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Bride of the Fae #1
Ice Lord's Bride
I must marry one of the fae, but the forbidden ice lord wants me.
To secure a human-fae truce, I'm one of five women traveling to their magical kingdom, where we'll be courted by fae aristocracy. We have one month to choose a husband from among them.
Only Elion, the arrogant, beastly ice lord, is forbidden. His torturous scars make the other women gasp. His icy words rip them to shreds. His touch is colder than frost. He lurks in the shadows, never coming out into the light.
One stolen moment with Elion, and I'm intrigued. A kiss, and I'll do anything to call this brutishly handsome lord mine.
Then one of the women is found dead. When you're next appears on my bedroom wall, written in blood, it's clear there's more going on here than solidifying the human-fae truce.
If I'm not careful, I won't become a bride of the fae. I'll wind up dead.
Ice Lord's Bride is book one in a fantasy romance duology. It heats to a high sizzle and comes with a guaranteed happily ever after.
To secure a human-fae truce, I'm one of five women traveling to their magical kingdom, where we'll be courted by fae aristocracy. We have one month to choose a husband from among them.
Only Elion, the arrogant, beastly ice lord, is forbidden. His torturous scars make the other women gasp. His icy words rip them to shreds. His touch is colder than frost. He lurks in the shadows, never coming out into the light.
One stolen moment with Elion, and I'm intrigued. A kiss, and I'll do anything to call this brutishly handsome lord mine.
Then one of the women is found dead. When you're next appears on my bedroom wall, written in blood, it's clear there's more going on here than solidifying the human-fae truce.
If I'm not careful, I won't become a bride of the fae. I'll wind up dead.
Ice Lord's Bride is book one in a fantasy romance duology. It heats to a high sizzle and comes with a guaranteed happily ever after.
8 pages, Audible Audio
Published August 1, 2023
423 people are currently reading
330 people want to read
About the author
Ava Ross
173 books774 followersAVA ROSS fell for men with unusual features when she first watched Star Wars, where alien creatures have gone mainstream. She lives in New England with her husband (who is sadly not an alien, though he is still cute in his own way), her kids, and assorted pets, including a yorkie pup and three cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
August 31, 2025
Scarred Hearts & Shifting Loyalties
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚💜💙❤️
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 😋🙂☺️😍
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration
🦸🏼♀️ Heroine Spotlight: Raven
Raven’s life was upended when her mother fell ill, forcing her to leave college and return to her small hometown. Now juggling grief, guardianship of her eight-year-old sister, and a job at the local diner, Raven is the kind of heroine who doesn’t just survive—she shoulders the world with quiet strength. Her emotional resilience and fierce loyalty make her a compelling anchor in a story that blends fantasy with real-world stakes.
🐺 Hero in the Shadows: Elion
Elion, once a proud Ice Lord and fifth in line for the Fae throne, is now a pariah. Cursed by a witch and transformed into a wolf shifter—a form reviled by his own kind—he bears physical scars and emotional wounds that isolate him from the glittering court. His quiet suffering and self-imposed exile add a tragic depth to his character, especially as he’s drawn to Raven despite knowing he’s forbidden from love.
🔥 Plot & Emotional Undercurrents
The Fae have crossed the veil and struck a controversial treaty with the human government: six unmarried women will travel to the Fae realm in hopes of finding a mate among the nobility. If they fail, they return home with a million dollars—a tempting offer for Raven, who sees it as a lifeline for her sister’s future.
Elion’s first glimpse of Raven at her restaurant sparks a fascination he can’t shake. Though he’s ordered to remain hidden, his quiet stalking leads to a violent demon attack that exposes him—and reunites him with Raven, now one of the chosen six.
As tensions rise, so do the stakes:
• 💀 A murder mystery unfolds as human women begin dying under suspicious circumstances.
• 💘 Raven’s immediate acceptance of Elion’s scars defies the Fae’s toxic beauty standards.
• 🧨 Political sabotage brews among the Fae elite, many of whom resent the treaty and the human brides.
🤨 Where the Ice Cracks
One narrative gap stood out: Elion’s exclusion from the bride selection process is vaguely explained. His cryptic warning that “things could get nasty” if he pursued Raven hints at deeper cultural taboos, but the story never fully unpacks the Fae’s rigid beauty politics or the consequences of defying them. A bit more world-building here would’ve added clarity and tension.
🎧 Narration Notes
Told in dual POVs with dual narration, this audiobook benefits from strong performances:
• Jillian Macie brings expressive nuance to Raven’s voice, capturing both vulnerability and grit. Her work in paranormal and alien romance continues to shine.
• Ryan West delivers a grounded, emotionally resonant Elion. His narration feels lived-in, never performative, and adds weight to Elion’s internal struggle.
💬 Favorite Quotes
“She was the sun peeking above the horizon in the morning, plus the vast, churning sea full of intrigue and danger. Loving her was like stepping off a cliff and hoping I could fly. Or that she'd catch me.”
“Sometimes, late at night, I ached to be with someone who’d see past the scars to the person I was inside.”
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚💜💙❤️
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 😋🙂☺️😍
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration
🦸🏼♀️ Heroine Spotlight: Raven
Raven’s life was upended when her mother fell ill, forcing her to leave college and return to her small hometown. Now juggling grief, guardianship of her eight-year-old sister, and a job at the local diner, Raven is the kind of heroine who doesn’t just survive—she shoulders the world with quiet strength. Her emotional resilience and fierce loyalty make her a compelling anchor in a story that blends fantasy with real-world stakes.
🐺 Hero in the Shadows: Elion
Elion, once a proud Ice Lord and fifth in line for the Fae throne, is now a pariah. Cursed by a witch and transformed into a wolf shifter—a form reviled by his own kind—he bears physical scars and emotional wounds that isolate him from the glittering court. His quiet suffering and self-imposed exile add a tragic depth to his character, especially as he’s drawn to Raven despite knowing he’s forbidden from love.
🔥 Plot & Emotional Undercurrents
The Fae have crossed the veil and struck a controversial treaty with the human government: six unmarried women will travel to the Fae realm in hopes of finding a mate among the nobility. If they fail, they return home with a million dollars—a tempting offer for Raven, who sees it as a lifeline for her sister’s future.
Elion’s first glimpse of Raven at her restaurant sparks a fascination he can’t shake. Though he’s ordered to remain hidden, his quiet stalking leads to a violent demon attack that exposes him—and reunites him with Raven, now one of the chosen six.
As tensions rise, so do the stakes:
• 💀 A murder mystery unfolds as human women begin dying under suspicious circumstances.
• 💘 Raven’s immediate acceptance of Elion’s scars defies the Fae’s toxic beauty standards.
• 🧨 Political sabotage brews among the Fae elite, many of whom resent the treaty and the human brides.
🤨 Where the Ice Cracks
One narrative gap stood out: Elion’s exclusion from the bride selection process is vaguely explained. His cryptic warning that “things could get nasty” if he pursued Raven hints at deeper cultural taboos, but the story never fully unpacks the Fae’s rigid beauty politics or the consequences of defying them. A bit more world-building here would’ve added clarity and tension.
🎧 Narration Notes
Told in dual POVs with dual narration, this audiobook benefits from strong performances:
• Jillian Macie brings expressive nuance to Raven’s voice, capturing both vulnerability and grit. Her work in paranormal and alien romance continues to shine.
• Ryan West delivers a grounded, emotionally resonant Elion. His narration feels lived-in, never performative, and adds weight to Elion’s internal struggle.
💬 Favorite Quotes
“She was the sun peeking above the horizon in the morning, plus the vast, churning sea full of intrigue and danger. Loving her was like stepping off a cliff and hoping I could fly. Or that she'd catch me.”
“Sometimes, late at night, I ached to be with someone who’d see past the scars to the person I was inside.”
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December 4, 2022
Out of her depth
This would have been a two and a half but the unnecessary addition of racial factors when she is clearly not equipped to handle the subject matter of diversity and inclusion made it uncomfortable to read. It did not come off well for the author, and left her perspective on diversity at exactly the opposite end of inclusion. She should have left it alone. Despite trying to plug on, the story then proceeded to take several unrealistic turns in the second half that made me question how many sections of my brain I'd have to turn off to finish it. I am not one to write reviews but this one requires some honest feedback. Readers beware.
This would have been a two and a half but the unnecessary addition of racial factors when she is clearly not equipped to handle the subject matter of diversity and inclusion made it uncomfortable to read. It did not come off well for the author, and left her perspective on diversity at exactly the opposite end of inclusion. She should have left it alone. Despite trying to plug on, the story then proceeded to take several unrealistic turns in the second half that made me question how many sections of my brain I'd have to turn off to finish it. I am not one to write reviews but this one requires some honest feedback. Readers beware.
May 9, 2023
She was the sun peeking above the horizon in the morning, plus the vast, churning sea full of intrigue and danger. Loving her was like stepping off a cliff and hoping I could fly. Or that she'd catch me.
3.25 stars
I really wanted to like this story as I've enjoyed other books by this author. However, the pacing and story-flow just felt too choppy to follow easily as the POV switches would often go forward or backward in the timeline without an obvious reason. There also seemed to be no 'rules' that the magic of the realm followed in terms of who could use it and when and how it could be used. I enjoyed all of the tropes included, but there were just too many unanswered questions that kept piling up. I don't think I will be reading the next book as I don't think it will live up to my expectations.
Tropes: fated mates, Beauty-and-the-Beast retelling, bachelorette with fae nobility, hidden past, cursed hero
March 29, 2024
Menos mal que este libro es de Kindle unlimited y no lo he pagado.
No hay por donde cogerlo, el principio estaba bien (capítulo 1-5) de ahí hasta el final no paran de pasar cosas sin sentido. Me daba sueño
Hay una gran probabilidad de que no lea el último
No hay por donde cogerlo, el principio estaba bien (capítulo 1-5) de ahí hasta el final no paran de pasar cosas sin sentido. Me daba sueño
Hay una gran probabilidad de que no lea el último
February 26, 2023
This story was all over the place, from the plot to the characters. I almost considered listing it as DNF because I skimmed so much of it.
The dialogue was unrealistic, not because of fae, but the train of thoughts were as scatterbrained as the plot. Characters easily switched mindsets and went from trying to murder someone and then beg on their knees for forgiveness in literally 2 pages.
I would challenge the author to narrow down on what this book is supposed to be and flesh those out, instead of what felt like trying to fit as much as possible. Find that balance of what can stretch on vs. cut short, and when to show vs. tell. Let well-thought characters shine through naturally without having to explain every thought.
This was 7% in for the MMC:
“But sometimes, late at night, I ached to be with someone who’d see past the scars to the person I was inside.”
I read a lot of cheesy romance and smut, including Insta-love, but this dialogue doesn’t work for me. It doesn’t sound like a real person (or fae).
The dialogue was unrealistic, not because of fae, but the train of thoughts were as scatterbrained as the plot. Characters easily switched mindsets and went from trying to murder someone and then beg on their knees for forgiveness in literally 2 pages.
I would challenge the author to narrow down on what this book is supposed to be and flesh those out, instead of what felt like trying to fit as much as possible. Find that balance of what can stretch on vs. cut short, and when to show vs. tell. Let well-thought characters shine through naturally without having to explain every thought.
This was 7% in for the MMC:
“But sometimes, late at night, I ached to be with someone who’d see past the scars to the person I was inside.”
I read a lot of cheesy romance and smut, including Insta-love, but this dialogue doesn’t work for me. It doesn’t sound like a real person (or fae).
December 4, 2022
This was a well written fast paced story with fab world building and interesting characters. Matching up the fae with humans for a truce is a great idea but there was so much intrigue, suspense and twists layered around this concept that I flew through this first installment of the duet. There is a cliffy but it wasn't a jaw dropper so I'm mildly more patient to wait for book two. Lol! I loved Raven's bravery and Elion was just so taken with her - they really were a great couple. I enjoyed all their interactions and their steamy chemistry :D
May 24, 2025
So there is a lot of world building a bit of spice.
But, but this is your typical Fay type of book.
It would have been betsir. I think if you put the 2 books together. But this is what happens when you do a duology.You've got to read both.I'm getting there
But, but this is your typical Fay type of book.
It would have been betsir. I think if you put the 2 books together. But this is what happens when you do a duology.You've got to read both.I'm getting there
May 9, 2025
DNF - I probably listened to 2-3 hours of the book. Honestly I couldn’t stand either narrator. The story itself did not seem to make much sense to me. So Lord Ellion is cursed and his friends or family..whoever like gave up hope on his curse and waiting for him to succumb to it within a year? And like didn’t want him having a bride for what reason exactly? Why was he even there? It seemed like author tried to build up the plot and just fell flat or didn’t make any lick of sense in the fantasy world sake. Not gonna bother finishing this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2022
This is book 1 in a duet. Meaning the HEA will only happen in book 2... but the cliffhanger is not major, it is bearable.
Raven is a 24-year-old human whose mother died a few months ago. Ever since, she's taking care of her 6-year-old sister and works in a diner. That's where she meets some fae, and has a weird instant connection to one of them. It turns out that fae is Elion, the Ice Lord. To cement the truce between humans and fae, 5 women are supposed to be chosen randomly, taken to the fae realm and chose a husband among the fae lords. If after 3 months they still haven't found a husband, they may come back to the human world and get 3 million $. When Raven is chosen to go, that's exactly what she plans to do: guard her heart and come back with enough money to pay the debts she has since her mom had cancer. Once at the fae castle, she meets Elion again, though he had a glamour on the first time they met, so she doesn't recognize him. He has many scars. He is rude to her because he doesn't understand why he's so attracted to her. Despite his behavior, she soon is falling for him, but is warned that Elion is off-limits because he is cursed: she must choose another lord. Meanwhile, one of the 5 humans is murdered, and the king acts as if it was an accident. What will happen to Raven? Will she follow her heart? What about Elion's curse? Read to find out!
I loooved those book! I'm impatiently waiting for book 2 to come out so I can find out what happens to Raven and Elion! The characters are so well-written and the world building is amazing. I love Koko and Betts has a lot of potential for book 2... I recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy romance! You will love the world and the characters!
Raven is a 24-year-old human whose mother died a few months ago. Ever since, she's taking care of her 6-year-old sister and works in a diner. That's where she meets some fae, and has a weird instant connection to one of them. It turns out that fae is Elion, the Ice Lord. To cement the truce between humans and fae, 5 women are supposed to be chosen randomly, taken to the fae realm and chose a husband among the fae lords. If after 3 months they still haven't found a husband, they may come back to the human world and get 3 million $. When Raven is chosen to go, that's exactly what she plans to do: guard her heart and come back with enough money to pay the debts she has since her mom had cancer. Once at the fae castle, she meets Elion again, though he had a glamour on the first time they met, so she doesn't recognize him. He has many scars. He is rude to her because he doesn't understand why he's so attracted to her. Despite his behavior, she soon is falling for him, but is warned that Elion is off-limits because he is cursed: she must choose another lord. Meanwhile, one of the 5 humans is murdered, and the king acts as if it was an accident. What will happen to Raven? Will she follow her heart? What about Elion's curse? Read to find out!
I loooved those book! I'm impatiently waiting for book 2 to come out so I can find out what happens to Raven and Elion! The characters are so well-written and the world building is amazing. I love Koko and Betts has a lot of potential for book 2... I recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy romance! You will love the world and the characters!
February 22, 2025
I went into this expecting a deliciously dark ice lord and instead we have the guy panting after her after one pretty bland meeting. He wasn't that dark or delicious. Overall I was disappointed and since my TRL is so long I returned this to KU ASAP
November 28, 2022
🔥 “Oh, no, little human. I’ve already chosen my prize, and it’s you.”
~~~
Raven is an amazing woman! She’s so strong and brave. And I loved how resourceful she could be. Even more, she’s so kind and compassionate. Taking care of her little sister takes up most of her time and romance is definitely not a priority in her life. Furthermore, she might be more than an ordinary human. I loved her so, so much!
Lord Elion is one of the most powerful fae in the fae realm. He’s dangerous, deadly, fiercely protective, arrogant and with mild stalkerish tendencies. Even more, he’s quite grumpy, too, especially after being cursed by a witch. But when this man turns on his charms, he’s utterly irresistible and I adored every single thing about him!
I loved everything that happened between Raven and Elion! When fae revealed their existence to humans, to keep a fragile peace, a lottery was created and all eligible women were entered with a chance to be chosen to become a fae wife. Raven didn’t want to have any part of it but she was willing to do it for her sister. And Elion, due to his curse, was completely off limits. But from the moment they met, their attraction was undeniable and neither could keep their hands to themselves. I loved the passionate moments they spent together and that both were so determined to fight for each other, even when their relationship was so forbidden and frowned upon. But their road to happiness is not an easy one and very soon both are entangled in a dangerous web of betrayals and political intrigues. Will their love be strong enough to endure it all?
In addition, the storyline and the worldbuilding were absolutely phenomenal! I loved all the magical creatures we got to meet. Do I want a resha for a pet now? Yes, yes I do! But the fae realm is not what it appears, and no one is not who they claim they are. And something dark has begun… Even more, many are opposed to the human-fae relationship and they’re willing to go quite murderous about it. With all the intrigues, suspense, surprises and twists I was glued to the pages till the very end!
Overall, the story is a remarkable start of the series. It’s filled with danger, drama, action, betrayals, twists, fae, demons, witches, elves, hot romance and phenomenal characters.
I loved every page of it and really, really need the next part of the duet… like now, please!
~~~
Raven is an amazing woman! She’s so strong and brave. And I loved how resourceful she could be. Even more, she’s so kind and compassionate. Taking care of her little sister takes up most of her time and romance is definitely not a priority in her life. Furthermore, she might be more than an ordinary human. I loved her so, so much!
Lord Elion is one of the most powerful fae in the fae realm. He’s dangerous, deadly, fiercely protective, arrogant and with mild stalkerish tendencies. Even more, he’s quite grumpy, too, especially after being cursed by a witch. But when this man turns on his charms, he’s utterly irresistible and I adored every single thing about him!
I loved everything that happened between Raven and Elion! When fae revealed their existence to humans, to keep a fragile peace, a lottery was created and all eligible women were entered with a chance to be chosen to become a fae wife. Raven didn’t want to have any part of it but she was willing to do it for her sister. And Elion, due to his curse, was completely off limits. But from the moment they met, their attraction was undeniable and neither could keep their hands to themselves. I loved the passionate moments they spent together and that both were so determined to fight for each other, even when their relationship was so forbidden and frowned upon. But their road to happiness is not an easy one and very soon both are entangled in a dangerous web of betrayals and political intrigues. Will their love be strong enough to endure it all?
In addition, the storyline and the worldbuilding were absolutely phenomenal! I loved all the magical creatures we got to meet. Do I want a resha for a pet now? Yes, yes I do! But the fae realm is not what it appears, and no one is not who they claim they are. And something dark has begun… Even more, many are opposed to the human-fae relationship and they’re willing to go quite murderous about it. With all the intrigues, suspense, surprises and twists I was glued to the pages till the very end!
Overall, the story is a remarkable start of the series. It’s filled with danger, drama, action, betrayals, twists, fae, demons, witches, elves, hot romance and phenomenal characters.
I loved every page of it and really, really need the next part of the duet… like now, please!
December 2, 2022
Review of Ice Lord’s Bride
By Ava Ross
This Book Has It All!
When the fae made themselves known to the human population, one of the treaty provisions was that six women would be chosen by lottery and would travel to the fae kingdom to meet and be courted by various fae men with the possibility of marriage. If a woman didn’t form an alliance with a fae, she would return at the end of three months with one million dollars. In the fae world, only mortals who were bonded to a fae could live there without going out of their mind.
Before the lottery, four of the fae came into the restaurant where Raven, the female heroine, worked. They were about seven feet tall, with gorgeous features and fit bodies. There was one fae in particular that caught her attention and she thought to herself that she wouldn’t mind entering into a relationship with him. Raven was shocked when she was one of the women selected in the lottery.
After fighting off an attack by demons, Elion raced back to the palace, noticing that a large carriage was in front of the entrance. As he stumbled through the door, injured and bleeding, he noticed Raven was actually there in the fae world. She recognized him as the fae who had been in her restaurant.
The author has created a magical world in a book that has a fabulous story line, a fantastic environment, great character development, a slow burn romance, mysteries galore and exciting action. I do have to warn that it does have a cliff-hanger ending, but I knew going in that this was the first part of a two part story. Don’t let this worry you at all, because if you’re like me, you’ll be anxiously awaiting the next book in the series! I loved this book!
My Rating: 5 + Stars!
I received a free copy of this book via BookFunnel as a member of Ms. Ross’ ARC team and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
By Ava Ross
This Book Has It All!
When the fae made themselves known to the human population, one of the treaty provisions was that six women would be chosen by lottery and would travel to the fae kingdom to meet and be courted by various fae men with the possibility of marriage. If a woman didn’t form an alliance with a fae, she would return at the end of three months with one million dollars. In the fae world, only mortals who were bonded to a fae could live there without going out of their mind.
Before the lottery, four of the fae came into the restaurant where Raven, the female heroine, worked. They were about seven feet tall, with gorgeous features and fit bodies. There was one fae in particular that caught her attention and she thought to herself that she wouldn’t mind entering into a relationship with him. Raven was shocked when she was one of the women selected in the lottery.
After fighting off an attack by demons, Elion raced back to the palace, noticing that a large carriage was in front of the entrance. As he stumbled through the door, injured and bleeding, he noticed Raven was actually there in the fae world. She recognized him as the fae who had been in her restaurant.
The author has created a magical world in a book that has a fabulous story line, a fantastic environment, great character development, a slow burn romance, mysteries galore and exciting action. I do have to warn that it does have a cliff-hanger ending, but I knew going in that this was the first part of a two part story. Don’t let this worry you at all, because if you’re like me, you’ll be anxiously awaiting the next book in the series! I loved this book!
My Rating: 5 + Stars!
I received a free copy of this book via BookFunnel as a member of Ms. Ross’ ARC team and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 26, 2023
From world building to love and murders.. it had it all. The story comes in 2 books. The book does not have many sex scenes in them. I really liked the story. It never felt boring to read and one thing was happening after the other.
I must say , if her other books would be more like this 2 .. that would be cool.
Got me both of the books and I never stopped reading until I had both done. I wanted to know how the story ends. That is what I did on Christmas.. reading the 2 books one after the other and never stopped.
I checked over the reviews here on GR and must say some people , those use to read short stories and a lot of sex.. you notice those right away. I ask you to rather Check out the 5 star ratings, they tell you exactly what the book is about.
The 2 book are also about emotions like hope, wanting to have love and life instead of dying. Fighting for your right and survival. It seem most low star reviews never known any of this pain or they would not see this as lacking.
I am a book reader for as long as I can remember and I was surprised to finally, after short stories lacking depth, finding a fantasy Story that had it all and was worth my time and money.
The Fae are bringing human females to their realm, so they might chose a Fae Lord or even a prince to marry. One of the Lords is cursed, so he is not an option and he is forbidden. But the female hero here, has other ideas and she does not care. They both fall for each other. The evil person that cursed him to die, is now going after her, too. At the same time some humans end up found dead, killed. Someone poisons the Fae King.. it is said he died .. the Heros of the book are in deep trouble for they get accused of killing the king... Now they are in real danger, the crown prince wants to see him dead ...
I must say , if her other books would be more like this 2 .. that would be cool.
Got me both of the books and I never stopped reading until I had both done. I wanted to know how the story ends. That is what I did on Christmas.. reading the 2 books one after the other and never stopped.
I checked over the reviews here on GR and must say some people , those use to read short stories and a lot of sex.. you notice those right away. I ask you to rather Check out the 5 star ratings, they tell you exactly what the book is about.
The 2 book are also about emotions like hope, wanting to have love and life instead of dying. Fighting for your right and survival. It seem most low star reviews never known any of this pain or they would not see this as lacking.
I am a book reader for as long as I can remember and I was surprised to finally, after short stories lacking depth, finding a fantasy Story that had it all and was worth my time and money.
The Fae are bringing human females to their realm, so they might chose a Fae Lord or even a prince to marry. One of the Lords is cursed, so he is not an option and he is forbidden. But the female hero here, has other ideas and she does not care. They both fall for each other. The evil person that cursed him to die, is now going after her, too. At the same time some humans end up found dead, killed. Someone poisons the Fae King.. it is said he died .. the Heros of the book are in deep trouble for they get accused of killing the king... Now they are in real danger, the crown prince wants to see him dead ...
April 1, 2025
I tried. I really did. But DNF'd at 92%. I was just so done. I can hardly believe this is the same author as Mail-Order Brides of Crakair, a series that was really well done. This was, in short, a mess. The original idea was captivating, but gradually too many new ideas were introduced and too many questions were haphazardly answered far too late. It's as if the author would periodically realize she didn't properly develop an idea and just made up an answer for it quickly at present hoping readers would be appeased. Sure, you can perhaps get away with doing that once or twice but when it's in every chapter? yeah...not gonna fly. I nearly finished the book and yet I have no idea what this book wants to be. Dark broody ice lord? (Not very dark and very little talk of ice.) Wolf shifter? (Shifter powers apparently exist with no explanation or development). Fae realm political intrigue? Well that exists throughout at least, but characters disappear without explanation. People suddenly gain surprise powers. Elf servants suddenly critical to the story. Magic with seemingly no rules...the author makes it up as she goes. No thought/personality consistency in any characters. It's really just not good.
December 12, 2022
But disappointed
I almost gave it lesser rating. Normally I am a fan of the authors works.
This one left me shaking my head in places and wanting it to speed ahead in others.
There was a feeling of disconnect between some of the scenes that was not smooth. Felt like when someone took break from story, forgot past and realized later some did bot gel with before.
One was her human storyline. She left her mother to move across co for college, but had to delay it and work to afford it? I do not know anyone that moves away from home unless scholarships are set up as well as jobs to make up tuition shortfalls. Or loans. And she had some money to send her mom? Illogical. Would have made more sense she moved out to live with friends to city, in her state, went to school PT, worked. Then moved home to take care of Mom, Sister.
Then there are the way to long back and forth of the Fae world plot, characters. Too convoluted. Especially the demon, witch, etc.
Like author could not decide what she wanted and threw them all in.
I almost gave it lesser rating. Normally I am a fan of the authors works.
This one left me shaking my head in places and wanting it to speed ahead in others.
There was a feeling of disconnect between some of the scenes that was not smooth. Felt like when someone took break from story, forgot past and realized later some did bot gel with before.
One was her human storyline. She left her mother to move across co for college, but had to delay it and work to afford it? I do not know anyone that moves away from home unless scholarships are set up as well as jobs to make up tuition shortfalls. Or loans. And she had some money to send her mom? Illogical. Would have made more sense she moved out to live with friends to city, in her state, went to school PT, worked. Then moved home to take care of Mom, Sister.
Then there are the way to long back and forth of the Fae world plot, characters. Too convoluted. Especially the demon, witch, etc.
Like author could not decide what she wanted and threw them all in.
December 16, 2022
So first things first, this is a duology. There is another book to come after this which you need to be aware of as otherwise you get to the end and are left wanting to know more but there is none yet! This is a little of a step away from what I have become used to reading from this author. There is a little less banter and humour in it. I think this gives it more of a fairytale air, well to me anyway, and not only because it is like Beauty & The Beast. I am always swayed towards the dark, broodinga and grumpy ones though to be honest and there is no exception here. Elion, a fae lord, has been cursed and his very life is forfeit. This renders him ineligible for a human bride. It doesn't stop him falling for Raven though. he tries to stay away but he cannot quite seem to. Raven isn't sure why she feels as drawn as she does to the scarred lord but when one of the human women is hurt, she is very grateful that he is there with her. The more times she spends with him the more she likes him. Maybe she can find a way to end the curse?
December 8, 2022
I loved this book! Great world building and I completely fell in love with the characters. I tend to shy away from books where a couple's story is told over more than one book and I have to read two or three to reach their happy(!) ending. But this story was completely captivating- exciting, suspenseful, and dangerous, with twists and intrigue. It had me at the edge of my seat. I completely fell in love with Elion. The ice lord, scarred and cursed to live a life alone without love. It's a trope I enjoy in romances when I can find it- and seeing them find love with the perfect partner to match and support them. Human Raven was that person. She's compassionate, caring, and brave. I loved the chemistry between her and Elion, and seeing their forbidden love blossom. But their journey to a happy ending is fraught with danger and disapproval. I can't wait to pick up the next book! 5 stars.
"I’d rip my way through this world and mine to break the curse and save him." <3 <3
"I’d rip my way through this world and mine to break the curse and save him." <3 <3
September 15, 2025
I’m sorry, Ava Ross is capable of doing better than this. My problems with this story in just the first 50 pages: 1) the premise is unnecessarily complicated. You can write a story where the guy has a thing for the waitress that he randomly met or where the FMC is randomly selected in a lottery, but both? He randomly meets her but then she’s one of six women chosen in the WORLD? Why? 2) they only need six women but the lottery is mandatory? Why not only include women who want to be selected? 3) they can offer each woman a million dollars but they can’t cover child care when they’re involuntarily taken from their homes? 4) the six women are selected from all over the world and are transported to the FMC’s small Maine home town? Why? 5) of the six women, four are white, one is Asian, and one is black. The FMC is surprised that they are not all white. Statistically, three or four of these women would be Asian and at most one would be white. Why is the FMC so ignorant and racist?
November 29, 2022
Ice Lord’s Bride by Ava Ross is a steamy, Happily for Now sci-fi romance, where mysteries & intrigues abound! Raven, our human heroine was busy caring for her much younger sister and had no interest in becoming part of the fae bride lottery, to which she “won” a spot. Elion is a cursed fae lord who was not supposed to take part in this lottery. The chemistry between them is so undeniable that both jump in with their whole hearts! In doing so, they find themselves embroiled in political drama and overwhelming danger!
This is part 1 of a 2-part story. I generally hesitate to read something in 2 parts, but in this instance, I am so happy I did! If I could have rated it more than 5 stars, I would have! While it does end in a happily for now, there are so many questions yet to be answered and so much peril ahead of them. I cannot wait for the second part, The Ice Lord’s Fate.
This is part 1 of a 2-part story. I generally hesitate to read something in 2 parts, but in this instance, I am so happy I did! If I could have rated it more than 5 stars, I would have! While it does end in a happily for now, there are so many questions yet to be answered and so much peril ahead of them. I cannot wait for the second part, The Ice Lord’s Fate.
December 8, 2022
I went into this book having yet to read the description. I liked the cover and was like, "oh yes, gimme." Then I started reading, and I adored the FMC Raven. She has been doing all she can for her little sister since their mother passed away. Then she is chosen to be one of the Fae brides to bring our two worlds together, but as we all know, nothing goes according to plan. She is driven and has the courage I always hope runs through me in dark times. I was so impressed because sometimes female characters are written, and I can't relate to them. It was wonderful to read one I loved as much as the MMC. Elion was my perfect hero. There is something about a scarred male who carries the weight on his shoulders from past experiences. There is a lot of action and intrigue, and I am impatiently waiting for the next book!
December 12, 2022
"...the curse sunk deeper than my skin."
Elion is a cursed Fae, told to stay away from the human women, but he simply can't resist Raven. She looks past his appearance, sees through his demeanor, treats him as a person - not a cursed one. How can he resist such a rare individual?
This beautiful kindle unlimited story has all the best traits of a beauty and the beast fairytale, mixed with the twists and turns of a whodunit.
Ice Lord's Bride ends with other, secondary characters, off on their own in interesting situations I hope are followed up on soon as we discover not just how Raven and Elion ultimately deal with his curse, but also how the King deals with the turmoil in his Kingdom.
Elion is a cursed Fae, told to stay away from the human women, but he simply can't resist Raven. She looks past his appearance, sees through his demeanor, treats him as a person - not a cursed one. How can he resist such a rare individual?
This beautiful kindle unlimited story has all the best traits of a beauty and the beast fairytale, mixed with the twists and turns of a whodunit.
Ice Lord's Bride ends with other, secondary characters, off on their own in interesting situations I hope are followed up on soon as we discover not just how Raven and Elion ultimately deal with his curse, but also how the King deals with the turmoil in his Kingdom.
May 10, 2023
Could not put down
I was a little leary to start this book but am so happy I picked it up. I really appreciated the world building and the magic. There was not a lot about the background of the magic but it was not needed.
The world building was perfect for me. I could see the world but it was never long winded. As a fellow reader you know how authors spend to much time building but miss the plot.
Loved the characters and want to spend more time with them. Had some overlay of Beauty and the Beast but only like 5%. There was just the right amount of characters. Enough to feel a little cause a little chaos but enough I was able to keep everyone straight.
Almost no spice. Multiple POV. No RH.
Can’t wait to read the next book, it is already out.
I was a little leary to start this book but am so happy I picked it up. I really appreciated the world building and the magic. There was not a lot about the background of the magic but it was not needed.
The world building was perfect for me. I could see the world but it was never long winded. As a fellow reader you know how authors spend to much time building but miss the plot.
Loved the characters and want to spend more time with them. Had some overlay of Beauty and the Beast but only like 5%. There was just the right amount of characters. Enough to feel a little cause a little chaos but enough I was able to keep everyone straight.
Almost no spice. Multiple POV. No RH.
Can’t wait to read the next book, it is already out.
November 19, 2022
WOW - this is book one of a two book story and it is incredible. Ms. Ross has given us a world that contains not only humans, but fae and other mystical creatures. Raven is chosen, through a lottery of eligible females, to go to the fae world in hopes of solidifying the new relationship between humans and faes through marriage. But all is not what it seems - the fae world is filled with curses, intrigue, and magic. Raven and her mate fight to end the curse that is consuming him, but time is not on their side. Wonderful characters and a well-rounded plot make this story one that can't be put down til finished.
November 26, 2022
I need to state upfront that I don't usually read books about the fae or a duology..but this is Ava Ross! I would read her grocery list. So I read the Ice Lord's Bride and WOW! The characters, the storyline, the world! All of it so well written! Of course this IS Ava Ross so it really couldn't be otherwise. She is a Master story teller. The only thing I don't like is now I have to wait for Book 2. I never go into detail when I review a book, I don't want to give anything away. I will just say my heart was with Lord Elion and I loved Raven. Their story will keep you on the edge of your seat. I loved it!
December 2, 2022
Another amazing read by Ava Ross! This book had it all romance, adventure, mystery, and suspense. Raven ends up in the fae world as a part of the fae bride lottery. Raven is a strong and brave woman who is trying to navigate the complex situation she finds herself in. She is not sure who she can trust in the new world she is thrown into. Lord Elion hasn’t been the same since his encounter with a witch. Sparks fly when he firsts meets Raven. They have such amazing chemistry! I couldn’t wait to finish the book to see what happens, and if our characters get a happy ending or not. The ending left me wanting more of the fae world and our MCs. I can’t wait until the next book comes out!
December 3, 2022
The Fae are real and to keep peace a treaty was generated and a lottery was set up that all eligible female were to enter for the chance to find a mate. If after a limited time no connection was made you could go home with compensation. Raven could use that to help take care of her 6 year old sister.
Before the lottery, four fae came into the restaurant where Raven works and one catches her eye. Elion, but he is off limits for the lottery .
What will happen,? There is danger, fae and elves, demons and witches, mysteries, slow burn steam, and action. Our author has created an amazing world and characters for this duet. There is a cliffhanger and the HEA is in the second book.
Before the lottery, four fae came into the restaurant where Raven works and one catches her eye. Elion, but he is off limits for the lottery .
What will happen,? There is danger, fae and elves, demons and witches, mysteries, slow burn steam, and action. Our author has created an amazing world and characters for this duet. There is a cliffhanger and the HEA is in the second book.
February 8, 2023
Started off good, but quickly became a jumbled mess
First thing first: This book ends on a cliffhanger.
I really had high hopes for this book. It had such a promising premise, and I was willing to read both books based on the book blurbs alone. I won't even bother to read the second book now. I skimmed through the second half of this book, hoping for something to make reading it worthwhile, but the story is a complete disappointment.
The story was a disaster, with all sorts of plots and oh-by-the-ways randomly thrown in to create more conflict and mystery.
This story is a jumbled mess, through and through.
First thing first: This book ends on a cliffhanger.
I really had high hopes for this book. It had such a promising premise, and I was willing to read both books based on the book blurbs alone. I won't even bother to read the second book now. I skimmed through the second half of this book, hoping for something to make reading it worthwhile, but the story is a complete disappointment.
The story was a disaster, with all sorts of plots and oh-by-the-ways randomly thrown in to create more conflict and mystery.
This story is a jumbled mess, through and through.
October 18, 2025
I wanted to love The Ice Lord’s Bride, but it fell flat for me. The romance moved way too fast, they were basically in love from the start, leaving no real chase or tension. The story itself got buried under constant thoughts about sex instead of letting the plot or worldbuilding breathe.
It was also obvious early on that the heroine wasn’t completely human, so there weren’t many surprises there. I didn’t feel any real angst or emotional pull, and character-wise, there wasn’t much growth for anyone. By the end, I wasn’t sure who I actually liked, and that’s a sign the story didn’t work for me.
Disappointing overall, especially since the premise had so much potential.
It was also obvious early on that the heroine wasn’t completely human, so there weren’t many surprises there. I didn’t feel any real angst or emotional pull, and character-wise, there wasn’t much growth for anyone. By the end, I wasn’t sure who I actually liked, and that’s a sign the story didn’t work for me.
Disappointing overall, especially since the premise had so much potential.
November 21, 2022
Another tens star read fro Ava Ross! Ross immerses the reader in the world of Fae, elves and magic! Be warned reader, this is a two part saga but it is so worth the wait for part 2. A detailed plot with suspense, action and intrigue. Who plots to murder the human woman sent to the Fae world in an effort to increase birth rates among the Fae. The mystery surrounding the court is filled with suspense and magic. Elion is the romantic hero cursed by a witch to a short life. Raven is his perfect mate. The romance scenes are hot! Can’t wait for part two! Download and enjoy ❤️❤️❤️
December 5, 2022
Plans Altered
I loved this story! Elion is a badly disfigured Fae Lord who falls for human Raven. A victim of a cruel curse. Although he has been cursedto die within a year he can’t stay away from her. But there is treachery afoot and enemies surround them. As their love grows so does the danger. Because Raven’s love for Elion has altered someone’s plans and they are very angry. This book was so exciting and I can’t wait for the next book. I think I have a few things figured out and it will be fun to see if I’m right.
I loved this story! Elion is a badly disfigured Fae Lord who falls for human Raven. A victim of a cruel curse. Although he has been cursedto die within a year he can’t stay away from her. But there is treachery afoot and enemies surround them. As their love grows so does the danger. Because Raven’s love for Elion has altered someone’s plans and they are very angry. This book was so exciting and I can’t wait for the next book. I think I have a few things figured out and it will be fun to see if I’m right.
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