All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeer’s Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among the tools of sorcery—magical grimoires that whisper on shelves and rattle beneath iron chains. If provoked, they transform into grotesque monsters of ink and leather.

Then an act of sabotage releases the library’s most dangerous grimoire, and Elisabeth is implicated in the crime. With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, and his mysterious demonic servant, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy. Not only could the Great Libraries go up in flames, but the world along with them.

As her alliance with Nathaniel grows stronger, Elisabeth starts to question everything she’s been taught—about sorcerers, about the libraries she loves, even about herself. For Elisabeth has a power she has never guessed, and a future she could never have imagined.

This was one of my most highly anticipated reads of the year, and I’d heard so much about both the book and the author. It was my first time reading anything by her, and she absolutely delivered! I loved this YA romantasy so much. Plus, it’s completely clean—no spice or strong language—which I really appreciated.

The writing was beautiful, rich, and lyrical, with vivid, immersive descriptions that brought the world to life. The world-building was fantastic, and I loved getting to know this universe. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did a wonderful job of making the story even more engaging—highly recommend listening to it! The book had classic fairytale vibes but also a darker, gothic undertone that added depth and intrigue. Sometimes fantasy books lack a truly magical atmosphere, but this one delivered in every way.

One of my favorite aspects of the story was that it felt like a love letter to book lovers. With its library setting, magic system centered around books, and a main character, Elisabeth, who works in a library and dreams of advancing in her role, it was everything a bookworm could hope for. Elisabeth was incredibly relatable—her deep love for books, seeing them as companions, and feeling most at home in a library resonated with me so much. I also appreciated how she was a strong, ambitious, and bold female lead without being overbearing, still maintaining a softness and femininity that made her feel well-rounded.

The romance had a mix of enemies-to-lovers and instalove, but it was well-balanced and didn’t overshadow the main story. Elisabeth and Nathan’s dynamic was so much fun, and their banter? SO GOOD! Nathan is charming, witty, and humorous—he completely stole the scenes he was in. And then there’s Silas, Nathan’s demon servant, who was supposed to be terrifying but instead came across as thoughtful, kind, and even a bit endearing. He quickly became one of my favorite characters, second only to Elisabeth.

This was such a fast-paced, engaging story filled with action, magic, and adventure. The romance was swoon-worthy but remained a subplot rather than the central focus, which I appreciated. It had the perfect blend of historical fantasy, intrigue, and atmospheric storytelling.

If you’re looking for a fantasy that feels made for bookworms—one with enchanting libraries, a fascinating magic system, and plenty of action, mystery, and adventure—this is the book for you. Highly recommend! I can’t wait to read more from this author.