3⭐️
The Absinthe Underground is a cozy YA Fantasy with sapphic romance and a heist into a fae land. Sybil and Esme are close friends both wanting to be more and are pulled into a planned heist while trying to survive.

The story is a short, easy read and I enjoyed the book a lot, but I would have liked the stakes to feel a bit higher and for the story to feel more tense. I also would have loved more insight into Sybils mother and more into the fae lore as I feel there was so much potential there! I really enjoyed the shows of magic throughout the book, as well as the characters but the star of the show for me definitely had to be the cats, especially Oliver.

The reason the story was only 3 stars is because I felt the characters could have had more depth and that the story had low stakes but I did enjoy the story for its representation and for just being a enjoyable cozy short YA fantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this eARC in return for an honest review.

Sybil and Esme have been living together contentedly in an old clock after a chance meeting some years ago. They are able to scrape by each month, but it’s getting harder to make the rent each month. Could a chance meeting with a woman from the Fae realm be their ticket to a better life and will a new adventure finally force them to confront their feelings for each other?

Absinthe Underground is a good period piece with intriguing characters who are trying to find a better life and their place in each other’s lives. I did find it a bit hard to keep my interest in the story at times, however. There were times I felt the plot got sidetracked due to the intricate detail and the many minor side characters that appeared throughout the book. I also wished the love between the two main characters was investigated a bit more. While it may not have been the main point of the book, their relationship was important and could’ve used a little more time to explore.

This is a solid book, however, with interesting characters and a unique storyline. It left me interested to read the author’s other works.

An elegantly crafted book as vibrant and intricate as the cover's gorgeous artwork and the beautiful posters that our main characters steal.

There is a lot to love about this book. The romance between Sybil and Esme is slow burn, soft, and sweet, and pays off immeasurably. The descriptions are lush and beautiful, from The Absinthe Underground nightclub itself to the Fae realm and its beautiful Equinox celebrations. Even the main characters' small, dusty apartment in a clock tower feels real and lived in, and the misty streets of Paris make you feel like you're actually there getting the hems of your coat drenched.

I do have just a few qualms; I felt that Sybil keeping so many secrets really didn't add much to the story. I get that it was supposed to increase the doubts between them and prevent the girls from achieving their romance too quickly, but it really didn't feel as though the secrets had much weight in the end, and I found it overall distracting from the adventure. I also personally felt as though this book might have been better as an adult fantasy. There wasn't anything "adult" about the content, the characters just didn't really feel like teenagers to me, and I felt like this story could have appealed better to a New Adult audience. Something about the narrative just felt very different to the types of stories I find become popular with teens. But maybe there's a niche for cozy fantasy for teens and I could be completely wrong on that assessment! It's more a personal feeling than an objective critique, and either way it was still a lovely, enjoyable story.

I would note that while this is a story about stealing precious gems, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a heist story. There's no elegant plan, high stakes, or precision schemes, just two girls fumbling around. This isn't a problem; I prefer the more introspective storytelling that's more about the girls, the world they're experiencing, and the feelings they're going through than the actual theft, but people who pick up this book hoping for a magic heist story will be disappointed.

All in all, a great addition to the cozy fantasy genre.

I got this book early from Netgalley.

This book was okay for me. The Sapphic relationship was cute and very teenage appropriate. The main characters reminded me of everything I hated about Caraval... impetuous, selfish girls that didn't think ahead. The story felt rushed at times, but overall, there are good bones there. I'm not mad I read it, but it's not a favorite either.

This was a cute, quick, and easy read. The characters were not super well developed and the plot was predictable but I did enjoy it nonetheless!

The Absinthe Underground is a beautiful jazz-age romantasy novel that fills my sapphic heart with so much joy.

So, I absolutely loved this book. I've seen a couple of people say this was very much giving barbie and the diamond castle, and I could honestly not agree more. Two girls who are clearly in love living together who wants nothing more than to spend the rest of eternity with each other. Amazing. They are the definition of "and they were roommates..", and I loved that. The mutual pining, looking at each others lips, not wanting to confess because keeping the other person is far more important *chefs kiss*. It also gave off a bit of dnd, steampunk fantasy vibes. This is so just me yapping, but I just really enjoyed the vibes overall. Both the vibes of their cozy clocktower apartment, but also the glam of the absinthe underground.

Esme and Sybil were lovely. Esme just wanted her cats, clocks and quiet life while Sybil wanted more adventure, and even though they were opposites, their dynamic was so good. I loved seeing them interact and work together, but also just to see their individuel personalities shining through.

The world building was interesting, and I wish we would've seen more of the fae world. I feel like there's a lot more to explore, which I would love for Jamie Pacton to write about in a novella or anything of that sort. Though, it wasn't lacking anything. I never had more questions than answers. It would've also been nice to read more about Chloe and Hyacinth, as they seemed like promising characters with an interesting backstory.

The story was fast paced, and the girls had it a liitle easy, but I quite enjoyed the pace. It didn't drag, but it didn't rush through events either. For me it worked well. Oh and the reunion towards the end was really sweet. I need more sapphic books in my life, and I'm glad I was able to add this one to my list.

I cannot believe that I, a romance disliker, actually enjoyed a Romantasy.

I loved this little book sm and will definitely get it physical once it's out! It's a quick read so I flew through it.

It's a shame that, because of the way this Arc is formated, some parts of texts where just...deleted tho which made some parts a little confusing

This book was overall a sweet YA novel of first love, Moulin Rouge Paris vibes and a little bit of magic. It was a little on the nose for me in terms of the romance and storyline but still sweet.

3.0 🌟

the absinthe underground is a cozy sapphic fantasy book, which i consider to be quite easy to read. i loved the concept and the aesthetic of this world, it truly had it all: fae, dragons, magic, girls in love & heists! i was quite attached to the portals to another world thing and also found the worldbuilding very interesting.

i do, however, have some opinions on the writing. the characters and relationships felt kind of flat to me, they lacked depth, it was certainly a "tell, don't show" type of book, and i tried not to think too much of it since i feel like this is more of a YA story, but it was somewhat disappointing anyway.

i would've liked the author to expand more on everything to be honest, there's so much potential that was wasted— the stakes were too low & everything sort of worked out in the end.

i'm sure younger me would've loved this so much more! it's interesting and lighthearted. i recommend it if you want some easy to read, binge-able book.

thanks to netgalley & the publisher for this advanced copy!

The Absinthe Underground falls solidly within the cozy fantasy genre. Do not go into this book looking for a strongly plot-driven novel, but that’s not what it’s meant to be. The aesthetic of this book is gorgeous, and that’s where it really shines. Two thieves living inside a clock tower filled with cats in a magical reimagining of late 1800s Paris who stumble into a fairy’s glittering, glamorous absinthe lounge; what’s not to love? The sapphic friends to lovers romance fell a little flat for me but it was simple and sweet and, again, was right in line with the style of cozy fantasy stories. I do wish that the author had spent a bit more time developing the individual characters and their relationships, which felt half-baked to me at times and it could be easy to mix characters up. I also wish that the novel’s main heist storyline had higher stakes and more page space— there was a really fun opportunity here for a lush, sapphic Six of Crows-esque story that was not capitalized on.
If you’re a fan of the plot style of Legends and Lattes who loved the lavish aesthetic of novels like the Great Gatsby, definitely give The Absinthe Underground a read.

3.5 but rounding up. I loved the whimsical and cute writing style throughout the whole book, it made it a very fun read. The author took a lot of inspiration from 1890s queer culture in Paris and I love that it was a well researched book and remains as a reminder that queer people have always and will always exist in spaces and books should reflect that!

Anyways onto the story. I’ve been DYING to read a book about quests and thievery and a jewel heist (YES A JEWEL HEIST!!!) so I requested an arc as soon as I read the synopsis. It’s sapphic and reading about all of the lush art and scenery made it so fun.

Esme and Sybil are so so so cute and curious as to how they both have “more than friends” feelings for the other but neither wants to spoil their friendship because they have both grown so close together 😭😭

I ZOOMED through the last 20% of this book. I would consider this book in the realm of cozy fantasy. Not necessarily low stakes because there were some very exciting parts but it wasn’t anything extremely intense.

overall very quirky and fun read that I would recommend for someone looking for cozy and entertaining read 💚

The Absinthe Underground is a sapphic, friends-to-lovers YA fantasy inspired by 1890s Paris. The vibes are immaculate –– I love the aesthetic of this period and I think the author has done a great job of creating that whimsy and glamor in this novel. Incorporating magic and Fae into this setting works perfectly and this is one of those worlds that I'd love to visit and spend time in.

Unfortunately, the rest of the novel is not as strong as the aesthetic. The plot is loose and nothing that bad really ever happens. Lots of plot points happen very conveniently and coincidentally, to the point of being unbelievable. Logically, two seventeen girls should not be able to successfully steal a Fae queen's jewels in less than two days and yet somehow they managed to do so. I love a good heist novel and am willing to go along with things that are slightly unbelievable for the sake of the fun of it all but this just didn't work for me.

The romance was fine. I didn't really have opinions on it either way, though the whole "I want to kiss her but I don't want to ruin our friendship" bit got a bit old, as it went on throughout the novel. I wish the characters had been more developed but for the most part, they were fine. I did enjoy the explicit bisexual representation in Sybil and I read Esme as autistic, even if I'm not sure that's the case.

Overall, this is a cozy sapphic novel that had potential but the plot ultimately fell flat for me. It's not a bad novel, just lacked conflict and drive. But if you're looking for vibes, then this book has that in droves.

I’m a big fan of Jamie Pacton’s particular brand of whimsical fantasy that reminds me of all the elements I love best in YA stories— the themes of self discovery, carving out a place for yourself, and solidifying who you’re going to be as you transition into adulthood. The Absinthe Underground is a sapphic, friends to lovers romantasy following two best friends— Esme and Sybil— as they find themselves wrapped up in a fae plot to steal the Crown Jewels, all while sorting out their feelings and figuring out what their futures are going to look like.

Like with The Vermillion Emporium, The Absinthe Underground combines the whimsy and glittering world reminiscent of Paris at the turn of the century with deeper emotional themes. As a diehard friends to lovers fan, I absolutely loved the romance and adored how the yearning really shone through both perspectives. Alongside the Crown Jewels plot, the romance was definitely a major theme. I loved the parts of the story set in Fae, especially the atmosphere and frothy worldbuilding descriptions. Overall, The Absinthe Underground was a fun, lighthearted read that kept me interested the whole way through. I love Jamie’s work and will eagerly read anything else she might write

the absinthe underground is an ode to all things beautiful. if you want to read about pretty girls in pretty dresses stealing pretty paintings, or faery galas, faery princesses, and faery forests, or glittering parisian cabarets, then this is absolutely your book. i am obsessed with the world in which this takes place—i will definitely be reading the prequel soon.

the plot and writing on the other hand. well. not to say there's no substance or plot because there is. it's just not executed very well. there's no emotion imbued in a single sentence in this book. i can't completely say i didn't care because i was hooked (mostly due to the previously mentioned faery galas and cabarets). i finished this within a one hour bus ride. so yes, it's addictive. however, it's not anything memorable or interesting—it serves its purpose as a cutesy feel-good read for when you need something on public transportation and your fingers are twitching, but not something too good in case you hit a bump and miss a page. basically heartstopper.

and maybe i'm just not the target audience right now because i would have injected this into my veins in middle school. if you like caraval or belladonna and you love gay people, this is all yours.

3.5 stars. thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy.

This was a fun book, but it definitely was a bit juvenile on the writing side which was likely intended. I felt like the storyline went by so fast and there was so much more I wanted to know about the worlds, the characters, and the romance. Everything just felt rushed when there was so much opportunity for more world building. I did like the characters, but I just wanted to know more about them.

I recommend this for a quick fun read

This book has a mix of ingredients that promised an amazing story, but it didn't quite alchemize for me. I would still recommend this to readers looking for a quick, low-stakes heist story with a sapphic romance subplot and a Belle Epoque-inspired setting.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

[3.5 stars] there's not much to say that hasn't already been said before, although i have three things to touch upon:

i. the chemistry (or lack thereof)
i love reading anything sapphic so SAPPHIC FANTASY??? SIGN ME THE FUCK UP??? but something was lacking for me the whole book. neither sybil nor esme ever explain why they like each other so much and although i did find them cute i think i would've been more invested if it did :( this also ties in to how i felt like the characters were flat and not really much more than their respective interests and vague pasts, but that didn't really take me out of the story since i'm not much of a critical reader so i didn't mind much tbh

ii. THE CONVENIENCE
my main issue with this book was how conveniently everything happens. absolutely everything. they make perfectly miraculous escapes every time and although obviously i want them to be happy (i think...) i just prefer when stuff yk... Actually happens..

iii. the vibes
now because i feel like i've been way too negative - this isn't a bad book at all!! it has stunning imagery and i loved the descriptions of magic and the fae world, although i hope they might be more expanded on in future books. its one of those books you could fall into and binge in a few hours without even realising the time passing (the only reason it took me so long to read was bc of exams 😔) and the romance is cute in the silly yearning-for-your-crush way :3
def worth a read if sapphic best friends to lovers set in a fae world/the belle epoque era is something you think you'd enjoy

What's your favourite historical era?

Mine is the Belle Epoque, ideally in Paris - so please imagine my delight at @jamiepacton 's The Absinthe Underground! Imagine the coffee houses, the underground bars, the glittery dresses, cabaret and music and (starving) artists! Oh, and cats! And Art Nouveau posters, which are one of my weaknesses.

This is a fairytale. A queer one, with a super slow burn romance between the two protagonists, Esme and Sybil. A fairytale with a green fairy, the Fae lands and their castles, dragons and adventures, magic and deception and delight.

Here's a snippet to capture your imagination, before the February release:

"Long curtains of moss hung from the oak branches, and within the trees, Esme could make out houses— some no bigger than a book, others the size of carriages— built of moss and wood and connected by rope bridges. Bobbing lights in colorful glass jars lit the shadowy canopy. Red-capped and silver-hued mushrooms grew under the trees, and Esme longed to study them. For a time, as they paused beside a wide pond covered in lily pads and surrounded by cattails that waved in the wind, winged creatures the size of dragonflies and wearing dresses made of flower petals flitted around their heads."

I saw this book compared to Holly Black in the synopsis and Barbie and the Diamond Castle in the reviews, and I just HAD to give it a try. And it was very much worth it! I absolutely loved the first chunk of the book, especially getting to see the relationship developing between the two main characters and how they live their life.

The characters were definitely the highlight of the novel for me. Esme is so relatable, and honestly I just want to BE her. I also really liked Lucien! I loved his personality and I wish we had gotten to see more of him. He was probably my favorite character. There were also some other characters that I wish we’d seen more of. For instance, towards the end of the novel there is a character named Chloe who I really wished we’d gotten to learn more about, and it felt like her part in the story was left unresolved. I’m really hoping this was intentional by the author and that we might get a book about her in the future.

I also really liked the setting! The world was so fascinating and magical and I wish the author had gone more into the details. I will definitely be reading the Vermillion Emporium soon because it’s set in the same world and I cannot get enough of it. I also believe there is a character in that book that appears in the Absinthe Underground and I just HAVE to know who it is.

I will say that the climax felt a little short lived, and overall it felt like the stakes weren’t quite high enough, and the characters were able to get away with things unrealistically easily. But honestly these didn’t really take too much away from the experience.

Overall, this was a fun read. If you’re looking for a cozy sapphic fantasy with compelling characters and a magical world, I definitely recommend this!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free e-arc!