A fae assassin bound by an enchanted collar to a ruthless king meets a mysterious reaper with a deadly touch, and their unlikely alliance becomes a dangerous game of desire and destruction. Iverson's power of illusion is no match for her servitude—until Thorne arrives with the weapon she needs to break free. But their tenuous bond hides secrets that could destroy them both, and touching him means certain death.
My Review
Thank you so much to Slowburn books for gifting me a gorgeous copy of this book.
I picked this up thinking I was in for another romantasy that would blur into all the others I’ve read lately, and instead I got completely blindsided in the best way. I spent the entire book feeling smug like I had the plot figured out, only for the ending to prove I was very, very wrong. By the last pages my jaw was on the floor and I was staring into space wondering how on earth it could end like that. From page one I was locked in. The pacing never dragged, the world felt rich without being overwhelming, and every time I had to set the book down I kept thinking about when I could get back to it. This story honestly reminded me why I love being a reader.
Iverson Pomeroy is now cemented as one of my favorite fantasy heroines. A wraith assassin with illusion magic, bound by an enchanted collar to a cruel king who treats her like a pet, she is sharp, resilient, and carrying more trauma than anyone should have to. Watching her quietly scheme for freedom while still caring deeply for the people around her made her feel so human. Tough, yes, but still just a girl trying to survive something awful. The backstory woven into her choices made everything she did feel earned. The magic system is also such a standout, illusions, shadows, reapers, gods and fate all tangled together in a way that felt fresh and original.
And then there is Thorne. Dark, broody, morally gray, a literal reaper who wields shadows and somehow still manages to be flirty and funny. He falls first, he is very much in the touch her and die camp, and the banter between him and Ivy had me giggling and kicking my feet. Their reluctant alliance to find the one artifact that can remove her collar is full of tension, secrets, and a slow burn that is still very much burning by the end. The push and pull between them felt natural and electric, and I am already desperate for more of their story. This book had enemies to lovers, banter, twists I never saw coming, and two characters I am now completely obsessed with.