Spice: Medium
Romance: High
Enemies to lovers
One love interest
Dark hair MMC
RATING: 5 out of 5

This book exceeded every expectation I had.
The yearning in this book was top tier. The build up, the romance, it was all done perfectly. The relationship between Jane and Reagan was so beautifully tender and sweet that I felt every single emotion between them. The way their emotions for each other progressed was done so realistic.
The storyline was a tad slow in the beginning but about 40% it picked up and I was completely hooked. I like that this book was on the lighter side, with hints of dark, but I am seriously excited for the next book because I can already tell we are going to have much higher stakes.

I am so beyond thankful for receiving this ARC because it is without a doubt one of my favorite reads.
The biggest thank you to Juliana Pinheiro for letting me read this.

I adored this book!!! Thank you to J.B. Pinheiro and NetGalley for the review copy!

From page one I was fully invested in Jane’s story. Watching her go from powerless outsider to someone who begins to truly understand her own agency in a dangerous magical world was so satisfying. She is clever, stubborn, hopeful and a lot stronger than people expect. I loved following her.

Reagan absolutely fascinated me. As Mage Lord he carries such weight and history and the more you see of him the more captivating he becomes. He is not simply a brooding love interest. He is layered, conflicted and quietly intense. The chemistry between him and Jane is magnetic. Every scene they shared felt charged in the best possible way.

The magic system is one of the highlights here. It is intricate and beautifully thought out, but never confusing. I loved how it leaned into darker themes and how consequence is built right into the rules. It felt original, purposeful and full of narrative weight.

The wider cast also made the story feel richer. They bring humour, loyalty, tension and unpredictability and I adored how they helped flesh out the world around Jane and Reagan.

I flew through this book and genuinely did not want it to end. The pacing, the mystery, the atmosphere, the character work - it all came together so impressively. I finished it feeling excited and genuinely a bit emotional in the best way.

Five stars from me. I am already desperate for the next book in this world.

Who could love a beast?

If said beast was a brooding, handsome, magic wielding mage? Me!

And, when Jane steps off the train and into mage territory, she might find she feels a similar way.
Pinheiro’s wretched mage is the first book in Jane’s story and it packs a punch. Her writing style flows well and keeps a steady pace that will leave you wanting to read ‘just one more chapter’. There’s spice, romance, curses and politics. A strong FMC and protective MMC. The classic tropes of a romantasy making it difficult to put down! Once again this year, I wait impatiently for the next instalment!

This book is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast but in an adult version (if you know what I mean) 😏 and wow, it hooked me from the very beginning. The story starts strong, with action right from the start, and that already won me over.

The protagonist lives in the human territory, completely unaware of the existence of the Mages’ territory. Everything changes when she gets off a train at a station… and somehow ends up in Mages’ territory without understanding how. From that moment, there’s no pause: she’s attacked (not going to make any spoilers here). From then on, they’re forced to live together under his protection, as he is the ruler.

I loved the worldbuilding—it’s full of monsters and magical creatures, some familiar and some new, and everything feels very alive. There’s a lot of action, political intrigue, and constant tension. The female lead is curious, resilient, and always looking for ways to learn and protect herself better, which I really loved about her. And the male protagonist… strong, protective, but with such a beautiful character development into a more noble and virtuous leader.

And yes… the spice 👀 I loved it. Their chemistry is so well written, it feels real and natural. One of my favourite quotes was:
“I’d go after you every time, anywhere, to the depths of pavilion if I need to—but I’ll find you. I’ll always find you.” 💔✨

The ending left me NEEDING to read the next book in this duology immediately.

And well… the male lead has exactly the physical traits I love in a man sooo… 😌 hahaha