Silvercloak review & guide: Characters, spice, tropes & triggers

Written By Esta Pinto

Silvercloak by L.K. Steven follows Saffron Killoran, a magical detective with a tragic past, as she infiltrates the Bloodmoons, the gang that murdered her parents. 

Told from Saffron’s perspective, the story is full of morally complex Silvercloak characters, from cunning allies to terrifying enemies.

The book doesn’t shy away from open door spice levels, so I’ve mapped out the Silvercloak spicy chapters for you. 

I really enjoyed the way this book was sex positive and queernormative, exploring desire, intimacy, and the way pleasure and pain fuel magic. I’ve also noted the tropes and trigger warnings in depth below, as this book contains some pretty heavy dark themes.

As for tropes, expect enemies-to-lovers, secret identities and magical crime intrigue, but twisted in fresh, compelling ways. Scroll down to the FAQs for the full list of tropes. 

Finally, I’ve cobbled together a wee unhinged review of some of the thoughts I managed to capture while reading this book. 

Happy reading friends, hope you enjoy it too!

 

Silvercloak by L.K. Steven synopsis.

SHE WILL BRING THEM TO THEIR KNEES.

Dive into this addictive new fantasy series set in a world where magic is fuelled by pleasure and pain, in which an obsessive detective infiltrates a brutal gang of dark mages – knowing that one wrong move will get her killed . . .

Two decades ago, the Bloodmoons ruthlessly murdered Saffron's parents, destroying her idyllic childhood. Hellbent on revenge, she lied her way into the elite Silvercloak Academy of detectives with a single goal: find a way to bring the Bloodmoons to justice.

But on the eve of her graduation, her deception is exposed, and she's given only one option: go undercover and tear the Bloodmoons down from the inside.

Descending into a world where pleasure and pain are the most powerful currencies, Saff must commit some truly heinous deeds to keep her cover - and her life. Not only are there rival gangs and sinister smuggling rings to contend with, there's also her growing feelings for the kingpin's tortured son, and curious prophecy foretelling his death at Saff's hand.

With each day testing her loyalties further, Saff's web of lies becomes harder to spin. And when one false step could destroy everything and everyone she's ever loved...the mage who dedicated her life to vengeance might just have to die for it.

Get Silvercloak here.

 

Silvercloak characters.

Character art shared by author @laurasteven via Instagram. Artist🎨: @lumie.draws

Silvercloak is told in third-person from the perspective of its female protagonist, Saffron Killoran. When Saffron was six, she witnessed her parents murdered in cold blood by the infamous magical mafia known as the Bloodmoons. Since that day, she has meticulously carved her path into the elite detective order called the Silvercloaks, driven by a single, unrelenting goal: to bring the Bloodmoons to justice.

Main characters.

Saffron Killoran.

Saffron, aka, Saff, is a magical detective immune to magic spells being cast on her, which makes her uniquely suited to infiltrate the Bloodmoons, the magical mafia who murdered her parents.

Levan Celadon.

Levan is the song of the kingpin of the Bloodmoons. The magical gangsters that murdered Saffron’s parents. Despite his questionable moral code of being a killer and torturer, Saffron might be able to relate to him more than she ever thought.

All characters.

Here’s a list of the characters in Silvercloak including on-page characters, minor characters and the occasional off-page mentions.

Main, supporting and minor characters.

  • Saffron Killoran (female main character)

  • Joran Killoran (Saffron’s father)

  • Mellora Killoran (Saffron’s mother)

  • Levan Celadon (male main character)

  • Lyrian Celadon (Levan’s father)

  • Rasso (Fallowwolf)

  • Gaian Villar

  • Auria Marriosan

  • Sebran Aduran

  • Nissa Naszi

  • Tiernan Flane

  • Kesvan Flane (Tiernan’s father)

  • Professor Vertillon

  • Paliran

  • Malcus

  • Mal Clay (Saffron’s uncle)

  • Merin Clay (Saffron’s uncle)

  • Neatras

  • Nalezen Zares

  • Segal

  • Porrol Vogolan

  • Venda

  • Tenea

  • Kasan Melian

  • Harrow Claver

  • Miret

  • Aviruna Castian

  • Talun

  • Shalion

  • Tas

  • Lindelan

  • Benvornan

  • Zirlit

Silvercloak detectives.

  • Captain Elodora Aspar

  • Detective Alcabal

  • Detective Tenebo Jebat

  • Detective Qubayan

  • Detective Dallar

  • Detective Ronnow

  • Detective Alirrol

  • Detective Fevilan

Mentioned characters.

  • Grand Arbiter Dematus

  • Lorissa Celadon (Levan’s mother)

  • Papa Marriosan

  • Alucia

  • Erling Tandall

  • Alexan Renzel (wandmaker)

 

Review: Silvercloak by L.K. Steven.

View my review and follow me on GoodReads here.

My rating: ★★★★☆

  • Spice level: 🌶 🌶

  • 1.5/5, open-door, yet non-explicit spice

Imagine if every magic spell you cast had to be paid for in ecstasy or agony. In this undercover detective meets queer magical crime noir with wands romantasy, power isn’t destiny, it’s how much joy you can wring out of life, and how much pain you can endure to build mana, aka your well of magic. No waving around magic wands haphazardly and shouting spells in Latin (although this also occurs).

Here, food, sex, love and even your emotional support cat can recharge you. Unless you live up north, where sadism and masochism are the batteries of choice. (Why refill on delicious pastries when you could nap on a bed of nails?)

Enter Saffron, magical detective, tragic backstory (is there any other kind?). She’s immune to spells, which makes her uniquely suited to infiltrate the Bloodmoons, the magical mafia who murdered her parents. The Bloodmoons are monsters, but the Silvercloaks also have the moral clarity of a politician. Which is to say none.

Anyway, it’s whimsical, horrifying and queer and I inhaled this like I inhale oxygen, which is to say, like my life depended on it. And given the divisive reviews, I was pleasantly surprised I enjoyed it so much. But reading is subjective and one person’s pleasure is another person’s pain. Fitting, really.

Speaking of which, this is definitely romantasy, where the enemies-to-friends-to-lovers-to-enemies dynamic is complicated and morally compromised which made it far more interesting than your standard enemies to lovers fare. So if you see this being marketed as fantasy, be aware that the romance element is strong in this, complete with a couple of spicy scenes.

Add to that time-manipulation, which means it can be paused or rewoven, with caveats. I actually loved that, but if you think time travel is a cheap plot device, this book will probably feel unbearable to you... just a heads up.

Finally, don’t expect comfort in this romantasy-fantasy. It’s quite dark and gritty and throws torture, coercion, gambling addiction and debts, fantasy drugs and drug addiction, blackmail, organised crime, bigotry and historical genocide into the mix. Nobody comes out clean. I was never sure who the villains were. Probably everyone. Except for Rasso, the wolf/doggo, he is the purest and the best. We love Rasso.

I devoured this, then immediately questioned why I was so invested in magical gangsters and their BDSM power batteries.

Thank you so much to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey for the ARC.

 View my review and follow me on GoodReads here. I chat about books a lot.

 

Silvercloak FAQs.

SPOILER ALERT:

⚠️ Some answers may spoil Silvercloak by L.K. Steven if you haven’t read it already. Proceed with caution. ⚠️

Here are the answers to all your common FAQs.

Is Silvercloak a series?

Yes, Silvercloak is book one in the Silvercloak Saga series, by author Laura Steven/L.K. Steven.

What are the content and trigger warnings?

  • Violence

  • War

  • Confinement

  • Blood

  • Sexual content

  • Animal death

  • Death of a loved one

  • Death of a parent/s

  • Injury and injury details

  • Cursing

  • Body horror

  • Toxic family relationships and dynamics

  • Classism

  • Fantasy drugs, drug use and addiction

  • Gambling and gambling addiction

  • Abuse

  • Slavery

What are the tropes for Silvercloak?

  • Enemies to lovers but more like enemies to friends to lovers to enemies

  • Morally grey characters 🖤

  • Forced proximity

  • Political intrigue

  • Betrayal

  • Mafia romance

  • Unique magic system with wands

  • Cute animal companion

What is the age rating for Silvercloak?

Silvercloak is classified as an adult fantasy romance, so ages 18+, due to adult themes and sexual content. Please also see the trigger and content warnings listed above.

What is the Silvercloak spice level?

Is Silvercloak spicy? Silvercloak’s spice levels are steamy and open door, but not described in explicit detail.

Spice level: 🌶🌶

1.5/5, mild to medium open door spice, not described in explicit detail.

What are the Silvercloak spicy chapters?

🧖‍♀️ = Steamy enough so that you may need to open the windows, but not nothing more than kissing. 

🌶 = Spicy and open door.

You get the drift. Here’s your Silvercloak spicy chapters map and chilli rating.

  • Chapter 15: 🌶

  • Chapter 29: 🧖‍♀️

  • Chapter 30: 🧖‍♀️

  • Chapter 42: 🌶

  • Chapter 43: 🌶🌶

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