This was so good! This might be niche but while reading it I was thinking of my favorite Sims 4 Pack, Life and Death because of the tarot aspect and it made me love this book even more. I loved the characters, I thought they had great chemistry and interesting motives. They were fun to read about and I will be reading more from Kristin Cast in the future.

Thanks, Netgalley, for this absolute dumpster fire of an ARC.

I'm all for a "my life is super trash but I'm trying to get it sorted" character. But Hannah is not that. She's unlikable, hard to resonate with. Whiny. Until, ya know, she realizes the MMC has abs. Kane falls super flat. We get no indication of why he does anything except that he's the "protector of the realm" and it's his duty. Which is trash. The two have no notable interactions that lead to an interest in one another but oh my god there's one bed?! Wink wink eyebrow wiggle what the fuck.
This book is also marketed as tarot involved but??? The Empress does literally all the work and that's still barely anything.
I'm over it. Did I enjoy this author when I was younger? Yes. Did I enjoy her writing as an adult? Obviously not.

I was really excited and intrigued by this book based on the blurb and premise. Unfortunately, it didn't pan out at all like I was hoping.

I didn't find the FMC to be likeable or even very relatable. She was constantly letting things happen to her while sitting back and complaining about it. It seemed to read like it was trying to be a rom-com based on the amount of banter between the FMC and MMC, but I found it fell super flat.

Moreover, I found the relationship to be very one-dimensional and basic as well. The FMC is internally (and even at times verbally) insistent that she doesn't want a relationship yet she's constantly contradicting herself. Also, I'm personally very tired of overly pushy MMC's who pursue the FMC even (or sometimes especially!!!) after she's said no or that she isn't interested.

Overall I felt very disappointed by this book and genuinely like I wasted a day of reading.

The Empress had such an intriguing concept with the Tarot element which pulled me in. How unique! Hannah, the FMC, is... A lot. Stubborn, shy but outspoken at other times, and runs headfirst into situations she knows nothing about. She was a bit difficult to read at times. Kane on the other hand? Delightful. He was dark and broody but turned everything into an innuendo which I appreciate. He ramped up the tension and I love tension. The book was a fun read but I just hoped the Tarot element would be more prominent - it sort of turned into a historical romance with politics which didn't really lean on Tarot elements at all.
3.5⭐

I’m a little at a loss on how approach this review. It was a hit and a miss for me. First, it has so much potential. The story is intriguing and the main players are thoughtfully crafted—the pieces are all there. Why does it fall short ? While the foundation is there, the details get a little blurry. Concepts get confused, details aren’t defined well, characters act out of character often with almost zero explanation, and most importantly, our female lead, the true hero, missed most. She was almost what I would describe as insufferable to start the book (and I suspect is where many readers will DNF). I understand the story is about her growth and transition, but the pay off wasn’t enough for her immature and, frankly, irritating introduction. I see the heart of this book, but it almost feels like it needed more time to marinate.

This was 4 stars for me!

I absolutely loved the world building in The Empress and the premise of the plot circling around a single Tarot Card.

Hannah, our FMC, is so relatable in regard to her real world problems in the corporate world, as well as her vulgar vocabulary. Her character development was beautiful to unravel and her finding her HEA made my heart so happy.

The best part about this world is the magic system and the interconnecting realms and Doppelgängers. I would have loved to see more delving into the magic and read more of the magick in this world. I really enjoyed the characters as they were introduced, especially the side characters and their mirrors.

The MMC, Kane, was delectable and someone we'll be adding to our book boyfriends with his sly demeanor and sexual induoindos. I loved the way the FMC and MMC balanced each other but more importantly, allowed each other to grow into their utmost potential.

I highly recommend The Empress who are looking for a modern day fantasy twist.

I have always loved the arcana and how tarot cards can help us see things we may be ignoring or struggling to see. In this book, Kristin Cast takes that intuition and gives it to a young woman I think anyone can relate to. Hannah is impatient, impulsive, and best of all, witty. She faces a horrific challenge that drives her towards a different kind of answer, a tarot reading. I love that Cast wrote such a strong smart character without being afraid to let Hannah be sweet and kind. I also love Kane but that is a separate thing with far less honorable reasons! 🤫

I’ll start out by saying that I read this book in one sitting. It was a fun and easy read that didn’t leave me bored. Though, I did want to smack some sense into Hannah multiple times.

The only complaint I really have is that I wish we got more backstory for some of the characters, like Four and Ivy. They’re the two main ”villains” yet we don’t really know why they’re doing what they’re doing. The story didn’t feel as flushed out as it could have been. Otherwise, it was great

The Empress had the makings of a great fantasy romance and the beautiful cover drew me in immediately. Unfortunately, the author’s writing style was low key atrocious. The romance between Kane and Hannah was surprisingly decent and I only kept reading because of their intense chemistry. I won’t lie, their banter was kinda hot 🥵 Hannah is definitely an FMC hell bent on making sure the reader knows she’s not like other girls and the writing took me out of the story very often. Thankfully, The Empress is a quick read so I don’t feel as if I wasted any time on it. Overall, I’m not sure I’d necessarily recommend this but if you like hate reading, this is a pick for you.

Thank you Bloom, NetGalley, and the author for sending me an early copy!

1.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks, and Bloom Books for this advanced copy. You can pick up The Empress on January 7, 2025.

I just want to know what possessed me to ask for this book when I've read this author's work before and actively disliked it. SHOCKER, this one was no different. But I did read the ENTIRE book so I could justify my negative feelings with incontrovertible proof that the book is terrible. I've put my full thoughts into my Goodreads review, but let's just say if you like self-insert Outlander fan fic or dreamed about being kidnapped by a hot vaguely historical man, this might be your book. Just know what you're getting into with the rest of it.

Okay. The premise for this? Fabulous, right up my alley, and it started off okay for me, but after hearing so much about this author and this being my first, it fell…flat. It reads very YA in an adult world, and I hope we see some character growth as the series progresses. Even though this was super slow and it did let me down, I will give it one more shot in the next book, because the premise is so wonderful, I hope it can be redeemed. (Guys I dislike rating under 4 stars, but here we are 🤦🏻‍♀️)

When I first saw the cover of this book and read the synopsis, I was so excited. It was one of my most anticipated releases for this month. Unfortunately, it disappointed me. I expected more of a historical fantasy with interesting magic, especially involving the tarot cards, but instead, it was underdeveloped and felt lacking. I could not connect with any of the characters and just found myself not caring about what happened. A lot of the story and dialogue also felt very immature and cringey for what is supposed to be an adult romantasy. I think there will be fans of romantasy who will enjoy this book, it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Bloom Books for this ARC!

This was unfortunately just not a story that connected with me. The initial idea of a world based around Tarot I found super intriguing and there is a lot of potential with the characterization and everything already built into the cards, that this could have been a truly intriguing and compelling story.

But our FMC was so immature and flat, and there was no compelling force behind her story, nor the story of our MMC. He was big? Had abs? She found him sexy? That was about the extent of him. And for being in her mid-twenties or so, our FMC had the thought processes and reactions of being a pre-teen or teenager at best.

I think if this had spent a little more time in the drafting process then it could have been something great. If you're a fan of the author's works done with her mom P.C. Cast, then this might be for you.

Kristin Cast's The Empress introduces readers to the mystic and perilous world of Towerfall, where tarot cards come alive, and survival hinges on deception and unlikely alliances. While the premise promises an intriguing blend of fantasy, romance, and tarot-inspired magic, the execution is uneven, leaving this romantasy feeling more like a light, entertaining read than a memorable deep dive into a richly developed universe.

The highlight of the story lies in its creative tarot elements, which add a unique twist to the genre and serve as the backbone of Towerfall's world-building. However, while the concept is fascinating, the actual development of this magical realm feels superficial, as though it was designed to support the plot rather than be fully realized in its own right.

The protagonists, Hannah and Kane, are at the heart of the story, and their fake marriage setup injects the plot with tension and occasional humor. Kane, the morally grey and brooding warrior, shows glimmers of charm, but his character never quite transcends the archetype. Meanwhile, Hannah's modern sensibilities clash with her medieval surroundings, often in ways that feel more grating than empowering. Her character arc, while earnest, struggles to resonate, as her impulsive decisions detract from the high-stakes drama.

While The Empress doesn’t deliver the emotional depth or intricate storytelling some readers might expect, it compensates with fast-paced action, flirtatious banter, and a touch of spice that keeps the pages turning. Fans of lighter romantasies with morally ambiguous love interests and a dose of tarot mystique will likely find it enjoyable, if not groundbreaking.

Many thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books | Bloom Books for providing me this arc copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

The first few pages had me HOOKED and then it sadly went downhill from there. The description of the book had me really intrigued and I felt like the story did not match up.

The FMC felt really immature for an adult book and while I loved the MMC, things moved really quickly and I didn't really buy their connection. A few of the side characters were quite fun and there was so much potential...

I REALLY wanted to love this book and was looking forward to all of the tarot connections but unfortunately it just wasn't for me.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bloom Books for this eARC!

Unfortunately I ended up DNF-ing this book. While I wanted to experience the magick that was described in the summary, it just didn’t hit the mark for me. I love Kristin Cast and her work, but this one just…didn't meet the expectations.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bloom Books for an ARC Kindle version of "The Empress" by Kristin Cast, in exchange for a sincere review.
As a fan of time-travel romance novels and someone deeply interested in Tarot and the metaphysical, I was immediately intrigued by this book's description. The combination of time-traveling intrigue and mystical elements seemed right up my alley, and I had high hopes going in.

Unfortunately, with predictable tropes and circumstances I could see coming a mile ahead, this one didn't deliver for me.

One of my main issues was with the MFC. Her personality felt "victimy" at times. She came across as overly self-deprecating and yet also frustratingly stubborn; the later of which felt more like ignorance than strength. She'd supposedly watched period TV shows like Outlander, and so had some idea of the potential challenges ahead and the very, very real misogyny she was going to face. Instead, she completely ignored repeated warnings to temper her modern day personality and just marched on being a total harpy.

The MMC didn't fare much better. While he had the makings of an appealing hero—handsome, kind, and honorable—his personality felt underdeveloped. He lacked the spark or complexity that makes a romantic lead truly memorable. He wasn’t unlikable by any means, but he was also far from captivating.

Together, their romance felt lackluster.

I also wanted more world building and explanations behind the magics at work in this realm. It was sort of frustratingly left out.

As is usual with my 3 star ratings, it wasn't awful. I don't feel like I wasted my time reading this. There were absolutely moments that shined. I just can't call this one memorable and well-rounded.

I don’t think this was for me. While I found the premise interesting and enjoyed some things, the pacing felt uneven—some sections flew by too quickly, while others dragged, which impacted the flow of the plot. The main character was well-crafted, but a few of the side characters felt a bit underdeveloped in comparison. Also, the insta-love was something I didn’t enjoy, it looks like the relationship doesn’t have any depth at all.

This one lost me from the very beginning. It felt a little hard to follow and wasn't a keep for me. I ended up DNF'ing around 48%.

What a fun, tarot-inspired ride! Strong characters, fast-paced action, I'm hooked! Looking forward to the next books of the series.