I found the first few chapters of this book a little bit confusing. It seemed like there were things I was supposed to know already (magic systems, geography, etc.) that I didn’t know. I actually looked to see if this was a sequel to another book that I’d missed. Nope.

Once I was maybe four or so chapters into the book, though, I felt like the story settled into itself. I liked the whole spy network element and the magic system based on creating shapes called filigree. From the beginning I liked Dev’s character, but I think Lochlan was my favorite. I loved their snappy remarks.

I think readers who enjoy books about magic with a bit of political intrigue will like this one. It reminded me a teeny bit of DEFY THE NIGHT by Brigid Kemmerer, though I think there’s a little more world building in Kemmerer’s books.

Thank you to NetGalley, Inkyard Press, and Emily Victoria for the opportunity to not only read Silver in the Mist in exchange for an honest review, but to be a part of the blog tour as well.

After Emily Victoria's debut novel, This Golden Flame, I was thoroughly excited to find something new coming from this author. With LGBTQ representation from the get-go, stunning world building, and a dynamic cast of characters, I can substantially say that this is yet another excellent work by Emily Victoria.
In Devlin's world, magic is dissipating, and in some instances, gone completely. With a domineering and strict mother who also happens to be the the Whisperer of Aris, the leader of a group of spies, Dev tries to do her best job and to be a fitful daughter as well. Being a spy under her mother's order, she makes here way across borders seeking intel from other countries to try and bring magic back to Aris.

Dev is tasked to continue this quest, though with a very specific end result: befriend the most powerful magic user, Alyse, and bring her to Aris to be used to quell the Hush, a  thick mist full of creatures known as Phantoms. While Cerena may seek magic to attack Aris, a terrible misunderstanding delved from the past leads to Aris fighting two battles when both countries should be facing a common enemy. If Dev succeeds in befriending Alyse and tricking her with the use of a magic-cancelling bracelet, Aris might not be doomed. But Dev might just have some conflicted feelings of true friendship battling against her spy instincts.

This is a well-written novel full of magic and great characters. It has a bit of a Shadow and Bone vibe to it. Silver in the Mist is an appreciated stand-alone and yet another successful work from Emily Victoria. This Young Adult fantasy novel is sure to become a classic of the genre in no time!

Eight years ago, the country of Aris was attacked. Devlin's father was killed and her mother became the Whisperer, the head of spies. Becoming a spy herself, Devlin only saw her mother for missions, and now has the most dangerous one yet: infiltrate the court of their neighbor Cerena to steal the magic that Aris will need to protect itself from the encroaching Mists, which carries danger within it. But not everything is what it seems, especially not in Cerena.

Devlin works as a spy, and her mother never calls on her with kindness. She expects perfection, and Devlin hollows herself out to try to meet that expectation. In a world at war, with magic and phantoms able to move around and harm others, it's a dangerous place to be. Magic looks silvery, and in solid form is called filigree, and this is the only thing able to harm a phantom. The terms that they use in Aris are different from Cerena, and Devlin gets close to Cerena's best caster, an odd young woman that most at court don't even like. Devlin learns about the weaknesses in Cerena, and that the history or fairy tales of the two countries aren't quite what people think they are.

I like the gradual exploration of the history of the two countries, that they had been founded by a pair of sisters before disaster overtook them. Said disaster had different stories handed down through the generations, and the truth of spires had disappeared in time as well. The current monarchs and their courts are all afraid of the others as well as the Mist, and are more than willing to destroy the other to save themselves. This mirrors the desperation of the spies, of Devlin to meet her goals, and even for Alyce to use her magic for the betterment of others. The truth and the spires are important, and it's a thrilling ride to find them. I really enjoyed the book, and the way Devlin, Alyce and Lachlan all grew and gained strength as they believed in themselves.

Who here doesn't love a standalone fantasy/spy novel? Silver in the Mist, written by Emily Victoria, is a spay novel with an ace protagonist, and I am all sorts of here for it! (Seriously, can we get more like this, please?).

Devlin's entire life was changed in the blink of an eye. In a way, she lost everything at that moment. Her father is dead, her mother lost her job, and Devlin? In an attempt to hold onto the little bit of family she has left, she'll join the spy ranks – the job her mother is preoccupied with.

However, once Devlin is fully immersed in her new career, she finally understands the lingering danger. Her country is in peril, and it is up to her and those around her to step up and try to save the day.

Silver in the Mist is the second novel I've read by Emily Victoria (This Golden Flame being the first – also with an ace protagonist – go read it!), and I've got to say, I really enjoy her works. She's excellent at worldbuilding and character development, and I appreciate the representation she always seems to include in her books.

If you love spy thrillers with a hint of magic and a lot of worldbuilding, then you've got to read Silver in the Mist. It's a standalone novel, so there's no need to worry about getting invested in a long-running series or anything like that.

Naturally, I expected a fair bit of politics in Silver in the Mist (can't have a spy novel without politics, right?). I'm pleased with what I found within these pages. It is so exciting to see Emily Victoria spread her literary wings. I legit can't wait to see what she writes next.

Long story short, I adored Silver in the Mist. The characters are a treasure, the fascinating world, and the politics compelling. It's the perfect read if you're looking for a bit of an escape.

I liked the Golden Flame and liked Silver in the Mist, another well plotted and gripping fantasy story.
The author did a good job in developing a complex world building and fleshed out characters.
The storytelling is good and it kept me turning pages.
It was refreshing to read a story without any romantic involvements or sub plot even if I don't know it is what define the MC as ace/aro (it could be as it's a very personal trait)
I look forward to reading the next story by this author.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

I'm having a hard time with my review. On the one hand, reading this and other books featuring a spy have shown me that I'm not a massive fan of the whole spy thing. The last time I finished a spy related series was a Percy Jackson inspired fan fiction a few years ago. I love Sarah J Maas, but I couldn't even get into her series and skim read them.

That being said, I did finish Silver in the Mist. It was good. Better than a lot of books that I would have just DNFed. I liked Devlin's friendship with Lochlan quite a lot and I wish we had a chance to see more of that. I don't know where I read a blurb that just right off the top declared that this book featured an asexual main character. I guess it does if asexuality is just not having a viable love interest; like really what was Devlin supposed to do in all of this? Another book would have made her and Alyse fall head over heels in love with one another which is the only real difference but doing that would have only made this boring.

There are other things that went wrong with for me; why was it necessary for Devlin to be so sloppy at court so many times and for no one to pick up on anything? It's only Alyse who really finds out and no one else is talented enough too? Like really?

This was an overall interesting book, though a tad slow at times. I enjoyed the characters and the writing and the magic system.

Whilst I found the beginning a touch slow to get into once this does get going I thought it was a fun read and the pace really picks up then. I loved the non-binary supporting character and thought the representation in the book was wonderful, overall it’s a joy to read, really enjoyed the magic system, definitely recommend

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I enjoyed the overall story! Devlin is sent undercover through the Mists, that are continually expanding into her country, Aris, and setting monsters onto Arisan people, into the rival country of Cerena in order to steal away the strongest magic caster anyone’s ever known in the hope that that person’s magic can be used to protect Aris instead of Cerena. While there, she starts to uncover the hidden truth about the Mists and the rivalry between the two nations, and starts to wonder if there’s a way that both countries can survive without ensuring the other’s destruction.

Devlin was a super fun main character to follow! Due to her position in her own country’s court and as a spy when abroad she’s constantly having to watch what she says, but there are no such restrictions within her own mind, and I loved the slight snark in her narration so much, especially as it didn’t come at the cost of her caring deeply for other people. After so many years of being effectively ignored by her mother she’s desperate for her mother’s approval, but she doesn’t completely buy into the idea that all of Cerena deserves to be destroyed in Aris’ place. I really enjoyed reading from her point of view! I would’ve liked it if her being aroace could’ve been referred to more than once, just to make it clearer. I’ve seen some reviews from people who missed this line and so are saying that no romance =/= an aroace protagonist, which is true to be fair, but Dev is definitely aroace. It’s just that the single line referring to it is very easy to miss and her romantic/sexual relationships or lack thereof are irrelevant to the story. I like that she gets to be casually aroace in a story that has absolutely nothing to do with a potential relationship for her, she’s a spy in an enemy nation and that’s what we’re focusing on, but it also could’ve been stated a little more firmly.

The first side character we meet is Dev’s best friend from Aris, a fellow spy named Lochlan. Lochlan was also a really enjoyable character and I loved their friendship and interactions!! I also really liked the developing friendship between Dev and Alyse, the magic caster she’s supposed to be kidnapping. If you enjoy fake-relationships turned real, this is the platonic version of that, as Dev’s supposed to be pretending to be Alyse’s friend so she can steal her away and slowly comes to realise that their friendship has become very real. They’re a lot more similar than either of them initially realise, and they’re so much better off for having each other in their lives. Dev, Lochlan, and Alyse only got to be a trio a couple of times but I’m so here for it.

Something I thought was really cool was how the worldbuilding was gender neutral! The Monarchs of Aris and Cerena are referred to as Monarch regardless of gender, they’re never King or Queen. The title for members of the nobility is universally Layde, not Lord or Lady, and there didn’t seem to be any difference in how people were treated based on their gender. These details made me really happy and are something I hope to see more often.

Devlin’s mother joins the ranks of fictional characters that I despise and that I will automatically not trust anyone who says they like them. The villain of the story is the Mists as well as the attitudes that the nations have come to have for each other, but if I had to point my finger at a person it would be the Whisperer. The way that the book ends things between Dev and her mother wasn’t personally for me, but I can concede that there are people out there who probably need a resolution like this. Dev’s a much better person than I am.

I would recommend this book to people who like fantasy, strong friendships, and zero romance. Just be careful if you have a difficult or distant relationship with a parent, as this may hit a little close to home.

I really don't know what to say about this one. I read it, sure, but in the last hour, I've forgotten almost all of it. None of it felt remarkable or new. It almost felt like an amalgamation of all the popular YA. The Grishaverse comparison is almost too easy - 2 feuding countries divided by a rift filled with monsters.

Also, the asexual rep was disappointing. As someone who's tentatively exploring this label, I wanted more. Our main character didn't feel or seem asexual, just like she wasn't interested in either of the two side characters for romance.

I had the same problems with This Golden Flame as well. A decent idea, but nothing to make an impression

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was a perfect quick and fun read at a time where I needed a bit of a palate cleanser. In this fantasy novel where two kingdoms are fighting over magic, the world building is a slow and steady build throughout the story, with the reader learning many of the key points of the history at the same time as the reader. The author's use of various pronouns and sexual identities felt natural and added to the realness of each of the characters. I enjoyed the various relationships from family, to friends, to enemies who become friends; each felt complex and built throughout the book. I look forward to reading more from this author!

Silver in the Mist is a stand-alone fantasy about Devlin, a spy tasked with infiltrating the rivaling kingdom in order to kidnap their mage. This is due to the mage being the only person able to save Devlins kingdom from impending doom.

The book has a very interesting plot, which kept me engaged in the story. The world building was really well done, and I could really feel how the Mist, the big threat to the world, affects the different people and their choices. It was also really well-paced, and I never found myself lacking in attention or drifting while reading. It just weaves its own unique story, and I’m honestly a bit sad that it’s just a stand-alone.

I love the characters in this book, and especially the friendships! Especially Devlin and Alyse, and their blossoming friendship. Devlin was a sympathetic character which I rotted for to find her own path and confidence. Alyse is a sweetheart, and Milla was a badass breath of fresh air. There’s both non-binary and aro representation in the book, and no romance. Which honestly was nice, to see strong relationships just being great friendships.

While I mostly enjoyed this book, there were some things I’m not as keen on. First off, the story has a long build up, and as a result the final part just felt a bit rushed in comparison. I also wasn’t satisfied with the ending, it just was too abrupt for me. Especially considering the fact that it’s a stand-alone. Would have been nice with an epilogue.

I had an enjoyable time with the book, and it was a fun fast-paced read with some lovely characters. Since I really enjoyed the writing, I will be checking out the author's other works.

Silver in the Mist is a well-written young adult fantasy that is full of magic, mystery, and intrigue. The world-building was easy to follow and unique, with intriguing characters that are sure to pull you in from the beginning and hold your attention until the very end.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 stars
<b>Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC of this book via TBR and Beyond Tours in exchange for an honest review!</b>

Silver in the Mist is a fantasy story about a country split in two. Devlin, a spy in Aris, is given the mission to kidnap Alyse, the strongest magic caster, from Cerena, to save Aris from succumbing to the mist threatening their lives.

<B>“Well, maybe we can learn to break the rules together.”</b>

I immensely enjoyed diving into this created world and plot! When thinking about it, the world is actually quite simple. What I love is the simple way but complex feeling the world has. The two countries, divided by the mist, are not so unique, but I loved it. The magic system as well is something I really loved!

The plot is fast and engaging from the very beginning! I also loved how little Easter eggs are given from the start, but you only notice this at the very end. A very cleverly written story that drew me in and wasn’t boring for even a moment!

The characters were written so damn good! I loved getting to know them and how they all complemented each other. Devlin, driven by the love and recognition she wants was a very strong and likable character. Alyse, driven by hope and wanting a better world, stole my heart. Both very different but perfect for the story and each other.

I loved Devlin being asexual and no romance whatsoever being present in the story. The only relationships given are the familial and friendship ones. I loved how strong friendships were formed and became the backbone of this story. It was very empowering to read. I also really liked how there wasn’t really a villain or “bad guy”. Those who acted selfishly were understandable, which made them relatable and thus not a villain in my eyes. Those who do bad, but their actions were understandable, are honestly the best.

Overall, I loved and enjoyed every second of the journey these characters took me on. With a badass spy, lots of humor and loveable characters.

This was a pretty good stand-alone fantasy.

Here's what worked for me:

If you look at this as a metaphor for climate change, it's really fascinating. An encroaching evil mist that destroys the landscape and kills people. But the wealthy country is hoarding resources and keeping themselves safe while also ignoring the existential threat.

The POV was really interesting. I would usually expect a story like this to be told from Alyse's point of view. She's the chosen one, who has really powerful magic who can save everyone. Instead we're in Dev's head, the one who's sent to kidnap her.

I'm seeing this labeled as asexual representation. I'm not sure if this is explicitly said in the text, but there's definitely no romance in this story. That works for a few reasons: It always feels weird when characters have to "come out" in an obvert way. Dev doesn't owe us or anyone an explanation. It feels more natural for her to be herself without having to defend or explain her identity to the readers.

One reason why I love romance in novels is because it's a great way to have deep, emotional connections between characters. The friendships made in this book are just as emotional and rich, and they scratch that itch for me (and make the story compelling).

What didn't work for me:

Some reveals were just too convenient and unbelievable. I had a hard time suspending my disbelief. They'd just find things they needed to find, characters would just believe things they needed to believe.

There was way too much lore and backstory. Back to the convenient thing, there'd always be a convenient piece of ancient history unearthed that changed everything. And I just didn't really care about the history? We maybe needed 1/3 of that backstory.

Thank you to Inkyard Press and NetGalley for the eARC to read in exchange for an honest review!

Wow! I really enjoyed reading "Silver in the Mist." Nothing is as it seems and I love it!

We have a simple setting of two opposing countries (with decades-old grievances) that are divided by the Mists, a hazy, stifling in-between where frightening phantoms lurk. One country is about to crumble due to the encroaching Mists while the other bursts with color and magic. The Mists are not the only thing that divide them.

Devlin is a young spy who goes undercover in enemy territory in order to bring back what her country needs to save itself. Life hasn’t been the same since her father left and her mother became emotionally distant, so this new assignment is the perfect chance to prove herself and change things for the better (hopefully). Of course, going undercover doesn’t entirely go as planned and rouses up questions with answers possibly rooted in fairy tales. But that’s the beauty about such stories, they’re always based on some kernel of truth.

Milla - Devlin’s “cousin” while undercover - was my favorite character. I like her sass, her sense of humor, and her graceful don’t-give-an-f attitude. I admire that she does what she must despite where she grew up and circumstances.

It’s sad how much grief and emotional trauma some of these characters have been carrying. And some deserved more than what life chose for them.

One thought I couldn’t shake was that it’s like Aris’ spy network didn’t do their due diligence concerning information about Alyse, who is Devlin’s target. Yes, anger and hate can be terribly blinding as well as a catalyst for history repeating itself in a vicious cycle. Devlin and other people in Aris have built up Cerena as the antagonist and Alyse (currently the most powerful caster alive) the big bad wolf per se. Meanwhile Cerena looks down on Aris as less than in all aspects and sees their plight rightly deserved. Yet it’s plain as day the kind of person Alyse is based on two notable facts presented shortly after we get to meet Alyse in person. I empathize hard with Alyse’s backstory and her life up to present. Taking everything into account, the initial plan feels excessive. But, then again, we likely wouldn’t have had as impactful a story, character arc for Devlin, and outcome as we are wonderfully given in "Silver in the Mist."

The resolution kind of had a happy-go-lucky, too easy feel. And yet I was left feeling so hopeful and wishing to see the future for these characters under blue skies. Knowing the whole history of both countries and its monarchies, plus rippling effects of certain events, I’d be interested in seeing what’s in store for Devlin next.

A great YA fantasy story overall!

I really enjoyed this one, especially the asexual representation! It was so intriguing, and I just wanted to keep reading! Definitely will highly recommend.

I really liked This Golden Flame by this author so I was excited to read this one, and it did not disappoint!

Emily Victoria reminds me of Tricia Levenseller and Margaret Rogerson - reliable fantasy standalones that may not change your life but will show you a good time. This follows a spy who infiltrates a more successful kingdom to try to kidnap a mage who can help them.

The protagonist is (I think) asexual and aromantic and it's always nice to read a book with no romance - a lovely breath of fresh air! There is a great female friendship that I thought was really well done.

The plot was also compelling - my only complaint is that the main character is supposed to be a wildly talented spy and she kept doing dumb things.

The Quick Cut: A young female spy is sent to steal the strongest magic caster from their rival country. Her mission becomes less clear when she realizes it's not as simple as kidnapping.

A Real Review:
Thank you to Inkyard Press for providing the ARC for an honest review.

We all do things out of desperation when our survival is on the line. If we think that we are on our own with nobody else to save us, we will do many uncharacteristic things to ensure we see the next day. For Devlin's country of Aris, that desperation is strong when the mists threaten to destroy their country.

Devlin's life went completely off its axis right years ago. Her father died, her home country of Aris was attacked, and her mom became the Whisper of Aris - the head of the spies. Devlin has been just another one of the spies in her charge since, only seeing her mom for spy assignments. Her latest mission? Go to the rival country of Cerena and kidnap their strongest caster, Alyse. Will taking their rival's caster solve all their problems? Or just exasperate the ones they already have?

I have conflicting feelings about this story after finishing it. While I love the characters and how they change throughout the book, I can't ignore the fatal flaws in the world building. I'm one of those picky readers who likes a balance of both characters and world development in the books I read.

The book is broken up into three sections based on where the chapters take place: Aris, Cerena, and then the mist. A vast majority of the book takes place in Cerena. While that makes sense considering what the plot is about, we don't spend enough time in Aris to develop a connection to it. Yes, it's made clear that Aris is falling apart due to the mist. However, the extent of it and what that looks like in comparison to the past isn't made entirely clear. It would've made for a better story to develop that connection first.

Devlin goes through a true journey internally through this story. She's sent to save her country by dooming another and learns along the way that there's a better way. On top of that, she learns through the person she's meant to kidnap that the right moves can save both countries. She's forced to make the choice between doing the right thing and the thing she was ordered to do. It's not a simple choice, especially when doing the right thing comes with negative consequences.

The relationship between Devlin and Alyse is a fascinating one as the story continues. It starts with Devlin seeing Alyse as a target and turns into a true friendship. They work together to learn enough about casting and the past to solve the mists problem for everyone. Each one risks their entire lives to do it. A level of trust and respect is earned and seeing them so that makes for a fun read.

A story with strong character build, but lacking in complete world building.

My rating: 3.75 out of 5

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

Silver in the Mist is Emily Victoria’s second book, and the rare time I’ve encountered a real sophomore slump. I genuinely enjoyed her first book, but found myself very underwhelmed by this one, even with all the promise of its premise.

The world building is intriguing, if a tad underbaked. There’s great lore to the world conveyed throughout, and the magic is a lot of fun. However, while there is a lot of literal ground covered, I didn’t really get a sense of place as to where this was meant to be.

The characterization was…ok. Devlin’s a spy, and while I can’t say I was blown away by her character, she’s not incompetent. It’s pretty standard YA fare, minus any romance. And this is perhaps where I feel the story began to fall down a bit. I’m fine with a book with no romance, but I don’t know how I feel about that being equated as more or less synonymous with “ace rep,” apart from maybe a throwaway mention. I know the author herself is aroace, and it’s totally fair for her to write from that experience. But I wish it hadn’t been blatantly marketed as an “asexual fantasy,” given how varied identities under that umbrella are. And while I don’t think romance was prominent, if present at all, in her first book, with much stronger characterization and plot independent of those aspects, I found the virtual absence easier to forgive. I did like the inclusion of a major non-binary character, and the usage of they/them pronouns, so there is some decent queer rep.

The plot is fairly slow-moving, and if I wasn’t invested in the world even on a surface level, I would have likely bailed. It does pick up, but I nevertheless found my interest constantly flagging.

While I found this book to be a bit of a dud, I can chock it up to a number of reasons, from the fact that I’m probably not the intended audience for the book to the more serious fact that I was looking for something where ace identity was at least somewhat more prominent. But if you’re a YA reader who doesn’t mind something on the younger side, and you don’t go in expecting groundbreaking asexual rep, you may enjoy this more than I did.