A curse that starts and finishes everything! I absolutely loved the premise of this book and the atmosphere. Penny was a believable character, determined and head-strong.
I also really enjoyed how much Penny fought for saving her mother, their relationship was beautiful, no matter the very short on page interactions. The need to solve the curse brought up more family secrets and drama.

I think this book is perfect for the lower and middle YA ages and overall it is a fast paced, enjoyable fantasy that adds a little bit of freshness to the genre!

A magical feud has ensnared many locals in a small Indiana town, and Penny is determined to end it when it claims her mum.

The plot moves quickly and despite only getting a few short moments between Penny and her mum, their dynamic was beautifully written and full of depth. The remaining cast did not quite match up to our main heroine. The writing felt quite cliched at times and a few descriptive details undid some of the mystery and tension that had been built up.

I DNF'd this very early on as i couldnt get past the young tone of the writing style. This is a me problem and not the book so i would definitely still be inclined to recommend this to my teen students in future to those i know would like this genre of books. I may also try the audiobook when it is released.

This one was so mixed for me. I’m not YA but I love the genre so much. So at times I appreciate that these stories aren’t written with me in mind. I felt that the blurb had a lot of promise, but at times I tired of the writing and the boys in the love triangle were just annoying so I couldn’t root for either of them.

This book really surprised me.
Inhabitants of Idlewood all know of the tragic love story that sparked a blood feud between the DeLucas and the Barrions. In the fallout of this tragedy, the Barrions are cursed; anytime a Barrion falls in love, that person dies. The Barrions blame the DeLucas for this ill-fate as they are a coven of witches. The Barrions are cursed, and the DeLucas were stripped of their magic as punishment.
The story follows Penny as she tries to undo this curse when the next person to be loved by a DeLuca is her mother. Her mother is in a coma, and Penny must fight against the clock to unweave the magic that is holding onto her mother. The only way she can do this is with the help of Alonso DeLuca and Corey Barrion.
This book really surprised me, I found myself gripped by the mystery element of the story. The magical elements were interesting and unpredictable. The romance was very sweet, and the story had a gothic tone to it. It was very antmo yet cosy with the small town backdrop. Overall it was very enjoyable and I couldn’t put it down. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a unique, witchy young adult fantasy read

When Penny’s mother, Anita, falls into a coma because of a curse, Penny ends up teaming up with Alonso&Corey, two boys from her high school. But Alonso De Luca and Corey Barrion are from rival families and the quest to end the curse will bring old family secrets to the surface.

This book is everything! I couldn’t stop reading it and enjoying every page.

First of all this is a great YA fantasy story and I loved the magic, the small town vibes&of course the spells, witches, covens and dark family secrets.

The characters are so well written. They are complexe, relatable and I loved to see them evolve during the course of their summer adventures. I particularly loved how the author took time to explain how one of the character was feeling being a mixed kid (Black African mom and white American dad) in a, predominantly, white family and small town who is mostly white.

One of the main character struggles with anxiety and the way it was written about was great and very realistic.

I also absolutely adored the romance between two of the main characters. It was very sweet and I hope will see more of it in the next book 💌

I was so invested in the story, the characters and definitely need book 2 asap.

If you want a charming YA fantasy book then this one is definitely one I would recommend 🖤

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Penguin Random House UK Children's and Alyssa Villaire for providing me with an e-copy of this amazing book 🩶

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this book! 🖤

This was a fun read! Took a little while to get in to, I would say it started to pick up more about 50/60% of the way through.

Although it predominantly revolves around high school teenagers, a huge majority of the book isn’t in the high school setting at all. Events take place in various other settings more (which I really liked).

This book has all the family drama and the twists and turns. Romance is not a massive element, it is very YA. A majority of the book is around the actual plot, rather than focusing on the romance.

A diverse array of characters and a great anxiety rep with the FMC.

An enjoyable and comforting book that’s easy to read and love. Left open for the story to continue and I will definitely read the next one!

Extremely atmospheric with touches of witchy magic and a light love triangle.

There was so much I enjoyed about this story. From the characters to the setting, it was an extremely enjoyable read.

It gave strong The Raven Boys vibes but with the added dash of witches. Very easy to read and follow but with great writing and pacing.

I will definitely be picking up more by this author in the future as I am hooked!

If you love your YA books full of magic, family drama and romance this is one to look out for. I really enjoyed the characters in this one, they were unique and to have the feuding families element of the story really kept me engaged.

Although their is a love triangle it's pretty tame, mainly because it is a YA novel so I wouldn't let that put you off at all. For me it was clear who she would pick early on.

The main driver of this story was the curse and following Penny trying to save her mother. It was very atmospheric and fast paced with teenage drama but with high stakes. Overall I've given it 4 stars! ⭐

I love a magical cursed family novel and this one did not disappoint! I really enjoyed the characters, the book was just the right amount of atmospheric, magical but light hearted.

The Glittering Edge is an atmospheric, spellbinding YA fantasy that blends family feuds, dark magic, and forbidden love into a story that’s hard to put down. Set in the mysterious town of Idlewood, where a tragic love story has sparked a decades-long blood feud, the novel follows Penny Emberly as she becomes entangled in the deadly curse at the heart of it all.

The premise is irresistible: the De Luca witches and the powerful Barrion family have been sworn enemies for generations. Thanks to a curse, if a Barrion falls in love with someone, that person will die. When Penny’s mother becomes the curse’s latest victim, Penny must do the unthinkable—bring together two bitter rivals, Alonso De Luca and Corey Barrion, to find a way to break it.

One of the standout strengths of this novel is its cast of characters. Penny, Alonso, and Corey each have distinct voices and personal struggles, and the shifting POVs allow the reader to connect with each of them. Their dynamics are complex, with layered tension, unexpected alliances, and moments of vulnerability that ground the magical elements in real emotional stakes. The love triangle at the heart of the story is compelling without overshadowing the plot, and it’s refreshing to see romance balanced so well with mystery and world-building.

Villaire’s writing strikes a great balance between modern and gothic, weaving in realistic dialogue, text messages, and social media to give the story a contemporary feel, while still maintaining a strong sense of atmosphere and magic. The pacing is brisk, and while the beginning includes a bit of exposition, the story quickly finds its rhythm. As the trio delves deeper into Idlewood’s secrets, the tension builds toward a twist-filled finale that truly delivers.

The Glittering Edge is perfect for fans of gothic fantasy with a modern twist, intricate family dynamics, and high-stakes magic. With strong character development, engaging prose, and a final reveal that lingers long after the last page, this is a standout debut.

Obsessed with The Glittering Edge! It’s got that perfect mix of dark academia, high-stakes magic, and characters you can’t stop thinking about. The atmosphere is dripping with tension, and the plot? So. Damn. Addictive.

I saw an advert to request an eARC of The Glittering Edge and it was 100% the cover that drew me in so I thought why not.

The Glittering Edge centres around three main characters, Penny, Corey and Alonso. Corey and Alonso are part of two warring families all stemming back to an ancient curse. Penny's mum somehow ends up a somewhat victim of the curse and the group are forced to work together to find a solution.
This is a really perfect YA mystery with a pinch of gothic magic. The characters all really likeable with their own flaws and I found that each one had their own personality and personal challenges. I liked that each chapter was written from a different POV and we are given access to their inner thoughts and feelings. I kind of just happily read through the beginning but it does start to ramp up and while I should have seen the ending coming, the writer almost makes you feel like that's not an option so I quickly dismissed it, this added quite well to the reveal on the very last line!

It's easy to read, the characters are likeable and the plot didn't bore me. I felt all the elements were crucial to the plot and the introduction of various side characters was a welcome distraction. I did struggle to build up an image of the characters in my head, but I have struggled with this before so I think it's more a fault on me reading a book too quickly.

I still love the cover and would be tempted the buy a hardcover of this on release and I already look forward to the sequel.

Definitely worth a read!

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this book! My opinions are my own.

This was an interesting read, it started off making me a little wary - there was a bit of an info dump handing me some information about the family curse that I would have preferred to learn organically - but after around 15% it really got into its stride and I was hooked. And by the ending, I loved it and was already wishing for the sequel!!

I really enjoyed the little text sections like WhatsApp, it was written very realistically, reminded me of Wren James (author of The quiet at the end of the world) as she writes amazing tech and social media styles so much that I forget they aren’t just pulled straight from the internet.

The humour was fun also and had vibes of if Jacob Black was having an argument with Draco Malfoy, very sarky but witty too.

Also, it takes a lot for a plot twist to surprise me now after all the books I’ve read, but the ones in this book kept catching me off guard and it made for a really enjoyable and fun read. It kept me hooked wanting to find out more!

There wasn’t a tonne of information about the magic system in this universe as the main family with magic were exposed to has had their powers blocked, but I would love to delve even more into this in the next book!

Overall, once you get through a small part at the beginning, this is a really easy and quick read with a fun plot and a decent amount of drama.

DNF at 26% and honestly considered it from 8% onwards. This book is boring and badly written. I didn't like any of the characters and found myself skim reading more often than not. The book is absolutely nothing like I was promised in the blurb

I normally hate love triangles BUT this the exception! It was all very light, delicate and well done that i loved it so much! The book from the beginning was a light , easy and engaging read. Plus all the characters were so relatable! It’s was a solid read and i want more!

Firstly thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This is a book for YA , the story contains magic, a love triangle and a mysterious curse that needs the be broken. I found the book could have maybe been a bit shorter, I did get bored at points, but then it may appeal to a younger audience. There are really good points to the book, such as the curse and I feel there could be more story developed around some of the characters we meet. There is a plot twist at the end which will lead nicely into a second book.

I had mixed feelings about The Glittering Edge. While the story didn’t fully draw me in, I did find certain aspects enjoyable. The FMC stood out as a highlight for me; she was relatable and easy to connect with, which kept me invested in her journey. However, I felt that some of the other characters weren’t as fully fleshed out, which made it harder to engage with their stories.

The small-town setting was charming and gave me nostalgic vibes, reminding me of Beautiful Creatures in some ways. That cosy atmosphere added a nice touch to the story. However, the tone of the book felt a bit inconsistent at times. It seemed like it was aimed at a younger audience, possibly preteens, but some of the language felt surprisingly mature for that age group. Conversely, for a Young Adult novel, it occasionally came across as too immature, which left me unsure of its intended audience.

As for the romance, it didn’t quite work for me. The love triangle particularly felt like it lacked the necessary chemistry to make it believable or engaging. While I could see what the author was going for, the relationships didn’t resonate with me in the way I hoped they would.

All in all, The Glittering Edge had some good elements, particularly the relatable FMC and the cosy small-town vibes, but it didn’t entirely meet my expectations. It might appeal to readers who enjoy light-hearted YA with a touch of magic, but for me, it didn’t quite hit the mark.

The Glittering Edge by Alyssa Villaire is an enchanting and atmospheric tale of magic, curses, and forbidden love, set in the small town of Idlewood, where an age-old feud continues to shape the lives of its inhabitants.

For generations, the De Luca witches and the wealthy Barrion family have been sworn enemies, ever since a tragic love story led to a devastating curse—if a Barrion falls in love with you, you will die. Penny Emberly never expected to be caught in the middle of this deadly rivalry, but when her mother becomes the curse’s latest victim, she is left with no choice. Determined to save her mum, Penny must unite two bitter rivals, Alonso and Corey, despite their deep-rooted hatred for each other.

As Penny, Alonso, and Corey navigate unpredictable magic, tangled family histories, and complicated feelings, they soon realise that dark secrets lurk beneath the surface of their town. But breaking the curse may come at a greater cost than Penny ever imagined.

With feuding families, a light love triangle, and beautifully woven magic, The Glittering Edge is a spellbinding read. The rich atmosphere of Idlewood, combined with the book’s exploration of love, loss, and destiny, creates an immersive experience. Villaire’s representation of anxiety adds depth to Penny’s character, making her journey all the more compelling. This is a must-read for fans of witchy tales, slow-burning romances, and stories where magic and heartbreak intertwine.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Full of magic, curses, family feuds and love triangles, The Glittering Edge is a captivating read.

I found the book very easy to get into, and I sped through it. The characters were lovable, and I found myself rooting for Penny and Alonso much more than I thought I would initially.

Penny is a very relatable character. She's quiet, shy, and just wants to keep to herself. One day she's doing her best to be invisible. The next she's doing everything she can to save her mother from this awful curse which has landed her in the hospital.

I didn't really think that there was really a 'love triangle' as implied. I thought Corey was a good character, but don't see how he would fit with Penny, when clearly there's nothing there for her. It felt a bit forced, and I wouldn't mind if that connection never happened.

Overall it was a solid book, I would have definitely enjoyed it back in school.