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A World Apart
Not yet published
Expected 19 Nov 26
Star-crossed lovers bound by magic.
But will their devotion set them free-or doom them forever?
London, 1866.
All Kit Finchley wants is to master the magic that keeps eluding him – and to live a life not dictated by title or expectation. Duty presses in from every quarter, but the one thing that quickens his pulse is the promise of real power.
When a miscast spell tears open a doorway into a liminal realm where Wilfrith and his family have been trapped since a fateful bargain with the Faerie Queen 800 years ago, Kit stumbles into a love he never imagined. Their connection is immediate, impossible, and undeniable. Determined to free Wil, Kit hunts for the spell that could bridge two worlds.
By night, Kit risks everything to reach the boy between worlds, desperate to bind the realms without breaking them. But by day, Kit finds himself intrigued by a young bohemian woman of a very wealthy, aristocratic family. She's unlike any woman he's ever rebellious, clever, and best of all, she believes in magic.
Torn between first love, magic and duty, Kit will be forced to make a decision that will change all three of their lives forever.
London, 1866.
All Kit Finchley wants is to master the magic that keeps eluding him – and to live a life not dictated by title or expectation. Duty presses in from every quarter, but the one thing that quickens his pulse is the promise of real power.
When a miscast spell tears open a doorway into a liminal realm where Wilfrith and his family have been trapped since a fateful bargain with the Faerie Queen 800 years ago, Kit stumbles into a love he never imagined. Their connection is immediate, impossible, and undeniable. Determined to free Wil, Kit hunts for the spell that could bridge two worlds.
By night, Kit risks everything to reach the boy between worlds, desperate to bind the realms without breaking them. But by day, Kit finds himself intrigued by a young bohemian woman of a very wealthy, aristocratic family. She's unlike any woman he's ever rebellious, clever, and best of all, she believes in magic.
Torn between first love, magic and duty, Kit will be forced to make a decision that will change all three of their lives forever.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication November 17, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I have criticisms. They simply became irrelevant once the book decided to ruin my life in the best possible way. (4.5⭐ rounded up to 5⭐ because while there were a few things that didn't entirely work for me, I genuinely cannot bring myself to rate this any lower.)
Before I begin: this is part of a series. I somehow missed that fact until after finishing it. I regret nothing, but fellow incomplete-series avoiders should be warned.
This was one of those wonderful NetGalley surprises that reminds me why I keep requesting books in the first place.
Set in 1877 London, A World Apart follows Kit, a young man fascinated by magic and desperate for some measure of control over his future as his family's financial struggles begin reaching a breaking point. Between mounting social pressures, expectations of marriage, and the increasingly precarious position of those around him, life is already complicated enough before he meets Wilfres, a boy from another world whose family is still living with the consequences of an ancient bargain struck with the fae during the Norman Conquest.
I will admit that the beginning was slower than I would have liked. Much of the opening relies on atmosphere, worldbuilding, and character work rather than immediate plot momentum. There were also moments where the pacing felt slightly uneven for me.
The romance contains two tropes that I normally approach with extreme suspicion: love at first sight and a love triangle.
The love-at-first-sight aspect somehow won me over completely.
The love triangle, on the other hand, can get in the bin.
And yet, the writing, chemistry, and character dynamics were so strong that I remained thoroughly invested. If there is any author who can convince me to tolerate narrative choices that I would normally complain about, it may very well be this one.
What started as a lush historical fantasy quickly became one of those stories where everything begins happening at once. Kit suffers from a spectacular case of "when it rains, it pours," and watching the various personal, magical, financial, and social pressures collide was incredibly rewarding.
The atmosphere was gorgeous. The folklore elements, the fae bargains, the magic system, and the sense of history woven throughout the narrative created a world that felt immersive and lived-in. More importantly, the emotional core landed beautifully. The chemistry between the characters was excellent, and by the time the story reached its final act, I was completely invested in their futures.
At one particularly stressful point, I actually messaged the author asking her not to break my heart.
That is generally a sign that a book has me in a chokehold.
And then came the ending.
The ending elevated this from a book I was enjoying to a book I absolutely loved. It tied together the emotional and narrative threads beautifully and left me desperate for the next installment. My immediate reaction upon realizing this was part of a series was somewhere between excitement and "how could you do this to me?"
This is easily one of my favourite NetGalley discoveries of the year. The Waterstones edition is stunning, the story completely won me over, and I am already impatiently waiting for the sequel.
A lush, magical, wonderfully romantic historical fantasy that I would happily recommend to fans of folklore, fae bargains, queer fantasy, and stories that reward your patience with an exceptional payoff.
I have criticisms. They simply became irrelevant once the book decided to ruin my life in the best possible way. (4.5⭐ rounded up to 5⭐ because while there were a few things that didn't entirely work for me, I genuinely cannot bring myself to rate this any lower.)
Before I begin: this is part of a series. I somehow missed that fact until after finishing it. I regret nothing, but fellow incomplete-series avoiders should be warned.
This was one of those wonderful NetGalley surprises that reminds me why I keep requesting books in the first place.
Set in 1877 London, A World Apart follows Kit, a young man fascinated by magic and desperate for some measure of control over his future as his family's financial struggles begin reaching a breaking point. Between mounting social pressures, expectations of marriage, and the increasingly precarious position of those around him, life is already complicated enough before he meets Wilfres, a boy from another world whose family is still living with the consequences of an ancient bargain struck with the fae during the Norman Conquest.
I will admit that the beginning was slower than I would have liked. Much of the opening relies on atmosphere, worldbuilding, and character work rather than immediate plot momentum. There were also moments where the pacing felt slightly uneven for me.
The romance contains two tropes that I normally approach with extreme suspicion: love at first sight and a love triangle.
The love-at-first-sight aspect somehow won me over completely.
The love triangle, on the other hand, can get in the bin.
And yet, the writing, chemistry, and character dynamics were so strong that I remained thoroughly invested. If there is any author who can convince me to tolerate narrative choices that I would normally complain about, it may very well be this one.
What started as a lush historical fantasy quickly became one of those stories where everything begins happening at once. Kit suffers from a spectacular case of "when it rains, it pours," and watching the various personal, magical, financial, and social pressures collide was incredibly rewarding.
The atmosphere was gorgeous. The folklore elements, the fae bargains, the magic system, and the sense of history woven throughout the narrative created a world that felt immersive and lived-in. More importantly, the emotional core landed beautifully. The chemistry between the characters was excellent, and by the time the story reached its final act, I was completely invested in their futures.
At one particularly stressful point, I actually messaged the author asking her not to break my heart.
That is generally a sign that a book has me in a chokehold.
And then came the ending.
The ending elevated this from a book I was enjoying to a book I absolutely loved. It tied together the emotional and narrative threads beautifully and left me desperate for the next installment. My immediate reaction upon realizing this was part of a series was somewhere between excitement and "how could you do this to me?"
This is easily one of my favourite NetGalley discoveries of the year. The Waterstones edition is stunning, the story completely won me over, and I am already impatiently waiting for the sequel.
A lush, magical, wonderfully romantic historical fantasy that I would happily recommend to fans of folklore, fae bargains, queer fantasy, and stories that reward your patience with an exceptional payoff.
June 22, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Aria & Aries and Meghan Nesmith for this ARC which I received.
This book was a refreshing and cozy read, I devoured it in a matter of days, the style of writing was comfortable and familiar without being a tired repetition of something we’ve seen many a time. Setting the book in the late 1800’s London, placed us in a world where we had a strong sense of identity and place. It’s a city that has a strong sense of theme, and is an easy visualisation for many of us. It already has so much of its history on its doorstep for you to see in our current time. Taking us back 150 years and then overlaying that magic system just added more to something we can already feel. A terrific choice, that excellently played into the stereotypical tropes of English Ladies and Gentleman as well.
The Star Crossed lovers theme is well loved and, nowadays, seems to be ever more seen in the LGBTQIA+ world of literature. It’s always going to be a literary tool that we can rely on safely. However, I felt like we could have had more when developing this connection between our two male leads. I understand that the star crossed lovers is meant to be a twist of fate that instinctively draws two people together, yet I feel like we could have grown with this and developed a deeper sense of their connection and romance. I wanted to see this connection between the two people develop over a slightly longer course of time, to see those small things grow and become new things, and see that realism of love blooming. That is most likely a unique trait to me though, as it pretty much directly defies the use of star-crossed lovers.
The above really was my only critique, I’d have loved to have seen more of Agnes, and hopefully this develops in the next book, of which I am assuming there will be! I didn’t expect the cliffhanger at the end, that did take me by surprise as I had made the assumption this was a novel. I should have known better when they even referenced themselves as Star Crossed Lovers.
Highly recommend this, I’ve already mentioned it to a few close friends who I know will love it, and I can’t wait to see what else this authors brings out in the future. A delightful discovery from NetGalley, with some beautiful moments of world building, folklore and LGBTQIA+ representation
This book was a refreshing and cozy read, I devoured it in a matter of days, the style of writing was comfortable and familiar without being a tired repetition of something we’ve seen many a time. Setting the book in the late 1800’s London, placed us in a world where we had a strong sense of identity and place. It’s a city that has a strong sense of theme, and is an easy visualisation for many of us. It already has so much of its history on its doorstep for you to see in our current time. Taking us back 150 years and then overlaying that magic system just added more to something we can already feel. A terrific choice, that excellently played into the stereotypical tropes of English Ladies and Gentleman as well.
The Star Crossed lovers theme is well loved and, nowadays, seems to be ever more seen in the LGBTQIA+ world of literature. It’s always going to be a literary tool that we can rely on safely. However, I felt like we could have had more when developing this connection between our two male leads. I understand that the star crossed lovers is meant to be a twist of fate that instinctively draws two people together, yet I feel like we could have grown with this and developed a deeper sense of their connection and romance. I wanted to see this connection between the two people develop over a slightly longer course of time, to see those small things grow and become new things, and see that realism of love blooming. That is most likely a unique trait to me though, as it pretty much directly defies the use of star-crossed lovers.
The above really was my only critique, I’d have loved to have seen more of Agnes, and hopefully this develops in the next book, of which I am assuming there will be! I didn’t expect the cliffhanger at the end, that did take me by surprise as I had made the assumption this was a novel. I should have known better when they even referenced themselves as Star Crossed Lovers.
Highly recommend this, I’ve already mentioned it to a few close friends who I know will love it, and I can’t wait to see what else this authors brings out in the future. A delightful discovery from NetGalley, with some beautiful moments of world building, folklore and LGBTQIA+ representation
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A World Apart completely swept me away. From the very first pages I was drawn into a beautifully crafted world filled with magic, mystery, love, and so much yearning that I never wanted it to end and was so sad when i turned the fnal page.
The writing is absolutely gorgeous, creating a rich and atmospheric Victorian setting that felt vivid and immersive. Meghan Nesmith has created a magical world that feels both familiar and wonderfully unique, balancing fantasy, adventure, and emotion perfectly.
What truly made this story shine for me were the characters. Kit was such an easy protagonist to root for, and watching his journey unfold was incredibly rewarding. But it was Wil who completely stole my heart. The connection between Kit and Wil was filled with longing, hope, and emotion, and their first meeting genuinely gave me all the feelings. The idea of someone finally being able to truly see him after so long was both heartbreaking and beautiful.
I also absolutely adored Agatha. Every scene she appeared in seemed to sparkle with life and energy, and she quickly became one of my favourite characters. The supporting cast as a whole felt vibrant and memorable, adding so much depth to the story.
The magic system was imaginative and refreshing, revealing just enough to keep me intrigued while leaving plenty of mysteries waiting to be uncovered. Every chapter seemed to introduce another fascinating layer to the world.
And that ending! I immediately needed the next book. There are still so many questions to answer and I cannot wait to see where this story goes next.
A magical, heartfelt, and wonderfully imaginative fantasy filled with adventure, friendship, longing, and unforgettable characters. This is a series I can already see becoming a favourite, and I have no doubt fantasy readers will be talking about it
A World Apart completely swept me away. From the very first pages I was drawn into a beautifully crafted world filled with magic, mystery, love, and so much yearning that I never wanted it to end and was so sad when i turned the fnal page.
The writing is absolutely gorgeous, creating a rich and atmospheric Victorian setting that felt vivid and immersive. Meghan Nesmith has created a magical world that feels both familiar and wonderfully unique, balancing fantasy, adventure, and emotion perfectly.
What truly made this story shine for me were the characters. Kit was such an easy protagonist to root for, and watching his journey unfold was incredibly rewarding. But it was Wil who completely stole my heart. The connection between Kit and Wil was filled with longing, hope, and emotion, and their first meeting genuinely gave me all the feelings. The idea of someone finally being able to truly see him after so long was both heartbreaking and beautiful.
I also absolutely adored Agatha. Every scene she appeared in seemed to sparkle with life and energy, and she quickly became one of my favourite characters. The supporting cast as a whole felt vibrant and memorable, adding so much depth to the story.
The magic system was imaginative and refreshing, revealing just enough to keep me intrigued while leaving plenty of mysteries waiting to be uncovered. Every chapter seemed to introduce another fascinating layer to the world.
And that ending! I immediately needed the next book. There are still so many questions to answer and I cannot wait to see where this story goes next.
A magical, heartfelt, and wonderfully imaginative fantasy filled with adventure, friendship, longing, and unforgettable characters. This is a series I can already see becoming a favourite, and I have no doubt fantasy readers will be talking about it
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I’ll be honest, I struggled a little at the beginning of this one. Fantasy can sometimes take me a minute to settle into, and the opening chapters felt a bit confusing while I worked out the world, the magic, and the shifting POVs. Sometimes it took me a moment to realise whose perspective I was in. That said, it’s definitely worth sticking with it because once the world becomes clearer, the story really opens up.
I ended up really enjoying how the magic system unfolds. You learn about it alongside the main character, which makes the mystery feel quite intentional. The fae feel genuinely strange and slightly threatening too, which adds a lot of tension. I also loved the Victorian setting, it gives the story such a strong atmosphere and highlights the social pressures around things like marriage and sexuality.
The relationship between the two MMCs really worked for me. There’s a strong star-crossed feeling to them, especially with Kit navigating Victorian expectations while Wil comes from a completely different time and world. Watching their connection develop across those differences made the story feel quite compelling.
It ended up being a slower read for me, but in a good way. The world and relationships build gradually, and by the end I was really invested. The ending definitely feels like it’s setting up a second book rather than wrapping things up, but it did exactly what it needed to do, I’m curious to see where the story goes next.
I ended up really enjoying how the magic system unfolds. You learn about it alongside the main character, which makes the mystery feel quite intentional. The fae feel genuinely strange and slightly threatening too, which adds a lot of tension. I also loved the Victorian setting, it gives the story such a strong atmosphere and highlights the social pressures around things like marriage and sexuality.
The relationship between the two MMCs really worked for me. There’s a strong star-crossed feeling to them, especially with Kit navigating Victorian expectations while Wil comes from a completely different time and world. Watching their connection develop across those differences made the story feel quite compelling.
It ended up being a slower read for me, but in a good way. The world and relationships build gradually, and by the end I was really invested. The ending definitely feels like it’s setting up a second book rather than wrapping things up, but it did exactly what it needed to do, I’m curious to see where the story goes next.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
If you enjoy messy, angsty Victorian queers who yearn for magic and twisty fae bargains, you are in the right place. I yearned, I gasped, I desperately wanted Kit to make better choices. The ending had me at the edge of my seat.
There is something deliciously of the id about this novel. Kit's deepening hunger for magic must be satisfied, his obligations increasingly play second string to his desires, and almost all of these choices are made to compensate for the lack of agency in his own life. He becomes an increasingly unreliable (nigh unlikable) narrator, and Wil's belief in him grows only more devastating as their story progresses.
Agatha's even-keeled cleverness and desire for magic stole my whole heart. I need to see how her storyline is resolved in the sequel.
Nesmith's character work was uniquely compelling, but the magical world is also beautifully wrought, if occasionally unsatisfying. The intertwining of fae magic and English history is reminiscent of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell's system— of its darker, ancient, more ungovernable magic. The magical system is never 100% comprehensible to the audience (or its users) and is usually more potent for it.
I cannot wait for the sequel.
Note: With the HEA not yet attained to earn its romance marketing, this review assumes that A World Apart is the first in a series.
There is something deliciously of the id about this novel. Kit's deepening hunger for magic must be satisfied, his obligations increasingly play second string to his desires, and almost all of these choices are made to compensate for the lack of agency in his own life. He becomes an increasingly unreliable (nigh unlikable) narrator, and Wil's belief in him grows only more devastating as their story progresses.
Agatha's even-keeled cleverness and desire for magic stole my whole heart. I need to see how her storyline is resolved in the sequel.
Nesmith's character work was uniquely compelling, but the magical world is also beautifully wrought, if occasionally unsatisfying. The intertwining of fae magic and English history is reminiscent of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell's system— of its darker, ancient, more ungovernable magic. The magical system is never 100% comprehensible to the audience (or its users) and is usually more potent for it.
I cannot wait for the sequel.
Note: With the HEA not yet attained to earn its romance marketing, this review assumes that A World Apart is the first in a series.
March 9, 2026
Wow. What a journey this book turned out to be!
I have to say that this book didn’t completely hook me from the start and I’ll admit I was a little unsure at the beginning as to whether I was going to enjoy this. You are not only getting to grips with the magic system, but also the setting, the rifts, and the different worlds, with POVs not always clearly labelled. However, once everything clicked, and I got used to the different voices, I was fully invested.
Set against a Victorian London backdrop (my absolute favourite time period!), the story weaves together magic, rifts between worlds, high stakes, and a truly compelling star-crossed romance. The choices the characters face feel impossible at times, especially with societal expectations and obligations, and I couldn’t help but feel for Kit as he tried to keep everything from falling apart in his London, while also trying to save Wil and his family.
What began as a slow burn reading experience for me personally, gradually built into this story that I was desperate to understand and follow. The love, the secrecy, the pain. I was hooked. And with that ending, let’s just say that I desperately need book 2!
Our November 2026, this is a book you should all have on your radars!
I have to say that this book didn’t completely hook me from the start and I’ll admit I was a little unsure at the beginning as to whether I was going to enjoy this. You are not only getting to grips with the magic system, but also the setting, the rifts, and the different worlds, with POVs not always clearly labelled. However, once everything clicked, and I got used to the different voices, I was fully invested.
Set against a Victorian London backdrop (my absolute favourite time period!), the story weaves together magic, rifts between worlds, high stakes, and a truly compelling star-crossed romance. The choices the characters face feel impossible at times, especially with societal expectations and obligations, and I couldn’t help but feel for Kit as he tried to keep everything from falling apart in his London, while also trying to save Wil and his family.
What began as a slow burn reading experience for me personally, gradually built into this story that I was desperate to understand and follow. The love, the secrecy, the pain. I was hooked. And with that ending, let’s just say that I desperately need book 2!
Our November 2026, this is a book you should all have on your radars!
June 8, 2026
Cute initial premise of an aspiring-magician nobleman in London who stumbles upon a hidden away world and falls head over heels for the man he briefly glimpses there that develops in an intriguing tale filled with fae magic, conflicting loyalties and the desire to be together.
I got entangled in this story and couldn’t flip through the pages fast enough. Tiredness from long overnight travels were not enough to stop me reading in my in-between wakeful moments. I loved the magical London premise, the descriptions of magic - especially the feeling I got from this book that magic is just bubbling under the surface of our world ready to be felt and perceived by those who believe.
Have to admit that it was quite instant-love for Kit and Will, but nevertheless it worked well with the overall plot.
This was quite the cutesy romance read with a strong focus on the magical world and bigger plot. I’m hoping there will be a sequel!
Overall recommended! Try and get a copy for when you are in a cutesy magical romance vibe.
Thank you Aria & Aries publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy.
I got entangled in this story and couldn’t flip through the pages fast enough. Tiredness from long overnight travels were not enough to stop me reading in my in-between wakeful moments. I loved the magical London premise, the descriptions of magic - especially the feeling I got from this book that magic is just bubbling under the surface of our world ready to be felt and perceived by those who believe.
Have to admit that it was quite instant-love for Kit and Will, but nevertheless it worked well with the overall plot.
This was quite the cutesy romance read with a strong focus on the magical world and bigger plot. I’m hoping there will be a sequel!
Overall recommended! Try and get a copy for when you are in a cutesy magical romance vibe.
Thank you Aria & Aries publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy.
Review of advance copy
This book is a fast, engaging read with an enjoyable use of alternating perspectives, but it ultimately struggles to find its depth. The central romance feels rushed and lacks emotional tension, leaving the impression that the author played it safe rather than leaning into the stakes.
Similarly, world-building needs a much stronger foundation. The historical setting and lore are heavily inferred rather than explicitly explained, and the story frequently avoids diving into its best concepts. Crucial elements—like the mechanics of the magic system, the antagonist's true motivations, and the development of highly compelling side characters—are glossed over or sidelined too quickly.
The narrative stays on the surface level of its most interesting ideas, which makes the climax and overall stakes feel a bit lackluster. It’s an enjoyable world with undeniable potential, but it’s not a day-one read for the sequel.
Similarly, world-building needs a much stronger foundation. The historical setting and lore are heavily inferred rather than explicitly explained, and the story frequently avoids diving into its best concepts. Crucial elements—like the mechanics of the magic system, the antagonist's true motivations, and the development of highly compelling side characters—are glossed over or sidelined too quickly.
The narrative stays on the surface level of its most interesting ideas, which makes the climax and overall stakes feel a bit lackluster. It’s an enjoyable world with undeniable potential, but it’s not a day-one read for the sequel.
Review of advance copy received from Author
An enjoyable read, two MMC's from completely different times and worlds meeting via a portal fall in love over the book. The world building was great, really get a feel for the place and I really liked Wil and Kit. The book truly feels magical and the atmosphere Meghan has created flows through you as you turn the pages.
I love the Victorian London setting, truly shows how times have changed and perspectives of people have progressed. I like stories that have a real life setting mixed with other worlds.
Forbidden love, hard choices to make but its clear to see that they love each other. The ending sets it up for a follow up book which I'm curious about. This book took me longer to read but that's because I wanted to be emersed in it so took my time.
I love the Victorian London setting, truly shows how times have changed and perspectives of people have progressed. I like stories that have a real life setting mixed with other worlds.
Forbidden love, hard choices to make but its clear to see that they love each other. The ending sets it up for a follow up book which I'm curious about. This book took me longer to read but that's because I wanted to be emersed in it so took my time.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This had an interesting premise and I liked that it was a queer focused. However, the worldbuilding was underdeveloped and under explained, which made it harder to immerse myself in the world. Kit and Wil’s relationship was also rushed; it felt like Kit liked Wil mostly because he was from a magical world and Kit is obsessed with magic, and it felt like Wil mostly liked Kit because he was one of the first people from outside the liminal space he was in to notice him.
I really wanted to like this, but it was hard to get through the novel because of the issues mentioned above. I don’t think this is a bad novel, but it wasn’t my cup of tea.
Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing for the ARC!
I really wanted to like this, but it was hard to get through the novel because of the issues mentioned above. I don’t think this is a bad novel, but it wasn’t my cup of tea.
Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing for the ARC!
Want to Read
June 24, 2026Only read a preview, so I won't rate it yet. The preview was good. We got a good introduction to Lady Mansfield and Kit, and I'm interested in learning more about both of them (more so Lady M, though). The world sounds interesting, too, especially how magic doesn't seem allowed and is connected to fae.
The only parts that made me pause were when names were mentioned without enough context. Who's Augie? Who's Teddy? Even just a few words like my brother X or my friend Y would be helpful. Also, Kit seemed WAY too friendly to a stranger with a weapon. It seemed like he forgot about any sense of self preservation bc the other guy was good-looking.
Thanks NetGalley for the preview.
The only parts that made me pause were when names were mentioned without enough context. Who's Augie? Who's Teddy? Even just a few words like my brother X or my friend Y would be helpful. Also, Kit seemed WAY too friendly to a stranger with a weapon. It seemed like he forgot about any sense of self preservation bc the other guy was good-looking.
Thanks NetGalley for the preview.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book had some intense world building at the beginning that took me a while to get into, but once I did it hooked me!
Set in Victorian London, the weaving of magic, societal pressures and mystery really added to the story and I fell in love with both of the MMCs and their love story! Watching their connection deepen throughout the book was especially heartwarming.
Overall I enjoyed this book but it was slower to get into than normal. The story was intriguing and the characters were likable however!
Set in Victorian London, the weaving of magic, societal pressures and mystery really added to the story and I fell in love with both of the MMCs and their love story! Watching their connection deepen throughout the book was especially heartwarming.
Overall I enjoyed this book but it was slower to get into than normal. The story was intriguing and the characters were likable however!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Historical fantasy with queer romance?
Yes please!
I love this subgenre to the moon and back so getting approved for this ARC easily made my week.
The premise:
Christopher Finchley was fascinated with magic for as long as he can remember. The tricky thing is, magic is evasive, unpredictable and — to those who don't believe in it — invisible. Except Kit's mentor, no one believes his obsession is anything but a flight of fancy. For the longest time, he believes the tiny illumination spell to be the limit of his abilities, until Will crashes into his life and changes everything.
To Willford, magic is a curse. Being trapped by a Faerie Queen in a timeless place for the past 800 years, he's not exactly the trusting type when it comes to those with the powers. But how bad can this boy with earnest eyes be?
My thoughts:
The tone of the romance feels much like a ballad. Each meeting can be the last, yet they can't stay away and keep finding their way towards each other. If you enjoy this type of love story, it's going to be a great fit. Don't be like me, read the blurb properly, because I made a surprised Pikachu face at some point. I'm really curious to see how it plays out in book 2.
Lyrical prose and slower pacing can be great, but here I feel like some chapters would have really benefited from things moving along a bit livelier. I think we're going to see lots of action in the sequel, with how things ended.
In short, this was a fascinating, beautifully crafted story: the prose, the characters, the plot — it all works great. The cliffhanger is not brutal, which is always a good thing! I'm looking forward to seeing how this story continues in book 2.
P.S. I really hope Kit will catch a break in the next book because my boy is one step away from losing it.
Thank you NetGalley and 'Aria & Aries' for the eARC in exchange for the review. All thoughts are my own.
Yes please!
I love this subgenre to the moon and back so getting approved for this ARC easily made my week.
The premise:
Christopher Finchley was fascinated with magic for as long as he can remember. The tricky thing is, magic is evasive, unpredictable and — to those who don't believe in it — invisible. Except Kit's mentor, no one believes his obsession is anything but a flight of fancy. For the longest time, he believes the tiny illumination spell to be the limit of his abilities, until Will crashes into his life and changes everything.
To Willford, magic is a curse. Being trapped by a Faerie Queen in a timeless place for the past 800 years, he's not exactly the trusting type when it comes to those with the powers. But how bad can this boy with earnest eyes be?
My thoughts:
The tone of the romance feels much like a ballad. Each meeting can be the last, yet they can't stay away and keep finding their way towards each other. If you enjoy this type of love story, it's going to be a great fit. Don't be like me, read the blurb properly, because I made a surprised Pikachu face at some point. I'm really curious to see how it plays out in book 2.
Lyrical prose and slower pacing can be great, but here I feel like some chapters would have really benefited from things moving along a bit livelier. I think we're going to see lots of action in the sequel, with how things ended.
In short, this was a fascinating, beautifully crafted story: the prose, the characters, the plot — it all works great. The cliffhanger is not brutal, which is always a good thing! I'm looking forward to seeing how this story continues in book 2.
P.S. I really hope Kit will catch a break in the next book because my boy is one step away from losing it.
Thank you NetGalley and 'Aria & Aries' for the eARC in exchange for the review. All thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley & Bloomsbury USA / Aria for a chance to review this TEASER!
This has a high potential of being a 5 stars read for me. I hope I’ll get the whole arc when it comes on NetGalley! The teaser I got had me hooked and I wanted more. The magic system seems unique & interesting. Looking forward to the whole thing! (Pleaseeee publishers grant me the full book 😭)
This has a high potential of being a 5 stars read for me. I hope I’ll get the whole arc when it comes on NetGalley! The teaser I got had me hooked and I wanted more. The magic system seems unique & interesting. Looking forward to the whole thing! (Pleaseeee publishers grant me the full book 😭)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this book, it has great world building aspects and lgbtq+ representation. Would definitely recommend to anyone who likes fae romantasys with intense yearning. Honestly such a fun read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I only read the sneak peek available on Netgalley and loved what I read so far! The sneak peek definitely drew me in and I would love to read more.
My rating might change when I get that chance.
My rating might change when I get that chance.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5⭐️
Quote:
“The world had forgotten it was meant to be keeping up appearances as something rational and predictable.”
This was a really beautiful story that I enjoyed a lot. It had two beautiful MMC’s from different times, and I loved seeing their worlds and how they interacted with it. It had moments of darkness, but still felt light when reading. The Queen and her parts were great, and I really enjoyed the darkness the Queen showed and the decay in her world building.
I liked the writing style, although I find it
difficult to describe other than beautiful. I loved getting to know the characters too. I think the world building was great, especially the it’s the contrast between the two times. The ending was somewhat ambiguous but it means that I am waiting for the next book already.
I wish the pace was a little quicker. The pace at the end is brilliant, but it felt like the rest of the story I was waiting for it to speed up a little bit. I wish we got more time to explore the side characters. Having the split POV works well, but I think in this case it meant that there were characters we never got to explore deeper than surface level.
Who this is for/recommendations:
If you like a slower, historical fantasy.
Minority/inclusion:
LGBTQ+ main characters
Thank you so very much to the New Year, New Author book club from Tandem Collective for sending me a proof of this book🩵
Quote:
“The world had forgotten it was meant to be keeping up appearances as something rational and predictable.”
This was a really beautiful story that I enjoyed a lot. It had two beautiful MMC’s from different times, and I loved seeing their worlds and how they interacted with it. It had moments of darkness, but still felt light when reading. The Queen and her parts were great, and I really enjoyed the darkness the Queen showed and the decay in her world building.
I liked the writing style, although I find it
difficult to describe other than beautiful. I loved getting to know the characters too. I think the world building was great, especially the it’s the contrast between the two times. The ending was somewhat ambiguous but it means that I am waiting for the next book already.
I wish the pace was a little quicker. The pace at the end is brilliant, but it felt like the rest of the story I was waiting for it to speed up a little bit. I wish we got more time to explore the side characters. Having the split POV works well, but I think in this case it meant that there were characters we never got to explore deeper than surface level.
Who this is for/recommendations:
If you like a slower, historical fantasy.
Minority/inclusion:
LGBTQ+ main characters
Thank you so very much to the New Year, New Author book club from Tandem Collective for sending me a proof of this book🩵
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