
Asha chases horizons. Wants to be known for doing the impossible. So when she learns of a centuries-old blood curse being hidden by the elven authorities, and her even more mysterious patron claims to know how to cure it when no one else has come close… she cannot resist.
With a letter from Asha and a token from a sister she barely remembers, Tia’s life is forever changed when she risks everything to escape the convent and become Asha’s assistant and test subject. But the convent has always had contingency plans for escaped residents, and a single misstep could result in Tia committing manslaughter. To make matters worse, Asha can’t quite keep her thoughts professional when it comes to Tia, and the phrase ‘untouchable’ has never been quite so accurate…
At age three, Tia almost killed her mother. Born with a rare, recessive condition where her very touch inflicts deadly necrosis magic on other people, Tia has spent the last twenty years in a hidden convent in the Shilheim forest, with others sharing her affliction.
Asha chases horizons. Wants to be known for doing the impossible. So when she learns of a centuries-old blood curse being hidden by the elven authorities, and her even more mysterious patron claims to know how to cure it when no one else has come close… she cannot resist.
With a letter from Asha and a token from a sister she barely remembers, Tia’s life is forever changed when she risks everything to escape the convent and become Asha’s assistant and test subject. But the convent has always had contingency plans for escaped residents, and a single misstep could result in Tia committing manslaughter. To make matters worse, Asha can’t quite keep her thoughts professional when it comes to Tia, and the phrase ‘untouchable’ has never been quite so accurate…
240 pages, ebook
Published January 31, 2026
13 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
About the author
Aimee Donnellan
15 books121 followersAimee Donnellan is an author of fantasy adventures and romances centering queer women. She loves to write about bisexuals even more chaotic and disastrous than herself.
She lives in Wellington, New Zealand with her fiancè — who helps her write and worldbuild — and dreams of dog ownership when not playing video games or Dungeons and Dragons.
She lives in Wellington, New Zealand with her fiancè — who helps her write and worldbuild — and dreams of dog ownership when not playing video games or Dungeons and Dragons.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
This Deadly Touch by Aimee Donnellan is just as described: a very cozy romantasy. It is super sweet and spicy in a nonchalant, sex-positive, and body-positive way. The story is mostly focused on the main pairing as they journey toward a cure for a curse that prevents Tia from touching anyone without a deadly cost. Their interactions are so lovely and pure, honest and gentle. Asha is so kind. They are both endearing characters and easy to root for as a couple. The supporting characters are few but interesting. The setting is easy to imagine.
I really enjoy this author's writing style. She also wrote one of my favorite novels, The Crimson Covenant, and I am excited to read anything sapphic that she creates.
This story is low angst. It has a great balance of gentle spice with communication and consent, as well as care and support before and after.
This one could definitely have been longer with more in-depth exploration of the protagonists' backstories and more conflict on the journey. That being said, it is what it is, and I enjoyed it for the cozy, satisfying story that left me feeling happy.
#oppostiesattract #bodypositivity #sexpositivity #firsttimewithawoman #spice #magic #curse #HEA #epilogue #romantasy #selfdiscovery #masturbation
I received a review copy from the author. This is my honest opinion.
I really enjoy this author's writing style. She also wrote one of my favorite novels, The Crimson Covenant, and I am excited to read anything sapphic that she creates.
This story is low angst. It has a great balance of gentle spice with communication and consent, as well as care and support before and after.
This one could definitely have been longer with more in-depth exploration of the protagonists' backstories and more conflict on the journey. That being said, it is what it is, and I enjoyed it for the cozy, satisfying story that left me feeling happy.
#oppostiesattract #bodypositivity #sexpositivity #firsttimewithawoman #spice #magic #curse #HEA #epilogue #romantasy #selfdiscovery #masturbation
I received a review copy from the author. This is my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This Deadly Touch is a light, low stakes cosy fantasy about a cursed elven woman with a deadly touch, and the pharmacologist who sets out to cure her.
This story was a lovely sapphic tale of first love, with such a tender romance, however I really found myself struggling to connect with the book as a whole.
It felt too rushed and underdeveloped. I was left craving more and had honestly expected a lot more from it. I think this book had great potential, but I feel it lacked direction.
The plot felt very muddled and random.
The main plotline was for Asha to create the cure that would heal Tia's curse, but the characters were constantly being side-tracked.
I'm not sure what the purpose of the investigation into the missing crown jewels was, but it took up a lot of the story.
We meet a dragon and some giant spiders very early on in the book, and the interactions were over within a couple of pages. There was no threat, conflict, or even a tense moment. Both of these creatures were so passive and didn't contribute any excitement to the story for me.
This was a consistent theme throughout the book. Every single character was just too amiable, with every interaction ending amicably. It made the characters lack personality, and they all felt the same. They also spoke in the same plain manner too.
I would have loved further character development, especially of Asha, so we could get a deeper understanding of her motive to assist in discovering the cure.
The soft and tender romance was definitely the highlight of this book for me. It was very sweet. But it did have a case of insta-love. The characters don't really get to know each other, so it felt surface level.
I think they would have made a great pairing had the book been longer, and the characters were fleshed out better.
I also expected a lot more yearning due to Tia and Asha not being able to touch each other, and more passion when they were finally able to - there was somebody in the room with them when Tia's curse is removed!
And finally, the world building and magic system was so vague. The mysterious sentient book that convienently tells Asha how to cure Tia is also left unexplained.
Thank you so much to the author and netgalley for the arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
This story was a lovely sapphic tale of first love, with such a tender romance, however I really found myself struggling to connect with the book as a whole.
It felt too rushed and underdeveloped. I was left craving more and had honestly expected a lot more from it. I think this book had great potential, but I feel it lacked direction.
The plot felt very muddled and random.
The main plotline was for Asha to create the cure that would heal Tia's curse, but the characters were constantly being side-tracked.
I'm not sure what the purpose of the investigation into the missing crown jewels was, but it took up a lot of the story.
We meet a dragon and some giant spiders very early on in the book, and the interactions were over within a couple of pages. There was no threat, conflict, or even a tense moment. Both of these creatures were so passive and didn't contribute any excitement to the story for me.
This was a consistent theme throughout the book. Every single character was just too amiable, with every interaction ending amicably. It made the characters lack personality, and they all felt the same. They also spoke in the same plain manner too.
I would have loved further character development, especially of Asha, so we could get a deeper understanding of her motive to assist in discovering the cure.
The soft and tender romance was definitely the highlight of this book for me. It was very sweet. But it did have a case of insta-love. The characters don't really get to know each other, so it felt surface level.
I think they would have made a great pairing had the book been longer, and the characters were fleshed out better.
I also expected a lot more yearning due to Tia and Asha not being able to touch each other, and more passion when they were finally able to - there was somebody in the room with them when Tia's curse is removed!
And finally, the world building and magic system was so vague. The mysterious sentient book that convienently tells Asha how to cure Tia is also left unexplained.
Thank you so much to the author and netgalley for the arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 4, 2026
Thank you to the author for the ARC! This Deadly Touch was such a cozy fantasy I didn’t know I needed. There was something about it that had it standing out from other books like it. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it gave me feelings of hope. Tia is so pure and while a little bit of naivety is expected from being locked away from the world for twenty years, it wasn’t something that took away from her character. In fact, it was endearing. Asha is just as lovely and had a way with words that I adored. While it was cozy, the story also conveys a deeper meaning of life and love.
I found myself loving Kenamon, which is a little crazy seeing as he is basically an assassin of sorts or at least belonging to a mafia like organization. I’m not sure if it was done on purpose, but thinking about the good he did, depicts how there is a lot of grey area when it comes to people. People are not just “bad” or “good”.
I at first thought it ended a little too quickly and without too much angst and conflict, but I remembered that it is labeled as cozy and the happy ending was what I should’ve expected. After realizing this, I changed my mind and feel as if it was the perfect ending to the cozy fantasy!
I found myself loving Kenamon, which is a little crazy seeing as he is basically an assassin of sorts or at least belonging to a mafia like organization. I’m not sure if it was done on purpose, but thinking about the good he did, depicts how there is a lot of grey area when it comes to people. People are not just “bad” or “good”.
I at first thought it ended a little too quickly and without too much angst and conflict, but I remembered that it is labeled as cozy and the happy ending was what I should’ve expected. After realizing this, I changed my mind and feel as if it was the perfect ending to the cozy fantasy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I would consider this a low-stakes cozy fantasy romance.
Some of the plot points did not work very well for me (specifically the crown jewels investigation), mostly because there was often so little stakes for there to be any conflict at all. It also did not make any sense to me why the guards allowed the two of them to help with the investigation at all, and I had to reread that section I few times, and I still don't really believe it. There is always a chance that this is updated or tweaked for the final version. I did love Kenamon as a character though (he shows up during this arc of the story), and I hope there is more exploration of this world in future books (and maybe even just him/the Family).
There are a lot of fun ideas here and I liked the dynamic between the two main characters. The queer-normative and poly-normative world added to the good vibes overall. I am also really happy that there was mention of going back to visit the spiders from the beginning of the story, as I really liked them too and was a little afraid they were going to disappear after their first interaction.
The world building overall was light, but since Tia was so sheltered, giving it in short bursts made a lot of sense for the story. I think it also made a lot of sense given the cozy vibes.
On the whole, I enjoyed this and I think it is a cute and fairly quick read.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing an advanced and free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Some of the plot points did not work very well for me (specifically the crown jewels investigation), mostly because there was often so little stakes for there to be any conflict at all. It also did not make any sense to me why the guards allowed the two of them to help with the investigation at all, and I had to reread that section I few times, and I still don't really believe it. There is always a chance that this is updated or tweaked for the final version. I did love Kenamon as a character though (he shows up during this arc of the story), and I hope there is more exploration of this world in future books (and maybe even just him/the Family).
There are a lot of fun ideas here and I liked the dynamic between the two main characters. The queer-normative and poly-normative world added to the good vibes overall. I am also really happy that there was mention of going back to visit the spiders from the beginning of the story, as I really liked them too and was a little afraid they were going to disappear after their first interaction.
The world building overall was light, but since Tia was so sheltered, giving it in short bursts made a lot of sense for the story. I think it also made a lot of sense given the cozy vibes.
On the whole, I enjoyed this and I think it is a cute and fairly quick read.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing an advanced and free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 24, 2026
This was super cute and cozy!
In this story we follow Tia who has been in isolation in a convent due to her extremely dangerous magic powers. One day she gets a letter from Asha, a magical pharmacist who is looking for a cure. Tia accepts her help and together they run back to Asha’s place to work on her remedy. Between assassins, bodyguards and thieves will they be able to find a cure?
This story was really good thanks to the characters who were endearing. Tia was so lovely and I appreciated Asha’s way of helping everyone around her. The plot was fun, but I do wish we had just a bit more action. Everything felt too easy even for a cozy. I really enjoyed the scenes we got during the trip with the thieves and I wished we had more of those during turning points. I also wish we had a more in depth ending with the convent and Tia’s family since it felt a bit rushed.
Overall a super cute story!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
In this story we follow Tia who has been in isolation in a convent due to her extremely dangerous magic powers. One day she gets a letter from Asha, a magical pharmacist who is looking for a cure. Tia accepts her help and together they run back to Asha’s place to work on her remedy. Between assassins, bodyguards and thieves will they be able to find a cure?
This story was really good thanks to the characters who were endearing. Tia was so lovely and I appreciated Asha’s way of helping everyone around her. The plot was fun, but I do wish we had just a bit more action. Everything felt too easy even for a cozy. I really enjoyed the scenes we got during the trip with the thieves and I wished we had more of those during turning points. I also wish we had a more in depth ending with the convent and Tia’s family since it felt a bit rushed.
Overall a super cute story!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
January 21, 2026
*⭐️: 3.75/5 rounded up to 4 stars
This Deadly Touch is a charming & cozy romantasy! It has Ghibli vibes in my opinion; a quieter paced (not slow) and endearing series of events. Also, I found Tia to be so reminiscent of Rapunzel from the movie “Tangled”. Not in a copy-paste way, I just mean she has such a winsome personality.
The reason I didn’t rate this higher is because I didn’t fully connect with the romance between Tia and Asha. This is totally personal taste though!
This is a very sweet read for any fan of cozy fantasy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Aimee Donnellan for the opportunity to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review!
This Deadly Touch is a charming & cozy romantasy! It has Ghibli vibes in my opinion; a quieter paced (not slow) and endearing series of events. Also, I found Tia to be so reminiscent of Rapunzel from the movie “Tangled”. Not in a copy-paste way, I just mean she has such a winsome personality.
The reason I didn’t rate this higher is because I didn’t fully connect with the romance between Tia and Asha. This is totally personal taste though!
This is a very sweet read for any fan of cozy fantasy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Aimee Donnellan for the opportunity to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review!
January 31, 2026
This was a cozy, spicy romantasy that I enjoyed. Tia is cursed, and people like her have been locked away because of it. Asha believes she can create a cure, so she decides to break Tia out of the guarded convent where she’s being held. During their escape, Tia and Asha go on several excursions to collect ingredients for the cure while also helping Tia acclimate to the outside world. Overall, this was a really fun read.
Thanks NetGalley and Aimee Donnellan for this arc. All opinions are my own.
Thanks NetGalley and Aimee Donnellan for this arc. All opinions are my own.
January 17, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.
Tia has been cursed since she was three years old, and if she touches another person they will die. Kept away from the world, in a convent with others who share her curse, this story begins as she is sneaking out to meet Asha, who believes she can cure her.
It’s a very lighthearted, cosy fantasy novel with a simple plot and no real sense of danger throughout. I mostly enjoyed what there was, but it felt like only part of a much bigger story - I wanted to follow Tia’s time in the convent so we could get to know her more and truly appreciate her freedom once it came. I wanted world building to explain what was happening in a much bigger context. I wanted more of the side characters, who were usually a lot more interesting than the, pretty dull, FMCs. I wanted more at the end of the book, going forward to follow Tia and Asha on their future adventures.
Tia has been cursed since she was three years old, and if she touches another person they will die. Kept away from the world, in a convent with others who share her curse, this story begins as she is sneaking out to meet Asha, who believes she can cure her.
It’s a very lighthearted, cosy fantasy novel with a simple plot and no real sense of danger throughout. I mostly enjoyed what there was, but it felt like only part of a much bigger story - I wanted to follow Tia’s time in the convent so we could get to know her more and truly appreciate her freedom once it came. I wanted world building to explain what was happening in a much bigger context. I wanted more of the side characters, who were usually a lot more interesting than the, pretty dull, FMCs. I wanted more at the end of the book, going forward to follow Tia and Asha on their future adventures.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2026
A soft, silly, and sexy romance that unfortunately sits inside a plot that often feels underdeveloped and disjointed.
Cursed to maim or kill anyone she touches, Tia has been locked away in a convent designed to contain and control those with her affliction. That is, until Asha, a budding researcher hoping to solve this mysterious curse, helps break her free and pledges to cure her ailment. With the convent on the hunt to retrieve Tia, and the danger she poses from even a simple accidental touch, they travel in hiding to return to Asha’s home to test whether there may be a way to cure Tia after all. However, between the tight quarters and perils of the road, Asha and Tia are drawn closer than they imagined, and they’ll need to resist their growing attraction.
I thought this was really solid! It has a lot of great things: a spicy and adventurous romance, a story about discovering the world after being locked away for so long, and descriptions so cozy they made me feel like I was being wrapped up in a warm blanket after a long day.
The characters are a bit basic but mostly enjoyable. They’re all so friendly and sweet that it’s hard to dislike them, but in a way, that’s also a problem. They don’t really have any noticeable flaws, which severely limits how connected to or interested in them I could feel. I think this also created a separate issue of the dialogue being a little dry. When all the characters are so well-meaning, there’s no undercurrent to the conversation, no unknowns or hesitations, so the dialogue often feels like characters constantly trying to out-nice each other. It sort of reads like… "You’re the best." "No, you’re the best." It’s cute, but it can wear on you. The one character who didn’t fall into this camp ended up being my favorite by far. I really loved Kenamon, and if there were a future sequel involving him, I would love to read it!
For the writing as a whole, it switches between a more explicit, sex-positive focus and a simple, almost childish tone and plot structure, and the incompatibility of these aspects can be quite jarring. For example, the whole gem thief investigation arc and puzzle box thing are so out of nowhere, and the way both are resolved is so goofy it feels like it belongs in a far more juvenile story. Yet in the middle of all that, the characters are discussing very explicit sexual dynamics and learning about Asha’s “pod.” It’s just a bit strange and uncomfortable when put together. Also, the world building actually seems really cool and well thought out, so I was hoping it would be better incorporated into the story rather than sidelined for these nonsensical side plots.
As for the romance itself, for me it was a bit of a mixed bag, though your mileage may vary. I always love a romance with a huge emphasis on consent, which this does really well! Going back to the characters always being overly nice to each other, that approach works great in the spicier scenes and further establishes the sex-positive focus. However, during these scenes, the book really leans too far into how new Tia is to everything in a way that made me a bit uncomfortable. Unfortunately, around the 60% mark, the plot firmly takes the backseat and the book turns into straight smut, which made the latter half way less enjoyable for me.
All in all, this was pretty good. It’s not fully my thing, but I can see it working well for other readers. I’d highly recommend it to fans of Katee Robert and Sarah Hawley, or anyone interested in a D&D-esque, sapphic fantasy romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Cursed to maim or kill anyone she touches, Tia has been locked away in a convent designed to contain and control those with her affliction. That is, until Asha, a budding researcher hoping to solve this mysterious curse, helps break her free and pledges to cure her ailment. With the convent on the hunt to retrieve Tia, and the danger she poses from even a simple accidental touch, they travel in hiding to return to Asha’s home to test whether there may be a way to cure Tia after all. However, between the tight quarters and perils of the road, Asha and Tia are drawn closer than they imagined, and they’ll need to resist their growing attraction.
I thought this was really solid! It has a lot of great things: a spicy and adventurous romance, a story about discovering the world after being locked away for so long, and descriptions so cozy they made me feel like I was being wrapped up in a warm blanket after a long day.
The characters are a bit basic but mostly enjoyable. They’re all so friendly and sweet that it’s hard to dislike them, but in a way, that’s also a problem. They don’t really have any noticeable flaws, which severely limits how connected to or interested in them I could feel. I think this also created a separate issue of the dialogue being a little dry. When all the characters are so well-meaning, there’s no undercurrent to the conversation, no unknowns or hesitations, so the dialogue often feels like characters constantly trying to out-nice each other. It sort of reads like… "You’re the best." "No, you’re the best." It’s cute, but it can wear on you. The one character who didn’t fall into this camp ended up being my favorite by far. I really loved Kenamon, and if there were a future sequel involving him, I would love to read it!
For the writing as a whole, it switches between a more explicit, sex-positive focus and a simple, almost childish tone and plot structure, and the incompatibility of these aspects can be quite jarring. For example, the whole gem thief investigation arc and puzzle box thing are so out of nowhere, and the way both are resolved is so goofy it feels like it belongs in a far more juvenile story. Yet in the middle of all that, the characters are discussing very explicit sexual dynamics and learning about Asha’s “pod.” It’s just a bit strange and uncomfortable when put together. Also, the world building actually seems really cool and well thought out, so I was hoping it would be better incorporated into the story rather than sidelined for these nonsensical side plots.
As for the romance itself, for me it was a bit of a mixed bag, though your mileage may vary. I always love a romance with a huge emphasis on consent, which this does really well! Going back to the characters always being overly nice to each other, that approach works great in the spicier scenes and further establishes the sex-positive focus. However, during these scenes, the book really leans too far into how new Tia is to everything in a way that made me a bit uncomfortable. Unfortunately, around the 60% mark, the plot firmly takes the backseat and the book turns into straight smut, which made the latter half way less enjoyable for me.
All in all, this was pretty good. It’s not fully my thing, but I can see it working well for other readers. I’d highly recommend it to fans of Katee Robert and Sarah Hawley, or anyone interested in a D&D-esque, sapphic fantasy romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This cozy romantasy follows Tia, a sheltered girl who has spent her entire life in a convent for people like her—those afflicted with a rare condition that makes physical touch deadly—and Asha, a magical pharmacologist determined to cure the blood curse they share. When Tia volunteers to become Asha’s assistant and test subject, their journey to gather ingredients quickly turns dangerous, forcing them to flee elven authorities while risking not just their lives, but their hearts as well.
I enjoyed this novel far more than I expected. Cozy books aren’t usually my cup of tea, as I tend to get bored when the momentum slows, but here I felt the complete opposite. I was drawn into the story early on, and the pacing remained steady throughout. Every challenge the FMCs encountered felt purposeful and meaningful to the overall narrative, which kept me engaged from start to finish.
The strength of this novel lies in its characters. Tia completely won me over. I’ve had trouble connecting with characters from sheltered or convent-like backgrounds before, but her naïveté felt genuine rather than frustrating. She was curious, kind, and eager to experience life, yet strong enough to stand her ground and resist manipulation. She became one of those characters you can’t help but root for; deeply empathetic, endlessly caring, and incredibly easy to love.
I also want to applaud the author for how she handled Tia’s sexual awakening. It was done beautifully, emphasizing it as something natural rather than shameful, which made it feel far more realistic and grounded. That distinction really mattered and was handled with care.
Asha was a wonderful counterpart to Tia. She never tried to control or define her, instead offering support and space for Tia to grow into herself. I especially appreciated how, as an academic, Asha never looked down on Tia for what she didn’t know, encouraging learning without judgment. While I enjoyed her character, I did wish we’d seen a bit more of her inner growth, as the focus leaned heavily toward Tia.
The side characters added charm, particularly Kenamon. Despite his intimidating exterior and morally gray work, he turned out to be surprisingly soft-hearted, and I loved the small moments he shared with the girls.
The romance was another strong point. It didn’t feel rushed at all; the chemistry and yearning were present early on, and when everything finally came together, the payoff was deeply satisfying. Their relationship developed in a way that felt natural and inevitable, like them being together simply made sense.
I only wish the book had been longer. I wanted more of Tia discovering the world as a free woman, strengthening her bond with Asha, and reconnecting with her estranged family. The worldbuilding also left me wanting more... this is a fantasy world, yet it felt like we barely explored its depth. I also found myself wishing for more details about the curse and Asha’s cure, as there were still unanswered questions.
All in all, I truly enjoyed the story Aimee crafted. Her growth as a writer is very apparent, especially when compared to her debut, and everything felt thoughtfully balanced. I’m genuinely excited to see where her storytelling takes us next!
Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC—feeling very lucky to have read it early!
I enjoyed this novel far more than I expected. Cozy books aren’t usually my cup of tea, as I tend to get bored when the momentum slows, but here I felt the complete opposite. I was drawn into the story early on, and the pacing remained steady throughout. Every challenge the FMCs encountered felt purposeful and meaningful to the overall narrative, which kept me engaged from start to finish.
The strength of this novel lies in its characters. Tia completely won me over. I’ve had trouble connecting with characters from sheltered or convent-like backgrounds before, but her naïveté felt genuine rather than frustrating. She was curious, kind, and eager to experience life, yet strong enough to stand her ground and resist manipulation. She became one of those characters you can’t help but root for; deeply empathetic, endlessly caring, and incredibly easy to love.
I also want to applaud the author for how she handled Tia’s sexual awakening. It was done beautifully, emphasizing it as something natural rather than shameful, which made it feel far more realistic and grounded. That distinction really mattered and was handled with care.
Asha was a wonderful counterpart to Tia. She never tried to control or define her, instead offering support and space for Tia to grow into herself. I especially appreciated how, as an academic, Asha never looked down on Tia for what she didn’t know, encouraging learning without judgment. While I enjoyed her character, I did wish we’d seen a bit more of her inner growth, as the focus leaned heavily toward Tia.
The side characters added charm, particularly Kenamon. Despite his intimidating exterior and morally gray work, he turned out to be surprisingly soft-hearted, and I loved the small moments he shared with the girls.
The romance was another strong point. It didn’t feel rushed at all; the chemistry and yearning were present early on, and when everything finally came together, the payoff was deeply satisfying. Their relationship developed in a way that felt natural and inevitable, like them being together simply made sense.
I only wish the book had been longer. I wanted more of Tia discovering the world as a free woman, strengthening her bond with Asha, and reconnecting with her estranged family. The worldbuilding also left me wanting more... this is a fantasy world, yet it felt like we barely explored its depth. I also found myself wishing for more details about the curse and Asha’s cure, as there were still unanswered questions.
All in all, I truly enjoyed the story Aimee crafted. Her growth as a writer is very apparent, especially when compared to her debut, and everything felt thoughtfully balanced. I’m genuinely excited to see where her storytelling takes us next!
Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC—feeling very lucky to have read it early!
January 20, 2026
A cozy sapphic fantasy with low stakes suspense.
I’d have gave it 4.5 stars if I could have.
This is actually the first book I’ve read by Aimee Donnellan, despite the fact that at least three of her works are currently on my TBR list. Receiving this advanced review copy made me excited because I knew if this book was a banger then I would have some exciting reads in my future.
The world building was very interesting. It reminds me of the fantasy games that I love like Balder‘s Gate 3 and D&D. I want to learn more about the world of Aboria. it is described as a queer-normative space but not necessarily a monogamy-normative space. I want to read more stories set in Aboria; to discover more about its culture and how its people interact.
I loved Tia. Having lived in a covenant almost her whole life she sees everything with brand new eyes. Tia is experiencing the outside world for the first time whilst being afraid that with a single mistake by her could lead to someone’s demise. She’s so innocent; seeing goodness and light in everything and everyone. She’s just a little cinnamon roll.
Asha comes across as confident and willing to test the boundaries when told something is impossible. She’s heard of this supposedly ‘incurable’ illness affecting random people, so bad that they are forever isolated from their families, and thought ‘bet’.
Their relationship is very cute. Asha is so understanding of Tia’s fear of touch, always orbiting around her and remembering to hold herself back in times of comfort. She is constantly buying Tia things to show her all the wonders of the world she can now experience outside of the convent. Tia’s yearning throughout the book is almost its own character. She has this amazing woman, willing to try and cure her illness out of the kindness of her own heart, who listens with such understanding, and she can’t even put a hand on her shoulder. You end up feeling bad and frustrated along with her.
Kenamon was a standout character and my favourite type; morally grey and a little unhinged. To see what you think is supposed to be a big bad guy, almost fold and bend under Tia’s unwavering sweetness, was funny. By the end of the book, he comes across as ‘prickly outside, gooey inside’.
The ending was very soft and gentle, full of possibilities for the whole cast of characters. It definitely hits the tone of the book and leaves you with a nice, cozy feeling. I would have read another 200 pages of Tia and Asha’s adventure; either if this story had been just been longer in length, or if they author had added in extra scenes and wrote more of what happened after. I just feel like the time spent learning to love the character was too short. Give me more please.
I’d have gave it 4.5 stars if I could have.
This is actually the first book I’ve read by Aimee Donnellan, despite the fact that at least three of her works are currently on my TBR list. Receiving this advanced review copy made me excited because I knew if this book was a banger then I would have some exciting reads in my future.
The world building was very interesting. It reminds me of the fantasy games that I love like Balder‘s Gate 3 and D&D. I want to learn more about the world of Aboria. it is described as a queer-normative space but not necessarily a monogamy-normative space. I want to read more stories set in Aboria; to discover more about its culture and how its people interact.
I loved Tia. Having lived in a covenant almost her whole life she sees everything with brand new eyes. Tia is experiencing the outside world for the first time whilst being afraid that with a single mistake by her could lead to someone’s demise. She’s so innocent; seeing goodness and light in everything and everyone. She’s just a little cinnamon roll.
Asha comes across as confident and willing to test the boundaries when told something is impossible. She’s heard of this supposedly ‘incurable’ illness affecting random people, so bad that they are forever isolated from their families, and thought ‘bet’.
Their relationship is very cute. Asha is so understanding of Tia’s fear of touch, always orbiting around her and remembering to hold herself back in times of comfort. She is constantly buying Tia things to show her all the wonders of the world she can now experience outside of the convent. Tia’s yearning throughout the book is almost its own character. She has this amazing woman, willing to try and cure her illness out of the kindness of her own heart, who listens with such understanding, and she can’t even put a hand on her shoulder. You end up feeling bad and frustrated along with her.
Kenamon was a standout character and my favourite type; morally grey and a little unhinged. To see what you think is supposed to be a big bad guy, almost fold and bend under Tia’s unwavering sweetness, was funny. By the end of the book, he comes across as ‘prickly outside, gooey inside’.
The ending was very soft and gentle, full of possibilities for the whole cast of characters. It definitely hits the tone of the book and leaves you with a nice, cozy feeling. I would have read another 200 pages of Tia and Asha’s adventure; either if this story had been just been longer in length, or if they author had added in extra scenes and wrote more of what happened after. I just feel like the time spent learning to love the character was too short. Give me more please.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of This Deadly Touch by Aimee Donnellan in exchange for my honest review.
This Deadly Touch follows Asha, a capable scientist and restless adventurer, and Tia, a sheltered young woman living in a convent with a deadly curse that makes her touch fatal. When the two set out together to find a cure by unraveling the magic within Tia’s blood, their journey turns into an adventure filled with danger, discovery, and unexpected connection.
This was such a cute and fun book. I absolutely loved the adventurous storyline of Asha helping Tia leave the convent and experience the world for the first time while searching for a cure to her deadly physical curse. The yearning between these two was everything and added so much emotional depth to their journey.
The book had such a playful magical tone with side quests that kept things exciting, from encountering dragons to solving a stolen jewelry mystery while traveling with a caravan. Each new stop along the way added something fun and helped build the world without slowing the pacing.
One of my favorite parts was the side plot involving Tia’s innocence and kindness. Watching her effortlessly befriend Kenamon, a member of a crime syndicate known as the Family, was both charming and hilarious, especially seeing everyone else’s reactions to it. It really highlighted how different Tia is from the world she’s been kept away from.
While the premise of using magic to alter Tia’s blood to solve her curse is fairly straightforward, I was pleasantly surprised by the deeper emotional layers woven throughout the story. The quieter moments between Asha and Tia stood out the most, showing Asha’s longing for freedom and Tia’s desire to explore a world she was never allowed to touch. Those soft, intimate moments made their bond feel genuine and heartfelt.
Overall, This Deadly Touch was a magical, adventurous read with strong yearning, lovable characters, and just the right balance of fun and emotional depth. I had such a great time with this story and would absolutely recommend it to readers who enjoy cozy fantasy adventures with romance and heart.
This Deadly Touch follows Asha, a capable scientist and restless adventurer, and Tia, a sheltered young woman living in a convent with a deadly curse that makes her touch fatal. When the two set out together to find a cure by unraveling the magic within Tia’s blood, their journey turns into an adventure filled with danger, discovery, and unexpected connection.
This was such a cute and fun book. I absolutely loved the adventurous storyline of Asha helping Tia leave the convent and experience the world for the first time while searching for a cure to her deadly physical curse. The yearning between these two was everything and added so much emotional depth to their journey.
The book had such a playful magical tone with side quests that kept things exciting, from encountering dragons to solving a stolen jewelry mystery while traveling with a caravan. Each new stop along the way added something fun and helped build the world without slowing the pacing.
One of my favorite parts was the side plot involving Tia’s innocence and kindness. Watching her effortlessly befriend Kenamon, a member of a crime syndicate known as the Family, was both charming and hilarious, especially seeing everyone else’s reactions to it. It really highlighted how different Tia is from the world she’s been kept away from.
While the premise of using magic to alter Tia’s blood to solve her curse is fairly straightforward, I was pleasantly surprised by the deeper emotional layers woven throughout the story. The quieter moments between Asha and Tia stood out the most, showing Asha’s longing for freedom and Tia’s desire to explore a world she was never allowed to touch. Those soft, intimate moments made their bond feel genuine and heartfelt.
Overall, This Deadly Touch was a magical, adventurous read with strong yearning, lovable characters, and just the right balance of fun and emotional depth. I had such a great time with this story and would absolutely recommend it to readers who enjoy cozy fantasy adventures with romance and heart.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 ⭐️
This Deadly Touch by Aimee Donnellan is a cozy sapphic fantasy romance following Tia, who has lived most of her life in a convent because her touch is deadly, and Asha, an ambitious scientist who wants to find a cure for Tia’s curse.
I’m not a huge cozy fantasy reader, but this one genuinely surprised me. The characters are an easy 10/10. Tia and Asha completely carried the book for me. I loved how caring and patient Asha is, and how their dynamic was just right. Their tension was perfect. The romance is not only tender but also spicy, and it worked far better than I expected considering Tia’s deadly touch. And honestly, these sex scenes are probably one of the best I’ve ever read.
“Thank you. For caring about me. And… everyone.”
Where the book fell a bit flat for me was the story itself. I wasn't a huge fan of the plot, and the pacing didn’t quite work for me. It felt both rushed and strangely abrupt, especially toward the ending. Several conflicts were resolved too quickly, leaving me with unanswered questions, and I wished the conclusion had more weight and space to breathe. There was just missing something at the end, and it left me unsatisfied. The writing style also felt somewhat repetitive and flat at times, which made it harder for me to fully sink into the story early on.
That being said, the romance absolutely made me stay. Tia and Asha’s relationship kept me invested, and I genuinely enjoyed reading about them together. Their care and love for one another make this book memorable despite its flaws.
Overall, This Deadly Touch is a solid and enjoyable read, especially if you’re a fan of cozy fantasy and sapphic romance. I had a good time with it.
This book comes out on January 31st, 2026.
Thanks to the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for providing the ARC.
This Deadly Touch by Aimee Donnellan is a cozy sapphic fantasy romance following Tia, who has lived most of her life in a convent because her touch is deadly, and Asha, an ambitious scientist who wants to find a cure for Tia’s curse.
I’m not a huge cozy fantasy reader, but this one genuinely surprised me. The characters are an easy 10/10. Tia and Asha completely carried the book for me. I loved how caring and patient Asha is, and how their dynamic was just right. Their tension was perfect. The romance is not only tender but also spicy, and it worked far better than I expected considering Tia’s deadly touch. And honestly, these sex scenes are probably one of the best I’ve ever read.
“Thank you. For caring about me. And… everyone.”
Where the book fell a bit flat for me was the story itself. I wasn't a huge fan of the plot, and the pacing didn’t quite work for me. It felt both rushed and strangely abrupt, especially toward the ending. Several conflicts were resolved too quickly, leaving me with unanswered questions, and I wished the conclusion had more weight and space to breathe. There was just missing something at the end, and it left me unsatisfied. The writing style also felt somewhat repetitive and flat at times, which made it harder for me to fully sink into the story early on.
That being said, the romance absolutely made me stay. Tia and Asha’s relationship kept me invested, and I genuinely enjoyed reading about them together. Their care and love for one another make this book memorable despite its flaws.
Overall, This Deadly Touch is a solid and enjoyable read, especially if you’re a fan of cozy fantasy and sapphic romance. I had a good time with it.
This book comes out on January 31st, 2026.
Thanks to the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for providing the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This Deadly Touch is a short and sweet novel that is very easy to read. I found Tia and Asha to be well written characters, for the extent in which we are able to know them. The book wastes no time jumping into the plot and into these characters. The books is listed as 240 pages, but with my formatting on the app, it was about 171. Given there literally being no time to waste, I think the author does a pretty good job with the time she has.
The plot is sweet and straightforward, if not at times, a little bit like why are we here right now. The random crime solving bit in the middle was fun to read, but felt out of place, given the context of the book (especially given the length), despite what it did for characterizations. The more smutty aspects were done quite well and made sense in the context of the novel as well.
Overall, this is a nice little read. I would have enjoyed if it was longer, just so we could have gotten more before Asha came into the picture, more time with the characters, and had more plot (this would have allowed the little crime bit to be fully fleshed out and allowed it to fit better within the book). I think as well, and this is something I always have an issue with and is not limited to this book, almost every issue/conflict in the book was relatively easily overcome. There didn’t feel like much of a struggle was occurring beyond the end of the theft bit. And I think a longer length would have allowed for less instant resolutions or instant fixes that was a recurring theme throughout the novel.
I saw other reviewers called this book "low stakes," and I would most definitely agree. I know I personally love high stakes novels and am less used to low stakes, cozy novels. So, take this with a grain of salt! As I believe the intention was for it to be low stakes, and in which case, it most definitely succeeded!
Many thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing the e-ARC for honest review!
The plot is sweet and straightforward, if not at times, a little bit like why are we here right now. The random crime solving bit in the middle was fun to read, but felt out of place, given the context of the book (especially given the length), despite what it did for characterizations. The more smutty aspects were done quite well and made sense in the context of the novel as well.
Overall, this is a nice little read. I would have enjoyed if it was longer, just so we could have gotten more before Asha came into the picture, more time with the characters, and had more plot (this would have allowed the little crime bit to be fully fleshed out and allowed it to fit better within the book). I think as well, and this is something I always have an issue with and is not limited to this book, almost every issue/conflict in the book was relatively easily overcome. There didn’t feel like much of a struggle was occurring beyond the end of the theft bit. And I think a longer length would have allowed for less instant resolutions or instant fixes that was a recurring theme throughout the novel.
I saw other reviewers called this book "low stakes," and I would most definitely agree. I know I personally love high stakes novels and am less used to low stakes, cozy novels. So, take this with a grain of salt! As I believe the intention was for it to be low stakes, and in which case, it most definitely succeeded!
Many thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing the e-ARC for honest review!
January 16, 2026
This book is giving soft mossy forest + forbidden magic + sapphic yearning that could power a small city 😭♥️
This Deadly Touch is cozy fantasy with teeth. It opens with a premise that is instantly heartbreaking and compelling - Tia, cursed with necrosis magic so lethal she’s been hidden away in a forest convent since toddlerhood, literally unable to touch another person without risking death. Touch is danger. Touch is desire. Touch is causing an identity crisis 🤣
Enter Asha! horizon-chasing, mildly unhinged in the best way, absolutely incapable of minding her own business. She smells a centuries-old blood curse, hears a whisper of a cure, and says “yes, obviously I’ll uproot my life for this.” Science brain. Adventure brain. Gay brain. The perfect storm.
This is whimsical, warm and deceptively gentle - a super easy read, but not an empty one. The romance is where it really sings - slow-burn, charged, and deeply respectful. Asha never treats Tia like a problem to be solved or a body to be “fixed.” Everything is about consent, autonomy, and Tia learning that her body is hers, that desire doesn’t make her dangerous or wrong. It’s empowering in a quiet, steady way, the kind that sneaks up on you and then suddenly you’re emotional about hand-holding logistics.
Also: it’s cozy but it’s hot. Those two things are not mutually exclusive and this book knows it.
My one tiny complaint is that it left me with lots of unanswered questions and I can’t see that this is part of a series??. Who is answering through the book?? What exactly is Asha delivering on these mysterious jobs?? Where did the curse come from and why?? Is this secretly book one of a series and I’ve been emotionally tricked (affectionate)? And what about the other girls in the convent - because my heart is absolutely not done worrying about them.
Overall: this is a soft, sapphic fantasy romance about possibility, choice, and redefining what it means to be “untouchable.” Gentle, affirming, and quietly bold. If this world opens its doors again, I’ll be sprinting back into the forest, arms outstretched (carefully) ♥️
This Deadly Touch is cozy fantasy with teeth. It opens with a premise that is instantly heartbreaking and compelling - Tia, cursed with necrosis magic so lethal she’s been hidden away in a forest convent since toddlerhood, literally unable to touch another person without risking death. Touch is danger. Touch is desire. Touch is causing an identity crisis 🤣
Enter Asha! horizon-chasing, mildly unhinged in the best way, absolutely incapable of minding her own business. She smells a centuries-old blood curse, hears a whisper of a cure, and says “yes, obviously I’ll uproot my life for this.” Science brain. Adventure brain. Gay brain. The perfect storm.
This is whimsical, warm and deceptively gentle - a super easy read, but not an empty one. The romance is where it really sings - slow-burn, charged, and deeply respectful. Asha never treats Tia like a problem to be solved or a body to be “fixed.” Everything is about consent, autonomy, and Tia learning that her body is hers, that desire doesn’t make her dangerous or wrong. It’s empowering in a quiet, steady way, the kind that sneaks up on you and then suddenly you’re emotional about hand-holding logistics.
Also: it’s cozy but it’s hot. Those two things are not mutually exclusive and this book knows it.
My one tiny complaint is that it left me with lots of unanswered questions and I can’t see that this is part of a series??. Who is answering through the book?? What exactly is Asha delivering on these mysterious jobs?? Where did the curse come from and why?? Is this secretly book one of a series and I’ve been emotionally tricked (affectionate)? And what about the other girls in the convent - because my heart is absolutely not done worrying about them.
Overall: this is a soft, sapphic fantasy romance about possibility, choice, and redefining what it means to be “untouchable.” Gentle, affirming, and quietly bold. If this world opens its doors again, I’ll be sprinting back into the forest, arms outstretched (carefully) ♥️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This Deadly Touch tells the story of Tia, a girl cursed with skin who will touch those who touch it, and Asha, a brilliant scientist who is convinced she can find a cure. Sapphic shenanigans ensue.
The world of Aboria is a queer- and poly- normative one, which affects the way in which the characters, and us, the readers, view sexuality. It is particularly jarring for Tia, who has lived isolated in a convent and has not experience human touch since her infant years. Asha, on the other hand, is very experienced. These differences cause each woman to find the other fascinating, and help the other see the world in a new light.
Sadly, one thing that might negatively affect the reading experience is the pacing. First of all, it is considerably more focused on the romance aspect, with the search for the cure taking a backseat to the character interactions. Finally, the way that the novel itself is structured is a bit off. The best way I can describe it is as if it was a puzzle game, which each scene (level) having a puzzle that, once solved, will award you with an object that will, in turn, be used to solve another puzzle.
I did like how magic was described and used in the universe. The empath magic is extremely cool, with unlimited possibilities as to how it could be weaponized. However, I felt like that the book Asha carries around seems too powerful and helps them solve conflicts too easily. I wish, at least, that we had gotten more backstory on it.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed myself throughout the course of reading this novel, and would recommended it to anyone who wants a lower-stakes, slightly fluffy sapphic romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and Aimee Donnellan for the advanced copy. This review is left voluntarily and honestly.
The world of Aboria is a queer- and poly- normative one, which affects the way in which the characters, and us, the readers, view sexuality. It is particularly jarring for Tia, who has lived isolated in a convent and has not experience human touch since her infant years. Asha, on the other hand, is very experienced. These differences cause each woman to find the other fascinating, and help the other see the world in a new light.
Sadly, one thing that might negatively affect the reading experience is the pacing. First of all, it is considerably more focused on the romance aspect, with the search for the cure taking a backseat to the character interactions. Finally, the way that the novel itself is structured is a bit off. The best way I can describe it is as if it was a puzzle game, which each scene (level) having a puzzle that, once solved, will award you with an object that will, in turn, be used to solve another puzzle.
I did like how magic was described and used in the universe. The empath magic is extremely cool, with unlimited possibilities as to how it could be weaponized. However, I felt like that the book Asha carries around seems too powerful and helps them solve conflicts too easily. I wish, at least, that we had gotten more backstory on it.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed myself throughout the course of reading this novel, and would recommended it to anyone who wants a lower-stakes, slightly fluffy sapphic romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and Aimee Donnellan for the advanced copy. This review is left voluntarily and honestly.
February 1, 2026
This book is perfect for fans of cozy sapphic fantasy books Honey Witch and Legends & Lattes!
In This Deadly Touch we have two FMCs:
Tia: a young woman who was raised in a secret convent for people born with deadly necrosis touch.
Asha: a magical pharmacologist who believes she can break the curse that ails Tia.
When Asha and Tia meet up after their mail correspondence, the two quickly begin a weeks long journey gathering all the supplies they’ll need for this magical experiment and stumble into multiple side quests that felt like a lighthearted D&D campaign! Encountering everything from dragons to human sized spiders, a convent guard hot on their tails, a jewel heist & more!
I absolutely loved how sweet & cozy this story was. The stakes weren’t high but the journey was so entertaining and full of great side characters, like Kenamon (a mobster type who carries a cache of weapons and poisons)!
The way Tia & Asha interacted with one another was very endearing. Both women had such a wonderful level of respect and admiration for one another- as well as a healthy dose of sexual attraction (especially Asha’s obsession with Tia’s thighs). I liked that this story is set in a queer normative society where polyamory is also not out the ordinary.
There was a nice balance of yearning, lust and spice as the story progresses! I liked that was literally a “touch her and you’ll die” situation since Tia’s touch is potentially fatal so the women both had to weigh out how to go about the possibility of becoming something more than just friends.
This whole romp was delightful! With the way the ending was, I’m anticipating another installment! I need more of these girls (and Kenamon)!
In This Deadly Touch we have two FMCs:
Tia: a young woman who was raised in a secret convent for people born with deadly necrosis touch.
Asha: a magical pharmacologist who believes she can break the curse that ails Tia.
When Asha and Tia meet up after their mail correspondence, the two quickly begin a weeks long journey gathering all the supplies they’ll need for this magical experiment and stumble into multiple side quests that felt like a lighthearted D&D campaign! Encountering everything from dragons to human sized spiders, a convent guard hot on their tails, a jewel heist & more!
I absolutely loved how sweet & cozy this story was. The stakes weren’t high but the journey was so entertaining and full of great side characters, like Kenamon (a mobster type who carries a cache of weapons and poisons)!
The way Tia & Asha interacted with one another was very endearing. Both women had such a wonderful level of respect and admiration for one another- as well as a healthy dose of sexual attraction (especially Asha’s obsession with Tia’s thighs). I liked that this story is set in a queer normative society where polyamory is also not out the ordinary.
There was a nice balance of yearning, lust and spice as the story progresses! I liked that was literally a “touch her and you’ll die” situation since Tia’s touch is potentially fatal so the women both had to weigh out how to go about the possibility of becoming something more than just friends.
This whole romp was delightful! With the way the ending was, I’m anticipating another installment! I need more of these girls (and Kenamon)!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.75 stars
i'd like to preface my review by thanking netgalley, victory editing and the author, aimee donnellan, for sending me this ARC.
i don't know if i wasn't into this book because of the genre (cozy fantasy), or if it was genuinely lacking something. from my notes while reading the first few chapters:
- the dialogues are awkward off the bat and don't feel natural. i hope it improves (it didn't really...)
- it feels as though the characters are speaking to me (the reader) rather than to each other when doing world building/lore dropping
- stop. telling. me. start. showing. me.
i am no writer so i don't feel it is my place to criticise too much on that aspect but as a reader, it felt like a chore to read 90% of the time.
now on the story aspect, i understand that cozy fantasy implies lower stakes but does that mean no stakes at all? everything felt way too easy for tia and asha and every time i thought maybe they would face a little difficulty, it all got resolved a few paragraphs later.
thankfully, the only parts i thought were well made were the explicit sex scenes (2). i thought both characters grew attached very (too) quickly, but i enjoyed seeing their dynamics during intimacy.
finally, i think i would've been more indulgent had this book been the author's debut but as i understand it, they've already written a whole series in the same universe, so i don't think the "flaws" (in my opinion) that i mentioned should still be here. i hope that this book finds its readership well, because i don't doubt that someone else might like this a lot more than i did.
out january 31st, 2026
i'd like to preface my review by thanking netgalley, victory editing and the author, aimee donnellan, for sending me this ARC.
i don't know if i wasn't into this book because of the genre (cozy fantasy), or if it was genuinely lacking something. from my notes while reading the first few chapters:
- the dialogues are awkward off the bat and don't feel natural. i hope it improves (it didn't really...)
- it feels as though the characters are speaking to me (the reader) rather than to each other when doing world building/lore dropping
- stop. telling. me. start. showing. me.
i am no writer so i don't feel it is my place to criticise too much on that aspect but as a reader, it felt like a chore to read 90% of the time.
now on the story aspect, i understand that cozy fantasy implies lower stakes but does that mean no stakes at all? everything felt way too easy for tia and asha and every time i thought maybe they would face a little difficulty, it all got resolved a few paragraphs later.
thankfully, the only parts i thought were well made were the explicit sex scenes (2). i thought both characters grew attached very (too) quickly, but i enjoyed seeing their dynamics during intimacy.
finally, i think i would've been more indulgent had this book been the author's debut but as i understand it, they've already written a whole series in the same universe, so i don't think the "flaws" (in my opinion) that i mentioned should still be here. i hope that this book finds its readership well, because i don't doubt that someone else might like this a lot more than i did.
out january 31st, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Very cute and sweet story despite the sensual cover.
This flirty ~170 page novel has more side quests than plot, but doesn’t shy away from the horrors of sheltering women from the vastness of life as the main character Tia leaves her convent for the first time and sees the world.
The writing style is easy to read, if a little stiff in present tense, third person omniscient. Tia is the star of this book, being not only the main character cursed with a deadly touch, but a disarmingly naive woman whose sheltered life left her with little sense of danger and lots of questions to ask Loudly and in Public. Like Asha, I don’t want to take advantage of her comical ignorance for entertainment… but she’s just so cute trying berries for the first time, seeing the ocean, or accidentally befriending a serial killer.
A large part of this story focuses on Tia’s sexuality, or lack of it. As Asha puts it, “It's only natural you'd be interested, with how… things have been for you.” Having empathy magic, Tia can feel when others are flustered, and often walks in on people getting spicy and can only stare. I feel like the gorgeously sensual cover art emphasizes this being a large part of the story, but was disappointed by how wholesome this story is. There is a good amount of spice, but the story was too fast paced for any angsty yearning, just a fast burn romance with a weak plot (seriously, the mysterious magical artifact who is the catalyst of the story got a whole character arc but was never explained how?). Overall, I wish this book was longer and less stiffly written, but it’s very cute. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
This flirty ~170 page novel has more side quests than plot, but doesn’t shy away from the horrors of sheltering women from the vastness of life as the main character Tia leaves her convent for the first time and sees the world.
The writing style is easy to read, if a little stiff in present tense, third person omniscient. Tia is the star of this book, being not only the main character cursed with a deadly touch, but a disarmingly naive woman whose sheltered life left her with little sense of danger and lots of questions to ask Loudly and in Public. Like Asha, I don’t want to take advantage of her comical ignorance for entertainment… but she’s just so cute trying berries for the first time, seeing the ocean, or accidentally befriending a serial killer.
A large part of this story focuses on Tia’s sexuality, or lack of it. As Asha puts it, “It's only natural you'd be interested, with how… things have been for you.” Having empathy magic, Tia can feel when others are flustered, and often walks in on people getting spicy and can only stare. I feel like the gorgeously sensual cover art emphasizes this being a large part of the story, but was disappointed by how wholesome this story is. There is a good amount of spice, but the story was too fast paced for any angsty yearning, just a fast burn romance with a weak plot (seriously, the mysterious magical artifact who is the catalyst of the story got a whole character arc but was never explained how?). Overall, I wish this book was longer and less stiffly written, but it’s very cute. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
3.5 rounded up. I enjoyed! It was easy and fun. I do think it could have been longer to really dive into all of it more, have a bit more conflict, and spend some more time unpacking the emotional side of it but I understand that this is a subgenre where the lesser conflict and hopeful nature are kind of the point! I would absolutely love a darker version of this, but I still liked this one.
It did feel like reading a D&D campaign at times, not that that's necessarily a bad thing, but it sometimes felt a little jarring, like I could feel the skill checks being rolled or the intro into the next challenge to test their skills. But then again, who am I to judge, maybe those things make perfect sense in the society of this world and I just need to suspend my disbelief a little more! And if Aimee Donnellan just happens to be reading around in similar fanfic spaces to me I would not be surprised... (I say this with absolutely no proof, Aimee Donnellan may have never consumed a work of fanfiction in their life.. but...?)
I liked all the characters a lot, I think they were very well written, diverse and interesting - especially that fun cast of characters on the train. The comedic moments were great and the exploration of sexuality and consent within the constraints these characters had was really nice. I would definitely look out for more by the author and a special shout out to that beautiful cover art!
3.5 rounded up. I enjoyed! It was easy and fun. I do think it could have been longer to really dive into all of it more, have a bit more conflict, and spend some more time unpacking the emotional side of it but I understand that this is a subgenre where the lesser conflict and hopeful nature are kind of the point! I would absolutely love a darker version of this, but I still liked this one.
It did feel like reading a D&D campaign at times, not that that's necessarily a bad thing, but it sometimes felt a little jarring, like I could feel the skill checks being rolled or the intro into the next challenge to test their skills. But then again, who am I to judge, maybe those things make perfect sense in the society of this world and I just need to suspend my disbelief a little more! And if Aimee Donnellan just happens to be reading around in similar fanfic spaces to me I would not be surprised... (I say this with absolutely no proof, Aimee Donnellan may have never consumed a work of fanfiction in their life.. but...?)
I liked all the characters a lot, I think they were very well written, diverse and interesting - especially that fun cast of characters on the train. The comedic moments were great and the exploration of sexuality and consent within the constraints these characters had was really nice. I would definitely look out for more by the author and a special shout out to that beautiful cover art!
January 19, 2026
This book is perfect for dungeons and dragons players who prefer to talk before they stab.
At a young age, Tia almost killed her mother through her touch. Due to that necrotic touch that will be fatal to anyone who she touches, Tia is sent to live out the rest of her life in a convent. That is until she breaks out.
Asha is a brilliant researcher who reason to believe she is particularly suited towards curing the affliction that Tia has. So, she sends a secret message asking Tia to be her assistant so the can create and test out a potential cure.
This alliance brings them in an interesting predicament, as they are now in a race against the clock to cure Tia before she is dragged back to the convent. The book follows the two as they adventure, learn and grow closer.
The magical elements in this book are so incredibly cool! The necrosis curse, the empathy magic, the magical creatures, the fantastical book: everything magical in this world had me intrigued and wanting to find out more about it.
The story that unfolds is positively adorable and adorably positive. The plot line has the feel of a d&d quest that I would love to play. The world is innovative and unique, but also cozy and comforting.
I also adored that the world is queernormative and not mononormative. It was refreshing to see a world in which characters get to live unquestioningly authentically.
All in all, I would 100% recommend this book to fans of cozy fantasy, sapphics with magic and anybody curious about giving it a try: I promise that you won’t regret it.
4,5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
At a young age, Tia almost killed her mother through her touch. Due to that necrotic touch that will be fatal to anyone who she touches, Tia is sent to live out the rest of her life in a convent. That is until she breaks out.
Asha is a brilliant researcher who reason to believe she is particularly suited towards curing the affliction that Tia has. So, she sends a secret message asking Tia to be her assistant so the can create and test out a potential cure.
This alliance brings them in an interesting predicament, as they are now in a race against the clock to cure Tia before she is dragged back to the convent. The book follows the two as they adventure, learn and grow closer.
The magical elements in this book are so incredibly cool! The necrosis curse, the empathy magic, the magical creatures, the fantastical book: everything magical in this world had me intrigued and wanting to find out more about it.
The story that unfolds is positively adorable and adorably positive. The plot line has the feel of a d&d quest that I would love to play. The world is innovative and unique, but also cozy and comforting.
I also adored that the world is queernormative and not mononormative. It was refreshing to see a world in which characters get to live unquestioningly authentically.
All in all, I would 100% recommend this book to fans of cozy fantasy, sapphics with magic and anybody curious about giving it a try: I promise that you won’t regret it.
4,5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
this was such a cute, cozy read!! I had such a great time while reading this one.
Tia is cursed with a magic so dangerous that the only way they can deal with it is locking her up and others in a convent. It has been Tia's house since she was three years old and now she's about to run away from it in the hopes of helping Asha (a scholar/scientist) find a cure for her "problem".
Tia is such a cute character! she's very naive and she does not know anything of the world outside of the convent. Seeing her discover the world for the first time is so sweet and entertaining! she always thinks the best of people and everything feels so marvellous to her…! she's also having to navigate new feelings and dynamics that she wasn't faced with in the convent.
Asha is very sure of herself. she's smart and resourceful. she has a very interesting view of the world and people and I absolutely love the way she treats Tia and how she helps her while trying to stay respectful. it's very healthy.
my only complain is kind of the pacing…? like I felt the story was moving too fast and that we weren't being given enough time to sit with things and see them evolve organically, but at the same time it felt like the whole book dragged… I'm not sure how to explain it, but like that whole caravan plotline? came totally out of nowhere xD but it was a fun one, for sure.
anyway, this was such a good one! I loved it so much! would 100% recommend if you are looking for a cozy read with low-stakes and fun characters.
Tia is cursed with a magic so dangerous that the only way they can deal with it is locking her up and others in a convent. It has been Tia's house since she was three years old and now she's about to run away from it in the hopes of helping Asha (a scholar/scientist) find a cure for her "problem".
Tia is such a cute character! she's very naive and she does not know anything of the world outside of the convent. Seeing her discover the world for the first time is so sweet and entertaining! she always thinks the best of people and everything feels so marvellous to her…! she's also having to navigate new feelings and dynamics that she wasn't faced with in the convent.
Asha is very sure of herself. she's smart and resourceful. she has a very interesting view of the world and people and I absolutely love the way she treats Tia and how she helps her while trying to stay respectful. it's very healthy.
my only complain is kind of the pacing…? like I felt the story was moving too fast and that we weren't being given enough time to sit with things and see them evolve organically, but at the same time it felt like the whole book dragged… I'm not sure how to explain it, but like that whole caravan plotline? came totally out of nowhere xD but it was a fun one, for sure.
anyway, this was such a good one! I loved it so much! would 100% recommend if you are looking for a cozy read with low-stakes and fun characters.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I'm going to start by admitting that i didn't finish this book. i really wanted to like it, the premise sounded amazing, unfortunately, it was not carried out very well. the pacing is all over the place, so we get situations where too many things are happening right after the other, but nothing is happening all at the same time. we don't know who the characters are outside of one is a doctor and the other is afflicted with some kind of disease that means she can't be touched. the only reason i know what the disease is, is because of the synopsis. we don't know what the disease is, we don't know why the doctor wants to cure it, we don't even know how she found out what she needs to cure it, even though the first thing they do when they meet is to go collect an ingredient needed. not to mention the book keeps switching tenses, which i don't think was on purpose. in short, the book feels extremely rushed, like someone wrote out scene blocks and then lined them up. i think this could be a fantastic book, and i really did like the characters, though we know little to nothing about either of them, but in truth, i think this book needs more work.
that being said, i think the plot is a fantastic one, and despite feeling as if i was speed running through it, i did enjoy the little pockets of humor and the unique method to dealing with the obstacles set in their way, and i think someone who likes a very fast paced book might enjoy this much more than i did.
thank you to Netgalley and Aimee Donnellan for this ARC
that being said, i think the plot is a fantastic one, and despite feeling as if i was speed running through it, i did enjoy the little pockets of humor and the unique method to dealing with the obstacles set in their way, and i think someone who likes a very fast paced book might enjoy this much more than i did.
thank you to Netgalley and Aimee Donnellan for this ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was such a lovely read and really the only thing I don’t like about it is how short it is. And yet, despite being less than 300 pages the story still manages to create a world and characters so enchanting that I was shedding tears of joy by the end. I’d actually come across this book online before I saw it on Netgalley, and I was already 100% sold on the premise from the blurb alone, so imagine my excitement when I find it up on Netgalley 3 days later.
From the blurb I already knew this book was gonna be heavy on the yearning and I was not disappointed! There’s so much sapphic yearning! The premise is that one character, Tia, has a curse on her that will make anyone she touches begin necrosing at a rapid pace, a curse that the other character, Asha, is trying to cure. So obviously they start developing feelings for each other, but they can’t touch each other or one of them will literally die - cue the yearning.
Also this managed to have the first book sex scene I didn’t just outright skip. As a sex-indifferent acebian I mostly just find sex scenes boring, but the second one in this book was written in a way that made me wanna actually read through it, so there’s that too.
If you want a medium spicy sapphic fantasy romance that will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside, this might just be the book for you!
———
Many thanks to the author and Netgalley for the ARC!
From the blurb I already knew this book was gonna be heavy on the yearning and I was not disappointed! There’s so much sapphic yearning! The premise is that one character, Tia, has a curse on her that will make anyone she touches begin necrosing at a rapid pace, a curse that the other character, Asha, is trying to cure. So obviously they start developing feelings for each other, but they can’t touch each other or one of them will literally die - cue the yearning.
Also this managed to have the first book sex scene I didn’t just outright skip. As a sex-indifferent acebian I mostly just find sex scenes boring, but the second one in this book was written in a way that made me wanna actually read through it, so there’s that too.
If you want a medium spicy sapphic fantasy romance that will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside, this might just be the book for you!
———
Many thanks to the author and Netgalley for the ARC!
January 23, 2026
it's hard for me to describe my impressions of this book because I see enormous potential in it. the idea at its core is incredible!
i liked the main characters. they are strong, brave, and interested in learning about everything around them. but I felt a little lacking in revealing their personalities, too quickly we moved on to the point where they liked each other and thoughts about sex appeared. maybe the problem is that I like slow development of relationships and I didn't have enough reasons for attraction [if you are also a slow burn lover, maybe this book won't be your cup of tea]. i skim through sex scenes because i didn't connect with the main characters. i didn't root for their relationship, i didn't feel the spark.
another huge problem with this book for me is the small description of the world. i don’t understand why the main character had no opportunity to touch people, what kind of society controlled this issue, and how the world around which the events unfolded was structured in general.
all the difficulties that the heroines encountered were resolved quite quickly, and they succeeded so well that the difficulties didn't even seem like such.
i sincerely want to support the author because I fell in love with the main idea of this story. unfortunately, i didn't have a complete match with this story.
i read this book as an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the author.
i liked the main characters. they are strong, brave, and interested in learning about everything around them. but I felt a little lacking in revealing their personalities, too quickly we moved on to the point where they liked each other and thoughts about sex appeared. maybe the problem is that I like slow development of relationships and I didn't have enough reasons for attraction [if you are also a slow burn lover, maybe this book won't be your cup of tea]. i skim through sex scenes because i didn't connect with the main characters. i didn't root for their relationship, i didn't feel the spark.
another huge problem with this book for me is the small description of the world. i don’t understand why the main character had no opportunity to touch people, what kind of society controlled this issue, and how the world around which the events unfolded was structured in general.
all the difficulties that the heroines encountered were resolved quite quickly, and they succeeded so well that the difficulties didn't even seem like such.
i sincerely want to support the author because I fell in love with the main idea of this story. unfortunately, i didn't have a complete match with this story.
i read this book as an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This cozy sapphic fantasy novella was short and sweet in the best way! I thoroughly enjoyed watching Tia navigate the new world before her, struggling to balance her wonder with her need to keep everyone safe from her deadly touch. The world, while only briefly mentioned when relevant to the plot line, felt well fleshed out and full of possibilities.
The representation, both LGBTQIA and neurodivergent was seamlessly placed and I wondered if the neurodivergent FMCs was unintentional or not until I looked up the authors other books and saw her history of neurodivergent main characters. There is a note at the beginning that states that polyamory is the norm in this world and that does seem to be true other than small instances.
There is spice, surprisingly sweet spice at that, and even outside of those scenes every interaction in this world is consent heavy.
I do wish some things had been expanded upon. For instance, maybe the book starts with Tia receiving the escape note at the end of a typical day at the convent, in order to show why she is the way she is and what normal was for her whole life before the adventure. Some of the conflicts were resolved a bit too quickly as well, to where the tension had no time to build. Little things like that to show instead of tell would have added more depth and made this a bit better to me, but I still enjoyed this quick, cozy read.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the reviewer copy in exchange for an honest review!
The representation, both LGBTQIA and neurodivergent was seamlessly placed and I wondered if the neurodivergent FMCs was unintentional or not until I looked up the authors other books and saw her history of neurodivergent main characters. There is a note at the beginning that states that polyamory is the norm in this world and that does seem to be true other than small instances.
There is spice, surprisingly sweet spice at that, and even outside of those scenes every interaction in this world is consent heavy.
I do wish some things had been expanded upon. For instance, maybe the book starts with Tia receiving the escape note at the end of a typical day at the convent, in order to show why she is the way she is and what normal was for her whole life before the adventure. Some of the conflicts were resolved a bit too quickly as well, to where the tension had no time to build. Little things like that to show instead of tell would have added more depth and made this a bit better to me, but I still enjoyed this quick, cozy read.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the reviewer copy in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for the e-arc! All thoughts are my own :)
I’ve been reading this author’s other books and have enjoyed them so far so I jumped at the chance to read this one! There was a lot to appreciate about this little book and a lot that didn’t jive with me.
The Things that did: the characters, especially one in particular that we meet on the road, were interesting. The world is queer-normative and the gentleness in which our main characters treated each other was nice to see. The overarching plot dealing with empathy magic (I have a soft spot for that kind of magic). We were introduced to a lot of interesting concepts and ideas: magical mob family, wild-folk, a religion that informs the queer/poly normative world.
The Things that didn’t: The use of present tense. It felt unnatural to read even though I know I’ve read other books that used this tense primarily. I had a hard time with the flow of how the book was written. There was a lot jam-packed but it still all felt rushed? I love novellas but the pacing of this was so fast it felt like nothing got the chance to breathe. I think it would have been better either longer to flesh the side-questiness of it out or if some things were removed to let the primary plot points breathe and grow. The fact that we were introduced to so many different features of this world and it all felt surface level.
overall, I wanted to like this more but can appreciate what the author was going for! I’m sure this will find its people. Just not sure it was completely for me :)
I’ve been reading this author’s other books and have enjoyed them so far so I jumped at the chance to read this one! There was a lot to appreciate about this little book and a lot that didn’t jive with me.
The Things that did: the characters, especially one in particular that we meet on the road, were interesting. The world is queer-normative and the gentleness in which our main characters treated each other was nice to see. The overarching plot dealing with empathy magic (I have a soft spot for that kind of magic). We were introduced to a lot of interesting concepts and ideas: magical mob family, wild-folk, a religion that informs the queer/poly normative world.
The Things that didn’t: The use of present tense. It felt unnatural to read even though I know I’ve read other books that used this tense primarily. I had a hard time with the flow of how the book was written. There was a lot jam-packed but it still all felt rushed? I love novellas but the pacing of this was so fast it felt like nothing got the chance to breathe. I think it would have been better either longer to flesh the side-questiness of it out or if some things were removed to let the primary plot points breathe and grow. The fact that we were introduced to so many different features of this world and it all felt surface level.
overall, I wanted to like this more but can appreciate what the author was going for! I’m sure this will find its people. Just not sure it was completely for me :)
January 31, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an arc. All opinions are my own.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ .5
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Are There Gay People in this?*: ✅
Okay first of all that cover is gorgeous! Stunning. No notes.
What I liked: The romance in this book was super sweet with a huge emphasis on consent and communication which I loved. I also found both characters to be really endearing and it was very heartwarming to see how much empathy they both have. In fact, the vast majority of characters were very good-natured. This book is also very sex positive and queernormative which is always lovely.
What I didn’t like: This wasn't quite my flavor of cozy fantasy. It's very low stakes, and every conflict is solved really quickly, with little to no fallout. I can definitely see the appeal, since it's a very relaxing read, but for me personally it felt a bit unsatisfying at times.
Overall: If you want a book full of hot gay empathetic people, where everything works out through the power of kindness this book is exactly that.
* I count a book as including gay people if any of the main or supporting characters are implicitly or explicitly queer or trans. This does not necessarily mean the protagonist is queer or that there is a queer romance
Rating: ★ ★ ★ .5
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Are There Gay People in this?*: ✅
Okay first of all that cover is gorgeous! Stunning. No notes.
What I liked: The romance in this book was super sweet with a huge emphasis on consent and communication which I loved. I also found both characters to be really endearing and it was very heartwarming to see how much empathy they both have. In fact, the vast majority of characters were very good-natured. This book is also very sex positive and queernormative which is always lovely.
What I didn’t like: This wasn't quite my flavor of cozy fantasy. It's very low stakes, and every conflict is solved really quickly, with little to no fallout. I can definitely see the appeal, since it's a very relaxing read, but for me personally it felt a bit unsatisfying at times.
Overall: If you want a book full of hot gay empathetic people, where everything works out through the power of kindness this book is exactly that.
* I count a book as including gay people if any of the main or supporting characters are implicitly or explicitly queer or trans. This does not necessarily mean the protagonist is queer or that there is a queer romance
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I have slightly mixed feelings.
I was expecting this to be a bit darker--yes, I know it says cozy, but I was picturing something akin to "Pushing Daisies," which manages to be remarkably heartwarming while still acknowledging darker elements. This Deadly Touch errs on the side of cute, but it ends up undermining the danger inherent to the premise. There are a number of side quests that don't do much move the story forward... like, there's a whole Agatha Christie-style train mystery? We spend more time on that than we do actually resolving the problem, which is done easily and with lots of loose ends left trailing.
My sense is that this is meant to be a series, but I would have liked a bit more resolution and explanation for what the heck is going on with certain things. And, always, I want worldbuilding.
That said, I really appreciated all the conversations around consent, and the spice is spicin' for sure. I wasn't thrilled by how this particular plot played out, but I would read more stories in this world. If there had been more time to sit with things, and if the stakes had been a little higher, I would have enjoyed this quite a lot.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC.
I was expecting this to be a bit darker--yes, I know it says cozy, but I was picturing something akin to "Pushing Daisies," which manages to be remarkably heartwarming while still acknowledging darker elements. This Deadly Touch errs on the side of cute, but it ends up undermining the danger inherent to the premise. There are a number of side quests that don't do much move the story forward... like, there's a whole Agatha Christie-style train mystery? We spend more time on that than we do actually resolving the problem, which is done easily and with lots of loose ends left trailing.
My sense is that this is meant to be a series, but I would have liked a bit more resolution and explanation for what the heck is going on with certain things. And, always, I want worldbuilding.
That said, I really appreciated all the conversations around consent, and the spice is spicin' for sure. I wasn't thrilled by how this particular plot played out, but I would read more stories in this world. If there had been more time to sit with things, and if the stakes had been a little higher, I would have enjoyed this quite a lot.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC.
February 1, 2026
Cozy romance fantasy with an intriguing premise. Tia has a deadly ability to kill with a touch (think Rogue from X-Men or The Pie-Maker from Pushing Daisies), and rather than anyone investigating the origins of this ability or how to fix it, everyone has just shrugged and locked those afflicted away a convent. As you do. The other main, Asha, heard about this nonsense and decided she would try and find a cure. Because that is what you do when you try something and it fails, you look at the data and incorporate that information into your next trial. I empathize greatly with her attitude towards this, you don't stop trying because something doesn't work. You know more now! I know this is a fantasy, but the scientist in me never shuts up.
There were a lot of side quests and not a ton of character development, even for a cozy novel. I would have enjoyed a bit more depth, as everyone seemed bland and personable. Tia seemed too naive, and the concept of lying low seemed a bit beyond her. The main plot had a fairly simple denouement, and Asha had what was essentially a player handbook smoothing the way for them. Everything was too easily resolved for my personal tastes, and I would have appreciated more worldbuilding.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
There were a lot of side quests and not a ton of character development, even for a cozy novel. I would have enjoyed a bit more depth, as everyone seemed bland and personable. Tia seemed too naive, and the concept of lying low seemed a bit beyond her. The main plot had a fairly simple denouement, and Asha had what was essentially a player handbook smoothing the way for them. Everything was too easily resolved for my personal tastes, and I would have appreciated more worldbuilding.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews