I really enjoyed reading this—the story itself was super engaging, and I loved uncovering secrets alongside the MC. The magic system, based on pleasure and pain, was a simple yet brilliantly executed concept that felt like an organic part of the world-building.

I especially appreciated that, despite the MC being strong and sometimes sassy (a trope often highlighted in romantasy but not always well executed), not everything came easily to her. She had to actively navigate dangerous situations, showing rather than just telling the reader how capable she was. I fully believed in her character, her trauma, and her emotions—and the same goes for the MMC.

This story felt like a true enemies-to-lovers, with their relationship evolving naturally, step by step. I also loved the author's attention to small details, like swapping modern swear words and exclamations for ones that fit seamlessly into the world she created. That, along with her prose and sharp dialogue, made for an amazing reading experience.

I can’t wait for the second book!

This book has been generating a lot of buzz in the fantasy community.
I was eager to dive in, especially with its intriguing premise and the hype surrounding it. However, I found myself struggling to connect with it.

A book needs to capture me early on, to
pull me into its world and make me care
about the story, the characters, or even just
the atmosphere.
This book, however, failed to do that. While I understood the plot and followed the events, I never felt invested.
My mind drifted, I found myself rereading passages not because they were profound,
but because I wasn't paying attention the
first time. In the end, I finished it, but it felt
like had simply processed words rather
than experienced a story.

What Didn't Work for Me:

The concept of magic being fueled by pleasure and pain was unique, but personally, it made me uncomfortable. I often find that adult fantasy leans too heavily into sexual themes, and this was no exception.

I didn’t click with the romance subplot at all. The dark-haired, morally grey male lead has been done a lot, and this version didn’t bring anything fresh to the trope.
The whole "hurt me, then" dynamic just isn’t for me—it focused more about physical attraction and dominance than emotional depth. It felt possessive and further distanced me from the characters and their relationships.



Potential Positives for Other Readers:
While the book didn't align with my preferences, there are aspects that others might appreciate:

While the story didn’t grip me, I did appreciate the world itself. The setting was rich and well-developed, and the way magic worked was interesting (even if I personally didn’t enjoy the pleasure/pain aspect). The mechanics of it were well thought out, and I can see how people who like darker fantasy elements would be into it.

L.K. Steven’s writing is solid, and I never had an issue with the pacing or structure. Even though I wasn’t emotionally invested, I never felt like the book was badly written—it just wasn’t the right fit for me.



Conclusion:

Silvercloak didn't resonate with me personally. It lacked the emotional connection I need to really feel a story. I finished it, but I never felt hooked.

Yet, I still recognize that it offers unique elements that may appeal to other readers. If you're intrigued by an innovative magic system, rich world-building, and diverse representation, this book might be worth exploring.
However, if you share my reservations about certain tropes and themes, you might approach it with caution.


Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book …. Wow I feel like I’m still processing that ending!

I will start by saying I really loved this book. The world and magic system building is so in depth you truly get a feel for how it works. The story focuses on a young Silvercloak who is hellbent on revenge against the Bloodmoons who murdered her parents. After being discovered for deceiving the academy in order to continue her training, she is sent deep undercover in the Bloodmoons organization with the goal of gathering information to cripple them. However, working with a certain handsome member of the organization causes bonds to grow that make her question her decisions. Is everything truly as similar as black and white, right and wrong, good and evil? Or is there humanizing history behind every villain’s origins story?

This is an action pack fantasy that will keep you on your toes wondering what her next move will be and asking yourself, what would you choose in that situation. Highly recommend!

Harry potters red flag evil twin that you can’t help but want… meets the dirty dark underbelly world of mafia magic. Silver cloak is a weird but wonderful balance between whimsy and brutal violence with a few kitty cats added in for good measure. If you love a badassFMC who is set on revenge no matter the costs then silver cloak is for you.

Spoiler-free review: Silvercloak
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Omfg this book was INCREDIBLE. I was in a constant battle between not being able to put it down and also not wanting it to end! The world building was spectacular, characters so likable, and plot absolutely fascinating. I was hooked from the start and thought the pacing was spot-on, keeping me engaged throughout (I seriously couldn’t put the book down).

Steven’s’ writing is so intentional and detailed. In terms of plot, Saff is a detective tasked with going undercover to infiltrate a deadly gang (which happens to be responsible for her parents’ deaths 20 years prior), though she finds herself questioning loyalty when desire for the leader’s son takes root. I adore both of the main characters and boy oh boy is their tension juicy. There are prophecies, cloaks and wands, and such cool variants of magic. The magic system overall was creative and exciting, with their “wells” being replenished by pain or pleasure. Makes for some super interesting situations *blush and giggle* Plus I love the inclusion and queer representation in this book.

I genuinely think will be one of the best fantasy books coming out this year and everyone should preorder Silvercloak, coming out July 2025! I will also likely continue to yap about it sorry not sorry. Laura Steven is a genius.

Thank you SO very much to Laura Steven, Del Ray, and NetGalley for the eARC - The opinions in this review are left here honestly & voluntarily.

This one is super hard for me to rate, because parts of this story were great. This was the perfect enemies to lovers set up. Truly enemies and a lot of great betrayal and intrigue. I really enjoyed how the MMC's character unfurled over the story, especially at the very end. The magic system was easy to follow, and the world was uncomplicated. I really liked the beginning at the school (I love a deadly school) learning the cast of characters. But then those characters disappeared abruptly? And then were picked off one by one, and I was supposed to care about them? I didn't have enough time with them to feel strongly. And I felt like all the pieces fell into Saff's hands way too easily? Like this story simultaneously felt way too long and also not long enough. I wanted her to face more trouble infiltrating the bloodmoons? And my biggest pet peeve in fantasy reading is mondern slang in a non-urban fantasy world. I caught multiple sayings that I really didn't feel belonged in the setting, and it took me out of the context multiple times.

That being said, the ending was strong enough for me that I definitely want to see where the rest of the story goes. So I will pick up book 2.

SCREAMING CRYING THROWING UP

4.5 stars rounded up because this could’ve easily been a perfect 5 star read for me but I really needed a glossary and a map to help get me through the first quarter of the book.

The magic system is *chefs kiss* and Levan Celadon might just give Xaden Riorson a run for his money as top book boyfriend.

This was an immediate pre-order and as I was lucky enough to get approved for Our Infinite Fates as well (my first 5 star book of the year btw) I think I may have found my new favorite author. I need the next book like yesterday.

Silvercloak by L K Steven ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ publish date 29th July 2025

I absolutely loved this book. Easy 5 stars for me. It had me hooked from the first page and I honestly couldn't put it down.

I really liked the magic system and how power is replenished through pleasure or pain. This doesn't mean there's copious amounts of spice because we see pleasure comes from simple things such as hot chocolate!

The plot was so good! I really liked how it starts out with the FMC, Saffron, and her friends in the final stages of their academy, hoping to become Silvercloaks. Sort of like police but with magic. I enjoyed following Saffron on this journey. What a great FMC. I loved all the aspects of her magic and how her traumatic past has shaped who she is. I like the brief glimpses of her past.

The MMC, Levan, in this is easy to hate and then quickly becomes easy to love. He also has a similar complex past as the FMC and despite the bad blood, you can see how they how they feel like kindred spirits. All I will say is - costumes. That part of the book had me welling up. You'll know it when you see it.

There are some really great side characters, and a sapphic love story in the mix too. I really enjoyed the villains in the story. It just made the plot twists and the storylines so addictive.

There is spice in this book but it's really well written and it's obviously an important part of the story given that pleasure is a vital part of restoring up magic that is used. The romance plot in this book is so well done, i don't want to call it enemies to lovers because it's more complex than that but needless to say - I was heavily invested!!

There's lots of political intrigue involved in how certain magic is outlawed, frowned upon and controlled. The Bloodmoons are like the mob and are feared amongst everyone but even their history isn't what it first seems.

There's some really hard themes covered such as death, grief, addiction, trauma and trauma responses but it's done in such a fantastic way. It gave so many important levels to these characters.

I absolutely adore what Laura has done with this book. I am preordering it as we speak and the downside to reading this as an arc? I have even longer to wait for the next book. I can't bloody wait!!

Thank you to the author, NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group for the arc. This is my honest review of the book.

This is my first book by L.K. Stevens and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I’m in awe of how well composed this book was.

The author immediately pulls you in with her beautiful and descriptive writing. She also wrote the world building in such a way that you get slowly get the hang of things without it all being thrown in your face immediately. I especially loved that since I take a bit of time to get used the world building in books. The magic wands and spells intrigued me so much and love how she chose the name of the spells! They were so clever. The whole magic system gave me that epic feeling when reading a well developed high fantasy book that enchants you. Another thing I really liked was how the book showcased that no one can simply be good or bad, that people are more complex than that.

I absolutely loved the characters in this book.

Saffron was an interesting fmc. As the book went on I loved how we realistically saw her moral code begin to blur. She went from a sort of soldier who would do anything for the so called “good” to a girl who tried to justify murder. It was as she would say “This is how villains are born.” That quote absolutely made my jaw drop. It couldn’t reflect more perfectly how Saffron’s character developed.

Levan, the mmc was so cunning and smart I loved it. I loved how we saw the layers peeled away from him and saw bits and bits more of his true character and intentions as the book went on. The chemistry between him and Saffron was through the roof and I absolutely adored it. They had that amazing tension that made you think “Are they going to kiss or kill each other?” If that’s not the perfect enemies to lovers then I don’t know what is.

This was such an unforgettable experience! I absolutely cannot wait for this book to be out in the world so that I can get a physical copy of it!

Thank you so much Laura Steven / L.K. Steven, Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore and Netgalley for the arc!🫶

I began hearing about this on TikTok and was so intrigued and thrilled to get an eARC. It was great!!! This is book 1 of a new series and deals in pleasure and pain... so you can expect things to get interesting ;)

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

I really enjoyed the world-building and magic system in this book. The setting was immersive, and the magic system felt intriguing and nostalgic in a way!! That said, i struggled to connect with the characters a bit. While the overall story was engaging, the characters themselves felt flat, which just made it hard for me to stay fully invested in the story.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House - Del Rey for providing this e-arc in exchange for an honest review

3.5 stars rounded up

Silvercloak has a really unique magic system that plays perfectly with its magical mafia/undercover agent, enemies and lovers vibe. It’s both new and familiar and I think it’s going to be huge.

If I could rate this book on the prologue and last 20% or so alone, it would absolutely be a five-star read, but I struggled a little in between. There were chunks where the world-building felt more like info-dumping. As a reader, I know I can struggle with first books in a fantasy series when the world/character-building has to be established and built up, and this is why I usually like second books more than first books. By the end, all of the world-building came together as I knew it would and I absolutely loved the last 20% of the book but I personally prefer when the world-building is a little less visible. There were also a few places where I wish the book trusted the reader a little bit more to use context clues or refer back to previous information.

That said, I adored the ending- it was fast-paced, perfectly aligned with the characters and everything that had happened so far, but still really packed a punch. The last page had me kicking my feet and hugging my kindle to the point where I wish I could just quote the entire thing as my favorite line of this book. I absolutely can’t wait for book two because I already know I’m going to love it even more!

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey/Random House for this ARC!

This book was explained to me as having Mafia meets Harry Potter vibes, and frankly that's a perfect description. This scratched the magical world itch I've been feeling since the last of Rowling's books was published. Be aware though that this is a very mature and dark world of magic. Our heroine's family is brutally murdered in front of her by the Bloodmoons, a mafia type magical organization. She grows up and joins the Silvercloaks, aka the good guys, but a series of events compels her to go undercover. She has a secret that makes her uniquely suited for an undercover mission with this particular group, and I don't want to spoil too much more of what happens. I will say that this book was immensely satisfying because everything the characters did had a clear and believable motivation. So many books nowadays throw twists just for the heck of it and have characters do things just for the plot, but Steven did an incredible job with this one of making everything feel inevitable, while still making you care about the outcome. This had some great late stage reveals and the reveal of her super special power may have felt like a cop out, but it pushes the story forward in such a cool and interesting way. This is how you write magical fiction!

Book Review: Silvercloak by Laura Steven

*will post online reviews whenever it is published per requested at the beginning of the copy of the book*

Silvercloak tells the gripping story of Saffron Killoran, whose childhood was shattered when the notorious Bloodmoons murdered her parents. Determined to avenge her past, she lies her way into the prestigious Silvercloak Academy of detectives. Just as she nears graduation, her deception is exposed—but instead of punishment, she’s offered a dangerous alternative: infiltrate the Bloodmoons from within. As she embarks on this perilous mission, Saffron is forced to commit unspeakable acts to keep her cover, all while her loyalties blur when she finds herself falling for Levan, the conflicted son of the kingpin. Amid shocking revelations and a maze of moral ambiguity, nothing is quite what it seems.

Key Tropes:
- Revenge Quest
- Undercover Infiltration
- Forbidden Romance
- Secret Identity & Deception
- Moral Ambiguity
- Unique Magic System
- Shocking Revelations

My Review:
I absolutely loved this book! From the first page, it had me hooked with its immersive world-building, intricate plot twists, and a magic system that’s refreshingly unique. The concept of magic fueled by pleasure and pain is unlike anything I’ve seen before—it adds a layer of depth that makes every scene pulsate with raw energy.

Saffron is a fascinating protagonist. Her journey from a grieving daughter to a determined undercover agent is both heart-wrenching and exhilarating. Although her personality shifts a bit once she infiltrates the Bloodmoons, it only makes her more complex and human. And then there’s Levan—what a character! Their forbidden romance is charged with tension and emotion, making every interaction sizzle with unpredictability.

But let’s talk about that ending—it had me gasping for air! The shocking revelations and the unresolved questions left me utterly craving for more. Despite a few minor inconsistencies, Silvercloak is an addictive, high-stakes adventure that pushes the boundaries of fantasy romance.

With a solid 4.5 stars, this book is a wild, immersive ride that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone looking for a story that’s as unpredictable as it is unforgettable.

I had a feeling about this book straight away. This is wonderful. The world building is GREAT. The Magic system is GREAT. The premise and the plot are solid. The ending is GRIPPING. I loved being in the world Steven created with wands, gangs, magical affinities, the blurring of right and wrong or perhaps more accurately, good and evil. For fans of Harry Potter book 5 and up or even Novik’s Scholomance series, this is a great dark twist with cops and gangs/Silvercloaks and Bloodmoons. I’m sure this will be a sensation.

A huge thank you to the publisher for allowing me early access to read and review this title!

Spoilers ahead!

I really enjoyed this. The intricacies of the magical system, where power is obtained through pleasure and pain, was really cool and well done. Some of the scenes were also incredibly brutal - especially the letter opener. If you know, you know.

The ending was great! Really wasn't expecting Saff to rewind time and follow a different path, and the fact that Levan knows is brilliant. I feel like he is going to be such an epic villain in the next book.

YESSSSS yes yes yes. It was like Harry Potter but for adults. The wands, the magic, the romance, the politics….THE BETRAYAL!!!…totally here for all of it. Loved it, love love loved itttttt

Oh my gosh!!!!! This book was utter perfection! It scratched that adult Harry Potter type world and just took it and made it even better! Like I have been wanting a true enemies to lovers slow burn and this book is it!!!! First this world is so unique and just loved getting to see the in and outs of it. Then the magic in this is so freaking cool and I can’t wait to dive further into it. And this book wrecked like I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I started reading it. Like I can’t believe how long I’ll have to wait til the next one because my goodness the last 20 percent of this book just blew my mind. I can’t believe I got the honor or reading it early. And now I have to wait til it is published to talk about it with friends. Seriously though I loved the fmc and mmc. And man this will be on my mind for a while for sure. Now I’m beyond excited to read her other book our infinite fates when it comes out next month. So thanks NetGalley, del Rey, and Laura Steven for giving me the opportunity to read and rate this book.

This adult epic fantasy introduces readers to a world where magic is uniquely powered by both pleasure and pain. The narrative centers on Saffron, a determined protagonist who, after witnessing her parents' murder by the Bloodcloaks at a young age, infiltrates this brutal gang of dark mages as part of a covert mission. Her immunity to magic renders her an invaluable asset, but also places her in constant peril. As Saffron delves deeper into the underworld, she confronts moral ambiguities and forms complex relationships, notably with Levan, a morally grey character whose secrets and charisma have captivated early readers.

I love the intricate world-building and innovative magic system. The concept of magic being fueled by pleasure and pain is woven seamlessly into the fabric of the society, influencing various aspects of life and governance. This unique approach has been described as "sexy, beguiling, and wholly intoxicating," creating a fantasy that "crackles with vibrant and alluring energy."

The character development, particularly of Saffron, has been highlighted for its depth and relatability. Her journey from a vengeance-driven individual to someone grappling with the complexities of morality and identity. The dynamic between Saffron and Levan offers a compelling enemies-to-lovers arc, adding emotional intensity to the plot.

The novel's ability to blend dark, gritty elements with moments of levity and romance. The portrayal of a society where magic's dual nature influences both the elite and the underworld provides a rich backdrop for political intrigue and personal vendettas. The narrative's pacing keeps readers engaged, with twists and turns leading to an unpredictable and satisfying conclusion.

Overall, "Silvercloak" is poised to be a standout in the fantasy genre, offering a fresh perspective with its unique magic system and complex character dynamics. Fans of adult fantasy seeking a blend of action, romance, and moral exploration will find this novel particularly engaging.

The grandeur and scale of this book and its world is precisely where I want to start because L.K. Steven, you have accomplished was very few and far between accomplish (in my opinion)… A world that feels like it’s continuing beyond the page. The very nature of the narrative means stories and relationship are broken, splintered, woven, unpicked, glued and more throughout the novel, but there’s a level of realism that comes from L.K. Steven allowing her world, and secondary characters, to LIVE outside of when they pop up in the protagonist’s timeline. This world is hearty, complex, multi-faceted, history-rich, and I cannot compliment it enough!

The fantasy elements of this novel really intrigued me as I’ve heard of pain as fuel for power but feel I have seen/read little of pleasure. Without going into too much detail, this fascinated me as I’ve always been one who believed power funded pleasure and had never considered the vice versa as a foundation for magic. This leads to some very exhilarating plot points throughout Silvercloak and I’m hooked to this concept! In fact, after finishing reading, when I found myself in moments of happiness, I questioned do I feel more powerful and found I did! So perhaps Steven has tapped into something in psyche’s we may have tucked away or pushed down, and I’m interested to see where this develops to.

The romance elements were, and yes, I’m going to just say it as it is, they were HOT. That being said, they were never unnecessarily trying too hard to be, which is what I think makes them so successful. So much so that I would go as far to say I disagree with this novel being classed as romantasy and would argue it’s straight up fantasy with a REAL protagonist. None of the hot and steamy scenes were overly gratuitous nor did they feel shoehorned in like some other books in the genre. They were the scenes of an adult in this world doing what adults in that world would do! The depth of these romantic relationships further engrossed me in this world and, again, I cannot see where these stories flow.

This review is relatively difficult for me to write as I want to talk about every little detail because I LOVED SILVERCLOAK THAT MUCH! However, having seen some unfortunate spoilers during my time reading/before reading Silvercloak, I would never want any future or prospective readers to stumble across that with my review. I will be posting a more spoilerific, in depth review once the novel is out and the world has had time to digest it. In the meantime, I highly recommend any adult readers get preordering as, if this book is anything like Steven’s Our Infinite Fates, they are certain to be flying off the shelves…