This book felt real meh to me. It started off excellent with such an intriguing first chapter. It made you want to learn so much more about this magic system and who Shan was. Unfortunately, the rest of the book fell so flat. There was so little world building. We never really got the explanation of why some are blood workers and why some are not. How it works. Where did it come from? Why is there an eternal king? Has anyone else figured out how to be eternal? Why do other countries ban blood working?

There is way too much telling and not showing. Samuel all of the sudden was able to perfectly use his magic that he has stifled his entire life. Shan is some amazing spymaster but is really kind of dumb. And we never got an explanation of how Shan became the Sparrow. I would’ve loved to learn more of that backstory and how she developed this intricate network of birds.

I had zero connection with any of these characters. I really didn’t care what happened to them. And I’m sorry but I absolutely hated the romance. I don’t like poly romance, ok? This triangle was torturous. Complete insta love. And while we could have learned more about these murders and delved deeper into the world and what was going on we got to read about angst and bad kissing scenes. Ugh.

If it hadn’t been an ARC I would have DNFd around 60%.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was so much fun! I loved the representation, plot, story, and world. Also, the characters feel so reminiscent to Avatar the Last Airbender except in a world of cutthroat vampire politics, and it was a good time.

Mistress of Lies by K.M. Enright is a debut dark fantasy novel that promises much with its intriguing premise but ultimately falls short in execution. While the book offers a captivating blend of poly romance and political intrigue, it struggles with pacing and depth, leaving readers wanting more in several critical areas.

The story kicks off with a dramatic and promising start: a patricide committed by one of the main characters, Shan. This sets the stage for what could have been a thrilling tale of revenge, power struggles, and complex relationships. However, the momentum established in the opening chapter quickly wanes as the narrative progresses.

The worldbuilding in Mistress of Lies is rich and atmospheric, drawing on familiar vampire tropes but presenting them in a unique and engaging way. The setting is intricately crafted, with vivid descriptions of blood magic and a society steeped in political machinations. Yet, despite the promising backdrop, the execution falters when it comes to character development and plot progression.

Shan, the central figure, is described as a brilliant spymaster, but her actions often contradict this portrayal. Her supposed brilliance is overshadowed by questionable decisions and a lack of substantial demonstration of her strategic prowess. Similarly, Samuel, another key character, undergoes a power progression that feels unearned and largely happens off-page, detracting from the believability of his journey.

The romance subplot, involving Shan, Samuel, and another character, Isaac, offers representation and potential for high tension. However, the relationship development feels rushed and lacks the necessary build-up to be convincing. The chemistry between the characters is inconsistent, resulting in a romantic dynamic that fails to fully engage the reader.

One of the most significant issues with Mistress of Lies is its tendency to tell rather than show. Critical plot developments and character insights are often conveyed through exposition rather than being woven naturally into the narrative. This approach leads to a disjointed reading experience, with key elements of the story feeling underdeveloped and superficial.

Despite these shortcomings, the novel does have its strengths. The themes of secrets and the moral ambiguity of the characters are compelling, and the visceral descriptions of blood magic add a dark and intriguing layer to the story. The book's exploration of messy family dynamics and morally grey protagonists provides depth and complexity, even if not fully realized.

This was a fascinating secondary world take on vampires. I love the character chemistry (not Shan going "why not both" 乁༼☯‿☯✿༽ㄏ) and [slight spoiler] soft bois struggling to control their OP (cough Anden Emery cough cough) will never not be my favorite trope.

dnf @ 13%. i tried to hard to at least make it to 25% but i just can’t do it. shan is insufferable—stop telling me how she’s good at everything! half of her characterization early on contradicts itself because the author needed her to be too many things. even in just the first bit, the writing is incredibly repetitive too. at least blood magic is cool.

Short Review

While interesting and full of good representation, it ultimately lacked propulsion. It relied too much on exposition and info dumping for my taste. If a character pulled out a cigarette, we’d get three paragraphs about their personal history with cigarettes before the scene could continue. I was skimming by the second half.

Long Review

This story takes place in an interesting world with a unique take on vampirism wherein some people, who are called Blood Workers, can tap into magical abilities by consuming blood. On the other end of the spectrum are the Unblooded, or regular humans who are used and oppressed by the ruling Blood Workers. We follow multiple characters as they navigate both political machinations and a string of mysterious murders.

One of the characters’ plots is a gender-bent take on the long lost royalty trope, which I enjoyed. It was interesting to watch a man get discovered as a bastard noble, get a makeover, resist his opulent new digs, and learn to master his hidden powers. I felt this simple switch breathed new life into this kind of plot.

There was a big emphasis on the romance in this story, and yet I didn’t feel the chemistry between these characters. I only knew they were attracted to each other because the author told us so, but not because I felt it. It just never made me care.

I also felt the pacing was hit or miss. Some chapters were fast to read, and others struggled to keep my attention. By the last half, I was full on skimming because I was ready for more and it wasn’t delivering. Some things also felt too convenient.

But my biggest issue was the writing style. There was so much telling instead of showing – it felt like the book was almost entirely exposition with a side of description. It especially avoided describing feelings; as in, how feelings manifest in the body. So it never really immersed me. There was little discovery for me to do, because everything was just explained to me. I always have some leeway for this in fantasy, because obviously the book has to onboard us to the world. But that tolerance usually wears out by halfway.

I would recommend this to fans of vampires and fantasy with trans representation, and anyone who doesn't mind expository writing style.

Thanks to Netgalley and Orbit for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Mistress of Lies was one of the most unique takes on vampires that I’ve read in a long time. It follows Shan, a Blood Worker from a noble but disgraced family and Samuel, an Unblooded with a power he’s desperate to keep hidden. Shan, Samuel, and the King’s Royal Blood Worker come together to try and solve a series of murders while dealing with civil unrest. I loved the dual POV and underlying politics of this book, and the romance was top-tier without being too spicy. I’m definitely looking forward to the sequel!

The Mistress of Lies is the debut from author KM Enright.

Political intrigue, polyamorous relationship, queer representation, danger, death, and seduction.
Asian representation, trans acknowledgement, poly relationships, absolutely stunning prose that make you want to weep.

Look, I’m not asking for a lot but when a book gives me so much amazing content, opulence, interesting plot, spin on the vampire genre, and a golden retriever character? A badass femme fatale main lead?

I need at least 10 more stories in this world. The world building was so rich, and the suspense put my heart into a frantic mess— especially the end. I love it when a books ending shocks me and makes me want to read more and this one did just that!

This story was fresh, inviting and dangerous. It was everything I wanted to devour this summer.
I totally recommend this book. This is first in the series and I am looking forward to more!

At face value, this book isn't really something that I would typically pick up. But I was intrigued enough by the MMF description and that there is a trans MC that I really wanted to give it a try! It's much darker than most things I read but I honestly really enjoyed it!

There's politics, intrigue, a murder mystery, blood magic, morally grey characters, and quite a bit of violence. It leans younger (MCs in their early 20s) but certainly isn't YA. I typically get annoyed at younger character's naivety and that wasn't a HUGE issue for me here, thankfully. I loved the queer normative world.

I did find the narrative choice to only have 2 POVs very interesting for a poly book - I was wondering if there was some reason for that and I won't spoil it, but there definitely is a reason! I was just really intrigued by how everything in this book would turn out - I knew it was the start to a series so though the pacing felt slower at times, I accepted it. It doesn't end on a crazy cliffhanger, though I'm definitely super interested to read what happens next!

Thank you to Orbit for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was so incredibly excited for this book the second I found out about the plot and saw the stunning cover. Pseudo vampires, murder mystery, and in-depth politics all wrapped in a lush dark fantasy setting? Sign me up immediately.

Unfortunately, it fell a bit flat for me. I find the bones of this book amazing! The magic system was there. The messy, lusty poly relationship was there. A powerful and cunning main female character was there. But none of these things were fully fleshed out in my opinion. Let's break down Shan, our main female character.

Shan is portrayed as being cunning, doing anything to help her brother and secure her place in society. She kills her father in the very first chapter, saving Anton, her Unblooded twin, from their father's abuse. Her end goal is to topple the Eternal King and create a better society in the process. She has a vast spy network that all reports to her, only knowing her as Sparrow. But as the story progresses, I really began to doubt Shan's 'prowess' in the political arena she's found herself. Her plan to change the country feels deeply selfish. She champions slow change and is generally incredibly apathetic to the Unblooded's struggles. This is where her relationship with Anton really falls apart. She is very over baring, assuming that everything she does will automatically benefit him and make him feel grateful to her. She completely disregrads all of his concerns because he 'doesn't see the big picture'. Even when she discovers how deep the corruption goes in the country, her plan never changes. She also allows herself to be cowed into proposing a controversial bill that another Lord created and forced upon her. Her internal thoughts tells us over and over again that she has to do this to gain political favor. Which is perhaps true, but it makes her feel really weak. Also, her entire Sparrow persona feels so shallow and weak. She supposedly has spies everywhere, always listening. Despite all that, people seem to usually have the drop on her. This is petty, but Shan doesn't even wear a mask, relaying solely on a different outfits to disguise her.

Samuel is our main male character and I find him the far more interesting of our two POVs. He is suddenly thrust into high society after living as an Unblooded his whole life after Shan exposes his true identity. I find his slow descent into excepting his power pretty well done. He has a healthy distrust of Shan, who has taken him under her wing to help him fit into his new world, but eventually starts to develop feelings for her. I find their chemistry really lacking though. In one chapter the author is emphasizing their emotional connection, in the next one it seems that the only attraction between them is physical and both were shallow.

While we don't get a POV from him, I would say that Isaac is my favorite character. He is mysterious, powerful, and effortlessly charming. He comes into the story with lots of history with Shan, their relationship rocky but undeniable. Isaac spends hours with Samuel in order to train him, which spirals into so much delicious tension. Isaac was everything I wish Shan was, morally grey and ruthless.

Now to move a bit onto the writing itself. I found the middle of this book super slow and really struggled to get to the last 15% when the plot really picks back up. While I can't say there was any filler, I just found a lot of it a bit dull. I also found the actual writing very repetitive. There were lots of times where a character would say something, then their internal thoughts would explain the same thing again. It was both telling and showing.

Overall, I think that that K. M. Enright has set up a good start to a series. But there are several things that need to ironed out and cleaned up to make it great.

OBSESSED, OUTRAGED, SLIGHTLY CONFUSED AND COMPLETELY ADDICTED❗️❗️❗️❗️
This story is filled with political intrigue, morally grey characters, messy family drama, and a dark intricately built world! I’ve found it very hard to find books that to political intrigue well but this one was phenomenally done!

I have conflicting feelings about this one. While I throughly enjoyed the storyline, the magic system, and the majority of the characters, I will admit some things fell a tad flat for me. I think greater explanation into the specifics of the magic system would have been quite useful because there were times when I really wish we had more information about what the majority of blood working can do. additionally, I will admit that I think the villainous characters in the end were a little bit one dimensional and not exactly convincing in some cases. Overall, though I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to the sequel.

Interesting book from a new author. The main cast of characters include Shan: a mistress of lies, spies and magic desperate to create change in her realm through manipulation and outright murder. Samuel is another character with a deep secret and it isn't his bastard status or his hate for the ruling class. The third member has even deeper secrets, Issac is the right hand man of the king of this realm and madly infatuated with Samuel and Shan. But that's okay because the feelings are mutual between all three of them. In between the possible romances between our three is a murder mystery, a terrifying king and a society on the verge of destruction. It is a beautiful book with vibrant characters, beautiful settings and a fascinating magical system. It contains multiple LGBTQAI love interests and love scenes which may turn some people off from reading it. I found it fascinating and a very well written novel. I look forward to it's sequel.

Vampires are SO back and they are returning in full force with K.M. Enright's Mistress of Lies. This book was equal parts dark, equal parts delicious. The plot and premise were absolutely delightful to read, but the characters were really lacking in this book. Try as I might to content to the characters and really root for them and understand where they were coming from emotionally with their motivations, I felt like there was always a disconnect between me and them. This might be because of pacing but I also felt like the information was given to me in a very odd way. I think this book has series potential, though, so I can see the story continuing and being fleshed out better in the next book.

This debut dark romantic fantasy had so many of my buzzwords that I couldn't not request it on NetGalley (or preorder it because I mean have you seen that cover?!). There's blood magic, a serial killer, a villainous heroine on a revenge quest, polyamory, and it's written by a trans Filipino-American author. This book had the potential to be a favorite of the year, and while it wasn't quite that I do think it had a lot of potential and I am so intrigued to see where the rest of this series goes.

I think most of my issues with this book stem from it being a debut. There are some pacing issues, specifically there were some plot beats that felt like they were barely touched on before moving on to the next thing and I would have loved to see more of those developments on page rather than fast forwarding through it. That being said, I really liked this book.

The story is alternately told from the perspectives of Shan and Samuel, who are the daughter of a disgraced Blood Worker with Plans for revenge and a bastard heir who stumbles into a game of politics he is completely unprepared for. I loved both of them so much. They are both very driven and complex. I also loved seeing how they interacted with the non POV characters and I would have loved to see even more of them. Shan's twin brother is Unblooded (nonmagical) and I loved seeing their relationship throughout the story because it's clear that while Shan loves and cares about her brother, she does not understand him. Shan's brother's lover, Bart, works with Shan as part of her information network, which I wanted to see more of. And then there's Isaac. Oh Isaac. He was a childhood friend of Shan's until he was promoted to the king's Royal Blood Worker and when he ends up back in Shan's life, there are Feelings. I love him.

This world is really cool. Thematically, the exploration of "othering" and systematic oppression doesn't feel new but it still feels relevant and I liked the take Enright had on those themes. I loved the casual transness of Isaac and the way he was able to use his magic to transition. Also the commentary on inequality there because Isaac is able to do this because of his status where Unblooded/nonmagical people wouldn't have the same access to healthcare.

I think as a whole, I just wanted more. There were so many fascinating plot elements that I just think we weren't able to spend enough time on that I hope to see more of in later books in this trilogy.

I had the pleasure of reviewing this book through an E-ARC and it was a fun ride. Loved the world building and characters and can't wait to see where the story goes next. Very interesting take on vampires and what makes someone a monster.

A truly dark novel, this was everything one looks in vampire fiction and more. The characters were really loathsome and their deeds will make your head spin. The prose was wonderful, like a rich and dark chocolate cake. The only complaint is that the pacing felt quite a bit slow to me and the book would have benefitted from being a little shorter.

Wow! This is exactly what I look for in a dark fantasy! The world building was immaculate, the politics were well executed and every single betrayal was scrumptious. I already need the next book in this series

Tiene mucho potencial, espero que en los siguientes libros se explote y no se quede a medias como este.



Me encantó lo inteligente y calculadora que fue Shan. Su problema fue que le faltó más ambición y mejores planes.




Spoilers ⚠️
No me gustó el romance con su triángulo amoroso que al final uno se queda sin saber que está pasando.



Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

this was such a delight. When I got the email I was approved for this arc, I was SO EXCITED. everything about the packaging of this book drew me in: the cover, and the premise which sounded so interesting.

the book lived up to my hopes, and I am so excited to know it’s not a standalone! it was dark and twisty, and so beautifully written. hats off to K.M Enright for creating such a rich world, detailed and explored characters, all wrapped in a lush plot that kept me turning each page eagerly. I loved the dynamic between Shan, Samuel and Isaac and cannot wait for book two.