This was unfortunately just not a story that connected with me. The initial idea of a world based around Tarot I found super intriguing and there is a lot of potential with the characterization and everything already built into the cards, that this could have been a truly intriguing and compelling story.

But our FMC was so immature and flat, and there was no compelling force behind her story, nor the story of our MMC. He was big? Had abs? She found him sexy? That was about the extent of him. And for being in her mid-twenties or so, our FMC had the thought processes and reactions of being a pre-teen or teenager at best.

I think if this had spent a little more time in the drafting process then it could have been something great. If you're a fan of the author's works done with her mom P.C. Cast, then this might be for you.

Kristin Cast's The Empress introduces readers to the mystic and perilous world of Towerfall, where tarot cards come alive, and survival hinges on deception and unlikely alliances. While the premise promises an intriguing blend of fantasy, romance, and tarot-inspired magic, the execution is uneven, leaving this romantasy feeling more like a light, entertaining read than a memorable deep dive into a richly developed universe.

The highlight of the story lies in its creative tarot elements, which add a unique twist to the genre and serve as the backbone of Towerfall's world-building. However, while the concept is fascinating, the actual development of this magical realm feels superficial, as though it was designed to support the plot rather than be fully realized in its own right.

The protagonists, Hannah and Kane, are at the heart of the story, and their fake marriage setup injects the plot with tension and occasional humor. Kane, the morally grey and brooding warrior, shows glimmers of charm, but his character never quite transcends the archetype. Meanwhile, Hannah's modern sensibilities clash with her medieval surroundings, often in ways that feel more grating than empowering. Her character arc, while earnest, struggles to resonate, as her impulsive decisions detract from the high-stakes drama.

While The Empress doesn’t deliver the emotional depth or intricate storytelling some readers might expect, it compensates with fast-paced action, flirtatious banter, and a touch of spice that keeps the pages turning. Fans of lighter romantasies with morally ambiguous love interests and a dose of tarot mystique will likely find it enjoyable, if not groundbreaking.

Many thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books | Bloom Books for providing me this arc copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

The first few pages had me HOOKED and then it sadly went downhill from there. The description of the book had me really intrigued and I felt like the story did not match up.

The FMC felt really immature for an adult book and while I loved the MMC, things moved really quickly and I didn't really buy their connection. A few of the side characters were quite fun and there was so much potential...

I REALLY wanted to love this book and was looking forward to all of the tarot connections but unfortunately it just wasn't for me.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bloom Books for this eARC!

Unfortunately I ended up DNF-ing this book. While I wanted to experience the magick that was described in the summary, it just didn’t hit the mark for me. I love Kristin Cast and her work, but this one just…didn't meet the expectations.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bloom Books for an ARC Kindle version of "The Empress" by Kristin Cast, in exchange for a sincere review.
As a fan of time-travel romance novels and someone deeply interested in Tarot and the metaphysical, I was immediately intrigued by this book's description. The combination of time-traveling intrigue and mystical elements seemed right up my alley, and I had high hopes going in.

Unfortunately, with predictable tropes and circumstances I could see coming a mile ahead, this one didn't deliver for me.

One of my main issues was with the MFC. Her personality felt "victimy" at times. She came across as overly self-deprecating and yet also frustratingly stubborn; the later of which felt more like ignorance than strength. She'd supposedly watched period TV shows like Outlander, and so had some idea of the potential challenges ahead and the very, very real misogyny she was going to face. Instead, she completely ignored repeated warnings to temper her modern day personality and just marched on being a total harpy.

The MMC didn't fare much better. While he had the makings of an appealing hero—handsome, kind, and honorable—his personality felt underdeveloped. He lacked the spark or complexity that makes a romantic lead truly memorable. He wasn’t unlikable by any means, but he was also far from captivating.

Together, their romance felt lackluster.

I also wanted more world building and explanations behind the magics at work in this realm. It was sort of frustratingly left out.

As is usual with my 3 star ratings, it wasn't awful. I don't feel like I wasted my time reading this. There were absolutely moments that shined. I just can't call this one memorable and well-rounded.

I don’t think this was for me. While I found the premise interesting and enjoyed some things, the pacing felt uneven—some sections flew by too quickly, while others dragged, which impacted the flow of the plot. The main character was well-crafted, but a few of the side characters felt a bit underdeveloped in comparison. Also, the insta-love was something I didn’t enjoy, it looks like the relationship doesn’t have any depth at all.

This one lost me from the very beginning. It felt a little hard to follow and wasn't a keep for me. I ended up DNF'ing around 48%.

What a fun, tarot-inspired ride! Strong characters, fast-paced action, I'm hooked! Looking forward to the next books of the series.

I have had this book on my tbr and when I got approved for it the other day, I made it my first read of 2025 and unfortunately this was just a mess. The tarot card was just a great concept but everything was so messy and disjointed and the protagonist did not read like an adult woman. So disappointed.

I had to DNF this. It just wasn’t for me. The premise with the tarot cards sounded so unique and intriguing but this aspect of the story didn’t connect for me. I strongly disliked the FMC and unfortunately just, couldn’t push through. Such a bummer because again, the premise sounded so cool.

For my first book of 2025 I choose to read The Empress by Kristin Cast which is a new romantasy that comes out January 7th. This is the story of Hannah who goes for a tarot reading and ends up with magick that takes her to another realm. There she stumbles around and almost gets killed several times, but is saved each time by Kane, a broody protector of the realm. After all of the excitement she just wants to get home so she hatches a plan that requires a fake marriage and infiltrating the palace. This story is fast paced and the world building of Towerfall is beautifully done. Definitely a book you should add to your 2025 tbr!

it definitely wasn't awful. it wasn't as good as i expected tho. read as very YA or even middle grade in terms of character development, and i found the plot a bit generic. still, it's serviceable. 3.5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Unfortunately this is a no for me. I love books surrounding the occult and different aspects of it, such as tarot and was so intrigued by this premise of the arcana cards being real. I don't feel this fits into the advertised romantasy style, it's more of a romance in a fantasy world and has classic elements of being a rom-com. I had high hopes when she was transported to another realm but ultimately the characters and world building fell flat. The side characters were not at all compelling and didn't add anything to the story. the tone of the story was feminist but misogynistic somehow and had very odd overtones for the conventionally expected gender roles.

Hannah is having a rough go of it - work isn't going well, her boyfriend was just caught cheating on her, and her NYC apartment is a glorified closet. When she finds a tarot card in the snow, she finds herself sucked into the world of Towerfall, an alternate realm in which magic is real and those who wield it are seen as enemies to the crown. Hannah is saved by Kane, who just happens to be someone who can control magic, and so begins a tale of mistaken identity, emotional turmoil, and finally finding out where you fit in.

While I loved the idea of this story, I do not feel that it was executed as well as it could have been. The decisions that Hannah made were consistently in contrast to her own good and Kane's fascination with her never felt justified. I loved the world of Towerfall, but I feel that it would have been done more justice with a stronger female lead.

3.5 rounded.

Thank you to Kristin Cast, NetGalley, and Sourcebooks for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

After an awful day at work and a terrible exchange with a guy she thought she was exclusive with, Hannah is nearing a breakdown. Her situation goes from bad to life-threatening when the tarot card she picks up in the snow suddenly transports her to a different realm, full of medieval archetypes and forbidden magic. Her only chance to return home is hidden within the palace of the Kingdom of Pentacles, alongside outcast Kane, who is handsome and secretive, and her fake-husband for their plot.

This was sort of like a romcom set in a historical romance with a trace of fantasy. I love tarot and while the name and description lead one to believe the Arcana will be an active part of this book, I felt like it was severely lacking. The characters were fun, and the ideas were novel, but I had a hard time buying some character motivations and choices.

Thank you to Bloom Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book! The Empress publishes January 7, 2025.

A start to a new romance series starring the most annoying Gen-Z-er ever. Hannah has had the worst day ever when she gets sucked into the realm of Towerfall and learns that she has to save it from imploding. Of course there's a handsome brooding hero but the true message here is that Hannah can save herself.
Hannah and Kane Blackthorne, requisite brooding dark hero, fall in love and must figure out a way to save the realm of Towerfall. But does Hannah actually belong there or back in Chicago in the "real" world? Also, can we stop adding a K to the end of magic? It's really pretentious.
Their story was finalized rather tidily so I assume this series is going to star other characters in the next novel. I do hope they are not as irritating as this protagonist.

*Special thanks to NetGally and Bloom Books for this digital e-arc.*

I am sure this book will find the right reader, but it just wasn’t for me. The main character, Hannah, feels so shallow and annoyed the heck out of me through the entire book. I also really didn’t like the whole “good girl” spicy routine—ick. This reads like a Harlequin novel dressed up as a romantasy, but the world building and character development isn’t there.

DNF at 42%
This was ok but I wasn’t invested. I think the marketing for this one had a lot to do with this book not meeting expectations. I had One Dark Window vibes from the description but this book was very light and romcommy. Also the tarot influence the description gives is almost non existent. At 40% only one reading and one card really has anything to do with the plot.

I think this book will be loved when in the hands of the right reader. I really enjoyed Hannah's sass and banter with Kane, but ultimately decided not to finish the book. The "good girl" sexual relationship budding between Hannah and Kane was just not for me. I did feel that Hannah's character was a bit unrelatable as she went from very nervous in the pitch meeting to not listening to Kane when he was trying to keep her from harm where I feel like this defiance was at ends with the anxious part of her. I was really hoping to enjoy the rest of the book, but unfortunately I don't see myself picking it back up anytime soon.

Hannah is in a rut. Her work and personal life are not going as planned. After a self help book inspires her visit to a tarot reader, Hannah is unintentionally swept into another realm where magik is real, a kingdom is in peril, and a mysterious hot guy may or may not be her brooding knight in well-fitted trousers.

This is ultimately a novel that is about a woman who is a bit lost in life finding her inner strength and value. The way she finds that path felt to me at times a bit rocky, manufactured and hokey. I do expect a bit of that in these types of romances, but this time it was a bit too much. Overall a great premise to the novel and a fun setting, I just didn’t connect with the protagonist. 2 stars.

Review based on a digital Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by Sourcebooks Bloom Books and NetGalley. Thank you!