Stunning photo by @divingintopages!
Hello everyone!
Who is excited but nervous for today’s chapters? I feel like A LOT is going to happen in today’s reading!
Happy Friday and welcome to day 5 of our readalong of The Temptation of Magic by Megan Scott. I’m so excited to be reading this one with you, I hope you all love it!
Today we’re reading from chapter 43 to the end of the book. Let’s do this!
When you’ve finished today’s section, catch up with me in the comments down below so we can discuss the ending of the book. Happy reading!
Please be warned, the following section will include spoilers for The Temptation of Magic by Megan Scott from Chapter 43 to the end of the book. Please only read on if you have finished this section!
–!SPOILERS!–
We kick off our final day with Kyan’s POV, and him realising Nicole is also an Empyreal.
I can’t lie, for a moment there I was a little worried what his reaction would be. But his changing opinion of the Wake after learning more of the truth, as well as his feelings for Nicole, have changed things. He is relieved she is alive. He admits his feelings for her have solidified. YESSSSSS. That’s what I was hoping to hear!
Him telling her to come to him. I can’t. My hearts exploding at the tenderness.
“She’s your mate.” Guys how are we all doing? Because I am not doing okay. I’m screaming!!
Suddenly a gunshot rings out and Kyan is shot by Nicole’s father, and she flees down the cliff. He stumbles after her, eventually finding her and telling her to come with him whilst he takes her back to the lake house.
Him giving her a forehead kiss, stroking her hair out her face and carrying her in his arms? Yep I’m tearing up.
After arriving back at the house with an unconscious Nicole, him and Bells help clean her up as best they can. Kyan explains the first transformation is the most intense and it will take time for her to recover and heal from it.
Suddenly Nicoles father bursts into the room, gun pointed at Kyan. Bells tries to defuse the situation by telling him Kyan is trying to help whilst Dylan also voices his distrust of him, telling him he is only to The Wake. In frustration Kyan lets slip that Nicole is his mate.
Bells then uses her Seer abilites by touching both Nicole and Kyan to confirm it, saying she can feel it and wonders if thats why Nicole saw Kyan before even arrived.
Kyan reassures them he will keep their secret from The Wake for as long as possible despite the oath.
He finally learns with certainty that the woman from 1902 was Nicole’s mother. He wonders how she knew his mother’s appearance—could she have been part Seer too, hiding it from her family? He also questions the reasons and identity behind her death. Could the Empyreal who killed her be someone he knows?
Kyan tells Callum to leave Eastwood, avoid Nicole, and not ask about the woman from 1902. Callum realizes it’s to prevent triggering his oath and Kyan admits he and Nicole are mates. Callum agrees but demands to know why they hid from the Wake and what Nicole’s mother was doing in 1902.
Kyan realises Nicole needs blood after her transformation, so he gives her some which seems to help with her recovery. But this unexpectedly leads to them kissing (not that I’m complaining)… I also suspect it has a lot to do with the mating bond that Nicole is unaware of.
“He had a feeling he’d stay forever.”
Nicole finally realises after biting Lynch she was able to see the code and complete the cipher.
During a conversation about the supernatural creatures attracted by Nicole’s scent, Kyan accidentally reveals she is his mate in front of her. Her father then shares that her mother discovered a mated Empyreal pair but didn’t reveal their identity—another mystery.
Kyan finally learns the true nature of the Wake and their experiments on creatures to try and trigger the Wild Hunt.
Nicole’s dad creates a tonic to mask her Empyreal scent, using his ‘true power’ to locate an artist with vital information. Nicole and her family plan to leave Eastwood, leaving Kyan behind.
“I will find you again, Nicole, this isn’t goodbye.” I’m already crying. And then Kyan murmurs “Mo ghra” against her temple which means ‘my love’ and now I’m SOBBING.
The morning she’s set to leave, she discovers the book needed to unlock the cipher. They learn the Wake’s leaders can only be killed by an Empyreal, a cure for the oath is needed, and there are three ancient items, including the Siren’s instrument that Remi’s family has been seeking. Her mother failed to find the items and left her last clue with her painter.
Remi’s family reveal Siren’s who serach for the Siren’s instrument have gone missing and an Empyreal was even sent after Adam once.
Suddenly Callum arrives wanting to know more about her mother. I do sense there is more to why he so desperately wanted to track her down, but what information could she have had that he seems to so desperately want? Dylan reveals to him that the Wake killed her.
They devise a plan for Kyan to bypass ‘the pools’ by strengthening the mating bond through a Celtic binding rite, which they complete on the upcoming Hunter’s Moon.
We end the book with Callum and Kyan planning to learn all they can from within The Wake whilst Nicole and her family leave Eastwood in search of her mothers painter to reveal more on how they can take down the Wake.
“So he’d become the Wake’s greatest hunter. And now he’d hunt them.” What a line to end the book, I need book 2 immediately!!
Wow, what an atmospheric, romantic and action packed story! I can’t wait for the next book!
What did you think of The Temptation of Magic by Megan Scott?
As always, thank you so much for taking part in another FairyLoot readalong! We hope you had the best time and enjoyed the book – we’ll see you again soon for another!
Love,
Jodie
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Really enjoyed this one – 5 stars ⭐️
Loved everything about it from the setting, the magic and the characters. The next book sounds super fun as they search for the mysterious artifacts – can’t wait to see where the author takes us!
Yay! We are so happy to hear you enjoyed it! Thank you for joining the readalong. 💜
My two favorite things in this book:
– Nicole having a family who is just as strong and capable and supportive as she is.
– The mating bond overriding the Wake’s oath. Even without them having sex. I enjoy a good spicy scene, but I also I loved seeing them be responsible adults about it haha.
I’m not sure I loved it enough to continue but I did enjoy it and don’t regret reading it!
Really enjoyed this one and will be anxiously awaiting the next book! Absolutely loved when Kyan was trying to sending healing, soothing energy through their bond while he was holding her in bed!
Thanks for a great readalong!
We are so happy you enjoyed the book and the readalong! 💜
1. What did you think of The Temptation of Magic by Megan Scott?
I did really enjoy it, especially the high stakes, the focus on art and the chemistry and connection between Nicole and Kyan! I did think the beginning was slow and a bit confusing to me, but the second half was amazing.
I’m so excited for the next book after that ending! I loved how the ending played out! Also, this book was completely unknown to me before I got this edition, so I loved discovering a book via the subscription!
If I would be asked to qualify the book I would say “A Fantasy Da Vinci Codes with strong world building and a slow building forbidden romance!”
Let’s say it: I LOVED this book, and I cannot believe this is a debut! What a strong start for Megan Scott.
I have not come across many fantasy stories built around art and Celtic mythology and the blend of those components was executed beautifully! I really grew loving the characters, the world, the plot, and I am yearning for more!
Some questions I cannot wait to get the answers to:
Who is the dad? His POV chapter 50 really lets us believe that he is much more important than he seems. His power feels beyond a normal Seer (could he be one of the remaining Druid maybe? Seers did have herbal knowledge, but he seems too addicted to his Mortar and Pestle?)
What is Callum hiding? I have strong feelings of upcoming betrayal here. Why did he look for the mum? (CRAZY idea: were they mates? Or did HE kill her?) How old is HE?
The Wake is obviously doing all it can to isolate all Empyreals, making them forget about the past, forget their memories – are they killing the females to prevent mated pair to form and the blood oath being overridden? Did they kill Kyan’s family to push him further into their embrace?
Is Freya really dead? Callum’s question “you SAW her murdered”? let suggesting otherwise.
SO MANY questions! I hope Fairyloot will do a SE of the next book too!
I finally finished this one, over a week late but at least I’ve finished now 🙂
I enjoyed this well enough. I wasn’t as crazy about it as some of the others in the comments.
I wish there had been more focus on the art as this was the most interesting element to me. My personal preference isn’t towards fated mates, but each to their own. I do think now they Kyan and Nicole know about being each others mate the story might be able to get even more interesting. The hunt for the artifacts does sound fun.
Thanks for hosting the readalong.
I LOVED this book! Dear Megan Scott, I need the next book pronto, please!
Megan Scott has crafted the story, the character, the magic, the world-building with the skill I would expect from a veteran writer. This is a debut, though. Just wow! I hope Fairyloot will print SE’s of the rest of the Empyrean Series. Pretty please & thank you ever so muchly! Also, I LOVE that the extra content in the FL SE is an excerpt from Freya’s bestiaries.
It would be logical to think each book will cover the one year & one day between the Celtic rite ceremonies. There are three different journeys to cover in the upcoming book(s) – Nicole’s family, Kyan & Callum & Remi’s family.
The mysteries to solve – What is Ronan Palmer other than a powerful Seer? Perhaps a Druid? Is Nicole’s mother, Freya, really dead? If so, who killed her? Has she been abducted by the Wake & the death was a Vulpe’s glamour? What connection does Callum have with Freya? Are they siblings? Is the Empyreal that killed Freya the same Empyreal that attacked Adam Winters? I cannot wait for the next book.
I think that it is a great first book. it is well written and the character were likeble. I can’t wait to read the next book in a year and a day!
Oh my WORD!! This was an easy five star read for me. The story was consistently engaging, the romance had me swooning, and what’s not to love about a fated, star-crossed mate scenario?! Honestly the bonding at the Hunter’s Moon was so romantic, and I am so so excited to see where the story goes in book two. I might even be feral for it at this point.