The Seventh Champion is a triumph of storytelling, weaving together compelling characters, and intricate world-building. From the very first page, the author's skill is evident, drawing you into a world that feels both fantastical and utterly real. The descriptions are vivid without being overwhelming, painting a picture of a world rich in history and detail.

What truly sets this book apart is the way the characters are developed and how their relationships evolve. Each character feels like a fully realized person, with their own motivations, flaws, and desires. The connections between them are complex and believable, driving the plot forward in unexpected and emotionally resonant ways. Whether it's a budding romance or a fraught friendship, these relationships add depth and meaning to the story.

Overall, The Seventh Champion is a must-read for anyone who appreciates masterful storytelling. It's a book that stays with you long after you've turned the final page.

I enjoyed this! The FMC was delightfully whimsical and sunny. It was interesting to have trials without the main character participating in them. I also enjoyed Valtar, tragic anti-hero that he is. There were a couple leaps in logic in the plot that I didn’t love, but they didn’t stop me from enjoying the story. Much thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

This one was a little hard for me to get interested in. It was a little predictable and I did not really care for the main female character. I did finish it over time but I caught my self skipping parts to get to the end.

Such a cute story about a lost dragon princess who befriends her would be assassin into helping her escape a destiny she never asked for. Rosie the FMC had a funny inner monologue. One small plot twist I didn’t see coming near the end. I very interesting to see what happens in the next book and how Rosie and Valtar’s relationship plays out.

Ok so I absolutely loved this book. I started it like 3 days ago and I could not put it down! I stayed up waaaay past my bedtime the last few nights because I just needed to keep going and see what happened!

Rosie Harpwood, aka Princess Roselle, was stolen away from all she knew and brought under duress to King Alderin’s underground palace. Why? Because she’s supposedly a dragon princess who must overthrow her mother, the dragon Queen Mhoryga, and save the world. Except, Rosie was burned as a child by dragon hellfire. And she’s never felt even the slightest bit dragon-y. The King has arranged a series of challenges for various champions to overcome. The prize? Rosie’s hand in marriage and the right to accompany her in her gods ordained quest. When she meets Prince Valtair there is an immediate connection. But Rosie doesn’t know he’s an assassin, ordered by Mhoryga to pull Rosie’s heart from her chest and bring it to her. Valtair may be a champion but he is also dark and mysterious and has his own reasons for being there.

So, I’m gonna come right out and say it: this had a LOT of Reylo undertones (Reylo with a paint job as my husband said) but I am absolutely not mad about it! A mysterious brooding prince with dark hair and eyes, built like a god and with a scar over his eye? Who has his master and (her minion) in his head? And a princess who didn’t know who her parents were, was raised by a stranger who took her in, and is actually the daughter of a big bad? Oh yeah. I was all about that life 😌

The plot line was interesting and just chaotic enough to not feel like every other romantasy novel out there. I thought the writing style was good and this book was so easily readable. I legitimately blasted through it. There wasn’t much info dumping and I felt the pace matched the urgency of the plot.

Rosie and Valtair each having POV’s was definitely the move for this book. I enjoyed being in both of their heads and seeing what they both were thinking. Their chemistry was tentative and interesting. Like, it wasn’t an all consuming flame and I kinda liked that. It felt a bit more natural for a pair who had only recently met. I definitely enjoyed watching them get closer and learning more about each other.

There is zero spice in this book (beyond a makeout session) but honestly, I didn’t need it. The plot kept me enthralled and I had no need for any spicy stuff to get on the way.

If you want a Reylo coded romantasy with a cool take on dragons and great plot pacing then this book is for you!

this book took me for a whirlwind. i slightly wished we didn’t get Valtars pov, but we wouldn’t get plot twists revealed so i understand why he had his own povs. the slight friendship of Rhyo and Rosie is heart warming, how she saves him and fights Taigan alone! the ONLY real problem i have with this book is that the word “scintil” is used so many times. it is said that the scintil is a light without saying it’s a light, i understood that part. but when i looked it up i was so confused for half the book and decided it was a light source even if it actually wasn’t. i just needed a little more clarification because the word is used so many times. nonetheless, this book is a 3.5 stars! i liked it a lot!!!

This book grabbed me from the very first page and didn’t let go. The writing feels intimate and honest, with vivid descriptions that brought the magic and danger alive without feeling overwhelming. The romance between Rosie and Valtar is beautifully messy and slow to unfold, which is exactly my kind of love story. I adore when two people carry pain and secrets but still find a way to connect deeply. Their chemistry is tender but also charged with a simmering tension that feels earned. The way the author wrote their moments together made me feel every hesitation, every stolen glance, every spark. It was emotional and raw in the best possible way. What I especially appreciated was how this book explores themes of identity, trust, and the courage it takes to fight for your own path. Rosie’s struggle to accept who she is and what she’s capable of spoke to me on a very personal level. The story doesn’t rush through the magic or the romance but takes its time to build a world and characters you want to live in. I found myself completely immersed and deeply moved. This is the kind of fantasy romance I can reread and fall for all over again because it’s not just about dragons or magic. It’s about heart and hope, about fighting for love even when the odds seem impossible. I loved every page and can’t wait for what happens next.

3.5/5 stars ⭐️
This was a fun read! Thank you to Netgalley and Ace Books for letting me read an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The Seventh Champion is entertaining, sweet, intense at times (with some great action scenes), and I really enjoyed our two main characters. The MMC being so torn on his feelings for our FMC is really well done and makes sense, which is hard to do with a “he’s been sent to kill her but falls for her” dynamic in a way that’s actually believable.

Unfortunately, there are some pretty big issues for me in this story. Most glaringly, the world building was pretty weak. Not every story in a fantasy setting needs airtight world building or incredibly intricate backstories, but it felt like I was missing some important context for the story that wasn’t revealed until around 40% of the way into the book. When it was finally revealed, I really felt like it should have been mentioned within the first few chapters in order to make the story more enjoyable to follow. So many plot points revealed later in the story should have come up much sooner, because knowing these details not only wouldn’t have spoiled any twists in the story, but they would have greatly added to being able to understand what was going on. I fully realize that oftentimes context for the larger world and where the characters fit into it is saved for shock value or to add mystery to a book, but so much information that was kept from the reader in the first half of the book did nothing to add to the plot, if anything it made the plot weaker. The way information was revealed to us just felt jarring and out of order! There’s also lot of telling but not showing here.

Small nitpicks - why are “scintil” lamps mentioned every other page? We get it, there are lots magical dwarven lamps in this underground palace. Why are we calling them out in every scene? Also, the cover is stunning, but Valtar doesn’t look like the man on it. He’s described as wide and broad and with hair that almost brushes his shoulders. The man on the cover looks slim and with shorter hair. This feels petty to mention, but the cover is what drew me into requesting to read this story.

I went into this book knowing norhing about it and not reading the authors other books and I really enjoyed this book.
Right from chapter 1 I liked the character banter and the quirkyness of the FMC.
There is a lot of character development and plot development and a slow burn romance as well as games and trials and a MMC that is dark and mysterious and multiple POV's.
The FMC grows from the beginning of the book where she feels helpless, fighting who she is being told she is, to the end defending herself and growing into what she is and accepting herself and making plans to do what she needs to do.
The games and trials I think are done well, they keep you guessing.
There is a plot twist at the end that I did not see coming.
Overall I think it was a well done fantasy with everything I am looking for and I definitely cannot wait to see where the story goes from here!

I had a fun time reading this, I’ve been struggling with reading lately and I needed something to pull me in fast and not make me thing tooooo much, and The Seventh Champion was perfect for that!
My only main criticism is that I honestly think that the dual-POV took away from the story, which is something that I’ve never felt before. I felt like we were missing the big OOMPH of a plot twist at the end that a single-POVE could’ve given.
This book is good for fans of Fourth Wing!

This was so good! The FMC was soft but willing to do hard things and fight for herself. I don’t feel like we get to know a ton about the MMC but he’s dark, broody, and possessive so A+ for that. I also loved that all of the things that drive me crazy about fantasy romance books were absent. The language makes sense for the time! The magic systems works! The clothing is accurate!

My only issue is that the FMC cannot get over how huge the MMC is. Seriously, my only issue.

This book was such a fun ride! The Seventh Champion totally surprised me—in the best way. It kicks off with that classic chosen-one vibe, but then flips a bunch of tropes on their heads. I was hooked right from the start.

The main character is super easy to root for—strong but not perfect, with a bit of sass and a lot of heart. And the romance? Slow-burn and swoony, just the way I like it. No insta-love, just that delicious tension building up over time.

The world itself is so rich and magical, but not overwhelming. Sylvia Mercedes does a great job of making everything feel real without drowning you in details. The magic system, the cursed champion thing, the mysterious backstories—loved it all.

Honestly, if you’re into fantasy with some dark edges, great characters, and a plot that keeps you turning pages late into the night, this one's a winner.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

"Blight these fancy trimmings! I'm going to have words with Philippa, so help me. She's trying to kill me with fashion, but I swear I won't go down quietly!"


Swept from her quiet life as an apothecary’s apprentice to the treacherous court of the High King, Rosie Harpwood is shocked to discover she is the long-lost daughter of the demonic Dragon Queen. Reawakening her dormant magic is the kingdom's only hope for salvation, but the journey is perilous, and she'll need a champion to guide her. So the High King hosts a series of trials to determine which prince is worthy of the honor — as well as claiming Rosie's hand in marriage.

A talented healer and lover of small, fluffy creatures, Rosie wants nothing to do with demon queens or saving the world. Determined to escape this fate, she joins forces with one of the champions to plot her getaway.

Trained from youth to serve the Dragon Queen, Valtar has proven himself a ruthless assassin. Posing as a suitor to get close enough to his target shouldn't be a problem. But Valtar wasn’t planning on his target being Rosie, the girl he failed to assassinate years ago...

"It doesn't have to be real. Just convincing enough."
"Convincing enough for what?"
"To repulse Prince Taigan, of course."
"Ah."
"Do you think he is though?"
"Is what?"
"Repulsed."


3.5 stars. I was charmed by this absolutely GORGEOUS cover and charmed by the absolutely adorable run-on thought/question/supposition of Rosie. There are multiple conversations/thought strings just like the one above and it tickles me. It definitely needed her levity to balance the seriousness of the trials.

(One thing that bothered me was Valtar was described as being super broad. Look at that cover. He is slim. Which I'd prefer and seems more assassin-y but not so in the actual story. And since the cover is what drew me, it bothers me. But I digress.)

Coming off The Weaver Bride, where the trials weren't really a main event for me, the trials in The Seventh Champion were definitely a lot more defined, described, and well thought out. They were challenging and made sense for the expectations that the Champions would have following the tournament.

While readers will have to ~go with it~ on Valtar's reasons for not killing her yet, it does make for a cute story. And BONUS! the other champions were a plethora of various personalities. It's NOT just a tournament full of super attractive princes posturing and trying to win her hand. I liked that a lot.

I also liked that her background as an apothecary's apprentice was actually relevant to her decisions and thoughts throughout her new circumstances.

Embarrassment ought, by rights, to have killed me.


I didn't see one of the twists at the end though I suppose it really shouldn't have surprised me in hindsight...the foreshadowing was there if I cared to pay attention. While it definitely explains the fervor behind the whole savior plan, it raises some questions around her hatching that I'm hoping will be answered in the next book. And the...side effect...that Rosie has on Valtar's mental state will be interesting to explore in the next book also!

Would it damn my soul to eat hell-roasted rabbit?


Recommended for fantasy fans that love the competition trope!

Major thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'm looking forward to book two!

I absolutely loved this book! Recently I’ve been finding it harder to really dig into a book, but this one had me glued to the page from the start! It was a bit longer than I expected but I absolutely loved it!

This was such a good read! It kept my interest the entire time and I truly believe it was because Rosie, our protagonist, had such a fun inner dialogue. She was constantly making me laugh which I seldom do when reading. Rosie is a bit naive but in an endearing way. She’s very sweet and empathetic towards others, constantly looking out for their welfare. I loved that she always wanted to do the right thing even when situations got hairy. She has a strong moral compass and will not be swayed from the path of doing what’s right. This made her kind of feisty and I was here for it.

Naturally she is frightened of the situation she’s been thrust into. Being kidnapped by the king to fulfill some outlandish destiny of manifesting her dragon powers to defeat the all powerful, evil dragon queen would do that to anyone. Often Rosie is coerced into following the orders of the king and meekly falls in line. For what other choice does she have? As the story goes on, however, she begins to find her courage to fight back and defy the king who has held her hostage. I love that she had flaws. It made me feel I could relate to her because I would have felt terrified and weak in her situation as well.

There was instant attraction between Rosie and Valtar, the love interest. This would normally turn me off to the relationship because when most authors let their characters feel this way immediately, the relationship tends to be rather stagnant. These characters, however, are quite layered with interesting pasts and current dilemmas that make the push and pull of their attraction a constant war in their own hearts and minds. The fact that Valtar is sent to assassinate Rosie adds all the tension and layers of angst needed to combat what could’ve been a boring start to their relationship. Valtar is a dangerous man and though Rosie is naive, she has the common sense to be afraid of Valtar without knowing what his ultimate objective is. While she knows he’s dangerous she is still very attracted to him. In her own mind she acknowledges the absurdity of such dichotomous feelings and I appreciate that she addresses this as I feel many protagonists these days act like it’s a normal way to feel.

I really enjoyed seeing the growth in Valtar. In the beginning, he has every intention of taking Rosie’s life. The dragon queen Mhoryga is holding Valtar’s brother hostage and if Valtar doesn’t kill Rosie, Mhoryga will follow through in murdering his brother. Rosie, however, with her sweet disposition and lovely countenance, is making it quite the impossible challenge for him. Valtar’s view of the world at the beginning is quite dark and he truly has fallen into despair as he’s had a very rough life living under Mhoryga’s sadistic reign and compulsion. When Rosie enters his life all that changes. He begins to tentatively hope. He begins to preserve life rather than take. She, as they say, is the chink in his armor. Even from the beginning you can see he’d do anything to defend her honor. He respects her autonomy and her body, never touching her without her permission.

I would classify Valtar as a vicious gentleman. He is a capable, heartless assassin but for Rosie he seems to become a different person entirely. He’s thoughtful, assisting her yet also teaching her to be independent. Her goodness brings about a change in him; a desire to see an end to the evil in the world around him. Their budding romance had me on the edge of my seat.

In a way, this almost seemed to be loosely connected to the tale of Snow White. The Evil Queen (Mhoryga) sends the huntsman (Valtar) to kill Snow White (Rosie) and bring back her heart so that the Queen may solidify her rule.

One critique I did have for the book was that the world building not super strong. For example, the word scintil was used throughout the book as a word for a magically lit type of light/lantern but it seemed very random. I assume it is italicized because it’s supposed to be a word from another language but we’re not introduced to any sort of a variety of languages. Though we do hear about different countries that inhabit this world, most of them are an enigma. This story truly shines with the focus on characters which to me is one of the most important aspects in a novel. Normally I would feel a little cheated not having a fully fleshed world that story is built upon but I felt all the characters were unique and well shaped. They were easy to keep apart in my mind and I really enjoyed getting to know them.

There were some pretty violent and gruesome scenes. I honestly loved it but fair warning to those who are squeamish.

The last critique I have is for myself. Why didn’t i know that this was a duology?? Now I have to wait whoever knows how long.

I really loved this book! Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group/Ace for sending me an ARC!

Rating: 3/5

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review. I want to be honest that I ended up DNFing this book at about a third of the way in. It is not a bad book (hence why I gave it three stars), but it just was not for me.



The good:

- I like Valtar quite a a bit.
- There is a simple magic system from what I see, and it follows basic fantasy world building fairly well with the types of magical creatures, the hobbies, and the occupations of some of the characters.
- A cast of characters that are easy to picture from the descriptions.
- Valtar already seems to be protective of her, which I LOVED. Very much touch-her-and-die vibes.
- They seemed to be hinting at maybe the soulmate trope, which is my absolute favorite. I didn’t read enough to know for sure. Doing the spoiler filter though just in case. :)



The not as good:

- I am someone who likes romantic fantasy more than fantasy romance, as in, I really like when my fantasy novels are very plot-heavy with romance complementing the story well. I like it when there is some overarching problem that guides the story development more than the relationship does, and I like when the FMC has her own personality unrelated to the romantic aspects of the book. These things did not really feel to be happening in this book, so I was struggling to get into it as a result.

- It felt almost soap opera-y? The main girl is just very horny honestly (haha) and describing all the men as super intimidating and attractive to her, and many of the descriptions of herself focus on her body.

- The only other female character felt a bit like a caricature as she pressed the main character to become more ladylike and acted as though she should be presenting herself as a prize better to the men. (Yuck.)

- And most of the male characters were explicitly misogynistic. Well, other than the MMC, which was satisfying of course that he was a decent human, but paired with how the plot seemed to take the backseat in favor of how the FMC felt about each of these douchey men’s physical appearances, it felt kind of cheap.



I don’t know, in all, it had a lot of potential, but more than a hundred pages in, and I still felt underwhelmed by the plot. I like the love interest a lot, and I bet there will be a good dynamic between them, but if it’s okay to say it, I feel like that dynamic will be carried completely by Valtar as Rosie really underwhelms me as a character.

I’m sorry I can’t give more from reading it all the way through, but I just found myself feeling uncomfortable by the book. If you have a greater comfort level with misogyny in books and are okay with the romance and spiciness being more the main focus, this may be the perfect book for you! This book comes out November 10, 2025, so if this speaks to you, make sure to snag a copy!

This romantasy drew me in right away. I didn’t expect to feel the romantic tension so early on, and I was immediately invested.

I fell for Rosie almost instantly. She’s bright, empathetic, and determined, with a kind of grounded optimism that made her incredibly easy to root for. And Valtar is all broody intensity and internal struggle, the perfect contrast to Rosie’s warmth. Their connection felt sweet, sincere, and just a little bit aching around the edges.

The plot itself (a royal competition where champions compete for the right to accompany the princess on a quest) had familiar stakes, but I’m hoping the next book leans even more into unexpected twists and deepens the romantic tension even further. I’ll definitely be picking it up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group/Ace for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I just could not get past the weird pacing. It felt like we were dropped right into something in the beginning and I almost couldn’t keep up. Overall this was so so.

I really wasn't a fan of the flat out copying and pasting of Rebecca Yarros. This book takes the scene where Liam passes away in Fourth Wing, word for word, and uses it in this book. Also, uses the plot and scheme from Blooms from Darkness. No originality .

The Seventh Champion swept me up like a whirlwind! I’ve had Bride of the Shadow King on my TBR forever, but after reading this, I’m sprinting to devour everything Sylvia Mercedes has ever written. The vibes? Immaculate. The characters? Deliciously complex. The tension? Chef’s kiss.

I want to gush about everything but I don’t want to spoil a single thing by yapping too much. Just know that if you love romantasy with morally gray characters, and a touch of danger, you need this in your life. Book two cannot come fast enough! 😮‍💨😩