Book: The Silversmith by Lj Claren
Reviewed by plotdrunk
Rating: 2.5/5
Thank you to the publisher and author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book had some really intriguing elements—an immortal love story, cursed magic, and secret identities—but it read more like a prequel than a fully developed Book One.
The biggest struggle for me was the pacing. Most of the story followed Ary and Smyth on a slow, travel-heavy journey with very little real conflict. We got hints of villains and danger, but they were always at a distance, while the bulk of the tension came from miscommunication and longing glances. Smyth’s refusal to explain anything—especially when it was so obvious who Ary really was—started to wear thin.
That said, I did enjoy the twisty backstory. Ary is Smyth’s wife (called it!), but the full reveal adds some layered mythology: they’re both over 400 years old, and she’s actually the queen’s long-lost daughter presumed dead. I suspected the “ancient love” angle early on, but I appreciated the effort to weave in emotional stakes. I actually thought she might be the queen, so at least it kept me guessing.
The writing was easy to read, and the brief appearance of Molochai added a jolt of energy I wish we’d gotten more of. Ary’s sudden “death” and miraculous healing felt a little too convenient, but the final chapter (from Elias’s POV) sets up some compelling threads for book two—Simeon’s missing, and no one knows Smyth’s secret yet.
Overall, there’s real potential in this world, and I’m curious to see where it goes. Here’s hoping the sequel amps up the stakes, deepens the conflict, and lets the plot finally hit its stride.