The Empress of Scarred Secrets

Spoiler-Free Review:

I am absolutely reeling! I started this book Sunday night and finished this morning. I couldn't stop reading, and hated that I had to stop to like be a responsible adult. This is one of the best high fantasies that I've read and I'm going to be hungover from this book for a long time. The writing was phenomenal. The time setting was perfect and I never got pulled out of the story/world while reading. The book was so well-paced and the world building was weaved within the story beautifully. The imagery was colorful and descriptive! I could easily visualize the places and characters throughout the book. The female MC, Verena, was so incredibly relatable. She felt real and imperfect, and I loved everything about her. This is a very sex positive book as there are no defined sexualities which is really refreshing to read. Verena has two guardians that are some of my favorite characters in the book. They are so supportive of her and their relationship was fun to read. There were so many lines I highlighted that made me literally laugh out loud offering some comedic relief. There is a delicious male character that I find myself unable to get enough of, so incredibly tender! The sexual tension is perfection and the payoff... amazing. The spice was so well written, some of the best I've read in fantasy. The last chapter had me on the edge of my seat holding my breath and a plot twist I didn't see coming! I laughed, I cried, I raged... I felt all the things! I am starving for book 2 in this series and I can't wait to read it! Check out The Empress of Scarred Secrets when it comes out 2/1/22!
18+ adult themes, language and sexual content