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Eclipse & the Wolf
Not yet published
Expected 16 Feb 27FROM THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR
In this blockbuster epic pulsing with powerful magic and political tension, follow Eclipse and Wolf as they race to save a world on the verge of collapse.
Welcome to St Paradise: where clans' elites trade in secrets, sex and goods - a glittering world dripping with wealth and blood, old and new.
Eclipse Orinabe has not forgotten the blood. One of the few survivors of the Orinabe clan massacre, she has been raised to be a bigger terror than the one she lived through, a weapon of destruction disguised as a beautiful princess.
Yearning to escape, Eclipse sneaks out to a club on neutral territory, dangerous as running on a knife's edge. When she crosses paths with Wolf - Heir to the Goldshot clan - ancient blood magic humming in their veins forms a bond that will transform the future of St. Paradise forever.
In this blockbuster epic pulsing with powerful magic and political tension, follow Eclipse and Wolf as they race to save a world on the verge of collapse.
Welcome to St Paradise: where clans' elites trade in secrets, sex and goods - a glittering world dripping with wealth and blood, old and new.
Eclipse Orinabe has not forgotten the blood. One of the few survivors of the Orinabe clan massacre, she has been raised to be a bigger terror than the one she lived through, a weapon of destruction disguised as a beautiful princess.
Yearning to escape, Eclipse sneaks out to a club on neutral territory, dangerous as running on a knife's edge. When she crosses paths with Wolf - Heir to the Goldshot clan - ancient blood magic humming in their veins forms a bond that will transform the future of St. Paradise forever.
480 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication February 2, 2027
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July 17, 2026I GOT IT! Thank you HarperVoyager for the arc, I can't wait to get into it
August 14, 2026
I feel unmoored, uncomfortable, sick, like I just got punched in the stomach. I probably shouldn’t write this review right after finishing the book, because my emotions are too high, but also I want to scream to the whole world to read this book. This is clearly an author who is now a master of their craft; it’s a multi pov book, and yet each character is so distinct. Also this is what fantasy as a genre exists for: to take a mirror to our souls, and let us see what a human can do and be, in all its monstrosity and goodness. This is Akwaeke Emezi’s first adult fantasy and oh how I hope it’s not their last!
Thank you Netgalley and Avon for the ARC!
Thank you Netgalley and Avon for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I can't believe I'm DNFing an Emezi novel, but...I'm DNFing an Emezi novel.
The prose is 80% gorgeous, but that other 20% is deeply clunky. There is so much info-dumping in the beginning - at first, it was woven into the flow of the story well enough that I didn't mind, but it kept getting worse and worse. And then the repetition started - the fact that Wolf was baptised in rabbit blood upon becoming Heir was mentioned three times in his first POV chapter. The first chapter following Noah repeats the same few facts over and over and over, sometimes multiple times on the same page. I don't need to be told things this many times, it's just annoying.
Quotes to showcase what I mean about clunky prose taken from my early reading copy, so bear in mind these could all be edited or even removed from the final, published edition of the book.
Incredible image, but 'anything on my aunt'? Why not 'any part of my aunt'?
'alive Etim'? Etim are one of the clans, so we're talking about people. Why not just say 'what we liked to do to Etim'? Also, by specifying 'alive' you're implying that dead Etim fall into your hands sometimes? Which seems very weird and unlikely???
As far as I can tell after searching through Duck Duck Go results, 'sickled' means 'to be provided with a sickle blade', which I don't think makes sense here. From context, I think 'sickled blade' is here meant to mean sickle-SHAPED blade? But that's apparently not what the word means.
'translate ourselves'? (From context, the meaning here is something like, 'but that's just how we explain/describe ourselves to the other clans'.)
'a worship'? I don't think 'worship' is the kind of noun that can be used this way?
What do you mean, 'another piece of the vision had been more of a premonition'? That's like saying 'another piece of the blue was also blue'. ??? Also from context, I genuinely don't know if the 'simple sentence' was a literal sentence the seer saw in words, or if they 'heard' it spoken, or if it was wordless knowledge that could be summed up in a sentence.
This sounds wonderful, but I have no idea what it means. What am I supposed to picture?
I could keep going. HOWEVER. I don't remember ever noticing anything like this in any of Emezi's other books. And I got my early reading copy VERY early - give or take six months before release day. Put those two facts together, and I wonder if the version I read just...hasn't gone through final edits yet? It seems unlikely that Emezi would abruptly start having sentences like this when they never have before.
And the other 80% of the prose is every bit as stunning as Emezi's prose had hitherto always been. Which I think makes it even more likely that what I read wasn't properly finished yet - they clearly CAN still write beautifully. If the version I read is going to be polished one more time before publication, then probably that final version will have all the clunkiness I quoted polished out of it.
But there is also the problem of the failure of reasoning of some of these characters. As in, what they were thinking and doing made no sense at all.
Case in point: Silver Orinabe has demanded all the clans reveal who their Heirs are. The twin leaders of clan Solarin are deeply reluctant to do so, but...they never even consider lying? We already know the leader of another clan is taking that clan's Heir and a second person, with the goal of keeping everyone else guessing as to which of the two is the actual Heir. Why doesn't Solarin do something similar? Or just straight-up lie and say your Heir is someone it's not? Nope, they 'have' to tell Silver the truth. Why??? How will Silver know you've lied? The Solarins are psychics but Silver isn't. ???
Part of the reason the Solarin leaders are so eager to ally with Silver is a prophecy-vision they've had. See, Orinabe men get tattooed with a seven-headed lizard - the Orinabe are matriarchal, the tattoo denotes possession but also protection. The Solarins have had a vision of Noah with this tattoo. And they interpret it as...meaning the clans will ally.
What? No, it means Noah is going to belong to the Orinabe at some point. It means he'll leave clan Solarin and join clan Orinabe. Wtf? We already know this, it was established in chapter one. I don't think it's likely that the Solarins were this wrong about what the tattoo means when they're all super-spies (because psychics). So what on earth is this reasoning? How did you reach that conclusion? It completely contradicts the evidence!
There are more moments like that. Nobody touches Solarins, because everyone knows if you do they can read your mind. Within the clan, NOBODY touches Noah, because if you do his very powerful telepathy might destroy you. But...a newbie to the clan is nervous and grabs his arm. ??? If she's a newbie, then she must have been adopted in - which means she has grown up with the rest of the city's Do Not Touch Solarins taboo/fear. There's even a law forbidding Solarins from touching others because of this. So even if she's forgotten that even other Solarins shouldn't touch Noah, why would she reach for his arm? That doesn't make sense. She's spent her whole life fearing the touch of Solarins. If she's new enough to forget clan rules, how can she have forgotten the rules she grew up with?
These seem like things that are a lot less likely to be whisked away this close to publication. I could obviously be wrong.
Ultimately, I can only judge the book that's in front of me. The version of it I've been given, I am just not enjoying, and don't have any reason to want to keep reading. I have no problem with big, complicated secondary-world settings, I can keep track of books' worth of lore, but I don't want it constantly info-dumped on me. I want characters whose reasoning I can follow. The budding romance bores me; it's all sexual chemistry with no emotional basis - not an inherently bad thing, but not one I'm interested in.
After thinking about it, I realised that Eclipse and the Wolf reminds me a lot of Emezi's previous book, Son of the Morning - which I really didn't enjoy. They have the same kind of flavour or vibe, even though Eclipse and the Wolf is much more violent, much darker; they're both running on Paranormal Romance logic, if anyone gets what I mean by that. If you enjoyed the one, I suspect you'll enjoy the other too (assuming you're fine with the violence/lack of it).
But this is not for me, I think.
The prose is 80% gorgeous, but that other 20% is deeply clunky. There is so much info-dumping in the beginning - at first, it was woven into the flow of the story well enough that I didn't mind, but it kept getting worse and worse. And then the repetition started - the fact that Wolf was baptised in rabbit blood upon becoming Heir was mentioned three times in his first POV chapter. The first chapter following Noah repeats the same few facts over and over and over, sometimes multiple times on the same page. I don't need to be told things this many times, it's just annoying.
Quotes to showcase what I mean about clunky prose taken from my early reading copy, so bear in mind these could all be edited or even removed from the final, published edition of the book.
The Butcher was impenetrable, resurrected, with a necklace of shiny scar tissue around her throat that she refused to smooth away. Sometimes I'd look over at it and think about how that wound on the boat was the last time I ever saw anything on my aunt smile.
Incredible image, but 'anything on my aunt'? Why not 'any part of my aunt'?
Anything would be better than what we liked to do to alive Etim who fell into our hands
'alive Etim'? Etim are one of the clans, so we're talking about people. Why not just say 'what we liked to do to Etim'? Also, by specifying 'alive' you're implying that dead Etim fall into your hands sometimes? Which seems very weird and unlikely???
I was hers--her sword, her sickled blade
As far as I can tell after searching through Duck Duck Go results, 'sickled' means 'to be provided with a sickle blade', which I don't think makes sense here. From context, I think 'sickled blade' is here meant to mean sickle-SHAPED blade? But that's apparently not what the word means.
but that's just a word we use to translate ourselves to the other clans
'translate ourselves'? (From context, the meaning here is something like, 'but that's just how we explain/describe ourselves to the other clans'.)
We have no qualms with violence, obviously, but it's as much a ritual as anything else, as much a worship and sacrifice, as much a service and sermon.
'a worship'? I don't think 'worship' is the kind of noun that can be used this way?
Another piece of the vision had been more of a premonition shaped into a simple sentence.
What do you mean, 'another piece of the vision had been more of a premonition'? That's like saying 'another piece of the blue was also blue'. ??? Also from context, I genuinely don't know if the 'simple sentence' was a literal sentence the seer saw in words, or if they 'heard' it spoken, or if it was wordless knowledge that could be summed up in a sentence.
The full vision was a tapestried horizon
This sounds wonderful, but I have no idea what it means. What am I supposed to picture?
I could keep going. HOWEVER. I don't remember ever noticing anything like this in any of Emezi's other books. And I got my early reading copy VERY early - give or take six months before release day. Put those two facts together, and I wonder if the version I read just...hasn't gone through final edits yet? It seems unlikely that Emezi would abruptly start having sentences like this when they never have before.
And the other 80% of the prose is every bit as stunning as Emezi's prose had hitherto always been. Which I think makes it even more likely that what I read wasn't properly finished yet - they clearly CAN still write beautifully. If the version I read is going to be polished one more time before publication, then probably that final version will have all the clunkiness I quoted polished out of it.
But there is also the problem of the failure of reasoning of some of these characters. As in, what they were thinking and doing made no sense at all.
Case in point: Silver Orinabe has demanded all the clans reveal who their Heirs are. The twin leaders of clan Solarin are deeply reluctant to do so, but...they never even consider lying? We already know the leader of another clan is taking that clan's Heir and a second person, with the goal of keeping everyone else guessing as to which of the two is the actual Heir. Why doesn't Solarin do something similar? Or just straight-up lie and say your Heir is someone it's not? Nope, they 'have' to tell Silver the truth. Why??? How will Silver know you've lied? The Solarins are psychics but Silver isn't. ???
Part of the reason the Solarin leaders are so eager to ally with Silver is a prophecy-vision they've had. See, Orinabe men get tattooed with a seven-headed lizard - the Orinabe are matriarchal, the tattoo denotes possession but also protection. The Solarins have had a vision of Noah with this tattoo. And they interpret it as...meaning the clans will ally.
What? No, it means Noah is going to belong to the Orinabe at some point. It means he'll leave clan Solarin and join clan Orinabe. Wtf? We already know this, it was established in chapter one. I don't think it's likely that the Solarins were this wrong about what the tattoo means when they're all super-spies (because psychics). So what on earth is this reasoning? How did you reach that conclusion? It completely contradicts the evidence!
There are more moments like that. Nobody touches Solarins, because everyone knows if you do they can read your mind. Within the clan, NOBODY touches Noah, because if you do his very powerful telepathy might destroy you. But...a newbie to the clan is nervous and grabs his arm. ??? If she's a newbie, then she must have been adopted in - which means she has grown up with the rest of the city's Do Not Touch Solarins taboo/fear. There's even a law forbidding Solarins from touching others because of this. So even if she's forgotten that even other Solarins shouldn't touch Noah, why would she reach for his arm? That doesn't make sense. She's spent her whole life fearing the touch of Solarins. If she's new enough to forget clan rules, how can she have forgotten the rules she grew up with?
These seem like things that are a lot less likely to be whisked away this close to publication. I could obviously be wrong.
Ultimately, I can only judge the book that's in front of me. The version of it I've been given, I am just not enjoying, and don't have any reason to want to keep reading. I have no problem with big, complicated secondary-world settings, I can keep track of books' worth of lore, but I don't want it constantly info-dumped on me. I want characters whose reasoning I can follow. The budding romance bores me; it's all sexual chemistry with no emotional basis - not an inherently bad thing, but not one I'm interested in.
After thinking about it, I realised that Eclipse and the Wolf reminds me a lot of Emezi's previous book, Son of the Morning - which I really didn't enjoy. They have the same kind of flavour or vibe, even though Eclipse and the Wolf is much more violent, much darker; they're both running on Paranormal Romance logic, if anyone gets what I mean by that. If you enjoyed the one, I suspect you'll enjoy the other too (assuming you're fine with the violence/lack of it).
But this is not for me, I think.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Secrets, blood, lies, power, violence, and magic make up the foundation of St. Paradise. Akwaeke is one of my favourite authors of all time and they have done it again! I love this book so much. OMG??!!!!
Many thanks to Faber and Faber Ltd and Netgalley for my early access ebook.
This was so ambitious and expansive and it hit the mark on every front. There is so much I can say in praise of this book and it still will not be enough to encompass how amazing this was. To start with, I went into this book blind. All I knew was that my fave was releasing a new book, and I wanted to read it! To my surprise, it had a lot of elements that I love in a book/fantasy - clan system, prophecy, intergenerational dynamics, an ensemble cast, and so on.
Lots of triggers here, please, so if you as a reader need to check the triggers before reading please do.
This book had a number of POVs and we follow different main characters as the story unfolds. It is such a testament to Akwaeke's prowess that I never mixed the main characters up. Each character was so distinct and well fleshed out. Their personalities, flaws, strengths, fears, and motivations were so unique to them.
St. Paradise is where this book is set, a city powered by magic and power, and it is based on a clan system. The layout of the land is split into clan land, which are separated by neutral zones where civilians aka the clanless live. The clans rule and they are at each other's necks even if they try to play at some semblance of cooperation through the council. Each clan is also run differently, they have a different type of magic, and their stronghold.
In this book, the stakes are high as can be. Bodies are dropping left and right and the story itself starts with a massacre. One of the main and eponymous characters is Eclipse Orinabe, who has been traumatised by the massacre of her people. Along with her aunt, they rebuild in secret and find their way back into power.
There are so many questions this book raises and aims to dissect - at what point does revenge become too much? what amount of power is too much power? There are also a number of themes explored here that I appreciate so much. The writing was stunning, the world building was exquisite and the various magic systems were done so so well.
There is so much power brimming in the pages of this book - the characters are so powerful and again, the stakes are so high, the boundaries are so blurred. This book was so thrilling. It's high fantasy with aspects of thriller and mystery, I was SO HOOKED reading this. It is also really steamy and I enjoyed the complicated emotional and sexual relationships between the various main characters.
I would love to read so many sequels set in this world, it's that good!
Many thanks to Faber and Faber Ltd and Netgalley for my early access ebook.
This was so ambitious and expansive and it hit the mark on every front. There is so much I can say in praise of this book and it still will not be enough to encompass how amazing this was. To start with, I went into this book blind. All I knew was that my fave was releasing a new book, and I wanted to read it! To my surprise, it had a lot of elements that I love in a book/fantasy - clan system, prophecy, intergenerational dynamics, an ensemble cast, and so on.
Lots of triggers here, please, so if you as a reader need to check the triggers before reading please do.
This book had a number of POVs and we follow different main characters as the story unfolds. It is such a testament to Akwaeke's prowess that I never mixed the main characters up. Each character was so distinct and well fleshed out. Their personalities, flaws, strengths, fears, and motivations were so unique to them.
St. Paradise is where this book is set, a city powered by magic and power, and it is based on a clan system. The layout of the land is split into clan land, which are separated by neutral zones where civilians aka the clanless live. The clans rule and they are at each other's necks even if they try to play at some semblance of cooperation through the council. Each clan is also run differently, they have a different type of magic, and their stronghold.
In this book, the stakes are high as can be. Bodies are dropping left and right and the story itself starts with a massacre. One of the main and eponymous characters is Eclipse Orinabe, who has been traumatised by the massacre of her people. Along with her aunt, they rebuild in secret and find their way back into power.
There are so many questions this book raises and aims to dissect - at what point does revenge become too much? what amount of power is too much power? There are also a number of themes explored here that I appreciate so much. The writing was stunning, the world building was exquisite and the various magic systems were done so so well.
There is so much power brimming in the pages of this book - the characters are so powerful and again, the stakes are so high, the boundaries are so blurred. This book was so thrilling. It's high fantasy with aspects of thriller and mystery, I was SO HOOKED reading this. It is also really steamy and I enjoyed the complicated emotional and sexual relationships between the various main characters.
I would love to read so many sequels set in this world, it's that good!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Emezi does not miss! They can write circles around your fave and seem to excel in any genre. This is a standalone adult fantasy that I demolished over three days. I’ve struggled with contemporary fantasy in the past, especially when it comes to romantasy, so to read this and realise I can enjoy it when it’s done well is super validating. There are romance tropes here that I would normally roll my eyes at but had fun with here. Most of the characters are queer and I especially loved the nonbinary representation that felt lived in and not tokenistic.
This is an urban fantasy that follows four heirs of the clan families of St Paradise, a city teeming with blood magic and secrets. The themes of this book center around revenge, power, and legacy. Eclipse is fantastic, truly evil at times in a way you don’t often get to see for female characters. There are multiple romantic threads explored and I loved Eclipse being hot for all three of the other heirs, even if it was a bit insta-lust.
Although I had so much fun reading this and thought there was a lot that was done really well, I do think that some elements felt stronger than others. Being a standalone meant certain threads didn’t get as much development as I would have liked. It was almost impossible to visualise what the city actually looked like, which is a shame because it played such a big role in the magic system. The rapture/drug trade stuff felt super background given how much of Eclipse’s family life was built around it and the impact it had on the city.
I thought Eclipse and Wolf’s relationship felt a bit rushed and I would have liked to see more of the tension between the two. I don't feel like I ever fully understood why the blood tie was between the two of them specifically and why it started/ended beyond filling a fated mate/touch her and die/enemies to lovers kind of thing which made it feel superficial. I also didn’t find Noah super compelling, his motives and internal struggles didn’t feel as dynamic as some of the others. That being said, there's so much that did work well and it’s not that these took away from the story, more so that I could have read even more of it.
I don’t totally feel like this fits the ‘epic fantasy’ label either but I’m sure others will disagree. I think it will appeal to people who like romantasy but want something a little more complex, or fans of urban fantasy like the green bones saga.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.
This is an urban fantasy that follows four heirs of the clan families of St Paradise, a city teeming with blood magic and secrets. The themes of this book center around revenge, power, and legacy. Eclipse is fantastic, truly evil at times in a way you don’t often get to see for female characters. There are multiple romantic threads explored and I loved Eclipse being hot for all three of the other heirs, even if it was a bit insta-lust.
Although I had so much fun reading this and thought there was a lot that was done really well, I do think that some elements felt stronger than others. Being a standalone meant certain threads didn’t get as much development as I would have liked. It was almost impossible to visualise what the city actually looked like, which is a shame because it played such a big role in the magic system. The rapture/drug trade stuff felt super background given how much of Eclipse’s family life was built around it and the impact it had on the city.
I thought Eclipse and Wolf’s relationship felt a bit rushed and I would have liked to see more of the tension between the two. I don't feel like I ever fully understood why the blood tie was between the two of them specifically and why it started/ended beyond filling a fated mate/touch her and die/enemies to lovers kind of thing which made it feel superficial. I also didn’t find Noah super compelling, his motives and internal struggles didn’t feel as dynamic as some of the others. That being said, there's so much that did work well and it’s not that these took away from the story, more so that I could have read even more of it.
I don’t totally feel like this fits the ‘epic fantasy’ label either but I’m sure others will disagree. I think it will appeal to people who like romantasy but want something a little more complex, or fans of urban fantasy like the green bones saga.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.
August 1, 2026
Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the e-ARC!
Some triggers and warnings: There are a lot of mentions of shameless death and blood in this book, including, but not limited to, gore, graphic depictions of death and torture, death of children, and drug usage.
Typically, those elements would turn me away, but HOLY COW, I don’t even know where to begin with this book. This is my first time reading through one of Emezi’s novels, and it’s safe to say I was extremely impressed.
Eclipse & The Wolf is probably one of the best vengeance-and-redemption stories I have read in a VERY long time, and all the characters are wonderfully diverse, with their own flaws and motivations. As I’ve pointed out above, there is a decent chunk of content that would be disturbing to some readers, as there’s very little sugarcoating on how far someone will go based on their own perception of justice/fairness and what they are owed from the world; as is the case with most intense vengeance/revenge stories.
Set in the city of St. Paradise, the main storyline follows Eclipse’s POV after the slaughter of her family and her subsequent vengeance, as well as a wide cast of side-character POVs that really help convey the scale of destruction that the path of vengeance/revenge exacts on an individual. Emezi did a great job of not loading in a ton of different characters but giving us just enough to flesh out the story and world. The writing style and voice struck a nice balance between seriousness and humor, allowing the characters’ personalities to come through. As for the world, I would say it is an interesting and fresher interpretation of magic, and I would’ve loved to get more info on that; however, the novel does its best to present more world-building in its intrigue and pillow talk.
Speaking of which, I will say I’m a bittttt peeved about the relationship chart the characters had with each other, but that all made it messier and fun (in a way).
Some minor drawbacks are that I did think the novel started a bit slowly, as there was a substantial amount of info-dumping; however, eventually it paid off as all the pieces of the “who-dunnit” came together.
However, I love the main theme circled back to how pain begets pain, and only when one grasps what is “enough” can the healing process begin.
Overall, I give it 5/5 stars as I could not put down this book because I HAD TO KNOW what was next.
Some triggers and warnings: There are a lot of mentions of shameless death and blood in this book, including, but not limited to, gore, graphic depictions of death and torture, death of children, and drug usage.
Typically, those elements would turn me away, but HOLY COW, I don’t even know where to begin with this book. This is my first time reading through one of Emezi’s novels, and it’s safe to say I was extremely impressed.
Eclipse & The Wolf is probably one of the best vengeance-and-redemption stories I have read in a VERY long time, and all the characters are wonderfully diverse, with their own flaws and motivations. As I’ve pointed out above, there is a decent chunk of content that would be disturbing to some readers, as there’s very little sugarcoating on how far someone will go based on their own perception of justice/fairness and what they are owed from the world; as is the case with most intense vengeance/revenge stories.
Set in the city of St. Paradise, the main storyline follows Eclipse’s POV after the slaughter of her family and her subsequent vengeance, as well as a wide cast of side-character POVs that really help convey the scale of destruction that the path of vengeance/revenge exacts on an individual. Emezi did a great job of not loading in a ton of different characters but giving us just enough to flesh out the story and world. The writing style and voice struck a nice balance between seriousness and humor, allowing the characters’ personalities to come through. As for the world, I would say it is an interesting and fresher interpretation of magic, and I would’ve loved to get more info on that; however, the novel does its best to present more world-building in its intrigue and pillow talk.
Speaking of which, I will say I’m a bittttt peeved about the relationship chart the characters had with each other, but that all made it messier and fun (in a way).
Some minor drawbacks are that I did think the novel started a bit slowly, as there was a substantial amount of info-dumping; however, eventually it paid off as all the pieces of the “who-dunnit” came together.
However, I love the main theme circled back to how pain begets pain, and only when one grasps what is “enough” can the healing process begin.
Overall, I give it 5/5 stars as I could not put down this book because I HAD TO KNOW what was next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Emezi’s first adult fantasy novel is an intricately plotted whirlwind of a fantasy drama that gives vibes of The Godfather and Succession as Eclipse, Wolf, Kilo, and Noah struggle to not just survive but thrive in the violent and predatory city of St. Paradise. In a city ruled by large magical families constantly a hair's breadth from declaring war on each other, there’s always palpable tension, and more high society parties and bloodbaths to attend. While I don’t know how the average citizen in St. Paradise is faring, the ruling families’ drama is as addictive as Real Housewives in a world ruled in the opposite manner of “There is no war in Ba Sing Se.”
A couple thoughts crossed my mind as I was reading: the first is Emezi’s ability to manage many different characters and four distinct POV is excellent; the second is the POVs are different enough that they furnish the reader with important information with only minimal repetition. Despite how much is constantly happening, I didn’t feel overwhelmed either by the numerous characters or by the overlapping twists and turns. Each POV character has their own journey that happens to intersect with the others, and this is very much a novel about finding one’s own agency and place in the world for better and for worse.
I did find the pacing to be uneven with a very long beginning and a somewhat rushed ending. It takes about half of the book for the main plot to really get underway as we spend time with each POV character getting to know their clans, background, and powers. Wolf’s chapters reliably progress the story, and I found myself looking forward to them over the others because of this. I found Eclipse to be delightfully messy, which makes her more relatable as some of her actions are certainly not. This is a book for folks who love morally gray to bankrupt characters, traumatised villain protagonists, and hyperviolent worlds where you could choose to be a better person, but it comes with a cost.
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC.
A couple thoughts crossed my mind as I was reading: the first is Emezi’s ability to manage many different characters and four distinct POV is excellent; the second is the POVs are different enough that they furnish the reader with important information with only minimal repetition. Despite how much is constantly happening, I didn’t feel overwhelmed either by the numerous characters or by the overlapping twists and turns. Each POV character has their own journey that happens to intersect with the others, and this is very much a novel about finding one’s own agency and place in the world for better and for worse.
I did find the pacing to be uneven with a very long beginning and a somewhat rushed ending. It takes about half of the book for the main plot to really get underway as we spend time with each POV character getting to know their clans, background, and powers. Wolf’s chapters reliably progress the story, and I found myself looking forward to them over the others because of this. I found Eclipse to be delightfully messy, which makes her more relatable as some of her actions are certainly not. This is a book for folks who love morally gray to bankrupt characters, traumatised villain protagonists, and hyperviolent worlds where you could choose to be a better person, but it comes with a cost.
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC Review: Eclipse & the Wolf by Akwaeke Emezi
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Welcome to St. Paradise, where knowledge is power, secrets are currency, and the strongest are wielded like weapons. Clans rule, violence is inescapable, and even the most innocent aren't spared. This is the brutal world Emezi builds—and it's one you won't easily forget.
Eclipse, the lone surviving heir of Clan Orinabe, has one mission alongside Titi Silver: avenge their fallen clan members by any means necessary. The more violent, the sweeter the satisfaction. Their weapon of choice? A highly addictive drug that places them in a seat of power over St. Paradise—one that many want to replicate, rival, or destroy. The clans each wield gifts from the old gods, powers kept fiercely secret, shrouding every alliance and betrayal in layers of mistrust.
This story is cutthroat—seeped in blood and violence, with no one spared and everyone punished for their trespasses. Yet amid the carnage, there's a surprising thread of seduction, a reminder that romance can feel like the only escape when horror surrounds you.
Emezi's writing is sharp and evocative. I came to this after reading “You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty”, and it's a thrill to see their voice translate so powerfully into adult fantasy. The imagery is vivid—the goldshot weapons, in particular, stood out, reminding me of the stylized guns from Romeo + Juliet (1996), which the author herself cites as inspiration. That cinematic flair runs throughout.
I rated this four stars, mainly because the first half leans heavily into necessary world-building and the pacing takes a while to find its stride. But once you cross that midpoint, the plot hits the ground running and doesn't let up.
What I appreciated most is how fresh this feels within the fantasy genre—free of castles, trials, and the usual Eurocentric trappings that dominate the shelves. This is a distinct, original world with its own rules, and I'm eager to see what Emezi does next in adult fantasy.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Welcome to St. Paradise, where knowledge is power, secrets are currency, and the strongest are wielded like weapons. Clans rule, violence is inescapable, and even the most innocent aren't spared. This is the brutal world Emezi builds—and it's one you won't easily forget.
Eclipse, the lone surviving heir of Clan Orinabe, has one mission alongside Titi Silver: avenge their fallen clan members by any means necessary. The more violent, the sweeter the satisfaction. Their weapon of choice? A highly addictive drug that places them in a seat of power over St. Paradise—one that many want to replicate, rival, or destroy. The clans each wield gifts from the old gods, powers kept fiercely secret, shrouding every alliance and betrayal in layers of mistrust.
This story is cutthroat—seeped in blood and violence, with no one spared and everyone punished for their trespasses. Yet amid the carnage, there's a surprising thread of seduction, a reminder that romance can feel like the only escape when horror surrounds you.
Emezi's writing is sharp and evocative. I came to this after reading “You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty”, and it's a thrill to see their voice translate so powerfully into adult fantasy. The imagery is vivid—the goldshot weapons, in particular, stood out, reminding me of the stylized guns from Romeo + Juliet (1996), which the author herself cites as inspiration. That cinematic flair runs throughout.
I rated this four stars, mainly because the first half leans heavily into necessary world-building and the pacing takes a while to find its stride. But once you cross that midpoint, the plot hits the ground running and doesn't let up.
What I appreciated most is how fresh this feels within the fantasy genre—free of castles, trials, and the usual Eurocentric trappings that dominate the shelves. This is a distinct, original world with its own rules, and I'm eager to see what Emezi does next in adult fantasy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Akwaeke Emezi remains an auto-buy author for me and Eclipse and the Wolf only reaffirmed why. Their first foray into epic fantasy is ambitious, immersive, and unmistakably Emezi. The world of St. Paradise feels fully lived in, with distinct clans whose histories, values, rivalries, and belief systems shape every decision they make. The world-building is rich without ever sacrificing the emotional core of the story.
After reading I’m still thinking about Emezi’s relentless questioning of justice. Every major character is forced to reckon with the consequences of their choices. Some are bound by sacred oaths, while others, like Silver Orinabe (aka The Butcher) embody violence without any moral code at all. Beneath the blood magic, political intrigue, and breathtaking battles is a story about power, accountability, and what people become after unimaginable loss.
I also couldn’t stop thinking about how Emezi centers the vulnerability of children. Throughout the novel, they expose the devastating ways children are exploited, weaponized, and made to bear the greatest costs of war and genocide. Those moments gave the novel its emotional weight and elevated it beyond a thrilling fantasy.
And because this is Emezi, the prose is gorgeous. Even in the midst of sprawling political conflict and epic fantasy world-building, there is tenderness, sensuality, and plenty of spice woven into the story. Eclipse and the Wolf delivers everything I hoped for: unforgettable characters, morally complex conflicts, lush writing, and a fantasy world that asks difficult questions about violence, inheritance, and what justice truly requires.
After reading I’m still thinking about Emezi’s relentless questioning of justice. Every major character is forced to reckon with the consequences of their choices. Some are bound by sacred oaths, while others, like Silver Orinabe (aka The Butcher) embody violence without any moral code at all. Beneath the blood magic, political intrigue, and breathtaking battles is a story about power, accountability, and what people become after unimaginable loss.
I also couldn’t stop thinking about how Emezi centers the vulnerability of children. Throughout the novel, they expose the devastating ways children are exploited, weaponized, and made to bear the greatest costs of war and genocide. Those moments gave the novel its emotional weight and elevated it beyond a thrilling fantasy.
And because this is Emezi, the prose is gorgeous. Even in the midst of sprawling political conflict and epic fantasy world-building, there is tenderness, sensuality, and plenty of spice woven into the story. Eclipse and the Wolf delivers everything I hoped for: unforgettable characters, morally complex conflicts, lush writing, and a fantasy world that asks difficult questions about violence, inheritance, and what justice truly requires.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I adored the premise of Eclipse and the Wolf. The book opened with a shocking event and the situation spiraled from there. I was caught up in the story from start to finish and thought the diverse cast of characters were all well drawn and three dimensional; even those with little time on the page felt like complete individuals. This might have been gearing towards a five-star rating, but in the end I settled on 4.5 because there were a couple of things that didn't completely work for me in the latter part of the book. Firstly, from the blurb I had expected the focus to be on the bond between Eclipse and Wolf, but that was not the case and, in the end, I felt the only reason the author had created that bond to begin with was to allow Eclipse a deus ex machina moment in the finale. Otherwise, there was no need for it, and the explanation of how and why it happened was a little lacking. Secondly, as the characters came together and began to be present in the same events, a few chapters felt repetitive, as we had to follow the scenes in their entirety first in one character's POV and then in another's, and often the second version added only minor additional details that could have been presented in another way without the need for full repetition. But this story, despite these two gripes, was compelling and imaginative. I enjoyed the general world building and the set-up and I would certainly take a look at any future works by this author. Recommended if you like multi-POV, darker-edged fantasy.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
NetGalley eARC — This book was absolutely incredible and mind blowing: the writing, the mythology, the characters, the breadth of imagination. This world and its magic and clans are filled with power grabs, betrayals, and grief, but Emezi writes with such visceral depth where you can truly know and understand the layers and stories of each character.
We arrive in St. Paradise, a land with different clans with different powers and an abundance of secrets. Each chapter is in the perspective a clan heir, be it from Eclipse of Orinabe (who survived a horrific clan massacre), Noah of Solarin (with uncontrollable psychological power), Wolf of Goldshot (who we find amidst an ethical crisis), and Kilo of Heron (whose true nature is slowly unveiled). The world of St. Paradise is terrified of the Silver Butcher, communities are ravaged by the drug of rapture, and there is tension among the heirs and clan leaders. Each chapter is visceral, intense, sometimes unbelievably gruesome— in a way that’s impossible to stop reading.
The story and its emotional depth is enormous and tremendously written. We come across secrets of powers and blood ties, we see revenge and retribution, we see the cost of loyalty. And it all feels very, very human. I don’t want to give the events of the plot away (because there’s so much to unpack, and so many secrets to be revealed), but I really found this novel to be magnificent. It asks: when it comes to vengeance, what is enough, and when does it end? What are the moral lines we cannot cross, and can we earn forgiveness? How is trauma passed down, and how can we break cycles with or without violence?
We arrive in St. Paradise, a land with different clans with different powers and an abundance of secrets. Each chapter is in the perspective a clan heir, be it from Eclipse of Orinabe (who survived a horrific clan massacre), Noah of Solarin (with uncontrollable psychological power), Wolf of Goldshot (who we find amidst an ethical crisis), and Kilo of Heron (whose true nature is slowly unveiled). The world of St. Paradise is terrified of the Silver Butcher, communities are ravaged by the drug of rapture, and there is tension among the heirs and clan leaders. Each chapter is visceral, intense, sometimes unbelievably gruesome— in a way that’s impossible to stop reading.
The story and its emotional depth is enormous and tremendously written. We come across secrets of powers and blood ties, we see revenge and retribution, we see the cost of loyalty. And it all feels very, very human. I don’t want to give the events of the plot away (because there’s so much to unpack, and so many secrets to be revealed), but I really found this novel to be magnificent. It asks: when it comes to vengeance, what is enough, and when does it end? What are the moral lines we cannot cross, and can we earn forgiveness? How is trauma passed down, and how can we break cycles with or without violence?
July 20, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I think Akwaeke might be a genius. I haven't read any of their other work, but I am definitely going to remedy that oversight asap! Even when reading about the most brutal and bloody things, it was described with such lyrical and stunning prose.
And the story earns it. Eclipse Orinabe is a ferocious, wounded, unforgettable protagonist: a survivor raised to be a weapon wrapped in the trappings of a princess.
I loved the variety of POVs. And I completely didn't expect who Eclipse wound up with in the end. That completely blindsided me in a good way. I like being surprised. Plus it worked soooooo well. Every dynamic in this book was on fire.
An absolutely gripping fantasy piece full to the brim with politics, intrigue, magic, plus lots of sex and violence. Mwuah *chefs kiss.* The political tension never lets up, the betrayals land hard, and the ending left me desperate for whatever comes next. I would call it urban fantasy, because it has guns, cars, and nightclubs. You really feel like you are in modern times, but it's brilliantly woven together with land and blood magic that makes it feel ancient at the same time. Worldbuilding that feels lived in rather than explained.
The worst part of this book was knowing it was a standalone and reaching the ending. It left me sated yet feral for more from this world at the same time. If you like your fantasy morally messy, politically sharp, and steamy with romance that feels like a threat, this is your book.
5/5 Stars
I think Akwaeke might be a genius. I haven't read any of their other work, but I am definitely going to remedy that oversight asap! Even when reading about the most brutal and bloody things, it was described with such lyrical and stunning prose.
And the story earns it. Eclipse Orinabe is a ferocious, wounded, unforgettable protagonist: a survivor raised to be a weapon wrapped in the trappings of a princess.
I loved the variety of POVs. And I completely didn't expect who Eclipse wound up with in the end. That completely blindsided me in a good way. I like being surprised. Plus it worked soooooo well. Every dynamic in this book was on fire.
An absolutely gripping fantasy piece full to the brim with politics, intrigue, magic, plus lots of sex and violence. Mwuah *chefs kiss.* The political tension never lets up, the betrayals land hard, and the ending left me desperate for whatever comes next. I would call it urban fantasy, because it has guns, cars, and nightclubs. You really feel like you are in modern times, but it's brilliantly woven together with land and blood magic that makes it feel ancient at the same time. Worldbuilding that feels lived in rather than explained.
The worst part of this book was knowing it was a standalone and reaching the ending. It left me sated yet feral for more from this world at the same time. If you like your fantasy morally messy, politically sharp, and steamy with romance that feels like a threat, this is your book.
5/5 Stars
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley and the author for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Eclipse & The Wolf by Akwaeke Emezi is a dark, violent fantasy full of blood magic, high spice, and intense clan politics. While the concept and world-building are strong, the execution left me with mixed feelings.
The primary issue I encountered was the pacing and heavy exposition. The first half reads largely like a history lesson, delivering dense blocks of background details rather than driving the plot forward through character action and dialogue. This heavy info-dumping made it challenging to connect with the extensive cast of characters early on.
Additionally, character developments felt sudden. The romantic and political interactions (such as between Eclipse and Noah) lacked emotional buildup or tension, moving quickly into explicit, spicy scenes rather than organic connection.
Character arcs felt unpredictable, particularly Wolf's sudden shift in power dynamics.
The choice to alternate between first-person point-of-view for main characters and third-person for secondary characters created a disconnect in narrative flow.
Once the action picks up in the second half, the book improves significantly. While the heavy lore delivery wasn't a perfect match for my preferences, readers who enjoy dark, spicy fantasy with intricate world-building will find plenty to dive into here.
Eclipse & The Wolf by Akwaeke Emezi is a dark, violent fantasy full of blood magic, high spice, and intense clan politics. While the concept and world-building are strong, the execution left me with mixed feelings.
The primary issue I encountered was the pacing and heavy exposition. The first half reads largely like a history lesson, delivering dense blocks of background details rather than driving the plot forward through character action and dialogue. This heavy info-dumping made it challenging to connect with the extensive cast of characters early on.
Additionally, character developments felt sudden. The romantic and political interactions (such as between Eclipse and Noah) lacked emotional buildup or tension, moving quickly into explicit, spicy scenes rather than organic connection.
Character arcs felt unpredictable, particularly Wolf's sudden shift in power dynamics.
The choice to alternate between first-person point-of-view for main characters and third-person for secondary characters created a disconnect in narrative flow.
Once the action picks up in the second half, the book improves significantly. While the heavy lore delivery wasn't a perfect match for my preferences, readers who enjoy dark, spicy fantasy with intricate world-building will find plenty to dive into here.
July 31, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for providing this ARC.
Now, this was a time. I once heard a book influencer say that this was a whole lot of fantastical gang shit, and after having read it, I couldn't agree more!
I'd take that fantastical gang shit statement and add that Eclipse and the Wolf is a fantastical exploration of the themes we see in crime/family sagas like The Godfather and Scarface. After reading the acknowledgments, I can also absolutely see the nods to Baz Luhrmann's Romeo & Juliet. Just a beautiful combination of the dark side of greed, love, and power.
Akwaeke Emezi's quite masterful at making fantasy feel so human and real. Sure, the characters have magic, but deep down, even with magical powers, they all just want to be accepted and loved, which just goes to show that no matter the levels of power or money a person possesses, they can still be missing carnal human necessities like care and love from those around them.
I loved getting lost in the inner workings of St. Paradise and cannot wait to see what's next for Akwaeke Emezi. Definitely a must-read.
Now, this was a time. I once heard a book influencer say that this was a whole lot of fantastical gang shit, and after having read it, I couldn't agree more!
I'd take that fantastical gang shit statement and add that Eclipse and the Wolf is a fantastical exploration of the themes we see in crime/family sagas like The Godfather and Scarface. After reading the acknowledgments, I can also absolutely see the nods to Baz Luhrmann's Romeo & Juliet. Just a beautiful combination of the dark side of greed, love, and power.
Akwaeke Emezi's quite masterful at making fantasy feel so human and real. Sure, the characters have magic, but deep down, even with magical powers, they all just want to be accepted and loved, which just goes to show that no matter the levels of power or money a person possesses, they can still be missing carnal human necessities like care and love from those around them.
I loved getting lost in the inner workings of St. Paradise and cannot wait to see what's next for Akwaeke Emezi. Definitely a must-read.
August 26, 2026
Eclipse & the Wolf has quickly become my new obsession. Within the first couple of pages I was enthralled by Akwaeke Emezi's prose and stunning worldbuilding -- Game of Thrones but so, so, so much better. Firstly, I loved how Emezi made it clear from the get-go that their characters were morally grey (not in the booktok-code-for-a-tall-dark-and-hansome way, but a seriously messed-up way that causes readers to consider things that make them uncomfortable). For me, this made the novel much more engaging, as Emezi cemented the three-dimensionality of Eclipse, Noah, and the Wolf. The plot and worldbuilding were on another level, and I loved how Emezi kept on drip-feeding us -- it made the pacing of the book really well, especially considering the events described in the blurb don't occur for a while. I seriously cannot stress how mind-blowing the magic system was; I quite literally cannot stop thinking about it. Moreover, I would describe the romance as top-tier and enthralling; this book literally has it all. Eclipse & the Wolf is an immediate five stars for me, and if Akwaeke Emezi returns to adult fantasy, I think my heart might burst with excitement. Thank you to Faber and Faber LTD for providing this novel for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really wanted to enjoy *Eclipse and the Wolf* because I've appreciated Akwaeke Emezi's other works. Give me *Freshwater* or *The Death of Vivek Oji* any time.
This novel is an adult standalone fantasy. I found it hard to get engaged with the story or connect with the characters. I just did not care about them or this story. The narrative uses multiple POVs, but instead of expanding the world, it prevented me from forming attachments to any particular character or plotline.
Although it's adult fantasy, it features guns, drugs, and violence heavily. Some fantasy fans may be looking for that, but it's not really my style. I prefer different types of fantasy, which made it harder for me to stay interested.
Despite the description, I would not compare this piece to RF Kuang's or VE Schwab's work, nor would I compare it to Emezi’s other books—it felt quite different. Emezi’s talent is undeniable, and I believe this book will find its audience; ***it just wasn't the right fit for me.*** Thanks to Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This novel is an adult standalone fantasy. I found it hard to get engaged with the story or connect with the characters. I just did not care about them or this story. The narrative uses multiple POVs, but instead of expanding the world, it prevented me from forming attachments to any particular character or plotline.
Although it's adult fantasy, it features guns, drugs, and violence heavily. Some fantasy fans may be looking for that, but it's not really my style. I prefer different types of fantasy, which made it harder for me to stay interested.
Despite the description, I would not compare this piece to RF Kuang's or VE Schwab's work, nor would I compare it to Emezi’s other books—it felt quite different. Emezi’s talent is undeniable, and I believe this book will find its audience; ***it just wasn't the right fit for me.*** Thanks to Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐.7 - Very Good
Eclipse & The Wolf is told through four POVs in two tenses: Eclipse Orinabe and Wolf Goldshot are in first person; Noah Solarin and Kilo Heron are in third. They're each members of clans in St. Paradise, a vast city where several families covertly vie for power and control through their respective abilities.
This book has a hefty amount of exposition on absolutely everything. That's not to say it's a bad thing or makes the book itself "bad"; however, it's a writing method that makes it difficult for me personally to fully connect to the story and characters.
There are many things that will appeal to readers such as the diverse representation, the urban fantasy setting, brutal magical power (and regular power) dynamics, complicated relationships, and characters who are messier than dirt. Also, it’s a standalone, so one and done!
Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC via NetGalley.
Eclipse & The Wolf is told through four POVs in two tenses: Eclipse Orinabe and Wolf Goldshot are in first person; Noah Solarin and Kilo Heron are in third. They're each members of clans in St. Paradise, a vast city where several families covertly vie for power and control through their respective abilities.
This book has a hefty amount of exposition on absolutely everything. That's not to say it's a bad thing or makes the book itself "bad"; however, it's a writing method that makes it difficult for me personally to fully connect to the story and characters.
There are many things that will appeal to readers such as the diverse representation, the urban fantasy setting, brutal magical power (and regular power) dynamics, complicated relationships, and characters who are messier than dirt. Also, it’s a standalone, so one and done!
Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC via NetGalley.
August 9, 2026
Akwaeke Emezi is an auto-read for me. I’ve read just about all of their books, so I was THRILLED to get this one early through NetGalley. Am I the biggest fantasy fan? Not at all, but I figured if anyone could get me into it, it would be Emezi.
This book is VIOLENT. I don’t love violence. I also don’t love world building. This book was a verrrrrry slow burn for me and I didn’t really start getting into it until around 40% though it. There are so many clans with firsts and seconds to learn, plus their special powers, that it makes for a very front heavy world building book. I wouldn’t even say that anything really started to move forward plot-wise until about 50% through. It took me weeks to read the front half the book, then I read the back half in 2 days. The back half of the book is GREAT!
Overall, it’s not my genre, but I did love the quick pacing of the back half of the book.
This book is VIOLENT. I don’t love violence. I also don’t love world building. This book was a verrrrrry slow burn for me and I didn’t really start getting into it until around 40% though it. There are so many clans with firsts and seconds to learn, plus their special powers, that it makes for a very front heavy world building book. I wouldn’t even say that anything really started to move forward plot-wise until about 50% through. It took me weeks to read the front half the book, then I read the back half in 2 days. The back half of the book is GREAT!
Overall, it’s not my genre, but I did love the quick pacing of the back half of the book.
September 7, 2026
This book was verrrry heavy. The first third/half of the book consists of a LOT of world building and set-up with the different clans and structures they employ. Unfortunately for me (and maybe this is just a me-thing) but it took a really long time for all the information to stick, which sucked because it was hard to keep flicking back to previous information to make sure I had the correct info in my head when reading.
I personally think another issue linked to this, was that there was too many POVs, and a few of them were very similar to each other, and not as distinct as I would’ve liked. Both the MMCs and the FMCs respectively sounded too similar to each other, so it was hard to determine who was doing what, and where they were.
That being said, the fantasy/romantasy genre isn’t really one I read too much so this could definitely be something I need to personally improve in my reading.
I did really appreciate the worldbuilding, even though it was heavy. It took a while for me to grasp it all but I think Emezi did a fantastic job of setting up the world, and the magic(?) system.
I did find it annoying every time the word ‘birthright’ was used… I think a thesaurus wouldn’t go astray there.
Unfortunately, it took me way too long to read as the first half felt so heavy that I wasn’t gravitating to pick it up, but the latter half definitely made up for it with its pacing. Soooo 3.5 Stars.
Thank you so much to Faber & Faber and NetGalley for the eARC!
I personally think another issue linked to this, was that there was too many POVs, and a few of them were very similar to each other, and not as distinct as I would’ve liked. Both the MMCs and the FMCs respectively sounded too similar to each other, so it was hard to determine who was doing what, and where they were.
That being said, the fantasy/romantasy genre isn’t really one I read too much so this could definitely be something I need to personally improve in my reading.
I did really appreciate the worldbuilding, even though it was heavy. It took a while for me to grasp it all but I think Emezi did a fantastic job of setting up the world, and the magic(?) system.
I did find it annoying every time the word ‘birthright’ was used… I think a thesaurus wouldn’t go astray there.
Unfortunately, it took me way too long to read as the first half felt so heavy that I wasn’t gravitating to pick it up, but the latter half definitely made up for it with its pacing. Soooo 3.5 Stars.
Thank you so much to Faber & Faber and NetGalley for the eARC!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
This is absolutely going to be my favorite read of 2026, and it doesn't even come out this year. I'm not going to get into the plot since it comes out so far in the future, but this was AMAZING. It's been days since I finished it, and I don't want to start a new book; I just want to keep sitting in how incredible this was. I've been burned out on multiple POV books for years, but Emezi did this beautifully. I would have actually been disappointed to only hear from one person for this story. I will be buying this as soon as it comes out, and I can see this being a regular re-read for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Eclipse and the wolf was amazing, stunning and fascinating. This is Akwaeke Emezi's 1st Adult fantasy novel, I enjoyed the world building of St. Paradise. Eclipse, Wolf, Kilo, and Noah struggle to not just survive but thrive in the violent and predatory city of St. Paradise. In a city ruled by six families constantly a hair's breadth from declaring war on each other. This story is about power, accountability, and what people become after unimaginable loss. The emotional weight is heavy. Political tension, multiple POV's and powerful magic.
July 24, 2026
Emezi's first adult fantasy was a resounding success for me!
Brutal, dark and twisty, with plenty of clan politics and rival clans constantly at each other's throats. I genuinely had no idea who Eclipse was going to end up with, and it definitely kept me on my toes trying to guess!
I loved all of the different clan magics unique to each clan. It made the world feel so rich and captivating!
I think this works brilliantly as a standalone, but I desperately want more from this world.
So good. 5⭐️, no notes!!
Brutal, dark and twisty, with plenty of clan politics and rival clans constantly at each other's throats. I genuinely had no idea who Eclipse was going to end up with, and it definitely kept me on my toes trying to guess!
I loved all of the different clan magics unique to each clan. It made the world feel so rich and captivating!
I think this works brilliantly as a standalone, but I desperately want more from this world.
So good. 5⭐️, no notes!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I've read several of Akwaeke Emezi's other works and what I love about them is how different they all are. I love that as an author they are not afraid of exploring different genres and ideas and pushing the boundaries of what is possible. This is their first foray into fantasy I believe and I absolutely loved it. Bloodthirsty and with a high body count but also sexy as hell and with immersive world building, this is great. Told from multiple viewpoints this is smart and engaging and Emezi pulls off the difficult trick of making frankly horrible people sympathetic and engaging.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A really solid epic fantasy with a cool magic system and a dark, gritty city setting that pulled me in. The writing is sharp, and the political intrigue between the clans kept things interesting. I liked Eclipse as a main character, and the romance with Noah had some good tension to it. The worldbuilding is rich too with all the clan names and connections. A really enjoyable read if you like dark fantasy with political schemes.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
Eclipse & the Wolf was a solid 3.5 stars, but I will round up to a 4. It was definitely captivating and I will definitely read another by Akwaeke Emezi. The world building was great, though there is a decent amount of violence (if that isn't your thing).
#ARC #review #netgalley
Eclipse & the Wolf was a solid 3.5 stars, but I will round up to a 4. It was definitely captivating and I will definitely read another by Akwaeke Emezi. The world building was great, though there is a decent amount of violence (if that isn't your thing).
#ARC #review #netgalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Early copy read via Net Galley
Loved this world and story. The magic system was really unique and the world building was great. Characters had a lot of dimension to them, all with flaws which is interesting to see in fantasy. Revenge and the greater good are two key themes within the story, and done in a really interesting way. Will definitely by checking out more from Akwaeke Emezi
Loved this world and story. The magic system was really unique and the world building was great. Characters had a lot of dimension to them, all with flaws which is interesting to see in fantasy. Revenge and the greater good are two key themes within the story, and done in a really interesting way. Will definitely by checking out more from Akwaeke Emezi
August 22, 2026
I was not expecting Emezi to go full epic romantasy as her next career move, but you know what? Good for her. Here we get what is essentially a mob fantasy setting where there are various clans in charge of a city with various fantasy powers, and they're all at each others throats. Lots of violence, lots of sex, and neat political plays as well. Definitely worth your time when this comes out in the winter.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Man, I wish I could write this well.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Amazing.
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