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When Magic Weeps
Eva was living an ordinary modern life until Syrus came for her. He was the one person she should never have trusted, yet he takes her to the magical realm of Maysera, where she is meant to be protected, but that protection comes too late.
After her grandmother’s death, all Eva inherits is a strange ring and a warning cut short:
“Don’t—”
She never learns what she wasn’t supposed to do. So she makes a choice and puts on the ring, only to realize she was never meant to wear it.
Everything she believed turns out to be a lie, and now she must choose between saving or destroying Maysera. But magic has consequences, and Eva has become the very thing everyone feared.
After her grandmother’s death, all Eva inherits is a strange ring and a warning cut short:
“Don’t—”
She never learns what she wasn’t supposed to do. So she makes a choice and puts on the ring, only to realize she was never meant to wear it.
Everything she believed turns out to be a lie, and now she must choose between saving or destroying Maysera. But magic has consequences, and Eva has become the very thing everyone feared.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 23, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 20, 2026
Advanced Reader Copy Review.
This was a 5 ⭐️ read for me! Thank you so much Nisa for giving me a chance to read this as part of your ARC team ❤️ I loved the fantasy elements, and while the ending has me completely devastated, Eva’s character arc was a refreshing change as she embraced the darker side of power.
Eva, a regular human girl, is dragged into a magical world after her grandmother dies and passes down a mysterious ring to her, while the people around her are threatened by a mysterious stranger who seems to be hunting them down. I really connected with how Eva’s grief is shown at the beginning. The way she reacts makes her feel immediately real and grounded, and it gives the story an emotional weight that anchors everything that follows.
Syrus, a fae warrior, drags her into the magical world of Maysera to protect her, bringing her to his manor where he explains the ring her Grandmother passed on and her responsibility as a ring bearer. He arrives as this arrogant, infuriatingly confident presence. He’s mysterious and untrustworthy, but the tension between him and Eva has you grinning at his nicknames and frank observations, waiting to see them argue again.
Their interactions are filled with his cocky attitude and constant provocation, but they’re also genuinely fun to read. Eva’s inner thoughts only add to this, especially as she repeatedly acknowledges just how arrogant (and distractingly attractive 😏) he is.
The ring initially feels like a straightforward magical object, a source of power tied to a bloodline connection Eva never knew existed. She’s warned that she must keep her emotions under control or risk influencing the magic she wields. As Eva begins training at Maysera’s magical academy, learning to control both her abilities and herself, she starts to build real friendships and finds people she can rely on. But as the threat against her becomes clearer– with the King of the Tunthods and his army hunting her– it becomes increasingly obvious that danger has followed her to Maysera, and that even within the academy, not everyone can be trusted.
Gradually, we see a shift from whether she can control the magic to whether the ring is influencing or even controlling her in return, as Eva is forced to face the King and win– whatever the cost.
This was a 5 ⭐️ read for me! Thank you so much Nisa for giving me a chance to read this as part of your ARC team ❤️ I loved the fantasy elements, and while the ending has me completely devastated, Eva’s character arc was a refreshing change as she embraced the darker side of power.
Eva, a regular human girl, is dragged into a magical world after her grandmother dies and passes down a mysterious ring to her, while the people around her are threatened by a mysterious stranger who seems to be hunting them down. I really connected with how Eva’s grief is shown at the beginning. The way she reacts makes her feel immediately real and grounded, and it gives the story an emotional weight that anchors everything that follows.
Syrus, a fae warrior, drags her into the magical world of Maysera to protect her, bringing her to his manor where he explains the ring her Grandmother passed on and her responsibility as a ring bearer. He arrives as this arrogant, infuriatingly confident presence. He’s mysterious and untrustworthy, but the tension between him and Eva has you grinning at his nicknames and frank observations, waiting to see them argue again.
Their interactions are filled with his cocky attitude and constant provocation, but they’re also genuinely fun to read. Eva’s inner thoughts only add to this, especially as she repeatedly acknowledges just how arrogant (and distractingly attractive 😏) he is.
The ring initially feels like a straightforward magical object, a source of power tied to a bloodline connection Eva never knew existed. She’s warned that she must keep her emotions under control or risk influencing the magic she wields. As Eva begins training at Maysera’s magical academy, learning to control both her abilities and herself, she starts to build real friendships and finds people she can rely on. But as the threat against her becomes clearer– with the King of the Tunthods and his army hunting her– it becomes increasingly obvious that danger has followed her to Maysera, and that even within the academy, not everyone can be trusted.
Gradually, we see a shift from whether she can control the magic to whether the ring is influencing or even controlling her in return, as Eva is forced to face the King and win– whatever the cost.
Currently Reading
May 28, 2026When Magic Weeps by Nisa Solis is a masterclass in what a single unfinished warning can cost. Eva is a modern woman pulled into the magical realm of Maysera by Syrus, the one person she shouldn't trust, and handed a mystery in the shape of her grandmother's ring. The tragedy isn't that she puts it on. It's that no one gave her a reason not to.
Solis builds a world where magic isn't power. It's a debt. Where protection can arrive too late, trust is weaponized with good intentions, and the lies we inherit shape us more than the truths we discover. Eva's journey from ordinary girl to the very thing Maysera feared is not a fall from grace. It's what happens when a woman acts with the incomplete information the people who loved her left behind.
The ring, the realm, the ruptured warning, everything in this novel is about the danger of half-truths and the irreversible weight of choice. Solis asks one devastating question and never lets the reader look away: what do you owe a world that was never honest with you?
Hauntingly original. Quietly devastating. Absolutely unforgettable.
Solis builds a world where magic isn't power. It's a debt. Where protection can arrive too late, trust is weaponized with good intentions, and the lies we inherit shape us more than the truths we discover. Eva's journey from ordinary girl to the very thing Maysera feared is not a fall from grace. It's what happens when a woman acts with the incomplete information the people who loved her left behind.
The ring, the realm, the ruptured warning, everything in this novel is about the danger of half-truths and the irreversible weight of choice. Solis asks one devastating question and never lets the reader look away: what do you owe a world that was never honest with you?
Hauntingly original. Quietly devastating. Absolutely unforgettable.
June 6, 2026
For me personally this book was only a 2 star read. I think the idea of this story is absolutely brilliant and I did enjoy the story this author wanted to tell. For me the execution of the writing left me feeling like there are details missing like it was a little rushed and could have done with longer scenes to bring out the feeling she wanted to create.
Overall this is not a bad book at all and the only thing that is throwing me off is the writing style.
I am eager to see the growth of this author because I think she has a lot of potential. ❤️
Overall this is not a bad book at all and the only thing that is throwing me off is the writing style.
I am eager to see the growth of this author because I think she has a lot of potential. ❤️
August 3, 2026
✨📖 When Magic Weeps by Nisa Solis – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I was honestly so impressed by this book. 🥹✨ Considering this is the author's first published book, the writing was incredible. 💖 If I hadn't known, I would've thought it was written by a much more experienced author. The writing style felt so polished and immersive. 🌙🪄
The only reason this isn't a full 5 stars is that the author posts spoilers, specifically the ending from the book, on their TikTok 😭. I personally think the story would have had a much bigger emotional impact if I had gone into it completely blind. I know it's a marketing choice, but I wish the spoilers had either been avoided or clearly marked, because they took away some of the surprise for me. 💔
There were also a few moments where I felt a little bored, but surprisingly, it never felt like the book was dragging. 📖✨ The pacing and page count were just right, so even when it slowed down, I never felt like it overstayed its welcome. 🤍
Overall, this was such a strong debut, and I'm really excited to see what Nisa Solis writes next. 🌙🖤✨
I was honestly so impressed by this book. 🥹✨ Considering this is the author's first published book, the writing was incredible. 💖 If I hadn't known, I would've thought it was written by a much more experienced author. The writing style felt so polished and immersive. 🌙🪄
The only reason this isn't a full 5 stars is that the author posts spoilers, specifically the ending from the book, on their TikTok 😭. I personally think the story would have had a much bigger emotional impact if I had gone into it completely blind. I know it's a marketing choice, but I wish the spoilers had either been avoided or clearly marked, because they took away some of the surprise for me. 💔
There were also a few moments where I felt a little bored, but surprisingly, it never felt like the book was dragging. 📖✨ The pacing and page count were just right, so even when it slowed down, I never felt like it overstayed its welcome. 🤍
Overall, this was such a strong debut, and I'm really excited to see what Nisa Solis writes next. 🌙🖤✨
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received an ARC from the author and I want to say that I m so glad I did because omg.
I love these characters so much and this world.
It felt more like a fast paced book for me which if fine but I'm not a HUGE fan of it. Tho I really did love the book and I ll make a more in depth review on my tiktok on my book took account (booktok.account58)
I love these characters so much and this world.
It felt more like a fast paced book for me which if fine but I'm not a HUGE fan of it. Tho I really did love the book and I ll make a more in depth review on my tiktok on my book took account (booktok.account58)
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is actually my first time writing a review on Goodreads, and I'm glad it's for **When Magic Weeps** because this book made me feel so much more than I expected.
What stayed with me the most was the way emotions were written. The author describes what the characters feel so vividly that, at times, it feels like those emotions become your own. Their pain, longing, hope, and love are impossible to read from a distance. All the things that happened between theeeeemm..
Another thing I loved was how unpredictable the story was. Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, it surprised me. It was an emotional roller coaster, and I loved every unexpected turn.
This story also made me think about the kind of love that refuses to disappear. There are people who keep loving no matter what happens, even when that love feels like poison. They know it can hurt them, maybe destroy them, but they still choose to stay. Just to be there for the person they love. It was heartbreaking, beautiful, and painfully human.
And honestly..... I can't believe that's where the story ends. I'm already looking forward to what comes next because I refuse to believe this is the end for these characters.
One last thing—I can't help but be a little jeaaalous that people like this seem to exist only in books. Men written by women really do set an impossibly high standard. I know they're fictional, but sometimes I wish we could meet people who love this deeply and this selflessly in real life.
What stayed with me the most was the way emotions were written. The author describes what the characters feel so vividly that, at times, it feels like those emotions become your own. Their pain, longing, hope, and love are impossible to read from a distance. All the things that happened between theeeeemm..
Another thing I loved was how unpredictable the story was. Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, it surprised me. It was an emotional roller coaster, and I loved every unexpected turn.
This story also made me think about the kind of love that refuses to disappear. There are people who keep loving no matter what happens, even when that love feels like poison. They know it can hurt them, maybe destroy them, but they still choose to stay. Just to be there for the person they love. It was heartbreaking, beautiful, and painfully human.
And honestly..... I can't believe that's where the story ends. I'm already looking forward to what comes next because I refuse to believe this is the end for these characters.
One last thing—I can't help but be a little jeaaalous that people like this seem to exist only in books. Men written by women really do set an impossibly high standard. I know they're fictional, but sometimes I wish we could meet people who love this deeply and this selflessly in real life.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Nisa did an amazing job creating this world and making every betrayal feel impactful and emotional. I especially loved Eva's character arc, she starts out as an ordinary schoolgirl and grows into someone incredibly powerful by the end.
The very first page of the prologue hooked me instantly. Looking back, it brilliantly hinted at Eva's true nature from the start, hiding it in plain sight without readers fully realizing it at the time.
If I had one critique, it would be that the story sometimes moved a little too quickly and didn't always go into as much depth as I would have liked. However, that didn't stop me from enjoying this book. I have never read a book with a negative ending on the main character like this. You don’t expect the story to end the way it does and that’s what made me love this book.
Syrus was my favourite character, I loved his relationship with Eva. His final chapter was devastating.
Overall, this was an amazing debut, and I would definitely read more of Nisa's work in the future.
The very first page of the prologue hooked me instantly. Looking back, it brilliantly hinted at Eva's true nature from the start, hiding it in plain sight without readers fully realizing it at the time.
If I had one critique, it would be that the story sometimes moved a little too quickly and didn't always go into as much depth as I would have liked. However, that didn't stop me from enjoying this book. I have never read a book with a negative ending on the main character like this. You don’t expect the story to end the way it does and that’s what made me love this book.
Syrus was my favourite character, I loved his relationship with Eva. His final chapter was devastating.
Overall, this was an amazing debut, and I would definitely read more of Nisa's work in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A masterclass in what a single, broken warning can cost. 💚
Nisa Solis builds a world where magic isn’t power—it’s a debt. The story pulls you into a beautiful, toxic loop of half-truths, weaponized trust, and the irreversible weight of a single choice. It forces you to look at one devastating question: what do you owe a world that was never honest with you?
★ The Plot: An absolute emotional roller coaster. Every single time I thought I knew where the narrative was heading, it completely shattered my expectations. It's wildly unpredictable, hauntingly original, and quietly devastating.
★ The Romance: It explores the kind of love that refuses to disappear, even when that love feels like absolute poison. The characters choose to stay even if it completely destroys them. It is heartbreaking, tragic, and painfully human.
★ The Verdict ★
Honestly... I am in complete denial that this is where the story actually ends. I refuse to accept this is the final page for these characters, and I’m already desperately waiting for whatever comes next.
Nisa Solis builds a world where magic isn’t power—it’s a debt. The story pulls you into a beautiful, toxic loop of half-truths, weaponized trust, and the irreversible weight of a single choice. It forces you to look at one devastating question: what do you owe a world that was never honest with you?
★ The Plot: An absolute emotional roller coaster. Every single time I thought I knew where the narrative was heading, it completely shattered my expectations. It's wildly unpredictable, hauntingly original, and quietly devastating.
★ The Romance: It explores the kind of love that refuses to disappear, even when that love feels like absolute poison. The characters choose to stay even if it completely destroys them. It is heartbreaking, tragic, and painfully human.
★ The Verdict ★
Honestly... I am in complete denial that this is where the story actually ends. I refuse to accept this is the final page for these characters, and I’m already desperately waiting for whatever comes next.
July 11, 2026
Hey first of all I really wanted to thank the author for being able to send me an advanced readers copy. I’ve never been picked or nominated for these kinds of things so it was a first and amazing experience. The author is such a sweet and talented person.
Now about the book I really loved the book, the idea, the characters and the setting. I loved the dark side and the deep feelings of the main character.
Only one thing, I could hardly imagine things in my mind sometimes because things weren’t really descriptive. Like for example what some characters or creatures looked like. It felt a little rushed writing and fast published. So I want to forward this to the author so she knows. Not as a bad thing but as a tip! It’s a good thing and I’m sure she will improve the more she writes.
Overall I loved this book so much and the end still shocked me so much. Also compliments on the cover and art it’s so beautiful. At the end of the day I recommend this to all the fantasy lovers! 💗
Now about the book I really loved the book, the idea, the characters and the setting. I loved the dark side and the deep feelings of the main character.
Only one thing, I could hardly imagine things in my mind sometimes because things weren’t really descriptive. Like for example what some characters or creatures looked like. It felt a little rushed writing and fast published. So I want to forward this to the author so she knows. Not as a bad thing but as a tip! It’s a good thing and I’m sure she will improve the more she writes.
Overall I loved this book so much and the end still shocked me so much. Also compliments on the cover and art it’s so beautiful. At the end of the day I recommend this to all the fantasy lovers! 💗
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was one of the best fantasy stories I have ever read! Not only the story was unpredictable and unique, but also world building and writing was excellent. I do have a little grudge in me because I'm fond of Happily ever afters, however, I love how this ending was good in its own way💖
Grateful to be an Arc reader and wishing the author the best of the best in her future work <3
Grateful to be an Arc reader and wishing the author the best of the best in her future work <3
Review of advance copy received from Author
(Maybe spoilers?)
When I started this book the first thing that drew me in was the dedication, I loved the way that the entire plot unfolded, from her just being a normal teenager to her life completely turning upside down in one night, i never knew who to trust but I loved all the characters and their personalities. Overall I loved this book its one of my top favorites for romanticy and this betrayal was one of the best I've ever read in the way of it not truely being a betrayal but it still hurt all the same. And i really hope the author plans to write a second book!
When I started this book the first thing that drew me in was the dedication, I loved the way that the entire plot unfolded, from her just being a normal teenager to her life completely turning upside down in one night, i never knew who to trust but I loved all the characters and their personalities. Overall I loved this book its one of my top favorites for romanticy and this betrayal was one of the best I've ever read in the way of it not truely being a betrayal but it still hurt all the same. And i really hope the author plans to write a second book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you for the ARC!!
This book was enjoyable and easy to read. YA book, had a good fantasy world concept. The last few chapters were heartbreaking and the ending was so good and not what I was expecting to happen!!
This book was enjoyable and easy to read. YA book, had a good fantasy world concept. The last few chapters were heartbreaking and the ending was so good and not what I was expecting to happen!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
The ending was so sad and unexpected. I love this book
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was an arc reader for this book and I really liked it. It was very well written and well paced. I never got bored reading it and when I finished a chapter I always wanted to read the next one. However I think certain things could have been developed more, like for the relationship between Eva and Syrus, I crave for more moment between them and I know it’s the point. I also loved the kind of star crossed lovers. And the illustrations ? They’re perfect ! I really recommend this book for all the person who like fantasy, romance and magic !!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of Advance Copy received from Netgalley
The way the 13 year old inside me was jumping and giggling while reading this! The banter, quirky conversations and swoon-worthy dialogue of Syrus had me completing this in two days. I jumped into this book with no expectations and it was quite easy to read. I loved the short chapters as well as the changing POVs. The imagery was spot on and this is something my teen self wanted to read when she talked about fantasy. It contained all the tropes I've always loved such as chosen one, magical artefacts, hidden realms, magical creatures, a magical school and powers. I wish we got to see more of the world but the descriptions were so good that I could clearly see where Eva was in the story.
I actually didn't expect the author to actually kill off Eva's loved ones but the twist at the end was very refreshing. I was expecting a HEA like normal middle-grade fantasy books but the twists at the end were amazing. I've always wanted to read a story where the FMC becomes a villain and middle-grade fantasy books usually never gave me that satisfaction so I was pleasantly surprised at the end.
Overall, this was a beautiful, pinterest-esque, vibrant worldbuilding and magical YA fantasy/middle-grade fantasy story!! <3
The way the 13 year old inside me was jumping and giggling while reading this! The banter, quirky conversations and swoon-worthy dialogue of Syrus had me completing this in two days. I jumped into this book with no expectations and it was quite easy to read. I loved the short chapters as well as the changing POVs. The imagery was spot on and this is something my teen self wanted to read when she talked about fantasy. It contained all the tropes I've always loved such as chosen one, magical artefacts, hidden realms, magical creatures, a magical school and powers. I wish we got to see more of the world but the descriptions were so good that I could clearly see where Eva was in the story.
I actually didn't expect the author to actually kill off Eva's loved ones but the twist at the end was very refreshing. I was expecting a HEA like normal middle-grade fantasy books but the twists at the end were amazing. I've always wanted to read a story where the FMC becomes a villain and middle-grade fantasy books usually never gave me that satisfaction so I was pleasantly surprised at the end.
Overall, this was a beautiful, pinterest-esque, vibrant worldbuilding and magical YA fantasy/middle-grade fantasy story!! <3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I got the ARC of this book and loved it. I mean the plot twist blew off my mind. I didn't expect it AT ALL. The ending with the king being her actual friend... What u created was amazing. And when Syrus died I was literally hoped till the last page that something would happen and he would be alive. I hope to get the second book faster))) because I want to get the happy ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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