Florescentia

The Luminary #1

by I.V. Ophelia

She summoned him for luck. He wants her for eternity. An inventor and a star-born beast collide in this hauntingly dark romantic fantasy by USA Today bestselling author I.V. Ophelia.

In the bioluminescent, star-worshipping city of Astraea, inventor and occultist Lucia Fairfax harvests a particular currency from the shadows—luck itself—drawn from a dimension she calls the Otherside. But when her latest ritual fails and her husband dies tragically, her carefully cultivated fortune bleeds dry.

Lucia’s desperate to restore her power, but her next ritual goes catastrophically wrong, summoning something far more Altair, a cosmic entity born of an ancient constellation. He is both human and not—impossibly seductive, unnervingly sentient, and the key to restoring what she’s a way to the Otherside.

Crossing into Altair’s realm is the most dangerous thing Lucia has ever done—and the most irresistible. There, she unravels the intoxicating secrets of the Otherside, the disturbing truth about her abilities, and the terrifying depth of his hunger. But with each revelation, escape slips further from reach. Trapped between worlds, Lucia must confront a devastating Love, desire, and ambition all have their price. And Altair is eager to collect.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Gothic, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Dark, Fiction

319 pages, Paperback

Expected publication September 29, 2026

About the author

USA Today Bestselling author I.V. Ophelia is known for the gothic vampire series The Poisoner. Born in small-town New England, she now haunts the streets of New York City, writing the most unhinged tales she can conjure. When not crafting gothic romance, she works as a full-time artist, hoards nineteenth-century gowns and antique furniture, dotes on her menagerie of pets, and plots her next literary transgression.
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Reviews

[Laura Greenhalgh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you I.V. for the early copy! I’m so grateful. What an incredibly unique, interesting and atmospheric world!! Admittedly it took me a minute to familiarise myself with the setting because it really is unlike any setting I have read before, but once I got to grips with this world I did not want to leave. Victorian gothic, steampunk setting with a celestial belief system, rituals to harvest luck 👀, shadow like creatures invisible to the untrained eye, inventor FMC and cosmic beast MMC (monster romance girls step to the front 🗣️🗣️). The writing was immersive and made the experience so vivid. I love how I.V. Ophelia does spice, the plot to spice balance is always perfect and we are given the exact amount to satisfy but also keeping us wanting more. I will say the spice in this one may not be for everyone because our MMC Altair is monstrous, however, it was in fact for me 👁️👄👁️. This was such a crazy ride, I devoured this and need book two yesterday!! If loving Altair is wrong, I don’t want to be right.

[I.V. Ophelia]

Coming soon... ✨🌌💫

[Ida]

Pre-read (26/06/2026): GUYS this is on "Read Now" at Netgalley! I'm so excited!

[Joseandbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Florescentia completely pulled me into its hauntingly beautiful world. The gothic atmosphere, unique magic system, and constant sense of mystery made it so easy to get lost in the story. The plot follows Lucia as she’s forced to uncover dangerous secrets, navigate betrayals, and face impossible choices, all while trying to understand the truth behind the mysterious Altair and the world surrounding them.

Lucia was such a strong main character. I loved watching her grow throughout the story, and I found myself just as invested in Altair. Their relationship was complicated, emotional, and full of tension, and I never knew what to expect from either of them. The betrayals, longing, and emotional moments were some of my favorite parts of the book.

The magic system was incredibly unique and honestly one of the biggest highlights for me. It felt fresh and unlike anything I’ve read recently, which is always a huge plus in fantasy.

The only reason this wasn’t a 5-star read for me is that I wanted more. I wish the mystery surrounding Lucia’s father and Altair had been explored a little longer because I think it would’ve made the emotional payoff even stronger. Even so, I finished this book excited for what’s to come next.

If you enjoy gothic fantasy with beautiful worldbuilding, unique magic, emotional tension, betrayal, and morally gray characters, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Montlake, NetGalley, and the author for this advanced copy. I’m a bit conflicted on this rating because there were some things I really liked and some things I didn’t. For that, I’m going with a 3.5 ⭐️ rounded to 4⭐️.

This book was so unique. I’ve never read anything like it and can’t even fathom trying to summarize it for anyone.

What I liked:
- the FMC Lucia - her personality really came through and I connected to her more than anything else in the book
- the writing was beautiful and ethereal
- the concept was very unique and creative
- the setting and descriptions
- the ending was interesting

What I didn’t like or connect with:
- I liked the twists but some of them were a little easy to predict
- the MMC was interesting but I can’t say I connected with his character or am rooting for him
- while the concept and plot were so unique, they were also so strange and hard to connect with
- the spicy scenes were interesting - not sure if I’m a fan

[clicktojointhemafia]

"In a world where the stars and universe are divine, an inventor has found a way to harvest luck, until she mistakenly invites a malicious cosmic horror from the other side."

omg

[The Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m part of I.V Ophelia’s street team. I got to read this book as an ARC. OMG! I love this book so much. The world is so beautiful 😍😍😍. I wanna live there👀🤭😈😈😈. I rate this book 6 stars 💙✨. Put this book on your TBR! I love Lucia and Altair. They are my favorite characters. Altair really reminded me of those stories that I used to hear about Slenderman in real life🙈🙈🙈.

[Miya Char]

IM SO READY FOR THIS ONE AAHHH. can't wait for september

[that bookish ghoul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Montlake and Netgalley for my eARC in return for my honest review.

Infinite stars. The vibes? Absolutely immaculate, from the idea of harvesting luck, the magic system and the dark gothic steam punk setting Florescentia is unlike anything I've read before and the story flowed effortlessly. IV Ophelia hasn't let me down yet.

This story had me griped from the get go and I couldn't put it down. My thoughts were currently buzzing with ideas on what I thought might happen next and every time I was left with my mouth hanging open and I'll be counting down the days until book 2!

[BookishKB]

✨🌌 Florescentia 🌌✨

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.

✨ What to Expect
• Dark Romantasy
• Cosmic Entity MMC
• Occult Magic
• Inventor FMC
• Forbidden Desire
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 29, 2026
Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Reja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. GOD!

This book was absolutely phenomenal. I have never read a book so fast. I’ve been sat on this couch since this morning, and I genuinely can’t believe it’s finally over.

Wow.

This book took me on such a wild ride. First of all, I absolutely adore the way I.V. writes. The whole Victorian gothic world, the depth of the story, it feels so different from everything else on the market that it naturally stands out. It’s genuinely such a breath of fresh air. But Florescentia wasn’t just a breath of fresh air… it was a whole GUST. It completely knocked me out and pulled me in within the first ten pages. I did not see any of that coming. I mean, I just kept gasping!!

Altair… I don’t know if I love you or hate you, but all I know is that the spice had me… blushing, to say the least. It was all so freaking good.

ALSO I’m sorry… THAT ENDING?? I need more!! I need to know what on earth happens next. I’m officially manifesting Book 2.

Thank you so much I.V. for this early copy xx

[Ashley G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much for the ARC!

I couldn’t put this book down! I think it’s safe to say I just love the lyrical writing and beautiful worlds that I.V. Ophelia creates. She is also so great at making me fall for a problematic MMC (main male creature?) and question things about myself but I’m here for it! Our FMC,Lucia is really going through a lot! She’s smart and independent but she is also dealing with guilt and grief. She’s going through a roller coaster of emotions that comes with loss and I feel for her.

I need more to learn more about this world and these characters! Can’t wait for Obscuria!

[Eve Tsak · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I have witnessed the death of stars, the stones that glitter a hundred thousand times brighter than your world's rarest gem—from every piece you come from, and the space between, there is no need to see any more marvels after I've seen you."

Now that I've had a taste of gothic fantasy, I fear I need more because if this genre were food, it would be the most addictive thing on the menu. This is true eldritch romance in every sense of the word. I don't even know where to begin because WHAT THE HELL?? This completely snuck up on me. I went into Florescentia thinking the premise sounded interesting, but it genuinely does not prepare you for what this book actually is. Set in 1875, Lucia attempts to revive her husband, Dorian, through necromancy, only for everything to go catastrophically wrong when she instead summons Altair... or as she calls him, the Beast. He isn't human. He's an ancient shapeshifter from another world known as the Otherside, and from that moment onwards I was completely hooked. The Otherside gave me tiny Stranger Things vibes in places, but honestly, this world felt unlike anything I've read before. It was eerie, haunting, romantic, magical, unsettling and strangely beautiful all at once.

I was also so beyond obsessed and invested in what became of Lucia and Altair. Their dialogue absolutely carried this book for me. It was witty, playful, incredibly flirtatious and somehow every interaction felt dripping with tension. Even the spice felt... fantastical? I don't really know how else to describe it. Usually, if I don't feel emotionally connected to the characters, spicy scenes don't really do much for me anymore, but here I was completely invested because the emotional build-up was already there. I genuinely found myself fascinated by the fact that Altair wasn't human. Why was I so intrigued that this man had extra teeth? Apparently my brain has officially accepted monster romance because I absolutely ate every second of it up. His devotion, his curiosity about humanity, the way he spoke... everything about him was just so poetic.

I also have to mention the writing because I honestly think that's what elevated this from being simply an interesting concept into something unforgettable. Every sentence felt intentional. Every description painted this gorgeous gothic atmosphere without ever feeling overwritten. The prose was beautiful, lyrical and immersive, and it made this strange, otherworldly romance feel believable. Even though this is shorter than the fantasy books I usually gravitate towards, I never felt like anything was missing because it's the beginning of a series. Instead, I just finished desperately needing the next book immediately. It reminded me why reading something completely different can be exactly what you need, especially if you're feeling yourself slipping into a reading slump. It was refreshing, original and unlike anything else I've picked up recently.

I genuinely don't even know what to compare this to because that's exactly why it worked so well. I don't think saying "if you liked this, read this" really does it justice because it carved out its own little place in my brain. If you love gothic atmospheres, beautifully written romance, strange magical worlds, monster love interests and stories that slowly creep under your skin until you suddenly realise you're obsessed... please pick this up. It completely exceeded every expectation I had, and I cannot wait to continue this series.

☆ "You couldn't refuse even if you wanted," he said. "You are danger-seeking to a fault."

☆ "We fit so well, like a pearl in an oyster. I supposed his body, this skin of his, had been formed precisely for me. The poison fruit to open my heart, or my legs. I wasn't positive on which."

☆ "Are you a pearl," he said, his tone teasing, "beautiful, delicate, and useless?"

☆ "...I formed my human skin, my more tangible form, just for her."

☆ "Well, based on that appetizer," he said, smiling, "I could just eat you."

☆ "Be mine, and I will show you what has been, what will be, and what never had the chance to exist in the first place."

☆ "I could be so good for you, Lucia. Think on it."

☆ "Should I have been offended that she'd never dreamed of me? Not even a nightmare?"

☆ "Good boy," I purred against his lips, my nails dug into his jaw."

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the eARC

[Heather Pacella · Rating 1 out of 5]

The city of Astraea worships the stars from afar; for Lucia, an inventor unafraid to dabble in the unknown, the stars are more of a nightly companion. She has spent years building a comfortable life for herself and her husband by bargaining for luck from the Otherside, a mysterious world it seems only she can access. But when one of her rituals goes horribly wrong, she is suddenly left completely without luck - and her husband pays the price with his life.

Desperate to get her husband back, Lucia accidentally goes too far with her next ritual and summons an ancient being with power beyond her wildest dreams. Altair, a creature of the stars, is the key to undoing her bad luck and reaching Dorian in the Otherside. However, she soon discovers that Altair has plans of his own - and those plans seem to involve her and her strange abilities. Lucia, always the mistress of her own fortune, now finds herself at the mercy of Altair - and the price for his help may not be one she’s willing to pay.

Florescentia is the first is a new romantasy duology from author I.V. Ophelia. My thoughts on various aspects of the story are given below.

*World-building/Plot: Though the city of Astraea seemed like a fascinating place, there wasn’t enough world-building in the book for it to feel fully-formed. Though I think the idea of an alternative, steam-punk New York is a great concept, that wasn’t what was delivered. Astraea seemed nothing more than a bunch of jumbled together, discordant ideas and “vibes” that made the world incredibly incoherent (for example, one moment the MC is rushing through an explanation of the spiritual world, religious icons and all, and then suddenly she is going off on tangent about paying her parents’ tax bill, which is too difficult for them to handle due to rapidly increasing property values). This disjointed nature also doesn’t help with the central plot - Lucia’s quest to reach the Otherside never feels particularly important because the reader never really understands what that *means* in the context of this world. Altair’s constant info-dumping about the world beyond also did more to confuse than clarify.

*Character Development: Unfortunately, I didn’t really care for either Lucia or Altair, so the romance in Florescentia fell flat for me. Lucia comes across as, quite frankly, a spoiled brat. She is rude to service workers, she treats her Particulars like absolute garbage, and she was annoyed with her dead husband’s mother for grieving at his grave site. She also spends much of this book “shrieking” at people, Altair included. Speaking of Altair - he takes the idea of a “broody” MMC way too far and is completely insufferable in the process. Two people being incredibly mean to each other does not an enemies-to-lovers make, and as a result the relationship between Lucia and Altair felt far-fetched. There were also moments of questionable consent in their spicy scenes that did not quite sit right with me.

*Pacing/Writing Style: The pacing is quite brisk at the beginning of the book, but then things start to churn a bit after Dorian’s funeral (about 25% into the book). At that point the central conflict between Lucia and Altair begins in earnest; since the actual details of this conflict don’t feel fully defined (and their relationship is quite abrasive), I had a hard time motivating myself to get through the rest of the book. The writing itself was a bit of a mixed bag; at times it was vividly atmospheric and beautiful, and others it seemed incredibly overwrought. However, the book did end on a heck of a cliffhanger; based on that, some of these issues might not be so prevalent in the next book.

Ultimately, Florescentia was not for me. Even though the ending was intriguing, I will most likely not continue with book two of this duology.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[NoBuddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"...𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑚𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛, 𝑡𝑜 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑤."

I will admit…I, in fact, did not trust the process; however, I have never been so happy to have my doubts slapped back into my face in one big “I TOLD YOU SO”. Florescentia is full of contradictions in a good way. The first in a journey involving an enigmatic, hard-to-understand protagonist, a beloved monster, and her dearly departed haunting the narrative. It shifts fluidly between adorable, whimsical moments and genuinely unsettling scenes that leave you questioning what you're actually reading. The best way I would describe it would be to call it an X-rated, Studio Ghibili-esque, gothic fantasy, eldritch horror romance. I would go as far to say it even reminded me of a darker Alice in Wonderland type of situation. It's niche, it's weird, it’s definitely an acquired taste 🤭. Honestly, the first half had me spiraling. So many themes crashing into each other at once that I was basically just:



But then (and this is very on-brand for I.V. Ophelia) the groveling men made their appearance and I was SAT.

Altair is the ultimate “Looks like it could kill you…is a cinnamon roll”. Literally, the man (??? — if we can even call him that) surely looks like he could end you, but the second he gets all adorably desperate and yearning? I was melting. He’s so baby boii coded. I can't even talk about it without getting flustered 😭

Dorian, though? Cool. Silent. Elegant. The type to effortlessly sweep you off your feet without even trying. I couldn’t help but feel the same sense of longing Lucia felt at their memories together.

And Lucia...poor girl is out here caught between these two vibes, tbh I have a love-hate relationship with her. Here I am judging her for being all wishy-washy when in truth I'd be conflicted too…girl my bad 🙂‍↕️

Similar to her other novels I.V. Ophelia surely knows how to make an exit and this ending has me highly anticipating Obscuria!!

Official Playlist - TBH so on brand I had this on loop during the entire time I was reading!

Favorite Quotes:

“What mysteries have you pursued tonight?”

“The less you knew about something, the more easily it could take advantage of you. Preparing yourself was the least you could do.”

“They said time was a thief, but there was no bigger con man than grief — the same trick, the perfect team.”

“The only thing worse than my luck right now was my posture.”

“I supposed you could know the secrets of the universe and still not understand women’s dressings.”
“Your body is more honest than your words.”

“At least your touches are more gentle with my heart, or are those selfish and dishonest too?”

“You are surely human.”
“Why? Because of my creativity?”
“Because of your cruelty.”

[Sasha Haggerty · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if your unique characteristics are actually what connects you to the unknown?

This Adult Gothic Steampunk Fantasy follows our FMC Lucia, a photographer, inventor and luck harvester. Through utilizing these creatures called Peculiars (little shadow-like creatures that are a combination of cats, soot sprites and Venom), she's able to harness luck for both herself and her family. Until one day, while performing her ritual, something goes awry, resulting in the tragic death of her husband and the total loss of her acquired serendipity. In an effort to restore her power, she accidentally summons an ancient cosmic entity who later goes on to wear the face of her newly deceased husband to lure her in. Join Lucia as she's forced to uncover perilous secrets, multiple desperate attempts to decode this enigma and maneuver devastating betrayals.

From start to finish, this is a story with a hauntingly vivid and visceral world. The magic system is beautifully unique and left me with a desire to read that grimoire and all those books housed within the treasury! Though I will say some of the more general statements Lucia makes about magic and manifestation are things I agree with wholeheartedly.

I.V. Ophelia does it again with another 5-star read! She's simply one of those people meant to be an author. Nothing is just thrown into the story to fill space. It's meticulously thought out and executed with precision.
Her main characters have logical aesthetic explorations. And while yes, obviously, the banter and the way characters interact with one another is entertaining, it also comes across in a realistic way. Or as realistic as I can see a cosmic entity interacting with a grieving widow. Speaking of grief, it's portrayed with harrowing accuracy. Proceed with caution if you've recently grieved a loved one.

Florescentia is the perfect read for fans of The Poisoner series desperate for something of a similar flavor. The otherworldly realm makes for the perfect gothic setting filled with isolation, dread and an environment which takes on a life of its own. There are beautiful moments where Altair's words and actions will remind you of a certain Vipera. But, I promise this monster has even vaster depths to explore. Monster lovers can rejoice!

The representation of Vitiligo is something that really hit home for me. While it's nothing I ever dealt with personally, my career as a makeup artist opened the door for me to get to know those with the condition. It was always something I found beauty in, and I fought for my clients. Some often felt ashamed and asked for a full coverage foundation. It was especially important to me that they never felt the need to cover up. Makeup can be used to build off what you have naturally. Every time I had the honor of seeing the light in their eyes after a makeup application focused around embracing their beauty instead of hiding, it became a cherished experience. There is an undeniable magic in that!

[Justina R · Rating 2 out of 5]

I initially wanted to read this book because the premise and summary sounded so unique. And it definitely WAS unique—it just ended up falling a little flat for me.
Florescentia promises a woman-in-STEM FMC. Lucia is an inventor, a wife, and someone who's fascinated by the Other Side and believes in using sex magic for luck. My biggest issue with all this is that her role as an inventor never really goes anywhere. Her invention is mentioned a few times, she tries to get a patent for it, and then...it's basically forgotten. I kept waiting for her intelligence and inventiveness to play a bigger role in the story, especially in solving her own problems, but it never really happened.
Then there's her husband, Dorian, who makes what feels like a single appearance before his death. Because we spend so little time with him, his death didn't have the emotional impact I think it was supposed to.
I also had a hard time understanding what Lucia was actually trying to accomplish on the Other Side after he died. The whole luck-summoning aspect never really landed for me either because, from my perspective, she had terrible luck for almost the entire book. Her relationship with her Peculiars was also strange. She treats them so poorly throughout the story and then is consorting with them for luck also. It threw me off.
As for Altair...I was intrigued by him at first. He had great gothic, mysterious energy, and I liked slowly learning more about who he was. His fish-out-of-water moments, where Lucia helps him navigate being human, were some of my favorite parts. Unfortunately, the romance itself didn't work for me. Lucia would be furious with him one minute, and then suddenly they're having sex in a graveyard the next! The emotional progression felt abrupt, and I never really bought into their relationship. Even with the sex magic elements, I kept wondering, "Okay... is she lucky now?" It never felt like those scenes meaningfully affected the plot.
The last few chapters were also fairly predictable. I saw the Other Side twist coming, and while I thought the moments involving Lucia's parents were touching, I wasn't entirely sure what I was supposed to be seeing. Was it a memory? A vision? It felt a little unclear.
Overall, I loved the atmosphere and thought the world and lore had a lot of potential. I just wish we'd gotten more of it. The characters didn't feel fully realized, and several plot points and details left me confused.
That said, the ending cliffhanger was compelling enough that I might actually pick up the sequel, even though this one wasn't a favourite.
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[gasbolina · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was a kid, I used to see shadows out the corner of my eyes. I'm an only child, and my parents would often leave me alone to fend for myself in the house they built together. So I started playing a game with the shadows. I would have dinner in the kitchen and watch TV, eating quietly, knowing there was something in the corner to my right, watching my every move through the evening. Waiting for something, I didn't know what. I would do the dishes, put everything away, my attention divided between my chores and the shadow. After it was done, I'd walk towards the hallway, and with my back finally fully turned to the kitchen, I would reach for the light switch. And then I would run. The game was all about getting up the stairs in the dark as fast as I could, before the shadows could catch me, reach my bedroom and turn on the light and look around me to make sure I was alone. I thought for sure they couldn't catch me there, because of this dream catcher I had hanging on the wall by my bed, but I would still keep an eye out for any darkness and my ears waiting to hear the sound of the garage door opening, the engine of a car running. I was safe if I wasn't alone.

Florescentia felt like looking in the corner, straight at the shadow, and suddenly seeing all the stars in the sky.

This is a gothic romance, with flawed, imperfect characters, in a star and plankton based society somewhere around the coast of the Americas, around the 1870s. If that doesn't entice you in the slightest, and if an otherworldly shape shifting space/shadow creature as an MMC to an inventor and witchy occultist dabbler, recently widowed, determined to a fault FMC won't change your mind, maybe this isn't for you. I, however, absolutely devoured it. I fell in love with Lucia and her world, through her eyes, and Dorian, and Maxim, her parents, and my stars, Altair. There is just something about this toxic, intoxicating, cat and mouse dynamic that I.V. Ophelia is capable of putting into words that I've never been able to find anywhere else, except maybe in that brief period of time at the start of Interview with The Vampire where Lestat was trying to convince Louis to be his companion. It feels like being seduced. I feel like I've been bewitched. Do we have a date for the second book yet?


"More interesting than those who dwelled in the light were those who lingered in places unseen."

 

Long story short, I would gladly hand over my firstborn to I.V. Ophelia if she asked for it.

Thank you to Montlake and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion, I wish I could go back in time and read this for the first time again, and again.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Florescentia
by I.V. Ophelia

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book 1 of The Luminary
Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2026

First of all, thank you to I.V. Ophelia and Montlake for the opportunity to ARC read Florescentia.

Okay... I need everyone to hear me when I say this:
Monster romance readers, this is your moment.

I went into Florescentia knowing I was getting a gothic fantasy romance, but I was not prepared for just how unique this world would be. Victorian gothic? Steampunk? Celestial rituals? Luck harvesting? Shadow creatures? An inventor FMC and a cosmic beast MMC?

Yes. Absolutely yes.

It took me a little bit to settle into the world because it is so unlike anything I’ve read before, but once everything clicked, I was completely hooked. The atmosphere is incredible, the writing is immersive, and I could picture every strange and beautiful detail.

Lucia was such a great character to follow. She’s intelligent, determined, and constantly trying to uncover the truth in a world full of secrets. But let’s be honest...

Altair stole my entire attention.

The dialogue between Lucia and Altair was my favorite part of this book. Every interaction was witty, playful, and dripping with tension. Their connection felt earned, and by the time the spice arrived, I was already completely invested in them.

And listen... I did not expect to be this fascinated by a non-human man with extra teeth, but here we are. Apparently, monster romance has officially converted me. Altair’s devotion, his curiosity about humanity, and the way he communicates were honestly some of the most captivating parts of the story.

The spice was also incredibly well done. It felt like it belonged to the world rather than being added just for the sake of it, and the emotional connection between Lucia and Altair made those moments hit even harder.

My only complaint is that I wanted more. More answers, more time with the mysteries surrounding Lucia’s father, more Altair... basically just more of everything.

Florescentia was strange, beautiful, atmospheric, and completely unforgettable. I devoured this book and I am already impatient for the next installment.

If loving Altair is wrong, I don’t want to be right.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you I.V Ophelia & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this early!!

✨

I.V. Ophelia has done it again. Yet again bringing a book that is so distinctly on brand yet incredibly different.

I truly loved this book, I savoured it, I took notes, I became engrossed with it. The prose of Florescentia is unreal, from the characters to the world it’s set in, truly phenomenal. When I seen that this was going to be in a “steam punk” fantasy, I was instantly drawn in. I’ve never read anything like this previously so it was new and my gosh was it refreshing and I’m looking forward to seeing how to is continued on.

I will always say that I.V. does an incredible job at bringing worlds to life, the depth that goes into them is outstanding and I will always be in awe. The setting was gritty, dark at times but also mind boggling. You had to sit, think and absorb every detail and I love this about the way I.V writes.

The characters are also out of this world (literally,) and I think it’s safe to say I adore Lucia. She’s incredible. Intelligent, strong willed, determined. Another incredible FMC that will live rent free in my mind forever. Her story is incredibly sad, my heart broke for her and found myself on the verge of tears throughout. And Altair, morally grey but also soft around the edges. His character was interesting, cunning and incredibly torn. You could actually feel the indecisiveness he was faced with. I loved them both and I’m looking forward to seeing how things play out.

Now the magic system is something else in itself. Yes it’s shadow based but it’s so much more, it’s atmospheric and complex. From the concept of harvesting luck, to the peculiars to the Otherworld, it all meshed together perfectly and created a magic system that is so dense and complex.

And did I mention how freaking emotional this book is? This book takes you through the stages of grief, it’s incredibly sad and grasps you by the heart. It also explores the concept of grieving someone that is still very much here, with you, at this present moment and that tugged on my heart strings big time. I.V has done amazing with encapsulating how someone may feel during these times, you can tell how much has been poured out onto the pages and into story and I am in awe.

[Hennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I am so incredibly grateful to have received an ARC of this book! I’m still absolutely baffled by that ending.

The moment I read the synopsis for Florescentia, I was completely hooked. Having read I.V. Ophelia’s previous work, I already knew her writing is incredibly captivating and pulls you in straight away, but this one took it to another level.

Lucia was such a fascinating protagonist. I’ll admit, there were moments where she annoyed me a bit, but honestly? If I had to walk in her shoes, I’d probably make way worse decisions. At the start, we get introduced to her family and her husband. Because we didn't get many scenes with the husband, I didn't deeply connect with him or feel super emotional over his passing, but it served as a fantastic, high-stakes trigger for the rest of the plot.

I also really appreciated how beautifully the book handled real-world themes like dementia and vitiligo. The representation was so naturally woven into the story. The exploration of dementia was genuinely heartbreaking. Capturing that painful reality of watching a loved one slowly vanish while their body is still there. Ophelia handled that subject with so much care and grace.

As for the world-building, it was stunning. The magic system took me a minute to fully wrap my head around at first, but once it clicked, I was completely intrigued! The setting felt incredibly cool but carried this underlying sadness. There’s a scene at an aquarium where they mention only one species of certain animals being left, and it hit so hard, like just seeing how human actions had altered their world.

And then... there’s Altair. He shows up pretty early on, and what a massive surprise he was. Honestly? I believed every single word that came out of his mouth like a naive little bird. I would have followed him blindly, lol! He manipulated me just as much as anyone else.

Which brings me to that ending. DAMN. A massive, jaw-on-the-floor DAMN. I was shocked in the absolute best way possible. Ophelia tricked me so well, and I cannot wait for book two to drop!

[Amanda Saffelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so unique, and I was completely pulled into the steampunk, gothic world that I.V. Ophelia created. The celestial belief system was fascinating, especially the rituals used to harvest luck. The shadow familiars, creatures that not everyone can see, were incredibly intriguing. This story felt unlike anything I’ve read before in the best possible way.

Our FMC, Lucia, is an inventor who performs rituals with her familiars to harvest luck for herself and her family. When one of those rituals goes terribly wrong, a mysterious shadow entity crosses into her world. Our MMC, Altair, is a celestial shadow beast from the Otherworld with secrets of his own and hidden motives for being there. The dynamic between Lucia and Altair was complicated, emotional, sensual, and filled with tension. Their chemistry was undeniable, and the spice was perfectly balanced. I became so emotionally invested in both of these characters and loved watching their relationship develop.

I especially loved the originality of the magic system and world building. Altair’s ability to shift between shadow, monster, and human forms made him such a fascinating MMC. Lucia’s intelligence, resilience, and endless curiosity made her such a great FMC. Uncovering the hidden truths woven throughout the story kept me hooked, and after that ending, I can’t wait to see what happens next!

If you love gothic, steampunk settings, incredible world building, unique magic, mystery, emotional tension, monster romance, and morally gray main characters, you need to add this book to your TBR!

Thank you to Montlake, NetGalley, and I.V. Ophelia for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Timea Andoczi-Balogh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the amazing author and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

First of all… the cover is absolutely stunning 🤩 I’m obsessed!!

I received this ARC on Friday and completely devoured it in a single day. I genuinely couldn’t put it down. To be fair, I had a feeling I was going to love it because I’ve loved every single book this author has written so far, and once again, she did not disappoint!

Tropes
🖤 Woman in STEM
🖤 Eldritch love interest
🖤 Vitiligo representation

This was such an easy book to get immersed in. The pacing flowed really well, and both the world-building and magic system were easy to understand without feeling overly simplified. The story never dragged, every detail felt intentional and important.

The atmosphere was one of my favourite parts: dark, eerie, and beautifully immersive, exactly how I like my books.

We were given little breadcrumbs throughout the story, and I was fully invested in every single one. Watching everything come together by the end was incredibly satisfying.

Favourite quote:
“For the stars had survived since old times, and would expire long after we were gone, the closest things we had to gods to observe us.”

I really liked both the FMC and MMC, they felt unique and memorable in their own ways. The side characters were also interesting, but Maxim was definitely a standout for me. He was so likeable, and as someone who also has a brother, I really enjoyed that sibling dynamic. The bickering felt realistic while still showing that underlying “I’d do anything for you” kind of love.

Now I desperately need the next book because that ending… absolutely insane cliffhanger. I’m so excited to see where the story goes next!

[Misty Gunderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have the people who reviewed this actually read it? I'm lost. This was an absolute snooze fest. Such a random manifesto of feminine and societal rage without any actual point or plot. It felt written by a psych patient. Complete word salad and unhinged in the most concerning and nonsensical of ways. Then I'm sorry... the love interest is some kind of cosmic alien? Who makes himself in the image of her dead husband whom she somehow killed in a random portal jump? Then he turns himself into a plant and GRAPES her? And reviews are saying that the spice is off the charts?!?!?! Nothing says smut like a dead husband, a father with Alzheimers, and an uncomfortable amount of brother time. I wanted to love this, but really I just hated myself for not being a DNFer. I wouldn't have made it past 27% when I finally realized it wasn't going to get any better any time soon. Oh it's 70% and now he's f*cking her as an octopus starfish. Yeah, this one really wasn't for me.

Okay... I got to 85% and I suddenly felt like this was marketed so wrong and therefore so were my expectations. This doesn't feel like a romance. It feels like gothic literature wherein the FMC is grappling with grief, death, fulfillment, purpose, overall lot in life, and yes, the hands we are dealt and what we have the power to change or succumb to. It just felt like the book didn't know what it wanted to be either. It wasn't wholly romance or existential crisis but felt too disjointed to be either successfully. I wish this had been 2 separate novels with a better marriage of ideas, but it wasn't entirely without any thought provoking content or beauty.

[Rachel Stempihar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

4.5 stars 💫✨

Wow! This was hauntingly beautiful & such a unique storyline. I will be patiently waiting the final installment of this duology.

As with any IV Ophelia book, she creates such an immersive atmosphere, I really felt as if I was existing in the world. I am obsessed with the gothic, 1890s NYC inspired setting. The world building was comprehensible and the magic system was unique and explained well. I am really excited to see how this system is expanded.

I love Lucia and how complex she is. Even in such a short book, you get a great read on her character. Since she is navigating the loss of her husband, you go through her ups and downs with grief and her struggle with depression following the loss. The vitiligo representation was great and I’m excited for other readers to feel seen.

How can I summon an eldritch being.. asking for a friend. Altair was so interesting to me. I love the little bits of his pov that we got, and I seriously think there is a ton to be learned about him. I love the way he is learning the human nature but doesn’t really deny his monstrous side. He is a little emotionless, but you can still tell how badly he wants Lucia if you catch my drift. His banter with Lucia??? To die for. You definitely experience his more monstrous traits.. so if that isn’t for you, I might not pick this one up.

I ate up the push and pull type romance and I seriously cannot wait until the final book comes out. I think Florescentia left us with a lot to think about and unpack. I can’t wait to potentially learn more about Lucia’s father, what happened with that ending, and how everything will flesh out. Make Altair beg!!

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC!

3.75/5 Stars

Florescentia has a wonderfully intriguing premise that weaves the dark and unsettling gothic genre with the horror of eldritch monsters and celestial worlds. It was a read I couldn't put down and I will be eagerly awaiting book two after that ending.

That being said, I did find myself wanting for more atmosphere and character depth. We spend so much of this book just following Lucia as she endures and persists.....but seems wholly unaffected by big moments. The death of her husband didn't seem to create any urgency for her or any real struggle, though she blamed herself. Additionally, her acceptance of the use of her husband's image was almost too easy. Had we spent more time in her emotions or really feeling any dread or build up about Altair's character and reveal, that would have elevated things for me.

The relationships between Lucia and her family also felt lacking. I was not surprised or bothered by her father's deal simply because I did not know him beyond being her father. We got no exploration of a past relationship or even any real emotions from Lucia about the betrayal. She just simply accepted everything so easily.

Those things aside, I really enjoyed the story and the more steampunk take on New York. The Otherworld was also a great setting and I do hope we get to see more of that environment and understand it better in book two!

[Meri Dimitrova · Rating 4 out of 5]

My eternal gratitude goes out to I.V Ophelia, Montlake, and NetGalley for the ARC I received in order to do this review.

4⭐️

*Semi-SPOILERS*



The BETRAYAL, manipulation, and yearning have left me empty! I absolutely can't wait to see where Lucia and Altair's story will go in book 2. Safe to say I adored this book.

The vibe of Florescentia was breathtakingly beautiful and gothic, immediately submerging me within the story. I absolutely loved Lucia's character. She was complex, with her intentions and drive being well developed while still allowing her to have flaws. I fell in love and absolutely loved Altair at the same time. His manipulative actions, driven by yearning and depravity to be loved by her and not alone, broke my heart. The betrayal was extremely well done, and i loved every second of it. For me, the magical concept was the star (pun intended). It was extremely unique and well done and definitely a massive strength of the book.

However, i do wish the book was a little longer. I wish the mystery behind her father's bargain with Altair was more drawn out, as i feel it would've been more impactful to me as a i reader.

However, i wish the book was a little longer. Allowing more for development of Lucia’s meddling with The Otherside, and for a bigger mystery surrounding her fathers bargin with Altair.

[JessOfAwesome · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minor Spoilers (I touch on this mentioned in the books description but try to to go passed that)
Another great book from I.V. Ophelia. This wasn't as good as the Poisoner series(so far) to me though, but most of the things I didn't like about this are personal preferences. The setting and writing is slways fantastic as well as the creativity to took to make something like this. I love the characters, didn't see myself as anyone but didn't mind observing. Sometimes concepts felt recycled having read her other books, but that always happens.
I'm not very familiar with occult and celestial magic like the type described in this book which threw me off a bit. Some knowledge of this magic system beforehand would be beneficial to a reader, although the book does its best to explain and show how it works as far as what exactly is used in the book.
The romance is cute and wholesome. It does overshadow or hide the FMC'S grief, nor does it add to it. The spice is weird and pulled me out of the book a bit, but I know a few people (especially monster romance readers) who would quite enjoy the amount of imagination it takes to comprehend what "it" even looks like. Lol At least, like some of the author's other books, the characters themselves hesitated and take a moment to acknowledge how strange the spice is, which helped a lot for me to get back into the book.

[Nya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recieved an e-arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

QUEEN OF GOTHIC ROMANCE

What an insanely dark and unique story. I truly can't recall anything like this. I feel like I.V. Ophelia's brain needs to be scanned so we can keep it forever and it can become our new google.

Lucia's grief is so tangible in this, I just wanted to hug her. She is so eldest daughter coded, giving herself away throughout her entire life just to help her family, friends, and husband, even if it means giving into the darkness just to harness the luck she needs. She's a strong FMC, and I really enjoyed being in her analytical mind.

Altair is so interesting - I think he's a really intriguing and mysterious MMC. He's meant to be untrustworthy, he's a cosmic entity after all, but why is this "beast" here? What does he hope to gain through Lucia? How far does his ambition go, and how can Lucia escape it? The plot twists and turns so much that, honestly, this is something I will definitely have to re-read before the sequal comes out.

The beginning was a bit slow, the plot was a little confusing, but this was such an enjoyable read. The lore and worldbuilding, Altair's abilities and the connections to the Otherside really elevated this story. I can't wait to read more.

[Makenzie Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️ Thank you Netgalley and I.V. Ophelia for the ARC!

This one was an interesting read. There were aspects I really enjoyed and others that didn’t quite work for me. As always, the author has an incredibly addicting writing style, and the banter and dialogue were a lot of fun.

What I felt was missing was the emotional weight of grief. The FMC is consumed by the idea of “the other side” and is determined to bring her husband back from the in-between, but I never truly felt the depth of her loss. Everyone processes grief differently, but I expected more guilt and emotional conflict, especially considering how soon everything unfolds after her husband’s death.

The MMC, Altair, is an entity from the in-between who initially enters Lucia’s world with his own nefarious agenda. As the story progresses, he slowly begins to change his mind…or at least, that’s what it seems. Altair quickly becomes obsessed with Lucia, and Lucia starts to develop feelings for him as well. She allows him certain physical intimacies, insisting they’re purely transactional, but given the timing, it all felt a little too fast for me.

That said, I really enjoyed the paranormal elements. The concept of the in-between and the supernatural aspects of the story kept me invested and were easily my favorite part of the book.

The ending is a cliffhanger, and despite my reservations, I’m definitely curious to see how everything wraps up in the next installment.