A spellbinding reimagining of Tristan and Isolde, The Enemy’s Daughter delivers a fresh blend of dystopian grit, forbidden magic, and romantic tension that will appeal to fans of The Hurricane Wars and Curious Tides.

I loved the worldbuilding—post-apocalyptic, war-torn, and tinged with rare magic. The setting felt both grounded and immersive, and I appreciated how the stakes remained high throughout. Isadora is a compelling heroine—strong, determined, and torn between loyalty and emotion. Tristan, brooding and mysterious, brings that morally gray appeal that romantasy thrives on. Their bond, magical and emotional, creates an immediate tension, though I did wish their relationship had simmered longer before sparking. A bit more slow burn would’ve made their enemies-to-lovers arc even more satisfying.

Some of the political and familial dynamics felt a little rushed, especially with Isadora’s father. His motivations, while thematically powerful, didn’t quite mesh seamlessly into the world and felt more like a message than a character. I would’ve loved to see more nuance or depth there.

Overall, though, this was a promising debut with a lot of heart and magic. The premise is irresistible, and I’m curious to see what Melissa Poett writes! A must-read for fans of magical bonds, intense loyalties, and dystopian romantasy with teeth.

Fun and enticing! I absolutely loved the world building. A fantastic retelling with a little twist that will keep you hooked

In this ambitious reimagining of *Tristan and Isolde*, readers are transported to a world fractured by war, where ancient magic collides with the wreckage of a fallen Republic. At its heart is Isadora, a compassionate yet resolute healer, whose fateful encounter with Tristan, a lethal Kingsland assassin, sparks a bond that may either heal or destroy everything she knows.

The novel leans into classic YA storytelling with its fast pacing, intense emotional beats, and a high-concept setting that will appeal to teens who enjoy romantic melodrama and world-ending stakes. It fits in nicely with the classics from Tahereh Mafi and Veronica Roth. The romantic connection between Isadora and Tristan develops quickly, and while the trope hints at enemies to lovers, it reads more like a magically induced connection than a slow-burn transformation.

What sets this debut apart is its boldness in both voice and theme. The political messaging is unmistakable and at times quite forceful, which may challenge or divide readers depending on their tolerance for overt allegory. Still, the narrative offers a timely exploration of loyalty, resistance, and the costs of survival.

The prose is evocative, the world-building immersive, and the stakes remain gripping throughout. This is a story that prioritizes heart, even when it treads into brutal territory.

Thank you to Booksparks + Melissa Poett for the gifted copy and opportunity.

I enjoyed this book because it has the makings of a dystopian world and political intrigue. The book does start off fairly slow, but eventually picks up. I can't really put my finger on whether this is a retelling or inspiration of Tristan & Isolde. It's giving off Zero Horizon Dawn vibes in a storyline because you've got this new and old world conceptually into one. This book is YA, and so it strayed away from physical intimacy. It's gone the other direction in this one, and I don't think that it fell behind or lacked in that department. I think it worked out perfectly for being YA. I enjoyed the characters' development in the storyline. There's a fantasy element to the characters, and it unfolds more in the narrative. It's a fairly decent blend altogether.

This YA fantasy/romantasy has a compelling premise and solid pacing once it finally gets going, but it struggles with world-building and emotional depth. The beginning is rough, both slow and a bit confusing, so readers might have to push through to reach the stronger parts, especially the interactions between Isadora and Tristan.

Isadora is a healer from a patriarchal society where women are expected to be submissive, and this theme is front and center throughout the book. While it’s an important element of the story, it’s delivered in such an obvious and repetitive way that it starts to feel heavy-handed. Her father, in particular, is so awful that it’s easy to hate him, which makes the ending feel a bit rushed and unsatisfying. After everything she goes through, I was hoping for a stronger resolution to that part of her story.

Tristan is from the enemy territory of Kingsland. He fits the brooding romantic lead role well enough, though he doesn’t show much character growth as the book progresses. Their instant connection leans more swoony than believable, but it’s fun to read if you enjoy that kind of romantic tension.

The central idea, two enemies magically bound with access to each other’s thoughts and memories, is an intriguing one and adds tension and stakes to the romance. I just wish there had been more context early on to ground the story. The world-building was a bit lackluster. The magic system, political structure, and the post-Republic world all could have used more development.

Overall, this is a quick read with a familiar but enjoyable trope at its heart. Readers who like an enemies-to-lovers/ insta-love romance and don’t mind a few shortcuts in character and world-building will probably find it entertaining, even if it doesn’t fully deliver on its deeper themes.

I finished this book in one day! The Enemy’s Daughter is a unique retelling of Tristian and Isolde with a sci-fi/fantasy twist. We first meet Isadora who is surviving in a post apocalyptic world. She is then injured by an enemy faction and healed by their leader, Tristian, resulting in a magical bond.

The Enemy’s Daughter felt original especially for a YA fantasy, I don’t think I’ve read anything similar. I found the characters to be compelling and could not put the book down. The world building was interesting with its dystopian elements and magical realism. Some of the political tension in the book felt very appropriate for current events as well. I did find the ending, although satisfying, a little abrupt but still worth the read.

Rating: 5 Stars

I read through The Enemy’s Daughter in two days. Having never heard of the medieval tale of Tristan and Isolde, I went into this book knowing it was an enemies-to-lovers story, and completely hooked me in.

Set in a dystopian world, Melissa Poett’s debut novel is filled with strong world-building and protagonist, Isadora who has lived her entire life within the walls of her clan, led by her patriarchal father. The relationship with some clans were fraught with tension, and the writing was strong in showing that. Isadora’s life takes a huge turn when she bonds with Tristan, her natural enemy after she’s shot by a poisoned arrow.

The romance between Isadora and Tristan was utterly swoon-worthy. I liked how Tristan truly respected Isadora’s choices, introducing her to his world. Vastly different from what she’s, used to, and despite Isadora’s rather sheltered upbringing, she was a fast-learner and did all she could to get back to her clan. Isadora was fiesty in the way she tried her best to escape from Kingsland. At the same time, she learned a lot about the true differences between her clan life and the life in Kingsland, undoing her prejudice.

Tristan was total book-boyfriend material. Despite Isadora’s distrust of him in the beginning, there were similarities in terms of views between the clans and civilians of Kingsland. Isadora went through things that were humiliating and I admired her for keeping her head up.

This book is a must-read and I can't wait for more of the author's books!

First of all, we’ve got to give it up for this cover. It’s what drew me to the book because it is beautiful.

Now, on to the rest.

I did enjoy this book - it kept me entertained and was a fun read, but there was room for so much MORE. When compared to well-known YA dystopian books like The Hunger Games, I thought this story was a bit lighter in tone and heavier on the romance. This is all enemies-to-lovers vibes with a definite insta-love twist thrown in.

The characters and world were all interesting, but I needed the author to go so much deeper on worldbuilding. Everything we learn about this world and its history was pretty expositional, as was the romance. I wanted more insight into everything: the bombs, the clans, the wars, and even Tristan’s long-held crush on Isadora.

And then the magic system. This story relies so heavily on the “Connection” that Tristan and Isadora have, but as a reader I felt like I was asked to just “go with it.” This tiny bit of magic was explained away in one sentence which was not enough for me.

At the end of the day this was a good palette cleanser book, a pretty standard forbidden love kind of story, but certainly not the greatest I’ve ever read.

The Enemy’s Daughter by Melissa Poett is a YA reimagining of the epic love story of Tristan and Isolde set in a post-apocalyptic society. Isadora belongs to a patriarchal clan run by her father, who offers her hand in marriage to anyone who can bring the head of their rival clan’s leader. The rival clan retaliates, and as a healer, Isadora goes to tend to injured soldiers on the battlefield. When she stops an attack from a young man from the Kingsland, she must decide whether to turn him in or let him go.

This is definitely a character driven story, with forbidden love at the forefront. Tristan and Isadora’s relationship is filled with all the angst, longing, tension, and pining you could ever hope for. Their conversations flow naturally and they have real chemistry. I really enjoyed reading about the connection they share, and how they navigate this together. This is described as “enemies to lovers” and as far as that trope is concerned, I felt that the “enemies” part of the connection didn’t last as long as I would have liked.

Beyond the characters, the world building was sparse, and the magic system lacked any meaningful development. Personally, I don’t expect a lot of this within the YA Fantasy genre, but it is something to keep in mind should this be important to you. The pacing of this story is fast, but didn’t feel rushed.

Overall, I would recommend checking this one out when it releases on 05/06/2025!

The Enemy's Daughter is a dystopian retelling of Tristan and Isolde, Isadora, a healer who has selflessly helped injured soldiers during the war is shot with a poison arrow by one of Tristan's soldiers. Instead of letting her die to the poison, he saves her life by using a rare type of magic. But due to him using his magic, they are bound to one another. As the story/plot progress they grow closer and realize that there is an undeniable attraction between the two.

I did enjoy the book but there are a few parts that just felt ehh but overall it was a good book. The world building and characters were written very well.

I found the premise of this book interesting and promising. I liked that it was a retelling of Tristan and Isolde, but I'm not a fan of insta-love, even though in the book, these two characters were supposed to build their relationship together. It still felt very much like insta-love, and that is always a downer. I do see our YA readers swooning over the romance in this book. So despite this not being for me, I do think younger readers will enjoy this quite a bit.

Firstly, LOVE the cover arrow. My goodness. Stunning.

Now, picture this: a world shattered into factions where healing is a radical act and enemies might just be allies waiting to be discovered. That's what Melissa Poett serves up in her debut reimagining of Tristan and Isolde, topped off with a dystopian twist! This premise was so interesting I had to pick it up.

Isadora is the healer daughter of a clan leader, and she's fantastic at patching people up, but maybe not so great at seeing the big picture (mood lol). After an enemy's magic saves her life, she finds herself bound to Tristan from the Kingsland through this mysterious tether that honestly gets pretty interesting. The whole magical bond thing adds layers to a world that's already rich with conflict and possibility.

The worldbuilding explored some really cool ideas about memory-sharing and magical connections. Poett creates a clever tension where the bond between Isadora and Tristan becomes both opportunity and vulnerability. I appreciated that she doesn't just push characters together with magic and call it a day; there's actual thought put into what being magically connected means.

This one's for readers who like their dystopian reads with a magical twist, appreciate some moral grayness in their protagonists, and enjoy seeing characters question everything they thought they knew.

The Enemy’s Daughter was a really entertaining read! Set in a post-nuclear civilization, this story follows Isolde, the fierce daughter of a warrior-like clan, and Tristan, the son of a peaceful mayor whose society is wrongly blamed for her people’s suffering. After a failed attack, the two are bound together in a ritual marriage that allows them to share each other’s pain—both physically and emotionally.

What unfolds is a compelling, action-packed journey as Isolde begins to question everything she thought she knew. As her connection with Tristan deepens, she discovers that it was her own clan, not his people, who committed a tragic act of violence.

This book feels like a throwback in the best way—perfect for fans of early 2000s dystopian YA. The worldbuilding is intriguing, and the plot keeps you turning pages. That said, I did find myself wishing for more development in the romance between Isolde and Tristan. A few chapters from his perspective might have added extra depth and emotion to their bond.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy!

🔹SYNOPSIS 🔹
The world as we know it has been destroyed and much of the land poisoned. In the resulting post apocalyptic world, resources are scarce and it’s survival of the strongest. The five clans and their leaders unite against the Kingsland, a resource rich group they claim is unwilling to share. Isadora is the daughter of one of the clan leaders and she is the prize to be won by whoever can kill the Kingsland leader. But she’s an unwilling prize and when she decides to join in the fight, she crosses paths with handsome young Tristan of the Kingslanders. Together they forever change the fate of their people.

🔹MY SPOILER FREE TAKE 🔹
I mean, I was hooked at Tristan and Isolde retelling. I’ve always loved the story of Tristan and Isolde and my daughter’s middle name is Isolde, so I was immediately game for this book. I ATE IT UP. I think this was a case of the right book at the right time and I was super in the mood for this YA dystopian romp. I don’t think it was groundbreaking and some of the plot lines were predictable, but it was a completely enjoyable, great ride that I didn’t have to think too much about and could just sit back and delight in. I flew through it and found myself totally engaged in the story. I loved the magical elements of the bonding and Isadora’s fierce nature. Tristan is the dreamy, noble MMC of YA dreams and I loved them as a couple. I could’ve used a little more development of their relationship so it didn’t feel quite so insta love, but they’re young and this book was only a 300 page read, so it didn’t bother me much. Could we have had more world building? Yes. Did I think there could be more complexity in the final big reveal? Yes. But did I have a great time reading? Absolutely. This book kind of reminded me of the movie The Village by M Night Shyamalan. I pictured the clans in the same kind of primitive existence. After really struggling through the length and the slog of The Bright Sword, this was the perfect fast and entertaining read and I would thoroughly recommend it to any YA fans.

forbidden romance
-dystopian with magical elements
-YA romance


Absolutely in love with this book!
It brought me out of one of the worst slumps I’ve ever had. I’ve recently started dipping my toes and found myself completely enamored by dystopian books containing magical elements.

Although there were parts that felt a little flat and some inconsistencies regarding descriptions, I still loved this story so much!
I consider the romance to be insta-love in a way, but that didn’t take away the fact that the tension and emotional intimacy were SO good. This book could’ve been 200 pages longer and I would’ve been totally thrilled by that. I loved this story and I really hope the author decides to take us back to it at some point.

Big congrats to the author on this great debut and thank you so much HarperCollins Quill Tree Books & NetGalley for my ARC.

While I did enjoy the first half of this novel, with witty banter and humorous MMC, unfortunately I found this story lacking in chemistry between the main characters. The romance felt very instant-lust and after the female main character went into enemy territory the world building was lacking. This lead to me constantly putting down the book and almost had to DNF.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

💥💥💥 Book Review 💥💥💥

The Enemy’s Daughter
By Melissa Poett
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Stars

This book was so captivating with a Tristian and Isolode retelling with a fantasy/sci-fi twist. This book had my attention the whole time! I really enjoyed reading this novel a lot! I devoured this book! The world was intriguing to learn about. The characters- Isadora and Tristan were to die for! The magical bonds in this book plays a MAJOR role in Tristan and Isadora’s love story. This book draws you in immediately with its vivid scenes and lush writing.

I want to thank NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

I had high hopes for this one but sadly it just didn't hit the mark. The dystopian setting seemed at odds with the story and writing to me. On top of which that whole vibe of Isadora's people just felt a little too pointed in today's climate. I read as an escape not to be faced with possible worst case futures.

This was an intriguing read! I love that it has the forest healer vibe, but it’s actually set in the future (post-“Republic”). It gives the system familiarity and yet also some world-building to be done.
While it has fade-to-black intimacy, the tension and connection between them is sizzling, and is well-done. It’s a little bit quick from enemies to lovers for me; he had a longer connection to her, but it didn’t seem to take much to go from guilt over her previous betrothal to being all-in for Tristan.
Overall really enjoyed this one.

I’m a sucker for arranged marriages and mind speak when it comes to romantasy.

Add in a reimagining of a Celtic legend, and you having my TBR curious.

But this wasn’t as deep of read as I was wishing for. I’d argue the comps on this are incorrect. This doesn’t have the vivid world building Curious Tides or the solid dramatic pacing factor of Belladonna.

I think my biggest issue was the modern dystopian thread wasn’t strong or consistent enough. It would have been better without it. Or just kept things pre-industrial. The voice naturally felt preindustrial at points & probably would have sang with more editing in this direction.

Don’t get me wrong, Poett makes a quick page turner, but the inconsistent voice took me out of my nerdy escapism.

Thank you @NetGalley & HarperCollins Children for this ARC.