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Tempted
Follow the Sovereign's edicts.
Do not be tempted by the Below.
Adhering to Eden’s rules should be simple, especially since it’s what’s kept the humans with genetic-based Gifts—the Gifted—safe ever since Eden’s six islands rose from the ashes of the Below eight hundred years ago.
But the Eden of then is not the Eden of now; Gifts are dwindling rapidly, each generation markedly weaker than the one before. Penn Urbana, Eden’s last island, is home to the weakest of scavengers who collect items from the Below at the behest of the Sovereign. Naturally drawn by their Gift to important things, some discover the Below’s temptation too strong to resist.
After all, rules were made to be broken, even if getting caught means death.
Praetorian Commander Jagur Sejanus has spent his entire life tied to the Sovereign. Raised in Zion, Eden’s capital, with deadly Gifts honed in the Citadel, he is a living weapon at Eden’s disposal. But compassion has always battled his training, and he finds his convictions tested when stationed on Penn. Forced into an impossible situation, he executes an innocent to save a woman with fire in her eyes and inadvertently ties their lives together to hide their secrets.
Eve Nerea watched as Commander Jagur executed her Patriarch for treason—a crime she committed when she removed an artifact from the Below. Six months later, she’s Summoned to Zion for mandatory participation in an undisclosed program. When she arrives, she’s greeted by none other than the Commander who killed her Patriarch—and kept her secret.
As the situation in Eden deteriorates and a new class of Gifted is created, Eve and Jagur are forced to ally against threats both from within Eden and from the Below. In the end, they must choose between falling into temptation or being Eden’s deliverance.
*This is the first book in a series of interconnected standalones perfect for fans of Daggermouth, Red Rising, and The Giver. It contains mature adult themes and is meant for 18+
Do not be tempted by the Below.
Adhering to Eden’s rules should be simple, especially since it’s what’s kept the humans with genetic-based Gifts—the Gifted—safe ever since Eden’s six islands rose from the ashes of the Below eight hundred years ago.
But the Eden of then is not the Eden of now; Gifts are dwindling rapidly, each generation markedly weaker than the one before. Penn Urbana, Eden’s last island, is home to the weakest of scavengers who collect items from the Below at the behest of the Sovereign. Naturally drawn by their Gift to important things, some discover the Below’s temptation too strong to resist.
After all, rules were made to be broken, even if getting caught means death.
Praetorian Commander Jagur Sejanus has spent his entire life tied to the Sovereign. Raised in Zion, Eden’s capital, with deadly Gifts honed in the Citadel, he is a living weapon at Eden’s disposal. But compassion has always battled his training, and he finds his convictions tested when stationed on Penn. Forced into an impossible situation, he executes an innocent to save a woman with fire in her eyes and inadvertently ties their lives together to hide their secrets.
Eve Nerea watched as Commander Jagur executed her Patriarch for treason—a crime she committed when she removed an artifact from the Below. Six months later, she’s Summoned to Zion for mandatory participation in an undisclosed program. When she arrives, she’s greeted by none other than the Commander who killed her Patriarch—and kept her secret.
As the situation in Eden deteriorates and a new class of Gifted is created, Eve and Jagur are forced to ally against threats both from within Eden and from the Below. In the end, they must choose between falling into temptation or being Eden’s deliverance.
*This is the first book in a series of interconnected standalones perfect for fans of Daggermouth, Red Rising, and The Giver. It contains mature adult themes and is meant for 18+
402 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 23, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
October 31, 2026
I'll never get enough of dystopia! With Tempted, Ellysa has provided us with a new, brutal world rife with unique Gifts reliant on Propensity chips and stimulants and interesting twists on hierarchical structure and power imbalances. The world is very imaginative and I loved soaking up every tidbit of information we got about Eden's history. In true dystopian fashion, the theme was very much "how far would you go for the greater good?". I still have many questions about the world and how certain aspects of the Gifts work, which I hope will be answered in subsequent installments.
My biggest disconnect was with the main characters and how intensely and quickly their relationship progressed without any real tension or development. I crave the time spent when the main characters are at the "will they/won't they" stage and when readers get scenes showing the development of their growing connection. Without it, I was left with many questions as to why the characters were feeling the way they were. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I became invested in the side characters of the story - Rome, Dove, Atlas, and Althea stole the show and I can't wait to see what they get up to next! Thank you to the author for the eARC!
My biggest disconnect was with the main characters and how intensely and quickly their relationship progressed without any real tension or development. I crave the time spent when the main characters are at the "will they/won't they" stage and when readers get scenes showing the development of their growing connection. Without it, I was left with many questions as to why the characters were feeling the way they were. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I became invested in the side characters of the story - Rome, Dove, Atlas, and Althea stole the show and I can't wait to see what they get up to next! Thank you to the author for the eARC!
October 23, 2026
Tempted by Ellysa Marin is an ambitious genre-blending romance with dystopian, sci-fi and fantasy elements woven into a plot that reminds us knowledge is power and everyone is someone’s pawn.
Social classes, resources, reproduction, career assignments, family units — everything in Eden’s society is allocated & determined based off of an individual’s Gifted propensity. But while blind loyalty and acceptance of the status quo is ingrained & enforced in society — not all roots of defiance can be bred out.
The world building was heavy and intricate by necessity but at times the complexity felt complicated in a way that overshadowed the story itself. I was really interested in the plot’s abstract & high level concepts and very much wanted to understand more about the world we’re in and the events/circumstances of the past that led us here. But, I found myself getting a bit lost in the details. I struggled to connect with the characters and had difficulty finding the MCs and their romantic evolution believable.
I have so much affection for Ellysa and think she’s overflowing with talent and creativity. Her debut series, Children of Fate, is a masterclass in theory spiraling and perspective shifting. I love that she doesn’t shy away from the capturing the gritty & grey aspects of morality. So, while I struggled a bit with this story, it was still rewarding to witness Ellysa’s clever mind at work again in this new series.
Tempted comes out October 23rd and is the first book in Fall of Eden — a series of interconnected standalones. Dystopian, Sci-Fi and Fantasy Romance readers looking for intricate world building, breeding programs, unique magic systems, genetic modifications, lost history & memory orbs, forbidden temptations, artifact retrieval, multiple POVs, morally grey MMCs and open door spice should add this to their TBR!
Social classes, resources, reproduction, career assignments, family units — everything in Eden’s society is allocated & determined based off of an individual’s Gifted propensity. But while blind loyalty and acceptance of the status quo is ingrained & enforced in society — not all roots of defiance can be bred out.
The world building was heavy and intricate by necessity but at times the complexity felt complicated in a way that overshadowed the story itself. I was really interested in the plot’s abstract & high level concepts and very much wanted to understand more about the world we’re in and the events/circumstances of the past that led us here. But, I found myself getting a bit lost in the details. I struggled to connect with the characters and had difficulty finding the MCs and their romantic evolution believable.
I have so much affection for Ellysa and think she’s overflowing with talent and creativity. Her debut series, Children of Fate, is a masterclass in theory spiraling and perspective shifting. I love that she doesn’t shy away from the capturing the gritty & grey aspects of morality. So, while I struggled a bit with this story, it was still rewarding to witness Ellysa’s clever mind at work again in this new series.
Tempted comes out October 23rd and is the first book in Fall of Eden — a series of interconnected standalones. Dystopian, Sci-Fi and Fantasy Romance readers looking for intricate world building, breeding programs, unique magic systems, genetic modifications, lost history & memory orbs, forbidden temptations, artifact retrieval, multiple POVs, morally grey MMCs and open door spice should add this to their TBR!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Really enjoyed this book. Gave me Hunger Games vibes without the trials. More to come!
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you loved the dystopian vibe of Fallout, Divergent, and The 100, this is a series you will not want to miss.
Tempted is book 1 in The Fall of Eden. This series is interconnected standalones! That’s right no devastating and emotional cliffhanger here. While each couple will get their Happy for Now, the overall story arc won’t be complete until the end! Which means it’s keeps you coming back for more!
Eden and the world Ellysa created was easy to follow and understand the different type of citizens.
We have a Sovereign ( and his government) who want total control of his people, and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep it that way.
Jagur our MMC is the Sovereigns right hand man. He’s brutal, ruthless and highly respective-until Eve. One look is all it takes for the protective beast to come out- AND I WAS HERE FOR IT (even when he went about things in awful ways)
Eve is considered low on the totem pole. Her father gets executed after the discovery of an artifact from “the below” by none other than Jagur. Their relationship goes from enemies to allies to friends to more to back to enemies. She becomes ALMOST as protective as he is ( but nothing could top him) … oh and she takes care of HIM and washes HIS hair 😍
I don’t want to give too much away but like with most dystopians there is always some unrest or uprising. We get to see the beginning of this is Tempted but I can’t wait to see that ramp up in books that follow. We also have this mysterious serpent who I am dying to learn more about!
Tempted is book 1 in The Fall of Eden. This series is interconnected standalones! That’s right no devastating and emotional cliffhanger here. While each couple will get their Happy for Now, the overall story arc won’t be complete until the end! Which means it’s keeps you coming back for more!
Eden and the world Ellysa created was easy to follow and understand the different type of citizens.
We have a Sovereign ( and his government) who want total control of his people, and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep it that way.
Jagur our MMC is the Sovereigns right hand man. He’s brutal, ruthless and highly respective-until Eve. One look is all it takes for the protective beast to come out- AND I WAS HERE FOR IT (even when he went about things in awful ways)
Eve is considered low on the totem pole. Her father gets executed after the discovery of an artifact from “the below” by none other than Jagur. Their relationship goes from enemies to allies to friends to more to back to enemies. She becomes ALMOST as protective as he is ( but nothing could top him) … oh and she takes care of HIM and washes HIS hair 😍
I don’t want to give too much away but like with most dystopians there is always some unrest or uprising. We get to see the beginning of this is Tempted but I can’t wait to see that ramp up in books that follow. We also have this mysterious serpent who I am dying to learn more about!
October 26, 2026
I enjoyed this dystopian romance a lot! It's set in a futuristic Earth, where people have been programmed with "gifts" (like chip-powered magic) based on natural propensity. Society is divided into social classes based on strength of gift and purpose in serving the Sovereign of this country.
Eve and Jagur meet in the impoverished and oppressed territory of Penn--Eve's home--on the day Jagur executes her adoptive father for treason. Turns out he was covering for Eve. Jagur shows Eve some (grumpy) compassion, and things escalate from there when Eve gets summoned to the capital for a mysterious mission.
This was an interesting world and magic system that slowly unfolds so that the world building felt smooth. I also enjoyed the chemistry between the main characters and the building chemistry between side characters. There was a solid blend a plot and romance to move the story along at a steady pace.
I have seen this book compared to Daggermouth, and I think it bears only a passing similarity as they are both dystopian. Also the main couple are technically enemies, but not in practice. They never truly work against each other, though trust takes time to build. It feels more like forbidden love to me.
The ending hurt my feelings, so I've very much looking forward to seeing what happens in book 2! If you like this genre, check it out!
Eve and Jagur meet in the impoverished and oppressed territory of Penn--Eve's home--on the day Jagur executes her adoptive father for treason. Turns out he was covering for Eve. Jagur shows Eve some (grumpy) compassion, and things escalate from there when Eve gets summoned to the capital for a mysterious mission.
This was an interesting world and magic system that slowly unfolds so that the world building felt smooth. I also enjoyed the chemistry between the main characters and the building chemistry between side characters. There was a solid blend a plot and romance to move the story along at a steady pace.
I have seen this book compared to Daggermouth, and I think it bears only a passing similarity as they are both dystopian. Also the main couple are technically enemies, but not in practice. They never truly work against each other, though trust takes time to build. It feels more like forbidden love to me.
The ending hurt my feelings, so I've very much looking forward to seeing what happens in book 2! If you like this genre, check it out!
Review of advance copy received from Author
He is the last man she should want.
The islands of Eden arose nearly a thousand years ago and are inhabited by people with genetic gifts; they are known as the Gifted, but those with strong gifts are born much less frequently than they once were; they live in luxury. Eve Nerea has a very weak gift and lives on Penn Urbana where those like herself live in poverty and scavenge items from the Below. Jagur Sejanus is a Praetorian Commander and is sent to Penn to retrieve a valuable artifact and execute Eve's patriarch for the crime of treason. The last thing Eve and Jagur would have expected after that first meeting six months ago is that they would become allies and lovers.
The characters in the book are very well written, and have complex, and in some cases, reprehensible personalities that kept me engaged from the first page. Steamy read with some exciting action, political intrigue, murder, betrayal, addiction, and unexpected twists and turns in the plot that kept me on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed this book; however, I did find the world building to be a little vague and hope that in subsequent books there will be some details that I feel are missing.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC provided by the author.
The islands of Eden arose nearly a thousand years ago and are inhabited by people with genetic gifts; they are known as the Gifted, but those with strong gifts are born much less frequently than they once were; they live in luxury. Eve Nerea has a very weak gift and lives on Penn Urbana where those like herself live in poverty and scavenge items from the Below. Jagur Sejanus is a Praetorian Commander and is sent to Penn to retrieve a valuable artifact and execute Eve's patriarch for the crime of treason. The last thing Eve and Jagur would have expected after that first meeting six months ago is that they would become allies and lovers.
The characters in the book are very well written, and have complex, and in some cases, reprehensible personalities that kept me engaged from the first page. Steamy read with some exciting action, political intrigue, murder, betrayal, addiction, and unexpected twists and turns in the plot that kept me on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed this book; however, I did find the world building to be a little vague and hope that in subsequent books there will be some details that I feel are missing.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC provided by the author.
October 10, 2026
Thank you to Happily Booked PR and Ellysa Marin for an Advanced Reader Copy!
This is a dystopian romantasy where the reader is thrown into a world where there are the Gifted (humans with genetic-based Gifts), Eden (an island that rose from the ashes of The Below), and the Sovereign's edicts. Eden is experiencing a crisis as the genetic-based gifts are becoming less potent and not as viable in humans. Eve Nerea is our FMC, who has been deemed one of the lesser Gifted. She watches as her Patriarch is killed by Commander Jaguar Sejanus for treason. However, Jagur's compassion has won him out; Eve was the one that found the forbidden object and should have been the one tried and killed for treason. When Eve is chosen as one of the Gifted to be taken to Eden's capital of Zion to be Reprogrammed, Jagur finds that he must protect her at all costs. But Eve doesn't trust Jagur, especially after his killing of her Patriarch. Jagur must get Eve to trust him in order to protect her. Eve survives Reprogramming and is saved by Jagur, who decides not to kill her even though the Sovereign decrees it. Jagur and Eve are saved by Raven and her brothers and Jagur and Eve are taken to the Below.
This is the first book in the Fall of Eden series. I really enjoyed this book and the spice level was *very spicy. I enjoyed Eve as our FMC and I thought the dystopian society was really interesting. There was more about the history of the Below that I wanted explained and felt that there could have been a bit more of that. I can't wait to read the next book, which is about Atlas and Althea, two of my favorite secondary characters from this book.
This is a dystopian romantasy where the reader is thrown into a world where there are the Gifted (humans with genetic-based Gifts), Eden (an island that rose from the ashes of The Below), and the Sovereign's edicts. Eden is experiencing a crisis as the genetic-based gifts are becoming less potent and not as viable in humans. Eve Nerea is our FMC, who has been deemed one of the lesser Gifted. She watches as her Patriarch is killed by Commander Jaguar Sejanus for treason. However, Jagur's compassion has won him out; Eve was the one that found the forbidden object and should have been the one tried and killed for treason. When Eve is chosen as one of the Gifted to be taken to Eden's capital of Zion to be Reprogrammed, Jagur finds that he must protect her at all costs. But Eve doesn't trust Jagur, especially after his killing of her Patriarch. Jagur must get Eve to trust him in order to protect her. Eve survives Reprogramming and is saved by Jagur, who decides not to kill her even though the Sovereign decrees it. Jagur and Eve are saved by Raven and her brothers and Jagur and Eve are taken to the Below.
This is the first book in the Fall of Eden series. I really enjoyed this book and the spice level was *very spicy. I enjoyed Eve as our FMC and I thought the dystopian society was really interesting. There was more about the history of the Below that I wanted explained and felt that there could have been a bit more of that. I can't wait to read the next book, which is about Atlas and Althea, two of my favorite secondary characters from this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for a gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Tempted is the first book in The Fall of Eden series which is a series of interconnected standalones, and it is filled with political intrigue, secrets, deadly Gifts, and betrayals. I love how creative this book is right down to the title and series name. The world building is immersive and detailed, the characters well developed, and the plot fast paced, creative and keeps you guessing. I actually really enjoyed the addition of the reprogramming to show that not everything is easily attainable and bad things can and do happen. It was heartbreaking but more realistic than just easily getting out of the situation and everything being okay. I really loved the start of the interconnected series and I’m excited to experience everything expand and develop with the next couple.
If you love dark dystopian romance, interconnected standalones, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, yearning, he falls first, and “who did this to you” then I definitely recommend checking this out!
Tempted is the first book in The Fall of Eden series which is a series of interconnected standalones, and it is filled with political intrigue, secrets, deadly Gifts, and betrayals. I love how creative this book is right down to the title and series name. The world building is immersive and detailed, the characters well developed, and the plot fast paced, creative and keeps you guessing. I actually really enjoyed the addition of the reprogramming to show that not everything is easily attainable and bad things can and do happen. It was heartbreaking but more realistic than just easily getting out of the situation and everything being okay. I really loved the start of the interconnected series and I’m excited to experience everything expand and develop with the next couple.
If you love dark dystopian romance, interconnected standalones, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, yearning, he falls first, and “who did this to you” then I definitely recommend checking this out!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was BIG! There’s a lot of world building, a lot of characters and so much depth to the story.
It’s a really good blend of dystopian and romantasy, which I absolutely love. I also feel like this is one of those books that would benefit from a reread. There’s so much happening that I’m sure I’d pick up on things I missed the first time around.
I loved the chemistry between Jagur and Eve, and Jagur’s whole touch her and die attitude was just perfect!
The gifts were something I found really intriguing, and I would have loved a little more explanation around how they worked. It was such a different and unique take on the typical class systems we see in dystopian books, and I really wanted to understand more about them.
Overall, I enjoyed this one. There’s so much to explore in this world, and I’m definitely keen to see where the story goes next.
Thank you to Ellysa Marin for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review. 🖤
It’s a really good blend of dystopian and romantasy, which I absolutely love. I also feel like this is one of those books that would benefit from a reread. There’s so much happening that I’m sure I’d pick up on things I missed the first time around.
I loved the chemistry between Jagur and Eve, and Jagur’s whole touch her and die attitude was just perfect!
The gifts were something I found really intriguing, and I would have loved a little more explanation around how they worked. It was such a different and unique take on the typical class systems we see in dystopian books, and I really wanted to understand more about them.
Overall, I enjoyed this one. There’s so much to explore in this world, and I’m definitely keen to see where the story goes next.
Thank you to Ellysa Marin for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review. 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had such a good time with the world in Tempted. The dystopian setting, the politics of Eden, and the absolutely hilarious banter made this a unique and entertaining read. I would happily spend more time in this world, especially with more world building.
The characters were a highlight, although I struggled to connect with Eve and Jaguar romantically. Their relationship felt underdeveloped, and I honestly found the story more interesting when the romance took a backseat. Meanwhile, Rome completely stole my attention. I need to know more about him and what drives him. Atlas also has me intrigued, and I am already eager to uncover his secrets.
Overall, this was a solid start to a fascinating dystopian romantasy series. I loved the tension, the dangerous alliances, and the mysteries woven throughout the story. I am especially excited to see where things go next, because right now, Atlas has my full attention.
The characters were a highlight, although I struggled to connect with Eve and Jaguar romantically. Their relationship felt underdeveloped, and I honestly found the story more interesting when the romance took a backseat. Meanwhile, Rome completely stole my attention. I need to know more about him and what drives him. Atlas also has me intrigued, and I am already eager to uncover his secrets.
Overall, this was a solid start to a fascinating dystopian romantasy series. I loved the tension, the dangerous alliances, and the mysteries woven throughout the story. I am especially excited to see where things go next, because right now, Atlas has my full attention.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Okay, I read this alongside Glow of the Everflame, and this was SO much better in comparison. I could cry. Literally kiss the ground.
Yes, there were some dark themes, but if you can read Alchemised, you can read this, too.
I admit, the cover was what initially caught my eye, though I was a bit skeptical after reading the blurb. Turns out, I needn't have worried because this was SO GOOD!!!
One thing I absolutely loved was how we got the FMC's and MMC's POVs in first person, while the Sovereign's was in third person. I really liked that distinction!
And then there's the last chapter... ATLAS' POV?! I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING. I'm so glad we got it because it builds anticipation for his and Althea's story.
Though whether I'll actually pick that one up remains to be seen.
Yes, there were some dark themes, but if you can read Alchemised, you can read this, too.
I admit, the cover was what initially caught my eye, though I was a bit skeptical after reading the blurb. Turns out, I needn't have worried because this was SO GOOD!!!
One thing I absolutely loved was how we got the FMC's and MMC's POVs in first person, while the Sovereign's was in third person. I really liked that distinction!
And then there's the last chapter... ATLAS' POV?! I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING. I'm so glad we got it because it builds anticipation for his and Althea's story.
Though whether I'll actually pick that one up remains to be seen.
October 23, 2026
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I had mixed feelings about this book when I first started. Usually I am not a fan of boy sees girl, boy falls for girl instantly. Usually I need to have some kind of build up to that kind of behavior. The plot in this book is what kept me going. The relationship did progress nicely, even with the instant longing for each other.
I love the dystopian genre and this book has a little bit of fantasy mixed in with it. It also gave me the same vibes as Divergent did. There were alot of intense situations that kept me engaged. The different reveals toward the end surprised me and I am looking forward to how the series continues in book 2.
I had mixed feelings about this book when I first started. Usually I am not a fan of boy sees girl, boy falls for girl instantly. Usually I need to have some kind of build up to that kind of behavior. The plot in this book is what kept me going. The relationship did progress nicely, even with the instant longing for each other.
I love the dystopian genre and this book has a little bit of fantasy mixed in with it. It also gave me the same vibes as Divergent did. There were alot of intense situations that kept me engaged. The different reveals toward the end surprised me and I am looking forward to how the series continues in book 2.
November 1, 2026
The multiple POVs at the start were hard for me to follow. The book is written in first person, so I got used to them quickly.
Tempted feels like The Hunger Games meets The Matrix and Divergent, with a world of its own on top. It is fast, it has a lot of different emotions, and I was on the edge of my couch more than once because it was so tense.
Not my normal go-to genre. However, I am really curious how the story continues in book two. Because damn...that cliffhanger
If you like a lot of spice, this one is a recommendation. If you would rather not read spice, I would skip it.
Disclosure: I received a free eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Tempted feels like The Hunger Games meets The Matrix and Divergent, with a world of its own on top. It is fast, it has a lot of different emotions, and I was on the edge of my couch more than once because it was so tense.
Not my normal go-to genre. However, I am really curious how the story continues in book two. Because damn...that cliffhanger
If you like a lot of spice, this one is a recommendation. If you would rather not read spice, I would skip it.
Disclosure: I received a free eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow, I am lucky to be an ARC reader. When I tell you that I LOVED this world in the most ‘omg I’d never live here but the dystopian vibes were perfect’ way. I really love the main characters and their interactions. When Eve first spoke of the orbs, I was HOOKED.
Definitely going to check out this author’s other books because this was a read I ATE UP!
Definitely going to check out this author’s other books because this was a read I ATE UP!
November 1, 2026
what a great start to a romantic dystopian series!! i really loved the aspect of their powers / gift as well as the process of how it worked. this is such an interesting concept and i am excited to see where it goes as the series progresses. i do think that eve and jagur’s relationship moved a tad too quickly, it was like insta-love from both of them which was a little confusing to me considering their history. aside from this definitely a solid start to the series!!
thank you to the author for providing me with a gifted ARC copy of this novel! (sorry life got in the way and i was a tad delayed in finishing my read to review 🖤)
thank you to the author for providing me with a gifted ARC copy of this novel! (sorry life got in the way and i was a tad delayed in finishing my read to review 🖤)
October 7, 2026
I finished this yesterday and had to sit with it for a minute before deciding on a rating.
I loved the world. The dystopian aspect was a lot of fun and although I feel like there could have been additional world building to expand on Eden I did love the governance aspects we were introduced to in this book.
The below seems like a place I absolutely want to visit. The banter of the characters raised in that world had me snort laughing.
The characters individually are great. I find myself drawn to them each for different reasons and I do appreciate that there is an innocence to Jagurs beliefs that only come with specific privileges. I just didn’t gel with the relationship between him and Eve in this. I genuinely think this is a more interesting book without them being romantically linked. I found myself skipping their spicy scenes because I was like ugh terrible timing and zero foundational feelings here.
I absolutely adored Rome. I need so much more of him. Such an intriguing character and I want to know what motivates him.
Atlas is an interesting character too so I am very interested to understand more about him in the next book.
Overall a really solid start to the world but I am glad we’re moving away from Eve and Jagurs relationship in book 2 because I’m already more invested in the enigma that is Atlas.
Thank you to Ellysa for the eARC of this one. I appreciate you immensely
I loved the world. The dystopian aspect was a lot of fun and although I feel like there could have been additional world building to expand on Eden I did love the governance aspects we were introduced to in this book.
The below seems like a place I absolutely want to visit. The banter of the characters raised in that world had me snort laughing.
The characters individually are great. I find myself drawn to them each for different reasons and I do appreciate that there is an innocence to Jagurs beliefs that only come with specific privileges. I just didn’t gel with the relationship between him and Eve in this. I genuinely think this is a more interesting book without them being romantically linked. I found myself skipping their spicy scenes because I was like ugh terrible timing and zero foundational feelings here.
I absolutely adored Rome. I need so much more of him. Such an intriguing character and I want to know what motivates him.
Atlas is an interesting character too so I am very interested to understand more about him in the next book.
Overall a really solid start to the world but I am glad we’re moving away from Eve and Jagurs relationship in book 2 because I’m already more invested in the enigma that is Atlas.
Thank you to Ellysa for the eARC of this one. I appreciate you immensely
Review of advance copy received from Author
Huge thank you to Ellysa for letting me get my hands on this early!
Overall liked this concept a lot. Gave me such Divergent vibes, add in some Conform feels and you've got it. This has lots of twists and turns. So much power and political greed. Characters you love and some you'll absolutely hate. And others that'll make ya crazy. People that have Gfts. And those Gifts are where youre placed in this wild world. This all kind of gave me Daggermouth vibes... in a sense. Our two main characters are from two opposite sides of the world. One at the head of security for the pos himself, the one that makes all the calls for everyone. And then on the other side we have her from the lowest most unimportant part of the world. Thier worlds collide right away with him having to kill someone very important to her. Trust me its a wild one! The pacing overall is pretty quick. You move right along. And there is so much happening all at once that it makes it seem even quicker while ya read it. I absolutely devoured this one. I loved her Children Of Fate Trilogy so dang much I was beyond excited to get this one as an arc.
Out October 23rd.
For me this didnt get a full 5 stars was mainly due to not feeling the connection between our main characters. It felt very insta lovey and I never jive with that trope. I wanted a slower yearn. I wanted more depths of I need this person. He was just very insta i love her, i must protect her and have this strong connection and for me it didn't work. There wasnt a strong connection. Almost felt pushed to me. Also there was a lot to the world. At times i felt somewhat combobbled as to there being too much. And I just didn't feel it.
All the Sleep Token references I adored. Very cool! Am I excited for book 2, HECK YES! Definitely an insane world Ellysa has built here. I'm excited to see what she does with it.
I definitely say check this book out when it releases!
Overall liked this concept a lot. Gave me such Divergent vibes, add in some Conform feels and you've got it. This has lots of twists and turns. So much power and political greed. Characters you love and some you'll absolutely hate. And others that'll make ya crazy. People that have Gfts. And those Gifts are where youre placed in this wild world. This all kind of gave me Daggermouth vibes... in a sense. Our two main characters are from two opposite sides of the world. One at the head of security for the pos himself, the one that makes all the calls for everyone. And then on the other side we have her from the lowest most unimportant part of the world. Thier worlds collide right away with him having to kill someone very important to her. Trust me its a wild one! The pacing overall is pretty quick. You move right along. And there is so much happening all at once that it makes it seem even quicker while ya read it. I absolutely devoured this one. I loved her Children Of Fate Trilogy so dang much I was beyond excited to get this one as an arc.
Out October 23rd.
For me this didnt get a full 5 stars was mainly due to not feeling the connection between our main characters. It felt very insta lovey and I never jive with that trope. I wanted a slower yearn. I wanted more depths of I need this person. He was just very insta i love her, i must protect her and have this strong connection and for me it didn't work. There wasnt a strong connection. Almost felt pushed to me. Also there was a lot to the world. At times i felt somewhat combobbled as to there being too much. And I just didn't feel it.
All the Sleep Token references I adored. Very cool! Am I excited for book 2, HECK YES! Definitely an insane world Ellysa has built here. I'm excited to see what she does with it.
I definitely say check this book out when it releases!
November 7, 2026
Received an ARC from the author.
Tempted by Ellysa Marin is an ambitious, suspenseful dystopian romance that breathes fresh life into the genre by blending classic sci-fi elements with clever Biblical allegories and genetic lore. Set eight centuries after the floating civilization of Eden rose above the ruins of the dangerous "Below," the story follows a crumbling society where human genetic Gifts are deteriorating and authoritarian control is tightening.
The world-building is undeniably rich. From the mechanics of chemically altered abilities to the stratified politics between the scavenger colonies and the capital, the backdrop provides real grit and weight.
Where the narrative takes a bit of time to settle is in the early romantic pacing. At first, Jagur’s fierce overprotectiveness of Eve feels jarringly intense and displaced for a man of his standing who barely knows her. Even as initial explanations are provided, it stretches belief early on. However, this actually works in favor of Eve’s characterization: her enduring distrust of him feels completely validated. She has suffered under systemic oppression her entire life, viewing Jagur as the Sovereign’s privileged Praetorian weapon who takes whatever he wants. The turning point comes as the narrative reveals that proximity to the Sovereign is merely a gilded cage—its own suffocating form of bondage. Once that mutual understanding clicks, their transition from enemies to allies feels genuine, grounded in intense yearning and hard-won trust.
The second half of the book moves like a freight train. Ellysa Marin executes the suspense masterfully—there were multiple sequences where the tension was so sharp my heart was pounding out of my chest. The twists are layered, the stakes are massive, and the cliffhanger sets the stage for an explosive continuation.
A stellar series opener for fans of high-stakes dystopian worlds, morally complex commanders, and fierce heroines fighting to break free from broken regimes.
Thank you to the author, Ellysa Marin, for the gifted ARC. All thoughts, critiques, and impressions are entirely my own.
Tempted by Ellysa Marin is an ambitious, suspenseful dystopian romance that breathes fresh life into the genre by blending classic sci-fi elements with clever Biblical allegories and genetic lore. Set eight centuries after the floating civilization of Eden rose above the ruins of the dangerous "Below," the story follows a crumbling society where human genetic Gifts are deteriorating and authoritarian control is tightening.
The world-building is undeniably rich. From the mechanics of chemically altered abilities to the stratified politics between the scavenger colonies and the capital, the backdrop provides real grit and weight.
Where the narrative takes a bit of time to settle is in the early romantic pacing. At first, Jagur’s fierce overprotectiveness of Eve feels jarringly intense and displaced for a man of his standing who barely knows her. Even as initial explanations are provided, it stretches belief early on. However, this actually works in favor of Eve’s characterization: her enduring distrust of him feels completely validated. She has suffered under systemic oppression her entire life, viewing Jagur as the Sovereign’s privileged Praetorian weapon who takes whatever he wants. The turning point comes as the narrative reveals that proximity to the Sovereign is merely a gilded cage—its own suffocating form of bondage. Once that mutual understanding clicks, their transition from enemies to allies feels genuine, grounded in intense yearning and hard-won trust.
The second half of the book moves like a freight train. Ellysa Marin executes the suspense masterfully—there were multiple sequences where the tension was so sharp my heart was pounding out of my chest. The twists are layered, the stakes are massive, and the cliffhanger sets the stage for an explosive continuation.
A stellar series opener for fans of high-stakes dystopian worlds, morally complex commanders, and fierce heroines fighting to break free from broken regimes.
Thank you to the author, Ellysa Marin, for the gifted ARC. All thoughts, critiques, and impressions are entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I have... mixed feelings about this book.
What I liked:
Jagur. He carried this book for me. I loved how protective he was. His character was very compelling. The world itself was also intriguing, as were some of the side characters, and I found myself wanting to know more about them. I also enjoyed the writing style, especially the choice to tell the main characters' POVs in first person while using third person for . That was an interesting touch!
What didn't work for me:
I'm sorry, but I just couldn't connect with Eve. I think my biggest problem is that I was expecting a different emotional response from her to certain events. There were moments when her reactions felt underwhelming or didn't quite match the gravity of what was happening. I also felt like at times the story relied too heavily on telling rather than showing.
And the romance was underwhelming, too. Look, I knew Jagur would fall fast and harder. I had no problem with his obsession with Eve. That's exactly what I signed up for! But I was also expecting a proper enemies-to-lovers from Eve's perspective. Instead, she seemed to warm up to him pretty easily and pretty quickly. Like... where was the hate? Where was the tension? 😭 I just couldn't feel the chemistry between them.
Overall, this was an interesting book, I just wish there was more.
Thanks to the author for the opportunity to read the eARC.
What I liked:
Jagur. He carried this book for me. I loved how protective he was. His character was very compelling. The world itself was also intriguing, as were some of the side characters, and I found myself wanting to know more about them. I also enjoyed the writing style, especially the choice to tell the main characters' POVs in first person while using third person for . That was an interesting touch!
What didn't work for me:
I'm sorry, but I just couldn't connect with Eve. I think my biggest problem is that I was expecting a different emotional response from her to certain events. There were moments when her reactions felt underwhelming or didn't quite match the gravity of what was happening. I also felt like at times the story relied too heavily on telling rather than showing.
And the romance was underwhelming, too. Look, I knew Jagur would fall fast and harder. I had no problem with his obsession with Eve. That's exactly what I signed up for! But I was also expecting a proper enemies-to-lovers from Eve's perspective. Instead, she seemed to warm up to him pretty easily and pretty quickly. Like... where was the hate? Where was the tension? 😭 I just couldn't feel the chemistry between them.
Overall, this was an interesting book, I just wish there was more.
Thanks to the author for the opportunity to read the eARC.
October 23, 2026
For any fans of Veronica Roth's Divergent and Ally Condie's Matched, this is a grown up story you might enjoy. The glitz and glamour of Eden hides a dark underbelly of corruption, poverty, and abuse for those people whose mental gifts aren't powerful enough to gain them status among the elites. Into this world of autocratic power, where stepping out of line can get you executed comes a young woman trying to survive in her meager village after she comes into possession of forbidden knowledge. The heat is turned up to eleven when Eve is thrown into constant contact with the one man she has every reason to hate, Commander Jagur, the man who destroyed her family. After the first glance Jagur is willing to sacrifice anything to protect the daughter of a traitor , and Eve only feels safe in his arms. But Sovereign's maniacal quest for power is about to send both of them on a path neither of them were expecting. Sent to retrieve the object of the Sovereign's desire they are about to confront the secrets of Eden's founding, what really lies in the Below, and what their place in future might be. A dystopian love story about what happens when you are tempted by what isn't meant to be yours, and what you are willing to do to keep it. The intrigue is intriguing, and the book ends on a mild cliffhanger, so stay tuned my fellow scavengers.
October 15, 2026
Thank you Elyssa Marin for offering me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I will be amazed at anyone who doesn’t pick this book up and immediately devour it! Fast paced, interesting dystopian with so much potential for more!
This is book one in a series of interconnected standalones that follows Eve, an average gifted, and Jagur, the Sovereign’s top commander, how them come together, Eve learns to trust the commander, and he does everything he can to keep her safe. All of course while playing the games of the government.
The magic is interesting, the twists, surprising, and the ending perfectly set up to follow our next couple with tons of mystery from the get go.
What did keep this from being a perfect read for me is that I do wish there was a little more world building… and maybe a map. I know this is more of a character driven story ( and I actually love those) but I want to know more about how the USA fell and the rise of Eden. How humans developed these gift? And please someone explain how these are islands yet they talk about the below?
Regardless, I absolutely want to see what is going to happen in the next two stories with the couple we know about and the third couple I am hoping for!
I will be amazed at anyone who doesn’t pick this book up and immediately devour it! Fast paced, interesting dystopian with so much potential for more!
This is book one in a series of interconnected standalones that follows Eve, an average gifted, and Jagur, the Sovereign’s top commander, how them come together, Eve learns to trust the commander, and he does everything he can to keep her safe. All of course while playing the games of the government.
The magic is interesting, the twists, surprising, and the ending perfectly set up to follow our next couple with tons of mystery from the get go.
What did keep this from being a perfect read for me is that I do wish there was a little more world building… and maybe a map. I know this is more of a character driven story ( and I actually love those) but I want to know more about how the USA fell and the rise of Eden. How humans developed these gift? And please someone explain how these are islands yet they talk about the below?
Regardless, I absolutely want to see what is going to happen in the next two stories with the couple we know about and the third couple I am hoping for!
Review of advance copy received from Author
First and foremost, I would like to thank Ellysa Marin for an e-arc of this book!!
What a ride! Reading Tempted brought me back to 2013 when I was reading The Hunger Games and Divergent, and I tried to finish my work as quickly as possible, so I could read until it was time to move on to the next thing. Except now I'm an adult and was using every available moment at my corporate job to read Eve and Jagur.
This book was full of high stakes, high tension, and high chemistry. Dystopian romantasys are back and I couldn't be more stoked about it. The world, the technology, and the systems Ellysa created in this book were so clever and very enrapturing. I cannot wait to continue on with this series - that ending had me desperate for more!
If you're a fan of:
Enemies to Lovers
Government Corruption
Yearning
He Falls First/Protective MMC
then Tempted is absolutely for you!!!
What a ride! Reading Tempted brought me back to 2013 when I was reading The Hunger Games and Divergent, and I tried to finish my work as quickly as possible, so I could read until it was time to move on to the next thing. Except now I'm an adult and was using every available moment at my corporate job to read Eve and Jagur.
This book was full of high stakes, high tension, and high chemistry. Dystopian romantasys are back and I couldn't be more stoked about it. The world, the technology, and the systems Ellysa created in this book were so clever and very enrapturing. I cannot wait to continue on with this series - that ending had me desperate for more!
If you're a fan of:
Enemies to Lovers
Government Corruption
Yearning
He Falls First/Protective MMC
then Tempted is absolutely for you!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dystopian romantasy, a crumbling world, dangerous alliances, and temptation threatening to bring everything to its knees? Oh, this was a unique ride!
Fast paced and packed with tension, Tempted pulled me into a world where nothing is quite as it seems.
Eve and Jaguar are compelling characters, and watching face the threats closing in from every direction kept me invested in their journey.
I loved the blend of dystopian elements and romantasy, giving this story its own distinct flavor.
With danger brewing both within Eden and beyond it, there's plenty here to keep you turning the pages.
A gripping start to an interconnected standalone series, and I'm definitely curious to see where this world goes next!
Fast paced and packed with tension, Tempted pulled me into a world where nothing is quite as it seems.
Eve and Jaguar are compelling characters, and watching face the threats closing in from every direction kept me invested in their journey.
I loved the blend of dystopian elements and romantasy, giving this story its own distinct flavor.
With danger brewing both within Eden and beyond it, there's plenty here to keep you turning the pages.
A gripping start to an interconnected standalone series, and I'm definitely curious to see where this world goes next!
October 23, 2026
THIS. BOOK.
This is officially one of my favorite dystopian romances. It was the first book that I’ve read by Ellysa Marin, and she quickly gained a new fan in me. It felt nostalgic and fresh all at once. The MMCs had depth and emotion, and together they were everything. The yearning was real, and the slow burn had me flying through the pages.
The unique world that Marin has built is easy to follow while being complex and intriguing. The plot was action packed, and full of romance, lovable side characters, and of course, government corruption. The entire time I was trying to figure out what was going to happen while being pleasantly surprised by the results.
I highly recommend this book for all lovers of romance and/or dystopian!
This is officially one of my favorite dystopian romances. It was the first book that I’ve read by Ellysa Marin, and she quickly gained a new fan in me. It felt nostalgic and fresh all at once. The MMCs had depth and emotion, and together they were everything. The yearning was real, and the slow burn had me flying through the pages.
The unique world that Marin has built is easy to follow while being complex and intriguing. The plot was action packed, and full of romance, lovable side characters, and of course, government corruption. The entire time I was trying to figure out what was going to happen while being pleasantly surprised by the results.
I highly recommend this book for all lovers of romance and/or dystopian!
November 9, 2026
Set in a dystopian world, Eve lives with her sister and tries to survive day by day as a gifted scavenger in a world meant to keep her down. Jagur, a Praetorian Commander, has served faithfully but is somehow drawn to Eve and the fire that burns in her eyes. Faced with a corrupt Sovereign, they have to decide who they can trust, including each other.
I thoroughly enjoyed the different gifts and the world building that Ellysa has in this story. If you’ve read her other series, The Children of Fate, you’ll know that Ellysa has impeccable world building and depth to her stories and this was no exception! Fans of romantasy and dystopian sci-fi will love the blend of the genres in this gripping tale of love and corruption.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The way it blended dystopian elements with romantasy was absolutely fabulous. And Jagur and Eve? I adored their relationship. Their chemistry and the way their story unfolded had me completely invested.
The betrayal Eve experiences was a complete shock to me—I genuinely did not see it coming! My one wish is that we had gotten a little more history and background on the government and how everything came to be. I would have loved to dive deeper into that world-building.
That being said… I will absolutely be reading book two because I HAVE to know what happens next!! The ending left me needing answers immediately. 😭📖✨
The betrayal Eve experiences was a complete shock to me—I genuinely did not see it coming! My one wish is that we had gotten a little more history and background on the government and how everything came to be. I would have loved to dive deeper into that world-building.
That being said… I will absolutely be reading book two because I HAVE to know what happens next!! The ending left me needing answers immediately. 😭📖✨
October 23, 2026
I really liked this dystopian setting. Eden where the rich and powerful lives and then smaller settlements where the poor live. Your worth is measured by your gift which gets enhanced through stimulants each day. And then we have the forbidden Below, the remnants of the lost civilisation.
I really like the FMC Eve’s fighting spirit and sassiness. I also like that the MMC Jaguar falls first and hardest. They are not supposed to develop feelings for each other but they do. The book was interesting and made me want to continue to read. This is a good choice for all the dystopian girlies and guys out there.
I really like the FMC Eve’s fighting spirit and sassiness. I also like that the MMC Jaguar falls first and hardest. They are not supposed to develop feelings for each other but they do. The book was interesting and made me want to continue to read. This is a good choice for all the dystopian girlies and guys out there.
October 24, 2026
Loved this book and I know the series is going to be so good.
Very the 100 and Hunger Games! I’ve been digging dystopian reads and this was a good addition to add to my library!
Eve is the bottom of society standards. She lives with barely any food or quality of life but she has her father and sister that make is all worth it.
Jagur is closer to being top of society. Literally one step away and does all the Sovereigns dirty work. When Jagar goes to where Eve lives, Penn, and kills her father for stealing from Eden…he unknowingly falls in love with Eve.
With so many twists and turns you don’t anticipate, this book will keep you on your toes and make you want to keep going.
Very the 100 and Hunger Games! I’ve been digging dystopian reads and this was a good addition to add to my library!
Eve is the bottom of society standards. She lives with barely any food or quality of life but she has her father and sister that make is all worth it.
Jagur is closer to being top of society. Literally one step away and does all the Sovereigns dirty work. When Jagar goes to where Eve lives, Penn, and kills her father for stealing from Eden…he unknowingly falls in love with Eve.
With so many twists and turns you don’t anticipate, this book will keep you on your toes and make you want to keep going.
November 5, 2026
I love a dystopian romance and the author definitely delivered on that. The world building was creative, and I loved discovering things about Eden's history. Throughout reading the book, I had so many questions! It was definitely what kept me reading. Reason why I am rating it a 3 star was because of the insta love/ insta connection. I liked that they expressed how they felt and all that, but for me I needed substance in their love story. WHY DO YOU FEEL SO STRONGLY FOR THIS PERSON!? I did not feel any development in their relationship. The side characters were my favorite part of the book. I can't wait to see where this story goes. Ill keep my eyes open for the next book!
October 15, 2026
ARC REVIEW
What an enjoyable experience! This is perfect for those who love dystopian with some romance embedded in the story.
This is a dystopian romance full of background building. You become quickly attached to the FMC, who is strong and resilient and intelligent.
He falls first. And he falls hard.
The relationship does seem to develop quickly, but things happen quickly in the book so I guess that’s not out of place.
This was an easy read. It was easy to get drawn into the world. The twists and turns starting at about 40% kept my attention and I can’t wait to read book 2.
What an enjoyable experience! This is perfect for those who love dystopian with some romance embedded in the story.
This is a dystopian romance full of background building. You become quickly attached to the FMC, who is strong and resilient and intelligent.
He falls first. And he falls hard.
The relationship does seem to develop quickly, but things happen quickly in the book so I guess that’s not out of place.
This was an easy read. It was easy to get drawn into the world. The twists and turns starting at about 40% kept my attention and I can’t wait to read book 2.
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