OHHHHHHHHH MY LORD. thank you juliana pinheiro & netgalley for the arc of wretched mage!

i went into this book blind, just captivated by the cover of the book LOL i know i know we shouldn’t be judging books by their covers but i’m glad i did! so this book, let me just state what i love about it first, it has forced proximity, A CLEVER FMC, A WITTY MMC, absolutely spot on/amazing banter between the characters and guess fucking what, it’s a retelling of beauty and the beast!! AHHHHHH

the descriptive writing is incredibly well done, the plot flowed so well, it was unpredictable and so enjoyable. i actually finished reading this at the gym while i was on the treadmill and i gotta say, after i finished reading it i had to stop mid walk and process everything.

the characters were so well written and i love them all so much. the build up of the relationship between the main characters were chefs kiss as well.

if you enjoy enemies-to-lovers, magic, a swoony MMC that i hold so dear to my heart and a capable FMC that i also want to protect, then this is for you!

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!