This has absolutely so much potential and I wanted to be obsessed with it however I’m struggling to make any emotional connection to the characters and finding it to be a little luckluster at the moment. But I will give this another shot at a different time, I have suspicions of where it’s going and how it ends so I am still somewhat intrigued.

Saffron’s parents were murdered by the bloodmoons. She is now in her final year at the academy when the story begins. She is seen taking her final test to become a silvercloak, little does she know that test will change her whole life.

When she goes undercover with the Bloodmoons and meets Laven they both go on a journey that will test their loyalties to the people and organizations they both belong to.

In the first half of the book there is a lot of set up for the magic system and world. The second half really pushes the story along and has a lot more action.

The ending sets up for the next book to be filled with action and tension! I cant wait to see what happens next.

This book had me hooked from the get go
If you are a fan of
Assassins
Morally Grey Villain
Enemies to Lovers
Espionage
Double Crossing
Magical Societies & Academy
Mafia(esque) romance
Then this book could be for you
Triggers include
Murder & Suicide (not a complete list of triggers)

Such a disappointment, because the premise was excellent.

On its surface, the concept of this world and magic system is fascinating. Throughout the book, the details of a world where magic is fueled by pleasure and pain were well-conceived and intriguing. Unfortunately, that did not extend to the characters or anything they did.

We are told throughout the narrative that Saffron Killoran is a crack detective, that she possesses an exceptional ability to analyze and plan in a crunch. Yet she spends every moment of the story making inexplicably poor decisions, reacting impulsively, and failing to notice even the most incredibly obvious events. Other characters were equally baffling, with their words and deeds at constant odds with what the reader is being told. Because of this, the romance fell entirely flat for me. I felt zero tension, and could not have cared less whether they ever got together. There were also some odd things with the writing, words that felt misplaced or simply incorrect.

In the wins column, it is an interesting concept with unique elements to the magic system and is also set in a queer-normative, sex-positive world. Unfortunately, that’s all it had going for it. It’s incredibly unlikely I’ll continue this series.

*I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review*

Wow. I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a book this much in a long time. SilverCloak completely pulled me in from the first page and never let go.

What truly stood out for me was the main character. She was amazing; complex, powerful, vulnerable in all the right ways, and so easy to resonate with. I felt deeply connected to her journey, especially through her internal struggles, which were portrayed with such nuance and emotional weight.

The relationships in this book were phenomenal, particularly the enemies to lovers to enemies dynamic. It was intense, layered, and emotionally charged in the best way possible. I truly love when they are properly distinguished enemies for more than just a few pages. I was constantly surprised by the turns their relationship took and the twists and turns throughout the story kept me on edge the whole time. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the story threw me another curveball, and I loved every second of it.

The world building was absolutely spectacular. It felt rich, immersive, and alive. And the magic system? So unique, so well thought out, and unlike anything I’ve seen in fantasy before. It added so much depth to the story and made every magical moment feel fresh and exciting.

And that ending. I won’t spoil anything, but it left me both satisfied and desperate for the next book. I need it now.

If you're into fantasy with strong characters, emotional complexity, inventive magic, and a plot that keeps you guessing, Silver Cloak is a must-read. I can't recommend it highly enough

This book started out really strong for me. I thought the magic system was really interesting and original. I liked Saffron as a protagonist. I think her backstory is really solid and how it informs her character works really well. What I appreciated about her the most is the quality of the questions she asks and how she reflects on the situation. It really gives her agency and intelligence. As the story goes on and the romance starts to develop though, she loses a lot of the competency you see from her in the beginning and I started to feel like realistically she packed the subtlety needed for the deep undercover position she was in.

Some of the plot things were a little too convenient or obvious but I can usually overlook that if the writing is engaging, which it mostly was.

I appreciated how the author portrayed sexual fluidity. The tension between the two main characters was pretty good up until the romance starts to develop. Then it really kind of fell apart for me. I think the biggest issue for me was the characterization of Levan. I was along for the ride while he was mostly a mystery but the more information you learn about him the less he makes any sense to me. I feel like from 60% on, the story itself starts to go off the rails and becomes a little bit flimsy. When she starts messing with time it started getting messy and confusing. The Kingpin is very mustache twirling, evil just for the sake of it and it cheapens every scene he is in.

My biggest problem was the ending. I actually don't know if I'm even interested in picking up the sequel because instead of being intrigued by the things revealed, I was mostly just confused and disappointed.

Overall, I think there are a lot of things to like about this story and I will still be recommending it to customers, but it ultimately fell a little short for me.

Wow. What a ride. And that last 10%? I WAS STRESSED AND I'M STILL STRESSED!!

Honestly, really enjoyed myself. I haven't read a fantasy with that plot before and I was a fan. I loved Saff and the journey she went on. Both on her own and with Levan. My ONLY issue and the reason I'm rating it 4 stars - I found some of it unrealistic. I just really struggled with how much they trusted her. Like yes I guess they just REALLY trust the brand, but you killed this girls parents and she shows up and willingly hands herself over? And I was kind of shocked how quickly they let her in the top, inner circle.

🎧The audiobook was fantastic. I was hooked immediately and Saffron Comber was a fantastic narrator. And how fun that she had the same name as the fmc! I will say, I didn't loooove the mail narrator at the end and kind of hope they choose someone different for book 2.

Read if you like:
-Fantasy
-Magic systems
-Magic fueled by passion & pain
-Enemies to Lovers
-Morally Grey Characters
-Revenge
-Queer-normative/sex positive world
-Mafia/Organized Crime
-Forbidden Love

Overall I was definitely a fan and recommend. Looking forward to book 2! Thank you Del Rey for the ARC!

My initial thoughts reading silvercloak were ‘this feels like the Roman Empire, religion wars and crime theory 101.’ A few days later, I heard the author had written this because she wanted a mafia style book with magic after watching an Italian mafia movie. So… checks out.

I do find this one difficult to rate overall. There were many things I found enjoyable about this story. The exploration of good v bad, what we would do for the people we love, and how we are all very much the same… even compared with the ‘bad’ people.

What would’ve made this storyline more compelling would’ve been some deeper exploration on crime theory. Like with all fantasy stories, they reflect and discuss real life themes and it did feel as though this was so far, underdeveloped. But I have hope for the next two books!

The plot felt slightly wobbly at times, with an odd pacing which made the experience a bit disjointed.

I really enjoyed the romance, and we had a scene where SHE BATHES HIM. You know I love a subversive expectations. But I also believe that with that world built on pleasure and pain, this dynamic had a lot more potential.

Overall, I had an enjoyable time and I look forward to reading the next book after that wonderful, mind bending ending.

I really enjoyed this book a lot!! Saffron is such a great morally gray character and I adored reading from her perspective! The world of Silvercloak is so interesting and I can’t wait to see where the store goes from here!! I am obsessed with Nessa, and all the silvercloaks honestly, and I really hope we see more of everyone in the next book!

I have two reasons for why this book isn’t five stars. 1. I had such a hard time keeping up with the different spells everyone was casting. For example, I kept confusing the killing spell with all the other ones. 2. I wish there had been more development between Saffron and Levan. They had so many scenes together and yet it kind of felt like they went from reluctant allies to lovers too quickly, I would’ve enjoyed more of a slow burn, but maybe that’s just personal preference.

Thank you so much to the publisher for sending me an arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

I received an ARC for an honest review. This is a world with unique magic, where the premise is following Saffron who is training to be a Silvercloak aka a magical detective. The most notorious crime syndicate is the Bloodmoons and the Silvercloaks number one priority is to get something to stick and bring them down.

It did feel at times that the story drug on, but overall it’s well written and the ending doesn’t end as expected. At times, I wondered why there was a need for the fantasy/magic at all, as it seemed more like a cop storyline in a fantasy world, but later in the book the magic takes a front seat and the story wouldn’t work without it. The ending does hook you into wanting to see where book 2 takes the story, so sill keep reading the series.

Del Rey and L. K. Steven….. thank you. It was about time I read a new god-tier, stare-at-a-wall-at-that-ending type of fantasy book.

I loved the premise of the magic system before I started reading, and honestly that was one of the main reasons I was interested in it in the first place. It’s so unique, and the way it’s brought to life is incredible. I was so immersed in this book the whole way through, it felt so real and took up every single ounce of brain space even when I wasn’t actively reading it.

The detective aspect is also so fun! It feels quite FBI vs Mafia to me with the mafia-type Bloodmoons being a dark, underworld organised crime gang but obviously with magic. OBSESSED.

The journey Saff goes through and the constant fighting with her own loyalties and emotions is captivating. I couldn’t decide what actions I wanted her to take, and I still couldn’t tell you if I agreed with her decisions or not!

Highly recommend this to fans of fantasy-forward Romantasy. I’m telling you this trilogy is going to be huge!!

One of the most inventive fantasy books I've read in a long time. The worldbuilding was so immersive, and I really enjoyed not only the hierarchy of magic but also how magic is both restored and strengthened (via pleasure and pain). This isn't a story for the faint of heart, either; there's a lot of unforgiving violence, torture, and other graphic depictions of occasional gore, so be prepared to go in with a strong stomach. That said, where this book ends is SO interesting, and I'm hopeful that this might mean Steven is committing to Saffron in her villain era moving forward, because I think that's an infinitely more interesting path for her character. (If there was anything that kind of turned me off a BIT, it was Saffron's continuous snarking while she was supposed to be undercover with the Bloodmoons; I have a hard time believing they would've given that kind of attitude any degree of leeway, especially given their reputation.)

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this edition from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

L.K. Steven never fails to write a book that lives rent free in my head.

I absolutely loved Our Infinite Fates, her most recent YA fantasy novel, and this adult fantasy debut hits just the same. Steven paints an intricate world of magic and mystery effortlessly. Her characters are detailed to the point where I consider her to be Dr. Frankenstein. The main plot had me on the edge of my seat the entire time, and the romance had me gasping and giggling every other page.

I felt every emotion under the sun, and I need her next book immediately.

This was just ok for me, I had a bit of trouble with the writing and the plot. I wish the romance was expanded. And tbh just everything was expanded on. The concept was interesting but the execution was eh.

Thank you to Laura Steven, NetGalley, and Del Rey for the free eARC. All opinions are my own.

As soon as I saw Silvercloak on NetGalley, I applied for the ARC without hesitation. It has one of the most stunning covers I’ve seen recently. Honestly, if the special edition were available in my country, I’d buy it in a heartbeat.

Now, let’s talk about the story.

From the start, Silvercloak hooked me. The opening was particularly strong, and I found myself trying to read it as quickly as possible. As the story progressed, it leaned more toward romantasy than pure fantasy, in my opinion. I personally would have loved more detailed world-building and deeper character development.

The pacing is fast, with layers of mystery and unanswered questions unfolding as you go. There’s a solid narrative tempo that keeps you turning the pages—even though I didn’t find any of the characters especially likable. My favorite was Rasso. I wasn’t a fan of Saffron or the other Silvercloaks, and the Bloodmoons didn’t win me over either. That said, I would have liked more insight into the Rezaran family.

It’s worth noting that the book contains both violence and spice. I don’t typically gravitate toward spicy novels, but I’ve come to realize that romantasy often includes that element. As for the violence, it hit me hard—I tend to react to it like I’ve just eaten the sourest lemon. Personally, I would have preferred less of it.

Still, for adult readers who love romantasy, Silvercloak is an exhilarating ride.

A magic system controlled through pleasure or pain?? sign me UP.

The start of the book and magic system really had my interest piqued. Although there were parts that I enjoyed, I wish we had explored the magic / refueling more and that the rules had stayed more consistent throughout the book.

Unfortunately, changing-the-past magic ability never really appeals to me so I was a bit underwhelmed with reading about characters dying knowing they’ll most likely be saved (which ended up happening for some.)

Although the book is marketed as Romantasy and has more adult themes, it really reads like a YA. Some of the jokes land on the more immature side and Saffron’s relationships with Levan and Nissa never had me feeling connected to them. Plot points felt a bit too easy and straight forward which then made the “reveals” too obvious.

This is a story about the departed.

I don't know what I was expecting going into this one- but the cover felt offputting to me for whatever reason (I still don't know, I just don't like it). That being said, I really loved Our Infinite Faits by the same author so I figured I would at least like this okay? So happy to be wrong! I loved it. It absolutely reminded me of a magic infused take on The Departed (which was a take on Infernal Affairs)- and it was perfection. The magic system is incredibly cool, the protagonist is compelling and the dynamics feel well developed. My only complaint is that I fear it will take ages for the sequel to come out and THAT ENDING has me on the edge of my seat waiting.

Thank you so much Netgalley and Del Rey for the e Arc!

DNF at 20%. I’m just kind of bored, as it’s rather info-dumpy, with a lot of telling about the characters instead of showing. World is interesting, but not enough to keep my attention.

I loved this! The magic was so unique and the world building felt very immersive. Laura Steven's writing is gorgeous: descriptive and rich but not overwhelming or superfluous. Despite weaving a unique picture of magic and politics, I never found myself too confused by the nuances. I had questions, but they always felt like they were in line with what I was supposed to be wondering about. Some are unanswered, but that makes sense to the story and Saffron's mission. I really appreciated how each character had their flaws and areas of grey morality. I think that lends itself really well to a fantasy where you'd typically go in expecting a clear line of good and evil between two opposing sides. The twists and turns of the plot truly kept me guessing the whole way and Saffron's simultaneous journeys of discovery kept me invested. It was cool how she went in with one mission in mind but learned more about so many other events in the process. The parallels of the story that are revealed later on really hit me in the gut--the foreshadowing was wonderful and made for great emotional payoff. I can't wait to read book 2!!

Silvercloak started off quite well: a fantasy world where magic rules, where physical sensation provides the power for magic, where the relatively rare person who can't perform magic is called a Ludder. But the power provided by pain is of a different quality than the power provided by pleasure, and while most practitioners prefer pleasure, their own and others', those who choose to harness the power of pain often prefer the pain of others, as well as the inflection of that pain.

Into this work comes Saffron, a six year-old child of loving parents who are murdered in front of her for refusing to perform necromancy, an often sought-after and very rare skill - and one which, even when done correctly, has a permanent and negative effect on the person resurrected. The story then jumps ahead to Saffron's young adulthood, when she is just completing training to be a Silvercloak - a magical law enforcement agent. Throughout her life, she has hidden a secret: while she is well able to perform magic herself, magic performed directly against her simply has no effect. Her parents - and later, her uncles, who raised her after the death of her parents - taught her to keep that secret; it was unheard of that magic would not work on a person. Even the Ludders could have magic performed on them; they simply couldn't use it themselves. As she nears the completion of her advanced training, however, this secret ability becomes the key to her future.

For the most part, I enjoyed this novel, especially the world that the author created and the way magic works there, but the key romantic plotline, between Saffron and Levan, the son of the man who ordered her parents' deaths, was a bit hard to take. There was a little too much "No, I can't, I shouldn't", followed by a much-too-quick capitulation, which then led to Saffron changing the entire course of her life in one act, based on this relationship. This depiction of a strong woman changing her life's goal for love is one I have difficulty with. Due to this, as well as graphic descriptions of both torture and sex, this novel is recommended for adults only.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.