My The Silversmith Review

The Silversmith completely surprised me. From the very beginning, I was hooked by the atmosphere, the world, and—most importantly—the romance. The vibes were immaculate.

And then there was Gavin. Or Smyth. Or Daddy, whatever we’re calling this man. Never have I witnessed a fictional man yearn quite this hard. The slow burn was genuinely torturous, but in exactly the way I wanted it to be.

Every interaction between Gavin and Ary had me screaming internally because the chemistry was so obvious, yet these two somehow continued dancing around their feelings for what felt like an eternity. And yes, I ate up every second of it.

If you love a possessive, protective, morally grey MMC who would absolutely burn the world for his woman but somehow turns into the biggest golden retriever when it comes to her… prepare yourself. Gavin delivers.

Beyond the romance, I really enjoyed how character-driven the story felt. The relationships and character interactions kept me invested even during the slower parts, and I particularly loved the found-family elements that developed throughout the story.

The pacing was also strong overall. The book grabbed my attention almost immediately and was incredibly easy to keep reading. There was enough happening with the larger mystery, the coming war, and Ary’s destiny to keep me curious about where everything was heading.

And yes, I cried. Which means the book successfully got me emotionally attached, so… mission accomplished.

While I loved this book overall, there were a few things that kept it from feeling completely flawless.

Ary definitely grew on me throughout the story, but she could also be surprisingly passive. She often accepted what people told her without questioning their motives, and there were several moments where I found myself wishing she’d push a little harder or ask just one more question instead of simply moving on. Her inner monologue also became a little repetitive at times.

That said, this very much feels like the beginning of her journey, so I’m expecting—and hoping—to see a lot more growth from her in the sequel.

The middle section also slowed down quite a bit. It never became boring, but it definitely flirted with that line. Thankfully, the romance, character interactions, and atmosphere were more than enough to keep me invested until the pacing picked up again.

I also would’ve loved to see the magic explored in greater depth. The foundations are there, but I felt like we only scratched the surface of what this world is capable of. Since this is the first book in a series, I’m hopeful the sequel will give us a much better look at the magic system and its potential.

Finally, I guessed the biggest plot twist fairly early on. That did take away some of the surprise, but honestly? I didn’t care that much. There were still several reveals and surprises toward the end that kept things interesting, and by that point I was far too invested in the characters to be bothered.

Should You Read It?

Yes, especially if you’re here for the romance. Pick this up if you love:

• Morally grey, intensely protective MMCs
• Slow-burn romance
• Relentless yearning
• Found family
• One horse/One bed
• Mysterious magic
• A man who is basically “touch her and I’ll commit several crimes”

The Silversmith doesn’t necessarily reinvent the romantasy wheel, but it combines familiar ingredients in a way that made me very, very happy to be along for the ride. This is one of my favorite books of 2026!

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