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.

I'm imagining Harry Potter meets Peaky Blinders with this one, as Laura Steven masterfully blends magic, grit, and danger. In a world where power is derived from either pleasure or pain, we are thrust into the heart of rival gangs, moral ambiguity, and the timeless struggle of love versus loss. With rich world-building, razor-sharp tension, and complex characters, Silvercloak stands out as a powerful and evocative adult debut. Steven’s ability to craft a story that is both dark and dazzling leaves readers craving more, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

Silvercloak 🌙🩸
(⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

I'm going to start by saying that this is probably one of the most difficult to define books that I have read in recent times and that is the best compliment I can give it. Silvercloak was unlike anything I've read before and to be honest, I can't even think of a trope list to give you at least an idea of ​​what to expect. Is it fantasy? Yes, kinda urban but also kinda epic high fantasy. It's the romance an enemies to lovers? Yes, but at the same time everything is so complicated that describing it as such falls short.

The story follows Saffron, whom, consumed by the need for revenge, has the opportunity to infiltrate the Bloodmoons, an organization responsible for the death of her parents, and thus destroy it from within.

However, nothing in this book is as simple as it first appears. To this initial plot are added prophecies, fated destinies of love and death, intricate power games and a labyrinth of contradictions that expand and entangle everything.

The main characters are both morally gray but even this aspect is much more complicated and intense, cause each one of them is it at their very own way. To what extent are you still a good person if your actions are bad, even if you believe you have a good reason for doing them? Does the end justify the means? The dynamics of the romance are, to say the least, interesting, because there is a little bit of everything going on and it is difficult to know what to expect.

On another topic, the setting is spectacular, dark and immersive and I LOVED the magic system. This fact that each person's powers are fed by both pleasure and pain was truly amazing and also very interesting to read and discover every little detail that the author dropped on the subject.

In a general sense, I obviously recommend Silvercloak, I feel like I'm going to be unbearable, sorry not sorry, but I think this may be one of the best fantasy books coming out this year and everybody has to read it.

i loved every minute of this book - such an original concept that left me feeling gripped at every page. I loved the magic concept as the idea we can gain power from pain and pleasure is such an amazing and original plot I have never heard of!

all characters have great character arcs and nothing felt rushed, well rounded and likeable (or unlikable) characters are what made this book so enjoyable so read!

thankyou so much for the privilege or reading this book early and I cannot wait for everyone else to enjoy it as I have.

Silvercloak is a darkly mesmerizing tale that redefines magic in a way that’s both captivating and haunting. Anchored by a fierce, resilient FMC and a brooding, deeply scarred MMC, the story weaves together themes of power, pain, and desire with breathtaking emotional depth. The world-building is immersive. The magic system is as unique as it is provocative, offering a fresh, mature twist that will appeal to fans of morally complex fantasy. The prose is lyrical yet sharp, perfectly matching the story’s blend of beauty and brutality. Relationships, whether romantic or platonic, are intricately layered, making every interaction meaningful and charged with tension. The unraveling of secrets feels deliberate and thrilling, and the last act is an adrenaline-fueled climax that leaves you desperate for more. For those who crave dark fantasy with heart and edge, this book is a must-read and an unforgettable start to what promises to be an addictive series.

Laura Steven’s Silvercloak is an exhilarating fantasy adventure brimming with heart, humor, and high-stakes action. The story follows a ragtag group of misfits on a perilous journey to uncover a powerful artifact hidden within a realm of dangerous magic and political upheaval.

Steven’s worldbuilding is immersive and detailed, and her characters leap off the page with their vibrant personalities and layered backstories. The narrative strikes a perfect balance between laugh-out-loud moments, heartfelt emotional beats, and pulse-pounding battles, creating a story that feels both epic and intimate.

With its compelling blend of wit, warmth, and thrilling escapades, Silvercloak is a standout fantasy that will delight fans of ensemble-driven adventures and richly imagined worlds.

This was sexy and dangerous and the perfect edge of fantasy. I felt parts were slightly stilted but overall it was fun and I loved the main character's POV and the authenticity to her motivations.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

I really enjoyed this book and felt hooked pretty much from the start. The world building is incredible and the explanations behind each part of the magic makes it feel so much more real.

The main character is easy to relate to and to root for, and the depth to every other character is evident and really justifies their choices. Despite how many characters there are, the author has done a fantastic job of making sure you know who each is without bombarding you with information.

The motivations of the main character are clear and, for the most part, justified, making it very easy to understand her actions. The very slow burning romance plot is very well written and definitely makes you crave more throughout.

The only area where the book lost a star for me is the ending. Though a lot of it was reasonable and somewhat expected (without being predictable), I feel that the end of this book was sacrificed in order to leave space for a sequel. Don’t get me wrong, I’d like there to be a sequel, it just felt that the ending was dissatisfying and I don’t feel as much like I support the characters anymore.

Overall I would definitely recommend reading this and despite my qualms about the ending, I would still read a sequel!

**Review: 4 Stars**

*SilverCloak* by L.K. Steven is an enchanting tale that swept me into a world of intrigue, danger, and unexpected alliances. From the very first page, Steven's rich prose and vivid world-building had me hooked. The story balances action and mystery seamlessly, with twists that kept me guessing until the very end.

The characters are where *SilverCloak* truly shines. Each one felt layered and relatable, with motivations that added depth to the narrative. I found myself rooting for them, even when their choices weren’t always easy to understand. Steven has a knack for weaving emotional stakes into every scene, making even the quiet moments impactful.

The pacing was steady and engaging, though there were a few sections where the story slowed slightly. However, these moments were quickly balanced by thrilling action sequences and revelations that left me eagerly turning the pages.

*SilverCloak* is a compelling fantasy adventure that fans of the genre won’t want to miss. It’s a story of courage, resilience, and the power of trust in unexpected places.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and L.K. Steven for granting me the opportunity to read this eARC. It was a joy to immerse myself in this beautifully crafted world, and I can’t wait to see what Steven writes next!

This was my last read of 2024 and wow I absolutely loved this book, one of the best fantasy's I've read for a while. Definitely think this will be very popular when it is released.
Silvercloak follows our FMC Saffron as she works to get revenge on the Bloodcloaks, a magical mafia style group, who killed her parents when she was 6 years old. This leads her on a series of events that result in her building close relationship with the Bloodcloaks heir Levan. Saffron is determined and whilst you do see the love she has for certain characters her determination and backstory create a morally grey character that makes difficult and sometimes questionable decisions yet also believable for the situations.
The magical system in the book is done brilliantly and so cleverly thought out. It has excellent levels of detail and is unique.
There is so much character and plot development throughout this book that I honestly couldn't put it down but I was absolutely gripped by the ending. I really enjoyed how it felt like a conclusion to the first book but also set up the story for the second book perfectly. The only bad thing about having read an early copy is the long wait I will have until I can read the second book! Will be eagerly awaiting release so I can discuss this book with everyone and even more eagerly awaiting the second book

I was desperate to read this book after seeing the opening paragraph posted on Laura's social media pages. I have read one other book by this other which was a solid read, and I'm eagerly anticipating her other release this year, Our Infinite Fates.
Silvercloak was a ride! The first paragraph promised a charming, whimsical tale, and I will say, this definitely wasn't that. Think magical peaky blinders with a forbidden romance plotline and plenty of darkness and death. Our heroine Saffron is not afraid to make difficult choices, and she has had enough heartache in her backstory to make her a slightly jaded and pessimistic protagonist. I liked that she wasn't our typical super powered extra special extra clever and charming heroine who everyone can't help but love. She enters most situations as the underdog and gets through by the skin of her teeth and her own quick thinking.
The plot slows a little in the middle, however I did read this over Christmas so it could just be that life became too distracting, however the last third or so was gripping and I flew through it, desperate to see how it ended. The ending was brilliant, I won't say too much but I am VERY interested to hear if there is a sequel planned!
4.0 stars from me

Silvercloak – by L.K Steven 🌙🪄🩸

5/5 ⭐️
 
This book was gripping and dark, featuring a headstrong, determined FMC (Female Main Character) and a brooding, tortured MMC (Male Main Character). The story’s seamless inclusion of queer representation not only adds richness to the world but also delivers an authentic and deeply moving portrayal of these relationships, further enhancing the narrative’s emotional weight.
 
If you’ve ever wished for a story with the magical charm of Harry Potter but with a mature, modern undertone, this is the book for you. Even if you didn’t grow up with Harry Potter, this fresh take on magic, where pain and pleasure fuel its power, was so unique and utterly fascinating to explore.
 
The story is exceptionally well-written, with poetic prose that flows seamlessly, mirroring the enchanting magic woven throughout the narrative. The way the author explores key relationships and friendships is simply masterful, emotional, nuanced, and utterly addictive to read. Speaking of the magic, it felt truly unique and immersive without ever becoming overwhelming. The author does an excellent job of grounding the reader in the various types of magic, ensuring clarity without breaking the narrative flow. I genuinely appreciated this thoughtful touch.
 
At its heart, this book explores how far will someone go to do what they believe is right. It’s an exhilarating mix of enemies-to-lovers romance, slow-burn tension, deception, and the classic struggle of good versus evil, all wrapped in a layer of mystery. I loved how the secrets unravelled gradually, keeping me guessing rather than handing over answers too early. There were twists I didn’t see coming, which made the reading experience even more thrilling.
 
The ending deserves a special mention; the last 30% of the book was absolutely gripping and left me breathless. This is a story that I am confident will generate significant hype and for all the right reasons. I wholeheartedly recommend it!

Mark your calendars for July 24th, 2025 💌! You don’t want to miss this one!
 
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone, for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Saffron has one goal: bring down the killers of who murdered her parents. This is enabled when she is set a secretive mission after being falsely thrown out of the Silvercloak elite force academy so she can infiltrate the Bloodcloaks, branded but protected from their compulsion due to her immunity to magic.

Saf is not shy about getting her hands dirty and bloody. This is dark and gory with torture and brothels and drugs.

The romance is not rushed or forced or the centre of the plot. The magic system is interesting and there are limitations and costs.

<b>Oh, she thought, horrified and fascinated in equal measure. This is how villains are born.
</b>
What I didn’t like:
This had such a promising set up and start, yet I felt Saf’s time with the Bloodcloakcs felt lacklustre and her experience there felt too easy compared to everything we had previously heard about them and the cruelty they dished out.
I lacked emotional connections with the characters which didn’t help.

What really brought my rating down was the last 25%.
This incorporated a troupe I hate that I view as a cop out which greatly brought my rating down. This is a personal preference and I cannot state it without spoiling major parts of the book, but it is to do with magic and powers.

Physical Arc gifted by Rabdom House Cornerstone.