I am a self-admitted book worm, and I have been the majority of my life. I typically gravitate towards more suspenseful books. I have, within the past couple of years, started reading “romantasy.” Because of this, I was very excited to read this book.

I have read a few of Fallon’s previous books, so I was a bit surprised when I read the description of this book. I have to admit that the plot description definitely intrigued me. I will say that, which it did take me a few chapters to get into this book, once I got into it, I was hooked.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Although it is different from Fallon’s previous books, I really liked how the characters where developed. I also liked being able to solve a bit of a mystery. I am very sad to be done with this book. I cannot wait to see what happens next in the series.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you for the opportunity to read this advanced copy!

Moulin Rouge blends with Macbeth sold me on this title. It has a really unique premise and I liked the way it was formatted— dual POV, journal excerpts, news paper clippings, etc..

However, I had some issues with the execution. There is essentially no world building so you jump right into the plot with no background information on how Gifts work, why people have them, really anything. This book is explicit but at the writing didn’t feel deep, and lacked the prose I’m looking for to juxtapose the explicit scenes. It left me feeling like the writing felt unfinished.

While I do think you are able to understand the motives behind the characters actions you don’t see any character growth. They feel the same from beginning to end.

Overall, I like the concept but didn’t like the execution.

First of all—can we take a moment to appreciate how stunning this cover is?

I absolutely loved this book! It gave off serious Moulin Rouge vibes, which I’m totally here for. The storyline was captivating, and I found myself quickly drawn to the characters. Callum and Caterine’s relationship was a definite highlight for me—I adored their dynamic and chemistry! I do wish there had been a bit more explanation around what it truly meant for them to be “bonded,” as that concept intrigued me.

Also, the inclusion of journal entries throughout the book was such a brilliant touch. They blended seamlessly with the narrative and added an extra layer of depth to the story!
Thank you NetGalley for the digitally advanced readers copy!

Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for this arc.

First of all, can we talk about how amazing the cover is? That immediately drew me in to the book. The world building was solid and the romance was fairly spicy (not super spicy). It was a lovely romantasy.

Something Wicked captivated me with its alluring cover and the enticing description that promised a blend of Moulin Rouge—one of my favorite plays—and Macbeth. However, while the story begins with great promise, the characters quickly reveal themselves to be one-dimensional. The romance that develops throughout is primarily based on lust, and the lore is either poorly explained or ignored altogether. The author doesn't sufficiently elaborate on the magic of the world and how it operates, leading to an underwhelming and disappointing experience, especially for a novel with so much potential. Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ebook.


Wowza! Ballard hasn’t written anything like this before, and I honestly didn’t know what to expect. If you’re looking for a romantasy pick, this is a pretty solid one.

The setting picks up right after an uprising and the fall of a monarchy. We follow Callum (former prince, now trying to become president) and Cate (a Gifted woman whose powers are strongest through intimacy—yes, you read that right). Callum has to make the impossible decision to kill his own father just to maybe have a future, and while he definitely doesn’t trust the Gifted, there’s an instant connection with Cate.

The characters felt believable overall, but I did have some issues with the dual POV. Callum and Cate sounded very similar in tone for the first half, which kind of pulled me out of it. Also, this is easily the spiciest thing Ballard has written—like, very spicy. I’m not complaining, but it felt a little too technical at times? Especially considering a big part of the setting is a sex club, it somehow managed to feel graphic without being all that emotionally charged.

There’s also this whole “bonded” thing that comes up, but it’s never really explained. Like... what does that mean? Is it a fated mate situation? Is it just a Gifted thing? Suddenly Callum and Cate are bonded and getting married, and we just kind of roll with it.

The rebellion itself, the mysterious leader (August Sotello), and the background of what the Gifted went through pre-Uprising all felt kind of vague. There are repeated details, but not a ton of depth. I did really like the journal entries from other characters—such a cool way to tie things together. I can tell this is going to be a series (I’m guessing the other sisters are next?), and I’m definitely in for more. But as a full story, this first book felt a little underdeveloped.

Something Wicked is an immensely enjoyable romantasy with impeccable Moulin Rouge with magic vibes. The Gifted of the kingdom are women with powers whose rights are severely limited: no more than 10 allowed in any one place, they must be sponsored by a man, and they are forbidden from having children. The story begins with an uprising that overthrows the monarchy. Caterine lives and works at a pleasure club where she manipulates clients' emotions during sex who finds herself helping Callum, the former king's son who is forced to kill his father if he wants to stay in power. Their chemistry is top notch and sustains the majority of the book. The story falters once the action picks up in the last act but the journey is more important than the destination in this case.

“My lady, that comment was downright sappy.” “This is what you’ve done to me, Your Highness.”

ˋ°•*⁀➷ 3.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Putnam for the ARC!!

Something Wicked is a wild ride. You are thrown right into the ending of the Uprising and a world of Gifted women and it’s so fascinating. However, for me, it was missing something critical to really make the world work for these characters. Lady Caterine and Prince Callum are both great characters who are easy to root for but the world building, while intriguing, fell flat in some places that I felt really brought the whole book down. You are given a lot of information from the start and it’s hard to discern what of it is truly important to the plot until events occur much later in the book. It’s a lot to keep track of and while some things are more explicitly spelled out, there are also some parts that leave the reader in the dark for a tad too long, bordering on forgetful rather than mysterious.

Despite this, it’s easy to say that I still had a fun time reading this. I enjoyed the relationship between the two main characters even with the more “insta-love” aspects of their story and their connection does feel more authentic when comparing it to other instant romances I’ve read before. This author has a great strong voice for writing romance and it is clear that there is where her strength lies; enough so that I will definitely be looking up her contemporary romances. While the last 30% does feel a bit rushed, you’re on the edge of your seat waiting to find out what happens between these characters and it’s easy to root for them to win in the end. The Moulin Rouge and Macbeth inspiration is clear and really well-done in my opinion to make it still feel original while taking parts of those stories that have worked so well in the past.

I’m curious how the world will develop as the series progresses and how the characters will change as well. I’m not entirely sure if I will continue this particular series over time but I did enjoy this and look forward to reading more of the author’s work in the future.

~ My Ratings ~

Characters - 4 ☆ - believable, diverse representation, strong relationships, likable

Plot - 3.5 ☆ - fast-paced, rushed, twisty

Setting - 2.5 ☆ - innovative, lack of depth, mystical

Writing Style - 3.5 ☆ - descriptive, original, takes getting used to

I came to this book with no expectations, only an allure towards the cover, and all I have to say is I applaud all of this authors trying a new genre.

I did like how easy to read this book was, which is always something positive when it comes to fantasy books. I also liked the plot, as I felt it branched out from what other new romantasy authors are trying to release.

However, I think that's where my appreciation to this book ends. This book starts with a bang, literally, as we meet the FMC having s*x with a man. The romance between the main characters felt both rushed and unrealistic, especially in a fantasy setting where slow burn is much appreciated, but other than their romance, I found their presence underwhelming.

The world building was so confusing it got me thinking about giving up multiple times. Nothing is explicitly explained, and I believe when reading fantasy it is really important to portray an understandable world building, as otherwise the plot of the book gets difficult to grasp, which is what happened to this book, and why I ultimately rated it 2 stars.

I applaud Falon Ballard for branching out from the romance genre, and giving romantasy a try, but unfortunately, I will not be continuing this series, as I believe there are other romantasy novels with good world-building out there. and I'm going to hold other books in the genre to that standard. Morover, I believe that if you are going to write a love interest who’s politically opposed to the protagonist’s rights, it only really works if the plot is fully developed to match that energy.

Thank you to NG, Falon Ballard and Putnam Books for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange of my honest review.

Something Wicked steps into new territory with a bold mix of political intrigue, emotional tension, and speculative elements. Falon Ballard blends fantasy and romance in a way that feels both daring and deliberate, offering readers a world where power, desire, and duty collide in unexpected ways.

The novel is driven by complex dynamics between characters who are wrestling with high-stakes decisions, all set against a backdrop of a country on the brink of reinvention. Ballard’s prose is sharp and stylish, with an undercurrent of sensuality and suspense that keeps the pages turning.

While some aspects of the world-building may leave readers wanting more depth or clarity, the novel’s strength lies in its ambition and atmosphere. It’s a story that leans into moral gray areas and explores what it means to sacrifice for something greater—whether that’s love, legacy, or liberation.

Overall, Something Wicked is a provocative and imaginative read that will appeal to fans of genre-bending fiction. It's emotionally charged, a little wicked, and entirely unafraid to ask difficult questions about power, connection, and the cost of ambition.

The country of Avon is in turmoil. There is a divide between the people in Avon vs anyone who is "gifted". Callum is the son of a dethroned king and feels very strongly against the gifted. Cate is a gifted courtesan who is quite famous in the night club she works.

The two end up in the same room, passionately attracted to each other but also the desire to destroy one another.

This book is incredibly passionate and the political world building is very creative but the relationship between the two MCs didn't feel emotional enough, They had insane physical chemistry, this book is very spicy, but I wanted more heart aching conversations.

It was a slow build and the essence of Moulin Rouge and Macbeth is very accurate.

Macbeth meets Moulin Rouge??? SIGN. ME. UP.
I did really enjoy the way these two stories were blended together in this. It takes everything you love about both and puts a new twist on it.

What I did not love was the lack of world building. I understand this is a Romantasy and the focus is on the romance, but I was really interested to understand more of the political background. We learn the country has signed a treaty ending the ‘uprising’ but we don’t learn how or when everything started. But I’m giving it the benefit of the doubt as this is only book one. Hopefully we will have further explanations in the sequel.

It follows the story of Lady Caterine, a gifted courtesan working at La Puissance, and Prince Callum, the son of a recently dethroned king who does not trust the gifted. But Callum seeks her gifts to help him commit a murder without the ensuing guilt that would follow, while Caterine is using him as a means to an end, one that will save her and her sister’s lives. In their week together they find themselves wondering if maybe they had the wrong impressions of each other, and their scorching chemistry has them joining together to both get what they want.

-Enemies to Lovers
-Spicy
-Prince and Courtesan
-Spicy
-Moulin Rouge x Macbeth
-Spicy
-Magic System
-Spicy
-Bonded Mates
-Did I mention it’s spicy??

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Okay, first, let's take a minute to appreciate this cover. It's giving bodice ripper, but make it fantasy 😍 I love it!

I really enjoyed this book! It grabbed me right away (which I think is super important for romantasy) and kept my interest the entire time. I thought it was unique and fast-paced... always having me wanting to know what was going to happen next!
The chemistry between the FMC & MMC was of the charts, and the spice was SPICING! 🥵🔥 I was not expecting there to be that much spice, but it worked with the story & didn't overshadow the plot at all, in my opinion.

I could've used a *little* more world building, but it wasn't hard to follow as is, and I can't wait to see where the rest of the series takes us! It's a great intro to the romantasy genre for Falon Ballard, and I'd definitely recommend it to all the spicy romantasy lovers out there!!

Thank you, NetGalley for this ARC! There were some parts of this book that I liked and some that were harder for me to get into. I felt like the mixing of world-building and romance-building was rushed. At times, the FMC and MMC’s romance felt too quick and didn’t have enough tension and yearning for my liking.

I went into this book thinking the premise sounded cool and there was going to be tons of opportunities for unique world building but unfortunately there was a huge lack of world building straight from the start. There was some, but there was a lack of it enough to the point where the plot was confusing at points. I did like the letters ( maybe even journal entries??) we see throughout the book and that did help me figure out some of the missing pieces. Just the lack of world building took away a huge amount of enjoyment for me.
The characters on the other hand, I liked some of them. And others I didn't, I enjoyed Cat, she was honestly my favorite and I thought her gift was unique, but I just didn't enjoy her sister. And maybe that's because we didn't see so much of her ( I have a feeling the next book will be about her ). I did like her romance with Callum and I enjoyed the more spicy scenes that were littered without.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Oh I so wanted to love this one! The premise and cover were to die for. But some of the world-building was confusing and hard to follow; same with the plot. The chemistry between the main characters was to die for, though!

This book is sexy, alluring, unique, and utterly bingeable!

Something Wicked feels fresh and different in a genre where too often books feel like slightly distorted carbon copies of those that have come before it.

Fallon Ballard took a risk jumping from contemporary romance to romantasy and I think she’s on to something great. This wasn’t a perfect book but it was a great debut to the genre and I’m excited to see what comes next from this author.

What’s to love…
- MMC with red hair AND curls ::::swoon::::
- fast-paced and utterly binge-able
- perfect blend of Macbeth and Moulin Rouge
- interesting magic
- top-tier chemistry between the MCs
- FUN, this was a blast to read
- perfectly hateable villain
- SPICY! A book with this much spice can sometimes feel like they’re banging constantly for no reason and you can’t get a single break. This was NOT that. They are definitely doing lots banging but it’s sprinkled throughout in a way that gives you a bit of a breather between sessions and always feels purposeful.
- sex lessons
- Bi FMC (although we only get one WLW interaction and its no longer discussed BUT still worth mentioning imo)
- I really enjoyed that this book gave an interesting (and positive) take on sex/sex workers with Caterine's magical power. The idea that sex/orgasms can be to used to heal is so powerful and certainly true under the right circumstances.

What not to love…
- World-building, I think this would be a good book for those who don’t mind a superficial world or are new to the genre, but those that want a fully fleshed out world and high political intrigue may find this to be a bit lacking.
- A bit predictable. I usually don’t remark on this, because I am autistic and pattern recognition is one of my strong suits, BUT I think its safe to say that in this case others may find it a bit predictable too. Mostly I found the letters/journal entries at the beginning of chapters to be a bit too obvious.
- Pacing. This was certainly fast-paced and easy to binge but it felt a little too rushed during the climax/falling action. I wanted more.

🌶️- This one is SPICY. The FMC is a courtesan in a smex club, we get scenes right from the start and they continue to be sprinkled throughout. Sorry I don’t have chapter numbers for you this time, the ARC was in PDF format and my kindle was really struggling with syncing and saving bookmarks! Just know it’s SPICYYYYYYY.

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

I’ve been excited about Something Wicked since Ballard revealed that gorgeous cover (look at how beautiful). And while it’s not a perfect book, it’s fun, seductive and spicy as hell - we’re talking McCormick levels of spice.
Okay, so Cate and Callum are super hot and fun MCs who you totally root for. However, some of the side characters don’t feel very fleshed out. Like some of the other courtesans and Callum’s sister Dom feel like they were stuck in there to help move the plot along or to be sacrificed for MCs’ character growth. Hopefully this is the beginning of a series and in future books these characters will be further explored?
The world building is good and keeps you interested - the idea of gifted women who are used and bodies are regulated felt apropos of the current times. And the transition from a monarchy to a democracy was compelling. However, a lot of the political plot kept me wanting more and didn’t seem fully fleshed out. Including the Uprising - but again, if this is just the first book of the series, hopefully there are plans that would expand on that plot.
At the end of the day, I had fun and I loved the parts I loved and they more than made up for the parts that fell flat for me.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the eARC!
4/5⭐️

2.75
So… this was a little addicting at first, but overall it made little sense. For a fantasy the world building was pretty nonexistent. Where are we? When does this take place? The nuances of the world were introduced but not really explained (Bonds and Gifts). The villain was one dimensional and annoying. Ultimately I just didn’t care about any of the characters or anything that happened. The spice was nice, but there was a ton within a handful of chapters and then none. It all just felt a little pointless and like there were no stakes.

First of all the cover is everything. I was very excited to see Falon moving into Romantasy. I really enjoyed this one and am very excited for the next. There was just something missing that I usually get out of falons romcoms. I wanted to connect to the characters way more than I did. Overall a great read tho.