The Temptation of Magic gives dark academia a new supernatural edge, all while giving readers a tantalizing enemies-to-lovers romance.

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The Temptation of Magic is a thrilling new start to a series, delving into an art conspiracy with a supernatural force behind it.

Enriching

My favorite part of the novel was the art history aspect of the story. Nicole is a student at a college studying art. The reason is she’s an Empyreal, a supernatural being that can turn into the ultimate predator. Her family has been on the run ever since her mother was murdered by another empyreal. Why? Because she discovered a conspiracy that would shake the core of the supernatural world governed by an order called The Wake.

But she hid clues for her family in art, in pieces, so that if anyone besides her family discovered them, they wouldn’t know what they were seeing. But Nicole knows what to look for and which pieces to study.

I loved that element, her study of the art, and how it effortlessly fits into the storytelling. And it made me want to know about the art pieces Nicole was studying and the history behind them.

Steamy

Now, we all know I’m not one for romance. But I am invested when a romance is done well in a story.

Admittedly, I believe the fated loved trope is a bit overplayed nowadays. However, I do think that Scott was able to deliver a certain freshness to it that didn’t feel forced.

To begin with, there is something animalistic about it, something tangible even though this is a supernatural fantasy. The way Scott brings to life the Empyreals and how they are described as hunters, almost akin to wolves, gives the tension between them some depth.

But I also liked that they didn’t fall into each other. There is a wall between them, a sense of distrust that forces them to learn more and more about each other as they develop their dynamic and relationship. The sexual tension between them rises steadily, even though you, the reader, know that’s the direction of the story, and it did make for some steamy scenes.

Final Thoughts

I thoroughly enjoyed The Temptation of Magic, finding it unique, enriching, and addictive.