⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 🌶️ 2/5 (well done but not really any spice as this was a slow-burn)
DISCLAIMER: very slight spoilers. Thank you to NetGalley for giving this ARC, and this does not influence my review. READ IT YOU GUYS!!!!!!! This book was sooo good!! The writing style: phenomenal🤌🏾 the fantasy world-building? PHENOMENAL (I love when the plot actually gets me invested, I finished this book in a day) the ROMANCE??? Simmering, Slow-burn, swoon-worthy filled with angst.
Tropes: guy falls first, friends to lovers, fake relationship, second chance, hate to, sarcastic witty banter, “court” intrigue, jealous guy, girl falls first, slow-burn fantasy romance.
Basically our woman Marlow is living a high-risk life in a fantasy world with magical spell cards that can do many things (make people forget memories, distract them for a little bit, curse them, etc.,). She takes contract cases to destroy curse cards, and she has to often sneak around looking for her targets. Overall, she fit the boxes for my fav FMC characters: she was badass, a great actor and thief, had a wonderful personality, head-strong, doesn’t take no for an answer, hilarious, scheming, great dialogues when about to get into a fight (and she was very sarcastic and witty).
Moving onnnn to the romance!!! Adrius was HOT with caps lock ON. Basically their story was that they were good friends but had a falling out a year ago due to reasons, and he got into a compulsion curse and hired her to find the person who did it and had the spell card, thus ensuing chaos. (She did try her best to avoid him though in the beginning). MANS was in a compulsion curse, if anyone “ordered” him to do something, he would immediately do it. Which, in regards to the ROMANCE, played out reallyyyy well. MANS ALMOST EXPOSED HIS FEELINGS and he got accidentally ordered to 😏…. Do stuff and compliment her. Man, I literally cannot. I haven’t added any of the quotes he said because I was SWOONING SO HARD. The stuff he said to her??? About her???? Like, this was CARDAN level….. from the Cruel Prince, and the MMC from The Caged Queen).
Read this book now. The cliffhanger almost made me scream in regards to the whole court-intrigue and several great plot-twists. The romance was very angsty. I need the sequel nowwww.

1) This is NOT anything like the Age of Darkness series.

2) For me, personally, the romance was a bit heavy but I know that is a me thing. However, I will say how Pool sets it up in the beginning, is refreshing and different from the usual ploys.

Now... it starts a little slow but it quickly kabooms. The world-building and spell magic system are fantastic. It is thorough, makes sense, and has clearly defined rules.

There are tropes but in my opinion? They are all handled and executed well.

I love Marlow. She is one of my favorite female characters for a long time. She was so enthralling a character that it was not an issue that the book was from only her point of view.

The entire cast of characters are morally Grey but often trying to do the right thing (including Marlow). Even if they don't realize they are mucking things up, their intentions are solid.

There are multiple mysteries within the plot. Pool does such a great job keeping you so entranced in those that there are a couple of
mysteries that you miss entirely- don't even think of, despite them being right there the whole time- until they slap you in the face towards the end.

The last 1/3 of this book should be illegal. I vomited major organs reading it.

I don't want to say more because this book isn't coming out for a long while and because I don't want to spoil anything. But it is brilliant and I can't wait for the next book.