I found this t9 be a good story, but found the character development a bit cursory, though this could be because itis ya and I'd read some pretty heavy adult fantasies before it. Still, it's an enjoyable read.

I think the highlight for me was honestly Alonso and his relationship with Penny. Although he initially comes off as an aloof stereotypical bad boy, he very quickly reveals to us that that's just the image people have of him and he is in fact very clever and sweet and caring, honestly far more of a good person than Corey who is supposed to be the "good guy" in the inevitable love triangle.

He and Penny do have a lot of chemistry, and I can see what Penny sees in him. The love triangle is more of a love line at this point but clearly there's feelings brewing from Corey's end, which will inevitably come up in the sequel, which I'm dreading because I just don't see any chemistry between him and Penny, and I just disliked Corey as a character.

Let's compare the hospital scene with the Bike Polo scene. We have Bike Polo where Alonso invites Penny to do something new, meet his friends, show her something he enjoys and give her a chance to feel in the spotlight and confident in herself. Then we have the hospital scene with Corey where Corey sits by her unconcdious mum's beside for hours without being invited (which I personally found creepy and if I had been Penny I would have been upset tbh) all because he didn't want to go home, Penny then turns up and they watch videos on his phone, which makes Corey feel happy. The whole thing is framed around Corey's happiness rather than Penny's. There's just no comparison for me. Maybe if Corey had played more into losing his own mum and kept going to the hospital to see Penny so she wasn't alone and offered her fun distractions because he knows that she needs it, but no, it's all about how sad Corey is.

I just really didn't like Corey in general, tbh, he tries to act as if he and his whole family are so much better morally than Alonso and the DeLuca's, but of the two of them, he's the less kind. Let's take the Dylan/Penny fight. In no universe am I ever going to buy Corey didn't know Dylan would flip out at Penny when you tell her she FANCIES YOU like Corey wtf were you thinking? Corey knows who she is and what she's like. he admits it,'s dated her for years, he knows she's going to go off and do something to Penny, and he says it anyway and then acts surprised when Dylan goes for Penny I'll tell you what he was thinking, he was thinking about what would make life easiest for him and didn't give a shit about the potential ramifications for Penny until after it happened.

He also repeatedly talks about how the Barrions have suffered and goes on about how much the DeLuca's and Alonso love it and are happy about the curse. But then ignores all the shit that the DeLuca's have been through as a result, they have lost almost everything, does Alonso go around saying Corey wanted that to happen? No. Because Alonso has a brain, he may not like Corey, but it's not solely based on things that happened with their grandparents.

Now that sounds like I didn't enjoy the book but I truly did, I just really didn't like Corey, I have a thing about characters being upheld as very "good" moral people and then not actually being that at all, it bugs me, and yes Corey towards the end does get some of this thrown back at him and he does some reflection we'll have to see if it actually takes.

I will say the stuff with the DeLuca's and particularly Alonso at the end makes me want to read the next book, but my god, Corey better step up his game and stop being a spineless asshole.

Very YA small town early 2000s tv vibes.

I am excited to see what happens next, though struggled at times with the lack of depth to the characters, pacing jumps and very blunt instrument use of pop culture references to draw humour.

Thanks for the eARC.

In the town of Idlewood, the De Lucas’ and the Barrions are families that have been feuding for generations. Local of the town rumour that it is due to a curse the De Lucas’ placed on the Barrions, causing anyone that falls in love with a Barrion to die. When Penny’s mother has an accident, she is a determined to break the family curse to save her mother’s life, but to do so she will have to convince the feuding families to work together.

I really enjoyed this story, the plot was interesting and kept you hooked throughout, even with a plot twist at the end I didn’t see coming. The characters were well developed and I really loved Penny’s determination to save her mother. I loved that we got to see more about the curse from previous generations through Penny’s dreams/interactions with the Shadow.

My review is late because I tried to start and like this several times but it just isn't for me. I did finish (it took me quite a while) but even by the end, I felt the same.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Penguin for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

After seeing this book be compared to the Raven Cycle I was very excited to read it. However, although the idea is great and I liked aspects, this didn't grab my attention enough to continue after 48% - DNF

3,75✨

I was drawn in by the dark, stunning cover and stayed for the witchy magic, high-stakes drama, and relatable (side) character(s).
The Glittering Edge is a YA fantasy book with a (sort of) love triangle, secrets and a curse. I read somewhere that this book is a kind of Romeo and Juliet retelling but honestly, I don't think that's true.
This book is a mid YA fantasy with a boring FMC (like Penny girl, how can you live without a personality???) and two MMCs. Corey was also a bit boring, but at least he had the golden boy archetype so he wasn't completely neutral. The other MMC, Alonso (I hate his name) was interesting, funny, mysterious and way too blonde (I thought he was brunette until almost the end of the book, haha), so he added a little spice to the plot.
The plot was interesting despite the fact that half of the book was just filler chapters, but after the 200. page I started to really enjoy reading it. I liked the end of the book, the plot-twist was very exciting, so i'm looking forward for the sequel.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for sending me this ARC!

I wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as I did; it was such a fun read! All of the main characters and side characters had depth and didn't fall flat like they so often can, which made it so much easier to read.

Alonso was my favourite from his first POV - he is my sweet, misunderstood boy, and I will defend him for life. He better be safe in book two, or I will riot! I felt like the progression of friendship between the main three happened at the right pace and didn't feel forced, and the group chat chapters were a great addition! The banter had me giggling; it worked so well and felt like a natural text chain between friends.

Overall, an excellent debut novel, and I cannot wait for book 2!

Boring with a non-existent lovestory

“The Glittering Edge” by Alyssa Villaire is a young adult story about dark magic, curses and three teenagers fighting for their future.

I didn't like Corey at all. Everyone points at Alfonso and says “bad boy” and “he's trouble”, when Corey is the one who uses people and pretends to care about them.

The love story was also a complete fail for me. It started with the fact that there wasn't a shred of infatuation or anything similar between Corey and Penny. In general, it just wasn't a love triangle.

Besides Penny, Alfonzo was the most likeable character in the story. A misunderstood boy due to a family feud, who has a soft and good heart, but seems like a mean thug to the outside world.

Penny is a brave but overwhelmed teenager who not only has to deal with her feelings, but also with the possible death of her mother, magic and family curses. But she doesn't give up and fights to the end, giving her all.

I am a bit nostalgic and the story gave me vibes from my youth. However, I didn't think the story was well developed.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

If you love your YA books full of magic, family drama and romance this is one to look out for. I really enjoyed the characters in this one, they were unique and to have the feuding families element of the story really kept me engaged.

Although their is a love triangle it's pretty tame, mainly because it is a YA novel so I wouldn't let that put you off at all. For me it was clear who she would (or should) pick early on.

The main driver of this story was the curse and following Penny trying to save her mother. It was very atmospheric and fast paced with teenage drama but with high stakes. Overall I've given it 4 stars! ⭐

Thankyou Netgalley and Penguin Random House for this eArc!

This follows three teens who are trying to break a magical curse on their famly/ies. It has everything I love, witches... curses... a tiny cat... teenage love stories... you name it! I did go into this knowing it was a YA but I would have loved for the characters to be a bit older - it still slapped though. I knew going into it as well that there would be pop culture refs and texting so that didn't take away from the magicalness.

It was a bit slow starting but at about 15% I started to get more intrigued then when the magic started happening i was hooked. I did scream out loud and cry near the end, and my gosh you cant end books like this its not fair i have to wait for the next one!

I will be picking up book 2 upon release!

You better believe me when I say this book instilled the same level of obsession The Raven Boys brought out of me back in the day. This is the perfect blend of both that and Practical Magic, which I didn’t even realise I needed until now.

I simply loved Alyssa's writing and her character creation. Her timing and pacing were on point.
If you are interested in a contemporary fantasy and great, great characters this is for you.
Thank you for the wonderful time I had while reading your book Alyssa.

This book? Gave me everything. Family curses, slow-burn tension, magical drama, and a group chat that had me CACKLING. Seriously—The Glittering Edge is like if Practical Magic got dunked in Gen Z sarcasm and small-town secrets, then dusted with just enough romance to make your heart flutter.

We follow Penny Emberly, a barista trying to keep her life together while her mom mysteriously falls into a coma (as one does). Enter Corey: ex-crush and bearer of magical bad news. To untangle the mess, Penny has to team up with Alonso De Luca, the dark-and-brooding member of a rival magical family. Alonso and Corey? No likey each other.

What really made this shine was the multiple POVs. Reading from Penny, Corey, and Alonso’s perspectives meant you were always a few steps ahead of the drama—or at least thought you were.

Also, THE GROUP CHAT. Authors have been tossing texts into books for a while now, but this one actually nailed it. The humor was so on point.

“Did you use magic to get my number?”
“Caller ID. Magic straight from the 1990s.”
I need this embroidered on a t-shirt or something.

And can we talk about Penny and Alonso?? Their chemistry felt natural. No insta-love, just slow, believable tension that builds into something you genuinely root for. But I won’t lie… Corey’s giving off just enough pining energy that while looking into my crystal ball I’m seeing a love triangle in book two. Let chaos reign supreme!

The ending? Oh, it SNAPPED. A twist so sharp I had to reread it twice just to make sure I didn’t hallucinate. Needless to say, I’m feral for the sequel!

This one’s perfect for fans of sharp banter, magical messiness, and that sweet-spot between cozy and chaotic. Add it to your TBR, and prepare to spiral.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book was so good! It was the perfect introduction to the world of Idlewood, and I’m so excited to see how the rest of the story and all its mysteries play out! The characters were all parts youthful, fun, sad, and interesting! I had a blast getting to know them, rooting for them, and seeing them become a little team. Alyssa did a fantastic job of world building; it is perfect for those just getting into YA fantasies or feeling nostalgic. I 100% recommend it, and I will be seated for the next instalment! Thank you NetGalley for providing me with the arc!

Witches, curses, love triangle, absolutely loved it!! A great YA read that I flew through and kept me gripped from beginning to end!
Bit of Romeo and Juliet tragic love story but with a twist!

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

I really wanted to enjoy this one as it had a lot of elements I usually love: witches, small-town vibes, romance and magic. But sadly, it just didn’t land for me, and I found myself feeling pretty bored and disconnected the whole way through.

The characters were probably my biggest issue. They all felt a bit flat and surface-level, like they were being moved around the story without much depth or development. I kept waiting for something more to come through like emotional growth or a big twist but it never really happened. The attempted love triangle also didn’t help. It felt forced and lacked chemistry and I just couldn’t buy into the relationships at all. The only dynamic I genuinely liked was between Penny and her mum as their bond felt real and warm.

The magical world had so much potential, but it wasn’t explored enough. We’re told there’s magic and witches exist, but there’s barely any explanation of how it all works or what the rules of the world are. There were so many interesting directions it could have gone in but instead it felt vague and underdeveloped.

Plot-wise, the book is over 400 pages so you’d expect a lot to happen but weirdly, not much does. The story feels a bit aimless and scattered, with no real depth or tension to keep things moving. I was hoping for more mystery or stakes, something to make me care about what was going on but it just never clicked.

Overall, this one had a lot of potential but didn’t quite follow through. The relationships and romance felt flat, the worldbuilding left me with more questions than answers and the plot just kind of drifted. A few sweet moments kept it from being a total miss but it wasn’t the gripping magical read I hoped for.

The Glittering Edge by Alyssa Villaire

I did not expect to love The Glittering Edge as much as I did. From the first few chapters, I was hooked. It has everything I enjoy in a story—magic, curses, feuding families, and a little romance—but it also surprised me with how real and emotional it felt.

The story takes place in a small town called Idlewood, where everyone knows about the long fight between the De Luca witches and the rich Barrion family. Years ago, a love story ended in tragedy, and since then, a curse has haunted the Barrions. If a Barrion falls in love with someone, that person will die. That curse becomes personal for Penny Emberly when her mom ends up in a coma after falling in love with a Barrion. Penny has no choice but to team up with Alonso De Luca and Corey Barrion, two boys who are supposed to hate each other, to try and save her mother.

I liked Penny right away. She felt like a real person—strong but scared, unsure but still trying her best. I also liked that the love triangle in the book did not feel forced or fake. It made sense and actually added to the story. Alonso and Corey are both interesting in their own ways, and their history, mixed with all the family drama and secrets, kept me turning pages fast. Also, I’m not even going to lie—Alonso became one of my favorite characters, and I will always be on his side.

The magic in the book is strange and kind of scary, but it fits the mood of the story so well. The town feels alive with secrets. You can feel the weight of everything that has happened before, and it makes the present story feel deeper. The book also touches on things like grief, family pressure, and anxiety in a way that feels honest. Nothing is too dramatic or over-the-top. It’s just the right amount of intense.

What really stood out to me is how easy it was to fall into this world. The writing is clear and smooth. I didn’t have to force myself to keep reading. Every time I stopped, I found myself thinking about what would happen next. The ending left me in shock, and now I need the next book. Like, right now.

If you like dark small towns, family curses, slow magic, and messy love stories, this is the book for you. It gave me the same excitement I had when I read The Raven Boys years ago, and I think a lot of readers are going to feel the same way. The Glittering Edge is one of the best YA fantasy books I’ve read in a long time, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.

I purposefully didn’t read this arc until it was released due to it being the fairyloots YA book of the month and reading it with my fairyloot book buddies, however we all really enjoyed it!

I was definitely not the target audience for this book, however I would definitely have liked this during my school years.

A contemporary YA fantasy with small town, high school feel with family feuds, dark magic and a tragic love story.

I enjoyed the FMC throughout the book, her attitude, strong character and determination was great.

The story itself was OK, but for me lacked a little world building and could have had a bit more depth to the characters.

Overall it was an enjoyable YA tale of love and family with a touch of magic and curse to crack.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.