i knew from the moment this book showed up on my radar that i would really like it, it was just a matter of how much. the answer is A LOT.

this book had my jaw dropping with everything that was going on and all the reveals and plot twists? broke my brain. the last few chapters basically had me on the edge of my seat and the epilogue made me fall to the floor. LITERAL CHILLS. my anticipation for the sequel is absolutely through the roof like i legitimately don’t think i can wait for an entire year to find out where the story is going to go??

there’s much to talk about in terms of the characters as well. i was a fan of both of them honestly and the way the chemistry between them was built up? phenomenal. the entire book felt very high stakes and a lot of that reflected in the way the characters interacted with each other as well. since they’re essentially working for opposites sides, i would consider this enemies to lovers or at least something very close to it. the two of them don’t trust each other at all but are forced to in certain situations and also hate the side the other stands for.

i will say overall, i highly recommend picking this up when it releases!

This book sounded like it had everything I look for in a good fantasy book, in-depth world building, an interesting and unique magic system, a character with a gripping back story; and it did! But I also had to DNF this book at the 33% mark because I found it was so boring it was putting me to sleep, the characters seemed baseless and uninspired. The magic system didn't play as a big a role as I would have liked or expected considering that that was the selling point being used in the blurb and the tag line for the book, and overall this book felt like it should have gone through another couple rounds of revises and edits to the actual story because the pace seemed off. It started out super quick and captivating but a third of the way in I felt like I was having to force myself to pick it up, and found myself battling with pushing through or DNFing it. I'm sorry to say that although this book has everything I should love in a book, this one just wasn't for me.

The second of Laura Steven’s releases this year, this is her adult fantasy debut. You can definitely tell that this is written by an experienced author. I think it takes quite a lot of bravery now to release a book with magic that uses wands in a similar fashion to HP, but I am totally here for it! I love magic and wands and I want to see more of it in new releases.
This errs slightly more on the side of romantic fantasy than epic fantasy, it’s a tale of Saffron Killoran whose parents were killed as a child by a gang known as the Bloodmoons. She wants revenge and so trains as a Silvercloak, the equivalent of a magical detective, to bring them down. She lied her way into the Silvercloak academy, and just before she graduates is found out. The only way out of the mess she’s created is to go undercover within the Bloodmoons, which means acting like a Bloodmoon and all of the sadistic acts they undertake. She is prophesied to kiss and then kill the kingpins son which hangs over her the entire time she’s undercover.
I initially thought that the stakes of this book were a bit too low; I prefer my fantasy books to be epic in scale and saving the world type rather than undercover detective. HOWEVER, by the time I finished the book I can see that the author is just laying the groundwork for a much more expansive plot with much bigger stakes and consequences in the rest of the trilogy. She has put so much thought into the worldbuilding and it shows. The magic system is based on pleasure and pain, which is such an interesting idea. LK Steven has really thought about the impact that a magic system like that would have on the culture of a world and the consequences of using either type of magic. I can really see people becoming obsessed with this series. Saffron is under so much stress throughout the story you can tell she’s making erratic decisions that don’t make sense. So she’s entirely realistic as a human being which makes the annoyance with most of those decisions forgivable.
Whilst I think some people might write this off as another romantasy book, I urge you not to. I can tell that there is so much foreshadowing and that the payoff in books 2 and 3 is going to be epic.

R E V I E W

Silvercloak by L.K. Steven

☆☆☆☆☆

Advanced Reader Copy graciously provided by Random House UK, Cornerstone | Del Rey via Netgalley

I entered into this fantasy phenomenon completely blind, having no clue what the story was about or that this author is the very same to have penned the recently published 'Our Infinite Fates' which seems to be garnering a lot of praise at the moment.

Having now read Silvercloak and been exposed firsthand to Stevens' stunning prose, imaginative world-building, and addictive romantic storytelling, I can say with certainty that I will definitely be reading more of her backlist.

Silvercloak is an impressively imagined story set in a world where mages rule, each gifted with a specialism fueled only by pain (for quality) or pleasure (for quantity). In a world where vice and sin are currency, the city of Atherin's elite Silvercloak detectives work to ensure dark mages never prosper.

This story begins when young mage Saffron Killoran's parents are ruthlessly murdered by a brutal gang of dark mages; the Bloodmoons. Hellbent on retribution, Saffron works tirelessly for two decades to become a Silvercloak, only to fail at the final hurdle. But all hope is not lost when Saffron is offered the chance of a lifetime, something that could prove more fruitful to her vendetta than serving amongst the Silvercloak: a chance to infiltrate the Bloodmoons, to go undercover and decimate them from within.

Fuelled by her quest for revenge, Saffron soon realises that taking down this bloodthirsty organisation is not going to be plain sailing and that if she truly wants to bring them to their knees, she might just have to darken her own soul to do it. Immersed in a cutthroat gang where torture and murder lay at the tip of a wand, Saffron finds herself doing things she never thought capable and with an unlikely ally: the Kingpin's son. The one whom she is prophesied to both kiss and kill. But just how far is Saffron willing to go to see her parents' death avenged?

This book was unlike anything else I have ever read, from the magic system itself to how said magic is utilised. Every element is carefully considered within this narrative, from how magic is used to ensure poverty and homelessness are a non-issue to how that same magic can be used to heighten intimate experiences. Silvercloak is a unique fantasy delight, and after that ending and, more importantly, that epilogue, I can't wait to see what happens next.

I can’t help but sing “this is how villains are made” as I write this.

While I loved the premise of the book, the world-building and magic system, I just wanted a little more. The magic system was fascinating and utterly unique, and I think my desire to understand it better is what kept me intrigued throughout the story.

I didn’t quite get the connection I was hoping for with all the characters. While I enjoyed how the relationship between the MMC and FMC developed—and the shared history they had—there was just something slightly surface-level about it. I’m hoping that deepens in book two and really comes full circle.

Levan, the MMC, completely broke my heart and was easily my favourite character. He had the emotional depth I was craving from our FMC, Saffron. In some ways, I felt like he carried the book, while she sometimes came across as a bit juvenile in her approach to things.

That said—I’m very curious to see where the story goes next, because that ending? Chaotic is an understatement.

Trigger Warnings: Torture, suicide, murder
Tropes: Enemies to lovers, time control, morally grey MMC, magical institute

If you loved Harry Potter growing up and now crave a similarly detailed magic system—just with adult themes like organised crime, drugs, gambling, and pleasure houses—this might be one to add to your list.

I cannot wait for book two.

Thank you to L K Steven and Random House UK for the E-Arc and the opportunity to review.

My feelings about this book are complicated. I loved the beginning and the end. Both had me gripped. The middle felt like the story was going in circles. 

The main FMC was supposed to be one of the best in her year, but she didn't feel like it. She felt useless at points. I did like her though. She was a well rounded main character who had tough decisions to make. I just hate when books take a strong character and put her in situations where she needs saving all the time.

I love the relationship between the MMC and FMC. There was a lot of tension and build up. Perfect for slow burn and enemies to lovers fans.

The ending is wow! I can't wait to read book two after that ending!

Laura (LK) Steven has written a complex character driven fantasy where our two main characters are doing what they think is right for the memory of their family.
Using wands to cast magic and enchanting objects rather than relying on wholly inherited powers brings something fantastical and innocent to the magic system. However, there is inherited traits and there is a clear divide between between the good (silvercloaks) and the bad (bloodmoons), yet when reading this the lines get blurred, if you inherently wish for morally grey then you’ll love this and you’ll finish with no doubt more questions but a definite love for the damaged and broken characters of Saff and Levan and Laura Steven’s compelling storytelling
I received this book as an ARC and provide an honest review

Silvercloak pulled me in with its unique magic system and morally grey world, and while it wasn’t a flawless read, it definitely kept me hooked.

Saffron’s obsession with revenge made her a gritty, driven protagonist, and I appreciated how far she was willing to go to achieve her goals—even when it got messy. The undercover element added a great layer of tension, and the world of the Bloodmoons was dark, sensual, and brutal. The pleasure-and-pain magic concept was intriguing, though I would’ve liked a bit more exploration and clarity at times.

The romance subplot added a good emotional pull, though it occasionally felt a bit rushed. The plot had some pacing issues and a few moments where things felt a little too convenient, but overall, it was an enjoyable, fast-paced read that left me curious about what’s coming next.

If you enjoy dark fantasy with undercover stakes, danger around every corner, and a touch of forbidden romance, Silvercloak might be worth a spot on your TBR.

I have been trying to find the words for this review since I finished. Please be wary there are spoilers - nothing major but read on at your own will!

I enjoyed this book so much. Were there parts that annoyed me? Yes but when I take a step back and consider the fact that this is book 1 in a trilogy - I am okay with it! And I am obsesssed.

Our female main character is Saffron and she tragically loses her parents in an attack when she is just 6 years old. Since witnessing this attack, Saffron vows to get revenge on the group of people who orchestrated the attack - the Bloodmoons. Saffrons only way of getting anywhere near the Bloodmoons is by joining the Silvercloaks - a prestigious group who live to protect and care for their world. In a turn of events, Saffron is presented with an opportunity to go undercover with the Bloodmoons and she jumps at it.

This world has magic - you learn about spells and the use of wands in this world which for a Harry Potter fan I LOVED. It wasnt a direct copy and paste - it has its own mark which I really liked learning and reading about.

Character wise, we were introduced to a few different characters and yes you arent given immediate emotional ways of connecting with these characters straight away but I feel like this was done on purpose as remember this is book 1 - we have plenty of time to build more connections. The main connection we needed to make was with Saffron and I think it was great and even though there were times I wanted to shake some sense into her - it didnt annoy me like it does some other characters and I think this is because I knew how deep Saffrons want / need to make her parents proud - I really did like her character journey.

Now as for our primary male character - Levan - well. I love him. He made my heart swell and there were moments where I was smiling like a loon and I couldnt cope with how cute he could be. I also really enjoyed his character journey and I hope the next book follows / focuses on him a little more as I would love to learn more about him and his magic.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin / Cornerstone / Del Rey for allowing me an Advanced Early Copy of this book. I enjoyed every moment and I honestly cannot wait for book 2.

A bold and refreshing fantasy debut with a brilliantly original magic system and a richly built world. With compelling characters and a gripping slow-burn romance, it’s an exciting start to a series that promises even more to come, I cant wait!

Oh wow! Is this the adult alternative to HP that I've been looking for?! Because I really think it is (except with *so* much more diversity, hell yeah).

While this book started off quite slow, it's understandable due to the world-building that's needed with a new fantasy book. Once I hit the 50% mark, I absolutely breezed through this and found myself always wanting to read "just one more chapter"!

I loved the world-building and the magic system, the diverse cast of characters and the story itself. While at times it feels familiar and reminiscent of other fantasy stories I've read, it also felt fresh and new.

The book contained a few spicier scenes, but it didn't feel like gratuitous sex just for the hell of it, especially given how people's magical wells are restored. It also didn't feel like the current trends that focus more on the romance than the plot - this definitely felt like a fantasy with romance elements rather than a full on romantasy, which is quite refreshing.

It was great to see an older FMC with strength and courage of her own, rather than a fresh 18-year-old who is so weak and defenseless who flies by the seat of their pants (although there were definitely times where Saff got out of or through a situation with sheer dumb luck).

Overall, a really fantastic new fantasy story, and I can't wait for book 2 (whenever that may be!)

The prologue was amazing, but unfortunately the rest of the story wasn't as enjoyable for me. There were too many characters and I wasn't really sure how I should feel about them. I didn't like the main character. The magic system was interesting but not easiest to follow.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I REALLY wanted to love Silvercloak. Unfortunately I didn't feel connected to the characters. I enjoyed the world and the fact that the author just threw you into it.

However, the FMC is described constantly as being intelligent and quick thinking yet this is literally proven wrong every single time.

I also found she has a very easy time of it despite the gang supposedly being the scariest most ruthless one around.

And it didn't read adult at all. At best it's new adult because of the themes but r ally could be a YA book. The characters are nearly 30 but read as 18-20 in my opinion. I feel like Silvercloak is a bridge book to transition the author into adult whilst still appealing to her ya fans.

It's not a bad book and I do feel there's lots of people who will enjoy it. But I personally struggled to want to pick it up.

3.75 Stars. I loved the magic system in this book. The morally grey characters were engaging and witty too. I am looking forward to the next book.

I loved the concept for this book and the fact that the magic was fueled by pleasure and pain. It’s a creative idea which is something that’s been hard to find in fantasy lately, and that really helped the story feel fresh even when the plot decided to take a predictable route.

Silvercloak is a freaking masterpiece! Laura Steven’s adult fantasy debut is everything—wildly original, brutally addictive, and packed with heart. The magic system alone is next-level genius: power fueled by pain and pleasure, woven so deeply into the world that every society twists it to their advantage. It’s dark, it’s sexy, and it makes the politics explode with tension.

Saffron Killoran is the kind of heroine you’d follow into hell—driven by vengeance, ruthless in her mission, and yet so damn human. When she infiltrates the Bloodmoons, the danger is electric, but nothing compares to the slow-burn chaos of her relationship with Levan, the kingpin’s tortured son. Their chemistry? Unreal. The way Steven writes morally grey characters ,everyone’s got secrets, everyone’s flawed—makes the story impossible to put down.

And can we talk about the queer rep? It’s not just there—it’s celebrated, natural, and so damn refreshing in a gritty fantasy like this. No tokenism, just vibrant, messy, glorious characters living their truths.

The last act? Pure. Chaos. I finished this book with my heart in my throat, already desperate for the sequel. If you love dark fantasy with razor-sharp worldbuilding, enemies-to-lovers that hurts so good, and twists that leave you gasping, Silvercloak is your next obsession.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC!

I gave this book 4.75 stars. absolutely everything about silver cloak was right up my street. magic (with wands!!), parental grief, avenging fallen family members & undercover work. the romance between the fmc and the mmc was really well done and i loved the whole prophecy aspect of it. i felt nearer the end of the book my attention started to drop off a little bit as a lot was going on but all in all an amazing book and i can’t wait to talk to everyone about it in july! thank you so much for letting me read this

Im sorry but I’m afraid I had to dnf it at 70% , for some reason I just couldn’t stay connected with the story or the characters. I don’t know why. It started off really well & after 50% kept picking it up & putting it back down.
I think it had really good potential but just didn’t go well in the second half. I do think it read more like YA rather than adult fantasy. Again I don’t know why but j just couldn’t get to grips with it .

Set in a world where magic is fuelled by pain and pleasure, Saffron is training to become a Silvercloak (magical detective) so that she take down the Bloodmoons (magical criminals who murdered her parents. However, when her unique magical gift is exposed, she takes a secret undercover mission to infiltrate the Bloodmoons.

The world itself is really cool and unique (we need more fantasy books with wands!) and, despite this being over 500 pages long, I would have loved for it to be longer just to get more world exploration and world building.

The romance is slow burn and I really enjoyed it. There is queer rep in this book - although the main romance is m/f enemies to lovers, the MC is bi and one of the secondary characters who plays an important role in the story is her ex girlfriend.

My main critiques are that I saw the plot twists coming and despite this being an adult fantasy book it read quite upper YA to me. Overall, I did really enjoy this book I'll definitely be picking up the rest of the books in this trilogy!

As a fan of Laura’s YA books I’ve been looking forward to reading this and it did not disappoint!

If you like fantastic world building, complex characters, unique magic systems (this one is based on pleasure and pain), revenge, deceit, political intrigue and forbidden romance then Silvercloak is for you!

It’s dark, gritty and violent, full of twists and turns, well plotted, well paced and the writing is stunning.

I thoroughly enjoyed this, will be recommending it to everyone and I already can’t wait for book 2