Clio is good at all sorts of things. As a nymph, she’s great at outdoorsy nature stuff. As a nymph living in exile, she’s got the “blending in with humans” thing down pat. As a nymph living in exile because she has the rare ability to mimic magic, she’s had to pick up some unique survival skills.

But stealing from the most dangerous spell weavers in the Underworld? Not so much.

Unfortunately, that’s exactly what she has to do to earn a ticket back home. Conning her way into the night realm may have gone pretty well, but now she’s got a new problem. His name is Lyre and he’s a sinfully alluring incubus, a dangerously skilled spell weaver, and the only thing standing between her and stealing some damn magic.

Maneuvering around him without blowing her cover shouldn’t be that difficult, but chaos has been dogging her every step, monsters hide behind beautiful faces, and Lyre keeps saving her neck even though they’re enemies. Kind of enemies? Either way, her mission is getting complicated fast, and in the Underworld, even one mistake could prove fatal.

At this point, I'm sort of convinced that Annette Marie can do no wrong with her writing. Or her characters. Or really anything. I've read everything she's put out there and I have loved every single piece.

I will admit, I was a bit... hesitant... with this book at first. When it was first announced, at least. I loved Lyre from the Steel & Stone series, but I wasn't sure if I was happy about his own prequel series. For shame, past me! Present me is completely enamoured with this book already!

This has everything I've come to expect from Marie's books—fast pace, non-stop action, swoons, and witty characters with great lines. If you loved her Steel & Stone and Red Winter series, the first book in her new Spell Weaver series will be another favourite, I assure you.

I was pretty much hooked from the first chapter. Clio opened it up and it was fun—oh my gosh, this entire book! It was just so much fun! Full of exciting twists and adorable banter, I loved it to pieces! Clio was a great character, and I found echoes of both of Marie's past leading ladies, so it was easy to warm up to her. There were a few things I was curious about in regards to Clio and Annette Marie definitely delivered those, which was a pleasant surprise! I can't wait to read more from her point of view.

And Lyre! My favourite incubus! I missed him so much! Ever since I read the latest in the Steel & Stone series—which was the companion POV novel—I just knew I would love him in his own series (once again: for shame, past me!). Lyre is just so great. He's brilliant and kind and adorable and swoony. I lovelovelove him! Also, reading about how he first met Ash and then future encounters, it was amazing. It had me grinning the entire time because everything is so different than how I know these two from S&S. It was hilarious and perfect and Annette Marie captured each scene with the both of them perfectly.

The romance! Nope, not saying anything else about it. Just know it was amazing. As expected. Can she ever disappoint me in regards to romance? Nope, don't think so.

Anyway, there was a lot of action, as I've said. But more than that, there was a new way of looking at magic, which I found super interesting. Weaving sounds very complicated and Clio herself is more than she seems, so these two abilities definitely made The Night Realm all the more intriguing.

Before I wrap it up, there was... one minor thing that I had hoped to see more of—Reed! He was the only brother that Lyre got along with and I was hoping for more interactions between the two :( 

Overall—LOVED it! I can't wait for the next book! 4.5 stars!

•*´¨`*•.¸¸.•*´¨`*•

{ buy the book }

Links to come when the book releases!

{ about the author }

Annette Marie is the author of the Amazon best-selling YA urban fantasy series Steel & Stone, which includes the 2015 Goodreads Choice Award nominee Yield the Night. Her first love is fantasy, a limitless realm of creativity where she can break all the boring rules of real life, but fast-paced urban fantasy, bold heroines, and tantalizing forbidden romances are her guilty pleasures. She proudly admits she has a thing for dragons, and her editor has politely inquired as to whether she intends to include them in every book. 

Annette lives in the frozen winter wasteland of northern Alberta, Canada (okay, it’s not quite that bad). She shares her life with her remarkably patient, comparatively sensible husband and their furry minion of darkness—sorry, cat—Caesar. When not writing, she can be found elbow-deep in one art project or another while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.

Website | Twitter | Facebook