Book Review: These Wicked Lies by Miranda Joy

These Wicked Lies was easily one of my favourite reads of 2022 - I was in love with our FMC from page one, and the banter between the characters had me constantly smiling. Plus, Miranda is one of my favourite Bookstagrammers and she's always happy to talk to indie authors or readers! These Wicked Lies is her debut novel - find her on the gram!

Astrid is a princess - a princess who can absorb life force from someone and transfer it to another. At a price. Only two people know what her magic truly does - her mother, the queen and her manipulator, and her best friend, Ilona.

When Astrid discovers she's been a pawn in her mother's game, she quickly finds she was not the only one. Her life has been forged in lies. As she tries to unravel her memories, the story she has lived, and the ones she doesn't remember - she works with unexpected allies to steal the throne and find her truth.

The Characters

I was in love with Astrid from page one - give me a bad-ass female main character who can take of herself, with a sharp tongue, and I am instantly in.

Astrid is morally grey, mistrusting, owns her sexuality, magically inclined, and has epic banter! She also loves smutty books and never failed to put a smile on my face.

Some of Astrid's favourite quick-witted comments include...

💀 'Yep, the prince has the personality of a dead moth.'

🚪 'Not an uptight prince with the personality of a doorknob.'

See - Astrid is queen of amusing insults.

Dash, our MMC love interest, I am currently unsure of... read the book and you will understand my feels. One moment I wanted to jump his bones... the next I wanted to punch him in the throat. But you know how it is with book boyfriends. Then in comes Lexyll to throw me even more off the scent - there are mild love triangle vibes BUT I know where this goes in book two *eyebrow wiggle*

Spice Level

This book is a slowwww burn and full of a constant, unyielding sexual tension (drove me crazy obviously). BUT, Miranda gave us the moment of spice we needed to ease the tension - momentarily, of course - only for it to be hiked up to a ten again.

The spice in These Wicked Lies is quite mild - 2🌶 out of five!

Favourite Quotes 💬

Tropes & Favourite Elements

Enemies to Lovers ⚔️

Multiple Love Interests (trust me on this one!) 💞

Political Intrigue 👑

Forced Proximity 🔗

Fated Mates ❤️‍🔥

The Cliffhanger! 💥

I do warn you - the cliffhanger is pretty hefty, but it will leave you reeling for These Wicked Truths! Released 23rd March 2023 👀

These Wicked Lies had me enthralled from the first page. It will put a smile on your face, the characters are interesting and full of depth, the friendships and relationships contrasting, the world-building is complex but doesn't melt your brain - if you pick up this book (you should) you most likely will not want to put it down ✨

The first book in Miranda's series A Court of Malice is also due to be published in spring 2023 - look out for A Curse of Malice & Mercy, you can add it to your Goodreads TBR now!