The premise of this book was unique and interesting. Moulin Rouge meets Macbeth? Count me in. The first half of this book is heavy on the spicy scenes (starting on the very fist page) and character building while the second half of the book is where the action, plot twists, and drama are heavy. Insta-love/Insta-lust usually isn't my thing but these characters had off the charts chemistry and watching them learn to trust each and the connection deepen was perfect. The beginning of this book was started strong, there was a bit of a mushy middle and the end went off the rails (that cliffhanger at the end!!!) and I couldn't put it down (I stayed up until 1am to finish it.)

I will say, the world building, magic system and political plot felt kind of vague, hollow and underdeveloped. But the fun and enjoyment I had reading the book outweighs the criticisms and overall this book was a sexy, fast past ride that I enjoyed. I cant wait for the next book. 4.75 ⭐

Thank you to NetGalley, author Falon Ballard and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book

I don’t normally read fantasy but the cover and plot intrigued me. I liked that this was an insta-love. I’m not a fan of slow burn but I don’t think the characters got together quickly either even though they are instantly attracted to each other. I definitely enjoyed the relationship more than the plot. I really like the lead characters in the story and the progression of their love. The story was very captivating and I was even shocked by the twist.

3.75 stars!

The synopsis for this book really pulled me in! So dramatic and fun, I was all in from the start. and while there were definitely things I enjoyed this one was a bit of a mixed bag for me.

I loved that the story was told from a courtesan’s POV super rare in romantasy and Cate has a strong voice. The concept is cool, but I had a hard time getting into the world. Things felt kind of vague and hard to follow sometimes, which made it tricky to stay fully invested.

The first half of the book leans heavy on the spice (not complaining it was excellent spice!) but I didn’t always feel the deeper connection between Cate and Callum. It picked up big time in the last chunk of the book though lots of action, twists, and drama that made it hard to put down.

Overall, it wasn’t perfect, but there’s something there. I think the next book could be really solid, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for it!!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this arc!

Thank you so much for this ARC! This book was SO good! Callum and Caterine's chemistry was electric, and the gifts that the gifted have are so interesting! I just know that the next book in this series is going to have drama and I'm here for it!

Something Wicked was...fine. There's not much for me to say other than, I think was trying to be a whole lot more than it was. The execution was lacking in what was promised. I was super excited to get into it, but it all fell a little bit flat. 10/10 cover though, it's BEAUTIFUL!

Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the eARC!

This held such promise- Moulin Rouge meets Macbeth?? Sign me up! Well, I was signed up til about the halfway mark, then I quickly tried rubbing my eraser over my name down on the sign-up sheet. What was left was those milky gray streaks, just like the plot of this book. Insta-love meets insta-lust, some bonded nonsense that really had nothing to do with the plot and a political coup make up the remainder of the plot, but unfortunately none of it remained as interesting as the nights at the pleasure house during the first 50%. This one needed to be left in the oven to bake a little longer.

Something wicked is a fun quick read, with a unique plot. A courtesan with special abilities is living in a world that is against her kind. When a prince seeks her help they both must put aside their prejudices. Each must keep secrets against the other in order to keep each other safe. I didn’t fully get swept up in the story, and at times the plot felt a little convoluted.

I wanted this to be better, but it really turned out to be Booktok nonsense. The premise was interesting but the book was written too quickly and felt underdeveloped.

Stunning cover and the premise truly grabbed me into wanting to read this. However, the execution with the characters and plot fell flat for me. It could have been fleshed out and developed more in my opinion and it was just an alright read for me. I think people could enjoy it though and would recommend it.

I haven't read many of her other works to make a comparison to this book, but I may want to read one in the future to see how this holds up compared to many of her contemporary works.

I think for a romantasy the world building was not much and a reason it fell a bit flat, the poltiics and world etc just were not expanded in great detail to what it could have been. I would have loved to learn more about the gifts and how it started etc, there is just information that could have been added in to get the reader more involved, interested, informed, etc in this world and story.

Something Wicked was an enjoyable read. It stood out from other books from it's beautiful cover art and as well as Cate, the FMC. Her back story, job and what she can do was refreshing. Loved the connection between Cate and Callum.

Dual POV, which was fun getting into both of their heads and seeing what was going on.

Interested to see where it will lead in book 2.

I received an advanced copy of this one and I really like Falon Ballard’s writing but something about this one wasn’t for me. It felt off from her normal writing. The spicy scenes were great but it fell a little flat on the plot.

Thank you for the ARC!

I really liked 2 of Falon Ballard’s books and when I heard that she was doing something different and especially after seeing that gorgeous cover art, I was very interested in this book. Yet to be honest it was rather disappointing. It’s somewhat a political fantasy romance but the world building is not very engaging and the romance is very insta-love, making the whole book a bit of a PWP. It’s very gripping though, I’ll give it that as I finished it in almost one sitting.

I liked this, didn’t love it though. Cool idea and I love the cover art! The world building wasn’t enough for me though so I was never fully invested. I think others may enjoy it more than I did though!

Falon Ballard is one of my new favorite authors. I picked up her debut on a whim and loved it and ever since then I’ve read everything she put out. This was amazing and so different from what she’s written before. I highly recommend

It was... okay. Honestly, I don't have much to say (which is a shame because that cover is stunning). The premise grabbed me immediately, but the execution was just... okay. The characters felt flat, the romance was "meh", and by the end I just didn't care.

This story is far from simple. Enter Lady Caterine, a courtesan with a dangerous and rare gift: the ability to manipulate emotions through the power of intimacy. As the two unlikely allies work together to help Callum achieve his goal, they find themselves drawn to each other in ways neither can resist or understand.

What makes La Puissance stand out is its intricately woven plot and the chemistry between Callum and Cate. The tension between them crackles, blending elements of fantasy, romance, and political intrigue. Cate’s gift adds an unexpected layer of complexity to their relationship, making every moment between them feel both intimate and perilous.

The world-building is immersive, and the stakes feel real—this is a story about more than just personal ambition; it’s about the fate of an entire country. As Callum and Cate face not only their own desires and fears but also the dangerous forces at play within the heart of the country, the narrative takes unexpected turns that will leave readers on the edge of their seat.

This book doesn’t shy away from difficult emotions or morally gray characters. With betrayal, sacrifice, and dark secrets, La Puissance is a thrilling ride that keeps you hooked from start to finish. If you're a fan of complex characters, political intrigue, and high stakes with a touch of sensuality, this book is a must-read.

The description and the cover are appealing and drew me in, unfortunately, the story fell flat to me. The plot and characters felt hollow. I love this author's rom-coms, but romantasy was not a good mix with their writing style.

Moulin Rouge meets Lady Macbeth is a very intriguing concept, but unfortunately it's just not executed well here.
the world building in this book was one of the primary issues that i had. the plot line was hard to follow, and i never felt a connection to any of the characters. there is a hint of a political plot, but it wasn’t executed well enough in my opinion. the last third of the book is when it definitely picks up, which is why this one redeemed itself a bit. i do think that there is a lot of information and action in the last 100 pages, and it honestly overwhelmed me.

i do realize that this book is about a courtesan, but there was just too much focus on the “sex lessons” for me. the first half of the book is just a lot of spice, as well as these lessons, which i didn’t enjoy as much. sometimes there are scenes with the MCs where i felt no chemistry between them other than physical attraction.

however, that being said, i appreciate the way that this book is told from the courtesan’s POV, which is less common in books. i feel like a lot of the time, they are portrayed as the enemies, or just viewed as “lesser” in general, so that was definitely an upside to this book.This book is in the romantic, sci fi and fantasy genre. I absolutely love the cover and that is what ultimately caught my attention! It starts off strong, then slows down a bit. The spice in this book is intense! Whew! I think that Callum and Cate had a strong chemistry! I had a difficult time with the world building in this story, for some reason. This is a fast paced, hard to put down book. I read it in just one sitting. I know that this is the author’s first romantacy novel and I think she did really good with most parts of the book! Be sure to read the content warnings of this book. I will definitely be reading her upcoming books in this series! Overall, I rate this a 3 out of 5 stars!

As someone who is a fan of Falon Ballard's rom coms i was really interested to see her transition into the world of romantasy.
This book has a lot of different ideas going on at one time and I think some of them worked and some of them didn't. For instance, I enjoyed the magic aspect with the different gifts at the club and wish that we had explored those aspects more. Instead we delved in length about the political aspect country which felt less interesting and like something that has been done before. I also felt like the aspects with lady M and Harold got confusing with letters. There was a lot of information dumping happening that was overwhelming as a reader. I enjoyed the romance but it unfortunately fell into the category of instalove and felt like an after thought because of all of the other events happening in the book. I am interested to see how the rest of the story unfolds and will read book 2.

This cover immediately drew me in-I mean COME ON, it's stunning. Unfortunately, the story didn't quite live up to the hype caused by the cover or the comp titles of Moulin Rouge meets Macbeth. I had a hard time connecting with the main characters, and they ended up feeling overall one-dimensional. I can't believe me, of all people, is saying this, but I honestly wish there had been less focus on the sex and more on the actual story. For example, the magic/bonded aspects of the story are kind of just glossed over, and I would have loved some more insight into how those things work in this society and the implications. Overall, I just needed some more clarification, and maybe some more emotions and heart from the main characters versus just overall lust... cause that physical attraction was DEFINITELY there.