Why do books with such beautiful covers end up disappointing me?
This sadly fell flat. The world could have been so magical and beautiful but all the descriptions fell flat. The characters never truly felt in danger, and the solutions to their fights tended to fall right into their laps right as things got tense.
Usually I love a friends to lovers story but I couldn’t quite believe that these two would get along let alone fall in love.

I was so excited for this book. I mean, the premise plus the beautiful cover had me itching to get my hands on it. And this book really did have a lot to like, great ideas, and fun potential, but the execution is where it fell flat for me. I will admit, my issues with the book aside, the plot is very unique and one of the more creative ones I've read recently, so I want to give kudos for that.

With such an interesting premise, a majority of my disappointment was that it felt shallow. I would call this more of a love story than anything else. A majority of the scenes were Sybil and Esme thinking about each other or how close they were, how badly they wanted to kiss each other, etc, and while I love a good romance, it was so overbearing that nothing else in the story could shine. All of the "heist" parts were quick, easy, and not particularly creative, none of the side characters got any depth, and I found myself uninvested in the plot. It was giving a lot of "all vibes, no substance" which just isn't a preference of mine.

I understand why people like this book, it has a lot going for it. It just didn't hit anything out of the park for me and honestly, I was rushing to finish it.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review! :D
A quick and easy read! I'm a little older than the target audience, so I found some of the plot to be a bit too simple, and I figured out the twist pretty early on, but I still had fun reading this.

There were a few things that frustrated me about this book. Firstly, other than the plot being simple, I felt that the stakes didn't really feel urgent enough. The characters get through each obstacle pretty easily, so I was never convinced that they were in any real danger. Additionally, the solutions that they come up with just don't make sense to me. No spoilers, but one of the characters is described as a brilliant thief, but all the plans she comes up with boil down to "make a distraction then grab the thing and run".

Secondly, the interactions between the main characters. They both dance around talking about their feelings for most of the book, which is fine, because this is supposed to be a slowburn romance. But what irked me was how secretive Sybil was. Like, I understand being scared of judgement, but she had multiple opportunities to open up to Esme, and she just chose not to. Which bummed me out, because it kind of made it feel like Sybil didn't trust Esme, and they're supposed to be best friends.

I'm aware that the above sounds like pretty harsh critique, but I did enjoy the romance! I liked the past glimpses of how Sybil and Esme first met, as well as their dynamic. The way Sybil jumps headfirst into situations, yet always needs Esme to back her up, and the way Esme is scared of risking danger, yet always follows Sybil because she needs to make sure she's safe, created tension in their relationship that I loved reading.

I also found the Fae rather interesting, and I wish we got to see more of them. The book establishes the main three Fae courts, as well as some of the lore/myths about the Fae, but the characters don't actually get to explore a lot of the Fae realm. Also, I'm always a sucker for Fae that are depicted as beautiful but also monstrous.

3.5/5✨

I have to start my review stating that I received an advanced reader copy through NetGalley.

A few things that made my reading experience hard was the formatting. I used the option to read on my kindle and the design layout did not transfer well. I kept feeling like things abruptly ended or didn’t start right. Then the pacing became an issue along with the minor grammatical errors throughout.

The Absinthe Underground

Starting out strong with a cozy friends to lovers f/f dual point of view. Who are offered the experience of their “drab” lives in trade of a job.

I’m a sucker with anything containing secret magic, doubly when it contains secret fae magic with the separate fae and human relams.

For me in the end. The pacing and errors through the book really just took away from the overall story. I could see this being much better with proper formatting and the errors fixed.

DNF'd at about 40%

I was very excited for this book, but unfortunately, it wasn't for me.

I found it difficult to connect with Sibyl as a character, particularly as she behaved selfishly and carelessly, putting her friend and love interest in danger. It's possible her character arc involved overcoming this aspect of her personality, but I wasn't invested enough to see.

My main gripe is with the info-dumping. I felt I was too often taken out of the scene to be told something in great detail through narration in a way that didn't feel natural for the POV. This dragged the pacing down significantly and made it feel like the narrative wasn't progressing, no matter how much I'd read.

The concept of this novel was interesting; the world felt quite fleshed out, and the romance felt promising. Unfortunately, these aspects were not enough to keep me engaged.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

How stunning is this book cover?! This was such a short and sweet story with the best fantasy elements! I absolutely adored the setting and the cute sapphic pining between Esme and Sybil. My complaint is that the book wasn’t longer.

This cozy read was perfect for a lazy day in bed. And I’m not just saying that because I spent the weekend reading while glued to my bed. It was a fun YA fantasy book that was a little simple but in the best way.

I think the characters could have been fleshed out a little more but this surprisingly didn’t bother me as much as I thought it would. I liked the simple fairy tale vibes of this book.

I do wish some more attention had been paid when formatting this e-book. There were random words and phrases that came out of nowhere and ended mid-sentence, broken-up images that made no sense, and chapters that ended in the middle of a paragraph. This would have actually been a 5 star read for me had it not been for this confusing mess.

This was a cute, fun read. I enjoyed the premise and the two female leads as well as the fact that we get to read from both of their POVs. I'm usually not a huge fan of friends-to-lovers, but this was just too cute. It was both a cozy read (the cats!) as well as a simple fantasy read. I will say that I felt that the ending seemed rushed and I was wanting more worldbuilding within the Fae realm.

Thank you NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for the ARC!

REALLY fun and enjoyable!! Loved the worldbuilding and characters, such a cozy and sweet romance, the worldbuiling, again, is so well done! The descriptions are very lively

Thank you to Netgalley and Peachtree for this ARC to review!

This is a very lighthearted story about two friends who are into each other and how they’ll support one another to make their lives better. It’s a cute story, showing both of their POVs and allowing us to follow them on a magical heist in the land of Fae. I did like it overall, but also felt as if the conflicts throughout the tale were just there - I never really felt as if they were in any real danger and most were resolved fairly quickly.

One of the things I loved best about the book was the descriptiveness of the scenes, especially the pastries, clothing, and jewels. The relationship between the two characters was also very “cozy” - you didn’t get a lot of tension, but you could tell where the relationship was going. If you’re looking for an easygoing book and need something to lighten your spirits, give this one a go.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Being the sucker for art nouveau that I am, I was immediately drawn to The Absinthe Underground through its gorgeous and imaginative cover. It really does sell the overall atmosphere and tone of the book, something enchanting, inviting, and maybe a touch mysterious. The romance between Sybil and Esme is genuinely sweet and I adore the trope of "two oblivious lovebirds that can't realize the other is SUPER into them."

The book started off well, giving an interesting buildup to Sybil's thieving background and Esme's calculating mind, but I think it loses steam right when the action is just getting started. I never really felt like they were going on a heist, more like an overextended fetch quest. I wasn't on the edge of my seat at any point since the writing style didn't really do much to enhance the mood. It's just going to Point A to Point B to Point C and then yay success. For this kind of high risk high reward plot, there really didn't seem to be much difficulty to the tasks.

When it comes to the magic of the world, there doesn't seem to be much world building other than name dropping Fae courts and showing some general displays of magic, It works within this particular story, as the world of the Fae isn't the main focus but rather a quick destination to achieve a goal. It would be nice to see more of that world should the book get a sequel, but, from what is seen here, it's enough.

Overall, I was hoping for a bit more, but it settled nicely in my mind as a just okay sapphic, friends-to-lovers fantasy.

Jamie Pacton became an auto-buy author for me after I read The Vermilion Emporium, so when I heard The Absinthe Underground was coming and it was also set in Severon, I needed a copy–and luckily I got approved on NetGalley!! Not only is this set in a new favorite fictional place, but it also involves a classic–Fae!! Jamie is so good at writing heists and adventures and bringing loveable characters to life. These two sapphic friends-to-lovers, Sybil and Esme, pine for each other with such beautiful longing throughout the story that even though FTL is one of my least favorite romance tropes, I couldn’t help but root for them! And Jamie does an excellent job drawing out that slowburn tension. She is also truly a master at normalizing queer representation and I love that about her writing!

Sybil and Esme’s adventure is full of thievery, parties, gorgeous gowns, and, of course, absinthe! While some of their jaunts verge on the side of a frolic, the end of this story is high stakes indeed, with a Fae queen granting a boon that means the difference between life and death! This was four stars for me and I recommend it to anyone who loves Fae, sapphic romance, friends to lovers, slow burn, and heists!

As an aside, I would kill for a Chloe book (iykyk!)!

i absolutely adore this book! sweet sapphic pining, 1890’s inspired Paris, a magical realm of fae, and a thieving quest all come together in this cozy, whimsical YA story! this was a quick and easy read that i thoroughly enjoyed every moment of. Sybil and Esme are the sweetest characters and their relationship is so cute! Sybil, the adventurer and extrovert always looking for new thrill and Esme, the sweet and gentle one who is perfectly happy curling up with her cats and a cup of hot tea. these two are precious to watch unfold throughout the story as their friendship turns into something much more. perfect for readers looking for a light yet cozy and fantastical read! Pacton’s writing beautifully unfolds in this story of friendship, adventure, and magic.

A beautiful "absinthe" story and I'm so lucky to have read it. FINALLY an LGBTQ+ story that does us justice.

This was such an unexpected story that I was initially interested in because it is written by a local Wisconsin author; after reading it, I plan to keep her on my radar and explore her backlist! Thank you to NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Set in the city of Severon (inspired by Belle Epoque, late 1800s, era Paris), Sybil and Esme are teenage roommates attempting to live lives of their own making, while each secretly harbors a crush on the other. Esme would prefer to spend time in their apartment with their cats, her clocks, and quiet coziness. Sybil has run away from her wealthy family, and seeks adventure (and money) by stealing beautiful Belle Epoque posters advertising fashion and establishments around town.

When the two girls run into a mysterious woman at an exclusive club, The Absinthe Underground, they are recruited to perform a series of heists and tasks, and introduced to a fae world they never expected to find.

What I enjoyed about this book is that it is squarely a YA story, featuring teen characters, who behave like teens. The stakes are not super high, but the plot is steady and moves along. This is a great book for younger readers who want to get into more fantasy reads, but don't necessarily need spicy writing or overly complicated world-building. I really enjoyed Sybil and Esme, and their friendship. The book does a great job featuring an LGBTQ+ relationship - and in the author's note, Pacton highlights how she wanted to present a relationship like theirs that would have existed throughout history. (The author's note in particular was very thorough and explained much of the inclusion of different facets of the story.)

rating: 3.5

this was more firmly YA than i was expecting in terms of the simplicity of the writing/story at points. there was lots of cute sapphic yearning between best friends and roommates, sybil and esme ("and they were roommates" lol). the characters are very likable and have decent development.

the beginning had lots of beautiful descriptions that really puts you into the belle epoque setting of 1890-1910s Paris nightlife, very romantic. the absinthe underground was clearly very inspired by moulin rouge, one of my favorite movies. however, much of the book isn't set in this which was a bit disappointing for me bc the cover is what drew me in to read this.

the rest of the story plays out more like a fairy tale, which was cute but a bit simple for my taste.

overall, i think this is a good book for younger readers who like some low / portal fantasy. it was a cute story, but i think i'm older than its target demographic.

If you're in the market for sapphic heists in Fae courts, this will mostly whet your appetite. The potential is great and it's clear that Pacton has a good concept and characters, but while it was an enjoyable read, I was left wanting more basically the entire way through.

The setting is the first piece of this, clearly trying to evoke Paris and going so far as to name-drop Mucha and Tolouse as some of the poster artists, but when you're almost entirely on board with not-Paris, swerves into some detail that feels out of place enough to shift your whole perception. Then we're in Faerie, and this may be a side effect of not having read Pacton's previous book (from which there are some cameos) which likely went into more detail about the magic system, but even beyond the scenes in Faerie feeling short and rushed, the whole set up of the courts shallow.

Then there's the heist, or I guess I should say the suggestions of a heist. For all that there are four items to steal, most of them don't take more than a couple pages to obtain, which makes one wonder why there needed to be four items - if we needed a pre-Faerie-heist, pick just Lucien's journal. It all just again felt shallow, like the idea was there, but either the energy or time or length allowance just wasn't. As a consequence, each of them feels too easy and low-stakes

So we're left with the characters, who are at least all vibrant and fun to read about. But again, I wanted to know more - we get a bare taste of Sybil and Esme's past, both with and without each other and what led them to be so devoted to each other

There's a lot that is fun here though - the imagery of the setting, the idea of absinthe as being made from Fae gems, the doors between worlds, I just wish more had been done with it all.

Despite trying to enjoy this book, I honestly found it incredibly boring and hard to get through. It wasn’t any issue of anything in particular, just nothing in this book stood out and thus reading it felt like wadding through sludge.

Thank you to Peachtree Teen for the ARC!

1.5 stars

In the fantasy Belle Epoque-style city of Severon, two young women try to make ends meet while hiding their true feelings for one another. When a job stealing posters goes awry, they are thrown into a world of faeries and magic.

While the premise and cover were enticing and downright magical, this book unfortunately didn't deliver. With overly simplified writing, disjointed storytelling, and flat characters, I couldn't get into this at all. I am an avid teen/YA book reader and have been for years, and I feel like this book tried to straddle New Adult and Young Adult but fell flat.

Sybil and Esme have a preestablished relationship that would have been fun to learn about from their meeting, rather than jumping in the middle of their crushes. Their dynamics felt forced, unnatural, and weirdly sexualized at many points that detracted from any actual romance.

I was also confused the entire time by the initial need to steal...posters. Of all objects, why posters? Why are the posters needed? What makes them so profitable? If they're so special, why would they be left out in the open where anyone can see and grab them, and wouldn't they need a frame to prevent rain damage?

This book has all the promise of a good cozy-style sapphic romance, but gets bogged down with a need to fill an aesthetic that the story fumbles. I would love to read someone else's interpretation and thoughts, though.
#TheAbsintheUnderground #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I want to say first, that this was a charming little standalone fantasy. I am always happy to see sapphic representation in fantasy, and best friends to lovers pining is even better! This story follows Sylvie and Esme as they go on a heist adventure for a club owner, actually green fairy, with the promise of never needing to work or earn money ever again. My biggest reason for struggling with this book was the pacing. I felt like the second half of the book had such a large amount of action happen so quickly, and I would have liked to explore those areas of the book more thoroughly. Nonetheless I did enjoy myself and the characters were very sweet. This was a very sweet, quick read. :)

Darkly playful, fast paced, filled with sapphic tension (and so many cats!), this is a 'just one more chapter' kind of novel. Cast with characters who exist within the realm of fantasy, but whose inner voices resonate with familiar longings, fears, and dreams, it takes no time at all to fall for these characters, and believe their world. This is a book I wish I could have given my queer teenage self, and I'm so glad exists for us now.