An absolutely electrifying fantasy read, I devoured every page!
Veins of Power by Becky Jane Fox completely swept me off my feet. From the very first chapter, the world building bursts with energy, magic, and high stakes, and I was instantly hooked. Fox’s writing is cinematic and immersive every scene feels alive, every emotion hits hard, and every twist lands perfectly.
The characters are what truly made this book shine for me. They’re fierce, flawed, and totally unforgettable. I loved how deeply personal their journeys felt, and the relationships both the tender ones and the tension filled ones had me absolutely glued to the pages. The chemistry? Off the charts. The banter? Perfection. The emotional payoff? SO worth it.
The magic system is fresh and engaging, woven into the plot with such skill that it never feels confusing, only exhilarating. And the pacing! There wasn’t a single dull moment. Every chapter ends with that “just one more” feeling… which is how I ended up finishing this in a single sitting.
Fox has crafted a world that feels both epic and intimate, and I’m already desperate for whatever comes next in this universe.
A brilliant, breathtaking fantasy adventure from start to finish, this book pulses with power.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this earlywhat an absolute thrill!

Lyra is a strong-willed protagonist bursting with magic she doesn’t yet know how to control. She’s offered a deal: train at a ruthless academy for a month in exchange for the information she desperately needs. What follows is her navigating a world full of secrets, rivalries, and the consequences of her own choices. The pacing starts deceptively slow, but once the story hits its stride, it doesn’t let go.

The romance is electric. Bren, her childhood best friend, is cozy and comforting, while Talen, her nemesis, is unpredictable, dangerous, and thrilling—think enemies-to-lovers energy at its finest. Their banter is sharp, the nicknames are adorable, and the tension kept me hooked.

✨ Enemies to Lovers
✨ Academic Setting
✨ Chosen One
✨ Dragons
✨ Fake Relationships
✨ Rebellion
✨ Secrets

The last third of the book is pure adrenaline, packed with twists, revelations, and emotional stakes that hit hard. Lyra grows in believable, compelling ways, and the magic system deepens beautifully. By the end, I was completely invested and crushed to wait for book two. I love supporting indie authors, and Veins of Power is exactly the kind of book that reminds me why. If you love slow-burn romantasy with high-stakes drama, elemental magic, and a rival-to-lover romance that keeps you guessing, this one is a must-read.

This book has everything! Dark academia, magic, dragons, enemies to lovers but it so different then others out there. It sucked me in from the very beginning. I literally couldn’t put this down and seeing this series being a huge hit! There were so many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, it was not a predictable typical fantasy. And the ending just left me anxious to find out what happens next!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the author, Becky Jane Fox for the ARC to this book.

This book - it was a wild ride that I never wanted to finish!! It had me gasping, laughing and giggling - a new favourite romatasy with enemies to lovers, a military academy and dragons.

A huge huge thank you to net galley and Becky Jane Fox for the arc read (also so special for me since this is my first arc)!

“In the outer lands, magic isn’t just outlawed. It’s erased. Scrubbed from our stories, stripped from our blood.”

At first glance, this has many elements of fantasy books: a female protagonist gets sucked into an academy to hone her powers where she is disadvantaged and ‘other’. The deceptively gentle world building and introduction of characters at the beginning of the book turns into so many twists and turns that had me flipping the pages faster and faster but also never wanting the book to finish.

Lyra is a strong and unforgettable protagonist. She is very resilient and has magic that she has doesn’t know how to control. She is offered a deal to train for one month at a cutthroat, military type academy (think Fourth Wing) in return for her mother’s journals who died when she was young. Lyra is thrust into a world that she has no idea how to navigate. The emotional stakes are incredibly high by the end and Lyra has to fight to survive. Her arc as a character is incredibly compelling and her growth feels earned and deserved.

“I want the parts you never let anyone touch.”

I really enjoyed the development of Lyra’s relationship with Talen. The banter was off the charts between them and they were true enemies at the start. But slowly a friendship develops between them or a partnership rather as they are thrust into a fake relationship. Talen is incredibly complex and morally questionable - his motives are still unclear at the end of the book and some of the twists in his actions will have you gasping. He is cutthroat, cold and the model soldier but also the complete opposite. His character is full of contradictions and you honestly don’t know what to expect from him.

“Men like me don’t get happy endings, Lyra. We either die young fighting or live long enough to become the very monster we swore to kill.”

And the friends that Lyra makes at the academy are honestly the best - their group is the definition of found family and they are there for each other. The way they uniquely help Lyra find her footing, with no benefit to themselves, has you developing a soft spot for them all. And I can’t wait to see more.

I was hanging on till the end which had me gasping and I couldn't put down the book. The revelations at the end are so unexpected and I can’t wait for book 2!!

I really loved Veins of Power! Becky Jane Fox pulls you into a world that’s intense, magical, and full of emotional depth. The characters are so well-crafted that it’s impossible not to get attached to them, and the tension between them kept me completely hooked. I loved the mix of dark magic, danger, and heartfelt moments it made the story feel powerful and addictive. It’s one of those books you finish and immediately think about for days. Definitely a fantastic and captivating read!

I loved this one so much. Such an amazing world built within these pages. Hoping there will be more! I could not set this one down!

Veins of Power delivers a richly imagined fantasy romance that kept me turning pages straight through the night. Becky Jane Fox builds her world around an elemental-thread magic system—an intricate, tactile form of power that feels both fresh and deeply thought-through. Much of the book leans into an academia-style structure, where the main character must study, practice, and master their threads to unlock their full potential. This structure gives the story a satisfying progression: you genuinely feel the character leveling up.

The romance folds seamlessly into that growth. The love interest plays a significant role in the protagonist’s magical evolution, making the emotional and romantic stakes feel naturally tied to the plot. It’s a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers dynamic, one that builds deliciously over time. While the chemistry sparks early, the spice doesn’t truly flare until about the 50% mark—once it does, it hits with a 4.5/5 intensity without overwhelming the story.

Fox excels at character work. Both leads are three-dimensional and compelling on their own, and their interactions—ranging from antagonistic to tender to electric—are some of the book’s strongest moments. Add in dragons, political maneuvering, and several plotting twists (including a bold cliffhanger), and you’ve got a fantasy romance that’s both immersive and addictive.

By the time I reached the last page, I was deep in a book hangover. Veins of Power blends magic, tension, romance, and worldbuilding into something genuinely captivating.

After being caught smuggling spice through the wards from the innerlands, Lyra is taken to the citadel’s academy — a place where an outerlander is treated with open hostility and survival is far from guaranteed. She’s offered one chance by the chancellor: endure four weeks and gain access to her mother’s diaries. It proves to be a far from simple bargain with heavy stakes.

What truly anchored the book for me was our MMC to be: Talen Veirmont, called the Nightrose!
Golden-eyed, dangerous and carrying the scent of smoke, clean sweat and something bittersweet. A morally grey menace with a talent for secrets and a smirk that should be illegal. The story makes it clear early on that he is not simply a shadowy academy prodigy — there’s a deeper truth simmering beneath the surface, and the final chapters nudge that door open in the most deliciously torturous way.

The world-building is atmospheric, the academy politics unforgiving, and the tension between innerlanders and outerlanders adds depth to Lyra’s struggle. The slow-burn connection between her and Talen builds steadily, supported by layered side characters and moments of genuine emotional weight.

Lyra’s insecurities and impulsive choices can be frustrating, but they also make her feel real. Her struggle with old obligations, her new situation and becoming entangled in a web of lies feels balanced. The pacing is on the longer side, yet I devoured and enjoyed every page — especially as the end hints at much larger revelations to come.

⸻

For You If You…
• are not tired of morally grey MMCs with depth, intensity and a smirk
• like slow-burn tension in harsh academy settings
• still love dragons

Not For You If You…
• hated Fourth Wing
• avoid long books or military-style academies with a high casualty rate
• struggle with side-character deaths and cliffhangers

⸻

Rating

4.5 stars — atmospheric, compelling, and carried by a standout MMC I can’t stop thinking about. So please, just give me the sequel, I need all those answers!

this book is not even published, but it's already on my top 10 of 2026.
It's a perfect plot forward romantasy with fantastic magic system and many twists and turns.
It's a type of book that from first chapter I knew I'll love it. I loved the real slow burn, both FMC and MMC, the secrets, mistakes, friendships and angst.

the only thing I was worried, wast that start of the book gave me very strong Fourth Wing vibes and I hate lack of originality, but you can feel how much this book is trying not to be FW and succeeds in this, using tropes, but bringing new story. it's also a perfect mix of what you can predict and surprises.

the real question is when book 2 will come out? I need more dragons!

WOW - definitely a top read of 2025! If you love Forth Wing and Spark of the Everflame, this book is for you.

Becky hooked me from the prologue (how often does that happen?!?) and I just could not put this book down. The pacing of this book is impressive, while there are down moments at no point did things actually slow down in the plot. This may be Becky's debut novel, but she clearly knows how to tell a juicy story! I was a little hesitant to read this ARC, as I am not always a huge fan of the 'magical school' trope, but much like Forth Wing, I felt like the book transcends that story line quickly, and what's left is something deeper and more intriguing.

The magic system ("Threads") was easy to understand, but left lots of room for further development and complexities to unfold. I actually really liked that there is more to the magic than the general public/students are taught, and we the readers are not the only ones left in the dark regarding how it all works (definitely feels like we just scratched the surface after book #1). Moreover, I love a first person narration done right, and Becky delivered! I was delighted to find it easy to relate to the FMC (Lyra) and her inner dialogue felt so real. She's smart, a survivor with deeply ingrained sense of morality. Despite her growth in the book, her character was consistent and the logic behind her decisions always aligned with who we know her to be. The narrative style made me feel like I was right there with her when she was thrust into challenging situations and didn't know who to trust, and the way she tackles her mixed feelings for the MMC (Talen) was expertly written.

What I loved
🫶Slow burn enemies to lovers romance - SLLLLOOWWW BURNNNNN babes, payoff is so worth it, but be prepared to steep for a while
🫶Lyra (FMC) was relatable, had a solid sense of self-worth (we love to see confidence from our FMCs in this household!) - I loved being a part of her inner dialogue, but it didn't feel overdone
🫶 Pacing was 10/10, I devoured this book and did not fall into any slump while reading because there was no damn time!
🫶 Supporting characters: lots of antagonists so you don't know who will cause the next conflict and a B-plot romantic storyline that has your heart on edge
🫶 Our MMC, Talen. Morally grey, completely guarded, sexy as hell AND uber powerful? LET'S GO! (tbh cannot wait to get more of his POV in book 2)
🫶 Scenes were well developed, set the tone without an over-explanation of the setting etc.
🫶 Written in a clear and consistent first person perspective

What didn’t work for me:
🙅‍♀️ I would have liked a little more banter, Lyra is definitely sassy and I felt there was more room for her to showcase this part of her character with friends, Talen etc. I could've used a little more laughs/lightening up in the scenes between the madness ... especially leading up to the crushing ending
🙅‍♀️ Found quite a few editing errors throughout the ARC, small typos (nothing major). I hope these were caught in the final round of edits so they don't detract from the story in the final copy!

I thought I knew where things were heading with this book, but there is a twist at the end that took me by surprise. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one, and I will absolutely be buying a hard copy of this book for my shelf when it is officially released! Can't wait to see how the rest of the series unfolds. Thank you Becky Jane Fox & NetGalley for the ARC ❤️

Veins of Power is a stunning debut that combines high-stakes fantasy with deeply compelling characters. Becky Jane Fox crafts a world full of political intrigue, magic, and tension that keeps you hooked from the first page.

The characters are complex and richly drawn, each with their own motivations, flaws, and secrets. The relationships are layered and realistic, adding emotional weight to every choice and consequence. Fox’s writing is immersive and cinematic, painting a world that feels alive while delivering twists and revelations that hit hard.

The story balances action, suspense, and character-driven moments perfectly, creating a narrative that’s both thrilling and emotionally satisfying. By the end, you’re left eager for the next installment but fully satisfied with the journey so far.

If you love fast-paced fantasy with morally gray characters, political intrigue, and heart-stopping tension, Veins of Power is a must-read.

At the end this book had me screaming.
I absolutely could not believe this cliff hanger.
Magic. Dragons. Romance. Fights to the death. This book has it all.

The way the scene is set from the first chapter sets this up to be a book that grips you with each page. A love triangle that made me feel for each character while gripping the edge of my seat to see which couple survived to the end… Chefs kiss.

Truth string? I absolutely loved this book.
Will I be back for more? Abso-freaking-lutely.

Holy CRAP! What did I just read???? This book is absolutely amazing! World building is absolute next level. The emotions and descriptions in this book I felt everything like I was in the story with all these characters. The plot built so well and I absolutely inhaled every word with these characters. The action and build ups were amazing! Magic, dragons, fighting, temptations. It was so well written bravo I can’t wait to know what happens next! -Kerin Ray

I just finished my early read of Veins of Power by Becky Jane Fox, and I'm ready to throw a chair. This is a Romantasy that takes the elements we loved in Fourth Wing and Zodiac Academy and fuses them into something even better.
🏰 The World-Building: Outerlands vs. Citadel
The core world-building is instantly captivating because it’s a study in extremes.
* The Outerlands: This is where our Lyra Bloom (the fiery, chaotic FMC) comes from. It’s the lawless, scrappy, survivalist zone. It feels gritty and real, giving Lyra a fantastic "street-fighter" edge and a deep-seated resentment for the establishment.
* The Citadel/Innerlands: This is where she's dragged, and it’s the seat of power—the gilded cage, the academy, the place where magic is weaponized and controlled. This division creates a fantastic class warfare narrative, making the high-stakes academy setting feel grounded and revolutionary. And yes, the dragons are back, but this time they are "in exile," adding a layer of mystery and simmering rebellion that constantly threatens to erupt.
⚡ The Magic System: Better Than We Deserve
This is where Veins of Power truly shines and elevates itself above the competition. While we loved the bonding in Fourth Wing and the magical sistem in Zodiac Academy, Veins of Power gives us a system that is beautifully simple yet dangerously complex:
I would love to elaborate this but I can spoiler it 😂😂😂

😈 The Side Characters: The Found Family Crew
We all know an academy setting needs a killer squad, and the side characters here deliver. While Talen (the broody, lethal, enemies-to-lovers MMC) is the main event, the secondary cast provides the perfect balance:
They aren't just background noise; they're the found family Lyra desperately needs as she decides whether to be the Citadel’s weapon or the rebellion's spark.
💥 Final Verdict: A New Romantasy Obsession
It has the high-fantasy world, the cutthroat academy, and an enemies-to-lovers dynamic that is pure fire.
Trust me, you need to pre-order this.
🎬 I’ll be dropping a full spoiler-free video review on TikTok the second this book drops on January 20, 2026, so make sure you follow for all the chaotic book hype!
https://www.tiktok.com/@marias.magic.worl?_r=1&_t=ZG-9258l2fWRqC
Thanks to Netgalley and author for the amazing opportunity to read this book 😘😘

I ended up giving Veins of Power around 3.5–4 stars, because I liked it overall, but it didn’t completely take over my brain the way I hoped.

The story flows super well — it’s easy to read, the world-building is interesting without being overwhelming, and the romance has some genuinely cute, tense moments. There were a few scenes where the MMC had that little spark of jealousy or frustration that I love, and I definitely enjoyed the banter between the characters.

But… for me, it didn’t hit that level of slow-burn torture I’m obsessed with.
I wanted the hero to suffer more — the pining, the internal chaos, the “everyone sees it but the FMC” kind of energy. The tension is there, but not as drawn-out or deliciously painful as I usually like. The MMC just wasn’t frustrated or jealous enough for my taste (yes, I’m picky, I know 😂).

It’s fun, it’s engaging, and I don’t regret reading it at all — I just didn’t finish the book with that “oh my god I need to lie on the floor and think about these characters” feeling. More like: cute read, enjoyed it, but not a new obsession.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this before the publication date & to the author, Becky Jane Fox for accepting me to read this!

Whilst a really good start & I wanted to keep going & couldn’t wait to continue, it had very strong fourth wing vibes. I didn’t want a replica of that as it simply cannot be replicated! I really wanted it to be different & it was.

Lovely dependable Bren versus the dangerous, hot as hell Talen - who does Lyra want?! Who wants Lyra?!

Lyra, an outlander makes a mistake & it changes things for her, her life takes an unexpected turn. Thrust into the innerlands, like her Mother once was, she has to endure a set amount of time - can she do it? Can she come out unscathed, make the right choices, take the right path, control her magic? Among the air, water, earth & fire realms.

This book had me hooked from the start & as I got further & further into it the more I wanted to read. I loved the way it was written, the relatability about how our minds spiral & our inability to control our emotions (not just me after all!!).

The cliffhanger at the end was brilliant & I didn’t guess but it makes total sense - I’ll be patiently waiting for book 2! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Wow! This book definitely surprised me. It was such a fun and exciting read and has twists that I did NOT see coming. I was hooked- thought I knew where the story was going and boom plot twist. I loved the enemies to lovers between Lyra and Talen 🔥 and the ending left me wishing book two was already out. Cannot wait to read the next one! Easily a 5⭐️ read for me.

4,5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨️
Thank you so much for the ARC❣️

If you couldn't get your fill of Fourth Wing, this book is for you! 🐉🔥

I barely finished this book and I'm already waiting for the second one and the first book isn't even officially out yet. 😩 I can already feel once the official release comes, this book will be big big.

It had everything, nice world building, elemental magic (though I wish we explored that more!!), an academic setting and DRAGONS ! 🐉

Though it started off a bit slow for me, the story got really interesting and I was actually invested in the characters which made it hard to put this book down. The pacing was well done and there were some really nice twists to the plot as well. And honestly that's all I can say without spoiling anything, you gotta read this book to get it.

Note: This book had quite a lot of typos and some weird grammar errors (referring to a male character as a she), hopefully that will be fixed by release! For all the ebook readers, I think it would be also nice to include page numbers in the ebook and not just locations.

This was the ARC I was absolutely obsessed with. It was exactly the type of romantasy I love to read. It has the slow burn and the tension to keep me hooked. What I loved the most was the magic system and the world-building. I couldn’t get enough of it.