Thank you Netgalley and Harpercollins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"The Temptation of Magic" by Megan Scott brings you into a world that is a blend of urban fantasy, art history, and romance. The world-building within this book is well-detailed and unique; the setting is definitely a highlight as well as the art element within the story.

Scott introduces you to a captivating world filled with Empyreals, supernatural creatures whose presence adds depth and intrigue to the story. Scott created a story where the lines between good and evil blur, keeping you on the edge of your seat as characters navigate moral complexities. One of the book's standout features is its integration of art and history, which adds layers of depth to the plot. Through art, Scott unveils hidden secrets and mysteries, captivating you with the allure of famous paintings concealing ancient truths. Even though I personally am not very interested in art, I was still in awe over the breathtaking descriptions in this book about the art pieces, and the book actually made me interested in art. I think readers who enjoy art and/or art history would especially enjoy this book; I also don’t think I’ve read much urban fantasy that centers around the art world.

While the book excels in its world-building and imaginative elements, I did find the pacing to be a bit uneven, particularly towards the middle. The ending was also a bit drawn out, though the gripping climax and satisfying resolution left me eagerly anticipating the sequel.

Despite these issues with pacing, I still greatly enjoyed the immersive atmosphere and compelling storytelling. Scott's skillful blend of modern life with mystical elements drew me into the story, keeping me engaged throughout.

I also really enjoyed the romance in "The Temptation of Magic.” Nicole's fierce loyalty and determination paired with Kyan's enigmatic charm create a dynamic and captivating relationship that made me really enjoy the development of their relationship, and I definitely can’t wait to read more about their pairing in the sequel.

Overall, if you're a fan of contemporary fantasy with a strong romantic plot, this book is sure to cast a spell on you.

When I first heard about The Temptation of Magic last winter I had an inkling this would be a book for me — and it very much was! Without creating any spoilers it checked so many of my boxes: forbidden love, academia setting, supernaturals, mystery, an excellent ensemble cast, and the kind of story that kept me glued to the pages. I loved the pull between Kyan and Nicole — how their relationship developed. Was it on the fast side? A tad, but there was a good reason for that which I won’t reveal here. I loved Kyan’s history and how he was at a place in his life ready to receive someone like Nicole into it. As for Nicole, I loved how protective she was of her family. How strong she was and how she had to fight against her true nature. I enjoyed the myth and history woven through the book and how yes, there’s a villain in this book, but there’s one much larger looming in the background. Also, the mystery of Nicole’s mother and .… oh, I’m so curious!! I feel that The Temptation of Magic was a solid start and I can’t wait to read more from Megan Scott!

Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for the gifted copy for review!

The Temptation of Magic is the first in a series of books about Nicole and Kyan, two supernatural creatures whose biology equips them to be the world's most powerful predators and protectors, Empyreals. Kyan is an Empyreal and a member of the Wake, an ancient organization that has the stated mission of protecting all creatures of the earth. He does this by hunting down creatures that the Wake identifies as dangerous and killing them in the moment before they can kill someone else. Nicole is also an Empyreal, but she successfully lives in hiding because she's never submitted to her body's instinctive urge to transform for protection. Nicole and Kyan cross paths while tracking the murderer of one of Nicole's professor's, and the tension and mystery of the story build as their attraction to each other does.

I think this is a good book, but the inconsistent pacing kept it from being great. The book starts out relatively quick, but then a third to a half of the book is pining with minimal to no plot progression, and it's so slow.

Kyan is pitched as kind of a complicated character, but he's really a cinnamon roll. Even so, Nicole can't trust him, because he is loyal to an organization that he would be compelled to turn her over to if he confirmed what she was. There's a lot of narrative time spent researching in libraries and talking about paintings. For me, the story's foundation and characters were more compelling than it's execution. Disappointing for me, but for some I think it could be a promising start to a new adult romantasy series.

Thank you NetGalley and HaperCollins for providing a digital ARC of this book for me to review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for a copy of the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I had never read a book by this author - I believe this may actually be her debut book - but the premise was an intriguing one, and this was a solid first novel of a series that I will continue.

Standout aspects of the book included:
- the world building
- the unique concept of 'empyreals' - not something I've seen done in other fantasy books
- the double POV of both the main female and male characters, which aided in the worldbuilding aspect and gave a wider scope to the plot of the novel
- the relationship between the main leads - paced well and realistically

Areas I feel could use improvement:
- the pacing at times absolutely dragged and I found myself skimming paragraphs a few times as certain details were over-explained
- the writing, while sophisticated for a first-time novelist, felt a bit clumsy at times

Overall, a compelling read, and I look forward to reading the next in the series!