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.

Thank you for allowing me to ARC read this book - apologize it has taken so long to write this review!

Mistress of Lies follows Shan, the head of a shamed household, moving through political intrigue and back-stabbing, classism both hidden and blatant, magic, and a murder mystery.

While I found this book to be slow-moving in places, while fleshing out characters, and my attention wandered during this, it was always needed to move the story along further and at a faster pace later on when things picked up.

I overall enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading more by KM Knight in the future.

Mistress of Lies is a dark and intriguing story about Shan, the head of a shamed household and her schemes and plots. This is a story with political intrigue, class discussions as well as classism, a murder mystery, a unique magic system and a queerness that was unexpected but appreciated and treated well. Shan discovers a long lost connection to the monarchy with mysterious powers who has lived as an 'unblooded' and now is thrust into a regency-adjacent style society that is based around blood magic and more rules than he ever expected. While this book did have its points where it dawdled, it felt necessary for fleshing out the characters and raising the stakes.
4.5 stars - I really enjoyed this story and will definitely read the next book in the series.
Thank you to Brown Books Group and Netgalley for this ARC.

thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

oh, this book was such a nice surprise!

the author has crafted a unique magic system that revolves around blood and that dictates every aspect of this world and its characters’ lives. i’ve seen some people saying this book has vampires because of the blood aspect, but i don’t agree with it. yes, some people need to consume blood to activate their powers and there’s some blood drinking in this novel, but they aren’t really *vampires* in the way we’re used to seeing.

the characters aren’t nice people and they know it. i really enjoyed following shan’s journey and her relationship with her twin brother, anton. i’m very excited to see what will happen between them in the next book! it was hard for me to understand isaac’s intentions and what he was planning—and i loved it! samuel was a good character to balance both isaac and shan; he was the one to bring out the best side of those complex characters.

there’s a little of a poly relationship (!!!!!!! i was over the moon about it!!!!!!!), but the main focus of this book is about the political intricacies the characters are involved with. i didn’t expect all of that from a debut author, but i was so surprised with this book and how much i ended up enjoying it! the angst was delicious and it left me wanting more and more. everything is so high-tension when you consider the characters have different goals, there’s a revolution close to bursting and an eternal ruler who will do everything to stay in power. i can’t want to see what will happen in the sequel :) <3

a beautifully written story with nicely fleshed out and real feeling characters.
I loved the magic system, and the very unique feel of this story.
I can't wait to read more from this world and these characters!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. I really loved this one. It had everything I like in a book, a complex magic system with immersive world building, complex characters and a nicely paced plot. While exploring the inequalities of society within a fantasy setting is not a novel concept, I did enjoy how in this book different characters had very different ideas of what should be done about it, which created interesting tensions and conflict throughout. Very much looking forward to the the second instalment!

This has the bones of a fairly incredible book. But the meat of it - the blood of it, if you will - didn't quite live up to its potential.

First, let's talk about what worked. And first and foremost in that category is Shan. One of the two POV characters, Shan is an absolute star. She has different sides to her, quite literally with her personas of the Sparrow and Lady LeClaire, she has determination, and she doesn't always make great choices. But that makes for a great character! Yes, too many other characters called Shan clever (often to her face) without her doing anything particularly clever, but I can overlook that for the first five or so times it happened. I thought Shan was captivating and engaging, none more than in the opening chapter - which sounds a bit like, "Oh, it's all downhill from here," but I mean. It was a VERY strong opening chapter.

I also thought the political aspects were very cool and had lots of potential to create a fully fleshed out world over the series. I like political machinations, and this had all the setup for that! I think that's another reason why Shan was such a wonderful character for me, as she was the one involved in the politics and being torn in a couple of different directions between her desires to make her world a better place and to gain power.

While I didn't really care for the romance(s) personally, I did appreciate the poly rep and the lack of love triangle! Cheers for that!

And while parts of the worldbuilding were a bit shallow, such as information about other countries, I think the history of their own country was intriguing and there was some great groundwork laid to expand upon the entire world.

Finally, I liked how different this take on vampirism was. At its bones, it really wasn't that unique of a take, I suppose, but the way it was presented in the novel as a whole and interwoven was refreshing!

What worked less well for me? Samuel, the other POV character, was . . . difficult for me. It wouldn't be fair for me to say that he lacked depth, because I don't think that's true, but he was somewhat boring for me if only because his character just seemed TOO good. He's almost the perfect moral compass with very little lapses into any vices or sins or, you know, complex thoughts. I understand that some of that is positioned in such a way to set him as a contrast to his family and that it's an important part of his character, to be afraid of turning out like his family, but it made it low stakes because there was absolutely no doubt that Samuel would emerge as a beacon of goodness.

Otherwise, the main thing that kept me from being drawn into this book was simply the writing. It was perfectly serviceable. It was fine. But it just didn't work for me. I think that's in large part because there were so many paragraphs and pages that would be describing things, telling you things, and often not broken up by dialogue. Which can be a stylistic choice, to be sure, but the style of the prose didn't work for such a choice for me, and instead, those paragraphs and paragraphs just came across as a writer who was still finding their voice and falling into telling over showing. I think some more writing experience would help better flesh out the characters and the world as well.

There were a handful of other things that I could nitpick, but ultimately, those were the big things that I think impacted my enjoyment of the book. That said, both are things that can easily be fixed in future books in this series, and I hope they are as I think this book and this world have a lot of potential. Plus, that cover is so gorgeous that I'd love to want this series on my shelf, and let's not underestimate that. So, overall, a fantastic concept whose execution couldn't quite live up to its full potential - but there is potential in this creative debut.

3.5 stars.

Thank you to the publisher, Orbit, and to NetGalley for the ARC.

I need more Shan, Samuel and Isaac in my life right now.

This book sunk its claws into me and I am begging to know where this trilogy is going to go. I absolutely adored this story and Shan is such an intelligent main character - I struggle when authors call their characters smart without anything to back it up, but that was not the case here at all. I loved learning about her, the network she created and felt truly connected to the characters. There was so much depth to each one and the writing was lush!

I want to be back in this world as soon as possible! Highly, highly, highly recommend!

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for my digital review copy.

3 stars.

This book was good.

The approach to blood based magic was what drew me into this book and sadly, I came away from it wishing the magic had more development.

The first chapters of this are very promising and instantly show us what type of character Shan is (I absolutely support women's rights, but more importantly, I support women's wrongs.) Shan is someone who will do absolutely anything to get what she wants and I love her for that.

We start out strong with Shan scheming and there's a background plot of murders, so this book has some murder mystery notes, but then the main plot gets pushed to the back burner whilst we focus on more on the relationship side of things between Shan, Isaac (a childhood friend), Samuel (a crucial part of her schemes). I did come away from this wishing that the murders weren't pushed so far back for a large stretch of the book.

There's a lot of representation in this book! We have a transmasc character, multiple mixed race characters, polyamory!

I did enjoy this book by the end and I'm interested to see what happens next, though I did wish the magic system was more developed.

Thank you for this ARC! The following review will be published on Goodreads on August 1st.

A magician heiress of a fallen family trying to find her place in a court full of conspiracy and blood.

I really liked the magic system of this world, it was dark and seductive, and felt like a unique spin on vampire lore. The worldbuilding of Aeravin, with its Unblooded and Blood Workers, was strong, and having two POV characters from opposite sides of the world really helped illustrate the inequality—especially as Samuel rises in the world and is horrified by the contrasts in their society. The intersectionality of Shan and Isaac’s specific experiences also made the world feel more real and complex, as well as being an important topic to discuss.

The prose was good, though a little too much more showing than telling for me. In a fantasy book with complicated world-building I’d rather have things told to me explicitly than end up confused, but I do think Enright could trust his readers a little more.

I really enjoyed the central trio’s relationship. There was probably more focus on the romance over the rest of the plot than I tend to want in a book, but I still enjoyed their dynamics and the sexual tension was delicious.

I think my biggest critique was: I wasn’t entirely sure what either POV character wanted. They both seemed to have relatively vague goals (for Shan, raising her family’s reputation, replacing the King(but how?), for Samuel, surviving the new world he’s thrown into) but I feel like most of the time they were treading water, or being passive. Passive characters can be interesting, and make sense in a world where society is strictly structured, but at the same time I want characters to want something—especially Shan, who is set up to be this super ambitious, determined character, but you’re never 100% sure what exactly she’s ambitious for, or how each of her actions tie into her overall plans. Did she have an overall plan? I’m still not sure.

Despite this, I still enjoyed the book, and especially liked the murder plotline. The ending felt well-judged, and made me want to pick up the next book!