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Cruel Fate #1
Of Love and Cruelty
416 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 22, 2026
About the author
Tanja Longoria
37 books219 followersTanja is a spicy romance author who loves to write about strong female characters, loving love interests, and the occasional vampires and werewolves.
Besides writing she is a mother and nursing student, with a hectic life and an ever-changing work schedule. Writing is her escape from reality in which she can let go of all the stress that comes with managing a family of three and balancing work and private life.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 236 reviews
Did Not Finish
July 8, 2026dnf at 60%. i couldn’t get on with this one at all. i should have dnf’ed sooner.
there was no world building or plot, and there was barely any mention of this supposed hidden magic the fmc has. this may have been explored later in the book but i feel like the fmc’s inner dialogue should have explored this more in the beginning.
this wasn’t enemies to lovers and it didn’t feel like forbidden love either. there was no tension built up between the fmc and mmc, it was very insta lust. the fmc is a virgin and to keep her “intact” for the man she’s supposed to be married off to, the mmc thinks oh yeah anal is a fab idea let me just spit on my dick and stick it in?!
the fmc comes across as really innocent and naive and it doesn’t sit right with me that the mmc did that to her as her first sexual experience.
there was also a lot of repetition which made it boring. the mmc keeps telling her to “breathe” whilst they’re kissing but doesn’t feel like she needs to be told to breathe and prepare herself when he’s entering her “back hole” (her words) for the first time?
sadly there wasnt really anything of this book that i liked.
thank you to the nerd fam for the e-arc
there was no world building or plot, and there was barely any mention of this supposed hidden magic the fmc has. this may have been explored later in the book but i feel like the fmc’s inner dialogue should have explored this more in the beginning.
this wasn’t enemies to lovers and it didn’t feel like forbidden love either. there was no tension built up between the fmc and mmc, it was very insta lust. the fmc is a virgin and to keep her “intact” for the man she’s supposed to be married off to, the mmc thinks oh yeah anal is a fab idea let me just spit on my dick and stick it in?!
the fmc comes across as really innocent and naive and it doesn’t sit right with me that the mmc did that to her as her first sexual experience.
there was also a lot of repetition which made it boring. the mmc keeps telling her to “breathe” whilst they’re kissing but doesn’t feel like she needs to be told to breathe and prepare herself when he’s entering her “back hole” (her words) for the first time?
sadly there wasnt really anything of this book that i liked.
thank you to the nerd fam for the e-arc
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Did Not Finish
May 4, 2026Our MMC won’t stop smirking, I got the irk.
July 22, 2026
I rounded up to 4 stars but its more like a 3.75
First and foremost, thank you Tanja for the privilege to read this book before release. I am truly grateful!
This story follows Lady Emory who practices magic in a kingdom where it is forbidden. Although she tries her best to be sneaky about it, the traitor of the kingdom, Nikolai, sees past her magical barriers and discovers her secrets of using said forbidden magic.
This magic is punishable by death and even though shes the kingdoms Princess, it doesn't exclude her from the consequences. Lady Emory has to trust that Nikolai won't expose her even though his hate for the kingdom knows no bounds. She quickly finds herself falling for Nikolai even though she knows, he will never be her match among the kingdom. The first half of the book, you see their banter and relationship grow until she has depart from the kingdom with her soon to be husband.
I will say i was intrigued at first by this book from the cover and tropes alone but it was really hard for me to really get into the story. Its slow, which I don't mind, but I feel like maybe the writing style wasn't for me. The ending wasn't what I was expecting and had me all over the place emotionally. I did love the fact that Emory was finally starting to fight back towards the end the book and hopefully we will see more chatacter development in the next book.
First and foremost, thank you Tanja for the privilege to read this book before release. I am truly grateful!
This story follows Lady Emory who practices magic in a kingdom where it is forbidden. Although she tries her best to be sneaky about it, the traitor of the kingdom, Nikolai, sees past her magical barriers and discovers her secrets of using said forbidden magic.
This magic is punishable by death and even though shes the kingdoms Princess, it doesn't exclude her from the consequences. Lady Emory has to trust that Nikolai won't expose her even though his hate for the kingdom knows no bounds. She quickly finds herself falling for Nikolai even though she knows, he will never be her match among the kingdom. The first half of the book, you see their banter and relationship grow until she has depart from the kingdom with her soon to be husband.
I will say i was intrigued at first by this book from the cover and tropes alone but it was really hard for me to really get into the story. Its slow, which I don't mind, but I feel like maybe the writing style wasn't for me. The ending wasn't what I was expecting and had me all over the place emotionally. I did love the fact that Emory was finally starting to fight back towards the end the book and hopefully we will see more chatacter development in the next book.
June 30, 2026
1.5 stars
~
Of Love and Cruelty by Tanja Longoria follows Princess Emory who practices magic in a kingdom where it’s forbidden. One day, her secret is discovered by none other than Lord Nikolai, who’s seen as a traitor for the crimes of his family. Knowing that magic is punishable by death, Emory has to trust that Nikolai will keep her secret, but she quickly finds herself falling for the enemy.
This book has a very interesting concept and the beginning is quite interesting. The trope of forbidden romance is present, especially during the first half of the book. However, the enemies to lovers aspect is really lacking in the story. The magical aspect is enjoyable but was simply a subplot that wasn’t fleshed out. The pace is slow, which I don’t mind, but there is a lot of repetition through the book. What I absolutely disliked about the book was that despite the suggestion of being raped in her sleep, Emory still liked Nikolai. Emory even explains that she feels violated and betrayed, yet she still has feelings for him.
This is simply not a book for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.
~
Of Love and Cruelty by Tanja Longoria follows Princess Emory who practices magic in a kingdom where it’s forbidden. One day, her secret is discovered by none other than Lord Nikolai, who’s seen as a traitor for the crimes of his family. Knowing that magic is punishable by death, Emory has to trust that Nikolai will keep her secret, but she quickly finds herself falling for the enemy.
This book has a very interesting concept and the beginning is quite interesting. The trope of forbidden romance is present, especially during the first half of the book. However, the enemies to lovers aspect is really lacking in the story. The magical aspect is enjoyable but was simply a subplot that wasn’t fleshed out. The pace is slow, which I don’t mind, but there is a lot of repetition through the book. What I absolutely disliked about the book was that despite the suggestion of being raped in her sleep, Emory still liked Nikolai. Emory even explains that she feels violated and betrayed, yet she still has feelings for him.
This is simply not a book for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to WhimsywordsPR and Tanja Longoria for the opportunity to review this eARC.
Princess Emory’s magic has been discovered by the traitor. She is now forced to turn to him in trust. In close proximity something deeper brews.
From my rating you can tell I had some difficulty with this book. I had very high expectations for this going in, as the premise of the book sounded fantastic. The following is all my own personal opinion and comes down heavily to my own preferences.
//Marking as Spoilers
The main reason I didn’t enjoy this book, was because it was extremely dialogue driven. I felt Emory was speaking very fast to me about everything going on, but speaking as if I was acquaintance. She never fleshed out anything to the reader. I would get a few comments that accounted for world building, but no where near enough for how vast the world was made to feel like. It meant I was never immersed in the story.
On the topic of speed, I was confused at times about the pacing. Many chapters ended with Emory going to sleep, and started with her waking up. But when chapters didn’t follow this, I was unsure how long had passed.
Onto the men, I actually disliked the majority of men in this book. I found them to be very controlling, but Emory seemed to just accept that? I would have liked a bit of internal frustration/rage that deepened her character. I understand it’s a sign of the times, but even then, she would have felt something? Even when I was supposed to feel sorry for some of them, I didn’t. As most of how I as the reader interacted with them was from dialogue, I never came to care for them? Everyone felt very distant.
Now, some of the plot points had me questioning things. When Emory’s secret is revealed, it didn’t have any emotional pay-off. Again, she lacked the emotional range to react realistically in that moment. Where is the anxiety, the overthinking. Maybe that’s just me inputting myself in that moment, but it just felt like she had accepted the outcome immediately.
I actually really liked our traitorous Lord at the beginning. The reasons for them meeting did have me confused, some more direction from Emory possibly battling an internal struggle of loneliness, being surrounded by those who don’t show their true faces to her, anger at how women are treated in her world would have been good here. It would have also made her character arc much more interesting.
Now, there are some darker scenes. Which I found to be written very well and with the correct amount of sensitivity. But, again this might just be me, but she just accepted it in that moment. I just needed more of that internal battle that should have been coming to boil. Along other events Emory went through, because we never had intimate descriptions, when Emory brings them up in conversation later, it lacked the depth. If that situation made her speak like that, then show me why. Make me believe!
Princess Emory’s magic has been discovered by the traitor. She is now forced to turn to him in trust. In close proximity something deeper brews.
From my rating you can tell I had some difficulty with this book. I had very high expectations for this going in, as the premise of the book sounded fantastic. The following is all my own personal opinion and comes down heavily to my own preferences.
//Marking as Spoilers
The main reason I didn’t enjoy this book, was because it was extremely dialogue driven. I felt Emory was speaking very fast to me about everything going on, but speaking as if I was acquaintance. She never fleshed out anything to the reader. I would get a few comments that accounted for world building, but no where near enough for how vast the world was made to feel like. It meant I was never immersed in the story.
On the topic of speed, I was confused at times about the pacing. Many chapters ended with Emory going to sleep, and started with her waking up. But when chapters didn’t follow this, I was unsure how long had passed.
Onto the men, I actually disliked the majority of men in this book. I found them to be very controlling, but Emory seemed to just accept that? I would have liked a bit of internal frustration/rage that deepened her character. I understand it’s a sign of the times, but even then, she would have felt something? Even when I was supposed to feel sorry for some of them, I didn’t. As most of how I as the reader interacted with them was from dialogue, I never came to care for them? Everyone felt very distant.
Now, some of the plot points had me questioning things. When Emory’s secret is revealed, it didn’t have any emotional pay-off. Again, she lacked the emotional range to react realistically in that moment. Where is the anxiety, the overthinking. Maybe that’s just me inputting myself in that moment, but it just felt like she had accepted the outcome immediately.
I actually really liked our traitorous Lord at the beginning. The reasons for them meeting did have me confused, some more direction from Emory possibly battling an internal struggle of loneliness, being surrounded by those who don’t show their true faces to her, anger at how women are treated in her world would have been good here. It would have also made her character arc much more interesting.
Now, there are some darker scenes. Which I found to be written very well and with the correct amount of sensitivity. But, again this might just be me, but she just accepted it in that moment. I just needed more of that internal battle that should have been coming to boil. Along other events Emory went through, because we never had intimate descriptions, when Emory brings them up in conversation later, it lacked the depth. If that situation made her speak like that, then show me why. Make me believe!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I hate to rate a book negatively, but unfortunately I just couldn't get on with this story at all.
There are elements that I'm sure some readers will connect with - court politics (although our FMC isn't really in the loop on this), a regency feel to our princess's days, and lots of twists and turns to keep you engaged.
For me, the writing felt repetitive and a little 'obvious' at times, and the dialogue often felt forced or even jarring. The pacing worked well for the most part, with lots happening, but there were parts where the amount of time that had passed didn't seem to fit the events.
The biggest issue for me was the 'romance'. Whilst I appreciate this is dark romance and everyone's tastes are different (plus there are clear trigger warnings that come with the book explaining that women are seen as property in this world) for me it still didn't align with what I usually encounter across the range of dark romance. The 'spicy scenes' were incredibly uncomfortable, inappropriate and in bad taste in my opinion.
Whilst I have shared my honest views here, I hope anyone who reads this appreciates that this is simply my own personal reaction to the book. I truly believe that there are books for everyone and my 1 star will of course be someone else's 5 star!
There are elements that I'm sure some readers will connect with - court politics (although our FMC isn't really in the loop on this), a regency feel to our princess's days, and lots of twists and turns to keep you engaged.
For me, the writing felt repetitive and a little 'obvious' at times, and the dialogue often felt forced or even jarring. The pacing worked well for the most part, with lots happening, but there were parts where the amount of time that had passed didn't seem to fit the events.
The biggest issue for me was the 'romance'. Whilst I appreciate this is dark romance and everyone's tastes are different (plus there are clear trigger warnings that come with the book explaining that women are seen as property in this world) for me it still didn't align with what I usually encounter across the range of dark romance. The 'spicy scenes' were incredibly uncomfortable, inappropriate and in bad taste in my opinion.
Whilst I have shared my honest views here, I hope anyone who reads this appreciates that this is simply my own personal reaction to the book. I truly believe that there are books for everyone and my 1 star will of course be someone else's 5 star!
July 24, 2026
There were aspects I really enjoyed in this book. With book 2, I’m hoping we get some growth with our FMC. I’m very intrigued to see what happens next especially after that cliffhanger. Thank you for letting me be on the ARC team for this book!
Did Not Finish
July 1, 2026DNF at 17%.
This didn’t flow at all. The writing was stiff and unnatural, and the dialogue felt forced. Not just between the main characters but in general. Every interaction was like reading lines from a script during an early rehearsal rather than genuine conversation.
The FMC’s internal monologue was especially difficult to connect with. Her thoughts felt robotic and emotionally detached, to the point where she seemed almost soulless. It really felt like the lights were on, but nobody was home. I don’t mind a heroine who takes time to find her voice or stand up for herself, but I needed something, some spark of personality, anything to make her feel like a real person.
I was desperately trying to cling to some aspect of this book to keep me going, but even if I managed to finish this, it would get a low rating. Maybe it gets better later on, but I won’t be here to find out.
Thank you to the author for the ARC.
This didn’t flow at all. The writing was stiff and unnatural, and the dialogue felt forced. Not just between the main characters but in general. Every interaction was like reading lines from a script during an early rehearsal rather than genuine conversation.
The FMC’s internal monologue was especially difficult to connect with. Her thoughts felt robotic and emotionally detached, to the point where she seemed almost soulless. It really felt like the lights were on, but nobody was home. I don’t mind a heroine who takes time to find her voice or stand up for herself, but I needed something, some spark of personality, anything to make her feel like a real person.
I was desperately trying to cling to some aspect of this book to keep me going, but even if I managed to finish this, it would get a low rating. Maybe it gets better later on, but I won’t be here to find out.
Thank you to the author for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
2.96 ⭐️|
first of all, thank you so much to the author and arc team for giving me the opportunity to read this book early. i am incredibly greatful! ❤️
i am sad to say that this book was not my cup of tea. i disliked how they viewed women (actually, it made my blood boil). and i don’t like the mmc either.
the middle of this book did make me sob my eyes though, so for that it gets extra points! after that the entire time i just felt frustrated because i felt as though the mmc was stupid and horrible and i hated his ass and i also disliked the fmc.
the ending though? jaw dropped. even if i didn’t really like this book, i have to say the plot (especially middle to end) was unexpected and had me locked in. despite my negative feelings about the characters and the mmc’s actions especially (FUCK that man i hate his guts), i have to say that it was entertaining. the beginning was definitely a bit more boring and me being in a reading slump didn’t help, which is why i took so long to read it.
despite not liking the main characters in the book, there were side characters that i really did like and hopefully are shown more throughout the series, and i also liked that this book was in third person.
overall, there were definitely a lot of aspects that i disliked about this book (cough cough. mmc. fmc.) but there were also good things about it!
i would recommend if you’re into fantasy and mmc’s that do…quite strange things. though i won’t say what. iykyk.
please read trigger warnings before reading this book because it can be very triggering for some people.
2.96⭐️| 2🌶️
first of all, thank you so much to the author and arc team for giving me the opportunity to read this book early. i am incredibly greatful! ❤️
i am sad to say that this book was not my cup of tea. i disliked how they viewed women (actually, it made my blood boil). and i don’t like the mmc either.
the middle of this book did make me sob my eyes though, so for that it gets extra points! after that the entire time i just felt frustrated because i felt as though the mmc was stupid and horrible and i hated his ass and i also disliked the fmc.
the ending though? jaw dropped. even if i didn’t really like this book, i have to say the plot (especially middle to end) was unexpected and had me locked in. despite my negative feelings about the characters and the mmc’s actions especially (FUCK that man i hate his guts), i have to say that it was entertaining. the beginning was definitely a bit more boring and me being in a reading slump didn’t help, which is why i took so long to read it.
despite not liking the main characters in the book, there were side characters that i really did like and hopefully are shown more throughout the series, and i also liked that this book was in third person.
overall, there were definitely a lot of aspects that i disliked about this book (cough cough. mmc. fmc.) but there were also good things about it!
i would recommend if you’re into fantasy and mmc’s that do…quite strange things. though i won’t say what. iykyk.
please read trigger warnings before reading this book because it can be very triggering for some people.
2.96⭐️| 2🌶️
Did Not Finish
September 10, 2026DNF @ 55%
Thank you Tanja Longoria and Whimsy Words PR for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
I found the concept of this book interesting, but the execution was not for me. I've been trying to finish this book since July, but unfortunately, I just couldn't.
1. The plot felt super repetitive. The main characters would do the same thing each day, and it wasn't holding my interest. I wanted something new.
2. I couldn't get over how much the FMC's virginity was mentioned. Sure, I understand that during that time period, women had to "stay pure," but I didn't have to be reminded of it every 5 seconds. The MMC continuously explained her female anatomy since she didn't know anything, and it just irked me.
3. I didn't connect to the characters. Both of them felt really childish to me, and their chemistry felt nonexistent. I wanted tension and to feel the fear of getting caught, but it fell flat. The characters themselves were also flat. The FMC felt like a doll being easily swayed and pushed around by guys. It was annoying to say the least, I wish she had some type of backbone. The MMC was himself was a bit of an asswipe, he irritated me. The way he treated her at times, in my opinion, is an instant "don't talk to me again".
The Good:
I do think the writing style is easy to follow, and the magic concept in this story is a great idea. The FMC was a sweet person, and I did like how she cared about the kids at the orphanage.
I wanted to love this, but the bad outweighed the good (in my opinion).
I do want to say that I admire the author for writing an entire book. That alone is impressive and something to be proud of.
Thank you Tanja Longoria and Whimsy Words PR for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
I found the concept of this book interesting, but the execution was not for me. I've been trying to finish this book since July, but unfortunately, I just couldn't.
1. The plot felt super repetitive. The main characters would do the same thing each day, and it wasn't holding my interest. I wanted something new.
2. I couldn't get over how much the FMC's virginity was mentioned. Sure, I understand that during that time period, women had to "stay pure," but I didn't have to be reminded of it every 5 seconds. The MMC continuously explained her female anatomy since she didn't know anything, and it just irked me.
3. I didn't connect to the characters. Both of them felt really childish to me, and their chemistry felt nonexistent. I wanted tension and to feel the fear of getting caught, but it fell flat. The characters themselves were also flat. The FMC felt like a doll being easily swayed and pushed around by guys. It was annoying to say the least, I wish she had some type of backbone. The MMC was himself was a bit of an asswipe, he irritated me. The way he treated her at times, in my opinion, is an instant "don't talk to me again".
The Good:
I do think the writing style is easy to follow, and the magic concept in this story is a great idea. The FMC was a sweet person, and I did like how she cared about the kids at the orphanage.
I wanted to love this, but the bad outweighed the good (in my opinion).
I do want to say that I admire the author for writing an entire book. That alone is impressive and something to be proud of.
July 21, 2026
The male main character assaults the fmc !
she quite literally states that he violates her and she feels betrayed . This isn’t a romance .
Other than that this story was like 80% smut ? The magic had no real story, there wasn’t enemies to lovers, and it was very repetitive.
she quite literally states that he violates her and she feels betrayed . This isn’t a romance .
Other than that this story was like 80% smut ? The magic had no real story, there wasn’t enemies to lovers, and it was very repetitive.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2026
⭐⭐⭐✨ 3.5 Stars
Thank you to Whimsy Words PR and Tanja Longoria for the ARC!
Of Love and Cruelty has a strong foundation for what feels like the beginning of a much larger story. With forbidden magic, royal politics, morally gray characters, betrayal, and a slow burn romance, it sets up an intriguing fantasy world that clearly has more to explore in future books.
Princess Emory was resilient, compassionate, and easy to root for as she navigates impossible choices while hiding magic that could cost her life. I enjoyed the political intrigue and appreciated that the stakes continued to rise as the story progressed. The final portion of the book especially picked up the pace and left me curious to see where the series goes next.
For me, the biggest challenge was the pacing. The first half moved quite slowly, with some scenes and conversations feeling repetitive. While I liked the idea of the romance, I struggled to fully connect with its progression, and I found myself wanting more emotional development between the characters before some of the major relationship shifts. I also would have loved more world building, as the setting has a lot of potential that I hope gets expanded in future installments.
Overall, this was an enjoyable start to the series. If you enjoy dark romantasy with forbidden magic, court politics, morally gray characters, secrets, and a story that builds toward a stronger second half, this one is worth checking out. I’ll definitely be interested in seeing where Book Two takes Emory’s story.
Thank you to Whimsy Words PR and Tanja Longoria for the ARC!
Of Love and Cruelty has a strong foundation for what feels like the beginning of a much larger story. With forbidden magic, royal politics, morally gray characters, betrayal, and a slow burn romance, it sets up an intriguing fantasy world that clearly has more to explore in future books.
Princess Emory was resilient, compassionate, and easy to root for as she navigates impossible choices while hiding magic that could cost her life. I enjoyed the political intrigue and appreciated that the stakes continued to rise as the story progressed. The final portion of the book especially picked up the pace and left me curious to see where the series goes next.
For me, the biggest challenge was the pacing. The first half moved quite slowly, with some scenes and conversations feeling repetitive. While I liked the idea of the romance, I struggled to fully connect with its progression, and I found myself wanting more emotional development between the characters before some of the major relationship shifts. I also would have loved more world building, as the setting has a lot of potential that I hope gets expanded in future installments.
Overall, this was an enjoyable start to the series. If you enjoy dark romantasy with forbidden magic, court politics, morally gray characters, secrets, and a story that builds toward a stronger second half, this one is worth checking out. I’ll definitely be interested in seeing where Book Two takes Emory’s story.
July 23, 2026
What a surprise this book turned out to be!!! In the beginning of the book, I was wondering where the plot was going . But it quickly began to make sense; the plot twists in this book had me gasping! As if that wasn’t enough that ending was explosive!
I really don’t want to give any spoilers. I must say the FMC development with in the book is impressive.
I HAVE TO SAY THE EMOTIONAL AGONY FELT WHILE READING THIS BOOK WAS INTENSE !!!
Special thank you to Whimsy word PR and Author Tanja Longoria for this advance reader copy.
I really don’t want to give any spoilers. I must say the FMC development with in the book is impressive.
I HAVE TO SAY THE EMOTIONAL AGONY FELT WHILE READING THIS BOOK WAS INTENSE !!!
Special thank you to Whimsy word PR and Author Tanja Longoria for this advance reader copy.
Did Not Finish
July 22, 2026Not my cup of tea this one.
Probably really good for dark romantasy lovers where the romance plot is more important for the reader rather than the fantasy/world building/magic system plot
Probably really good for dark romantasy lovers where the romance plot is more important for the reader rather than the fantasy/world building/magic system plot
July 27, 2026
Even with a cliffhanger wow I read this so fast. Omg. I love it. I need book 2 like right now. I need it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 29, 2026
Review of advanced copy received from the Author.
I had to sit with this before I could write a view. I was going back and forth between 3 and 4 stars but I was invested and couldn't put this book down at points.
I honestly am not sure if I like this MFC or not. She got on my nerves at parts in the story, with not consistently using her magic or behaving as she did before the wedding and then after with the second wedding. She was also a little bratty. But t was kinda odd two
Men were fighting this hard over her.
This book to me was a mix of Once Upon a Broken Heart, the Red Wedding, and a little Bridgeton. That sounds like a crazy combination because it is. It mostly work though.
Spice was interesting, I guess thats one way to not get pregnant.
The artwork in this was a cool surprise to see while reading. I would recommend this to certain people.
I would read more from this author.
I had to sit with this before I could write a view. I was going back and forth between 3 and 4 stars but I was invested and couldn't put this book down at points.
I honestly am not sure if I like this MFC or not. She got on my nerves at parts in the story, with not consistently using her magic or behaving as she did before the wedding and then after with the second wedding. She was also a little bratty. But t was kinda odd two
Men were fighting this hard over her.
This book to me was a mix of Once Upon a Broken Heart, the Red Wedding, and a little Bridgeton. That sounds like a crazy combination because it is. It mostly work though.
Spice was interesting, I guess thats one way to not get pregnant.
The artwork in this was a cool surprise to see while reading. I would recommend this to certain people.
I would read more from this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
**𝓝𝓞 𝓢𝓟𝓞𝓘𝓛𝓔𝓡𝓢**
⚜️𝔻𝕖𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕕 𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 𝕠𝕗- Of love and cruelty
𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 Whimsywords PR 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰, 𝐢𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐢 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐦𝐲 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤.
⚜️ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤-
(out of 5 stars, my rating scale is at the end)
* 📚 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 / 5
* 🌡️ 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲🌶🌶 / 5 -𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑚𝑦 𝐺𝑜𝑜𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑠 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑠
* Which books have I also given this same rating? (𝑠𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑠𝑡𝑦𝑙𝑒𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑜𝑤𝑛)
5⭐️ Fourth wing / Bound by inked flame / Anathama / The Lies of Lena / Of silver and Curses
4.5⭐️ Bitten / The Female / Quicksilver / Bride / Lights Out / A Bargain so Bloody
4⭐️ Spellcaster / One Dark Window / From Blood and Ash / Phantasma / Butcher & Blackbird
3⭐️We Who Will Die / The Wolf King / Daughter of No Worlds / The Ex Hex
⚜️𝕂𝕖𝕪 𝕀𝕟𝕗𝕠:
* Genre- Fantasy romance
* 📖 416 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀
* 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑟𝑑 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛 solo 𝗣𝗢𝗩
* 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲- 22 July 2026
* 𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁 or 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 driven? 𝒜 ℳ𝒾𝓍
* 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲 & 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗻𝗼- Cruel Fate book 1
* 𝗔𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 on 𝗞𝗨? ✅𝒴ℯ𝓈.
* 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗲-𝓌ℯ𝓁𝓁 𝓅𝒶𝒸ℯ𝒹 𝒻ℴ𝓇 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝓈𝓉ℴ𝓇𝓎
* 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲? ✅𝒴ℯ𝓈, ℐ 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝓇ℯ𝓂ℯ𝓂𝒷ℯ𝓇 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝓋𝒾𝒷ℯ𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒻ℯℯ𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓇ℯ𝒶𝒹 𝓁ℯ𝒻𝓉 𝓂ℯ 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝒾’𝓂 𝓃ℴ𝓉 𝓈𝓊𝓇ℯ 𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝓇ℯ𝓂ℯ𝓂𝒷ℯ𝓇 𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 ℴ𝒻 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝓅𝓁ℴ𝓉.
* 𝐀𝐧𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧? (Disability, plus size, mental health etc...)❌
* 𝒟𝒾𝒹 𝒾 ℯ𝓃𝒿ℴ𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈?✅
* 𝒲𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒾 𝓇ℯ𝒶𝒹 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝓃ℯ𝓍𝓉 𝒷ℴℴ𝓀 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓈ℯ𝓇𝒾ℯ𝓈?✅
* 𝒲ℴ𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝒾 𝓇ℯ𝒶𝒹 𝒶𝓃𝓎𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 ℯ𝓁𝓈ℯ 𝒷𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒽ℴ𝓇?✅
🚨🅲︎🅷︎🅴︎🅲︎🅺︎ 🆃︎🅷︎🅴︎ 🆃︎🆆︎!🚨
⚜️𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕖 𝔽𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕤:
💦𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐨 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬/ 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬
🫠𝒱𝒾𝓇𝑔𝒾𝓃 ℳℳ𝒞
🤍𝑉𝑖𝑟𝑔𝑖𝑛 𝐹𝑀𝐶
🔥𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧
🥵𝒟𝒾𝓇𝓉𝓎 𝒯𝒶𝓁𝓀
💌ᴀʀʀᴀɴɢᴇᴅ ᴍᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇ
🫦Oᴘᴘᴏsɪᴛᴇs Aᴛᴛʀᴀᴄᴛ
🗡 𝙀𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨
💀𝔉𝔬𝔯𝔟𝔦𝔡𝔡𝔢𝔫 𝔯𝔬𝔪𝔞𝔫𝔠𝔢
🔺 𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒
⚜️𝕋ℝ𝕆ℙ𝔼𝕊
😈𝕊𝕖𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕥𝕤 & 𝔹𝕖𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕪𝕒𝕝𝕤
🪧Pᴏʟɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ Iɴᴛʀɪɢᴜᴇ
👑𝓡𝓸𝔂𝓪𝓵 𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓾𝓮
🧬 𝐔𝐧𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠
🕯️𝔽𝕠𝕣𝕓𝕚𝕕𝕕𝕖𝕟 𝕞𝕒𝕘𝕚𝕔
🍭𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕟𝕪 𝕍 𝔾𝕣𝕦𝕞𝕡𝕪
🧩𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒙𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒚
☠️𝕋𝕠𝕦𝕔𝕙 𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕒𝕟𝕕...
🧨𝕊𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕪 𝔽𝕄ℂ
⏳𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬
⌚𝔸-𝕙𝕠𝕝𝕖
📝Cliff Notes Review-
This one completely pulled me in with its story, but I found myself craving deeper emotions, stronger chemistry, and more focus on the magic that was teased from the beginning. Despite a few pacing issues, I was invested enough to race through it… and now I desperately need the sequel.
🤔 Wanted more:
• Emotional depth
• Richer world-building
• Stronger romantic chemistry
• More focus on the forbidden magic
🌍 𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕 𝕓𝕦𝕚𝕝𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘, 𝕨𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕡𝕒𝕔𝕚𝕟𝕘:
First of all that ending was spectacular! I LOVE a great, unpredictable twist and I enjoy a good cliff hanger but this ending was something else! You know when you think you have it all worked out and your settled in to just read the ending… yer, head my advice and don’t let yourself get comfortable with this one!
Of Love and Cruelty had so many ingredients that should have made it an absolute favourite for me. Political intrigue, forbidden magic, war, betrayal, romance, and a love triangle? On paper, it’s exactly the kind of fantasy romance I love. While I genuinely enjoyed the story and found myself eager to keep reading, there were a few things that stopped me from becoming completely immersed.
The first thing I noticed was how dialogue-heavy the book felt. It often seemed as though Emory was telling me about her world rather than allowing me to experience it alongside her. The setting is clearly vast and full of history, but I never felt fully grounded within it because there wasn’t enough description or world-building to bring everything to life. I wanted more atmosphere, more detail, and more opportunities to get lost in the world instead of hearing about it.
The pacing also felt uneven at times. Chapters frequently began with Emory waking up and ended with her going to sleep, which gave a clear sense of time passing. However, whenever the story broke away from that structure, I found myself wondering how much time had actually passed between scenes. There were moments where the timeline felt unclear, which occasionally pulled me out of the story.
Several major revelations, including the discovery of Emory’s secret, didn’t quite land emotionally for me because I never felt the weight of what she was experiencing. I wanted to see the anxiety, the panic, the overthinking, and the emotional aftermath. Rather than simply being told she’d moved on, I wanted to experience that journey with her.
The darker scenes were handled thoughtfully and respectfully, which I appreciated, but again I found myself wishing we spent more time inside Emory’s head afterwards. When those experiences were referenced later, they didn’t carry the emotional impact I expected because I hadn’t fully experienced her processing them in the moment. I wanted those events to shape her more visibly.
Although I thought the writing itself was enjoyable overall, I did notice some repetitive phrasing and dialogue. Certain expressions and reactions appeared frequently enough that they became noticeable, and some conversations felt slightly unnatural. There were also a couple of minor spelling errors, but nothing that significantly affected my enjoyment.
One aspect I really wanted more from was the magic. From the very beginning, Emory’s abilities are presented as something incredibly dangerous, with enormous consequences if they’re discovered. Because of that, I expected her magic to become central to the story. Instead, it gradually faded into the background after being used only for relatively small moments. I kept expecting situations where she’d be forced to take bigger risks or come close to being exposed, but those moments never really arrived. Considering how important it initially seemed, it felt underused.
The political intrigue, shifting alliances, war, and court dynamics added plenty of tension without becoming overwhelming, and they gave the story a sense of momentum that kept me engaged. The love triangle also worked better than I expected. Each relationship offered something different, and there were multiple points where I genuinely wasn’t sure who I wanted Emory to end up with.
I also loved the artwork throughout the book. The illustrated chapter headers and character art were beautiful touches that really enhanced the reading experience.
Even with my criticisms, I’m still invested enough that I’ll absolutely be picking up the sequel because I need to know where Emory’s journey goes next.
🧝♂️ ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤:
One of my biggest struggles was connecting emotionally with the characters, particularly the male leads. Many of them came across as controlling, and while I understand that’s reflective of the world and its politics, I wanted to see more of Emory’s internal reaction to it. More frustration, anger, resentment, or conflict would have made her feel more layered and believable. Instead, she often seemed to accept events surprisingly quickly, even during moments that should have been emotionally devastating. I also struggled to fully believe the romances. While there was definitely chemistry on a physical level, I never felt especially invested emotionally in either relationship. There was plenty of dialogue between the characters, but not always enough shared experiences to build convincing emotional connections.
I’m going to start with our resident forbidden love - he was truly delicious to watch come undone and have him fall for the woman he should hate. the traitorous lord Was one of my favourite characters early on. I found him intriguing from the beginning, although I did think the circumstances surrounding some of their early interactions could have benefited from more emotional context.
Next up in the love triangle we have the dukes son, I was highly suspicious of him because when something is too good to be true…. Watching his affections and soul lighten every minute he spent with her was actually beautiful to read. Even if it did have me fretting and worrying alongside swooning at his advances.
Moving over to her brother, the prince himself. What a playboy he seemed to be but clearly underneath all of that he held the love and protection of his sister in extremely high extreme. It was a loving and caring relationship and juxtaposed against the relationship of their parents it shone brightly.
The FMC herself was a kind soul, I truly enjoy reading all of her scenes! I enjoyed watching her grow and learn, I appreciated her wit and her commitment to her people and her loved ones- even the ones that didn’t deserve it. Exploring Emory’s loneliness, her distrust of those around her, or her anger towards the way women were treated in her world would have strengthened both her character and the relationships she built. The way their relationship developed and grew was both dangerous and endearing to watch. I did find it difficult to accept how quickly Emory forgave certain actions, particularly considering the trauma she’d experienced. Some emotional wounds appeared to heal much faster than felt realistic, which made parts of the romance harder for me to connect with.
Despite those criticisms, there was still plenty I enjoyed. The story itself is compelling, and there were several points where I genuinely struggled to put it down. I loved Emory’s cleverness in the opening chapters, especially the secrecy surrounding her magic and the forbidden romance elements early in the story.
🪧𝔽𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:
Overall, I think Of Love and Cruelty has incredible potential. The foundations are all there: an interesting world, intriguing politics, forbidden magic, betrayal, romance, and plenty of emotional conflict. Personally, I just wanted more depth between the major plot points. More time spent exploring the characters’ thoughts, emotions, and relationships would have elevated this from a really enjoyable read into an unforgettable one. So there you go, A really enjoyable fantasy romance with huge potential that definitely left me wanting book two.
𝐹𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑢𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠;
𝕋𝕚𝕜𝕋𝕠𝕜
https://www.tiktok.com/@your_bookish_...
IᑎՏTᗩ
https://www.instagram.com/your_bookis...
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𝕄𝕪 ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕊𝕪𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕞𝕤:
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I don't regret reading it, and I will read the next one, but this one did have a few flaws. [These could be repetitive writing, gaps or plot holes, better character growth or world building, areas needing more detail]
Generally, the book lacked depth and became confusing. The plot resonated with me even though it annoyed me on the whole.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I'm glad I read it. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to the right people, but I wanted more! Sadly, it's easily forgettable with a few issues I just couldn't overlook/get past.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Good book! I loved it, but... I needed more! I really did enjoy it, but it had a few parts that needed more detail or added history/background or lore. But that's because the story or characters were memorable, and the plot was strong with brilliant twists. I would re-read if I needed to catch up for the next book and would recommend.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Great book! I truly wish the story had been thought about more, or the author had been given more time as this book is so close to brilliance! I will likely read again and will definitely be recommending it to all!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WOW! Absolutely amazing book! Well written with great characters and a plot so memorable that it will stay with me. I will definitely read this again, I will be recommending it and sharing it with the whole world! Also- I NEED A PHYSICAL COPY!
SPICE SCALE:
🌶️– segsual language and a little on-page action
🌶️🌶️– a lot of segsual language and some on-page open door action, may be occurring a couple of times
🌶️🌶️🌶️– a lot of explicit action and dirty talk, occurring frequently with 2/3 lurvers
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ – super graphic and explicit, occurring 4 or more times, can be more grey and taboo themed.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ – Kinks and Fet!shism, explicit and super graphic. It is likely to be tushy play, toys, playrooms, and more
⚜️𝔻𝕖𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕕 𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 𝕠𝕗- Of love and cruelty
𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 Whimsywords PR 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰, 𝐢𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐢 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐦𝐲 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤.
⚜️ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤-
(out of 5 stars, my rating scale is at the end)
* 📚 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 / 5
* 🌡️ 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲🌶🌶 / 5 -𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑚𝑦 𝐺𝑜𝑜𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑠 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑠
* Which books have I also given this same rating? (𝑠𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑠𝑡𝑦𝑙𝑒𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑜𝑤𝑛)
5⭐️ Fourth wing / Bound by inked flame / Anathama / The Lies of Lena / Of silver and Curses
4.5⭐️ Bitten / The Female / Quicksilver / Bride / Lights Out / A Bargain so Bloody
4⭐️ Spellcaster / One Dark Window / From Blood and Ash / Phantasma / Butcher & Blackbird
3⭐️We Who Will Die / The Wolf King / Daughter of No Worlds / The Ex Hex
⚜️𝕂𝕖𝕪 𝕀𝕟𝕗𝕠:
* Genre- Fantasy romance
* 📖 416 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀
* 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑟𝑑 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛 solo 𝗣𝗢𝗩
* 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲- 22 July 2026
* 𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁 or 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 driven? 𝒜 ℳ𝒾𝓍
* 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲 & 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗻𝗼- Cruel Fate book 1
* 𝗔𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 on 𝗞𝗨? ✅𝒴ℯ𝓈.
* 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗲-𝓌ℯ𝓁𝓁 𝓅𝒶𝒸ℯ𝒹 𝒻ℴ𝓇 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝓈𝓉ℴ𝓇𝓎
* 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲? ✅𝒴ℯ𝓈, ℐ 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝓇ℯ𝓂ℯ𝓂𝒷ℯ𝓇 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝓋𝒾𝒷ℯ𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒻ℯℯ𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓇ℯ𝒶𝒹 𝓁ℯ𝒻𝓉 𝓂ℯ 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝒾’𝓂 𝓃ℴ𝓉 𝓈𝓊𝓇ℯ 𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝓇ℯ𝓂ℯ𝓂𝒷ℯ𝓇 𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 ℴ𝒻 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝓅𝓁ℴ𝓉.
* 𝐀𝐧𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧? (Disability, plus size, mental health etc...)❌
* 𝒟𝒾𝒹 𝒾 ℯ𝓃𝒿ℴ𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈?✅
* 𝒲𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒾 𝓇ℯ𝒶𝒹 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝓃ℯ𝓍𝓉 𝒷ℴℴ𝓀 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓈ℯ𝓇𝒾ℯ𝓈?✅
* 𝒲ℴ𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝒾 𝓇ℯ𝒶𝒹 𝒶𝓃𝓎𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 ℯ𝓁𝓈ℯ 𝒷𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒽ℴ𝓇?✅
🚨🅲︎🅷︎🅴︎🅲︎🅺︎ 🆃︎🅷︎🅴︎ 🆃︎🆆︎!🚨
⚜️𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕖 𝔽𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕤:
💦𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐨 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬/ 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬
🫠𝒱𝒾𝓇𝑔𝒾𝓃 ℳℳ𝒞
🤍𝑉𝑖𝑟𝑔𝑖𝑛 𝐹𝑀𝐶
🔥𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧
🥵𝒟𝒾𝓇𝓉𝓎 𝒯𝒶𝓁𝓀
💌ᴀʀʀᴀɴɢᴇᴅ ᴍᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇ
🫦Oᴘᴘᴏsɪᴛᴇs Aᴛᴛʀᴀᴄᴛ
🗡 𝙀𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨
💀𝔉𝔬𝔯𝔟𝔦𝔡𝔡𝔢𝔫 𝔯𝔬𝔪𝔞𝔫𝔠𝔢
🔺 𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒
⚜️𝕋ℝ𝕆ℙ𝔼𝕊
😈𝕊𝕖𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕥𝕤 & 𝔹𝕖𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕪𝕒𝕝𝕤
🪧Pᴏʟɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ Iɴᴛʀɪɢᴜᴇ
👑𝓡𝓸𝔂𝓪𝓵 𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓾𝓮
🧬 𝐔𝐧𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠
🕯️𝔽𝕠𝕣𝕓𝕚𝕕𝕕𝕖𝕟 𝕞𝕒𝕘𝕚𝕔
🍭𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕟𝕪 𝕍 𝔾𝕣𝕦𝕞𝕡𝕪
🧩𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒙𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒚
☠️𝕋𝕠𝕦𝕔𝕙 𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕒𝕟𝕕...
🧨𝕊𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕪 𝔽𝕄ℂ
⏳𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬
⌚𝔸-𝕙𝕠𝕝𝕖
📝Cliff Notes Review-
This one completely pulled me in with its story, but I found myself craving deeper emotions, stronger chemistry, and more focus on the magic that was teased from the beginning. Despite a few pacing issues, I was invested enough to race through it… and now I desperately need the sequel.
🤔 Wanted more:
• Emotional depth
• Richer world-building
• Stronger romantic chemistry
• More focus on the forbidden magic
🌍 𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕 𝕓𝕦𝕚𝕝𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘, 𝕨𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕡𝕒𝕔𝕚𝕟𝕘:
First of all that ending was spectacular! I LOVE a great, unpredictable twist and I enjoy a good cliff hanger but this ending was something else! You know when you think you have it all worked out and your settled in to just read the ending… yer, head my advice and don’t let yourself get comfortable with this one!
Of Love and Cruelty had so many ingredients that should have made it an absolute favourite for me. Political intrigue, forbidden magic, war, betrayal, romance, and a love triangle? On paper, it’s exactly the kind of fantasy romance I love. While I genuinely enjoyed the story and found myself eager to keep reading, there were a few things that stopped me from becoming completely immersed.
The first thing I noticed was how dialogue-heavy the book felt. It often seemed as though Emory was telling me about her world rather than allowing me to experience it alongside her. The setting is clearly vast and full of history, but I never felt fully grounded within it because there wasn’t enough description or world-building to bring everything to life. I wanted more atmosphere, more detail, and more opportunities to get lost in the world instead of hearing about it.
The pacing also felt uneven at times. Chapters frequently began with Emory waking up and ended with her going to sleep, which gave a clear sense of time passing. However, whenever the story broke away from that structure, I found myself wondering how much time had actually passed between scenes. There were moments where the timeline felt unclear, which occasionally pulled me out of the story.
Several major revelations, including the discovery of Emory’s secret, didn’t quite land emotionally for me because I never felt the weight of what she was experiencing. I wanted to see the anxiety, the panic, the overthinking, and the emotional aftermath. Rather than simply being told she’d moved on, I wanted to experience that journey with her.
The darker scenes were handled thoughtfully and respectfully, which I appreciated, but again I found myself wishing we spent more time inside Emory’s head afterwards. When those experiences were referenced later, they didn’t carry the emotional impact I expected because I hadn’t fully experienced her processing them in the moment. I wanted those events to shape her more visibly.
Although I thought the writing itself was enjoyable overall, I did notice some repetitive phrasing and dialogue. Certain expressions and reactions appeared frequently enough that they became noticeable, and some conversations felt slightly unnatural. There were also a couple of minor spelling errors, but nothing that significantly affected my enjoyment.
One aspect I really wanted more from was the magic. From the very beginning, Emory’s abilities are presented as something incredibly dangerous, with enormous consequences if they’re discovered. Because of that, I expected her magic to become central to the story. Instead, it gradually faded into the background after being used only for relatively small moments. I kept expecting situations where she’d be forced to take bigger risks or come close to being exposed, but those moments never really arrived. Considering how important it initially seemed, it felt underused.
The political intrigue, shifting alliances, war, and court dynamics added plenty of tension without becoming overwhelming, and they gave the story a sense of momentum that kept me engaged. The love triangle also worked better than I expected. Each relationship offered something different, and there were multiple points where I genuinely wasn’t sure who I wanted Emory to end up with.
I also loved the artwork throughout the book. The illustrated chapter headers and character art were beautiful touches that really enhanced the reading experience.
Even with my criticisms, I’m still invested enough that I’ll absolutely be picking up the sequel because I need to know where Emory’s journey goes next.
🧝♂️ ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤:
One of my biggest struggles was connecting emotionally with the characters, particularly the male leads. Many of them came across as controlling, and while I understand that’s reflective of the world and its politics, I wanted to see more of Emory’s internal reaction to it. More frustration, anger, resentment, or conflict would have made her feel more layered and believable. Instead, she often seemed to accept events surprisingly quickly, even during moments that should have been emotionally devastating. I also struggled to fully believe the romances. While there was definitely chemistry on a physical level, I never felt especially invested emotionally in either relationship. There was plenty of dialogue between the characters, but not always enough shared experiences to build convincing emotional connections.
I’m going to start with our resident forbidden love - he was truly delicious to watch come undone and have him fall for the woman he should hate. the traitorous lord Was one of my favourite characters early on. I found him intriguing from the beginning, although I did think the circumstances surrounding some of their early interactions could have benefited from more emotional context.
Next up in the love triangle we have the dukes son, I was highly suspicious of him because when something is too good to be true…. Watching his affections and soul lighten every minute he spent with her was actually beautiful to read. Even if it did have me fretting and worrying alongside swooning at his advances.
Moving over to her brother, the prince himself. What a playboy he seemed to be but clearly underneath all of that he held the love and protection of his sister in extremely high extreme. It was a loving and caring relationship and juxtaposed against the relationship of their parents it shone brightly.
The FMC herself was a kind soul, I truly enjoy reading all of her scenes! I enjoyed watching her grow and learn, I appreciated her wit and her commitment to her people and her loved ones- even the ones that didn’t deserve it. Exploring Emory’s loneliness, her distrust of those around her, or her anger towards the way women were treated in her world would have strengthened both her character and the relationships she built. The way their relationship developed and grew was both dangerous and endearing to watch. I did find it difficult to accept how quickly Emory forgave certain actions, particularly considering the trauma she’d experienced. Some emotional wounds appeared to heal much faster than felt realistic, which made parts of the romance harder for me to connect with.
Despite those criticisms, there was still plenty I enjoyed. The story itself is compelling, and there were several points where I genuinely struggled to put it down. I loved Emory’s cleverness in the opening chapters, especially the secrecy surrounding her magic and the forbidden romance elements early in the story.
🪧𝔽𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:
Overall, I think Of Love and Cruelty has incredible potential. The foundations are all there: an interesting world, intriguing politics, forbidden magic, betrayal, romance, and plenty of emotional conflict. Personally, I just wanted more depth between the major plot points. More time spent exploring the characters’ thoughts, emotions, and relationships would have elevated this from a really enjoyable read into an unforgettable one. So there you go, A really enjoyable fantasy romance with huge potential that definitely left me wanting book two.
𝐹𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑢𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠;
𝕋𝕚𝕜𝕋𝕠𝕜
https://www.tiktok.com/@your_bookish_...
IᑎՏTᗩ
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𝕄𝕪 ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕊𝕪𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕞𝕤:
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I don't regret reading it, and I will read the next one, but this one did have a few flaws. [These could be repetitive writing, gaps or plot holes, better character growth or world building, areas needing more detail]
Generally, the book lacked depth and became confusing. The plot resonated with me even though it annoyed me on the whole.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I'm glad I read it. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to the right people, but I wanted more! Sadly, it's easily forgettable with a few issues I just couldn't overlook/get past.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Good book! I loved it, but... I needed more! I really did enjoy it, but it had a few parts that needed more detail or added history/background or lore. But that's because the story or characters were memorable, and the plot was strong with brilliant twists. I would re-read if I needed to catch up for the next book and would recommend.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Great book! I truly wish the story had been thought about more, or the author had been given more time as this book is so close to brilliance! I will likely read again and will definitely be recommending it to all!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WOW! Absolutely amazing book! Well written with great characters and a plot so memorable that it will stay with me. I will definitely read this again, I will be recommending it and sharing it with the whole world! Also- I NEED A PHYSICAL COPY!
SPICE SCALE:
🌶️– segsual language and a little on-page action
🌶️🌶️– a lot of segsual language and some on-page open door action, may be occurring a couple of times
🌶️🌶️🌶️– a lot of explicit action and dirty talk, occurring frequently with 2/3 lurvers
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ – super graphic and explicit, occurring 4 or more times, can be more grey and taboo themed.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ – Kinks and Fet!shism, explicit and super graphic. It is likely to be tushy play, toys, playrooms, and more
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book by Tanja Longoria completely hooked me from the very beginning, and I honestly can’t explain the emotional wreck it turned me into. The love story had me invested from start to finish, and there were so many moments that left me heartbroken, hopeful, and desperate to know what would happen next.
The writing is intricate and beautifully executed. The level of detail woven throughout the story makes the world feel incredibly vivid, while the emotional depth of the characters makes every moment hit even harder. Without a doubt, this has become one of my favourite books I’ve read this year and has easily earned a place in my top 10.
How It Begins
The story begins in the aftermath of a rebellion that changed everything. Political tensions, betrayal, and the consequences of war shape the lives of the characters from the very start.
When Princess Emory is caught sneaking out of the castle one night, she unexpectedly finds herself accompanied by Nikolai, a man whose past is deeply tied to the royal family. What begins as an unlikely partnership slowly develops into something much more meaningful as they spend more time together.
Emory, the Princess
Emory quickly became one of my favourite characters. She is intelligent, brave, and deeply compassionate. Unlike many royal characters, she genuinely wants to understand her people and help them however she can.
Throughout the story, we watch her grow not only as a princess but also as a person. She constantly challenges expectations and refuses to remain sheltered from the realities of the world around her. Her determination and kindness made her incredibly easy to root for.
Nikolai, the Black Sheep
Nikolai was such a fascinating character. His life has been shaped by loss, punishment, and years of suffering, leaving him guarded and distant from those around him.
At first, he appears cold and intimidating, but as the story unfolds, we see the layers beneath that hardened exterior. Some of my favourite moments were the quieter scenes where he opened up about his past and allowed himself to be vulnerable. Despite everything he has endured, there is still warmth, humour, and loyalty buried beneath the surface.
Watching his character develop throughout the book was one of the most rewarding parts of the story.
The Love Triangle
I know love triangles can be divisive, but this one completely worked for me.
The relationships feel complex and emotionally layered rather than simply existing for drama. Every character involved has genuine depth, making it impossible not to become invested in their choices and relationships.
As political responsibilities, personal desires, and growing feelings begin to collide, the emotional stakes become higher and higher. There were several moments where I genuinely didn’t know how everything was going to work out, and that uncertainty kept me turning pages late into the night.
Magic, Politics, and War
While the romance is a huge part of the story, the fantasy elements are equally compelling. The world is filled with political intrigue, forbidden magic, shifting alliances, and the lingering consequences of conflict.
These elements never felt overwhelming or distracting. Instead, they strengthened the story and raised the stakes, making every decision feel important and every victory feel earned.
The further I read, the more invested I became in the world and the characters fighting to survive within it.
Final Thoughts
Of Love and Cruelty is an emotional, character-driven fantasy romance filled with political intrigue, magic, heartbreak, and impossible choices. The relationships felt authentic, the characters were wonderfully developed, and the story constantly kept me engaged.
I especially loved watching Emory grow into her role, seeing Nikolai slowly lower his walls, and becoming attached to every character involved in the love triangle. Each of them brought something unique to the story, which made the emotional moments even more impactful.
The ending left me completely desperate for the next book. I have so many questions and need answers immediately.
If you enjoy fantasy romance, love triangles, political intrigue, magic, war, emotional character development, and stories that leave your heart in pieces, I highly recommend picking up Of Love and Cruelty.
I cannot wait to continue this series.
The writing is intricate and beautifully executed. The level of detail woven throughout the story makes the world feel incredibly vivid, while the emotional depth of the characters makes every moment hit even harder. Without a doubt, this has become one of my favourite books I’ve read this year and has easily earned a place in my top 10.
How It Begins
The story begins in the aftermath of a rebellion that changed everything. Political tensions, betrayal, and the consequences of war shape the lives of the characters from the very start.
When Princess Emory is caught sneaking out of the castle one night, she unexpectedly finds herself accompanied by Nikolai, a man whose past is deeply tied to the royal family. What begins as an unlikely partnership slowly develops into something much more meaningful as they spend more time together.
Emory, the Princess
Emory quickly became one of my favourite characters. She is intelligent, brave, and deeply compassionate. Unlike many royal characters, she genuinely wants to understand her people and help them however she can.
Throughout the story, we watch her grow not only as a princess but also as a person. She constantly challenges expectations and refuses to remain sheltered from the realities of the world around her. Her determination and kindness made her incredibly easy to root for.
Nikolai, the Black Sheep
Nikolai was such a fascinating character. His life has been shaped by loss, punishment, and years of suffering, leaving him guarded and distant from those around him.
At first, he appears cold and intimidating, but as the story unfolds, we see the layers beneath that hardened exterior. Some of my favourite moments were the quieter scenes where he opened up about his past and allowed himself to be vulnerable. Despite everything he has endured, there is still warmth, humour, and loyalty buried beneath the surface.
Watching his character develop throughout the book was one of the most rewarding parts of the story.
The Love Triangle
I know love triangles can be divisive, but this one completely worked for me.
The relationships feel complex and emotionally layered rather than simply existing for drama. Every character involved has genuine depth, making it impossible not to become invested in their choices and relationships.
As political responsibilities, personal desires, and growing feelings begin to collide, the emotional stakes become higher and higher. There were several moments where I genuinely didn’t know how everything was going to work out, and that uncertainty kept me turning pages late into the night.
Magic, Politics, and War
While the romance is a huge part of the story, the fantasy elements are equally compelling. The world is filled with political intrigue, forbidden magic, shifting alliances, and the lingering consequences of conflict.
These elements never felt overwhelming or distracting. Instead, they strengthened the story and raised the stakes, making every decision feel important and every victory feel earned.
The further I read, the more invested I became in the world and the characters fighting to survive within it.
Final Thoughts
Of Love and Cruelty is an emotional, character-driven fantasy romance filled with political intrigue, magic, heartbreak, and impossible choices. The relationships felt authentic, the characters were wonderfully developed, and the story constantly kept me engaged.
I especially loved watching Emory grow into her role, seeing Nikolai slowly lower his walls, and becoming attached to every character involved in the love triangle. Each of them brought something unique to the story, which made the emotional moments even more impactful.
The ending left me completely desperate for the next book. I have so many questions and need answers immediately.
If you enjoy fantasy romance, love triangles, political intrigue, magic, war, emotional character development, and stories that leave your heart in pieces, I highly recommend picking up Of Love and Cruelty.
I cannot wait to continue this series.
June 18, 2026
Review of Advanced Reader Copy received by NetGalley
This was an okay read. I enjoyed the premise and plot of this book; however, it fell a bit flat at the same time.
My qualms: You’re led to believe that the main character possessing and practicing magic is going to be a major part of her story, as it’s considered treasonous and punishable by death by her very own ruling family. However, it’s hardly even a subplot. She uses it a few times for small, hidden tasks like disguising herself or helping others. But I kept expecting her to do more with it or do something that almost gets her caught to show the real tension and danger she’s in by using it, but she never did. Halfway through the book, she stops using it all together. I understand that she knows she needs to keep it hidden, but it felt too on the back burner and not as important to her story as I was originally led to believe it would be in the beginning/from the blurb.
There’s also the issue of Emory’s character—in that she has like, almost no personality besides being a sweet, innocent princess. Everyone around her treats her more like a baby than a grown woman. I get that being the princess in this setting means she’s basically waited on 24/7, but I wish that someone had treated and talked to her her like the grown woman she is at some point. We also only see her do the same three things over and over throughout the book: walk around, visit orphans, and think about men. We skip so much time between the main scenes where it seems like she just sits and stares at something for hours or days on end. I wished that she had stood on her own more and had more of a fierceness to her character.
Another was the relationships. I didn’t feel much chemistry between Emory and either of the MMCs. Sure, there was spice. Yes, the second guy was sweet. But there was so much dialogue, yet so little action. Throughout the whole book, the way everyone spoke was confusing and repetitive, but especially the MMCs. Nikolai is constantly smirking and grunting. Alic is “weak in the knees” at nearly everything Emory says to him. Etc. She also forgave Nikolai way too soon for my liking—he literally beheaded her brother right in front of her? Then repeatedly r-worded her while she slept? I know it says it was “too keep her safe” or whatever, but it doesn’t change the fact that everything happened way too quickly and every feeling she had for her murdered family passed way too soon for it to be reasonable or realistic—even if she did “love” him at some point beforehand and “know who he really was” or whatever.
My likes: I did find the story interesting, and hard to put down some of the time. I enjoyed the mischief and magic of Emory’s sneakiness in the beginning, and liked the forbidden romance aspect as that happened during the first half. I also love a good betrayal and grovel trope—which I felt was don’t well here, even if it moved a little faster than I would have liked. I loved the art that was included throughout—the crown at the top of each chapter, and the two drawings of Emory and the MMCs. The writing was decent (I did catch a couple of spelling errors, though) and the plot was synthesized well. I think this book had a LOT of potential, if only it hadn’t seemed to cut it a bit short by leaving so much character depth and movement between major scenes out.
This was an okay read. I enjoyed the premise and plot of this book; however, it fell a bit flat at the same time.
My qualms: You’re led to believe that the main character possessing and practicing magic is going to be a major part of her story, as it’s considered treasonous and punishable by death by her very own ruling family. However, it’s hardly even a subplot. She uses it a few times for small, hidden tasks like disguising herself or helping others. But I kept expecting her to do more with it or do something that almost gets her caught to show the real tension and danger she’s in by using it, but she never did. Halfway through the book, she stops using it all together. I understand that she knows she needs to keep it hidden, but it felt too on the back burner and not as important to her story as I was originally led to believe it would be in the beginning/from the blurb.
There’s also the issue of Emory’s character—in that she has like, almost no personality besides being a sweet, innocent princess. Everyone around her treats her more like a baby than a grown woman. I get that being the princess in this setting means she’s basically waited on 24/7, but I wish that someone had treated and talked to her her like the grown woman she is at some point. We also only see her do the same three things over and over throughout the book: walk around, visit orphans, and think about men. We skip so much time between the main scenes where it seems like she just sits and stares at something for hours or days on end. I wished that she had stood on her own more and had more of a fierceness to her character.
Another was the relationships. I didn’t feel much chemistry between Emory and either of the MMCs. Sure, there was spice. Yes, the second guy was sweet. But there was so much dialogue, yet so little action. Throughout the whole book, the way everyone spoke was confusing and repetitive, but especially the MMCs. Nikolai is constantly smirking and grunting. Alic is “weak in the knees” at nearly everything Emory says to him. Etc. She also forgave Nikolai way too soon for my liking—he literally beheaded her brother right in front of her? Then repeatedly r-worded her while she slept? I know it says it was “too keep her safe” or whatever, but it doesn’t change the fact that everything happened way too quickly and every feeling she had for her murdered family passed way too soon for it to be reasonable or realistic—even if she did “love” him at some point beforehand and “know who he really was” or whatever.
My likes: I did find the story interesting, and hard to put down some of the time. I enjoyed the mischief and magic of Emory’s sneakiness in the beginning, and liked the forbidden romance aspect as that happened during the first half. I also love a good betrayal and grovel trope—which I felt was don’t well here, even if it moved a little faster than I would have liked. I loved the art that was included throughout—the crown at the top of each chapter, and the two drawings of Emory and the MMCs. The writing was decent (I did catch a couple of spelling errors, though) and the plot was synthesized well. I think this book had a LOT of potential, if only it hadn’t seemed to cut it a bit short by leaving so much character depth and movement between major scenes out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book gave me Once Upon a Broken Heart vibes, but not because of the plot or writing style. It feels more like our clever little fox grew up, sharpened her edges, and learned how to survive in a world that bites back.
There are moments that feel surprisingly intimate in a familiar way. One scene in particular instantly reminded me of that iconic Bridgerton moment where curiosity meets self-discovery. Subtle, but definitely there, and I loved it.
Now let’s talk about Nikolai.
What is he, honestly? A mystery. A problem. A temptation. And possessive in a way that makes you sit up a little straighter while reading. I am not even going to pretend. I love that energy.
And then there is the so-called love triangle.
Because Lord Alic is out here doing and saying everything right. The kind of character that makes you pause and question your loyalty for a second. And still, there is something about Nikolai that pulls you right back.
Watching Emory caught between them is messy. Not malicious, not intentional, but messy. You understand why she feels the way she does, but it still leaves you slightly uneasy. In a good way.
That wedding scene completely caught me off guard.
It gave me strong Game of Thrones energy, but in a more controlled and intentional way. Brutal, but purposeful. And honestly, I think I liked it even more. I love when authors are not afraid to let their characters experience real trauma and actually feel the consequences of it.
And just when you think you know where this is going, the book pulls back.
No steamy scene with Emory and Alic? Excuse me? I was ready. Fully prepared.
But at the same time, it worked. It kept the tension alive and made everything feel more deliberate. Suddenly the story tightens, and you realize this is only the beginning.
Because once it escalates, it escalates fast.
And Nikolai… I have so many questions. No spoilers, but I need answers immediately. Book two is not optional at this point. It is a necessity.
Emory gives me strong young Sansa Stark vibes. Not because their stories are the same, but because of the feeling she carries. That quiet strength wrapped in innocence, shaped by a world that forces her to grow. You can already sense that she is about to change, like she is shedding the version of herself she was raised to be.
And that ending?
Perfect.
Open, intense, full of possibilities. The kind that leaves your mind spinning with everything that could happen next.
This book has everything. Medieval tension, purity and desire, forbidden magic, forbidden love, war, betrayal, death. And still, there is a softness underneath it all. It is brutal, but never cold. Intense, but never empty.
I could easily see this as a series. Something like The Tudors or Game of Thrones, but with a softer emotional core.
And if Nikolai and Emory are not endgame… we are going to have a problem.
Honorable mention for the beautiful art in the book. I did not expect that while reading. Especially the first one. So hot!
And the second one? My heart melted. I hope to see more in the second book ♥️
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Tears: 💧(a very, very small one)
Humour: 😂
There are moments that feel surprisingly intimate in a familiar way. One scene in particular instantly reminded me of that iconic Bridgerton moment where curiosity meets self-discovery. Subtle, but definitely there, and I loved it.
Now let’s talk about Nikolai.
What is he, honestly? A mystery. A problem. A temptation. And possessive in a way that makes you sit up a little straighter while reading. I am not even going to pretend. I love that energy.
And then there is the so-called love triangle.
Because Lord Alic is out here doing and saying everything right. The kind of character that makes you pause and question your loyalty for a second. And still, there is something about Nikolai that pulls you right back.
Watching Emory caught between them is messy. Not malicious, not intentional, but messy. You understand why she feels the way she does, but it still leaves you slightly uneasy. In a good way.
That wedding scene completely caught me off guard.
It gave me strong Game of Thrones energy, but in a more controlled and intentional way. Brutal, but purposeful. And honestly, I think I liked it even more. I love when authors are not afraid to let their characters experience real trauma and actually feel the consequences of it.
And just when you think you know where this is going, the book pulls back.
No steamy scene with Emory and Alic? Excuse me? I was ready. Fully prepared.
But at the same time, it worked. It kept the tension alive and made everything feel more deliberate. Suddenly the story tightens, and you realize this is only the beginning.
Because once it escalates, it escalates fast.
And Nikolai… I have so many questions. No spoilers, but I need answers immediately. Book two is not optional at this point. It is a necessity.
Emory gives me strong young Sansa Stark vibes. Not because their stories are the same, but because of the feeling she carries. That quiet strength wrapped in innocence, shaped by a world that forces her to grow. You can already sense that she is about to change, like she is shedding the version of herself she was raised to be.
And that ending?
Perfect.
Open, intense, full of possibilities. The kind that leaves your mind spinning with everything that could happen next.
This book has everything. Medieval tension, purity and desire, forbidden magic, forbidden love, war, betrayal, death. And still, there is a softness underneath it all. It is brutal, but never cold. Intense, but never empty.
I could easily see this as a series. Something like The Tudors or Game of Thrones, but with a softer emotional core.
And if Nikolai and Emory are not endgame… we are going to have a problem.
Honorable mention for the beautiful art in the book. I did not expect that while reading. Especially the first one. So hot!
And the second one? My heart melted. I hope to see more in the second book ♥️
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Tears: 💧(a very, very small one)
Humour: 😂
Review of advance copy received from Author
“Great men have fallen to their knees for the right woman.”
3.5⭐
Thank you, Whimsy Words PR, for the ARC! 🩷
Of Love and Cruelty is one of those books that left me with very mixed feelings. There were moments where I couldn’t stop turning the pages, and others where I found myself wanting just a little bit more. The royal court intrigue, forbidden magic, morally gray characters, and emotional twists made for an entertaining start to the series, and I’m definitely curious to see where it goes next.
It took me about 30% of the book to really get invested. The repeated retellings of Emory and Nikolai’s first meeting started to feel repetitive, and Emory changing her mind so often could be frustrating. At the same time, considering her trauma, grief, and everything she was forced to endure, her internal conflict felt understandable.
Going into this, I was especially excited for the promised grumpy x sunshine dynamic, possessive morally gray MMC, “she falls first, he falls harder,” and the blindsided love triangle. While those elements are present, I struggled with the progression of Emory and Nikolai’s relationship. At times, it felt like their emotional and physical dynamic changed too abruptly for me to fully buy into. They go from forbidden stolen moments and risking everything to be together, to Emory marrying another man, then back to Nikolai after they’re forced into marriage, only for their relationship to become distant and deeply traumatic. I understood that the circumstances around them were horrific and that neither of them truly had agency, but I found myself struggling to reconcile how they went from openly caring for one another to some of the choices made later in the story. I think I just wanted more emotional development to bridge those transitions.
What I loved most about this book was Emory herself. She has such a kind heart, and I loved seeing how much she cared for others, especially through her visits to the orphanage. Even when grief threatened to consume her, she kept choosing to survive, and that resilience made her incredibly easy to root for.
Aric absolutely broke my heart. His storyline was one of the most emotional parts of the book, and the fact that Emory had to watch him slowly decay after his death was devastating. It was one of the scenes that stayed with me long after I finished reading.
I also wish we’d spent more time developing the side characters and exploring the world. There were glimpses of really interesting relationships and politics, but I wanted more. I especially felt like we missed out on experiencing the capital while Emory was away getting married, so I’m hoping the next book expands both the world-building and the supporting cast.
Despite my criticisms, there were dialogue exchanges that I absolutely loved, and the story kept me engaged enough that I always wanted to know what would happen next. The ending left me genuinely curious, and I’ll absolutely be continuing the series. If you enjoy dark fantasy with royal court intrigue, forbidden magic, morally gray characters, and high emotional stakes, I think this series is worth picking.
3.5⭐
Thank you, Whimsy Words PR, for the ARC! 🩷
Of Love and Cruelty is one of those books that left me with very mixed feelings. There were moments where I couldn’t stop turning the pages, and others where I found myself wanting just a little bit more. The royal court intrigue, forbidden magic, morally gray characters, and emotional twists made for an entertaining start to the series, and I’m definitely curious to see where it goes next.
It took me about 30% of the book to really get invested. The repeated retellings of Emory and Nikolai’s first meeting started to feel repetitive, and Emory changing her mind so often could be frustrating. At the same time, considering her trauma, grief, and everything she was forced to endure, her internal conflict felt understandable.
Going into this, I was especially excited for the promised grumpy x sunshine dynamic, possessive morally gray MMC, “she falls first, he falls harder,” and the blindsided love triangle. While those elements are present, I struggled with the progression of Emory and Nikolai’s relationship. At times, it felt like their emotional and physical dynamic changed too abruptly for me to fully buy into. They go from forbidden stolen moments and risking everything to be together, to Emory marrying another man, then back to Nikolai after they’re forced into marriage, only for their relationship to become distant and deeply traumatic. I understood that the circumstances around them were horrific and that neither of them truly had agency, but I found myself struggling to reconcile how they went from openly caring for one another to some of the choices made later in the story. I think I just wanted more emotional development to bridge those transitions.
What I loved most about this book was Emory herself. She has such a kind heart, and I loved seeing how much she cared for others, especially through her visits to the orphanage. Even when grief threatened to consume her, she kept choosing to survive, and that resilience made her incredibly easy to root for.
Aric absolutely broke my heart. His storyline was one of the most emotional parts of the book, and the fact that Emory had to watch him slowly decay after his death was devastating. It was one of the scenes that stayed with me long after I finished reading.
I also wish we’d spent more time developing the side characters and exploring the world. There were glimpses of really interesting relationships and politics, but I wanted more. I especially felt like we missed out on experiencing the capital while Emory was away getting married, so I’m hoping the next book expands both the world-building and the supporting cast.
Despite my criticisms, there were dialogue exchanges that I absolutely loved, and the story kept me engaged enough that I always wanted to know what would happen next. The ending left me genuinely curious, and I’ll absolutely be continuing the series. If you enjoy dark fantasy with royal court intrigue, forbidden magic, morally gray characters, and high emotional stakes, I think this series is worth picking.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I try to never write negative or mean reviews but I have to be brutally honest on this one and let people know what they’re getting.
I actually struggled to finish this book. I found the writing to be very bland and dense. The phrasing of things, attempts at humor or bashfulness that didn’t land, super uncomfortable mature scenes that were badly written.
There were a lot of situations where the FMC passed out, swooned or became “weak in the knees” for little to no reason at all— an intense look, the sun being bright, a frightful thought that someone might see her looking at a man— followed by cheesy lines marking much time had passed, such as “once she felt she had the strength in her legs to stand again” and I was just like… really? Rolling my eyes constantly.
The FMC is a dull empty shell of a person, no passion or emotion. I can’t even say anything about her personality— she didn’t have one.
Sometimes when reading a book or series you have side characters that maybe at first don’t seem important to the plot, and you ask yourself
“Why does this character exist? What do they add to the story?”
Well I asked myself that about the main character of this story the entire length of the book.
Our MmC fully takes advantage of her— yes it’s still taking advantage of a young woman (if even if she says yes) if she’s mentally challenged, which I considered her to be.
If she has no idea what you intend to do, what it means, the implications, and she is somehow so immature, gullible and innocent to all things.. to the point that she calls the body part of hers that he’s touching a … cringe… “back-hole” … I’m shuddering with disgust. Truly. Disturbing to read.
If we had changed the perspective fully to the Mmc, we would all be raging, rejecting it, saying it was a nasty book about a man taking advantage of a not-all-there-mentally young woman, and glorifying sexual abuse. But it’s from her point of view and she’s unawares so.. it’s okay..?
She whines the whole book that she wants to be with the back-hole guy, she’s even thinking of him on her wedding morning, then wedding night as soon as she gets a chance to be with him again she’s playing hard to get and hates him? Makes no sense.
This book had no life at all until the last few chapters. Timing and pacing was hard to follow. I didn’t understand how someone could be so truly naive to every single aspect of life. Sheltered to an extreme like she’s an adult but doesn’t know the difference between men and women? Come on..
The themes of politics, countries at war, forbidden magic that the FMC possesses is truly lost in the bad writing. There’s no real passion, I couldn’t get a sense of emotion, nothing held me to the story but the fact that it was an Arc I accepted and felt obligated to get through. Put me in a real depressing reading slump.
I actually struggled to finish this book. I found the writing to be very bland and dense. The phrasing of things, attempts at humor or bashfulness that didn’t land, super uncomfortable mature scenes that were badly written.
There were a lot of situations where the FMC passed out, swooned or became “weak in the knees” for little to no reason at all— an intense look, the sun being bright, a frightful thought that someone might see her looking at a man— followed by cheesy lines marking much time had passed, such as “once she felt she had the strength in her legs to stand again” and I was just like… really? Rolling my eyes constantly.
The FMC is a dull empty shell of a person, no passion or emotion. I can’t even say anything about her personality— she didn’t have one.
Sometimes when reading a book or series you have side characters that maybe at first don’t seem important to the plot, and you ask yourself
“Why does this character exist? What do they add to the story?”
Well I asked myself that about the main character of this story the entire length of the book.
Our MmC fully takes advantage of her— yes it’s still taking advantage of a young woman (if even if she says yes) if she’s mentally challenged, which I considered her to be.
If she has no idea what you intend to do, what it means, the implications, and she is somehow so immature, gullible and innocent to all things.. to the point that she calls the body part of hers that he’s touching a … cringe… “back-hole” … I’m shuddering with disgust. Truly. Disturbing to read.
If we had changed the perspective fully to the Mmc, we would all be raging, rejecting it, saying it was a nasty book about a man taking advantage of a not-all-there-mentally young woman, and glorifying sexual abuse. But it’s from her point of view and she’s unawares so.. it’s okay..?
She whines the whole book that she wants to be with the back-hole guy, she’s even thinking of him on her wedding morning, then wedding night as soon as she gets a chance to be with him again she’s playing hard to get and hates him? Makes no sense.
This book had no life at all until the last few chapters. Timing and pacing was hard to follow. I didn’t understand how someone could be so truly naive to every single aspect of life. Sheltered to an extreme like she’s an adult but doesn’t know the difference between men and women? Come on..
The themes of politics, countries at war, forbidden magic that the FMC possesses is truly lost in the bad writing. There’s no real passion, I couldn’t get a sense of emotion, nothing held me to the story but the fact that it was an Arc I accepted and felt obligated to get through. Put me in a real depressing reading slump.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
There’s something about Of Love and Cruelty that settles in slowly and then just… stays with you. It has that heavy, almost suffocating kind of atmosphere where every choice feels dangerous, every emotion feels like a risk, and nothing, especially love, comes without a cost.
Emory as a main character really pulled me in. She isn’t loud about her strength, but it’s there in everything she does. There’s this constant tension in her, like she’s always holding pieces of herself back just to survive. You can feel how careful she has to be, how much she’s carrying, and it makes even the smallest moments feel weighted. She’s not just navigating feelings, she’s navigating survival, identity, and the fear of being seen for who she really is.
And then there’s Nikolai… and honestly, the dynamic there is where this book really lives. It’s not soft or easy or predictable. There’s distrust, tension, that constant push and pull where you’re never fully settled in what they are to each other. It leans hard into that enemies-to-lovers energy, but in a way that feels sharper and more dangerous than most. Nothing about their connection feels safe, and that’s what makes it so compelling to watch unfold.
The emotional conflict is layered in a way that keeps everything feeling slightly off-balance—in a good way. Between duty, expectation, and the weight of choices that can’t be undone, there’s this constant undercurrent of “something is going to break.” And when you mix that with forbidden magic and a world that punishes people for what they are, it creates this really tense, almost fragile atmosphere where every moment matters.
The setting itself adds a lot to that feeling. It’s not overly complex, but it doesn’t need to be. The focus stays tight on the pressure of the world rather than just explaining it, which makes everything feel more immediate. There’s a quiet darkness to it, less about spectacle and more about control, fear, and what happens when those things start to crack.
What stood out most for me was how emotionally driven everything feels. This isn’t just about romance or fantasy; it’s about restraint, longing, and the consequences of wanting something you’re not supposed to have. The tension isn’t just external, it’s internal, and that’s what gives it that lingering edge. I cannot wait for the next book in this series!
If you’re into darker romantasy with complicated relationships, forbidden elements, and an atmosphere that leans more tense than comforting, this is definitely one to pick up. It’s not light, it’s not easy, but it pulls you in and keeps you there.
As always be mindful of any trigger warnings, what I like you may not.
Happy Reading! ✨📚
Emory as a main character really pulled me in. She isn’t loud about her strength, but it’s there in everything she does. There’s this constant tension in her, like she’s always holding pieces of herself back just to survive. You can feel how careful she has to be, how much she’s carrying, and it makes even the smallest moments feel weighted. She’s not just navigating feelings, she’s navigating survival, identity, and the fear of being seen for who she really is.
And then there’s Nikolai… and honestly, the dynamic there is where this book really lives. It’s not soft or easy or predictable. There’s distrust, tension, that constant push and pull where you’re never fully settled in what they are to each other. It leans hard into that enemies-to-lovers energy, but in a way that feels sharper and more dangerous than most. Nothing about their connection feels safe, and that’s what makes it so compelling to watch unfold.
The emotional conflict is layered in a way that keeps everything feeling slightly off-balance—in a good way. Between duty, expectation, and the weight of choices that can’t be undone, there’s this constant undercurrent of “something is going to break.” And when you mix that with forbidden magic and a world that punishes people for what they are, it creates this really tense, almost fragile atmosphere where every moment matters.
The setting itself adds a lot to that feeling. It’s not overly complex, but it doesn’t need to be. The focus stays tight on the pressure of the world rather than just explaining it, which makes everything feel more immediate. There’s a quiet darkness to it, less about spectacle and more about control, fear, and what happens when those things start to crack.
What stood out most for me was how emotionally driven everything feels. This isn’t just about romance or fantasy; it’s about restraint, longing, and the consequences of wanting something you’re not supposed to have. The tension isn’t just external, it’s internal, and that’s what gives it that lingering edge. I cannot wait for the next book in this series!
If you’re into darker romantasy with complicated relationships, forbidden elements, and an atmosphere that leans more tense than comforting, this is definitely one to pick up. It’s not light, it’s not easy, but it pulls you in and keeps you there.
As always be mindful of any trigger warnings, what I like you may not.
Happy Reading! ✨📚
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review
Of Loving Cruelty* by Tanja Longoria
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars)
This one… I have a lot of feelings about.
We follow Princess Emory, the youngest and only unwed sister, who would rather study maps and dream of adventure than play the part of a perfect royal. While her father pushes her toward duty—and a potential match with Lord Alic—Emory is quietly hiding something dangerous: magic. In a world where it’s been eradicated, her ability to create illusions immediately adds tension and intrigue.
And then there’s Nikolai.
A prisoner of the crown, bound in both manacles and magic, forced to obey royal commands—his dynamic with Emory starts off sharp, cautious, and honestly one of the strongest parts of the book. Their secret meetings, sneaking out into the city, the slow unraveling of who he is versus who he’s forced to be… that tension? So good. The “is that a request?” line dynamic scratched my brain every time.
For a while, I was in. The hidden magic, political tension, forbidden connection, and the sense that something bigger was brewing kept me hooked.
But then… everything spirals.
The pacing in the second half felt chaotic, like major plot points were crammed in too fast without enough buildup. Emery is suddenly building a whole new life, getting married, losing everything, being taken captive, and thrown into an entirely new power dynamic before you can even process the last twist. It felt like emotional whiplash.
Nikolai’s character also took a turn that was really hard to come back from. What started as morally grey and layered crossed into actions that felt unforgivable, and it completely shifted how I connected to the story. Emory’s reactions and shifting motivations also became frustrating at times—I understood her position logically, but emotionally it felt inconsistent.
There are some heavy themes here, and while they add to the darkness of the story, they weren’t always handled in a way that felt fully explored or given the weight they deserved.
That said, I did like the foundation of the world, the idea of magic being hidden, and the political takeover plotline had potential. And that ending? Definitely a cliffhanger that leaves you wondering where things are going next.
Overall, this had moments I really enjoyed—especially in the first half—but the execution in the latter part just didn’t fully land for me.
Tropes:
* Forbidden romance
* Princess x prisoner
* Morally grey MMC
* Hidden magic
* Secret meetings / sneaking out
* Political intrigue
* “Is that a request?” dynamic
* Possessive tension
* Betrayal & power shifts
If you like darker fantasy romance with messy, complicated dynamics and aren’t afraid of morally heavy choices, this might still be worth checking out—but go in knowing it gets very chaotic.
Of Loving Cruelty* by Tanja Longoria
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars)
This one… I have a lot of feelings about.
We follow Princess Emory, the youngest and only unwed sister, who would rather study maps and dream of adventure than play the part of a perfect royal. While her father pushes her toward duty—and a potential match with Lord Alic—Emory is quietly hiding something dangerous: magic. In a world where it’s been eradicated, her ability to create illusions immediately adds tension and intrigue.
And then there’s Nikolai.
A prisoner of the crown, bound in both manacles and magic, forced to obey royal commands—his dynamic with Emory starts off sharp, cautious, and honestly one of the strongest parts of the book. Their secret meetings, sneaking out into the city, the slow unraveling of who he is versus who he’s forced to be… that tension? So good. The “is that a request?” line dynamic scratched my brain every time.
For a while, I was in. The hidden magic, political tension, forbidden connection, and the sense that something bigger was brewing kept me hooked.
But then… everything spirals.
The pacing in the second half felt chaotic, like major plot points were crammed in too fast without enough buildup. Emery is suddenly building a whole new life, getting married, losing everything, being taken captive, and thrown into an entirely new power dynamic before you can even process the last twist. It felt like emotional whiplash.
Nikolai’s character also took a turn that was really hard to come back from. What started as morally grey and layered crossed into actions that felt unforgivable, and it completely shifted how I connected to the story. Emory’s reactions and shifting motivations also became frustrating at times—I understood her position logically, but emotionally it felt inconsistent.
There are some heavy themes here, and while they add to the darkness of the story, they weren’t always handled in a way that felt fully explored or given the weight they deserved.
That said, I did like the foundation of the world, the idea of magic being hidden, and the political takeover plotline had potential. And that ending? Definitely a cliffhanger that leaves you wondering where things are going next.
Overall, this had moments I really enjoyed—especially in the first half—but the execution in the latter part just didn’t fully land for me.
Tropes:
* Forbidden romance
* Princess x prisoner
* Morally grey MMC
* Hidden magic
* Secret meetings / sneaking out
* Political intrigue
* “Is that a request?” dynamic
* Possessive tension
* Betrayal & power shifts
If you like darker fantasy romance with messy, complicated dynamics and aren’t afraid of morally heavy choices, this might still be worth checking out—but go in knowing it gets very chaotic.
Review of advance copy
I’ll be honest and say I don’t quite know how to review Of Love and Cruelty by Tanja Longoria. I was deeply intrigued by the concept of the book and the forbidden magic which Princess Emory, the POV character herself possesses and I very much hoped this would become a central point of the story as it had much potential.
However, in the end I struggled to get through this book because it was VERY slow plot-wise and I had a hard time keeping my attention fixed to the book. It felt like not a whole lot happened throughout the majority of the book which made it a bit of a slog for my own personal preferences. I will say it was very “romance” focused so to speak, with a heavy emphasis on the forbidden meetings between Nikolai, a traitor, and the Princess as they get to know each other and fall into lust (or so it felt to me). As a result, I believe there are many people out there who will enjoy this book, especially those who prefer a focus on the romance and don’t necessarily need heavy plot to hold their attention. It also has aspects of a regency world with lords and ladies needing chaperones, men practicing sword fighting while the ladies sit around watching and gossiping which I’m sure will hold a great appeal to others.
I did feel deeply for Nikolai in the beginning as he is a prisoner in his own life, being held in magical chains and forced to serve his enemy. Emory on the other hand is incredibly naive and doesn’t share the same animosity towards him which makes for a contemptuous relationship as they spend more time together in secret as she tries to get him to warm up, not seeming to really understand his perspective as she herself has nothing against him and doesn’t seem terribly knowledgeable about the events that led to his capture in the way that she expects him to be kinder.
I will also say the ending definitely picks things up and gets a bit more interesting, but I think it was too little too late for myself and I had a hard time getting there or truly fully caring by that point. Unfortunately the magic really doesn’t play much of a role in the book, which I was sad to see as I thought it could be truly interesting if it was more fleshed out and something came of Emory and her hidden magic. The politics within the book, again, more towards the end were also of interest and might have pulled me in further had it been a larger part of the book, but it still was a positive aspect of the novel.
All together though this wasn’t really a book for me as I didn’t quite jibe with it, I’m still grateful to the author and NerdFam for the review copy and I know there will be many fans out there who will love it.
However, in the end I struggled to get through this book because it was VERY slow plot-wise and I had a hard time keeping my attention fixed to the book. It felt like not a whole lot happened throughout the majority of the book which made it a bit of a slog for my own personal preferences. I will say it was very “romance” focused so to speak, with a heavy emphasis on the forbidden meetings between Nikolai, a traitor, and the Princess as they get to know each other and fall into lust (or so it felt to me). As a result, I believe there are many people out there who will enjoy this book, especially those who prefer a focus on the romance and don’t necessarily need heavy plot to hold their attention. It also has aspects of a regency world with lords and ladies needing chaperones, men practicing sword fighting while the ladies sit around watching and gossiping which I’m sure will hold a great appeal to others.
I did feel deeply for Nikolai in the beginning as he is a prisoner in his own life, being held in magical chains and forced to serve his enemy. Emory on the other hand is incredibly naive and doesn’t share the same animosity towards him which makes for a contemptuous relationship as they spend more time together in secret as she tries to get him to warm up, not seeming to really understand his perspective as she herself has nothing against him and doesn’t seem terribly knowledgeable about the events that led to his capture in the way that she expects him to be kinder.
I will also say the ending definitely picks things up and gets a bit more interesting, but I think it was too little too late for myself and I had a hard time getting there or truly fully caring by that point. Unfortunately the magic really doesn’t play much of a role in the book, which I was sad to see as I thought it could be truly interesting if it was more fleshed out and something came of Emory and her hidden magic. The politics within the book, again, more towards the end were also of interest and might have pulled me in further had it been a larger part of the book, but it still was a positive aspect of the novel.
All together though this wasn’t really a book for me as I didn’t quite jibe with it, I’m still grateful to the author and NerdFam for the review copy and I know there will be many fans out there who will love it.
July 24, 2026
Thank you, @whimsywordspr
For sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review
I would rate it a 3.5. I enjoyed the book and for the most part it kept me engaged. What drew me in was the true enemies-to-lovers aspect of the book and the yearning.
Emory is very naive and pure throughout most of the story. But, she longs to see more than just the castle walls and that's what prompts her to start visiting outside of the castle with Nikolas. As their relationship grows more intimate it touches upon how women are barely educated regarding their body and what happens between a man and a woman. I was honestly surprised that Nikolas worried about her purity given that she is the daughter of the man who killed his father. Throughout the story I wanted Emory to come into herself more and toward tend we did see a glimpse of that and I am definitely curious to see more growth from her.
Nikolas is very morally grey. He tries to spurn Emory at first, but can't help but fall for her kind nature and see past his hate for her family. I did have mixed emotions about him later in the book, but I also feel like not all is what it seems.
Her second love interest Alic was okay. I was obviously team Nikolas. Alic was definitely the definition of the perfect Duke's son. I actually was suspicious that maybe he was secretly cruel, but he was actually a good guy. I am torn because I do think that Emory could have had a happy life with him, but it was clear that Nikolas still held a part of her heart.
Kairen, Emory's brother was a protective and great brother to Emory. He only wanted her happiness. I did think he was unnecessarily cruel to Nikolas, but I guess that's to be expected.
I did wish that there was more about the magic that Emory and Nikolas have. Magic is seen as a bad thing, but it also makes me curious how Emory has magic, but no one else in her family does.
One thing that I did actually let Whimsy PR know was that there seemed to be a descprency in the titles for Emory. People often called her Lady Emory even though she is a Princess.It was also mentioned that if she married the Duke's son she would lose her title which is inaccurate unless the King publicly renounces her.
I would definitely check out the trigger warnings before reading this book. It is a dark romance, but it actually wasn't as dark as I thought it would be. Everyone has different triggers though and while there were definitely moments that shocked me, I didn't personally feel triggered.
I definitely am curious enough about the story to read the second book and possibly the third book.
For sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review
I would rate it a 3.5. I enjoyed the book and for the most part it kept me engaged. What drew me in was the true enemies-to-lovers aspect of the book and the yearning.
Emory is very naive and pure throughout most of the story. But, she longs to see more than just the castle walls and that's what prompts her to start visiting outside of the castle with Nikolas. As their relationship grows more intimate it touches upon how women are barely educated regarding their body and what happens between a man and a woman. I was honestly surprised that Nikolas worried about her purity given that she is the daughter of the man who killed his father. Throughout the story I wanted Emory to come into herself more and toward tend we did see a glimpse of that and I am definitely curious to see more growth from her.
Nikolas is very morally grey. He tries to spurn Emory at first, but can't help but fall for her kind nature and see past his hate for her family. I did have mixed emotions about him later in the book, but I also feel like not all is what it seems.
Her second love interest Alic was okay. I was obviously team Nikolas. Alic was definitely the definition of the perfect Duke's son. I actually was suspicious that maybe he was secretly cruel, but he was actually a good guy. I am torn because I do think that Emory could have had a happy life with him, but it was clear that Nikolas still held a part of her heart.
Kairen, Emory's brother was a protective and great brother to Emory. He only wanted her happiness. I did think he was unnecessarily cruel to Nikolas, but I guess that's to be expected.
I did wish that there was more about the magic that Emory and Nikolas have. Magic is seen as a bad thing, but it also makes me curious how Emory has magic, but no one else in her family does.
One thing that I did actually let Whimsy PR know was that there seemed to be a descprency in the titles for Emory. People often called her Lady Emory even though she is a Princess.It was also mentioned that if she married the Duke's son she would lose her title which is inaccurate unless the King publicly renounces her.
I would definitely check out the trigger warnings before reading this book. It is a dark romance, but it actually wasn't as dark as I thought it would be. Everyone has different triggers though and while there were definitely moments that shocked me, I didn't personally feel triggered.
I definitely am curious enough about the story to read the second book and possibly the third book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Pacing: 3
Characters: 4
Lore: 4
Imagery: 2
Dialogue: 3
Engagement: 5
Average: 3.5
Hook: pg 30 (7% through)
Forbidden romance
True enemies to lovers to it's complicated
Royal Court intrigue
Princess FMC with good intentions
Manacled and morally gray MMC
Love triangle
Forbidden magic
Thank you Whimsy Words PR for the ARC 🩷
Do you ever miss those reactions you had when you first watched Game of Thrones? Those same reactions reemerged from me while reading OF LOVE AND CRUELTY by Tanja Longoria. It was shocking, heartbreaking, hopeful and rage-inducing. This was a dark romance that I couldn't stop reading because I kept wondering, "How. Will. This. End?"
Well, guys. It's a trilogy. So no, I still have absolutely no idea 😂 BUT the story was gripping enough for me to look forward to book two, OF HATE AND MERCY.
Here's the gist:
Emory is a typical sheltered princess with good intentions and a want for adventure.
You know when you warn a kid not to do something and their reaction is, "But WHY? Are you SURE?" That's Emory... with anything labeled, FORBIDDEN.
Nikolai? He's that forbidden fruit. Not because he's subjectively poor, or ugly, or can't ride a horse. Oh, nonono, h̶e̶'̶s̶ ̶h̶o̶t̶,̶ ̶o̶b̶v̶i̶o̶u̶s̶l̶y̶.̶ forbidden because he knowingly wants to kill Emory and the royal family. "Knowingly," as in... everyone knows this. Including her. But she's like, "Sure, whatevs!"
Forbidden magic, punishable by death? Guess what she's practicing! But don't worry, she's also practicing embroidery on the side. Because she's a "good little princess."
So, me, as a reader... I can't help but wonder how this will all play out for Emory. And wow... does it play out in all the ways you—— Nope, not gonna tell you!
Just know that you will be going on a DARK ride. Think old-school-Space Mountain-dark ride. If you had to stop watching GoT due to the s̶h̶i̶t̶t̶y̶ ̶l̶a̶s̶t̶ ̶s̶e̶a̶s̶o̶n̶ disturbing content, then this book is not for you. There are a plethora of trigger warnings that I will not share, unless you ask. The content is heavy with debatable morality that some might shy away from.
But, if you're an optimistic masochist (like me) then maybe you should give it a try! 😇 You can pre-order it now on Amazon. Release date: July 22nd
If you've read this, let me know your thoughts, because I've never been more curious! Also, here's some 🍫 (I know you need it 😉)
Characters: 4
Lore: 4
Imagery: 2
Dialogue: 3
Engagement: 5
Average: 3.5
Hook: pg 30 (7% through)
Forbidden romance
True enemies to lovers to it's complicated
Royal Court intrigue
Princess FMC with good intentions
Manacled and morally gray MMC
Love triangle
Forbidden magic
Thank you Whimsy Words PR for the ARC 🩷
Do you ever miss those reactions you had when you first watched Game of Thrones? Those same reactions reemerged from me while reading OF LOVE AND CRUELTY by Tanja Longoria. It was shocking, heartbreaking, hopeful and rage-inducing. This was a dark romance that I couldn't stop reading because I kept wondering, "How. Will. This. End?"
Well, guys. It's a trilogy. So no, I still have absolutely no idea 😂 BUT the story was gripping enough for me to look forward to book two, OF HATE AND MERCY.
Here's the gist:
Emory is a typical sheltered princess with good intentions and a want for adventure.
You know when you warn a kid not to do something and their reaction is, "But WHY? Are you SURE?" That's Emory... with anything labeled, FORBIDDEN.
Nikolai? He's that forbidden fruit. Not because he's subjectively poor, or ugly, or can't ride a horse. Oh, nonono, h̶e̶'̶s̶ ̶h̶o̶t̶,̶ ̶o̶b̶v̶i̶o̶u̶s̶l̶y̶.̶ forbidden because he knowingly wants to kill Emory and the royal family. "Knowingly," as in... everyone knows this. Including her. But she's like, "Sure, whatevs!"
Forbidden magic, punishable by death? Guess what she's practicing! But don't worry, she's also practicing embroidery on the side. Because she's a "good little princess."
So, me, as a reader... I can't help but wonder how this will all play out for Emory. And wow... does it play out in all the ways you—— Nope, not gonna tell you!
Just know that you will be going on a DARK ride. Think old-school-Space Mountain-dark ride. If you had to stop watching GoT due to the s̶h̶i̶t̶t̶y̶ ̶l̶a̶s̶t̶ ̶s̶e̶a̶s̶o̶n̶ disturbing content, then this book is not for you. There are a plethora of trigger warnings that I will not share, unless you ask. The content is heavy with debatable morality that some might shy away from.
But, if you're an optimistic masochist (like me) then maybe you should give it a try! 😇 You can pre-order it now on Amazon. Release date: July 22nd
If you've read this, let me know your thoughts, because I've never been more curious! Also, here's some 🍫 (I know you need it 😉)
August 9, 2026
Of Love and Cruelty – Tanja Longoria
I was lucky enough to have received an ARC copy of this story from the author.
Tanja Longoria is a German author. She loves writing strong female characters and the occasional vampire and werewolf. Tanja is also a mother and a nursing student. With such a hectic life, writing is her escape from reality.
Emory is a Princess, yet she is a Princess with a secret. Magic is outlawed in her parent’s Kingdom, yet Emory has magic – so she practices in secret performing minor magic here and there.
One day, her secret was discovered by the worst possible person. The son of the traitor that tried to overthrow the Kingdom – Lord Nikolai. Lord Nikolai is kept at her father’s court, bound by magic manacles to force his obedience.
Slowly, meeting in secret, Emory and Nikolai develop a dangerous and sinful relationship.
All this is shattered when Emory’s father arranges her marriage to an ally in order to keep peace in the kingdom. But on the day of her wedding, the last person she expects to see was Lord Nikolai.
Except now he is Prince Nikolai, his mother having taken Emory’s fathers throne – her parents dead and brother murdered before her eyes.
Emory is forced to marry Nikolai, whom she once had feelings for, against her will. Lost in misery and aimlessly moving through life, Emory’s world is once again rocked when her Uncle fights back to avenger her and her father.
Yet will Emory be able to see justice and revenge for what was done to her family to her – or will this be the end of her.
“Of Love and Cruelty” is a tale of dark fantasy and romance, with a morally grey love interest and a young woman resigned to a cruel fate she didn’t want and not asked for. This story is filled with emotions and is such a roller coaster ride. I loved seeing the character growth in Emory from someone who was timid and shy to a person who stood up for what she wanted and what was right. I didn’t expect Nikolai to turn the way he did, but he is a morally grey character, so I should have known better. This story was such an addictive read, and I just couldn’t put it down my only criticism (that I also loved – very love/hate thing here) was that bombshell of a god dam ending – Tanja how could you?! Also, when is the next book coming out????
I was lucky enough to have received an ARC copy of this story from the author.
Tanja Longoria is a German author. She loves writing strong female characters and the occasional vampire and werewolf. Tanja is also a mother and a nursing student. With such a hectic life, writing is her escape from reality.
Emory is a Princess, yet she is a Princess with a secret. Magic is outlawed in her parent’s Kingdom, yet Emory has magic – so she practices in secret performing minor magic here and there.
One day, her secret was discovered by the worst possible person. The son of the traitor that tried to overthrow the Kingdom – Lord Nikolai. Lord Nikolai is kept at her father’s court, bound by magic manacles to force his obedience.
Slowly, meeting in secret, Emory and Nikolai develop a dangerous and sinful relationship.
All this is shattered when Emory’s father arranges her marriage to an ally in order to keep peace in the kingdom. But on the day of her wedding, the last person she expects to see was Lord Nikolai.
Except now he is Prince Nikolai, his mother having taken Emory’s fathers throne – her parents dead and brother murdered before her eyes.
Emory is forced to marry Nikolai, whom she once had feelings for, against her will. Lost in misery and aimlessly moving through life, Emory’s world is once again rocked when her Uncle fights back to avenger her and her father.
Yet will Emory be able to see justice and revenge for what was done to her family to her – or will this be the end of her.
“Of Love and Cruelty” is a tale of dark fantasy and romance, with a morally grey love interest and a young woman resigned to a cruel fate she didn’t want and not asked for. This story is filled with emotions and is such a roller coaster ride. I loved seeing the character growth in Emory from someone who was timid and shy to a person who stood up for what she wanted and what was right. I didn’t expect Nikolai to turn the way he did, but he is a morally grey character, so I should have known better. This story was such an addictive read, and I just couldn’t put it down my only criticism (that I also loved – very love/hate thing here) was that bombshell of a god dam ending – Tanja how could you?! Also, when is the next book coming out????
July 22, 2026
ARC Review!
Falling into this story felt so easy. Everything from the backstories of our lovable (at the beginning) characters to the incredible imagery felt so satisfying. Another thing that really pulled me into this world was the author’s commitment to using older language. Set in a time of royalty and noblemen, the dialogue felt incredibly immersive, and every interaction stayed true to the setting. There were even times when I forgot to take notes because I was so completely lost in the story.
Let me talk about the relationship between our main characters. Emory, the royal rebel that she is, finds herself unable to resist the darkness that our brooding MMC, Nikolai, brings to the table. And girl… I couldn’t have either. One quote that immediately stood out to me was, “The forbidden fruit tasted better with each day it ripened.” If that isn’t one of the sexiest lines you’ve ever read, I don’t know what is. Their chemistry shines not only through their immaculate banter but through every interaction they share. It all gave me major Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff vibes.
Now, keep in mind that everything I’ve mentioned so far only covers the first half of the book.
As the story progresses, it becomes less about passion and more about connection. Nikolai transforms from a traitor who can barely manage two words into a soft-spoken man whose adoring looks and poetic words completely won me over. The yearning woven throughout their doomed romance blossoms into one of the most heartbreaking love stories I’ve read in quite some time. The “You came.” “You called.” trope? Absolute perfection.
Then there comes a point where everything descends into complete, orchestrated chaos. Literally. 😭 I felt like my mind was being pulled in a thousand different directions—in the best possible way. The constant twists create this overwhelming sense of panic that makes it impossible to think about anything except turning the next page. I was in a constant state of emotional wreckage. And the gore? I’ll let you all discover that for yourselves. 😉
This book was fantastic. Truly. I honestly don’t have a single complaint. That being said, I would absolutely recommend checking the trigger warnings before picking it up so you know exactly what you’re getting into.
5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Falling into this story felt so easy. Everything from the backstories of our lovable (at the beginning) characters to the incredible imagery felt so satisfying. Another thing that really pulled me into this world was the author’s commitment to using older language. Set in a time of royalty and noblemen, the dialogue felt incredibly immersive, and every interaction stayed true to the setting. There were even times when I forgot to take notes because I was so completely lost in the story.
Let me talk about the relationship between our main characters. Emory, the royal rebel that she is, finds herself unable to resist the darkness that our brooding MMC, Nikolai, brings to the table. And girl… I couldn’t have either. One quote that immediately stood out to me was, “The forbidden fruit tasted better with each day it ripened.” If that isn’t one of the sexiest lines you’ve ever read, I don’t know what is. Their chemistry shines not only through their immaculate banter but through every interaction they share. It all gave me major Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff vibes.
Now, keep in mind that everything I’ve mentioned so far only covers the first half of the book.
As the story progresses, it becomes less about passion and more about connection. Nikolai transforms from a traitor who can barely manage two words into a soft-spoken man whose adoring looks and poetic words completely won me over. The yearning woven throughout their doomed romance blossoms into one of the most heartbreaking love stories I’ve read in quite some time. The “You came.” “You called.” trope? Absolute perfection.
Then there comes a point where everything descends into complete, orchestrated chaos. Literally. 😭 I felt like my mind was being pulled in a thousand different directions—in the best possible way. The constant twists create this overwhelming sense of panic that makes it impossible to think about anything except turning the next page. I was in a constant state of emotional wreckage. And the gore? I’ll let you all discover that for yourselves. 😉
This book was fantastic. Truly. I honestly don’t have a single complaint. That being said, I would absolutely recommend checking the trigger warnings before picking it up so you know exactly what you’re getting into.
5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
May 4, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Of Love and Cruelty by Tanja was honestly such an edge-of-your-seat read. I couldn’t put it down.
The forbidden romance between Emory and the traitorous Nikolai completely pulled me in. Their secret meetings by the walnut tree and the way he slowly teaches her, guiding her through her innocence, was written so beautifully and intensely. There’s something so addictive about a love that feels dangerous, and this one delivered.
Nikolai as a character? I loved him. Dark, ruthless, and completely unapologetic about his intentions he never hid the fact that he wanted revenge or that he planned to destroy her family. And yet… the way he softens for Emory? That contrast made their dynamic even more compelling.
Then there’s Alic. His relationship with Emory was everything soft and comforting. He was so swoon-worthy, and like Emory, I couldn’t help but feel he was almost too good to be true. Learning about his upbringing and how his mother shaped him into such a loving person made me adore him even more. So when he died… I was genuinely heartbroken. The way Emory’s grief was written hit so hard. I felt every tear, every scream. I was right there with her.
And then Nikolai returns… I had a feeling he would, but how he came back? That moment was done so well.
The marriage between Nikolai and Emory adds another layer to their relationship he’s still dark, still dangerous, but there’s no denying that he loves her in his own way. I also don’t fully believe everything is as it seems regarding what happened between them and the rape. But I’m really hoping the truth unfolds in book two and that i am right in my feeling.
The magic in this world was also so unique and intriguing. I actually loved that it didn’t overshadow the story the romance was clearly the focus here, which worked perfectly. It feels like the magic is just beneath the surface, building up, and I have a strong feeling book two will dive much deeper into it.
And that ending??? I was not expecting that at all. I need book two immediately.
If you love dark romance, forbidden love, and morally grey characters who blur every line you NEED to read this.
Of Love and Cruelty by Tanja was honestly such an edge-of-your-seat read. I couldn’t put it down.
The forbidden romance between Emory and the traitorous Nikolai completely pulled me in. Their secret meetings by the walnut tree and the way he slowly teaches her, guiding her through her innocence, was written so beautifully and intensely. There’s something so addictive about a love that feels dangerous, and this one delivered.
Nikolai as a character? I loved him. Dark, ruthless, and completely unapologetic about his intentions he never hid the fact that he wanted revenge or that he planned to destroy her family. And yet… the way he softens for Emory? That contrast made their dynamic even more compelling.
Then there’s Alic. His relationship with Emory was everything soft and comforting. He was so swoon-worthy, and like Emory, I couldn’t help but feel he was almost too good to be true. Learning about his upbringing and how his mother shaped him into such a loving person made me adore him even more. So when he died… I was genuinely heartbroken. The way Emory’s grief was written hit so hard. I felt every tear, every scream. I was right there with her.
And then Nikolai returns… I had a feeling he would, but how he came back? That moment was done so well.
The marriage between Nikolai and Emory adds another layer to their relationship he’s still dark, still dangerous, but there’s no denying that he loves her in his own way. I also don’t fully believe everything is as it seems regarding what happened between them and the rape. But I’m really hoping the truth unfolds in book two and that i am right in my feeling.
The magic in this world was also so unique and intriguing. I actually loved that it didn’t overshadow the story the romance was clearly the focus here, which worked perfectly. It feels like the magic is just beneath the surface, building up, and I have a strong feeling book two will dive much deeper into it.
And that ending??? I was not expecting that at all. I need book two immediately.
If you love dark romance, forbidden love, and morally grey characters who blur every line you NEED to read this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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