This was a highly anticipated book for me. It was a very bingeable read and I found myself finishing the book sooner than I expected. It was fast paced, violent, and gory, with moments of tenderness. The violence was a departure from the author's previous YA books as they were more descriptive in this. I thought the magical system was interesting as experiencing pain and pleasure can increase/refill a person's power.

I did feel it was very similar to Silver Elite and some parts of the book were a bit formulaic. The FMC's decision making were at times questionable.

Read this if you're into:

- Enemies to Lovers
- Morally Grey Characters
- Spy/Mission Plot
- Unique Magical System
- Shared love over a book

The magic system was my favourite part as I've never seen anything like this. It was very unique and kind of twisted how the only way to replenish one's magic is through pleasure and pain.
The slow burn between the main characters was exquisite. I love them both so much and the development of their relationship had me feeling all sorts of emotions.
There were a lot of little twists that I really enjoyed. But that ending. I am so mad and need the next book immediately.

I absolutely loved Silvercloak. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Del Rey for providing me with the ARC. I did switch to the beautiful UK hardcover around 20% in.

Silvercloak follows Saffron Killoran, a magical detective-in-training. She is just about to take her final exam, afterwards she would be a Silvercloak. Only things do not go to plan. However, Saffron gets the chance to get her revenge from a violent gang the Bloodmoons, who killed her parents twenty years ago.

I loved the magic system. Its basis is so simple it makes it solid. Magic wielders replenish and fuel their magic by pleasure or pain. Pleasure increases the magic's quantity; pain its quality. It is beautifully straightforward.

The relationships between characters were beautifully written. The prologue was already so magical. The first sentence is one that will be a classic. I am sure of it.

Silvercloak is an adult romantasy with a solid magic system and high stakes that you will feel on every page. I highly recommend it to everyone.

I really do hate being negative on here, and this probably makes me sound like a snob, but this is so clearly an attempt at adult fantasy after a career of young adult work. Basing a whole magic system on pain & pleasure is like a teen discovering sex and feeling cool for talking about it.

I was also so disappointed by the writing itself— the chunk I managed to get through read like fanfiction of a certain wizarding world. It all felt so lazy and uninspiring.

I loved Silvercloak.

I can't even quite tell you why, it was just a gripping read, with interesting characters and some great world building that had me hooked. I loved all the tense stuff with Saffron and Levan, knowing from the start it’s doomed only to see it unfold the way it did…

AHHH, SO GOOD.

Loved all the betrayals, the plot twists, the discovery of secret powers, the reveals…and shall I admit that I cruelly loved Saff from thinking she was at the top of the food chain, that she was so good and this would all be so easy for her, only for her to have to eat a massive bit of humble pie? Love you Saff but it made for good reading.

Excited for the sequel, really don’t know where that’s going to go and that exciting!!

I've been sold on this book since I heard the concept of it was The Departed but with magic. Then I found out that the magic system was powered by pain and pleasure and I've been excited for it ever since. Silvercloak did not disappoint. The magic system is SO well built up. I loved it. Then there are the characters that populate the world and I am already so invested. Saffron is such a great FMC and I love the way that she navigates the world and the situation that she has found herself in. Levan is such a good counterpoint to her and I loved their developing relationship. There is so much to love about this world and this story and I am so excited for the next instalment (and only a little bit impatient)

It took a little white to get into this as I got to grips with a new fantasy world but by the end of this book I was hooked! Saffron is a brilliant MC with so many layers. I particularly enjoyed the tension and interlinks between her and Levan! I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Bloodmoons killed her parents → i
nfiltrating the magical gang that murdered her parents to seek vengeance
→ oops but the enemy is attractive

did i think it was going to be averge ? yes
was i wrong ? yes

LOVEDDDDD THISSS

Silvercloak is a dark, gripping fantasy that was filled with twists and betrayals. I really enjoyed the clever magic system and morally grey characters. I did not enjoy the horrible (but absolutely brilliant) cliffhanger ending that has raised the stakes even higher for book two.

I’m sorry, this was not for me but I can appreciate the world that has been created!

I loved Our Infinite Fates so was excited to read an adult book by Laura / LK. And whilst OIF swept me in up beautiful prose and relationships. Silvercloak felt very much more about the world build. I can totally see people enjoying this, but I think it just hit too many elements I don’t enjoy in the characters and the world.

🪄🔎🪄🔎

Premise:
Saffron’s parents were killed by the Bloodmoons when she was just a child. And now as an adult, the is training with the Silvercloaks (essentially the police of this magical world) in hopes of catching the Bloodmoon kingpin one day.

But when her captain discovers a secret about Saffron’s magical immunity, she sends her in to infiltrate the Bloodmoons. Where she finds herself getting close to the kingpin’s son, Levan. The same man she foresaw a prophecy of her kissing and then killing.

🪄🔎🪄🔎

So I liked the world to an extent. The whole pain and pleasure magic source is basically what hooked me into reading this. And it definitely seems like a great idea for an adult fantasy! The spice writes itself. I like the whole ‘we’re low on power, let’s…’ vibes. It’s definitely quite a dense world build at first, I will warn, but I liked the idea. My only main qualm is… why the wands and capes?!?! In my mind they are all dressed like a kids’ party magician. The wands made it all feel like HP fanfic at first, to the point where I had to google and check it wasn’t fanfic.

And I’d say, the plot will appeal if you are a fantasy reader who likes mafia romance. As it’s essentially an undercover cop in a mafia world plot. This wasn’t really for me, but I liked seeing Saffron’s corruption as she proved herself.

And the relationship between Saffron and Levan, I’m torn on. I liked their initial flirting when he was a broody grump. But as we uncovered more about him, in all honesty, I got the ick. He’s secretly a babbling book nerd, and he just wasn’t for me. Sorry! But the spice was fun! And I liked when he fixed the pendant, that was very cute. 🥰

All in all, a really well written and developed book. I just don’t think it was the book for me.

3.5⭐️

This was one of my most anticipated reads of this year and I while I absolutely enjoyed the first half of the book, the second half fell flat to me.

The world-building and the magic system were the best things about this book. Magic fuelled by pleasure and pain? SIGN ME UP. Having to choose between the quantity and the quality of magic based on which source you get it from? YES!! People have different affinities for different classes of magic and it being rare to possess several abilities? ABSOLUTELY YES. Our FMC being immune to magic? FROTHING AT THE MOUTH. The male love interest enduring so much pain that he's magically become the expert in all magic classes and is the most powerful mage? GET ME OUT OF HERE IM BORED. And on top of that, the whole timeweaver thing? Literally rolling my eyes on how boring it made the second half of the book and the ending.

Can I just say that Saff is the WORST undercover detective to ever exist? She snooped once the entire time she was there and was crying she has no good intel. Like no shit girl maybe if you were good at your job, people wouldn't have died.

The romance was meh, there really was never any enemies vibes between them besides their first meeting. I did like that it was sort of a slowburn (not slow enough for a series imo) and there were some cute scenes between them but I really didn't get her falling in love with him because let's be for real, Nissa was right there? You have a beautiful fierce woman and you choose a man because he likes your favourite book?

I did generally enjoy L.K. Steven's writing, I think she's really good at worlbuilding and making her story flow but unfortunately she couldn't escape the YA overexplaining and constantly repeating the same things. You just showed up, you don't then need to explain what happened and why, we can imply from the context 😭

The ending was predictable but it did set up for an interesting continuation of the serious especially when it comes to the FMC's character arc. However, the epilogue ruined it. Why would you reveal to us that he knows??? Imagine the impact if we didn't know and found out at the same time as the FMC in the next book. Think Metal Slinger ending, if we knew the true intentions, wouldn't the ending been so boring?

Overall, I think this book is just mid for what it was hyped up to be. There are definitely things to like about it and I think I will be reading the next book when it comes out. Can't wait to see the author improve in the adult fantasy genre and hopefully she'll realise she doesn't need to spoon-feed us adults same as her YA audience lol.

I've really enjoyed Laura Steven's work so far, so I had to grab Silvercloak when I saw it was available for reveiw. And I was not disappointed.

One of the things I love about Laura's work is that she writes characters that are unapologetically queer, and it's a joy to read. As a bisexual woman myself, it was lovely to see some rep for us on the page! I cannot wait for the next book, I need to know what happens next!

Thank you Random House UK/ Del Rey & Netgalley for this ARC.

Silvercloak was such a fun ride! An adult fantasy with echoes of one of the biggest wizarding worlds (yes, that one), but with a gritty mafia style twist. Here, magic grows stronger through pleasure or pain—a system I’ve never personally encountered before, and it felt utterly fresh.

One of my favourite aspects was how unapologetically queer this book is. Attraction isn’t confined to any one gender. It is simply part of life, woven seamlessly into the world. It was refreshing to see a story stand up and to make that the norm, especially in our current political climate.

Our main character, Saffron, is sharp witted, sassy, strong, and holds a grudge like nobody’s business. But… she could also be frustrating. For someone on such a high stakes mission, she’s occasionally sloppy, making choices that didn’t feel as calculated as I expected from her and in turn that sloppiness shows in the outcomes.

The male lead who is broodiness personified, his watchful mentorship of Saff within the Bloodmoons felt a bit too easy—there wasn’t enough true grit or hardship for the danger she was supposedly facing. Yes, Saff’s magic gives her ways to get around obstacles, but that also made her slip ups stand out so much more.

Still, the set up is fantastic. It’s a treat to dive back into a world of wands and magic while experiencing something bold, sensual, and morally grey. And that ending? WOAHHHH. I’ll definitely be back for the sequel to see what Saff does next.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 4.25 stars
Silvercloak is a story about Saffron, who has been training for years to become a Silvercloak and find justice for the murder of her parents 20 years ago. When it becomes known she is immune to magic, she is tasked to infiltrate the Blood Moons and go undercover.

“I see you, Silver. For all that you are”

I really liked the writing style of this book, and really every book I’ve read by Laura. The way she writes makes it easy to dive into the story and just keep on reading. I also found the plot engaging, although it was predictable.

I was a big fan of the magic system! I loved the wand magic added, all the different spells and how much was possible! I would’ve liked a dictionary or something at the beginning because it was a bit hard to keep track of all the different spells and disciplines, as I kept confusing some of them.

Saffron was a fun character and I liked her a lot. She is morally grey, and I really enjoyed her character’s development and growth. Also, her longing to belong and get that revenge was easy to connect to. Levan was a bit harder to connect with, because he kept his cards so close to his chest, but I did like him a lot.

The romance could’ve been better in my opinion. I liked the chemistry between Saffron and Levan, and I liked how the sparks didn’t immediately fly so to speak. At the same time, I think they went to towards being lovers. I would’ve liked it if their romance had more of a slow burn, which I also think would’ve fitted better with the overall story.

While the plot was a bit slow at some points, I very much enjoyed the high-tension moments. At the same time, those were all very predictable as well. While some events would be a little surprising, none of them were shocking. The very last chapter and the last line were perfect though and I look forward to reading the sequel!

Overall, Silvercloak is an enjoyable read with a rich worldbuilding and characters I really liked.

Silvercloak is an addictive, gritty fantasy full of undercover missions, forbidden magic, and morally complex characters. Its inventive magic system—fuelled by pain and pleasure—shapes a dark, thrilling world where Saffron, driven by revenge, infiltrates the dangerous Bloodmoon gang. The story is packed with suspense, action, and a tense slow-burn romance, alongside clever world-building and emotional stakes. If you love fantasy with clever magic, high stakes, and flawed heroines, this stands out as one of 2025’s most compelling reads.

I will read anything Laura Steven writes.

I absolutely loved this! The world building, the characters, just brilliant. As her first book in the adult category I thought this was great although her YA books are also brilliant and just as entertaining for adults.

And that ending! I need the next book now!

Silvercloak is an adventurous, fast-paced fantasy that pulls you into its world from the very first chapter. L.K. Steven weaves an engaging tale full of intrigue, action, and memorable characters, with a plot that keeps the momentum going right through to the end.
The world-building is rich without being overwhelming, and the characters feel both relatable and layered. I enjoyed the balance between thrilling action sequences and quieter, more emotional moments, which added depth and kept the story compelling.
A great choice for readers who enjoy fantasy that combines excitement with heartfelt character journeys.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone, and L.K. Steven for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was wild in the best way. I seriously couldn't put it down. Silvercloak has everything I love, magic, mystery, undercover missions, and a slow-burn romance that had me screaming.

The worldbuilding was so cool, especially the magic system. Magic powered by pain and desire?? Genuinely such a clever idea. I’m a sucker for thrillers, so the whole secret mission, double life thing really worked for me.

And Saffron and Leven?? UGH. The way their relationship went from enemies to “wait, are we something more?” was chef’s kiss. So much tension, so many feels. And the fact that there’s a prophecy hanging over them just made it even better.

The ending was pure chaos (incredible chaos). I’m fully obsessed and 100% ready for book two. Enemies to lovers to enemies again? Say less. This book was everything.

I have heard various amazing things about this book, and I'm happy that this lived up to the hype for me.
The magic system was intriguing. Pleasure refills a person's magical well, and pain increases the potency of a person's magic.
Silvercloak has the same great writing I experienced whilst reading Our Infinite Fates, but has a much more adult tone to it.
The interactions between Levan and Saffron are brilliant. I really liked seeing Saffron's perspective shift from all bloodmoons are bad to, maybe it's not as black and white as she first thought.
I need to know what happens next for Saffron, especially in the wake of that epilogue.

Headlines:
Fresh magic system
Allegiances
Double crossing

Silvercloak was a captivating and fast-paced series starter that offered a great and fresh-feeling magic system. This story focused on the silvercloaks and the blood moons, where Saffron was a fierce heroine with revenge on her mind. I was fascinated by the early trials but we found this FMC quickly in reduced circumstances and on the outs.

The magic system was one where pleasure and pain equally filled the magical well, that immediately sounds sexual but it wasn't (always) the case. Saffron found herself undercover and between two love interests, her old love Nissa and the kingpin's son. This story was open door, spicy and with a bisexual MC. The romance didn't outweigh the fantasy plot, which is just right for me.

A lot, a lot went on and the last quarter of the book was incredibly complex and dense but also exciting and twisty. I felt like the rug was pulled out on a few occasions and we are left with an almighty ending of whaaaattt?

I have left feeling involved in this world and intrigued about what's to come. I liked the queer elements of the story and especially how magic did and didn't work. It was an exciting series starter.

Thank you to DelRey UK for the early copy.