I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book. I went in completely blind. It was more than I expected and I might continue the series when it is released. Who doesn’t love a Moulin Rouge vibe?!?

Something Wicked by Falon Ballard had definite Moulin Rouge energy—full of glitter, drama, and complicated passion. It’s a story that leans into the theatrics of love, the messiness of emotions, and the allure of forbidden connections.

I’d rate it 3.5 stars. There were moments that truly sparkled—intense stares, sharp dialogue, and just the right amount of angst—but I didn’t fall completely in love with it. I was hoping for a bit more emotional depth or something to push the tension further.

Still, the setting and vibe were enchanting, with a cast of characters that felt plucked from a smoky cabaret stage.

I am a huge romantasy fan and this book didn’t disappoint. Sometimes certain genres can end up feeling predictable when you read lots of them however this book has standout elements that made it unique and really enjoyable. Sex, love, murder…the perfect combination for a captivating book and I can’t wait to read more by this author!

In Something Wicked there are women who are Gifted—they possess special abilities such as the power to heal or the power to manipulate a person’s emotions…after they’ve climaxed…

That last part happens to be Cate’s (the FMC) special ability and a lot of the abilities the Gifted have are powerful and useful but they’re treated like low class citizens and at the start of the novel, the Uprising has overthrown the current monarchy and requires each province to provide a candidate for president by killing the King.

King James’ son, Callum is feeling the pressure to murder his father so he can have a shot at being the candidate and he becomes aware of Cate’s gift and seeks her out at La Puissance (The Power) the sex club where she lives and works.

The premise drew me in, okay? I was all set for the little nods to Macbeth and Moulin Rouge. I was ready for the smut and the drama and romance and also powerful women… this just didn’t do it for me though.

It had moments of sexual tension and spice but they didn’t work for me and I felt like they weren’t spicy enough for this kind of plot. Also, none of the characters really drew me in. I didn’t dislike them but I didn’t care enough. I also wasn’t a fan of the news articles, letters, and such between the chapters. I just wanted more from this book, especially in the descriptions and overall world building.

I haven’t decided if I’ll continue this series yet. About 64% through I started to slow down on reading and then around 86% I struggled to finish. I just don’t know

Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for providing me with an eARC on NetGalley!

This was my first experience reading anything by Falon Ballard, and I'm genuinely pleased that Something Wicked was my introduction as an ARC. Initially, I found it challenging to immerse myself in the story. From the very beginning, it felt as though I'd been dropped into the middle of an ongoing narrative, perhaps even a sequel, rather than a standalone novel. The introduction to the characters and the setup of the central conflict seemed rushed, which hindered my ability to connect with the world and its inhabitants.

Despite this initial hurdle, I was captivated by the strong Moulin Rouge-esque atmosphere, which added a unique and vibrant layer to the story. The plot twists, while some were certainly predictable, still managed to add enjoyable moments of surprise and intrigue. The core concept of the book is undeniably strong and possesses significant potential for a truly compelling story. However, it felt as though the ideas weren't fully developed or explored, leaving me with a sense that the narrative could have been more deeply fleshed out.

Overall, I'd rate Something Wicked three out of five stars. I'm glad I persevered and gave the book a fair chance, as there were elements I truly enjoyed. While it didn't completely resonate with me personally, I believe many other readers will find it more enjoyable and engaging.

The cover for this is absolutely stunning and then it's just downhill from there. This had all the chaos of Baz Luhrmann's but little of the charm and romance. It wasn't for me.

𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑵𝒆𝒕𝒈𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘. 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌, 𝒏𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔! ✮⋆˙

Things that didn't work for me:
❤️‍🔥The characters were impossible to connect to
❤️‍🔥The plot felt held together by a string that then tangled and became just chaos
❤️‍🔥The worldbuilding was extremely flat. So many things didn't make sense and I felt like, at some point, I had to stop asking questions
❤️‍🔥The dialogue was very reminiscent of a contemporary romance and not a romantasy. Same thing goes for the prose.
❤️‍🔥The pacing was off. The midpoint felt more tense than the actual climax, and we kept getting interrupted with sex scenes that didn't do it for me
❤️‍🔥The sex scenes in general, actually. I felt like a whole book was written around scenes that didn't seem to work in the plot and felt out of place
❤️‍🔥Though this was supposed to have the vibes of Moulin Rouge, it felt too similar, and therefore it fell even shorter. I mean, Harold's name is still Harold. And she made all the characters look exactly like them. At what point is it no longer an adaptation?
❤️‍🔥The whole "sex lessons" storyline. Again, it didn't fit with the plot and felt unnecessary
❤️‍🔥The plot twists were spoiled by the letters so then I felt flat once we reached the ending
❤️‍🔥I didn't believe their relationship, though that might have been because I, again, didn't connect to the characters

I will give credit where credit is due. I did like:
❤️‍🔥The cover
❤️‍🔥How a courtesan was the main character rather than a villain (however, I feel like the whole being Gifted thing really didn't add much to the story and being forced to have sex storyline (especially with someone who isn't the MMC!!!) made my skin crawl)

Unfortunately this was not for me. Thank you for the opportunity to read, but I struggled to enjoy this. I really do not care for instalove tropes, and found the fantasy elements a little lacking. The cover is gorgeous and I'm sure that others will enjoy this book, it just wasn't one that I fell in love with a struggled to push myself to finish.

I've been a longtime fan of Falon Ballard's witty, heartwarming romcoms, so when I heard she was venturing into the romantasy genre, I was genuinely curious-and excited-to see how her signature charm would translate into a world of magic, rebellion, and dark seduction.
Let's start with the obvious: the cover is absolutely stunning. It instantly pulled me in and set my expectations sky-high. And while the opening chapters promised intrigue and heat, with a high-stakes premise involving political assassinations and magical courtesans, I have to admit... this one didn't fully land for me.
The Moulin Rouge-meets-Macbeth concept is undeniably bold, and I appreciate the ambition it took to weave those inspirations into a fantasy setting. There are glimmers of originality, especially in the setting of La Puissance and the emotionally-charged dynamic between Callum and Caterine. And of course, the spice is turned all the way up-fans of steamy scenes won't be disappointed.
But for all the sizzle and style, I struggled to connect with the world itself. The political system, the rebellion, the motivations-none of it felt quite fleshed out enough to ground me in the story. It was as if I'd been dropped into a dramatic play without fully understanding the stage or the stakes. I also found myself wishing for more nuance in the characters' emotional arcs and a deeper, more believable development of their bond.
That said, I truly admire Ballard's willingness to take creative risks and step into new storytelling territory. It's something l've seen many of my favorite romance authors do-genre-hopping to explore darker themes and bigger worlds. Even though this one wasn't quite for me, I know there are plenty of readers who will enjoy the seductive atmosphere, fast-paced drama, and star-crossed intensity of it all.
This book may not have cast the strongest spell on me, but I'm still cheering for Ballard as she explores new realms, and I'll absolutely be back for whatever romcom magic she conjures up next. Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for sharing this digital review copy of Something Wicked with me in exchange for my honest thoughts—| truly appreciate the opportunity!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️.5/5

Something Wicked follows Cate or Lady Caterine who is a courtesan with the Gift of altering someone’s emotions once they have come in her presence. She is working at one of the pleasure houses in Stratford City, one of the few places the Gifted can work in the kingdom, when she is tasked with manipulating the prince’s emotions. Prince Callum seeks Lady Catherine’s Gift when he’s tasked with killing his father, the king.

The premise of this story was really intriguing to me. How does one manipulate feelings to make another fell better about killing his father? And although it was unique the story was a little lacking so far for me.

I’m not one for insta-love and so I wasn’t a fan of how quickly Cate and Callum fell into love. I personally would have wanted a little more yearning and tension.

I’m also confused how the rest of the story progressed since the main antagonist kind of disappears at the end.

A few things I did enjoy however was the banter between Cate and Callum and the way some of the information was shared through articles and passages from various people’s journals. The latter was an especially fun way to learn more about the world and the characters. Especially the secrets they are keeping from one another.

Overall an enjoyable fantasy and I’m curious to see how it progresses from here but it wasn’t my favorite.

I have been a fan of her previous romance novels and am so grateful to have read her first romantasy early! The pacing was fast and it started off great! Loved the chemistry between Callum and Cate! Ultimately, the world building was confusing at times , but I had a great time reading it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Fallon Ballard , and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for this arc opportunity!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Loved this one. Despite some of the mixed reviews, I found the characters compelling and their emotional growth genuine/moving. The romance was heartfelt, and the fantasy elements added just the right amount of wonder and tension to the story. The plot kept me hooked from start to finish, and I was fully invested in the journey. A beautifully written blend of magic, love, and character depth.

Well the synopsis had me at Macbeth meets moulin rouge. This was my first experience reading a book from this author. While I don’t think I’m quite the target audience for this particular story I will very much enjoyed it!
If you like spicy books this is for you. Your literally eyes will be watering from all the spice 🥵
This book was wild and chaotic is the best way and you came for the moulin rouge vibes you won’t be disappointed!

Something Wicked is a romantasy that's Shakespeare meets Moulin Rouge, which should be right up my alley. Overall, I really enjoyed this more for the romance, but I did find the fantasy side a bit more lackluster. If you're interested in high fantasy, you may be disappointed. There are a few parts where I did have to flag and highlight to refer back to, but after a while, things fell into place for me.

This is one of the more spicy books I've read this year, but it makes sense given the overall plot and setting of the book. I'm not a huge fan of instalove, but there is a bit of a reason behind it. I wish there was a little more to MCs to have more depth and development.

It seems like the bones of a really cool world is here, so I will probably give it a chance to see where it goes.

This made my Moulin Rouge loving heart SO happy! I adored this from start to finish. There is SO much chemistry between Cate and Callum - their bond is unmatched. This has the perfect amount of spice and it is truly delicious. The magic, the vivid imagery, the banter, the tension?! 10/10 no notes. This deserves all the hype and I'm actually shocked that it doesn't have a higher average rating. Perfection! Please tell me there will be a book 2?! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!!

This was a very enjoyable spicy, romantic, fantasy read! It starts off with a bang(literally) and continues on with the intensity and fast-pacing until the end. Very easy to binge! I found myself speeding through this. Our story mainly unfolds through the romantic progression of our MC's. One Gifted, one royal; two opposing sides of a political uprising. We get some fun chemistry-filled instalust that eventually evolves into a deeper relationship. There were many, many intimate scenes involving our MC's. Especially throughout the first half of the book. However, each one felt very unique with the language used and actions that took place. Plus, they all helped with story progression!

I loved that this book had a Moulin Rouge inspired setting! I could definitely envision it when the characters were at La Puissance. I do wish we had more general world building and on-page plot progression with the political uprising. As of now, this book series leans more towards romance with a fantasy inspired setting.

To me, this book almost read as a prequel novella, leading the characters and reader into the right place in the story so that the full plot can take off. Based on the ending(which was surprisingly calm after the intense final 20%), I have high hopes that the political schemers are just getting started and we will get more story progression throughout the series and following couplings! If the description intrigues you, I would definitely check this book out.

3.5/5 but rounded up. ARC provided for an honest review.

The description “Moulin Rouge meets Macbeth” and the gorgeous cover art were what enticed me to read Something Wicked, and it didn’t disappoint! This is a fantasy, romance, action, thriller which makes it a bit hard for me to describe — however, if fantasy is not your favorite genre, I wouldn’t be deterred, this one is more magical-Middle Ages than Game of Thrones with some minor witchcraft and no creatures. The love story was great, the best part being that it was throughout the book — no slow burn here, they jumped right in!

If you’re intrigued by the description and cover, give Something Wicked a try — if anything, it’s incredibly unique and a quick read, and I recommend it to romance lovers!

A spicy romantasy that felt like Bridgerton + magic and some how it just worked wonderfully.

The scenes ARE spicy! I was hooked from beginning to end.



And of course you can’t go wrong with a HEA.
3.5/5

Well, at least the cover was pretty. The world building was confusing, the characters lacked the depth necessary for me to be invested, and the political plot/side plot felt like an afterthought. The spice and sex lessons felt very mediocre because there was no depth to the character’s relationships or even their motivations. There wasn’t really any chemistry between Cate and Callum at all, just insta-love/insta-lust. The fantasy elements felt like a side thought and weren’t well incorporated into the world-building. I know this is the first book in a series, but I probably won’t be continuing to read.

“Something Wicked” was so perfectly titled - the novel is so wickedly steamy, so wickedly staged and so wickedly suspenseful. This is Romantasy like I haven’t seen before - it is a unique story set in against a harsh reality. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters of our heroine, Cate, who has a truly unusual gift, and Callum the son of the King, who is about to be killed. The ending was very satisfying along with leaving me with a few questions that make me salivate for the next in the series. Thank you to @NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC. The opinions are all my own.

I tend to like going into books as blind as possible. I’ll read enough of the description to decide if it will jam, then add to my TBR mostly to be forgotten. So when I started Something Wicked I couldn’t remember what I was getting into. But one chapter in, it had its hooks in me and did not let go.

This book was like a regency, dystopian, fantasy ‘Pretty Woman’ (Julie Roberts version, obviously). The magic system and politics are pretty basic and not super flushed out, but her gift? Healing emotions post orgasm? The absolute coolest.

I wouldn’t recommend this to high fantasy girlie, but I was throughly entertained the whole way through!

Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to read ARC, this is my honest review