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Imbued (Imbued #1)

Book cover of Imbyed. Purple background with a white calla lily in the center wrapped in golden twines.

Imbued, Imbued book 1

Helyna L. Clove


Find out more here: Helyna's website


Imbued releases on September 6th 2024.



A dark romantic fantasy with stunning world-building, captivating prose, and so much angst!




This was a beautiful read! I was fully absorbed from the get-go, from the detailed and interesting world, the tension that hardly eased after the first page, to the pretty prose that was somehow both wordy and sharp at the same time.


Unraveling the mystery of servant Calla' past, the reader is thrown into a big world with fascinating lore of gods and devastating magic. We're kept on our toes constantly because magic is not only forbidden and dangerous, Calla is barely to contain hers, and if she's discovered it'll most likely be the end of her. Then add a handsome, brooding - but kinda sweet - stranger that can teach her to control said magic but also happens to be the very person who could expose her - oh the tension just keeps building!


The writing is full of beautiful imagery that makes the background lore a treat to read and makes you crave more. Honestly, I'd love a history book from this world! The magic is mysterious, deep, and powerful, and there's a good dose of "everything is possible, but comes with a price" and Calla constantly walks along this edge. You never quite know who to trust as everyone holds tight to their secrets, and the characters are multi-leveled and with streaks of selfishness, pride, and cowardice that makes them feel very real.


The story is seeped in trauma as a main story point is Calla's discovering and processing of her own. The more her past is revealed, the more you’re rooting for her to regain control of her power and take charge. This is helped immensely by the romantic interest, Grey, who’s very inclined to help her and has her back. Even when they hit a few bumps on the road, they seem to be a perfect power-couple that will redeem themselves and save the world. Or least, so I thought… all my scheming and plotting went down the drain with the final little plot twists… Eeek! Now I need the next book!


With lots of queer and mental health rep, devastating tension, wonderfully slow-burn romance, and stunning prose and world building, this book will most definitely end up as one of my favorite reads of the year!

I’m quite eager to get my hands on the sequel!





I received this book as an ARC in exchange for my honest review.


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