This might’ve been the best book I could’ve hoped to end 2024 with. I had an incredible time.

This magic system is so wonderfully unique and complex with consequences and limits that continuously reek havoc on the characters in this story. Our FMC is honestly brilliant, witty, brash and strategic, but she isn’t without her faults. She is a liar and a driven one at that, her lies land her on a path that leads her to her to the Bloodmoons, and we get to see her deal with a new reality that pushes her moral compass in horrible directions.

Levan is a everything, he’s a morally grey MMC who is complex and has unlimited secrets. This is a true enemies to lovers scenario, but I adore how plot driven this story is while building into a potential romance.

There is heartbreak, political elements, dark and tragic events mixed with some romantic interests - a perfect recipe for a good fantasy story if I do say so myself.

I am so grateful I got to read this and I’m obviously rating it 5 stars. Looking forward to book 2!!

This is a wonderful story of a persons hunger for revenge and their realisation that getting revenge is not so easy. Saffron, the main character, has great character development and you root for her throughout the story. She desperately wants to get revenge for her parents against the Bloodmoons who kill her parents in front her. This scars her for life and defines her life choices. She decides to become a silver cloak with the intention getting revenge on the bloodmoons. The silver cloak’s are something like a magical police force. After a failed assessment, where her superior realises that she has a unique ability to stall time and is not affected by magic, she is invited to go undercover as bloodmoons to bring down the organisation. She’s arrogant, naive and hungry to achieve her goals and jumps at the opportunity, but realises too late that revenge and people are complicated. The romance between her and Levan blossoms beautifully and I like the dynamic of their relationship. Levan is the bloodmoons kingpins son and the writer has a great way of making you like him even though he does terrible things. His magical powers are awesome and terrifying. At the same time he is boyish and geeky too, which is adorable. The world building is good and the magic systems are interesting. There is something nostalgic of Harry Potter with the way the spells are given with wands. This is a book for adults and so the spells are darker in there intentions. Great story! Looking forward to part 2!

What a great book to finish 2024 with!

Enemies to lovers in a magic system that makes sense! A world of wizardry, but the MMC and FMC are late 20s, early 30s.

How far would you go to avenge the past?!

“Cera belrère - it is written.”

Silvercloak is story about revenge, retribution, and connecting through grief with the most unlikely of forces. In a world where magic is fuelled by opposing forces of pleasure and pain, Saffron Killoran is determined to seek justice for her parents’ murder at the hands of the mysterious underworld gang, the Bloodmoons.

As Saffron pushes herself deeper undercover, the stakes get higher: no clearer than the realistic portrayal of her struggles to reconcile her actions to her internal moral compass - and at each turn questions her motives, her friends, and her captors.

The book is emotionally complex, and while my heart cheers on Saff at every turn, the dark, gritty and often violent choices she chooses shows us how cruel and complex life can be. It’s broody, painful and everything I’d expected from a underworld heist, filled with magic in an intricately described world… how bloodthirsty everyone gets when magic is used as a veil as a means to decouple violence.

And of course we can’t forget Saff and Levan, whose ties were forged long before they knew it. I’m excited to see how the timeweaving element expands in the next book, and the final chapters left me wanting more. Seeing the change in emotions in Saff and Levan, like passing ships in the night, never knowing whether it’s the right choice stayed with me for a long time. A masterful character set up for the next book, keeping us on edge to whatever happens next...

Laura Steven makes her adult debut with Silvercloak, the first in a compelling new wand wielding series.

I enjoyed this a lot, the plot was wonderfully twisty, with well built and developed characters inside of a
unique, lore-filled world with a complete and complex, culture based magic system. Add in some espionage, betrayal, interwoven destiny and the mob, and the reader is taken on a morally dubious ride where we all end up unsure what is right, or how we are hoping for a resolution.

Reading the eARC, there were several points around 25-50% where things became repetitive and the pacing stumbled, after a strong start and immersion into the story - I’m hoping that by the time I have a physical, final copy in hand that editing fixes these niggles though (and I certainly will be grabbing this series to own!) At around the halfway mark things picked up again and stayed strong, keeping me engaged right up until the climax of the plot - and that ending(!!?) torturously good.

For an adult read, there were moments where we were reminded a little heavy-handedly of plot points, previous information, or connections made for us which we should perhaps have been trusted to make for ourselves, which led to the weaving of the prose feeling clunky, and would’ve been more suited to YA. Again, I’ll wait to see what happens in final edits.

Overall the story, the world, the characters are 5 star, if the series continues with this energy and twisty turns it’ll become a firm fixture for me.

Thankyou to Del Rey / (team L.K!) for early access to Silvercloak!

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.

Silvercloak is an absolutely addictive read that follows Saffron, a silvercloak who is immune to magic, who goes undercover with the bloodmoons, whilst also knowing of a potential prophecy. It is also an enemies to lovers with a lot of betrayal and secrets, and pain - it was honestly really tense and well paced along with the rest of the book. Saffron is also set on revenge after the bloodmoons killed her parents twenty years ago., which ups the danger factor even more. Silvercloaks and Bloodmoons are a bit of a good vs evil, bit it works so well in this world.


In Silvercloak, the magic system is linked to pleasure and pain, and wands. There are also many ancient texts and spells and a hint of necromancy.

When I say this book was addictive, it was addictive! I genuinely didn’t know what was going to happen next and I was so invested with all the characters, there were quite a few but it was easy to distinguish beteeen them and whether they were a silvercloak or a bloodmoon. There were also new words for the spells for example, which gave an extra layer of magic to the book, and they were used frequently enough that I remembered what spell did what.

The time weaving aspect was also written brilliantly, and I’m intrigued to see how it goes in the next book.

One moment for the epilogue because THAT EPILOGUE!!!! How am I supposed to wait that long for the next one?!

Overall, I am sad that I have to wait until 2026 for the sequel as I wish I could just pick it up straight away after finishing Silvercloak, but I’m sure it will be worth the wait as this book was a solid 5 star read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 4 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I could put this book down – absolutely loved it.

What if I told you they were enemies AND lovers. I don't know how I'm going to be expected to wait until like 2026 for the next book!!

Also MMC is morally grey and down right psychotic in a walking the line but it worksssss kinda way. And if that doesn't sell it to you he's a massive nerd in the best way (it's all dragon novels and ancient texts).

Read the book. Order it. Beg for a netgalley arc. Just get yourself a copy

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.