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Maze of Shadows #1
The Unseelie Prince
The throne is Valroy’s for the taking…but first, he needs a queen.
As the son of the Morrigan and heir to the vacant Unseelie throne, Valroy itches to shed the mantle of prince and take his place as King. To his great regret one ancient tradition stands in his way, demanding he first take a bride. With all the members of the Unseelie court proving to be insufferable, what is a prince to do?
Steal a human, of course.
Abigail often wonders if the townsfolk aren’t right in calling her cursed. Abandoned by her husband and with no family to call her own, everything in her life hangs by a thread. Never did she expect her downfall would come by taking pity on an old hermit. Abducted into the dangerous world of Tir n’Aill, Abigail is thrust into a terrifying maze that defies all logic. There, she finds herself at the mercy of an Unseelie prince with a strange offer—survive his maze and he’ll give her the solution to all her problems…
If she can live that long.
As the son of the Morrigan and heir to the vacant Unseelie throne, Valroy itches to shed the mantle of prince and take his place as King. To his great regret one ancient tradition stands in his way, demanding he first take a bride. With all the members of the Unseelie court proving to be insufferable, what is a prince to do?
Steal a human, of course.
Abigail often wonders if the townsfolk aren’t right in calling her cursed. Abandoned by her husband and with no family to call her own, everything in her life hangs by a thread. Never did she expect her downfall would come by taking pity on an old hermit. Abducted into the dangerous world of Tir n’Aill, Abigail is thrust into a terrifying maze that defies all logic. There, she finds herself at the mercy of an Unseelie prince with a strange offer—survive his maze and he’ll give her the solution to all her problems…
If she can live that long.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2021
2864 people are currently reading
28256 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Ann Kingsley
67 books2,474 followersKathryn has always been a storyteller. Years of scriptwriting for performances on stage and for tourism in Boston led her to writing romantically dark, fantastical tales, which was an obsession of hers that began once seeing The Phantom of the Opera at a young age.
When she isn’t penning new villainous leads, she works in video game development. There, she has been everything from Creative Director to Chief of Staff, Design Manager, Executive Producer, and Principal Writer for various companies in the industry.
She shares her antique home with three very fluffy animals and one very patient and loving husband.
When she isn’t penning new villainous leads, she works in video game development. There, she has been everything from Creative Director to Chief of Staff, Design Manager, Executive Producer, and Principal Writer for various companies in the industry.
She shares her antique home with three very fluffy animals and one very patient and loving husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,374 reviews
November 24, 2021
DNF 19%
I’m in the minority, it seems. But this poor girl is kidnapped and threatened with rape and taken away and mocked and demeaned and emotionally abused (gaslighted) basically. And it just turned my stomach. I can’t with this
I’m in the minority, it seems. But this poor girl is kidnapped and threatened with rape and taken away and mocked and demeaned and emotionally abused (gaslighted) basically. And it just turned my stomach. I can’t with this
August 21, 2022
“I shall have what is rightfully mine. No more, no less.”
“And what…what do you believe is rightfully yours?”
He grinned. She could feel his hot breath wash against her cheek.
“Everything under the sun and moon, on Earth and Tir n’Aill, little witch. Everything. Including you.”
Listen, I don't need you to judge me for feeling the need to pick this kind of books.
I already judge myself well enough for it, and rightfully so.
A reader's gotta do what a reader's gotta do, after all.
Jokes aside, this book could have been everything I've ever dreamt for and possibly even more, but I was unhappily scammed by that inpossibly sexy cover and all the wicked content it promised.
Don't get me wrong, The Unseelie Prince's earned its DARK ROMANCE title (look out for the trigger warning list I'm gonna add under a spoiler tag at the bottom of this review) and the ENEMIES-TO-LOVERS trope is well deserved, but I think the author had some trouble with developing this themes or fitting them rightly into the story.
A story, that, unfortunately, is painfully slow and one-dimentional. At some point I considered skimming, but -still hanging on to that beautiful cover that speaks of rougher and sexier times- I just didn't want to give up so easily.
If you know me and my reading habits, you know I will 90% of times fall for the villain, and I was surprised to find out that, Valroy, for once, is a real villain, a mean and bloody one, one that doesn't fall easily and that remains merciless and true to his own nature once he does.
I liked his character more than I did Abigail's, but I didn't really love any of them, in the end.
Same goes for the dark romance and enemies-to-lovers aspects.
It's not that I have anything with books being dark or with slow burns, but if there's something I'm passionately uncompromising when it comes to this two particular tropes, is that I have to feel the shadows and I have to feel the hate, but I also have to feel the CHEMISTRY, and I felt very little while reading this.
The Unseelies Prince was too heavy on its darkness and, ironically, an enemies-to-lovers book that was probably even too realistic for a certain books' standards.
It was always about Valroy being cruel and a giant abt-winged jerk (which, okay, could be considered hot, if you squint, except for the wings part that is probably what got me in this situation in the first place), about Abigail trying to escape from her secy kidnapper (fair), Abigail refusing to marry him over and over and over and over (again, fair af), but there wasn't much else in between and the little that was, was forgettable and not as hot as that freaking cover suggested.
Plotwise speaking, I have almost nothing to say. It was okay, but there really wasn't much going on, and it's a pity because the first 5 or so chapters were really promising.
Long story short, this book has all the tropes, all the potential, a chef-kiss plot, top notch writing and exciting dialogue (it's told in third person but it has a double pov), but it fails in putting homogeneously together a group of elements that individually are terrific.
Long story short, that cover lied to me and now I'm bitter.
Long story short, there's only one cruel prince in town. He doesn't have wings, but he has a tail and he's the bestest.
ACTUAL RATINGS 2,5/5
March 11, 2022
Well, I tried.
When I found this new adult book for Cassie and I to read, I was so excited. Sadistic fae? An honest-to-god villain love interest who isn't secretly good and nice? Real enemies-to-lovers? And I cannot stress enough, sadistic and trickster-like fae in their natural state? Surely, I prayed, this will turn out well.
Nope lol.
I don't know if I'll ever do an in-depth review of The Unseelie Prince, but I can at least do a pros and cons list. Do keep in mind that the bar is low (and apparently getting lower all the time).
What I Liked:
- The cover is where it's at. More horny cover art for books tbh.
- Valroy's character design and potential (pls refer to the dislike column for the rest).
- When Valroy is alone or talks to other characters besides Abigail, his love interest.
- How Valroy clasps his wings around him like a cape; it's the Gargoyles vibes for me. (Oh, if only he could've been a Xanatos, rip.) He can also use his wings for violence. Wish he'd done that more.
- The sea-monster Anfar is the MVP and the GOAT.
- Absolutely no hint of MALE and FEMALE to describe fae.
- Mate as a noun was only used once and not about the two leads.
- No weirdly gendered language like "male satisfaction" and "feminine softness."
- The fae here aren't only straight! They pretty much do whatever! (But really, hetero fae lmao.)
- There were preternaturally beautiful high fae and monstrous fae, sometimes at once.
- The Unseelie fae were every bit as sadistic as they should be, with certain members being more humane and reasonable as outliers of the group.
- How the Unseelie fae ruled at night with the Moonlit Court and the Seelie fae ruled during the day with the Sunlit Court.
- How I could definitely tell how alien fae are from humans, not only in appearance but in perspective and philosophy.
- The general world-building of the Underneath was interesting and imaginative.
- From the Nameless to the goblin ritual, there is plenty of delicious nightmare fuel here.
What I Disliked:
- The book still feels like a rough draft. A good round of developmental, copy, and line editing should've been done before publishing.
- Sure, Valroy was sadistic at times, but he was written inconsistently with too many ricocheting extremes. His reactions were so over-the-top about the slightest things but not in a way that was enjoyable or interesting for me. Mostly, he's what I would label a chucklefuck. This guy chuckled and chuckled and chuckled. He laughed uproariously, cackled loudly, and howled with laughter, and nothing was ever that funny or amusing, my guy.
- In fact, the words "fun," "chuckle," and "cackle," should be taken away from the author in the hopes she can learn new words and ways to describe character interactions. How about "smirk"? How about a silent reaction? Those are good!
- Abigail could've been replaced with a rock with how much agency she had. We're told she's a witch, but it doesn't really matter. She is at the whim and mercy of every single character and creature she meets, and she doesn't grow in any form.
- Valroy's absolute control over the Maze and his supposedly godlike powers made the plot pretty meandering and boring.
- Everything is so stacked against Abigail from the beginning that she literally can't effect any kind of change or make any impact, both in the Maze and outside it. As a result, she does nothing for a whole book besides walking around, bemoaning her fate, and almost getting murdered over and over... and not by Valroy, like you'd expect. A shame. Thing is, the author made this call, and it was a bad one. She could've made Abigail a contender at any time. She's a hedge witch, you say? Her magic is connected to the natural world? Then make it react in new, interesting, and powerful ways now that she's in the fae realm, which we're told is the more natural state of things. And yes, make it react in ways outside of Valroy's control. Make Abigail truly unpredictable since she's still very much an outsider here. I don't understand why this didn't happen.
- The attraction between Abigail and Valroy is so stale and unbelievable. The key to enemies-to-lovers in any form is that they challenge each other, and whoever has the upper hand can change at any point. Both parties should be forcing each other to be smarter, stronger while tension and attraction grows between them. If they hate the attraction, even better!
- Instead, the author tries to force you to believe that Abigail is witty and somehow more interesting to Valroy than any other human woman he could possibly find. She does this by having Valroy say over and over again how much fun Abigail is and how much it's a turn-on that she's angry at him about everything he says and does. I would like to inform Ms. Kingsley that most people experience anger to things that anger them, and most people would certainly be angry in Abigail's circumstance.
- As a result, the conversations between Abigail and Valroy get so unbearable so quickly. I can't even call what they did banter because that would imply something was there to salvage as being clever.
- Valroy also goes too soft for the heroine too soon with no real indication as to why. Again, Abigail is a wet tissue, so what's the deal?
- It was also wild how Valroy never got angry at anything Abigail said and did. He just chuckled about it! Where was that moment when you feel the air suddenly shift and your hair rises because he's no longer smiling? Where was that moment of fear and dread that, if you made one wrong move, his anger would be unleashed upon you? In short, where was the villain I was promised? The villain I could take seriously instead of the clown I received?
- As you can imagine, sexy scenes between the two leads were never sexy, even to my depraved heart and loins, because there was no chemistry between them. Pretty sure I was more turned on by the impromptu tent orgy than anything with these two. Their scenes were so mild, too. Just kissing and grinding and the threats of rough, life-ending sex. Bro, either do it or don't. I'm bored.
- The amount of times that Abigail screamed/shrieked at something talking to her from behind (it's usually always Valroy) before tripping on a rock and falling down. I thought we were done with the stupidly clumsy heroine after Twilight. How about the clumsy oaf trips and impales herself on a sword next time.
- Oh, that reminds me: Abigail is given a magic sword early on that works for her because she has magic, but she uses it only once. 💀💀💀 I had to read about her carrying around this sword and keeping track of belts for no reason.
- So I kind of understand the loophole Valroy is taking with marrying a human woman over a fae, but why can't he just take the empty throne if he's already so insanely powerful to the point where no one can challenge him? Unclear.
So yeah, tried it. Some good ideas and descriptions, but poor execution on the character, villain, and plot fronts. Very sad.
When I found this new adult book for Cassie and I to read, I was so excited. Sadistic fae? An honest-to-god villain love interest who isn't secretly good and nice? Real enemies-to-lovers? And I cannot stress enough, sadistic and trickster-like fae in their natural state? Surely, I prayed, this will turn out well.
Nope lol.
I don't know if I'll ever do an in-depth review of The Unseelie Prince, but I can at least do a pros and cons list. Do keep in mind that the bar is low (and apparently getting lower all the time).
What I Liked:
- The cover is where it's at. More horny cover art for books tbh.
- Valroy's character design and potential (pls refer to the dislike column for the rest).
- When Valroy is alone or talks to other characters besides Abigail, his love interest.
- How Valroy clasps his wings around him like a cape; it's the Gargoyles vibes for me. (Oh, if only he could've been a Xanatos, rip.) He can also use his wings for violence. Wish he'd done that more.
- The sea-monster Anfar is the MVP and the GOAT.
- Absolutely no hint of MALE and FEMALE to describe fae.
- Mate as a noun was only used once and not about the two leads.
- No weirdly gendered language like "male satisfaction" and "feminine softness."
- The fae here aren't only straight! They pretty much do whatever! (But really, hetero fae lmao.)
- There were preternaturally beautiful high fae and monstrous fae, sometimes at once.
- The Unseelie fae were every bit as sadistic as they should be, with certain members being more humane and reasonable as outliers of the group.
- How the Unseelie fae ruled at night with the Moonlit Court and the Seelie fae ruled during the day with the Sunlit Court.
- How I could definitely tell how alien fae are from humans, not only in appearance but in perspective and philosophy.
- The general world-building of the Underneath was interesting and imaginative.
- From the Nameless to the goblin ritual, there is plenty of delicious nightmare fuel here.
What I Disliked:
- The book still feels like a rough draft. A good round of developmental, copy, and line editing should've been done before publishing.
- Sure, Valroy was sadistic at times, but he was written inconsistently with too many ricocheting extremes. His reactions were so over-the-top about the slightest things but not in a way that was enjoyable or interesting for me. Mostly, he's what I would label a chucklefuck. This guy chuckled and chuckled and chuckled. He laughed uproariously, cackled loudly, and howled with laughter, and nothing was ever that funny or amusing, my guy.
- In fact, the words "fun," "chuckle," and "cackle," should be taken away from the author in the hopes she can learn new words and ways to describe character interactions. How about "smirk"? How about a silent reaction? Those are good!
- Abigail could've been replaced with a rock with how much agency she had. We're told she's a witch, but it doesn't really matter. She is at the whim and mercy of every single character and creature she meets, and she doesn't grow in any form.
- Valroy's absolute control over the Maze and his supposedly godlike powers made the plot pretty meandering and boring.
- Everything is so stacked against Abigail from the beginning that she literally can't effect any kind of change or make any impact, both in the Maze and outside it. As a result, she does nothing for a whole book besides walking around, bemoaning her fate, and almost getting murdered over and over... and not by Valroy, like you'd expect. A shame. Thing is, the author made this call, and it was a bad one. She could've made Abigail a contender at any time. She's a hedge witch, you say? Her magic is connected to the natural world? Then make it react in new, interesting, and powerful ways now that she's in the fae realm, which we're told is the more natural state of things. And yes, make it react in ways outside of Valroy's control. Make Abigail truly unpredictable since she's still very much an outsider here. I don't understand why this didn't happen.
- The attraction between Abigail and Valroy is so stale and unbelievable. The key to enemies-to-lovers in any form is that they challenge each other, and whoever has the upper hand can change at any point. Both parties should be forcing each other to be smarter, stronger while tension and attraction grows between them. If they hate the attraction, even better!
- Instead, the author tries to force you to believe that Abigail is witty and somehow more interesting to Valroy than any other human woman he could possibly find. She does this by having Valroy say over and over again how much fun Abigail is and how much it's a turn-on that she's angry at him about everything he says and does. I would like to inform Ms. Kingsley that most people experience anger to things that anger them, and most people would certainly be angry in Abigail's circumstance.
- As a result, the conversations between Abigail and Valroy get so unbearable so quickly. I can't even call what they did banter because that would imply something was there to salvage as being clever.
- Valroy also goes too soft for the heroine too soon with no real indication as to why. Again, Abigail is a wet tissue, so what's the deal?
- It was also wild how Valroy never got angry at anything Abigail said and did. He just chuckled about it! Where was that moment when you feel the air suddenly shift and your hair rises because he's no longer smiling? Where was that moment of fear and dread that, if you made one wrong move, his anger would be unleashed upon you? In short, where was the villain I was promised? The villain I could take seriously instead of the clown I received?
- As you can imagine, sexy scenes between the two leads were never sexy, even to my depraved heart and loins, because there was no chemistry between them. Pretty sure I was more turned on by the impromptu tent orgy than anything with these two. Their scenes were so mild, too. Just kissing and grinding and the threats of rough, life-ending sex. Bro, either do it or don't. I'm bored.
- The amount of times that Abigail screamed/shrieked at something talking to her from behind (it's usually always Valroy) before tripping on a rock and falling down. I thought we were done with the stupidly clumsy heroine after Twilight. How about the clumsy oaf trips and impales herself on a sword next time.
- Oh, that reminds me: Abigail is given a magic sword early on that works for her because she has magic, but she uses it only once. 💀💀💀 I had to read about her carrying around this sword and keeping track of belts for no reason.
- So I kind of understand the loophole Valroy is taking with marrying a human woman over a fae, but why can't he just take the empty throne if he's already so insanely powerful to the point where no one can challenge him? Unclear.
So yeah, tried it. Some good ideas and descriptions, but poor execution on the character, villain, and plot fronts. Very sad.
Read
October 17, 2021This was delightful and I'm stoked to read the next one!
October 12, 2021
This is fantastic. I just want the second one in my hands right now because I need it.
Read this book if you enjoy:
😈 Villian romance (sadist fae prince anyone?)
😈 Spooky fantasy worlds
😈 Hero gets more hot-and-bothered the angrier the leading lady is
😈 Ultimate sacrifice themes
... 😈 Slow burn with a cliffhanger
Valroy of the super evil and hot wants to ascend to the throne promised to him. The only way he can do so is to have a bride/ queen. Once he ascends, it's common knowledge that he'll wage a war to destroy everything.
He doesn't have to stay married though, so to solve that requirement he steals a peasant woman through trickery. Abigail is our bleeding heart witch who has been unceremoniously uprooted with the promise of freedom if she can solve the Maze.
I love the character interactions. All of the unseelie fae are monsters and live up the name. I love watching Abigail adapt to this world that she is ill-suited for by making allies and stumbling through traps while struggling with her desires for a certain villain.
I can't wait to find out what the second book holds!
Read this book if you enjoy:
😈 Villian romance (sadist fae prince anyone?)
😈 Spooky fantasy worlds
😈 Hero gets more hot-and-bothered the angrier the leading lady is
😈 Ultimate sacrifice themes
... 😈 Slow burn with a cliffhanger
Valroy of the super evil and hot wants to ascend to the throne promised to him. The only way he can do so is to have a bride/ queen. Once he ascends, it's common knowledge that he'll wage a war to destroy everything.
He doesn't have to stay married though, so to solve that requirement he steals a peasant woman through trickery. Abigail is our bleeding heart witch who has been unceremoniously uprooted with the promise of freedom if she can solve the Maze.
I love the character interactions. All of the unseelie fae are monsters and live up the name. I love watching Abigail adapt to this world that she is ill-suited for by making allies and stumbling through traps while struggling with her desires for a certain villain.
I can't wait to find out what the second book holds!
March 12, 2022
Heroine accidentally captures the interest of the goblin king unseelie prince. He chucks her into a perilous labyrinth maze and proceeds to randomly show up with tight pants and fancy hair.
She's a damsel a bit too often for my taste and it's hard to tell if her constant "ItS nOt fAiR" whines are a nod to the movie or maybe I'm just projecting my own Bowie fantasy vibes onto this
I'm all for jerk BDE heros but dude was pretty rapey 😬. If you are fine with old school bodice rippers containing dubious consent ("she says no but her body says yes") then this is right up your alley. Personally not my thing, but this is just fantasy and will not pass judgement on where you get your kicks
So, the ending.🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Most of the book is blah, and if that ending wasn't so perfect I would have rated this book lower. If what I predict is right, she's about to become a much more awesome/tolerable character. She better become the amazing woman that this ending set her up to be. 🙏 oh pls i need this in these trying times
She's a damsel a bit too often for my taste and it's hard to tell if her constant "ItS nOt fAiR" whines are a nod to the movie or maybe I'm just projecting my own Bowie fantasy vibes onto this
I'm all for jerk BDE heros but dude was pretty rapey 😬. If you are fine with old school bodice rippers containing dubious consent ("she says no but her body says yes") then this is right up your alley. Personally not my thing, but this is just fantasy and will not pass judgement on where you get your kicks
So, the ending.🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Most of the book is blah, and if that ending wasn't so perfect I would have rated this book lower. If what I predict is right, she's about to become a much more awesome/tolerable character. She better become the amazing woman that this ending set her up to be. 🙏 oh pls i need this in these trying times
February 8, 2022
I absolutely enjoyed this book. I loved the heroine, she was powerless against the hero but that didn't stop her from trying to do what she could. The hero is probably among my favorite anti-hero. He was wicked and cunning. He wanted to play a game with the heroine and did not care if she survived it at all but as time went on, you could see that he wasn't sure he wanted the heroine to suffer and that was just so beautiful to watch. Can't wait to read the last book.
October 16, 2021
Like many mid-thirty something women, I was totally enraptured by watching Labyrinth as a child, and I have delved into many a book over the years hoping for Labyrinth vibes. They tend to be more miss than hit, on my opinion, but - unsurprisingly - if you've read any of her other books, The Unseelie Prince manages to capture the darkness and the rotteness that lurks beneath the surface, as well as capturing the beauty as well.
Like all of the author's books, the love that the male love interest is not a good person. Valroy isn't even a person, he's an Unseelie Prince and doesn't pretend to view morality like a human. Kathryn does this really well in all her male protagonists, somehow make their inhumanity help justify their horrific actions.
Abigail is a likeable heroine. Like all of Kathryn's heroines she's not uber powerful, or really anything too special, but she does have courage and grit. One of my only criticisms really is that I found Abigail a bit inter-changeable from a lot of her other female leads from past series. It's not necessarily a bad thing, as they character type she writes it written well, but Abigail's personality and traits could have been any of the other characters.
The chemistry and romance is top notch and, as always, there is a decent and engaging plot going on as well.
I highly recommend this, and all of the author's other series.
Like all of the author's books, the love that the male love interest is not a good person. Valroy isn't even a person, he's an Unseelie Prince and doesn't pretend to view morality like a human. Kathryn does this really well in all her male protagonists, somehow make their inhumanity help justify their horrific actions.
Abigail is a likeable heroine. Like all of Kathryn's heroines she's not uber powerful, or really anything too special, but she does have courage and grit. One of my only criticisms really is that I found Abigail a bit inter-changeable from a lot of her other female leads from past series. It's not necessarily a bad thing, as they character type she writes it written well, but Abigail's personality and traits could have been any of the other characters.
The chemistry and romance is top notch and, as always, there is a decent and engaging plot going on as well.
I highly recommend this, and all of the author's other series.
October 16, 2021
It's bloody as fuck. It's hot as fuck. I'm hooked. I read the book in less than a day and can't wait for December 7rd.
Both protagonists are very special in my opinion and their lusty hate game gave me anything I could ask for. Even if Abigail really didn't ask for it - Valroy delivered.
The end shattered me into way too many pieces. Please put me back together, Kathryn 🖤
(And of course I ordered the paperback: I. HAVE. TO. OWN. IT.)
Both protagonists are very special in my opinion and their lusty hate game gave me anything I could ask for. Even if Abigail really didn't ask for it - Valroy delivered.
The end shattered me into way too many pieces. Please put me back together, Kathryn 🖤
(And of course I ordered the paperback: I. HAVE. TO. OWN. IT.)
March 24, 2022
This was a very refreshing well written book! I loved all the romance and adventure. I loved not knowing where she would go with it but loved every turn of the page! I greedily read this in a couple days and I can’t wait to start book two now! :)
September 2, 2022
⇢ Actual rating: 3.5🌟
I feel so bad for Valroy ... he's the villain, I KNOW, but my heart hurts for him 😭💔
⤏ What to expect:
∘ Adult Dark Fantasy
∘ Romance
∘ Dual POV
∘ Awesome magical worldbuilding
∘ Villain Prince as love interest
∘ Fae
∘ Royalty
∘ Gods
∘ Witches
⤏ Tropes:
∘ Enemies to Lovers
∘ Slowburn
∘ Found Family
∘ Grumpy x Sunshine
⤏ Trigger Warnings: threats of rape, sexual assault, emotional abuse, dub-con, blood, violence & gore, mentions of suicide, infertility
⤏ Summary
Abigail is a lonely woman whose husband left her and everyone keeps their distance from her because she's a witch.
Valroy is the cruel, deranged, bloody Unseelie Prince who's looking for a woman to become his queen so he can take his throne. So he decides to steal a human and Abigail is the perfect victim.
He takes her away to his kingdom and gives her a task: Solve the Maze of Shadows and he'll grant her deepest wish.
If she can survive that long.
⤏ Plot/Writing
The plot was interesting but we quickly found out what the task really means. I won't spoil anything for you so that's all I'm going to address.
It's a catchy book and it kind of tricks you into finishing it because of all the things that are being thrown your way.
I was hanging on every little detail I was given about this world and was looking forward to every interaction between Abigail and Valroy.
⤏ Worldbuilding
The worldbuilding was amazing. It was a little confusing at first, but as we get a little more into the story we find a lot of things that makes it really interesting. I especially liked how the matter of the courts was handled.
I did not expect the fae in this book to be anymore different than the other fae I encountered in other books: gorgeous, hot, but evil and cruel. What I didn't expect, however, was to meet such a diverse cast of creatures — some were the stuff of nightmares, while others were monstrously beautiful.
⤏ Characters
∘ Abigail
To be honest, I wasn't a big fan of the human witch. I did not dislike her or something, I just found her a little annoying at times.
She's kind, compassionate, brave and trying her best to stand her ground in any situation - even though the fae are more powerful than her.
∘ Valroy
The Bloody Prince, Master of the Maze *introduce other titles he has here* is a maniac.
He's a deranged, vile and absolutely brilliant fae. He's a psycopath.
He's the Villain of this story but I ... like him. I feel bad for what he's endured and still enduring, but that doesn't mean what he did and the decisions he continues to take are ok.
I see what he's doing is wrong but the truth is HE DOESN'T. It is all a game for him, it's normal , he doesn't know how else to behave ... Cruelty is all he's known in his long life.
... If villain bad why he so precious?!
⤏ Romance
S L O W B U R N. — E N E M I E S-T O-L O V E R S.
What starts like a simple attraction has the potential to turn into something more.
⤏ Conclusion
That ending was devastating and I dived straight into the next book because I kept wondering "What now?".
I recommend this to people looking for a dark fantasy with a romantic subplot and a villain as the love interest.
«⋯ Maze of Shadows series ⋯»
#1 The Unseelie Prince — 3.5🌟
#2 The Unseelie Crown — 3🌟
#3 The Unseelie Throne — *currently reading
#4 The Unseelie King — *tbr
I feel so bad for Valroy ... he's the villain, I KNOW, but my heart hurts for him 😭💔
⤏ What to expect:
∘ Adult Dark Fantasy
∘ Romance
∘ Dual POV
∘ Awesome magical worldbuilding
∘ Villain Prince as love interest
∘ Fae
∘ Royalty
∘ Gods
∘ Witches
⤏ Tropes:
∘ Enemies to Lovers
∘ Slowburn
∘ Found Family
∘ Grumpy x Sunshine
⤏ Trigger Warnings: threats of rape, sexual assault, emotional abuse, dub-con, blood, violence & gore, mentions of suicide, infertility
⤏ Summary
Abigail is a lonely woman whose husband left her and everyone keeps their distance from her because she's a witch.
Valroy is the cruel, deranged, bloody Unseelie Prince who's looking for a woman to become his queen so he can take his throne. So he decides to steal a human and Abigail is the perfect victim.
He takes her away to his kingdom and gives her a task: Solve the Maze of Shadows and he'll grant her deepest wish.
If she can survive that long.
⤏ Plot/Writing
The plot was interesting but we quickly found out what the task really means. I won't spoil anything for you so that's all I'm going to address.
It's a catchy book and it kind of tricks you into finishing it because of all the things that are being thrown your way.
I was hanging on every little detail I was given about this world and was looking forward to every interaction between Abigail and Valroy.
⤏ Worldbuilding
The worldbuilding was amazing. It was a little confusing at first, but as we get a little more into the story we find a lot of things that makes it really interesting. I especially liked how the matter of the courts was handled.
I did not expect the fae in this book to be anymore different than the other fae I encountered in other books: gorgeous, hot, but evil and cruel. What I didn't expect, however, was to meet such a diverse cast of creatures — some were the stuff of nightmares, while others were monstrously beautiful.
⤏ Characters
∘ Abigail
To be honest, I wasn't a big fan of the human witch. I did not dislike her or something, I just found her a little annoying at times.
She's kind, compassionate, brave and trying her best to stand her ground in any situation - even though the fae are more powerful than her.
∘ Valroy
The Bloody Prince, Master of the Maze *introduce other titles he has here* is a maniac.
He's a deranged, vile and absolutely brilliant fae. He's a psycopath.
He's the Villain of this story but I ... like him. I feel bad for what he's endured and still enduring, but that doesn't mean what he did and the decisions he continues to take are ok.
I see what he's doing is wrong but the truth is HE DOESN'T. It is all a game for him, it's normal , he doesn't know how else to behave ... Cruelty is all he's known in his long life.
One of his wings was wrapped around her, as if he were trying to protect her from the world. Even though he was to blame. He stroked her hair, frown still etched onto his sharp features. “I was only playing.”
... If villain bad why he so precious?!
⤏ Romance
S L O W B U R N. — E N E M I E S-T O-L O V E R S.
What starts like a simple attraction has the potential to turn into something more.
⤏ Conclusion
That ending was devastating and I dived straight into the next book because I kept wondering "What now?".
I recommend this to people looking for a dark fantasy with a romantic subplot and a villain as the love interest.
“Then here is my price. This is what I ask for in exchange—stop crying.”
“What?” She blinked.
“I dislike your tears.” He lifted his hand to run a knuckle over her other cheek.
«⋯ Maze of Shadows series ⋯»
#1 The Unseelie Prince — 3.5🌟
#2 The Unseelie Crown — 3🌟
#3 The Unseelie Throne — *currently reading
#4 The Unseelie King — *tbr
August 15, 2022
JESUS CHRIST BRO 😭😭😭
The romance in this book was absolutely and utterly perfect. Oh my god I'm literally panting on the floor. This is a such perfect enemies to lovers full with angst.
Valroy was so dark and -i gotta be honest- really morally grey. But oh my god the way he slowly became bewitched by her it was so perfect and beautiful I loved it.
Abigail is someone definitely stronger than me because I would not have gone that far in the story if I were her. I'm just so weak.
Amazing book I will be reading the second shortly.
The romance in this book was absolutely and utterly perfect. Oh my god I'm literally panting on the floor. This is a such perfect enemies to lovers full with angst.
Valroy was so dark and -i gotta be honest- really morally grey. But oh my god the way he slowly became bewitched by her it was so perfect and beautiful I loved it.
Abigail is someone definitely stronger than me because I would not have gone that far in the story if I were her. I'm just so weak.
Amazing book I will be reading the second shortly.
December 19, 2021
Ok. Listen. I know this is fantasy. But it’s supposed to be fantasy romance. At least that’s what I’ve been led to believe and how I read it as being written. They didn’t even come close to being together in this book. And I’m honestly pissed. The writing? I really enjoyed. Banter? A delight. But a heroine who is too stupid to live and only views him in the most unforgiving light? I am so annoyed. Suffice it to say, the ending did not make up for anything, only made it worse. And so I am leaving this on a distinctly sour note. Will I continue? Maybe. But when the first book or two doesn’t give me any satisfaction with the couple, I lose faith that I’m not going to have to read three books only to have one chapter or epilogue where we get an actual happy couple. And I’m not signing up for that. So yeah, feel free to ignore this rant, but I’m mad.
June 8, 2023
A good yarn for a fantasy romance, emphasizing magic surrealism. Can’t speak to the Labyrinth movie reference as I haven’t seen it but love the set-up. The author can write sex, and while we don’t actually get the full Monty, the dry humping is hot. He does get her off but his trousers stay on 😔
And FYI I’m on book two and over 50% and still no sex 😭 (less dry humping too 😒)
Put this on bloodplay shelf because Valroy one time sucks poison from her neck and it becomes an erotic moment.
And FYI I’m on book two and over 50% and still no sex 😭 (less dry humping too 😒)
Put this on bloodplay shelf because Valroy one time sucks poison from her neck and it becomes an erotic moment.
February 28, 2022
1.5 stars I wouldn’t recommend the book.
The triggers are many, emotional abuse, gaslighting, bullying, threats of rape, suicide etc.
The triggers are many, emotional abuse, gaslighting, bullying, threats of rape, suicide etc.
August 27, 2023
¡Menudo descubrimiento!
“More favors. More nails in my coffin. But if I am already buried alive, what’s more piece of iron to keep me here ? ”
Estoy enralada. Para aquellos que no conocen este verbo, en la región donde vivo utilizamos este verbo “enralarse” sobre todo para referirnos a los niños en un momento dado están inquietos o cuando estamos alegres hasta perder la compostura. Eso es lo que he sentido leyendo este libro, tanto que acabé leyendo la saga en una sentada.
“-We are the venomous spiders that weave webs of shining silk. We are the graceful in the shadow perfect in our ability to kill. That is what Unseelie are. We are the beauty that kills.
+And the Seelie?
-The beauty that lies”
Me explico, yo iba con la premisa y con la necesidad de leer algo light, porque últimamente es lo único que necesito. Empecé el libro y me pareció el típico libro de fantasía, pero no le di tanta importancia. Lo bueno llegó a medida que avanzaba el libro.
“Should a man not derive pleasure from his profession ? ”
¿Qué tiene este libro? No es su gran argumento, ni su escenario. Para nada, lo bueno de estos personajes es su naturaleza. Me explico, nos encontramos en el mundo de las hadas o los Folk, sobretodo las Unseelie (hadas oscuras).
“-You are a Monster. A sick, demented monster.
+And I much worse than that”.
Sinceramente es la primera vez que veo a un “villano” actuando como tal. No son villanos edulcorados que al poco de conocer a su interés amoroso, cambian a mejor. Para nada. Hacen justicia a su naturaleza. Cada capítulo que pasaba más embelesada/enralada estaba.
“I want her to know what we are. Who we are. More importanly who I am. I will not apolize for my nature. Especially not to my future queen. She shall know al lof what I am capable of before the end”.
Por otro lado, como he dicho antes, el libro tiene muchos fallos, pero los personajes lo eclipsan.
Totalmente recomendable. Un gran descubrimiento de este año.
“No more tears, little witch. I would rather taste your fury. ”
“More favors. More nails in my coffin. But if I am already buried alive, what’s more piece of iron to keep me here ? ”
Estoy enralada. Para aquellos que no conocen este verbo, en la región donde vivo utilizamos este verbo “enralarse” sobre todo para referirnos a los niños en un momento dado están inquietos o cuando estamos alegres hasta perder la compostura. Eso es lo que he sentido leyendo este libro, tanto que acabé leyendo la saga en una sentada.
“-We are the venomous spiders that weave webs of shining silk. We are the graceful in the shadow perfect in our ability to kill. That is what Unseelie are. We are the beauty that kills.
+And the Seelie?
-The beauty that lies”
Me explico, yo iba con la premisa y con la necesidad de leer algo light, porque últimamente es lo único que necesito. Empecé el libro y me pareció el típico libro de fantasía, pero no le di tanta importancia. Lo bueno llegó a medida que avanzaba el libro.
“Should a man not derive pleasure from his profession ? ”
¿Qué tiene este libro? No es su gran argumento, ni su escenario. Para nada, lo bueno de estos personajes es su naturaleza. Me explico, nos encontramos en el mundo de las hadas o los Folk, sobretodo las Unseelie (hadas oscuras).
“-You are a Monster. A sick, demented monster.
+And I much worse than that”.
Sinceramente es la primera vez que veo a un “villano” actuando como tal. No son villanos edulcorados que al poco de conocer a su interés amoroso, cambian a mejor. Para nada. Hacen justicia a su naturaleza. Cada capítulo que pasaba más embelesada/enralada estaba.
“I want her to know what we are. Who we are. More importanly who I am. I will not apolize for my nature. Especially not to my future queen. She shall know al lof what I am capable of before the end”.
Por otro lado, como he dicho antes, el libro tiene muchos fallos, pero los personajes lo eclipsan.
Totalmente recomendable. Un gran descubrimiento de este año.
“No more tears, little witch. I would rather taste your fury. ”
August 23, 2022
DNF @ 67%
CW: horror movie-esque nightmare fuel, dub-con, gruesome torture/murder of a child, threats of rape, violence
I'm starting to think Kathryn Ann Kinglsey's characterizations are just not for me, which is a shame because I love villains and I'm fine with darker content but ugh I really did not enjoy anything about this except for 1 scene with a side character.
A lot of people say how Kathryn Ann Kingsley is the queen of villain gets the girl. She makes heroes that are truly morally bankrupt and terrible and makes them love interests throughout the course of her series. I've read Illusions of Grandeur by her and I didn't enjoy that one. Unfortunately I found this one to have a lot of similarities to that book as well.
I thought I would try The Unseelie Prince since I like fairytale-esque fae books where the fae are actually scary, so I thought I'd have a higher chance of liking this book. But pretty much nothing worked for me in this one.
I appreciate this review that basically goes over all the things I didn't enjoy about this book. The use of referring to the hero, Valroy, as a chucklefuck is particularly apt.
So we have our dark Fae Prince Valroy who abducts a human woman Abigail in order to basically toy with her and force her to marry him for his own nefarious purposes of I guess world domination. Abigail is actually a witch and has some small powers, but this fact can pretty much be ignored since she's as useless as a dull knife.
Abigail had absolutely no agency in this book. I can deal with a section of a book with someone who's captive, or at the mercy of someone or whatever, but making the whole book about how Abigail literally is powerless in her situation was just not fun. Enemies to lovers is fun because even if physically one of the characters isn't as strong as their counterpart, they can usually come out on top in other ways but unfortunately at no point is Abigail any more than a woman who is totally and utterly at the mercy of Valroy. Her witchy powers didn't help her. Her intelligence didn't help her. Hell her feminine wiles didn't even help her! She was like Valroy's pet in the literal sense and it was just no bueno to read about.
The thing I had the biggest issue with was that I hated Valroy's characterization. He did give Charles + Julian Strande vibes from Kingsley's other work in which the man is just SO AMUSED ALL THE TIME. Nothing Abigail can do can bother him. She's mad and socks him in the face? "ha ha! Wow you get me all hot and bothered when you're fiesty like that!" She tries to run away? "ha ha! you're so adorable when you try to run!" Like seriously, this guy just laughs at everything and it comes off as so patronizing and annoying. I like villains who are intense and morally complex, but Valroy is just infinitely amused at everything and everyone. He's so over the top which is not my vibe and it's giving the Joker.
Valroy was not a dynamic villain. Therefore I did not root for Abigail and Valroy as a couple. In fact I was hating Valroy in the sense that I really hoped in the end he would die by Abigail's hand. The power differential was just so significant in this book and I saw no chemistry between the two of them. Then Abigail gets betraying body which is the WOAT in all situations, but is especially heinous to read about when there is nothing remotely interesting or hot about this guy.
He literally is done (minor spoiler, but also CW) in front of Abigail and the next morning he wakes up and is grinding up on her and she's getting the flutters? Oh no. No, ma'am. Goodbye.
Also like, I'm dying at how the author draws the line at rape. Valroy isn't above threatening Abigail with rape but refuses to actually do it because I guess he has some weird moral compass where literal TORTURING and murdering of children is okay but, guys, nope, we have to draw the line at rape. Honestly it weakens his character because literally everything else about his character points to him having no problem raping someone. So when he stubbornly only has a conscience at those moments I'm sitting here like ??? Is this supposed to make me think deep down he has a heart?
Valroy coming across as just an infinitely amused psycho does not do it for me. I need villains with depth, and I don't mean depth in the sense of 'I'm so crazy except deep down I may love you.' I mean real depth.
This was not a vibe. Perhaps if you wanted to read this series as a sort of horror movie love story where there's an HEA but it's like the opposite of what you want, then sure. But I did not like this. Ugh.
CW: horror movie-esque nightmare fuel, dub-con, gruesome torture/murder of a child, threats of rape, violence
I'm starting to think Kathryn Ann Kinglsey's characterizations are just not for me, which is a shame because I love villains and I'm fine with darker content but ugh I really did not enjoy anything about this except for 1 scene with a side character.
A lot of people say how Kathryn Ann Kingsley is the queen of villain gets the girl. She makes heroes that are truly morally bankrupt and terrible and makes them love interests throughout the course of her series. I've read Illusions of Grandeur by her and I didn't enjoy that one. Unfortunately I found this one to have a lot of similarities to that book as well.
I thought I would try The Unseelie Prince since I like fairytale-esque fae books where the fae are actually scary, so I thought I'd have a higher chance of liking this book. But pretty much nothing worked for me in this one.
I appreciate this review that basically goes over all the things I didn't enjoy about this book. The use of referring to the hero, Valroy, as a chucklefuck is particularly apt.
So we have our dark Fae Prince Valroy who abducts a human woman Abigail in order to basically toy with her and force her to marry him for his own nefarious purposes of I guess world domination. Abigail is actually a witch and has some small powers, but this fact can pretty much be ignored since she's as useless as a dull knife.
Abigail had absolutely no agency in this book. I can deal with a section of a book with someone who's captive, or at the mercy of someone or whatever, but making the whole book about how Abigail literally is powerless in her situation was just not fun. Enemies to lovers is fun because even if physically one of the characters isn't as strong as their counterpart, they can usually come out on top in other ways but unfortunately at no point is Abigail any more than a woman who is totally and utterly at the mercy of Valroy. Her witchy powers didn't help her. Her intelligence didn't help her. Hell her feminine wiles didn't even help her! She was like Valroy's pet in the literal sense and it was just no bueno to read about.
The thing I had the biggest issue with was that I hated Valroy's characterization. He did give Charles + Julian Strande vibes from Kingsley's other work in which the man is just SO AMUSED ALL THE TIME. Nothing Abigail can do can bother him. She's mad and socks him in the face? "ha ha! Wow you get me all hot and bothered when you're fiesty like that!" She tries to run away? "ha ha! you're so adorable when you try to run!" Like seriously, this guy just laughs at everything and it comes off as so patronizing and annoying. I like villains who are intense and morally complex, but Valroy is just infinitely amused at everything and everyone. He's so over the top which is not my vibe and it's giving the Joker.
Valroy was not a dynamic villain. Therefore I did not root for Abigail and Valroy as a couple. In fact I was hating Valroy in the sense that I really hoped in the end he would die by Abigail's hand. The power differential was just so significant in this book and I saw no chemistry between the two of them. Then Abigail gets betraying body which is the WOAT in all situations, but is especially heinous to read about when there is nothing remotely interesting or hot about this guy.
He literally is done (minor spoiler, but also CW) in front of Abigail and the next morning he wakes up and is grinding up on her and she's getting the flutters? Oh no. No, ma'am. Goodbye.
Also like, I'm dying at how the author draws the line at rape. Valroy isn't above threatening Abigail with rape but refuses to actually do it because I guess he has some weird moral compass where literal TORTURING and murdering of children is okay but, guys, nope, we have to draw the line at rape. Honestly it weakens his character because literally everything else about his character points to him having no problem raping someone. So when he stubbornly only has a conscience at those moments I'm sitting here like ??? Is this supposed to make me think deep down he has a heart?
Valroy coming across as just an infinitely amused psycho does not do it for me. I need villains with depth, and I don't mean depth in the sense of 'I'm so crazy except deep down I may love you.' I mean real depth.
This was not a vibe. Perhaps if you wanted to read this series as a sort of horror movie love story where there's an HEA but it's like the opposite of what you want, then sure. But I did not like this. Ugh.
December 2, 2021
This book is actually a very good book for those who enjoy stories where humans land in another world (fae) and spend the entire book discovering and describing all kinds of weird, wild and imaginative beings. Unfortunately, that really isn’t my cuppa. I don’t mind it in moderation but when it is the main focus of the book, I get bored.
Still, the plot itself is super interesting. It is dark, in that the fae prince who has kidnapped Abigail is horrifically bloody and evil by nature. As the book progresses, one sees ever so slightly and slowly his feelings deepen for her, he just doesn’t have any realm of experience to be able to identify or deal with those feelings. In this, the author did a fabulous job!
Sadly, I found Abigail to be an annoyingly frustrating character. Her constant victimhood and defeatist attitude drove me nuts as time went on. Rather than try and help Valroy learn to be better, she just called him names (the same ones repeatedly) and wandered around feeling sorry for herself.
SO… a mixed bag for me. Areas of genius, areas of frustration. Guess it boils down to what one enjoys in a story and in their characters.
Still, the plot itself is super interesting. It is dark, in that the fae prince who has kidnapped Abigail is horrifically bloody and evil by nature. As the book progresses, one sees ever so slightly and slowly his feelings deepen for her, he just doesn’t have any realm of experience to be able to identify or deal with those feelings. In this, the author did a fabulous job!
Sadly, I found Abigail to be an annoyingly frustrating character. Her constant victimhood and defeatist attitude drove me nuts as time went on. Rather than try and help Valroy learn to be better, she just called him names (the same ones repeatedly) and wandered around feeling sorry for herself.
SO… a mixed bag for me. Areas of genius, areas of frustration. Guess it boils down to what one enjoys in a story and in their characters.
June 4, 2022
Perhaps a new favorite??? I am looooving this story.
February 16, 2022
Another fabulous read by this author who definitely has a gift when it comes to storytelling. This had such a rich and detailed style of narration that it easily managed to capture my imagination and pulled me completely into the narrative. Abigail is a mortal just scraping by, abandoned by her husband and soon to be homeless. The villagers call her a witch but truthfully her gifts with magic are small and when she shows an old hermit kindness letting him into her home she has no idea what now lays ahead. The harmless vagrant turns out to be an Unseelie prince in disguise one who has plans to whisk Abigail away from everything that is familiar to her.
Valroy is the bloody prince and heir to the Unseelie throne: A stipulation that first he must marry before he can ascend sees him exploiting a loophole and deciding to kidnap the mortal Abigail and make her his bride though he doesn’t really expect her to last long past the actual wedding. Placing Abigail inside his maze in his realm is the beginning of a game that delights Valroy he finds his new human pet fascinating and playing with her so much fun.
For Abigail her new reality is terrifying this strange world is full of monsters and creatures that wish to do her harm and everybody here seems to have a hidden agenda she has no idea who to trust and if she gives in to her desires the way she craves she will literally be condemning so many others to war and death. But if she can somehow solve the maze which is proving impossible Abigail can return home but with Valroy constantly changing the rules this is proving to be an insurmountable task.
So genre-wise this is fantasy it’s the first book in a four-part series so is relatively slow burn instead this concentrates on setting the scene and there is a constant battle of push-pull between these two where Abigail very much sees Valroy as the enemy she needs to vanquish but at the same time also feels drawn to him and Valroy makes little secret of the fact that he wants his little witch to surrender to him.
I did find Abigail a tad irritating. With her constant hate judgment and name-calling well I felt we were going round in circles with her. I wanted her to embrace and own her destiny instead of constantly whining. She needed to understand that the world she now inhabits is very different from what she’s used to and as such the rules that govern it are a lot more brutal and severe. The Unseelie here are definitely not kind and Valroy is the worst of the lot they don’t call him the bloody prince for nothing.
I loved Valroy yes he’s most definitely a villain of that there’s no doubt but I do have a soft spot for unrepentant baddies and there was just something about him that drew me in. With Abigail he’s actually learning and discovering all sorts of emotions for the first time basically it’s baby steps yet and he still has his training wheels in place he’s on a major learning curve and these emotions are all so new to him.
Now personality-wise he’s cruel sadistic ruthless arrogant and thoughtless. He relishes the pain and suffering he brings delighting in the suffering he causes this is his nature and he makes no apologies for that fact but with Abigail he slowly finds himself feeling differently when it comes to her he finds her suffering is not as sweet as he’d expected it to be. He still delights in tormenting her but he has no real desire to cause her any true pain a fact that initially confounds and confuses him in fact he’s now seriously considering keeping her around after the inevitable wedding.
There’s some slight heavy petting and these two have some definite chemistry together but this first book isn’t high on the steam instead this is all about setting the scene and laying the foundation for what's to come and I’m now incredibly intrigued with where this will go next especially considering that shocking finish and can I just say I really felt for Valroy in that moment. I definitely recommend this series if you like your fantasy romance where the villain is unrepentant and stays true to his own nature.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
March 7, 2022
i’m going to have to forget so much of this for my own health
April 5, 2023
To think work kept me a day and a half too long from this book sickens me! Curse you fear of poverty!!!
Now onto good jolly spirits; I loved this book! Loved the shortcomings of it, loved the brilliant parts, overall would sleep next to it for the next 5 years (and that's a lot from a girl who can't commit)
I continued reading this book after exhaustion and dry eyes so that's pretty telling I ate this shit up and will continue to gobble the next in the series. Trust!
I loved the gore, I loved the childish nature of the Unseelie prince- Gosh that was SO on brand I loved how he wasn't humanized for us I hate when authors do that- he was cruel, uncaring, egotistical, a slave to his own whims and desires and a total creature born of darkness!
LOVED his seemingly simple character being so not-so-simple after all! I fell victim to judging him at first too, I must admit!
NOW Abigail.... quick word about her name: so unusual to read about a FMC with her name lol my bookshelf lacks Abigails it seems...
She was deliciously weak, painfully whiny and ridden with a victim complex so strong she could not see/understand her own power and tap onto it for shit, and that's OK! We're a judge-free zone here, matter of fact, I love whiny weak bitches who wait for others to solve their shit for them and get nothing but broken ribs and stuff. Truly phenomenal LMAO
I have a love/hate relationship with powerful-strong female leads because they tend to be made wrong most of the time!
Ending was a good standard cliffhanger I can get behind and I will immediately inhale the next book as soon as I catch a good 5 hrs of sleep :)
The writing was super good and I will, for sure, continue the series ♡
Now onto good jolly spirits; I loved this book! Loved the shortcomings of it, loved the brilliant parts, overall would sleep next to it for the next 5 years (and that's a lot from a girl who can't commit)
I continued reading this book after exhaustion and dry eyes so that's pretty telling I ate this shit up and will continue to gobble the next in the series. Trust!
I loved the gore, I loved the childish nature of the Unseelie prince- Gosh that was SO on brand I loved how he wasn't humanized for us I hate when authors do that- he was cruel, uncaring, egotistical, a slave to his own whims and desires and a total creature born of darkness!
LOVED his seemingly simple character being so not-so-simple after all! I fell victim to judging him at first too, I must admit!
NOW Abigail.... quick word about her name: so unusual to read about a FMC with her name lol my bookshelf lacks Abigails it seems...
She was deliciously weak, painfully whiny and ridden with a victim complex so strong she could not see/understand her own power and tap onto it for shit, and that's OK! We're a judge-free zone here, matter of fact, I love whiny weak bitches who wait for others to solve their shit for them and get nothing but broken ribs and stuff. Truly phenomenal LMAO
I have a love/hate relationship with powerful-strong female leads because they tend to be made wrong most of the time!
Ending was a good standard cliffhanger I can get behind and I will immediately inhale the next book as soon as I catch a good 5 hrs of sleep :)
The writing was super good and I will, for sure, continue the series ♡
December 3, 2021
4.5 stars
I enjoyed this one a lot. This is my second Kingsley series, and while I really like her work, I saw some parallels between those I’ve already read:
➣ Asshole with a capital A, violent, tall as fuck H with a (deeply hidden, in fact buried so deep we only see glimpses in certain light) potential to obsessively love the heroine someday
➣ no-nonsense spunky h, who’s good and compassionate but takes none of the H’s shit, attracted to him despite her best efforts, even as she’s disgusted and terrified by some of his actions
➣ the setting: an otherworldly place that’s actually the H’s domain, and from which there is no escape…
That said, this was FUN. Kingsley wrote the Unseelie fae right, and the Moonlit Court she created here was as fascinating as it was deadly. “Beauty that kills,” indeed. I think some minor characters deserve more attention in future books, most notably Anfar; I’d really like to see how his situation with A plays out!
The romance here is a slow-burn, but the attraction between Valroy and Abigail is sizzling hot. Admittedly, I found both of their characters slightly childish sometimes (Abigail with her blushing and shyness; Valroy with his pulling-wings-off-flies behavior, his possessiveness that — at this point — is mostly like that of a child with his favorite toy taken away, complete with throwing tantrums, and his constant pulling of Abigail’s metaphorical pigtails), but I feel they matured a lot by the end of the book. And what a glorious cliffhanger this was… So dramatic! I’m grabbing the sequel as soon as I can.
I enjoyed this one a lot. This is my second Kingsley series, and while I really like her work, I saw some parallels between those I’ve already read:
➣ Asshole with a capital A, violent, tall as fuck H with a (deeply hidden, in fact buried so deep we only see glimpses in certain light) potential to obsessively love the heroine someday
➣ no-nonsense spunky h, who’s good and compassionate but takes none of the H’s shit, attracted to him despite her best efforts, even as she’s disgusted and terrified by some of his actions
➣ the setting: an otherworldly place that’s actually the H’s domain, and from which there is no escape…
That said, this was FUN. Kingsley wrote the Unseelie fae right, and the Moonlit Court she created here was as fascinating as it was deadly. “Beauty that kills,” indeed. I think some minor characters deserve more attention in future books, most notably Anfar; I’d really like to see how his situation with A plays out!
The romance here is a slow-burn, but the attraction between Valroy and Abigail is sizzling hot. Admittedly, I found both of their characters slightly childish sometimes (Abigail with her blushing and shyness; Valroy with his pulling-wings-off-flies behavior, his possessiveness that — at this point — is mostly like that of a child with his favorite toy taken away, complete with throwing tantrums, and his constant pulling of Abigail’s metaphorical pigtails), but I feel they matured a lot by the end of the book. And what a glorious cliffhanger this was… So dramatic! I’m grabbing the sequel as soon as I can.
Read
February 19, 20222.6✨
started off really promising 🥲
He smiled, an expression that would have been dazzling if not for its cruelty. “Here are your choices. I will fuck you raw, little witch, right in front of all the villagers who hate you. I will do so as a big, slobbering, disgusting, stinking pig. I’ll break you into a mare who can’t even breed. I’ll even make you beg for more before we’re done.” He tilted her head back as he zeroed the distance between them. His body pressed to hers, and she gasped at the warmth of him.
He smelled like winter, crisp and sharp. Or like the breeze that drifted in from ocean cliffs. No, he carried the scent of the night itself. Of grass, and trees, and darkness.
“Or…” A twist to his lips told her precisely which was the option he preferred the most. “You tell me your deepest wish.”
valroy was a menace and the heroine pretty… strong but powerless against him?
’Perfect, perfect, perfect!
Valroy fisted Abigail’s hair in his hand and dragged her from the wall. She shrieked, swatting at his hand, but he cared not. She was a waif, a little imp of a thing, and he had fought the most powerful warriors that the Isle had to offer.
But she was perfect.
Witty enough to keep him entertained, stupid enough to challenge him, fiery enough to fight back, but smart enough to know when to cower in fear. For his needs—of which he now had a few more upon meeting her—she would do quite nicely.’
by the end it was okay, valroy and his games. the couple, nothing outta ordinary
June 11, 2022
3 stars because the gruesome monstors in the maze had me intrigued but literally the plot was underdeveloped and there was no chemistry between our characters. What was the point of her being taken away and being put in a maze and blah blah? It took really long and hard to figure out.
Want to read
July 6, 2022dora has convinced me with all her updates 🥵🥵
April 18, 2022
This is just about all I seek when I look for books about faeries: cutthroat and mystical, with dire stakes and atmosphere.
When it says unseelie, it means unseelie, so that's very good points in this book--and series'--favor. I really hate it when a book claims to be about faeries but doesn't commit. A pretty character with elemental powers does not a faerie make.
I found Abigail a good heroine and Valroy an interesting male lead; he is harsh, but the restraint shown creates a worthwhile sense of tension as we see him and Abigail push and pull at one another, trying to gain leverage over the other. Although not a clean read, and meant for a more mature audience (Abigail is meant to be in her mid twenties), the author also doesn't push full ahead into lust-at-first-sight and lust-mistaken-for-love, which I also really like.
Although clearly there's sexual attraction, true love isn't shoehorned in, and there's not really any physical acts conducted outside of some heavy petting during the throes of an aphrodisiac-like poison (I would argue that anyone under the influence of something like a magical drug can't really consent, so, this wasn't amazing, but the author does have Abigail claim she consented to Valroy touching her and that she was in control enough to know what she agreed to, so, I won't press it too hard.)
I will say that I wished the world building had been bigger; a lot of left vague and relies on a readers' prior knowledge of faeries and fantasy to fill in the blanks, which isn't ideal, in my opinion. I think world building should be dense enough that even someone wholly unfamiliar with the concepts should be able to have a full reading experience.
I'm interested in seeing where this goes. This book leaves off on sort of a cliffhanger; like, something a bit major happens and the book ends, so, be aware of that. I think I'll pick up book #2 here soon, since I overall quite liked The Unseelie Prince.
Not much more to say, I think; I enjoyed my read and got through it in about four hours. I think I might buy a copy, since it's only 99 cents currently.
General warnings for violence, gore, mentions of bestiality, mentions of rape, sexual language/themes/scenes.
When it says unseelie, it means unseelie, so that's very good points in this book--and series'--favor. I really hate it when a book claims to be about faeries but doesn't commit. A pretty character with elemental powers does not a faerie make.
I found Abigail a good heroine and Valroy an interesting male lead; he is harsh, but the restraint shown creates a worthwhile sense of tension as we see him and Abigail push and pull at one another, trying to gain leverage over the other. Although not a clean read, and meant for a more mature audience (Abigail is meant to be in her mid twenties), the author also doesn't push full ahead into lust-at-first-sight and lust-mistaken-for-love, which I also really like.
Although clearly there's sexual attraction, true love isn't shoehorned in, and there's not really any physical acts conducted outside of some heavy petting during the throes of an aphrodisiac-like poison (I would argue that anyone under the influence of something like a magical drug can't really consent, so, this wasn't amazing, but the author does have Abigail claim she consented to Valroy touching her and that she was in control enough to know what she agreed to, so, I won't press it too hard.)
I will say that I wished the world building had been bigger; a lot of left vague and relies on a readers' prior knowledge of faeries and fantasy to fill in the blanks, which isn't ideal, in my opinion. I think world building should be dense enough that even someone wholly unfamiliar with the concepts should be able to have a full reading experience.
I'm interested in seeing where this goes. This book leaves off on sort of a cliffhanger; like, something a bit major happens and the book ends, so, be aware of that. I think I'll pick up book #2 here soon, since I overall quite liked The Unseelie Prince.
Not much more to say, I think; I enjoyed my read and got through it in about four hours. I think I might buy a copy, since it's only 99 cents currently.
General warnings for violence, gore, mentions of bestiality, mentions of rape, sexual language/themes/scenes.
July 7, 2022
If you want a darker version of Jereth and Sarah with the hate and sexual tension of Jude and Cardan, congrats you have come to the right place 😊
"Marry me. Marry me and let us dance."
“No. You’ll destroy whole worlds if I do.”
“Some things are worth destroying, if it means something new and beautiful rises in its place." He ran his thumb slowly over her cheek, back and forth. “This is my destiny. And this is yours.”
“No."
This book gave me everything I needed: beauty in grotesque alla Guillermo del Torro, Labyrinth vibes but darker and sexier, enemies that want benefits so bad and are on the way to become lovers but fate and shit like that is in the way, beautiful writing and banter that is out of this world. The imagination, the tension... just wow.
side note: wtf was that cliffhanger ending?! i cant wait to start the second book bc WTF!!
another side note: anfar is such a soft baby i wanna cuddle him 💕
final one, i promise: i also want cruinn and bayodan to have their way with me bc wow 🥵
"Marry me. Marry me and let us dance."
“No. You’ll destroy whole worlds if I do.”
“Some things are worth destroying, if it means something new and beautiful rises in its place." He ran his thumb slowly over her cheek, back and forth. “This is my destiny. And this is yours.”
“No."
This book gave me everything I needed: beauty in grotesque alla Guillermo del Torro, Labyrinth vibes but darker and sexier, enemies that want benefits so bad and are on the way to become lovers but fate and shit like that is in the way, beautiful writing and banter that is out of this world. The imagination, the tension... just wow.
side note: wtf was that cliffhanger ending?! i cant wait to start the second book bc WTF!!
another side note: anfar is such a soft baby i wanna cuddle him 💕
final one, i promise: i also want cruinn and bayodan to have their way with me bc wow 🥵
November 17, 2021
this was soooooo fucking fun and so sexy omg. finally a proper sadistic vile villainous love interest with enemies to lovers omg i looooved Valroy so much he was terrible 😭❤️ abigail was sweet and so strong and endearing and intelligent i adored her! their chemistry was amazing and the banter was fire. like you know it’s going good when you’re giggling out loud. i also liked the dual POVs!!! the plot was low key and i loved that.
it ends on a surprising cliffhanger and it’s been A WHILE since i last read a book intended as a 4 book series so having loved this book i know the wait is gonna be torturous 😭
cannot wait for book 2!!!! edit: IT COMES OUT NEXT WEEK OMG I WIN
it ends on a surprising cliffhanger and it’s been A WHILE since i last read a book intended as a 4 book series so having loved this book i know the wait is gonna be torturous 😭
cannot wait for book 2!!!! edit: IT COMES OUT NEXT WEEK OMG I WIN
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