The Temptation of Magic (Empyreal Trilogy, Book 1) Series: Empyreal #1 Published by HarperCollins Publishers on May 23, 2024
Genres: Body, Fiction / Fantasy / Dark Fantasy, Fiction / Fantasy / General, Fiction / Fantasy / Romance, Fiction / Romance / Fantasy, Fiction / Romance / General, Juvenile Fiction / Love & Romance, Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Dark Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Romance, Young Adult Fiction / Romance / Paranormal
Pages: 384
Find the Author: Website, Blog, Goodreads, Amazon, Instagram, Pinterest
Goodreads
Reading Challenges: Netgalley BacklistSerpent and Dove meets A Discovery of Witches in this magical, forbidden romance debut.
He was an Empyreal, her greatest threat, her greatest fascination. Everything she’d been warned against. And yet she wanted him, still.
As an Empyreal, Nicole has the ability to kill any deadly supernatural. But if her power ever awakened, the Wake—the organisation that governs supernaturals—would force her to be their loyal huntress. Or kill her, like they did her mother.
To stay safe, Nicole hides in a small university town, convinced the mythological art collection at a local manor contains a final message from her mother. But before she can study it, Kyan McCarter, the Wake’s most skilled Empyreal, arrives on his own hunt. When they discover his prey has stolen a painting for leverage, they’re forced to work together.
As the creature threatens to expose Nicole’s powers, her tenuous alliance with Kyan threatens her heart. If her true identity is revealed, Kyan will hunt her next. No one disobeys The Wake and survives. Especially when the art they’re seeking unveils a conspiracy that would change the lives of creatures and humans forever. . .
But Nicole may only be able to resist one: her wicked impulses, or a love that could repaint their world.
And after a life of hiding her true nature, who could resist the temptation of magic
A luxurious, forbidden romance that will become your new obsession. . .
Review:
The Temptation of Magic by Megan Scott is a contemporary fantasy with a forbidden romance, enemies to lovers, paranormal academia vibes, and many creatures, magic, and powers! We get a double POV story from Nicole and Kyan, a forced proximity forbidden romance with a slow burn and a great payoff. We get a couple destined to be together forever, fighting the obstacles to be closer.
We get a whole cast of supernatural characters, all nuanced and well-written; we get an old manor house setting; we get libraries full of art and history books; we get an elite art university. We get great suspense but also cozy vibes. It combines dark academia and high-stakes fantasy perfectly, with a tremendous romantic subplot set in a British seaside town. It’s very well-written and atmospheric. I loved this book but felt world-building could have been more detailed. Learning more about Nicole’s family history and her mother’s adventures would also be great. Perhaps we will get that in the upcoming books of this trilogy. I would recommend this for older young adult teens as it does get into the steamier realm of a sexual relationship between our two characters.
About Megan Scott
Megan Scott is a romance and fantasy writer from the North West of England.
Her first novel for young adults, THE TEMPTATION OF MAGIC, is publishing with HarperCollins imprints in the UK and US in early 2024, beginning the EMPYREAL trilogy. Full of romance, mythology and the supernatural.
She studied Art History and Classical Civilisation and earned a distinction on her Masters of Research expanding on depictions of myth in nineteenth century art. Both of which still inspire her novels.
She is currently working on her next books. When she’s not writing or on Pinterest, she’s listening to or singing Jazz, trying to read as much as her nana, or paint something she doesn’t want to ceremoniously burn in the garden.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- Netgalley Backlist
Hmm, first I’m hearing of this one, but I can think exactly of which student at my school would love it. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!