What do you think?
Rate this book
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
About the author
Meghan Nesmith
4 books45 followersMeghan Nesmith is a writer and editor whose work has appeared in the Boston Globe, the Guardian, and Teen Vogue, among others. Originally from Vancouver, she now lives in Boston with her husband and two daughters. A World Apart is her first novel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley & Bloomsbury USA / Aria for a chance to review this arc!!
This is a story about star-crossed lovers bound by magic. I had absolutely fell in love with the little teaser they gave back in June so I had high expectations for this one. It ended up being an okay read, I just wasn’t really impressed by the writing and the characters. Kit (the first mmc) was really despicable. I probably could’ve overlooked that fact if the second mmc would’ve been more likeable but unfortunately, I wasn’t left impressed with him either. The fact that everyone in his vicinity was also so irritated by him didn’t help his case. Kit’s sister was also a very selfish character and kept trying to force him to do what she didn’t even want for herself. It just didn’t sit right with me. As a character driven reader, I couldn’t find my footing anywhere. The second issue I had was the writing. It was overly flowery, to the point that I just kept zoning out. After 100 pages I was eager for this story to be over. There’s also mention of sexual assault that happened off page but the casual mention of it really threw me off.
Overall, I don’t think this ended up being for me but I could see other readers enjoying this one!
This is a story about star-crossed lovers bound by magic. I had absolutely fell in love with the little teaser they gave back in June so I had high expectations for this one. It ended up being an okay read, I just wasn’t really impressed by the writing and the characters. Kit (the first mmc) was really despicable. I probably could’ve overlooked that fact if the second mmc would’ve been more likeable but unfortunately, I wasn’t left impressed with him either. The fact that everyone in his vicinity was also so irritated by him didn’t help his case. Kit’s sister was also a very selfish character and kept trying to force him to do what she didn’t even want for herself. It just didn’t sit right with me. As a character driven reader, I couldn’t find my footing anywhere. The second issue I had was the writing. It was overly flowery, to the point that I just kept zoning out. After 100 pages I was eager for this story to be over. There’s also mention of sexual assault that happened off page but the casual mention of it really threw me off.
Overall, I don’t think this ended up being for me but I could see other readers enjoying this one!
Did Not Finish
August 14, 2026DNF @25%. Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the arc! Some spoilers ahead!
Ok, second DNF in two days, which I'm not thrilled about, but you guys know I'm not one to read something I'm not enjoying, so here we are.
Starting off with the fact that I really liked the premise of this book; the worldbuilding is there and it is quite interesting. The two main characters are also intriguing and did make me want to read and know them better, specially Kit. But my DNF is based on everything except them, basically.
First, something that has absolutely no consequence at all but made me go like is that one MC is called Wilfred and another is William and the former's nickname is Will and the latter's, Kit. Was there like, no other name possible? I guess maybe they are meant to be foils or mirrors of each other and the name is supposed to reflect that, but I didn't dig it.
The writing style was too much sometimes, too flowery, made me think many times “are you sure that's the metaphor/analogie you want to make right now?” Some examples: “Her tongue like a moth at his throat” (this is a KISS); “A grating sound. Like wind through a rib cage”, that’s certainly not what I think when I think about a grating sound and also, would wind through a rib cage be grating? I’d imagine it'd make a deep sound because the ribs are somewhat apart. Anyway. You see how the writing does absolutely nothing for the story in the sense of pulling you in and immersing you into this fantastical world? I read the rib cage one and wasted 10 minutes on my phone trying to figure out the actual sound it would make. Unfortunately, youtube does not have a video on it. That's time I could be reading this book, but I wasn't.
I also thought there's too many adjectives. Like, it does feel like everything is adjectivized to hell and back, and this a debut, which would make sense since this is a common problem with debuts. The most egregious examples would be this combination of adjectives the author sometimes does, as: a cat is a “snub-nosed, moth-eaten ball of fur” (and what's its color? we still don't know that); a boy is a “knock-kneed, wide-eyed boy” (sic, on the repetition of the word boy). These two examples were, like, two pages apart. This falls in the perfect middle part between too many adjectives and too flowery of a language.
Now, onto every single other character that is not our MCs: I did not like them. Seriously, maybe I'm too sensitive or too much of a normal person to act like that, but they all sound so egotistical and cruel, it's bizarre.
I do not believe in magic, sure, but, besides telling them to be aware of scams or cults, if my best friend came to me saying they felt the sense of magic since they were a child and became an apprentice of a magician, I'd not laugh in their face? Because I'm not fucking rude? I would not make their interest the butt of a joke constantly, wouldn't make them feel ashamed of their hobbies. But this is the behavior of the sister and the best friend of our Kit (who is the William but not the Will). I was reading and I was going insane. This is how you treat one of the people you most care about in the world, continuously? It's a nahh for me dawg.
Also, on the subject of Kit's sister, Teddy, a woman, 24 years old, restrained by her position and her age and her sex, as aristocratic women of the 1800's were: you don't get to demand sacrifices from your loved ones that you yourself would not be willing to make. I already had my doubts about her considering her behavior (see paragraph above), but her cruelty kind of reached a peak to me in the marriage conversation with Kit. The fact that she did not want to marry and had been scaring away suitors for many years, and now that she realized she was a spinster and the family coffers were low and needed someone to actually be responsible financially for her, she corners Kit and calls him a child because HE is not interested in marrying, much less marrying rich. It felt so horrible to read that conversation, her constant calls for him to “grow up” and her mentions of the privilege he has for being a man (which allow him to hold off on marriage for, at least, another decade if not two and still be in good standing in society, so fucking ridiculous argument), and won't he just marry rich already so he can support his sister and SHE doesn't have to marry then????? Are we insane? What the actual fuck?? The fact that she has no sympathy for the fact that he is younger than her and does not wish to marry, just like her, is crazy. And they have an older brother who is married too! Why is he not in this convo? Maybe I'm not being considerate enough of her position, but I just found that so absurdly unkind and ultimately so self-centered that I almost quit the book right then and there. And the deal is the framing of the book: this scene is meant to show how immature my dude is. Nah.
On the other side, in Will's world (Wilfred's, that is), he and his sister share a lover. Ok, there's a limited amount of people and they’ve known each other for 800 years… but seriously? That's the first fucking thing that we learn about Will and his close relationships, that he regularly fucks the girl who is in an on-and-off relationship with his sister. My dude, c'mon. Maybe I'm too much of a monogamist, but I did not like that.
Also, I get it, maybe it's a trauma response of being trapped there for 800 years, but if my brother came in saying something different happened, I'd just not jump out and immediately start attacking him. Maybe let him speak first? Then he goes to talk to this old woman, who invites him to sit down next to her on the bed then just fucking pushes him off the bed for completely no reason, in the middle of a normal conversation… does nobody knows how to act anymore?
Getting into a little bit more in the characterization and how it was written, the interactions between Will and his people are a bit strange at time. It does not feel like 800 years have passed. Like, the repeated references to Will's pre-trapping behaviour… it's been 800 years. Yeah, he was a bit of a little shit when he was a teenager, you know, 800 years ago?
And to finish this with a bang, the fucking faerie queen is making greek mythology references? That whole chapter from the POV of the queen, I’ve found it quite ridiculous. Does not fit the tone of a immortal faerie queen, nor is it slightly necessary. It's a two page chapter, cut it out. “Makes a girl wonder why she bothers”, girl, give me a break.
Anyway, I'm not rating this because I read like 25% of the book and tend to only rate dnfs that I read +50%. However, considering the small amount that I read, the significant quantity of little things that kept really fucking annoying me explains the dnf. You can't base your book on interesting worldbuilding and MCs if every person your MC interacts with is the most bothersome motherfucker in the planet. Nevertheless, I am very aware I am a demanding reader, it is why I rarely read debuts for the sake of being debut books; I will get annoyed easily and I will DNF the book, I do not do hate reads nor have immense patience like some of my many friends here in this site. I trust this book will find its ideal target audience because I feel like many people would enjoy this story and not be as vexed with its flaws as I am. I hope all the best for this author and should they publish another book, I'll take a look.
Ok, second DNF in two days, which I'm not thrilled about, but you guys know I'm not one to read something I'm not enjoying, so here we are.
Starting off with the fact that I really liked the premise of this book; the worldbuilding is there and it is quite interesting. The two main characters are also intriguing and did make me want to read and know them better, specially Kit. But my DNF is based on everything except them, basically.
First, something that has absolutely no consequence at all but made me go like is that one MC is called Wilfred and another is William and the former's nickname is Will and the latter's, Kit. Was there like, no other name possible? I guess maybe they are meant to be foils or mirrors of each other and the name is supposed to reflect that, but I didn't dig it.
The writing style was too much sometimes, too flowery, made me think many times “are you sure that's the metaphor/analogie you want to make right now?” Some examples: “Her tongue like a moth at his throat” (this is a KISS); “A grating sound. Like wind through a rib cage”, that’s certainly not what I think when I think about a grating sound and also, would wind through a rib cage be grating? I’d imagine it'd make a deep sound because the ribs are somewhat apart. Anyway. You see how the writing does absolutely nothing for the story in the sense of pulling you in and immersing you into this fantastical world? I read the rib cage one and wasted 10 minutes on my phone trying to figure out the actual sound it would make. Unfortunately, youtube does not have a video on it. That's time I could be reading this book, but I wasn't.
I also thought there's too many adjectives. Like, it does feel like everything is adjectivized to hell and back, and this a debut, which would make sense since this is a common problem with debuts. The most egregious examples would be this combination of adjectives the author sometimes does, as: a cat is a “snub-nosed, moth-eaten ball of fur” (and what's its color? we still don't know that); a boy is a “knock-kneed, wide-eyed boy” (sic, on the repetition of the word boy). These two examples were, like, two pages apart. This falls in the perfect middle part between too many adjectives and too flowery of a language.
Now, onto every single other character that is not our MCs: I did not like them. Seriously, maybe I'm too sensitive or too much of a normal person to act like that, but they all sound so egotistical and cruel, it's bizarre.
I do not believe in magic, sure, but, besides telling them to be aware of scams or cults, if my best friend came to me saying they felt the sense of magic since they were a child and became an apprentice of a magician, I'd not laugh in their face? Because I'm not fucking rude? I would not make their interest the butt of a joke constantly, wouldn't make them feel ashamed of their hobbies. But this is the behavior of the sister and the best friend of our Kit (who is the William but not the Will). I was reading and I was going insane. This is how you treat one of the people you most care about in the world, continuously? It's a nahh for me dawg.
Also, on the subject of Kit's sister, Teddy, a woman, 24 years old, restrained by her position and her age and her sex, as aristocratic women of the 1800's were: you don't get to demand sacrifices from your loved ones that you yourself would not be willing to make. I already had my doubts about her considering her behavior (see paragraph above), but her cruelty kind of reached a peak to me in the marriage conversation with Kit. The fact that she did not want to marry and had been scaring away suitors for many years, and now that she realized she was a spinster and the family coffers were low and needed someone to actually be responsible financially for her, she corners Kit and calls him a child because HE is not interested in marrying, much less marrying rich. It felt so horrible to read that conversation, her constant calls for him to “grow up” and her mentions of the privilege he has for being a man (which allow him to hold off on marriage for, at least, another decade if not two and still be in good standing in society, so fucking ridiculous argument), and won't he just marry rich already so he can support his sister and SHE doesn't have to marry then????? Are we insane? What the actual fuck?? The fact that she has no sympathy for the fact that he is younger than her and does not wish to marry, just like her, is crazy. And they have an older brother who is married too! Why is he not in this convo? Maybe I'm not being considerate enough of her position, but I just found that so absurdly unkind and ultimately so self-centered that I almost quit the book right then and there. And the deal is the framing of the book: this scene is meant to show how immature my dude is. Nah.
On the other side, in Will's world (Wilfred's, that is), he and his sister share a lover. Ok, there's a limited amount of people and they’ve known each other for 800 years… but seriously? That's the first fucking thing that we learn about Will and his close relationships, that he regularly fucks the girl who is in an on-and-off relationship with his sister. My dude, c'mon. Maybe I'm too much of a monogamist, but I did not like that.
Also, I get it, maybe it's a trauma response of being trapped there for 800 years, but if my brother came in saying something different happened, I'd just not jump out and immediately start attacking him. Maybe let him speak first? Then he goes to talk to this old woman, who invites him to sit down next to her on the bed then just fucking pushes him off the bed for completely no reason, in the middle of a normal conversation… does nobody knows how to act anymore?
Getting into a little bit more in the characterization and how it was written, the interactions between Will and his people are a bit strange at time. It does not feel like 800 years have passed. Like, the repeated references to Will's pre-trapping behaviour… it's been 800 years. Yeah, he was a bit of a little shit when he was a teenager, you know, 800 years ago?
And to finish this with a bang, the fucking faerie queen is making greek mythology references? That whole chapter from the POV of the queen, I’ve found it quite ridiculous. Does not fit the tone of a immortal faerie queen, nor is it slightly necessary. It's a two page chapter, cut it out. “Makes a girl wonder why she bothers”, girl, give me a break.
Anyway, I'm not rating this because I read like 25% of the book and tend to only rate dnfs that I read +50%. However, considering the small amount that I read, the significant quantity of little things that kept really fucking annoying me explains the dnf. You can't base your book on interesting worldbuilding and MCs if every person your MC interacts with is the most bothersome motherfucker in the planet. Nevertheless, I am very aware I am a demanding reader, it is why I rarely read debuts for the sake of being debut books; I will get annoyed easily and I will DNF the book, I do not do hate reads nor have immense patience like some of my many friends here in this site. I trust this book will find its ideal target audience because I feel like many people would enjoy this story and not be as vexed with its flaws as I am. I hope all the best for this author and should they publish another book, I'll take a look.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Aria & Aries | Aria and NetGalley for the ARC
This one has a really intriguing premise, and the writing style is very readable, but I think I needed more from the characters. I didn't feel much connection to them, and most of them are pretty unlikeable, their actions are either entirely selfish or otherwise illogical which makes it hard to invest in them.
I also think the pacing was a bit off, and events seemed to circle around a lot. The beginning and ending are the strongest points, and the events at the end in particular left off with enough of a cliffhanger that I would be interested in reading the next book, if only to see how things turn out and if there is any character development that ties things together a bit more.
Assuming that it is a series and not a standalone, of course. I haven't seen any reference to it being a series, but the ending very much suggests that it is one, and things were left extremely unresolved otherwise.
This one has a really intriguing premise, and the writing style is very readable, but I think I needed more from the characters. I didn't feel much connection to them, and most of them are pretty unlikeable, their actions are either entirely selfish or otherwise illogical which makes it hard to invest in them.
I also think the pacing was a bit off, and events seemed to circle around a lot. The beginning and ending are the strongest points, and the events at the end in particular left off with enough of a cliffhanger that I would be interested in reading the next book, if only to see how things turn out and if there is any character development that ties things together a bit more.
Assuming that it is a series and not a standalone, of course. I haven't seen any reference to it being a series, but the ending very much suggests that it is one, and things were left extremely unresolved otherwise.
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
A World Apart by Meghan Nesmith is an engaging blend of speculative fiction and emotional storytelling that explores what it means to belong, even when everything familiar has been stripped away.
The novel follows a protagonist whose life is forever changed after being thrust into a world unlike anything they have ever known. As they navigate unfamiliar landscapes, forge unexpected alliances, and uncover secrets that could change everything, the story becomes both an adventure and a journey of self-discovery. Along the way, themes of resilience, identity, family, and hope are woven into a compelling narrative that keeps the pages turning.
What I enjoyed most was the imaginative world-building. Nesmith creates a setting that feels vivid and immersive without overwhelming the reader, and the mystery surrounding the world unfolds at a satisfying pace. The relationships between the characters were another highlight, adding emotional depth and making the stakes feel personal.
While there were a few moments where I wished the pacing had been a bit tighter and certain plot points explored further, the overall story was captivating and left me eager to see what Meghan Nesmith writes next.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you enjoy speculative fiction with rich world-building, memorable characters, and an adventure that balances action with heartfelt moments, A World Apart is definitely worth picking up.
The novel follows a protagonist whose life is forever changed after being thrust into a world unlike anything they have ever known. As they navigate unfamiliar landscapes, forge unexpected alliances, and uncover secrets that could change everything, the story becomes both an adventure and a journey of self-discovery. Along the way, themes of resilience, identity, family, and hope are woven into a compelling narrative that keeps the pages turning.
What I enjoyed most was the imaginative world-building. Nesmith creates a setting that feels vivid and immersive without overwhelming the reader, and the mystery surrounding the world unfolds at a satisfying pace. The relationships between the characters were another highlight, adding emotional depth and making the stakes feel personal.
While there were a few moments where I wished the pacing had been a bit tighter and certain plot points explored further, the overall story was captivating and left me eager to see what Meghan Nesmith writes next.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you enjoy speculative fiction with rich world-building, memorable characters, and an adventure that balances action with heartfelt moments, A World Apart is definitely worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
(3.5 stars) rounding up to 4, because despite some niggles with it I still enjoyed it a lot.
A World Apart is the first book of a queer historical fantasy duology set both in Victorian England and a different world from 800 years ago, and where our two main characters keep meeting against all odds like star crossed lovers.
The plot was fast paced and engaging and the world-building was interesting but the characters were what drew me in. I loved both Kit and Wil, they were such charming characters and although their relationship developed too quickly the connection was still believable, and I really enjoyed all the longing and yearning and found them adorable together. I also liked Agatha as a character - love strong unconventional heroines - but did not enjoy the love triangle aspect so much (Kit doesn't even seem to have any internal conflict about it, which I found quite baffling) and honestly was expecting her to have more relevance to the actual plot, but maybe that's coming in the next book.
The ending was maybe a bit predictable but it still packed a punch and I was unprepared for that cliffhanger - making me really looking forward to book 2, which I hope will come soon !
A World Apart is the first book of a queer historical fantasy duology set both in Victorian England and a different world from 800 years ago, and where our two main characters keep meeting against all odds like star crossed lovers.
The plot was fast paced and engaging and the world-building was interesting but the characters were what drew me in. I loved both Kit and Wil, they were such charming characters and although their relationship developed too quickly the connection was still believable, and I really enjoyed all the longing and yearning and found them adorable together. I also liked Agatha as a character - love strong unconventional heroines - but did not enjoy the love triangle aspect so much (Kit doesn't even seem to have any internal conflict about it, which I found quite baffling) and honestly was expecting her to have more relevance to the actual plot, but maybe that's coming in the next book.
The ending was maybe a bit predictable but it still packed a punch and I was unprepared for that cliffhanger - making me really looking forward to book 2, which I hope will come soon !
September 22, 2026
this book has such an interesting premise, and a beautiful cover as an added bonus.
different time periods merging are always a fun plot line and i think this was done well. unfortunately i just couldn’t connect with the characters, kit was intriguing and seeing into his own life and family. i feel i lacked that with wil. i also felt their relationship was very rushed and i couldn’t gush about it as much as i thought i would’ve. it held my interest in the beginning but soon after 50-60% i just wanted to come to a conclusion. while i’m glad i enjoyed this, the writing was beautiful! im not sure if id continue on. i’d definitely check something else out by this author! i just don’t think this worked for me.
thank you netgalley for the arc copy.
different time periods merging are always a fun plot line and i think this was done well. unfortunately i just couldn’t connect with the characters, kit was intriguing and seeing into his own life and family. i feel i lacked that with wil. i also felt their relationship was very rushed and i couldn’t gush about it as much as i thought i would’ve. it held my interest in the beginning but soon after 50-60% i just wanted to come to a conclusion. while i’m glad i enjoyed this, the writing was beautiful! im not sure if id continue on. i’d definitely check something else out by this author! i just don’t think this worked for me.
thank you netgalley for the arc copy.
Read
August 15, 2026I feel bad because, well honestly I feel bad reviewing any book badly, but I was going to make a list of things I liked and things I didnt like and I couldn't think of anything for the likes list. I cant even give it a star rating cause it'd probably be a 1.
Kit had the personality and appeal of a dirty gym sock. He was SO annoying to me, incredibly self centered and narrow minded. Wil and his mentor kept telling him how he was destroying himself and didn't know what he was getting into but why should he listen to people with more experience in these matters. Wil was...fine I guess? Apparently a bit hot tempered as a youth, 800 years ago, not super clear what he's like now except he keeps going off to the woods to daydream while his family starves.
Also the romance between them is...non-existent? Maybe I'm too demi for this shit but they meet the once very quickly and then they both simply become obsessed with each other and then it evolves into them being in love with each other but WHEN??
As another reviewer said, the sister is a hypocrite who berates Kit for not getting married and saving her from being sent off to the countryside because she's already run off every man in the country, but has no regard for how Kit might not want to get married. And it's all about how women can't do anything and have way less rights (yes, mood, agree) but as far as I can tell she's just been doing what she wants anyways??
There is a LOT of telling in this book that does not match up with the showing.
Anyways, I only just barely finished this because I skim read the last half and it did not stick the landing. . I feel bad because I don't like to tear into someone's hard work so badly and I do really want more books like a Marvellous Light but just...not like this
Kit had the personality and appeal of a dirty gym sock. He was SO annoying to me, incredibly self centered and narrow minded. Wil and his mentor kept telling him how he was destroying himself and didn't know what he was getting into but why should he listen to people with more experience in these matters. Wil was...fine I guess? Apparently a bit hot tempered as a youth, 800 years ago, not super clear what he's like now except he keeps going off to the woods to daydream while his family starves.
Also the romance between them is...non-existent? Maybe I'm too demi for this shit but they meet the once very quickly and then they both simply become obsessed with each other and then it evolves into them being in love with each other but WHEN??
As another reviewer said, the sister is a hypocrite who berates Kit for not getting married and saving her from being sent off to the countryside because she's already run off every man in the country, but has no regard for how Kit might not want to get married. And it's all about how women can't do anything and have way less rights (yes, mood, agree) but as far as I can tell she's just been doing what she wants anyways??
There is a LOT of telling in this book that does not match up with the showing.
Anyways, I only just barely finished this because I skim read the last half and it did not stick the landing. . I feel bad because I don't like to tear into someone's hard work so badly and I do really want more books like a Marvellous Light but just...not like this
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The essence of this book is that we all want what we can’t have. Two young men happen upon each other and to each of them, the other’s life is enticing. Wil is free from marital obligations and he can love whomever he wants. Kit is unburdened by the curse that has been keeping Wil’s family in stasis for hundreds of years. And through it all, magic seems to be the solution to every problem. But is it? This story is an easy read, asking the reader to confront issues related to intent, duty and what one would do for love. Wil and Kit are both flawed characters and mirror the challenges that every day people face. Recommended for those who love regency, queer stories and fae that are tricksters rather than charmers.
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
July 17, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book. A World Apart follows Kit and Wil from their meeting across realms. I think the premise was really intriguing, and the ensemble of characters was good.
I enjoyed how Wil and Kit were presented as foils of each other, especially as the book progressed. Kit is the third child of an affluent Victorian family while Wil comes from a small village that was attached during the Norman Conquest. Kit is a magician, seeking to learn and control any magic possible while Wil dislikes magic and its repercussions.
For me, the book fell flat of its expectations. It was interesting enough to keep reading, but not detailed enough to really understand the world built. I kept wishing we knew more about each character, and found it difficult to get invested as Kit isn’t really an observant narrator.
The story, unfortunately, just felt a bit forced for me. A lot of the plot was told rather than shown, and it all felt quite a bit predictable. There are also a few plot holes in the book. I wish Wil’s entire world was like 3 times as detailed as it is in the book. We get a very limited understanding of the family’s landscape, mostly consisting of small buildings and a river. The family somehow speaks Victorian English really well despite only getting bursts of apparitions. The magic system and the fae was incredibly underdeveloped. While this feels semi-intentional to show Kit’s amateur level, it also feels a bit lazy and overlooked in the book’s planning process.
I think also romantasy doesn’t encapsulate the book properly, it read more YA than typical romantasy books tend to.
I enjoyed how Wil and Kit were presented as foils of each other, especially as the book progressed. Kit is the third child of an affluent Victorian family while Wil comes from a small village that was attached during the Norman Conquest. Kit is a magician, seeking to learn and control any magic possible while Wil dislikes magic and its repercussions.
For me, the book fell flat of its expectations. It was interesting enough to keep reading, but not detailed enough to really understand the world built. I kept wishing we knew more about each character, and found it difficult to get invested as Kit isn’t really an observant narrator.
The story, unfortunately, just felt a bit forced for me. A lot of the plot was told rather than shown, and it all felt quite a bit predictable. There are also a few plot holes in the book. I wish Wil’s entire world was like 3 times as detailed as it is in the book. We get a very limited understanding of the family’s landscape, mostly consisting of small buildings and a river. The family somehow speaks Victorian English really well despite only getting bursts of apparitions. The magic system and the fae was incredibly underdeveloped. While this feels semi-intentional to show Kit’s amateur level, it also feels a bit lazy and overlooked in the book’s planning process.
I think also romantasy doesn’t encapsulate the book properly, it read more YA than typical romantasy books tend to.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Damn this book was just a ton of set up for a sequel with basically the same plot. I'm generally a big fan of a romance with a time travel/alternate universe element (see my faves: One Last Stop, Cosmic Love at the Multiverse Hair Salon, and In What World) so when I saw the concept for this book I was in. Alas this just didn't work for me and I think the main issue is the limited relationship development. Our leads are separated by dimensions so if I'm going to root for them you've got to be very intentional with the time they can spend together. Kit and Wil's relationship felt shallow to me because it was largely founded on their instant attraction. Having that spark can be really important in romance, however it should be used as a tool for expanding a relationship not as the sole reason for attraction. As a reader I just couldn't help noticing that Kit and the Faerie Queen were very similar in the way that they're obsessed with Wil. I think that's a really interesting idea but I get the impression that the author wasn't necessarily intending to impart that. I'm supposed to root for this couple and I just didn't.
Aside from the romance in this fantasy romance being lukewarm at best, the magic system felt very nebulous. Like half way through the book we get the info drop that Kit is an elemental and that didn't feel like it mattered. When so much of the plot of the story is revolving around how we can use magic to free Wil from his pocket dimension, you've gotta define how the magic functions. All that I was really able to gather is that there's some classic witchy spell components at play sometimes and then other times Kit can just whip out a fireball.
I'll be honest, I'm not really invested in these characters and wont be picking up the sequel. I have to assume book two will basically be save Wil 2.0 but this time he's separated from his family. That just doesn't compel me in the slightest.
CW: implied rape off page
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Aside from the romance in this fantasy romance being lukewarm at best, the magic system felt very nebulous. Like half way through the book we get the info drop that Kit is an elemental and that didn't feel like it mattered. When so much of the plot of the story is revolving around how we can use magic to free Wil from his pocket dimension, you've gotta define how the magic functions. All that I was really able to gather is that there's some classic witchy spell components at play sometimes and then other times Kit can just whip out a fireball.
I'll be honest, I'm not really invested in these characters and wont be picking up the sequel. I have to assume book two will basically be save Wil 2.0 but this time he's separated from his family. That just doesn't compel me in the slightest.
CW: implied rape off page
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
REVIEW OF TEASER
Overall, this seems to be the start of a truly wonderful book. Nemsith's prose is delightful and engaging, and I love the environment she creates, adding in just the right amount of worldbuilding without "dumping" information onto the reader. I also like the pacing already--as I like to put it, if the main turning point does not happen within the first 10 pages, oftentimes the book needs to be re-evaluated (and this book managed to pull that off just in time). Last, I heavily enjoyed the development of his initial relationship with Lady Mansfield. Last, I love the way magic is described in this book, and I am eager to learn more about Wilfrith and the fae!
Overall, this seems to be the start of a truly wonderful book. Nemsith's prose is delightful and engaging, and I love the environment she creates, adding in just the right amount of worldbuilding without "dumping" information onto the reader. I also like the pacing already--as I like to put it, if the main turning point does not happen within the first 10 pages, oftentimes the book needs to be re-evaluated (and this book managed to pull that off just in time). Last, I heavily enjoyed the development of his initial relationship with Lady Mansfield. Last, I love the way magic is described in this book, and I am eager to learn more about Wilfrith and the fae!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I sure hope this is a series. Meghan, you can't leave us hanging like this!
I always love an MM fantasy, a genre that's been criminally underserved! This is a mildly spiced portal fantasy where magic is bringing our love interests together while also being the very thing keeping them apart. It's a little bit insta-love, though there's still some build-up.
The world-building and magic system are on the softer side while still having rules and structure. The take on the Fae and their origins is unique and compelling.
Kit makes an interesting protagonist, because in this book his character arc is more of a negative than a positive. His single-minded determination to pursue magic (and ostensibly his love interest Wil) causes him to damage his real world relationships. I was always rooting for Wil, but I want to see more growth from Kit (which is suspect will come in a sequel 🤞)!
Two minor characters really stand out to me, Agatha and Teddy. They both balk against the patriarchy in unique ways, and they have so much potential. In a future book, I'd love to see them both as POV characters (maybe a sapphic romance?) as they continue to carve a place for themselves in a world that wants them to remain small.
If you're catching the gist of my review, this book was enjoyable but left me longing for more.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA for the ARC of this book!
I always love an MM fantasy, a genre that's been criminally underserved! This is a mildly spiced portal fantasy where magic is bringing our love interests together while also being the very thing keeping them apart. It's a little bit insta-love, though there's still some build-up.
The world-building and magic system are on the softer side while still having rules and structure. The take on the Fae and their origins is unique and compelling.
Kit makes an interesting protagonist, because in this book his character arc is more of a negative than a positive. His single-minded determination to pursue magic (and ostensibly his love interest Wil) causes him to damage his real world relationships. I was always rooting for Wil, but I want to see more growth from Kit (which is suspect will come in a sequel 🤞)!
Two minor characters really stand out to me, Agatha and Teddy. They both balk against the patriarchy in unique ways, and they have so much potential. In a future book, I'd love to see them both as POV characters (maybe a sapphic romance?) as they continue to carve a place for themselves in a world that wants them to remain small.
If you're catching the gist of my review, this book was enjoyable but left me longing for more.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA for the ARC of this book!
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🩵
Review of advance copy
I am unmoored! A World Apart is split between an 1800s London where Kit lives as an aspiring magician, and a Fae created pocket of world where Wil and his family have been cursed to remain for >800 years. They meet through Kit's magic and thin rifts between the worlds. As expected... romance ensues... and Kit vows to help free them all, going against the Fae Queen herself.
The writing in this book is so lovely- it's like every line is dripped in honey and echoes of poetry. The characters are memorable- compelling, well formed, flawed, layered. The two women we see the most, Agatha and Teddy, are some of my favorite side characters right now- intelligent, witty, and refusing to settle for patriarchal bullshit. The main characters internal struggles and relationship kept me invested in the outcome, (still invested!). I really enjoyed the pacing of the plot and how it builds to this crescendo of tension and chaos. Then we have this whole layer of faerie madness to it all. I am desperate for the sequel!!
The writing in this book is so lovely- it's like every line is dripped in honey and echoes of poetry. The characters are memorable- compelling, well formed, flawed, layered. The two women we see the most, Agatha and Teddy, are some of my favorite side characters right now- intelligent, witty, and refusing to settle for patriarchal bullshit. The main characters internal struggles and relationship kept me invested in the outcome, (still invested!). I really enjoyed the pacing of the plot and how it builds to this crescendo of tension and chaos. Then we have this whole layer of faerie madness to it all. I am desperate for the sequel!!
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 Publisher
With bright and lyrical prose, a fascinating magic system based on belief, and an aching romance between two boys who belong no where but with each other, this book is a lovely few afternoons of escape to a more magical time and place. The interesting tidbits we glean about the realm of the fae and Wil's little pocket dimension are delicious, and Kit's dual dedication to his magic and to Wil make for some fantastic pining. I wished we had more about Teddy and Agatha, since I think these brilliant women are far smarter and more interesting than these dumb boys they are stuck dealing with! But Kit and Wil are a aching heartbeat at the center of this novel, and older teens and younger adults will fall for these two and their story. Beware the cliffhanger! It will leave you wanting more of this sumptuous, heady, magic-drunk world.
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!
Did Not Finish
July 11, 2026Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
I think this book has potential, but ultimately falls a bit flat. The word building was nothing new or special and was very surface level. I felt the same about the romance and the characters and just could not connect with anything. I would like to see what this author does next as I feel that there is definitely potential there.
Thanks again to NetGalley!
I think this book has potential, but ultimately falls a bit flat. The word building was nothing new or special and was very surface level. I felt the same about the romance and the characters and just could not connect with anything. I would like to see what this author does next as I feel that there is definitely potential there.
Thanks again to NetGalley!
Read
July 21, 2026Weeeeellllll sorta kinda
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
*AUTHOR, DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW*
Unfortunately this was a miss for me. Most of what I read is queer romance or fantasy with queer characters, it's my jam, but this really annoyed me:(
Firstly, and most importantly, I did not believe the romance. I 100% think that Wil fell for Kit because it was the first time in 800 years that another human could actually see him, and Kit fell for Wil because he was FASCINATED by this world with magic and Wil was the first person he saw in that world. If the first person they saw was literally anyone else, I think they would have fallen for them instead. And then in a very short period of time they are sleeping together and infatuated with each other but it's very "tell don't show" so we don't get to see any of the actual growing of their trust and relationship. You're telling me they're falling in love, yet we have barely seen them interact? How and when did they learn to trust each other? Where was the bonding? Wil in particular has been tricked and abused by a fae queen and I find it hard to believe he would insta love a random man who he can't be sure isn't another trick. I just cannot shake the feeling that both these guys would have fallen in love with the first person coming through the rift, whoever they were.
I do not understand the need to have Wil have slept with basically the whole group he's trapped with. According to the book they spent whole seasons just fcking. And he sometimes sleeps with a woman who his SISTER also sleeps with (and his sister is IN LOVE with.)
Another reason I think the romance isn't believable is that Kit falls in love SO EASILY. When a pretty woman in his own world shows interest in his magic, Kit immediately falls for her. Like 0 to 100 in a few pages because she is suddenly interesting to him because she also believes in magic. Even though Kit is IN LOVE with Wil, he ends up KISSING this woman that he barely knows. It's so strange and felt like cheating to me but also like the author was trying to make it a love triangle when it wasn't needed or believable for him to fall so quick. It actually annoyed me tbh because how is he gonna act like saving Wil is his whole reason for existing but then kiss someone else at the first chance.
At one point Wil voiced some of the problems I had with Kit and their romance, to Kit's face, and yet nothing came of this because Kit got upset at the mean comments and so Wil comforted Kit?!Wil literally said "don't think I'm blind to how you look at me. You'd turn away if I passed you on the street in your world. I'd not be worth the dirt on your shoe" and this is never addressed.
The book mentions some really dark stuff, like the fae queen stealing members of Wil's group and making them dance or sleep with the other fae; one time Wil's sister comes back pregnant and miscarries at 7 months??? There's chapters from the fae queens pov but I didn't like any of them. They're just flowery language and her saying how clever she is and that everyone's her pawn. I could not give less of a f about her, she's nasty and uninteresting. And then later in the book Kit has sympathy for her because he realises the fae queen's daughter passed away, but there is no way I would show empathy for her after how she treats people, and also her daughter dying is literally her own fault because of how obsessed she has become with this group of people. ALSO WHY IS THIS ANCIENT FAE QUEEN LITERALLY GOADED BY A BOY?! All it took was him saying "prove it" and she not only trapped the human group but also linked her species to them and damned them....
also Wil making Kit promise to look after his family, and Kit literally leaving them to fend for themselves immediately???
Kit becomes stronger in his magic and very egotistical; I think the author thinks she is doing a cool "mc becomes power hungry and corrupted by power" thing but it's actually giving the Spiderman 3 emo Spiderman moment...
The writing uses a strange choice of adjectives and descriptions, and instead of being beautiful, it ends up being too much and saying nothing that makes sense.
Unfortunately this was a miss for me. Most of what I read is queer romance or fantasy with queer characters, it's my jam, but this really annoyed me:(
Firstly, and most importantly, I did not believe the romance. I 100% think that Wil fell for Kit because it was the first time in 800 years that another human could actually see him, and Kit fell for Wil because he was FASCINATED by this world with magic and Wil was the first person he saw in that world. If the first person they saw was literally anyone else, I think they would have fallen for them instead. And then in a very short period of time they are sleeping together and infatuated with each other but it's very "tell don't show" so we don't get to see any of the actual growing of their trust and relationship. You're telling me they're falling in love, yet we have barely seen them interact? How and when did they learn to trust each other? Where was the bonding? Wil in particular has been tricked and abused by a fae queen and I find it hard to believe he would insta love a random man who he can't be sure isn't another trick. I just cannot shake the feeling that both these guys would have fallen in love with the first person coming through the rift, whoever they were.
I do not understand the need to have Wil have slept with basically the whole group he's trapped with. According to the book they spent whole seasons just fcking. And he sometimes sleeps with a woman who his SISTER also sleeps with (and his sister is IN LOVE with.)
Another reason I think the romance isn't believable is that Kit falls in love SO EASILY. When a pretty woman in his own world shows interest in his magic, Kit immediately falls for her. Like 0 to 100 in a few pages because she is suddenly interesting to him because she also believes in magic. Even though Kit is IN LOVE with Wil, he ends up KISSING this woman that he barely knows. It's so strange and felt like cheating to me but also like the author was trying to make it a love triangle when it wasn't needed or believable for him to fall so quick. It actually annoyed me tbh because how is he gonna act like saving Wil is his whole reason for existing but then kiss someone else at the first chance.
At one point Wil voiced some of the problems I had with Kit and their romance, to Kit's face, and yet nothing came of this because Kit got upset at the mean comments and so Wil comforted Kit?!Wil literally said "don't think I'm blind to how you look at me. You'd turn away if I passed you on the street in your world. I'd not be worth the dirt on your shoe" and this is never addressed.
The book mentions some really dark stuff, like the fae queen stealing members of Wil's group and making them dance or sleep with the other fae; one time Wil's sister comes back pregnant and miscarries at 7 months??? There's chapters from the fae queens pov but I didn't like any of them. They're just flowery language and her saying how clever she is and that everyone's her pawn. I could not give less of a f about her, she's nasty and uninteresting. And then later in the book Kit has sympathy for her because he realises the fae queen's daughter passed away, but there is no way I would show empathy for her after how she treats people, and also her daughter dying is literally her own fault because of how obsessed she has become with this group of people. ALSO WHY IS THIS ANCIENT FAE QUEEN LITERALLY GOADED BY A BOY?! All it took was him saying "prove it" and she not only trapped the human group but also linked her species to them and damned them....
also Wil making Kit promise to look after his family, and Kit literally leaving them to fend for themselves immediately???
Kit becomes stronger in his magic and very egotistical; I think the author thinks she is doing a cool "mc becomes power hungry and corrupted by power" thing but it's actually giving the Spiderman 3 emo Spiderman moment...
The writing uses a strange choice of adjectives and descriptions, and instead of being beautiful, it ends up being too much and saying nothing that makes sense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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. When a miscast spell tears open a doorway into the Veil – 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. His connection to Wil is immediate, impossible, and undeniable.
Determined to free the boy between worlds, Kit risks everything, desperate to bind the realms without breaking them. But the Faerie Queen does not take kindly to adversaries, and all magic has a cost...
I loved the premise of this book, and I the cover of the book is stunning. I loved the writing style and the book started off strong, quickly getting into the two worlds and the use of the rift which allowed Kit to move into Wils world. However, I found towards the middle of the book that the pace had slowed a bit and I didn’t feel so invested in the characters.
It did pick the pace up towards the last third of the book and it ended on a cliff hanger. If you like Slower paced whimsical romantasy then this book is one that I would recommend.
If you like
My thanks to Aria & Aries and #NetGalley for the ARC copy of #AWorldApart
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. When a miscast spell tears open a doorway into the Veil – 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. His connection to Wil is immediate, impossible, and undeniable.
Determined to free the boy between worlds, Kit risks everything, desperate to bind the realms without breaking them. But the Faerie Queen does not take kindly to adversaries, and all magic has a cost...
I loved the premise of this book, and I the cover of the book is stunning. I loved the writing style and the book started off strong, quickly getting into the two worlds and the use of the rift which allowed Kit to move into Wils world. However, I found towards the middle of the book that the pace had slowed a bit and I didn’t feel so invested in the characters.
It did pick the pace up towards the last third of the book and it ended on a cliff hanger. If you like Slower paced whimsical romantasy then this book is one that I would recommend.
If you like
My thanks to Aria & Aries and #NetGalley for the ARC copy of #AWorldApart
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It took me an embarrassingly long time to realize that this book wasn't a standalone and clearly the start of at least a duology, if not a longer series, but there's a lot of promise in this story. I'm intrigued by the notion that Kit's fascination with magic is going to become a lot more destructive for him, especially because Nesmith doesn't shy away from emphasizing that he's trying to grasp for more power than he can reasonably sustain. The Faerie Queen also makes a chilling villain, unforgiving and manipulative, willing to bring these two lads together in service of her greater ambitions. I'm also curious about whether Kit and Wil are actually endgame OR , but the groundwork that's being laid here does have me interested in checking out any continuation.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this edition from the publisher on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this edition from the publisher on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for sending me this ARC!
4 stars
I went into this book expecting it to be a standalone, but I am so glad it is going to be a series! This was a wonderful novel that I wasn’t expecting to enjoy so much, especially Wil and Kit. Wil and his family being trapped in another world where they can see parts of the world moving forward without them after a bargain with the Fae Queen was so interesting, and the backstory of how that came about was well developed throughout the story. The magic system and Kit getting deeper into magic was also a highlight of this novel for me. The only downsides for me were that I wanted a bit more from the supporting cast because they were great in the moments we got from them, and that the Fae Queen’s chapters felt like they didn’t always fit into the story where they were put. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and, after that ending, I’m going to need the next book ASAP.
4 stars
I went into this book expecting it to be a standalone, but I am so glad it is going to be a series! This was a wonderful novel that I wasn’t expecting to enjoy so much, especially Wil and Kit. Wil and his family being trapped in another world where they can see parts of the world moving forward without them after a bargain with the Fae Queen was so interesting, and the backstory of how that came about was well developed throughout the story. The magic system and Kit getting deeper into magic was also a highlight of this novel for me. The only downsides for me were that I wanted a bit more from the supporting cast because they were great in the moments we got from them, and that the Fae Queen’s chapters felt like they didn’t always fit into the story where they were put. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and, after that ending, I’m going to need the next book ASAP.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A World Apart by Meghan Nesmith may be a book that will appeal to some people, but definitely not to me. I found that the pacing was really whack, and it just stretched on far too long. However, I think this would have really benefited from being a short story or a novella. Additionally, the characters felt really stereotypical and were not likeable (or even intriguing, which is more important) in the least. Overall, it was a slog to read through. 2/5⭐.
Thank you to Aria & Aries for providing A World Apart for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Aria & Aries for providing A World Apart for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Did Not Finish
August 12, 2026Unfortunately I had to soft dnf this at the 98 page mark. It was just too cosy and historical for me, this is a me problem and not a reflection of the book or writing itself and it was easily flowing with an interesting plot. I do have a friend who this would be perfect for and I have recommended it to her to read instead on release 😊
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was initially captured by the interesting characters and their complex motivations, especially a unique rendering of the fairy queen. But the plot didn't carry my attention. The romance was insta-love with no real development, and the magic system wasn't well enough developed, considering how fundamental it is to the plot.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews