I am ecstatic to write this review as this book has completely blown me away and become one of my top reads this year!

The prologue absolutely sucked me in. Between the drama and the slow unfolding of the magic system and world-building, I thought it was a very well written intro that hooked me as a reader very efficiently. The descriptions of the setting were rich without being overwritten.

Without giving too much away, something happens that allows us to get to know our main character and who she is very quickly and subtly. I love that through her actions we get to see the shape of who she is in a way that endears us to her immensely. Or at least, it did me.

Then we get to the love interest and I was hesitant at first as I don't always buy into the enemies to lovers trope but I must say Steven has expertly crafted their stories and chemistry in a way that I found both very real and very endearing. I love the depth that has been put into both of them and the way they come to reflect each other and fit each other like puzzle pieces.

But also the magic system and world-building was so interesting and well done! I'm not the type of reader to look too closely at magic systems in books. I like to go with the flow and take it in stride and I didn't find myself wondering why they did or didn't do it this or that way so this is just my opinion but I found it so very fun.

As if I didn't already enjoy all of these threads immensely, both the overall plot as well as the internal story of the main character captivated me from start to finish. I love a sweeping overall story that marries itself perfectly to personal plots and this did it very, very well. The style of writing was also so wonderful! I can be hesitant about first person perspectives but I found this to be very well written in that regard. We never spend too much time lingering on thoughts or set pieces. The author spends more time showing than telling and I think it was very well edited, as the pacing was concise and enjoyable.

All in all, I am so very excited to pick myself up a physical copy on release as I need this as a trophy on my shelf. My only disappoint is that now I have to wait ages for the sequel! But when it comes I'll be lined up ready to nab a copy of that as well.

Thank you so much to Del Rey and NetGalley for the E-ARC!

Do you ever need to sit and process a book? Because I had to collect my thoughts on this one.

If I'd had Saff's parents, I probably would have begun my path to revenge too, if they'd been ripped from me like that 😭. I love how single-minded Saffron is about her purpose and mission. Infiltrating the Bloodmoons is the only priority, and you feel that urgency from the jump. In a world where magic is fuelled and strengthened by pleasure and pain (which how cool is that?!), Saff is channelling all of her heartbreak and rage into taking down those who took her life as she knew it, from her.

I won't regurgitate the entire plot of the book (because we'd be here all day while I obsess over every minute detail 😅), but I will point out what I liked about it:

🖤The magical mafia element felt like a new spin on a favourite plot element of mine
🖤 The magic system felt complex but so engrossing!
🖤 The tension, the push/pull, the stabby energy between Levan and Saff 👌🏾
🖤 Saff's ability to bullshit and manoeuvre her way out of any situation (where are her notes, does she give lessons)

Also Nissa 🥵. I'm sorry, Levan, but a badass, fire-breathing, takes-no-prisoners woman will always have my entire heart!

I highly recommend this book; it is dark, so please check your triggers and let me know what you think!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey for the eArc in exchange for my unhinged thoughts!

This book had a truly intriguing premise with a detective going undercover in the magical mafia. However, the execution ultimately fell flat.

The characters were the biggest turn-off for me. One of my personal pet peeves is an author aging up characters, but failing to also age up their actions and dialogue.

The plot struggled to maintain momentum. I noticed several glaring plot holes that contradicted earlier information, which was frustrating. While the ending wasn't as disappointing as some readers found it, it still left me feeling slightly unsatisfied. My enjoyment really dropped off around the 50% mark, as the story became quite repetitive, causing me to zone out during the latter half.

The setting also left me a bit confused. There always seemed to be too much happening without adequate exploration. The magic system, which involved using pleasure and pain to replenish magical ability, was an interesting concept but felt underdeveloped and primarily served as a means for the characters being horny.

Ultimately, the writing felt juvenile, creating a jarring contrast with the dark and mature themes the book attempted to address.

3.25 🌟

I don’t think I’ve ever been so conflicted about a book in my life. 😵‍💫

I wanted to love this, I really did, but there were things that just had me struggling. I’m sat here now and I’m not sure if I enjoyed it, or stuck at it because I’m stubborn.

What I liked:

- The world building is really interesting and has a lot of potential for future books
- The magic system is really unique and I liked how it worked
- Levan was my favourite character and actually the only person I really cared about, rightly or wrongly
- The ‘twist’ and epilogue have me actually wanting to pick up the next book

What I didn’t like:

- I just don’t like Saffron. There’s a whole point of her being really clever and calculating but I didn’t see that demonstrated once
- There is a lot of information dumping at the start that I was overwhelmed with and just getting confused on, and I’m a regular fantasy reader
- The consistent repetition on certain points makes it feel a bit more YA than I’d have liked
- The book didn’t really get interesting till about halfway through so if you are prone to DNF, I’m not but most people are, you’re going to miss the good bits
- The Silvercloaks just aren’t likeable. I find myself rooting for the Bloodmoons so much more, but also I always root for the villain so this is probably a me issue 💀

I’m super grateful NetGalley, Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for the ARC and I am pretty intrigued for the series continuing. It’s just not been my favourite read of the year.

What a stunning book this was! Silvercloak may well be a fantasy book, but it just felt so different to anything I’ve read recently! First of all, I loved the backstory and the FMC’s motivation to embark upon the quest she takes herself on. Then we have the magic system, which is based on pleasure and pain, with pleasure fuelling your magic “tank” so to speak, but pain enhancing its quality. Of course, we also have the romantic aspect (and for all you spice fans, you won’t be disappointed) and to top it all off, there is queer representation. Like seriously guys, what more could you want! Easy five stars from me.

“How could he be both trustworthy and an enemy ?”

Reading Silvercloak was a delight and 5 stars is surely not enough to describe how it made me feel. I was sold by the queernormative world and the magical system based on pain and pleasure, but I loved every page, stopped breathing with every twist and was left panting, desperate to read book 2, with only two words on my lips “blo*dy h*ll” when I reached the end.
I don’t even know how to begin to review this book, and even though it took me weeks to write that, even though I took my time reading because I knew I would never experience it for the first time again, I’m still awestruck by this story.
Silvercloak is one of these books you want to write fanfiction about. Not because you want to fix it, but because the world is so big, so intricate, so intriguing, has so many possibilities that you want to get lost into it the longest time possible, no matter if the author wrote 1, 3 or 10 books about it. The magical system is so rich, there are so many peculiarities, so many surprises that blend into a coherent mix… and when you believe you understood it all, there are things to cut the grass under your feet and surprise you in the best of ways, prices for actions and magic revealing bit by bit. That’s just brilliant.
When I read Silvercloak, I WAS in the world, and –no matter how dark and twisted it is– I didn’t want to leave. That’s a complete experience, and is totally induced by the immersive writing associated with the fast pacing. So much happens here, but at the same time you can picture where you are, who the characters are, and learn all the world’s rules little by little. Honestly, that makes the journey extraordinary.
This is definitely an adult story, and in the best of ways. More than once, Sin City came to my mind, but it’s also so much more (and not just because there are wands –and more). I loved how politics and religions were mixed, and a major point in the story, and how it felt that in this book we only grazed the surface, the space for revelations and evolution so so large. It’s gloomy, sticky, deliciously decadent sometimes.
The characters are extraordinary. I’m usually not one for morally grey characters –finding them too full of toxic masculinity– but apparently if it’s L.K. Stevens who writes them, count me in. She explores the trauma, the responsibility we carry for our actions. Is it still immoral if we are doing things for a noble cause? If we act for self-preservation? What is our responsibility, our free-will if prophecies predicted our actions? I adored these questions, and Saff was the perfect embodiment. She built herself on her grief, her childhood trauma. But what happens after revenge (especially when your magic is filled by pleasure and pain)? Levan is even more interesting, but I can’t talk about him much without spoiling the story here. Because the book is full of twists and turns, and I let myself be carried away with a non-dissimulated pleasure, which is not so frequent.
I can’t non-mention the objects that are loaded with emotions and symbolism (that necklace! these stories about the childhood book!) as it speaks to me to a very deep level, or the full cast of side characters all full of nuances and who will certainly have their say later, or the “wolf” companion who probably hides a lot under his furr too.
Honestly that first book was brilliant, and I know I’ll want to dive into it (and the whole series) again and again, to discover layer after layer. Infinite stars.

Thank you to the author and DelRey for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

This one was interesting in the way it unwound. We’re thrown a bit in the deep end, and the story unfolds from there.

Although I found this slow sometimes, overall I enjoyed it. I liked how some characters were bisexual, but there was absolutely no discussion about it. It just was, and I super appreciated that element to the book.

I enjoyed how magic was refueled. There were endless ways for it to happen, and Steven explored many of them. Especially with Levan, who I can’t wait for more of. There are so many possibilities on where this storyline can go. I’m definitely looking forward to more books in this world.

I have complex feelings about this book. In general, I liked the story, but it felt so formulaic. I knew the whole plot of the book within like the first handful of chapters. Because the plot was laid out so early, it was hard for me to get into the story. I mean there were one or two surprises, but I just couldn't get engaged enough to be fully drawn into the story.

The book starts with Saffron (Saff) at the Silvercloak Academy, she's preparing for the final exam with the rest of her cohort. The first few chapters do a good job of laying the groundwork for the magic system and Saff's relationships. It also shows what Saff's magical ability, and her main advantage is she's immune to magic being cast at her. So, if someone casts a curse or hex, she has to either pretend she got injured or fool the caster somehow. Of course, she gets caught and then her lies unravel. She's then given the opportunity to be cast out so she can go deep undercover in the Bloodmoon's gang.

She goes to jail, gets out, and then starts infiltrating the gang. Of course, she gets in and is initiated pretty much immediately. She gets a terrible brand and has to murder someone. Fun! And the gang leader's son Levan is a hottie with a wolf dog pet. In the midst of all this there are two prophecies, one where Saff sees herself kiss then kill Levan, and another about Time Weavers. Time Weavers have been eradicated (supposedly) and have the magical ability to, you guessed it, manipulate time. Do you see where the story is going?

I liked the magic system and the push pull between the main characters. I thought their relationship was fun. I also loved Nissa and Saff's interactions, Nissa was a fun character, and I would have liked more interactions there or some more backstory. There was so much plot in this book that it really felt like I was getting jerked around by an improv group. Every time something would get revealed or uncovered, there was another plot thread added. Obviously, this was done to set up future books, but it just felt like too much. I would have loved if it felt like any plot point had been resolved instead of the whole book feeling like a set-up.

I probably won't continue the series, but if you like romance fantasy as a genre, you'll probably enjoy this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Del Rey for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Silvercloak by L. K. Steven offers a solid fantasy adventure with a compelling premise and a world that hints at deep history and magic. The central concept—an artifact with immense power and a steep cost—adds tension and intrigue, and the protagonist’s personal journey is handled with care. Steven’s writing is clear and often lyrical, and the story really finds its rhythm in the second half, drawing readers into a satisfying crescendo of action and emotion.

That said, the book does have a few rough edges. Some characters feel a bit underdeveloped, and a few plot beats follow familiar territory. While Silvercloak doesn’t necessarily break new ground, it still provides an enjoyable read for fantasy fans looking for a thoughtful story with heart. With a bit more polish, it could have been something truly special—but there’s definitely promise here.

While I wished so badly to love this book, unfortunately it was just a massive let down. The magic system and the world were fleshed out enough to be enjoyable, but there were just so many gaps and so many things that made me not want to read any further. How are we supposed to believe that the cruel son of the kingpin has a soft heart, just because he and Saffron like the same book series, when he throws out killing curses and severs hands like it’s nothing? Why are there literal alcoves on the streets, public STREETS, for restoring pleasure? Why is every civilian so horny here?

It’s very heavily telling us things rather than showing. The author holds our hands with every new piece of information, even when mentioning a word for a male appendage over 50% through the book. Saffron, our protagonist, has too much plot armor in some places and way too little in others. Not only that, for being trained to become a magic detective, she’s extremely stupid.

Twenty years after Saffron Killoran’s parents are killed in front of her, she’s preparing to take the final assessment to become a Silvercloak: a magic detective. Her only dream from childhood has been to bring down the Bloodcloaks, the gang who took her family away from her. But after the assessment goes awry and her immunity to spells is revealed, Saff’s Silvercloak title is wrenched away from her, and she’s given two choices: go undercover and infiltrate the Bloodcloaks, and if she succeeds, return, or go to jail for forging her Enchanter’s degree. Saff agrees, but the life as a double agent isn’t as easy as she expected it to be.

Unfortunately, this is a book I have to say, I do not recommend. That being said, although I’m not the right person to love this book, hopefully you guys will. Thank you to Del Rey/Random House and Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for my review! Silvercloak releases July 29.

Review will be edited after it’s on socials!

I have been screaming “Oh my gosh” since I finished the epilogue and I’m sure my neighbors outside heard because I was pretty loud. This was fantastic, amazing, I’m at a loss for words. I cannot wait for my preorder to arrive when published.

This is absolutely Harry Potter meets the Mafia, but also Harry in girl form undercover with the Death Eaters to get revenge on his parents. We have wands, forbidden spells, forbidden love.

Saffron was 6 years old when her parents died at the hands of the mafia. Once she became of age, she joined the Silvercloak Academy to avenge her parents. However, during her final assessment to become a Silvercloak, shit goes awry and the true purpose of her being in the academy comes to light. The only way to pass and become a silvercloak is if she goes undercover. I have so many thoughts in my head and I want to write everything, but I also don’t want to give any spoilers away. Just know, you won’t be able to stop turning the pages once you start. I can’t wait for everyone to be able to read this come publication.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for an e-arc in exchange for an honest opinion.

Someone give Laura an award for that last line.
Literal chills.
Absolutely epic! 🙇🏼‍♀️

𝐓𝐋𝐃𝐑;
This is if Harry Potter was a girl and went undercover as a death eater to get revenge on Voldemort for killing his parents.
𝑶𝒓
As others have said Harry Potter + mafia.
I’ll accept both descriptions 💁🏼‍♀️

❤️ 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀
🩶 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘆
❤️ 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺
🩶 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁
❤️ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗰𝘆
🩶 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘆 𝗠𝗖’𝘀
❤️ 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲
🩶 𝗔𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀/𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗿𝘀
❤️ 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲
🩶 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲


𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓵𝓭
The world building was rich and intense but so good that my greedy little eyes devoured every single world. This sucked me so far into it that I’m still trying to crawl out of the crater sized hole it left in my soul. 🥲 It was whimsical and reminiscent of when I read Harry Potter for the first time… But for adults.

𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮
The FMC is Bisexual, pretty much everyone is in this queer normative world. It starts with F/F but the main romance is M/F. The relationship is built upon layers of betrayal, secrets, shared pain, and little things in common that bridge the gap. It was sweet (and sour) in a dark world, and I was rooting for them from the get go.

𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓪𝓰𝓲𝓬
Here’s where the Harry Potter comes in. The magic reminds me so much of that, but the twist on it makes it incredibly unique. While there are similar spells, magic is fueled by pleasure and pain. It’s not infinite, and there are wells that need to be filled using the aforementioned pleasure & pain. 𝗔𝗹𝘀𝗼… 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 *𝗮𝗵𝗲𝗺* 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀… 👀🌶️
It was well thought out and incredibly fun.

𝘐’𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦. 🪄

The ending was 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐄. I was screaming, shaking my kindle for answers, gasping, hiding in my sweatshirt, crying… all the things. 𝗠𝗬 𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡 𝗜𝗦 𝗦𝗣𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗗 and I will need 7-10 business days to simply exist. Thanks for that Laura. 🫠

𝘾𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙤𝙣𝙚. 🧗
Someone get me book two 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

There's something about Laura's writing that makes reviewing her books almost impossible, because no combination of words feels enough. Her stories are devastating, uplifting, poetic, complex, and overall consuming of my every thought from the moment I put them down. I honestly didn't think she could top Our Infinite Fates which I still have not stopped thinking about but here we are. 75% of my kindle highlights say something along the lines of "poetry", "beautiful", or "wow!!!!"

The world building in Silvercloak is sprawling and immersive, with layered political systems, history, and rivalries. I am absolutely obsessed with the magic system, not only is it wand based magic, by it is fuelled by pleasure and amplified by pain, allowing it to be interconnected with the character's emotions. Silvercloak is also queer-normative which I found refreshing.

I felt so connected to Saffron, she had me from the first page. She's fierce, funny, flawed, and evolves as the story progresses. And I love the surprisingly dorky Levan. This is one of those books where you know where it's leading (the vision of Saff kissing and killing Levan is a bit hard to ignore), but you're desperate to know how you get there, all the while building with dread that it will actually happen.

This book doesn't hold back on describing the grittiness and gore, but I have never read someone's eye being removed written quite as poetical as this before. While the story is amplified by the pleasure and pain, it was never overpowered by it, there's a decent amount of spicy scenes but they were mostly plot or character focused rather than for the spice scale.

I honestly can't say too much about my favourite part of this book or why I think this is going to be one of the best fantasy series of all time because it's MAJOR spoilers and the the final line is a punch straight to the face and I loved every minute.

The easiest 5 stars I've given this year.

The premise had me immediately: a jaded detective goes undercover in the magical mafia that killed her parents, only to discover she's prophesied to kiss and kill the kingpin’s tortured soul. Yes please.

I expected angst, betrayal, and some enemies to lovers action, but what surprised me most was the magic system. Wands and spells, it gave Harry Potter fanfic energy (this is a good thing, in case you were wondering). Plus, in this world everyone has magic... but it runs out. You recharge it through pleasure 😏, and pain makes it stronger. Which means this society is either extremely self-satisfactory or deeply masochistic. Or both.

The worldbuilding had great potential (dangerous magical mafias, generational secrets, dragons), but it felt a little undercooked. I wanted more lore, more detail about the continent, the regions, and their unique magic. AWith just a bit more development, this could have been a proper high fantasy.

Also… I would have liked different character names. Saffron, really? And she wasn't even a redhead. Then there’s Levan, I kept expecting a Hunger Games crossover. Like, is he Levan the Bread Maker? 🙄

Anyway. Moving on. Levan is all brooding loyalty and violence, while Saffron struggles between vengeance and vulnerability. She has powers she doesn’t understand, but as a detective she was useless. Their romance was slow-burn and not the center of the story, a little more development and it could’ve been romantasy.
See the pattern? It’s not high fantasy. It’s not epic fantasy. It’s not romantasy. But it is something.

There’s a strong theme of vengeance vs. healing, but it never gets too preachy. It’s about people who’ve done terrible things trying to decide if they can be more. More what? We don’t know—but it’s probably more evil, because no one is innocent and ethics are flexible depending on who’s asking.

Most twists were predictable and sometimes it felt like I was reading YA, but the epilogue genuinely surprised me. This is book one of a trilogy, and I’m intrigued enough to keep going. Hopefully book two expands this world and gives us more of Levan’s POV.

🏷️ Tag-style Summary
- Poetic Justice
- Torture is my love language
- Turns out karma does keep receipts
- Now featuring one (1) prosthetic king
- Recharge me, daddy
- Love him or kill him? —Yes.

DNF

I was really looking forward to this one but it just didn't grab my attention enough for me to continue with it. The writing felt on the younger side and it's something that is hard to look pass when I am expecting something different, especially marked as adult. It was also darker than I expected and am just not in the headspace for that at the moment. The magic system, what I read from it, was pretty good! I liked that aspect at least.

I honestly could not put this book down. It was one of those that kept me up until 4AM giddy and hanging on to the edge of my seat to see what happens next. I love a good prophecy, terrible inner conflict about what is good and what is right....should she kiss the villain or kill him? This book was so entertaining and action packed, definitely a must read if you like Throne of Glass or unique magic systems!

I lowkey really enjoyed this book. However, my very first point is if you are not a romantasy person or if you’re not into smutty books I don’t think you’ll enjoy this as a lot of the magic based system is built on “pleasure”. Also anyone who is comparing this to Harry Potter is literally only doing so because they use wands and speak the spells they are casting. To me there are no other similarities.

Okay, now moving into the review.

A quick synopsis, we follow Saffron Killoran, a 26-year-old about to graduate from the prestigious Silvercloak Academy. As a child, she witnessed her parents' murder by the Bloodcloaks (also called Bloodmoon), a crime organization of dark mages. Saffron harbors a dangerous secret: she's immune to magic in a world where everyone possesses magical abilities. When this immunity is revealed, instead of starting a normal Silvercloak career, she's recruited for an undercover mission to infiltrate the very organization that killed her parents. She must pose as a member of the Bloodcloaks to gather intelligence and bring them down from within. The story follows her dangerous infiltration, where she develops a complex relationship with Levan, the crime boss's son, while trying to maintain her cover and achieve her goal of revenge.

Here’s what I liked:
- The magic system. I thought the pleasure/pain fueled magic felt fresh and innovative and a lot of fun to read.
- The world building was fantastic. I felt very ingrained into the world, the systems at play, how things worked so that I could actually enjoy the story. However, it did feel a bit info dumpy at the beginning but I kind of brushed that off as a lot of fantasy novels have the same complaint.
- I did enjoy the characters. Well, I take that back, I did kind of enjoy Saffron. At the very least I understood her motives and could get behind them. And honestly that’s a lot to ask for in a FMC in romantasy books. Levan I’m still trying to warm up to. I think that he was confusing and not in the “mysterious brooding” sort of way.
- The plot did keep me entertained.

My complaints
- As is an issue in many novels of this format it was a bit predictable. The major plot points, while entertaining, I could see from a mile away.
- The climax was a but underwhelming considering the build up. I feel like the infiltration plot line didn’t fully capitalize on the world building that was set up prior. And the resolution kind of felt like a cop out. The ending wasn’t satisfying to me.
All in all I enjoyed the world building and the magic system. I felt like it could be a really great book. However, I think the execution didn’t reach its full potential. There is definitely room for improvement and I’d be open to reading the next book to see if the author expands more of the world and gives us more bite to the story.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey for the ARC.

Silvercloak by L. K. Steven
Pub date 07/29/2025

Thank you to NetGalley & Del Ray for the eARC of this book! And even more thanks to L. K. Steven for writing this enchanting new story for all of us!

I try very, very hard to avoid spoilers when I’m reading. Heck, I’ve even stopped reading the blurbs on the back/inside cover of the books and just dive in as blind as possible. But I did see something mentioned about this book (while I was about 3/4th of the way done) and I didn’t hate how that person put it!

So here we go, Silvercloak is a mafia romance with wands and magic.

Now, I don’t think that 100% explains the book, but I do think it’s a great vibe to start with. But take that with a grain or two of salt because I have never read a mafia romance in my life.

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Saffron is about to graduate from the Silvercloak academy and will be one step closer to fulfilling her self-appointed destiny. Revenge against the Bloodmoon’s who murdered both her parents 20 years ago. She has worked so hard to get where she is and the final exam is all the stands between her and the future she’s dreamed of for so long now.

Of course things don’t always go according to plan. Instead of finding herself wearing the coveted Silver cloak she ends up with a different color on.

Red.

Bloodmoon red.

Not only is she wearing the wrong color cloak, she is also forced into close proximity with the Kingpin’s son, Levan. She’ll be made to see and act out unspeakable horrors to save herself. How far is too far? And where will it all end?

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Silvercloak was fun, fresh and exciting for me. I really enjoyed the whole story, how magic worked and the characters we got to meet. (The tension and yearning!) I’ll be looking forward to reading the next book when it’s out!

Silvercloak - (Silvercloak Saga #1) by L.K. Stevens (Laura Stevens)

Silvercloak opens when our FMC, Saffron, is just six years old, living a life full of magic and love — until it takes a brutal turn. After witnessing the murder of her parents at the hands of the mafioso-esque Bloodmoon group, Saffron is set on a path fueled by vengeance.
The world-building is rich and immersive. Stevens has a real gift for pulling readers into her worlds, and the magic system is especially intriguing – fueled by pleasure and pain, where pleasure replenishes magic, and pain refines it.

Although this is marketed as adult fantasy, it reads closer to YA, stylistically aligned with Stevens’ recent work Our Infinite Threads. Saffron, presented as a skilled detective, often abandons caution and makes reckless, emotionally driven choices — more fitting of an impulsive teenager than a seasoned operative. Her tendency to over-share secrets and rely on humor as a coping mechanism sometimes undercut the story’s tension.

There are a few repeated phrases and moments of over-explaining plot points, but despite that, Stevens shines when writing morally gray characters and slow-burn enemies-to-lovers dynamics. Her villains, especially the wrongly vilified kind, are where her writing hits its strongest emotional notes.

Overall, Silvercloak is an undercover fantasy full of high-stakes missions, organized crime, morally murky characters, magic, and timeweaving. It's an ambitious and fast-paced start to a new series with considerable potential.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Let me tell you - from the get go I was absolutely addicted to this book. This is my first L.K. Stephen's book, and I'm honestly a little annoyed with myself that it's taken this long. But what a way to go.

Silvercloak follows Saffron - who finds herself having to take an undercover job to infiltrate the Bloodmoons, a dark and mysterious criminal organisation who also happened to murder her parents. From there, the story twists into secrets, family trauma, and morally grey characters.

I loved the world building and the magic system - and L.K. Stephens does a phenomenal job of piecing this all together.

Thank you L.K. Stephens, NetGalley and Del Rey for my e-arc of Silvercloak, in exchange for an honest review. I am going to be hanging out for the next installment.