What do you think?
Rate this book
Roses Red Trilogy #1
Tithe
Cursed with the sight and torn between forbidden loves, she will make the ultimate sacrifice.
Arden Archer is cursed: she can see the Unseelie fae. It's a gift that sends the women of her family to an early grave. The only way to break the curse is to offer herself up as the Tithe. Every seven years, the faerie regents pit cursed humans against one another, offering salvation to both parties.
This year, Arden is one of those human competitors--a Heartless--and with the help of Unseelie Mavek Midnight, she intends to win. That is, until Eskel arrives, unearthing secrets and planting doubt. Can Mavek be trusted? Is there more to the Tithe than what Mavek had told her?
Torn between the Unseelie regent she's loved and a human boy with a dark past, Arden must discover the truth before All Saints' Eve, or risk losing her soul to a beautiful monster.
Arden Archer is cursed: she can see the Unseelie fae. It's a gift that sends the women of her family to an early grave. The only way to break the curse is to offer herself up as the Tithe. Every seven years, the faerie regents pit cursed humans against one another, offering salvation to both parties.
This year, Arden is one of those human competitors--a Heartless--and with the help of Unseelie Mavek Midnight, she intends to win. That is, until Eskel arrives, unearthing secrets and planting doubt. Can Mavek be trusted? Is there more to the Tithe than what Mavek had told her?
Torn between the Unseelie regent she's loved and a human boy with a dark past, Arden must discover the truth before All Saints' Eve, or risk losing her soul to a beautiful monster.
430 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2019
14 people are currently reading
332 people want to read
About the author
Chani Lynn Feener
67 books1,517 followersLibrarians, please don't add books. I stay up to date and add them myself and have ended up with many multiple copies because others add them later. Thank you!
Chani majored in Creative Writing at Johnson State College in Vermont. To pay her bills, she has worked many odd jobs, including, but not limited to, telemarketing, order picking in a warehouse, and filling ink cartridges. When she isn’t writing, she’s binging TV shows, drawing, or frequenting zoos/aquariums. She is the author of the Xenith trilogy, and the teen paranormal series, The Underworld Saga, originally written under the penname Tempest C. Avery. She currently resides in Connecticut.
Have a question? Check her blog! https://chanilynnfeener.wixsite.com/a...
Find her on Instagram @TempestChani
Chani majored in Creative Writing at Johnson State College in Vermont. To pay her bills, she has worked many odd jobs, including, but not limited to, telemarketing, order picking in a warehouse, and filling ink cartridges. When she isn’t writing, she’s binging TV shows, drawing, or frequenting zoos/aquariums. She is the author of the Xenith trilogy, and the teen paranormal series, The Underworld Saga, originally written under the penname Tempest C. Avery. She currently resides in Connecticut.
Have a question? Check her blog! https://chanilynnfeener.wixsite.com/a...
Find her on Instagram @TempestChani
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
October 4, 2019
Tithe is a fantasy-laden love triangle, fraught with twists and turns that set up what I anticipate will be a turbulent yet indulgent series. I’m ready for the sequel!
Warning – spoilers ahead!
Diving back into another interpretation of the world of faeries (it’s a world I’m pretty fond of), I fully expected to see that same forbidden love found in Holly Black’s fae romances—you know, the one where the human falls for the dark faerie prince even though he’s a monster. Which is great; I mean, I’ll admit that that’s a guilty pleasure of mine. It’s what I expected, and is at least partially what I got, but I did not expect to finally get a contrast that made me wish our heroine didn’t end up with the manipulative albeit luscious fae prince. I didn’t even know it was a contrast that I wanted.
I’ve read probably a few too many fae stories, and there’s a usual trend. Typically, they take you on a journey further into the fae world, where the heroine transitions away from humanity and it makes perfect sense. In this story, we’re still moving deeper into the fae world, but the strength comes from the heroine’s defiance; her ties to humanity are her strength, and the faerie she relies on is her weakness. You see the allure of the fae world, but you also root for the heroine to be strong enough to resist its morbid glamour. This book makes you want the heroine to give in to the faerie temptation, but just a little bit more it also makes you want her to resist and defy the fae, and I fricken’ love the dueling emotions. I feel tortured, but I’m ok with that. Masochism in full force – in all the right ways. It’s a deepening love triangle that will put you at war with your own desires, with literary a landscape that blends fantasy with reality and makes you wonder which is better.
The players in the love triangle:
Arden– Cursed with the ability to see the Unseelie and eventually go insane like her mother before her, she plans to compete to win the Tithe so she can give up her soul to Hell, and in return free her sister from the curse. From the get-go, she’s in what appears to be an unrequited love with Mavek, the Unseelie prince who maneuvered his way into her life right when it was falling apart. But then she meets Eskel, whose contrast to Mavek shows Arden that perhaps she’s been too blind to who Mavek really is. He was her savior, but was he really? Arden’s devotion to her sister is clear, as she’s willing to give up her own soul to save her. She’s strong, but she also seems like a cult victim with the influence that Mavek has over her.
Mavek– AKA, the Midnight Prince, has chosen Arden as his Heartless. She’ll compete as his champion to win the Tithe against the other two Heartless—humans cursed like her, compelled to compete for similar reasons. What Mavek gets out of the deal, and why he’d be motivated to choose a Heartless that’d win on his behalf, I’m not too sure. But he has many secrets and isn’t very forthcoming with Arden. Granted, he’s a fae and deceptive by nature. He’s definitely manipulative, but it’s clear that he has deeper feelings for Arden, along with a certain possessiveness that’s hard to ignore. I’ve seen characters like him so many times. He’s usually the type of damaged lonely lovesick puppy I root for––the guy who is unsure of how to properly express his love and it coming out in all the wrong ways. He reminds me of the initial impression I had of Rhysand from A Court of Thorns and Roses. And that line in Beauty and the Beast when the dresser is talking to Belle, “But the master’s really not so bad once you get to know him.” I’m still so surprised that I somehow don’t root for this dude. Kudos to Ms. Chani for making me doubt an indulgent archetype. This kind of character should be distrusted!
Eskel– He has secrets of his own, and a tragic backstory that’s pulled him into the Unseelie world. He’s new to the scene, but has no difficulty in believing all the ridiculous things Arden tells him—which she tells him in an attempt to warn him away from the danger he’s putting himself into—but he won’t leave Arden’s side. His story goes from one of revenge to one of devotion. As a Heartless, Arden is forbidden from falling in love with a human. But before she realizes it, she’d come to depend on Eskel even more than her own dark savior Mavek. While her feelings for Mavek begin to show some cracks, they are further complicated by the question of whether Mavek is even who she really wants. Because Eskel is da bomb.
Overall:
It’s an exciting first step into a refreshing take on the fae world, with a love triangle that gives a unique contrast to the typical fae/human romances. Arden is a relatable heroine with admirable strengths and understandable weaknesses (Mavek is a very understandable weakness). Mavek is a dark temptation that makes you continually wonder whether it’s wrong to give in. And Eskel is like the light at the end of the tunnel, reality becoming clearer the further you travel with him. He makes Arden stronger.
A discussion:
As a reader, I’m definitely in for the sequel, but I’m also slightly worried that this series is about to hurt my heart. The story is exciting and unpredictable, but with my prior preconceptions of how fae stories usually go, I’m worried about Eskel’s fate—that he won’t come out in the winner’s circle. I’m so invested in him. I’m hoping that there’s still more to Eskel, that something will help him to outweigh the edge that Mavek will have in Arden’s life. Can he secretly be more than he appears? The boy has just done everything right (well, most everything). I want to see that rewarded.
Usually, with love triangles, I’ve got a clear favorite and I’m confident things will turn out the way I hope. But I’m not confident here. The story’s foreshadowing seems to be pulling Arden and Eskel apart, and sometimes it feels like the written-in fate conflicts with what I want for them. For instance, Arden’s middle name is Rose, and roses are basically Mavek’s symbol; the dude is even covered with rose tattoos. It’s like they’re linked. I’d like to believe that the implications of the conclusion for Arden and Eskel are just to provide more obstacles for them to overcome—that they’ll become stronger by facing those challenges together—but that’s me putting my own hopes into it, and it’s not necessarily warranted by what I’ve been given. I can see the story going in a different direction and it being justified. Mavek is still so darn alluring, even with all the mistakes he’s made. In a certain light, his mistakes can be seen as misguided but still coming from a good place. I can foresee him being redeemed, but I’m stubborn and I don’t want him to be. I want to stay angry with his character at the things he’s done, and see Arden grow stronger by growing in her resistance to him and how much he’s meddled with her life. It feels like I’m being pulled into the Mavek current and I don’t want to be. Not yet anyway. Maybe that’ll change—other books have made me change my stubborn preconceptions before, so I won’t rule out the possibility that I’ll be happy no matter what direction it goes in.
I’m expecting that we’ll get more of a spotlight on Mavek in the sequel given how it ends, and in return I’ll be tortured with warring emotions yet again. Ugh. But it’s a yummy frustration, and I’m very much looking forward for the torture that will be book two.
*ARC received for an honest and unbiased review in return.
Warning – spoilers ahead!
Diving back into another interpretation of the world of faeries (it’s a world I’m pretty fond of), I fully expected to see that same forbidden love found in Holly Black’s fae romances—you know, the one where the human falls for the dark faerie prince even though he’s a monster. Which is great; I mean, I’ll admit that that’s a guilty pleasure of mine. It’s what I expected, and is at least partially what I got, but I did not expect to finally get a contrast that made me wish our heroine didn’t end up with the manipulative albeit luscious fae prince. I didn’t even know it was a contrast that I wanted.
I’ve read probably a few too many fae stories, and there’s a usual trend. Typically, they take you on a journey further into the fae world, where the heroine transitions away from humanity and it makes perfect sense. In this story, we’re still moving deeper into the fae world, but the strength comes from the heroine’s defiance; her ties to humanity are her strength, and the faerie she relies on is her weakness. You see the allure of the fae world, but you also root for the heroine to be strong enough to resist its morbid glamour. This book makes you want the heroine to give in to the faerie temptation, but just a little bit more it also makes you want her to resist and defy the fae, and I fricken’ love the dueling emotions. I feel tortured, but I’m ok with that. Masochism in full force – in all the right ways. It’s a deepening love triangle that will put you at war with your own desires, with literary a landscape that blends fantasy with reality and makes you wonder which is better.
The players in the love triangle:
Arden– Cursed with the ability to see the Unseelie and eventually go insane like her mother before her, she plans to compete to win the Tithe so she can give up her soul to Hell, and in return free her sister from the curse. From the get-go, she’s in what appears to be an unrequited love with Mavek, the Unseelie prince who maneuvered his way into her life right when it was falling apart. But then she meets Eskel, whose contrast to Mavek shows Arden that perhaps she’s been too blind to who Mavek really is. He was her savior, but was he really? Arden’s devotion to her sister is clear, as she’s willing to give up her own soul to save her. She’s strong, but she also seems like a cult victim with the influence that Mavek has over her.
Mavek– AKA, the Midnight Prince, has chosen Arden as his Heartless. She’ll compete as his champion to win the Tithe against the other two Heartless—humans cursed like her, compelled to compete for similar reasons. What Mavek gets out of the deal, and why he’d be motivated to choose a Heartless that’d win on his behalf, I’m not too sure. But he has many secrets and isn’t very forthcoming with Arden. Granted, he’s a fae and deceptive by nature. He’s definitely manipulative, but it’s clear that he has deeper feelings for Arden, along with a certain possessiveness that’s hard to ignore. I’ve seen characters like him so many times. He’s usually the type of damaged lonely lovesick puppy I root for––the guy who is unsure of how to properly express his love and it coming out in all the wrong ways. He reminds me of the initial impression I had of Rhysand from A Court of Thorns and Roses. And that line in Beauty and the Beast when the dresser is talking to Belle, “But the master’s really not so bad once you get to know him.” I’m still so surprised that I somehow don’t root for this dude. Kudos to Ms. Chani for making me doubt an indulgent archetype. This kind of character should be distrusted!
Eskel– He has secrets of his own, and a tragic backstory that’s pulled him into the Unseelie world. He’s new to the scene, but has no difficulty in believing all the ridiculous things Arden tells him—which she tells him in an attempt to warn him away from the danger he’s putting himself into—but he won’t leave Arden’s side. His story goes from one of revenge to one of devotion. As a Heartless, Arden is forbidden from falling in love with a human. But before she realizes it, she’d come to depend on Eskel even more than her own dark savior Mavek. While her feelings for Mavek begin to show some cracks, they are further complicated by the question of whether Mavek is even who she really wants. Because Eskel is da bomb.
Overall:
It’s an exciting first step into a refreshing take on the fae world, with a love triangle that gives a unique contrast to the typical fae/human romances. Arden is a relatable heroine with admirable strengths and understandable weaknesses (Mavek is a very understandable weakness). Mavek is a dark temptation that makes you continually wonder whether it’s wrong to give in. And Eskel is like the light at the end of the tunnel, reality becoming clearer the further you travel with him. He makes Arden stronger.
A discussion:
As a reader, I’m definitely in for the sequel, but I’m also slightly worried that this series is about to hurt my heart. The story is exciting and unpredictable, but with my prior preconceptions of how fae stories usually go, I’m worried about Eskel’s fate—that he won’t come out in the winner’s circle. I’m so invested in him. I’m hoping that there’s still more to Eskel, that something will help him to outweigh the edge that Mavek will have in Arden’s life. Can he secretly be more than he appears? The boy has just done everything right (well, most everything). I want to see that rewarded.
Usually, with love triangles, I’ve got a clear favorite and I’m confident things will turn out the way I hope. But I’m not confident here. The story’s foreshadowing seems to be pulling Arden and Eskel apart, and sometimes it feels like the written-in fate conflicts with what I want for them. For instance, Arden’s middle name is Rose, and roses are basically Mavek’s symbol; the dude is even covered with rose tattoos. It’s like they’re linked. I’d like to believe that the implications of the conclusion for Arden and Eskel are just to provide more obstacles for them to overcome—that they’ll become stronger by facing those challenges together—but that’s me putting my own hopes into it, and it’s not necessarily warranted by what I’ve been given. I can see the story going in a different direction and it being justified. Mavek is still so darn alluring, even with all the mistakes he’s made. In a certain light, his mistakes can be seen as misguided but still coming from a good place. I can foresee him being redeemed, but I’m stubborn and I don’t want him to be. I want to stay angry with his character at the things he’s done, and see Arden grow stronger by growing in her resistance to him and how much he’s meddled with her life. It feels like I’m being pulled into the Mavek current and I don’t want to be. Not yet anyway. Maybe that’ll change—other books have made me change my stubborn preconceptions before, so I won’t rule out the possibility that I’ll be happy no matter what direction it goes in.
I’m expecting that we’ll get more of a spotlight on Mavek in the sequel given how it ends, and in return I’ll be tortured with warring emotions yet again. Ugh. But it’s a yummy frustration, and I’m very much looking forward for the torture that will be book two.
*ARC received for an honest and unbiased review in return.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2019
*I received an eARC in exchange for a review*
I have read other stories by Chani Lynn Feener and loved them, so I was very excited to receive an ARC of Tithe. I had high expectations and I wasn't disappointed. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I am drawn to fae stories but am sometimes disappointed in how they progress. But I have to say Tithe drew me in from the begining. I really enjoyed Arden as a character. She was strong and determined and fiercely loyal to her friends and sister. I also loved the love triangle in this story. Eskel and Mavek were the best complete opposites. Oh and the twist in this story was so good! I highly recommend reading this story, you won't be disappointed.
I have read other stories by Chani Lynn Feener and loved them, so I was very excited to receive an ARC of Tithe. I had high expectations and I wasn't disappointed. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I am drawn to fae stories but am sometimes disappointed in how they progress. But I have to say Tithe drew me in from the begining. I really enjoyed Arden as a character. She was strong and determined and fiercely loyal to her friends and sister. I also loved the love triangle in this story. Eskel and Mavek were the best complete opposites. Oh and the twist in this story was so good! I highly recommend reading this story, you won't be disappointed.
May 1, 2020
I was looking for devious, morally grey fae and a high stakes bargain. Instead, this book is a love triangle. That’s it. Literally 70% of the plot circles around and around Arden’s inner turmoil of “who do I want?”
The characters were lacklustre - two dimensional and immature - most likely due to them getting barely any air time to do anything other than be a love interest or think about said love interests.
The concept of fae using a tithe to stay out of the underground using cursed humans was interesting but this barely drives the plot. Again, say it with me - love triangle 🤦♀️
So yes, it’s a no from me.
The characters were lacklustre - two dimensional and immature - most likely due to them getting barely any air time to do anything other than be a love interest or think about said love interests.
The concept of fae using a tithe to stay out of the underground using cursed humans was interesting but this barely drives the plot. Again, say it with me - love triangle 🤦♀️
So yes, it’s a no from me.
July 30, 2019
*I received an eARC for an honest review*
I’ve always been captivated by stories of the Fae and was not disappointed in this book. It’s full of Unseelie Fae tricks and deals, that leave readers wondering “what’s the catch?”. This story was a very quick read and kept me hooked as Arden Archer tries to unravel the partial truths provided by the Fae about the tithe. With a few twists and turns this is a fun read, and I’m looking forward to book 2.
I’ve always been captivated by stories of the Fae and was not disappointed in this book. It’s full of Unseelie Fae tricks and deals, that leave readers wondering “what’s the catch?”. This story was a very quick read and kept me hooked as Arden Archer tries to unravel the partial truths provided by the Fae about the tithe. With a few twists and turns this is a fun read, and I’m looking forward to book 2.
October 1, 2019
Tithe is the first book in Roses Red series by Chani Lynn Feener. It everything you want in a fantasy whimsical and totally atmospheric read. It is especially perfect for October as it has that delicious dark vibes that leaves you wanting more.
Arden is a Heartless, a being magically bonded to the Midnight Prince. She is his knight, a warrior who is going to fight against other Heartless knightS to help all the fae to keep living in human realm.
First of all, the characters are shining through the pages. We have a very complex main character who has an undeniable chemistry with two other characters.
We have Mavik who is the Midnight Prince and the main snack of the story. His character has intrigued me since the first page as the book opens with him. He is utterly enchanting and charming, has all kinds of delicious dark vibes going on and it indescribably attractive for our main girl. She had had feelings for him for a long time. But he is a faerie prince and if we know anything about faeries, we know that they are cruel, mischievous and can be quite destructive when comes to mortal. Mavik is special however, he has his own secrets and plans regarding Arden.
The other character that intrigued me to no end was the strange new boy that entered Arden's life quite unexpectedly and she found him prying into her business and appearing out of nowhere and expressing interest in her. She has now two boys attention!! The boy has secrets but she can't help to seek him out. Now there is a catch of being Heartless. YOU cannot by no means fall in love with Bloodhearts aka humans.
This book has a love triangle but it is executed so well, you actually feel for the main girl and her struggles. Tithe is not a love story though. It is a story about sacrifice, deepest desires and how far can you go to get what you crave the most.
I thoroughly enjoyed this very magical book and have high hopes for the sequel because that ending was quite delicious.
Thank you Chani Lynn Feener for providing me with the ARC. CANNOT WAIT TO GET THE PHYSICAL BOOK FOR MY COLLECTION.
Arden is a Heartless, a being magically bonded to the Midnight Prince. She is his knight, a warrior who is going to fight against other Heartless knightS to help all the fae to keep living in human realm.
First of all, the characters are shining through the pages. We have a very complex main character who has an undeniable chemistry with two other characters.
We have Mavik who is the Midnight Prince and the main snack of the story. His character has intrigued me since the first page as the book opens with him. He is utterly enchanting and charming, has all kinds of delicious dark vibes going on and it indescribably attractive for our main girl. She had had feelings for him for a long time. But he is a faerie prince and if we know anything about faeries, we know that they are cruel, mischievous and can be quite destructive when comes to mortal. Mavik is special however, he has his own secrets and plans regarding Arden.
The other character that intrigued me to no end was the strange new boy that entered Arden's life quite unexpectedly and she found him prying into her business and appearing out of nowhere and expressing interest in her. She has now two boys attention!! The boy has secrets but she can't help to seek him out. Now there is a catch of being Heartless. YOU cannot by no means fall in love with Bloodhearts aka humans.
This book has a love triangle but it is executed so well, you actually feel for the main girl and her struggles. Tithe is not a love story though. It is a story about sacrifice, deepest desires and how far can you go to get what you crave the most.
I thoroughly enjoyed this very magical book and have high hopes for the sequel because that ending was quite delicious.
Thank you Chani Lynn Feener for providing me with the ARC. CANNOT WAIT TO GET THE PHYSICAL BOOK FOR MY COLLECTION.
September 13, 2019
I was provided an arc by the author in exchange for an honest review ...
.... but I was not above begging lol as soon as I found out that Chani Lynn Feener was writing another series I was ready in every way. And then I found out it was about Fae and that's it, I was sold. No other information was necessary.
"He knew the sounds of a broken heart, the start of it, quiet, like the slow splinter of broken glass."
The story begins with Arden being watched by the Midnight Prince while she mourns with her sister in a hospital. He declares that Arden is exactly what he's looking for, a Heartless. The reader doesn't know what a Heartless is and it takes a while for you to find out, but when you do, you have to wonder if Arden had any idea what she was signing up for.
"For over a year she'd been protected by their kind, cared for."
So what did I like? Everything. No really, everything.
I loved the friendships, Arden would jump in front of a train for Tabby and it's just a beautiful thing.
The romance, there are hints of a love triangle but not really ... Arden believes she loves Mavek but how can you love a Fae when they never tell you the whole truth? She meets a human boy with his own motives and questions about the Fae and without him she may never have discovered her own intended fate (DUN DUNNN DUNN).
THE OUTFITS!
I have to give a few examples because they were just completely mesmerizing and I really wish they were available to buy because I would be all over some (most) of them.
- "a suit that looked like it was made from fallen leaves."
- "She wore a trailing skirt of moss-colored silk and had branches arching over her shoulders, holding up the top of her dress."
- "thin silver and white silk like spun cobwebs - maybe it was, for all Arden knew - and a trail of tiny, pale flowers that cascaded down her arm, looping around like a long bracelet."
The Dialogue: I love the way the Fae spoke and handled themselves. It was such a dichotomy versus the way Arden and her friends spoke. Every word from the Fae could hold multiple meanings and it was fun to twist their words with Arden to find the hidden message.
"I'm starting to figure out," she took a deliberate step back the way they'd come, "that no one is on my side."
I highly recommend this series for anyone that loves Holly Black's cruel Fae, Emily Ducan's elusive motives with Malchiasz, Suzanne Collins earnest Peeta, or any book with a steadfast friendship. I loved it.
.... but I was not above begging lol as soon as I found out that Chani Lynn Feener was writing another series I was ready in every way. And then I found out it was about Fae and that's it, I was sold. No other information was necessary.
"He knew the sounds of a broken heart, the start of it, quiet, like the slow splinter of broken glass."
The story begins with Arden being watched by the Midnight Prince while she mourns with her sister in a hospital. He declares that Arden is exactly what he's looking for, a Heartless. The reader doesn't know what a Heartless is and it takes a while for you to find out, but when you do, you have to wonder if Arden had any idea what she was signing up for.
"For over a year she'd been protected by their kind, cared for."
So what did I like? Everything. No really, everything.
I loved the friendships, Arden would jump in front of a train for Tabby and it's just a beautiful thing.
The romance, there are hints of a love triangle but not really ... Arden believes she loves Mavek but how can you love a Fae when they never tell you the whole truth? She meets a human boy with his own motives and questions about the Fae and without him she may never have discovered her own intended fate (DUN DUNNN DUNN).
THE OUTFITS!
I have to give a few examples because they were just completely mesmerizing and I really wish they were available to buy because I would be all over some (most) of them.
- "a suit that looked like it was made from fallen leaves."
- "She wore a trailing skirt of moss-colored silk and had branches arching over her shoulders, holding up the top of her dress."
- "thin silver and white silk like spun cobwebs - maybe it was, for all Arden knew - and a trail of tiny, pale flowers that cascaded down her arm, looping around like a long bracelet."
The Dialogue: I love the way the Fae spoke and handled themselves. It was such a dichotomy versus the way Arden and her friends spoke. Every word from the Fae could hold multiple meanings and it was fun to twist their words with Arden to find the hidden message.
"I'm starting to figure out," she took a deliberate step back the way they'd come, "that no one is on my side."
I highly recommend this series for anyone that loves Holly Black's cruel Fae, Emily Ducan's elusive motives with Malchiasz, Suzanne Collins earnest Peeta, or any book with a steadfast friendship. I loved it.
August 6, 2019
*I received an eARC of Tithe in exchange for my honest review.
New to Chani Lynn Feener's writing style, I had no idea what to expect when I dove into Tithe. The premises caught my interest, I love me some faerie magic and romance, which this book was never short of!
I loved all the vivid details, the faeries, all the magic and tastes, the way our main character Arden Archer needs to unravel the twisted lies and hidden truths, what it truly means to be an Unseelie's Heartless, the way her beliefs are shattered and along with it all, my heart.
I honestly couldn't put this book down, I had to know what happened as Arden's budding friendship with the new guy Eskel blossom into something more, as the faerie Mavek, the Midnight Prince, she's already given her heart and soul to begins to crack under questions she should have asked long ago... Everything circling around the Tithe and what it will mean for Arden as a Heartless and the aftermath she will have to live with. The choices made, the secrets kept, the heartache of it all and the twists and turns around every corner had me reading this book late into the night. With Tithe's jaw dropping conclusion, I'm eagerly awaiting book 2!
New to Chani Lynn Feener's writing style, I had no idea what to expect when I dove into Tithe. The premises caught my interest, I love me some faerie magic and romance, which this book was never short of!
I loved all the vivid details, the faeries, all the magic and tastes, the way our main character Arden Archer needs to unravel the twisted lies and hidden truths, what it truly means to be an Unseelie's Heartless, the way her beliefs are shattered and along with it all, my heart.
I honestly couldn't put this book down, I had to know what happened as Arden's budding friendship with the new guy Eskel blossom into something more, as the faerie Mavek, the Midnight Prince, she's already given her heart and soul to begins to crack under questions she should have asked long ago... Everything circling around the Tithe and what it will mean for Arden as a Heartless and the aftermath she will have to live with. The choices made, the secrets kept, the heartache of it all and the twists and turns around every corner had me reading this book late into the night. With Tithe's jaw dropping conclusion, I'm eagerly awaiting book 2!
July 6, 2020
Once in a while, you read a book that just really surprises you. I had no idea about the existence of this book up until a month ago and I decided to try it on a whim. The whim being that cover, by the way. I am 100% predictable and not sorry about it.
Listen I had no expectations. I don’t read as often as I used to so what are expectations!!! But suffice to say, I didn’t think I would BINGE READ THIS. Talk about addicting. There is something very very intriguing about this series and it definitely starts with the midnight Prince mentioned in that synopsis.
I am a girl of simple tastes. Literally mention anyone remotely emo and hot and I am sold. The Midnight Prince is that AND a fae and seeing as Cardan singlehandedly made that a Thing in recent years, I had no choice but to roll with it. Pretty sure my friends got tired of me mentioning him so often lmao
BUT while I came for a certain Prince (whose description was chefs kiss by the way), it was actually the main character who made this all the more exciting. I LOVED Arden so much. Homegirl was strong and badass and took no shit from anyone without making it seem all woe is me and whatnot. I had so much respect for her and her narration of the book made it absolutely peak.
There IS a romance and that synopsis absolutely screamed love triangle to me. And for the first time in forever (there’ll be music—) I found myself looking forward to it. The thing with love triangles is that, too often, you can tell who’s gonna be endgame because the bias is just there already. And it seems like that way here but Feener is a really gifted writer. Not only in this regard, of course—the entire book is tightly plotted and exciting. But the romantic aspect of it is really interesting for me. As a reader, of course I already prefer someone, but the fun part is that of course no one is as they seem here. And Arden is a really smart, self aware girl. Romance isn’t even at the forefront of her mind despite whatever feelings she has. A lot of things come into play and it just really twists everything for Arden.
While I have a feeling I know who’ll be endgame, I’m more excited to see how things go from this book’s ending. There’s just a lot of revelations and some trauma for Arden to deal with and, frankly, I’m looking forward to how the second and third books go.
So if y’all are looking for something new to read, def put this book on your radar. I have some high hopes for the rest of the series.
Listen I had no expectations. I don’t read as often as I used to so what are expectations!!! But suffice to say, I didn’t think I would BINGE READ THIS. Talk about addicting. There is something very very intriguing about this series and it definitely starts with the midnight Prince mentioned in that synopsis.
I am a girl of simple tastes. Literally mention anyone remotely emo and hot and I am sold. The Midnight Prince is that AND a fae and seeing as Cardan singlehandedly made that a Thing in recent years, I had no choice but to roll with it. Pretty sure my friends got tired of me mentioning him so often lmao
BUT while I came for a certain Prince (whose description was chefs kiss by the way), it was actually the main character who made this all the more exciting. I LOVED Arden so much. Homegirl was strong and badass and took no shit from anyone without making it seem all woe is me and whatnot. I had so much respect for her and her narration of the book made it absolutely peak.
There IS a romance and that synopsis absolutely screamed love triangle to me. And for the first time in forever (there’ll be music—) I found myself looking forward to it. The thing with love triangles is that, too often, you can tell who’s gonna be endgame because the bias is just there already. And it seems like that way here but Feener is a really gifted writer. Not only in this regard, of course—the entire book is tightly plotted and exciting. But the romantic aspect of it is really interesting for me. As a reader, of course I already prefer someone, but the fun part is that of course no one is as they seem here. And Arden is a really smart, self aware girl. Romance isn’t even at the forefront of her mind despite whatever feelings she has. A lot of things come into play and it just really twists everything for Arden.
While I have a feeling I know who’ll be endgame, I’m more excited to see how things go from this book’s ending. There’s just a lot of revelations and some trauma for Arden to deal with and, frankly, I’m looking forward to how the second and third books go.
So if y’all are looking for something new to read, def put this book on your radar. I have some high hopes for the rest of the series.
November 7, 2019
I was introduced to the world of Chani Lynn Feener books by one of my besties, Tanya. Feener was kind enough to offer Tanya and her besties a spot on her eARC team and kindly sent us all copies to Tithe in exchange for an honest review. She also very kindly sent me a singed copy of Book 1 of The Xenith Trilogy, Amid Stars and Darkness to use for a giveaway on my Instagram to celebrate my 1 year anniversary (Thursday August 15 is the last day to enter). Feener is not only a very talented writer, but is also a kind and generous soul.
When I read the summary of Tithe I knew this was a book I wanted to read. I love the world of the Fae and knew this was a book to dive into. Feener did a beautiful job of weaving a story centered around a fierce and Loyal Arden doing her best to keep her sister safe while finding herself in the middle of a love triangle where both interest are forbidden.
Feener dropped some great clues along the way to the twist ending. The ending had a few shocking twists that had me on the edge of my seat and staying up too late to find out how it was going to play out. Feener has grabbed my attention in book one and I cannot wait to see where she takes all these amazing characters in the next book
When I read the summary of Tithe I knew this was a book I wanted to read. I love the world of the Fae and knew this was a book to dive into. Feener did a beautiful job of weaving a story centered around a fierce and Loyal Arden doing her best to keep her sister safe while finding herself in the middle of a love triangle where both interest are forbidden.
Feener dropped some great clues along the way to the twist ending. The ending had a few shocking twists that had me on the edge of my seat and staying up too late to find out how it was going to play out. Feener has grabbed my attention in book one and I cannot wait to see where she takes all these amazing characters in the next book
November 1, 2019
Wow. The world-building in this book was spot-on, and even though I did not necessarily like Arden, she was such an interesting character. Eskel and Mavek, Tabby and some other fae round out the cast of main characters, and I was so caught up in their relationships and the mystery, and the darkness of the Unseelie courts. I am definitely Team Eskel, but the triangle doesn't feel forced or unnatural, even though I cannot understand what Arden sees in Mavek. The twist at the end I did not see coming, although the one thing that disappointed me was the Tithe challenge not being a long-lasting event. The buildup was so intense, with this mounting feeling of dread throughout the book, that I was expecting more; BUT the emotional gut punches do the trick in making it satisfying still. I highly recommend this book, and cannot wait to see where the series goes!
August 4, 2019
I thought I was over Faeries tbh, but then I read Tithe and I most definitely am not! Chani Lynn Feener has a beautiful way of weaving you into her worlds. I absolutely loved her Amid Stars and Darkness series and this one is for sure going on my favorites list with it. Mavek gives off Trystan vibes. I neeeed the next installment already. 😭😩
***Arc kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review.***
***Arc kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review.***
July 22, 2019
From someone who doesn’t usually love fae lore, I absolutely LOVED this book. The imagery in this, and settings that Chani Feeener constructs completely engrossed me in the story, not to mention the dynamic personalities of the characters themselves. Mavek is....without going into details, because everyone must experience his greatness first-hand, is probably one of my favorite characters I’ve seen from her works. I’m already itching for the sequels!!!!
February 8, 2020
Review to come
November 4, 2021
Changing from a 4 to a 5
This has become a comfort book!!
This has become a comfort book!!
September 19, 2019
Cursed with the sight and torn between forbidden loves, she will make the ultimate sacrifice.
Arden Archer is cursed: she can see the Unseelie fae. It's a gift that sends the women of her family to an early grave. The only way to break the curse is to offer herself up as the Tithe. Every seven years, the faerie regents pit cursed humans against one another, offering salvation to both parties.
This year, Arden is one of those human competitors--a Heartless--and with the help of Unseelie Mavek Midnight, she intends to win. That is, until Eskel arrives, unearthing secrets and planting doubt. Can Mavek be trusted? Is there more to the Tithe than what Mavek had told her?
Torn between the Unseelie regent she's loved and a human boy with a dark past, Arden must discover the truth before All Saints' Eve, or risk losing her soul to a beautiful monster.
Tithe Roses Red - by Chani Lynn Feener, Author of the Xenith Triology wrote this fantasy-laden love triangel with a lot of unexpected twists and turns, between human und fae. Everything I am looking for.
Reading another book of faeries and diving into theyr world again, I thought it would be the same old same old - you know, the one where the human falls for the dark faerie prince even though he’s a monster. Which is great normally, I mean, I am normally all for it. Partilly it is also what I got but what I dir not expect was the contrast that made me wish the heroine didn't end up with our manipulative dark fae prince.
I've read quiet a few fae stories in my life and I am kind of a sucker for it, but there is often a simular trend. It was so different to what I expected and I loved it. Also the writing style of the author was even better than in her previous books.
You see the allure of the fae world, but you also root for the heroine to be strong enough to resist its dark glamour. This book gives you such dueling emotions as well as the Heroin itself get more than enough. And it's Entertainment as s***. You will feel tortured but just enough to enjoy it while reading.It’s a deepening love triangle that will give you everything you wanted and not it's so twisted that library abends fantasy with really and makes you want more than one time that the heroine will give into the faerie temptation and at the same time you want the Heroin the resist and defy the fae.
The heroine:
Arden: Cursed with the ability to see the Unseelie and eventually go insane like her mother before her, she plans to compete to win the Tithe so she can give up her soul to Hell, and in return free her sister and herself from the curse. From the very start, she’s in an unrequited love with Mavek, the Unseelie prince who maneuvered his way into her life right when it was falling apart. But then she meets Eskel, whose contrast to Mavek shows Arden that perhaps she’s been too blind to who Mavek really is. He was her savior, but was he really? Arden’s devotion to her sister is clear, as she’s willing to give up her own soul to save her. She’s strong, but she also seems like a cult victim with the influence that Mavek has over her.
Mavek: the fae Midnight Prince, has chosen Arden as his Heartless. She’ll compete as his champion to win the Tithe against the other two Heartless—humans cursed like her, compelled to compete for similar reasons. Mavek has many secrets and isn’t very forthcoming with Arden. Granted, he’s a fae and deceptive by nature. He’s definitely manipulative, but it’s clear that he has deeper feelings for Arden, along with a certain possessiveness that’s hard to ignore. For me I felt like with him in a constant struggle to adore him and hate him for his attitude and ways.
Eskel– He has secrets of his own, and a tragic backstory that’s pulled him into the Unseelie world. He’s new to the scene, but has no difficulty in believing all the ridiculous things Arden tells him—which she tells him in an attempt to warn him away from the danger he’s putting himself into—but he won’t leave Arden’s side. His story goes from one of revenge to one of devotion. As a Heartless, Arden is forbidden from falling in love with a human. But before she realizes it, she’d come to depend on Eskel even more than her own dark savior Mavek. While her feelings for Mavek begin to show some cracks, they are further complicated by the question of whether Mavek is even who she really wants. Because Eskel is the bookboyfriend you kind of wish for.
Overall:
This book has it all for me, it's an excitingsexciting step into a refreshing take on the fad world, with his unexpected twists and turns, the love plot between human and fahre. So I am looking forward to the sequel.
*ARC received for an honest review in return.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2019
“Do you know who I am, Heartless ?” Titania asked, her voice lower, more steely.
“The Faerie Queen of things Unseen.”
Oh how I have missed the world of the fae, not only that, but the Unseelie. I love that the author takes the idea of the dark fae and makes it her own. The Unseelie are mysterious, dangerous, dark and manipulative. They don't think quite like humans, and the author embraces that portion of the faerie lore. Quite honestly it is refreshing.
The story opens with Mavek, the Midnight Prince, choosing Arden to be his "Heartless"
(aka his competitor) to participate in the Tithe. Arden is faerie cursed and in order for her to break this curse, the Tithe may be her only salvation.
Knowing that Chani Lynn Feener wrote some of my favorite books, I of course had to jump on this story. What surprised me though, was I had no idea how much I was going to love her portrayal of the Unseelie vs humanity. Even though the story revolves around the Fae, the author focuses on loyalty, family, friendships and love. I started this book expecting to be in love with YET ANOTHER faerie prince, but was blown away by my fierce love for Eskel, the mysterious human boy. Eskel causes Arden to question the Midnight Prince, his people and even the Tithe. But both Mavek and Eskel have secretes of their own and the twists and turns Arden goes through to get to the truth had me at the edge of my seat.
(Also this portion of the review goes out to Chani, girl....can I get more of my Unseelie Cato please? I know he was a side character but I am crushing on him hard.)
I am ready for book 2. I want more faerie lore, more Mavek and more Eskel. I loved everything about this story and can't wait to read what happens next.
“The Faerie Queen of things Unseen.”
Oh how I have missed the world of the fae, not only that, but the Unseelie. I love that the author takes the idea of the dark fae and makes it her own. The Unseelie are mysterious, dangerous, dark and manipulative. They don't think quite like humans, and the author embraces that portion of the faerie lore. Quite honestly it is refreshing.
The story opens with Mavek, the Midnight Prince, choosing Arden to be his "Heartless"
(aka his competitor) to participate in the Tithe. Arden is faerie cursed and in order for her to break this curse, the Tithe may be her only salvation.
Knowing that Chani Lynn Feener wrote some of my favorite books, I of course had to jump on this story. What surprised me though, was I had no idea how much I was going to love her portrayal of the Unseelie vs humanity. Even though the story revolves around the Fae, the author focuses on loyalty, family, friendships and love. I started this book expecting to be in love with YET ANOTHER faerie prince, but was blown away by my fierce love for Eskel, the mysterious human boy. Eskel causes Arden to question the Midnight Prince, his people and even the Tithe. But both Mavek and Eskel have secretes of their own and the twists and turns Arden goes through to get to the truth had me at the edge of my seat.
(Also this portion of the review goes out to Chani, girl....can I get more of my Unseelie Cato please? I know he was a side character but I am crushing on him hard.)
I am ready for book 2. I want more faerie lore, more Mavek and more Eskel. I loved everything about this story and can't wait to read what happens next.
July 22, 2019
*I received an eARC from the author*😍
This book started off a little slow, but it quickly picked up the pace! Stories with fae are generally a hit or miss for me, but this was one a hit!
I enjoyed the main character, but at times I found her indecisiveness a little annoying and enjoyed the secondary characters a little more. I found Mavek to be a very intriguing character, I can understand her feelings for him! He is definitely an Unseelie fae though, at times he can be very manipulative.
I really enjoyed the Tithe, it’s definitely not what it seems, but is anything with fae ever what it it seems? I will definitely be reading the sequel, that ending left me with a lot of questions!
This book started off a little slow, but it quickly picked up the pace! Stories with fae are generally a hit or miss for me, but this was one a hit!
I enjoyed the main character, but at times I found her indecisiveness a little annoying and enjoyed the secondary characters a little more. I found Mavek to be a very intriguing character, I can understand her feelings for him! He is definitely an Unseelie fae though, at times he can be very manipulative.
I really enjoyed the Tithe, it’s definitely not what it seems, but is anything with fae ever what it it seems? I will definitely be reading the sequel, that ending left me with a lot of questions!
Read
July 5, 2020I'll wait until the the last book out to read this series, my heart can't take the heartbreak, after some spoiler then I'll binge read it.
This tangled written love-triagle reminds me of Clockwork Angel, series that's superb, but I'm afraid to finish.
57% done.
This tangled written love-triagle reminds me of Clockwork Angel, series that's superb, but I'm afraid to finish.
57% done.
September 25, 2019
*I received an eARC in exchange for a review.* I loved Chani Lynn Feener’s Xenith Trilogy and, after reading Tithe, am excited for the Roses Red Trilogy! I normally don’t get super into books about fae, but this one sucked me in from page one! The characters were very well written and they all had many layers. This author knows how to write a love triangle! I can’t even pick who I want Arden to be with because Mavek and Eskel are both amazing characters. As more and more secrets came out, the plot twisted and turned on a wild, mysterious ride that made the book even better. I enjoyed how Arden’s main goal was to protect her family and friends, and she wasn’t primarily focused on the boys. THE ENDING KILLED ME!! I have a serious book hangover from this, but it was the perfect ending for the first book in a trilogy. Overall, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to others, even if you aren’t normally into fae. It’s a fantastic new take on the world of faerie and will captivate many audiences!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2019
**I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review**
Being a huge fan of the Underworld series, also written by Chani Lynn Feener, I was very excited to read this book. Since this book is the introduction to not only a new series, but an entire new world, I was grateful for the slower pace. A great job introducing all of the many new characters to love and hate, human and Fae, with just enough background on each to be informed but not overwhelmed. The
story is entertainingly full of just enough secrets and plot twists to have me begging for more!
Being a huge fan of the Underworld series, also written by Chani Lynn Feener, I was very excited to read this book. Since this book is the introduction to not only a new series, but an entire new world, I was grateful for the slower pace. A great job introducing all of the many new characters to love and hate, human and Fae, with just enough background on each to be informed but not overwhelmed. The
story is entertainingly full of just enough secrets and plot twists to have me begging for more!
October 17, 2019
What. Just. Happen.
Obsessed! Full review to come, but man was this good.
Obsessed! Full review to come, but man was this good.
February 4, 2020
As always, her books are fantastic. This book DID NOT disappoint! She is my favorite author; everyone needs to read all of her books!!!
August 16, 2019
Feener merges the traditional myths of the fairy tithe to hell and the power of a willing sacrifice, providing a fresh and plausible reason for that competition between teenagers which defines one subgenre of young adult fiction.
One of Arden Archer’s ancestors was cursed to see the Unseelie; a curse that has travelled down through the women of her family, sending her mother to an early grave and threatening to do the same to both Arden and her sister. However, Mavek, one of the rulers of the Unseelie, offers her both a strange romance and a way out. Every seven years, the Unseelie must offer up a pure strong soul, a soul they find by testing humans against each other; in exchange for voluntarily surrendering their soul, the curse affecting them will be broken. It won’t give Arden back a normal life, but it will save her sister from the same fate as their mother. But, as the day of testing approaches, the arrival of Eskel, a young man with an almost obsessive interest in the Unseelie, casts doubt both on Arden’s fitness for the Tithe and Mavek’s honesty.
Feener’s Unseelie are every bit the fickle, cruel, and dissolute fairies of darker myths, the very ideal of creatures who would play horrific games with humans to pass the time; it is therefore ironic that their need to find the strongest of souls to sacrifice provides a much stronger motive for pseudo-gladiatorial competition between teenagers than many of the dystopian futures and oppressive regimes that appear in this vein of story.
Equally, Arden’s desire to end a curse is an immensely powerful reason to participate: unlike the iniquities caused by divided human societies, no amount of rebellion, flight, or hard work can overcome—or even reduce—the impact of a magical curse.
Also unlike the usual young adult novels in this vein, this is a personal battle not a battle to free a people or inspire a rebellion. As such, this novel is less likely to irritate readers who find the chosen saviour trope ridiculous.
Feener’s use of another classic young adult trope—the protagonist caught between two possible love interests whom they doubt are truly interested in them—is equally plausible. Mavek is an ancient inhuman being from a race of cruel tricksters and Eskel is a stranger whose almost first words are the danger of revealing one’s true name, so either of them could easily be misrepresenting their interest for nefarious purposes.
As one might expect of a story about fairies, things are indeed not quite as they seem. However, the reasons behind apparent betrayals and the tactical witholding of information are more interesting—and realistic—than the tired stereotype of “some things needing to be earned to be meaningful.”
Unfortunately, Feener’s efforts at plausibility also create the largest potential negative for some readers: her teenagers act like teenagers. So, while events and interactions are nuanced, readers who dislike high-octane emotions and naïve decisions may well feel frustrated at some points.
Arden is a well-crafted protagonist for the plot. Her ability to see Unseelie has shaped her interests and behaviours but she is not a genius who happened to be the child of famous occultists, so her reaction to events is neither flailing nor consistently skilled. This interaction with a world most cannot see also shapes the rest of her life: she desperately wants the comfort and support of a normal teenage life, but conceals her greatest issues from her friends for fear they will think her mad, undercutting what normality she can find.
The supporting cast are similarly interesting characters: the Unseelie display both a common otherness that avoids them seeming human and individual quirks that allow for the possibility of relationships with humans; and the humans are neither willfully blind to strangeness nor casually accepting of everything.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I recommend it to readers seeking a modern fairy tale that ticks all the classic young adult boxes without feeling merely rote.
I received a free copy provided without incentive via a review request service.
This review is based on an advanced copy received several months prior to publication, so does not comment on minor issues of spelling and punctuation.
One of Arden Archer’s ancestors was cursed to see the Unseelie; a curse that has travelled down through the women of her family, sending her mother to an early grave and threatening to do the same to both Arden and her sister. However, Mavek, one of the rulers of the Unseelie, offers her both a strange romance and a way out. Every seven years, the Unseelie must offer up a pure strong soul, a soul they find by testing humans against each other; in exchange for voluntarily surrendering their soul, the curse affecting them will be broken. It won’t give Arden back a normal life, but it will save her sister from the same fate as their mother. But, as the day of testing approaches, the arrival of Eskel, a young man with an almost obsessive interest in the Unseelie, casts doubt both on Arden’s fitness for the Tithe and Mavek’s honesty.
Feener’s Unseelie are every bit the fickle, cruel, and dissolute fairies of darker myths, the very ideal of creatures who would play horrific games with humans to pass the time; it is therefore ironic that their need to find the strongest of souls to sacrifice provides a much stronger motive for pseudo-gladiatorial competition between teenagers than many of the dystopian futures and oppressive regimes that appear in this vein of story.
Equally, Arden’s desire to end a curse is an immensely powerful reason to participate: unlike the iniquities caused by divided human societies, no amount of rebellion, flight, or hard work can overcome—or even reduce—the impact of a magical curse.
Also unlike the usual young adult novels in this vein, this is a personal battle not a battle to free a people or inspire a rebellion. As such, this novel is less likely to irritate readers who find the chosen saviour trope ridiculous.
Feener’s use of another classic young adult trope—the protagonist caught between two possible love interests whom they doubt are truly interested in them—is equally plausible. Mavek is an ancient inhuman being from a race of cruel tricksters and Eskel is a stranger whose almost first words are the danger of revealing one’s true name, so either of them could easily be misrepresenting their interest for nefarious purposes.
As one might expect of a story about fairies, things are indeed not quite as they seem. However, the reasons behind apparent betrayals and the tactical witholding of information are more interesting—and realistic—than the tired stereotype of “some things needing to be earned to be meaningful.”
Unfortunately, Feener’s efforts at plausibility also create the largest potential negative for some readers: her teenagers act like teenagers. So, while events and interactions are nuanced, readers who dislike high-octane emotions and naïve decisions may well feel frustrated at some points.
Arden is a well-crafted protagonist for the plot. Her ability to see Unseelie has shaped her interests and behaviours but she is not a genius who happened to be the child of famous occultists, so her reaction to events is neither flailing nor consistently skilled. This interaction with a world most cannot see also shapes the rest of her life: she desperately wants the comfort and support of a normal teenage life, but conceals her greatest issues from her friends for fear they will think her mad, undercutting what normality she can find.
The supporting cast are similarly interesting characters: the Unseelie display both a common otherness that avoids them seeming human and individual quirks that allow for the possibility of relationships with humans; and the humans are neither willfully blind to strangeness nor casually accepting of everything.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I recommend it to readers seeking a modern fairy tale that ticks all the classic young adult boxes without feeling merely rote.
I received a free copy provided without incentive via a review request service.
This review is based on an advanced copy received several months prior to publication, so does not comment on minor issues of spelling and punctuation.
August 15, 2022
• Young Adult
• Wicked Fairies
• Twisted Love Triangle
•
The world is one I have seen before, in a good way: the fairy realm is pasted onto ours, but humans cannot see them. The fairies flit around us like whispers in the breeze. Little children might have invisible friends, or a human might disappear in the woods while following a will-o-wisp. Or become a fairy dinner.
Bloodheart. Heartless. Helpless. Yes, I felt confused when confronted with the terms, but that was part of the mystery. The fairies were choosing champions, and Arden had volunteered to champion the unseelie. As a “fae touched,” she knew how dangerous it could be, and when she met a new student with blond hair just like her, she treated him as caustically and protectively as any other… yet he stuck around.
I could only imagine he was here as another champion, and he needed to gauge her capabilities. Or maybe figure out what he had volunteered for. They had pizza together but the dynamic was strained, with every question answered by another question. It felt like the two were fencing. But every guess I made was wrong, and I was surprised many times during the story. It was so full of twists and turns in the plot that I felt like a rubics cube 😂.
At the same time, Arden was mooning over her patron Mavek despite every wish to be neutral. How could she not? He wooed her with her favorite foods. He placed flowers in her hair. How romantic, even without a kiss! 💋 Yet her love was unrequited. Eventually she turned towards the new guy Eskel, leaving Mavek stuck with his secret plans and no lover… I think.
I love the minor characters! Her best friend Tabby and ex-friend Cato make the story more engaging and unique.
The ending left me thunderstruck. The challenge they faced was much more demented than I expected. The victory tainted. Don’t expect an HEA.
[Spoiler alert!] I didn’t know who to sympathize with more: Eksel for pursuing Arden despite her ties to Mavek, or Mavek for losing her love despite all his manipulations. It was not a cliffhanger, so I was seriously glad to find out this is a trilogy!
• Wicked Fairies
• Twisted Love Triangle
•
The world is one I have seen before, in a good way: the fairy realm is pasted onto ours, but humans cannot see them. The fairies flit around us like whispers in the breeze. Little children might have invisible friends, or a human might disappear in the woods while following a will-o-wisp. Or become a fairy dinner.
Bloodheart. Heartless. Helpless. Yes, I felt confused when confronted with the terms, but that was part of the mystery. The fairies were choosing champions, and Arden had volunteered to champion the unseelie. As a “fae touched,” she knew how dangerous it could be, and when she met a new student with blond hair just like her, she treated him as caustically and protectively as any other… yet he stuck around.
I could only imagine he was here as another champion, and he needed to gauge her capabilities. Or maybe figure out what he had volunteered for. They had pizza together but the dynamic was strained, with every question answered by another question. It felt like the two were fencing. But every guess I made was wrong, and I was surprised many times during the story. It was so full of twists and turns in the plot that I felt like a rubics cube 😂.
At the same time, Arden was mooning over her patron Mavek despite every wish to be neutral. How could she not? He wooed her with her favorite foods. He placed flowers in her hair. How romantic, even without a kiss! 💋 Yet her love was unrequited. Eventually she turned towards the new guy Eskel, leaving Mavek stuck with his secret plans and no lover… I think.
I love the minor characters! Her best friend Tabby and ex-friend Cato make the story more engaging and unique.
The ending left me thunderstruck. The challenge they faced was much more demented than I expected. The victory tainted. Don’t expect an HEA.
[Spoiler alert!] I didn’t know who to sympathize with more: Eksel for pursuing Arden despite her ties to Mavek, or Mavek for losing her love despite all his manipulations. It was not a cliffhanger, so I was seriously glad to find out this is a trilogy!
October 30, 2019
(Read my full review here)
Tithe is a story that follows a human girl as she is entangled with the fae world. Faeries are one of my favorite topics to read about as there are a bunch of directions you can take the story.
While I enjoyed Tithe, it hasn't made it on my favorites list. Feener does a good job of keeping the original feel of being ruthless and cold that the Fae have while also blending with the human world, but I sometimes had trouble placing myself into the story. Arden wasn't a character I particularly loved or hated. Through out the story I was indifferent to her and just read on because I wanted to finish the plot, but even then there were moments where it didn't feel like the plot was progressing.
I noticed that there were a lot of moments where I was told instead of shown things. It's always difficult to create a story where the main character is already invested in the world, as you need clever ways to introduce the reader to the world, however because there were so many moments where I was told something was like this or that that I had difficulties connecting myself emotionally to the characters or world.
Plotwise though, I was intruiged. I do feel like, because it's only the first book in the series and it was building up to a big event, there was a lack of suspense. We mostly focused on the establishing relationships and questioning what Arden already knew. There weren't any moments where I almost died of anticipation, but the book did manage to get me curious about the sequel. It ended with a lot of questionmakrs, but not in a frustrating way. I'm curious to see how Arden is going to manage everything that will be thrown at her because of the events of this book and how she's going to grow as a chacarter. She wasn't a weak character to begin with, but to play with the fae you need to continiously grow. One of my favorite things about the book was how Arden wasn't exactly a push over, but with nothing standing in her way now; how is she going to deal with the changes?
Tithe is a story that follows a human girl as she is entangled with the fae world. Faeries are one of my favorite topics to read about as there are a bunch of directions you can take the story.
While I enjoyed Tithe, it hasn't made it on my favorites list. Feener does a good job of keeping the original feel of being ruthless and cold that the Fae have while also blending with the human world, but I sometimes had trouble placing myself into the story. Arden wasn't a character I particularly loved or hated. Through out the story I was indifferent to her and just read on because I wanted to finish the plot, but even then there were moments where it didn't feel like the plot was progressing.
I noticed that there were a lot of moments where I was told instead of shown things. It's always difficult to create a story where the main character is already invested in the world, as you need clever ways to introduce the reader to the world, however because there were so many moments where I was told something was like this or that that I had difficulties connecting myself emotionally to the characters or world.
Plotwise though, I was intruiged. I do feel like, because it's only the first book in the series and it was building up to a big event, there was a lack of suspense. We mostly focused on the establishing relationships and questioning what Arden already knew. There weren't any moments where I almost died of anticipation, but the book did manage to get me curious about the sequel. It ended with a lot of questionmakrs, but not in a frustrating way. I'm curious to see how Arden is going to manage everything that will be thrown at her because of the events of this book and how she's going to grow as a chacarter. She wasn't a weak character to begin with, but to play with the fae you need to continiously grow. One of my favorite things about the book was how Arden wasn't exactly a push over, but with nothing standing in her way now; how is she going to deal with the changes?
October 16, 2019
Tithe is the first book in the Roses Red Series by Chani Lynn Feener. I got an arc copy in exchange for a review. The book officially releases on October 31st. Which is perfect timing since the books climax tacks place on All Saints Eve.
The story follows Arden as she is torn between the Mavek, the Unseelie that’s made impossible promises, and the boy that lost his brother during the previous tithe.
When it comes to the fae it’s hard for Arden to know who to trust. The closer it gets to the tithe the more she learns about Mavek the more divided her feelings become. At the same time, she starts falling for the new guy in town. He seems to know a little more than he should and asks questions that he shouldn’t ask. The more Arden thinks she should stay away from him the more she doesn’t want to.
Her friends, family, and heart are on the line as she risks her soul to break an old family curse.
I’d give it a solid 4. It’s got interesting characters, a well-developed world and backstory, as well as a rich setting that pulled me in.
My favorite character was Brix. He’s mischievous, but he managed to tug at my empathetic side.
If you like romantic stories with a touch of magic this is a good choice.
The story follows Arden as she is torn between the Mavek, the Unseelie that’s made impossible promises, and the boy that lost his brother during the previous tithe.
When it comes to the fae it’s hard for Arden to know who to trust. The closer it gets to the tithe the more she learns about Mavek the more divided her feelings become. At the same time, she starts falling for the new guy in town. He seems to know a little more than he should and asks questions that he shouldn’t ask. The more Arden thinks she should stay away from him the more she doesn’t want to.
Her friends, family, and heart are on the line as she risks her soul to break an old family curse.
I’d give it a solid 4. It’s got interesting characters, a well-developed world and backstory, as well as a rich setting that pulled me in.
My favorite character was Brix. He’s mischievous, but he managed to tug at my empathetic side.
If you like romantic stories with a touch of magic this is a good choice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2020
It was an okay read.
The story flowed pretty well and the characters had you swept up in their drama however I only gave it three stars because it wasn’t that memorable. I read it 3 days ago and couldn’t tell you much about it. I wish the author gave you more about this trial/tribute instead of Arden doing trivial things that really grew boring. And when it finally got to the tribune I felt like it was kind of a let down. The main character trained for this for a year or so to win but we are kept in the dark the entire time because it wasn’t supposed to be spoken of. I was braced for a hunger games type of thing but didn’t get that at all.
I liked how the author shows you how manipulative the Dark Prince and his court was from the very beginning. Since we are reading about the fae I wouldn’t have expected anything less but then towards the end we see an extreme change of character out of him. I wanted to know when and why this supposedly “dark” character fell for Arden but we never got that answer in this book. Hopefully it’s in the second book but I’m not continuing the series.
If you like love triangles this is for you.
The story flowed pretty well and the characters had you swept up in their drama however I only gave it three stars because it wasn’t that memorable. I read it 3 days ago and couldn’t tell you much about it. I wish the author gave you more about this trial/tribute instead of Arden doing trivial things that really grew boring. And when it finally got to the tribune I felt like it was kind of a let down. The main character trained for this for a year or so to win but we are kept in the dark the entire time because it wasn’t supposed to be spoken of. I was braced for a hunger games type of thing but didn’t get that at all.
I liked how the author shows you how manipulative the Dark Prince and his court was from the very beginning. Since we are reading about the fae I wouldn’t have expected anything less but then towards the end we see an extreme change of character out of him. I wanted to know when and why this supposedly “dark” character fell for Arden but we never got that answer in this book. Hopefully it’s in the second book but I’m not continuing the series.
If you like love triangles this is for you.
May 14, 2025
It started well with interesting worldbuilding and fae politics. Then it sort of fell apart with repetitive scenes, inner dialogue and thoughts of the past instead of getting on with the story. Even the end is muddled with dragged out explanations.
The good points: Arden can see the fae, believes there’s a curse on her family which eventually drives them insane, and makes a deal with the fae to remove the curse for her sister’s sake (her mum had committed suicide). She’s ready to be all noble about fighting others to be the tithe and save her family.
The weird points: despite all that, knowing the rules state that she’s not allowed to fall in love, she falls for the faery prince and then for some awkward reason, a new guy in town. To make things even more awkward, one of her opponents is her ex.
There’s an interesting story beneath it all, but all the manipulation from Mavek the faery prince and the lies from the new boy in town, doesn’t a romance make.
DNF series
The good points: Arden can see the fae, believes there’s a curse on her family which eventually drives them insane, and makes a deal with the fae to remove the curse for her sister’s sake (her mum had committed suicide). She’s ready to be all noble about fighting others to be the tithe and save her family.
The weird points: despite all that, knowing the rules state that she’s not allowed to fall in love, she falls for the faery prince and then for some awkward reason, a new guy in town. To make things even more awkward, one of her opponents is her ex.
There’s an interesting story beneath it all, but all the manipulation from Mavek the faery prince and the lies from the new boy in town, doesn’t a romance make.
DNF series
November 7, 2019
You are in for a treat...a red velvet cupcake kind of a treat with Tithe. Chani Lynn Feener has an art for world-building as well as a creative method of unfolding ideas that meld together so flawlessly. When I finished reading, I wanted to pick it up again and dissect it to see just how Chani made the magic of the book happen!
Her characters have a beautiful depth to them. I felt so drawn to the Fae (just like Arden), their behaviors, and their manipulations. I can’t wait to find out more about the secondary characters in book 2.
Plus...that ending! I’m dying to know what happens next. It was certainly a twist I didn’t see coming until the end of the book. To me, that’s the perfect twist. Well done Chani!!
Her characters have a beautiful depth to them. I felt so drawn to the Fae (just like Arden), their behaviors, and their manipulations. I can’t wait to find out more about the secondary characters in book 2.
Plus...that ending! I’m dying to know what happens next. It was certainly a twist I didn’t see coming until the end of the book. To me, that’s the perfect twist. Well done Chani!!
April 3, 2020
Impressive Idea, but just not for me.
Fae books are always a hit and miss for me..... Or more of a miss than ever a hit.
I can hardly find a fae book which I loved wholly from start to finish (maybe An enchantment of ravens... although it took 2 attempts for me to actually appreciate it), so honestly the fact I haven't liked this is more of my taste than the book itself.
Elated that I'd won the series part in the publishers kindle giveaway, but It was just very underwhelming to me.
Fae books are always a hit and miss for me..... Or more of a miss than ever a hit.
I can hardly find a fae book which I loved wholly from start to finish (maybe An enchantment of ravens... although it took 2 attempts for me to actually appreciate it), so honestly the fact I haven't liked this is more of my taste than the book itself.
Elated that I'd won the series part in the publishers kindle giveaway, but It was just very underwhelming to me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews