I was drawn to this because of the reviews of dark academia vibes. I found that it did deliver this to some extent, so was happy with the overall tone and feel of the book. I found it a bit difficult to warm to the characters which made it a bit slow to get into, but that changed over time.

As others have said the writing was a little disjointed at times, and this did detract somewhat from my enjoyment.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. There were elements of this that I really liked, the premise of supernaturals and and the role of artwork within the plot was original and intriguing. However overall I did not enjoy this very much. The pacing was very stop start which felt quite jolting. I am not the biggest fan of instalove at the best of times but in combination with another pet peeve of mine (lust during life threatening situations) I really could not connect with the romance. Although I did not enjoy this one personally, I think it will appeal to many YA readers.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an honest review!

-

“When I was a girl, my mother tried to explain how vicious I’d become.”

The Temptation of Magic is a story about transformation and acceptance, sprinkled with art, mythology and love.
The book starts out with an absolutely killer first line and prologue, but after that it took me until a bit before the halfway point to get properly invested again and into the flow of the story. But once it got going, I was HOOKED. The world building is intriguing, set in a modern world where creatures from various mythologies are real and hidden from humans. It’s relatively easy to follow along and understand, especially if you’re familiar with the fantasy and paranormal genres.
Reading this felt a bit like watching a fun supernatural TV show, the kind that has an avid and slightly feral fandom on tumblr, with a sprinkle of dark academia vibes, magical art history and beautifully casually queer side characters.
The writing itself read more on the adult side to me, with a writing style and language that felt a bit more complex than I am used to expecting from YA, but the fast pace and easy to follow (yet still mysterious) plot made up for it.

“She both loved and dreaded autumn’s transformation. Right now, she felt too much like a creature hinged on metamorphosis to appreciate it.”

I especially loved the dynamic of the main female character’s family. They were incredibly sweet and supportive of each other, and it brought a lot of warmth to the story.
The male and female main characters had so much sexual tension you could cut it with a knife, and I really enjoyed reading all their interactions. I liked where the book left off, in terms of their budding relationship, and I’m very much looking forward to seeing it continue to grow over the rest of the series.

“And she wondered: if he were a painting, could she read him better?”

In terms of spice, and mentioned sexual tension boiling over, it was brief but detailed and solidified this book as upper YA intended for an older audience. I got the sense it will only escalate further into the story.
This was an incredibly fun and exciting start to a series I am excited to continue, with characters it felt easy to get invested in and root for.

4,25 stars

“Art, transformation, death”

DNF @27%

I don't know...

I feel like this was trying to be unnecesarily complex. The writing felt awkward to me. It didn't flow smoothly and I kept getting distracted because I didn't care about what was going on.

To think I was so excited for this one. *sigh*

DNF at 20%.

The editor was asleep for this one. Lots of awkward phrasing and comma splices.

"Hands ghosted with the deaths he’d dealt for the Wake." what the hell does it mean for hands to be ghosted?

"...a palimpsest of a girl, lovely as a dusk or dawn and just as haunted." a dusk or dawn? You can't pick?

"So she wasn’t taking any chances, she had to be prepared before seeing him again." there are so many sentences like this.

I can buy that paintings used to be important propaganda, but not that they are still so important in the modern world that Kyan is apparently often tasked with finding and removing artwork. I also hate when authors feel they have to emphasise a character's interest in something by having them think about it all the time even when it's not relevant, like Nicole looking at a beam of sunlight in a dark alley and thinking "chiaroscuro!" We get it, she likes painting.

The characters are boring, the family scenes are twee and lack any kind of conflict or interesting interactions. Maybe that gets better later but I needed something to hook me, and there wasn't anything.

Nicole is instantly attracted to Kyan despite him being a danger to her and her family, ogling his muscles and eyes as soon as they meet.

I'm so bored. YA readers might still like it.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

As a longtime lover of dark academia, The Temptation of Magic fulfilled all my expectations and more. While it may not necessarily fit into the category of "dark academia" books like The Secret History or The Atlas Six, it captures all the same vibes. The book is more if young adult dark academia fantasies such as A Study in Drowning and Curious Tides had a baby with a romantasy book.

As soon as I started first few pages of The Temptation of Magic, I knew I would love the story, and I was right. The book was so rich in detail and the atmosphere was stunning. The plot was original and much different than other young adult fantasies. The supernatural creatures and lore was fascinating, and I especially enjoyed how mythology and art history were woven into the story so seamlessly.

The characters were written with so much depth and I’m still thinking about them after finishing. The romance between Nicole and Kyan was lovely, and their tension and chemistry were off the charts. I’m not one to gravitate towards forbidden love stories, but this book showed me how good that dynamic could be.

I also loved the emphasis on family, which I find underrated in books. Usually, family is hardly present in the fantasy books I’ve read, so it was so refreshing to see!

I highly recommend The Temptation of Magic. I’m surprised this is a debut because it doesn’t read like it is the author’s first novel. If you’re a fan of romantic fantasies, academic settings, beautifully written stories, and unique lore, this book should be at the top of your TBR.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

Really good debut book. I’d recommend this if you’re a fan of dark academia vibes in books as this has a real ‘A Discovery of Witches’ feel.

While some of it did feel slightly rushed and could maybe do with a little more editing, the writing is good. I enjoyed the themes explored and being able to follow from the MMC’s POV as well as the FMC’s.

My review of The Temptation of Magic by Megan Scott (4.5 stars/5) - out on the 23rd of May

Thank you to HarperCollins and Megan Scott for the digital ARC copy of The Temptation of Magic, in exchange for an honest review.

I fell in love with this high-stakes adult fantasy, perfect for the fans A Discovery of Witches and The Da Vinci Code.

The story is set in a small university town in Cornwall and follows Nicole, a supernatural who is fighting against the urge to become who she truly is, a powerful huntress. Nicole is an Empyreal who hasn’t fully transformed and unleashed the ancient magic within her, giving her the ability to hunt and kill other deadly creatures.

Once she goes through her first transformation, she risks herself and her family being discovered by the Wake, a mysterious and powerful organisation that governs supernatural creatures. The organisation that claims to protect the peace in the world. The organisation that killed Nicole’s mother, and will inevitably kill Nicole and her family if they know who she truly is.

Everything changes the day another supernatural creature comes to their small town, followed by a deadly Empyreal called Kyan, who is there on Wake’s orders.

The premise of the book is centred around the world of art and history, with paintings hiding the secrets of the supernatural creatures that exist in this world. Hiding the story of how the Wake rose to power. Hiding their centuries-long conspiracy to forever change the way the history of the world unfolds.

We get a double POV story told by Nicole and Kyan, a forced proximity forbidden romance with a slow burn and a great payoff. We get a couple that is destined to be together forever fighting the obstacles to be closer.

We get a whole cast of supernatural characters, all nuanced and well-written, we get an old manor house setting, we get libraries full of art and history books, we get an elite art university… we get great suspense but also cosy vibes.

“[…] there wasn’t much in this town that would strain her. Here, there was no vicious risk of discovery, no temptation of transformation. Just academic quiet, the cobbled streets, and the ancient comfort of the sea.”

It’s a perfect combination of dark academia and high-stakes fantasy, with a great romantic subplot, set in a British seaside town. It’s very well-written and atmospheric. I loved this book, but I felt like world-building could have been more detailed. There were a lot of supernaturals whose essence I did not understand, and it would’ve been great to know more about them. It would also be great to find out more about Nicole’s family history and her mother’s adventures. Perhaps we will get that in the upcoming books of this trilogy.

#TheTemptationofMagic #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc.

I must say that I was let down by this one. Perhaps it was because I had high expectations after seeing so many positive reviews or it could have been I just wasn't feeling it.

I really appreciate the mood of dark academia in this book. Although the premise is good, the way it was carried out could have been improved. The plot is somewhat rushed. I also believe that Kyan and Nicole's relationship is lacking in depth, making it appear bland.

"The Temptation of Magic" offers a delightful escapade, weaving elements of art history, mythology, and the supernatural into a captivating narrative. The protagonists find themselves entangled in a gripping tale of evading a nefarious group while safeguarding their loved ones, fostering an irresistible connection with readers.

The ensemble of characters is endearing, fostering compelling relationships that enrich the storyline. The enigmatic antagonist adds depth, leaving readers intrigued by his true intentions and enhancing the narrative's allure. The brisk pace ensures the plot remains engaging, never allowing the reader to feel weighed down by the narrative's complexities.

The tastefully crafted intimate moments leave a lingering desire for more, complementing the forbidden romance subplot that adds an extra layer of allure to the tale. While initially disconcerting, the recurring references to hormones and pheromones gradually integrate seamlessly into the narrative, becoming less distracting over time.

Despite this minor adjustment period, "The Temptation of Magic" proves to be an enthralling read that fully captivates its audience. I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in its pages and eagerly anticipate the next installment to continue the journey.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for sending me a copy in exchange for a review.

Whilst I enjoyed the overall plot of this book, I felt that the writing let it down a little as I found it to be rushed, and a bit unpolished. It could do with a touch more editing I think.

I liked the dark academia aspect. of it, with the art history and school setting, and I can see this becoming a big hit with readers. I will breeding book 2 to see if the writing has improved as I can see real potential for the series and the author.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free e- copy for an honest review!

The temptation of magic was such a fun read! Based on art history, mythological/supernatural creatures, being on the run from an overarching evil group, and doing what ever it takes to keep your family safe I couldn’t help but fall in love with the story!

The characters are lovable, great relationships between them, and with a bad guy that you can’t help but be intrigued by, wanting to know what his real motives are which helps to really draw you into the story. The pace is quick with lots going on so it never feels like you’re getting dragged down while reading. The small spicy scenes were written perfectly and leaves you wanting more and I can’t help but love the forbidden romance aspect of the story!

The one thing take took a while to get used to was the repeated references to hormone and pheromones which at first threw me, but the more it was repeated the less weird it felt while reading it.

Dispute that it was an amazing story that I was fully engrossed with and I loved reading it and I’m looking forward to seeing where the story goes from here!

Thank you to HarperCollins and Megan Scott for the digital ARC copy of The Temptation of Magic. I do have a question for HarperCollins UK - “Why aren’t we seeing more of this book out there?”

A unique blend of fact and mythology come together to form this gripping, rich story that’s full of feisty, beguiling characters and a niche plot that makes this a page-turner. The Temptation of Magic sucked me into an epic world of secret organisations, mythical conspiracy theories, and underground supernatural creatures tied together with a delicious plot to bring together clandestine enemies-to-lovers working to uncover secrets hidden in historical artworks.

The Temptation of Magic boldly takes our modern world, deftly reshapes and paints it with mesmerising realism into a thrilling dark, and dangerous secret world. I love how brilliantly ingeniously this plot merges myths and legends from so many different cultures to produce this enthralling world – Megan Scott’s got amazing world-building skills to bring this melting pot of mythology together sculpting it into a fantastical masterpiece. Beautiful descriptive writing brings to life each location in exceptional detail – from the two POVs of the two protagonists Kyan and Nicole, who each bring a unique voice to their chapters with little insights about how they see the world and portray it to the reader. I was kicking my heels up and down in delight at the accuracy and sensual atmospheric specifics tucked into the body of the book’s text.

If the plot is the bones of a story, the characters are the flesh. A wonderful cast of charming, engaging, and relatable characters fills the pages of The Temptation of Magic. Lovingly constructed, you notice the real detail invested by Megan Scott to make each character memorable, with motivations and flaws sown clearly into the story to feed the character arcs and force the characters to change throughout the story. Striking that delicate balance were plot and characters drive the story forward without one overpowering the other.

I loved the close-knit family dynamic portrayed around the Palmer family. Fantasy features a lot of lone wolves who find posses found families tropes. Despite tragedy and loss featuring as part of characters back-stories, the bonds and family connections between Nicole, her father, and her siblings reveal a softer side to her, who feels very skittish, defensive, and closed-off in most scenes in the book as she attempts to keep her true nature hidden and protect her secrets.

If Kyan McCarter doesn’t become a book-boyfriend phenomenon, I am going to eat a hat. He’s powerful, intelligent, gorgeous (not to mention built to delight), loyal, honourable, and genuinely a nice guy at heart, but isn’t afraid to inflict a little damage on anyone hurting his lady. He’s a breath of fresh air from all the market-saturated morally grey bad boys out there – I am sold. His presence leaps off the page – I don’t want to give spoilers but book girls you need to watch out for the towel scene… (you can thank me later for tempting you to read this book with that juicy little glimpse of a spoiler).

Some teasing spicy scenes with lots and lots of sizzling and sparking between Kyan and Nicole. Oh boy… lots of teasing…you are going to love the forbidden romance between Kyan and Nicole.

The one thing for me that didn’t make The Temptation of Magic a 5-star read was the Prologue. It’s a random insertion of the first person that doesn’t gel with the rest of the book written in the third person POV – it should be cut in my view, but I am not the editor. What I can say, is the first chapter had a lot more allure with a cracking first sentence that peeks the curiosity and demands you read on than the prologue, which I felt spoilt some of the mystery of the background to the story I would have preferred to find out for myself. This is my only criticism.

I’m glad to be getting this as a Fairyloot Special Edition. I’ve got some high hopes for the sprayed edges – please let them be Celtic knotwork designs! I’ll be eagerly awaiting for book 2. If you are a fan of A Discovery of Witches, Vampire Diaries, or A Study In Drowning, you are going to enjoy devouring this book. For others, if Celtic mythology, immortal creatures, secret identities, the world of art, and enemies-to-lovers vibes are to your taste, you should check out The Temptation of Magic too.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you loved All The Souls trilogy/series by Deborah Harkness, you will love this book, too! It's very reminiscent of All The Souls in all the good ways!

It's told by two POVs, of Nicole's and of Kyan's. Nicole is an art history student who is mainly interested in studying how the supernatural is portrayed by art. Her dissertation is, for example, called: "The Lure of the Wild Hunt: Paintings Of The Supernatural in Nineteenth-century Art." Of course, she was genuinely interested in it, but that didn't mean that she didn't have more motives to study it. Her mother had left clues for her to find, before she died. Clues that can lead Nicole and her family to the truth about what the Wake is really doing with Empyreals.

Nicole was a marvelous main character, curious, practical, methodological and with a stubborn drive and self-confidence. I loved how she wasn't a damsel to be saved nor treated as a child to be sheltered. In fact, I loved the family dynamics in this book! Yes, they're in hiding, but they have made a life for themselves, and the father isn't controlling and secretive. Every member in their family knows what the other knows; there are no secrets, no half-truths meant to "protect" someone. The full transparency was refreshing and wonderful! Nicole was torn between her desire to become the fully powerful being that she is and her fear of the consequences that had: being discovered. She was also torn between desiring Kyan and treating him like the enemy he was supposed to be. Though, it's hard to treat him badly when Kyan is an oversized puppy at heart.

Kyan was also a great main character. I loved his loyalty, his dedication, his absolute devotion to justice and protecting others. With characters who do what their leaders tell them to do without second-guessing usually makes me raise an eyebrow and annoys me, but Kyan has a very singular mind. He wants and needs to protect others so he does just that through the missions he's assigned. It's not that he's naive or incompetent; he just focuses on one thing--protecting. And he's really good at it! I really liked this oversized puppy with claws that Kyan is!

The worldbuilding was liiiittle confusing at times at the beginning, but once I got the hang of it, it really flowed well. As I mentioned above, Empyreals are immortal creatures that transform into the creature needed to protect those in need. They're predators but they're driven by the need to protect.HOW COOL IS THAT??!!!! The Wake is this mysterious group of leaders in charge of the organization where Empyreals are assigned tasks to protect those in need. Those leaders aren't the most innocent bunch, and most Empyreals working for them don't know this. I was intrigued by Empyreals and the other creatures featured in the book, and I continued being intrigued throughout the book. I kept wanting to see and learn more!!!!!

The plot was fast-paced!! A LOT happened in this book, and the two main characters had a great character development. They learned more about the world and themselves! I was at the edge of my bed, my eyes becoming one with my Kindle, as I read this. It's compelling and captivating!

We have some LGBTQIA+ rep, too. There are queer side characters, and please, please, PLEASE, develop that potential m/m couple in book 2, I BEG!!!!

It's classified as YA, but it's on the UPPER, UPPER side of YA. In fact, I'd say it's NA. Truth be told, I just enjoyed this book too much to care about labels. Was it perfect? Was it too fast-paced? I dunno. Everyone reads books differently.

I just know that I ENJOYED THE HECK OUT OF THIS BOOK AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR BOOK 2.

As for the To Skip Or Not To Skip question, I'd say: RENEW. It had better have cool customizations, though....

"And she wondered: if he were a painting, could she read him better?"

god that was absolutely stunning of a story I AM IN LOVE. I dont even know what to say, it feels like this book was made for my tastes because truly all of my favourite elements of a book were in this and I adored every single second of it, and this is only a debut novel?? absolutely insane because reading this I wouldve never thought it was.

first, LET ME JUST SCREAM ABOUT THE CHARACTERS HELLO?? I AM SO ATTACHED TO THEM ALL AND IF THE AUTHOR KILLS A SINGLE ONE OF THEM IN FUTURE BOOKS I WILL BREAK DOWN AND CEASE TO EXIST. I genuinely love them all so much, nicole is an absolute QUEEN I adore her, not only is she smart, strong and quite logical but she is messy and makes mistakes but most of all her protectiveness over her family struck me in the heart so deeply--there is no better love than familial love truly and especially in fantasy novels where it's so rarely seen?? I was eating up every scene with her family theyre so sweet and wholesome it made me want to melt into a puddle, their interactions between each other, the jokes, the protectiveness they each have for one another!!! I love them so much!!! AND NICOLE IS THE MIDDLE CHILD OF THE FAMILY LETS GO MIDDLE CHILDREN!!! I kid you not it's always the oldest or youngest that are MCS, so seeing nicole being the middle child made me unreasonably happy LOL it was a refreshing POV as well knowing that she had her older brother for her and at the same time her little sister, and of course her father who is so calm and the sweetest (he calls them all "love" I just-) and is btw almost 1000 years old which truly was funny and cool to me and the absolute best part--theyre a family of supernaturals! (now as for *what* exactly they are.. well you'll have to read and find out) it definitely made even more interesting dynamics (and can I get a house like theirs?? it sounds so fun and cozy I mean I also want some secret hidden rooms!!) also the way they werent compeltely in the dark with nicole's investigation in the painting and still were in the loop on her progress was also really nice. I love seeing happy, wholesome families.

oops I went on a bit of tangent but honestly it should go to show how much I fell in love with them <3 my new favorite fictional family that must be protected at all costs!! and theres remi (nicole's best friend) who is basically family and I loved the scenes we had of their friendship omg

and then kyan AKA NEW LOML, okay so this is marketed as "enemies to lovers" (along with forbidden romance) and in a way it is but it's done in such a funny way tbh the first half I was just laughing honestly, you have nicole who treats kyan so distrustfully (with reason), giving glares to him and meanwhile kyan is over here so confused and doesnt want her hating him and it was absolutely hilarious LOL he reminded me of a sad puppy, so really rather than being called enemies to lovers it's more of a "one sided" enemies to lovers but truly nicole and kyan's dynamic was everything, I fell so in love with them.

I am such a sucker for the love interest noticing the tiny stuff about a MC and here it was no different. the little smiles, the gasps of excitement she gets looking at pieces of art, her blushes, the look of awe in her eyes YES that's kyan noticing it all and getting unreasonably happy seeing it all--especially when those smiles and laughter are directed at him ALSO KYAN COOKING, THE HUGS, AND THE FOREHEAD KISSES DJGDJSHS THE DIMPLES??? BRAIN CANNOT COMPUTE IM WEAK I LOVE HIM YOUR HONOR kyan smiling and laughing the softening in his eyes?? the way I swooned I was so with nicole in those moments omg i was literally grinning like a fool reading their interactions the hold these two have on me??? miss megan scott KNEW what she was doing creating these two.

oh oh and did I mention he called her "my love" in irish🫠 yes as you can see I'm a total goner for kyan <3 plz don't hurt my children I beg you.

okay this review is more of me fangirling about the characters (rightfully so as characters are everything and I love them) but the world itself!! I am completely enamored with it, and love love everything about it. the plot?? always was at the edge of my seat with the investigation and the villain genuinely scared me that they'd do something extremely reckless i feared for some characters' lives😭 but also the amount of different supernatural creatures?? it is just SO interesting and I'm so eager to learn more I cannot wait for book 2. the magic of the world especially is just so lovely to learn about and the powers each creature has!! and theres so much mystery behind *certain* creatures and I'm so excited for it, ah the wait is going to be torture wanting more and I did this to myself😂 thankfully we were saved from a brutal cliffhanger at least which i was so fearful of so thank you megan for saving me from pain (for now, at least. I dont trust you to do that in book 2 with my long history of sequels destroying my soul) (yes i have trust issues)

anyways y'all GO READ TTOM IT IS MY NEW FAVOURITE OBSESSION. And a certain book box is supposedly making a special edition of this (so well deserved) and I am SO SO hyped because i just know it will be beautiful as this story was🥹



Thank you so much HarperCollins UK and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

Thank you to HarperCollins and Net Galley for providing me with an eARC.

I love how the base of the magic system is based Ovid’s Metamorphoses. As a Classic nerd, it was really interesting someone else’s take on the concept of metamorphosis. Also the use of painting and the secrets they hold was really cool too.

However, there was moments when there was too much details of what’s happening in the scene when it can be summed up. One example is when Nicole went to get coffee. It basically read like she walked to the shop, she got coffee, she continued walking the path and so on.

The world-building was well done without overloading or giving too little. The explanation told me what I needed to know when I needed to know it.

Overall, Temptation of Magic is a strong debut and I’m really excited to for the rest of the series.

3,5*

Thank you HarperCollins and NetGalley for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. My review is my own and not influenced by others.

I just finished reading The temptation of magic which is a Serpent and Dove meets A discovery of witches romantasy. I liked Serpent and Dove a lot and I can see the similarity with these books.

First of all I liked the writing style a lot, it was pleasant to read and I kept on reading because of it. We follow this story through the POV of both main characters which I liked a lot, there are not many romantasy books where we follow the story through both FMC and MMC and I liked that the author chose to do this for this book.
Both main characters were well developed and I felt a binding from the beginning of this book. The world building and magic system were also well developed and I loved to read about it.
The pacing was a bit slow in the middle of the book and I had difficulties to keep my attention to the story but the ending made it all good.

Definitely recommend reading this book when you’re looking for a romantasy with an unique world building, well developed characters, and a bit spice.

A brilliant new supernatural series. What a fantastic mix of supernatural creatures, history, art and of course, a good bit of romance. Well written with great family strength and moral fortitude just waiting to be tested! Give it a try, you know you want to!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this arc!

This was a highly anticipated read for me and it did not disappoint! I seen the author promoting it on TikTok way back when she was still writing it and followed her journey.

This book started off quite slow and I wasn’t sure if I was going to love but I’m so glad I did! This book was everything I needed it to be!

Kyan had a hard exterior and was taught that love just meant loss but he didn’t realise this could potentially be everything he needed.

Nicole would do anything to keep her and her family safe and through following her gut instincts she does everything in her power to make sure she sticks true to her word.

The character development and pace of the plot was excellent in this novel and I truly believe it will be a widely loved book, I already cannot wait for book 2!

★★★★★ - 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
The Temptation of Magic by Megan Scott
Book 1 - Empyreal Trilogy
༘Spoiler free ༘
⭐️5/5
🌶️ this book is steamy
Fantasy, Art Fiction, Dark Fantasy
Multi POV
➳ secret messages hidden in art
➳ supernatural academia
➳ clashing factions
➳ forbidden love
➳ supernatural hunters
➳ paranormal romance
➳ enemies to lovers
➳ secret powers/magic
➳ fae, druids, sirens, immortal beings
➳ conspiracies
➳ rich & evocative lore
➳ celtic mythology
➳ alliance of convenience
➳ secret societies
➳ prophecies/legacy
➳ artefacts of power

✨ “I encourage you to forget what you think you know of the world. Because if these artists didn’t believe such creatures were real, they entertained the supernatural through allegory, fairy tale or religion and with such artistic fervour that might make you believe they were. You will be shown that beneath the human history of the world, art reveals a secret, seething, supernatural one.“ ✨

Art is more than just aesthetic expression; it is a conduit for exploring the supernatural and uncovering secrets that challenge our understanding of reality. It has the transformative power to reveal deeper truths about the world.

Art serves as a window into the supernatural realm, even if it is interpreted as allegory or myth by humans. Artists throughout history have depicted supernatural beings with such conviction that it blurs the line between reality and imagination.

In this world there is a supernatural art conspiracy—a secret kept alive through centuries. Art holds secrets capable of threatening powerful institutions and possessing this knowledge can be both a source of danger and leverage for survival. Art is not merely decorative but a repository of hidden knowledge with far-reaching implications.

📚📚📚

❧✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*❦*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧❧
Prepare to be entranced by Megan Scott’s debut novel, “The Temptation of Magic,” a spellbinding exhibition of mythology, art history, and romance that will transport you to a world where dark and dangerous secrets lurk beneath the canvas of reality.

From secret messages delicately embedded into artwork to the pursuit of supernatural truths reminiscent of uncovering lost masterpieces, every page invites you to decipher the intricate layers of mystery, betrayals and revelations. Drawing inspiration from classics like “Serpent and Dove” and “A Discovery of Witches,” Scott crafts a forbidden romance that feels both mesmerising and haunting.

It’s not just the plot that is gripping—Scott’s character development is a masterpiece in its own right. Each character is meticulously crafted with their own motivations and secrets. As the story unfolds, you’ll find yourself drawn into their world, exploring the hidden depths of their souls with the same reverence as studying the brushstrokes of a timeless classic.

The pacing is impeccable, keeping you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Unlike many fantasy novels, Scott avoids the dreaded cliffhanger ending, instead delivering a satisfying conclusion while setting the stage for future instalments.

Whether you’re a fan of annotating your books or simply enjoy getting lost in a mesmerising tale, “The Temptation of Magic” is a must-read. With its meticulous world-building, steamy romance, and compelling characters, this book is destined to be one of the best of 2024. You will definitely want to purchase a digital and physical copy, one for reading and one for annotations.

Intrigued readers will delight in the meticulous lore woven throughout the narrative, while romance enthusiasts will swoon over the steamy and yearning-filled romance. And for those who appreciate a well-crafted mythology tie-in, Scott’s dedication to research shines through, making each revelation feel both thrilling and authentic.

“The Temptation of Magic” is a captivating debut that will leave you yearning for more. Whether you’re a seasoned fantasy reader or new to the genre, this is one book you won’t want to put down.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧
💖
<b>LIKES:</b>
⋆ The Lore of this world was absolutely meticulous. There’s secret messages hidden in the classical masterpieces of our world today, and as a result i was able to look up the artworks to match the mood of The Temptation of Magic.
⋆ The romance aspects were honestly everything I look for. It was steamy and there was some serious yearning going on. The ending left me screaming for certain reasons, in the best way, and i’m dying to know what happens next. I’m also hoping other (non main/pov) character’s romantic relationships blossom in the next books because i found myself wanting to do a bit of matchmaking.
⋆ The mythology tie ins were absolutely an unmatched level of dedication. The amount of research and planning necessary to make all of the pieces fall in line as they have must have been years in the making. The things I would do for a physical copy of this ARC to annotate …. 🧎🏼‍♀️
⋆ Every character felt like a fully developed person who exists in and out of this book. Every choice, felt genuinely motivated by the character and not a hollow means to move the plot for. When the characters were nervous … i was nervous. This is one of those books that you feel their pain and joy as a reader. I will read any book Megan Scott writes.

❤️‍🩹
DISLIKES:
⋆ No dislikes to note.

<b>Fantasy Scoring</b>
Worldbuilding ➷ ✅ 5/5
Foreshadowing ➷ ✅ 5/5
Plot ➷ ✅ 5/5
Relationships ➷ ✅ 5/5

Thank you to the Megan Scott, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, Magpie and NetGalley for the opportunity to provide my honest opinion on the ARC of this book.