First, thank you so much to Netgalley and Putnam for providing me with this eARC!

I have been in such a bad fantasy slump lately and this is exactly what I needed to pull me out of it. The overall premise and aesthetic of this book were so good and it delivered in many ways for me.

The world building was simple enough that it was easily understood. It wasn’t overly complex or riddled with fantastical jargon that made it hard to follow. A society where the majority of oppressed people are villainized women (ones that all have some sort of magical ability that deems them as a ‘Gifted’). Ouch. That one hit a little too close to home, but it also really helped me connect with the main female and her friends. It was a driving factor that had me rooting for them through the whole story because the women should get to win in at least one world. Given how the book ends, I can’t exactly say they do win, but we will see how the series continues.

In that regard, I feel as if the book was incredibly rushed toward the last chapters. The beginning does a beautiful job of setting up these intriguing plot elements here and there, but it felt like it all happened all at once. Normally this wouldn’t bother me in a standalone fantasy, but seeing as this appears to be the first of a series, so many parts of this could have been stretched out more to add a bigger mystery and emotional impact to the story. It felt as if most of the conflict that was introduced was immediately resolved before the last 90%. It didn’t quite pack the punch I was hoping it would after how it was set up at the start.

The romance was pretty decent. Cate and Callum’s chemistry was amazing. Their spicy scenes were written perfectly and I was stunned by how much I enjoyed it. The mouth on that man! He may be a gentleman, but not when it comes to his woman and that I loved it!!

However, their romance also felt so very rushed. They go from meeting to in love within the span of a week. Without spoiling anything, there is a deeper reason for their quick and intense connection, but we don’t know enough about it to understand the WHY. They just kind of accept that their connection is what it is and fall in love without really knowing one another. Same as before, I wish this had been dragged out a little more. Developed further with more angst so we could truly see why they loved one another rather than “I forgive whatever the other person ever does because of this ‘connection’”. I’m hoping this is expanded on in future books.

Overall, this book was such a good step back into fantasy for me. The author has an amazing prose and it sucked me in from the first sentence and kept me on my seat till the end. I’m looking forward to seeing what they do with the rest of this series.

Something Wicked was the perfect mix of Moulin Rouge and Macbeth. The angst, romance, and politics were all combined into the beautiful first book in the Idle Reputations series.

I do wish we got to see more of Callum’s political side, as I’m still hesitant about him in that regard, but that could just be because Cate shines through so much brighter than he does.

Thank you for the opportunity of an eARC, and I am leaving this review willingly.

Unfortunately, Something Wicked didn’t really work for me. I struggled to get into the story, mainly because the romance felt rushed and unrealistic. The characters fall in love at first glance across a crowded room, and the MMC’s immediate thought of “Mine” upon seeing the FMC didn’t feel believable or earned.

I usually love a good instant connection when it’s done well, but here it lacked the development and emotional depth that makes that kind of chemistry convincing. Without time to build any real foundation between the characters, it was hard for me to feel invested in their relationship or the story overall.

While the premise had potential, I needed more buildup and authenticity in the romance to really connect with it.

I genuinely don’t have a lot of strong thoughts about Something Wicked. It feels extremely… fine. There’s nothing that sticks out to me, though the beginning is decently intriguing. But there’s also nothing that I hated.

Something Wicked is a book that on the surface seems to have a lot of strong and heavy themes, but fails to really hit the mark with the expectations. It reads very contemporary and silly compared to what was actually happening. Everything felt very shallow and underdeveloped.

The spice was there and definitely good and different enough each time but I don’t think it could have saved what little chemistry I could (or couldn’t) see between Cate & Callum.

This cover is beyond gorgeous though!

Thank you to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

Severely lacking in all areas. Everything felt very rushed, to the point where there was no emotional connection to the characters. The promise was there and the story had so much potential, but it just wasn’t executed well. I am disappointed because I was very excited to read this story, especially with the gorgeous cover.

I really thought I was going to love this book! The cover is STUNNING and I’m obsessed with both Moulin Rouge and Shakespeare. But I just couldn’t get into this one. I felt like the first part dragged on far too much, making the Ending feel rushed. The main “conflict” between the two main characters was resolved within like a chapter, and even though it includes some fantasy elements, I didn’t like the insta-lust or the world-building. I did really enjoy that it was a dual POV because that added a lot of richness to the story, but some of the letters between chapters felt really random and confusing to me. Most things were wrapped up except for what I thought was the biggest twist, so that was also disappointing

In a plot full of schemes and romance, Something Wicked delivers an interesting premise that keeps you reading but ultimately doesn’t hit its mark. The entire atmosphere of this novel was initially intriguing and the lore around the Gifted, Cate’s gift, a conflicted prince, and the political uprising taking place are all the right pieces for an interesting fantasy romance.

I had a difficult time connecting to both Cate and Callum as characters, but mostly Callum. I found myself enjoying Cate’s POV chapters more, she felt the most whole out of the two. Right away, you know who she is as a person and she's a likable character to follow. Callum I had a hard time placing. He felt flat, and maybe if we had more time with him and his relationships, it would have been easier to care for him and care for what happens to him throughout this novel. That’s all to say, I think the novel has a really strong beginning in placing its characters where they are and how their life are going, it’s only the further you get into it that it feels more jumbled. While the spicier scenes were written very well, I think some of them took away from emotional scenes that needed to feel their weight, or scenes that could have furthered the main characters’ relationships to others in the story. Because this is given so much space in the book, the other relationships fall flat, then as the reader, I have little reason to care what happens. There is insta-love and insta-lust and in this plot, it makes sense, but even then I did not feel like the love part was believable. I’m not sure if this was a pacing issue or still a character issue.

Some of the world-building felt clunky and I rarely had a full grasp of the world in which these characters lived, though I very much wanted to know. It felt its strongest in the beginning and middle, but I was missing something still. The idea of the letters at the end of some chapters is cool, but it also takes away some of the mystery and reveals that are within this book.

This premise truly is unique and captivating, it has all of the right pieces in it and it’s still an entertaining read, but with more refinement, perhaps the next book in this series can take it up a notch.

Thank you to Netgalley/Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC!!!

I want to give this 3.5 stars because I did enjoy it but I didn’t LOVE it. Cate is someone I can identify with she’s staunchly loyal, protective and puts her family first. She is slow to trust but fell hard when Cal showed up. Cate has been through a lot in her life so she puts up barriers to avoid her big feelings and getting hurt. Callum is equal parts tender and powerful. He grew up privileged and with a chip on his shoulder but is not closed off from hearing others’ opinions. He goes through an incredible amount of loss during this book but wants to keep that grief with him as a penance. Interesting characters and a lot left unfinished, which sets this series up nicely. Spice was solid and story was decent. I’d recommend to the romantasy lovers but would be good for someone just starting out in the genre because the “magic” wielding wasn’t that prominent. I could have used a bit more from the gifted characters, but suspect that will come with more books.

I can never go wrong with a Fallon Ballard I’m obsessed with her reading and the way this book had me feeling was just great!!!

I didn’t expect to love Something Wicked as much as I did, or to find it as fresh in execution as it turned out to be. A Moulin Rouge-inspired romantasy blended with Macbeth sounds like a lot, but somehow Falon Ballard makes it work completely. It’s seductive, dark, and emotionally sharp in all the right ways.

I loved the world of La Puissance—the political tension, the magic system tied to pleasure and power, and the constant feeling that everything could fall apart at any second. Cate and Callum have real chemistry, and the push and pull between them kept me hooked from the start.

The steamy romance was a perfect match for the high-stakes, high-emotion atmosphere of the story, and it made the slower, more vulnerable moments between the characters land even harder. I’m already hoping Falon Ballard writes more in this world.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This book, blending Macbeth and Moulin Rouge with the intense allure of a romantasy, grabs you by the soul and never lets go. The connection between Callum and Cate is undeniable yet dangerous, weaving layers of tension that will keep you eagerly turning pages. The romance strikes all the right emotional chords, drawing you in with steamy moments and heart-wrenching twists. The power struggle is irresistible, adding a level of depth that’s impossible to ignore. Overall, it’s a dark, thrilling ride through love, politics, and sacrifice; one that will leave you breathless and craving more. The wait for the next book is going to be brutal, but absolutely worth it.

I love to see Falon exploring different genres! I do feel like Cal and Cate didn’t really connect, it could have been a much better fantasy rather than a romance too. I loved to see how the story unfolded though. Great ending

Falon Ballard’s Something Wicked is a bold, genre-blending fantasy-romance that delivers a unique premise with intriguing stakes, but doesn’t quite stick the landing.

The setup is instantly compelling: a country in political upheaval, a twisted presidential election involving regicide, and a brooding prince who must confront his past with the help of a magically gifted courtesan. The world of Avon is rich with potential, and the atmosphere of La Puissance is vividly drawn—equal parts seductive and sinister.

Callum and Cate’s dynamic is central to the story, and while their chemistry sparks in some moments, the emotional connection can feel forced or underdeveloped. Callum’s mistrust of the Gifted and Cate’s complicated power make for interesting internal conflict, but their relationship doesn’t always evolve naturally. The pacing drags in parts, especially in the middle, and the political plot occasionally takes a backseat to the romance, which might disappoint readers looking for more depth in the fantasy elements.

That said, Ballard deserves credit for crafting a world that dares to be different and doesn’t shy away from difficult themes like betrayal, sacrifice, and the ethics of power. It’s a darkly imaginative story with flashes of brilliance—but for all its ambition, it sometimes feels like it’s trying to juggle too much at once.

A solid read for fans of steamy, morally complex fantasy, though not without its rough edges.

First off, Falon Ballard is an automatic buy for me.

Secondly, this cover is stunning and pulled me in before I even saw who the author was.

Unfortunately for me, this story fell a little flat for me. I loved the concept, but felt the world building could've used some work. The politics and character connections needed to be fleshed out a bit more. At times I felt like I was reading the first draft of this book.

I loved the idea of a Moulin Rouge theme, but I still didn't completely feel the connection between Cate and Callum.

Honestly, if the story was expanded, it has the makings of a great new series. The bare bones are there. It just needed more.

Something Wicked is my first introduction to Falon Ballard, and, I’m afraid to say, this was an unfortunate introduction.

This book had so much potential. It is pitched as “Moulin Rouge meets Hamlet with a twist of fantasy”, and while it certainly had flairs of those things, it fumbled in various aspects. Which is sad because the material is right there!

The characters were my favorite part. They had depth and attributes that were attractive, but their intentions were all over the place.

My biggest gripe is with the fantasy portion. It is not explained thoroughly nor well. It’s not cohesive and it’s a convoluted factor to the book that unfortunately worsens the story.

As for the plot, truly cannot even explain it.

It was not enjoyable reading experience, which makes me sad because I love Moulin Rouge and the cover but alas, things were not meant to be.

I am almost halfway done with this book and it seems like it's VERY Moulin Rouge heavy. I don't have a problem with that because it's my favorite musical but it seems a bit like Moulin Rouge fanfiction but without Christian. I really like the concept so far with the mistrust and building of trust. I like the conflict within the La Puissance and the new lady of the house. I like the conflict within Callum about what he should do in regards to his role in leadership. But, I am just not vibing with the story like I'd hoped.

It gets better. The betrayal and the mystery. The puzzle pieces coming together. It is just such a slow start to it and it feels very cheesy initially. By the end it is a good first book to a series. I liked how the fights went down and I liked the love story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Falon Ballard for this ARC

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With nods to Macbeth, Moulin Rogue, and the GORDGEOUS cover, I was immediately drawn in to Something Wicked. Sadly, it didn't live up to the hype I gave it. The plot and world building had potential, but were not executed the best. The two main characters were insta lust and I was not drawn into their relationship at all. I wanted to love the characters, but I felt like I was just shown everything, rather than really being pulled in to their emotions and thoughts. Like, who was Lady M? What did she even look like? Also, the idea that a world would just allow their monarchs to be killed by anyone and that person become a political candidate is a bit farfetched. To make that a central point, I just needed more. SO MUCH MORE. I hope that as the series continue, the novels find a better pace and solid footing. I think the idea of the book is fun, if executed, this one just needed a little more refining with the writing.

Thank you, Net Galley, for this ARC. I thought that this was an enjoyable romantasy read. The story is told from Cate, who is a courtesan, and Callum, who is a prince, points of view. In this world there are people like Cate who are Gifted. The Gifted are people who have powers/magical abilities who are unfortunately treated like 2nd class citizens. Cate's power involves her profession as a courtesan and being able to manipulate emotions. This leads to Cate meeting Callum. Callum is struggling as if he wants to become king, he will need to kill his father. Callum is not emotionally ready to do this so his sister, Dom, recommends he work with Cate. As we see Cate and Callum interact, we learn more about the political nature of their world and their views on what needs to be done to fix it. Overall, I think this was a good read, but sometimes there were pacing issues. The action at hand would be intense and then simmer off slowing down the story. Also, sometimes it went a little too into the politics of the world versus learning more about the characters development for my liking. I am interested to see what happens next in the story as the author definitely things open to discover more about the world and the characters in it.

this book is my first introduction to ballard's writing, and i will say the style has captured me and i will furthermore be a fan of her writing. the premise of the book instantly drew me in, both topics said to inspire this book are some that have shaped my life and carried with me through most of my enjoyments in life. that being said, some of the inspirations seem barely there. i can sense a hint of the moulin rouge inspiration but it merely seems like a copy that never delved deeper into the nuances that come from moulin rouge's story. on the other side of this, it is refreshing to see that is isn't directly and outright copying the story.

outside of the very steamy scenes (readers be warned, there are plenty if that is for you!), the world building and politics were something that struggled to grasp me. they had chances to be so wonderful and captivating, truly. but this is where <i>too</i> many spicy scenes becomes a takeaway. at a point it feels like more time is spent in a bed than developing a world that seems so wonderful if given the proper chance. i may not say this often, but truly this book could benefit from being a little longer. and i do realize there is a second book in the series, but i do not mean it in this way. driving the plot out over a longer span of time would've done enough to dive into characters arcs much deeper than they were here.

i may seem harsh with this, and i may not depending on your point of view, but i did fully enjoy reading this book. in fact, it was one that i finished entirely in one sitting and could not put down. it is a very fun read! i enjoyed my time with it and i know many more will in the future.

The cover, title, and author's name all caught me immediately. I've read others of Falon Ballard's books and loved them. So the idea of a more fantasy based one that was this pretty to look at? Absolutely.

Moulin Rouge meets Macbeth? Absolutely x2.

And while this book was a nice little read on a rainy afternoon, and I am sure fans of the author will love it. I found it okay. The idea was there, the pieces were there. I think where I struggled was needing more. More character development, more world building, more of everything.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.