A magical mystery story, with a historical crime to solve and lives to save. Alyssa Villaire has crafted a unique and intriguing story, centred on two feuding families - the De Lucas and the Barrions. When Penny gets caught in the crossfire, they have to work together to finally fix things once and for all but with a lot of obstacles in their way, and a truth to uncover, it's not an easy path.

I really liked Penny and loved to see her character development in this book, as she builds in confidence and fights for herself and what she wants. Their small town seems pretty toxic, so at times it's a wonder anyone wants to live there, but we also don't get to see too much of it so that is a shame. We do get a feel for how the rumour mill works and what it is to be an outcast in that kind of place. It was interesting to see the relationships between Alonso, Penny and Corey change throughout the book. These three learn a lot about themselves and each other across the story. They have a lot to overcome and the stakes are high!

Though at times the plot moved a little too slowly for me, and I expected more resolution from the ending, overall I enjoyed this dark and twisty novel and look forward to continuing the series.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

The glittering edge
Book 40 of 2025

This was a great YA book, it drew me in from the start with a story of curses and family rivals. It was easy to read, The characters were likeable and the plot was interesting.
I’m so glad it’s part of a duology as I do feel quite attached to the characters and want more!
Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!

When Penny’s mother, Anita, falls into a coma because of a curse, Penny ends up teaming up with Alonso&Corey, two boys from her high school. But Alonso De Luca and Corey Barrion are from rival families and the quest to end the curse will bring old family secrets to the surface.

This book is everything! I couldn’t stop reading it and enjoyed every page.

First of all this is a great YA fantasy story and I loved the magic, the small town vibes&of course the spells, witches, covens and dark family secrets.

The characters are so well written. They are complexe, relatable and I loved to see them evolve during the course of their summer adventures. I particularly loved how the author took time to explain how one of the character was feeling being a mixed kid (Black African mom and white American dad) in a, predominantly, white family and small town who is mostly white.

One of the main character struggles with anxiety and the way it was written about was great and very realistic.

I also absolutely adored the romance between two of the main characters. It was very sweet and I hope will see more of it in the next book 💌

I was so invested in the story, the characters and definitely need book 2 asap.

If you want a charming YA fantasy book then this one is definitely one I would recommend 🖤

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Penguin Random House UK Children's and Alyssa Villaire for providing me with an e-copy of this amazing book 🩶

The Glittering Edge
Okay this gives me Once Upon A Broken Heart vibes but with realism surroundings. It’s so good. I might be just as obsessed! There’s curses,feuding families, heart break, love triangle (mildly). Witches that have lost their powers. That all being said they had to work together to try and break the curse! Once i started reading this, I could not put it down. A cliffhanger that made me want to throw the book…except it was on my kindle 😂. When is book 2 out?! Because I need it nowww! *whines*.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

While this book had a predictable plot, I enjoyed the well-developed characters! The magic system is especially interesting, and I hope to see more covens in the second book.

3.5 stars

Sadly this isn’t the book for me and I couldn’t finish it past the 30% mark! I really struggled with the writing style and didn’t find the characters relatable. I am a big lover of YA, but this simply wasn’t the book for me.

A curse that starts and finishes everything! I absolutely loved the premise of this book and the atmosphere. Penny was a believable character, determined and head-strong.
I also really enjoyed how much Penny fought for saving her mother, their relationship was beautiful, no matter the very short on page interactions. The need to solve the curse brought up more family secrets and drama.

I think this book is perfect for the lower and middle YA ages and overall it is a fast paced, enjoyable fantasy that adds a little bit of freshness to the genre!

A magical feud has ensnared many locals in a small Indiana town, and Penny is determined to end it when it claims her mum.

The plot moves quickly and despite only getting a few short moments between Penny and her mum, their dynamic was beautifully written and full of depth. The remaining cast did not quite match up to our main heroine. The writing felt quite cliched at times and a few descriptive details undid some of the mystery and tension that had been built up.

I DNF'd this very early on as i couldnt get past the young tone of the writing style. This is a me problem and not the book so i would definitely still be inclined to recommend this to my teen students in future to those i know would like this genre of books. I may also try the audiobook when it is released.

This one was so mixed for me. I’m not YA but I love the genre so much. So at times I appreciate that these stories aren’t written with me in mind. I felt that the blurb had a lot of promise, but at times I tired of the writing and the boys in the love triangle were just annoying so I couldn’t root for either of them.

This book really surprised me.
Inhabitants of Idlewood all know of the tragic love story that sparked a blood feud between the DeLucas and the Barrions. In the fallout of this tragedy, the Barrions are cursed; anytime a Barrion falls in love, that person dies. The Barrions blame the DeLucas for this ill-fate as they are a coven of witches. The Barrions are cursed, and the DeLucas were stripped of their magic as punishment.
The story follows Penny as she tries to undo this curse when the next person to be loved by a DeLuca is her mother. Her mother is in a coma, and Penny must fight against the clock to unweave the magic that is holding onto her mother. The only way she can do this is with the help of Alonso DeLuca and Corey Barrion.
This book really surprised me, I found myself gripped by the mystery element of the story. The magical elements were interesting and unpredictable. The romance was very sweet, and the story had a gothic tone to it. It was very antmo yet cosy with the small town backdrop. Overall it was very enjoyable and I couldn’t put it down. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a unique, witchy young adult fantasy read

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this book! 🖤

This was a fun read! Took a little while to get in to, I would say it started to pick up more about 50/60% of the way through.

Although it predominantly revolves around high school teenagers, a huge majority of the book isn’t in the high school setting at all. Events take place in various other settings more (which I really liked).

This book has all the family drama and the twists and turns. Romance is not a massive element, it is very YA. A majority of the book is around the actual plot, rather than focusing on the romance.

A diverse array of characters and a great anxiety rep with the FMC.

An enjoyable and comforting book that’s easy to read and love. Left open for the story to continue and I will definitely read the next one!

Extremely atmospheric with touches of witchy magic and a light love triangle.

There was so much I enjoyed about this story. From the characters to the setting, it was an extremely enjoyable read.

It gave strong The Raven Boys vibes but with the added dash of witches. Very easy to read and follow but with great writing and pacing.

I will definitely be picking up more by this author in the future as I am hooked!

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 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! ⭐

I love a magical cursed family novel and this one did not disappoint! I really enjoyed the characters, the book was just the right amount of atmospheric, magical but light hearted.

The Glittering Edge is an atmospheric, spellbinding YA fantasy that blends family feuds, dark magic, and forbidden love into a story that’s hard to put down. Set in the mysterious town of Idlewood, where a tragic love story has sparked a decades-long blood feud, the novel follows Penny Emberly as she becomes entangled in the deadly curse at the heart of it all.

The premise is irresistible: the De Luca witches and the powerful Barrion family have been sworn enemies for generations. Thanks to a curse, if a Barrion falls in love with someone, that person will die. When Penny’s mother becomes the curse’s latest victim, Penny must do the unthinkable—bring together two bitter rivals, Alonso De Luca and Corey Barrion, to find a way to break it.

One of the standout strengths of this novel is its cast of characters. Penny, Alonso, and Corey each have distinct voices and personal struggles, and the shifting POVs allow the reader to connect with each of them. Their dynamics are complex, with layered tension, unexpected alliances, and moments of vulnerability that ground the magical elements in real emotional stakes. The love triangle at the heart of the story is compelling without overshadowing the plot, and it’s refreshing to see romance balanced so well with mystery and world-building.

Villaire’s writing strikes a great balance between modern and gothic, weaving in realistic dialogue, text messages, and social media to give the story a contemporary feel, while still maintaining a strong sense of atmosphere and magic. The pacing is brisk, and while the beginning includes a bit of exposition, the story quickly finds its rhythm. As the trio delves deeper into Idlewood’s secrets, the tension builds toward a twist-filled finale that truly delivers.

The Glittering Edge is perfect for fans of gothic fantasy with a modern twist, intricate family dynamics, and high-stakes magic. With strong character development, engaging prose, and a final reveal that lingers long after the last page, this is a standout debut.

Obsessed with The Glittering Edge! It’s got that perfect mix of dark academia, high-stakes magic, and characters you can’t stop thinking about. The atmosphere is dripping with tension, and the plot? So. Damn. Addictive.

I saw an advert to request an eARC of The Glittering Edge and it was 100% the cover that drew me in so I thought why not.

The Glittering Edge centres around three main characters, Penny, Corey and Alonso. Corey and Alonso are part of two warring families all stemming back to an ancient curse. Penny's mum somehow ends up a somewhat victim of the curse and the group are forced to work together to find a solution.
This is a really perfect YA mystery with a pinch of gothic magic. The characters all really likeable with their own flaws and I found that each one had their own personality and personal challenges. I liked that each chapter was written from a different POV and we are given access to their inner thoughts and feelings. I kind of just happily read through the beginning but it does start to ramp up and while I should have seen the ending coming, the writer almost makes you feel like that's not an option so I quickly dismissed it, this added quite well to the reveal on the very last line!

It's easy to read, the characters are likeable and the plot didn't bore me. I felt all the elements were crucial to the plot and the introduction of various side characters was a welcome distraction. I did struggle to build up an image of the characters in my head, but I have struggled with this before so I think it's more a fault on me reading a book too quickly.

I still love the cover and would be tempted the buy a hardcover of this on release and I already look forward to the sequel.

Definitely worth a read!

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this book! My opinions are my own.

This was an interesting read, it started off making me a little wary - there was a bit of an info dump handing me some information about the family curse that I would have preferred to learn organically - but after around 15% it really got into its stride and I was hooked. And by the ending, I loved it and was already wishing for the sequel!!

I really enjoyed the little text sections like WhatsApp, it was written very realistically, reminded me of Wren James (author of The quiet at the end of the world) as she writes amazing tech and social media styles so much that I forget they aren’t just pulled straight from the internet.

The humour was fun also and had vibes of if Jacob Black was having an argument with Draco Malfoy, very sarky but witty too.

Also, it takes a lot for a plot twist to surprise me now after all the books I’ve read, but the ones in this book kept catching me off guard and it made for a really enjoyable and fun read. It kept me hooked wanting to find out more!

There wasn’t a tonne of information about the magic system in this universe as the main family with magic were exposed to has had their powers blocked, but I would love to delve even more into this in the next book!

Overall, once you get through a small part at the beginning, this is a really easy and quick read with a fun plot and a decent amount of drama.

DNF at 26% and honestly considered it from 8% onwards. This book is boring and badly written. I didn't like any of the characters and found myself skim reading more often than not. The book is absolutely nothing like I was promised in the blurb