Did Laura Stevens just become one of my auto-buy authors? I think she did. This book grabbed me from the start. It most definitely gives off adult Harry Potter vibes. Like this is what was going on behind the scenes. The magic system and world building were done so well. That ending had me on the edge of my seat. THAT EPILOGUE has me dying to know where this story will take us next. So, I will be patiently waiting for the next book in this series.

Thank you for this arc in exchange for an honest review. This

5⭐

Thank you L. K. Steven and Del Rey for the ARC!

This was my first book from the author and I was heavily intrigued by the synopsis and it did not disappoint me at all! This is beautifully woven story about anti-heroes in a dark, cruel and gory world. The world-building is unique and the author did a fantastic job with a successful wand-based magic system. The relationship and power imbalance between Levan and Saffron was an intriguing topic that was delved with and that ending still has me reeling in shock! I cannot wait to see how this trilogy unfolds!

𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒚 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘.

A really cool magic system, an undercover detective mage with an irresistible enemies-to-lovers storyline? Yes please, sign me up for more servings of Silvercloak.

Where do I begin with Silvercloak? Each time I go to write something I remember another moment I loved. I’ll start at the beginning, a scene introducing Saffron as a child being delighted by her father casting really daft illusions. It felt like the most realistic representation of humans using magic that I’ve ever read.
Then comes the catastrophic end of the Prologue that tore my heart out like it was a Disney movie. However, it provides our main character with the motivation for the main plot. After spending years in training to become a Silvercloak (this world's peacekeepers / police essentially) Saffron is going undercover, infiltrating the Bloodmoons, aiming to destroy the gang that killed her parents. It’s a perilous mission that becomes even more fraught with danger as she starts to get feelings for the kingpin’s son, Levan. He’s a whole other tall, dark and brooding story that I think we’ve barely scratched the surface of. 10/10 morally (really dark) grey love interest, I need to know more.
And that’s without touching on the magic system. Each person’s “well” of magic is replenished by pleasure and intensified by pain. Which is not only a very cool concept but gives the “romantasy” elements of this book an interesting edge. There’s still the sizzling moments of tension and intimacy between characters but it’s… mature? Sex is a thing, they need to replenish their magic, that’s one of many good ways to do it. This matter of fact undertone doesn’t take away from the spice of the scenes, it gives them a purpose and they are utilised relatively sparingly but effectively.
Finally, do you know on bookish social media, people make posts about the iconic line of the book or the series? The final line before the epilogue is that moment. I really want to quote it - I won’t, because spoilers - but it was one of those delicious jaw-dropping moments that made me so giddy at the possibilities of what could happen next. And then the Epilogue comes out of nowhere to deliver a final gobsmacking blow! L K Steven, I need much more Silvercloak at your earliest convenience, please and thank you.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this e-arc.
I struggled with this book – it took me time to get through it. I feel like I should have liked it, it had all the fundamental elements that I look for in fantasy, but I still struggled. Maybe it was slower than I was expecting? I think this book will be right up a lot of people’s alleys – just unfortunately not for me.

Thank you Del Rey for the ARC!

Silvercloak by L. K. Steven is an amazing adult debut. I enjoyed it so much and it reminded me of Harry Potter so much! The magic system and the world was so unique and the magical gangs had me super intrigued. The relationship between the MCs had me on chokehold and that ending absolutely killed me. You can count on Laura Steven to absolutely destroy you with an ending. I cannot wait for the next installment!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the gifted eARC! All thoughts are my own.

I loved every page of this book! After devouring Our Infinite Fates, I was so excited to be able to read more from this author. Her character work is incredible; I was immediately invested in Saffron (flaws and all) and the side characters are all so complex and well developed. Every time I thought I knew what someone was planning, I would quickly realize it was never going to be that straightforward and thoroughly enjoyed every twist.

The magic system was the perfect blend of the new and the familiar. Some elements, like wands, spells, and potions reminded me of stories I loved as a kid and felt like a warm hug, while the addition of magic’s link to a person’s experience of pleasure and pain was such an interesting and well executed concept that elevated the story to a gritty, adult realm.

I’ve been raving about this book to pretty much anyone who will listen and I can’t wait to continue in this world!

This book had a darker, more mature Harry Potter feel, with an incredible magic system and a fast-paced world full of deception and intrigue. I really enjoyed that the main characters were in their late 20s to 30s—it was a nice change from the usual teenage protagonists.

The academy setting at the start was one of my favorite parts, with intense, life-or-death training that required magic, strategy, and quick thinking. I wish this part had lasted longer! A prequel focusing on their full training would be something I’d love to read.

There was so much packed into this story—fantastic world-building, political intrigue, betrayal, magical creatures, and a dark, twisted atmosphere (definitely check the trigger warnings!). The forbidden romance and deeper themes of trauma, mental health, grief, and loss made the characters even more compelling.

The magic system was by far my favorite aspect. Mages replenish their power through pleasure or pain, which led to some really intense and unique moments. The spellcasting had a slightly Harry Potter-esque feel, especially with the darker spells.

Even though the world-building was complex, it never felt overwhelming, and the ending—just wow! Silvercloak was such a refreshing read.

Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I was so zoned into this book from the beginning, I'm so mad right now i could scream. That epilogue pissed me offffff. Great book!

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.
Descending into a world where pleasure and pain are the most powerful currencies, Saff must commit some truly heinous deeds to keep her cover—and her life. Not only are there rival gangs and sinister smuggling rings to contend with, but there’s also her growing feelings for the kingpin’s tortured son, with his vicious pet fallowwolf, his dark past, and the curious prophecy foretelling his death at Saffron’s hand.
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.

Thanks to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of this book!

Silvercloak
by L. K. Steven
Book 1 of The Silvercloak Saga
Pub Date Jul 29 2025
Random House Publishing Group

I’ve genuinely been so excited to pick up Silvercloak for a while now and am happy to report that I wasn’t disappointed. In a story full of magic, pleasure and pain, the author managed to no just create an incredible world but also layered characters that will have you shake your head in frustration and root for them alike.

There was a lot happening in this series opener and I think L.K. Steven did a fantastic job at establishing the perimeters and rules of the setting. It felt familiar and original at the same time, which made it easy to follow. The reader gradually gets information that never feels like it’s just dumped on you, which I appreciated a lot. When it came to the plot though, especially in the beginning, I sometimes felt like the author didn’t fully trust her audience to remember all the details, because some elements felt repeated more than necessary. That could just be a me thing, though.

While there was a bit more violence than I expected, Silvercloak really shone when it came to the characters. Everyone starts out with such fixed values that will get shaken up eventually (even more so as we go through the series, I presume). There were so many moments where I thought I wouldn’t be able to like a character ever again, ship certain people or where I didn’t understand decisions that were made, but then your whole view of them gets turned upside down. It was delightful to get surprised time and time again.

All I’m going to say to conclude this is, don’t trust anyone and nothing is written in stone. I can’t wait to find out what happens next!

I found this a very easily immersive story initially but once Saffron grew so too did my confusion. The storyline became convoluted as she rose through the ranks and went undercover and it divorced my emotions from the storyline, a little. This was a tense and fun political thriller but maybe one I need to reread before continuing on in the series. I liked what it brought to the fantasy genre, however, as I haven't read a storyline quite like this one before.

This book is so fresh and was unlike anything I've ever read! The time weaving aspect is really amazing and the life or death exam/class setting in a school was so unique. I couldn't put this down!

I had zero idea what this was about going in but in the first chapter I was shook and ready to fly through this book.

I recently read Steven’s YA novel Our Infinite Fates and loooved it and after reading this adult fantasy by her, I’m a stan and I’m going to need the next in this series IMMEDIATELY…please Laura…like right now

I love the world and magic system she created where it is fueled by pleasure and pain and you follow Saffron as she infiltrates the organization responsible for the death of her parents. Along with Saff, you start to question who are the true good vs bad guys are and sometimes you’re feeling torn on who to root for.

—Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for the ARC!

This read was full of ups and downs.

The premise of this book is intriguing, and the prologue made me so excited. I thoroughly enjoyed the first 25% of the story, up until the point when Saff starts her undercover mission.

That’s when the story unfortunately reaches a lull. I struggled to continue reading, and nearly dropped this so many times. I had to skim in order to push myself through it. The plot didn’t really pick up again until the 65% mark. You’d think that we’d experience a clearer buildup because this is when Saff literally infiltrates the mafia and finally begins her revenge arc, but this entire middle section lacked excitement and felt very slow paced.

The events and plot twists are very exciting once the pace picks back up, but the resolution is disappointingly predictable and feels like a cop-out. The ending is intriguing enough and does leave you wondering what happens next, but there’s something about it that’s lackluster. We’re essentially left with the aftermath of a complete disaster with only a vague inkling of what the main characters want to do next.

Overall, this story had a unique concept that I enjoy more. Ultimately, I would have been more satisfied by reading a summary just to see how the events unfold, and I will probably be taking that route when the next book comes out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for this ARC.

Wowwww this book is such a fun combination of mafia crime and unique magic. On the outside, it seems like a good vs. evil predicament but as you get deeper into the book, you may find yourself questioning who you’re rooting for. The magic is based on pleasure and pain, time weaving, necromancy, teleporting, etc. It took me a little bit to get into the story but once I was in, that was it. I was hooked. So many plot twists and crazy moments that it keeps you on the edge. I cannot wait for the second book!! 4.5 stars!! Thank you for the arc!!

A world with unique magic, driven by pleasure and pain, and where the use of its cost you.Saffron Killoran witnesses at six year old sets her on a coarse of lies, deception, and avenge to those who have wronged her and those important to her. As for the male character, Levan, the son of the most powerful Bloodmoon. His storyline had brutality and yet I enjoyed his vulnerability. The twist and turns left this novel on a huge cliff hanger. I would almost say this was borderline YA. But I thoroughly enjoyed this story and can’t wait for the next.

Reading Silvercloak by L.K. Steven was an intense and captivating experience from beginning to end. The story follows Saffron Killoran, a woman whose life has been shaped by the murder of her parents at the hands of the Bloodmoon gang. After spending two decades fueled by a need for revenge, she infiltrates the Silvercloaks, a prestigious order that specializes in handling magical crimes. Her mission leads her deep into enemy territory, where she must embed herself within the Bloodmoons to dismantle their operations. However, things become even more complicated when she begins developing feelings for Levan, the son of the gang’s ruthless leader.

One of the most compelling aspects of the novel is its world-building. Magic in this universe is tied to the forces of pleasure and pain, creating a system that feels both fresh and deeply ingrained in the story’s conflicts. The detailed descriptions and atmosphere make every setting feel real, from the dark, dangerous alleys to the grand halls of power. The balance between action, intrigue, and raw emotion keeps the tension high throughout.

The plot seamlessly blends high-stakes adventure with deeper themes of power, corruption, and personal sacrifice. Saffron’s journey is filled with dangerous assignments, political schemes, and unexpected twists that keep the story unpredictable. The layers of deception and moral ambiguity make it impossible to see things in black and white, which adds to the depth of the narrative.

Character development stands out as another major strength. Saffron is a formidable protagonist—intelligent, skilled, and deeply driven by her past. Her internal struggle between vengeance and the realities of the world she navigates makes her a fascinating character to follow. Levan, who initially appears as an obstacle to her goals, turns out to be far more complex than expected. Their dynamic is filled with tension, making their relationship one of the most engaging parts of the book.

Another standout element is the inclusivity woven into the story. The cast is diverse, and the representation of queer identities feels natural and well-integrated rather than an afterthought. This representation adds another layer of authenticity to the world and its characters.

As the story reaches its climax, the revelations and action-packed sequences make it difficult to put the book down. The ending leaves just enough unanswered questions to make the next installment highly anticipated. For those looking for a dark fantasy filled with rich world-building, morally complex characters, and an unpredictable storyline, this is a book that delivers on all fronts.

If you're a fan of morally grey enemies to lovers dark fantasy novels - get ready to jump in!

I loved Our Infinite Fates and was grateful to receive Silvercloak by Laura Steven. Saffron was only 6 years old when she witnessed her parents murdered before her eyes - she has sworn that she will get revenge no matter what the cost. She must go undercover to selfishly do the wrong things for the right reasons.

This book has intricate world building and a unique magic system that relies on pleasure & pain. There are twists along the way, a morally grey love interest as well, and charming side characters -- my favorite was Auria. The book starts off a bit slow but as predicted the last half is exhilarating and exhausting with a lil spice sprinkled in there.

Thank you so much to Del Rey and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review - I can hardly wait to reread this book and consume the sequel!!!

Fantasy lovers grab your copy this July 2025!

Silvercloak is an addictive romantic fantasy set in a world where magic is fueled by pleasure and pain. A determined detective infiltrates a brutal gang of dark mages, fully aware that one wrong move could cost her life.

I was immediately hooked by this book. The unique magic system completely fascinated me, and the world she created was truly impressive. What really kept me engaged, though, were the characters, especially Saffron, the main character. Her development was something that kept me turning pages, eager to see what would happen next. I really enjoyed the book and can’t wait to see where the story goes from here!

I really liked the female main character and the male main character and I found them both interesting. I loved the fact that they were both morally grey and each had their own reasons!
I love a brooding and powerful male main character!

I thought the magic system was really unique and interesting, the fact that the magic is fueled by pleasure and pain what a clever idea! I also like how because of this the book explored both good side of the magic system but also the darker side and the lengths people would go to to seek the pleasure and pain for their magic!

I found the plot to be really engaging and I thought the pacing was really good! It kept me reading and I didn’t feel it lag.

The end was crazy! There were a couple of plot twists I didn’t expect and I do enjoy when a fantasy book has a crazy last 100 pages which is what this book had!
Also I’m sorry but “”This is how villains are born” and “Saffron Killoran unmade my world. And now I will unmake her”.. I need book 2 NOW!!

I think the only thing for me was that I felt a couple of moments happened at inconvenient times for me. For example, when his hand was impaled to the table but it was a good time for a romantic encounter. Also, the revealing of their secrets in the closet. It was chaos outside and they were chatting, granted it was important but it just felt a little odd timing.

However, saying that I really enjoyed the book and I already have the Waterstones exclusive edition on preorder!

Another banger by Laura Steven! Silvercloak has impressive world building, a unique magic system, Harry Potter-esque wands and killing curses, criminal organizations, prophecies, and more. The concept of magic needing to be refilled with either pain or pleasure was super interesting and I loved all of the different types of magic - there’s everything from brewing potions to necromancy to rewriting time itself.

The MC Saffron’s assignment to infiltrate the notorious Bloodmoons (aka the people who murdered her parents) was equally thrilling and nerve wracking. I absolutely loved the morally grey MMC aka the kingpin’s son aka the man Saffron is prophesied to kill. Their relationship is super slow burn with a hint of spice and plenty of betrayal. The way things ended for them had me on the edge of my seat - I actually flew through the second half of this book! The rest of this series is sure to be amazing.

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!