⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 stars
<b>Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC of this book via TBR and Beyond Tours in exchange for an honest review!</b>

Silver in the Mist is a fantasy story about a country split in two. Devlin, a spy in Aris, is given the mission to kidnap Alyse, the strongest magic caster, from Cerena, to save Aris from succumbing to the mist threatening their lives.

<B>“Well, maybe we can learn to break the rules together.”</b>

I immensely enjoyed diving into this created world and plot! When thinking about it, the world is actually quite simple. What I love is the simple way but complex feeling the world has. The two countries, divided by the mist, are not so unique, but I loved it. The magic system as well is something I really loved!

The plot is fast and engaging from the very beginning! I also loved how little Easter eggs are given from the start, but you only notice this at the very end. A very cleverly written story that drew me in and wasn’t boring for even a moment!

The characters were written so damn good! I loved getting to know them and how they all complemented each other. Devlin, driven by the love and recognition she wants was a very strong and likable character. Alyse, driven by hope and wanting a better world, stole my heart. Both very different but perfect for the story and each other.

I loved Devlin being asexual and no romance whatsoever being present in the story. The only relationships given are the familial and friendship ones. I loved how strong friendships were formed and became the backbone of this story. It was very empowering to read. I also really liked how there wasn’t really a villain or “bad guy”. Those who acted selfishly were understandable, which made them relatable and thus not a villain in my eyes. Those who do bad, but their actions were understandable, are honestly the best.

Overall, I loved and enjoyed every second of the journey these characters took me on. With a badass spy, lots of humor and loveable characters.

This was a pretty good stand-alone fantasy.

Here's what worked for me:

If you look at this as a metaphor for climate change, it's really fascinating. An encroaching evil mist that destroys the landscape and kills people. But the wealthy country is hoarding resources and keeping themselves safe while also ignoring the existential threat.

The POV was really interesting. I would usually expect a story like this to be told from Alyse's point of view. She's the chosen one, who has really powerful magic who can save everyone. Instead we're in Dev's head, the one who's sent to kidnap her.

I'm seeing this labeled as asexual representation. I'm not sure if this is explicitly said in the text, but there's definitely no romance in this story. That works for a few reasons: It always feels weird when characters have to "come out" in an obvert way. Dev doesn't owe us or anyone an explanation. It feels more natural for her to be herself without having to defend or explain her identity to the readers.

One reason why I love romance in novels is because it's a great way to have deep, emotional connections between characters. The friendships made in this book are just as emotional and rich, and they scratch that itch for me (and make the story compelling).

What didn't work for me:

Some reveals were just too convenient and unbelievable. I had a hard time suspending my disbelief. They'd just find things they needed to find, characters would just believe things they needed to believe.

There was way too much lore and backstory. Back to the convenient thing, there'd always be a convenient piece of ancient history unearthed that changed everything. And I just didn't really care about the history? We maybe needed 1/3 of that backstory.

Thank you to Inkyard Press and NetGalley for the eARC to read in exchange for an honest review!

Wow! I really enjoyed reading "Silver in the Mist." Nothing is as it seems and I love it!

We have a simple setting of two opposing countries (with decades-old grievances) that are divided by the Mists, a hazy, stifling in-between where frightening phantoms lurk. One country is about to crumble due to the encroaching Mists while the other bursts with color and magic. The Mists are not the only thing that divide them.

Devlin is a young spy who goes undercover in enemy territory in order to bring back what her country needs to save itself. Life hasn’t been the same since her father left and her mother became emotionally distant, so this new assignment is the perfect chance to prove herself and change things for the better (hopefully). Of course, going undercover doesn’t entirely go as planned and rouses up questions with answers possibly rooted in fairy tales. But that’s the beauty about such stories, they’re always based on some kernel of truth.

Milla - Devlin’s “cousin” while undercover - was my favorite character. I like her sass, her sense of humor, and her graceful don’t-give-an-f attitude. I admire that she does what she must despite where she grew up and circumstances.

It’s sad how much grief and emotional trauma some of these characters have been carrying. And some deserved more than what life chose for them.

One thought I couldn’t shake was that it’s like Aris’ spy network didn’t do their due diligence concerning information about Alyse, who is Devlin’s target. Yes, anger and hate can be terribly blinding as well as a catalyst for history repeating itself in a vicious cycle. Devlin and other people in Aris have built up Cerena as the antagonist and Alyse (currently the most powerful caster alive) the big bad wolf per se. Meanwhile Cerena looks down on Aris as less than in all aspects and sees their plight rightly deserved. Yet it’s plain as day the kind of person Alyse is based on two notable facts presented shortly after we get to meet Alyse in person. I empathize hard with Alyse’s backstory and her life up to present. Taking everything into account, the initial plan feels excessive. But, then again, we likely wouldn’t have had as impactful a story, character arc for Devlin, and outcome as we are wonderfully given in "Silver in the Mist."

The resolution kind of had a happy-go-lucky, too easy feel. And yet I was left feeling so hopeful and wishing to see the future for these characters under blue skies. Knowing the whole history of both countries and its monarchies, plus rippling effects of certain events, I’d be interested in seeing what’s in store for Devlin next.

A great YA fantasy story overall!

I really enjoyed this one, especially the asexual representation! It was so intriguing, and I just wanted to keep reading! Definitely will highly recommend.

I really liked This Golden Flame by this author so I was excited to read this one, and it did not disappoint!

Emily Victoria reminds me of Tricia Levenseller and Margaret Rogerson - reliable fantasy standalones that may not change your life but will show you a good time. This follows a spy who infiltrates a more successful kingdom to try to kidnap a mage who can help them.

The protagonist is (I think) asexual and aromantic and it's always nice to read a book with no romance - a lovely breath of fresh air! There is a great female friendship that I thought was really well done.

The plot was also compelling - my only complaint is that the main character is supposed to be a wildly talented spy and she kept doing dumb things.

The Quick Cut: A young female spy is sent to steal the strongest magic caster from their rival country. Her mission becomes less clear when she realizes it's not as simple as kidnapping.

A Real Review:
Thank you to Inkyard Press for providing the ARC for an honest review.

We all do things out of desperation when our survival is on the line. If we think that we are on our own with nobody else to save us, we will do many uncharacteristic things to ensure we see the next day. For Devlin's country of Aris, that desperation is strong when the mists threaten to destroy their country.

Devlin's life went completely off its axis right years ago. Her father died, her home country of Aris was attacked, and her mom became the Whisper of Aris - the head of the spies. Devlin has been just another one of the spies in her charge since, only seeing her mom for spy assignments. Her latest mission? Go to the rival country of Cerena and kidnap their strongest caster, Alyse. Will taking their rival's caster solve all their problems? Or just exasperate the ones they already have?

I have conflicting feelings about this story after finishing it. While I love the characters and how they change throughout the book, I can't ignore the fatal flaws in the world building. I'm one of those picky readers who likes a balance of both characters and world development in the books I read.

The book is broken up into three sections based on where the chapters take place: Aris, Cerena, and then the mist. A vast majority of the book takes place in Cerena. While that makes sense considering what the plot is about, we don't spend enough time in Aris to develop a connection to it. Yes, it's made clear that Aris is falling apart due to the mist. However, the extent of it and what that looks like in comparison to the past isn't made entirely clear. It would've made for a better story to develop that connection first.

Devlin goes through a true journey internally through this story. She's sent to save her country by dooming another and learns along the way that there's a better way. On top of that, she learns through the person she's meant to kidnap that the right moves can save both countries. She's forced to make the choice between doing the right thing and the thing she was ordered to do. It's not a simple choice, especially when doing the right thing comes with negative consequences.

The relationship between Devlin and Alyse is a fascinating one as the story continues. It starts with Devlin seeing Alyse as a target and turns into a true friendship. They work together to learn enough about casting and the past to solve the mists problem for everyone. Each one risks their entire lives to do it. A level of trust and respect is earned and seeing them so that makes for a fun read.

A story with strong character build, but lacking in complete world building.

My rating: 3.75 out of 5

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

Silver in the Mist is Emily Victoria’s second book, and the rare time I’ve encountered a real sophomore slump. I genuinely enjoyed her first book, but found myself very underwhelmed by this one, even with all the promise of its premise.

The world building is intriguing, if a tad underbaked. There’s great lore to the world conveyed throughout, and the magic is a lot of fun. However, while there is a lot of literal ground covered, I didn’t really get a sense of place as to where this was meant to be.

The characterization was…ok. Devlin’s a spy, and while I can’t say I was blown away by her character, she’s not incompetent. It’s pretty standard YA fare, minus any romance. And this is perhaps where I feel the story began to fall down a bit. I’m fine with a book with no romance, but I don’t know how I feel about that being equated as more or less synonymous with “ace rep,” apart from maybe a throwaway mention. I know the author herself is aroace, and it’s totally fair for her to write from that experience. But I wish it hadn’t been blatantly marketed as an “asexual fantasy,” given how varied identities under that umbrella are. And while I don’t think romance was prominent, if present at all, in her first book, with much stronger characterization and plot independent of those aspects, I found the virtual absence easier to forgive. I did like the inclusion of a major non-binary character, and the usage of they/them pronouns, so there is some decent queer rep.

The plot is fairly slow-moving, and if I wasn’t invested in the world even on a surface level, I would have likely bailed. It does pick up, but I nevertheless found my interest constantly flagging.

While I found this book to be a bit of a dud, I can chock it up to a number of reasons, from the fact that I’m probably not the intended audience for the book to the more serious fact that I was looking for something where ace identity was at least somewhat more prominent. But if you’re a YA reader who doesn’t mind something on the younger side, and you don’t go in expecting groundbreaking asexual rep, you may enjoy this more than I did.

Full review will be posted as I finish and I'll add links to the review in our blog as well. The review will be scheduled and posted closer to publication date.

I would like to thank the publisher Inkyard Press and netgalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Devlin is a spy. Her land has been divided by magic and it now ruled by separate leaders in separate countries, Aris and Cerena. The leader of her country, Aris, happens to be her mother so she has something to prove to her. When tasked with infiltrating Cerena to kidnap the one person whose magic can save her country, Devlin must use all of her skill and befriend whoever she needs to in Cerena in order to get the magic she needs. I enjoyed the world building and the plot of this book. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read this ARC via Netgalley Shelf.

Devlin has always been a spy for Aris, a kingdom under constant attack from the phantoms that live in the Mists, to the point where magic in Aris is becoming rare. When her mother, the Whisperer and head of the spies, assigns Devlin to infiltrate the neighboring kingdom of Cerena and kidnap a powerful caster, she's willing to do whatever it takes. But when she meets Alyce, she actually becomes friends with her. Alyce's drive to find a fabled landmark that could restore magic to Aris is something Dev can get behind - but how can she convince Alyce to trust her when she's been lying to her the whole time?

The worldbuilding drew me in so easily, allowing me to be fully enchanted by this tale of two kingdoms. What I loved most was that Devlin is described as asexual and her best friend is nonbinary, with this being a nonissue, and allowing for a story that is all about friendship. The magic and the creation of filigree was an interesting touch. This story has so many things I love, like secret libraries, clues in books, historical mysteries, secret missions, phantoms, and so much more. There were a couple of moments that stretched believability <spoiler>like when Dev and Alyce attack Kerrin in the prison and somehow he doesn't recognize them or bring about any consequences</spoiler> but overall this was a fast-paced fantasy that doesn't rely on a romantic side plot to keep the reader interested.

***Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book.***

I’m always excited to find new fantasy books with ace rep, so I was stoked when I saw that Emily Victoria would be publishing her second novel, Silver in the Mist! I have not had a chance to read her debut novel, This Golden Flame, yet, but if it’s half as good as Silver in the Mist, I know I’m going to love it!

What’s better than an ace protagonist? An ace protagonist who is also a spy! Being the daughter of her nation’s head spy, Devlin is willing to do anything for her country, so when she is sent on a mission to infiltrate the sister nation of Cerena, she is ready to sacrifice anything. However, the more she gets to know her target, Alyse, Cerena’s most powerful caster, the more secrets she discovers. Her mission turns out to be more difficult than she ever imagined.

Normally, I try to keep notes of the things I like and dislike while I’m reading a novel, but I was so wrapped up in Silver in the Mist, I completely forgot to do so! The whole book was very immersive, and the plot had a decent mixture of action and depth. I thought the relationships Devlin made throughout the novel related to the plot well.

Devlin is such a great protagonist! I was fascinated reading about how her character develops throughout the book, and I loved that she starts off confident, questions herself a little, and regains that confidence. Her relationships with her mother, Lochlan, and Alyse really made the story shine.

Additionally, I found quite a few quotes that were simply poetic. On the surface, this book is about a spy trying to save her nation, but deeper down it is a novel about hope and perseverance. I was moved by the way Victoria developed those themes throughout the book, and that is what made it great in my opinion.

Overall, I highly recommend this book, and I can’t wait to finally read This Golden Flame, and to see what else Emily Victoria has in store for readers in the future!

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc.

Silver in the Mist started out strong albeit a bit confusing; I felt like a lot of information was shoved in my face very quickly and I had no time to breathe and get to know the MC. We're told she's a spy but we don't see much of what her skills are. Not being able to connect with Devlin sadly was not the first straw. The story lacked stakes and the plot dragged. I couldn't find my footing when it came to what was happening. The idea of the mist was vague and I could not grasp the magic system.

I wasn't able to invest in the story, but I know a lot of people will love the Shadow and Bone feel and the unique plot.

This fantasy novel follows Devlin a spy for Aris as she travels to a neighboring kingdom on a mission to save her people from the Mists. Her mission is simple: befriend the strongest caster (magician-Alyse); then kidnap her and bring her back to Aris. However, it might not be so simple as Devlin discovers who she really is and the mysteries behind the fear and strife between these once united people.
The book was fast-paced and kept my attention. Victoria does well to develop relationships with characters that are both primary and background characters. She shows how fear can change people, but they don't have to stay stuck in the same old ways.

Dev is a spy in the service of her monarch, under the command of her mother, the Whisperer, a spymaster whose approval and love Dev can never seem to win. When the dangerous Mist is encroaching on her homeland, Dev is sent on a dangerous undercover mission to their estranged sister country, there to kidnap their rival city’s strongest magic user and save her home from destruction.

I really enjoyed this book! It had an interesting magic system and great characters – but my favorite part was the friendships that Dev has with Lochlan, Alyse and Milla. Those relationships are key to her finding herself, finding acceptance, and summoning the strength to stop seeking her mother’s approval and do what’s right.

Representation: nonbinary character

I really, really enjoyed this book. I was a bit put off by the overuse of the word "filagree" in the beginning. In one paragraph it was used three times, and over 230 times throughout the book. However, as the story progressed, I found that it didn't really matter because the story was amazing.
Both Devlin & Alyse are extremely different, yet at the same time trying to find themselves. Watching them grow was wonderful. Lochlan, a side character was fun and spunky. The found family aspect was endearing.
The story itself flowed steadily with phenomenal world building. The plot was definitely fun and different. Overall, I thought it was a great read and will recommend!

The characters are relatable enough, but this book got awfully repetitive at times.
.Eight years ago, everything changed for Devlin: Her country was attacked, her father killed, and her mother became the head of the spies (the Whisperer of Aris), retreating into her position away from everyone….even her daughter. So, Dev joins the spy ranks herself and sees her mother only when receiving assignments. She wants more, but she understands the peril their country, Aris, is in. The malevolent magic force of The Mists is swallowing Aris’s edges, their country is vulnerable to another attack from their wealthier neighbor, and the magic casters who protect them from both are burning out. Now, with a dangerous new assignment of infiltrating the royal court of their neighbor country Cerena to steal the magic they need before the malevolent magic breaks their own barriers & kills them all.
The worldbuilding felt only half flushed out and I didn't understand the representation - just because there was a lack of romance...I mean, that does not equal ace, right?

**3.5 STARS**

Content Warning: violence, strained relationship

I read Emily Victoria’s This Golden Flame and really thought it was creative and had a great asexual main character. Silver in the Mists sounded totally different so I was curious to read it. Here’s what did and didn’t work for me:

+ The world building is once again, unique and creative. Two kingdoms are kept apart by a phenomenon called the Mists- in Aris, but called the Hush in Cerena. There is a phenomenon that separates the kingdoms called the Mists (in Aris), and the Hush (in Cerena) – and in these mists are monsters. The magic system is different too, magic casters work with filigree.

+ Devlin is the main character and she is asexual. She’s a spy who is sent to Cerena on a mission to kidnap their most powerful magic caster, Alyse. So she spends more time in Cerena than in her home of Aris but we learn about the conflict and history between the two kingdoms while she is there. I enjoyed all the secondary characters too, especially Milla who helps Devlin complete her mission. Dev does have issues to deal with in regards to her mother, The Whisperer – who is basically her boss. They have a very strained relationship but all Dev wants is her mother’s love and approval and she hopes this mission will bring her both.

+ I like that this book was fast paced and it kept me engaged from beginning to end! I do feel like this will appeal to teen readers more than young adult.

~ Although the world-building is very unique I did wish we had a little more information about the magic system. I just went with everything because the story was moving quickly and I was invested in Dev’s undercover mission. But it would be nice to learn more about the filigrees. Also there was one thing in the story that kept throwing me off and it was the word Layde. Is it pronounced “lady” or “laid”? And it was applied to upperclass citizens I believe but I kept stumbling over how to say it.

Tropes: spy, asexual main character, strained Mother/Daughter relationship

Why you should read it:
*fast paced story
*unique world building
*a spy/undercover story that is entertaining

Why you might not want to read it:
*more geared towards teen readers

My Thoughts:

It’s rare to find stand alone fantasy books these days but I like what this author is doing with the ones she’s written so far. She has her signature unique world-building and a main character who is asexual. I found Silver in the Mist quite entertaining and feel like it would appeal to teen readers.

The story was well written, and the world building well done. The system of magic was great. The only draw back is that some might find the non binary side character a little off putting. Personally I was fine with it.

I enjoyed the characters and the story! The world building was detailed enough to understand what was happening. Dev is a fun character, with flaws and strength! Her friends were pretty awesome too.
The ending was a little too open ended, without knowing if there’s a sequel.
I would enjoy reading more of these characters’s adventures and of this world!