Mistress of Lies by K.M. Enright 🩸 A Dark Blend of Blood Magic, Romance, and Revenge

Mistress of Lies by KM Enright plunges readers into a world brimming with blood magic, political intrigue, and morally complex characters. The story follows Shan LeClaire, a blood worker willing to kill for power, and Samuel Hutchinson, a reluctant participant in a world of magic he’s tried to avoid.

The intricate layers of betrayal, revenge, and messy family dynamics are woven into a story that blends romance and fantasy in a world ruled by the Eternal King. But while Mistress of Lies promises a lot, it doesn’t quite deliver the depth of plot or character development that some readers may hope for. This book, while enjoyable, is more of a romantasy than the high fantasy political drama it initially appears to be.

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FATE IS A CRUEL MISTRESS

The daughter of a powerful but disgraced Blood Worker, Shan LeClaire has spent her entire life perfecting her blood magic, building her network of spies, and gathering every scrap of power she could. Now, to protect her brother, she assassinates their father and takes her place at the head of the family. And that is only the start of her revenge.

Samuel Hutchinson is a bastard with a terrible gift. When he stumbles upon the first victim of a magical serial killer, he’s drawn into the world of magic and intrigue he’s worked so hard to avoid – and is pulled deeply into the ravenous and bloodthirsty court of the vampire king.

Tasked by the Eternal King to discover the identity of the killer cutting a bloody swath through the city, Samuel, Shan and mysterious Royal Bloodworker Isaac find themselves growing ever closer to each other. But Shan’s plans are treacherous, and as she lures Samuel into her complicated web of desire, treason and vengeance, he must decide if the good of their nation is worth the cost of his soul.

The characters in Mistress of Lies are a mixed bag of intriguing and underdeveloped. Shan LeClaire, the protagonist, is ruthless and driven by a fierce loyalty to her family, especially her brother. Shan’s cut-throat decision to kill her father to secure her family’s power sets the tone for her character – cunning, calculating, and willing to do whatever it takes. However, while Shan’s motivation is compelling, much of her brilliance as a strategist is told rather than shown. Her network of spies and political manipulation exists in the background, but readers rarely get to witness her genius in action, which limits our connection to her.

Samuel Hutchinson is portrayed as the “reader stand-in,” with little depth of his own. Samuel is slowly introduced to the world of blood magic, learning alongside the reader. But while his growth in power is pivotal to the plot, it happens off-page, leaving a lack of emotional payoff when he finally embraces his abilities.

Isaac, the Royal Bloodworker, is proficient in magic and deeply tied to Shan’s past. His complicated relationship with Shan drives much of the romantic tension in the book, and while his backstory offers intrigue, the romantic subplot often overshadows his character development.

The Eternal King, the book’s antagonist, is perhaps the most interesting character. His tragic backstory of grief over his lost family and his immense, mysterious powers make him captivating, though the book fails to fully explore his motivations and legacy. It left me wanting more insight into his character and his role in the political landscape of the world.

The world of Mistress of Lies is intricately built, steeped in political intrigue, messy families, and morally grey characters. The plot centers around Shan’s quest for vengeance and power, with the help of Samuel and Isaac, as they also investigate a series of mysterious murders for the Eternal King.

The book shines in its unique blood magic system, but it’s never fully explained or explored in a way that gives readers a true understanding of its mechanics. The political landscape is rich with potential, but the plot leans heavily into romance, slowing down the pace and limiting the depth of the political intrigue.

The romance subplot takes precedence over the mystery and revenge arcs, with poly and queer elements that add diversity to the story. However, the romance feels more driven by lust than emotional connection, and it often derails the main plot.

The murder mystery element was a strong point, initially drawing in tension as the group searches for a magical serial killer. But the mystery is soon overshadowed by Shan’s plans for revenge and the developing romantic entanglements, causing the narrative to lose focus. As a result, the book feels overstuffed, with multiple plotlines competing for attention without fully developing any of them.

Enright’s writing is generally engaging, but the pacing falters. The book starts strong with a shocking act of patricide but loses momentum in the middle with excessive exposition and a focus on the romantic subplot. While the setup of the world and its characters promises political intrigue, the delivery is slowed by romantic tension that feels repetitive and takes away from the story’s core themes.

At its heart, Mistress of Lies explores the theme of legacy and whether one’s fate is determined by birthright, talent, or circumstance. Shan’s story is one of rising above her father’s failures, while Samuel grapples with his ability and reluctance to wield magic. The question of whether we can change our fate or if we are bound by it is central to the characters’ internal struggles.

This novel leans heavily into the romantasy genre, focusing more on the relationships and romantic tension between characters than the larger political intrigue or fantasy world-building. Readers expecting a high fantasy full of complex plotlines and world-shaking stakes may be disappointed. However, if you’re looking for a fantasy romance with darker themes, Mistress of Lies will likely satisfy.

Positives of Mistress of Lies

• Unique blood magic system with political intrigue.
• Poly and queer romance elements.
• Strong start with a gripping inciting incident (patricide).

Negatives of Mistress of Lies

• Lack of depth in world-building and magic system explanations.
• Romance overtakes the political and mystery plotlines.
• Samuel’s character development is weak, and his power arc lacks emotional payoff.

Mistress of Lies by KM Enright offers an intriguing mix of blood magic, political scheming, and romance, but it ultimately leans more heavily into the romantasy genre than a traditional high fantasy. While it has a compelling start and an interesting cast of morally grey characters, the middle portion slows down with an overemphasis on the romantic subplot, losing focus on the more exciting political and mystery elements.

If you’re looking for a fantasy that centers on romance with magical elements in the background, this could be the book for you. However, for those hoping for a deeper exploration of political intrigue and magic systems, this novel might fall short.

I received Mistress of Lies by K.M. Enright from the publisher. This is an unbiased and honest review

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