First, I want to apologize for taking so long to review this book – thank you for your patience!

3.5

The Temptation of Magic is a promising supernatural fantasy novel, though not without its weaknesses. For a debut, it has original and intriguing elements that make the story compelling overall.

One of the book's strongest aspects is the world-building: a diverse range of paranormal creatures, mysterious paintings, and the enigmatic Wake organization all enrich the narrative. I enjoyed the detailed references to art history — a subject I’m passionate about — which added an extra layer of intrigue. The descriptions of the artwork are well-crafted, contributing a unique touch to the novel. The variety of paranormal creatures also captures attention, making the plot compelling. However, the distribution of information feels uneven: at the beginning, it was challenging to follow the plot and understand the role of each creature, despite their relatively small number.

The romance, which takes up a central part of the story, is both intriguing and a bit disappointing. I’m not a fan of “love at first sight" and, in this case, the sudden jump from strangers to people ready to sacrifice everything for each other felt unconvincing. I get that the paranormal context can explain certain choices, but it didn’t fully work for me. However, as the story went on, I started to appreciate the relationship between Nicole and Kyan and the way they complement each other. Their slow-burn romance was one of the best parts of the book, with a well-thought-out balance that kept the tension going until the end.

Nicole, being the classic protagonist with great abilities but followed by misfortune, stands out a bit from the crowd due to her obsession with finding answers to the great mystery her mother uncovered before dying. Additionally, she doesn't shy away from danger and embraces her essence, even though she has let it lie dormant for too many years. Overall, I liked her, but she didn’t leave a strong impact on me.

Unfortunately, the positive aspects of the books end here, as I found the overall reading experience rather tedious. One of the main problems is the writing style. I usually like rich and detailed prose, but in this case, the style felt inconsistent: some descriptions were overly long and meandering when they could have been more concise and effective.

Kyan, the male protagonist, is also well-developed: he’s a hunter, or rather, a dog who follows the orders of the Wake. However, aside from the romantic aspect, I feel he’s poorly portrayed in the role of a hunter. I can’t quite grasp how, despite being a centuries-old warrior, he falls for a young girl. What confuses me even more is how he feels drawn to her and senses something different about her compared to all the magical creatures he’s hunted in the past, but doesn’t make any effort to understand this phenomenon.

Also, the secondary characters are underdeveloped: except for Nicole and Kyan, who are the most fully realized. In my opinion, the secondary characters are underdeveloped, except for Nicole and Kyan, who are the most fully realized. Nicole’s family, despite the danger that emerges at the beginning of the story, mostly fades into the background. Now and then, we see Bells trying to help with her visions, and Dylan assisting Nicole in smaller missions, but it feels like they only become useful when the protagonist needs them. This is a shame because each of them possesses unique powers that could have added much more depth to the story. It feels as though Nicole is the only one responsible for saving the family, while the others play a small role. I didn't feel the sense of family between them, and if it weren’t for the tragedy that united them, they would come across more as acquaintances than relatives.

Overall, The Temptation of Magic stands out for its evocative atmosphere, intriguing paranormal elements, and a well-executed slow burn. However, these strengths are not fully realized. The world-building, while interesting, could benefit from a more seamless integration of details, making it easier to follow and understand. With more refinement in how world-building is introduced, along with improvements in pacing and structure, this novel has the potential to be much more engaging and impactful.


Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is not dark academia, or much about paintings and art. It's literally about 2 supernatural beings denying their feelings while also falling instantly in love, with boring lore, an under-developed world and magic system. The word 'supernatural' and 'transformation' was used far too many times in the 40ish% I read of this book.

This was super disappointing and the felt like I was reading a young YA insta-lovey strory that wasn't enough to hook me. The mystery sounds boring and I didn't care for any of the characters. Such a shame because I had the PRETTIEST edition :( I'm sad I wasn't able to finish this!

The synopsis of this book really drew me in. I'm a lover of Dark Academia novels so to see it in a YA setting sounded interesting to me.

I enjoyed this first book in the series very much. The concepts, the characters, the world-building and the mix of mythologies made it a very entertaining read.

I also appreciated how quick of a read it was and how skillfully the author had written the characters/dialogue without it feeling too bogged down, awkward and clumsy.

Overall, a fantastic start to a new YA fantasy series that I'm hoping to enjoy the following installments of.

Tried 3 times to read this one now but always dnf, just wasn't my cup of tea despite all of the boxes it ticked.

This I feel would be great for those who love YA. For me I didn’t love it.
It felt all too predictable and mixing dark academia and pop culture just felt off and fell flat for me.

How wonderful to see another new author coming through with such a superb first book? A story full of adventure, romance, tension and magic - my students are going to adore this!

(Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review)

This book had so much potential but it was just kinda underwhelming. The idea of all the fantasy elements like the creatures, paintings and the Wake (the organisation that governs supernaturals) was so cool but nothing is ever fully explored. We don’t get told much about the Wake, how it was formed or how it works which does work in making it seem like this mysterious and creepy organisation but it also meant I didn’t understand parts of what was going on or the reasoning for why characters where doing certain things.

The romance took up a major part of the plot which would be fine (and something I do enjoy) if it wasn’t for the fact that it is so insta-lovey and I just really didn’t like it. We never see the characters connect or really get to know each other and then all of a sudden they would die for each other (after having literally just met). As for the rest of the plot, I often couldn’t follow along with scenes very well. It often felt jumbled and paragraphs didn’t flow very well, especially in action scenes or when characters were moving around a lot.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the advance reader copy.

I struggled to figure out how to write this review mainly because there’s so much potential in the story and world building but the pacing was weird.

There’s a lot of information in the first 10% and then everything gets a bit dragged out for the middle part of the book. Which then ramps up in the last part.

I found that I had to take a lot of breaks because it felt like it was dragging and I wanted to give this story my full attention.

I think editing would have helped this a lot with the pacing and structure of the story.

This is a 2.5-3 star review.

The title of the book does make you think this is about magic but actually it’s more about monsters, and the concept is an interesting one, Empyreals hunt and kill monsters, assuming the qualities of their prey’s predators as their form of attack. The Wake are an organisation that hunts down Empyreals as they are so valuable, forcing them into service at the cost of their family, past and freedom. After her mother was m*rdered by the Wake, Nicole and her family have been on the run, hiding, so far Nicole has been lucky, her transformation into an Empyreal hasn’t activated. That’s until Nicole’s life as a student, and her interest in art brings a certain hunter and a series of monsters into her life.

What follows is a book I personally loved, with an intriguing concept, solid world building, likeable lead characters, an enraging villain (and villainous organisation) and a romance I would die for. The end section of this book in particular was incredibly well done, with enough laid out and potential for the next instalment and I am so desperate to read more.

The slow burn romance is delicious – I’ll be honest, the more new adult fantasy / YA I read with romance involved, the more often I find it quite dissatisfying and repetitive in it’s approach. So we’ve established I’m difficult to impress. In The Temptation of Magic, Kyan isn’t some territorial alpha, the foreplay isn’t uncomfortable arguing toeing the line on acceptability, and Nicole isn’t a doormat. Most importantly there doesn’t feel like a power imbalance between these 2 characters, on paper Kyan is dangerous, I mean he’s literally the predator for all predators, you could argue, and a threat to Nicole’s identity, and yet he’s a painfully attractive man. He cooks, he’s protective but gentle, he sacrifices so much for Nicole with no expectations, there’s one scene in particular where he solely focuses on Nicole’s pleasure, he’s very Anthony Bridgerton - basically the perfect man! Nicole is family oriented, yes she is a little reckless and impulsive but it’s driven by love and she’s intelligent and strong willed. Basically I just loved them together.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review. I adored this book.

"The Temptation of Magic" is a solid fantasy novel that offers an intriguing story, even if it doesn't fully deliver on all fronts. The plot follows Elara, a young mage who stumbles upon a powerful artifact, setting off a chain of events that could alter the course of her world. The world-building is creative, and the magic system is fresh and interesting, giving the book a strong foundation.

That said, the pacing can be a bit slow in places, with some parts of the story taking their time to unfold. While this allows for deeper exploration of the world and magic, it can also make certain sections feel a bit drawn out. The second half of the book picks up speed, bringing more action and excitement.

Elara is a relatable protagonist, but at times her character feels like it could have been developed further. The supporting characters add depth to the story, though some of them could have been given more room to shine.

One of the highlights of the book is its atmosphere, with the author doing a great job of creating a sense of mystery and suspense. The writing style is engaging, though there are moments where the dialogue doesn’t flow as smoothly as it could.

Overall, "The Temptation of Magic" is an enjoyable read for fantasy lovers, particularly those who appreciate stories based on the complexities of magic. While it may not be a standout in the genre, it offers enough to keep readers entertained. A fair 3-star book that shows promise and delivers a good, if not outstanding, experience.

Apparently my review for this book never published, I am so sorry about that!

I really enjoyed this book and the authors writing style! It was a nice mix of all my favorite including fantasy, dark academia, supernatural creatures and of course romance! I thought the world building was well done and interesting. The characters were well written and have become some of my new favorites especially Kyan! I love the story so far and I can't wait to read more!

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

DNF at 52%

This was one of my more anticipated reads this year but I just couldn't find the will to finish it. The beginning was pretty captivating and I found the idea of empyreals really intriguing but it just felt like nothing was happening to progress the plot. By 52%, the story hadn't gotten any further other than a hint of insta-love had started to creep in so I decided to call it a day.

The Temptation of Magic by Megan Scott is a captivating start to a new trilogy, blending fantasy, intrigue, and romance. The story follows Nicole Palmer, an Empyreal shapeshifter hunted by the Wake, a powerful organisation governing supernatural beings. Nicole teams up with Kyan McCarter, a Wake assassin, to unravel a secret message hidden in a supernatural art collection.

Scott excels in creating a rich, imaginative world with fresh takes on magical species and a clever use of art in the plot. The characters are well-developed, with Nicole’s determination contrasting with Kyan’s reluctant yet growing involvement. The dynamic between them and the strategic villains heightens the suspense.

With its engaging narrative and inventive world-building, The Temptation of Magic offers a thrilling read for fantasy enthusiasts.

In theory, this should have ticked all my boxes. A mix of A Discovery of Witches, Daughter of Smoke and Bone and Serpent & Dove. And yet, I really struggled to warm to this world.

The writing in this debut is strong, I did like the world building, but barring the pace (which began to really slow down in the middle of the book), there’s something missing that I couldn’t get behind nor made me rush back to read.

I didn’t really care about the characters. I have no idea why, but I didn’t connect with them and, after a period of time, I found myself not caring.

I think I will try and attempt to read this again in the next year. We shall see… (sadly this is a “It’s not you, it’s me” situation).

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I had a fairly fun time reading this, though a lot of the beats are very familiar to anyone who reads romantasy. I liked the family dynamic, especially as a lot of fantasy novels eschew families altogether. The 'soulmates' trope is feeling a little tired to me at the moment, which is why this is not scoring more highly. But I'm intrigued enough to read the next installment.

I loved this authors writing and world building. Such a wonderful concept and the romance that built was fantastic.
Excited to see what happens next! Highly recommend to those who enjoy enemy to lovers, or books about different creatures.

While it has a catchy start, it drags out in the middle and kind of picks up again in the last 20%. The worldbuilding and magic system are interesting, and these are the only aspects that kept me from DNF'ing. However, I'm not a fan of instalove and I feel like the story lacks some depth to it.

The Temptation of Magic has a little bit of everything I’ve come to love in stories and blends them masterfully. With hint of fantasy, dark academia, romance and supernatural creatures, this tale is a unique start to a new trilogy and I’m hooked.

Threaded throughout is a mystery, which is compelling and will definitely keep you turning the page. And of course, our MC Nicole must enter a dangerous alliance to solve it. (I JUST ADORED ALL THE CHARACTERS)

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

its not a bad read.... about magic and hunters

its the first in a series that will pull you in... cant wait

A great debut, gothicy, tense, brooding, with smouldering romance, The Temptation of Magic has taken some of the more popular YA tropes and managed to bring something new to the genre.

I was so pleasantly surprised by this, I read it in the midst of a bit of YA fatigue, every YA fantasy I'd been reading seemed to have the same kind of characters, the same fantasy beings, the same kind of romances, this had those familiar elements, featuring fae, a powerful female central character, a brooding male love interest with hunting tendencies and supernatural powers, but the world and the premise felt new and one thing I absolutely loved was the supporting characters and their dynamic with Nicole, our FMC. Where other FMCs are different to those around them, feel misunderstood, or in need of escape or a purpose, Nicole has friends, a family who know what she is going through and share her stakes in the wider conflict, and she starts off with a purpose, and all of this carries through everything she does, it really brought this to a different level. Throw in a smidge of academia and art history and I had everything I needed.

Another testament to how good this was, how it surpassed my expectations, is that it included the ... actually this is a spoiler <spoiler>fated mate trope </spoiler> which is something that I've got pretty tired of, especially with how it makes the MMCs behave, I find the romance just loses it for me from some of the books I've read at least, but this worked! The trope is actually a part of the mystery, part of the plot and something for the characters to solve, it also leads to the brooding, the tension, in a way that many romances with the same trope miss out relying on the trope itself to carry the day, but I actually cared for these characters, and I love the way the second book is heading.