🥀THE ENEMY'S DAUGHTER🥀

Inizio con il ringraziare netgalley per l'arc di The Enemy's Daughter, uno standalone che mi ha rubato il cuore.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5!

🥀TRAMA🥀
Isadora è la figlia del Saraf e, che lo voglia o meno, la sua mano è stata promessa all'uomo che riuscirà a uccid3re Farron, il leader di Kingsland. Tutti si aspettano che a trionfare sarà il brutale e crudele Geralt,
ma con grande sorpresa di Isadora, è Liam, il suo amico d'infanzia, a tornare con il corpo di Farron.
Forse le cose non stanno andando poi così male... Sposare il proprio migliore amico è sicuramente più rassicurante che finire tra le braccia di un bruto sanguinario.
Tutto, però, cambia quando durante un conflitto tra il clan e gli uomini di Kingsland Isadora si imbatte in un soldato nemico. La nostra protagonista riesce a catturarlo con l'intento di portarlo al cospetto del padre, ma Isadora è una guaritrice e non potrebbe mia avere la m0rt3 di qualcuno sulla coscienza. Proprio quando sta per liberare il suo prigioniero viene accerchiata dagli uomini di Kingsland. Uno dei soldati la ferisce con una freccia intrisa di un veleno senza antidoto.
Se vuole sopravvivere dovrà sposare proprio l'uomo che ha catturato nel bosco: Tristan, il figlio di Farron, il nemico giurato di suo padre. Quello che Isadora non sa è che il suo "sì" la legherà a Tristan in un modo che non avrebbe mai creduto possibile.
Può l'unione tra due nemici cambiare le sorti di una guerra che sembra non avere una fine?
Può l'amore sbocciare tra due persone così diverse?

🥀IL MIO PARERE🥀
The Enemy's Daughter è un retelling di Tristano e Isotta in chiave distopica. Questo libro riesce a tenere il lettore sulle spine fino all'ultima pagina, lo costringe a domandarsi in continuazione chi abbia ragione tra i clan e Kingsland.
Mi sarebbe piaciuto sapere qualcosa di più sulla situazione del mondo che precede l'inizio della storia, ma in fin dei conti sono soddisfatta così. La trama ruota attorno ai nostri protagonisti, ai loro sacrifici e al loro desiderio di costruire un futuro di pace.
La cosa che più mi ha colpito di più è il legame magico tra Isadora e Tristan 😍 Non voglio farvi spoiler, ma vi dico solo che l'ho trovato molto originale e romantico.
Mi sono rivista tanto nella protagonista, nel suo continuo voler mettere in dubbio le parole degli abitanti di Kingsland... Dopotutto perché avrebbe dovuto credere alla loro versione?
Ho amato la lealtà al proprio clan e ho amato ancora di più mentre, proseguendo la sua avventura, ha iniziato a porsi delle domande, arrivando a capire che non tutto è bianco e nero e che, a volte, le persone che amiamo di più sono quello che ci fanno soffrire maggiormente.
Isadora dovrà continuare a mettersi in gioco e lottare per ciò che più brama: la pace.
Se vi piacciono i cinnamon roll, allora vi prenderete una cotta per Tristan. Mi sono innamorata di lui nell'esatto istante in cui si è fatto catturare da Isadora 🤭. La dolcezza e la premura con cui tratta la protagonista vi farà desiderare di essere al posto di Isadora. Vorrete rifugiarvi tra le braccia di Tristan, essere il soggetto dei suoi disegni, il suo ultimo pensiero prima di dormire... Già, Tristan è il fidanzato libroso perfetto!
Ma il nostro MMC non è solo questo. No, Tristan è un giovane uomo che ha conosciuto il dolore e porta nel cuore il peso del lutto, è un ragazzo diventato grande troppo presto, è una guida per la sua gente, un guerriero, un figlio che vorrebbe solo riabbracciare il padre. È impossibile non empatizzare con lui.
Ora prendiamoci un istante per parlare dello stile ✒️
L'autrice è molto brava a farci entrare nella mente di Isadora. Attraverso il suo pov ci permette di vivere le sue emozioni e i tanti dubbi che le aggrovigliano l'anima. Inoltre, grazie al legame che la unisce a Tristan, possiamo anche sentire sulla nostra pelle tutte le sensazioni che quest'ultimo prova.
Cosa dovete aspettarvi da The Enemy's Daughter?
Enemies to lovers, forced proximity, marriage for survival, lies, rivals clans, dystopian world, kind MMC, smart FMC, magic bond, he fall first and hard.
Se vi piacciono tutte queste cose allora dovete dare una possibilità a questo libro 😍

🥀SPICY🥀
The enemy's daughter è uno YA, non troviamo scene esplicite, ma la tensione tra i protagonisti non manca 😏 La parte romance è davvero chef's kiss 😘 Sì, lo ammetto, in più di un'occasione ho invidiato Isadora. Tristan è una green flag ambulante e ho sempre avuto un amore speciale per i protagonisti maschili dolci e dal cuore gentile.

🥀CONCLUSIONE🥀
Mi sento di consigliare ? Assolutamente sì! Raramente leggo dei distopici, ma The Enemy's Daughter mi ha tenuta incollata alle pagine dall'inizio alla fine. Vi dico solo che l'ho divorato in un paio di giorni... E non mi dispiacerebbe avere una piccola novella con Liam come protagonista 🤭.
Spero che un giorno una casa editrice italiana si metta una mano sul cuore e decida di portate nelle nostre librerie la storia di Isadora e Tristan. Nel frattempo, io di sicuro recupererò The Enemy's Daughter anche in cartaceo 😍!!

The Enemy’s Daughter ⚔️💘 3.5⭐️

“Two strands woven together will always be stronger than one”

Absolutely loved some of the quotes in this book, and this being one of them.

Firstly I LOVE the cover design and the illustrations on the chapter pages.

We’re introduced to the our FMC Isadora, she is a healer and part of the Hanook clan, amongst others which are Maska clan (ruthless warriors), Cohdor clan (woodworkers), crop farmer clan and then the rancher clan. There’s a lot of world building and information provided within the first 20 pages however Melissa’s writing makes it really easy and straightforward to understand.

Terrible occurrences are happing in Isadora’s clan, raids in the night mercilessly, torturing and beheading animals. The Saraf (Isadora’s father) has the idea it’s to do with the enemy and the leader of that clan is Farron. So her father is making a contest to assassinate Farron and the winner gets to marry her as their prize by bringing unity back to the clans by marriage.

Really easy to read and imagining everything in your head whilst the plot continues. My only issue is that there isn’t enough depth in the plot itself for me.

MMC Tristan, absolutely gorgeous and such an emotional character to connect with. I really loved him throughout the book.

The mental bond is really unique, we’ve read about the mental bonds in fantasy’s before but it’s not as connected as this magic is which I love.

“I’m your prisoner, Tristan. And to some extent I always will be. Everything you said and did was tainted by mistrust because you held the keys to my cage”

There’s heartache, passion and forbidden romance throughout which I adored. I just felt for me it was lacking the depth that I would have loved which is a shame because it’s been one of my highly anticipated reads.

Things I LOVED

💘 ENEMIES TO LOVERS
⚔️ ROMANTASY
💘 FORBIDDEN ROMANCE
⚔️ MAGICAL BOND
💘 TRISTAN & ISOLDE RETELLING
⚔️ CLANS

Thank you so much Harper Fire & Melissa Poett for the E-ARC 💘

5⭐️

Big thanks to NetGalley as always, for the ARC of The Enemy’s Daughter by Melissa Poett in exchange for an honest review.

This book completely pulled me in—I couldn’t put it down. If I could give it 6 stars, I would. It had everything I love: real enemies-to-lovers tension, forbidden romance, the dystopian setting, layered characters, and so many twists that I never knew what was coming next.

Isadora is the kind of protagonist you root for immediately—strong, kind, but not perfect. And Tristan? Let’s just say he’s the kind of morally gray character who keeps you guessing in the best way. Their dynamic was so compelling. The connection between them is intense, dangerous, and messy in a way that feels believable and earned.

What I loved most was that this isn’t just a romance wrapped in fantasy—it’s a story with real stakes, clever worldbuilding, and emotional weight. The plot moves fast, but it still finds time to explore big questions about trust, loyalty, and how far you’re willing to go for the people you love.

If you’re into fantasy with tension, heart, and characters that feel real, The Enemy’s Daughter is a must-read. I’m already hoping there’s a sequel—I need more of this world!

I had heard of Tristan and Isolde briefly but I hadn't read about it or any retellings of it so my mind was open going into this one.

I started this and was instantly entranced by the world, learning the history of the Clans and the Kingsland.

You are thrown straight into the story of Isadora who is the daughter of one of the clan leaders - he is a ruthless man who shows Isadora no care or love. She hates her life and wants more for herself.
She is a healer and wants to help her people in any way she can.

When we meet Tristan he is trying to attack her clan and she gets in the way of a poisoned arrow. She is on death's door and Tristan must make a swift decision to let her die or persuade Isadora into a marriage so that he can use a "connection" to ease her suffering but also take on some of it himself.

As the story progresses you see Tristan and Isadora share their deepest secrets, feelings and memories together through the magical bond. I found this part of the story the best as it makes you feel like you are a part of a secret between them. No one else can tell or see that they are speaking telepathically. When they shared pain and emotions you could see their relationship developing.

The world is so immersive and fast paced. There seemed to always be a battle or secrets being spilled. I feel like this book has so many different facets to it that you would discover something new with every read of it.

This book had a true "enemies to lovers slow burn" romance for me. A lot of books are marketed as such and very rarely is it written in a way that I feel drawn in but this had me turning each page hungry for more. Tristan and Isadora's relationship is so complex and multi-layered and when you see it build and break at times you just hope the ending fits the journey they share. It did - in more ways than one. The battle at the end had so many twists and turns I was exhausted!

The Enemy's Daughter is Melissa Poett's debut YA romantasy and I hope she writes more.

Thank you to the publisher Harper Fire for sending me a proof copy to read. All opinions are my own.

Decades after the Republic was destroyed, the 5 Clans and the Kingsland are all fighting for control. Isadora, the daughter of the Clans’ leader, is a healer who is willing to risk her life in order to help care for injured soldiers.

When she is shot with a poisoned arrow by his sodliers, Tristan, an enemy assassin, saves Isadora using a rare magic which binds them together. Isadora must navigate enemy territory, mistrust and danger as she tries to make sense of what’s happened, and how she can get back home.

This is a fast paced book that had me hooked from the start and rescued me from a reading slump. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic really worked, and the tension had me completely invested in Tristan and Isadora’s story.

Without giving too much away, the plot takes unexpected turns that I didn’t see coming, and I loved it. It added a whole extra layer of depth and kept twisting and turning right up until the end.

Isadora stands out with her strength, intelligence and no-nonsense nature. I enjoyed being in her head. I did find myself wishing for a little more development from the side characters and Tristan in particular, but given the shorter length and YA setting, I think it does a solid job with the space it has.

The world building here is one of my favorite elements. The setting unfolded in a really compelling way, blending the dystopian elements with magic and myth.

This magic-meets-dystopia style is new to me, and I love it and definitely would love to read more like it! The romance is sweet, and balances the mistrust and very real danger that the characters face.

This is a really enjoyable read that I’d happily recommend, especially to my fellow enemies-to-lovers fans. This is such a fun way to retell the myth of Tristan and Isolde, and I’m literally running to look up more retellings because this has helped me fall in love with their story.

Read this if you love:

Enemies to Lovers

Myth Retellings

Stabby FMCs

Dystopian Fantasy

Politics, tension & romance

YA Fantasy

4.25⭐ LOVED this and it had me hooked the whole time. A dystopian fantasy made for an interesting concept. The plot dives straight in and the fast pace quickly throws you into what seems like a very intriguing post apocalyptic world where one side of civilisation were able to rebuild better than another causing intense conflict.

Immediately warmed to the MMC Tristan and his sacrifice to marry Isadora to save her life without even knowing her. Although they were linked by ‘the connection’ I felt that the feelings for each other developed out of nowhere? I didn’t really understand how it got to that point so quickly but when it did, I found their flirtatiousness through the connection to be so cute. I also found this contrasted with the very seriousness of the war between the Kingsland and the clans.

Isadora as an FMC is a curious yet naive girl who has been led to believe a lie her entire life. Interesting to unravel her realisation of this throughout and then increasingly portray her need for peace as a result.

Liam showing up was the plot twist I did not see coming! Things heated up really quick after that and I just LOVED the tension and anticipation! The escape, getting caught and the punishment?! Could not put it down.

Would have liked a bit more of a slow burn between the characters but overall I found this plot to be different from a lot of my previous reads which was so refreshing!

I absolutely adore this cover and it was the main reason why I requested it but now that I've read it I'm even more glad that I did. It exceeded my expectations so much and if you love romantasy stories set in dystopian worlds with rivals clans, magic and politics this one is for you 🫵🏻

Tristan and Isolde stole my heart with their high stakes romance and the twists and turns of this story kept me hooked. With the added bonus of the rare magical connection they shared really bumped this up to almost a 5 star read for me and it made it to a ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75 stars!

Although it's a young adult book I really wouldn't put this one off if you prefer adult books because this did have a lot of elements of an adult romantasy we all know and love.

Thank you to the publisher and for the arc 🫶🏻

Thank you to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy (baby’s first NetGalley approval!). All of the opinions in this review are my own.

I usually prefer shorter fantasy series (a standalone fantasy? We love to see her) and I’m not sure if there’s going to be another book after this one, but I think this particular story would’ve worked better as a duology. It started out feeling like classic high fantasy, but then the dystopian setting was revealed which I thought was such a great twist. I just wish that part had more time to breathe. It could have had an even greater impact if the reveal came later, with a slower build-up.

The romance between Isolde and Tristan also felt a little rushed. The story explains why their connection happens so fast, and it makes sense from Tristan’s side since he’s known her longer. But for Isolde, it felt like her feelings developed in just a few days which made it harder for me to feel invested in their relationship.

That said, there’s still a lot to love here. The plot twists were great, especially the one about Isolde’s father near the end. The writing was also very solid and really enjoyable throughout. For a debut, I thought this was impressive, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from this author..

I was drawn by this beautiful cover but the story wasn’t made for me, I was bummed out when I finished and I did not liked it since I was too excited to read it

Melissa Poett has written a great book! I was in a bit of a reading slump before this and this book has picked me back up. Melissa Poett has created a great balance between fantasy and dystopian.
I loved reading about Isadora’s journey and growth. The romance was fitted in perfectly and wasn’t the only source of plot. I wouldn’t say it’s a true enemy’s to lovers but it does successfully itch a scratch.
Some of the themes in the book are very topical at the moment and have been handled well. There were points I just wanted to scream at people for Isadora. It also cracked the intense and crazy ‘what’s going to happen next’ last 100 or so pages. I was hooked!

A fantasy/sci-fi twist on Tristan and Isolde is so unique! The worldbuilding was immersive, I was hooked from the start, the characters are ones you root for and the romance was gorgeous

Oh how I absolutely adored this book. I am so glad I picked it up. Many books are labelled as "enemies to lovers" but I would say that The Enemy's Daughter is one of the few true enemies-to-lovers books out there. This one is set in a dystopian universe. It truly gave me all the feels and I finished it in just two sittings.

The main characters Isadora and Tristan are both stunningly written, and their passion and chemistry is something many can only dream of. The writing is impeccable and truly embodies the tension and yearning they feel for one another. The lengths that they went to for each other took my breath away and I absolutely loved how fast-paced the story was. I adored the magical theme of the "connection" and there was also the perfect mix of political intrigue, making the story captivating at every page from start to finish.

The romance in this book was truly stunning and it for sure will be one to touch many people's hearts. Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC, it was a phenomenal read and I am sure many people will love it as much as I did!

It’s been thirty-seven years since the fall of the Republic, and the world is in turmoil as the five clans and the Kingsland battle for control. Isadora, the fearless daughter of the leader of one of the clans, has always been willing to risk her life on the battlefield to help her comrades. But when she intervenes to stop an attack from Tristan, a ruthless Kingsland assassin, she is struck by a poisoned arrow and left to die.

Just when all hope seems lost, Tristan does the unthinkable: he offers to save her life using a rare and powerful magic. But in choosing to live, Isadora unknowingly binds herself to Tristan, establishing a magical connection that allows him to access her emotions, her deepest memories, and the very information he needs to destroy the clans.

Set against the backdrop of a fractured world and steeped in magic, The Enemy’s Daughter is a stunning reimagining of the legendary tale of Tristan and Isolde. This gripping debut YA romantasy blends the tension of enemies-to-lovers with a rich dystopian world full of secrets, betrayal, and danger.

The Enemy’s Daughter is an intoxicating read, with a slow-burn romance that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The complex relationship between Isadora and Tristan builds beautifully, drawing you into their tense, yet undeniable connection. The magical elements woven into the story add depth and intrigue, making the book even more compelling. The dystopian world-building is immersive, and the high stakes make every moment feel urgent. If you're a fan of enemies-to-lovers stories set in dark, magical worlds, this is a book you'll want to devour. The unexpected twists and the emotionally charged plot make it an unforgettable read!

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

The Enemy’s Daughter 🤍
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5 stars

When I tell you I was hooked from the first chapter … I mean it!

The enemies to lovers trope was fast, addicting and undeniably adorable. I really liked the connection they have and figuring out how the magic worked alongside Isadora. I loved how they were able to share the pain and also the happiness.

In the last few chapters it was though I could feel how heartbreaking it was to learn the truth about her father, and how she might have had to go back to a world where no one listened to women. The writing was beautiful, I felt like I was able to understand all the emotions Tristan and Isadora went through.

I would’ve liked to have abit more context about the old world, about why it was bombed and everything the old world consisted of, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

4 stars
Dysotopian romance. There are 2 clans constantly battling for control over land. The land having been bombed is mostly toxic for them and so they fight for the safe, but limited, parts. Main fmc is a healer and daughter of the leader of one party. She's promised to whomever kills the leader of the other party and she's willing to do her duty despite the many feelings she has inside herself warring with the idea. I found the mfc quite interesting, she's brave but not senselessly and at the risk of everything she knows. Whilst secretly healing soldiers, she gets poisoned by an arrow and saved by the mmc, thus starting the real story full of emotion, heart tugging and heart v head battles.
It's a fun romantic cat and mouse will they won't they seeing as their enemies. A satisfying good read
Solid choice.This review is early thanks to netgalley, despite that this is an unbiased review.

I really enjoyed this book but first I wanna take a minute for the cover art…. It is stunning and it led me to want to read this in the first place. I would sell a limb to get a special edition of this book 🥺

Now where do I start? So the beginning was slightly confusing. The first 50-100 pages or so made me unsure of where the book was going. There were a lot of different names and lack of context of “the old world” which could have been clearer. We were never told about why they were bombed and I would’ve liked a little more backstory and world building.

I also wouldn’t consider this enemies to lovers, I wouldn’t say this was “insta love” but it was definitely faster than I was expecting. Tristan and Isadora were very cute though (I’m a sucker for a healer FMC) and I really liked the connection between them both. I enjoyed how their magic worked through the marriage between them - it clicked in my head at the end of the book when Tristan said “in sickness and in health” which meant that they really shared their pain and happiness in a literal sense. I know that seems obvious now, but it was a nice touch!

The writing was beautiful, after getting past the first 10% or so I flew through this book. Melissa is a great writer. I was nervous that the ending was going to ruin the rating for me, but I am quite pleased with how it ended! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy, I am so glad I had the chance to read this! I definitely recommend picking this up when it’s released💖

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me this ARC.

Unfortunately, I DNF'd this book at 56%. The cover is beautiful and I love dystopia novels, but from the first page something felt very jarring about this book to me. The worldbuilding feels underdeveloped, the pacing was entirely too slow for me (up to this point things have just been happening to her/happened off stage, barring her initial action), and the characters and their interactions just annoyed me. I took would not trust my life long enemies after they poison and kidnap me. Just because you're married doesn't mean your allegiance suddenly changes. If the townspeople are allowed to hold a grudge against her then why can't she hold a grudge against him? Not a fan of instalove. Sorry.

DNF @ 31%

Good premise poorly executed.

I can see this novel being popular with Romantasy fans but I found the world-building underdeveloped and romance too fast burn for my personal taste.

I’m unsure what time period this takes place and what the physical environment looks like. Modern technologies are mentioned but 37 years after a nuclear bomb any sense of that is lost and we have a patriarchal social system with politically arranged marriages. I just don’t see how societal regression would have been that quick. Maybe if there was more background about the Republic and why it fell it would have helped. The world history, magic system, character descriptions all too vague.

I absolutely adore this book! I felt like it had elements that aren’t over used in most of the recent releases. I loved the concept of the connection and just everything about the book overall honestly! Very wonderfully written!

The Tristan and Isolde movie was one of my favorite movies to watch as a teen/college student, so I knew I had to check this book out!
This is definitely not a slow burn in terms of them pining for/falling for each other but I'm an instalove fan so that didn't bother me. I enjoyed the post-apocalyptic vibe as I feel like this is something we don't get nearly enough of in books. This was a "clean" YA that I would easily offer to my high school students who are voracious romance and fantasy readers like I am.