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Winterbourne
Three 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.
426 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 15, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 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.
July 4, 2026
** advanced reader copy from Net Galley **
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely flew through Winterborne.
One thing I’ve realised recently is that the more fantasy I read, the less patience I have for books that take 100 pages to get going. Thankfully, Winterborne had me hooked almost immediately.
I am actually obsessed with Lysander, he had me from the first chapters. Incredibly dry humour, confidence with quotes like “I’ve already been to hell, it’s boring” say less. Every scene with him was brilliant and the characters bounced off eachother effortlessly - the perfect balance between chemistry and banter.
The bond between the main characters is genuinely one of the most unique things I’ve read in romantasy. The idea that they can feel each other’s emotions, memories and pain and that his body instinctively chose her as his sanctuary because his own mind was so fractured was such a beautiful concept. It made every interaction between them feel so much more intimate than your typical fated mates story.
I also loved that the magic wasn’t just “good versus evil.” The whole concept of memory thieves was so morally grey. Our FMC uses her abilities to take away trauma and grief, while others abuse the same gift in horrific ways, and I loved that complexity. It constantly made me question who was actually right.
The romance was gorgeous. The intimacy never felt like it was there just for spice it felt like two broken people finding somewhere safe in each other, and that made those moments hit so much harder emotionally.
This felt fresh, addictive and unlike anything else I’ve read this year. If you love romantasy with genuinely original magic, forced proximity, delicious tension, emotionally driven romance and characters you’ll become attached to far too quickly, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up.
The only reason it’s is not a full five stars is because it is complex, hard to understand initially but once you get the world and understand what’s happening, it’s a thoroughly enjoyable read and I would recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely flew through Winterborne.
One thing I’ve realised recently is that the more fantasy I read, the less patience I have for books that take 100 pages to get going. Thankfully, Winterborne had me hooked almost immediately.
I am actually obsessed with Lysander, he had me from the first chapters. Incredibly dry humour, confidence with quotes like “I’ve already been to hell, it’s boring” say less. Every scene with him was brilliant and the characters bounced off eachother effortlessly - the perfect balance between chemistry and banter.
The bond between the main characters is genuinely one of the most unique things I’ve read in romantasy. The idea that they can feel each other’s emotions, memories and pain and that his body instinctively chose her as his sanctuary because his own mind was so fractured was such a beautiful concept. It made every interaction between them feel so much more intimate than your typical fated mates story.
I also loved that the magic wasn’t just “good versus evil.” The whole concept of memory thieves was so morally grey. Our FMC uses her abilities to take away trauma and grief, while others abuse the same gift in horrific ways, and I loved that complexity. It constantly made me question who was actually right.
The romance was gorgeous. The intimacy never felt like it was there just for spice it felt like two broken people finding somewhere safe in each other, and that made those moments hit so much harder emotionally.
This felt fresh, addictive and unlike anything else I’ve read this year. If you love romantasy with genuinely original magic, forced proximity, delicious tension, emotionally driven romance and characters you’ll become attached to far too quickly, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up.
The only reason it’s is not a full five stars is because it is complex, hard to understand initially but once you get the world and understand what’s happening, it’s a thoroughly enjoyable read and I would recommend!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2026
This was a winding and description-filled Gothic-style novel. It was filled with twist and turns that as some points were difficult to follow along with but the plot was so well paced that I could not put it down. The spice was essential to the plot and mild. The characters were thoroughly described and given ample back story to understand their dilemma. The ending was outstanding and really drew together the whole story very well.
July 12, 2026
I was really enthralled with the premise and overall storyline of this book. The plot centers around memory stealing and selling the stolen memories at markets to those who have become addicted to absorbing other people's feelings. Some fantasy storylines have grown tired, but this was a new, interesting plot for me.
Unfortunately, I did find that some of the writing style detracted from the overall experience/enjoyment for me. In the beginning, the FMC lists off "rules to life" during dire situations, and while it added some humor at first, it became excessive and repetitive throughout a number of chapters. There were also several instances where words and phrases were repeated moments/paragraphs apart, and it happened often enough that it pulled me out of the story and had me flipping back to find where I had just read that exact line.
All in all, this was a good, quick read for me, and I plan on continuing the series when the next book is released! I did receive an advanced copy of Winterbourne for free, and am leaving my review voluntarily.
Unfortunately, I did find that some of the writing style detracted from the overall experience/enjoyment for me. In the beginning, the FMC lists off "rules to life" during dire situations, and while it added some humor at first, it became excessive and repetitive throughout a number of chapters. There were also several instances where words and phrases were repeated moments/paragraphs apart, and it happened often enough that it pulled me out of the story and had me flipping back to find where I had just read that exact line.
All in all, this was a good, quick read for me, and I plan on continuing the series when the next book is released! I did receive an advanced copy of Winterbourne for free, and am leaving my review voluntarily.
July 18, 2026
A Thief, A Curse, and a Whole Lot of Bad Decisions
Everyone in Winterbourne could probably benefit from making one reasonable decision. Unfortunately, that would ruin the fun.
The memory thief concept was what grabbed my attention, and I really liked how fresh it felt. Kira was such a fun character to follow. She’s sarcastic, stubborn, a little reckless, and has that “this is probably a terrible idea but I’m doing it anyway” energy that makes you want to keep reading.
Lysander is very much the cold, intimidating type who acts like feelings are a personal inconvenience, which honestly fits the whole dynamic pretty well.
The magic, secrets, and character relationships were my favorite parts. I especially loved the found family moments and the fact that pretty much everyone is morally questionable in their own special way.
This was such an entertaining romantasy with a fierce heroine, dangerous magic, messy choices, and plenty of drama. If you like enemies-to-lovers, cursed powers, and characters who should probably make better decisions but never do, this is definitely worth picking up.
Thank you to StoryOrigin and A.M. for the advanced copy, this is my honest review.
Everyone in Winterbourne could probably benefit from making one reasonable decision. Unfortunately, that would ruin the fun.
The memory thief concept was what grabbed my attention, and I really liked how fresh it felt. Kira was such a fun character to follow. She’s sarcastic, stubborn, a little reckless, and has that “this is probably a terrible idea but I’m doing it anyway” energy that makes you want to keep reading.
Lysander is very much the cold, intimidating type who acts like feelings are a personal inconvenience, which honestly fits the whole dynamic pretty well.
The magic, secrets, and character relationships were my favorite parts. I especially loved the found family moments and the fact that pretty much everyone is morally questionable in their own special way.
This was such an entertaining romantasy with a fierce heroine, dangerous magic, messy choices, and plenty of drama. If you like enemies-to-lovers, cursed powers, and characters who should probably make better decisions but never do, this is definitely worth picking up.
Thank you to StoryOrigin and A.M. for the advanced copy, this is my honest review.
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July 14, 2026I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Winterbourne is a beautiful described love story of found family. It a new world to be transported into where nothing feels fair and you cheer for the underdog. Emotionally this story takes you on a bit of a roller-coaster, leaving you unsure of what is up and what is down and how someone not born to be the hero can still save the day. There is a lot of information to hold about this story and at times can get a little difficult to all hold together but at the end its wrapped in a nice bow.
Winterbourne is a beautiful described love story of found family. It a new world to be transported into where nothing feels fair and you cheer for the underdog. Emotionally this story takes you on a bit of a roller-coaster, leaving you unsure of what is up and what is down and how someone not born to be the hero can still save the day. There is a lot of information to hold about this story and at times can get a little difficult to all hold together but at the end its wrapped in a nice bow.
July 16, 2026
Kira & Lysander
She steals memories. He had his memories stolen when he was a kid.
This book was a wow for me. It is very well written, has an original story that is unlike anything else I've read recently and is easy to follow. I like the fact that it doesn't end in a cliffhanger, it follows two unlike souls who fall madly in love with each other while trying to keep their identities.
I would've wished for the ending to be more detailed and to give us a more thorough view of what happened to all the characters, but otherwise I highly recommend this book.
Thank you for the opportunity
She steals memories. He had his memories stolen when he was a kid.
This book was a wow for me. It is very well written, has an original story that is unlike anything else I've read recently and is easy to follow. I like the fact that it doesn't end in a cliffhanger, it follows two unlike souls who fall madly in love with each other while trying to keep their identities.
I would've wished for the ending to be more detailed and to give us a more thorough view of what happened to all the characters, but otherwise I highly recommend this book.
Thank you for the opportunity
July 15, 2026
Thank you to the author and BookSirens for the book.
The concept of steeling memories was new to me. And kind of refreshing. It is different from the usual concepts. I loved the dark setting of the book. It added another layer to the story. The only thing that bothered me was the pasing of the story. Sometimes to fast and sometimes to slow. It felt kind of off. But if that does not bother you, this is a good read. I give it a 3.5 star.
The concept of steeling memories was new to me. And kind of refreshing. It is different from the usual concepts. I loved the dark setting of the book. It added another layer to the story. The only thing that bothered me was the pasing of the story. Sometimes to fast and sometimes to slow. It felt kind of off. But if that does not bother you, this is a good read. I give it a 3.5 star.
July 18, 2026
I really enjoyed this one. The concept of stealing memories was fascinating and done very well. I loved the dark gothic setting of this book. I also really enjoyed the dynamic between Kira and Lysander. The only thing I didn’t like was the pacing slowed down a few times, but it was a very immersive read. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more books from this author.
Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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
I’ve been debating whether to leave this review because it’s an ARC and I know they’d prefer I didn’t leave a low star review but if I’m not reviewing honestly then what am I doing.
This was a struggle to get through.
Everything important was under explained and still the book could have been at least 100 pages shorter.
Chapters 9 - 13 (40-60%) were tough - so repetitive. I can see why some people got fed up & DNF’d around half way through. You’d find the same sentence 4x just worded slightly differently.
If I’m honest, the whole book needs a harsh editors opinion & a good 35% of each chapter needs a red pen through it - “you’ve already said this, you’ve already described that” so much repetition within each chapter of descriptions, dialogue etc, everything feels like it’s done 2/3 times. But then on top of this, another 30% needs adding to add context to certain things - who is Kira? What’s her back story, what’s a tangle mean in practice? Etc. all of the core concepts are so under defined I was struggling to follow what was happening.
Building on that, even with the glossary at the start, the terminology used isn’t fully explained in context.
We’ve got no idea who Kira is, even now after finishing the book I don’t really know what happened to her & who her parents were and what that whole dynamic is - this is never explained. I found it difficult to follow in the early chapters with the amalgamation of the two memories, so I was left feeling confused - I couldn’t understand if Anya was his sister or hers. The fact she has his memories - why this came to be is never discussed, so your guess is as good as mine about why that’s happened. Her memories before his were added - are they all erased? She doesn’t seem to have memories of who she is, was she a hollow & then had his memories pumped in?
This felt so under defined to the point I was struggling to follow and I’ve not experienced this before while reading.
The little diary excerpts at the start of each chapter don’t seem to tie in at all - these were confusing & unnecessary.
Enemies to lovers - I love this trope, but they were enemies for 15% and then they’re in love. I’ve assumed it’s the bond that makes them feel this way but again this isn’t properly explained. There wasn’t enough development between the two characters and so it was hard to resonate with their relationship.
That being said, in the earlier chapters where they want each other & hate that they want each other - I love that. Give us more of that, let the attraction stew for a little longer and build some tension.
Having said all of that, the final third was almost excellent. So much more engaging, a lot less repetitive and I found without this repetition I couldn’t put the book down.
All in all, the whole premise & storyline had so much potential but the execution fell over. I’d seriously consider sending this through another couple rounds of editing & then you could be looking at more of a 5 star review.
Thank you NetGalley, Publisher & Author for this ARC 🧡
This was a struggle to get through.
Everything important was under explained and still the book could have been at least 100 pages shorter.
Chapters 9 - 13 (40-60%) were tough - so repetitive. I can see why some people got fed up & DNF’d around half way through. You’d find the same sentence 4x just worded slightly differently.
If I’m honest, the whole book needs a harsh editors opinion & a good 35% of each chapter needs a red pen through it - “you’ve already said this, you’ve already described that” so much repetition within each chapter of descriptions, dialogue etc, everything feels like it’s done 2/3 times. But then on top of this, another 30% needs adding to add context to certain things - who is Kira? What’s her back story, what’s a tangle mean in practice? Etc. all of the core concepts are so under defined I was struggling to follow what was happening.
Building on that, even with the glossary at the start, the terminology used isn’t fully explained in context.
We’ve got no idea who Kira is, even now after finishing the book I don’t really know what happened to her & who her parents were and what that whole dynamic is - this is never explained. I found it difficult to follow in the early chapters with the amalgamation of the two memories, so I was left feeling confused - I couldn’t understand if Anya was his sister or hers. The fact she has his memories - why this came to be is never discussed, so your guess is as good as mine about why that’s happened. Her memories before his were added - are they all erased? She doesn’t seem to have memories of who she is, was she a hollow & then had his memories pumped in?
This felt so under defined to the point I was struggling to follow and I’ve not experienced this before while reading.
The little diary excerpts at the start of each chapter don’t seem to tie in at all - these were confusing & unnecessary.
Enemies to lovers - I love this trope, but they were enemies for 15% and then they’re in love. I’ve assumed it’s the bond that makes them feel this way but again this isn’t properly explained. There wasn’t enough development between the two characters and so it was hard to resonate with their relationship.
That being said, in the earlier chapters where they want each other & hate that they want each other - I love that. Give us more of that, let the attraction stew for a little longer and build some tension.
Having said all of that, the final third was almost excellent. So much more engaging, a lot less repetitive and I found without this repetition I couldn’t put the book down.
All in all, the whole premise & storyline had so much potential but the execution fell over. I’d seriously consider sending this through another couple rounds of editing & then you could be looking at more of a 5 star review.
Thank you NetGalley, Publisher & Author for this ARC 🧡
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First of all, thank you netgalley for providing me with advanced reader copy of this book.
This is gooood. Even better than I expected.
Many male leads in romantasy had reduced to one simple tropes of just being ... "A Male Lead". You know? The one who snatched away the FMC's heart along with some of reader's heart with just one dashing look in a party. Yeah, it didn't work for me and luckily, Lysander didn't fall to such tropes either. While all male leads out there says "You're mine. I will have you whatever it takes ... If you chose it, elypsis." He was not. Lysander doesn't full of shoot. He can give reason, but even more so, he gave us reader, a reasoning. Why his reason makes sense. He try to makes us understand his reasoning, no matter how flop is that reasoning, an effort still an effort and I really appreciate that. It's really refreshing after reading tons of "You're mine" male leads. Lysander just gave us "I want you, but it's just my body physical need, my heart doesn't want you. It doesn't work that way." UGH, THIS IS SLOW BURN THAT I WANT!!!
And for Kira, sheeeeeesh, that sharp tongue is what I want. Not just some wet towel of a protagonist, she can rebuked Lysander when she want, she can be CHOKED, and I have no objection if the enemy part of this book is just 35%. If that 35% including REAL assassination attempt, I call it a day. She's confused, she's angry, but she can stood for herself and even call out Lysander for being reckless, I really like that.
Then the minus side,
One, the writing style still tacky. I can see some efforts editing in so many places but the flashback scene still to bumpy and not really inconsistent. Sometimes you use divider, sometimes it blends into the narration, sometimes you use full italic, and then sometimes it's italic and divider. Afaik, the flashback doesn't really have much difference. Only like 2-3 kinds of flashback happens in the entire books.
.
Sometimes it happens in one mind, sometimes it happens in both mind. I preferred a simple yet consistent flashback scene.
Second, I don't know the author's standing over using generative tools, but I want to cope that they are using real human craft on this work. Because this stand alone is what a bare minimum of a romantasy should be so I want to put my hope on this one (crossing finger)
This is gooood. Even better than I expected.
Many male leads in romantasy had reduced to one simple tropes of just being ... "A Male Lead". You know? The one who snatched away the FMC's heart along with some of reader's heart with just one dashing look in a party. Yeah, it didn't work for me and luckily, Lysander didn't fall to such tropes either. While all male leads out there says "You're mine. I will have you whatever it takes ... If you chose it, elypsis." He was not. Lysander doesn't full of shoot. He can give reason, but even more so, he gave us reader, a reasoning. Why his reason makes sense. He try to makes us understand his reasoning, no matter how flop is that reasoning, an effort still an effort and I really appreciate that. It's really refreshing after reading tons of "You're mine" male leads. Lysander just gave us "I want you, but it's just my body physical need, my heart doesn't want you. It doesn't work that way." UGH, THIS IS SLOW BURN THAT I WANT!!!
And for Kira, sheeeeeesh, that sharp tongue is what I want. Not just some wet towel of a protagonist, she can rebuked Lysander when she want, she can be CHOKED, and I have no objection if the enemy part of this book is just 35%. If that 35% including REAL assassination attempt, I call it a day. She's confused, she's angry, but she can stood for herself and even call out Lysander for being reckless, I really like that.
Then the minus side,
One, the writing style still tacky. I can see some efforts editing in so many places but the flashback scene still to bumpy and not really inconsistent. Sometimes you use divider, sometimes it blends into the narration, sometimes you use full italic, and then sometimes it's italic and divider. Afaik, the flashback doesn't really have much difference. Only like 2-3 kinds of flashback happens in the entire books.
.
Sometimes it happens in one mind, sometimes it happens in both mind. I preferred a simple yet consistent flashback scene.
Second, I don't know the author's standing over using generative tools, but I want to cope that they are using real human craft on this work. Because this stand alone is what a bare minimum of a romantasy should be so I want to put my hope on this one (crossing finger)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
**⭐⭐⭐☆☆ | 3 Stars**
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of this book immediately caught my attention. A world where memories can be stolen, traded, and weaponized is such a unique idea, and it promised exactly the kind of dark romantasy I usually enjoy.
The magic system is undoubtedly the strongest part of the novel. The concept of memory threads, stolen emotions, and the consequences of manipulating memories is incredibly creative. The world itself is atmospheric, mysterious, and full of interesting ideas that kept me curious about how everything fit together.
Kira and Lysander also have an intriguing dynamic from the very beginning. Their connection, the mystery surrounding their shared bond, and the secrets hidden in both of their pasts create plenty of questions that make you want to keep reading.
Where I personally struggled was with the execution.
As the story progressed, I found myself becoming less immersed in what was happening. There are many reveals, mysteries, and interconnected storylines, but after a while they started to blur together for me. Instead of feeling increasingly invested, I often found myself reading simply to reach the next revelation rather than because I felt emotionally connected to the journey.
The writing style also made it difficult for me to stay fully engaged. There were several moments where I had to reread scenes to make sure I understood what had happened, and I never quite felt as grounded in the story as I wanted to. Because of that, I found it harder to build a strong emotional connection with the characters, even though I genuinely liked the ideas behind them.
That being said, I can absolutely understand why this book will find its audience. The imagination behind the worldbuilding is impressive, the memory-based magic system is unlike anything I've read before, and readers who enjoy darker romantasy with layered mysteries, magical bonds, and morally grey characters may have a very different experience than I did.
Overall, this was a creative and ambitious story with an excellent premise. While it ultimately wasn't the right fit for me, I'm glad I had the opportunity to experience such an original concept.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of this book immediately caught my attention. A world where memories can be stolen, traded, and weaponized is such a unique idea, and it promised exactly the kind of dark romantasy I usually enjoy.
The magic system is undoubtedly the strongest part of the novel. The concept of memory threads, stolen emotions, and the consequences of manipulating memories is incredibly creative. The world itself is atmospheric, mysterious, and full of interesting ideas that kept me curious about how everything fit together.
Kira and Lysander also have an intriguing dynamic from the very beginning. Their connection, the mystery surrounding their shared bond, and the secrets hidden in both of their pasts create plenty of questions that make you want to keep reading.
Where I personally struggled was with the execution.
As the story progressed, I found myself becoming less immersed in what was happening. There are many reveals, mysteries, and interconnected storylines, but after a while they started to blur together for me. Instead of feeling increasingly invested, I often found myself reading simply to reach the next revelation rather than because I felt emotionally connected to the journey.
The writing style also made it difficult for me to stay fully engaged. There were several moments where I had to reread scenes to make sure I understood what had happened, and I never quite felt as grounded in the story as I wanted to. Because of that, I found it harder to build a strong emotional connection with the characters, even though I genuinely liked the ideas behind them.
That being said, I can absolutely understand why this book will find its audience. The imagination behind the worldbuilding is impressive, the memory-based magic system is unlike anything I've read before, and readers who enjoy darker romantasy with layered mysteries, magical bonds, and morally grey characters may have a very different experience than I did.
Overall, this was a creative and ambitious story with an excellent premise. While it ultimately wasn't the right fit for me, I'm glad I had the opportunity to experience such an original concept.
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 really enjoyed the concept of the book and found it different to other books I have read. I like how memories are associated with colours, and they are traded/ stolen and implanted in people or jars. The story flowed really well and I enjoyed how the story played out. There was a lot of action with a side of romance- it balanced really well.
The story itself is very fast paced and engaging. There is never a dull moment. The world building is easy to follow. To say it is fast paced, it was very descriptive and didn't feel rushed. But there was the odd time that I felt like I had to fill in the gaps.
Kira is a strong FMC- shes bold, shes whitty and puts other people first. She is very likeable and I was routing for her to succeed. Shes the right amount of confident without being cocky. I liked Lysander, he was strong in his own right, calculating, smart and towards the second half of the book says some of the best things. For me, I like enemies to lovers to last longer (I get this wouldn't be possible with being a standalone), they only felt like enemies for a short period and then the romance itself felt like it jumped out of no where. I understand they were connected by a bond, but its like there was just an instant switch from one to the other.
The side characters in this book are very interesting and I would quite like to know more of their story...
I have based my rating purely of the story itself, but I did have a few bug bares...
- Gideon calls Kira, Kirstie- he is the only one to do so, but I don't feel this is ever explained.
- Some of the phrasing were reused close together/within the same chapter.
- Some of the punctuation didnt always make sense- it would be part of a sentence, then a full stop and one word.
Though its important to say I did not read the final draft.
Overall I enjoyed this book. I found the story to be unique and I loved the concept. Very much a found family and I loved them all. Fast paced and engaging. This would be a good intro to romatasy.
Thank you for the opportunity to do my first ARC read :)
The story itself is very fast paced and engaging. There is never a dull moment. The world building is easy to follow. To say it is fast paced, it was very descriptive and didn't feel rushed. But there was the odd time that I felt like I had to fill in the gaps.
Kira is a strong FMC- shes bold, shes whitty and puts other people first. She is very likeable and I was routing for her to succeed. Shes the right amount of confident without being cocky. I liked Lysander, he was strong in his own right, calculating, smart and towards the second half of the book says some of the best things. For me, I like enemies to lovers to last longer (I get this wouldn't be possible with being a standalone), they only felt like enemies for a short period and then the romance itself felt like it jumped out of no where. I understand they were connected by a bond, but its like there was just an instant switch from one to the other.
The side characters in this book are very interesting and I would quite like to know more of their story...
I have based my rating purely of the story itself, but I did have a few bug bares...
- Gideon calls Kira, Kirstie- he is the only one to do so, but I don't feel this is ever explained.
- Some of the phrasing were reused close together/within the same chapter.
- Some of the punctuation didnt always make sense- it would be part of a sentence, then a full stop and one word.
Though its important to say I did not read the final draft.
Overall I enjoyed this book. I found the story to be unique and I loved the concept. Very much a found family and I loved them all. Fast paced and engaging. This would be a good intro to romatasy.
Thank you for the opportunity to do my first ARC read :)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of Winterbourne immediately hooked me. A world where memories are stolen, traded, and weaponized felt fresh, and I loved uncovering the mysteries surrounding Kira, the Guild, and the magic system. The concept itself was one of the book’s strongest features, and I found myself wanting answers from the very beginning.
That said, this was a slower read for me than I expected. The world-building is ambitious, but there were times when I felt overwhelmed trying to piece together the terminology and how everything fit together. I actually wished there had been an audiobook because I think hearing the story would have helped me stay immersed during the denser sections.
Once the story picked up, the twists started landing and I appreciated how many pieces came together by the end. The emotional stakes grew stronger as the story progressed, and I finished feeling much more invested than I was at the beginning. The romance is definitely a slow burn, with the fantasy and mystery taking center stage.
Overall, Winterbourne is an imaginative romantasy with an original magic system and plenty of mystery. Readers who enjoy unraveling layered fantasy worlds, memory-based magic, and slow-burn romance will likely have a great time with this one. While I occasionally struggled with the pacing and complexity of the world-building, I’m glad I stuck with it because the payoff was worth it.
Don’t go into this expecting a spice-forward romantasy. The romance develops gradually, with only minimal spice, while the mystery, world-building, and unique memory magic remain the true stars of the story.
Recommended for readers who enjoy:
* Memory-based magic
* Slow-burn romance
* Mystery-driven fantasy
* Layered world-building
* Found family and hidden secrets
The premise of Winterbourne immediately hooked me. A world where memories are stolen, traded, and weaponized felt fresh, and I loved uncovering the mysteries surrounding Kira, the Guild, and the magic system. The concept itself was one of the book’s strongest features, and I found myself wanting answers from the very beginning.
That said, this was a slower read for me than I expected. The world-building is ambitious, but there were times when I felt overwhelmed trying to piece together the terminology and how everything fit together. I actually wished there had been an audiobook because I think hearing the story would have helped me stay immersed during the denser sections.
Once the story picked up, the twists started landing and I appreciated how many pieces came together by the end. The emotional stakes grew stronger as the story progressed, and I finished feeling much more invested than I was at the beginning. The romance is definitely a slow burn, with the fantasy and mystery taking center stage.
Overall, Winterbourne is an imaginative romantasy with an original magic system and plenty of mystery. Readers who enjoy unraveling layered fantasy worlds, memory-based magic, and slow-burn romance will likely have a great time with this one. While I occasionally struggled with the pacing and complexity of the world-building, I’m glad I stuck with it because the payoff was worth it.
Don’t go into this expecting a spice-forward romantasy. The romance develops gradually, with only minimal spice, while the mystery, world-building, and unique memory magic remain the true stars of the story.
Recommended for readers who enjoy:
* Memory-based magic
* Slow-burn romance
* Mystery-driven fantasy
* Layered world-building
* Found family and hidden secrets
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Winterbourne was a refreshing idea on the magic of memory.
The world-building was innovative -- there are several layers adding to the complexity of the magic systems. The idea that memory threads cannot only be taken from others but manipulated in various ways was quite interesting, if a little hard to understand at times (such as the big reveals at the end of the book -- my head couldn't quite understand how it all worked). In addition, there is general magic (think elements) AND what is deemed as "old" magic/blood. This complexity, however, is in general easy to understand and slowly introduced as we dive deeper into the world.
The romance for me seemed to take a sharp turn towards favorable, as we first start in the classic trope of enemies-to-lovers. Without giving away spoilers, it seemed there was one moment where they were tolerant of each other's forced proximity then seem to figure out they are actually in love with each other. It was a little confusing but a minor note I took notice of.
The characters were excellent, each fully realized and full of human characteristics that made sure none of them felt stiff or one-dimensional. I don't think I can claim to hate any of the characters, even the "villians" as they also had a plethora of depth to them.
My Takeaways:
-- colors always go with emotions, so why not the memories?
-- a thief who immediately screws up her job because reasons (instead of being flawless/perfect)
-- ♫ you are cold as ice ♫
-- the very deep fear that you are not who you think you are (memory manipulation is a thing and that is frightening)
-- bittersweet journey
Thank you to NetGalley, the author A.M. Blythe, and the publisher ARC provided by V-Publishing for giving me an eARC to read and review!
The world-building was innovative -- there are several layers adding to the complexity of the magic systems. The idea that memory threads cannot only be taken from others but manipulated in various ways was quite interesting, if a little hard to understand at times (such as the big reveals at the end of the book -- my head couldn't quite understand how it all worked). In addition, there is general magic (think elements) AND what is deemed as "old" magic/blood. This complexity, however, is in general easy to understand and slowly introduced as we dive deeper into the world.
The romance for me seemed to take a sharp turn towards favorable, as we first start in the classic trope of enemies-to-lovers. Without giving away spoilers, it seemed there was one moment where they were tolerant of each other's forced proximity then seem to figure out they are actually in love with each other. It was a little confusing but a minor note I took notice of.
The characters were excellent, each fully realized and full of human characteristics that made sure none of them felt stiff or one-dimensional. I don't think I can claim to hate any of the characters, even the "villians" as they also had a plethora of depth to them.
My Takeaways:
-- colors always go with emotions, so why not the memories?
-- a thief who immediately screws up her job because reasons (instead of being flawless/perfect)
-- ♫ you are cold as ice ♫
-- the very deep fear that you are not who you think you are (memory manipulation is a thing and that is frightening)
-- bittersweet journey
Thank you to NetGalley, the author A.M. Blythe, and the publisher ARC provided by V-Publishing for giving me an eARC to read and review!
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 NetGalley
Winterbourne had one of the most unique magic systems I’ve come across in a fantasy. The idea of memories being something that can be stolen, manipulated, and woven into the story was incredibly creative, and it made the world feel fresh and unlike anything I’d read before. There are multiple layers to the magic, from memory threads to older forms of magic, but they’re introduced gradually, making the world-building engaging rather than overwhelming.
The plot itself kept me interested, and I genuinely wanted to uncover the mysteries surrounding the characters and the world. Some of the reveals took me a moment to wrap my head around, but I appreciated how ambitious the story was and how everything slowly came together.
Where the book fell a little short for me was the emotional connection. Although the characters were well written and had depth, I never felt truly invested in them or their journey. I wanted to care more about what was happening, but for some reason I found myself watching events unfold rather than feeling like I was experiencing them alongside the characters. Because of that, some of the emotional moments didn’t have the impact I think they were intended to.
The romance had some enjoyable enemies-to-lovers tension, but I felt the shift from rivals to romance happened a little quicker than I personally connected with. I would have loved a bit more time for their relationship to develop naturally.
Overall, I still enjoyed Winterbourne for its originality and imaginative world. The magic system and mystery were definitely the highlights for me, even if I struggled to fully connect with the characters.
The plot itself kept me interested, and I genuinely wanted to uncover the mysteries surrounding the characters and the world. Some of the reveals took me a moment to wrap my head around, but I appreciated how ambitious the story was and how everything slowly came together.
Where the book fell a little short for me was the emotional connection. Although the characters were well written and had depth, I never felt truly invested in them or their journey. I wanted to care more about what was happening, but for some reason I found myself watching events unfold rather than feeling like I was experiencing them alongside the characters. Because of that, some of the emotional moments didn’t have the impact I think they were intended to.
The romance had some enjoyable enemies-to-lovers tension, but I felt the shift from rivals to romance happened a little quicker than I personally connected with. I would have loved a bit more time for their relationship to develop naturally.
Overall, I still enjoyed Winterbourne for its originality and imaginative world. The magic system and mystery were definitely the highlights for me, even if I struggled to fully connect with the characters.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was so excited to dive into this book. It sounded new and fresh, and I was all about this adventure with a memory thief. However, this book just didn't work for me.
At first I thought maybe I was not used to the author's writing style, or maybe just needed more time to connect with the characters. As time went on, and I was 3/4 of the way through the book and I was still struggling, I knew it was time to put the book down. It was just words to me. There were times where I was able to picture scenes, but then I would have a hard time holding onto that image as I read. I think a lot of it stemmed from the writing. There was a lot of repetitiveness throughout the book. We would be given a feeling, thought, or even dialog, and a line or two later, we would get the same thing again, but maybe with one word changed. This happened quite a bit and it really took me out of the story. I am also not sure what happened with the scene between Kira and Gideon. Her name is Kira. The synopsis tells us that, and all the characters in the book call her that. Yet, when she goes to see Gideon, he calls her Kirstie, and there's no explanation of it. No, "he's losing his memory of me", "he always called me Kirstie as a way to hide my identity", or any other way to tie in the fact that her pseudo father figure is calling her some random name.
I love the idea of this story. I see the world that the author tried to create and it's rich and deep. There are a lot of players in this story, and they are not all just black and white. There's a complexity to them that molds their actions. I feel like if this went through a good editing and scrub down it would shine.
At first I thought maybe I was not used to the author's writing style, or maybe just needed more time to connect with the characters. As time went on, and I was 3/4 of the way through the book and I was still struggling, I knew it was time to put the book down. It was just words to me. There were times where I was able to picture scenes, but then I would have a hard time holding onto that image as I read. I think a lot of it stemmed from the writing. There was a lot of repetitiveness throughout the book. We would be given a feeling, thought, or even dialog, and a line or two later, we would get the same thing again, but maybe with one word changed. This happened quite a bit and it really took me out of the story. I am also not sure what happened with the scene between Kira and Gideon. Her name is Kira. The synopsis tells us that, and all the characters in the book call her that. Yet, when she goes to see Gideon, he calls her Kirstie, and there's no explanation of it. No, "he's losing his memory of me", "he always called me Kirstie as a way to hide my identity", or any other way to tie in the fact that her pseudo father figure is calling her some random name.
I love the idea of this story. I see the world that the author tried to create and it's rich and deep. There are a lot of players in this story, and they are not all just black and white. There's a complexity to them that molds their actions. I feel like if this went through a good editing and scrub down it would shine.
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! 💙📚✨
July 10, 2026
Rating: 🌟🌟💫
Winterbourne by A.M. Blythe was a tough read for me unfortunately. It follows Kira, a memory thief, as she attempts to navigate her way out from underneath the Guild.
The magic system was very unique and is honestly why I wanted to read this book in the first place. It ends up being a little underdeveloped, but it was an interesting premise.
I also think that this book is mismarketed. It is labeled as enemies to lovers when in reality it is more like reluctant allies to lovers. I enjoyed the relationship between the FMC and MMC but at no point were they actually enemies. However, the bond that develops between them was what kept me reading.
My biggest struggle with this book was the writing style. The epigraphs at the beginning in chapters felt unnecessary and did not add to the story. The writing was repetitive without actually enhancing the story and the style was almost stilted at times. It took me almost a month to finish because I had such a hard time getting behind the writing style. Also, the FMC is named Kira but one of the other characters constantly refers to her as Kirstie with no explanation as to why. I kept waiting for it to become important but it is never addressed.
I wish I had been able to enjoy Winterbourne more than I did, but I just do not think this book was for me. Other reviewers rave about it so if the premise appeals to you, it would be worth picking up.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC of Winterbourne in exchange for an honest review.
Winterbourne by A.M. Blythe was a tough read for me unfortunately. It follows Kira, a memory thief, as she attempts to navigate her way out from underneath the Guild.
The magic system was very unique and is honestly why I wanted to read this book in the first place. It ends up being a little underdeveloped, but it was an interesting premise.
I also think that this book is mismarketed. It is labeled as enemies to lovers when in reality it is more like reluctant allies to lovers. I enjoyed the relationship between the FMC and MMC but at no point were they actually enemies. However, the bond that develops between them was what kept me reading.
My biggest struggle with this book was the writing style. The epigraphs at the beginning in chapters felt unnecessary and did not add to the story. The writing was repetitive without actually enhancing the story and the style was almost stilted at times. It took me almost a month to finish because I had such a hard time getting behind the writing style. Also, the FMC is named Kira but one of the other characters constantly refers to her as Kirstie with no explanation as to why. I kept waiting for it to become important but it is never addressed.
I wish I had been able to enjoy Winterbourne more than I did, but I just do not think this book was for me. Other reviewers rave about it so if the premise appeals to you, it would be worth picking up.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC of Winterbourne in exchange for an honest review.
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 received from NetGalley
Some books demand your full attention, and this one certainly made me work for it.
The first half dragged a little for me. I would have loved more world-building and clearer explanations of the different factions. I was also utterly confused by the whole concept of stealing, selling and using memories. Every time I thought I had grasped the rules, I felt like I had lost the „thread“ again.
The forced proximity was well done, though, and the underlying mystery kept me turning the pages despite my confusion.
The second half finally picked up the pace, and the finale delivered quite the emotional punch. While the main story reaches a conclusion, not every question is answered, so it definitely feels like a sequel is on the horizon.
That said, the balance between exposition and pacing never quite worked for me. In some places I desperately wanted more explanations and descriptions, while in others the story lingered a little too long and started to drag.
The romance also didn’t fully convince me. I couldn’t relate to where the transition from forced proximity to love happened.
And because these things matter: Lysander smells of winter mint.
This was not an easy read for me. It required a lot of concentration, and whenever my focus slipped because I was tired or distracted, I found myself confused all over again. In the end, it was a solid story with an intriguing mystery, but finally I couldn’t really connect with the characters and their story.
The first half dragged a little for me. I would have loved more world-building and clearer explanations of the different factions. I was also utterly confused by the whole concept of stealing, selling and using memories. Every time I thought I had grasped the rules, I felt like I had lost the „thread“ again.
The forced proximity was well done, though, and the underlying mystery kept me turning the pages despite my confusion.
The second half finally picked up the pace, and the finale delivered quite the emotional punch. While the main story reaches a conclusion, not every question is answered, so it definitely feels like a sequel is on the horizon.
That said, the balance between exposition and pacing never quite worked for me. In some places I desperately wanted more explanations and descriptions, while in others the story lingered a little too long and started to drag.
The romance also didn’t fully convince me. I couldn’t relate to where the transition from forced proximity to love happened.
And because these things matter: Lysander smells of winter mint.
This was not an easy read for me. It required a lot of concentration, and whenever my focus slipped because I was tired or distracted, I found myself confused all over again. In the end, it was a solid story with an intriguing mystery, but finally I couldn’t really connect with the characters and their story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I found the premise of this book to be really intriguing and the first couple of chapters had me hooked. I wanted to know more about this world and its characters. But after the first few chapters certain aspects of this world never really made sense and at times had me really confused and that continued throughout the whole book. This book had a lot of potential and I think if it was fleshed out a little more it could be good. But unfortunately for me this book was really hard to get through and felt like something I had read before. The characters weren’t fully fleshed out and because of that I couldn’t care about them or their relationships. Also the dialogue was really repetitive. There was hardly any character development throughout this book. And there were points in the book where I knew certain scenes were supposed to have high stakes and an emotional punch but neither carried through for me. Either because I was never given a reason to care about these characters in the first place or because certain situations that were supposed to be dangerous never felt like they were. The romance in this book also didn’t click for me. It felt very instant and because of that it didn’t feel believable to me. This book wasn’t bad but it left me frustrated because it has potential but I wanted more character development and world building.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 ⭐
Winterbourne has a unique magical system with memories being pulled and collected in jars as a currency and a means to living along with older magic. The characters are well written and the found family vibe was heartwarming. The villains and different families that made up the mage (folk born with magic) mixed with nulls (no magic) and the bleeds (born with a curse) along with other magic was confusing but fascinating once I understood each type. Kira and Lysander's relationship was interesting and a true forced proximity to lovers scenario that was decided by others with no choice but to do so. The whole idea of the tangle between them was well written. I feel the world building was slightly under developed and you really have to read winterbourne to take everything in or you miss viral elements that leave you confused. I struggled with the first half of this story and found myself rereading alot of the chapters to try and make sense of everything. The general plot, characters and magic is fantastic and I feel with a polish up winterbourne could easily be a 5⭐ romantasy read. Once I got past the first 55% I found I got into the flow and the ending was worth the beginning being hard to get my head around.
Winterbourne has a unique magical system with memories being pulled and collected in jars as a currency and a means to living along with older magic. The characters are well written and the found family vibe was heartwarming. The villains and different families that made up the mage (folk born with magic) mixed with nulls (no magic) and the bleeds (born with a curse) along with other magic was confusing but fascinating once I understood each type. Kira and Lysander's relationship was interesting and a true forced proximity to lovers scenario that was decided by others with no choice but to do so. The whole idea of the tangle between them was well written. I feel the world building was slightly under developed and you really have to read winterbourne to take everything in or you miss viral elements that leave you confused. I struggled with the first half of this story and found myself rereading alot of the chapters to try and make sense of everything. The general plot, characters and magic is fantastic and I feel with a polish up winterbourne could easily be a 5⭐ romantasy read. Once I got past the first 55% I found I got into the flow and the ending was worth the beginning being hard to get my head around.
Review of advance copy
Dark and sometimes disturbing.
The first sentence/title is a warning, but I will admit that I greatly enjoyed this book. The main characters, Kira Shadowmere and Lysander Winterbourne are morally gray but thay are also utterly fascinating, compelling, and somewhat twisted in a way, but that also made it nearly impossible to put this book down. Actually, the majority of the characters are morally gray at best, and a few of them are what I would call downright evil. This is a romance between Kira and Lysander, although she is a Null and Lysander is magically powerful and part of the aristocracy of Vespera where being born without magic makes someone “less than” and they are literally prey for the most powerful. In a city where memory is currency and Kira is a memory thief that Lysander is forced to hunt for by a powerful city official, a forced binding could be the end for both. Forced proximity romance with unexpected twists in the plot, Magic, violence, abuse of those considered less than, and a curse/ability that can kill. I think this is a must-read dark romance that just might make you cry, but it does end with a satisfying happily ever after, so I recommend this book to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC provided by Hidden Gems.
The first sentence/title is a warning, but I will admit that I greatly enjoyed this book. The main characters, Kira Shadowmere and Lysander Winterbourne are morally gray but thay are also utterly fascinating, compelling, and somewhat twisted in a way, but that also made it nearly impossible to put this book down. Actually, the majority of the characters are morally gray at best, and a few of them are what I would call downright evil. This is a romance between Kira and Lysander, although she is a Null and Lysander is magically powerful and part of the aristocracy of Vespera where being born without magic makes someone “less than” and they are literally prey for the most powerful. In a city where memory is currency and Kira is a memory thief that Lysander is forced to hunt for by a powerful city official, a forced binding could be the end for both. Forced proximity romance with unexpected twists in the plot, Magic, violence, abuse of those considered less than, and a curse/ability that can kill. I think this is a must-read dark romance that just might make you cry, but it does end with a satisfying happily ever after, so I recommend this book to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC provided by Hidden Gems.
July 16, 2026
3.5 - I rounded up in my stars because I really did enjoy this book, the characters and the concept. You are immediately dropped into the action and it really never stops. Kira, the FMC, is strong and independent. She is fiercely loyal to those she loves, and so is Lysander, the MMC. I enjoyed the banter between them and the other side characters. I will admit to crying a few times, the emotional damage was real. My only complaints were that at some points I was confused or felt vital information was missing or not explained and maybe that was me missing it, I'm not sure. Also, I the way the magic worked was too abstract or maybe could have been explained a bit more in depth. Perhaps there will be a second book as we are still not entirely sure what type of magic or the extent of the magic Kira has. Some people complained about the love story being too quick, but I think that was part of the "bond" they had. It was pushing them together and even though they fought it, it was inevitable and they were basically feeling everything from each other and had memories from each other, so the courtship was really short. LOL.
Enemies to Lovers
Forced Proximity
Mind Magic / Elemental Magic
Soul-Bond
Thief FMC
Icy MMC
Enemies to Lovers
Forced Proximity
Mind Magic / Elemental Magic
Soul-Bond
Thief FMC
Icy MMC
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews