Silver & Blood

Last week saw the release of Silver & Blood, the first in a new duology from Jessie Mihalik. Riela is a mage who just gained her powers last year, though she can still barely use them. But as the only mage in town, she’s sent to kill a beast in the forest, only to wind up gravely injured and recovering in a mysterious man’s castle. It turns out Garrick is also a mage, but a much more powerful one. Riela is stuck with Garrick and his wolf for several weeks as she learns to use her magic and they work together for him to get back to his kingdom. But there are a lot of secrets and dangers lurking on the other side, and it will take more to save Riela’s village and Garrick’s kingdom.

What I Liked:

• Feels like a fairytale. Some of the author’s marketing described Silver & Blood as “fairytale vibes, but make it sexy!” It is true. This book has elements that remind me of my favorite stories, like Beauty and the Beast (indeed, this has a worthy library that drives the comparison home!), and I love the balance of magic, danger, and something a little forbidden. There are secrets and kingdoms and a whole lot of surprises for Riela, who up until now assumed things were made up, not reality. And yes, this is much sexier than the traditional fairytales, and only gets better when a new solution is introduced late in the book…
• Mysteries of magic. Riela only just came into her magic a year ago, and she has very little control over it. Moreover, where her magic comes from, why it functions the way it does, and why it’s so limited are all questions that lead to more questions. Garrick is certainly suspicious of Riela, even if she truly knows less than he does about her own magic. Regardless, he gives Riela magic lessons, which is frustrating for them, but fun for the reader.
• Cliffhanger ending. There’s so much happening throughout this book, and then just when an exciting new mission is upon them, it abruptly ends! Argh, but well done: I can’t wait for the sequel!

What Didn’t Work for Me:

• Much of the first half feels rather claustrophobic. It’s almost entirely set in the confines of the secluded castle, with only three characters present (including the wolf, who I love, btw!). Eventually the story does expand, both in terms of location and number of characters, and is all the better for it.

Audiobook:

Stefanie Kay and Fajer Al-Kaisi do a marvelous job of narrating as Riela and Garrick in Silver & Blood. Most of the chapters are from Riela’s point of view, but every now and then, we get a quick chapter from Garrick. Both voice actors captured their respective characters splendidly, making for a fun and engaging listen.

Final Thoughts

I thoroughly enjoyed Silver & Blood, especially in the second half when the stakes started ramping up. It leaves me so excited for the second book in the duology, Roses & Stone, currently slated for release in December 2026. Romantasy can be hit or miss for me, but I loved this one!

Special thanks to Avon & Harper Voyager, HarperAudio Adult, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Get the Book

You can buy Silver & Blood here – it’s available as a paperback, ebook, and audiobook.

Silver & Blood by Jessie Mihalik
Series	Silver & Blood (#1)
Audiobook Narrator	Stefanie Kay and Fajer Al-Kaisi
Audience	Adult
Genre	Romantasy
Number of Pages	448
Format I Read	Audiobook & Ebook (NetGalley ARCs)
Original Publication Date	January 27, 2026
Publisher	Avon

Official Summary

On a deadly mission to kill the mythical beast that has been haunting her woods, a desperate mage finds her fate intertwined with the handsome, powerful man who saves her in this dark and sexy romantasy—perfect for readers of Jennifer L. Armentrout, Callie Hart, and Holly Black.

There’s something in the woods…

When a vicious beast begins attacking her fellow villagers, Riela reluctantly agrees to enter the forbidden forest and kill the monster as she’s the only mage available—or so she thought.

Untrained and barely armed, Riela is quickly overwhelmed when one beast turns into two. She fears her death is at hand until the unexpected arrival of a scarred, strikingly handsome man with gleaming moonlit magic changes her fate—and provides a rare opportunity to learn more about her own fickle power.

After being rescued and healed from the beast’s poison, Riela awakens in a magical castle complete with a gorgeous library, a strange wolf, and the surly man who saved her life. She soon learns Garrick is both more powerful and far deadlier than a mere mortal mage—but thanks to a century-long curse, his powers are weakening.

Trapped in his castle and surrounded by the treacherous woods, the spark of attraction between Riela and Garrick slowly ignites into fiery desire. But the more they discover about Riela’s magic, the more suspicious Garrick grows of her identity. As they unravel the secrets and lies connecting Riela’s past to Garrick’s, the tenuous threads of trust between them start to fray.

Because Riela’s life—or her death—might be the key to regaining everything Garrick has lost.