Gilded in Vengeance was so entertaining! I love stories told in a historical setting, and having magic and romance mixed in with it was my cup of tea. There was action and revenge plotting on every page, but sadly, I wasn't completely satisfied.

I didn't connect with the characters. I kept going back and forth from sympathizing with them to not really caring about their thoughts and feelings. In the scenes where the reader is supposed to be emotionally invested in the romance and the high stakes, I was only half-invested.

The world building and the magic systems confused me at times, so some parts of the story where this knowledge is supposed to reveal a twist, I was confused. I looked past this though because I wanted Emmy and Jack to get revenge on the Society and Grace.

Emmy has had it rough since she was eight years old and Grace made it ten times worse for her. I felt bad for her for most of the story just because of the constant betrayal in her life. However, I didn't connect with her as much as I thought I would.

For half of the story, I didn't know how to feel about Jack. He freaked me out at times because he appeared like a maniac but then he would be a completely normal love interest in a fantasy novel. I didn't really connect with him because the romance wasn't completely believable.

Gilded for Vengeance was action packed and full of revenge. I recommend reading this book when it releases!

This book was given by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

When Emmy is betrayed by her best friend, Grace, she is thrown in prison and her father is murdered. After two years she is rescued by Jack with a plan to avenge both his losses and hers.

I really loved this book: Emmy, the friendship between Jack, Emmy, Jimmy, and Caleb, the magic, the quest for revenge and that Emmy remained true to herself through it all. This book was full of the unexpected, including that I loved it as much as I did.

Smith has created an epic revenge story in a magical setting that has all the right emotions! After being framed and sentenced to waste away in prison Emmy's world is turned upside down again with the appearance of Jack, who has also been wronged. The two form a shaky alliance bent on revenge. This book is highstakes revenge and slow burn romance at its best set against a the wealthy backdrop of a magical world of New York's elite. From the first I was captivated.

**Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the eARC**

**May Contain Spoilers**


I’ve finished *Gilded in Vengeance*, and it was an absolute whirlwind of emotion, romance, and thrilling twists! Emmy’s journey took me through so many unexpected turns—especially when they found Caleb nearly dead, forcing Emmy to desperately attempt tapping into her father’s healing magic. My heart was racing, praying they'd save Caleb in time, and the relief I felt when he pulled through was huge.

Jack and Emmy’s romance had me on the edge of my seat—Jack finally confessing his love, and Emmy’s understandable fear of trusting again after Grace’s betrayal, created a deeply emotional push-and-pull that kept me totally invested. The revelation that Mary, Emmy’s maid, had secretly been Grace all along shocked me completely—I never saw that coming.

The heartbreak of Jack’s death—and Oliver’s—hit me incredibly hard. Emmy’s fierce determination, driven by love, to bring Jack back using her father’s relic was an incredibly moving and satisfying climax.

I adored the touching destiny revealed for Jimmy and Caleb; knowing they would live a long, happy life together was wonderfully heartwarming. I love that it was a gay couple but it wasn't flashy and TOO much details and all crazy emphasized. The final scenes, showing Jack thriving as commander of the Guard and Emmy passionately running a school for the less fortunate, brought a perfect sense of closure.

*Gilded in Vengeance* was an unforgettable ride filled with betrayal, love, magic, and redemption. I’m so glad Emmy and Jack got the happy ending they deserved—this book genuinely stole my heart!

I really enjoyed reading this book, it had that element that I was expecting from a magical 1800s New York. It was everything that I was looking for and was invested in what was happening to the characters. The characters were so well written and worked in this type of book. Lyssa Mia Smith has a strong writing style and was engaged from the start to finish.

My biggest regret: not setting aside enough time to finish this book before it expired for me! I love a good historical novel, and this one revels in its Gilded Age setting. The small details thrown in to remind us of where & when it all happens was enough to hook me in.

Now, the story itself is exciting! The twists and turns will keep you on your feet, and a riveting system of magic that will further keep you engaged. The characters are gripping and Emmy makes for a fantastic main character, with enough insight given for any reader to be able to truly understand and connect with her. Jack—the more I want to say, the less I feel like I’ll be able to articulate how much I enjoyed his character. The entire cast is memorable!

Highly recommend this read for anyone who enjoys YA romantasy with a heavy dose of intrigue, suspense and revenge—and I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy when this hits the shelves’

Gilded in Vengeance by Lyssa Mia Smith

Two girls attend a magical ball, only one is seen again.

After being framed at her debut, Emmy spends 2 years in prison. When all hope seems lost Jack Fontaine appears at her cell with an offer she can’t refuse. Together, with some other fantastic side characters, they commit to taking down the society and the individuals that betrayed them both.

The characters and story were so fun. Twisty and dark, with special moments of joy and romance sprinkled in.

The vibes of this book were perfect. Think bridgerton with a layer of evil and another of magic. I loved the entire setting and magic system. It was perfectly described to the point where I don’t think a movie would ever do it justice. Love when magic is unique and each character has their own relationship to it.

I loved the whole thing. I never knew where the story was going to take us, and didn’t see any of the twists coming. I loved the complexity of the characters - this is a YA novel but it never felt immature. The romance is a delicious slow burn.

I am so excited to be a part of the promotional team for this book. It doesn’t come out till November, so I’ll be raving about it till then. If you can’t wait that long - pickup Revelle, her first novel. It’s still one of the books I recommend most often.

Betrayals, twists, turns and vengeance. The magic system was really intriguing and the twists had me furiously reading to see what would happen. There is a sweet romance between our main characters that had me kicking my feet. Some parts did feel a little slow but I really enjoyed it!

I loved this book! If you want a vengeance story filled with amazing characters and drama this is for you!
Gilded in vengeance is about a magic user who was falsely thrown in jail. 2.5 years after being there another magic user makes an escape and takes her with him. Once rescued she becomes embroiled in his revenge scheme that involves the same people that got her put away.
This YA romantasy has a really cool world build. It’s 1800’s New York but with a hidden magical society. The society dictates all. Lower class women can debut and attempt to become high society but few are selected. Conjurers are rare, but if they use their magic in public, they are jailed.
The characters. Of course I love Jack. The society has killed his sister, taken his position from him, and jailed him. Even though he should be full of pure rage he has this soft side. This love for the FMC is like nothing else. “I would burn the whole world down just to keep you warm.” Um swoon? The female main character Emmy, our narrator I thought was okay, she had some trust issues which okay valid, but she hurts my boy Jack and that’s a no. She is very complex. The side characters are well done, you feel for them. They each are multi dimensional, not just there to be there.
The story is great. I love the revenge scheme. It never gets boring. The twists are actual twists. I have a few small questions about some things but it doesn’t take away from the overall enjoyment.
Definitely a must read if you enjoy YA Romantasy!

Thank you Harper Collins Children’s, and NetGalley for the arc!

I am a HUGE fan of the author's first book, Revelle, so I was super excited to see this one coming to netgalley finally!! I was def not disappointed! This is all the fun things I love about YA -- really fascinating magic, a fun cast of characters, a believable romance, and a twisty plot that ended nicely in a bow -- with a GREAT villain!!! (Great villains are a trend with this author and I am here for it!!) There are a lot of revenge books out there and I liked how realistic this one felt in that the bad guys were all in positions of power and therefore more difficult to bring down. It wasn't just an easy walk in the park for our main characters. And i loved the anticipation of seeing what the bad guys were going to do next! The historical elements felt well placed and relevant to the story while not feeling dated. Overall, this was a fun read that I couldn't put down!

This was a fun fantasy that kept me on my toes until the very end. There were a handful of twists and turns that I did NOT see coming! I enjoyed the unique magic elements and the relatability of the main character, Emmy. I could picture this being adapted into a movie one day!

“Female friendship was a wonderful elixir, one brewed with secrets and laughter and an intimacy that buried itself deep in the marrow. And Emmy missed it. Terribly. But that elixir could morph to poison without warning. The deeper the bond, the graver the sickness. And Emmy would not survive another dose.” That quote hit hard.

First off thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to read this. I have been excited about this book for awhile. I was able to meet the author at Apollycon and she was so sweet. Overall this was a great romantasy. Not normally a huge fan of YA books but this was such a good book I found I didn’t even mind it. From the magic, to the characters, and the mysteries this book definitely kept me entertained and constantly thinking. I also love how it ended and that it isn’t the beginning of a whole series. If you are a fan of magic, mysteries, and stories set in the past this would be a great read

This book delivers such a glittering tale of vengeance with the perfect tension-filled slow burn that had me hooked until the final page. This fantasy standalone is what I imagine a Bridgerton x Count of Monte Cristo crossover would look like in all of the right ways. From the first page, I was gripped by the fast-paced nature of the story, and I felt like it was really easy to fall into this fantastical version of late 1800s New York.

The setting was so intriguing, and I enjoyed getting to see the glitz and glam of the season juxtaposed with the grittier sides like the prison. The magic system was also quite easy to follow. I especially love magic systems that are unique to each character, and this one definitely delivered. Not only were the particular abilities unique, but they gave us significant insight into the characters.

As for the characters themselves... Emmy was such a strong FMC for me. She was strong and passionate but you also saw that ferocity at war with her desire to be vulnerable again after being so wronged. She had an edge to her that played so well off of Jack's absolutely unhinged nature. He captured my attention immediately with his passion and fire (literally and metaphorically). He loved boldly and deeply yet had that careless persona that you were constantly hoping to break. Together, they were magic. I think what I loved most was getting to witness such development over one book. They evolved naturally from strangers to friends to something more, and we saw that middle ground play out-- getting to hear amazing banter and great chemistry along the way. The two played so well off of each other, and I loved every second of their slow burn.

As for the side characters, this was a well fleshed-out ensemble novel as well. It was easy for me to keep track of the leading players and to have strong and nuanced feelings about each in turn. I loved and hated in equal measure, often feeling both for the same character! The friendships that grew between the main cast was so sweet and gave a steadying heart to this tale of gritty vengeance.

This was such a treat of a standalone, and I am so thankful to HarperCollins Children's Books and Storytide for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sooo good! What a fun read I would definitely recommend this one. It was exactly what I wanted and it didn’t disappoint

Gilded in Vengeance draws you into a glittering world of magic, betrayal, and high-stakes revenge. While the romance simmers quietly in the background, it’s the clever plotting and rising tension that steal the show. The pace picks up halfway through, and from there, it’s hard to put down. Perfect for readers who love magic, revenge and a twisty plot.

After a betrayal at the debutante event meant to lift her out of poverty and into the enchanted ballrooms of Gilded Age New York, Emmy languishes in a hellish prison for two years. When she joins an erstwhile society darling in his prison break and quest for revenge, they pursue vengeance and passion together. I hit a couple of plateaus in my enjoyment when the character's schemes stalled, but once I got past the 20% mark I had enough intrigue to keep me going, and the final act kept me up reading late! Eager to read more of this author's work, and already started a reread to see what changes for me in retrospect!

This charming and magical young adult historical Fiction novel takes place during the gilded age has a bit of magic in it. It tella the story of one young woman's journey for payback when she is framed for a crime she didn’t commit. It has some of the vibes of the Count of Monte Cristo.
Our main character Emmy belongs to the charmed society and one night there is a magical ball. Unknown to her she is about to be betrayed by her so called best friend Grace. When she tries to display her magic at the ball she fails and gets arrested for fraud. Her father tries to get her out but is killed in the process.
Eventually she manages to break out with the help of another prisoner Jack. After discovering she can still do her transformation magic. Emmy decides to do herself, Jack and his friends a favor by creating new identities so they can reenter society with the goal of getting revenge on those who betrayed them.
I will say for this being a young adult novel it was pretty good. The fact that it was historical fiction with some magix made it elegant.
I received a arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.

Gilded in Vengeance by Lyssa Mia Smith is a high-stakes revenge story reminiscent of The Count of Monte Cristo. I loved that classic, so the blurb caught my eye immediately. Think The Count of Monte Cristo, but with magic—how cool is that??

Set during the Gilded Age in an alternate late-1800s New York, magic—known as conjury—exists but is hidden among the elite few. Emmy Vallillo is betrayed by her best friend and framed for fraud at the Society of the Charmed’s ball, an exclusive event for the city’s wealthiest—and most magical—citizens. She’s sent to Grimsbane, a prison from which no one escapes alive.

Two years later, fellow prisoner Jack Fontaine, helps her escape. They form an uneasy alliance and, with help from their friends Jimmy and Caleb, use Emmy’s transformation magic to create new identities and re-enter society, intent on destroying those who wronged them.

Their path isn’t easy. The weakening of Brum, the source of magic, stirs unrest. Society turns suspicious of newcomers, blaming immigrants for the weakening of magic. Emmy soon finds herself torn between love and revenge.

I found this a highly entertaining read, filled with rich world-building, vivid characters, and a compelling magical system. The twists and turns kept me engaged throughout. While I enjoyed the various aspects of magic, I wasn’t entirely clear on how the bridging conjuries worked.

The characters, setting, and dialogue felt authentically Victorian, with an enchanted twist. The author captured the period well, especially the political and social dynamics of the elite. The main characters are well-developed and engaging—I truly cared about their fates.

There’s a lot I loved here: the complexity, the intrigue, the magical retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo. The dynamic between Emmy, a naive immigrant’s daughter, and Jack, the spoiled son of wealth, was compelling. Grace, the ex–best friend, made an excellent villain—selfish, ruthless, and cunning, willing to step over corpses to survive in a bigoted society.

The book explores themes like found family, betrayal, trust, revenge, deception, classism, racism, and immigration. I appreciated the inclusion of the Chinese Exclusion Act, though the repeated focus on immigration sometimes felt more like an agenda than an essential part of the story. LGBTQ+ representation was present in the side characters, handled with care and subtlety.

The steady pace kept me turning pages, and the suspense ramped up nicely toward the final third. I liked that the story stands on its own and found the ending satisfying. That said, a moment near the end pushed the suspension of disbelief a bit too far—even for fantasy.

Overall, I loved the book and rate it 4 out of 5 stars. I deducted one star for that over-the-top moment and the feeling of being fed a bit of an agenda. Still, I highly recommend this to fans of slow-burn romance, high-stakes adventure, revenge plots, and The Count of Monte Cristo vibes. Even if you haven’t read the classic, you’ll likely enjoy this one.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

so exciting, very jazz age, very believable characters, intricate and gorgeous worldbuilding, and a truly epic story arc. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

This is such a delightful and mysterious YA story, brimming with magic and societal intrigue. It also has this Count of Monte Cristo-esque revenge plot that I was eating up, especially when the question is posed of which you would rather have, if you can only keep one: revenge or love? Sometimes, you can’t have both.

In the glittering gilded age of late nineteenth century New York City, an unlikely bond between two wrongly accused young people leads them to seek revenge for their years in prison.

Jack Fontaine was a golden boy of the Society of the Charmed, but Emmy Vallillo was never given her chance in society’s limelight after she was framed for magical fraud. When Jack offers Emmy a chance at freedom, she takes the hand of the enemy of her enemy (a stand-in for friendship, but beggars can’t be choosers). How far will they go to ruin the lives of the people who ruined theirs?

This book is for fans of The Rose Bargain, for its high society charm and hidden scrappiness, and for anyone who has at one time in their life been obsessed with the Princess & the Pauper Barbie movie.

I loved the pacing, with a rush of loose ends winding together in a landslide-style finale. I was locked in to read the last 40% in one sitting.
My only criticism is that there’s not enough closure for the reader in its last few pages. While avoiding spoilers, these characters need to talk after all of *that*. It’s inferred by the epilogue that this happens, but I wanted to spend a few more pages with them.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books, and Storytide for the advanced reader copy!