Something Wicked

By: Falon Ballard

Narrated by: M.K. Blackwood, Marie Hawkins, Elliot Strong, Connor Brannigan

AN INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER

To save a world in turmoil, a would-be prince teams up with a magically gifted courtesan—but the most dangerous game may be trusting each other in this spicy, swoony fantasy romance from the USA Today bestselling author of Change of Heart.

"Intricate, sensual, and filled with all the best elements romantasy has to offer." —India Holton, author of The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love

The Uprising has overthrown Avon's monarchial rulers, and a decree has been issued. Candidates for the first presidential election will be selected by the completion of a special task: to kill the former monarch of their home province.

Callum, the son of the recently dethroned king, is determined to be in the running. But coming to terms with patricide will require the help of Lady Caterine, a Gifted courtesan at La Puissance, Avon’s premiere sex club.

Lady Caterine has always had the magical ability to manipulate the emotions of anyone who experiences an orgasm in her presence. If Callum can only open up to Cate, he will be able to commit the newly fated murder without suffering the guilt and take his place as the rightful candidate from his province. But Callum has a deep-seated mistrust of the Gifted. And the last thing he expects is to be confronted with an undeniable connection with Cate that neither of them understands or wants.

With the fate of the country at stake, Callum and Cate search for ways to bare themselves to each other, and discover a darker force building within La Puissance, one that might ruin the future of Avon forever. To stop Avon from falling to ashes, they must sacrifice everything they have . . . even if it requires betraying each other.


* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF containing an illustrated map from the book.

Critic reviews

One of Fangirlish’s Best Fantasy Books of December 2025
One of Swooon’s Best New Romance Books of December 2025
One of Paste’s Most Anticipated Romantasy Books of Fall 2025

"A spicy, fast-paced read that blends political intrigue with steamy romance." —FanBolt

"Falon Ballard turns up the heat with her entry into the romantasy scene." —Swooon

"Ballard spins a heady web for her first romantasy, set in the realm of Avon during a time of flux." —Reactor

"A daring mix of magic, lust, and Shakespearean intrigue, Something Wicked reimagines love amid chaos. Falon Ballard’s romantasy debut smolders with passion . . . Think  Macbeth meets Moulin Rouge! Completely lush, dangerous, and impossible to put down." —Out South Florida

"Ballard, who’s known for her contemporary romances, jumps into the romantasy subgenre with both feet and creates a believable world that’s full of betrayal, sex, royals, magic, and shades of Shakespeare. An extremely steamy fantasy filled with romantic and political intrigue." —Kirkus Reviews

"Popular romance author Falon Ballard dips her toe into the world of romantasy with Something Wicked, a Moulin Rouge meets Macbeth story about sex, love, and murder." —Paste Magazine

"[Something Wicked] is plenty entertaining, the pace is swift, and the eventual romance between the leads is satisfyingly erotic." —Publishers Weekly

"Sizzling . . . The publisher bills Something Wicked as Macbeth meets Moulin Rouge!, and the book delivers some seriously spicy moments that weave together those stories' themes." —Booklist

"Falon Ballard left no prisoners with Something Wicked. Dark, dramatic, and oh, so sexy, this book oozed with delicious tension. I couldn't get enough." —Nisha J Tuli, International bestselling author of Trial of the Sun Queen

"Something Wicked kept me hooked from start to finish. It's intricate, sensual, and filled with all the best elements romantasy has to offer. Falon Ballard makes a skillful debut in the genre!" —India Holton, bestselling author of The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love

"Sensual and magical! Moulin Rouge meets Shakespeare in Ballard’s romantasy debut. The worldbuilding is as interesting as the characters, and the romance between Cate and Callum was beautifully drawn. I loved this sexy, angsty, page-turning read, and I can’t wait for more!" —Sarah Hawley, USA Today bestselling author of Servant of Earth

it was good

5/5
spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Moulin Rough retelling
a romance
people with powers...the "gifted"
a Prince and a "gifted" courtesan
a dark secret plot
twin sisters
bonded/fated mates
these "gifted" people are too powerful so laws a restrictions are put on them and their powers so they can be controlled
but an uprising happens and the gifted fight back and the representatives for them now make it so they can use their powers and get the laws removed...now they are demanding removal and killing of those rulers who made them suffer...
so now the MMC Callum, the former Prince has to kill his dad, the former King to be a candidate for the presidency... because his dad is one of the rulers that made a lot of "gifted" suffer
but he is struggling with this...he can't kill him but he has to ...secret plot...if he doesn't kill him someone else will then they will be in the candidate for the presidency
so he needs help so he with his sister's help seek out the FMC Cate...she is a courtesan who works at La Puissance, a place where people pay the lady for their time and acts...and she is gifted another reason they seek her out to get a week of her time paid...so he can get to know her fully...mind and body and get to trust her so he can use her gift to feel better about killing his dad
her gift she can manipulate other emotions especially through the acts with the body and pleasure after they peak it helps them, to take away their sadness of pain
the problem they were not expecting to fall for each other and crave each other and their be a bond between them... literally they become bonded as soon as the see each other, it clicks into place...it makes them horny and want each other all the time...makes it hard to be away from each other as well
but how can he be a candidate for president with a bonded courtesan
it could ruin things...