This book is a perfect wintry read. The concept of mixing dark academia with a modern-day graduate recruitment scheme set in Dublin was super fun and the magic system was incredibly unique.
5 stars.

The Lost Apprentice by Tara O'Toole is so so good. I rated this book 5 stars because I couldn't give it more. I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic.

Oh wow - I really don't even know what to write. This book absolutely blew me away - the suspense, the secrecy, the "visions", the hiding, the history, the romance - all so incredibly well done and I can honestly say that I was absolutely blown away.

The characters, oh the characters; Fiadh stole my heart from the beginning & her overpowering love for her cousin Muriel was just a beautiful thing. There were times where I thought that it was more guilt than anything else leading her on the path she took, but when it really comes down to it - you do feel guilty when something has happened to one that you love, but that does not make the love any less important. The rest of the characters were all phenomenal in their own ways, and I truly loved the found family that was found within them - they all needed each other for it all to work out the way it was meant to.

I don't want to say much about this one, as I don't want to give anything away - go into this book blindly if you can, and just get ready for all of the twists & turns & fun along the way!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tara O'Toole for this absolutely incredible arc in exchange for my honest review.

I read this book via the ‘read now’ feature of NetGalley.

Summary: This book is a cosy mystery book about a group of apprentices inside a law firm, and the FMC is attempting to get information about her cousins disappearance. There are a few interesting things that happen along the way.

What I liked:
- every character was so loveable and funny
- the love interest relationship was so sweet
- there were multiple plot twists which made me literally gasp
- the pacing and length of the book was great. I really enjoyed it from start to finish!

Review: 5/5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

Dark academia, secret society, trials, and a unique magic system - say no more. This book was so much fun and I was locked in from the beginning.

This book is short at just over 300 pages but packs so much in it without you feeling like you are being rushed. The storylines weave together and have a way of leaving you surprised, as I definitely fell for every misdirection which I loved.

The magic system and elements surrounding the secret society do have some holes that make you want to know more but with the nature of it being a short book, you just roll with it and add to the story's mystery and overall enjoyment.

By the end, I was attached to our little SOS crew - they were funny, witty, and super clever lawyers, and found myself really warming to them. It's hard to build so many characters in such a short time but the author did a brilliant job. I hope we get to continue going on adventures with them in future books.

Thank you, NetGalley and Tara Toole for this amazing ARC in exchange for my honest review!

The writing in the book is incredible, as O'Toole shows us without over explanation. The weaving details and storylines that don't end up the way you expect is beautiful. I enjoyed the reveals, the many different faces our characters have. No one is all they seem to be, and even when I thought all the secrets were revealed, there was still more to come.

An addictive, fast-paced contemporary thriller perfectly leavened with an oh-so-sweet romance and moments of laugh-out-loud humour.

Tara does a great job of maintaining tension, allowing it to steadily build while providing enough lighthearted moments to ensure things don't boil over.
I absolutely adored the Scooby Gang. Fiadh, Brigid, Prender and Keefe are a fantastic team with great chemistry. And I admit to a soft spot for snarky snake Dawson. .

Another thing I loved was the unique setting - the insight into the crazy, chaotic world of law, solicitor's apprentices, and their after-hours shenanigans.

All in all a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ read! Recommend!