Could not manage to get into this one at all. Sybil, one of the main characters and primary POV you are in, was truly insufferable. I found I didn’t even want to stick around for her character development because the way she would recklessly throw herself into moving traffic (quite literally in one scene) with no care towards herself and MAINLY her friend and so called crush was ridiculous. Her disregard of Esme’s wishes and boundaries actually made my skin crawl, and she was so reckless that it was less of a character flaw/trait than a convenient way to drag readers from scene to scene. I was really excited for a slow burn, sapphic friends to lovers and that was just. Not what this was. The characters are immediately lusting after each other from page one, are both oblivious to the return of feelings, and we don’t actually see any friendship or history between them besides what they tell us directly in the narrative. The info dumps on character backstory was also so boring to read, I don’t understand why they were not edited to be throughout the book rather than long chunks of text just dumped randomly to the reader. There was no time to wonder or think for ourselves as the answers and backstory were just handed to us on a silver platter. The jealousy Esme had whenever Sybil looked at another woman was also infuriating, especially because she and Sybil weren’t TOGETHER. The two of them read, to me, as both just very horny and not having any actual chemistry. The plot was far too convenient, and although I usually love a low stakes cozy fantasy, the on the nose foreshadowing got to be too laughable to take seriously. I am sure this book will find an audience, but that audience is just not me. Thank you Netgalley for the early review copy, unfortunately this one just did not keep my attention or hook me like I was hoping it would.

“The Absinthe Underground” offers a captivating journey into a world of sapphic romance and intricate relationships. Esme and Sybil’s dynamic, filled with a protective big sister vibe, adds a unique depth to the narrative. The plot unfolds seamlessly, complemented by a stunning cover that reflects the allure within. While Esme is a standout character, I feel I resonate with, the language could have been more extravagant to elevate the overall experience. The book concludes on a cute note, but there’s a lingering sense that something elusive slipped through the pages, leaving me yearning for something I can’t quite grip. Despite this, the novel shines with its enchanting tale and memorable characters, making it a worthwhile read for fans of fantasy mixed with sapphic romance. 4.25 stars.

couldn't read it, wrong format, very sad .............................................................................................................................................................................

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for providing the earc.

3.5 stars
This was a really enjoyable quick read, i really liked the humour in the book. It was really fun and cute novel. I liked the characters but I feel like we didn't really get to know them that much at all, although Sybil and Esme felt like distinct characters, i don't think i fully got to understand them as much as i wanted, which might also be due to the length of the story.
The story did remind; as some other reviews have pointed out of one of the animated Barbie movies, and i don't think that was what i was expecting out of it.
I do think this is a really enjoyable experience and loved the prose, which makes me want to try the author's other work.

"A person couldn't help where they came from... just where they decided to go after they left. That was what was important. What one chose, not what was chosen for them."

3.5 ⭐'s

I was drawn to the beautiful cover for this book as soon as I saw it, I have Alphonse Mucha's "Absinthe Robette" hanging on the wall beside me as I type this review, and the blurb for this sounded so enticing. Sybil has escaped high society, an impending arranged marriage, a father who doesn't care much for her in the wake of the death of Sybil's mother, and she is in search of her brother who has fled to the city of Severon. Esme is a working class girl scraping by on tips from the restaurant she works at, she likes a quieter side of life tinkering away on clocks, when she meets Sybil and invites her to stay with her. The two form a fast friendship, and slowly develop secret romantic feelings too - so when Sybil invites Esme to join her on an adventure to steal posters they can sell for rent money, Esme would prefer to stay home in the warmth but ultimately can't refuse the girl she's falling in love with. That's just the beginning of the many adventures they will have together, from magical green fairies, to Spring Equinox balls in Fae lands and adorable companions like dragons and a cute kitten called Oliver.

I thought The Absinthe Underground was a very sweet, cosy fantasy. In the beginning the descriptions of the city in its La Belle Époque setting, the clock tower apartment filled with tea and cats and the thrilling promise of a heist from an alluring woman called Maeve drew me in and I was so excited to see where this would go and what secrets they would uncover. I thought Sybil and Esme where both very likable FMCs as we follow the story through their switching POVs, their longing for one another truly made my heart yearn for them. The story follows the same basic structure as a standard fairy tale and I can see where other people have been drawing similarities to Barbie although I did find this story to be a more on the middle grade side than YA in my opinion. I think I would've absolutely adored this story when I was a younger kid.

I did find this a little bit more juvenile than I had been expecting, the writing style was quite superficial and I struggled to really connect with the characters as much as I would've liked. The simplicity of the plot line and the heist made it predictable for me so in all I think the idea was there, that this story had real potential but the execution needed a little bit more refining. I wish this book had spent a bit more time in that "Moulin Rouge"-esque vibe that it was marketed as giving, if this story had delved deeper into describing the setting of Severon and the club, really played up that wild, drunken, slightly scary feeling you get from a crowded party where you can't tell if the patrons are human or fae, where you can't tell if what you're seeing is real or an hallucination due to the absinthe - then this story would've held my attention better. I also wish it had focused more on a deeper character development as well, we are introduced to a lot of characters in this story and I don't think they added as much to this story as they could have and most of them, and the romance, felt quite one dimensional.

Overall, I did enjoy this story, it kept me engaged and I was rooting for Sybil and Esme, and the idea was really fantastic. I think a little bit more was needed from the development of this book, or perhaps it should've been marketed at a younger age group - my slightly lower rating reflects that maybe this book wasn't for me entirely and that I am not the right demographic, but despite that I can see this would be a book many people would really enjoy. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

The Absinthe Underground is a sapphic, magical heist adventure inspired by Moulin Rouge; the premise is fun and the cover is lovely, but unfortunately it missed the mark. While the book is quite short (around 300 pages), the pacing is terrible. Entire sequences happen off-screen and the characters rush from one scene to the next with no time to actually breathe. It was disappointing because I've read some truly excellent short fiction and I know this could have been better.

Sybil and Esme are very sweet, and their relationship's growth from friendship to romance was my favorite aspect of the book. It's simple, but charming and believable.

While this didn't live up to my expectations, I do think a younger audience in particular will enjoy this queer coming of age fairytale. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

what a fun story! I loved both FMCs and the world we were set in. I think sometimes the story took a little jump and there was gaps where more story could’ve been explained or explored but still an overall fun, almost cozy heist with a romance subplot. I loved the story telling of getting to read the thoughts in each character’s head and the dual POV. Definitely interested in reading more of Jamie’s writing! I’m bouncing between 3.5 and 4 stars!

I did enjoy the read but had several issues overall.
I liked the pace of the plot and felt the story was always moving forward. There was just enough world building to flesh out the story but not so much that it bogged everything down. Also our MC’s were often confused about the Fae world so we were right there beside them at some points. The ability to travel through realism with keys is fun. It also definitely fits the cozy vibes and feels relatively low stakes, even when are characters get in some sticky situations.
The initial premise of the story seems odds. Hanging up posters that are valuable when clearly there are many thieves trying to steal them - economically I just don’t get it from any stand point. But it gets us to the titular club - which is very cool.
I didn’t feel the chemistry between Sybil and Esme. They supposedly both had crushes on each other but Sybil was constantly putting Esme in situations that made her uncomfortable. I don’t like people who don’t respect by boundaries so I really couldn’t see the foundation of the relationship. I did really like Esme though and found her reluctant adventurer approach very fun. Sybil was just annoying and utterly unwilling to be considerate - she couldn’t hold down a job due to lack of interest so much that they were almost starving?
Some questions were left unanswered at the end - more about Sybil’s half Fae nature/her mother, Lucien abandoning Sybil (I don’t forgive him even if kind of seemed like Sybil didn’t even remember.) Not sure if the intention of a sequel or just no interest in answering them.
Would recommend when you are in the mood for something easy and lighthearted. And definitely more at the younger age of the YA group. I would argue it could even be middle reader and reads at the level of Percy Jackson, with maybe the exception of a couple scenes.

With its absolutely stunning cover, The Absinthe Underground is a cozy, easy to read fantasy set in an atmospheric world full of aesthetic and magic. It sounded like everything I’ve ever wanted from a book, though unfortunately, it fell flat for me.

Told in dual POV, we get glimpses into both Sybil and Esme’s thoughts. Both characters were intriguing in their own way, Sybil: a rich girl turned thief with an intriguing connection to Fae, and Esme, with her ability to tinker and fascination with clocks. However, not only did I feel both character arcs were lacking, their voices were so similar that had the chapters not been alternating it might have been difficult to keep track of who was who.

My biggest issue is that it felt like there was no feeling in this story. The chemistry between the two main characters was lacking, and I found it hard to believe these two were actually best friends, let alone secretly in love with each other. I found the writing style is simple and direct, which while lends itself to the fast pacing of this book, I feel hindered other aspects. I would’ve liked to see more into the unique thought processes of Sybil and Esme. I also would have loved to see more of the two of them actually being friends and communicating.

There are two instances where they find themselves at lavish parties, dressed in sparkling dresses and surrounded by ethereal decorations, however, one scene we only hear about in the aftermath, and the other they just don’t really partake in any of the festivities. I would’ve loved a dance scene and some breathing room dedicated just to the romance side of things.

It’s clear the strong suit of this novel is in its lush and atmospheric descriptions of setting. The Absinthe Underground was a place born of complete magic that I felt I could see so clearly. While the world of Fae felt a little underdeveloped it was no less captivating and magical. I really enjoyed the magic system!

The plot reveals during the climax were exciting and I thought the story tied up nicely by the end.
Overall, The Absinthe Underground is full of wonder, stunning visuals and is the perfect fast paced read to curl up and get comfy with.

I really really wanted to like this.

I enjoyed the idea of the plot, and the characters but I found myself skipping a lot of things when I was reading because I wasn’t finding a connection with it.

The characters were cute, I love Esmes love for wanting to learn how things works, the cats and her books. I just felt like I was missing more things about her, I made it 70% and I unfortunately couldn’t finish it. And it makes me so sad.

I do plan on giving it another try later on, and I’m hoping it’s just because I’m in a reading slump that I’m not able to connect properly.

Thank you so much NetGalley and the author for giving me the arc.

I loved every second of this world and these characters.

Esme and Sybil find themselves pulled into the world of the fae after a chance encounter with a fae herself, Maeve. After displaying her plight, the girls adventure into the fairy world to steal the crown jewels of Queen Mab, so that she can go home, and so they have the funds to live comfortably. ALong the way, Sybil learns secrets about herself and her family, the girls take on traps and the fae world, and have to come to terms with their feelings for each other.

I adored these girls. Esme is a nerd and a sweetheart, and I really liked her. Sybil was adventurous and bold, and the two complimented each other spectacularly well. It was also great watching these girls sort out their feelings for each other, coming to terms with the fact they love each other and sorting out their real feelings.

All of this is set across a fantastical backdrop of a fae world with a cast of interesting characters, ending in a final climax that, while I did expect the reveal, was still so exciting to read. I fully intent to read this again in the future.

Jamie Pacton’s THE ABSINTHE UNDERGROUND is a radiant sapphic romantic-fantasy that envelops readers into the enchanting city of Severon. Based on late 1800s Paris, the Gatsby-esque city is teeming with nightlife and adventure, especially in the form of valuable art posters appearing at night. Filled with darling characters, dazzling settings, a life-changing heist, just the right amount of magic, and more cats than any one person can count.

The story is an easy read for young adults, with a relatively gentle plot for a heist-based story, and a comforting connection between the girls—I found it delightful! The author’s descriptions both of the setting (both Severon and Fae) and the interwoven magic systems hooked me. I loved watching Sybil and Esme’s close relationship and hidden feelings transform, a true cozy delight.

For sure a recommended read for cozy-romantasy fans, especially young queer readers who don’t always see themselves represented in this genre. This one is for y’all, and you’re gonna love it.

Thank you to Ashley Hearn at Peachtree Teen for providing an advanced review copy!

*Thank you Netgalley for the ARC, all thoughts are my own*

I think this book has the bones to be a good fantasy but the author didn’t invest enough into her own story and it felt lacking in many ways.

Esme was adorable, all she wants to do it stay at home with cats, a cup of tea at her side while she reads or works on her many clocks. She had a rough childhood and just wants the simple pleasures of life and to feel safe and secure. I found her to be very relatable. My issue was with Sybil. She grew up in a manor with all of life’s luxuries but she ran away from home and she wants adventure. Typically this wouldn’t be a problem, but I found her complete lack of respect for Esme’s boundaries really frustrating. Esme does not want to go on adventures, especially not ones that are illegal (stealing posters) and she tells Sybil no many times. In fact Sybil has said she was going to stop stealing but because she can’t hold a job, she doesn’t have money for her half of the rent. It doesn’t seem there’s a lot of respect for Esme. They both had some good character growth in the end but it was hard for me to like Sybil even at the end.

The world could have been expanded on a lot. Apparently there use to be magic and something called starlight lace which was mentioned a few times. There also use to be many doors into the Fae world but now there are only a few and certain people have keys. I just think the lore overall could have been fleshed out. I was also very curious about the other kingdoms in Fae, which seems to be a lot more interesting than the one we ended up at. There was also a theory that Sybil’s grandfather had made the Crown Jewels and I wish the author would have actually explored that rather than just have it as a passing theory at the end chapter.

The actual plot and heist had its fun moments but it also felt incredibly unrealistic that these two girls could have gone into Fae and stolen the queens jewels as easily as they did with honestly very little help from side characters. Sybil has some experience stealing as she practiced when she was younger stealing things from peers but it just seems like a big leap.

Overall I didn’t dislike this book but it very much followed a formula of how to write a book and didn’t seems like there was anything extra added to make it really shine.

I fell for the gorgeous cover, also the summary sounded super intriguing and the description compared it to books I adored, so I went in fully expecting to love this book, but unfortunately got disappointed.

While I really liked the general idea of story, world and setting, the execution feels very lackluster to me. I had a hard time getting through the book, despite it only being around 300 pages long. The writing style is very bland and unengaging, I had trouble to not fall asleep while reading.
The story was predictable with plenty of plot convenience, the characters felt flat and the romance was boring with no real chemistry.

Aside from the narrative issues this version of the book is also full of grammar mistakes and words randomly missing in sentences, which was very irritating while reading. I can only hope that these shortcomings at least will be edited out before the final release.

Thank you to Netgalley and Holiday House for providing me with an ARC for review purposes.

3.5 stars

I wasn't entirely what kind of book Absinthe Underground would be but I'm a sucker for art nouveau and that cover is pretty spectacular.

What we get is a quasi-fairy story mixed with the history of Paris during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Instead of Paris we have Severon where the beautiful people party, go to cabaret shows and drink absinthe and if you're anybody you go to the Absinthe Underground, a new club run by a bewitching woman called Maeve, who styles herself as the embodiment of absinthe - the Green Fairy.

Our two protagonists are Sybil, a rich girl whose Fae (faerie) mother has died and whose father wants to marry her off. Sybil has other ideas and runs away to Severon to try to find her big brother, Lucien, who lives in the city.

Then there's Esme, an orphan with a love of home, her cats and clocks. While Sybil is wild and daring Esme is calm and careful. Both girls will do anything to keep the other safe and happy - both aware that love is there but not wanting to declare it in case the other does not reciprocate their feelings.

Sybil's main form of income is stealing the fashionable art advertising posters that pop up in Severon, which she sells to collectors. It is after stealing one for The Absinthe Underground that the girls meet Maeve and their lives change overnight.

This is a sweet novel about the coming of age of two girls and also a love story as the feelings Sybil and Esme have for each other grow throughout the book. We wander into the Fae world through the use of magic but the author manages to stay on the right side of magical fantasy.

When I realised where the novel was headed I thought I'd not enjoy it because I often struggle with fantasy novels but it's simply a sweet love story with a good dollop of adventure thrown in. I really enjoyed it. It's well written and easy to read and I'd recommend it to a YA audience or anyone who enjoys a fantasy/faerie novel.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Holiday House for the advance review copy.

UPCOMING RELEASE REVIEW 🥰💚
Publication Date: 6th February

3/5⭐️

So I’m going to start on a positive note. THIS COVER IS STUNNING!!! And I like the idea of this book and its plot and everything about it.

I just didn’t love the execution.

The chemistry between the main couple felt off to me, their actions and thoughts didn’t quite add up and there was very little sexual tension. And trust was also weird, at one moment they had full trust in each other and the next there was none.

The storyline also felt kind of predictable. I mean, at first the introduction felt very slow and strange, and I had no idea where the story was going, and I almost gave up on it. And then, after the too long intro part was over, it was predictable from there on forth. Idk. It just felt… A bit lazy? Or maybe I would have liked it if I were in more of a predictable book mood, but I don’t know.

The arc file was quite messy and scattered too, though, which likely also took from my reading experience, because while I like figuring out where things fit in a puzzle, I don’t like to do that with paragraphs while reading, because then I can’t really get *in* the story…

The List™️:
💚 sapphic
💚 friends to lovers
💚 hidden fae world
💚 YA fantasy
💚 inspired by history and art
💚 heist
💔 predictable

Please don’t let me not liking the book scare you from reading it. I also didn’t like some popular books, like “Six of Crows,” and some I realise later I read at the wrong time and would now love, like “The Song of Achilles.”

Xoxo
Triinu

I really wanted to like this book, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. . . Or should I say absinthe (which I have had and 🤢)?

This book follows Sybil and her roommate/crush Esme as they find themselves involved with a heist set in a fairy land. I honestly really liked the idea that art nouveau style posters were in high demand to the point of being stolen for money. The belle époque like setting in a Parisian inspired city, Severon, I thought could’ve been fleshed out a bit better, but still gave the right vibe for the period. 🗝️

I thought Esme was a great POV and love interest as she’s pragmatic and level headed. . . But her loyalty to her cats and Sybil seems to be a bit much as it gets her into very sticky situations. I didn’t particularly like Sybil as both a character and POV much for some reason. While she is cunning and genuinely cares for Esme, I found her to be rash when it comes to her decision making and rather clueless when it comes to actually working for a living. Given she came from a rich background and was probably heavily spoiled, but still, her lack of knowledge and continued lack of understanding after a year living by her own “income” was honestly appalling for a girl who is described as quick-witted. 😕

The story overall just felt very juvenile to me. With the writing style, I just couldn’t see these girls being a part of a heist in the world of Fae. That and the fact that the sequence of events just happened way too quickly. I also found it rather hard to imagine a gullible fairy in any circumstance so that also made it really hard for me to get into the fairy aspect of the book. 🧚

Some other things that stood out to me that could’ve been a good plot twist. The first is the cat that snuck into fairy and then turned out to be an ordinary cat despite a whole scene where a fairy mistook it for a fae lord. The second would be Sybil’s mother in general. Why have her be such a big part of the plot and then leave the ending with such an open ending and nonchalant comment of “she might be this” instead? 🫤

In the end, the idea was there, but the execution of it just fell flat for me. Big thank you goes to Peachtree Teen and NetGalley for accepting my request in exchange for an honest review.

Publication date: February 6!

Overall: 3/5 ⭐️

I really wanted to like this book. I saw the "sapphic, Great Gatsby, underground, Moulin Rouge" vibes and it sounded like a book that I would enjoy! I felt like the plot was very slow moving and the characters were not super relatable.

Queer historical YA fantasy in which two best friends become entrenched in the machinations of the faerie court. Beautiful, lush descriptions of a vivid fantasy world. Perfect for fans of Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries, The Cruel Prince, Six of Crows, and The Starless Sea.

Thanks to Colored Pages Book Tours and Peachtree Teen for the ARC.

This is a fantasy book with some sapphic romance in it. I loved the cover, it perfectly encapsulates the story and helped me visualize what was happening. The suspense was done well, I couldn't put down the book, I needed to know what happened next. I also loved how the main characters were full of personality and quirks. The cats were cute too. The ending was great and brought everything together perfectly.