Wow what a book! Not what I would normally read but one that had a great payoff! I’ve read it and now my husband is reading it, and my friend wants to read it next! I can’t stop recommending it!

Thank you NetGalley and Del Ray for the ARC.

I really wanted to like this book. The world was super interesting, and the magic system was intricate and new. But I truly think that this author tried to fit too much into one book. There were so many different tropes in this book that the characterization and world-building got a little muddled. I also think that the author focused too much on the main romance instead of the world-building, including explaining the magic system. The magic system was so interesting, but I have so many more questions about how it works and how it affects society. There were also some questions that I had about the way the main character’s special attribute works because it is described one way but behaves another way, and the reader doesn’t really get an answer as to how it truly works. There was also a type of magic that was introduced that I think cheapened the story by its inclusion, but that may just be me and my preferences. Sorry if I am being vague, but I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone who wants to read this.

I think that this book would probably be good for romance readers who are looking to get into fantasy because it is much more romance-heavy than fantasy-heavy. I also think that romantasy readers who like their books with more romance will enjoy this one. I, however, as someone who would rather have the fantasy element be more prominent, did not really enjoy this book.

Also, I thought that the ending was both predictable and came out of nowhere. It was not how I expected the story to end, and I will not be continuing the series.

Unfortunately, this one was not for me. While I LOVED the premise, I really struggled with the writing. When done well, worldbuilding should make you feel completely immersed without overwhelming you with information. While I can tell that the author has put a ton of thought and time into crafting her world, the infodumping made it almost impossible for me to keep everything straight. Elements should be gradually and naturally introduced, not thrown at the reader in large, clunky paragraphs. Sometimes it's okay to tell instead of show, but in this case it really fell short.

I did like the characters, and again, I thought the magic system to be hella cool. Perhaps with another round of editing to tighten things up and remove some of the info dumping, I would have enjoyed this read far more.

Silvercloak is a dark fantasy romance about time, fate, and loyalty. I have a lot of thoughts about this book, and they are all a bit messy. Overall, I liked it enough to be interested in reading the second in this series, and I enjoyed it more than the author's other recent novel with very similar themes, Our Infinite Fates, though I'm rating them about the same. The magic system is interesting, but I felt there was an unresolved issue where Saffron's quirk and Levan come up. I also think there was too much "down time" where very little plot progression happens.
I ship the romance, but it's all very toxic. My favorite character was Levan, and I think he's the most developed and clearly motivated, which is refreshing in a villain. Saffron, on the other hand, constantly tells us her strength is planning, yet her plans are universally terrible. I don't understand how revenge can fuel an existence beyond the need for basic survival. Like it must have limits, right?! She has so many chances and choices early on in this novel, and making all the wrong ones leads her right to the end. I do approve of this ending as it is fairly neutral as far as the ending of a first book in a series goes. I am interested to see what happens next, but it also ends in a really good spot. I really hope Saffron grows more in the next novel. Defining herself as one thing is so limiting, I wish she could look more beyond any one allegiance to be true to herself instead.
A slight thing, but one of my least favorite things about the fantasy genre is the lack of permanence as a plot device. Something goes catastrophically wrong? OMG don't worry we'll just fix it real quick! If anything can be healed, is it worth caring about any injury? What really matters? I think it's a cop out for dark fantasy that makes it more palatable to a wider audience. It isn't that I want characters to suffer. I want the stakes to matter. I'm interested to see how the stakes are upheld in the next book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for this ARC!

Hooked from the offset. GREAT action scenes. World-building and magic mechanics both done very well, and there isn’t too much romance. I wouldn’t really class this as romantasy at all. I especially appreciate the use of colours in this book, very visceral!

5 stars from me, it had literally everything I want in a fantasy book! Brilliant world building, an ACTUAL kickass FMC and complicated characters. Felt like I knew everyone and their agendas so well.

Thanks to Netgalley and Del Ray for the free review eArc!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

I went into this book, not knowing anything about it, and I was actually pleasantly surprised .

The book definitely gave off Harry Potter vibes. So it was good for me. The magic system was very unique and I felt like that’s what kept me going. The plot was ok but it definitely felt done before. The characters were just ok to me also.

It was a bit slow to get going but once it did I got into enjoying it a bit more.

All in all I’d say a solid 3.5 stars…but I would want to pick up the next one to see what happens next!

I frickin loved the magic system in this book and how unique yet easy it was to remember and follow. The concepts of time bending really gave the author the opportunity to do some really cool things with the plot and she DID. The ending really solidified this book as a 5 star read. I need the next book immediately!!!

It's quite difficult to create something unique in a market that appears to be flooded with fantasy/romantasy books at that moment. However, to me, Silvercloak was something completely different. I loved the characters, the magic system and while a couple of aspects were a little confusing, these were never too complex to spoil the story or prevent me from understanding what was going on. There were some graphic scenes - these weren't an issue for me at all, and just gave the book a slightly more mature edge for me.
The book ending was not what I was expecting at all, and left me desperate for the next book.
All in all, a great read.

I loved the dark, dangerous world and the magic system based on pleasure and pain, it made every choice feel tense and unpredictable. Saffron is fierce and flawed, which made her easy to root for, though some parts of her infiltration felt a bit too smooth. The sparks and tension with Levan were fantastic, even if that romance was predictable from the second he stepped onto the page. All the added personal details sprinkled throughout gave the story weight and made the world feel like it existed beyond the main plot.

What really stayed with me, though, was how the story balanced brutality with moments of humour and wit. The story was fast paced and easy to follow, which made it hard to put down. And that ending… I loved it for the drama, but hated it because now I have to wait forever to find out what happens next 😅

Thankyou to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

This one really sneaks up and sinks it hooks in you! It was a good solid 4⭐️ until about 75% in when I just anticipated the 5⭐️ finish. It did not disappoint! It is full of twists and gasping moments. I can’t wait for the next one! Thank you so much NetGalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The final line (not counting the epilogue) is absolutely amazing! I got goosebumps reading it. I can't wait for the rest of this series. I picked up this book because I'm a big romantasy fan and it was suggested to me as a romantasy. I think it is a bit early to call this romantasy. There are romantic relationship elements throughout, but even the 'enemies to lovers' type of energy is missing from this one because while I absolutely believed in the love between the characters their relationship never felt like the purpose of this book. Now, I might have been reading/interpreting it wrong (sometimes that happens), but this felt much more like a general fantasy than a romantasy. I'm not complaining, and I think this is such a good book regardless of where on that scale you categorise it, but if you're hoping for something akin to Sarah J. Maas, Quicksilver, or even a Fate Inked in Blood this first book felt like a cousin not a sibling. I can't wait for the rest of these books though, whether the romance ramps up or not they are so worth it!

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore, and Del Rey for this arc

3.75/5 stars rounded up

This was an entertaining read, which was basically Harry Potter meets (surprisingly) low stakes mafia. The magic system was interesting, with how your magical "well" can only be replenished by either pleasure or pain. The characters were pretty well fleshed out, but sometimes felt like their personalities weren't consistent. This does feel like a YA author trying to write adult fantasy, and where it's definitely one of the better ones I read, I still feel like the plucky lippy heroine trope is fine to leave in YA lol. It was also like, soooo repetitive?? Like girl, I remember what happened two pages ago, we don't need a refresher. The twists at the end were somewhat surprising, but not in a way that made me go OH WOW but more like, huh ok.

Now, I did enjoy this book enough to finish it and I would keep reading the series, but I'll definitely temper my expectations for the next books and that'll elevate my reading experience lol.

2.5⭐️ Silvercloak hooked me right out of the gate with an emotional prologue that made me teary-eyed before I even knew the characters. It set the tone for something big, and I was intrigued to see where it would go. The magic system of pleasure/pain also sounded very promising.

Unfortunately, that early promise fizzled fast. Despite loving the author’s book, Our Infinite Fates(which is YA), this somehow felt even more juvenile. The wand magic, the banter, and the dialogue all had an immature edge that kept pulling me out of the story.

The biggest issue for me was the FMC. She was supposed to be a spy, but she was the worst spy I have ever read. Her decision-making was beyond frustrating, and instead of rooting for her, I found myself cringing at how careless and, frankly, dumb she came across. Without a strong main character to anchor the story, everything else felt weaker.

I will say on my second attempt I started to see a little more chemistry between the two main characters, and I actually enjoyed the MMC far more than I expected to. But by that point, I had already lost most of my interest, and it wasn’t enough to pull me back in.

The romance overall still felt flat, the characters lacked depth, and my frustrations with the FMC never went away. The tone reminded me of HP or Dramione fan fiction, so I do think there is an audience for it.
Sadly, it just was not for me, and it ended up a DNF

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review

Silvercloak was amaaazing. The story was so gripping and I was immediately absorbed in the interesting magic system and story. It definitely reminded me of an adult Harry Potter with detectives and gang/mobsters. It was very violent but I didn't mind. It made sense for the world. Highly recommend!

Okayyyyy Silvercloakkkkk I see you!!

Maturity: 18+

Saffron has spent her entire life with one goal: infiltrate the Bloodmoons and take the gang down from the inside. She finally gets the opportunity to enact her revenge, she finds that the line between good and evil is so much less clear than she ever realized.

This book includes:
- supernatural detectives
- decades old vendettas
- unbreakable blood bonds
- found family
- BETRAYAL
- FMC over her head
- LGBT characters

Maturity: 18+

For fans of: Rose in Chains

Saffron makes sooooo many mistakes. But like, fair enough she is a 25(??) year old on her literally first job assignment with no directions and no help from the outside. She is impulsive and so ready to fight, often forgetting to look both ways before she crosses the metaphorical street. She goes in with so much confidence and fails over and over again, but to me this didn't feel like a case of "why am i being told that this FMC is so smart but she is acting so dumb in front of me" a la Fourth Wing. It felt more like "this person is so blinded by rage and panic that they can't even do what they set out to do."

Halfway through reading this book. I did wonder if it was HP fanfic. Not because of a Dramione moment, but because it seemed like the detective characters were aurors and the story included a good mix of magic wands, dark marks, unbreakable vows, etc. No complaints, I would just be curious to read the source fanfic if it is out there. I enjoyed the book. The ending was insane and I am very very excited for book 2 to wrap up alllllll of the cliffhangers.

I received this eBook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, L. K. Steven, and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted to GoodReads check out my profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863 and it will be posted to my bookstagram account https://www.instagram.com/tinynightingales/ and booktok https://www.tiktok.com/@tinynightingales?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

I had a rough time with this one. It read like a crude/overly gory Harry Potter fan fic for young adults. There was also a lot of over-explaining any time a new concept was introduced, yet the history/explanations didn’t contribute to the book.

Silvercloak pulled me in right from the start with its super unique magic system—power fueled by both pleasure and pain. It sounds wild, and it totally works. The world of Atherin feels gritty and dangerous, the kind of place where you can’t trust anyone, and I loved every shady corner of it.

Saffron Killoran is such a great main character—tough, stubborn, and just messy enough to feel real. She’s out for revenge and ends up undercover in the Bloodmoon gang, which is basically a death wish… especially when she starts catching feelings for Levan, the gang leader’s son. Their enemies-to-lovers thing had me hooked, even if I saw some of the twists coming.

The moral gray areas here are chef’s kiss. There’s no “good vs evil,” just impossible choices and high stakes. My only gripe is that the story sometimes gets a little crowded with subplots, and a few moments dragged for me. But when it’s good, it’s really good.

If you like dark, character-driven fantasy with romance, betrayal, and a magic system you’ve never seen before, Silvercloak is totally worth your time. I’m already impatient for book two.

Silvercloak is for anyone who wants a fantasy book with a morally grey heroine whose rage-fueled quest for vengeance leads her to falsify records in order to attend a detective academy and later infiltrate the cutthroat criminal organization that murdered her parents. It was high-stakes, filled with twists, turns, and betrayals, and kept me guessing until the last page.

The magic system in this book is unique and completely intriguing. Magic is fueled by pain and pleasure, and everyone needs to refill their magical well with either or both of those when their stores run out. It’s primarily a fantasy, but the enemies-to-lovers subplot is so decadent and perfectly done. Saffron wants revenge against the Bloodmoons, and Levan is the son of the leader of the Bloodmoons. They have no reason to trust each other, and they’re both keeping secrets, but they can’t help falling for each other, even as they both know it’s a bad idea. Levan seems like a monster, but there’s so much more to him, and under his exterior, he’s just a sad, broken boy who adores reading and wants someone to love him. This broke my heart and left me gasping on the floor and I’m so scared for the next book, but I also can’t wait.

Thank you to Del Rey Books, Random House Publishing Group, Penguin Random House, L.K. Steven, and NetGalley for the ARC.

📔Silvercloak
✏️ L. K. Steven
📆 July 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

READ IF YOU LIKE:
🪄magic fueled by pain & pleasure
🪄wands, spells, & prophecy
🪄detective academy
🪄vengeance quest
🪄brutal gang
🪄undercover work

I didn't really know what to expect with this one, but I did quite enjoy it. A lot of reviews say, Harry Potter, meets the Mafia, and I get it.

One of my favorite reads of the year! I was glued to my seat the entire time I read this, and I've thought about it every day since I finished. Steven created such a vivid, dynamic world and characters. I loved the wand-based magic system, which you don't see all that often in adult fantasy books. Saffron was such a fun main character, and I loved seeing the world through her eyes. The romance was excellent and didn't overshadow the plot.