Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with an E-ARC. All thoughts/opinions are my own.

Release Date: February 6, 2024

“‘You could never lose me. I’ll always find my way back to you, Ez.’”


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The Absinthe Underground is an enchanting LGBTQ+ slow burn that tells the story of Esme and Sybil, two “best friends” living with their many cats in a clock tower. Esme and Sybil don’t have an easy life, though. They live in poverty and rely on the dangerous art of stealing posters in order to get the money they need to cover the bare minimum of supplies. However, everything changes for them when they receive a dangerous but high paying opportunity to venture into Fae to execute a dangerous heist- one that could make them so rich they’d never have to work again, or cost them their futures.

As soon as I started reading this book, I was sucked in. The Absinthe Underground features a world different from anything I’ve ever read, complete with beautiful, metaphoric writing: Even though there are two worlds in this book, the magical Fae and the non magical Severon, I still found myself enchanted by it. Even though description of the city were somewhat scarce, I still felt like I had a good picture in my mind. The city I conjured up in my head was vibrant, artistic, and filled with life. Even though there wasn’t much description, I still got a sense of what the author was trying to convey.

I also felt a similar way about Fae- even though general descriptions of the world itself were scarce, I was still able to build up an interesting picture in my head. I read a lot of Fae novels, and I was nervous that this one’s world wouldn’t be original, but I was pleasantly surprised by the unique beings, customs, and the spin on the classic “Queen Mab”.

I also thought it was really interesting to read about the poster stealing. There’s so many ways to make income for a thief living in poverty in the city, and each book takes a different approach- thieves might steal gold, wallets, or artifacts, but in this book, it’s posters. At first I was quite skeptical- how would one make any money off of a poster? They’re not that hard to steal. But again, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that posters were, in fact, not easy to steal. Poster stealing is a difficult thing to master- one must steal the poster out in the open without getting caught, and manage to bring it back to the collector who pays based off of the poster’s condition and its artist. I thought this concept was unique, and I enjoyed reading about it.

The plot of this book really starts to unfold when the owner of the business depicted on the poster Sybil and Esme have stolen finds them selling it. After inviting them to her club, The Absinthe Underground, she provides an opportunity- steal something from Queen Mab and she’ll make them rich beyond their wildest dreams.

Here is when we really learn just how different Sybil and Esme are- Sybil is an adventurous artist, and Esme is quiet and gentle, preferring to stay away from danger and tinker with clocks. I really enjoyed the two’s contrasting personalities and how it influenced their interactions. The two both have intriguing backstories that the author does a nice job placing seeds of information about- we’re provided with a hint at one of their backstories, and it always leads to new wonders and questions. However, sometimes I felt like the information was dropped too soon or too suddenly- I felt that it could have been saved for a more important scene.

While this book held such a nice concept and potential, unfortunately, it fell a little short for me. The characters I found to be a bit shallow, and I had a hard time connecting with and relating to them. They’re likable, sure, but they weren’t very fleshed out. I also felt the same about the plot. It was decent, I just don’t think it was executed quite right. It held my attention and kept me intrigued, but some elements felt disorganized and unrealistic. I also found the book at times to be a bit predictable- however, I was not able to predict the plot twist.

Well, that’s not entirely true. I definitely sensed it coming, and I got half of the concept. When the twist was revealed, I was glad to be surprised, because I definitely hadn’t predicted that happening!

Unfortunately, the characters and the plot weren’t the only things that fell a little flat for me. The romance did, too. I understand that it’s a slow burn, but I feel like there was hardly any build up. We start the book with them pining for each other, but it doesn’t really go deeper than that. They both originally had feelings for each other, and they didn’t really build as the story went on. It basically went from “I want you, but we’re just friends” to “I have you, now we’re lovers”.

I did enjoy this book, but sadly, it just felt really loose to me. The plot, the magic system, the world building… I guess that’s a personal preference, but loose stories aren’t for me. However, this was such a cozy read, and if you’re looking for something chill and fun, I would really recommend this book.

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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

While the concept of this book sounded intriguing, I was ultimately disappointed. The pacing dragged on for a while, until a very fast climax. Most of the book was spent preparing for the heist, then they were in faerieland for a short time before a hasty conclusion. I would've really liked to see more of their time in the faerie world, and some of the whimsy and magic that the cover and description promised. Though the concepts of the characters had potential, ultimately they were not fleshed out, neither did their relationship have much chemistry. Normally I love slowburns but this one didn't have me hooked. However, I do think the author has potential as it was a cool concept, it just wasn't executed well.

Thank you to Peachtree and NetGalley for the ARC!

The Absinthe Underground had the perfect mix of things to attract me: it’s set in the Belle Époque, it features art nouveau for the cover and inside the story, and tells the story of a sapphic young couple in what promises to be an intense and fantastical setting.

Unfortunately, all these things that could have made for an absolutely amazing novel are held back by a narration that has several flaws, the main one of them being that it tells a lot and shows very little.

Sybil and Esme are two characters that the author tries very hard to differentiate. Sybil is meant to be an adventurous and carefree artist, while Esme is more careful, shier, calmer. The contraposition of their characteristics should have made for interesting dialogues and romance, but they had very little chemistry beyond the author telling us over and over how much they were into each other and lusted after one another in their respective trains of thought. They were also terribly naïve in several occasions for people who are barely scraping by and supplementing their income with thievery. Where are those street smarts?!

The worldbuilding and plot felt quite bare-bones for how many promising things there were in the premise. The author set the story in an interesting city with so much to draw from, but it was barely exploited and the predictable plot did not make up for it in twists and mystery. The narration felt clunky at times and the dialogues needed some more polishing. Furthermore, despite the author’s clear attempt at differentiating the main characters, their narrative voices felt so similar it is actually very hard to tell whose chapter it is.

I also could not get past the fact that it makes absinthe look desirable and ‘aesthetic’ when the age of the characters and the simplistic style make it seem clearly aimed at an underage audience.

I really regret needing to write this review because I was ready to absolutely love the book, but it was a letdown. I genuinely think it could have been SO much better if the author had spent some more months polishing it, because there were some really cool ideas in there.

I highly disliked the relationship from the beginning. Two people pining ridiculously over each other is mostly just frustrating and didn’t seem worth it.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Absinthe Underground by Jamie Pacton is a YA Sapphic romantic fantasy taking place in a version of 1890s Paris that is impacted by the fae realm. Sybil is a half-fae daughter of a duke living with Esme, an orphan who has many cats. The pair have strong romantic feelings for each other but have not acted on those feelings. While out hunting for posters to sell to pay for rent, the two are confronted by Maeve, a green fairy who wants them to steal the crown jewels of the Moonshadow fae kingdom so she can return home.

The Absinthe Underground moves at a fairly brisk pace, reading more like a novella to me despite its page length. The references to Parisian culture such as Alphonse Mucha, the club scene, the posters, and absinthe, all add texture that help the setting feel grounded despite the fantastical elements of a fae realm and fairies. I liked how Esme and Sybil are both quite sure of each other but are afraid to voice their feelings and I appreciated Esme having many cats with names like Oliver and Jean-Francois.

I would recommend this to readers looking for historical fantasy, readers looking for a portal fantasy where the portal is only part of the story, and readers looking for a sweet Sapphic fantasy.

3.5!!
Thank you NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was such a sweet fantasy story with sapphic romance elements that despite being high stakes at parts, felt like a cozy hug through the entire book.

THE STORY: the pacing felt a bit inconsistent at times, like the build up was very slow and then the climax felt like it was over so fast, but I did feel like it hooked me from the start. I loved the little plot twists in the story and how everything was connected and revealed I felt like it was such a satisfying resolution, even though some things were definitely left unanswered. THAT ENDING OMG it was everything I wanted and needed for the characters. I hope there will be a second book or maybe even a series because I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS WORLD. The setting based on Belle Epoque Paris was absolutely captivating

CHARACTERS: I fell in love with Sybil and Esme so so fast. They are kind, loving, but flawed and vulnerable women who have had to learn resilience and strength their whole life, sometimes even being maybe too independent and guarded. Their friendship and the development of their relationship was so beautiful and as a woman in a sapphic relationship myself I saw myself and my experiences in these characters so much. I just want to learn more about them and see them grow together. Lucien was also a lovely side character filled with mystery that I grew to love.

TROPES: sapphic romance, friends to lovers, thieving and heist, fae magic, black cat MC/ orange cat MC

I absolutely could not put this book down from the first page onward! Lush, dreamy, and absolutely beautifully built, this world is one I would gladly vacation in any time. Pacton always does such a wonderful job of hitting me right in the feels, and Absinthe Underground was no exception. Perfect for anyone who loves fantasy, historical worlds so richly built they pull you in and feel real, sapphic pining, or art. I can't wait to recommend this to teen readers at the library where I work!

Moulin Rouge meets the Fae world, and make it Sapphic.

Sybil and Esme are just trying to scrape by in a world that knew of magic and lost the way. Sybil, however, is half Fae. When she and Esme get hired by the green fairy (yes, THAT green fairy), they have to find a way to steal jewels from Queen Mab.

I loved the way real history inspired this story. Esme and Sybil were fun to read about, and I really liked how the Fae world was woven into the story. And I'm glad no cats were harmed in the making of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My only complaint about this book is that it isn't longer! Jamie Pacton created such a cozy fantasy world to set this adorable sapphic love story in. I loved all the little nods to late 19th century and early 20th century history combined with some of the more fantastical elements of fae and dragons.

Esme and Sibyl's relationship is also SO cute and believable! I don't see a lot of friends to lovers novels out there, and this one did such a good job of creating that shift. I also enjoyed their differences as characters and how they were such distinct yet cohesive personalities.

I am glad to see that The Vermillion Emporium (another book by Jamie Pacton) is set in the same universe, and because this book was so wonderful, I will definitely be adding that one to my TBR list. Also this cover is GORGEOUS and I am very much looking forward to adding a physical copy of this book to my own little library!

Publication date: 6 Feb 2024

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC of this book. This book was an entertaining YA read, but I was disappointed at the lack of complexity in writing and character development. On the surface, this book is a sapphic, art nouveau, fantasy story with fae and fast paced heists. I enjoyed the type of fae and fae world in this book (reminiscent of the fae in Holly Black’s books). Unfortunately, I felt a lot of the plot and romance were not fully fleshed, and I struggled to become fully immersed in the story. I felt it could be much longer without the story dragging. The romance itself felt a bit too underdeveloped for the age of characters and the complexity/ adult nature of the other conflicts in the story.

Overall, I thought this was a cute story! Some parts of the story picked up more than others, but I think the general plot was interesting and the main characters were likeable. I liked the heist concept woven with the fae realm. That was unique and fun! I also appreciated the queer rep. My only negative was that when the pacing would lull slightly, it took me a bit to get back into the story. However, I would get pulled back in and enjoy what I was reading. If you like YA heist, fae, or queer book vibes, I think this one is a good choice!

A richly crafted queer friends to lovers YA romantasy… I loved the decadence in the descriptions and the characters’ journeys.
It does read fairly young- but not in a bad way. Just worth noting bc “YA” is pretty broad.
Will definitely read more in n this series and from this author.

This magical heist is a cozy, quick read with an adorable sapphic, friends-to-lovers romance and larger than life characters and settings that sets its scene between dreamy 19th century Paris and a fantastical fae realm.

Overall I found this book to be extremely charming. The author does a great job developing a unique setting in Severon. In the first few chapters I found myself imagining a lush mix between Moulin Rouge and Hugo. Additionally, I thought the budding romance between the main characters Sybil and Esme to be a cute take of a classic, sapphic, slow burn romance between friends who are afraid to cross that line between friends and something more.

While this book was a quick and easy read, I found the plot and character development to be lacking. Many of the characters that I would've liked to see fully fleshed out often lacked motivation making it difficult to relate and root for them. I wanted to know more about what was driving them and what had happened to them prior to the events of the story but many of these details were missing making the characters feel one dimensional.

The plot twists in the novel were predictable and the main development of the story ultimately fell flat for me as the antagonist of the story felt cartoonish with motivations that were underdeveloped.

At times this book felt confused about its own audience. The writing style felt appropriate for a young adult audience but the subject matter and dialogue teetered on the edge between too mature for a ya audience yet too immature for an adult audience.

Overall I enjoyed my time with this book as it was a fun and quick read with vivid imagery but it is not a story that I imagine I will be thinking about long after.

Thank you netgalley for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review

Home—especially with Sybil there—was Esme’s favorite place.


Soft soft soft soft soft soft soft soft this whole book was just so soft I could end my review here. But I'll do it properly.

This book has fae (not in a triggering way for those like me who avoid such books because of the mind control part) it has dragons (only a little) it has mutual pining. SO MUCH MUTUAL PINING. Sybil and Esme are so so so sweet and cute together and their love for each other was so heartwarming!

I loved how cozy the book was. It was kinda like reading from the pov of a sidekick I feel like you'd only understand once you read it but it was a bit low stakes and just felt cottage core.

“I’d be happier if I were at home, reading a book.”


because it was always better to have a book than not have one.


I really loved how the two characters are so different. You have esme who just wants to be at home, read her books, take care of her cats and drink tea and then you have sybil who's always looking for something to give her an adrenaline rush. Together though, they'd do literally anything for each other. I find that very beautiful 😭

There was just something irresistible about Sybil’s dimples, the way she laughed, and her eagerness for the world; it made desire coil in Esme, insistent and unfamiliar.


They're so so sweet. They had me kicking my feet with the amount of longing they have for each other and the small bits of flirting they dare do.

My whole review right now is just CUTE CUTE CUTE. Pick it up if you want something lovely and cozy to have fun with!

This was such a fun and fast paced read that I enjoyed immensely. The setting was probably my favorite- from the amazing speakeasy vibes to Fae, the worlds were incredible.

Esme and Sybil are adorable. I enjoyed how their relationship evolved and how they really trusted each other.

But I really hope to be back in this world because I need answers though!

A case it's not the book, it's me. I just couldn't get into it but the premise is intriguing so hopefully one day I'll give it another try

While the premise of this story is very intriguing, the writing lacked in some aspects. The overall story is fun but I feel like it would've been better with some more pages. We don't see the mcs fall for each other as that happened prior to the story.

The magic element is very fun and whimsical. I wouldn't say it's a high stake story but it leans more towards cozy fantasy. The sapphic element is done very well!

I did quite enjoy this story and I'm curious to see how the author will improve over time!

A sapphic historical fantasy/heist billed as “Moulin Rouge meets Holly Black”??? Of course I had to pick this up! And this cover? Probably one of my favorites— I’d love to own this as a poster or something. So stunning!

Now as for the story itself, this was a fun lil lighthearted ride! Definitely one to read more for the romance than the action itself. I love Sybil and Esme’s relationship and their dynamic as a whole. They are so perfect for each other, even when Sybil gets them into loads of trouble. The stakes themselves aren’t particularly high. It feels like problems get solved almost right away without any sort of suspense though that being said, I still had an overall good time and I hope others do too when this comes out!

A cute cozy fantasy!! The vibes were immaculate and I loved the imagery when they entered faerie. While I thoroughly enjoyed the concept (sapphic friends to lovers take on a heist that brings them to faerie), it fell somewhat flat. The story began strongly, but the heist was rushed with no plot twists, problems they encountered were underwhelming, and all solved in an unsurprising manner, making it feel like there weren’t any real stakes. You’re telling me they were able to just walk into a museum, set off a distraction, grab what they came for, and run out?

The magic system was severely underdeveloped (Sybil is half fae and the only thing she can do is enter faerie?), to the point where I wondered when she was going to have her powers uncovered to save the day. This would’ve also made it a grander reveal to Esme that she was half fae, and an introduction to her family history. This secret from Esme actually held no weight, which is surprising considering they are supposed to be best friends. In actuality, they had no banter, and the only way you knew they were falling for one another was the internal dialogue saying “I love her/I want to be more than friends/what if I kissed her.” I want YEARNING!!

A smaller gripe, the author takes time introducing two new characters in faerie, but leaves their plot completely undone. This may be for the opportunity to write a sequel, but their ending seems to go against Sybil’s character.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐


Overall Review (spoilers)

I honestly keep going back between three stars and four stars on this. It was a really cute sapphic heist book with fae themes. However, the book doesn’t deliver what it promised. We were suppose to get a heist, more time in the fae Absinthe Underground, and more sapphic romance. But honestly, we barely got to see any of the Absinthe Underground, the fae world was not explored nor discussed enough, and the heist didn’t feel like a heist so much as a poorly put together plot. This book was cute, and I love the relationship between Ez and Sybil. But I do not feel like the marketing lived up to what the book actually is. If the book was advertised better I would have 100% given it four stars, but I do feel like I was misled.

That being said, you should still give this book a chance. The relationship between Ez and Sybil is cute and the slow burn of it was adorable. The fae world, what little we see, leaves you wanting to explore more. And honestly though the heist was no Six of Crows, it was still charmingly poorly planned out. If you want a fun light-hearted book, I recommend this.

Plot Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Genre: fiction, mystery, heist, ya, sapphic

Trigger Warnings: blood