About the Book

To save a world in turmoil, a would-be prince teams up with a magically gifted courtesan—but the most dangerous game may be trusting each other in this spicy, swoony fantasy romance from the USA Today bestselling author of Change of Heart.

"Intricate, sensual, and filled with all the best elements romantasy has to offer." —India Holton, author of The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love

The Uprising has overthrown Avon's monarchial rulers, and a decree has been issued. Candidates for the first presidential election will be selected by the completion of a special task: to kill the former monarch of their home province.

Callum, the son of the recently dethroned king, is determined to be in the running. But coming to terms with patricide will require the help of Lady Caterine, a Gifted courtesan at La Puissance, Avon’s premiere sex club.

Lady Caterine has always had the magical ability to manipulate the emotions of anyone who experiences an orgasm in her presence. If Callum can only open up to Cate, he will be able to commit the newly fated murder without suffering the guilt and take his place as the rightful candidate from his province. But Callum has a deep-seated mistrust of the Gifted. And the last thing he expects is to be confronted with an undeniable connection with Cate that neither of them understands or wants.

With the fate of the country at stake, Callum and Cate search for ways to bare themselves to each other, and discover a darker force building within La Puissance, one that might ruin the future of Avon forever. To stop Avon from falling to ashes, they must sacrifice everything they have . . . even if it requires betraying each other.

Review

Something Wicked has an undeniably beautiful cover; however, that is one of the few things it has going for it. All characters, main and background alike, lacked depth and personality. It was hard to actually feel invested in their journeys. Additionally, the romance between Cate and Callum felt underdeveloped and rushed. I felt nothing. There was no genuine emotional development, only attraction. The mate bond they share felt more like a shortcut than a meaningful element of the story. There were a few swoony, worthy, and memorable moments between them. Although the potential was there as the inspiration. Something Wicked is marketed as a Moulin Rouge! inspired romance, but the mark was unfortunately missed.

Callum’s prejudice against the gifted was another missed opportunity. His bias toward Cate was resolved far too quickly, especially considering how little meaningful interaction they shared beforehand. The shift felt unearned and glossed over too quickly. It would have been interesting to see Callum struggle internally as his feelings for Cate grew and question what he had originally believed. The narrative also didn’t allow for Callum to properly grieve after the loss of an important figure in his life. He appeared to grieve briefly and was seemingly fine by the next chapter.

The story lacked cohesion and little worldbuilding. Diary entries and letters were an interesting concept; however, they revealed major background and plot details far too early. This robbed the main narrative of suspense and diminished the impact of later twists.

Final Thoughts

Despite its striking cover, Something Wicked did not provide the depth, romance, or immersive storytelling I was hoping for. Instead, it offered a large cast of unforgettable characters, failed to deliver a fully realized world or an emotionally resonant story.

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