In the town of Idlewood, the De Lucas’ and the Barrions are families that have been feuding for generations. Local of the town rumour that it is due to a curse the De Lucas’ placed on the Barrions, causing anyone that falls in love with a Barrion to die. When Penny’s mother has an accident, she is a determined to break the family curse to save her mother’s life, but to do so she will have to convince the feuding families to work together.

I really enjoyed this story, the plot was interesting and kept you hooked throughout, even with a plot twist at the end I didn’t see coming. The characters were well developed and I really loved Penny’s determination to save her mother. I loved that we got to see more about the curse from previous generations through Penny’s dreams/interactions with the Shadow.

My review is late because I tried to start and like this several times but it just isn't for me. I did finish (it took me quite a while) but even by the end, I felt the same.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Penguin for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

After seeing this book be compared to the Raven Cycle I was very excited to read it. However, although the idea is great and I liked aspects, this didn't grab my attention enough to continue after 48% - DNF

3,75✨

I was drawn in by the dark, stunning cover and stayed for the witchy magic, high-stakes drama, and relatable (side) character(s).
The Glittering Edge is a YA fantasy book with a (sort of) love triangle, secrets and a curse. I read somewhere that this book is a kind of Romeo and Juliet retelling but honestly, I don't think that's true.
This book is a mid YA fantasy with a boring FMC (like Penny girl, how can you live without a personality???) and two MMCs. Corey was also a bit boring, but at least he had the golden boy archetype so he wasn't completely neutral. The other MMC, Alonso (I hate his name) was interesting, funny, mysterious and way too blonde (I thought he was brunette until almost the end of the book, haha), so he added a little spice to the plot.
The plot was interesting despite the fact that half of the book was just filler chapters, but after the 200. page I started to really enjoy reading it. I liked the end of the book, the plot-twist was very exciting, so i'm looking forward for the sequel.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for sending me this ARC!

I wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as I did; it was such a fun read! All of the main characters and side characters had depth and didn't fall flat like they so often can, which made it so much easier to read.

Alonso was my favourite from his first POV - he is my sweet, misunderstood boy, and I will defend him for life. He better be safe in book two, or I will riot! I felt like the progression of friendship between the main three happened at the right pace and didn't feel forced, and the group chat chapters were a great addition! The banter had me giggling; it worked so well and felt like a natural text chain between friends.

Overall, an excellent debut novel, and I cannot wait for book 2!

Boring with a non-existent lovestory

“The Glittering Edge” by Alyssa Villaire is a young adult story about dark magic, curses and three teenagers fighting for their future.

I didn't like Corey at all. Everyone points at Alfonso and says “bad boy” and “he's trouble”, when Corey is the one who uses people and pretends to care about them.

The love story was also a complete fail for me. It started with the fact that there wasn't a shred of infatuation or anything similar between Corey and Penny. In general, it just wasn't a love triangle.

Besides Penny, Alfonzo was the most likeable character in the story. A misunderstood boy due to a family feud, who has a soft and good heart, but seems like a mean thug to the outside world.

Penny is a brave but overwhelmed teenager who not only has to deal with her feelings, but also with the possible death of her mother, magic and family curses. But she doesn't give up and fights to the end, giving her all.

I am a bit nostalgic and the story gave me vibes from my youth. However, I didn't think the story was well developed.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

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 (or should) 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! ⭐

Thankyou Netgalley and Penguin Random House for this eArc!

This follows three teens who are trying to break a magical curse on their famly/ies. It has everything I love, witches... curses... a tiny cat... teenage love stories... you name it! I did go into this knowing it was a YA but I would have loved for the characters to be a bit older - it still slapped though. I knew going into it as well that there would be pop culture refs and texting so that didn't take away from the magicalness.

It was a bit slow starting but at about 15% I started to get more intrigued then when the magic started happening i was hooked. I did scream out loud and cry near the end, and my gosh you cant end books like this its not fair i have to wait for the next one!

I will be picking up book 2 upon release!

You better believe me when I say this book instilled the same level of obsession The Raven Boys brought out of me back in the day. This is the perfect blend of both that and Practical Magic, which I didn’t even realise I needed until now.

I simply loved Alyssa's writing and her character creation. Her timing and pacing were on point.
If you are interested in a contemporary fantasy and great, great characters this is for you.
Thank you for the wonderful time I had while reading your book Alyssa.

This book? Gave me everything. Family curses, slow-burn tension, magical drama, and a group chat that had me CACKLING. Seriously—The Glittering Edge is like if Practical Magic got dunked in Gen Z sarcasm and small-town secrets, then dusted with just enough romance to make your heart flutter.

We follow Penny Emberly, a barista trying to keep her life together while her mom mysteriously falls into a coma (as one does). Enter Corey: ex-crush and bearer of magical bad news. To untangle the mess, Penny has to team up with Alonso De Luca, the dark-and-brooding member of a rival magical family. Alonso and Corey? No likey each other.

What really made this shine was the multiple POVs. Reading from Penny, Corey, and Alonso’s perspectives meant you were always a few steps ahead of the drama—or at least thought you were.

Also, THE GROUP CHAT. Authors have been tossing texts into books for a while now, but this one actually nailed it. The humor was so on point.

“Did you use magic to get my number?”
“Caller ID. Magic straight from the 1990s.”
I need this embroidered on a t-shirt or something.

And can we talk about Penny and Alonso?? Their chemistry felt natural. No insta-love, just slow, believable tension that builds into something you genuinely root for. But I won’t lie… Corey’s giving off just enough pining energy that while looking into my crystal ball I’m seeing a love triangle in book two. Let chaos reign supreme!

The ending? Oh, it SNAPPED. A twist so sharp I had to reread it twice just to make sure I didn’t hallucinate. Needless to say, I’m feral for the sequel!

This one’s perfect for fans of sharp banter, magical messiness, and that sweet-spot between cozy and chaotic. Add it to your TBR, and prepare to spiral.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book was so good! It was the perfect introduction to the world of Idlewood, and I’m so excited to see how the rest of the story and all its mysteries play out! The characters were all parts youthful, fun, sad, and interesting! I had a blast getting to know them, rooting for them, and seeing them become a little team. Alyssa did a fantastic job of world building; it is perfect for those just getting into YA fantasies or feeling nostalgic. I 100% recommend it, and I will be seated for the next instalment! Thank you NetGalley for providing me with the arc!

Witches, curses, love triangle, absolutely loved it!! A great YA read that I flew through and kept me gripped from beginning to end!
Bit of Romeo and Juliet tragic love story but with a twist!

(Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review)

I really wanted to enjoy this one as it had a lot of elements I usually love: witches, small-town vibes, romance and magic. But sadly, it just didn’t land for me, and I found myself feeling pretty bored and disconnected the whole way through.

The characters were probably my biggest issue. They all felt a bit flat and surface-level, like they were being moved around the story without much depth or development. I kept waiting for something more to come through like emotional growth or a big twist but it never really happened. The attempted love triangle also didn’t help. It felt forced and lacked chemistry and I just couldn’t buy into the relationships at all. The only dynamic I genuinely liked was between Penny and her mum as their bond felt real and warm.

The magical world had so much potential, but it wasn’t explored enough. We’re told there’s magic and witches exist, but there’s barely any explanation of how it all works or what the rules of the world are. There were so many interesting directions it could have gone in but instead it felt vague and underdeveloped.

Plot-wise, the book is over 400 pages so you’d expect a lot to happen but weirdly, not much does. The story feels a bit aimless and scattered, with no real depth or tension to keep things moving. I was hoping for more mystery or stakes, something to make me care about what was going on but it just never clicked.

Overall, this one had a lot of potential but didn’t quite follow through. The relationships and romance felt flat, the worldbuilding left me with more questions than answers and the plot just kind of drifted. A few sweet moments kept it from being a total miss but it wasn’t the gripping magical read I hoped for.

The Glittering Edge by Alyssa Villaire

I did not expect to love The Glittering Edge as much as I did. From the first few chapters, I was hooked. It has everything I enjoy in a story—magic, curses, feuding families, and a little romance—but it also surprised me with how real and emotional it felt.

The story takes place in a small town called Idlewood, where everyone knows about the long fight between the De Luca witches and the rich Barrion family. Years ago, a love story ended in tragedy, and since then, a curse has haunted the Barrions. If a Barrion falls in love with someone, that person will die. That curse becomes personal for Penny Emberly when her mom ends up in a coma after falling in love with a Barrion. Penny has no choice but to team up with Alonso De Luca and Corey Barrion, two boys who are supposed to hate each other, to try and save her mother.

I liked Penny right away. She felt like a real person—strong but scared, unsure but still trying her best. I also liked that the love triangle in the book did not feel forced or fake. It made sense and actually added to the story. Alonso and Corey are both interesting in their own ways, and their history, mixed with all the family drama and secrets, kept me turning pages fast. Also, I’m not even going to lie—Alonso became one of my favorite characters, and I will always be on his side.

The magic in the book is strange and kind of scary, but it fits the mood of the story so well. The town feels alive with secrets. You can feel the weight of everything that has happened before, and it makes the present story feel deeper. The book also touches on things like grief, family pressure, and anxiety in a way that feels honest. Nothing is too dramatic or over-the-top. It’s just the right amount of intense.

What really stood out to me is how easy it was to fall into this world. The writing is clear and smooth. I didn’t have to force myself to keep reading. Every time I stopped, I found myself thinking about what would happen next. The ending left me in shock, and now I need the next book. Like, right now.

If you like dark small towns, family curses, slow magic, and messy love stories, this is the book for you. It gave me the same excitement I had when I read The Raven Boys years ago, and I think a lot of readers are going to feel the same way. The Glittering Edge is one of the best YA fantasy books I’ve read in a long time, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.

I purposefully didn’t read this arc until it was released due to it being the fairyloots YA book of the month and reading it with my fairyloot book buddies, however we all really enjoyed it!

I was definitely not the target audience for this book, however I would definitely have liked this during my school years.

A contemporary YA fantasy with small town, high school feel with family feuds, dark magic and a tragic love story.

I enjoyed the FMC throughout the book, her attitude, strong character and determination was great.

The story itself was OK, but for me lacked a little world building and could have had a bit more depth to the characters.

Overall it was an enjoyable YA tale of love and family with a touch of magic and curse to crack.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I really enjoy gothic novels, and this book is a wonderful choice for fans of young adult gothic fantasy, small-town mysteries, secrets, and curses.

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate:
🖤 Gothic vibes
🌕 Family histories with longstanding rivalries
🖤 An honest and relatable main character with a strong inner voice
🌕 Small-town charm/drama
🖤Multiple love interests (I'm a little over it, but it wasn't bad)
🌕 Multiple POV

I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect at first, but the beautiful UK cover caught my eye and I decided to give it a try. I’m glad I did! Penny Emberly is a relatable heroine, and I appreciated how her anxiety was portrayed subtly. The magic system has a classic gothic feel, and while I would have loved even more world-building, what’s there fits the moody Midwest setting. Having lived in the Midwest, I could feel the atmosphere—there’s just something about small towns when something feels a little off, and Idlewood has that vibe. The history between the De Luca witches and the Barrion family IS the drama. The dynamic between Penny, Alonso, and Corey is fun, even if the love triangle is a perhaps overly familiar YA element.

A curse, two boys, coven of witches ...seems like the perfect book. It really drew me in right from the beginning. I felt that we were sucked in the story right away and I liked that but the writing style might be a bit too young for my taste, It bored me at times: after the story starts off, the central part of the book kind of goes in circle, overexplains things and there were chapters that were almost entirely about characters reminiscing the events or the plans we already knew about. I just wanted them to start doing things! Fortunately, I pushed through and it was rewarding. I really enjoyed the last third and will read the sequel.

Many thanks to the author, Alyssa Villaire, NetGalley, and the publishers, Penguin Random House UK Children’s, for a digital ARC of this book. I read three YA novels within a week and this is my favourite, and the one that kept me up reading way past my bedtime.
It begins, as so many American YA books do, at a high school party. Penny is just getting a drink and observing her host, golden boy Cory Barrion, when bad boy Alonso De Luca approaches her. This is a problem for Penny as (i) the Barrion and De Luca families have been at war for as long as anyone in the town can remember and (ii) Alonso really is a bad boy - when they were children, Penny saw him perform necromancy on a cat. No prizes for guessing what happens next.

No one in the town beyond the two families knows what’s really behind their enmity, but when Penny’s mother is struck down in a car accident, Cory tells her the truth. Alonso’s grandfather placed a curse on the Barrion family, and now, every time a member of the family falls in love, the person they love dies. Penny persuades Alonso and Corey to work together with her to lift the curse so that her mother can get better (and hopefully resolve the family feud in the process).

I loved this book. It’s well-written, gripping, and the characters are rounded human beings. Alonso, far from being a bad boy, is a quirky, bike-polo-playing sweetheart. Corey is more morally grey than you might expect, and dealing with a lot of problems within his family. The use of magic was original, and the plot didn’t really go where I expected (apart from the love triangle, which isn’t really a triangle as it’s pretty clearly only going to resolve in one direction). If you like sweet YA fantasy, I would recommend this.