Thank you to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy (baby’s first NetGalley approval!). All of the opinions in this review are my own.

I usually prefer shorter fantasy series (a standalone fantasy? We love to see her) and I’m not sure if there’s going to be another book after this one, but I think this particular story would’ve worked better as a duology. It started out feeling like classic high fantasy, but then the dystopian setting was revealed which I thought was such a great twist. I just wish that part had more time to breathe. It could have had an even greater impact if the reveal came later, with a slower build-up.

The romance between Isolde and Tristan also felt a little rushed. The story explains why their connection happens so fast, and it makes sense from Tristan’s side since he’s known her longer. But for Isolde, it felt like her feelings developed in just a few days which made it harder for me to feel invested in their relationship.

That said, there’s still a lot to love here. The plot twists were great, especially the one about Isolde’s father near the end. The writing was also very solid and really enjoyable throughout. For a debut, I thought this was impressive, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from this author..

I was drawn by this beautiful cover but the story wasn’t made for me, I was bummed out when I finished and I did not liked it since I was too excited to read it

Melissa Poett has written a great book! I was in a bit of a reading slump before this and this book has picked me back up. Melissa Poett has created a great balance between fantasy and dystopian.
I loved reading about Isadora’s journey and growth. The romance was fitted in perfectly and wasn’t the only source of plot. I wouldn’t say it’s a true enemy’s to lovers but it does successfully itch a scratch.
Some of the themes in the book are very topical at the moment and have been handled well. There were points I just wanted to scream at people for Isadora. It also cracked the intense and crazy ‘what’s going to happen next’ last 100 or so pages. I was hooked!

A fantasy/sci-fi twist on Tristan and Isolde is so unique! The worldbuilding was immersive, I was hooked from the start, the characters are ones you root for and the romance was gorgeous

Oh how I absolutely adored this book. I am so glad I picked it up. Many books are labelled as "enemies to lovers" but I would say that The Enemy's Daughter is one of the few true enemies-to-lovers books out there. This one is set in a dystopian universe. It truly gave me all the feels and I finished it in just two sittings.

The main characters Isadora and Tristan are both stunningly written, and their passion and chemistry is something many can only dream of. The writing is impeccable and truly embodies the tension and yearning they feel for one another. The lengths that they went to for each other took my breath away and I absolutely loved how fast-paced the story was. I adored the magical theme of the "connection" and there was also the perfect mix of political intrigue, making the story captivating at every page from start to finish.

The romance in this book was truly stunning and it for sure will be one to touch many people's hearts. Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC, it was a phenomenal read and I am sure many people will love it as much as I did!

It’s been thirty-seven years since the fall of the Republic, and the world is in turmoil as the five clans and the Kingsland battle for control. Isadora, the fearless daughter of the leader of one of the clans, has always been willing to risk her life on the battlefield to help her comrades. But when she intervenes to stop an attack from Tristan, a ruthless Kingsland assassin, she is struck by a poisoned arrow and left to die.

Just when all hope seems lost, Tristan does the unthinkable: he offers to save her life using a rare and powerful magic. But in choosing to live, Isadora unknowingly binds herself to Tristan, establishing a magical connection that allows him to access her emotions, her deepest memories, and the very information he needs to destroy the clans.

Set against the backdrop of a fractured world and steeped in magic, The Enemy’s Daughter is a stunning reimagining of the legendary tale of Tristan and Isolde. This gripping debut YA romantasy blends the tension of enemies-to-lovers with a rich dystopian world full of secrets, betrayal, and danger.

The Enemy’s Daughter is an intoxicating read, with a slow-burn romance that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The complex relationship between Isadora and Tristan builds beautifully, drawing you into their tense, yet undeniable connection. The magical elements woven into the story add depth and intrigue, making the book even more compelling. The dystopian world-building is immersive, and the high stakes make every moment feel urgent. If you're a fan of enemies-to-lovers stories set in dark, magical worlds, this is a book you'll want to devour. The unexpected twists and the emotionally charged plot make it an unforgettable read!

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

The Enemy’s Daughter 🤍
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5 stars

When I tell you I was hooked from the first chapter … I mean it!

The enemies to lovers trope was fast, addicting and undeniably adorable. I really liked the connection they have and figuring out how the magic worked alongside Isadora. I loved how they were able to share the pain and also the happiness.

In the last few chapters it was though I could feel how heartbreaking it was to learn the truth about her father, and how she might have had to go back to a world where no one listened to women. The writing was beautiful, I felt like I was able to understand all the emotions Tristan and Isadora went through.

I would’ve liked to have abit more context about the old world, about why it was bombed and everything the old world consisted of, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

4 stars
Dysotopian romance. There are 2 clans constantly battling for control over land. The land having been bombed is mostly toxic for them and so they fight for the safe, but limited, parts. Main fmc is a healer and daughter of the leader of one party. She's promised to whomever kills the leader of the other party and she's willing to do her duty despite the many feelings she has inside herself warring with the idea. I found the mfc quite interesting, she's brave but not senselessly and at the risk of everything she knows. Whilst secretly healing soldiers, she gets poisoned by an arrow and saved by the mmc, thus starting the real story full of emotion, heart tugging and heart v head battles.
It's a fun romantic cat and mouse will they won't they seeing as their enemies. A satisfying good read
Solid choice.This review is early thanks to netgalley, despite that this is an unbiased review.

I really enjoyed this book but first I wanna take a minute for the cover art…. It is stunning and it led me to want to read this in the first place. I would sell a limb to get a special edition of this book 🥺

Now where do I start? So the beginning was slightly confusing. The first 50-100 pages or so made me unsure of where the book was going. There were a lot of different names and lack of context of “the old world” which could have been clearer. We were never told about why they were bombed and I would’ve liked a little more backstory and world building.

I also wouldn’t consider this enemies to lovers, I wouldn’t say this was “insta love” but it was definitely faster than I was expecting. Tristan and Isadora were very cute though (I’m a sucker for a healer FMC) and I really liked the connection between them both. I enjoyed how their magic worked through the marriage between them - it clicked in my head at the end of the book when Tristan said “in sickness and in health” which meant that they really shared their pain and happiness in a literal sense. I know that seems obvious now, but it was a nice touch!

The writing was beautiful, after getting past the first 10% or so I flew through this book. Melissa is a great writer. I was nervous that the ending was going to ruin the rating for me, but I am quite pleased with how it ended! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy, I am so glad I had the chance to read this! I definitely recommend picking this up when it’s released💖

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me this ARC.

Unfortunately, I DNF'd this book at 56%. The cover is beautiful and I love dystopia novels, but from the first page something felt very jarring about this book to me. The worldbuilding feels underdeveloped, the pacing was entirely too slow for me (up to this point things have just been happening to her/happened off stage, barring her initial action), and the characters and their interactions just annoyed me. I took would not trust my life long enemies after they poison and kidnap me. Just because you're married doesn't mean your allegiance suddenly changes. If the townspeople are allowed to hold a grudge against her then why can't she hold a grudge against him? Not a fan of instalove. Sorry.

DNF @ 31%

Good premise poorly executed.

I can see this novel being popular with Romantasy fans but I found the world-building underdeveloped and romance too fast burn for my personal taste.

I’m unsure what time period this takes place and what the physical environment looks like. Modern technologies are mentioned but 37 years after a nuclear bomb any sense of that is lost and we have a patriarchal social system with politically arranged marriages. I just don’t see how societal regression would have been that quick. Maybe if there was more background about the Republic and why it fell it would have helped. The world history, magic system, character descriptions all too vague.

I absolutely adore this book! I felt like it had elements that aren’t over used in most of the recent releases. I loved the concept of the connection and just everything about the book overall honestly! Very wonderfully written!

The Tristan and Isolde movie was one of my favorite movies to watch as a teen/college student, so I knew I had to check this book out!
This is definitely not a slow burn in terms of them pining for/falling for each other but I'm an instalove fan so that didn't bother me. I enjoyed the post-apocalyptic vibe as I feel like this is something we don't get nearly enough of in books. This was a "clean" YA that I would easily offer to my high school students who are voracious romance and fantasy readers like I am.

A stunning reimagining of Tristan and Isolde set in a dystopian world woven with magic.
A lot of books usually either have a super good beginning or an amazing end. It's pretty rare for me to find one that has both but this defiantly had such a great beginning and all the way through pace that kept me wanting to keep reading like crazy.

This book single-handedly restored my love for YA dystopian romantasy. It made me think of The Selection, The Hunger Games (vibe-wise) and The Host in the BEST way.

Although I do have to say that if you gravitate toward plot-heavy novels, you might be disappointed, as this one is very focused on the romance and the main couple.

To me, it felt very nostalgic to those excellent dystopias with forced proximity and a healthy dose of hate-to-love that we used to have around 2015. The fierce healer who would do anything to prevent a war? The smart enemy trained to fight, yet incredibly tender? The two clans trying to survive in a desolate world? The reading experience reminded me of being 15 and reading under the covers until midnight on a school night.

The conflict was done well and the MMC could have been an Ali Hazelwood’s LI with the level of devotion and longing and patience he had for the FMC. I loved how the magic was used to create a fascinating and riveting blend of tension, angst and intimacy. Every one of their interactions is brimming with wariness and attraction, and I was completely enchanted.

The plot twist was predictable and kind of straight-forward, but, without giving away any spoiler, I liked how it resonated with how men are currently socialised. I would’ve loved for this topic to be more developed, but it made for a satisfying plot twist.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was a really fun, fast paced and easy to get into read. I don't think I've ever read a Tristan and Isolde retelling before so I liked this take on it. I was surprised at how fast things developed emotionally between out two MC's, but I think fans of a fast paced or insta connection tropes will eat this up!

Thank you so much to Harper Fire for my ARC!

3.5/5

Oh this book! Where do I start?
The Enemy's Daughter by Melissa Poett is such a good story. I loved every single second of it and I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic.

The Enemy’s Daughter by Melissa Poett is a striking debut that masterfully blends post-apocalyptic dystopia with fantasy and romance, reimagining the timeless legend of Tristan and Isolde in a world torn apart by war, magic, and deep-rooted division. Fast-paced and emotionally resonant, this YA enemies-to-lovers romantasy is both an addictive page-turner and a thoughtful exploration of power, tradition, and resistance.

Set thirty-seven years after the fall of a republic, the world Poett creates is one of sharp contrasts: the fractured, patriarchal clans clinging to outdated beliefs, and Kingsland—a city that values progress, equality, and reason. In the middle of this conflict stands Isadora, daughter of the clans’ leader, who risks everything to heal on the battlefield, only to fall victim to an assassin’s poisoned arrow. That assassin, Tristan, from Kingsland, shocks everyone—himself included—when he uses forbidden magic to save her life, binding them in a connection that is as powerful as it is dangerous.

What truly sets The Enemy’s Daughter apart is the bond between Isadora and Tristan. Their magical connection forces them to confront one another not as enemies, but as individuals—sparking a relationship that grows from wariness to mutual respect, and eventually, something far deeper. Their slow-burn romance is heartfelt, brimming with tension and warmth, all while remaining clean and age-appropriate for a YA audience. It’s a relationship built not on fate, but on choice, vulnerability, and a shared determination to challenge the violent world they’ve inherited.

Poett’s world-building is nuanced and immersive. The subtle hints of a lost modern civilization—bombs, old vehicles, and relics of forgotten technology—add a haunting edge to the fantasy setting, giving it a post-apocalyptic flavor that’s both clever and original. The political and cultural tension between the clans and Kingsland is well-drawn, providing a compelling backdrop for the central romance and the larger themes of societal change.

The novel isn’t without its rough edges—some of the side characters feel underdeveloped, and the societal regression after the apocalypse might stretch believability for some readers without more backstory. That said, these elements serve to highlight just how entrenched the world’s divisions are, and how high the stakes are for Isadora and Tristan as they try to defy them. While the ending comes a bit quickly, it’s satisfying and hopeful, hinting at a world on the cusp of transformation.

The Enemy’s Daughter is perfect for fans of YA romantasy who crave strong character development, meaningful romance, and a setting that feels both familiar and refreshingly new. Melissa Poett’s debut is equal parts action, emotion, and heart—a story of love, resistance, and the courage it takes to challenge the past for a better future.

Highly recommended for readers who love enemies-to-lovers tension, rich character arcs, and magic woven into a dystopian world.

This was a super fun quick read! While initially giving more of a fantasy vibe, the book's post-apocalyptic setting is gradually revealed throughout early chapters through the mention of remnants of modern technology like bombs, kitchen appliances, medical equipment, and no-longer-fuelable cars being towed around by horses. This is such a cool touch that adds intrigue and, at times, humour into a story that initially seems set up to be a standard romance between children from opposing sides in a war between a tenuously united group of clans and a settlement named Kingsland.

As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the conflict is mostly one-sided, fueled by deception, manipulation, and deeply ingrained misogyny - something I found intensely infuriating (in the best way). The regressive and oppressive beliefs of the clans stand in stark contrast to Kingsland, a progressive settlement built on equality, democracy, and trade. Bridging these two worlds are Isadora and Tristan, unexpectedly brought together by a marriage of life-saving convenience, whose empathy and willingness to learn from each other and grow together set them apart in a society resistant to change. The romance between Tristan and Isadora is sweet and heartfelt, blossoming from a shared determination to bring about lasting peace.

However, on both sides of the fence, the senseless brutality and complete refusal to think critically displayed by many of the side characters makes them feel more like plot obstacles rather than fully fleshed-out individuals, although this does serve to effectively highlight the fractured nature of their world and how deeply ingrained their beliefs are. Additionally, I found it difficult to suspend my disbelief at how quickly society could regress after an apocalyptic event - I would have loved a bit more context about what happened.

The ending felt a bit rushed but was ultimately satisfying, and I really enjoyed seeing how their society was already slowly but steadily changing for the better.

At its core, this is a story that explores power, control, and resistance in a post-apocalyptic world. It’s a YA book that truly feels YA, addressing some darker themes while remaining accessible and engaging, which I really appreciated. A fun and thought-provoking read with a sweet and believable romance, although certain elements could get a little frustrating.

Enemy’s Daughter, where you’re instantly hooked and held captive until the very last page. This YA romantasy is the perfect blend of enemies-to-lovers tension, heartfelt character growth, and a beautifully crafted fantasy world—all without needing a single spicy scene to keep you invested.

If you’re a fan of Powerless, The Prison Healer, or Dance of Thieves, you need to pick this one up. Melissa Poett delivers an original take on the classic “fated mates” trope—except here, it’s not mates but “connections” that happen after marriage. Such a small but brilliant twist that makes the story feel fresh and unique!

What I Loved:

✅ The characters – The two leads go through some serious development, and their banter had me grinning like an idiot. And don’t even get me started on the side characters—I need an entire series just about them.

✅ The romance – Sweet, slow-burn, full of the best kind of tension, and gave me multiple giggle attacks. Also, that “I liked you even before you knew my name” moment? Absolute perfection.

✅ The world-building – Poett takes her time weaving in the customs, traditions, and overall setting, making the world feel alive and immersive.

What I Needed More Of:
• More books in this world. Yes, it’s a standalone. No, I’m not okay about it. Someone convince the author to write more.

If you love fantasy romance with strong characters, a compelling plot, and zero dull moments, Enemy’s Daughter is a must-read. 4/5 stars, and I’ll be recommending this one for a long time.

👉 Have you read this book yet? Let’s discuss in the comments!

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC.