Silvercloak by L.K. Stevens

Silvercloak isn’t just cool as hell, it’s utterly gripping from start to finish. At its heart is Saffron Killoran, a detective mage tasked with infiltrating one of the most dangerous gangs in the city. But this isn’t just another assignment. This gang is responsible for the brutal murder of her parents two decades ago, and Saff’s not just going undercover, she’s chasing justice with a vengeance. Or maybe revenge. Either way, there’s a score to settle, and she’s not walking away until it’s paid in full.

The worldbuilding here is fresh and inventive in the best way. The magic system alone had me wide-eyed: in Saff’s world, magic draws from a reservoir of pleasure and pain, quantity and quality determined by the emotional highs and lows of the user. It’s intimate, risky, and entirely original. As Saff navigates this brutal landscape, it becomes clear she’s playing by her own rules, with a few tricks no one saw coming.

Her descent into the city’s criminal underworld is a masterclass in tension. It’s dark, dangerous, and constantly keeps you on edge. The twists never feel cheap; they’re perfectly timed gut-punches that keep the plot sharp and the stakes sky-high. And then there’s the romantic subplot, messy, magnetic, and infuriating in the best possible way. I genuinely couldn't decide whether I wanted to throw my Kindle or write fanfic. It’s that kind of dynamic.

If I had one critique, it’s that the conclusion felt just a little too fast. With so many high-stakes threads converging, the final showdown veered into chaos, and I wished for just a bit more breathing room to fully appreciate the payoff. Also, since I read the e-ARC, I’m crossing my fingers that the final edition includes a map, I found myself craving a visual layout of the various territories, especially as the political intrigue started ramping up.

That said, these are minor gripes in a book that completely owned me. The (tragically short) epilogue left me feral in the best way. I’m fully invested, already obsessing over theories, and counting down the days until the next installment. This series has claws, and I’m not getting out unscathed.