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Winterbourne
Not yet published
Expected 15 Jul 26Three rules keep a memory thief alive.
Rule #1: Don't touch skin. Rule #2: Don't look too long. Rule #3: Don't let them see what you really are.
Tonight, I'm breaking all three.
Kira Shadowmere is the best memory thief in Vespera — a city where memories are bottled, sold, and savored like wine, and the people they're stolen from are left to rot. One touch, one pull, thirty seconds: she can lift the worst night of your life right out of your head. The Guild pays in silver. Her conscience pays in everything else.
But memory thieves don't live past twenty-four. Tomorrow is her birthday.
One last job should buy her way out. Instead, it binds her — soul-deep, unbreakable, fatal — to Lysander Winterbourne: the last son of a slaughtered house, the lord who executes thieves like her, and the only person in the world whose presence quiets the curse that's been drowning her since she was three years old.
She should run. He should kill her. Neither of them does the smart thing.
Now the Guild's master wants her caged, a power no Null should have is waking in her blood, and the deeper Kira digs, the clearer the truth becomes: she isn't the only memory thief in this story. Someone has been inside her head. Someone has been editing. And what they took will cost her the only family she has left.
Rule #1: Don't touch skin. Rule #2: Don't look too long. Rule #3: Don't let them see what you really are.
Tonight, I'm breaking all three.
Kira Shadowmere is the best memory thief in Vespera — a city where memories are bottled, sold, and savored like wine, and the people they're stolen from are left to rot. One touch, one pull, thirty seconds: she can lift the worst night of your life right out of your head. The Guild pays in silver. Her conscience pays in everything else.
But memory thieves don't live past twenty-four. Tomorrow is her birthday.
One last job should buy her way out. Instead, it binds her — soul-deep, unbreakable, fatal — to Lysander Winterbourne: the last son of a slaughtered house, the lord who executes thieves like her, and the only person in the world whose presence quiets the curse that's been drowning her since she was three years old.
She should run. He should kill her. Neither of them does the smart thing.
Now the Guild's master wants her caged, a power no Null should have is waking in her blood, and the deeper Kira digs, the clearer the truth becomes: she isn't the only memory thief in this story. Someone has been inside her head. Someone has been editing. And what they took will cost her the only family she has left.
- GenresFantasy
425 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 15, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 22, 2026
Omg. This book is perfection. The writing style and the characters are worth getting lost in. I finished this in one sitting. I could not put it down. Wow wow wow.
June 25, 2026
I just finished this book and I loved the story. It was super creative and the plot was EXCELLENT. I love an enemies to lovers and a strong FMC. The MMC is also great. It is also a standalone Romantasy which I appreciate because I am getting sick of all the series coming out that we have to wait for.
You'll love this if you want:
⚔️ Touch her and die
🗝️ A thief heroine who steals the wrong thing
🔥 Enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity
🪦 Found family who'd bury bodies for each other
🌒 Morally gray everyone
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.
You'll love this if you want:
⚔️ Touch her and die
🗝️ A thief heroine who steals the wrong thing
🔥 Enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity
🪦 Found family who'd bury bodies for each other
🌒 Morally gray everyone
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐ Rating: 2.5 - 3 Stars | DNF at 50%
✨ The Vibe
Dark, gothic romantasy with memory thieves, cursed powers, mysterious secrets, and a romance simmering beneath layers of danger and intrigue.
Honestly, the premise sounded incredible. A city where memories can be stolen, bottled, and sold? A memory thief heroine and a cursed lord? A soul bond? Sign me up.
📚 What the Book Is About (No Spoilers)
Kira Shadowmere is one of the most talented memory thieves in Vespera, a city where memories are bought and sold like precious commodities.
With her twenty-fourth birthday approaching—and memory thieves rarely surviving beyond it—Kira plans to complete one final job and leave her dangerous life behind.
Instead, she becomes bound to Lysander Winterbourne, a powerful lord who should be her enemy and whose presence may be the only thing keeping her alive.
As buried secrets begin surfacing, Kira discovers that someone may have been tampering with her memories all along.
🖤 My Reading Experience
I went into this book with extremely high expectations.
Partly because the premise sounded fantastic, but also because it was marketed toward readers of Fourth Wing, Quicksilver, and The Serpent and the Wings of Night—three books that I absolutely love.
Unfortunately, this ended up being a DNF for me at around the 50% mark.
The strange thing is that I don’t think the problem was the story itself.
In fact, there were quite a few things I genuinely liked. The concept is unique and interesting, the world building felt promising, and the magic system had a lot of potential.
The atmosphere was dark, mysterious, and slightly gothic in a way I normally enjoy.
And I could definitely feel tension between Kira and Lysander from the very beginning.
The problem was that I never felt fully connected to what was happening.
💭 What Didn’t Fully Work for Me
For me, the biggest hurdle was the writing style. This is always one of the hardest things to review because writing style is so personal.
I don’t think the writing was objectively bad, it simply didn’t work for me.
Throughout the book, I repeatedly found myself confused by scenes, explanations, or character interactions. There were multiple moments where I thought I understood something, continued reading, and then realized I wasn’t actually sure what had happened.
As a result, I spent a lot of time trying to understand the story rather than becoming immersed in it.
Because I never felt fully grounded in what was happening, I also struggled to connect emotionally with the characters.
I found Kira and Lysander intriguing, but I never became invested in them the way I wanted to.
The romance was another area where my expectations didn’t quite line up with my experience.
This is marketed as enemies-to-lovers, but personally I never really felt the “enemies” part. There was tension between them, absolutely. There was chemistry. There was conflict.
But I never truly felt the hatred or animosity that I personally associate with a strong enemies-to-lovers dynamic.
It felt more like two people who should dislike each other because of their circumstances rather than two people who genuinely couldn’t stand one another.
🫶 Final Thoughts
This is one of those books where I can absolutely see why other readers might love it.
The premise is creative, the world is interesting, the atmosphere is immersive, and there are several intriguing ideas at play throughout the story.
Unfortunately, the writing style and my difficulty understanding what was happening created enough distance that I never fully connected with the story or characters.
Ultimately, I decided to DNF at 50%.
That said, if you enjoy darker gothic romantasy and don’t mind a more stylized writing approach, I still think this may be worth checking out for yourself.
📢 Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC. All opinions are my own.
✨ The Vibe
Dark, gothic romantasy with memory thieves, cursed powers, mysterious secrets, and a romance simmering beneath layers of danger and intrigue.
Honestly, the premise sounded incredible. A city where memories can be stolen, bottled, and sold? A memory thief heroine and a cursed lord? A soul bond? Sign me up.
📚 What the Book Is About (No Spoilers)
Kira Shadowmere is one of the most talented memory thieves in Vespera, a city where memories are bought and sold like precious commodities.
With her twenty-fourth birthday approaching—and memory thieves rarely surviving beyond it—Kira plans to complete one final job and leave her dangerous life behind.
Instead, she becomes bound to Lysander Winterbourne, a powerful lord who should be her enemy and whose presence may be the only thing keeping her alive.
As buried secrets begin surfacing, Kira discovers that someone may have been tampering with her memories all along.
🖤 My Reading Experience
I went into this book with extremely high expectations.
Partly because the premise sounded fantastic, but also because it was marketed toward readers of Fourth Wing, Quicksilver, and The Serpent and the Wings of Night—three books that I absolutely love.
Unfortunately, this ended up being a DNF for me at around the 50% mark.
The strange thing is that I don’t think the problem was the story itself.
In fact, there were quite a few things I genuinely liked. The concept is unique and interesting, the world building felt promising, and the magic system had a lot of potential.
The atmosphere was dark, mysterious, and slightly gothic in a way I normally enjoy.
And I could definitely feel tension between Kira and Lysander from the very beginning.
The problem was that I never felt fully connected to what was happening.
💭 What Didn’t Fully Work for Me
For me, the biggest hurdle was the writing style. This is always one of the hardest things to review because writing style is so personal.
I don’t think the writing was objectively bad, it simply didn’t work for me.
Throughout the book, I repeatedly found myself confused by scenes, explanations, or character interactions. There were multiple moments where I thought I understood something, continued reading, and then realized I wasn’t actually sure what had happened.
As a result, I spent a lot of time trying to understand the story rather than becoming immersed in it.
Because I never felt fully grounded in what was happening, I also struggled to connect emotionally with the characters.
I found Kira and Lysander intriguing, but I never became invested in them the way I wanted to.
The romance was another area where my expectations didn’t quite line up with my experience.
This is marketed as enemies-to-lovers, but personally I never really felt the “enemies” part. There was tension between them, absolutely. There was chemistry. There was conflict.
But I never truly felt the hatred or animosity that I personally associate with a strong enemies-to-lovers dynamic.
It felt more like two people who should dislike each other because of their circumstances rather than two people who genuinely couldn’t stand one another.
🫶 Final Thoughts
This is one of those books where I can absolutely see why other readers might love it.
The premise is creative, the world is interesting, the atmosphere is immersive, and there are several intriguing ideas at play throughout the story.
Unfortunately, the writing style and my difficulty understanding what was happening created enough distance that I never fully connected with the story or characters.
Ultimately, I decided to DNF at 50%.
That said, if you enjoy darker gothic romantasy and don’t mind a more stylized writing approach, I still think this may be worth checking out for yourself.
📢 Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Was this written 100% by a human?
This book sounded so interesting but I have a lot of issues. The writing really grated my nerves especially the further I got into it and the more of it I saw.
There was an overuse of similes. Similes, metaphors, and analogies are fine but I felt like I was seeing them every other page so it became overkill.
Is her name Kira or Kirstie??
Gideon only ever called her Kirstie and everyone else called her Kira. It was done so much (22 times) that I can’t imagine that being an editing oversight, but if it’s intentional it’s never clarified. Did the source of the writing forget what the FMC was named?
I noticed times where the same sentence was used more than once in difference sections of the book.
“I bite his lower lip, not soft, I don't have soft left in me tonight, and the sound he makes in answer…” from there the sentences ended differently but this was used in chapters 8 and 15. It just felt kind of cheap, like another way to say this couldn’t be thought of. This was done with a couple of sentences.
Some of the narrative was down right confusing to me. “It's the locked-down nothing of a man watching someone get something back from the cold edge of a room he was never let into.” Like what in the world does that even mean?? Tons of this talking in cursive happened in this book, basically every single page. I wandered lost and confused many, many times trying to unravel the riddle speech of the narrative.
There is whole of “not this but that” kind of talk. Is it bad writing or something else? Do with that what you will…
I guess the spice would technically be considered open door but the wording is vague-ish in description so I personally wouldn’t label it explicit. Which obviously that one is just a me preference.
That being said, this plot is unlike anything I’ve ever read. I love enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity and we get both here, although the enemies-to-lovers is on the light side. The concept and plot are interesting but too many issues with execution and one major suspicion I have regarding what did the writing.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.
This book sounded so interesting but I have a lot of issues. The writing really grated my nerves especially the further I got into it and the more of it I saw.
There was an overuse of similes. Similes, metaphors, and analogies are fine but I felt like I was seeing them every other page so it became overkill.
Is her name Kira or Kirstie??
Gideon only ever called her Kirstie and everyone else called her Kira. It was done so much (22 times) that I can’t imagine that being an editing oversight, but if it’s intentional it’s never clarified. Did the source of the writing forget what the FMC was named?
I noticed times where the same sentence was used more than once in difference sections of the book.
“I bite his lower lip, not soft, I don't have soft left in me tonight, and the sound he makes in answer…” from there the sentences ended differently but this was used in chapters 8 and 15. It just felt kind of cheap, like another way to say this couldn’t be thought of. This was done with a couple of sentences.
Some of the narrative was down right confusing to me. “It's the locked-down nothing of a man watching someone get something back from the cold edge of a room he was never let into.” Like what in the world does that even mean?? Tons of this talking in cursive happened in this book, basically every single page. I wandered lost and confused many, many times trying to unravel the riddle speech of the narrative.
There is whole of “not this but that” kind of talk. Is it bad writing or something else? Do with that what you will…
I guess the spice would technically be considered open door but the wording is vague-ish in description so I personally wouldn’t label it explicit. Which obviously that one is just a me preference.
That being said, this plot is unlike anything I’ve ever read. I love enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity and we get both here, although the enemies-to-lovers is on the light side. The concept and plot are interesting but too many issues with execution and one major suspicion I have regarding what did the writing.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy
I received an advance review copy for free from Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Some steal gold. In Vespera, they steal memories. Found this magic system really interesting.
In this story, memories (threads) can be traded, stolen, and weaponized. Kira, our FMC, is the most skilled memory thief in the city. Enter Lysander, the morally gray MMC who hunts thieves for a living.
During Kira’s latest job, the two get trapped in the Tangle, a rare accident where two souls become bound through a shared memory. And just like that, they’re stuck in the ultimate “I should kill you, but I’ll die if I do” situation.
As they search for a way to untangle themselves, they uncover something far darker: buried lies, dangerous secrets, and a conspiracy bigger than either of them expected. All while the ruthless Memory Guild Master hunts them both in his pursuit of power.
✨ What I enjoyed:
👏 Such a unique world and magic system where memories are treated as currency
👏 Found family elements. I loved the mentor-mentee dynamic between Gideon and Kira
👏 Enemies-to-lovers + forced proximity with “you die, I die” energy
👏 Surprise character connections and reveals that were executed really well
👏 Kael. easily my favorite character. I picture him as a gentle, silent giant
🫣 Minor niggles (just my opinion):
💭 The romance between Kira and Lysander developed a little too quickly for my taste. I would’ve loved a slower burn to really build the emotional payoff
💭 I really liked the side characters, but I wish they had more page time and deeper backstories, they had so much potential
Thank you Book Sirens and A.M Blythe for this ARC! I enjoyed reading it ❤️
Some steal gold. In Vespera, they steal memories. Found this magic system really interesting.
In this story, memories (threads) can be traded, stolen, and weaponized. Kira, our FMC, is the most skilled memory thief in the city. Enter Lysander, the morally gray MMC who hunts thieves for a living.
During Kira’s latest job, the two get trapped in the Tangle, a rare accident where two souls become bound through a shared memory. And just like that, they’re stuck in the ultimate “I should kill you, but I’ll die if I do” situation.
As they search for a way to untangle themselves, they uncover something far darker: buried lies, dangerous secrets, and a conspiracy bigger than either of them expected. All while the ruthless Memory Guild Master hunts them both in his pursuit of power.
✨ What I enjoyed:
👏 Such a unique world and magic system where memories are treated as currency
👏 Found family elements. I loved the mentor-mentee dynamic between Gideon and Kira
👏 Enemies-to-lovers + forced proximity with “you die, I die” energy
👏 Surprise character connections and reveals that were executed really well
👏 Kael. easily my favorite character. I picture him as a gentle, silent giant
🫣 Minor niggles (just my opinion):
💭 The romance between Kira and Lysander developed a little too quickly for my taste. I would’ve loved a slower burn to really build the emotional payoff
💭 I really liked the side characters, but I wish they had more page time and deeper backstories, they had so much potential
Thank you Book Sirens and A.M Blythe for this ARC! I enjoyed reading it ❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was an excellent read. I fell in love with these main characters and even several of the side characters! Some characters I thought I would hate when first meeting them, but they developed through the story and stole my heart.
Winterbourne is a great enemies to lovers story using a unique world and magic system. Memory thieves and mages, taking, using, and even instilling other people's memories in unimaginable ways! The FMC and MMC have some great banter that had me giggling at times, but their story is a wonderful journey of learning to trust and persevere through some very trying times! The unique bond they share was interesting to learn about and watch how it grew along with them. I was pleasantly surprised by a couple of twists in this story that I didn't see coming. I always love it when an author can surprise me! For me, chapter 9 was a pivotal point for the FMC (don't skip ahead and read chapter 9, you won't understand it without reading the start of the book). While the world and magic system, as well as the characters, in this book are complex, the author does a wonderful job explaining things as the story builds and bringing some previously confusing situations into clarity.
I would highly recommend this book to any Romantasy lover, the spice level was fairly mild, in my opinion, but well written. I do wonder if there might be a second book or not, I felt maybe some things were left open for such an opportunity. Guess we will have to wait and see, but I would definitely read a second book if one is written.
Winterbourne is a great enemies to lovers story using a unique world and magic system. Memory thieves and mages, taking, using, and even instilling other people's memories in unimaginable ways! The FMC and MMC have some great banter that had me giggling at times, but their story is a wonderful journey of learning to trust and persevere through some very trying times! The unique bond they share was interesting to learn about and watch how it grew along with them. I was pleasantly surprised by a couple of twists in this story that I didn't see coming. I always love it when an author can surprise me! For me, chapter 9 was a pivotal point for the FMC (don't skip ahead and read chapter 9, you won't understand it without reading the start of the book). While the world and magic system, as well as the characters, in this book are complex, the author does a wonderful job explaining things as the story builds and bringing some previously confusing situations into clarity.
I would highly recommend this book to any Romantasy lover, the spice level was fairly mild, in my opinion, but well written. I do wonder if there might be a second book or not, I felt maybe some things were left open for such an opportunity. Guess we will have to wait and see, but I would definitely read a second book if one is written.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ **5/5 STARS** ❄️🖤✨
Okay... WHY is no one screaming about this book?! 😭📚
*Winterbourne* completely pulled me in from page one and refused to let go.
It's immaculate: dark, magical, mysterious, and dripping with that cozy-but-slightly-unhinged feeling that makes you want to stay up until 3 a.m. "Just one more chapter." (Spoiler: it's never just one more chapter. 🤡)
The worldbuilding was rich without ever feeling overwhelming, and the characters felt so *real*. I became ridiculously attached to them, and by the end I was emotionally invested in basically everyone's happiness. 😂 The dialogue was sharp, the pacing kept surprising me, and every time I thought I knew where the story was going... nope.
And can we talk about the vibes?? ❄️✨ Atmospheric. Emotional. Mysterious. The kind of book where you can practically feel the cold air and hear the silence between the trees.
There were so many moments that made me smile, gasp, and whisper "OH NO..." to absolutely no one. 😂 The emotional beats landed perfectly, and I loved that the story balanced tension, heart, and just enough twists to keep me glued to the pages.
If you love:
❄️ Atmospheric fantasy
🖤 Characters you'll obsess over
📖 Beautiful writing
✨ Mystery and magic
💙 Emotional moments that actually hit
...then do yourself a favor and pick this one up.
Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This was an easy five stars from me, and I'll definitely be reading whatever this author writes next! 💙📚✨
Okay... WHY is no one screaming about this book?! 😭📚
*Winterbourne* completely pulled me in from page one and refused to let go.
It's immaculate: dark, magical, mysterious, and dripping with that cozy-but-slightly-unhinged feeling that makes you want to stay up until 3 a.m. "Just one more chapter." (Spoiler: it's never just one more chapter. 🤡)
The worldbuilding was rich without ever feeling overwhelming, and the characters felt so *real*. I became ridiculously attached to them, and by the end I was emotionally invested in basically everyone's happiness. 😂 The dialogue was sharp, the pacing kept surprising me, and every time I thought I knew where the story was going... nope.
And can we talk about the vibes?? ❄️✨ Atmospheric. Emotional. Mysterious. The kind of book where you can practically feel the cold air and hear the silence between the trees.
There were so many moments that made me smile, gasp, and whisper "OH NO..." to absolutely no one. 😂 The emotional beats landed perfectly, and I loved that the story balanced tension, heart, and just enough twists to keep me glued to the pages.
If you love:
❄️ Atmospheric fantasy
🖤 Characters you'll obsess over
📖 Beautiful writing
✨ Mystery and magic
💙 Emotional moments that actually hit
...then do yourself a favor and pick this one up.
Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This was an easy five stars from me, and I'll definitely be reading whatever this author writes next! 💙📚✨
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a no sadly from me. Like some other reviews I struggled to come to terms with the writing style. I found the plot and scenes often confusing breaking up the flow of reading. I’d re-read and think on it and still be baffled.
I didn’t gel with the pull towards each other of the two main characters and didn’t really care for their story. I almost gave up on this one as I found some sections very tedious and pages far too many to describe a simple scene. Sometimes less is more.
I read the third round of editing version of the book. I know readers of early versions had major issues with things. I can’t comment on those as removed and changed but it didn’t appeal to me anyway. I think there is plot structural issues here. Also times when a minor scene will drag on but significant moments seem rushed.
I’m new to this genre and I’ve read a few great books within the genre so I wont give up on it yet. Sadly this one didn’t get me hooked into the story or the characters. 2 stars from me. However like all books some readers loved it. It’s very much a personal thing - how a book is for you as a reader. So maybe you’d like this.
Many thanks to the Author for my ARC via NetGalley.
Thanks so much for taking a little time to read my review. Your likes and comments mean a lot to me. 😻 Feel free to add me as a friend or follow me for more book reviews.
I didn’t gel with the pull towards each other of the two main characters and didn’t really care for their story. I almost gave up on this one as I found some sections very tedious and pages far too many to describe a simple scene. Sometimes less is more.
I read the third round of editing version of the book. I know readers of early versions had major issues with things. I can’t comment on those as removed and changed but it didn’t appeal to me anyway. I think there is plot structural issues here. Also times when a minor scene will drag on but significant moments seem rushed.
I’m new to this genre and I’ve read a few great books within the genre so I wont give up on it yet. Sadly this one didn’t get me hooked into the story or the characters. 2 stars from me. However like all books some readers loved it. It’s very much a personal thing - how a book is for you as a reader. So maybe you’d like this.
Many thanks to the Author for my ARC via NetGalley.
Thanks so much for taking a little time to read my review. Your likes and comments mean a lot to me. 😻 Feel free to add me as a friend or follow me for more book reviews.
Review of advance copy
2.5 Stars
Content Movie Level Rating: R
I had such high hopes for this book. It had so much potential. The premise was good and the magic incredibly unique.
However, the writing was very stilted. It was as if the author was trying to make a profound and impactful statement every other sentence. It’s what writers call “telling instead of showing”. Everything was just spelled out in the most dramatic way possible.
It is pitched as an enemies-to-lovers trope but they fall in love 35% into the story. #disappointing
I read through to the end to obtain the “happy ending” which was nice. But overall I wanted so much more out of this book. It was emotionally lacking for the reader because of all the “dramatic explanations��.
*FTC DISCLOSURE* I received an ARC from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review. My opinion is not meant to offend. Thank you.
Content Movie Level Rating: R
I had such high hopes for this book. It had so much potential. The premise was good and the magic incredibly unique.
However, the writing was very stilted. It was as if the author was trying to make a profound and impactful statement every other sentence. It’s what writers call “telling instead of showing”. Everything was just spelled out in the most dramatic way possible.
It is pitched as an enemies-to-lovers trope but they fall in love 35% into the story. #disappointing
I read through to the end to obtain the “happy ending” which was nice. But overall I wanted so much more out of this book. It was emotionally lacking for the reader because of all the “dramatic explanations��.
*FTC DISCLOSURE* I received an ARC from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review. My opinion is not meant to offend. Thank you.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I honestly had so much fun with this book. Kira is a fantastic heroine, Lysander is exactly the kind of frustrating man authors keep tricking me into loving, and the slow-burn romance had me muttering "FINALLY" at my Kindle more than once.
◡̈ ◡̈ ◡̈
The Threadborn idea, the ice magic, and the soul bond were incredibly clever. Easily one of my favorite magic systems I've read in a long time. It felt unique without being confusing, which is rarer than it should be.
.·°՞(˃ ᗜ ˂)՞°·.
Also, can we talk about the side characters? Kael, Gideon, Silas... absolute standouts. Even the healers had enough personality that I probably would've read a novella about them. I came for the romance and magic and somehow left emotionally attached to the supporting cast. Rude, honestly. 😂
◡̈ ◡̈ ◡̈
The Threadborn idea, the ice magic, and the soul bond were incredibly clever. Easily one of my favorite magic systems I've read in a long time. It felt unique without being confusing, which is rarer than it should be.
.·°՞(˃ ᗜ ˂)՞°·.
Also, can we talk about the side characters? Kael, Gideon, Silas... absolute standouts. Even the healers had enough personality that I probably would've read a novella about them. I came for the romance and magic and somehow left emotionally attached to the supporting cast. Rude, honestly. 😂
Review of advance copy
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a unique world and story. I loved the magic system that was being built and the intrigue and plot twists were unexpected.
That being said the overall pacing and style of the writing was not my style. Everything felt super jam packed from one event to the next that left little room for character development or deeper dives into the magic system which I had a lot of curiosity about.
Over all, not for me but kudos for a very unique magic system and story that wasn't cookie cutter!
This was a unique world and story. I loved the magic system that was being built and the intrigue and plot twists were unexpected.
That being said the overall pacing and style of the writing was not my style. Everything felt super jam packed from one event to the next that left little room for character development or deeper dives into the magic system which I had a lot of curiosity about.
Over all, not for me but kudos for a very unique magic system and story that wasn't cookie cutter!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Memories are bottled and sold like contraband wine and when a memory thief crosses paths with the last surviving lord of a slaughtered house, a fatal bind draws them inescapably together until they can't help but give in. But someone has been editing her memories, and the secret behind it has been years in the making.
Overall, there’s a fresh magic system, a slow-burn, and a standalone that leaves room for more.
Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing and A. M. Blythe for all her hard work, I kept updating my copy as you sent updated versions of the book.
Overall, there’s a fresh magic system, a slow-burn, and a standalone that leaves room for more.
Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing and A. M. Blythe for all her hard work, I kept updating my copy as you sent updated versions of the book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Beautiful storytelling and an exceptional magical world based on memories. I liked the characters and the plot and towards the end I warmed up to the romance, which didn't convince me at first.
I'm so happy that humans haven't developed mental powers that can be abused alongside current technology and power. I recommend the book to anyone who finds memory magic interesting.
Thanks to V-Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy!
I'm so happy that humans haven't developed mental powers that can be abused alongside current technology and power. I recommend the book to anyone who finds memory magic interesting.
Thanks to V-Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Unfortunately this wasn’t for me.
I loved the concept, the plot and the magic but the writing was not something I could get into.
Too many analogies and metaphors that were used so often and so repetitive that it broke up the writing. It was too fast paced and the characters got together too quickly, after ‘hating each other’.
Also, the author uses ai on her social media which I am completely against.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc.
I loved the concept, the plot and the magic but the writing was not something I could get into.
Too many analogies and metaphors that were used so often and so repetitive that it broke up the writing. It was too fast paced and the characters got together too quickly, after ‘hating each other’.
Also, the author uses ai on her social media which I am completely against.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc.
Review of advance copy
A slow-burn, enemy-to-lovers romantasy with many morally gray characters. The pull and push of the characters within the story will bring you into the story as well. So much is going on right in front of you and behind the scenes that you sometimes don't know which way you're going to go. The characters become real in a way that let's you feel for them and know what that feel.
I received an arc copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an arc copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is one of the most original and exciting Romantasy books I've read in a LONG TIME!
Kira & Lysander have chemistry, and now I have a crush on an old man, geez thanks (Gideon!) He's not perfect, but he tries. And don't get me started on Kael... argh! Protector with a big P.
Wow, kudos to the author, will def be reading more from her! Is there more? LOL
Kira & Lysander have chemistry, and now I have a crush on an old man, geez thanks (Gideon!) He's not perfect, but he tries. And don't get me started on Kael... argh! Protector with a big P.
Wow, kudos to the author, will def be reading more from her! Is there more? LOL
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really enjoyed this book! The story is very unique and I was captivated by the opening. Quite the cat and mouse game between the two main characters before they are forced to depend on each other to survive. A good time with some crazy twists at the end!
Review of advance copy received from Autor
This is how you do it. Interesting and captivating characters, rich and well thought narratives, add a touch of emotional depth, and this is the outcome.
Well done!
Well done!
Review of advance copy received from Author
WOW, this was a great, great, great book! The plot twists, and the writing was phenomenal!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Blew me away with the magic system, well-thought-out! And I'm a sucker for romantasy, so there's that, I'm biased :-D
Thank you for the early copy!
Thank you for the early copy!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I got a new version from the author after editing and it was excellent, easy to read and fascinating
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