Spectacular.

What a ride!! 🫨 COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN.

I absolutely adored this book. I'm going to list the many reasons below as there was just so much I loved.

❤️ The writing. Absolutely beautiful descriptions and so voicey! I felt really connected to the characters.
❤️ High stakes throughout. I was on edge. I like being on edge as it keeps me reading.
❤️ BRUTAL. Really brutal settings and moments which just emphasised the magic and danger.
❤️ Enemies to lovers. I loved the romance. Tense. Doubt. Will they/won't they. It was the perfect amount and fit in so well with the action-filled plot
❤️ Oh I loved the magic and rival mages!!!!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC!

Silvercloak is a strong intro into the series, a world where magic is powered by pleasure and pain. Best idea ever (!) for the world of wizardry, with everyone embracing their kinks. Some of them included in a few spicy scenes.

A really good character work on Saffron, a detailed description of the process, of how instance by instance, a small decision by small decision, can turn someone from an idealistic fighter into a ruthless killer who believes that the end justifies the means.

Did not expect the plot twist with Levan. Objectively speaking, it’s enacted with some small hints dropped here and there, but still delivers quite a random revelation in my opinion. Not the biggest fan of it; didn’t enjoy his sudden turn in this direction. Nonetheless, I like the ending, especially the epilogue packs a punch and makes me excited for the next book to come.

“love was complicated and pain was complicated and believing you deserved to be hurt was complicated”

I adored this. I think I was starting to get a little worried that Laura’s books were no longer for me and then she decided to write a queer as fuck adult fantasy and all of a sudden I’m hooked back in. I think the world was so fun, magic that is fuelled by pleasure and pain. a legal system being taken over by a violent gang, family trauma and undercover missions where love and morally grey areas create complex emotional difficulties for our main characters. I genuinely had so much fun and was absorbed into the world / plot so well, I couldn’t wait to dive back in every time I had to put it down.

I loved the characters, I think the fact they’re all queer in their own ways and so filled with culture made for such a rich and fun world. our main character was a queer woman with so much pain and complexities that I truly believe any girl in her 20s will find her relatable in some way, pair that with the morally grey main male love interest and his hidden emotions? yeah I was cooked and I think we all will be

I’m dying for book two and the first one hasn’t even been released yet, cheers Laura

Firstly I would like to say a huge thank you to Netgalley & Random House UK Cornerstone for contacting me and giving me the opportunity to review Laura's debut Adult Fantasy novel. I'm truly honored. I would also like to thank Laura herself who graciously responded to me after I contacted her upon finishing the book.
Last year I was fortunate enough to review another of Laura's books - Our Infinite Fates. It blew me away! It was deliciously dark and beautiful, the next A Monster Calls. I was so in love with Laura's writing style that I absolutely jumped at the chance to review her debut adult novel and first book in the Silvercloak Saga.
Silvercloak is a breath of fresh air in Fantasy with its darker setting, characters and themes. It is very reminiscent of a thriller in someways and the blend with traditional fantasy elements totally captivated me from start to end. Laura's dark but beautiful writing style grabs the reader from page one and never lets go. Like the characters in the book whose magic thrives of pleasure and pain, as a reader you also live off these emotions as you work your way through the trails and tribulations of the book making it totally unputdownable (the ending leaving you screaming for the next installment right away!).
Silvercloak is set in rich world that Laura has uniquely crafted with her darker tone giving it a different edge to the usual fantasy worlds that we have perhaps become accustomed to. The imaginative magic system in place throughout the book continues to unfold throughout revealing new and hidden depths that constantly keep the reader on the backfoot just when you think you know and understand it all. The pace of the books continues to excel throughout like a runaway train until that ending leaves you reeling and questioning everything you previously thought/suspected in the best possible way.
Steven's creation of true morally grey characters perfectly capture the duality and complexity of what makes someone good or evil? I adored both the MMC and FMC for this reason as there are so many layers to them making them different from the atypical morally gray characters of fantasy.
I can not wait for this book to hit the shelves so people can immerse themselves into this alluring world and Laura's captivating writing style. I will also be waiting on absolute tenterhooks for the second installment because THAT is how you write and end a first book in a series!
PERFECTION.

Having previously read and enjoyed an ARC from this author, I was thrilled to receive another—and this one exceeded all expectations. The writing is superb, effortlessly drawing you into a world that is both richly imagined and meticulously crafted. The world-building is nothing short of fantastic, creating a vivid and immersive backdrop for a plot that kept me on edge from start to finish.

The pacing was expertly handled, and the twists and turns left me impatient to reach the conclusion, yet reluctant to leave the story behind.

I need the next one as soon as yesterday.

From the very first page, this captivating fantasy pulled me into the world, blending a compelling plot with a richly detailed setting that felt both immersive and alive. The author’s world-building is sumptuously written, painting a vivid picture that enhances the story at every turn.

One of the most refreshing aspects of the book is its queer-normative world, an inclusive aspect that feels natural and is exactly what I hope to see in more fantasy novels. Almost all the characters are fluid sexually👌🏼.

The romance between the two main characters is a well-crafted enemies-to-lovers arc, featuring morally complex characters whose dynamic is FULL of tension.

The story is reminiscent of a unique blend of Harry Potter meets Mafia, with elements of magic and crime creating an intriguing and unpredictable atmosphere.

I cannot wait for the next installment after that gripping ending!

The ending of this book has left me reeling and now eagerly awaiting the sequel. This lush magic filled work LS has created drew me in right from the start, and coupled with some delightful morally grey characters it made for a captivating read from start to finish. When we first met Levan I did wonder how on earth LS would turn it around and make me fall in love with him instead, but this dark and tortured MMC suckered me in. Saff is a fantastic FMC and really demonstrates well how one can have good intentions and still end up doing bad things to protect those they care about. I am extremely excited for the next book!

🩸🌙 Silvercloak🩸🌙

- L.K. Steven

♾️ / ⭐️ INFINITE stars!

Everybody buckle up for this one! Silvercloak is about to be your new OBSESSION. Set in a darkly corrupt world, where magic is fuelled by power and pain, we follow Saffron, an elite Silvercloak, who goes undercover to infiltrate the Bloodmoon gang.

Saffron’s assignment is slightly complicated when she meets Levan, the kingpins son. When I tell you, when we were introduced to him, I thought to myself multiple times ‘how is Laura going to get us to like this man?’ But like him we did 😉 The romance was painfully slowburn and worked in perfect harmony with the pain-pleasure magic system, serving only to add to the wonderful atmosphere of Ascenfall 🌙

I was hooked from the very first page, and instinctively knew I was reading a five-star book. Writing this now, I genuinely feel a sense of grief that it’s over and I have to wait for more! The worldbuilding was quite frankly insane, with the magic system so intricately and uniquely woven into the fabrics of the world. In just short of 500 pages, Laura expertly crafts a world that is so gritty and addicting. The stakes could not have been higher, full of political intrigue, betrayal and plot twists. It’s all your favourite fantasy books come to life. The experience of reading it felt like the rage back in the day. I didn’t socialise for two days while I inhaled this book.

Wand-wielding mages, heady underworlds, magical criminal gangs, Silvercloak had everything I adore in fantasy.

Silvercloak releases this summer, and I will not shut up about it till it’s in everybody’s hands! Prepare for me to be insufferable! Thank you to @laurasteven and @delreyuk for this ARC, I’m eternally grateful to have read this before its release

This book had me mesmerised! An absolute work of art. I loved it so much

The magic system - chefs kiss! I love the idea of pain and pleasure being necessary to increase the quantity and quality of your magic “well”.

The characters - TO DIE FOR.

The ending…. well …. all I can say is I am READY for more and this book isn’t even out yet.

This is going to be one of THE books of 2025, I’m calling it now.

This book was brilliant! I read it every single day & enjoyed the build of the story. I really do enjoy a story (a bit like SJM books) that blow your mind at their last 15-20% and this book really did deliver on that! Really gripping throughout and descriptive.

This was a great first book in the series and I can't wait for the next one!

This was a fantastic book! I picked it up and read it daily, reading more and more each day and the story developed and characters got more embroiled in their actions.

The take on the magic system - a finite amount of magic available and methods to replenish that was really interesting. And the magic itself, the same spells with different prefixes depending on intention? So interesting!

I loved getting an inner monologue when things were happening - I liked the explanation from the FMCs perspective, especially towards the end when all the things were happening and she was seeing everything from what it was.

I also really appreciated seeing characters earn their abilities: somewhat older characters having been through university and training who are very good at what they do. This was refreshing - I believed that they could do what they could through time and training.

The ending. If that's not a way to end book one on a series I don't know what is. I cannot stop thinking about it!

And knowing what I know having read the book, I can't wait to read it again, because it's one of those wonderful books that read like a different book the second time.

Brilliantly done! I cannot wait to see this out on the world!

“Saffron Killoran unmade my world.
And now I will unmake her”

I’ll be needing the second book as soon as possible.

I thoroughly enjoyed Silvercloak, it was beautiful, the magic system was delightful and the romance had me hooked.

Thank you for allowing me to read before its release.

4.75 rounded up.

Thank you so much @NetGalley for this e-arc.

WOW! What an incredible, unique and magical world. In this world magic is powered by pleasure and pain. This is full of assassins, hidden secrets and plot twists.

That last 15% has left my brain is a spin! I need time to process what happened but I know that I already need book two!

4.5 stars this was a great first book in the series
The end of every chapter had me wanting more? The concept of pain vs pleasure magic system and the details of this magical world were fantastic and built throughout
I loved the idea of the prophecy and how the character questioned or rationalised their actions with the prophecy in mind
I will definitely be picking up a physical copy and hope there is a map so I can fully immerse myself in the world!

One of the better books I've read in a long time! An incredibly gripping book where the scene is set so wonderfully that you feel like you're there

This is the best book I had read in a while. The world Steve’s has created is full of twist turns and magic. Rasso was a firm favourite character the writing and world building was excellent and then have a story was perfection. This is a book to disapear into, I really couldn’t put it down.

A mage unaffected by others' magic goes undercover with the gang who killed her parents. If you told me this started out as fanfic I'd believe it - essentially porny Harry Potter with the mafia. Not one for me.

Thanks to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

WHEW, this book!

This book is unlike anything I've read before. I did not want this book to end. It was enthralling and I find myself desperate for the second book already!

The story follows Saffron, a member of the Silvercloak Academy, is tasked to go undercover with the Bloodmoons. I won't say too much because peeling back all the layers on this story would take me far too long and you need to read it for yourself! But the lines blur and I was reading this trying to work out who was really the bad guy and who wasn't. It's complex and some moments left me breathless with how good the writing was.

I was also fascinated by the magic system that the author created here, and I am so eager to read more about it in the upcoming books. I loved reading about how different cultures decide to get the most of their magic. In this novel, good and evil are so deeply intertwined and I found myself second-guessing everything multiple times. It was very well handled.

The characters, and their flaws and motives, were perfect. I adored them, and I am desperate to know what happens to Saffron and Levan next. I absolutely love the writing for them, and it made me so emotional at times. Their scenes were magnificent.

I highly recommend this to everyone. Just read it. It's perfect.

This has been my first read of 2025 and it has set the bar very high!

thank you to netgalley for this e-book arc and Laura Steven for this masterpiece!!

Silvercloak is a fantasy romance that puts readers into a fairly complex world where the line between good and evil is pretty much anything BUT clear. The story has an incredibly strong premise: Saffron, our FMC, is thrust into the den of her enemies—the Bloodcloaks—and forced to work alongside the son of the man who literally murdered her parents.

One of the novel’s most interesting themes is its exploration of morality. The shifting alliances and blurred loyalties make it hard to decide who to root for, keeping you engaged and second-guessing until the very very end. This should have been an exciting read but something just didn't feel right, I guess?

While the book starts off strong, some aspects didn’t meet my expectations. Saffron’s time with the Bloodcloaks, a group that is supposedly infamous for their cruelty and harshness, felt surprisingly safe(?). Well not safe, but it just seemed like a bit oo easy. After all the hearsay about their brutality, her experience with them just didn't have the tension and danger I wanted. I feel like it was such a missed opportunity to fully immerse readers in the high-stakes world the story promises.

Something really important to me is developing emotional relations with the characters. I have read Our Infinite Fates by the same author and I really did fall in love with those characters. I guess I just didn't feel that with Silvercloak. While their motivations and actions were clear, I really tried to feel deeply invested in their personal journeys but something just wasn't right. I don't know...

That being said, the world-building in Silvercloak is much better than I thought it would be. The morally grey themes add layers of depth to the narrative. Even with its shortcomings, the book kept me hooked enough to want more, and I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel to see how Saffron’s story continues to unfold.

While it has room to grow, it’s a promising start to what could become a truly epic series.

Thank you again, netgalley and Laura Steven for this e-book arc!!

I was provided an E-ARC by netgalley, and all opinions are my own.

After being a fan of Laura's work for quite some time I was so excited when she announced that she was publishing her first adult fantasy novel, of course as soon as I heard that this was available to request on netgalley I jumped at the chance, so when I received the approval email I was over the moon.

"She was a powerful mage with her own agency, and she would not fall into step like leashed animal."

Silvercloak is a high stakes fantasy, with a unique magic system - imagine having magic being fuelled by both pleasure and pain.
Pleasure restores magic, but pain enhances and amplifies it.
Now I will say that there is a LOT of world building and lore but I do think that if you stick with it; Silvercloak could definitely be a top Fantasy contender this year, I am already anticipating the cosplay outfits.

Silvercloak starts off with our main Character Saffron as a young child witnessing the brutal murder of her parents.

As Saffron grows up, her desire for revenge on the killers who murdered her parents only grows.
As a publicly disgraced former silvercloak Academy Mage on a secret mission, Saffron is able to infiltrate the Bloodcloaks due to her immunity to magic and compulsion

While Saffron may be immune to magic, she is not immune to humanity and does at first struggle with her first act as a Bloodcloak, however Saffron knows she must do whatever it takes, including finding a way to get closer to the man she is prophesied to kill... what she didn't expect was to fall for him.

Silvercloak is dark and gritty, with gore, addiction, pleasurehouses, self injury, self harm (to a degree) betrayal, angst, murder, enemies to lovers, corrupt power, Rare magic, secrets, lies, lots of world building and lore.

"Love was complicated, and pain was complicated, and believing you deserved to hurt was complicated."

I honestly loved Silvercloak, and I can not wait for the sequel.