I received a free copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books; all opinions expressed are exclusively my own.

I'm really torn on this title; it has some really great ideas, but feels like the execution doesn't quite reach the potential. Pros: it's a fast-paced quick spicy read where the main character learns to act in her own defense and in defense of others. Cons: the story feels a little flat, and some of the dialogue and events are a little overwrought, It seems like this is the first novel of a series, and for me to stay interested I think I'd want to see a story from the perspective of different characters, but we'll see what happens!

For sensitive readers this book contains depictions of cheating, bullying, violence, attempted sexual assault, misogyny, loss of autonomy, graphic sexuality with bondage, betrayal, and fantasy racism (magic users are described using historically racist terminology).

Hannah is trying, and failing, to succeed in her corporate and love lives, when she finds an occult shop and gets some strange life advise and a tarot card featuring The Empress. The tarot card transports Hannah to another realm and into the lap of the grumpy sunshine MMC, Kane. She starts a journey with him to find her way home as he tries to save his kingdom of Pentacles from bad magic. They have chemistry from the start and of course their attraction soon leads to more. Will Hannah stay to help Kane or will she leave for her world when she gets the chance?

I really really really waved to love this book for incorporating the tarot but it didn't embody the suits as much as I had hoped. Besides using the suits as different "kingdoms" and being heavy handed with using the symbols everywhere in them I didn't see the ideals of the cards really represented in the characters or situations.

Spoilers
For example, "Four" from the kingdom of Pentacles is the main protagonist. He is using the king as a puppet to drive the kingdom to chaos and war; however, the four of Pentacles in tarot represents the miser, a condition of being too attached to one's money or worldly possessions. He could be better represented by the Devil, which in tarot represents bondage to the crudest aspects of human nature, which more accurately describes his enslavement of the King and persecution of other magic-wielders.

Hannah, our main female character should have gotten the High Priestess card after visiting the occult shop, representing heightening of intuitive powers foretelling her journey from her realm, instead of The Empress, representing earthy phases of life such as child birth or marriage.

Definitely not my cup of tea. The idea was really interesting but the main character/narrator is so abrasive it takes me right out of the story. The story feels unpolished. If you're looking for a quick romantasy read, I'm sure this fits the bill.

DNF at 22%

The style and tone of this book did not at all match the publisher description. Instead of a romantasy with historical overtones, you get a straight-up fantasy rom-com. The characters and story are not as well developed as you might find in other books In this genre. Skipping to the end did not provide any compelling reason to continue reading. Recommended only for people who are already fans of the author's work. The cover is gorgeous, though.

The Empress is a steamy, high-stakes fantasy romance set in a world inspired by tarot cards. It starts as modern-day, and Hannah is dissatisfied with her life. She is overlooked at work, and her boyfriend just broke up with her. As she leaves his apartment, she slips on the ice and hits her head, only to wake up in the dangerous and mysterious realm of Towerfall. Hannah is thrown into peril, nearly killed by the kingdom's inhabitants. Kane steps in, saving her life and forming a dangerous alliance. As they pose as husband and wife, she searches the kingdom of Pentacles for the tarot cards she needs to get back home. As they work together to survive, it becomes clear that Towerfall harbors deep, deadly secrets that threaten the kingdom. If their ruse is discovered, they will both be executed.

I was surprised by how spicy this book turned out to be! The romance between Hannah and Kane heats up as the story progresses, and their attraction is undeniable. I enjoyed the tension created by their fake marriage and how the forced proximity led to some pretty intense scenes. The dynamic between them engages Kane's dark, protective nature, which contrasts nicely with Hannah's determination and outspoken nature. The book also stands out with its tarot-inspired world-building. I found the idea of the Arcana being real entities fascinating, and the use of the tarot theme added a unique layer to the fantasy setting.

Visually, the book's cover is stunning. It captures the magical, seductive nature of the story and immediately draws readers in with its beautiful design. It does not scream smut, which makes it easier to read in public.

It balances action, romance, and a rich, unique fantasy world. Although it was spicier than I expected, I enjoyed the intensity and intrigue that came with the character's relationship and the threats surrounding them. It was a splendid read.

I received an ARC ebook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks, Bloom Books

This book is just not for me. The premise was very intriguing and seemed like something I would love. I’m a huge romantasy fan and the concept of a magical world based on tarot sounded original and unlike anything I’ve read before. Unfortunately, the execution is poor.

My first issue is that this book is classified as adult, yet reads as *very* immature. The situations, cliches, and attempts to crack “relatable” and modern jokes did not come off as comical, but as cringeworthy at times. The female main character behaves more like a teenager than a grown adult.

The romance itself is super rushed. It is very much insta love/lust. There is zero build up to the attraction or sexual scenes. I sensed no chemistry between the two main characters and did not see any reason as to why they would like one another.

The female main character’s repeated act of running into dangerous situations without a second thought and ignoring every warning she is given was super frustrating to read about and I could not relate to her at all.

This is my second attempt at this author and I think after this it is safe to conclude that she is just not for me. Romantasy fans who just want to read something fun and mindless might like this—it wasn’t all a miss. There were a few instances where I thought the humor worked, and the concept of the magical world and magic system is intriguing. However, this was not enough to make me enjoy this.