Thank you to NetGalley and Peach Tree for the Arc.
The Absinthe Underground is a perfect transition novel for readers between adult and young adult literature. In the first few pages, I was unsure how to feel in the long run, but I really enjoyed the historical fiction mixed with fantasy, and a sapphic romance is always a plus.

Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree for giving me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really loved both the concept and the setting for this book. I think both the city and Fae were very cool settings that I wish had been elaborated on further, because I really could have sunk comfortably into both of those worlds. I enjoyed the concept for this story as well, but I feel it unfortunately fell a bit flat in the writing. The story itself was a serious one, but the tone of the writing didn’t feel as though it matched the story it was trying to tell. The tone mismatch was enough at times to even take me out of the story.

The romance in the story was a bit disappointing for me as well. I liked both of the girls— especially Esme’s characterization— but there was so much back and forth and unnecessary “will they, won’t they” that just became frustrating after a while.

Overall, the book told an enjoyable story, but it isn’t one I would necessarily recommend to others.

Thank you NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC of this book.

I loved this read. It’s not fully what I would go for in terms of what I look for in a book, but it pulled me in harder than I could have ever expected!

The POV back and forth first felt a bit stilted and made me worry that the changing of perspective consistently would kill the flow totally, but that’s not the case! I really enjoyed getting the thoughts and feelings of both protags while the story went, and you don’t get their inner thoughts in the opposite mc chapter. (No Sybil thoughts in Esme chapters and vice versa) That was almost refreshing, and even a bit fun to take context clues for what the other MUST be thinking. The story is a fun heist from start to finish. I did see a few things coming, but honestly it didn’t feel too corny or anything when it gets revealed and you have your ‘Yep, I knew it,’ moments.

The writing style and story pulled me in and kept me addicted! I can NOT wait to hold a physical copy in my hands!

Thank you to NetGalley and PeachTree Teen for this ARC!

This book was a little more YA than I was expecting. However, I loved the atmosphere and the characters. The formatting on my Kindle was a little weird with full paragraphs being displaced, which caused confusion at some points so I’m hoping I didn’t miss anything too important!

The Absinthe Underground weaves together beloved tropes like sapphic pining, found family, and a thrilling heist. While the narrative creates a cozy atmosphere and emphasizes character-driven plot lines, it falls short on depth, leaving the desire for more intricate storytelling. Despite its engaging pace, the slow-burn romance lacks intensity, and incomplete world-building leaves lingering questions.

Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC!

3.0 stars.

Thank you to Holiday House/Peachtree/Pixel+Ink and Netgalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the irritating slow burning, mutual sapphic pining, friends to lovers, found family and heist fantasy tropes.

Sybil Clarion, born from high-society soirees to now empty pockets, has been eager to enjoy every drop of freedom she's seen in the city of Severon. Esme Rimbaud, the girl who offered Sybil a home, loves spending her time working on her clocks and cuddling her cats. When they are caught selling a poster by none the subject, Maeve, invites Sybil and Esme up to the Absinthe Underground, with an offer too tempting to refuse, except maybe the high stakes?

It was simply a cozy, cool fantasy that you can buzz through within one day. It kept me engaged and super easy to follow. I loved just existing in this idea of atmosphere, but I just kept wishing for more. Very much character driven, everything else just in the background.

In a long ago version of Paris, Sybil has given up a life of luxury and restrictions to be an art nouveau poster thief in the city. Esme just wants a quiet life with her clocks, cats, and books - but she’s been in love with Sybil since the moment she stumbled into her cafe. Little does Esme know that Sybil’s past life will come back to take them on wild adventures into the fae land…

I wanted so badly to love this book and I liked it, but a lot of the descriptions and action fell a bit flat for me. Things just *worked* a lot of the time, then when they didn’t, they still got pretty lucky… The romance was a real slow burn, with no real spice on the page. Overall, I loved the premise of this book, but wish there was a little more magic in the storytelling.

It was a cute quick romance, although I think there were many places the author could have expanded to make it a better story. There were times that the characters felt flat and the pining between the two love interests didn't always feel as emotional as it could have. I had a hard time getting invested in them. Also the world building is revealed really slowly and isn't fully fleshed out so I still had a lot of questions at the end. Despite that, the friends to lovers magical adventure was a fun storyline. There is certainly a need for more Sapphic Moulin Rouge stories!

2.5 Stars

I want to start by saying that I love the cover, the premise, and the pining (Oh g-d, there is so much sapphic pining in this book). That all being said, I kept wanting *more.*

[The introduction of magic felt very out of nowhere, the timeline for the heist was so truncated that even within the context of magical Paris I couldn't believe it, and what was up with Oliver the cat being able to ward off the Forest Hag? Was he actually fae royalty or was the hag unable to differentiate between a fae creature and a normal kitty cat? I demand answers! (hide spoiler)]

Overall, it was an entertaining read, but I felt that the pacing, character development, and world building were all lacking that one more step that would have elevated the whole shebang.

I was super hyped for this book, because the cover is beautiful and it promised lots of things I love, but I felt the execution didn’t live up to the concept.

For one, the cover (plus the ‘romantasy’ pitch) reads as NA/Adult to me - but this is definitely on the younger end of YA. The writing is very simple with a lot of telling not showing, and I think the marketing does it a disservice. I would also call it a quest more than a heist?

It is definitely fast paced and easy to read, and it’s sweet and fun! It just has no real stakes or depth, and I really think it had the potential for that. And there is SO much potential here! Alas.

(I will also note that the arc formatting also had random half paragraphs between chapters that I had no idea where they were supposed to fit)

Four very solid stars for this YA romantic fantasy set in an AU Belle Epoque Paris (aka Severon). Sybil and Esme are roommates just managing to survive on the outskirts of society. Esme is practical-minded and interested in science. She has a life plan and she's determined to make it work. Sybil is a runaway from an aristocratic family and is flighty and artistic. She can't hold down a job so she makes ends meet by stealing art nouveau posters and selling them to collectors. One night they're approached by a faerie, the proprietress of the Absinthe Underground, a nightclub that specializes in (you guessed it) absinthe. They're given a quest by the faerie to retrieve some jewels. Like many a good quest, it involves a few steps leading up to a heist. And like nearly all faeries, La Fae Verte might not be 100% straightforward with her rewards...

This was really a delightful read! It's written in a tight third person with alternating POVs between Sybil and Esme. Their restrained passion and respect for each other is beautiful to read. They feel like young adults who have the best intentions but who may not make the best decisions all of the time. Recommended for readers who like tricksy fae and sweet love stories.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the book.

In the glittering city of Severon, friends and roommates Sybil and Esme scrape by through thievery and Esme’s meager tips from the cafe where she works. The two girls are opposites—Sybil longs for adventure while Esme prefers to tinker with clocks and care for her cats at home—but both harbor a secret crush on the other. When a mysterious green fairy hires them to cross the threshold into the land of the Fae and steal the Fae queen’s crown jewels, the girls seize the opportunity despite the danger, eager to create a better life for themselves, and maybe, if they have the courage, confess their feelings to one another.

This YA fantasy book’s premise promises sapphic friends-to-lovers, mutual pining, and Fae magic, and Pacton delivers on all of these. The heists and overall plot didn’t engage me as much as I wanted them to. The story did get more interesting once the girls entered Fae though. I’d recommend this book to readers who want a lighter Fae book than Holly Black’s work. Those who enjoyed the magic system in Rosiee Thor’s Fire Becomes Her may like the one in The Absinthe Underground too.

[3.5 stars rounded up]

Big thanks to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for the ARC!

The Absinthe Underground follows two poster thieves, Esme and Sybil, as they find themselves stealing the Fae Queen's crown jewels to help a green fairy get back home. What I really loved about this was the whole 1890s France atmosphere and the descriptions in the book were so vivid and cozy, and especially ethereal in the Fae world. Plus, that cover is just Amazing!!

Esme and Sybil are both secretly into each other, and while I do like some sapphic best friends-to-lovers, I hoped that the reason for them liking each other would be more clear, and there would be more chemistry between them. Throughout the book, I read their relationship as "secret mutual pining but i just love her SO much that i cant think of another reason why i love her" I didn't feel them click as a couple for me, and their relationship could do more showing than telling. I did love the closet scene though! had my heart racing and shii :D

The plot of The Absinthe Underground was a little predictable (which is all I can say without spoiling it). Although the story didn't wow me that much, I thought it was very interesting and compelling. There were times where the story dragged a little, especially in the middle, but It's nothing major. I did like how it's written, ough... the atmosphere is just Golden, especially in Esme and Sybil's apartment and at the ball with humans and creatures dancing under the stars. This is also my first Fae book and it's so wild to think that not all fairies are like Tinkerbell and stuff; i love the description of Queen Mab and the power she radiates, and I felt true fear whenever she appeared on the book.

The climax was well-written, i love the buildup towards the end, but i felt that Maeve's problem was wrapped up too quickly and the Great Fae Showdown felt so distant that i didn't give it much notice. Also what happened to Chloe by the way?? And I was so suspicious of her because she readily helped the girls escape from the Fae world. I may be reading too much into this but it would be so cool if Chloe was part of something bigger, other than disappearing from the plot after her literal disappearance.

All in all, I really liked the plot and the vibes of The Absinthe Underground. The characters may be a little flat in my opinion but it was an enjoyable read :)

TW: alcholism, confinement, death of a parent

The gorgeous cover grabbed my attention instantly and the sapphic slow burn premise made it a book I was really looking forward to read next year. I'm so glad for the opportunity to read it as an ARC!
The first thing I realised while reading is that I wouldn't exactly consider it as slow burn. From the beginning of the book it is crystal clear that the two main characters are in love with each other. This is not a bad thing, but my taste is a bit slower romance. In general I have to say that the romance and relationship feels a bit flat, for we as readers can't understand why they are in love, only that they are. This could maybe be a "told but not shown"-problem. To be honest, the plot as a whole has this kind of problem, the author explains the things as they are without making them plausible to the reader.
Regardless, it's a lighthearted read and the plot is easy to follow what makes it quick and enjoyable. I liked the neurodivergent representation (even though it was subtle) and enjoyed the cozy setting. All in all I would recommend this book, especially to a younger audience.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of that book!

cw: alcohol, alcoholism, death of a parent.

This wasn't a groundbreaking and won't become a classic but this was a very fun, easy read.

I was initially attracted to this book because the cover reminded me of my favourite art nouveau artist, Mucha and wouldn't you know it, his art is mentioned in passing in the book!

The Absinthe Underground club gave me Studio54/Eldorado nightclub vibes.

The pacing felt a little rushed I think there could have been a *little* more breathing room but at the same time, given this story is supposed to take place over a couple of days the pacing does meet that timeline.

Nothing about the two main characters is giving "best friends" I think the author was trying to convince themselves this was a friends-to-lovers trope but it was just two crushes admitting they like each other finally.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Absinthe Underground by Jamie Pacton

Arc Review:
Absinthe Underground is a short and sweet, YA standalone fantasy. Sybil and Esme’s newest heist takes them to the magical Fae realm. A friends to lovers, cute book with a unique setting.
Let me start by saying this cover is absolutely stunning. The green and the art nouveau style had me captivated at first sight. It’s also extremely fitting for the 1890s French setting/influence. The author was inspired by the posters of that time period and she creates an immersive atmosphere that I loved. I loved the opposing personalities of the main characters and how they were able to bring out different sides of each other. The book did seem to skew mostly on the young end of YA, and there were some parts I felt were too convenient/rushed to get to the end. I loved the fantasy elements. While the setting seemed unique, the creaturesy and magical world seemed familiar and that to me was welcome and cozy.
Thanks to @netgalley @peachtreepublishing for the arc.

#theabsintheunderground #netgalley #arcreview #jamiepacton

Even from the cover you can tell the Absinthe Underground relies heavily on its aesthetic to find its audience. It was described to me as a romantasy in fae Belle Epoque Paris. The summary sells it as "dazzling" and "lavish" so I expected Wild and Wicked things levels of atmospheric writing, even if the story wasn't really there. Not only is the story not there (it is the most basic heist story you'll see with no added value or originality - I don't like to compare books but Unseelie did the fae heist a lot better) but the atmosphere is absent, diluted by stale prose (no don't tell me it's because it's YA, YA can have age-appropriate good writing) and the characters are hard to tell apart (one likes to tinker, and one has a fae mom, that's all i can tell you after reading the book). They're both pining for each other at the start of the book in a way that's so similar to one another I had to check over and over whose chapter it was.

Usually in a book like this you have themes, some internal conflicts and character arcs to deepen the stakes of the romance or something. Here you have nothing to hold onto. I could excuse the overly simplistic plot and unispired fae worldbuilding IF the romance had been good and worth it. But we know very little about the girls besides a flashback and the most emotionless pining I've had the displeasure of reading in a while. Don't get me wrong I usually love mutual pining because at least I know that the characters have had time to get to know each other but here I'm not sure why they love each other.

The last thing is purely a French/Parisian pet peeve but if you're going to do magic/alternative Paris setting and sprinkle in some French words for authenticity or something, don't use the anglicised version of your main characters name? Like Sybille instead of Sybil and let Esme be Esmé? If Lucien is Lucien then why don't the girls get the same treatment? I don't know once again aesthetic over substance.

At the end of the day, this book felt empty, purely written to capitalise on certain marketing tropes and aesthetics with very little substance, plot or even compelling characters. I'm disappointed that it's a Peachtree Teens book, they're usually better than this.

I do have to add that the setting and some early scenes had an Arcane episode 1 feel to them: Belle époque Paris-looking setting, teenage competitive thieves

This book was not a hit for me. I can see why some people would adore it but I never got there. The characters felt modern but the setting didn't feel modern. It was just odd at points? I really wanted to love it. Give me a good fae story and I'm there but this one just wasn't for me.

I really enjoyed The Absinthe Underground!
It was a fun and cosy read with some great characters.
I really loved both Esme and Sybil and their slow burn romance was the sweetest.

Also for a debut book I thought the writing was really good and I'll definitely be checking out what the author writes next!
I'm definitely recommending this book and look at that cover! It's absolutely stunning!

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review.

The Absinthe Underground is a sapphic fairy tale romance with a compelling premise: a pair of poster thieves steal a Mucha poster and get swept up in the Underground owner’s covetous plot to steal Queen Mab’s jewels.

Ultimately this didn’t hit for me. I struggle with romances where both characters are deeply in love with the other before the narrative even starts, and doubly so when we see both characters’ perspectives. The romance had no tension in it and really went nowhere—Sybil’s secrets turn out not to matter at all, and Esme’s fear of being discarded doesn’t actually make a lot of sense, given the rest of her character and their situation.

In addition, the plot felt oddly paced and we spend very little time on either the big fairy heist or in the titular club, which was what I came to this novel for. There were also enough logical inconsistencies and pointless digressions that I started to feel like nothing meant anything very early on. Magic is pretty much absent from their world, but Lucien shows Sybil a slight-of-hand trick when they were children that later she deploys as a full-scale magical plague of frogs and nobody seems to find that interesting in the slightest. A character casually mentions that she can’t do something because only Fae and half-Fae can, and then three pages later dramatically reveals that she’s been a human the whole time!

The writing, setting aside the logical mess of the plot, also felt clunky and overly simplistic for my tastes.

I was so excited for this one (the premise! lesbians! that cover!) but ultimately I can’t really recommend it—as a romance it has no oomph to it, as a heist it is poorly paced. and as a fantasy the worldbuilding has neither the logic to feel grounded or the wonder to feel magical.

Thank you to Netgalley and Peachtree for the eARC of this book, received in exchange for an unbiased review