Synopsis:

In a war-torn world where secrets reign, what doesn’t kill you will always try again.

Frelia Valerius has lost too much.

Her kingdom, her family and friends, her noble title—gone. The only things left are her sword skills and the blood in her veins. But now the Unseen, a secretive dark magic cult, are hunting down the ancient magic that runs in families like Frelia’s, and she’s running out of places to hide.

Vendrick Caecillion has too much to lose.

He’s the former imperial spymaster, Frelia’s former crush, and now, her new boss at the Silverwood Military Institute. He’s the mastermind behind the spy network thwarting the Unseen’s plans, but he’s losing this silent war, and Vendrick knows it.

It will take every skill in their combined arsenal to root out the Unseen—and maintain Silverwood’s standard of academic excellence. For the only thing more merciless than the Unseen are the Silverwood students’ parents—and some of those might just be one and the same.

First in an all-new dark fantasy series where The Wolf and the Woodsman meets Attack on Titan, Some Kind of Hell is part Norse- and Roman-inspired, part second chance romance, part epic battles, and all binge-worthy. Grab your copy of this epic saga of world-ending proportions today!

Favorite Lines:

“She had served, in no particular order, as a general (twice), a Grand Duchess, a mercenary, and a garmr-killer. She was not stupid enough to pick a fight with a goose, least of all the ones that lived around Lake Silverwood.”

“In the liquid, golden light filtering in through the windows, he was breathtaking when he smiled.”

My Opinion:

Some Kind of Hell is a haunting, intricately woven tale that plunges readers into a world of magic, grief, and survival, where loyalty is earned through blood and pain, and redemption is as elusive as it is necessary. Evelyn Hyde’s debut novel offers a gritty blend of dark fantasy, second-chance romance, and slow-burn intrigue that lingers well after the last page.

Set in a realm where ancient Norse influences collide with institutional military power, the story follows two complex and deeply scarred protagonists—Frelia Valerius and Vendrick Caecillion. Years after their time as comrades-in-arms during the Great War, the pair reunite at Silverwood Military Institute under tense circumstances. Frelia, a disgraced duchess and a survivor of unspeakable trauma, now works as a swordmaster. Vendrick, once a cunning spymaster and now head of the prestigious military school, bears the weight of his past failures and choices.

Their reunion is anything but simple. Old wounds resurface, past betrayals simmer beneath every word, and Hyde handles their dynamic with refreshing maturity. There’s no rush into melodrama or romance; instead, the relationship unfolds slowly, layered with suspicion, unspoken affection, and unresolved grief. The tension between them is electric, not just in romance but in every quiet moment of recognition and regret.

Hyde’s worldbuilding is both elegant and unsettling. The concept of Bloodrunes—ancient magic passed down through cursed bloodlines—is one of the book’s standout features. This magic is not a gift, but a burden, and Hyde explores how it affects not only the body but also the psyche. The Unseen, a chilling cult with unknown motives, provides an ever-present undercurrent of dread, giving the plot a steady, suspenseful heartbeat.

Mental health, particularly PTSD, trauma, and recovery, are central to the story. Hyde doesn’t shy away from the weight of war and its consequences. Instead, she centers it. These characters are not heroes in shining armor—they are broken, reluctant survivors trying to forge a path in a world that has no room for softness. Yet, in that darkness, there’s still space for growth, resilience, and a flicker of hope.

The writing is poetic but grounded, with dialogue that feels natural and characters that think and feel like real people. The pacing is deliberate, especially in the first half, but that patience pays off as the emotional stakes and tension build to a rewarding crescendo. Readers who enjoy character-driven fantasy, political intrigue, and high emotional stakes will find plenty to love here.

Summary:

Overall, Some Kind of Hell is a powerful debut—at once raw, lyrical, and unflinchingly honest. Evelyn Hyde has crafted a story that’s as emotionally intense as it is immersive, with characters who bleed, break, and strive to rebuild. This is a book about what it means to carry pain and still try to do right by the world and by yourself.

For fans of Tamsyn Muir, Leigh Bardugo, or Samantha Shannon, this novel will hit all the right notes. It’s the kind of book that doesn’t just entertain—it lingers. Happy reading!

Check out Some Kind of Hell here!