A Glittering Edge by Alyssa Villaire casts a captivating spell from the very first page. With its rich atmosphere, simmering magic, and generational family feud, this book delivers exactly what you want from a YA fantasy steeped in curses, secrets, and witchy drama.

The story follows two rival witch families locked in a deadly curse that has shaped generations of bloodshed and betrayal. Villaire expertly weaves together old magic, sharp dialogue, and modern emotional depth. The tension between the families is electric, and watching the unraveling of past wrongs and present choices had me hooked. It’s the kind of book that balances mystery and romance in just the right way, with stakes that feel high but characters that are deeply relatable.

The vibe? Immaculate. Think moody forests, hidden grimoires, eerie enchantments, and enough candlelit rituals to make you want to move to a misty town and start your own coven. What I loved most was how Villaire took a classic idea, a magical feud and an inherited curse—and made it feel fresh, personal, and full of heart. The relationships (both romantic and familial) were layered and believable, and the emotional beats hit beautifully.

Why not a full 5 stars? There were a couple of pacing hiccups midway through, where I felt the tension dipped just slightly before picking up again. But overall, that’s a small price to pay for a story this compelling. If you're craving something atmospheric, magical, and full of family secrets, A Glittering Edge absolutely delivers. Perfect for fans of The Inheritance Games meets The Wicked Deep.

This book… I needed a minute to recover. In all honesty, I nearly threw my iPad across the room when I finished it. I stared off into space for a good five minutes trying to figure out what the heck just happened. Don’t get me wrong, I’m going to recommend this book to so many people, but it is probably going to be with the follow up that it will be part of a duet.

It was a great book. I loved the storyline, and the premise was so good - two rival families, a curse, and an unwitting girl who ends up in the middle of it, who is then trying to solve the mystery. There was some good twists and turns that happened, and then… the last chapter. I have never been so glad to find that there is going to be a second book, ever. I am looking forward to see how it is all resolved.

4.5 stars
This was such an enjoyable read! I love a good retelling and the theme of feuding families was very strong in this one, showing a clear link to the Capulets and Montagues, but there was so much more to this story - it's a great YA paranormal story that left me wanting more after a sneaky little cliff hanger.

One of our families, the De Lucas, are witches, though currently powerless, as punishment for cursing the Barrions in a decades long feud. Alonso De Luca and Corey Barrion have been at odds all their lives, and now Penny Emberly is caught in the middle when her mother is collateral damage from the curse on the Barrions. Penny is shy and anxious and has to dig deep to find the mettle to convince Alonso and Corey to help her overcome the curse and save her mother.

We've got a bit of a love triangle happening, we've got a mystery (tracking down how to lift the curse), we've got some dysfunctional family moments and the feud, as well as some high school drama and mean girls, and it's all mixed up to form a great story.

As mentioned, there is a bit of a cliffhanger ending and I'll be hanging out to see where the story goes!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced e-copy of this book.

While reading this book, there was some little moments when I thought ‘man, I think this book is too young for me’ – but turns out I simply don’t care, I ate this book up.

Set in a small-town, Penny finds herself between two very different boys who have come from feuding families. As she tries to bring them together to solve an ongoing mystery, they find themselves on a journey of bravery, friendship and growth.

This story is entangled with witchcraft and generational curses.
I am looking forward to reading the conclusion of this in the future.

A magical feud has ensnared many locals in a small Indiana town, and Penny is determined to end it when it claims her mum.

The plot moves quickly and despite only getting a few short moments between Penny and her mum, their dynamic was beautifully written and full of depth. The remaining cast did not quite match up to our main heroine. The writing felt quite cliched at times and a few descriptive details undid some of the mystery and tension that had been built up.

Locals whisper of a tragic love story that began a decades long blood feud. A story that navigates unpredictable magic, the tangled web of family histories and complicated attractions. For as long as anyone can remember a family of witches and a wealthy family have been sworn enemies but when a loved one becomes the latest victim will they be able to put aside their differences and break the curse. A beautifully gothic take on the timelessly tragic romance.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐀𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐬𝐚 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞

🩷 Book Review 🩷
📚 The Glittering Edge
🗓 6.5.2025
💫💫

Thank you Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to love this book because of The Raven Boys vibes it was supposed to bring. Unfortunately, it fell short for me.

There was massive plot holes and I could not just vibe with the story. It made no sense. Two feuding families, one with magic and one without, the lovers of the family without magic all die but they have a pendant that also keeps them alive... yeah, I was confused.

The only relationship that made sense and felt somewhat genuine was Penny and her mums. Otherwise, everything else felt random and forced.

I also should just stop reading love triangles. It must just not be for me.