I saw the hype and the synopsis and instantly needed to read this. For me it didn’t live up to the hype but I still enjoyed it, it just isn’t one that’s going to stick with me. I loved the authors writing style, I found it easy enough to read but it took me ages to get into this and I almost considered DNFing as I was bored.

Thank You NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC!

I really enjoyed reading this! The writing was well done, the world building wasn't too hasty in making itself known, and the lore of everything was so well balanced. The magic system is refreshing to see in all it's whimsical wonderness. I love how characters are not just black or white in terms of morality, and have there grey areas. I really loved that there were high stakes that made the world a bit more complex. I can't wait to see more!

This was such a unique twist on high stakes, magic, betrayal, and enemies to lovers. There’s one thing that Steven’s does and that this time travel/magic plot line. I swear to god I will eat it up every time. When I thought I wasn’t invested, the story reinvested me!

Silvercloak is just one of those two feet in type reads. It was a bit hard to follow in the beginning because the world building was complex and the magic was DEFINITELY confusing at times. But stay the course. You’ll be heart broken and ruined at the end.

NetGalley ARC Review ✨✨

Silver cloak
By: L.K. Steven
Pub Date: 07/29/25

Saffron's parents were murdered by the Bloodmoons in front of her when she was a child. She became a Silvercloak so she could hunt down the killers and get her revenge.

When an undercover assignment means she has to join the Bloodmoons she knows this is her chance to avenge her parents. But things don't always go the way theyre planned.

Silvercloak is filled with magic, deception, slow-burn romance and so much more. This was a great read and I can't wait for the rest of the saga!

3.5 stars

Saffron's parents were murdered when she was a child. They were killed by the Bloodmoons, a vicious gang that will do anything to get what they want.

She lied about her magic to train to become a Silvercloak. She has to become a Silvercloak. Then she can take down the Bloodmoons and avenge her parents.

She almost succeeded, but her lie was uncovered. Now her only chance to be a Silvercloak is to go undercover and bring the Bloodmoons down by becoming one of them.

This was ok. I liked the characters. I just don't think it was good enough to stay with me. It's not that memorable. However, the last line was enough to make me want to read the next book. That was quite the ending.

Thank you Netgalley and Del Rey for an advanced copy!

I absolutely LOVED Silvercloak, way more than I was expecting to. The first about 20% reminded me a lot of Blood Over Bright Haven, just in writing style and vibes. If you liked that book, you will probably also really like Silvercloak!! It was a great balance between world building and lore, along with a heavy, intriguing plot, and forbidden romance.

The story opens with Saffron, our main character, witnessing her parents being killed by Bloodmoons when she is only 6 years old. The Bloodmoons are the most notorious crime gang in the city. Fast forward, and Saff is almost done with her training to become a Silvercloak, the city’s detective unit. After her last test, she gets caught for having forged her way into the academy. Rather than facing punishment, she is sent on an undercover mission to infiltrate the Bloodmoon organization and take them down from the inside.

There is such a unique magic system in this book, which I really enjoyed. Wands and verbal spells are necessary to cast magic, and your internal well of power is refilled by pleasure or pain, which creates a very unique world as characters strive for these two sources.

Saffron and Levan are both very morally grey, and at times I deeply resonated with both of them and their dealings with trauma and grief. Sometimes, I was watching from behind my fingers as they navigated the difficult decisions they have to make. Their relationship adds a layer of complication to both of their roles. The ending, even though we kinda know what’s coming, had me shocked, and I need the next book now!!!

“You can either yield to grief, or you can use it.”

🪄 magic wands
🪄 morally grey characters
🪄 detective x crime lord’s son
🪄 bi representation
🪄 prophecy/fate
🪄 revenge
🪄 unique world and magic system
🪄 time manipulation

This was an immediate attention grabber with action starting right away. This book is 100% steeped in magic- wands, spells, and incantations everywhere by every character. Central themes are grief, redemption, vengeance, love, and that everyone is part good and part bad.

The world building is rich and complex, but not too dense- information is provided thoughout when it’s relevant. The pacing is fast, the tension is simmering, and the main characters are well developed. The action packed ending is perfect and sets the stage for the next book.

This is the first book in a while that captivated me fully, reading all day and avoiding responsibilities. I highly recommend this!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Unfortunately I am DNFing this book at 19%. I am truly not liking anything about this. I don't think the magic system is interesting and I don't particularly care about the characters. Do I think this is a bad book? No. I just think this book is not for ME personally, and that's okay.

It was giving Harry Potter vibes at times so if you enjoy that, maybe check this out. I never liked Harry Potter, even as a kid. So unfortunately this was just not for me.

I am still grateful to have had a chance to read this early. I'm excited to see how many love this book upon its publication!

Before I read this book, I saw a review where someone had described this book as "Harry Potter crossed with the mafia", and I'd say that's pretty accurate, except I'd be more specific and say it's "the Harry Potter police vs. a single organized crime group".

The beginning does give off a strong Harry Potter vibe (and take that with a grain of sand, because I haven't read a single Harry Potter book, and I've only seen the first and second of the movies, but I get the gist.), in that there is magic, there are wands, and spells that they say and they shoot spells out of their wands.

The concept that their magic is powered by pain and/or pleasure is interesting, but it isn't the main focus of the story at all. That fact kind of sits in the background a bit, and is most prominent at the beginning and end of the book.

My main issue with the book was that it felt like a YA book, but with the F-bomb tossed in here and there, and some sex. It was a bit disjointed, and it seemed out of place. It would have been better as a full-on YA book (no swearing or sex), or a full-on adult book (more violence/spice). It sitting in the middle just felt strange for some reason. It might have been because of the Harry Potter vibe at the beginning, I was expecting it to be more YA, more 'younger audience', and for the most part it was, until a random F-bomb was dropped unexpectedly and it seemed so out of place, or the sex scene which wasn't bad, but all I could think was "This shouldn't be in a YA book". It's probably just me though. (After I read the book and found out that this was supposed to be the author's "adult debut novel" I was SO surprised, because the first 85% of the book read like YA to me for sure.)

Anyway, the story was interesting. I enjoyed it, but not nearly as much as Our Infinite Fates (which I LOVED!). Silvercloak didn't end on a huge cliffhanger per-se, but let's just say the way that it ended, I definitely want to read the next one! I think the next one will be even better, because Silvercloak really did the worldbuilding, and "setup" for what I think will be a really awesome series!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
4⭐️
A refreshingly original entry in the fantasy genre that will hit the sweet spot for readers craving magical school settings with high stakes and clever world-building. From the very first scene—reminiscent of “Voldemort’s time of rule”—this book promises darkness, danger, and an emotionally resonant journey, especially with its impactful time-jump framing.

Set partly in a magical training academy, the story excels in its depiction of spell-casting, strategic combat trials, and team dynamics. The school segments, while brief, offer standout moments that leave you wishing for a full prequel centered entirely on academy life. The magic system is detailed and imaginative, with spells, flair, and clever twists enhancing the plot.

Though the training arc is limited to the early chapters, the story never loses momentum. With strong main characters, engaging plot progression, and richly imagined world-building, this is a standout for fans of immersive fantasy with heart and edge. Keep this one firmly on your radar!

Thank you to NetGalley, L. K. Steven, and Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

4.25 stars

This book starts and ends with a bang. There are some slow moments in between. I found the magic system to be unique and interesting. I honestly want to know more about it. I hope we get more of the background story on Lorissa Rezaran. Saff is such an interesting character. She seems to be a morally grey character. I’m loving it. I thought it was interesting how, when they deplete their magic, pleasure helps to charge them so they will sleep with any gender. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book. I highly recommend it! Please check TW.

Thank you to Del Rey and L.K. Steven for this ARC! I had such a good time reading Silvercloak! I couldn’t put this book down. Saff and the amazing world that L.K. built drew me in with its mystery, magic, and intrigue. Saff was daring and calculated, desperate take down her parents killers. Every choice leads her right to their doorstep and the ride only gets better once she’s infiltrated. I can’t wait for book 2!

I do wish there was more development between Saff and Levan, plus I felt like Saff lost herself a bit towards the end, but overall the ending had me gasping!

For starters, I heavily disagree with all the reviews saying this gives Harry Potter vibes. The amount of time Saff is in the school setting is so small, and the magic systems are very very different. That's not to say that the magic is bad at all or I didn't enjoy it! I loved the magic system in this - pleasure and pain both fueling your magic reserves was a fun twist, and I liked that most characters didn't seem to have endless reserves to pull from so they never really felt overpowered (except maybe one person). LK Steven did a great job of setting up the world around us, from the different religions to the different languages for spell casting to the descriptions of the pleasure and pain houses on any given street. This was well written, and a very gripping start to the book as well.

I also liked the story set up for Saff being undercover. I liked her as a main character - her internal dialogue, her tragic backstory, her wit but also her making mistakes that cost her. She was very interesting to read about and it never got boring! I'm a sucker for enemies to lovers romance, and this also didn't disappoint. Nothing is more of a letdown than an enemies to lovers where they become lovers 50 pages in - the development of how they go from enemies to lovers and the self-loathing and back and forth was very good in this, and it definitely doesn't happen in the blink of an eye or without explanation. It felt very clear why they were drawn to each other, as they both got to know more about the other than what's on the surface. I was unsure how LK Steven was going to make me like Levan after how dark he started out, but she pulled through and I enjoyed their romance by the end.

However... the last 20% or so really brought this book down in rating for me. There were a few plot points that I personally really dislike in books, but would spoil the story to write out in my review. I felt like some of the ending was made just to set up a book two and force the couple apart in the next book, and not because it actually was what makes sense for the story. I felt like most of the characters in the last 20% just got really delusional/irrational/had tunnel vision and while it would make sense for one or two people to get like that, it seemed like every character was rigid in their view/want at the end and I felt like it was only to provide tension. That caused many of them to act in ways I didn't love.

Specifically, the last few pages had 2 plot tropes back to back that I personally don't enjoy. On the last page of the book, I feel like it was actually very out of character for that person to say/act that way and was only done to set up tension for the next book. Also, there's a lot of interesting dialogue over whether timeweavers should've been hunted and all killed or not, and how dangerous their powers are. The ending throws a wrench in this and I'm not sure how I feel about it.

Overall, I'm still keeping my pre-order of the physical book and I did mostly enjoy this (thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey for the ARC!), but I hope that the second book doesn't dwell too much on the storylines I disliked in the last 20%. I see some potential for a really interesting bigger storyline related to the religions that I hope comes more into play, and there's still some unanswered questions I have that keep me wanting to read more. I still have a lot of hope for this series!

3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 for Goodreads/Netgalley

At its heart, this book wrestles with what it means to do the wrong things for the right reasons. It’s full of moral tension, impossible choices, and characters who contain multitudes. Prophecies, magical wells that must be refilled, an undercover detective storyline, and the ever-tightening bonds of found family weave together to form a fantasy world that feels both gritty and magical.

The romantic arc adds a delicious slow burn, and it’s especially refreshing to see protagonists in their late twenties and thirties rather than the standard YA age range. Their emotional depth and maturity bring a new kind of gravitas to the story.

With its blend of magic, betrayal, and heart, Silvercloak sets the stage for an epic saga. It’s one of those rare fantasy reads that challenges you to empathize with characters even when you question their choices—and leaves you hungry for more.

I had trouble getting into the book because I felt like the writing style was heavy and not so straightforward. I like the magic system based on pain and pleasure and that the magic is not an infinite thing. Also the idea of having to use a wand and cloak for magic.

The intrigue was slow to get into place and I feel like it was a bit easy for Saffron, the main character, like the fact that she goes undercover but she’s not on the bottom of the Bloomons or « magical mafia » organisation that killed her parents but she’s already spending time with the kingpin’s son. The romance was predictable even with the fact that she wanted vengeance from the death of her parents.

I loved Our infinite fates but this one wasn’t for me.

Rating 2,5
Saffron has spent her life preparing to get justice, and revenge, for her parents murder. When she gets the opportunity to go undercover she agrees, she can finally bring down the Bloodmoons. Infiltrating the crime organization she finds herself in more than one tough situation, and some more pleasurable ones. But the clock is ticking and she has to find the information before they discover who she is.

I really thought I would like this book. It has magic, agents, love, deceit, murder..a really exciting mix that appealed to me. Maybe that is why I was so disappointed, because I wanted to like this book.

It was really repetitive, sentences you read only a few pages ago were quoted again, sometimes more than once. At one point I thought if they mention citrus oil once more I’ll have to take a break…and they did. It is supposed to have an adult audience but I think both the writing and story is more YA, except for that the main character is 26 years old and some of the spice. Because there is open door spice but also talk about s*x like “the other kind of pleasure”, and being touched “there”. Well if the audience can handle some open door spice it should be able to handle a less discreet description. There are a few more things that bothered me but I would like to mention a few positive things as well.

The main story is exciting and the description of the world and how society works is well written. I like that the magic system, or the way magic is powered, is more unique and not as in most other fantasy. The cliffhanger promises more action in the next book and probably more insight to the old prophecies. I would recommend it as a NewAdult book or older YA, It wasn't for me but I am sure it will find it's readers.

Thank you to Net Galley and Del Rey for the ARC. Unfortunately this is not for me, I personally prefer more fantasy to romance, but if you enjoy romance heavy fantasy, then you will like this.

THAT ENDING!! I loved this, it felt like a grown up take on some of my favorite tropes, all wrapped up in a deliciously twisted, dangerous mafia world. I loved the magic system and Saff, who won me over within the first few pages. Watching her take on such a deadly mission was exciting and tense, plus the romance.! I can't wait for the sequel.

So glad I read this book, the story was really good and grinning. This was different to what I usually read, this is in my top 10 books of the year, can’t wait to see what else comes next .
The character writing and build in my opinion is perfect, everything I want in a book. And a story

*Harry Potter meets the mafia - no need to ponder overlong, just *yes please*

I went into this ready to love it; it reminded me quite a lot of Harry Potter but I was never able to connect with the plot or characters; and the flashbacks were disruptive which made it difficult to get back into the flow of the book.

I want to get into a story and need to keep reading because I’m truly interested in what happens next. This one, unfortunately, didn’t capture, or hold, my interest.



Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for the DRC