What do you think?
Rate this book
Sapere #3
Scarlet Wars
The secret is out.
Magi no longer hide in the shadows, and the world is breaking fast.
Fear spreads. Alliances shatter. Magi choose sides as humans prepare for war, and the spark holding the match at the edge has a name: Emma Thompson.
She's powerful. Watched. Feared.
Hunted for reasons she doesn’t understand, Emma’s life fractures, leaving her with more grief, more trauma than she ever believed she could survive.
In the wreckage, she’s forced to choose:
A bond needed to endure what’s coming.
Or the love her heart refuses to deny.
A choice that will either save the people she loves…or ignite the war to come.
Scarlet Wars, the third book in the Sapere Series, is a gripping romantasy filled with rising war, forbidden love, and impossible choices—where magic stands exposed and love defies every rule.
Magi no longer hide in the shadows, and the world is breaking fast.
Fear spreads. Alliances shatter. Magi choose sides as humans prepare for war, and the spark holding the match at the edge has a name: Emma Thompson.
She's powerful. Watched. Feared.
Hunted for reasons she doesn’t understand, Emma’s life fractures, leaving her with more grief, more trauma than she ever believed she could survive.
In the wreckage, she’s forced to choose:
A bond needed to endure what’s coming.
Or the love her heart refuses to deny.
A choice that will either save the people she loves…or ignite the war to come.
Scarlet Wars, the third book in the Sapere Series, is a gripping romantasy filled with rising war, forbidden love, and impossible choices—where magic stands exposed and love defies every rule.
842 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 5, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
March 31, 2026
Infinity Stars.
Just wow, I’m speechless, review to come when I find the words.
Just wow, I’m speechless, review to come when I find the words.
June 15, 2026
Wow. Did not expect that ending.
We learn more about Emma.
Devastation, turmoil & agony
Emma really does not get a second of peace.
Grief is constantly chasing her.
We learn more about Emma.
Devastation, turmoil & agony
Emma really does not get a second of peace.
Grief is constantly chasing her.
April 27, 2026
4.5 ★
Release date: June 5, 2026
My gosh! This series is so underrated! Granted, Sorcha is an indie author, an amazing one at that. I haven’t felt this way about a romantasy series in a good while. The books just kept getting better and better as I went on (trust the process)! I swear, that war had me so stressed out. I was on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed the plot so much too!
The pacing was perfect, the characters were lovable and emotionally layered, and the story was so engaging. There are missions, scheming, politics, and unraveling secrets. I couldn’t stop reading. I want more!
I absolutely loved Caden and Emma together. Their romance was so angsty, heart-stopping, beautiful, and devastating. The push Emma gives was so understandable, and Caden’s pull was irresistibly sweet. The ending of the book broke my heart.
And James… wow. I’m so ready to read more from his POV, because what was that with you-know-who?! I’m already loving them!
I need book four! I want it!
Release date: June 5, 2026
My gosh! This series is so underrated! Granted, Sorcha is an indie author, an amazing one at that. I haven’t felt this way about a romantasy series in a good while. The books just kept getting better and better as I went on (trust the process)! I swear, that war had me so stressed out. I was on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed the plot so much too!
The pacing was perfect, the characters were lovable and emotionally layered, and the story was so engaging. There are missions, scheming, politics, and unraveling secrets. I couldn’t stop reading. I want more!
I absolutely loved Caden and Emma together. Their romance was so angsty, heart-stopping, beautiful, and devastating. The push Emma gives was so understandable, and Caden’s pull was irresistibly sweet. The ending of the book broke my heart.
And James… wow. I’m so ready to read more from his POV, because what was that with you-know-who?! I’m already loving them!
I need book four! I want it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
The amount I relate to this series is too real at times. This book in particular, I cannot explain how clearly grief is represented. Sorcha gave us such raw emotion and she presented it fully while writing it beautifully.
It’s not a light read, I mean it’s about war, come on.
It’s also about being a person, those feelings we run from and have to learn to face. It’s about love, loss, fighting, and acceptance. It’s not just war, it’s everything that comes with. We have to feel the hurt to move past it and this book has a ton of character growth, where they have to learn to feel, and they are all still growing in the end.
Emotional damage guaranteed, but beyond worth it.
It’s not a light read, I mean it’s about war, come on.
It’s also about being a person, those feelings we run from and have to learn to face. It’s about love, loss, fighting, and acceptance. It’s not just war, it’s everything that comes with. We have to feel the hurt to move past it and this book has a ton of character growth, where they have to learn to feel, and they are all still growing in the end.
Emotional damage guaranteed, but beyond worth it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
#Review: *Scarlet Wars* - Sorcha Reagh - ARC [18+]
5/5✨
3.5/5🌶️
Emma, James, Caden and their friends have to live in that new reality, where they have to fight in the war that had began. Nothing was easy and each road pushed them into more complicated situations, but their determination to unravel the truth behind the purpose of that war was way stronger. Will their resilience be enough to win this war and to discover the real reason behind that world changing battle?
I was genuinely captivated by the whirlwind of events that kept on happening throughout this story. All those twists and turns were completely shocking, full of drama and uncertainty. That freaking slow burn had ruined me in the best way possible, put me back together, only to shatter me into a million pieces all over again🤭. There were so many hidden secrets which were a pivot to this entire story, some of them being completely unexpected and mind-blowing for me🫣. Everything was thought in the smallest detail by Sorcha and I was impressed by every little thing she added in this amazing book. This one was darker, more emotional, spicier, with lots of suspense and moments of complete craziness. It was so different from the other previous books, having a more fast paced plot, with so, so many nail-biting situations😨. I promise that there wasn't a dull moment in this book, each page was filled with a sort of "magic" that kept me captivated and completely immersed into this story, wanting to know more and more, and that made me keep turning those pages. Indeed, this book is quite thick, with over 700 pages, but everything was so intense that you couldn't get enough of it, craving more and more with each finished chapter. I can't say more about it without giving away spoilers, so you better start the series right now!
I'm utterly impressed by the incredible world Sorcha has created in this book and her previous ones, loving how addictive all of them are! Of course that this one has ended as well in a pretty huge cliffhanger, which has already made me crave the next book from this series😩. The "Sapere" series is a must read, being something you didn't know you needed in your life🤭.
So, so elated that I was able to be part of Sorcha's street team even from her first book, simply adoring this unbelievable world she has created in her stories. Thank you so much for offering me this ARC! You are the BEST and so much FUN!🥴😆
P.S: It was such an honor to meet you in person! Such an unreal moment for me🥹 and I had such an INCREDIBLE time with you and Julia🤗🩵.
✨Tropes
▫️Romantasy
▫️A Super Slow Burn
▫️Mutual Pining
▫️High Spice
▫️Forbidden Love
▫️Grief Rep
▫️Twists & Turns
▫️Suspense
5/5✨
3.5/5🌶️
Emma, James, Caden and their friends have to live in that new reality, where they have to fight in the war that had began. Nothing was easy and each road pushed them into more complicated situations, but their determination to unravel the truth behind the purpose of that war was way stronger. Will their resilience be enough to win this war and to discover the real reason behind that world changing battle?
I was genuinely captivated by the whirlwind of events that kept on happening throughout this story. All those twists and turns were completely shocking, full of drama and uncertainty. That freaking slow burn had ruined me in the best way possible, put me back together, only to shatter me into a million pieces all over again🤭. There were so many hidden secrets which were a pivot to this entire story, some of them being completely unexpected and mind-blowing for me🫣. Everything was thought in the smallest detail by Sorcha and I was impressed by every little thing she added in this amazing book. This one was darker, more emotional, spicier, with lots of suspense and moments of complete craziness. It was so different from the other previous books, having a more fast paced plot, with so, so many nail-biting situations😨. I promise that there wasn't a dull moment in this book, each page was filled with a sort of "magic" that kept me captivated and completely immersed into this story, wanting to know more and more, and that made me keep turning those pages. Indeed, this book is quite thick, with over 700 pages, but everything was so intense that you couldn't get enough of it, craving more and more with each finished chapter. I can't say more about it without giving away spoilers, so you better start the series right now!
I'm utterly impressed by the incredible world Sorcha has created in this book and her previous ones, loving how addictive all of them are! Of course that this one has ended as well in a pretty huge cliffhanger, which has already made me crave the next book from this series😩. The "Sapere" series is a must read, being something you didn't know you needed in your life🤭.
So, so elated that I was able to be part of Sorcha's street team even from her first book, simply adoring this unbelievable world she has created in her stories. Thank you so much for offering me this ARC! You are the BEST and so much FUN!🥴😆
P.S: It was such an honor to meet you in person! Such an unreal moment for me🥹 and I had such an INCREDIBLE time with you and Julia🤗🩵.
✨Tropes
▫️Romantasy
▫️A Super Slow Burn
▫️Mutual Pining
▫️High Spice
▫️Forbidden Love
▫️Grief Rep
▫️Twists & Turns
▫️Suspense
June 8, 2026
🪄 Unique magic system
🪖 A world on the brink of war
🔥 Slow burn
🤨 No one is who you think they are
😡 Female rage and empowerment
I have been waiting on THIS version of Emma to show up. She is strong and soft, snarky and smart, a lover and a fighter but she's been through some things and I just didn't think she was mad enough about it. From the jump, Emma was done playing nice, and I loved every minute of it.
The spice was EVERYTHING. Y'all they don't call Sorcha the Goddess of Edging for nothing 😅 I love slow burn romance and we've had that for 2.5 books. And the wait was worth it 👌 I'll be honest, I wasn't super thrilled with Emma's options after the first 2 books but there was a turning point in Scarlet Wars and I was all in on her choice.
Sorcha has an uncanny ability to craft a story that completelysucks the reader in. While some play checkers, Sorcha plays chess. Her books are chunky but every single moment matters in them. Sooo many things happened that I didn't see coming and by book 3, you'd think I'd have learned my lesson and started to question things a little more but nope 😏
A few of my favorite moments:
*Emma's "take no prisoners" approach - I've been waiting on her to get mad 😤
*Emma chooses 🔥
*Caden and Sean's bombshell 💣
*Caden's birthday present to Emma 🎁
*Battle with the High Chiefs ⚔️
*THAT ENDING (which makes me want to scream into the void but I also secretly love a little torture waiting for book 4 😏)
🪖 A world on the brink of war
🔥 Slow burn
🤨 No one is who you think they are
😡 Female rage and empowerment
I have been waiting on THIS version of Emma to show up. She is strong and soft, snarky and smart, a lover and a fighter but she's been through some things and I just didn't think she was mad enough about it. From the jump, Emma was done playing nice, and I loved every minute of it.
The spice was EVERYTHING. Y'all they don't call Sorcha the Goddess of Edging for nothing 😅 I love slow burn romance and we've had that for 2.5 books. And the wait was worth it 👌 I'll be honest, I wasn't super thrilled with Emma's options after the first 2 books but there was a turning point in Scarlet Wars and I was all in on her choice.
Sorcha has an uncanny ability to craft a story that completelysucks the reader in. While some play checkers, Sorcha plays chess. Her books are chunky but every single moment matters in them. Sooo many things happened that I didn't see coming and by book 3, you'd think I'd have learned my lesson and started to question things a little more but nope 😏
A few of my favorite moments:
*Emma's "take no prisoners" approach - I've been waiting on her to get mad 😤
*Emma chooses 🔥
*Caden and Sean's bombshell 💣
*Caden's birthday present to Emma 🎁
*Battle with the High Chiefs ⚔️
*THAT ENDING (which makes me want to scream into the void but I also secretly love a little torture waiting for book 4 😏)
May 17, 2026
I needed a few days to digest before actually trying to put words on what I felt whilst reading Scarlet Wars… I’d say this book broke me in the best of ways. There’s something about it, about the authenticity of the characters I didn’t feel in the first books, and they were already great. But this one is definitely next level. And I can tell Sorcha left bits of her soul behind with it.
The plot continues where we left off, political challenges in full swing, Emma finds herself at the centre of a complex worldwide war that opposes humans and magi. I won’t dive too much in it specifically as I don’t want to reveal too much, but the web of secrets, lies and deceits is woven in a way that we do get so many answers, and are left with almost as many new questions. Sorcha’s done a great job at keeping the stakes high but moving the plot forward so nothing is stale. Moments from the first two books become so important to understand this third instalment, it’s expertly done.
But what got me, is how raw and vulnerable Emma is in this book. Her grief is so powerful, so overwhelming, I felt it deep in my core. Maybe because this is something I’ve had to go through recently, I felt… Seen. Understood. There’s something extremely strong about going through this with a character like Emma. She has been running away from her emotions for so long, that when it hits her, all she can do is survive it. It makes her grow in ways she never thought it would, forcing her to face her feelings. There’s a scene in Scarlet Wars that will stay with me forever. I felt every second of it. Every realisation, every question, every decision. The way Emma fights against her instincts, her learnings to follow what she really feels and face it. Having to say out loud what she wants, and laying herself bare, surrendering to her feelings - one of the most powerful moments I’ve ever read (I’m not going to say which scene it is because spoilers, but iykyk).
Of course, I can’t write a review without mentioning Caden! His evolution is equally beautiful, and I found myself loving him even more (didn’t realise that was possible). Reading about his insecurities, his beliefs, his darkness, seeing him grow alongside Emma and become this absolutely gorgeous sidekick that she deserves. I still have SO many questions about him, his past, but I’m so happy we got to know him better in this instalment, he did not disappoint one bit.
There’s yearning, heartbreaks, ups and downs… If anyone ever questioned why her street-team nicknamed Sorcha the ‘Queen of Edging’, this book is just the living proof of it. This is definitely the strongest book of the series so far, it made me feel so many things. It was a journey I gladly went on, and I think I came out of it slightly changed for the better. Sorcha marries very skilfully humour with high stakes and deep raw emotions, and I couldn’t be more proud of her.
Thank you for such a beautiful, powerful book.
The plot continues where we left off, political challenges in full swing, Emma finds herself at the centre of a complex worldwide war that opposes humans and magi. I won’t dive too much in it specifically as I don’t want to reveal too much, but the web of secrets, lies and deceits is woven in a way that we do get so many answers, and are left with almost as many new questions. Sorcha’s done a great job at keeping the stakes high but moving the plot forward so nothing is stale. Moments from the first two books become so important to understand this third instalment, it’s expertly done.
But what got me, is how raw and vulnerable Emma is in this book. Her grief is so powerful, so overwhelming, I felt it deep in my core. Maybe because this is something I’ve had to go through recently, I felt… Seen. Understood. There’s something extremely strong about going through this with a character like Emma. She has been running away from her emotions for so long, that when it hits her, all she can do is survive it. It makes her grow in ways she never thought it would, forcing her to face her feelings. There’s a scene in Scarlet Wars that will stay with me forever. I felt every second of it. Every realisation, every question, every decision. The way Emma fights against her instincts, her learnings to follow what she really feels and face it. Having to say out loud what she wants, and laying herself bare, surrendering to her feelings - one of the most powerful moments I’ve ever read (I’m not going to say which scene it is because spoilers, but iykyk).
Of course, I can’t write a review without mentioning Caden! His evolution is equally beautiful, and I found myself loving him even more (didn’t realise that was possible). Reading about his insecurities, his beliefs, his darkness, seeing him grow alongside Emma and become this absolutely gorgeous sidekick that she deserves. I still have SO many questions about him, his past, but I’m so happy we got to know him better in this instalment, he did not disappoint one bit.
There’s yearning, heartbreaks, ups and downs… If anyone ever questioned why her street-team nicknamed Sorcha the ‘Queen of Edging’, this book is just the living proof of it. This is definitely the strongest book of the series so far, it made me feel so many things. It was a journey I gladly went on, and I think I came out of it slightly changed for the better. Sorcha marries very skilfully humour with high stakes and deep raw emotions, and I couldn’t be more proud of her.
Thank you for such a beautiful, powerful book.
June 5, 2026
5⭐️ ┇ Bookstagram ┇ BookTok
This series just keeps getting better and better. This has so many things I love - a badass powerful FMC, morally grey & completely obsessed MMC, tension, slow burn, banter, magical war, found family, twists and turns. The stakes are higher and the slowest of burns that had me holding my breath.
Emma. She is such a badass FMC. I absolutely love her sarcasm and her ‘gives no shits’ attitude. Also the trauma that she goes through over and over and over again… She is so strong and I loved watching her open up and be vulnerable in this. Especially with Caden.
Ohhh and Caden. I love him so much. The way he is so incredibly down bad for Emma, even after shit she keeps putting him through. He is the definition of ‘touch her & die’…literally. The way he would watch the world burn for her! Also his banter with her. The tension between them?? Holy shit!! Literally had me holding my breath. This is the slowest and most satisfying of burns.
James, I still kinda hate you. You did some good things here but I’m still waiting on your redemption arc.
The found family in this is everything!! I love all of these characters so much! The plot in this was crazy. The twists that had my jaw on the floor. The stakes, the action. This kept me fully engaged and wanting to read just one more chapter.
That ending however??? I am NOT ok! Literally.
Will need book 4 asap!
‧₊˚✧𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽✧˚₊‧
➳❥ Book 3/ Romantasy Series
➳❥ Badass FMC
➳❥ Obsessed MMC
➳❥ Tension & Banter
➳❥ Found Family
➳❥ Magical War
➳❥ Twists
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝓕𝓪𝓿 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽t𝓮𝓼
“Every nerve burned, every muscle locked with the violent need to destroy whoever had put her in this state, until every last person responsible was rotting so deep the earth itself choked on them.”
“His eyes raked across every hidden part of me, and still, I couldn't look away. It was ruin and worship at once.”
“Let me be very clear about this, because I don’t do the fucking miscommunication trope. I'm not just attracted to you. I'm fucking obsessed with you-your body, your mind, your godsdamn soul. And if you'd let me, I'd worship every inch of all three, every damn day, for the rest of our fucking lives."
“The math was lethal but simple: her over every other fucking soul. Always.”
"You didn't ruin me. You rewrote me."
This series just keeps getting better and better. This has so many things I love - a badass powerful FMC, morally grey & completely obsessed MMC, tension, slow burn, banter, magical war, found family, twists and turns. The stakes are higher and the slowest of burns that had me holding my breath.
Emma. She is such a badass FMC. I absolutely love her sarcasm and her ‘gives no shits’ attitude. Also the trauma that she goes through over and over and over again… She is so strong and I loved watching her open up and be vulnerable in this. Especially with Caden.
Ohhh and Caden. I love him so much. The way he is so incredibly down bad for Emma, even after shit she keeps putting him through. He is the definition of ‘touch her & die’…literally. The way he would watch the world burn for her! Also his banter with her. The tension between them?? Holy shit!! Literally had me holding my breath. This is the slowest and most satisfying of burns.
James, I still kinda hate you. You did some good things here but I’m still waiting on your redemption arc.
The found family in this is everything!! I love all of these characters so much! The plot in this was crazy. The twists that had my jaw on the floor. The stakes, the action. This kept me fully engaged and wanting to read just one more chapter.
That ending however??? I am NOT ok! Literally.
Will need book 4 asap!
‧₊˚✧𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽✧˚₊‧
➳❥ Book 3/ Romantasy Series
➳❥ Badass FMC
➳❥ Obsessed MMC
➳❥ Tension & Banter
➳❥ Found Family
➳❥ Magical War
➳❥ Twists
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝓕𝓪𝓿 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽t𝓮𝓼
“Every nerve burned, every muscle locked with the violent need to destroy whoever had put her in this state, until every last person responsible was rotting so deep the earth itself choked on them.”
“His eyes raked across every hidden part of me, and still, I couldn't look away. It was ruin and worship at once.”
“Let me be very clear about this, because I don’t do the fucking miscommunication trope. I'm not just attracted to you. I'm fucking obsessed with you-your body, your mind, your godsdamn soul. And if you'd let me, I'd worship every inch of all three, every damn day, for the rest of our fucking lives."
“The math was lethal but simple: her over every other fucking soul. Always.”
"You didn't ruin me. You rewrote me."
June 22, 2026
Okay this review is long overdue but it took me some time to try & figure out what to say so here it is. Sorcha you plot twisting whore who also makes me think I’m bipolar with how my emotions go on a freaking roller coaster! This is a mothaflappin masterpiece you have written. Now don’t get me wrong book 1 & 2 were phenomenal but you leveled up on this one. You’ve been holding back on us, you sly mothaflappin goddess! This book was amazing and is exactly why this continues to be my Roman Empire series! Wow, just wow, this book had me staring at the wall when I finished it and the next day too.
We pick up right where we left off from silver tiers. But holy hell is that a way to start the book. This book dives deeper into every layer of magic, emotion and character development. And you get this from not just our main characters but from all of them! I love this because I feel like it brings more depth to the story in whole. The plot kept plotting in this one but once you think you’ve figured out where it was going, haha Sorcha said that’s a funny joke & doesn’t even turn left this chick went to outer space. She kept me on my toes the entire time!
I was flabbergasted at some of the things that were uncovered but the secrets & lies that were also involved, I’m shooketh. You know I’m an Emma girl cuz she reminds me of me and man did I heal some parts of me through her with this one. But Emma is that chick and that’s why we love her sarcastic ass! Also heyyy daddy Caden! That’s all I’m gonna say about that!
I also love that we get introduced into new and old characters in this one again. But that ending Sorcha! Really? I swear you really love to torture us because you can’t have me crying at the end of a book with book 4 nowhere in sight. How dare you! But you’ve heard me say this before and I’ll say it again, this series is CRIMINALLY UNDERHYPED! And if you haven’t read it yet you absolutely need to!!
Oh I also need my starfish novella! Okay thank you! We deserve that for the emotions you put us through with this one! 🤣
We pick up right where we left off from silver tiers. But holy hell is that a way to start the book. This book dives deeper into every layer of magic, emotion and character development. And you get this from not just our main characters but from all of them! I love this because I feel like it brings more depth to the story in whole. The plot kept plotting in this one but once you think you’ve figured out where it was going, haha Sorcha said that’s a funny joke & doesn’t even turn left this chick went to outer space. She kept me on my toes the entire time!
I was flabbergasted at some of the things that were uncovered but the secrets & lies that were also involved, I’m shooketh. You know I’m an Emma girl cuz she reminds me of me and man did I heal some parts of me through her with this one. But Emma is that chick and that’s why we love her sarcastic ass! Also heyyy daddy Caden! That’s all I’m gonna say about that!
I also love that we get introduced into new and old characters in this one again. But that ending Sorcha! Really? I swear you really love to torture us because you can’t have me crying at the end of a book with book 4 nowhere in sight. How dare you! But you’ve heard me say this before and I’ll say it again, this series is CRIMINALLY UNDERHYPED! And if you haven’t read it yet you absolutely need to!!
Oh I also need my starfish novella! Okay thank you! We deserve that for the emotions you put us through with this one! 🤣
June 7, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.9/5
Reading the opening dedication and how special it was, I knew this book was going to be good.
“Nightcrawler…” (me absolutely swooning).
Now this is what I call a jam packed romantasy.
This is the third book in the Sapere series and, despite not having read the first two books beforehand, I never felt completely lost. Sorcha does a fantastic job weaving in subtle reminders of previous events without slowing the story down, which made it easy to jump straight into the action.
And what action it is.
This book had me constantly wondering what was going to happen next. Every time I thought I had figured something out, the story took another turn. There are politics, secrets, magic, betrayals, grief, fury, and enough tension to keep you glued to the page.
Emma is exactly the kind of FMC I love reading about. Powerful, stubborn, complicated, and absolutely capable of causing chaos when necessary.
Then there is Caden.
Of course I was going to be Team Caden. Broody? Arrogant? Morally grey? Say less.
Throw a love triangle into the mix and things get even more complicated.
Ooof… and the spice 🔥😬
How can you not love a guy who literally worships the ground you walk on?
I loved all the characters, they all brought something to the table.
The banter between the characters was brilliant, the multiple POVs added so much depth, and the worldbuilding felt rich without becoming overwhelming. The magic system was fascinating and the emotional moments landed just as well as the action scenes.
What really stood out to me was how well Sorcha balanced everything. The humour, the grief, the romance, the character growth, and yes, the spice. Nothing felt wasted and I never found myself bored.
And that ending?! Arghh! Absolutely torturous.
I need book four immediately.
Thank you to IRIS Influencer Society and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Reading the opening dedication and how special it was, I knew this book was going to be good.
“Nightcrawler…” (me absolutely swooning).
Now this is what I call a jam packed romantasy.
This is the third book in the Sapere series and, despite not having read the first two books beforehand, I never felt completely lost. Sorcha does a fantastic job weaving in subtle reminders of previous events without slowing the story down, which made it easy to jump straight into the action.
And what action it is.
This book had me constantly wondering what was going to happen next. Every time I thought I had figured something out, the story took another turn. There are politics, secrets, magic, betrayals, grief, fury, and enough tension to keep you glued to the page.
Emma is exactly the kind of FMC I love reading about. Powerful, stubborn, complicated, and absolutely capable of causing chaos when necessary.
Then there is Caden.
Of course I was going to be Team Caden. Broody? Arrogant? Morally grey? Say less.
Throw a love triangle into the mix and things get even more complicated.
Ooof… and the spice 🔥😬
How can you not love a guy who literally worships the ground you walk on?
I loved all the characters, they all brought something to the table.
The banter between the characters was brilliant, the multiple POVs added so much depth, and the worldbuilding felt rich without becoming overwhelming. The magic system was fascinating and the emotional moments landed just as well as the action scenes.
What really stood out to me was how well Sorcha balanced everything. The humour, the grief, the romance, the character growth, and yes, the spice. Nothing felt wasted and I never found myself bored.
And that ending?! Arghh! Absolutely torturous.
I need book four immediately.
Thank you to IRIS Influencer Society and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 10, 2026
Wow. Too many thoughts.
Sorcha did it again. Making me speechless.
So many things are revealed. None of them I expected.
I have no clue what is going to happen next. I’m not ready.
I recommend to people who want to have their heart broken, healed, then broken again. Multiple times.
-magic users
-war
-yearning
-death
-steamy
Sorcha did it again. Making me speechless.
So many things are revealed. None of them I expected.
I have no clue what is going to happen next. I’m not ready.
I recommend to people who want to have their heart broken, healed, then broken again. Multiple times.
-magic users
-war
-yearning
-death
-steamy
April 24, 2026
“Clearly the appropriate response to nearly dying is immediately running toward the next life threatening situation.”
And the next. And the next. Without question. Fighting for a future that feels inevitable. Fighting against your heart. Fighting against yourself and everything you thought you had figured out.
A full scale war is blooming. To secure a future that is no more set in stone than sands drifting on a beach. A future some want to twist to their own advantage in the name of power and obedience.
Emotions and tensions are so high in this book. And no matter which way you turn, you will be questioning someones motives or loyalty.
I was granted early access to this and now I’m on pins and needles.
And the next. And the next. Without question. Fighting for a future that feels inevitable. Fighting against your heart. Fighting against yourself and everything you thought you had figured out.
A full scale war is blooming. To secure a future that is no more set in stone than sands drifting on a beach. A future some want to twist to their own advantage in the name of power and obedience.
Emotions and tensions are so high in this book. And no matter which way you turn, you will be questioning someones motives or loyalty.
I was granted early access to this and now I’m on pins and needles.
June 5, 2026
"I'm not your friend, Emma. Friends don't look at each other like they're one second away from dragging each other to the floor and f-cking the air out of their lungs."
The secret is out. The magi are no longer hiding and the world is fracturing fast. Emma Thompson is powerful, hunted, and carrying more grief than one person should ever have to hold. And in the middle of a rising war, with alliances shattering and sides being chosen — there's Caden Colt. Dangerous. Forbidden. Looking at her like that.
She's supposed to be focused on survival. On the bond she needs. On the war she might ignite. Not on him. Definitely not on him.
But Caden has never been great at following rules.
"I'm going to ruin you...the way you ruined me."
Book Rating: 5/5
Steam/Spice: 3/5
Tropes:
- dark romantasy
- slow burn with delicious tension
- forbidden love
- witty banter & dark humor
- emotional damage
- grief, loss & devastation
- found family
- rising war & high stakes
- magic
- twists that will END you
"Thompson." His voice went flat and dangerous. "You have exactly three seconds to undress, or I swear I'll rip those clothes off myself."
Final Thoughts: I read this as an ARC and I am still not okay. Sorcha Reagh does not let Emma or the reader breathe for a single second of this book. The grief in this one hit HARD. My girl goes through it and then some. But the slow burn between her and Caden? The tension? The banter? The way he looks at her like she's the most dangerous and most wanted thing in the room at the same time? I was FERAL. And then that ending. THAT ENDING. I stared at a wall for ten minutes. Book 4 cannot come fast enough. If you're not reading the Sapere series you are genuinely missing out. 🖤🩸
The secret is out. The magi are no longer hiding and the world is fracturing fast. Emma Thompson is powerful, hunted, and carrying more grief than one person should ever have to hold. And in the middle of a rising war, with alliances shattering and sides being chosen — there's Caden Colt. Dangerous. Forbidden. Looking at her like that.
She's supposed to be focused on survival. On the bond she needs. On the war she might ignite. Not on him. Definitely not on him.
But Caden has never been great at following rules.
"I'm going to ruin you...the way you ruined me."
Book Rating: 5/5
Steam/Spice: 3/5
Tropes:
- dark romantasy
- slow burn with delicious tension
- forbidden love
- witty banter & dark humor
- emotional damage
- grief, loss & devastation
- found family
- rising war & high stakes
- magic
- twists that will END you
"Thompson." His voice went flat and dangerous. "You have exactly three seconds to undress, or I swear I'll rip those clothes off myself."
Final Thoughts: I read this as an ARC and I am still not okay. Sorcha Reagh does not let Emma or the reader breathe for a single second of this book. The grief in this one hit HARD. My girl goes through it and then some. But the slow burn between her and Caden? The tension? The banter? The way he looks at her like she's the most dangerous and most wanted thing in the room at the same time? I was FERAL. And then that ending. THAT ENDING. I stared at a wall for ten minutes. Book 4 cannot come fast enough. If you're not reading the Sapere series you are genuinely missing out. 🖤🩸
May 1, 2026
Miss Sorcha Reagh… girl… we need to TALK because WHAT WAS THAT ENDING???!!!! My jaw was literally on the floor like EXCUSE ME??? 😧
Okay okay, I have so many thoughts. I LOVED this book. I will say it’s definitely heavier on the plot this time and the romance takes a bit of a back seat, but honestly… I didn’t even mind. The storyline was doing the most in the best way.
Emma… babe… I was going THROUGH it with her. The amount of trauma this girl has been through and is still dealing with?? It’s a lot. And then this book said “let’s add more” 😭 like she is literally a magnet for chaos. I felt so bad for her, but at the same time… the way she had Caden stressing??? Girl PLEASE. Because in what world are we even thinking about walking away from that man???
And Caden… MY BOY. Oh my god I love him. I love him so much it’s actually a problem. He is so painfully down bad for Emma and she just keeps putting him through it. And look, I understand why… but also that’s my man so I’m taking it personally 😭 but that ENDING??? WHAT THE HELL. HOW are they coming back from that??? I genuinely need answers immediately.
And yeah okay, I’ll mention James… he’s not my fave, I won’t lie. I do like that there’s a potential love interest there because it softens things a bit, but let’s not forget the way he treated Emma because I’m still side eyeing him hard.
I have SO many questions and I know (I hope) they’ll get answered in book four but now I’m just sitting here like… cool… guess I’ll suffer while I wait 🙃
Okay okay, I have so many thoughts. I LOVED this book. I will say it’s definitely heavier on the plot this time and the romance takes a bit of a back seat, but honestly… I didn’t even mind. The storyline was doing the most in the best way.
Emma… babe… I was going THROUGH it with her. The amount of trauma this girl has been through and is still dealing with?? It’s a lot. And then this book said “let’s add more” 😭 like she is literally a magnet for chaos. I felt so bad for her, but at the same time… the way she had Caden stressing??? Girl PLEASE. Because in what world are we even thinking about walking away from that man???
And Caden… MY BOY. Oh my god I love him. I love him so much it’s actually a problem. He is so painfully down bad for Emma and she just keeps putting him through it. And look, I understand why… but also that’s my man so I’m taking it personally 😭 but that ENDING??? WHAT THE HELL. HOW are they coming back from that??? I genuinely need answers immediately.
And yeah okay, I’ll mention James… he’s not my fave, I won’t lie. I do like that there’s a potential love interest there because it softens things a bit, but let’s not forget the way he treated Emma because I’m still side eyeing him hard.
I have SO many questions and I know (I hope) they’ll get answered in book four but now I’m just sitting here like… cool… guess I’ll suffer while I wait 🙃
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2026
A Story That Keeps You Guessing
I absolutely loved Scarlet Wars.
This is one of those books that keeps you second-guessing everything you think you know. Every revelation uncovers another secret, every answer raises new questions, and I found myself constantly trying to piece together the truth. The plot is intricate, with past and present, lies and loyalties all woven together in a way that kept me completely invested.
I especially appreciated how much of the bigger picture began to unfold while still leaving enough mystery to keep me eagerly anticipating what comes next. There were moments where I genuinely didn't want to turn the page because I was afraid of what might happen. That level of emotional investment doesn't come along often.
And amidst all the twists, betrayals, and high stakes, this book is undeniably hot. The romance and chemistry add another layer of tension to an already gripping story without overshadowing the larger plot.
There are still a few questions I'm turning over in my mind, and I suspect this is a series that will reward a reread because of all the details hidden throughout the journey.
If you've been following the series, Scarlet Wars delivers emotional highs, shocking revelations, plenty of spice, and an ending that will leave you desperate for the next book.
I can't wait to see where this story goes next.
I absolutely loved Scarlet Wars.
This is one of those books that keeps you second-guessing everything you think you know. Every revelation uncovers another secret, every answer raises new questions, and I found myself constantly trying to piece together the truth. The plot is intricate, with past and present, lies and loyalties all woven together in a way that kept me completely invested.
I especially appreciated how much of the bigger picture began to unfold while still leaving enough mystery to keep me eagerly anticipating what comes next. There were moments where I genuinely didn't want to turn the page because I was afraid of what might happen. That level of emotional investment doesn't come along often.
And amidst all the twists, betrayals, and high stakes, this book is undeniably hot. The romance and chemistry add another layer of tension to an already gripping story without overshadowing the larger plot.
There are still a few questions I'm turning over in my mind, and I suspect this is a series that will reward a reread because of all the details hidden throughout the journey.
If you've been following the series, Scarlet Wars delivers emotional highs, shocking revelations, plenty of spice, and an ending that will leave you desperate for the next book.
I can't wait to see where this story goes next.
June 19, 2026
Forbidden love + forced proximity + feminine rage + "touch her and lose some limbs" energy?? Scarlet Wars by Sorcha Reagh absolutely wrecked me.
Emma has been through so much throughout this series, and watching her finally embrace her power, her anger, and her strength was one of my favorite parts of this book. The grief, trauma, and impossible choices she faces hit hard, making every victory and every loss feel that much more emotional.
The tension between Emma and Caden was EVERYTHING. After all the slow burn, yearning, and emotional push-and-pull, every interaction felt loaded with meaning. Add in the forbidden love, forced proximity, political intrigue, betrayals, war on the horizon, and enough twists to keep me questioning everything, and I couldn't put this book down.
This installment feels darker, bigger, and more emotional than the previous books. The stakes are higher, the consequences are brutal, and that ending left me staring at my Kindle wondering what just happened.
If you love powerful FMCs, protective MMCs, forbidden romance, found family, emotional damage, high-stakes fantasy, and characters willing to burn the world down for the people they love, Scarlet Wars deserves a spot on your TBR.
✨ Late to posting my review since it released June 5, but trust me this one was worth the wait.
Emma has been through so much throughout this series, and watching her finally embrace her power, her anger, and her strength was one of my favorite parts of this book. The grief, trauma, and impossible choices she faces hit hard, making every victory and every loss feel that much more emotional.
The tension between Emma and Caden was EVERYTHING. After all the slow burn, yearning, and emotional push-and-pull, every interaction felt loaded with meaning. Add in the forbidden love, forced proximity, political intrigue, betrayals, war on the horizon, and enough twists to keep me questioning everything, and I couldn't put this book down.
This installment feels darker, bigger, and more emotional than the previous books. The stakes are higher, the consequences are brutal, and that ending left me staring at my Kindle wondering what just happened.
If you love powerful FMCs, protective MMCs, forbidden romance, found family, emotional damage, high-stakes fantasy, and characters willing to burn the world down for the people they love, Scarlet Wars deserves a spot on your TBR.
✨ Late to posting my review since it released June 5, but trust me this one was worth the wait.
May 16, 2026
I knew I would be left in shambles. I just didn’t care.
“You didn’t ruin me, you rewrote me” by the all mighty Caden. I love him so much, he is down bad bad bad and is just so casual about it. The way he will do anything for Emma makes me want to rip my heart out.
Emma, now we know she is a bad ass bitch. She is a little stupid sometimes with her emotions (aren’t we all tho?) and she can’t decide what do to and just wants everyone to be happy.
James; ugh I still kinda hate you tho. But we will see how you can redeem yourself.
The story picked you up, tossed you around and around until it was like “see ya later” at the end and just left you with a “wtf” look.
So many twists and turns happen in this book and I was yelling so much.
Gimme book four now. Thx
“You didn’t ruin me, you rewrote me” by the all mighty Caden. I love him so much, he is down bad bad bad and is just so casual about it. The way he will do anything for Emma makes me want to rip my heart out.
Emma, now we know she is a bad ass bitch. She is a little stupid sometimes with her emotions (aren’t we all tho?) and she can’t decide what do to and just wants everyone to be happy.
James; ugh I still kinda hate you tho. But we will see how you can redeem yourself.
The story picked you up, tossed you around and around until it was like “see ya later” at the end and just left you with a “wtf” look.
So many twists and turns happen in this book and I was yelling so much.
Gimme book four now. Thx
June 6, 2026
My review? Let's see......
Think scorched Earth, hell hath no fury, wars, magic, world building, and a slow burn that becomes so wicked you need aloe while reading. I screamed, I cried (sobbed in fact), I laughed, and I got angry. This book makes you feel so many emotions, and that in itself is half of the fun. We pick up where we left off in book 2 and the hits just keep coming. But Emma, oh amazing Emma, keeps getting up. Mission after mission, we see more unfold. Who stands with who? Think you know the answer? Nah, here is another twist to keep you on your toes. Read your warnings, and if you're like me, shop that list (and giggle at some definitions). 10/5 recommend, I've read it 4 times already. Go read this series, and message me with your reactions!
Think scorched Earth, hell hath no fury, wars, magic, world building, and a slow burn that becomes so wicked you need aloe while reading. I screamed, I cried (sobbed in fact), I laughed, and I got angry. This book makes you feel so many emotions, and that in itself is half of the fun. We pick up where we left off in book 2 and the hits just keep coming. But Emma, oh amazing Emma, keeps getting up. Mission after mission, we see more unfold. Who stands with who? Think you know the answer? Nah, here is another twist to keep you on your toes. Read your warnings, and if you're like me, shop that list (and giggle at some definitions). 10/5 recommend, I've read it 4 times already. Go read this series, and message me with your reactions!
June 5, 2026
Hello, people!
First of all, let me mention that this book is the third book in the Sapere series.
This is a stormy novel that makes you stick with it. The plot is strong and has suspense, twists, tension and adventure and the characters are well written.
The author's writing is captivating, exciting, enjoyable and fast.
Many thanks to the author and Iris PR for the eARC!
This is my honest review!
First of all, let me mention that this book is the third book in the Sapere series.
This is a stormy novel that makes you stick with it. The plot is strong and has suspense, twists, tension and adventure and the characters are well written.
The author's writing is captivating, exciting, enjoyable and fast.
Many thanks to the author and Iris PR for the eARC!
This is my honest review!
July 12, 2026
If you’re looking for an underrated series that will give you emotional damage in all the best ways, I highly recommend this series. Sorcha delivers in the best way and the ending is unexpected! Get this one on your radar!
Thank you to Iris Influencer Society for providing me a free copy. Without you, I may not have discovered a new favorite author!
Thank you to Iris Influencer Society for providing me a free copy. Without you, I may not have discovered a new favorite author!
July 20, 2026
I thought this book was really good, but I felt like I was missing some stuff since I’d don’t read the first 2. I will definitely have to go back and read those and reread this. Thank you Iris Influencer Society for an e-ARC!
June 20, 2026
I don't even know what to say... What an ending! The rollercoaster of emotions I just went through ... 🤯
June 7, 2026
Scarlet Wars is a gripping continuation of the Sapere Series, filled with grief, power, and impossible choices.
Watching Emma navigate everything she’s lost all while being hunted makes this story all consuming. It’s impossible to put down!! 🤯
And the romance? Slow burning and full of that
“choose love or burn the world” energy. 🥵🔥❤️🔥
Scarlet Wars delivers rising war, forbidden love, and emotional intensity that doesn’t hold back. With the Magi world exposed and alliances falling apart, the stakes are bigger, darker, and more dangerous than ever. 🫣🗡️🩸
A big thank you to Sorcha Reagh and IRIS influencer PR for this incredible eARC and being a member of the ARC team 🫶🏻🖤
Watching Emma navigate everything she’s lost all while being hunted makes this story all consuming. It’s impossible to put down!! 🤯
And the romance? Slow burning and full of that
“choose love or burn the world” energy. 🥵🔥❤️🔥
Scarlet Wars delivers rising war, forbidden love, and emotional intensity that doesn’t hold back. With the Magi world exposed and alliances falling apart, the stakes are bigger, darker, and more dangerous than ever. 🫣🗡️🩸
A big thank you to Sorcha Reagh and IRIS influencer PR for this incredible eARC and being a member of the ARC team 🫶🏻🖤
June 19, 2026
The secrets and twists almost had me throwing my Kindle!!!!
The nonstop action and what the motherflaping is going to happen next is amazing!!
I lost count of the number of times I said just a couple more pages. This is my favorite book of the series (so far)!!!
More to come after I have had time to process (and possible reread)!
The nonstop action and what the motherflaping is going to happen next is amazing!!
I lost count of the number of times I said just a couple more pages. This is my favorite book of the series (so far)!!!
More to come after I have had time to process (and possible reread)!
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ actually, my whole ❤️ I'M SO IN LOVE WITH THIS SERIES. THIS IS MY FAVORITE BOOK OF THE YEAR. MY FAVORITE FMC EVER. MY FAVORITE COUPLE EVER.
✨ If you like these tropes... ✨
🤝 Found Family
🖤 Badass FMC who saves herself
🌶️ High Spice
👊 Who Did This To You?
🩶 Morally Grey MCs
🔒 Forbidden Love
💔 Emotional Devastation
❤️🔥 Slow Burn (with an inferno payoff)
❤️🩹 Trauma Rep
🔥 Obsessive MMC who worships the FMC
⚔️ Female Rage
❤️🔥 I don't even know how to explain what this book did to me except to say: Sorcha Reagh has a serious motherflappin' sense of humor, because the way she chewed me up, spit me out, taped me back together, and then sliced me open again? Criminal. Beautiful. Addictive. I highlighted half the book like a woman possessed. Literally way back from the LAST book Sorcha has you burning with need for the MMC—and the payoff is 𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈. I mean that in every sense. The tension, the devotion, the slow-burn-turned-inferno... I was feral.
✨ The Characters (aka my emotional support disasters)
The characters in this series are hilarious, and messy, and almost painfully realistic. The found family trope is one of my favorites, and this series delivers it with so much heart. I love that the family Emma finds isn't perfect—they're flawed, stubborn, chaotic, and deeply loyal. It makes their relationship, their love, feel earned. It makes their forgiveness feel understandable. It makes their support something you 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 in your chest. Sean calling her "my sister" in Irish? I melted into a little sentimental puddle. Jackson being bonded to another one of her best friends? Inject it into my freaking veins. Being surrounded by badass, capable, scary women? *𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉* 𝑹𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒍 not to mention 𝑬𝒎𝒎𝒂 𝑴𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒍𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏' 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒔𝒐𝒏 like she could burn the whole world down and never do any wrong in my eyes. Actually, let's talk about her.
❤️🔥 Emma (my Roman Empire)
Emma is the funniest FMC I've ever encountered. She is a menace. A delight. A badass bitch who refuses to be saved unless she is the one doing the saving, or unconscious. 😂 Even in the worst situations, her inner dialogue is sarcasm and dark humor, just completely iconic. She's 𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒍, brilliant, stubborn, and so deeply human, but at the same time so deeply magic. She's the kind of heroine who makes you want to stand up straighter, sass off at people, take no sh*t, and never settle for relationships that make you feel small, or less of who you are. She's also the first FMC in a long time who made me say, out loud, "Baby girl, YOU ARE NOT THE PROBLEM. I think. TBD." 😜
✨ The MMC (the love of my life, respectfully of course, possibly will never love another)
I don't think I've ever truly loved a MMC like this. He is 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒚, protective in the sexiest way, completely infatuated with Emma, and so in tune with her it made my heart hurt. He never tries to make her small! He never tries to hold her back. He is in awe of her—her power, her mind, her heart, her ruthlessness, her body-ody-ody-ody. 😍 He never leaves her behind to keep her safe, he walks straight into the fire 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 her because he knows she's the strongest person in the world. And the jealousy scenes? The "who did this to you?" and then refusing to be stopped, 𝒏𝒐 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒐𝒓 style, because how dare you touch my queen? Gold. Give. Me. More. Also: remember when Emma joked he probably had a small one in the previous book? Look at her now.
❤️🔥 The Emotional Damage (Sorcha, I love you but also 𝒇𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒎𝒆)
This book WRECKED me. I have never wanted a sequel so badly. I was crying, laughing, screaming, highlighting, whispering "no no no my heart," just feelings all of the feels imaginable.
The twists? Heartbreaking.
The turns? Devastating.
The cliffhanger? Sorcha, you meanieee.
The ending? I was up at 3am 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒊𝒕. I love you Sorcha but also... you know what you did.
No book has ever made me feel quite like this one. It's devastating and healing and perfect. If I could marry a book, it would be this one. I haven't even finished processing it yet, but it's already my favorite of the series—and truthfully, my favorite book all year. Maybe of all time. At least until Sorcha writes another one. 😉 I need book four 𝒊𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚. I need two idiots to find their way back to each other. I need answers. I need closure. 𝑰 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒚. Sorcha Reagh is an autobuy author for me, from here on out. And I carry no shame for messaging her all hours of the day because HOW could you shatter my heart, glue it back together, then stomp on it again? You beautiful soul. 𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑬. All hail the literary edging queen 🙌
*𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑢𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑟 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑛 𝐴𝑑𝑣𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝐶𝑜𝑝𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑦 𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞.
✨ If you like these tropes... ✨
🤝 Found Family
🖤 Badass FMC who saves herself
🌶️ High Spice
👊 Who Did This To You?
🩶 Morally Grey MCs
🔒 Forbidden Love
💔 Emotional Devastation
❤️🔥 Slow Burn (with an inferno payoff)
❤️🩹 Trauma Rep
🔥 Obsessive MMC who worships the FMC
⚔️ Female Rage
❤️🔥 I don't even know how to explain what this book did to me except to say: Sorcha Reagh has a serious motherflappin' sense of humor, because the way she chewed me up, spit me out, taped me back together, and then sliced me open again? Criminal. Beautiful. Addictive. I highlighted half the book like a woman possessed. Literally way back from the LAST book Sorcha has you burning with need for the MMC—and the payoff is 𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈. I mean that in every sense. The tension, the devotion, the slow-burn-turned-inferno... I was feral.
✨ The Characters (aka my emotional support disasters)
The characters in this series are hilarious, and messy, and almost painfully realistic. The found family trope is one of my favorites, and this series delivers it with so much heart. I love that the family Emma finds isn't perfect—they're flawed, stubborn, chaotic, and deeply loyal. It makes their relationship, their love, feel earned. It makes their forgiveness feel understandable. It makes their support something you 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 in your chest. Sean calling her "my sister" in Irish? I melted into a little sentimental puddle. Jackson being bonded to another one of her best friends? Inject it into my freaking veins. Being surrounded by badass, capable, scary women? *𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉* 𝑹𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒍 not to mention 𝑬𝒎𝒎𝒂 𝑴𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒍𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏' 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒔𝒐𝒏 like she could burn the whole world down and never do any wrong in my eyes. Actually, let's talk about her.
❤️🔥 Emma (my Roman Empire)
Emma is the funniest FMC I've ever encountered. She is a menace. A delight. A badass bitch who refuses to be saved unless she is the one doing the saving, or unconscious. 😂 Even in the worst situations, her inner dialogue is sarcasm and dark humor, just completely iconic. She's 𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒍, brilliant, stubborn, and so deeply human, but at the same time so deeply magic. She's the kind of heroine who makes you want to stand up straighter, sass off at people, take no sh*t, and never settle for relationships that make you feel small, or less of who you are. She's also the first FMC in a long time who made me say, out loud, "Baby girl, YOU ARE NOT THE PROBLEM. I think. TBD." 😜
✨ The MMC (the love of my life, respectfully of course, possibly will never love another)
I don't think I've ever truly loved a MMC like this. He is 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒚, protective in the sexiest way, completely infatuated with Emma, and so in tune with her it made my heart hurt. He never tries to make her small! He never tries to hold her back. He is in awe of her—her power, her mind, her heart, her ruthlessness, her body-ody-ody-ody. 😍 He never leaves her behind to keep her safe, he walks straight into the fire 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 her because he knows she's the strongest person in the world. And the jealousy scenes? The "who did this to you?" and then refusing to be stopped, 𝒏𝒐 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒐𝒓 style, because how dare you touch my queen? Gold. Give. Me. More. Also: remember when Emma joked he probably had a small one in the previous book? Look at her now.
❤️🔥 The Emotional Damage (Sorcha, I love you but also 𝒇𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒎𝒆)
This book WRECKED me. I have never wanted a sequel so badly. I was crying, laughing, screaming, highlighting, whispering "no no no my heart," just feelings all of the feels imaginable.
The twists? Heartbreaking.
The turns? Devastating.
The cliffhanger? Sorcha, you meanieee.
The ending? I was up at 3am 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒊𝒕. I love you Sorcha but also... you know what you did.
No book has ever made me feel quite like this one. It's devastating and healing and perfect. If I could marry a book, it would be this one. I haven't even finished processing it yet, but it's already my favorite of the series—and truthfully, my favorite book all year. Maybe of all time. At least until Sorcha writes another one. 😉 I need book four 𝒊𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚. I need two idiots to find their way back to each other. I need answers. I need closure. 𝑰 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒚. Sorcha Reagh is an autobuy author for me, from here on out. And I carry no shame for messaging her all hours of the day because HOW could you shatter my heart, glue it back together, then stomp on it again? You beautiful soul. 𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑬. All hail the literary edging queen 🙌
*𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑢𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑟 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑛 𝐴𝑑𝑣𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝐶𝑜𝑝𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑦 𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Well… mic freaking DROP because HOW does Sorcha continuously do this to me? At this point, her writing isn’t just addictive, it’s full-scale emotional sabotage, and I keep crawling back for more. This third installment? Absolutely phenomenal. Here’s your constellation-of-stars my friend.
What Sorcha does so brilliantly is understand that stories are not just built on romance or plot twists or tension (though these HIT) they’re built on people. On becoming. On breaking apart and painfully rebuilding yourself into someone stronger, softer, wiser. This series has always excelled at emotional growth, but here? It reaches another level entirely.
It’s about learning how to love without destroying yourself in the process. It’s about forgiveness that has to be fought for. Trust that doesn’t come easy. Communication that is messy, emotional, sometimes devastatingly late, but real. Every character feels unfinished in the most human way, carrying wounds that shape their choices for better or worse. Nobody exists in absolutes here, and that moral complexity made this book impossible to put down.
The flags? EVERYWHERE.
Green flags. Red flags. Grey flags so emotionally confusing you start questioning your own judgement. And honestly? That chaos is what made this story feel alive. Every conversation felt loaded. Every choice carried weight. Every reveal shifted the ground beneath the characters in ways that kept me desperately turning pages.
And wow, this book MOVES.
The pacing is sharper, faster, more relentless. War is looming, secrets are exposed, loyalties are constantly shifting, and there’s this underlying tension threaded through every chapter that keeps your pulse elevated. The action sequences were incredible, the world-building expanded beautifully, and the suspense had me genuinely anxious trying to figure out who could be trusted.
Emma… GOD, Emma.
What an unbelievably badass written female character. Her grief has not hollowed her out, it has forged her into steel. Not cold, not unreachable, but sharper. Stronger. More certain of herself. She still carries vulnerability in such an honest way, but there’s power in her now too. Watching her fight - physically and emotionally - was one of the most satisfying parts of this book. Some scenes genuinely had me wanting to stand up and cheer because she refuses to shrink herself for anyone anymore.
And then there’s Caden. Listen. Team Caden until my LAST BREATH.
Because this man? This man loves in the kind of way that rearranges you emotionally. Fierce but gentle. Devoted without possession. He never tries to dim Emma’s fire, he protects it, nurtures it, believes in it even when she struggles to herself. Every scene with him felt like emotional crack to me. I was devouring scraps, living off crumbs, absolutely unwell over every interaction.
Emma and Caden together? Actual delicious agony.
After the emotional starvation we endured at the end of Silver Tiers, this slow burn felt like finally being allowed water after wandering through a desert half-dead. The yearning between them is unbearable at times, not because it feels forced, but because it feels so deeply earned and quite frankly sizzled off the pages. Their relationship is built piece by piece through trust, vulnerability, restraint, pain, understanding. You can feel the roots growing beneath every interaction until suddenly their connection feels immovable. That kind of romance stays with you.
Now Coastal… I KNEW there was more beneath the surface there. Some reveals had me physically exhaling in relief, but one particular secret? Sorcha, respectfully, WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL. I genuinely had to sit, stare into space whilst trying to emotionally recover.
James… honestly, there were multiple moments where I truly didn’t know what side of himself would win, and that unpredictability added such tension to the story. My opinion of him absolutely suffered in Silver Tiers, but watching him wrestle with guilt, loyalty, and his own internal compass here made him far more compelling. You can feel him changing in real time. This series understands that redemption is complicated and that growth never feels cheap or unearned.
And James’ speech to Caden about Emma? THAT scene.
That felt like the emotional turning point. Like someone finally cutting through all the fear and noise and saying the truth out loud. It was acceptance. Clarity. Understanding. And somehow, in seeing Emma clearly himself, James helps Caden finally confront the depth of what he feels too.
Also… Caden and James working together? Obsessed.
The tension. The reluctant teamwork. The constant friction simmering underneath every interaction while respect slowly - painfully - starts to form anyway. It gave forced proximity with emotional consequences, and the banter between them was PERFECT. It balanced out the heavier emotional moments so naturally and made their dynamic ridiculously entertaining to read.
Which honestly brings me to one of Sorcha’s greatest strengths: the banter.
The banter in this series is not just comic relief - it’s emotional oxygen. It keeps the story breathing. It softens the devastation just enough before the next emotional blow lands. It builds chemistry, intimacy, friendship, tension.
Beneath the chaos, the war, the romance, the grief, and the yearning… this series understands people. Their flaws. Their contradictions. Their capacity to hurt each other and still choose love anyway.
That’s the kind of storytelling that stays with you long after the final page. Well, maybe the freaking bomb of a cliffhanger too…and now the agonising wait for book 4 begins!
What Sorcha does so brilliantly is understand that stories are not just built on romance or plot twists or tension (though these HIT) they’re built on people. On becoming. On breaking apart and painfully rebuilding yourself into someone stronger, softer, wiser. This series has always excelled at emotional growth, but here? It reaches another level entirely.
It’s about learning how to love without destroying yourself in the process. It’s about forgiveness that has to be fought for. Trust that doesn’t come easy. Communication that is messy, emotional, sometimes devastatingly late, but real. Every character feels unfinished in the most human way, carrying wounds that shape their choices for better or worse. Nobody exists in absolutes here, and that moral complexity made this book impossible to put down.
The flags? EVERYWHERE.
Green flags. Red flags. Grey flags so emotionally confusing you start questioning your own judgement. And honestly? That chaos is what made this story feel alive. Every conversation felt loaded. Every choice carried weight. Every reveal shifted the ground beneath the characters in ways that kept me desperately turning pages.
And wow, this book MOVES.
The pacing is sharper, faster, more relentless. War is looming, secrets are exposed, loyalties are constantly shifting, and there’s this underlying tension threaded through every chapter that keeps your pulse elevated. The action sequences were incredible, the world-building expanded beautifully, and the suspense had me genuinely anxious trying to figure out who could be trusted.
Emma… GOD, Emma.
What an unbelievably badass written female character. Her grief has not hollowed her out, it has forged her into steel. Not cold, not unreachable, but sharper. Stronger. More certain of herself. She still carries vulnerability in such an honest way, but there’s power in her now too. Watching her fight - physically and emotionally - was one of the most satisfying parts of this book. Some scenes genuinely had me wanting to stand up and cheer because she refuses to shrink herself for anyone anymore.
And then there’s Caden. Listen. Team Caden until my LAST BREATH.
Because this man? This man loves in the kind of way that rearranges you emotionally. Fierce but gentle. Devoted without possession. He never tries to dim Emma’s fire, he protects it, nurtures it, believes in it even when she struggles to herself. Every scene with him felt like emotional crack to me. I was devouring scraps, living off crumbs, absolutely unwell over every interaction.
Emma and Caden together? Actual delicious agony.
After the emotional starvation we endured at the end of Silver Tiers, this slow burn felt like finally being allowed water after wandering through a desert half-dead. The yearning between them is unbearable at times, not because it feels forced, but because it feels so deeply earned and quite frankly sizzled off the pages. Their relationship is built piece by piece through trust, vulnerability, restraint, pain, understanding. You can feel the roots growing beneath every interaction until suddenly their connection feels immovable. That kind of romance stays with you.
Now Coastal… I KNEW there was more beneath the surface there. Some reveals had me physically exhaling in relief, but one particular secret? Sorcha, respectfully, WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL. I genuinely had to sit, stare into space whilst trying to emotionally recover.
James… honestly, there were multiple moments where I truly didn’t know what side of himself would win, and that unpredictability added such tension to the story. My opinion of him absolutely suffered in Silver Tiers, but watching him wrestle with guilt, loyalty, and his own internal compass here made him far more compelling. You can feel him changing in real time. This series understands that redemption is complicated and that growth never feels cheap or unearned.
And James’ speech to Caden about Emma? THAT scene.
That felt like the emotional turning point. Like someone finally cutting through all the fear and noise and saying the truth out loud. It was acceptance. Clarity. Understanding. And somehow, in seeing Emma clearly himself, James helps Caden finally confront the depth of what he feels too.
Also… Caden and James working together? Obsessed.
The tension. The reluctant teamwork. The constant friction simmering underneath every interaction while respect slowly - painfully - starts to form anyway. It gave forced proximity with emotional consequences, and the banter between them was PERFECT. It balanced out the heavier emotional moments so naturally and made their dynamic ridiculously entertaining to read.
Which honestly brings me to one of Sorcha’s greatest strengths: the banter.
The banter in this series is not just comic relief - it’s emotional oxygen. It keeps the story breathing. It softens the devastation just enough before the next emotional blow lands. It builds chemistry, intimacy, friendship, tension.
Beneath the chaos, the war, the romance, the grief, and the yearning… this series understands people. Their flaws. Their contradictions. Their capacity to hurt each other and still choose love anyway.
That’s the kind of storytelling that stays with you long after the final page. Well, maybe the freaking bomb of a cliffhanger too…and now the agonising wait for book 4 begins!
Review of advance copy received from Author
6 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Scarlet Wars is the third book in the Sapere series, an urban romantasy with magic and political corruption at every turn. We follow Emma, a human-born magi who has to learn to control and manipulate her ever-growing powers while overcoming her grief. While all of this is happening, she is stuck in a love triangle with two powerful magi, James and Caden, and who she chooses will change everything.
This was such an emotional roller-coaster, I might have to call my therapist. The character development is otherworldly in the way that grief is explored in every stage, especially how it translates into rage, so when you have magical abilities that can kill, it gets interesting. The romance aspect of this one is so addictive too. I normally don't care for love triangles, but this is done in a way that I needed to keep going on to see who would be chosen. The two love interests are so similar, but vastly different which I really love. They both do horrible things, they betray, they lie, and they hurt a lot of people. But when it comes to Emma, they would burn the world for her if she needed to light a cigarette. I have a very obvious favourite (I spammed Sorcha about this, I have no regrets), because UGH he is genuinely one of my favourite fictional characters I have ever come across, and you'll understand when you read it. Alsoooo, this is the spiciest book in the series so far, and goddamn they're good! The plot development was CRAZY. Every few chapters, something new got brought in to flip everything around at neck-breaking speeds. I kept trying to guess where things would go, and I could never quite get it right, the twists were so much better than what I thought of. The political element of this one is intense, I could not turn away from it. Everyone is morally grey, everyone has a goal, and everyone will do anything to get what they want - casualties don't matter here. Emma's characterization is the perfect example of a realistic FMC to me. She is badass, protective over the ones she loves, is always trying be better, uses sarcasm as a coping mechanism, and shuts herself out to grieve. She is so realistic, you can relate to her in most ways (maybe except for the fact that she's a powerful magi, but we can dream!). I really do recommend this series to everyone that loves a good romance, who wants to imagine a world with magic and corrupt governments (yes we have them here, but they're worse in the book), or just want to have a really fun time!
Thank you Sorcha for letting me read an ARC of Scarlet Wars, I've been lucky enough to be on the street team since before Cerulean Truth (book one) was released, and I'm so happy to still be here
Scarlet Wars is the third book in the Sapere series, an urban romantasy with magic and political corruption at every turn. We follow Emma, a human-born magi who has to learn to control and manipulate her ever-growing powers while overcoming her grief. While all of this is happening, she is stuck in a love triangle with two powerful magi, James and Caden, and who she chooses will change everything.
This was such an emotional roller-coaster, I might have to call my therapist. The character development is otherworldly in the way that grief is explored in every stage, especially how it translates into rage, so when you have magical abilities that can kill, it gets interesting. The romance aspect of this one is so addictive too. I normally don't care for love triangles, but this is done in a way that I needed to keep going on to see who would be chosen. The two love interests are so similar, but vastly different which I really love. They both do horrible things, they betray, they lie, and they hurt a lot of people. But when it comes to Emma, they would burn the world for her if she needed to light a cigarette. I have a very obvious favourite (I spammed Sorcha about this, I have no regrets), because UGH he is genuinely one of my favourite fictional characters I have ever come across, and you'll understand when you read it. Alsoooo, this is the spiciest book in the series so far, and goddamn they're good! The plot development was CRAZY. Every few chapters, something new got brought in to flip everything around at neck-breaking speeds. I kept trying to guess where things would go, and I could never quite get it right, the twists were so much better than what I thought of. The political element of this one is intense, I could not turn away from it. Everyone is morally grey, everyone has a goal, and everyone will do anything to get what they want - casualties don't matter here. Emma's characterization is the perfect example of a realistic FMC to me. She is badass, protective over the ones she loves, is always trying be better, uses sarcasm as a coping mechanism, and shuts herself out to grieve. She is so realistic, you can relate to her in most ways (maybe except for the fact that she's a powerful magi, but we can dream!). I really do recommend this series to everyone that loves a good romance, who wants to imagine a world with magic and corrupt governments (yes we have them here, but they're worse in the book), or just want to have a really fun time!
Thank you Sorcha for letting me read an ARC of Scarlet Wars, I've been lucky enough to be on the street team since before Cerulean Truth (book one) was released, and I'm so happy to still be here
Review of advance copy received from Author
SCARLET WARS written by Sorcha Reagh,
the third book in the Sapere Series is a gripping romantasy told in multi POV between the 3 main characters. It's filled with rising war, forbidden love, and impossible choices—where magic stands exposed and love defies every rule. I have numerous quotes I'd love to share, but it would make my review so ridiculously long, you'd quit reading. . . .so instead I will try to do do this book justice with some highlights. . . that hopefully don't spoil the book for you. This book is broke into 4 parts.
Sorcha doesn't hold anything back and part one is filled with heartbreak, questions, revelations, and rekindled love. . . but just like in real life, it's complicated. Alliances made. . . and battles coming. At the center of it all stands our fierce FMC, EMMA who's beautiful, smart, bad a$$. . . and being hunted!!!
Part 2 begins with war.
OMG I don't want to give anything away. . . . but chapter 39 almost ended me! I wanted to throw my tablet, but I needed to see what happened. Chapter 40, with my lungs burning and eyes blurred brings me to my fav Emma quote so far
"You jump in front of me again, I'll shoot you myself just to prove the point." BUT then. . . Caden tops that line with my new fav quote!!!! You're going to have to read the book to know which one. . .oh and you'll know!
End of chapter 45 left me yelling at my tablet AGAIN!
Oh and it's gets even better!!!! There's romance and spicy spice. . . but there's this amazing plot that keeps you sucked in. If you don't finish chapter 54 feeling every bit of the emotions. . . . relief, fear, fury, and love clawing at you. . . . then you've missed it! But oh we're not done yet!
Part 4. . . the last line of part 3 gave me a sinking anxious feeling.
End of chapter 58. . .my mouth just hit the floor!!!
Fast forward to the ending. . . when you finish Scarlet Wars, I should clarify that it will finish you. I'm not sure what's more tortuous, the way it ended. . . or the dread of what's coming . . . . holding my head down in my hands. The last 20% of the book took all kinds of twists that I did not see coming! 🥵🥵🥵🥵 this was a great book!!!!! 👏👏👏👏 Seriously I don't know how to tell you how good this series is other than to say, you NEED to make this a priority on your tbr list!!!!
Please make sure that you don't skip over the author's note at the beginning!
the third book in the Sapere Series is a gripping romantasy told in multi POV between the 3 main characters. It's filled with rising war, forbidden love, and impossible choices—where magic stands exposed and love defies every rule. I have numerous quotes I'd love to share, but it would make my review so ridiculously long, you'd quit reading. . . .so instead I will try to do do this book justice with some highlights. . . that hopefully don't spoil the book for you. This book is broke into 4 parts.
Sorcha doesn't hold anything back and part one is filled with heartbreak, questions, revelations, and rekindled love. . . but just like in real life, it's complicated. Alliances made. . . and battles coming. At the center of it all stands our fierce FMC, EMMA who's beautiful, smart, bad a$$. . . and being hunted!!!
Part 2 begins with war.
OMG I don't want to give anything away. . . . but chapter 39 almost ended me! I wanted to throw my tablet, but I needed to see what happened. Chapter 40, with my lungs burning and eyes blurred brings me to my fav Emma quote so far
"You jump in front of me again, I'll shoot you myself just to prove the point." BUT then. . . Caden tops that line with my new fav quote!!!! You're going to have to read the book to know which one. . .oh and you'll know!
End of chapter 45 left me yelling at my tablet AGAIN!
Oh and it's gets even better!!!! There's romance and spicy spice. . . but there's this amazing plot that keeps you sucked in. If you don't finish chapter 54 feeling every bit of the emotions. . . . relief, fear, fury, and love clawing at you. . . . then you've missed it! But oh we're not done yet!
Part 4. . . the last line of part 3 gave me a sinking anxious feeling.
End of chapter 58. . .my mouth just hit the floor!!!
Fast forward to the ending. . . when you finish Scarlet Wars, I should clarify that it will finish you. I'm not sure what's more tortuous, the way it ended. . . or the dread of what's coming . . . . holding my head down in my hands. The last 20% of the book took all kinds of twists that I did not see coming! 🥵🥵🥵🥵 this was a great book!!!!! 👏👏👏👏 Seriously I don't know how to tell you how good this series is other than to say, you NEED to make this a priority on your tbr list!!!!
Please make sure that you don't skip over the author's note at the beginning!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Scarlet Wars took this series to a whole new level, and I loved it! I may or may not have stayed up until 4 AM reading because I just couldn’t put it down.
After the events of book two, Silver Tiers, Emma is overcome with grief and a whirlwind of other emotions as she navigates the tense politics between humans and the Magi, all while being branded a fugitive and dealing with the pressure of what her future holds. Emma’s journey in this book was rough. She endures immense trauma, wrestles with difficult emotions, and is constantly torn by the impossible choices she’s forced to make. Yet through it all, she remains the badass heroine you never knew you needed. She’s vulnerable yet guarded, strong yet wounded, and she refuses to let others dictate her life or her decisions.
The slow burn in this one was absolutely torturous, packed with yearning and tension. But once it finally catches, it blazes into such a beautifully written relationship built on trust, understanding, and vulnerability, and it was worth every second of the wait.
Scarlet Wars is packed with action. There’s so much happening, but it never feels overwhelming. Everything is perfectly paced, and the twists hit right at the best moments. Just when I thought I knew where the story was headed, nope—Sorcha threw a wrench into everything and changed the game. Especially at the end, where I seriously considered throwing my Kindle across the room. Let's just say I need the next book immediately.
This installment is definitely more brutal than books one and two, both emotionally and in its graphic content, but it was all necessary for the story to move forward. It’s not relentlessly heavy, though. There’s plenty of banter, and of course, it’s filled with what I’m calling “Sorcha-isms” that have been present throughout the series. They provide just the right amount of humor and lightness to balance out such an intense story.
This series is way underhyped and deserves so much more attention than it’s getting!
After the events of book two, Silver Tiers, Emma is overcome with grief and a whirlwind of other emotions as she navigates the tense politics between humans and the Magi, all while being branded a fugitive and dealing with the pressure of what her future holds. Emma’s journey in this book was rough. She endures immense trauma, wrestles with difficult emotions, and is constantly torn by the impossible choices she’s forced to make. Yet through it all, she remains the badass heroine you never knew you needed. She’s vulnerable yet guarded, strong yet wounded, and she refuses to let others dictate her life or her decisions.
The slow burn in this one was absolutely torturous, packed with yearning and tension. But once it finally catches, it blazes into such a beautifully written relationship built on trust, understanding, and vulnerability, and it was worth every second of the wait.
Scarlet Wars is packed with action. There’s so much happening, but it never feels overwhelming. Everything is perfectly paced, and the twists hit right at the best moments. Just when I thought I knew where the story was headed, nope—Sorcha threw a wrench into everything and changed the game. Especially at the end, where I seriously considered throwing my Kindle across the room. Let's just say I need the next book immediately.
This installment is definitely more brutal than books one and two, both emotionally and in its graphic content, but it was all necessary for the story to move forward. It’s not relentlessly heavy, though. There’s plenty of banter, and of course, it’s filled with what I’m calling “Sorcha-isms” that have been present throughout the series. They provide just the right amount of humor and lightness to balance out such an intense story.
This series is way underhyped and deserves so much more attention than it’s getting!
June 5, 2026
I don't think there are sufficient words to praise Sorcha's storytelling and just the cleverness of these constant plot twists that have me full-body clenching! Everytime I think SURELY there is nothing else that can surprise me, I'm dead wrong lmfao. The dystopian vibes for this book made my heart sing and bleed at the same time, in true Sorcha fashion.
This book is over 800 pages and yet I inhaled it in mere days because the pacing, characters, atmosphere, plot, mystery, ...everything is so gripping that you don't want to put it down for a second. You feel so connected with the characters that you are viscerally invested in everything they are experiencing, from their plights, their wins, their confusion, etc.
One aspect I'd like to highlight is the immense growth we see from so many characters, and especially my girl Emma. The author's note discusses Sorcha's experience of grief in the wake of profound loss, and you can really see this translated across the pages and in Emma's journey. I LOVE her dynamic with Caden and how he doesn't fault her for her coping mechanisms and yet still pushes her to communicate with him instead of defaulting to deflection. Their growth together is beautiful to watch and the spice that we are TREATED to is perfection. We get hot, romantic, steamy, filthy, and I'm obsessed. It seems their track record of not being able to catch a break continues and man... I know they'll push through but it will be a rough start to the next book based on that ending! I'm also so curious about James and Cara... I love the little bits of their interactions we got in Scarlet Wars and I am HOOKED. Just because I didn't necessarily love James and Emma's dynamic together, doesn't mean I don't want James to find his person! Excited to see if that could be Cara!
Sorcha - CONGRATS on this release and I cannot wait to see what's in store for Book 4!
This book is over 800 pages and yet I inhaled it in mere days because the pacing, characters, atmosphere, plot, mystery, ...everything is so gripping that you don't want to put it down for a second. You feel so connected with the characters that you are viscerally invested in everything they are experiencing, from their plights, their wins, their confusion, etc.
One aspect I'd like to highlight is the immense growth we see from so many characters, and especially my girl Emma. The author's note discusses Sorcha's experience of grief in the wake of profound loss, and you can really see this translated across the pages and in Emma's journey. I LOVE her dynamic with Caden and how he doesn't fault her for her coping mechanisms and yet still pushes her to communicate with him instead of defaulting to deflection. Their growth together is beautiful to watch and the spice that we are TREATED to is perfection. We get hot, romantic, steamy, filthy, and I'm obsessed. It seems their track record of not being able to catch a break continues and man... I know they'll push through but it will be a rough start to the next book based on that ending! I'm also so curious about James and Cara... I love the little bits of their interactions we got in Scarlet Wars and I am HOOKED. Just because I didn't necessarily love James and Emma's dynamic together, doesn't mean I don't want James to find his person! Excited to see if that could be Cara!
Sorcha - CONGRATS on this release and I cannot wait to see what's in store for Book 4!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews