With thanks to Netgalley & Leblon Publishing for this ARC to listen to in order, I could deliver an open, honest review.

This isn't quite as much fantasy for me as it is a romantic novel. With the link of the prism for both Iris and Hoyt, it brings them into each other's path whilst Iris begins trying to discover the powers that this holds. If you have any understanding of crystals, manifestation, soul contracts, etc, you may also see this as a spiritual romantic storyline. Yes, of course, there is an element of mythical. However , there is a lot of what-ifs and possible learning here of the magic we have as souls on this planet.

For the purposes of the storyline, taking it all as fiction it is a beautiful love story that includes family grief and searching for relatives, etc, which brings Iris and Hoyt closer together. The burden of this crystal/ amulet necklace can cause devastation in the wrong hands and must be protected at all costs.

It was well narrated, and I really enjoyed this audiobook overall. However, I was a little disappointed in what felt like an abrupt ending it just didn't feel like the story should have ended there. I appreciate that this is the first in the series, meaning it, therefore, needs to be left open for the next book. However, even with this in mind, it felt like a rushed ending.

This is where it lost some stars for me was the ending and possibly just a little too much focus in the beginning of Iris previous relationship it just didnt feel as relevant but maybe this will be in thw following books! I do think I'd like to read on following their journey through in the next in the series!

⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

This was such a great read! I would describe it as an urban fantasy.

We start off on Iris’ 30th birthday. She is an art history professor at Harvard who is engaged to her childhood sweetheart and best friend. She is also wholey unhappy. She was gifted a necklace by her absentee father (who left after her mother died as a child) along with a note. Strange things begin to happen after she wears the necklace and she finds herself in an out of body experience looking at another man who cannot see her. Soon she comes face to face with Hoyt, the man from her visions. Their connection becomes undeniable but there are so many hurdles before they can ever be together. Eventually she finds out Hoyt has a similar mysterious necklace and they set out to try and figure out what they are.


The first half of the story was a little slow, that’s what kept me from giving it 5 stars. Once it started going though it had a great pace! The ending was fun and I cannot wait to read the next book. This was definitely the start of what I can see as a great series.

Narration was also great.
Spice level .5 🌶️/5

Thank you to Leblon publishing via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC


“I stared at my reflection in the mirror, at my perfect matching pajamas, all I could think of was, I’m so tired of being a good girl.”

This is a slow burn romance with a side of magical realism/urban fantasy. I really loved this story and I couldn't stop listening to it. The story unfolds a bit slowly and ends on a cliffhanger so if that isn't your thing you may want to skip this one but I am indebted in this story and I can't wait to see what happens next.

I love the fact that Iris is older and has her own job and life experiences. Hoyt is handsome, romantic and enigmatic and I want to know more about him and his family and how all of the dots are connected with him. Aaron is super sus and I don't trust him at all and I don't like that Iris relies on him at the end of the book. I feel like this situation is going to get worse before it gets better.

Anyway, I'll just be waiting over here for the love of my life to buy me a white horse.

The audiobook narrator, Rachael Franco does a wonderful job voicing the characters and I enjoy the pace and tone of her voice.

Thank you NetGalley and Leblon Publishing for access to the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Crystal Iris is a beautiful urban fantasy with an unexpected cliffhanger. The female lead character is a professor at Harvard who feels as if she doesn’t quite belong even though she seems to have it all. Her life changes when she receives a gift from her mother who has passed.

I admire that the female lead character is older and I found it very easy to relate to her. I love that the author wrote the best friend in throughout the book and kept their relationship strong. The romance was a very slow burn which kept me on my toes the entire time! With the story based in the modern world I did not have to focus too much on world building and I was able to just be excited about the magic and mystery Iris was discovering.

Rachael Franco as the narrator was perfection. She did a wonderful job bringing the characters to life and I was able to imagine them all in my mind as she voiced them.

If you are new to the fantasy or romance genre, this is a great book to start with! This series is not finished so I am looking forward to the next one!

5/5 stars! For lovers of slow burn with a touch of fantasy/magical realism, this book will keep you wanting more! The spice was spicin’ and I thoroughly enjoyed this unique love story. I love that it ended with a cliff hanger and we get to continue with this series. Cannot wait for the next one!

This was such a fun mix of dark academia + magical realism + western mystery! I loved that the protagonist was in her 30’s, established in life, and had a career she loved.

I thoroughly enjoyed all of the art history / lifestyle that was woven through the story by having artist quotes begin every chapter, lots of trips to museums, and peeks into art history lectures.

When I read the blurb, I expected more fantasy/magic, but I would definitely classify this as a contemporary romance with light themes of magical elements. Based on the cliffhanger, it sounds like there will be more magic in the next book!

I absolutely adored the narrator! She really brought the characters to life!

(The review below was published on Instagram, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble on 1/27/2025. BN says, "Your review is being moderated and may take up to a few days to appear," so it may not appear there immediately.)

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced listener copy of #CrystalIris!

GENRE
• First in series
• Adult
• Paranormal romance

SUMMARY
A birthday gift from her late mother pushes Iris down a path from which there is no return. No longer does her life center on her job as an art history professor nor her relationship with her finance. Her new reality is one of elemental magic and dreams of strange places. When she meets a man from these dreams in real life, her world tilts on its axis once again.

REVIEW
Though neither the plot nor the characters were revolutionary, there was something incredibly captivating about the storytelling itself. The tone and the flow worked together to create a truly magnetic reading experience. As if I snagged a thread when I opened the book, the story unraveled seamlessly and with no effort on my part—like a movie that simply sweeps the audience along. I almost felt afraid to put the book down, as if the story might continue on in my absence and I’d miss the conclusion! This stellar storytelling, combined with sufficiently engaging plot and characters, made for a great read.
4/5

This was such a fun listen! The pacing was spot on—I never felt like the story was rushing or dragging, which is a rare balance to strike. The Harvard setting and the professors were a highlight for me. They were nerdy, yes, but also genuinely fun characters, which you don’t see often in literature. Usually, it’s one or the other, but here, their personalities shined beyond just their job titles or social standing, which made them feel real.

The magic system was another win. It wasn’t overcomplicated or overly simplified, and it never felt like the author was hammering the rules into my head. Instead, it blended seamlessly into the story, giving just the right amount of detail to keep me intrigued without overwhelming me.

If you’re into fantasy, this is definitely a book I’d recommend. It’s got a great mix of adventure, well-developed characters, and just the right touch of magic. A solid, enjoyable read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Crystal Iris by Blair Shadows is a mesmerizing blend of elemental magic, art, and slow-burn romance. Professor Iris De Loughery’s journey of self-discovery pulled me in from the start, and Hoyt’s mysterious presence only intensified the intrigue. The complex relationships and thrilling twists kept me hooked, while the enchanting magic system added a unique touch. Rachael Franco’s narration brought every scene to life beautifully. This is the start of a spellbinding series, and I can’t wait to dive into the next installment. Fans of magical realism and steamy romance—this one’s for you!

Overall I enjoyed this audiobook. I will say though that it read more as a contemporary romance with just a little magic but it seems like the magic will be more important in the next book at least.

I loved that Iris was a 30 year old with a career and as someone who minored in art history, I really enjoyed that focus. There was a lot of emotional cheating for a good chunk of the story which made it hard for me to enjoy the romance.

The narrator, Rachael Franco, did a great job. She had a great cadence that was easy to follow and helped emerse me in the story.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

This was a very engaging read! I really loved how we got to know all the main characters through their passions. I found the writing to grip me right from the beginning. I feel like the magic was very light, yet I did not mind because I enjoyed the characters and the romance so much. The main character's personal conflicts and character growth made the story amazing. I love art history and I loved all the quotes at the beginning of each chapter and how art history was also folded into the story.

I listened to the audio book, and I enjoy every minute of it. The narrator, Rachael Franco, did such an amazing job! This was an intriguing romantic suspense filled with magic. The following elements are in this novel:
- slow burn romance
- Love triangle
- Magical Fantasy
- Spicy Scenes
- Betrayal
The magical parts of this book, as well as the romance, kept me listening. I had to know more because the author did such an excellent job with the mystery surrounding Iris and Hoyt. This was such a well plotted roller coaster ride filled with suspense and adventure! I will admit that I can’t wait for the next one to see what happens!

Thank you Net Galley, Leblon Publishing, and Blair M. Shadows

I really enjoyed Crystal Iris and can't wait to get into the upcoming sequel! It feels like there'll be even more fantasy plot in the next book with the prisms so I'm really excited to see where the story goes next.

Iris felt like a real, complex character. At the start of the book, everything about Iris and Aaron's relationship screams "settling" and I just wanted to shake her and shout "You are not happy!!" She immediately felt a connection with Hoyt while still with Aaron, but she set boundaries and didn't cheat. After her relationship with Aaron ended, she decided to focus on herself and not rush into another relationship with Hoyt. I liked her maturity, apart from refusing to read her mum's letter. It was convenient for the plot that she didn't read her mum's letter until the very end of the book but I would have preferred an actual reason for this, such as she never got it back from Aaron, Lara stole it maliciously, or it was misplaced by all the moving around.

I really enjoyed the audiobook format for Crystal Iris. The narrator was really good at highlighting all the aspects of Iris' personality and she had me really invested in the story.

It was a strong and original story, and I'm left with so many questions. I'll definitely be continuing the series and sticking with the audiobook format for it too.

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Listener Copy from NetGalley, but this is my voluntary and honest review.

CRYSTAL IRIS is the first book in the Crystal Iris series by Blair Shadows, audiobook narrated by Rachael Franco. This is a slow burn, magical romance series filled with mystery, modern conflicts, complex relationships, a love story, and a cliffhanger which will leave you craving more. This book/audiobook is for fans of elemental magic, paranormal mysteries, urban fantasy, magical realism, and thrilling twists. I had difficulty initially becoming engaged, however the further I delved into the story of Professor Iris De Loughery, the more hooked I became. She was a character who had been simply going through the motions in her personal life, engaged to a man who loved her, but for whom she felt only friendship in return. After receiving a necklace as a gift on her thirtieth birthday, strange things began to happen for which she had no explanation without reading a letter left by her long deceased mother. This was something she couldn’t bring herself to do. Her journey for answers took her to a number of places she hadn’t anticipated, some of them wonderful and some terrible. I truly did not anticipate the turns that the story would take and will be looking forward to the next installment in this series to find out what will happen next. The narration in the ALC was good, but it took me a little while to connect with the narrator. Ultimately I do believe that she did a very good job of narrating the story, with different voices and infections for the various characters that appeared within the book’s pages. This book includes mature themes, steamy romance, explicit content, and adult language. Recommended for new adult readers and above. I recommend this audiobook/book for readers and listeners who enjoy elemental magic, paranormal mysteries, and romance with contemporary themes and complex relationships.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Leblon Publishing for providing this ARC/ALC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed this book! It was like a romantic suspense with a touch of magic and paranormal elements, which is right up my alley!!

I loved that Iris was an older than typical FMC, and that she's accomplished with a solid career as a Harvard art history professor. I loved art history classes when I was in school so I really enjoyed the bits with Iris' lessons.

The slow burn romance lead to some great spice, loved the chemistry! And I loved the mystery elements, it left me wanting more! After that ending, I can't wait for the next book!!

Tropes:
•FMC - 30yo Harvard art history professor
•book boyfriend 1 - finance guy
•book boyfriend 2 - ranch owner and one hell of a good cook
•Academia - Harvard
•Impossible love
•Love triangle
•Spicy spice
•City & Country setting

I absolutely loved Crystal Iris! The romance was beautifully written, the magic added so much depth and wonder to the story, and the twist at the end completely blew me away. It kept me hooked right until the last page. Now I’m counting down the days until book 2—can’t wait to see where the story goes next!

Mystical, mysterious, and magical romance that was short and entertaining ! Love a good urban fantasy.

Iris is a Harvard art professor who is engaged to Aaron? Her long time best friend. She received a gift from her estranged father that’s an heirloom from her late mother. The necklace seems to be calling to her and pushing her towards a new mysterious man.

A love triangle ensues as Iris tries to understand what is going on and reveal the secrets of her family. Good balance of romance and plot !

Narration was great.

Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.