Great read with some brilliant world-building and a plot that keeps you engaged. The magic system was well portrayed and the characters and romance well executed. Would recommend! Looking forward to more

Oh my goodness. THIS BOOK. I quite literally could not put it down. Every spare minute of my day, I was reading this book. The story is so beautifully written, the characters are well rounded, and the twists kept me on the edge of my seat! The world building was also exceptional. I will be (im)patiently awaiting the sequel!

I am not sure where to even begin. This might be one of the best books i have ever read and im 51!

Tells the tale of Saffie who witnesses her parents murder by Bloodmoons at the age of 6 and vows to avenge them. She trains as a mage and vows to become a silvercloak to learn the magic needed to take her revenge, but things become complicated when Saff is tasked to go undercover with the Bloodmoons and destroy it from the inside. Silvercloaks good, Bloodmoons bad. Good old tale of good vs evil. But is it?

Wow. Honestly. I was hooked from the 1st page. I couldnt stop reading it, i fell asleep with the kindle in my hand only to wake up an hour later with the plot whirring in my head and i read some more. Finished it in 2 days.

I think i might be a little in love with Levan, what a great character he is. I like the relationship that develops with Saff and how he protects her from his father. The plot is complex and is set in a world rich with detail and intrigue. Love the balance that magic is fuelled by both pleasure and pain and how pleasure drives society. I even love the fact that Saff is a little round and that Levan feeds her and runs baths for her. I mean what woman wouldnt want that - protective anc caring. The perfect book man.

I cant wait to have this in hardback. I hope its released in special edition and signed i need a copy for my collection. Im going to go and read the arc again now though.

Merry Christmas Laura. Not sure where this book came from but damn its fantastic, and i cant wait to read the next one!

Many Thanks to Netgalley, Issie at Cornerstone, and Penguin Random House for the Arc of this book.

Wow! I can see this being the next big hit across the Bookish community. Silvercloak was absolutely packed with engaging characters, riveting narrative & an absolutely amazing magic system.

In a world where magic is common place but fuelled by pleasure and empowered by pain, we follow Saffron who is working towards becoming a fully fledged Silvercloak that deals with street crime to look into the group who murdered her parents. With a gift that magic has no effect on her, she is enlisted to go deep undercover in that very same sinister organisation.

Her unique gift allows her to circumvent interrogation techniques and a bond that'll kill any traitors. Now Saffron must juggle her two identities and work to provide the information that the Silvercloaks desperately need and her growing affection towards Levan, the kingpin's son. Who she's had a vision of kissing then killing....

Silvercloak is full of twists and is brilliantly written, I found it hard to put it down and I'm now on the edge of my seat after that ending!!! Sequel when???!

Thanks to Netgalley & Random House for this arc, I adored it!

4.5⭐️. I was really intrigued straight from the prologue, during which a 6-year old Saffie witnesses the murder of her parents by a group called the Bloodmoon. Flash forward twenty years and you’re thrown straight into a world that manages to feel both Harry Potter-esque (but adult) while also feeling entirely its own.

I liked Saff as a main character. She is a rare individual with magical immunity (she can cast on others but magical curses and potions don’t affect her). For that reason, she’s sent deep undercover to establish the Bloodmoon’s motives and find unrefutable proof of their illegal activities. Although she’s in her twenties, she’s more mature than many romantasy leads and is known to lead with her brain, not her emotions:
“You think and act in equal measure…You take the extra beat to look at every angle, then you run towards the danger.”
However, she quickly finds that the Bloodmoons are not going to be an easy group to deceive.

The magic system was cool. There are 4 classes - Common, Uncommon, Rare and Extinct - the latter of which are Timeweavers, a people persecuted to perceived extinction due to their ability to manipulate and turn back time. People are required to experience either pleasure or pain to refill their magic wells:
“In Vallin, pleasure was not just pleasure - pleasure was a force of nature, as vital as water, as integral as air. Pleasure healed, nourished, enlivened…Pleasure was magic, and magic was pleasure. But pain was also magic, and magic was also pain, and therein lay the problem.”

Seeing her relationship evolve with Levan, son of the Bloodmoon’s leader, was another highlight of the book.
“She had never met someone whose emotional contours cleaved so closely to her own.” They are both complex individuals with tragic, somewhat parallel, backgrounds, and they can’t help but be drawn to one another.

Having read a lot of romantasy books that feel very same-y, with 2 dimensional characters and repetitive plot lines, this was a breath of fresh air! There’s also a lot of reveals towards the end which have me waiting on the edge of my seat for book 2!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc 😊

Silvercloak - Laura Steven

I'll be completely honest, I had already suspected this would be a 5* read by the end of the first chapter. What followed was a truly colourful and simultaneously searingly hot and breath-takingly cold story of deceit, magic, betrayal, pleasure, pain and the choices we make when everything is at stake.

The characters are so deliciously described that I immediately need to find my own Nissa (forked tongue, iykyk), the world and history of the lands is so decadent and rich and truly all-encompassing and to top it off, the magic is so well thought out with such a unique use of language and it's intent and the use of pain and pleasure to strengthen their well was so refreshing and so easy to devour. Saffron and Levan's story is so intertwined that when I reach back to earlier chapters, certain things are turning the cogs in my mind, so subtle that you'll almost miss them, but the golden-threads are there, just waiting to be delicately pulled. Saffron is a incredibly well-written, complex female, strong, humourous and with the right amount of sensitivity, whereas Levan is without a doubt, your new book-boyfriend. The back and forth of them, the small quiet moments, I just ate it right up and asked for more. Levan is difficult, cold, but as you discover more about him, his story may have you weeping. Laura has such a sensitivity to such difficult, gritty and dark moments with a beautiful way of writing and threading iridescent threads of hope through her characters intentions.

The last 25% of the book is so page-turningly perfect that I just couldn't think of anything else until I finished it and I'm honestly still a little shell-shocked. Instant new auto-buy author. I can't wait to see the cover when it's released and to carry on this Saga. I can't wait for the release, this will truly be a joyous moment to have a physical copy in my hands.

With thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest opinion
Having read other books by this author I knew it would be a delightful tale which it was I throughly enjoyed the characters and the premise and can highly recommend this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️

I was so so so impressed by the world building and the magic system. It is not easy, after the success of Harry Potter, to write magic systems based on wands that feel truly innovative, but Laura Steven did this wonderfully.

I also liked how well fleshed out the characters are, and how diverse they are in every way. Even minor characters were wonderfully written.

This fantasy was sooooo perfect.

I have read so many predictable fantasy reads recently, with the same tropes that feel over used and boring. This title had amazing world building, stunning character development and unpredictable plot points.

The romance felt real and gritty, It was giving HP meets, gang worlds and fantasy stakes.

I really loved it and rue the fact i have to wait so long for the second

*AD/Gifted: Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for an early copy of Silvercloak by L.K Steven in exchange for an honest review.

5 stars

I knew this book was a 5-star read within the first 1% of the novel. L.K. Steven’s storytelling was truly beautiful, enthralling, and captured my attention as soon as the story began.

The front door of the main character’s family home is enchanted to change colour depending on who knocks—one day, it turns an ominous shade. Years later, the main character, Saffron, is now a member of the Silvercloak Academy. She is tasked with infiltrating her rivals, the Bloodcloaks. I won’t say much more about the storyline because the less you know, the better—but it’s a wild ride. Levan, the male main character, is a morally grey character that romantasy readers are going to love. The world-building is delivered in a way that’s easy to digest and understand, yet still feels detailed and thoughtfully constructed. I was especially fascinated by the magic system, where pain and pleasure serve as the driving forces behind the magic.

Usually, when I read a book, I check my progress to see how close I am to the middle or the end. But with this book, I didn’t want to check at all—I never wanted it to end. This story explores how good and evil are deeply intertwined in a way that’s gripping, addictive, and utterly captivating. I finished this book late last night, and I’m still reeling from the last few pages.

I think this might have even surpassed being a 5-star read for me— as you can tell from my review- it was incredible! I cannot wait to see the final cover design and continue with the Silvercloak Saga. If you’re looking for a complex, gritty, and morally grey fantasy, I highly recommend keeping your eyes peeled for this book when it releases in July 2025. I truly believe it will be a top contender for your next favorite romantasy read.

I'm calling it now - this is be Read of the Year 2025!

"there is a villain inside us all, and my greatest gift is coaxing that villain out"

From the first page, I knew I was reading something special, and that feeling it did not let up.
I devoured this book, and I mean the ignored life, forgot to eat, read until the early hours - kind of devoured.
This book was my life, and now I'm bereft that it's over and in desperate need for the next installment, that ending is torture, the most delicious kind, but the wait for book two is going to kill me.

Silvercloak has it all, rich and captivating world building, the best kind of characters (complex and morally grey are my favourite) and a plot so fast paced and full of action, it had me on the edge of my seat, you will not be able to put it down.
And don't get me started on the Pleasure/Pain magic system, I adored it, it felt fully realised and so unique and was woven throughout the book brilliantly.

World building - Stevens brilliantly crafted prose makes you feel like you are there, I can not stress how rich and vivid the language is, this writing is perfection.

Characters - Saffron and Levan are going to live rent free in my head for a very, very long time. They are complex, ruthless, single minded and so so morally grey it is delicious! And their chemistry, what is it about - loathing that bubbles into lust, in that slow burn I still hate you but you're making me think thoughts I have no right thinking - that is just the sweet spot for Romantasy readers.
But better still they are fully fleshed out, relatable and morally complex. Their loss, grief, how they navigate shifting morals is beautifully written, so is their resilience and vulnerability.

The plot - let's talk murder, revenge, magic, high stakes undercover missions, more murder, political intrigue, criminal organisations, corruption, you guessed it more murder, schemes, the occasional eye removal, tension and my favourite betrayal.
It's a wild ride. You will LOVE it, just go pre-order it now.

All I'm saying, if you love dark complex and gritty fantasy worlds with unique magic systems filled with unforgettable morally grey relatable characters and a story that will turn you feral for more - read Silvercloak! 5 stars from beginning to end.

I absolutely DEVOURED Silvercloak! The story and world that Steven has created is like nothing I have ever read before, and that's before I touch on the magic system. It is so unique and interesting, and I can't wait to see where she goes with it in the next books in the series!
The characters are so interesting and have so many layers to them, the definition of morally grey!!!!

This is easily my top read of the year and solidified Steven as an auto buy author for me!

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Laura Steven’s Silvercloak is nothing short of amazing. From the very first page, I was captivated by the rich world-building and fast-paced plot that perfectly balanced action, intrigue, and emotion.

The characters are unforgettable—complex, relatable, and brimming with personality. Their struggles and triumphs felt real, pulling me deeper into their journey. The way Steven blends humor with moments of intense vulnerability is masterful, creating a story that’s both thrilling and deeply moving.

The plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat, and the vivid descriptions brought every scene to life. Silvercloak is an epic tale of courage, loyalty, and the strength to face your destiny, and I loved every minute of it.

This is a must-read for anyone who loves fantasy with heart and soul. I’m already counting the days until I can read more from Laura Steven!

fantastic writing. incredible immersive world building with unique magic system. complex well developed characters. perfect slow burn enemies to lovers. strong engaging plot. loved the lgbtq rep. would highly recommend to anyone who likes fantasy/romantasy

As soon as I read the synopsis for Silvercloak, I knew I would love this book. I am so thankful that I was able to get an early copy (huge thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the eARC!)

Silvercloak follows Saffron Killoran, whose parents were murdered by the Bloodmoon gang twenty years ago. Fuelled by grief and rage, Saff has dedicated her life to getting revenge. After lying her way into the Silvercloaks - the elite order of detectives dedicated to bringing down magical criminals - Saff is given an opportunity; infiltrate the Bloodmoons and bring their kingpin to his knees from the inside. The assignment is more deadly than she could have ever imagined, but even more dangerous are her growing feelings for Levan, the kingpin’s tortured son. 

First off, the world-building and magic system in this book were expertly woven. The world felt fully fleshed out, and the pleasure/pain magic system was so unique, but also easy to understand. The writing was stunning, and the vivid descriptions made me feel like I was really in this world.

The plot had me on the edge of my seat for the entirety of the book. The high-stakes dangerous missions, combined with emotional depth and ruthless characters who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals, made this book impossible to put down. There were so many unexpected plot twist that made the story even more compelling. I also really enjoyed the political intrigue and the corruption that was uncovered.

The characters are complex and really challenge the notion of good versus evil. Pretty much everyone in this book is morally grey and has their own agenda. I also loved the queer representation and positivity in this book, and how organic it felt.

Saffron and Levan were fantastic main characters. Saffron was such a strong, smart FMC, and I admired her determination for retribution, no matter the cost. When I first met Levan, I was thinking “how is this author going to make me love this awful man?!”. Of course, there is more than meets the eye to Levan, and by the end of the book I was head over heels for this broody, tortured MMC. The loathing and tension between the two main characters was written so well, and their chemistry and slow-burn romance was delicious.

The last 30 pages of this book were unhinged and chaotic, but in the best way. I finished the book with my jaw hanging open, and I am devastated that I can’t immediately read the second book!

If you’re looking for a dark, gritty, sexy fantasy with an immersive world, unique magic system, complex characters, and a slow-burn romance, I would implore you to pick up this book when it releases in July 2025.

The world building in this book was intense to say the least. It involves a rich, imaginative setting where the magic manages to feel both familiar and entirely new as different spells become known.
Steven’s ability to build tension and suspense through the interplay of the relationship between the two main characters is magical. I found myself screaming at some of the actions of the main characters then backing up their decisions in the next second.
Overall it was a very enjoyable read and I can’t wait to read the next book! Laura Steven has definitely cemented herself as a must read author in my mind!

Laura Steven's Silvercloak, the opening to the Silvercloak Saga, delivers a gripping tale set in a world where magic is fuelled by the interplay of pleasure and pain. This magic system is deeply integrated into the culture and politics of the novel's societies, making the world-building incredibly intricate and immersive. I found it fascinating to see how different groups adapted and manipulated this resource to their advantage, showcasing both creativity and moral complexity.

The story follows a young detective navigating a dangerous world of crime and magic while pursuing justice for her family’s murder. As she uncovers the secrets of the enigmatic Silvercloaks, a group dedicated to a complex version of justice, she confronts dilemmas that challenge the very notion of good versus evil. Themes of power, loss, and resilience weave through the narrative, keeping readers enthralled.

What stood out most to me was the vibrant queer representation and positivity within the book. It’s refreshing to read a fantasy—especially one with dark and gritty elements—that doesn’t shy away from fully embracing the queerness of its characters. This inclusion feels organic and celebratory, making the world of Silvercloak more inclusive and rich.

The blend of fast-paced action, emotional depth, and morally grey characters make this a standout fantasy debut. If you're a fan of complex magic systems, compelling LGBTQ+ representation, and stories that challenge traditional notions of heroism, Silvercloak is a must-read and thank you so much for this ARC copy.

It’s been a long time since I’ve found myself trying to sneak reading a quick chapter or two into every spare moment of my day, but Laura Steven, you got me. Magnificent.

LOVE ALL HER BOOKS. I am amazed by the worldbuilding - the whole idea is so unique. I am so obsessed, I just want to reread this forever and ever and ever.

I adored Silvercloak so much! Steven is on an absolute roll with amazing novels, and their first foray into adult fantasy does not disappoint!

The pain/pleasure magic is so intricately woven into the very fabric of the world, and I loved discovering how different societies choose to get the most of their magic.
I can't review this book without mentioning how much I LOVE the queer representation and positivity - it was so refreshing to read a (sometimes dark and gritty) fantasy that is actually embracing the queerness of the characters.

Silvercloak gave me everything I wanted and more: a unique FMC, a sexy and brooding MMC, wonderful magic, an immersive world, and a plot that had me hooked from start to finish.

If you've read Steven's YA books, you will find the same beautiful writing and relatable characters that you learn to expect - just packaged in a more mature, in depth and, frankly very sexy, world.