Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Romantasy
Length: 458 pages
Author: Madeline Taylor
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: March 31st, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

An alliance between enemies. A weapon of untold power. And a bond that could rewrite fate.

Fall into the viral, propulsive dark romantasy everyone is reading. A fae assassin with the power of illusion, sworn to a king she despises. An enigmatic grim reaper, searching for freedom. Enemies collide in an unlikely alliance, brimming with desire and destruction.

She is not the pet they tamed.

Blessed with the power of illusion, Iverson Pomeroy has many tricks up her sleeve. However, none of them are a match for the enchanted collar at her throat that keeps her bound as assassin and mistress to a ruthless king. Forced to play the role of his obedient pet, she plots in secret to destroy him and claim the freedom she has always been denied.

She is the beast they let inside.

When a mysterious reaper, Thorne, arrives in the city with his sights set on the same weapon Ivy needs—the only artifact that can remove her collar—she must decide how far she’s willing to go.

And she will show no mercy.

With a tenuous alliance tying them together, Ivy learns there is more to her reluctant companion than meets the eye… He sparks her curiosity and ignites dangerous desires within her. But will the secrets they harbor destroy each other? And does it even matter, when anyone who so much as touches Thorne dies?

GREAT START.

I had a lot of fun with this one. I was confused for a bit on what was happening and I do think the world building stayed murky throughout. Not enough to deter me from picking up book two though.

I loved the audiobook. It’s duet narration which really made this cat and mouse game between the leads play off well. I liked the banter and heat. There’s a forbidden nature to it that I fell in love with and I’m excited to see how the romance continues.

It was very easy to pick and continue. I liked seeing some less common romantasy themes next to the usual suspects. It kept things interesting and brought out that yearning that I love so dearly. Also, y’all know I love a wild ending which this delivered!!

Overall audience notes:

• Fantasy romance
• Language: moderate
• Romance: 2-3ish open door
• Violence: high
• Content warnings: mentions of self harm, intense near death experiences, loss of life, attempted sexual assault, unwanted touching, emotional and physical abuse

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