In full disclosure, I received an ARC of this book from the author herself in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Having been a long-time fan of novels written under this author’s civil name, I was more than excited to dive into her new writing. This book contains all the goodness you could ever ask for in a faerie read; full of fantasy, poignant characters, steamy romance, and a fast paced, enthralling plot. Having been a faerie Changeling, Ayla is no stranger to the Fae world, and yet she wants no part of it. She’s happy to be close to her human brother, tasked as a caretaker for his children. Yet, when the air court comes knocking on her door, demanding that she do something about The Mad King, Ayla cannot refuse the opportunity to investigate and ultimately rid herself of the faerie world forever. Only, as time goes by, Ayla is torn between the family she loves and The Mad King, whom she finds herself falling in love with day by day, and the Air Court.
I truly enjoyed reading this book. The characters, both main characters and all the side characters, were wonderful and intriguing. Ayla was a gentle yet smart heroine, and Storm was a tortured, angsty soul, but they meshed together so well. They were both shrouded in slight mystery, enough that it wasn’t frustrating to discern their secrets but rather enjoyable. I especially loved that Storm and Ayla weren’t the stereotypical, recycled characters we see time-and-time again, especially in fantasy novels.
This book was a foray into an interesting world with a fresh take on faeries. I only wish there’d been more world-building and more time to explore this rich world, but I have a feeling that will come with the other books in the series. All in all, this book made for a wonderful weekend read and has me thirsty for more fantasy novels by this talented author!