*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Absolutely phenomenal! I devoured The Enemy’s Daughter in one sitting—it's that gripping. An intense, emotionally charged story with rich characters and twists that keep you hooked from start to finish. The tension, the romance, the drama—everything was perfectly executed. Easily my top read of the year so far. If you love a book that pulls you in and doesn’t let go, this is it!All the stars!!!

It felt refreshing to read a book that was marketed to YA...to actually feel like a YA! The age and romance felt suited to this genre.
I enjoyed the concept of dystopia going the "opposite" way (e.g. backwards from medicine/technology) and enjoyed following Isadora's perspective. However, I found the romantic relationship flourished quite quickly, and was less enemies-to-lovers than I expected.

ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 Stars)

Okay, first off—this book was such a refreshing surprise!
The Enemy’s Daughter had so many of the things I love in fantasy: political tension, deep character development, an emotional ya romance (with zero spice!), and a fantasy world that felt both familiar and completely unique. I honestly had such a great time reading it, and I’m still thinking about the characters hours later. (I binged the book in less than 6 hours!!)

Let’s start with the setting because it was so cool. It starts off feeling like your typical medieval fantasy—kingdoms, soldiers, wars between clans—but then you slowly realize it’s actually a dystopian world, after the modern world fell apart (just backwards!). I was hooked. That kind of “history looping back” concept is something I don’t see often, and Melissa Poett pulled it off in a really clever and immersive way. You get all the old-world vibes with a deeper undertone of lost technology and a shattered modern past.

Now for the characters—Isadora and Tristan were such a compelling duo. I really liked Isadora. She’s intelligent, curious, and constantly trying to learn and understand the world around her. And the best part? She’s not written as that overpowered “I can do everything” strong female lead we see a lot in fantasy. Instead, she’s well-rounded. She has a brain, she’s compassionate, she wants to grow—but she also knows how to throw a knife when she needs to. I loved how she was given one form of self-defense without it feeling forced.

And let’s talk about Tristan! He’s introduced as the enemy—because we’re in Isadora’s POV, and she’s grown up believing his people are the villains. But once she’s caught up in this political marriage and starts spending time in his homeland, everything starts to shift. Tristan is not the cold-hearted rival I expected—he’s genuinely sweet, respectful, and deeply caring. I loved him so much!
Especially in a sea of morally gray "shadow boys" dominating fantasy lately, Tristan stood out as someone who’s good-hearted without being boring. I also really appreciated that he had his own dreams and ambitions, ones he quietly put aside to follow in his father’s footsteps and do what he thought was expected of him. That quiet sacrifice made him even more compelling. We love a thoughtful, emotionally layered male lead.

This book thrives on the political complexity. It’s not just good vs evil or rebels vs kingdom. It’s messy. It’s unclear. There are lies, manipulation, withheld truths, and characters that feel like pawns in a much larger game. That whole atmosphere made the stakes feel real. You never quite know which side to trust, and that kept me turning the pages.

Now let’s talk romance—because WOW. I can’t tell you how happy I was to finally read a YA fantasy again that didn’t lean into the spice or rely on physical attraction as the main pull. Isadora and Tristan’s romance felt earned. There’s a magical connection element that plays a role (and it’s done so well), but beyond that, their love is built on emotion, mutual respect, and real growth. The forced proximity/forced marriage trope was used in such a creative way too, and it really added tension without crossing into the overly romanticized “I saw you and instantly wanted you” territory.

If you’re someone who’s been a little burned out on adult fantasy books with too much focus on physical desire, or YA books that are trying too hard to be mature through “spicy” scenes—this book will be such a breath of fresh air. It brought back the kind of romance I miss in YA: emotional, intimate in a non-physical way, and beautifully paced.



Now for the tiny reason it’s not a full 5 stars for me (this part has some spoilers!!):

The beginning of the romance felt a little rushed. When Iso and Tristan first meet, he’s definitely the brooding enemy type. I thought we were headed into a delicious slow burn captor x captive arc (enemies to lovers style), but it flipped really fast. Suddenly Tristan is willing to marry her to protect her, and I was like… wait, what? It felt like we skipped a few steps emotionally.
And I’m personally not a fan of the “I actually liked you from the beginning” twist—especially when he was kind of a jerk at first! I’d rather see two characters actually fall in love over time instead of finding out one of them was already smitten off-page. That kind of took away some of the romantic tension for me, but not enough to ruin anything.



Final thoughts:

This book absolutely delivered on what I’ve been craving in fantasy: complex worldbuilding, genuine emotion, and a romance that makes you feel! And it’s a standalone!! (Which I am so glad about. Not everything needs to be a book series.)

If you love:
✔️ Political intrigue and morally grey conflicts
✔️ Dystopian settings disguised as medieval fantasy
✔️ Smart, grounded heroines who don’t need to be “badass” in every way to be strong
✔️ Slow-burn, emotional romance with depth (and no spice!)
✔️ Stories that feel full and satisfying in one single book

…then The Enemy’s Daughter might just be exactly what you’re looking for.
Highly recommend for readers who love fantasy but are tired of overused tropes and spice for the sake of spice. This one hit all the right notes.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC! I will for sure get a physical copy when the book comes out!