Paramour by Robin Alvarez is book 1 in the Of Ballads and Banshees series. It follows Sadie, a banshee, a harbinger of death, who warns people that they're about to die. A banshee also helps, if needed, the loved ones of those about to die recover from their loss. Sadie always tries her best to prevent a charge's demise. She knows she must run or move to another place if her health is compromised, her magic is rendered useless, or if her identities as a banshee or a human are exposed. While trying to handle a charge, Sadie's identity as a banshee is exposed, and she discovers that hunters are after her. With a wound on her soul, a sickness impairing her health, and hunters after her, Sadie must leave town and find a cure. In the search for the cure, Sadie makes friends and discovers there's an undeniable bond that tethers her to another soul that might be her undoing.

Paramour is highly enthralling and one of the most unique and intriguing novels I have ever read. The opening lines of this young adult paranormal novel are truly alluring and so well written that they hooked me instantly. Robin Alvarez delivers an irresistible mix of self-discovery, growth, romance, the supernatural, heightened emotions, and unforgettable characters. While featuring hunters and paranormals like witches, vampires, paras, fae, or necromancers, at the center of this story is a young woman who learns how hard it is to let go of something she loves, even when it hurts, and that emotions aren't a weakness but a strength. This makes the book a real pleasure for any paranormal romance fans.

Paramour by Robin Alvarez is the first book in the Of Ballads and Banshees paranormal romance series, and follows Sadie, a banshee with a violent history. She lives in hiding to avoid hunters and suppresses her empathic abilities to prevent further harm. After being targeted by a spell that disrupts her control, she relocates under a new identity and begins experiencing emotions she has long avoided. In this unfamiliar town, she forms friendships and starts to abandon her strict self-imposed rules. Her connection to Nathan, a human, grows stronger, complicating her efforts to stay detached. As her emotions intensify and the threat from hunters increases, Sadie faces a decision: maintain the safeguards or risk exposure in order to protect the people she cares about. “It’s not just about love; it’s a connection written into your very being. It’s fate...”

Paramour by Robin Alvarez distinguishes itself through an inventive portrayal of Sadie, a banshee who simultaneously acts as a harbinger of death, framed within a clear and consistent supernatural system. The story’s original mechanism, Sadie’s “keening” and the three-day warning, establishes a well-defined framework. The Gráshí bond introduces a wonderful romantic element, linking fate and magic in a way that intensifies Sadie’s relationship with Nathan, complicated by his grief and their connection. Alvarez sets firm boundaries for banshee abilities and consequences for rule-breaking, such as vulnerabilities to iron dust and the scarcity of grounding pins, and I love the credibility this gives the narrative. By integrating these elements with Sadie’s circumstances, especially the physical impact of the Gráshí bond, Alvarez bursts through with a brilliant introduction to an ambitious series that promises to deliver. Very highly recommended.