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The Heartless and the Wicked #1
The Ruins of the Heartless Fae
A FAE GIRL ON THE RUN. A CRUEL WINTER SOLDIER WHO LEFT HER FOR DEAD. AND A MYSTERIOUS CASTLE THAT MAY RUIN THEM BOTH.
Eighteen-year-old Kolfinna is a fae, a near extinct race of “heartless” monsters. The Hunters, the military, and the Royal Guard all want her dead for the murder she committed last year.
When Kolfinna is finally caught by the Royal Guard, they offer her a choice other than death: help them search for magical artifacts in an ancient fae ruin and they’ll erase her crimes. The catch? No one has made it out of the ruins alive. The other catch? The wicked Blár Vilulf will be there. The same powerful ice-soldier who maimed her and left her for dead last year.
But evil monsters, strange writings, and ancient magic lurk within the crumbling walls of the castle. Kolfinna might be the key to surviving in the ruins, but she’ll have to cooperate with Blár and learn about her own dormant abilities if she wants to save them all.
The Ruins of the Heartless Fae is the first installment in the Heartless and the Wicked series and is perfect for fans of Throne of Glass and The Cruel Prince. This epic fantasy features fast paced action, elemental magic, and a very slow burn romance. Perfect for fans of Elise Kova, Sarah J. Maas, and Holly Black.
Eighteen-year-old Kolfinna is a fae, a near extinct race of “heartless” monsters. The Hunters, the military, and the Royal Guard all want her dead for the murder she committed last year.
When Kolfinna is finally caught by the Royal Guard, they offer her a choice other than death: help them search for magical artifacts in an ancient fae ruin and they’ll erase her crimes. The catch? No one has made it out of the ruins alive. The other catch? The wicked Blár Vilulf will be there. The same powerful ice-soldier who maimed her and left her for dead last year.
But evil monsters, strange writings, and ancient magic lurk within the crumbling walls of the castle. Kolfinna might be the key to surviving in the ruins, but she’ll have to cooperate with Blár and learn about her own dormant abilities if she wants to save them all.
The Ruins of the Heartless Fae is the first installment in the Heartless and the Wicked series and is perfect for fans of Throne of Glass and The Cruel Prince. This epic fantasy features fast paced action, elemental magic, and a very slow burn romance. Perfect for fans of Elise Kova, Sarah J. Maas, and Holly Black.
429 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 13, 2023
84 people are currently reading
1283 people want to read
About the author
Maham Fatemi
13 books165 followersMaham Fatemi is an avid reader, writer, and cat lover. When she’s not obsessing over her cats, you can find her skimming a new cookbook, reading comics, or drinking an unhealthy number of oat-milk lattes. She writes epic fantasy and romantic fantasy. Maham lives in the Chicagoland area with her husband, son, and cats. For information about new releases, signed books, and her newsletter, visit her website at mahamfatemi.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
September 5, 2023
ʀᴜᴍᴏʀ ʜᴀᴅ ɪᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛʟᴇꜱꜱ ꜰᴀᴇ ᴀᴛᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴄʜɪʟᴅʀᴇɴ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴛᴏʟᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴏᴜʟꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴɴᴏᴄᴇɴᴛ ɪɴ ᴏʀᴅᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴀᴛɪᴀᴛᴇ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴡɪᴄᴋᴇᴅ ʜᴜɴɢᴇʀ ꜰᴏʀ ᴄʜᴀᴏꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴠɪʟ- Maham Fatemi, The Ruins of the Heartless Fae (The Heartless and the Wicked Book 1)
I was so excited to read this book as soon as I saw the intriguing cover design. I was not disappointed! Be prepared to dive into a fun, action-packed fantasy world. I can’t wait to see what comes next.
If you love Fae, slow-burn romance, and mysterious fortresses, then definitely give this a read!
I was so excited to read this book as soon as I saw the intriguing cover design. I was not disappointed! Be prepared to dive into a fun, action-packed fantasy world. I can’t wait to see what comes next.
If you love Fae, slow-burn romance, and mysterious fortresses, then definitely give this a read!
June 18, 2023
what can i say about this book? Personally, I don't have the right words to explain how much I liked it!
The writing style:
What I love about a book, especially fantasy ones, are the fight scenes and the action. I want to see how the characters do their best to save their lives in super terrifying or dangerous situations. In this case, the author did not try for a second to deviate from these fights. She went straight into them, described them wonderfully, which gave her storie much more flavor. The descriptions were beautiful and the way she wrote the lines of each character, magnificent. The dialogue seemed so typical for each character, which I love.
The plot / action:
It doesn't take long for things to escalate. The story moves quickly, which makes the reader not bored. The plot was very well planned, the author did not let her characters rest even for a second because a new challenge appeared again. Each page holds your breath and makes you wonder what will happen next. (And the monsters, I mean 💋)
The characters:
If you don't like Blár, it's perfect, it's mine, that's it. I don't care what you say, I love him!
Kolfinna is a perfect example (from my perspective) of a character who has both flaws and qualities, which makes her 10 times more real and human than other female characters. What I liked that the author did (in addition to what I said above) is that she was not ashamed to make Kolfinna flawed or fearless. No, Kolfinna had flaws, fears, hopes and courage, she didn't let the fact that she was a fae and that everyone hated her stand in the way of her freedom. For me, Kolfinna is a remarkable and special character, a true heroine who tries, makes mistakes, but tries.
And about Blár, well, you already know my opinion from above. I will not comment about him, for now. (Seriously, he has ice powers, what more could you want??)
Romance:
It's a slow burn,enemies to lovers, which makes the story even more interesting. The book did not focus on this, it was more action and adventure and many challenges, and what little romance there was, made the book even better because, what can be more exciting than to start feeling things for the one you hate?? (# I'm obsessed)
Other thoughts:
- You know what I hate? That I have to wait for the next volume. Why?? Can't I have a time machine, to take me when the next volume will be published???
- The pdf version is not enough, I need the physical format of the book, so that I can carry it with me everywhere!
- The book made me feel things and now I sit in a corner of the room and pour out my sadness
- My new favorite book
- OMG blár🥰
The writing style:
What I love about a book, especially fantasy ones, are the fight scenes and the action. I want to see how the characters do their best to save their lives in super terrifying or dangerous situations. In this case, the author did not try for a second to deviate from these fights. She went straight into them, described them wonderfully, which gave her storie much more flavor. The descriptions were beautiful and the way she wrote the lines of each character, magnificent. The dialogue seemed so typical for each character, which I love.
The plot / action:
It doesn't take long for things to escalate. The story moves quickly, which makes the reader not bored. The plot was very well planned, the author did not let her characters rest even for a second because a new challenge appeared again. Each page holds your breath and makes you wonder what will happen next. (And the monsters, I mean 💋)
The characters:
If you don't like Blár, it's perfect, it's mine, that's it. I don't care what you say, I love him!
Kolfinna is a perfect example (from my perspective) of a character who has both flaws and qualities, which makes her 10 times more real and human than other female characters. What I liked that the author did (in addition to what I said above) is that she was not ashamed to make Kolfinna flawed or fearless. No, Kolfinna had flaws, fears, hopes and courage, she didn't let the fact that she was a fae and that everyone hated her stand in the way of her freedom. For me, Kolfinna is a remarkable and special character, a true heroine who tries, makes mistakes, but tries.
And about Blár, well, you already know my opinion from above. I will not comment about him, for now. (Seriously, he has ice powers, what more could you want??)
Romance:
It's a slow burn,enemies to lovers, which makes the story even more interesting. The book did not focus on this, it was more action and adventure and many challenges, and what little romance there was, made the book even better because, what can be more exciting than to start feeling things for the one you hate?? (# I'm obsessed)
Other thoughts:
- You know what I hate? That I have to wait for the next volume. Why?? Can't I have a time machine, to take me when the next volume will be published???
- The pdf version is not enough, I need the physical format of the book, so that I can carry it with me everywhere!
- The book made me feel things and now I sit in a corner of the room and pour out my sadness
- My new favorite book
- OMG blár🥰
April 27, 2023
I received an arc copy of this book and I couldn’t put it down! The story builds slowly at the beginning in order to set up but once the ball is rolling there are twists, turns, and battles galore. Fantastic read with complex characters and a slow burn, enemies to lovers feel going between the MC and the nemesis she’s forced to fight alongside.
April 28, 2023
I loved this book and was hooked from the beginning.
The character development of the FMC and the love interest that I wasn’t expecting made the entire book even better. I can’t wait to see how that relationship grows in the next book. The details the author put into the entire book, especially the fight scenes was great!
I do wish there was a glossary of the character names because I had no idea how to pronounce most of those.
Overall, I’d highly recommend this book!!
I chose this ARC off Booksirens.
The character development of the FMC and the love interest that I wasn’t expecting made the entire book even better. I can’t wait to see how that relationship grows in the next book. The details the author put into the entire book, especially the fight scenes was great!
I do wish there was a glossary of the character names because I had no idea how to pronounce most of those.
Overall, I’d highly recommend this book!!
I chose this ARC off Booksirens.
August 22, 2024
4.5 Stars
Loved this. I'm not going to spoil anything, but it's been awhile since I've read a fantasy that's so compelling? I find most quest/trial books to be annoying, but this had me on the edge of my seat and I absolutely could not put it down. I was so stressed reading this, but in the best way. Also - I've haven't read anything quite like this with fae being almost extinct/hunted by the humans. It was a very interesting dynamic shift, and I loved that all this fae lore and history has been lost in time. There's so many questions and things to unearth.
The writing is fantastic - it's so easy to read and understand without being force fed random magic and world lore. It all unfolded naturally, the magic and world are both unique but simple enough that it never felt like I was learning a whole new language. The plot is also amazing. It was a bit slow at the beginning, but once things picked up I was locked in. And I was kept on my toes - I truly did not know what would happen next and the twists and turns were surprising. I loved every second of the adventure that was packed into this. And it was never written in an annoying repetitive way. The scenes were so vivid, I was biting my nails and so stressed about how the characters would make it through. The stakes were perfectly high.
And the romance - it's very mild but such a good slow burn that unfolds so naturally. I love Kolfinna - she's so relatable and normal while being strong. She went through a good amount of growth by the end of this; I'm so excited to continue this series. And Blár - he's hilarious and brooding. I love the two together and appreciate the true enemies to sort of friends journey they take. I can't wait to see their relationship progress.
Loved this. I'm not going to spoil anything, but it's been awhile since I've read a fantasy that's so compelling? I find most quest/trial books to be annoying, but this had me on the edge of my seat and I absolutely could not put it down. I was so stressed reading this, but in the best way. Also - I've haven't read anything quite like this with fae being almost extinct/hunted by the humans. It was a very interesting dynamic shift, and I loved that all this fae lore and history has been lost in time. There's so many questions and things to unearth.
The writing is fantastic - it's so easy to read and understand without being force fed random magic and world lore. It all unfolded naturally, the magic and world are both unique but simple enough that it never felt like I was learning a whole new language. The plot is also amazing. It was a bit slow at the beginning, but once things picked up I was locked in. And I was kept on my toes - I truly did not know what would happen next and the twists and turns were surprising. I loved every second of the adventure that was packed into this. And it was never written in an annoying repetitive way. The scenes were so vivid, I was biting my nails and so stressed about how the characters would make it through. The stakes were perfectly high.
And the romance - it's very mild but such a good slow burn that unfolds so naturally. I love Kolfinna - she's so relatable and normal while being strong. She went through a good amount of growth by the end of this; I'm so excited to continue this series. And Blár - he's hilarious and brooding. I love the two together and appreciate the true enemies to sort of friends journey they take. I can't wait to see their relationship progress.
May 2, 2023
I received an ARC copy of this book. I was intrigued by a fae running from humans, only to learn about humans having mana and power, too. I stayed up late more than once getting caught up in her quest for connection and learning more about herself. I loved how her relationships changed as her journey went on and cannot wait yo read more!
Also, I would have loved if the back of the book had a map drawing of the castle or more descriptive notes of history timelines or artifacts to help us immerse ourselves in this world
Also, I would have loved if the back of the book had a map drawing of the castle or more descriptive notes of history timelines or artifacts to help us immerse ourselves in this world
May 2, 2023
I couldn't stop reading! There is a lot of great world building, magic, and action in this book. I already need to read book 2. Fantasy lovers, be sure to add this one to your tbr. My only downside is that there was a lot of stuttering from the characters when they talked. I highly recommend this book!
August 15, 2024
This is one of those books where you are thinking about it all day at work, excited to go home and keep reading it.
I am begging anyone, everyone, to please read this book. This deserves to have the exact same hype as ACOTAR. I am gutted to see how little reviews this phenomenal book has.
This had everything you want and need in a fantasy book-
-Realistic, powerful, flawed, strong FMC
-Broody, angry, sarcastic, slowly opens up as the book progresses MMC
-Beautiful and very easy to follow magic system
-Very slow romance
-Strong female friendships
-Fae / Elves / Humans
This book made my stomach hurt from the anxiety and stress of how strong and realistic the author wrote these scenes. It literally made me sit up straight in my bed to focus on every word.
If you see this on the update feed or on the review of this book - do not hesitate - READ THIS BOOK!
I am begging anyone, everyone, to please read this book. This deserves to have the exact same hype as ACOTAR. I am gutted to see how little reviews this phenomenal book has.
This had everything you want and need in a fantasy book-
-Realistic, powerful, flawed, strong FMC
-Broody, angry, sarcastic, slowly opens up as the book progresses MMC
-Beautiful and very easy to follow magic system
-Very slow romance
-Strong female friendships
-Fae / Elves / Humans
This book made my stomach hurt from the anxiety and stress of how strong and realistic the author wrote these scenes. It literally made me sit up straight in my bed to focus on every word.
If you see this on the update feed or on the review of this book - do not hesitate - READ THIS BOOK!
April 25, 2023
First, I'd like to thank the author and BookSirens for my free eARC of this book. All opinions are left voluntarily and are my own.
This is a very intriguing start to what I imagine will be a well-loved series. The pacing was slow to begin with, which is good because it allows the author to seamlessly weave in backstory and foreshadowing, but once the story got going, it held on and didn't let me go! There was something strangely addicting about this, and I think it's due to the author's evident skill in developing underlying tension through subtext. The slower pace of the romance certainly contributes to this. Who doesn't love a well-done slow-burn? In addition to that, the setting is just so compelling. Ancient fae ruins? A castle in which each room puts you through trials and tries to kill you? But it's not all doom and gloom. My favorite character is the FMC's new best friend, Eyfura (aka the comedic relief). She's optimistic, friendly, and real (because I, too, would have an embarrassing crush on Fenris Asulf). I loved the interactions between these two and wish to see more of her in the next book.
There are a few reasons this book isn't a 5-star read for me, despite my enthusiasm for its potential success. One big reason is the dialogue, which often felt stilted and repetitive. It also read as though the speakers were young teenagers, though they are 18-20. One contributor to this is the implementation of modern slang: "vibe", "cool", "pissed me off", and other phrases often took me out of the story. It's just odd to read a high fantasy in which the characters talk like modern highschoolers. Another thing that threw me was the implementation of the Danish language to name fae objects/places. I think this is a very personal objection though, and I only have it because I can read Danish? So in my mind, I was automatically making connections to a real language and culture when such connections weren't actually relevant. But my biggest objection is this: Kolfinna wasn't a very capable lead character, and if it weren't for the fact that she's the only fae in a group of humans trying to survive fae ruins, the value of her contribution would be… ambiguous, to put it kindly. Whenever trouble arises, she breaks down and it's the love interest who has to pull her out of it. Every time. She's supposed to be this survivor character, but I just don't see that in her actions. Right now, she relies heavily on the validation of others. Maybe this is supposed to be a part of her character development, though, and she'll be more of a self-reliant and thoughtful strategist in future books? With that said, most of the other characters aren't very professional, either. I mean, they're all barely grown adults, so it's realistic, but their priorities in high-stakes situations are really something else- especially considering they have received prestigious training.
Let's talk romance to wrap this up. I see the potential for a great slow-burn. I really do. I'm a sucker for enemies-to-lovers. But so far, most of the interactions between the main couple are primarily cringe-inducing. The way they talk about each other (I also read the bonus chapter in the MMC's POV) makes me think that they sort of… fetishize each other. Her thoughts are constantly hyper-focusing on his muscles and his are constantly on her curves. Sometimes lust comes before love, and that's okay! But I wish they focused more on each other's favorable personality traits than the physical so that the attraction would seem less shallow. I recognize, though, that this was probably intentional for them to think this way right now to pave the way for that relationship development later. And it could be fun to see if they'll have a enemies-AND-lovers trope going for them in the next book before they finally form a deeper connection.
Overall: I'm really excited for this author and this book. This is a fun addition to the romance/fantasy genre and I'll enjoy seeing where it goes!
This is a very intriguing start to what I imagine will be a well-loved series. The pacing was slow to begin with, which is good because it allows the author to seamlessly weave in backstory and foreshadowing, but once the story got going, it held on and didn't let me go! There was something strangely addicting about this, and I think it's due to the author's evident skill in developing underlying tension through subtext. The slower pace of the romance certainly contributes to this. Who doesn't love a well-done slow-burn? In addition to that, the setting is just so compelling. Ancient fae ruins? A castle in which each room puts you through trials and tries to kill you? But it's not all doom and gloom. My favorite character is the FMC's new best friend, Eyfura (aka the comedic relief). She's optimistic, friendly, and real (because I, too, would have an embarrassing crush on Fenris Asulf). I loved the interactions between these two and wish to see more of her in the next book.
There are a few reasons this book isn't a 5-star read for me, despite my enthusiasm for its potential success. One big reason is the dialogue, which often felt stilted and repetitive. It also read as though the speakers were young teenagers, though they are 18-20. One contributor to this is the implementation of modern slang: "vibe", "cool", "pissed me off", and other phrases often took me out of the story. It's just odd to read a high fantasy in which the characters talk like modern highschoolers. Another thing that threw me was the implementation of the Danish language to name fae objects/places. I think this is a very personal objection though, and I only have it because I can read Danish? So in my mind, I was automatically making connections to a real language and culture when such connections weren't actually relevant. But my biggest objection is this: Kolfinna wasn't a very capable lead character, and if it weren't for the fact that she's the only fae in a group of humans trying to survive fae ruins, the value of her contribution would be… ambiguous, to put it kindly. Whenever trouble arises, she breaks down and it's the love interest who has to pull her out of it. Every time. She's supposed to be this survivor character, but I just don't see that in her actions. Right now, she relies heavily on the validation of others. Maybe this is supposed to be a part of her character development, though, and she'll be more of a self-reliant and thoughtful strategist in future books? With that said, most of the other characters aren't very professional, either. I mean, they're all barely grown adults, so it's realistic, but their priorities in high-stakes situations are really something else- especially considering they have received prestigious training.
Let's talk romance to wrap this up. I see the potential for a great slow-burn. I really do. I'm a sucker for enemies-to-lovers. But so far, most of the interactions between the main couple are primarily cringe-inducing. The way they talk about each other (I also read the bonus chapter in the MMC's POV) makes me think that they sort of… fetishize each other. Her thoughts are constantly hyper-focusing on his muscles and his are constantly on her curves. Sometimes lust comes before love, and that's okay! But I wish they focused more on each other's favorable personality traits than the physical so that the attraction would seem less shallow. I recognize, though, that this was probably intentional for them to think this way right now to pave the way for that relationship development later. And it could be fun to see if they'll have a enemies-AND-lovers trope going for them in the next book before they finally form a deeper connection.
Overall: I'm really excited for this author and this book. This is a fun addition to the romance/fantasy genre and I'll enjoy seeing where it goes!
July 8, 2023
This was such a good fantasy book! The world building was amazing, and the magic, magic beasts, and all of the new discoveries were fantastic! I read this literally as fast as I could because I wanted to find out what was happening: not just at the end, but the journey to get there. The epic journey that was undertaken with hurdles more challenging than the last, with a showdown in it, this fantasy had it all. It even has hints of romance (enemies to lover trope, I see you 👀) I can’t wait to read the next one!
Kolfinna does everything she can to blend in. She dresses down, she drinks a special tea that disguises her naturally pink irises, she doesn’t use her magic, she does nothing to make herself stand out. Her parents and sister were killed just for being Fae, and in a world of humans that enough for a death sentence. Unfortunately, her limp makes her stand out, and the one who gave it to her is still hunting her down. She makes a deal to save her life, and agrees to help out on a mission. Nobody told her that HE was going to be there too.
Thank you BookSirens for the copy to review!
Kolfinna does everything she can to blend in. She dresses down, she drinks a special tea that disguises her naturally pink irises, she doesn’t use her magic, she does nothing to make herself stand out. Her parents and sister were killed just for being Fae, and in a world of humans that enough for a death sentence. Unfortunately, her limp makes her stand out, and the one who gave it to her is still hunting her down. She makes a deal to save her life, and agrees to help out on a mission. Nobody told her that HE was going to be there too.
Thank you BookSirens for the copy to review!
April 21, 2023
I loved this! I finished it in one day because I just couldn't put it down. The only thing I was missing was a glossary with name pronunciations and explanations of powers. Can't wait to continue this series!!
September 11, 2023
This book is 5 stars, and I do not say that lightly! I was in a complete reading slump after reading Fourth Wing, and I devoured this book in 2 days. I had to force myself to go to bed, I just could not put it down. The pacing was great, not too fast and not too slow. The character development was spot on, and it was amazing to watch the characters grow in unexpected ways. As described, this book is a slow burn, but you can feel the burn. The worldbuilding and magic system is nothing that I have ever read before, and the story is a completely different take on the fae as a whole.
Nothing could have prepared me for this story. I read a lot of high fantasy, but this was just the right amount. The first chapter sucked me in, and from there I just couldn’t leave. The dialogue did seem a bit forced at times, but given the plot of the book, those would have been realistic in real life. I cannot wait to read the second book, this truly was a magical ride!
Nothing could have prepared me for this story. I read a lot of high fantasy, but this was just the right amount. The first chapter sucked me in, and from there I just couldn’t leave. The dialogue did seem a bit forced at times, but given the plot of the book, those would have been realistic in real life. I cannot wait to read the second book, this truly was a magical ride!
December 2, 2024
This was such a refreshing and unique read! So many romantasies have felt like a repetitive blur recently but the plot and world building in this one were a pleasant surprise.
I did have some gripes with the writing, and the dialogue in particular was clunky and cringy and times. Despite that though - this was a quick and engaging read! The first 20-30% is a bit slow but once it picks up it’s really gripping! Full RTC
I did have some gripes with the writing, and the dialogue in particular was clunky and cringy and times. Despite that though - this was a quick and engaging read! The first 20-30% is a bit slow but once it picks up it’s really gripping! Full RTC
February 27, 2024
I received the ARC copy of this book and it was so good! I am often one to get confused in world building, but all of the world building made sense and the author explained everything in detail. This was a huge plus for me. The intricacies and fine details of this book were everything! I eagerly await the release of the next book!
August 6, 2023
This book is my new obsession. I didn't realize how much I needed it in my life until I read it and I'm about to make it my entire personality!!!
I initially wasn't going to read it because I don't really read YA too much anymore, and there are soooooo many fae books out there that I've started to get tired of them. But I was enticed by the ancient fae ruins and decided to give it a shot, and I am so glad I did.
The protagonist Kolfinna is an 18 year old fae girl who is on the run after a murder she committed a year ago. She ends up agreeing to join the royal guard and the military on a joint mission to explore an ancient fae ruin. If she helps them succeed in bringing back an artifact from the ruin, her crimes will be pardoned. It sounds simple, but all of the people who were previously sent into the ruins never made it back out. And even worse for Kolfinna, she has to work Blár, the soldier who was sent to capture her a year ago and shattered her leg, leaving her with a permanent limp.
The action is pretty much nonstop and starts almost immediately, with Kolfinna being captured by the captain of the royal guard. The majority of the book takes place in the ruins, which I did not mind at all because they were so cool. I don't want to spoil anything about them, but I will say that the trials Kolfinna and her team face in the ruins had me on the edge of my seat at times. I really loved the fight scenes as well and the way everything was described.
I also loved Kolfinna as a heroine, and her struggles were so realistic and relatable. This was the first time I've ever read a book where the heroine was midsized, and the way she was portrayed was amazing and so accurate, in my opinion. I'm midsized myself, and I resonated with Kolfinna's insecurities about not fitting the beauty standard and feeling like she should take up less space. I also loved that while she struggled with physical activity at times, which was also due to her limp, she is never portrayed as useless or less capable in the narrative. Yes, she isn't as fit or athletic as the rest of the characters, but that doesn't stop her from kicking ass.
Honestly, nothing really stops Kolfinna from kicking ass, which is another thing I loved about her. She had her moments of weakness, where her fear or anger or panic got the best of her, and she wanted to give up or run away. But she never did. She always pulled herself together and did what she had to do.
The romance in this book was also refreshing, especially for one involving fae. Usually, when I read a romance between a human and a fae, it's almost always the man that's the fae, and for some reason he has to be like a million years older than his love interest. I appreciated that this wasn't the case in this book. Instead, Kolfinna is fae, and she's only two years younger than Blár, who is thankfully not old enough to be her great great great great great grandpa.
And omg Blár. My baby. I don't want to spoil anything about him either, but genuinely, I thought I was going to hate him, and I wondered how the hell this romance was going to work when he literally left Kolfinna crippled and continues to haunt her nightmares. But holy shit did it work. It worked overtime.
Blár grows on you like mold on cheese, and don't even get me started on slow burn between him and Kolfinna!!! The way they they were forced to rely on each other after being put into life or death situations together??? The way they gradually opened up to each other and shared their vulnerabilities??? The way they fiercely protected each other???? The way they each came to trust the other even though they previously thought the absolute worst of each other????? Immaculate tbh.
Anyway, this book owns me and if you're a fan of spooky ancient ruins, elemental magic, slow burn enemies to lovers romance, and feisty midsize heroines, I would give it a try.
I initially wasn't going to read it because I don't really read YA too much anymore, and there are soooooo many fae books out there that I've started to get tired of them. But I was enticed by the ancient fae ruins and decided to give it a shot, and I am so glad I did.
The protagonist Kolfinna is an 18 year old fae girl who is on the run after a murder she committed a year ago. She ends up agreeing to join the royal guard and the military on a joint mission to explore an ancient fae ruin. If she helps them succeed in bringing back an artifact from the ruin, her crimes will be pardoned. It sounds simple, but all of the people who were previously sent into the ruins never made it back out. And even worse for Kolfinna, she has to work Blár, the soldier who was sent to capture her a year ago and shattered her leg, leaving her with a permanent limp.
The action is pretty much nonstop and starts almost immediately, with Kolfinna being captured by the captain of the royal guard. The majority of the book takes place in the ruins, which I did not mind at all because they were so cool. I don't want to spoil anything about them, but I will say that the trials Kolfinna and her team face in the ruins had me on the edge of my seat at times. I really loved the fight scenes as well and the way everything was described.
I also loved Kolfinna as a heroine, and her struggles were so realistic and relatable. This was the first time I've ever read a book where the heroine was midsized, and the way she was portrayed was amazing and so accurate, in my opinion. I'm midsized myself, and I resonated with Kolfinna's insecurities about not fitting the beauty standard and feeling like she should take up less space. I also loved that while she struggled with physical activity at times, which was also due to her limp, she is never portrayed as useless or less capable in the narrative. Yes, she isn't as fit or athletic as the rest of the characters, but that doesn't stop her from kicking ass.
Honestly, nothing really stops Kolfinna from kicking ass, which is another thing I loved about her. She had her moments of weakness, where her fear or anger or panic got the best of her, and she wanted to give up or run away. But she never did. She always pulled herself together and did what she had to do.
The romance in this book was also refreshing, especially for one involving fae. Usually, when I read a romance between a human and a fae, it's almost always the man that's the fae, and for some reason he has to be like a million years older than his love interest. I appreciated that this wasn't the case in this book. Instead, Kolfinna is fae, and she's only two years younger than Blár, who is thankfully not old enough to be her great great great great great grandpa.
And omg Blár. My baby. I don't want to spoil anything about him either, but genuinely, I thought I was going to hate him, and I wondered how the hell this romance was going to work when he literally left Kolfinna crippled and continues to haunt her nightmares. But holy shit did it work. It worked overtime.
Blár grows on you like mold on cheese, and don't even get me started on slow burn between him and Kolfinna!!! The way they they were forced to rely on each other after being put into life or death situations together??? The way they gradually opened up to each other and shared their vulnerabilities??? The way they fiercely protected each other???? The way they each came to trust the other even though they previously thought the absolute worst of each other????? Immaculate tbh.
Anyway, this book owns me and if you're a fan of spooky ancient ruins, elemental magic, slow burn enemies to lovers romance, and feisty midsize heroines, I would give it a try.
May 13, 2023
GIVE ME THE SECOND VOLUME. KIND NOW! PLEASE.
A FAE GIRL ON THE RUN. A CRUEL WINTER SOLDIER WHO LEFT HER FOR DEAD. AND A MYSTERIOUS CASTLE THAT MAY RUIN THEM BOTH.
Eighteen-year-old Kolfinna is a fae, a near extinct race of “heartless” monsters. The Hunters, the military, and the Royal Guard all want her dead for the murder she committed last year.
When Kolfinna is finally caught by the Royal Guard, they offer her a choice other than death: help them search for magical artifacts in an ancient fae ruin and they’ll erase her crimes. The catch? No one has made it out of the ruins alive. The other catch? The wicked Blár Vilulf will be there. The same powerful ice-soldier who maimed her and left her for dead last year.
But evil monsters, strange writings, and ancient magic lurk within the crumbling walls of the castle. Kolfinna might be the key to surviving in the ruins, but she’ll have to cooperate with Blár and learn about her own dormant abilities if she wants to save them all.
The Ruins of the heartless fae is the first volume of a new fantasy saga for adults born from the incredible pen of Maham Fatemi, perfect for fans of Elise Kova and Holly Black.
Ok, I have to admit: initially I thought about putting it away. I didn't like the first few chapters. Not at all. Terribly slow and full (overly full for my taste) of information. I thought more than once about putting it away. However, there was this little voice in my little head saying, "No, don't do that. Go ahead. Maybe it gets better."
Well, ladies and gentlemen, I am very pleased to have listened to you.
After the first 5-6 chapters the narrative changes totally. It becomes much smoother, compelling, engaging and dynamic, full of twists and fight scenes. I struggled a lot to detach. World-building is not overly complex. If you're used to world-building by Holly Black, Sarah J. Maas or Elise Kova, it shouldn't be complicated.
The characters are well characterized. They have a purpose of their own. They have a motivation. They fight for what they believe is right and/or wrong. I was able to perceive them at 360 °, which is very important for me as it allows me to get in greater harmony with them, first of all, and with the story itself.
The only negative note, and that made me turn up my nose a bit, was the language in my opinion too modern for this story and its setting. And, probably, I would have preferred more romance. However, it is a first volume of a dilogi (!?), so I have not dwelt too much on this aspect.
I have very high expectations for the second volume. Really, I can't wait to see what happens next. I hope it does not disappoint me.
I thank BookSirens, Gazelle and Moon Press LLC and Maham Fami for sending me the ARC copy of this volume in exchange for an honest review. All considerations are mine.
A FAE GIRL ON THE RUN. A CRUEL WINTER SOLDIER WHO LEFT HER FOR DEAD. AND A MYSTERIOUS CASTLE THAT MAY RUIN THEM BOTH.
Eighteen-year-old Kolfinna is a fae, a near extinct race of “heartless” monsters. The Hunters, the military, and the Royal Guard all want her dead for the murder she committed last year.
When Kolfinna is finally caught by the Royal Guard, they offer her a choice other than death: help them search for magical artifacts in an ancient fae ruin and they’ll erase her crimes. The catch? No one has made it out of the ruins alive. The other catch? The wicked Blár Vilulf will be there. The same powerful ice-soldier who maimed her and left her for dead last year.
But evil monsters, strange writings, and ancient magic lurk within the crumbling walls of the castle. Kolfinna might be the key to surviving in the ruins, but she’ll have to cooperate with Blár and learn about her own dormant abilities if she wants to save them all.
The Ruins of the heartless fae is the first volume of a new fantasy saga for adults born from the incredible pen of Maham Fatemi, perfect for fans of Elise Kova and Holly Black.
Ok, I have to admit: initially I thought about putting it away. I didn't like the first few chapters. Not at all. Terribly slow and full (overly full for my taste) of information. I thought more than once about putting it away. However, there was this little voice in my little head saying, "No, don't do that. Go ahead. Maybe it gets better."
Well, ladies and gentlemen, I am very pleased to have listened to you.
After the first 5-6 chapters the narrative changes totally. It becomes much smoother, compelling, engaging and dynamic, full of twists and fight scenes. I struggled a lot to detach. World-building is not overly complex. If you're used to world-building by Holly Black, Sarah J. Maas or Elise Kova, it shouldn't be complicated.
The characters are well characterized. They have a purpose of their own. They have a motivation. They fight for what they believe is right and/or wrong. I was able to perceive them at 360 °, which is very important for me as it allows me to get in greater harmony with them, first of all, and with the story itself.
The only negative note, and that made me turn up my nose a bit, was the language in my opinion too modern for this story and its setting. And, probably, I would have preferred more romance. However, it is a first volume of a dilogi (!?), so I have not dwelt too much on this aspect.
I have very high expectations for the second volume. Really, I can't wait to see what happens next. I hope it does not disappoint me.
I thank BookSirens, Gazelle and Moon Press LLC and Maham Fami for sending me the ARC copy of this volume in exchange for an honest review. All considerations are mine.
June 6, 2023
I was unprepared for The Ruins of the Heartless Fae. I expected a straightforward high fantasy, enemies-to-lovers romance. My expectations were exceeded when I discovered I was really reading a high fantasy, escape room, adventure, enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn romance with bloody haunted house vibes. I loved it! Despite my obsession with the story, the pacing was a bit inconsistent. It had a slow start, but after about 100 pages, after the adventure picked up, I was hooked. It helped that I had no idea what I was in for, so it was easy to enjoy the story and anticipation. If you are sensitive about blood, gore, and death, I do not recommend this book. I don’t want to spoil anything, but for a YA novel, there were some gory scenes that had me squeamish. And I love my dark, bloody, and morally ambiguous reads. But the blood and death were vital to the story, and I would not have enjoyed it as much if it was less descriptive.
I love a good enemies-to-lovers romance but am not a big fan of slow burns, but it worked for this couple. Kolfinna and Blár have every reason to hate and distrust each other initially, so their mutual animosity and Kolfinna’s fear of Blár were believable. When I learned what Blár did to Kolfinna, I was worried there was no way he could redeem himself, but Blár proved me wrong. Blár's personality made Kolfinna (and me) begrudgingly like him, and his motivations made some sense. It was highly entertaining and nerve-wracking to see them forced to work together to survive. I love a good, We-hate-eachother-but-working-together-is-the-only-way-we’ll-live-whoops-I-think-we've-fallen-in-love-during-our-numerious-near-death-experiences romance! Especially when the relationship doesn’t feel forced or rushed. I’m eager to see how their relationship grows in the next book. I also love Blár and can’t wait to read more about him and his mysterious past.
I loved the story and the romance, and overall I liked Kolfinna, but she was too trusting of the wrong people at times. Without giving too much away, when Kolfinna and Blár get help from an unexpected source Kolfinna’s lack of suspicion for an imprisoned criminal felt like a plot device, especially because Kolfinna was not naïve and trusted no one. This part of the story was important, so while necessary, it felt like Kolfinna’s characterization was sacrificed to quickly further the plot. Later Kolfinna believed the words of a traitor over her gut which was infuriating and unbelievable. I thought this time we would see Kolfinna finally allow herself to trust someone, but nope. Instead, Kolfinna doesn't even question the source and believes them easily, undoing some of her character growth. Luckily, Kolfinna redeems herself and her characterization in the end, and I’m excited to see how she continues to grow.
This book doesn’t leave off on a huge cliffhanger, but it does leave a lot unresolved that I am looking forward to seeing get addressed in the next book. I am also ready to see Kolfinna and Blár put their issues aside and pursue each other! If you like fantasy, with light romance and lots of tension, blood, death, epic battles, and very cool magic, I highly recommend The Ruins of the Heartless Fae.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I love a good enemies-to-lovers romance but am not a big fan of slow burns, but it worked for this couple. Kolfinna and Blár have every reason to hate and distrust each other initially, so their mutual animosity and Kolfinna’s fear of Blár were believable. When I learned what Blár did to Kolfinna, I was worried there was no way he could redeem himself, but Blár proved me wrong. Blár's personality made Kolfinna (and me) begrudgingly like him, and his motivations made some sense. It was highly entertaining and nerve-wracking to see them forced to work together to survive. I love a good, We-hate-eachother-but-working-together-is-the-only-way-we’ll-live-whoops-I-think-we've-fallen-in-love-during-our-numerious-near-death-experiences romance! Especially when the relationship doesn’t feel forced or rushed. I’m eager to see how their relationship grows in the next book. I also love Blár and can’t wait to read more about him and his mysterious past.
I loved the story and the romance, and overall I liked Kolfinna, but she was too trusting of the wrong people at times. Without giving too much away, when Kolfinna and Blár get help from an unexpected source Kolfinna’s lack of suspicion for an imprisoned criminal felt like a plot device, especially because Kolfinna was not naïve and trusted no one. This part of the story was important, so while necessary, it felt like Kolfinna’s characterization was sacrificed to quickly further the plot. Later Kolfinna believed the words of a traitor over her gut which was infuriating and unbelievable. I thought this time we would see Kolfinna finally allow herself to trust someone, but nope. Instead, Kolfinna doesn't even question the source and believes them easily, undoing some of her character growth. Luckily, Kolfinna redeems herself and her characterization in the end, and I’m excited to see how she continues to grow.
This book doesn’t leave off on a huge cliffhanger, but it does leave a lot unresolved that I am looking forward to seeing get addressed in the next book. I am also ready to see Kolfinna and Blár put their issues aside and pursue each other! If you like fantasy, with light romance and lots of tension, blood, death, epic battles, and very cool magic, I highly recommend The Ruins of the Heartless Fae.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 13, 2023
A huge thank you goes to Book Sirens & the author for letting me read The Ruins of the Heartless Fae, an exceptional YA fantasy romance! This is such a magical & unique story, it’s honestly been an absolute joy to read Maham Fatemi’s tale about Kolfinna’s battle for safety & acceptance.
Kolfinna is a young fae, one of the last of her kind. Her race is nearly extinct after relentless hunting by humans, & she bears terrible scars from a winter soldier on her leg. When Kolfinna’s caught by the Royal Guard, there’s only two options available to her: join them on a deadly mission or die. But the mission is to excavate an ancient fae ruin, & no one has ever returned from the cursed place. Can Kolfinna survive the place of her ancestors? Or will her travelling companions, including the winter soldier Blár Vilulf, murder her before she even makes it there? Ancient magic awaits, & everything hinges on Kolfinna… Is it possible to find redemption within the old castle walls?
Glitterbugs you are in for one the most thrilling reads of 2023 with this YA fantasy slow-burn romance! The action in this is *so* intense & there’s a truly daunting amount of monsters & traps within the ancient fae ruins. What can I tell you, it’s like The Lord of the Rings meets Fablehaven, with a dash of Throne of Glass for good measure.
Maham has created one of the most powerful tales I’ve ever read, in terms of the emotion I felt. Reading The Ruins of the Heartless Fae, I have laughed, cried & even wanted to throw the book (aka my Kindle) at the wall at one point. Loyalties are tested, betrayals occur, & friendships are forged in the brewing storm within the ancient fae ruins...
*** Want to hear more? Read my FULL review on my blog via this link: https://www.immersedinbooks.com/the-r... ***
Kolfinna is a young fae, one of the last of her kind. Her race is nearly extinct after relentless hunting by humans, & she bears terrible scars from a winter soldier on her leg. When Kolfinna’s caught by the Royal Guard, there’s only two options available to her: join them on a deadly mission or die. But the mission is to excavate an ancient fae ruin, & no one has ever returned from the cursed place. Can Kolfinna survive the place of her ancestors? Or will her travelling companions, including the winter soldier Blár Vilulf, murder her before she even makes it there? Ancient magic awaits, & everything hinges on Kolfinna… Is it possible to find redemption within the old castle walls?
Glitterbugs you are in for one the most thrilling reads of 2023 with this YA fantasy slow-burn romance! The action in this is *so* intense & there’s a truly daunting amount of monsters & traps within the ancient fae ruins. What can I tell you, it’s like The Lord of the Rings meets Fablehaven, with a dash of Throne of Glass for good measure.
Maham has created one of the most powerful tales I’ve ever read, in terms of the emotion I felt. Reading The Ruins of the Heartless Fae, I have laughed, cried & even wanted to throw the book (aka my Kindle) at the wall at one point. Loyalties are tested, betrayals occur, & friendships are forged in the brewing storm within the ancient fae ruins...
*** Want to hear more? Read my FULL review on my blog via this link: https://www.immersedinbooks.com/the-r... ***
May 23, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Actually stop. This is the most fantasy book I’ve read in ages. The description? You know how it makes the book sound good? DOESN’T EVEN BEGIN TO COVER IT. If I could do a rant summary with some gorgeous commentary from me I would and can’t wait to when it is released. The vibes are almost giving a fantasy The Mummy vibes mixed with a Red Queen division of the population in a Cruel Prince world. The main characters? Stop it. I love them. Kolfinna is not the perfect and physically fit MC that we always get and as a bigger girl I loved seeing it. She wasn’t a pushover or a whiny in the annoying way character, and she displayed her emotions in a fab way (and she was not having it when other people tried to tell her not to). Her relationship with Blár was done spectacularly. I thought I would hate him the whole way through, but his character arc just has you grinning more and more (especially at the end omg, cute overload). I love the awkward moments they had too, it made them relatable, instead of perfect flirting and compliments ALWAYS, you get a few moments where you know what they want to say but they can’t say it right 😂 and it’s not always a facepalm moment either!
YOU WILL NOT PUT THIS DOWN!!!!!
Actually stop. This is the most fantasy book I’ve read in ages. The description? You know how it makes the book sound good? DOESN’T EVEN BEGIN TO COVER IT. If I could do a rant summary with some gorgeous commentary from me I would and can’t wait to when it is released. The vibes are almost giving a fantasy The Mummy vibes mixed with a Red Queen division of the population in a Cruel Prince world. The main characters? Stop it. I love them. Kolfinna is not the perfect and physically fit MC that we always get and as a bigger girl I loved seeing it. She wasn’t a pushover or a whiny in the annoying way character, and she displayed her emotions in a fab way (and she was not having it when other people tried to tell her not to). Her relationship with Blár was done spectacularly. I thought I would hate him the whole way through, but his character arc just has you grinning more and more (especially at the end omg, cute overload). I love the awkward moments they had too, it made them relatable, instead of perfect flirting and compliments ALWAYS, you get a few moments where you know what they want to say but they can’t say it right 😂 and it’s not always a facepalm moment either!
YOU WILL NOT PUT THIS DOWN!!!!!
June 7, 2023
I received an ARC copy of this book and overall, I enjoyed it! The story was intense and action packed at times which really held my interest. The banter between the FMC and the MMC was sarcastic at times and humorous (which I enjoyed) and also tension filled as they are enemies. I enjoyed how their relationship played out and developed over the course of the book.
My only critique is that at times, it felt like some of the conversations between various characters were repetitive and maybe could have been cut a little shorter. Other than that, I thought the plot was well written, it had a twist I did not see coming, and the author did a great job describing the various worlds/dimensions the characters visit.
My only critique is that at times, it felt like some of the conversations between various characters were repetitive and maybe could have been cut a little shorter. Other than that, I thought the plot was well written, it had a twist I did not see coming, and the author did a great job describing the various worlds/dimensions the characters visit.
May 21, 2023
I recieved an ARC of this book. It took a little bit for me to get hooked but once I did I couldn't stop reading!! The action/thriller scenes in the book were really cool. The tension between the characters were written well too. The author did a cool take on rune magic and just magic in general. I already pre ordered the second book because I can't wait to read it! That slow burn. My goodness I just wanted it to happen so bad! My only complaint is that sometimes the main character did or said things that made her seem very immature but she's also 18 so not all that surprising.
February 18, 2024
4.75 ★
obsessed is an understatement! yall this book was so freaking good!
i would literally do anything for blár and kolfinna, even though they aren’t even together yet. the progression of their relationship in this book was so cute 😭 their sweet moments? genuinely dead on the floor
the next books are going to have me sweating from nerves omg. there was so much unresolved in this book that’s is definitely going to be later in the next books, and im scared tbh
obsessed is an understatement! yall this book was so freaking good!
i would literally do anything for blár and kolfinna, even though they aren’t even together yet. the progression of their relationship in this book was so cute 😭 their sweet moments? genuinely dead on the floor
the next books are going to have me sweating from nerves omg. there was so much unresolved in this book that’s is definitely going to be later in the next books, and im scared tbh
May 23, 2023
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Even though this book started off slowly, I wound up enjoying it. The first 30% felt like it could have been trimmed down a bit, but the pacing for the rest of the book was better. The writing was sometimes repetitive, but the world and magic system were intriguing. Overall, I feel like this is a great start to a series, and I can see many people enjoying it!
Even though this book started off slowly, I wound up enjoying it. The first 30% felt like it could have been trimmed down a bit, but the pacing for the rest of the book was better. The writing was sometimes repetitive, but the world and magic system were intriguing. Overall, I feel like this is a great start to a series, and I can see many people enjoying it!
May 11, 2023
This book was amazing, welll thought, full of different characters and dives you into a human vs fae world. I can't wait to read the series. I gave a 4 instead of a 5 star because every villanous character seemed to have a smell of decay, I was hoping by the end to have a different scent than death and decay for every monsterous thing.
Definitly will tell all my friends to purchase once its out!
I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Definitly will tell all my friends to purchase once its out!
I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 16, 2023
Two words Blar Visiluf 😍😍 I received the ARC and literally devoured it. This book has everything you need for a YA fantasy: world building, plot twists, character development and so much more.
I do not want to spoil anything so run to download this to your Kindle on June 13th, you won’t be disappointed. Another emerging epic fantasy series in the making.
I do not want to spoil anything so run to download this to your Kindle on June 13th, you won’t be disappointed. Another emerging epic fantasy series in the making.
May 16, 2023
This book was amazing I can not wait for the second one. It’s a slow (very slow) burn enemies to loves with forced proximity. The world building, magic, action, and character development are amazing I could not put this book down.
May 23, 2023
I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it. I am looking forward to reading the next book.
June 9, 2023
Fantastic new series! I love books with Far and magic. This did not disappoint! I look forward to book 2 because I need to know what happens!
June 6, 2023
i SUPER enjoyed reading this book from the very start! i also pre ordered a copy and the second book. i gave less stars bc i felt like it was just skimming the surface. i know it is just the beginning but i want to know so much more about these characters this has real potential IMO to be huge!!
June 1, 2023
Thank you Maham Fatemi for sending me the Arc of this book.
A book full of magic, fae, magical evil creatures. The story and plot was excellent and I loved the characters and the relationship of Kolfinna and Blar.
Set in a world where Fae were seen as evil and hunted down, we are introduced to Kolfinna who lost a fight to Blar who nearly killed her. Captured, she was forced to see and work with him again to enter the Fae ruins where no-one ever returned back alive.
Enjoy the journey and the magic of this world culminating into a beautiful relationship.
A book full of magic, fae, magical evil creatures. The story and plot was excellent and I loved the characters and the relationship of Kolfinna and Blar.
Set in a world where Fae were seen as evil and hunted down, we are introduced to Kolfinna who lost a fight to Blar who nearly killed her. Captured, she was forced to see and work with him again to enter the Fae ruins where no-one ever returned back alive.
Enjoy the journey and the magic of this world culminating into a beautiful relationship.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews