I wanted to start by thanking the author and publisher for an opportunity to read an early/advanced release copy of this book. As always, Falon Balllard does not miss! Proves again why I love her writing style!

**Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher for the ARC; all opinions are my own.**

DNF at 7%

I made it through the whole second chapter, and the MMC says one thing about the Gifted and then something else comes out of his mouth that is the opposite...I think this probably needs some more editing, unfortunately 😕

This has a really interesting premise, and I could see it being really cool.

If you like:
☆ powers (specific to women)
☆ the people against the crown
☆ sex-work (ish)
☆ really pretty book covers
give this one a shot.

I wanted to like this and I loved that Fallon wanted to venture into a different genre but this needed more time to get workshopped. The overall concept was good! However, it felt unfinished. The world building, the magic system, the plotline, the politics and even the characters felt like words on a page. As someone who reads fantasy romance, my major gripe is world/info dumping and the first 20% of this book was exactly this and unfortunately I had to DNF after 50%. There was no flow, and I hope that the final published version goes through some edits because I think the bare bones of it is there - but it just needs more time and work.

3.75⭐️

Not sure why, but there was just something that didn’t click all the way for this to be rated higher. It was insanely enjoyable and had an interesting storyline, but in the end I went with my gut 🤷🏻‍♀️😂

✨Fated Mates
✨Spiiiiiiiice
✨Magic
✨Found Family

“Many of my clients end up in tears after a session with me; usually it’s a sign I’ve done my job well.”

“Being Gifted is still seen as being less than in every corner of Avon.”

“Living a cautious life won’t protect you, Cal.”

“I’m not a coward, but I also refuse to be an idiot.”

“He said he won’t be coming back, which means I won’t be seeing him again. And for some reason, that makes me incredibly sad.”

“Sometimes he comes off brusque, my lady, but I promise, you’ll never meet a kinder man.”

“She gets under my skin. Quite literally, in fact; my veins are on fire.”

“And how am I supposed to focus on finding his flaws with forearms like that.”

“I’m wondering why it feels like a piece of me is walking away with him.”

“It was a foreign feeling- to be heard, to be understood- and it did something to the armor guarding my heart.”

“When I think of home now, it’s not a place that comes to mind, but a person, a pair of bright blue eyes and a head of copper curls.”

“I would promise him anything if it meant bringing back the light to his eyes.”

“I’m not ashamed of who I am or what I do, but I’m also not naive enough to believe that everyone else will feel the same.”

“I will not let the opinions of ignorant people keep me from the woman I love.”

“Something tells me I need to be idealistic enough for both of us.”

“There is no force in the world that could make me stop loving you, Callum Reid.”

“Why are you pulling away from me? Why are you fighting this?”

“You are my team, Cate. It’s you and me, that’s all I care about.”

“You are exactly where you’re supposed to be and I can’t wait to stand by your side.”

“I will love you until the day I die, my lady.” “I will love you forevermore, Mr. President.”

This one is on me… I should’ve read the description before I requested this book. The entire storyline is just a big no for me. I couldn’t get past it I’m sorry. I had to DNF 🫣

“Something Wicked” is Fallon Ballard’s bold first step into the romantasy genre, and it brings plenty of her signature wit and charm. The book kicks off with an intriguing premise full of magic, political danger, and steamy romance, and the chemistry between Callum and Caterine is undeniable. The Moulin Rouge-meets-Macbeth vibes create a fun, seductive atmosphere that makes the story easy to fly through, and the spice is definitely turned up to eleven in all the best ways.

That said, the world-building felt a little thin for me. The political rebellion and magical courtesans were cool ideas, but I never quite felt fully grounded in the world of La Puissance. Some parts of the plot felt rushed, especially toward the end, and I found myself wishing for deeper emotional development between the characters and a bit more nuance in the storytelling. Still, I appreciated Ballard’s fresh take on themes of healing and empowerment, and there’s a lot of heart behind the seductive chaos.

Overall, “Something Wicked” is a fast-paced, spicy romp that doesn’t take itself too seriously. While it might not satisfy readers looking for deep world-building or complex political intrigue, it delivers plenty of fun, chemistry, and heat. I’m excited to see how Ballard continues to grow in this genre, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for what she writes next.

Thank you NetGalley, author, and publisher for the ARC!

I liked the idea of this book. However, it sadly missed all the marks. The characters were just meh. They weren't likable but they weren't dislikable either. The plot was too fast and need to be refined some more.

The concept of this book is great, but it really missed the mark. I wish it had been more fleshed out with the plot and the characters. It didn’t need to move as quickly as it did. I think it would have been much better if certain plot points were drawn out and developed more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC.

I wanted to like this book but unfortunately it just didn’t do it for me.

Things I liked:
The concept! There is a lot of promise with the magic and the intrigue and the relationship and the side characters. I think Cate is a very good protagonist, she desperately wants to do the right thing and hold onto her morals but she is forced to choose between protecting her sister, her only family, or doing the right thing. I think the villain Lady M is excellent (I hate her, very evil, well done). I like the side cast of Gifted women and spunky Dom. And I think Callum is a good male lead. He opens up to ideas and perspectives he never would have considered, and really reflects on his own biases and shortcomings.

But the book felt unfinished. The concept of Bonded was poorly explained even through over 80% of the book. The letters and interludes between chapters were more confusing than helpful. The purpose of the Uprising felt very contradictory. I also don’t buy that Harold would have sold out his daughters to his Bonded when she herself said their connection had weakened and she was willing to sacrifice him. I think the book has a lot of potential but needs some better editing support. Wishing this author all the best because she’s clearly creative and I think her writing style is very nice.

Falon Ballard’s Something Wicked is a daring and deliciously dark departure from her rom-com roots, weaving together sensual fantasy, emotional reckoning, and political intrigue in a way that’s as provocative as it is powerful. Set in a post-revolutionary world where monarchy has fallen and morality is malleable, this book is a bold new take on what it means to want—power, freedom, vengeance, love.

At the center of this tangled, high-stakes world are two unforgettable characters: Callum, the conflicted prince-turned-assassin candidate, and Lady Caterine, a magically Gifted courtesan with the ability to manipulate emotions through pleasure. Their dynamic is electric from the first page—equal parts reluctant partnership, dangerous attraction, and emotional chess match. Ballard is fearless in exploring the intersection of power and vulnerability, consent and control, especially as Cate’s unique magic challenges everything Callum believes about love, loyalty, and his own limits.

The world-building is immersive and layered. Avon is a crumbling nation teetering on the edge of reinvention, and Ballard doesn’t shy away from the messy truths of political rebellion: the hunger for justice, the temptation of power, the blurred lines between duty and desire. La Puissance, the opulent sex club at the heart of the novel, is both a literal and symbolic stage for these complexities to play out. It’s equal parts seductive and sinister, and Ballard uses it masterfully.

But what truly elevates Something Wicked is its emotional depth. Beneath the erotic tension and the revolution's violence are two characters struggling with loss, legacy, and the fear of being truly known. As Callum and Cate navigate betrayal, sacrifice, and their own buried traumas, their connection grows into something far more dangerous than lust—it becomes intimacy. And that, in this world, is revolutionary.

This isn’t a light read, but it’s a riveting, ambitious one—Ballard delivers a smart, sensual, morally tangled story full of heart and fire. If A Court of Thorns and Roses collided with Red, White & Royal Blue in a morally gray fantasy universe, you might get something like Something Wicked.

Dark, intoxicating, and emotionally razor-sharp, Something Wicked is a triumph of genre fusion—perfect for fans of fantasy with teeth, romance with risk, and stories that ask what you’re willing to lose in order to win.

Edit: minus another star because the more I think about this book, the more disappointed I am. everything that happens during the climax of this book just happens for the drama of it and then is immediately resolved. as a long time romantasy reader, this just isn't it.

Original review: So I enjoyed the heck out of the first half of this book. The sexual tension was great. The world was interestingly set. The premise is definitely there. But by the time I got to the climax, it didn't live up to the setup for me.

The magic system (particularly the Bonds) needed more fleshed out. Though the sexual tension was great, the romance was told and not shown, made worse by the way that they sped run through their "connection" in like four days. The characters kept saying things like "I know him/her" and "she/he has shown that they're a good person" but idk that they *really* have. I also feel like the big twist at the end was oddly revealed to the reader in a way that could have been more impactful if the characters had figured it out by themselves.

All told, it feels like the dev editor gave up at 60% and/or the publisher said that they had to stick to a hard page limit that wasn't enough to tell the story that the author was trying to tell.

Firstly, I was wowed by this beautiful cover! It was what first drew me to the book and I had high expectations for a politically driven romance with a Moulin Rouge-like atmosphere. But it didn’t quite meet those expectations.

The story started strongly introducing the Gifted and the high-stakes political intrigue, but I couldn’t quite connect with the world. The political system and rebellion seemed like they could have been explored more and the main characters didn’t feel like their roles in the politics had the impact that the author was going for.

The steamy scenes were very hot, and I loved the romantic plot line with the “sex lessons” for Callum. Lady Caterine and Callum had great chemistry together and their bond felt original and unique. I also loved that this story had dual points of view for the romantic leads.

I would like to read the next in this series and I hope that the magic of the Gifted is explored even more.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam’s Sons for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions!

ARC Review. 2 Stars. This just wasn’t for me. I can appreciate the beautiful cover, unique setting, and simple magic system but this story did not feel fully fleshed out in my opinion.

This book was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I do not think I was ever able to get over the MMC’s prejudice against the gifted, with the current political climate the way it is I like to avoid overt misogyny in my escapism reading. When he finally gets over his conservative views it is because one of these gifted women now serves a purpose in his life, yes he allegedly “loves” her but it is the most instalove I have ever seen thinly veiled as a magical bond. There is the typical fantasy ‘love’ of “I’ll get stabbed for you” but like bro do you even know her favorite color? Who is that woman to you aside from your magical FWB?

Too much is trying to be jammed into one book: the romance, political plot, family dynamics, club dynamics, etc etc. So none of those things actually get to have time to develop so the plot feels full of holes and the characters fall flat. The best executed part was the sexual chemistry between Cate and Callum.

I really wanted to like this book more than I did, the cover is beautiful and the concept intrigued me. Granted I did finish the book quickly but I attribute that more to my eyes glazing over reading some of the political stuff because it was not making sense.

I will start with the cover is STUNNING! A million stars to the artist!

I did struggle with getting through this book… it had a really interesting plot but I just don’t think it lived up to what it was building up to unfortunately. This book needs a good bit of editing and revising but I don’t think that’s likely to happen before release. If I have one pet peeve in books it’s repetitive word usage.

Thank you to NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts are my own and are in no way influenced by early access to this title.

This cover is amazing, the book itself….not so much. I felt like I already knew what was going to happen in the first 50 pages. Too predictable. MMC who hates magic and is a prince vs FMC who has abilities and hates priced family…..I wonder what could happen 🙄👀.

This book wasn’t able to capture my attention and sadly I wasn’t able to finish it. I hope the final revision is a bit more engaging!

I really enjoyed this book. The world building was fun and the drama of the Uprising was compelling. I liked the Cate/Callum relationship as well as the tension with Harold, Lady M, and others.

If was a bit slow to pick up the thread to start because so many people and plot points were introduced but it was worthwhile to get through all of the exposition to set the scene.

i am very excited to continue this series. i love Falon’s romcoms and she did a great job building a gripping fantasy world. the endings of each chapter building on the suspense was excellent. the star subtractions are for Cate’s constant “but this isn’t what you need, but i want it” it got a liiiitttle annoying 😂 but the political intrigue and not holding back on death made up for it. i will definitely be excited for the next one!
True Rating 3.75

This BOOK! Inspired by Macbeth and Moulin Rouge, which are some of my favorite stories, this book not only hits all the heart wrenching points of those stories, but also holds a completely unique concept within as well. This could easily become a popular classic romantasy read for many readers. This story is a perfect mix of world building, character development, spice and angst. I also found so many unique aspects that built up the story outside of the POVs of our two main characters, Cate and Callum. The narrative behind the story is amazingly done as well, pulling from historical mistreatment of minorities, such as people of color, disabled people, and the lgbtqia+ community. Creating a group in this story that mirrors the challenges that were actually faced, with grace and understanding and in a gentle and respectful way was really impressive. It was a well written and beautifully structured book, with amazing twists and turns, and an amazing ending. And that final cliffhanger will have me most definitely coming back for more.

Thank you G.P. Putnam's Sons/NetGalley for the e-ARC!

I really wish this book lived up to its gorgeous cover, but this was a case of trying to do way too much without enough structure to support it.

Caterine is a courtesan working at a high end club. She is Gifted with the ability to manipulate the emotions of people she is intimate with, and she often uses her abilities to ease the minds of people who are grieving or anxious.

Callum is the Prince of Scota, and his father has just caved to the demands of the Uprising. The revolution demands that the old kings abdicate their thrones and unite the country over one democratically-elected president. The catch is the only people who will be eligible candidates are those who kill the old kings. Callum's father wants him to be president, but Callum doesn't want to kill his father. Caterine and Callum's lives intertwine when his sister suggests he use her services to help manage the emotional baggage of his task.

If that was the extent of the plot, that might have been okay. Unfortunately, that's not even half of it. The book struggles to balance a believable romance, politics of a new regime, and the internal politics of the club as Lady M tries to take it over. None of it is satisfactory and there are plot holes galore that are never addressed because that would mean making everything even more convoluted, adding a significant number of pages, or taking out some plot points.

Callum and Caterine also drove me crazy, both together and as individuals. Callum has a fatal flaw of being prejudiced against Gifted women due to something in his past. Caterine suffers from a horrible case of Only Two Options-itis, where she cannot for the life of her spend a moment to try to even imagine a world where a secret third option awaits between two diametrically and equally horrible choices. Put these two characters together and you get the quickest insta-lust to "I know you're the one for me" you've ever seen.

This book really just needs more editing beyond what I think it's going to get before release. I hope there will be more edits on the line level to smooth out some of the repetitive word choice. 1.5 stars rounded up.