This is an ARC review. I want to thank Falon Ballard and Penguin Group Putnam for allowing me the chance to read this book ahead of release day! This is for sure one of those books you should fully read the excerpt before reading it.

Cate and Callum come from completely different worlds. Cate works within a brothel being able to shift people’s moods while having sex with them while Callum is the heir to the throne of the kingdom. You could tell with each lesson Cate provided Callum they were getting closer and closer. It was not fully known as to why after only 2 days the feelings were so intense but it does reveal itself in time.

By the way it ended and the thought of having three sisters out in the world where we’ve only met 2, it was forecasting she and the mother will likely be working together in the future. Overall the book was okay. I might read the second book in the series but I wouldn’t be jumping to it personally. It was well written and had gripping moments that kept me the reader entertained.

I was super intrigued to read this book but it fell kinda flat for me. Parts of it were a little hard to follow and it just couldn’t keep my interest as much as her other books.

This was such a fun foray into fantasy for Ballard—all the usual steam and banter but with a new layer of worldbuilding. I'm excited to see what she does next!

Promising Premise, But Lacked a Bit of Magic
Falon Ballard dipping her toes into romantasy was something I was genuinely excited about, especially as someone who loves her witty rom-coms. The idea of her signature charm in a world of magic and rebellion sounded amazing. And let's be real, the cover is stunning – it really set high expectations!

The opening pages definitely delivered on intrigue, hinting at political assassinations and steamy encounters. The "Moulin Rouge-meets-Macbeth" vibe is super ambitious, and I appreciate the creative swing. There are moments of genuine originality, especially in the setting and the intense connection between Callum and Caterine. Plus, if you're here for the spice, it's absolutely turned up to eleven.

My main hang-up, though, was feeling truly grounded in the world. The political landscape and the rebellion's nuances just didn't quite click for me, making it hard to feel the full weight of the stakes. I also hoped for a bit more depth in the characters' emotional journeys and a stronger, more organic build to their relationship.

That said, I truly respect Ballard for stepping out of her comfort zone and trying something new. It's fantastic to see authors evolve and explore different themes. While "Something Wicked" wasn't a total win for me, I'm confident many will enjoy its seductive vibe and dramatic flair. And you can bet I'll be back for her next rom-com – that's where her magic truly shines for me!

This one's a real page-turner. Something Wicked is a good blend of scheming, fantasy and steamy hot scenes (although I still would have read this if the MMC was not so dreamy). My only critique is that some plotlines feel forced/ accelerated- like the way the candidacy for the new president worked, and how the MMC changed his mind about the main "social issue" plaguing the characters (it only took that little convincing? really??) I feel like this is a recurrent theme in a lot of books I've read recently, but I wish the story was just slightly longer to flesh out certain plot lines better and make the pacing less awkward.

This book is rich with plot-twists (and I mean genuine turns to the story that I would not have anticipated, not cliche stuff) and nuanced characters. I really enjoyed the way we're getting the POV of both the MMC and the FMC, in addition to small excerpts from letters sent by secondary characters revealing things that our heroine/ hero discover wayy later on. The note the book ended on has me excited to read the next book in this series!

I really wanted to like this book, but, unfortunately, I just could not connect with the characters or story. I was intrigued by the premise; however, everything just felt forced to me. I ended up skimming most of the book in order to see if anything changed for me, but it never did. For me, it read more like a historical non-fiction book than an actual narrative.

DNF
The cover is absolutely stunning and captivated my attention immediately and blend of Macbeth & Moulin Rouge description had me signing up for this ARC so fast!
But after reading about 15% of the book, it just wasn’t for me.
The world building was too complex and confusing. And while I understood it was a Moulin Rouge setting, I underestimated the amount of spice…or the explicitly of it. I’m not prudent by any means but this was too much for me.

Thank you, Putnam Books & NetGalley for my ARC 💕

I will not be sharing my review on other forums since I DNF’d this book due to my personally preferences.

I really struggled with this one. The magic system didn’t do it for me, I did enjoy the plot but some of the characters didn’t feel realistic.

Set in a world where there are kings, an Uprising, and Gifted- Something Wicked has it all. If you are looking for more romance than fantasy, this is the book just for you.

You get the Pov from the main characters, Caterine and Callum.
Caterine is Gifted and Callum despises Gifted, but when he's pushed into meeting this Gifted woman named Cate, things change.
Caterine's gift is basically a therapist who works her magic through orgasms.
(As someone who requested this book from Netgalley SOLEY on the beautiful cover art- I can say that I wasn't expecting that.) 👀😆

I think I rate this one 3 stars.
It's a quick read, but I did have trouble getting into it. Normally fantasy/ romantasy books have more world building, but I felt it lacked somewhat in this one.
The romance, on the other hand, wasn't lacking- it was the plot. Given the main character's gift, it's obvious it would be smutty, but dang. 😆

The author did build up the storyline throughout the book, and the ending has a cliff hanger that makes me look forward to the book that comes next in the series.

This review will be posted to Goodreads.

Something Wicked had a lot of potential, with strong themes of perseverance, love, and self-acceptance, and a unique magical premise. I was intrigued by the world and the characters, especially Cate and Callum’s connection. However, the pacing felt off. It started slow, then everything happened all at once. The romance moved too quickly for my taste, and the world-building didn’t quite land. While the book seems meant to start a series, I’m not sure if I’ll continue. It just didn’t fully click for me.

This had such a strong start! I read this book strictly for the cover, it’s so stunning and eye catching. And when K realized Falon was dipping her toe into the romantasy world I knew I need to be apart of this!

I love how we’re immediately thrust into a world of Moulin Rouge meets Macbeth. The macabre story with a fantastical world. I do wish it was more descriptive. I would have loved to experiences the sounds and the smells along with them but I felt this grandeur world was very service level and having to make up a lot of aspect in my head to continue to follow along. Both characters had a wonderfully fascinating story, but I felt unable to connect with them in a deeper level as well.

Not realizing this was book one of a trilogy I’m hoping that the next two books offer a deeper look into the world building and explore the characters despite the spice. All over I love the representative of a bi character full of sass and intrigue. I do think this book was a bit rushed and predictable but it was enjoyable and I do really want to dive into book two and three and see where Falon Ballard takes these characters. From jumping from contemporary romances to romantasy j think it’s a job well done!!

I really wanted to love this one. I’ve enjoyed Falon’s other books and this was one of my most anticipated upcoming reads. The world building had a lot of potential, and the premise was intriguing, but the story felt disjointed. The romance between Cate and Callum didn’t fully connect with the larger conflict of the Uprising, and their relationship felt underdeveloped. Callum’s distrust of the Gifted was rooted in his past, but it came across as superficial and was resolved a bit too easily. Several characters felt one dimensional and inconsistent in their motivations.

That said, the pacing was solid and it was a quick read. It kept me curious about what’s next. The ending left plenty unresolved (clearly setting up a sequel). I’ll probably read it!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I really loved the concept and the cover, but Something Wicked lacked good execution. I DNF about 20% in.

DNF @ 10% Life is too short to keep reading books you’re not enjoying. I loved the cover and the hook (Macbeth meets Moulin Rouge? Yes please) but the storytelling fell flat for me. Wayyyyyyyyy too much info-dumping right off the bat, and I feel as if the writing would have benefited from another round of line editing.

Overall, not for me, but I can see someone else greatly enjoying this—maybe someone who is new to the fantasy genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I always enjoy Falon Ballard’s witty, heartwarming romcoms. This venture into Romantasy provided a nice escape into another realm.
Loved the chemistry between the MCs.

Thank you to NetGalley for sharing this digital review copy of Something Wicked with me.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this arc exchange for an honest review!

The highlight of this read was the relationship between Cate and Callum. It was well-developed, full of banter, and spicy! The main letdown was the world building. It fell flat and felt rushed. Idk whether the author is saving key plot points for the next book but wtf? So many questions were left unanswered which made finishing this a bit of a chore.

Overall, it was a decent read that I’d recommend for people new to the romantasy genre.

OMG, so I just devoured "Now for Something Wicked" by Falon Ballard, and let me tell you, it's a total game-changer! If you're here for that spicy romantasy mashup of Macbeth and Moulin Rouge!, then this is your sign to pick it up ASAP. The whole premise of killing former monarchs to become president? Wild. And Callum, the dethroned king's son, trying to navigate that mess with Lady Caterine, who can manipulate emotions? The tension was absolutely insane.
I'm usually a big fan of Ballard's rom-coms, and while this is a whole new vibe for her, she absolutely crushed it. The world-building was so immersive and dark, and the romance between Callum and Cate was just chef's kiss. Like, the chemistry was palpable, and you're just dying for them to let their guards down. It's got that perfect blend of political intrigue, magic, and seriously hot moments. If you want a book that's gonna keep you hooked from start to finish with all the drama and a side of steam, you seriously need to read this. No regrets, 10/10 recommend!

Holy moly! This book is so good! I inhaled it! To be honest I requested it because of the STUNNING cover. I was so shocked by the first chapter! This book is a full on sprint that never slows down! So many twists and turns that I did not see coming! Super spicy to me but yet even though the setting is a pleasure house there is still so much plot and intrigue going on in this book! I was a die hard fan from the first chapter and cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy!

If you are looking for a romantasy with a moderate amount of spice, a colorful world and an uncomplicated magic system then you will really enjoy Something Wicked. I especially liked how Falon Ballard drew from Macbeth, with elements of the play both recognizable and original at the same time. The overall pace was on the slower side, being more character than plot driven, but I was never bored. My one critique is that Callum and Cate were the most fleshed out characters. I understand that ultimately this is their story, but I would have liked to get to know the other cabaret girls, and even Harold, better. At times, they were more two dimensional than I would have liked. Overall, Something Wicked was fun and sexy. I would definitely recommend it

I’ll start by saying I’m not the biggest romantasy fan but I am a Fallon Ballard fan ever since I read Lease on Love a few years ago.

Kudos to Ballard for taking a dive into this genre with competition like Fourth Wing and ACOTAR. Like most romantasy, I had a hard time really immersing myself in the world. I liked the characters overall and read the story rather fast but am not attached to the world as a whole. I’m also not big on fight scenes within a book so the end started to lose me a little.

I think that those who are fans of spice, romantasy, and or Fallon’s work will enjoy this!

Thank you to netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.