City of Promise and Light: Mates of Gods and Fae

by M.B. Atkins

Sybil Hart's ordinary life unravels the moment she collides with a silver-haired stranger, pulling her into a hidden world of fae, ancient gods, and long-buried magic. A tempting job offer from the enigmatic Ambrose Farra quickly becomes a perilous path as Sybil's latent power awaken, threatening to consume her and strip away her humanity.

As she's drawn deeper into a legacy she never knew existed, Sybil finds herself caught between two powerful men: Ambrose, a seductive manipulator with dangerous ambitions, and Samian, her brooding protector who urges her to take control of her fate. But nothing is as it seems, and when betrayal strikes from within, Sybil must confront the truth about who she is and what she's capable of. With the fate of an entire realm hanging in the balance, she faces an impossible choice...

Can Sybil embrace the darkness rising within or risk loosing herself forever?

Genres: Fantasy, Fae

372 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 9, 2025

Reviews

[minnie. [mental health hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars!
◟ ࣪˖ ִֶָ .ᐟ˖ City of Promise and Light⟡ˎˊ˗
𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐠𝐞: 14+

Thank you to BookSirens and M.B. Atkins for the E-ARC of the novel!

⏾⋆.˚ 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
⤷ Explicit sex scenes (not main character)
⤷ Swearing
⤷ Torture (mild), Death, Violence
⤷ Abusive relationship/manipulation

⏾⋆.˚ 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ⤵
Okay, the ending?????????? Why'd you have to leave me on a cliffhanger 😭.
I loved this book. It's really well written and the plot was really interesting. Sybil finds out that she has magical powers and goes to Nemos, the upper world to learn to control her powers. I liked that in the fantasy world the author incorporated some technology, which is different than most other fantasy novels I've read. I loved Sybil's character because she was just so relatable. She was training to master her powers, but she kept failing, and I enjoyed reading about her training arc. I liked that Sybil didn't just immediately master her magic, and that she had struggles and failures along the way, which made the plot more enjoyable and interesting. Sybil is such a relatable character because she has a lot of fears and insecurities, and she doesn't really belong or fit in anywhere, which I can really relate to. It really pained me to read Sybil being manipulated by Ambrose, and tbh I was so scared when I thought that Ambrose was the mmc. Overall, the book was enjoyable and the writing was wonderful. Can't wait for the second book!

⏾⋆.˚ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭
⤷ Fated mates
⤷ Love triangle (it's gonna be good I promise)
⤷ Slow burn
⤷ Multiple pov's (including the villain)
⤷ Multiple plot lines
⤷ Fantasy mixed with modern technology
⤷ Plot twists
⤷ Cliffhanger
⤷ Lovable side characters (cough* Aster *cough)

⏾⋆.˚ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
Sybil: My girl Sybil!! Loved her so much, and she is so relatable, as I mentioned above.
Samian: Oh my god fated mates but only he knows about it????? You have me sat.
Ambrose: ... 😒 I love a good enemies to lovers falling for the villain, but not this time. Ambrose has no redemption and he needs to get far farrrr away from Sybil.
Keiran: Introduced near the end of the novel, but I'm still so excited to read more about him!! Omg and he calls her princess..I'm swooning 🤭
Aster: Lovable side character done right!!!! Omg she a diva, and I love her so much.

⏾⋆.˚ 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥 ⤵
Loved this book, and I would totally recommend it to fantasy lovers!

[Katie Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to BookSirens and M.B Atkins for allowing me to read this as an E-ARC!

Your next romantsy / dark fantasy obsession - I am calling it now!
No I'm serious !! I consumed this in one sitting! Couldn't put it down! Didn't want to put it down! Take some of the tropes we all know and love but with twists you DON'T see coming! I was shocked!
Our story follows Sybil, who lives in the modern world until she sadly loses her job, her relationship crumbles and a mysterious pair come along...

Ideal for readers who love
- multiple POVs including our main villain (please refer to second last point about said villain)
- mysterious plot lines
- modern technology mixed with the fantasy world done RIGHT
- easy to digest but well thought out world building and magic system
- an FMC who although may be out of her depth in this new magical world, will not back down
- a love triangle (don't roll your eyes this one is JUICY!)
- fresh twists on tropes we all know and love
- an ending that, although leaves you chomping at the bit for the next instalment, will not leave you with a gut wrenching cliff hanger
- a villain you physically can't help but plan how you would bury them
- side characters that are fully developed and enjoyable to follow

I CANNOT WAIT for more people to read this story so we can discuss theories! Thank you so much for letting me read this before it hits the stores on September 9th!

[tiana ♡]

pre-read notes:

I'm so excited to read this! 🤭
Happy to announce that I'm part of the review team for M.B. Atkins through Rattle the Stars PR!! I can't wait to explore this series. 🧡
fae, why choose, slow burn?? say less!

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review
First, any book that has a dedication page asking their parents not to read the book because of well, we all know why ( lol), it has my attention.
Unaware, Sybil's magic was bound as a child. When she suddenly loses her job, she receives an unexpected job offer. It leads her to a whole new world where magic is real and she has powerful light magic.
Sybil is thrust into a whole new world, and I can definitely understand her being overwhelmed. However, there were times when I got frustrated with her. At times, she was a little whiny, and her decisions made me want to smack her.
We have 2 MMCs, so it will be interesting to see where the love story goes- love triangle or a why choose. As a reader, I like both and can't decide who to cheer for.
I am eagerly waiting for book 2.

[Dario Pacheco · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you do when your whole world is flipped on is axis and you become a pawn in a game for power in the realm of Fae & Gods?
In this book we meet Sybil, a woman who is drawn into a world of fae and magic after meeting a mysterious stranger. As her powers awaken, she is caught between a manipulative fae, Ambrose, and a protector, Samian, while navigating dangerous political intrigue, rebellion, and a crumbling legacy.
Okay so Sybil for sure was one of those characters that got me frustrated but I loved how relatable she was in her stumbling around in this world. And dealing with her trauma and finding her footing in this world where she plays an important part.
The story centers a lot on her exploring the world and her relationship with the people in this court of political intrigue. While also dealing with a rebel group that is trying to overthrow the plans of Ambrose. Who is total twat waffle and had me wanting to drop kick him and his pawn Ariana down a flight of stairs.
Samian for sure is the first one to fall for Sybil and seeing their hesitant romance began to blossom was one of the best part of this story
This book was for sure a solid start to a series that I can’t wait to see where it goes.

[Kristina Ehrlich · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would - I was completely immersed and some plot points, though predictable, left me feeling deeply for the characters, sometimes disgusted at what was happening to them. Though some things were predictable, other parts were not and I loved being surprised. This is the kind of book where I would pick up the next book right away if it were out. I often thought about reading this book more when I had other responsibilities, desiring to make time to read and not just because I committed to reading it. There were some undesirable parts to read, which is the only reason it’s 4.5 stars for me. It would probably be a good idea to look at trigger warnings prior to reading this if it’s available, however some I noticed were: emotional manipulation, abuse and torture.

I’m so glad I received this on my ARC list through BookSirens, it was a joy to read. I did receive a copy of this book for free through them and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Monika Vaughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC

First off I loved this book. The characters were very well written. Secondly I need someone to remind me not to start good books at night.

[Moonburst · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sybil's life has never been easy. Estranged from her family and having recently been fired, she decides to accept a mysterious job offer from enigmatic Ambrose. She hopes that this job will allow her greater understanding of her own dangerous magic, but instead she finds herself in a strange faerie court where everyone has their own hidden objectives. Can Sybil learn to control her magic without losing herself?

I really wanted to like this book. However, Sybil drove me absolutely crazy. She's 32, going on 17. At first, I was very excited for the main protagonist to be in her thirties. So many fantasy books have young protagonists in their teens/early twenties, and having an older, more mature main character would allow for a more balanced and nuanced story. Unfortunately, Sybil is extremely reactive, often making sudden, terrible decisions seemingly out of spite. Even more baffling, is when her character is ten and right before meeting the faeries, she seems to be a hardworking, cautious character who pays attention to details and doesn't rush into anything. But after the first twenty pages or so, she starts paying attention to nothing and refusing to think for herself. It is infuriating. Even worse, when she is getting bullied in a similar style to mean high school girls everywhere, she genuinely is upset. This is rather asinine as while bullying is unpleasant, the jeers Sybil endures are rather stupid and unlikely for a grown adult woman to care about.

Sybil's immaturity is very frustrating to read about, especially as she could have easily made similar decisions in a less reactive way. For example, it is lightly touched on that Sybil, feeling abandoned by her family, has become somewhat of a perfectionist. She does spend an exhausting about of time assuming she's going to fail. She could have just decided to go with Ambrose and Samian due to a desire to have perfect control over her unbound powers. There was literally no reason for her father, who she has had no contact with for twenty years, to show up just to forbid her from "taking the job" and for her to respond with, "you can't tell me what to do, I'm taking the job!" Later her impatience and desire for perfection would have been enough to get her to agree to Ambrose's bargain. It just would have made for a more realistic, mature character.

I could have handled Sybil's obnoxious decision making if I had had someone to really root for. Unfortunately, Samian is extremely ineffective, being more concerned about protecting himself than making any major inroads against Ambrose's schemes. He is truly an atrocious teacher, basically abandoning Sybil every time he's vaguely called away, and assuming she'll understand by reading books alone. By the end of the book, I didn't feel like he had truly done anything to substance other than skulk around. And while we do spend some time with the rebels, we don't spend enough time with them to really understand what they are fighting for, or to really care. All we really know is Ambrose is super bad, so we don't want him to succeed.

In comparison to everyone else, Ambrose is the strongest character. He's an extremely unnerving, capable villain. But we spend too much time with him as he uses his mental coercion to sleep with any female in his general vicinity. As it's fairly certain that he's manipulated everyone to the point that giving actual consent is impossible, I really could have done with less detailed depictions of his sexual exploits. After a certain point, I got frustrated when the story was from his point of view, because it added little to the plot, and we already understood that he's a terrible person.

All in all, I wanted to like this book, as the overall plot of a rebel group trying to succeed against a horrifyingly capable manipulator while the main character tries to learn control of her capabilities is something I would generally enjoy. But I couldn't stand any of the main characters.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Nikki Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Eventually, the rulers of the realm came together, deciding to combine their magic and separate the Earth into three separate realms: the lower, the middle, and the upper realm. You were born into Mide—the middle realm, which consists mostly of humans and little magic, though there are cases of beings like me that make the Mide their home. Dubnos, the lower realm, was created for the creatures born of the dark and shadows. Demons, dark fae, the unseelie, and creatures of shadow rule in the lower realm. Here in Nemos, the light fae, the seelie, seraphim, and creatures of light rule. With me so far?"


City of Promise and Light by M.B. Atkins... Holy ambitious and immersive, Batman! From the very beginning, the story leans hard into multi-POV fantasy storytelling, layering Sybil’s initially-unraveling human life with the perspectives of Samian, Ambrose (major ick, what a haunting villain!), and later Kieran to build a world that feels politically charged and constantly in motion. What begins in Charlotte quickly heads into Nemos, one of three Earthly realms, and Atkins wastes no time establishing the high stakes of fae courts, hidden bloodlines (literally my favorite part), and power structures built on both light and coercion.


The fae lore is a standout in this book. The concept of seelie heritage literally rewriting Sybil's human DNA adds a fascinating biological dimension to the story's mythology, grounding magic in something that feels unsettlingly inevitable. I was absolutely fascinated by this detail, and it was one of my fave moments in the whole book. And the Queen Cassia tie there was a twist I didn't see coming. Speaking of the queen... Political tension simmers beneath nearly every interaction, from Ambrose’s unnerving control of the court to the quiet rebellion forming in the shadows and the queen who's... indisposed, we'll say. The cast's personalities shine and feel distinctly unique, with characters like Samian, Kieran, Ezra, and Aster bringing their own energy, emotional contrast, and intrigue to every moment. Ambrose in particular is a villain you feel whenever he’s on the page. Yikes. I'll just leave it at that and let other readers uncover the rest. But be ready, because he's equal parts repulsive and chilling.


At its heart, City of Promise and Light is a character-driven fantasy about identity, inheritance, and power. If you enjoy multi-POV fantasy with fae politics, fated threads, and a healthy dose of spice, this one is well worth picking up. I’m definitely curious to see where Atkins takes this world next!

[Bri West · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 3.75

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to receive an eARC! I think the Mates of Gods and Fae series has really great potential. The world building was interesting and I think we will continue to learn more about it as the story progresses in the next books. Book one somewhat feels like the build up and I think the next will absolutely take off!

The story has plenty of action to keep you intrigued and wanting to see what happened next. There was a lot that was predictable and while you know some of the “bad things” have to happen for the plot to move along (and for the dramatics), I have to admit some made me want to scream and pull my hair out for the characters making such stupid and easily avoidable choices.

I’m mostly looking at you Sybil. While yes, she is thrust into a completely new world unprepared, she is also quite naive, beyond easy to manipulate and even a bit whinny. Repeatedly she has gut feelings / instincts screaming telling her both good and bad, and yet she ignores them every. single. time…..

Kieran and Samian are definitely intriguing. I know we will get more of our MMCs (as it seemed there’s gonna be more than one mate in this dynamic). However even they sometimes made some decisions that had me going …. Really dude? You know better. Plus, somehow they’re these powerful guys but couldn’t protect Sybil when it really mattered? Same for Ezra - a general who didn’t have any control over his commander or other soldiers? Just a bit too convenient.

Speaking of side characters such as Ezra- Aster, Viv and even Queen Cassia make you want to have more interactions with them. I hope they get to remain in the foreground for the next books. Ambrose is a Villain you can truly hate. So is his lackey Arianna.

I’m eager to read the next book in this series and hopefully once all the secrets come out, Sybil will learn to finally listen to those instincts. I’m also excited for the romance to unravel next book with the prospect of dual mates.

Tropes:
- Fae & elemental magic
- mysterious
- Dual POVs
- Mates
- Potential love triangle

[stephanie cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

We follow Sybil Hart, whose normal life is shattered after a chance encounter with a silver-haired stranger—an event that spirals into a realm brimming with ancient gods, fae courts, and awakening powers she never knew she possessed. What starts as a mysterious job offer turns into a dangerous unraveling of Sybil’s identity, and Atkins handles this transformation with both emotional depth and wild, intoxicating energy.

The character work is what really stood out to me. Sybil isn’t just a vessel for the story she’s layered, flawed, and real. And Ambrose Farra? Equal parts enigmatic and magnetic, his presence fills every scene he enters. The tension, the vulnerability, the push and pull between them it’s done so well without falling into predictable tropes.

And the world-building? Absolutely transportive. Atkins doesn’t spoon-feed you the lore—instead, she challenges you to lose yourself in it. The magic system is intricate, the mythological roots are rich, and the darker themes woven throughout give this book real weight. You feel the stakes, and that makes the magic hit even harder.

Fair warning: this is not a light, whimsical fae tale. It dives into heavier themes and doesn’t shy away from emotional or psychological complexity. But that’s what makes it so captivating. Also… someone remind me never to start a book like this at night unless I plan to be completely sleep-deprived.

While I’m giving this 4 stars instead of 5, it’s only because I think the pacing in some parts could’ve been a bit tighter—but that’s a minor note in what is otherwise a stellar entry into the genre.

If you're a fan of high-stakes fantasy with gods, fae, hidden powers, and emotionally grounded characters, then City of Promise and Light deserves a spot on your TBR. I’m already loving this author and looking forward to reading more of their work.

[Janet C. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

My rating my seem harsh, but I'm tough…

I was really intrigued by the premise of City of Promise and Light. A world involving gods, fae, and mates has a lot of potential, and I went in expecting an immersive fantasy with strong character dynamics.

Unfortunately, this first book felt overwhelming rather than engaging. There were so many concepts, characters, and plot threads introduced all at once that it became difficult to keep track of what was happening. The pacing itself wasn’t overly fast, but the amount of information thrown at the reader made the story feel confusing.

The FMC lacked depth for me and often felt too easily manipulated by the people around her. I struggled to connect with her or understand her motivations. On top of that, the MMC situation felt unclear for most of the book. I found myself unsure who the real romantic lead was supposed to be, which made it difficult to get invested in the relationship dynamics.

A large cast of characters was introduced early on, but many of them lacked enough backstory to feel meaningful. Because of that, the world building never fully came together for me. The setting and mythology seem like they could be interesting, but the execution left me feeling like the foundation wasn’t fully developed.

Overall, the concept has promise, but the storytelling felt scattered and underdeveloped. Readers who enjoy complex fantasy worlds with many moving parts might still enjoy it, but for me the confusion made it hard to stay immersed.

I am invested enough to want to read the next in this series to see if things level out and come together a little better!

[Paige Gardziola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fae, gods, seelie, unseelie, and a girl who doesn’t know she’s the chosen one yet which is, genuinely, the most relatable form of denial. She’s not in denial the way that’s annoying. She’s in denial the way that makes complete sense given everything she knows, which is the mark of a protagonist written with actual intention. I love a book where we know a secret before the FMC does.

City of Promise and Light by M.B. Atkins is cozy and exciting at the same time, which sounds like a contradiction and isn’t. The world is the kind you settle into rather than fight through. The lore is layered without being a lecture. The seelie/unseelie court dynamics are still developing but familiar enough to orient yourself quickly and distinct enough to feel like Atkins actually has something to say about them.

The romance is slow. Deliberately, almost frustratingly slow. I was yelling JUST TELL HER ALREADY embarrassingly early in the book, which means it was working. The will they won’t they had genuine tension behind it and not the kind manufactured by misunderstandings and bad timing, but the kind that comes from one person holding back and the other still in the dark. It’s exquisitely painful. And then… is this about to be a why choose?? Because I have questions. I need answers. I finished the book and I still have questions. Began book 2 immediately.

I liked it more than I expected to and less than I wanted to, and I mean that as a compliment to the world Atkins is building. There’s clearly more here. I want to see where it goes.

✨ Pairs well with: a breakfast cocktail you ordered because it’s a flight (even though it’s Monday morning) and the audiobook playing quietly in one ear so you can do both at once

[Justine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a frustrating read because City of Promise and Light had so much potential. The plot itself is solid, the villains are compelling, and the supporting cast genuinely shines but unfortunately, the FMC ruins a lot of the magic by being hard to tolerate.

Sybil is painfully naive and overly stubborn, and many of her decisions felt illogical to the point of being unbelievable. I struggled to connect with her at any point, and her constant poor judgment dragged down what could have been an incredible foundation for the series. She may be one of the most frustrating main characters I’ve read in a while, which is especially disappointing because the rest of the book is actually really good and the writing style is fantastic.

The side characters were the highlight for me. Samian and Kieran were both enjoyable, Ezra is an absolute fluffy giant who I’d love to read more about, and Ambrose and Arianna were excellent villains and were awful in the most satisfying way.

Another issue was the lack of early world-building. The story opens with a mysterious job offer that Sybil accepts with almost no information, and there’s little explanation for things like why her brother was calling her or how they knew she lost her job (and it never really loops back). These early plot holes made it hard to suspend disbelief and fully settle into the world and also contributed to Sybil being a hard character to connect with.

Overall, this could easily have been a 4-star read with a stronger FMC and a more developed opening. As it stands, it lands around 3 stars for me. I’m hopeful that the next installment will redeem Sybil as a character, because the series itself has a lot of promise.

[Kaylee (Faerietalesafterdark) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, and I think it has so much potential.

Sybil, our FMC, lands on some hard times and meets two mysterious men (Ambrose and Sabien) who have a job proposal for her. Ultimately, she ends up taking this "job" and is thrust into a different realm, the realm of the Faeries.. and other beings. This is where the truth of who Sybil is and what nefarious plans Ambrose has for her come to light, and how Sabien has been checking in on her since she was a little girl to make sure that she's okay. While in this new realm, she is offered a bargain from Ambrose, that she decides to take.. to her extreme detrement, because he is not who he has made himself out to be.

I think my only problem with this book is that Sybil is supposed to be in her early 30's, but if you told me she was 18 I would believe you. Her behaviours and thought process seems extremely naieve. Having said that, I'm not sure how I would react if I was torn from everything and everyone that I've ever known into a world that I didn't know existed, with these huge powers that have been bound for so long. But, the side characters are really my favorite of the whole thing. I love a found family trope with some amazing side characters, and I think I will be getting that with this series. I really hope that in the next book Sybil steps into herself and becomes the badass I know that she is meant to be! I really want to love her, and I'm excited to see where her character arc takes us!

Tropes:
Dark romantasy
multiple fated mates
found family
naieve MMC
betrayal
why choose
hidden truths
slllowwwww burnnnn

[Bookishwife · Rating 5 out of 5]

City of Promise & Light by M.B. Atkins was such a fantastic addition to my Romantasy addiction! ✨

One of the things I really appreciated was how the FMC, Sybil, didn’t instantly master her power. She fails—multiple times—and the fear she develops toward a magic she never asked for felt so real. That struggle made her decision-making understandable.

I also loved the political elements woven throughout: the rebellion, the way the outer villages are crushed by taxes to keep them under control, and the layered dynamic of social classes. And then there’s the villain… the perfect blend of charm and emotional manipulation. I hate to admit it, but I kind of fell for it too (ugh, why am I like this? 😂).

Also, while I understand one of the MMC, Samian, is trying to protect Sybil, I can’t help but wish he’d let that guard down just a little more—I need more time with him and way more romantic tension. 👀🔥

The side characters, especially Ezra, completely stole my heart. ❤️

And that ending?! Let’s just say I’m not okay—I need book two in my hands right now!

If you’re looking for Romantasy with flawed magic, political intrigue, a manipulative villain you’ll love to hate (or hate to love 👀), and side characters worth obsessing over, this one is a must-read.

A huge thank you to M.B. Atkins and BookSirens for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of City of Promise and Light! 📖✨

[Lilith's_Library_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

City of Promise and Light is an immersive entry into the Mates of Gods and Fae series that blends mythic magic, political danger, and deep emotional stakes. M.B. Atkins throws readers into a world where ancient powers stir, loyalties are tested, and the pull of fate is impossible to resist.

The story follows Sybil Hart, whose once‑ordinary life shatters when she encounters a mysterious silver‑haired stranger. Dragged into a hidden realm of fae courts, ancient gods, and awakening magic, Sybil must confront forces far beyond her understanding — and grapple with a power inside her that threatens to consume her very humanity.

What sets this romantasy apart is the slow‑burn tension between love, loyalty, and self‑discovery. Sybil finds herself torn between Ambrose Farra, a seductive and dangerously ambitious figure, and Samian, her brooding protector who wants her to claim her strength rather than be defined by it. Betrayal, hidden truths, and the threat of violence weave through the plot, keeping the emotional stakes high.

The world building feels both ancient and visceral — gods with agendas, fae politics simmering with tension, and a destiny that feels heavier than a crown. Themes of identity, power, and choice pulse through every page, and Sybil’s growth from uncertainty to fierce determination gives the story real depth.

[Samantha Bender · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want a romantasy book that has great character development and an original storyline, this book is for you! If you're like me and have read a good deal of romantasy, after a while, a lot of the story lines begin to sound the same. This book was different! I found this book and the universe it is set in to be original which kept me interested throughout and made it hard to put the book down. Plus, the main character, Sybil, is so lovable and relatable that it is hard to stop reading because you need to know what her fate will be. In many other fantasy books, I've found it hard to connect with the FMC because they are quick to accept the situations they are thrown into. Sybil has emotions that are relatable and she reacts in ways that a normal woman would instead of being the perfect model of stoicism that you tend to come across in other fantasy books. She is constantly going through complicated emotions that help you get into her mindset and give her character depth. The MMCs are all equally lovable and balance Sybil out so well that it is hard to root for one of them over the other. It is even hard for me to pick my favorite side character because they each have their own charms although they are diverse in personality and background. Overall, this was such a fun read and had me reaching for book 2 as soon as I finished it!

[Once Upon A Page✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new and exciting fantasy author!

M.B. Atkins is definitely becoming one of my favourite authors🤭 Her writing style, short chapters (my favourite) and eloquence makes this book easy to read whilst also carrying an excellent plot!

This story follows Sybil, a human who is thrown into the fae world and starts to navigate her place in the upper world. She is faced with betrayal, fear and wonder whilst learning to understand herself and the world she now finds herself a part of.

The characters (whether heroes or villains) are memorable and felt like they had a good impact on the story. I especially loved Sybil and Samian, with an honorable mention to Kieran and his taunting/humour🤣

I loved the magic system! Elemental magic is one of my favourites, and I really enjoyed that there was also personal magic not specific to the elements. I also really enjoyed the modern elements, including the reference to covid and also technology, and thought these were placed throughout the book very well.

I love that I can’t tell who the love interest is yet🤣 although I do have some idea who this may be and I can’t wait to find out🤭

One thing I will say is DEFINITELY check your trigger warnings for this, and also keep in mind this has a 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 spice rating incase that’s something you don’t enjoy!

Overall I thought it was great and ate it up in 3 days, bring on book 2🤩

[Brittany Chaussee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 (Rated 4)

What I really liked about book 1:

M.B. Atkins has a lot of moments where she's able to pull the reader in and immerse you 100%. A diverse cast of characters, cunning villian, and an interesting take on monitoring magical status via biology. I don't mind that Sybil seemed frustrating, I think we could all use a flawed FMC. I just hope we see some growth in Book 2.

Sybil has a realistically difficult time adjusting to her new life, and growing powers. The reader also has a unique understanding with the POV narrative, where you can literally see the road Sybil is being set up for betrayal, and you're stuck yelling at the pages for her to stop being so emotional.

There's spice, but not with any of the characters I yearned to see it with. There seems to be a "why choose" plot forming and I already have a very strong opinion of who I would prefer Sybil to choose, but seeing as she has a track record of making horrible choices, we'll see what happens in book 2.

For me, there was a bit of...clarity issue with the different realms and court politics. But again, I'm hoping that we see that smoothing out in book 2. Sybil does seem slightly emotionally immature for a woman who's 32, but there's also emotional manipulation from the villian pretty early on, so I'm giving a bit of grace to see how it plays out.

Overall, I would recommend this book!

[Florian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a free ARC copy by the author in exchange for my honest review so buckle in! I am an ai-free reviewer who reads books to curate my creativity the old fashioned way lol

First thoughts - this is a fun sexy read for the dark romantasy crowd. You get your classic yearning and smolders of the romantasy genre; interspersed with gratuitous open door scenes that let you know when the yearning is over for the MCs later, it will be an earned reward for enjoying the hearty world building and tension delivered by M.B. Atkins. Sybil is an interesting character that I can't wait to see Samian interact with more. Also Kieran's news? Is this about to be a Why Choose marathon? I have never been more invested in a band of misfits about to make this woman their everything. The other books in this series are also available for me to review I believe so stay tuned for more! 

This book has graphic and detailed unconsensual first person pov scenes that will trigger survivors dealing with ptsd so please take heart and caution when I say dark romantasy. You can easily skip trigger scenes without missing plot context. 

[Courtney Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The City of Promise and Light by MB Atkins review 📚📚

Firstly I would like to thank Rattle The Stars and MB Atkins for choosing me to be apart of the review team 🖤


This book has totally made my head spin . MB did such an incredible job on the world building! And the way she writes , just pulled me in and didn’t let me go .
I just want to hug the FMC Sybil , tell her everything is going to be okay and to believe in herself . She’s literally in the wolves dean. It’s like girl , listen to those who are trying to help you , and stop being impulsive!

I’m not sure how I feel about the MMC, he’s almost too nice ? I love how protective he is , and he’s trying his hardest to help Sybil , but it’s most like he’s trying to hard . And the lying ! My man . Wake up . It’s not going to help !

The villains in this story , are true villains . I absolutely loath them !

I enjoyed book one so much ! Dare I say it’s one of my top dark Romantasy books ? I freaking devoured this book ! Can’t wait to start book two , I need to know what’s going to happen !

[Fairytale_tiff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to BookSirens and the author for an eARC! I really had a lot of fun with this! I love when a fantasy is short and I finished it in a day!

I truly have no clue which direction the story will go! It is keeping me on my toes that I still can’t exactly pinpoint who the MMC(‘s?) are going to be. We have a potential why choose, fated mates, love triangle and I am here for it! We get all the mythical and magical creatures from fae, seelie/unseelie, demons, wolves, ect.

The world building in this book is executed very well. I hope that we get a little bit more of that in depth in book 2 with the three realms. I was hoping to see a little bit more of court politics in this book as well between the rebels and the fae.

Sybil is a very likeable FMC but I just wanted her standing up for herself slightly more but I’m really excited for her character development! Oh how the author will truly make you feel all the feels in her POV.

This book is perfect for fans of Infatuated Fae but this is a slow burn!

[Stina Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

City of Promise and Light throws you headfirst into a dark, magical world where nothing comes easy for Sybil. She starts out a bit whiny and overwhelmed (and honestly, I wanted to shake her a few times), but watching her grow into her power kept me hooked. The two MMCs add a fun twist, will it be a love triangle or a why choose? Either way, I’m invested.

What stood out most to me is how real the themes felt. Sybil’s desire for stability and freedom hits close to home, and the villains echo the kind of power-hungry figures we see too often in the real world. It’s dark, heavy at times, and definitely not a lighthearted fantasy, but if you stick with it, it’s so rewarding.

M.B. Atkins delivers a debut that’s bold, thought-provoking, and full of heart. I’ll definitely be picking up book two.

[CORINNE · Rating 4 out of 5]

stars
Dark magic brutal scenes
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 September 2025
I received an advanced reader copy of this book and am reviewing it voluntarily

I would have given this 5 stars if not for how it ended

Absolutely “spell binding “ story magical and brutal

Very interesting concept throughout so much going on

Depth of characters personalities was excellent

Couldn’t put it down

Made me feel all sorts of things from awe to angry

So disappointed with Samien as a character always promising never fulfilled

Sybil is so confused no one really explained anything fully to her always later or when you need to know leading her to dark paths

Really left hanging at the end

One conclusion would have been good

I know there will probably be a follow up book but will that leave so many questions unanswered too?
Thank you for your review.
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[audio.smut · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ate up this ARC! Sybil is a modern woman who is unhappy with her job, her partner and basically her life. Childhood trauma has her closed off to her emotions and she lacks the motivation to make changes. Enter Ambrose and Samian from a mysterious world to swoop in with a hard to pass offer of a new life. Sybil accompanies her new acquaintances to the high fae world where layer upon layer of mystery, intrigue and suspense slowly unfold. The world building in this book is excellent. Book 1 kept me hooked while still answering questions and leaving many more for book 2! I really enjoyed this different take on dark romance. There is spice in an unexpected way with plenty of slow burn along side. Check out City of Promise and Light if you want a fresh take on Fae lore with more deep themes and complex characters. You will not be disappointed!!

[Sonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

City of Promise and Light was an entertaining read that kept me turning the pages. I rate books based on how well they hold my attention, and this one definitely succeeded in that regard—the overall story was good and engaging enough to keep me hooked.

That said, I did find the FMC a bit on the annoying side at times, which pulled me out of the story here and there. I’m hopeful her character growth will be stronger in the next installment, because the worldbuilding and plot setup have a lot of promise. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Overall, it’s a solid start to a series with plenty of potential. I’ll be interested to see where the story goes next.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved loved loved it! This was such an interesting take on Romantasy and I was hooked from the very beginning. The story starts out simple and then as it unfolds you are just as confused as the heroine (but in a good way.) I love the three perspectives because it gives you a look into the two sides and then how she is torn. As she learns her powers I loved how she was compassionate and that drives her decisions. As the history and the plot unfolds, it sucks you in. This series is going to be fantastic!

If you are just venturing into Romantasy, this one is for you. It isn’t as complicated as some others, which I also loved. If you are a long time fan you will also love it because it is a really interesting premise and the multiple perspectives on both sides is really interesting. Can’t wait for book 2! 5/5⭐️ 4/5🌶️

I received an advanced copy of this book.

[Clair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no words, just a list of needs: I need book 2 ASAP! I need everyone to read book 2 before me and start posting spoilers online so I can google “does ____die?” to help soothe my plot related anxiety. I need to be included in casting decisions when this series is inevitably translated to film….because it will be, and I have people in mind already. I need my work and family to understand that I will be taking time off when the next books drop. You will not be able to reach me. I will be busy.

The story is so engaging. The characters very quickly make you love or hate them, and sometimes you’re not actually sure which one you’re feeling. The imagery is *chefs kiss*. 10/10. New obsession.

[okaybookbestie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Book Sirens and our wonderful author for this advanced reader copy of City of Promise and Light. I was in a reading slump/hangover when I started this book and it almost instantaneously brought me out of it. Things to know: there is a main character, Sybil, but you will also get multiple POVs the whole way through without losing your care or interest in the main character. I found the writing easy to follow and the book flowed seamlessly from chapter to chapter. Read this book, yall! When I say the tension writing in this book is top notch I mean it! There’s tense yearning and well written spice that is topped off with brilliant waves of panic, distress, and grief. I loved every moment of it and I cannot wait for the second book.