Title: Kova + Rey
Author: EliBees
Genre/Subgenre: YA fantasy romance

Blurb:

She's a witch, he's a demon.

The DiEdaan Coven and the VonUmbra Clan have ruled the Magics realm side by side for centuries. But when a lesser demon clan becomes tainted by whispers of doubt from the mortal realm they over throw their peaceful rule and force the DiEdaans into hiding.

The VonUmbras wrestle back control from the tainted clan and restore a semblance of peace to the realm. The DiEdaans slowly take their place back into society and the youngest surviving coven member, Reyna, is sent back to Magics Academy. 

It's been seven years since she's been around Magics her age. Will they accept her? Will Lucian remember her? Or will she be shunned and cast aside by her peers who still fear the power the DiEdaans hold.

Reviewer: 🌹 Siluri

Review:

Title: 2/5
The plus sign is an interesting choice; an ampersand might be more aesthetically pleasing. The title is a bit plain and offers little to what the story may hold.

Cover: 4/5
I like the color scheme, easily legible title and author name, and the decorative symbols on each character's name. The tagline is quite small and difficult to read, but the overall minimalism is quite nice.

Blurb: 3/5
Introducing lore in a blurb can be hard to pull off and I think this blurb falls short in how it explains the tension between the DiEdaan Coven and the VonUmbra Clan. The name "Lucien" was also dropped without explanation, so I wish there was more background to support all the details.

Spelling, Punctuation, Grammar, and Vocabulary: 13/15
I noticed a few things with commas and dialogue tags, but nothing major detracts from the story or its flow.

World-building and Descriptions: 10/10
The introduction of different clans and covens were fascinating and made me curious about the rest of the universe. I love the concept of magic schools, and this one felt rich and unique.

Character Development: 20/20
The first three chapters start off strong with a former-friends-now-enemies vibe. The placement of the second chapter written from Lucian's point of view was well-timed and contributed to the emotional distance that the two protagonists now feel in contrast to how close they were in their childhood. The development of the characters and their relationship is well done.

Plot Development/Pacing/Chapter Structure: 19/20
The pacing feels appropriate to introducing the cast and fleshing out their personalities and relationships. The only thing I noticed regarding the chapters was that length of them is inconsistent, which could be jarring to a reader. I read the first three chapters and they got longer each time, but I noticed that the one that follows is quite short.

Originality: 9/10
The plot concept feels familiar, but everything else—the clan/coven tension, the magic system, and the characters themselves—makes the story feel fresh and exciting.

Enjoyment/Hook: 10/10
The first three chapters did a great job at hooking me in. I'm curious to see how Reyna and Lucien navigate their new resentment of one another!

Total: 90/100

Overall Impressions:
If you're a fan of fantasy/magic school romances, then this story is definitely worth checking out! The world-building is interesting and not at all overwhelming, and the relationships between the characters on a personal level as well as through their families is fascinating to explore.

Detailed Impressions:

1 - Reyna - Hello, Again
It's very short but does its job of establishing Reyna's current status and thoughts. It situates her in the school among her peers as someone who already stands out, and immediately shows Lucian drawing the new boundaries for their relationship. Overall, the chapter is a little too short to be truly satisfying but it's effective.

2 - Lucian - The 'New' Girl
Showing Lucian's thoughts on his encounter with Reyna is a clever way to reveal his true feelings about her. This chapter also has more exposition on the lore of the universe and the complex history that forces him to act the way he is, which I felt was a compelling way to allow Lucian to be standoffish but still justified in how his feelings conflict with his actions. I enjoyed being able to step into his point of view!

3 - Reyna - New Friends:
The longest chapter of the three, this one introduces a few more characters as well as what felt like a lore drop/info dump disguised as a debate match. The dialogue during the debate became difficult to push through, especially with the large paragraphs and how the magic system in the universe still needed to be built up. I wish there was a slower easing-into of the issues regarding the different cultures of mortals vs. creatures, but I see how this is a clever way to reflect the differences between the DiEdaans vs VonUmbras.