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Fractured Crown Trilogy #2

A Hunt So Wild: Book Two of the Fractured Crown Trilogy

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She survived the Forest Court. She survived the bargain. But will she survive the hunt?

Cast out and marked for death, Briar believed the hunt would end if she managed to survive for three days. She was very wrong. Because with Malus free, old magic has awakened, hungry and wrong. Something that has slept for centuries has begun to stir, and it wants what Briar carries in her blood.

When the Star Court offers sanctuary, Briar has to choose between the safety of light and the pull of shadows. As old enemies become unlikely allies and the corruption creeps closer, she discovers that some secrets the fae have kept hidden were meant to stay buried.

In a world where love is possession, trust is deadly, and every choice demands sacrifice, Briar must decide what she's willing to become in order to protect what she loves.

For readers want your fae courts deadly, your romance possessive, and the heroine to choose the darkness instead of fighting it.

483 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 13, 2026

12 people are currently reading
34 people want to read

About the author

Avelley Greer

4 books28 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
Profile Image for Tasha .
106 reviews
December 31, 2025
Thank you Avelley for an advance copy of this book!!

Have you ever heard “the first book was good, but the second book was better”?

Okay. Karse got me!! His dry sarcasm and matter of fact observances had me chuckling. I hear him in an Irish accent 😂

This books kicks off with a bang, and keeps going. Briar… honey… you found your voice (kinda)! Thank the goddess. I was giving up.

In all honesty, I prefer fierce and feisty FMC’s. Even those who fight internally with insecurities and self doubt, but you watch them grow and change and burn the world down! So I struggle a bit with Briar. She has her moments. She has her trauma. And I get it! When she cowers into herself. When she loses her fight for selfless reasons. But I swear I rage every time she says “please”.

It’s full of “I didn’t see that coming” and some events/left unfinished (book 3 give me answers!).

The drama does not relent in the first 20%

I stand corrected. I just does not let up… EVER!! Like, speed reading because the action was so intense you rush through it to move as fast as your mind pictures the scene. And when it’s still and peaceful (well, not really) your heart is racing anticipating SOMETHING is about to happen!

I will be continuing this story, for sure!
Profile Image for Spice and Shelf Love.
278 reviews32 followers
January 19, 2026
3.5 stars. I'm still really invested, and this book is written way better than many books I've recently read - I want to highlight that - but comparing against the first book of the series, this one is less polished.

The pacing was up and down. There was repetition galore: Briar was kidnapped way too many times, she lost consciousness constantly throughout the book to close out chapters, and phrases or small details were reused a lot like Briar refusing to eat, the argument of her not being a "possession", or using "something" to describe a feeling or sensation or taste (the word is used so many times, typically in the format of "like ___, and/but with something ___" -->"scent like rain and with something darker", "smelled of fresh water and something floral...", etc. This sentence structure and the word "something" was used so much it stuck out to me like a sore thumb.)

Because of the repetition of kidnaps and traveling/escapes in the first 40-50% of the book, it felt like nothing much plot-wise really occurred until half-way through. I was way more invested in the last 20% of the book than the rest :/

That being said, Briar continued to be a complex FMC. At times I wanted to shake her, and I still don't know how I feel about her relationship with Eliam (though this is a dark romance so it's never going to be all green flags), but she had some good moments of growth and realization.

I also loved seeing more character growth from Eliam - we even see some more softness from him :)

Overall, to restate, I'm invested. I'm going to be reading the third book. This one just wasn't as strong as the first book to me. Loved the ending though!

Other Notes: Don't read if you don't want spoilers

-

- Arion felt drastically underused in this book :/ In the first, I felt the pull of Briar between both Eliam and Arion - to the point that I wondered at points who she'd choose. In this book? Arion was basically rejected left and right and seemed to lack personality.

- The character of Karse feels really flat as well. After the beginning like 15% Karse kinda fades into the background and becomes just another supporting character with just kind of a sarcastic personality.

- I would have liked the time difference to be restated at some point - I completely forgot from the first book that time in the human and fae worlds moved differently so I was very confused why there were references to the bargain with Briar's mother occurring 25 years ago, but then also people commenting that Eliam in centuries. It wasn't until that I was reminded that 2 weeks in the human world is like 6 months in the fae realm.

- The kidnapping by Malachar --> completely unnecessary. Seemed like it was stuck in just to close out his story line? It added yet another kidnapping/escape/fight after several had already occurred.

- What happened to Frederick?! The cute little bugger just disappeared after the Star Court. Would have loved for him to have stuck around.
Profile Image for kymagirl.
6,439 reviews89 followers
January 14, 2026
Magic remembers what the mind forgets. And it’s not done with her yet.

Briar makes a bargain to save her sister and walks straight into the Forest Court, where survival is a game and blood is the price. Hunted like prey, she expects death if she lasts three days. What she gets instead is a fae king who marks her as his and a world that refuses to let her go.

Eliam is all sharp edges and control, a ruler who holds his court together through force and fear. Arion is his opposite in every way, warm where Eliam is cold, light where he is shadow. But neither of them are what they seem, and Briar’s presence awakens something old and dangerous between them. Trapped in a power struggle laced with secrets and longing, she becomes more than a pawn, she becomes the key.

As the court fractures and dark magic rises, Briar is forced to choose who to trust when every offer has a price. Power twists, loyalty wavers, and love might not be enough to hold it all together. And when everything breaks, what’s left behind isn’t the girl who entered the woods. It’s something wilder.

Briar grows from a hunted human to someone who challenges the heart of fae power. Eliam begins as a brutal ruler, but slowly unravels into something more human and more dangerous. Arion’s charm hides a deeper purpose, one that binds him to both Briar and Eliam in ways none of them expect. Their bond is messy, intense, and threaded with pain, built on shared trauma and a magic that will not let them forget what they were to each other.

A dark, steamy, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, fated mates fae romantasy filled with twisted bonds, broken memories, reluctant allies, and the ache of love that doesn’t let go. It’s about a woman fighting to reclaim herself in a world that keeps trying to own her. It’s a story of survival, identity, power, and what it means to choose love even when it hurts.

The Elevator Pitch: A mortal girl makes a bargain to save her sister and is pulled into a deadly fae hunt where survival is only the beginning. Entangled with a cold, possessive fae king and his fractured other half, she becomes the key to ancient magic, buried secrets, and a bond that was never meant to form. Dark, emotional, and brutally intimate, it's a story of power, memory, and the cost of choosing love in a world that wants to own you.
Profile Image for Ava.
53 reviews1 follower
January 18, 2026
I am NOT okay! 😭😭😭 spoilers so please do not read my review if you’ve not read both books

Review: as usual Greers gifted with the character development the strange and mysterious and unexpected outcomes.

Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 1/2
Story ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ll be honest…

Some slightly predictable elements that I sorta expected, but it didn’t take away from book or my enjoying it. If anything I felt validated 😂 I’d theorized something in book one and when it was confirmed I was like “Hell yeah, Forensic files hold my beer!”

But the last couple of chapters were absolutely not what I expected. I did not see it coming and my heart was/is broken.
I think the author is refreshing- because the expectation was there for some things. And okay the author gives it to you

But then they rip away all your plans for the rest of it.
Everything you think will come next shifts.

I was here questioning the “ease” with which Malus got defeated, then I got it. We aren’t going for the “more peril” approach that so many choose, I was ready for Malus to win or the main character to be kidnapped etc… but nope
we just decided to go directly for the throat here? We get the tiny reprieve from chaos just to be drowned in soul crushing pain - and I’m not even mad about it, I’m just absolutely heartbroken and need book three, yesterday!

I was getting to last chapters going okay prepare for cliffhanger of more trials and villains winning for a bit etc. instead I was crying going oh god no! Please give me safe plot “dungeon, brave rescue attempts, we might lose a side character etc”
You don’t get that familiar trope
Instead my heart hurt




This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Lilith's_Library_.
549 reviews26 followers
December 10, 2025
A fierce, breathtaking sequel that raises the stakes and outshines an already brilliant first book

Having devoured the first book in Avelley Greer’s Fractured Crown Trilogy, I dove into A Hunt So Wild with high expectations — and it absolutely delivered. This sequel is darker, sharper, and even more emotionally charged, proving that Greer knows exactly how to escalate tension, danger, and desire in all the right ways.

The character development is phenomenal. Everything established in book one blooms into something jagged and glorious here — strained loyalties, messy feelings, and that irresistible
“we’re fighting the world but also fighting our feelings” energy. The chemistry between the leads is explosive, simmering beneath every heated exchange and silently loaded moment.

The world building expands beautifully, pulling you deeper into a realm full of magic, treachery, and consequences. The hunt is brutal and captivating, each twist tightening its grip until you’re breathless. And the ending? Perfectly cruel. The kind that makes you stare at the wall afterwards because… how dare Greer.

If you loved the first book, this one doesn’t just continue the journey — it elevates it. Raw, intense, and utterly addictive, A Hunt So Wild is the kind of sequel that proves why this trilogy deserves all the hype.
Profile Image for Angelina Stevens.
35 reviews7 followers
January 26, 2026
This review is long overdue, I had the absolute pleasure of beta reading this book.

Avelley girl once again you’re a genius….

The growth, the trauma, the decisions😭😭

Briar is such a strong character and seeing her deal with new and old traumas hurt my heart. with everything that’s she’s dealing with she just keeps pushing.

Eliam my love… he’s such a complicated character, seeing his growth and dealing with his emotions made me so happy. This book had a MASSIVE reveal about his past and genuinely i didn’t see it coming. it was so smart and well done… and so original like ive never read a plot line with something like this.

my new love Karse, my unhinged hot drak man ugh his comic relief was so needed. i want a whole book just on him pls and thanks. and spicy🤭

the ending of the book…. im pulling my hair out and fucking pacing. i need answers and i need them now. the fucking plot twist and WHIPLASH i got… it’s mysterious and gut wrenching and you might as well stomp on my heart.

gimme book 3 rn pls and thx😘
Profile Image for KC.
73 reviews2 followers
December 11, 2025
Book Review: A Hunt So Wild by Avelley Greer

I had the unique opportunity to beta read this book, and let me tell you, it does not believe in letting the reader breathe. The story launches at a sprint and refuses to slow down, delivering battles, political tension, and emotional chaos. No punches are held.

Briar remains a force, her arc is messy, human, and compelling. The character dynamics are wonderfully tangled, the magic is dangerous in all the right ways, and the court politics get juicier without ever tipping into confusion.

Much like the first book in the series, A Kiss So Cruel, this is a fast, gripping, and emotionally loaded sequel that leans into themes of power, choice, and the way affection can blur into something far more volatile. It’s dramatic, intense, and delightfully feral, it’s perfect for readers who like flawed characters and fantasy that keeps you on edge.

Thank you to the author for the beta and ARC. This is my honest and unbiased review.
Profile Image for zee ✨.
1 review
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 24, 2025
A Hunt So Wild starts off with a bang! And ends with a twist you never see coming. After consuming A Kiss So Cruel, I had been waiting patiently (not so!) for its sequel to be announced. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC in exchange for my review.

We start right back where we left off, with Briar fighting for her life during the hunt. What I loved about this book is that the action was punching with every page. You are never bored while reading. However, by the middle of the book, you are questioning whether or not Briar will ever catch a break. And that can make for heavy reading, especially if you’re not familiar with dark/horror romance fantasy. Please mind the content warnings!

Needless to say, I loved it and gobbled it up quickly. I do feel as though it could have been trimmed down a few hundred pages and some plot lines could have been better fleshed out. I am hoping loose ends will be answered in the next installment.

A 4.2/5 stars for me - can’t wait for more! ⭐️
63 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy
January 9, 2026
This book starts out right where book one of the trilogy left off with Briar trying to escape the fey hunting her in the forest. All of the twisted characters from the first book are back with all new characters as well including a snarky Drak warrior named Karse and Eiiam's evil brother Malus. If you thought Eliam and Malachar were evil, Malus is even worse. I thought the first book was dark but this one is even darker. The storyline is complex, shocking, and heartbreaking like a fairytale soap opera. The plot twists and fascinating characters kept me reading well after I should have been in bed. Even though I knew there would be no happily ever after, I was surprised how sad I felt when I finished this book. But it won't stop me from going through the whole emotional rollercoaster again when the final book in the trilogy comes out.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Mikayla.
2 reviews
January 14, 2026
AVELLEY!!! You have done it once again ( no surprise here )

I had the the honor of being one of the beta readers for the continuation in this incredible series and let me tell you. I couldn’t open those pages fast enough. I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into Eliam and Briars story!

This book had a lot more plot which I was so happy to get as a reader (still spicy tho ahhhh) I wanted to know more and I got more. So much more!!!!

Uhm one new character intro ahhhhhhhhhh. Her writing as always is so delicious I love the tension and the spicy scenes that’s she writes so much like drooling needing moreeee.

The ending tho????!?!?)?!?!)?!)&:!;!:!:&’
I thought I knew where this was going and BAM. SIKE. She ripped my brain out spun it around on her finger like a basketball, kissed it and put it back in. Like hello? So well done truly. 10/10 will be ready many many more times again. Do yourself a favor and just read these already.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Six.
97 reviews1 follower
January 15, 2026
This book starts just as the last one ended and... takes off running and doesn't really, truly stop before it's over. Briar is kidnapped and captured what feels like 583 times. This poor girl just cannot catch a damn break!

It felt a little oddly paced, but that could be second book syndrome, idk. But I enjoyed it, I enjoyed the characters and the new ones. Thaine and Karse, especially, who have the beginnings of a wonderful bromance!
I wish Briar got to be more proactive and less passive, but when you're constantly fainting, knocked out or getting kidnapped, when are you gonna have the time to learn about the magic you constantly feel in your chest?

I would also like to add that my suspicion from the last book, about Eliam and Arion, were completely founded and validated and approved 😌 and I'm glad Briar got to experience that thing before that other thing happened.

Anyway, see me make a bargain to get the last book sooner ✨
1 review
February 18, 2026
excellent!


This was just as good as the first book! (How often does THAT happen??) The author continues to do a great job of characters development as well as world building, and the side characters are fleshed out well. I loooove a competent FMC who isnt just "sassy", IMHO that just usually ends up meaning theyre annoying. Briar is compassionate but also tough, and she is creative and quick witted. Eliam is all kinds of cold and brooding, but he has an actual personality beyond that. He is shown to be caring and sweet, but not devolve into a bland pushover. The pacing of the story is on point, but from what I can tell, it ends on a cliffhanger??! Lol I was so mad at the last page.

Also, apparently this author is self published but I noticed maybe ONE typo in the whole book!! A pleasure to read. One of my new favorite authors.
Profile Image for Bex Ray.
2 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 23, 2025
Absolutely thrilling book from the first page! Incredible hook and it just didn’t stop! The pacing was great. I loved seeing the character growth with our FMC. Loved our new smol friend but I wish he did get more mentions through the 2nd half of the book. And the twist???? It was for sure twisting, let me tell you! I didn’t see that coming. And the aftermath of the reveal had me clutching my pearls. The emotional roller coaster that this book will take you through will give you whiplash in the best way. From the jaw dropping revelations, to the frustrated sighs, to the heartbroken tears, this book brings you all and more. Strap in and bring tissues for another thrilling ride with Avelley Greer!
Profile Image for Stacey Donaldson.
13 reviews
January 15, 2026
I had the honor and privilege to be a beta reader for A Hunt So Wild and let me tell you …. It BLEW A Kiss So Cruel out of the water …. And that was fantastic! This one is even BETTER!!!!! Again, the character development is top notch. The plot …. OMG THE PLOT AND THE TWIST AND THE END had me reeling!!!! Look, I was super sick when I started reading this and yeah should have been resting but I could not put this down. Two days. This took me two days to finish and I wanted more when I was done! The feeling of loss and redemption only to have it slip ….. nope. No you don’t. I’m not giving things away because TRUST me …. You want book 2. You. Want. This. Forget ACOTAR and all that hype. THIS IS IT!!!! Right here. Five stars is never enough. This deserves way more!!!!!!!
Profile Image for Nerdy One.
9 reviews
January 19, 2026
Dark romance lovers—this one is for you.

A Hunt So Wild is everything I want from a dark romantasy sequel—higher stakes, deeper betrayal, and emotional destruction.

The Forest King falling for his human Queen should have been a turning point… instead, it becomes her undoing. When the brother she accidentally freed returns at the worst possible moment, she’s sentenced to the woods—hunted by a court that never accepted her.

The twists hit hard, the magic system is clear and engaging, and the plot revelation changes everything. This is not a happy book. It’s painful, cruel, and left me with actual tears.

The romance and spice are bold and satisfying, pushing boundaries without feeling unnecessary.
Profile Image for Adrianna Heaney-velu.
1,087 reviews14 followers
January 24, 2026
"Magic doesn't require memory…"

“A Hunt So Wild,” by Avelley Greer

I loved this book so much. I didn’t know the first one of the series could be topped but this one was everything I needed. I love the twists so much. I loved the dark romance and dark atmosphere throughout the book. I thought all the characters were so dynamic and perfect, we got more about the characters that were still pretty mysterious in book 1. The trauma, being drawn to each other, the anger, everything had me glued. 5 out of 5 stars, wouldn’t change a thing.

-Dark Fae
-Enemies To Lovers
-Possessive MMC
-Bargains
-Forced Proximity
-Captive/ Slave
-Morally Grey MMC
-Love Triangle
-SA/Rape

Thank you for the ARC, Booksprout.

Profile Image for Elizabeth.
14 reviews2 followers
December 10, 2025
I loooved book 1. I loved A Kiss So Cruel so much I was afraid to read book 2 in case it didn't live up to my expectations. So, I was absolutely ecstatic to find that A Hunt So Wild is even better! Phenomenal read! New characters to love, old characters getting the resolution they deserved, and even more beautiful world building. The story is unpredictable, which is a major plus- I was guessing til the very end. There was great attention to the visual details of the story, which is so important in fantasy novels. I can't wait to see what else is in store for this author and the rest of the series.
Profile Image for Kelly Bryant.
9 reviews
December 16, 2025
I would give this 3.5-4 ⭐️ I received this ARC for my honest review. The first book I flew through, and I similarly did with this one. I was so excited to see some questions finally be answered and I am eager to see how things play out in the next book. I struggled with some of the disconnect between Briar and Eliam in the book and that was what made my rating what it was. I appreciate the nuance and complexity of the relationships I just found it a bit frustrating at times after what it took to get here. The magic and mystery was strong here and I liked how things continued to unfold and come together!
Profile Image for Selene.
196 reviews16 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 12, 2025
A Kiss so Cruel was one of my favorite reads this year and I so thankful to Avelley for an arc of the sequel, even if it ripped my heart out and trampled on it several times while reading. This manages to take everything from the first book and not only build on it but make it more emotional , more painful, more profound. It’s dark and twisted in a way that makes the light and happiness even more so. I am so invested Briar and Eliam’s story and hopefully their happy ending. Then I’ll be waiting patiently for Karse to get his own story next (please and thank you 💜)
488 reviews
January 20, 2026
The second book in The Fractured Crown Trilogy, A Hunt So Wild continues the story of Briar. Seems she’s always getting knocked down! The second book is darker with more character growth, tensions between them are palpable, and has twists you don’t see coming. Some of my questions from book one were answered, but tsk tsk if I thought all would be solved with another book on the horizon. Which I will gobble up just as I did with these first two. I’m hooked!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
82 reviews
December 21, 2025
3.75 ⭐️

I received a ARC in exchange for an honest review. I was so excited to receive the sequel to a Kiss So Cruel. The cliff hanger was killing me! Some dialogue felt repetitive and the first half of the plot felt too chaotic for my liking. However, the second half had me on edge and the ending felt like a fantastic set up for the next book.

Also I enjoyed Karse and his dry humour. And the spice was spicy 🌶️
Profile Image for Aneesah Wilcox.
Author 3 books
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 10, 2026
Devoured this book! It’s as stimulating as the last and left me with the same craving for what’s next. I can’t begin to express how many times I cried or had to pick up my jaw from the floor at the plot twist. I won’t give any spoilers but I will admit that once again I’m left feening to the next book!
3 reviews
January 25, 2026
I'm once again emotionally devastated by this series in the best way. I could not put this down and I need the 3rd one immediately! The author does such an incredible job of building tension and allowing consequences to play out in this beautiful dark tale. If you haven't read this series yet, start it now!
Profile Image for Kelsey Linn.
2 reviews
February 8, 2026
Amazing!

This is such an amazing dark romance. The magic is so cool and the men are to die for! The villains are awful- like you'll want to jump into the book and fight them yourself. The FMC has such good character development too! It also has some amazing twists that you absolutely wont see coming. I love this series. I hope the next one comes out soon.
Profile Image for Amanda McElroy.
4 reviews
January 14, 2026
My only complaint is that Book 2 in this series left me wanting more!
Hopefully number 3 is in the works !
3 reviews
January 21, 2026
Well written, excellent world building

This series has had me hooked from the start. Can’t wait for the next book/finale. Make sure to read the TW and mind the cliff 😉
2 reviews
January 29, 2026
So good! Answered a few questions I had from the last book and now I can't wait until the next book!
1 review
February 8, 2026
WHAT WAS THAT ENDING?!?!?!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews

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