Falon Ballard’s venture into romantasy proves that contemporary romance authors can craft compelling fantasy worlds without sacrificing the emotional depth that makes their previous work resonate. Something Wicked transforms the brutal ambition of Macbeth into a surprisingly tender story about power, sacrifice, and the dangerous game of trusting someone who could destroy you. While the premise promises Moulin Rouge meets political intrigue, what readers actually discover is a more intimate exploration of two damaged souls navigating impossible choices in a country tearing itself apart.
Something Wicked opens in La Puissance, a pleasure club that doubles as sanctuary for the Gifted—individuals with magical abilities ranging from emotion manipulation to prophetic visions. Lady Caterine, our sharp-tongued protagonist, wields a particularly intimate power: she can manipulate the emotions of anyone who experiences orgasm in her presence. It’s a bold premise that Ballard handles with remarkable nuance, exploring both the healing potential and inherent violation of such abilities. When Prince Callum Reid arrives seeking her services to help him commit patricide without guilt, their collision sets off a chain of events neither can control.
The Politics of Pleasure and Power
Ballard constructs a fantasy world that feels simultaneously fresh and familiar. The country of Avon, recently liberated by an Uprising that overthrew its monarchy, now faces an unprecedented electoral process: potential presidential candidates must assassinate their province’s former monarch to earn their spot in the running. This brutal decree serves as the novel’s ticking clock, creating urgency that propels the narrative forward while raising uncomfortable questions about the cost of revolution.
The worldbuilding here demonstrates both ambition and occasional underdevelopment. Ballard excels at the intimate details—the architecture of La Puissance, the politics within the pleasure club, the nuanced differences between various Gifted abilities. The club itself becomes a character, its crimson carpets and gaslit hallways providing atmospheric backdrop to scenes both tender and treacherous. However, the broader political landscape sometimes feels sketched rather than fully realized. The Uprising’s motivations remain somewhat opaque, and the five provinces of Avon blur together beyond their different approaches to the Gifted.
What Works:
- La Puissance feels lived-in and authentic, a refuge with complex internal politics
- The magic system is clearly defined with meaningful limitations
- The contrast between public performance and private vulnerability creates compelling tension
- The exploration of consent and power dynamics within a pleasure club setting demonstrates thoughtful consideration
Where It Stumbles:
- The provinces beyond Scota lack distinct cultural identity
- Some political machinations feel rushed or insufficiently explained
- The villain’s ultimate plan sometimes strains credibility
- Worldbuilding occasionally takes a backseat to romance development
Characters Who Challenge Romance Conventions
Callum Reid could have been another brooding prince wrestling with his conscience, but Ballard gives him unexpected depth. His genuine compassion for his people, his willingness to challenge his own assumptions about the Gifted, and his complete emotional transparency make him refreshingly non-toxic. When he visits an orphanage with Caterine and confronts the reality of conditions in his own province, his horror feels authentic rather than performative. He doesn’t just claim to care about doing right—he actively struggles with what “right” even means when every option carries casualties.
Caterine proves equally complex. As someone who’s spent years using sex as a tool for healing while maintaining rigid emotional boundaries, she’s built formidable defenses that Callum’s earnestness slowly dismantles. Her relationship with her sister Andra provides the novel’s emotional anchor, demonstrating the fierce protective instincts that drive many of her choices. The supporting cast—particularly Harold, Bianca, and the enigmatic Lady M—add layers of complexity, though some secondary characters blur together in the crowded ensemble.
The Bond between Callum and Caterine provides both the novel’s greatest strength and occasional frustration. This magical connection that creates physical need for one another’s presence adds fascinating complications to their romance, but occasionally undermines agency in their relationship. When do their feelings stem from genuine connection versus magical compulsion? Ballard addresses this tension directly rather than ignoring it, but readers seeking clear answers may find the ambiguity unsatisfying.
Sensuality That Serves the Story
For readers familiar with Ballard’s contemporary romances like Lease on Love or Right on Cue, the explicit content here will feel elevated but recognizable. The intimate scenes balance heat with emotional vulnerability, using Caterine’s unique abilities to create moments of genuine tenderness amid the physical pleasure. Ballard doesn’t shy from the complications of a courtesan falling for a client, instead leaning into the inherent power imbalances and trust issues such a relationship creates.
The “sex lessons” premise that brings Callum and Caterine together could have felt contrived, but Ballard uses these sessions to build genuine intimacy. Watching Callum learn to be present in his body while Caterine struggles with her own unexpected vulnerability creates authentic emotional progression. These aren’t just steamy scenes—they’re character development disguised as seduction.
The Macbeth Blueprint: Inspiration Versus Adaptation
Shakespeare’s influence appears in echoes rather than direct translation. The prophecy elements, the corrupting influence of ambition, the trusted advisor who becomes betrayer—all pulse beneath the surface without overwhelming the original story. Lady M’s machinations evoke Lady Macbeth’s manipulations, but Ballard gives her distinct motivations rooted in the world’s magic system rather than simple power hunger. Readers expecting a straightforward Macbeth retelling may feel disappointed, while those seeking inspiration rather than adaptation will appreciate the creative freedom.
The pacing occasionally suffers from trying to balance political thriller elements with romance development. The middle section drags somewhat as Callum and Caterine circle each other emotionally while external threats mount. However, the final act delivers genuine surprises and emotional payoffs that justify the slower build.
The Verdict: Imperfect but Compelling
Something Wicked represents an ambitious expansion of Ballard’s range that succeeds more often than it stumbles. The romance anchors the story with genuine emotional stakes, even when the political machinations feel undercooked. Ballard’s contemporary romance skills—sharp dialogue, emotional vulnerability, characters who actually communicate—translate beautifully to fantasy, creating a romantasy that prioritizes character connection over worldbuilding spectacle.
Something Wicked works best when focusing on intimate moments: Caterine’s fierce protection of her sister, Callum’s dawning understanding of his privilege, the small community within La Puissance supporting each other through revolution. It stumbles when trying to juggle too many political threads or when the villain’s plans require characters to miss obvious warning signs.
Perfect For Readers Who Love:
- Fantasy romance that prioritizes emotional intimacy over epic battles
- Morally complex characters making impossible choices
- Sex-positive stories that explore consent and power dynamics
- Shakespearean inspiration rather than direct adaptation
- Found family dynamics and fierce sisterhood
- Political intrigue as relationship obstacle
Similar Books to Explore
For readers craving similar vibes as in Something Wicked, consider these companions:
- The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent – Another romantasy featuring complex power dynamics and characters navigating deadly political games while falling in love
- From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout – If you enjoyed the forbidden romance and political intrigue elements with a protagonist discovering her own power
- A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas – For readers drawn to the transformation of initial transaction into genuine connection amid fantasy politics
- The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller – Another romance where seduction becomes genuine emotion with political assassination as backdrop
In Something Wicked, Falon Ballard has crafted a romantasy that prioritizes emotional complexity over worldbuilding density, creating an intimate epic that proves fantasy doesn’t require sprawling landscapes to tell powerful stories. Something Wicked delivers sensual romance, political intrigue, and genuine character growth wrapped in Shakespearean inspiration—an imperfect but thoroughly engaging addition to the romantasy landscape that showcases an author successfully expanding her creative range.