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Sight Unseen
Win a free kindle copy of this book!
10 days and 02:11:50
100 copies available
U.S. only
From viral online writing sensation Alexis Marie comes a lush contemporary fantasy debut that blends a slow-burn romance with mystery and magical intrigue when the lives of a fatally cursed woman and a single father with a complicated past collide—just as their quaint small town becomes a power-hungry serial killer’s hunting ground.
Veda Thorne is living on borrowed time. After exhausting every magical cure for the fatal curse trapped inside her, she’s accepted her fate. But Veda’s self-imposed isolation begins to crack when she’s asked to tutor Antaris, a child whose pain calls to her own.
Hiram Ellis left his wealthy, prejudiced family years ago. Now unexpectedly thrust into single fatherhood, he returns to his hometown, determined to build a life far from the cold privilege that stifled his own childhood. The last thing he expects is to be drawn to the fiercely protective, sharp-tongued woman helping his son.
When a trail of enchanted spider lilies leads Hiram and Veda to discover their deadly tie to a prolific serial killer, they’re forced to set aside their differences to unearth long-buried secrets. But the truth is as deadly as Veda’s curse, and both come at a devastating cost. As victims mount and motives emerge, their greatest challenge is choosing to trust and love each other.
Veda Thorne is living on borrowed time. After exhausting every magical cure for the fatal curse trapped inside her, she’s accepted her fate. But Veda’s self-imposed isolation begins to crack when she’s asked to tutor Antaris, a child whose pain calls to her own.
Hiram Ellis left his wealthy, prejudiced family years ago. Now unexpectedly thrust into single fatherhood, he returns to his hometown, determined to build a life far from the cold privilege that stifled his own childhood. The last thing he expects is to be drawn to the fiercely protective, sharp-tongued woman helping his son.
When a trail of enchanted spider lilies leads Hiram and Veda to discover their deadly tie to a prolific serial killer, they’re forced to set aside their differences to unearth long-buried secrets. But the truth is as deadly as Veda’s curse, and both come at a devastating cost. As victims mount and motives emerge, their greatest challenge is choosing to trust and love each other.
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First published March 1, 2026
1855 people are currently reading
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About the author
Alexis Marie
1 book124 followersAlexis Marie was raised in the suburbs of Georgia by her mom. She is married, has one sister, and can either be found under a heated blanket with her laptop and dog at her side or out in the garden pleading with the plants to stay alive in the southern heat.
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Want to read
January 9, 2026i see another dramione fanfic author get pubbed and i immediately support them🙂↕️
Read
October 16, 2025it is such a good day to be a dramionie girlie
October 28, 2025
I read Sight Unseen in its early stages, so this review comes ahead of publication. It’s officially out on March 1, 2026.
This book has everything I love:
* Slow-burn romance (the tension!! The banter!! The intimacy! The steamy pay-off!!)
* A mystery that keeps you hooked from start to finish (wait for the plot twist!)
* A found family dynamic (cue the tears)
* Beautifully crafted worldbuilding
* Themes of love, grief, and healing
Alexis’s writing is vivid, emotional, and full of heart. You feel everything right alongside the characters, and the smallest moments linger long after you’ve finished reading.
Veda Thorne is one of those characters who just gets under your skin. She’s just so painfully human. The way she isolates herself hit me so hard… that feeling of needing to do everything alone, because asking for help feels impossible, or because you’ve been let down too many times before.
And then Antaris comes into her life. This quiet, grieving boy who mirrors her pain in every way. He doesn’t speak, but his silence says everything, drawing her out of her own apathy. Watching Veda see herself in him, her own loneliness, her own hopelessness, and slowly find purpose again through caring for him was sooo moving.
And speaking of Antaris… My sweet baby. His grief is so palpable it made my heart hurt. The way Alexis writes his mutism and gradual healing is so tender and believable. Every small step he takes felt SO monumental for me as I was reading it, he’s the sweetest babyboy 😭
Then there’s Hiram (Y’ALL ARE NOT READY FOR THIS MAN). Watching him trying to connect with the grieving child he never knew existed, while also confronting his own blind spots and privilege, is one of the most moving parts of the story. The way their bond grows had me crying through almost every scene.
I love that we get his POV in the alternating chapters, how they're full of guilt, love, and that desperate fear of doing it wrong, the helpnessles. Seeing his struggle through both his own perspective and Veda’s (who totally misjudges him at first – we love the Pride and Prejudice vibes btw 👏) gives such depth to his character. And Peter (the loml, truly) and his perspective on Hiram adds such warmth and humour to balance it all.
But also seriously, Hiram Ellis… This man knows exactly what he’s doing. The slow burn, banter, and tension between him and Veda is unreal. Her stubbornness, the way she keeps trying to build walls and he just steadily keeps showing up until she stops pretending she doesn’t care? CHEF’S KISS!!!
His patience (IF YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW 🤌) is SO ROMANTIC. They had me giggling, kicking my feet, and screaming at them to JUST KISS ALREADY (I promise the deliciously steamy pay-off is WORTH THE WAIT!!!!).
Beneath all the romance and magic and mystery, it’s the themes that really stay with you.
The social commentary, the way Alexis writes about prejudice, the divide between Mages and Seers, and how that reflects real-world discrimination is so sharp and heartbreakingly relevant today.
Then there’s the theme of survival itself, of finding something worth fighting for. Watching Veda go from accepting death to rediscovering what it means to WANT to live absolutely destroyed me. It’s such a raw, honest portrayal of depression, of that numbness that creeps in when you’ve been hurt too many times, and how love (not just romantic love, but love in ALL its forms) can slowly pull you back into the world.
The writing is breathtaking and the characters are unforgettable. It’s rare to find a story that captures grief, loss, and pain so vividly while still being full of love, humour, and life. Her writing makes you stop mid-sentence just to reread a line because it hit too hard.
I also really loved the serial killer plot, adding this creeping unease. The spider lilies, the curses, that constant sense that something wrong is lurking just out of sight (pun fully intended 👀). The tension builds so masterfully that you don’t even realise how tightly it’s wound until everything snaps into place.
What makes it so brilliant is how seamlessly it all connects, every piece of worldbuilding, every moment between Veda, Hiram, and Antaris... it’s eerie and addictive and will have anyone on edge the entire time, constantly trying to piece everything together – what is happening, why, how does it tie back to Veda and her curse? When the truth finally comes out, it makes you want to go back and reread everything just to catch the hints you missed.
It’s SO well done!!!
Alexis makes you cry, laugh, and then cry again two pages later (both the ugly tears and the happy ones). There’s poetry in the way she writes about pain and resilience; it’s sharp, reflective, and incredibly beautiful.
Every character carries their own version of grief, and Alexis writes it all with so much care. Veda, Antaris, Hiram (and others I won’t name for spoiler reasons) all grow in ways that feel so real and so earned. And what I LOVE is how, even with all the heavy themes, the grief, the trauma, the survival, Alexis still finds room for humour.
There are these little moments of banter or awkwardness or sarcasm that made me actually laugh out loud, even while I was crying two pages later. That balance is so hard to pull off, and she just freaking nails it.
Sight Unseen is easily one of my favourite reads of the year. I know I’ll be thinking about Veda, Hiram, and Antaris for a long, long time.
This book has everything I love:
* Slow-burn romance (the tension!! The banter!! The intimacy! The steamy pay-off!!)
* A mystery that keeps you hooked from start to finish (wait for the plot twist!)
* A found family dynamic (cue the tears)
* Beautifully crafted worldbuilding
* Themes of love, grief, and healing
Alexis’s writing is vivid, emotional, and full of heart. You feel everything right alongside the characters, and the smallest moments linger long after you’ve finished reading.
Veda Thorne is one of those characters who just gets under your skin. She’s just so painfully human. The way she isolates herself hit me so hard… that feeling of needing to do everything alone, because asking for help feels impossible, or because you’ve been let down too many times before.
And then Antaris comes into her life. This quiet, grieving boy who mirrors her pain in every way. He doesn’t speak, but his silence says everything, drawing her out of her own apathy. Watching Veda see herself in him, her own loneliness, her own hopelessness, and slowly find purpose again through caring for him was sooo moving.
And speaking of Antaris… My sweet baby. His grief is so palpable it made my heart hurt. The way Alexis writes his mutism and gradual healing is so tender and believable. Every small step he takes felt SO monumental for me as I was reading it, he’s the sweetest babyboy 😭
Then there’s Hiram (Y’ALL ARE NOT READY FOR THIS MAN). Watching him trying to connect with the grieving child he never knew existed, while also confronting his own blind spots and privilege, is one of the most moving parts of the story. The way their bond grows had me crying through almost every scene.
I love that we get his POV in the alternating chapters, how they're full of guilt, love, and that desperate fear of doing it wrong, the helpnessles. Seeing his struggle through both his own perspective and Veda’s (who totally misjudges him at first – we love the Pride and Prejudice vibes btw 👏) gives such depth to his character. And Peter (the loml, truly) and his perspective on Hiram adds such warmth and humour to balance it all.
But also seriously, Hiram Ellis… This man knows exactly what he’s doing. The slow burn, banter, and tension between him and Veda is unreal. Her stubbornness, the way she keeps trying to build walls and he just steadily keeps showing up until she stops pretending she doesn’t care? CHEF’S KISS!!!
His patience (IF YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW 🤌) is SO ROMANTIC. They had me giggling, kicking my feet, and screaming at them to JUST KISS ALREADY (I promise the deliciously steamy pay-off is WORTH THE WAIT!!!!).
Beneath all the romance and magic and mystery, it’s the themes that really stay with you.
The social commentary, the way Alexis writes about prejudice, the divide between Mages and Seers, and how that reflects real-world discrimination is so sharp and heartbreakingly relevant today.
Then there’s the theme of survival itself, of finding something worth fighting for. Watching Veda go from accepting death to rediscovering what it means to WANT to live absolutely destroyed me. It’s such a raw, honest portrayal of depression, of that numbness that creeps in when you’ve been hurt too many times, and how love (not just romantic love, but love in ALL its forms) can slowly pull you back into the world.
The writing is breathtaking and the characters are unforgettable. It’s rare to find a story that captures grief, loss, and pain so vividly while still being full of love, humour, and life. Her writing makes you stop mid-sentence just to reread a line because it hit too hard.
I also really loved the serial killer plot, adding this creeping unease. The spider lilies, the curses, that constant sense that something wrong is lurking just out of sight (pun fully intended 👀). The tension builds so masterfully that you don’t even realise how tightly it’s wound until everything snaps into place.
What makes it so brilliant is how seamlessly it all connects, every piece of worldbuilding, every moment between Veda, Hiram, and Antaris... it’s eerie and addictive and will have anyone on edge the entire time, constantly trying to piece everything together – what is happening, why, how does it tie back to Veda and her curse? When the truth finally comes out, it makes you want to go back and reread everything just to catch the hints you missed.
It’s SO well done!!!
Alexis makes you cry, laugh, and then cry again two pages later (both the ugly tears and the happy ones). There’s poetry in the way she writes about pain and resilience; it’s sharp, reflective, and incredibly beautiful.
Every character carries their own version of grief, and Alexis writes it all with so much care. Veda, Antaris, Hiram (and others I won’t name for spoiler reasons) all grow in ways that feel so real and so earned. And what I LOVE is how, even with all the heavy themes, the grief, the trauma, the survival, Alexis still finds room for humour.
There are these little moments of banter or awkwardness or sarcasm that made me actually laugh out loud, even while I was crying two pages later. That balance is so hard to pull off, and she just freaking nails it.
Sight Unseen is easily one of my favourite reads of the year. I know I’ll be thinking about Veda, Hiram, and Antaris for a long, long time.
March 9, 2026
3.5🌟 największym minusem tej książki jest jej długość - jest zdecydowanie za krótka. Ma 397 stron, a mamy tu magię, romans, zagadkę kryminalną i niestety nie zdążyłam się wczuć w to wszystko i już był koniec. Bez problemu mogłaby mieć jeszcze chociaż ze 100 stron, bo autorka potrafi pisać dobry slow burn i emocjonujące relacje między ludzkie, a w takiej krótkiej formie średnio to na mnie zadziałało. Szkoda, biorąc pod uwagę, że teraz zwykłe romanse bez fabuły potrafią mieć nawet po 500 stron, a to akurat było takie krótkie, why? 😭
March 7, 2026
ೃ⁀➷ this is the era of dramione and im so here for it
— reluctant allies to lovers
— dystopian, magical setting
— murder mystery & serial killers
— single dad
— fatally cursed FMC
I fear this book was a heavy disappointment- and I wasn't even comparing it to Measure of Man when I was reading it! At the start, I was intrigued, and was prepared for my curiosity to increase but the murder mystery element was so un-interesting and anti climactic. Instead this whole book just feels like the start of a crazy fantasy series where this murder mystery is just a build up for bigger and better things (that did not happen in this book).
I'm genuinely so annoyed y'all. I skimmed the last 30% and still understand what happened because how basic it felt! The writing wa okay but honestly, I didn't vibe with it, the way I vibed with MOAM's writing because it just wasn't as good. It might be because the word count is heaps shorter but even then, I dont know how one could go from that to this.
Hiram and Veda had so little chemistry in my opinion. Whenever 'moments' happened I felt nothing. When they kissed I felt nothing. When they had sex: nothing. Aaaarrrgghhh. Their relationship just felt forced because of how much they love Antaris. I don't know why they like eachother, I'm very confused. And pissed off because I just wasted nearly 2 weeks trying to finish this book. Also Veda being the key for Hiram to knowing his son was such a momentary thing because it didn't even become a thing. Not that Hiram even needed Veda to connect with his son- I think he was progressing just fine tbh, all he needed was time.
I can see the effort in the creation of Hiram's character. Veda's? I dont think so. I feel like Hiram's character guided hers at times because eventhough we knew Veda was a cool badass who rode a motorcycle, we didn't go deep enough to know her. I couldn't care less about her rn. Then when Hiram would flirt with her, it would be cute sometimes but the random smugness just didn't align y'all 3 I don't understand these choices 😭
What I really liked though, is Hiram's character. His development was kind of too 'perfect' and cartoonish for me to see it as believable but when he cut off his parents I thought he ate so hard.
The world building was meh. The only other side character that stuck out to me was Gabriel, the rest were unmemorable and bland. The pacing was quite fast and I believe this may be the downfall of this book tbh because I feel like if the book was slower paced it would have done better.
I'm just so pissed off rn, from forcing myself to finish a boring ass book when I've been struggling to read for ages and reading this shit, so don't talk to me.
If you're in the mood for a cosy, light fantasy murder mystery this is for you. I'm not a cosy fantasy person so maybe this is my fault. Oh well.
1.5-2 stars
— reluctant allies to lovers
— dystopian, magical setting
— murder mystery & serial killers
— single dad
— fatally cursed FMC
I fear this book was a heavy disappointment- and I wasn't even comparing it to Measure of Man when I was reading it! At the start, I was intrigued, and was prepared for my curiosity to increase but the murder mystery element was so un-interesting and anti climactic. Instead this whole book just feels like the start of a crazy fantasy series where this murder mystery is just a build up for bigger and better things (that did not happen in this book).
I'm genuinely so annoyed y'all. I skimmed the last 30% and still understand what happened because how basic it felt! The writing wa okay but honestly, I didn't vibe with it, the way I vibed with MOAM's writing because it just wasn't as good. It might be because the word count is heaps shorter but even then, I dont know how one could go from that to this.
Hiram and Veda had so little chemistry in my opinion. Whenever 'moments' happened I felt nothing. When they kissed I felt nothing. When they had sex: nothing. Aaaarrrgghhh. Their relationship just felt forced because of how much they love Antaris. I don't know why they like eachother, I'm very confused. And pissed off because I just wasted nearly 2 weeks trying to finish this book. Also Veda being the key for Hiram to knowing his son was such a momentary thing because it didn't even become a thing. Not that Hiram even needed Veda to connect with his son- I think he was progressing just fine tbh, all he needed was time.
I can see the effort in the creation of Hiram's character. Veda's? I dont think so. I feel like Hiram's character guided hers at times because eventhough we knew Veda was a cool badass who rode a motorcycle, we didn't go deep enough to know her. I couldn't care less about her rn. Then when Hiram would flirt with her, it would be cute sometimes but the random smugness just didn't align y'all 3 I don't understand these choices 😭
What I really liked though, is Hiram's character. His development was kind of too 'perfect' and cartoonish for me to see it as believable but when he cut off his parents I thought he ate so hard.
The world building was meh. The only other side character that stuck out to me was Gabriel, the rest were unmemorable and bland. The pacing was quite fast and I believe this may be the downfall of this book tbh because I feel like if the book was slower paced it would have done better.
I'm just so pissed off rn, from forcing myself to finish a boring ass book when I've been struggling to read for ages and reading this shit, so don't talk to me.
If you're in the mood for a cosy, light fantasy murder mystery this is for you. I'm not a cosy fantasy person so maybe this is my fault. Oh well.
1.5-2 stars
Want to read
October 16, 2025we just keep winning
February 25, 2026
“Nothing. Something. Everything.”
I may have been sobbing by the end, but boy did Sight Unseen leave me well fed.
It’s actually insane how much Alexis Marie fits into a 388 page book. This is a story that covers grief and healing. Longing—for connection, for understanding. Learning to live and to let people in. Pride, and prejudice, and patience.
It’s somehow both achingly sad and laugh-out-loud funny. It’s meaningful and important but also doesn’t take itself too seriously. There’s just enough mystery and plot to keep you locked in. The romance here is both rich and slow-burning. The subplots have subplots and it all works and fits into one tidy, short book. Mind-boggling.
While Veda and Hiram have notes of Elizabeth & Darcy, more than anything, this is Kate & Anthony. Think full-out arguments, with all the scolding and biting and seething. Hiram is charming and determined. Veda is aggravated—and annoyed at how much she likes him aggravating her. The progression of their relationship feels slow, real, earned—and when they come together, the intimacy is gorgeous.
Also;
🦉 A sweet, sad, silent boy who will steal your heart immediately. I would die for my owl-eyed bb Antaris
🐓 A mystery that grips you—with some intentionally obvious clues, and other puzzle pieces that surprise
🪴 Chaotic BFF / side character energy, including a perfect reluctant bromance
🌘 A magic system and paranormal world that work without being overly complex
📝 Themes of hate and bigotry that feel all too familiar
🌍 Diverse representation (black FMC, biracial Southeast Asian MMC)
I need more processing to do my pitch on this one justice, because right now I’m just in awe more than anything. I am a romantasy girlie through and through—I don’t even like mysteries, or I didn’t think I did.
I need everyone to read this so I have people to obsess over it with. Just read it, please. Thank me later.
Thank you, thank you Amazon for making my year with the early copy!
—
PSA for the fanfic girlies: As a devout, early WIP days fan of Measure of a Man, I’ll be the first to admit that the page count had me sweating. But please, trust the process. She truly does the story justice.
This is the heart and soul of MOAM, reincarnated into something that feels both entirely new yet familiar. Less cottagecore, more a gritty, tense, whodunit. (To ref another fic, it was giving Brighton Beach Butcher vibes)
MOAMents are sprinkled throughout but come in new forms, and at different times than you expect. It’s a Taylor Swift level master class in laying Easter Eggs (and yes, the chickens are here too). I was squealing so, so much at each reference.
More than anything, I LOVED how different both Hiram and Veda were. Like, for starters—Hiram is CHATTY. This is a prickly on the outside, soft ooey-gooey center man who does not shut up. Veda is tired and detached, but also claws out, ready for battle. (She also rides a motorcycle.)
Other favorites are here, in new forms… but also some faces you may not expect. I was giddy and surprised throughout.
This story will in no way replace MOAM to me, and I love that so much. It’s now its own new, perfect multiverse (Inaverse?)
I may have been sobbing by the end, but boy did Sight Unseen leave me well fed.
It’s actually insane how much Alexis Marie fits into a 388 page book. This is a story that covers grief and healing. Longing—for connection, for understanding. Learning to live and to let people in. Pride, and prejudice, and patience.
It’s somehow both achingly sad and laugh-out-loud funny. It’s meaningful and important but also doesn’t take itself too seriously. There’s just enough mystery and plot to keep you locked in. The romance here is both rich and slow-burning. The subplots have subplots and it all works and fits into one tidy, short book. Mind-boggling.
While Veda and Hiram have notes of Elizabeth & Darcy, more than anything, this is Kate & Anthony. Think full-out arguments, with all the scolding and biting and seething. Hiram is charming and determined. Veda is aggravated—and annoyed at how much she likes him aggravating her. The progression of their relationship feels slow, real, earned—and when they come together, the intimacy is gorgeous.
Also;
🦉 A sweet, sad, silent boy who will steal your heart immediately. I would die for my owl-eyed bb Antaris
🐓 A mystery that grips you—with some intentionally obvious clues, and other puzzle pieces that surprise
🪴 Chaotic BFF / side character energy, including a perfect reluctant bromance
🌘 A magic system and paranormal world that work without being overly complex
📝 Themes of hate and bigotry that feel all too familiar
🌍 Diverse representation (black FMC, biracial Southeast Asian MMC)
I need more processing to do my pitch on this one justice, because right now I’m just in awe more than anything. I am a romantasy girlie through and through—I don’t even like mysteries, or I didn’t think I did.
I need everyone to read this so I have people to obsess over it with. Just read it, please. Thank me later.
Thank you, thank you Amazon for making my year with the early copy!
—
PSA for the fanfic girlies: As a devout, early WIP days fan of Measure of a Man, I’ll be the first to admit that the page count had me sweating. But please, trust the process. She truly does the story justice.
This is the heart and soul of MOAM, reincarnated into something that feels both entirely new yet familiar. Less cottagecore, more a gritty, tense, whodunit. (To ref another fic, it was giving Brighton Beach Butcher vibes)
MOAMents are sprinkled throughout but come in new forms, and at different times than you expect. It’s a Taylor Swift level master class in laying Easter Eggs (and yes, the chickens are here too). I was squealing so, so much at each reference.
More than anything, I LOVED how different both Hiram and Veda were. Like, for starters—Hiram is CHATTY. This is a prickly on the outside, soft ooey-gooey center man who does not shut up. Veda is tired and detached, but also claws out, ready for battle. (She also rides a motorcycle.)
Other favorites are here, in new forms… but also some faces you may not expect. I was giddy and surprised throughout.
This story will in no way replace MOAM to me, and I love that so much. It’s now its own new, perfect multiverse (Inaverse?)
March 17, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.
I really enjoyed this. For the most part, it is a cozier fantasy story with a slow burn romance. While I usually love stories where the MMC takes care of kids that are not his own, I equally loved Hiram and the evolution of his relationship with his son and Veda’s relationship with his son. Got me all in the feels.
The pacing was good for the most part and the magic was interesting, if not confusing at some bits. But overall, I understood how it worked by the end.
I feel like the character work could’ve been stronger. I felt the relationships were written well but I wish I knew them as individuals better
But I had a good time watching the mystery unfold, learning about the magic, and watching their romance slowly blossom
I really enjoyed this. For the most part, it is a cozier fantasy story with a slow burn romance. While I usually love stories where the MMC takes care of kids that are not his own, I equally loved Hiram and the evolution of his relationship with his son and Veda’s relationship with his son. Got me all in the feels.
The pacing was good for the most part and the magic was interesting, if not confusing at some bits. But overall, I understood how it worked by the end.
I feel like the character work could’ve been stronger. I felt the relationships were written well but I wish I knew them as individuals better
But I had a good time watching the mystery unfold, learning about the magic, and watching their romance slowly blossom
March 14, 2026
"Use me. Take what you need." Hiram sir, you can get it.
A stand alone mystery fantasy with a subplot of romance? Can't say I've ever read one until now! This was fast, unpredictable and had a lot of heart and depth for a >400 page book. The stakes felt incredibly high, and the thriller/mystery was addicting as hell. This magical world is split into Mages and Seers, with Seers being heavily discriminated against and oppressed despite being needed in society and truly doing nothing wrong besides be blessed with greater magical abilities than the Mages. It was a great way to make commentary on bigotry/mistreatment in our real world. I do think we rushed the ending a bit, and everything wrapped up really quickly which was a shame because the first 50% was paced so well.
Major things I loved:
- Antaris!! I am so hit or miss with children being in books, but he was SO DAMN CUTE and a great character. Watching his relationship deepen with both Vera and Hiram were some of my favourite parts of the entire book.
- The way magic was used was really fresh. Magic having a cost for every use made things feel more risky and weighted. There was a lot of creativity to the magic in the world too!
- Veda and Hiram were really well fleshed out characters that had deep back stories and personal flaws and scars that made them who they were - and why they then worked so well together.
- The serial killer plot was so fun to try and keep up with and puzzle through. It's unique to have a fantasy forward book also have a central thriller type plot.
- Characters standing up to the bigotry and seeing the character arcs of those who had fked up beliefs!
Things I didn't love:
- Why was this book set in our real world... but also not really? There were mentions of New York and LA etc, but the rest of the book felt like its own fantasy world because there's no mention of non magic people. I can only guess that its so we could save time on world building? but it felt a bit jarring.
- The ending was really rushed. It could have almost done with another 80 pages to really make it a satisfying ending because it all came together so quickly
- The dialogue between characters was good, but not great. It felt often quite stilted with a lot of "yes" "no" "thanks" "okay", that it felt blunt? Or like the conversations weren't flowing how a real conversation would go
- The romance was mostly really enjoyable, but I think it also scaled up quickly due to the page count. We went from reluctant allies to never leaving each other's side real quick
- I overall just reallllyyy would have loved to understand the magic system more. Where does magic really come from? What are its limits? It was pretty surface level on a World building level.
I'd really recommend this for people wanting a different change of pace to a lot of the trending fantasy romance going around, the cast of characters are really loveable and the mystery is super fun.
3.75-4 ⭐️
A stand alone mystery fantasy with a subplot of romance? Can't say I've ever read one until now! This was fast, unpredictable and had a lot of heart and depth for a >400 page book. The stakes felt incredibly high, and the thriller/mystery was addicting as hell. This magical world is split into Mages and Seers, with Seers being heavily discriminated against and oppressed despite being needed in society and truly doing nothing wrong besides be blessed with greater magical abilities than the Mages. It was a great way to make commentary on bigotry/mistreatment in our real world. I do think we rushed the ending a bit, and everything wrapped up really quickly which was a shame because the first 50% was paced so well.
Major things I loved:
- Antaris!! I am so hit or miss with children being in books, but he was SO DAMN CUTE and a great character. Watching his relationship deepen with both Vera and Hiram were some of my favourite parts of the entire book.
- The way magic was used was really fresh. Magic having a cost for every use made things feel more risky and weighted. There was a lot of creativity to the magic in the world too!
- Veda and Hiram were really well fleshed out characters that had deep back stories and personal flaws and scars that made them who they were - and why they then worked so well together.
- The serial killer plot was so fun to try and keep up with and puzzle through. It's unique to have a fantasy forward book also have a central thriller type plot.
- Characters standing up to the bigotry and seeing the character arcs of those who had fked up beliefs!
Things I didn't love:
- Why was this book set in our real world... but also not really? There were mentions of New York and LA etc, but the rest of the book felt like its own fantasy world because there's no mention of non magic people. I can only guess that its so we could save time on world building? but it felt a bit jarring.
- The ending was really rushed. It could have almost done with another 80 pages to really make it a satisfying ending because it all came together so quickly
- The dialogue between characters was good, but not great. It felt often quite stilted with a lot of "yes" "no" "thanks" "okay", that it felt blunt? Or like the conversations weren't flowing how a real conversation would go
- The romance was mostly really enjoyable, but I think it also scaled up quickly due to the page count. We went from reluctant allies to never leaving each other's side real quick
- I overall just reallllyyy would have loved to understand the magic system more. Where does magic really come from? What are its limits? It was pretty surface level on a World building level.
I'd really recommend this for people wanting a different change of pace to a lot of the trending fantasy romance going around, the cast of characters are really loveable and the mystery is super fun.
3.75-4 ⭐️
March 3, 2026
I am crushed 💔
I wanted to love this book so much. I genuinely went in expecting it to become a favorite. Sadly, it didn’t work for me.
Alexis Marie wrote Measure of a Man, one of my all-time favorite fanfictions. I can still remember how that story felt: quiet, atmospheric, intimate. It didn’t rely on chaos to create emotion. This book did the opposite.
And I understand it needed to be different. It had to stand on its own and separate itself completely from that. I just didn’t expect it to feel this crowded.
Veda was a difficult protagonist for me. I found her judgmental and stubborn, and I struggled to connect with her. Once that emotional disconnect set in, it was hard for the story to recover.
The magic system felt convoluted, with several info dumps and a large cast that I couldn't connect with because they didn’t always get enough space to develop. The seer storyline, in particular, frustrated me. The cryptic elements didn’t build tension for me, they just felt confusing.
I also didn’t feel invested in the serial killer plot. It read more like noise than a compelling thread, especially when I kept wishing the story would focus more on grief, connection, and purpose.
That said, I did appreciate the parallels between muggleborns and seers, repression and fear. Antaris was easily the highlight for me, and the detail about Antaris being the brightest star of Scorpius genuinely melted my heart. And yes, Hiram was hot.
Alexis Marie can absolutely write. I believe that fully. I will likely read her future work. But this book felt overcrowded and emotionally distant compared to what I know she’s capable of.
Three stars. It isn’t unreadable. It just didn’t reach its potential for me.
***Advanced copy provided by NetGalley and Amazon First Reads. All opinions are my own.
I wanted to love this book so much. I genuinely went in expecting it to become a favorite. Sadly, it didn’t work for me.
Alexis Marie wrote Measure of a Man, one of my all-time favorite fanfictions. I can still remember how that story felt: quiet, atmospheric, intimate. It didn’t rely on chaos to create emotion. This book did the opposite.
And I understand it needed to be different. It had to stand on its own and separate itself completely from that. I just didn’t expect it to feel this crowded.
Veda was a difficult protagonist for me. I found her judgmental and stubborn, and I struggled to connect with her. Once that emotional disconnect set in, it was hard for the story to recover.
The magic system felt convoluted, with several info dumps and a large cast that I couldn't connect with because they didn’t always get enough space to develop. The seer storyline, in particular, frustrated me. The cryptic elements didn’t build tension for me, they just felt confusing.
I also didn’t feel invested in the serial killer plot. It read more like noise than a compelling thread, especially when I kept wishing the story would focus more on grief, connection, and purpose.
That said, I did appreciate the parallels between muggleborns and seers, repression and fear. Antaris was easily the highlight for me, and the detail about Antaris being the brightest star of Scorpius genuinely melted my heart. And yes, Hiram was hot.
Alexis Marie can absolutely write. I believe that fully. I will likely read her future work. But this book felt overcrowded and emotionally distant compared to what I know she’s capable of.
Three stars. It isn’t unreadable. It just didn’t reach its potential for me.
***Advanced copy provided by NetGalley and Amazon First Reads. All opinions are my own.
February 23, 2026
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
3.5 hearts
Cursed and living on borrowed time, Veda lived a quiet life, teaching at a school for seer children. She has isolated herself from most people to diminish the impact of her death and for the most part had come to terms with it. That is until a little boy who lost his mother and the father who is trying to put him back together, come into her life.
Sight Unseen is a standalone magical mystery with a slow burn romance that explores loss, grief, found family and hope. The story unfolds with alternating PoVs between Veda and Hiram Ellis, a man from a wealthy family known for their prejudices against Seers. While not an enemies to lovers story per say, Veda and Hiram do not get along in the beginning as Veda has some very critical preconceived notions of Hiram based off his family. However, actions speak louder than words and as Veda sees the man Hiram truly is through his actions as they work together against the serial killer she is tied to through her curse, she comes to lose some of the sharp edge she shows to him.
The slow romance is why many will pick up this book. For me Hiram's son, Antaris, a child who lost his mother in a brutal murder by a serial killer is the reason to read the book. Hiram didn't know he had a child until after his former partner Grace was killed. He didn't hesitate, he raced to get everything settled to take over custody of his son and now he is doing the best he can with an eight year old child who has not talked since the death of his mother. The journey with both Hiram and Veda to help the mute child suffering from grief, loss, nightmares and so much more was really the heart of this story. I loved how Antaris was able to help bring Hiram and Veda together in a common cause and how much both cared for the child.
The serial killer mystery is good and a little heart breaking as members of the Seer community and a select few in the Mage community are put in the crosshairs of this magical killer. While I did guess a few things that seemed glaringly obvious the motivations of the killer and the ties between her victims I didn't guess until it was laid out. The tension built really well as the details were drawn out and the danger to Veda both from the serial killer and her curse increased.
There are some explorations of prejudices against the Seer community from the fallout of an event termed The Vanishing, where Mages just vanished one day. Now the Seers need to submit to registration and tracking to any magic they perform. Not my favorite part of the story but probably a necessary feature for the world building.
Overall, I found the story entertaining and engaging. I liked the characters, the community and the layout. I loved the slow relationship build between Hiram and Veda that solidified into something really wonderful. I also believe the author did a good job at the wrap up to the story. She tied up the threads I cared about and made sure the reader knew the direction these characters were going to take in the future.
Narration:
Performance: ★★★★
Character Separation: ★★★
Diction: ★★★★
Pacing/Flow: ★★★
Sound Effects: None
I appreciate using multiple narrators for the Dual PoV of the story. Soneela Nankini is a narrator with a prolific catalog of audios under her belt. She has a smooth and pleasant voice that performed the story well. I was able to tell the characters apart and she brought tenderness, vulnerability and emotion to Veda's character. Anand Nagraj is new to me and it looks like new to narrating audiobooks. This appears to be his first title and while I did like his voice selection for Hiram, there were a few times when narrating conversations where I couldn't tell who was talking as the character separation was a little off. That said, it wasn't so distracting that I lost the plot of the story. I listened to the audio at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
3.5 hearts
Cursed and living on borrowed time, Veda lived a quiet life, teaching at a school for seer children. She has isolated herself from most people to diminish the impact of her death and for the most part had come to terms with it. That is until a little boy who lost his mother and the father who is trying to put him back together, come into her life.
Sight Unseen is a standalone magical mystery with a slow burn romance that explores loss, grief, found family and hope. The story unfolds with alternating PoVs between Veda and Hiram Ellis, a man from a wealthy family known for their prejudices against Seers. While not an enemies to lovers story per say, Veda and Hiram do not get along in the beginning as Veda has some very critical preconceived notions of Hiram based off his family. However, actions speak louder than words and as Veda sees the man Hiram truly is through his actions as they work together against the serial killer she is tied to through her curse, she comes to lose some of the sharp edge she shows to him.
The slow romance is why many will pick up this book. For me Hiram's son, Antaris, a child who lost his mother in a brutal murder by a serial killer is the reason to read the book. Hiram didn't know he had a child until after his former partner Grace was killed. He didn't hesitate, he raced to get everything settled to take over custody of his son and now he is doing the best he can with an eight year old child who has not talked since the death of his mother. The journey with both Hiram and Veda to help the mute child suffering from grief, loss, nightmares and so much more was really the heart of this story. I loved how Antaris was able to help bring Hiram and Veda together in a common cause and how much both cared for the child.
The serial killer mystery is good and a little heart breaking as members of the Seer community and a select few in the Mage community are put in the crosshairs of this magical killer. While I did guess a few things that seemed glaringly obvious the motivations of the killer and the ties between her victims I didn't guess until it was laid out. The tension built really well as the details were drawn out and the danger to Veda both from the serial killer and her curse increased.
There are some explorations of prejudices against the Seer community from the fallout of an event termed The Vanishing, where Mages just vanished one day. Now the Seers need to submit to registration and tracking to any magic they perform. Not my favorite part of the story but probably a necessary feature for the world building.
Overall, I found the story entertaining and engaging. I liked the characters, the community and the layout. I loved the slow relationship build between Hiram and Veda that solidified into something really wonderful. I also believe the author did a good job at the wrap up to the story. She tied up the threads I cared about and made sure the reader knew the direction these characters were going to take in the future.
Narration:
Performance: ★★★★
Character Separation: ★★★
Diction: ★★★★
Pacing/Flow: ★★★
Sound Effects: None
I appreciate using multiple narrators for the Dual PoV of the story. Soneela Nankini is a narrator with a prolific catalog of audios under her belt. She has a smooth and pleasant voice that performed the story well. I was able to tell the characters apart and she brought tenderness, vulnerability and emotion to Veda's character. Anand Nagraj is new to me and it looks like new to narrating audiobooks. This appears to be his first title and while I did like his voice selection for Hiram, there were a few times when narrating conversations where I couldn't tell who was talking as the character separation was a little off. That said, it wasn't so distracting that I lost the plot of the story. I listened to the audio at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Measure of a Man is hands down my all time favorite Dramione fic to ever exist, and Sight Unseen is everything I loved about MoaM and more. It is a beautifully written story of grief and healing. filled with flawed characters just trying to do their best, with an intriguing murder suspense plot, and a slow burn enemies to lovers romance that will leave you swooning.
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧:
- blood curse
- serial killer suspense plot
- interseting magic system
- enemies to lovers
- single dad
- grief & healing
- slow burn romance
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧:
- blood curse
- serial killer suspense plot
- interseting magic system
- enemies to lovers
- single dad
- grief & healing
- slow burn romance
March 7, 2026
so cute and adorable 🥺🥺🥺
February 14, 2026
A beautiful story about overcoming grief and learning to let love in nestled in a small town murder mystery.
I loved that this story is FULL of diversity. All the characters are diverse and there are mentions of multiple cultures in their attire, the food they eat and the practices they do. I loved to see this. It was so refreshing and well done.
Someone else said it, but it could not be more true, the amount of themes the author is able to dive into in under 400 pages is outstanding. What a journey we all went on together I could just cry. Grief. Chronic illness. Biases and prejudices. Family trauma. This is a small town with a lot of very charming characters.
The social commentary throughout the story is SO important especially giving what is happening in our current world. And that was the highlight for me. The messages and undertones about not idly standing by while people suffer were so well done. The lessons within it will last long after you close the book.
My only caveat is sometimes the magic system got confusing for me. As someone who did not read the original fanfic nor the inspiration for the original fanfic this perhaps was why and maybe other readers won’t have this issue. However, this book is so well done that you do not need to have any previous information to dive right into it.
Overall, it was absolutely stunning and I feel lucky to have read it. It is a story that will stick with me for a long time.
I loved that this story is FULL of diversity. All the characters are diverse and there are mentions of multiple cultures in their attire, the food they eat and the practices they do. I loved to see this. It was so refreshing and well done.
Someone else said it, but it could not be more true, the amount of themes the author is able to dive into in under 400 pages is outstanding. What a journey we all went on together I could just cry. Grief. Chronic illness. Biases and prejudices. Family trauma. This is a small town with a lot of very charming characters.
The social commentary throughout the story is SO important especially giving what is happening in our current world. And that was the highlight for me. The messages and undertones about not idly standing by while people suffer were so well done. The lessons within it will last long after you close the book.
My only caveat is sometimes the magic system got confusing for me. As someone who did not read the original fanfic nor the inspiration for the original fanfic this perhaps was why and maybe other readers won’t have this issue. However, this book is so well done that you do not need to have any previous information to dive right into it.
Overall, it was absolutely stunning and I feel lucky to have read it. It is a story that will stick with me for a long time.
March 8, 2026
I really loved Sight Unseen! The magic system was great, the characters were wonderful, and the mystery woven through the story was the cherry on top. I was hooked from the start.
The characters were really well written, and I’m always a huge fan of a slow burn when it’s done right. This one definitely delivered. And little Antaris was the sweetest!
Overall, I had such a great time with this one and can’t wait to read more from this author.
⭐ 4.75 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The characters were really well written, and I’m always a huge fan of a slow burn when it’s done right. This one definitely delivered. And little Antaris was the sweetest!
Overall, I had such a great time with this one and can’t wait to read more from this author.
⭐ 4.75 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 3, 2026
Ok as a book, I found this quite hard to follow and the magic system needed more depth for me. That being said, this writer deserves endless praise and I can’t wait what she comes out with next. Will I be rereading MOAM after this? You can bet your cactus I will.
March 11, 2026
I had such a hard time getting through this book. While it’s a completely different story than MOAM, there were still too many similarities for me. The writing style just wasn’t for me, and I often had to reread thrice to understand what was going on.
The murder mystery? Didn’t really feel like much of a mystery. I really wanted to like this book, but unfortunately it just didn’t work for me.
The murder mystery? Didn’t really feel like much of a mystery. I really wanted to like this book, but unfortunately it just didn’t work for me.
Review of advance copy
This book is REALLY BAD. The writing style absolutely infuriated me. Whats with the constantly changing tense and voice. Hiram decides to do this. Veda thinks she should do that. Veda feels. Simran blah blah.
Also early on, the Indian names and city of birth etc clash terribly and as an Indian I know immediately it’s wrong. Simran is from Bangalore and Hiram is her son. She wears Pakistani style dresses. It’s 2026 and this amount of trash research is not forgivable.
Also early on, the Indian names and city of birth etc clash terribly and as an Indian I know immediately it’s wrong. Simran is from Bangalore and Hiram is her son. She wears Pakistani style dresses. It’s 2026 and this amount of trash research is not forgivable.
February 5, 2026
A MILLION ⭐️ YALL DONT UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS BOOK MEANS TO ME
the call backs to MOAM while also being its own story MY HEART!!!!! Antaris is my new favorite book character ever I love him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the call backs to MOAM while also being its own story MY HEART!!!!! Antaris is my new favorite book character ever I love him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 7, 2026
This is the first book by a former Dramione author that really stands on its own and doesn’t feel like dressed up fanfic where the author barely bothered to change the protagonists’ hair colors. If you know the fic that inspired this one, you can see the influence, but if you don’t, I honestly don’t think you’d notice at all. That alone is a huge advantage, considering how this usually goes.
First of all, this book definitely isn’t a romantasy. Yes, there is magic, and yes, there is romance, but the romance doesn’t really appear until very late in the book. There’s basically no hint of attraction between Hiram and Veda until around the 65% mark, and I can’t help but wonder if the book would have benefited from introducing some pining between the characters earlier on. As it is, the romance happens very quickly and doesn’t really feel like a slow burn, which is kind of ironic given how late it appears.
Anyways, the real heart of the story follows Veda as she navigates a deadly curse that is slowly killing her, alongside Hiram discovering that he has a son, Antaris, whose mother was recently murdered. The killer is also the one who cursed Veda and continues to murder. After Antaris stops speaking due to the trauma of losing his mother, Veda becomes his tutor, which brings her closer to both the boy and his father. These are the main threads, and because of that the book reads much more like literary fiction with magic than anything else. Or maybe just fantasy fits best, or literary fantasy.
The book is set in an alternative version of our world, just one where magic exists. This definitely works in the book’s favor because the author doesn’t have to spend time on heavy worldbuilding and can instead focus on the magic system, which ended up being far more complex than I expected. I mean, if you know the fic or the original work, you can see where the inspiration comes from, but at the end of the day I was still happy to read something more nuanced than usual, even if the rules were a bit confusing at times.
I don’t know if this book offers anything universally new to the genre, but I was hooked from the very first pages, mostly because it felt so different from what I’m used to and from what I expected. Both main storylines, the one centered on Antaris and the criminal investigation, were engaging, even though the ending felt a bit rushed to me and I never fully understood why the main villain was targeting the FMC.
That said, I probably won’t be the only one saying this story wouldn’t be half as good without Antaris. The single dad and the woman who helps him care for a child is obviously a trope that has been used a thousand times over, but it works here because Antaris is a fully realized character, not just a pawn or a plot device to push the adults together. He really was the light of the story.
The side characters also deserve a mention. There were quite a lot of them, but each played a role in the story, and we learned enough about them from the book itself that there was no need to compare them to any source material.
All in all, was this a perfect book? Probably not. Was it much better than I expected? Definitely yes. It stands on its own and can easily be marketed without being tied to any existing fandom. I had a great time with it.
Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
First of all, this book definitely isn’t a romantasy. Yes, there is magic, and yes, there is romance, but the romance doesn’t really appear until very late in the book. There’s basically no hint of attraction between Hiram and Veda until around the 65% mark, and I can’t help but wonder if the book would have benefited from introducing some pining between the characters earlier on. As it is, the romance happens very quickly and doesn’t really feel like a slow burn, which is kind of ironic given how late it appears.
Anyways, the real heart of the story follows Veda as she navigates a deadly curse that is slowly killing her, alongside Hiram discovering that he has a son, Antaris, whose mother was recently murdered. The killer is also the one who cursed Veda and continues to murder. After Antaris stops speaking due to the trauma of losing his mother, Veda becomes his tutor, which brings her closer to both the boy and his father. These are the main threads, and because of that the book reads much more like literary fiction with magic than anything else. Or maybe just fantasy fits best, or literary fantasy.
The book is set in an alternative version of our world, just one where magic exists. This definitely works in the book’s favor because the author doesn’t have to spend time on heavy worldbuilding and can instead focus on the magic system, which ended up being far more complex than I expected. I mean, if you know the fic or the original work, you can see where the inspiration comes from, but at the end of the day I was still happy to read something more nuanced than usual, even if the rules were a bit confusing at times.
I don’t know if this book offers anything universally new to the genre, but I was hooked from the very first pages, mostly because it felt so different from what I’m used to and from what I expected. Both main storylines, the one centered on Antaris and the criminal investigation, were engaging, even though the ending felt a bit rushed to me and I never fully understood why the main villain was targeting the FMC.
That said, I probably won’t be the only one saying this story wouldn’t be half as good without Antaris. The single dad and the woman who helps him care for a child is obviously a trope that has been used a thousand times over, but it works here because Antaris is a fully realized character, not just a pawn or a plot device to push the adults together. He really was the light of the story.
The side characters also deserve a mention. There were quite a lot of them, but each played a role in the story, and we learned enough about them from the book itself that there was no need to compare them to any source material.
All in all, was this a perfect book? Probably not. Was it much better than I expected? Definitely yes. It stands on its own and can easily be marketed without being tied to any existing fandom. I had a great time with it.
Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
February 4, 2026
Sight Unseen is a contemporary fantasy set in a world of Seers and Mages who coexist in a state of uneasy, not-quite harmony. This is very much a slow-burn romance, and I mean slow. The tension and banter are off the charts. Seriously, Veda and Hiram need to cool it!!!
The story takes place in a small town that has become the hunting ground for a serial killer who targets people for their Sight. Seers possess Sight, the ability to glimpse future events, and this mysterious killer is stealing their powers for a dark, unknown reason.
Veda Thorne crosses paths with the killer and is cursed, trapping a dangerous magical entity inside her. With no known way to awaken or remove the curse, Veda accepts what she believes is her inevitable fate. She isolates herself, convinced she has to face everything alone, even when she needs help the most.
Then there’s Hiram Ellis. The Hiram Ellis. His family’s wealth and long-standing prejudice have made him a source of fear and distrust, particularly among Seers. Many in the community are reluctant to let him anywhere near them. He needs to prove that he is not his family.
Hiram’s life is upended when his ex-partner, Grace, is brutally murdered by the same serial killer, and he discovers he has a child he never knew about. Enter Antaris. Hiram has absolutely no idea how to raise a child; it’s genuinely like he’s never interacted with one before. But you know what? He’s trying, okay?
When Veda becomes Antaris’s tutor, things begin to shift. Old grudges soften into reluctant friendship, which slowly transforms into something deeper. Something neither Veda nor Hiram sees coming until it’s already there.
And Antaris… my heart. He is so brave. Watching him slowly heal and grow comfortable with both Veda and Hiram was incredibly moving. After losing his mother and witnessing unspeakable trauma, he becomes mute, timid, and fearful of the world. Such a precious soul who must be protected at all costs!!
And I loved all the side characters!! Peter, Khadijah, Gabriel, and little August, who is the complete opposite of Antaris, and does not know when to close his mouth! I loved the detective unit they became. The inclusion of Indian culture was beautifully woven into the story and added so much depth. I loved it.
I can’t believe this was a debut. So well executed and thought out!!
Thank you, Hachette, for the ARC!
The story takes place in a small town that has become the hunting ground for a serial killer who targets people for their Sight. Seers possess Sight, the ability to glimpse future events, and this mysterious killer is stealing their powers for a dark, unknown reason.
Veda Thorne crosses paths with the killer and is cursed, trapping a dangerous magical entity inside her. With no known way to awaken or remove the curse, Veda accepts what she believes is her inevitable fate. She isolates herself, convinced she has to face everything alone, even when she needs help the most.
Then there’s Hiram Ellis. The Hiram Ellis. His family’s wealth and long-standing prejudice have made him a source of fear and distrust, particularly among Seers. Many in the community are reluctant to let him anywhere near them. He needs to prove that he is not his family.
Hiram’s life is upended when his ex-partner, Grace, is brutally murdered by the same serial killer, and he discovers he has a child he never knew about. Enter Antaris. Hiram has absolutely no idea how to raise a child; it’s genuinely like he’s never interacted with one before. But you know what? He’s trying, okay?
When Veda becomes Antaris’s tutor, things begin to shift. Old grudges soften into reluctant friendship, which slowly transforms into something deeper. Something neither Veda nor Hiram sees coming until it’s already there.
And Antaris… my heart. He is so brave. Watching him slowly heal and grow comfortable with both Veda and Hiram was incredibly moving. After losing his mother and witnessing unspeakable trauma, he becomes mute, timid, and fearful of the world. Such a precious soul who must be protected at all costs!!
And I loved all the side characters!! Peter, Khadijah, Gabriel, and little August, who is the complete opposite of Antaris, and does not know when to close his mouth! I loved the detective unit they became. The inclusion of Indian culture was beautifully woven into the story and added so much depth. I loved it.
I can’t believe this was a debut. So well executed and thought out!!
Thank you, Hachette, for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
rtc
March 16, 2026
2.5 stars! Full rtc
February 10, 2026
Overall: 3 stars
I loved the first 25% of this book, and the last 25% was enjoyable, but everything in between was just meh. Supposedly this is adapted from a Harry Potter fanfic, and if true, boy can you tell. I suppose anything nowadays with a magic school is going to give that general vibe, but a lot of the worldbuilding really feels pulled outta HP (it's modern day but also magic, there's extreme prejudice about magical bloodlines and such, etc). As I say often, I don't mind tropes since it's impossible to avoid them, but this particular combination of world traits just felt a little tired. I also just didn't find the plot that interesting, but that could be a me thing.
I did appreciate the diversity of skin colors and regional/cultural backgrounds of the characters, and some of the writing is quite evocative, especially in the early chapters. I also thought the romance was cute and sweet with a gentle slowburn pace.
All of those factors mingle together to give this book a medium rating. It was fine. I might read more by this author in the future since I appreciate the diversity of her characters and think her writing has promise.
I loved the first 25% of this book, and the last 25% was enjoyable, but everything in between was just meh. Supposedly this is adapted from a Harry Potter fanfic, and if true, boy can you tell. I suppose anything nowadays with a magic school is going to give that general vibe, but a lot of the worldbuilding really feels pulled outta HP (it's modern day but also magic, there's extreme prejudice about magical bloodlines and such, etc). As I say often, I don't mind tropes since it's impossible to avoid them, but this particular combination of world traits just felt a little tired. I also just didn't find the plot that interesting, but that could be a me thing.
I did appreciate the diversity of skin colors and regional/cultural backgrounds of the characters, and some of the writing is quite evocative, especially in the early chapters. I also thought the romance was cute and sweet with a gentle slowburn pace.
All of those factors mingle together to give this book a medium rating. It was fine. I might read more by this author in the future since I appreciate the diversity of her characters and think her writing has promise.
March 12, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. What follows is my honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It is described as a contemporary fantasy with mystery and romance subplots and I would say that’s important to know up front as the romance is not the focus here although it is certainly present.
The focus of this story is healing and recovery both on a personal level (for Veda, Hiram and Antaris) but also for communities such as those with Sight who in this book represent a magical minority with seer abilities who are ostracised and oppressed. Hiram particularly comes from a family who have been prominent in the poor treatment of those with Sight and he has to grapple with his awareness of how wrong this is, the hate of the seer community and what he can and should do to amend or atone for the sins of his family. It’s a really interesting and complex dilemma especially in today’s current climate but i feel like it was handled very well.
The presence of this issue means that the romance between Hiram and Veda develops very slowly and more of the page time is dedicated to Veda overcoming her own prejudice against Hiram as a member of the Ellis family and Hiram attempting to prove he’s not like them than to other elements of romance. I personally loved this, it fit with the main theme of the story and sets it apart from other romance conventions popular in fantasy at the moment. Although for those interested there is still an explicit scene later in the book.
That said, i did feel like there was something missing in the romance development. I think the early growth and understanding was done very well but the transition from respect and open-mindedness to attraction and partnership was a little rushed and i think a lot of that is because of the restrictive page count. Ultimately this book is trying to do a lot and it only has about 400 pages to do it in.
The mystery similarly suffered a little. I mostly enjoyed it but i think it lacked some of the complexity observed in other aspects of the story. I struggled to understand the link between Veda and the mystery at times and how the sanguis curse operated or was being used in the plot. The magical system was clearly fleshed out and complex but again at times the lack of page space meant that these aspects perhaps got less time than they deserved. I was confused by how the stones worked in recording things.
But these criticisms were minor points for me because Antaris’s journey and the exploration of oppression and being accountable for your actions and those of your ancestors was done so well that the romance and mystery to me were just bonuses to those elements. Hiram’s POV is particularly poignant and he is a very well crafted character. And i think this story and theme is a very important one for our current times. Being accountable and an ally is about more than just not contributing to the hate or just saying sorry. And Antaris is such a darling - every scene with him makes your heart clench.
I also really like the author’s writing style - it’s very poetic and mature, although i could see some reader’s finding it distant and may have issues connecting with the characters as a result but I personally did not find this to be an issue and would happily read anything else this author writes.
It is also worth noting that i have read the fanfic this was reworked from. I dont think that’s hugely relevant as this is very much an original work and does not bear much resemblance to the franchise other than the mentions of brewing and the existence of magic based racism. But i do know from reading that work that with more space this author is more than capable of writing a beautiful romance.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It is described as a contemporary fantasy with mystery and romance subplots and I would say that’s important to know up front as the romance is not the focus here although it is certainly present.
The focus of this story is healing and recovery both on a personal level (for Veda, Hiram and Antaris) but also for communities such as those with Sight who in this book represent a magical minority with seer abilities who are ostracised and oppressed. Hiram particularly comes from a family who have been prominent in the poor treatment of those with Sight and he has to grapple with his awareness of how wrong this is, the hate of the seer community and what he can and should do to amend or atone for the sins of his family. It’s a really interesting and complex dilemma especially in today’s current climate but i feel like it was handled very well.
The presence of this issue means that the romance between Hiram and Veda develops very slowly and more of the page time is dedicated to Veda overcoming her own prejudice against Hiram as a member of the Ellis family and Hiram attempting to prove he’s not like them than to other elements of romance. I personally loved this, it fit with the main theme of the story and sets it apart from other romance conventions popular in fantasy at the moment. Although for those interested there is still an explicit scene later in the book.
That said, i did feel like there was something missing in the romance development. I think the early growth and understanding was done very well but the transition from respect and open-mindedness to attraction and partnership was a little rushed and i think a lot of that is because of the restrictive page count. Ultimately this book is trying to do a lot and it only has about 400 pages to do it in.
The mystery similarly suffered a little. I mostly enjoyed it but i think it lacked some of the complexity observed in other aspects of the story. I struggled to understand the link between Veda and the mystery at times and how the sanguis curse operated or was being used in the plot. The magical system was clearly fleshed out and complex but again at times the lack of page space meant that these aspects perhaps got less time than they deserved. I was confused by how the stones worked in recording things.
But these criticisms were minor points for me because Antaris’s journey and the exploration of oppression and being accountable for your actions and those of your ancestors was done so well that the romance and mystery to me were just bonuses to those elements. Hiram’s POV is particularly poignant and he is a very well crafted character. And i think this story and theme is a very important one for our current times. Being accountable and an ally is about more than just not contributing to the hate or just saying sorry. And Antaris is such a darling - every scene with him makes your heart clench.
I also really like the author’s writing style - it’s very poetic and mature, although i could see some reader’s finding it distant and may have issues connecting with the characters as a result but I personally did not find this to be an issue and would happily read anything else this author writes.
It is also worth noting that i have read the fanfic this was reworked from. I dont think that’s hugely relevant as this is very much an original work and does not bear much resemblance to the franchise other than the mentions of brewing and the existence of magic based racism. But i do know from reading that work that with more space this author is more than capable of writing a beautiful romance.
December 31, 2025
I had the fortune of reading Sight Unseen ahead of its publication date—many thanks to 47North and Alexis Marie for the e-ARC! Here’s my spoiler-free ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review.
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.
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Sight Unseen, Alexis Marie’s debut novel, has been my most anticipated 2026 release from the moment it was announced. I’m so happy to share that it met every single one of my expectations.
The balance between romance and mystery is perfect for lovers of both genres. The slow-burn had me kicking my feet as the tension rose between Veda and Hiram, our main characters. The way they come together is everything to me. On the other side, as a reader it’s always exciting to collect the pieces and complete the puzzle to a mystery storyline. If you’re attentive enough, you’ll see where the journey is going but don't worry—you’ll find yourself slack-jawed with the twists along the way as we chase our villain. I’m sure on my physical re-read there’ll be plenty of clues to find woven into the story which will only improve the experience.
Now… our characters! Veda Thorne, get behind me!!! I adore and admire her. Following her journey where she goes from existing to living until she blossoms into herself was humbling. Themes like grief, isolation, depression and the hunger for life are delicately tackled, not only for her story, but also for Hiram and Antaris’. Hiram's world changes drastically in the blink of an eye, becoming the father of a grieving child overnight. He makes mistakes along the way, as anyone is bound to do, but his efforts to do better make for a heartfelt journey as he finds his footing with Antaris and the people in his hometown. Speaking of—the ensamble cast is memorable and my favorite thing about them all is how three dimensional and flawed everyone is, showing us humanity in all its range. Plenty of characters stand out to me, but Antaris stole my heart, as I’m sure will happen to many!
The worldbuilding is vast and although that can be overwhelming for standalone books, it isn’t the case with Sight Unseen. Every detail is meticulously crafted and dropped into the book at precise timing for readers to follow along. The magic system is captivating and left me wanting to know more about the lore for the wider magic world in this novel, (a feeling that, for me, is always a good sign of great storytelling). A standout that I simply most point out is the social commentary about the dynamics of the magical world we’re diving into. Through our ensable cast we’re shown different perspectives and it’s all tackled in a very respectful, passionate and honest way, which I admired.
Overall, this is a beautiful debut novel and, even if it wasn’t originally intended, a powerful reminder of what it means to be human. Alexis knocked it out of the park with this story and I can’t wait for whatever comes next from her.
And, of course, if you’re a long-time fan of her writing (iykyk) you’ll find a beautiful love letter to her previous works in Sight Unseen.
Get ready to swoon, cry, laugh, and theorize. It’s a wild ride!
.
.
.
Sight Unseen, Alexis Marie’s debut novel, has been my most anticipated 2026 release from the moment it was announced. I’m so happy to share that it met every single one of my expectations.
The balance between romance and mystery is perfect for lovers of both genres. The slow-burn had me kicking my feet as the tension rose between Veda and Hiram, our main characters. The way they come together is everything to me. On the other side, as a reader it’s always exciting to collect the pieces and complete the puzzle to a mystery storyline. If you’re attentive enough, you’ll see where the journey is going but don't worry—you’ll find yourself slack-jawed with the twists along the way as we chase our villain. I’m sure on my physical re-read there’ll be plenty of clues to find woven into the story which will only improve the experience.
Now… our characters! Veda Thorne, get behind me!!! I adore and admire her. Following her journey where she goes from existing to living until she blossoms into herself was humbling. Themes like grief, isolation, depression and the hunger for life are delicately tackled, not only for her story, but also for Hiram and Antaris’. Hiram's world changes drastically in the blink of an eye, becoming the father of a grieving child overnight. He makes mistakes along the way, as anyone is bound to do, but his efforts to do better make for a heartfelt journey as he finds his footing with Antaris and the people in his hometown. Speaking of—the ensamble cast is memorable and my favorite thing about them all is how three dimensional and flawed everyone is, showing us humanity in all its range. Plenty of characters stand out to me, but Antaris stole my heart, as I’m sure will happen to many!
The worldbuilding is vast and although that can be overwhelming for standalone books, it isn’t the case with Sight Unseen. Every detail is meticulously crafted and dropped into the book at precise timing for readers to follow along. The magic system is captivating and left me wanting to know more about the lore for the wider magic world in this novel, (a feeling that, for me, is always a good sign of great storytelling). A standout that I simply most point out is the social commentary about the dynamics of the magical world we’re diving into. Through our ensable cast we’re shown different perspectives and it’s all tackled in a very respectful, passionate and honest way, which I admired.
Overall, this is a beautiful debut novel and, even if it wasn’t originally intended, a powerful reminder of what it means to be human. Alexis knocked it out of the park with this story and I can’t wait for whatever comes next from her.
And, of course, if you’re a long-time fan of her writing (iykyk) you’ll find a beautiful love letter to her previous works in Sight Unseen.
Get ready to swoon, cry, laugh, and theorize. It’s a wild ride!
March 3, 2026
Busy fantasy/romance/mystery/family/social contemporary.
Veda has been fatally cursed and having failed to do more than slow it down, is now waiting to die. Hiram left his overly-wealthy & influential family years ago (though not before scoring a top-notch legal education and therefore high-powered attorney job.) But when he unexpectedly discovers he's a father, and his ex has been murdered, he returns to his family home, with his traumatised son, for support.
I loved the blurb for this, it seemed right up my alley. The first few chapters challenged that -- there's so much world-building, lots of characters introduced that it took me several more chapters to sort out, and two main POVs, of which I didn't end up liking either. Hiram is so bland: he is a Nice Guy, he is lovely to his newly-found son, caring and understanding to Veda, setting firm boundaries with his awful family, little to no angst missing the epic career he's taken time off from. Veda is harder for me to critique, because the curse is a solid metaphor for life-limiting illness, and since I don't have one, I can't say where the lines are for "being difficult is understandable" vs. "other people have to get along too".
Other thoughts: I didn't really feel the romance from Veda's side. I enjoyed some of the serial killer plot, but it was a convoluted saga for sure. The degree of hatred for Seers (vs Mages) confused me too. I'm thinking it was a metaphor for racism in how their exclusion and abuse was described. But it seems to me like "having wholly different powers to mages" needs a different and more nuanced conversation to literally skin-deep discrimination. Or maybe it went totally over my white head, or maybe it inherited poor world-building and struggled to move beyond its origin there.
Because once I'd finished, I found that it's a revised Dramione fanfic. So, if you enjoy that ship, this may work really well for you. Or if you like the sound of Lots Going On and a lesser focus on the romantic developments (note there is on-page sex tho.) I did think the family relationships were interesting and handled well, and enjoyed Antaris' (Hiram's son's) appearances throughout. But I wouldn't otherwise give this a wide thumbs-up.
Rating: 13/20
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.
Veda has been fatally cursed and having failed to do more than slow it down, is now waiting to die. Hiram left his overly-wealthy & influential family years ago (though not before scoring a top-notch legal education and therefore high-powered attorney job.) But when he unexpectedly discovers he's a father, and his ex has been murdered, he returns to his family home, with his traumatised son, for support.
I loved the blurb for this, it seemed right up my alley. The first few chapters challenged that -- there's so much world-building, lots of characters introduced that it took me several more chapters to sort out, and two main POVs, of which I didn't end up liking either. Hiram is so bland: he is a Nice Guy, he is lovely to his newly-found son, caring and understanding to Veda, setting firm boundaries with his awful family, little to no angst missing the epic career he's taken time off from. Veda is harder for me to critique, because the curse is a solid metaphor for life-limiting illness, and since I don't have one, I can't say where the lines are for "being difficult is understandable" vs. "other people have to get along too".
Other thoughts: I didn't really feel the romance from Veda's side. I enjoyed some of the serial killer plot, but it was a convoluted saga for sure. The degree of hatred for Seers (vs Mages) confused me too. I'm thinking it was a metaphor for racism in how their exclusion and abuse was described. But it seems to me like "having wholly different powers to mages" needs a different and more nuanced conversation to literally skin-deep discrimination. Or maybe it went totally over my white head, or maybe it inherited poor world-building and struggled to move beyond its origin there.
Because once I'd finished, I found that it's a revised Dramione fanfic. So, if you enjoy that ship, this may work really well for you. Or if you like the sound of Lots Going On and a lesser focus on the romantic developments (note there is on-page sex tho.) I did think the family relationships were interesting and handled well, and enjoyed Antaris' (Hiram's son's) appearances throughout. But I wouldn't otherwise give this a wide thumbs-up.
Rating: 13/20
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.
March 8, 2026
Sight Unseen by Alexis Marie is a beautifully written contemporary fantasy that blends mystery, magic, and a slow-burn romance in a compelling way.
One of the book’s biggest strengths is its writing. The story feels immersive and thoughtfully crafted, with a unique premise that immediately draws you into the world and its characters. The character development was especially well done, and I really enjoyed watching Veda and Hiram grow throughout the story as they navigate their complicated pasts and uncertain futures.
A standout for me was Veda’s relationship with Hiram’s son, Antaris. Their connection adds warmth and emotional depth to the story, and it was one of my favorite aspects of the book.
I also appreciated how the story touches on realistic and meaningful themes such as discrimination, fear, and prejudice. These elements add another layer to the narrative and help ground the magical aspects of the story in something relatable.
Overall, Sight Unseen is a thoughtful and engaging fantasy with strong writing and memorable character arcs. Readers who enjoy character-driven fantasy with emotional depth and a touch of mystery and romance will likely enjoy this one.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
One of the book’s biggest strengths is its writing. The story feels immersive and thoughtfully crafted, with a unique premise that immediately draws you into the world and its characters. The character development was especially well done, and I really enjoyed watching Veda and Hiram grow throughout the story as they navigate their complicated pasts and uncertain futures.
A standout for me was Veda’s relationship with Hiram’s son, Antaris. Their connection adds warmth and emotional depth to the story, and it was one of my favorite aspects of the book.
I also appreciated how the story touches on realistic and meaningful themes such as discrimination, fear, and prejudice. These elements add another layer to the narrative and help ground the magical aspects of the story in something relatable.
Overall, Sight Unseen is a thoughtful and engaging fantasy with strong writing and memorable character arcs. Readers who enjoy character-driven fantasy with emotional depth and a touch of mystery and romance will likely enjoy this one.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 16, 2026
In a modern world where magic quietly exists alongside the ordinary, Sight Unseen follows Veda who is Seer living under the shadow of a deadly curse, as a series of murders targeting people like her begins to unfold.
Enter Hiram: newly thrust into single fatherhood after discovering a son he never knew about. As their paths intertwine through the investigation, Veda, Hiram, and little Antaris slowly form an unexpected bond while trying to uncover who is killing Seers and why Veda may be next.
🔥 Tropes & Vibes
✨ Found family
👨👦 Single dad romance
🔎 Magical murder mystery
💔 Grief & healing
🌱 Gardening as quiet healing (I LOVED THIS)
🪄 Very important social commentary
🔥 Very late slow burn
I absolutely adored Measure of a Man, but I genuinely loved what Alexis Marie did here.
Sight Unseen feels fresh while still carrying that nostalgic warmth that made her writing so compelling in the first place. It’s character-driven, emotionally layered, and grounded in relationships that feel incredibly human.
Yes, it’s technically romantasy but what I appreciated most is that the romance doesn’t really appear until very late in the book. Instead of rushing into attraction, the story focuses on grief, healing, trust, and the quiet bonds forming between Veda, Hiram, and Antaris. By the time the romance begins, the emotional groundwork is so solid that it feels earned rather than forced.
The found family dynamic completely stole my heart, and Antaris might honestly be the emotional glue of the entire story.
My only real wish? I almost wish this had been a duology. There’s so much richness in the world, magic system, and characters that another book to explore it all would have been incredible. I would have FROTHED if the romance was able to sit and simmer a bit longer instead of being rushed towards the end.
Overall this is a beautifully written, tender, character-driven fantasy that blends mystery, healing, and magic in a way that feels quietly powerful.
Enter Hiram: newly thrust into single fatherhood after discovering a son he never knew about. As their paths intertwine through the investigation, Veda, Hiram, and little Antaris slowly form an unexpected bond while trying to uncover who is killing Seers and why Veda may be next.
🔥 Tropes & Vibes
✨ Found family
👨👦 Single dad romance
🔎 Magical murder mystery
💔 Grief & healing
🌱 Gardening as quiet healing (I LOVED THIS)
🪄 Very important social commentary
🔥 Very late slow burn
I absolutely adored Measure of a Man, but I genuinely loved what Alexis Marie did here.
Sight Unseen feels fresh while still carrying that nostalgic warmth that made her writing so compelling in the first place. It’s character-driven, emotionally layered, and grounded in relationships that feel incredibly human.
Yes, it’s technically romantasy but what I appreciated most is that the romance doesn’t really appear until very late in the book. Instead of rushing into attraction, the story focuses on grief, healing, trust, and the quiet bonds forming between Veda, Hiram, and Antaris. By the time the romance begins, the emotional groundwork is so solid that it feels earned rather than forced.
The found family dynamic completely stole my heart, and Antaris might honestly be the emotional glue of the entire story.
My only real wish? I almost wish this had been a duology. There’s so much richness in the world, magic system, and characters that another book to explore it all would have been incredible. I would have FROTHED if the romance was able to sit and simmer a bit longer instead of being rushed towards the end.
Overall this is a beautifully written, tender, character-driven fantasy that blends mystery, healing, and magic in a way that feels quietly powerful.
February 10, 2026
I’m obsessed. This book was the most wholesome wild ride I’ve ever read.
You get it all; murder-mystery, fantasy, urban, academia, healing, trauma, thriller, and romance. I absolutely did not want it to end.
I really appreciated that the story took place in the real world (because then time was not wasted on the world building) and yet it was still so magical. Moreover, the minority representation felt so powerful.
I will be gushing about this read all year!
You get it all; murder-mystery, fantasy, urban, academia, healing, trauma, thriller, and romance. I absolutely did not want it to end.
I really appreciated that the story took place in the real world (because then time was not wasted on the world building) and yet it was still so magical. Moreover, the minority representation felt so powerful.
I will be gushing about this read all year!
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