This was the perfect quick, fun read—just what I needed as a palate cleanser! In this fantasy novel, two kingdoms clash over magic, with the world-building unfolding gradually, drawing readers into the history and lore right alongside the characters. The author’s natural incorporation of diverse pronouns and sexual identities brought depth and authenticity to each character. I appreciated the well-developed relationships, from family and friendship to enemies-turned-allies; each dynamic felt layered and evolved meaningfully throughout the story.

I try really, really hard not to DNF books. I came back to this book 8+ times over the course of nearly 2 years and by god i cannot get past the 20% point. I was really interest in the premise and started reading as soon as I got my ARC but it never interested me as an actual book unfortunately. It’s time for me to admit that I just didn’t like it very much and I need to DNF it. What I have read so far I didn’t hate by any means, it just isn’t the book for me and that’s okay. Maybe its me growing out of YA books or this title in particular but yeah, DNFing at 20% and giving what I did read a solid 2⭐️

Overall a fun book.

It was easy to read, and I actually read it in one sitting. I don't see asexual main characters a lot, or YA books in general that focus more on family and friends rather than a love story. It was nice to see. Sadly I just don't think I was the right audience for this book. The plot was okay nothing mind blowing, and probably not a story I would continue on with if a series was made.

This book is one of my favorites of the past year! I really enjoyed the world and the magic in it, and especially the rich history. I also loved the characters.

It feels rare to find a stand alone fantasy but that was one of the reasons I wanted to read this book.

The plot wasn’t an over the top high fantasy super, but a bit lighter than I’m used to seeing (understandable for a stand alone). It makes for a nice chance of pace between series.

I enjoyed the author’s writing style, it was smooth without many issues, allowing me to be drawn into the story.

The world building was well done, unique and flushed out. And I enjoyed the relationships between the different characters.

I’d definitely be interested in future books by this author.

DNF @ 37%

Honestly? My copy of this book was accidentally destroyed months ago and I haven't felt a desire to replace it or continue the story so I'm letting this one go. The parts I read were just kinda fine, but there wasn't anything really pulling me in or making me feel eager to see what happened next. I was already feeling somewhat bored and was just reading to finish. I was excited to read something with acespec characters, but I guess I never got around to the parts where that concept is explored, even though I was almost halfway, which feels... not great...?

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of <i>Silver in the Mist</i> in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

<h4 style="margin-top: 84px;">The Gist</h4>

<i>Silver in the Mist</i> by Emily Victoria is a spellbinding journey through a fantastical world brimming with magic and mystery. Shrouded secrets and danger lurks in the shadows, this novel weaves a captivating tale of adventure, friendship, and self-discovery.

<h4>The Details</h4>

At its heart, the story follows the courageous protagonist as she navigates a world teeming with enchantment and peril. Victoria's vivid prose brings the ethereal landscape to life, immersing readers in a rich tapestry of imagery and atmosphere. Every detail is meticulously crafted to evoke a sense of wonder and intrigue.

The characters are equally compelling, each with their own strengths, flaws, and motivations. As they embark on their quest, they must confront their deepest fears and confront the darkness that threatens to consume them. Along the way, they forge bonds of friendship that transcend the boundaries of time and space, proving that even in the darkest of times, the light of camaraderie can shine through.

<h4>The Verdict</h4>

Overall, <i>Silver in the Mist</i> is a great story. With its lush world-building, compelling characters, and thought-provoking themes, it is sure to leave a lasting impression long after the final page is turned. Emily Victoria has crafted a mesmerizing tale that is as captivating as it is unforgettable.

I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's been out for ages, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

This was a really fun read by an author I hadn't heard of before. I found the characters engaging and the plot wasn't predictable.

I really enjoyed the story and the world building, but it was such a slow starter. I loved the characters, especially the side characters-Dev’ friends. This was a fun, adventure spy novel.

Thank you NetGalley and Inkyard Press for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review which is not affiliated with any brand.

Interesting LGBTQ+ representation and a fun and fast paced fantasy adventure. Will definitely recommend for teens and great as a standalone.

I went into this one knowing very little about it and I'm glad I did because that meant I had little expectations. I really liked how well crafted the magic system and base of history was and felt that was developed well. Where it fell a little short for me is that I had a hard time connecting to the characters. I felt they were likeable in general, but couldn't identify with them during the story. That's not to say that someone else wouldn't, I'm sure they would, they just weren't characters that resonated with me personally.

I did overall enjoy the world that was crafted and found many elements of it intriguing, just had a hard time really connecting with the characters.

Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC of this title. I enjoyed reading this title. Would recommend for my library.

I was unable to provide review due to time constraints of me starting college. I look forward however to reading this book in the future simply as a fan, not a reviewer.

This book is one of my favorites of the past year! I really enjoyed the world and the magic in it, and especially the rich history. I also loved the characters. It’s rare that I talk about the theme of a book, but I found it masterfully woven into the story. Highly recommended!

Silver in the Mist by Emily Victoria follows a spy named Devlin. Eight years ago, Aris was attacked and her father was killed. Her mother is the Whisperer, the head of the spies of Aris. Devlin wishes for a relationship with her mother, but ever since that day, she had withdrawn emotionally. Devlin knows that The Mists are swallowing Aris and they are vulnerable to an attack from Cerena, their wealthier neighboring country. The magic casters of Aris are beginning to burn out. Devlin is sent on a mission to infiltrate the royal court of Cerena and get close to their most powerful caster, Alyse. When Devlin and Alyse become close friends and discover they have common goals, Devlin learns that the stories that both countries are told about each other are not exactly true.

This fantasy novel is a very engrossing read. I liked how unlike most fantasies, there was no romance, as Devlin is asexual. This novel focuses on friendship and knowledge coming together to make a better world.

3/5

i really enjoyed the worldbuilding in this story and i do love a spy story, especially an undercover mission one! i think that the magic could've been explored a little bit more, but that may just be because i thought it was pretty different and wanted to understand it better. weirdly, i kept getting thrown off by the word 'layde'? abought halfway through i was like oh that just means lady doesn't it (i'm still not sure)

parts of this felt very slow and i'm having this weird Moment in reading where a lot of these standalone fantasy books have endings that feel very abrupt or unearned and this one sort of felt that way? i couldn't put my finger on it but the book ended and i was like oh well. hm.

also i saw that a bunch of reviews were commenting on the fact that devlin is supposed to be ace (or aroace?) and while i totally get the struggle of not using that specific term in high fantasy, i genuinely don't know if that came through super strong? and that's ok since i didn't like see the marketing of this as an ace main character, but i think it could definitely be disappointing if people are going into this book specifically for that representation. i just read it as a fantasy with no romance which...doesn't necessarily make the main character ace? i know she is in this instance and i'm not taking that away, i just wonder if it could've been written in a way to make devlin's sexuality more clear because i think it's a really easy miss

I felt like the book could have used a little bit more world-building. Overall, the world felt a tad flat and could have benefited from adding unique elements to it.
I stopped reading around 75%

This book was really interesting! I was intrigued by the storyline and that's what initially drew me to this title. I also really love the cover artwork.

Devlin has never wanted to be a spy, yet she’s one of the best. Her mother is The Whisperer, head spy of Aris. Their country is under threat from The Mists, an ever-growing malevolent magical force that is encroaching on their lands and brings wraiths with it. Always looking for ways to earn her mother’s love, Devlin is ecstatic when she’s assigned a top-secret mission to their neighboring kingdom to steal their strongest magician in an attempt to help save Aris. As Devlin is on her own for the first time in her life, she begins to learn that not everything she’s been told is the truth.

Devlin was a fun protagonist. I enjoyed her complicated relationship with her mother, and how her views on several different things evolved throughout the work – there was some excellent character growth. I also enjoyed that there was no real emphasis on romance in this work. It was refreshing to read a YA fantasy where the protagonist makes real connections and has solid friendships, rather than falling in love over the course of three pages. The other characters were also well written with enough depth to make them feel like real people.

Overall, the worldbuilding was simple yet still interesting. I would have liked a bit more of an explanation of the magic system earlier in the book. Magic is called “Filagree” throughout the work, but it isn’t until one of the last chapters that this term is somewhat explained. I would have liked more explanation of other terms used as well – the term “Layde” is used for nobles, but the first several Laydes introduced are all women. So, when a male Layde was introduced, I was confused for a bit as there was no explanation offered.

While I enjoyed the plot, I felt that it was a little bit lacking. For a story about a spy infiltrating an enemy kingdom to steal a powerful magic user, there was no real tension present. This didn’t read like the high-stakes mission it was supposed to be, which did detract some from the immersion of the work.

This was an entertaining standalone fantasy read that I do recommend, especially if you’re not interested in insta-love. My thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.