I think that the magic system in this book is unique and the overall plot was intriguing but the writing style just wasn’t for me. I think there definitely is a disparity between Laura’s writing as a YA author and as an adult author (which is obviously likely to happen) and I just wasn’t the biggest fan of the adult style. Also, the character names were just so silly. Especially to read out loud. Like, I get it’s fantasy but rhyming or even similar sounding first and last names is just so hard to get past. Not going to lie, it did impact my overall enjoyment of this book 😂

It’s not a horrible book and I just may be intrigued enough to read more but I don’t think I’ll be in a great rush to do so

My rating: 4.25 ☆

This book had such a unique magic system (centred around pleasure & pain) and I really vibed with the writing style and the characters in this book.

I will admit that I did struggle a bit in the middle of the book and ended up relying on the audiobook to finish (hence no 5☆ rating) but I genuinely had such a fun time with this. I LOVED the ending and truly can’t wait to dive into book two!
For an adult debut as well, I thought this was stellar and I really look forward to seeing how the story progresses!

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin AU for the complimentary e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are my own.

This is one of those books that you fall in love with from the very first page, and don't get bored for a single second. Silvercloak delivers in every aspect. A thrilling plot that made it impossible to stop reading? Check. Beautiful whimsical prose that was nostalgic yet dark and fresh? You got it! A solid and unique magic system? Yep. A morally grey fmc and mmc? Yessssss.

Interestingly enough, the romance was the thing that left me the most on the fence - undecided whether to root for them or not. And in a way, this made the book even more enjoyable. Sometimes it's nice to read a romantasy that doesn't make the romance so obvious - but instead leaves you questioning not just "will they won't they?" but "should they?"

And BOYYY that ending. Honestly one of the best closing lines in a book. Give me the next book please Laura!!

*I think it should be noted that some of the morally grey things from the mmc will be too much for some readers. However, I'm just along for the ride, not to judge whether our fmc should be with him or not.

Welcome to a world where magic is fuelled by pleasure and pain. 🪄✨

Silvercloak offers a unique blend of queer Harry Potter meets Peaky Blinders vibes, and it’s a thrilling ride through organised crime and spell-casting.

“𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴.”

Saffron Killoran’s life was shattered when the Bloodmoons 🌙 murdered her parents, leaving her with a haunting past. Now years later at 26 years old she’s in the elite magical Silvercloak Academy and things take a turn when she stumbles upon a disturbing prophecy that could change everything.

“𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘮 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘳.”

The world-building is intriguing, and the magic system is impressive, creating an intense backdrop for Saffron’s journey. It felt like Magic police vs Magic mafia.

“𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯.”

While this is technically a romantacy, I found myself more captivated by the magic and the world than the romance. This read had quite a slow pace, and there were a few other things that made it fall short of 5 stars, but they would spoil too much by mentioning.

In summary, Silvercloak is a solid read filled with magic, intrigue, and a touch of darkness. If you’re looking for a captivating adventure with depth and a unique vibe, this book is worth your time!

Thank you Penguin Random House for this Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review. 🙏🏽

REVIEW: Silvercloak by L.K. Steven
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 if Levan lets me braid his hair tbh)

Books Girlies. I was hooked. This book said trauma, vengeance, and magic and I said yes ma’am, drag me by my cloak.

We’re following Saffron, who is out here trying to avenge her murdered family by going undercover in the exact crime syndicate that ruined her life—like tell me that’s not drama?? Not only is she immune to magic (the girls that get it, GET IT), but the magic system is literally powered by pleasure and pain. Do you know how unwell that made me? The tension. The spicy scenes hit different when your literal spells depend on vibes and agony.

Then there's Levan, tortured son of the villain, prophesied to die by Saff's hand… and I’m over here shipping them like it’s a full‑time job. Enemies-to-lovers with fatal prophecy tension? Inject it.

What I loved:

The world-building is so good

Saffron is angry, complicated, constantly questioning herself. I love a girl with issues.

The romance? Slow burn, forbidden, high stakes, ATE.

What didn’t work for me:

The last 20% felt like it was sprinting while I was still limping from chapter 18.

Some twists were a little convenient, but honestly, I was too busy screaming at the romantic tension to be mad.

Get yourself a copy, scream about it, and come back when you’re emotionally destroyed.

🩶✨ Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Australia for the eARC—now where is book two?? I’m feral.

I am still reeling from reading this enthralling book with a dose of spells, dark magic and romance ( it was HOT!). There’s too much pleasure pain in this book.
The FMC and MMC build-up throughout the story was gratifying and interesting.
I cannot wait for the next magical adventure.

Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore and Penguin House Australia for the ARC.

In a world where magic is fuelled by pleasure and pain, Saffron Killoran infiltrates the brutal Bloodmoon gang to avenge her parents' murder. Disguised as a detective-in-training at Silvercloak Academy, she’s sent deep undercover where every lie could be her last. To survive, Saff must navigate violent rivalries, dangerous magic, and her growing feelings for the kingpin’s cursed son. But with a prophecy foretelling his death at her hand, Saff must decide how much she’s willing to lose for vengeance.

I'm torn on this one. I enjoyed the book overall; the concept was original, with a magic system rooted in pleasure and pain that adds an intriguing edge; however, despite the strong premise, something was missing, and I felt a little unsatisfied by the end.
Saff didn’t quite click for me. While she constantly claimed to be calculated and strategic, her impulsive choices often contradicted that, and I never truly felt she was in real danger. Everything seemed to fall into place a bit too easily, which took away from the tension. I also struggled to connect with her on an emotional level.

I found myself enjoying Levan’s character more; he had a lot more depth and complexity compared to Saff. The unexpected twist at the end involving him was one of the highlights of the book for me. It added a much-needed layer of intrigue, and I’m hoping the next book explores his character further and unpacks the implications of that reveal.

I do wish the worldbuilding had gone a bit deeper, and that we’d seen more of Saff’s life and relationships before she joined the Bloodmoons. A little more grounding in her past and a stronger sense of the world outside the gang would have added the emotional weight I was looking for.

Holy bloody moly talk about a fantasy read that keeps you on your toes?! 🤯🤯🤯 this story follows our main FMC Saffron who is a Silvercloak (think magical cop vibes) who goes undercover with the Bloodmoons to take down their growing operations (a lifelong goal of hers). HOWEVERRRRR what she was not expecting was a mysterious, more-to-it-than-meets-the-eye son of the Bloodmoon Kingpin 👀…..

LETS TALK TROPES;
⏳ Witty banter
⌛️ Magic systems
⏳ Political turmoil
⌛️ Enemies to lovers … to something else?👀
⏳ Majorrrrrr plot twists (don’t get comfortable!!)
⌛️ Revenge
⏳Intricate world building

Absolutely obsessed with this read and I’m actually GUTTED that I now have to wait to see what book 2 has in store for us 😭 that ending floored me 🤯😭

Thank you so much to Penguin Random House Australia & Tanaya for the gorgeous PR box for Silvercloak - such a beautifully thought out package of all the pain & pleasure goodies 👀 ❤️‍🔥🫶🏻👏🏻

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a six star for me!! It was such a nice change to have such high fantasy the focus of the plot and the romance being the sub plot. It flowed magically and I am obsessed! I now have a new auto buy author!! Happy release day.

When I say I want unique magic systems and interesting societal dynamics in my fantasy books, Silvercloak is a perfect example. Everything about this book feels lush in its descriptions and detail. It’s a mix of mafia and romantasy so if that’s up your alley, you’re bound to love Silvercloak as much as I do.

As always, I love a witty FMC with badass tendencies but a softer side, and Saffron certainly delivers. My only two issues were that some of the plot felt a little hand-holdy. Stevens needs to trust her readers to understand where she’s guiding us. That said, it is Stevens’ debut adult fantasy, so I’m giving her grace trying to appease us fantasy lovers is no easy feat!

Lastly, Levan, our MMC, seems to constantly be in conflict with himself and what he stands for. At times, it felt a bit like emotional whiplash as he moved through his feelings, which I didn’t love as a reader.

This book feels unique and has tons of potential. It ends on a cliffhanger, but it’s definitely one that leaves me wanting more. I’m excited to see where Book 2 takes us! With a solid Book 1 under her belt, the only place Stevens can go from here is up!

“Pleasure was magic, and magic was pleasure. But pain was also magic, and magic was also pain, and therein lay the problem.”

This story centres around Saff, a Silvercloak, who is forced to go undercover and pull apart the Bloodmoons from the inside out. Here, she is forced to commit to horrible acts to ensure her cover is kept. Saff is a strong & sassy FMC who has been through so much pain and is trying to navigate her way through the hand she’s been dealt.

Undercover with the Bloodmoons, she must face and work with the Kingpin’s son, Levan. Levan is a cold, calculated and morally grey MMC who will kill anyone to protect his family.

I absolutely ADORED the magic system in this book. It reminded me a little of Harry Potter with cloaks, wands and all the spells. Time-weaving, levitation. Even necromancy.

The world building, I found, was really good. It was just enough to help form solid images and map out the world in my head.

The amount of heartbreak in this book is… BUT we also have a companion pet! A Fallowwolf called Rasso!!

I would absolutely check the trigger warnings for this book! There was one scene that had me really squirming 🤭

Overall, this is an incredible first book to this series and I am so excited to see what the next one brings. Laura has already told me that book 2 is going to be worse for my heart hurting for Saff & Levan…. yay… 🤭

Thank you to Penguin Aus and NetGalley for allowing me to read this as an arc. Can I please be signed up now, for an arc of book 2?? 😂🤭

🩷 Book Review 🩷
📚 Silvercloak
✒️ L.K. Steven
💫💫💫

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Australia for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so so so excited to be approved for this and started it instantly. But I struggled so hard with this book and it was underwhelming in the end.

The prologue gripped me, we meet Saff's parents and see first hand the brutality of the Bloodmoons (a criminal organisation). The magic system is unique, power is drawn from pleasure and pain (isn't there a song about that?) and the wielder requires a wand to direct it. When the Silvercloaks (the detectives) come to investigate they save Saff and take her under their wing to train to become one of them. Despite the prologue displaying the ruthlessness of the Bloodmoons that is were it stops, and the plot falls apart for me.

Fast forward and Saff is undergoing the final stages of her qualifications when her secret of immunity to magic is revealed (mind you she pretty much admits to the reader her secret in the first chapter and I like trying to guess these things instead of being told) and because of this uniqueness she is sent to infiltrate the Bloodmoons.

Now, the prologue made the Bloodmoons seem ruthless and hell-bent... but I found that they were anything but and then the Kingpins son enters.

Levan is an odd character... he seems to be a contradiction of a lot of things. Bloodthirsty, bookworm, cruel, vulnerable, dangerous, tortured soul... and the romance was not there for a fantasy book. His motivation with Saff is pretty clear and the ending was lacking and real grunt.

Overall, I felt like I was reading a weird mash-up of a HP mafia and I am so sorry but was not a fan...

4.5 rounded up

Thank you so much to Penguin Australia for providing me with an eARC of this one. All thoughts are my own.

This book was absolutely incredible. All the enemies to lovers romantasy + morally grey MC fans need to jump on this ASAP.

This is such a wild ride from start to finish. The world building is absolutely incredible, with a unique magic system relying on pleasure and pain, and a rich magical history woven throughout. Combined with an undercover mission plot, this book was never for a moment dull.

Saffron, our MC, is so interesting. Shaped by grief and a desire for revenge, she generally believes herself to be good, but the events of this book force her to confront many truths about herself and what she’s willing to do.

The romance is a slow burn full of twists and turns, lies and half-truths, and so much pain, longing and betrayal.

I can’t wait for the next book in this series.

There's something about Laura's writing that makes reviewing her books almost impossible, because no combination of words feels enough. Her stories are devastating, uplifting, poetic, complex, and overall consuming of my every thought from the moment I put them down. I honestly didn't think she could top Our Infinite Fates which I still have not stopped thinking about but here we are. 75% of my kindle highlights say something along the lines of "poetry", "beautiful", or "wow!!!!"

The world building in Silvercloak is sprawling and immersive, with layered political systems, history, and rivalries. I am absolutely obsessed with the magic system, not only is it wand based magic, by it is fuelled by pleasure and amplified by pain, allowing it to be interconnected with the character's emotions. Silvercloak is also queer-normative which I found refreshing.

I felt so connected to Saffron, she had me from the first page. She's fierce, funny, flawed, and evolves as the story progresses. And I love the surprisingly dorky Levan. This is one of those books where you know where it's leading (the vision of Saff kissing and killing Levan is a bit hard to ignore), but you're desperate to know how you get there, all the while building with dread that it will actually happen.

This book doesn't hold back on describing the grittiness and gore, but I have never read someone's eye being removed written quite as poetical as this before. While the story is amplified by the pleasure and pain, it was never overpowered by it, there's a decent amount of spicy scenes but they were mostly plot or character focused rather than for the spice scale.

I honestly can't say too much about my favourite part of this book or why I think this is going to be one of the best fantasy series of all time because it's MAJOR spoilers and the the final line is a punch straight to the face and I loved every minute.

The easiest 5 stars I've given this year.

Silvercloak
L.K. Steven

"Magic is not the only kind of power," she said evenly.
"It's the only kind that matters."

This book was not for me. I struggled reading this and pushed on to finish it out of duty to the arc. I didn’t find myself invested in Saffron’s undercover storyline even though from a blurb it most definitely sounds like something I would enjoy. I think my biggest issues was in the world, the wands, the incantations, the lore, the lox, everything… it felt like elements were taken straight from Harry Potter, examples; the dark mark / Bloodmoon mark, Harry survives the killing curse / magic can’t touch Saff, the learning and competing with fellow students. And not to mention we are chasing down a prophecy, also very Harry Potter style.

"Ever since I found out ... it's felt like our fates have always been braided together."

What I constantly sought out reading this was Saffron and Levan interactions, that I very much enjoyed.

"I see you, Silver. For all that you are."

Redemptive points; Levan. Full stop. He was my only source of entertainment and joy and for that I’m sorry to say.

"You have to earn your place over and over again, like watering a plant. You can't feed it once and expect it to thrive forever."

I grew up in the Harry Potter world and quite possibly it has ruined all other magic inspired books for me. I’m sorry I didn’t connect to this world at all but enjoyed Levan and their development, the precipice being the cell and chair scene before the golden hand. But Saffron and her loyalty was plain annoying to me.

"Pain is not something I've ever found myself to be lacking."

I appreciated the ending but I question where this can go. For without stakes, there’s no consequences and to be able to go back and rework pivotal moments, there’s no stakes. No stakes, no heart.

"You told me to abandon childish notions of good and evil or I wouldn't survive here."

“Bide your time. Root yourself in the order of things. Then plot means of gathering
evidence."

‘He wanted, beyond all reason, for her to choose him.’

(Posted this review to my Goodreads account 3rd July 2025.)

Not bad for the first in a series! I will probably read the next one when it comes out.
The world felt verrryyy close to Harry Potter - to the point where I wouldn't be surprised if this started out as a fanfic and was reconstructed to an original work.
The 2nd half started to pick up more for me, where it felt a little more mafia-ish and less Harry Potter-ish.

A unique and compulsively readable addition to the fantasy genre! Silvercloak follows Saffron Killoran’s quest for revenge after her parents are murdered by the brutal Bloodmoons. I really enjoyed L.K. Steven’s immersive world building, and loved the unique take on the magic system and classes. Using pleasure and pain to fuel magic is such a clever concept, and suited the overall tone of the story perfectly. I literally could not stop thinking about this book, and I did not see that ending coming! Keen to see how the series grows!

I was so impressed with this book, it gave me strong adult Harry Potter meets mafia vibes, in the best possible way. Dark, gritty, and full of unexpected twists. Silver Cloak pulls you into a world where magic is powered by pleasure and amplified through pain.

The story follows Saffron, a Silver Cloak (essentially magical law enforcement), who is sent undercover to infiltrate the Bloodmoons (a powerful mafia like gang). To survive, she’s forced to blur the lines between right and wrong, and the deeper she goes, the more complicated things become. Of course, there’s the kingpin’s son, dangerously charming, scarred by trauma, and impossible to ignore.

This book includes LGBTQ+ representation and leans heavily into morally gray themes, you truely don’t know who to root for at times. And that final line? My jaw was on the floor.

I’m not going to lie—this book had a little bit of a slow start. The opening felt like a slow burn, but once the story started to unfold, I could not put the book down. The pacing was really well done, gradually building tension and pulling me deeper into the world, and it held strong through the majority of the book. And the ending? Oh my gosh. It hit me right in the chest. I wasn’t ready for the emotional punch it delivered, and I’m still thinking about it.

One of the biggest strengths of this book was its emotional depth. It wasn’t just about the action or the fantasy elements—it was about the characters and what they were carrying. There’s so much internal conflict, heartbreak, and vulnerability that comes through, and it makes the entire journey feel more grounded and real. You can feel the weight of their choices, the pain of their pasts, and the impossible decisions they’re forced to make. It adds so many layers to the story, and I really appreciated that it didn’t shy away from the raw moments.

And then there’s the romance—wow. The connection between the two main characters was everything I wanted. It was hot and intense and so forbidden, which only made it better. Their chemistry practically leapt off the page, but it was also deeply emotional. It wasn’t just about the tension—it was about the trust, the fear, and the unspoken things they couldn’t say out loud. Their relationship added so much to the story and had me flipping pages just to get more of them.

Overall, Silvercloak completely surprised me. It built slowly but beautifully, with rich emotional layers, a gripping plot, and a romance that made my heart ache in the best way. Definitely a five-star read—and one I won’t forget anytime soon.

Silvercloak is the first instalment of the Silvercloak saga by L.K Steven. Saffron is an orphan who was raised by her uncles after the murder of her parents. We follow Saffron who is determined to join the Silvercloaks in the hopes of taking down her parents’ killers – the Bloodmoons. Saffron, due to her magical immunity is the only person that can infiltrate the Bloodmoons and we follow her story as she goes undercover to bring down them down. Refreshingly, Silvercloak takes place in a queer normative and sex positive world and has Bi main characters.

The novel has a very interesting world and magic system that I would have liked to explore in greater detail, but I expect future novels in the series will do this. The plot is okay, but what I expected to happen was more interesting than what did occur in the novel. There were several plot holes that may be explained in future novels but didn’t make sense in the context of this book. The pacing is great, and I was entertained throughout the novel.

I found the characters intriguing – Saffron is morally grey, and her love interest Levan is the villain. Saffron is focussed on the ends outweighing the means and takes actions that harm those around her. In the beginning of the novel, Saffron is meticulous and plans well before acting, while throughout the majority of the novel she is careless in her dealings while undercover. This created undesirable situations for herself and kept the plot moving but seemed at odds with who she said she was. Levan has one goal and will do anything to achieve it. Many of the characters are villainous but I found myself sympathetic due to their tragic backstories. The novel has greater focus on the characters and plot, rather than the romance, which I enjoyed.

Overall, I enjoyed reading Silvercloak, where L.K. Steven has developed an interesting world and magic system.