I really enjoyed this book! It felt completely different from anything I’ve read before, which was such a refreshing experience. Fallon Ballard took a bold leap into the romantasy world, and I think she delivered something unique and compelling.

The relationship between Callum and Lady Caterine was a highlight for me. The way their dynamic evolved throughout the story, from transactional to something layered and emotionally charged, was really well done. I loved watching the walls slowly come down between them, and how each had to reckon with their past and purpose in the middle of so much political upheaval.

Callum was a solid love interest; he was torn between duty and desire, carrying the weight of legacy and expectations. And Cate was just the right mix of power, vulnerability, and moral complexity. I appreciated that she wasn’t a flawless FMC but someone trying to survive and protect the ones she loved. Their chemistry felt natural and had a good balance of tension and trust, which kept me invested.

One standout character for me was Callum’s sister, Dom. She had such a bold presence and brought much needed levity and strength to the story. I honestly would’ve loved more page time with her because she had that spark of a scene stealer and felt like a character with real potential for future development (please let her get her own book!).

On the flip side, Lady M was a character I loved to hate. The author did such a fantastic job crafting her as someone you just instantly dislike and continue to root against the entire way. She was manipulative and calculating, and honestly, one of the more effective antagonists I’ve read in a while. She never slipped into cartoonish villain territory, which I appreciated.

Harold’s arc also deserves a mention. His journey was surprisingly emotional and added an extra layer of depth to the plot. His role in the story felt essential rather than secondary, and watching his layers peel back was super satisfying.

Now, let’s talk about the flaws, because while I definitely had a good time with this one, it wasn’t without its bumps.

First, the worldbuilding. While the idea of this world is fantastic like political alliances, magic, courtly power plays, it wasn’t always easy to follow. The rules of the world felt a bit vague and underdeveloped. Magic was referenced often, but we weren’t really shown what it could do or how it worked, which left some major plot points feeling a little weightless. I found myself craving more detail: how the kingdoms were structured, how power was maintained, and what the real limitations of each character were.

Then there was the pacing. The story starts off strong and draws you in with this mysterious, slightly seductive vibe, but somewhere around the middle, it stumbles a bit. The buildup was great, but once we hit the climax, things moved too fast. Some major twists and reveals didn’t get the breathing room they needed, and it made the ending feel slightly rushed and a little too convenient. I honestly wouldn’t have minded if the book was 50 pages longer just to allow everything to unfold more naturally.

There were also moments where the dialogue felt a bit modern for the setting, which took me out of the story. It’s a fine line to walk in fantasy romance; balancing banter and chemistry with the tone of the world, and this book didn’t always land that balance cleanly. At times, it read more like a contemporary romance with a fantasy backdrop rather than a fully realized romantasy.

Lastly, I do think some secondary characters deserved more development. While Callum and Cate were fully fleshed out, a few of the supporting cast felt one dimensional, especially given how important their roles were in the plot. I wanted more from their motivations, their stakes, and their relationships with the leads.

All that being said, this was such a fun, intriguing read, and I’m absolutely looking forward to what Fallon does with the rest of this series. She took a big risk jumping from contemporary rom coms to fantasy romance, and for me, it mostly paid off. The bones of something great are here, it just needs a little more polish in a few areas.

If you’re in the mood for a spicy, emotionally charged romantasy with rich characters and court intrigue, Something Wicked is definitely worth picking up!

Thank you to NetGalley, Falon Ballard, and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the eARC of this book.