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nadiajohnsonbooks's review
5.0
One more loveable villain from Kathryn Ann Kingsley!
Kathryn is the queen of madmen, villains, and monsters, and she makes me fall for them every time.
It was lovely to be reunited with characters from her Maze of Shadows series, though you don't need to have read them to appreciate Alex and Izael's story.
It starts as so many fairy bargains do: with a desperate human girl willing to do anything to get out of a tough spot. She's surprised when it actually works and she receives an answer in the form of a snakelike, somewhat unhinged Unseelie duke. She obviously can't trust him, but neither can she resist him and the magic that he offers.
But things get complicated as her attraction grows and she starts to get pulled toward the feral politics of the fae courts.
Definitely worth a read if you like fantasy romances where the villain gets the girl, but be warned that the cliffhanger will get ya
Kathryn is the queen of madmen, villains, and monsters, and she makes me fall for them every time.
It was lovely to be reunited with characters from her Maze of Shadows series, though you don't need to have read them to appreciate Alex and Izael's story.
It starts as so many fairy bargains do: with a desperate human girl willing to do anything to get out of a tough spot. She's surprised when it actually works and she receives an answer in the form of a snakelike, somewhat unhinged Unseelie duke. She obviously can't trust him, but neither can she resist him and the magic that he offers.
But things get complicated as her attraction grows and she starts to get pulled toward the feral politics of the fae courts.
Definitely worth a read if you like fantasy romances where the villain gets the girl, but be warned that the cliffhanger will get ya
shonaningyo's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
cemyers42's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was fun. I love this world so seeing familiar characters was great! It's definitely similar to the Maze of Shadows series in construction, even the cliffhanger. I'll probably keep reading, but so far my heart stays with Abigail and Valroy 😊.
hannas_heas47's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing story
I floved it! Love the cover! Love the savagery! This villain definitely deserves the girl! I wish it hadn’t ended so soon! Despite the cliffhanger I look forward to part two. This will be no hardship to read again! Five HUGE stars!
I floved it! Love the cover! Love the savagery! This villain definitely deserves the girl! I wish it hadn’t ended so soon! Despite the cliffhanger I look forward to part two. This will be no hardship to read again! Five HUGE stars!
reads_must's review against another edition
5.0
The Unseelie Duke
Deal of Shadows #1
Fantasy
Kathryn Ann Kingsley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed reading this book. It's set in the same world as the Maze of Shadows series and although some of the same characters make an appearance, you don't need to read that series before reading this one.
Izael and Alex are a great match and I loved how sassy, cheeky and chaotic Izael was. His character made me laugh, especially when he would tease Alex. Their chemistry was palpable from the very beginning.
The pacing was great and I couldn't put it down. The world building was very good and I liked returning to this version of the Seelie and Unseelie lands.
The tension and spice is pretty heavy but it went well with the plot. There wasn't spice randomly thrown in, it actually made sense and helped the plot progress.
The ending was a cliffhanger and I actually felt sorry for Izrael. I just hope that Alex has made the right choice.
I can't wait to read the next book but now I have to wait until 2024 😭.
Deal of Shadows #1
Fantasy
Kathryn Ann Kingsley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed reading this book. It's set in the same world as the Maze of Shadows series and although some of the same characters make an appearance, you don't need to read that series before reading this one.
Izael and Alex are a great match and I loved how sassy, cheeky and chaotic Izael was. His character made me laugh, especially when he would tease Alex. Their chemistry was palpable from the very beginning.
The pacing was great and I couldn't put it down. The world building was very good and I liked returning to this version of the Seelie and Unseelie lands.
The tension and spice is pretty heavy but it went well with the plot. There wasn't spice randomly thrown in, it actually made sense and helped the plot progress.
The ending was a cliffhanger and I actually felt sorry for Izrael. I just hope that Alex has made the right choice.
I can't wait to read the next book but now I have to wait until 2024 😭.
abunchofrosesanddandelions's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
thewiserslone's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Kingsley is my guilty pleasure author. I love her characters, the spice makes me blush, and I love that the bad guys are just bad guys. Quick read in a day. The couple was like the opposite of Abigail and Valroy. Alex is sharp and sarcastic, and Izael has major golden retriever (but also guard dog) energy.
tieraneysreadingcorner's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
omg?!? that ending?!? KATHRYN PLS STOP DOING THIS TO ME 😩😭 i cannot bare anymore of this…. i will continue to consume everything you write. you really enjoy putting us through the ringer huh?
the unseelie duke is the first installment of the deal of shadows series, this is a standalone so you do not have to read the maze of shadows series but in my opinion to get the lore and world building explained to the fullest extent- i would.
alex is not a weak minded little human, and honestly? i’m estatic from that fact alone. oh and izael… who can forget about izael?? he is such a snekky snek daddy, the biggest simp an unseelie nope rope could possibly be 😮💨 izael’s mannerisms and personality is very refreshing from the usual unseelies in Tir n’Aill *cough* yes i’m talking about you valroy *cough*
i am eagerly awaiting the rest of the books in this series - aka biting my fingernails trying to imagine what KAK will put me through the next book.
the unseelie duke is the first installment of the deal of shadows series, this is a standalone so you do not have to read the maze of shadows series but in my opinion to get the lore and world building explained to the fullest extent- i would.
alex is not a weak minded little human, and honestly? i’m estatic from that fact alone. oh and izael… who can forget about izael?? he is such a snekky snek daddy, the biggest simp an unseelie nope rope could possibly be 😮💨 izael’s mannerisms and personality is very refreshing from the usual unseelies in Tir n’Aill *cough* yes i’m talking about you valroy *cough*
i am eagerly awaiting the rest of the books in this series - aka biting my fingernails trying to imagine what KAK will put me through the next book.