The Winter of Lies

by Nessa Vernon

Welcome to the House of Lyrith, where blood is currency and lies are a way of life.

Ever since a massacre left her memories shattered, Bellanthe has avoided seeking truths that may be too poisonous to swallow. Belonging to the House of Lyrith is safe. They hunt the demigods and the curses that destroyed her first home.

But when the man who took her in is found dead, everything begins to unravel, and Bellanthe finds herself framed for a second murder by a traitor within her House.

Dragged into the perils of the Abyss—where singing fogs and bloodthirsty trees lurk—Bellanthe schemes against the traitor under the guise of cooperation. She’ll make him admit he framed her in a game of wits he doesn’t see coming. Sharp-tongued and perceptive, Casiel is a tomb of secrets she is reluctant to open. And he'll stop at nothing to get his hands on the Bloodbreaker—supposedly able to turn a mere mortal into a demigod.

Playing into his plot within a city full of secrets, Bellanthe thought she’d do anything to take her life back. But when a curse threatens to destroy her, salvation may lie where she least expects it.

Featuring heart-stopping plot twists, addictive character dynamics, and a sizzling slow burn, this lush new fantasy is perfect for fans of Rachel Gillig and Carissa Broadbent.

Genres: Fantasy

436 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 2, 2025

About the author

Nessa Vernon grew up an introvert in London. She is very familiar with the idea of burrowing into a blanket on a rainy day with a cup of tea and her nose in a book. When she isn’t busy reading, she can be found daydreaming up her own stories and worlds.

Reviews

[Nikolett Ungor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this book in exchange for an honest review. As someone who loves supporting indie authors, I always aim to share thoughtful, fair feedback. While I have personal reading preferences like a love for fantasy, horses, or specific tropes, I never let that impact my rating unless it is relevant to the book’s intent or audience. I review with the genre and readership in mind. Thank you Netgalley for the copy!

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐

I loved the cover at first sight so I picked up the book to read. I think I expected something really different based on the cover, but the story and the plot were quite interesting.

I loved the idea of demigods and curses to ballance the power, that was a really unique idea and I loved the thought of the Abyss, mysterious, spooky and definitely exciting.

I can tell there is a lot of world building but I had issues with the execution. Through the book I struggled understand what is happening, why it's happing, to who it's happening and where. I had the feeling that the author worked really hard on the book, and had a complete perfect picture, but I only saw 70% of that, so the image ended up blurry and confusing. I also felt that while the demigods were very clearly built up, the Abyss was lacking, it was so late until I even understood what it is and what it can cause.

I had to reread chapters to understand what happened, and that wasn't really fun, I think if the story had way more clarity and a more stable structure then I would enjoy it much more!

That said I think this book definitely deserves a chance, I can absolutely see why other reviewers gave higher score and I am happy to see other people enjoyed the story!

[☆Goofing On Silk Road☆]

🪾 ♡🌫️ ❣︎✭☾❄️ 𝐃𝐍𝐅 𝐚𝐭 𝟒𝟐%

I don’t read arcs super often but I picked this one up because it seemed really cool and it was compared to Rachel Gillig’s books, which the Shepherd King duology is one of my fav books and both 5⭐️. So I was particularly excited for the Winter of Lies because not only do I love eerie fantasy books with great settings but also mind blowing family secrets. This book had all of those, or so I was promised, with houses and mysteries. In the beginning, as soon as I started, I loved the house dynamics and how we already got a foundation of the mysteries and eeriness to come. But that was pretty much it. After the plot started developing, I struggled to keep up with everything, who we were talking about, what happened, who was speaking etc. I thankfully had the option to listen to this (ai reading it from NetGalley’s reader app) so I followed the audio while I read. I constantly had to rewind and stop, just to understand what was being told in just a fragment of a singular sentence.

When the dual POV came up, I was so excited to read about our MMC, but his part was equally confusing and annoying. He’s with other people in his POV and I did not understand 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 thing that happened then. It was so confusing, so poorly organized that I just felt like I was trying to finish homework. The meeting of our two main characters was confusing and I didn’t even know it was the two of them meeting until he said his name. I constantly zoned out and struggled to focus on the words. When they were on the skyship, I couldn’t understand what was happening and why the FMC was so compliant. In a couple previous chapters it mentioned her being a captain(?). They also mentioned what she did for the House of Lyrith. In the beginning it talks about her carrying a heart as a cargo and how they’re being traded or something? But then we never even do much as internally talked about it🤨 At this point I was just trying to get to the end as quick as possible in hopes that everything picked up and I enjoyed it more. Mind you, this was the 20% mark.

After their skyship crashed, the FMC and MMC fell into some sort of forest where they were trying to get to a place due to some other plot point that was super disconnected from everything else and made zero sense. At this point, there were about 5 different plot points that were mentioned for a few paragraphs and then forgotten about. In this forest, there is a fog that causes something (I either forgot because I zoned out, or it wasn’t even mentioned), which piqued my interest because it is a big plot point in The Shepherd King duology (😘). I honestly enjoyed the fog and the forest. It had a lake, also like the Shepherd King duology, as well as murderous trees. The trees quite literally murdered, sucking off people’s bloods🫢. Another character got added at some point, then her sibling and some other things but I just couldn’t understand what point of the story I was at so I missed everything.

I was so excited to start this and the plot sounded, it still sounds, really cool. It definitely has a lot of potential and it’s not too late to improve (I’m guessing? Probably not though). I’m just curious how the editors and all the people who went into the publishing of this book were able to understand it and confirm the publication. Anyone else wanting to read could give it a go if they have enough patience for not understanding a single flipping thing, but I wouldn’t really recommend it. Guys, 𝐢𝐭 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐩. 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲'𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞. So I’m genuinely struggling right now😭😭😭😭


Ughhh this put me in a reading slump and I dont even want to write a review😭😭😭 I will though🤞🤞🤞

[Val~ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for this advanced reader copy of The Winter of Lies by Nessa Vernon. This is a fantasy book about the House of Lyrith, where Bellanthe Blair, the FMC, belongs. Not so much is said about the Belamorians, but they appear to be another house or faction, so perhaps in the next book there's more information about this. Then, we have Casiel, who is interested in the Bloodbreaker, something with enough power to turn a mortal into a demigod. There is an intriguing magical setting in the Abyss, a place with eerie elements. You can also find themes related to curses, magic, dark forces, mystery, demigods, and gods. The plot is slow-paced, and it was difficult to grasp what was happening at the beginning. I think there's a lack of connection and cohesiveness to help you follow the plot smoothly. Also, in my opinion, a glossary would have been helpful to connect the dots. I wasn’t really invested in the story, even though it has potential with the world building.

*It's important to mention that there are trigger warnings ahead.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the blurb and had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me. The idea of a world with demigods, curses, and an Abyss filled with monsters is very intriguing, but the execution felt a bit rushed and confusing. I constantly had the feeling that I was missing something or that the author was holding back information, which made it difficult to understand the characters' motivations. I wish there had been more backstory, especially through flashbacks, particularly for Bellanthe. I hope we get to learn what happened to her at the age of 14 in the next book.

One of the strong points of the story is the magic system used by the main characters. I also appreciated the slow development of the relationship between them. There is no insta-love or insta-lust, which made their bond feel more believable.

Overall, it is a decent debut, and it is clear that the author has good ideas and strong potential.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Thea-Louvise · Rating 1 out of 5]

i am so grateful that i received an ARC-copy of this book from netgalley and i was so excited to dive into this as the description of the book was so intriguing.
However i am sorry to say that this was a DNF for me. i got to 27% before i just couldnt pull myself through more and im not really a picky reader.

i definitely saw the potential of the dark fantasy with murder mystery and the whole concept of the Abyss, the fog, demigods and conflicts between two big houses! i was looking forward to get to know those parts even more!

On the other side, if i were to tell someone what this book is about so far, i dont stand a chance to tell them anything. my confusion has just been growing and i feel so lost. ive been really struggling to see a connection between the characters and what is going on that it feels like different parts of total different books have been put together. I am really missing the feeling of context, information and worldbuilding, and i do get that maybe the first book might be intended to be a part of the worldbuilding for the whole series, but i have to get something to understand. big respect that this book had been worked hard on though!

Again, i am so sorry that this wasnt for me, i really wanted to like it and i got into it with a hopeful and excited mindset! I do wish the best for the author’s work and for the books release as i hope other readers enjoy it more than i did! all best wishes from me<3

[Bec · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received and ARC copy of this book in exchange for a review through NetGalley.

I was really intrigued by this world when I read the description and I thought that it may give me similar feels in the lyrical writing/moody writing to the Shepherd King Duology or When the Moon Hatched with its own unique magic system.

Unfortunately I have had to DNF the book which is something I very rarely do but the beginning has really failed to capture me and as I get further into the book I feel very lost. I can see that there is an intricate world being built and there is some great writing and character exploration but I spent my whole time read confused and unsure who was who, where it was leading and what was happening. If I had to explain to someone else what I was reading, I wouldn’t be able to tell them.

I do think the story has potential and perhaps I’m not the right audience or reader. I’m very much a vibe reader and sadly this one wasn’t for me.

[lisa's bookshelf :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went through every possible emotion while reading this book. The universe is beautifully crafted, and the writing itself feels like poetry. The immersive worldbuilding pulled me in so naturally—I never had to force myself to keep going.

The slow burn romance absolutely killed me (in the best way). It’s perfectly balanced: present enough to keep me invested, but never overshadowing the bigger stakes—like the murders, betrayals, and the intricate schemes the protagonists kept plotting against each other.

My only frustration is that I never felt I truly connected with the FMC and MMC on a deeper level. I could only grasp them on the surface, and I really hope the second book gives us more insight into their thoughts and emotions. That would take this story to another level for me.

Overall, this was such an immersive and thrilling read. I’m giving it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and can’t wait to dive into book two!

Huge thanks to Nessa Vernon and NetGalley for providing me with this arc.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3q4...

this is the playlist i created to listen while reading this book, mainly Ruelle because it matches the universe

[Hopesmoonlitpages · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first few chapters of the book left me confused and struggling to keep going.

Once I got past that and into Casiels first chapter things started to feel more clear and I was able to continue even though I was still thoroughly confused about, well, EVERYTHING.

The enemies to lovers vibes and slow burn between Casiel and Bellanthe is so intense. The few “moments” they have leave you screaming at the book.

The Abyss is described with so much detail you feel like you are walking through it yourself. I was really impressed with how well this author describes so many things in the book. It is very vivid.

I really like the small chapters in between that are flashbacks of Bellanthe’s or Casiel’s past.

The ending was anti-climactic. I felt like there are so many holes and questions left’s unanswered that I hope they will be filled in and answered in book 2.

Overall, I really thought the book was well written and can’t wait for book 2!

If you love world building, unique magics, enemies to lovers, and a really intense slow burn, then this book is for you!

Thank you to BookSirens, the publisher and author for this advance readers copy. I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

[Sandrine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like the idea of this book with demigods being hunted and the hunt to find a relic so I was excited to read this book. However, in the book, the plot fell flat. There was not enough information about the world for me to truly understand what was happening. I’m still not sure what the abyss is. I don’t know if it was the author’s intention to be vague to help build the mystery, but I didn’t really enjoy that. I like Bellanthe, she’s strong and she is trying to make the best out of the situation she’s been given. There was a plot twist at the end that I liked, but it’s still not enough to make me want to read the sequel.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book. Opinions are my own.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC❤️
A Gripping and Enchanting Debut

Nessa Vernon’s The Winter of Lies is a stunning and captivating debut that plunges readers into a world of magic, mystery, and political intrigue. From the first page, the story grabs you and refuses to let go, offering a perfect blend of high-stakes fantasy and a slow-burn romance that will leave you desperate for more.
The world-building is where this book truly shines. Vernon has created the House of Lyrith, a dark and dangerous organization where every secret is a weapon and every truth a risk. The magic system, with its demigods and curses, is both unique and wonderfully realized, and the perilous Abyss—home to singing fogs and bloodthirsty trees—is a setting so vivid you can almost feel the chill.
Our protagonist, Bellanthe Blair, is a masterfully crafted character. Her amnesia and the fragmented memories of a past massacre create an immediate sense of mystery, making her journey of self-discovery a compelling core of the narrative. She is sharp, resilient, and resourceful, and it is a delight to watch her navigate a world of betrayal and deceit. Her dynamic with the secretive Casiel is pure perfection, a tantalizing dance of wits and unspoken truths that provides a sizzling romance subplot.
Vernon's writing is lush and immersive, painting a world that is both beautiful and brutal. The plot is a thrilling ride, filled with twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Just when you think you have a handle on the mystery, another layer is peeled back, revealing a new secret or a shocking betrayal.
The Winter of Lies is a fantastic addition to the fantasy-romance genre, It's a tale of shattered memories, dangerous secrets, and the lies we tell ourselves to survive. I can’t wait to see what secrets the House of Lyrith will reveal next.

[Kaat SweetOnStories · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bellanthe Blair was only fourteen years old when her world collapses around her, as she loses everything and everyone she's ever known in the Scarlet Isle massacre. She's taken in by House Lyrith, one of the most powerful families in the city of Belamor, its patriarch Alystair. Violent and uncompromising, Alystair's Owls are the force behind the systematic eradication of anyone who's been cursed (and sometimes turned into a cursed demigod) by the mysterious fog covering the lands, not hestitating to use Bellanthe as a pawn every now and again. But now, 5 years later, the family is preoccupied with vengeance: not only was Alystair's brother Malachi murdered... Lysander was just killed as well, seemingly at the hands of Bellanthe herself. 
But in truth, a traitor within the Lyrith family committed the crime, and framed Bellanthe in the process. House Lyrith is out for ruthless blood, which leaves Bellanthe - who can fly skyships - with no other choice than to join this man, Casiel, on his secretive mission to find something called the Bloodbreaker... which is said to break the fog's curse.

The Winter of Lies by debut author Nessa Vernon is ambitious. She crafts a slightly steampunk-esque world mixed with elements of darker magic and godhood, and I see what she is trying to do - but a lot of it gets lost in translation. The writing is too elusive; I don't mind a challenge and am an attentive reader, but I found myself having to read back a few too many times to see if I'd missed something. There's an unspoken demand on the reader to actively read between the lines, rather than pick on things subconsciously and naturally, so the story doesn't flow quite as nicely. I found this slowed down my reading process as well as my enjoyment of it, especially in the first half. I oftentimes lost focus.

But I persevered, because the premise and concept are both very interesting to me (I requested the ARC for a reason), and I really wanted to give this a chance, so I did. Once I had a firmer grasp on the worldbuilding and on Vernon's writing style, I found that the quest storyline and the lead characters manage to stand out amidst the confusion; Vernon finds her stride a in the second half of the book. I just wish the execution hadn't made it feel like such a chore to wade through the first half. I'm still wondering if there are things I missed, and I don't love that.

Once we pass that 50% mark, there is more action in the plot, with our characters making moves that change things around here and there. The romance subplot between Casiel and Bellanthe also begins to develop on a deeper level from here on out, which is the right call. The Winter of Lies is mostly about Casiel and Bellanthe reluctantly teaming up to find the Bloodbreaker, meaning these two people are supposed to keep us invested: an engaging dynamic is vital. The couple appeals to me so far, because their relationship begins in conflict, self-interest, coercion (not sexually!), with Casiel manipulating the situation so Bellanthe has no choice but to join him on her mission. And when they begin to catch feelings, it's imperative that care for, and trust in, each other is established between them.

The author manages that quite well by focusing on their mutual protective streaks, all while maintaining credibility by keeping good tension in the background. Casiel's motivations remain dubious, and Bellanthe is contradictory in her (re)actions, as her loyalty is beginning to split. She's a character with loads more potential for future books, I reckon. She's independent in many ways (I love that she's able to captain Skyships) but she wilts in the presence of her overbearing, corrupt family - so caught up in their web that she's rendered almost powerless at times. I love how her inner conflict is reflected in how she deals with Casiel: Bellanthe is secretive and puts up a front with him, but the reader is fully aware of how he unsettles her to her core. So there's a lot to Bellanthe, and I feel like we've gotten to know her pretty well so far. I'm curious to see her next moves. But with Casiel, we've only scratched the surface, and that makes him an intriguing mystery I'd like to see more of.

I've rated The Winter of Lies book 3 stars as an average overall. I don't usually do that, but the 4-star experience I had in the second half brings up the 2-star vibes I was getting from the foggy (pun intended) writing in the first half.

The Winter of Lies moves away from vague-ish worldbuilding in favor of plot, characters and romance in the second half - it saves the book. A surprising reveal in the end is a gamechanger - and that's what's going to keep me reading the series, despite the low rating for this first part.

Thank you BookSirens and author Nessa Vernon for generously providing me with a copy of this book; all opinions expressed are honest, voluntary and 100% my own.

[Mar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great ARC read before the end of the year!

The Winter of Lies is an atmospheric, slow-burn fantasy romance that swept me away from the very first line. It takes place in the haunting, fog-laden city of Belamor and the story delivers rich world-building, lyrical prose, and a heroine impossible not to root for.

Bellanthe, the fmc, is both soft and resilient, a character shaped by survival and loyalty. Her voice is captivating from the beginning, and watching her relationships unfold—particularly with Casiel and the mysteries surrounding the Lyrith family—kept me emotionally invested the entire way. The slow-burn romance threads beautifully through political intrigue, personal trauma, and a world steeped in myth and danger. Nothing feels rushed; every emotional beat lands with intention.

The world itself is immersive and easy to grasp, with elegant sensory detail that’s never overwhelming. The magic and lore surrounding demigods, curses, noble houses, and dangerous secrets deepens the story without ever overshadowing the character growth. Even early scenes are vivid and intriguing—Bellanthe navigating grief, loyalty, and fear, high political tension in House Lyrith, and the eerie beauty of a city trading in hearts, vengeance, and whispers of gods.

There are deeper emotional threads—trauma, power imbalance, and trust—while never losing sight of the slow-burn romantic tension and character development that make the journey compelling. The pacing is measured but engaging, and each chapter invites you deeper into a world where nothing is as it seems, and danger lives behind every soft shadow.

If anything, I only wanted more: more time in this lush world, more emotional unraveling, more quiet moments between characters learning each other against impossible odds. Far from being a flaw, it speaks to how wonderfully immersive the story is. This is a book that lingers after you close it.

Beautifully written, haunting, romantic, and character-driven, The Winter of Lies is a must-read for fans of dark fantasy, rich world-building, and romances that burn slow and deep.

✨Tropes

• Slow burn romance

• Found family (soft, subtle threads)

• Court intrigue / noble houses

• Dangerous, seductive world

• Morally gray love interest(s)

• Power dynamics / loyalty tension

• Protector undertones

• Trauma recovery themes

• Atmospheric gothic vibes

• “I trust you — even when I shouldn’t” energy

⚠️Trigger / Content Warnings

• Self-harm depiction

• PTSD & panic attacks

• Violence & murder

• Threats of sexual assault (implied)

• Manipulation / emotional control

• Death of loved ones

• Childhood trauma

• Toxic power dynamics

• Violence toward women (non-graphic but impactful)

• Grief & loss themes

• Relationship power imbalance

[Dayna Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nessa Vernon’s The Winter of Lies is a rich, atmospheric fantasy debut that weaves together mystery, magic, and slow-burn romance in a way that’s both compelling and emotionally layered. Set in a world where ancient houses wield power and dangerous truths lurk just beneath the surface, this book immediately drew me in with its gothic tones and high-stakes political intrigue.

The story follows Bellanthe Blair, a protagonist with a traumatic past and a deeply fractured sense of self. After being the sole survivor of a massacre, her memory is patchy and her trust in others is paper-thin. Her journey to uncover the truth—not just about the murders, but about herself—is gripping. Bellanthe’s complexity makes her easy to root for, even when her choices are messy. I loved how Vernon handled her trauma: it was present, it shaped her, but it didn’t define her completely.

The world-building is another standout. The House of Lyrith, with its dark halls and deadly secrets, feels alive. From the singing fogs to the bloodthirsty trees of the Abyss, every element of the setting adds depth and dread. The magical system is intricate without being overwhelming, and I was fascinated by the concept of the Bloodbreaker—an object capable of turning a mortal into a demigod. There's real danger here, both magical and political, which keeps the tension high.

One of the strongest parts of the book is the dynamic between Bellanthe and Casiel. Their relationship simmers with tension, mistrust, and buried longing. It’s not a fast or easy romance—instead, it grows slowly through shared pain, guarded moments, and hard-won honesty. I appreciated how their interactions didn’t dominate the plot but added emotional weight to it.

That said, there were a few things that kept this from being a full five-star read for me. The pacing was uneven in places—some sections were packed with information and backstory, which occasionally slowed down the momentum. A few of the side characters could have been more fleshed out; they sometimes felt more like plot devices than real people. And while many twists were satisfying, a couple of them were a bit predictable.

Still, The Winter of Lies left a strong impression. It's dark, emotional, and full of promise for what's to come in the series. I’m excited to see how Bellanthe’s story continues and how the magical and political threads unravel further. If you enjoy gothic fantasy with secrets, curses, and beautifully flawed characters, I definitely recommend this one.

[Umbrae76 · Rating 4 out of 5]

🗡 The Winter of Lies by Nessa Vernon Book review 🗡

Release date: November 2, 2025

🫀 Thank you NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this ARC! 🫀

⭐️ Slow Burn
⭐️ Enemies to Lovers
⭐️ Morally Gray Characters
⭐️ Cruses
⭐️ Dual POV
⭐️ Memory Loss

My final rating is 4⭐️
It takes a 1🌶 rating for me (Slow Burn, there are not explicit scenes in this book but a bit of desire and a kiss)

🗡

This book was amazing the writing and the descriptions are beautifully done and they pull you right into the world. It's really atmospheric.

The world and the magic system were super interesting and one of my favorite parts of the book. But I do have to admit the start was a bit confusing, at least for me. The FMC, Bellanthe keeps a lot of secrets which made it hard to follow at first. By the end I think I did understand everything and it was amazing I loved what happened at the ending (spoilers).

Bellanthe has lost her memories and only can remember since the House of Lyrith took her in. She is used by them, but since its the only thing she knows she tries to be content in her situation. As the book progresses we see her grow and scape this mentality but it is not a linear progression and I loved that.

I also loved the MMC, Casiel, he is very ruthless and calculating, and morally grey, he also keeps a lot of secrets and is ready to do whatever is needed to achieve his goals. Which are a bit mysterious right until the end. He is ready to use Bellanthe as well until he cannot bear the thought of her hurt anymore (* squealing *).

I loved the romance, it is a slow burn and it doesn't really start to kick in until halfway of the book.
They start as enemies, ready to use each other to their advantage even as they try to work together to survive. Then little by little they start caring more about eachother while being completely oblivious to the other's feelings.
But they are still keeping secrets and keeping a knife up their sleeves just in case.

Keep in mind this is a really slow burn but I do have the feeling the second book is going to be more romantic and a bit more spicy.

The ending was by far my favorite part, I could not stop reading those last 100 pages and I cannot wait for the second book. Pretty sure this is a duology so I'm hoping it will answer all of my questions.

🗡

[Georgina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Title: The Winter of Lies (House of Lyrith #1)
Author: Nessa Vernon

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me with an ARC copy of this book.

To start, I feel absolutely terrible about my review. I don’t enjoy giving a lower rating to an author who’s clearly poured their entire being into their story. To be really clear, if I’d picked this up purely for pleasure, I would have DNF’d at around 40% and wouldn’t have reviewed it. But since I received an ARC, I made sure to finish and provide my honest thoughts.

My Personal Thoughts

• It’s too chaotic at times. The story flits from scene to scene without clear transitions or chapter breaks to mark the passage of time.
• There are so many moving cogs to keep track of — the FMC’s memory loss, the politics, the curses, the Abyss. New details often popped up seemingly out of nowhere.
• There’s not a great deal of romance for those expecting more of a romantasy read.
• I spent much of my time confused. There are chapters that appear to start in the FMC’s POV, only to shift into the MMC’s, leaving me having to stop and work out who was actually speaking.

The world-building has promise but lacks clarity. Even past the halfway point, I wasn’t entirely sure what the main characters were fighting for or trying to achieve. The pacing also felt uneven. It required a lot of concentration and re-reading to stay oriented, which took away from the enjoyment of the story.


🌒 What I Enjoyed

The concept is great. Demigods being hunted, a heroine with lost memories and the mystery of the Abyss all had so much potential. The cover and blurb completely hooked me in.

The FMC was a standout. She’s strong, resilient, perceptive and fierce. She carried the story for me and I admired her resolve even when the world around her felt confusing.


🩶 Final Thoughts

The Winter of Lies shows real creative ambition with flashes of what could become an incredible series. Unfortunately, the chaotic pacing and lack of narrative clarity meant it didn’t fully land for me this time.

Hopefully book two will refine these ideas and bring sharper focus to the fascinating world Nessa Vernon has created.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to BookSirens, I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. (spoiler free)

I am frankly not quite sure how to feel about this book. There are bits and pieces here and there I think I really like, especially the "singing fog" and all the magic, the gods, demigods, and the mysterious moon shaped island. But. There are also too many characters we're driven to dislike (or HATE), and not enough to give our love to.

So, we're thrown into a dual POV story, which could become very interesting:

Bellanthe? I like her, but there's still too many mysteries around her for my liking, or at least to really catch my attention. I don't dislike her, I feel for her even, but I'm still too neutral about her while she's the main female character. I understand she doesn't remember a lot so we don't really get to know a lot either, but it's a little bit frustrating as I sometimes can't understand her decisions or her reflexions and it threw me off here and there.

On the other end of the main characters "duo", we have Casiel. And sadly I feel the same about him, there might be too many questions around him still (even with that cool cliffhanger ending). There's a charming thing about his character though and there are opportunities to get attached to him, but his behavior from Bellanthe's POV is sometimes too misleading and again, I can't understand what's happening sometimes.

Not that I dislike all that, I would mainly say that for now there might be a missed opportunity for us to really really get attached to at least those two main characters, without having to wait for the sequel(s).

Now, there's a good amount of potential for the following one(s), would it be about Bellanthe or Casiel, the romance subplot (which for now is a little too hazy for me butttt I can see the potential for a good slow burn, so, not mad about that).

To sum it up : good potential overall, a promising magic system, okay main characters, still a lot of questions hanging until we get more reading material.

Keep going, I'm curious about what's next for them both.
Thanks again for the opportunity!

[Kristen Dahlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Winter of Lies has strong potential. It has interesting main characters, a fascinating magic system, and eerie environmental threats that create tension throughout the story. A lot happens, with action, fights, escapes, mortal danger, smolders between the FMC and MMC and a very slow burn etc… all the elements that should make a story fast-paced and gripping.
I unfortunately felt the opposite happened. It was hard to follow exactly what was happening, and why, at any given point. I probably couldn’t be quizzed on why most things happened and hope to do well. To me, I think that the author may have let the love of words overshadow the love of story, pacing, and plot. Prose is lovely, and description helps paint a picture in a readers eye, but I think the technique is used more sparingly in good sentences than one would think. Too much embellishment and not carefully selecting for pace can derail a sentence, which confuses a paragraph, which confuses a scene… you get the idea.
At random, this sentence: “Without a second thought, his shoulder rammed into it, coaxing out only a shudder.” High tension, action and violent words conveying urgency and force, to end with “coaxing”, a very passive word. I felt all my urgency and care about him getting through that door evaporate and had to reread as to why. The momentum was instantly lost. Mouthfuls of sentences like this happened throughout the book, completely slowing the pace for me and at several points nearly made me DNF.

At heart this is an interesting world, a fascinating pair, and I want to know what happens next. I truly believe this author- and I believe this is her debut- can keep telling this story in a way that I and others will follow and be engrossed by, if she remembers that a story must move, and that thoughts, feelings and setting are more masterfully conveyed in passing details more sparingly used to paint an entire picture.

I look forward to seeing what comes next for our two main characters in book 2.

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

[Din Reads (In my suriel era) · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️.5

Huge thanks to the author, Victory Editing Netgalley Co op and NetGalley for the ARC.

The Winter of Lies follows Bellanthe, survivor of a massacre that left her with fractured memories. Taken in by one of the most powerful houses in Belamor, House Lyrith, her life unravels when she’s framed for the murder of one of its members. The culprit? A traitor within the house (Casiel) who soon becomes entangled in her desperate attempt to clear her name.

The novel borrows certain elements from One Dark Window: the fog, the curse of magic, the killing of the cursed, but still manages to make them its own. It’s a blend of mystery, fantasy, action, and a touch of romance. In theory, it has all the ingredients for a compelling read. In practice, however, the execution falls short.

Some plot points could have worked wonderfully if presented differently. But as it stands, characters shift from enemies to allies—or strangers to foes—without explanation. Dialogue (even internal) is minimal, leaving you often wondering *why* things are happening. The result is that the characters feel fuzzy and inconsistent. Motivations are unclear, pacing uneven, and structure disjointed.

What really weakened the book for me was how new information was introduced. Characters appear for just seconds and are suddenly named, often with no introduction or purpose. The narration feels needlessly cryptic, obscuring everything: the plot, the worldbuilding, and the characters themselves. This made the story a struggle to follow and, at times, a chore to read.

As for the prose, it was hit or miss; sometimes genuinely beautiful and lyrical, other times… confusing. Take this line, for instance:

“It might have been an issue off his hands if she managed to find herself a fool to save her from him.”
I still don’t know what it’s supposed to mean.

In short, The Winter of Lies has potential—it just gets buried under convoluted writing and uneven storytelling. If you’re patient with dense prose and love atmospheric fantasy, it might still be worth a try.

[Ari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Nessa Vernon, NetGalley, and Victory Editing for the early copy of The Winter of Lies (2.75☆)!

The premise of this book is solid, and the worldbuilding is intricate and detailed. It took me a couple of chapters before I really got used to the feel of the world, but once the plot picked up, I was honestly really enjoying the potential of a murder mystery and our MCs being on the run. I'm also a fan of political intrigue, and this felt like it had the perfect buildup for it. The map in the book, the mention of different houses, the hints at a demigod system - everything's up my alley.

This book has a lot to tackle and deal with. While the ideas were great, the execution needed to marinate a little more. Some details (i.e. Bellanthe being a pilot, the fog in the forest, etc.) are mentioned earlier in the book, but then those details don't go anywhere. At one point, I had completely forgotten about the fog, and only remembered that when I was reading some other reviews for this. Those plot points and details just don't show up again, so I'm not sure if they will make a comeback in later in the series - as of right now, I feel like I waited for something to happen, but then literally nothing happened and we went on to another plot line.

I did really like the slow burn between our MCs. I loved the descriptions for them and the cute little interactions. The tension and the yearning was there, and the progression of their relationship had a good pace. Once again, the characters have reveals of their own, but I think we needed more time with the world for it all to have a more effective impact.

Overall, I did enjoy reading this, and at some parts, I wanted to give the book 3.5-4 stars; however, realistically and in full honesty, this needed more time in the oven, and so I'm giving 2.75 stars.

Looking forward to see whether we'll get to discover more in the sequel!

[Jazzi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC of this book!

I honestly really struggled getting through this book. I really, truly wanted to like it. It has all the great bones of a great story. So many ideas that I got really excited about. But the execution just was not there. I found myself feeling like I was dreaming while reading this, and not in a good way. Nothing made sense and the story had too many abrupt jumps that ruined the flow. There were a few times I went back and reread to make sure I didn’t miss anything (I didn’t). It’s a little frustrating because the story lines were absolutely there, but it just was not put together well.





SPOILERS BELOW





To be more specific, the entire time I was reading, I could literally not stop asking “why/how?” At first I thought maybe the author was intentionally leaving out information to keep me reading for a big discovery later, but that did not happen. For what purpose was Bellanthe kidnapped? Why did she crash the random sky boat? Is it a sky boat? What even is an “owl”? If she’s supposed to be part of the most powerful house, why is she incapable of protecting herself and using the rifle she has? Is she just a driver of the flying boat? The “found family” also felt very forced & random. Who are the cursed and why are they cursed and what is this curse and where is the information on the gods and what do you mean demigod??? If he’s already a demigod why does he need the Bloodbreaker? Who even is in charge of this realm? I could go on and on. Maybe some of the answers were in there but I was just so distracted and confused and couldn’t truly get into the story. It absolutely was not all bad, though. I did like the mmc and was excited about the enemies to lovers arc they were on. The ideas were SO good but unfortunately just not fleshed out well.

[Bibliotherapy with Elena · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5 Stars.

[EN]First of all, I would like to thank Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in advance.

When choosing the book, I was attracted not only by the cover, but also by the plot, which seemed extremely promising, as well as the fact that it was recommended to fans of authors such as Raven Kennedy (whom I love).

Unfortunately, although the basic idea is very nice and has a lot of potential, I can't say the same about the development of the plot and the narrative.
There were several points where it was not clear to me what was happening, with plot holes where it was not very clear how a certain situation had come about and what the dynamics were, or hints of information provided as relevant that were then not developed further.

All these aspects unfortunately detracted from the reading experience.

[IT]Prima di tutto vorrei ringraziare Netgalley per avermi dato l'opportunità di leggere questo libro in anteprima.

Nella scelta del libro ero stata attirata oltre che dalla copertina, dalla trama che sembrava estremamente promettente oltre al fatto che venisse consigliato anche alle amanti di autrici come Raven Kennedy (che io amo).

Purtroppo sebbene l'idea di fondo sia molto carina e abbia molto potenziale, non posso dire altrettato relativamente allo sviluppo della trama e della narrazione.
Ci sono stati diversi punti in cui non mi era chiaro quello che stesse succedendo, con buchi della trama dove non si capiva molto bene come si fosse arrivati in una certa situazione e quale fosse stata la dinamica, o accenni di informazioni fornite come rilevanti che poi non sono più state sviluppate.

Tutti questi aspetti purtroppo hanno penalizzato l'esperienza di lettura.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Winter of Lies is an atmospheric tale of political intrigue, mystery, curses and the quest to break them. It took me a little while to get into this one due to the first few chapters being a little scattered, but I’m so glad I kept going because in the end, I really enjoyed this read. There were moments in the book where I felt like the author knew the story so well that they weren’t always able to translate that vision for the reader, creating some jumps in the plot. The world is interesting, and I especially loved the moody, eerie scenes in the Abyss. I would have loved to have gone deeper into the houses, the history of the realm and the skyships; there are such great concepts there that I hope we get to dive into in book two! While some concepts in the story could use a bit of fleshing out, the actual writing itself is poetically and vividly descriptive, which I loved. The magic system is fascinating, and I am especially intrigued by that of our FMC. The characters themselves really grew on me as I went further into the book. Both main characters have mysterious pasts, while Bellanthe cannot remember all of hers, Casiel is secretive about his. Watching them dance around each other, caught in this game of wits, was glorious to read. The slow-burn romance is super slow, but it creates a wonderful sense of tender yearning. I really thought I knew how this book was going to end, until the plot twist I didn’t see coming. It had me on the edge of my seat for the last few chapters. I’ll definitely be picking up book two because I NEED to know what happens next!

Thank you, Nessa Vernon, Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this is how I like my slow-burn enemies to '?' ! So gradual and steady that by the middle of the book, you’re excited when the characters simply say something kind to each other. The dynamic between Bellanthe and Casiel was very well developed. Each character had a legitimate reason to hate the other, and I loved it. Watching the little cracks form in the wall they built between them was so entertaining. I especially enjoyed the select chapters from Casiel’s perspective; they were well placed and gave just enough insight into his thoughts and schemes.

I did struggle a bit at the beginning to get grounded in the world, but once I found my footing, I was hooked. More detailed descriptions of the characters for their appearances and clothing might have helped me settle in quicker. Still, once I was immersed, I really enjoyed the writing and didn’t want to stop until all the secrets were revealed.

The pacing was strong; I never felt a lull, and my attention was held throughout. The author created a wonderfully eerie, atmospheric setting when the characters traveled through the Abyss. I enjoyed learning about the world and the magic system. If you liked One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig, I think you’ll enjoy this too. It carries a similar atmospheric feel, especially with the fog/mist elements. I’m excited to see what’s next in this series!

This was such a fun start to a new series, and a good debut from Nessa Vernon.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this eARC!

[Lumie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Book Sirens for the ARC.

Plot 4/5
Characters 3.75/5
Ending 4/5
Interest 3.75/5

Overall 3.75/5

-This book was quite good, I enjoyed myself throughout the entirety of it even though, sometimes, I must admit, I felt myself drifting off. As a whole it was still an entertaining read. The plot line of the kind of murder mystery, the captivity and the romance coming into play was really great.

-The characters were alright. I didn’t particularly connect with the very thoroughly, though I enjoyed reading their story. Bellanthe seemed like she was the sort of protagonist who has strong and independent with her weaknesses, and sometimes it worked for me but sometimes it didn’t. Casiel was fun, and his relationship with Bellanthe was also fun. I kept waiting to see the evolution between them and even though I saw it at times, I wished that there was more of development rather than attraction.

-The ending was where things got really interesting. The last few chapters kept me very intrigued and it really brought the story together very nicely. A good twist that I didn’t actually see coming. And the final sentences truly were great. I would love to continue reading this story and see it come to a conclusion.

[Karla · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would first like to express my thankfulness on receiving this ARC in return for my voluntary review and I second would like to congratulate this new author on her hard work.

I am saddened to give this 2 stars. I feel there is so much that can come and did come out of this story, however it was just too much for me I feel at once. I often found myself getting confused or going back pages to reread to see what I read incorrectly or missed. The world building is definitely how I prefer most in depth stories such as these. For some reason I feel it was just all over the place. So many things to keep up with at once. The names are similar to another story or two and I don’t think that helped my personal reading journey unfortunately. I have high hopes for the continuation of this story and do genuinely want to know what next of Bellanthes journey even though I’m partially still confused as to how it ended the way it did and wish it didn’t happen so abruptly. Kudos for the big twist in there that I didn’t figure out myself for once!

I do hope others can enjoy it better than I as maybe my mind is too simple, thank you again for this opportunity.

[FablesUnderMoonlight · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up The Winter of Lies because it was compared to Rachel Gillig’s works. I was hoping for something dark, emotional, and immersive, and while parts of the story hit that mark, it didn’t quite hold me all the way through.

The atmosphere is one of the strongest parts, the cold forests, old houses and that feeling that something dangerous is always moving beneath the surface. The writing itself is solid, and there are flashes of real beauty and insight throughout. I also liked the exploration of memory, grief, and identity, which gave the story an emotional core.

That said, there were times I felt like I’d accidentally started in the middle of a series. A lot of the worldbuilding and terminology were introduced as if I should already understand them, which made some parts confusing. It’s ambitious and layered, but not all of it lands cleanly, and that occasionally pulled me out of the story.

Still, there’s a lot of promise here. The tone is gothic and eerie, the characters have potential, and Vernon clearly has a talent for atmosphere. Even though this one wasn’t a perfect fit for me, I can easily see it possibly working for other readers.

[Maxx · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Nessa Vernon for the ARC!

I was super excited picking this up, the cover was stunning and the premise sounded interesting. I felt it would be dark and dangerously wonderful.

The world building, there was A LOT. I could tell that Nessa worked extra hard on the world building, and it showed. Sometimes I felt there was too much though, and it left me confused at times, I had to go back and reference some things that might have flown over my head, only to come back later on. the MMC's POV was a bit hard to follow at times, even a bit disjointed at times. The character motivations also seemed lacking, and just progressed to move the story along. I wish we had more of it, since this is such a wonderful and rich world the characters live in, especially since the writing prose is just wonderful to read.

Unfortunately, the story wasn't for me, but I really did love the world that encompassed the characters, and I wished the characters just had the same love and care for them as the world building, as I feel there is so much untapped potential there can be nurtured.

[Brittany Boroughs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this ARC courtesy of Victory Editing and NetGalley (thank you!) so please bear in mind all opinions are my own. Book is published on November 2nd!

This book has really good potential. The story is a neat idea that tries to bring together demigods, demigoddesses, curses, and an eerie abyss that will change your life forever if you’re caught unwittingly in it. Unfortunately it lacked cohesiveness to allow the reader a full idea of what’s going on. I was so confused in the first 30% because things were not clearly explained and it felt at time that the story was jumping ahead too quickly.

We are introduced to this family who seems to be a leader in society but we don’t know a whole lot about them. Maybe there will be more information in the second book? We are introduced to characters who I could not remember being mentioned before and they were a part of the story as if they had been there since page 1.

Ultimately, I think this could be the start of a great series if it didn’t lack substance. I needed more information and world building.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stunningly atmospheric, but I wish there was just a bit more in the story to explain concepts and a bit more within the plot.

I enjoyed this well enough but I found it a slow read for me, I think partially because of the initial relatively passive tone in the first half that becomes more active as the story goes on - at least within Bellanthe’s chapters. I did genuinely enjoy the two main leads, Bellanthe and Casiel, but I found an element that left me rather confused throughout was the way that their secrets were not revealed to the audience through their points of view - especially in Casiel’s regard.

Plot wise I never fully felt like I understood the Demi-gods and curses, I felt I was second guessing a lot of what I was reading throughout.

However, the descriptions throughout were stunning, incredibly atmospheric and the writing techiques surrounding Bellanthe’s point of view felt incredibly intentional and provided storytelling on their own.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy.

[Terri McCarrell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for this e-ARC. The publish date for this book will be November 2, 2025.
This book had a lot of potential and reminded me in tone of Rachel Gillig's dark worlds. The reality was that the world building was a struggle for me to understand and at 2/3 the way through the book I still had no idea what the FMC/MMC were grappling with as a backstory or even a current story. The creatures in the Abyss were never fleshed out enough to know why they were there or what the struggle was, and it was truly difficult to push through. As a reader I need to know where we are, why we're there, and why we care that we are. I wish I felt it in this, but I was scrambling for any sense of it.
The writer's postential is clearly there, but the realization didn't hit for me on this one, sadly.