Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Amber Hamilton
Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
Release Date: November 4th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Deluxe limited edition will include stenciled edges, patterned endpapers, and a designed case cover!

The Cruel Prince meets Powerless in this dark academia romantasy that will tattoo itself onto your heart.

In the cursed Kingdom of Aragoa, the punishment for magic is death.

Even the students at Vandenberghe Academy aren’t spared. When Viola Sinclair’s deadly shadow magic is discovered, the queen gives her assassin a new assignment and a new cursed tattoo: seven-thorned rose on his arm for the seven days he has to hunt Viola down and kill her. If he doesn’t, he will be the one to die.

The assassin is Roze Roquelart–entitled prince, arrogant fellow student, and the one person Viola hates more than anyone. Roze should revel in the chance to end her life, but he desperately needs something from Viola and her magic. And he’s willing to spare her life–and fake their engagement–to get it.

Forced to work together, Viola and Roze must contend with deadly threats, dangerous secrets, and an impossible attraction. Will they give in to their deepest desires, even if it means destroying Aragoa–and risking both their lives?

HER WORST ENEMY. HIS ONLY CHANCE.

Be swept away by the sizzling, irresistible enemies-to-lovers romantasy with magic more destructive than your darkest nightmares.

WELL I LOVED IT.

This has an low Goodreads average I usually stay away from, y’all. I just had a good time okay?? I loved the audiobook and the Snow White vibes and the atmosphere was stunnin’.

I think the comments about there being a few plot holes and things that weren’t totally cleared up are valid, but that’s okay. This didn’t bug me this time because I was too entranced by everything else.

I loved that the enemies to lovers felt like actual enemies. For a standalone I was grateful to see that at least half the book was dedicated to the fact that they hate each other. The tension from it was delicious and I loved the angst between them.

The story is pretty well rounded (even with my minor quibble mentioned prior). It covers what it needs too and I enjoyed all of the characters and the little plot points woven in. Highly recommend the audiobook too! I look forward to the author’s next book.

My other thing to note is that this is another case of should be NEW adult not YOUNG adult in regards to sexual content.

Overall audience notes:

• Upper YA Fantasy Romance
• Language: mild
• Romance: one vague open door
• Violence: moderate

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