eARC Review: Strange Familiars by Keshe Chow
Fantasy
Strange Familiars
Book Info
Released Date: May 19th
Publication: Berkley
Pages: 432
Format: eBook
I’m such a sucker for a good rivals-to-lovers trope, and this book absolutely delivered on the tension. The dynamic between the main characters was easily my favorite part — sharp banter, lingering stares, that constant push-and-pull energy that keeps you flipping pages. You could feel the chemistry simmering under every confrontation, and I loved watching that slow shift from hostility to something much more complicated.
That said, the pacing wasn’t entirely my thing. The build-up is definitely slow, and it took me a while to really get into the story. The world-building and setup are detailed, but it drags in places, and I found myself wishing certain scenes moved along faster. Once it picked up, though, I was invested — especially whenever the two leads were on the page together.
Overall, I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it either. It was an enjoyable read with strong character tension that carried the story for me. I just wish the pacing had been tighter to match the emotional intensity.
And that ending… I’m not going to lie, I wasn’t happy about it. It definitely left me frustrated, but in a way that makes me need the next book immediately. I have to know what happens next — especially after that cliffhanger.
If you enjoy slow-burn paranormal fantasy with rivals-to-lovers tension and don’t mind a gradual build-up, this one might be for you.
