4/5⭐
2/5🌶️

Khiara Hargrove is a Cerise. These people are killed because they are feared. On her quest to seek revenge for what has been done to her family, her friend Ezra ends up in a dungeon. The only way she can help him get out is through participating in the Culling (think the selection).

I flew through this book not only because it was short, but because there was never a dull moment. All the characters were highly likeable and there were 2 love interests. I was rooting for Bash in the beginning but Riot quickly found his way to my heart with his charming ways. Khiara is a badass & I can't wait to see who Khiara ends up with. This book ended on a cliffhanger & there are questions that are left unanswered. I'm eagerly anticipating book #2.

Thank you netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Firstly thank you to NetGalley and Baileybbooks LLC for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I literally finished this book and I’m still internally screaming. I was hooked from the first page.

I’ve always enjoyed morally grey hero’s and our FMC character is deeply interesting. Our male leads are shrouded in mystery and the overall story is very much a tale of lies, betrayal and magic. The best way I can explain it is The Selection meets Serpent and Dove meets from Blood and Ash.

It’s face paced, has plenty of romance and found family and is super faced paced so you don’t get bored. Word of warning it’s a cliffhanger!

I cannot wait for book 2!

The first part of the book was a bit dragging for me to read but I read through because the premise was enticing enough to continue and it picked up after a while.

Most of at times I got confused, khiara constantly took a long time to get to the point and explain properly. points were forgotten completely. Like Tarrish? What happened to not knowing there was a whole town in the forbidden forest everyone has been warned away from? Why were no questions being asked?

And khiara was hyped up to be a skill assassin but we saw nothing really there is a whole gap and all she did was talk with no actions to back up. And from the start we have been told about how the king is an evil tyrant who has been hunting redheads and if they we caught on spot they would be killed heck they had killed whole villages for it, that she had to hide her hair usually yet she waltz into the king’s castle with her hair down and mouth off like he hasn’t dedicated his whole life to purge redheads? It doesn’t make sense.

I liked the relationship between the characters, and the magic which I hope would be expanded in the next book. I adore Khiara’s relationship with Riot, he acted like he didn’t care but he was quite attentive, thoughtful and protective.

I’m not a big fan of love triangles but I thought the connection between khiara and Riot’s was much intense than bash from the start, They had something between them whiles I wished the author had build up their relationship more before they got intimate. It’s probably because the scenes with bash were quite few because of his duty but either I still loved bash, he was charming and often made me smiled but I don’t see a potential between him and Khiara. I hope they become good friends though.

Now that cliffhanger, I remember thinking I don’t think I would want to continue this series but now I’m attached. I need to know more of this world and what’s going happen next. I hope she takes her time with this.

Thank you netgalley, the publisher and the author for giving me this opportunity.

I was unimpressed with this first as a fantasy novel, and then as a structured novel over all. I made notes as I read specifically to not forget to bring up any here.

My first complaint is the way the plot unfolds. We are introduced to our protagonist as she moves in to make a kill. She's portrayed as some kind of assassin/revenge killer, this would be a great opening except that's all it is: an opening. This is never returned to, are there really no consequences to these actions? And from there, various plot point jumps are made with no explanation. For instance, discovering Tarrish in one night - only to be across the country (?) in the capital to enter some sort of royal selection process which apparently is a huge deal and not even alluded to until over 30% through. Some plot points clearly needed to happen to move the story along, but using "a strange pull" that has no follow up explanation is not a particularly strong device.

Continuing from my previous point, there is no explanation to the geography of this world - the Forbidden Forest receives a lot of page time towards the start, only to have no significance whatsoever. Her uncle's estate is described as being from the far westerly lands, but at no point is there any extended travel.

Then some of my complaints get more specific: I personally don't know how to feel about seeing the words "hype" or "landfill" in my fantasy books, but perhaps that's me relying on a more specific register. I did feel that it took away a little from the reading experience though.

Was not impressed with the (minimal) spicy scenes in this. With all the love in the world, I have read better fanfiction - it was not in keeping with the style of the rest of the novel, our protagonist's character, and I don't feel it added to the novel. Linked to this is the cursed description of her assaulter's penis (!) right at the start of the novel, and the repeated descriptions or references to the protagonist's breasts. Was not at all convinced.

Lastly, the set-up of our love triangle-ish plotline was also not convincing. The prince kisses her after she has just been throwing her guts up, and then the guard kisses her to shock her out of a panic attack that she's having because of how she's been touched by another man - I refuse to believe that is what we want to be reading. I also feel that at that point in the story, I hadn't even realised we were portraying the guard as a love interest, so that was quite a jump!

I feel I've been really critical of this novel but I was raising my eyebrows in disbelief at every page. Clearly there is a spark of an idea here, which is lovely, but this was not a well-executed story.

absolutely loved this book i was hooked from the very beginning it was well written and the plot was so good i really loved the characters and the magic system in this was done really well i left a review on goodreads and storygraph

I DNF’d this book. Whilst the concept is promising, it could do with another couple of rounds with an editor. I did feel like I was reading something self published that needs more development.

The MC is, quite literally, a serial killer on a revenge spree. I would have loved the author to lean into that way more. Instead she feels more like an anxious teen in her thoughts and insecurities. We are told she ‘isn’t evil’ a lot instead of the reader being allowed to make their own judgement. I love a good morally grey character but the MC of this book felt like an incredibly generic romance protagonist, despite some qualities that should have made her stand out. It felt like there was a lot of untapped potential for a really interesting female lead here.

The prose is quite clunky. Unfortunately the actual writing is quite difficult to get through. It’s first person, and a lot of internal rambling and tangents happen in the main character’s head. So much of the prose could do with another once over from the author to streamline it and cut out any unnecessary details. There were also a few lines that genuinely made me cringe, such as the MC referring to her breasts as her ‘overflowing girls.’

There were a lot of plot points that felt like an easy fix to me as well. The MC is being persecuted for having red hair and can’t go out in public much because of this. Why doesn’t she just dye it? Or stain it? Even though it’s a medieval setting there has to be some solution to this that doesn’t include rubbing dust in her hair. The magic system was undefined and I felt very confused about what her actual powers were and how they worked.

The current state of the book feels more like a draft to me and I feel like it could do with some more work before being released. I do think it has some potential, it just hasn’t been realised yet.

The description of this book doesn't begin to cover all the excitement the story covers. The main character Khiara has a traumatic past and book begins with her trying to kill off the last perp on her list. Things go wrong when she and her best friend get exposed to some mood altering substance / magic and are saved by a mysterious solider. In order for Khiara to save her friend she must use her family's connections to join a big bride auction at the castle. Plus there is a slow burn love triangle AND a magician network in hiding AND poison AND magical creatures. It ends with a giant cliff hanger

While a lot happens in the book is also is super quick. I wish the book could have gone a little deeper into some story lines instead of making it all into one book. Because of the big cliff hanger I will want to read the next one, but I'm worried that too much will happen in the next one too. Besides the murdering that almost occurs in the first few chapters, it reads more like YA. I hope there is a lot more spice in the next segments.

thank you netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I’m rating this 4 stars!

It was fast paced, gripping and a wonderful read!

The characters and this world are amazing, I just fell in love with it all.

The premise sounded so unique and interesting to me, and I was not let down, especially in the second half of this book, the pace really picks up.

And the ending left me needing the next book immediately!!

The start was a bit confusing for me; but once I got past that aspect I really enjoyed this story. The main character is relatable and strong willed. I really loved her. The twists were excellent and the writing was nice!

5 STARS ALWAYS! This story is something else! Everyone needs to read this at least once. Love the author, the plot twists, the story of itself!

The Cerise was such an enjoyable read and I just cannot resist books about witches! The characters are well developed and you find yourself feeling invested in their lives. The magic system was well explained and easy to understand and the author does a fantastic job with describing settings and even clothing, one of my favorite things is to imagine the beautifully intricate designs characters are wearing.

The premise of the story is that the female main character, Khiara, is on a mission to kill all of the soldiers that were responsible for killer her mother and brother and while on the mission to kill the final man, whose actions the author describes really make you understand what brought Khiara to this moment, things go awry. The situation leads her with no choice but to enter the culling, a contest that aims to find the future Queen, to help her finish her mission.

You meet Riot and Bash as the story progresses and a love triangle forms. I'm not one to normally enjoy love triangles, however this one leaves you with so many questions wondering if either of these two are trustworthy. The story leaves you wanting more and I cannot wait to see where Khiara's story takes her in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and author Bailey Black for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

"I had a plan. Find the soldier who killed my family and make him pay. It should have been an easy feat. I’d done it over a dozen times, taking out each member of that regiment one by one, but the mission went sideways. It all started with the man in the woods. The one my webs of magic couldn’t sense even when he stood before me. Then my partner made a mistake, and now he’s lying in one of the Crown’s dungeons fighting for his life. I couldn’t leave him to die, but I couldn’t just walk into the castle either.

Or maybe I could.

With the help of some unexpected allies, I entered the Culling—a one-in-a-lifetime chance to become queen. I have no interest in winning the prince’s heart or the crown. My only goal is to get into the castle, find my friend, and get out before someone realizes I’m a Cerise.

But when the welcome ball turns from a grand event into a nightmarish dance of death, all eyes are on me. As if that’s not bad enough, the soldier, the one who took my family, he’s here."

I devoured this book in one sitting. It has the Ruined by Amy Tintera vibes. I love reading this. I can't wait for the next one.

i really thought i'd like this book because the synopsis sounded interesting and right up my alley, but unfortunately this story fell flat for me. i was confused throughout the entirety of the book and wished some things were explained more clearly. khiara, the main character, went back and forth with her thoughts and actions so much that they were often contradictory. i liked the cliffhanger the book ended on and i am curious to see how the next book will continue, but this one was a bit disappointing.

thank you netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

After a confusing start, this story quickly became an exciting action/adventure.
Khiara is a Cerise. Gifted with the ability to create fire from within, she is hunted for her red hair (I know, weird, hey?) and is determined to kill the soldiers who killed her family. This leads her into a compromising position where her best friend, Ezra, tricks her with a love curse that backfires in the worst way.
This book has a lot of promise but suffers from choppy scenes and leaves readers hanging with a cliffhanger the size of Mount Everest.

Fast paced fantasy romance. A witch in a world where everyone, including family, want to kill witches. . Particularly those who are Ceries, a type of witch hunted most drastically, of which our main girl is.
The first chunk of the book is world building, though not tedious. It really picks up around the 37% mark and just speeds through it seems, and before you're know it, it is over!! I am going to need the next book ASAP.
This book being 221 pages of story is too little. There is so much covered in such a short space of time, the book could've done being around 400 pages to get us into the world and events more comfortably. I did enjoy it nonetheless, but, more would've been great to fully explore the characters, world, and situation more.

I do recommend this book, and again, I'm excited for the next one!

Read this book if you like:
⤷ a witch in a world where magic is illegal
⤷ a rescue mission
⤷ a touch of enemies to lovers
⤷ a revenge mission
⤷ he falls first she falls harder
⤷ 2 love interests (neither reverse harem nor love triangle)
— genre’s: fantasy and romance

Thank you to NetGalley for the Advanced Copy of The Cerise. This review is my honest opinion.

The main character, Khiara is a Cerise, or a witch. The story is fast paced, mile a minute, non-stop action that grabs you in the first chapter and demands that you finish it in under 24 hours. Like other reviewers, once I started I couldn’t put it down. All 3 of the main characters, Khiara, Bash and Riot are well developed, likable and interesting. There is everything you could want in a story: Magic, World Building, Political Intrigue, Love Triangles and Deception.

The downsides: The story has excellent “bones” but sometimes I felt like things were glossed over and hurried. This book could have easily been 500 pages and still action packed. I found myself wishing some things were detailed a little better, like Khiara’s relationship with Ezra. There were some minor typos in my copy, which distracted and broke the magic of the story.

Trigger warning: This book deals with sexual assault and issues of non-consent. I don’t feel like this is a spoiler, but it is important to note there is also an instance the main character’s free will may have been tampered with. I will say I felt like the author handled both topics tastefully and with sensitivity. There are also instances where male characters strike female characters, which may be objectionable to some readers. Again, it was done with care by the author and the book did not contain gratuitous violence. I didn’t feel like any of these issues detracted from the book or were disrespectful to victims, but each reader will need to use their own judgement here.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The writing and world building was spot on, but it did leave LOTS of unanswered questions. I don’t know if it was on purpose and will be addressed in subsequent books or if they were an oversight by the author- time will tell. It also ends on a MAJOR cliff hanger- which doesn’t bother me, but you may not feel the same way.

All in all, a good way to spend a sunny afternoon on the back porch.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
⊹ ࣪ ˖ <b>3.5 stars</b>



: ̗̀➛ <i>”blood was the key to it all. it cursed, it cured, but not without cost.”</i>



THE CLIFFHANGER?? the romance in this book was perfect oh my goodness. i loved this book! thank you to net-galley for giving me a copy to read and review.



: ̗̀➛ <i>”you, little bird, are quite the creature.”</i>



₊ ⊹.𖥔 ݁ ˖ <b>my thoughts.</b> i enjoyed this way more than i expected i would! the only thing i’d say is it was quite slow to begin with but after that it’s super fast paced. the romance in this book is a love triangle, and to be honest i’m not the biggest fan of love triangles but i think this was done very well. this book does touch on some dark subjects so i’d definitely look up the TWS if you’re thinking of reading this. some parts could be quite triggering to some. the ending of this book was shocking, i cannot wait for the next book to see what happens! i also loved how unique this magic system was and it was a very nice read.



: ̗̀➛ <i>”stars above, you’re beautiful.”</i>




₊ ⊹.𖥔 ݁ ˖ <b>characters.</b>

.˚₊<b>khiara</b>
: ̗̀➛ khiara was such a badass. i loved her. she’s such a strong character despite everything she’s been through and i admire it. she doesn’t let anyone disrespect her and i love it. khiara is honestly one of my favorite fmc’s i’ve read about.


.˚₊<b>bash</b>
: ̗̀➛ i’m not quite sure how i feel about the name bash personally, it feels like a bit of a random name but maybe the author had her reasons. i liked him at the beginning, and i mean i guess i still kinda like him now but he just didn’t really do it for me. i love how he saved khiara and i did find him very charming and likeable throughout the book. the one thing that threw me off a bit was how he allowed the other girls to say such rude things to khiara.


.˚₊<b>riot</b>
: ̗̀➛ again with the names, i have never heard anyone in real life called riot but i guess it is a fantasy book. i LOVED riot, at first i wasn’t so sure on him but he definitely grew on me. the way he cooked for khiara and was by her side 80% of the book was so cute. i hope him and khiara are endgame. at the start of the book i didn’t even think he’d be a love interest, let alone my fav!!

Bamboozled! 3.5 stars
At the beginning, I thought okay this is the romantic relationship - mysterious, powerful guy meets pretty, badass girl on a revenge mission, you know how this story goes.
1 + 1 = 2 and the how we get there is what will matter since this world is likely to throw some curveballs with her powers and the moving revenge plot.
Nope, wrong - Khiara really is out here with a line of suitors like she is giving out roses.
At some point, I was thinking so are we doing this relationship or no because we do not have a lot of time to get this together and turns out, we took a hard left. 1 + 1 does not = 2 but also, all the doors are open so maybe it still does!
We got a triangle and a locked up best friend with feelings all ending with a cliffhanger. I can tell you; I was not expecting it to pack this punch but now I am very intrigued to see where this goes!
*Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review*

The main character is a cerise which is basically a witch. Determined to seek revenge on the people who killed her family. She’s sidetracked when a friend is in danger. It was hard to get into in the beginning. sometimes it was confusing. Maybe I missed something but I’m not sure how Ezra got from the red room to the healers house. I like the concept and the whole thing is very creative and imaginative. I liked it and I will be reading the other books.

Khiara lives in a world where the color of her hair, makes her a target for the king's soldiers. Her vivid red hair marks her as a Cerise, a witch. Having lost her family to a cruel soldier, Khiara is on a mission to kill that soldier - and all the soldiers in his regiment. Her vengeance is sidetracked as her best friend becomes cursed. A kind stranger offers help and healing - but her friend needs to go to the palace healer. On a mission to now save her friend, she enters the Culling - think of like the bachelor - for the prince's hand in the marriage. I have a hard time with this story line because it jumps all over the place, I feel its an issue of too many ideas in a story under 300 pages. Also a lot of plot lines left unresolved or just unaddressed. I will also say it has some love triangle aspects which I personally don't like, not my cup of tea, I usually avoid the trope. Ends on a cliffhanger. I do think it has some interesting ideas and concepts, just wish the story would have focused in and given time to evolve those concepts.