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Wicked Endeavors
Not yet published
Expected 8 Sep 26Perfect for fans of The Shadows Between Us and Powerless, this high stakes romantasy follows a vengeful teen who cons her way into an elite society of tyrannical witches. But her warring feelings for two people—an enemy prince and her childhood friend—could ruin everything.
Caya was once the ward of Coventry’s royal family…until they were killed by the three witch Houses that now rule the peninsula.
Now eighteen, Caya plans to infiltrate the witches' glittering world to enact justice. With the help of a mysterious benefactor, she adopts the persona of Marisol Vinyet, a disarmingly beautiful aristocrat. As Marisol, she'll attend the annual Coronet, a cutthroat social season during which witches increase their power by binding new members to their Houses. The Coronet will draw even the prince of neighboring Domingo—Tomás Castellan—to the peninsula just in time for “Marisol” to kill him. After all, his family set the witches upon Coventry in the first place.
But Tomás is more charming than Caya ever anticipated. Worse, her estranged childhood friend, Bas Arroyo, is the prince’s protector, and she struggles to control her complicated feelings for him.
To take down the witches from within, Caya will have to keep both her identity and her desperate heart under Although she’s made herself a weapon, she might be the one to bleed.
Caya was once the ward of Coventry’s royal family…until they were killed by the three witch Houses that now rule the peninsula.
Now eighteen, Caya plans to infiltrate the witches' glittering world to enact justice. With the help of a mysterious benefactor, she adopts the persona of Marisol Vinyet, a disarmingly beautiful aristocrat. As Marisol, she'll attend the annual Coronet, a cutthroat social season during which witches increase their power by binding new members to their Houses. The Coronet will draw even the prince of neighboring Domingo—Tomás Castellan—to the peninsula just in time for “Marisol” to kill him. After all, his family set the witches upon Coventry in the first place.
But Tomás is more charming than Caya ever anticipated. Worse, her estranged childhood friend, Bas Arroyo, is the prince’s protector, and she struggles to control her complicated feelings for him.
To take down the witches from within, Caya will have to keep both her identity and her desperate heart under Although she’s made herself a weapon, she might be the one to bleed.
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 8, 2026
About the author
Kamilah Cole
6 books1,217 followersKamilah Cole is a USA Today & national indie bestselling Jamaican-American author, who has been nominated for a Dragon Award, a Lambda Award, a Lodestar Award, and an Astounding Award. She worked as a writer and entertainment editor at Bustle for four years, and her nonfiction has appeared in Marie Claire and Seventeen. A graduate of New York University, Kamilah lives in the Pacific Northwest, where she’s usually playing Kingdom Hearts for the hundredth time, quoting early SpongeBob SquarePants episodes, or crying her way through Zuko’s redemption arc in Avatar: The Last Airbender.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Want to Read
March 25, 2026"A romantasy duology set in a Spanish Renaissance-inspired kingdom, about a vengeful teen who cons her way into a high society of elite witches, only for her revenge to be threatened by her warring feelings for both a manipulative enemy prince and the stoic childhood friend who betrayed her, pitched as a love letter to the power of Black women's anger."
Want to Read
December 31, 2024This probably won’t be out for a very long time but I have already decided I need it injected directly into my retinas thank you.
Want to Read
September 8, 2025"a vengeful teen who cons her way into a high society of elite witches"
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Did Not Finish
August 5, 2026DNF at 38% (Read Through Chapter 10)
There’s a lot to like about this book; but I just didn’t feel immersed in the story.
I think the magic system is really interesting, but the rest of world building had me confused. I didn’t understand the politics at all, and personally had a hard time keeping the kingdoms straight in terms of who was fighting with who and who liked witches vs hated witches.
I understand why Caya is so angry; I didn’t understand why it became targeted towards the prince. I get why she’s pissed at Bas (though I don’t like that Bas basically said it’s a misunderstanding but then didn’t elaborate during their private conversation). Adding the prince to her hit list just seemed unnecessary to me.
The writing is pretty good for the most part, so I can see why a lot of people enjoy this story. It’s just not for me.
NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING:
There’s a lot to like about this book; but I just didn’t feel immersed in the story.
I think the magic system is really interesting, but the rest of world building had me confused. I didn’t understand the politics at all, and personally had a hard time keeping the kingdoms straight in terms of who was fighting with who and who liked witches vs hated witches.
I understand why Caya is so angry; I didn’t understand why it became targeted towards the prince. I get why she’s pissed at Bas (though I don’t like that Bas basically said it’s a misunderstanding but then didn’t elaborate during their private conversation). Adding the prince to her hit list just seemed unnecessary to me.
The writing is pretty good for the most part, so I can see why a lot of people enjoy this story. It’s just not for me.
NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING:
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thanks LBYR for the gifted ARC! Publishes Sept. 8, 2026.
About to age out of the orphanage she’s lived in since her life was upturned as a child, Caya is adopted by a mysterious nobleman, Lord Gaspar Ruiz. Ruiz is determined to get rid of magic and the corrupt government of Domingan witches now ruling Coventry who usurped and murdered Coventry’s monarchs (who had been orphan Caya’s adoptive family). Caya agrees- under the condition that she may murder Prince Tomás “Teo” of Domingo and his guard Bas— who happens to be her childhood friend who led the witches into Coventry. To pull this off, Caya must adopt the disguise of Lady Marisol Vinyet and work with Teo and Bas to collect ingredients for Ruiz while pretending to observe the witches’ social season as a group of nonmagical aristocrats. But all three teens are hiding their own secrets from each other, and what is with the friendly witch Noelia who wants to befriend Marisol and who seems to know Bas? Of course, this IS a romantasy and what is Marisol to do when Bas and Teo are both more emotionally complex (and more charming) than she’d anticipated? And do Bas and Teo have something deeper going on between themselves?
Kamilah just entered the romantasy game and immediately pwned it. This is the Black, queer YA romantasy with a strong female protagonist needed on shelves and I absolutely cannot wait for it to publish and to get it into teen readers’ hands. Incredibly well paced with intriguing world building and so. many. plot. twists. I really didn’t want this book to end. Caya/Marisol is SO full of spite and rage, yet very kind and sympathetic towards her loved ones. I adored her complex friendship with Noelia, and watching her feelings towards Bas and Teo evolve. If you don’t have this on preorder, preorder it immediately. Tell your library to order it.
About to age out of the orphanage she’s lived in since her life was upturned as a child, Caya is adopted by a mysterious nobleman, Lord Gaspar Ruiz. Ruiz is determined to get rid of magic and the corrupt government of Domingan witches now ruling Coventry who usurped and murdered Coventry’s monarchs (who had been orphan Caya’s adoptive family). Caya agrees- under the condition that she may murder Prince Tomás “Teo” of Domingo and his guard Bas— who happens to be her childhood friend who led the witches into Coventry. To pull this off, Caya must adopt the disguise of Lady Marisol Vinyet and work with Teo and Bas to collect ingredients for Ruiz while pretending to observe the witches’ social season as a group of nonmagical aristocrats. But all three teens are hiding their own secrets from each other, and what is with the friendly witch Noelia who wants to befriend Marisol and who seems to know Bas? Of course, this IS a romantasy and what is Marisol to do when Bas and Teo are both more emotionally complex (and more charming) than she’d anticipated? And do Bas and Teo have something deeper going on between themselves?
Kamilah just entered the romantasy game and immediately pwned it. This is the Black, queer YA romantasy with a strong female protagonist needed on shelves and I absolutely cannot wait for it to publish and to get it into teen readers’ hands. Incredibly well paced with intriguing world building and so. many. plot. twists. I really didn’t want this book to end. Caya/Marisol is SO full of spite and rage, yet very kind and sympathetic towards her loved ones. I adored her complex friendship with Noelia, and watching her feelings towards Bas and Teo evolve. If you don’t have this on preorder, preorder it immediately. Tell your library to order it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating: 3.75⭐️
This book runs on pure, concentrated rage.
Caya is such a compelling protagonist. She’s fierce, cunning, and carrying enough anger to set the entire story on fire. Her rage feels raw and justified, and it gives her character a lot of weight. That said, I found myself wanting to know her beyond the anger. I could see the depth was there, but sometimes it felt like I was only peeking through a keyhole. I wanted more of the person underneath all that fury.
And speaking of fury… Caya technically has a very important mission. But somewhere along the way, she got so deep into this messy hatred-romance spiral that I genuinely forgot she was supposed to be stealing something.
We also get Bas, Teo, and Noelia, who all have enough secrets and complexity to immediately catch my attention. Every time I felt like I understood someone, another layer appeared and my trust issues immediately filed for overtime.
The magic system and the concept of the three High Houses were genuinely intriguing. There’s so much potential in the world-building, and I could feel how much history and lore existed beneath the surface. Unfortunately, I also wanted more of it. This is a very character-driven, which works in some ways, but it also means the magic system and wider world sometimes take a back seat. I kept waiting for the story to dig deeper into the Houses, the politics, and the magic.
Overall, this was an emotional story about revenge, rage, and people carrying far too many secrets. The characters kept me invested, the world has a ton of potential, and even when I got frustrated, I still wanted to know what happened next. And honestly, a book that can keep me frustrated and invested at the same time must be doing something right.
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Thank you to Little Brown and NetGalley for the ARC!
This book runs on pure, concentrated rage.
Caya is such a compelling protagonist. She’s fierce, cunning, and carrying enough anger to set the entire story on fire. Her rage feels raw and justified, and it gives her character a lot of weight. That said, I found myself wanting to know her beyond the anger. I could see the depth was there, but sometimes it felt like I was only peeking through a keyhole. I wanted more of the person underneath all that fury.
And speaking of fury… Caya technically has a very important mission. But somewhere along the way, she got so deep into this messy hatred-romance spiral that I genuinely forgot she was supposed to be stealing something.
We also get Bas, Teo, and Noelia, who all have enough secrets and complexity to immediately catch my attention. Every time I felt like I understood someone, another layer appeared and my trust issues immediately filed for overtime.
The magic system and the concept of the three High Houses were genuinely intriguing. There’s so much potential in the world-building, and I could feel how much history and lore existed beneath the surface. Unfortunately, I also wanted more of it. This is a very character-driven, which works in some ways, but it also means the magic system and wider world sometimes take a back seat. I kept waiting for the story to dig deeper into the Houses, the politics, and the magic.
Overall, this was an emotional story about revenge, rage, and people carrying far too many secrets. The characters kept me invested, the world has a ton of potential, and even when I got frustrated, I still wanted to know what happened next. And honestly, a book that can keep me frustrated and invested at the same time must be doing something right.
════════════════════════
Thank you to Little Brown and NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wicked Endeavors is a well-paced, lushly written story set in a medieval world of warring kingdoms. At the center of the conflict is a society of witches who are being weaponized as they fight to maintain their own power and magic.
Enter Caya, a non-magical orphan facing impending adulthood and the reality of being tossed onto the streets. Desperate after being looked over for adoption yet again, she is tempted into a partnership that offers her a chance at revenge against those who cost her everything. This arrangement gives her a shot at gaining access to magic—despite being born without it—and molds her into the perfect tool for political upheaval, serving both her own interests and those of her mysterious savior.
Through intense training and magic-assisted shapeshifting, Caya is transformed into a passing dupe of a high-society woman. She is thrust into a dynamic with a "spare" prince and his best friend, who happens to share a past with Caya. Together, the trio navigates what can best be described as a magical sorority rush, where witches are courted and selected by elite houses over a high-stakes society season. However, these houses and their glamorous events are layered against a backdrop of brewing rebellion: the "welks" (non-magic users) are finally pushing back after being systematically starved and forced into the shadows.
Cole’s strong world-building, unique magic system, and complex relationships keep the twists and turns coming all the way to the final page. It was a fast paced read, featuring an ending that had me squealing, clutching my Kindle, and kicking my feet! While the story is Young Adult (meaning it isn't spicy), it still feels incredibly mature and lush. Fingers crossed this isn't the end of the story—I will absolutely be back for the audiobook and book two!
Enter Caya, a non-magical orphan facing impending adulthood and the reality of being tossed onto the streets. Desperate after being looked over for adoption yet again, she is tempted into a partnership that offers her a chance at revenge against those who cost her everything. This arrangement gives her a shot at gaining access to magic—despite being born without it—and molds her into the perfect tool for political upheaval, serving both her own interests and those of her mysterious savior.
Through intense training and magic-assisted shapeshifting, Caya is transformed into a passing dupe of a high-society woman. She is thrust into a dynamic with a "spare" prince and his best friend, who happens to share a past with Caya. Together, the trio navigates what can best be described as a magical sorority rush, where witches are courted and selected by elite houses over a high-stakes society season. However, these houses and their glamorous events are layered against a backdrop of brewing rebellion: the "welks" (non-magic users) are finally pushing back after being systematically starved and forced into the shadows.
Cole’s strong world-building, unique magic system, and complex relationships keep the twists and turns coming all the way to the final page. It was a fast paced read, featuring an ending that had me squealing, clutching my Kindle, and kicking my feet! While the story is Young Adult (meaning it isn't spicy), it still feels incredibly mature and lush. Fingers crossed this isn't the end of the story—I will absolutely be back for the audiobook and book two!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Little Brown Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I love a good romantasy with a strong black female lead and this one had me flipping the pages! Coventry is now ruled by three witch houses, the call themselves the Trident. While they grow in power and wealth they force the welks (those without powers) into poverty and isolation. It wasn’t always this way, she remembers ten years ago when the last monarch ruled Coventry. Now Marisol Vinyet, a persona she had taken on so no one knows who she really is, will infiltrate the witches annual Coronet, the witches social season that’s designed to recruit new witches and strengthen their power. She’s working to take them down once and for all but to do so she may need to work with the neighboring country’s Prince Tomas. Only his bodyguard, Bas, just happens to be the boy who betrayed Marisol and destroyed all she held dear. So she’ll add revenge to her agenda, who says she can’t do both? Once she’s used the two boys for what she’s needs, she’ll kill them both. Only she can’t deny how either makes her feel, and the more time she spends with them the harder it is to hold onto her anger. Could this be the end of the witches or will her heart make it her downfall instead? A fast paced story that I couldn’t put down! Kamilah Cole once again creates a fascinating world that sucks you in! Full of intriguing, secrets, lies, betrayal, romance, and magic! And the ending! I need book two and this one’s not even out yet! Highly recommend for all romantasy enjoyers!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wicked Endeavors completely delivered for me. This was a lush, high-stakes romantasy full of deception, political intrigue, dangerous magic, and a romance that kept me constantly second-guessing everything I thought I knew.
I loved the premise of Caya infiltrating the witches’ elite society under a false identity. The Coronet setting was especially vivid, with its cutthroat social season and constant undercurrent of danger. It created the perfect backdrop for secrets, shifting loyalties, and tension at every turn.
Caya was a standout main character. Her drive for revenge was compelling, but what really worked for me was watching her slowly be pulled in different emotional directions as her mission became more complicated than she planned. The relationships with both Tomás and Bas added a lot of depth, and I liked how neither dynamic felt simple or predictable.
The pacing, worldbuilding, and magic system all came together more strongly as the story progressed, and I found myself completely invested by the midpoint. The betrayals and reveals landed well for me, and I especially appreciated how much emotional weight was woven into the political maneuvering.
Overall, this was an addictive, beautifully tense romantasy with strong characters, layered romance, and a revenge plot that kept me hooked until the very end. I finished this feeling fully satisfied and immediately wanting more from this world.
I loved the premise of Caya infiltrating the witches’ elite society under a false identity. The Coronet setting was especially vivid, with its cutthroat social season and constant undercurrent of danger. It created the perfect backdrop for secrets, shifting loyalties, and tension at every turn.
Caya was a standout main character. Her drive for revenge was compelling, but what really worked for me was watching her slowly be pulled in different emotional directions as her mission became more complicated than she planned. The relationships with both Tomás and Bas added a lot of depth, and I liked how neither dynamic felt simple or predictable.
The pacing, worldbuilding, and magic system all came together more strongly as the story progressed, and I found myself completely invested by the midpoint. The betrayals and reveals landed well for me, and I especially appreciated how much emotional weight was woven into the political maneuvering.
Overall, this was an addictive, beautifully tense romantasy with strong characters, layered romance, and a revenge plot that kept me hooked until the very end. I finished this feeling fully satisfied and immediately wanting more from this world.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4,25 ⭐️
Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts are my own.
Such a beautiful and evocative read with lovely descriptions that really pull you into the story while the interesting world, intriguing conflict, and clever main character keep you invested throughout. The Spanish inspiration was clear and really well done, and I loved how the atmosphere was so vibrant and picturesque.
I did think Caya's inner conflict could be slightly repetitive and almost feel forced sometimes. She made her own plan to do something that she ended up having very conflicted emotions about and almost had to convince herself to continue with, but there would be no negative consequences if she just decided not to do it. Actually, it would probably only be a lot easier if she didn't. I understand that it's an excellent way to show us the themes and complexities of "who am I without the driving force of my vengeance and rage?" and how difficult that is to let go of – it just sometimes ended up feeling like an odd thing to be that conflicted about when she had the power to just change her mind.
But it was a very enjoyable read, and the ending made me so eager for the next book. I'm excited to see how everything plays out – especially the story itself, but definitely also the romance.
Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts are my own.
Such a beautiful and evocative read with lovely descriptions that really pull you into the story while the interesting world, intriguing conflict, and clever main character keep you invested throughout. The Spanish inspiration was clear and really well done, and I loved how the atmosphere was so vibrant and picturesque.
I did think Caya's inner conflict could be slightly repetitive and almost feel forced sometimes. She made her own plan to do something that she ended up having very conflicted emotions about and almost had to convince herself to continue with, but there would be no negative consequences if she just decided not to do it. Actually, it would probably only be a lot easier if she didn't. I understand that it's an excellent way to show us the themes and complexities of "who am I without the driving force of my vengeance and rage?" and how difficult that is to let go of – it just sometimes ended up feeling like an odd thing to be that conflicted about when she had the power to just change her mind.
But it was a very enjoyable read, and the ending made me so eager for the next book. I'm excited to see how everything plays out – especially the story itself, but definitely also the romance.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was an entertaining romantasy read!
Caya is such an interesting character! Her rage propels her forward, but she’s far more than that—she’s fierce, cunning, and vengeful in the best possible ways. Her rage feels raw and justified once you find out what made her that way, and it totally explains why she moves the way she does. I wish we could have seen a bit more of who she is beyond that anger at times, but I respect the author for writing about an unapologetically angry Black girl!
Along similar lines, I would say that her messy hate-love triangle spiral made me forget about the very important mission she was on. So this book is definitely more character-driven than plot-driven, which was still enjoyable. The relationship between her, Bas, and Teo was fascinating to read about, as more secrets and layers to the latter’s characters were added.
I really loved the magic system in this book, with the three High Houses! There was so much potential there, and I wish we had gotten more about the history, lore, politics, and magic, as the world-building often took a back seat to what was going on with the characters.
I still really enjoyed my time reading this novel, though! I think anyone looking for a character-driven YA romantasy filled with revenge, rage, and secret-wielding characters will love this book!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for allowing me to read the eARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Imagine being hit in the gut multiple times by fate. Whenever things seem okay, boom! Fate knocks you down. Then one day a stranger offers you the chance to grasp the revenge you seek with no one ever knowing it was you doing the damage.
Would you take that chance? Well, our FMC Caya did! Fuelled by spite, fury, and a generous benefactor, she seized her shot at making the people who hurt her pay. And honestly? This was a much more emotional ride than I had expected.
But it is Kamilah Cole, and she wields a mighty pen! In this, her latest release, she brings us immediately into Caya’s world. We get a refreshing, ‘let’s begin at the end’ first chapter, then we dive fully into a world of witchy magic, royalty, and betrayed loyalty.
This was enjoyable, easy reading for me. I would sit down to just get a chapter in while at work and end up multiple chapters deep and ignoring emails. There were fun elements, great lore, and a foundation of painful memories that kept both me and the FMC flowing forward.
Also, if love triangles are your thing? You will have a blast here, because the way we went back and forth between those two MMCs, you never really knew who Caya was actually going to choose.
I laughed, I teared up, and I smiled with pleasure at that ending.
Wicked Endeavors is a very strong 4 stars for me, and I think anyone who craves vengeance-seeking missiles disguised as characters in a book should add this witchy delight to their TBR.
Would you take that chance? Well, our FMC Caya did! Fuelled by spite, fury, and a generous benefactor, she seized her shot at making the people who hurt her pay. And honestly? This was a much more emotional ride than I had expected.
But it is Kamilah Cole, and she wields a mighty pen! In this, her latest release, she brings us immediately into Caya’s world. We get a refreshing, ‘let’s begin at the end’ first chapter, then we dive fully into a world of witchy magic, royalty, and betrayed loyalty.
This was enjoyable, easy reading for me. I would sit down to just get a chapter in while at work and end up multiple chapters deep and ignoring emails. There were fun elements, great lore, and a foundation of painful memories that kept both me and the FMC flowing forward.
Also, if love triangles are your thing? You will have a blast here, because the way we went back and forth between those two MMCs, you never really knew who Caya was actually going to choose.
I laughed, I teared up, and I smiled with pleasure at that ending.
Wicked Endeavors is a very strong 4 stars for me, and I think anyone who craves vengeance-seeking missiles disguised as characters in a book should add this witchy delight to their TBR.
Review of advance copy
Read for a super secret project.
Sadly, I didn't enjoy this as much as I could have done.
One of my pet peeves is a time jump, especially so early on in the story, but I guess it did help to skip over repetitive training scenes.
I never really connected to our characters or really appreciate their growth because everyone felt like they were whining about their circumstances, even though they were scheming to do awful things and manipulating others.
There is a love triangle which I found entertaining.
However, when the feelings of attraction was admitted to and we had some kissy scenes, they felt too rushed at the end, despite making me all giggly. I think the pacing with it felt a bit awkward, both rushed (where feelings were concerned), yet slow to get to some scenes, which made them feel too forced at the end and clunky.
It all felt a bit dramatic. I couldn't really sympathise much with Marisol because she seemed so outraged that others would dare manipulate and betray her, when she was scheming the same things!
The ending did pack a bit of a devastating punch and I did feel so much more for Marisol by the end, but it was still a sort of numbed emotion, not made fully fleshed due to the lack of connection I felt throughout.
There were some fun bits, but I felt like it took me longer than it should have. I've rated it a 3 star but it's probably a little bit closer to a 2.5 stars.
Pick it up, give it a go & enjoy!
Sadly, I didn't enjoy this as much as I could have done.
One of my pet peeves is a time jump, especially so early on in the story, but I guess it did help to skip over repetitive training scenes.
I never really connected to our characters or really appreciate their growth because everyone felt like they were whining about their circumstances, even though they were scheming to do awful things and manipulating others.
There is a love triangle which I found entertaining.
However, when the feelings of attraction was admitted to and we had some kissy scenes, they felt too rushed at the end, despite making me all giggly. I think the pacing with it felt a bit awkward, both rushed (where feelings were concerned), yet slow to get to some scenes, which made them feel too forced at the end and clunky.
It all felt a bit dramatic. I couldn't really sympathise much with Marisol because she seemed so outraged that others would dare manipulate and betray her, when she was scheming the same things!
The ending did pack a bit of a devastating punch and I did feel so much more for Marisol by the end, but it was still a sort of numbed emotion, not made fully fleshed due to the lack of connection I felt throughout.
There were some fun bits, but I felt like it took me longer than it should have. I've rated it a 3 star but it's probably a little bit closer to a 2.5 stars.
Pick it up, give it a go & enjoy!
August 4, 2026
Thank you to the publisher for a copy on NetGalley.
I really enjoyed this. I loved the morally gray characters that Kamilah Cole wrote, and the world in this was so good!
This was fast paced, to the point where it flew by because of how fast it was! I also loved how well written it was.
The reason why this gets a 4 star rather than a 5 star (because it was close for a while) is because sometimes the MCs inner conflict was repetitive. It came back to the same exact reason why she wanted revenge, but it felt like it was said way too often. Moreover, when it’s revealed how Bas was treated and Marisol is like “oh”, there wasn’t as much emotional turmoil as there could be. We find out that Bas is treated SO differently than Marisol was, but there wasn’t much internal conflict in Marisol as I felt there could’ve been! You’re finding out your childhood friend was treated WAY differently than you and you barely question it? Come on!
Otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
It's that time again! Wicked Endeavors ARCs have come in, which means early reads will come soon. I wrote this book, and I am very proud of it, so I am giving it five stars. But I am also giving you a list of content warnings so you can read responsibly.
-Violent thoughts
-Violent acts (knife violence, threats with weapons, bleeding from an arrow wound)
-Violent fantasies (slit throats, dead bodies, stabbings)
-A hunting scene (animals are magically created, and none are killed or injured on the page, but still)
-Lots of talk of blood and death
-PG-13 kisses
-Character deaths (past)
-Child death (past)
Take care of yourselves, and I hope you enjoy this story. <3
-Violent thoughts
-Violent acts (knife violence, threats with weapons, bleeding from an arrow wound)
-Violent fantasies (slit throats, dead bodies, stabbings)
-A hunting scene (animals are magically created, and none are killed or injured on the page, but still)
-Lots of talk of blood and death
-PG-13 kisses
-Character deaths (past)
-Child death (past)
Take care of yourselves, and I hope you enjoy this story. <3
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you netgalley for the arc, these are my own opinions
Starting the book at the ending was fantastic because of course I want to know how the heck we got there!
I enjoyed the political intrigue, magic system, and character building. While classified as a romantasy, the romantic plot was more background story that didn’t take away from the main themes. I would have liked a bit more world building and understanding of the magic systems but the way it’s done works with the fact Caya/Marisol is only 18 and has been fairly sheltered from certain history and aspects of where she lives. We experience her naïveté as if we are her.
I look forward to book 2, as it seems there will be one, and can’t wait for more of Caya, Bas, Teo, and Noelia, and hope for a deeper exploration into the world and magic system.
Starting the book at the ending was fantastic because of course I want to know how the heck we got there!
I enjoyed the political intrigue, magic system, and character building. While classified as a romantasy, the romantic plot was more background story that didn’t take away from the main themes. I would have liked a bit more world building and understanding of the magic systems but the way it’s done works with the fact Caya/Marisol is only 18 and has been fairly sheltered from certain history and aspects of where she lives. We experience her naïveté as if we are her.
I look forward to book 2, as it seems there will be one, and can’t wait for more of Caya, Bas, Teo, and Noelia, and hope for a deeper exploration into the world and magic system.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I thoroughly enjoyed the pacing of this book. It hooked me from the beginning when it starts from a scene the end of the book describing how the story started out and got to that point.
The FMC is driven by revenge from a childhood perspective of events, her childhood friend turned to enemy has a different view point. She lies and schemes to execute her revenge whereas he lies through secrets and omissions, but along the way she finds out there are other liars. The ending surprised me a little and set ups the sequel to continue the cat and mouse game.
The FMC is driven by revenge from a childhood perspective of events, her childhood friend turned to enemy has a different view point. She lies and schemes to execute her revenge whereas he lies through secrets and omissions, but along the way she finds out there are other liars. The ending surprised me a little and set ups the sequel to continue the cat and mouse game.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Little Brown Group for the arc! This was such an intriguing book and definitely had me hooked from the start. The book is full of so many characters that have so much depth in particular our fmc who is such a complex and layered character. The pacing is great and never felt like it was too slow and there is so much packed within this book yet it never felt overwhelming. I’m looking forward to seeing where this plot and the relationships will go in future books!
July 26, 2026
No one writes a morally grey character like Kamilah Cole! I loved this Wicked Endeavors so much and I wish I could read the next book right now. The plot and political intrigued pulled me in and kept me at the edge of my seat the whole book. The world building was so immersive and robust and the magic system was so interesting. Caya was so deep and complex. I felt her fire, her passion, her love, and her grief. This book made me scream, gasp, laugh, cry. This is a story of love and belonging and revenge. I can’t wait to read Wicked Endeavors again and again.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was my first book by this author. I kept hearing that she was really good, and yes—she is really good.
Wicked Endeavors is about a vengeful eighteen-year-old, Caya, who is adopted by a mysterious benefactor right as she’s about to age out of the orphanage where she grew up. They end up working together (each for their own vengeful reasons) to infiltrate a society of witches and kill the prince of a neighboring country. But this plan becomes very complicated when Caya’s childhood friend, who once betrayed her, shows up as the prince’s personal guard.
The world building in this book is incredible, and Cole really packs a lot of it into an economical amount of space. It’s a fast-paced story, and it’s quite amazing how much ground she covers in terms of relationship evolution, character backstory, the history of the world, and the mechanics of the magic in each chapter. Her words just hit so precisely. She has a really lovely cadence to her prose.
I realize that I’m just geeking out over writing craft, so let me talk about the story LOL
My favorite thing was everyone’s twisted relationships. Like, you don’t really know who anybody is or what their motivations are until the end, aside from the FMC. Watching her ideas about justice and her need for vengeance evolve as those relationships evolved was the most compelling part of the story for me.
If you enjoy political intrigue and quite angsty love triangles, you will love this one. I know I’ve said before that I’m not really a love triangle person, but I liked this one. It fit the story and added a lot of extra tension that heightened an already super tense situation. This was very suspenseful—so many twists and turns, I honestly had no idea what to expect from the ending (I liked the ending!).
Wicked Endeavors is about a vengeful eighteen-year-old, Caya, who is adopted by a mysterious benefactor right as she’s about to age out of the orphanage where she grew up. They end up working together (each for their own vengeful reasons) to infiltrate a society of witches and kill the prince of a neighboring country. But this plan becomes very complicated when Caya’s childhood friend, who once betrayed her, shows up as the prince’s personal guard.
The world building in this book is incredible, and Cole really packs a lot of it into an economical amount of space. It’s a fast-paced story, and it’s quite amazing how much ground she covers in terms of relationship evolution, character backstory, the history of the world, and the mechanics of the magic in each chapter. Her words just hit so precisely. She has a really lovely cadence to her prose.
I realize that I’m just geeking out over writing craft, so let me talk about the story LOL
My favorite thing was everyone’s twisted relationships. Like, you don’t really know who anybody is or what their motivations are until the end, aside from the FMC. Watching her ideas about justice and her need for vengeance evolve as those relationships evolved was the most compelling part of the story for me.
If you enjoy political intrigue and quite angsty love triangles, you will love this one. I know I’ve said before that I’m not really a love triangle person, but I liked this one. It fit the story and added a lot of extra tension that heightened an already super tense situation. This was very suspenseful—so many twists and turns, I honestly had no idea what to expect from the ending (I liked the ending!).
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed Wicked Endeavors! The world-building was immersive, the magic system was fascinating, and the characters felt genuine and easy to root for. There were plenty of twists that kept me turning the pages, and I loved the darker, magical atmosphere throughout. It wasn’t perfect, but it was an engaging read that left me excited to see what Kamilah Cole writes next. Definitely recommend it for fantasy fans!
Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for an ARC.
Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for an ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a fun light and quick read.
I enjoyed the characters and the story. Caya goes through so much and I'm happy with her ending of this book. I also liked the magic system and thought it was interesting to read about. It just didn't hook me enough to crave the next book in the series.
Enjoyable overall and I probably will read the next book to find out what happens.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed the characters and the story. Caya goes through so much and I'm happy with her ending of this book. I also liked the magic system and thought it was interesting to read about. It just didn't hook me enough to crave the next book in the series.
Enjoyable overall and I probably will read the next book to find out what happens.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
July 27, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wicked Endeavors is a fantastic start to a new duology. Our FMC Caya/Marisol is wonderfully complex and driven by anger, revenge and a desire to belong and be loved. The story, pacing and chemistry between the main character’s were so good! The ending really hit me in the feels. Highly recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wicked Endeavors is a fantastic start to a new duology. Our FMC Caya/Marisol is wonderfully complex and driven by anger, revenge and a desire to belong and be loved. The story, pacing and chemistry between the main character’s were so good! The ending really hit me in the feels. Highly recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When So Let Them Burn came out, someone said YA fantasy is in good hands with Kamilah Cole. With every book, she continues to prove that true. Masterfully written and an incredible exploration of anger and how to best use it while not losing yourself. A masterpiece.
Review of advance copy received from Author
KAMILAH COLE UR FUCKING MINDDDDD
full rtc but top tier as always
full rtc but top tier as always
Did Not Finish
August 4, 2026I already didn’t care by the first chapter. The writing was so stilted and there were mass amounts of info dumping.
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