I have conflicted feelings with this book. At the start it drew me in and I was so so interested in every little detail. Towards the middle it started getting slow and by the end it was really dragging.

I really liked the concept of Empyreals and how it related to other supernatural creatures. The most interesting part however is the art and history in this world. History is painted and can be manipulated through art.

The anticipated climax took place a little to early for me. So that is what made the end feel like it was dragging. Since we already the climax it was just a lot of walking around and talking after that.


That being said I still believe this author has written a very engaging story overall and I would love to read more from them!

This book’s blurb intrigued me, so I requested to read it. When I started it, it did not take long to get invested. I loved the premise as it’s different than most plots: art as messages. The way these messages are in the paintings, too, is intriguing. I also loved the characters because they are very relatable and people you’d love to have in your own life. There was one little thing: something very minor about this didn’t really strike a good note with me, but I’m not sure why since I loved everything about it. In fact, I loved it the more I read. Whatever it was, it was just a minor blip, and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

As a relative newbie to dark academia, I went into this book not knowing what to expect. Filled with supernatural beings hidden in our own, contemporary world - I was mesmerized. Such a fun debut from Megan Scott.

This book was such an exciting read! I absolutely loved it and I can't wait to read more from this author. The plot was fast paced and was never boring. The characters were interesting and unique which made the story really enjoyable for me. Great read!

This book has a lot of interesting elements. Dark academia school setting, supernatural beings hidden in our own world, and a forbidden romance. These are all points I usually love but I ended up finding this story just okay. I liked the main character, Nicole, and her passion and enthusiasm for art. The romance was rushed and I never felt fully connected to any of the characters. Something about the dialogue was off to me and really made it difficult to read at times. Overall, I think there is a lot of potential for this world but the execution could have been a lot better. It will be interesting to see how the story progresses (and hopefully improves) in the sequel!

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book!

The Temptation of Magic by Megan Scott is a contemporary fantasy with a forbidden romance, enemies to lovers, paranormal academia vibes, and many creatures, magic, and powers! We get a double POV story from Nicole and Kyan, a forced proximity forbidden romance with a slow burn and a great payoff. We get a couple destined to be together forever, fighting the obstacles to be closer.

We get a whole cast of supernatural characters, all nuanced and well-written; we get an old manor house setting; we get libraries full of art and history books; we get an elite art university. We get great suspense but also cozy vibes. It combines dark academia and high-stakes fantasy perfectly, with a tremendous romantic subplot set in a British seaside town. It’s very well-written and atmospheric. I loved this book but felt world-building could have been more detailed. Learning more about Nicole’s family history and her mother’s adventures would also be great. Perhaps we will get that in the upcoming books of this trilogy. I would recommend this for older young adult teens as it does get into the steamier realm of a sexual relationship between our two characters.

I have been utterly transfixed by Megan Scott’s debut, and I will not apologize for it. Perfect for lovers of dark academia, enemies-to-lovers, and high stakes tension, The Temptation of Magic was truly such a delicious treat to read. As we follow our FMC, Nicole, we feel and empathize with her warring duty to protecting her family and their security against the undeniable attraction to Kyan, the Empyrean capable of upending her life forever. Filled to the brim with longing, this story is also captivating in its mystery and ever-present undercurrent of magic. From dangerous supernatural creatures, to secret societies and art history, Scott has ticked all the proverbial boxes. Nicole’s struggle against her hidden nature in conjunction with her struggle against the pull towards Kyan is what slow-burn fantasy dreams are made of! Nicole and Kyan have carved a little spot in my heart, and I cannot wait until the next installment. As always, thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the eARC for review.

The Tempation of Magic is a great debut & an excellent start to a new series! It’s a mixture of dark academia, fantasy, and romance, with an intriguing magic system and unique supernatural creatures. I loved the dual POV and the forbidden, slow burn romance - Nicole is a powerful supernatural creature in hiding and Kyan will have no choice but to turn her in if he finds out. Their relationship was very well done and they definitely left me wanting more! The mystery element is amazing as well and I’m really looking forward to getting answers in the rest of the series.

Thank you to HarperCollins for the ARC!

Do you ever pick up a book and know immediately from the first chapter that you are going to love it? That was The Temptation of Magic for me. As soon as I read those first few pages, I knew I would adore this book!

I loved everything about it, the world, the magic, the characters, the family dynamic, the friendships, and the forbidden romance.

The plot flowed so well, I was never bored and I was constantly flipping pages because I had to know how everything would turn out. Can’t wait for the next book in this series!

This was delightful! I loved the academic and art elements in addition to the lore and found myself fully invested in the mystery that the FMC was trying to unravel. The vibes were Ninth House, The Mortal Instruments, and A Discovery of Witches, but TTOM had its own unique charm and thrill that had me perpetually intrigued.

Things I loved:
- Nicole - Ms. Play Pretend, and I hurt for her. We love a strong FMC who’s intelligent (that dissertation, though), determined, and protective.
- Kyan - Mr. Trying to Fight It. This poor MMC is battling some trauma, is thoroughly conflicted, and daddy, I love him.
- The Villain - So good! No spoilers, but at least he accepts what he is.
- The Family - Whether blood or found, I love them all: Ronan (Mr. Do Not Mess With My Kids), Dylan (Mr. Afraid To Get Attached - understandably so), Bells (Ms. Underestimated Cherub), and Remi (Ms. Supportive Bestie)
- The magic, setting, and world building - This was all so much fun. The creatures, the powers, the dynamics, the history. I could picture it, I wanted to be in it, and I need more books of it!
- The slow-burn and tension - Oh. My. Goddess. The TENSION. I was nearly at my wits-end. And I’ll admit, I am only slightly satisfied. You knew what you were doing there, Megan Scott. Toying with my emotions like that. Don’t make me beg. Okay fine, I will. I NEED BOOK TWO PLEASEEEEEE!

The only reason this wasn’t a five star read for me was because of the pacing. It reminded me a lot of my experience reading ACOTAR where the beginning was fine, but I was eagerly awaiting the magic to kick in (pun, intended). It took a minute to hook me, but once the second half happened, I was gone. The outside world did not exist, and I refused to put this book down until the end. Then the ending happened, and I immediately lost my shit because I realized I have to wait for the second book. Sigh. I had a feeling about that acorn.

The Temptation of Magic by Megan Scott is a contemporary fantasy with a forbidden romance, enemies to lovers, paranormal academia vibes, and many creatures, magic, and powers! We get a double POV story from Nicole and Kyan, a forced proximity forbidden romance with a slow burn and a great payoff. We get a couple destined to be together forever, fighting the obstacles to be closer.

We get a whole cast of supernatural characters, all nuanced and well-written; we get an old manor house setting; we get libraries full of art and history books; we get an elite art university. We get great suspense but also cozy vibes. It combines dark academia and high-stakes fantasy perfectly, with a tremendous romantic subplot set in a British seaside town. It’s very well-written and atmospheric. I loved this book but felt world-building could have been more detailed. Learning more about Nicole’s family history and her mother’s adventures would also be great. Perhaps we will get that in the upcoming books of this trilogy. I would recommend this for older young adult teens as it does get into the steamier realm of a sexual relationship between our two characters.

My new favorite read of the year so far!

I loved not only the world in this book but also how it is described throughout the book. I never felt like there were information dumps or characters whose purpose was solely to tell you something. You slowly found out information about the world as the story unfolded.

The relationship was chef's kiss. The book is written in dual POV so you know what the love interest will be from the beginning but the way it develops and unfolds is amazing. Actions and thoughts seemed very consistent to each character and nothing felt forced or rushed.

I loved that while the ending left me wanting the next book immediately, it did not have a cliffhanger.

Overall, this book is bingeworthy and I highly recommend it!

4.5 ☆
The Temptation of Magic by Megan Scott , a contemporary fantasy with a forbidden romance, enemies to lovers, paranormal academia vibes and a lot of creatures, magic and powers!
•
The story is set in a small university town in Cornwall and follows Nicole, a supernatural who is fighting against the urge to become who she truly is, a powerful huntress with the ability to hunt and kill other deadly creatures and she’s also an art student.
Once she goes through her first transformation, she risks herself and her family being discovered by the Wake, a mysterious and powerful organisation that governs supernatural creatures. The organisation that claims to protect the peace in the world. The organisation that killed Nicole’s mother, and will inevitably kill Nicole and her family if they know who she truly is.
Everything changes the day another supernatural creature comes to their small town, followed by a deadly Empyreal called Kyan, who is there on Wake’s orders.
•
Can I say that I loved EVERYTHING?? Megan Scott’s debut was truly amazing! The plot was delicious and was keeping me on my toes throughout the book. I loved the writing style A LOT!! But also the setting and the world building… chef’s kiss!!!
I loved the whole cast of characters and the MCs Kyan and Nicole are very different, but they became such a great team together. Their banter was top tier, and the sparks were real. I can’t wait to see how their romance progresses in the next books!
I also really liked the overall vibes! I felt like I was reading an old school paranormal romance combined with vibes from Da Vinci Code and a Study in Drowning!! And the fact that the book revolves around art and mythology in an academic context was an added value!
•
Thanks to Netgalley, HarperCollins and Megan Scott for providing me with this ARC!

This had such an interesting premise, and i loved the setting but overall i really struggled to get through it! Part of that was the unusual punctuation-dialogue was indicated with only a single parenthesis rather than your typical parentheses and in a font so small i often had to double back to find out what was said vs thought. I didn’t particularly feel like it benefitted from the multi pov, rather it seemed disjointed and annoying to read the same scene twice from two different characters. It picked up A LOT in the last 3rd but the middle
Absolutely drug on and i found myself skimming.

"And she wondered: if he were a painting, could she read him better?"

god that was absolutely stunning of a story I AM IN LOVE. I dont even know what to say, it feels like this book was made for my tastes because truly all of my favourite elements of a book were in this and I adored every single second of it, and this is only a debut novel?? absolutely insane because reading this I wouldve never thought it was.

first, LET ME JUST SCREAM ABOUT THE CHARACTERS HELLO?? I AM SO ATTACHED TO THEM ALL AND IF THE AUTHOR KILLS A SINGLE ONE OF THEM IN FUTURE BOOKS I WILL BREAK DOWN AND CEASE TO EXIST. I genuinely love them all so much, nicole is an absolute QUEEN I adore her, not only is she smart, strong and quite logical but she is messy, has her fears, and makes mistakes but most of all her protectiveness over her family struck me in the heart so deeply--there is no better love than familial love truly and especially in fantasy novels where it's so rarely seen?? I was eating up every scene with her family theyre so sweet and wholesome it made me want to melt into a puddle, their interactions between each other, the jokes, the protectiveness they each have for one another!!! I love them so much!!! AND NICOLE IS THE MIDDLE CHILD OF THE FAMILY LETS GO MIDDLE CHILDREN!!! (also we're the same age hehe) I kid you not it's always the oldest or youngest that are MCS, so seeing nicole being the middle child made me unreasonably happy LOL it was a refreshing POV as well knowing that she had her older brother for her and at the same time her little sister, and of course her father who is so calm and the sweetest (he calls them all "love" I just-) and is btw almost 1000 years old which truly was funny and cool to me and the absolute best part--theyre a family of supernaturals! (now as for *what* exactly they are.. well you'll have to read and find out) it definitely made even more interesting dynamics (and can I get a house like theirs?? it sounds so fun and cozy I mean I also want some secret hidden rooms!!) also the way they werent completely in the dark with nicole's investigation in the painting and still were in the loop on her progress was also really nice. I love seeing happy, wholesome families.

oops I went on a bit of tangent but honestly it should go to show how much I fell in love with them <3 my new favorite fictional family that must be protected at all costs!! and theres remi (nicole's best friend) who is basically family and I loved the scenes we had of their friendship omg

and then kyan AKA NEW LOML, okay so this is marketed as "forbidden romance" (which i ate up, like the angst???) but also there's a hint of "enemies to lovers" in a way but it's done in such a funny way tbh the first half I was just laughing honestly, you have nicole who treats kyan so distrustfully (with reason), giving glares to him and meanwhile kyan is over here so confused and doesnt want her hating him and it was absolutely hilarious LOL he reminded me of a sad puppy, so really rather than being called enemies to lovers it's more of a "one sided" enemies to lovers but truly nicole and kyan's chemistry was everything, I fell so in love with them. AND WE GET BOTH OF THEIR POVS THROUGHOUT THE BOOK AHHHH dual povs >>>>

i am such a sucker for the love interest noticing the tiny stuff about a MC and here it was no different. the little smiles, the gasps of excitement she gets looking at pieces of art, her blushes, the look of awe in her eyes YES that's kyan noticing it all and getting unreasonably happy seeing it all--especially when those smiles and laughter are directed at him ALSO KYAN COOKING, THE HUGS, AND THE FOREHEAD KISSES DJGDJSHS THE DIMPLES??? BRAIN CANNOT COMPUTE IM WEAK I LOVE HIM YOUR HONOR kyan smiling and laughing the softening in his eyes?? the way I swooned omg I was so with nicole in those moments. i was literally grinning like a fool reading their interactions, the absolute hold these two have on me??? miss megan scott KNEW what she was doing creating these two.

oh oh and did I mention he called her "my love" in irish🫠 yes as you can see I'm a total goner for kyan <3 plz don't hurt my children I beg you.

okay this review is more of me fangirling about the characters (rightfully so as characters are everything and I love them) but the world itself!! I am completely enamored with it, and love love everything about it and the way art plays such a huge role in the supernatural world. like the way paintings would have secrets concealed within them!! and the plot?? always was at the edge of my seat with the investigation and the villain genuinely scared me that they'd do something extremely reckless i feared for some characters' lives😭 but also the amount of different supernatural creatures?? it is just SO interesting and I'm so eager to learn more I cannot wait for book 2. the magic of the world especially is just so lovely to learn about and the powers each creature has!! and theres so much mystery behind *certain* creatures and I'm so excited for it, ah the wait is going to be torture wanting more and I did this to myself😂 thankfully we were saved from a brutal cliffhanger at least which i was so fearful of so thank you megan for saving me from pain (for now, at least. I dont trust you to do that in book 2 with my long history of sequels destroying my soul) (yes i have trust issues)

anyways y'all GO READ TTOM IT IS MY NEW FAVOURITE OBSESSION. And a certain book box is supposedly making a special edition of this (so well deserved) and I am SO SO hyped because i just know it will be beautiful as this story was🥹



Thank you so much HarperCollins and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

In "The Temptation of Magic," Megan Scott masterfully blends fantasy, intrigue, and romance into a compelling start to a new trilogy. The story revolves around Nicole Palmer, an Empyreal—a rare shapeshifter hunted by the Wake, a shadowy organization that governs supernatural creatures. As Nicole unravels the mystery behind her mother's secret message hidden in a supernatural art collection, she finds herself thrust into a dangerous alliance with Kyan McCarter, a perceptive and reluctant Wake assassin.

Scott's narrative is an enchanting mix of old and new fantasy elements, with creative spins that keep readers on their toes. Her characters are vividly drawn and deeply relatable, from the determined and resourceful Nicole to the resilient yet skeptical Kyan. The chemistry between them is palpable, growing organically as they navigate the treacherous path laid out before them.

One of the standout features of "The Temptation of Magic" is the rich world-building. Scott introduces familiar magical species while innovating with the concept of the Empyreal, adding depth and intrigue to the story. The use of art as a vehicle for secrets is both clever and engaging, offering a fresh take on the fantasy genre.

The supporting characters, including Nicole's close-knit family and the found family they create, add layers of warmth and authenticity to the narrative. The villains are not merely evil for the sake of it; they are strategic, patient, and formidable, heightening the stakes and keeping readers in suspense.

While the book's pacing does dip in the middle third, slowing the momentum, the strong character development and compelling plot keep the reader invested. The final act picks up the pace, delivering a satisfying conclusion that sets the stage for the next installment.

Overall, "The Temptation of Magic" is a promising debut from Megan Scott. Her intelligent approach to storytelling, combined with vivid descriptions and well-crafted twists, makes this book a must-read for fantasy lovers. As Nicole and Kyan's journey continues, readers will undoubtedly be eager to explore more of Scott's imaginative world.

Many things to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for sharing this tempting YA romantasy's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange of my honest reviews.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Well, this went downhill fast. I was very interested in this book because I am an artist myself, with a strong love and decent knowledge of art history. I was extremely intrigued by those aspects for this book, and it just didn’t deliver -not on those aspects, and not as a whole either.

We get an interesting set up. Nicole has access to a secret art gallery that “The Wake”doesn’t know about, and I thought that we’d go through these numerous paintings with her, trying to find clues about her mother and her mother’s last message. Nope! A somewhat interesting event happens, a cliche love interest shows up, some joker-esque joke for a villain shows up, and then everything falls apart.

We only hone in on two paintings, but besides the obvious fact that they’re both important, we don’t actually go in depth on them. Instead, Nicole and the love interest’s brains become full of lead. They’re both completely inept and are unable to best this kooky shadow villain at all, despite the fact that Nicole is described as intelligent, and the mmc as the best the organization has to offer. What a joke. They just blunder everything, and instead brood about how horny they are for each other (but they can’t, as it’s forbidden 😪).

To be honest, I started skimming at halfway through. I was so sick of reading the word “mate” and paying attention to a plot that was not going anywhere due to lack of brain cells that the two mcs have. I basically just finished this book to see if they would fuck.

Oh, and the ending made me roll my eyes so hard I thought they’d get stuck in the back of my head. 2 stars.

Wow! What an incredible debut from a new favorite author of mine! That astonishing first chapter immediately caught my attention and I couldn’t stop reading from then on out.

The Temptation of Magic is a mixture of everything we love, old and new, with creative spins and dark academic thematics. I can’t imagine having to wait a year and a day for the sequel, or any other volumes possibly planned for the future. Almost everything about this was perfect.

Megan Scott has created such lovable characters that you not only attach to immediately but grow to progressively love as the story develops and their pasts/motives are revealed. Nicole and Kyan (our two main protagonists) grow alongside the audience. You can truly note the overarching lessons, defeats, and achievements that add onto not only these two but all the characters throughout. With the help of close-knit families (Positive role-models and family having each other’s backs! We love to see it!), friends, and each other, Nicole is strengthened and overcomes her own struggles as a powerful and brilliant woman. Kyan discovers love through both intimate connection and newfound family as a resilient—yet skeptical—hero.

The villain doesn’t just aim to kill either. They’re ruthless with patience, plan, and precision. Whenever they are close to victory, you truly fear for our heroes. When a connection between fiction to reality is established like that, the story becomes a favorite itself.

Scott has such a unique, intelligent approach to everything she implements. Things feel so familiar, yet there’s always something she adds that keeps you on your toes, reinventing the monsters in the world of humans we know and love. When she writes, especially about art, you can always visualize what she’s expressing/imagining. The Temptation of Magic is always cinematic.

However, while I could go on about how much I loved the first volume in the Empyreal series, you’ll notice I didn’t give it a five-star. It was very close to being rated as such. I’ve come to realize about myself is that when a story is a stand-alone, it has a greater chance of being a five-star for me because the potential has been finished by the last page. With this series, I can picture each volume progressively getting better and better which is why I’m so hesitant to give it a five-star rating when I know it could be even better and would love to see it happen!

For example, there were multiple select sections toward the middle where it felt like there was too much narration in between conversations that kept tugging me in and out of the scene. The narration was lengthy as well when this would happen. I love the story so much that I wanted to immerse myself in it one way or the other. To me, I felt Scott couldn’t decide what way she wanted to explain parts of her story so she chose both with a lofty weight at the same time. Her writing is beautiful and I adore every word she has to say about Nicole and Kyan’s narratives, but I feel it could have been better edited or organized.

Emphasis on the editing part, because sometimes the sentences are written as if it’s meant to be one, but it’s separated into two sentences. If one didn’t have the other sentence, neither of them would be a logical complete stand-alone sentence. A good note to keep in mind during writing is to ask yourself, “Can this sentence be read by itself and make sense, or does it need the other sentences to sound coherent?” If the answer is the second option, then the sentence needs to be edited or rewritten. I know I probably sound nit-picky about it, but it’s just a minor improvement I’d like to note and see in the sequel!

The bridge from book one to book two takes about 20% of the book which is pretty substantial as well from the usual 5%-10%. Granted, it was done magnificently and I enjoyed reading it! Just another thing to note for those who are wondering if they should read this.

This leads to the question . . . Should you read this? The answer from me is a DEFINITE YES! If you love dark academia, historic art, vampires, paranormal romance, supernatural and ancient conspiracies, and a mature YA novel, this has everything and more you’ll come to love. There are fun little instances during the story where I caught myself saying, “Oh, this is kind of like (title of another novel).” Then, I’d see one of the characters allude to it as if the author is breaking the fourth wall and acknowledging where their inspiration came from as well as giving due credit.

With a promising start, Megan Scott hits the ground running with The Temptation of Magic and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series. These characters already have a strong connection to my heart, and the world-building seems so vast I can’t wait to explore more about it in the coming volumes. The potential is strong and while it’s amazingly executed already, I know Scott will continue to blow any and all expectations out of the water even more.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing an ARC (Advanced Readers Copy). This review is based off of an uncorrected proof. I absolutely cannot wait to come back to these characters and this world again when I can bet that it’s going to be better than ever.

I thought that was a really fun read! The plot and characters were interesting. I was slightly confused by the venom as it seemed like it was deadly but actually wasn’t unless they “sucked the person dry.” I predicted the twist but still liked how it played out. I will definitely read the second book when it comes out.

4.5/5 stars Ooooo I loved this! The art history elements were my favorite for sure. The atmosphere was excellent, I would call it more light academia rather than dark? I thought the writing was great for a debut and I am excited to see it get stronger. The supernatural/fantasy elements were fun and the romance was good without being too much. It had some old-school YA vibes which I also enjoyed. Really excited for the rest of the series!
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, for this ARC