I always appreciate when writers previously known for their rom com novels make the switch into a new genre. And that’s just what Fallon Ballard does as she makes her romantic fantasy debut in Something Wicked. As someone who is both a romantasy fan and has also read and loved Ballard’s previous work, I was cautiously optimistic about this new story. Often the world building falls flat or is rushed through in debut fantasy novels. However, I didn’t find that to be the case in Something Wicked. There is enough groundwork laid to keep the reader’s interest for book 2 without sacrificing the pace. Also: the chemistry and sparks were 10/10. This book will win over the romantasy lover and may also convince them to read from Ballard’s other writing styles.

The author took a bold step away from her usual romcom territory with Something Wicked, and I was hooked from the start. Set in a politically fractured kingdom on the brink of reinvention, this story blended magical intrigue, morally complex characters, and high-stakes tension in a way that felt refreshingly different from typical fantasy fare.
Callum was a fascinating protagonist—torn between duty, legacy, and his own fear of emotional vulnerability. His dynamic with Cate, a Gifted courtesan with the rare power to sway emotions through pleasure, was intense, layered, and often beautifully messy. Their connection grew slowly, wrapped in mistrust and yearning, and I really appreciated how the author didn’t rush their bond, letting the tension simmer until it hit with full emotional force.
The world-building was intriguing, especially La Puissance, which functioned as both a backdrop of pleasure and danger. And while the central plot (killing your own father to run for office?!) was undeniably dark, it was woven into a narrative that explored power, guilt, connection, and what people are willing to sacrifice for freedom and ambition.
The pacing dragged a little in the middle and some of the magical elements felt underexplained. But overall, this was a compelling, character-driven fantasy that surprised me in all the right ways. The author's signature wit and emotional depth were still there—just wrapped in shadows and secrets this time. I’d definitely read more set in this world.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

PSA YOU WILL LOVE THIS IF YOU ARE A ROMANCE READER FIRST and A CASUAL FANTASY FAN!
Well. I loved this.
I am shocked by the middling reviews because I devoured this book—I couldn’t put it down!
Obviously the cover is brilliant (seriously one of the best I’ve ever seen in this genre) and I hope that draws people in. But the premise? Moulin rouge x Macbeth? Come on. I’m all in.
I will say that I am a casual fantasy reader, so the “flimsy worldbuilding” that other reviewers fussed about didn’t bother me. I actually thought it was sumptuous and interesting—the descriptions were so vivid, I hardly cared about the politics. I think the average reader will also not care about the politics (like…is that why we watch Star Wars? NO!), and I hope this will be a big hit for people who enjoy romance and some fantasy (like me!).
I thought the writing was excellent and although I don’t usually like dual POV, it worked for me here. I thought the conflict was brilliant. So often in contemporary romances the characters have to do mental gymnastics to stay apart and facilitate the plot, but in this I found myself wondering how they could ever be together at multiple points.
I loved the epistolary insertions too, and found them propulsive and curiosity building.
Aaaaaand also? This book is so hot. But like. The sex is so pivotal to the book that it never feels over the top or shoehorned. It’s just hot and FUN.
This is one of those books that reminds me that the purpose of a book, fundamentally, is to entertain. And boy, I WAS ENTERTAINED! I cannot wait to read the second one in the series!

Fallon Ballard’s romance books have always been big talk on booktok. So when I saw she had written a romansty book with the prettiest cover I have ever seen. I knew I needed to read it. Now romansty isn’t a genre I normally reach for. I only made it half way through ACOTAR. But when I saw the description calling this Moulin Rouge and Macbeth mixed together I knew I’d enjoy it. Some people complained about the lack of world building but that’s one of the things I like. Fantasy books with chapters and chapters of world building are what turn me off romansty novels. If you are like me and fantasy novels aren’t your thing but you willing to try them then “Something Wicked” is for you. It’s a spicy romance novel with a fanasty background,

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the chance to read this early in exchange for my honest opinion.

I went into this book with very high hopes. I really enjoy Fallon Ballard’s writing style, and this book did meet my expectations in terms of that style. However, the actual story was lacking.

I really struggled to make heads or tails of the actual plot lines, and feel like this book could really have been something great, if the world building was less convoluted. Honestly, I am disappointed that SO much of the book was sex centered. While the main character is a sex worker, and her magic is sex centered, I guess I thought there would be more plot.

The enemies to lovers aspect of this was not terribly great either. I personally feel like marketing this as enemies to lovers is not a great representation of the relationship between the FMC and MMC.

Will I ultimately read more of Fallon’s works in the future? Absolutely. Would I read this again? Nope.

I went into this book not really knowing what it was about, just that the cover was pretty. I think this story had a lot of potential, it was just missing a lot of world building. There were a lot of plot points that just left me super confused. But if you're someone that enjoys spice more than plot, then I think you'll enjoy this! The spice was so well done!

*spoiler free*
I LOVED this book! I have read 1 or 2 of this authors’ contemporary romances but I am so happy she stepped into the romantasy genre!! The Moulin Rouge setting is spectacular, and I was able to visualize it so clearly. This is a fun, steamy, romantic experience that I could not put down! It was so addicting that I read it in 2 settings; only because I found myself rushing at the end since I was so tired at 2am and had to put it down until the next day.
It is about the country of Avon and the uprising it is going through in order to bring equal rights to all, including the Gifted who have magic. Lady Caterine is one of the gifted, an orphan and twin who works as courtesan at La Puissance, Avon’s premiere sex club. Callum is the son of the recently dethroned king and is pulled in different ways politically and personally. To me, the political plot and uprising are secondary to the amazing chemistry and relationship Cate and Callum build together. Even though it is spicey, it is written in a beautiful way that you feel the tension and chemistry coming off the pages. The first three-fourths of the book are excellent and help set up the main conflict, while the last fourth lacked a bit of the strength of a fantasy novel. I believe the fantasy writing will only get better and better with elements such as fight scenes, conflict resolution, flushing out political motivations and world building. I am still giving this 5 stars because I love a genre switch, and I could not put this book down and had so much fun. I am a hopeless romantic and love a good love story. It’s perfect for those entering the fantasy genre. Highly recommend and cant wait for book 2!
Thank you to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons and author Falon Ballard for this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review

I did not like the writing style in this at all, it was just not my cup of tea at all. Also just didn’t like any of the characters.

I really enjoyed the book overall—loved Cate and Callum and other characters, engaging plot, and vivid storytelling. However, the ending felt a bit rushed compared to the rest of the story. That said, I’m definitely looking forward to the next books in the series and seeing how everything continues to unfold!

I've loved all of Falon Ballard's previous novels but this one just didn't hit for me. I think she struggled a lot with her world building which made it difficult to get invested in the story. I found myself confused pretty often as it felt like I should have been given context or information that wasn't there. I'll definitely read more of her contemporary romances but her romantasy is simply not my cup of tea.

I don’t love nor hate the book. It wasn’t memorable to me. I felt like there wasn’t enough world building/background information given. Towards the end, some things started to get muddled and I wish the world building had more depth to it. I found myself enjoying Cate more than Callum but their spicy scenes? Chef’s kiss. They were spicy..
I enjoyed the tension and pull those two had and it was the only thing that got me through the book.


Overall: 3:5
Spice: 4/5

I was really excited for this because I LOVED Change of Heart. It didn’t grab me right away and then I got more into it as I read but then it lost me again. The cover is gorgeous and I’m curious how it will continue but it wasn’t my fave unfortunately.

Thank you Penguin, Putnam Books and NetGalley for the eARC!
“Macbeth meets Moulin Rouge” concept that worked. The fantasy aspect lacked some setting, imagery and building, but the characters and chemistry made up for it.
I really did enjoy this read and was entertained throughout.

Cate is a successful courtesan in a crumbling world where magic is hidden and kept quiet. Callum is the prince of their region and has the pressure of becoming the next in line while a rebel uprising is underway. They meet one night at the club where Cate works and the attraction is instant. Callum can’t trust a courtesan with magic, can he?
Fallon Ballard is a familiar author. I’ve loved her other works. The spice in this book is plentiful, and it has something for almost any romantasy reader. The magic was interesting and the side characters were unique and fun. The world could have been interesting if there was more of it. It seemed a bit shallow, a bit more sex focused than anything else. I actually wished for deeper scenes and relationships than the sex.
I do think this book will do well with fans of Moulin Rouge and quick romantasy reads. It is a great book to binge!

Not quite a hit for me, but it was a fun read!

Cate is a courtesan as the largest pleasure club in Avon - She works here with her sister, as they are both “Gifted” & orphans. Being a gifted essentially means that you have some sort of special powers that an average citizen does not. For Cate, she is able to manipulate the emotions of anywho who…finishes with her, if you get my drift. As such, she is enlisted to help Prince Callum work through the guilt of a treacherous act he must commit. The Uprising (political movement) has overthrown the current kings and stated that the first to kill the current king will be in the running for President. Callum, heir to the throne, must kill his father. He works with Cate as a ruse to “get better with the ladies”, but immediately gets tossed into chaos when plans start to go off the rails. Cate & Callum realize they must work together to go against something brewing within the pleasure club, as well as within their country.

The Good - If you like spice, this is definitely a good book for you! It’s not the spiciest thing I’ve ever read, but does have a good bit of spice. The spice is also pretty crucial to the plot, so none of it felt unnecessary (or felt like it was TOO much spice). I also loved the FMC! Cate is a strong presence with a massive heart for those who she loves & those who have helped her. The magic system was intriguing, although not too well thought out (see below).

The Bad - The plot at times seemed very messy and important details weren’t really fleshed out. I’m still not too sure what is going on with The Uprising, what the sides are, and how one becomes Gifted (I think they are born into it?). I felt a bit lost and kept pushing through hoping that I would get more information to explain things but I never did. The chemistry between the two MCs also felt VERY insta-love. I’m sometimes okay with that, but it didn’t work really well within this plot. He hated her to start, and then within a week they are saying I love you? It just didn’t feel believable, but maybe it is because I just didnt have a connection with either of them. The villain in this story, Lady M, seemed like she came out of no where and was very predictable. It’s like we needed a bad guy, so she was just dropped into the story. I honestly would’ve LOVED to see Harold as the bad guy. Also the disguising as trees was… very random?

Overall I think the plot & set up could use a bit more fleshing out, but it was a very fun and fast paced read. And the cover is STUNNING! Thank you NetGalley & Penguin Group / G.P. Putnam's Sons for the e-arc!

3.5 ⭐️
Overall, I really enjoyed the book. I loved how the author thought outside the box. The book felt original, and I really appreciate that it didn’t rely on the typical "romantasy" themes—usually inspired by ACOTAR—that have been popular in recent years. I loved the book's sex positivity and how rich the setting was.

I must admit, though, that I initially struggled to get through the first few chapters. I think it was because some of the side characters had a lot of infuriating moments, and I needed more information about the war/Uprising to feel fully invested. I also questioned how logical some of the events were.

Nonetheless, I’m glad I kept reading because the story improved significantly. I also really enjoyed the correspondence and journal/news entries between chapters, which enriched the story further.

Lastly, hats off to the artist/team who designed the book cover—wow, it’s so eye-catching and beautiful!

(Thank you to NetGalley, G. P. Putnam Son’s and Falon Ballard for the eARC.)

3 Stars – Spicy, Bold, and a Bit Rushed

Fallon Ballard’s first romantasy brings the heat (and I mean HEAT) and some Moulin Rouge flair, but the story tries to do too much too fast. I was craving more world-building, deeper character arcs, and a magic system with some bite. Still, the vibes? Immaculate.

I really enjoyed this book. The gifted are really cool and I love the romance and spice. The lore surrounding cate and her family is wild and I know that if there is a next book, the third sister is going to play a huge part. I HATE Lady M and I know that’s the point, but she’s just a downright bitch (excuse my language). Really interesting book and great writing

Thank you Putnam Books and NetGalley for the eARC!
Despite seeing Falon Ballard’s books everywhere and even owning a few, this was the first one of her’s I’ve picked up! I was intrigued by the idea of a “Macbeth meets Moulin Rouge” concept. I did really enjoy the general premise. The fantasy setting was a bit of a struggle for me and I found the world building underdeveloped.
I really enjoyed the characters and they had fantastic chemistry. This one had far more spice than I was expecting but I didn’t dislike that.
While this one wasn’t a huge hit for me, I did have a good time and I’m definitely going to pick up some of Falon Ballard’s other works!

This book was so great! It was well written and the characters were so relatable. I really enjoyed it and will definitely recommend it to others!