Thanks for my early copy. All thoughts are my own.

This was an interesting read. I really enjoyed the magic system and I’m a sucker for Beacon. I do feel like the love was a little too slow burning for my liking but none the less Pan and Beacon are precious.

This book was fast pace, adventurous, and the characters were easily to love. I think if you’re looking for a quick high stakes fantasy to read, you should pick this up!

3.5 rounded to 4!

Read this if you love...
💙 regency-inspired fantasy
✨ unique magic systems
👑 royal intrigue

In a kingdom with strict mage laws, Pandora Small must keep the extent of her magical abilities secret while hunting for the shadowy patron who stole her childhood. Pandora poses as an Ingenue, a noble-born young woman with limited magic who enters the royal court each season with hopes of securing an advantageous match. To keep their powers contained, the law requires that each Ingenue bind their magic to a patron who will control them. Pandora's surprising connection with a royal guard is put to the test when her fellow Ingenues start dying under suspicious circumstances.

Wow! I devoured Steel & Spellfire in a weekend. While the worldbuilding confused me at times, the earnest characters ultimately won me over. Pandora and Beacon care deeply for one another and want to do the right thing. Their quest for justice in a society bent against them kept me engaged and hopeful. Beacon was down bad for her, but still wrestled with his obligations to the guard. Their motivations felt genuine rather than contrived as can often happen in YA. Honestly, they fit together well. I also enjoyed Pandora's relationships with Imogen and Theo.

Weymouth's plotting took me by surprise (in a good way!). I initially questioned the use of dual POV but found it worked best for the story. These flawed characters are unreliable narrators, which allows for some shocking reveals. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, something unexpected would come into play.

My only gripe is how often Beacon described Pandora as small, short, or "diminutive." If I was the drinking type and took a sip every time he mentioned her height, I'd probably be in the hospital.

On a lighter note, kudos to the author for bringing back humorous chapter titles. My personal favorites were "Panic! At the Ballroom" and "Bees!". I imagine her editor got a kick out of those.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This had a promising start and didn’t really build up anywhere from there. This was boring and lackluster for such a daring and magical type of world. I dnf’d at 51% because I did not care what happened next and I didn’t want to waste any more time on this. I still think this was a great concept and will probably work for other YA fantasy lovers.

I really liked the idea of this book, but the writing style just wasn't to my taste and I found it hard to push through. Probably just a personal preference though, worth others giving it a go as they might enjoy it more!

Thank you to the publisher for sending a copy for review

Thank you @simonteen #partner for the gifted copy of this book!

I just wrapped up Steel and Spellfire and let me tell you — what a magical, heart-stealing journey this was! The moment I saw it being compared to Divine Rivals, I was already sold. Say no more, fantasy friends.

I was almost instantly swept away into this world where magic is both a blessing and a curse, and the unknown feels as thrilling as it is dangerous. In this world, an entire society is hunting down anyone born with magical gifts — and the best weapon they have? A seemingly powerless girl named Pandora, forced to team up with the fierce, loyal Beacon. But plot twist… she’s anything but powerless. And watching that secret unravel? VERY satisfying.

The romance here is soft, tender, and just the kind of wholesome connection I crave in a fantasy adventure. Beacon only has eyes for Pandora and pretty much worships the ground she walks on — swoon city. It’s perfect for younger YA readers (early teens) but sweet and endearing for us seasoned fantasy lovers too.

The writing was beautifully immersive, starting as a slow-burn that gently takes root before blossoming into a fast-paced, action packed finale. And the characters? Instantly lovable. I adored how distinct and easy to root for they all were.

This was my first read from this author and definitely won’t be my last. If you’re looking for a fantasy filled with magic, danger, soft romance, and the thrill of discovering who you’re truly meant to be — Steel and Spellfire is IT!

This captivating fantasy is equal parts court intrigue, murder mystery, and emotional journey. Pandora Small is a compelling protagonist—powerful, vulnerable, and walking a razor's edge between survival and self-discovery. The city of Valora is richly imagined, filled with secrets, danger, and a simmering tension between fear and power. The slow-burn trust between Pandora and Beacon adds emotional depth, while the murder mystery keeps the pages turning. With lush prose and a sharp narrative voice, this story delivers magic, suspense, and heart in equal measure.

Thanks to Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review

I skimmed this book quickly because I wasn't able to connect with anything. It might be a good read for others. The writing style didn't work for me.

This is said to be like Divine Rivals meets The Witch Haven and I have not had the pleasure of reading either of those books so I couldn’t make the connection. I have, however, read Heartless Hunter/The Crimson Moth and this story reminded me a bit of it due to the premise.

Mages are feared and closely governed by the lay in the city of Valoria. Pandora Smalls, aka Pan, is a mage and not just any mage but, someone whose powers are bigger than her (no pun intended cause she is several inches below 5 ft as it is mentioned consistently). She enters the royal court social season as an Ingenue with plans to sever the bond that ties her to her guardian once and for all. But, the plan gets tricky when Beacon, a member of the royal guard, discovers her true powers.

I think the story at first was great and promising but, I did find myself skimming lines to get through chapters quicker. Which was feat in itself cause the pacing in this book was rather quick too. So, I couldn’t really get behind either one of our characters that much. Beacon was a kind, wears his heart on his sleeve, awkward MMC; which I appreciated. And then we had Pandora, who was a bit spunky and a strong FMC. To be honest, the romance was insta-lovey for me, he practically worshipped the ground she walked on after one interaction and that to me was a bit off putting.

However, the magic in this story was very interesting and loved how the use of parlor tricks was made into something even more grand when Pandora would weave it.

While, I don’t think I’m necessarily the target audience for this book. I do think there are others who are and if you love royal court intrigue, murder mystery, and YA fantasy then this is the book for you.

Thank you to Simon Teen for sending me this eARC

Steel & Spellfire is a charming, fast-paced, high-stakes adventure. I fell easily into his world, its characters, and its story.

Pandora Small is a mage in a world that fears and condemns those like her, and so she keeps the extent of her magic hidden as she secretly goes on the hunt to find out a mystery of her past. Ellis Beacon is a member of the Royal Guard and he too holds his own secrets, one of which is why he immediately can detect Pandora is a mage. Law and duty would order him to turn her in, instead he joins her mission and together they hunt for hellions and truths.

This story is one well shared by both Pandora and Beacon. Both have taken up roles in society while hiding their true selves. Beacon sees Pandora for who she really is and instead of reeling from it, instead of turning her in, instead of fearing what she is, he sees the beauty in all of her, in all her strength and vulnerability. Pandora has lived her life as a lie, she is desperate to find out who her patron–her captor— is, so she can be freed from that debilitating tie. Trust not only does not come easily, it does not come at all for Pandora. And yet she finds herself easily trusting in Beacon’s earnestness, in his sincerity. They come to make a formidable team. I only wish I could have believed as easily in their romance. I think had the book been longer it would have greatly benefited in this aspect. The narrative does a lovely job in welcoming readers into the essence of who Pandora and Beacon are, and I had hoped for the same welcoming development in the romance.

I always appreciate fantasy that gets things moving at an energetic pace that keeps the pages eagerly turning. And truly, I kept engaged in this work from beginning to ending, but sometimes it felt the pace went a bit too quickly at the cost of better character development. Principally in developing the central romance. And some moments were not given the ample time to truly breathe. For example, I thought a moment of forgiveness came too easily against a moment of betrayal. And while reasons are given for it, it never felt quite earned. Nevertheless, I still found myself engaging easily with the story, and I appreciated that never once did I feel left behind.

While I may not have been the ideal target audience for this one, I believe so many will appreciate and love this story. There’s plenty of charm, intrigue, and adventure to behold.

Thank you kindly to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for this advanced complimentary copy, I leave this honest review voluntarily.

Steel & Spellfire gave me all the feels fierce magic, court drama, and a heroine who’s equal parts badass and vulnerable. Pandora’s got that “don’t mess with me” energy while still hiding layers you just want to peel back. Ellis Beacon? Total swoon material but also someone who actually makes you root for the slow-burn romance instead of rolling your eyes.

The world is dripping with secrets and tension, and the magic feels fresh and dangerous. I was hooked by the mystery and stayed for the vibes that mix of danger, desire, and a dash of snark kept me turning pages way past my bedtime. Sure, it slowed down here and there, but honestly, the characters were so compelling I didn’t even mind.

If you want fantasy that’s smart, sexy, and full of heart, this one’s a solid 4.5-star treat.

I tried really hard to like this book more but I just kept losing interest. I’m glad it is a short book and at least I got to finish it. I do think there were some elements I enjoyed that kept me going. One being pandora’s character, I found her magic interesting and mysterious. The big question of who her patron was, even though it was very obvious to me, it still kept me going to find out if I was right. Another element, I really liked Imogen, i liked the rivalry she has with Pan but this one actually surprised me by revealing how she is connected to Pan. that one I didn’t see coming. Finally, pandora with Beacon was cute. They had a cute allyship then friendship and bond. There wasn’t much romance, and I suspect that was the point, but I still enjoyed the pair.

✨ Steel & Spellfire by Laura Weymouth ✨
A Regency-inspired fantasy full of murder, magic, and forbidden romance? Say less. 💙

In a world where young women with magic are hunted, one orphaned mage infiltrates high society disguised as an Ingenue during court season. Her mission? Track down her magic-bound patron and end the curse tethering them. But when fellow Ingenues start turning up dead and a handsome palace guard decides to help pan find her patron. In this twisty fantasy things definitely get deadly.🔥

It’s bingeable, filled with plot, and surprisingly sweet in the romance department.

A pretty solid book with some great world-building along with distinctive characters to round it out.

Mages were rare in the world especially powerful mages until the day the wellspring was split open and allowed more spellfire into the world. As a consequence, mages were to be bound and not permitted to use their magic on anyone for any purpose.

Pandora is determined to break free from her patron, a shadowy figure that control the entirety of her childhood until she escaped. To do so, though, she has to present herself as nothing more than a harmless Ingenue, seeking a patron to bind herself to.

I enjoyed the twists that came with this story, how all the little pieces came together to reveal the truth in the end, and Pandora's realization that she didn't have to stand alone in her fight. Not to mention the references and some of the puns in the chapter titles that made me giggle a bit. There is plenty to explore and think about in this book when it comes down to it.

I love YA books that span multiple genres. We got romance, we got fantasy, and we also have a murder mystery! I really didn't like a choice the love interest Beacon made, but her friend/sister Imogen's character was my favorite character throughout the book. Unique and intriguing magic system.

3.5 rounded up
I always love any book that explores women being stripped of their rights and powers, and their fight to reclaim them, so I enjoyed that aspect. I did struggle a bit with the world-building, as it was a bit confusing. One other aspect I struggled with was how much it gets mentioned that Pandora is not like other girls... we get it, girl lol. Other than that, I did enjoy the story and its overall premise. Pandora and Beacon had solid chemistry and worked well together as a team. One of my favorite parts of the story was the found family, because I think Pan really needed that. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a good, standalone YA fantasy.

Steel & Shellfire is a book about a lot of things - about women traditionally having their power stolen away from them, about sisterhood, about trust and about true love. I have always been a bit lukewarm on Bridgerton, but I've been really excited how many fantasy romances have used its popularity to make pointed criticisms about the role of women in Georgian and regency London.

Pandora Hall is an Ingenue, an eligible young mage intended to offer up her magic (and her hand in marriage) to the highest bidder. When she meets Ellis Beacon, a young guard for the queen, it's love at first sight, and she quickly enlists Beacon to help her hide her magic and find her patron - someone who has been using her magic for their own ends.

There was a lot about this book I really enjoyed: I loved the relationship between Pandora and her fellow ingenues, and the sisterhood that they form (for better or worse). I loved that this was a really sweet romantic relationship, with both of them so enraptured with each other. I also wanted to hang out more with Pandora's rival Imogen, who was such a fun character.

I do think the world building was very complicated - by necessity, the book was still explaining essential elements of magic in the last third of the book, and I think that I might have missed some of the intricacies. The book also ends very abruptly, and I wish we had gotten to spend more time on the ending.

This is a fun book, especially for those who love Bridgerton or historical fantasy romance. Thanks to Simon & Schuster for the early copy.

The first chapter rubs it in your face how very not like other girls Pan is, thinking that because the character is aware of it that makes it less annoying. And maybe it would be, if it weren’t shoved in my face every other paragraph just how not like other girls Pan, who is not like other girls, is not like other girls. I am unclear if Pandora is a little person or not; she is said to be several inches under five feet, described as pocket sized, and her full name is — get this — Pandora Small.

Beacon, on the other hand, stands a full head taller than a crowd. However, their heights are never actually important, as there’s no indication there’s much of a height difference between them. All he has to do is lower his head a little to kiss her, and she never has any issues with furniture, getting into a cab, vaulting over walls. It’s just a sloppy description with no purpose other than to point out, yet again, how no like other girls Pandora Small, the smallest of all girls, is.

Other than being powerful, I have no idea who Pan is as a character. I know what she wants — to be free of the person who tortured her, forceably bonded her magic, and then began a swath of murders through the city — but I have no idea who she is as a person other than … well, generic NLOG girl. Beacon has a little more to him, being uncertain and nervous, afraid of causing harm, cautious around mages, but other than that he’s just a good guy. A little bland, maybe, but there’s more character to him.

The plot is where the book shines, the plot of a magical serial killer with Pan linked to him by the magic bond. The rivalry between Pan and the perfect Imogen is also very well done, and I enjoyed how all of that played out. The world building, with the magical monsters — Gaunts, Grims and Hellions — the magefire used by the women as an art, called parlor magic to lessen it and make it seem like nothing more than a toy as compared to a man’s actual magecraft … the way women are bonded, to control their magic, and killed if unbonded, is really fun. The author put a lot of thought into this world, how it works and how it doesn’t.

For me, personally, if there were more character work to balance out the excellent world building and plot, a little less emphasis at winking at the audience and a little more time spent to make Pan an actual character who — sure — happens to be NLOG, but is also at the same time a real girl, a real person, I would have easily given this book four stars or higher. As it is, I look forward to more works from this author because their plots and their worlds were so very well cone.

However, that’s just me. Other people may enjoy Pan as she is, and that’s fine. Thank you so much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!

I received a copy of the ARC through Netgalley.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The two MC’s are very likeable and their actions are understandable. I love the worldbuilding and the premise of how those with Spellfire are treated. The character’s motivations made sense and their fear toward discovery was palpable!

“To him, she was power, she was goodness, she was perfect control.” ✨

This book was so good that I read it within the span of two days (and probably would have finished it in one if I wasn’t so busy)! I loved the world and the magic system and the way it was woven perfectly together with the rest of the plot. This was such a great YA fantasy, but I do think that it is geared toward a younger audience compared to other YA books I’ve read. However, that doesn’t take away from how good the book was!

“Since the moment I first met you, you’ve been magic to me.” 💙

While I’m usually not a fan of the insta-love trope, I think that Beacon was more so enamored with Pandora and in awe of her from the start as opposed to in love with her right away. Then, as they partnered together and he got to know her better, he truly fell in love with her. It was beautiful to read!

I also loved that Pandora and Imogen ended up becoming friends despite Imogen originally being the “mean girl.” I loved the ending and the found family vibes with Pandora, Beacon, Imogen, and Theo and I thought the story wrapped up nicely!

“Let me be your first, and last, and foremost.”

If you love a standalone YA fantasy with a romance subplot, magic and monsters, murder mystery, and court intrigue, then be sure to check this one out! Steel and Spellfire releases on July 22!

Thank you so much to Simon Teen for an advanced copy!

This is a great book! It is action packed and full of great romance. The writing was wonderful. I highly recommend.