📚 Book Summary + Review: The Lies of Lena by Kylie Snow

Looking for your next romantasy?

Don’t be fooled like I was— this is not yet a completed series— but also still totally worth the wait im sure ✨

In the kingdom of Otacia, magic isn’t just forbidden—it’s feared. Anyone caught practicing it is hunted down without mercy. For Lena Daelyra, a young Mage hiding in plain sight, that fear has shaped every aspect of her life. She and her mother have spent years on the run, never staying in one place too long, constantly looking over their shoulders.

When they finally settle in the quiet Outer Ring of the kingdom, Lena hopes for normalcy. They run a small apothecary shop, keeping to themselves while keeping Lena’s powers locked away. But everything changes when Lena crosses paths with Quill—a charming, enigmatic boy from the Inner Ring. Quickly their friendship causes Lena to evaluate who she can trust with what information.

It's not long before Lena is pulled into a tangled web of political unrest, long-buried magic, and half-truths. The deeper she’s drawn into Quill’s world, the harder it becomes to separate truth from lies—and to keep her own secrets from unraveling. As the kingdom inches toward chaos, Lena must decide who she really is, what she believes in, and how far she’s willing to go to protect the people she loves.

The Lies of Lena is a spellbinding blend of fantasy, slow-burn romance, and personal discovery—perfect for readers who love a fierce heroine, forbidden magic, and a love story that doesn’t shy away from heat or heart.

My Review of The Lies of Lena by Kylie Snow

But This is a spoiler-free review without any specifics, although I will be sharing some generalizations, vague plot lines (without mentioning any of the twists) and pacing— so if you would rather go in completely blind, stop here.

I picked up The Lies of Lena and I’ll be totally honest. I did not love the cover image for this book… it felt a little cringey. And then when I found out the main characters are SIXTEEN?! I was immediately like nahhhhh. But I promise— It is sooo much better than the very first impression. I was expecting a fun fantasy escape—and ended up completely hooked. This book delivered everything I wanted: magic, mystery, romance, and just the right amount of emotional tension to keep me turning the pages long past bedtime.

Let’s start with the pacing. It’s spot-on. From the very first chapter, the story pulled me in and never dragged. There’s a steady build-up of suspense and magic, with moments of intensity that had me holding my breath. Nothing felt rushed, but I was never bored either. It struck a really nice balance between action and quieter, character-driven moments.

Speaking of characters—Lena is such a strong and layered main character. I really loved watching her grow throughout the story. She’s not perfect (thankfully), but her strength, vulnerability, and inner conflict made her feel real. And then there’s Quill… mysterious, protective, broody, a little too smooth for his own good, and totally compelling. Their chemistry was off the charts, and I appreciated that their relationship felt earned, not insta-love.

The romance was one of my favorite parts. It’s swoony and forbidden in the best way, with plenty of tension and heat. There are also multiple love interests, in different capacities. Which gave the story a lot of depth and made it feel a lot more authentic than most other romantasy books. And yes, the spicy scenes are very much open door—so if that’s your thing, you’re in for a treat. I’d give it a 4.5 out of 5 on the chili pepper scale. It’s steamyyyyyyy and explicit, but it also felt emotional and grounded, which made it all the more satisfying.

The world-building in Otacia is layered and immersive. I could easily picture the contrasts between the harsh Outer Ring and the glittering Inner Ring, and the magic system had just enough mystery to keep things interesting without being overly complicated. I also liked how the political backdrop added depth without taking away from the emotional core of the story. World building and the political system definitely picks up the pace in book two.

As for the plot, it’s rich with secrets, danger, and twists that I didn’t see coming. There’s a solid mix of personal stakes and kingdom-level conflict, and I was just as invested in the emotional moments as I was in the larger storyline.

Overall? I loved it. The Lies of Lena is one of those books that makes you feel something while still giving you all the magic and romance you crave. If you're a fan of fantasy with heart and heat, this one should definitely be on your list.

My only meh about the book was that I went into it anticipating a completed duology (I think I saw somewhere online that it was a finished series?). Well, that was wrong. The second book (Sin of Silas) leaves you on quite the cliffhanger.

⭐️ My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
🌶️ Spice Level: 4.5/5 – steamy, emotional, and definitely open door

Tropes: forced proximity, lovers to enemies to…. , morally gray MMC, love triangle, forbidden love

Trigger warnings: this book has some potentially triggering content- you can see the author’s complete list here

xoxo

Kae