This book is defiantly a good high fantasy book however i did struggle to keep up with the plot at points. there is so many different spells and in fights it definitely gets confusing and overwhelming to read and a glossary would be good. the final plot twist was good and leaves room for a sequel, there is the element of prophesy used throughout the book whitch initially felt like it was spoiling the ending however the plot twist was good. however overall it wasn't significantly memorable or a stand out book in comparison to many romantasy books.

Silvercloak has such an interesting magical premise that I couldn’t help but be drawn in by it. Not only are there different types and classifications of magic, but the users magic is limited by their well which can only be refilled through either pleasure or pain. Not only that, there are rival magic gangs mixed in that partake in some truly gruesome activities that the FMC Saffron finds herself mixed up in. This book presents some interesting moral dilemmas for how far you’re willing to go to achieve your goals. Additionally, both Saffron and Levan were fascinating characters in their views and their experiences as well as the nature of their relationship with one another. The ending of this book is completely wild, and I’m still processing everything that happened and what the implications of those actions are. The main place where Silvercloak fell a little flat for me was in the pacing. It needed more balance between the edge of your seat action and intrigue and the slower moments as it slowed down too much for me at times. I also expected more from Saffron’s time with the Bloodmoons given their reputation. Overall, I enjoyed this, and I can’t wait to see where book two goes.

4 ⭐

I really enjoyed this new world, I already knew the author's style and I can say that with this book it was even more beautiful.

This book was interesting both for plot and for characters, even though I think I'll appreciate the main character more with the next book.

The originality met with plot twists and a world Building that was able to completely encaptur me, while keeping me on edge and making me feel all of the emotions

This book was everything I wanted it to be.
I loved the pacing throughout and the rich description of the world and magic system was done in a way that didn’t feel info dump-y and only helped to further immerse me in the plot.
I loved the fmc and mmc’s dynamic, and their morally ambiguous natures.
The ending made me so mad in the best way and I cannot wait to know where the story will go from here.
I feel incredibly lucky to have been given the opportunity to read this as an ARC and I have been recommending to preorder to anyone and everyone!
Thank you to NetGalley and Delrey for the eARC.

I went into this so excited as I love Laura’s work and the premise is so good! And the concept really held up, the way the magic works feels fresh and interesting. We also get to have the fun of the undercover scenario and knowing pretty much everyone has something to hide all the time!

However the first half or so of the book felt a little rushed to get to the action and in places a bit plot-hole-y? I really enjoyed it after Saffron has settled in to the Bloodmoons but there were a couple of times where it all happened a little too easily or felt sort of cliched? And there’s a lot of cool small things in the world building that I’d love to see more of.

Into the second half, there are still a couple of shakier moments but mostly it really picks up and we get to actually know the characters and the organisations Saff is interacting with. I do still have a few questions, especially around motivations, but I am very much looking forward to seeing how it all plays out in book two as there were so many reveals by the end!

The romance is sort of meh - I did like it when they were sort of coming together, but I’m not sure I agreed that either of them would have got there - especially with what we end up learning!

It’s difficult because I did enjoy the book and maybe was let down by high expectations, but I’ve been seeing everyone raving and that’s just not where I was with it sadly. I am still giving it 3.5 stars cause it does a great job of being a specific sort of magical society that I’ve not read a lot of recently, and I definitely missed that; and because I do really still want the next book.

Silvercloak is an adult fantasy with a really intriguing magic system, messy character dynamics, and a world that definitely has potential.

I loved the idea of magic being fuelled by pain and restored by pleasure. It’s such a unique concept and brings something fresh to the genre! I just wish it had been explored more, although that might happen in the next book.

The world-building had its moments, too. There are glimpses of other regions and tensions that I’d love to see more of in future books. But I’ll be honest, some parts reminded me so strongly of other fantasy series (Ahem... Harry Potter) that I found it a bit distracting. It sometimes felt more familiar than original.

The pacing felt uneven and a little all over the place. The beginning was slow, and I kept waiting for things to really kick off. It especially slowed down towards the middle and then REALLY picked up towards the end. I’m definitely curious where the story will go from here, but I think I expected more to happen early on.

I was also a little underwhelmed by the
romance. I love an enemies-to-lovers romance, but I didn’t really feel the tension or conflict between Saffron and Levan in the beginning. He was very sweet from the start, which made their dynamic feel more flat than fiery. I wanted more spark there, too.

Still, I didn’t have a bad time reading this. It was entertaining, and I think there’s room for this series to grow into something stronger. Given that things got more interesting towards the end, I'll definitely be picking up the next book.

For now, this was a 3.5 star read for me. It was a solid start, but I wanted just a little more.

Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey for the opportunity to read an ARC of this amazing book!

The unique world and magic system centred around pleasure and pain was a great hook into the story, I loved how this way of fuelling magic was reflected so much in the world of Silvercloak which really helped immerse you into a whole new fantasy world. I loved the way the story grips you and doesn’t let you go while you’re following Saff (FMC) along in her infiltration of this worlds magic mafia. The story builds to this amazing finale which left me staring at a wall for a little while afterwards (how am I supposed to wait so long until the next book comes out?!)

I recommend this to anyone who loves a high stakes fantasy with twists and turns along the way - and a hot mafia kingpin’s son thrown into the mix.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Ray for this arc! Silvercloak is an interesting book; with a premise of a main character going undercover to take down a powerful syndicate, it should be intriguing, and in fairness, it is! The world is rich, and the magic is well done. A lot of effort was put into this book, and you can really tell. There was a lot of potential for it to be a hit with me, but unfortunately it did fall flat and that mainly comes down to the MC, Saffron. She has the interesting potential of not being affected by magic, which makes her very valuable as an undercover agent, but at times, that feels like that that's all that there is to her. A lot of the time, it feels like she's only getting away by the skin of her teeth and it happens way too often for my liking. On the other hand, Levan is fantastic, especially in the latter half of the book, and I wished he was the main point of view.

All in all, I don't think Silvercoak is a bad book, I just don't think its a book for me, and that's okay! Many others will and have liked this book, so there is a clear audience for it. I have faith that the books following this one will be even better!

This book was incredibly well done. It was action packed alongside romantic tension and interesting characters.
The two main characters, Levan and Saffron, were both well thought out characters. On opposing sides through their loyalties yet falling for one another despite their differences. The tension between the two was crazy.

I found the plot super intriguing. There was never a dull moment and I felt the plot remained consistent throughout the book. I also really enjoyed the writing style and how emotions were portrayed in the book.
This book was kinda like Harry Potter but add mob vibes.

Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5/5
Saffron has waited a long time to get revenge on the Bloodmoons for the death of her parents. When she gets the chance to go undercover and infiltrate, she gets close to the kingpin’s son in an effort to gain valuable information. Saffron’s hatred is a motivating force, but it wanes as she gets to know Levan and sees the human in him. The story had a very promising beginning but fell flat for me during certain parts. I found the magic system to be a bit confusing as it had no real limits and the lines were blurred. Starting out I enjoyed Saffron as a protagonist but towards the end I felt there was some inconsistency to her character and I never quite knew what her interests were. Levan was a great character, and I was shocked at each revelation towards the end of the book. How is he so powerful? How is his magic linked with Saffron's? I really enjoyed the themes of right vs. wrong and seeing the difference in a ‘lawful good’ character like Auria compared to Saffron who becomes more morally grey throughout the book. The ending was great. I also appreciated the concepts of intertwining fates, prophecies and the altering of time. Thank you to Del Rey for the advance reader copy!

“Then came the axis tilt, the perspective shift, the great pitching of the world beneath her feet. A thunderclap of terrible understanding. Oh, she thought, horrified and fascinated in equal measure. This is how villains are born.”

What. A. Ride. Buckle up, because #Silvercloak shakes your brain cells!
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Saffron is orphaned and her whole outlook on life is taking revenge on her enemy. But when she goes undercover and gets to know her very hot, broody and tormented mmc, she has a hard time to stay on the good side of history when she doesn't even know which side it actually is.
With a magic system based on pleasure and pain... be prepared to feel this story!
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Why I loved it:
action packed and fast paced
trauma as a trope done well,
Everyone morally grey,
Cool magic system
Some arcs are really well set up: I love it when something at the start of the story comes back later to make more sense or to bite you in the a**. 😆
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Where my brow knitted together:
Marking kills on your body is done enough, do not use if it has little meaning, the character's nature had already been established.
I struggled with Saff's well at times: full, empty, a sliver and she does crazy stuff (not disclosing what to keep you wanting to know more, you know 😉).
The start of the novel feels a bit like an infodump with a little too much tell and too little showing. Get past it. The rest is a nice ride!
4☆/5!
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I look forward to book 2! Hopefully I will get to read it as an arc as well on @NetGalley. Special thanks to @delreypublishing / @randomhousepublishing for putting this novel available on the website. I hope the review with my honest opinions help readers to choose this book! Out on July 29, make sure to not miss out!

I. Am. Speechless….. I don’t think I have read a book that has gotten me so excited, encaptured and awed since I was a child. This IS going to be the next sensation in the fantasy world and I will settle for no less
The magic system is so unique and completely refreshing to read something so different than other books out there
Saffron the FMC is the perfect protagonist on her own journey for revenge and the development of her character is unmatched throughout
This is a TRUE enemies to lovers… to enemies to lovers… to enemies which is so rare these days, I think this trope is thrown around too much in the book world without being true and this doesn’t disappoint in Silvercloak
Laura’s epic world building and intricate descriptions of scenes is impeccable and the subtle foreshadowing leaves you just needing MORE

You cannot see ANY of the plot twists coming and this is something I live for in a fantasy book…I’m now left staring out at window in a complete book hangover and it’s not going to resolve any time soon

I have never read a book before where I am truly immersed into the whole world, and all I can think about is that this MUST be made into a motion picture because it would be world class..

Tropes:
Enemies to lovers
Prophecies
A sprinkle of dragons 👀
Fierce FMC
Unique magic system
Steamy but palatable spice
Epic battle scenes
Betrayals

L K Steven/Laura you are a genius
Thank you Del Rey, NetGalley and L K Steven for this ARC

This book took me completely by surprise, I didn't know what to expect and I wasn't disappointed. When I read...."in a world fueled by pleasure and pain" I was intrigued. This has Harry Potter for adults vs organized crime vibes with a unique magic concept, secrets, betrayals, tension, and reveals, all keeping me invested until the end... and that ending! Highly recommend this new fantasy read.

The pacing is sharp, with high-stakes moments and well-crafted tension that kept me turning pages late into the night. Steven’s world-building is vivid and immersive, balancing action with deeper emotional threads that give weight to the characters’ choices. I especially appreciated how the story maintained a sense of urgency without sacrificing character development.

🩶 Silvercloak 🩶

fantasy friends - if this one isn't on your radar yet.... it needs to be. I cannot stop thinking about this book & I am already *dying* to know what happens next in this series. it's SO good.

check this one out if you like...
🌙 magic fueled by pleasure and pain
🌙 third person POV
🌙 fantasy & slow burn romance
🌙 going undercover with the enemy
🌙 books with chapter titles
🌙 queer-normative & sex-positive worlds
🌙 magic with spells & wands

I totally adored this book (so much that I devoured the last 40% in one sitting yesterday) & hope everyone picks this one up on July 29th! if you're looking for your next fantasy read, this is your sign!!

thanks to @delreybooks & @laurasteven for the E-ARC! 🫶

The bones of a good book are here but it falls short. The plot and character development felt very overexplained, there is a lot of "tell" instead of showing here and a lot of repeated information that felt unnecessary. I wonder if the issue here was the author trying to go from YA into the new adult fiction realm. Even so I read and enjoy a lot of YA, so it could have still been a great read but fell flat. I might read another of the author's books to see what the writing is usually like.

Because of this the reading experience is very disjointed, it’s like the spice and extra gruesome scenes are used for the sake of pushing it into the adult category instead of focusing on the other elements that would have been able to do that.

The magic and world is interesting and the ideas here are great but not written remarkably enough to grip you. The queer representation in this book was done well, it felt like a normal part of the world and considered rather than there for the sake of it, which I felt grateful for.

I do think the way this book is being marketed has let it down (as a lot of books currently), as it made it seem like an adult epic sweeping fantasy with romance subplot, whilst yes the story has the potential to be that, it just doesn't quite get there.

Overall I think this is a mid range read, not terrible but also not overly gripping.

Thanks NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC.

Silvercloak throws you into a world of gangs, secrets, and deadly magic!!

Saffron’s out for revenge against the Bloodmoons.. the ones who destroyed her family and she’ll do whatever it takes to bring them down. But when she meets Levan, the tortured son of the kingpin, she realizes he’s the man from the prophecy… the one she’s destined to kiss, then kill. 👀✨

The magic system is so unique. Power fueled by pleasure or pain? 😳 Yes please. I loved the Peaky Blinders vibe and the constant cat and mouse. It’s a slow burn in places, but the twists and that final chapter had me gasping!

Thank you to Del Rey for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

So this started off slow for me but the second half really got my attention and I am super excited to see what happens next, I went into this completely blind so I wasn’t sure what to expect but i am obsessed with this and excited to see how it goes.

I am sitting here, just still in awe about that ending! The last 50-75 pages has me in whirlwind! This was just so good! The world, the magic, the characters! This was rich in fantasy and the enemies to lovers was perfection! Some twists, some turns, it took me right around! I am already excited for book two, and this one hasn't even come out yet! A solid 4.75 read for me!

Was super excited for this following Our Infinite Fates by Laure Steven’s but unfortunately this was a bit lackluster.

The world building in the beginning chapters was so great and gave the story such a great set up. The magic system being reliant on pleasure and pain was unique and I loved how it was so different from the majority of fantasy books we see now. So overall the setup and initial premise of this book was 10/10.

That being said, once we get to the point after Saffrons “betrayal” and imprisonment, it definitely started to go downhill a bit. Everything felt too easy for Saffron and for someone who went through the academy and was so incredibly well-trained, it felt very reckless and convenient. She doesn’t think before acting but then also has a running commentary about how she does xyz because of her extensive training. I never really felt she was in danger, she isn’t affected by magic and I didn’t buy her pretending to be. The overall plot felt rushed and the ending I did unfortunately predict.

I’m rating this 3 stars just because it did have such a strong beginning and I do think it could get better with the next one. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review ◡̈