Thank you to NetGalley for this opportunity to read rate and review this arc which will be released wide on 8/20/24 by Duskbound Books!

This one. This book tickled my fancy and then grabs me in its nursery little claws and would not let me go. Loved this one. It’s a Romantasy that slays. The characters had such depth to them that I cared what happened to them. The push and pull between monster hunter Tenele and her partner and prisoner Ranemir, a beast who eats pleasure and pain, was top tier. Oof I’m buying this one

(DNF at 43%)

Thank you to Duskbound Books and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As you can probably guess by the fact that I didn’t manage to finish it, this book was not it for me – which is really unfortunate, because the premise of the book piqued my interest from the very beginning! And I tried to like this book, I promise, I really tried, but in the end, there were several issues with this book that, collectively, made me decide to finally put it down.

Firstly, the worldbuilding – or rather, the lack of it. If I squint, I can identify a few worldbuilding blocks that could’ve been really interesting, if the author had known what to do with them or how to weave them meaningfully into the story and plot. However, I feel like they remained just that: building blocks haphazardly thrown together to create a generic and frankly clumsy attempt at a unique fantasy world. As a worldbuilding and lore buff, the lack of intentionality really struck me and took me out of the setting.

Secondly, the characters and their relationship. Good God, even almost halfway into the book, they are both so boring. There’s nothing interesting at all about either of them, and if the author can’t make me care about the characters, then why the hell should I care about their relationship, a major focus point of the book, given that it’s a romantasy? And since there’s no substance to either character, there isn’t really any way to create chemistry between them. Also, on a note of personal preference: for a book marketed towards monsterfucker audiences, I’m sorely disappointed by the lack of monstrosity in Ranemir – silver skin, horns, and some magic powers do not a monster make.

And thirdly, the lack of atmosphere. Maybe it’s just me, but I just felt absolutely no sense of mystery, tension, or urgency, which was especially frustrating because it gave me nothing to hook my waning interest on, nothing to make me want to turn the page, and no motivation to even pick up the book for another reading session, which is why it's taken me weeks to make it not even to the halfway point. The structure of the plot just left me, once again, bored out of my mind.

If your book can’t make me care about the characters or their relationship, the plot, or the world in which it takes place, why should I waste my time on it? I think that whoever sent this book to publication without several further rounds of editing has done it a major disservice. There are seeds here to create an awesome story, I have no doubt of that, but as it stands right now, this book reads as clumsy and unpolished, and I regret having spent so much time on it as I have.

this book was crazy!! our fmc was so different to the usual romantasy heroine (no hate though because god knows i eat up the traditional heroines too) - she was centuries old, she was queer as hell, and she was kickass af but it made sense because she'd actually been training for 100+ years. i loved her!!

“a broken heart is easier to mend than a destroyed kingdom. if sinead wasn’t prepared to lose me, she would’ve given me an easier job.”

our mmcs were equally unique - i truly didn't know what to think about cas for the first 70%-ish of the book, but he was definitely fascinating. and rane ranged between scary and hot - i cannot wait to see him form an even closer relationship with tenele. and the plot-twist switch up between these three... craziness, and made me adore this book so much more.

“she tasted familiar. it was as if he’d had her a million times before. she tasted like moonlight and madness and… divinity. like holy water without the agonizing burn, and he wanted more.”

the plot was also quite strong - i will admit that there was one section where i didn't really know what was going on, but that was probably on me for reading while exhausted. once the plot really started coming together, it was unique and had so many working parts and sides to the story - i didn't know who to trust or support!! which is just how i like it.

overall, this was such a strong debut, with fascinating and well-written characters, gorgeous queer rep, plot-twists, and crazy shenanigans - so addictive!! thank you so much to the author, publisher, and netgalley for the arc copy.

This book was incredible! The world building and characters were amazing. I loved the mythology present throughout and feel like it was in depth. The cover is what sucked me in as it’s absolutely gorgeous and now after reading and knowing what it represents it’s even better. Obsessed and can’t wait for the next book!

Trigger warnings for: mentions forced miscarriage, marital sexual assault, sexual assault, violence, gaslighting; rough sex, polyamory, amnesia, slavery. I will say that the mentions of the miscarriages (there are several), marital abuse both sexual and physical are mentioned as in a mythical retelling of a goddess story rather than being graphic scenes, but they may be uncomfortable for some readers.

I’m going to be honest and say that I didn’t really vibe with this book the way I wanted to. The characters are fine, but shallow, and the main pair fell into bed so quickly and easily without much chemistry between them — with everything feeling taken for granted and obligatory —and for much of the book I had very little interest in them. Until the *big reveal* happens (no spoilers, sorry), and everything made more sense. I still never really warmed up to them as characters, though the epilogue sets up some really fun potential moments in the sequel.

And for someone who needs to connect to the characters to really get invested, it hurt my enjoyment of the book. However, the world building and the mythology are so well done, it almost made up for it. The plot was well done, and the pace — while a little fast — was solid with little downtime.

This is a fun book, and I’m very much looking forward to the next one!

This was absolutely amazing. I did not expect there to be such complicated and intense character reveals, and I loved all three of the POV characters. Casimir Drowsky though is an absolute standout. The history had me feeling like my heart was being ripped in two at times, but the relationship was so perfect and sweet. I can’t wait for the second book of this duology because I NEED a HEA for those three so badly.

This is an incredible story and I was not okay after reading it. And I mean that in the best way possible because I absolutely loved it and it’s one of the best fantasy reads I have read in a while .
From the first page I was absolutely hooked into this world of magic. It is incredibly captivating and caught my attention.
Twists and turns all over the place. I thought I had it figured out ... turns out I had no idea where the story was going. This book made me sit on the edge of my seat until the very end. There wasn't a point where I got bored and wanted to put the book down, but equally, it's not like you were always overwhelmed with stuff going on. There was a great balance!
The plot twist in the end had me in its grasp and I cannot wait for book two!

What can you expect

🖤 Forced Proximity
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🖤 Magical Bond
🖤 Strong FMC
🖤 Multi P.O.V
🖤 Touch her and die
🖤 Magic
🖤 War/ Fighting
🖤 Gods
🖤 One bed

4.75⭐️
First of all let's talk about the cover .Oh my god how beautiful it is and not only in terms of illustration but also what it symbolizes the way Tenele is depicted on the cover (I don't want to go into details because I want to avoid spoilers)!!
I just finished the book and i'm just trying to put into words and without spoilers how i felt.
The author made me feel anxiety, fear, disgust with the violence of the characters (not because she created them that way but because their behaviors were so realistic in relation to the average person. ), love, passion, excitement, disappointment and indignation!! The plot twist didn't leave me speechless as I had carefully picked up all the crumbs the author had left up until that point so I understood exactly what was going on but again when the truth unfolded the emotions were so intense that my stomach clenched ! Fantastic book, with incredible characters, a book in which nothing and no one in it is as it appears, very beautiful cosmology and full of messages and occasions for great discussions!!!
I don't know who to choose as my favorite character (because all of the are amazing ) but I know the most hated one .(Thar 👿)
The ending left me with mixed emotions, anguish, indignation and the words "no, no, no, Why, why?, don't do this to him " and so many questions and pleas that I can't tell you without giving spoilers!!


Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this Arc for exchange for my honest opinion it was a hell of a ride and Ioved every second of it !!! so many great issues touched by the author that are dying to be discussed above, so many truths written ready for you to notice and make you think!

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

TLDR: Just read it!! It's hard to review without spoilers, but if you like the summary and also your spice spicy, then this is a must read!

I think most will have trouble reviewing Of Silver and Sin because there are so many amazing points I'd love to talk about, but you can't talk about much without spoiling so much of the story!

Platt does such an amazing job of always keeping the story moving. There wasn't a point where I got bored and wanted to put the book down, but equally, it's not like you were always overwhelmed with stuff going on. There was a great balance!

I can't say too much about our characters, but I love them and feel like Ranemir needs to be protected at all costs. I absolutely love him!

5* read, and I can't wait for the sequel!

God book!! I read this over a long weekend and it made for a very enjoyable weekend, the book was well written and the characters interesting.

I thought this was a fun, slightly dark fantasy story and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I would give between 3.5-4 stars. The entertainment value was high and I binged this book in just over a day.

The plot was interesting, the fantasy elements were unique and I appreciate that the book ended on a cliff-hanger while also tying up some loose ends that made the story fulfilling on its own, while also leaving me excited for the second book.

I think this book suffers a bit from the multiple 3rd person POV writing especially in the beginning. It was hard to put together the different characters and understand why I should care. Once I got a bit further in the book and figured out the players I really started to enjoy myself. The majority of this book is well paced and balances the relationship building and action quite well once it gets started. The world building is intriguing but pretty light - quite a few things are introduced that are not explained, but I'm also not sure they need to be for the story to be understood.

All in all, an entertaining story and I'll be looking forward to the next book!

I was really impressed by this story, it had a lot to give, Gods, reincarnation, a love story that lasted ages.

The Red Maiden was a badass, I loved that she could handle her own and also that she was so go with the flow. Even when shit hit the fan she is one to run into danger more than run from it, and Rane will be right behind her.

I think the plot was really original, I liked all the characters and I didn’t see the plot twists coming!
The spice was perfect 4.5⭐️

Thank you to Kaytalin Platt for sharing your art.

Big thank you to Duskbound Books, NetGalley and BookSirens for my free copy of “Of Silver and Sin”

I received this advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Ohh… the girls are going to loveeee this one.

This review is just going to be feels.
There was SO much to enjoy about this book but going into characters is going into plot and I want you, reader who needs to read this book, to enjoy the discovery on your own.

I have been blessed to have read so many good books this year but this had everything a fantasy romance reader will love. Twists, spice, revelations, creative world building, detailed characters, delicious banter. I had a great time reading this from chapter one and became more obsessed as each page passed. The ending had me itching for more. This author is going to be on my radar from here on out.

“She tasted familiar. It was as if he'd had her a million times before. She tasted like moonlight and madness and... divinity. Like holy water without the agonizing burn, and he wanted more.”

AHHHHH!!

Do yourself a favor and add this one to a must read for this year.

Since I’m not providing much, here are the list of tropes for this book!

🗡️ Bi/Pan Characters
🗡️ Forced Proximity
🗡️ Enemies to Lovers
🗡️ Magical Bond
🗡️Strong FMC
🗡️Shadows/ Shades
🗡️Multi P.O.V
🗡️Touch her and die
🗡️Magic
🗡️War/ Fighting
🗡️Gods
🗡️ONE BED

The story follows Tenele Raider, a Maiden of the Red Court, tasked with uncovering the source of mysterious black runes plaguing the border between her home and its hostile neighbor. Platt skillfully establishes a world steeped in magic and danger. The presence of the Queens War, a conflict that left a generation of women orphaned and transformed into monster hunters, adds a layer of depth and history to the narrative. Tenele's role as a Maiden, facing the horrors of the world while sacrificing her humanity, is both compelling and heartbreaking. The introduction of Ranemir Stroud, a captivating and enigmatic Shade, elevates the story. The chemistry between the two characters is palpable, their relationship evolving from reluctant partnership to a more profound connection. Their shared journey pushes them to confront their personal demons and the inherent darkness within themselves, creating a complex and engaging dynamic. Platt's writing style is evocative and immersive. Her descriptions of the world, its creatures, and the emotional turmoil of the characters are vivid and compelling. The pacing is well-balanced, expertly weaving together action-packed sequences with moments of introspection and character development. However, the novel's true strength lies in its exploration of themes beyond the surface. The clash between fate and free will is a constant undercurrent, playing out in both Tenele and Ranemir's choices. The question of what it means to be human and the complexities of love and sacrifice are expertly woven into the narrative. I highly recommended this book for fantasy fans seeking a captivating story that balances thrilling action with introspective character development. Platt's unique world-building, intriguing plot, and compelling characters make for an unforgettable journey.

So, when will book 2 come out?? I kind of need it now..

First of all that cover! So gorgeous!
I didn't have much time to read the last days but I kept thinking about this book and every time I started reading it kept getting better and better. Today I finally had time to read more and there came the plottwists! I did not see it coming!
Tenele is a very tough heroine and I really like her! She deserves all the good things so I need book two to drop and give her all the good things, pretty please!

I want to thank Netgalley and Duskbound Books for the ARC of this! This was a fascinating fantasy read for me. The world-building was a little farther out there (think a little intense like Lord of the Rings or GoT.) So just be prepared to have to follow along with all the terminology. I was pretty bored with the beginning until about 25-30% through. It was a lot of just following Telene and Ranemir around without a lot of backstory and then BAM they're hooking up because that's how he "feeds" his magic. But then there is a BIG plot twist and it really piqued my interest and I needed to know how it was all connected. The rest of the story line was really well done and tied everything together super well. I will say the last 10-15% felt a little rushed to get to the ending and could have been paced a little better for me (hence the 1 star knock off along with the confusing beginning) but I loved the ending and can't wait to read the second book of this duology to find out how this story ends!

This book was a wild ride!!! The FMC is a warrior and loyal to a fault throughout, the middle twist was kind of predictable but this doesnt take away from the plot.

Rane was a brilliant MMC, he brought the broodiness we needed and banter with our FMC. This book is spicy and has a fav trope of mine show up early in the book. The world building and the villain were great, I loved the ending as well. I’m excited to see this story continue because it looks like its only going to get darker and hopefully spicier!

Thank you so much to the author, Kaytalin Platt, and NetGalley for the ARC of the book. I absolutely loved and adored every page of this book. I am so grateful for being able to read this as an ARC because I will be telling absolutely everyone to read Of Silver and Sin.

You should read this book if you like: romance fantasy that is darker and emotional but has spice, great plot, and amazing characters.

Of Silver and Silver is about a monster, Ranemir, and a monster hunter, Tenele, being forced to team up together after some devastating events.

I honestly think that’s all you need to know because I recommend going into this book blind and letting the story take you on such an amazing journey.

Kaytalin Platt writing style had me hooked. She writes so effortlessly yet beautifully, you can’t help but continue on to the next chapter to know what’s next. I will definitely be reading through her entire backlist, I am simply enamored. The way she seamlessly weaves in the background information to make it apart of the story is so beautifully done. Not once did I feel like there was an info dump, instead I was learning the world as I continued reading. The writing alone should be a main reason to pick up this book.

I cannot recommend this book enough. Of Silver and Sin is a book you won’t want to miss out on.

Final rating:
5 stars ✨ ✨✨



⚠️ ⚠️ Potential Spoiler Warning ⚠️ ⚠️
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Tropes/ Info:
Bi representation
Badass FMC
Shadows/ Shades
Multi P.O.V
Touch her and you die
Magic
War/ Fighting
Gods

Trigger warnings:
Death
Sexual assault / rape
Physical Abuse
Some gore
Forced miscarriages

Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5

PS: this does end on a cliff hanger… and I will absolutely be reading it.

5 STAR ARC READ.

Tenele Raider, a monster hunter, must team up with a creature she pledged her life to kill. Ranemir Stroud, a Shade tethered to a centuries old Queen, craves the pain and pleasure of others— and his freedom, until he meets Tenele Raider, and becomes lost to his own feelings, feelings that tell him he’s known her before.

• I absolutely adored this book. This was 297 pages of pure adrenaline. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I didn’t really know much about it before going in. When I saw the title and that there was a priest mixed in somewhere, I was immediately sold.
• The world building is NOT overwhelming. It’s sprinkled throughout and paced beautifully. The world itself is uniquely structured, and I enjoyed its differences.
• I am fairly certain the majority of characters are not heterosexual. The main characters are bisexual for sure, and THEIR SEXUALITIES AREN’T TREATED LIKE A SECRET OR LIKE THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG OR DIFFERENT ABOUT IT. Man, that was such a breath of fresh air to have characters be openly bisexual and it not be some deeply hidden secret shame.
• If you like twisty reads, you are in for a ride with this one! Something wild happens like every chapter, and it was marvelous. This is incredibly fast paced.

I do not have any actual critiques. If you like this genre and monster romances, you will enjoy this read. My only partial critique is that I assumed it was a turned priest story, and that’s on me. The book drops 08/20… GET IT

This book pulled me out of a month long reading slump, it was fast paced enough to keep attention without losing track of where the characters were or what was happening.
Dark romantasy, multiple POV, enemies to lovers, with interesting world building. Would absolutely recommend to anyone that enjoys fantasy. Would absolutely read again and will be keeping an eye out for the second half of the duology.