Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: YA Paranormal Romance
Length: 423 pages
Author: Alyssa Villaire
Publisher: Penguin Books
Release Date: April 1st, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

An unputdownable gothic contemporary fantasy with the feuding families of Romeo and Juliet, the dark magic of Krystal Sutherland and a love triangle to rival The Inheritance Games.

The locals of Idlewood whisper of a tragic love story that began a decades long blood feud.

For as long as anyone can remember, the De Luca witches and the wealthy Barrion family have been sworn enemies. Ever since the curse that changed their fates forever. Now, if a Barrion falls in love with you, you’ll die.

But when Penny Emberly’s mother becomes the curse’s latest victim, she must bring together two bitter rivals, Alonso and Corey, in order to save her mum’s life and stop the feud for good.

But as the trio navigates unpredictable magic, the tangled web of their family histories, and complicated attractions, it becomes clear that there’s more than dark secrets at play.

Can Penny find a way to break the curse . . . without losing her heart in the process?

I WOULD READ BOOK TWO.

But I am not splurging for the Fairyloot edition (I got the first book in my sub box).

I do think the audiobook narrator was good but would have been better with multiple narrators. The book is told from three POV’s and wow was I confused at each chapter change because it wasn’t always automatically clear who was speaking.

There were many elements I did like. The family curses, drama and witches were a good combination. Some of the drama was eye-roll worthy for me but otherwise I felt mostly invested. The characters and romance grew on me.

Overall audience notes:

• YA Paranormal Romance
• Language: mild – moderate
• Romance: closed door
• Violence: moderate
• Content warnings: bullying, loss of loved ones, grief, gun violence, anxiety rep, murder

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