fantasy_fiction_and_fae's reviews
474 reviews

I'm not sure how to review this without giving anything away. I believe it’s best to read without knowing the plot. As a thriller, it’s more mysterious than scary. There aren’t any spicy scenes or murder. It’s a slow and steady discovery of what happened to a woman left silent after an unfortunate accident.

 

The Mist Thief (The Ever Seas #3) by L.J. Andrews (Audiobook narration by Lucy Rivers and Will Thorne) 

Skadi first met her husband-to-be Jonas with blades in hand in a battle against each other, although Skadi fought only because her fiance was holding her grandfather against his will, and if she did not comply with his demands, it put her grandfather in grave danger. After the battle settled, and her cruel fiance was defeated and fled, they found that they had a mutual enemy and wanted to ensure they would be prepared for any future battle with him and his father. The king of the shadow elven agrees to marry her off to prince Jonas of the fae realms, to encourage peace between them and unite against them both. Both kingdoms wanted peace and an arranged marriage was agreed upon, purely political without the assumption that neither Skadi nor Jonas would look at the marriage as anything other than keeping their kingdoms safe in an alliance. This would be helpful if needed to join forces in any future war. 

 

Neither of them expected to grow feelings for one another. Both had reasons to keep their hearts closed and told themselves it would never happen. The problem with that plan is the more time they spend together, the harder it is to say that the initial agreement is what they want anymore. Their mutual attraction to each other is palatable and becoming all-consuming. They both have dangerous power and Jonas loves that side of her. Her fire, and her darkness, but she fears it will push him away as everyone including the people from her own kingdom fear her magic. 

 

 

 

As with the previous two books in this series, there was plenty of action, shameless wicked flirting, and a romance full of heat and desire. I liked this book just as much as the others and from the ending of this one, it looks like another is in the works for two of the side characters Mira and Tate. I'm looking forward to seeing how those two get on, although I have an idea where it will go 😜

 

*According to the book description, this book is a standalone and can be read before The Ever King/Queen, but it includes some characters from that duet series to better understand references as to how they met and better understand the battle that happened I would highly suggest people read them first. This series is set in the same world as the bestselling Broken Kingdoms series. These books are wonderful for fantasy readers who love morally grey characters and where Jonas comes from, the whole kingdom is morally grey, especially when it comes to protecting their own.  

 

 

Unhinged love interests with sociopathic tendencies stalking a self deprecating strong willed young woman who is clueless about the powers she possesses.

Unwillingly thrown into a deadly spartan war academy, Alexis has to use her sharp witt and resilience to physical abuse to survive as the only female in centuries to attend a dangerous academy.

This book had me laughing, teary, and anxious, making it hard to pause listening to the audiobook. It doesn’t end on a frustrating cliff hanger, but I do want to listen to the next ASAP.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for an audiobook ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Beyond Those Gilded Walls - Author Jessica S. Taylor, Narrated by Stefanie Kay
A Standalone Unabridged Audiobook - Duration 11 Hours, 42 Minutes
Pub Date: Dec 31, 2024 by Dreamscape Media 
Genres: New Adult, Dark Gothic Paranormal Romantasy  

In a kingdom drowning in death from the plaque ripping through the kingdom, on her deathbed Odyssa's mother told her she had to care for younger brothers and keep them safe. The cost, however, will take her away from them forever. 

The kingdom of Veressia and its subjects had been left to its own devices when the deadly plague ripped through it since the prince closed the castle to his people, not caring who lived or died.

Due to a lack of money, Odyssa's job was insufficient to pay the household bills alone now that her mother was no longer alive to help with the upkeep and put food on the table for herself and her brothers. Blamed by her brothers for her mother’s death, Odyssa cannot succeed at honoring her mother’s dying wish only relying on the little money she brings, and her entitled eldest younger brother refuses to get a job to contribute to the finances to help support the family.

Desperate to keep her youngest brother safe, Odyssa inquired about the job her brother saw at the local tavern to work at the castle stating it paid enough to cover the necessary upkeep for the home and food for him and their youngest brother. Used to the shame and disrespect she always got from them, she agreed to inquire about the position. The castle is barricaded, not allowing anyone in or out, but she was hired as a servant to the prince's nightly extravagant parties and allowed entrance.

She planned to find the cure that was rumored the prince had, kill him, and escape back to her brothers to give them the cure since her youngest brother was ill with the plague and her other brother would likely be next.

Odyssa is faced with strange and frightening things at the castle and attracts the attention of the prince’s most trusted advisor Tallon. She is torn between his affections and worries about his duties and fealty to the prince. Her most constant comfort comes from a soulshade cat (ghost) who rarely leaves her side. The other soulshades in the castle seem to want her dead like them.

As forbidden passions begin with Odessa and Tallon, she agrees to a tentative alliance that is turned into something more.Dark secrets are revealed, and Odyssa is forced to choose between following her heart or sacrificing it to save herself.

<b>"Once I have you Odyssa, I will never let you go. Eadric and this castle be damned, you are mine now."</b>

In this book you will find:

🔹Rare Shadow Magic            
🔹Forbidden romance
🔹Spice             
🔹Dark Gothic vibes                
🔹Dangerous Ghosts              
🔹Prince of Nothing               
🔹Pet ghost cat                      
🔹Gluttonous Nobles               
🔹Deadly dreams                   
🔹Masquerade balls               
🔹Sentient Castle
🔹Violence and murder
🔹Blood and gore
🔹Pandemic/plague
🔹Familial death
🔹Forced Proximity
🔹Poe Inspired
🔹Deadly Bargain


This story was interesting and moved along fluidly. It has mystery, intrigue, a slow burn to spicy romance, and a constant danger for the firey FMC. It was different than most fantasy books I've read and not predictable keeping my interest in finding out how it unfolds. I don't read many standalone fantasy books since I like to be fully immersed in the world and have the story stretch out in a series to have a full circle ending.

I received an advanced reader copy (ARC) audiobook through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Jude was exiled as a mortal Queen of Faerie back to the mortal world with the threat of execution if she ever returned without approval from the throne. Jude feels powerless and left reeling from Cardan’s betrayal. Biding her time and determined to reclaim everything he took from her she is seething and waiting for a chance to return. As angry as she is, she longs to see Cardan because she loves him regardless of how cruel he has been. When her twin sister, Taryn comes to the mortal world to ask her for a favor that could save her life, she has the chance to return home.  Can she fool everyone into thinking she is Taryn? Can she fool Cardan?

For the sake of her twin, Jude risks venturing back to the Faerie Court and confronts her lingering feelings for Cardan. Elfhame is not as she left it. War is brewing and her father is in the heart of it. As Jude slips deep within enemy lines she becomes ensnared in the conflict’s bloody politics and her love for Cardan. A powerful curse is unleashed, and panic spreads throughout the land, forcing her to choose between her ambition and humanity and the only male she truly loves. 

This was SO GOOD!!!!! 

A Sky of Emerald Stars by A.K. Mulford (Narrated by Bridget Bordeaux; Vico Ortiz)
Adult Sci Fi & Fantasy Romance, LGBTQIAP+
Expected Pub Date Dec. 24, 2024 

Book 2 of The Golden Court trilogy following A River of Golden Bones

The Golden Court is rebuilding with new leadership, new beginnings, and new court drama. Calla is forced to seek alliances from surrounding kingdoms to prepare for War with rival wolf King Nero. More magic is introduced and a continuation of Grae and Calla’s story and Sadie goes on an adventure with Navin to find allies of their court. To avoid spoiling anything with details regarding this sequel, I will instead leave some expectations. 


🌏World-building
👯Dual POV (Calla and Sadie)
😡😘Enemies to Lovers
🐺Wolf Shifters
💞Second Chance Romance
👥Fated Mates
💋Spice
✨Magic
😱Secrets/Betrayal's
🐲Dragons
😮Twists
👑Royal Court Politics
👀Magical monsters

If you enjoyed book 1, you would also like this book, which was just as enjoyable, if not even a bit better, in my humble opinion. 

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperAudio for an advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review

Just when Jude thinks she has the upper hand, and plans start to play out, her bratty nemesis takes matters into his own hands. Death, trickery, and promises broken, this series has a whole lot of mischief going on. 

A little dark, fantasy romance, morally grey characters, with the beginning of a possible enemies-to-lovers relationship. 

After many years living in the fae realm, Jude struggles to fit in regardless of being the ward of a powerful fae who is her oldest sister’s father. Being human, she is always in danger regardless of who she lives with. She and her sisters acclimate, but never forgot what happened to their parents. 

She seems to have a great ability to have bad things happen to her, but is resilient and begins to find her place as a human living in a fae land. She desperately wants to have a meaningful place among all these magical beings without a lick of magic herself. 

Jude is put into a precarious predicament and she finds she has no choice but to work with the one fae who antagonizes her the most. He’s spoiled, entitled, and annoyingly attractive. She has a plan, and if all goes well she will have a special place in court. 

A bit predictable but still an enjoyable read. 

Silent Evidence by Clea Koff is a suspense mystery thriller about two friends, Jayne and Steelie, who are skilled in forensics and founded an agency to help police solve crimes.

FBI agent Scott Houston has been assigned a new case in LA with body parts found on the freeway and knows who to call with the best forensic skills to help with an off-the-record post-mortem survey. Scott has a long personal history with Jayne and they have danced around each other for years. She and Steelie quickly determine that the parts are not from just one body and now the case becomes more concerning and leaning into a serial killer and not a single random murder. 

Now that they have identified this case involves an active serial killer, Scott realizes that he put Jayne and Steelie’s lives in jeopardy, and the women both seem to be being watched. They hope their unique skills can find evidence to pinpoint the killer because the clock is ticking and everyone is scrambling to find the killer. The killer is meticulous with how they dismember the bodies and Jayne and Steelie don't want to be next. 

With a bit of snarky banter between old friends, some serious discussions about the case, and a sticky situation the girls get into, this suspense thriller got nerve-wracking toward the end. If you like mystery thrillers, this certainly hit the spot. 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Avon for the advanced reader copy via Audiobook in exchange for an honest review. 
Expected pub date - January 21, 2025 by Avon

This is a review of the audiobook.