Rating: 4.75 out of 5

I really enjoyed Silvercloak! This was an immersive fantasy that was combination of Harry Potter wizarding with the gangsters of These Violent Delights. Filled with morally grey characters, this is certainly a story I will be recommending to my friends.

I found the magic system quite compelling: spellcasting requires pleasure to generate magical quantity, and pain for quality. It's honestly very creative, and adds the cost of emotion to power used in different scenes. I also appreciated the FMC’s bold stance on themes like religious freedom and the rejection of genocide. These are of course such basic things to support but in this day, some things do need to be said in plain and simple terms.

The protagonist is 27 (yes, over the 25-mark!), giving the story a slightly more mature perspective than your typical "chosen one" arc. I think the greatest aspect of the story was the emphasis on moral ambiguity. Saffron has gone in with intentions but with time, she starts to learn that there are certain things that she’s willing to do that could in fact be “villanous,” The ending (and that epilogue) have me desperate for book two. and I can’t wait to see how dark the story gets!

An original gritty fantasy with bold magic and emotional depth, though not without a few bumps along the way.

Saffron isn’t chasing glory she’s out for revenge. Getting into the elite Silvercloak academy is just step one in her plan to take down the gang that shattered her life. But when her cover begins to crack, she’s not punished she’s given a mission: infiltrate the very people she came to destroy.

The magic system is a real highlight and a fresh take on wand based magic by having it powered by pleasure or pain. It’s immersive and deeply embedded in the world’s emotional and social dynamics. Even better there are multiple classes of magic each adding flavour and complexity to the world building.

Saff is a compelling protagonist: morally grey, driven and constantly forced to question her own limits. Her dynamic with Levan is another strong point what begins as friction turns into something slow-burning and full of reluctant tension.

The setting is rich in corruption where every bit of power demands a price and trust is dangerous. The writing blends grit and vulnerability well, and the ending lands with a punch.

That said, the story does lean a bit YA in tone for an adult fantasy, especially in the character dynamics and pacing. Some of Saff’s experiences, especially involving the Bloodmoon, felt a little too easy given the threat they’re built up to be. A few twists were predictable, which softened the impact of certain moments.

Still, despite those drawbacks the emotional stakes and unique world kept me engaged. If you’re into morally complex fantasy with dangerous magic, layered relationships and characters caught between vengeance and purpose this one’s worth picking up.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Del Rey, Random House Worlds and Inklore for the eARC.

Actual Rating: 3.75

I really hope the finished copy has maps because the world is so interesting, and I think being able to see it laid out, both as a world map and as a city map would elevate it immensely. The two-sided coin of magic being generated (or refilled to be more accurate) by pleasure and powered-up by pain was such a great way to put a magnifying glass on our characters, like how far are you willing to go? What will you embrace or resist? What pain will you take vs self-inflict vs avoid? And I liked that Stevens made a point to say that “pleasure” didn’t just mean sex (though there was a dramatic focus on sex both by the MC and the society she inhabits, which was kind of weird and made me wonder a lot about prostitution laws and age restrictions and asexual people or traumatized SA victims in this sex-fueled lifestyle).

One thing that really got me (in a negative way) was just how often Saffron TELLS us that she’s cold, calculating, keeps quiet, and thinks on her feet. We don’t see that pretty much ever, so it rang false consistently. She’s always on the verge of panic and making rash and poorly thought out decisions. And while yes she is living in an elevated state of danger through most of the story, she is not coming from a place of comfort beforehand. And with how casually magic is bandied about she quite simply is not organized enough to have escaped her whole life without people knowing her secret. There’s just no way.

But if I ignored that and focused more on the bigger picture, I will be honest I had a great time.

Thank you to Inklore/Del Rey and Netgalley for providing me with a copy for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Silvercloak is a gritty, dark fantasy set in a world where the amount of magic that one has available is based on pleasure and indulgence, but the potency of that magic is based on pain and grief. The former has shaped the society that the main character has grown up in and spent years dedicating herself to become one of the elite Silvercloaks–an lawful and investigative entity in the city.

I wasn’t entirely sure what I was in for when I began this book; I was fully expecting a romantasy, maybe a bit darker than usual. However, the depth of the characters (ALL of them) in this novel was such a surprise. There are no simple good vs evil battles here–only a demonstration of how a character can walk the knife’s edge of what they consider their moral line to be… and what will push them over it. It repeatedly makes the reader question who they are rooting for and why, who they can trust, and what they would do if faced with the same choices.

All too often, the description of “enemies to lovers” in books falls so flat to me. At best, I find it’s usually mild dislike to insta love, which makes it a bit difficult to get fully invested in the romance, at least for me. Furthermore, I have found that I’ve been getting more and more bored with “spice” in romance fantasy. Not that I don’t enjoy a good smut scene, but it has lately felt so forced it makes me cringe and skip it. This book was so refreshing on both counts.

First, these are TRULY enemies to lovers (and then maybe back and forth again a few times). You can see why the FMC would find the MMC compelling while simultaneously being repelled by her feelings. To the second point, I didn’t find the spice boring because it was feelings-forward rather than sex-forward. Like I said, I enjoy a good smut scene as much as the next reader, but sex devoid of feeling and emotional investment in a romance setting always feels so hollow. This is one of the first books in a while where I didn’t feel bored or want to skip those scenes. They felt important and they were.
If you’re in the mood for a dark, complicated, emotional fantasy with high stakes, you won’t be disappointed. The pacing was excellent and I flew right through this book after being grabbed by the first few pages. The worst part? Now I have to wait for book 2!

Laura Steven has knocked it out of the park again.
A solid 4 stars. I enjoyed the the magic system, I thought it was easy and uncomplicated which was a nice change to the super heavy and complex fantasy’s going around at the moment. It was a classic enemies to lovers to enemies… to lovers? And this kept me reading wanting them to develop more. I found this wasn’t too much either as it didn’t overcome the whole story. We follow Saff who watched her parents murder at the age of six and vows to take down the people who ordered their murder. She ends up undercover working for the kingpin who did this…
The story was well written, pacing was good, and the romance was intriguing. Would recommend and I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy!

really fun and high-drama book throughout, though at points i felt like it had a hair too little of the drama? 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

Tons of potential + a unique concept + interesting world.

This would be a great choice or those that aren’t picky about repetitiveness, or a book that leans a little into the tell not show.

I was very excited for this book, perhaps too excited? Expectations can really impact how I feel about a book and my expectations for this one were through the roof. I was certain this was going to be THE fantasy. It is a unique world and such a cool concept. In the end this fell flat for me.

I think it’s important for me to point out that I did enjoy a number of aspects of this book.

The number one issue I had with this book, and the main reason for this being a miss was the hand-holding, over-explanation, repeated phrases, and the constant reminders of plot-points. These are things I expect in a YA book, young readers often need a little reminder, clearer foreshadowing, etc. As an adult I do not.

The hand-holding and over explanation tends feels a lot like tell not show, but the thing is, the author is doing a decent job of showing, unfortunately she follows up that “show” with a detailed explanation of exactly what the character meant.

Lines similar to these were constant….. “Saffron scanned the room for threats and exit points, as was deeply engrained in her by the academy” — We really don’t need the explanation of why she scans the room, at this point the author has established that Saff is well trained — we can reasonably assume she’s scanning the room bc of her training, as scanning a room is pretty standard behavior for someone with military or police training. The over explanation bogs down the writing - bloating it in places it doesn’t need it.

There were also lots of instances where exactly phrasing and lines were repeated within pages of each other.

Sigh… I’m off on a tangent.

As for the world building, it feels rich in terms of atmosphere but it also felt like it lacked in details that were actually relevant to the world. Perhaps this is a case of me already being frustrated with the bloated prose, but I found myself so uninterested in the world building.

What’s to love…
- unique world + magic
- lush world-building + atmospheric
- queer-normative + sex positive world
- Morally grey characters
- forbidden love
- characters with depth

What’s not to love…
- In addition to the tangent above?
- This was a bit predictable for me.
- Everything felt insanely easy considering our FMC makes some ridiculously disastrous choices for someone who is so well trained.

🌶️ - This is adult, explicit scenes included, but also this whole book is about pleasure and pain. Don't pick this up if you're uncomfortable with a sex positive world.

I’ve seen Silvercloak described as “Harry Potter for adults,” but since I’ve never read or watched HP (yep, I said it!), this felt like a totally fresh magical world — and I was hooked.

This book has everything I love in a fantasy: a complex, morally grey MMC (Levan, I’m looking at you 👀), true enemies-to-lovers tension, rich world-building, and way more gore than I expected. It’s dark, gritty, and emotional, but also fun and fast-paced. I flew through it.

Levan is one of those characters you want to unravel. He’s layered, secretive, and impossible to pin down. The writing is strong, the pacing sharp, and the story has real depth under the magic and mayhem.

Absolutely recommend this if you like your fantasy with a darker edge and a bit of emotional chaos. I cannot wait for book two!

Thanks to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group – Del Rey, Random House Worlds, and Inklore for the eARC.

4.5 ⭐️’s

Adult Harry Potter meets A Darker Shade of Magic… Laura, did you write this book for me?!

This has magic, wands, cloaks, mystery, but also sex, drugs, and violence. Everything we needed in the first adult fantasy novel from this author.
It’s Silvercloaks vs Bloodmoons, and I’d brand myself a bloodmoon just for the hot, brooding, emotionally damaged MMC.
We love an enemies to lovers to… trope, especially when the stakes are high and their fates are so intricately intertwined.

Highly recommend for anyone who is a fan of books like A Darker Shade of Magic, The Magicians, The Shepherd King Duology, Metal Slinger, Quicksilver, and anyone who loved Harry Potter but wants something more adult. Oh, and how could I forget that my fellow Dr. Who fans who love fantasy… give this book a try :)

This is a MUST READ and with that cliffhanger and the mess Saff got herself into, I NEED THE NEXT BOOK ALREADY!

Thank you so much Laura Steven and Del Rey for gifting me the opportunity to experience Laura’s art with this ARC <3

Book Review

This book had me hooked from the start! The chemistry between the characters was electric for most of the story, and I especially appreciated the strong, capable female lead. The pacing and flow were excellent—smooth transitions and well-balanced scenes kept the pages turning effortlessly. And the twists at the end? Chef’s kiss! Totally unexpected and incredibly satisfying.

One scene near the end, though—the cell scene just before the NSFW moment—felt like a missed opportunity. I expected the lead to be more actively brainstorming ways to help him rather than shifting focus to shopping for herself. It created a slight disconnect in her otherwise consistent character, especially given how invested she had seemed up to that point.

Also, fair warning: Book 2 isn’t out yet… and I need to know what happens next! 😅

All in all, a great read with compelling characters, a gripping plot, and a lead worth rooting for. Highly recommend—with a dash of patience for the sequel.

⸻

I was ready to give this book 4 or 5 stars right until that ending. It had everything I could possibly want in an epic fantasy romance, from bi for bi m/f romantic leads to a fascinating magic system, but that ending just killed me and not in a way that made me want to keep reading in the series.

Ever since her parents were slaughtered when she was a child by Bloodmoons seeking a necromancer, Saffron has sought revenge against the secretive criminal gang. In this world magic relies on pleasure or pain as a power source, which plays out in interesting ways. But Saffron is immune to magic, a dangerous secret. She joins the Silvercloaks, this universe's magic wielding police force. When her ability is discovered, she is tapped to go undercover with the Bloodmoons and get close to the kingpin's son. She had a vision during an Academy test that she would kiss and kill him.

At first I really loved the two of them together and the slow burn simmering tension as Saffron falls in love with Levan, a complicated, cruel man who also found solace in the same dragon novels she loved as a child and has a fallowwolf as a pet. I loved how she was shown to be bi without cheating on an established relationship. She also had a love affair with another Silvercloak named Nissa before Levan.

And in theory I love the idea of enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers ad nauseum. Luckily this isn't one of those so-called romances where the love interest dies at the end. But it's Saffron's ability to use a time-bending magic called Timeweaving that lost me. If you can rewind time to any time that you want then it becomes an annoying deus ex machina device to me.

So I was very disappointed that this was a miss for me. The writing was good, I just couldn't stand that ending.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I absolutely devoured this book! I loved the character development of Saffron and the slow burn, enemies to lovers romance elements with Laven. I thought the magic being replenished by love or pain was very interesting and something I have not seen before. The turmoil of Saffrons emotions between love, prophecy and avenging her parents really kept me engrossed in the book and wondering what choices she would make next. I really enjoyed the different magical elements and talents described in the book and felt the world building was fantastic and easy to imagine. I am really excited to see where this story may go next and am eager for a second book!

Dark, immersive, and utterly addictive, Silvercloak is a stunning fantasy debut that masterfully blends high-stakes intrigue, morally gray characters, Review: Silvercloak by L.K. Steven
Published by Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey
Release date: July 29, 2025. 4.5/5⭐️

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore, and NetGalley for my Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of Silvercloak. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to read and review this novel early. All opinions below are my own.

I’ll be honest: I devoured Silvercloak. I wasn’t just reading it—I was living it. There’s a specific kind of magic when a book grabs you by the collar and refuses to let go, and that’s exactly what happened here. The story was gripping, the world dark and dangerous, and the characters complex and flawed in all the best ways. When I first read the blurb—magic fueled by pain and pleasure, a morally grey detective infiltrating a brutal gang of mages—I knew I needed this book. What I didn’t expect was for it to consume my entire weekend.

Let’s start with the setup. Twenty years ago, Saffron Killoran’s idyllic childhood ended when her parents were murdered by the infamous Bloodmoons gang. That moment defines her entire life. Now a young woman, Saffron has dedicated herself to one goal: revenge. She lies her way into Silvercloak Academy, the elite training ground for detectives in her city, so she can gain the skills and position to one day bring the Bloodmoons down. But her deception is exposed—and instead of being expelled, she’s recruited to go undercover within the Bloodmoons themselves.

It’s a brutal, high-stakes mission. One wrong move could cost her life. And as Saff descends into a world where pleasure and pain are literal currencies used to fuel magic, her mission becomes even more complicated by her growing connection to Levan—the tortured son of the Bloodmoon kingpin—and a prophecy that foretells his death at her hands.

That’s the premise. Now here’s why this book worked so damn well for me.

First and foremost: the magic system. Fantasy readers are spoiled for choice these days, and it takes a lot to impress me when it comes to world-building. L.K. Steven delivers one of the freshest and most intriguing systems I’ve read in a long time. Magic in this world is channeled through a wand and fueled by wells of personal energy that can only be replenished through pleasure or pain. It’s not just a gimmick—it shapes the culture, the economy, even the relationships between characters. Some use brothels and pain houses to top off their wells; others resort to self-harm or seek out combat. There’s a constant, simmering tension as characters manage this need, and it adds a raw, visceral edge to both the magic and the world.

And no, this isn’t some thin excuse for shoehorning in spice. While there are a few explicit scenes, the system is thoughtfully integrated into the plot. The way characters approach their magic tells you a lot about who they are, what they value, and what they fear. It makes for a world that feels truly lived-in, dangerous, and morally murky.

Speaking of moral murkiness, this book excels in portraying characters who live in the grey. Saffron is a brilliant example. She’s driven by vengeance, but her mission forces her into acts she never thought herself capable of. I loved her internal conflict—the constant push-pull between her desire for justice and the compromises she has to make to survive. She’s sharp, capable, reckless at times, but painfully human. There are moments where you’ll cheer for her and others where you’ll want to shake her. That’s how a protagonist should be.

Then there’s Levan. I wasn’t sure about him at first. Early on, he’s the epitome of a dark prince archetype: powerful, dangerous, seemingly untouchable. But Steven slowly peels back the layers. Levan’s trapped in his father’s empire, burdened by impossible expectations and haunted by trauma. His relationship with Saff is a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers done right. There’s tension, mistrust, and an ever-present awareness of the knife’s edge they’re both walking. Watching their dynamic evolve was one of the highlights of the book for me.

And no, this romance doesn’t take over the story. It enhances it. The stakes are always personal but never small. The bond between Saff and Levan complicates their choices without softening the danger around them. When these two finally come together, it means something because we’ve seen the full weight of what they’re risking.

Another standout element is the world-building. Steven gives us a city steeped in corruption, a place where detectives and criminals operate within a fragile, bloody ecosystem. The details are vivid—pleasure and pain houses lining the streets, underground networks of smugglers and spies, rival gangs vying for dominance. There’s a sense of history and depth here that makes every scene feel grounded. The author resists the urge to info-dump; instead, the world unfolds naturally as the story progresses.

I especially appreciated how Silvercloak handled issues of queerness and gender. This is a world where sexuality is fluid and queernormative, and it’s presented without fanfare or forced commentary. Characters of all genders and orientations populate the story naturally, and the culture reflects this. It’s refreshing, and it adds another layer of richness to the setting.

That said, this is not a perfect book—and it wouldn’t be an honest review if I pretended otherwise.

The first 20% is dense. The world-building is strong, but it takes time to orient yourself in the setting and magic system. I almost put the book down at the start—not because it was bad, but because I felt a little overwhelmed by all the new terms, names, and concepts. If you’re a reader who struggles with heavy front-loaded world-building, be prepared to push through the first few chapters. I promise it’s worth it.

Some readers may also find the tone uneven. This book straddles the line between dark fantasy and romantasy. At times, it leans hard into gritty crime thriller vibes—graphic violence, gang politics, brutal moral choices. Other moments feel more like classic fantasy romance, with swoon-worthy banter and longing glances. I personally loved this blend, but I understand why it might feel jarring to some. If you’re expecting one pure genre or the other, be aware that Silvercloak refuses to pick a lane—and that’s part of its charm.

I also had minor quibbles with the pacing toward the end. The last 20% barrels forward with huge revelations and action-packed sequences, some of which felt a little rushed. Certain character decisions—without spoiling anything—also felt like they were written more to set up the sequel than to serve the current arc. But honestly? When the rest of the book is this compelling, I’ll forgive a few rushed beats.

What I absolutely won’t forget is that ending. Holy hell. Steven knows how to deliver a gut punch. The final pages left me gasping—not because the twist was unpredictable (in fact, the book foreshadows it beautifully), but because it lands with emotional weight. The fallout from Saff’s choices is going to be massive, and I cannot wait to see how the next installment picks up these threads. The setup for book two is masterful. If you’re the kind of reader who loves high-stakes betrayals and emotional cliffhangers, this one delivers.

Before I wrap this up, I want to give a nod to the physical edition of Silvercloak. The ARC didn’t include the finished hardcover design, but the publisher’s note about teal stained edges, a designed case stamp, and full-color endpaper maps has me drooling already. This is going to be one of those books you want to display on your shelf.

To sum up: Silvercloak is an addictive, morally complex fantasy that manages to balance action, romance, and sharp world-building without losing its edge. The magic system alone is worth the price of admission, but it’s the characters—messy, flawed, heartbreakingly human—that will stay with you. If you’re a fan of books like A Darker Shade of Magic, The Bone Season, or even Throne of Glass (with more bite), you’re going to eat this up. Just brace yourself for the emotional rollercoaster.

I’m beyond excited to see where L.K. Steven takes us next. Book two of The Silvercloak Saga can’t come soon enough.

And again, thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore, and NetGalley for the ARC. It was a genuine privilege to read this one early. I’ll be shouting about it to every fantasy reader I know.

Silvercloak by L. K. Steven is a captivating fantasy novel that blends rich world-building, heartfelt character development, and a plot full of mystery, magic, and self-discovery. From the first page, Steven draws you into a world that feels both mythic and emotionally real, with prose that is lyrical without being overwrought, and pacing that keeps the story moving without sacrificing nuance.

I LOVED Our infinite fates so I was so pleased to see this coming out by the same author and wow, this is so good.
The first in a trilogy, the story follows Saffron, an orphaned mage and obsessive detective for the Silvercloaks who infiltrates an organised crime gang called the blood moons to avenge her murdered parents.
The world building and spell casting was done to perfection with magic fuelled by pleasure and pain. The plot was gripping and thrilling with lots of twists that surprised me-could not put it down! But the best thing about this was the characterisation. Such multi-layered characters who you go on a nail biting journey with. A slow burn, enemies to lovers romance too which was done really well.


Really enjoyed. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC to review.

What a fun yet dark read. I felt like I was back in the Potter world for adults without the guilt that Potter brings right now. The mafia side of this was great. Revenge plots are my favorite!

Firstly, thank you NetGalley for a free eARC of this in return for my honest opinion.

Laura Steven has written an incredible book, first in the series and I was hooked from the first few pages. The magic in this is fantastic and I particularly loved that to fill your magical well, it could be by pleasure or pain! The world building is descriptive and beautifully written.

Now on to the FMC, Saffron, fabulous character with flaws, will do whatever she has to do to avenge her parents death when she was 6, including lying to get into the Silver cloaks, when her lies unravel she has the chance to redeem herself by going undercover in the bloodmoons, enter the main MMC, Levan, hard and nerdy at the same time.

This is one of the best books I have read this year and can’t wait for the next in series.

A very unique world and magic system. Fate, prophecies, wands and secrets. A detective story set in a fantasy world where magic is fuelled by pleasure and pain.
The premise is so unique and I had a great time reading it. There is a lot happening though, and to so many characters that you definitely need to keep up. A good imagination comes in handy for filling in the details that you don't get, as explaining every spell, introducing every character every time they return and other situation where there is a lot going on.
I read this over two months time, so I was definitely a little bit lost sometimes, but in the end I don't feel like I missed anything and I still had a great time reading it.
The ending was so good, and I am very excited to read the next book!

This book was not for me, I wished I didn't finish it as I could't care less because it was so slow and boring. It could have been so good because I was so sure from reading the synopses that I would absolutely love this book but I just didn't. I loved the other work of Laura Steven but this was just not it.
I would say that I love seeing a bit more unique words in the romantasies like these and I hope we'll get that more and more instead of fae and basic fantasy castles/woods stories.

when i saw the synopsis for this book i was so intrigued and as soon as i properly started it i got pulled in pretty fast. there was a few nights i even stayed up till 2am to carry on reading this book.

i think the magic system of pleasure and pain was unique and i hadn’t ever really read a book with that in so i really enjoyed that aspect i think it would be nice to have it maybe flashed out a little bit more as sometimes i got a little confused about what the spells were but it also didn’t bother me too much.

i really liked the fmc and mmc and the relationship between the two i appreciate that it actually took them a while to admit things for each other but even then it still ended up flipping and turning and it not being straight forward at all also special mention to rasso he is the bestest boy (wolf) :’)

i really enjoyed this book and i will definitely be looking forward to the other books in the series !


thank you to the laura/l.k. steven and publishers for sending me this arc