This was a very interesting, and entertaining book. It was quick and easy to follow. The characters were great and are relatable at times but at other times the FMC was kind of bratty. Event though she's bratty, she's incredibly relatable; experiencing a sense of not fitting in and struggling to meet others' expectations. The concept is great, the magic system is interesting but there was something missing. The male interests were boring though and had no personality or chemistry. I'd still be willing to read the next book to see what happens with the story! A great book for YA lovers.

3.5 stars.

This was a fun and easy read and I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes. I did find some parts of it quite predictable - love triangle, miscommunication and the big saviour ending - but I still really enjoyed it.

The pacing is fairly quick for the most part so it felt a bit jarring going from modern day England to another universe within a few short chapters. I also found the romantic relationship a bit unbelievable because it happened so quickly, going from "he's so cold towards me" to "I think he loves me" way too quickly.

I did like that not everything comes easy to Cate. She's clumsy, awkward and anxious rather than being the perfect heroine straight away. This makes her character far more believable and a lot less annoying than other female characters set up to be the saviour of the world.

I'm hoping the next book will have less teenage angst about boys because I want to learn more about the world and the magic system. We're given a brief history but the world building could definitely be improved.

Overall, it's a fun book that I couldn't put down.

📚The Concealed by SK Horton📚

⭐️⭐️1/2

✨Tropes✨
🌙Single POV
🌙Love Triangle
🌙Hidden Identities Revealed
🌙Prophecy
🌙Elemental magic

✨Summary✨
Cate has done it. She has made it to England to pursue a degree in British history. Everything is going great, until a strange man tries to kidnap her. And that’s just on her journey in between the airport and the university. She eventually makes it to her school and things seem to be going well. She likes her roommate and her classes don’t seem so bad. Plus, she seems to have caught the attention of not one, but two hot guys. However, more and more incidences continue to occur like the one on her first day. This causes Cate to find out information that may become world changing.

✨Critiques✨
Cate accepts that she’s from a parallel universe (and a princess) a little too fast. She denies it for a minute, and then decides to leave everything behind. It would have been better had she at least slept on it before accepting this new reality.

Cate’s reactions seem too much at times. For example, when she finds out her birth mother died right after she was born. Her reaction was extreme, even for an eighteen year old. Her mood swings pretty aggressively. It’s to speed things along, so not everyone may find it annoying, but it felt rushed and unnatural.

It’s fast paced. I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad thing, and some readers may not be put off by it. However, I enjoy a little more development, groveling, slow burn, etc. therefore, the fast pace felt a little overwhelming at times. That being said, this may not bother all readers, this is more of a personal preference for me.

The ending felt abrupt and rushed. Almost like a tv show that ran out of time. The lead up within the last chapter was actually pretty good, but the way the ending just drops off gave an unresolved feeling, despite the author wrapping everything up.

✨Elements I Loved✨
A little bit for the same reason I didn’t wholly enjoy this book, I actually liked that it was fast paced. It’s nice (and frankly rare these days) to find a romantasy book that is a quick read.

🪄Standout magic features🪄
I love the elemental magic. Cate can talk to animals because of earth magic. Daniel can grow plants at will due to his earth magic. Lucas can control the air and can glide.
I also like that they can have more than one power, especially Cate since her parents are from different kingdoms.

👩🏻My Recommendation👩🏻
If you’re looking for a quick, fun little romantasy novel, this is one that can be read in a day or two. It has familiar themes and tropes, but it’s just different enough to be worth a read.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author, for providing the ARC.

I had to DNF this book 20% through. The pace was too fast, and it just didn’t flow for me. This might just be my personal preference, and it might be a great read for someone else

🏰 Royalty
🏰 Hidden Identity
🏰 Magic/Powers
🏰 Prophecy
🏰 Dragons

"Sometimes destiny is written. Hers was concealed."

"Concealed" is an extraordinary young adult fantasy novel, releasing on June 11. The narrative centers around Cate, who embarks on a journey from Oregon to London to commence her university education. However, shortly upon her arrival, her life takes an unexpected turn as she becomes the target of multiple attacks. These events lead her to discover that her existence is far more intricate and enigmatic than she had ever imagined. The real question is can Cate fulfill her destiny

The interaction between the three main characters was quite entertaining. Lucas and Daniel clearly did not understand Cate's American references. The author effectively portrays Cate's anxiety, and I appreciated how she would recall random facts to calm herself.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I really enjoy the idea of a secret world unbeknownst to ours in need of saving. The savior trope is a really fun fantasy story to tell, I just wish that the main character did not feel like she tries so hard to be different. The whole "I'm not like other girls" or "nobody knew who I was" trope is a personality flaw to me irl, so seeing it in a main character kind of gave me the ick. That being said, this was a fun debut novel and the author's writing can only go up from here!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

2.25 Star

Few things to say about this book. I definitely think it is for young readers and I do think many will enjoy it. I feel this book was written more middle grade yet YA when it came to the romance.

I think the pacing was definitely a little too fast. It felt very rushed.

The FMC is falling for a MMC like 20% in saying she's in love with him after a week of being around each other. They just felt so young and the romance just didn't match the age they felt.

There are just so many things that needed to slow down. Her choosing to just follow these people through a portal after only talking about it for like 4 minutes. Her falling in love. Her being attacked.

All in all I think the plot definitely has potential and this would definitely be a great middle grade read if the romance was toned down a bit and just less of it. The magic was good. Dragons. Fighting.

Tropes:

-Love Triangle
-Prophecy
-Hidden Magic
-FMC is not like other girls, Doesn't Belong, Clumsy, Needs Help with Everything

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I enjoy a good YA Romantasy every once in a while and this really scratched that itch for me. I read it in less than 24 hours. It was fun and fast-paced. I did not find it predictable at all. I appreciated the anxiety representation. I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2!

Tropes:
💙Love triangle
💙Secret identity
💙Prophecy
💙Hidden Magic
💙Portals
💙Hate to love
💙Dragons
💙Court intrigue

This was an interesting set up, with Cate being human and going off to college, where she meets Lucas and Daniel. Nothing is as it seems when Cate is attacked, and Daniel and Lucas seem to know more than they've met on.

As Cate deals with more attacks, Lucas and Daniel decide they need to try and explain things and get her to go through the portal. The daughter of a king, embodiment of a prophecy to save a kingdom, and completely unsure of what she's even doing, Cate finds out she is, in fact, a princess.

In a battle between the Embers, Terra, and Caelum, Cate must figure out what her powers are and how on earth, or not, she will manage to save them. With secrets and betrayal, Cate's hope for a new start art dashed, and she must decide how to move forward.

3.5 stars rounded up
Thank you Netgalley for the eARC.

When Cate swaps Oregon for an English university, she expects cultural differences, not a prophecy thrusting her into a magical realm's battle, where romance and betrayal blur lines, forcing her to save her new world from destruction.
The premise had me hooked from the start, though I found myself wishing for a bit more magic in the execution. The characters were likable enough, but the story didn't quite reach the heights I was hoping for.

DNF at 33%. I really struggled to get into and stay in this book. I think young people will ilke this book, but it was not for me.

Every once in a while, even the most dark and twisty, thriller-loving bookstagrammer needs a good YA book to freshen things up! Solidly in the “romantasy” category, The Concealed follows Cate, a young woman who travels from Oregon to England to attend university. While there, she experiences multiple attempts on her life before learning that she is, in fact, the long-lost princess of a magical realm destined to fulfill a prophecy and unite two rival kingdoms. She is brought back to her homeland by two young men tasked with seeing her there safely, each from one of the kingdoms. She didn’t exactly sign up for romance, danger, or powers beyond her comprehension… but it all finds her anyway.


This book was a great concept, but definitely heavy on the tropes. If you like bodyguard, damsel in distress, forced close proximity, love triangle, unexpected heir, and betrayal, this would be a great pick for you! It would also be a great book for young readers, and agreeable for parents as the romance involved was solidly PG/PG-13.

The book fell a little flat for me, it felt very rushed and the writing was very simple, which isn't a bad thing as it made for a quick read and teens will enjoy I think. The romance was very rushed and the description says she's assisted by two irresistible boys so I was expecting a love triangle but honestly it was clear immediately which one Cate was drawn to and I just couldn't connect with them. The characters felt very young to me and I couldn't connect, I do think the worldbuilding was interesting and I think for it's target audience it will do well! The cliffhanger has me intrigued enough that I want to continue with the series, I just need to go into it remembering it's meant for young adults.

11 out of 5 stars. Is that enough? Probably not. I freaking loved this book. Absolutely devoured it.

Cate (the fmc) is so relatable as she finds herself navigating a role and a world she knows nothing about. She feels all her feelings, pushes through when she can, and eats bread and cheese alone in her room when she needs to. We'd be besties. I'm always a fan of two love interests, I knew my choice early on! But there's a part of me that doesn't fully trust authors not to bait and switch me (looking at you sjm) so I'm anxious to see how Cate's love story plays out!

This portal aspect reminded me of a recent read, The Lost Story, and there are aspects that remind me of Map of the Otherlands, and even at times Throne of Glass.

My only baby complaint is that the large battle at the end goes so quickly - but truly I loved this book and I cannot wait for the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

2 🌟 and honestly sometimes I wanted to rate it lower. This writing style did not work for me at all - it felt more like middle grade writing instead of new adult. It’s a “tell you instead of show you” kind of book. Our FMC was insufferable and the insta-loviness of it made me cringe. Also, there were so many things that happened in this book and none of them had the proper description and time devoted to pulling the reader into the story. I really did not enjoy it and won’t be recommending it.

This was a very interesting, and entertaining book. The characters are relatable at times, and at other times the FMC was kind of bratty. There could have been more character development. It is very easy to follow if you are new to fantasy. I was not a fan of how the timeline was done. It felt like some things had an overabundance of details while others were lacking. Was a quick paced read, and would like to see where the story goes from here.

Thanks to NetGalley, Aethon Books and S.K. Horton for the ARC in return for an honest review.

3,5/5 stars.

At first I wasn't sure whether I would like this book or not. But there was something about it that kept my attention. The Concealed was very easy to read, the pacing was great and the world is interesting without being too overwhelming. The politics are intriguing and I really hope that the next book(s?) in the series will expand on that. I was especially (positively!) on edge when it came to trying to figure out who can be trusted and who cannot. Daniel and Lucas are both captivating love interests, although I have to say that I am team Daniel. (But can we trust him? I don't know!) Without saying too much, I am blown away by everything about his powers.

What I especially adored about the characters and the story is that nobody is perfect. None of the characters have "everything under control". The marketing team of this book said that the "MCs [...] don't have it all together" and I think that fits perfectly. And that makes the characters all the more likable and realistic. Cate has just turned 18 at the start of the book and yes, she feels like a freshly 18 year old. She tries to have everything under control, but she doesn't. She struggles with her powers and with adhering to this new world. And while of course that sometimes might make the reader roll their eyes at Cate's naiveté, it also makes her all the more relatable.

I feel like this book can become the next great thing for young adults where every book in the series gets better and better. It certainly has the potential! I will definitely continue reading the series to see how it will go.

The Concealed for me was a cute YA Fantasy with dragons, love and magic! As we go along on this adventure with Cate it is filled with excitement and wonder. Knowing that she is a princess in another realm as well in danger from the circumstances, I really enjoyed this book as well as recommend it. The story moved along well and kept me interested wanting to know more.

"The Concealed" by S. K. Horton offers an engaging blend of fantasy and adventure, centered around Cate, an American student who discovers her destiny in a magical realm. The story kicks off with Cate’s arrival at Staton University in England, expecting to face typical college challenges. However, her life takes a dramatic turn when she learns about a prophecy marking her as the key to defeating a powerful enemy. Horton's world-building is commendable, vividly depicting both the university and the fantastical lands Cate must navigate, adding a rich, immersive quality to the narrative.

Cate’s journey is filled with twists and turns, keeping the reader intrigued. Her interactions with two charming boys who assist her through a mysterious portal introduce a romantic subplot that, while familiar, adds emotional depth to her quest. However, the romance sometimes feels forced, and the love triangle trope can overshadow the story's unique aspects. Despite this, Cate remains a relatable protagonist, balancing her newfound responsibilities with personal growth and discovery, even if her swift acceptance of the magical world occasionally stretches plausibility.

While the novel excels in creating an exciting, fast-paced plot, it sometimes falters in character development and originality. The supporting characters, though interesting, often fall into predictable roles, and the narrative could benefit from more nuanced portrayals. Nonetheless, "The Concealed" is a solid read for fans of young adult fantasy, delivering an adventure that, despite its clichés, keeps readers entertained. Horton's exploration of themes like identity, trust, and destiny adds a compelling layer to the story, earning it a respectable three-star rating.

To be completely honest, I was not impressed with this. Sure, we had a continuous plotline which was good - and our characters had personalities that didn't chop and change at will. But we didn't have enough detail in anything!
This book was just under 300 pages, and tries to cover a lot in that time. Our fmc crosses continents to start an elite boarding school, is swept into a hidden world, and fights in a prophesised war all in that time. I just felt too much like the story was listing plot points one after another like in a first draft, rather than crafting a narrative. I do think though, that with some tightening up and some more developed writing the underlying story had potential!
My only other caveat is with our fmc who was almost insufferably 'not like other girls', and who promptly forgot her parents and her brother when she crossed worlds (who she specifically said was incredibly important to her right at the start of the book). I think maybe either you should mention them and they be important to character development, or just not mention them at all.