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Eteria: A New Life
For the last few centuries, humans and fae alike agreed on one thing and one thing only: all mages are evil. For it was the children of the higher dragons that led to the downfall of the magnificent creatures and the destructive war that followed, carving new borders.
In this jaded world, a half-blood mage, Idalia, dreams of being an artist. To save enough coin for the prestigious Academy of Arts, she works in a famous brothel as a bartender and a healer, where she finds friends and foes.
One day, the long-awaited acceptance letter arrives, changing her life forever. Within the span of a single year, Idalia goes from being a 'cheery' bartender to an art student, until she finally accepts her true calling after finding her soulmate—a deadly assassin with the heart of an artist.
In this jaded world, a half-blood mage, Idalia, dreams of being an artist. To save enough coin for the prestigious Academy of Arts, she works in a famous brothel as a bartender and a healer, where she finds friends and foes.
One day, the long-awaited acceptance letter arrives, changing her life forever. Within the span of a single year, Idalia goes from being a 'cheery' bartender to an art student, until she finally accepts her true calling after finding her soulmate—a deadly assassin with the heart of an artist.
432 pages, ebook
Published April 20, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 21, 2026
We follow Idalia, a half blood mage with dreams of becoming an artist and attending the Academy of Arts. To earn enough money to make that future possible, she works in a well known brothel as both a bartender and healer. When the acceptance letter she has been hoping for finally arrives, her life takes a turn she never could have expected.
I really liked the overall premise and storyline of this one, but the first half was definitely harder for me to connect with. Once Idalia gets to the academy, a lot of the focus is on her getting drunk, getting high, having sex, and instantly falling for the first guy she comes across. Because of that, I had a hard time fully getting invested in that part of the story.
The second half was much stronger for me. After Idalia is discovered at the school for being a mage which is forbidden at the academy and fakes her own death, the story really started to pull me in. I was much more interested in where things were going from that point on.
Paian, who is actually our MMC, was easily my favorite part of the book. I loved his character, and the relationship between him and Idalia honestly saved this one for me. Their dynamic gave the story the emotional connection I felt like it was missing earlier on, and it’s the main reason I’m interested to see where the series goes next.
Overall, this one had a really strong concept, and while the first half was not my favorite, the second half completely turned things around for me. I’m definitely curious to see what happens next.
Thank you to the author for the ARC!
I really liked the overall premise and storyline of this one, but the first half was definitely harder for me to connect with. Once Idalia gets to the academy, a lot of the focus is on her getting drunk, getting high, having sex, and instantly falling for the first guy she comes across. Because of that, I had a hard time fully getting invested in that part of the story.
The second half was much stronger for me. After Idalia is discovered at the school for being a mage which is forbidden at the academy and fakes her own death, the story really started to pull me in. I was much more interested in where things were going from that point on.
Paian, who is actually our MMC, was easily my favorite part of the book. I loved his character, and the relationship between him and Idalia honestly saved this one for me. Their dynamic gave the story the emotional connection I felt like it was missing earlier on, and it’s the main reason I’m interested to see where the series goes next.
Overall, this one had a really strong concept, and while the first half was not my favorite, the second half completely turned things around for me. I’m definitely curious to see what happens next.
Thank you to the author for the ARC!
May 3, 2026
I received an ARC copy to read and provide my honest opinion.
There is a lot of potential here but as it is with the ARC copy there are quite a few issues that need to be addressed.
I feel this is multiple stories in one book. It can work as a single work but the transitions between places need a lot of work. The academy feels like one story. Half the book is spent here. The way Idalia leaves the academy is very abrupt. There is a reason but with how much the reader is in her head a little more explanation is needed for the extreme action she takes.
There is a small plot hole. No one at the academy knows Idalia is a mage but yet Amantis uses that as a reason for Idalia to call in sick. The next few pages she then grapples with telling Amantis the truth.
Speaking of Amantis…the way he goes from disgust to willing hook up partner to forgiveness is wild. This is where the pacing gets too fast and things start to feel rushed.
Just like Idalia’s departure from the academy, her appearance in the arena is sudden with no real reason why she’s there. It can be inferred but it’s still jarring. There’s a HUGE reveal within this arena scene and it’s just glossed over. I saw it coming which is fine but it should have been a big deal and it got one sentence.
Most of the dreams are not always clear they are dreams. Whatever follows is confusing but luckily does get cleared up.
Overall, there is a lot of story here but after the academy everything is too rushed with too many sporadic changes that have a bit of a reason but not enough (in my mind) to justify the dramatics of characters felt necessary. The overall arc is interesting but there is more work to be done.
There is a lot of potential here but as it is with the ARC copy there are quite a few issues that need to be addressed.
I feel this is multiple stories in one book. It can work as a single work but the transitions between places need a lot of work. The academy feels like one story. Half the book is spent here. The way Idalia leaves the academy is very abrupt. There is a reason but with how much the reader is in her head a little more explanation is needed for the extreme action she takes.
There is a small plot hole. No one at the academy knows Idalia is a mage but yet Amantis uses that as a reason for Idalia to call in sick. The next few pages she then grapples with telling Amantis the truth.
Speaking of Amantis…the way he goes from disgust to willing hook up partner to forgiveness is wild. This is where the pacing gets too fast and things start to feel rushed.
Just like Idalia’s departure from the academy, her appearance in the arena is sudden with no real reason why she’s there. It can be inferred but it’s still jarring. There’s a HUGE reveal within this arena scene and it’s just glossed over. I saw it coming which is fine but it should have been a big deal and it got one sentence.
Most of the dreams are not always clear they are dreams. Whatever follows is confusing but luckily does get cleared up.
Overall, there is a lot of story here but after the academy everything is too rushed with too many sporadic changes that have a bit of a reason but not enough (in my mind) to justify the dramatics of characters felt necessary. The overall arc is interesting but there is more work to be done.
April 10, 2026
I was delighted to be selected as an ARC reader for this novel—my first experience in this role—and it made the reading all the more special.
I truly enjoyed being introduced to Idalia. Beginning the story in a brothel, where she works as a server, immediately set a compelling tone. What stood out to me was the unique role she plays in that environment—bringing a sense of balance, or at least a fragile form of comfort, to the women who work there.
The story takes its time easing into the action, but I found that each detail added meaningful depth to the characters and their vices. This slower build allowed me to better understand the complexity of their personalities and the weight of their internal struggles.
For a debut novel, I especially appreciated the originality and specificity of Idalia’s power. We don’t just observe it—we feel it through her. The emotional and moral weight tied to using that power in such a harsh world adds a compelling layer to her journey.
I did find myself wishing for more insight into the secondary characters, as I grew attached to them as well and would have loved to see their arcs explored further. And of course, I would be very interested in continuing Idalia’s story in this new life she has chosen. If more books are planned, I would absolutely read them.
Overall, the novel is an engaging and emotionally rich read. The exploration of trauma and addiction adds significant depth, making the story both immersive and impactful.
I truly enjoyed being introduced to Idalia. Beginning the story in a brothel, where she works as a server, immediately set a compelling tone. What stood out to me was the unique role she plays in that environment—bringing a sense of balance, or at least a fragile form of comfort, to the women who work there.
The story takes its time easing into the action, but I found that each detail added meaningful depth to the characters and their vices. This slower build allowed me to better understand the complexity of their personalities and the weight of their internal struggles.
For a debut novel, I especially appreciated the originality and specificity of Idalia’s power. We don’t just observe it—we feel it through her. The emotional and moral weight tied to using that power in such a harsh world adds a compelling layer to her journey.
I did find myself wishing for more insight into the secondary characters, as I grew attached to them as well and would have loved to see their arcs explored further. And of course, I would be very interested in continuing Idalia’s story in this new life she has chosen. If more books are planned, I would absolutely read them.
Overall, the novel is an engaging and emotionally rich read. The exploration of trauma and addiction adds significant depth, making the story both immersive and impactful.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
Beautiful and meaningful story that brings a lot of heart and emotion with it!
We start in a slower paced journey with Idalia, our MFC. It felt like I was hanging out with her, and feeling the down emotions that she was going through because there was something missing in her life (can’t we all relate to it?!) . Way too many times we take the easier path of substance abuse to numb emotions and pains that we can’t deal with. Idalia will remind us of that.
Go through the process of these first part of the book because the slower beginning adds a lot of context and meaning for the absolute game changer that the story will take in the last third of the book!!! IT WILL BE WORTH IT, TRUST ME!
Paian is our MMC and he is wonderful!! I cannot wait to see more of this relationship developing because it was so beautiful to see them coming together.
I look forward to reading the next book!! This was a wonderful debut work!
ARC view- thank you for the author for the opportunity to letting me read this book. I'm leaving an honest feedback in exchange :)
We start in a slower paced journey with Idalia, our MFC. It felt like I was hanging out with her, and feeling the down emotions that she was going through because there was something missing in her life (can’t we all relate to it?!) . Way too many times we take the easier path of substance abuse to numb emotions and pains that we can’t deal with. Idalia will remind us of that.
Go through the process of these first part of the book because the slower beginning adds a lot of context and meaning for the absolute game changer that the story will take in the last third of the book!!! IT WILL BE WORTH IT, TRUST ME!
Paian is our MMC and he is wonderful!! I cannot wait to see more of this relationship developing because it was so beautiful to see them coming together.
I look forward to reading the next book!! This was a wonderful debut work!
ARC view- thank you for the author for the opportunity to letting me read this book. I'm leaving an honest feedback in exchange :)
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this as an ARC — thank you to the author for the opportunity to read it!
I’m a bit conflicted about this one. There were things I really liked: the premise was interesting, the FMC felt more grounded than I expected (which was refreshing), and the MMC was very devoted — I enjoyed their dynamic overall. The quieter, more everyday interactions between them were honestly my favorite parts.
At the same time, some moments didn’t quite work for me. A few scenes felt a bit rushed or slightly forced, especially compared to the slower build-up that I actually enjoyed more. The pacing was a little uneven too — there are some time jumps that skip ahead quite quickly, and then the ending feels much faster and more packed.
I also found myself a bit unsure about the direction of the plot at times, and the FMC felt a little inconsistent here and there.
That said, I do think there’s a lot of potential in the story, and I am curious to see where it goes next. I’d probably pick up book two and hope some of these things get developed further.
I’m a bit conflicted about this one. There were things I really liked: the premise was interesting, the FMC felt more grounded than I expected (which was refreshing), and the MMC was very devoted — I enjoyed their dynamic overall. The quieter, more everyday interactions between them were honestly my favorite parts.
At the same time, some moments didn’t quite work for me. A few scenes felt a bit rushed or slightly forced, especially compared to the slower build-up that I actually enjoyed more. The pacing was a little uneven too — there are some time jumps that skip ahead quite quickly, and then the ending feels much faster and more packed.
I also found myself a bit unsure about the direction of the plot at times, and the FMC felt a little inconsistent here and there.
That said, I do think there’s a lot of potential in the story, and I am curious to see where it goes next. I’d probably pick up book two and hope some of these things get developed further.
April 21, 2026
It was a pleasure to be an ARC reader of this story 😌
I went into this with pretty neutral expectations, and honestly, it surprised me in a good way 😌
The premise is strong and easy to get invested in, especially with Idalia as an FMC — she feels more grounded than I expected, which I really appreciated. The atmosphere at the beginning was also a nice touch and pulled me in quickly.
That said, the pacing felt a bit uneven at times. The first half didn’t fully hook me emotionally, and some developments (especially in relationships) moved a little too fast to feel completely earned. I found myself wanting more depth in certain moments instead of jumping ahead.
But the second half definitely picked things up for me. The story becomes more engaging, and the dynamic between the characters adds the emotional layer that felt slightly missing earlier.
Overall, it’s a solid and enjoyable read with a lot of potential. Not perfect, but definitely something I’d continue with, especially to see how the characters and world develop further 🌚
I went into this with pretty neutral expectations, and honestly, it surprised me in a good way 😌
The premise is strong and easy to get invested in, especially with Idalia as an FMC — she feels more grounded than I expected, which I really appreciated. The atmosphere at the beginning was also a nice touch and pulled me in quickly.
That said, the pacing felt a bit uneven at times. The first half didn’t fully hook me emotionally, and some developments (especially in relationships) moved a little too fast to feel completely earned. I found myself wanting more depth in certain moments instead of jumping ahead.
But the second half definitely picked things up for me. The story becomes more engaging, and the dynamic between the characters adds the emotional layer that felt slightly missing earlier.
Overall, it’s a solid and enjoyable read with a lot of potential. Not perfect, but definitely something I’d continue with, especially to see how the characters and world develop further 🌚
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.5 ⭐️
I really loved how this story started out. I really loved the second half of the book and her travels with Paian and the Wicked ones. I even loved their characters.
What didn’t fit for me:
- Once she is accepted into the academy, the first half of the book focuses on drinking, smoking, and sex to numb her. I felt like this part of the story could have been shorter and focus more on the travels with the Wicked Ones and back story of the history. It is explained a little at the last chapter why she felt and did these things but again, I think it could have been focused on less.
- I also didn’t love how relationships move quickly.
- There was a little too much spice for my taste (not between the FMC and MMC, they had the perfect amount of spice 👌🏼)
Over all it was better than what I was thinking when I was at the halfway point. It seems like this will be a series and I would read the next one.
I really loved how this story started out. I really loved the second half of the book and her travels with Paian and the Wicked ones. I even loved their characters.
What didn’t fit for me:
- Once she is accepted into the academy, the first half of the book focuses on drinking, smoking, and sex to numb her. I felt like this part of the story could have been shorter and focus more on the travels with the Wicked Ones and back story of the history. It is explained a little at the last chapter why she felt and did these things but again, I think it could have been focused on less.
- I also didn’t love how relationships move quickly.
- There was a little too much spice for my taste (not between the FMC and MMC, they had the perfect amount of spice 👌🏼)
Over all it was better than what I was thinking when I was at the halfway point. It seems like this will be a series and I would read the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really loved this book 🤍 the writing style is so beautiful and emotional. It honestly reminded me of some big authors. The opening scene especially stuck with me (I even read it to my newborn and it put her to sleep, which made it extra special 🥺).
Idalia was definitely the highlight for me. I loved following her journey. 🦋 She felt real, strong, and easy to connect with, and watching her grow into herself was really engaging.
The world and overall concept are really interesting too, especially with the Greek-inspired elements and the way mages fit into society. I do think the magic system could be explained a bit more clearly at times, as I occasionally found myself going back to remind myself how everything worked.
Overall though, I really enjoyed it. It’s a lovely, immersive read and I’d definitely recommend it ✨
Idalia was definitely the highlight for me. I loved following her journey. 🦋 She felt real, strong, and easy to connect with, and watching her grow into herself was really engaging.
The world and overall concept are really interesting too, especially with the Greek-inspired elements and the way mages fit into society. I do think the magic system could be explained a bit more clearly at times, as I occasionally found myself going back to remind myself how everything worked.
Overall though, I really enjoyed it. It’s a lovely, immersive read and I’d definitely recommend it ✨
Review of advance copy received from Author
It was OK. I did read it all in one day so it was enough to keep me going, but I feel it could have been longer to really build characters and their relationships. I found it predictable in places, and it followed a lot of ACOTAR/TOG themes (possibly the inspiration). It had a lot of promise, but it fell short for me. I would recommend it for people who like quick books that get to the point, but for me, I prefer depth and detail with a slow build up. Some of the relationships jumped in their development in a way that seemed out of character, rather than building to that level of trust and ease.
Review of advance copy
I don’t usually read this genre, but I’m really glad I gave this one a try after discovering it on social media. It completely surprised me.
The story is emotional and easy to connect with, especially through Idalia. She feels real, and her journey of growth and self-discovery kept me engaged throughout. The writing is smooth, and the world-building adds just enough depth without feeling heavy.
There’s also a subtle romance that develops naturally, which I appreciated.
Overall, a thoughtful and engaging read. A great introduction to a genre I don’t normally pick up.
The story is emotional and easy to connect with, especially through Idalia. She feels real, and her journey of growth and self-discovery kept me engaged throughout. The writing is smooth, and the world-building adds just enough depth without feeling heavy.
There’s also a subtle romance that develops naturally, which I appreciated.
Overall, a thoughtful and engaging read. A great introduction to a genre I don’t normally pick up.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Received an ARC of this book, and it was my first time reviewing one. There were definitely some flaws, but overall it was a story with a good flow that was easy to get through.
What I felt was missing, though, was more yearning and a stronger ending. The conclusion didn’t quite feel like a proper ending, which made me wonder if the story might continue in a sequel.
The book mainly focused on the FMC, but I would have liked to see and hear more about the MMC and their relationship and love.
What I felt was missing, though, was more yearning and a stronger ending. The conclusion didn’t quite feel like a proper ending, which made me wonder if the story might continue in a sequel.
The book mainly focused on the FMC, but I would have liked to see and hear more about the MMC and their relationship and love.
Review of advance copy
The author takes us on a journey where we follow the story of a flawed FMC. Unlike many other FMCs in the genre, Idalia is many things but not arrogant-what a fresh breath of air!!
What was different than most books is that it’s heavily inspired by Slavic lore and myths. Seeing bits and pieces of my own culture in a fantasy book was certainly not something I expected. (There were even many references towards my hometown, what a treat!)
All in all, an easy and interesting read
What was different than most books is that it’s heavily inspired by Slavic lore and myths. Seeing bits and pieces of my own culture in a fantasy book was certainly not something I expected. (There were even many references towards my hometown, what a treat!)
All in all, an easy and interesting read
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was a true adventure, so fun and eventful 😍.
Mystery, love, magic and secrets🖤
Mystery, love, magic and secrets🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
I need more!
April 20, 2026
This was an amazing read. I had the privilege of being an ARC reader. The characters were full of life and the settings were perfect. I genuinely believe this could be the next ACOTAR. 🤩
April 24, 2026
**ARC REVIEW**
Thanks for selecting me and sorry for being late. I really liked the characters, world building and the general story!
Thanks for selecting me and sorry for being late. I really liked the characters, world building and the general story!
May 16, 2026
Really exciting read! I liked the development of the characters and the flow of the storylines. Definitely recommend to others who enjoy romantasy as much as I do.
May 16, 2026
Truly amazing book. Waiting for the next part 🫶🏻
Review of advance copy received from Author
Absolutely captivating debut, beautiful story with well written characters, set in a wonderful world. I’m absolutely in love with the story and I can’t wait for everyone to be able to enjoy it as well.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a beautiful debut story, which is going to keep you on your toes the whole time while enjoying the journey. I loved the plot twists, the lessons, the perspectives, the mythology and that I could easily resonate with the main character. I liked how it shows how chaotic life and a person's thoughts and feelings can be, the ups and downs. I highly recommend the book and I think that everyone can read and enjoy it as much as I did and learn a lesson or get inspiration.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews