Reign

by Bethan Croome

Found family, forbidden love, and a heroine who refuses to kneel— from Cosmopolitan's book imprint comes REIGN, a fierce feminist romantasy about choosing freedom over fear and setting fire to the throne.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fiction, Adult, Magic, Adventure

Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 1, 2026

About the author

Beth is an author and content creator from the UK. She holds a Master’s degree in Writing from Bath Spa University and enjoys crafting stories with flawed characters, complicated romances, and magical settings. When she’s not conjuring up fantastical kingdoms and creatures, you will find her walking her dachshund, Arwen, through the rainy countryside or exploring museums in search of historical inspiration.

Reviews

[Sophie]

DNF 12%. This book reminded me of Mulan and I love Mulan, so I was really excited to start this. 

Sadly, the writing felt choppy, the dialogue was stilted and bland, and it relied way too much on telling rather than showing how the characters felt. 

The plot was starting to get interesting, BUT I just couldn’t get past the writing style.

⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

[belle ੈ✩‧₊˚]

dnf @ 34%

I picked up Reign because the premise sounded exactly like my kind of fantasy: forbidden magic, a heroine disguised as a man, political conflict, and a war-torn kingdom. The setup was strong, and the opening chapters immediately caught my attention. The Mulan-inspired elements had a lot of potential.

Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with the characters as the story progressed. The relationships felt underdeveloped, and I found it difficult to invest in the romance. While Niamh had moments I enjoyed, her emotional development didn't always feel convincing to me, and I never became fully attached to the cast.

The writing itself was hard to get through, and the pacing started to drag in the middle. I found myself losing interest rather than becoming more invested in the story. By 34%, I realised I was reading out of obligation instead of excitement, so I decided to put it down.

This one simply wasn't the right fit for me, though readers who enjoy feminist romantasy and hidden-identity storylines may have a better experience.

[Christin]

Cannot wait 😍😍😍

[Mathilde Banville-Chénier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story follows Niamh as she hides as a man to escape her village after a magical event. Because magic is forbidden, she uses her brother’s name to flee, but gets conscripted to the army instead. There, she meets other wizards from whom she hides her womanhood. As the politics become more incertain, Niamh finds herself fighting in a war and forging unlikely alliances.

I really enjoyed this book, the political intrigue, the feminist takes and the multiple friendships, but I was not sure about the romantic aspect in the story. It seemed too perfect then predictable with Bash while also being too fast and useful with Fitzroy. There was a lack of chemistry between Niamh and the men. It felt a bit forced just to have a romantic aspect that was not necessary in my opinion.

Thanks to Edelweiss+ for a copy of this book.

[Astrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good book!! The themes in this book were all ones I enjoy strong female characters, cross dressing to protect identity, sisterhood, folklore accurate magical beasts and the list goes on!!!
This story gives medieval English Mulan vibes and I’m all for it! The characters were well developed and we got to know them on a personal level.
The slow burn love triangle was absolutely perfect! I don’t always enjoy a love triangle as I find the bouncing back and forth annoying. However, this love triangle was well written and felt natural not forced. The magic language was a special bonus about this book that I found really cool! I can wait for the next book and find out what happens next!

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A magical political story with a sprinkle of a Mulan retelling isn’t as successful of a message as it may have hoped to be but still a good ride.

With magic outlawed, Niamh hides her talents behind women’s curiosity and medicinal herbs but when a long time friend catches her speaking the forbidden tongue she flees taking her brothers identity and finds herself enlisted for the growing war against the skipped over Queen. With creatures lurking in the woods and more allies than she could have imagined she works to free her people from tyrannical rule and allow those with talents to walk freely in the sun.

From a retelling aspect I really enjoyed the identity swap where Niamh became her brother Finn and was able to walk through the world and be seen for her talents and not her skirts especially when it came to her craft as a blacksmith, that being said she fell into the trap of the gender she was wearing and was rather cruel and belittling to other women who had a different set of talents that made them equally successful in their endeavors. It is a fantasy story so I didn’t expect a lot of modern like changes when it came to sex work but she rarely considered them as fully formed people and more like objects to use or be jealous of and there’s a rather odd, and in my opinion quite selfish, moment with the ownership of a necklace later that gets shrugged off and maybe I’m weird for holding on to that as tightly as Niamh did but I don’t get why she kept quiet about all of it just because she wanted to keep it.

The other characters are rather flat, her brother fairs better when he’s not around and someone else is using his name. The love interests are fine though I wish more was given to flesh them out. With war stories like this I wish we could have focused a bit more on the conflict and used these relationships to pull you in so any loss feels like you’re in the moment with them but it was like looking through glass that muffles the experience. It also wraps up too quickly which again maybe it’s me but to have it be said that there are these grand stakes and essentially a war on two fronts to be handled in a chapter or two is sort of disappointing.

The more I write the more I question my rating but I’ll let it stand because it was an easy read with good bones to it just a bit rocky on the execution.

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a lot of promise. I loved the premise as it reminded me of Mulan and was very curious how it would play out within this world. I liked the magic system but most of the other aspects of the book fell flat. The characters were enjoyable and interesting at times but they all needed to be developed more. Also the relationships between Niamh and Fitzroy and Niamh and Bash were not compelling. Neither relationship was developed enough for me to care who she ended up with. Finally, the ending felt very rushed. Even just one more chapter would have really helped to bring everything together. I would have really liked to see what happened in the future for everyone. Regardless of all of this, I did still enjoy reading this book, I just wish there was a little more world building and character development.

Thank you to Cosmo Reads and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Nikki Saladino · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of people compared this to Mulan and I can certainly see the similarities in the very beginning, but I didn't think it was that similar other than a girl disguised as a boy for a little bit. Overall, I really enjoyed this one. The magic was probably my favorite part, and I loved how the romance was woven into the story without taking over. The world was interesting, the characters kept me invested, and I was always curious to see what was going to happen next.

It wasn't quite a five-star read for me, but I had a lot of fun with it and flew through it. The ending definitely left me wanting more, and I really hope this turns into a series because I'd absolutely keep reading to see where these characters go next!

[BookishKB]

🌧️⚔️ Reign ⚔️🌧️

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.

✨ What to Expect
• Romantasy
• Hidden Identity
• Forbidden Magic
• Found Family
• Love Triangle
• Political Intrigue
_ _ __

📅 Pub Date: September 1, 2026
Thank you to Cosmo Reads and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book feels like power, pressure, and emotional restraint all colliding in the same room and nobody is allowed to breathe until someone breaks first.

Reign is very character-driven at its core, and what makes it so compelling is how much of the tension lives in what people *don’t* say. Every interaction feels like it has layers—status, expectation, fear, desire—and none of it is simple.

The FMC is such a strong anchor for the story because she exists in a space where control is survival. She’s intelligent, observant, and very aware that one wrong move can shift everything around her.

She’s navigating:

* being constantly evaluated by people more powerful than her
* trying not to let emotion become a liability
* figuring out whether she can trust her own judgment in a world built on strategy

What makes her so compelling is that her strength is quiet but constant. She doesn’t need to dominate a room to control it—she’s always calculating, always reading, always adjusting.

But underneath that control is someone who is exhausted by it.

The MMC is equally layered, but in a completely different way. He’s not just “powerful”—he’s someone shaped by what power demands of him. There’s a sense that he’s learned how to function in a system that rewards control and punishes vulnerability.

He brings:

* authority that isn’t always clean or easy
* emotional restraint that hides deeper conflict
* a loyalty that is complicated by duty and expectation

What I loved is that he doesn’t feel like a simple romantic lead. He feels like someone who is constantly negotiating between what he wants and what he’s allowed to want.

Their dynamic is where the entire book sharpens.

At the start:

* they are careful around each other
* trust is basically nonexistent, even when attraction is present
* every conversation has an unspoken agenda

And that tension never fully disappears—it just evolves.

The relationship develops through:

* strategic interactions that slowly turn personal
* moments where emotional honesty slips through despite both of them trying to maintain control
* choices that reveal more than either of them intends

The push and pull comes from:

* power versus vulnerability
* duty versus desire
* control versus emotional honesty
* the fear that letting someone in could be used against you later

What I really liked is that their relationship doesn’t feel like it overrides the larger world—it *complicates* it. Every step closer emotionally has consequences elsewhere, which makes everything feel more intense.

The emotional core of the story is about:

* what it costs to exist in systems built on control
* whether trust is ever truly safe, or just necessary
* how love forms in spaces where vulnerability is dangerous
* learning that power doesn’t protect you from emotional risk

If you like:

* high-stakes, character-driven fantasy or political romance
* slow-burn tension built on trust and mistrust
* morally complex characters
* power dynamics that feel central to the romance
* emotionally restrained FMCs and layered MMCs

this is a really gripping read.

It’s intense, calculated, and emotionally charged in a way that builds slowly—but once it hits, it *hits*. The romance doesn’t soften the tension of the world; it sharpens it, which is what made it so addictive.

[FablesUnderMoonlight · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an e-ARC of this book through NetGalley from Cosmo Reads. Thank you to the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this in advance. All thoughts are my own.

This was one of those books where I kept bumping into ideas and themes that I found genuinely interesting, even when the story itself didn’t fully come together for me emotionally.

The strongest aspect for me was definitely the setup. I really liked the Mulan-esque identity swap elements and the way Niamh is suddenly able to move through the world differently once she starts living under her brother’s identity. There’s something inherently interesting about stories that explore how quickly people’s perception of competence, authority, and usefulness changes depending on gender presentation, and I kept waiting for the book to dig even further into those ideas.

At times it really brushed up against some fascinating conversations about freedom, visibility, mobility, and what it means to “pass” within a society structured around exclusion. Watching Niamh experience spaces, respect, and opportunities differently as Finn was probably the most compelling thread in the novel for me.

Which is also why I think parts of the feminist framing ultimately felt somewhat uneven to me. The story clearly wants to critique patriarchal systems and restrictions placed on women, but I often found myself wishing it had engaged more critically with the hierarchies being reproduced within the narrative itself. Niamh, despite being marginalized in certain ways, still moves through the story with a surprising amount of judgment toward other women, especially women surviving differently within the same system. And while flawed characters are obviously interesting, I never fully felt like the story itself was aware enough of how she was perpetuating some of those same hierarchies and dismissive attitudes.

I think there was room for a much richer exploration of how gaining access to masculine privilege might complicate someone’s understanding of power, oppression, and solidarity, and I personally would have loved to see the book lean harder into that complexity.

Outside of that, I did enjoy the atmosphere quite a bit. The rain-soaked war fantasy setting, outlawed magic, forests, survival elements, and general gothic tone created a strong visual identity for the story. It’s also a very readable book. The pacing moves quickly for most of the novel, and I can absolutely see why readers who enjoy accessible fantasy with romance, war tension, hidden identity tropes, and emotionally charged stakes would fly through it.

That said, I did struggle somewhat with the emotional depth of the supporting cast and relationships. I wanted the side characters and romance to feel more layered and lived in than they ultimately did, especially given the larger war setting. The ending also wrapped things up a bit too quickly for me considering the scale of the conflict being built throughout the story.

Overall, while this didn’t fully land for me emotionally, I do think it has strong bones and some genuinely interesting thematic ideas underneath the romantasy and war fantasy structure. I just personally wanted the story to push those ideas further than it ultimately did.

[Krisseh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reign had me SO excited when I first read the blurb! Forbidden magic? A girl disguised as a man? A rainy kingdom at war? Morally complicated romance potential? Found family? This is normally my kind of romantasy.

And honestly, the setup is strong. The first part of the book definitely hooked me enough to keep reading because I kept waiting for everything to click into place.

Unfortunately… it never fully did for me.

My biggest issue was the characters. I wanted to connect with them so badly but most of them felt underdeveloped. So it created this weird disconnect where I never fully understood the dynamics between them.

Niamh herself was probably the hardest for me to connect with. Her emotional reactions, especially where the romance was concerned, sometimes felt inconsistent. I kept feeling like I was missing pieces of her internal development. One minute we’re here emotionally, the next we’re somewhere completely different and I struggled to follow the progression naturally.

And the romance… I needed WAY more buildup. The emotional payoff just wasn’t there for me because so much of the development happens later in the story instead of being layered throughout. I wanted more tension, yearning, more moments that made me believe these people were genuinely falling for each other instead of the story simply telling me they were.

THIS genuinely threw me, the reveal of Niamh’s magic felt so abrupt? The beginning is fairly slow. So I expected the magic reveal to feel huge and carefully built up but instead it almost drops in out of nowhere and is treated so casually between her and her mother that I had to think "Did I somehow miss something earlier?". Considering magic is supposedly dangerous enough to get you killed. I wanted a lot more weight behind that reveal.

And a love triangle... Personally, it’s one of my least favorite ways to resolve a triangle because it always feels less like an emotional conclusion and more like the easiest exit strategy.

At the end of the day, this wasn’t a bad book for me — it just felt like a story with a ton of unrealized potential. The bones of something amazing are absolutely here: the atmosphere, the premise, the war setting, the forbidden magic. I just needed stronger character work, more emotional depth and a romance that felt earned rather than rushed.

If you love YA romantasy and don’t mind lighter character development, there’s still a good chance you’ll enjoy this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Cosmo Reads for this read!!

[SOS · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 stars!!! GR won't allow me to change the rating they inserted in this review.

In the Kingdom of Lyonesse, magic has been forbidden since the king and his sister Regina parted ways. King James has declared war on magic, and anyone caught practicing it will be hanged. When Niamh (pronounced Neeve—I looked it up.) Smith’s best friend, Avice, discovers Niamh with a magical creature and threatens to report her, Niamh has no recourse except to run and hide her identity.

Taking her brother’s name, Finn, Niamh is forced to join the military under the leadership of Prince Fitzroy Belfour, the illegitimate son of the king. Fitzroy is a skilled fighter and a consummate and frequently passionate leader. Niamh is assigned to practice a skill she’s good at, blacksmithing, something she learned from her father. She spends her day creating and repairing weapons and armor for the troops.

Niamh/Finn, disguised as a man, makes new friends among the soldiers and sailors. Her ability in the smithy brings her to the attentions of Prince Fitzroy, who senses her magic and assists her in honing her magical gifts. He affords her the opportunity to step beyond her forge and take on higher, more significant, jobs.

I enjoyed this book up until the point where Niamh, previously innocent, is revealed to be a woman and started sleeping around. I didn’t think that added much to the story, other than that she could be easily manipulated. It truly didn’t fit the character.

This turns from a romantasy into a book for mature readers. It did keep me guessing which man Niamh might end up with, but I found the reason she ended up with the one she did less than inspiring.

This book could have been shorter. I understand that the author wanted to show the great friendships the main character developed, but I often got tired of all the dragged out conversations. Don’t get me wrong. There’s much to love about this book, and plenty of action, but there are also sections that creep along.

Reign is filled with a good variety of magical creatures. It’s about a war between mortals and magic, about treachery, romance, friendship, and fear of what isn’t understood. Mostly, it’s about how society and culture restrict women in all way but exalt men. It’s definitely worth reading.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I thank all involved for their generosity in sharing this book with me, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.

[Zoey M · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to be honest, this was not a particularly enjoyable read for me. The book started out on a good premise, and I was looking forward to learning more about the magic of the world and the magical creatures. However, it started going downhill from there. The dialogue never felt as though it was advancing the plot, and for the first 20% or so of the book the word building elements were being forced into every conversation. I had trouble connecting with the characters or caring about Niamh's feelings for Bash or Fitzroy, because their interactions felt stilted and I never saw any chemistry between them. There are a handful of sex scenes in the book, which felt out of place.

Relationships between characters developed and changed almost instantly - sometimes a single line of dialogue would suddenly drastically shift the relationship between two characters without a clear reason. The first half of the book dragged by, and then the climax and the conclusion at the end took place over the last five pages of the book. It was extremely abrupt at the end, and felt a lot as though there was a word limit and there wasn't time to fit everything in properly.

For a book that is marketed as a "fierce feminist" novel, Niamh spends a lot of time thinking of every other woman in the book extremely unkindly. Her inner narration always had something to add about any woman that came across the page, especially when she was disguised as a man, and it was never really addressed in any way to imply that she was wrong to have those thoughts. There were a few moments where a character is intended to be viewed as a villain after previously being an ally, and it's as though the character's actions and words were written for someone completely different. There were also far too many mentions of characters Niamh didn't like having rotten teeth for my taste.

This last point is very minor, but it's something I really could not move past. Old English is used frequently throughout the book, and for some reason the character thorn (þ, pronounced "th") is represented with the letter "p", while it could have easily been written as "þ". It was an odd choice that didn't make very much sense and that I first noticed at the very beginning of the book, and it continued to bother me throughout the rest.

Overall, the choppy writing was definitely for me, although it was a promising premise.

Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fantasy with political bite and a Mulan-flavored twist, this one has more promise than payoff, but it's an enjoyable enough journey.
Magic is illegal, so Niamh keeps her abilities hidden behind herbal remedies and feminine harmlessness. When someone she trusts exposes her, she runs, stealing her brother's name and winding up in the middle of a war fought on behalf of a Queen who was never given her throne. The premise is solid: outlawed magic, forest dangers, unexpected alliances, and a fight for basic freedom.
The identity swap is where the book truly earns its keep. Stepping into her brother's life, Niamh discovers how differently the world treats her, respected for her skills as a blacksmith, taken seriously in spaces that would have dismissed her before. It's the novel's most compelling thread, touching on what it means to move through a world that was never built for you and suddenly gain access to it through a different door.
The frustration is that the story doesn't follow that thread far enough. Niamh critiques the system that marginalized her while quietly reproducing it. She's dismissive of women who survive differently, rarely grants them full humanity, and has a late moment involving a necklace that reads as petty and self-serving without the narrative seeming to notice. The book wants to be a feminist story but doesn't always examine its own protagonist closely enough to earn that.
The secondary characters don't get much room to breathe. Romances feel surface-level, which matters more in a war narrative. Emotional investment in the people around Niamh would have made the stakes feel real rather than reported. The ending rushes through a conflict that had been built up as enormous, resolving what should have been an epic conclusion in barely any space at all.
What carries it is atmosphere and readability. The world has a convincing gothic texture, wet, dark, dangerous, and the story moves at a pace that makes it easy to keep turning pages. The foundation is genuinely good. It just needed more confidence in its own ideas and more willingness to sit with the difficult questions it kept almost asking.
A rocky execution of strong bones. Worth reading, but you may finish it wishing it had been braver.

[Coralie · Rating 3 out of 5]

“He couldn’t comprehend how siblings could be so cold to one another, but Finn and I had competed our entire lives—with him always having the upper hand. This was the first time we were equals. Living as a man had finally allowed me to crawl out of my brother’s shadow and bask in the light, eclipsing him.”

(3.5 stars)

In the rain-soaked Kingdom of Lyonesse, magic is outlawed and punishable by death. We follow Niamh, the daughter of a village’s blacksmith, as her forbidden witchcraft is exposed and she has to flee her home disguised as a man. She soon ends up on a battlefield, under the King’s illegitimate son’s orders, whose mission is to eradicate magic.

This book started off so strong for me, I found the first 40-50% amazing and really engaging. After that unfortunately, some pacing issues appeared — I found the book to drag quite a bit for most of the second half, and the ending was way too abrupt. I think we needed at least one more chapter, preferably even two or three. Overall though I would say this book has a very strong base, and was very close all throughout to be an excellent read with just a little more editing. My major issue is that everything felt a little too easy. We’re thrown into a war, yet I never felt scared or anxious for any of the characters, and we only had three quick battle scenes in total.
There were no groundbreaking feminist takes in here, but it’s still an aspect of the story that I really enjoyed. I would’ve loved more emphasis on how Niamh disguised her true identity. They stayed at this military camp for supposedly months, but there was never even a mention on how she bathed, let alone on periods.
On the romance side of things, I was glad to see that the romance wasn’t the central plot of this book so I actually quite enjoyed it. I even liked the love triangle aspect because I found both love interests to be equally developed and interesting. It’s the first time I’m seeing an fmc actually stop fancying one of the love interests after they treated her badly and I. LOVED. THAT!!
Despite all of my complaints, I think this is a great debut novel and I had a good time reading it. I will keep an eye out for Bethan Croome’s next book!

thank you to netgalley + cosmo reads for this advanced review copy ◡̈

[BookwormishMe · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I continue on my 2026 romantasy tour, this stop belongs to Reign. There is nothing that notes that this is the first of series, but it sure felt like one.

Niamh Smith is a young woman from the Wetlands of Lyonesse. She longs to be a blacksmith, as she is far more talented than her brother Finn. For now she helps out in the smithy when she can, helping Finn to finish objects or teaching Finn. But the smithy is no place for a woman.

Her best friend is Avice, the daughter of the Lord of the Wetlands. Avice is royalty and Niamh a commoner. They’ve been friends their entire lives. Avice is promised to the son of the King of Lyonesse. Niamh has no prospects for marriage, or any desire to marry.

Magic is banned in Lyonesse, ever since the King’s sister tried to take the throne. Anyone found performing magic will be hung in the village square. So when Avice hears Niamh speaking Yfelle, the language of witches and wizards, Avice vows to let her father know. In a panic, Niamh commands the black dog she’s been caring for to attack Avice. Then Niamh is forced to flee the Wetlands, fearing for her life.

Niamh’s mother cuts her hair and puts Niamh in man’s clothing and sends her on her way. To the Walled City is Niamh’s plan. She will go there and become a blacksmith. Only her plans get derailed by the recruitment to the King’s army to fight a war in Cambas.

I’d give this romantasy a lightly spicy rating. I didn’t think it was going to be as good as it turned out to be. Niamh is tough and independent. She is talented as a blacksmith. And she is a very good friend. She is definitely a character you can cheer on. The novel is a tad cumbersome at times, but the story is great. Woman pretends to be man, finds herself falling for a man whom she befriended. The mythology and magical history is interesting. From the tone of the book, I’d think it was placed in the Scottish Highlands. It has that feel to it.

Would have loved to give the story 4.5 stars, but most outlets only let you give full stars. If you like romantasy that’s a bit on the spicy side, this is a good one.

[EmJustReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

Reign follows Niamh who is suspected of being a witch, and is forced to flee to save the lives of her family. She ends up getting forced into the war efforts — taking her brother’s place as a blacksmith. The vibe throughout the story is very much “a man can do it… how hard can it be?”

The kingdoms are at war over who deserves the throne: the (exiled) Silver Witch, or her younger *cough* weaker brother. Insert the Commander of the Army, and the friends Niamh meets along the way. The banter and teasing is great, and I really liked how the FMC really said whatever came to mind.

The story focused a lot on gender roles, and it’s a nice to see that addressed and acknowledged. Niamh is a more talented blacksmith than her brother, but because she’s a woman no one in the society will respect her. It’s interesting to see how short hair and wearing pants can make such a difference.

I related to the FMC a lot, and I could follow along with her thought process for the most part. In the beginning of the story she’s clearly quick witted, and quickly puts things together, but at the end with the surprise twists… I’m surprised she didn’t realize those things quicker (when the reader could assume from the hints)

When the second book comes out I plan to read it. Thankfully I felt satisfied where this book ended because IMO there weren’t really “loose strings.” I would compare it to a Harry Potter book ending at the close of a school year — where there obviously will be more, but it’s a good place to pause.

Yes I would recommend this book, but I wasn’t as excited to pick it up and keep reading as I would prefer. It felt a little slow at times, but the author used that to really build on the details. I think I was just on the verge of a reading slump, but it is a good book!

Thank you to the author and publisher for this ARC

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up Reign by Bethan Croome mainly because of its description — a girl disguising herself as a boy and ending up in a military camp sounded like something I’d enjoy — and a historical setting.

I read about 44% before deciding not to continue, but I still wanted to share my thoughts.
What I enjoyed most was the writing style. It’s smooth, easy to read, and flows naturally. The atmosphere stood out to me — it reminded me a little of Ivanhoe, not in terms of plot, but in that classic historical feel. There’s also a hint of a love triangle, which could appeal to readers who enjoy that dynamic.
For me, the main challenge was connecting with the characters. The prince felt quite unsure at times, and the moment with a single tear after the first battle made it harder for me to see him as a strong, convincing lead. I personally tend to connect more with male characters who come across as more decisive and strong, so this may simply come down to preference.
The female main character felt more balanced. I liked that she was thoughtful and able to look beyond her initial prejudices. At the same time, her reactions to the two male characters felt a bit confusing to me — it seemed like her attraction was based more on their physical appearance than on their character or actions.
Bash was a very likeable character and the one I found most engaging.

Overall, I found the story easy to read, but I personally was looking for more depth in both the plot and the world-building. The story felt quite straightforward, and I found myself wanting a bit more complexity and detail to stay fully invested.
I think this book could work well for readers who enjoy lighter, atmospheric historical-style stories with a touch of romance. It just wasn’t quite the right fit for me.

[Keeley Ribchester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reign ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bethan Croome has created an atmospheric, emotional fantasy that completely pulled me into Niamh’s story from the very beginning. Between hidden magic, dangerous secrets, political tension and slow burn romance, this was such an addictive read for me and one I found very difficult to put down.
I absolutely loved Niamh as a main character. Watching her hide her identity and powers while navigating an increasingly dangerous world created constant tension throughout the story. Her journey after the Black Shuck attack and the desperate decision to disguise herself as her brother to survive added so much emotional weight, and I became deeply invested in her struggles, strength and determination.
The relationships were another standout for me. The growing connection between Niamh and Fitzroy was filled with tension and longing, while Bash added another compelling dynamic to the story. I genuinely found myself torn at times, which is exactly what I want from a good fantasy love triangle. The emotional push and pull between loyalty, duty and love was handled really well.
I also loved the magical elements woven throughout the story, especially the hidden witches, suppressed magic and the reveal surrounding the king. The atmosphere of the world felt dark, immersive and full of intrigue, and I really enjoyed uncovering its secrets alongside the characters.
Most of all, this book left me wanting more. The ending opened up so many possibilities, and I am genuinely hoping this is only the beginning of Niamh’s story because I would absolutely read a sequel immediately.
This was such a strong and memorable fantasy debut, and I cannot wait to see what Bethan Croome writes next📚✨

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley is exchange for my honest review. ***

The tension. The yearning. The feminine rage. All done so well. In a land where magic has been outlawed and is violently prosecuted, Niamh must keep hers hidden to protect herself & her family. The daughter of the local blacksmith, Niamh has learned her father’s trade, but as a woman, has no opportunity to practice it. When her secret is discovered, she has no choice but to prevent her friend from outing her. Sadly, her friend is the daughter of the local Lord and he is on the hunt for his daughter’s killer. Niamh disguises herself as a man and runs from her village.

She ends up in a military encampment, overseen by the King’s bastard (in both senses of the word) son, Fitzroy. There, she works as a blacksmith, her secret identity unknown by her new friends. The Prince discovers her identity & agrees to keep her secret if she uses her magic to help him win the war. One of her new friends, Bash, is very protective of blacksmith, who he believes is a man of diminutive stature. Bash & Niamh begin to grow close, with Bash believing theirs is “the love that dares not speak its name”. Niamh is injured in a battle and when Fitzroy cuts away her tunic to heal her, Bash discovers that Niamh had been lying to him. He rejects her in anger.

Subsequently, Niamh grows closer to Fitzroy, as they seek allies in the war. Torn between her love for Bash and growing feelings for Fitzroy, the final battle is not only for the land and future of magic, but also for Niamh’s sense of self and her heart. The ending was tidy and complete as is, but the door was left open a crack for the possibility of continuation.

[yas · Rating 3 out of 5]

sooooo excited for this ARC

this was promised to be a feminist romantasy with hints of a mulan retelling. I think the story got certain elements of each, but i maybe wouldn’t say that it fully hits the mark with any of those genres.

things i loved about this book:
- dressing as a man (it didn’t really give me mulan vibes though, actually a lot more like twelfth night)
- tension between two love interests
- the setting

the ideas presented in the story were compelling but i struggle to see how this was feminist when half of the book is using derogatory language toward women and then the comeback is just “but women are actually smart too!” the main character Niamh starts to criticize the constructs of her world but then randomly shifts back and only really questions it again when a man points it out to her?

I think using romantasy was a stretch. i liked the tension with both the love interests, but it felt like the relationships were a little undeveloped and rushed. the character (especially Fitzroy) were confusing in their actions and words toward Niamh and it made it feel like maybe neither of the men are good for her and she should just be on her own.

i really wasn’t sure what the ending was supposed to achieve because it didn’t feel satisfying as i was hoping. it felt a little incomplete? i found myself wondering “what now?” was change made? did the kingdom get better?

for it being a romantasy we don’t really see any sort of romantic ending and the character growth was questionable for both Fitzroy and Niamh.

this was an enjoyable read overall and it has some interesting ideas but i think the story had a hard time fully fleshing them out. i would maybe give this 3.5 stars.

[Alyssa ☀️ (stories.and.sunshine) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Cosmo Reads, NetGalley and Bethane Croome for the chance to read and review Reign. What drew me to request Reign was the description that included court politics, forbidden love, and witchcraft. Reign definitely delivered on all three.

In Reign the main character, Niamh, challenges gender norms in the midst of a war between two kingdoms. I’m a huge fan of the lady knight resurgence, because of Reign you can say I’m in my lady blacksmith era. The lore behind the court politics and fear of magic users reminded me of War of the Roses meets the Salem Witch trials. The like silkie, goblins, wyverns, and more magical creatures tied together the fiefdom and magic fantasy elements to make a balanced fantasy setting. As I read I was much more interested in Niamh’s internal conflict as she navigated layers of hidden identity and forbidden love.

The romance in Reign is a true slow burn. Some books can be marketed as a slow burn and the characters are kissing like a third into the story. Niamh explores feelings of desire for much of the book before the tension breaks. The forbidden love is capital C Complicated! There are a few on page intimate scenes by the end so by ready for a spicy ending to the slow burn romance.

I would recommend Reign to readers who enjoyed The Heartless Hunter, Mulan, and The Bear and The Nightingale. The interaction with magic is on the darker side which I feel is more aligned to themes in fairytales. At times I felt the conflict between the two kingdoms was not compelling enough to continue a war. It wasn’t until after I recalled my tour in Salem, MA that fear is sometimes illogical and people in power can leverage it for their own agenda. A great debut for Bethane Croome!

[Mikaela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reign had a really strong premise that immediately drew me in. I loved the Mulan-inspired elements, the forbidden magic, and the idea of a heroine disguising herself while navigating war and complicated alliances.

Unfortunately, it didn’t fully come together for me. While the beginning showed promise, I found it difficult to stay engaged as the story progressed. The characters, in particular, felt underdeveloped, which made it hard to connect with them. I also found that many of them came across as quite young in their behavior, and I struggled to get a clear sense of their ages, which made it harder to feel grounded in the story.

I also struggled with the FMC, whose actions and emotional shifts, especially in regard to the romance, felt inconsistent at times. The romance itself felt rushed, as much of it develops closer to the end without enough buildup to make it fully convincing. I would have loved to see more development and depth in that aspect of the story.

That said, the concept is compelling, and I do think there’s a solid foundation here. With more depth in both character and relationship development, this could have been a much stronger read for me.

Overall, a great idea that didn’t quite land for me, but one that may still appeal to readers who enjoy romantasy with a quicker-paced romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Cosmo Reads for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series has real potential, and Reign feels like a strong foundation for what could become a compelling story.

I enjoyed the exploration of traditional gender roles, and Niamh’s internal conflict as a skilled blacksmith in a society that values women primarily for their virtue and ability to bear children. Her struggle with wanting companionship while refusing to let her achievements be overshadowed by a man was compelling — though I do feel the romantic elements sometimes undercut that tension.

I don’t mind a love triangle; I actually liked both love interests. The issue was how abruptly Niamh’s feelings swung between them - it honestly gave me whiplash. It wasn’t “Who will she choose?” so much as “Niamh, respectfully, please pick a lane.” Because of that, the relationships never quite hit the emotional depth they were aiming for.

And while there are only so many ways to resolve a triangle, I didn’t need a prophecy to foresee that ending. It’s probably my least‑favourite way to wrap things up — more convenient cop‑out than satisfying resolution.

Overall, Reign is an enjoyable read with plenty of promise. It doesn’t fully stick the landing, and the execution sometimes feels like it’s fighting itself, but I’m intrigued enough to keep going… even if I’m also mildly exasperated. Not bad, but not unforgettable.

[Kelsey L · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was absolutely taken in by the blurb for this book. Who wouldn’t want a strong FMC hiding as a man to help end a war against magic??? However, I honestly do not think this book lived up to the hype of the blurb. I really wanted to DNF this book at 25% but I pushed through hoping it would get better. If anything, it actually got worse. Niamh was a very annoying FMC. She had a secret that would end her life and she almost immediately spilled it to someone that would kill her for it. The other characters felt shallow and not well thought out. I had a really hard time reading this book. It honestly pissed me off at some parts because it felt so ridiculous. I can suspend my belief for a lot of fantasy, but when everything always goes your way when you whine about it, I just can’t take it. There was a love triangle and I wasn’t rooting for anyone in it. I’m sorry, but I just really didn’t like this book. If you want a romantasy with a love triangle and an FMC that pretends she’s a man, this is certainly one to look into. If you want a romantasy with a strong FMC who doesn’t bow to any man and isn’t super annoying because of that trait, this probably isn’t the one for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Cosmo Reads for sending me this eARC to review.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel was an interesting read, a little like Mulan, but instead of a tiny lizard aka dragon, Niamh has Dog looking out for her. Niamh has magic, which is outlawed. The king's sister has magic and was banished from the kingdom, even though she did good beforehand. A war as broken out between the siblings and everyone is caught in between. Some have magic and keep it a secret, for the plenty is death. When tragedy strikes, Niamah runs away and finds herself becoming a part of the king's bastard son's army. She meets some friends along the way, but some are keeping secrets, others open about their dislike. When someone discovers her secret, Niamah must work with him to keep all the soldiers alive, even if it means secretly using her magic. Niamah works to find allies, and finds some unexpected ones. Many people want an end to the war, where those with magic can practice openly and exist along side those who do not have magic. Trying to find a way to gain peace is difficult, and more truths become apparent, changing Niamah's thoughts. A war has taken many lives on both sides, but who is the true person that lead all people to peace? I received this novel from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Selah · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Reign Review**

Okay... this book had me STRESSED in the best way possible.

A girl disguised as a man. Forbidden magic. A war. Found family. And not ONE but TWO people making my heart confused?? Yeah... I was locked in.

The tension in this book was absolutely insane. Every time Niamh had to hide who she really was, I was sitting there thinking, **"PLEASE DON'T GET CAUGHT."** The anxiety was real, but that's what made it impossible to put down.

I also have the biggest soft spot for found family, and this book delivered. Watching these relationships grow in the middle of all the chaos made the emotional moments hit even harder. It wasn't just about surviving the war—it was about finding people worth fighting for.

Now let's talk about the romance...

The chemistry?? The longing?? The "we definitely shouldn't be doing this" energy?? GIVE ME MORE. 😭


Overall, this book is dark, emotional, and full of the kind of tension that has you saying, "Okay... just one more chapter," until suddenly it's 2 a.m.

If you love romantasy with forbidden magic, found family, high stakes, and enough yearning to make you scream into your pillow, this one absolutely deserves a spot on your TBR. ⚔️🖤✨

Thank you Netgally for this advanced read!

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this messy but fascinating new fantasy novel, readers follow Niamh, a witch and blacksmith in a world where magic is outlawed and women are meant for marriage, as she flees her village disguised as a man. Conscripted into the war between a paranoid king and his vengeful sorceress sister, Niamh hides her gender and her magic in a world where survival demands luck and alliances -- one with Prince Fitzroy, the illegitimate son of the king and the commander of the army, and Bash, a soldier who sees her in ways no one else has. The world-building and magic system are absolutely fascinating, and readers will love the depth of detail Bethan Corme brings to the book and Lyonesse’s attitudes towards magic and witches. The characters are complex and well-written, and Niamh’s interactions with her family and friends in her village and with her comrades in the army really show how she grows as a character and handles this new environment. Relationships with other characters are very central to the story, and the side characters definitely help bring the story to life. Brilliantly written and immersive, fantasy fans will love this complex and dramatic new novel and its dynamic characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and Cosmo Reads for the advance copy.

[Tee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, there’s a lot to like about this book.

I think my favorite element was the fact that a lot of the story reminded me of Mulan (which was one of my favorite movies growing up)! So in that sense, this book carried some element of nostalgia for me, which was great.

The writing style was very easy to read and flowed well, which I appreciated a lot. I also really liked the atmosphere of the world, as it had a historical feel that was believable.

The characters were interesting, and I didn’t mind the love triangle. (In fact, I actually liked both love interests… though I feel like Niamh could’ve handled her feelings towards them a bit better.) Having said that, I think I wanted a bit more from each character individually, as I personally struggled to connect with them at times.

I also think I was looking for a bit more depth in terms of the plot, as it seemed a bit straightforward (which isn’t a bad thing; I personally just wanted more complexity). I do see a lot of people not minding that though as they read. And I’m still glad that I read this novel.


Thank you so much to Cosmo Reads and NetGalley for allowing me to read the eARC!