WARNING! Cliffhanger! This is a 4/5 on the trauma scale; you’ll want to have the next book lined up to find out what happens next, but it’s not deadly.
It’s her birthday when Ava discovers her boyfriend in the arms of another woman, and it’s the cause of the diatribe that she unleashes on Torin, the Seelie High King, when he enters the bar where she and her friend are drowning her sorrows.
Torin must find a bride, and he is convinced Ava is the best choice; because he can’t love his queen, but Fae needs one…
Ava is a strong character, with very little understanding of her Fae heritage, having been brought up as human. It has caused her to be strong out of necessity, and that is something that comes in handy as the book goes along.
Torin has suffered some terrible things, and not all are of his own making. He’s supposed to be the glue that holds the Fae together, and it’s a burden he has born alone from a young age.
This is a fast paced, contemporary fantasy, with some good characters, and a few not so good. For instance, I wanted Torin to rip Andrew apart on multiple occasions (he did offer!), and I would have loved to hear more about Aerin and Shalini.
The Fae were presented, unapologetically, as a brutal race; a refreshing difference from many other authors and true to the fairytales out there. They might appear human, but they most definitely are not.
I enjoyed the snippets of fairy lore, and the characterizations of the different types of Fae in the princesses and their actions.
The tale progresses well, and the main story arc is completed before the second arc hits at the end in all its book-hookish glory.
Ultimately, this is an enjoyable story beginning, with an intriguing sub-plot, interesting characters, and an exciting setting for it all.
An enthralling fantasy read for contemporary fantasy lovers.
Luna
Miss