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

Full review upon publish day. But WHAT A BOOK. One of my best reads of 2025. The world, magic system, character arcs, and THE LORE.

Silvercloak was an absolutely amazing read! The world, magical system, and political aspects were incredibly thought out and explained. The character backstories were great, and we slowly learn more about the characters as the story progresses. I was able to love the main characters, and they were perfectly morally grey.
The ending blew my mind and has me anticipating the next installment of the series.

Harry Potter but making it queer and adult?! Yes please. This one took a minute for me to settle into the story, but once I got past the big worldbuilding chapters, I was hooked. Great summer fantasy!

L.K. Steven is officially an autobuy author for me! I love her writing style, characterization, and queernormative worlds. Our Infinite Fates was my first book by Steven, and Silvercloak is easily another favorite with its intricate magic system built on pain and pleasure.

From the very first page, I was completely engrossed in the story and the characters. All of them have questionable morals, and will go to extreme lengths to protect their families above all else. I loved the exploration of this fine line between right and wrong, and how people contain multitudes. You can be soft and loving to one person and another’s sworn enemy.

This made the plot so wonderfully complex, never knowing how the characters would react in any given situation. I loved the entire undercover detective premise and the concept of a magical well that needs to constantly be refilled. I look forward to exploring more of the world in future novels and the many betrayals sure to unfold. Silvercloak is one fantasy you won’t want to miss!

Thank you to NetGalley, Del Rey Books, and Random House for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED IT. It’s Harry Potter meets the mafia and seedy underground of organized crime and it was amazing. Morally grey is my favorite color and we get it in our FMC and MMC. I felt like the bottom line of this book was that good people do bad things for what they believe to be the right reasons and who are we to judge them? This book deals in prophecies, addiction, found family, magic, and a delightful slow burn. It was also so refreshing to read a book about an FMC and MMC that are in their twenties/thirties and not 19-20 years old. I’m so grateful to have been given the opportunity to read this wonderful book in advance but also so sad because it just means I have to wait that much longer for the next book in the saga!!

This book is an enjoyable read but I don’t think it knows whether it wants to be a romantasy or a gritty fantasy crime thriller and the result is a bit of a mess tonally. An easy to read, well paced mess, but a mess all the same. Still, I’m sure parts of the BookTok community will lose their shit over Levan and love it regardless.

Characters: Saffron frustrated me, mostly because the first few chapters promised a clever protagonist who was sparing with her words and always thought through every possible outcome before making decisions - then the rest of the book failed to deliver. Like so many other FMCs, Saff turned into a quippy fool around the MMC, dropping horribly corny one-liners and making truly idiotic decisions wherever he was concerned. I also struggle to believe she made it into the Silvercloaks (AKA mage cops) and was considered for an undercover role when she’s so damn stupid so much of the time, like constantly asking Levan incredibly suspicious questions. Also, Saff is described as nihilistic multiple times but I don’t think Steven knows what that means… this girl is not a nihilist. That said, if Steven commits to this actually becoming a villain origin story for Saff I think I could really enjoy where her character goes.

Levan didn’t bother me as much, I found him compelling and enjoyed him when he was actually being a believable heir to a crime syndicate. The fact that he goes all gooey and soft over Saff because they both like the same book series (don’t fucking get me started, this was the dumbest plot point) weakened his character for me. Also don’t write multiple times that he likes a bit of pain in the bedroom then give him and Saff such vanilla sex scenes. Let her slap him around a bit, come on.

Lyrian is a compelling antagonist, Aspar works as the strait-laced captain and the rest of Saff’s cohort are fine but forgettable. I like Nissa, but she’s under-utilised.

Plot: Look, I love the idea of a mage cop going undercover in a dangerous magical gang and getting caught up in all that crazy shit but this didn’t execute it well at all. Saff gets into the gang way too easily and the fact that she IMMEDIATELY gets to work alongside the heir to it all makes no sense. I was ready for her to have to go through some serious hazing and work her way up the ranks, but it felt like this was more focused on getting the FMC and MMC together than being believable. That said, the pacing was great and I read this within three days because the plot moved so well and had me hooked in, even when the characters/world/writing pissed me off. The twist with Levan at the end was brilliant.

World: Someone needs to inform Steven that mashing two words together does not a fantasy term make, nor does it constitute solid world building. The biggest issue I had with the world in Silvercloak is that animals, days, months and even times all have random fantasy names that are dropped into the story multiple times before ever being explained, which is confusing, and then when they are explained it’s through a randomly placed info dump in the middle of something unrelated. Why does every animal have to have a weird suffix (mourncrows, fallowwolves, reekhogs, etc)? Why do the days of the week have different names? Why the fuck is midnight called DARKNIGHT??? Better yet, why does the feared criminal gang have a corny ass name like Bloodmoons and why is the worst name the kingpin can come up with to insult Saff ‘filthcloak’? It just feels juvenile in a book that I think could have been stronger if it was a bit more grounded and gritty.

Writing: Overall, this was a pretty well written book and I enjoyed the fact that Steven used such a wide range of vocabulary in what is an otherwise pretty easy read. I think the biggest issue was the tone: Silvercloak couldn’t seem to decide if it wanted to be a cheeky fantasy drama, or a gritty crime story unfolding in a fantasy world. The result is a tonal mish-mash that doesn’t work for either, where you get scenes of Saff brutally gouging a man’s eye out described in gory detail, followed immediately by her joking with the MMC and referencing a fantasy YA book - which, like, what the fuck? The book would have been much stronger and more enjoyable if Steven had just picked a tone and stuck to it rather than bouncing between both.

Could not put this book down - read within a day. I absolutely loved the premise of magic based on pleasure and pain. The book was a little slower to get into it for the first few chapters but after that I couldn’t stop reading. Superb world building and character development.

1.5 stars.

A big thank you to Net Galley and Del Ray for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I felt very naive after starting this book. Hindsight is 20/20, and somehow it didn't occur to me that magic systems based on pleasure/pain had sexual implications. Needless to say, there was a lot of skipping. Additionally there were a lot of little details that were gross and unnecessary. I found myself cringing and rolling my eyes.

The overall concept of this novel was interesting, but this book starts off lazy. In the introductory chapters the main characters are introduced as a list. Could we not have a scene that demonstrates their characters rather than having the reader be told who is what and what they are Additionally, we the reader are told to like something "because it's sexy." One character is described as "She was smoking hot and smoked a lot." What does that even mean? I don't find smoking appeaking, and I immediately lose respect when "sexy" or "hot" is the main attractant.

It took me until about 40% to be interested in this book. The first quarter was slow, and there was a ton crammed into the last 10%. There were still some plot holes, but I did enjoy it towards the end. If the writing was improved and the skippable sex stuff wasn't there, I think this would be a solid concept.

Silvercloak by L. K. Steven was DELIGHTFUL. The story begins when the FMC, Saffron’s, parents are murdered and she becomes hell bent on getting revenge. Fast forward to the present, and Saffron has worked hard to become a Silvercloak - a member of an elite team of, for lack of a better term, detectives. However, Saffron is not exactly as she appears, even at the Academy. When her final test goes awry, she is offered the opportunity of a lifetime – but at a great cost. What follows is a story of truth and lies, trust and fear, and walking the fine line between what is right and what is wrong. L. K. Steven delivers an incredible story full of mystery and intrigue, including a magic system that I’ve never seen before, and the most delicious slow burn, enemies to lovers romance of the year.

Rating: 4.5/5

Silvercloak delivers. It’s bold, sexy, chaotic in the best way, and full of high-stakes magic fueled by pain and pleasure (literally). Saff’s a mess but a lovable one, and the queer rep is beautifully baked into the world. A couple pacing bumps and spy slip-ups keep it from a full five, but if you like your fantasy dark, steamy, and unhinged—grab this.

“𝐎𝐡, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧.”

I didn’t just read Silvercloak—I devoured it, just like I did with Our Infinite Fates. At this point, it’s safe to say that I’m a Laura Steven fan through and through. If you love your fantasy epic and emotionally charged, with just the right mix of romance, betrayal, and high-stakes magic, this one delivers. The magic system is clever and immersive—I’m still debating which mage order I’d belong to (Timeweaver? Necromancer? Hoping for these 100%)! 🧙🏻‍♀️

the vibes ™:
- betrayal / undercover mission
- prophecies
- unique magic system
- enemies to lovers
- queer representation
- so much more!

Special thanks to DelRey and NetGalley for allowing me to read this as an e-arc!

OKAY. I don’t say this lightly but… this is a new obsession. I mean that so sincerely.

This gem is for the VE Schwab, darker shade of magic fans who want charm, magic, danger, and everything unexpected, but have also maybe found themselves wanting even a little more darkness (while also giving something entirely new and incomparable) than what they found in ADSOM. This scratched fantasy itches I didn’t even know I had, and left me reeling at every single turn.

I’m not sure where to even begin. This is a high/urban fantasy world with the most intricate yet natural world building I’ve found in quite some time, as well as a confusing but impeccable balance of darkness and mystery alongside whimsy and enchantment, and I’m honestly a bit confused about how all of it worked so seamlessly (but it DID).

Saffron is a Silvercloak in training, and she has dedicated her entire life to finding a chance to avenge the death of her parents at the hands of the deadly Bloodmoons, a criminal syndicate that seems untouchable and terrifying in every way. After a mystifying secret of hers comes to light, she’s uniquely positioned to go undercover and bring all manner of terrifying deeds to light, but she couldn’t have possibly anticipated the journey she was about to take.

This has one of the most fun magic systems I’ve read in a very, very long time. It’s intricate and exciting, but also unique and fascinating. It is explored seamlessly, and brings about the most exciting action scenes. The writing style is also stunning and poignant, and genuinely makes you question your notions about right and wrong. It keot me on my toes quite literally throughout the ENTIRE story, and left me guessing all the way until the final page (and beyond, it would seem).

This truly makes me so wildly excited for everything else this author has written. I ADORED Society for Soulless Girls, but I also found that the writing style is almost unrecognizable (which I find even MORE impressive, this author clearly has so much range). I’m grateful that I have another book of hers on deck while I wait for the next installment in this series, because I’m absolutely REELING after the end of it, I can’t WAIT for what happens next, I’m only upset at how early I’ve read it because it means I have to wait longer! Thank you so much to Del Rey and NetGalket for this eArc!

I would like to thank Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore and Laura Steven for this ARC in return for an honest review.
4 Stars

"Two decades ago, the Bloodmoons ruthlessly murdered Saffron Killoran’s parents, destroying her idyllic childhood. Hell-bent on revenge, she lies her way into Silvercloak Academy—the training ground for her city’s elite order of detectives—with a single goal: to bring the Bloodmoons to justice. But when Saff’s deception is exposed, rather than being cast out, she’s given a rare opportunity: to go undercover and tear the Bloodmoons down from the inside.

With each day testing her loyalties further, Saff finds her web of lies becoming harder to spin. And when one false step could destroy everything and everyone she’s ever loved . . . the detective who’s dedicated her life to vengeance just might die for it."

This book has a lot going for it. I absolutely love the magic system and the idea of refilling your magical well with pain or pleasure. It's so interesting and it can go so many places. The places it went in this book were definitely both intriguing and graphic.

The main love interest is okay, I'm not as invested as I'd like to be but I'm not really sure what's eating at me about it. I definitely prefer Saff's other love interest Nissa. I do adore both Main Characters are truly bisexual (and maybe poly) and completely unapologetic or weird about it. Love that representation.

My biggest irk about the whole thing is Saff's constant struggle not to get caught. It makes her seem....not good at her job. Like not at all. So many things happen where she's like, I should have seen that coming, or Oops can't change that now, and it's like girl didn't you just graduate and get the best(most dangerous) assignment? I'm not saying she shouldn't get caught doing things at all given the level or her enemies but damn girl what they teach you?

I'm on the fence about continuing the series but I definitely recommend it for other to give a try, there's a lot of cool things going on here that I think will tic a lot of boxes.

I received an ARC of this book for free from Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore, and NetGalley, and I am voluntarily writing this review. Saffron is in training to become a Silvercloak, a magical detective protecting people from crime in a world where pleasure and pain fuel magic. She has secrets, a harrowing backstory, and wants to punish her parents’ murderers, the vicious, criminal Bloodcloaks. This is the start of a great fantasy series! I devoured the book in less than 24 hours because I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait for the next one!!!

Silvercloak took me by surprise—in the best way. It sat on my TBR for a while, but once I finally cracked it open, I was completely immersed. This romantic fantasy pulls you into a gritty, dangerous world where magic is fueled by pleasure and pain, and the tension never lets up.
The story follows a relentless investigator going undercover in a brutal gang of dark mages, and the stakes are sky-high from the start. I was on edge the entire time, constantly second-guessing how it would all unfold. The pacing is razor-sharp, the twists genuinely surprising, and the emotional moments hit hard.
One of the book’s biggest strengths is its richly imagined world. The spellcasting system is unique and layered, with real consequences that shape the story in meaningful ways. I also really enjoyed the political undercurrents and the slow unraveling of corruption woven throughout the plot. I wish I got more of the early years, as I've seen others write, I hope there is a prequel at some point.
This is the kind of book that lingers after you finish—the setting, the intensity, the originality of the magic system. I’ve already been telling every adult fantasy reader I know to grab it the moment it releases.