I enjoyed the world that was presented here, however I personally was not a fan of the FMC. I found the concept to be better than the actual book, as it was different than the run of the mill romantacy these days, the FMC and MMC don't actually meet face to fact until the middle of the book.

It wasn't for me. The beginning of the book didn't grab me and I didn't like the fmc. I'm all for grumpy fmcs, but she was a little to hermitty for me. I'm sure other people will love it though. It was well written

This is a fantastic read, atmospheric and beautifully written with such real-feeling, relatable main characters - who among us wouldn't steal our rival's current read simply to annoy them? The depictions of depression, grief, trauma and despair at being held by a bond you can't break, interspersed with scenes of our main character, Oneira, turning to creating with her hands to try and stave it off will cut perhaps too close to home for a lot of people, but gives a cozy vibe to the reading experience even while Oneira is ruminating over the atrocities she was forced to commit under a geas and how she may never be able to absolve herself. While reading I did notice a number of plot threads left unaddressed, clearly setting up for a sequel, and as I got closer to the end I found myself a little scared that it might end in a cliffhanger, while at the same time excited, because that would mean another book set in this world and with these characters.

The comp to Circe is entirely appropriate, but I'd also add that if you enjoyed Naomi Novik's Uprooted and Spinning Silver, this has a similar feeling. If you like slower, introspective, character-driven fantasy then this is for you. Enemies to lovers, silliness, banter between Oneira and Stearanos, talk of gardening and baking bread and making soup, magical animal companions, and exploration of grief and trauma, this book brings it all. My one caveat is the very last of the acknowledgements - the glowing praise for The Sandman comes across as in very poor taste with all that's recently come to light regarding that author, and I would recommend removing it from final copies if it's still possible.

This book is an intoxicating mix of dark magic, impossible longing, and a rivalry so sharp it feels like foreplay. Oneira and Stearanos are two forces of nature, bound by power, duty, and the kind of searing, forbidden connection that threatens to consume them both. Their correspondence crackles with wit and tension, turning a stolen book into a battle of wills and something dangerously close to intimacy. The world-building is lush and immersive, filled with ancient libraries, mythical creatures, and a war that looms like an omen. But at its heart, this is a story about two weary souls, drawn together against all reason, daring to want more in a world that demands their destruction. Spellbinding, tragic, and utterly breathtaking.

I knew I was going to enjoy this one simply because of the blurb and I was completely wrong, I absolutely freaking LOVED it. It’s definitely going to go on my shelf as soon as it’s published.

The description of this book drew me in, and I loved reading it all play out. The characters were fantastic, and it was a fun read. I definitely recommend this book, it was a nice change of pace.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bramble for an advanced reader copy of this title and exchange for an honest review. Initially, I decided to read this book because I love a dark and mysterious cover on a book and was really drawn by the premise. Overall, I really enjoyed it – the characters were well thought out, and I loved the dynamic conversation between the main characters. I would have rated this book higher, but I felt like there were some elements of the book where it was super drawn out, and therefore could’ve been a lot shorter.

There’s something irresistibly tender and quietly defiant about this story. Oneira’s nightly visits to Stearanos’ library are less about stealing knowledge and more about reclaiming the pieces of herself she never had time to find. The cat-and-mouse dynamic between these two ex-enemies feels like a perfectly brewed potion—equal parts tension, humor, and reluctant respect. It’s not just a game; it’s a dance, one step removed from their former battles and one step closer to something… softer.

This is a great book! Well worth the read! It reminds me of one my favorite books, fantastic work. Please read this

What is the balm for nothingness? For the pause that comes after you take yourself out of a bloody, brutal game? For Oneira, a recently retired famously brutal sorceress, it’s animals, baking passable bread, and playing a game of cat and mouse with her nemesis, Stearanos that involves his library and a lovely book of cultivating roses.

She visits his stunning library while under the cover of her powers to poke at the titles on his shelf, because after a life of murder and destruction, what else is there to do?

Fans of Rebecca Thorne and T. Kingfisher’s Swordheart will love this one! I would read one hundred books about fantasy characters after their big showdowns. They live in the ‘so what now’ times and it’s such a beautifully ripe phase that we don’t see too often in stories.

Thank you to Bramble for an early copy of this cozy romance showing us what comes after— there is something, and it is glorious:)