3.5 rounded up.

Big thank you for the ARC read from NetGalley.

This book I picked up and finished within the day. I thought the book was entertaining enough, but towards the second half I felt like it dragged on. It was predictable and I thought a lot of the dialogue didn’t feel natural. I didn’t feel like there was much chemistry between the two leads, but it was still enough for me to enjoy it. I think some of the magic or gifts could have been explored a bit deeper, but all in all a fun exciting read.

I think this book was great. it starts off fast paced and then slows down a bit the but the spice is honestly hot! throughout the whole book its just very present and it feels organic. For the author's first romantasy book i think its pretty good and i would recommend.

This was not at all what I was expecting and I had to DNF it at 20%.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was disappointing. I love Falon so much, but this fell very flat for me. No worldbuilding and flimsy characters. I'm sorry I will not be recommending.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

I went in totally blind, like I always do, and it didn’t totally disappoint. The cover is absolutely stunning! This book is Macbeth meets Moulin Rouge—with a whole lot of spice. It’s fast-paced, packed with tension-filled romance, and sprinkled with fantasy elements.

I really enjoyed the dynamic between Caterine and Callum—their chemistry is intense. Caterine has a Gift and must teach Callum how to please those around him (yes, it’s exactly as it sounds). There isn’t a ton of world-building in my opinion, but it’s a fun, easy read that kept me entertained.

I was so excited to get this ARC—I’ve loved Fallon’s books for a while now! So when I heard she was venturing into fantasy, I immediately said, sign me up. This is a big departure from her usual work, but it was such a fun and wild ride.

Callum is determined to become the next king, but in this world, that ambition comes at a brutal cost: he must kill his father to take the throne. Catherine, on the other hand, has a magical ability unlike anything I’ve read before—she can manipulate emotions, but only when the person she’s with reaches orgasm. Yes, you read that right. Naturally, Callum seeks her out for “lessons,” but it quickly becomes clear he’s testing more than just her powers—he wants to know if he can trust her. And from there, things get complicated fast.

There are twists, turns, and a dark, seductive underworld at the heart of it all. This book was bold, unexpected, and totally entertaining. A must-read if you’re ready for something different with a magical (and steamy) edge!

The plot in this book could’ve been so good. Instead, it was mostly spice with a little plot sprinkled in until around halfway through, then we get more plot. But at that point, I didn’t care about any of the characters and was very bored. The letters scattered throughout from the beginning were more confusing than anything. But eventually they began to make sense. Everything drags until near the end. This book just wasn’t very good. It definitely could’ve been though.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Putnam Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I wish I had loved this book.

Something Wicked had such a strong start: magic, rebellion, political tension, and the promise of fated mates had me hooked right away. I was ready to fall in love with this story.

That said, the fantasy elements didn’t quite land for me. The worldbuilding felt a bit underdeveloped, more like a backdrop than an immersive setting. I found myself wanting more depth and detail to really anchor the magical elements of the story.

Still, if you're here for the heat, this book delivers. I’d recommend it to readers looking for a romance-forward fantasy where spice takes center stage and the worldbuilding is secondary.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Something Wicked was really original, and delivered on the promise of the Moulin Rouge x Macbeth concept, which was what initially drew me in. Dash in really excellent chemistry between Callum and Caterine, a whole lot of spice and sex positivity, and a fast pace, and you come out with a very fun, very binge-worthy book.

Unfortunately, the Moulin Rouge meets Macbeth concept did not integrate so well into the fantasy setting, perhaps because of the insufficient world building. I can forgive superficial worldbuilding if it still works in a novel, but Something Wicked suffered dearly for it. Fantasy, especially with such an ambitious base concept, needs stronger worldbuilding than this book had to offer.

Oddly enough, this did make me want to read more of Falon Ballard's work, particularly her contemporary romances. The romance was the strongest part of this book, and the only reason I gave it three full stars. I have to respect the courage and gumption it takes to try a new genre, and I would love to read more of her writing that comes from her wheelhouse.

I'd recommend to this to folks who read for the spice, and maybe care less about fantasy set dressing. This book was SEXY.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

This was a little different than my typical read, but I loved it - Cate and Callum were so capitivating as a pairing and I love how well written this was. I was hooked from the start and devoured this book. The ending! I hope this is continued, because I have questions!

I normally stay away from unfinished series, but this has me anticipating a continuation based on how it was wrapped up.

The cover is stunning and the blurb sounded like something right up my alley. Unfortunately, this fell so flat for me, which I am so sad to say! This is my first Falon Ballard novel, but I am definitely open to reading others. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this e-arc.

Love this author, and thought this sounded like a fun turn for her. While it did feel like this book had potential, it just didn't quite land for me. It felt like the characters weren't fully developed and there was some other elements that just didn't feel like it tracked for me. Thank you for the e-ARC!

The concept for this book had a lot of potential- but I feel like the execution fell flat. I didn't feel any particular attachment to any of the characters, and I felt like Cate and Callum's relationship felt rushed and underdeveloped. I kept hoping for more from the story- development of the relationships and characters, the magic system, the history of the setting, etc. I felt no attachment to the characters that died, or even in the "breakup" that happened towards the end.
In terms of the relationships in this story- I was rooting for Callum and Cate from their introductions, but their time together felt short and I did not feel like there was a real connection between them when they said their "I love you"s.
Cate and Andra also felt weird to me- I get that we don't see Andra for most of the book, but I didn't get a good sense of their connection. Cate says that she loves her and will do anything for her- but we don't really see why, or what they've gone through together.
Anyway, I feel like this book had a lot of potential, but was not executed in a way that resonated with me.

I have never read anything by this author, but I will be looking out for other books they write in the future. I really enjoyed the story as well as the pacing of the story.

Callum is hot! And uhm! Cate is so hot too! The story was a weebit left and right. They first half was good and the everyone was everywhere and got messy! Still fun though! And the spice was fun too.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read. First off need to acknowledge that the cover sold me before anything else. It gave the perfect moulin rouge vibes. Overall I will say I enjoyed this and will be reading the next. Initially having seen some reviews I was concerned but I think if you go into this knowing some facts it will make it so you have reasonable expectations and if it’s not your style don’t read. This is definitely a book where you just go with it. Yes you could sit there and question some things but honestly just enjoy the read. There is A LOT of spice. I mean she literally has a power that only works when people come. So be prepared for that. If you want a spicy Macbeth x moulin rogue read I think you’d enjoy this

the cover alone is 5 stars, the book itself is 5 stars, Falon is 5 stars.
This delivered everything it says it's going to and I love that.

Fantasy Moulin Rouge? I was initially drawn in by the cover, and the overall premise was great. The lore was poorly explained and the “romantasy” felt very forced. I’m sure there are plenty of people who will enjoy this book, but I sadly did not. Thank you NetGalley for this digital arc.

I’m not sure what I just read but this whole book was a mind fuck! Why is the FMC’s father the owner of the brothel they work in? They were taken to him when she was young and he thought that line of work was suitable for his twin daughters!? Why is their mother okay with damn near killing them. How did the relationship b/t the FMC and the MMC develop in less than 7 days? Like they were saying I love you within 5 days of meeting each other. Everything in this book happened way too fast, there was no world building, no tension & I couldn’t tell you anything about the plot. This had the potential to be a decent read but it was not.

A seductive blend of fantasy, rebellion, and forbidden romance, Something Wicked takes big swings—and for the most part, they land. Fallon Ballard makes her romantasy debut with a bold mash-up of Macbeth and Moulin Rouge, centering around Callum, the dethroned prince who must kill his own father to run for president, and Cate, a bi courtesan with magical powers tied to, yep—orgasms.
Yeah, it’s as wild as it sounds.
Cate’s ability to manipulate emotions through pleasure is both a powerful magical element and a fresh take on sex-positivity. The chemistry between her and Callum is strong and steamy without being overwhelming. Their connection builds as they navigate emotional baggage, political upheaval, and a literal sex club with secrets. There's a solid enemies-to-lovers thread, a bit of forced proximity, and tension that feels earned.
The pacing is fast—it’s easy to binge—but I did want a little more depth from the world-building. The story leans heavier into the romance than the fantasy, so if you’re hoping for detailed politics or lore, you might be left wanting. Some parts feel rushed, especially near the end, and a few world details (like the structure of the Gifted system) could’ve used more explanation.
Still, it’s spicy, unique, and definitely entertaining. Fallon Ballard’s jump into fantasy is bold and mostly successful—I’m curious to see what she does next in the genre.