This book had so much potential, but it was poorly executed. I was into it till about 30% then it got a bit repetitive and felt very childish.

The characters in this book didn’t feel like they were 18/20. They felt like they were preteens or very young teenagers. The book locked serious backbone for me.

I love a good revenge story and this one does not disappoint!

Monte Cristo vibes
revenge plot
Heist
Slow burn romance
Secret societies

This book truly has it all! Highly recommend.

eARC Review ✨ Gilded in Vengeance by Lyssa Mia Smith (4/5 ⭐️)

Gilded in Vengeance by Lyssa Mia Smith is a page-turning revenge story set in Gilded Age New York. The Society of the Charmed, a secret society of magical elite, has framed and imprisoned Emmy Vallillo as a fraud. Rotting in her cell, Emmy can think of nothing but exacting revenge until Jack Fontaine, another prisoner wronged by the Society, breaks through her cell wall and offers her the chance. Having escaped, Emmy and Jack use Emmy’s magic to take on new identities, determined to ingratiate themselves with the magical elite and ultimately take them down.

I enjoy YA historical fantasy, so of course I wanted to read this one. Also, what a gorgeous cover ✨ I’m happy to say I really liked it! I found it easy to root for both Emmy and Jack. I loved seeing their characters develop individually and romantically. The villains felt real for the most part. I’m a sucker for stories that have a slow burn romance, secret society, and masquerade ball, and Gilded in Vengeance has that and more. The plot’s fast pace kept me turning the page to see what happened next. An aspect of this story that I wasn’t expecting but greatly appreciated was the social commentary on immigrants and the working class. Gilded in Vengeance is set to be released on November 4th.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

GILDED IN VENGEANCE by Lyssa Mia Smith is an exciting standalone Young Adult Fantasy set in late-1800s New York City. This book has revenge at the center of the plot, and it was chef's kiss...perfection. It's The Count of Monte Cristo meets Gilded Age, the tv series. Just when I thought I'd figured out where the story would go, a huge plot twist slapped me in the face and I blinked several times before devouring more of this excellent read. Before I gush on more, let me tell you what this book is about.

After a Prologue that read like a poem, we meet Emmy Vallillo in current day, 1880s New York city. She's been in prison for two years, and things are bleak to say the least. She's still wearing the remnants of the ballgown she was wearing when she was arrested and thrown into Grimsbane, the prison that the magical club, The Society of the Charmed, use to house magical prisoners. Betrayed by her best friend, Emmy's miserable and trapped. To her great surprise, another prisoner breaks out and offers to take Emmy with him. He's Jack Fontaine, handsome, violent (against the guards), and from a privileged, charmed (they use the name charmed instead of magic to stay hidden) family. He offers to help Emmy escape in exchange for her help in exacting revenge on those who have wronged them. Emmy has the ability to permanently change the appearance and makeup of objects, but she's never had to transform someone's face before. Once she's agreed, they manage to escape, and the rest is a thrilling tale filled with mystery, intrigue, betrayals, and romance.

What I loved most about this book:
- The romance sizzled with tension, and I thought Emmy and Jack had amazing chemistry
- The magic system in this book was unique and leveraged to great effect to add depth to the story
- A good revenge is one of my favorite plot tropes, and this book delivers it in spades
- The tension from whether or not they'll get caught was real. Emmy disguises her and Jack (and her friend Jimmy) and they assume different identities
- The secondary characters: I'm looking at you, Jimmy, and you, Caleb
- The well-written villain(s) with clear motivations, and seeing them eventually get their comeuppance, but not necessarily how I expected
- The historical setting is vividly depicted, and I could envision the settings, the attire, and the ambiance. Since Ms. Smith also did such a great job with setting in her previous novel, REVELLE, I was pleased she decided to go with another historical setting for this book. Loved it!

What didn't work:
- There was one character who had too much power, magically speaking, and there didn't seem to be a way to undo or get around it, which I found extremely frustrating, and almost overly convenient for the plot. But maybe this belongs in the positive category because it made me relate to the characters who were facing off against her.

GILDED IN VENGEANCE is an enjoyable read with twists and hints, and tension with a well-crafted magic system and fantastic characters you can't help but cheer for. I highly recommend it. Run, don't walk, to pre-order this beguiling novel!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books - Storyside for providing me with an eARC of this book for my honest feedback.

I enjoyed this one. It's refreshing to see a fantasy set somewhere else but in a medieval setting, although I would have enjoyed seeing more historical elements perhaps. The characters are pretty well drawn and the pacing is good.
It's a solid fantasy romance.

I enjoyed this one! I thought Emmy was a character to root for and I believed her chemistry with Jack but Jack was not as well rounded as I would have liked. As others have mentioned the pacing of this book is a bit off and maybe another look through is necessary before publication but all in all a magical read!

4.5 stars

This book takes place in the late 1800s in New York City. Emmy Vallillo is in prison and has been for two years, after being embarrassed and wrongly accused at a ball that was supposed to change her life.

Emmy was accused of fraud by the Society of the Charmed—an exclusive club for the magical elite of the city. What was supposed to be the night that determined her future was one that caused her imaginable grief and the loss of the life she knew.

One day while she is imprisoned, her cell wall comes tumbling down to reveal Jack Fontaine, a society darling who was imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. He makes her a deal—he will help her escape if she will help him take down those in the Society that had wronged them.

After they break out of prison, Emmy transforms them both to assume different identities, and they begin to infiltrate the Society down to the core. Unfortunately for Emmy, in order to accomplish this mission, she is forced to come to terms with parts of her past that she wished would stay buried.

This book was truly magical and I loved it. The setting is perfect and I enjoyed the alternate universe that exists in the story. The characters are well written and the magic infused in the book is really unique. There were a few twists and turns, some were a bit predictable which is why I took half a star off. Otherwise, a magical read that many will enjoy.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC!

3.5 Stars

I enjoyed the book, especially the later half of the book when the revenge and action of the plot really started to pick up. I do think this book suffered from pacing issues. The time they have to enact their revenge made the book tense and really drove the action of the plot, but at times weeks of time in the book would pass by where nothing would really happen or it was just preparation. Everything got resolved within a matter of days and all the planning they were doing for the majority of the book didn't really end up mattering. It

I did like the book and the ending was pretty satisfying, but I didn't love it as much as I thought I was going to. I thought the magic system was really creative, and coupled with the immersive world-building really brought the stories and characters to life.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for a digital eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for an eARC of Gilded in Vengeance.

Lyssa Mia Smith wrote a masterpiece. A magical reimagining roughly based on The Count of Monte Cristo. This story takes us to 1800's New York. I am a sucker for historical high society- add drama, revenge, a magical system and a romance subplot and you’ve got a a very entertaining, very well written Gilded in Vengeance.

Thank You NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an enjoyable read with a satisfying ending.

Gilded in Vengeance is a tale about acquiring justice in a world of injustices, slow-burn romance, secret societies, and a pinch of magic. Set in the 1800’s New York, the setting is one of opulence and magic.

We follow Emmy Vallillo, a Charmed person (someone with magical abilities), who has been wrongfully imprisoned for two years. She’s broken out of jail by Jack and offered a deal to help right the wrongs that have been done to both her and Jack.

The prose is an excellent mix of just-enough detail without being overused. While the pacing is well done throughout the book. It blends action with moments of quiet.

Tropes:
- strangers to lovers
- Slow-burn
- Revenge-Plot
- Secret Societies
- Magic hidden from Humans

This book is great for fans of “The Count of Monte Cristo” with a touch of magic and romance.

I had the chance to read an early copy of Gilded in Vengeance, and wow—what a ride. From the very first chapter, I was hooked. Emmy Vallillo is a bold, complex heroine with a sharp tongue and a fire for justice, and I loved following her through every twist and betrayal.

The world Lyssa Mia Smith has created is rich with magic, secrets, and dangerous glamour. I was completely drawn into the high-stakes world of the Society of the Charmed, where nothing is quite as it seems. Emmy’s quest for revenge felt deeply personal and emotionally charged, and her chemistry with Jack Fontaine was perfection—tense, electric, and just the right amount of dangerous.

There’s a brilliant balance of fast-paced plot, emotional vulnerability, and social intrigue here. As an ARC reader, I can already tell this is going to be a standout release. If you love morally grey characters, slow-burn tension, and stories where girls get even, this book needs to be on your list.

I’ll definitely be getting a finished copy when it’s out—and probably rereading it too.

Thank you HarperCollins Children's Books for the ARC!

This was a very intriguing book from the cover and the blurb. The overall storyline is loosely inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo while retaining some of its own original aspects.

The main character, Emmy, acted appropriately for her age and station in life. Emmy is a compelling protagonist—sharp, driven, and deeply wounded by betrayal. The story balances action with emotional depth. Emmy's determination is tempered by vulnerability from her past trauma. Jack's charisma hides his own secrets, creating a partnership filled with tension and growing attraction.

The author did a great job of making you really despise the villains and root for the heroes. Overall, you will love this book if you enjoy revenge plots with social justice.

High-stakes adventure woven through with emotional complexity, tension, slow-burn romance, and a unique magic system. What more could you want?!

I listen to the author’s podcast and so was intrigued to pick up her latest book for myself. Smith is a master of YA fantasy for sure! The story moves along quickly and makes you want to flip to the next page even faster. That, coupled with the character relationships and the brilliant prose, was enough to make this one a 5 star read from me.

Great for fans of Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli or Inferno’s Heir by Tiffany Wang.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This magical imagining of 1800's New York was was enjoyable to read, though it had some really dark themes. The world building was fairly straightforward and easy to follow, though I'm not sure the general public would be okay with one family ruling two out of the three branches of government. Seems super sus.

The main character, Emmy, acted appropriately for her age and station in life (even if a bit frustrating at times). Side characters were interesting, but very secondary. The villains of the book were also interesting, if a bit one-dimensional in motivations. Grace did have a bit more to her though, which was both disturbing and realistic. In fact, the ending of the book did not turn out how I thought it would - where the heroes triumph and the bad guys are the clear losers.

Overall I liked the plot, characters, and pacing. I did take off a star because I'm so annoyed with Caleb for withholding vital information that could have changed things significantly. I think the book also has some relevant commentary on society: poor, working class, immigrants, etc.

Thank you Netgalley and Storytide for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Lyssa Mia Smith’s “Gilded in Vengeance” is a dazzling tale of revenge, deception, and slow-burning romance set against the opulence of Gilded Age New York. A historical fantasy centered around vengeance, the book follows Emmy Vallillo as she seeks justice against the powerful Society of the Charmed—the elite magical organization that betrayed her.

Betrayed by her best friend and wrongfully imprisoned for crimes she didn’t commit, Emmy has spent the last two years seething with rage. She has lost everything—her freedom, her magic, and her mentor, who remains behind bars. When Jack Fontaine, a disgraced former member of the Society, offers her a chance to escape in exchange for her help reclaiming his lost status, Emmy takes the deal. Together, they infiltrate the world that once cast them aside, scheming their way through glittering ballrooms, high-stakes social games, and dangerous magical secrets. But revenge is never simple. As Emmy and Jack move closer to their shared goal, the lines between ally and enemy blur. Emmy must decide whether justice is worth sacrificing her newfound freedom—or if the connection forming between her and Jack is more valuable than vengeance.

From the very first page, “Gilded in Vengeance” pulls you into a world of magic, betrayal, and power struggles. The prologue sets the stage with an emotional gut-punch, immersing us in Emmy’s pain and determination. The pacing remains strong throughout, balancing action with moments of quiet tension and emotional depth. One of the novel’s standout elements is its richly detailed historical setting. The Gilded Age provides a perfect backdrop for the drama of the magical elite, and Smith’s descriptions make the world feel both glamorous and treacherous. The book also brings in commentary on immigration and class disparity, adding layers of relevance and depth to the story, especially with what’s going on right now in today’s society. The magic system—while intriguing—could have been expanded upon, particularly the concept of bridging conjuries, which still confused me even at the end of the book. However, the secrecy surrounding magic and its influence on society makes for a compelling dynamic that fuels the book’s themes of power and control.

Emmy is a compelling protagonist—sharp, driven, and deeply wounded by betrayal. Her relationship with Jack is another one of the book’s strongest elements, filled with tension, mutual respect, and a slow-burning attraction that builds naturally over time. Unlike many YA romances that rush into feelings, “Gilded in Vengeance” allows their connection to develop gradually, making it feel earned and emotionally satisfying. The book also delivers a well-written and realistic villain in Grace, Emmy’s former best friend. Grace is ruthless, selfish, and willing to sacrifice others for her own gain, making her betrayals feel personal and painful. Her presence adds an extra layer of tension, especially as Emmy finds herself facing yet another shocking betrayal late in the story. The found-family aspect is another highlight, giving Emmy allies who challenge and support her along the way. Additionally, the book includes LGBTQ+ representation through a couple of side characters, adding to its inclusivity.

Overall, “Gilded in Vengeance” is a spellbinding history fantasy filled with high-stakes revenge. With its immersive world, well-crafted characters, and slow-burn romance, it offers an engaging and satisfying standalone story. A must-read for fans of historical fantasy, revenge plots, and romance with a touch of magic. If you love glamorous settings, morally complex characters, and secrets lurking behind every turn, “Gilded in Vengeance” is a book you won’t want to miss.

Thank you to netgalley for providing this ARC in return for my unbiased review -

First, let me say the magic system is creative, interesting and well developed in a world both recognizable yet different enough to be very compelling. Some societal elements seemed very contrived, but that is the nature in the real world too so remained believable.

The main characters of Jack and Emmy were very fleshed out with flaws and strengths that grounded them in the storytelling. They were likable and worthy of rooting for. Many of the side characters also shine in this story. Emmys Papa had my heart in the very first chapter. Jacks friends were second to none. The antagonist though was left a bit flat, though it did not detract from the over all story it was a bit... distracting.

At the end the writer got a bit too entwined in the social justice issues and lest in the interpersonal development i would have liked to see. The romance get left fairly - flat.

Over all this was an enjoyable read with an intriguing story line that had me engaged through the entire plot.

I absolutely loved this book! Great world-building and character development. I would be delighted to read any future books in this series.

I received an ARC for my feedback.

Obssesed!Wow—this book had me hooked from the very first page!Gilded in Vengeance was everything I wanted and more—drama, magic, revenge, and a touch of romance that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Emmy is such a fierce and clever protagonist, and I loved following her as she navigated the world of high society, secrets, and betrayal. The tension between her and Jack? Perfection! Their dynamic had me grinning, gasping, and flipping pages like crazy.

The writing was so vivid and immersive—I felt like I was right there in this dazzling, dangerous world. Every twist and turn had me gasping, and just when I thought I had it all figured out, BAM—another surprise!

If you love books that make you feel like you’re part of an elaborate, high-stakes game with glittering gowns and sharp daggers (both literal and metaphorical), Gilded in Vengeance is it. I adored every second and already want to reread it!

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I really enjoyed this story. It pulls you right in immediately and is a fast paced and fun read. The plot was fun and very suspenseful at times. I didn't want to put it down at all near the end as I had to find out what happened.

It includes a revenge story with an interesting magic system, YA slow burn romance, political intrigue, and some found family. Perfect!

Emmy is betrayed by her best friend Grace, while Jack is framed for the murder of his sister (among others). Both meet after they are wrongfully imprisoned, escape, and form a plan to take down all those in the society who have wronged them by infiltrating the high society with new identities. The author did a great job of making you really feel for the main characters, especially Emmy, and you will root for them the whole time, while vehemently dispising the villains.

There are twists and turns all the way to the end, so buckle up and enjoy the ride!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Childrens for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

thank you harper collins for the arc!

i didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as i did. the prologue of this novel doesn’t really read the same as the rest of the story so i’d say if someone finds themselves hesitant after reading that to give it a chance anyway. i can see what the author was going for, but it ends up being more clunky than mysterious. emmy’s voice is incredibly clear for the rest of the story so i’m not sure what happened in that prologue.

the magic system in this is incredibly unique and was a very refreshing addition to the ya fantasy genre. the characters and their motivations were incredibly well fleshed out. i’m a sucker for a revenge plot + undercover work.
the main romance might have been a little rushed but it was still enjoyable.

all that said, my favorite part was the fact that the author didn’t shy away from the political issues of the time - immigration policies and classism. these themes were woven throughout the main plot instead of being brushed over like so many “gilded age” stories.

overall, thoroughly enjoyable and fresh. would recommend for fans of heartless hunter.