Heir of Sin is the first in a Romantasy series based on djinns of the seven deadly sins. This book followed Keira getting to know Elijah, the djinn of Lust, awakening a new side of her.
Overall I enjoyed the book however I struggled with a few things that are personal preference as opposed to things specifically wrong with the book.
Firstly, I prefer my Romantasy books to be 1st person, especially dual POV, so I struggled to connect with Keira and be fully invested in her getting to know Elijah and fall for him. I always struggle more with 3rd person romances and found that I didn't really see why Elijah fell for Keira so quickly and equally why she did for him, apart from the obvious lust element.
I also tend to read spicier Romantasy books so, although there was some spice, it wasn't particularly spicy for me. I liked the idea of Keira getting to know herself and her own sexuality but I did struggle with a few elements of it, in particular regarding something that happened at the end which blurred the lines a bit with Keira's manipulation of Elijah - that definitely put me off her quite a bit.
That being said, it is an enjoyable story and I'm sure many Romantasy fans will enjoy Heir of Sin and want to continue with the story; unfortunately it just didn't connect with me.

A delicious spicy romantasy!
There's just someting about the seven deadly sins that just keeps you whising for more...

This was an intriging story felt with tension and twists!
A sexy fairy tale with a heartfelt heroine coming to rise and a oh so charming Dijn of Lust.

It was honestly an easy read. I fell in love with Elijah from the start and loathed August immediately. I was appreciative of the relationship dynamic between the two main characters. Overall an enjoyable experience and will probably go on my re-read list

This was such a great read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The POV isn’t typically my style of reading, but it was very easy to follow. The MMC and FMC were amazing. Elijah is deliciousssssss. I cannot wait to read book 2!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🫑
When I say I devoured this book…I devoured it the way the Djinn of Lust devours his woman🥵

I was drawn in from the very first chapter. I could not put it down. I loathed August almost immediately, but I am obsessed with Elijah!!

Keira kind of annoyed me (at first) because she was so fixated on “her love” that she allowed herself to be used and mistreated continually. BUT my annoyance with her was because it’s such a common issue young women deal with and allow to consume them, and it opened the door for so much growth in her. And boy did I love watching her grow into herself😍

Blurb:

Would you trust the Djinn of Lust with your body?
Keira’s nan always warned her about djinns, but after the fall of the Tyrant Emperor and his court of vices, Keira never thought she would meet one. That is until the man of her dreams and key to future happiness is promised to another.

In a last attempt to win August back, Keira stumble across and enlists the help of a particularly troublesome djinn, promising him a favour for a favour as long as it doesn’t involve him making a claim on her body.

But, as the djinn challenges Keira to step out of her comfort zone and discover new pleasures, Keira learns that there might just be worse things a djinn could take than her body. Things such as her heart...Particularly, when the djinn has secrets and an agenda of his own.

🍑one bed
🔥he teaches her
🍑cottagecore
🔥he falls first
🍑wishes and magic
🔥friends to lovers
🍑betrayal
🔥found family
🍑happily ever after

"A man worthy of you would seek to give you every pleasure he possibly could, but only if you allow him. Do you allow me?"

Oh what fun this spicy cottagecore romance is. It's the first in a new series (yay!) of interconnected standalones, great for fans of Throne of the Fallen. If you like the one bed trope, genies/djinns, and female-first vibes, this one is for you! I really liked it!!

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really, really liked this book! It was a quick read with nice world-building and lots of spice.

Keira, at first, really irked me. But then, as she grew into herself, her sexuality and sensuality, I realized why - I was her once. I thought I needed to please in order to feel good about ME. In order to matter. And her realizing that's not the case was everything my younger heart needed.

Elijah is the epitome of a man with respect. He clearly loves Keira, and seeing them grow together was beautiful. I'd love to know more about him, more personable stuff. I feel like everything he told Keira was very face-value and to-the-point. Which I kind of get, but still 🤪

The concept of the djinn and Cardinal Seven was well portrayed, and I thoroughly enjoyed the plot! I'll be looking for the next book in this series :)

Thanks again to NetGalley and publishers/author for this ARC - all opinions are of my own mind 🖤

Thank you to @netgalley and @qvamingtonpress for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This is a new to me author and I’m excited that I was able to give them a chance! The description of this book was so intriguing and I’m glad that I was able to read it.

I was hooked from the very first line and didn’t want to put it down. If it wasn’t for some health concerns, I would have read it in one sitting! This book is a fast-paced read and with a shorter page count, it was quick and easy to get through!

I will admit that it could use some deeper world building as it seemed the book focused more on the plot and characters than setting up the ambiance of the setting. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but considering this is going to be a series, I do wish that we had just a bit more understanding of the world, outside of the quick explanation we got at the beginning of the book. I think it would have been nice to have that information spread out in more detail through the story than a few paragraphs at the beginning.

I did love the characters and the way the author portrayed them on the page. I thought the Kiera was well developed and I enjoyed the “sexual freedom” plot line the author had ingrained into the very prudish village. It’s a story that’s been told before, an innocent woman who has no sexual experience gets trained in pleasure by the male lead. Regardless of having read this plot line before, I was still in love with it and enjoyed watching our leads interact. The romance however could use a little work as it comes across as more “lust” than “love”. I just don’t think the foundation of the relationship was developed as much as it could be for the resolution we got.

While our FMC got amazing growth, Elijah feels like an enigma. We don’t really know anything about him outside of who his family is and even when he does talk about himself, everything is superficial and offers no real depth. I would have loved him to have the same growth and development as Kiera, as it would have me picking up another “book boyfriend”. Unfortunately as it stands, he’s kind of just there as the male lead and sexual tutor.

The magic and creatures of the world were astounding. I love the Djinn and the Cardinal Seven plotlines. It’s clear what the next stories in this series will be about and while the other Djinn got little to no screen time, I’m excited to learn more about them in the next books. The Fae Realm was also intriguing and while it wasn’t the focal point of this book, I am excited to see more of this world in the next installments.

Overall, a cute and quick read.

I was intrigued by the blurb that is why i read it. Thanks netgalley and publisher for the e-Arc. But some thing that made me stay and read this: author's note and faqs. They seemed so personable and witty and charming the readers add to that the end dear reader part as well.

This was a whirlwind of world, cause it felt like an old period book, of days of witchunt and catholics, with djinn (genies), gods saints and sins, of gothic churches, cults and covens. And what can i say, i love all those topics and ha ung them touched (*ahem pun intended) here, it feels good to see books of my long forgotten niche. I love the plot and how the story goes well except ofc with that fvcker August (ugh this book ruined that perfect name for me), and that friggin Miles (i am still seething he had a character arc, but totally understandable cause ofc he believes she stands a chance). For a romantasy touching on some themes, this was written well. I liked how exploring sexuality is so freeing here and that as author said it, we're thankful of books letting us not only live vicariously, but to also learn what we like, it is liberating to know you are not the only one and that there was nothing shameful about it.

Oh BOY this book was advertised to me as Kingdom of the Wicked meets Once Upon a Broken Heart, but with djinn, and boy was that spot on and absolutely SO much FUN!!

This fast-paced story about Keira, a local orphan with a secret romance with local (very boring) cool guy, August, kicks off from the very start and never slows down. She thinks they're getting married, surprise surprise he's not on the same page, she calls a djinn out of a lamp to help her get what she wants, chaos ensues. The beauty in the story, however, is in the fact that the world, the characters, and the plot are all really well developed for being so fast and pretty short, nothing is sacrificed here. The missing pieces of djinn Elijah's story make sense, and everything comes out at the right time!!

I thought this was a great story about a woman realizing her worth, learning to never accept the bare minimum, and gaining strength by leaning on those around her that care about her. Despite feeling alone and struggling, Keira has people (even people she doesn't expect) checking in on her, caring for her, validating her. Her journey of self-discovery (not always led by self) was delightful!

Thank you so much to CL Qvam and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review. I will definitely be seeking out the back catalogue of her writing now, and waiting to see what else we get from some of our other vices :)

I’ll be completely honest—I forgot the outside world existed while I was reading this book. I’m not exaggerating when I say I binge-read this in a single day and I was glued to my Kindle the entire time.

Story:
A seven cardinal sins story but with a twist— This novel tells the story of the seven sins, only each sin is represented in the form of a Djinn. We follow Keira as she calls upon a Djinn to help her win the love of her life back, but what started as a simple quest for the chance to grant her wish, turns into something much more unexpected and seductive.

Keira:
I’ll start by saying, I loved that we followed Keira and watched her learn and grow throughout the story. However, there were definitely times when her attitude and decision-making skills drove me a little crazy. Still, I think she was meant to represent someone deeply in love, making irrational choices we’ve all been guilty of. It was inspiring to watch her evolve throughout the pages, and how Elijah played a significant role in shifting her perspective to see the world in a new light.

Elijah:
When C.L Qvam opened the story with “To women who were made to feel small so that the men would feel big, I give you Elijah” she was not messing around. He was truly the MVP of the whole story. I adored everything about him—his quick wit, his magnetic charm, and his irresistible allure. Elijah has slowly made his way up to the top 5 of my book boyfriend list, I mean he is truly a work of art. The gentle way in which he handles Keira was undeniably heartwarming, and I savored every romantic moment between them. He’s undoubtedly one of the most compelling and well-written main male characters I’ve encountered to date.

Romance and Overall Thoughts:
Despite the numerous spicy scenes, they never overshadowed the plot. The author did an amazing job of balancing the scenes with the story and it kept me enthralled from beginning to end. I also loved that the story had a perfect blend of banter and heartwarming romance on top of everything else, adding a sense of depth to the story.

Overall, the book was truly a delight—an absolute chef's kiss and offered the perfect escape. I am eagerly anticipating the release of the second book.

Full review on my blog! HeidisBooknook.squarespace.com

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars.

I got hooked into the story easily, and I liked how it moved at a decent pace. There wasn't too much fluff, but I did find Kiera very annoying for the first half of the book. August was the absolute worst and the fact that she couldn't see that was INSUFFERABLE. I'll give her a pass because we all know what it's like to be young and dumb over a guy but I was so glad when she FINALLY saw the light.

Isolde was my favorite side character, I really liked the world and the magic in it. I will definitely be continuing this series

3.5/4* rounded up
I am being mindful that this was an Arc and so will get another round of edits
There were some minor plot holes which should be fixed by release date
The story is about a girl in love with an arrogant vein manipulative guy who uses every excuse why they should keep seeing each other without committing wanting more and more while giving nothing in return
But when he ends up engaged to someone else she’s convinced this must be against his will so uses the help of a genie to win him back

This book is Spicy and I loved that
I loved Elijah and the book had some good representation
Though why she had the djinn go from dark skinned to light I don’t know but that is her choice
(He can change his appearance)
The book is about sexual exploration and empowerment and it handled it tastefully and well and at points I was like a cheerleader at the side like wooo go tell him
RESPECT ! but my bad singing aside
I think some plot points were confusing but I just went with it.
The story was interesting it wove in the idea of Djinn representing the seven deadly sins which is a cool
Concept and lust is a great one to start with
I would have liked to have seen more of Faerie and I don’t think this was explored enough but will probably be explored more later in the series
There were some stupid decisions made that weren’t always explained (like why put a cloak on a horse ) but those aside I enjoyed the book I enjoyed the characters and the start was really promising and the writing is good and the characters believable
Overall a solid start to a series that I’m sure will just improve with each one

3.5 stars rounded to 4

I devoured this book!

I was fast-paced and fun with exceptional world building and I fell in love with Elijah almost right away. I love the whole 'seven deadly sins are a bedtime story but not really' vibe in a lot of books and this one was no different. I was hooked from start to finish.

My one big problem, though, was the FMC. Keira was a bit annoying and made some decisions that I personally frowned upon. I'm not a fan of when adult characters act like teenagers, but the good outweighs the bad in this one.

I really did love the overall plot and the characters, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

Thank you NetGalley and C. L. Qvam for an ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and review.

Heir of Sin is perfect for fans of Once apon a broken heart and Kingdom of the Wicked.

Keira has been warned about Djinn her whole life, to stay away from them and how they can be dangerous. When the man she loves slights her the only way she believes she can win him back is with the help of a Djinn.

This story has lots of promise and is no inherently bad. The spice is written well via guise of exploration and is equally hot as it is realistic.
Keira however never seems to know what she wants, her mind changes often and she never seems to stock to her convictions. She is mad a Elijah one moment then is hopelessly in love with him the next- while that can happen there was no real development to get there.
On development there seemed to be so much of this story that was underdeveloped, confusing or not explained maybe this suffers from too much telling and not enough showing.

The premise was great unfortunately the execution could have been so much more compelling than it currently is.

I was gifted a ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to read this great tale.

Wow, once I started this book I could. not. stop. I absolutely loved the world this fantasy took place in and the lore behind the djinn’s and witches especially. The relationship between Elijah and Keira was swoon worthy. This book contains a lot of open door romance, it was very spicy and tastefully done. There are slight mentions of some triggering subjects, so I would look at the triggers before starting.

All in all, I loved this book. If I could give one critique, it would be for more plot, world building and characters development. Not because the book lacked any of it, but with all the spice, I did wish I knew a little more about all the other aspects of the plot as well. I absolutely will be keeping my eyes out for book 2 as well!

I absolutely devoured this book! Kiera and Elijah are a very interesting couple whose adventures kept me reading and reading!

I was hooked from page one right up until the end and even after I finished it. It was a quick, fast-paced read that hit me in the emotions in way that I truly wasn't anticipating- but my word, did I love every second of it. Heir of Sin has everything a reader could possibly want in a book- magic, djinn, witches, betrayal, angst, heartbreak, healing, and so much more!

I just loved the positive female sexual exploration written into this novel, it isn't over powering but the message is strong!!

I will be keeping an eye out for more books from this author!

This is one of those books where when I started reading I didn’t want put it down. The pacing is fast and the premise is unique. I feel like there’s a lot of room for exploring the magic system of this world in future books.

I loved the exploration of the theme of women coming into their own power. The FMC’s character arc you could tell was very well thought out and well written by the author.

I did feel like the introduction of Elijah was a little rushed and that we could have gotten to know him better and more in depth as a character earlier on in the story. I think this would have made his and Keira’s connection stronger in the beginning.

I kept thinking that if we had Elijah’s POV that the book would have been more well rounded. I needed more of his motivation and thoughts to make their connection more plausible.

Despite this missing piece of the story I couldn’t put the book down. The premise of the story is very captivating I just think the execution wasn’t quite there. But I’m excited to see where the author takes us in the story next.

Heir of Sin by C.L. Qvam
Thank you Qvamington Press for providing this book for free, for my review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Wow! To start, I must mention that I don’t usually read "Romantasy." In the past, I’ve picked up some books bursting with complicated lore and intricate plots that left me bewildered before reaching the second chapter. However, C.L. Qvam's Heir of Sin changed everything for someone newer to this genre. I discovered an escape I had been yearning for, one that wasn’t overwhelming, but rather provided all the magical elements I was eager for without the fear of losing my way. The world-building was exceptional! The opening instantly captivated me in the way only a good book can: "Thick, soft, violet smoke drifts out of its pipe mouth while I back away... it gathers into a thick cloud... my heart pounding in my ears... the silhouette of a man approaches, his smile feral." - A mixed quote from the prologue of Heir of Sin.

I appreciated the titles of the chapters, as they added meaning to each part of the book. Initially, I found Keira to be somewhat irritatingly naive, but her character development was impressively executed, in my view. Instead of being abruptly thrown into her drastic transformation, I was able to embody Keira, noticing the subtle elements that infused her journey with action and tension. Then there's Elijah, the ultimate book boyfriend. I can't elaborate too much without giving anything away, but if you're like me and seeking a refreshing change in your reading list because you're stuck in a rut where all the books start to blend together, you definitely need Elijah—he has set the benchmark. GOLD STANDARD LADIES!

The themes and setting were perfectly crafted, pulling me deeply into this enchanting world, complete with enough lore to captivate seasoned fans and warmly welcome newcomers like myself! The dialogue was superb; it was always clear who was speaking, when they spoke, and even when it was inner thoughts. The language used was that of "Romantasy" but not so overly complex I had to conjure up my own version of names and terms. A little funny though, I pronounced The Autumn Court , Oryastes - in my head I kept saying "oysters"....

All the secondary characters felt significant and contributed meaningfully to the story and plot. I can't say I felt any dull moments during this journey. I found myself excited, constantly needing to restrain myself from reading too quickly and flipping pages too fast.

Though this tale doesn’t delve into the "darkness" of the prevalent "open-door spicy" genres, nor does it rely heavily on recurring tropes, which is also another high note for me as I am a long time before it was cool to read dark DARK romance, I genuinely thought it was a fantastic story! I admit I'm one of those readers who reads the author's notes at the beginning and end before starting a new book. I was especially thankful to have done that with Heir of Sin. I immediately resonated with C.L. Qvam; her message resonated with me as a woman. It helped me grasp her intentions behind Keira and Elijah's journey.
Additionally, to C.L..... If your Nan purchased the book titled "Prince of Dreams," a marvelous narrative rich in Russian folklore and mysticism, which was gifted to me by my amazing late Gran, it was destiny that guided me to ARC Heir of Sin...

I’m incredibly torn on what to rate this… 2-2.5⭐️? This story would have been great as it has djinns that are the seven deadly sins. This one was about lust and it honestly just felt awkward as this felt low end of ya with spice which put me off(I cringed so hard when it said he grabbed her buttocks). There is really no world building, the FMC was frustrating with her choices and felt like there was little growth throughout the book. The romance just kind of happened. This was a third person pov where you can see fmcs thoughts and the whole story just felt like I was being told things were happening without actually feeling it if that makes sense. This is a short book but it felt like I took forever to read it. It had a lot of weird pacing where more things kept happening with little rhyme or reason. It could have been a better book if the author slowed down to really develop the characters and made them… interesting and less YA(insufferable)