Something Wicked by Falon Ballard (Dec 2, 2025) Thank you, @putnambooks and @prhaudio for the gifted advanced listening copy! #prhaudioinfluencer
Callum was heir to the throne of Avon until the uprising overthrows the monarchy-like society and announces that the only candidates for president of the new country will be those who execute the current leader of their province. Callum’s father makes him promise that it will be Callum to take his life but Callum is having a hard time processing the ask. Which is why his sister hires Lady Caterine, a uniquely gifted courtesan – she can manipulate the emotions of anyone who climaxes with her. Despite a deep mistrust of the gifted community, Callum attends and Caterine’s presence hits him like a lightning bolt. But dangerous alliances are already in play, everything is not what it appears, and the two will soon be embroiled in a life-and-death game.
This is a very unique, wildly entertaining story that spans about a week in the lives of the characters. If you like your romantasy spicy, this one is quite literally grounded in spice as the narrative. The political story of the push and pull between gifted and non-gifted, “royals” and the uprising was interesting. There wasn’t a ton of excessive world-building and I’m going to trust in Falon Ballard to continue building the world, as this is book one and I anticipate we’ll get more in the next book. I’m looking forward to more about all of the characters as I feel like we’ve just scratched the surface of this story.
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: M.K. Blackwood, Marie Hawkins, Elliot Strong, and Connor Brannigan do an excellent job with this story. There are two primary narrators and 2 that are dedicated to reading journal entries that are interspersed throughout the book.
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
🎧 Audio performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
🔥 Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Book Smart Kate 