Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'Mistress of Lies' by K.M. Enright.

Honestly I feel a bit conned by this. I was so excited, and maybe my excitement came fully from the cover and it's all my fault. I just fell into a minor slump whilst reading and I'm gutted. I will not be reading the sequel.

*ARC received from Netgalley - all opinions are my own.*

Rating: 3.5

TLDR: Ambitious for a debut, but Enright does a great job for the most part. I think it's worth the read, but there are definite issues with the pacing and some plot holes that stop this book from being rated higher.

The summary for Mistress of Lies got me, along with the stunning cover. I don't regret reading it, but it didn't meet my expectations.

Starting off with the good points—a novel and interesting vampire story! Super hard to put a spin on the typical vampire story, but I was so interested in bloodworking and how diverse it is! It would have been nice for this to be expanded upon more, but I believe that might happen in the sequel, considering the "how" relates to a particular plot point.

For the most part, I really enjoyed the characters. They're all very morally grey, and you find yourself going back and forth on whether what they are doing is right or justified. I am an absolute sucker (no pun intended) for some flawed and MG characters! What lets them down is understanding each character's motivations for what they're doing. Some are half-formed, while others are near non-existent.

The pacing could definitely be improved; you're hooked straight away from the first chapter and feel like you're strung along through the entire middle part with nothing really going on until the very last few chapters, where everything gets rushed to a conclusion.

Also, the final chapter? No spoilers, but I was definitely left feeling frustrated as to why that character would go see that person and how it played out.

Overall, I would still recommend Mistress of Lies, and I'll be looking out for Enright's future releases, as they've done really well for a debut. It was maybe just a bit too ambitious or else needed a bit more direction or input.

I was very excited about this book and it did not disappoint! It was amazing!!! The blood magic system was unlike anything I've read before and I loved the characters. Shan is a great morally grey FMC, she is clever, strong and determined. Samuel's character development was great, can't wait to see how his story continues. Isaac's character is very complex, I hope we get more of his POV in the next book. The ending SHOCKED me, I did not see this coming at all!

Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC!

Thank you so much to the publisher for the earc!

There are no words for how much I loved this book! It was completely unexpected, as based on the synopsis I’d say it’s something that wouldn’t capture me. But I gave it a chance and what a good decision it was!

I find it really hard to write a proper review for books I loved and this book is not an exceptation unfortunately. So bear with me for this review-like thing.

I loved the world building, it was just as dark as one would expect with secrets, lies and schemes. In the heart of it we have Shan, who just murdered her father, so she can take over his place. She wants change in their world to protect her brother who was born without magic. And being Unblooded in this world is not a guarantee for a happy life, even if you were born to an aristocratic family.

I loved Shan’s character, she’s smart and deadly. I loved the duality of her character, the heir to their bloodline and being the head of a spy network. She knew what she wanted and there was nothing that could stop her. She was constantly planning ahead, scheming and lying. But she wasn’t the only one with secrets in the family. Her twin brother, Anton had just as many secrets as she did. I admit, I’m still unsure about his character. I understand that it must have been hard for him to grow up the way he had to, but sometimes his actions were too harsh. I hope we’ll get to see more of him in the sequel!

On the other hand we have Samuel, who wanted to do nothing with Blood Workers and their magic. But he had a greater power in his blood, one that could’ve changed everything. It was interesting to see how he became part of the very society he worked so hard to avoid. And not just part, but one of the most important people in the country. I loved that despite everything that happened to him, he still kept his kindness.

In a way this book was a murder mystery and not going to lie, I loved that part too. Though I was really surprised by the killer. I was not expecting that twist.

Overall, it was an amazing debut (I can’t believe it is a debut!) and highly recommend it! Though please, check the trigger warnings first, it is quite dark and disturbing at times.

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and honestly review an advanced reader’s copy of this book.

I’m… a wreck about this book.
Mistress of Lies never stops moving, with a thrilling plot that tackles classism and dubious ethics, political intrigue, and compelling twists.

That’s not to mention the fantastic and dark world building, with its fucked-up blood magic and build-in queer acceptance/normalisation/representation.

And most importantly: amazing and messy characters.
Shan, Samuel and Isaac stole my heart from the first few chapters. They’re all written very well; to the point where it’s so very easily to emotionally connect with each of them and their various motives.

I was on the edge of my seat for the whole ride. The ending?? The author needs to answer for their crimes, because that’s was an insane ending. I need the sequel right now, thank you very much 😌

One of the best books I’ve read this year.

5⭐️

This book starts with a bang when Shan, a Bloodworker and the daughter of a Lord assassinates her father in order to gain more control of her own destiny and stop the suffering of her Unblooded brother Anton. Our heroine, also known as Sparrow, has a network of spies who she calls to when she needs to be updated about the news regarding the events happening in the city, believing that knowledge is power when it comes to the game of politics and intrigue. Enter Samuel, a long lost heir to the Eternal King, who lived his life as Unblooded and kept the secret of his power under wraps, knowing that once it gets out, his life will change completely. When murders start in the city, Shan stumbles upon Samuel's secret and takes him under her wing, seeing it as another way to gain King's acknowledgment. But it's not that easy, because another person involved in this is Isaac, the Royal Bloodworker and Shan's former lover, who, at King's orders, is educating Samuel about his powers.

This was interesting concept in general and I think that portrayed it pretty well. I didn't realise how prominent the politics will be in this book, although it makes perfect sense when you find out how Bloodworkers treat Unblooded and view them as a different, lower species even the their only difference is the lack of blood magic/control of the Unblooded, who don't even have a choice in the matter since it is genetic and not something you can gain. I liked the fact, that all main characters were so different from each other, but somehow came together so well and their dynamics didn't feel forced. Shan and Isaac were definitely morally grey while Samuel was portrayed more like a good guy who was going with the flow and trying to understand how to handle his new life and new responsibilities. Their romantic relationships are very intertwined right from the start, which although I knew before hand, was still something to look forward too. I liked that the connections progressed slowly, but surely and it didn't feel random or like insta love. I also enjoyed the dark atmosphere that the book provides, always keeping you in suspense of what will happen next. The slow revealing of Eternal King's schemes and who was responsible for the murders was also done quite well as it wasn't obvious right from the start and you could only figure it out by putting the little puzzle pieces that were scattered in the book. Also, the ending was intriguing enough for me to continue with the series when the next book comes out.

Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions! As per publisher's request, my full review will be posted on Goodreads on the 1st of August, 2024.

The premise of this book was so intriguing and had me excited to read it right from the start! I really don't think I've ever read a book like this one before - there was something so unique about it from both the plot and magic system, to the characters and world everything was set in. I also really enjoyed that this book was duel POV, it added a lot of depth and context to the book, and certain parts made a lot more sense or had a bigger emotional impact than they would have had without it. (honestly think every book could benefit from having more than one pov)

The main female protagonist also seemed like such a bad ass to me, the very definition of "if you want something done right, do it yourself". She wasn't at all afraid to get her hands messy and take charge, such a strong character working towards what she thinks will be a better future.
I was actually glad that this went a little light on specific details (sometimes they can really weigh the book down and make it difficult to read). I enjoyed that there was more to this than just the romance element too! The politics and world just made it all the more interesting, and clearly indicated that there was more at stake than just the chance of romance and a happily ever after (some things are more important than that).

I am very excited about what will happen in book 2, and what will happen between the trio of main characters! (they all made the whole book that much more enjoyable to read). The ending was phenomenal and a perfect conclusion!!

A massive thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for giving me the chance to read this title early! <3

Quick disclaimer:

Thank you Netgalley and Little Brown UK for allowing me to read this book early in exchange for an honest review.
Once again my opinion is my own and is not influenced by receiving this E-ARC.

Review:

Content Warning :
Explicit Sexual content
☠️
Patricide
Gore
Blood Magic and Blood Magic for the purposes of magic
Discussions of Racism and Classicism
And mentions of 🍇



I loved this book to pieces!

I had to start with this because it will be obvious how much I loved this book in the review.
The premise already sang to me, and I could not help but choose this book to review.
A prodigy daughter to protects whom she loves dearly ends her father's life and takes the power into her own hands as the matriarch of the family. This already calls the attention of the soon-to-be readers. However is the intricate way that K.M Enright builds on how blood can be power in a vampiric society that really sold it for me.
Shan is cunning and is not afraid to take matters into her own hands to see the end that she wishes to see. It's very anti-hero. (If she could be called one).
This book is also divided into two POVs. And is shared by two very different characters that I would say are the opposites of each other but that complement the story.
Samuel is an unblooded that shows the other side of a society that is carried by the back and bone of those with no power. He is caring, and self-righteous (And more I can't say without spoiling the book).
There's political intrigue, Fighting for what's right with every weapon you have, and morality systems clashing.
REPRESENTATION! By far the best part of this book is how representation is so flawlessly delivered.

Of course, I do think some plot devices should've been better used but the writing and characters more than made up for it!
I cannot wait for this book to be out so other readers can enjoy it as much as I did!

(Will update it 2 weeks before release with the socials!)

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the ARC of Mistress of Lies!

3.5 stars. I think this is a really decent debut; it's a very cool take on the vampire trope. I do think it was a little light on 'classic' vampire elements.

This one is very politics-heavy which I don't mind from a book, but I would have liked it to have been a little more balanced out with the romance. I feel like it's blurbed as a romance, but this aspect felt very lacking to me. Maybe I've read too much romance recently, but this one seemed to dance around the polyamorous relationship without following through with any of it.

I think it could have had a bit more info-dumping too. I know some people don't like that but I wanted to know more about Blood Working (like how it actually works?!) and the city of Dameral too.

This series has a lot of promise! Also, the cover is absolutely stunning!

Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group & NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a very interesting debut. I loved the worldbuilding in this, and the character work at the beginning of the story was interesting. I love poly stories where they are all entangled together, so this was right up my alley.

However, at some point after the halfway mark, things seemed to drop off. I’m not sure what it was, but it was like it was building up towards the ending and seemed to be very rushed compared to what it was at the beginning of the book. Which is fair, as it is building towards the big reveal! But in the rush it was like things didn’t get shown as well. Isaac is suddenly some kind of super vampire? Samuel was free from his power only to suddenly get a NEW superpower?

Either way, the ending wasn’t the best for me. I will be looking to pick up book 2 to see where the story goes, as I am curious about what comes next for the trio.

This was still a 4 star read for me as I loved the beginning. I adored Samuel, and I loved the moments between the three main characters. I’m hopeful for the next book in the series!

At the publishers request this review will not be posted on Goodreads until two weeks before the publication date.

"Mistress of Lies" by K.M. Enright is an exemplary dark fantasy novel. It features a well-constructed world filled with political intrigue, complicated family dynamics, morally ambiguous main characters, and intense blood magic. Enright crafts a world that, while echoing the best traditions of vampire fiction, innovates with fresh twists on familiar themes. The fantasy setting is rich in history, and its immersive atmosphere is palpable.

One of the most fascinating aspects is blood magic, which involves consuming one's blood and the blood of others. Though intriguing and somewhat grotesque, this element forms the basis for the kingdom's class system. While the idea of a society divided between those who can wield magic and those who cannot is not new, Enright's portrayal is disturbingly realistic. This societal structure profoundly influences character motivations and actions, often leading to tragic consequences.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, captivated by the intricate plot and well-developed characters. The high tension created by the complex relationships and societal conflicts made it a compelling read. I am eager to own a physical copy, not only to re-explore the story but also to appreciate the beautiful cover art.

3.5/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one was a really anticipated read for me, and I´m so glad I got my hands on it before the publication date. Mistress of Lies is an incredible queer poly romantasy with gray characters, and an original magic system and political plot. Also, shoutout to one of the most gorgeous covers I´ve ever seen.
Still, I have to admit I struggled to get through the beginning of the book. The writing style, especially for the dialogues, wasn´t for me, and I honestly felt a lack of connection between the characters. The words were telling me about this tension and desire between the FMC and the two MMCs, but I did not actually feel or see it. The pace was slow, and the characters had a ticking clock, but weren't doing much about it.
However, I pushed through it, and at the end my attention was grasped. I couldn't put the book down. I started to feel that connection and I was desperate to see what was going to happen. I honestly think that the story has a lot of potential and I'm excited to read the next book after that ending. I'm hoping we also get an Isaac POV, because this character was a little underdeveloped (I understand it was for the sake of the plot and the mystery of it, but still…). I want to know much more about his story and his motivations.

I will share my review on Goodreads closer to publication date.

Mistress of lies had great potential, and while it was a super entertaining read, I have to admit said potential was a bit wasted.
I honestly had a great time reading it, but I cannot deny that it was a romantasy. And I really enjoy romantasy, but it wasn't advertised as such, so I believe it's something to keep in mind when approaching this book.

While the novel starts out strong, it quickly blurs into a succession of balls, character interactions and a lot of telling. And telling. And telling, again.
This is also the main problem I have with the characters: throughout almost the whole book, they simply talk to each other and tell us of their past and their thoughts. It's not simply that there is no action, it's that there are entire paragraphs of them telling the reader who they are and what they do. For example, Shan is supposed to be a spy master, but it's never shown on page why she is considered as such and what she actually does on scene is make stupid decisions all the time.
The plot is very basic and predictable and the worldbuilding is also quite vague, besides a basic explanation of how blood working works.

Despite all its flaws, the thing this book does very nicely is setting up for book 2. The last few chapters were the most captivating out of the entire book and they honestly made me want to start the sequel straight away.
I also really enjoyed the representation (poly relationship, yay!) and I generally liked the main characters and the romance.

All in all, I believe you can enjoy something while also seeing its flaws, and that perfectly sums up my experience with Mistress of lies.

3.2⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I started this story really intrigued (that opening scene!), but it ended up taking me a while to finish as my interest faded a lot when the focus moved from the murder mystery to a romance which developed kind of out of nowhere. It just doesn’t seem realistic to me that people who had spent so much of their life plotting and scheming would let someone in so easily.

Overall I thought it was a good storyline with a lot of potential, the writing style just didn’t suit my preferences.

This will be shared to my Goodreads account closer to the release date.

massive thanks to orbit for letting me read this e-arc

mistress of lies is a captivating story with delightfully messy characters. i loved our main characters and their relationships with each other and i am beyond excited to see how this story continues. i hope that in future instalments we get more glimpses into the world outside aeravin and i’m crossing my fingers that we get to see more things from isaac’s pov. all together a thoroughly enjoyable book that leaves me wanting for more.

DNF. This was one of my most-anticipated reads of the year…but I was just bored.

Mistress of Lies is fine, I guess? It starts strong, with Shan, our Blood Worker (blood mage) MC murdering her terrible father, but the big bang of the beginning fizzles out immediately.

The prose is mostly lovely, but it was scattered through with oddly-phrased sentences and the occasional jarring word choice that kept knocking me out of my immersion. Like

<Unlike Shan, he didn’t have the benefit of a lifetime.>

That’s meant to mean, didn’t have a lifetime of experience at Thing, going from context, but that phrasing???

The worldbuilding was so vague as to be nonexistent. What we did get was generic af; vaguely Medieval Europe, vaguely Regency. Guys wear cravats, but people say ‘okay’, which made me twitch every time. Society is ruled by Blood Workers (why do so many reviewers keep calling them/comparing them to vampires??? It’s blood magic, not vampirism), which should have opened up so much potential in crafting a very unique society, but if you swapped out the Blood Workers for a non-magical nobility, you’d hardly notice. Those without magic are poor and downtrodden – so, the working and lower classes in a Regency setting, basically. I liked the metal claws the Blood Workers wore, but I need more than some pretty jewellery to keep me interested.

I really wanted to laugh at the idea that Shan is this super spymistress. Um, what? Why not show us that, instead of just telling us over and over? There’s no evidence that she’s as brilliant at intrigue as the book keeps insisting she is; I want EVIDENCE. And why on earth does she call herself the Sparrow, and her second-in-command is the Hawk? You get that hawks EAT sparrows, yes?

Also, love how she ‘tested’ Samuel’s blood to make sure he was the missing heir, but…where did she get the immortal king’s blood to test it against, hm??? ‘Caus I’d bet solid gold that dude does NOT let any of his blood anywhere ANOTHER BLOOD WORKER could potentially get her hands on it.

Sigh. I probably could have stuck this one out – the prose was smooth enough – but I didn’t want to. Shan had potential, but that potential rapidly dissolved into nothing; Samuel I didn’t care about at all. There was nothing interesting about the magic or the setting, and I’m a worldbuilding fanatic, okay, if your worldbuilding is meh I am gone. And the plot? Again, generic, bland, nothing to make it stand out or catch my attention. And I have too many other things to read to waste time on a book I don’t actually care about.

First of all, thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the ARC.
Mistress of Lies was a really nice surprise, I didn't expect to enjoy this book so much. From the first page I was hooked (that beginning was insane!). Shan, the protagonist, was such a cunning character, and Samuel, the other main character, was so innocent and good-hearted that sometimes I felt bad for him. I loved the chemistry between them. The others characters, too, were all well defined, each one with a personality different from one another. I appreciated the bond between Shan and her twin brother, she would do anything for him. The queer representation and the romance were great and well developed. The worldbuilding was believable, and creepy sometimes, and the plot kept getting more interesting and intriguing chapter after chapter. A really good read. Can't wait for more!

First of all, many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for granting me a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Messy love triangle that is actually a triangle?? When I saw this being mentioned in other reviews I quite literally ran to Netgalley to hit request on it. And while I absolutely loved the poly triad, this novel definitely has way more aspects making it a strong and amusing read.

I mean.. morally grey characters?? Messy families?? Amazing and intriguing world building?? TRANS REP??? And there’s even more, but I cant name it all, you’ll just have to read to find out yourself ;)

4.5 stars cause there was just one thing that kinda bothered me a bit. Not to go into spoilers but it had to do with the actions of a character and how it will be handled in the sequels. Like how is the author gonna fix it??

Well we’ll see in the sequel! I will be waiting in anticipation :) And in the meantime, I will be yelling at my bookclub members to read this

Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown Book group for the e-arc!

When I’ve read the blurb I was intrigued by this book! Yet, I didn't really know what to expect and well, I was into it through the first few pages. The pacing was great, the writing exquisite and the characters everything you want them to be and more. Shan is one hell of a woman, clever and ruthless, she will do everything for her twin brother and the ones she cares about. Samuel was touching, a good-hearted guy mixed in a scheme bigger than him (or so he thinks) and don’t get me started on Isaac. I loved their dynamic. The plot, the politics and the blood magic was also so interesting I wanted to know more about it! (Still do). I really enjoyed my reading of this book. I was surprised by the plot twist at the end but also, not that shocked? And with that kind of epilogue, I will definitely be here when the second book comes out!
Mistress of Lies is dark, bloody and thrilling. Though I loved the atmosphere of the book, I wished the worldbulding and magic system was a bit more detailed. I would say its greatest strength is its characters! Morally-grey protagonists truly are the best. I loved the trans rep (no transphobia, misgendering, or deadnaming).
Now if you happen to love polyamorous romance on top of everything I just said then this book is definitely for you!

I’m obsessed with this story. Samuel and Shan are interesting and diverse in what drives them. Shan is strategic, cunning and loyal within reason, while Samuel is loyal to a fault, smart and genuine. They both bounce off each other in ways you would think would clash but they balance one another throughout this book.

The blood magic and the political elements were unique and interesting. I look forward to seeing what happens in book 2. Book 1 reminded me of the Boneshard daughter and The scarlett alchemist in the best ways.