constant2m's review against another edition
5.0
I don't like fae stories. We can blame Holly Black for that. But then Kay Moody wrote one. And I love Kay Moody's books. So I read it. And I loved it. Then I saw an anthology that included Kay Moody's fae story. So was like, sure, I'll give it a chance. Fast forward an additional seven stories. I love fae stories.
#1 Night Bringer by Stacey Trombley 4 stars
I won't lie; I felt so bad for Caelynn. She loves her homeland, although she is one of the weakest clans of the fae. And when she learns that her parents plan to marry her off to another land, she grows desperate. Unfortunately, she is tricked and trapped and left with no choice for freedom other than killing a fae prince. It doesn't matter that he's evil. He is the brother of the first fae she thinks she might be able to love. And now he will hate her forever. And if she's caught, well, will she have the ability to escape a second time?
#2 Heir of Bitter Thorn by Kay Moody 5 stars
Elora, the oldest daughter of a swordsmith and former tournament champion, longs for adventure. But the best her father can promise her is marriage to a good man who will allow her to continue practicing her sword fighting. So she decides to go on one last adventure on her own, which leads to her meeting a dryad, going to Faerie, poisoning a queen, rescuing a prince, and defeating a troll. At least that's what it will lead to if all goes well. Or is it only just a dream?
#3 Fae Bargains by Clarissa Gosling 5 stars
Evan, Faerie prince and heir of the Moonlight Court, would rather be doing anything than ruling, so when he is caught but a huntsman and given the punishment of guarding the gates between other realms and Faerie, he is actually quite pleased. His mother, however, refuses to let him leave until he accomplishes two small tasks for him - kidnapping two royal fae infants. The things that are set in motion throw Faerie into chaos. Can Evan live with his decision and leave the fates of the Faerie kingdoms to chance? Does he even have a choice anymore?
#4 To Rule a Fae Throne by Tessonja Odette 5 stars
King Aspen has made his share of mistakes, but he doesn't seem to he a villain. Still, between his mother, his brother, and his impending marriage to a human stranger, who knows what it would take to turn him. In a surprising turn of events, Aspens meets a human who disdains him and who fascinates him. Too bad she's not his betrothed. But...why is he even thinking that?
#5 Exiling a Fae Queen by Joanna Reeder 5 stars
This story absolutely blew my mind. Due to a war between the full fae and the star fae (those with both human and fae ancestry), Faerie is currently ruled by the star fae. However, when Aria, one of the crown princesses, makes a startling discovery that the fae are enslaved and mistreated by the star fae, she decides a reformation of the kingdom is long overdue. She allies with Iris, a full fae, Sterling, her childhood best friend, and Tien, Sterling's older brother and one of her father's captains. Now, she just needs to convince her father and her sister to be compassionate and risk everything they believe in or else she must turn against them. The stakes are high. Aria can't trust anyone. But she also needs allies. Who should she trust? And will she be able to repair everything that is destroying Faerie?
#6 Crown of Darkness by Alison Ingleby 5 stars
Crown of Darkness tells the story of how Ciaran, prince of the unseelie court and son of a human mother, chose who he would be. It's in many ways a coming of age story. After the death of his mother, Ciaran spent much of his life in the Deep Earth Court in training to become the next unseelie high king after his father. However, the last thing he remembers his mother saying to him is "Never forget who you are." Does he really want to be the next unseelie high king? Or what his mother wish for him to return to the world of mortals? To further complicate things, there was a prophecy made at Ciaran's birth and war is coming. I'm not usually into stories of courtly intrigue and dark fae, but this one drew me in from the start and made me very excited to see where the story will go.
#7 Marked by Fae by Valia Lind 5 stars
Avery has her entire life planned out. She's at a new school with a prestigious internship, set to land the job of her dreams upon graduation. But then she finds an ancient book and suddenly fae and human alike are hunting her. While the first chapter or two are a bit slow to start and give a lot of background, once the action begins, it's nonstop. And I loved it. Avery is fascinating as is her fae mentor, Hannah. I'm curious what her parents know about this situation and if they'll be able to help her. I also wonder how in the world (and where in the world) she will be able to hide. This is a fantastic prequel to what looks like an original and exciting fairie tale.
#8 The Wolf Gate by Hanna Sandvig 5 stars
After her boyfriend dumped her just before prom, Audrey dated the next boy she saw. That turned out to be a mistake as they had nothing in common and he couldn't even be bothered to show up on time for their dates...sometimes he didn't show up at all. After waiting long enough, Audrey's best friend sends her on an errand to bring cupcakes to her aunt's book club. The aunt gives Audrey a beautiful red cloak to deliver to her friend. And before you know it, Audrey is being chased by wolves. Sound familiar? Audrey made me laugh out loud with her snark and her Star Wars references. I guess that's how it works when you throw a modern teenager into Faerie with no warning. Gavin was mostly charming and delightful except for a few well-placed misunderstandings. The story had plenty of twists to keep you guessing and even the ending doesn't resolve everything, but I think things will be just fine.
Most of these novellas were long enough to consider a full story. Of course, the beautiful cover art didn't hurt either, but all of the prequels in this collection were worth reading, which is not something I generally say about anthologies. Several of the authors have also migrated to my "must follow and read everything they write" list.
I was given a free ARC and have reviewed it willingly.
#1 Night Bringer by Stacey Trombley 4 stars
I won't lie; I felt so bad for Caelynn. She loves her homeland, although she is one of the weakest clans of the fae. And when she learns that her parents plan to marry her off to another land, she grows desperate. Unfortunately, she is tricked and trapped and left with no choice for freedom other than killing a fae prince. It doesn't matter that he's evil. He is the brother of the first fae she thinks she might be able to love. And now he will hate her forever. And if she's caught, well, will she have the ability to escape a second time?
#2 Heir of Bitter Thorn by Kay Moody 5 stars
Elora, the oldest daughter of a swordsmith and former tournament champion, longs for adventure. But the best her father can promise her is marriage to a good man who will allow her to continue practicing her sword fighting. So she decides to go on one last adventure on her own, which leads to her meeting a dryad, going to Faerie, poisoning a queen, rescuing a prince, and defeating a troll. At least that's what it will lead to if all goes well. Or is it only just a dream?
#3 Fae Bargains by Clarissa Gosling 5 stars
Evan, Faerie prince and heir of the Moonlight Court, would rather be doing anything than ruling, so when he is caught but a huntsman and given the punishment of guarding the gates between other realms and Faerie, he is actually quite pleased. His mother, however, refuses to let him leave until he accomplishes two small tasks for him - kidnapping two royal fae infants. The things that are set in motion throw Faerie into chaos. Can Evan live with his decision and leave the fates of the Faerie kingdoms to chance? Does he even have a choice anymore?
#4 To Rule a Fae Throne by Tessonja Odette 5 stars
King Aspen has made his share of mistakes, but he doesn't seem to he a villain. Still, between his mother, his brother, and his impending marriage to a human stranger, who knows what it would take to turn him. In a surprising turn of events, Aspens meets a human who disdains him and who fascinates him. Too bad she's not his betrothed. But...why is he even thinking that?
#5 Exiling a Fae Queen by Joanna Reeder 5 stars
This story absolutely blew my mind. Due to a war between the full fae and the star fae (those with both human and fae ancestry), Faerie is currently ruled by the star fae. However, when Aria, one of the crown princesses, makes a startling discovery that the fae are enslaved and mistreated by the star fae, she decides a reformation of the kingdom is long overdue. She allies with Iris, a full fae, Sterling, her childhood best friend, and Tien, Sterling's older brother and one of her father's captains. Now, she just needs to convince her father and her sister to be compassionate and risk everything they believe in or else she must turn against them. The stakes are high. Aria can't trust anyone. But she also needs allies. Who should she trust? And will she be able to repair everything that is destroying Faerie?
#6 Crown of Darkness by Alison Ingleby 5 stars
Crown of Darkness tells the story of how Ciaran, prince of the unseelie court and son of a human mother, chose who he would be. It's in many ways a coming of age story. After the death of his mother, Ciaran spent much of his life in the Deep Earth Court in training to become the next unseelie high king after his father. However, the last thing he remembers his mother saying to him is "Never forget who you are." Does he really want to be the next unseelie high king? Or what his mother wish for him to return to the world of mortals? To further complicate things, there was a prophecy made at Ciaran's birth and war is coming. I'm not usually into stories of courtly intrigue and dark fae, but this one drew me in from the start and made me very excited to see where the story will go.
#7 Marked by Fae by Valia Lind 5 stars
Avery has her entire life planned out. She's at a new school with a prestigious internship, set to land the job of her dreams upon graduation. But then she finds an ancient book and suddenly fae and human alike are hunting her. While the first chapter or two are a bit slow to start and give a lot of background, once the action begins, it's nonstop. And I loved it. Avery is fascinating as is her fae mentor, Hannah. I'm curious what her parents know about this situation and if they'll be able to help her. I also wonder how in the world (and where in the world) she will be able to hide. This is a fantastic prequel to what looks like an original and exciting fairie tale.
#8 The Wolf Gate by Hanna Sandvig 5 stars
After her boyfriend dumped her just before prom, Audrey dated the next boy she saw. That turned out to be a mistake as they had nothing in common and he couldn't even be bothered to show up on time for their dates...sometimes he didn't show up at all. After waiting long enough, Audrey's best friend sends her on an errand to bring cupcakes to her aunt's book club. The aunt gives Audrey a beautiful red cloak to deliver to her friend. And before you know it, Audrey is being chased by wolves. Sound familiar? Audrey made me laugh out loud with her snark and her Star Wars references. I guess that's how it works when you throw a modern teenager into Faerie with no warning. Gavin was mostly charming and delightful except for a few well-placed misunderstandings. The story had plenty of twists to keep you guessing and even the ending doesn't resolve everything, but I think things will be just fine.
Most of these novellas were long enough to consider a full story. Of course, the beautiful cover art didn't hurt either, but all of the prequels in this collection were worth reading, which is not something I generally say about anthologies. Several of the authors have also migrated to my "must follow and read everything they write" list.
I was given a free ARC and have reviewed it willingly.
genhuggins's review
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
cmf1205's review
5.0
1) Night Bringer by Stacey Trombley wow what a great start to a series I’m surely doing to pick up ASAP. Caelynns character captured me from the beginning. Her devotion to the Shadow Court is so pure I cannot believe the event that she endured.
2) Heir of Bitter Thorn Kay L Moody Certainly another series I must read. Elora makes a bargain but ended up getting more then she bargained for; isn’t that the way of Fae. I hope to see the growth of and see where her loyalties will lie, does she end up getting back to Faire in time ?
3) Fae Bargains : Clarissa Goslin Evan was hard for me to continue on his story at first. He was so willing to do whatever he could to avoid his duty as heir to the Moonlight Court it was unthinkable. The more I read the more I understood. It may take me a while to continue his story but I am intrigued enough it’s been added to my TBR.
4) To Rule a Fae Throne Tessonja Odette: although this was the shortest in the anthology I was not disappointed one bit. Aspen King of the Autumn Court is force time keep tradition or start a war with a reaping. This was not what I expected for an outcome and I cannot wait to continue.
5) Exiling a Fae Queen Joanna Reeder. This novella took me a while to get into. Twin Female Heirs are set to rule as one. Each with a personality of their own. One must betray the other in order to rule.
It may take me a while to continue their story but I am intrigued enough it’s been added to my TBR.
6) Crown of Darkness Alison Ingleby: what a fascinating story! A mortal and heir to the Unseelie throne. A new take on the Fae and how they rule. It may have taken me a little longer to read then I prefer but I loved the writing style and content that this has also been added to my tbr.
7) Marked by Fae Valia Lind. This was enthralling. I was captured from the beginning. Avery is one of a kind and I can relate in some ways. Her story is extremely fascinating and has just begun. So many new books on my TBR.
8.) The Wolf Gate : Hanna Sandvig. A new take on the Fae realm. Portals connecting the human and Fae realm, I absolutely flew through this novel. Having seen The Rose Gate is a Beauty and the Beast retelling it’s higher up on my TBR then all the rest as I’m very bias with B&B it’s a favorite story of alll time.
2) Heir of Bitter Thorn Kay L Moody Certainly another series I must read. Elora makes a bargain but ended up getting more then she bargained for; isn’t that the way of Fae. I hope to see the growth of and see where her loyalties will lie, does she end up getting back to Faire in time ?
3) Fae Bargains : Clarissa Goslin Evan was hard for me to continue on his story at first. He was so willing to do whatever he could to avoid his duty as heir to the Moonlight Court it was unthinkable. The more I read the more I understood. It may take me a while to continue his story but I am intrigued enough it’s been added to my TBR.
4) To Rule a Fae Throne Tessonja Odette: although this was the shortest in the anthology I was not disappointed one bit. Aspen King of the Autumn Court is force time keep tradition or start a war with a reaping. This was not what I expected for an outcome and I cannot wait to continue.
5) Exiling a Fae Queen Joanna Reeder. This novella took me a while to get into. Twin Female Heirs are set to rule as one. Each with a personality of their own. One must betray the other in order to rule.
It may take me a while to continue their story but I am intrigued enough it’s been added to my TBR.
6) Crown of Darkness Alison Ingleby: what a fascinating story! A mortal and heir to the Unseelie throne. A new take on the Fae and how they rule. It may have taken me a little longer to read then I prefer but I loved the writing style and content that this has also been added to my tbr.
7) Marked by Fae Valia Lind. This was enthralling. I was captured from the beginning. Avery is one of a kind and I can relate in some ways. Her story is extremely fascinating and has just begun. So many new books on my TBR.
8.) The Wolf Gate : Hanna Sandvig. A new take on the Fae realm. Portals connecting the human and Fae realm, I absolutely flew through this novel. Having seen The Rose Gate is a Beauty and the Beast retelling it’s higher up on my TBR then all the rest as I’m very bias with B&B it’s a favorite story of alll time.
bookbreaksnhottakes's review against another edition
5.0
The best thing about this is that I am mediately wanted to go and finish the books in the series because it was such an excellent introduction to a number of amazing authors.
The worst thing about this was that I immediately found out that the authors are still writing the series and I would not immediately be able to find out what was happening with the characters... because I’m impatient like that.
But I will definitely be bookmarking all of the series to read when more books come out.
So if you are looking to discover new authors and worlds, this is a great intro!
PS I was provided in advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
The worst thing about this was that I immediately found out that the authors are still writing the series and I would not immediately be able to find out what was happening with the characters... because I’m impatient like that.
But I will definitely be bookmarking all of the series to read when more books come out.
So if you are looking to discover new authors and worlds, this is a great intro!
PS I was provided in advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
sabiba21's review against another edition
# review
Realms of Fae and Shadow Arc is a collection of 8 stories by different authors. These stories are all centered around Fae folks. Some of them are high fantasy and some of them are portal fantasy. Fortunately,I was given an advanced copy of this book to write an honest review. So I am going to review each stories of this book, one by one and while doing so, I will try to be as impartial as possible. I hope you'll find my review helpful :3
First one is Night Bringer by STACEY TROMBLEY;which follows a girl assigned to murder the youngest heir of Luminescent Court King. The girl is from Shadow court,total opposite of Luminescent court and most oppressed court to be present at the current time. Her task was simple,find the fae prince and kill him,and then she would gain infinite amount of power so that no one would ever be able to defy her or her court. But she soon realizes that she won't ever be able to kill him,because he also happens to be his soulmate. The author has a fluid writing style,that quickly tugs a reader inside the story. I had fun while reading it. But one thing I didn't like was how quickly everything happened and how quickly the author seemed to put an end to the story. There's a cliffhanger at the end,and probably I'll read the second book too, but the thing is that the book lacked depth,which I deeply crave. But otherwise it was a light,short,and interesting story you won't mind reading with your evening tea/coffee.
Second one is Heir of Bitter Throne by Kay L Moody. It's about a girl who enters into a bargain with a fae to rescue a prince in exchange of an adventure.The prince is bound to an evil queen ,and the girl must rescue him to finish her bargain. The thing I most liked about this book is how the author put visual representations through her narrative ,it's like you can feel and sense the world she created for this story. I myself have felt every touch,every smell, every sight while reading the story. I loved how she represented Elora and her father's interaction in such short period of time. If I had to talk about one bad thing about the book,its the ending.It's fraustrating!
Third one is Fae Bargains by CLARISSA GOSLING.It's about a prince who doesn't want to be the king. One day,a huntsman catches him tormenting a human which he used to do pretty often. The huntsman them makes a bargain with his mother,the queen,to release the prince of his duty and let him be the protector of the gates that connect different realm.The story illustrates the prince's journey to become the protector of the gates,for which he must complete a task assigned by her mother.There is no real conflict or plot twist,but I guess the author has more in her sleeve for the book that follows.
To Rule a Fay Throne by TESSONJA ODETTE. It's the story of a king who despises humans but he has to marry a human because of a treaty signed thousands of years ago. The plot is unique,because it's the only story in this book that shows a fae-human acknowledged relationship.The other ones show that mortals aren't informed about faes and if they somehow slip through a portal and end up being in fae realm,they pass their remaining life as a slave. So yeah,this one's concept was good but again ,it is too short to give a proper review.
EXILING A FAE QUEEN by JOANNA REEDER. At first,I thought this story was slow.But after a while,it got...interesting.I won't say it was fast paced,but it surely had elements in it. It was unique in its own way and I liked that about it. The story follows a princess who is to be a queen one day,along with her twin. This princess likes to wear pants and ride sea horses,while her sister is her complete opposite ,always dressed up in elegant clothes. One day, she reluctantly agreed to visit a court under her kingdom,and that's when she comes to the realization that she was living inside a comfort bubble her whole life. The story is basically her quest to find ways to make the lifes of ill-treated faes better and create a change.It's a prequel to a book she has written,so you wouldn't get a full reader-satisfaction after reading this one,like most other stories in this book.
Next is Crown of Darkness by ALISON INGLEBY. It is the last story with a male lead in this book. The story follows Prince Ciaran,heir of unseelie court but totally unware of his duty. Honestly,I it's the only story I've found in this book that has character conflicts and plot complexity. I loved how Ciaran,despite his darkness,despite the fae side in him,tried to bring light,tried to bring kindness in his character. The author's depiction of greyness in the world-that not all faes are dark and not all humans are light was a beautiful plot point added to the story. From forming the climax to draw an end line,the story did a beautiful job despite being caged in limited page counts.The only problem with this story that is it unfinished,but comparing it with other stories in this book,I would say it's really not a problem.
Next one is Marked by Fae by VALIA LIND. I would say it's a plot setup rather than a story. Because there is actually nothing except world building. By the end of it,you can guess the commotion of a book. Avery,who is the protagonist of this story recently transferred to Thunderbird Academy,which seemed somewhat like Hogwarts from Harry Potter Universe. She is very determined and hard-working.She wants to work for the council but soon discovers that she is part of something bigger.
Last one is The Wolf Gate by HANNA SANDVIG. It is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood,plotted in the world of her first book,The Rose gate. Audrey is a high school graduate and a programmer;currently living in a mundane town called PilotBay. The story starts with her sending messages to her boyfriend
asking her to come meet her,but he doesn't reply back. Her friend runs a bakery shop and when her Aunt requests to deliver some doughnuts to her home over phone call,there is no one except Audrey to take up the task. Unfortunately,after delivering her parcel,she is chased by a pack of wolves on her way back home. Strangely,she found herself portaled back to another land when a wolf jumps over her. She discovers that the wolf is no one but her ex boyfriend,who she loathed above everything else in the world. What I liked about this story was that the writing style-which is very smooth and easy that I had no trouble diving into it. Also,the girl is quite sassy and I loved the snappy comebacks. The fact that the boy is not the alpha exalted me,because I'm tired of seeing the alphas being the only one to get girls in werewolves related stories. But one thing I didn't like was how easily they fought their battles,unlike the first one. I also didn't like the flawlessness of the character Gavin. It was like he was all positive person. But then again I guess one shouldn't expect too much depth from a short story. If you like sweet,romantic,light stories,give it a go!
Realms of Fae and Shadow Arc is a collection of 8 stories by different authors. These stories are all centered around Fae folks. Some of them are high fantasy and some of them are portal fantasy. Fortunately,I was given an advanced copy of this book to write an honest review. So I am going to review each stories of this book, one by one and while doing so, I will try to be as impartial as possible. I hope you'll find my review helpful :3
First one is Night Bringer by STACEY TROMBLEY;which follows a girl assigned to murder the youngest heir of Luminescent Court King. The girl is from Shadow court,total opposite of Luminescent court and most oppressed court to be present at the current time. Her task was simple,find the fae prince and kill him,and then she would gain infinite amount of power so that no one would ever be able to defy her or her court. But she soon realizes that she won't ever be able to kill him,because he also happens to be his soulmate. The author has a fluid writing style,that quickly tugs a reader inside the story. I had fun while reading it. But one thing I didn't like was how quickly everything happened and how quickly the author seemed to put an end to the story. There's a cliffhanger at the end,and probably I'll read the second book too, but the thing is that the book lacked depth,which I deeply crave. But otherwise it was a light,short,and interesting story you won't mind reading with your evening tea/coffee.
Second one is Heir of Bitter Throne by Kay L Moody. It's about a girl who enters into a bargain with a fae to rescue a prince in exchange of an adventure.The prince is bound to an evil queen ,and the girl must rescue him to finish her bargain. The thing I most liked about this book is how the author put visual representations through her narrative ,it's like you can feel and sense the world she created for this story. I myself have felt every touch,every smell, every sight while reading the story. I loved how she represented Elora and her father's interaction in such short period of time. If I had to talk about one bad thing about the book,its the ending.It's fraustrating!
Third one is Fae Bargains by CLARISSA GOSLING.It's about a prince who doesn't want to be the king. One day,a huntsman catches him tormenting a human which he used to do pretty often. The huntsman them makes a bargain with his mother,the queen,to release the prince of his duty and let him be the protector of the gates that connect different realm.The story illustrates the prince's journey to become the protector of the gates,for which he must complete a task assigned by her mother.There is no real conflict or plot twist,but I guess the author has more in her sleeve for the book that follows.
To Rule a Fay Throne by TESSONJA ODETTE. It's the story of a king who despises humans but he has to marry a human because of a treaty signed thousands of years ago. The plot is unique,because it's the only story in this book that shows a fae-human acknowledged relationship.The other ones show that mortals aren't informed about faes and if they somehow slip through a portal and end up being in fae realm,they pass their remaining life as a slave. So yeah,this one's concept was good but again ,it is too short to give a proper review.
EXILING A FAE QUEEN by JOANNA REEDER. At first,I thought this story was slow.But after a while,it got...interesting.I won't say it was fast paced,but it surely had elements in it. It was unique in its own way and I liked that about it. The story follows a princess who is to be a queen one day,along with her twin. This princess likes to wear pants and ride sea horses,while her sister is her complete opposite ,always dressed up in elegant clothes. One day, she reluctantly agreed to visit a court under her kingdom,and that's when she comes to the realization that she was living inside a comfort bubble her whole life. The story is basically her quest to find ways to make the lifes of ill-treated faes better and create a change.It's a prequel to a book she has written,so you wouldn't get a full reader-satisfaction after reading this one,like most other stories in this book.
Next is Crown of Darkness by ALISON INGLEBY. It is the last story with a male lead in this book. The story follows Prince Ciaran,heir of unseelie court but totally unware of his duty. Honestly,I it's the only story I've found in this book that has character conflicts and plot complexity. I loved how Ciaran,despite his darkness,despite the fae side in him,tried to bring light,tried to bring kindness in his character. The author's depiction of greyness in the world-that not all faes are dark and not all humans are light was a beautiful plot point added to the story. From forming the climax to draw an end line,the story did a beautiful job despite being caged in limited page counts.The only problem with this story that is it unfinished,but comparing it with other stories in this book,I would say it's really not a problem.
Next one is Marked by Fae by VALIA LIND. I would say it's a plot setup rather than a story. Because there is actually nothing except world building. By the end of it,you can guess the commotion of a book. Avery,who is the protagonist of this story recently transferred to Thunderbird Academy,which seemed somewhat like Hogwarts from Harry Potter Universe. She is very determined and hard-working.She wants to work for the council but soon discovers that she is part of something bigger.
Last one is The Wolf Gate by HANNA SANDVIG. It is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood,plotted in the world of her first book,The Rose gate. Audrey is a high school graduate and a programmer;currently living in a mundane town called PilotBay. The story starts with her sending messages to her boyfriend
asking her to come meet her,but he doesn't reply back. Her friend runs a bakery shop and when her Aunt requests to deliver some doughnuts to her home over phone call,there is no one except Audrey to take up the task. Unfortunately,after delivering her parcel,she is chased by a pack of wolves on her way back home. Strangely,she found herself portaled back to another land when a wolf jumps over her. She discovers that the wolf is no one but her ex boyfriend,who she loathed above everything else in the world. What I liked about this story was that the writing style-which is very smooth and easy that I had no trouble diving into it. Also,the girl is quite sassy and I loved the snappy comebacks. The fact that the boy is not the alpha exalted me,because I'm tired of seeing the alphas being the only one to get girls in werewolves related stories. But one thing I didn't like was how easily they fought their battles,unlike the first one. I also didn't like the flawlessness of the character Gavin. It was like he was all positive person. But then again I guess one shouldn't expect too much depth from a short story. If you like sweet,romantic,light stories,give it a go!
ckbove's review
5.0
I really enjoyed this collection! I absolutely loved Sandvig's character development in the wolf gate. I found the characters to be so relatable and so unique! I also could not stop laughing at the great humor.
I also devoured Trombley's Story, The Night Bringer. I loved how engaging the story is! I was on the edge of my seat, needing to know what happened next.
I would definitely recommend this for anyone 1. Looking for great stories to get lost in, 2. Want new series to invest in!
I also devoured Trombley's Story, The Night Bringer. I loved how engaging the story is! I was on the edge of my seat, needing to know what happened next.
I would definitely recommend this for anyone 1. Looking for great stories to get lost in, 2. Want new series to invest in!
half_bloodreader's review
This anthology contains 8 stories by 8 different authors all exploring the same theme: fae. These stories are prequels to bigger series.
》Night Bringer by Stacey Trombley
⭐⭐
Short-novel-length novella.
I personally can't speak for the series, Wicked Fae, goodreads says it's NA, but the prequel works for YA readers.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3530411594
》Heir of Bitter Thorn by Kay L Moody
⭐⭐⭐
YA short story
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3530144716
》Fae Bargains by Clarissa Gosling
⭐⭐
YA rated prequel for the Lost Princess of Starlight series
This story was originally written with UK spelling. This version of the story was edited with US spelling to match the rest of the anthology. The other books in this series use UK spelling.
Faerie punishments usually spell death. For Evan, it could offer freedom.
As reluctant heir to the Moonlight Court, Evan would take forest games over a royal crown any day. But when he’s caught sneaking humans into Faery for fun, the fearsome Huntsman of the Forest delivers a fateful ultimatum: give up the throne to serve as a guardian of the gates between realms or face the wrath of the combined Courts of Faery for breaking the Treaty of the Yews.
With a chance to escape the dreaded role he was born to finally within reach, Evan is willing to do whatever it takes to claim the Huntsman’s bargain. But it’s easier said than done when his mother, the domineering Queen of Moonlight, orders him to go on a last royal mission that pits him against his heart.
With his future on the line, can Evan complete this final task… or will he unwittingly set into motion the greatest betrayal known to faekind?
Things you should know.
1. These fae can lie. Boo.
2. Fae supporting character who uses "they" pronouns!! ♥
3. All of the main players in this story suck, specifically Evan the mc and his mother, Queen of Moonlight Court. Example:
These humans deserved what they got for thinking their dreams were easy to achieve. Nothing was handed to you on a plate, as it all needed work and dedication., thinks the trash bag Evan while using glamours against them. He's just releasing his frustrations on them, while being impotent to work towards his dreams, for it is not in his fae nature to trick humans and lead them into the forest! Unlike the nature of the boggart (I wasn't upset at the boggart, it's in his nature to play with humans and eat them).
And speaking of ill fates, he's bringing -- no, he's showering others with them!
There's nothing wrong with the story or the writing, I just wasn't that entertained. Mostly aggravated. Sadly, I read quickly only when Evan was completing his icky distasteful "task", though mostly because I was wondering how on Earth he was going to do it () and maybe hoping he'd get caught.
》To Rule A Fae Throne by Tessonja Odette
⭐⭐⭐
Shortest story in the anthology. Side story
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3350957312
》Exiling a Fae Queen|55155427] by Joanna Reeder
》Crown of Darkness|55062237] by Alison Ingleby
Longest story in the anthology
》Marked by Fae by Valia Lind
》The Wolf Gate: A Retelling of Little Red Riding Hood by Hanna Sandvig
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
》Night Bringer by Stacey Trombley
⭐⭐
Short-novel-length novella.
I personally can't speak for the series, Wicked Fae, goodreads says it's NA, but the prequel works for YA readers.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3530411594
》Heir of Bitter Thorn by Kay L Moody
⭐⭐⭐
YA short story
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3530144716
》Fae Bargains by Clarissa Gosling
⭐⭐
YA rated prequel for the Lost Princess of Starlight series
This story was originally written with UK spelling. This version of the story was edited with US spelling to match the rest of the anthology. The other books in this series use UK spelling.
Faerie punishments usually spell death. For Evan, it could offer freedom.
As reluctant heir to the Moonlight Court, Evan would take forest games over a royal crown any day. But when he’s caught sneaking humans into Faery for fun, the fearsome Huntsman of the Forest delivers a fateful ultimatum: give up the throne to serve as a guardian of the gates between realms or face the wrath of the combined Courts of Faery for breaking the Treaty of the Yews.
With a chance to escape the dreaded role he was born to finally within reach, Evan is willing to do whatever it takes to claim the Huntsman’s bargain. But it’s easier said than done when his mother, the domineering Queen of Moonlight, orders him to go on a last royal mission that pits him against his heart.
With his future on the line, can Evan complete this final task… or will he unwittingly set into motion the greatest betrayal known to faekind?
Things you should know.
1. These fae can lie. Boo.
2. Fae supporting character who uses "they" pronouns!! ♥
3. All of the main players in this story suck, specifically Evan the mc and his mother, Queen of Moonlight Court. Example:
These humans deserved what they got for thinking their dreams were easy to achieve. Nothing was handed to you on a plate, as it all needed work and dedication., thinks the trash bag Evan while using glamours against them. He's just releasing his frustrations on them, while being impotent to work towards his dreams, for it is not in his fae nature to trick humans and lead them into the forest! Unlike the nature of the boggart (I wasn't upset at the boggart, it's in his nature to play with humans and eat them).
And speaking of ill fates, he's bringing -- no, he's showering others with them!
Spoiler
You'd think they'd know stealing the newborn babes of 2 Courts, who were at war not too long ago, could only lead to tragedy!! Wtf was the queen thinking, they could've shared the visions with all the Courts and come to an agreement! And expect 2 young fae raised as siblings to fall in love? Who said wisdom came with age?There's nothing wrong with the story or the writing, I just wasn't that entertained. Mostly aggravated. Sadly, I read quickly only when Evan was completing his icky distasteful "task", though mostly because I was wondering how on Earth he was going to do it (
Spoiler
I expected royal sproutlings to be better watched over》To Rule A Fae Throne by Tessonja Odette
⭐⭐⭐
Shortest story in the anthology. Side story
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3350957312
》Exiling a Fae Queen|55155427] by Joanna Reeder
》Crown of Darkness|55062237] by Alison Ingleby
Longest story in the anthology
》Marked by Fae by Valia Lind
》The Wolf Gate: A Retelling of Little Red Riding Hood by Hanna Sandvig
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
onebookmore's review
5.0
What a great anthology! Realms of Fae and Shadows contains eight exclusive fantasy stories. The stories are rich and vivid in their descriptions of the fantastical fae worlds, and I found myself quickly immersed in the stories. Dynamic characters and thought-provoking themes, as well as heart-pounding action and some chemistry-laden romance, make this a can’t miss compilation!
Kay L. Moody’s Heir of Bitter Thorn is the prequel to Court of Bitter Thorn and focuses on Elora, a mortal tasked with rescuing a fae prince. When a dryad, who notices Elora’s skill in sword fighting, offers Elora the opportunity to put her sword skills to use, Elora immediately agrees. She is desperate for an adventure before she enters into a marriage her parents arranged. Of course, Elora is not experienced in political intrigue and fae curses, but her determination to find and save Brannick makes up for her inexperience.
A fantastic introduction to Moody’s fae world as well as the fascinating characters who inhabit it, this novella provides great context for what is sure to be a fabulous new series. And that can be said for all of the stories. My TBR has grown quite a bit since reading this collection.
Kay L. Moody’s Heir of Bitter Thorn is the prequel to Court of Bitter Thorn and focuses on Elora, a mortal tasked with rescuing a fae prince. When a dryad, who notices Elora’s skill in sword fighting, offers Elora the opportunity to put her sword skills to use, Elora immediately agrees. She is desperate for an adventure before she enters into a marriage her parents arranged. Of course, Elora is not experienced in political intrigue and fae curses, but her determination to find and save Brannick makes up for her inexperience.
A fantastic introduction to Moody’s fae world as well as the fascinating characters who inhabit it, this novella provides great context for what is sure to be a fabulous new series. And that can be said for all of the stories. My TBR has grown quite a bit since reading this collection.
sarahreadingchapter's review
5.0
I was lucky enough to have snagged an advanced reader copy of Realms of Fae and Shadow but that doesn’t influence my review. In all honesty I enjoyed this so much and I’m pretty sure it’s because I’ve been in a reading slump lately. These stories made me motivated and happy enough to read again.
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