Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing an ARC e-book, in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars. I…wanted to like this book so much more than I did. It started strong- I like the ideas the author clearly spent time developing, the characters were well planned, the synopsis is intriguing. About 1/3 of the way through the book though, it started unraveling.

The good:
TWO bi-sexual MCs and TWO gay MCs; discussion of workers’ rights, healthcare, social-economic insecurity, privilege, homophobia, identity; action, heart, love, loss. I love the discussion Lucian has about consent! Something we SO rarely see in fantasy novels (for whatever reason???). I like the relationships, I like some of the scene setting, I like the description of the clothing/food.

The bad:
The pacing was very difficult to keep up with. Some scenes dragged on with a lengthy inner monologue, some scenes jumped ahead with little to no warning, and sometimes these followed right after one another (ex: Colton is in his head daydreaming, and then he “awakens” into the world where the story has somehow progressed). There were scenes I had to reread, confused as to when someone picked up a knife, or when a character entered a scene.

The relationships are choppy, and seemingly jump forward and backward at odd intervals. One minute Colton can’t stand Lucian, then he’s fallen in love with him basically at first sight? We don’t get a lot of anything from Lucian about why he might love Colton- just a lot of little jokes and jabs, which don’t seem like enough to build a true love. A lot of telling, rather than showing, which is an unfortunate theme here.

The world building felt incomplete. The author clearly had a great, well mapped idea, but it felt like the specifics really got away from her. It, to me, read as if the author thought we already had a good grip on how the world worked and was laid out. She doesn’t describe the sort of caste system (Iron, Ivory) but expects us to just get it. She also doesn’t fully explain the conditions in either place- Iron is poor and dirty, but we only see one case of sickness (with Mai)? Iron is also rough-and-tumble, but we see no examples of any violence at all, except for from the Ivory guards. Things just don’t seem to add up. I didn’t feel like I really stepped into the world at any point, which felt lacking for me.

The book feels almost like the people who edited it might’ve also received a verbal description of some of the characters, world details, and plot points that the rest of us didn’t get. It felt like there were holes that seemed clearly in need of gap bridging, that maybe the author just missed?

Overall:
A really cool concept, great sketches of characters, good ideas for a plot. The details were lacking, world building was poor, and the transitions between scenes and spaces in time were wonky, leaving me feeling confused more than gripped by this book. A good try, that just needed a bit more editing and fleshing out!

3⭐️ the first 50% of this book was genuinely on track to be a five-star read. I LOVE the premise of this book. Queer con-artist exorcists? Count me in. Unfortunately, the second half of the book felt rushed and the writing didn’t feel like it did the story justice.

The characters of this book are wonderful. We are shown incredible friendships, adorable romance, and the depiction of found family was great. The story and plot were very engaging, but I do wish we were given more “show” and less “tell.” At times, things felt very rushed and there were numerous times when it felt things were being explained directly to the reader through a character’s thoughts/inner narrations or a flashback/memory that was otherwise entirely out of place. It also seemed like the author was trying to be intentionally vague at times to gloss over potentially triggering topics, such as scenes with violence, homophobia, romance, or other negative/“inappropriate” content—but in execution that vagueness often felt a bit confusing/unclear and pulled me out of the flow of the story.

Otherwise, the world-building was so interesting; I was very intrigued by the mixed levels of technology and language/phrases that felt both modern and historical at times. There was a lot of potential there but ultimately left me wanting more/feeling somewhat unfinished or underdeveloped. Sometimes the language felt forced or unnatural and the tone/mood shifted in strange ways at times.

Overall, it was a positive experience but I do think there are areas it could be improved. I’d recommend to anyone who’s interested in the plot, but wouldn’t recommend if you’re feeling overly critical or would be bothered by the writing style.

And of course, thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for this ARC in return for an honest review.

I'd like to thank Books Forward and She Writes Press for this ARC in return for an honest review.

The Lavender Blade is packed with demons, political intrigue, found family, and simmering LGBTQ+ romance... it was a wildly fun ride from start to finish.

The entire cast of characters is fantastic, with witty banter, heartfelt connections, and layered personalities that make them easy to root for. I especially loved the two slow-burn romances woven throughout the story, as well as the deep bonds of friendship and chosen family that gave the book so much emotional depth.

The pacing was sharp, particularly in the early chapters, and the humor struck that perfect balance of dry and genuinely funny. The world itself is eerie and atmospheric, with a unique flavor that blends dark magic, con artistry, and courtly politics in a way that feels fresh and engaging.

I also appreciated the thoughtful representation throughout the book. It never felt forced—just authentic and well-integrated into the story.

Whether you’re a fan of m/m queer romance, found family dynamics, or just love the idea of con artist exorcists navigating a haunted, politically-charged world, I highly recommend giving this one a shot.

Thank you to She Writes Press and NetGalley for the DRC.

This book started out strong and dwindled down in the latter half. The strength of the book are the characters and their relationships to one another as you see them unfold. Also the general premise was intriguing and I liked the initial set up with how Colton and Lucian start their partnership and how the work side of their relationship develops. My biggest criticism of the book is the pacing. In terms of the story, the beginning seemed to be taking its time setting up the world as well as the motives of the main characters which I liked. Then suddenly we got a series of what felt like time jumps and quick summaries in the middle of the book before we got an ending that seemed way too rushed and required certain convenient events to occur. Similar to this, my only main character-based quibble I have is that Colton and Lucian's romantic relationship developed seemingly overnight which didn't help with how rushed this book felt starting at the midpoint.

Overall, I enjoyed the premise and the characters. If this is the start of a series I hope the author might be able to work on pacing issues as the characters deserve another story.

I'd like to thank Books Forward and She Writes Press for this ARC in return for an honest review.
3.5 Stars

Colton is an exorcist, or at least is very good at pretending to be one, and one day gets a very lucrative offer from an unexpected and handsome business partner Lucian. Together they find and root out "demons" from the city's elite until the impossible happens. Demons are real, and now Colton must do everything in his power to try and not only wrap his head around this fact but also find a way to save Lucian's soul.

Demons, Political Machinations, found family, and some LGBT romance, it was a fun ride. The entire cast of characters are absolutely wonderful! I love the simmering romance going on (both of them) and I love the found family and deep friendships formed within this title. The story itself has so much to offer I'd recommend anyone who's a fan m/m queer romance or even just con artist exorcists to give it a shot.

However I was disappointed time and again when we were told and not shown something I would have liked to have seen. It almost feels like there was an attempt to shorten the book and thus took out swathes of possible connections and more understanding of some of the things that were going on.

Phrases like:
-"The jobs came and they came-" (I would have liked to seen more exorcism jobs)
-"Went through the motions" (What motions? You just started?)
-"They spoke of their pasts too" (Would have been nice to see some of these conversations, admittedly there are some towards the end of the book but I feel like this was just rushed when it was said.)
-"Whatever the other eight ---- got up to, Colton really never found out." (WHAT?)

The other (minor complaint) would be we get a few time skips in the middle of a chapter. I definitely think either a page break or a new chapter would have been much more immersive then the time skip in the middle of a chapter and being like well okay I guess were just moving on then.

It didn't feel very natural and like the story was just being moved forward forcefully and it took me out of it quite a few times and left me scratching my head at why the abrupt end to what was going on before. This however could just be personal preference.

Overall it's a good book. Imo it could use a little TLC and expand some ideas. If interested in the plot I would recommend it.

*Warning (for those it matters) this title contains: homophobia/blood/torture/dismemberment/rape(not detailed)/domestic violence.

This book ended up being a real disappointment for me, despite an incredibly strong start. Initially, I thought it would become a new favorite: the pacing was sharp, and the humor was so dry and genuinely funny. The early chapters moved briskly. I particularly appreciated that the welfare of the pig Colton adopts at the start of the novel was considered when he moved about-unlike many novels where pets are just props in the background and not treated as living beings.

My favorite scene was the first exorcism the main characters performed together. The setting was eerie, the gore was horrific, and the resolution was such a strong finale. It truly became the high point of the book for me. One of the best things I have read in recent memory.

Unfortunately, the book loses its way as it progresses, which makes me feel like the scope might have been too ambitious for a debut.

The worldbuilding, in particular, felt inconsistent and confusing. I read the setting as Victorian at first (what with the nobles and their servants), but was disoriented by the appearance of modern comforts like hot water and heated floors. There are carriages instead of cars, radio instead of television, but also magical machines testing demon possession in someone's blood. I needed more concrete details to anchor me in the world: descriptions like “a bespoke suit” aren’t enough; what kind of suit? Is it a frock coat? A modern three-piece? I was left constantly unsure about the setting. Some established rules are also abandoned: early on, we learn people from the Iron District can’t enter the Ivory District, a restriction that gets the protagonist arrested and beaten as a child. Later, Lucian gives him a “pass” to cross the border between districts, but by the end, Colton and Mai choose to stay at a fancy hotel in the Ivory District with no explanation. If it’s illegal for outsiders to stay there, why does the Ivory hotel even exist? If Ironers have no right to be in the Ivory District, why don’t the staff report them? How did they cross the border between districts unchallenged?

There’s also confusion about the broader geography. At one point, Odessa talks about running off “to the continent”-is this supposed to be a fictional London then? Is “the continent” Europe? But Colton laters says, “I care about you more than anyone else on this continent.” Which continent?! These details felt muddled and pulled me out of the story.

The synopsis also gives away half of the book, skipping over its best part and going straight to its twist. Once the demon possession storyline begins, the book weakens considerably. The demon’s motivations are vague and unconvincing, and its supernatural abilities seem limited to strength and low pain sensitivity. Its only leverage is threatening to harm the love interest, which felt flat. The demon’s plan to become prime minister and usher in puritanical fascism is hard to buy-what kind of government has a single elected official with unchecked power? Why would the public suddenly accept mass violence? The political elements come out of nowhere and are underdeveloped. There are also plot threads that go nowhere: why did the father want the deed to the temple? Why does Colton suddenly need that letter from Lucian to get a move on?

The pacing of the romance is my last major complaint. The book opens with a perfect meeting and strong chemistry, but the relationship develops at breakneck speed. Colton falls in love almost instantly, and while I liked that Lucian initially rejects him, that tension is resolved too quickly. The second half of the novel hinges entirely on the depth of their relationship, but most of their bonding happens off-page. The on-page timeline is compressed: after a near-death event, they get together and kiss, then the narrative jumps forward a few weeks (or months?), describing the events befalling another character. It’s during this time jump that the crux of the relationship development happens for the protagonists, because after this, the rest of the novel kicks in and no more relationship buildup can be made. We learn, through flashbacks, that the honeymoon phase of their relationship consisted of cooking lessons, joking about being mauled by bears, and lounging together while waiting to perform exorcisms. Why wasn’t this part of the narration on-page? I ended up struggling to believe in the intensity of their connection, since it’s mostly told rather than shown.

In the end, this book is frustratingly inconsistent. I loved the horror and gore elements early on, found the characters charming, and genuinely enjoyed the humor. The idea behind the exorcisms are brilliant. But the second half didn’t maintain that quality and ultimately soured my experience. I’d rate it 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

An epic gay adventure with exorcisms, demons, and an enemy to lovers subplot. The romantasy was well developed and really was the core of the story. The protagonist pacing for romance was beautiful – but the adventure was lacking. I wanted the dialogue to be a bit tightened up while they were going against “demons.” The plot was a hook for me but I was left with wishing the pacing were appropriate for both the setting and the romance.
I want fantasy titles that really take the time with world building and setting scenes that are elaborate and fantastical. Although The Lavender Blade delivered at times – it was not consistent. This was a must read for me as exorcisms and a gay romance was involved. I understand the main idea is that this was a con, but I think that background could have been developed a bit stronger. So, for my romance fans you are going to love the steam throughout this one. It would have been hard for me to stay focused and want to jump page to page with this one if it were not for the romantic subplot being so efficient.
What is possession in the long scheme of things? There were some cliches I think were scattered throughout and that works for romantasies. But I wanted a stronger development outside of their relationship. Like each character could not exist without the other if that makes sense. This came down to personal tastes for me and please do not let you deter this from diving into this adventure! Thank you Net Galley and She Writes Press for this digital arc for an honest review!