⭐3/5 | 🌶️4/5

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The concept is fun, the world is more fleshed out than the first book, and the spice does not disappoint. But I spent a lot of this one waiting for the story to actually start. The opening was slow, the timeline felt a bit murky, and Blair and Osid barely interact for a good part of the beginning. By the time they’re finally working together and the tension gets going, we’re almost halfway through.

The writing itself has gotten better. More depth, more inner dialogue, more world-building. But it loses some of that chaotic rom-com energy that made the first book work. Blair felt a little softer than I expected at first. Osid too. I liked seeing the book 1 characters pop up though. That was a nice touch. The “venomous” moments were cute. The ending just kind of… happened. No major twists, no big emotional payoff. Just okay overall.

⭐3.5/5 | 🌶️0/5

Not my usual read at all. I'm a romantasy girl and this was my first epic fantasy, so I won't pretend it wasn't a slow start. The first 70% was a grind. The world-building is dense, the pacing is heavy, and I had to push through more than once.

But something shifted around 72% and suddenly I was in it. The magic system is actually cool once it clicks, and the ending genuinely paid off. I'm glad I finished it. Enough that I'll keep going with the series.