Thank you to Harper Collin’s, NetGalley and the author, Melissa Poett for the eARC of this debut book.

This is a YA Tristan and Isolde retelling in a dystopian setting, the vibes were there for me! It had a strong start, interesting/unique magic system and I really enjoyed the backstory of the clans and Kingsland. Isadora finds herself learning things she never expected while falling for her enemy. Closed door spice, and at times the timeline of falling in love felt a little clunky and rushed.

The whole lot was a very easy read, the last 30% I couldn’t put down and I felt this was done the best. I was hooked on how it was all going to be solved and wrapped up, which was done very well!

Overall, I really enjoyed myself, at times found myself wishing there was a little more depth to the world but only because I was loving it.

Great debut!

This book is a Tristan and Isolde dystopian retelling with a fantastical flair. This is a firmly YA closed door, very low spice, very romantic focused book. Comparable titles would be The Selection series written in a first person Twilight style narrative (interestingly, the author, like Stephanie Meyer, took her main plot concepts from a dream). This book is very readable while remaining engaging. Our Keeper of the Lost Cities obsessed oldest daughter would love this book’s writing style.

This book is not enemies to lovers. I would describe it as: ‘He's my enemy; but he refuses to attack me; and he's hot.’ He is her enemy, their peoples are enemies, but *she* is not *his* enemy. There is forced proximity, rival clans, bonded pair magic, and marriage of necessity. He's a green flag softie and she just wants to be free to choose for herself and learn. They are the children of rival clans leaders. She is a healer and he is a soldier learning to one day become a leader. Their romantic relationship progression, while very quick timeline-wise, was very sweet. The emotional side of their romantic journey played out beautifully.

This is magical mated bond with a twist, as they are not fated mates. Instead the magical bond deepens as their relationship strengths over time. That take felt refreshing and unique. I also loved the magical memory sharing aspect of their bond.

Honestly, this book read like an indie book, and not in a bad way, but in a ‘this plot idea is so unique and refreshing in the current book market’ kind of way. I love that it was picked up by a traditional publisher.

In my opinion, this book would be appropriate for 15 yr old readers. Also, the cover art is absolutely beautiful.

I believe this book is a standalone? If not, this book alone is a complete story that will not leave the reader frustrated with a last minute plot twist or abrupt ending. The main plot veins are tied up nicely by the end. If there is a second book though, I really hope that the world building and apocalypse induced magic is explored in more detail in any future books.

Physical descriptions of characters are limited. I would have liked to know what people looked like and how diverse the inhabitants of the clans and communities are. Some foundational elements occured off page that I would have loved to read about as it happened (trader issues the clan experienced, mutilated soldiers discovered and brought in for healing in real time, etc). There are insta love elements I was able to overlook due to the unique magical bond and later broadened perspective as the plot unfolded.

Overall, this is a pretty good debut novel, and I am looking forward to reading more books by this author in the future.


Content: death, 18 year old young woman pulls captive young adult man's pants down so he can relieve himself while still bound by ropes, arranged marriage with chiefdom attached to person who kills their rival nation's leader, lightly steamy tension, lower end of the violence threshold, patriarchal clans based around physical prowess, one instance of closed door s*x

Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. This review is voluntarily written and the thoughts and opinions contained in this review are my own.

The Enemy’s Daughter

Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for the ARC of The Enemy’s Daughter by Melissa Poett.

I was drawn to this book because of its beautiful cover art. I know the saying goes, "Do not judge a book by its cover," but I believe an author should care just as much about how their book looks as about how it is written.

Unfortunately, this story missed the mark for me. It is described as a reimagining of Tristan and Isolde, but I never really got that impression while reading, and the connection was never explained. It is set in a dystopian world, but the setting felt underdeveloped, more like a backdrop than an immersive world. The magic system was similar; it existed without any real explanation or depth. I almost did not finish this book several times. But I wanted to see if the ending would provide more clarity. While the conclusion wrapped up the main plot, it still left many important details unexplained.

Overall, I would rate this 2.5 stars.

✨The Enemy’s Daughter by Melissa Poetry✨

Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 368
Pub date: May 6th

📚It’s been thirty-seven years since the Republic was destroyed. Now two settlements—the five clans and the Kingsland—fight for control of the untainted land. Though the five clans are outnumbered, they’ve finally struck, killing Kingsland’s brutal leader.
In the war that follows, Isadora, an eighteen-year-old healer, risks her life to help injured soldiers. But when she stops an attack from Tristan, a Kingsland assassin, his soldiers shoot her with a poisoned arrow. As Isadora lies dying, Tristan does the unimaginable: He offers to save her life using a rare magic.
In choosing to live, Isadora is unknowingly bound to the mysterious Tristan. Worse, even acknowledging the attraction between them allows him to glean fragments of her memories and the very knowledge he needs to destroy the five clans. But their magical connection works both ways. So to save her people, Isadora will have to open her heart to her most cunning enemy. Because in a race for ultimate survival, she’ll need to destroy Tristan and his people first.

📝This was a solid YA fantasy debut. The MCs were well-written and had good chemistry. Plus, I personally love whenever there is a magical bond between the MCs. The trope is forced proximity & enemies to lovers, my favorite🥹

I do think the book could have been improved in a couple of ways. First, the dystopia aspect wasn’t really fleshed out. We are told something happened to the Republic but not much else is revealed. Second, the villain in the book gave a long monologue as to his reasons and I didn’t think they were compelling enough.

I’m not sure if this is a series but it has series potential!

💫Thank you @booksparks for my eARC 💫

✨Thank you so much @booksparks @melissawritesya @harpercollins for this gifted eARC. 🫶🏻

🤍The Enemy’s Daughter
✨by Melissa Poett
🤍Available May 6th


✨This YA retelling romantasy was an entertaining enemies to lovers, sci-fi/dystopian read that is guaranteed to bring back all of the nostalgia from your teenage years if you’re reading it as 20+ something adult like me! Lovers of the Hunger Games immediately comes to mind as readers who would adore this book!!

🤍It’s been a while since I picked up a YA book, especially a dystopian/romantasy, and this one did not disappoint!! 😍 we get to follow along Tristan and Isadora’s love story which is like no other with a unique magic system in play and a complex story!

✨I loved this romantasy read and I’m so happy that I got to read it early! 🥹 Melissa did such an incredible job bringing these characters to life and crafting the world building within these pages. I can’t believe it’s her debut! 🫶🏻

*I received a gifted copy of this title and review/opinions are my own.*

or obvious reasons, the myth that is being mentioned in connection with this book is Tristan and Iseult, but I was really excited to see that the myth is really a starting off point more than a complete retelling. In the author's note, Poett shares that the book was shared by her frustration with a lot of the political movements happening right now, and I was impressed by how deftly she weaves that in to what is, at its heart, a love at first sight story between teenagers.

Most of the best YA dystopia never really addresses the sexism which may come in a society without structure. Isadora, who dreams of being a doctor and yet is specifically promised by her father as a prize to a supporter, and chafes at the idea of being treated as a trophy wife. While the romance plot of this book was really sweet, what I loved the most was Isadora's discovery of the path to her own ambition. I wish we had gotten to spend more time with her training as a doctor in her new home.

The one thing I missed in the book was getting to spend more time seeing Isadora's friendships with her peers - her brother and her best friend are mentioned, but we don't really get to know them. This book really could have accommodated more time to sit and breathe with the characters in between action scenes.

I think this book would be a great fit for ambitious young women who want to read their love story with a healthy dose of women who find their essential work. I would have reread this book until it fell apart as a teenager!

This is an interesting take on the tale of Tristan and Isolde, I really liked how much stuck true to the original and where the story took new turns. It was a really nice balance and helped some of the stories twists. The characters were well written and the magic system worked so well for explaining the instant connection the two characters share in every iteration of Tristan and Isolde. I would have liked to see a little more explanation of the magic system as well some more world building, like was magic like this common or rare before The Republic was destroyed? However this lack of knowledge does also fit the story as Isadora learns more about both the Kingslanders and the Five Clans through her connection with Tristan. The pacing was well done with a high stakes start but letting things slow as little while Isadora learns more about what's really going on, in a way that really helped her bond with Tristan, and then really picking up for an ending that made the book impossible to put down. I think fans of Tristan and Isolde's tale will really enjoy this book.

The Enemy’s Daughter is first and foremost one of the most interesting takes of Tristian and Isolde I’ve read yet (and I’ve read a lot, it’s one of my favorites). @melissawritesya ability to not only build a world amongst ruins but TWO distinctly different communities in this dystopian setting is a feat. She’s created a vast universe with its own politics, power struggles, and ways of life; woven throughout is a magic that’s sure to take all the tragedy these two lovers face and warm your heart to the fullest. I think my favorite part of this tale was watching Isadora our FMC not only find her own footing but unlearn a destructive upbringing of what I could only call torture. There are so many parallels in The Enemy’s Daughter to struggles that women are facing today that it was hard not to feel that spike of anxiety reading it. I think the most important takeaway of this romance was that you can choose both love and yourself. You can find strength in equality and goodness in caring for others.

Thank you to Booksparks and Melissa Poett for this ARC!

After my minotaur dud, I desperately needed a retelling to win me over—and “The Enemy’s Daughter” by Melissa Poett delivered. A Tristan and Isolde retelling set in a dystopian world? Say less. 🤩 This book is everything I want in a YA fantasy romance and more.

🗡️ What did I love the most?
The core of the story centers on doomed lovers caught on opposite sides of a brutal war, and Poett nails the angst and longing. There’s tension, betrayal, and beautifully rendered emotional stakes that had me flipping pages late into the night. 🌙💔

While this is YA, the worldbuilding feels mature and grounded—enough to immerse without overwhelming. The war feels real, and the moral ambiguity of both sides keeps you guessing who to root for well past the halfway point. ⚔️

🗡️ What to expect:
Dystopian world 🌆
Warring kingdoms 👑
Enemies to lovers ❤️‍🔥
Marriage of convenience 💍
He fell first 🫠

Pacing?
Perfectly paced with short, snappy chapters and well-timed twists. The tension never lags. ⏳

🔥 Steam level:
Only kissing shown 💋; some closed-door moments 🚪.

🖤 How was the romance?
Tristan and Isadora are everything. Their chemistry is undeniable, and the slow burn? Exquisite. There’s distrust, obstacles, and tangled emotions—but the payoff is worth every second. 💞

🗡️ Do I recommend it?
Absolutely. This is the type of book that makes you want to fall in love with YA fantasy all over again. 🥰 No spice, but the emotional depth more than makes up for it. It’s a must-read for fans of star-crossed lovers, forbidden romance, and high-stakes fantasy drama. 🔥

🗡️ Perfect for fans of:
🖤 Marissa Meyer
🖤 Chloe Gong
🖤 Veronica Roth

🗡️ Mood: ⚔️ star-crossed tension | 🌪️ slow burn angst | 💔 doomed devotion

🗡️ Read if you like:
🏚 dystopian fantasy worlds
❤️‍🔥 enemies to lovers with real stakes
🪓 morally gray characters making impossible choices

This one hooked me right away with the Tristan and Isolde inspiration—such a refreshing myth to reimagine! Add in a post-apocalyptic setting, enemies-to-lovers, and a forced magical bond? Yeah, I was sold from chapter one.

Isadora was such a compelling FMC. She's smart, kind, and incredibly empathetic—but her naivety, shaped by a sheltered upbringing, and watching her slowly come to terms with the world beyond what she was taught really added depth to her character.

And then there's Tristan—oh, Tristan. I knew where this forced bond and arranged marriage situation was going, but I was still totally glued to the page. He's mysterious, intense, and just suspicious enough to keep me side-eyeing him even as I swooned. Their electric connection had me squeeling. While the book doesn’t have spice, it makes up for it in serious slow-burn steam and emotional intimacy.

This was definitely one of those stories that’s hard to put down. The worldbuilding was fascinating, and the romance and political conflict had me fully invested. That said, I do think if this would have been an adult romantasy book I would have made it my new lifes obsession. The YA limitations held it back just a little for me. Also, I think this might be a standalone (bawling!😭😭), I would love to explore this world again—maybe with a new couple? Fingers crossed! Otherwise I am still rating this amazing debut a 5 stars! And Poett is definitely an author I would read again.

If you're into retellings, forbidden love, and a super intense romance that builds through trust and betrayal, you HAVE to read this.

Loved this book start to finish - dystopian enemies to lovers Tristan and Isolde retelling, with undertones of the handmaid’s tale. Just truly so well done, super fast paced, action packed and great romance (no spice). I loved the two main characters and just couldn’t put this down. Must read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Enemy's Daughter by Melissa Poett had me at "stunning reimagining of Tristan and Isolde."

There are two very different worlds in this book and we see them through the eyes of Isadora. The Republic was destroyed thirty-seven years ago and there are two settlements now. Five clans and the Kingsland. Isadora is the eighteen-year-old daughter of the leader of the five clans.

The problem is that there is continued fighting between the clans and the Kingsland and as a woman in the clans, Isadora has limited information and access to what is going on but as a healer, she wants to do whatever she can to help. Her father has even offered up her hand in marriage to create some incentive to the clan leaders to kill the Kingsland leader (his enemy) and create some alignment among the clans.

When Isadora is out in the woods and stops an attack from a Kingsland assassin, his soldiers end up shooting her with a poisoned arrow. As she lies dying, the assassin (Tristan) does the unimaginable. He offers to save her by marrying her so he can use a rare magic to share the poison and make it survivable. By agreeing to this, Isadora is now bound to Tristan. As she comes to find out, Tristan is more than just an assassin for Kingsland too. He happens to be the leader's (who her family killed) son.

As Isadora stays in Kingsland and works to get better, she learns more about what is really going on between the clans and Kingsland. She also sees what the world could be like for women who aren't treated as second-class. In Kingsland they can be soldiers or work in hospitals or do anything really and it is amazing. On top of that, she also begins to learn more about Tristan - as a person and what's important to him. And yes, the magic creates a link between them but Isadora and Tristan continue to become closer and closer until Isadora ultimately decides she wants to stay for good.

When Isadora's family attacks Kingsland to "save" her and take her back home, they also take Tristan because through the magic, Isadora has shared that they can't kill him without killing her to buy them time. From here, they have to figure out what to do not only to save one another but also find a way to be together.

That's all I'm going to say about this one. I've pretty much glossed over everything as I don't want to give too much away here. Just know that I truly enjoyed this book. It's a great twist on the Tristan and Isolde story and I thought the way Poett tied this one up was done well. Not only do we get to find out why the clans came to be and what her father's problem was with Tristan's father. This was well-written, had interesting characters, and an engaging story. I definitely recommend picking this book up.

I found this re-imagining of Tristan and Isolde set in a post-apocalyptic future to be quite the enjoyable read. Isadora's life is so stifling under the leadership of her father within the Clans. Her desire is to do the best possible job at the only thing she is allowed to while also being a pawn in her father's political games. Once she meets Tristan, though, and sees how the people of Kingsland live, her perspective changes and she starts truly questioning her entire life. Their magical connection leads them into choices where one or the other of them has to leave the only life they've ever known in order to save the other one so the stakes are very high. I enjoyed seeing Isadora truly go through an enemies to lovers plot arc and appreciated the ending.

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!