I really enjoyed getting to read this book, it had that young adult fantasy element that I was wanting in this type of book and enjoyed the overall charm of the world. It was everything that I was looking for from the description and enjoyed the use of the world and how the characters were in this. I was invested in figuring out what was happening and and the choices in Emmy's life. I was invested in what was going on and enjoyed how good Lyssa Mia Smith's writing was and enjoyed the overall concept.

3.5! Glamorous Gilded Age heists, secret societies, and a revenge plot you can sink your teeth into. The slow-burn romance simmers under layers of distrust and deception, while the lush setting and clever magic keep things tense and addictive. Not flawless, but still a sharp, captivating ride for fans of betrayal and intrigue.

This YA fantasy standalone was a great read. Even though I’ve aged out of the YA demo, I was intrigued by the Gilded Age setting. The author was new to me, and I enjoyed her writing.

There were twists and shocking moments, as well as lovable characters. The story kicked off with a bang, and the middle was more of a slow burn, but the climax was suspenseful and heart-wrenching.

The book was more YA fantasy than historical fantasy; there were references to the period and setting, but I would say the story is focused more on the magical world than the actual world of that time.

If you like revenge tales, romantasy, and found family, then this would be a good fit.

“monomaniacal. singularly obsessed” <- me with this book

i knew going in that this was going to be amazing, as i loved revelle and trust lyssa mia smith with my entire literary life but i didn’t realize it was going to utterly blow me out of the water

let’s start with the characters.

emmy- my precious. the entire book she’s thrown in the trenches over and over again by people she trusts. almost everyone can relate to her. you get up just to be ripped to shreds again and again. but she persevered. and she did the damn thing. i just love her so much

jack- my baby. oh how i loved jack fontaine. every man should be jack fontaine. this man is RIDE OR DIE for his girl and we love to see it. plus he has cool fire powers so, plus one point for that

caleb- WE LOVE QUEER REP. that’s it, that’s all you need to know.

grace- i’ve never hated a character more than this bitch. omg i was seething and actually had to stop several times to collect myself. the emotions this woman elicited from me should be studied.

moving on, the plot

who doesn’t love a revenge story set on dismantling the corrupt system that keeps those not in power poor? we love to see it and you’ll sit there rooting for the downfall of everyone

the love story also feels organic and i actually kept screaming for them to just kiss already. UGH. but it’s great you should read it

all in all, lyssa mia smith has once again delivered an unputdownable book that will rip your heart out and shred it in the most delicate of ways. i can not wait until it is out in the world.

This beautifully written fantasy. It’s dark and magical, and it’s filled with slow-burn tension and unexpected twists.

After being betrayed by her best friend at there coming out ball. She is imprisoned for faking magical abilities. While behind bars, where escape seems impossible—until she meets Jack Fontaine. Jack is also a disgraced member of the magical Society. Together, they break out of prison and hatch a plan to re-enter society. They must reshape their identities with Emmy’s illusion magic. This allows them to become part of the elite again, which gives them access to exact revenge on those who wrongfully imprisoned them.

They chase vengeance and are thwarted at every turn. Each side is using relics that enhance magic, but for some reason, Emmy can never get the upper hand. Emmy might seem naive at first, but the secrets, betrayals, and emotional stakes elevate this story. In the end, Emmy must face the hardest truth: Is love worth more than revenge?

After adoring Revelle, I really had high hopes for this title that sadly didn't get reached. However, seeing everyone's glowing reviews I'm assuming its a "right book wrong time" situation, and I'd definitely be willing to check out the audiobook!

The biggest issue was pacing mixed with suspension of disbelief. I think in the moment, the beginning twist was very effective, however the more I read, the more time I wish we had had with Emmy and Grace before the backstab. We hear recounts of their bond after the fact, but i think it would have had a higher impact had we gotten time to care about their friendship.

I also had a few things throughout that really took me out of the story (like how she was locked away starved for 2 years, yet was able to run away "faster than she ever had" without much struggle). Which feels nitpicky, but it felt rushed. There was an end of chapter reveal that they had to go to a guarded location to retrieve something, and it ended with "we must go to x" and the next chapter begins with, literally, "we're here".

*Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*

I adored this book. It is a fantasy standalone that has: prison escapes, revenge plots, romance, and more. The characters were engaging, the romance was beautiful, and the book as a whole was incredibly well-written.

Emmy and Jack broke out of a magical prison because they were both framed; after they escaped, they planned to bring down the people who ruined their lives. These two were so good together. They were ruthless, heartbroken, bitter, hopeful, lovable. Their relationship was the perfect mix of slow-burn and intensity, and I loved every page. There are also a few side characters that were just as entertaining and well-written as these two, mainly Caleb and Jimmy. I loved these two, and the only thing that could have made this book better is if these two had more opportunities to shine.

If you are looking for a fun and exciting standalone to read, this is for you.


"You've called me obsessed, but it's worse than that. It frightens me, the things I'd do to keep you safe. I'd kill for you, Emmy."

I really enjoyed this fast-paced and suspenseful YA. At times it felt like a magical YA twist on The Count of Monte Cristo, GILDED IN VENGEANCE by Lyssa Mia Smith delivered a fast-paced and exciting read with themes of betrayal, redemption, forgiveness, revenge, and tentative hope. Loved the way magic was set up, the lush descriptive settings, the emotional depth of the characters, and the slow burn romance. Definitely a YA to add to your to-be-read pile!!

It was such a letdown. The premise was so intriguing and the magic system was quite fresh as well. It could have been such a great story. Alas, at some point the plot veered towards nonsense, all the opportunities for suspense and intrigue were squandered, and the revenge itself was so lacklustre. I have expected a twisted story with Monte Christo vibes and I got this instead. It is a pity as the writing itself was beautiful.

Revenge, romance, and razor-sharp glamor collide in this dazzling YA fantasy from Lyssa Mia Smith. Set in a Gilded Age New York teeming with magic, this is a story of high-stakes vengeance draped in silks and secrets. Emmy is a fierce, clever heroine readers will root for as she claws her way out of betrayal and into the heart of the very society that destroyed her. Jack is the perfect foil—enigmatic, charming, and hiding more than he lets on.

With its lush setting, dangerous intrigue, and slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance, this book is perfect for fans of The Belles, These Vengeful Hearts, and Bridgerton with bite. Lyssa Mia Smith proves once again she knows how to enchant—and devastate—in equal measure.

Both Jack and Emmy definitely fall into the category of morally grey main characters—after all, they meet and work together to seek revenge and basically bring down the society that wronged them. Usually, I don’t much like books based entirely around revenge, but this book really layered in complex characters and relationships, which really made me think the revenge they were seeking was (kinda) justified.

Overall, this was a great book, and the complex schemes set in the late 1800s reminded me of Six of Crows, with the complex morally grey characters that you cannot help but love. The plot was also fast moving, without leaving you in the dust, and there were some great twists that I never saw coming in the best way.

Jack especially was quite swoony, with all his mysteriousness and his ability to swoop in at the exact right time to help Emmy when she needed it. I think he fit great with Emmy and their chemistry was insane across the entire book. I really have no complaints about this book—it completely surpassed my expectations and I could not be happier with how it went.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books, Storytide, and NetGalley for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was absolutely wonderful. I felt like I was in the book too feeling all of the betrayal and emotions as well. Lyssa Mia Smith does an amazing job with the pacing of her book, revealing plot points in such an engaging way. I stayed up reading and picked it up again in the morning. Just as well-written as Revelle, this book is a must-read. I was rooting for each supporting character and booing for the antagonist the whole time, and I will most certainly be sharing this book with local bookstores as well as friends and family. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read it in advance!

I requested to read this book solely because of the book cover, but I stayed for one of the most enjoyable reads of 2025. This book has a revenge filled plot, but characters that are so easy to love. While the start was slow, it was integral to the masterpiece that the book’s second half delivered. I love the spin on witches this book delivers, as well as the complicated history between the FMC & the primary antagonist. I also love the four core characters, and the two romances blooming within that group. Both couples have my heart & soul now. Please, please go read this book! You won’t regret it!

Thank you to Lyssa Mia Smith, NetGalley and the publisher for this Advanced Reader Copy.

I absolutely loved Gilded in Vengeance by Lyssa Mia Smith! If you love magical tales set in the late 1800s and are looking for a heart-stopping revenge story, this one is for you!

First of all I loved the writing style so much!! It was lyrical but fast-paced, the best of both worlds! Lyssa Mia does not shy away from incredible plot twists either, ones that really threw me off guard! I also loved the magical system which had its own limits, raising the stakes even more! I hope you will enjoy this one as much as I did!!

What an absolute RUSH. The premise of this book already had me hooked - seeking revenge through whatever means necessary with the backdrop of a magical 1880s debutante society? Astounding, sign me up. What I wasn't expecting was the social and political commentary of the era, with our main group of characters calling to light and hoping to dismantle injust systems that unfairly target and immigrants and the poor. This is seamlessly woven into our main plot where we aim to slowly whittle down the list of offenders who got our protagonists unfairly jailed for crimes they did not commit. Between the societal scandal, the scheming and conniving, and the swoon-worthy romance that gives off Anastasia and Dimitry vibes in the best way possible, I was a goner. I was sucked into this world and it's magic system immediately and every new morsel of information and drop of a character's backstory made this world more lush, believable, and magical. Emmy, our protagonist who came from nothing and must blend into higher society for a chance at redemption, is incredibly relatable in her grief and lust for revenge against those who wronged her. Her co-conspirator Jack...what can I say aside from the fact that I want a real version of him for myself. Our entire main cast was an absolute delight and the story consisted of so many hard-hitting drops of information, plot twists I didn't see coming, and a swoony romance that had me giggling, kicking my feet, and punching my pillow simultaneously. It was everything I could have asked for. Bravo.

I thought this book was fun and overall a good time. The magic system is well thought out and the characters are strong and solid throughout the book. I did find some parts lacking but others made up for it in the end. I was a big fan of the characters interactions and how they discovered things that were relevant to the way the story developed and the way the characters developed as well.

Overall, a good time and a fun read for those who are into historical magical societies and how it impacts the non magical societies around them.

Thank you to Lyssa Mia Smith and Jill Tew, and Netgalley for the E-ARC!
Gilded in Vengeance was good, but not as good as Revelle, but I didn’t think it would be because I loved Revelle so much and it was full of many of my favourite things!
All of the characters in Gilded in Vengeance were great, they had good development and interactions, though I wouldn’t complain about more. Both the romantic relationships of Emmy and Jack, and Caleb and Jimmy were great, they weren’t undeveloped, but more time definitely would have enhanced them a bit more. The friendship and scheming moments between the group of them were wonderful! The world and magic was incredibly well done, and thankfully there were no giant plot holes like many of the books I’ve read recently. The story and plot were intriguing and well thought out, and the pacing was good. There was a good balance between the emotional side, motivations of the characters and the actual revenge execution. There were also great descriptions of the clothing and settings, it was all very atmospheric.
I think it might have been better as a series, even a good duology. It felt like there could have been more to the story, it wasn’t necessarily rushed, it just might have been more satisfying as a series- there was certainly more that could have been explored. I don’t actually have too many thoughts, it was good but it might have been better with more. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I had expected to love it just a bit more. Once again, another brilliant book by Lyssa Mia Smith, I will definitely continue to read whatever she writes!

This gripped me from the very beginning. I was first drawn by the gorgeous cover then fell in love with the story and the characters.

magic
slow burn
crime
high stakes
secrets

𝐆𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐧 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐋𝐲𝐬𝐬𝐚 𝐌𝐢𝐚 𝐒𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐡 | 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬

Revenge meets The Gilded Age in this thrilling YA fantasy set among the glittering magical elite of late-1800s New York society, from Revelle author Lyssa Mia Smith.

I had fun while reading this book! The fast paced story and chapters had me in suspense and intrigue the entire time. I didn't want to put it down at all near the end as I had to find out what happened.

There’s a brilliant balance of fast-paced plot, emotional vulnerability, and social intrigue. Both historical and modern subjects are addressed, such as the blaming of immigrants for societal problems.

Jack and Emmy were very fleshed out with flaws and strengths that grounded them in the storytelling. Their romance was sizzling with tension and banter.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read with an intriguing story line that had me engaged through the entire plot!

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!